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Russia captures 2 settlements in frontline: defense ministry

Xinhua) 10:15, March 04, 2026

MOSCOW, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian forces have taken control of two settlements in the frontline following active and decisive operations, including Bobylevka in the Sumy region and Veselyanka in the Zaporizhzhia region, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

According to the ministry, Russian Armed Forces carried out strikes on 142 targets, including Ukrainian airfields used to launch long-range strike drones, energy facilities and port infrastructure supporting Ukraine's military-industrial complex, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.

Russian air defense systems shot down 12 guided aerial bombs and 136 fixed-wing drones, it said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
March 3, 2026: There are a lot of wars and insurgencies going on around the world. These violent situations cause regional problems and provide unpoliced areas for local or international criminal organizations to operate from. These current locations for this sort of thing include the Algeria Terrorist Insurgency, Angola Terrorist Insurgency, Bangladesh Terrorist Insurgency, Benin Terrorist Insurgency, Burkina Faso Terrorist Insurgency, Cameroon Terrorist Insurgency, CAR/Central African Republic Civil War, Chad Terrorist Insurgency, Congo Terrorist Insurgency, Ecuador Civil War/Drug War, Haiti Civil War/Gang War, Ivory Coast Terrorist Insurgency, Libya Terrorist Insurgency, Mali Terrorist Insurgency, Morocco Terrorist Insurgency, Mozambique Civil War, Myanmar Civil War, Niger Terrorist Insurgency, Rwanda Terrorist Insurgency, South Sudan Ethnic violence, Tanzania Terrorist Insurgency, Thailand Terrorist Insurgency, Togo Terrorist Insurgency, Tunisia Terrorist Insurgency, Uganda Terrorist Insurgency. Most civil war deaths are due to Islamic terrorism, which has been the case for over half a century.

Many critical military conflicts never get much publicity. Sometimes it's because they involve espionage, often it's because the media never really gets interested. Here are ten in alphabetical order you should at least be aware of. They are all more important than you realize:

1. Bureaucrats vs. the military. Increasing government regulation, which long avoided the military, now goes after the troops as well. Environmental regulations limit training and how weapons are built. Equal opportunity rules have brought calls to allow the disabled to join the military. Lawyers strive for the right to sue the armed forces for real or imagined injuries. Some armed forces have been allowed to unionize. The bureaucrats know little of how the military operates, so they charge ahead with the best of intentions and often disastrous results. In many countries the military is little more than a bunch of poorly trained but heavily armed civil servants with guns. That becomes painfully apparent only on those rare occasions when the troops are called out to fight. Some politicians know this and that at least makes them more reluctant to get into a fight.

2. Intelligence Operations. Oh, sure, you hear about this in the news but never in detail. And it's the details that make or break intel ops. A lot of the effort is plain old detective work. There are a lot of stakeouts electronic and physical and many interviews with suspects or their friends, family, neighbors or enemies. Even more underground are the electronic operations bugging terrorist email, phone calls, and internet use and crypto breaking secret codes used on phone calls and e-mail. All this work is very expensive and if the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. decide to shift their resources elsewhere, you won't see it in the news. You will see, months or years down the line, an increase in successful terrorist attacks because the intel weenies got distracted or reassigned.

3. Jointness Games. Sailors the world over have more in common with each other than they do with soldiers in their own country. Most nations just accept the fact that their army, air force, and navy don't get along much. But in the United States there has developed a minor religion called Jointness. The American military takes war seriously, so much so that they acknowledge the need for real cooperation between the three services. Making this cooperation a reality is another matter. You don't hear much about jointness, which is just as well. It's more of an ideal than a reality. But efforts are being made and their success or failure will be known the next time there's a war.

4. Media Wars. Most of us know what putting spin on a story means. What we don't know is how much of this goes on all over the world and then filters back to us as news. All the two or three dozen wars going on at the moment have layers of media spin and distortion surrounding them. This makes it hard to find out exactly what's going on. The situation has become more complex in the last few decades with the growing use of spin by NGOs/Non-Governmental Organizations like the Red Cross, UN, and Oxfam. This has a big impact on how wars are reported or misreported. At least now you know youre being spoofed.

5. Military Pork Barrel. Most of the $2.3 trillion spent each year on defense worldwide comes with political strings attached. For obvious reasons, politicians like to keep quiet about the political horse-trading that goes on when the defense budget is carved up. Thats because defense generally takes second place to how this can help me get re-elected, rich, or both. The battles over military pork largely take place in the shadows. But the outcomes of these conflicts eventually have an impact, usually catastrophic, on the battlefield.

6. Resurrecting the Red Army. Many Russian officers, young as well as older Soviet era men, are keen to make the Russian armed forces mighty once again, as they were in the days of the Soviet Union's Red Army. The Russian Air Force still uses the red star on their aircraft. The glory days of the Red Army are honored and hailed as a force to be emulated. Until the last few years the money wasn't there to rebuild the Russian armed forces, but the desire was there, and for a while the money was too. The problem is that there is also a lot of corruption and that ensures that a third or more of the $145 billion a year was stolen or wasted. Then there are the problems with conscription: few Russians want it, morale low, and capabilities also low. Despite all this, the goal remains the same, although achieving it might take a lot longer than anticipated. The ongoing war in Ukraine pretty much ended all attempts to procure new equipment, but the government still talks about doing so sometime in the future.

7. The Bug Race. Information warfare, centered on the Internet, is, more than anything else, a battle to find and patch for the good guys, or exploit flaws for the bad guys, in the enormous amount of computer software that runs the net. Much of this software is open source, the original instruction in plain text and available to anyone. The black hat hackers pore over this code looking for flaws. If they find a bug before the white hat good guy hackers, mischief, damage, major crimes, or creation of weapons grade malware that can do a lot of damage via the Internet will result. There's no magic involved. In fact, the major source of serious net crime remains insiders going over to the dark side. But for anyone else, it's a matter of who gets to the bugs first.

8. The People's Liberation Army, Inc. Since the 1950s, China's armed forces, the People's Liberation Army have fought a losing battle against corruption. Some of it has been outright theft; most of it was diversion of military resources for commercial gain by senior officers. The government ordered the generals to get rid of all their businesses in the 1990s. The generals have gone through the motions of complying, but the struggle continues over exactly where the money goes. This hurts the ability of the Chinese military to fight, but this is never discussed in China, for obvious reasons. Note that this has been a problem in China for several thousand years.

9. Tribal Warfare. Many of the smaller wars, and some of the large ones, are basically tribal conflicts. It's not politically correct to dwell on this aspect of global disorder. But until we do these wars won't go away or be addressed effectively.

10. Who's Ready for What? The size of armed forces usually is reported in terms of quantity, not quality. This is odd, since most wars are decided by the quality of the troops, not how many of them there are. Readiness is the term most often used to describe this, and you rarely get a straight answer when looking for the readiness of any armed forces. But it's how much readiness a force has, not how many troops or weapons that says it all regarding fighting power.
A TikTok flyer for the Croydon and Bromley 'schools war' (X/Twitter)

A man in his 20s has been arrested as part of a police investigation into the viral school wars trend, which encourages pupils to engage in violence.

Officers have also arrested a 15-year-old boy, with both suspects held on suspicion of encouraging or assisting crime.

The online trend, which has spread rapidly across London, has sparked concern among parents and schools, with children as young as 11 warned about carrying weapons ahead of planned mass brawls.

Posters circulating on social media last month, inspired by the notorious Bloods and Crips, show masked figures in red and blue and assign schools to rival sides.

Shared widely on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, the posts list Year 7 to Year 11 schools aligned with either Red or Blue teams, prompting parents to issue warnings on Facebook.

Boroughs including Hackney, Islington, Camden, Newham, Croydon and Greenwich have been pitted against one another, while separate posts titled Havering Wars and Rainham Wars have also begun circulating among pupils in east London.

A spokesperson for Met Police said: On Sunday, 1 March at approximately 18:45hrs, Met officers arrested two individuals in Central East London in connection with a recent trend of social media posts.

Both suspects, a man aged in his 20s and a boy aged 15, were arrested on suspicion of encouraging or assisting in a crime. They remain in police custody.

A strong police presence remains around schools, particularly at the end of the school day.

Local officers continue to work alongside local authority partners, school leaders and parents, whose joint robust response has been vital in protecting young people across the last week.
Brechin Castle made a successful return from over two years on the sidelines in the opening race at Naas on Wednesday.

A 165,000 recruit from the Irish point-to-point field, the eight-year-old won his first two bumper starts for owner-trainer Ben Brookhouse, including a Listed victory at Cheltenham in the autumn of 2023.

He was beaten on his next start at Ascot the following month and had not been seen in competitive action since, meaning his appearance in the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Maiden Hurdle was his first for 803 days.

A 2-7 favourite for his hurdling debut and first outing since joining Willie Mullins, Brechin Castle showed his class with a six-and-a-half-length success over Famous Figure under Paul Townend.

Hes a lovely, bonny horse. Obviously, he had been off the track for a long time, but he popped away well in front, said the jockey.

He had a little blow, so I think hell improve a little bit for it as well.

What looked like a race, we settled quick enough. Its good to get him back on the track.

He had a decent level of form and he still has it, I think.

Bokamsin opened his account for Henry de Bromhead and Darragh OKeeffe in the Jumps Finale At Naas Sunday 8th March Rated Novice Hurdle.

Carrying the Presenting Percy colours of owner Philip Reynolds, the six-year-old made every yard of the running and ran out a six-length winner as a 15-2 shot.

OKeeffe said: I thought the last day (at Punchestown) we didnt go quick. He missed a couple of hurdles and it put him on the back foot.

It was a deep race the last day, with Spinningayarn (winning), and todays race was tidy as well.

We all thought that wed buck him out and make him do it. Hes a fine big horse and jumped brilliant today. I thought it was a good performance.

Rockys Howya justified 4-6 favouritism in the Flat Is Back At Naas Sunday 22nd March Claiming Hurdle for trainer Declan Queally, who is looking forward to sending a small but select team of runners to the Cheltenham Festival next week.

Queally said: I cant wait. All the horses are good.

Ill Sort That seems to be in real good form, confirmations are tomorrow (Thursday) for the Turners Novices Hurdle.

Carrigmoornaspruce (Ryanair Mares Novices Hurdle) is in good form as well, shes real fresh in herself, and Id be hoping Tackletommywoowoo would have an outside each-way chance in the Albert Bartlett.

Going over there the horses are buzzing, so were all guns blazing.
BrewDogs founder James Watt says he is heartbroken for those who have lost investments after the company was taken over by a US firm this week.

Mr Watt also shared his sadness for those who had lost their jobs at the Scotland-based brewer and said there are so many other things I would have done differently.

Tilray Brands acquired BrewDog in a 33 million deal, which led to 38 bars being closed and the loss of 484 jobs.

The deal meant left those who had invested in BrewDog through its equity for punks crowdfunding rounds empty-handed.

Mr Watt co-founded craft beer giant BrewDog in Aberdeenshire in 2007 with the brand growing rapidly afterwards.

He stepped down as chief executive in 2024 to become its captain and co-founder.

BrewDog pubs will close as a result of the deal (James Weech/PA) (James Weech)

On Wednesday, he shared a post on social media saying this week had been incredibly hard.

He said: I am heartbroken for all of the hard working and passionate team members who have lost their jobs.

I am heartbroken for all of our brilliant equity punks who did not get the return on their investment they wanted.

He continued: I was 24, working part time on a fishing boat, and still living in my dads spare room when we started BrewDog. I had never run a business before, I had no idea what I was really doing and I just made it all up as I went along.

When an underdog strategy works so well that people perceive you as the incumbent, that strategy breaks down, and I should have recognised that earlier.

With the benefit of hindsight there are also so many other things I would have done differently.

At times we expanded too fast, diversified too broadly and I feel that I did not respond to certain crises that we faced (and we faced many) in a way that was authentic to who we were.

Mr Watt also spoke of his regrets at being unable to save jobs and investments.

He said: I would have loved to save every single job and every single equity punk investment. Ultimately, I couldnt. That will stay with me.

To our team members leaving this week: thank you. You helped build something that mattered. I am sorry we could not protect you.

To our equity punks: thank you for having the conviction to believe in the business when this was just two humans, one dog and a crazy idea.

BrewDogs 18 franchise bars in the UK and internationally will continue to operate following the company purchase.

The Tilray deal will see it take control of BrewDog facilities including its brewery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, and The Hop Hub, a national distribution centre in Motherwell, Lanarkshire.
Celestyal Discovery has completed its Arabian Gulf sailings early amid the Iranian conflict (Marc Shoffman)

Celestyal Cruises has cancelled its remaining Arabian Gulf season amid the ongoing Iran conflict.

Two of the brands cruise ships are among vessels stuck in the Gulf region since the escalation of the war between Israel, the US and Iran.

Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery were due to depart on sailings around the United Arab Emirates on Monday from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively but these routes were cancelled.

Instead, Celestyal Journey has remained in Doha, Qatar and Celestyal Disovery has been moored in Dubai, with passengers kept on board until onward travel arrangements can be made.

The cruise line has now cancelled scheduled cruises from Doha that were due to take place on 7 and 14 March and from Dubai on 9 and 16 March.

All passengers who were due to travel on the cancelled sailings will be offered the option of a full refund or a future cruise credit.

This will bring the cruise lines winter Arabian Gulf season to an early end and its ships will eventually make their way to Athens for its summer routes.

The timing of the ships return may depend on the volatility of the Strait of Hormuz which links the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.

Celestyal said in a statement: Due to operational constraints and confirmed port arrangements, guests currently onboard Celestyal Discovery in Dubai and Celestyal Journey in Doha will be advised of disembarkation plans within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Our onboard teams will support guests with onward travel arrangements and provide assistance with transfers or accommodation where required. Guests have been advised to contact their airlines directly regarding flight arrangements and to register with their respective embassies for any official updates or repatriation support.

We remain in contact with embassies and foreign offices to stay informed of any guidance or assistance being provided for onward travel arrangements.

Subject to operational conditions, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery will reposition to Athens to begin their scheduled programme in the Mediterranean.

Tui brand Mein Schiff has two ships moored in Abu Dhabi and Doha, where passengers are unable to disembark.

Mein Schiff 4, currently in Abu Dhabi, has cancelled all departures until at least 9 March and Mein Schiff 5, in Doha, has cancelled routes departing up to and including 5 March.

Similarly, passengers are being kept aboard MSC Euribia in Dubai.

MSC Cruises said it is working with Emirates and Etihad to identify and secure return flights for passengers and is considering chartering flights.

The cruise line said in a statement: At present, airlines operating flights have indicated that they will follow an order of priority based on the original flight date.

In order to speed up the repatriation, we are working on other options such as chartering flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Muscat.

In parallel we are in constant contact with local authorities, Embassies and Foreign Offices to also support the safe return of our guests.

The situation on board remains calm. We are providing guests with regular updates on the situation. They have full access to all onboard services and facilities, and we continue to provide a high standard of care, comfort and support.

Read more: Your rights as Middle East cruises are stranded
Cleveland police hoping to find answers after bodies of two girls found stuffed inside suitcases and buried in shallow graves

Cleveland police are hoping to find answers after the bodies of two girls were found stuffed inside suitcases and buried in shallow graves.

Chief Dorothy Todd said during a news conference Tuesday police received a call Monday evening to respond to an area on the east side of the city. A local had been walking their dog through a field near a school in the area.

The caller stated they had found what appeared to be a body inside of a suitcase, Todd told reporters.

As officers investigated the area, they found what appeared to be a second shallow grave, and they could tell that there was a second suitcase in that location, the chief said. Todd added that the bodies had not been dismembered.

While the girls are yet to be identified, Todd said that they were both Black and gave approximate ages. One of the girls is believed to be eight-and-a-half to 13 years old, and the other is suspected of being 10-and-a-half to 14 years old. Its unclear whether the girls were related.

Cleveland police are hoping to 'find answers' after the bodies of two girls were found stuffed inside suitcases and buried in shallow graves (Ricky Rhodes/Getty Images)

Todd said no local missing children reports have matched the girls descriptions, but added, We are checking statewide as well. The chief said federal authorities are also helping in the investigation.

Police are yet to reveal how or when the girls died, but Todd said they had been buried in the area for some time. No suspects have been identified in the investigation and police had no solid leads as of Tuesday afternoon.

Todd said investigators may have trouble finding video captured on cameras in the area because a lot of cameras dont capture historical data.

When asked by a reporter if shes seen a case similar to this one before, Todd said, Not that Im aware of.

While police have said theres no ongoing threat to the public, Todd said, All residents should always be cautious of the ongoings of their neighborhoods.

The Independent has reached out to Cleveland police for updates on the case.

The best thing is to find answers, Todd said. It's just a terrible, horrific situation."
On the mend: Jean-Philippe Mateta (Getty Images)

Jean-Philippe Mateta is poised to make his return to the pitch for Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner has confirmed.

The Frenchman has been sidelined with a knee injury since January, when his Deadline Day transfer to AC Milan fell through after he failed a medical.

He last appeared for the side in their 3-1 defeat by Chelsea on January 25, missing seven matches he and the club decided against undergoing surgery.

But he will be back in contention for Palaces Conference League round of 16 first-leg at home to AEK Larnaca, with plans in place for him to re-join partial first-team training next week.

Glasner explained: Were planning for him to be partly integrated next Monday in the team training for the Larnaca game. It will be the same, starting from the bench.

He was out for a long time, but his knee looks better now. Thats why we have decided to reintegrate him. We have to be careful, but the goal is that he is available for the Larnaca and Leeds games.

Comeback pending: Jean-Philippe Mateta (Getty Images)

Palace faced Larnaca in the Conference League league phase, losing 1-0. Mateta played the full match.

He will have to earn back his place, though. Palace signed Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen late in the January transfer window when Matetas sale to Milan looked likely, and he has impressed in his six appearances for the club.

Glasner continued, adding that defender Jefferson Lerma would also soon be back in the fold for Palace. He is expected to feature in the matchday squad away at Tottenham on Thursday - a welcome boost amid Maxence Lacroixs suspension.

Jefferson Lerma is back in the squad but not ready to start," the Austrian added. "He trained with us and is ok. Its quite early, but if we need him for 15-20 minutes at the end we have him.

Hes available for 15-20 minutes. That means it is either Chadi [Riad] or Nathaniel Clyne will play [in defence]. They are the options we have and one of them will start.

Eddie Nketiah, though, is facing a few more weeks out with a thigh injury. Glasner concluded: Eddie Nketiah wont be available before April. So were pushing hard to have him back in the team.
Dame Prue Leith said there is a deep outrage at what is happening with the assisted dying Bill in the House of Lords amid concerns it will run out of time to become law.

The chef and television presenter said there is an obvious obstruction by peers opposed to the Bill, which will fail if it does not complete all its parliamentary stages before the end of the current session in May.

Opponents of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill have been continually accused of trying to talk out the Bill as it makes its way through the upper chamber.

However, many insist they are simply doing their job of scrutinising a Bill, which they argue is not safe in its current form and needs to be strengthened.

The Bill was passed by MPs in the Commons in June last year by a majority of 23.

Dame Prue has been a prominent campaigner in support of assisted dying after watching her brother David suffer a slow and agonising death from bone cancer.

In a statement after making the Women in Westminster: The 100 list for her advocacy on the issue, she said: Being named on this list is humbling, but it means nothing if this Bill is allowed to fall in the Lords due to obvious obstruction. The public has not looked away.

MPs and peers on all sides of this debate feel the same deep outrage at what is happening.

The eyes of this country remain fixed on the ultimate goal, democracy being upheld, an end to this cruel status quo, and the introduction of a safe, compassionate law that this country can be proud of.

Dame Prue, who announced her departure from popular Channel 4 baking show The Great British Bake Off in January, is at odds with her son, Reform UK MP Danny Kruger, who opposes the legislation.

Dame Esther Rantzen has been a prominent campaigner to legalise assisted dying (Esther Rantzen/PA) (Esther Rantzen)

Dame Esther Rantzen was also named on the 100 Women list and dedicated the honour to fellow campaigners and the bereaved.

She said: This honour belongs to them. It is their courage and determination that has enabled us to reach this historic moment, and the best reward for them will be for Parliament to reform the current cruel messy criminal law, and for democracy to prevail.

The assisted dying Bill proposes allowing adults with terminal illnesses in England and Wales who have fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.

Among those opposed in the Lords are Baroness Luciana Berger, who has previously said there is deep concern about the lack of detail in the assisted dying Bill and how it would work in practice.
Defiant Spanish PM says Trump is using the fog of war to distract from his domestic failures

The Spanish prime minister has responded to Donald Trumps threat to cut off all trade with Spain, as he stressed that Madrids position was no to war.

On Tuesday (3 March), the US president said that Spain has been terrible after the NATO ally refused to let the US military use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

Responding to the threat, Pedro Sanchez said that his country would not be complicit in something that is bad for the world  and that is also contrary to our values and interests  simply out of fear of reprisals from someone.

He also chastised Mr Trump for playing Russian roulette with the destiny of millions, calling on the US and Israel to stop the war.
The California Democratic party chair, Rusty Hicks, at the partys state convention in San Francisco on 21 February 2026. Photograph: Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images (Photograph: Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

One day after Californias Democratic party urged candidates without a viable path in the states crucial race for governor to drop out, the crowded field showed no sign of winnowing down.

At least nine Democrats are in the running to replace the outgoing governor, Gavin Newsom, with no clear frontrunner, which has fueled fears that the number of candidates could lead to two Republicans advancing to the November election.

Rusty Hicks, the chair of Californias Democratic party, warned in an open letter on Tuesday about that unlikely but possible scenario and called on candidates to act in a responsible manner with the opportunities and support we have earned.

Related: Cant win? Drop out: California Democrats plead with governor hopefuls as party fears Republican surge

I believe it starts with a candid assessment of the political landscape around you, an honest reflection on your viability to win the race and the courage to make a tough choice, Hicks wrote.

He advised candidates not to run in the primary if they dont have a path to reach the general election, and said they should be prepared to suspend their campaigns within the next month if they hadnt made meaningful progress toward a primary win.

The packed field of Democratic candidates includes former secretary of health and human services and state attorney general Xavier Becerra; former state lawmaker Ian Calderon; San Joses mayor, Matt Mahan; former congresswoman Katie Porter; billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer; the Congress member Eric Swalwell; the state schools superintendent, Tony Thurmond; former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa; and former state controller Betty Yee.

The Republican candidates include Chad Bianco, the Riverside county sheriff, and the conservative political commentator Steve Hilton.

The nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found the race had split into two distinct groups, with polling indicating Hilton, Porter, Bianco, Swalwell and Steyer are in close competition, while the other candidates trail behind.

The states Democratic party did not endorse a candidate during its recent convention, although Swalwell earned support from about 24% of delegates, and Yee and Becerra followed.

Candidates were critical of Hickss letter, arguing that the decision must be left to voters.

Bernie Sanders was right. Our political system is rigged, corrupted by the political elites, the wealthy and the well-connected, Thurmond said in a statement. The California Democratic party is essentially telling every candidate of color in the race for governor to drop out.

Yee told Politico in a statement that voters were tired of insider political theater and the drama, the pollsters and the powerful elites, while Mahans campaign told media that voters choose the next governor  not political gatekeepers.

In his letter, Hicks said that while suggestions might be viewed as overly harsh, they were necessary to ensure a Democrat wins the governorship, and because a Democratic loss in the deep blue state could imperil Democrats chances to retake the House.

Newsom has said he understands why Hicks sent the letter. There is some concern, he said of the race.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
Bridget Phillipson has said the new workplace guidance will ensure women can thrive at work - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Labour has told employers not to use the words competitive and ambitious in job adverts because they are too masculine.

In new guidance from the Office for Equality and Opportunity, bosses have also been told to eschew terms associated with male stereotypes and use neutral job titles to ensure a greater gender balance among applicants.

According to evidence used to draw up the guidance, stereotypically masculine terms also include the words dominant and independent.

Critics have called the new advice patronising gibberish and a waste of taxpayer money.

Bridget Phillipson, the women and equalities minister who unveiled the guidelines on Wednesday, said they were designed to ensure women can thrive at work.

The advice is aimed at employers of 250 people or more, who will be encouraged from next month to publish action plans on how they will tackle the gender pay gap, along with relevant data.

The action plans, which the Government will make mandatory from next year, must also show how employers are supporting employees going through menopause.

They are part of a range of workplace reforms introduced under the Employment Rights Act, which critics have said will lead to job losses and stifle growth.

The guidance is one of 18 pieces of new government advice, which ministers have said will help employers take effective action.

According to the guidance, job adverts should also reduce long lists of must-haves to make jobs more appealing and avoid asking for specific character traits by using statements such as you are reliable.

Guidance insulting to women

Claire Coutinho, the shadow women and equalities minister, condemned the new guidance as nonsense.

She said: The Governments advice to businesses on how to make job adverts appealing to women is patronising gibberish.

Telling companies that women find the words ambitious, competitive or entrepreneurial too masculine is frankly insulting to women.

The Government has also said that firms can detail how they will increase transparency for promotion, pay and rewards, and set targets to improve gender representation.

The Employment Rights Act contains other changes that have been met with consternation by businesses.

Last month, City bosses told Department for Business and Trade officials that scrapping a compensation cap on unfair dismissal claims would make Britain worse than France.

Workers who win an unfair dismissal claim can currently claim a maximum of either their annual salary or 118,223, whichever is lower, but the cap will be removed in 2027.

Ministers agreed to remove the cap as a concession to trade unions after Labour abandoned plans to give workers a day-one right to claim unfair dismissal.
Legacy Stock Declaration for Business Licenced to Trade in Goods

HM Government of Gibraltar has sent a Legacy Stock Declaration to all business licence holders who are licensed to trade in goods. The declaration will help Government assess the extent of non-EU originating goods currently held in Gibraltar and in transit ahead of the implementation of the new Treaty arrangements.

The declaration has been emailed directly to all business licence holders licensed to trade in goods using the contact details held by the Business Licensing section. The declarations have been emailed by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Earlier this week, at the Town Hall meeting held for retailers and wholesalers at Inces Hall, Government took the opportunity to explain the reasons for the declaration and to go through the general content of the form with those present.

Completion of the declaration is voluntary, but businesses are strongly encouraged to participate. Accurate information will enable Government to provide guidance and support to the business community.

The Minister for Health, Care and Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez MP, said: The declaration is an important engagement tool, which allows us to work collaboratively with businesses in preparation for the Treaty. It sets the tone for how we would like to engage with business in the transitional period - by asking them to co-operate and working with them through this process. I would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce and the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses for their feedback on the Declaration. We would encourage all businesses to complete it within the 2 week deadline, to enable us to have the information available to us to engage with the relevant authorities.
Elon Musk appeared in a San Francisco courtroom on Wednesday, facing accusations that he intentionally drove down Twitters stock price through false and misleading statements before his $44 billion acquisition of the social media platform in 2022.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2022, represents Twitter shareholders who sold their stock between May 13 and October 4, 2022. It alleges that Musk violated federal securities laws by issuing public statements "carefully calculated to drive down the price of Twitter stock."

The billionaire Tesla CEO initially agreed to buy Twitter and take it private in April 2022. However, on May 13, he declared his plan "temporarily on hold," citing the need to verify the number of spam and fake accounts on the platform. This announcement caused Twitter's stock to tumble. Days later, he tweeted that the deal "cannot go forward," claiming nearly 20% of Twitter accounts were "fake," according to the lawsuit.

During questioning, plaintiff's lawyer Aaron P. Arnzen pressed Musk on his tweets  or lack thereof  concerning his decision to acquire Twitter and his prior purchases of the company's stock.

Dressed in a black suit and tie, Musk testified that he did not consider it "material" when he began accumulating Twitter stock in early 2022, and therefore did not tweet about it or disclose it to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He stated he had bought stock in "many companies" without publicizing it.

Once his stake became public, Twitter's stock surged by 27% in a single day. "That sounds high," Musk commented.

The lawsuit specifically targets Musk's May 13 tweet  "Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users"  asserting it was "false because the buyout was not, in fact, temporarily on hold." The legal filing contends that Twitter had not agreed to a pause, and the merger agreement contained no provision allowing Musk to unilaterally halt the deal.

Arnzen extensively questioned Musk about the tweet, asking if he believed it would have a "material impact" on Twitter's stock. Musk maintained that he had explicitly stated his commitment to the deal at the time, likening the "temporarily on hold" statement to "saying youre going to be late for a meeting. (It doesn't) mean you are not going to be at the meeting."

Despite his explanation, Twitter's stock fell nearly 10% on May 13. When repeatedly asked if he considered the tweet's potential effect on the stock market, Musk consistently replied, "I was simply speaking my mind."

Once his stake became public, Twitter's stock surged by 27% in a single day. That sounds high, Musk responded (Getty Images)

In the subsequent weeks, Musk continued efforts to delay or withdraw from the deal, which the lawsuit claims he did through false and disparaging statements about Twitter's business, causing a sharp decline in the San Francisco company's stock.

In July 2022, Musk intensified his focus on the bots issue, announcing he would abandon his offer to buy Twitter, alleging the company failed to provide sufficient information about fake accounts. This move came despite the lawsuit noting that Musk had waived due diligence for his "take it or leave it" offer, thereby relinquishing his right to examine the companys nonpublic finances.

Musk was asked if, prior to waiving due diligence, he had inquired about Twitters methodology for determining the number of fake or spam accounts, which the company had disclosed to be around 5%. He stated he had not, but assumed that if Twitter included something in an SEC filing, "it would be accurate."

"It subsequently turned out they misrepresented the number of bots," he asserted. "They lied."

"To try to renegotiate the price or delay the merger, Musk made materially false and misleading statements and omissions, and engaged in a scheme to deceive the market, all in violation of the law," the lawsuit states.

The issue of bots and fake accounts on Twitter was not new. The company had paid $809.5 million in 2021 to settle claims of overstating its growth rate and monthly user figures. Twitter had also disclosed its bot estimates to the SEC for years, while cautioning that its estimates might be too low.

Twitter subsequently sued Musk to compel him to complete the deal, prompting a countersuit from Musk. On October 4, Musk ultimately offered to proceed with his original \$44 billion proposal, which Twitter accepted. The deal closed later that month. In the months that followed, Musk significantly reduced the company's workforce, dismantled its trust and safety team, and rolled back content moderation policies. In July 2023, he rebranded Twitter as X.

This is not the first instance of Musk being compelled to defend himself in court against allegations of misleading investors through his social media posts. Three years prior, he spent approximately eight hours testifying in a San Francisco federal trial regarding his unmaterialized 2018 plans to acquire Tesla, the electric automaker he still leads, for \$420 per share. A nine-member jury ultimately absolved Musk of wrongdoing in that case.
End of a special relationship: Why it is over between Starmer and Trump

It wasnt long ago that Sir Keir Starmer was being hailed on the international stage for his skill as a Trump whisperer.

The prime minister was the envy of his international allies for his ability to, against the odds, develop a strong relationship with the famously volatile US president.

But the interviews that the US president has given in the last 48 hours to the Daily Telegraph and The Sun, in which he criticised Sir Keirs refusal to allow attacks on Iran to be launched from RAF bases, and the UKs decision not to join the raids, surely mark the end of the relationship.

The killer line was the presidents almost wistful reflection that the relationship was not what it was  with more than a hint that any damage may be irreparable.

Words like disappointing and far too late (in regards to allowing the US to use RAF bases) suggest a certain regret in Trumps tone rather than his usual bombastic attack style.

Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trumps relationship has broken down, with the prime minister no longer considered the Trump whisperer (PA)

Nevertheless it appears to be over. Sir Keir is no longer the Trump whisperer, he is consigned to a list of world leaders who regularly receive the ire of the current occupant of the Oval Office.

And the biggest loser in all this is the UK in terms of trade and influence.

President Trump had been willing to put aside ideological differences with Starmer, partly because he respected him as a politician, but largely because of his love for the country of his Scottish mothers birth and its royal family.

Much was achieved diplomatically early on because of Trumps desire to ensure his state visit was a huge success and part of his legacy.

The strategy had been that King Charles planned visit to the US for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence would help Starmer persuade the president to be more amenable on issues like handing over Chagos to the Mauritians, being reasonable in respects to Ukraine and the Middle East, and not imposing trade tariffs on Britain along with the rest of the world.

But already issues like handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, Starmers refusal to support Trumps claims on Greenland and the US trade tariffs had poisoned what had been a very positive relationship.

In fact, Trump has told allies that he was lied to about the Chagos deal and now sees it as a threat to US security.

It seems that the UK is not going to escape the reworked tariffs and that carefully negotiated first trade deal is looking more like it is not worth the paper it is written on with each passing day.

Happier times with Trump holding a UK-US trade deal with Sir Keir while speaking to the media at the G7 summit in Canada in June 2025 (PA Archive)

The decision to ignore, and then deplore Starmer, over attacking Iran is perhaps most symbolic of the way the prime ministers restraining influence has now evaporated.

The reason for the collapse in the relationship is complex though. It partly relates to the ongoing anger over the mistake made by the PM of appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US against the wishes of the Trump White House. Having a man who was seen as a friend of both Jeffrey Epstein and China in Washington has not gone down well.

It also relates to the collapse in Sir Keirs own popularity and authority domestically. The Trump administration had put aside its support for Nigel Farage to a certain extent in the early days, but they are as aware as anyone that Starmers days as PM appear to be numbered.

The issues about free speech have become incredibly corrosive too. Just last month, the far right activist Tommy Robinson was welcomed to the State Department as a freedom fighter in what illustrates a growing trend. This followed Trump allies in the UK feeding his administration names of people to deny visas to and sanction in regards to being alleged enemies of free speech.

It is now clear that massaging the ego of the quixotic Trump only goes so far. So while Sir Keir has acted reasonably throughout, that has gone down badly in the White House.

The disagreement over Trumps claim to Greenland may have been seen as the beginning of the end but the truth is that the relationship had already hit the rocks.

The problem for the prime minister though is that without his ability to deal with this president he loses the one thing that had made his premiership a success. He is no longer the bridge between Trump and other western allies, just another floundering international leader on the White Houses naughty list.

But unless he wants to become the puppet to the whims of Trump, like Farage is, then there seems to be no way back for Sir Keir.

The one hope is that the visit by the King on 4 July can still provide a healing moment. By then though it may be that a different prime minister is looking to build a relationship with the president.
UK households have been urged to ensure they have secured the best value for money on their energy bills as rising costs has seen providers rapidly pull offers from the market.

Many experts have warned of looming price rises as conflict in the Middle East hits the supply of oil and gas from the region.

The US and Israel carried out strikes on Iran on Saturday, which were followed by retaliatory Iranian attacks on targets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq.

As the exchanges continue, Iran has said it will not let a single drop of oil leave the region, as it threatens to attack any ship travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, a key lane for the worldwide oil trade.

The situation has led to a spike in the wholesale gas rate, which have almost doubled since the start of the war. The figure is a key driver of UK energy prices.

Analysis by MoneySuperMarket has found that 57 energy tariffs have been either removed or repriced since Monday, as providers anticipate rising costs.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping lane for the global oil industry (AFP/Getty)

Money expert Martin Lewis has advised households to urgently consider a fixed-rate energy deal if they have not already secured one. Many firms have already begun taking their best deals off the market, he added.

If the conflict continues much longer, it is likely it will be reflected in Ofgems energy price cap from July. A fixed tariff energy deal guarantees that customers will pay for their energy at a set rate for a set period of time, usually a year.

Meanwhile, those on a variable tariff will see their unit rate change with the energy price cap.

Mr Lewis said: With deals being pulled all over the place, this is a reminder that this is about getting a cheap fix, not any fix. When you do a comparison, be careful to ensure you're moving to something materially cheaper than the Price Cap from day one.

It's also worth remembering that things are changing rapidly. The risk averse move is to fix now rather than staying on the Price Cap. But, if things settle, there is always the chance fixes may get cheaper again soon, and waiting could've made it cheaper.

There is no way to know what'll happen though, as it depends on the Middle East conflict. So, getting a cheap fix for safety looks a good move now, even if in hindsight it may not turn out to be.

Money expert Martin Lewis has advised households to urgently consider a fixed-rate energy deal (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Archive)

Influential think tank the Resolution Foundation warned on Wednesday that sustained conflict in the Middle East could add 500 on to typical annual energy bills.

The warning comes as households in the UK look forward to a drop in energy bills from April, as Ofgem reduces its cap by 120 following the governments move to reduce energy bills by scrapping an energy efficiency programme. This saving is also set to be seen by those on fixed tariffs.

Laura Hinton from MoneySuperMarket Energy added: While the energy price cap is coming down from next month, this is largely due to readjustments on green levies, rather than wholesale energy costs themselves.

The market was initially predicting energy costs would remain relatively stable before slightly rising towards the end of the year. Instead, recent developments in the Middle East have pushed wholesale gas prices to a 12-month high, up 13 per cent compared with 2025 levels.

As a result of this uncertainty, were already seeing below-cap fixed deals being withdrawn. While the April price cap adjustment will safeguard customers from price hikes for now, energy price rises are now more likely later in the year.

There are still some price-cap beating fixed deals on the market that can save as much as 108 a year against the current price cap. Though its possible that wholesale prices may stabilise over the next few weeks, the best way for people to protect themselves against rises later in the year and beat the price cap, is to switch and fix now.
Farage unveils two Labour defectors as he makes a push for London votes

Nigel Farage has unveiled two senior Labour figures from Londons political scene as the latest defectors to Reform, as he makes a push for votes in the capital ahead of local elections.

Mr Farage welcomed Sir Robin Wales, the controversial former Labour mayor of Newham, who was deselected in 2018, and the former council leader in Newham, Clive Furness, to Reform UK at a press conference in London.

Mr Farage admitted that his partys weakness is a lack of experience on the front line.

Robin Wales is welcomed by Nigel Farage (Getty)

Until now, the most prominent defectors have been right-wing Tories such as Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman and Nadine Dorries.

Sir Robin said he was switching parties because Labour has lost its moral compass under Sir Keir Starmer.

He claimed that the two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives, have failed, and denied that Reform is racist.

Sir Robin has been appointed to be Reforms London director of local government, while Mr Furness will serve as his senior adviser and stand as Reform UKs candidate for mayor of Newham.

But Sir Robin, a 71-year-old veteran of London politics, comes with question marks hanging over him. He was deselected by the Newham Labour Party for the 2018 mayoral election in the borough after the party was forced to rerun the selection following a threat of legal action over alleged irregularities in his original reselection.

In 2011, Sir Robin came under severe criticism for a 111m project to relocate council offices to a single building in Newham, which included 18.7m of design and refurbishment costs.

He was also attacked for investing 40m of taxpayers money in the Olympic stadium after the 2012 London Olympics.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Sir Robin said: After decades fighting for working people in Newham, Ive seen Labour abandon its roots. Under Sadiq Khan and the Labour leadership across London, the capital has seen soaring crime, failing services, and a party that prioritises the wealthy elite over the working class it was built to represent.

The Reform UK mayoral candidate for Newham, Clive Furness (Getty)

May will be a referendum on Sadiq Khan and the Labour Party. Only Reform stands for working people and is presenting a real, credible alternative plan to Labour in London.

Mr Furness added: Labour has clearly and demonstrably failed London. Its sad to see that even Newham, a borough that Sir Robin and I managed to lift out of deprivation, has gone completely backwards under a Labour mayor and a Labour council that is now completely out of touch with the communities it was meant to represent.

Thats why I am joining Reform UK. In May, the choice is clear: more of the same high-crime, high-tax regime with Labour, or real change with Reform.

A London Labour spokesperson said: If Clive Furness and Robin Wales count as a major London announcement, Reform really are scraping the barrel.

Neither [of the] men have been part of the Labour movement for some time. In Newham, Robin Wales was removed by local members following concerns about his record in office.

Nigel Farage, Laila Cunningham and their allies spend their time talking London down and attacking the success of one of the most proudly multicultural cities in the world.
John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. Composite: Brandon Bell/Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images (Composite: Brandon Bell/Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

A bitter primary contest between the four-term Republican US senator John Cornyn and the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, ended in a runoff on Tuesday.

In Texas, a primary runoff is declared if neither candidate are able to capture 50% of the vote. Paxton and Cornyn will now face that election on 26 May.

Speaking to reporters in Austin, Cornyn said he had worked for decades to build the Republican party, both here in Texas and nationally, and refused to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like the scandal-scarred Paxton to risk everything weve worked so hard to build over these many years.

Related: Pete Hegseth fails to say whose munition bombed Iranian girls school, saying US investigating  US politics live

Judgment day is coming for Ken Paxton, Cornyn said.

With just more than two-thirds of the ballots counted, Cornyn led Paxton by less than two percentage points, with a third candidate, the rightwing congressman Wesley Hunt capturing about 13% of the vote.

We just sent a message loud and clear to Washington, Paxton said, at his election night party in Dallas. We are not going to go quietly and we are not going to let you buy this seat.

Emphasizing the amount of money Cornyns campaign and allied groups spent to force a runoff, Paxton declared: Texas is not for sale.

As polls closed across the Lone Star state on Tuesday evening, national Republicans were openly fretting that a victory by Paxton, a scandal-plagued conservative culture warrior who is a darling of Donald Trumps Maga movement, would give Democrats a rare opening in a solidly red state.

Republicans, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, spent tens of millions of dollars rallying to Cornyns defense. Donors will probably be pressed to spend millions more now the race has stretched into a 10-week runoff.

Trump has so far not weighed in, heaping praise on all candidates during a visit to Texas last week. All have touted their closeness to the president, with Cornyn highlighting his record of voting for the presidents agenda. In the last few weeks, he has also touted his electability, warning that his rival would jeopardize Republicans chances of holding the seat in November.

But Paxton has survived years of legal, political and ethics scandals, including being impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House on charges of bribery, abuse of public trust and obstruction of justice. In the Senate, the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction.

Paxton had led in most polls and appeared poised to end Cornyns 24-year Senate career. But in a race further divided by a third candidate, Cornyn had suggested that a runoff would be a possibility.

If you all will please just get out and tell your friends, drag them to the polls and lets get this over with on Tuesday, Paxton told supporters in Waco on Tuesday. Lets do this without a runoff.

Even as Trumps approval ratings falter, and voters sour on his handling of the economy and immigration, Texas Republicans have remained fiercely loyal to the president. In 2024, Trump won the state by nearly 14 percentage points, improving his margins with a boost from Latino voters.

In an interview with CBS, Cornyn conceded that it would be a challenge if only the most radical people vote in the Texas Republican primary.

Washington Republicans have warned that Paxton would force the party to divert resources away from other key Senate contests to protect a seat long viewed as safely red.

Honestly, if you look at the polling in a general election setting, I dont think its outside the realm of possibility that the seat [flips], depending on who the Democrats nominate, the Senate majority leader John Thune told Politico in a recent interview.
A plume of smoke rises after an air strike in Tehran - Mohsen Ganji/AP

Iranian clerics are choosing a new leader, determing whether the Islamic Republic seeks de-escalation or pursues suicidal confrontation with the United States and Israel.

According to reports, the leading contender to take power in Iran is the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

However, several favourites to lead the country have emerged out of the rubble of the air strikes that killed the Supreme Leader, on Saturday. Many of the previous candidates were killed on the opening day of the war.

Its not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead, admitted Donald Trump.

Here are the leading contenders vying for power in the wake of the Ayatollahs killing.

Alireza Arafi

Likely strategy: Ceasefire

The path toward de-escalation runs through Alireza Arafi, the 67-year-old cleric selected to join the temporary council.

Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, told his Omani counterpart that Iran was open to any serious efforts to stop escalation  the first diplomatic signal that Tehran might seek an off-ramp from war.

Pope Francis receives Alireza Arafi during his visit to Vatican City in 2022 - Vatican Media

If clerics select Mr Arafi as Supreme Leader, it would signal willingness to return to that diplomatic framework.

Mr Arafi controls Irans seminaries and religious education infrastructure, giving him clerical credentials.

His controversial 2023 trip to Moscow, during which he met Russian officials and talked about Irans desire for extensive cooperation with Russia, suggests he has backing from the Kremlin.

But Mr Arafis selection would probably mean he serves as a figurehead, while the real power resides with the Larijani family.

Ali Larijani, an adviser, diplomat and scholar, whom the Ayatollah trusted more than anyone, has long been assigned to safeguard the Iranian regime in the event its leadership was wiped out.

In this scenario, Mr Arafi would provide religious legitimacy while the Larijani brothers, Ali and Sadeq, both key members of Khomeinis inner circle, would exercise actual control, using Omani mediation to negotiate a ceasefire that preserves the regimes core interests  ending strikes, maintaining some nuclear capability, avoiding regime change.

Russia would guarantee the agreement. The US would accept limited Iranian nuclear enrichment in exchange for verified constraints preventing weapons development.

There are some obstacles: hardliners who view negotiation as betrayal, commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who want revenge for dead colleagues, and clerics who issued fatwas declaring revenge for Khameneis death.

Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri

Likely strategy: Suicidal escalation

Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri is a 66-year-old cleric whose apocalyptic theology and absolutist politics represent Irans most radical ideological current.

Mr Mirbagheri said on television that to reach the goal of divine proximity, even if half the worlds people are killed, it is worth it. Therefore, the killing of 42,000 people in Gaza does not matter compared to that great goal.

Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri is an uncompromising ideologue

This logic  that tens of thousands of deaths are acceptable costs for theological objectives  would also be likely to be applied to domestic and foreign policy.

If clerics select Mr Mirbagheri, it would signal rejection of any negotiated settlement and commitment to total war regardless of consequences.

He views the Islamic Republic as part of Gods grand plan and conflict between believers and infidels as inevitable.

His ideal governance model is maximalist velayat-e faqih that comprehensively directs all aspects of society toward establishing monotheism without being limited by geographic borders.

In this scenario, Iran would continue Operation True Promise 4 with sustained attacks on US bases across the region, Israeli cities, and Gulf states hosting American forces.

As Supreme Leader, Mr Mirbagheri would order continued strikes on aircraft carriers, oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and UAE, and keep the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of global oil passes, closed.

The US would respond with overwhelming force, potentially including strikes on Irans remaining government infrastructure, cities, imposition of complete economic blockade, and support for regime change operations.

This scenario would end in Irans destruction  but Mirbagheris theology frames martyrdom as victory.

The progress model must do many things so that women observe hijab and not just rely on persuasion, he has said, suggesting his vision of governance extends beyond mere survival to comprehensive ideological transformation.

If the Islamic Republic cannot achieve that transformation, according to Mr Mirbagheri, destruction becomes an acceptable outcome.

Sadeq Larijani

Likely strategy: Pragmatic survival

The path towards managed succession runs through Sadeq Larijani, the 64-year-old head of the Expediency Council whose brother Ali has spent years positioning him as the candidate who can maintain consensus across factions during crises.

Sadeq Larijani served as judiciary chief during the brutal 2009 Green Movement crackdown, establishing hardline credentials.

Sadeq Larijani, the head of the Expediency Council, represents a pragmatic option - Atta Kenare/Getty

But he also occasionally criticised corruption  although considered corrupt himself  and endorsed limited legal reforms, creating just enough moderate credibility to be palatable across factions.

More importantly, he has avoided the polarising controversies that damaged other candidates  no televised statements about acceptable death tolls, no threats to raise flags in Baku, no suspicious Moscow trips suggesting foreign backing.

In this scenario, the Assembly of Experts selects Sadeq Larijani directly rather than elevating Mr Arafi as figurehead.

This signals prioritisation of institutional continuity over ideological purity.

Sadeq would pursue Khameneis policies without Khameneis charisma  maintaining confrontation with the West while avoiding suicidal escalation, preserving the nuclear programme while exploring diplomatic constraints, suppressing dissent while allowing limited economic reform.

Iranian women mourn the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - Anadolu/Getty

The Larijani familys decades of network building, strategic marriages into clerical establishment and careful positioning across key institutions would translate into a governing coalition.

Ali Larijani continues running crisis management as national security council secretary. Sadeq chairs the expediency council that approves major decisions. The familys students and allies staff critical positions throughout the system.

This scenario is the Islamic Republics best chance of survival  not through victory but through outlasting Americas attention span, exploiting divisions among regional states, and demonstrating enough restraint to avoid triggering regime change operations while maintaining enough confrontation to satisfy hardliners.

Mojtaba Khamenei

Likely strategy: Military coup, installed as IRGC puppet  if alive

A possible military dictatorship could seize power through Mojtaba Khamenei, the dead Supreme Leaders second son, who has operated in the shadows for years as his fathers unofficial deputy and potential successor.

If he survived the strikes and the Assembly of Experts fractures over succession  with the clerics unable to agree on Arafi, Mirbagheri, Sadeq Larijani or other candidates  the IRGC could simply impose Mojtaba through military force.

As Khameneis son, he carries dynastic legitimacy. As someone who has managed his fathers office and networks for years, he understands the systems mechanics. As a figure acceptable to IRGC commanders who want revenge for dead colleagues, he provides military backing.

In this scenario, Iran becomes an explicit military dictatorship rather than a theocracy with military characteristics.

Workers in Tehran install a billboard portrait of the late Supreme Leader - Vahid Salemi/AP

The pretence of clerical rule continues, but actual power stays with IRGC commanders who elevate Mojtaba as a figurehead while making decisions through military councils.

The temporary leadership council becomes permanent with rotating military commanders replacing civilian officials.

Iran pursues what IRGC commanders describe as powerful blows to the tired military body of the enemy while consolidating domestic control through intensified repression.

Power vacuum leads to civil war

Another possible outcome that could play out is that an IRGC military coup led by Mojtaba Khamenei triggers something all previous scenarios sought to avoid: civil war and separatist movements exploiting central government weakness.

Kurdish areas in north-west Iran, long seeking autonomy, would probably declare independence or intensify armed resistance if they perceived the central government collapsing into military dictatorship.

Arab populations in Khuzestan province, which contains much of Irans oil infrastructure, have historical grievances and could launch separatist movements.

Kurdish separatists could rebel against any Iranian regime that is formed - David Furst/Getty

Baluch militants in south-eastern Iran near the Pakistani border have conducted attacks for years and would exploit chaos to expand operations.

Iran fragments into competing zones of control  IRGC-dominated Persian core around Tehran, Kurdish autonomous regions in north-west, Arab-majority areas in the south-west, Baluch territories in the south-east.

The Islamic Republic that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini built survives as a rump state controlling perhaps half its former territory while prosecuting multiple counterinsurgency campaigns.

The element of surprise

When Ayatollah Khomeini died in 1989, the Assembly of Experts selected Ali Khamenei within hours despite his lack of required religious credentials, demonstrating the systems ability to adapt constitutional requirements to political necessities.

The same flexibility could elevate unexpected candidates  perhaps a figure not currently being discussed, someone emerging from the IRGC or from quietist clerics in Qom who have avoided politics until crisis demands engagement.

State TV has also been prominently showing Hasan Khomeini, Khomeinis grandson, since Saturday  potentially sending a message.
The four US troops killed in the strike have been named as Sgt Nicole Amor, Sgt Declan Coady, Capt Cody Khork and Sgt Noah Tietjens

The six US soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike on Sunday have been identified.

The drone evaded air defences and hit a temporary tactical command centre at Port Shuaiba, in Kuwait, a day after the US and Israel had launched major strikes on Iran.

The US Department of War on Wednesday released the names of the remaining two soldiers who were killed in the attack.

The soldiers identified were Chief Warrant Officer Robert Marzan, 54, and Major Jeffrey OBrien, 45.

Major Jeffrey OBrien was killed whilst supporting Operation Epic Fury

Officer Marzan was believed to be the individual who perished at the scene, the department said, adding that a medical examiner would confirm the identification.

The Pentagon on Tuesday released the names of the first four US Army Reserve soldiers who lost their lives  Capt Cody A Khork, 35; Sgt Noah L Tietjens, 42; Sgt Nicole M Amor, 39 and Sgt Declan J Coady, 20.

The soldiers were from the 103rd Sustainment Command, based in Des Moines, Iowa.

At least five other US troops were seriously wounded, and the US Army said the strike was under investigation.

Sgt Nicole Amor, pictured with her husband, Joey - AP

On Sunday, Donald Trump expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers, telling The Daily Mail: Theyre great people.

The US president indicated that more casualties from the war were expected, saying: Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. Thats the way it is.

On Saturday, Iran vowed to avenge the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, its Supreme Leader.

Keira Coady holds a photograph of Sgt Declan Coady, her brother, outside her home in Des Moines - AP

US Central Command originally said three soldiers had died in the strikes, but on Monday officials revealed that the death toll had doubled to six, with two more bodies found in rubble and and one person dying from their injuries.

The troops were working in a makeshift office space when they were attacked, CBS News reported.

In a briefing on Monday, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, said a powerful weapon had evaded US air defences and struck a tactical operations centre that was fortified.

A source familiar with the incident told CNN there was no siren or warning ahead of the strike to give the troops time to take cover.

The operation facility was described as a triple-wide trailer, with an office space inside.

The overall building was reportedly surrounded by concrete barriers used to guard against threats such as improvised explosive devices. However, the source said nothing could shield it from drones or missiles.

Some military sources questioned whether the facility had been adequately fortified.

On Tuesday evening, Christian Turner, the UK ambassador to the US, paid tribute to the soldiers.

Speaking at the British embassy, he offered his deep condolences for the brave US service personnel killed by Iranian attacks in recent days.

The US military base at Port Shuaiba was struck on Sunday - CNN

The US has maintained a long-standing defence partnership with Kuwait, with more than 13,000 American troops currently stationed in the Gulf country.

Separately, three US fighter jets were mistakenly shot down over Kuwait in a friendly fire incident early on Monday. The pilots survived.

The deaths of the six soldiers are the only fatalities confirmed by the US military since the war with Iran began. According to US Central Command, 18 troops have been seriously wounded.
Thousands have weighed in with nearly universal disapproval in public comments about President Donald Trumps planned $400m (297m) ballroom at the White House, as the project faces a key review vote on Thursday at the National Capital Planning Commission.

The size and design of the proposed White House Ballroom are hideous, one commenter wrote. I object to the decision to ruin the American publics historical legacy.

Another, from architect Donna Wax, called the presidents plans for a gilded, 22,000-square-foot ballroom inside a newly built, columned East Wing a fascist take on classism.

What Donald Trump is doing to the White House and proposing for other construction is appalling, Penny Jarrett, who grew up outside Washington, told the commission in a February comment. How could he just do that without consent from you or Congress? PLEASE dont let him get away with him building this addition, gold-plated monstrosity, as it will be a replica of his gold plated lifestyle which is disgusting.

More than 98 percent of the more than 10,000 pages of comments were negative, according to a New York Times analysis, and some of the criticism came from unlikely sources.

Nearly all of the public comments about Donald Trumps proposed East Wing ballroom project have been negative (The White House)

I have substantial concerns regarding the action or inaction by the National Capital Planning Commission and/or the White House during the undertaking of the demolition of the East Wing of the White House, Republican Rep. Michael Turner of Ohio, co-chair of the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus, wrote of the plans in a newly released October letter. The stark images of the East Wing demolished in mere days were deeply disturbing to Americans who cherish preservation of our nations history.

President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense, White House spokesman Davis Ingle told The Independent. These long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the Peoples House.

The commission, chaired by a White House staffer and former personal lawyer for the president, will vote Thursday on whether to move forward with the project.

A staff report ahead of the meeting noted the substantial number of public comments, the majority in opposition to the project, but still recommended moving forward with the renovation.

Last month, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, another review board filled with Trump allies, approved the project, despite not seeing the final design and similarly being deluged with almost entirely negative public comments.

Past donors to Trump-related efforts are funding the ballroom project (AFP via Getty)

Last week, a federal judge rejected a preservation groups request for an injunction to block the project.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed an amended lawsuit over the weekend. It alleged the Trump administration violated multiple federal laws by embarking on the construction project unilaterally last fall without prior approval from the two planning commissions and Congress.

No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever  not President Trump, no President Biden, and not anyone else, the suit reads.

Outside of the planning process, the project has generated controversy because of its private funding from past donors to the Trump campaign and inauguration, including numerous large tech companies.

The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire will appeal to Greeces Supreme Court after a 15-month suspended sentence was imposed on Wednesday in relation to an incident in Mykonos in 2020.

The Press Association understands Maguire intends to challenge the sentence, which was reduced in length from an initial 21-month sentence imposed in 2020.

The decision to appeal to a higher court will have the effect of quashing this new judgement, as was the case when Maguire appealed against the first sentence in 2020.

Manchester Uniteds Harry Maguire (Peter Byrne/PA) (Peter Byrne)

Sources close to the player said Maguire and his legal representatives had rejected multiple efforts to settle the case out of court with a financial offer  including one made during the recess in Wednesdays hearing  because he is committed to proving his innocence.

It is understood Maguire did not attend the hearing in Greece and is available for Uniteds match against Newcastle on Wednesday evening.

Sources close to the player said there were no travel restrictions on Maguire, which means as things stand he would be eligible to be part of Englands World Cup squad this summer.

Maguire was initially found guilty in 2020 of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. According to reports, Wednesdays 15-month suspended sentence was imposed for non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery.

Maguire is yet to comment following Wednesdays sentencing, but told the BBC in August 2020 he was scared for his life and was concerned he, along with his family and friends, were being kidnapped.

Harry Maguire will appeal to Greeces Supreme Court (Nigel French/PA) (Nigel French)

We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us, Maguire told BBC Sport.

They were hitting my leg saying my careers over: No more football. You wont play again.

And at this point I thought there is no chance these are police or I dont know who they are, so I tried to run away, I was in that much of a panic, fear, scared for my life. All the way through it.

Manchester United have been approached for comment.
Harry Maguire will appeal against a 15-month suspended sentence following a fresh ruling by a Greek court relating to an incident in Mykonos in August 2020.

The Manchester United and England centre-back was found guilty of non-serious assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery, according to Sky Sports.

Harry Maguire will appeal the fresh verdict (Action Images/Reuters)

Maguire was involved in a brawl alongside family members while on holiday on the Greek island and spent two nights in a police cell following his arrest, but has always denied wrongdoing.

In 2020, he was initially found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery and handed a suspended sentence of 21 months - but a retrial was granted on appeal.

While Maguires suspended sentence has been reduced in length and severity, the defender is determined to clear his name and will appeal the latest verdict, having refused opportunities to settle.

The 32-year-old was not involved in the latest legal proceedings and is set to be involved in tonights match at Newcastle United.

In 2020, Maguires legal team immediately appealed against the guilty ruling - which according to Greek law meant the conviction was automatically nullified.

His retrial was postponed four times between 2023 and 2025 before it eventually took place in Syros on Wednesday.

As Maguire is appealing the fresh verdict, his conviction will once again be quashed. He is expected to appeal to Greeces Supreme Court.
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The first flagship Harry Potter shop in the UK is coming to Oxford Street in London.

The 21,000 sq ft shop will be entirely dedicated to celebrating the locations featured in JK Rowlings bestselling novels, with photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise and interactive experiences providing a magical escape from the muggle world.

Warner Bros plans to launch the two-storey wizarding emporium by autumn this year at 134-140 Oxford St.

Hogwarts enthusiasts will now be able to experience the world of Harry Potter at two official locations - Oxford Street and the existing shop at Kings Cross.

Karl Durrant, WBs Senior Vice President of Worldwide Retail said: Harry Potter is deeply rooted in British storytelling, and this will give fans an exciting new way to experience this magical world in the city that features so prominently in the stories. Offering a completely new retail experience for Harry Potter fans which will delight and entertain, its going to be very special.

The site formerly housed the Scandal nightclub before being redeveloped into a The Ribbon, a curved retail-led building from where it gets its name.

The shop is said to mark another vote of confidence in Oxford Streets ongoing transformation

As it stands, Oxford Street has been plagued with unofficial Harry Potter merchandise outlets and empty American sweet shops, but these are finally being pushed out as major brands bring their flagships stores to the capital in a regeneration effort.

Ikea opened its first inner city store in July last year and a former New Look store is being converted into a Pocket Planet tourist attraction.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has also announced plans to entirely pedestrianise the street as soon as this summer, giving the shopping hotspot a complete makeover.
Harry Styles new album Kiss All The Time, Disco, Occasionally, has been described as having all the emotional heft of a perfume advert in a review.

The album, which will be released on Friday, is the 32-year-olds fourth studio album, his first in four years, and features his latest single Aperture, which he performed at last weeks Brit Awards ceremony in Manchester.

The record has received mixed reviews, with the Telegraph making the perfume advert comparison, while giving the record three out of five stars.

The album will be released on Friday (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

Its review read: The former One Direction superstars album is strange, shallow and soon to be inescapable.

The BBC was more positive in its review, describing the album as the funkiest existential crisis in pop, and quoting LCD Soundsystem, Tom Tom Club and Gang Of Four as reference points.

The review said: Its an interesting space for a stadium-conquering pop star to occupy, and all credit to him for being brave enough to dwell in limbo for the duration of an entire record.

As a portrait of an artist at a crossroads, its compellingly knotty.

Metro gave the album five out of five, and proclaimed Brat summers reign is finally over, its time for Kissco spring.

The review added: Each of the 12 tracks feels intentional in its inclusion, and while some songs are slower or softer against the disco mood, the album is consistent in quality.

The joy he evidently found in his time away from the studio, visiting every European country he could and simply living his life, radiates from the album.

In a three out of five review, The Guardian played on the albums title, claiming the listening experience is nice all the time, good, occasionally.

The review read: The music on Styles new album is muted, subtle and pleasant  but from the title downwards, he has a real problem with words.

The Independent awarded Kiss All The Time, Disco, Occasionally, four out of five stars, calling it personal, bold and finally sounding like himself in its review.

It read: Its almost a relief to have Styles back, given how women in pop have been doing so much of the work in recent years, and really, he has no true male peer (artists such as Bad Bunny, Sam Fender and The Weeknd excel in their own lanes), as much as newcomers such as Benson Boone might try.

No one can match his level of pizzazz. By stepping away for a minute, allowing any fears of getting left behind to cease, Styles has been able to return with newfound clarity and, more importantly, music that actually sounds like him. He let the light in, and it shows.

In support of the album, Styles will head out on the Together, Together tour that will include 12 nights at Wembley Stadium, which could break the record for most performances by any artist in a single year at the national stadium in London.

The global tour, beginning in May this year, will also include dates in Amsterdam, New York, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Melbourne, and Sydney, while he will also play a one-off show in Manchester at Co-Op Live on Friday, which will be available to stream on Netflix on Sunday.
Pete Hegseth was pressed to give more information regarding a strike on a school in Iran over the weekend

State media reported that the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab was destroyed in an attack on Saturday (28 February) during a joint US-Israeli bombing campaign.

The strike led to the deaths of 160 children, according to UN experts.

Asked if there is any clarity on whose munition was used in the strike in a press conference on Wednesday, 4 March, Mr Hegseth repeated: Were investigating it.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blasted the fake news for reporting on the deaths of six U.S. service members killed in an Iranian drone attack and claimed the media wants to make President Donald Trump look bad.

Hegseth made the remark Wednesday during a press briefing at the Pentagon concerning the joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran.

Hegseth claimed that U.S. and Israeli forces would soon be in control of Iran but acknowledged that the country will still be able to shoot some missiles" and attempt to attack U.S. embassies and bases.

They are terrorists, after all, and they need to target civilians because they can't fight toe to toe, but we will find them, and we will kill them, Hegseth said. He then pivoted his attack to the press.

This is what the fake news misses. Weve taken control of Irans airspace and waterways without boots on the ground. We control their fate. But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, its front page news, Hegseth continued, appearing to refer to Sundays deadly attack on a U.S. command center in Kuwait.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Washington (AP)

He added: I get it. The press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality.

Later in the briefing, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Dan Caine paid tribute to the six fallen soldiers and identified four as Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Capt. Cody Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sgt. Declan Coady. The two other soldiers have not been identified until officials inform their families.

To our Gold Star families, to our wounded warriors and their loved ones, we will never forget your sacrifice, Caine said.

Hegseths attack on the press quickly drew criticism from reporters, political strategists, and a veteran.

Dan Lamothe, who covers military affairs for The Washington Post, highlighted that the Pentagon press corps has a long history of covering U.S. military casualties under previous Democratic and Republican administrations.

Under Bush. Under Obama. Under Biden. And yes, under Trump, Lamothe posted on X. Those efforts haven't always been perfect. But they've highlighted sacrifices by American service members and their families, and shortcomings that sometimes allowed those deaths to happen. We'll continue to do so. It's too important to stop.

The U.S. Army identified the fallen soldiers as Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor (bottom-left), Capt. Cody Khork (top left), Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens (top-right) and Sgt. Declan Coady (bottom-right). Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the fake news wants to make President Donald Trump look bad by reporting on their deaths (U.S. Army Reserve)

Eric Mitchell, a U.S. Marine veteran, said he had respect for Hegseth but described his comment about the media as strange.

Pentagon is supposed to share the hard facts and be asked the tough questions about battle damage and troops status, no feelings involved, Mitchell replied to Lamothes post on X. I dont take the media asking questions as picking on the president this has been done and asked for decades.

Natasha Bertrand, a CNN Pentagon and national security correspondent, paraphrased Hegseths remarks and simply added: Six US service members died Sunday.

The group Republicans Against Trump also shared the clip of Hegseths remark and wrote: Pete Hegseth complains the press is making Trump look bad by covering U.S. service members killed during the Iran war.

The six soldiers who died in the attack on the Kuwait command center were members of the Army Reserve, assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, and played a crucial role in logistics, ensuring troops received vital food, water, fuel, ammunition and equipment, officials said.

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, a mother-of- two from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was just days away from returning home to her family, her grieving husband said.

You dont go to Kuwait thinking somethings going to happen, and for her to be one of the first  it hurts, said the 39-year-olds widower, Joey Amor.

Sgt. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, was also killed in the attack and had just told his father last week that he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant.

Capt. Khorks family paid tribute to the 35-year-old Floridian in a statement and said he was drawn to serving the U.S. from a young age.

Tietjens, a 42-year-old married father from Bellevue, Nebraska,, was remembered by his martial arts group as someone who gave his time, discipline, and leadership to others.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to suggest reporting on the deaths of US troops in the Iran conflict is the media trying to make Donald Trump look bad.

On Sunday (1 March), six US service members were killed during an Iranian drone strike at a command center in Kuwait.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday (4 March), Mr Hegseth claimed that fake news outlets were failing to report on the USs successes in the conflict done without boots on the ground.

But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it's front page news. I get it - the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality.
Shabana Mahmood will warn that the scale of small boat arrivals is breeding fear as she warns MPs on the left of her party to back her hardline immigration reforms.

It comes as she begins to introducing sweeping changes that will see asylum seekers who break the law or work illegally thrown out of government-funded accommodation and lose financial support.

The home secretary will say that her reforms to the asylum system and permanent settlement are not a betrayal of Labour values, but rather an embodiment of them as she bids to fight off criticism over the crackdown. The controversial changes are facing significant opposition from campaigners as well as dozens of Labour MPs with some warning that the party face becoming Reform-lite.

Ms Mahmood has doubled down on the plans - which make refugee status temporary and introduces much longer waits for permanent residency in the UK - after Labour came a humiliating third place in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The Greens, who called Ms Mahmoods plans extreme and inhumane, won the seat and Reform came second.

Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, accused the home secretary of bullying refugees for a bump in the polls rather than fixing real problems. Mubeen Bhutta, at the British Red Cross, warned Ms Mahmood: There is little evidence to suggest that making life harder puts people off coming to the UK, when they have been forced to flee their homes.

During her speech on Thursday, Ms Mahmood will say that Labour can steer a path between Reform leader Nigel Farages nightmare pulling up the drawbridge and shutting out the world and Green leader Zack Polanskis fairytale of open borders.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood visits a returns centre in Denmark (Getty Images)

Referring to irregular migration, Ms Mahmood will add: If we cannot deal with so visible a failure, what can the state achieve at all? It is our creed, as the Labour Party, that the state can and must be a force for good. Without the trust of citizens in the state, therefore, there is no space for Labour values - in any part of government - to be realised.

While the number of people arriving in the UK on small boats has risen by 13 per cent year-on-year to 45,774 in 2025, this is still lower than the 2022 peak.

More than 100,000 people claimed asylum in the UK last year, slightly down on the year before but still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, figures released last week show.

Net migration to the UK dropped by two thirds in the 12 months to June 2025, driven by a huge drop in people coming to Britain for work or study. Net migration was an estimated 204,000 - down 69 per cent from 649,000 a year earlier and the lowest annual figure since 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics.

However, the home secretary will warn these numbers are fuelling the rise of the far-right, saying: When people see small boat arrivals, at their current scale or they feel the pace and scale of migration today, they feel like we have lost control.

A loss of control breeds fear and when fearful, people turn inwards. Ms Mahmood will say that this risks fuelling ethno-nationalism.

Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration, Rasmus Stoklund meets British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on February 25, 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Getty Images)

The home secretary will claim in her speech that her reforms offer a compassionate but controlled asylum system.

The Home Office has also announced that support payments and accommodation for asylum seekers will be removed if they work illegally or have the ability to support themselves financially. Those who have the right to work or have broken the law will also see these benefits revoked.

The rule change, which comes into force in June, will replace the statutory legal duty under EU law to provide asylum seekers with support and accommodation with a conditional approach.

As of 31 December 2025, there were 107,003 asylum seekers receiving housing or financial support from the Home Office. Of these, 30,657 were living in migrant hotels, and 72,769 were in a different form of accommodation, such as houses of multiple occupancy.

The vast majority of these people are waiting on the outcome of their asylum claim or appeal. A few thousand people also still receiving financial support even though theyve had a final refusal on their asylum claim. This is to prevent that person becoming destitute.

According to the Home Office, around 21,000 of these migrants could be granted the right to work because they have been waiting for more than 12 months for their asylum claim decision.

Responding to the announcement, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "Labour have deported only 6 per cent of illegal arrivals since coming to office, so rolling out another gimmick will not change a thing."

Mr Hilton added: "The home secretary already has the power to deny support and accommodation to people seeking asylum who are not destitute or who have broken the rules.

"This is the latest in a long line of announcements from successive governments that bullies refugees for a bump in the polls rather than try to solve the real problems faced by people and communities - poverty, homelessness, and the rise of the far right.

"Ministers must end this dangerous race to the bottom and make the case for a UK that welcomes people fleeing war and torture and supports them to rebuild their lives here."

Ms Bhutta said: These plans risk leaving men, women and children who have already endured the trauma of war and persecution in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to recover or plan for their future.

We know through our work that there is a real danger that the changes will not only deprive refugees of the stability they need to rebuild their lives but could also push more people into poverty and homelessness.
Howard Lutnick will give evidence to the House oversight committee as part of its investigation into the paedophile - Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify before Congress following revelations about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The US commerce secretary had previously claimed he had nothing to do with the paedophile after 2005, but disclosures from the Epstein files revealed he planned to visit his Little St James island with his wife and children seven years later.

Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.

Mr Lutnick has now agreed to give evidence to the House oversight committee as part of its investigation into the paedophile, according to James Comer, the committees chairman.

Mr Comer, a Republican, said the commerce secretary had proactively agreed to appear voluntarily, praising his demonstrated commitment to transparency.

His comments appeared designed to strike a contrast with Bill and Hillary Clinton, the former US president and US secretary of state, who were threatened with a prison sentence before they testified last week.

I look forward to appearing before the committee. I have done nothing wrong and I want to set the record straight, Mr Lutnick said in a statement to Axios.

There are signs, however, that the commerce secretary is increasingly coming under the microscope from the committee over his relationship with Epstein.

In October, Mr Lutnick told the New York Post that he and his wife vowed to cut off contact with Epstein after the paedophile made a disgusting remark about his massage table in 2005.

Documents from the Epstein files released in January, however, show Mr Lutnick planning a visit to Little St James  where the paedophile groomed and trafficked underage girls  in 2012 with his wife and children.

I had lunch with him for an hour

Grilled by a Senate committee on their relationship last month, the commerce secretary said: I did not have any relationship with him, I barely had anything to do with that person.

I did have lunch with him, my wife and my four children and nannieson the island, for an hour, adding that it only took place because he had been on a boat nearby.

Another document showed Mr Lutnick seemingly inviting Epstein to a fundraiser for Mrs Clinton, who would go on to lose the presidential election to Donald Trump, in 2016.

The former secretary of state was questioned on her links to Mr Lutnick during her deposition before the committee on Thursday.

I know Howard Lutnick because when I was senator on 9/11, the firm he headed [Cantor Fitzgerald] suffered the greatest loss of life, she said, in response to a question by Nancy Mace, a Republican congresswoman.

Howard Lutnick missed being a victim [in the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center] because he was delayed dropping his child off to kindergarten.
Witchcraft and ritualistic abuse towards children is the most shadowed form of abuse (PA)

Hundreds, if not thousands, of ritualistic abuse cases against children have gone unreported in the last four decades, as experts described it as the most shadowed form of abuse.

An analysis of police data undertaken by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) revealed a gap, with just seven cases investigated in 2024 out of 4,450 instances of child abuse, marking just 0.2 per cent of all investigations.

However, when the NPCC assessed data from the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), it found that within a sample of 36,700 calls to their helpline between July 2016 and January 2025, 1,311 or 3.57 per cent, mentioned organised and ritualistic abuse.

A similar survey of 100 UK psychologists found that 38 per cent had dealt with one or more cases of satanic or ritualised abuse, with a new report calling for urgent training across safeguarding practices to recognise such practices.

The term is usually applied to a group of perpetrators or individuals who use rituals as a form of prolonged and repeated torture with the aim of controlling, silencing and terrorising their victims.

In recent years, there have also been nine case reviews involving witchcraft, spirit possession and ritualistic abuse (WSPRA), with the children impacted ranging from six weeks old to 14 years old.

This includes voodoo practices, informing victims that they have been possessed by evil spirits and must be subjected to cleansing and purification.

Victoria Climbie was killed by her great-aunt and her partner after they accused her of being possessed by evil spirits (PA)

In early 2025, eight members of a monstrous paedophile ring in Glasgow were jailed, with seven receiving life sentences, after they abused four children with Class A drugs, alcohol and subjected them to rape nights.

While charges of witchcraft were dropped from the case, the court heard that the group had attempted to murder a young girl in a microwave, had forced her to eat dog food, locked her in a cupboard with spiders and chased her while wearing devil masks.

In evidence played to the court, one of the children described the abuse: Two witches holded my legs down, it felt uncomfortable, all the witches and wizards were watching.

A new report by the NPCC and NAPAC found that in the last 40 years, there have been at least 14 cases in which people have been convicted of sexually abusing children, with their use of ritualistic practices acknowledged in court.

This stems back to 1982, with infamous cases including eight-year-old Victoria Climbie, who was tortured to death in 2005 after accusations of witchcraft were levelled against her by her great-aunt Marie-Therese Kouao and her partner Carl John Manning.

They claimed she was possessed by evil spirits and was exorcised by a pastor, with a post mortem examination discovering 128 injuries on her malnourished body.

The latest review, conducted by clinical psychologist Dr Elly Hanson, found that most survivors of organised ritualistic abuse report adult family members as primary perpetrators, meaning it often occurs in closed networks and within community settings.

Dr Hanson said: We see children growing up in households where they are routinely neglected, abused and subjected to every day sexual abuse.

Given that abuse of this nature can be intergenerational, and can see the perpetrators once being victims themselves, it creates intense pressure to remain silent and compliant.

NAPAC chief executive Gabrielle Shaw said that cases can often involve claims of the supernatural and the need to purify, with some children forced to carry out abuse on others.

She said: What makes this so dreadful, but also so effective as a form of abuse, is that the victim survivors themselves are made to feel part of it.

Youre part of this. Youre on the inside now.

Perpetrators may also sometimes deliberately use outlandish tactics to lower the chances of their victims being believed and keeping them trapped, experts believe.

Conspiracy fictions such as QAnon, which has promoted narratives of extensive satanic ritual abuse, have similarly caused widespread harm and have fuelled a discourse of disbelief around such crimes.

Recommendations include targeted training to front line staff to differentiate between culturally legitimate practices and harmful abuse designed as belief, as well as each police force designating a Single Points of Contact and a clear pathway to share intelligence across forces.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) will head to a runoff against Texass hard-right, scandal-ridden Attorney General Ken Paxton in a race that risks costing Republicans a Senate seat in a state where they havent lost one since 1988.

Neither candidate won a majority of the vote on Tuesday due to the late entrance of Houston Rep. Wesley Hunt, meaning the race will go to a runoff on May 26. Late Tuesday, Cornyn led the race in first place, while Paxton was placed in second.

But the race has already become the most expensive Senate primary in history, topping out at $128 million. Cornyn and super PACs aligned with him have spent $71 million to save the four-term incumbent Republican. To boot, President Donald Trump has remained neutral in the race, making Cornyns race more difficult.

Cornyn delivered a defiant speech on Tuesday evening saying he would continue to fight Paxton given his history of corruption and baggage.

I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we've worked so hard to build over these many years.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) will head into runoff against ultra MAGA Attorney General Ken Paxton (AP)

Republicans fear that Paxtons numerous scandals could cost Republicans the Senate seat. That made Democrats think they had a shot at winning the race. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas went up against state opponent Rep. James Talarico of the Austin area in the Democratic primary, which has yet to be called.

During his concession speech, Hunt did not endorse either Cornyn or Paxton, a sign of how radioactive both men are to different parts of the Republican electorate.

At the end of the day, I wish the best of luck in this runoff, and then whoever the people choose to go to the general election, they will have my undying support, he said.

Conservatives in Texas accuse Cornyn, a former attorney general, of being insufficiently supportive of the president. They point to his negotiating a gun control bill signed by former President Joe Biden after the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 students and 2 teachers. In 2023, as Trump prepared to run for president again, Cornyn told reporters that Trumps time has passed him by.

Cornyn also voted to certify the 2020 presidential election results, whereas Paxton sued battleground states in 2020 to challenge the election results, which the Supreme Court threw out.

Paxton has faced a series of scandals, having been under federal indictment almost as soon as he became attorney general in 2014, though the Department of Justice declined to prosecute him. He also agreed to pay $300,00 in restitution to end the charges.

Attorney General Paxton staged an insurgent primary race against Cornyn, winning a large slice of the Republican electorate based on his support for Trump (Getty)

But its not the only controversy he faces. In 2023, the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives impeached him for corruption, specifically, using his office to benefit a donor named Nate Paul, who at the time faced a federal investigation. The state Senate would later acquit him, but not without spilling a litany of details about his alleged affair.

Paxtons wife, Angela, a state senator in her own right, would later announce her divorce on biblical grounds, because of his supposed philandering.

Cornyn warned that Republicans could lose not just the Senate race, but races lower on the ballot in the state.

If he were the nominee, Ken Paxton as the nominee would be a dead weight at the top of the ticket for Republicans, he said. Over the next 12 weeks, Texas Republican primary voters will hear more about my record of delivering conservative victories in the United States Senate, and learn more about Ken's indefensible personal behavior and failures in office.

Supporters of Paxton and the attorney general himself have argued that Cornyns defiance takes money away from helping Republicans flip Senate seats and protect vulnerable incumbents and open seats in places such as Maine, Alaska and North Carolina.

On the Democratic side, early results showed Talarico had won at least a majority of the vote. But Crockett said voters would likely not know the results because of chaos in Dallas County where a lack of coordination between the two local parties led to people not knowing where to vote.

Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do, and so they specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why, Crockett told supporters in Dallas.

Democrats had attempted to keep the polls open until 9:00 p.m., but the Texas Supreme Court put a stay on the legal action.

The race almost certainly will be incredibly expensive. But Cornyn has warned that Paxton being at the top of the ticket could create a disaster for Republicans lower on the ballot and be an albatross.

But many Republicans are prepared for Paxtons arrival. Last week, during Trumps State of the Union Address, while Cornyn sat in the front rows with other senators, Texas Rep. Troy Nehls invited Paxton as his guest.
The insurance industry has to do more to gain peoples trust, a boss at the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has told MPs.

Hannah Gurga, director general of the ABI, was speaking to the Treasury Committee on financial inclusion.

Asked to reassure the committee that as insights from technology about society move forward, more people will not be excluded from insurance because the risk premium becomes unaffordable, Ms Gurga said: Youve touched on a really important issue, but I dont think its just about AI or technology.

I joined the ABI at the start of 2022, my background is not in the insurance industry.

And I believe as an industry we have to do more to gain peoples trust.

And we are making every effort to do that, by providing greater transparency around how premiums are calculated, by working together with our members to ensure that customers enjoy a good claims experience in the event that they do need to make a claim.

But I think thats the first and foremost act for the ABI, working with our members, is really to build trust and confidence that the industry is pricing accurately and fairly, that we are committed to serving the communities in which we live and work.

We want to be representative of those customers, we want to be more diverse as an industry, so that we actually actively represent those consumers.

She added: When it comes to the use of new technology and AI, I think we probably have a better job to do in explaining how were already using it.

Telematics will be something youre already familiar with, the so-called black box in motor vehicles, those are not designed to be exclusionary, those are designed to enable insurers to have confidence from the data around how people are driving that they can make the premium more affordable because theyve got confidence in the risk profile of the driver.

Telematics is used to make the premium more affordable for drivers (Alamy/PA)

Representatives of the banking industry gave evidence in an earlier part of the session.

Jasjyot Singh, chief executive, consumer relationships at Lloyds Banking Group, told the hearing: From my perspective, I think there are two main themes that are the biggest drivers for financial exclusion.

The first theme is around capability and confidence and the second big theme I guess is the absence of understanding the interconnected nature of the systems that drive financial exclusion.

Very often our conversations about financial exclusion are limited to or focused on products, and not the interconnected nature of financial exclusion.

He said of Lloyds Banking Group: We feel its important that we are quite actively contributing towards increasing financial inclusion in the country. I think any steps that make progress towards that goal should be things that we like.

He also told the MPs: We know 10% of our customers have no savings at all, and for those customers, talking to them about savings products is a second step. The first step is how might we help them maximise their income.

So all our customers can go into the app and they can actually connect or find benefits that theyre missing.

He said that for customers with minimal savings: We need to help them build a much more regular savings habit. So one of the things we offer customers is save the change which is every time youre spending round up your savings and put it in a savings account.

Weve had about two million customers whove used save the change to build a better savings habit.

Nationwide has pledged to keep branches open until at least 2030 (Alamy/PA)

Asked about customers who can only be dealt with face-to-face rather than online, Stephen Noakes, director of retail at Nationwide Building Society, said: Nationwide is a mutual, its shareholders therefore are its customers, so the decision process does look different.

He added: In the last 12 months, 56% of our customers used our branches. So for Nationwide, its not a minority offering. Now if you look to the demographic of the average Nationwide customer using a branch, its typically older. And we are probably seeing a disproportionate number of those customers that are offline.

But I think thats good actually for the development of the banking sector, that youve got a large mutual and its not just ourselves but other building societies are in the same situation. That well continue to do more channel of choice, but I think that situation is going to exist beyond 2030 where weve currently got our branch commitment to.

In November 2025, Nationwide made a new pledge to keep each of its 696 Nationwide and Virgin Money branches combined open until at least 2030, extending its existing branch promise by at least another two years.
by John Ambrosio

In a recent interview in the New York Times Magazine, Robert Reich, a progressive university teacher and prolific writer, who worked in three presidential administrations, including serving as Bill Clintons Secretary of Labor, commented that his views of conservatives had changed because of a close friendship with Alan Simpson, a former Republican Senator from Wyoming. After attending a dinner with approximately 20 Republicans at Simpsons home, including some Trump supporters, Reich wrote that they were, I think, its fair to say, absolutely lovely people. Generous and kind and totally enjoyable. Alan taught me that the humanity of people in Wyoming, and in the center of this country, and many, many Republicans is so much more important than whether they believe in Social Security.

My experience living in a rural Midwest city for nearly two decades led me to a similar conclusion, that the community where I reside is mostly comprised of very decent people, who care deeply for their families and friends, who are hard-working, responsible, thrifty, and honest, all qualities that I value and admire. There is also a strong and genuine sense of community, of helping neighbors and others in need, which I also find very appealing.

All of this leaves me with a troubling question: How can such genuinely decent people consistently vote for Trump and MAGA Republicans? Part of the answer is simply the inertia of tradition, custom, and habit: voting Republican is an essential part of their identity that is deeply rooted in certain ways of thinking, being, and belonging that do not change easily. It is also due to a kind of complacency, to an ignorance of U.S. history and the structure and functioning of the federal government, and to being embedded in conservative religious and political ideologies that frame how they interpret and understand their lived experience.

Because most working-class people get their news and information primarily from social media and YouTube they are continually exposed to the misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories of far-right pundits and podcasters. These narratives are reinforced and amplified by right-wing evangelical Christian churches in working-class communities, which are often the only local institution that acknowledges and validates their grievances. All of this is not to make excuses for working-class voters who supported an openly racist and corrupt authoritarian for president, but to try to understand how otherwise decent and well-meaning people could vote for Trump and his MAGA allies in Congress when his hateful rhetoric and destructive policies ostensibly contradict their core values and beliefs.

While there is a portion of the working-class that embraces and celebrates Trumps cruelty, lawlessness, and authoritarianism, there are many others who see him as their champion, as someone who claims to be fighting for them against a rigged establishment and corrupt status quo that serves elite interests at their expense. After more than forty years of being left behind by both political parties, with stagnant wages, sharply rising costs for housing, health care, childcare, and other essentials, and a declining standard of living, many working-class voters are willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt that he will do something to improve their lives.

All of this is not to dismiss or downplay the ugly reality that some of Trumps white working-class supporters are drawn to his politics, at least in part, based on his naked appeals to white supremacy and denigration of black and brown immigrants. A deep river of white racism continues to run through the Midwestern city where I live, which has a long history of Klan activity and is still largely populated by low-income whites, the descendants of workers who migrated here decades ago from states that were part of the former Confederacy.

Numerous theories have been offered to explain why the U.S. working-class, half of which is comprised of people of color, could embrace Trump and the modern Republican Party, which is openly racist, has systematically undermined the rights of workers and organized labor, and whose policies have historically been focused on slashing taxes for the wealthy and large corporations, rolling back the welfare state, deregulating the economy, and attacking the undeserving poor.

In his influential 2004 book Whats the Matter with Kansas: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America Thomas Frank argued that Republican appeals to culture-war issues, such as abortion, homosexuality, and the role of religion in public life, along with right-wing populist appeals to working-class victimization by educated coastal elites, led many workers to support the Republican Party. That is, many working-class voters no longer see their interests only, or primarily, in terms of economic security, but in restoring a lost era and way of life that existed prior to deindustrialization and the hollowing out of the manufacturing sector.

At a time when political affiliations have become fused with other forms of identity, especially with racial, gender, and religious identities, it has become increasingly difficult to question or challenge the policies of parties without calling into question the core identities of their supporters. However, while there is some evidence to support the view that the economic interests of working-class voters has taken a back seat to the culture war, given the electoral success of Republican appeals on these issues, it does not tell the whole story.

The success of Republican appeals must be understood in the context of the abandonment of the working-class by the Democratic Party, which began with Carter, but accelerated under Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council, and continued under Obama. More than forty years of neoliberal policies, which include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was signed into law by Clinton in 1993, have decimated the working-class and hastened the decline of industrial unions. International trade deals in which millions of manufacturing workers lost their jobs produced empty storefronts and boarded up main streets across the Midwestern rust-belt.

These workers were left to fend for themselves in an emerging high-tech information and finance-based economy in which their skills and experience were no longer valued or necessary. For many manufacturing workers, especially older ones who were unable or unwilling to retrain for other kinds of employment, most available jobs were in the low-wage service sector, in retail stores, restaurants, and similar workplaces, which meant a steep cut in their weekly earnings, a significant decline in their standard of living, and loss of the social status and self-esteem they derived from work. One result of this economic catastrophe was an increase in deaths of despair as working and middle class white men between the ages of 45-54 increasingly succumbed to drug overdoses, excessive drinking, and suicide.

A recent study by the Center for Working Class Politics that tracked working and middle/upper class opinion on a broad range of social and economic issues over a number of decades found that the working-class has historically held relatively progressive views on many economic issues, but less so on social issues compared to the middle/upper classes, and argued that a left populism can win over some working-class voters. If this is correct, it raises the same question posed by Frank more than two decades ago: Why does the electoral behavior of working-class voters not reflect their relatively progressive views on economic issues? Are these issues not salient enough to influence their electoral behavior? Has the cautious, incremental, technocratic, poll and donor-driven politics of the Democratic Party, and its preoccupation with politically correct language and virtue signaling alienated working-class people from other key constituencies of the Democratic Party coalition?

In her 2024 book, Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right, renowned Berkeley sociologist Arlie Hochschild examined the economic and cultural factors influencing the emotions of white working-class conservatives in a deep red Republican congressional district in rural eastern Kentucky. Like the white working-class conservatives in rural Louisiana she examined in her previous book, Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right, Hochschild emphasized the importance of understanding the deep story, the emotional narratives that people use to explain their lives, of examining the relation between the social and economic circumstances in which people find themselves and how they interpret and understand them.

In both cases Hochschild found a paradox in the way people thought about their lived experience. In Strangers in Their Own Land the paradox was why white blue-collar workers in Luisiana, who were sickened by local petrochemical plants, opposed federal help to regulate the corporations that polluted their environment. Whereas in Stolen Pride Hochschild examined the paradox of why working-class people in an overwhelmingly white and extremely poor Republican district in rural Kentucky blame liberals, immigrants, and the federal government for their economic decline and cultural marginalization.

By appealing to their pride in hard work and personal responsibility, and to the shame workers feel in failing to live up to these core values, the Republican Party persuaded these white blue-collar voters that their economic circumstances are the result of liberal government policies that enabled educated women and minorities to cut ahead of them, to jump the line in obtaining access to resources and economic opportunities. By affirming their pride and shifting the responsibility to others, Republican electoral appeals changed the narrative from one of personal failure, in which workers blamed themselves, to a future stolen from them by liberal government-facilitated line cutters. This narrative served as a powerful motivation to support the Republican Party because it enabled working-class voters to maintain their dignity and self-respect, to see themselves in a positive light, albeit on the basis of a false claim.

How, then, do otherwise decent people, like the mostly white working-class voters in my rural Midwestern community, do indecent things like vote for a convicted felon who was found liable for sexual abuse and incited a mob to violently attack the Capitol to nullify the results of a free and fair presidential election? Is it because many of Trumps supporters inhabit an impenetrable right-wing information bubble that marinates them in lies and disinformation, that shields them from unwelcome and inconvenient facts? Is it because they refuse to acknowledge empirical evidence and verifiable facts that are inconsistent with their ideological commitments, which would pose a threat to their partisan-aligned identities? Do they dismiss all criticism of Trump as fake news because, in an existential struggle against a corrupt and indifferent elite, he is their imperfect champion?

I would argue that examining the relation between the social and economic conditions in which working-class people find themselves, and how these conditions intersect with their psychological need for dignity, esteem, status, and belonging, is essential to understanding and effectively appealing to working-class voters. Fact-based criticism of Republican Party policies that harm working-class people is often ineffective because the personal cost of acknowledging it is simply too high. Acknowledging such criticism would jeopardize the genuine pleasure people derive from belonging to something bigger than themselves, to a political movement that celebrates the unfettered expression of their anger and grievances, and because they are emotionally invested in a nostalgic vision of the future, rooted in a fictionalized and sanitized past, that restores a lost world. These are powerful motivations to deny objective reality and blame others for their circumstances.

Like all people, working-class voters are complicated and often hold contradictory, inconsistant, and incoherent views about society and the world, which leads them to make choices that can have unintended consequences. Individuals should be held responsible for their electoral choices, regardless of whether they are based on easily refutable lies, misinformation, and conspiracy theories. But is it possible that patriotic, honest, and decent people can make bad choices for good reasons, as they understand them? If so, how might this possibility inform our understanding of their complicity in supporting a lawless demagogue?

We all live in stories that enable us to understand our lived experience, that help us interpret the world around us and situate ourselves in history and society. These stories become part of our identities, informing our values, beliefs, and behavior, which is why it is exceedingly difficult to change them. Is simply telling a different story, an alternative narrative, enough to breach the formidable psychological defenses that protect cherished identities from threatening facts and information? Or will it take a shock to the system, some kind of social or economic calamity, to break through the psychological barriers of working-class Trump supporters?

Some liberals and progressives argue that working-class people will wake up to the reality of Trumpism when, and only when, it affects their own lives in a direct way, when they cannot escape the negative consequences of their electoral choices. While this is certainly a possibility, it is unlikely that more suffering will lead to better outcomes; they could just as easily lead to worse ones, depending on who people blame for their circumstances. Even if working-class voters dont blame liberals, minorities, and immigrants for their economic and cultural decline, they may simply decide to sit out elections. The hope that worsening social and economic conditions will compel workers to see the light, to break through the emotional and psychological barriers that keep them from recognizing that Trump and MAGA Republicans have deceived and cynically manipulated them, is a chimera.

The fact that the Republican Party is hellbent on destroying liberal constitutional democracy and repealing the New Deal, the Great Society, and much of the social and scientific progress of the 20th century should be reason enough for workers to reject Trump and his MAGA allies, but the reality is that democracy is not working for many working-class people for whom the American Dream has become a false promise and unobtainable goal.

Of course, some Trump voters are not blinded by the far-right propaganda machine, they know that Trump is a racist, sexist, xenophobic bully, but hes their bully, fighting for their rights, for their besieged minority, as they see it, against all those who unjustly benefit from liberal Democratic Party policies. Rather than vilify and dismiss working-class voters who support Trump and MAGA Republicans as racists, fascists, or deplorables, perhaps we can agree that all of us make bad choices, often for what seem to us at the time to be perfectly good and understandable reasons. It is important not to vilify working-class Trump supporters because they made the grave, naive, and unforgivable mistake of voting for a demagogue who falsely promised them a better life. If we want to understand rather than blame them, we might conclude that some working-class Trump voters are responding to the social and economic conditions in which they find themselves in a way that makes sense to them.

Perhaps we can begin with the recognition that we are all flawed and broken people, that we all make bad choices for seemingly good reasons, that desperate people will often be drawn to demagogues who offer them a modicum of hope of improving their lives. I would argue that we need to see working-class Trump supporters with a bit more empathy, cognizant of the fact that we all have the capacity, under certain circumstances, to act in authoritarian and fascistic ways. We need to embrace a form of cognitive dissonance in which we hold two opposing thoughts at the same time: that most working-class people are decent human beings and that decent people can sometimes make indecent choices.

It is imperative that pro-democracy forces not lose hope that some portion of the working-class can be won over, that we do not write them off because we think they made uninformed, self-destructive, and socially harmful choices. Instead of seeking to punish and dismiss all working-class Trump voters, some of whom clearly did not believe he would actually do the things he said he would, were not motivated by his appeals to white supremacy and hatred of black and brown immigrants, and may be experiencing buyers remorse, pro-democracy forces should leave open the possibility that they can be reached and are still persuadable.

To defeat Trumps authoritarianism we must not blame desperate people for making angry or fearful choices that are bad for themselves and the country, but accept their economic grievances as legitimate and offer them a compelling story that connects the dots, meets their emotional and psychological needs, and points to the real source of their suffering.

A left populism that takes account of the emotional and psychological needs of workers would include, not only rhetorical appeals by elected officials, but fiscal policies and legislation that elevates the status and value of blue-collar work and strengthens organized labor. Of course, one could argue that this is precisely what President Biden did. He was the first president to join a union picket line, passed landmark legislation that created millions of good-paying blue-collar jobs, and created an unapologetically pro-union National Labor Relations Board. But it was too little too late to restore the trust of blue-collar workers and turn around decades of political harm and neglect by the Democratic Party.

In the end, a new kind of left populism must be in the service of a larger vision, of an alternative political and economic order that is hopeful, inclusive, radically democratic, and that genuinely addresses the worsening affordability crisis, endemic political corruption and extreme wealth and income inequality, and can capture the imagination of working-class voters who are desperately looking for a reason to believe that their lives can change for the better.

But it must also authentically engage with cultural issues that are important to working-class voters. This does not mean that everyone has to agree, only that different views can be represented within the coalition, can be discussed and contested, that the Democratic Party need not speak with a single voice, even on issues of importance to key constituencies. Rather than coalescing around specific policy positions, the coalition would be united by adherence to a broadly-defined set of core values and beliefs that can accommodate different perspectives without compromising key ethical principles, such as equity, equality of opportunity, and fairness, that liberals, progressives, and others hold most dear.

***

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Iranian forces have set fire to a US oil tanker after striking it in the northern Gulf, according to state media.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned they would set fire to any vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after claiming complete control of the major shipping route on Wednesday.

The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway in the Persian Gulf through which around a fifth of the worlds oil passes.

The US has not commented on reports of an attack, which represent a further escalation in the ongoing conflict as it enters its sixth day.

Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said that a tanker anchored off Kuwait was hit by a large explosion. The vessel was taking on water and oil was seen leaking from a cargo tank. It is unclear whether these reports are of the same incident.

Iran effectively closed the route this week after US missiles sank several Iranian ships. By Sunday, maritime traffic had dropped by 80 per cent, according to Lloyds List Intelligence.

Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republics navy, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds major shipping routes (AP)

The IRGC threatened to set fire to any ships attempting to pass through the strait. US president Donald Trump said that US Navy forces would be deployed to escort oil tankers if necessary.

Experts have warned that global supply chains will face major disruption, and that restrictions to shipping could send oil prices well into triple digits.

Below, we look at why the strait is so strategically important.

Where is the Strait of Hormuz?

The Strait of Hormuz runs to the south of Iran and is just 21 miles across at its narrowest point (Getty/iStock)

The Strait of Hormuz lies between the Persian Gulf to the north and the Gulf of Oman to the south, opening up to the Arabian Sea and beyond to the rest of the world.

It is roughly 100 miles long, but only 21 miles across at its narrowest point.

The land-flanked passage lies in Irans territorial waters, but is viewed as an international waterway and is normally open to all ships. It consists of two shipping lanes allowing traffic to pass in opposite directions, each two miles wide, with another two-mile-wide lane separating them.

International law permits countries to exercise control up to 13.8 miles (12 nautical miles) from their coastline. At its narrowest point, the passage comes under both Iranian and Omani control.

Iran lies on one side of the strait, and some of the worlds biggest oil suppliers including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman lie across the waters.

What passes through the strait?

Around a fifth of the worlds oil supply passes through the strait (Stock picture) (Reuters)

It is one of the worlds most important maritime chokepoints, with 20 million barrels of oil passing through it each day  one-fifth of global oil consumption  and up to one-third of the worlds supply of liquefied natural gas.

This amounts to over 500 million barrels of oil and 6 million tonnes of gas every month, according to Lloyds List. Much of this is exported to Asian markets, including China (Irans only remaining oil customer), India and Japan.

It is the route used by supertankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran.

Around 3,000 shipping vessels pass through the passage every month, including oil tankers, liquefied natural gas containers, and cargo vessels, according to Lloyds List. This amounts to more than 30,000 ships every year.

While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can transport oil, the US Energy Information Administration says that most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.

Last month, Iran closed the Middle Eastern waterway for the first time since the 1980s as Iranian troops took part in live-fire military exercises.

Iran had not threatened to close the passage even during its 12-day war with Israel last June, when US-Israeli strikes took out some of the countrys key nuclear and military sites.

A global trade bottleneck as missiles rain down

Traffic through the strait has dropped dramatically since the US strikes began (MarineTraffic)

Passage through the waterway has almost ground to a halt, creating a trade bottleneck, since the current war broke out.

Seaborne traffic is reported to have dropped by 80 per cent on Sunday, according to Lloyds List Intelligence, while Argus Media cited the Bahrain-based Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) in reporting that movement had dropped by 94 per cent since Saturday. Only three ships passed through, according to JMIC, far below the average of 138.

Around 150 vessels have dropped anchor near the strait, according to reports. Hundreds of others have dropped anchor near to Gulf countries as shipping movements are halted.

At least four tankers are reported to have been hit in the mayhem as maritime insurers have pulled insurance cover. At least one Indian crew member was killed, according to Euro News. Several reports from trade publications suggest that others have been injured.

Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday that the US Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.

No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD, he wrote, adding: The United States ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH  More actions to come.

In his message, the president added that he was ordering the US International Development Finance Corporation, a government agency focused on foreign infrastructure investment, to offer political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.

US attacks have spilled over into international waters with the US military torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, 40 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka. At least 80 people were killed, and 100 more are missing. The strike is likely to deepen a crisis that has already paralysed maritime shipping.

An aerial view of the Iranian shore and the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)

Effects on oil prices and the global economy

Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is highly disruptive to the oil trade.

The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated, said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman.

A partial slowdown lasting a week or two could be absorbed by oil companies, he said. But a full, or near full, closure lasting a month or more would push crude oil prices, trading at around $80 (59) on Tuesday, well into triple digits and European natural gas prices toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.

Threats to the route have spiked global energy prices in the past, including during the Israel-Iran war in June 2025.

China and Japan, who will be severely affected, have called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict. A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday, when asked about the potential impact on Chinas oil supply, that China would take necessary measures to safeguard its energy security.
British troops are being held at very high readiness in the UK to respond to the escalating conflict in the Middle East if needed, Western officials have said, as they warned that the war could go on for some time.

It comes as US bombers are expected to arrive at British bases  including Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford  within days.

The two airbases were initially denied to the US for their strikes against the Iranian regime, sparking the ire of Donald Trump, who said he was not happy with the UK over the extent of its support.

While it is understood there are no immediate plans to send additional UK troops to Cyprus, they are always held on high alert in the UK in order to respond to a crisis.

Defence secretary John Healey speaking on Sky News (Sky News)

In a briefing, Western officials also refused to rule out participating in future strikes against Iranian ballistic missile launch sites.

I wouldnt rule anything out at all because we just dont know what will happen day to day, week to week as this progresses, one official said.

Cobra meetings are being held on a daily basis to respond to the crisis, it is understood, as officials warned that the Armed Forces are facing a difficult tactical and operational problem following Irans reckless, haphazard and hugely escalatory response.

Western officials said the situation in the Middle East is developing almost every hour and could go on for some time, adding that they are preparing to settle in and make sure they are ready to protect British interests in not just short term, but the medium term as well.

The UK is also preparing to send a warship to protect a British base in Cyprus which was struck by a drone earlier this week.

But officials confirmed that HMS Dragon  which is undergoing maintenance before being loaded with ammunition in Portsmouth  will not set sail until next week.

They would not specify where the drone which struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus had come from, but said assessments showed it was a Shahed type and had not been launched from Iran.

HMS Dragon will set sail next week (PA)

Asked by journalists why there was no Type 45 destroyer sent to the region months ago during a US military build-up, they said increasingly fragile geopolitics with many different security threats made the situation complex.

HMS Dragon was chosen because it was the readiest for the mission, officials said.

Meanwhile, Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are being deployed within days, before the warship, to bolster defence in the region, they said.

The Type 45 air defence destroyer is intended to strengthen protection against drones and missiles launched by Iran and its proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The destroyers voyage from Portsmouth to Cyprus is expected to take several days.

The US president has been heavily critical of the UKs response to the war in the Middle East, on Tuesday saying he is very sad to see that the special relationship is obviously not what it was.

The conflict has contributed to a breakdown in relations between the UK and US (AP)

The prime minister granted permission on Sunday for the US to use UK bases to target Irans missile launchers and stores to help protect countries targeted by Tehran.

But the US president said he was very disappointed with Sir Keir over his initial refusal to allow the US to use the UK-US Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands as part of the operation.

He added that it took far too long for the prime minister to change his mind.

Hitting out at Sir Keir directly, the US president said: He has not been helpful. I never thought Id see that. I never thought Id see that from the UK. We love the UK.
The US and Israels war with Iran widened well beyond the Middle East on Wednesday, as Nato shot down a ballistic missile headed for Turkey and the US sank an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors.

As Britain prepared to send a warship to defend Cyprus, and formulated plans to repatriate thousands of British nationals stranded in the region, Iran rained missiles and drones on its neighbours, and Washington prepared to expand its strikes  boasting that it had effectively sunk the Iranian navy.

Sir Keir Starmer said two more government-chartered flights would take off from Oman in the coming days, while British Airways announced that it would operate two more flights between Muscat and Heathrow on Friday and Saturday.

Unlike the aviation mega-hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, Muscat is not covered by the Foreign Office travel warning; it can be reached by road from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, both of which are around 300 miles away.

However, there is not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East, and experts believe it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers.

Meanwhile, the warship being readied to protect Britains base in Cyprus is not set to sail until next week. HMS Dragon is being loaded with ammunition in Portsmouth before departing for the Mediterranean, after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone on Monday.

Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are being deployed ahead of the warship, whose voyage is expected to take several days.

In a bombastic briefing in Washington, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Operation Epic Fury had only just begun as he announced that a US Navy submarine had destroyed the IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate, off the Sri Lankan coast.

An injured Iranian sailor who survived the US torpedo attack is taken to hospital in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (AFP via Getty)

An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death, Mr Hegseth told a briefing. He added that the US is prepared to sustain a long war with Iran, with even more US bombers and fighters arriving in the region.

This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight, he said. We are punching them while theyre down. Our air defences and [those] of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to.

Sri Lankan authorities said up to 87 people were killed in the torpedo attack, as pictures emerged of survivors being taken to hospital.

Nato was separately forced to shoot down an Iranian ballistic missile headed for Turkey  the closest Tehran has come to a direct attack on a Nato country, which could drag Turkey and its allies into a collective response.

Iranian frigate IRIS Dena is struck by a torpedo off Sri Lanka (US Department of War)

A Turkish official said the missile had been aimed at an unspecified military base in Cyprus but had veered off course. The weapon had already passed over Iraq and Syria when it was shot down by Nato air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean.

Nato said it stands firmly with all allies, including Turkey, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region. Turkey called for restraint to avoid further escalation.

Mr Hegseth downplayed suggestions that attacks on Turkey would trigger Natos collective defence clause, instead boasting that the United States had only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralise, destroy and defeat Irans capabilities. He also vowed to avenge the deaths of six US service personnel killed in the region since Saturday.

General Dan Caine, chair of the joint chiefs of staff, added that the US would now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory, as he claimed that Iran was now firing far fewer missiles than it had at the outbreak of the conflict, and that its capability appeared diminished.

The US defence secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at a press briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday (AP)

The head of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said US forces had struck more than 2,000 targets across Iran since Saturday. The first 24 hours of the conflict saw nearly twice as many strikes as took place on the first day of the war in Iraq in 2003.

As the administration increasingly threatens to wage a war that could last for weeks, the US senate was preparing for a key vote on a war powers resolution that could demand congressional approval for future attacks.

Iran launched more retaliatory strikes on Wednesday, with hundreds of drones targeting Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It insisted its attacks were directed at US interests and not directly at its regional neighbours.

The EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said Irans government was making a strong case for its own demise by indiscriminately attacking its neighbours. Irans strategy is to sow chaos and set the region on fire, she said.

An Iranian missile landed in a field in Syria on Wednesday (Reuters)

The widening war also poses a growing threat to commercial shipping, which is crucial to the global supply of oil and gas. Merchant ship MV Safeen Prestige, which flies the Maltese flag and is owned by an Egyptian company, was hit by two missiles on Wednesday while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and caught fire. Its crew of 24 were rescued by Oman's navy.

Israel, meanwhile, said its forces had hit targets across Iran for a fifth day. An Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran. It is believed to have been the first time the new-generation F-35 has downed a manned aircraft in combat. Israels air force said it had dropped 5,000 munitions on Iran since Saturday.

And in another spillover from the conflict, Israels military ordered dozens of border villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as it intensified airstrikes on suburbs of Beirut.

Lebanon was dragged into the broader war on Monday when Iran-backed Hezbollah militants fired rockets and drones into northern Israel, triggering retaliatory airstrikes by Israel that killed more than 70 people, wounded more than 400, and displaced tens of thousands of people from southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley and Beiruts southern suburbs.

Irans Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, a government agency, claimed that the death toll in Iran had now passed 1,000. The UN also said it was deeply disturbed by the deaths of children, estimating that 160 were killed when bombs fell on a girls elementary school in the southern city of Minab on Saturday. Mr Hegseth said the Pentagon was still investigating claims about that attack.
Jake Gyllenhaal received a sweet note from his older sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, during his Monday appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

At the end of his interview, host Colbert informed Jake, 45, that Maggie, 48, had tucked a piece of paper for him in the couch cushion during her visit on the show the night before to promote their new movie, The Bride!, in which Jake stars and she directs.

I dont know what she left you, Colbert said, as the Oscar-nominated actor unfolded the paper.

Youre a beast, the note read. Explaining the meaning behind her three-word message, Jake shared that he once wrote the phrase on Maggies dressing room mirror ahead of one of her Broadway shows when she was having a tough time. The two have since made it a tradition to leave the motivational message on each others mirrors.

Shes written it on my mirror every opening night, the Nightcrawler star explained. Gyllenhaal starred as Iago in a major 2025 Broadway revival of Othello alongside Denzel Washington at the Barrymore Theatre.

Maggie Gyllenhaal (right) left a heartwarming note for her younger brother Jake (left) at the Late Show (CBS/YouTube)

Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley lead Maggies new horror sci-fi The Bride! (Warner Bros)

I think thats part of what her movie is about, he continued.

And I think its also about all of us seeing that in each other and communally going out together experiencing life, like you would here or like you would at a rock concert, or why youd go to the movies, to go experience something together and feel that part of yourself.

The Bride!, out in theaters March 6, stars Jessie Buckley as a murdered 1930s Chicago woman who is brought back to life by a groundbreaking scientist (Annette Bening) to be the wife of Frankensteins monster (Christian Bale). It also features Jake, Penelope Cruz and Maggies husband, Peter Sarsgaard.

While Maggie and Jake have co-starred together in several films, including A Dangerous Woman (1993), Homegrown (1998) and Donnie Darko (2001), The Bride! marks their first collaboration as director and actor.

The horror sci-fi is Maggies second time in the directors chair, following her 2021 debut, The Lost Daughter, a psychological drama starring Olivia Colman.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Maggie opened up about her evolving relationship with Jake.

Weve never been estranged, she told the publication, but weve never been as close as we are now. Were finally, maybe in the last five years, more and more and more, even each day, really interacting, which is hard for people to do.

Jake was the first to find stardom, something that Maggie admitted was a source of envy at the time. In general, I am very interested in envy, she mused. What creates it? I think its usually feeling starving, like you dont have enough.

But, she added, there absolutely is enough to go around. But I dont think I knew that at first, when I was young and Jake was a movie star right away. I dont think I was in touch with the envy, but it was there.
A popular predictions market app will not pay out the $54 million some of its users believed they were owed after correctly forecasting the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a report.

Kalshi, which allows players to gamble on real-world events, offered customers favorable odds on Khamenei, 86, being out as Supreme Leader in response to the announcement of joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The company promoted the trade on its homepage and app and tweeted on Saturday: BREAKING: The odds Ali Khamenei is out as Supreme Leader have surged to 68 percent.

It continued: Reminder: Kalshi does not offer markets that settle on death. If Ali Khamenei dies, the market will resolve based on the last traded price prior to confirmed reporting of death.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in airstrikes on Saturday launched as part of Operation Epic Fury (Getty)

Khamenei was later confirmed dead in the airstrikes and the company clarified in a follow-up post: Please note: A prior version of this clarification was grammatically ambiguous.

As a customer service measure, Kalshi will reimburse lost value due to trades made between these clarifications.

The companys CEO, Tarek Mansour, offered a similar explanation on X (Twitter), pointing out that event contracts like these are not offered directly tied to death, arguing that by out, Kalshi had been referring to the possibility of Khamenei voluntarily stepping down or agreeing to a peaceful transition of power, not his being assassinated.

He said he still believed the trade was important because leadership changes in Iran have major impact on the world order, including on oil and commodity prices and geopolitical relations.

While the company has offered to reimburse any bets, fees or losses from the trade placed prior to its clarification message, it has nevertheless attracted a firestorm of complaints on social media.

The strikes have devastated Iranian targets and prompted deadly retaliation from Tehran (AFP/Getty)

One Israeli-American business executive in New York told The Washington Post he had placed two bets on Khamenei being removed from power on either March 1 or April 1 worth $3,460 in total and subsequently believed he had won $63,000 when the rulers demise was announced later that day.

I was booking my trip to Courchevel, he told the Post. Then they changed the rules and everybody got screwed.

Amanda Fischer, a former chief of staff at the Securities and Exchange Commission who now works as a policy director at the financial advocacy group Better Markets, said she was not convinced by Mansours response and said the episode had exposed just how problematic this business is.

How is an 86-year-old theocratic leader supposed to lose his power other than through death? she asked the Post. All of the Kalshi users who placed bets on this believed they were voting on a death market, and many are very angry at how Kalshi broke the trades.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy has since expressed his disapproval of such trades being offered in the first place, saying they were a sign of a dystopian world.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy has said betting on real-world events represents American commercial immorality on steroids (AFP/Getty)

This is American commercial immorality on steroids, he said. Once events that involve good and evil simply become a financial product, I dont know how right and wrong matters any longer People shouldnt be rooting for people to die because they placed a bet.

Murphy added that he is drafting legislation to ban prediction market gambling related to government actions, warning that it could corrupt public decision-making.

Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son, joined Polymarket's advisory board last August, a competitor to Kalshi.

The betting analytics company Bubblemaps tweeted on Saturday that six suspected insider traders had made $1.2 million by correctly guessing that the U.S. would attack Iran on February 28, the date that Operation Epic Fury did indeed commence.

Sen. Murphy responded to that post on Threads with the comment: Its insane this is legal. People around Trump are profiting off war and death. Im introducing legislation ASAP to ban this.

The same accusations arose in January when an anonymous polymarket trader won $400,000 by correctly forecasting the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. Special Forces.
Kyle Peters, the son-in-law of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has reportedly been sued by his former employer.

Peters, who is married to Noems daughter, Kassidy Noem Peters, was sued last month by the South Dakota company A1 Development, according to local outlet KELOLAND News. The complaint was filed Feb. 19 in Codington County.

The lawsuit claims Peters had been wrongfully competing and diverting business from A1 Development for years, the outlet reports. Peters used to work at the firm and later transitioned to an independent contractor, according to the complaint.

The company reportedly alleged that Peters used his position to wrongfully divert business from A1 Development to his own personal benefit for at least 11 separate clients.

A1 Development is a company that helps clients in South Dakota with development, construction, permitting and government relations, according to the court papers.

Kristi Noem's son-in-law, Kyle Peters, was reportedly sued by his former employer in South Dakota (City of Watertown)

The company has claimed his actions were fraudulent and intentional, Dakota News Now reports. Now, A1 Development is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and has requested a jury trial, according to the outlet.

Peters and his LLC, Bad River Development, deny the claims alleged by A1 Development, according to his attorney, Stephen Landon.

We are working on Kyle and Bad Rivers Answer to the Complaint as well as their counterclaim against A1 for the commissions it is unlawfully withholding, Landon wrote in an email to The Independent.

We believe the facts will show that Kyle did not divert any business from A1 Development, that he in fact brought substantial business to A1, and that he continued to attempt to refer business to A1 even after his departure, he added.

When reached for comment, Paul Kostboth, a founding partner at A1 Development, described the situation as unfortunate.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noems son-in-law denies the claims against him, his attorney said (AFP via Getty Images)

We wish we were not involved in this unfortunate situation but believe the complaint speaks for itself, he wrote in an email to The Independent.

Peters serves as a city council member in Watertown, a small town about 100 miles north of Sioux Falls. He was also elected as Watertowns deputy mayor last year, KXLG reports.

Peters married Noems daughter in 2019, according to a social media post she shared at the time.

Kassidy and Kyle were married this weekend in the Black Hills! Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us. God is good, Noem wrote on Facebook.
How Kurdish forces could be dragged into the growing US-Iran war by the CIA

The CIA is preparing to arm Kurdish forces to incite an uprising against the Iranian government, according to reports.

US officials have held talks with Iranian opposition groups and with Kurdish leaders in Iraq to provide them with military support to help overthrow the Islamic Republic, several sources told CNN.

The plan would involve Kurdish militias taking part in a ground operation in western Iran in the coming days, a senior Iranian Kurdish official said.

We believe there is a big chance now, the source told the American broadcaster. The militias are expected to be aided by both US and Israeli support.

Internal security officers with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria (AP)

Kurdish militants would attack Iranian security forces, enabling Irans anti-government protesters and rebels to take to the streets, a source explained.

A US official said the Kurds would be used to help sow chaos and distraction in the region, stretching the Iranian militarys resources away from its retaliatory attacks on US bases in surrounding countries, and weakening it.

Other plans include the possibility of the group holding an area in the northern part of Iran to serve as a buffer zone for Israel.

But the strategy is not without risk.

It may not be as simple as Americans convincing a proxy force to fight on its behalf, a Trump administration official said.

You have a group of people who are thinking about their own interests, and the question is whether getting them involved aligns with their interests.

A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran (AFP/Getty)

Kurdish forces operate along the border of Iraq and Iran and have historically opposed the Islamic Republic. They are an ethnic minority group without a state at present, although their population of 25-30 million people stretches across Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Armenia.

The US supported the group in Iraq in their 1991 revolt against the government before they were abandoned and left to face backlash by Saddam Husseins forces. Washington implemented a no-fly zone, which eventually allowed the minority to govern a semi-autonomous territory in northern Iraq.

They were armed and supported by the US in Syria and make up a major portion of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but were abandoned again after America backed the government of Ahmed al-Sharaa who took control in December 2024. The new government introduced rights protecting the Kurds.

Turkey considers the SDF an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the country. It only recently ended its armed insurgency in the country after four decades.

Chatham House expert Neil Quilliam warned Washingtons decision could prove to be major concern for countries in the region.

The move would add to unrest caused by other armed groups such as Hezbollah, who are already operating in the region to avenge the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with strikes on Israel.

Thousands gathered to demonstrate following the death of Ali Khamenei (Reuters)

On Sunday, US president Donald Trump called Iraqi Kurdish leaders to discuss the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and offered options on working together, two US officials and a third person familiar with the talks told Axios.

By Tuesday, Mr Trump had spoken with the president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), Mustafa Hijri, according to a senior Iranian Kurdish official.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Kurdish groups since the outbreak of war, including the KDPI. On Tuesday, it claimed it attacked Kurdish forces with dozens of drones.

After US-Israeli strikes killed Khamenei in his personal compound on Saturday, Mr Trump urged Iranians to take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for a generation.

With internet cut off in Iran, it is difficult to tell whether protesters heeded his call, but the Islamic Republic appears to remain intact. Thousands turned out for demonstrations in support of Khamenei, who is reported to be succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei, a similarly anti-Western figure.

The new reports suggest that the US is clearly attempting to jumpstart a rebellion, Alex Plitsas, a CNN national security analyst and former senior Pentagon official under former president Barack Obama, told CNN.

The Iranian people are generally unarmed as a whole and unless the security services collapse, itll be difficult for them to take over unless someone arms them.
Hollywood actor Kurt Russell has said he is really glad that he and long-term partner Goldie Hawn love rural life in Colorado.

Russell was speaking as he attended the premiere of his new TV series, The Madison, which tells the story of a New York family going through a period of grief in rural Montana.

The actor told the Press Association: As you get older and you begin to sort of look at your life as a whole  Im really glad that I made some of the choices I made in my life.

Patrick J Adams, Beau Garrett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Elle Chapman, Kurt Russell and Matthew Fox at the UK premiere of The Madison at Cineworld Leicester Square in London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

One, moving to Colorado. I was fortunate in that Goldie loves Colorado.

She wanted to go there. We get there as much as we possibly can. Its a draw for me.

The Hateful Eight actor has been in a relationship with Hawn since the early 1980s, and they have a son together, actor Wyatt Russell, while he is stepfather to her other children, including actress Kate Hudson.

Russell said he feels urban life is something that I think has a great value to it.

But he added: When youre in the country you have time for self-reflection.

I think thats something that all people, no matter what age, man or woman, is an important thing not to forget.

But to remember that you have that deep attraction to the land in you, and it can teach you things about yourself that you can often forget when youre in an urban environment.

Russells co-star in The Madison, Patrick J Adams, was also at the event in central London, and spoke of how he came to the role following a period of his own grief after losing a family member.

Patrick J Adams said The Madison is such a beautiful meditation on grief (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

Adams told PA: We had lost my stepfather a year beforehand, and so Id just sort of come through that first year of grief.

Its a profound, profound time, you know, a sudden loss like that just takes your whole world and knocks you on your side.

And so this story landed, and it was just like, Oh, this makes perfect sense to me, and its such a beautiful meditation on grief and this whole sort of people coming from the city and being out of their element.

Adams said the series, which also stars Michelle Pfeiffer and premieres on Paramount+ later this month, shows the importance of having loved ones at hard times.

He added: I think we live very isolated lives and on our phones and on our screens, and we dont talk to each other as much, and when something like this happens, you know, if you dont pull together, you fall apart.

I hope that what people take away from the show is, you can have fun in your isolated little bubble, but when the real world comes for you, you better have the people that you love nearby.
Labour risks losing more than half its seats in London at the May local elections, says a leading expert.

Tony Travers, Professor in Local Government at the LSE, believes Sir Keir Starmers party could be hit with an even bigger disaster than its recent loss in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Labour won just over 1,150 seats at the local elections in 2022 when it seized three flagship Tory councils, Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet.

But the party has plummeted in the polls, including in the capital to a record low, and now faces a major threat from the Green Party.

With the May 7 elections looming, Prof Travers told The Standard: Labour risk losing more than half their seats, which would be 600 or more.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks alongside Labour by-election candidate Angeliki Stogia ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election on February 23, 2026 (Getty Images)

This would be a worse blow than Gorton and Denton because although Gorton and Denton was a rock-solid safe seat, it was one seat.

London is 75 (parliamentary constituencies), most of those are Labour.

In an analysis of the possible outcome of the May elections, which would be a political earthquake in London, Prof Travers said:

* The Green Party under Zack Polanski and Nigel Farages Reform UK could both easily win hundreds of seats.

* The Conservatives, who won 401 seats in 2022, could fall to a new historic low and may see losing less than 100 seats as a reasonable result.

Newly elected Green MP for Gorton and Denton Hannah Spencer poses for photos at Westminster Bridge, London, with Green Party leader Zack Polanski (PA Wire)

* The Tories may seize back Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet from Labour but lose councils in Outer London such as Bexley to Reform, and Bromley to Reform or to No Overall Control (NOC).

* Donald Trump and Israels attacks on Iran could damage Labour in contests in the capital against pro-Gaza independents.

* The Liberal Democrats best chance is in Merton where they might become the biggest party, or possibly gain full control of the council.

* Your Party led by Jeremy Corbyn could work with pro-Gaza independents and the Greens on who is best placed to challenge Labour in particular wards.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives who could win councils at the local elections but lose seats overall (PA Wire)

Prof Travers highlighted demographic similarities between Gorton and Denton and many parts of London with the mixture of affluent middle class areas, a large ethnic population including Muslims, students and white working class communities.

He stressed: The powerful implication of what happened in Gorton and Denton for Labour in London on May 7 is that in boroughs such as Camden, Islington, Hackney, Newham, Lewisham, Southwark and Lambeth, Haringey perhaps, where there is a large Labour vote that that Labour vote is much less safe than on paper it would appear.

Many of the voters in those councils are the kind who are likely to switch to the Greens because they can vote against Labour and vote Centre Left at the same time as happened in Gorton and Denton.

On the prospects for the Greens and Reform, he added: They could easily win hundreds of seats each in London.

Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage (PA Wire)

Reform is likely to do well in Bexley, Bromley, Hillingdon, Havering, Barking and Dagenham and Sutton, largely boroughs that voted Leave in 2016, and may also pick up seats in Croydon and possibly Barnet, he added.

Prof Travers expects the Tories to lose seats overall.

The Conservatives are already at their lowest number of seats in London ever, he said.

Its not unimaginable that they could lose Bexley and Bromley but win Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet.

I think they will consider, if they were only to lose a net 50 to 100 seats in London, that would be a reasonable result for them.

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Daveys party is seeking to do particularly well in Merton at the local elections (PA Wire)

As happened in Gorton, the Conservatives face a squeeze in places such as Merton where the battle for the council is expected to be between Labour and the Lib Dems, or in Ealing where the Tories were once strong.

Voters are trying to send a message to the Labour government but also to vote against Reform in many cases which is why the Greens are so attractive as people can vote anti-Labour but also against Mr Farage.

But in Westminster, Wandsworth and to a lesser extent Barnet thats not true, explained Prof Travers.

If you want to vote anti-Labour in Westminster and Wandsworth, frankly you have to vote Conservative.

He believes the Tories are most likely to regain Westminster, then Wandsworth and possibly Barnet, though this could go to NOC after the small swing from Labour to the Conservatives in the polls since 2022.

The Greens could pick up the odd seat in Westminster and Wandsworth, he added.

The Lib Dems, who are turning their fire from the Conservatives onto Labour, will win some seats but they generally underperform in London, says Prof Travers, with their best chance being in Merton where they could emerge as the biggest party or possibly win overall control of the council.

He added: They used to be the sole party of protest.

Now there is a smorgasbord of choice when it comes to protest voting and the Lib Dems are clearly the losers from that.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Your Party (PA Wire)

He believes there will be some co-operation at local level between the Greens, Your Party and pro-Gaza independents over who can best defeat Labour.

In Islington North, Your Party given Jeremy Corbyn might be the right thing, he added.

Croydon could become a patchwork quilt of different colours, he believes, possibly with Tory, Labour, Reform, Green and Lib Dem councillors.
Go on Sir Keir, give us nothing - House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

Westminster. Have you been there lately? Loitering outside Parliament today, like every Wednesday, was Steve Bray, that mentalist demanding a re-run of the Brexit referendum. This morning he was blaring out Mad World by Gary Jules while he babbled about meaningful votes or something over the top.

Across the road, the statue of Sir Winston Churchill, freshly cleaned of its ZIONIST WAR CRIMINAL defacement, was surrounded by two rings of metal fencing and watched over by a uniformed guard. Next to Winston were Iranian protestors, calling for the reinstatement of the Shah.

Its a surreal place. But things are somehow weirder inside the parliamentary estate. This morning, at Portcullis House, MPs were visited by Angela Rippon, the 81-year-old broadcaster and 2023 Strictly Come Dancing contestant. Why was she there? To teach our honourable members how to cha-cha-cha, of course.

Watch the videos. Theyre real. Rippon spinning a giddy Speaker Hoyle; Gorton and Dentons new MP Hannah Spencer plodding gormlessly; Kim Leadbeater, I think, of assisted dying fame, in the front row, really giving it a go. All while Iranian missiles rain on British and American bases in the Middle East.

I raise all this background insanity because perhaps it explains the daze Keir Starmer was in at PMQs today. To kick the session off, the Prime Minister told the House that the situation in the Middle East was serious and volatile.

Britain, he said, would be resolute. He sat down. That would be all. No details of plans to evacuate British citizens from the Gulf. No statement about defending Cyprus. Strange Kemi Badenoch, being the generous type, decided to give the Prime Minister a hand in her first question. But, Keir, British bases are being attacked You could do something The RAF? Remember them? The guys with the planes? We need to act with clarity, with purpose and with a cool head, replied the Prime Minister.

For the next half an hour, the session proceeded in this manner. He seemed calm, he spoke clearly, nothing seemed wrong, aside from the usual ailments affecting his voice and cognition. Starmer just evidently had nothing to say. As hellfire falls upon British personnel in the Middle East, the most animated he could be bothered to get was when hectoring Badenoch about how to be a good leader of the opposition: Moments like this define leaders of the opposition. They can either step up, act in the national interest, and show that theyre fit to be prime minister. Or they can expose their utter irrelevance. She has chosen the sEcOnDdDdD! He sounded like Theresa May.

MPs of all colours tried to get some answers from the Prime Minister. It was a real team effort. Ed Davey asked if the Government would proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terror group. The DUPs Gavin Robinson begged Sir Keir to raise spending faster. Both received no good answer. Gareth Bacon wondered whether the special relationship  that sad, limp term  still existed after Donald Trump went for our prime minister yesterday. Hanging onto President Trumps latest words is not the special relationship in action, the PM replied. Does that even make sense?

The session drew to a close. It was over before it began. No one was any the wiser. Keir Starmer went back to No. 10, to climb into bed and watch world events continue to wash over him like the rest of us.

Max Jeffery is a journalist at The Spectator
Troops of Sector 1 under Operation Whirl Stroke during a combined confidence-building and fighting patrol along the Katsina-Ala-Zaki Biam Road in Benue State killed two terrorists and recovered an AK 47 rifle in Benue State.

A statement by acting media information officer, HQ JTF Operation WHIRL STROKE, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, said troops acting on credible intelligence provided by the locals, swiftly mobilised to the scene in conjunction with operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard.

He said troops upon arrival at the identified location made contact with the suspected bandits and in the ensuing engagement, two of the terrorists were neutralised, while others fled into the surrounding bush with possible gunshot wounds.

He said the troops exploited the area and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, eight rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a pair of green camouflage uniform abandoned by the fleeing criminals.

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The Force Commander, Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the gallantry, professionalism, and swift response of the troops.

He stated that their proactive posture and commitment to duty continue to yield positive results in the fight against terrorism and banditry.

Major General Gara thanked members of the local communities for providing timely and actionable intelligence, which remains critical to operational success.

He encouraged residents to sustain their cooperation with security agencies and assured them of the military's unwavering resolve to safeguard lives and property.

He further urged troops to maintain the established synergy with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders, stressing that collective efforts remain essential to achieving enduring security and stability across the Joint Operations Area.
A political adviser whose worked closely with President Donald Trump said he used his connections to government officials to charter a flight out of the Middle East  but denied allegations he received special assistance.

Alex Bruesewitz, 28, was among the thousands of American citizens in the Middle East over the weekend who were suddenly plunged into fear when the U.S. and Israel launched an airstrike campaign against Iran, shutting down the airspace and making it difficult to leave.

Its unclear who Bruesewitz, who is credited as being the architect of the Trump campaigns podcast game plan, contacted first, but he credited White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, Qatari and Saudi officials, Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle with helping him and seven other Americans get to Greece en route to the U.S.

But when faced with allegations that the White House extracted him before other Americans, Bruesewitz said: There was no special assistance provided by the Trump administration.... I personally chartered the flight and orchestrated the plan.

Unlike thousands of other citizens, Bruesewitz managed to leave the region before retaliatory fire expanded across the Middle East, shutting down airspace and leaving almost no commercial flights.

Thousands of Americans are stranded in the Middle East after commercial flights began canceling routes to the Middle East due to the war (AP)

Although the State Department urged Americans to leave the region Monday via commercial flights, some of the largest airlines  including United, American, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Air France and Lufthansa  canceled services to the region.

By Wednesday, the State Department said they would organize free military aircraft and charter flights from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan for citizens looking to leave the Middle East.

When asked why the U.S. had not prepared evacuation plans, Trump told reporters: It happened all very quickly.

Bruesewitz did not describe in detail how the plan unfolded but he told Breitbart he had the opportunity to leave on his own shortly after the bombings began, yet chose to stay behind to help the other Americans escape.

The past 72 hours have been utterly surreal, like nothing I've ever experienced before, Bruesewitz wrote on X Monday in a lengthy post where he shared the story of evacuation.

Alex Bruesewitz, 28, was a key member of the Trump campaign's communication strategy (Getty Images for Latino Wall Str)

Among those on the chartered flight were Sarah Gaither, a TikToker who shared her experience being stuck in Doha and Jay Footlik, a lobbyist for Qatar, who previously served as a special assistant in the Clinton administration.

The Independent has asked the White House, State Department, Bruesewitz and Lunas office for comment.

Gaither told Breitbart she heard from Bruesewitz around 5 a.m. local time in Doha on Sunday. She said the political strategist had been up all night piecing together a plan.

The group boarded the private jet Bruesewitz paid for and traveled to Greece, Politico reported. They landed in Greece shortly after midnight Monday where Guilfoyle welcomed them.

Guilfoyle, serving as US Ambassador to Greece, welcomed the group of Americans, led by Bruesewitz (AFP via Getty Images)

First, I'd like to extend my deepest gratitude to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and his administration for their exceptional assistance and unwavering commitment to my safety during my time in Doha. Their care was unparalleled, and I was truly impressed by the effectiveness of the Patriot missile interceptor system, Bruesewitz wrote on X.

Luna expressed gratitude for the groups safe return and encouraged other Americans stuck in the region to reach out to her office for help facilitating a trip home.

The State Department has also asked Americans who want to come home from the Middle East to enroll in the Smart Traveler Program (STEP) and keep up with communications on social media. Those in emergencies can call +1-202-501-444 if they are overseas or +1-888-407-4747 if they are in the U.S. or Canada.
Kearse was pronounced dead after receiving a three-drug injection (AP Photo/Curt Anderson)

A man convicted of fatally shooting a police officer with his own service weapon during a traffic stop was executed Tuesday evening in Florida. Billy Leon Kearse, 53, became the third person put to death by the state this year, following a record 19 executions in 2025.

Kearse was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke, after receiving a three-drug injection. He had been condemned for the 1991 killing of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish.

Court records detail that Officer Parrish had stopped Kearse in January 1991 for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. When Kearse failed to produce a valid drivers license, Parrish ordered him out of his vehicle and attempted to handcuff him, leading to a struggle.

During the altercation, Kearse seized Parrishs firearm and fired 14 times, striking the officer nine times in the body and four times in his body armor, according to prosecutors. A taxi driver, hearing the shots, used the officer's radio to call for help. Parrish died after being rushed to a hospital. Police subsequently used license plate information, which Parrish had relayed during the stop, to arrest Kearse at his home.

Besides the three Florida executions to date this year, Texas and Oklahoma have each executed one person each so far in 2026 (AP Photo/Curt Anderson)

Kearse was initially convicted of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm and sentenced to death in 1991. The Florida Supreme Court later found the trial court failed to give jurors certain information about aggravating circumstances and ordered a new sentencing. Kearse again drew the death penalty in 1997.

A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a flurry of death warrants signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, far outpacing Alabama, South Carolina and Texas which each held five executions last year. The 19 Florida executions that year outstripped the previous high totals of eight in both 1984 and 2014.

Besides the three Florida executions to date this year, Texas and Oklahoma have each executed one person each so far in 2026.

Two more Florida executions are scheduled soon, starting with Michael Lee King on March 17 for the 2008 kidnap and killing of a mother of two. Former police officer James Duckett is set to be executed March 31 for the 1987 killing of an 11-year-old girl.

All Florida executions are carried out via lethal injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

Hours before Tuesdays execution, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Kearses final appeal without comment. And last week, the Florida Supreme Court denied appeals filed by Kearse
Ed Miliband is said to have led the argument against any UK involvement in Americas strikes on Iran - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty

Ed Miliband led Cabinet opposition to US military action in Iran and the use of Britains bases.

In a meeting on Friday ahead of the strikes, Mr Miliband, Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper are understood to have strongly opposed British support for pre-emptive military action, which they believed would be illegal.

Sir Keir Starmer backed them and resisted pressure from Donald Trump to allow the US to fly bombing runs to Iran from RAF bases in Gloucestershire and the Chagos Islands.

The Prime Minister changed his position less than 48 hours later and American B-2 stealth bombers are due to arrive at Diego Garcia, the military base in the Chagos Islands, in the next few days to fly limited, defensive missions.

Mr Trump has warned that major US strikes are still to come, as Iran continues to attack Western allies around the Gulf and the Middle East.

On Wednesday, one missile was intercepted heading towards a Turkish base hosting US troops, threatening to drag another Nato ally into the war.

The US also sank an Iranian warship with a submarine near Sri Lanka, the first such strike since Britains attack on the General Belgrano during the Falklands War.

But domestic and international pressure is building on Mr Trump to explain his strategy for the war, with Germany warning that regime change cannot happen without boots on the ground.

Mr Miliband, the Energy Secretary, voiced his strong opposition to the impending US airstrikes at a National Security Council meeting on Friday, convened to discuss the potential impact of the conflict on Britains energy supply.

The meeting followed more than a fortnight of angry exchanges with Mr Trump and his officials, including a row between Matt Collins, the UKs deputy national security adviser, and Elbridge Colby, the under secretary of defence for policy in the Pentagon.

Petulant, passive, legalistic

Relying on a legal opinion by Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, Mr Miliband reportedly presented a petulant, pacifist, legalistic and very political case against the strikes and any UK involvement.

A source told The Spectator: He fundamentally doesnt like Trump, and he doesnt like this Iran thing.

He was backed by the Chancellor and Foreign Secretary, who argued for Sir Keir to hold firm against pressure from Washington to join the war.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, was reportedly in favour of allowing British bases to be used to defend allies from Irans retaliation.

The Prime Minister agreed with Mr Miliband but reversed his position on Sunday after a fresh request from the US to use British bases solely for limited, defensive strikes against Iranian missile facilities targeting Western allies.

Sir Keirs initial decision to block the use of Diego Garcia prompted heavy criticism from Mr Trump.

On Monday, Mr Trump told The Telegraph he was very disappointed in the Prime Minister, while on Tuesday he said Sir Keir was not Winston Churchill and he ruins relationships.

Other British allies have also expressed their dissatisfaction with Sir Keirs reaction to the war.

Kyriacos Kouros, Cypruss high commissioner to the UK, told The Times that the least they would expect was Britain to offer robust defences to their island, which is home to two British bases.



He said: The French are coming, the least we expect is the Britons to also be present since, as I said, we are not only defending Cypriots on the islands.

Downing Street strongly denied reports that Sir Keir had been willing to allow Mr Trump to use the bases for pre-emptive strikes, but then changed his mind after opposition from Mr Miliband and other colleagues.

As Labour leader at the time, Mr Miliband led the campaign in 2013 to block military action in Syria, which had been proposed by the Obama and Cameron governments after reports that Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons against his own people.

He has since said he does not regret the decision, saying we could not commit British military forces without a clear plan.

Sir Keir has since used the same argument about Mr Trumps strikes, telling MPs on Wednesday that the UK would not join the war without a thought-through approach from the US and Israel.

On Wednesday, David Miliband, the Energy Secretarys brother and a former Labour foreign secretary, warned that Britain should not divorce the US and instead strengthen our position in discussions with the Trump administration. However, he did not directly back the strikes on Iran.

Growing criticism

The Cabinet challenge over military strikes comes after months of criticism of Sir Keirs premiership, and speculation that he will face a leadership challenge from Wes Streeting after the local elections in May.

Mr Streeting, the Health Secretary, who criticised the decision not to bomb Syria, is not thought to have attended Fridays meeting to discuss the Governments approach to Iran.

Mr Miliband, who is among the minority of soft-Left Cabinet ministers, has dismissed suggestions that he would run to replace Sir Keir as absolute baloney.

The Prime Minister tried to play down the row on Wednesday, telling MPs that Britains ties with the US had been displayed in sharing intelligence every day to keep our people safe.

He said: That is the special relationship in action. Hanging on to President Trumps latest words is not the special relationship in action.

However, UK officials are understood to be scrambling to repair transatlantic relations, in part to rescue Sir Keirs Chagos deal, which was effectively vetoed by Mr Trump last month amid a row over the Diego Garcia base.

Diego Garcia, as well as RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, are being prepared for the arrival of US warplanes this week, according to Western officials.

The Telegraph has revealed that HMS Dragon, the Type 45 destroyer that on Tuesday Sir Keir said he would send to defend a British base in Cyprus, will not arrive for a fortnight because it will not be ready to leave Portsmouth for another week.

HMS Dragon is still in dock in Portsmouth as it prepares to head out to Cyprus - Andrew Matthews/PA

The ship had been undergoing maintenance before it was announced that it would be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, although another ship, HMS Duncan, was ready to sail.

Elsewhere, it was reported that US and Iranian spy chiefs spoke shortly after the war started, raising concerns in the office of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that the two countries were talking behind his back.

The US is also reportedly burning through precision missiles. Israel said its operations could last another one or two weeks.

Meanwhile, the White House has claimed Spain will allow the US to use its military bases for strikes on Iran after Mr Trump threatened to cut off all trade with the country.

Representatives for Mr Miliband, Ms Reeves and Ms Cooper did not respond to a request for comment.

A No 10 spokesman said: We never comment on the content of National Security Council meetings.

The decision had the full support of the Cabinet, including all the members of the National Security Council.
Precious Johnson, 24, and husband, Kynath William Terry Jr., 19, were found dead at the Womens Center at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital in Homewood, Alabama Sunday (Google maps)

An Alabama mother was cradling her newborn baby in a hospital room when her husband shot her dead before turning the gun on himself, in a tragic murder-suicide that has renewed questions about hospital security.

Police were called to the Womens Center at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital in Homewood around 9:30 p.m. Sunday after reports of gunfire inside the facility.

Precious Johnson, 24, and her husband, Kynath William Terry Jr., 19, were found dead from gunshot wounds inside the hospital room. No other patients or staff were injured, police said.

Johnson had just given birth, according to the Jefferson County Coroner. The baby was not harmed.

The Homewood Police Department said Monday that it is investigating the case as a murder-suicide. Police have not said how Terry was able to bring a gun into the hospital room and have not released additional details about what led up to the shooting. But family members told local news outlets that the couple had been experiencing problems in their marriage in the days before the babys birth.

Police were called to the Womens Center at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital in Homewood, Alabama on Sunday after reports of gunfire inside the facility (Google maps)

Terrys mother told WVTM that she did not believe her son was capable of such violence. She added that Terry had recently completed Army National Guard training and was looking forward to becoming a father.

The incident has prompted renewed concern about safety inside medical facilities across Alabama. Danne Howard, president and CEO of the Alabama Hospital Association, told WVTM that this level of violence inside a hospital is extremely rare.

I think its sad, but this was an isolated incident, and I will say in my 30 years of working at the hospital association and representing our hospitals in the state, this is the first time something has occurred like this, Howard said, emphasizing that hospitals continually review their safety protocols following serious incidents.

Howard noted that Alabama does not require hospitals to employ security guards, though most facilities have security plans that may include metal detectors or screening procedures.

There are a few places in our world where we should feel safe  at church, our hospitals, and our homes, she said. Unfortunately, things happen and we do not feel safe anymore. We want to assure the public that our hospitals and our health care providers consider safety just as important as providing quality health care.

Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress told WVTM that the city is supporting the ongoing investigation and that her office is working closely with hospital leadership and will provide updates as appropriate.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
Kristi Noem was asked an excruciatingly direct question about her relationship with her top advisor Corey Lewandowski, minutes after her husband left the room.

At any time during you tenure as director of the Department of Homeland Security, have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski? asked California Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove at a House hearing on Wednesday.

Mr Chairman I am shocked we are going down and peddling tabloid garbage today at this committee, Noem replied. Her husband Bryon Noem, who was previously seated just behind her through the hearing, had left the room before the question was asked.

The awkward exchange came during Wednesdays House Judiciary Committee hearing, at which the DHS boss was also grilled on her responses to the brutal crackdown by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis, which left two protesters dead.

It has long been rumored that the secretary and Lewandowski, her top adviser, both of whom are married, have engaged in an extramarital affair. They have repeatedly denied the allegations and the secretary has called them a disgusting lie.

Bryon Noem, husband of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, looks on as she testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building (Getty Images)

However, Noems refusal to deny the accusation directly led Kamlager Dove to continue.

It is ok for you to be offended by the question, she said. But it is a real question and you should be able to answer the question clearly and without any hesitation if someone is asking if you or any federal official is sleeping with their subordinate.

You should be wanting to answer that question because it is not about your sex life, it is about your judgement.

The California congressman said that Lewandowski has a decades-long record of physical battery sexual harassment, illegal lobbying for a Venezuelan oil company and bringing a loaded gun into a federal building.

Trump knows that this guy is shady, she said.

Corey Lewandowski and Noem have denied allegations about their private lives (Getty)

Last month a bombshell expose by The Wall Street Journal lifted the lid on the alleged chaos of the DHS under Noem and Lewandowskis leadership, also reviving rumors of their alleged affair.

The outlet reported that the close relationship had already made Trump and his top advisers uncomfortable, adding that the president had rejected the idea of Lewandowski serving as Noems chief of staff due to reports of a romantic relationship between the two  which he has continued to bring up, officials say.

The Journal also noted that Noem had moved into a government-owned waterfront house on a military base in Washington, D.C., provided for the head of the Coast Guard, after tabloid photos of Lewandowski showed him going back and forth between his apartment and Noems across the street last year.

A DHS spokesperson told The Journal that Noem had moved into the house for security reasons and said she pays rent at the property.

The Independent has contacted the DHS for comment about Noems questioning at the committee Wednesday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected the idea that the United States is at war with Iran despite President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth both saying the U.S. is at war.

The speaker delivered his weekly press conference, his first since Trump and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend, and rejected the notion that the House needed to have a vote on the War Powers Act as the U.S. Senate was expected to later Wednesday.

Were not at war right now, were four days into a very specific, clear mission and operation, Johnson told reporters. Rather, Johnson maintained that Iran had declared war on the United States  after the U.S. strikes that wiped out their leadership structure.

The claim comes despite the president's announcement of strikes on Iran alongside Israel. The White House and the Pentagon have dubbed the mission Operation Epic Fury.

Johnson also said that the United States is close to having control of the skies over Iran, which he said would lead to the mission concluding soon.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) said that the United States is not at war with Iran at the moment. (Getty)

He then repeated Trumps call for Iranians to lead a revolution to create a new regime. The president has told the Iranian people When we are finished, take over your government and that This will be probably your only chance for generations.

Despite Johnsons comments, both Trump and his defense secretary have called the operation a war.

The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties, Trump said when announcing the operations Saturday morning. That often happens in war.

In addition, Hegseth has called the operation a war in his remarks.

This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it, Hegseth said this week.

The House and Senate is expected to vote this week on a War Powers Act resolution for military action in Iran. If passed, the president would be compelled to inform Congress within 48 hours of troops being deployed. In addition, troops would need to be withdrawn between 60 to 90 days if Congress has not formally declared war or authorized the use of military force.

In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are leading the charge in the House on the War Powers Act resolution. Massie has been a frequent critic of Trumps as well as military adventurism.

I think passage of a War Powers resolution right now would be a terrible, dangerous idea, he told reporters. It would empower our enemies, it would kneecap our own forces and it would take the ability of the U.S. military and the commander-in-chief away from completing this critical mission to keep everybody safe.

Johnson expressed confidence that Republicans would be able to defeat a resolution on the War Powers Act.

It would put the country in serious harm and it would certainly jeopardize the lives of our troops and all those who were involved in making these great sacrifices to defend this, he said.

The U.S. Constitution vests the power to declare war with Congress. But in the past century, the presidency has taken on a larger role in controlling the military and overriding Congress.

Johnson said that he believed the American people would reward Republicans.

I trust that American people will understand that this administration did the right thing, I think theyll reward it politically, he said.
Will Osula came off the bench to blast 10-man Newcastle to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester United as Michael Carrick suffered defeat for the first time in his interim reign.

The 22-year-old Dane struck in spectacular style in the 90th minute of a pulsating encounter to end both Carricks eight-game unbeaten run and the Magpies return of three successive Premier League defeats in style.

Thirty years to the day since Eric Cantona famously fired United to a 1-0 win over Kevin Keegans Magpies at St James Park which proved a decisive blow in the race for the title, the sides served up a pulsating contest which remained in the balance until the final whistle.

Playing with ten players for the entire second-half, but you wouldn't have thought it. Exceptional shift, lads!  pic.twitter.com/aKEmjxdzLr  Newcastle United (@NUFC) March 4, 2026

Jacob Ramseys dismissal for a second bookable offence sparked a frenzied conclusion to the first half during which Anthony Gordon put the home side ahead from the penalty spot before Casemiro restored parity.

The Magpies, who were aggrieved at referee Peter Bankes decision to caution Ramsey for simulation, battled their way manfully through the second half to secure a fourth successive home win over the Red Devils in front of a hugely appreciative crowd of 52,184.

Senne Lammens was relieved to see Kieran Trippiers lofted fourth-minute cross clip his far post before fellow full-back Lewis Hall blasted over after latching on to the rebound in a lively start, but as the initial tempo waned, it was the Red Devils who began to make an impression.

However, Anthony Elanga volleyed just wide after Leny Yoro had headed out Sandro Tonalis 13th-minute cross and Harvey Barnes curled an attempt just wide from Joelintons lay-off seconds later.

Anthony Gordon put Newcastle ahead (Owen Humphreys/PA) (Owen Humphreys)

Tonali himself was only just off target from the edge of the penalty area with 20 minutes gone, but the Italy international had to intervene at the other end four minutes later to prevent Benjamin Sesko from making the most of Bruno Fernandes looping cross.

Joelinton blazed high over after he, Elanga and Gordon had staged a pacy 34th-minute counter-attack, but Aaron Ramsdale  preferred to Nick Pope  had to claw Kobbie Mainoos curling attempt out of his top corner and Bryan Mbeumo skied horribly over after Ramsdale had parried Cunhas drive.

Newcastles evening took a turn for the worse in stoppage time when Ramsey, who had been booked earlier for a tug on Casemiros shirt, was adjudged to have dived as he tried to round Lammens and was given a second yellow card.

But it was they who took the lead in the sixth minute of added time when, after he had been brought down by Fernandes inside the box, Gordon smashed the resulting penalty past Lammens, only for Casemiro to head home an equaliser from Fernandes free-kick three minutes later.

Yes, @Casemiro!  Now let's kick on in the second 45'  pic.twitter.com/vwMj54HJ61  Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 4, 2026

The 10 men returned determined not just to defend what they had and Gordon fired straight at the keeper amid a period of early pressure, although the visitors responded, making use of their numerical advantage to deny Newcastle possession.

Ramsdale did well to repel a 75th-minute Yoro header from Fernandes deft cross and then excelled himself tip away substitute Joshua Zirkzees dipping attempt.

But it was Osula who won it at the death, running on to Trippiers ball down the line before cutting inside Tyler Malacia before curling an unstoppable shot past Lammens.
A commander and leader of the Kurdistan Free Life Party, one of the best-armed and most ideologically allied partners to America - Shwan MOHAMMED/AFP via Getty Images

Air strikes alone will not topple the Iranian regime. It is a message the Trump administration has heard ad nauseam.

Five days into the war, the Pentagon appears to have its answer: there will be boots on the ground in Iran  only they will belong to proxy forces rather than US soldiers.

From the west, the CIA is working with Kurdish forces to prepare a ground offensive across the border with Iraq, according to CNN.

Our armed forces inside and outside Iran are ready for anything, but will need external support, Razgar Alani, a UK representative of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDK-I), told The Telegraph.

Late on Wednesday, the Iraqi Kurds launched a ground offensive across the border into Iran, Fox News reported.

From the east, Pakistan-based Baluch Islamist groups have, in an effort to draw wider support, rebranded as the Popular Fighters Front, saying their goal is to liberate Iran.

And from the north, the plan to exploit the grievances of Irans ethnic patchwork will hope to draw in Azeris, who have led fierce protests against the regime.

Together, these groups make up between a quarter and a third of Irans 90 million-strong population.

The US and Israel are inviting them to rise up through air strikes targeting western border posts, the powerful Iranian police state and any leaders who might be able to co-ordinate an effective resistance.

Missiles have hit the headquarters of Irans state broadcaster while hackers disseminate text messages calling for revolution.

An armed uprising would aim to empower the vast number of Iranian citizens whose efforts to overthrow the clerical establishment have only been thwarted, to date, by mass murder carried out by the Basij paramilitary group and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

It remains unclear how far the US has prepared for such a strategy. Donald Trump elected to pursue regime change having failed to secure his preferred option: a negotiated deal to end Tehrans nuclear programme.

And analysts warn of risks that the endeavour backfires  and Iran is plunged into chaos and civil war that upends the Middle East for years to come.

Members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan at a checkpoint leading to their base in the Koya district of Irbil, Iraq - Rashid Yahya/AP

The regime, for its part, has already started to gird itself in response. With the appointment of Ahmad Vahidi as commander of the Revolutionary Guards, it has signalled that the priority will be cracking down on internal dissent.

In 1988, Mr Vahidi became the first leader of the Quds Force, the IRGCs foreign operations branch. Command for the next decade gave him networks across Irans diverse population that other conventional commanders lack.

In 2022, as interior minister, Mr Vahidi led the brutal campaign to crush anti-hijab protests, backing the security forces who shot protesters. That drew fresh US sanctions, highlighting his commission of serious human rights offences against the Iranian population.

Within the past 48 hours, IRGC ground forces have reportedly begun to carry out drone strikes on Kurdish militant positions in northern Iraq. Troops have been deployed west as Israeli strikes pummel the border defences.

Extensive bombing has brought terror to the streets of Tehran and much of western Iran

On Monday, the IRGC sent text messages to residents of Sanandaj, a Kurdish-majority city in the west of the country, asking locals to report signs of military activity or movement of weapons, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO focused on Irans Kurdish population.

The Kurds present Americas readiest, best-armed and most ideologically allied partners, although caution abounds because of the history of Western betrayals.

The US military allied with Kurdish forces during the Iraq war and turned to them again to lead the ground campaign against the Islamic State, where  as may be the case in Iran  they worked in close co-ordination with the American air force.

Given that organised opposition is very weak in other parts of Iran and the regime knows little restraint in brutally repressing protests, the current war offers the Kurds a unique opportunity, said Dr Kamran Matin, an Iranian Kurdish academic based at the University of Sussex. But their entry into the fray carries huge risks.

Members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan in Iraq. Some fighters may be wary of partnering with the US following recent betrayals

Donald Trump has this week spoken with both the senior leadership of the new Iranian Kurdish Coalition and leading political figures in the semi-autonomous Kurdish Region of Iraq, which gained its autonomy under US sponsorship in 1992 and would be the key route for any US supply of weapons and resources to Iranian Kurdish forces.

Kurds have suffered long-term repression by the Islamic regime, waging an off-and-on guerrilla war against Tehran since 1979. For decades, Washington has encouraged Kurdish efforts to secure autonomy, only to backtrack and leave its allies exposed at crucial moments.

The four Iranian Kurdish opposition groups contacted by The Telegraph remain wary of bloody reprisals by an Iranian rump state, or the imposition of a new, US-backed order no more favourable to democracy and minority interests than the deposed regime.

We are not a part of the US and Israels war with Iran, but its possible the changes they are pursuing will be beneficial for the Kurds, said Zagros Anderyari, a spokesman for the largest and best-armed Kurdish opposition group, the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). If so, we may be able to work with them.

Kurdish opposition sources contacted by The Telegraph suggested they were poised to begin ground operations within days or weeks.

A sailor on board the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford. US airstrikes are emboldening opposition groups in Iran - US Navy

Strikes on the border have already had an impact, Mr Anderyari said.

Most of Irans military, political and intelligence centres in the Kurdish regions have been bombed, he told The Telegraph. This doesnt mean their forces withdrew altogether, but they have left their bases and set up new, ad-hoc positions.

But even with the support of dominant US air power, Kurdish militants would need US ground support to have a chance of uprooting the deeply entrenched IRGC, Mr Anderayri added.

If the US and Israel want regime change, there will need to be boots on the ground, even if only in small numbers.

In addition, Kurdish operations would be restricted to the majority-Kurdish western provinces, a spokesman told The Telegraph. The US would need other partners to threaten the regime from multiple directions.

While representatives express openness to links with Baluch, Azeri and Arab groups, those connections remain speculative  and in some cases fraught with complication.

Irans most numerous minority, the Turkic-speaking Azeris, are likely to pursue Turkish support if the Islamic regime starts to crumble.

But Ankara opposes any fresh regional experiments in Kurdish-led autonomy, especially if spearheaded by PJAK, which has close ties to Turkeys key domestic enemy in the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Meanwhile, Baluch separatist groups in eastern Iran and across the border in Pakistan have waged a long, violent insurgency.

If the US seeks to empower these fighters, they will face fierce resistance from Pakistan, which only two months ago convinced Washington to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army a terrorist group.

The US could empower Pakistani Baluch separatist groups in proxy operations - M Farman/AP Photo

Islamabads powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency has long penetrated and suffocated Baloch groups in the dusty, poverty-stricken province bordering Iran.

It also has plenty of experience in directing proxy operations that run against Washingtons interests, most notably in the case of the Afghan Taliban.

Funnelling arms and money into the region could end up supercharging the growth of the Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K), the terrorist groups local branch.

What is certain is that American military bombardments will continue to distract, destroy and degrade the capabilities of the Islamic Republic.

While encouraging a multi-directional insurgency within Iran, US strikes are attempting to ensure the passage of oil through the Strait of Hormuz with the destruction of Tehrans navy.

At least 10 ships have been destroyed to date, with the department of war releasing footage on Tuesday of a submarines torpedo strike on the IRIS Dena frigate, one of the countrys most advanced vessels.

Without a functioning navy, Iran will struggle to assert control over the strait, limiting its ability to pressure Washington into a shortened campaign and quick ceasefire.

Let loose, instead, the CIA would then have another chance to dust off an old playbook with a less-than-sterling track record: backing ethnic groups to topple Americas enemies, and deliver a more pliant partner in the Middle East.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle joins Angela Rippon in a group dance at Westminster - PA

The bizarre spectacle of several dozen MPs, led by the Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, in a group dance at Westminster is emblematic of the failure of our political class to take seriously the unfolding international crisis.

Five days after the first strikes on Iran, some of our parliamentarians thought it a good idea to perform a cha-cha-cha alongside former TV newsreader Angela Rippon. Doubtless this was done with the best of intentions, to promote the advantages of dance for health and well-being. But was it really appropriate to the venue and our perturbing circumstances?

The MPs should have been in the chamber debating the UKs response to the Middle East war. It is hard to recall a time when our parliamentarians have reacted with such apparent indifference to so perilous a moment.

Where was the Defence Secretary John Healey? Why was he not hauled before the House to explain why our two flagship aircraft carriers are still in dock unable to project Britains power abroad, which was the reason given for their construction.

Since Sir Keir Starmer has decided to take a back seat in this unfolding drama, Mr Healey presumably has nothing to say on the matter. Anyone in the Chamber would have heard Tory leader Kemi Badenoch question the Prime Minister on the subject  but otherwise it received little scrutiny.

Why was a government law officer not present to tell MPs what is contained in the legal advice from Lord Hermer that Sir Keir keeps citing?

The Attorney General  reportedly backed in Cabinet by a petulant, pacifist, legalistic and very political Energy Secretary Ed Miliband alongside Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Chancellor Rachel Reeves  has determined Britains foreign policy.

Denying an ally the right to use British bases for offensive action risks fracturing our strategic alliance with America. Sir Keir acquiesced with the Cabinets peacenik quartet, either out of sympathy or because he was too weak to resist.

Other lawyers have questioned the claim of illegality, which is trotted out by Labour ministers who have no real idea if it is well-founded or not. How can it be unlawful to stop a country developing a nuclear missile that it has threatened to use? Do we have to wait until it does?

We are entitled to know the legal grounds for this. These are the questions to which our MPs should be demanding an answer on the nations behalf, not cavorting around Portcullis House.
Rachel Reeves reaffirmed her commitment to end the windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas as she met energy bosses, while warning that the Middle East war has created a more uncertain context for policy decisions.

The Chancellor discussed the gas and oil prices sent soaring by Irans threats to block a key shipping route in talks with firms including BP, Adura and Offshore Energies UK.

Ms Reeves came under pressure ahead of the Downing Street discussions from Scottish First Minister John Swinney to axe the charge, which is officially known as the energy profits levy.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves hosts a roundtable with gas and oil bosses at 11 Downing Street (Kin Cheung/PA) (Kin Cheung)

Introduced by the Tory government in the wake of the war in Ukraine  which sparked a sharp rise in energy prices  the charge was brought in to claw back some of these unexpected profits for the Treasury.

After the talks, a Government source said: The Chancellor was clear with industry that she wants the energy profits levy to come to an end.

She has made that promise and she stands by it. Indeed, it was a commitment she wanted to make this week.

But the crisis in the Middle East has had real-time consequences on oil and gas prices and it is right that we respond to this.

The Treasury said Ms Reeves told the bosses that the expected triggering of the energy security investment mechanism in 2027  which will end the windfall tax  will be welcome and emphasised her keenness to provide certainty to the sector on that front, but she highlighted that geopolitical events create a more uncertain context for policy decisions.

The department described the talks as positive, with ministers working with the sector to provide long-term financial certainty and to navigate the uncertain period over the coming months.

Earlier, Mr Swinney again insisted it was utterly essential the UK Government scraps the windfall tax, which he said was impacting investment in the North Sea and costing jobs.

He said the current uncertainty over energy supplies as a result of the conflict in the Middle East was now a material consideration for the scrapping of the charge.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney called on the Chancellor to use Wednesdays meeting with North Sea leaders to scrap the energy profits levy (Jane Barlow/PA)

Speaking during a visit to Inverness, Mr Swinney said he had hoped the Chancellor would use Tuesdays spring statement to axe it.

When that did not happen, Holyroods Finance Secretary Shona Robison said Ms Reeves must use Wednesdays meeting with North Sea industry leaders to announce an end to this tax on Scotlands energy.

Mr Swinney meanwhile insisted: Now that we have the conflict in the Middle East, I think it is utterly essential that the energy profits levy is removed.

I had hoped it would be removed yesterday in the spring statement. It hasnt been but the Chancellor is meeting the industry today.

I hope that results in the removal of the energy profits levy.

Mr Swinney, speaking to the Press Association, added: Ive been saying to the UK Government for some time that the energy profits levy should be removed because it is hampering investment in the North Sea oil and gas sector, which is resulting in a loss of employment at a much faster rate than we anticipated.

With the conflict in the Middle East leading to uncertainty over energy supplies in the period to come the First Minister said that was now a material consideration in whether the energy profits levy should be maintained.

He insisted however: I dont think there is a case for it and it should be removed.

1/The government continues to monitor the situation in oil and gas markets and work with our international partners. In recent days I have been in contact with a number of international colleagues including the Qatari and Saudi Energy Ministers, the IEA, and key industry figures.  Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) March 4, 2026

But Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: Conflict in the Middle East and rising global gas prices show exactly why the windfall tax remains necessary, not why it should be scrapped. When geopolitical tensions push up prices, energy companies and their shareholders benefit while households face another round of higher bills from July 1.

Energy firms have made tens of billions in profits in recent years even with the energy profits levy in place, so the idea that removing it will suddenly make energy cheaper or more secure simply doesnt stand up.

The North Sea is declining because of the geology of an ageing basin, not because companies are paying a fair share of tax.

Instead of handing the industry a tax break, governments should be using these revenues to cut bills, tackle energy debt, support workers through the transition and invest in warm homes and clean energy so households are protected from exactly this kind of global price shock.

Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband rejected calls for the Government to reverse its ban on new licences for North Sea drilling.

He wrote on X: The Government continues to monitor the situation in oil and gas markets and work with our international partners. In recent days I have been in contact with a number of international colleagues including the Qatari and Saudi Energy Ministers, the IEA (International Energy Agency), and key industry figures.

Conflict in the Middle East is yet another reminder that the only route to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to get off our dependence on fossil fuel markets, whose prices we do not control, and on to clean homegrown power we do.

He hit out at Tory leader Kemi Badenochs argument that new North Sea exploration licences could cut bills, noting they wont take a penny off bills because oil and gas is sold on international markets.

Russell Borthwick, chief executive of the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said events in the Middle East strengthen, not weaken, the case for change on the levy.

He said: The offer on the table was billions of pounds worth of investment, which can be unlocked overnight if the right fiscal and regulatory conditions are in place.

For the thousands of companies and tens of thousands of workers who depend on the UK oil and gas industry, that investment would support jobs, strengthen supply chains and reinforce the UKs energy security at a time of growing global uncertainty.

There has never been a more important, more urgent moment to back the North Sea and invest in domestic production.

It is now incumbent upon the Chancellor to create the fiscal and regulatory environment which would allow these companies to invest.

The energy profits levy has left the UK exporting jobs and importing oil and gas from volatile regions.

Moving to the Oil and Gas Price Mechanism can change that trajectory, but its up to the UK Government to act now.
The United Nations has expressed deep concern following another massacre in South Sudan, in which at least 169 people were killed and buried in a mass grave. Local officials have attributed the weekend attacks to intercommunal violence, which come amid growing political instability in the country.

At least 169 people were killed in Abiemnhom, in the Ruweng administrative zone bordering Sudan, according to local authorities, who emphasised that this toll is still provisional.

"People fled in all directions, so we will undoubtedly find more wounded and more bodies," the local government's Minister of Information, James Monyluak, told RFI's correspondent.

The exact reasons for the massacre are currently unknown but local authorities are citing intercommunal violence, against a backdrop of growing political instability in South Sudan.

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According to Monyluak, the attack took place around 4am on Sunday, when a "very large number" of armed Nuer youths from the neighbouring Mayom County, some dressed in military uniforms, stormed Abiemnhom.

Faced with the large number of victims of the attack, the authorities had no choice but to bury them in a mass grave.

Seventy-nine soldiers and police officers were reportedly killed trying to repel the attackers, the correspondent added.

The NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced that it had treated 80 people with gunshot wounds at the hospital in Abyei, located a few kilometers to the west.

Some victims died from their injuries, including a pregnant woman, the NGO said.

Civilians shelter at UN base

United Nations peacekeepers from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) took in nearly 1,000 civilians at their base, where they provided emergency care to the wounded.

The South Sudanese government condemned what it called "the barbaric attack" in a statement, confirming the killing of two senior local officials.

Minister of Information Ateny Wek Ateny said the casualties include "both civilians and members of law enforcement" and that the incident would be investigated thoroughly.

South Sudan vice president charged with murder, crimes against humanity

The UN pointed to the sharp resurgence of violence in the country in recent months, particularly in Jonglei state, where fighting between supporters of President Salva Kiir and those of opposition leader Riek Machar has intensified, despite the peace agreement that both sides signed in 2018 to end the civil war that began in 2013.

Priyanka Chodhury, spokesperson for UNMISS, told RFI that "the fighting between the two parties that signed the peace agreements has intensified".

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"We are receiving reports of airstrikes and we know that there has been significant population displacement, destruction, and looting of humanitarian infrastructure. This brutal escalation of hostilities is extremely worrying," she added, urging all parties to cease hostilities and engage in constructive dialogue.

From civil war to economic chaos: Ten years of independence for South Sudan

Deteriorating situation

Some 280,000 people have been displaced and humanitarian workers targeted during the clashes in Jonglei in the past two months, according to the UN.

On Monday, MSF said 26 members of its staff were missing following an air strike on one of its facilities. The organisation has suspended medical services in Lankien and Pieri in Jonglei state.

UN rights chief Volker Turk voiced alarm last Friday at the country's deteriorating situation, calling for swift action to avert a return to full-scale civil war.

South Sudan, the world's youngest country, has been beset by civil war, ethnic violence, poverty and massive corruption since it was formed in 2011.
Five Republicans on the House Oversight Committee joined their Democratic colleagues in voting to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify over her handling of the Epstein files release Wednesday afternoon.

In a 24-19 vote, the committee voted to force Bondi to sit for a deposition to face questioning about the Justice Departments botched rollout of the files. Congress passed legislation to force the department to release millions of documents associated with the investigation into the deceased sex offender  which the department responded to past the deadline.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace had introduced a motion to subpoena the attorney general after criticizing the Justice Department for suppressing files.

The American people want answers on the Epstein files, and so do we, Mace wrote on X.

Mace was joined by her Republican colleagues, Reps. Lauren Boebert, Michael Cloud, Scott Perry and Tim Burchett.

Five Republicans crossed the aisle to vote to subpoena the attorney general after her botched handling of the Epstein files (Getty Images)

The subpoena vote comes one day after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed to voluntarily sit for a deposition about his relationship with Epstein, his former neighbor. Lutnick had misrepresented the extent of his relationship in interviews and failed to mention he briefly visited Epsteins island to have lunch once in 2012.

Mace had said she would subpoena Lutnick. Lutnick has denied wrongdoing associated with Epstein and not been accused of a crime associated with Epstein.

The Independent has asked the Justice Department for comment.

Bondi faced criticism from both lawmakers and the public last year after failing to deliver on her promise to release information on the governments investigation into Epstein.

Initially, Bondi made a public show of handing conservative influencers binders full of already-public documents on Epstein. When pressed for more documents, the attorney general asserted that Epsteins client list was sitting on my desk and waiting for review.

But later, administration officials said it wasnt Epsteins client list, but rather just a series of documents.

Eventually, the Justice Department claimed there was no other necessary public information that needed to be released about Epstein. Bondi claimed that while there were hundreds of hours of video relating to Epstein, they contained depictions of child sex abuse.

Mace has emerged as a leader in pushing for more transparency around the governments investigation into Epstein and accountability for sexual abuse perpetrators (Getty Images)

Epstein was a convicted sex offender and accused child sex trafficker who allegedly spent years coercing young women and sometimes underage girls into his orbit to sexually abuse. Some have accused Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, of allowing powerful people to participate in abusing women and girls.

Epstein died in federal prison in 2019 before his case could go to trial. Maxwell was convicted of child sex trafficking, among other charges, in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Even after Congress voted to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which compelled the Justice Department to release most documents associated with the investigation into Epstein, Bondis office delayed in complying.

Justice Department officials said in court filings that the number of redactions required to protect the identity of survivors, remove explicit depictions of abuse and maintain the integrity of ongoing litigation was a heavy undertaking. Even with hundreds of attorneys dedicated to redacting the millions of documents, it took more than two months.

Recent reports have accused the Justice Department of removing documents associated with President Donald Trump, overly redacting files, leaving sensitive information public and failing to release the entire catalogue.

Members of the House Oversight Committee have expressed outrage at the Justice Department's delayed and mistake-ridden rollout of the Epstein files (Getty Images)

While Trump was once friends with Epstein, he has asserted that the two stopped being friends before Epstein was first convicted of soliciting prostitution in 2009. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and maintained their relationship ended decades ago.

The department acknowledged that it redacted information unnecessarily and released newer versions of pages with fewer redactions. It has also acknowledged that some information and explicit photos about survivors were unredacted and corrected those.

But lawmakers are dissatisfied with the, at times, chaotic rollout and are demanding answers from Bondi.

If Bondi complies, she will join several other high-profile individuals in testifying to the committee in a closed-door, recorded deposition. Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire businessman Leslie Wexner are among those who have testified about their relationship to Epstein.
Largest in-depth survey of trans people found 99 per cent had heard politicians express transphobic views (PA Wire)

Trans people in the UK face a rising tide of discriminatory behaviour and prejudice which is creating a "hostile environment" impeding access to healthcare and damaging mental health, according to a major new report.

Describing the situation as a "crisis", in which trans people in the UK are "being catastrophically failed", Trans Actual UK, an advocacy organisation focused on healthcare and legal protections for trans people, said: "Hundreds of thousands of trans people have seen the degradation of their human rights protections" over the past decade, and are now calling for government action.

Trans Actual surveyed over 4,000 trans people in Britain aged 18 to 81, and found rising levels of transphobia are having a profound effect on the wellbeing and daily lives of trans people.

The survey, which is the largest in-depth survey of the UK trans population to date, revealed that almost every respondent  99 per cent of the 4,008 people surveyed  said that hostile or negative media coverage had affected their mental health or intensified their gender dysphoria.

Meanwhile, 99 per cent also said they have heard politicians express transphobic views.

Nearly half described the impact as major, underscoring how sustained public debate and negative portrayals can translate into personal distress.

The survey was conducted before a major Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act must be interpreted as referring to biological sex, a judgment with farreaching implications for how equality law is applied in the UK.

Activists celebrate after hearing the outcome of the Supreme Court's ruling on how to define a 'woman', in London on April 16, 2025 (AFP/Getty)

The case centred on whether someone with a Gender Recognition Certificate should be treated as a woman under the 2010 Equalities Act, and came after a series of legal challenges brought by the campaign group For Women Scotland, backed by Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Amnesty International UK described the ruling as "disappointing" with "potentially concerning consequences for trans people".

Participants in the survey reported that mediadriven transphobia has increasingly shaped how they are treated by others in their everyday lives. Large majorities believed that negative coverage had influenced the behaviour of strangers (96 per cent), family members (91 per cent), colleagues (85 per cent) and friends (74 per cent).

For many, this has translated into feeling less safe in public, under-supported at home, and more exposed to prejudice in workplaces and social settings.

The effects were even more pronounced among those who had directly experienced transphobia. Among respondents who reported facing transphobia from family members in the past year, 98 per cent also believed that media narratives had influenced how their relatives treated them.

This suggests a reinforcing cycle in which public hostility and personal discrimination feed into one another, deepening the impact on those already facing stigma.

Other findings include that many trans people avoid seeking medical help, with 64 per cent of respondents saying they would not contact their GP even when unwell.

Furthermore, almost two-thirds of respondents reported household earnings under 30,000 a year, and a quarter had experienced homelessness.

"The current environment for trans people in the UK is extremely concerning," said co-authors of the report, Freddy Sperring and Dr Trent Grassian.

"Decisions about trans peoples lives are increasingly based entirely on the testimony of non-trans people."

They added: "Trans people are enduring unliveable conditions in what amounts to a domestic human rights crisis. The UK government has an urgent responsibility to recommit itself to defending trans peoples human rights."

Demonstrators calling for trans rights in London (AFP/Getty)

A key issue raised by respondents was the difficulty in acquiring ID that reflects their gender.

A Gender Recognition Certificate allows people's affirmed or "acquired" gender to be legally recognised in the UK, and means trans people can update birth or adoption certificates.

But only 13 per cent of respondents said they were able to update their ID without any difficulty. The vast majority reported being unable to secure gendercongruent documents, citing barriers such as high costs, complex bureaucracy and the absence of genderneutral options.

These barriers have farreaching consequences. Without accurate ID, respondents described heightened risks to their privacy, greater difficulty securing employment, and increased exposure to harassment and discrimination in everyday situations.

Given the high court ruling passed down since the survey was conducted, the authors suggested the impact was that "things will have significantly worsened if we were to undertake the same survey now".

Campaigners have suggested they may challenge the ruling, taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Last month, Nigel Farage's Reform UK party was accused of pitching for the votes of misogynists, homophobes, racists and antisemites after Suella Braverman, the party's new equalities chief, announced plans to scrap the Equality Act.

She said the party would repeal the act on day one if it wins the next election, claiming Britain is being ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion policies.

The 2010 act prevents discrimination against those with protected characteristics, including: age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

The Independent has contacted the Department for Health and Social Care and Reform for comment.
How safe is the Middle East for Americans? Latest travel advice amid Iran-US conflict

Flights remain severely disrupted in the Middle East, with more than 12,000 canceled across the region since the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

The air strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on Gulf nations have created a vast no-go zone for commercial aviation  including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria and parts of the Gulf  stranding thousands of travelers and disrupting a vital air corridor between Europe, Asia and Australia.

Hubs in the region that have been affected include Dubai International Airport  the worlds busiest international airport  Zayed International Airport in the UAE and Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar.

Americas big-three carriers  United, American and Delta  have all canceled services to the region, along with other major airlines, including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Air France and Lufthansa.

Forty-nine flights are scheduled to depart from the U.S. to the Middle East Wednesday, equating to 16,254 seats, according to aviation data firm Cirium.

More than 12,000 flights have been canceled since U.S. air strikes were launched against Iran Saturday. An Emirates plane is seen at Dubai Airport on March 1, with a plume of smoke from an Iranian missile strike seen in the background (AP)

However, the only scheduled flight to Bahrain is canceled, along with all 11 flights to Israel, 10 of the 15 services to Qatar, and 14 of the 19 scheduled flights to the United Arab Emirates.

These are the key questions and answers for American travelers.

How widespread is the disruption?

The conflict has triggered the largest aviation crisis in the Middle East since the pandemic. Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar remains virtually empty, according to a March 4 map from flight-tracking service Flightradar24.

American Airlines has temporarily suspended its direct flights between Doha and Philadelphia. It said: We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and make any additional adjustments as needed.

To provide additional flexibility for customers, we have issued travel alerts allowing those with affected travel to change their plans without a fee.

A limited number of flights have resumed from Dubai Airport, pictured, but disruption remains severe and Americans are being told to depart now from the Middle East (AP)

United Airlines has canceled flights departing the U.S. to Tel Aviv and Dubai through March 11, as well as their corresponding returns.

The airline said: United has issued a travel waiver so customers with travel in the affected region can change their plans without cost. Customers can find continuous updates about travel to the Middle East at United.com/MiddleEastAirspace.

Delta Air Lines has canceled flights from New York-JFK to Tel Aviv through March 22 and from Tel Aviv to JFK through March 23.

Are flights starting to resume?

There has been a limited recovery, with a few dozen flights departing Dubai.

As of Wednesday, Emirates has suspended all scheduled flights to and from Dubai, but is operating some repatriation and freighter services.

Etihad has suspended operations in and out of its Abu Dhabi hub until at least Thursday.

This Flightradar24 image, dated to Wednesday, March 4, shows how the US-Israel-Iran conflict has created a vast no-go zone (Flightradar24)

Qatar Airways scheduled flight operations remain suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

Yesterday, Tuesday, Dubai operated 83 flights, Abu Dhabi 10 and Qatar zero.

What is the advice from the U.S. Government?

The U.S. State Department has told Americans to depart now from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen using available commercial travel.

While options are extremely limited, charter flights are being sent to evacuate Americans from the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. In a video message, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a 24/7 task force had been activated to provide American citizens with up-to-the-minute safety and security information.

He added: All Americans located abroad, particularly those in the Middle East, should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov to receive the latest messages and updates from your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

U.S. citizens overseas are also encouraged to follow our Security Updates for U.S. Citizens channel on WhatsApp and to follow @TravelGov on social media. The latest alerts can be found at travel.state.gov as well. mericans in the Middle East may contact the Department of State 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-202-501-4444.

Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said that since February 28, over 17,500 American citizens have returned to the United States from the Middle East  with over 8,500 American citizens returning to the U.S. on Tuesday.

However, Americans have been expressing frustration at a perceived lack of government support.

One American stuck in Bahrain told CNN: The Department of State tells me to evacuate, but theres no way to do so. I cannot believe there is no support for US Citizens stranded when the US started this conflict.

Which specific areas has Iran been targeting?

Firemen and rescue workers inspect the site of an explosion at the Fairmont The Palm Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The hotel was hit by an Iranian drone (AP)

According to U.S. Central Command, the Iranian Regime has been actively targeting civilians in more than a dozen locations.

This has included Dubai International Airport; Kuwait International Airport; Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi; Erbil International Airport, Iraq; Fairmont Palm Hotel, Dubai; Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai; Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bahrain; and the Port of Dubai.

What are passengers rights?

If your flight departs from the U.S. and the carrier cancels it, or there is a significant delay, you are entitled to a full refund if you choose not to rebook but not compensation.

If you do decide to rearrange the trip, you can do so at no additional charge.

If there is a delay and its within the airlines control - a staffing issue, for example - the airline might provide meal vouchers, hotel accommodation and ground transport, but it is not compelled to do so by law, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Americas big-three carriers  United, American and Delta  have all canceled services to the Middle East. Pictured are frustrated passengers at Dubai Airport (AP)

If the disruption is outside the airlines control, as would be the case with the current conflict, you are entitled to a refund or rebooking, but the airline is not required to pay for hotels or meals. If it does so, it would be a gesture of goodwill.

If you are flying on a non-American airline departing from the Middle East, your rights depend on the carriers own conditions of carriage.

Gulf carriers tend to rebook passengers and provide food and accommodation in the event of delays.

Is there wider disruption?

Yes. Many flights that would normally use Iranian or Iraqi airspace are taking wide diversions, adding to journey times.

There will also be knock-on delays as a result, and some flights may need to make refueling stops because of the longer routes. All of this adds up to continuing disruption.

When airspace reopens, how quickly will things be back to normal?

Even when flights resume, there is likely to be widespread disruption due to aircraft and crew being out of position.

Airlines, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, are working at full stretch, so even when the schedule is back on track, it could be days, and possibly weeks, before some stranded passengers reach their destinations.
Sheriff charged with DUI had been drinking high-alcohol Four Lokos since 6 am, authorities say

A local sheriff in Georgia had been drinking cans of Four Loko for hours prior to his DUI arrest by his own chief deputy, according to a report.

Gerald Jay Couch, the Hall County Sheriff, reportedly started on the caffeinated alcoholic drinks at 6 a.m. before being stopped later Friday morning while driving a county-issued vehicle.

As Couch was a sitting sheriff, the Georgia State Patrol were called to conduct a DUI examination.

The 63-year-old showed clear signs of impairment when stopped, including slurred speech and unsteadiness on his feet and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, according to the GSP.

A full arrest report later obtained by WSBTV stated that the deputy who stopped Couch had asked him what he had to drink and he stated [Four] Lokos. The trooper also found two 24oz Bahama Mama alcoholic beverages that had spilled inside the vehicle.

Gerald Jay Couch, the Hall County Sheriff, reportedly started on the caffeinated alcoholic Four Loko drinks at 6 a.m. before being stopped later Friday morning while driving a county-issued vehicle (Hall County Sheriff's Office)

Four Loko typically has an alcohol by volume level (ABV) ranging from 6 percent to 14 percent, depending on the flavor and state regulations. Most 24 oz cans sold in the U.S. contain around 14 percent ABV. By comparison, most beers have an ABV between 4 percent and 8 percent.

The original caffeinated version of the drink was banned or restricted in several states, including Michigan, Washington, Utah, Oklahoma, New York, and Kansas, from 2010 to 2011.

When breathalyzed, Couch had a score of .212  almost three times Georgias legal limit of 0.08.

The sheriff was stopped at around 10.30 a.m Friday after a deputy operating an unmarked vehicle observed a black Chevrolet Tahoe failing to maintain its lane. The deputy then followed the car back to a private driveway.

A trooper from GSP was called to the residence at approximately 11.30 a.m. They noted that Couch was unstable and administered Standardized Field Sobriety Tests  determining that he was under the influence of alcohol and placing him under arrest.

Four Loko typically has an alcohol by volume level ranging from 6 percent to 14 percent, depending on the flavor and state regulations. Most 24 oz cans sold in the U.S. contain around 14 percent ABV. The original caffeinated version of the drink was banned or restricted in several states, including Michigan, Washington, Utah, Oklahoma, New York, and Kansas, from 2010 to 2011 (Getty Images)

He was charged with driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane and open container.

Couch reportedly spent five hours in custody at Hall County Jail before being released on bond. His county-issued vehicle was confiscated.

The Independent has contacted the Hall County Sheriffs Department for an update in the case.

Due to his position as an elected official in Hall County, Couch cannot be fired from his position, though it is unclear if or when he will return. The state governor has the power to investigate such instances, including suspending or even charging a sheriff with a felony.

The Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia confirmed Monday that it received a conflict of interest letter from the Hall County Solicitor-General and was working to find an appropriate prosecutor for the case.
Valerie Foushee and Nida Allam, who are vying to win the Democratic primary on Tuesday. Composite: Getty Images (Composite: Getty Images)

A North Carolina congressional primary held on Tuesday is an early test of datacenter politics  a fight increasingly shaping elections nationwide.

In the Durham-area fourth district, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee is seeking her third term against progressive challenger Nida Allam, a Durham county commissioner she defeated in 2022. The election was too close to call as of Wednesday morning, with Foushee up by less than one percentage point, and is likely headed for a recount.

The heated rematch comes against the backdrop of a major datacenter battle in the district. Allam has come out staunchly against a massive new proposed facility, and is supporting a federal datacenter moratorium. Foushee, meanwhile, said she does not personally support the new development, but that datacenter decisions should be left to local leaders, not federal ones.

Until mid-February, Allams campaign donations dwarfed Foushees, thanks to Pacs such as Justice Democrats and gun control activist David Hoggs Leaders We Deserve. In the last two weeks, that picture has changed dramatically as major Pacs have raced to back the incumbent.

Chief among them is Jobs and Democracy, a Super Pac whose sole disclosed donor is Anthropic, the AI firm behind Claude. The group has spent about $1.6m on Foushees re-election campaign since 21 February.

Though Anthropic has no known links to the local datacenter proposal, opposition to it has left some local residents especially skeptical of all political funding tied to big tech.

Anthropic brands itself as safety-focused, making headlines in recent days for refusing the Pentagons demand for unfettered use of its products, though its tools have since reportedly been used in strikes on Iran. The company has backed some state AI safeguards and last year helped defeat a federal ban on state AI regulations.

Part of the broader network Public First Action, the Jobs and Democracy Super Pac was created to fight back and make sure leaders who have been on the front lines of protecting kids, families, workers, and our national security from the risks of unregulated AI get elected, spokesperson Anthony Rivera-Rodriguez wrote in an email.

The idea, however, that a big tech-backed group would support candidates who will regulate AI to the necessary degree is laughable, according to Allam.

That would be like if I allowed my two kids to decide and be the dictators of their own bedtime, she said in an interview.

Hundreds of people signed an open letter urging candidates to oppose the datacenter proposal in the fourth district and reject big-tech Pac money.

Allam, who agreed to the terms of the letter, said: I wear it as a badge of honor that [big tech] sees me as a threat.

But when a high school student asked Foushee if she would accept funding from the AI sector last month, she said: I have not made any pledge.

In an email, Foushee said: I do not coordinate with Super Pacs in any way and that she will push for datacenter regulations in Congress.

I have long been fighting to hold oligarchs and large corporations accountable in Congress, she said. Nothing will ever change that.

A datacenter showdown

Foushees Anthropic-tied funding has drawn sharp criticism from constituents opposing Maryland-based Natelli Investments plan to build a sprawling 190-acre (75-hectare) datacenter near Apex, 20 miles (32km) south-west of Raleigh.

The developer has not said which companies will use the facility.

The proposal has sparked pushback over energy and water use and potential increases in toxic and planet-warming emissions. Some 5,000 people have signed a petition opposing it.

Between the electricity, the water issues, air quality, health, noise pollution, said Michelle OConnor, who lives roughly 1.5 miles from the proposed datacenter and has a health sciences PhD, I have yet to find a solid reason why this is good for Apex.

The two Democratic candidates have responded to the fight differently. Foushee, endorsed by the congressional progressive caucus, North Carolina governor Josh Stein, and the League of Conservation Voters, says that though she does not personally favor the Apex proposal, local leaders should be in charge.

I share many of the same concerns as my constituents. I believe we need to protect the local environment and our communitys electrical costs, she said. I trust the local leaders to make the right choice and listen to our community, and I do not want to be a thorn in their side.

But Allam argues federal leaders must slow AIs rapid expansion. A former state Democratic party leader and 2016 Bernie Sanders staffer endorsed by the youth-led climate group Sunrise Movement as well as Justice Democrats, she has rallied alongside residents against the Apex proposal. When Chatham county, also in the fourth district, passed its own datacenter moratorium earlier this month, Allam hailed the policy as great news.

Alongside Sanders, she is calling for a 10-year national moratorium on datacenters. Such a pause would allow lawmakers to develop requirements for facilities to recycle their own water and pay for dedicated clean energy supplies such as solar, preventing local bill increases, resource depletion and climate impacts.

We need to implement these rules or its going to be our working-class neighbors that suffer the most, she said.

Jobs and Democracy said it backs leaders who champion voter interests over big tech. Spokesperson Rivera-Rodriguez said Foushee has been a voice against the datacenter proposal in her district, consistent with the groups support for leaders who stand up to unregulated AI.

The Super Pac and Foushee argue that states and localities should decide whether to approve datacenters instead of federal lawmakers. Foushee said that a national moratorium could create unintended consequences  for example, preventing communities from building hospitals that rely on data infrastructure.

Though local leaders should be in charge, the representative said, she will push for regulations regarding datacenters including first-of-its-kind policies surrounding land use to hold large corporations accountable for their effects on local costs and the environment as Democrats retake the majority.

Allam said Foushees position passes the buck to state leaders, who may be constrained by federal law from enacting certain protections. Stronger federal leadership is needed, she said.

In December, Foushee was appointed to co-chair a new bipartisan AI commission. The Jobs and Democracy Pac has also funded ads supporting one of the other two co-chairs of the commission, New Jersey representative Josh Gottheimer.

Foushee last week raised concerns about reports that Anthropic had stepped back from key safety commitments around military use amid pressure from Trump officials  though she called for the administration, not the company, to change its behavior. She has also called for tech companies to detail how AI factored into recent layoffs, and flagged the sectors environmental footprint.

Congress needs to establish clear regulations to ensure datacenters do not hurt our environment, she said.

Critics say accepting tech-linked Super Pac funding undercuts that message.

She cant have our best interests in mind when shes relying on their money to stay in office, said Usamah Andrabi, Justice Democrats communications director.

Victoria Plant, a local Sunrise Movement organizer, said Foushee has offered no real regulations to stop unchecked expansion.

During the 2022 cycle, Foushee also faced criticism for accepting funding from the pro-Israel lobby and a Super Pac linked to disgraced cryptocurrency financier Sam Bankman-Fried, who was later convicted of fraud. Foushee in 2022 said she donated her BankmanFriedlinked contribution to a nonprofit, and this year said she will not accept further donations from the pro-Israel lobby.

Money in politics

The Apex datacenter reflects broader concerns about AIs rapid expansion, Allam said. At peak demand, the project could consume up to 1m gallons of water a day  roughly one-fifth of the towns average daily use, according to town officials. Natelli has said the project will not affect potable water and says the facility will comply with local codes and ordinances.

It would also require about 300 megawatts of electricity  roughly three times the annual consumption of Apex and nearby New Hill combined, said Bill Dam, a retired environmental scientist who lives two miles from the site.

Its not in our interests to see this project go through, he said.

The facility would draw power from a nearby nuclear plant and rely on 100 diesel generators for backup. If used frequently to stabilize the grid during high demand, those generators will produce toxic and planet-warming emissions, Dam warned.

And though the developer says the project should not impact energy rates, datacenters have been linked to increased prices in North Carolina, Allam said.

Foushee said she, too, is worried about local water usage, rising electrical costs and pollution from the Apex proposal.

Allam said residents are right to be skeptical that she will act on those beliefs.

You cant have the very industry that youre trying to regulate be bankrolling you, and expect residents to believe that you are going to have independent thought, she said.

She said she is under no illusion that lawmakers can or should stop AIs expansion outright. I believe that the United States should be a leader in the sphere of AI, she said. But we need to do it in a way that actually benefits communities.
Sally Donald has previously spoken about having autism and severe anxiety

A Scottish National Party (SNP) election candidate who has spoken about having autism and anxiety is under investigation for claiming disability benefits.

Sally Donald, a spin doctor who has worked for several SNP MPs, is being investigated for possible benefits fraud by Social Security Scotland (SSS).

She has been selected as the partys candidate for the Edinburgh Southern seat in Mays Holyrood election, which she hopes to win from Labour.

The 32-year-old has regularly posted videos on TikTok showing herself on the campaign trail, including an appearance with John Swinney, the party leader.

She has also been frequently pictured with Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister, and has documented her busy work and social life on Instagram.

But The Scotsman reported on Wednesday that she had been claiming the SNPs adult disability payment (ADP) for several years after the party created a more generous welfare system than the other parts of the UK.

In a statement, she confirmed an anonymous complaint had been made about her ADP claim but said her welfare payments had not been stopped.

The tax-free benefit can be worth up to 10,000 annually.

Ms Donald has previously spoken about having autism and severe anxiety. However, Holyroods opposition parties said that the SNP must withdraw its support for her if the SSS investigation were to uphold the complaint.

An official audit recently found that disability claims in Scotland have surged after control over some welfare payments was devolved to the SNP.

Ms Donald regularly updates her social media followers on her political and personal life

Alexander Stewart, the Scottish Tories shadow social security secretary, said: If these allegations stack up, then this SNP candidate has taken being on the nationalists gravy bus all too literally.

These are extremely serious claims against a candidate who is asking voters to put their faith in her in just a few weeks time and who has been trusted by very senior figures within the SNP.

We have repeatedly warned that the SNPs benefits system is too light touch and runs the risk of people making fraudulent claims.

Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labours deputy leader, said: These are very serious allegations and both the SNP and Ms Donald must explain immediately what has happened.

The public purse is not a gravy bus, and if these allegations are proven correct, then the SNP must remove their support for this candidate and conduct a full audit of their remaining candidates to make sure none of them are defrauding Scotland.

Dame Jackie Baillie has called for immediate answers about the fraud claims - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Ms Donald told The Scotsman: In September last year, I met with Social Security Scotland who had received an anonymous complaint about my eligibility for the adult disability payment.

I provided the details they requested and have not heard anything since. I continue to receive ADP, based on their initial assessment of my eligibility for support.

But Joanna Cherry KC, a former SNP MP, posted on X: Innocent till proven guilty, but its worthy of comment that in the past SNP candidates and serving Parliamentarians have been suspended pending the outcome of investigations into such allegations. Double standards at play here.

ADP is the SNPs replacement for the personal independence payment (PIP), which is applicable elsewhere in the UK, and is handed to nearly 500,000 Scots with disabilities or long-term health conditions that affect their everyday lives.

One part of ADP deals with daily living and aims to provide recipients with money for tasks such as preparing food, dressing and bathing. Another part aims to help those who have problems moving around.

Light touch on claims checks

Last Septembers audit said only 318,000 of these claimants were transferred from PIP to ADP after the control over the benefit was devolved to Holyrood in 2022.

Nearly 160,000 of those being paid ADP are new applicants, with the SNP operating a light touch system with fewer checks for those wanting to claim the benefit.

Between January 2023 and April this year, 8 per cent of Scotlands working-age population registered for ADP, compared to 5.3 per cent applying for PIP in the rest of the UK.

But the auditor warned that the more generous system was on course to create a yawning funding gap by the end of the decade and SNP ministers had no clear strategy for managing this.

An SSS spokesman said: We do not comment on any active fraud investigations. It would not be appropriate to discuss individual cases or to confirm whether an individual had been investigated.

An SNP spokesperson said: Sally Donald has informed local members of her decision to no longer stand as a candidate.
Spains prime minister Pedro Sanchez once again criticised the US and Israels military actions in Iran, standing firm on Wednesday against fresh trade threats from Washington and warning that the Iran war risked playing Russian roulette with millions of lives.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to end US trade with Spain because of Spains refusal to allow the US to use joint military bases in the country in its attacks on Iran.

We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone, Mr Sanchez said in a televised address.

It is not clear how Mr Trump would cut off trade with Spain, a European Union member. The EU negotiates trade on behalf of all its 27 members.

Despite Spains refusal, Mr Trump has said we could use their base if we want, referencing two military bases in southern Spain that the US and Spain share, but which remain under Spanish command.

We could just fly in and use it, Mr Trump said. Nobodys going to tell us not to use it, but we dont have to.

Mr Trump told reporters during a White House meeting with German chancellor Friedrich Merz that Spain has been terrible, adding he had told Treasury secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all dealings with Madrid.

Were going to cut off all trade with Spain. We dont want anything to do with Spain, he added.

No to the war: Spainish prime minister Pedro Sanchezs position on the Iran conflict marks the latest flare-up in the countrys relationship with the Trump administration (AFP/Getty)

The threats from Washington were just the latest instance of the US president wielding the threat of tariffs or trade embargoes as punishment.

The US Supreme Court last month struck down Mr Trumps far-reaching global tariffs, saying emergency powers do not allow the president to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs.

However, Mr Trump maintains that the court allows him to instead impose full-scale embargoes on other nations of his choosing.

Spains position on the Iran conflict marks the latest flare-up in its relationship with the Trump administration. Spain was also an outspoken critic of Israels war in Gaza.

Mr Sanchez has called the US and Israeli attacks on Iran an unjustifiable and dangerous military intervention.

On Wednesday, the Spanish leader also referenced the Iraq war and its negative consequences in terms of generating more jihadi extremism.

In short, the position of the government of Spain can be summarised in four words, Mr Sanchez said. No to the war.

Mr Merz later revealed to reporters that he told Mr Trump privately that Spain could not be excluded from a trade agreement reached between Brussels and Washington last year.

I said that Spain is a member of the European Union and we negotiate about tariffs with the United States only together or not at all, he said. There is no way to treat Spain particularly badly.

Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
Additional flights to rescue British nationals stranded in the Middle East have been announced.

The prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer said two further government-chartered flights will take off from Oman in the coming days.

British Airways announced two more flights will operate between the capital Muscat and London Heathrow, on Friday and Saturday.

The first government rescue flight and a British Airways commercial flight from Muscat are set to depart on Wednesday evening.

Sir Keir told MPs that more than 1,000 British nationals landed back in the UK on commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday.

British Airways is to operate two more rescue flights from the Middle East (PA)

Eight more UK flights are scheduled to depart the UAE on Wednesday, he confirmed.

However, there is not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East.

Some commercial flights are operating from Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE but the vast majority are cancelled due to airspace restrictions caused by the US-Israeli war against Iran.

British Airways, which does not usually serve Muscat, said it remains unable to operate its scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.

Muscat has become as a key location for people to escape the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi commercial flights remain partly operational but the vast majority are cancelled due to airspace restrictions (AP)

The Foreign Office has not advised against travel to Muscats airport, unlike the current advice in place for airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

Muscat can be accessed by road from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi with journeys of about 300 miles (around 480km).

The UKs Foreign Office said: There are a limited number of commercial options available, including by air from UAE and from Oman.

If your presence in UAE is not essential, you may wish to consider departing  if you judge you can access these options safely.

Oman Air has continued to operate its two daily return flights between Muscat and Heathrow despite the war.

Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 said Muscat has become a popular alternative for flying out of the region but warned that almost all scheduled flights from Muscat are fully booked.

Private jets are being chartered to evacuate those who can afford it, it added.

Around half a million passengers per day usually frequent airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, which are crucial hubs for travel between Europe and the continents of Asia and Australia.

Experts believe it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers as the war unfolds.
Sir Keir carries two folders as he walks out of the door

Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that Donald Trump has no viable plan for his war in Iran.

In an apparent rebuke to the US president, the Prime Minister said that Britain would not get directly involved in the Middle Eastern conflict without a thought-through approach from the US and Israel.

Mr Trump criticised Sir Keir for refusing to join the attacks on Tehran at the weekend, and for initially not allowing the US to use British bases to bomb the regime.

The Prime Minister later relented and gave the US permission to use the bases for limited and defensive purposes as Iran fired missiles and drones across the region.

When asked by Kemi Badenoch at Prime Ministers Questions why he would not authorise the RAF to take offensive action against Iran, Sir Keir replied: What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was for the UK to join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan. That remains my position.

Sir Keir has been accused by senior Tories and Reform politicians of jeopardising Britains special relationship with the US. Last night, Mr Trump said Sir Keir was no Winston Churchill and ruins relationships.

However, the Prime Minister said: British jets are shooting down drones and missiles to protect American lives in the Middle East on our joint bases. That is the special relationship in action.

Sharing intelligence every day to keep our people safe. That is the special relationship in action. Hanging on to president Trumps latest words is not the special relationship in action.

Sir Keir told the Commons that an extremely serious situation had taken hold in the Middle East and that British troops would be worried sick about their relatives.

He added: We need to act, therefore, with clarity, with purpose and a cool head. The protection of UK nationals is our number one priority.

And were taking action to reduce the threat with planes in the sky in the region intercepting incoming strikes, deploying more capability to Cyprus and allowing US planes to use UK bases to take out Irans capability to strike.

Britain cited international law when it initially denied the US permission to use its bases, including Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory. When Sir Keir relented on Sunday night, he said he would allow their use only for specific and limited defensive purposes.

The dispute persuaded Mr Trump to withdraw his support for Britains controversial Chagos deal, which will transfer ownership of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius.

On Wednesday afternoon, Seyed Ali Mousavi, the Iranian ambassador, was summoned by the Home Office, in what a minister said was a meeting to condemn Irans role in attempting to draw the region into a wider conflict.

Hamish Falconer, the Middle East minister, summoned Mr Mousavi for the first time since the conflict began last weekend, and criticised the threat this has presented to the hundreds of thousands of British citizens in the region.

The Prime Minister was criticised by Mrs Badenoch for failing to protect RAF Akrotiri, a British base in Cyprus that was targeted by an Iranian drone on Sunday night.

The Tory leader accused Sir Keir of catching arrows rather than stopping the archer with his approach to Iranian missile and drone attacks.

She said on Wednesday: Nobody wants to see an escalation. The fact is our bases, in case [the Government] dont realise, have already been attacked. Iran is trying to kill our servicemen and women. He is catching arrows rather than stopping the archer.

Why is he asking our allies to do what we should be doing ourselves? I would say to Labour MPs, we are in this war whether they like it or not. What is the Prime Minister waiting for?

Sir Keir said that Britain had been pre-deploying military assets to the Middle East for several weeks. He told the Commons that multiple F-35s and Typhoons had been in operation not just in the Middle East, but across Cyprus, with further missions flown overnight.

The Prime Minister announced on Tuesday night that he would send HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, and Wildcat helicopters, to defend the base in Cyprus. However, The Telegraph understands the Portsmouth-based ship may not sail until next week.

RAF Akrotiri is currently defended by British radar systems, air defence and F-35 jets, but there are no Royal Navy warships in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea around it.
Wes Streeting has accused Reform UK of a return to age-old racism that I thought we had consigned to the 1970s and 1980s and an attempt to delegitimise Muslim voters in the wake of the Gorton and Denton by-election.

The health secretary hit out at Reform candidate Matt Goodwin after the politician was criticised for claiming that UK-born people from black, Asian or other immigrant backgrounds were not always British.

Mr Streeting also accused Mr Goodwin of saying that if you dont look like me, even if you were born here, you cant really be British after the Reform candidate said, it takes more than a piece of paper to make somebody British.

Claiming this marked a return to age-old racism that I thought we had consigned to the 1970s and 1980s, he continued: That is just about the most un-British thing I can think of ... All of us have a responsibility to stand against that kind of hatred and discrimination.

Meanwhile, appearing to distance himself from claims made by both Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage that the contest was fought on sectarian lines, the health secretary emphasised the importance of defending the "rights, the voice, the space of Muslims in our country to participate in our democracy on equal terms, with equal votes, and equal voices.

Mr Streeting made the intervention at the Big Iftar in parliament hosted by the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims, amid growing speculation that he is preparing a leadership bid to challenge Sir Keir.

Wes Streeting emphasised the importance of defending the rights, the voice, the space of Muslims in our country to participate in our democracy on equal terms (PA)

It comes after concerns were raised about people forcing family members to vote in a certain way in the recent Gorton and Denton by-election, with Nigel Farage claiming the contest was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating after Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer won the seat.

He also claimed that Reforms candidate Matt Goodwin would have won if only British citizens had voted, saying his party would limit voting in national elections to British passport holders and remove the right from those with Commonwealth citizenship who qualify as UK residents.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the election  which saw Labour slump to third place behind the Greens and Reform in a seat which they previously won with more than half the votes  the prime minister wrote to Labour MPs and accused the Greens of embracing a divisive, sectarian form of politics.

Branding the Green Partys policies extreme, the prime minister claimed they had shown they were not the harmless environmentalists they pretend to be.

But in his address at the Big Iftar in parliament, Mr Streeting took a different tone.

Weve seen in recent days  as Muslims have upheld British values, gone to the ballot box, cast their votes, taking part in democracy  attempts to delegitimise them, to suggest that their votes and their voices count less than others, he said.

When Nigel Farage said Reform won the Gorton and Denton by-election among British-born voters, what he was saying was that he won the by-election amongst people who look like him.

Nigel Farage pictured campaigning with Matt Goodwin, Reforms candidate, who was defeated in the Gorton and Denton by-election (PA)

We know that one of the reasons the Greens won in Gorton and Denton was because lots of people in the Muslim community turned out to vote for them. One of the reasons I almost lost in Ilford North at the last election was because lots of Muslim people in my own constituency turned out to vote, and not to vote for me.

Mr Streeting, who won in his Ilford North constituency in 2024 with a majority of just 528 votes, continued: Perhaps its even more important that I and other people who look like me, defend the rights, the voice, the space of Muslims in our country to participate in our democracy on equal terms, with equal votes, and equal voices.

They have just as much right as everyone else to choose who represents people in this country.

Finishing his address, Mr Streeting joked: So let me end by winding up all the right people, by saying that this gay bible-bashing Christian wishes all Muslims here and across our country Ramadan Mubarak."

Sir Keir also addressed the event, telling the crowd that Ramadan strengthens the bonds of community and decency that unite us all, as well as characterising the UK as a community of communities where Muslims are at the forefront of Britain's story.

The row over sectarian voting in the election came after election observer group Democracy Volunteers claimed to have witnessed high levels of family voting where two voters either confer, collude or direct each other on voting  at the Gorton and Denton by-election.

They said they saw the illegal practice in 68 per cent of 22 polling stations monitored.

There has been mounting speculation in recent months over a possible leadership bid by the health secretary, in the face of devastating approval ratings and questions over the direction of the government.

While Mr Streeting has dismissed briefings about his supposed leadership ambitions as incredibly stupid, there has been growing speculation over plans to challenge Sir Keir Starmer as the prime minister faces increasing doubts over his ability to lead the party.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
A new secretary-general of the United Nations will be appointed on 1 January, 2027 to succeed Antonio Guterres, with three current nominations on the table - former Senegalese president Macky Sall, plus former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Argentine Rafael Grossi.

The selection process was launched last November, with each candidate to be formally nominated by a state or group of states, not necessarily by their country of origin. The Security Council must begin the selection process by the end of July.

UN General Assembly spokeswoman La Neice Collins confirmed Burundi's nomination of Sall on Monday.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

Burundi currently chairs the African Union (AU), and a source close to Sall told French news agency AFP that during Sall's time as president of the AU, from February 2022 to February 2023, his priority "was to carry Africa's voice within international bodies".

Ghana seeks formal UN acknowledgement of African slave trade injustice

Other candidates

The current composition of the Council could be favourable to Sall, as three African members are sitting on it this year - the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Somalia.

While the entire Security Council will elect the next secretary-general, its five permanent members - France, the United Kingdom, China, the United States, and Russia - will ultimate be the deciders, as they have power of veto.

DRC returns to UN Security Council as non-permanent member after 35 years

Two other candidates have been formally nominated: former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, who currently heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Costa Rica has also put forward its former vice president Rebeca Grynspan, but her letter of candidacy has not yet been officially submitted to the UN.

Senegal ex-president Sall 'could face charges' following public finances report

Controversy in Senegal

Sall led the West African nation from 2012 to 2024. The current government accuses him of covering up unfavourable economic data and concealing the true extent of the country's fiscal problems.

Senegal charged four former government ministers from Sall's cabinet with corruption and embezzlement related to the management of Covid-19 funds - under a wider anti-corruption campaign by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

(with newswires, and partially adapted from this report in French.)
Actor Alex Kingston has opened up about her uterine cancer diagnosis, revealing she "wasnt reading the signs" from her body.

The 62-year-old ER and Doctor Who star shared the news last year in an interview with The Independent, which took place during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing in October 2025.

Kingston, who underwent a hysterectomy and radiation therapy, said her body was trying to tell her that something was very wrong  but she ignored the warning symptoms as shes such a positive person.

The actor said she assumed the bloating and weight gain, or injuries not healing properly were because of her age. She previously told The Independent she experienced these signs for years, but didnt get checked until she started haemorrhaging on stage while performing a play on stage.

I thought, This is what its like to be in your 60s, and its just part and parcel of getting older, she told Prima magazine.

She continued: I hadnt realised that uterine cancer was a cancer that didnt get much airtime. I think its probably because on the whole, it is a cancer where if you recognise something is wrong, your body is able to tell you. And if its caught early enough, it is survivable.

Kingston said she never, ever went down the cancer road, so it was a shock.

The actor added that she was initially reluctant to speak about her diagnosis and kept it quiet for a long time.

Im quite a private person and I felt, Why should I talk about my cancer? and also on Strictly, I thought, I dont want my journey to be about my sickness.

The actress revealed her diagnosis while she was a contestant on Strictly, paired with professional dancer Johannes Radebe (David Venni/PA Wire)

I wanted it to be about going forwards and life affirmation. But then I realised when I started to get responses from people that, actually, this is important.

She continued: If nothing else, its important to encourage people that if their body is behaving in a slightly unusual way, dont just write it off as being old or suddenly becoming gluten intolerant.

It could be something else and to go and have it checked. So I feel now that it was a good thing that I opened up about it.

Kingston also responded to a mean-spirited comment made by judge Craig Revel Horwood about her performance in the Halloween episode, when he referred to her Salsa to Horny by Hot n Juicy and Mousse T as looking like a woman experiencing a midlife crisis.

The comment was widely criticised, but Kingston, who was partnered with professional dancer Johannes Radebe said she was not aware of it at the time.

Johannes Radebe and Alex Kingston on Strictly Come Dancing in 2025 (BBC)

She said: When I did the Strictly Halloween Horny number, I wasnt fully aware of the scathing critique Craig had given me about looking like a woman who is having a midlife crisis.

I didnt realise that he was saying it or know about the follow-through in terms of people saying, Thats just outrageous, how dare you say something like that?

It was a little mean-spirited for Craig to say that, and also I just felt like its exactly the opposite of what Im trying to advocate.

Its like, no, if you want to dance and swing a devils tail around and youre in your 90s, do it. I mean, this is your life. So live it!

She added: Ive never spent time thinking about my age.

I know Im getting older, but I do try to just live in the moment. And Ive never felt like I have to subscribe to the norms or the rules that have been set about how one should behave at a certain age.

Kingston finished in eighth place in the BBC competition. The April 2026 issue of Prima is now on sale.

Additional reporting by Agencies
A terminally ill man in New York City was recently granted his dying wish: to be reunited with the two German Shepherds he'd made the heartbreaking decision to relinquish to rescue when his health took a turn for the worse.

The man, identified as Mr. Spencer, requested to see them again, and Second Chance Animal Rescue was able to bring his Shepherds, Bowie and Nikki to Columbia University Irving Medical Center where they were reunited with their dad for a final visit.

The video shows the interaction and features a representative from Second Chance describing the reunion as "a tearjerker." The dogs are visibly excited to see their dad, straining at their leashes to get closer.

Just as quickly, their energy shifts, and you hear a voice in the background say, "they know." It's just a subtle change in attention, but one that feels deeply meaningful to anyone who has lived with and loved Shepherds, and understands how deeply their loyalty lies.

Mr. Spencer passed away just a few hours later.

German Shepherd parents know. Until you've loved one, nothing quite prepares you for what happens when one chooses you as their person. They don't know the meaning of the word "casual." For as long as they're able, they will show up for you, day in and day out with their entire body and mind, with no other thought except "Are you safe? Are you OK? Does anything or anyone mean you harm?"

Related: German Shepherd Puppy's Perfectly On-Brand Antics Are Everything

They hinge on your every word and movement. So you see these two in this weird room of wires and strangers and noises and smells, and they're just trying to get closer. They're both jockeying for the coveted position under his hand. They're not performing or faking it or being "good dogs." They're doing exactly what a Shepherd does when something matters. They're closing the distance. And it breaks your heart because you know how it ends.

Bowie and Nikki Are Looking for Their New Forever Home

Stock photo of two German ShepherdsImage via Shutterstock/DasyaDasya (Image via Shutterstock/DasyaDasya)

Second Chance Rescue made one last promise to Mr. Spencer: to find a loving forever home that Bowie and Nikki can go to together as a bonded pair.

These two have already proven how deeply they can love and how loyal they are. Now they're waiting for a home where they can spend the rest of their days side by side with someone who's ready to show up for them.

More information is available at Second Chance including photos and adoption details.

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
James Talarico, the Democratic US Senate candidate for Texas, greets supporters during his primary election night party in Austin. Photograph: Joel Angel Juarez/Reuters (Photograph: Joel Angel Juarez/Reuters)

Never write off the voter. It has been tempting to despair of an electorate that returned Donald Trump to power in 2024. But as the US midterm elections got under way on Tuesday, the big winner was pragmatism.

Democrats in Texas picked James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who preaches a political gospel of bridging divides, as their nominee for the Senate. He was widely seen as more electable than his primary opponent, Jasmine Crockett, a Texas congresswoman and unapologetic anti-Trump brawler, in a state where Democrats have gone decades without winning a statewide race.

Republicans in Texas resisted the temptation to anoint Ken Paxton, the states attorney general and a conservative firebrand who has weathered allegations of corruption and infidelity. Paxtons race with incumbent senator John Cornyn was closer than expected, meaning that the men will go to a runoff, in which the less extreme Cornyn could still pull off a win.

The results will allow both parties to breathe a sigh of relief in an era of bare-knuckle politics where the loudest, most radical voices tend to win primaries. Crockett had gone viral by calling Trump a piece of shit and mocking Republican Marjorie Taylor Greenes bleach blond bad-built butch body. Paxton had backed severe voting restrictions and statewide bans on abortion, railed against woke indoctrination and anti-American ideology, and styled himself as the true Trump standard bearer.

Related: Trump-aligned candidates surge as some incumbents fall: five key takeaways from US primary elections

Both candidates certainly energised voters and gained traction. In some parts of the country they would probably have prevailed. But in Texas, which could be vital to control of the Senate, and therefore the second half of Trumps presidency, voters displayed a survival instinct.

Democrats, facing a choice between two charismatic progressives who represent generational change, went with Talarico, 36, who quotes scripture and rarely raises his voice. He did not mention Trump when he greeted supporters at his primary-night celebration, promising: We are trying to fundamentally change our politics, and its working. His campaign provided Love thy Neighbor signs to people in the crowd.

Talarico often said his campaign was about addressing a country whose fundamental divide is not partisan but top versus bottom, a message that excited economic populists who feel that being anti-Trump is not enough. He also regularly assails the rise in Christian nationalism. The former teacher has advocated for public education  and against Texas conservatives policies to restrict curriculum and reshape how US history is taught.

Whereas Crockett  endorsed by former vice-president Kamala Harris  promised Democrats that she could increase turnout within the partys base, Talarico campaigned on the theory that he could pull new people into the partys tent. Campaigning in San Antonio, he said: I cant tell you [how many people] have come up to me, whispering that theyre not a Democrat.

The result gave the first indication of whether Democratic voters want candidates like Crockett who fight Trumps fire with fire, or contenders such as Talarico who are more likely to appeal to moderates and independents and might have a better chance of winning Novembers election.

But sweeping conclusions should be treated with caution. What works in Texas, a vast melting pot known as the Lone Star state, will not necessarily work everywhere.

The Democratic primary had some unusual quirks: Talarico got a burst of publicity  and campaign contributions  last month from CBSs decision not to air his interview with late-night host Stephen Colbert, who said the network pulled the interview for fear of angering Trumps Federal Communications Commission.

Crockett, for her part, made an unforced error by reportedly ejecting an Atlantic magazine journalist from a campaign rally, calling the reporter a top-notch hater, and then trying to deny it. History suggests that gender and race may have also played a part in voters calculations about who had the better shot in a state that has never elected a Black governor or senator.

On the Republican side, there were three candidates fighting over who was most closely aligned with Trump in a contest that was light on policy but heavy on loyalty to the president. It was proof that Trump still dominates the party despite low approval ratings and some recent cracks in his Maga movement.

Cornyn, 74, who is seeking a fifth term, is a fixture of the Republican establishment but has broken with Trump in the past, notably when the president tried to overthrow the 2020 election result. Paxton, 63, a self-styled Maga warrior, filed legal challenges in Texas against Trumps 2020 defeat and has been a fierce Trump loyalist for years.

The presence of a third candidate, Wesley Hunt, meant neither Paxton nor Cornyn were able to surpass the 50% total needed to secure the nomination outright. But Cornyns unexpectedly strong showing could be enough to gain Trumps endorsement if the president is as pragmatic as the voters.

Should the extremist Paxton prevail, however, Democrats will have a historic opportunity in a state where they have long promised so much only to disappoint. In heavily Latino counties along the Rio Grande Valley, their turnout surged; the Democratic primary saw around twice as many voters as the Republican primary in Texass 34th district.

And Crocketts gracious concession on Wednesday augured well for party unity as Talarico now seeks to win more Black voters. She said: Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track.

Indeed, the midterms will be a referendum on the Trump presidency, including the war on Iran, especially if gas prices continue to rise and US casualties grow. In Texas, at least, voters on both sides have shown they understand the stakes.
File. An official updates the vote count in Thailands general election at a polling station in Bangkok on 8 February 2026 (AFP via Getty)

Thailands election commission has certified the majority of parliamentary seats won in last months general election, two sources said on Wednesday, clearing the way for a new house to convene and a new government to take office.

The commission has certified all 100 party-list seats and a further three constituency seats, the sources told Reuters, meaning all but one of the 500 parliamentary seats have been confirmed.

The commission was due to hold a press conference later on Wednesday.

Under the rules, the new parliament must meet within 15 days of certification. It will elect a speaker and deputy speaker and will then choose a prime minister, who will move to form a government.

The certified results show prime minister Anutin Charnvirakuls Bhumjaithai Party winning the most seats, followed by the Peoples Party and the Pheu Thai Party.

Bhumjaithai has said it plans to form a coalition with third-place Pheu Thai and several smaller parties, an alliance that will hold an estimated 292 seats.

The new government is expected to begin working in April, a Bhumjaithai party official told Reuters.

The poll body said 37.8 million people voted in the 8 February election, representing 71.42 per cent of eligible voters.
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The husband of a Labour MP has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

Joani Reid confirmed her spouse David Taylor was detained by counter-terrorism officers in London on Wednesday over allegations of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The lobbyist was one of three men, aged 39, 43 and 68, who were arrested in the capital and in Wales over the allegations.

Ms Reid, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, said: I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.

I am not part of my husband's business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation.

She added: I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters.

As far as I am aware I have never met any Chinese businesses whilst I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.

I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections. I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party's dictatorship.

The arrests came as part of a investigation by the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Policing command.

The partner of a former Labour MP was also among those detained, it has been reported.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis earlier threatened severe consequences if the allegations are proven.

He told MPs: I can confirm to the House that British officials have formally demarche Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing about these allegations to raise our strong concerns.

Security minister Dan Jarvis (PA Wire)

However, as this is a live investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

But let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.

In the meantime, the government is taking robust action to ensure the UK's democratic institutions and processes are a hard target for this activity.

The National Security Act provides our intelligence agencies and law enforcement with the modern legal tools they need to deter, detect and disrupt the full range of state threats. The action counter terrorism police have been able to take this morning is an example that that legislation is working well.

Mr Jarvis refused to comment on a Labour MPs partner being among those arrested, adding: It is absolutely critical that we do not hamper the work of the police or prejudice any future legal processes in this house today.

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.

Todays arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this. Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support.

Police said the 39-year-old man was arrested at an address in London, the 68-year-old man at an address in Powys, Wales and the 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, also in Wales.

They were all detained under PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) and taken into police custody, where they currently remain, the Met said.

Officers carried out searches at the addresses where the arrests took place.

As part of the investigation, searches were also carried out at three other addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff respectively. Enquiries remain ongoing.

Previous cases of alleged spying within parliament have caused deep concern in Westminster, prompting warnings of a serious systemic challenge to British democracy.

Last year it emerged that prosecution cases against two men with parliamentary links accused of spying for China had been dropped because prosecutors could not obtain critical evidence from the government that Beijing represented a threat to the national security of the UK.

Spying charges against Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 32, were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, which initially said only that the evidential standard was no longer met a month before a high-profile trial had been due to start.

Cash and Berry denied the charges. At the time of the alleged offences Cash was a researcher specialising in China working for the Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, and Berry, a friend, was a researcher based in China. They were accused of passing on information about Westminster that was ultimately sent to Cai Qi, a member of Chinas ruling politburo.
Trump hits out at Starmer over Iran: This is not Winston Churchill were dealing with

Donald Trump has said he is not happy with the UK over its approach to the Iran conflict, declaring that Keir Starmer is not Winston Churchill.

Speaking at the White House, the US president unleashed another rant about the UK, claiming Sir Keir had been very uncooperative and had ruined relationships over Iran and the Chagos Islands.

Mr Trump has hit out at Britain several times since the US launched strikes on Tehran, criticising Sir Keir for not immediately allowing the US to use British bases to attack Iran.

Speaking about support from European nations for US action in Iran, Mr Trump added: Im not happy with the UK either.

Appearing to refer to the Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands, Mr Trump added: That island Its taken three, four days, for us to work out where we can land there; it would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours, so we are very surprised.

Donald Trump has said he is not happy with the UK over its approach to the war in Iran, declaring that Sir Keir Starmer is not Winston Churchill (AP)

This is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with, he added.

Mr Trump went on to express his disapproval at Britains deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, saying the UK has ruined relationships over the stupid island.

Spain has been very uncooperative, and so has UK. Now the second one is shocking, but this is not the age of Churchill, he said.

I will say the UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island that they have, that they gave away and took a 100-year lease; having to do with, perhaps, indigenous people claiming the island that never even saw the island before. Whats that all about?

Last week, the deal was plunged into fresh chaos after a minister suggested his plan to cede sovereignty of the British territory had been paused after Mr Trump urged him to scrap it. The Foreign Office later claimed that the minister misspoke and rapidly issued a clarification saying that there is no pause.

Mr Trump added that he loves the UK, but criticised the governments approach to energy and immigration as horrible.

Mr Trump has criticised the Chagos Islands deal, branding it a stupid island (CPA Media Pte Ltd/Alamy/PA)

The president repeated his calls for Sir Keir to open up the North Sea to drilling, telling reporters: Theyve got windmills all over the place that are ruining the country, ruining the landscapes, ruining the beautiful fields.

Open up the North Sea.

Turning to speak about the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Mr Trump called him an incompetent guy, and also claimed the UK has Sharia courts adjudicating law.

The US president has criticised Mr Khan a number of times previously, with the London mayor saying he was living rent free in Donald Trumps head.

Earlier, Downing Street insisted the US is still a staunch ally after Mr Trump launched another broadside against Sir Keir over the Middle East war.

Mr Trump had claimed Sir Keir had not been helpful and called the transatlantic rift very sad in an interview with The Sun on Monday.

Mr Trump added that he loves the UK but criticised the governments approach to energy and immigration as horrible (Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street)

This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe, he said.

Its not going to matter, but (Sir Keir) should have helped he should have.

I mean, France has been great. Theyve all been great. The UK has been much different from others.

He had also told The Telegraph he was very disappointed in the prime minister, after the UKs initial decision over the weekend.

In a statement addressing MPs on Monday, Sir Keir defiantly hit back at Mr Trump and defended his decision not to allow British military bases to be used by the US for the first wave of strikes against Iran, telling the Commons: I stand by my decision.

He said his government does not believe in regime change from the skies, in an apparent criticism of the US presidents bombing campaign.

Sir Keir said: President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britains national interest. That is what Ive done, and I stand by it.
Marco Rubio with Trump at a press conference in January. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters (Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Donald Trump attempted to counter a simmering anti-Israel backlash in Congress and among his own Maga supporters on Tuesday by denying suggestions that he had been bounced into attacking Iran because Israel had already decided to do so.

Amid growing criticism from opponents and allies, Trump rebuffed claims that he had struck Iran only because Israel had forced his hand, a suspicion fueled by comments made by the secretary of state, Marco Rubio.

Asked whether Israel had pushed him into launching military action, Trump told reporters: No. I might have forced their hand. We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first. They were going to attack. If we didnt do it, they were going to attack first. I felt strongly about that.

Senate Democrats reacted furiously after Rubio suggested on a visit to Capitol Hill that Saturdays strikes were driven by the need to pre-empt Iranian retaliation against US interests in response to Israeli attacks that Washington knew was coming.

Trump has provided fluid reasoning for why he ordered attacks last Saturday, in concert with Israeli strikes, one of which killed Irans most powerful figure, the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He has also sent mixed signals about whether he is willing to deploy US forces in a boots on the ground capacity, a decision that would almost certainly further inflame domestic criticism.

Trump denies Israel forced USs hand over Iran strikes

Trump has provided fluid reasoning for why he ordered attacks last Saturday, in concert with Israeli strikes, one of which killed Irans most powerful figure, the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He has also sent mixed signals about whether he is willing to deploy US forces in a boots on the ground capacity, a decision that would almost certainly further inflame domestic criticism.

Read the full story

US embassy in Riyadh hit by Iranian drones as Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon

Iranian drones hit the US embassy in Riyadh as Tehran continued to launch waves of retaliatory strikes at the Gulf and Israel, while Israeli soldiers began operating in southern Lebanon on the fourth day of an increasingly regional war in the Middle East.

The drone attack on the US embassy in Riyadh caused a minor fire, prompting the diplomatic mission to tell Americans to distance themselves from the compound. The attack followed an earlier Iranian drone strike on the US embassy in Kuwait, as Iran continued to target US bases, facilities and personnel in Arab Gulf states.

Read the full story

US troops were told war on Iran was all part of Gods divine plan, watchdog alleges

US military commanders have been invoking extremist Christian rhetoric about biblical end times to justify involvement in the Iran war to troops, according to complaints made to a watchdog group. In one complaint to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, viewed by the Guardian, the complainant said that their commander had urged us to tell our troops that this was all part of Gods divine plan and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.

Read the full story

Showdown over datacenter politics at heart of North Carolina primary

A North Carolina congressional primary on Tuesday is an early test of datacenter politics  a fight increasingly shaping elections nationwide.

In the Durham-area fourth district, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee is seeking her third term against progressive challenger Nida Allam, a Durham county commissioner she defeated in 2022.

Read the full story

Texas votes in high-stakes primaries in test of appetite for change under Trump

The first votes of the 2026 midterm cycle will be cast on Tuesday, with a pair of high-stakes US Senate primaries in Texas that will test both parties appetite for political change in the Trump era.

Read the full story

Trump rebukes Starmer over UK refusal to back strikes on Iran

Donald Trump has criticised Keir Starmer again over the UKs refusal to aid the offensive strikes on Iran, saying the relationship is obviously not what it was.

The British PM had issued his strongest rebuke yet of Trumps action in Iran, saying the UK did not believe in regime change from the skies and defended his decision not to allow the use of British bases to conduct the strikes.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened Monday 2 March.
The U.S. war with Iran could cost the American economy as much as $210 billion, according to fiscal analyst Kent Smetters, director of the widely used Penn Wharton Budget Model.

The ongoing conflict is already driving disruption to trade, global energy markets, and gasoline prices, though it is difficult to precisely estimate how much the war will impact the economy, Smetters told Fortune.

His predictions currently estimate a $115 billion economic loss, though that figure could range between $50 billion and the upward bound of $210 billion depending on the nature and duration of the conflict.

One problem I have with cost of war calculations is that they really do ignore the counterfactual, he told the outlet. If Iran really did get a nuclear weapon, then we might have spent a lot more on military and even repair of cities later on.

The president has already acknowledged the economic threat of the war, offering government-backed insurance and potential naval escorts to energy tankers moving through key chokepoints in the Gulf region.

If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday on Truth Social. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH.

An EA-18G Growler preparing to launch as part of Operation Epic Fury (US NAVY/AFP/Getty)

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump acknowledged that the war could mean oil prices will be higher "for a little while, though he insisted once the conflict is over, these prices are going to drop, I believe even lower than before.

At the close of trading on Tuesday, prices for benchmark-setting West Texas Intermediate crude oil were up by more than 5 percent, and the national average price per gallon of gasoline was up more than 10 cents, according to the American Automobile Association.

Much of the economic impact of the war will depend on how long the conflict persists, according to analysts.

Markets are right now really under-pricing the tail risk of a sustained engagement and an operation that does not wrap up quickly, restore travel through the Strait of Hormuz and get everything back to de-escalation and normal in a timely manner, former Biden economic adviser and chief of policy and advocacy at the Groundwork Collaborative, Alex Jacquez, told The Associated Press.

The ongoing conflict has already increased the price of oil and gasoline in the U.S. (AFP/Getty)

In addition to economic costs, the U.S. operation could cost another $65 billion in budgetary spending on the sprawling military campaign itself, which has seen the U.S. marshal air and naval forces toward Iran from bases across the region.

At present, it is not possible at this time to know how long the U.S. fight, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, will last, according to a letter the president sent Congress.

Although the United States desires a quick and enduring peace, it is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary, Trump wrote Monday.

He has previously suggested the bombing could last four to five weeks.
The U.S. military could soon begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway home to a large share of the worlds oil and gas shipping, as the ongoing war with Iran threatens global energy supplies and has sent gas prices spiking in the U.S.

If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday on Truth Social. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH.

In his message, the president added that he was ordering the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, a government agency focused on foreign infrastructure investment, to offer political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.

Earlier this week, Iran threatened to attack any ship crossing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that usually facilitates about one-fifth of global seaborne oil deliveries.

"The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze," Ebrahim Jabari, a senior Iranian military adviser, said in remarks carried by state media.

Amid the ongoing war with Iran, President Trump has proposed giving military protection and U.S.-backed insurance to tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway home to much of the worlds oil trade (AFP/Getty)

This has U.S. leaders alarmed as the conflict, which began on Saturday with a series of American and Israeli strikes, escalates across the region.

Its becoming a growing concern that the energy markets could face pressures in the coming days as the military campaign intensifies and expands in geographic scope. Access to the Straits of Hormuz is obviously vital for both natural gas and crude oil shipments, especially from Qatar and Saudi, a source familiar with U.S. strategic discussions told Politico.

The national average price of gas increased 12 cents a gallon in the U.S. on Monday and could soon climb higher than when Trump took office, a major political liability in a midterm season defined by affordability concerns.

Closer to the frontlines, Iran has attacked Saudi and Qatari energy installations, part of a strategy observers say is designed to widen the war and ratchet up the pain on the global economy to hasten an end to the conflict.

The national average price of gas jumped 12 cents a gallon in the U.S. on Monday, amid attacks on Gulf oil infrastructure and threats to the Strait of Hormuz (AFP/Getty)

The war has become a test of wills and stamina, Vali Nasr of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies told The New York Times. Iran is facing qualitatively superior militaries, so the strategy is to test their will by expanding the battlefield, complicating the war and increasing the danger to the world economy.

Uncertainty around the conflict extends beyond just economic issues.

Trump has admitted he does not know how long the U.S. attacks on Iran will last and whether someone as bad could take over the country after an American strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Six Americans have been killed in the fighting and Iran has attacked the U.S. embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
The bodies of the two girls were discovered Monday night in the South Collinwood neighborhood on Clevelands east side (WBNS)

The two young girls found stuffed inside suitcases and buried in shallow graves in a Cleveland neighborhood were related, authorities have revealed, marking the first major breakthrough in the grim case.

A preliminary DNA examination determined the girls were half-siblings, according to a new report released by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office in Ohio on Wednesday.

The bodies were discovered Monday night in the area of South Collinwood by a man walking his dog near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, close to Ginn Academy School, Chief Dorothy Todd said during a news conference this week.

Investigators believe the girls were between the ages of 8 and 14, but neither has been positively identified. No cause of death has been released.

At this time, neither decedent has been positively identified, Christopher Harris, a spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office, said in a statement, according to NBC News.

The bodies of the two girls were discovered Monday night in the South Collinwood neighborhood on Clevelands east side (WBNS)

Officers arrived on the scene around 6 p.m. Monday after the caller reported finding what appeared to be a body inside of a suitcase, Todd told reporters.

A search of the area led to what appeared to be a second shallow grave, and they could tell that there was a second suitcase in that location, the chief said.

Police have not determined how long the girls had been buried, though Todd said they had been there for some time.

Phillip Donaldson, the dog walker who found the first suitcase told local media the mound of dirt had been visible for at least a week. He recalled his disturbing discovery to News 5.

It was like a pile of dirt, and she stopped to sniff  and she was taking too long, Donaldson said, referring to his dog. So I went back and looked, and it was a suitcase that was half buried and I pulled it up and looked in it, and it was a head. Somebodys head in it.

Authorities estimate one girl was between 8 and 13 years old, while the other was believed to be between 10 and 14 years old. Both victims were Black. Todd said neither body appeared to have been dismembered.

The girls were found in an area with little foot traffic and have not been linked to any active missing persons cases in the Cleveland area.

Locally, we have no reports of missing children to match these identifications. We are checking statewide as well. We have assistance from our state, federal and local partners, she said.

Investigators may face challenges obtaining surveillance footage from the area as a lot of cameras dont capture historical data, Todd said.

It is traumatic for everyone, the chief added. It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their doorstep.

No suspects have been identified, police said. But Todd urged anyone with information to contact the Cleveland Police Departments homicide unit at 216-623-5464 or Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463.
Nairobi  Relying on donor funding is not the right way to finance biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity is not a charitable cause. It is actually part of the sovereign natural assets, and so we need to look at ways in which countries can link their economies to biodiversity conservation. - Luther Bois Anukur, IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa

As the global community marks 2026 World Wildlife Day today (March 3), this year's focus is on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods. However, beneath these celebrations, a difficult question emerges: who will bear the cost of conservation when traditional donor funding becomes uncertain and in the face of climate change?

With geopolitical shifts causing traditional funders to tighten their budgets, conservation across Africa has reached a critical juncture.

In an exclusive interview with Luther Bois Anukur, the Regional Director for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Eastern and Southern Africa, we explore how governments must now go further by creating space for community-led biodiversity conservation initiatives to evolve into sustainable enterprises. We discuss why protecting biodiversity matters as much as maintaining roads or power grids and why national budgets should consider it a priority.

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IPS: With conservation donors tightening their budget, how serious is this funding shift for Africa, and what risks does it create for biodiversity protection?

Anukur: Overall, there has been a shrinking of financing for biodiversity conservation, especially with the closing of USAID, which was a big financier for biodiversity work in Africa. This came as a shock and certainly slowed down the work of biodiversity conservation in Africa because some organisations have gone under, and some projects have closed altogether.

However, having said that, there is a huge opportunity for Africa to relook at biodiversity financing models. Indeed, relying on donor funding is not the right way to finance biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity is not a charitable cause. It is actually part of the sovereign natural assets, and so we need to look at ways in which countries can link their economies to biodiversity conservation.

For example, you'll find that what underpins our economies in Africa is fresh water, agriculture, tourism, and energy, and all these form the backbone of biodiversity conservation.

IPS: African communities often live with wildlife and bear the costs of conservation. How possibly can this be turned into community-led initiatives that can evolve into sustainable enterprises?

Anukur: First and foremost, people in Africa have lived alongside wildlife for many years. However, the cost of living with wildlife has been very high, because you find there's crop loss, there's loss of livestock, and even loss of lives. Yet, we have not seen benefits go to communities in a proportional manner.

To change this, there is certainly a need to rethink and redesign our conservation efforts so that communities can be right at the centre. We need to see benefits going to communities in an equitable manner that is commensurate to the services and the sacrifices they provide by living alongside wildlife.

We need to stop seeing communities as beneficiaries but as leaders of conservation efforts. And when we do that, then we will go a long way in conserving wildlife.

IPS: Why should finance ministries in Africa treat conservation as a core national investment rather than an environmental afterthought

Anukur: In many cases, ministers of finance look at risks, they look at assets, and they look at returns. That is what they usually understand. But very clearly, nature is Africa's largest asset. And so investing in our environment basically means that we are supporting our water systems, our agriculture, our fisheries, and our ecosystems. That basically means that we are strengthening our economies.

The reverse is true. If we do not support that, we will face disasters. We are going to have a higher impact from climate change, and we are going to get into food imports. When you balance the books, investing in conservation makes sense, as it will ultimately affect national economies. So investing in natural assets will greatly support the GDPs of our countries and the livelihoods of our people.

IPS: Can you share examples of models that governments should be using to support protection of biodiversity as well as community-led conservation initiatives?

Anukur: There have been good examples in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, among other countries, which have been able to demonstrate that community-led conservation can generate not only ecological recoveries but also economic returns.

But the key thing with these models is that you need to secure the land rights, make sure that there is accountable governance, and that revenue flows directly to communities. There is also a need to have partnerships with multi-stakeholders, especially the ethical private sector.

IPS: Tools like the IUCN Red List and Green List provide data on species and protected areas. How can governments better use these frameworks to move beyond reactive conservation decisions toward long-term, evidence-based policies?

Anukur: IUCN has got quite a number of tools; we have the red list of species, which basically looks at extinction risk, but we also have the green list, which looks at how effectively we manage our ecosystems. Governments have extensively used these tools as reference documents.

However, we would want to see these tools being used to build evidence for planning. This is because when you plan well, then you are able to avert risks. For instance, you need these tools to plan roads, infrastructure, agriculture, and mining.

IPS: Many African governments face pressure to expand infrastructure, agriculture, and extractive industries. What strategies can realistically balance economic development with ecosystem protection, especially for communities living closest to nature?

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Anukur: There has been a big debate for a very long time about whether Africa should prioritise development or whether it should be conservation. But that debate is now very old. What we are focusing on is moving from extractive growth to generative growth. We also need to balance everything. For example, you can do agriculture but ensure that you have healthy soils. You can do energy transition in a manner that is not degrading to the environment. Or even create infrastructure that avoids critical ecosystems.

The most important thing is that there should be cross-sectoral collaboration. We have seen environmental and conservation issues treated as an afterthought. We would want the environment to be right at the centre of budget projections, as well; communities should also be brought to the centre for people to benefit from natural assets.

IPS: As we celebrate World Wildlife Day, what message would you give to African governments regarding the conservation of biodiversity?

Anukur: This time is an opportune moment when the world is changing. At the moment we have a lot of geopolitical change. We also do have a lot of geo-economic change. If Africa is to look at itself, the biggest asset is already what we have. The continent is viewed as poor, but the truth is that Africa is not poor. All we need is to connect with our natural assets and use them for development.

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The UK government will charter a flight from Oman on Wednesday evening for British nationals wanting to leave the Middle East amid continued strikes by Iran, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

The flight will depart Omans capital of Muscat at 7pm and is available for British nationals, their partners and children under 18 with a valid travel document.

It is understood that priority for the evacuation flight will be given to the most vulnerable and they will contact British nationals in Oman.

Anyone who registered their presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is now in Oman has been asked to register for a place on a flight.

The department asked people not to travel to Muscat International airport in Oman unless they are contacted by officials, while dependents who are not British nationals will require a valid visa or permission to enter or remain granted for more than three months.

Some 130,000 Britons have registered their presence in the Middle East, as the Foreign Office said it was working with airlines on more routes.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer will face questions in the Commons over his decisions on the unfolding Iran conflict, after Donald Trump unleashed fresh criticism of the prime minister.

In a blistering attack on Tuesday night, the US president said Sir Keir was not Winston Churchill after he did not allow American planes to launch their initial strikes against Tehran from British bases.

Speaking at the White House, the US president  who has hit out at Britain several times since the US launched strikes on Tehran  unleashed another rant about the UK, claiming Sir Keir had been very uncooperative and had ruined relationships over Iran and the Chagos Islands.

HMS Dragon ahead of being deployed to protect British military personnel in Cyprus (PA)

The prime minister, meanwhile, announced Britain would send HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navys six Type 45 air defence destroyers, to defend Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone.

The war between Iran and the USA, now in its fifth day, will likely dominate the agenda when Sir Keir enters the Commons at noon on Wednesday for Prime Ministers Questions.

Mr Trump has said he is not happy with the UK after it did not initially allow the US to use its bases for strikes on Iran, later adding in the Oval Office: This is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with.

But despite the repeated broadsides from Mr Trump, Downing Street has insisted the US remains a staunch ally.

Sir Keir decided on Sunday that UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, could be used in the conflict, but only so the US can strike defensively to protect countries being targeted by Tehran.

HMS Dragon is being readied to depart for the Mediterranean and will be accompanied by two Wildcat helicopters equipped with so-called drone-busting Martlet missiles, so it can protect Britains bases in Cyprus.

Starmer has been branded as no Winston Churchill by an indignant Trump (Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street)

The warship, which is emblazoned with the Welsh red dragon on its prow, was pictured on Tuesday night at the Upper Harbour Ammunition Facility (UHAF) in Portsmouth harbour.

The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Thailand early on Wednesday due to the escalation in the Middle East.

It said in a statement: Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.

Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East.

Affected British nationals are urged to stay up to date with their airline or tour operator and review their travel insurance policies before travelling.

Elsewhere, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said a vessel had been struck by a projectile off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE.

It said in a statement early on Wednesday: UKMTO has received a report of an incident 7NM east of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

The Master reported the vessel being struck by an unknown projectile causing damage to the steel plating. There has been no fire or water intake. All crew reported safe.

Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.
Lebanons health ministry said on Wednesday that Israeli strikes on two towns south of Beirut killed six people and wounded eight. Aramoun and Saadiyat are both towns outside Hezbollahs traditional strongholds. Meanwhile, the Israeli military issued an urgent warning to residents of a large swathe of southern Lebanon, urging them to evacuate to the north of the Litani River. At least 30,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon, according to the UN, after heavy Israeli airstrikes.
Ecuador and the United States have launched joint military operations targeting organized crime groups within the South American nation, though specific details regarding the location and scope of these actions remain undisclosed by either government.

The U.S. Southern Command confirmed the commencement of operations late Tuesday, describing it as a "powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism."

A 30-second video shared on X depicted a helicopter flying over individuals on the ground, yet offered no further geographical context.

The accompanying post asserted, "We are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere," without elaborating on the operation's specifics.

Ecuador's foreign and defense ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the operations were not mentioned during a U.S. defense secretary briefing focused on Iran.

Ecuador maintains strong security collaborations with nations including the United States, Israel, and Italy (U.S. Southern Command)

Earlier this week, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced his government was initiating joint actions with international partners as part of a new phase in its battle against organized crime. Ecuador is currently grappling with a persistent wave of violence linked to drug trafficking and illegal mining.

"Ecuador demands security, our people need to live in peace," Noboa stated, confirming the involvement of military and police forces in what he termed "very important" operations.

Ecuador maintains strong security collaborations with nations including the United States, Israel, and Italy.

In February, President Noboa directed the foreign ministry to pursue cooperation agreements with "allied nations" to facilitate the temporary deployment of "special forces" to bolster Ecuadorian police and armed forces. Authorities identify Ecuador as a crucial logistical hub in the global drug trade, where cocaine, particularly from its northern border with Colombia, is stockpiled, stored, and distributed to Central America, the United States, and Europe.
A torpedo fired by a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the south coast of Sri Lanka as the Trump administration followed through on its threats to destroy Tehrans military and political leadership.

At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack on the Iris Dena. The frigate was sailing in international waters as it returned from a naval exercise organised by India in the Bay of Bengal. The torpedo strike prompted questions from former US officials about whether Washingtons aim of eliminating all of Irans military breached international law.

The incident came as the US-Israeli air assault on Iran continued for a fifth day, with Washington officials warning that strikes would soon hit targets deeper in Iran. US forces also targeted pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it would continue missile and drone strikes on targets throughout the Middle East.

Pete Hegseth, the ex-Fox News host now leading the Pentagon as defence secretary, confirmed that the US sank the Iris Dena as it sailed close to the Sri Lankan coast. The Pentagon released black-and-white footage of a Mark 48 heavyweight torpedo striking the frigate, sending a geyser of seawater into the air.

An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters, Hegseth said. He said the attack was carried out late on Tuesday night.

It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death  the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II, added Hegseth. Like in that war, back when we were still the war department, we are fighting to win.

It is in fact one of only a few instances of a submarine sinking a ship since the second world war, and a rare example of an attack on a foreign warship not taking part in open hostilities.

According to Sri Lankas foreign affairs minister, Vijitha Herath, coastguards received a distress call from the Iris Dena at 5.08am on Wednesday. Crew members described the incident as an explosion.

By 6am we dispatched a naval vessel and by 7am the second naval vessel, Herath said. He said Sri Lanka had an obligation to respond to the call for help because it was a signatory to the international convention on maritime search and rescue.

Sri Lankan officials said they had saved 32 people from the ship, which was believed to be carrying 180 crew. Emergency responders retrieved 87 bodies from the water. Navy spokesperson Buddhika Sampath said rescue boats arrived at the site of the attack to find that the Iranian frigate had already sunk, leaving just an oil slick.

The frigate was outside Sri Lankas territorial waters but still within its economic zone, 44 nautical miles (81km) off Galle.

Related: Trump administration waging illegal war on Iran, experts say

There were signs on Wednesday that the war was continuing to expand throughout the region. Turkey said that Nato air defences had intercepted an Iranian missile headed toward its airspace, presumably to strike Nato forces at the Incirlik airbase. Turkish officials condemned the attack, while calling on all sides for de-escalation.

The conflict paralysed shipping through the strait of Hormuz for a fifth day, choking off vital Middle East oil and gas flows, while the UN said at least 100,000 people had fled Tehran in the first two days of the war.

The Israeli military said it had hit buildings belonging to the Basij, the volunteer police arm of the IRGC, and buildings belonging to internal security forces. Israeli forces also advanced into towns and villages in south Lebanon as hostilities with the Iran-backed Hezbollah escalated.

Hegseth had previously boasted that the US operation in Iran was not following any stupid rules of engagement.

Wes Bryant, a former US air force special operations targeting expert and former chief of civilian harm assessments at the Pentagon, said the attack on the Iris Dena was illegal.



The ship was transiting home after participating in training exercises hosted by the Indian navy at the time of the strike. India had convened naval assets from 74 countries for a March exercise.



Was that warship actively posing a threat or participating in hostilities? asked Bryant. You cannot say that this warship was an imminent threat to anyone. By targeting it, is the Trump administration saying that the imminent threat is all of Irans government and military? If so, thats an incredibly dangerous example of military overreach.

The Iris Dena was the newest frigate in the Iranian navy and equipped with surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, cannon, machine guns and torpedo launchers.

Sampath said rescue efforts were continuing and the main focus of the operation was to help survivors.

A senior Sri Lankan official told the Guardian the Iranian embassy in Colombo had indicated through back channels that they believed their ship had been targeted by a US strike.

The official said the Iranians claimed that the ships defence and counterattack capabilities were disabled by electromagnetic means.

Another Sri Lankan defence source said it appeared that the vessel had been hit by two torpedoes.

The main US naval base in the Indian Ocean is Diego Garcia, located in the Chagos archipelago, more than 1,000 miles (1,600km) from Sri Lanka.
The wars the UK has fought alongside the US  and when Britain has refused

The so-called special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States has long waxed hot and cold, but is now under critical strain as Donald Trump's administration escalates war in the Middle East.

The UK has not directly joined the US-Israeli assault on Iran, and amid retaliatory strikes on countries across the region, the US president has lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer as being no Winston Churchill, after he did not allow Washington to use UK bases to launch initial air strikes against Tehran.

Churchill popularised the term special relationship in a 1946 speech, warning about the threat posed by the Soviet Union to the West following the end of the Second World War.

George W Bush and Tony Blair renewed the special relationship in the years after the 9/11 attacks on the US (PA)

Since then, intelligence sharing, military co-operation, trade and cultural ties have bound the UK and US in varying degrees of dependence and trust, which has endured despite shifting global politics.

Here we examine which subsequent conflicts the two countries have fought alongside one another, and the ones they haven't.

The Cold War (1947-1991)

The Cold War turned the USUK partnership into one of the most tightly aligned global alliances of the 20th century, with the special relationship forming the practical framework for how the West organised its defence and intelligence strategies.

Even as Britains global influence waned after 1945, Washington continued to rely on London as a trusted partner whose diplomatic weight, military support and intelligence capabilities helped anchor the Western response to the Soviet Union.

The 'Big Three' Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin at the Yalta Conference, February 1945, which set the stage for the Cold War (Getty)

Natos creation in 1949 strengthened ties further by binding the two countries into a shared military command structure and a longterm security commitment designed to see off the communist threat.

Nuclear cooperation also deepened the relationship, with the UK ultimately adopting US systems such as Polaris and later, Trident.

The Korean War (1950-1953)

On 25 June 1950, North Korean forces invaded the South, triggering a major international crisis and the start of the Korean War.

Acting through the newly formed United Nations, the US rapidly deployed to defend South Korea, launching what became a gruelling threeyear conflict marked by heavy casualties, shifting front lines and intense Cold War tensions.

As a founding UN member, Britain regarded the conflict as a critical test of the organisation's ability to prevent aggression, and the US and UK's relationship became central to the UNled effort.

Over the three years of war, Washington sent over 300,000 troops, with Britain contributing the second-largest contingent of more than 81,000 personnel, reinforcing UN naval strength and taking part in some of the conflicts most demanding ground operations.

Together, the two countries formed the backbone of the coalition that pushed back North Korean forces and shaped the early military character of the Western alliance during the Cold War.

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

American soldiers evacuated by helicopter from a Vietcong position in December 1965 (AFP/Getty)

The conflict between North and South Vietnam, which spread into Laos and Cambodia, became a proxy war of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. Direct US military involvement began in 1965, and ended in 1973.

Despite intense pressure from US president Lyndon Johnson, Britain was not involved. With the UK government facing economic constraints and lack of public support, prime minister Harold Wilson decided to avoid the costly, unwinnable conflict.

This led to US officials reportedly describing this as the blood price for the UK-US alliance.

Nonetheless, Britain provided indirect support for America, including training US forces in jungle warfare, sharing intelligence, and supplying military hardware. This diplomatic support came as the US provided crucial financial support for the British economy.

Wilson explained his refusal to publicly condemn the Vietnam War by telling a Labour colleague: We cant kick our creditors in the balls.

First Gulf War (1990-1991)

An oil field in Kuwait burns at the end of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 (PA)

The First Gulf War became a landmark moment for USUK cooperation in the immediate postCold War era, and the first time troops from both nations had fought side by side since the Korean War.

The conflict began when Saddam Hussein sent Iraqi forces across the border to annex Kuwait, prompting a swift international response under UN authority.

British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in her final months in office, strongly backed US president George H. W. Bushs insistence that the aggression must be countered, and John Major maintained that stance after replacing the Iron Lady.

Britain provided the secondlargest military contribution to the USled coalition, working closely with American commanders on air strikes, naval operations in the Gulf and the ground offensive of Operation Desert Storm.

The war reaffirmed the special relationship, demonstrating that London and Washington remained aligned on questions of international security and the use of force.

The Afghanistan War (2001-2021)

The Afghanistan War brought the US and UK into another period of intense military and political alignment, beginning in October 2001 in the heated aftermath of alQaedas 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the Talibans refusal to hand over Osama Bin Laden.

President George W. Bush and prime minister Tony Blair forged a close partnership as the US launched Operation Enduring Freedom commencing with airstrikes on the Taliban and al-Qaeda, with Blair becoming Washingtons most vocal international supporter, and committing British forces from the outset.

Speaking on 7 October, Blair said: We know that sometimes to safeguard peace we have to fight. Britain has learnt that lesson many times in our history.

We only do it if the cause is just but this cause is just.... We waited so that those responsible could be yielded up by those shielding them. That offer was refused, we have now no choice so we will act. And our determination in acting is total. We will not let up or rest until our objectives are met in full.

Hundreds of people gather near a US Air Force C-17 transport plane at a perimeter at the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 16 August 2021 (AP)

The UK provided the largest nonUS troop deployment, working alongside American forces in combat operations, counterinsurgency efforts and later Natoled stabilisation missions.

The war became increasingly controversial as civilian casualties, allegations of detainee abuse, and growing doubts about longterm strategy fuelled public and political criticism on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Taliban launched a major offensive throughout the summer of 2021 successfully reestablishing their control over Afghanistan as US forces pulled out under the terms of a 2020 deal.

Second Gulf War (2003-2011)

After accusing Husseins regime of possessing weapons of mass destruction and defying UN disarmament resolutions, a US-led coalition again drew the US and UK into a tightly coordinated military and political partnership,

The conflict began in March 2003, when USled forces invaded Iraq, and again saw George W Bush and Blair leading the international charge.

Blair committed British forces to the initial invasion and also to the long occupation that followed.

The UK provided the secondlargest military contingent, worked closely with US commanders in southern Iraq, and aligned itself with American strategic goals despite domestic outcry and international controversy.

Speaking later about the state of the special relationship, Bush said: Some of our allies wavered. Tony never did.

But the UKs decision to support the war has long proved controversial and looms large over Blairs legacy. The damning Chilcot inquiry in 2016 found that the invasion had been unnecessary and that support was achieved through the misrepresentation of evidence.

Libya (2011)

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed after an uprising (Reuters)

A 2011 intervention in Libya brought the US and UK into a different realm of military and diplomatic coordination, this time under president Barack Obama and prime minister David Cameron.

The conflict began when an uprising against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was met with violent repression, prompting the UN to authorise military action to protect civilians.

Britain and France pushed hardest for intervention, and the US provided early assistance in the form of airpower, intelligence and cruisemissile strikes  before shifting to a supporting role.

The UK deployed fighter jets, warships and surveillance aircraft, working closely with American forces during the initial assault on Libyan air defences and throughout Natos subsequent campaign.

The Natoled campaign ended with the collapse of Gaddafis regime in late 2011, after sustained airstrikes and rebel advances saw Gaddafi killed and forced his regime from power.
South West Water has admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption after an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in a Devon seaside town that left dozens of people ill.

A total of 143 people were confirmed to have caught the waterborne disease, which causes sickness and diarrhoea, after it entered the water network in Brixham almost two years ago, due to a damaged valve in the network.

The company, which initially said the water was safe to drink as cases first emerged, issued a boil water notice to thousands of households and businesses, instructing them not to drink tap water without boiling it first.

At Exeter Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the firm pleaded guilty to supplying water unfit for human consumption within the Littlehempston Water Supply Zone between 31 March and 1 June 2024.

Contamination of drinking water is rare  but it is utterly unacceptable, says water minister (PA)

Inside the courtroom were several residents from Brixham, some of whom claimed to have suffered medical conditions since the outbreak, including irritable bowel syndrome. They said the town had suffered untold damage as a result of the outbreak.

Water minister Emma Hardy also reacted to the guilty plea, describing it as a crucial step toward accountability. She said: Contamination of drinking water is rare  but it is utterly unacceptable. The communities affected by this abhorrent incident in Brixham deserve answers.

The prosecution was brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), which investigated the incident along with the UK Health Security Agency. The court heard that it was the DWIs view that the offence was at the higher end of culpability.

Mr Joseph Millington, acting on behalf of the DWI, said: Not only was this a high-profile case, but this incident impacted a significant number of people across a broad geographical area.

It resulted in an adverse impact in the public confidence in water supply in the area.

The case was heard at Exeter Magistrates' Court (Independent)

Its effects were, some of the complaints say, long felt after the lifting of the boil water notices [which lasted eight weeks]. There was, of course, local inconvenience, economic impact, and impact on education throughout this incident.

Mr Millington called for the sentencing to take place at the crown court, where larger fines can be issued.

He said: Given the high-profile nature of this case, and to ensure that the message is heard loud and clear by local residents that the criminal justice system will treat offences of this nature with the utmost seriousness, we respectfully submit that the crown court would be the most appropriate venue to deal with this case,

But Mr Dominic Kay KC, representing South West Water, argued that sentencing should take place at the magistrates court. He said the companys view was that the incident was at the medium level of culpability in sentencing guidelines. District Judge Stuart Smith decided to keep the case in the magistrates court for sentencing, which will take place in June.

South West Water staff and volunteers distribute water to the public (Getty)

Among those in the public gallery was resident Tanya Matthews, who was one of the first people to report feeling unwell on social media, triggering a wave of similar complaints. After falling ill, the 42-year-old said she went to hospital with continued stomach complaints, and now suffers from irritable bowel syndrome.

She told The Independent: Im just glad weve got this far and someone will take accountability for what happened. The town and its people have suffered untold damage from the outbreak, and now we are being heard.

Following the outbreak, locals had complained about a lack of communication from the company and the knock-on impact of the incident on tourism for the town.

Brixham residents Mandy Vanstone and Tanya Matthews, who both fell ill during the outbreak, were at Wednesday's hearing (Independent)

There was also anger after South West Water initially said the water was safe to drink on 14 May, after the first confirmation of cases of cryptosporidiosis, before issuing the boil water notices a day later.

Following the outbreak, South West Water chief executive Susan Davy, who stepped down last year, said she was truly sorry.

Ms Davy said: To those in the affected area and our customers across the southwest, I am truly sorry for the disruption and wider anxiety this has caused. While incidents like these are thankfully very rare, our customers expect a safe, clean, and reliable source of drinking water.

South Devon MP Caroline Voaden says the guilty plea is a long time coming (PA)

Also speaking after Wednesdays hearing, residents Lisa and Kris Horswill said they still do not drink tap water as a result of the outbreak. Now they will get fined, but who will that hit? Those paying the bill, of course, said Mrs Horswill, 54.

Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon, said the admission was a long time coming.

She said: I am glad that SWW have owned up to their serious failures. This awful event should never have happened.

Marcus Rink, chief inspector of the DWI, said: While such incidents are very rare, this incident had a significant impact on the public and the wider community. The court will now decide what the outcome of the failing should be.

The case was adjourned for sentencing at Exeter Magistrates Court in June.
Two penguin young'uns offer us the ultimate lesson in opposites. This cute TikTok video starts out by showing us penguin mom, swimming happily in her pool. "POV: You tell your kids to wait for their friends to move before jumping in the pool."

But do they wait? Well one does, and you can probably guess which.

Dutiful first born goes first and patiently awaits his turn. When the pool clears out a bit, he hesitantly slides in, ensuring he doesn't land on anyone. Second-born has no such qualms, though. She dives in right on top of an unsuspecting swimmer. The caption sums it up perfectly, "Journey understood the assignment. Eileen did not care about the assignment." She showed us her sass, alright. (Luckily, the unsuspecting penguin seems unbothered by her antics).

Naturally, it was all hearts and smiles in the comments. These two certainly make a great pair!

Related: Crowd Gathers to Cheer on Little Penguin at Central Park Zoo in Moment of Pure Sweetness

About the Penguins at Tanganyika Wildlife Park

These clever birds have captured the hearts and minds of people in popular culture, but they face threats in the real world. As the park explains, "African Black-Footed Penguins are native to Southern Africa and found primarily in the nations of South Africa and Namibia. But halfway across the world, in Wichita Kansas, Tanganyika Wildlife Park is working hard to help preserve this critically endangered species and save them from extinction."

Unfortunately, penguins across the globe are up against challenges, like overfishing, habitat loss, and oil spills. They're one of the most endangered birds out there. That makes the breeding program at Tanganyika even more crucial.

Believe us, these guys are worth the effort. They can swim 12 miles per hour and over 400 feet deep. Many penguins live in complex social groups, but African Penguins also mate for life and split parenting responsibilities between males and females.

The penguins at this park are often available for meet and greets or swims, so you can go hang out with rule-following Journey or rebel Eileen.

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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Britons arrive at Heathrow after being stuck in the Middle East - PA

Britain has announced the first repatriation flight out of the Middle East to help nationals stranded in the region in the wake of the Iran war.

A Government charter flight will be available on Wednesday evening for British citizens wanting to leave Oman.

The Foreign Office said the flight will depart the countrys capital, Muscat, at 7pm and is available for British nationals, their partners and children under 18 with a valid travel document.

The department said priority will be given to the most vulnerable and they will contact British nationals in Oman.

Anyone who registered their presence in the United Arab Emirates and is now in Oman is being urged to register for a place on a flight.

The department asked people not to travel to Muscat International Airport in Oman unless they are contacted by officials.

Loved ones reunite as a flight from Oman arrives at Fiumicino Airport in Rome - LaPresse

Dependents who are not British nationals will require valid travel documentation, such as a visa or permission to remain in the UK that was granted for more than six months.

The Foreign Office said it was working with airlines on more routes. Some commercial flights to Britain have already been operating out of Dubai.

Around 130,000 British nationals have registered their presence across the region under attack from the Iranian regime, with some planes carrying UK citizens arriving back at Heathrow on Tuesday.

Tehran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Gulf allies after being attacked by the US and Israel at the weekend.

Strikes seen in Tehran as attacks continue across the Middle East - AFP

However, nationals who have been unable to leave the Gulf have accused the Government of ignoring them.

Jo Hummel, 43, said her family watched debris crash past their hotel window in Qatar on Monday night.

Ms Hummel, from the Isle of Wight, said they have yet to receive any evacuation plans from the Government and have grown fearful about their prospects of getting home.

She said: Its not great. Were only as safe as Qatars missile defence system can keep us. The window of opportunity to get us out is getting smaller and smaller.

Is the British Government waiting for a hotel full of tourists to be bombed before it tries to get people out?

Meanwhile, the Emirates airline is operating seven flights from Dubai to the UK while Etihad has two Abu Dhabi departures.

Virgin Atlantic will operate a flight from Dubai to London Heathrow.

British Airways has not restarted its usual flying programme from the region, but will run an evacuation flight to Heathrow from Muscat, which it does not usually serve.

About 500,000 passengers per day use airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, which are vital hubs for travel between Europe and the continents of Asia and Australia.

Experts believe it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers.

Sasha Bruce, 45, said she was furious at the Foreign Office for their lack of action.

Ms Bruce had flown out to Dubai for a holiday with friends. The mother, who lives in Glasgow, first called the FCDO on Saturday, while camped in a hotel corridor with her four friends.

Theres been no communication at all, she told The Telegraph.
Amanda Navaian told the High Court that she was left psychologically scarred after the project was cancelled

A designer of eco-friendly handbags is suing the Kings charity for 6m after claiming her business disintegrated when it cancelled a joint fundraiser.

Amanda Navaian, founder of Marici London, has said she was left psychologically scarred after the King Charles III Charitable Fund pulled out of a project in aid of the Kings Coronation Food Project in 2024.

The 43-year-old founded her environmentally friendly handbag firm in 2020 and approached the Kings charity in April 2024 to become involved in its project to cut food waste.

She told the court she was drawn to the project because of her admiration for King Charles and his values and proposed raising funds with a range of T-shirts curated by Olivia Buckingham, Princess Beatrices primary stylist.

Ms Navaian also drew up plans for a dinner at a Japanese fine dining restaurant in Knightsbridge, west London.

She told the court she reached an oral agreement for the project on a Zoom call with Dame Martina Milburn, the projects chairman, and Dori Dana-Haeri, chairman of its development committee.

The King greets Dori Dana-Haeri on a visit to the first Coronation Food Hub in Deptford, south London, in 2024 - Chris Jackson/Getty

But by July 2024, the plans had foundered after the Coronation Food Project declined to take them further.

Ms Navaian told Mr Justice Mansfield that the last-minute cancellation caused her business to have disintegrated.

There was no valid reason to give for the dinner being cancelled and soon after that my entire eco-system fell apart, she told the judge.

Everything that meant anything to me was involved in that project. There could have been over 1m in sales during that launch week. The result of the cancellation led to me not being able to work for a very long time and caused me loss.

Ms Navaian and Marici London Ltd are suing FareShare, the UKs leading food redistribution charity, which partnered with the Kings Fund, and Mrs Dana-Haeri for breach of contract, misrepresentation and unlawful interference in their economic relations

Amanda Navaian created the Marici London brand in 2020 but said she was unable to work for a very long time after the project with the Kings Coronation Fund fell through - Champion News Service

.All three defendants dispute the claims, with Andrew MacLeod, their legal representative, insisting the case against them is bound to fail.

He added: They have placed a value of the damages sought by their claim at in excess of 6m but have failed to plead any legally coherent case as to the damages to which they are entitled.

Mr MacLeod told the judge that there was a contract with FareShare under which Ms Navaians company potentially stands to be reimbursed for up to 25,000 of expenses blown on the failed project.

Mr Justice Mansfield has reserved his ruling in the case, which will be given at a later date.
Andrew Malkinson protests outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

A man has gone on trial for the rape of a woman for which an innocent man spent 17 years in jail, a court heard.

Andrew Malkinson, 60, was the victim of a most terrible miscarriage of justice, one of the worst there has been, John Price KC, prosecuting, told a jury at Manchester Crown Court.

Mr Malkinson, working as a security guard at the time of the rape in 2003, had been wrongly picked out at a police identity parade and happened to live near the crime scene, a remote area down a motorway embankment, in Little Hulton, Salford.

He was jailed in 2004, but Mr Price said it was Paul Quinn, 51, who really carried out the sex attack on July 19, 2003.

Mr Quinn, 29 at the time of the offence and who now lives in Exeter, Devon, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, grievous bodily harm and attempting to choke or strangle his victim to render her unconscious while he carried out the attack.

Paul Quinn - Facebook

Opening the case for the prosecution, Mr Price said: Andrew Malkinson was not to be released from this sentence until December 2020.

So, Mr Andrew Malkinson served more than 17 years in prison.

It is the prosecution case that Andrew Malkinson was the victim of a most terrible miscarriage of justice, one of the worst there has been.

Evidence gathered in this second investigation, including, as mentioned, DNA evidence, and which will be presented in this trial, proves, it is submitted, that it was Paul Quinn and not Andrew Malkinson who had attacked the victim on 19th July, 2003.

The victim, at the time in her 30s, was walking home in the early hours of the morning at the height of summer, jurors were told.

She was strangled unconscious, beaten and twice raped in a prolonged assault, suffering a fractured cheekbone.

Dazed and bruised, clothes torn and face bloodied, she clambered back up the motorway embankment, telling a man she came across: I have been attacked and raped.

Mr Price said DNA evidence recovered by police matched Mr Quinns DNA profile and was found on the clothing and body of the rape victim. It could only have been deposited by her attacker as neither the woman nor the defendant knew each other, he told the court.

Jurors heard the crime scene was secured by a cordon and a mobile police station set up for officers to respond to inquiries and to receive information from passing members of the public.

Two local officers were given a description of the suspect by a detective, namely that it was a white man with tanned or olive skin and of slim build. They also recalled a man they had spoken to earlier that summer, which was Mr Malkinson.

The rape victim had told officers she had scratched the face of her attacker and he would have a mark.

Following up their own lead, the next day the two officers at the mobile police station went to see Mr Malkinson at his place of work as a security guard at the Ellesmere Shopping Centre in nearby Walkden.

He had no scratch on his face but jurors were told his appearance was considered strikingly to match the description of the attacker.

Andrew Malkinson was jailed in 2004 for the rape of the woman - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

At the time, Mr Malkinson lived with a friend in a flat in Little Hulton, around a mile and a half from the scene of the rape attack.

Six days after the attack, Mr Malkinson, who had been having problems with people with whom he had previously lived, abruptly quit his job and left, telling a friend he was going to the Netherlands.

This sudden departure prompted police to track Mr Malkinson down to a Salvation Army hostel in Grimsby, where he was arrested and brought back to Salford to attend an identity parade.

Two people, Beverley Craig and Michael Seward, now deceased, were travelling through the area at the time of the rape.

Days later, on Aug 3, 2003, Craig and the victim took part in a procedure to try to identify the rapist, called a Viper procedure, in which witnesses are asked to view a screen of a number of faces, including the suspect.

Both Craig and the victim picked out an image of Mr Malkinson as the suspect. He was charged over the attack that day.

Seward also identified Mr Malkinson as the suspect.

Mr Price told jurors it may seem difficult to believe three people could all identify the wrong man, adding: Yet the evidence now available demonstrates, it is submitted, that they did.

The trial continues.
analysis

A naval exercise off the South African coast in January 2026, dubbed Will for Peace and involving the warships of South Africa, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran, elicited international and domestic controversy. It also contributed to a further souring of relations between South Africa and the US.

Under pressure at home, South Africa's defence ministry appointed a board of inquiry to investigate whether an instruction by President Cyril Ramaphosa not to involve Iran had been defied.

The exercise and its controversies have placed the spotlight on the South African Navy's diplomatic role. Andre Wessels, who has extensively studied the history of the navy, unpacks this role.

What is the Will for Peace 2026 exercise and what is the controversy around it?

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Navies traditionally take part in training exercises with other navies. This enhances interoperability and builds mutual trust.

Over time, many foreign warships have visited South African ports, including 23 in 1961, 50 in 1968 and 41 in 1973.

However, in reaction to South Africa's domestic policy of apartheid, foreign warship visits almost dried up between 1977 and 1989. Once South Africa became a democracy in 1994, foreign warships poured back into the country's ports, for example 35 from 15 countries in 1997.

New alliances allowed the country's navy to take part in exercises with the navies of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, Germany, India and Brazil, and Russia and China.

The January 2026 exercise was branded as one of navies belonging to the expanded Brics intergovernmental organisation. But, strictly speaking, Brics+ is not a military alliance. It is significant that India, Brazil, Indonesia and Egypt, which are members, did not send ships to participate, probably so as not to offend the US. But it was the first-ever visit by a UAE warship to South Africa.

Iranian "grey diplomats" (a term used to describe navy warships) had previously visited South African ports in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, and in 2016-2017.

The current geopolitical situation is challenging. There are tensions between the US and Iran (for, among other reasons, the latter's nuclear arms ambitions); the Russia-Ukraine war continues; and diplomatic relations between the US and South Africa are strained (partly because of the Trump administration's unproven allegations of a white genocide in South Africa). Given this situation, the naval exercise should not have taken place.

South Africa should as far as possible stay neutral in international affairs to, among other things, safeguard its economic interests. Furthermore, its navy had very little to gain and can ill afford negative publicity, especially when it transpired that the government had apparently asked that Iran not participate. The facts in this regard, however, must still be determined by a government-appointed board of inquiry.

What role can and should a navy play in a country's foreign policy?

The traditional exchange of diplomats between friendly countries, reciprocal visits by heads of states and cabinet ministers, and the holding of summit meetings are not the only means of strengthening relations between countries.

It has been, for example, the practice of seafaring countries to send warships to one another from time to time. The South African Navy is no exception.

Since 1922, South African warships have undertaken numerous flag-showing cruises (meaning diplomatic visits) to many countries. These visits have nothing to do with "gun-boat diplomacy", which is diplomacy backed by the threat of military force.

Warships play a very important role in diplomacy. The presence of a warship can be the most tangible and visible sign of bilateral and multilateral friendships. When ships of a navy take part in combined exercises or international humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, those ships can generate mutual trust. The warships become diplomatic tools of the highest national value.

It is indeed one of the stated aims of the South African Navy: to conduct, among other things, assistance operations, including diplomatic support.

What phases can be identified in the navy's diplomatic role?

In 1946, the South African Naval Forces were reconstituted as a permanent part of the Union Defence Force. In 1951, it became the South African Navy.

The period 1946 to 1973 was a phase of normal relations with most countries in the west. There were 37 flag-showing cruises. This included 16 visits to European colonial possessions in Africa, six transoceanic deployments (to South America, Europe and Australia), and visits to many ports during the delivery voyages of 26 new vessels for the navy.

Then followed a phase of growing isolation (1974-1979) because of the internal political situation in South Africa over apartheid. In these years the SA Navy only undertook four flag-showing cruises.

The 1980-1987 period was a phase of total isolation as far as foreign visits by South African warships were concerned. The navy was from time to time (since 1975) deployed in a supporting role for the other arms of the South African Defence Force during the Namibian War of Independence (1966-1989), a conflict that spilled over into Angola.

Then followed a transitional phase (1988-1993), with political negotiations taking place from 1990 onwards. Gradually, ports opened up and no fewer than 19 flag-showing cruises took place.

With the birth of a democratic South Africa in April 1994, the country was officially welcomed back as a respected member of the international community. Over a period of three years (1994-1996), South African warships visited at least 29 ports in at least 23 countries during eight flag-showing cruises.

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So, after years of isolation, the navy played a major role in establishing ties of friendship. It also established several new ties with African, Asian and South American countries.

Unfortunately, in the years 2018 to 2025, not a single tailor-made South African Navy flag-showing cruise took place, mainly because of budgetary constraints.

However, in February 2026, the warship SAS Amatola sailed to India for an international fleet review and to participate in Exercise Milan, involving the Indian and other visiting navies.

What does the future hold for the navy's 'grey diplomats'?

The primary role of the navy must always be to conduct operations in defence of South Africa. But in times of peace, it has an equally important role to play. This includes search and rescue, relief operations, assistance to state authorities, regional assistance operations and flag-showing cruises.

A warship is both a reflection and projection of the state it represents. It is, therefore, important that the ships are not undersized or under-equipped. A South African warship is South African territory afloat, and its presence in foreign waters sends a signal of support to the country's allies.

Hopefully the navy will in future have at its disposal the necessary funds - and ships - to meet all the demands of its mission statement.

Andre Wessels, Senior Professor (Emeritus) and Research Fellow, Department of History, University of the Free State
David Taylor, pictured with his partner Joani Reid, is the head of programmes at a think tank that develops engagement between Asia and Europe

The partner of a Labour MP has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

David Taylor, the partner of Joani Reid, was detained by the Metropolitan Police and is being held under the National Security Act.

Two other men were arrested on Wednesday morning  Matthew Aplin, 43, from Pontyclun, South Wales, and Steve Jones, 68, from Powys, Wales. All three suspects, who were held on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence, had connections to the Labour Party.

Searches were carried out at the properties where the arrests were made, as well as at three addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.

Mr Taylor, born in 1986, is the head of programmes at the Asia House think tank, which promotes engagement between Asia and Europe. He is understood to have worked for energy companies as a lobbyist and as a government special adviser in the Wales Office under the New Labour government.

Ms Reid was elected to the seat of East Kilbride and Strathaven in July 2024, and sits on the Commons home affairs committee. She was born in Glasgow and worked in public policy before entering local government as a councillor in 2014.

Following the arrest, she said: I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.

Joani Reid was elected for the seat of East Kilbride and Strathaven in July 2024

Mr Aplin is a former senior communications officer for the Labour Party in the Welsh Assembly who has also worked for the energy regulator Ofgem and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

Since February last year, he has been working as a senior consultant for Camlas, a Cardiff-based public affairs firm which has offices just a stones throw from the Senedd, according to its website.

Rhodri ab Owen, the managing director of Camlas, told The Telegraph: Matthew Aplin has been suspended until further notice.

The police have not been in touch with us at Camlas and there are no links between Camlas and any Chinese companies or the Chinese government. We are a small Welsh public affairs agency.

Matthew Aplin works for a public affairs firm - Wales news service

Mr Jones, 68, was a special adviser to Hilary Armstrong, now Baroness Armstrong, when she was chief whip under Sir Tony Blair from 2001 until 2006.

According to an online CV, he was based in both Downing Street and the House of Commons when he worked for Lady Armstrong.

From 2009 until 2014 he was a special adviser to the Welsh Government and was tasked with liaising with backbenchers in support of the First Minister, Chief Whip and Government Business Minister.

More recently he worked as a consultant to Camlas, the Cardiff-based firm that also employed Mr Aplin.

Steve Jones worked for a former Labour chief whip

Deeply concerned

Dan Jarvis, the security minister, said British officials had formally approached Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing about the arrests.

He told the Commons: We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy. This involves attempts to obtain information on UK policy-making and interfere with our sovereign affairs.

Mr Jarvis said there would be a new programme to help British think tanks and non-profit organisations identify possible risks of foreign interference.

Mr Taylor joined Asia House in September 2024. The think tank was founded by Sir Peter Wakefield, a former UK diplomat, in 1996, according to its website.

Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, is among several senior politicians to have addressed the organisation in recent years.

She spoke at an event hosted by Asia House on Sept 10 last year, alongside Michael Howard, the former Tory leader, and Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader.

Other politicians to have attended events by the think tank since Mr Taylors appointment include the Labour MPs Hamish Falconer, Liam Byrne and Catherine West.

Yvette Cooper spoke at Asia House in September last year

Matt Western, the chairman of the joint committee on the National Security Strategy, warned that Britain was going to see many, many more cases, potentially, such as this, where there is this evidence of intelligence-gathering undertaken by the Chinese as they seek to undermine our democracy and political system.

Commander Helen Flanagan, the head of Counter-Terrorism Policing London, said she had seen a significant increase in caseloads relating to national security in recent years.

China scandals

Mr Taylors arrest marks the latest in a series of China-related scandals to hit the Labour Party.

Sir Keir Starmer came under fire for his handling of the trials of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, who were accused of stealing secrets from Parliament and selling them to senior officials in the Chinese Communist Party. The two men denied the charges, but the trial collapsed last year.

In October, The Telegraph reported that the case fell through because the Government refused to provide evidence that China was an enemy, which was required to prosecute the two men under antiquated espionage legislation.

The Government was forced to admit in February that its communication with the Crown Prosecution Service had contributed to the cases collapse, and committed to reviewing its procedures.

Alicia Kearns, a former chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said she was at her wits end over Chinese spying and called for tougher action against Beijing.

Inaction shows weakness, and weakness invites aggression, she said.



The Government must answer for their abject failure to act, and therefore to deter future attacks on our democracy.



If not now, then when will Labour muster a defence of our democracy and national security?

Labour has also given the go-ahead to plans for a Chinese super-embassy in London, despite a Telegraph investigation into a concealed chamber that sat alongside fibre-optic cables transmitting financial data to the City of London.

The same hidden room is to be fitted with hot-air extraction systems, possibly suggesting the installation of heat-generating equipment such as advanced computers used for espionage.

Britains spy chiefs have warned that they could not wholly eliminate risks from Chinas new embassy.

Labour declined to comment.
TOPSHOT-IRAN-US-ISRAEL-WAR

An Iraqi resistance group has dubbed three NATO nations "legitimate targets for Islamic Resistance in Iraq" if they intervene in Iraq or the Middle East conflict that continues to spiral from the U.S.-Israel joint strikes against Iran that began over the weekend.

Al-Nujaba Military Deputy al-Karbalai said that the "interests" of the United Kingdom, France, Germany or NATO itself will be targeted, according to Reuters. It was not immediately clear what scale of a NATO intervention would prompt the group to respond.

The declaration comes as U.S. military locations in Iraq and Syria have been increasingly targeted by Iran in the wake of the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It comes as a haunting new map reveals the 4 safest US states to live in during a nuclear war.

An Iraqi official on Wednesday said a senior Iranian official requested that Iraq take measures to prevent Iranian opposition groups based there from breaching the border, according to The Associated Press.

A statement says Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, made the request in a call with Iraqi National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji.

Iraqi militants on Tuesday threatened to target Jordan over allegations that U.S. aircraft that bombed their facilities took off from a Jordanian air base (Image: Noor Pictures/Shutterstock)

The news comes after a Shiite leader in Iraq said the U.S.-Isael attack on Iran is a violation of international law.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a prominent religious leader based in Iraq, condemned the "military aggression" against Iran. He said attacking a country that is a member of the United Nations without U.N. approval is a violation of international law.

The Iran-born al-Sistani, who is one of the world's most influential Shiite clerics, warned that war would cause widespread chaos and prolonged unrest "that will bring calamities to the peoples of the region and to the interests of others as well."

The statements from Iraqi officials and resistance leaders were also flanked by reports that an Iraqi militant group fired drones toward Jordan on Wednesday.

The Iran-backed group, Saraya Awliya al-Dam, said that drones were aimed at "a vital target" in the kingdom. Earlier Wednesday, Jordan's state-run television reported that sirens sounded across the country.

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Iraqi militants on Tuesday threatened to target Jordan over allegations that U.S. aircraft that bombed their facilities took off from a Jordanian air base.

NATO defenses also intercepted a missile heading toward Turkey that crossed Iraqi and Syrian airspace.

NATO defense systems intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran as it headed toward Turkey's airspace, the Turkish defense ministry said. A ministry statement said the missile was detected after crossing the Iraqi and Syrian airspace and was intercepted by NATO units stationed in the eastern Mediterranean.

NATO defenses also intercepted a missile heading toward Turkey that crossed Iraqi and Syrian airspace (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Debris from the air defense system that intercepted the Iranian missile fell into Hatay province, near the border with Syria. There were no casualties.

"Every step taken to defend our territory and airspace will be taken resolutely and without hesitation," the defense ministry said. "We remind all parties that we reserve the right to respond to any hostile actions against our country."

The Iraqi electricity ministry said Wednesday the national power grid has "completely shut down across all Iraqi provinces."

The cause was not immediately clear. Officials said crews were working to restore power stations and transmission lines.

Outages had already hit the semi-autonomous Kurdish region after a key gas field halted operations over security concerns. Iraq's oil ministry also said Tuesday it stopped production at a major field near Basra, citing a tanker shortage in the Persian Gulf amid the conflict.

It comes after a chilling Doomsday nuclear map showed how fast US citizens would die from an explosion.

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A pair of friends walking in a city environment with high rise buildings behind them, looking happy.

A short-term rental investment is when you buy or convert a property to rent it out for brief stays, typically under 30 days, on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo, with the goal of earning income from nightly bookings.

And in 2026, the smartest STR investments arent where youd expect.

Must Read

Forget Destin beaches and Vail ski slopes. AirDNA's latest analysis reveals small and mid-sized cities across America offer investors the strongest returns, CNBC reports (1). Port Arthur, Texas, claims the top spot, while cities like Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Springfield, Illinois dominate a list of unexpected winners.

"When we look at the types of markets that continually come up top of the list, it's not your traditional beach or mountain markets," Jamie Lane, chief economist at AirDNA, told CNBC. "It's a trend that shows people want to travel and see rural areas around the country, which started during the pandemic and has still continued (1).

Heres a closer look at which markets made the list, and what makes them stand out for investors right now.

The top 10 STR investment markets for 2026

AirDNA's methodology looked beyond simple revenue projections to evaluate what actually makes a market profitable. The company analyzed thousands of homes currently for sale, calculating potential annual rental income relative to listing price (1), essentially measuring return on investment rather than gross revenue alone.

The analysis also factored in occupancy rates, booking frequency, revenue growth trends and the strength of existing rental properties based on performance data from Airbnb, VRBO and Booking.com (1).

Based on these metrics, AirDNA identified these markets with their estimated average annual revenue before expenses, like mortgage, taxes, insurance and maintenance (1):

Port Arthur, Texas: $35,000

Abilene, Texas: $55,000

Downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota: $45,000

Charleston, West Virginia: $32,000

Springfield, Illinois: $35,000

Lake Charles, Louisiana: $37,000

Montgomery, Alabama: $42,000

Akron, Ohio: $39,000

Lebanon, Pennsylvania: $42,000

Jackson, Mississippi: $44,000

Why location matters more than ever

The pandemic created an STR boom, but many once-hot markets now face oversaturation. Meanwhile, local governments have implemented tighter regulations. Higher mortgage rates (around 6% now versus pandemic-era lows of 2.21% in 2021) have fundamentally changed the investment math, according to Freddie Mac data (2).

If you're considering buying or converting a property, know that location has become the single biggest driver of profitability. Investing in the wrong market could mean slim margins or losses.

Read More: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10

Read More: Warren Buffetts 8 simple and repeatable rules to get rich (and stay rich) in America

What makes these markets work

The critical factor is revenue relative to purchase price. For example, a $150,000 Port Arthur home generating $35,000 annually offers 23% gross yield versus an 8% yield from a $1 million Destin condo generating $80,000.

"Just because an area has high revenue potential, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good investment," Lane explained to CNBC. "We have to look at that in relation to the cost of the home (1).

These markets benefit from stable, year-round demand. Port Arthur serves oil workers and tourists exploring Gulf Coast marshlands. The city's STR inventory grew 23% from 2024 to 2025, with 78% occupancy (1).

Abilene ranked second, partly due to OpenAI's Stargate data center opening there. The city's STR inventory grew 15% year-over-year, with 77% occupancy (1).

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Unlike seasonal beach markets, cities driven by business travel maintain steadier year-round bookings. These markets also face less competition than oversaturated vacation destinations.

The reality check

Local governments have strengthened regulations significantly. Most jurisdictions now require permits with registration numbers displayed. Operators face state and local lodging taxes  averaging 13.5% nationally according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association's lodging tax study (3).

Then there's mortgage rates. In real numbers, 7% interest on a $150,000 property with 20% down means about $860 monthly  $10,300 annually before taxes or insurance. That's 29% of Port Arthur's estimated revenue gone to mortgage alone.

And don't forget about insurance. STR insurance typically costs 25% more than standard homeowners policies, according to the Insurance Information Institute (4). Full-service property management charges can be 20% to 30% of revenue, according to AirDNA (5).

On top of these things, new listings may struggle to achieve expected occupancy rates initially, due to limited reviews and lower search visibility. Not surprisingly, "listings with a lot of 5-star reviews are able to bring significantly more reservations than similar listings with mediocre reviews, (6)" as Summer OS notes.

How to evaluate your market

Not all short-term rental markets are created equal. Investors who focus on data-driven markets with strong occupancy and reasonable prices position themselves for success. So, it's crucial to evaluate and understand your market's complete story before investing. Here's how:

1. Research local regulations by contacting city planning departments directly. Confirm STR legality and understand permit requirements.

2. Run conservative projections assuming 60% occupancy. Short-term rental operating costs typically range from 3070% of gross revenue, according to Global Property Guide (7), so subtract at least 30% for management and expenses. Model current mortgage rates.

3. Study competition on sites like Airbnb and VRBO. Dozens of similar listings with limited reviews signal possible oversaturation.

3 Verify demand drivers. Temporary factors like construction projects don't sustain long-term viability. Look for stable factors like established industries, medical facilities or regional attractions.

4. Calculate break-even by dividing annual costs by your average nightly rate. Understanding required booking nights shows your margin for error.

As travel trends shift and investment math tightens, the old playbook is no longer a guarantee of profits. In 2026, the strongest short-term rental returns arent coming from postcard destinations  theyre emerging from overlooked cities quietly outperforming the usual hotspots.

What To Read Next

Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywises best stories and exclusive interviews first  clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

CNBC (1); Freddie Mac (2); American Hotel & Lodging Association (3); Insurance Information Institute (4); AirDNA (5); Summer OS (6); Global Property Guide (7)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
A man celebrates as he arrives at the International Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, after being evacuated from Dubai on a commercial flight, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. | Michael Probst, Associated Press

Frustrated and anxious travelers clamored Tuesday for ways out of the Middle East and beyond as the widening Iran war constrained commercial flights through the region for a fourth day, stranding tens of thousands of people.

The conflict that started Saturday when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran grounded airline passengers in major Mideast cities as well as ones awaiting connecting flights in countries far from the threat of airstrikes. With national airspaces closed or tightly restricted across much of the Gulf, many were unsure what to do and appealed to their governments for information and exit strategies.

They say Get out, but how do you expect us to get out when airspaces are closed? said Odies Turner, a 32-year-old chef from Dallas who was stuck in Doha, Qatar. They just have been canceling every flight. I want to go home.

The U.S. State Department told American citizens to leave more than a dozen countries in the region right away using any available commercial transportation. The countries included Iran and Israel, as well as Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

But commercial options remained limited.

About 18,000 flights, or nearly 55% of all scheduled flight arrivals and departures in the Middle East, have been canceled since Saturday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The number included 3,800 cancellations on Tuesday.

Governments explore repatriation flights

The State Department said Tuesday it was actively securing military and charter aircraft to fly Americans out of the region. It said it was in contact with nearly 3,000 citizens seeking assistance or information.

We know that were going to be able to help them, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Tuesday, while cautioning that its going to take a little time because we dont control the airspace closures.

He urged stranded Americans to contact the State Department.

There may be more people out there that need help, he said. We need to know who you are.

Earlier in the day, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee wrote in a social media that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem was not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel. He provided information as a courtesy to those wishing to leave about an Israeli government shuttle bus to Egypt that Americans could tryas you make your own security plans.

Israels flag carrier, El Al, said it was launching a large-scale recovery operation as Ben-Gurion Airport prepares to gradually reopen for limited incoming flights around the clock starting early Thursday.

Israels airspace has been closed since Saturday, although some land crossings remain open. Transportation Minister Miri Regev said thousands have returned that way.

Under the plan, one passenger flight per hour will be allowed in the first 24 hours, totaling about 5,000 people, with more later depending on security. It is unclear whether only Israelis will be permitted on the flights, and no commercial departures leaving Israel have been approved

Airspace closures

Across the Middle East, travelers waited in airport terminals and hotels, or stayed inside because of airstrikes. Some cruise passengers were unable to disembark or reroute because ships could not sail through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Matt Carwell, 46, spoke over the phone Tuesday from his hotel room balcony in the UAE city of Duba i. Then he cutoff midsentence.

Wow, the American said, there was just a boom. Then a fighter jet roared somewhere overhead. Carwell, who currently volunteers at a New Hampshire high school, has flights booked and is just waiting for one not to get cancelled.

Right now, were safe and comfortable, he said, but not everyone is. Just feel for them and feel for the people who have either lost their lives or lost someone theyre close to.

The airspaces of countries that included Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria were still shut Tuesday, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. Saudi Arabia partially closed routes near its border with Iraq and along the Persian Gulf. The United Arab Emirates declared its airspace partially closed, and Jordan suspended daily flights from the mid-afternoon until 6 a.m. local time. Omans airspace remained open.

Tracking data from Flightradar24 showed some planes flying either south or north around the shuttered airspace. One of the busiest detours ran over Egypt and Saudi Arabia toward India and Asia, while another extended north across Afghanistan and Turkmenistan toward European airspace.

The geography of the war has magnified the disruption to air travel. Gulf airports connect Europe, Africa and Asia, and carriers routinely funnel long-haul passengers through hubs such as Dubai and Doha.

Effectively within the Middle East, an eight-hour flying distance covers two-thirds of the world population, said Anita Mendiratta, an aviation and tourism consultant who was stranded in Bangkok.

When that corridor is blocked, Mendiratta said, it forces planes far north or far south, which puts huge pressure on the airlines.

Some of the aviation notices governing the closures allow authorities to reopen or restrict portions of airspace on short notice depending on security conditions, meaning flight schedules can change rapidly as the conflict continues to unfold.

Some begin to leave

Despite the uncertainty, some travelers managed to catch flights.

Oman Airways advertised flights from Muscat International Airport for passengers who could reach Oman from the UAE. Virgin Atlantic said it planned to restart some services between London Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

We called our children at 3 a.m. to ask forgiveness because we might die and to tell them we love them, said Mariana Muicaru, one of hundreds of Romanian pilgrims who had been stranded on a church trip to Israel. She described watching rockets streak across the sky, before eventually reaching Bucharest on Tuesday.

Some British tourists who were stranded in the UAE were relieved to land safely Monday night at Heathrow Airport. Adam Barton, who was traveling with his family from Abu Dhabi, said he was getting alerts on his phone about potential missile strikes while in the airport before he left.

We had an alert on our phone, saying to get away from the windows for potential missile attacks, Barton said.

Meanwhile, some wealthy travelers were paying large sums for luxury flights to Europe via airports that are safe from Iranian drone and missile attacks. Demand for charter flights has skyrocketed, with some people paying up to 200,000 euros ($232,000).

The post Anxious travelers scramble as Iran war strands tens of thousands across the Middle East appeared first on East Idaho News.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Democratic leaders are facing questions over their insistence that President Donald Trump must obtain congressional approval for military strikes against Iran, despite previous support for President Barack Obamas unauthorized 2011 air campaign in Libya.

The debate intensified following the Trump administrations Operation Epic Fury, which U.S. officials described as a necessary move to neutralize imminent threats from Irans missile and nuclear programs.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the administration for bypassing Congress, prompting Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin to ask why the current situation requires a vote when the seven-month Libya campaign did not.

Well, obviously Libya and the circumstances connected to that were very different from the circumstances that we face in Iran right now, Jeffries said. I mean, I dont even understand the genesis or basis of that question. I suggest that youre not asking in good faith.

READ: Rubio: 9,000 Americans Evacuated As U.S. Moves To Defang Iranian Missile Program

Jeffries, who was not in Congress during the 2011 intervention, argued that the Iran strikes risk a catastrophic, endless war without sufficient evidence of a preeminent assault on U.S. interests.

The 2011 NATO-led intervention in Libya lasted roughly seven months and involved thousands of airstrikes. At the time, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi maintained that Obama did not need a formal nod from Congress. When asked to reconcile these positions, Pelosis office issued a statement asserting an absolute distinction between the two conflicts.

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There is an absolute distinction between the limited military operations in Libya and the broad, escalating war with Iran initiated by President Trump, the statement read. Speaker Pelosis position has been consistent: when the prospect of expansive or prolonged hostilities exists, the Constitution and the War Powers Act are clear that Congress must authorize it.

The statement further accused President Trump of shifting the goal posts regarding his military objectives.

While Pelosi characterized the Libya mission as limited, the campaign ultimately led to the total collapse of Muammar Gaddafis regime. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, that intervention sparked a major constitutional debate at the time regarding whether the Obama administration had bypassed the War Powers Resolution.

The Trump administration maintains its actions were defensive, aimed at protecting the U.S. homeland and regional interests by dismantling Iranian military infrastructure.

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Double Standards Or Distinct Conflicts? Dems Defend Different Stances On Libya, Iran Strikes
There is tension in the Constitution as to which branch of government wields "war powers."

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the power "To declare War," (right between the parts where Congress may "punish Piracies" and "grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal). But Article II, Section 2 says the president is "Commander in Chief."

The founders wanted to make power diffuse. Thats why certain constitutional authorities are spread out in the Constitution.

Jonathan Turley: Trump Strikes Iran  Precedent And History Are On His Side

Congress has only declared war 11 times, the last being against Romania in the 1940s. But Congress has regularly approved resolutions authorizing the use of the military in overseas hostilities. That ranges from the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which got the U.S. into Vietnam. Contemporary resolutions are called "Authorizations for Use of Military Force" or AUMFs. Congress has approved those for the first Gulf War, after 9/11 and for the second Gulf War.

Congress wanted to reclaim some of its constitutional authority during Vietnam. So it adopted the War Powers Act in 1973. Multiple administrations from both parties have never formally recognized the War Powers Act as constitutional. But various presidents have sent notifications to Congress to comport with the War Powers Act. That includes notifying Congress within two days of sending troops abroad and having a 60- to 90-day window to draw down forces.

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The Senate likely votes Wednesday night on a war powers resolution. If it passes  and if the House were to approve a companion version  technically, the U.S. must stop the war.

A simple majority is needed in both bodies. And while there may be some defections on both sides, we dont believe the House and Senate will vote to terminate the war.

Regardless, Trump could veto an approved war powers resolution for Iran.

Why Trump Invoked Regime Change In Attacking Iran, And The Media Must Learn From Past Mistakes

The U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026. (Getty Images)

Its about the math.

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It takes a two-thirds vote to overcome the veto. So, even if Congress voted to halt the war in Iran, lawmakers can do little to overcome a veto.

Perhaps the only other parliamentary remedy lawmakers have is the power of the purse. Congress could always vote to cut off money for a particular operation. The Democratic-controlled Congress did that nearly 20 years ago after the second war in Iraq. But lawmakers realized they just couldnt end operations right away. They needed a lengthy drawdown to prevent leaving American forces in the lurch.

Congress approved the Pentagons spending plan just a few weeks ago. Had that not happened, one could imagine a possible military government shutdown as Democrats would balk at sending money to the Pentagon unless there were provisions to suspend money for Iran.

Mike Davis: Why Trump's Iran Strike Was Necessary And Lawful

President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026.

And what is past is prologue.

Its highly likely that this intensifies the conversation about money for the Pentagon as we approach the next spending deadline in the fall. Democrats will look to put strings on any money bound for Iran operations  to say nothing of Venezuela.

Moreover, the U.S. seems to be fine with munitions and arms now. But the U.S. will eventually need to reload.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., did not rule out the potential need for a "supplemental" spending bill for Iran down the road.

In other words, there are 12 annual spending bills. This would be a "13th" spending bill and is specific to Iran.

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Congress passed a number of those supplemental spending bills after 9/11. Thats one of the reasons the deficit started to skyrocket over the past two decades.





Original article source: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Congress' options on hamstringing Trump's war powers in Iran
The Jackson Hole News&Guide at a newsstand in Jackson. | Angus M. Thuermer Jr., WyoFile

JACKSON, Wyo. (WyoFile)  On its face, it was an article about an Eagle Scout project that grew into a nonprofit advocacy organization. Not exactly the kind of piece newspaper editors think of when considering legally sensitive material.

But the article headlined Words are power, which the Jackson Hole News&Guide published in May, landed the paper in hot water when it was hit with a $25 million defamation lawsuit. Thats because, along with chronicling the young mans project, the article included allegations that his father was physically abusive.

And, the father asserted in his lawsuit, the paper framed those false allegations without attribution, which implies a factual determination. By failing to seek comment pre-publication, or respond to written concerns after publication, the newspapers actions amounted to malice and willful disregard, according to the December lawsuit filed by David Mecartney.

Mecartney and the News&Guide entered into a confidential settlement in February. As part of the settlement, the paper  which is the newspaper of record for Teton County, Wyoming published an apology and took the article down.

The outcome could have ripple effects in Wyomings small landscape of low-resourced newsrooms, retired media attorney and former long-time counsel to the Wyoming Press Association Bruce Moats said. The threat of facing a multi-million-dollar lawsuit could discourage journalists from pursuing public-interest stories, he said.

Certainly thats a concern, Moats said, particularly in todays day and age where local newspapers are generally struggling for revenue. Even settling for far less than $25 million can be devastating for a small business, he said.

However, Moats said, the case can also present a learning opportunity for newsrooms. What I always advise is, anytime anybodys accused of a crime, look at that seriously.

Jackson Attorney Jason Edward Ochs, who represented Mecartney, also said this case highlights the importance of journalistic verification.

Why a paper anywhere in the U.S. would want to draft an article that affirmatively states that someone who is a private individual is a child abuser, without doing enormous amounts of verification work and being certain that they are correct, is beyond my understanding, Ochs said. And unfortunately, thats what happened here.

The Jackson Hole News&Guide is Teton Countys newspaper of record and has published weekly since 2002. The paper was born of a merger between the western Wyoming valleys two longtime news publications  the Jackson Hole News, which began printing in 1970, and the Jackson Hole Guide, which was founded in 1952. | Ryan Dorgan, WyoFile

In addition, the case underscores the crucial steps a reporter should take to ensure First Amendment protections, said University of Montana School of Journalism Director Lee Banville, who teaches media law.

If a source says something that can be checked against a public record like a police report or court filing, Banville said, that extra effort is really worth it.

Unfortunately, in todays landscape of hollowed-out newspapers, he added, that can pile one more task onto an increasingly burdensome load.

As you have fewer reporters trying to report what many more reporters used to generate, the pressure on individual journalists to crank out lots of stories makes it harder to tackle complicated stories that touch on legally sensitive topics, Banville said.

Article and response

The May 21 article by the papers state government reporter Jasmine Hall focused on 18-year-old Dune Mecartney, who earned his Eagle Scout rank with a years-long project called Safe Kids U.S. The organization that grew from his project offers online resources on legal rights for children, and is specifically aimed at children experiencing domestic violence or abuse.

Dune Mecartney told the newspaper he was motivated by his own experience  he and his mother allege they are survivors of abuse at the hands of his father. The parents are divorced, a process that has involved years of legal battling.

Much of the article deals with reunification therapy, which Dune Mecartney was court-ordered to participate in with his father and which the teenager describes as a flawed system that endangers children.

Dune Mecartney has emerged as an advocate for laws intended to increase child safety in custody cases and has traveled nationally for that work, according to the article.

In December, David Mecartney sued the newspapers owner, Teton Media Works. The lawsuit asserted that the article contains numerous false and defamatory statements about the elder Mecartney; that the newspaper never reached out to Mecartney for his side of the story and that the newspaper had access to court records contradicting the abuse allegations but failed to represent them.

The defendants decision to publish the defamatory article, despite having knowledge of the public court records, demonstrates a striking lack of professional due regard for the truth and a conscious indifference to the substantial harm it would inflict upon the plaintiff, the suit stated. Based on the information available to them, the defendant acted with malice and a willful and wanton disregard for the truth.

Details

The lawsuit emphasizes a couple factors of particular concern for David Mecartney. The first is the existence of a 2021 Wyoming Supreme Court decision in Mecartney v. Mecartney.

According to that decision, the court found that no substantiated evidence of child abuse by the father was proven at trial. The newspapers decision to publish its article despite the public court records is analogous to malice, the lawsuit against Teton Media Works states.

The second factor relates to a letter Mecartney sent to the newspaper two days after the article was published. According to the lawsuit, Mecartney informed several members of the papers staff that the piece included factually incorrect statements that would harm his personal and professional reputation.

Contrary to what was reported, I am not the abuser, he wrote, according to the lawsuit. The truth is far more complex and deeply documented. He then listed court findings contained in the Supreme Court decision. He asked for a correction and a response within seven days, CCing the papers publisher, several editors and its CEO, according to the lawsuit.

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Teton Media Works never responded to the plaintiffs letter, according to the lawsuit. Instead, they published a grossly insufficient update that merely stated the plaintiff denied allegations he abused his family and that the parents were still in court after 10 years of litigation. This created a false impression of ongoing culpability and implied the court record supported the claims of abuse.

Furthermore, the newspaper failed for months to update an Instagram post related to the story, according to the suit.

The defendants conduct demonstrates a profound level of malice, outrage, and willful and wanton disregard for the truth and for the impact the defamatory statements would have on the plaintiff, it concludes. This behavior goes far beyond mere negligence, demonstrating a conscious and deliberate course of conduct that has caused significant and ongoing harm.

Mecartney has been subjected to hatred, contempt, ridicule and scorn as a direct result of the newspapers conduct, the suit stated. The publications have severely injured his reputation, diminishing the esteem, respect, goodwill and confidence in which he is held within his community and professional life and resulted in economic loss.

Settlement

Ochs Law Firm, which represents David Mecartney, issued a press release announcing the confidential settlement agreement in early February, when the newspaper replaced the article on its website with a letter to readers under the heading Acknowledgment and apology: Words are power.

We acknowledge, plainly and without qualification, that this article should never have been published, the letter read. It failed to meet the standards of verification, fairness, and judgment our readers are entitled to expect. We regret any harm it caused Mr. David Mecartney.

News&Guide Publisher Adam Meyer directed WyoFile to the apology when asked for comment on the settlement.

The Jackson Hole News&Guide office in Jackson. | Angus M. Thuermer Jr., WyoFile

In it, the News&Guide admitted that failing to verify allegations, seek comment and review court findings before publication represented a serious lapse. It also underscored many of the lawsuits central points and apologized to Mecartney.

The newspaper, which serves Teton County residents, recently won Wyoming Press Associations award for general excellence for the third year in a row.

The paper did the right thing with its apology, attorney Ochs said. Publishing a clear acknowledgement and apology is a meaningful step toward accountability in reporting, especially when accusations this serious are involved.

The attorney who represents Dune Mecartney and his mother, Kelly Cornell, told WyoFile his clients had no involvement in the suit against the News&Guide. I dont have any information about that, and wouldnt want to comment on anything that I dont really have any information about, Bradley Booke said. Dune Mecartney did not respond to an email from WyoFile.

Mecartney filed a separate defamation lawsuit against his son and his former wife in January. A response has not yet been filed.

Best practices

Reading through and discussing the case could generate meaningful conversations in newsrooms regarding ethics, best practices and pitfalls, retired attorney Moats said. Understanding precedent helps others avoid outcomes like lawsuits, he said.

Journalists need to be aggressive, he said. So we need to talk about things to make sure we can remain [agressive], but still protect ourselves.

Ochs, the plaintiffs attorney, echoed that journalists play an important role.

We need journalists, he said. They hold the line just like lawyers do. But he reiterated the articles headline: Words are Power, Ochs said.

The title of the article  underscores the influence that journalists have, he said. The law requires [them] to be careful because of the fact that  journalists have the potential to wave a big stick.

Banville sees journalistic takeaways on many levels. For individual reporters, he said, they include: dont rely too much on an individual source, reach out for the other side of the story and take care with attribution.

For media organizations, he said, another takeaway is to take seriously when someone pushes back against an article and points to factual errors or possible factual errors. Even if the outlet believes it hasnt made an error, it should always examine that possibility and respond to the concern, he said.

Defendants opt to settle for an array of reasons, he added, and a settlement doesnt necessarily imply culpability, though its often perceived that way by the public.

Speaking generally, he noted that as outlets have shed employees like copy editors and desk editors, many reporters have become more isolated, and less supported, in navigating their work.

If youre going to tackle hard stories, which I think we want local media to do, its hard to do that when youre stretched thinner and thinner, Banville said. Thats a scary lesson.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.

The post Jackson newspaper settles $25M defamation lawsuit. What can be learned? appeared first on East Idaho News.
ISU professor L.J. Krumenacker holds bones that might help identify a new dinosaur species. | Courtesy Idaho State University

Turns out the key to discovering a new type of dinosaur might be a weird toe in an Idaho museum.

Or a skull in Switzerland.

Idaho State University paleontologists are examining whether these and other fossils represent one or more previously unidentified dinosaur species. Theyve laid their research out in a new study that has scientists rethinking long-confusing plant-eating Jurassic dinosaurs known as ornithopods.

Its a possible breakthrough for dinosaur enthusiasts  and a lifelong ambition for ISU geosciences professor L.J. Krumenacker, who co-authored the study.

Naming a new dinosaur is a childhood dream for me, Krumenacker told EdNews.

Playing detective: A tell-tale toe bone

Paleontologists are basically detectives, but their suspects have been dead for 150 million years. They piece together Earths history from scattered leftovers.

Those leftovers can spark a hunch  but naming a new dinosaur demands evidence.

At least thats how its played out for Krumenacker, who has long questioned a toe bone at ISUs Museum of Natural History.

The bone has been attributed to the plant-eating, beaked ornithopod Camptosaurus after its discovery in a Wyoming quarry. Camptosaurus lived during the late Jurassic period in western North America and possibly Europe.

But something about the toe bone in the museum  stuck out to Krumenacker.

Its long and skinny, not the typical short, stout Camptosaurus toe bone. And its grooved on one side.

Ornithopod bones like these could be the key to a new type of dinosaur, researchers say. | Courtesy Idaho State University

This might be the toe of a different dinosaur, Krumenacker thought.

Another bone at the museum, part of a skull, also prompted questioning with a pointy part that sticks backward.

Discovery is exciting, but science moves carefully. Bones can be tricky to identify. They vary with age and sex. Plus, misidentification is a dirty word among paleontologists. It can reset research and require course corrections.

Krumenacker had his hunch, but he needed to examine more bones.

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Meeting Arky: A trip to Switzerland

The good news: More ornithopod dinosaur bones exist from the Wyoming quarry where the toe bone appeared.

The challenge: Theyre some 5,300 miles away, in Zurich, Switzerland.

So Krumenacker did what any species-hunting paleontologist would: He booked a flight to examine a skull and skeleton scientists have dubbed Arky.

Arkys features differ from similar ornithopods like Camptosaurus, including skull shapes scientists havent seen before.

These findings are important because when scientists try to discover a new dinosaur species, they look for bones shaped differently from those of known dinosaurs.

The comparison suggested the bones might belong to a different animal.

Krumenacker is confident they are unique. He envisions a dinosaur similar to plant eaters like Dryosaurus and Camptosaurus that would have walked on two legs, ate plants and lived during the Late Jurassic period.

He pointed to a computer sketch he created of what the dinosaur might have looked like.

Krumenackers rendering of what a new dinosaur species might look like. | Courtesy L.J. Krumenacker

Whats next?

The findings support a possible discovery, but more research is needed.

One weird bone isnt enough to prove its a new species. Researchers must:

Study Arkys skull more closely

Remove repaired parts of the fossil

Take 3D scans

Compare Arky to other dinosaur skeletons

Arky was only recently donated to the Natural History Museum of the University of Zurich, where deeper examination is possible. Krumenacker plans to return to Zurich to study the skeleton more closely and confirm if he and others have found a new species.

Time  and examination  will tell, but Krumenacker stressed the special nature of the opportunity to contribute to human knowledge and introduce something new.

Robert Gay, a study co-author and education manager at the Idaho Museum of Natural History, says a discovery would shine a brighter light on a confusing corner of paleontology  and a focus area of a couple of Idaho State researchers.

The smaller plant-eating dinosaurs from this time in North America have confused scientists for nearly 200 years, said Gay, adding that the researchers fossils are frustratingly fragmentary but show that theres much more to learn.

The post Jurassic toe: Idaho State paleontologists investigate possible new dinosaur appeared first on East Idaho News.
The small Himalayan nation of Nepal is heading to polls this week, almost six months after a violent Gen Z-led protest brought the government to its knees and forced prime minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

Around 800,000 first-time voters will be among nearly 19 million people to cast their ballots on Thursday to choose members of the 275-seat House of Representatives, in what is widely being framed as a contest between the political old guard and an impatient new generation.

Last Septembers protest, which resulted in the death of 77 people, exposed the scale of youth anger over corruption and scarce jobs in a country where one in five young adults is unemployed. Since then, following in Bangladeshs footsteps, Nepal has been governed by an interim administration, which promised accountability for the killings and fresh elections.

Nepal, a Hindu-majority nation of 30 million people, is preparing to celebrate Holi, the festival that marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. The election will be held the following day.

"We will celebrate Holi on Wednesday and we will celebrate democracy on Thursday. It is a positive omen," Aadarash Thapa, a 19-year-old college student from the capital Kathmandu, who was part of last year's protest, tells The Independent.

"It is spring and it is time for a new government. Hopefully, we will play with colours once again after the results are declared," adds Thapa, a self-proclaimed fan of rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah.

Thapa says he will cast his vote for the first-time this week for a corruption-free Nepal.

Several first-time candidates, including prominent activists from last years protests, are taking on Nepals political old guard. However, the race for the prime ministers chair is shaping into a three-way battle between Oli, young party leader Gagan Thapa, and former rapper-turned-Kathmandu mayor Shah.

The winner will be the countrys 16th prime minister in less than two decades, a sobering reminder of Nepals chronic political instability since the 2008 abolition of the monarchy.

Over 3,400 candidates from 63 political parties are contesting, nearly two in five of them under 35.

The demographic make-up of the contestants is a reflection of the population, nearly two-thirds of which is also under 35.

File. Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on 9 September 2025, a day after a police crackdown on demonstrations over social media prohibitions and corruption by the government (AFP/Getty)

With youth unemployment at 20.6 per cent, the highest in South Asia and Southeast Asia, according to the World Bank, Nepal today is a portrait of the failure of successive governments to tackle the jobs crisis.

The largest political parties are vowing to tackle unemployment by fixing the outflow of workers that started when the country liberalised its economy in 1991 and private recruitment agencies set up shop.

Widely seen as the frontrunner riding on the popularity of its prime ministerial candidate, the mayor Shah, the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has promised to create 1.2 million jobs to reduce forced migration. The Nepali Congress, the country's oldest political party, has pledged to generate 1.5 million jobs and slash the outflow of workers by half in the next five years.

At a rally in Kathmandu as rap music blares, people wait eagerly for Shah, 35, to take the stage. People of all ages chant Balen, as he is popularly known, while giant banners of the political newcomer in his trademark black sunglasses loom over the crowd.

Rastriya Swatantra Partys Balendra Shah, centre, is greeted by supporters during a rally on the final day of campaigning ahead of Nepal's general election at Gauriganj in Jhapa district on 2 March 2026 (AFP/Getty)

Shah has turned his self-asserted readiness to challenge entrenched political patronage into a star-making formula. Hes taking on Oli, a four-time prime minister, on the veterans home turf in the Jhapa district. Oli, 74, has won six times from the constituency in his long political career.

Shah has positioned himself as the face of youth-led political change and has largely shunned the mainstream press to rely heavily on social media to amplify his messages. Our agenda is that the poor people who have no money in their pockets should get a full education. The poor people with empty pockets should get access to the health facilities. That is our agenda, he tells his supporters in western Nepal.

Nishchal N Pandey, director of the Centre for South Asian Studies in Nepal, points out that no government has survived a full term in decades. These are historic elections," he tells the BBC. "People are tired of the same old faces. They want to see a generational contest between Gen Z and the group of older politicians from the 1990s."

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Challenging Shah is Gagan Thapa, the newly installed leader of the Nepali Congress, a liberal democratic party with close ties to neighbouring India.

Nepali Rastriya Swatantra Partys Balendra Shah waves to supporters during a campaign roadshow in the district of Jhapa on 1 March 2026 (Getty)

A popular face within the Nepali Congress, Thapa, 49, had been held back by the partys senior leadership until earlier this year, when he mounted a rebellion and secured his election as party chief.

The Nepali Congress has remained a popular party even though it was a part of the last coalition government that was forced out in September.

Thapa says his priority would be to rid Nepal of corruption within five years and make the federal government fully accountable to the public.

He tells the news agency AFP that he wanted to end the old age club of revolving veteran leaders, adding that he offered voters the right mix of energy and experience.

Despite facing widespread public resentment, the veteran Marxist Oli retains backing within his Communist Party. The controversial leader is widely blamed for the deadly protests that felled his government last year.

Nepali Congress party's Gagan Thapa addresses supporters during a campaign rally in Kathmandu on 1 March 2026 (AFP/Getty)

Oli, whose party is seen as being more friendly to China, has consistently argued that steady policies and politics are essential for Nepal, warning that the economy needs stability to develop. His popularity peaked when he stood up to an economic blockade imposed by India in 2015 that resulted in shortages of fuel, medicine and other necessities.

It is definitely frustrating for the youth given the countrys state unemployment, but our family has traditionally voted for the Communist party and this year wont be any different, says Nikita Tamag, a 67-year-old shop owner in the capital.

Balen might have style and he might say big statements to impress the new generation, but it is unlikely that he would be capable enough as the prime minister of my country, she tells The Independent.

What happened last September was unfortunate.

Supporters present flowers to KP Sharma Oli, Nepal's former prime minister, during a rally on the final day of campaigning ahead of the general election at Gauradaha in Jhapa district on 2 March 2026 (AFP/Getty)

On 4 September 2025, Nepal blocked 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X, sparking outrage, especially among young people who relied on them for news, work, and connection. The move was widely seen as an attempt to stifle dissent amid rising anger over the lavish lifestyles of politicians children while ordinary citizens grappled with unemployment.

On 8 September, Kathmandu saw protests by Gen Z  people born between 1997 and 2012  turn deadly when clashes with security forces left at least 20 dead. Protests escalated the next day despite the government easing social media restrictions.

Violence surged, with over 2,500 buildings torched, from courts and government offices to media houses and hotels, including Kathmandus Hilton. In two days, at least 77 people were killed.

Days after Oli resigned, thousands of young activists used Discord to select former chief justice Sushila Karki to lead the interim administration. After being sworn in, the 73-year-old pledged to restore order, launch an inquiry into the violence, and form a cabinet to oversee elections.

But months later, the responsibility for the use of lethal force remains disputed between senior police officials and civil authorities.

Karki, in a televised address on Monday, said: I sincerely appeal to you to go to your polling station and vote on Thursday, even if you have to leave other work.

Pleading for calm, she added: I request everyone to maintain peace and harmony during this election season. It is only with your active participation that our democracy will survive. To move the country forward on the path of political stability and prosperity, all voters should participate in the upcoming elections.

The army will oversee voting to ease fears over the 750 weapons stolen from police during the September protests, which are still unaccounted for.
More than 9,000 Americans have made a safe return back to the U.S. from the Middle East since the launch of strikes on Iran this past weekend, President Trump said on Tuesday.

The U.S. and Israel launched attacks against the country as part of a joint operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, early Saturday morning, killing Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In a Truth Social post, the president urged U.S. citizens still in the region who are seeking to go back home to register with the State Department.

The Department will identify where you are, and provide travel options to you, Trump continued. We are already chartering flights, free of charge, and booking commercial options, which we expect will become increasingly available as time goes on.

The State Department previously authorized the departure of all nonemergency government workers and their families from Israel in an updated travel advisory on Friday, a day before the strikes launched.

In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank, the advisory stated. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available.

The State Department issued an urgent warning on Monday for Americans to leave the Middle East following retaliatory strikes from Iran.

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The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks, Mora Namdar, assistant secretary of State for consular affairs, wrote in a post on the social platform X.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the department authorized a 24/7 task force to assist Americans in the region.

In a video posted on the social platform X on Monday, the secretary directly addressed these affected U.S. citizens and shared resources available to them during the ongoing conflict.

To all American citizens in the Middle East: Your safety and security is our number one priority, Rubio said.

Americans hoping to connect with these resources must register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at step.state.gov.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Abyei  At least 167 people were killed, 68 injured, and 10 reported missing after an armed attack by an unidentified group on Abiemnom, about 40 kilometres north of the town of Abyei in the homonymous disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, on Sunday.

Kol Beth Amal, youth representative for Abiemnom in the Ruweng Administrative Area of South Sudan, told Radio Dabanga that gunmen armed with machine guns and heavy weapons attacked from four directions at around 04:30.

He said 156 people were killed at the scene, including women and children, while a further 12 later died of their injuries -- seven at Ajak Hospital and five at Abyei Hospital.

Amal said 10 people remain unaccounted for and that homes and property were extensively burned. 68 people were injured, including a number in a serious condition receiving treatment in local hospitals.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

Civilians killed outside UN base

He alleged that several civilians were shot dead outside the headquarters of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) after peacekeepers refused to intervene or allow those fleeing the attack to enter the compound. Radio Dabanga said it had been unable to obtain immediate comment from the mission.

Political motive alleged

Amal accused opposition forces loyal to Riek Machar of carrying out the assault, describing it as politically motivated and aimed at destabilising the region and displacing residents. He said the weapons used were not available to local youth groups.

He referred to a similar attack in April last year in which 54 people were killed and more than 30 injured. Sunday's violence followed the killing of two people whose bodies were found in remote areas about two weeks ago, and a separate incident in which five Abiemnom residents were killed.

According to Amal, a request by regional authorities to form a joint fact-finding committee was rejected by the commissioner of Mayom County, exacerbating tensions ahead of the latest attack.

Limited reinforcements, widespread displacement

Amal said security reinforcements had arrived but described them as "limited". Large numbers of residents have fled to neighbouring areas, while others remain without shelter in what he described as critical humanitarian conditions amid continuing insecurity.

He called on the authorities to deploy sufficient forces to separate the rival sides and urged humanitarian organisations to provide urgent assistance and medical care.

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Casualties treated in Abyei

The governor of the Abyei Special Administrative Area, Judge Charles Dengor, said local hospitals had received 80 wounded people, including women, children and elderly residents. Seven later died of their injuries, while more than 37 remain under treatment. The number is expected to rise as more casualties arrive.

Hundreds of displaced families have also sought refuge in villages across Abyei under difficult humanitarian conditions.

Dengor made the remarks during a field visit with ministers responsible for health, information, local government and law enforcement, as well as representatives of civil society and the Women's Union. The delegation assessed the condition of the injured and the needs of health facilities.

He praised medical staff working in co-ordination with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), led by deputy head of mission Amiri Imran, and said the authorities were doing all they could to save lives and alleviate suffering.

Dengor condemned the attack as a "serious massacre" and called for the protection of civilians, accountability for those responsible, and strengthened humanitarian and security measures to prevent further violence.
Organization

For nearly 70 years, The Dallas Opera (TDO) has been a defining cultural institution in Dallas and among leading American opera companies. Founded in 1957 with an inaugural season featuring Maria Callas, the company established a standard of artistic excellence that continues to guide its work.

TDO has presented more than 300 productions and welcomed many of the worlds most distinguished artists in significant American and company debuts. The organization has earned a reputation for artistic rigor, production quality, and disciplined governance.

The companys artistic identity is anchored in the great works of the operatic repertoire, presented at the highest professional standard. These works remain central to audience engagement, donor confidence, and institutional stability.

In line with its tradition of artistic leadership, TDO has also regularly commissioned new works and produced rarely performed repertoire, strengthening its international reputation through disciplined and purposeful programming.

In 20252026, The Dallas Opera completed the most successful fundraising initiative in its history, raising more than $50 million for endowment and operations.

The Dallas Opera enters this leadership transition from a position of strengthartistically distinguished, financially fortified, and poised for disciplined growth in one of the nations most dynamic cultural markets.

Position Summary

The Kern Wildenthal General Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) reports directly to the Board of Directors and serves as the principal executive and administrative leader of The Dallas Opera.

In close partnership with artistic leadership, the CEO will define institutional strategy, allocate resources with discipline, and ensure sustained artistic and financial performance.

This appointment carries a clear mandate: to steward strength and extend it.

The CEO will exercise executive authority across all operational, financial, and administrative functions of the organization.

The CEO must navigate an evolving performing arts landscape marked by shifting donor expectations, contraction in corporate philanthropy, rising production costs, and changing audience behaviorwhile preserving institutional integrity and international stature.

The CEO must also articulate, in partnership with artistic leadership, a clear and forward-looking vision for The Dallas Opera in a rapidly evolving cultural landscape. This includes leveraging digital platforms and emerging technologies to expand reach, deepen engagement, and create innovative pathways for artistic experience and institutional growth.

Roles and Responsibilities

 Define and execute a multi-year institutional strategy aligned with artistic excellence and financial sustainability.

 Ensure alignment between artistic programming and institutional capacity.

 Partner closely with artistic leadership to uphold the companys artistic standards and long-term vision.

 Maintain direct accountability for financial performance and long-term sustainability.

 Work closely with The Dallas Opera Foundation and the Boards Finance Committee to ensure long-term financial alignment and institutional sustainability.

 Lead all major philanthropic strategy and principal gift cultivation.

 Advance innovative audience development and digital engagement strategies that expand institutional reach and relevance.

 Recruit, lead, and retain a high-performing executive team.

 Foster a culture defined by clarity, accountability, and measurable performance.

Qualifications

 10 or more years of successful senior executive leadership experience within one or more major opera, classical music, or performing arts institutions, including demonstrated responsibility within organizations of significant scale and complexity.

 Demonstrated success leading complex arts organizations through periods of financial transition, growth, or repositioning.

 Deep knowledge of the operatic repertoire and its performance traditions.

 Proven experience managing complex operating budgets and endowment stewardship.

 Demonstrated fundraising leadership and revenue diversification success.

 Established credibility within the national and international opera field.

 Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

 Executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to inspire confidence across constituencies.

Compensation and Benefits

The Dallas Opera offers a competitive executive compensation package commensurate with experience and achievement, including comprehensive benefits.

Expression of Interest and Inquiries

To submit a current CV and a brief statement (in lieu of a cover letter and resume) outlining how your experience aligns with the job descriptionand addressing the core leadership areas that will be explored in interviews, including artistic vision and institutional positioning; fundraising strategy and revenue growth; governance partnership and board engagement; financial stewardship and operational oversight; community engagement and audience development; and leadership philosophy and organizational cultureplease visit https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/the-dallas-opera-seeks-chief-executive-officer/. A statement is encouraged but not required. For questions or general inquiries about this job opportunity, please contact:

Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2026.

The Dallas Opera is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) welcomes applications and nominations for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer. Alan Fletcher, who has served with distinction since 2006, has announced that he will step down at the end of 2026. A Search Committee has been appointed to identify the next President and CEO and has engaged Catherine French Group (CFG) to assist them in identifying and recruiting qualified candidates. The AMFS Board expects to introduce the President and CEO-Elect to the Aspen community during the 2026 Summer Season. The President and CEO will assume leadership in January 2027.

About Aspen Music Festival and School

www.aspenmusic.org

The Aspen Music Festival and School is widely recognized to be among the finest classical music centers for performance and education both nationally and internationally. Presenting more than 400 musical events during its eight-week summer season, AMFS draws leading classical musicians from across the world for a rich combination of performances of orchestral works, opera, chamber music, recitals, contemporary music, works by new or previously unrecognized voices, popular genres, family events, and talks, competitions, and classes.

In 2026, more than 450 students will participate in orchestra, opera, chamber music, piano studies, classical guitar, composition, and conducting studies. Students come to Aspen from 40 U.S. states and 40 countries to play in three orchestras, sing, conduct, compose and study with more than 135 artist-faculty members from the leading professional ensembles, conservatories, and schools of music in North America and across the world.

The Aspen Music Festival and School started as a bold dream in June 1949, when Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke organized an event that brought leaders, artists, thinkers, and dreamers to the remote mountain town of Aspen to discuss big ideas and listen to music that touched the soul. The experience was both profound and joyful, and the following year, the musicians returned. Walter Paepcke asked his friend the acclaimed baritone Mack Harrell to form a school, and the annual music festival and school was born.

Over seven decades, AMFSs magic has been in this combination of seasoned professionals and youth as colleagues and co-inspiring forces. AMFS alumni fill every corner of the music world today, performing in orchestras, as soloists, singing, composing, conducting and teaching. AMFS continues to create, educate, and inspire.

A deep commitment to Aspen itself and the surrounding communities is reflected in the many events in and around the Klein Music Tent that are free to the public during the summer season. From Fall to Spring, AMFS engages young audiences with popular in-school and after-school music programs throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.

AMFS is governed by a Board of 48 dedicated and engaged Trustees. The FY 26 operating budget is $23 million. Alexandra Munroe is Board Chair; Robert Spano is Music Director.

The Opportunity

As AMFS celebrates the 75th anniversaries of the first concerts and its incorporation as the Music Associates of Aspen, a Strategic Planning Committee has evaluated AMFSs strengths, opportunities, and priorities for the much-changed landscape of the post-COVID world. Working with an energized Board, the next President and CEO will take a leadership role in shaping the future of AMFS through a number of initiatives that will strengthen the organization, expand the quality and reach into key strategic areas, and deepen a commitment to excellence and access. The President and CEO will take a leadership role in completing a major campaign to achieve a significant increase in the financial aid and unrestricted net assets that will support significant growth and impact for AMFS and for the future of classical music education and performance. In addition, raising capital to expand housing is also part of the current campaign.

The Position

The President and Chief Executive Officer provides leadership and vision that enable Aspen Music Festival and School to fulfill its mission and achieve its goals for artistic and educational excellence, community impact, and long-term financial sustainability.

The President and CEO is responsible for all aspects of AMFSs operations, including: education and professional training programs; artistic programming; faculty, student, and staff recruitment and oversight; strategic planning; financial management; fundraising; facilities management and site development; community education programs and partnerships; audience engagement; marketing; public relations and positioning; and public advocacy. The CEO ensures that AMFS maintains its competitive edge by recruiting the highest caliber faculty; partnering with the faculty to recruit top talent among students nationally and internationally; and presenting a Music Festival of international significance to the widest possible audience.

Working with the Music Director, the Vice President of Artistic Administration, the co-artistic directors of Aspen Opera Theater and Vocal Arts, resident artists, and program directors, the President and CEO oversees the artistic direction and design of the Festival season, which includes orchestra concerts, opera and music theater productions, chamber music and solo recitals, community collaborations, and special events. The President provides leadership in recruiting guest artists, conductors, and composers of international repute for its extensive festival and school programming. The President fosters an environment of collegiality, clarity, and transparency that encourages artists to do their finest work through collaboration, renewal, and a sense of possibility.

With the Board Chair, the President and CEO takes an active role in recruiting a dedicated and engaged Board. The President provides impetus and support to the work of the Board and ensures that the Board and its committees have timely and accurate information to support decision making. Working with the Treasurer and the Chief Operating Officer, the President develops and implements annual and multi-year operating plans and capital budgets. The President recruits, supervises, motivates, and evaluates a high-performing professional staff.

With the Board Chair, the President and CEO takes the lead in on-going efforts to address issues of critical importance to AMFS, including: the shortage of available and affordable housing for AMFS faculty, staff, students, and guest artists; the campaign for increased restricted and unrestricted endowment to support growth in programs and services; reimagining the concert-going experience to increase attendance at performances in the Klein Music Tent and Harris Concert Hall, among other venues; recruiting artistic leadership; and managing anticipated generational shifts in faculty, board membership, donors, and audience.

As AMFSs top fundraiser, the President and CEO works with the Board Chair to ensure that AMFS has the volunteer and staff leadership and systems in place to achieve and exceed annual operating income goals, endowment growth, and capital campaign goals. The President takes a leadership role in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of donors in the greater Aspen community and in communities across the country and beyond.

The President and CEO is a visible representative of AMFS throughout the greater Aspen community on a year-round basis. The President actively seeks opportunities to develop cultural and civic partnerships and collaborations with organizations that share an interest in developing arts and cultural opportunities for the broad and diverse Aspen area community while building organizational impact and sustainability in a challenging resort environment.

The President and CEO is the chief spokesperson for AMFS, and oversees public positioning and messaging to internal and external audiences locally, nationally, and internationally.

The President and CEO reports to the Board through the Board Chair. The CEO oversees a faculty of 136 and a year-round staff of 39 that increases to 150 during the summer Festival Season.

Presence in the Aspen Community

The next President and CEO of AMFS will participate actively in the civic and cultural life of the Aspen community and, with support from the Board, Aspen will become their primary residence. The position requires that the President and CEO be in residence for the full summer program from June through August. While maintaining a strong visible presence in Aspen throughout the year is of the utmost importance, the President and CEO must be willing and able to travel as necessary during other months of the year for donor cultivation and fund raising; for student, faculty, and guest artist recruitment; to be an advocate for AMFS; and to engage broadly with the arts, humanities, education, and philanthropic communities nationally and internationally.

Candidate Profile

The next President and CEO of AMFS will be a charismatic and visionary leader whose professional career demonstrates a passion for the broad spectrum of classical music; a commitment to education and professional training at the highest level of excellence; and the ability to inspire and secure significant audience and philanthropic support for music and professional education.

The President will be a thoughtful agent for change. The President will unite the Board, faculty, and staff around a shared vision for the ways that AMFS can adapt to the challenges facing classical music and the institutions that support classical music. The President will have the ability to challenge and empower young musicians to envision and create their professional futures.

The successful candidate will have a strong working knowledge of music and the professional music world. Leadership experience with a performing arts organization such as a professional orchestra, opera company, chamber music organization, and/or presenter, while not required, will be seen as an asset. While respectful of the traditions that have long influenced the preparation of young artists, the President will have clear vision of the opportunities and challenges that await the next generation of professional vocalists, instrumentalists, conductors, and composers as they expand the boundaries of classical music and artistic expression.

The President will have the broad interests and social skills needed to communicate comfortably and effectively with people across a broad socio-economic spectrum.

The President will have the emotional and organizational maturity required to manage competing interests and bring differing points of view into alignment in order to build consensus about the strategies that the Board has identified as critical to future success.

The successful candidate will be creative, innovative, curious, and persistent. The candidate will be a person of integrity and high ethical standards with a strong personal commitment to transparency. The candidate will have excellent listening skills, sound judgment, and a good sense of humor.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $450,000 to $600,000 based on qualifications and experience. AMFS offers a comprehensive benefits package. The Board will work with individual candidates to understand their specific housing needs and to facilitate their ability to make a home in Aspen.

Applications

The Search Committee welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. Applicants should submit a letter that speaks to their specific interest in the position and qualifications as described in the position specifications. Please include a resume and contact information for at least three references. All applications will be treated as confidential, and references will not be contacted without the applicants agreement. Electronic submissions in Adobe Acrobat PDF format are requested.

Please submit application materials to: applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com

The position will remain open until filled.

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Having written a book  The Propaganda of Freedom  exploring the relationship between JFK and the arts, and having finished in manuscript a subsequent study of Leonard Bernstein and cultural leadership, I find myself responding to the Trump-Kennedy Center and kindred developments by looking backward at what might have been.

Trump uses his bully pulpit to go after nations, institutions, and individuals. Whatever one makes of these blunt initiatives, and whatever their ultimate outcome, they are typically met by vigorous counter-assaults  sometimes by diplomats and politicians, sometimes by jurists not excluding the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. A couple of conspicuous exceptions are Trumps evisceration of the National Endowment of the Humanities (including the recent abandonment of the peer-review process shielding applications from direct political intervention), and the abrupt termination of grants and grant applications both at the NEH and the National Endowment of the Arts. Insufficiently explained or justified, these actions have largely transpired in a void. Opposition to the take-over of the Kennedy Center has been tangible but ineffectual. Prominent, proactive spokespersons for the arts are little in evidence. And yet the President is mercurial: he is known to change his mind.

As I have repeatedly emphasized in this space: the morning John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the earliest edition of the New York Times disclosed that a New Frontier activist, Richard Goodwin, was about to be appointed the Presidents advisor on the arts. Waiting in the wings was the Music Director of the New York Philharmonic: Leonard Bernstein.

The Goodwin appointment was dropped from subsequent editions of the Times and vanished without a trace. In an Executive Order establishing a National Council on the Arts that Goodwin would have administered, the President had claimed: For the first time, the Arts will have some formal government body which will be specifically concerned with all aspects of the Arts. In her recent memoir, An Unfinished Love Story, Doris Kearns Goodwin recalls that her late husband, having served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, was asked by the First Lady to propose an arts advisor for the White House. He recommended a vigorous young man rather than a big, but doddering name. Jackie exclaimed: What a perfect description of you!  and the die was cast. When asked by his wife why he took the job, Goodwin answered: I wanted to be back in the magic circle, back in the White House. Kennedy prized versatility. . . . Anything was possible. Anything could happen. Like the Kennedys, he considered the arts a necessary and integral ingredient of a healthy society.

Had it happened, the Goodwin appointment would have accelerated a crescendo of activity beginning with President Eisenhowers endorsement of a national cultural center. President Kennedy seconded this aspiration in a speech delivered shortly before he hosted Igor Stravinsky at a White House dinner. He cited Aeschylus, Plato, Dante, and Goethe, then proclaimed: It was Pericles proudest boast that politically Athens was the school of Hellas. If we can make our country one of the great schools of civilization, then on that achievement will surely rest our claim to the ultimate gratitude of mankind.

A fund-raising gala for the proposed cultural center was hosted by Leonard Bernstein. Not only did Bernstein enjoy a privileged relationship with the White House  he was already an experienced cultural diplomat. In 1958, the State Department had sponsored his seven-week tour of Latin America with the New York Philharmonic. Bernsteins subsequent ten-week tour to Europe, the Middle East, and the Soviet Union included a televised Moscow concert in which he juxtaposed music by Copland and Shostakovich to discover fundamental similarities mirroring the similarity of our two great peoples. Bernstein next took the Philharmonic to West Berlin in 1960. He proved a proactive ambassador who in Russia defied restrictions the Soviets attempted to impose  and grandly got away with it (a story I tell in detail in The Propaganda of Freedom). He would return home from his missionary adventures triumphantly exhorting government involvement in the arts, including direct federal subsidies. In Israel, as well, Bernstein  a frequent conductor of the Israel Philharmonic  had since 1947 experienced the frisson of political engagement and the potency of classical music as a bonding agent.

The impact of the Kennedy assassination on Bernsteins dreams for a riper America can hardly be exaggerated. He and his family had been guests at the White House. He had found the President both glamorous and approachable. He was charmed and inspired by the First Lady. He had doubtlessly envisioned a vibrant partnership, with himself and the President comrades in arms. The assassination paradoxically accelerated fund-raising for the envisioned cultural center, now become the Kennedy Center. Mrs. Kennedy invited Bernstein to be artistic director. Bernstein considered the job wrong for him, but agreed to compose something for the gala opening. This turned out to be an anti-war Mass boycotted by President Richard Nixon.

Bernstein, post-Kennedy, was increasingly estranged from a New World he had once celebrated for its artistic promise. He gradually relocated his musical home to Vienna. When in 1977 he was invited to testify before a House Subcommittee in favor of a White House conference on the arts, he instead testified: We are still an uncultured nation, and no amount of granting or funding is ever going to change that  unless the arts, including musical literacy, were prioritized in early public education. It is a priority Bernstein would have impressed on Kennedy. Had he witnessed the current fate of the endowments, his protests would have resonated. Had he witnessed the renaming of the Kennedy Center, he would have been apoplectic.

Fredrik Logevall, Kennedys current biographer, plausibly imagines that the arts would have become a White House priority had Kennedy served as second term. In any case, like the war in Vietnam, the relationship of government to the arts would have differently unfolded had John Kennedy not been shot that November afternoon in Dallas.

For my NPR report on this topic, click here.
by Gregory

General Min Aung Hlaing announced the gesture for National Farmers' Day, but Aung San Suu Kyi is not among them and thousands of people remain in prison. The army also continued to carry out bombings against civilians. The initiative comes at a time of internal tensions within the junta and while ASEAN remains divided on how to handle the Burmese crisis.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - The head of the Burmese military junta, General Min Aung Hlaing, announced on 2 March the release of more than 12,000 prisoners on National Farmers' Day. Once again, while state media presented the amnesty as a gesture of clemency, human rights defenders denounced it as a political move aimed solely at improving the regime's image abroad. Meanwhile, the Burmese army continues to carry out bombings and military operations against civilians.

The member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have cautiously welcomed the news: the regional bloc has long been seeking a diplomatic channel to reopen dialogue with Naypyidaw, but the organisation has not issued a unified statement on the amnesty, leaving the responsibility to individual members. Some member states have expressed cautious appreciation, while others have chosen to remain silent, once again highlighting the internal divisions within the bloc.

During the day, journalists, activists and student leaders were released, while democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains in prison. She was arrested, along with other government representatives, during the coup in February 2021 and sentenced to 27 years in prison on trumped-up charges.

According to verified data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 30,500 people have been arrested in the last five years of civil war, of whom more than 22,800 are still in detention.

The timing of the announcement has also fuelled speculation about the war in the Middle East: the Burmese regime is largely dependent on Iranian oil, which, as some investigations have shown, is smuggled in violation of sanctions via ghost ships.

Some observers therefore believe that Min Aung Hlaing is trying to recalibrate his international stance to limit possible diplomatic pressure from US President Donald Trump.

In the meantime, however, the Burmese army has continued its bombing campaign. The most serious incident occurred in Rakhine State: in recent days, the junta's bombs hit a bus station along a main road, killing at least 30 civilians. According to information verified by the Karen Human Rights Group, the Free Burma Rangers and independent journalists, in the same 24-hour period, the army launched air strikes in at least six municipalities in the Sagaing region and in Shan, Kayah and Karen states.

He opened the prison gates with one hand and gave the order to bomb with the other, commented a Burmese analyst who asked to remain anonymous. This is not about reforms, but a charade.

The announcement of the amnesty also coincides with a period of intense internal political tension within the junta. After the elections, which were won (as expected) by the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, Min Aung Hlaing authorised the creation of a new institutional body, the Union Consultative Council, which, according to some analysts, could allow the general to maintain executive control without formally assuming the position of civilian head of government.

At the same time, a major reshuffle was carried out among the military and government leadership: Min Aung Hlaing replaced officials and senior officers with younger figures loyal to his leadership. This is not a democratic transition, but the formalisation of an increasingly personalised system of power, with the aim of consolidating his position.
China's key terrestrial wild animal, plant species see steady growth amid better ecological environment

Xinhua) 10:40, March 04, 2026

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China now effectively conserves more than 80 percent of its nationally protected wild terrestrial animal and plant species, following marked improvement in the quality of wildlife habitats, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced on Tuesday.

The overall populations of China's wild fauna and flora are showing a steady upward trend, according to the administration. Latest monitoring data indicates that wild populations of flagship species, including giant pandas, snow leopards and Siberian tigers, have kept growing.

Wild populations of endangered plant species have also recorded notable recoveries. The number of Abies beshanzuensis in the wild has exceeded 4,000 individuals, while Manglietiastrum sinicum has grown to 15,000 individuals. The population of Paphiopedilum purpuratum has also increased to more than 200 individuals.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the administration said it will launch a series of key wildlife conservation projects and advance international cooperation regarding giant panda conservation and wildlife treaty compliance, in a bid to promote the high-quality development of wildlife conservation in China.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Residents of Kigongi Ward in the Central Division of Kabale Municipality, Kabale District, have expressed concern over several uncovered inspection chambers along Kigongi Road, describing them as a major threat to public health and safety.

The chambers, which form part of the sewer network operated by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and are connected to the Kigongi B sewer line, are scattered along the busy road.

Locals say the open manholes endanger pedestrians, vendors, motorists and especially boda boda riders.

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During the rainy season, the chambers often fill with water, making them difficult to notice and increasing the risk of accidents.

Innocent Ngabirano, a boda boda rider in the area, said many of the metal covers were allegedly stolen by scrap dealers.

He recommended replacing them with non-metallic materials that would be less attractive to thieves.

"Riding at night or during bad weather has become especially dangerous because the openings are difficult to see," Ngabirano said.

Business owners operating along the road also voiced concern. Brair Akandinda, who runs a chapati stall, and Joan Tayebwa, a chips vendor, said heavy rains frequently cause the sewer system to overflow, spreading wastewater into surrounding areas.

In dry weather, they added, the exposed chambers emit a strong odour, raising fears of possible disease outbreaks.

They also worry that children who live and play nearby could fall into the deep openings if the issue is not addressed promptly.

John Karisa, a former Kabale Municipal Councillor representing persons with disabilities, called on relevant authorities to intervene before lives are lost.

"Beyond causing accidents, the open chambers can also be misused for criminal activities," Karisa said.

In a phone interview, Patrick Otim, the Kabale Branch Manager of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, acknowledged the problem and said efforts are underway to resolve it.

"The corporation plans to acquire and install plastic covers to replace the stolen metal ones. The process is underway. I also urge residents to stop dumping garbage into the sewer system," Otim said.

Residents are now calling for swift action o secure the open chambers and restore safety along Kigongi Road.
The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences issued an appeal for dialogue in the face of a war that is spreading from the Middle East. Asias Catholic bishops call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, urging the leaders of the great religious traditions present in the region, to witness together to the sacredness of life. The prelates also call on Christian communities to Intensify prayer.

Milan (AsiaNews)  The Catholic bishops of Asia have taken a joint stance to express the continent's concern over the war that is spreading from the Middle East and to call for an immediate ceasefire. Below is the full text of the appeal issued in Bangkok by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Mt 5:9).

The Central Committee of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), gathered together in Bangkok, in a spirit of synodal communion, expresses its deep anguish and grave concern over the renewed escalation of violence in the Middle East. The recent cycles of bombardment and retaliation, involving major global and regional powers, risk plunging the region and the world into a conflict of incalculable human and economic consequences. As a continent, we are particularly concerned about this conflict.

We echo the urgent appeal of Pope Leo XIV, who reminds us that peace cannot be built on threats or weapons that sow destruction, pain, and death. Stability cannot arise from fear, nor can justice be secured through violence. Only sincere, responsible, and sustained dialogue can open pathways toward a just and lasting peace.

From our Asian context, marked by rich religious diversity, deep cultural traditions, and the daily struggles of the poor, we affirm that peace is not merely the absence of war. It is the fruit of justice, the work of dialogue, and the patient building of trust among peoples. War, by contrast, disproportionately wounds the most vulnerable: the poor, the displaced, children, and future generations.

In fidelity to the pathways we have discerned together as the Churches of Asia, we humbly present the following appeals:

 We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to exercise moral responsibility, resisting the spiral of escalation that leads only to deeper suffering and irreversible loss.

 We urge the restoration of diplomacy as the primary instrument for resolving conflicts. Dialogue, however difficult, remains the only path that respects the dignity of peoples and the sovereignty of nations.

 We encourage interreligious solidarity, especially among leaders of the great religious traditions present in the region, to witness together to the sacredness of life

 We renew our commitment to stand with the poor and the victims of war, whose cries often go unheard amid geopolitical calculations. Their suffering must remain at the center of all efforts toward peace.

We earnestly, we invite all our local Churches across Asia in this season of Lent to intensify prayer, fasting, and concrete acts of solidarity for peace. In our journey as pilgrims of hope, we refuse to surrender to despair. We believe that even in the darkest hours, the Spirit continues to open paths toward reconciliation.

May Mary, Queen of Peace, accompany the peoples of the Middle East and intercede for our wounded world.

For the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences, in communion and hope.

+Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao

President of FABC

+Cardinal Pablo David

Vice President of FABC

+Cardinal Isao Kikuchi, SVD

Secretary General of FABC
by Dario Salvi

Attieh Fard, a political leader and lawyer who has lived in the United Kingdom for many years, spoke to AsiaNews about a country willing to accept war to end the clerical regime, its torture and killings. The nomination of Mojtaba Khamenei is a source of concern as some see him as "worse than his father, Ali Khamenei. The lack of external support for the popular uprisings and the need to protect the borders are important issues.

Milan (AsiaNews)  Abandoned for years, Iranians are willing to accept war and bombs to put an end to the Islamic Republic, its use of torture and its killings, ready to accept the consequences of the conflict such as rising prices of food and basic goods while hoping for a different future.

Against this background, Attieh Fard, a 44-year-old Christian politician and lawyer born in Iran but living to the United Kingdom, is promoting a recently launched declaration signed by more than 200 Christian religious and secular leaders in and outside Iran, calling for the end to the Islamic regime (and the return of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi).

She spoke to AsiaNews about the war waged by Israel and the United States, which she now considers perhaps the "only way" to change the countrys decades-old oppressive regime.

The activist views with concern the official appointment yesterday of Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first day of war, on 28 February. The group responsible for the selection was part of the Guardian Council, but they were bombed. The raises the question of how this appointment was made, what procedure was chosen."

What is certain is that "Mojtaba is a hardliner and radical; some think he's much worse than his father. And he too is corrupt, having control of a real estate portfolio in the UK worth over 100 million, who knows how."

In recent months, Christians in Iran and the diaspora have "prayed for the freedom" of the country and its people, and many are supporting foreign military intervention because the uprisings, popular protests, and riots of recent years have failed to bring about any change.

In this regard, even the timid attempts at dialogue between Washington and Tehran in recent weeks have failed to bring about any significant breakthrough.

I personally don't think there was any further space for diplomacy, Attieh Fard said. First of all, Khamenei, she explains, was the Supreme Leader, and the government and the ministers, they basically don't have much power, including the President Masoud Peseshkian.

Khamenei wasn't a party to any negotiations. He would have not talked to Trump direct, even if in the past US president has not disdained meeting bloodthirsty leaders like North Korea's Kim Jong-un.

We saw what Khamenei did in January in terms of killing, when there was a massacre. Of 30,000 people while Peseshkian wanted to continue the dialogue with the people.

The ayatollahs death does not automatically imply the collapse of the regime, which can count on an intelligence system and a widespread power apparatus.

A process of democratic transition is needed and the constitution needs to be changed and prevent the clergy from having the final say over people's lives

However," the Christian lawyer warns, "the clerics do not accept this," and Mojtaba's appointment is further confirmation of this. "The structure," she warns, "remains in place today, and someone else, with the same ideology as his predecessor, is now in power."

Then there are the Sepah, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, who have so much economic influence, political influence. And so long as they don't change course, and, I think, that security council is dissolved, I don't think much change can happen.

I know this for sure because I grew up with them, I know them well and I know the values they believe in. Their loyalty to the system and ideology is greater than the risk of war and they wont tolerate defeat.

Still with the war and the ayatollahs' repression, for Attieh Fard, "something is already happening" within the country. We saw millions of people take to the streets in January, demanding the return of Pahlavi, freedom, and rights.

People are ready for change, and if the regime's oppressive mechanisms are destroyed with military aid or if the leaders decide to lay down their arms, I think there is a chance for a new and different political structure, for free elections."

At the same time, she warns, it is necessary to protect Iran's boundaries," including by resorting to "external aid" so that the Taliban or other groups "cannot invade the country, when it is militarily weak, and this is where the international community must intervene."

The internal situation remains complicated. Friends and acquaintances I've heard from in recent days describe, speak of critical issues related to food prices, which have increased up to sixfold compared to before the war," and of destruction. "But for some, the regime is worse than the conflict."

The legacy of violence and repression, of prison and torture, of raped women, an integral part of this Islamic regime, "also pushes people to celebrate a conflict, if that's the only way to put an end to the barbarity," the Iranian-born lawyer notes.

She herself experienced firsthand the war with Iraq in the 1980s, the persecution of relatives for their critical views of politics and dominant ideologies, and the lack of justice. She was just over 16 during her first campaign for better education for women. Two years later, when she was barely 18, she had to flee to the United Kingdom, where she continued her studies and her work for an Iran free from oppression.

"Even minors have been tortured, killed, imprisoned," she said, "by an apparatus equipped with oppressive weapons and mechanisms. The Iranians I spoke to who were against the war in June," she said, "were now waiting for a new military operation" as the only way to overthrow the regime. People are hoping for it.

Finally, she reserves a last thought to the value and difficulties of being a Christian professing their faith in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"Always be careful where you go, you never know," she says. As a teenager, I went to a Farsi-speaking church; they were open at the time. I really wanted to get baptised, but she was followed by a young man who asked me lots of questions about why I was going to that church, and told me that it was connected to the CIA, and that if you become a member and if you go with their activities, the Islamic Republic is going to execute you.

Over the past six months, "Christians in Iran and around the world have prayed for the country's freedom, for God to bring justice." Of course, conflicts are never the solution to the world's evils and wrongs, but she hopes that this war can put an end to evil and darkness."
Yesterday at Castel Gandolfo, the pope again called for action to "promote dialogue," and find solutions "without weapons" in the Middle East. This morning, he held his audience on Lumen Gentium. The Church is born from "God's plan for humanity, and Christ dwells in her and continues to give himself through the smallness and fragility of her members.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Speaking before some 11,000 faithful gathered this morning in St Peter's Square for the Wednesday general audience, Pope Leo did not address the war in the Middle East.

He did it last night, speaking to the press outside Villa Barberini, the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo. Pray for peace, work for peace, less hatred. Hatred in the world is constantly increasing" was the pontiff's sad observation.

The appeal, which echoes the one he issued last Sunday after the Angelus prayer, is to "truly strive to promote dialogue" and find "solutions, without weapons, to resolve problems."

Today, Leo continued his series of catechesis on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, centred on his thoughts on the dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium as he has done over the past few weeks.

The title of today's catechesis is "The Church, a Visible and Spiritual Reality. Speaking of the Churchs complexity", he noted that it is "an orderly union of different aspects or dimensions within the same reality," or, to put it another way, it is a well-organized body, in which the human and divine dimensions coexist.

The "human" dimension, Leo explained, "is immediately perceptible." The Church is made up of women and men who share the joy and struggle of being Christians."

For the pontiff, this aspect is also evident "in its institutional organization," but that alone is not sufficient to represent the "true nature of the Church. For the latter, a "divine" dimension is needed, not perfection" nor "superiority," but the product of God's plan for humanity, realized in Christ.

The human and divine dimensions integrate harmoniously, without one overshadowing the other; thus, the Church lives in this paradox. She is a reality that is both human and divine, which welcomes the sinful man and leads him to God, the pope explained.

The constitution Lumen gentium sheds light on this by turning to the life of Christ. For this reason, those who met Jesus along the roads of Palestine experienced his humanity, and those who chose to follow him opened themselves to an encounter with God.

Christs flesh, his face, his gestures and his words visibly manifest the invisible God. Thus, when looking at the Church close up, one can see a human dimension made up of real people, who sometimes manifest the beauty of the Gospel and other times struggle and make mistakes like everyone else.

Indeed, it is precisely through her members and her limited earthly aspects that Christs presence and his saving action are manifested. As Benedict XVI said, there is no opposition between the Gospel and the institution; on the contrary, the structures of the Church serve precisely for the realization and concretization of the Gospel in our time.

Leo went on to stress that the holiness of the Church lies with the fact that Christ dwells in her and continues to give himself through the smallness and fragility of her members. In the Church a perennial miracle takes place thanks to Gods method: He makes himself visible through the weakness of creatures, continuing to manifest himself and to act, he added.

For this reason, Pope Francis, in Evangelii gaudium, exhorts us all to learn to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other. Thus, it is possible today to build up the Church [. . .] by building that spiritual edifice which is the body of Christ, through communion and charity among ourselves, Leo said.
On the anniversary of the barbaric killing of the four Missionaries of Charity on 4 March 2016, Bishop Martinelli presided over a Mass in Abu Dhabi. At a time when the entire Gulf region is experiencing serious conflicts, their memory is a source of hope. Mother Teresa's sisters continue to serve the poor in Sana'a and Hodeidah, in the part of Yemen controlled by the Houthis, which is once again at risk of ending up on the front line of the conflict.

Milan (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Just as the entire Gulf area is experiencing new dramatic hours due to the war, today marks the 10th anniversary of the killing of four Missionaries of Charity nuns - Sister Marguerite (44), Sister Reginette (31), Sister Judith (41) and Sister Anselm (59)  killed in Aden on 4 March 2016 while continuing to serve the elderly in conflict-torn Yemen.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia commemorates the martyrdom of Mother Teresa's sisters today with a Mass at St Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, presided over by Vicar Monsignor Paolo Martinelli.

Celebrating this anniversary at a time when the entire Gulf region is experiencing serious conflicts, the prelate wrote in a note, "is a source of hope. The Missionaries of Charity sisters gave their lives, and some of them are still present today in Yemen, serving the poorest without distinction, bearing witness to the charity of Christ that overcomes every barrier. Looking at them, we feel encouraged to be builders of peace in this land."

The bishop invited all the faithful of the Vicariate to join in prayer, asking God to grant His peace to the entire region through their intercession. The witness of the Missionaries of Charity killed in Aden continues to nourish the life of our Church and spurs us on to live our faith every day with joy and commitment. As Bishop Paul Hinder wrote shortly after the events of 2016: We implore the four martyrs to intercede for Yemen and for the whole Middle East, that peace may come and violence may cease.

The Missionaries of Charity have been present in Yemen since 1973, when Mother Teresa herself accepted the invitation from the then government of North Yemen. The Home for the Elderly in Aden, in the south of the country, was then opened on 25 March 1992.

The sisters accepted this mission to give God's love to the poor through our works of love and compassion. Due to the ongoing conflict in Aden, where the four nuns killed ten years ago were buried, it has not been possible to reopen their presence there. However, the Missionaries of Charity have never ceased to carry out their ministry in the north, in the cities of Hodeidah and Sana'a.

Monsignor Martinelli spoke about their current presence a few weeks ago with Vatican News: In their two houses, he explained, "they welcome the poorest of the poor: over a hundred people in each house, mainly the sick and elderly. They truly perform miracles of charity with the few resources available to them. With them is a priest, the only one present in Yemen, belonging to the male branch of the Missionaries of Charity. I am in very frequent contact with him, sometimes daily.

He keeps me updated on the life of Christians, the situation of the nuns, and the conditions of the sick they assist. Whenever possible, we also keep in touch with the nuns via videoconferencing, despite the difficulties in connecting.

Obviously, it is not possible to carry out any proselytising activities. However, a small group of faithful meet regularly to pray and attend Mass, celebrated in the chapels of the two communities. It is a small group, but very united: they really love each other. The presence of the nuns and the priest is an immense gift for the few Christians who remain.

It is worth remembering that Sana'a and Hodeidah are located in the part of Yemen controlled by the Houthis, the pro-Iranian militias. These two other communities of the Missionaries of Charity are therefore also an extremely delicate presence at a time when war threatens to precipitate many situations throughout the Middle East and the Gulf. This is further testimony to how precious the seed of peace sown by the silent and hidden service of Mother Teresa's sisters is.
by Stefano Vecchia

Some 19 million people can cast their ballot tomorrow to elect the 275-member House of Representatives, a crucial step after the Generation Z Revolution. For the outgoing caretaker prime minister, this is a historic and important juncture. Fears are high over the possible impact of the war in the Gulf, where two million Nepali migrants work.

Milan (AsiaNews)  Tomorrow, 19 million Nepalis out of a population of 30 million, will go to the polls to choose the 275 members of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the countrys bicameral federal parliament.

About 3,400 people are running for a seat, a third under the age of 40, far below this age groups proportion of eligible voters, 52 per cent.

In a country where politics has been dominated by people over 60, the generational gap is one of the central themes of this election, and a source of uncertainties since 800,000 Nepalis will take part for the first time.

It should be noted that the election is being held under a caretaker government led by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki, which took power after a bloody grassroots revolution led by Generation Z Nepalis, bent on changing the country's political life and government to meet its real needs and potential.

The Congress Party and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) are the main target; their duopoly, whether in association or in opposition since 2008, has failed to lift people out of widespread poverty.

In an address to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Karki called for broad participation, emphasising that, Voting is not merely about stamping a symbol. It is a decision about the future of you and your children.

She also called for calm, to make this expression of democracy a historic and important juncture and to initiate a process of advancement and stability in the rule of law after a tragic period, last fall, that was "complex, sensitive, and challenging."

Sushila Karki also spoke out against an ongoing disinformation campaign, primarily through social media, the source of which many say is in India, a country that maintains strong influence over Nepal.

India always seems able to heavily influence decision-making in the Himalayan nation, both domestically and internationally, through parties or movements close to it or through economic "leverage" or sanctions.

A strong security apparatus is being deployed to ensure a calm and a fair vote after several tense incidents that could discourage participation, along with the costs of travelling sometimes considerable distances to polling stations in the country's remotest areas.

Concerns over the war in the Gulf, an area home to nearly two million Nepali migrant workers, could also have an impact.

Some expect the CPN-UML to be the big loser under 74-year-old K P Sharma Oli, who has led the party for 55 years and served as prime minister several times until last Septembers troubles.

Criticism has focused on Oli, but the party has been unable to come up with new leaders ahead of the elections.

The Congress Party, on the other hand, has managed to pick a young person, 49-year-old Gagan Thapa, elected party president after the revolution, as its prime ministerial candidate.

However, most bets are on Balendra Balen Shah, a famous rapper who is running as an independent. Until 18 January, he served as mayor of the capital, Kathmandu, and has managed to combine personal following and administrative skills before joining the centrist Rastriya Swatantra (National Independence) Party.
The IRIS Dena was hit by a US submarine while returning from an international naval exercise in Visakhapatnam. At least 80 of the approximately 180 crew members were killed and dozens are missing. The US claimed responsibility for the attack while the war with Iran threatens to spill over into the Indian Ocean.

Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies)  At least 80 people have died after an Iranian naval vessel was sunk by a US submarine off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister announced.

Sri Lankan authorities rescued dozens of crew members and recovered some bodies from the sea, but dozens remain missing. The incident occurred in the Indian Ocean about 40 nautical miles (75 kilometres) from the port of Galle.

US Secretary of War Pete Heghseth confirmed responsibility for the attack, despite the ship being in international waters, as part of the war his country has launched against Iran. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations continue.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed parliament that the vessel involved is the IRINS[*] frigate Dena, which had issued a distress call in the early hours of the morning, elicited an immediate response from the Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force in a joint rescue operation.

So far, 32 wounded sailors have been rescued and taken to a public hospital in Galle, located in the south of the island.

A Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson noted that the priority at present is rescuing any survivors.

According to Navy and defence ministry sources cited by international media, approximately 180 crew members were on board.

The Iranian frigate was in the Indian Ocean after participating in the International Fleet Review 2026, a major international naval review organised by India in the port city of Visakhapatnam, on the country's eastern coast.

The ship arrived in the Indian port in mid-February along with naval units from several other countries, but then remained to conduct joint exercises in Operation Milan 2026, one of the Indian Navy's major exercises.

Iran rarely participates in international initiatives of this kind, and it appears the vessel was likely returning to Iran after these exercises when it sent the distress call from off the coast of Sri Lanka.

For several days, the United States and Israel have been conducting airstrikes against targets in Iran, while Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks against Israel and US-linked facilities in the Gulf countries.

According to reports released so far, hundreds of people have been killed in Iran, including many civilians, while attacks on US targets in the region have left several wounded.

The sinking of the ship, however, risks further widening the conflict, which has now reached Turkey, a NATO member west of Iran, which shot down an Iranian missile.

India, which is already monitoring the armed conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, now risks becoming involved.

Right after the start of the Israeli-American attack on Iran, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern. Only a few hours earlier, he had been in Israel meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to boost relations between the two countries. Upon returning home, he faced strong criticism.

Now the attack on the Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean further increases uncertainty regarding regional maritime traffic following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, officials from the Iranian embassy in Colombo have sent two officers to Galle to speak with survivors and gather information.

[*] Islamic Republic of Iran NavyShip.
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Every year on March 3, the world marks World Hearing Day, drawing attention to a sense often taken for granted until it begins to fade. In 2026, the theme "From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children" places children at the centre of the global conversation.

The message is simple but urgent: hearing is fundamental to learning, communication and opportunity, and much of hearing loss is preventable.

Globally, around 90 million children and adolescents aged between 5 and 19 live with hearing loss. More than 60 per cent of childhood hearing loss could be prevented through measures such as vaccination, improved maternal and newborn care, prompt treatment of infections and safe listening practices.

Yet millions of children still go undiagnosed or untreated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to ear and hearing care remains limited.

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ALSO READ: Ringing in the ears? It could be tinnitus, an often-ignored problem

In Rwanda, the issue is increasingly visible in clinics, schools and workplaces. Doctors are seeing cases that range from infection related hearing damage in children to occupational hearing loss among adults exposed to excessive noise.

How hearing loss shows up in Rwanda's clinics

At Croix du Sud Hospital in Remera, paediatrician Dr Jean Claude Kanyamihigo says hearing problems in children arise from a range of causes.

"We are already receiving and dealing with children who are exposed to, or who develop, hearing loss or reduced hearing capacity," he explains. "The causes can be different. It can be environmental factors, certain drugs, accidents, or infections."

Some medications carry a risk of ototoxicity, meaning they can damage the ear if not carefully prescribed and monitored. In children, this risk demands particular caution.

"When treating children, you have to be very careful," he says, noting that hearing loss may develop even after a child has passed through early developmental stages.

Untreated infections are another major concern. If infections affecting the ear are not properly managed, they can damage the inner structures responsible for hearing. In more severe cases, infections such as meningitis can affect the neurons involved in hearing.

"One example is meningitis. After meningitis, a child can develop hearing loss," Dr Kanyamihigo says.

He also points to common ear infections, often referred to as otitis, which can progress to partial or total hearing loss if not addressed early. For newborns, especially premature babies, environmental factors are critical.

ALSO READ: One refugee child's impact on hearing care in Rwanda

"In the first days of life, especially for premature babies, we must make sure that they are kept in safe environments and are not exposed to excessive noise," he explains. Noise from medical machines or surrounding activity can pose risks to fragile auditory systems.

The modern risk: headphones and constant noise

Beyond infections and medical causes, changing lifestyles are introducing new risks. Children and teenagers today have unprecedented access to smartphones, tablets and personal audio devices. Many spend hours listening to music, watching videos or studying with earphones in place.

Dr Kanyamihigo urges moderation. "Using earphones to listen to music, news, or even for studying is not recommended without limits," he says. "If they are to use them, they must follow safe frequency and volume levels. Increasing the volume to the maximum is not recommended."

ALSO READ: People with hearing loss call for improved access to medical services

Medical evidence shows that prolonged exposure to loud sounds can permanently damage the delicate hair cells in the inner ear. Once damaged, these cells do not regenerate. The result may not be immediate deafness, but gradual hearing decline, ringing in the ears and difficulty understanding speech in noisy settings.

For children whose brains are still developing, the impact can extend to language acquisition, classroom performance and social interaction.

The warning signs are often subtle. A child may ask for repetition, appear inattentive or struggle academically. Without screening, hearing difficulties can easily be mistaken for behavioural or learning problems.

When work takes away sound

Hearing loss is not limited to children. In workshops across Rwanda, workers face daily exposure to high noise levels.

Alphonse Nkundamahoro experienced this first-hand while working as a welder. "After a certain period, I kept hearing the sounds of the machines, even when I am not working," he recalls.

ALSO READ: 350 screened for hearing impairment

"Eventually I stopped hearing other people on one side, and later the doctor confirmed my left ear was going deaf."

Welding environments are filled with the sharp, continuous noise of grinders, cutting tools, hammers and generators. Over time, exposure to such noise without protective equipment can result in noise induced hearing loss.

The damage is gradual and painless, which means many workers do not realise the extent of the harm until significant hearing has already been lost.

Experts in occupational health stress that protective ear equipment, regular hearing checks and better awareness can dramatically reduce such cases. However, in informal work settings, safety measures are often overlooked.

A future where no child is left behind

This year's global theme emphasises the importance of taking hearing care beyond hospitals and into schools and communities.

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Integrating hearing screening into school health programmes can allow early identification of children who need support. Teachers and parents play a vital role in noticing when a child struggles to hear or respond appropriately.

Strengthening primary health care to include ear and hearing services is equally important. When early detection and timely treatment become routine, children are less likely to suffer long term consequences that affect their education and future prospects.

ALSO READ: MPs want hearing aids covered by 'Mutuelle de Sante'

The broader goal is not only to prevent deafness, but to safeguard communication, confidence and participation in society. Hearing is closely tied to speech development, learning and social belonging. When it is compromised, the effects ripple through every aspect of life.

World Hearing Day serves as a reminder that protecting hearing requires shared responsibility. Families must seek prompt treatment for infections and encourage safe listening habits. Employers must ensure safer work environments. Health systems must prioritise early screening and access to care.

For Rwanda, the path forward lies in awareness, prevention and early action. By recognising the risks in homes, hospitals, classrooms and workshops, the country can reduce preventable hearing loss and ensure that more children and adults retain the ability to hear, learn and thrive.
4 March 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The past four days have upended long-standing assumptions in the Persian Gulf. For decades, the prevailing doctrine among Gulf monarchies rested on a straightforward calculation: the deeper the security partnership with Washington, the stronger the deterrent shield against Tehran.

Hosting American forces was not merely a tactical choice; it was a strategic anchor designed to lock the region into the broader US security architecture and signal that any aggression would trigger consequences far beyond the Gulf itself.

What was once viewed as a stabilizing security formula, hosting American forces to deter Iran, has suddenly become the centerpiece of regional vulnerability. As Iran launched strikes against Gulf territories, arguing that US military infrastructure there facilitated attacks against it, a strategic paradox emerged: the very assets meant to protect Gulf monarchies appear to have drawn them into the line of fire.

Both attention and scrutiny are now turning towards the Gulf. Iran, which appears reluctant to enter a full scale war yet determined through calculated resistance to widen the scope of possible escalation, is increasingly being perceived as a threat by a number of Muslim states.

The question, therefore, is how realistic it is that the Gulf states could be drawn into this conflict and align themselves alongside the United States against Iran.

German geopolitical analyst Brendan Ziegler contended in his commentary to AzerNEWS that this moment represents a structural shock to the Gulf security mindset.

"The assumption had been that American presence would raise the cost of Iranian escalation. Instead, the recent events suggest that it may also lower the threshold for retaliation when Washington and Tehran enter direct confrontation. In this evolving environment, Gulf states are no longer passive beneficiaries of deterrence; they are frontline actors in a conflict whose tempo they do not fully control. For years, countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain calculated that hosting American forces would dissuade Tehran from aggression. Instead, those installations may have served as ready-made justifications for Iranian retaliation."

Ziegler also thinks that the Gulf nations' any further participation might be thorny and costly.

"Well, in the foundation, these countries are Muslim. Even though Iran's stance on Islam differs substantially by the ones in the Gulf, any sort of direct participation could have long and achy effect for them. Any sovereign action taken without considering public opinion, potential cooperation, or a shared understanding can later be used as an argument against it. While these countries certainly have the right to defend themselves, exceeding those bounds could undermine tore the neutrality mask and raise concerns for large corporations and countries that have been and are looking to invest."

The expert assumes that, if escalation does occur, Saudi Arabia would likely take the lead as the blocs political and economic core.

Riyadh has the strategic weight, the military capacity, and the political influence to frame any collective response. However, such a move would almost certainly be synchronized with Washington, given their long-standing alliance. But the calculus is complex. Gulf economies are heavily dependent on energy exports, and critical infrastructure, refineries, desalination plants, and ports are exposed. A broader war would not just be a military confrontation; it would risk paralyzing the global energy market. Retaliation in that matter would invite further strikes and potentially drag the entire region into open war. If multiple Gulf countries enter the conflict, coordinated under Saudi leadership and backed by the United States, the confrontation could evolve from a bilateral US-Iran clash into a regional war architecture. But their reluctance underscores a deeper truth: the Gulf monarchies are acutely aware of how fragile their economic lifelines are."

Gulf States hosting of US Forces actually made them less safe, argues Moscow-based analyst Andrew Korybko. In his view, what was long portrayed as a stabilizing deterrent has instead exposed these countries to direct retaliation amid escalating confrontation between Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran.

None of the Gulf States have yet retaliated against Iran, but it cant be ruled out that one, some, or all of them are planning to do so, he said, warning that escalation cannot be excluded. At the same time, he pointed out that they may be reluctant to enter a full-scale war given how vulnerable their energy and civilian sites are.

If several Gulf countries were to move toward open conflict, he also thinks that Saudi Arabia would likely step forward as the driving force within the Gulf Cooperation Council.

If more than one of them goes to war against Iran then its possible that Saudi Arabia would take the lead as the core of the GCC, their regional integration group, he said, adding that theyd obviously coordinate this with their shared US ally.

However, he suggested that cohesion within the bloc should not be taken for granted. The United Arab Emirates, he argued, might opt out of coordinating military action with Saudi Arabia due to the recent revival of their rivalry. Even so, Korybko maintained that Riyadh would still try to reaffirm its self-assumed role as the regional leader by rallying the smaller countries under its aegis.

Beyond intra-GCC dynamics, Korybko drew attention to the broader historical and ideological backdrop. He said that, aside from their shared US alliance and economic dependence on resource exports, the optics of Irans attacks might be perceived by them as a Persian-Arab War. While Arab-Iranian rivalry spans centuries, he noted that their competition took on a sectarian dimension after Irans 1979 revolution and subsequent efforts to export its then-new governing model throughout the region.

He further argued that these same Arab states consequently common cause with Israel vis-a-vis Iran led to some in the Islamic Republic considering them traitors to the faith, a perception that in his assessment deepened mistrust and intensified tensions.

According to Korybko, this historical context explains why Gulf states initially chose to host US forces as a deterrent. Yet he contended that the security dilemma that had already set in between them and Iran led to the latter perceiving this as a means of better defending themselves ahead of the retaliation that would follow a speculatively planned massive first strike. Iran, he said, then began identifying targets on their territories and ensuring that it could still hit them after surviving a massive first strike, which he noted ultimately came last weekend, albeit without their direct participation.

From Tehrans standpoint, Korybko argued, complicity extends beyond direct involvement. From Irans perspective, theyre all complicit in what just happened even if the role that US military infrastructure in their countries allegedly played was only indirect in the sense of providing radar or just logistical support, he said. In his view, Irans aforesaid perception and its response thereto in this context were totally predictable.

Yet, he maintained, the Gulf States found themselves constrained by their strategic alignment. They were already so tethered to the US that none of them wanted to risk its ire by asking its forces to leave once regional tensions worsened in the run-up to the ongoing war.

Korybko concluded with a stark assessment: Theyre therefore all paying the cost of their epic miscalculation that hosting US forces strengthens their security when it actually guaranteed that theyd be targeted once Iran was hit by the massive first strike. He added that this is a lesson that the US allies in Europe and Asia should keep in mind should similar signals ever emerge regarding potential confrontations with other major powers.
4 March 2026 14:02 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The conflict in Iran shows no signs of de-escalation, engulfing the Arabian Peninsula in a tense atmosphere of war. As the situation stands, it certainly appears that there will be further bloodshed and destruction throughout the Middle East. The situation is increasingly tense, with recent developments highlighting a potential shift in the war's dynamics.

One of the most striking recent reports involves the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which announced that its ground forces are now engaged along the Iraq-Iran border, confronting Kurdish armed groups who have resisted the Iranian army for decades. This development comes amid reports of contacts between American officials and Kurdish leaders in the region, fueling speculation about a broader strategy to destabilize Iran from within.

According to CNN, the CIA is actively working to arm Kurdish forces with the apparent aim of triggering an uprising inside Iran. As CNN correspondent Clarissa Ward reported, They will be going into Western Iran as part of some kind of a ground operation over the course, or at some point during the next few days This disclosure underscores why Tehran is now taking unprecedented measures to secure its borders and prevent both the arming of minorities and the outbreak of internal rebellion.

The strategic significance of this development is clear. Until now, Irans involvement in the conflict has largely relied on the IRGCs air forces, responsible for missile strikes and other long-range operations. However, the deployment of ground forces to the border suggests a growing concern among Iranian leadership: if the countrys air power is gradually degraded, the United States could exploit that weakness to destabilize border regions and embolden ethnic and religious minorities to rise against Tehran.

In such a scenario, suppressing internal rebellion would become far more difficult, particularly if the Iranian Air Forces were unable to respond effectively.

"While their ability to independently sustain a country-wide rebellion is limited, a more 'realistic' threat exists in Western Iran", argues former military attache and retired general Yucel Karauz in his comment to AzerNEWS.

"A more realistic scenario involves an escalation of armed raids and guerrilla-style operations within restricted zones of Western Iran (the border and mountainous belts). These actions could support local protests via armed corridors, effectively wearing down the regimes forces," he said.

According to Karauz, five factors define this capability:

Increased Coordination: The declaration of an alliance/coalition by Iranian Kurdish opposition groups on February 22, 2026, significantly enhances their organizational capacity.

Reliance on External Support: As highlighted in international reports, operations in Western Iran are unlikely to succeed without U.S. military and intelligence support, indicating that current indigenous capabilities are insufficient for independent success.

The PJAK Factor: Regional monitoring identifies PJAK as the most militarily capable faction. However, their strength translates more to high-intensity border clashes and guerrilla warfare than a full-scale "revolutionary uprising."

Depth of Internal Organization: A true rebellion requires more than weaponry; it necessitates urban cells, logistics, secure communication, and mass mobilization. The penetration of Iranian security apparatuses (Intelligence, Police, and IRGC) creates significant barriers to this.

The "Window of Opportunity": While current regional crises create openings, they simultaneously trigger the regimes "state of emergency" reflexes, leading to heightened crackdowns.

"The goal here," the General observes, "is likely not to collapse the architecture, but to overload it." He suggests that if a sustained, externally supported armed pressure emerges, Tehrans security apparatus will be forced into a defensive "trilemma":

"If sustained armed pressure emerges in Western Iran with external backing, Tehran will be forced to reallocate forces, shifting reinforcements to Western provinces while simultaneously managing urban suppression and border defense. The regime may implement aggressive containment strategies, labeling internal dissent as 'foreign collaboration' to justify harsher crackdowns. Should command centers, police stations, or intelligence infrastructure be targeted, the overall suppression capacity of the regime could begin to erode. However, it is important to note that security architectures typically 'harden' before they 'break.' The highest risk remains a comprehensive security campaign involving mass detentions in Western provinces and cross-border retaliations."

Regarding the IRGCs ability to hold the line, the military expert assesses their posture as capable of exerting a forceful and highly effective impact in the short term, yet over a prolonged period, it could gradually weaken and ultimately lose its potency.

"In terms of defense, the IRGC is relatively sufficient for short-term 'prevention and suppression'. In the long term, however, it may face attrition if pressured across multiple fronts simultaneously. The IRGC and its affiliates possess decades of experience in counter-insurgency and border security in Western Iran, giving them an advantage in neutralizing sudden, limited incursions. If Kurdish forces receive the requested "U.S./CIA assistance," the cost of resistance for the IRGC increases exponentially. Air/missile strikes and pressure on internal security targets would further stress IRGC command-and-control and logistics."

Karauz extends his analysis to the broader "Kurdish Card" in the Middle East, noting that the impact will be felt most acutely in the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq.

Iraq (KRG*): This is the most immediate impact zone. Reports of Erbil and Baghdad communicating with the U.S. suggest the KRG will face immense political and military pressure. Iranian retaliation would likely target the border and KRG internal dynamics, with Iran-linked militias potentially escalating attacks.

*Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)

Syria: The impact is twofold. If the U.S. focus shifts entirely to Iran, Kurdish structures in Syria (SDF) may become more vulnerable. Conversely, if a "Regional Kurdish Card" is played against Iran, Syria could become a primary bargaining chip.

Turkiye Factor: A critical parameter is that Turkiye will not look favorably upon the arming of Kurdish groups near its borders. This remains a primary factor restricting the "maneuvering space" of all Kurdish formations in the region.

To conclude, General Karauz provides a checklist for monitoring whether this scenario is shifting from theory to reality:

Increased equipment and training density in KRG-based camps.

The transition from isolated border incidents to simultaneous multi-province unrest.

Major IRGC force movements and communication blackouts in Western Iran.

Iranian "cross-border" kinetic responses against the KRG.

A unified command structure and rhetoric from the Kurdish coalition.

The specific "flavor" of U.S. involvement distinguishes between quiet intelligence sharing and active air support.
4 March 2026 13:41 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The Central Bank has announced that the operations of the AniPay mobile application and the anipay.az website will be discontinued starting March 4, 2026.

As reported by AzerNEWS, according to the Central Bank, the decision was made to expand the competitive environment in the digital payments market and to further stimulate the development of payment services across the country.

From the specified date, similar services will continue to be provided by financial sector participants. The functionality previously available through AniPay is already integrated into mobile banking applications offered by commercial banks.

The Central Bank noted that the suspension of AniPays operations will create new opportunities for financial market participants, strengthen competition, and accelerate the development of innovative solutions within the sector.

This move forms part of the Central Banks broader strategy aimed at promoting payment services and enhancing the digital payments ecosystem. The decision is expected to encourage banks and other payment service providers to take a more active role in the market.

The Central Bank reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring healthy competition, fostering innovation, and supporting sustainable growth in the countrys digital payments ecosystem.
4 March 2026 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

In 2025, Azerbaijan imported 8,482 tons of fresh and dried dates worth $13.8 million, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the data, this represents an 11% decrease in value and a 17% decline in quantity compared to 2024.

Main Supplier Countries

During the reporting period, Azerbaijan imported:

6,312 tons from Iran worth $7.2 million

(-15% in volume, -17% in value year-on-year)

1,385 tons from Tunisia worth $2.6 million

(-13% in volume, -12% in value)

190 tons from Israel worth $1.4 million

(+14% in volume, +19% in value)

160 tons from Palestine worth $1.2 million

(+40% in volume and value)

129 tons from Saudi Arabia worth $416,000

(+6% in volume, +18% in value)

In addition, Azerbaijan resumed imports from Jordan after a break of three years and four months, purchasing 19 tons worth $146,000.

2024 Comparison

In 2024, Azerbaijan imported 10.2 thousand tons of dates, with 73% of total supplies coming from Iran, underscoring the countrys dominant position in Azerbaijans date imports.
4 March 2026 18:15 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The top five export destinations for Azerbaijans non-oil sector in January 2026 have been announced, AzerNEWS reports, citing the February issue of the "Export Review" by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication.

Russia ranked first among the countrys key non-oil export markets. However, exports to Russia declined by $11 million compared to the same period last year, falling from $81 million to $77 million.

Second place was taken by Switzerland, where exports increased by $16.4 million year-on-year, reaching $38.6 million in January 2026.

Meanwhile, Georgia ranked 3rd among Azerbaijans export destinations. Exports to Georgia rose by $5.1 million compared to the previous year.

Exports to Turkiye, which ranked fourth among the main destinations, declined by $5.6 million year-on-year, totaling $31.5 million.

A similar trend was observed for Ukraine, which ranked fifth. Exports to Ukraine decreased by $6.6 million compared to January 2025, amounting to $15.2 million this year.
4 March 2026 16:02 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijan and Austria are exploring ways to expand trade, increase mutual investment opportunities, and strengthen industrial cooperation, AzerNEWS reports, citing the Economy Ministry.

Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, met with Severin Gruber, Secretary General of Austrias Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy, and Tourism. The meeting focused on the current state and future prospects of bilateral economic relations between the two countries.

During the talks, both sides emphasized the importance of boosting trade volumes, expanding investment channels, and realizing joint projects. The conversation also addressed collaboration with Austrian companies in territories recently liberated by Azerbaijan, as well as potential partnerships in industry, agriculture, energyincluding renewable energyand humanitarian sectors.

Officials noted that more effective utilization of existing potential and the promotion of direct business contacts could significantly deepen economic relations between Azerbaijan and Austria.
4 March 2026 18:48 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The first seminar dedicated to discussing the Feasibility Study (FS) for the initial development phase of the Central AsiaAzerbaijan Green Energy Corridor was held in Baku, AzerNEWS reports, citing Azerbaijans Ministry of Energy.

The event brought together senior government officials, transmission system operators, and regulatory authorities from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and other stakeholders.

Azerbaijans Deputy Energy Minister Orkhan Zeynalov described the project as a highly  initiative, noting that the corridor will connect the Caspian and Black Sea regions and enable the transmission of clean renewable energy from Central Asia to European markets. He added that, alongside the officially participating countries, other regional partners have also expressed strong interest in joining the initiative.

Kazakhstans Deputy Energy Minister Sanjar Zharkeshov highlighted his countrys substantial energy potential, stating that Kazakhstan aims to increase its total installed generation capacity to 26 GW by 2030, with 3035 percent coming from renewable sources. He emphasized that Kazakhstan intends to use the corridor to export clean energy to Europe.

Feruz Kurbonov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of National Electric Networks of Uzbekistan, also expressed strong support for the project, describing it as a promising initiative. He noted that Uzbekistan is investing heavily in domestic energy infrastructure and aims to secure additional power generation capacity by 2030 to integrate into the regional grid and export electricity to Europe.

Sunniya Durani Jamal, ADBs Country Director for Azerbaijan, stated that the project will contribute to strengthening regional connectivity. During the seminar, Italy-based engineering company CESI S.p.A. delivered the initial presentation of the feasibility study. Preliminary findings were described as positive, and participants were briefed on the analytical framework for Phase I and the next steps.

The meeting concluded with agreement on key technical assumptions, data requirements, and further actions needed to finalize the Phase I feasibility report and prepare for Phase II.

The feasibility study for the corridor is being developed in partnership with ADB and AIIB and is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2025.
4 March 2026 13:05 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A special concert titled "Intizar" dedicated to the work of the prominent Azerbaijani composer, State Prize laureate, and People's Artist Said Rustamov (19071983) has taken place at the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theatre, AzerNEWS reports.

Said Rustamov holds a distinguished place in the history of Azerbaijani music as the author of numerous songs, romances, and instrumental works that seamlessly blend the rich traditions of mugham with classical compositional techniques. His melodies are celebrated for their vivid national character, lyrical beauty, and deep emotional resonance, which have kept them in the repertoire of the country's leading performers for decades.

The evening opened with a presentation by musicologist and PhD candidate in art studies, Associate Professor Ayten Babayeva, who spoke about Rustamov's life and extensive creative legacy, hailing his significant contribution to the development of Azerbaijan's national musical culture.

The concert program featured the composer's works performed by an instrumental ensemble under the direction of Mirkhalid Salaev. On stage were renowned artists including People's Artists Heydar Anatollu and Gulyanag Mammadova, as well as performers Rovshan Gahramanov, Sarkhan Bunyadzade, Aishan Mekhtiyeva, Ilkham Gasimov, Aghabala Sadikhzade, Medina Kazimova, and Fakhri Kazim-Nijat.

A warm atmosphere, moving performances, and an enthusiastic audience made the evening truly memorable, once again highlighting the richness and enduring vitality of Azerbaijans national musical heritage.

Born in 1907, Said Rustamov's name is synonymous with the golden age of Azerbaijani music.

His works not only enriched the cultural fabric of the country but also inspired generations of musicians, composers, and educators.

A master of both classical and folk traditions, Rustamov's compositions are deeply embedded in the national consciousness. His lyrical and patriotic songs such as "Anamn laylas" (My Mother's Lullaby), "Banovsha" (Violet), and "Haralsan? " (Where Are You?), resonate with emotional depth and national pride.

These songs were brought to life by legendary performers including Bulbul and Rashid Behbudov, ensuring their place in the canon of Azerbaijani music.

Rustamov also demonstrated exceptional skill in composing for children and for instruments, notably creating beloved works such as the "Azerbaijan Suite" and the jubilant piece "Joy." These compositions showcase his ability to blend traditional melodies with modern techniques, creating music that is both accessible and artistically rich.

Beyond his creative endeavors, Said Rustamov was an influential educator.

His pioneering spirit led to the authorship of foundational music textbooks, including "Notation Literacy" and the first structured "Tar School, " which provided systematic instruction in playing the tar, a traditional Azerbaijani instrument. These works played a critical role in standardizing music education in Azerbaijan and training future generations of musicians.

Rustamov was also a central figure in institutional music development. He played a pivotal role in establishing the tradition of folk instrument orchestras in Azerbaijan, thus preserving and elevating the country's folk music heritage.

Throughout his career, he led prominent musical ensembles and held leadership roles in key institutions, advocating tirelessly for the advancement of national music.

Rustamov was an active member of the USSR Composers' Union, contributing to the broader cultural policies of his time.

In recognition of his artistic and civic achievements, he was honored with numerous prestigious awards, including the title of Honored Artist in 1938 and the esteemed USSR State Prize in 1951.

Said Rustamov passed away in 1983, but his music continues to be performed, studied, and cherished today.
4 March 2026 15:03 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Hikmat Guliyev, Director of the Folklore Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) and Doctor of Philology, held a meeting in Ankara with Professor Mehmet Ocal Oguz, Chair of the UNESCO Turkiye National Commission, AzerNEWS reports.

During the meeting, Hikmat Guliyev provided detailed information on the research conducted at the ANAS Folklore Institute, the results achieved, the institutes structure, and the ongoing scientific and methodological updates. He highlighted work on understanding and studying folklore as a dynamic cultural system, as well as research in the areas of digital transformations and internet folklore. Guliyev noted that in the contemporary stage, studying folklore not only as texts but also as collective cultural memory, national identity, and a social-communicative system has been identified as a priority direction.

The discussion also focused on the preservation, documentation, and transmission of multinational intangible heritage elements included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Possible avenues for scientific and institutional collaboration in this field were explored. In particular, the importance of joint research and presentation of shared intangible cultural heritage among Turkic peoples on international platforms was emphasized.

During the meeting, Hikmat Guliyev presented Professor M. Ocal Oguz with a plaque in recognition of his contributions to the methodological study, preservation, and international promotion of Turkic folklore. Hikmat Guliyev also gifted five volumes from the Folklore Institute's "Western Azerbaijan Folklore" series, as well as his monographs on the archetype of the wise elder and internet folklore.

The meeting was also attended by Professor Konuralp Ercilasun of Ankara Hac Bayram Veli University, Associate Professor Aynur Ibrahimova from the Folklore Institute, and Ozge Zuleyha Omeroglu, Acting Deputy Secretary General of the UNESCO Turkiye National Commission.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Hikmat Guliyev was presented with a prestigious collection of publications issued by the UNESCO Turkiye National Commission.
Eastern DR Congo stands today at the intersection of two powerful forces: unresolved regional insecurity and intensifying global competition for strategic minerals. Any serious reflection on peace efforts in the region must account for both.

The eastern provinces are not merely theatres of localized conflict. They sit atop mineral reserves that have become central to global industrial strategy. Lithium, gold, coltan and associated critical minerals now underpin supply chains linked to advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and the global energy transition. As demand rises, so too does geopolitical attention.

The first responsibility for restoring order remains with the state of the DR Congo. No external framework can substitute for coherent national authority. Professionally done security sector reform, credible provincial governance in North and South Kivu, and transparent mineral administration are not optional reforms; they are prerequisites for stability. Without them, ceasefires will remain fragile and easily reversible.

Yet eastern DR Congo's security question has never been purely domestic. The conflict environment is shaped by regional interdependence. Engagement involving Rwanda, Uganda, and Angola reflects a recognition that instability in the Great Lakes region cannot be compartmentalized. Regional organisations such as the African Union, the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community provide institutional platforms through which political convergence can be pursued.

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However, the regional layer is now complemented -- and complicated -- by global strategic rivalry.

Major international actors, including the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and many more maintain substantial interests in DR Congo's mineral economy. Some are long-standing investors. Others are recalibrating engagement in light of evolving supply chain vulnerabilities and others selling their arms and weapons. In a period marked by industrial policy realignment and strategic competition, access to critical minerals is no longer viewed as a purely commercial matter; it is a national priority.

This reality does not inherently undermine peace. Foreign investment, when governed transparently and aligned with national development strategies, can reinforce state capacity and generate long-term stability. The difficulty arises when geopolitical competition unfolds in environments where security remains unsettled.

Where multiple actors pursue parallel engagements without coordinated governance benchmarks, leverage becomes fragmented. Diplomatic initiatives may advance on one track while commercial negotiations accelerate on another. Armed groups operating in mineral-rich territories observe these dynamics closely. If economic flows persist regardless of ceasefire compliance, the incentive to relinquish territorial control diminishes.

The issue, therefore, is not the presence of international actors alone . It is the sequencing of engagement.

Peace processes require credibility. Ceasefires must be monitored with authority. Violations must carry measurable consequences. Economic normalization should follow demonstrable security stabilization -- not precede it. When extraction expands ahead of political consolidation, it risks entrenching local power brokers whose interests are misaligned with national cohesion.

There is also a strategic opportunity embedded within current global rivalry. If major powers harmonize due diligence standards, insist on traceability, and collectively reject militarized supply chains, the profitability of insecurity would narrow considerably. Competition over access need not translate into competition over standards. On the contrary, convergence on governance principles could transform mineral wealth from a driver of tension into a catalyst for institutional strengthening.

For Kinshasa, the path forward requires disciplined statecraft. Diversifying partnerships can enhance sovereignty, provided engagement is anchored in clear regulatory frameworks and long-term national priorities. Allowing external competition to define domestic economic architecture, however, risks replicating patterns that have historically weakened state authority. Old colonial strategies worked and still can do to maintain control and status quo. To their sole advantages not Congolese's and neighbours'.

Eastern DR Congo's mineral endowment is not a curse. Properly governed, it is meant to be one of Africa's most significant development assets. But resources do not produce stability automatically. Stability is constructed through political alignment -- domestically, regionally and internationally.

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The decisive question, therefore, is whether global and regional actors are prepared to subordinate short-term positioning to long-term equilibrium. Strategic minerals will remain central to global economic transformation. The choice is whether their extraction in eastern DR Congo will occur within a framework of predictable governance and regional cooperation, or amid continued insecurity.

Peace in eastern DR Congo will not emerge from rivalry unmanaged. It will emerge from coordinated political will, disciplined sequencing, and the recognition that sustainable economic access depends upon sustainable security.

That is the strategic horizon toward which all responsible actors should now align.

The author is a political and diplomatic analyst specializing in Africa, with a particular focus on the countries of the Great Lakes Region.
4 March 2026 12:35 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azada Huseynova, Deputy Chairperson of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, took part in discussions held within the framework of the UN Tourism Organizations Ministers Summit in Berlin, Germany. The event brought together tourism ministers from nearly 20 countries.

As reported by AzerNEWS, citing the agency, during the summit Huseynova held a bilateral meeting with Abdulaziz Akkulov, Chairman of the State Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan. The sides exchanged views on target markets, operational approaches, and promotional strategies in the tourism sector.

The parties also reviewed progress achieved under the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation signed in April 2025 between the Azerbaijan Tourism Board and the Uzbekistan National PR Center. Discussions focused on further strengthening collaboration and agreeing on additional tools to enhance joint initiatives.

As part of the visit, a meeting with representatives of Germanys tourism industry was organized at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany. Ambassador Nasimi Aghayev welcomed participants and emphasized Azerbaijans rich tourism potential, highlighting attractions likely to appeal to German travelers.

In her remarks, Huseynova provided detailed information about major international events that Azerbaijan will host in the near future. The Azerbaijan Tourism Board also delivered a presentation showcasing the countrys tourism offerings and answered questions from industry representatives.
4 March 2026 16:07 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced that ballistic missiles fired from Iran and heading toward Turkish airspace were intercepted by NATO forces deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, AzerNEWS reports.

In an official statement, the ministry said:

A ballistic missile fired from Iran, which was detected heading toward Turkish airspace after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was neutralized in a timely manner by NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Munition Fragment Falls in Hatay

Authorities stated that a munition fragment that fell in the Dortyol district of Hatay province belonged to air defense munitions used to intercept the threat.

No casualties or injuries were reported.

The ministry emphasized that Turkiyes will and capacity to ensure the security of its territory and citizens remain at the highest level.

While Turkiye stands for regional stability and peace, it is capable of ensuring the security of its territory and citizens, regardless of the source of the threat. Every step necessary to defend our land and airspace will be taken resolutely and without hesitation.

The statement added that Ankara reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions directed at the country and called on all parties to avoid steps that could further escalate the conflict in the region.

We will continue consultations with NATO and our other allies, the ministry said.

The incident comes amid rising regional tensions and heightened military activity across the Middle East.
4 March 2026 18:08 (UTC+04:00)

On March 4, the Organizing Committee established in connection with the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) of the United Nations held its meeting in Baku.

AzerNEWS reports that Samir Nuriyev, Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Organizing Committee, opened the session by emphasizing that urban development has been identified by the President of Azerbaijan as one of the countrys key strategic priorities within the broader framework of socio-economic policy.

Nuriyev noted that the declaration of 2026 as the Year of Urban Development and Architecture in Azerbaijan is a further testament to the importance attached to the sector at the highest level of state policy. He stressed that consistent and purposeful measures implemented under the leadership of the head of state to ensure balanced development between the capital and the regions, as well as to promote sustainable settlement, are playing a vital role in the countrys comprehensive progress.

Highlighting Azerbaijans growing engagement with global urbanization processes, Nuriyev said the country continues to advance innovative approaches in urban planning and successfully apply them in practice. He described the large-scale reconstruction and redevelopment underway in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions as one of the most vivid examples of this strategy. The restoration efforts in these territories, he noted, stand out globally for their scale, scope, and pace.

The Chair of the Organizing Committee underlined that WUF13, scheduled to be held in Baku in May 2026, has already generated significant international interest. The forum will provide Azerbaijan with a major international platform to present its conceptual approach to urban development, including the practical models implemented in the liberated territories.

During the meeting, members of the Organizing Committee delivered reports on the current state of preparations for WUF13. The discussions covered substantive program matters, communication strategy, and organizational and logistical arrangements, as well as other issues on the agenda.

Concluding the session, Nuriyev issued instructions aimed at ensuring the high-level organization of WUF13 in line with the tasks set by the President of Azerbaijan. He called for all work to be carried out with enhanced quality, timeliness, and a comprehensive, coordinated approach.

As Azerbaijan accelerates its urban transformation and prepares to host one of the worlds leading forums on sustainable cities, WUF13 is poised to become a showcase of the countrys evolving urban vision and its ambition to position itself as a proactive contributor to global urban development dialogue.
4 March 2026 12:16 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Iraq has suspended oil exports from the Kurdistan region to Turkiyes Ceyhan port, AzerNEWS reports via Bloomberg.

According to the agency, transportation of approximately 200,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) was halted after producers reduced output as a precautionary measure amid the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry has reportedly appealed to several domestic producers to scale back oil production. The move follows disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has significantly affected international shipping and prevented tankers from entering the Gulf.

As a result, a shortage of vessels at Iraqs southern export terminals and declining shipments have pushed storage facilities toward critical capacity levels.

In January, Iraqs oil production stood at 4.157 million bpd. Currently, production has reportedly dropped sharply, with only around 50,000 bpd being produced for local consumption in the Middle East.
4 March 2026 14:28 (UTC+04:00)

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Other state-owned companies participating in non-oil export activities include SOCAR Polymer, AzerGold, Azraluminium, SOCARs Gas Export Department, Azrpambq Aqrar Snaye Kompleksi, SOCAR-DALGIC, Azrbaycan Dmir Yollar, the State Energy Service of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and Istisu Mineral Water Plant.

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4 March 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Scientists in Australia have successfully restored the lost traditional song of the critically endangered regent honeyeater, offering new hope for the survival of one of the countrys rarest birds, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia revealed that targeted song tutoring at Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, New South Wales, has revived a disappearing cultural trait essential to the species survival, according to an ANU statement on Tuesday.

Birdsong plays a vital role in attracting mates, defending territories, and maintaining social bonds. Many species learn their songs from experienced tutors, and without proper instruction, young birds often develop incorrect or simplified songs, dramatically reducing breeding success.

With fewer than 250 individuals left in the wild, the regent honeyeater has faced not only a steep population decline but also the erosion of its cultural traditions, the study published in Nature Scientific Reports noted.

Everything we know about the function of birdsong suggests that having a cohesive dialect will be critical to the success of the reintroduction program and the survival of the species, said lead author Daniel Appleby from ANUs College of Systems and Society.

By using recordings and direct exposure to just two wild-born male tutors, scientists taught young zoo-bred males the traditional wild song that had disappeared from wild populations and was becoming increasingly simplified as numbers dwindled.

Today, more than half of the zoo population sings the restored traditional song. Researchers hope this will help stabilize and even rebuild song culture in wild populations, boosting breeding success after release.

The study underscores that conservation efforts must go beyond protecting genes, highlighting the importance of preserving learned traditions in the fight against extinction.

Interestingly, experts suggest this approach could serve as a model for other endangered species facing cultural erosion, showing that saving a species sometimes requires restoring the memories and behaviors that make them truly wild.
4 March 2026 11:17 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Iran's Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader under pressure from the Revolutionary Guards, AzerNEWS reports.

He was selected as Khamenei's successor by Iran's Assembly of Experts, according to reports. Khamenei, who ruled the country for 36 years, was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28 while he was in his compound. Along with him, his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter also lost their lives. Khamenei's wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, died later from injuries sustained during the strikes.

Khamenei will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad, and a large farewell ceremony will be held in Tehran, as stated by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in a post on Telegram. However, the date of the burial has not yet been disclosed.

Khamenei did not have a designated successor. A three-member interim Leadership Council comprised of Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei has taken on the responsibilities of the Supreme Leader until a new successor is elected.

US, Israel-Iran tensions

The joint US-Israel strikes, named 'Operation Epic Fury', were launched after stalled nuclear talks and claims that Tehran had resumed its nuclear activities. They targeted many Iranian cities, including the capital, Tehran. Over 700 people have been killed in the attack, reports said.

Hours after the joint attack, Iran launched missiles - many of which hit Gulf regions including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Bahrain. Tensions in the Middle East continued to escalate as Iran vowed to avenge the killing of its Supreme Leader, and US President Donald Trump warned it was "too late" for Iran to seek talks to "escape a war". Drones and missiles crashed into oil facilities and US embassies in the Gulf as the Islamic Republic retaliated, and Israel pushed troops deeper into Lebanon to battle the Tehran-backed Hezbollah after it entered the fray.

As the conflict entered its fourth day on Tuesday, a drone attack caused a fire at the US consulate in Dubai. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the drone strike and said all the staff "were safe".
4 March 2026 22:50 (UTC+04:00)

By AzerNEWS Staff

A US military base and a hotel in the Iraqi city of Erbil have reportedly come under drone attack, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media outlets.

Details of the attack, including the extent of damage or possible casualties, have not yet been disclosed.

The incident follows earlier reports that facilities linked to the Central Intelligence Agency in Iraq and Saudi Arabia were targeted by unmanned aerial vehicles.

Tensions in the region have escalated in recent weeks. After the second round of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran on February 17 ended without progress, the United States reportedly increased its military presence near Iran, deploying more than 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

A third round of talks concerning Irans nuclear program was held on February 26 in Geneva. The negotiations, conducted under the administration of US President Donald Trump, were described by some observers as a final opportunity for a diplomatic resolution. However, no concrete agreements were reached. According to reports, Tehran declined to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program.

Foreign media further reported that on the morning of February 28, Israel and the United States launched airstrikes against targets in Iran.

Some outlets have claimed that senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as high-ranking military figures, were killed in the strikes. However, these reports have not been independently verified, and there has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding the deaths of the individuals mentioned.
4 March 2026 12:49 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Esmail Ghaani, commander of the Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has reportedly been detained, according to Iranian media outlets, AzerNEWS reports.

Unconfirmed reports claim that Ghaani is accused of espionage activities in favor of Israels intelligence agency, Mossad.

He has reportedly been condemned because he was allegedly the last official to meet with the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei before his death. Additionally, he is said to be the last official to meet with Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah. All died by Israeli rocket strikes right after the meetings.

According to the same sources, the detention was carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

There has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding the reports at this time.
4 March 2026 14:32 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced that oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in defiance of a declared transit ban were targeted following recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, AzerNEWS reports, citing Iranian media outlets.

According to Irans state-run Fars News Agency, which cited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tehran had repeatedly warned that the strategic waterway was no longer safe. Despite those warnings, more than 10 oil tankers allegedly attempted to transit the strait and were struck with various types of munitions, rendering them inoperable.

In its statement, the IRGC stressed that the Strait of Hormuz is under war conditions, underscoring the heightened security risks in the area. Iranian officials said vessels face a significant danger of being hit by missile strikes or by unmanned aerial vehicles operating beyond full control in the conflict environment.

Tehran urged commercial shipping companies to avoid passing through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that operators who disregard official advisories would bear responsibility for any resulting security risks.

Irans navy had earlier declared the closure of all transit routes through the strategically vital strait following the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States and Israel.

Roughly 20 percent of global oil trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, making any disruption a major concern for international energy markets and maritime transport. The latest developments have intensified fears of a broader energy crisis and renewed volatility in global oil prices.
But equipment failures are already causing delays

Trains between Philippi and Kapteinsklip on Cape Town's central Metrorail line are running again, nearly seven years after widespread vandalism forced the line to close.

The train runs Monday-Saturday, once every 30 minutes during peak hours and every hour during off-peak hours.

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GroundUp took the train on Wednesday, 25 February. The train ran on schedule, and without operational problems. However, on 2 and 3 March, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) issued notices that equipment failures were causing delays.

In September, we reported that most of the Central Line had reopened, though PRASA still needed to repair 2km of overhead traction equipment between the R300 bridge in Lentegeur and Philippi.

Work was delayed by protests from people who had occupied parts of the central line during the covid pandemic. They were later temporarily relocated to land on Stock Road. They were demanding permanent relocation.

PRASA completed repairs by December, and trains between Philippi and Kapteinsklip, via Lentegeur and Mitchell's Plain, resumed last week. As of 2 March, there is a direct service from Kapteinsklip to Cape Town.

"I am delighted that trains are back on this route. They are reliable, cheap, safe and clean," Johnny Armstrong from Mitchells Plain told GroundUp. Before 2020, the service was not reliable, and there were no security guards, he said.

Simon Mehlokude, from Philippi, said trains were cheaper than other forms of public transport.

PRASA said in a statement last week that the reopening marked the final phase of the full restoration of the Central Line, "a critical public transport artery serving communities across the Western Cape".

Between Langa and Bonteheuwel stations, more than 1,250 families are still living along the line, having built shacks there during the covid pandemic. The settlement does not appear to be disrupting the train services.

The families are expected to be relocated to land in Philippi Wedge, but it still requires rezoning.

PRASA did not respond to questions about the timelines for the relocation.
4 March 2026 14:11 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a vocal critic of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, reaffirmed his governments stance against military action, declaring no to war and emphasizing that the Spanish people oppose this disaster.

As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking on the potential consequences, Sanchez referenced the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying it had left the world less secure. He warned that a war on Iran would not create a more just international order, improve environmental conditions, or enhance the lives of ordinary people.

The current crisis shows how humanitys great disasters begin, Sanchez said, urging governments to not play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions.

The comments come amid rising tensions with the United States. US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off all trade with Spain over Madrids refusal to allow US military use of its bases for operations linked to strikes on Iran.
4 March 2026 19:13 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Sri Lankas navy has rescued 32 people after responding to a distress call from the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena early this morning, officials confirmed.

As reported by AzerNEWS, citing foreign media, navy spokesman Budhika Sampath said the incident occurred outside Sri Lankas territorial waters but within its designated search and rescue region, obligating authorities to respond under international maritime law.

Though it was beyond our waters, it was within our search and rescue region. So we were obliged to respond as per international obligations, Sampath said.

Rescue teams arriving at the scene found survivors floating in the water, along with oil slicks and life rafts. The vessel itself was not visible at the time operations began.

We found people floating on the water, rescued them, and later when we inquired we found that those people are from an Iranian ship, he added.

According to ship documentation, approximately 180 people were believed to have been on board. Sri Lankas Defence Ministry Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuiyakontha, told BBC Sinhala that around 140 individuals are currently feared missing. However, authorities say the exact number remains unconfirmed.

The navy spokesman rejected reports that the vessel was sunk in a submarine attack, stating that the cause of the incident remains unknown. So far, Sri Lankas military has not been able to determine what led to the ships sinking.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
4 March 2026 16:30 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has appeared in a newly circulated video after rumors about his alleged death spread widely in recent days, AzerNEWS reports.

Amid the escalating tensions surrounding the U.S.IsraelIran conflict, unverified reports claiming that the former Iranian president had been killed began circulating on social media from the early days of the confrontation.

However, in a newly shared video distributed across several Iranian Telegram channels, Ahmadinejad is seen alive.

There is currently no confirmed information regarding when or where the video was recorded.

Iranian authorities have not issued an official statement addressing the earlier death claims.
4 March 2026 18:29 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Turkiyes Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has spoken by phone with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi following the interception of a ballistic missile launched from Iran that was headed toward Turkish airspace.

As reported by AzerNEWS, according to a statement released by Turkiyes Foreign Ministry, Minister Fidan conveyed Ankaras reaction regarding the missile, which was detected entering Turkish airspace after being launched from Iranian territory and was subsequently neutralized.

During the call, Fidan emphasized the importance of avoiding any actions that could lead to further escalation of regional tensions.

Earlier, Turkiyes Ministry of National Defense announced that the ballistic missile, after being launched from Iran and passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was identified as heading toward Turkiye. It was intercepted and neutralized in a timely manner by NATO air and missile defense forces deployed in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish authorities have not reported any casualties or damage related to the incident.
4 March 2026 20:21 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The American company OpenAI is reportedly exploring the possibility of entering into a contract with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), according to several foreign media outlets on Tuesday. The news follows the startups recent agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense, AzerNEWS reports.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, initially stated that the company was considering deploying its technologies across all closed NATO networks. However, an OpenAI spokesperson later clarified that the discussion concerns the alliances open networks, noting that Altmans earlier wording was imprecise.

The Reuters news agency also reported that OpenAI is evaluating a contract to implement its artificial intelligence technology within NATOs open networks.

Last week, OpenAI confirmed an agreement with the Pentagon to deploy its AI technologies on the U.S. Department of Defenses closed network. The move came amid tensions with the AI company Anthropic, which, according to media reports, the U.S. government considered a supply chain risk.

Anthropics exclusion appears linked to its refusal to permit the use of its AI models for large-scale internal surveillance or the control of fully autonomous lethal weapons.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sam Altman defended the Pentagon deal, emphasizing that he does not regret signing it. However, he admitted he would have preferred the information to be released more cautiously, as early publicity could appear opportunistic.

The announcement sparked backlash from some users. Sensor Tower reported that on the Saturday following the news, deletions of the ChatGPT mobile app increased by 295% compared to the previous day.

Despite criticism, OpenAI continues to enjoy support from major technology partners, including Microsoft, Nvidia, and SoftBank. The companys collaboration with both NATO and the Pentagon underscores the growing role of AI technologies in national security and defense, as well as the ethical debates surrounding their deployment in military contexts.

Experts note that OpenAIs potential work with NATO could pave the way for standardized AI protocols across allied nations, potentially influencing international norms on AI in defensemaking this not just a business move, but a geopolitical milestone in the regulation of artificial intelligence.
Dark money special interest PAC's dumping large sums of money into independent expenditure campaigns in legislative races around the state have snagged a number of House and Senate seats away from conservatives. One of those was in our own 79th House district.

The biggest prize of all, however, is still up in the air. Arrogant and corrupt senate boss Phil Berger is trailing his conservative challenger, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page by only two votes after all votes were counted. Given the Berger machines control of local offices in the district, the fear of hanky-panky to shift those numbers is very high. Special interest PAC spending for Berger is said to have topped $50 million, a record in a state legislative race and he outspent Page 53 to 1.

In the 79th district dark money special interest PAC's spent at least half a million dollars to buy the seat for their preferred candidates, former Marc Basnight Democrat turned "Republican" Darren Armstrong. This is, by far, the most money ever spent on a legislative seat in this area. This involved a blizzard of postcards, including misleading ones calling incumbent conservative Kidwell a "sellout" and a TV ad campaign.

Two sets of PACs were involved. One set was created recently by Berger's allies in the gambling industry, which set up dark money PACs Win for America and the mislabeled "American Conservative Fund". Another set has been around a while, the NC Ag Partnership which funnels dark money to the NC Ag Action PAC. In 2025, every dollar of money to the latter came from the former, but the former does not file reports to show where it got the money, making it :dark money". Nobody know who was really bankrolling these campaigns. The NC Ag Partnership also shares both offices and leadership with an NGO involved in Berger's attempt to shut down our shrimping industry. These PAC;s ran independent expenditure operations where they campaign for or against particular candidates.

In the Senate, the biggest effort of the dark money special interest PAC's was directed at trying to save Berger, but they also went after incumbent conservative senator Chris Measmer in Cabarrus County, and against conservative retired Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillet in the open 1st district in northeastern NC. Measmer had been selected by local party leaders to fill a vacancy but was not the sort of yes-man Berger prefers, and the special interest money bought the seat for a former liberal House member who had been tossed out by primary voters a couple of terms back for his very liberal voting record. Tillet prevailed over the wave of money spent against him, which was backing a big farmer, who like Armstrong, had been recruited by liberal legislator Jimmy Dixon. One advantage Tillet had was that another farmer, who was opposed to the Troxler / Dixon / Berger clique also ran and spent most of his campaign attacking the Dixon-recruited big farmer.

In the House, the big target was the head of the conservative Freedom Caucus, Keith Kidwell, who narrowly fell to the onslaught. Other Freedom Caucus members faced less special interest money against them and survived. The special interest PAC's however were successful in derailing a promising dynamic conservative in an open House seat in Lee and Moore counties, conservative Lee County School Board member Sherry Lynn Womack. An establishment Republican backed by the special interests won that primary.

In Beaufort County, a number of less-than-conservative candidates networked with Armstrong's campaign and prevailed over more conservative opponents. These included District Judge candidate Lloyd Williams, who was endorsed by liberal Democrat judges, school board candidate Monica Davis, who had been a Democrat most of the time she has lived in Beaufort County, and county commission candidate John Edwards. Sheriff candidate Kerry Cox also networked with Armstrong but narrowly failed to unseat incumbent conservative sheriff Scott Hammonds.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 62F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 40F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
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BENNINGTON  The Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District spending for next school year was defeated by 18 votes, according to the official results now posted on the Bennington website.

The vote in the four-town regional district was 1,020 to 1,002 against the $33.5 million budget.

The $34.9 million Mount Anthony Union School District budget was approved Tuesday on a vote of 1,197 to 1,048.

Reached on Wednesday, SVUESD board Chair Chris Murphy said in an email, "The board will need to reconvene to determine our next steps."

He added, "An essential point for all voters to know is that the total proposed budget was just 1.1 percent higher than last year's budget. Such minute growth demonstrates the seriousness with which our administrators approached their responsibilities in crafting this budget. Several budgetary factors are beyond our local control (universally higher costs of goods and services, discrepancies in how the state values our properties, massive increases in health insurance, and the governor's artificial buy-down of taxes last year), and the board needs to determine how to work within those parameters while still providing for our children's needs. There may be fewer students, but every year more and more students need more and more support to be able to learn."

Incumbents returned

The incumbents running for the MAU board were elected without opposition on the ballot.

Bethany Wallace of North Bennington received 1,531 votes; David Frederickson and Katie Aiken of Bennington received 1,496 and 1,493 votes to be re-elected; Nelson Brownell and Sandy Foster of Pownal received 1,397 and 1,381 votes respectively to be elected; and Scott McEnaney of Shaftsbury received 1,413 votes, also running unopposed.

Kayla Thompson, who was named to replace longtime district clerk Cassandra Barbeau, was elected without opposition with 1,824 votes.

Thompson also was elected Tuesday to succeed Barbeau as clerk of the elementary and Southwest Tech districts.

In addition, she serves as Bennington town clerk, also succeeding Barbeau in that post.

Elementary district

In the SVUESD regional district, board members Cindy Brownell of Pownal and Glenn Thurber of Woodford were re-elected, with 1,508 and 1,467 votes respectively.

A school board member opening in Bennington did not draw a candidate on the ballot.

Elementary district officials could not immediately be reached Wednesday for comment on a likely revote on the budget.
LENOX  Reflecting concern about possible security and safety issues in the nations capital during the widening and intensifying Mideast war, Lenox Memorial Middle and High School officials have postponed the 10th grade class trip to Washington, scheduled for March 11-13.

They hope to reschedule it this fall.

Many students wore black on Tuesday, mourning the loss of the trip.

Tenth grade class officers told The Eagle that they were very disappointed but appreciated and supported the administrations concern for their safety.

Im very into the news; its always on at our house, said class President Libby Gop. So I had a feeling they were probably going to do something. I expected the postponement but just dreaded it.

She acknowledged that "most students are furious; they're very upset. Some would still want to go, even though they understand why we shouldnt go.

The decision by Lenox Memorial Middle and High School Principal Jeremiah Ames and School District Superintendent William Collins was conveyed to students and their families via e-mail on Monday night.

This has been a very difficult decision, one that will likely disappoint many in our school community, Ames acknowledged in the email.

I completely understand why, and I prefer for them to be the ones to think about my safety, but Im very. very disappointed, Gop said. I wish we could go in the fall, but whos to say the war will be over then. ... Im preparing for the worst but Im really, really hoping.

The reaction from families was mostly supportive, Ames told The Eagle on Tuesday shortly after classes started. One parent expressed disagreement with the decision but acknowledged the concern over safety during these uncertain times.

Of the 68 10th graders, all but a dozen had signed up for the trip, Collins said. He and Ames aim to reschedule it for this fall on dates to be determined, with the $32,000 cost in the district budget set aside for that purpose.

Theres no cost to the families for the trip, Collins noted. The School Committee feels that trips such as this that are integral to the curriculum should not have cost barriers, he said.

Jane Elliot of Lenox, the sophomore class vice president, said she anticipated protests against the war in D.C. next week.

So I understand they would err on the safe side, that it was better not to go," she said. "We were disappointed, but I understood where the administration was coming from. There might be protests while were there, and if they got violent, that would be an issue.

In his message to the school community, Ames explained the rationale behind the decision.

The decision was motivated largely by concerns surrounding our ability to guarantee students safety given all the uncertainty that lies ahead in the wake of our nations recent military action, Ames wrote in the message to students and their families.

While some families are still comfortable traveling to D.C., many have expressed legitimate concerns about the schools ability to guarantee students safety in these difficult times, he stated.

Following the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran, which triggered retaliatory strikes in the region by the Iranian military, Ames said he began receiving messages from anxious parents and guardians.

On Monday morning, as the war escalated, the seven chaperones assigned to the trip  school staffers including a nurse  voiced concerns about the students safety in case of any incidents in Washington.

Both Ames and Collins emphasized that the postponement of the trip was not a political expression of opposition to the undeclared war but was based solely on protecting the students.

Also, they faced the possibility of nearly half of the students who had signed up for the trip withdrawing. That would raise logistical challenges of providing education at the school for a significant portion of the 10th grade class while the rest would be in Washington.

While this was a difficult decision to make, throughout the process I was reminded by many of you that our students safety and well-being will always be our first priority, Ames wrote in his e-mail. On that we will always agree.

I definitely agree with their choice based on safety concerns, said Gabe Weir, the sophomore class secretary. Our capital is the centerpiece of our country, so if there were to be an attack, Id assume it would be there. Its a very tough decision to make, but its a kind of Id rather be safe than sorry situation.

Weir, a school choice student from Pittsfield since sixth grade, said Ames made the right choice.

I just hope were in a better place in the fall as a country and world so we can go back to our plan," he said. "Half the people talked to were angry and wanted to go no matter what. The others said, makes sense, still frustrated. 

Gop stressed that the school leaders and teachers decision stemmed from caring about us. ... Were mad at the world and the circumstances, but the decision was made for our best interest.

She pointed out that the class of 2028 was hard-hit by pandemic restrictions and missed a trip to Boston, Natures Classroom, a canoe trip, field trips, a trip to Six Flags and other events.

Weve really got the short end of the stick, so the D.C. trip is like another punch to the gut, Gop said. She voiced hope that the administration can plan something else for the class this spring. Its very frustrating; we need something. Give us a bone.
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Jeff Robbins, a part-time resident of Stockbridge, is a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council and a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief counsel for the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Reach him at Jeffrey.Robbins@saul.com.
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.
Every day, billions of words are written that fill the books and articles we consume. Except for a relatively few noteworthy words from cultural influencers, classic literature, or a work that exalts Christ, who remembers or is affected by much of what was written just a decade or even a day before?

King Solomon wrote, For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for mankind? (Ecclesiastes 6:11). Solomon spoke of vain words. Not so with the Bible, for not one of Gods Words is empty or fosters vanity. The Bible is the holy, infallible, life-changing, clear, sufficient, God-inspired, and Christ-centered Word of God.

We call the collected words which came from God, the Bible, or Scripture. But the Bibles most important designation is Gods Word. God saw to it that what He revealed about Himself  the history of creation, and the redemptive history He decreed for humanity  was written and preserved. The words He gave us are those which bring belief. His words are also those by which we are to live. For unbelievers, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ (Romans 10:17). That message of course is found in the Bible.

What about believers? How does the Word of God work in us?

How Does God Speak to Us?

Does God still speak to us? Absolutely! But not in the same way He spoke to and through the ancient prophets and Apostles. At the time before Christs first advent (John 1:1-18), the complete canon containing the Word of God had yet to be written.

As Gods redemptive history unfolded throughout the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit guided the prophets. The Apostle Peter states, Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophets own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

To be carried by the Holy Spirit means to be prompted, or moved inwardly. By the first century, the scrolls containing Gods Word as handed down through the centuries were retained by the Temple priests and scribes in Jerusalem, and in local synagogues.

Hebrews 1:1-2 clearly states, Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. The New Testament came to us the same way as did the Old Testament, by the Holy Spirit as He moved in and among the writers of the New Testament (the Gospels, epistles, history, and prophecy).

The Gospel writers recorded the life and works of Jesus the Messiah. The Apostles Peter, Paul, John, James, and other disciples wrote letters to the churches, a history of the new church, and prophecy. All that has been put into the biblical canon we call the Word of God, and it is to us, the church.

Therefore, the Bible we hold in our hands is Gods Word to us. It, along with what it proclaims about the Lord Jesus and Gods miraculous acts in His appointed people, is Gods special revelation to us. Its the Word of God which speaks to us.

The Second London Confession of Faith (section 1, Paragraph 6) makes this clear, The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, mans salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.

The canon is now closed. All the Lord God wants us to see and realize has been encapsulated in Scripture. The Lord God no longer speaks directly to any humans. There is no need, for we have His Word.

How Does the Word of God Work in Believers?

1 Thessalonians 2:13 tells us, This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe. This is not mere human effort nor tradition. Its Almighty God effectively working in us through His Word.

Following are seven ways the Word of God works in believers:

1. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit helps us understand the Word of God. He also brings to mind the Scriptures to which weve been exposed (individual reading and the preaching of the Word) to impart wisdom and growth as Christians.

2. Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered (Romans 4:7). The Word of God stimulates acknowledgement of our sins. But the Lord doesnt leave us bereft of His matchless grace. Christ died to atone for our sins (John 3:16) and He has forgiven every single one  past, present, and future. This doesnt mean we dont sin anymore because we do, every day.

3. For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of Gods glory in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). The Word of God continually brings gospel clarity and draws us to Jesus Christ  His love, sufficiency, grace, and mercy.

The Word tells us His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9), and praise God for that. The Spirit helps us bear fruit by bringing to mind the Word stored in us. God makes sure we store it for His and our use. It never spoils or gets corrupted. Like the oil for the widow, Gods sanctification work in us regarding growth in Him through His Word always increases. And as He increases in me, I must decrease.

4. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up (Psalm 19:8). The Law is good and holy, and the Word of God clarifies the Law and makes us love it. We cannot obey the law perfectly (not one of us for one millisecond has or will ever love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, strength, and soul, or our neighbor as ourselves).

Only Jesus can and did fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17). He spoke the law many times to many people, but in the sense that they would know they (and we) cannot keep the law. We thank the Lord He lived the perfect life we cannot live and died the death we deserve. The Word of God shows us Jesus and tells us we are righteous because of Him.

5. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity (2 Peter 3:18). The Word of God helps us grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. He Himself is the very Word of God (John 1:1), and He is sanctifying us through His Spirit, and is helping us understand the importance of understanding what His grace means to us. When we see Christ throughout Scripture, our lens is widened and sanctified. Peter knew and wrote, knowledge must come with grace.

6. Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching (1 Timothy 4:2). As we experience the Word of God preached every week, the gospel proclaimed, share in the sacraments of the Lords Supper and baptism, and hear and see in the Word about the sufficiency of Christ, we are filled anew with Gods grace. Remember, the gospel is for believers too, because Jesus died for Christians sins, too.

The transforming power of the Word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). And 1 Peter 1:3 states, His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

7. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Christ, the Word became flesh, serves us through the Word of God. The Word reforms us into His image as we are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).

Gods work in us through his Word is supernatural. No one but His church enjoys the abundant grace and power of the Word of God. As we read the Word of God and experience it preached every week, thank God for this blessing:

For who has known the Lord's mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Related Podcast: 3 Ways We Can Know Jesus is God

Photo credit: Getty Images/Javier_Art_Photography

Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning author of Someplace to be Somebody, which is being adapted and brought to the stage by the Karamu House Theater in Cleveland, Ohio (Winter, 2027). Lisa writes fiction (Christmas stories) and is currently writing a novel titled Refuge. She also writes non-fiction, including articles for BibleStudyTools.com and Christianity.com. She and her husband, Stephen, live in Lexington, Kentucky with their Kentucky wild cat, Lewis.
Every book of the Bible speaks to different facets of history, of spiritual truth, and of daily life. The books of poetry, in particular, can be a source of growth and encouragement for the highs and lows of Christian living. The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the poetic books, but unlike the Psalms or Proverbs, it is not known for its uplifting tone. Instead, it seems to harp on the meaninglessness of human existence. But that does not mean it is without hope, or important lessons and messages for the reader.

Written by a man who, from an earthly standpoint, achieved everything in life, the book of Ecclesiastes examines the highs and lows of a mortal life, and compares it to the promises of God. It looks backward at the futility of pursuing material gains, recognizes the cycles of life that God built into the world, and settles in a peace about Gods will, and submitting to it.

Who Wrote Ecclesiastes?

The book of Ecclesiastes comes from the perspective of a Teacher who self-identifies as the Son of King David. It is generally accepted that this son is Solomon, who inherited Davids throne and received great wisdom from God as a spiritual gift. He is also believed to have written the Book of Proverbs and the Song of Songs - sometimes called the Song of Solomon.

When he took the throne, God offered to grant him whatever he wanted because of his obedience and the obedience of his father David. Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment so he could be a good king.

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for  both wealth and honor  so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life (1 Kings 3:10-14).

It is believed that it was towards the end of this long life that Solomon probably wrote the book of Ecclesiastes.

What Is Ecclesiastes about?

Ecclesiastes is a unique book in the Bible because it spends a great deal of time focusing on what life is like on earth, without express mentions of a relationship with God till later in the text. What this book does do, is put the life of a person in its context compared to the great expanse of time, the cold unfeeling nature of the world, and ultimately death.

People in Solomons time, as today, were not living for centuries. Each person is allotted a brief lifespan, and then they perish, whether by the natural course of living in a sin-cursed world or due to an unnatural event like an accident or murder. Despite someone dying, the world moves on. When looking at life in this way, the writer bemoans that if this is all there was to life, everything is meaningless. Even things that may considered worth pursuing such as wisdom or even righteousness, are bemoaned as vain when held up to the cold, empty march of time and the inevitability of death.

Verses that focus on the vanity of human existence include:

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever (Ecclesiastes 1:2-4).

For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).

For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind (Ecclesiastes 2:26).

All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return (Ecclesiastes 3:20).

The word that is often translated as vanity or meaningless is the word hebel - . It actually translates to vapor. The writer is not necessarily saying that life is meaningless, but that it is delicate, or easily dissolved away, and the meaning can be difficult to grasp.

One of the crucial acknowledgments in Ecclesiastes is something that many people struggle with, and that many use as a reason to reject God; life is not fair, and sometimes bad things happen to good people. In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing (Ecclesiastes 7:15).

The writer takes an honest look at the world, and finds it riddled with evil, and that pursuing meaning in the things of this world, no matter how noble, aspirational, or good they may appear, leads to an empty life.

Why Is This Book of the Bible in There?

Considering many do in fact look at the emptiness of life as examined in this book and say it is a reason to reject God and deny His very existence, it can be confusing as to why this book is canonized. Why emphasize that God does not answer every prayer? Why point out that evil men get away with evil, that they even prosper in the wickedness?

When the writer of Ecclesiastes points out the vanity of pursuing the things of the world, he keeps returning to the idea of looking to God, fearing the Lord, and pursuing Him.

Verses that emphasize the value of pursuing and trusting God include:

And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her (Ecclesiastes 7:26).

Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13).

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do (Ecclesiastes 9:7).

As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything (Ecclesiastes 11:5).

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13b-14).

In many ways, the book of Ecclesiastes is a simple, but poignant response to those who look around and chose to live life for themselves or see life as pointless. Despite the constant refrain that all is vanity, like vapor, or meaningless, the writer finds meaning in living life for God. He even encourages the reader to enjoy life with their spouse, because God intended for there to be pleasure in life. Having an appropriate fear of the Lord, and pursuing wisdom about God, will result in a blessed life.

Whether good or evil, rich or poor, wise or foolish, everyone will have to stand before the throne of God one day to be judged, so living a life that glorifies God will give eternal meaning. Those who pursued earthly vanity will have led a meaningless life, because God will judge them.

Where Is the Hope of Jesus in This Book?

Every book in the Bible points to Jesus in some way. Whether it contains prophecy, men whose lives pointed towards salvation, or even if it just fills in an important gap in the history of the Jewish people like the Book of Esther, the Lord Jesus is the central figure of the Scriptures.

And he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:25-27).

Ecclesiastes is no exception.

The important allusion to the coming Messiah in this book is not in it pointing to His role as Savior, but as the final judge. One day in the future, the Father will hand over to the Son full authority to judge every person who ever lived. The Book of Revelation states, And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done  And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12&15).

The book of Ecclesiastes refers to the judgment of the righteous and the unrighteous several times, and even ends with the warning that one day, the reader will have to give an account of themselves. For those who followed the advice of the writer, and obeyed the ways of God, and for those who put their faith in Him, that day will give their life ultimate meaning. For those who did not, and rejected God, their eternity will be void of meaning, and filled with judgment.

The meaning of life is one of the eternal questions that every person wrestles with, even if they do so by avoiding the question. The book of Ecclesiastes faces this question head on, and comes to the right conclusion that meaning is found in living a life for God, avoiding doing what is wrong in His sight, enjoy the blessings He bestows, and accepting that He will accomplish His purposes in His time. Fighting Gods timing or will is the actual act of futility, but there is hope and joy in living for Him.

For the Christians who live today with the full knowledge of Jesus Christ and His salvation, freely offered  that is the wisdom that gives purpose, and should encourage them to share that purpose and hope with the world.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Sources

Strong, James. Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Updated and Expanded Edition. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC, 2007.

Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Old Testament and New Testament. United States of America: Victor Books, 1987.

Wilmington, H.L. Wilmingtons Guide to the Bible. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1981.

Photo credit: SparrowStock

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia


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The Master of the Rotunda Sean Daly has welcomed confirmation by the Minister for Health that the city centre maternity hospital will not be co-located with Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.

Speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland, Prof Daly said that the 2015 plan to co-locate the Rotunda and Connolly hospitals had been a huge issue.

Everything has changed now since the new reorganisation of the health services and we are now in the same integrated health area as the Mater and it has always made sense for us to have close clinical links with the Mater.

With regard to concerns about the conservation of the Parnell Square area, Prof Daly said the original 18th-century site, which was part of a legacy from Bartholomew Moss, was always going to be a hospital site. That legacy had always been intended to look after the poor people of Dublin.

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The Rotunda was an iconic part of the city of Dublin, he said.

The new planning application would not be the same as the plan most recently rejected by An Coimisiun Pleanala, nor would it be larger.

We won't submit the same one again. We'll work closely with our design team, and we're very conscious of the fact that conservation concerns were an issue. I do think that Dublin City Council were very conscious of this too," Prof Daly said.

"They asked when we submitted the original planning back in December 2024, they requested changes to be incorporated into the building to make it more like the west side of Parnell Square, and that was actually done.

But I do think that we will look at all options here.

Prof. Daly said that one of the design aspects they will be reconsidering is a lot of plant on the building's roof.

We may be able to relocate plant to a different part of the building if that's required. But I suppose what I really would not wish to do is to submit a planning application for a building that doesn't fulfil our clinical requirements and those are to ensure that we have 21st-century facilities to care for some of the most vulnerable women in the country.

Prof Daly also acknowledged that the location of the Rotunda hospitals sexual assault unit, which had been the first in Europe when established 40 years ago, will need to be examined and might not form part of the new building.
A coroner has called for regular inspections to be carried out on the accessibility of lifebuoys after an inquest heard friends of a teenager who got into difficulty while swimming in the Grand Canal could not untie a lifebuoy from its stand to assist in attempts to rescue him.

A sitting of Kildare Coroners Court heard Max OConnor (15) from Newcastle, Co Dublin, drowned while swimming in the canal at the 13th Lock between Ardclough and Celbridge, Co Kildare, on May 11th, 2024.

The coroner, Loretta Nolan, issued a number of riders to her verdict after hearing evidence from several eyewitnesses about the inability of other teenagers to remove a lifebuoy from its stand.

Dr Nolan said she would write to Waterways Ireland to alert them of her recommendation that lifebuoys should be both available and accessible.

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The coroner acknowledged that there is a problem with vandalism of the lifesaving equipment but stressed that there was a need to get the balance right in terms of making them accessible.

She said it was important for anyone considering getting into water to help another to be able to access lifebuoys for their own personal safety.

Dr Nolan also called for swimming lessons to be made a formal part of the curriculum at secondary school level.

The coroner, who revealed she had lifeguard qualifications herself, noted that transition year students do some lifeguard training in association with Water Safety Ireland.

She observed that it would be good for all post primary students to have the knowledge of what to do if they found themselves in similar situations.

The inquest heard evidence from six teenagers who were with the deceased at the time of the fatal incident.

They told the coroner how two groups of friends from different schools had met up and decided to go swimming in the Grand Canal near the Cliff at Lyons country retreat.

The inquest heard that Max  a 3rd Year student at Colaiste Chilliain in Clondalkin, Dublin  had gone to the canal on his e-scooter with a speaker to play music.

The teenagers described how some of them were jumping in and out of the canal but Max had originally indicated he was not going to go in the water.

Another friend said he and Max had jumped into the water together after others had been diving into the canal for about 30 minutes.

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He raised the alarm just after 5pm after realising that his friend was not getting out of the water.

One witness said he would have advised the deceased not to go in the water if he had realised he could not swim.

The teenager recalled seeing Max was drowning when he saw him trying to swim to the surface with air bubbles coming out of his mouth.

He said he jumped back into the water and both were reaching out to try and grab hold of each other.

The witness said he tried to hold onto a chain to go deeper but we were out of reach of each other.

He added: Everyone loved Max. He was a good friend and a friendly guy.

He described the deceased as very funny and gentle.

Well all miss Max. Hell never be forgotten, he concluded.

Another youth who dived into the canal to try and rescue Max said his friend looked like he was panicking in the water.

The witness said he and another swimmer had grabbed the deceased by the arms but were unable to pull him up.

He was struggling and panicking, the teenager recalled.

He said others were screaming at them to get out of the water which was estimated to be 15-20 foot deep where the group were swimming.

One girl fought back tears as she described how they struggled to remove the lifebuoy off its stand.

Another boy described trying to kick at the lifebuoys stand to try and break it as its rope was wrapped around a pole and could not be removed.

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A woman living near the lock, Maeve Boylan, described how she was originally wary of the group of teenagers as she had experience of some groups being trouble but had observed how they seemed calm and friendly.

Boylan said she realised that there was a bit of panic among them at one stage and realised a short time later what had happened when she heard someone shout out that someone was missing.

She told the inquest that she had spent 20 minutes on a 999 call to emergency services, while she had also got a key to open the lock to drain the water from the area where the group were swimming.

Boylan said she was frustrated at not being able to do anything further to help and at realising that they were not going to be able to save the victim.

An aunt of the deceased, Joanne Moore, gave evidence of formally identifying her nephews body to gardai.

Dr Nolan said the results of a postmortem showed that Max had died from drowning.

Ireland Enoch Burke challenges his move to Castlerea Prison in court Read more

She said toxicology reports had corroborated the evidence of the witnesses that the deceased had not consumed any alcohol or drugs.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, Dr Nolan also recommended that counselling should be provided to Maxs friends, if they had not already received it.

The coroner said she would be writing to the different schools attended by the witnesses about her belief that counselling would be beneficial for them.

Its an experience that most people dont experience thankfully, she observed.
Enoch Burke has challenged his move to Castlerea Prison, saying it breaches an earlier court order.

He has spent more than 600 days in prison for violating court orders instructing him not to trespass at Wilsons Hospital School, where he used to teach History and German.

He has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the schools board of management stemming from an incident in 2022 when he was asked by the Co Westmeath schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun.

Burkes most recent spell in prison was ordered by the High Court on January 19th.

He had been released five days earlier to prepare for a case against an appeals body due to review his dismissal from Wilsons Hospital School, but the next day appeared back at the school and passed its gates.

Enoch Burke is in a long-running dispute with his former schools board of management (Brian Lawless/PA)

On Wednesday, Burke appeared before the High Court via video link from the Co Roscommon prison where he said he was moved on Sunday.

He said his relocation from Dublin was a breach of the order made on January 19th, which stated he be brought to Mountjoy Prison until further order of the High Court.

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Before the issue of Burkes location was raised, he and Mr Justice Brian Cregan had a heated exchange about the jailing of Burkes sister and mother for contempt of court earlier in the day.

Burke told Cregan Youll give an account to God, and accused him of mocking God.

And Cregan repeatedly told Burke dont threaten me and told him: I did not mock God at all; adding dont even try to pretend that was the case.

During the mornings hearings Cregan asked several times for Burkes microphone to be muted.

Enoch Burke had a heated exchange with the judge (Brian Lawless/PA)

When discussing the matter of his relocation to Castlerea Prison, Burke said the judge was Perfectly unconcerned by a breach of court order, to which Cregan replied: Of course Im concerned by the breech of court order.

Rosemary Mallon, barrister for the schools board of management, said she was completely unaware of the decision to move Burke, and she had only been aware of what she has read in newspapers and heard in court.

On Monday, after Burke was relocated, his brother Isaac Burke posted on the social media site X, saying Enoch was moved without notice or warning, adding: He wasnt told what was happening, where he was going, or given any reason for this.

Cregan scheduled a further hearing for March 10th on the matter.
A former Christian Brother teacher and school principal, who sexually assaulted two boys 40 years ago, has been jailed for five and a half years.

Liam McGrath, who was known previously as Brother Kilian, can be named for the first time after a judge lifted reporting restrictions at his sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

McGrath, (75), originally from Dublin, but with an address at Marketpoint, The Deck, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was described in court by one of the survivors of his abuse as evil.

Judge Colin Daly lifted a ban on the media naming McGrath after the two survivors in the case previously said they wished he be identified.

The two survivors, now adult men, were in court to face McGrath at his sentencing hearing. In their victim impact statements they said the sex assaults were McGraths shame and not theirs.

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McGrath had pleaded not guilty at his trial to eleven counts of indecent assault on the two boys separately, on different dates in the 1980, in Limerick and in other parts of the country, and he was found guilty on seven counts and acquitted on the remaining four counts.

The two survivors, now in their 50s, told the court how McGraths sexual assaults on them had destroyed their childhood and haunted them into their adulthood.

Everyday, memories, that I dont want, infiltrate my psyche and have stolen my sense of safety, trust and peace, and, like a shadow they have followed me through school, relationships, work, and moments I should have enjoyed, one of the men said.

This man said McGrath was a persevering predatory paedophile whose abuse made him suffer anxiety, self loathing, and a relenting sense of worthlessness.

These are not just scars of the past, they are open wounds, they are every thought, every sleepless night, he said.

40 years is a lifetime, and I spent decades trying to heal, but, in truth, there is no undoing what was done.

Turning to McGrath, the man said: You stole my childhood, my innocence, my ability to like myself.

McGrath showed no emotion throughout his trial and at his sentence hearing.

Asking the court to impose an immediate custodial sentence, the man said: There was no leniency availed to me by the perpetrator, thus I believe leniency should not be afforded to the perpetrator who preyed upon a child.

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The second survivor told McGrath: I was an innocent thirteen year old boy, you manipulated access to me by befriending my parents, and you used your position to get their trust, and you then used me for your sexual gratification.

You changed me from a happy, talkative child, to someone more introverted who had to deal with shame and guilt, huge fear; and the effects of it have followed me my entire adult life, the man said.

The two survivors said their personal relationships with their loved ones and friends had suffered due to the abuse they endured at McGraths hands.

One of the them told McGrath: Each day I battle with the demons of your abuse, which has led me to depression. To cope, I have attended years of therapy, and require daily medication.

You refuse to accept responsibility for your abuse of me, but, the truth is out and I will no longer hold your secret.

My 13-year old self has been acknowledged and believed, and I can now rest easy, knowing I did nothing wrong and that your evil has been exposed.

I am a survivor of your sexual abuse, but at 56 years of age, I am finally free from your clutches and I can now live my life with my head held high.

McGrath left the Christian Brothers after the abuse and got married and had two children.

Judge Daly said McGrath befriended the families of the two boys before going on to sexually assault them separately.

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McGrath, who had no prior convictions, had encouraged one of the boys to masturbate him and would then lie naked behind the boy and have the boy masturbate him.

McGrath also attempted to put his erect penis in between the cheeks of this boys buttocks, but the boy stopped McGrath who would ejaculate on the boy.

In respect of the other boy, McGrath kissed him on the lips on two separate occasions, the court heard.

In one of these assaults, McGrath cornered the boy and kissed him, and in the other, he pinned him against a wall and kissed him.

The sex assaults took place at various locations around Ireland when McGrath was in his 30s and the boys were aged between 12 and fourteen.

The two survivors each individually made complaints to gardai in 2020 and 2022, and the cases were prosecuted together in one trial.

Ireland Suspicious package brought to Garda station declared safe Read more

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State Solicitor Brendan Gill, said McGrath had been implicitly trusted by the boys families after he befriended them.

Judge Daly said McGrath was sinister in engineering occasions where he could be alone with the boys on different dates in the 1980s.

The judge commended both survivors for their dignified victim impact statements and said McGrath was also guilty of breaching their trust.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
An Irish man who is currently stranded in the United Arab Emirates with his wife, who is 17 weeks pregnant, and extended family has cautioned the public, Dont believe everything you see on the internet.

Aaron Bannon Whelan also said he and his family felt they were stuck in no-mans land as the consular responses they have received so far were kind of copy and paste.

He described as absolutely mental the suggestion that his pregnant wife and her 91-year-old grandfather should be expected to get on a lengthy bus journey to get to Oman for a chartered flight back to Ireland.

We've sent multiple emails, and my mother at home has rang every available embassy and helpline, and just we're not really getting any responses back from anybody, just a few generic ones here and there, and everything just seems to be kind of copy and paste, so we kind of feel like we're stuck in no man's land here, because no one's reached out really to kind of say look we're on it.

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Mr Bannon-Whelan said they had seen the announcement about the chartered flight from Oman, but they had not received any specific information.

To me, that's absolutely mental. I don't know what decision was made to do that, because for me to put a 17-week pregnant woman and a 91-year-old on a bus on a good day, seven and a half hours to Oman, and not have the guarantee of getting a flight out, because they're not all getting out.

"There are queues at the airport, how many other thousands of people from different countries are getting told the same thing, I just thought it was an absolutely outrageous statement to come out with, to say leave where you are and flee to this country that we know nothing about.

World 'The throttle is going up and it's going to stay on high', US War Secretary says Read more

I will definitely not be going to Oman.

The embassy had been more than lacklustre in terms of communication. They know who is here. We filled out the form that they've asked everyone to fill out, and the only response I got back was confirming my date of birth.

I understand that (embassy staff could be overwhelmed), but I suppose the day or two days after, on Monday, when the embassy was supposed to be open, we just got word that it was closed, and here's a helpline, and we can't ring this helpline because Irish numbers can't call while we're in the UAE.

Mr Bannon-Whelan said he was quietly confident about getting a flight later in the week.
There will be a second direct flight from the Middle East to Dublin on Thursday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said.

Helen McEntee said she is in constant engagement with the airlines to see how many direct flights we can get to Dublin as she spoke to reporters on Wednesday.

The conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel has caused widespread airspace closures in the Middle East, sparking major disruption to flights.

Next stop Dubai 



A very welcome sight at Dublin Airport this afternoon as Emirates flight EK162 departed just after 1.30pm bound for Dubai - the first departure from Ireland to the Middle East since Saturday. pic.twitter.com/hgR1POKbTD  Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 4, 2026

The Irish Government said an estimated 22,000 to 23,000 Irish citizens are in the Middle East region.

The first flight from Dubai to Ireland since its outbreak is due to land in Dublin airport on Wednesday night.

McEntee said more than 400 people are due to arrive on that flight and on Thursdays flight, but that she expected some non-Irish passengers on board.

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In the same way we know that Irish citizens have gotten on flights directly towards London and other parts of Europe, and then theyre transiting home, she said.

But obviously, if theres a direct flight to Dublin, I would expect a huge proportion of those on the flight would be Irish citizens.

For those looking to travel home to Ireland, McEntee said commercial flights are the quickest routes.

Residents watch as smoke rises from a warehouse at the industrial area of Sharjah City in the UAE following reports of Iranian strikes in Dubai (Altaf Qadri/AP)

For most people in the UAE, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the quickest way home for them is to get a commercial flight.

The airlines themselves are directly going through their own passenger list, and theyre trying to get as many of those who are caught in transit, those who are on holidays, on those flights and home.

She said, no country is getting access to the commercial flight lists: Any of the commercial flights, these are flight lists that the airlines have, theyre their customers that they have been dealing directly with.

McEntee had said on Tuesday evening that the Irish Government would charter a flight for around 280 people from Oman, a country neighbouring the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for later this week.

The minister said she is looking at a flight of over 300 people.

Asked about the cost to passengers she said it is a substantially reduced charge compared to what the cost of the overall flight is.

A plume of smoke caused by an Iranian strike is seen in the background as Emirates planes are parked at Dubai International Airport (Altaf Qadri/AP)

She said that children are flying free and a bus bringing people to Muscat in Oman will also be free, adding: Of course, if there are people in significant difficulty, we will support them.

We will make sure that they can get on the flight if they need to get home.

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She said Irish authorities are contacting everybody that will be on that flight and they are making sure that those who are most vulnerable, that they will be on that first flight.

She also encouraged anyone looking to get home to register with her department but said: It does not mean that you are registering to come home.

Ireland Energy credits currently highly unlikely, Minister says Read more

It means that you are alerting us to the fact that youre in the region.

A flight from Dublin to the emirate departed at 1.30pm on Wednesday  the first departure from Ireland to the Middle East since Saturday.

Dublin airport posted a video of flight EK162 on the social media website X, describing it as a very welcome sight.
Cuba has filed terrorism charges against six suspects it claims were aboard a Florida-flagged speedboat that is alleged to have opened fire on soldiers in waters off the islands north coast.

The Prosecutors Office said in a statement that the suspects, of Cuban origin, remain in pretrial detention, adding that it will ensure due process as it continues to act in defence of our people and the countrys institutions.

The government has said 10 heavily armed Cubans from the US who were on board the boat opened fire as they tried to infiltrate the island to commit acts of terrorism.



Weapons that Cuban authorities say were recovered from a speedboat (Ramon Espinosa/AP)

It said that Cuban soldiers returned fire, killing four suspects.

The government unveiled items said to have been found on the boat, including a dozen high-powered weapons, more than 12,800 pieces of ammunition and 11 pistols.

Chief prosecutor Edward Robert Campbell has told The Associated Press that terrorism charges carry a possible sentence of up to 30 years in prison or even the death penalty, although Cuba has maintained a moratorium on the latter since 2003.
Explosions sounded in Irans capital city on Wednesday as its war with the US and Israel entered a fifth day.

The latest attacks followed earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

Iranian state television reported explosions around Tehran as dawn broke while Israel said its air defences were activated due to incoming missile fire from Iran.



Hotel guests carry their belongings, as they leave a damaged hotel that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Hazmieh east of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday March 4 2026 (Hussein Malla/AP)

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it conducted a series of strikes across Irans capital targeting its security forces.

It said it hit buildings associated with the Basij, the all-volunteer force of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard which conducted the bloody crackdown on protesters in January that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands detained in the country.

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The Israeli military also said it hit buildings associated with Irans internal security command, which also has suppressed demonstrations in the past.

Overnight Israeli strikes on towns near Beirut have killed at least six people, Lebanons Health Ministry said early on Wednesday.

Israel struck the towns of Aramoun and Saadiyat just south of Beiruts international airport, killing six and wounding eight others.

It also struck a hotel in the Beirut suburb of Hazmieh. No casualties were immediately reported there.

Iranian-backed militant group Saraya Awliya al-Dam in Iraq said it fired drones aimed at a vital target toward Jordan.

US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent Society.



Large fire and plume of smoke is visible after, according to the authorities, debris of an Iranian intercepted drone hit the Fujairah oil facility, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (Altaf Qadri/AP)

In Lebanon, where Israel launched retaliatory strikes on the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah, 50 people were killed before the latest strikes, including seven children, the countrys health ministry said.

Lebanons state-run media reported that at least five people were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a residential complex in the city of Baalbeck.

Kuwait, which had previously reported a single death, said on Wednesday that an 11-year-old girl was killed by falling shrapnel as Kuwaiti forces were intercepting hostile aerial targets. In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain.

A vessel was hit by a projectile early on Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman off the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said. There were no reported casualties.

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Qatars Ministry of Defence said early on Wednesday that Iran launched two ballistic missiles against it and one hit Al-Udeid Qatari Base, but did not cause casualties.

The other missile was intercepted by air defence, the ministry said.



A woman crosses an almost deserted square with a billboard at rear showing a portrait of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the USIsraeli military campaign, in Tehran on Tuesday (Vahid Salemi/AP)

A day earlier, Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear research site and Iran struck back against Israel and others, targeting US embassies and disrupting energy supplies and travel.

The American embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks. Iran has fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, although most of the incoming fire has been intercepted. Eleven people in Israel have been killed since the conflict began.

US embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon said they were closed to the public.

The US State Department said early on Wednesday it had authorised non-emergency government personnel and family members to evacuate Saudi Arabia should they choose due to the war having previously ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

US citizens were urged to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, although many were stranded because of airspace closures.

President Donald Trumps administration has offered various objectives, including destroying Irans missile capabilities, wiping out its navy, preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring it cannot continue to support allied armed groups.

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While the initial US-Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Mr Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government, senior administration officials have since said regime change was not the goal.

Mr Trump on Tuesday seemed to downplay the chances of the war ending Irans theocratic rule, saying that someone from within the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the campaign is finished.



President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Washington (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Speaking on Tuesday from the Oval Office, Mr Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans toppled shah, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over.

As far as possible leaders inside Iran, the people we had in mind are dead, Mr Trump said.

I guess the worst case would be do this, and then somebody takes over whos as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen, he said. We dont want that to happen.

Irans leaders are scrambling to replace Mr Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. It is only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen. Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement.

The top US military commander in the Middle East said American forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran since the operation against the Islamic Republic began.

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Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, said in a video posted on X on Tuesday that the US military has severely degraded Irans air defences and taken out hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers and drones.

He said Iran has launched more 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones in retaliation.

But he said the US is hunting Irans last remaining mobile ballistic missile launchers to eliminate their lingering launch capability while the operation has involved more than 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers and bombers, and more capability is on the way.

Weve just begun, he said.
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth says a torpedo from a US submarine sank an Iranian warship.

In a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, Mr Hegseth said that the Tuesday night strike on an Iranian warship was the first such attack on an enemy since the Second World War.

An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters, Mr Hegseth said.

Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.



A press briefing at the Pentagon (Konstantin Toropin/AP)

Earlier, Sri Lankas navy rescued 32 people from an Iranian naval ship that sank outside Sri Lankas territorial waters.

Foreign minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that Sri Lankas navy received information that the ship Iris Dena, with 180 people on board, was in distress and sinking.

The island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission, he said.

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Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said by the time navy ships reached the location, there was no sign of the ship and there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water.

Mr Sampath said there were several dead bodies in the sea but declined to give an exact number. He said 32 people have been rescued and they have been admitted to a hospital.

Dr Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said one of those rescued is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are being treated for minor injuries.

Mr Sampath said search and rescue operations are continuing in the area. He gave no details about the cause of injuries or the damage to the ship.



Iranian warship Iris Dena is seen in the Bay of Bengal (AP Photo)

The Iris Dena  one of Irans newest warships  is a Moudge-class frigate that patrols in deep water for the Iranian navy.

It is armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. It also carries one helicopter.

The frigate was the centrepiece of a two-ship international tour in 2023 that included port calls in countries including South Africa and Brazil.

It was accompanied by the support ship Iris Makran, a converted oil tanker.

The US Treasury Department included both ships on a sanctions designation in February 2023 along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied the weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.

At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said US Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the American militarys Central Command.

We are also sinking the Iranian navy  the entire navy, he said in a video message.
The death toll in Iran from the ongoing war with the United States and Israel has reached at least 1,045 people, an Iranian government agency said on Wednesday.

Irans Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs offered the toll, saying it represented the number of bodies so far identified and prepared for burial.

Meanwhile, the United States and Israel hit Tehran and other cities in multiple airstrikes, the fifth day of the war with Iran.

Israel targeted the Iranian leadership and security forces as the Islamic Republic responded with missile barrages and drone attacks on Israel and across the region.





Tehran residents woke to dawn blasts, and Iranian state television showed the ruins of building in the centre of the capital. The Shiite seminary city of Qom and multiple other cities were also targeted.

The Israeli military said one of its F-35 stealth fighter jets shot down a piloted Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter over Tehran on Wednesday.

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It also said Israeli air defences were activated to intercept Iranian missiles fired at targets around the country, and explosions were heard around Jerusalem.

The tempo of the strikes on Iran was so intense that authorities postponed the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the conflict, according to Iranian state television.

Meanwhile, Turkeys Defence Ministry said Nato defences intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkeys airspace.

And an Iranian naval frigate sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. Authorities there rescued 32 people, though others died, Sri Lankan officials said.



(PA Graphics)

It was not immediately clear what happened to the ship, which Sri Lankan authorities identified as the Iris Dena, and is armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes and can carry a helicopter.

The US military said earlier it had already destroyed 17 Iranian vessels and that its goal was sinking the entire navy.

With Irans stranglehold on tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped, Brent crude prices hit 84 dollars a barrel, up more than 15% since the start of the conflict and at its highest price since July 2024.

Global stock markets have been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy and sap corporate profits.

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Iran has also attacked regional infrastructure. Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday its Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the worlds largest, was again targeted after an unsuccessful drone attack on it earlier in the week.

The kingdoms oil ministry said the latest attack did not cause any damage and supplies were not affected.

The American Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US Consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks on Tuesday, and the US State Department said it had authorised non-emergency government personnel to evacuate the kingdom.

US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, said Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones so far.

Weve already struck nearly 2,000 targets, with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Irans air defences and destroyed hundreds of Irans ballistic missiles, launchers and drones, Mr Cooper said in a prerecorded message shared online on Wednesday.
Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said on Tuesday that Israel and the United States now control almost all of Iran's airspace and that superiority would be evident in the next few days.

Danon told reporters at the United Nations in New York that the conflict with Iran would not be over in a day or a week.

"We knew it was not going to be an easy war. We are aware of the abilities of the Iranian regime. They spent billions of dollars on the infrastructure of terror, and we knew it was going to be a serious operation," he said.

"But it will not last forever. We have superiority. Today we have control over almost all the airspace of Iran, and I'm sure we will be able to show that superiority in the next few days."

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When asked how long Iran's missile attacks on neighboring countries might continue, Danon said US and Israeli attacks on Iran since Saturday had succeeded in degrading its capabilities.

"It will be harder for them to launch missiles," he said, although he said that Iran had hidden launchers underground and in caves.

"They prepared for this operation, so it's not going to be overnight, but I think it will be gradual."

Danon also said that the Lebanese government should act now against Hezbollah militants attacking Israel from Lebanese territory to prevent further escalation.

World Macron orders Frances nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Mediterranean Read more

He said Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was right in saying that Hezbollah must disarm.

"But statements do not dismantle rockets," he said. "We expect the Lebanese Government to restrain Hezbollah, take control, and act now to prevent further escalation."

Lebanon was drawn into the spillover from the war on Monday, when Hezbollah militants based there opened fire on Israel with drones and missiles.

Lebanon on Monday banned military activities by Hezbollah, but the militants launched missiles at Israel for a second day on Tuesday. Israel responded by sending troops into southern Lebanon and with waves of airstrikes.
A US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, and Sri Lankas navy said on Wednesday it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people.

The Iranian vessel that was sunk in the Indian Ocean was the Islamic Republics prize ship, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon news briefing.

Mr Hegseth said it was the first sinking of an enemy ship with a torpedo by the US since the Second World War.

Sri Lankas foreign minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that its navy received information that the Iris Dena, with 180 people on board, was in distress and sinking.



Defence secretary Pete Hegseth (Konstantin Toropin/AP)

The island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission, he said.

Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said by the time navy ships reached the location, there was no sign of the ship and there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water.

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He said the 32 people rescued were admitted to a hospital in the seaside town of Galle on the Sri Lankas southern coast.

The bodies recovered were being brought to land, he said.

Dr Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said one of those rescued is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are being treated for minor injuries.

The Iris Dena  one of Irans newest warships  is a Moudge-class frigate that patrols in deep water for the Iranian navy.





It is armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. It also carries one helicopter.

The frigate was the centrepiece of a two-ship international tour in 2023 that included port calls in countries including South Africa and Brazil.

It was accompanied by the support ship Iris Makran, a converted oil tanker.

The US Treasury Department included both ships on a sanctions designation in February 2023 along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied the weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.

At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said US Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the American militarys Central Command.

We are also sinking the Iranian navy  the entire navy, he said in a video message.
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BusinessConsumer affairsAviation Stuck in the Middle East war zone? These are your options for getting back to Australia Chris Zappone March 4, 2026  2:36pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Snapshot Australian government website

dfat.gov.au and click on Middle East conflict

dfat.gov.au and click on Middle East conflict 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

+61 2 6261 3305

+61 2 6261 3305 Contact airlines via your carriers app

More than 100,000 Australians remain stranded in the Middle East as conflict between Iran, the US and Israel escalates. This staggering number of citizens has triggered what Foreign Minister Penny Wong describes as a consular crisis that leaves the government scrambling to coordinate a massive repatriation effort. Smoke from the interception of a projectile is seen in the sky over Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP With major hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar facing airspace closures and flight cancellations, the government is still largely counting on commercial aviation to repatriate the Australians. There are important points for affected Australians and their families to know. Im stuck in the Middle East and want to go home. What options do I have? Unfortunately, waiting for airlines to resume flights is likely to be the best course of action. Many flights out of the region remain on hold, though some flights from Dubai have resumed.

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Smoke billows from an airstrike near Dubai International Airport, which has been closed since Sunday. AP One Sydney-bound Emirates flight took off from Dubai around 9.20am (AEDT) and is expected to land in Sydney after 10.30pm on Wednesday. Dubai-based Emirates is conducting 48 flights per hour through what the United Arab Emirates deems safe corridors with expectations to increase to 80 per hour. Emirates will accommodate customers with earlier bookings as a priority on these limited flights, it said. A departure road of of the Dubai International Airport is deserted after its closure. AP All of Etihad Airways scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 2pm UAE time on Thursday March 5 (9pm Thursday Sydney time).

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Related Article Middle East at war Australians stranded in Middle East by Iran war consider travel options Virgin-partner Qatar Airways remains temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace, the airline said. All flights from Qatar to Australia are cancelled through Friday. A further update will be provided on Thursday by 9am Doha time, or 5pm Sydney time.

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Airlines are generally waiving rebooking fees for people caught up in the suspensions. Insurers typically dont cover acts of war. What other routes can I take? If you can get out of the region via land, travel to Saudi Arabia or Oman, located on the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, where there are options to travel to Australia via Asia. Another way to get home would be travel from the Middle East to Europe, then back to Australia via Asia. Airlines that serve Asia from Europe include Singapore Airlines (via Singapore), Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong), Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur), Thai Airways (via Bangkok), China Southern/China Eastern (via Chinese cities) and EVA Air/China Airlines (via Taipei).

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Qantas on Wednesday announced a new one-off A380 flight from Sydney to London, to help alleviate demand for travel to Europe given the impact of the Middle East war. Qantass direct flight to London via Perth is now also stopping in Singapore, allowing it to add 60 more passengers there. Related Article Aviation Most complex: Inside the 24 hours that brought Qatars airspace to a close The majority of Europe to Australia flight connections operate via Asian hubs, not the Middle East, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and other major regional airports, with these routes continuing to operate normally, said Melissa Elf, global chief operating officer, FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller. One Australian based in Saudi Arabia said their planned trip back to Melbourne this week was complicated by Qatars hub Hamad International Airport closing. The only realistic solution was to fly to Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], and then on to Thailand, which offers easy connections to Australia.

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There are still plenty of options at a reasonable price, but you do need to be more creative. Is the government going to send repatriation flights? Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday Australia was exploring unspecified contingencies. If the government were to assist with evacuation flights, they would probably be operating in the contested airspace where the conflict is occurring, which has added to the complexity. Passengers whose flights were cancelled, wait at the departure terminal of Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut. AP The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has opened a portal for Australians who find themselves in Israel, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Qatar to register themselves, notifying the Australian government of their whereabouts.

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Once registered, the information is fed into the DFAT crisis centre, which allows it to know how many people want to leave and from where. DFAT wont necessarily contact registered Australians. What should I do now? Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long said if youre stuck in the affected zones of the Middle East, the most important tool now is your airline app  and specifically, your manage booking tab on the app. Loading

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That app is going to be the most important tool to know whats going on with your personal circumstances, he said. Long said stranded passengers should make sure the app has push notifications  the alerts that beep or buzz the phone. People stuck in hubs in Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or in Bahrain will be prioritised to get back to their point of departure. If a passenger is confirmed, they should continue to check the app, he said. An Emirates plane taxis to a gate at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP

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Where to look for information? Airlines are reviewing the logistical situation every two hours. That doesnt mean there will be an update to the app each time, Long said. Stranded passengers may get only a single update with the status of circumstances. They probably wont get an update if there is no new information. This can be difficult for people in a high-stress environment to deal with, Long noted. But the airline recovery process is working. The airlines are adamant that customers should not go to airports until theyre scheduled on a flight.

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They want to reduce congestion within the airport when flights depart. Ensuring only travelling passengers are at the airport allows for an orderly departure. This advice was given to Qatar Airways customers in June when an Israel-Iran flare-up closed Qatars airspace. When customers are allocated seats, they will be given ample time to get to the airport, Long said.The airlines will also need to alert their crew, who may also have been stranded, that its time to go. They generally need four hours for a crew to be activated. That means airlines would have to assume a four-hour window between telling crew to get ready and take-off. The situation in the Gulf remains fluid and the dynamics of the conflict could shift at any time  something governments and airlines are keenly aware of. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
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CultureBooksLiterature Writers paid as much as politicians? Once upon a time, it was a possibility Jane Sullivan March 4, 2026  11:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Pay writers like politicians says the essay title. We know thats not going to happen, at least not in Australia. But not so very long ago it was a serious proposition. Back in 1973, members of the Literature Board were talking about a guaranteed minimum income for writers. They canvassed an increased grant program for selected writers worth $9000 a year, about the same as was then paid to federal backbenchers. Board member Thomas Shapcott wrote: We proposed that our writers were worth at least as much as a parliamentary drone. That sentence made Catriona Menzies-Pike gasp when she was researching her essay for the current Griffith Review. The editor and literary critic writes that shes become so used to abysmally low rates of pay for writers that she wouldnt dare to suggest matching politicians salaries today. Woman Writing (1894) by Federico Zandomeneghi. But how much was she paid? Wikimedia Commons The Literature Board proposal wasnt taken up. But as Menzies-Pike demonstrates, both the expectations and the reality of writers incomes have been on a long downward slide with no end in sight. She says the base salary for a federal backbencher is now $239,270. A 2022 survey found that Australian writers earn an average of $18,200 each year from their creative work. I suspect that figure is now lower.

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The present economic climate and changing reading habits are making things increasingly tough for the publishing industry. We talk about money all the time, writes Menzies-Pike: broke writers, publishers and editors; the cost of books and paper; who cant afford to write, and so on. At our most ambitious, we talk about a living wage. The market cant be trusted to fund our national literature, so theres long been an expectation that governments should help out. Yet thats done nothing to stop the trend. One estimate is that in the past decade, federal funding for writers has dropped 43 per cent in real terms. A grant of $50,000, say, sounds quite generous. But it may be to support a project that will take several years and incur heavy expenses, so the governments contribution works out as way below a living wage. Related Article Review From pulse-pounding thrillers to a centenarians guide to happiness: 10 new books There is hope on the horizon in the shape of Labors Writing Australia, with its pledge of $26 million in new funding over three years. But where exactly will that money go? And is it enough? Menzies-Pike doesnt think so. And new challenges are bobbing up, particularly the rapid rise of AI and its threat to writers copyright and livelihoods. So writers are never going to get a living wage, right? Some countries have been much more realistic about the difficulties writers face in contributing to their national literature. Ireland is installing a permanent basic income support for artists, from this year onwards. The Norwegian government buys 1000 copies of every new title to give to public libraries. In Australia, as Menzies-Pike points out, a writer is understood to have hit the big time if they sell a thousand copies of their book.

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When I Google pay for writers, just about everything that comes up is side hustles: freelance journalism, festival appearances, teaching and judging gigs. Very little of it pays well and all of it takes authors away from their main task: writing books. When I talk to writers about this, they get grumpy or wistful, and none can see any solution. Menzies-Pike may not literally mean the title of her essay, but its still a rallying call. Once upon a time, she concludes, just for a flicker of history, policymakers talked about paying writers like parliamentarians. That wont happen again. But we must set our sights higher than scraping by. Janesullivan.sullivan9@gmail.com The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.
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LifestyleFashionTrends We were trying to be like her: The cult of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy Damien Woolnough March 4, 2026  6:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A new generation is expanding its roster of style icons beyond supermodel Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian, Hailey Bieber and teenage influencers thanks to a television series based on the tempestuous romance between Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. in the 1990s. Bessette, the fashion publicist who became an American princess by marrying into a political dynasty, then dying in a plane crash with her husband and sister Lauren in 1999, has become clickbait with the assistance of producer Ryan Murphys TV series Love Story, streaming on Disney+. Countless social media posts appear daily, dedicated to replicating Bessettes disciplined approach to dressing, and on Tuesday in New York her single-breasted camel Prada coat from 1996, fetched $US192,000 ($272,750) at auction  $227,229 above expectations. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy wearing the recently auctioned Prada coat in 1998 with John F. Kennedy Jr in Tribeca, New York. Lawrence Schwartzwald, Getty While Millennials and Generation Alpha might move on to the next trend when Paris Fashion Week finishes or Margot Robbie promotes a new movie, for people who lived through the 90s, Bessettes style is as enduring as Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana or Jackie Kennedy.

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Here is the Generation X style experts view of why #CBK should trend forever. Jillian Davison, former Harpers Bazaar Australia editor and stylist In 2000, a year after Bessette died, Davison arrived in New York from Australia to further her styling career. Behind the scenes of photo shoots, photographers and make-up artists were still talking about the style of Bessette and the designers she is most closely associated with: Calvin Klein and Narciso Rodriguez, who created her wedding dress. It was the time of Calvin, so all that minimalism was what we were looking at, Davison says. Carolyn Bessette was obviously a woman with good taste, but she was really Calvin-ised.

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So much about her style is that training, the clean, long lines, the minimalism, that elegance. Essential wardrobe items in quality fabrics with an emphasis on black, white and neutrals are part of Bessettes appeal, but Davison says that it takes more than a mix-and-match palette to stand out. John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (left) and Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as the pair filming Love Story. Getty Images So many brands today are mimicking those looks, whether its Cos or luxury designers, but the personalisation and individualisation of those pieces is key. Minimalism is only interesting when theres an irreverence. She had it. She was devastatingly beautiful and super-cool.

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Rae Morris, make-up artist and brush creator Having made her mark applying lip gloss to Naomi Campbell backstage in Turkey in 1993, Australian make-up artist Rae Morris was on her way to becoming an international arbiter of beauty when Bessette began making headlines. For Morris, Bessettes wedding dress remains a permanent stop on fashions timeline. Its like looking at Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys, Morris says. How can you not be inspired. Remember we were still coming out of the 80s and its shoulder pads. Here nothing was overworked. It looked like she wasnt trying to prove anything.

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With her platinum hair scraped back, Bessette was the antithesis of the meringue bride embodied by Princess Diana in 1981, appearing at her 1996 wedding in a silk crepe sleeveless slip dress cut on the bias. John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of President John F. Kennedy, and Carolyn Bessette on their wedding day in 1996. AP/Denis Reggie Everything about it was just perfection, Morris says. From that moment on, that hair and make-up was the most requested look. I would still use it as a reference today. No eyelashes, no fake nails... everything today is so heavy with so many steps. Not everyones going to like simplicity, but for me, she just ticked all the boxes. Its a matter of taste, and she had it.

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Anthea OConnor, former Melbourne editor for Vogue Australia and stylist At stylist Anthea OConnors wedding in 1997, the Bessette aesthetic carried her down the aisle. That was peak wedding, OConnor says. It was simple, it wasnt fussy, it wasnt traditionally bridal. I was fortunate enough that Fiona Scanlan and Gary Theodore made my dress for me. I didnt set out to mimic Bessette, but the result was similar. It was pared back and austere. Working as a fashion publicist at the time, OConnor related to Bessettes working girl wardrobe.

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I spent so long trying to replicate that look of the skirt that was the perfect, generous length and the boots. The boots needed to fit the calf and not gape too much. OConnor is watching Love Story with her 23-year-old daughter, who is now ready to raid her mothers wardrobe. Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette and Paul Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr in Love Story. Kurt Iswarienko/FX I have pieces from Scanlan Theodore, where Id worked as a fit model, and some Morrissey Edmiston in storage that fit the bill. Its new to this generation, but I lived it. With Bessette, you had more personality than a model. She wasnt trying to be anyone else. We were trying to be like her. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Trends Damien Woolnough is the fashion editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Connect via Facebook
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NationalQueenslandPetrol prices Brisbane fuel hikes lead RACQ to refer retailers to watchdog Julius Dennis March 4, 2026  12:58pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Queenslands peak motoring body has referred petrol retailers to the consumer watchdog over what they think are unfair price hikes in Brisbane that cannot be linked to war in the Middle East. The RACQs Dr Ian Jeffreys said all the major retailers upped their prices out of cycle on Tuesday morning between 9am and 10am. Looking at the Brisbane cycle, we should have been at a point when prices were going down, Jeffreys said. Prices jumped on Tuesday across the city. Julius Dennis Instead, prices across the city, led by Ampol and quickly followed by other retailers, went up to as high as $2.19 a litre for standard unleaded.

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Looking at prices this morning [Wednesday], the number of sites charging $2.19 has increased to 260, he said. Jeffreys said 260 sites were charging that price on Wednesday, A jump from 40 stations on Tuesday. The RACQ is calling out fuel retailers in Brisbane and referring them to the ACCC for possible unconscionable conduct, he said. He said similar price hikes had been seen on the Gold Coast. Consumers should not worry about petrol supply in Brisbane, and reports the price could rise as high as $3 a litre were unlikely to eventuate without unfair pricing, Jeffreys said.

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The fuel companies are good at getting fuel to market, they want to sell fuel, he said. Related Article Exclusive

Middle East at war Price gouging: Petrol stations accused of cashing in on Iran war We havent seen any supply issues or supply constraints in the Brisbane market for decades and decades. The oil market had stayed relatively steady throughout the first three days of the war in Iran, he said, adding the RACQ would expect fuel companies to absorb any increase in the margins. When markets opened on Monday, the cost of a barrel of oil climbed more than 10 per cent before easing back to rises of about 5 per cent by the end of the day.

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Contracts to buy and sell a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, rose from $US72 to finish Monday at $US76. As a rule of thumb, if prices continue rising, each rise of $US10 a barrel could add 10 a litre at the pump in Australia, economists say. Jeffreys said there was evidence the NSW market was having similar issues, but noted the Perth market, which was regulated by the state government, had not. Leading into the last state election, RACQ did call for the Queensland government to regulate price increases, to limit those price increases to 5 cents per day, he said. We are still working with the government on this, we are still working through the modelling to see how this would affect the market.

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That type of regulation would have prevented the type of behaviour we have seen in the past 24 hours. With Nick Toscano

Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
What to know about world reactions to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran?

Xinhua) 10:58, March 04, 2026

CAIRO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- As U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran entered their fourth day, global reactions remained sharply divided, with some condemning the initial strikes, others criticizing Iran's retaliatory actions, and many urging de-escalation.

Here's a quick look at the international responses:

THOSE CRITICIZING U.S.-ISRAELI STRIKES:

-- Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday described U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran as an act of aggression and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, warning that attacks on Iran could push not only Tehran but its neighbors to seek to acquire nuclear weapons. The widening conflict in the region raises the risk that nuclear proliferation issues could spin out of control, Lavrov said.

-- Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday condemned U.S.-Israeli "unilateral military action" against Iran, calling it an "unjustified" and "dangerous military intervention" outside the bounds of international law.

In a firm break from U.S. policy, the Sanchez government has also denied U.S. permission to use Spanish bases or facilities for military operations against Iran, saying any such use must comply with international law.

While criticizing the initial strikes, Spain also condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks on Gulf countries.

Madrid called for Europe to adopt a stance of "balance and moderation," urging all parties to pursue de-escalation and a return to diplomatic negotiations.

-- Pakistan

In a social media post on Tuesday, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel a driving force behind instability in the Muslim world and a "threat to humanity," warning that the war on Iran threatens Pakistan's security.

THOSE CONDEMNING IRAN'S RETALIATION:

-- Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia slammed on Tuesday an overnight Iranian attack on the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, describing it as a "treacherous" assault in an official statement. The Saudi Foreign Ministry denounced the attack "in the strongest terms" and reaffirmed the kingdom's right to take all necessary measures to defend itself and its interests, including the option to respond to any "aggression."

-- Kuwait

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" an Iranian attack on the U.S. embassy in the country, calling it "treacherous" and "a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws." It also reaffirmed the country's right to take all necessary measures to "protect its security, the safety of its territories, its citizens, and the residents therein."

-- Bahrain

The General Command of Bahrain Defence Force on Tuesday condemned Iran's strikes as a violation of international humanitarian law and the UN Charter, noting that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure run contrary to international conventions and humanitarian standards. It said that its air defence systems have destroyed 73 missiles and 91 drones launched by Iran.

-- Qatar

Qatar's Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned Iranian attacks targeting civilian areas and facilities, stating that the strikes have crossed "every red line." The Qatari military said it shot down two Iranian Su-24 military aircraft Monday evening and intercepted multiple missiles and drones.

-- Britain

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday accused Iran of pursuing a "scorched-earth strategy" in the region, saying that his government has agreed to a U.S. request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites.

Yet Starmer stressed that Britain has learned lessons from the "mistakes of Iraq," emphasizing that Britain was not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and "will not join offensive action now," citing the need for a lawful basis and a clear plan.

THOSE URGING DE-ESCALATION:

-- China

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday that China calls for an immediate cessation of military operations to prevent the conflict from further escalating and spiraling out of control. "The use of force cannot truly resolve the issue," Wang said. "Instead, it will create new problems and grave repercussions."

-- Oman

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi said on Tuesday that off-ramps for de-escalation remain "available" and urged "an immediate ceasefire and a return to responsible regional diplomacy."

Oman had been mediating indirect talks between Iran and the United States before the U.S.-Israeli strikes starting on Saturday.

-- India

India on Tuesday renewed its call for dialogue and diplomacy, urging an early end to the ongoing conflict. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs reaffirmed that it has urged all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritize the safety of civilians.

-- The United Arab Emirates

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday reiterated the country's call for de-escalation and dialogue to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the region.

The ministry also reaffirmed that it has not changed its defensive posture though having detected more than 1,000 Iranian attacks, a number exceeding the total number faced by all other targeted countries combined. It stated that it remains a non-party to the ongoing conflict.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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NationalVictoriaCourts Community battle of Shakespearean proportions: Dog killers sentence reduced after vigilante campaign Erin Pearson March 4, 2026  1:40pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

After intense public scrutiny and tit-for-tat violence, an eastern suburbs man will avoid jail time for brutally bashing beloved family dogs Millie and Brinnie with a metal pole-like instrument at least 16 times over five minutes. In a leafy Melbourne suburb that a court has banned the media from naming, the neighbourhood spat started by the bashing of a missing dog escalated into warfare. Cars have been vandalised in the dead of the night, fences torched and verbal confrontations between large groups in the middle of the street have caused a judge to call for calm, warning the escalating tensions could end up in the Supreme Court. The dogs were struck multiple times. Millie the Maltese shih tzu has never been found, presumed bludgeoned to death, after CCTV captured Mark Martinaj, 40, trapping the two dogs on his property using a temporary wire fence after the dogs strayed across the road.

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The distressing footage was played in the County Court last week as Martinaj appealed a two-month jail sentence handed down in Ringwood Magistrates Court last year for animal cruelty. Millies owners Janine and Marcus Wood (seen with daughter Lily) were left distraught by the sentence. Jason South December 3, 2024, is a day that forever changed both the Wood family and the Martinaj family, Judge Diana Manova said. Since then both families for different reasons have been victim to much suffering and torment. Regrettably, this is ongoing and has embroiled each family and other members of the community in a battle of Shakespearean proportions.

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Millie the Maltese shih tzu. Extra security was brought in to sit in court on Wednesday and protect Martinaj, akin to that used for the most serious offenders. Manova said the dogs owners, the Wood family, lived across the road from the Martinaj family, and both had young children. Martinaj kept chickens in his backyard, which was not fenced off but monitored remotely using CCTV. On the day of the offending, CCTV from the Woods home showed Millie and later Brinnie wander over to the Martinaj property about 10.40am. When alerted to their presence, the 40-year-old returned home, reversing into his driveway and pulling chicken wire in across the exit. He then entered his garage, grabbed what looked to be a pole and began striking the dogs for five, long, excruciating minutes.

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Millie has never been seen again, the judge said. She bore the brunt of the blows. Brinnie was hit many times before she managed to escape and fled back home. When Marcus Wood later approached Martinaj he said: Im really sorry. Ill buy you one or two, whatever you want, no worries. He was later arrested and charged, making a no-comment police interview. He pleaded guilty in 2025 to animal cruelty offences after more serious charges  relating to Millies death and disappearance  were withdrawn by the prosecution as her body had never been found. Mark Martinaj arrives at court on March 4, 2026. Jason South

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Animals are sentient beings. I consider both dogs were beaten, worried, tormented and terrified. Both offences are serious enough to warrant imprisonment, as long, if not longer, than what the magistrate imposed, the judge said. Community places significant importance ... on the need to protect animals from harm. Manova said research showed only two per cent of offenders convicted of animal cruelty offences were jailed, with the majority receiving fines of about $1000. After highlighting the significance of Martinajs offending and the harm caused to the dogs family, she noted in the year that had followed the crimes, the 40-year-old and his family had been subjected to a campaign of abuse including online doxxing and property damage.

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The Wood family and supporters outside court. Eddie Jim Hateful words had been spray-painted on his fence, and most recently a sign was erected in a neighbours front yard of his picture and abusive words. Threats have also been made to kill Martinaj and his family, with the behaviour demonstrating the potential to cause someone serious injury. Some of the videos I was asked to watch in chambers show children at or near your fence acting in a way that shows persistent determination and intense focus on the property. One of the films contains audio, and children can be heard making taunts, she said. This campaign of abuse and torment meets the definition of a vigilante enterprise. People have taken the law into their own hands. Neighbourhood children have been embroiled in this sorry state of affairs.

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Three CCTV videos played to the court showed two hooded people smashing Martinajs car, fire engulfing his front fence and the words you will die c--- dog killer later scrawled on it. Vigilante behaviour, the judge said, had no place in a civilised society and rough justice must be suppressed by the courts or risk the law of the jungle taking over. In resentencing Martinaj, the judge said she would no longer sentence him to jail due to the ongoing campaign, which had hijacked his social rehabilitation. The dogs owners, Marcus and Janine Wood. Eddie Jim To send you to prison despite what has been done to you would be injustice and could encourage others to engage in such sickening conduct that can lead to a degradation of the fabric of society.

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Manova resentenced Martinaj to a 12-month adjourned undertaking, with a $1000 donation. He was also placed on an 18-month community corrections order for his attack on Millie. As part of that he must undergo anger management classes and complete 50 hours of community work. Outside court, the Wood family and community supporters held signs and sobbed at the sentence. Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said it was a dark day when an animal can be brutally beaten to their death and their attacker receives a slap on the wrist. Her attacker should be serving jail time. It is clear that a community-based order, conditions and supervision is not justice, she said.

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Victoria has some of the weakest penalties for animal cruelty in the country and Jacinta Allan has failed on her now-10 year old promise to modernise our states broken laws. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaCourts Opinion Im a retired Supreme Court judge. Tom Silvagni should not have been prosecuted in secret Betty King Retired Supreme Court judge March 4, 2026  2:30pm

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In April 2008, I jokingly referred to myself as the Queen of Suppression Orders when explaining to a jury why I had banned a show that had been about to air on the Seven network. I was the Supreme Court judge in charge of the gangland murder trials involving Carl Williams and had issued some noteworthy suppression orders. The TV segment was set to show Judy Moran arguing with Carl Williams mother over whose son was the better criminal. Betty King in 2015, shortly before she retired as a Supreme Court judge. Pat Scala When I commenced dealing with Williams, he faced at least seven trials, predominantly for murder and conspiracy to murder, which involved seven different murders, and they were anticipated to take many years to be heard. Despite those upcoming trials, Williams, the charges he faced and his family were daily media fodder.

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One reason for the orders was that I presumed that the first application that Williams would make would be an application for a permanent stay of all the trials on the basis of that publicity. Related Article Justice Its wrong: Former judge says mental health suppression orders threaten court system It would have been impossible to find an impartial jury if they had read about his conviction for one execution-style murder immediately before his trial for another execution-style murder. A successful application would have meant that he would not have been prosecuted at all. I must have been prescient as that was indeed the first application. Because of the suppression order and due to the lapse of a few months with no publicity or reference to Williams, I was able to refuse the application.

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The purpose of these orders was not to help Williams  it was to help the community have these trials dealt with as expeditiously, cost-effectively and as fairly as possible, thereby ensuring that justice could be served. There were constant complaints from the media about the suppression orders interfering with the publics right to know. I, however, had to balance that with the communitys right to have these cases heard and an end to the gangland war infotainment that they had become. I refer to this because of a report released on Tuesday, prepared by researchers at the school of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University, at the request of the Melbourne Press Club. In summary, the report says the courts have completely failed to safeguard the principle of open justice and that the limitations to conducting public interest news journalism in Victoria are now so severe that the crucial role of holding powerful institutions and individuals to account is under significant strain. The report refers heavily to suppression orders in the Victorian courts, and is based on interviews with 12 journalists.

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To support its contention that Victorian courts are less transparent than other states, it reports figures showing that, in 2023, Victorian courts issued 521 suppression orders, South Australia 308, Western Australia 2 and NSW 133. Related Article Justice Case closed: Growing hostility between media, judiciary impacting open justice It is most unfortunate that the authors of this independent report did not refer to a 2020 report called Debunking the Myth: why Victoria is not the suppression order capital of Australia by Melbourne University academic Jason Bosland. That report clarifies the problem of using raw statistics when only Victoria and SA routinely provide media organisations with a notice about every suppression order issued by every court in the state. The statistics relied on reflect reporting, not actuality. Far from being the suppression order capital, Victoria has, relative to population, one of the lowest per capita number of suppression orders for individual cases, according to Boslands research. In a population of over 7 million people, and in excess of 350,000 cases in the combined jurisdictions, only 0.151 per cent of all cases are suppressed.

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Could we do better? Of course, we could. I share community concern about the increasing use of mental health fragility and how its interconnection to well-known identities and families is being used to justify the granting of suppression orders, preventing the naming of people accused of crimes. It is disturbing that those who can afford the services of private psychiatrists and private mental health facilities are being afforded the privilege of not being named as being charged. When judges have reports that state there is a real and significant risk that the person charged will die by suicide if they are named, and that report goes unchallenged, untested, then it makes it almost impossible for the judge to refuse that application. These psychiatrists should face cross-examination over their claims their clients are in a worse mental state than the average defendant facing serious charges. This was recently highlighted in the case of Tom Silvagni. I doubt that many peoples mental health is in good condition after being charged with serious crimes. But very few have the resources to obtain excellent psychiatric assistance and sometimes quite compelling expert reports as to why there should be a suppression order to prevent the adverse and overwhelming publicity that comes with their own fame or notoriety. It appears to smack of a privilege.

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Exclusive NationalBuilding Bad Watchdog lashes Victorias Big Build agency over poor records Nick McKenzie and Kieran Rooney Updated March 4, 2026  11:07am ,first published March 4, 2026  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A secret Victorian ombudsman briefing has warned that the Allan governments agency managing its $100 billion Big Build program is exposed to corruption because it fails to keep adequate records about how it spends taxpayer dollars. The revelation of the ombudsmans concerns about the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority, in a briefing sent last month, adds to damning warnings about the waste and rorting of billions of the Big Build separately raised by corruption buster Geoffrey Watson, SC, Fair Work Commission chief Murray Furlong and project supervisors. Loading It came as Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday again rebuffed calls to urgently give the states anti-corruption watchdog powers to probe the extent of misspending on the Big Build. The ombudsmans criticism of Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA), which was created to deliver Big Build projects, is contained in a confidential agency document seen by this masthead.

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The document deals with the ombudsmans handling of a Big Build insiders complaint that certain VIDA executives had acted improperly in the way they spent taxpayer funds. The specifics of the complaint is not being revealed by this masthead as the insider was deemed a whistleblower under Victorian laws that prevent the publication of information that could reveal their identity. Premier Jacinta Allan again rebuffed calls to expand the corruption watchdogs powers. Simon Schluter The ombudsman briefing note, dated February 2, said that while an initial assessment by an investigator did not locate the evidence to substantiate the insiders specific concerns about certain VIDA executives, it still uncovered troubling information. The ombudsman investigator reviewed VIDAs financial records and concluded that it was evident VIDA had not adequately recorded its procurement activities in a fair and transparent manner, the note says.

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The ombudsman probe also found that the authority did not always adhere to its procurement policies and procedure and was stymied by abysmal record keeping at VIDA. Related Article Building Bad Rotting from the top: Bribery, drugs, bikies and billions of taxpayer dollars Many documents had gaps which created challenges and hindered our ability to fully interrogate the records, the ombudsmans note states. VIDAs poor financial record keeping and reporting increases corruption risks, and there is a need to strengthen its governance and reporting mechanisms to allow for effective oversight and accountability. The ombudsman said that while it would not launch an investigation into any VIDA executives named in the original insiders complaint, it would refer its concerns to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) as well as the Victorian Auditor-Generals Office (VAGO).

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The ombudsman also said it was aware that VIDA has now taken steps to improve its financial governance and record keeping as a result of our involvement. As a result, we have confidence that the concerns you have raised will be addressed by VIDA, IBAC or VAGO, the ombudsman said. IBAC chief Victoria Elliott. Simon Schluter The briefing note was written weeks before IBAC went public with its concerns that it lacked the power to follow the money to test if the Big Build taxpayer funds had been corrupted. Under current rules, IBAC cannot pursue taxpayer funds through to subcontractors and labour-hire providers. Commissioner Victoria Elliott has asked the government for these powers, and they were also recommended by parliaments integrity and oversight committee.

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Elliott told a parliamentary inquiry that it would help IBAC probe the Big Build alongside changes that would stop their investigations being limited to those with a link to a public officer. Editor's pick Exclusive

Building Bad Big Builds dirty money: How gangland, bikie-linked firms funded Labor The opposition, Greens and some crossbenchers supported a push to legislate follow-the-money powers immediately this week by attaching an amendment to a larger omnibus bill, which included anti-vilification changes and tougher penalties on bestiality. Rather than lose the vote, the Allan government has decided to introduce the anti-vilification laws in a separate bill that will leave the omnibus bill lingering in parliament. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny and Allan have said they will still consider the integrity committees response, which they must respond to by June.

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On Tuesday, Kilkenny would not say whether the government would adopt the recommendation. Those matters will be reviewed by government, and the government will respond in due course, she said. Kilkenny said action is happening right now to tackle construction industry issues through the police and the cancellation of more than 140 labour hire licences. Allan said she wouldnt speculate on any future decisions the government might make.

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The Coalition introduced its own private members bill on Tuesday that would give IBAC follow-the-dollar powers. However, the government does not support private members bills and has a commanding majority in the lower house. Victorians deserve a government that wants to stamp out crime, has a plan to clean up the corruption, and fix the problems is our state, shadow attorney-general James Newbury said. The Victorian Greens have also pledged to introduce their own integrity legislation in response to the governments decision to push back debate. Greens leader Ellen Sandell said Labor was relying on tricks and tactics to avoid giving IBAC the powers its needs. This is a cop-out from Labor, and the reality is that there is no excuse for not strengthening IBAC except that Labor doesnt want to, she said.

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A damning report by integrity expert Geoffrey Watson released last month, commissioned by the administrator of the CFMEU, detailed a litany of misconduct on taxpayer-funded projects including allegations of drug distribution, graft and sexual exploitation. His initial version of the report estimated that CFMEU-related corruption might have cost $15 billion across $100 billion of Big Build work. These comments were removed by administrator Mark Irving in a copy of the report produced to a public inquiry in Queensland before being released publicly. He said he deleted the estimate as it was, in his opinion, untested. Allan has seized on this fact to dispute the figure, even after the Fair Work Commissions Furlong told Senate estimates he had heard a similar number from Victorian government officials. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
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NationalWACourts Paedophile priest sentenced again for abusing girl on the way to Pilbara beach Hannah Murphy March 4, 2026  5:27pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A priest who worked across the eastern states and Western Australia has been handed more jail time for raping a young girl while they were driving to a remote beach in the states Pilbara in the 1970s. Adrian Van Klooster has previously been jailed for possessing child exploitation material and abusing children in his care while he worked as a parish priest in Bunbury, and appeared in WAs District Court again on Wednesday on a series of new offences. Adrian Van Klooster. Facebook Van Klooster was found guilty of four child sex offences after a three-day trial earlier this month, for offending that happened in the north of the state in 1978. The priest was working out of the Wickham and lived at a house attached to the church. He would allow children to spend time in the property.

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The 11-year-old victim and Van Klooster, who was 35 years old at the time, were driving to Cossack Beach on one occasion when he allowed the young girl to sit on his lap and steer the car. Related Article Catholic church 'I'm not a used car salesman': Can the archbishop chart a new course? The court was told Van Klooster raped her once in the car and reassured her everything was going to be OK. He raped her again when they arrived at the quiet beach, and again told the girl he would not hurt her. However, during sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Wendy Hughes said she understood the incident the girl could recall was actually one instance of abuse. Hughes said evidence at Van Kloosters trial had indicated his offending against the girl had occurred more than once.

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I sentence you on the basis, Mr Van Klooster, that this occasion was not a once-off or isolated incident, that there were other occasions when you did sexually abuse the victim, including inside your house, other occasions at Cossack Beach and on the way to Roebourne, she said. Its also serious because there was a large age disparity between yourself and the victim of over 25 years. Its also serious because you were in a position of trust as the local priest, because of your position and standing in the community, not only did the victim trust you, but other people trusted you to have access to their children and allowed the children to be alone with you. Hughes said it was apparent Van Kloosters offending had lasted at least six months over 1978 and 1979, and it was persistent and repeated. She said the victim, who was now in her 60s, had experienced irreparable damage following the assault, and now refused to let herself get close with anyone to avoid an attack. Hughes sentenced Van Klooster, now 84 years old, to two years and 10 months prison, and said she had to consider his age as a mitigating factor. Van Klooster has been sentenced previously over similar charges, and had spent time working in Wollongong, Australind, Bunbury and Geraldton.
Tournament favourites Japan have overcome a frustrating first half to post a 2-0 win over Taiwan in their Womens Asian Cup clash in Perth.

On an afternoon when temperatures soared past 36C shortly after the 1pm kick-off, Taiwan had just 9.3 per cent possession in the first half but still managed to enter the break locked at 0-0.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 61st minute via Momoko Tanikawa, while substitute Kiko Seike secured the win with a 92nd-minute header in front of 1223 fans at Perth Rectangular Stadium (HBF Park).

Aoba Fujino of Japan in action during the AFC Womens Asian Cup Australia 2026 match between Japan and Taiwan in Perth. Paul Kane/Getty Images

World No.8 Japan are expected to easily top Group C, leaving Taiwan, India and Vietnam to scrap for second spot.

But as the clock ticked past 60 minutes on Wednesday and with the scoreboard still 0-0, Japans players were worried.

Taiwans tactics were easy to decipher; sit back and defend with gusto, and launch the ball forward - often straight back to Japanese players - whenever possession was won.

Such was Taiwans struggles to even get the ball past halfway, their first touch in their attacking box didnt arrive until the 37th minute.

Japan launched wave after wave of attacks in the first half, but it all came to nothing.

The closest they came was just before first-half stoppage time when Taiwans Yi-Yun Hsu almost put the ball into her own net following a cross from Japans Mina Tanaka.

Taiwan goalkeeper Yu-Ting Wang got a fingertip on the ball to slow its progression before defender Chi-Lan Chang backheeled it off the line just as it was about to bounce over.

Japan continued to threaten early in the second half and they finally got reward when Tanikawa expertly chested down a floating pass before poking the ball into the net.

The points were secured in stoppage time when Seike charged in to head home from close range.

Japan ended the match with 89.5 per cent possession and a whopping 30 shots to zero.

Their campaign resumes on Saturday night when they face India at HBF Park.

Taiwan, who take on Vietnam on Saturday, lost Hsin-Hui Pu in the 25th minute to what looked like a serious injury to her left knee after being stretchered off for medical assistance.

AAP
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PoliticsFederalRussia-Ukraine war Ukraine warns Canberra: Dont let Iran conflict distract from Kyiv Rob Harris March 4, 2026  6:32pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Senior Ukrainian MPs have used a visit to Canberra to warn that escalating conflict with Iran must not come at the expense of Western support for Kyiv, declaring that the outcome of Russias invasion will shape global security far beyond Europe. The delegation, led by Galyna Mykhailiuk, a representative of Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraines parliament, is meeting federal government and opposition figures this week to press the case for sustained military aid, tighter sanctions on Moscow and deeper defence industry co-operation. Anastasiia Radina and Galyna Mykhailiuk were part of the Ukrainian delegation to visit Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday. Alex Ellinghausen Their visit coincides with rising tensions throughout the Gulf after Iranian drone attacks on several states, prompting concerns that Western weapons stockpiles and diplomatic focus could be diverted from Ukraine at a critical stage of the four-year war. We are very much grateful for every single piece of support that was provided by the government, by the parliament, by people of Australia, Mykhailiuk said at Parliament House.

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When you have no means of survival and you go in front of the Russian invader, bravery is not enough. The fact that democratic nations provided us with military and financial support helped us to preserve our independence, humanity and freedom. Related Article Exclusive

Blood Oil Oil companies put on notice over Russian blood oil President Zelensky has offered to send Ukraines leading drone interception specialists to assist Gulf states targeted by Iranian attacks, and in return asked their leaders to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire. Ukraine has developed significant expertise in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones, which Russia has deployed extensively against its energy grid and residential areas since the full-scale invasion began. But Mykhailiuk said Kyiv remained sceptical that Moscow was genuinely interested in ending the war.

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If Ukrainians stop fighting, we will just be occupied. If Russia stops the war, peace will come, she said. There is a huge difference in the approaches. She warned that Russias war economy remained fully mobilised, supported by allies including North Korea, and that Moscow had shown no sign of abandoning its territorial ambitions. In Canberra, the delegations program includes meetings with Trade Minister Don Farrell, Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil and opposition foreign affairs spokesman Ted OBrien, as well as an appearance before a joint standing committee and the launch of a parliamentary friendship group for Ukraine. Musa Magomedov, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Galyna Mykhailiuk, Anastasiia Radina and Oleksii Movchan. Alex Ellinghausen Joining Mykhailiuk in Canberra were Anastasiia Radina, chair of Ukraines anti-corruption committee; Oleksii Movchan, deputy chair of the economic development committee; and Musa Magomedov, who heads the subcommittee on industrial policy  a line-up Kyiv said underscored its focus not only on weapons and sanctions, but on clean governance, economic reform and rebuilding its industrial base during wartime.

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Mykhailiuk urged Australia to maintain and strengthen sanctions on Russia and to consider directing frozen Russian assets towards Ukraines reconstruction and domestic weapons production. Related Article Exclusive

Russia-Ukraine war Australias diamond back door: Blood jewels slipping past borders to fund Russias war Our companies have capacity to increase production. They just need finance, she said, arguing there was scope for countries such as Australia to fund procurement arrangements that would allow weapons to be manufactured inside Ukraine. She also acknowledged a shift in US support, with Kyiv increasingly required to purchase ammunition rather than rely on donations. We have to buy everything, she said. There is lots of room for co-operation.

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Framing the conflict in strategic terms for an Indo-Pacific audience, she argued that failure to hold Russia accountable would embolden other authoritarian regimes. We do believe that if the aggressor sees that there is no accountability, they will implement invasion plans towards other regions, she said. The destiny of the democratic world is being solved in Ukraine. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced a new round of sanctions directed towards Russia to coincide with the four-year anniversary of the war last week. For the first time, fuel importers were warned they could be breaching Australian sanctions law by importing Russian-origin oil processed in third countries. The federal government has also provided $1.7 billion in military aid, humanitarian and energy assistance to Ukraine. But experts have warned a Senate committee last month Australias support for Ukraine was being undermined because of loopholes in its sanctions regime. Australia has imported about $24.7 billion worth of oil since 2022 from countries that refine Russian crude, delivering an estimated $2.5 billion in tax revenue to the Kremlin, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

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Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the launch of parliaments Friends of Ukraine committee on Wednesday night that the government was firm in its focus on the war. We cannot allow Mr Putin to simply make this the new normal, Wong said. We have to stand with the people of Ukraine. So to our Ukrainian friends, please know you have ... Australias support, and you have our friendship. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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Few countries on earth can claim a navy with greater ancient prestige than Irans, whose heritage dates back to the First Persian Empire of 500BC. One wonders what those great and terrible warriors would think if they could see the state of the Iranian Navy now. Four days into the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Islamic Republics naval headquarters is in ruins, one of its elite admirals is dead, and its finest warships are ablaze in the Gulf of Oman, home to its southern fleet. A vessel identified as the Iranian Navys largest ship, the IRIS Makran, burns at Bandar Abbas. AP US President Donald Trump has made the annihilation of the Iranian Navy a key goal of his campaign, with the US boasting on Monday that all 11 of Irans vessels stationed in the Gulf of Oman have been destroyed. American forces have also mostly destroyed the headquarters of the Iranian naval fleet in the port of Bandar Abbas, while Ali Shamkhani, an admiral in Irans elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been killed in an Israeli air strike. The presidents goal appears to be clearing the Gulf of Oman of warships used by Tehran to enforce a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical trade route that carries one-fifth of the worlds oil shipments. Iran said it had closed the Strait on Monday.

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A frigate burns at Irans Konarak Naval Base. AP It remains to be seen whether Washingtons goal has been achieved. Marine traffic data shows, as of Tuesday morning, a large number of ships are still queuing to enter the Strait. The scale of the destruction of Irans navy has been laid bare in satellite images, which show a striking before-and-after scene of the port of Bandar Abbas in the Gulf of Oman. Related Article Middle East at war US warns the big one is coming amid conflicting signals over wars duration Google Earth imagery taken on February 22 shows many of Irans naval vessels  belonging either to its regular navy or elite IRGC naval units  docked and intact in Bandar Abbas. At least 11 large-scale military vessels are visible in the image, along with dozens of smaller vessels, which may be civilian or military. But a new image captured by satellite imaging company Planet Labs shows the same area shrouded in thick, black smoke, the aftermath of heavy US bombing of the port.

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Zoom in on that images bottom-right corner, and you will see what appears to be the smouldering remains of Irans biggest naval vessel, the IRIS Makran. Converted from an oil tanker, the IRIS Makran was believed to be some sort of support vessel, but its exact purpose and capabilities were unclear. AFP Built from a converted oil tanker, the Makran is, perhaps unintentionally, an apt symbol for the Iranian military: crippled by sanctions, lacking in key parts and forced to make do with what is available. Despite its rather Heath Robinson-esque origins, the Makran was feted by the regime as a major new tool in its arsenal, taking part in a two-day missile exercise in 2021. United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the US military command in the Middle East, also claims to have struck an Iranian carrier, the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, which is used to launch drones and helicopters for aerial attacks. The satellite imagery is striking and will support the Trump administrations claims that its war on Iran is ahead of schedule and going exceedingly well. But security experts say there is nothing particularly impressive about blowing up Irans poorly maintained military assets, which in some cases date back to the rule of the shah from 1949 to 1979. The Bayandor-class corvettes IRIS Bayandor and IRIS Naghdi, both destroyed this week, were launched in 1964.

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The 62-year-old IRIS Naghdi, seen in the foreground, took part in joint exercises with Russia and China in South Africa at the start of this year. Bloomberg If you compare their navy with Donald Trumps big beautiful Armada, its more like a dwarf, Dr Andreas Bohm, a Middle East expert from the University of St Gallen in Switzerland, told the London Telegraph. It has been very much weakened by sanctions, its material is outdated, and when you look at the air force, for example, mostly all the aircraft are from the shah era and US-built. Its really old, he said. Dr Bohm added that when this was taken into account, the US bombing campaign was not impressive. A vintage engraving showing the Battle of Salamis of 480BC, in which the Greek Navy under Themistocles defeated the Persian Empires much larger fleet. Getty Images Conversely, one area where the Iranian Navy has had an impact is its closure of the Strait of Hormuz by threatening to set fire to passing commercial ships. They are capable of being a menace in the Persian Gulf, but its not like they could hold their own against the United States in kinetic terms, he said.

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Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war updates: Khameneis son tipped as likely new leader as Trump says US decimated Iran; Israeli ground troops in Lebanon; Death toll continues to rise What they are capable of is asymmetric warfare, and we can see this in the Strait of Hormuz, where insurance prices have skyrocketed, and companies are refraining from sending their ships through. We are seeing two different strategies, he said. The US and Israel are trying to hit hard and fast, while Iranians are trying to endure, to have strategic depth  keeping their heads down and waiting for the costs to increase on the US and its allies. They are waiting until the balance tips. The Telegraph, London Read more on the US-Israel-Iran war
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TikTok is bucking the industry trend by refusing to adopt end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for its direct messages, claiming the move would compromise user safety. In a briefing with BBC News at its London office, the social media company argued that because E2EE limits message access strictly to the sender and recipient, it would prevent safety teams and law enforcement from detecting real-world harms, like grooming and harassment. TikTok also noted that all direct messages on its platform are still secured using standard encryption.

The majority of the big social networks adopt E2EE on the premise of protecting their users' privacy. Conversely, it also means that when a crime is committed, the companies and law enforcement can't see or stop the wrongdoing. However, as the BBC noted, privacy experts view E2EE as a means to protect users from hackers, corporations, and repressive authorities who want to spy on their users.

Industry expert Matt Navarra describes TikTok's refusal to encrypt as a clever but risky PR gamble, since it comes with "pretty combustible optics." By focusing on the very real dangers of direct messaging harassment and grooming, TikTok can frame itself as a champion of "proactive safety" instead of focusing on "privacy absolutism." However, Navarra warns that this strategy clashes with global privacy standards and could fuel existing fears regarding the platform's corporate ties. TikTok has long faced accusations of ties to the Chinese government, which is perceived as putting user data at risk.

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A SUNY Canton faculty member from the School of Business and Liberal Arts shared her culture with first and third graders at Potsdams Lawrence Avenue Elementary School.

Visiting Assistant Professor Alice Jiang, who teaches business and management at the college, introduced students to the origins of the Lunar New Year and explained how its date is determined according to the lunar calendar, during her Feb. 25 visit.

She also described how families in China prepare for and celebrate the holiday, highlighting traditional customs and the legends associated with the festival. The engaging presentation sparked strong interest, according to Jiang.

The atmosphere was lively and joyful, with enthusiastic participation throughout the session, she said. Childrens smiles are priceless, and love knows no borders.

The second half of the program featured interactive cultural activities. Students created traditional lanterns, practiced writing the Chinese character , symbolizing good fortune, received red envelopes conveying New Year blessings, and were given winter scarves as a gesture of warmth and goodwill.

Professor Jiangs research focuses on the integration of traditional culture and modern management, and her outreach efforts reflect her commitment to promoting cultural understanding in contemporary communities. For three consecutive years, she has visited elementary schools to share Chinese New Year traditions, bringing carefully selected cultural gifts from China to enrich students experiences.

She believes that fostering cultural exchange, serving the community, and broadening young students global perspectives through education is both meaningful and rewarding.

The initiative reflects her schools ongoing commitment to community engagement, cultural exchange, and the promotion of diversity.
TAOISEACH Micheal Martins apology to survivors of industrial schools has been labelled pointless by survivor Mary Dunlevy Greene.

What was the point of this apology? she told The Nationalist. When we got one by Bertie Ahern all those years ago. Bertie more or less said the same thing.

Mary has expressed disappointment at the lack of progress the government has made in implementing welfare benefits that it promised when she and three other survivors ended their hunger strike outside the Dail in November.

Mary (73) lives in Carlow town and from 21 September to 11 November 2025 she, alongside three other survivors of industrial schools, lived in a makeshift campsite close to Leinster House and went on hunger strike. The survivors were protesting what they deemed to be the unfair exclusion of industrial school survivors from healthcare and pension benefits that survivors of other religious institutions, such as Magdalene laundries and Mother and Baby homes, are entitled to.

Last Wednesday, Mary and the three other survivors were invited to attend the Dail to watch taoiseach Micheal Martin issue an unequivocal apology for the unforgivable abuse and neglect they received as children.

Mary said that the survivors have not been given any dates by the government for when their benefits will be in place. She added that the survivors feel so exasperated by the current situation that they had considered not attending the official state apology.

When they said they were going to give us the apology, we thought long and hard about accepting it before the services were put in place. We sent them an email saying that we want the services put in place before the apology, Mary said.

The taoiseachs apology was the fourth apology that the Irish state has issued to survivors of religious institutions in Ireland.

We got an apology from Bertie Ahern 26 years ago on behalf of industrial and reformatory schools. We were promised the services, that we would be looked after for the rest of our lives with the services put in place. We have been negotiating for 26 years to get those services in place, Mary said.

Before the apology, Mary and her three fellow survivors were invited to the taoiseachs office for a private audience. Mary said that the three of them were handed certificates stating that their criminal records  which is something that all children entering industrial schools were issued with  had been expunged. However, the dates of birth or dates of admission and exit from their respective institutions were wrong.

We had to give them back. In fairness, I did point out to them that the mistakes were probably not of their own making, Mary said.

Mary explained that her mental and physical health had suffered as a result of the hunger strike.

We were at deaths door when the strike ended, theres no two ways about it. I had to go and get my eyes lasered two weeks ago because my eyesight was completely shot as a result of the hunger strike, Mary said. I havent eaten a full meal since the strike.

For now, Mary says she and the other survivors are still hard at work trying to get fellow survivors access to the services they have been promised.

The age cohort of the survivors is on the higher side. Theyre not going to last forever. Services are not going to be needed forever  15 to 20 years at most  and then nobody will need them anymore because theyll all be dead and gone, Mary said.
Sean McCarthaigh

A coroner has called for regular inspections to be carried out on the accessibility of lifebuoys after an inquest heard friends of a teenager who got into difficulty while swimming in the Grand Canal could not untie a lifebuoy from its stand to assist in attempts to rescue him.

A sitting of Kildare Coroners Court heard Max OConnor (15) from Newcastle, Co Dublin, drowned while swimming in the canal at the 13th Lock between Ardclough and Celbridge, Co Kildare, on May 11th, 2024.

The coroner, Loretta Nolan, issued a number of riders to her verdict after hearing evidence from several eyewitnesses about the inability of other teenagers to remove a lifebuoy from its stand.

Dr Nolan said she would write to Waterways Ireland to alert them of her recommendation that lifebuoys should be both available and accessible.

The coroner acknowledged that there is a problem with vandalism of the lifesaving equipment but stressed that there was a need to get the balance right in terms of making them accessible.

She said it was important for anyone considering getting into water to help another to be able to access lifebuoys for their own personal safety.

Dr Nolan also called for swimming lessons to be made a formal part of the curriculum at secondary school level.

The coroner, who revealed she had lifeguard qualifications herself, noted that transition year students do some lifeguard training in association with Water Safety Ireland.

She observed that it would be good for all post primary students to have the knowledge of what to do if they found themselves in similar situations.

The inquest heard evidence from six teenagers who were with the deceased at the time of the fatal incident.

They told the coroner how two groups of friends from different schools had met up and decided to go swimming in the Grand Canal near the Cliff at Lyons country retreat.

The inquest heard that Max  a 3rd Year student at Colaiste Chilliain in Clondalkin, Dublin  had gone to the canal on his e-scooter with a speaker to play music.

The teenagers described how some of them were jumping in and out of the canal but Max had originally indicated he was not going to go in the water.

Another friend said he and Max had jumped into the water together after others had been diving into the canal for about 30 minutes.

He raised the alarm just after 5pm after realising that his friend was not getting out of the water.

One witness said he would have advised the deceased not to go in the water if he had realised he could not swim.

The teenager recalled seeing Max was drowning when he saw him trying to swim to the surface with air bubbles coming out of his mouth.

He said he jumped back into the water and both were reaching out to try and grab hold of each other.

The witness said he tried to hold onto a chain to go deeper but we were out of reach of each other.

He added: Everyone loved Max. He was a good friend and a friendly guy.

He described the deceased as very funny and gentle.

Well all miss Max. Hell never be forgotten, he concluded.

Another youth who dived into the canal to try and rescue Max said his friend looked like he was panicking in the water.

The witness said he and another swimmer had grabbed the deceased by the arms but were unable to pull him up.

He was struggling and panicking, the teenager recalled.

He said others were screaming at them to get out of the water which was estimated to be 15-20 foot deep where the group were swimming.

One girl fought back tears as she described how they struggled to remove the lifebuoy off its stand.

Another boy described trying to kick at the lifebuoys stand to try and break it as its rope was wrapped around a pole and could not be removed.

A woman living near the lock, Maeve Boylan, described how she was originally wary of the group of teenagers as she had experience of some groups being trouble but had observed how they seemed calm and friendly.

Boylan said she realised that there was a bit of panic among them at one stage and realised a short time later what had happened when she heard someone shout out that someone was missing.

She told the inquest that she had spent 20 minutes on a 999 call to emergency services, while she had also got a key to open the lock to drain the water from the area where the group were swimming.

Boylan said she was frustrated at not being able to do anything further to help and at realising that they were not going to be able to save the victim.

An aunt of the deceased, Joanne Moore, gave evidence of formally identifying her nephews body to gardai.

Dr Nolan said the results of a postmortem showed that Max had died from drowning.

She said toxicology reports had corroborated the evidence of the witnesses that the deceased had not consumed any alcohol or drugs.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, Dr Nolan also recommended that counselling should be provided to Maxs friends, if they had not already received it.

The coroner said she would be writing to the different schools attended by the witnesses about her belief that counselling would be beneficial for them.

Its an experience that most people dont experience thankfully, she observed.
David Raleigh

A former Christian Brother teacher and school principal, who sexually assaulted two boys 40 years ago, has been jailed for five and a half years.

Liam McGrath, who was known previously as Brother Kilian, can be named for the first time after a judge lifted reporting restrictions at his sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

McGrath, (75), originally from Dublin, but with an address at Marketpoint, The Deck, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was described in court by one of the survivors of his abuse as evil.

Judge Colin Daly lifted a ban on the media naming McGrath after the two survivors in the case previously said they wished he be identified.

The two survivors, now adult men, were in court to face McGrath at his sentencing hearing. In their victim impact statements they said the sex assaults were McGraths shame and not theirs.

McGrath had pleaded not guilty at his trial to eleven counts of indecent assault on the two boys separately, on different dates in the 1980, in Limerick and in other parts of the country, and he was found guilty on seven counts and acquitted on the remaining four counts.

The two survivors, now in their 50s, told the court how McGraths sexual assaults on them had destroyed their childhood and haunted them into their adulthood.

Everyday, memories, that I dont want, infiltrate my psyche and have stolen my sense of safety, trust and peace, and, like a shadow they have followed me through school, relationships, work, and moments I should have enjoyed, one of the men said.

This man said McGrath was a persevering predatory paedophile whose abuse made him suffer anxiety, self loathing, and a relenting sense of worthlessness.

These are not just scars of the past, they are open wounds, they are every thought, every sleepless night, he said.

40 years is a lifetime, and I spent decades trying to heal, but, in truth, there is no undoing what was done.

Turning to McGrath, the man said: You stole my childhood, my innocence, my ability to like myself.

McGrath showed no emotion throughout his trial and at his sentence hearing.

Asking the court to impose an immediate custodial sentence, the man said: There was no leniency availed to me by the perpetrator, thus I believe leniency should not be afforded to the perpetrator who preyed upon a child.

The second survivor told McGrath: I was an innocent thirteen year old boy, you manipulated access to me by befriending my parents, and you used your position to get their trust, and you then used me for your sexual gratification.

You changed me from a happy, talkative child, to someone more introverted who had to deal with shame and guilt, huge fear; and the effects of it have followed me my entire adult life, the man said.

The two survivors said their personal relationships with their loved ones and friends had suffered due to the abuse they endured at McGraths hands.

One of the them told McGrath: Each day I battle with the demons of your abuse, which has led me to depression. To cope, I have attended years of therapy, and require daily medication.

You refuse to accept responsibility for your abuse of me, but, the truth is out and I will no longer hold your secret.

My 13-year old self has been acknowledged and believed, and I can now rest easy, knowing I did nothing wrong and that your evil has been exposed.

I am a survivor of your sexual abuse, but at 56 years of age, I am finally free from your clutches and I can now live my life with my head held high.

McGrath left the Christian Brothers after the abuse and got married and had two children.

Judge Daly said McGrath befriended the families of the two boys before going on to sexually assault them separately.

McGrath, who had no prior convictions, had encouraged one of the boys to masturbate him and would then lie naked behind the boy and have the boy masturbate him.

McGrath also attempted to put his erect penis in between the cheeks of this boys buttocks, but the boy stopped McGrath who would ejaculate on the boy.

In respect of the other boy, McGrath kissed him on the lips on two separate occasions, the court heard.

In one of these assaults, McGrath cornered the boy and kissed him, and in the other, he pinned him against a wall and kissed him.

The sex assaults took place at various locations around Ireland when McGrath was in his 30s and the boys were aged between 12 and fourteen.

The two survivors each individually made complaints to gardai in 2020 and 2022, and the cases were prosecuted together in one trial.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State Solicitor Brendan Gill, said McGrath had been implicitly trusted by the boys families after he befriended them.

Judge Daly said McGrath was sinister in engineering occasions where he could be alone with the boys on different dates in the 1980s.

The judge commended both survivors for their dignified victim impact statements and said McGrath was also guilty of breaching their trust.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
CARLOW mayor cllr Paul Doogue has said plans are underway for a library-based dementia awareness initiative across the county this year, following a meeting in Carlow library recently.

As mayor of Carlow, I was delighted to attend a meeting in Carlow library on Friday morning, he said. A very productive meeting, I feel, with Carlow library management Dermot OLeary and Fiona OToole, along with Yvonne Leahy, dementia advisor for Carlow/Kilkenny, and Tara Rice, community engagement officer (south-east) with the Alzheimers Society of Ireland.

Cllr Doogue said the initiative is at an early stage, but the aim is to use libraries as welcoming hubs for practical, accessible information. We are planning a library-based dementia awareness initiative in 2026, he said.

He added that the plan is to hold informal information mornings in Carlow, Bagenalstown, Tullow and Borris libraries, providing guidance and support for people who want to learn more about dementia and how it affects individuals and families.

The aim is to create more awareness, encourage discussion and foster a local connection, while using libraries as a trusted and safe space to share information, cllr Doogue said.

He described the project as being in its infancy stage, but said it was encouraging having the library on board, along with Tara and Yvonne, as they are professionals in their respective roles.

He also said there are plans to engage with businesses as part of a wider push to make communities more supportive of people living with dementia.

Myself, along with Tara and whoever else wants to join us, will be going from business to business in how they can and will play a vital part in making Carlow dementia-friendly, he said.

If we all work together, Carlow could be the first county to be dementia friendly.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland describes a dementia inclusive community as one where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported and confident they can contribute to community life with awareness and understanding across the wider community.

The organisation says its Friends of ASI dementia inclusive community development initiative is being rolled out in counties, including Carlow, alongside other areas around the country.
The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer's Center of Excellence Chattanooga is hosting Moments of Grace, a Memory Caregiver Summit designed to educate, encourage and equip those caring for loved ones living with dementia.The event will take place Saturday, March 21 from noon-4 p.m. at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 7608 Shallowford Road in Chattanooga.This special Caregiver Luncheon and Educational Event will feature local vendors, trusted local experts and knowledgeable professional speakers.Attendees will enjoy lunch, fun giveaways and practical resources focused on dementia care and caregiver wellness.Topics will include:-Understanding and Managing Sundowning and Behaviors;- Dementia Medications: What to Expect and Whats New;- Handling Emergencies and Crisis Situations;- The Importance of Movement and Social Engagement; and- Finding Renewal and Strength in the Caregiving Journey.Companion care will be provided during the event for loved ones living with dementia, allowing caregivers to fully participate and learn in a supportive environment.Tickets are $20 and include lunch and one raffle ticket. T-shirts will also be available for purchase for $20 each. Proceeds from the event benefit the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public service organization that provides caregiver support programs, sponsors educational awareness events and funds clinical scholarships in nursing, clinical therapy, culinary arts and social work.In the Tennessee Valley, the Morning Pointe Foundation partners with local institutions including:- Cleveland State Community College;- Chattanooga State Community College;- Southern Adventist University;- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga;- Tennessee College of Applied Technology Athens;- Tennessee College of Applied Technology Chattanooga; and- Tennessee Wesleyan University.Community members are encouraged to reserve tickets by emailing chattanooga-lan-crd@morningpointe.com, or by calling 423-551-4190.
Mosquitoes swarmed us on our walk to Seawall Beach. It was Friday. Caleb and the kids were off work and school for Labor Day weekend, so wed headed out early for Phippsburg to walk the easy two miles over Morse Mountain and spend the day by the sea.

The sky threatened rain. At the wooden bridge over the salt marsh, the kids stopped to look at the crabs, all the while swatting away the mosquitoes, which Caleb deemed the devils spawn.

In fact, the mosquitoes were so relentlessdespite our attempts to block them with bug spraythat the kids wanted to turn back.

Hang in there, I said, having hiked this trail before. The reward were about to receive will wash away our pain.

We pressed on, taking the spur trail to the scenic overlook of the winding Sprague River, sprawling marshlands, and Seawall Beach. The wind on the exposed ledge was no match for the mosquitoes. They couldnt touch us up here, and looking out on the verdant land beyond, with its veins of waterways flowing into the beating ocean, I was reminded of Psalm 23, when David sings:

The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

God always gives us a place to rest on our way when we start to grow too weary, I thoughtour short stop at the overlook being just the break we needed from our enemy, invigorating us to keep on.

When the wooded trail opened to the beach, the wind coming off the water made it so the mosquitoes didnt stand a chance out here either. It was low tide. Levi, Virginia, and Oliver ran to the long granite boulder rising up from the beach like a wave. Hardwired to create, they started collecting the long pieces of driftwood scattered all around and began to build a lean-to against the stone.

As they worked, I held Ivy while Caleb went for a swim. He stayed in the water for many minutes, alternating between treading and going under, facing the horizon of rock islands and clouds. When he returned to shore, it was my turn to go in. I handed Ivy over, held my breath, and ran, knowing this was the only way Id be able to endure entering the cold.

And it was coldan electrifying shock that struck when I dove under. When I resurfaced, I felt alive. My fresh mosquito bites no longer itched. I floated on my back with my arms out wide, like my grandmother had taught me to do. I was Virginias agesix years oldand Nonnee, a natural teacher and wordsmith who had mastered the art of floating like a feather in her swimming pool among the Tennessee hills, instructed me one day in late summer to pretend I was a bird.

Swimming is flying, she said. So floating is simply the act of spreading your wings to glide.

I sank several times before it clicked.

Now, in the Atlantic, I drifted like a piece of wood, being pulled out deeper by the wavesthe deepest part of me, my soul, wanting to continue to float, glide to where the horizon and I could finally meet.

But the other part of memy earthly self, anchored in time and space, anchored in love for and by my kinwanted to return to shore.

I flipped onto my stomach and swam.

Back on the beach, the kids had completed their fort and were playing House, using clamshells as bowls and seaweed as food. Levi had twisted his shirt and tied it between two sticks for hanging and smoking fish. Virginia was collecting smaller pieces of wood for the pretend fire, and Oliver was hunting with his spear.

Their faces beamed.

After our picnic of real foodtuna salad, apples, and cheeseIvy was ready for her nap. I laid her on Calebs shirt in the sand, snuggled up beside her, and nursed her until she fell asleep. The sound of the waves soon lulled me to sleep too. I couldnt tell you how long I stayed in that blissful state of deepest peace, but Id guess at least an hour had passed when I felt a tap on my arm and opened my eyes to a small, outstretched hand cradling sand dollars.

They were tinyno bigger than nickels and dimes.

Me found these at the river, said Oliver, pointing down the beach to where the Sprague flowed into the sea.

Treasure, I said.

The four-year-old nodded. Me know.

Ivy started to stir, and at the same time an old mantall and thin, wearing a faded white bucket hat, no shirt, and cut off jeanswalked our way.

Rains coming, he said in passing, tilting his head up to the darkening clouds. He walked on down the beach, untroubled by the looming storm.

We took this as our sign to leave, packed up, and returned to the trail. On our walk back to the van, the trees sheltered us from the drizzle that quickly turned into a pour. We enjoyed the rainit cooled our sweaty skin and defeated the mosquitoes.

Back at the trailhead, I wondered about the old man. Where had he come from, and where was he going? His weathered, sun-tanned face had radiated goodness and love. Hed emitted both a mysterious and comforting light. In a way, hed watched over us in the storm.

I thought of David when he sings, My cup overflows.

***

Claire Henley Miller is the author of memoir Mile 445: Hitched in Her Hiking Boots and the writer behind the Substack newsletter Tennessean in Maine. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and currently lives in Maine with her husband and four kids.
The Land Trust of North Alabama has officially closed on 65 acres of critical land on Green Mountain, permanently protecting the property from development and marking a significant milestone in its long-term River to Gap initiative.Officials said, "The acquisition, made possible through extraordinary community support, connects Blevins Gap Nature Preserve to other conserved lands on Green Mountain, strengthening wildlife habitat, safeguarding water resources and preserving the scenic viewshed along Green Mountain Road for generations to come."Located off Green Mountain Road just north of Camelot Drive, the 65-acre tract has been a conservation priority for more than two decades.The property consists of upland hardwood forest that supports diverse flora and fauna and serves as a vital recreation and habitat corridor along the western slope of Green Mountain. By linking two existing Land Trust parcels, the newly protected acreage strengthens ecological connectivity and advances the broader vision of a continuous conservation corridor stretching from the Tennessee River to Blevins Gap."In 2025, the Land Trust reached out to the community with an ambitious goal: raise $300,000 to secure this key 65-acre tract. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of donors, partners and supporters, the full amount was raised, allowing the purchase to move forward."This acquisition represents the very heart of our River to Gap vision, said Marie Bostick, executive director of the Land Trust of North Alabama. For more than 20 years, we have worked strategically to protect Green Mountains ecological integrity and connect conserved lands across this landscape. Because our community believed in that vision and came together to raise $300,000, this irreplaceable 65-acre tract will now be protected forever. We are deeply grateful to every donor and supporter who made this milestone possible.Officials said, "The River to Gap initiative is a long-term conservation effort designed to establish a continuous green corridor from the Tennessee River to Blevins Gap, protecting habitat, improving trail connectivity and preserving the natural character of South Huntsville."With this closing, the Land Trust celebrates not only the protection of another meaningful piece of Green Mountain, but also the power of community-driven conservation in North Alabama."For more information about the River to Gap initiative or to support future conservation efforts, visit landtrustnal.org/rivertogap.
In a unanimous vote to secure "the largest parks investment in Hamilton County history," the Hamilton County Commission on Wednesday approved plans to convey 1,300 acres of McDonald Farm to the state of Tennessee to create Roaring Creek State Park. With $45.3 million included in Governor Bill Lees proposed state budget, the stage is set for Tennessees 70th state park, permanently preserving McDonald Farm for future generations, officials said.



This is what conservative governance looks like, said County Mayor Weston Wamp.

The countys action today will benefit generations of Tennesseans and further establish Hamilton County as a premier outdoor destination. I am deeply grateful for Governor Lee and Senator Bo Watsons support of the bold vision for Roaring Creek State Park.The proposed state investment covers park development, operations, and long-term maintenance, ensuring local taxpayers are not responsible for ongoing costs, he said. The state has previously invested $3 million for infrastructure improvements at McDonald Farm and plans to allocate more than $1 million annually for park operations.McDonald Farm is a state treasure worth preserving for generations to come, said TDEC Deputy Commissioner Brian Clifford. We are grateful for the Hamilton County Commissions motion to move forward with this proposed investment, and we will continue to work with local and state leaders on what would be a win-win for conservation and the regional economy.Under the proposal, approximately 800 acres in Hamilton County and 500 acres in Rhea County will be transferred to the state for permanent conservation and park development. Hamilton County will retain more than 700 acres, including more than 300 acres that will remain a county park anchored by the historic homestead and home of the Hamilton County Fair, preserving longstanding community traditions.According to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), state parks of similar scope generate $11 million in annual economic output and support an average of more than 70 jobs tied to park operations and related activity.When youve served this community as long as I have, you understand that some decisions are bigger than the moment, said County Commissioner Gene-O Shipley, who represents Soddy Daisy and Sale Creek. This is about making sure our children and grandchildren inherit the kind of Hamilton County were proud of, with land preserved and protected for them to enjoy.Next, the proposal moves to the Tennessee General Assembly for consideration as part of the state budget, with a final vote expected before the legislative session adjourns in April.
Nancy Ann Skates, 76, passed away at home on Thursday, February 19, 2026, after a period of declining health.

The daughter of Elisha Brantley Skates and Eunice Thompson Cowart Skates, Nancy was born and raised in Chattanooga with her brothers, Richard Cowart, who predeceased her, and Gene Skates. She became a Christian while active in East Lake Baptist Church. A graduate of East Ridge High School, where she was valedictorian of the Class of 1968, she went on to attend the University of Tennessee on a full National Merit scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Spanish.

After college, she began a long career working in human resources for the federal government. Her work took her from Atlanta to Germany and finally to Washington, D.C. to work in Army Headquarters where she worked on employee relations policy matters for Army civilian employees world-wide. She retired with 35 years of distinguished service in 2005.

In retirement, Nancy moved back to the Chattanooga area to be near her mother. In her free time, she enjoyed sewing and knitting, reading, collecting cookbooks, doing puzzles, and keeping up with classmates. She especially enjoyed time with her family and life-long friend Jill Gamble Prus.

Nancy is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Janet Skates (Kingsport, Tn.); sister-in-law, Norma Cowart (Nashville); nephews Randy Stone (Fort Oglethorpe), Rick Cowart (Dallas), and Matthew Skates (Nashville); nieces Julie Jones (Little Rock), Susan Chambers (Nolensville, Tn.), and Jennifer Skates (Washington, D.C.), several great-nieces and nephews, special cousin Perry Skates (Cleveland), and many other cousins and friends. In addition to her parents and half-brother Richard Cowart, she was predeceased by her half-sister, Betty Skates Stone.

Nancy requested to be cremated and to have no service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Nancys memory to the UT Office of the Provost for National Merit Scholarships. Donations may be sent to the University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc., 1525 University Avenue, Knoxville, Tn. 37921. Nancys desire was that other students would receive the opportunity she was given.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Don Cussom, Darlene Hullander, the Highway 58 Fire Department, and the many talented health care professionals who cared for and supported Nancy. Their dedication and compassion made a significant difference in her last years.

Please share your thoughts and memories online at www. ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel. com

Announcement is by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Photo credit: Pixabay/ William Murphy

The U.S. Supreme Court has halted enforcement of a California policy that directed public school staff to withhold information from parents about their childs gender identity at school without the students consent.

In a per curiam decision released Monday evening, the justices ruled in favor of parents who challenged the policy, including those who raised religious objections.

The 6-3 ruling clears the way for a federal district court injunction to take effect after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had temporarily paused it. The injunction prevents enforcement of the state requirement that schools keep parents in the dark about a students gender identity absent the childs approval.

Writing that the parents were likely to prevail, the court said those seeking religious exemptions are likely to succeed on the merits of their Free Exercise Clause claim. The justices explained that Californias policies likely trigger strict scrutiny under that provision because they substantially interfere with the right of parents to guide the religious development of their children.

The opinion characterized the policy as an intrusion on parents free exercise rights, particularly for those who object to LGBT ideology on religious grounds.

The State argues that its policies advance a compelling interest in student safety and privacy. But those policies cut out the primary protectors of childrens best interests: their parents, the court wrote.

The States interest in safety could be served by a policy that allows religious exemptions while precluding gender-identity disclosure to parents who would engage in abuse. For these reasons, the parents who object to the California policies on free exercise grounds are likely to succeed on the merits.

The justices also cited concerns related to due process, emphasizing that parents  not the State  have primary authority with respect to the upbringing and education of children.

The right protected by these precedents includes the right not to be shut out of participation in decisions regarding their childrens mental health, the opinion continued.

The legal battle began in 2023 when two teachers filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, challenging a district rule that required educators to conceal a students preferred gender identity from parents if the student requested confidentiality.

Parents whose children had socially transitioned at school without their knowledge later joined the case. State officials were also named as defendants after it was determined that similar policies extended beyond a single district.

In 2024, California enacted legislation barring school districts from mandating that educators disclose a students sexual orientation or gender identity to parents without the students consent.

In December, U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, issued a permanent injunction blocking enforcement of the California Department of Educations policy.

Days later, the 9th Circuit granted a stay of that order, leading the parents and teachers to file an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court.
Photo credit: Unsplash/ Adrian Raudaschl

YouGov plans to conduct a fresh round of research on church attendance in England and Wales later this year, revisiting its widely discussed quiet revival findings amid mounting scrutiny from academics and polling specialists.

The original conclusions appeared in April 2025 in a Bible Society report titled The Quiet Revival. Drawing on two YouGov surveys, the study reported that the share of adults in England and Wales who both identify as Christian and attend church at least once a month increased from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024.

The reported rise was especially pronounced among 18- to 24-year-olds, whose monthly attendance was said to have climbed from 4% to 16%. More than one-fifth of young men in that age group were described as attending church monthly, while attendance among young women reportedly rose from 4% to 12%.

Researchers also found that roughly one-third of young adults who do not currently attend church said they would consider going if invited by a friend. About a quarter of respondents in that age bracket expressed interest in learning more about the Bible, the highest level recorded among any age group surveyed.

At the time of publication, Bible Society co-author Rhiannon McAleer characterized the results as striking, arguing they challenged the narrative that Christianity in England and Wales was in irreversible decline.

Since then, however, sociologists and survey experts have questioned the conclusions, contending that they diverge from longer-running national datasets.

Critics point in particular to the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey conducted by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), which uses random probability sampling and is widely regarded as a gold-standard study.

According to the latest BSA findings, the percentage of adults identifying as Christian and attending church at least monthly declined from 12% in 2018 to 9% in 2024. Among young adults, monthly attendance appears to hover between 6% and 7%, remaining below levels observed before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pew Research Center has also weighed in, publishing an analysis that questioned whether reports of a British Christian resurgence rest on the strongest available evidence.

Pew noted that many revival claims are derived from opt-in online surveys, which can yield different outcomes than large-scale, randomly sampled household surveys.

Citing data from the UK Labour Force Survey, Pew reported that overall Christian identification among adults continued to fall, dropping from 54% in 2018 to 44% by the summer of 2025. Among 18- to 34-year-olds, fewer than 28% now identify as Christian, down from 37% in 2018.

Based on its review, Pew concluded that the most reliable data do not substantiate claims of a widespread revival among young adults.

Bible Society has defended its conclusions. A spokesman recently said the report is based on a high-quality YouGov survey which uses a tried and trusted methodology.

The organization also pointed to Pews broader global research, asserting that it identified levels of religiosity comparable to, or slightly exceeding, those reflected in YouGovs findings.
Home News AG's office demands NYU hospital resume puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones to teens

New York Attorney General Letitia James' office is demanding that a Manhattan hospital resume the provision of puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones to gender dysphoric adolescents, which the hospital stopped after President Donald Trumps administration threatened to withdraw federal funding.

In a letter sent last week to NYU Langones lawyers, the Office of the New York State Attorney General said that the hospitals decision last month to shutter its Transgender Youth Health Program violated the states anti-discrimination laws.

According to a portion of the letter cited by CBS News this week, James' office accused NYU Langone of jeopardizing access to medically necessary healthcare for some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers.

The letter contends that NYU Langones policy change is self-imposed, saying there has been "no change in federal law to require the cessation of medically necessary transgender healthcare. The letter gives the hospital 10 days to notify James' office if it has complied with its demand.

"In sum, no federal action has changed the law; medically necessary healthcare for transgender adolescents remains legal and covered by federal programs," the letter reads. "Without a formal change in the law, meaning an action from which legal consequences will flow, such as a published final rule upheld by the courts, NYU Langone's legal obligations to its patients are unchanged."

Darsana Srinivasan, who leads the offices health care bureau, noted in the letter that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones remain available to minors who do not identify as the opposite sex.

New York state laws prohibit discrimination based on a patients membership in a protected class, the official stated in the letter, as quoted by The New York Times.

The sudden discontinuation of medically necessary transgender healthcare can have severe, negative health outcomes, Srinivasan added. Accordingly, the Attorney General is extremely concerned by your institutions decision to cease the provision of care to this vulnerable, minority population.

The letter orders the hospital to immediately resume all service offerings as they had before the change in policy, making puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones available again to individuals under the age of 19.

The attorney generals office and NYU Langone did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

The hospital announced last month that it would stop providing so-called gender-affirming care for certain individuals, citing the departure of one of its medical directors and the current regulatory environment.

The program's closure followed Trump's signing of an executive order in January to [protect] children from chemical and surgical mutilation, such as sex-change surgeries, puberty-blockers and cross-sex hormone drugs.

"It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit these destructive and life-altering procedures, the order declared.

Last year, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote a letter to healthcare providers and state medical boards nationwide, urging them to read a report the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published on the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria.

In the executive summary, the report contends there is "currently no international consensus about best practices for the care of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria."

The report criticized the World Professional Association for Transgender Healths guidelines for treating children with gender dysphoria, which emphasizes the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, as well as surgeries, and casts suspicion on psychotherapeutic approaches for management of gender dysphoria."

In December 2024, the United Kingdom's National Health Service moved to indefinitely ban the use of puberty-blocking drugs on children for the foreseeable future, except for use in clinical trials.

"The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has provided independent expert advice that there is currently an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children," stated the U.K.'s Department of Health and Social Care.

"Puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence and/or gender dysphoria in under 18s were banned temporarily in May 2024 after the Cass Review found there was insufficient evidence to show they were safe. Legislation will be updated today to make the order indefinite and will be reviewed in 2027."

Commissioned by the NHS in 2020 as a review of its gender identity services for youth, the "Cass Review" found there is "no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions to manage gender-related distress."
Home News Christian man prosecuted for ex-gay testimony found not guilty after 3-year battle: 'Very thankful'

A man in Malta who faced more than three years of legal battles after giving his testimony about leaving homosexuality was found not guilty of "advertising conversion practices" by a Maltese court on Wednesday.

"I'm very thankful," Matthew Grech said in a brief Facebook video he posted outside the court after the ruling.

Grech, 36, was slapped with criminal charges in 2022 for allegedly discussing and promoting so-called conversion practices in violation of Article 3 of Malta's Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender and Gender Expression Act. He appeared in court 17 times over charges that carried 5,000 (over $5,700) in fines or up to five months in prison.

His charges emerged in response to an April 2022 interview with PMnews Malta, an independent outlet that invited him to discuss his views on conversion therapy bans that have proliferated throughout the Western world in recent years.

Grech discussed the uncertainty he felt regarding his sexuality and masculinity in his early years, which led him to participate in same-sex relationships before becoming a Christian and repenting of such behavior.

At no point did Grech invite anyone to attend therapy to change their sexual orientation or gender identity, though he was critical of the Maltese law. He said after coming to faith, he came to believe that homosexuality is not an identity, but rather a sinful practice that he could no longer continue as a Christian.

After the interview, both Grech and the two journalists at PMnews Malta who conducted the interview were prosecuted under the law against advertising conversion therapy.

PMnews Malta later discovered that the police complaint against Grech was filed by Silvan Agius, an LGBT activist from Malta who helped draft the legislation.

Christian Attard, a founding member of the Malta LGTBIQ Rights Movement, who has served on the European Commission on Sexual Orientation Law, and Cynthia Chircop, who co-chairs the organization, were also reportedly involved in the complaint.

In his Facebook video after the ruling, Grech expressed gratitude and hopes the precedent will protect others like him throughout Europe. But he warned that the Maltese law under which he was charged remains in place.

"It is a big day, and I'm very thankful that the court, the Maltese court, decided for freedom of speech," he said. "The Maltese court decided for freedom of religion, and has announced that I had every right to share my Christian views around sexuality and gender, and to mention organizations that are helping Christians to live consistently with their belief system."

Calling on the European Commission to make sure that bans on conversion therapy "will have no place in Europe," Grech alleged that activists aim to use such legislation to persecute anyone who does not support LGBT ideology.

"It doesn't matter what these laws say. All that matters is that activists will use these laws to target any dissenting view around sexuality and gender," he said.

During a 2023 interview with Fox News about his story, Grech noted the irony that the first case of his kind should be in Malta  an overwhelmingly majority-Catholic country that was one of the first Roman colonies to convert to Christianity, but which his legal counsel warned at the time could become the first of many dominoes in Europe to fall by prosecuting Christians for sharing their testimonies.

Grech likened his situation and that of other Christians who endeavor to obey God while struggling with their sexuality to Paul's encounter with a venomous snake, which took place on Malta after the apostle was shipwrecked.

According to the story in Acts 28:1-10, the viper emerged from a fire and latched itself onto Paul's arm, prompting those around him to believe the apostle had been cursed by God; when the venom had no effect, they came to discern the opposite.

"I believe that as we survive this snake that is trying to poison us and harm us, as we look toward God, who is able to save us and redeem us, people will shift their perspective," Grech said at the time.

"We believe in the best for our nation, but there has been an idol that has been set up, and it needs to come down," he added. "We are facing the idol of our generation, and we're saying, 'We're not going to bow down to you, no matter what the cost.'"
Home News Global Anglican Communion meets in Nigeria to elect rival to archbishop of Canterbury

A movement of orthodox Anglicans is meeting in Nigeria this week to elect their own "first among equals" to rival the incoming female archbishop of Canterbury.

The first formal gathering of the Global Anglican Communion began Tuesday in the Nigerian capital of Abuja and will continue through Friday, just weeks before Bishop of London Sarah Mullally is slated to be formally installed in Canterbury Cathedral as the 106th and first female archbishop of Canterbury on March 25.

Following the announcement of Mullally's appointment last fall, the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) announced the launch of the Global Anglican Communion, effectively breaking off from the worldwide Anglican Communion under the spiritual leadership of the archbishop of Canterbury and other Institutes of Communion.

GAFCON, which began in Jerusalem in 2008 amid tensions in the Anglican Communion over same-sex marriage, was one of the first to denounce Mullally's appointment on Oct. 3, calling on her to repent for supporting same-sex blessings. The organization said at the time that its intention is to "reorder" the Anglican Communion by establishing the Bible as its only foundation.

Historian Diarmaid MacCulloch, who serves as emeritus professor of the history of the Church at Oxford University, noted the move to elect a rival spiritual head in Nigeria is effectively a schism, even if not explicitly labeled as such, according to the BBC.

"This is a schism, even if they don't want to say that," MacCulloch said. "This is a set of leaders, all male, going to a conference in Africa to assert [an] identity which no longer satisfies many Anglican churches  that is an all-male episcopate calling the shots."

Rwandan Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, who serves as chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, said last fall that the Church of England had "chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion" and repudiated her spiritual authority.

"For over a century and a half, the Archbishop of Canterbury functioned not only as the Primate of All England but also as a spiritual and moral leader of the Anglican Communion," Mbanda said. "In more recent times, the See of Canterbury has been described as one of the four 'instruments of Communion,' whilst also chairing the other three Instruments, namely the Lambeth Conference, the Primates Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council."

"However, due to the failure of successive Archbishops of Canterbury to guard the faith, the office can no longer function as a credible leader of Anglicans, let alone a focus of unity," he continued.

"As we made clear in our Kigali Commitment of 2023, we can 'no longer recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as an Instrument of Communion' or the 'first among equals' of global Primates."

Mullally's formal installation later this month will follow her formal election service last month at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, during which the Rev. Paul Williamson was ejected from the service for shouting his objection to her confirmation.

Last month, the Church of England's General Synod voted to end plans for stand-alone blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples in churches after extended debate.
Home News Pete Hegseth says he prays for US troops, 'biblical wisdom' amid conflict in Iran

United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is offering prayers for members of the U.S. Armed Forces who find themselves in the line of fire amid escalating tensions with Iran, insisting that prayer plays a role in every decision that the Trump administration makes when it comes to foreign policy.

In a press conference Monday, Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine provided updates on the ongoing Operation Epic Fury in Iran. In response to a question from a reporter asking what his prayer was for members of the armed forces that are in harms way right now, Hegseth declared, My prayer for them is that I do pray for them.

My wife prays for them. Our family prays for them. Our cabinet prays for them, he added. None of this is done on a whim.

Hegseth added, I know we think about them with every decision that we make and every recommendation that we make to the president of the United States. Those recommendations are made prayerfully, and when I pray every day for them and for this mission, I pray simply for the biblical wisdom to seek what is right and the courage to do it.

Its going to take courage to follow through on this. Theres going to be a lot of noise and we pray for that, and we hope all of you do too, he concluded.

Hegseth began the press conference by delivering a message directly to members of the armed forces serving on the front lines. May Almighty God watch over you and His providential arms of protection extend over you, he proclaimed. Godspeed, warriors  and keep going.

President Donald Trump also asked God to watch over members of the armed forces as he first announced Operation Epic Fury in a speech broadcast to the nation Saturday: We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harms way, and we trust that with His help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world and they will prevail.

The comments from top officials in the Trump administration, including Trump himself, invoking God when discussing Operation Epic Fury, come as Christian leaders have offered mixed reactions to the ongoing mission that has toppled the leader of the Middle Eastern country.

While the Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritans Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, encouraged his followers to pray for Trump as well as those in our military who are risking their lives to protect America and bring freedom to the Iranian people, progressive Christian activist Shane Claiborne condemned Operation Epic Fury. Violence only begets more violence, he wrote in a social media post. When we live by the sword, we die by the sword.

Two wrongs never make a right. It is impossible to love our enemies as Christ commands and simultaneously prepare to kill them, Claiborne added.
Home News Indiana music teacher secures $650K settlement in religious discrimination case

An Indiana music teacher who lost his job because he refused to go against his religious beliefs and call trans-identified students by their preferred names and pronouns has reached a hefty six-figure settlement with his former employer.

The conservative nonprofit legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom announced in a statement Tuesday that former Indiana music teacher John Kluge has reached a $650,000 settlement as part of his religious discrimination case against Brownsburg Community School Corporation.

The teacher was forced to resign in 2018 after the district threatened to fire him for declining to comply with a new policy requiring teachers to refer to trans-identified students by names and pronouns that align with their stated gender identity rather than their sex. The policy also forced teachers to report signs of gender confusion in students to school officials and not to parents.

After almost five and a half years, common sense has prevailed at Brownsburg, said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman. This settlement confirms what the law has always said: Public schools cannot force teachers to violate their religious beliefs. Title VII requires employers to accommodate their employees religious beliefs and practices. When they fail to do soor worse, announce that they will grant no religious accommodations, as Brownsburg didthey can be held accountable.

Cortman said the settlement sends a signal to teachers that "they do not have to bow the knee to ideological mandates that violate their religious beliefs."

Schools should learn that refusing to accommodate religious employees can be illegal and expensive," he added.

Kluge and ADF accused the school district of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of religion. After a federal district court judge and a three-judge panel on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Kluge, the former music teacher petitioned for the entire 7th Circuit to hear his case in 2023.

Last year, a three-judge panel on the 7th Circuit ordered the lower court to reconsider its conclusion that accommodating Kluges religious beliefs by allowing him to refer to students by only their last names constituted an undue hardship on the school district. The appellate court also determined that Kluge should have the opportunity to present his case before a jury.

The school districts settlement with Kluge brings the years of litigation to an end. Kluge and the school district officials named as defendants in the lawsuit filed a joint stipulation of dismissal on Tuesday.

As part of the settlement, the Brownsburg Community School Corporation agreed to train its senior staff on how Title VII protects employees from discrimination based on their religious beliefs.

It wont bring back the job I love, but it does offer substantial financial compensation  $650,000  for the loss, hardships and litigation of the last almost seven years, Kluge wrote in an op-ed published by The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday.

Beyond just the personal victory, though, my case has larger implications for other educators who hold strong religious convictions  implications Brownsburg officials still want to hide from their teachers, he added. For one thing, Title VII has teeth again. The highest court in the land has ruled that employers must accommodate their religious employees, and that this obligation cannot be easily evaded.

The implications of the ruling "will mean different things to people of different faiths," Kluge wrote, adding that it will mean "schools cannot force teachers to parrot transgender terms  calling girls boys and boys girls  just to keep their jobs."

"Brownsburg agreed to train some administrators on these legalities, but it refused to tell its hundreds of teachers of the rights that the law now affords them," Kluge added. "I hope my settlement helps spread the word that the greatest of our freedoms  religious liberty  still applies in our workplaces.

Due to the experiences faced by Kluge and other teachers across the U.S., laws prohibiting schools from requiring teachers and school employees to refer to trans-identified students and employees by their preferred pronouns have been enacted in Idaho, Tennessee and Wyoming.
Home News Interfaith coalition backs bill to protect worship services in California

A broad coalition of religious leaders across California has voiced support for a measure that strengthens penalties for intentionally disrupting worship services.

Introduced by state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, in collaboration with The American Council, Senate Bill 1070 would update the states penal code, which currently classifies intentional disturbances of religious worship as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

According to the bill text, existing law already makes intentional disturbances of worship a crime, and SB 1070 adds the option of felony penalties in addition to existing misdemeanor penalties. 

The Protect Worship coalition  which includes clerical leaders from the Jewish, Islamic, Evangelical and Mormon religious communities  encouraged California lawmakers to advance SB 1070 and called on civic leaders across the state to stand together in support of the freedom to worship without disruption.

Every faith tradition understands what is at stake when a sacred gathering is deliberately disrupted, Tanner DiBella, president of The American Council, told The Christian Post. Houses of worship should be places of reverence, safety and peace. Senate Bill 1070 is a measured step that protects the free exercise of religion by ensuring that intentional harassment and intimidation during worship carries meaningful mitigation.

Faith leaders emphasized that the bill is not about policing disagreement or restricting lawful expression, but about addressing deliberate conduct that interferes with the order and solemnity of worship services.

"Freedom to worship is a cornerstone of our constitutional rights, protecting every persons ability to practice their faith openly and without government interference, said Pastor Erwin Guevara in a statement.

Religious leaders who have pledged to support SB 1070 include Calvary Chapel Chino Hills Pastor Jack Hibbs, Pastor Rob McCoy of Calvary Chapel Godspeak in Thousand Oaks, and gubernatorial candidate Pastor Che Ahn of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena.

Other supporters of SB 1070, including groups like the California Family Council, argue such incidents demonstrate the need for graduated penalties to deter deliberate interference while preserving free speech rights outside sacred spaces.

The bill  still in the early phases of the legislative process  follows a slate of high-profile church disruptions since January, including at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, a Southern Baptist congregation where protesters stormed a worship service to oppose one of the church's pastors who also serves as a local ICE official.

In addition to the Cities Church riot, there have been several documented incidents in California, including at The Mission Church in Carlsbad, where agitators were captured on video blocking entrances, using high-decibel sirens, shouting hostile slogans, and intimidating attendees.

Pastor JC Cooper, assistant pastor at The Mission Church in Carlsbad, testified before the Religious Liberty Commission meeting earlier this month about repeated disruptions at his congregation's interfaith services, most recently at a planned gathering with Jewish visitors at a pro-Israel church in California.
Home News Indiana man gets 10 months in federal prison for vandalizing church with Satanic imagery

An Indiana man who vandalized a church with Satanic images has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, as well as three years of supervised release.

Steven James Perkinson, a 21-year-old resident of Plainfield, received the sentence from U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II.

According to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Indiana, issued Tuesday, Perkinson had previously pleaded guilty to intentional damage to religious property and making a false statement to an agency of the United States.

Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said the sentence makes clear that hatefueled vandalism and threats of violence will be met with swift and serious federal consequences.

Targeting any house of worship because of its faith is an attack on the fundamental freedoms that define our nation. This defendants conduct, paired with his disturbing online activity, posed a real threat to those liberties, said Wheeler.

On Nov. 18, 2024, Perkinson vandalized the sign in front of Maple Grove Baptist Church of Plainfield, spray-painting a pitchfork and the numbers 666." He also painted over the signs cross with an X.

Initially, Perkinson denied any knowledge of the incident when questioned by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

However, he later admitted to the vandalism, saying that he was inspired by his involvement in Satanic organizations. When investigators searched his cell phone, they discovered that Perkinson had searched for terms like Maple Grove Baptist Church Plainfield, Churches near me, Plainfield Bible Church photos, and terms associated with occult groups, including Noctulian Blood Covenant and Nexion 435.

A search of his phone also revealed evidence of what the Attorneys Office called violent ideation, as Perkinson also searched for the address of largest Jewish church in America." Investigators also found online messages with Perkinson claiming to have access to firearms and encouraging mass violence, photographs of him posing with recently deceased animals, and evidence that he had set a dumpster on fire.

According to a report from the Family Research Council released last year, over 400 acts of hostility were recorded against churches and their properties in the U.S. in 2024.

The FRC report had recorded 415 hostile acts in 43 states, which had impacted 383 congregations, based on information collected from multiple sources.

"Although the motivations for many of these incidents remain unknown, the rise in crimes against churches is taking place in a context in which fewer Americans are attending religious services or identifying with a specific faith," the report stated.
Home News Pro-life activist can now use amplifying device outside Asheville abortion facility

A pro-life activist is now allowed to address abortion center visitors with a sound-amplifying device after a North Carolina city amended an ordinance.

Pro-life activist Zachary Hebb reached a settlement with the city of Asheville, North Carolina, that allows Hebb to use an amplifying device to share his message opposing abortion outside the Asheville Health Center, the First Liberty Institute announced Tuesday.

Hebb opposed a city ordinance prohibiting people from producing, or causing to be produced amplified sound within 150 feet of the property line of a public school where classes or other educational activities are occurring, or a medical clinic that is open or otherwise caring for patients.

At the Feb. 24 Asheville City Council meeting, the city approved Ordinance No. 5199, which amended the noise ordinance to clarify that the prohibition on amplified sound only applies when such sound is clearly audible at more than 150 feet from the sound amplifying device.

Hebb's lawyer says that he is compelled to share his views with individuals visiting the Asheville Health Center and "offers tangible aid" for mothers who want to keep their babies. He shares his beliefs using an amplifier and speaks in a conversational tone at "a volume level appropriate for the area.

New language was included in the city ordinance to effectively prevent Hebb from sharing his beliefs near the abortion center, only after an abortion advocate complained about Hebb's messaging, the First Liberty Institute said. But under the new language, Hebb's lawyers say he can now "use an amplifier to speak conversationally and still be heard by those he wants to reach with his messaging.

We are thrilled Mr. Hebb will now have the opportunity to effectively and winsomely share his pro-life message outside Ashevilles abortion center, said First Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. It is paramount, now more than ever, that we protect the right of each American to freely express their faith and beliefs in the public square.

The settlement follows years of litigation between Hebb and the city.

A federal district court sided with Hebb, finding that the citys previous ordinance violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and was unconstitutionally vague. The city appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, where a three-judge panel reversed the lower court decision.
Iran Violence Threatens Christians, Texas Drag Ban Upheld, Supreme Court Backs Parental Rights

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:36 07:36

Visit Crossmap.com  your trusted source for inspiration and life-changing stories from people of faith.

Top headlines for Wednesday, March 4, 2026

A surge of violence in Iran thats placing the countrys already fragile Christian community in peril, following U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Khamenei. We also break down the 5th Circuits decision upholding Texas ban on sexually oriented drag shows in front of minors, and the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark ruling striking down Californias policy that hid students gender identity from parents.

00:11 Iran violence threatens 'fragile' Christian minority: charity

01:01 Karen Whitsett says shes leaving politics for Jesus

01:51 Texas' ban on 'sexually oriented' drag shows for kids upheld

02:38 Crossmap Blogs

03:27 New Indiana law protects faith-based foster care providers

04:17 Supreme Court blocks schools from hiding information from parents

05:03 YouGov to repeat Quiet Revival study amid scrutiny

05:57 Kathy Hochul thanks God after plane crashes and no one dies
Home Opinion 6 ways a weak Western Church hurts the global Church

The story Western Christians most need to hear is not simply that the center of Christianity has shifted to Africa, Asia and Latin America. That is true, but it is not the whole truth. The more urgent reality is this: the disintegration of Christianity in parts of the West is not a local matter. It is a global crisis.



When Western Christianity weakens  spiritually, morally, intellectually and institutionally  the consequences don't stop at the Atlantic. They arrive, sooner or later, at the doorstep of the majority world Church.

In many majority world contexts, churches already live under pressure  poverty, communal violence, authoritarian impulses, caste and ethnic exclusions, and an increasingly hostile public sphere. They don't need another burden: the weakening of global Christian solidarity that once helped protect religious freedom, strengthen institutions and fund mission.



Here are six ways that a weakened Western Church adversely affects the global Church:

1. Losing financial support for global Christian infrastructure

For two centuries, Western churches and agencies built much of the modern missionary infrastructure: seminaries, Bible translation organizations, publishing houses, hospitals, schools, relief networks and Christian media platforms. This was never a spotless story. It carried colonial baggage. It sometimes mixed the Gospel with empire-building. It sometimes exported paternalism alongside charity.

Yet through many flawed vessels, God used this infrastructure to preach Christ, educate generations, heal the sick and plant churches. As Western Christianity frays, the global Church loses more than financial support. It loses capacity  training pipelines, scholarly ecosystems, legal and policy competence, and institutional memory that took decades to build. In a world of rapid persecution and fragile democracies, capacity is not a luxury. It is survival.

2. Diminished advocacy for persecuted Christians and religious freedom protection

The spiritual decline of Western Christianity also carries a moral and political cost. In democratic societies, churches have often formed part of the constituency that demands conscience protections and defends religious liberty, not only at home but abroad. This is not about Christian privilege. It is about whether there remains any public force willing to say that faith communities deserve equal protection and that targeted violence against minorities cannot be normalized.

When Western churches grow timid, fragmented or captive to partisan habits, global advocacy weakens. The consequences are tangible: persecuted believers lose visibility; governments face less pressure to intervene diplomatically; media attention fades; and hostile regimes learn that there is little price to pay for repression. Small churches in hard places suffer the consequences of large churches elsewhere losing their voice.

3. Exporting Western mission confusion to the global Church

Western decline is not only about declining attendance. It is also about mission confusion. In many settings, mission has been reduced to a short-term project, a branding exercise, or an argument about national identity. Some churches have replaced evangelism with a vague humanitarianism that cannot name Jesus without embarrassment. Others have replaced evangelism with a culture war that cannot love neighbors without suspicion.

Both distortions export easily  through conferences, books, podcasts, donor expectations and social media. Majority world leaders now face pressure not only from hostile states or majoritarian ideologies, but from imported Western confusions about what the Church is for. The result is often a Church pulled apart: activism without proclamation, proclamation without compassion, and discipleship flattened into slogans.

4. Reverse evangelism missionaries lack support and face racism

At the same time, something genuinely new is happening: evangelism has begun to move in reverse. African, Asian and Latin American believers are planting churches in Europe and North America, often among migrants first, and then increasingly among post-Christian locals. This is not triumphalism. It is mercy. When societies grow spiritually hollow, God does not leave Himself without witnesses.

Yet reversal is not cost-free. Majority-world missionaries in the West frequently lack the support structures Western missionaries once enjoyed. They face immigration constraints, racism, cultural fatigue and a Western skepticism that treats serious faith as either naive or threatening. They also face temptations of their own: to imitate Western performance models, to measure success by numbers alone, or to build ethnic enclaves that never learn to speak to the wider society. If reversal is to be fruitful, it must be rooted in deep discipleship, patient cultural learning, and a Gospel that can endure rejection.

5. Western seminaries' drift from creedal faith negatively affects global theological formation

Western disintegration also affects global theological formation. For decades, many majority world leaders studied in Western seminaries or relied on Western academic publishing. Some of that scholarship was faithful and rigorous, a gift to the global Church. Some of it, however, grew captive to intellectual fashions that treated historic Christian claims as optional, embarrassing or negotiable.

As some Western institutions drift further from creedal faith, the majority world Church faces a clear choice. It must practice discernment: receive what is faithful, critically evaluate what is partial and refuse what undermines Scripture and the Churchs historic confession. This also demands investment. Majority world seminaries, research networks, and publishing ecosystems must be strengthened so that theological seriousness is not dependent on Western gatekeeping.

6. Western export of polarizing digital personalities that fragment the global Church

There is another consequence that is less discussed but increasingly damaging: fragmentation imported through digital media. When Western Christianity is unsettled, it exports polarization. The majority-world Church already faces enough external pressure. Importing Western factional fights is a luxury it cannot afford.

But the algorithms do not ask permission. Congregations in Nairobi, Nagaland and New Delhi now find their imaginations shaped by distant online personalities whose contexts are alien to their own. Suspicion replaces trust. Outrage replaces prayer. Slogans replace Scripture. Local mission becomes hostage to global anger cycles. Pastors spend their time managing internet-driven conflicts rather than forming communities of worship, justice and evangelistic courage.

Rebuilding partnership: Mutual repentance, mutual service

If Western Christianity had remained strong  not simply in numbers, but in conviction, holiness, intellectual seriousness, and missionary clarity  the pressure on majority-world churches would be lighter. Support for education and health ministries would be steadier.

Public advocacy for persecuted believers would be louder. Partnerships would be more stable, less anxious and more equitable. Western societies would have more citizens capable of recognizing the difference between legitimate secular governance and coercive hostility to faith.

Instead, many majority-world churches now face a double squeeze: external oppression at home and a weakening of global Christian solidarity abroad. They are asked to do more ministry with fewer resources, to withstand greater hostility with less public support, and to carry the mission forward while some older sending centers lose their confidence.

Lament is necessary, but lament is not a strategy. The way forward is not to romanticize either the West or the majority world. It is to rebuild global Christian partnership on firmer ground.

Western Christians who remain committed to historic faith must recover a missionary identity that is neither embarrassed nor belligerent. They must relearn evangelism as witness, not marketing. They must learn public engagement as truth-telling, not tribal warfare. They must rebuild institutions that form disciples  families, churches, seminaries and community ministries  rather than chasing constant novelty.

Majority-world churches, for their part, must resist dependency without embracing isolation. They should receive Western resources with gratitude where these serve the Gospel, and walk away where they distort it. They must strengthen their own theological institutions, leadership formation, and mission structures so that they can serve both their local contexts and the wider world with maturity.

Mission reversal should not become a story of payback  now we will fix you. It should become a story of mutual repentance and mutual service. The West needs missionaries, but it also needs humble listeners who can name idolatry without hatred. The majority world needs Western allies, but it also needs to deepen its own institutional strength and spiritual confidence.

A wounded Western Church and a pressured majority-world Church are not competitors. They are family. When one part suffers, the whole body suffers. The urgent question is whether we will act like that is true  sharing burdens, telling the truth, and recovering a mission vision centered on Jesus Christ, for the sake of a world that is not waiting patiently for the Church to get its house in order.
Home Opinion America, take notice: Puerto Rico shows us how to fight for unborn babies

In the very same news cycle that saw wall-to-wall coverage of pop star Bad Bunnys headline-grabbing cultural moment, a development of profound moral and legal significance in Puerto Rico received comparatively little sustained attention.

While The Associated Press and a handful of national outlets reported that the territorys governor had signed legislation recognizing unborn human life in the criminal code, the story largely moved through wire coverage and quickly faded from the national conversation.

The measure itself does not ban abortion, and its full legal implications remain to be seen. Even so, when a U.S. jurisdiction formally adopts statutory language recognizing human life at conception, it marks a consequential moment in the nations continuing debate over the protection of the unborn, one that should have warranted more than a passing glance.

The law, signed by Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, amends Puerto Ricos Penal Code so that the term human being expressly includes the conceived child at any stage of gestation. As National Right to Life observed in response to the measure, the government now writes, in black and white, that the child in the womb is a human being. In law, definitions shape outcomes. They guide how courts interpret statutes, how prosecutors evaluate cases, and how society understands who is entitled to protection under the law.

For decades, the central fault line in Americas abortion debate has turned on a single foundational question: Who counts as one of us? By formally recognizing the unborn child within its criminal code, Puerto Rico has taken a step that directly engages that question at the level of legal principle.

This matters for several reasons.

First, legal recognition establishes moral clarity. When the law speaks clearly about the humanity of the unborn, it influences not only courtrooms but culture. Law is a powerful moral teacher. It signals what a society is willing to protect and what it is willing to ignore. Luis Soto, executive director of the Puerto Rico Baptist Convention, welcomed the measure, saying, We are grateful for legislation that recognizes life at conception and appreciate public leaders who seek to uphold principles that safeguard those who cannot speak for themselves.

Second, definitional changes often precede broader legal developments. Major shifts in public policy rarely occur all at once; they unfold incrementally. History shows that when jurisdictions clarify the status of vulnerable human life in statute, those definitions often shape future legislative and judicial debates.

Third, the action comes from a U.S. territory whose legal framework operates within the broader American constitutional system. Developments in Puerto Rico do not occur in isolation. As Miles Mullin of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention observed, These developments demonstrate an undeniable truth: this national existential conflict over whether the most vulnerable among us should be protected and treated as people will not be ultimately resolved by the states.

Ultimately, the question will not be settled piecemeal; it will require clear moral and legal leadership at the federal level.

The episode also raises a harder question about modern media priorities. Time and again, developments with profound ethical and policy implications are eclipsed by politically left-leaning national narratives. Whatever the explanation, consequential policy decisions frequently receive far less sustained scrutiny than their significance deserves.

North Carolina, my home state, has seen something similar before. In 2012, voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The measures passage did receive some national attention, but its public impact was largely overshadowed by President Barack Obamas announcement of his support for same-sex marriage at nearly the same moment, a development that dominated headlines and broadcast coverage.

It is difficult to believe the timing was merely coincidental. Whether by editorial instinct or ideological tilt, the effect was the same: many Americans never fully grasped the strength of the measures support. North Carolina had just become the 31st state to define traditional marriage in its constitution, and it did so by a decisive 69% to 31% vote. By any fair news standard, that was a major story. Yet it quickly faded from public view, another reminder that consequential policy decisions often receive far less careful treatment by the press than they actually merit.

Scripture speaks with sobering relevance to moments like these. Romans 1:18 declares, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. The apostles phrase hold the truth in unrighteousness carries the sense of suppressing, restraining, or holding down what is before us. Whatever ones view of media dynamics, the warning is timeless: truth can be present in plain sight and yet still be pushed to the margins of public attention.

Puerto Ricos new law will undoubtedly be studied, debated, and tested in the years ahead. Its full legal reach will become clearer with time. But one thing can already be said with confidence: when any U.S. jurisdiction writes into law that the child in the womb is a human being, it is not a routine legislative footnote. It is a meaningful moment in the ongoing national struggle over whether the most vulnerable among us will be recognized and protected.

In matters touching the definition and defense of human life, careful attention is not optional  it is essential to the sound judgment of a free people.
A philanthropist and founder of a global cryptocurrency exchange has pledged 20m to a maths and science charity after recently donating 25m to a foundation he started.

Ben Delo, who founded BitMEX in 2014, has donated 10m and promised an extra 10m in matched funding to the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (Lims).

Lims announced this week it is aiming to secure a 60m endowment to become one of the worlds premier research centres amid UK and international science funding cuts.

Ananyo Bhattacharya, Lims chief science writer, said that the timing of when the remaining money would come in depends on how quickly the charity can raise the 10m matched by Delo.

Bhattacharya added that the target for Lims, which recorded expenditure of 2.26m and income of 907,000 in 2024, is to raise the full 60m over 12 months.

Delo said: I see this endowment campaign as spearheading a movement to address the UK's lacklustre and inconsistent approach to scientific funding.

I am confident that with the backing of this endowment [] the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences will be in a position to drive forward its cutting-edge research.

Thomas Fink, Lims founding director, welcomed Delos donation: With Ben Delos backing, and the support it will catalyse, we will build a permanent home for the worlds best theorists to do their lifes work.

Last month, Delo announced a 25m donation to the Sheila Coates Foundation, an English autism charity he founded in 2020, to form its endowment.

Delo, who made his fortune through the cryptocurrency exchange, was pardoned by Donald Trump in March 2025 after serving a 30-month probation sentence.

This followed his guilty plea to violating the United States Bank Secrecy Act in 2022.

Aim to broaden fundraising streams

Lims recorded expenditure of 2.26m and income of 907,000 in 2024.

In its latest accounts, published in October last year, Lims acknowledged that its balance sheet suggested that 2024 was disappointing but said the charity had endeavoured to broaden its fundraising streams.

This includes a new emphasis on sponsored and endowed posts, the report stated.

Lims most significant prior donor was the Khodorkovsky Foundation which made a gift of 450,000 in 2024, matching its donation for the year before.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon who was Russias richest man, has also supported Lims with donations since 2022.

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Up to 17 jobs at an employment support charity are at risk due to a break in funding between the end of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and a proposed new fund.

In the Senedd last week, Welsh cabinet secretary Rebecca Evans gave an update on progress in developing a plan to invest 547m of UK government funding through the Local Growth Fund for Wales, as the UKSPF comes to an end on 31 March.

The UKSPF was launched in April 2022 to succeed EU structural funds following Brexit, with 2.6bn of funding for local investment by March 2025 and an extra 900m for 2025-26.

In her statement, Evans said the Local Growth Fund for Wales, which will have different objectives to the UKSPF, will launch this April and end in March 2029.

She said the Welsh government had proposed a transition year for the new fund to help us mitigate some impacts of the UKSPF.

Mon CF, a charity that supports people on the Welsh Anglesey island and has 31 staff, told Civil Society that the gap between funding programmes has created immediate financial uncertainty and placed up to 17 jobs at risk.

Seven redundancies already

A spokesperson for Mon CF said these 17 roles were directly funded through the UKSPF, adding that since the initial notification, seven staff members have taken voluntary redundancy.

Were currently using organisational reserves and alternative funding sources to temporarily bridge the gap, but this isnt sustainable in the longer term, they said.

They said that in the 2025-26 financial year, the charity received 1.12m through the UKSPF, which represented around 22% of its 5.24m total annual income.

This funding directly supported staff posts and frontline community provision.

They said that, as the rollout of the Local Growth Fund in Wales has not been agreed or formally signed off yet, theres no certainty that well receive any funding at all.

Without confirmed funding and a clear start date, we cannot guarantee the continuation of posts previously supported through the UKSPF, they said.

This uncertainty makes forward planning extremely difficult and risks disrupting vital services delivered to communities.

Welsh government unhappy with capital-split funding

In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the local growth funding will be around 70% capital funding, marking a departure from the UKSPF which was predominantly revenue-based.

Evans said in her statement that the Welsh government was deeply unhappy with the capital-split revenue.

Weve been pressing UK government to look again at that. At the moment, its 70% capital, 30% revenue, she said.

Thats really challenging, but I dont think that were in a place now where were going to see a change in mind from the UK government on that particular point, so were working really hard with local government to make sure that the funding is well spent and well targeted.

On the transition year, Evans said partners raised significant concerns about the loss of revenue, the heavy weighting towards capital, and the short-term funding cycle.

Were working closely with local government to mitigate these impacts wherever possible, while the design of our transition arrangements directly reflects local government requests to maintain key capacity while we prepare for a more regional approach.

Evans added that the Welsh government is looking to refine its investment priorities to the three most critical areas for productivity growth, so that the funding is not spread too thinly.

These are business competitiveness, demand-led skills and tackling economic inactivity, and regional infrastructure.

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On Monday, two days after the United States attacked Iran, Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defenseor war, as he saysand Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held a press conference in the Pentagon. It was only the fifth briefing in the building under the current administration, and the second since October, when Hegseth handed down reporting guidelines that barred credentialed Pentagon journalists from issuing callouts for national security tips or otherwise soliciting information not authorized for release, essentially banning routine newsgathering practices in return for a pass to access the building. Nearly every member of the Pentagon press corps refused to sign on to the new rules, leading to their exodus. They have since been replaced by a handpicked group of loyalists.

Hegseth and Caine spoke for twenty-nine minutes, then opened the floor for questions. From the seat once reserved for the Associated Press, Alexandra Ingersoll of One America News, a pro-MAGA network, asked about Irans capabilities and the US exit strategyquestions that Hegseth deflected. Next came the Daily Caller, an outlet founded by Tucker Carlson. In the first few rows of the briefing room, MAGA-friendly reporters passed the microphone to one another for a total of thirteen minutes before Hegseth and Caine left the stage. (Kingsley Wilson, the Pentagon press secretary, denied that Hegseth had chosen the questioners in advance.)

Some of the national security correspondents who left in October even showed up, though none were allowed near a microphone. The Pentagon sent out an invite to the briefing on Sunday to all the new media. We all got wind of it, so we emailed and asked to attend, a reporter for a trade publication, who asked not to be named because they feared reprisals from the Pentagon, told me. Dozens of reporters got visitor passes, and Courtney Kube of NBC News shouted a question about Donald Trumps claims that the military operation could take up to five weeks. Hegseth took the bait, calling it a typical NBC gotcha-type question, but didnt give an answer.

He doesnt feel like he owes the American public any explanation for what they are doing, the trade publication reporter said, adding that Hegseth seemed unprepared to engage even with the new pro-Trump press corps. While in the first half Caine spoke about mourning those who died in the operation, Hegseth just went on with partisan bullshit. A good staffer wouldve told him that you always start with your troops.

Monday was a snapshot of the new normal in the Pentagon, which will face a legal challenge this Friday, as oral hearings begin in the New York Times lawsuit alleging that Hegseths move to oust journalists from the building was unconstitutional.

In December, the Times sued the Defense Department, Hegseth, and Sean Parnell, the departments chief spokesman, arguing that the reporting guidelines violate the First Amendment by giving the department unbridled discretion over credentialing, allowing officials to discriminate against journalists based on their perceived political views. Pentagon officials celebrated the departure of mainstream media outlets and called them propagandists, the suit notes, then welcomed Laura Loomer, who refers to herself as President Trumps chief loyalty enforcer, and Lindell Media, whose CEO, MyPillow guy Mike Lindell, promised to make the administration proud with its coverage. The Pentagon said the new press corps was better equipped to inform a broader swath of the American public about what goes on inside the department than were the previously credentialed reporters, even as the Pentagon failed to impose its own guidelines on the new reporters, saying that a tip line opened by Loomer was constitutionally permissible but a similar callout from the Washington Post was not. And when James OKeefe, the Project Veritas founder, who had recently received a Pentagon press pass, admitted to recording an officials unguarded statements, Wilson praised his work even though it appeared to violate Defense Department reporting rules, according to the lawsuit.

The restrictions set a bad precedent that could be embraced by other parts of the government, A.G. Sulzberger, the chairman of the New York Times Company, told the Times, calling the move to replace independent journalism with propaganda a disservice to the American people.

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In response, the Pentagon defended its credentialing, asserting that the policy is needed to protect national security. According to its motion for summary judgment, after reporting guidelines were revised in September, the Defense Department corresponded with press advocacy groups and addressed multiple concerns, and those talks were reflected in the rules that took effect in October. When I reached out for further comment, a Pentagon official responded via email: As a matter of longstanding policy, the Department does not comment on ongoing litigation.

Jane Kirtley, a professor of media law at the University of Minnesota, told me that the Times allegations of viewpoint discrimination constituted the strongest part of its case. It is evidenced by who has been granted a Pentagon press badge since the new rules took effect, Kirtley said. The vast majority are MAGA-friendly groups, and that tells me that this is not a viewpoint-neutral rule. Kirtley also pointed to the importance of the Pentagons eighty-year tradition of press access: When the court looks at questions about rights of access to government, they look at what historically has been the practiceand the Pentagon has not made a clear case about national security that would justify these kinds of restraints.

Other experts noted that the Pentagons actions after the journalists walkout last fall may have weakened its position. I think the policy itself is plainly unconstitutional, butlike in many other cases involving the Trump administrationwhat they say after the fact makes their arguments even worse, Trevor Timm, the executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, said. They basically admitted that they dont care if people break this as long as they agree with them.

The Times suit also alleges violations of journalists Fifth Amendment rights, claiming that the reporting rules are overly vague and dont provide due process if access is revoked. The Times approach is smart, because a judge doesnt have to even rule on the content-discrimination issues, Carey Shenkman, a First Amendment lawyer, told me. The Times is giving the judge an opportunity to only rule on the procedural point, which is just as strong, maybe even stronger: that the Pentagon implemented this policy without giving any rights or notice to the press corps, and there is no opportunity for the press to challenge a determination of revocation.

Letitia James, New Yorks attorney general; the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; the American Civil Liberties Union; and the Pentagon Press Association (PPA) filed amicus briefs in support of the Times. If the newspaper wins, the PPA will seek to ensure that the relief extends to all previously credentialed members of the press corps, David Schulz, the PPAs legal counsel and the director of the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic at Yale Law School, told me.

But the damage may be irreversible. Several former Pentagon reporters told me that their outlets have gotten used to this new reality; that, for the first time in eight decades, covering the Defense Department is a remote job. While those without a Pentagon badge can technically still enter the building with a day pass, they must be accompanied by an escort at all times, and they may be asked to list the people they plan to interview, a condition many reporters understandably reject.

In the nearly five months since the press corps left the building, the United States has invaded Venezuela to capture President Nicolas Maduro and killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, just hours into the US-Israeli bombing campaign. Journalists who used to roam the hallways felt the chill, explaining that in high-pressure moments like these, access to the Pentagon is crucial. Is the senior military aides car still there? Are people in the Joint Staff hallway? Being present in the building gives you so much more information besides just people talking to you, a former Pentagon reporter, who asked not to be named because their employer didnt give them permission to speak to CJR, told me.

The new Pentagon press corps isnt getting much clarity either. After a highly publicized boot camp in December, which celebrated Hegseths Pentagon as the Most Transparent War Department in History, the department held no press briefings until this week. Many of those who recently received Pentagon passes never intended to work from there in the first place, and the press corpss bullpen is largely empty these days, the reporter for the trade publication told me. Its more about the absence of us than the presence of them, they said.

While the Times lawsuit seeks to reinstate independent journalism inside the Pentagon, even if it goes completely in favor of the Times, somethings been broken, and I doubt that it could be put back together, the former Pentagon reporter who didnt have their employers permission to speak to the press told me. I dont believe that the folks who orchestrated these policies to remove the press would eagerly welcome us back under a court order.
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In the days since the United States and Israel launched their joint war on Iran, Reza Pahlavithe son of the countrys last shahhas been omnipresent. Hes made multiple appearances on Fox News; hes been interviewed on 60 Minutes; hes written an op-ed for the Washington Post. With the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, the message that Pahlavi has been pushing for yearsthat he is uniquely qualified and positioned to lead an Iran free of the Islamic Republicis finding new resonance, at least in the US media. But the idea that there are only two possible futures for the countryPahlavi and freedom or the Islamic Republic and repressionis dangerously reductive, as Sina Toossi recently argued in The Nation: In Washington, the discourse often reduces Iran to two caricatures: the ruling elite in Tehran and the exiles who promise that pressure and war will bring about regime change. But inside the country, a third current has always existed. It is anti-authoritarian and anti-war at the same time. It rejects both domestic tyranny and foreign intervention. It demands self-determination through nonviolent civic struggle.

To understand more about the American media discourse on Iran, I spoke with Babak Rahimi, who is a professor of culture, religion, and technology at the University of California San Diego, where he also directs the Middle East studies program. Rahimi left Iran with his family for California when he was twelve, in the wake of the 1979 revolution. Iranians want changeof course they want change, he told me. The question is what kind of change. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

AB: What has jumped out to you about the media coverage of the war so far?

BR: First and foremost, its the decontextualization of the situation in Iran. Theres hardly any discussion on the history of war in Iran or the complicated history of the Pahlavi regime. The most important context is the 1953 US-led coup that overthrew the government of Mohammad Mosaddegh and installed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, a coup to make sure that Iran was within the US sphere of influence. That became catalytic, absolutely central, to the way the 1979 revolution unfolded. If youre not offering that information, youre not letting people understand why the Islamic Republic is so paranoid, so brutal. That whole history is chucked out.

All you get is fragments and clips and very shortsighted views of whats going on in Iran, and much of it is framed and connected to what happened in December and January, when the Iranian state brutally repressed and killed thousands of people. The illegality of the bombings is not discussed. The discussion quickly comes back to how repressive this Iranian state is. Clearly, you can see the manufacturing of consent.

Some of the key figures, the people who constantly show up in the media, are all in the Iranian-expert industry, and they are presenting a one-sided view, which is saying, Yes, the war is problematic, but at the end of the day its going to be okay. Hamid Dabashi, from Columbia University: He has a critical stance on the war in Iran. Hes hardly ever on TV. You hardly find people who are independent thinkers.

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What do you make of Reza Pahlavis recent ubiquity?

I am baffled by the ways in which Pahlavis popularity has been amplified without context over the last few years. On cable news from Fox to CNN to ABC, there is much discussion about Pahlavi being the only alternative. But theres little discussion about how he became the so-called alternative. Most of the Iranian dissidents, theyre all in prison, and Mr. Pahlavi has incredible wealth and a network that is allowing him to become the most visible. He is a privileged political figure with a royal pedigree, and hes giving off the image that hes really the future of Iran. Not necessarily.

The Pahlavi clique, the group that was driving this narrative, they are all very much in line with Fox News. They want the support of American public opinion, but what they really want is Donald Trumps ear. They knew that he was the ultimate person to make the decision to go to war. Since the war started, Pahlavi is now everywhere. Theres this really bizarre consensus that hes now the leaderthat wasnt the case last year! The media is either buying into it or not questioning it. Its a really scary thing, to be honest. That black-and-white picture should scare us.

Pahlavis messaging has been boosted by Iran International, a UK-based media platform that has bled hundreds of millions of dollars since its founding, in 2017, without disclosing its funding.

Its perhaps the most-watched Persian-language outlet that produces news, commentary, and video content. Its funding most likely comes from Saudi Arabia. They are straightforward in the ways they amplify Pahlavis voice. During diaspora protests, for instance, monarchist symbols and chants referencing Pahlavi are aired, and his speeches are rebroadcast. He also usually receives long-form interviews while facing limited critical interrogation on what the future of democracy in Iran would be with him as the transitional leader.

Visually, what have you noticed about the way the war is being presented?

You get images of Iran with exploded bombs and dusty clouds that are going everywhere. But when it switches to Dubai or Israel, you see people, humans being killed. This has to do with the fact that there arent too many journalists on the ground in Iran, but implicitly or indirectly, it adds to the dehumanizing aspect the media is manufacturing. The human side is not really shown in Iran.

Im so upset. Im trying to keep my academic voice. Theres a human side to all of this. You get this really bizarre disconnection. Here I am, as an Iranian AmericanIm looking at the media, Im seeing the horror. We dont have any connection with family and friends in Iran. I went through a war; I went through a revolution. I can still hear some of the sonic echoes of bombs. This trauma will last decades and generations.

There are many Iranians who are celebrating the war. They are jumping up and down thinking this will be an act of liberation. A lot of news coverage, especially on the local news, is of Iranian Americans who are pro-monarchy going to the streets saying, Thank you, Donald Trump, for saving us. There is a large segment of the Iranian population that is not in favor of the war, but you dont hear that. Of course, they dont support the Iranian state either. But those voices dont get heard.

A lot of footage coming out of Iran is being distributed by @VahidOnline, which is run anonymously. Citing their videos, New York magazine called @VahidOnline a widely respected account that has long been a trusted relay point for distributing videos, images, and eyewitness accounts from inside Iran. Youve researched @VahidOnline. Can you tell me about the account and its role in media coverage of Iran?

@VahidOnline became very popular among the Iranian diaspora and among Western media who didnt have direct access to Iran after the 2009 Green Movement. There was an interesting media tunnel. Vahid would post on Telegram, the diaspora would distribute it on their own social media accounts, and then the mainstream media would pick up on it. He was perceived as this heroic figure, the anonymous citizen-journalist giving out all the information.

In December 2009, I was in Tehran witnessing one of the biggest anti-government protests of the Green Movement. I saw police forces brutally attacking protesters. I walk five minutes away, to another neighborhood in Tehran, I see people doing their grocery shopping, listening to music, as if nothing was happening just a few streets away. I was giving interviews to mainstream American news channels, and there was a lot of disparity between how I was looking at things on the ground and how they were reporting it. I was baffled by some of the questions they were asking. It took me a while to figure out what was going on: the media was heavily reliant on this media tunnel and @VahidOnline. Certain areas, especially urban areas, were engaged with the uprisings, but the media tunnel gave the impression that the whole country was rising up.

In a vacuum of other reporting from Iran, @VahidOnline has become uniquely prominent. The account is now posting footage of air strikes, but before the war, what would followers have seen?

Hes very keen on posting protests and conflict-focused media content: things that are highly dramatic, things that underscore an unfolding conflict. He was really doing a good job in giving an impression to his audience of mostly diaspora Iranians that things were about to change in a dramatic way. The footage was real. These were live events that were happening, but you dont get contextualization, you dont get verification. And people dont consider the algorithmic acceleration aspect to it. @VahidOnline was being rewarded for posting content that was highly charged and visually dramatic. The protest clips are real, but once you overemphasize them, you give the impression that things are going in a certain direction. The reality on the ground is very messy. @VahidOnline was giving us this impression that this whole messiness had a direction to it. It simply didnt.

What is being cut out are vast landscapes of Iranian society. Ill give you one example: in the southern part of Tehran, the poorer side of the city, the Iranian state has a lot of support to this day. @VahidOnline hardly ever reports from there. Its somehow invisible.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. would provide insurance guarantees and naval escorts to ensure safe passage for oil tankers and other vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, intending to head off a potential energy crisis caused by the war with Iran.

Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation would offer insurance at a very reasonable price to help ensure the flow of energy and other commercial trade in the Gulf. In addition, he said if necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible.

Related: Insurance Clubs to Halt Ship War-Risk Cover in Persian Gulf

No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD, the president posted on social media.

Oil prices pared gains briefly on the news, with global benchmark Brent trading near $80 a barrel after settlement. While the latest measures knocked out some of the risk premium in energy markets, traders remain skeptical that it will allow oil flows to return to normal levels through the critical passageway quickly.

Prices have surged more than 10% since the U.S. and Israel began attacks on Iran over the weekend, triggering widespread disruptions in the Middle East and effectively bringing oil flows through the critical Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds energy supplies transit, to a halt.

Trumps post did not elaborate on the insurance mechanism to be offered by the DFC, an institution that generally exists to mobilize private capital to developing nations and lower risks for investments in poor countries.

The announcement may help to reassure traders, but escorting and insuring will take some time to implement, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official. The U.S. military will first want to suppress Irans ability to mine and attack ships with anti-ship cruise missiles and drones.

Assuming Tehran decides to continue fighting, we are expecting that full resumption of Hormuz flows will require weeks instead of hours or days, even with the announced and helpful plans to provide insurance or escort ships, McNally said in an email.

A few things remain unclear about Trumps vision of offering insurance to shippers willing to move through the Strait of Hormuz. For starters, its not immediately obvious how many will buy this insurance, or at what premium the DFC is going to offer.

Risk Level

How much insurance premium is charged may indicate the level of risk the DFC sees in the region, said Salar Ghahramani, a professor at Penn State University and founder of Global Policy Advisors, a sovereign wealth fund advisory firm. Especially comparing that premium to what the private markets would provide.

This could also be a gargantuan undertaking at a scale the DFC hasnt handled before. The closest that the agency has come to offering coverage was providing political risk insurance to Ukraine after the Russian invasion began, according to a person familiar with the matter, but that was to insure new projects, not existing assets.

To be sure, a large subscription to the DFCs insurance product could be a positive indicator that the war is under control.

If a lot of companies buy it that would indicate they have full trust that the U.S. government would meet its obligations should they need to cash in the insurance, said Ghahramani. It could mean they generally see it as a likely signal that the risks will be diminishing as the days go on.

Trumps thrusting the DFC into the spotlight is further evidence that the agencys significance within the federal government is growing. Issuing risk insurance amid a war further establishes the agencys foreign policy influence and its potential as a sovereign wealth fund, Ghahramani said, and the move comes weeks after the DFC issued a memo to staff saying it wanted to be more like a sovereign wealth fund.

Trumps announcement came after some concerns were raised about insurers putting upward pressure on oil prices as insurance contracts were getting pulled, according to people familiar with the matter.

Some of the worlds largest maritime insurance mutuals withdrew war risk insurance cover for ships entering the Persian Gulf as the industry scrambles to work out how to price the cost of covering vessels sailing into the waterway.

Gasoline Prices

The administration is also seeking to address high prices for consumers as gasoline prices have already jumped to the highest levels in five months, posing a political risk for Trump before the November midterm elections.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters this week that the U.S. had anticipated energy price increases and that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright would roll out a program to mitigate the effects. Trump was due to meet with Wright and Bessent on the issue at the White House on Tuesday afternoon.

Political risk insurance, like that offered by the DFC, helps cover losses due to war, violence and other political turmoil.

Top photo: Cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz in February. Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
Mike Vernon embodied the British blues producer who turned teenage obsession into a six-decade force behind Blue Horizon label and iconic recordings. His sharp ear elevated Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, and David Bowie, linking raw American roots to UK rock evolution.

Schoolboy Blues to Decca Powerhouse

Hailing from mid-1940s Surrey, Mike Vernon absorbed church choir hymns and his parents' jazz LPs before rock'n'roll from Little Richard and Fats Domino pulled him into African American blues. At Croydon Art College, he chased Cyril Davies and Alexis Korner, co-founding R&B Monthly fanzine with brother Richarda bible for London's scene with its meticulous artist and release breakdowns. Persistence paid off when Decca hired the 18-year-old in 1962 as A&R assistant for 8 weekly. He captured visiting US blues acts and demos from the Yardbirds and Spencer Davis Group, though rejected. His breakthrough: channeling Chicago intensity into John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers' 1966 "Blues Breakers" with Eric Clapton. The album hit UK No. 6, went gold, and crowned Clapton the era's premier white blues-rock guitarist. Vernon helmed all Mayall's major releases after that. As detailed in his Wikipedia entry, this phase solidified his production chops early on.

Blue Horizon Sparks a Blues Boom

Vernon and Richard launched Blue Horizon for scarce US blues 45s, securing a pivotal 1967 CBS deal. Peter Green's Fleetwood Macfresh off replacing Clapton in Mayalldelivered under Vernon's guidance with "Black Magic Woman" and the haunting "Albatross," topping UK charts in December 1968. The label propelled British acts like Chicken Shack (featuring Christine McVie), Savoy Brown, and Ten Years After. It also resurrected US legendsChampion Jack Dupree, Lightnin' Slim, Otis Spann, Furry Lewis, Johnny Shines, Bukka Whitegranting them UK acclaim absent back home. Vernon even produced David Bowie's 1967 debut and "The Laughing Gnome," a novelty smash he always backed. The Guardian's obituary paints this as peak British blues fervor.

Ventures Into Funk and Beyond

As blues dipped in the 1970s, CBS bailed on Blue Horizon, but the brothers opened Chipping Norton Studios in 1971. Vernon dropped solo albums, fronted funk's Olympic Runners, and produced doo-wop hitmakers Rocky Sharpe and the Replays for UK and international wins. Jazz-funk outfit Level 42 and soul act Bloodstone's 1973 "Natural High" bore his stamp. By 2000, Spain became home base for mentoring young UK blues talent and his own releases, plus swapping notes on Errol Dixon and Ottilie Patterson.

Mike Vernon's Enduring Blues Mark

Vernon, who passed at 81, forged British blues producer stardom through Blue Horizon label, reviving forgotten greats while igniting legendshis raw, dynamic sound echoes across genres today.
Smart devices revolutionize chronic disease management in China

13:58, March 04, 2026 By Yang Junfeng ( People's Daily

In Changxin township of Helan county in northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, a quiet shift is underway in how chronic diseases are managed.

For Jiang Baoguo, a villager living with hypertension who previously had to visit a local clinic weekly after a cardiac stent procedure, monitoring his condition has become much easier.

Smart health care products are manufactured in an intelligent workshop of a tech firm in Huainan, east China's Anhui province. (Photo/Chen Bin)

With a smart blood pressure monitor at home, his readings are now sent in real time to an AI-powered health management platform, enabling village doctors and family physicians to track trends and adjust treatment plans accordingly. Tasks that once required repeated clinic visits can now be handled with greater precision and convenience.

This innovation reflects China's broader shift toward technology-driven chronic disease prevention. Artificial intelligence and smart medical devices are making health care more accessible, supporting a move from reactive treatment to proactive early warning, and from fragmented services to integrated, full-cycle care.

In Dongtai of east China's Jiangsu province, 64-year-old villager Yu Fengzhu, who suffers from hypertension and heart disease, used to travel to urban hospitals each month for prescriptions. Today, Yu can complete examinations and obtain medication at her local village clinic in just half an hour.

This progress is supported by the city's "digital health cockpit" platform designed to optimize the allocation and management of medical resources at the county level. This platform links data from 437 medical institutions, allowing a centralized prescription review center to handle over 20,000 prescriptions daily.

Issues such as drug interactions and incorrect dosage are flagged in real time, raising prescription compliance rate to 96 percent.

Meanwhile, drone-based delivery services provide rapid transport of medicines and samples between urban hospitals and village clinics, further enhancing convenience.

Technological solutions are addressing unique regional challenges. In Mangya of northwest China's Qinghai province, the province's first AI-assisted chronic disease management system was launched in 2025.

A nurse of Yichun People's Hospital in east China's Jiangxi province reviews a patient's checkup results using a bedside intelligent medical platform. (Photo/Zhou Liang)

Equipped with multidisciplinary diagnostic support, the system allows residents to access health data via mobile devices and connect with family doctors, enabling a closed-loop service covering screening, assessment, intervention, and ongoing management.

This "smart health care model for plateau regions" offers a replicable solution for areas with harsh climates and limited medical resources.

China's medical technology sector has transformed device accessibility. Where blood glucose monitoring was once dominated by costly imports, Hunan-based Sinocare introduced its first affordable glucometer in 2004. In 2023 and 2025, the company introduced a continuous glucose monitoring system and its upgraded version. The latest model, roughly the size of a coin, can continuously measure glucose levels in interstitial fluid for up to 15 days. Data is synced via Bluetooth to a mobile app, enabling more efficient daily blood glucose management.

The intelligent transformation of chronic disease prevention and control is further supported by coordinated efforts in policy, industry, and cross-sector collaboration.

Helan county, for instance, has incorporated AI applications and big data analysis into continuing education for medical personnel, strengthening the talent pool for smart health care. The National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and the China Meteorological Administration have jointly issued a "National High-Temperature Health Risk Warning," effectively linking weather alerts with public health interventions and promoting the implementation of proactive prevention.

Medical staff conduct remote video consultations and joint diagnoses for a patient at a community health service center in Jingmen, central China's Hubei province. (Photo/Zhao Ping)

Meanwhile, Shanghai University of Sport has partnered with tech giant Baidu to develop an AI model for traditional fitness practices such as Baduanjin and Tai Chi, combining cultural heritage with intelligent guidance to provide scientifically grounded exercise programs for people with chronic conditions.

With ongoing technological innovation and systemic improvements, China's chronic disease prevention and control is moving from fragmented management toward full life-cycle care. Smart devices are increasingly enabling patients to monitor their health at home, receive precise management, and access medical services more conveniently.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Happy Wednesday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC this morning that President Donald Trump's 15% global tariff would be implemented this week. He also said the U.S. would make "a series of announcements" to support oil trade in the Gulf. Stock futures are rising this morning. All three major averages closed lower yesterday. Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

A television station broadcasts US President Trump on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Monday, March 2, 2026. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

2. Defensive positioning

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addresses the gathering at the AI Impact Summit, in New Delhi, India, February 19, 2026. Bhawika Chhabra | Reuters

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told staffers yesterday that the company won't "get to make operational decisions" on how the military utilizes its technology. Employees at OpenAI and Alphabet  which is reportedly in talks with the Pentagon over the usage of its Gemini bot  have called for stricter guardrails on the military's use of AI. "So maybe you think the Iran strike was good and the Venezuela invasion was bad," Altman said, according to a partial transcript of the meeting reviewed by CNBC. "You don't get to weigh in on that." OpenAI won a Defense Department contract last week after the Pentagon blacklisted its rival, Anthropic. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr told CNBC yesterday that Anthropic "made a mistake" when negotiating with the Defense Department.

3. No stone unturned

The Blackstone headquarters in New York on April 20, 2023. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Blackstone president Jon Gray defended the quality of loans from the firm's main private credit fund yesterday, telling CNBC that "we feel pretty darn good" when looking at credit quality, borrowing volume and EBITDA growth. The alternative asset management company allowed investors to withdraw nearly 8% of its BCRED private credit fund, according to a Monday filling. Blackstone shares fell nearly 4% in yesterday's session following the news and dragged on other private credit names during the session. As CNBC's Hugh Son notes, alternative asset managers' moves to allow investors to cash out have exacerbated concerns about the health of the private credit sector. Gray told CNBC that his firm has faced "a ton of noise" as these fears have gained traction in recent months.

Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning. Subscribe here to get access today.

4. Before committee

Howard Lutnick, US commerce secretary during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Annabelle Gordon | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick voluntarily agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee over his connection to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Rep. James Comer announced yesterday. The Cabinet secretary has been under intensifying pressure from both sides of the aisle to discuss his ties to Epstein after recently released records showed their relationship was more extensive than previously known. Lutnick has not been accused of wrongdoing, and he told Axios that he has "done nothing wrong" and wants "to set the record straight." The House Oversight Committee yesterday also asked Kathryn Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, to testify about her connection to Epstein, according to her spokesperson. Ruemmler "has done nothing wrong" and "welcomes the opportunity to appear," her spokesperson said.

5. Material girl, analog world

A booth attendant uses a Nikon Corp. Z7 mirrorless digital camera at the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show on February 28, 2019 in Yokohama, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Gen Z wants to be offline. The result: $230 notebooks, digital cameras and dollhouse furniture. As CNBC's Megan Sauer reports, the generation is spending money on old-school hobbies. Business owners selling products like rotary phones or needlepoint kits are seeing their revenue rise while the average costumer age slides. There's a reason for this wave of nostalgia spending. When political and economic instability rises, consumers tend to turn to products and experiences tied to their or their parents' childhoods, according to Marni Shapiro, co-founder of The Retail Tracker.

The Daily Dividend

Pinterest shares surged more than 9% yesterday after activist firm Elliott Investment Management made a $1 billion investment. The social media company said it would use the money to buy back stock.

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People walk past the logo of Amazon Web Services (AWS) at its exhibitor stall at the India Mobile Congress 2025 at Yashobhoomi, a convention and expo center in New Delhi, India, October 8, 2025.

Amazon 's data center in Bahrain was targeted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for the company's support of the U.S. military, Iranian state media said Wednesday.

The company's cloud computing unit said Monday that one of its facilities in Bahrain was damaged due to a nearby drone strike on Sunday. Two data centers in the United Arab Emirates were also damaged after they were "directly struck" by drones.

All of the facilities remain offline, according to the Amazon Web Services health dashboard.

The attack in Bahrain was launched "to identify the role of these centers in supporting the enemy's military and intelligence activities," Iran's Fars News Agency said on Telegram.

The incidents came after joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran over the weekend. Iran has retaliated against Israeli and U.S. bases across the Gulf.

Amazon declined to comment on the IRGC's claims, which CNBC was unable to independently verify.
According to Penn, in the fast-evolving world of corporate enterprise adoption of AI large language models, the foundation model choices increasingly resemble infrastructure decisions rather than simple software purchases, meaning companies evaluate not just technical performance but reputational, geopolitical, and customer perception risks. "Boards care about that. Risk committees care about that. Customers absolutely care about that," Penn said.

"The administration did not just pull Anthropic contracts. President Trump directed federal agencies to phase out Anthropic's technology, and the Pentagon reportedly applied a 'supply chain risk' designation. That phrase matters," said Spencer Penn, co-founder and CEO of AI-powered sourcing platform LightSource.

But other tech world executives say there will be, if not already, inevitable conversations in boardrooms across the corporate world about the Anthropic risk that extend far beyond the defense sector.

Defense contractors are dropping Anthropic's technology after the severe response from the Trump administration saying last week it will designate the company a supply chain risk . This comes after it refused the Pentagon's terms for use of its AI over safety concerns  and it is a designation previously used only for entities allegedly controlled by foreign governments like China and Russia when national security or espionage concerns are raised. The move by defense contractors is no surprise. "Most of our companies are actively involved in large defense contracts and so are very strict in their interpretation of the requirements," Alexander Harstrick, managing partner at J2 Ventures , which backs startups in the space, told CNBC.

But the AI startup's sudden, high-stakes battle with the Trump administration will force both its customers and investors to ask: Can that momentum continue?

Anthropic has been experiencing significant growth, a rapid rise driven largely by enterprise demand for its AI systems. Over 80% of the company's business came from enterprise customers as of January, according to CNBC reporting, a contrast to its rival OpenAI whose products have drawn much of their early momentum from consumer adoption of ChatGPT. Its annual revenue run rate is nearing $20 billion , up from about $14 billion only weeks ago, according to sources, while its recent $30 billion funding in a new round valued the AI developer at roughly $380 billion.

Anthropic has called the supply chain risk designation legally unsound , advised its commercial customers that they are "unaffected," and indicated it plans to contest the decision in court. Many legal experts have agreed with Anthropic that statements from the government that the supply chain risk designation can limit other commercial activities by private companies rather than only what they can do under specific government procurement and use scenarios goes well beyond the statutory authority.

The tensions between the government and Anthropic over AI safety and military use of its technology have helped the company's brand with consumers. On Feb. 28, a day after the dispute, Anthropic's Claude chatbot clinched the top spot on Apple's rankings of top free U.S. apps, surpassing ChatGPT and leaving Google's Gemini further down the rankings. But it is Anthropic's coding assistant Claude Code that has become one of the company's fastest-growing products, generating billions in annualized revenue as developers and large companies increasingly rely on AI tools to automate parts of their software development process, including tools designed to help developers write and review software and help run everyday business operations.

Anthropic has received some support from within the tech sector ranks, and a trade group representing the industry wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week expressing concern over his designating a U.S. company a supply chain risk. But the government has given little indication to date it is going to ease its stance, even though Anthropic was a critical technology in successful military operations in Iran.

Anthropic's assurances alone won't satisfy many corporations. "Once a supplier is in the door and doing good work, most teams do not proactively go looking for a reason to reopen diligence. This situation is different," Penn said.

"They closed the door. They didn't want to do business with us," Defense Department chief technology officer Emil Michael told CNBC's Morgan Brennan this week. "I think their culture and their own constitution that has a soul and their own values really are not compatible. It's sort of strange to want to do business with the Department of War, as they have for three years, but not want us to do Department of War stuff, so if that's where we ended up and we finally faced that and they don't want to do business with us, I think that's their choice."

Single-provider risk in the AI adoption race

Michael Murphy, partner and global AI readiness lead at consulting firm Adaptovate, which advises large companies on AI deployments, said Fortune 500 procurement teams move quickly when a key technology vendor faces regulatory scrutiny. "Any perceived compliance risk can ripple through their own regulatory obligations," he said, also citing that the situation may enforce a broader shift already under way inside many organizations: avoiding reliance on a single AI provider.

The government has said its battle with Anthropic, and the controversial award of a new contract to OpenAI last week, was partly about addressing single vendor concentration. "We can't be reliant on any one provider anymore, and that's what was happening before I took this role on, and that's gotta change," DoD CTO Michael told CNBC.

That will now be an issue for many companies.

"Over-dependence on one AI vendor is increasingly seen as a risk," Murphy said. "Many enterprises are already evaluating multiple providers simultaneously so they have redundancy in their AI stack."

"The more mature enterprises understand that each vendor plays a different part of the larger puzzle. There is power in an ecosystem, but there is also lock-in risk," said Joshua Morley, global head of AI, data, and analytics at Akkodis, the Adecco Group's technology consulting arm.

In the end, the political and legal battle may accelerate the process that was already underway with corporate enterprise decision-makers diversifying their AI bets across companies in the space after early experimentation with a single vendor. Disney chief financial officer Hugh Johnston recently told CNBC that while its early work has been with OpenAI, the company expects that to broaden out. "We are very open on it. We will have a period of time where we are exclusively OpenAI, but a relatively short period of time. We need to let the models play out. I would be surprised if not multiple models rather than a single model going forward," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"This looks more like short-term disruption than a structural shift," Penn said. "Enterprises remain committed to deploying AI capabilities, but they may move toward more diversified ecosystems rather than relying on a single provider."

The supply chain risk management classification can strongly affect contractors and subcontractors that rely on the technology, prompting companies to reassess contracts, delay deployments, or evaluate alternative AI vendors. If the designation appears durable, especially for companies with dual-use exposure across commercial and defense markets, Penn said he expects quiet evaluation of alternative foundation model providers. "Not necessarily because teams want to switch, but because concentration risk and eligibility risk are things serious procurement organizations are paid to manage," he said. "Most enterprises are not going to make architectural shifts in days, but they will open a review immediately. Legal will assess what the directive actually requires. Compliance will evaluate exposure. Security will ask about contingency plans," he added.

For Anthropic investors like Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and sovereign wealth funds from around the world, the dispute could interrupt Anthropic's rapid expansion. "Anytime the government takes aggressive action against a technology company, it creates risk," said Brad Harrison, founder of Scout Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing at the intersection of national security and critical technology Innovation. "And the worst thing when you have significant momentum is a major risk requiring time and attention," he said.

Ben Horowitz, co-founder and general partner at A16Z, which is an investor in Anthropic competitors OpenAI and xAI, told CNBC this week from its defense tech conference that "just a week ago, Anthropic was complaining the Chinese companies had stolen all their IP out of their model. Do you think the Chinese government is being restricted by DeepSeek in how they can use Anthropic technology? So we are very sympathetic to the position of the Department of War on this."

Like many things with the current administration, policy signals can change quickly. "One constructive conversation between President Trump and Dario Amodei could soften the stance or further entrench it," Penn said. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr told CNBC this week that Anthropic "made a mistake" in its dealings with the Department of Defense and should "try to correct course as best they can."

For now at least, the unusually public nature of the dispute may accelerate risk conversations. "Typically, these kinds of eligibility issues move quietly through legal channels," Penn said. "In this case it became headline news."

CNBC's Lora Kolodny, Samantha Subin and Ari Levy contributed to this report.
Tesla's advances in autonomous driving and robotaxi services could drive its next phase of growth, Bank of America said. The bank reinstated its coverage of the electric vehicle maker at a buy rating. Before coverage was paused, the bank had designated the stock as a hold. Analyst Alexander Perry's $460 price objective implies upside of 17%. Shares of Tesla have slipped 13% this year, but are up 44% over the past 12 months. TSLA 1Y mountain TSLA 1Y chart Perry wrote that he views Tesla as the current leader in autonomous driving. "We expect TSLA to quickly become a leader in robotaxi services, given its ability to scale more profitably than competitors. We see autonomous vehicles spurring the next era of mobility and as the most significant change agent in the Auto 2.0 landscape, offering consumers the prospect of saving time, safer travel, and more accessible transportation," he wrote. Robotaxi, Perry said, offers the most significant opportunity ahead for Tesla. The technology currently operates in Austin, with several additional markets expected to come online in the first half of the year. Perry believes that Tesla will quickly scale its robotaxis going forward. "The standard technology used in the autonomous industry is multisensor fusion approaches (LiDAR/radar/cameras), whereas Tesla's cameraonly approach is technically harder but much cheaper and leverages a consumerfleet data engine," he wrote. "Tesla's strategy should allow it to scale more profitably compared to Robotaxi competitors, while the lack of drivers gives it a cost advantage vs. rideshare players." Perry added that Tesla's full self-driving software is in the early stages of monetization and could stand to be the leading consumer autonomy solution. Again, the analyst sees adoption scaling rapidly from here, and expects Tesla to gain market share amid a tougher regulatory backdrop for electric vehicle players. Additional upside, the analyst noted, could come from Tesla's Optimus humanoid segment, which Perry values at over $30 billion. He also sees upside from Tesla's energy business. "Optimus will likely first be used in manufacturing and possibly replace a portion of the ~13mm U.S. manufacturing jobs, with future adoption in households," he wrote. "Separately, we value the Energy business at $90bn (6% of valuation) & expect Tesla to have leading share with its residential Powerwall batteries and its Megapacks for use by utilities & data centers." Tesla shares rose more than 1% following the rating change.
Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, arrives for a medal of honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, March 2, 2026.

A tech industry group, whose members include Nvidia , Google and Anthropic, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Wednesday expressing concern over his designating a U.S. company a supply chain risk.

The letter, written by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), doesn't name Anthropic, though the artificial intelligence company was given that label on Friday after failing to come to terms with the Defense Department.

"We are concerned by recent reports regarding the Department of War's consideration of imposing a supply chain risk designation in response to a procurement dispute," ITI wrote in the letter.

The ITI's other members include Microsoft , Apple and Amazon .

"Contract disputes should be resolved through continued negotiation between the parties, or by the Department selecting alternate providers through established procurement channels," ITI said. "Emergency authorities such as supply chain risk designations exist for genuine emergencies and are typically reserved for entities that have been designated as foreign adversaries."

Hegseth announced on X on Friday that the Pentagon would be labeling Anthropic a "supply chain risk to national security," shortly after President Donald Trump ordered every U.S. government agency to immediately stop using the company's technology.
Elon Musk, executive chairman and chief technology officer of X Corp., center, arrives at federal court in San Francisco, California, US, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Since buying Twitter for around $44 billion in late 2022, Elon Musk has changed the name to X, merged the social media platform with artificial intelligence startup xAI and then combined that company with his defense contractor, SpaceX.

Musk's next big step may be to take SpaceX public in what would likely be a record IPO. But first, he has to revisit his past.

On Wednesday, Musk appeared at a federal courthouse in San Francisco to defend himself against allegations that he committed civil securities fraud in the run-up to his purchase of Twitter.

Investors in Twitter filed a class action suit against Musk in October 2022 when  after months of tension and flip-flopping  he finally agreed to buy the social network for $54.20 a share, the price he originally promised in April of that year.

The investors alleged that Musk, now the world's richest person, engaged in a scheme to weigh down Twitter's stock in order to pressure the board to sell to him for a lower price. Musk's attorneys have argued that he never intended to hurt Twitter or its other investors.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs opened by asking Musk whether he was aware in 2022 that his tweets could have an impact on the price of stocks

"My tweets have sometimes the opposite effect of what one would expect on stock prices," Musk said. "Sometimes they have the expected effect."

He added that the "stock market it's like a manic depressive."

A defeat at trial could result in Musk being forced to pay former Twitter investors to make up for their reported losses, and could influence the outcomes in related lawsuits down the line.

The SEC has separately accused Musk of violating financial regulations by failing to disclose his active stake in Twitter as he was preparing to take over the company within a legally required time frame. His offer for Twitter landed a little over a week after Musk revealed a 9.1% stake in the company.

After his bid, Musk used his widely followed account on Twitter, as well as press interviews, to complain about bots, spam and fake accounts on the social network. He also said he would put the deal on hold until the company's board satisfied demands for more comprehensive internal data than he had previously requested.

Twitter shares dropped after it appeared Musk may back out of the buyout. Investors in the class action claim they sold prematurely at prices below the $54.20 acquisition price because they thought the deal was unraveling.

In another lawsuit, Twitter sued Musk in the Delaware Court of Chancery to force him to complete the deal at the price he originally put forward. Musk settled the Delaware suit, buying Twitter and setting the stage for the consolidation of X, xAI and SpaceX, which also owns Starlink, into an entity now valued by private investors at $1.25 trillion.

WATCH: SpaceX IPO will reprice the entire private space market
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, participates in the group's press conference in the Capitol, March 25, 2025.

Rep. Tony Gonzales for the first time on Wednesday admitted to having an affair with a staffer who died by suicide in September.

"I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment and there was a lack of faith. And I take full responsibility for those actions," the Texas Republican said during an appearance on The Joe Pags Show, a conservative talk show. "Since then, I've reconciled with my wife, Angel. I've asked God to forgive me, which he has. And my faith is as strong as ever."

His office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Gonzales acknowledged the affair the same day the House Ethics Committee announced it had opened an investigation into his conduct. The committee said it would investigate whether Gonzales "engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office," or "discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges."

Before Wednesday, Gonzales had denied the affair with his former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died of self-immolation last year. Several Republicans have called on Gonzales to resign, though he has said he will remain in office.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attends a House Judiciary Committee hearing on "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security" to testify, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 4, 2026. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for nearly seven hours, her second straight day of grilling by lawmakers on Capitol Hill. She had an easier day than on Tuesday when the Senate Judiciary Committee, including Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina, criticized her job performance and Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the killings of two people during an immigration crackdown in Minnesota were unacceptable. The House Republican caucus is generally in a tighter lockstep with President Donald Trump than their counterparts in the Senate. Here are five takeaways from Noem's day before the House Judiciary panel:

1. Noem declines to apologize over domestic terrorism comments

Noem did not take the opportunity to apologize for her comments that characterized two Americans shot and killed by federal immigration agents as domestic terrorists. Asked by the panel's ranking member, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., if she would like to apologize for her comments, Noem offered condolences to the families of those shot but skipped apologizing for her comments. "My heart is with them and we will continue to stand with them as they get a complete investigation into these situations," Noem said. Noem said in the immediate aftermath of both the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good that they were engaged in acts of "domestic terrorism." Subsequent videos of the shootings contradicted those claims.

2. Noem does not say she's never had sex with Corey Lewandowski

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove asked Noem whether she has ever had "sexual relations" with her top advisor, Corey Lewandowski, during her tenure atop DHS. Noem ripped the question as "tabloid garbage" but did not say affirmatively under oath that she has never had sexual relations with Lewandowski. The pair have both publicly denied an affair, as has been reported in several media outlets. "I am shocked that we're going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee today," Noem said. "He is a special government employee who works for the White House; there are thousands of them in the federal government." "It is offensive that you have brought that up. That kind of garbage has been refuted for years," Noem said. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., offered Noem another opportunity to say "no" to whether the affair has happened. "This has been something that I've refuted for years, and I continue to do that," Noem said. "This is what you do, the socialist liberal left, is you go off and you attack conservative women and you say that we're either stupid or we're sluts."

3. Noem faces only slight criticism from Republicans

Unlike on Monday, when Noem was ripped by Tillis for what he said was a "disaster" at DHS under her watch, Republicans in the House were relatively light touch with their criticism of Noem. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., implored Noem to hew closely to the Fourth Amendment, which requires a judicial warrant to enter a private residence. Democrats have called for a requirement of judicial warrants for any immigration arrest. "I think for entering a residence or a private property, it would be helpful to have judicial warrants," Massie said. Noem was also peppered by Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., over grants for wildfire damage prevention from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "It's just been waiting for your signature, which I understand is a new requirement that anything over $100,000 needs the secretary's approval," Kiley said. "Do you have any idea why it is we can't get movement on this?" Noem said if the grant has been held up, it was by FEMA, which is a sub-agency of DHS, not her. She also said she does not "have a requirement that I sign off on grants of $100,000, I do have a requirement on reviewing contracts."

4. Everyone wants to say their piece

The hearing with Noem dragged on for close to seven hours, with some breaks. Lawmakers typically use the appearance of cabinet secretaries before committees to burnish their fundraising and seek viral moments in questioning. That makes it more likely that all lawmakers will want to use their five minutes to question a secretary like Noem, who has been under fire for her execution of the president's immigration agenda.

5. Noem testified during a shutdown during a war
Dario Amodei, co-founder and chief executive officer of Anthropic, at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Prakash Singh | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Following the Trump administration's decision on Friday to blacklist Anthropic and designate its technology a supply chain risk, defense tech companies are telling employees to stop using Claude, and to switch to other artificial intelligence models and assistants. "Most of our companies are actively involved in large defense contracts and so are very strict in their interpretation of the requirements," said Alexander Harstrick, managing partner at J2 Ventures, which backs startups in the space. Harstrick told CNBC in an email that 10 of his firm's portfolio companies that work with the Department of Defense, "have backed off of their use of Claude for defense use cases and are in active processes to replace the service with another one." Meanwhile, defense contractors like Lockheed Martin are expected to remove Anthropic's technology from their supply chains, Reuters reported late Tuesday. It's a sudden reversal for Anthropic, which gets about 80% of its revenue from enterprise customers, CEO Dario Amodei told CNBC in January. The company entered the DoD's ecosystem in late 2024 through a partnership with software and services provider Palantir . Months after that agreement, Claude became the first major model deployed in the government's classified networks through a $200 million contract with the DoD. The model's popularity continued to soar across the business world, particularly in the area of coding assistants. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on X that any contractor or supplier doing business with the U.S. military is barred from commercial activity with Anthropic. The announcement came after Anthropic executives refused to comply with the government's demands over its model use. They wanted assurances that their AI would not be tapped for fully autonomous weapons or mass domestic surveillance of Americans. Anthropic's models are still being used to support the U.S. military operations in Iran, even after the announcement from the Trump administration, as CNBC previously reported. The matter is far from resolved.

watch now

Anthropic can still appeal through the legal system, but has yet to act because nothing official has happened  it's mostly been limited to social media posts. Anthropic said in a blog post on Friday, citing a federal statute enacted by Congress, that Hegseth lacks the authority to restrict companies that work with Anthropic from doing business with the government. Should the supply chain risk designation be made official, it would only apply to companies' use of Claude as part of defense contracts and "cannot affect how contractors use Claude to serve other customers," the company wrote. Anthropic declined to comment beyond pointing to a blog post. But multiple defense tech execs, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, said they're preemptively moving their workforce off of Claude. One defense company executive said they told employees last week to start switching out Claude for other models, including some open-source options, a process that could take a week or two. That was in preparation for Friday's deadline as both sides refused to budge. The CEO of another defense tech company said this week that employees were directed on Monday to stop using Claude until they're given further guidance. The company has to assume a ban will go into effect, the person said.

'Abundance of caution'

Harstrick, who served as a military intelligence officer in the Army reserves and deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2017, said his companies are switching "out of an abundance of caution." "This in no way reflected a perceived shortcoming of Claude with most commenting that the situation was lamentable as the product itself is excellent," he wrote. Hours after the Pentagon's announcement on Friday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a post on X that his company had agreed to terms with the DoD on the use of its AI models. After facing a barrage of criticism over the weekend, Altman followed up with a post on Monday acknowledging his timing was "sloppy" and that the company "shouldn't have rushed" the deal. Altman posted an internal memo saying the company would amend the contract to include new language to clarify that "the AI system shall not be intentionally used for domestic surveillance of U.S. persons and nationals." President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Friday that federal agencies will have six months to phase out their use of the technology. So far, in addition to the Defense Department, officials at the Treasury Department, State Department and Health and Human Services have directed employees to move off Claude. One venture investor in defense tech told CNBC that any serious company doing business with the federal government would avoid dependency on a single supplier, so switching off Anthropic shouldn't pose a major problem.

Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2026. Denis Balibouse | Reuters

Palantir, which counts on the government for close to 60% of its U.S. revenue, declined to comment on its plans. Analysts at Piper Sandler wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday that Anthropic is "heavily embedded in the Military and the Intelligence community" and that moving off the company's technology could "pose some short-term disruptions" to Palantir's operations. "While re-establishing AI functions with a new vendor can and will happen if needed, Anthropic was [a] trailblazer in terms of operationalizing AI models for data-sensitive environments," wrote the analysts, who have a buy rating on Palantir's stock. "Onboarding and negotiating replacement technology will take time and resources" that could have been "spent on growth opportunities," they wrote. Not everyone is acting hastily. C3 AI Chairman and former CEO Tom Siebel counts the DoD as a customer and has a partnership with consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton . Siebel said in an interview that he doesn't see a "need to mitigate" Claude at this time, "until it gets litigated." A partner at a defense-focused venture firm said his portfolio companies have limited exposure to Claude and are mostly users of OpenAI's technology. Tara Chklovski, CEO of Technovation, a global tech education nonprofit, said that if the Defense Department pursues this strategy to its end and cuts off Anthropic, it could be a dangerous decision. She said Anthropic has been the most deliberate model creator when it comes to building systems for the military, and that any alternative supplier the government uses will be less safe. The government also has contracts with Google for use of Gemini and with Elon Musk's xAI for Grok. "Once the dust settles, they'll realize that Anthropic is the only one that has this very unique set of skills in technology," Chklovski said. "Competition is so fierce that people think going fast and without the weight of these safeguards is the only way to succeed. Anthropic is showing that's probably not the way."  CNBC's Ashley Capoot and Jordan Novet contributed to this report WATCH: What are your red lines?
The President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, speaks during the official opening dinner of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, on 1 March 2026, in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday doubled down on his criticism of the U.S strikes against Iran, describing the escalating Middle East conflict as a "disaster."

His comments come after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to cut off trade with Madrid after Spain's government prevented two jointly operated bases in its territory from being used in the strikes.

"Spain has been terrible," Trump said on Tuesday, during a White House news conference alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "We're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain," he added.

In a televised address on Wednesday morning, Sanchez said: "Very often great wars start with a chain of events spiralling out of control due to miscalculations, technical failures, and unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, we must learn from history and cannot play Russian roulette with the fate of millions," according to a CNBC translation.

Sanchez warned of "repeating the mistakes of the past," drawing a comparison with the invasion of Iraq in the early 2000s, and summarized the government's position as: "No to war."
US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 1, 2026, on his way back to Washington, DC.

President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind crypto firms in their high-stakes battle with U.S. banks over whether they can offer interest-like returns on stablecoins.

Trump, in a social media post late Tuesday, ratcheted up pressure on banks to relent on the stablecoin yield issue.

That's the key point of contention holding up passage in Congress of the Clarity Act, which is a companion bill to the Genius Act approved last year, setting up a framework for regulated stablecoins.

"The Genius Act is being threatened and undermined by the Banks, and that is unacceptable," Trump said in his post. "They need to make a good deal with the Crypto Industry because that's what's in best interest of the American People."

Coinbase shares surged as much as 15% in midday trading Wednesday, while stock of JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America fell less than 1%.

While Trump's decision to back the crypto industry could sway members of his Republican Party in the GOP-led Congress, it's unclear whether his support is enough to ensure the bill's passage. The move also raises fresh questions over potential conflict of interests, as the president and his family have reportedly generated hundreds of millions of dollars in wealth from interests in firms including the crypto platform World Liberty Financial.

The dispute between the industries centers on whether crypto firms like Coinbase can offer yields on stablecoins. While crypto companies see it as a consumer-friendly innovation that will let people earn money on their idle funds, banks have warned that the competing product could siphon trillions of dollars from their industry.
President Donald Trump hauled big technology companies into the White House on Wednesday to sign a pledge that they will supply their own power for artificial intelligence data centers, as anger grows across the U.S. over rising electricity prices ahead of the midterm elections.

Trump has embraced the artificial intelligence industry as an engine of economic growth and pillar of national security in the U.S. rivalry with China. But his alliance with the industry also poses political risks as Democrats zero in on the cost of living as they campaign to win back Congress.

Grassroots opposition to data centers is growing in communities across the U.S. with residents blaming the facilities for high utility bills. Trump promised to cut electricity prices in half during his first year in office. Instead, residential prices increased 6% in 2025 on average nationwide, according to federal data.

The president said Wednesday that data centers "need some PR help."

"People think that if a data center goes in, their electricity prices are going to go up, and that's not happening," Trump said. "It's not going to happen, and for the areas where it did happen, won't happen anymore."

Power obligation

Executives representing Amazon, Google, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, xAI, Oracle and OpenAI signed Trump's pledge Wednesday. The signatories are AWS CEO Matt Garman, Oracle CEO Clay Magouyrk, Google President Ruth Porat, Meta President Dina Powell, Microsoft President Brad Smith, OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap, and xAI's Gwynne Shotwell.

"These companies are committing to provide or pay for all power generation and electricity needed for their AI projects, which is massive," Trump said. "Where possible, they'll add capacity to the grid by building new power stations."

But the agreement doesn't appear to carry any concrete, binding commitments. Trump's trade and manufacturing advisor, Peter Navarro, has previously said the White House would "force" the tech companies to "internalize" the costs associated with their data centers.

The administration faces an uphill battle turning the pledge into policy that is actually implemented on the ground, said Rob Gramlich, president of consulting firm Grid Strategies and former economic advisor to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Decentralized rules

The rules governing the electric grid are decentralized across all 50 states, each with their own public utility commissions and different laws. The states would have to approve rules requiring data center developers pay for the costs of new power generation, Gramlich said.

"The White House can't do that on its own," he said. "It doesn't have any jurisdiction there and of course the technology companies can't do that on their own either."

Democrats quickly criticized the pledge as an empty promise.

"A handshake agreement with Big Tech over data center costs isn't good enough," Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona said in a Feb. 24 social media post. "Americans need a guarantee that energy prices won't soar and communities have a say."

Implementation challenges

There is a growing political consensus across the U.S. that data center developers need to pay for new transmission and power plants, but such calls may already prove too little too late. Electricity prices are forecast to rise 6% through 2026 and another 3% in 2028 as data center demand grows more rapidly than power supply, according to a Goldman Sachs report published last month.

The problem is most acute on PJM Interconnection, which covers 13 states, mostly in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest, and is the largest U.S. electric grid. The cost to secure power supplies on PJM has exploded in recent years, with $23 billion attributable to data centers, according to watchdog Monitoring Analytics. Those costs get passed down to consumers.

This amounts to a "massive wealth transfer," the watchdog told PJM in a November letter.

The Trump administration and a bipartisan group of governors called on PJM in January to hold an emergency auction in which the tech companies would bid to bring new power plants online.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in October to take jurisdiction over connecting big data centers to the grid, allowing FERC to require data centers to pay for the cost of new transmission, Gramlich said. But that wouldn't address the issue of new power generation, which is mostly regulated at the state level, he said.

"You would need a new federal law" for the Trump administration to directly address bringing more generation online, Gramlich said.

Political leverage

But as its most powerful ally, Trump holds unique political leverage over the AI industry. He has not hesitated to pressure independent agencies, and frequently uses the White House bully pulpit to pressure companies to do what he wants.

"We've clearly seen this is a maximalist policy administration," said Abe Silverman, who served as general counsel for New Jersey's public utility board from 2019 until 2023. "There are reasons to think that this administration will be able to assert its will more directly than past administrations."

Politicians across the political spectrum are targeting data centers. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker proposed a two-year moratorium on tax incentives for data centers during his Feb. 18 State of the State address. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is calling for a data center moratorium. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed legislation to regulate data centers and protect families from price hikes.

Energy Secretary Wright told reporters last week that the administration has warned the tech companies that if they "are perceived to drive up electricity prices," they will reap the backlash.

"We want to see data centers developed," Wright said. "We want to see communities welcoming them, but to do that, it's necessary to have up-front investments in the additional grid infrastructure needed."
The Damac Heights real estate development, right, in the Dubai Marina in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.

Stocks listed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi slid on Wednesday, as UAE indexes reopened from a two-day closure that followed Iranian drone and missile strikes on the nation.

Dubai's benchmark index ended the session 4.7% lower, marking its worst day since May 2022. Abu Dhabi's main index closed 1.9% lower, paring back earlier losses but notching its worst day since last April. The Nasdaq UAE 20 was down 4.4% at the end of trading.

State-owned bank Emirates NBD, down 5.2%, led losses in Dubai, while Abu Dhabi's Al Buhaira National Insurance Company and Umm Al Qaiwain General Investments, down 9.6% and 8.7% respectively, led losses there.

Before the open, both exchanges said that they would temporarily adjust their lower price limit thresholds for securities to -5%.

Over the weekend, Iran launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on the UAE in retaliation to U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran's strikes on the UAE have hit civilian and commercial areas, with Dubai's international airport, hotels and Amazon data centers suffering damage.
Investors suspect widening geopolitical conflict will boost demand for drone systems, putting attention on a sector that's trading at an attractive valuation, analysts say. Unmanned systems have been a key driver of the growing defense market, given their heavy use in the Ukraine-Russia war that began in 2022. Artificial intelligence has accelerated the Pentagon's push for unmanned systems, as the technology has enabled the development of low-cost drones at scale . Also important are counter-drone systems that can defend against attacks, according to BTIG analyst Andre Madrid. Already, drones are playing a prominent role in the war between the U.S. and Iran that erupted over the weekend. Iran is deploying its low-cost, long-range Shahed drones . Three Amazon Web Services facilities were damaged this week in the Middle East. On Tuesday, Iranian drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh as President Donald Trump's "Operation Epic Fury" expanded throughout the region. Madrid said the expanding offensive capabilities of U.S. adversaries have led to increased production and distribution of counter-drone systems, which detect, track and neutralize threats from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) through technologies such as radio frequency. The primary beneficiaries in counter-defense drone technology are AeroVironment and Leonardo DRS . "The fact that this threat has become so proliferated made it very apparent that we don't have effective countermeasures in place to deter them or to stop them. That's really where ... we've seen rising demand for counter-drone tech," Madrid said in an interview. "Now we have to beef up our defenses." Leaders in counter-defense drones The U.S. government is earmarking more funding for unmanned systems  such as aerial drones, unmanned marine vehicles and counter-unmanned aircraft systems  in recent budgets. The fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act boosted the budget for counter-drone programs by about $336 million above prior projections. "We've seen the use case for counter drone technology materialize," Madrid said. "What Iran is shooting out, it's a lot of Shahed 136, which is a long-range loitering drone. I think the bigger question is how do you effectively deter those threats without expending several millions, potentially even billions, of dollars on air defense missiles." Madrid said he foresees a "several hundred million, if not several billion dollar opportunity" for AeroVironment, a defense company known for manufacturing small military drones and loitering munitions. The company has a sizeable opportunity to grow its revenue if, for example, the U.S. military decides to install AeroVironment's C-UAS systems at a number of critical infrastructure sites, he said. In late 2025, the U.S. Army selected AeroVironment's low-cost Freedom Eagle-1 as a counter-drone interceptor, primarily to defend against longer-range attack drone and other uncrewed aerial systems. AeroVironment is a well-loved name. Of the 18 analysts covering it, seven have a strong buy rating and 10 have a buy rating, per LSEG. Their consensus price target suggests 66.1% potential upside. William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma recently reiterated his outperform rating on the stock, writing in a Monday note to clients that the company is a leading drone provider. AVAV 1Y mountain AeroVironment stock performance over the past year. The stock has been on a wild ride this week, to be sure. Shares plunged more than 17% on Monday on news that it lost exclusivity in a massive U.S. Space Force contract. But the stock clawed back 9.6% on Tuesday, as it touted it advantages versus its competition. Shares remain down more than 5% year to date. "That's a program more geared toward the space domain. So to me, it doesn't really influence AeroVironment's growth profile as a drone manufacturer," Madrid said, adding that the stock deserves a "premium multiple" to peers. U.S.-based defense electronics company Leonardo DRS is another undervalued name in counter-drone technology, according to Madrid. The stock has rallied more than 33% this year. Leonardo DRS is a key supplier to the U.S. Army's Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system, which is designed to shoot down drones. The company also develops traditional radar systems that play a role in drone detection and tracking, Madrid said. "In a lot of areas in which they operate, there are high barriers to entry," he said. Madrid added, the company has a "very high caliber management team." Defense primes in favor Analysts on Wall Street also remain bullish on defense primes such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman . Morgan Stanley's Kristine Liwag on Monday reiterated her "attractive" view on the defense sector, citing the favorable backdrop for U.S. defense budget growth. She also reiterated her overweight rating on General Dynamics , RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) and Northrop Grumman. She also sees upside for equal-weighted aerospace and defense giants Lockheed Martin and Boeing . "We see Operation Epic Fury as particularly emphasizing the need for robust air and missile defense systems, and note that the DoW has been focused on incentivizing production expansion for the Primes in this area," Liwag wrote. For example, the Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin have agreed to ramp up output of THAAD and Patriot PAC-3 missile systems and the government is working with RTX to scale production across a range of missile and interceptor programs. "We expect more of these types of agreements as U.S. defense spending grows. Given these tailwinds, with the Defense Primes trading at a ~20% discount to the S & P 500 on an [next 12 months price-to-free- cash-flow] basis, we see upside to current trading levels," Liwag said. Bernstein's Adrien Rabier similarly said that the strongest performers from the ongoing war should be companies with exposure to tactical missiles and munitions currently being used by the U.S., Israel and Gulf countries. RTX, Lockheed Martin and L3Harris are the most exposed names in Bernstein's coverage that meet this criteria, he said.
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The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max rear display flagship smartphone by Xiaomi displayed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 3, 2026. Joan Cros | Nurphoto | Getty Images

BARCELONA  Xiaomi plans to launch a new smartphone processor chip every year, the company's President Lu Weibing told CNBC, underscoring the company's ambition to expand into more sophisticated areas of technology. In a wide-ranging interview on Tuesday, Lu also said that Xiaomi is gearing up to launch its own AI assistant for overseas markets. Last year, Xiaomi launched the XRing O1, a system-on-chip (SoC) based on an advanced 3 nanometer manufacturing process. Few smartphone makers design their own SoCs, which power the devices they are built into. Apple has the A series of chips, while Samsung has the Exynos brand. Other smartphone makers rely on SoCs from companies like Qualcomm and MediaTek . "This is our first chip product. Going forward, we should most likely release a yearly upgrade," Lu told CNBC on the sidelines at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona.

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A yearly upgrade to the SoC is a big undertaking that keeps pace with Apple, which has typically released a new A chip yearly. Lu said that the chip will debut in a device that will be launched this year in China, and will eventually feature in the phones the company sells overseas. Lu's comments appear to point to an accelerated timeline, as Xiaomi Vice President Xu Fei told CNBC in September that the company couldn't promise to release a new chip each year. A custom SoC would allow Xiaomi to tightly integrate its hardware with its software to differentiate from competitors' products. Xiaomi has developed its own mobile operating system based on Android called HyperOS.

International AI assistant
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A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran, on March 3, 2026. Atta Kenare | Afp | Getty Images

Since the U.S. and Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran last weekend, Washington has been keen to stress that the military action will be over in a matter of weeks and won't turn into a so-called forever war. But experts say the U.S. could easily get bogged down in "Operation Epic Fury" if the Iranian regime proves more resilient than expected. "What we're seeing is going to be more complicated than the White House may have hoped," Suzanne Maloney, Brookings Institution vice president and director of foreign policy, told CNBC Tuesday. "Obviously, the start of the conflict appeared to be tremendously successful with the very quick announcement that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, had been killed, that was a huge breakthrough in many respects and the U.S. and Israel have been able to do immense damage to Iran's military capabilities." "But the day after is going to be immensely complicated as well, and I am not optimistic that we're going to see a quick end to this conflict, because the Iranians are escalating across the region and that is their long-standing game plan," she said.

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When airstrikes began to target Iran's leadership and military sites last Saturday, killing Khamenei in his compound within hours, it quickly became apparent that the attacks would not be a case of "one and done." But U.S. President Donald Trump has said in the last week that the military operation in Iran would be over in "four to five weeks" and top officials, from Vice President JD Vance to Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth, have stressed that this will not be a prolonged, low-burn conflict of the type seen in Afghanistan or Iraq. Such so-called "forever wars" have proved contentious and unpopular with the American public and are particularly frowned upon by Trump's MAGA fanbase who want the president to prioritize domestic rather than foreign policy. Just one in four Americans supports the attacks on Iran, a Reuters/IPSOS poll found in the last week, and there have been protests in Washington against the strikes.

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 28: Demonstrators gathered outside the White House in Washington DC, to protest US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Protesters carried Iranian and American flags as they chanted anti-war slogans during the rally. The demonstration took place in front of the White House, drawing participants who voiced opposition to the recent military actions. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

Game plan, or big gamble?

The U.S. and Israel initially stated their primary aim was to obliterate Iran's nuclear program once and for all, but those war aims appear to have shifted this week, with the stated objectives ranging from destroying Iran's ballistic missile program to wanting to protect the American public from an imminent, but unspecified, Iranian threat. Trump will be very wary of public opinion when it comes to operations in Iran, according to William Roebuck, former U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain and current executive vice president at the Arab Gulf States Institute. "It's a risky proposition for him. There's a lot of possibility of disruption of the economy, which he's very focused on. This could cause jolts in the energy markets. It could cost jolts in the stock market which h's very focused on as well," Roebuck told CNBC Wednesday.

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"He also hasn't really made the case in the United States for the cause of going into Iran and taking this military action. They've been a bit all over the place in [terms of] the rationales that they've offered, and polling indicates that only one in four Americans really get the rationale and supports it," Roebuck noted. "It's a bit risky to his base for those reasons," he said.

One of the biggest unknowns is whether the U.S. wants regime change in the Islamic Republic after the death of Khamenei and, if so, who or what should replace the supreme leader. Hegseth has also stressed that the military operation is not about regime change, stating Monday: "This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change," referring to Khamenei's death alongside other senior officials. Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, said U.S. officials are looking for a "very, very swift resolution to this conflict" but as things stand now, "we'll have to brace for potentially an extended conflict." "We've heard President Trump talk about a four to five week operation, but Iran is a huge country with a huge population, very extensive security apparatus, so trying to untangle that and move towards some kind of interim solution is going to be extremely difficult. But those types of conversations are probably premature at this stage," he said.

A television station broadcasts US President Trump on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Monday, March 2, 2026. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Analysts agree that the U.S.' game plan  or rather, its endgame  is not clear and that means it's tricky to determine how long the military operation will take. Many liken the current operation in Iran to a "gamble" on Trump's part. If the goal is regime change, experts say it's highly likely that it would require American boots on the ground in Iran  a commitment Washington could well balk at, given public opinion and the potential consequences for the Republican administration. "There is no way American forces are going to be used to invade a country of the size of Iran. This is not some small country, it's a vast country," Malcolm Rifkind, the U.K.'s former foreign and defense secretary, told CNBC, warning, "it would be an Iraq situation all over again, and that's not going to happen."

Short war possible

While a reluctance to get bogged down in potentially protracted and bloody ground war still stands, analysts say a short and targeted military operation is possible  but it depends ultimately on what Trump wants, and how long Iran's leadership can survive a U.S.-Israeli onslaught. Robert Macaire, a former U.K. Ambassador to Iran, agreed that "a 'forever war' is not a very likely scenario because Iran does not have the ability to continue retaliation "indefinitely." "Strikes are going after launchers, Iranian command, there must come a point where launches become sporadic and this can wind down," he said. Signum Global Advisors' Charles Myers said that there's only one outcome to the conflict: Iran loses. "This is not a long term or a even a medium term war ... There is only one outcome here, which is Iran will lose. Iran is up against two of the most powerful, sophisticated militaries in the world and Iran will lose this war. The question is what does losing look like and how long will that take," he told CNBC Thursday. Myers expects the kinetic part of the war would "be done in the next three to four days."

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Finnish President Alexander Stubb began a four-day visit to India on Wednesday to bolster bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade, investment and critical technology.Stubb will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday following which the two sides are expected to firm up a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation in a number of sectors.The crisis in West Asia is likely to figure prominently in the meeting."The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India, including in the area of trade," Stubb said before leaving for New Delhi.The Finnish president will grace as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue on Thursday evening.Stubb was accorded a warm welcome at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh."India and Finland share a warm and friendly relationship rooted in shared democratic values. President Stubb's visit will impart further energy to India-Finland relations," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media.The Finnish president is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials and business leaders.Stubb's visit to India comes weeks after Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo travelled to New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit.The Finnish president will also meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan.Stubb will travel to Mumbai on Friday where he is scheduled to meet several business leaders. The Finnish leader will conclude his visit on Saturday.
China on Wednesday, March 4, commenced its annual parliament season amid international turmoil over the US-Iran war, massive purges of the military by President Xi Jinping and major plans to develop new productive forces like AI to revitalise the slowing-down economy.Xi, 72, who is into his unprecedented third term in office with little indication of any organised political challenge from within the ruling Communist Party and the powerful military, attended the opening session of the national advisory body - the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), comprising over 2500 civil society, party, and military officials.The opening session marks the beginning of a fortnight-long annual political season in China during which the leadership appears in public and takes part in internal debates.Xis presence was regarded as significant as he appeared for the first time along with party officials of all ranks besides PLA members and sat through the proceedings after the recent massive purges of the Chinese military. On Thursday, the National People's Congress (NPC) will open its session with Premier Li Qiang reading his government work report, an important annual document highlighting the government's achievements and policy priorities.He is also expected to announce the defence budget, which last year amounted to $250 billion, as the Chinese military has scaled up modernisation of its army, navy, air force and missiles to catch up with the US military in the next few years.While the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) flexed its muscles, often showcasing its modernisation, the massive purges carried out by Xi, accusing senior-most generals of corruption, indiscipline and inefficiency, have dented its image and influence.Last month, two senior Chinese military officials, including the highest-ranking PLA official Gen Zhang Youxia, were placed under probe for serious violations of the ruling Communist Party's discipline and laws and corruption, sending shockwaves among the ranks of the military.Gen Zhang is the first-ranking Vice Chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military headed by Xi.Zhang's removal and subsequent detention left the seven- member CMC with just two - Xi and Gen. Zhang Shengmin, the secretary of the discipline inspection body, with remaining positions yet to be filled.Critics say frequent purges of the military, the party and bureaucracy and the anti-corruption campaign contributed to his unchallenged grip on power.While Xi retained absolute control over the party and his power base appeared impregnable, China, the 2nd largest economy, faced major strategic, political and economic challenges with US President Donald Trump challenging Beijings global influence.Besides drawing China into a long drawn-out tariff war, Trump sent troops to capture pro-Beijing Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro and took charge of the Latin-American country.Similarly, Trumps latest war on Iran, an ally of China, eliminating its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sent shockwaves in the countries of the Global South.On the economic front, NPC was expected to approve the draft of the 15th five-year plan, which was drastically reorienting the dominant manufacturing sector to make China the hub for new productive forces, especially AI, E-vehicles and batteries, to retain Beijings global dominance as the worlds major trading nation.During the course of the next two weeks, top Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, will interact with the local and foreign media.
Representative of Iran's slain supreme leader has said the US is stoking war to retain a unilateral power order in the world and that it will come after other countries after Iran.

Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, representative of the late Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, claimed that the US is waging war to prevent other countries like India, China, and Russia from rising to power.

"According to investigations, in the near future, there will be a shift of power to some other countries. In the near future, the most powerful countries in the world will be India, China, Russia, and America as well. So America doesn't want to have any partner; it doesn't want India or China to be a powerful country. Because of that, they create a lot of wars to stop this in the future," he told ANI.

"The aim of America is not Iran, but after Iran, it will come to other countries," he added.

Also Read: US-Israel-Iran War Live Updates: Iran Guards say have 'complete control' of Hormuz Strait

The remarks come amid a high-tension war in the Gulf region now in its fifth day, with heavy airstrikes, missile exchanges, and rising casualties across the region since February 28, when the US launched Operation Epic Fury in coordinated efforts with Israel to strike Iran.

US and Israeli forces have carried out large-scale strikes on Iranian military and government sites, including in Tehran, while Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and allies across the Gulf.

The ongoing war has also rattled global markets, including oil, energy, and defence sectors, among others. Iran's Revolutionary Guards has also moved to shut the strategic Strait of Hormuz, claiming complete control over the vital oil and gas shipping route and threatening to attack anyone using the waterway.
Iran Israel War News Highlights: Hegseth says US not widening military objectives in Iran

By CNBCTV18.COM Mar 6, 2026 7:04 AM IST (Updated)

Iran Israel War News Highlights: CNBC-TV18's live blog on the latest war and conflict situation in the West Asian region involving the United States and Israel's attack on Iran. Track live updates here.

US-Israel Attack Iran Highlights: The IranUSIsrael conflict widened further on Thursday as military action, political reactions and international involvement intensified across the region. Israel carried out strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs after issuing evacuation warnings to residents, marking an expansion of hostilities linked to Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.



The United States said its forces have sunk more than 30 Iranian ships so far during the conflict, adding that Iranian ballistic missile attacks have dropped sharply since the early days of the war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Washington wants to finish the war in Iran first, even as tensions continued to reshape US priorities at home and abroad.



On Capitol Hill, the US House of Representatives narrowly rejected a war powers resolution that sought to halt Trumps military actions against Iran, highlighting divisions in Congress over the widening conflict. Ukraine also said it would assist the United States in countering Iranian-made Shahed drones in the Middle East, offering expertise developed during its war with Russia.



Follow the IranIsraelUS war live blog here for all the latest updates.
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Starting in September, Googles Chrome browser will receive a new release every two weeks, the company has announced. Since 2021, Chrome has been on a four-week release schedule for new major versions.

The rationale for the faster two-week cycle is to enable faster delivery of performance improvements, bug fixes, security updates, and new features to both users and developers, the company said.

Although updates will be more frequent, each individual update will contain fewer changes; that, according to Google, should reduce the risk of problems and make it easier to troubleshoot any issues after launch.
Hello and welcome to your 2-Minute Tech briefing from Computer World. I'm your host Arnold Davick, reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Here are the top IT stories you need to know for Wednesday, March 4th.

From ComputerWorld, the US has instructed diplomats to push back against data sovereignty laws overseas. In an internal memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US Describes such rules as a threat to free data flows, AI development and cloud services.

The administration argues that forcing data to stay in country could raise costs, increase cybersecurity risks and expand government control over information. Support is rising in Europe and diplomats are told to monitor proposals and advocate alternatives.

From CIO, Anthropic is pushing Claude deeper into enterprise workflows with new coworker plugins and connectors for Google Workspace as well as DocuSign, FactSet, MSCI and LegalZoom. The integrations allow Claude to assist with tasks such as reviewing deals, analyzing portfolios, drafting HR materials and supporting engineering and design work.

Partners including Slack, LSEG and S and P Global also offer plugins as CIOs weigh productivity gains against government governance and data security risks.

And finally, from Computer World, Nvidia is developing a Windows PC system on chip, and Dell and Lenovo are expected to ship notebooks and desktops using it later this year. The chip would be based on the GB10, which Nvidia developed with MediaTek and launched in October 2025.

Analysts say a Windows ready Nvidia SOC could create competition with Qualcomm, intel and AMD. Today's GB10 pairs a 20 core ARM CPU tile with a Blackwell GPU and can draw about 140 watts. A PC version would need a lower power design.

For more enterprise tech news, visit ComputerWorld, CIO, NetworkWorld, and CSO Online. And don't forget to like and subscribe on the TechTalk YouTube channel.
The Cut Bank City Council met on Monday, Feb 23, with Mayor Curtis Harper, Councilpersons Doug Vermulm, John Reynolds and Kacie Gibson in attendance. Councilperson Maynard Nygard was absent, as was City Attorney Whitney Bugni.

The Council was given an Excel sheet stating where the four major funds stood. City Clerk/Treasurer Donni Schultz advised the Council that if they wanted a more in-depth sheet to let her know and she would include one in next months report.

Police Chief Mike Schultz shared that officers have been very busy this month, the numbers being more like what you would see in August for calls. He asked that if anyone sees officers out and about to thank them, as they are being ran ragged but doing a great job. He also stated that Neil Lahr has been brought on as a reserve officer. He will cover three shifts per week. The difference between a reserve officer and a regular officer is that a reserve has police power on shift but not when off duty.

Councilperson Vermulm inquired what it would take to condemn 10 S. Central. Chief Schultz stated that is more of a city attorney question and advised that they are called to the other apartment complexes routinely, not just that complex and that in order to get a nuisance ordinance they would need formal complaints from citizens stating how these issues affect the neighborhood.

In new business the Council approved the motion to allow Cut Bank Police Department to apply for Senator Sheehys Appropriations grant to upgrade police department radios. Chief Schultz stated that their current radios are pieced together, the department has four different types of radios and some of them are 25-30 years old. He also shared that they were at a call and could not talk out on their radios, this is an officer safety issue. This grant would replace all equipment, including car and portable radios. The motion passed unanimously.

Chief Schultz also advised the Council this grant would allow them to upgrade their cars as you can ask for up to three projects. Chief Schultz stated he would like to get Ford Interceptors as they are built as a police vehicle whereas others are just normal cars and then outfitted with police equipment, which can cause issues. These grants need to be submitted by March 13 and Chief Schultz will let the Council know by the end of April if they received the grant. Chief Schultz will also need a letter of support for updating the police departments fleet. The Council voted unanimously for Chief Schultz to also apply for grant funding to update the fleet.

The Council then unanimously approved Resolution 26-04, approving the Town of Chester as a member of the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority. The approval of Montana Department of Transportation chip seal project on US 2 was also unanimously passed by the Council.

During the work session portion of the meeting Amy Deitchler and Dave Aune from Great West discussed the alternative and recommendations of the wastewater PER. Great West is working on a planning grant PER for sewer collection and the lift station. They advised a public meeting in April would be needed to approve the PER. Aune stated the sewer plant is doing well, it met regulation and permit limits, the collection capacity is good and the plant is at one-third of capacity. The work needing to be done is in regards to the old collection system, the pipes are 85 to 100-years old and while most of the pipe is good, Great West would like to have a rehab analysis done to determine the pipe that is at the greatest risk of collapsing. After this analysis they would know the pipes that are high risk and do them first, then replace the remaining pipes over time, which could be 50 to 100 years in the future. Great West will apply for the grants.

Aune also stated the lift station has concerns. It serves two-thirds of the community and has had failure before. To help combat this, two good working pumps are needed. The City needs to fix and repair the wet well and Aune suggested a grinder, a screen or both, to make the lift station work at its optimal performance. Aune also suggested trying to get a 100 percent grant for this project. He stated that is a common problem here, and across the country, for sewer plants are disposable diapers, wipes and grease He shared that 95 percent of Cut Banks problem has been the pumps getting plugged up by disposable wipes. The wipes do not break down and then they bunch together and plug the pumps. Only three times has the problem actually been mechanical issues.

Visitor Vernon Thomas inquired if a liner could go in the lines instead of replacing the pipes as this option is cheaper than replacing the lines. Deitchler stated that is an option and that having the rehab study done would give you potential solutions to fixing the pipes.

Resident Vincent Sullivan advised the Council he would like to put a storage container on his property across from the west end Town Pump. His property is in a commercial zone and he would like this container because it would be more secure than a traditional shed or garage. The Council recalls approving storage containers behind the glass shop under the conditions that it was painted and a fence was put around it so it wouldnt be an eyesore. Councilperson Vermulm stated that the Council needs to enforce the ones that have already been approved before approving another one. The Council decided to drive by the glass shop to inspect the condition of the storage containers. Mr. Sullivan and City Superintendent John Damberger will look at the specifics and measurements for Mr. Sullivans storage container. The Council did not see that it was an issue, as long as there was a fence and it was painted so it was not an eyesore.

Mayor Harper shared with the Council that he received a report on the fire department. The Cut Bank Fire Department ranked in the top four of the entire nation and the top three in the state. Mayor Harper wanted to recognize the great work the fire department is doing.

Mayor Harper also shared he is working with the City Superintendent to look at the Civic Center software and maybe getting more training. He also stated the County might like to have a health program where it offers Civic Center memberships to employees. This would mean 70 to 140 new people. Mayor Harper wants to look into giving incentives to businesses for supplying memberships to their employees.

At the next meeting Mayor Harper would like to talk about BNSF and communities and how the two can be more cooperative.

Vernon Thomas reported that the Airport Authority received a $370,000 grant from the Aeronautics Board. They also received funding from the FAA and a local match for $50,000. They could do a rehabilitation project on the terminal building for $1.2 million. The problem with this is it would not fix the bathroom, sewer, etc. Plan 2 would come up with $270,000 more to fix the bathroom, sewer, etc. Plan 3 would be to build a brand-new terminal. The FAA will pay for a 1,200 square foot building. There is a question if the grant from the Aeronautics Board would be able to be used because the grant stated for the fixing up of the old terminal building. It is estimated that a new terminal would cost $850,000 to build. Mayor Harper stated that the old terminal building is not very efficient and stated that a new building would be more efficient and would help save on monthly bills. Thomas stated that this project might not happen this year, but the Airport would still get the money at this years rate, which is a 95 percent grant with a five percent match.

Mr. Thomas also stated that he applied for a grant through Logan Health for $15,000 to fix the tractor at the airport.

The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is slated for Monday, March 9, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Last week Frontline Ag Solutions, Conrad, celebrated the grand opening of its new facility with a ribbon cutting, open house and tours of the new building. The showroom was decked out with festive ballons in company colors and a refreshment table offered John Deere cookies made by the Hidden Coop.

"We broke ground in October 2024 and the build took about 15 months," said Drew Lesnik, director. "Swank Enterprises was the contractor and they used local subs."

LPW Architecture, Great Falls, designed and engineered the facility.

Lesnik said they gained about 2,000 square feet, mainly in the shop area. The shop size went from 8,000 square feet to 14,000. The offices, showroom and parts department are about the same size.

"We have a more efficient storage system," Lesnik said. "We can offer smarter solutions and serve our customers better."

The new shop is impressive with high ceilings, bright lighting and an overhead sliding crane capable of lifting 8 tons. There are eight tech bays with doors on both sides of the building so machinery can be driven straight through.

"It used to take three employees every time we needed to back a unit out onto Front Street to avoid collisions," said Lesnik.

He explained that the higher ceilings and overhead crane allow technicians to easily lift engines out to work on.

"They used to climb into the engine and hook up chains to hoist it up and out."

A large indoor wash bay allows machinery to be power washed out of the weather. A 50-foot header sat waiting in the bay, with plenty of room to spare.

Lesnik said the new offices are a little smaller. They are located on the north side of the building, each with a large window. The circular floorplan makes workflow more efficient. A centrally located spacious conference room was added that can be used for seminars and employee meetings.

The new facility is located on 45 acres-plenty of room to park a variety of large farm equipment. Formerly the company was spread out into several buildings, with machinery located along Front Street and on various lots. Lesnik said the old buildings were originally two dealerships, New Holland and John Deere.

"About twenty years ago the buildings were converted into one--John Deere." Lesnik said.

Corporate Controller Sarah Wheeler said it didn't take long to decide on the new location.

"We didn't have a lot of choices," she said. "We wanted a location that was closest to town with access to a highway, water, sewer and internet."

They contracted with the City of Conrad to be on city water.

"This is a big commitment to our community," Wheeler said. "We want to help our community; our customers and employees grow and prosper."

Frontline Ag Solutions has ten locations in Belgrade, Chester, Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Dillon, Great Falls, Havre, Lewistown and Livingston.
You can now purchase your tickets to the one of the most popular events in Cut Bank. The 2026 Annual Cut Bank Chamber of Commerce Awards banquet is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. on April 11 at the Joe Meagher Memorial Civic Center. Tickets are $40 each, or $320 for a table of eight including eight drink tickets per table. "We made the decision several years ago to lower the ticket cost to make the event more affordable for everyone. However, with the rising costs on almost everything over the past five years, we had to adjust our ticket prices this year. We only increased each ticket by $5 still making the event a fun, affordable, night out for Cut Bank Residents." - explained Chamber Vice President Larry Schwindt.

The evening will include a delicious dinner catered by TLC catering, no host bar by The Wolf Den, a silent auction, reverse 50/50, and other chances at amazing prizes. The highlight of the evening however, will be the awards presented to the people and businesses that make Cut Bank such an amazing place to visit, work, and live. Employees representing 14 different service categories will be honored as Cut Bank's Best nominated by the public. The Cut Bank Chamber will also recognize the Citizen of the Year and the Business of the Year for their outstanding contributions to the Cut Bank Community.

Nine local businesses graciously sponsor the event this year. "We are incredibly grateful to our Premier Sponsors who make the event possible each year," said Chamber President Rachel Dosch. "Their investment in the Chamber is truly an investment in our entire community, and their support allows us to continue the work we do to strengthen local businesses." The Premier event sponsors are: Billman's Ace Hardware, Billman's Home Decor, Mountain View Window and Glass, Glacier Electric Coop, Logan Health Cut Bank, Stockman Bank, First Interstate Bank, Glacier Community Health Center, and Water to Wine Steakhouse & Pioneer Bar.

To purchase tickets to the event visit http://www.cutbankchamber.com/shop, stop by Billman's Ace Hardware, or contact any Chamber Director. To make nominations for Cut Bank's Best, Citizen of the Year, or Business of the Year, visit http://www.cutbankchamber.com/events.

"The annual Chamber Banquet is one of our favorite events because it brings the whole community together in one place. It's an evening to celebrate our local businesses, recognize the people making a difference, and enjoy a great night with friends and neighbors. Being able to throw on a fancy outfit is fun too," remarked Dosch. "You won't want to miss out!"
First things first, baby Dex is back in Montana! Dexter returned to the NICU at Benefis in Great Falls last Tuesday evening after a three-week stay at Seattle Children's Hospital. The surgery to repair the PDA (hole in his heart) was successful and a week after surgery Dex was medically cleared to return to Benefis. What wasn't cleared was his Montana Medicaid health insurance and this issue had baby Dex held up in Seattle for over an additional week!

As one can imagine, Dex's hospital bills are astounding. Providing all the additional support and care a micro preemie like Dexter requires comes at a high cost and one can understand the need for assurance that the medical facility providing the care will be paid.

Montana Medicaid is supposed to be automatically approved for any micro preemie, ensuring the care is covered and easing some stress for the already overwhelmed parents of these infants. But sometimes, as most know too well, things don't quite work the way they should.

As I shared last week, I decided to take a chance and emailed Rep. Llew Jones to see if he could help bring our tiny Montanan home. Rep. Jones did not disappoint and got things done!

As reported last week, Monday, Feb. 23, Seattle Children's Hospital billing department was not yet seeing the active status on their end. DPHHS Director Charles Brereton determined this sounded like a provider issue and asked for contact information for the provider in Seattle so his eligibility team could call and notify of coverage. The phone call was made later that day and it was discovered Seattle was using misinformation.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, Dexter was officially on his way back to Montana. Wednesday morning, Feb. 25, there was an email from Director Brereton, checking in and asking for an update on Dexter. It was with gratitude and relief he was informed that their efforts had Dexter back in Great Falls.

I am sharing this part of Dexter's journey in appreciation and to also let Montanans know that Rep. Jones stepped up and helped when asked. He promptly got in touch with the proper people to get this situation remedied. He and Director Brereton stayed in touch until the situation was taken care of. Director Brereton's assistance in this matter was invaluable, the prompt and professional measures taken by him in getting this cleared up is ultimately what brought Dexter back to Great Falls.

Dexter has now been back in Great Falls for a week. He is weighing just over four pounds and continuing to grow and meet milestones. Due to some fluid in his lungs he is receiving some additional medication to help ensure this does not turn into pneumonia and it has been discovered that he has an umbilical hernia. The hernia is being treated with a belly band and his parents are being assured this is not a major issue. If all continues to go well and Dexter continues to thrive, he should be able to finally go home with his parents at the end of March, beginning of April! As of press time, Monday, March 2, Dexter is 10 weeks old and 35 weeks gestation, just a few weeks shy of being considered "full term." The outpouring of prayers, love and support from family, friends, the community and people from all over Montana and the United States has been absolutely amazing! Words simply cannot express our appreciation and gratitude for everyone who has been following Dexter's journey and cheering him on with us. It is hoped that the next update that is shared is that of his homecoming in a few weeks. Until then, Go Dex Go!
The following are the dispositions settled in Toole County Justice Court from Feb. 20 - Feb. 26, by the Honorable Judge Donna Whitt.

Merle Head, theft, unauthorized control over property, first offense, $285 fine.

April R. Cobell, partner or family member assault, causing bodily injury to partner or family member, first offense, pled not guilty, found not guilty.

Nacona R. Limberhand, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 83/70, $170 fine.

Ronald J. Smothers, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 91/70, $120 fine.

David Penner, speeding on interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 93/80, $70 fine.

Jason M. Martin, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding nighttime limit, 82/65 $70 fine.

Dilawar Singh, failure to obey direction to be weighed, $235 fine.

Andrew T. Reid, operating over dimension vehicle or combination on highway without special permit, $85 fine.

Damanpreet Singh, false log, $285 fine.

Baljeet Singh Kaur, driver failing to use seatbelt, $60 fine.

Joseph P. Small, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 88/70, $70 fine.

Eric R. Mattson, driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked, dismissed by court.

Gregory D. Albright, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 94/70, $120 fine.

Scott J. Fritz, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 92/70, $120 fine.

Ronald L. Lindberg, seatbelt violation, $20 fine; speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 89/70, $70 fine.

John P. Whitford, seatbelt violation, $20 fine.

Christophe Mambingo Ekwe, operating without over-dimensional size permit, $85 fine.

Kenroy K. Bravo, interstate/international motor carrier operating without payment of fee required for coop/recip, $85 fine.
Ms. Alyssa Clark and Ms. Morgyn Gabbard were both shocked when they got the news that they had been awarded the Para/SPED Educator Team of the Year for Montana Region 10. Superintendent Josh Reed nominated the team without their knowledge and then surprised them by announcing the award over the school's speaker system.

"Both educators share a firm belief that all students can learn," wrote Mr. Reed in his nomination, "which fosters a positive, inclusive, and growth-oriented classroom environment. This shared philosophy encourages students to consistently strive for improvement and success. Their commitment to this belief is further demonstrated through exceptional communication with staff members."

The duo received their award for excellence in the resource classroom. The pair will be publicly recognized at the Montana Council for Exceptional Children (MCEC) Conference in Bozeman April 8-9.

Ms. Clark has attended the conference in the past where she receives training on federal and state laws, setting Individual Educational Plans for students, and other changes to instruction procedures. This year the team will be taking advantage of behavior training for crisis management.

When asked what she likes most about working in the resource room Morgyn Gabbard replied, "My kids (her students) keep me on my toes every day. I do the job for my kids."

Alyssa Clark responded similarly, "I became a Special Education Teacher to help kids with special needs. I have cousins who were part of the Special Education program, so I have a natural connection to these kids. And ... they make us laugh a lot!"

Both instructors agreed that their jobs offer variety. There is something new every day. "Keeping a straight face is tough,' grinned Ms. Clark.

One factor that contributes to the success of the team is their commonality. "We have similar personalities," said Gabbard. Clark agreed, "we work like sisters." This serves them well as they have developed a form of non-verbal communication that helps them flow through their days. A shared look or specific expression serves them well.

When asked what is most rewarding about their jobs Ms. Clark shared, "Watching kids grow and finally learn a skill, like when they have a lightbulb moment."

Ms. Gabbard feels fulfilled when kids express gratitude, when they say, "thank you."

The greatest rewards come when all the hard work from students and instructors comes to fruition.

Regarding the award Ms. Gabbard admitted, "It's nice to be recognized once in a while."

As part of that recognition, the two will have their trip to the MCEC Conference provided, including travel, food, lodging and conference registration.

Congratulations on the excellence in the classroom, Ms. Clark and Ms. Gabbard. Keep up the good work!
Dean Vincent Walston, 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 at his home in Casa Grande, Ariz. following tiring years of battling cancer. Beside him was his beautiful, faithful wife Maryln (Dinning) Walston.

Dean was an only child, born in Conrad, Mont. and raised on the family farm. He married Nona Marie (Beaudry) Hove from Valier, Mont., in his college years. They had three children together, Cindy (Walston) Carlson, Kevin Walston and Cheryl Walston. They divorced and he remarried Debbie (Dykstra) Walston and they raised Tera (Walston) Bos. He divorced again and found the love of his life, Maryln (Dinning) Walston some years later.

He was a very dedicated and proud Montana Highway Patrolman for 28 years. He enjoyed pistol shoots and won so many sharp shooter trophies. He was a Mason for a number of years. He got his pilot's license and enjoyed flying and worked for Boeing for bit. Dean was a prankster and enjoyed a good joke and making people smile. Maryln and he enjoyed playing bingo and cards with friends and family. They also loved, taking cruises all over the world.

His parents Berniece (Mettes) Walston and Vincent Walston; and daughter Cheryl preceded him in death.

Survivors include his daughter Cindy (Perry) Carlson of Michigan, and children Shawn Hill, Candi Mize, Kirsten Gilead; and son Kevin Walston of New Mexico and children Shannon Walston; and Tera Bos of Montana and many wonderful grandchildren.

At his request there will be no formal services. He has been cremated and will be interred at Hillside Cemetery in Conrad, Mont. with a small service at a later date. Any memorials may be given to the NRA.
Fredrick C. Beach, 84, passed on Feb. 19, 2026.

Graveside service with military honors will be Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. at Valley View Cemetery, Shelby. A potluck will follow at the Marias River Electric Building.

Fred was born in Conrad, Mont. to Carl and Mertie (Coffman) Beach. Fred had two brothers and early on the boys with their dad worked on ranches in the Conrad area during the summers. After Fred graduated from high school, he moved to Libby to work at the sawmill. He served in the US Army from 1964 to 1970, two years in Vietnam and four years in the Army Reserves.

After his honorable discharge, Fred moved to Shelby and worked for the City of Shelby a few years driving the garbage truck. He went on to work in the oilfield for many years for Ed Frazer and Gerald Kennedy as a rig hand. As a result of two rig incidents and a motorcycle accident, Fred couldn't take care of himself and moved in with his brother, Don, and his family. Fred was able to move to Ferdig by himself and live for a few years. He retired in 1998 and moved back in with Don and his family in 2000. To keep busy, Fred and Don did lawn maintenance.

Fred enjoyed gopher hunting, using his metal detector, walking with his brother and dog, reading and hanging out with his family.

Fred was a member of the VFW Post 2484 and assisted the American Legion when he could. He was very proud to volunteer on the honor guard.

Fred, unfortunately smoked for years, stopped in 2000, yet developed COPD and eventually led to congestive heart failure.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mertie Beach; brothers, Albert, Donley, and Lester; sister-in-law, Darlene; and niece, Francine.

Fred had no children but was the uncle to Lester (Anna) Beach, Heidi (Bob Bleecker) Beach; James Beach; many great nieces and nephews. He was the best uncle ever!

Condolences can be made to www.asperfh.com.
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Women who kill are rare. Girls who murder rarer still.

But thats not the only reason that, even after three decades covering some of the countrys biggest criminal court cases, the name of Sharon Carr is one I will never forget.

It was in 1997 that I first set eyes on a teenage girl who would go down in criminal history.

Square-shouldered, stocky and short-haired, she took to the dock of Winchester Crown Court in a white polo-neck, a gold crucifix hanging around her neck.

As one colleague on the press bench observed, she looked like she might be about to take her first communion.

But what emerged over the following weeks was a story of such evil that Carr would be dubbed The Devils Daughter.

Five years earlier, at the age of just 12, she had launched a frenzied, unprovoked attack on an 18-year-old hairdresser called Katie Rackliff.

Using a six-inch knife, she stabbed the older girl 29 times. Some blows passed through her body, others mutilated her genitals.

For those watching in court, almost as shocking as the ferocity of the attack was the detail of the obvious, sexual pleasure that Carr derived from what she had done.

Sharon Carr (pictured, in a school photo), stabbed Katie Rackliff to death when she was just 12 years old in 1992

Hairdresser Katie Rackliff (pictured) was a complete stranger to Carr when she was attacked and stabbed 32 times

Noted down in her looping, schoolgirl handwriting, she had recorded her feelings in a series of letters, poems and diaries.

I bring the knife into her chest, she wrote. Her eyes are closing. She is pleading with me so I bring the knife to her again and again.

'I dont want to hurt her but I need to do violence to her... I need to overcome her beauty, her serenity, her security.

There I see her face when she died. I know she feels her life being slowly drawn from her and I hear her gasp. I guess she was trying to breathe. The air stops in the back of her throat... And I am joyful.

What kind of cases do you want to read more about? Let us know at: crimedesk@dailymail.co.uk Advertisement

In another: I was born to be a murderer. Killing for me is a mass turn-on and it just makes me so high I never want to come down.

Every night I see the Devil in my dreams - sometimes even in my mirror, but I realise it was just me.

A third entry simply read: I am a killer. Killing is my business - and business is good.

Incredibly, despite Katies brutal murder in 1992 receiving nationwide publicity, Carr was only arrested four years after the killing.

Police had been convinced the nature of the attack bore all the hallmarks of a male perpetrator.

Not that Carr was unknown to them by then. In 1994 she had struck again  this time stabbing a 13-year-old girl at her school in Camberley, Hampshire.

In an unprovoked attack she plunged a knife into her victims back, puncturing her lung.

Chillingly, the assault had been carried out two years to the day after Katies murder.

The first hint of Carrs involvement with the earlier killing came as she was held in a young offenders institute for the stabbing.

Pictured: In a chilling diary entry Carr wrote 'Killing is my business, and business is good'

Pictured: Drawings of knives were littered through Carr's diary entries following Katie Rackliff's murder

There she told a prison officer and a probation officer what she had done. She then confessed to police.

Despite later withdrawing those admissions, the evidence against her was damning - it took the jury at Winchester just seven hours to find her guilty of murder.

And, to this day, she remains the youngest female murderess in British criminal history.

While my last sight of Carr was of her being led from the dock with a smile on her face, for the British state that moment marked the beginning of another nightmare. What to do with a child who kills?

Carrs case was particularly complex. Jailed for life with a minimum 14-year tariff later reduced to 12, what chance of rehabilitation did she really have?

Indeed, under other circumstances, she might have been judged a victim herself.

Born in Belize, this was an individual whose early life had been shaped by voodoo, violence and parental neglect. Having moved to Britain at the age of six, psychopathic and sadistic traits emerged.

Her first taste of blood came as she revelled in the torture and killing of animals. On one occasion she lopped off the head of her next-door neighbours dog, called Snoopy, with a spade. Another friend claimed she had seen Carr frying live hamsters.

By the age of 11 she was carrying knives, drinking alcohol and taking drugs as she hung around with much older teenagers.

At school she formed obsessions with female staff members and other girl pupils. It was a pattern that would repeat itself throughout her incarceration  intense relationships with women that turned into violent fantasies if thwarted.

And so, as the years have passed, Ive watched her moves across the prison estate with interest, wondering when  or indeed if  she might ever be released.

Sharon Carr (left) scribbled Katie Rackliff's name in her diary and boasted about the murder

A diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, in which a person experiences a combination of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression or mania, saw her transferred to Broadmoor Hospital in 1998, to Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire in 2007 and to the medium secure Orchard Unit in west London in 2008.

By 2015 she was deemed to no longer require treatment for her mental disorders and was moved to high-security HMP Bronzefield. There, as a restricted status prisoner, she was regularly kept in strict isolation.

A High Court bid to relax those conditions failed in 2020 after it was discovered that, even after all those years, her propensity for violence remained undimmed.

She had disclosed thoughts of wanting to murder another resident by splitting her head open with a flask and throwing her down the stairs to snap her neck, while also being involved in an altercation with another resident, with whom she had previously been in a relationship, observed the judge in the case.

Which brings us to the present day and the latest twist in Carrs story.

Earlier this month it was revealed that the parole board had advised that they now believed she was in a position to take a significant step towards freedom.

It was Carrs fifth parole review after her minimum sentence expired in 2009.

A summary of the Parole Board ruling, seen by the Daily Mail, revealed that Carr, now aged 45, continues to show evidence of active risk factors.

These included strong sexual attachments or feelings towards others and being unable to cope with rebuffs.

But despite this, the panel recommended she be transferred to an open prison, saying that if there were any warning signs, they would quickly become apparent.

The final decision on such a move rests with the Justice Secretary David Lammy, who is also the deputy Prime Minister.

And the Mail can today exclusively reveal that after studying the case, he ruled against the recommendation.

Katie Rackliffs murder was a horrific crime, and our thoughts remain with her friends and family, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson told me.

Public protection is our top priority, which is why the Deputy Prime Minister has blocked Sharon Carrs transfer to open conditions.

Despite Katies brutal murder in 1992 receiving nationwide publicity, Carr was only arrested four years after the killing (pictured, Katie Rackliff)

One diary entry by Carr made after killing Katie Rackliff read: 'I enjoyed putting the blade up her, it made me feel powerful'

That means that Carr will remain in Bronzefield  the same prison where baby killer Lucy Letby and Beinash Batool, the stepmum of murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif, are also held.

But there is another paragraph in the parole board ruling that caught my eye - and which touches on an enduring mystery that lies at the heart of this case.

The panel noted that Ms Carr had come to accept her role in the index offence and had shown insight into her offending history, it read.

The acceptance that she murdered Katie is perhaps unsurprising  there is little doubt about her involvement.

Her confessions contained details that only Katies murderer would know. In extensive interviews with detectives, she told how she had taken a bracelet from Katie's body, mutilated her sexual organs and heard a dog barking during the attack.

But it also opens the door to the possibility that Carr might, finally, be in a frame of mind to reveal what really happened on that fateful night.

Because it seems certain that others were involved in her killing.

As Mr Justice Scott Baker told Carr when he sentenced her all those years ago: The evidence suggests you were not alone when you stabbed Katie Rackliff to death.

'Who the others were and what part they played remains unclear.

Last night Hampshire Police told me that the investigation into Katies death had been closed following Carrs conviction.

But a spokesperson added: As with any investigation, should any new information become available it would be assessed and a decision made whether to further investigate.

Police have previously tried to get Carr to reveal the full truth about the events of June 7, 1992, even re-interviewing her in prison after her conviction. But to no avail.

What is known is that Katie had spent the evening before her death at the Ragamuffin nightclub in Camberley, leaving in the early hours of the morning.

At some point after the club closed, it seems Katie got into a car - perhaps looking for a lift home.

Five hours later and three miles away in Farnborough, her half-naked body was found, riven through with stab wounds.

Such was the brutality displayed, detectives investigated the possibility of a link with the Rachel Nickell killing.

Rachel, 23, was stabbed 49 times in front of her two year old son Alex in July 1992 as she walked across Wimbledon Common, London.

Pictured: Katie's parents Helen and Joseph Rackliff leave Winchester Crown Court after Carr was jailed for life for her murder

When Carr was eventually questioned, she gave three different accounts of how Katie had been killed, but in all of them the central theme was that she had repeatedly stabbed her.

In two of the versions, Carr was with two young men in their early 20s in a car at the time of the attack.

The pair, who had spent the evening with Katie at the nightclub, were named in court.

In the first version, Carr said she had attacked Katie and that the men had then engaged in some sort of sexual activity with Katie Rackliff before they took her or her body away.

In the second version, still featuring the same men and the car, she said that they left the car with Katie and she stayed in the back seat.

Annoyed that Katie was flirting with the men and feeling left out and jealous she attacked her on the street, leaving the body in the road.

The last version of events featured a car  but not the same two men.

Both men were interviewed by police, provided alibis for one another and were eliminated from the inquiry.

That Carr seemed to enjoy playing games with the police also emerged during the trial.

In a message to them recorded a month after she was charged with murder, she offered to take a lie detector test to prove that a male friend was involved.

You could be the best detectives in the world, she said. But you will never understand what was going through all our minds on that night. It is all to do with loyalty and respect.

And she added: It hurts to think about it all the time and I really just want it over and done with and no one wants to listen to me.

'They think I am just some little girl lost in some big fantasy world - yeah, that is what you think.

'But you should have seen her, you should have seen her. Stupid memories, they last too long for my liking.

After she was jailed, Detective Constable Dave Skelly, who was involved in the investigation from the start, visited her in prison in the hope she would give more information about her accomplices.

She was very happy-go-lucky but she would not name any names, he said at the time.

We have always said she is the key in this case and there is always the possibility that in the future she may decide to talk.

Now, with no end in sight for her incarceration, the hope is that, finally, that time may have come.
The first thing Texas Ranger Jim Holland noticed when he stepped into a room with serial killer Sam Little was the size of his hands.

'They looked like shovels,' he told the Daily Mail, 'The first thing that really struck me about him physically was these paws. I mean, he just had these massive hands and I was thinking, this guy could definitely strangle someone with no issues.'

Little, a former boxer and drifter, had already been convicted of three murders in California and was in jail there, but had never admitted responsibility for anything. Holland, a veteran interrogator dubbed the 'serial killer whisperer,' suspected there could be several more victims.

The killer initially ranted angrily at him, claiming he had been 'railroaded'. But then, over the course of 700 hours of interviews, he confessed to an astonishing 93 murders, around 60 of which have since been confirmed, and the FBI says it has little reason to doubt the others.

It makes Little the most prolific serial killer in US history. His victims were mostly prostitutes he strangled as he roamed the country between 1970 and 2005.

The number of victims eclipses those of Green River killer Gary Ridgway (49), John Wayne Gacy (33) and Ted Bundy (36).

Holland is now revealing the disturbing secrets of the interview room in a new show - Killer Confessions: Case Files of a Texas Ranger - which airs on Investigation Discovery on Tuesdays at 10.00pm ET/9.00pm CT.

His most infamous case began in December 2017 when he was teaching interrogation techniques at a seminar in South Florida.

He was approached by Octavio Aguero, a Florida homicide investigator, who believed Little, who was already in jail in California, could be responsible for a murder he was investigating in the Sunshine State.

Ultimately, it was found Little did not carry out that killing, but the encounter set Holland on his trail.

He was able to establish, via minor arrest records and traffic tickets, that Little had been in his own home state of Texas.

Through the FBI's Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) system, which tracks and correlates murders, he found potential links to unsolved murders in Texas around the same time.

In May, 2018, Holland went to interview Little in jail in Lancaster, California, entering the room in his trademark Stetson and alligator cowboy boots.

'I think when I got in the room what really floored me, was his size. He was really a pretty big guy. He had this square jaw. He looked kind of like this Mike Tyson type boxer,' he said.

'The second I walked in the room, he was so aggressive, ugly, hateful. He was just miserable, just twisting off on me for 10 minutes. The first part I was literally just trying to stay in that room for the first two minutes, and then the first three minutes, and then the first five minutes.

'And then it's him talking about his misery, why he hates it there and everything else. I knew it would be hard, but I didn't really think he would be as ugly as he was. It was just this purge, like a guy who's been locked up and now someone said how's your day going, and he just was off. I mean, he was having a pretty s****y day I guess.'

'The epitome of evil': Samuel Little confessed to 93 murders

An FBI composite shows 30 drawings Samuel Little made of his victims

Texas Ranger Jim Holland won Little's trust and got him to confess

After Little finished talking about his hatred of law enforcement, Holland showed him his badge and explained how it was fashioned from a Mexican Cinco Peso coin, and his cowboy hat.

It was the first sign of a connection as Little said: 'Oh, Texas Ranger.'

Holland, a highly experienced interrogator, also had an ace up his sleeve.

He had been briefed by Mitzi Roberts, the LAPD homicide detective who had nailed Little for the first three murders in 2014.

Little had developed a particular hatred for Roberts, who sat through his trial, and it was ammunition for Holland.

'I asked her (Roberts), do you have any issues if I toss you under the bus, and she's like, no, throw away. Obviously she's a professional, she green lighted, and I went for it because that's where Little went,' he said.

'It was really about finding some type of common ground where I could agree with him (Little) on something, as opposed to being the enemy. You know, we both like cherry pie, we both like tacos, and we both don't like Mitzi Roberts.

'You can't predict what a psychopath or sociopath is going to want. People say, I understand Ted Bundy or whoever else because I'm an expert. No, they don't, they're completely and totally full of s*** because no one really understands these people. You can't comprehend their brain, but what you can do is throw stuff out there and see where it lands.'

One thing that landed with Little was the issue of food. He really hated the food in the prison he was in.

'I was like, you know, man, you should come to Texas and try the food there,' said Holland. 'I told him the prison food in Texas is really good, you know, tacos, we got really, really good barbecue.'

It was an approach similar to the plot of 'Silence of the Lambs' in which Hannibal Lecter seeks a cell with a view in return for revealing information.

Samuel Little in 1975 around the time he started strangling women

A drawing the serial killer made of one of his victims

Holland also appealed to Little's ego.

'I baited him into wanting to share this with someone, someone like me, who has an expertise in murders and craziness and sickness and deprived people, and I think that was kind of exciting to him,' he said.

'Little never admitted culpability to anything before this so he's got the perfect secret. And we talked about secrets for a little bit, and what good is a secret if you can't tell anyone.'

The first case Little confessed to, in gruesome detail, was Denise Brothers, a woman who had been found strangled in Texas in 1994.

'After he's done telling me about the murder, and he really gets into it, he just sits there and stares at me,' said Holland.

'l kept the poker face. What he did is horrible, it's ugly, but you have to sit there and you have to turn it off to a certain degree. And he didn't see the negative reaction from me that he expected to see.

'If I would have said anything, or he would have read anything in my eyes, then we would have been done and he would have recanted the confession.

'He never saw disgust, anger, any of those things, in my eyes. He just saw someone that he could talk to about it.'

A key was not talking to Little about remorse.

Holland said: 'He would have picked me up and bounced me out of the room if I would have said anything about him not being able to sleep at night, or feeling bad about what he did, or remorse, or anything like that.

'I mean, that's me speaking Martian. He didn't speak Martian. I don't even know that he understood what remorse is.'

Little sometimes wrote details of names and places on the drawings he produced from memory

Little being wheeled out of court in Los Angeles after being convicted of three murders in 2014

He said Little appeared to think that his crimes were not murders but 'a kind of theft of service' because the victims were prostitutes he didn't pay.

After the first confession the floodgates opened and by the end of the first day, around six hours, he had detailed dozens, revealing a photographic memory for faces and locations where he had duped them.

'He literally goes through the murders by state and then city and it's like, boom, boom. These numbers were just going through the roof and then we start getting into the you know, how is that, is this BS? You're sitting there, and I guess really kind of scratching your head and wondering, is this real? When I came out of that room, I knew that no one was going to believe what I was going to say.'

With him were an analyst from the FBI, and one from the DOJ, who also believed the confessions.

Holland got a DA in Texas, Bobby Bland, to take a leap of faith and send him a letter promising Little he would not face the death penalty if he moved to a jail in Texas.

After the move, he set up a studio for Little to draw his victims.

Little proved to be a talented artist and produced vibrant pictures which hung on Holland's office wall with brief descriptions.

In the mornings Holland would bring him McDonalds and they talked sports, calling each other 'Jimmy' and 'Sammy,' before interviewing began.

His motive was never fully established.

'It was like drugs,' he once told Holland. 'I came to like it.'

When the Ranger asked him if he had any favorite victims, he chillingly said: 'They are all my favorites. They all belong to you.'

Over the next few years cases he confessed to were confirmed across the country, including in California, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Nevada and Arkansas.

Little died in jail in 2020 aged 80, meaning some of the remaining victims may never be found.

Little died in prison aged 80 in 2020 after becoming America's most prolific serial killer

Images Little produced of victims after Texas Ranger Jim Holland gave him art supplies

Holland described him as a 'billion layered onion.'

'His intelligence level, his photographic memory, his manipulation, his total and complete lack of remorse, he fits into that psychopathic realm,' he said.

'But I think Little is just one of a kind that, you know, almost gets his own definition. He was evil. I don't think, I know, he was evil. He was a horrible person, I don't believe that he had any good redeeming qualities about him. He was a horrible serial killer. People will put there for his, his amusement, he didn't care about them.

'He was articulate, he had a crazy sense of humor, he was fascinating, but he was the epitome of evil, and there's no doubt about that.'

In his new series, Holland aims to pull back the curtain so the public can see what's going on in criminal cases.

'The idea is to let people see what's actually going on behind the scenes, and specifically what's going on in the interview room,' he said. 'It's a little bit of an education. This is what law enforcement does. This is what I did in those rooms and why I did it.'

He added: 'I think that people need to realize that evil's out there, and we need to be aware of that, and we need to preach that to our children. There's a lot of bad people out there, there's predators out there, and those people need to be found, they need to be captured, they need to be incarcerated.'

:: Killer Confessions: Case Files Of a Texas Ranger - which airs on Investigation Discovery on Tuesdays at 10.00pm ET/9.00pm CT.
A 20,000 reward is being offered for information relating to the murder of nightclubber Melanie Hall, as police launch a fresh probe of the cold case 30 years on.

Melanie, a 25-year-old clerical worker, was last seen sitting on a stool at the edge of the dancefloor at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath, on June 9, 1996, at about 1.10am. It was the same night England played Switzerland in the opening match of Euro 96.

Her remains were not found until 13 years later on October 5, 2009, when a workman discovered them 28 miles north from the city, next to a slip road leading onto the northbound carriageway of the M5 at junction 14 near Thornbury, Gloucestershire.

She had suffered a fractured skull, and reportedly had a broken jaw and cheek bone, indicating she had been subjected to a vicious assault. Her body was naked and had been tightly bound in bin bags, secured by thick blue nylon rope.

Three decades on, Melanie's killer remains on the loose.

The detective leading the investigation is set to appear on BBC One's Crimewatch Live as the 30th anniversary of her disappearance approaches.

Detective Chief Inspector Ben Lavender of Avon and Somerset Police is appealing for information relating to Melanie's last sighting.

Crimestoppers has also announced a reward of 20,000 for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the murder.

A 20,000 reward is being offered for information relating to the murder of nightclubber Melanie Hall, as police launch a fresh probe of the cold case 30 years on

Melanie's remains were found 13 years after her disappearance - and her killer remains on the loose. Pictured: Items similar to those worn by Melanie which have never been found

DCI Lavender said: 'The murder of Melanie Hall is one of the longest running and highest profile investigations ever carried out by Avon and Somerset Police, with hundreds of officers working on the case over the years.

'Melanie's family has endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty for almost three decades and have shown extraordinary strength and resilience throughout this time.

'Everything we do is driven by the need to provide them with the justice and answers they so desperately need.

'As we approach this significant anniversary, I want people to think back to the weekend of Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 in 1996.

'England were playing Switzerland in the opening game of the Euros, and the centre of Bath was exceptionally busy.

'Melanie had spent an evening with her boyfriend and friends and went to the former Cadillacs nightclub.

'The last confirmed sighting of her was at 1.10am on Sunday, June 9, when her friends left the club.

'She was sat by the side of the dancefloor on her own.

'Did you go to Cadillacs nightclub?

'Did you see Melanie that night?

'Has anyone spoken to you about that night and raised any concerns or suspicions?

'Does anyone you know act differently when they see or hear an appeal for information relating to this case?

'We believe there's a strong possibility Melanie left the nightclub with her killer, as a coat she'd checked into a cloakroom was collected, but she could have met them outside or got into a car.

'If you have information or suspicions about anyone who could be connected to Melanie's disappearance, now is the time to let us know.

'Please let us decide if information is relevant to the investigation or not.'

DCI Lavender said the discovery of Melanie's remains by the side of the M5 was a pivotal moment but only provided some of the answers.

He said: 'The location where Melanie's remains were found remains a key focus for us.

'We're keeping an open mind as to when Melanie's body was dumped at this location.

'This could have been in the hours after she went missing, or the days following this.

'Did you see a car parked on the slip road, near to where it joins the M5 in the early hours of Sunday 9 June, or in the days or weeks after this?

'Do you know anyone from Bath who has connections with this route?

'Melanie's remains were found without her clothing or items she had with her on the night she went missing.

'She was wearing a pale blue silk dress with a round neck, black suede mule shoes with straps across the front and an open toe, size 5 or 6, a cream single-breasted, long-sleeved jacket and a black satchel-type handbag.

'In Melanie's handbag were cosmetics and a Midland cheque book and bank card.

'Also missing are items of jewellery including a Next watch with expanding bracelet and silver drop earrings.

'Have you seen any of these items, or do you know where they may be?'

Since taking over the investigation in 2025, DCI Lavender has instigated a root and branch review.

This includes digitalising all files and exhibits onto our major incident database, reviewing almost 100 hours of CCTV, revisiting key witnesses to check whether the information they provided remains the same, as well as capitalising on any forensic advancements or opportunities to use AI in the future.

Previous efforts to discover the identity of Melanie's killer have involved more than 400 officers over the years, with eleven people arrested but no one has ever been charged.

Melanie's father Steve Hall previously released a powerful and moving statement detailing the impact the murder has had on their lives.

In remarks released by the police, he said: 'When Melanie was murdered, it wasn't just one person's life that was taken, it changed and ruined many lives after.

'Mine, my wife's, my daughter's, my mother's  there's obviously someone out there, and probably some people out there, who know what happened to Melanie.

Police closed off the road after Melanie's body was discovered at the side of the M5 in 2009

'If they felt they could come forward with information which led to us finding out what happened to Melanie, then at least we could feel that we've done all we can do for our child.

'We're different people now. That night when she disappeared, we changed  we are not the people we were before.

'We carry a deep sorrow, a deep grief. We've lost something very beautiful and very precious to us that we can't replaceit's a family with a piece missing.'

Anyone with information can contact Avon and Somerset Constabulary on 101, using reference Operation Denmark, through the dedicated Major Incident Public Portal, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
China says another 470-plus citizens evacuated safely from Iran

Xinhua) 16:48, March 04, 2026

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Since the military strikes against Iran began, another 470-plus Chinese citizens have been evacuated safely from Iran with the help of Chinese diplomatic missions, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday in response to a related query.

Spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press briefing that after the security situation in Iran became tense, China has repeatedly requested relevant parties to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Iran and neighboring countries.

Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and neighboring countries have been working around the clock to assist in the evacuation of batches of Chinese citizens, she said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Imagine if Sir Keir Starmer had been in charge when Argentina invaded the Falklands.

Or, worse still, in 1940 when Britain stood alone against Hitler. As Trump said last night, sitting in front of a bust of our greatest PM, Starmer is 'no Churchill'.

For once, the US President was putting it mildly.

Not content with wrecking the economy, Starmer has now wrecked Britain's relationship with our oldest ally  because he's in thrall to the international lawyer class, terrified of his own Left-wing MPs and desperate to appease Muslim voters.

He's a national embarrassment.
America has been here before. A righteous cause. A brutal enemy. Military success that races ahead of political planning.

Then comes the gradual shift in military and political objectives known as 'mission creep,' followed by quagmire.

This is what happened in Iraq following the US occupation that accompanied Saddam Hussein's ousting in 2003. The mission of regime change evolved into nation-building, with the project of de-Baathification  banning Saddam's Baath Party and purging its officials  generating the conditions for the revival of sectarian violence over the next decade.

American lives, with around 4,500 US service members killed and an additional 32,000 wounded, and American treasure, at a total cost of $2 trillion, were squandered in the process.

If it turns out that America's leaders have failed to heed these lessons from Iraq, then the same fate awaits the country in the current war against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Avoiding those errors requires something Washington has never been good at: being ruthlessly clear about the mission and then sticking to it. But, to date, President Donald Trump has shown that he has the right instinct here.

This war, he says, is not about nation-building. It's not about occupying Tehran or remaking Persia's complex society at gunpoint. This conflict is about eliminating the regime's deadly capabilities that have been used against America, Israel, its Arab neighbors, and its own people for nearly half a century.

To date, President Donald Trump has shown that he has the right instinct here. (Pictured: Trump meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office on March 3)

The mission of regime change in Iraq evolved into nation-building generated the conditions for the revival of sectarian violence over the next decade. (Pictured: Toppling of Saddam Hussein's statute in Baghdad, Iraq in April 2003)

That's the military mission right now.

Everything else is noise.

So, what should the playbook in Iran look like?

Step one: Destroy Tehran's capabilities  and I mean destroy, not simply degrade.

In pursuit of its nuclear ambitions, the Iranian regime has spent decades burying enrichment halls deep underground, building advanced centrifuge workshops, advancing weaponization work, and assembling a missile arsenal now being unleashed upon US troops and allies.

This Iranian infrastructure doesn't just need to be set back a few years. It must be shattered beyond any realistic prospect of rapid reconstruction. America and Israel are currently taking action to eliminate remaining nuclear weapon sites, including striking both a covert nuclear weapons facility northeast of Tehran called Minzadehei and a laboratory-like building at Iran's nuclear weapons research headquarters, and collapsing entrances to Iran's already damaged Natanz enrichment plant.

The most important one still standing: PickAxe Mountain where the regime is digging deep underground to build an even more fortified facility than Fordow  the one the US destroyed in the June war in 2025. If they succeed, the Iranians will emerge with enrichment, centrifuge manufacturing and weaponization facilities that even America's biggest conventional bombs can't destroy.

Step two: Break the mullah's repression machine.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Basij militia and the intelligence services  the instruments that keep tens of millions of Iranians living under fear  massacred more than 30,000 brave protestors in January. As long as the architecture of repression remains in place, no popular uprising has a real chance.

Ordinary Iranians have bravely taken to the streets before: In 1999, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022-2023 and in January this year. But each time the resistance comes at enormous personal cost to those protesting.

The moment these mechanisms of terror fracture, the regime's grip may really start to slip. When those same Iranians decide it is time to take to the streets again, they will need an opening, not a firing squad.

Which brings me to step three: Trust in the Iranian people.

Regime change cannot be packaged and exported from Washington, but the White House can help make it possible by keeping maintaining pressure on the regime and flowing support to its opponents. That means driving a wedge between the regime's ideological hardliners who will never bend and the pragmatists who can read the room and want a part in what comes next.

At PickAxe Mountain, the Iranian regime is digging deep underground to build an even more fortified facility than Fordow  the one the US destroyed in the June war in 2025

It also means equipping the opposition with the tools required to stand against the regime's goons: weapons, sustained sanctions enforcement, information operations, and real incentives to bureaucrats and military officers willing to accept Trump's offer of full immunity to include safe passage out of Iran and financial protection.

The administration is reportedly now in discussions with Iranian-Kurds, operating along the Iran-Iraq border, about arming them with the aim of formenting an uprising. This is a good start.

But this mission does not call for tearing down every Iranian institution in some frenzied replay of post-Saddam Iraq. That misguided operation left a power vacuum that bred an insurgency for which America paid a staggering price to defeat.

We cannot afford to forget that.

Finally, the mission as President Trump has articulated it does not end with a thriving Jeffersonian democracy in Iran some 18 months.

Success is a regime stripped of its nuclear and missile capabilities, fractured at the leadership level, hollowed out at its base, and facing a population with a fighting chance to actually decide what comes next.

That's a real and achievable outcome  but it requires patience and discipline in equal measure.

This mission does not call for tearing down every Iranian institution in some frenzied replay of post-Saddam Iraq

The current conflict in Iran could take months; it might even take years, to reach its next stage. Though, resolution must be reached before this administration ends.

The next president from either party will not have the power and credibility that President Trump wields in the region  and in the eyes of the enemy  to see this through.

Once the regime is given time to regroup and rebuild, once it can start calculating on a different American president, the window closes.

In the end, the option for America was never really between war and peace with Iran.

The Islamic Republic has been trying to destroy the United States for decades  and it will never stop.

The real choice is between a decisive strategy with a clear endgame and the kind of strategic drift that turns a winnable confrontation into a generational mess.

Mission clarity prevents mission creep. Discipline prevents quagmire. A clear and cogent playbook will prevent Iran from becoming the next Iraq.
A scientific study has recommended the 'perfect' amount of sleep which could be ideal for preventing type 2 diabetes.

Researchers also found that those who 'catch up' on sleep at weekends after sleeping too little during the week benefitted from the extra rest.

The findings have been published in the BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care journal.

Previous research had shown that length of sleep is strongly linked to the risk of insulin resistance, diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

After conducting this study, researchers from Nantong University in China said sleeping for seven hours 18 minutes every night could be the sweet spot for staving off insulin resistance.

They said poor and inconsistent sleep could create a 'vicious cycle' and weekend lie-ins could be as dangerous as insomnia.

The scientists looked at data from 23,000 US adults who recorded their sleep every night and had their blood sugar levels measured.

There was a U-shaped curve between the hours of sleep each night and blood sugar control.

Seven hours and 18 minutes could be the sweet spot for nightly sleep, according to a study

Seven hours and 18 minutes was found to be the sweet spot.

An extra two hours at the weekend was linked to worse outcomes, Medical Xpress reported.

But for those sleeping too little during the week, the extra shut-eye was found to be a help.

The study's authors said an extra couple of hours at weekends was 'beneficial only in moderation and specifically for those with weekday sleep debt'.

Those sleeping more than the recommended amount during the week and also topping up at weekends could have a heightened risk of 'impaired glucose metabolism'.

The study used a measure of estimated glucose disposal rate, which is a signal of insulin resistance, a state where the body does not respond well to the chemical and blood sugar is high.

This is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Keeping sleep consistently between seven to eight hours a night was associated with healthy blood sugar levels in the study.

A lack of sleep can increase inflammation, blood pressure and stress hormones.

Researchers also said poor blood sugar control can lead to bad sleep.

'This creates a potential vicious cycle wherein metabolic dysregulation disrupts normal sleep patterns and the resultant abnormal sleep (including extended duration) further aggravates metabolic health,' they added.

The study was observational, meaning the researchers did not engage with the participants themselves, and so no firm conclusions can be drawn as to cause and effect.

But the researchers concluded that their findings suggested sleep patterns 'may be relevant for metabolic regulation in diabetes'.
The Covid pandemic and months of lockdown may have inflicted longterm harm on children's brain development, a new study warns.

The research, led by the University of East Anglia, found that the pandemic hampered children's ability to regulate their behaviour, stay focused and adapt to new situations  skills known collectively as executive functions.

The greatest impact was seen among pupils in reception, aged four to five, when the first lockdowns began in March 2020.

This age bracket is a crucial stage when children normally learn to socialise, follow routines and navigate the busy world of the classroom, but millions of youngsters were forced to stay home and be taught either online, or by their parents.

The children in this cohort are now around 10 to 11 years old, in their final year of primary school.

The research, published in the journal Child Development, found these children showed less growth in their self-regulatory and cognitive flexibility scores over time compared to a second group of children who were in preschool when the pandemic started.

The researchers from the University of East Anglia, Lancaster University and Durham University say these children may still be feeling the effects years later.

Scientists were already running a long-term study tracking youngsters from toddlerhood to early school years when the Covid pandemic hit.

The Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns may have permanently stunted children's brain development, according to a new study

The study followed 139 children aged between two-and-a-half and six-and-a-half years old over several years, including 94 families who joined the study before Covid struck.

This meant that they had a baseline of children's abilities before the pandemic began, which allowed them to track exactly how development changed during and after the lockdowns.

Using a standardised assessment called the Minnesota Executive Function Scale, they were able to measure the same cognitive skills at regular intervals.

Lead researcher Prof John Spencer, from UEA's School of Psychology, said: 'Children who were in reception when the country shut down showed much slower growth in key self-regulation and cognitive flexibility skills over the next few years than children who were still in preschool.

'Reception is a critical year for peer socialisation. It's when children learn classroom norms and build early friendships that shape their confidence.'

For the cohort who started school in 2020, classrooms were closed, routines collapsed overnight and opportunities for social interaction were severely limited.

'Without these experiences, children's self-regulatory skills didn't develop as quickly year-on-year after the lockdowns ended,' he said.

Many in this cohort also caught Covid more frequently, raising the possibility that periods of illness worsened the issue.

'Our findings suggest that peer socialisation and the new selfregulatory skills children must master in reception might be particularly critical for the development of executive function skills.

'Without these experiences, reception children had a challenging time developing selfregulation and cognitive flexibility in the years that followed the pandemic.'

The researchers say their work highlights a generation of children who may need more support from teachers, schools and health services in the coming years.

The findings also raise questions about how to protect children's development in future national emergencies.

According to a 2023 report by Speech and Language UK, the average child missed 84 school days due to Covid.

In 2023, it was reported that eight in ten teachers said that 'pupil inattention' had worsened since the pandemic, complaining about the noticeable rise in 'needless chatter, shouting and laughing inappropriately'.

Knock-on effects of the pandemic have been blamed, with teachers claiming kids are behind on social skills after spending months learning through screens.

Many teachers also believe the 'everswiping nature' of social media sites like TikTok has exacerbated the issue.

Previous research has suggested that teenage girls' brains may have prematurely aged by up to four years during the Covid pandemic.

Adolescent boys weren't immune either, with their brains also showing signs of undue wear and tear, albeit by only one-and-a-half years.

Experts suggested the difference was due to the lockdown's social restrictions having a disproportionate impact on teenage girls.

Researchers from the University of Washington looked at 160 MRI scans taken from a cohort of 9-to-17-year-olds collected in 2018, and then compared these to scans to 130 taken post-pandemic, 2021-2022.

They found a process called cortical thinning  where the organ effectively rewires itself between childhood and adolescence  was far more advanced than it should be amongst pandemic teens.

Whilst cortical thinning does occur naturally, some studies have linked accelerated thinning to being exposed to anxiety or stress and a greater risk of developing these disorders in life.

It's not yet clear if the observed advanced thinning is permanent or if it will have any negative impact on teenagers' long-term health or educational aspirations.
People who have little social contact, especially women, are at an increased risk of developing cancer, concerning new research has found.

Mounting research has suggested that loneliness can be extremely detrimental to our health, increasing the risk of depression, heart disease and even dementia.

Official statistics show around a quarter of UK adults report feelings of loneliness, while 4.2million people aged over 65 live alone.

Now Chinese researchers, who analysed data from over 35,000 UK adults, have found that people who are socially isolated are more likely to develop cancer - but loneliness alone wasn't enough to raise the risk.

Writing in the journal Communications Media, they said: 'We propose that factors such as income, lifestyle habits, and inflammation might help explain this connection.

'Addressing socio-economic challenges, unhealthy lifestyles and poor mental well-being, particularly for women, through health policies could help reduce cancer risk in isolated populations.'

The study analysed data from 354,537 UK Biobank participants, aged 38-73-years old.

At the start of the study, all participants were cancer free.

Women who reported feelings of isolation were significantly more likely to develop cancer

In order to assess social isolation, participants completed a questionnaire about how many people they lived with, how often they saw family or friends, and which leisure activities they engaged in at least once a week.

One point was awarded for living alone, another for visiting family and friends less than once a month and one for no participation in social activities at least weekly.

Individuals who scored at least two points were defined as socially isolated, making up around 6 per cent of the cohort.

Those who said they often felt lonely and felt like they could very rarely confide in someone were considered lonely - with 15,942 participants falling into this category.

Participants were followed for just under 12-years, during which time 38,103 were diagnosed with cancer.

After adjusting for potentially confounding factors - including existing health conditions, smoking status and mental health - researchers concluded that social isolation is associated with an 8 per cent increased cancer risk.

Women who had little social contact were more likely to develop cancer than men - with isolation increasing the risk of breast, lung, womb, ovarian and stomach cancers in women specifically.

Notably, women who rarely engaged in social settings had an 84 per cent increased risk of stomach cancer, compared to those who were not socially isolated.

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Both sexes who were socially isolated were at an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Although loneliness had no significant effect on the overall population, younger individuals, aged 49-years-old and younger, showed decreased cancer risk with loneliness, as did those with a job.

Dr Jiahao Cheng, study first author, said: 'Our study shows that while social isolation and loneliness may be conceptually related, the play distinct and independent roles in cancer incidence.

'Social isolation as an objective state of reduced social contact, directly influences health behaviours and biological processes, including stress, pro-inflammatory responses and altered cellular pathways, all of which contribute to cancer development.'

They concluded: 'To reduce cancer risk, addressing social isolation and loneliness directly is crucial, as well as developing effective preventive strategies to mitigate the effects of potential mediating factors.'

Bladder cancer is one of the ten most common cancers in the UK, with around 18,000 new cases and 6,000 deaths every year. When caught early, it can often be treated successfully.

But symptoms often hide behind common urinary symptoms, such as abdominal pain, exhaustion and pain or burning when passing urine, meaning many cases go undiagnosed until it is far more dangerous.

Breast cancer is also thought to be on the rise with now one in seven women in the UK diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, making it the most common cancer in the UK.

But researchers now say more than a quarter of the healthy years lost to breast cancer globally can be traced to seven modifiable risk factors: obesity, high blood sugar, smoking, second hand smoke, heavy alcohol use, low physical activity and high red meat intake.
Some simple mindset shifts can help you trick your brain into wanting to work out - even on the days when exercise feels like the last thing you'd choose to do.

'Waiting to feel motivated before you exercise is a losing game,' says Caroline Idiens, a personal trainer with 25 years of experience.

Writing for the Telegraph, Ms Idiens says that spring is the perfect time to reset your fitness habits.

But instead of recommending strict gym schedules and pushing yourself beyond your limits, she suggests incorporating routines that 'actually work' when life is busy.

Research shows that most people who try the latest quick-fix plan to lose weight and improve their health ultimately don't keep the weight off or the habits up.

By the end of January, studies show that up to 88 per cent of people have abandoned their New Year's resolutions entirely.

But experts say there are simple ways to improve your health that aren't tough to stick to - unlike the 'all or nothing' approach many people have towards working out.

From social connection to jotting down your progress, read on for the everyday activities that Ms Idiens says her clients swear by to stay on track with their fitness goals - even on low-energy days.

By the end of January, studies show that up to 88 per cent of people have abandoned their New Year's resolutions, such as plans to get fit, entirely (stock image)

Try habit stacking

'Habit stacking' is not a new phenomenon, but the term has gained popularity in recent years.

Essentially, the technique involves stacking a new behaviour on top of an old one.

This aims to increase the likelihood that you'll stick with a habit and can help in achieving goals over time.

This is backed in science: a 2020 study in Behaviour Research and Therapy found that behaviours linked to an existing routine were significantly more likely to be repeated.

Ms Idiens says she does this by attaching an exercise to something she already does, such as having a cup of coffee. She will drink the cup of coffee, then incorporate some movement.

'The cue matters more than enthusiasm,' she says.

Reframe your mind

Reframing the way you think about exercise can change how easy it is to do it.

Behavioural psychologist James Clear calls this the difference between outcome-based and identity-based habits.

The practise involves shifting thoughts from 'I'm trying to get fit', to adopting the belief, 'I am an active person'.

'This reduces the all-or-nothing thinking that makes you more likely to quit,' says Ms Idiens.

Hypnotherapist Marisa Peer previously told the Daily Mail that a similar approach can be taken with making healthier choices at mealtimes.

She said: 'You tell yourself that you are choosing not to eat sugar or drink alcohol, and that you are choosing to feel great about it.

'You need to signal to the brain why you're doing what you're doing.'

Get outside with nature

Multiple studies show that getting in touch with nature has a positive impact on your mental attitude.

According to the NHS, the easiest way to walk more is to make it a regular habit.

Walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.

With mornings getting lighter, it's even more of an incentive to get out early.

The definition of moderate activity includes anything that will raise your heart rate, make you breathe faster and feel warmer.

One way to tell if you're working at a moderate intensity level is if you can still talk but not sing.

This means that even simple activities such as brisk walking and pushing a lawnmower count.

Try exercising with a friend

According to Nuffield Health, more than one in four Britons use exercise to socialise.

According to the findings, 25 per cent of people surveyed are now part of a fitness community, such as a run club, CrossFit group, or leisure centre-based programme.

This trend appears to be bridging a post-pandemic gap in social interaction - particularly among those working remotely.

The research shows that working out as part of a community - with shared accountability - helps people feel more connected, consistent, confident and supported in staying active, while also delivering stronger and more lasting outcomes.

Find something you love

Finding an exercise that you genuinely enjoy is widely considered the most effective way to build a sustainable, long-term fitness routine.

When exercise feels like a fun, rewarding activity rather than a chore or punishment, consistency becomes easier to maintain, leading to better mental and physical results.

The trick is to try different activities, like running, swimming or dancing, and find what you enjoy.

Treat exercise as self-care

'Runner's high' is a known phenomenon which many athletes cite as compensation for the pain, discomfort and fatigue endured during exercise

Exercise triggers the release of neurotransmitters and hormones, specifically endorphins, endocannabinoids, and dopamine, which act as natural pain relievers and mood elevators.

This can set the tone for the rest of the day, reducing anxiety and creating a sense of calm and euphoria.

Treating exercise as a form of self-care, rather than a tool for self-improvement, shifts the focus from fixing yourself or achieving aesthetic goals to nurturing physical and mental well-being.

This perspective fosters a sustainable, compassionate relationship with movement that reduces stress and enhances quality of life.

Write it all down

Keeping track of your workouts, including personal bests, weights lifted and time spent on the treadmill, can help you identify patterns and allow you to track your progress.

Even simple changes like being able to walk up the stairs without feeling breathless are worth celebrating.

Don't wait for inspiration to strike

Even for artists, waiting for inspiration to strike limits progress, often acting as a form of procrastination that reduces productivity and breaks consistency.

'Put your trainers on and take action, however small,' says Ms Idiens.

'Fitness is built in the imperfect weeks where you keep showing up and relying on habits and routines to carry you through when the motivation dips.'
Regular vaping could increase the risk of high blood pressure  a key driver of deadly heart attacks  a new study suggests.

Britons are taking up vaping in unprecedented numbers, with more than one in ten adults now estimated to regularly use e-cigarettes, which were originally introduced to help smokers quit tobacco.

Despite NHS chiefs insisting vaping is safer than smoking, experts have long warned it is not risk free. Ecigarettes also contain harmful toxins, and their longterm effects remain a mystery.

Furthermore, experts say many users now vape and continue to smoke conventional cigarettes  which in some cases doubles their nicotine intake.

While dual use is also likely to compound the risks of triggering a serious coronary incident such as having a heart attack or stroke, researchers at the University of Exeter are concerned that vaping alone could be enough to drive up blood pressure, a contributing factor for both conditions.

The new study, published in the American Journal of Physiology, looked at the relationship between smoking or vaping and high blood pressure, medically known as hypertension.

The researchers tracked 6,262 participants, aged 12 to 80yearsold from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Of this group, 1,190 admitted to using a nicotine product within the past five days  whether that was traditional smoking, vaping or a combination of both.

Vaping could put users at increased risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke, a new study has revealed

Smoking was the most popular, with 790 participants recently smoking.

Participants' blood pressure and heart rate were measured with an upper arm cuff three times to get an average reading.

Elevated blood pressure was considered anything equal to or over 120/70mmHg, whilst hypertension was defined as 140/90mmHg or above.

Blood samples were also analysed for total cholesterol and creactive protein (CRP) levels.

The liver produces CRP in response to inflammation, with high levels suggesting repetitive tissue injury - for example from smoking - which drives the risk of deadly heart events.

Results showed that participants who smoked or vaped had significantly higher blood pressure compared to nonsmokers and were 46 per cent more likely to suffer from hypertension.

Those who exclusively vaped had a 15 per cent increased risk of elevated blood pressure, and were 5 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure than nonsmokers, but the finding was not statistically significant due to the small sample size, researchers said.

Tobacco use seemed to be particularly harmful for diastolic blood pressure  the pressure at which blood pushes against artery walls while the heart rests between beats.

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Professor Andrew Agbaje, clinical epidemiologist and study coauthor, speculated that this increase in pressure may decrease the amount of time needed for the heart to rest before the next cycle, 'ultimately compromising the heart, leading to arrhythmia, irregular heartbeats, heart failure and heart attacks.'

In general, the data revealed that smokers and vapers were younger, had higher CRP and cholesterol levels and had more excess fat than nonsmokers.

Prof Agbaje said: 'It is highly likely that if the current number of exclusive vape users were tripled, the relationship between vaping and hypertension would be statistically significant.'

He added, given that the direction of the relationship is positive, vaping could predict hypertension.

'Taken together', he said, 'our findings suggest that combined smoking and vaping exposure may confer additional risk, though longterm prospective studies comparing exclusive smokers, vapers and dual users are need to quantify potential additive effects.'

In particular, researchers found that cholesterol played a significant role in how nicotine use elevates blood pressure.

It has long been hypothesised that smoking enhances free radical damage to lipids  fats in the blood including cholesterol  which in turn raises blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease.

The new study confirmed these findings, with participants who smoked and vaped found to have considerably higher cholesterol levels.

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The researchers concluded: 'Interventions to reduce smoking prevalence have been inconsistent especially since the lowered smoking prevalence seems to have been overtaken by an increase in vaping.

'Encouraging youths to avoid smoking and vaping initiation may be a safer approach to preventing longterm hypertension and cardiovascular disease.'

In July last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) labelled the evidence surrounding ecigarettes 'complex', despite them becoming the new frontline in Europe's fight against tobacco.

Vapes cannot be recommended as way to stop smoking as too little is known about the harms and benefits, the UN agency said.

In June 2025 disposable vapes were banned in a bid to stop young people engaging in the harmful habit.

But experts have warned the move risks undermining the Government's progress towards a smokefree Britain  with hundreds if not thousands taking up smoking as an alternative.

Smoking has been linked to at least 16 different types of cancer as well as various heart and lung diseases, infertility and a host of other complication, killing over 8million people every year.

Analysis by the cancer charity found that on average, nearly 160 cancer cases attributed to smoking were diagnosed every day in 2023.

Doctors have expressed fears there could be a wave of lung disease and cardiovascular conditions in the coming decades in people who pick up the habit at a young age.

This was also referenced in the study.

'The European Society of Cardiology has advocated  and we agree  that vaping must be included in the next European Union smoking ban,' said Professor Agbaje.

'It is now established that adolescents who initiate vaping are four times more likely to smoke their first cigarette.

'We need both societal and governmental interventions to save young people from the dangerous effects of vaping, not just traditional tobacco smoking.

'Adolescents deserve protection, not addiction.'

Dr Nicola Lindson, an expert n tobacco addiction and smoking interventions from the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study, said: 'A relatively small number of people in the study reported exclusive vaping and it is impossible to know how many of those people had a history of smoking.

'However, we can reasonably assume that some of them had, as vaping is commonly used as a strategy for quitting smoking.

'This means that we cannot disentangle the effects of vaping from smoking and we also cannot be sure that nicotine is the cause of the health outcomes measured in this paper.'
Nearly 37 million pounds of fried rice, ramen, and dumplings sold under popular brand names, including Kroger and Trader Joes, have been recalled due to concerns about glass fragments lurking in the products.

Portland, Oregon-based Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc is expanding a massive recall to include nearly 36,987,575 pounds of chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai dumpling products after at least four customers reported finding shards of glass in their food.

The USDA labeled this with its most urgent classification, Class I, meaning there is a reasonable probability of serious, adverse health consequences or death.

The initial recall covered one product, but after investigating, the recall was expanded to cover 16 products under brand names familiar to millions, including Ajinomoto, Kroger, Ling Ling, Tai Pei and Trader Joe's.

The affected products, which were shipped to stores nationwide, were produced between October 2024 and February 2026 with best-buy dates ranging from Feb 28, 2026, through Aug 19, 2027.

After hearing from consumers, Ajinomoto was legally obliged to notify the Food Safety and Inspection Service, a branch of the USDA, to kick-start an investigation into the source of the problem. In this case, the investigation traced the glass back to contaminated carrots that impacted several foods in production.

Neither the first nor the expanded second recall notices from the FSIS explained how glass got into the carrots in the first place.

According to the FSIS: There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.

Millions of Americans could have these products in their freezers right now, unknowingly putting themselves at risk of choking, or worse, internal injuries and bleeding. They are advised to throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased.

Portland-based Ajinomoto Foods is expanding a Class I recall to nearly 37 million pounds of chicken and pork fried rice, ramen and shu mai after four customers found glass in their food (stock)

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The FSIS told consumers to check the packaging for establishment numbers P-18356, P-18356B or P-47971 inside the USDA mark.

In addition to having been shipped to thousands of stores across the country, certain Ajinomoto products had been exported to Canada and Mexico.

The first recall was announced on February 19 and included about 3.4 million pounds of chicken fried rice products.

It was expanded to cover an additional 33,617,045 pounds of fried rice, ramen and shu mai dumplings, bringing the total to nearly 37 million pounds.

The health risk of swallowing bits of glass could be potentially severe and even life-threatening.

Glass is sharp, rigid, and does not dissolve in the stomach.

Depending on the size and shape, those fragments can slice through soft tissue as they travel through the digestive tract.

Larger or sharper pieces can get stuck, tearing the lining of the stomach or punching a hole in the intestinal wall.

The affected products hit stores nationwide and were made between October 2024 and February 2026. Check for best-by dates from Feb 28, 2026, through Aug 19, 2027 (file photo)

The investigation traced the source to contaminated carrots, an ingredient used across multiple products

That can trigger peritonitis, a life-threatening abdominal infection that requires emergency surgery. In rare cases, glass can even lacerate blood vessels, leading to severe internal bleeding.

The FSIS announces recalls of meat, poultry and processed egg products and conducts follow-up checks to confirm the company notified its distributors and retailers.

FSIS inspectors also ensure that stores have physically removed the contaminated products from their freezers.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in retailers or consumers freezers, the agency said.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
They're fabulously rich, permanently tanned, and dripping in diamonds.

Some even have extraordinary access to the White House and President Trump.

But you'll rarely hear the secretive set of Palm Beach socialites discussing how they got to where they are, much less how they stay on top amid a sea of competition.

That is, until now.

Suebelle Robbins, the unofficial 'Queen of Palm Beach' is lifting the lid on the inner workings of this exclusive and expensive world, telling the Daily Mail exactly how this polished and preened group operate.

She revealed the rules they live by, and the cardinal sins to avoid when trying to make a good impression or score an invite to Mar-a-Lago.

Robbins, who is in her 70s but declines to disclose her exact age, even shared horror stories of the simple faux-pas that led to her being blacklisted from one of the city's posh private members clubs.

Suebelle Robbins has been a prominent member of the community for decades and is referred to by some as the Queen of Palm Beach

Some of the rules - like always looking your best - are unsurprising. Others, however, are less expected.

'In Palm Beach we really don't wear black unless it's January and 50 degrees,' Robbins revealed in our interview.

She should know.

The glamorous former Playboy model turned real estate broker moved to Palm Beach decades ago and has managed to become an adored local attraction thanks to her constantly coiffed hair and rainbow-color wardrobe of designer clothes.

Never wearing black, opting for bright but modest clothes and always ensuring your hair and make-up are perfect are the basics.

But that's not the only rule.

According to her, it's not the done thing to post too much online.

It's ironic, given Robbins herself has an online following of over 800,000 on TikTok. She's convinced that if she was famous online first, she would never have been accepted into Palm Beach society.

Sometimes it's impossible to stay completely out of the spotlight.

Brushing shoulders with top politicians and celebrities is normal for the Palm Beach socialites.

But they dare not speak about it publicly, much less name drop their connections.

Palm Beach socialites Nicola 'Coco' Verses and Skye Hankey with President Trump in the Oval Office in December

Nicola 'Coco' Verses runs a jewelry company and is married. Despite her proximity to the president and impossibly glamorous lifestyle, she seldom discusses her personal life

Take Nicola 'Coco' Verses, for example. She's raked in 41,000 followers on Instagram, where she often posts photos of herself enjoying beach days and yacht trips, dining in five-star restaurants and showcasing her designer closet.

Scattered among her glossy photos are snaps from inside the Oval Office and Mar-a-Lago.

How exactly Verses obtained her seemingly vast wealth is unclear. It's rumored that she has a connection to the hair product company Conair, but she has not addressed it publicly.

She runs her own jewelry company, Verse Diamonds, which sells pieces that cost as much as $39,500.

Verses' best friend is Skye Hankey, another highly visible but tight-lipped Palm Beach princess.

Hankey is married to Don Rufus Hankey, heir to a billionaire car loan tycoon. Her father-in-law, Don, provided Trump's $175million bond in his 2024 civil fraud case. It prevented the president's own assets from being seized.

Nicola Verses and Skye Hankey at the Mar-a-Lago wedding of White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Dan Scavino, last month

Skye Hankey is married to billionaire car loan tycoon Don Hankey's son, Don Rufus Hankey

Hankey with her daughter at the Chanel Haute Couture show in July last year. Looking your best is one of, if not the most important rule, says Robbins

RULES OF PALM BEACH SOCIETY

Never wear black (unless it's 50 degrees or cooler)

Always look your best

Do your homework before a charity gala or party

Don't post too much online

Don't namedrop

Do not boast about a friendship you might have with the President

Don't ask for entry to a members' club, wait for a recommendation Advertisement

These women typically gather at charity galas and in their respective members clubs, where pricing can run as high as $1million-a-year.

But gaining entry isn't always straight forward.

According to Robbins, asking for a way in is an absolute no-no.

'You don't ask to join a club. A big no-no would be to approach somebody that was a member and say, "Can you get me in the club?"' explained Robbins.

'They're very strict about who they let in. It really comes down to who you know.'

Even if recommended by another member, you're not always guaranteed a spot, she said.

Robbins recalled how she and her late husband Richard tried to join one of the clubs - which she refused to name - when they first moved to the area 18 years ago and were brutally turned away, despite getting a whopping 18 letters of recommendation.

The reason? One prominent member of the community didn't like her.

'We had 18 letters from friends and people that knew us, saying how great it would be that we were going to be in the club,' she shared.

When joining a members club like Mar-a-Lago, the ultimate sin is to ask for a recommendation. Pictured: Melania and Barron Trump at the Mar-a-Lago pool in 2011

'It only took one person [talking badly about us] and we didn't get invited to join. I was quite upset at the time.

'To be rejected over just one person seems unfair. But after 18 years, I've gotten over it.'

To boost your chances of acceptance, Robbins recommends staying 'on top of your game' sartorially... and brushing up on your facts.

'You have to make sure your clothes are perfect, and you know all the background of the event that you're going to, it takes a lot of time,' she dished.

'Although the event may be only an hour, you spend the whole day getting familiar with it and looking your best.'

Robbins grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and had an interest in fashion from the start.

For Suebelle, life in Palm Beach is a never-ending dream of pastels and parties. 'I first visited Palm Beach when I was 23, and I fell in love with it,' she said

'I grew up in Texas, where it's all about hair, makeup and wardrobe,' she explained. 'At an early age I was really influenced by the women there, what they wore and how they wore it.'

She worked many jobs over the years: she was a travel agent, real estate broker, teacher, model and even once a Playboy bunny.

She's been married twice - her first husband was the Chief Finance Officer of USA Today, and that gave her her first taste of living like a socialite.

'It was a very exciting life, we traveled a lot and we were invited places because everybody wants to be in the newspaper,' she said.

They were even once invited to the White House Christmas party, where she proudly kissed President Ronald Reagan on the cheek.

'I said, "I'm Suebelle, and I think you're adorable" and I kissed him on the cheek. He was quite surprised. Not unfavorably so. He smiled quite a bit,' she recalled. 'It was one of the highlights of my life.'

After she split from her first husband she went on to marry stock broker Richard, and they were together for 38 years before he passed away last year.

Robbins found her online fame by accident after she was featured in a video posted by a Palm Beach street fashion account.

Her spunky personality and fashionable ensemble caught the attention of millions and turned her into a social media sensation overnight.

'Surprisingly, people identify with what I say. It's very unexpected. I haven't figured out [why people like my videos] but I'm flattered. I'm just myself,' she reflected of her online fame.

'I never expected this. In the past if I got 50 people liking a post I'd think, "This is great." So this is beyond my wildest dreams.'

For Robbins, life in this ultra-wealthy, polished, pastel world is everything she ever hoped for.

'I first visited Palm Beach when I was 23, and I fell in love with it. I said, "Someday I'm gonna live here."

'And my dream came true.'
One of Japan's Michelin-rated restaurants, famed for its Tokyo-Neapolitan-style pizzas, is coming to Australia.

Pizza Studio Tamaki, also known as PST, will make its Australian debut on George Street in Sydney's CBD on May 15, seating 78 guests.

It marks a major expansion from its tiny, cosy wood-fired pizza joint in Tokyo's Higashi-Azabu district, which features an eight-seat L-shaped counter and with just a few tables.

PST, widely considered one of Tokyo's finest pizzerias and recognised as serving one of the world's top 10 pizzas, is also among the select few to hold a Michelin Bib Gourmand award.

Diners from around the world have been travelling to Japan to experience its airy, crispy-yet-chewy pizzas, served from a rustic Tokyo outpost.

'Our pizza is renowned for its unique Japanese style - wood-fired pizza with a light and chewy crust and a distinctive, balanced salty finish,' PST founder Tsubasa Tamaki told Good Food.

Japan is widely regarded as home to some of the world's best Neapolitan-style pizzas, with its pizzaioli frequently rivaling their Italian counterparts.

The Japanese chef - who was named 'one of the most talked-about pizzaioli in the world' by The New York Times - will make his guest appearance at the Sydney launch after opening in Okinawa, Bangkok, Singapore, and New York.

One of Japan's Michelin-rated restaurants, Pizza Studio Tamaki famed for its Tokyo-Neapolitan-style pizzas, is coming to Australia

The tiny, cosy wood-fired pizza joint in Tokyo's Higashi-Azabu district features an eight-seat L-shaped counter and with just a few tables

The owner who visited his new Sydney outpost for the first time last week was blown away by the location, nestled among restaurants and office towers.

'It reminds me of Rome, where the finest pizzerias are often located around a lively piazza, forming part of the city's social and cultural fabric,' he explained.

The new Sydney restaurant will open in partnership with Kaizen Food Group.

Pizza Studio Tamaki, which has been featured in the Michelin Guide, has been a major success in Japan since opening its first Tokyo location in 2017, followed by a second venue a year later.

Among the popular pizzas are 5 Formaggi (five cheese) and Tamaki, the signature margherita-style base with cherry tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano and basil.

Tourists have revealed securing a seat without a reservation can be challenging, with many lining up before the doors open in hopes of getting a table.

It's highly recommended to get your hotel concierge secure your reservations at one of the Tokyo locations.

And the wait is worth it for many visitors, with one raving: 'One of the best pizzas I ever had and the best pizza in Japan so far. It's very authentic and reminds me of real Italian pizza.'

@cintrnx Did you know some of the worlds best Neapolitan-style pizzas are made in Japan? A must-visit gem in Tokyo is PST (Pizza Studio Tamaki), a tiny pizzeria serving some of the most delicious pizzas youll crave until your next trip back to Japan. Recognised in the Michelin Guide, PST is one of the few pizzerias in Tokyo to earn the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand award. Can confirm: The pizzas are cooked to perfection and are by far some of the best Ive ever eaten. A local Japanese man we met in line recommended the Tamaki pizza - topped with cherry tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano, and basil. A classic, but absolutely bursting with flavour. The pizzas are surprisingly affordable - around AUD $20 each. We also ordered a lasagna, which was incredible. Every customer gets a shot glass of delicious mushroom soup - a great little starter before diving into the amazing woodfired pizzas English menu is available, so it's easy to order. This place only takes reservations by phone, so it can be challenging if you dont speak Japanese. TIP: Get your hotel to make a reservation on your behalf; we managed to get a table the day before! You could try arriving early, but expect queues - its tricky to get a table. They usually only let the first few groups walk in without a reservation and turn the rest away. Have you dined at PST? Whats your favourite pizza, and what are your must-try recommendations?  Pizza Studio Tamaki in Higashi Azabu and Roppongi #japantravel #japantiktok #japanfood #tokyo #michelinguide #japantrip #thingstodoinjapan Travelling in Japan | Top Japanese restaurants to try | Hidden gems in Japan | Places to go in Tokyo | Best pizza in the world  Love Letter - Cavendish Music

Pizza Studio Tamaki, also known as PST, will make its Australian debut on George Street in Sydney's CBD on May 15, seating 78 guests

'This was genuinely the best pizza I've ever had. Amazing flavour with a salted base which made it even better,' another shared.

'Some of the best pizza you will ever eat. The pizza dough is definitely more salty than normal, but that is what makes it so good, actually so great! Add some honey to the crust for an out of body experience,' one revealed.

'PST is a must-visit for pizza lovers in Tokyo, serving up some of the best Neapolitan-style pies in the city. The crust is perfectly blistered and chewy, with just the right balance of softness and char, while the toppings showcase fresh, high-quality ingredients,' another added.

'The cozy, intimate setting adds to the charm, and the staff make you feel right at home. It's a bit tucked away, but absolutely worth seeking out for an authentic, memorable pizza experience.'

Tourists have revealed securing a seat without a reservation can be challenging, with many lining up before the doors open in hopes of getting a table

PST, widely considered one of Tokyo's finest pizzerias and recognised as serving one of the world's top 10 pizzas, is also among the select few to hold a Michelin Bib Gourmand award

According to A Plus Singapore magazine, the owner-chef had never visited Italy before opening his pizzeria in Japan.

The self-taught pizzaiolo developed his skills while working at two of Tokyo's most respected pizzerias, Savoy and Pizza Strada.

His secret dough recipe - a blend of Canadian and American wheat flours milled in Japan - is fermented for up to 30 hours to develop rich, complex flavours.

'You can't rush fermentation. It develops when you let the dough evolve at its own pace. It's about trusting the process and letting nature do its work,' Tamaki explained.

To replicate the authentic PST flavour abroad, key ingredients - including Tamaki flour and Okinawan salt - are flown in from Japan.

'Even slight variations in ingredients can change the entire profile. The dough's flavour and texture are derived from Tamaki flour, while Okinawan salt, with its gentle roundness, provides overall balance,' the chef said.
It wasn't what I expected... yet the food was the flavour explosion I hoped for

I visited the brand new Greek taverna I kept hearing whispers of

Welcome to The Detour: Your food and travel guide to the best flavours, hidden haunts, insider tips and unforgettable new experiences that reward those who wander off course.

If there's one hill I'll die on, it's that a cosy, family-style restaurant will always outshine the rest.

And Jimmy's Kitchen has every element to send it soaring into the ranks of Sydney's very best.

Tucked away out of sight, boasting just 22 seats and relying on a mouthwatering menu and a tight team, this is exactly the kind of place we need more of right now.

The family-run Greek taverna in The Rocks, hidden in the heart of Campbells Cove right behind 6HEAD, was created as a 'living tribute' to hospitality veteran Chris Drivas's late father, Jimmy.

When I first heard about a spot delivering the traditional Greek hillside taverna spirit to a nook 15-minutes from my front door, I fully intended to, for lack of a better term, gatekeep it.

That was until I took my first bite of the homemade pita. After that, there was no chance of keeping it quiet.

With more than 50 years in hospitality, Chris described the restaurant's December opening as deeply personal. Jimmy ran tavernas in Greece before relocating to Sydney, where the father and son duo went on to open 13 cafes together.

Jimmy's Kitchen has every element to send it soaring into the ranks of Sydney's very best

I visited on a Saturday night and, while the front-of-house team wasn't buzzing with the loud, excitable energy you might expect from a classic Greek taverna, their passion quickly became clear

And you can feel, see and taste how that legacy lives on here, from the intimate, family-filled sandstone interiors to the warm, welcoming service philosophy Jimmy instilled.

'Treat every guest like they're coming into your home,' Jimmy would say.

'When customers walk through your door you treat them like they're coming into your house,' Chris now says, echoing his dad's mantra.

I visited on a Saturday night and, while the front-of-house team wasn't buzzing with the loud, excitable energy you might expect from a classic Greek taverna, their passion quickly became clear.

Leaving guests (yes every table was full!) to settle into their own conversations (yes, you could actually hear each other over the traditional music!), the team moved with quiet precision, reading the room and delivering exactly what the night needed.

And when they were called upon for anything at all, they delivered top notch, genuinely fun and impressively (yet unpretentiously) informed hospitality.

New and can't pick between the Greek wines? Taste them all and choose your favourite. Need more pita? Already on the way. Want an honest recommendation? Ask and you shall receive.

It may not have felt like 'home' the moment we walked in, but my word did it once we settled in. Refreshing for a 2026 'newbie'.

Pictured, the lamb souvlaki and my new number one haloumi

The grilled octopus with potato, lemon, chilli and oregano vinaigrette was sublime

In the kitchen you will (most nights) find 83-year-old chef Marko Taxidis, who has worked alongside the Drivas family for more than four decades cooking traditional Greek dishes designed for sharing.

And the food is the real deal. The really real yummy deal.

Combining traditional Greek cooking with subtle modern touches, the menu draws heavily on recipes Jimmy cooked and shared with his wife.

Standouts include the astakos kritharaki, delicate orzo pasta served beneath a rich lobster and tomato bisque, the lamb kleftiko, a slow-braised lamb shoulder with lemon, oregano, cinnamon and rosemary, and prawn saganaki, baked king prawns with tomato, feta and oregano.

My favourites? The dangerously addictive pita with tzatziki, the grilled octopus with potato, lemon, chilli and oregano vinaigrette, the lamb souvlaki and my number one, the oven-baked black cod with tomato, onion, capers and caperberry.

My hot tip: try a little of the tomato mixture with the octopus. Chef's kiss.

Oh and the haloumi? Drizzled with honey and drenched in herbs, it was the best I've had. I don't say that lightly.

The drinks list is proudly Greek, featuring crisp Assyrtiko and Xinomavro wines, classic Greek beers and iconic spirits like Mastiha and Tsipouro. They perfectly complement the generous, family-style menu.

There's also plenty of classics and a tight yet thoughtful cocktail menu served in some seriously fun glassware.

From the cherished family recipes to the immersive interiors and thoughtfully curated drinks list, Jimmy's Kitchen is more than a restaurant. It is an ode to family, tradition and the heart of Greek hospitality.

I really, really want this one to thrive. It feels like it is right on the cusp of becoming one of the city's most beloved restaurants - one with staying power.

'It's intimate, unpretentious, and designed to feel like you've stepped into a family kitchen,' Chris says.

'The food is real, the welcome is genuine, and every dish brings people together.'

He's dead right.

The homemade, dangerously addictive pita with tzatziki topped itself up throughout the evening, perhaps to my detriment

There's also plenty of classics and a tight yet thoughtful cocktail menu served in some seriously fun glassware

Sofitel Wentworth has our attention

This iconic Sydney hotel has taken its recent hospitality shake-up in its stride, delivering a sleek new wellness offering designed for reset-driven stays without shedding the classic five-star hospitality it is known for.

While many visitors and Sydneysiders are well acquainted with the CBD spot, few realise the hotel is quietly leaning into a wellness-focused era. Think in-room sleep rituals, a refreshed fitness space and a fancy new recovery sanctuary that is, forgive the cliche, the very definition of a hidden gem.

The slick new direction is evident the moment you walk in, even though the notoriously fiddly self check-in counters remain.

Guests still receive the same luxury service the Sofitel brand is known for, but they're on a mission to showcase its potential as a true wellness destination tucked high above the bustling streets. This, I'd confidently say, is something locals are very much willing to fork out for right now.

There is nothing better than a central spot that makes you feel miles away the moment you walk through the doors. Even better when you walk out well-slept, rejuvenated and just fed enough, rather than a little hungover and over-indulged.

Alongside the classic hotel offerings, evening drinks, canapes, afternoon tea and plenty of drool-worthy food options, the space now feels like an investment in sleep and recovery.

How? Start with the bed. The unbelievably comfortable MYBED remains one of the hotel's biggest drawcards. Then there is the shiny new gym and the dedicated, and very little-known, recovery space within.

Guided by the philosophy that 'wellness is the art of balancing pleasure and wellbeing', the new fitness space is designed as a sanctuary for guests, though anybody can visit.

This iconic Sydney hotel has taken its recent hospitality shake-up in its stride, delivering a sleek new wellness offering designed for reset-driven stays without shedding the classic five-star hospitality it is known for (pictured, the Prestige Suite)

Guided by the philosophy that wellness is the art of balancing pleasure and wellbeing, the new fitness space is designed as a sanctuary for guests, though locals can join too

The space includes state-of-the-art Technogym equipment and solo Reformer Pilates, with reformer beds available whenever you need them. This is a first for me. I have not seen on-demand Reformers this well-kept, let alone so available.

Then there are the immersive recovery therapies hidden behind a large black door within the gym. Inside you will find beautifully maintained infrared saunas, a larger traditional sauna, a series of cold plunge baths and an arctic shower. Something for everyone in a space many walk straight past each morning.

Wellness extends beyond the gym, too. Guests can enjoy sleep-supportive in-room rituals, curated bedtime playlists, smart lighting and mindful dining designed to nourish and restore. For couples, solo travellers, locals or parents looking for a breather, it is a winner.

Then there are the immersive recovery therapies hidden behind a black door within the gym

Inside you will find beautifully maintained infrared saunas, a larger traditional sauna, a series of cold plunge baths and an arctic shower

I love the direction this is heading. With these offerings as a base, it will be exciting to see how they evolve in the months ahead. I would love to see them expand the bath menu, introduce a more health-focused option into the in-room dining selection and promote that spectacular recovery nook even more.

Because while a cheeky reset staycation is always fabulous, it is even better when you leave feeling genuinely rejuvenated and pampered ahead of the working week.

A 'guilty pleasure' without the guilt? You can answer that one for me.

I love the direction this is heading. With these offerings as a base, it will be exciting to see how they evolve in the months ahead

A 'guilty pleasure' without the guilt? You can answer that one for me

Bondi is on a roll

Besa, the latest venue from the team behind Sydney favourites Nour, Henrietta and Aalia, has opened on Hall Street in Bondi, bringing a lively slice of Spanish tapas culture to the beachside suburb.

The first thing you notice is the fit-out. Moody red tones, spotted gum timber and curved booths give the 65-seat venue a dramatic, almost cinematic feel.

The vibe is more Madrid wine bar than laid-back Bondi eatery, and on weekends, DJs add to the high-energy atmosphere.

The cocktail list is equally playful, drawing inspiration from the Spanish novel Don Quixote.

It's the kind of menu that makes it easy to settle in for the night while working your way through a spread of share plates.

The vibe is more Madrid wine bar than laid-back Bondi eatery, and on weekends, DJs add to the high-energy atmosphere

The first thing you notice is the fit-out. Moody red tones, spotted gum timber and curved booths give the 65-seat venue a dramatic, almost cinematic feel

Other notable mentions are the beef carpaccio, croquetas and crudo, plus mains of wagyu sirloin and a side of crispy potatoes topped with spicy bravas sauce and aioli to share

Food-wise, the pan con tomate was an instant standout. The classic Spanish dish of grilled bread topped with tomato and olive oil sounds simple, but Besa executes it beautifully.

The friendly waitress also recommended trying a Gilda, a traditional Spanish Basque bar snack. Served on a skewer with a green olive, pickled guindilla pepper and anchovy  a small but unforgettable bite.

Other notable mentions are the beef carpaccio, croquetas and crudo, plus mains of wagyu sirloin and a side of crispy potatoes topped with spicy bravas sauce and aioli to share.

Then round off your evening with one of the delicious rotating daily dessert specials - the churros were moreish.
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If convenience is your main priority when doing the weekly clean, a cordless vacuum cleaner is a must-have. But before you rush out to buy one, understanding how to choose the best vacuum for your home's specific needs is a smart move.

You will want to rely on your vacuum for years, using it for everyday dirt and dust, as well as for those deeper cleans around Christmas and birthdays. Youll also want to make sure it can tackle the occasional accidental rice spill, which, if youre like me, happens more often than youd like.

This is why it's also worth weighing up a bagged vs bagless vacuum cleaner - cordless models are usually bagless, which keeps costs down over time but they are messier to empty and require you to clean your vacuum more often.

At the Daily Mail, our expert testers have been reviewing plenty of corded, cordless and robot vacuums - so whether youre looking for something with plenty of battery life or something with powerful attachments to tackle pet hair, weve got you covered.

Testing one of our favourite vacuums for hard floors - the Dyson PencilVac

Below is a selection of our cordless vacuum picks tested by our team - including top models from Dyson and value rival Shark, as well as some interesting high-tech options for those looking to geek out.

Below youll find links to our top picks or read on for our vacuum reviews.

Best cordless vacuum: Quick list

How we test

To test cordless vacuums, we put them through a series of repeatable tests, including throwing rice and flour (or semolina) on the ground and seeing how much of it it can pick up in a single pass or whether the vacuum simple spreads the mess around.

As well as these tests, we also use them around our homes for several days, or weeks where possible, to clean carpets, hard floors and rugs, making a note of how well they perform. Accessories are important too. Too may and they're a faff to store, to few and they vacuum doesn't work as a multipurpose tool.

We also consider things like easy of use and value for money when making our decision on what to include in our lists.

Read more about how we test vacuums.

We test all our vacuums on hard floors, rugs and carpet

The best cordless vacuums to buy now

Reviewed by Danielle Amato

The Dyson V16 Piston Animal is one of the Dyson's latest and greatest vacuums. I really enjoyed my time testing the Dyson and while it wasn't perfect, I still think it's one of the best vacuums you can buy right now.

The suction is supremely powerful, the classic green light helps you to pick up every spec of dust and I'm a huge fan of the dust compact, which squishes all your dust down for less frequent emptying.

In testing it did a fab job on both hard floors and carpets but if you're vacuuming up larger particles, you do have to be weary of clogging (as with any vacuum) and the Dyson Piston will immediately alert you to this and switch off for safety. As someone who struggles with the weight of vacuums, I found it easy to use

This is also Dyson's best vacuum yet for dealing with hair. I never once struggled with tangles and it wiped the floor with other vacuums in these tests - including those who claim to have anti-tangle tech.

The biggest downside? The price. Buying the latest Dyson will set you back a pretty penny but if you've always dreamed of having a Dyson at home, I can highly recommend this one.

Read our full Dyson V16 Piston Animal review.

Reviewed by Xantha Leatham

This lightweight stick vacuum from Shark is one of the best value models we've tested. As well as being easy to manoeuvre, it doesn't take up much space, so whether you're in a flat or a four bedroom home, it can be stored away.

Like most modern Shark vacuums, the PowerPro has floor detect technology, which means it can work out if youre on carpet or hard floor. It will then adjust the power accordingly. This is handy as it both sames battery life and means I don't have to think about what I'm doing as I'm whizzing round.

This is my first anti-hair-wrap vacuum and I found it really impressive how it managed to keep tangles to a minimum.. A single charge gave me around 50 minutes of run time in eco mode, though it runs down much quicker if it has to 'power up' over carpets and messier areas.

Accessories included are a car cleaning kit, which was a lifesaver following an orange feather boa incident, as well as crevice and pet tools.

In fact, my mail gripe is that the vacuum is so powerful, that my thin rugs were sucked into the vacuum head as I went along. Overall, it's definitely worth the price and balances cost and performance well.

Read our full Shark PowerPro vacuum review.

3. Best Shark cordless vacuum: Shark Stratos Pro Cordless

Reviewed by Claire Cisotti

I've been an avid Dyson user for many years but after testing the Shark Stratos, I'm a bit of a convert. Both the design and suction on this mode won me over. I definitely think the vacuum suction is better than my (now arguably old) Dyson and the light helps my ageing eyes enormously.

I found every attachment easy to use - and there are a lot of them. Two batteries was also a game changer, as it allows me to keep one charging while I whip round with the other. I would definitely recommend getting this version over the single battery model, even if it will set you back more.

If you're considering a Shark vacuum but aren't sure if the Stratos is quite right for you, be sure to read our reviews on the Shark PowerPro Cordless and the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Upright corded, both of which received rave reviews.

4. Best cordless vacuum for hard floors: Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones

Reviewed by Danielle Amato

While I personally loved the Dyson PencilVac vacuum, I cant in good conscience say it's the best value for money. However, I still think it deserves a place on this list because like many Dyson vacuums, it has been designed with a specific user in mind.

As someone with mobility issues and bad motor skills, I can find vacuuming quite tricky and cumbersome, even if the vacuum is marketed as lightweight.

With the PencilVac Fluffycones, I was genuinely shocked at how easy I found it to manoeuvre. It allows me to whizz around my home in minutes to do a quick clean and doesn't tire me out when I have to reach up to high places. It doesnt have a very ergonomic handle but I personally didnt find it difficult to hold. However, if you have grip issues, you might find it tricky over long periods.

Even though it has a small 0.8L capacity, this tiny stick can pick up a decent amount of debris. It uses powerful air pressure to compact dust, meaning its less likely to get clogged as you go along. I found it had no issues tackling the mountains of pet and human hair on my hard floors due to its anti-tangle tech.

Read our full Dyson PencilVac Flufflycones review.

5. Prestige pick: Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra Complete Extra

Reviewed by Danielle Amato

If money is no object and you're looking for a supremely competent vacuum with just about every bell and whistle imaginable, this is it.

The Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra is thoughtfully designed and has some excellent quality of life features including a hands-free emptying station. The only problem is its just a bit too expensive for most people.

In my cleaning tests, it really did go above and beyond and the battery life is very good on eco mode too. I wasnt as impressed with its 'AI detection', which adjusts suction and speed based on the material it's vacuuming, simply because I think other premium vacuums can also do this well. It did do a great job though, so I can't fault it too much.

Obviously the hands-free cleaning is the big seller here, it can hold potentially several months worth of dust and grime in its docking station and whips out the contents of the vacuum in seconds. Great for allergy sufferers and people who just like cool tech.

Ultimately, the AI Jet Ultra is a competent and tech savvy vacuum cleaner thats made for large homes and dont mind paying the price for that.

Read our full Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra Complete Extra vacuum cleaner review.

Verdict

The Shark Stratos and Dyson V16 are two of the best vacuums you can buy right now in my opinion, They're both an investment (though the Stratos occasionally goes on offer for around 300). They are well thought out cordless models with plenty of suction power.

However, if your budget is restricted, the Shark PowerPro is still a good investment, though you might find it doesn't last quite as long as some of the others on this list.

FAQs

Which vacuum has the strongest suction?

If power is your top priority in a vacuum, Dyson vacuums typically come out on top. Models like the Dyson V16 Piston Animal and V15 Extra are designed to really work deep into carpets and pull up stubborn dirt. That said, more premium models from rivals like Shark have closed the gap somewhat.

How much should I spend on a good vacuum?

A reliable cordless that can tackle carpets, hard floors and pet hair with ease will likely set you back around 250 and 500. The Shark PowerPro is a good example of this.

However, pay a little more and you move into premium territory, with smarter features and longer battery life, as seen with models such as the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Extra or the ultra sleek Dyson V16 Piston. It mostly comes down to how much power and convenience you want from your vacuum.

What is the best cordless Shark vacuum?

If you are sticking with Shark, the PowerPro is a mid-range all rounder with good suction and a flexible design. For something a touch more powerful, the Shark Stratos Pro offers better automated suction adjustments and excellent performance across different floor types.
Megyn Kelly launched a blistering attack on her former Fox News stablemate Sean Hannity as she branded him a 'supplicant to Donald Trump.'

The journalist launched the insult as she continues leading the charge against war in the Middle East, which she blames the likes of Hannity and fellow broadcaster Mark Levin for pushing the President into.

In her latest show on Tuesday night, titled Understanding America's Goals in Iran, Kelly said she felt the need to 'just be honest' about Hannity's Fox News credentials.

'Hannity is a supplicant to Donald Trump, he would never say anything other than to puff Trump up,' she said.

'We all love Trump, but let's be real, he can be flattered into thinking, "Yes, this is your idea and it's a great one and you're the leader of the free world and we need you, Mr President."'

It comes as Trump brushed off criticisms from Kelly and Tucker Carlson this week over his war with Iran, telling The Inner Circle on Monday that the journalist 'should study her history book a little bit.'

Kelly, a fervent Trump supporter, has broken ranks with the President over the war with Iran and said on her show last week she believes the US was dragged into the conflict unnecessarily.

She questioned whether American soldiers were losing their lives 'for Iran or Israel' after six US servicemen were killed in the military strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Megyn Kelly launched a blistering attack on her former Fox News stablemate Sean Hannity as she continues leading the charge against war with Iran

Kelly branded Hannity a 'supplicant to Donald Trump' and said he 'would never say anything other than to puff Trump up'

Kelly is not alone among conservatives, with Carlson also emerging as a staunch anti-war figure.

In an interview with ABC's Jon Karl last week, he branded Trump's actions in Iran as 'absolutely disgusting and evil.'

Carlson has reportedly visited the White House three times in the last month to lobby Trump against attacking Iran.

But the President said in his interview with The Inner Circle this week that the commentator failed to sway him, dismissing him as he said: '[Carlson] can say whatever he wants, it has no impact on me.'

In Kelly's latest show, she also warned that Trump risks eroding his support among women if he forges ahead with the conflict.

She brought up polling that shows while Republicans are largely in support of Trump's moves in the Middle East, women are far more likely to be against the war.

'What you're seeing now is support falling basically along partisan lines,' Kelly said.

'There's also an interesting poll showing it's breaking down more severely along gender lines, where a hefty majority of women are against it and men are split almost 50/50, so that's that's all very interesting.'

Kelly added: 'But there is no question that the American people don't understand why we're doing it.'

Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment on the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on March 4

Kelly's comments come as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its fourth day, with strikes intensifying and retaliation spreading across the region.

On Tuesday, US and Israeli forces sent a barrage of missiles and drone fire across Tehran, striking a number of military targets and sending columns of smoke rising over the Iranian capital.

Among the targets was a building connected to the committee responsible for selecting a new supreme leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in earlier attacks.

Trump, who had been locked in negotiations with the Iranians for weeks before launching strikes on Friday night, has now signaled that he will continue taking a hard line against the Middle Eastern nation.

Posting to social media on Monday, Trump bragged that Iran's 'air defense, air force, navy, and leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said: "Too late!"'
An incredulous Megyn Kelly has declared her support for Hillary Clinton - after the former first lady called a halt to her closed-door Jeffrey Epstein proceedings because a photo was leaked to the media.

'All right, so write it down in the calendar. What's today? March 3rd. I'm in agreement with Hillary Clinton,' Kelly proclaimed after laying out the strange saga on Tuesday's Megyn Kelly Show.

Minutes before, she introduced a clip of Clintons since-released deposition.

'Here's Hillary in the moment that's getting a lot of attention because she, um- I got to say this was kind of bulls**t,' Kelly said to start.

The footage showed Clinton being told about the leak from Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert in real time - a revelation that left her furious.

Kelly explained how Boebert sent a single photo of Clinton testifying to the House Oversight Committee to conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, who then put it on his social media accounts during the deposition.

Kelly said the former secretary of state's frustration was warranted, speaking frankly on the subject despite being a longtime critic.

'Well, the depo was going to be made public. It was understood and agreed that it was going to be made public - the videotape of it. So it doesn't make it really like a capital offense, what she did,' Kelly began.

All right, so write it down in the calendar. What's today? March 3rd. I'm in agreement with Hillary Clinton,' longtime Hillary critic Megyn Kelly said during Tuesday's Megyn Kelly Show

Kelly was speaking on the former first lady's rage after she learned a photo of her testifying to the the House Oversight Committee last week about Jeffrey Epstein being leaked to the press

'But... I'm not going to lie, it was a classless thing to do.

'Follow the rules of the depo. All right? Like, you may hate Hillary Clinton, but she's the former Secretary of State. She did show up. She's answering the questions. Like f***in' just go along with the protocol.

'And it's not up to you to upend the whole situation by taking a snapshot and leaking it.'

Kelly disclaimed that she thought Johnson 'did nothing wrong,' before adding, 'But I don't think Lauren Boebert should have done that.

'But okay, she did,' Kelly continued. 'And when Hillary found out about it, because it hit social media seconds thereafter, and that they had violated the agreement between Hillary's team and the House Oversight Committee, she wasn't happy.'

Kelly said of Clinton's decision to storm out of the private hearing: 'I'm going to shock you, but she was right.

'Like, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm on her side... Like, these things are always negotiated. I've taken countless depositions, and they're always negotiated,' the journalist continued.

'The terms of what's going to be available, what's going to be publicly available, what's on the record, what's not, but all the stuff.

Clinton's Epstein testimony was halted after the photo was leaked by Lauren Boebert, to podcaster Benny Johnson - a move Kelly called 'classless'

'And it's the subject of countless phone calls and letter writing with the lawyers before the event, and everyone there is expected to live up to the terms.'

'And we were always going to see Hillary on tape offering her testimonial.

'So there was no reason for it. Okay? There was no reason for it. And I think Lauren Boebert jeopardized the day's proceedings with a stupid thing that was kind of pointless,' Kelly concluded.

The remarks were noteworthy due to Kelly's past criticism of Clinton and her politics. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, was grilled by House Republicans and Democrats a few days earlier, on Friday.

Both denied any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. Neither have been charged with any crimes.

In the same episode, Kelly called former President Clinton's deposition 'Brutal. Just brutal.'

'I was so uncomfortable watching the whole thing.'

During the deposition, the ex-commander-in-chief clashed with Rep. Nancy Mace after the former claimed he had and has no 'interest in underage' women.

'I didn't say underage, I said young,' Mace shot back.

'But it's still not true,' Clinton said - to which the congresswoman said: 'Is an intern young?'

Clinton was famously impeached by the House during his presidency over lying under oath about having a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The former president admitted: 'Yes.'

Kelly also produced a 1999 photo of former President Clinton on the broadcast.

'He is looking down the chest of my friend Meg Florence. And that's my other friend in the foreground, Abby Ripman,' Kelly explained.

'So, Meg and Abby might dispute your statement that you dont like them young. I saw it myself.'

Republicans named in the so-called Epstein files are also facing scrutiny, with the Trump cabinet member Howard Lutnick agreeing to be deposed last Tuesday. He also has not been charged with any crimes.

US and Israel's strikes on Iran continued for the fifth day on Wednesday, with several more weeks of fighting expected. Six US soldiers have died.
Gayle King has signed a new deal to stay with CBS Mornings, the broadcaster's editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has confirmed.

Weiss, 41, shared the news to X on Wednesday, after months of speculation about King's network future.

The post included a quote from King herself. She triumphantly told The Wall Street Journal that 'rumors of my demise were inaccurate and greatly exaggerated.'

'CBS News is my longtime home, and I am committed to our mission,' the anchor added. She has been with CBS Mornings since 2011.

The host's old contract was valued at around $15 million-a-year and was set to expire this May.

'Im excited about continuing at "CBS Mornings,"' King, 71, continued. 'As always, Im open to new adventures here and ready to go.'

'It took a minute, but we got there. And now that we are here, I am all in,' she added.

The remarks appeared to reference an increasingly new-look CBS News under Weiss, as well as the time devoted to the still-shrouded contract negotiations.

Gayle King has signed a new deal to stay with CBS Mornings, CBS News confirmed on Wednesday. The anchor has hosted the show since 2011

The news was shared by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss on Wednesday, along with a quote from the anchor herself

Terms of the deal were not disclosed as of Wednesday afternoon.

Sources told Variety in January that Weiss was willing to keep King on, though at a cost. The former New York Times opinion journalist saw the star as too expensive, sources said at the time.

A few months before, in August, a well-placed CBS source told the Daily Mail that King's contract would 'most likely' not be renewed come May, aware that Weiss was about to take the reins.

Weiss's first order of business in October was laying off more than 1,000 staff - while extending a sort of olive branch to King, according to Variety.

One of the options was to keep King on the air at CBS Mornings for another year though at a lower salary, sources told the publication.

The Daily Mail has approached CBS for comment.

Another early move from Weiss - who was appointed by also-new Paramount CEO David Ellison with the expectation of being a disruptor - was elevating King's former cohost, Tony Dokoupil, to CBS Evening News.

The move was widely criticized within the industry. Sources who spoke with the Daily Mail at the time framed it as a last-ditch move from a leader who is desperate.

King, 71, triumphantly told The Wall Street Journal that 'rumors of my demise were inaccurate and greatly exaggerated.' The Journal was the first to report on King's new contract

Terms of King's news deal were not disclosed as of Wednesday afternoon

Beforehand, Weiss sought top talents like Anderson Cooper and Fox News's Brett Baier but failed to snap any up.

A few weeks later, Weiss made the decision to pull a 60 Minutes segment set to speak on poor conditions at CECOT (Terrorism Confinement Center) in El Salvador - a move that also put her under a microscope.

She brought on Matt Gutman - a longtime but little-known former ABC journalist who previously worked at the Jerusalem Post - as the network's new chief reporter, though ABC execs let him go without a fight, sources told the Mail at the time.

On January 27, during an all-hands-on-deck meeting in Manhattan, Weiss proudly presented a new roster of on-air contributors before details were quickly leaked to the press.

One of the additions, longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia, has already left his position after his name came up multiple times in the latest tranche of emails compiled by feds in their probes into Jeffrey Epstein.

King, meanwhile, is a recognizable face, and CBS Mornings has yet to replace Dokoupil.

The show remains well behind in ratings to 'Today' and 'Good Morning America,' and the same goes for CBS Evening News.

Weiss - who was paid $150 million for her publication the Free Press upon being hired - has never headed a major newsroom.
The energy price cap could rise by more than 150 in the summer if gas prices stay elevated because of conflict in the Middle East, according to an expert forecaster.

Cornwall Insight said a typical dual-fuel household will pay 1,801 under its new forecasts for the price cap between July and September.

It represents an 160 increase from April's price cap, following sharp increases in gas prices which have surged in recent days as Qatar's state-run energy business, which accounts for a fifth of the liquified natural gas (LNG) trade, shut down production.

This could translate into much higher energy bills as the UK imports some LNG from Qatar, which is now the world's second biggest supplier of the gas behind the US.

Earlier this week, Stifel analysts warned that households could pay average bills of 2,500 under the price cap, echoing the 2022 bills spike after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Brace for pain: An average household is expected to pay more for energy this summer

While Cornwall Insight's prediction is lower, it said that the assessment period for the July price cap had only just begun, and the key issue is 'how long gas prices stay elevated and how long this period of volatility remains.'

Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight said: 'While the rise is eyecatching, any immediate concern should be tempered.

'We are still early in the assessment period for the July cap, and what happens in the energy markets over the next three months will be the key factor, rather than this spike alone.'

The energy consultancy said that while Europe and the UK 'do not rely heavily on Qatari LNG,' reduced supply will increase competition in the market and the UK and Europe 'may need to raise prices to compete for these cargoes.'

It predicts that gas prices will jump from 5.74 to 6.74p/kWh for households, while electricity prices could see a smaller increase from 24.67p/kWh to 25.94/kWh.

Standing charges would increase from 57.21p per day to 59p for electricity, and to 30p per day, from 29.09p for gas.

Last week, regulator Ofgem announced April's price cap would fall by 117 to 1,641, after the government announced plans to shift some costs away from energy bills.

'However, this latest forecast puts the role of wholesale markets firmly back in the spotlight and illustrates how exposed UK households remain to international market movements,' said Lowrey.

'Events like this reinforce the case for greater home-grown renewable generation. Reducing the UK's reliance on volatile global gas markets is the most durable way to protect households from future price shocks.'

Gas prices have started to pull back today, with European gas futures dropping more than 9 per cent to 48.30/mWh, and UK prices a similar amount to 128p per therm.

Ofgem boss Jonathan Brierley told MPs that it was too early to predict where July's price cap might go, though.

'Anyone who is drawing a line from the price today and saying thats whats going to happen to the price cap, I dont think thats robust because this is moving too fast.'

But, he added: 'Although we remain at the early stages of this conflict, if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a prolonged period of time it is likely this will create significant upward pressure on prices that customers will pay for their gas and electricity.

'For example, in electricity, gas still sets the price for the majority of the time.

'Now I know already there is a great deal of speculation about the scale and extent of those price changes. But genuinely it is too early to tell.

'In my experience, gas traders find it extremely difficult to calibrate the sorts of risks we are facing, and therefore market projections are not a reliable guide to the future.'
Britain looks set for a fresh wave of foreign takeovers after figures showed they rose to a four-year high of 65billion last year.

Aerospace supplier Senior, valued at 1.2billion, could become the latest UK-listed firm to fall to overseas predators after a joint bid from US investment firms Tinicum and Blackstone was disclosed yesterday.

On Monday, Lloyds of London underwriter Beazley agreed to be taken over by Zurich Insurance in a deal worth 8.1billion.

And it followed the shock announcement earlier this year that two-centuries-old City institution Schroders had agreed to be taken over by US rival Nuveen for 9.9billion.

Figures yesterday from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) laid bare the growing trend for inward mergers and acquisitions.

The 65billion value of companies sold to overseas investors last year has not been higher since 2021 when it stood at 76.7billion, the ONS figures showed. And the number of deals, at 799, is the highest since 2022.

Going cheap: Figures show that foreign takeovers of British firms rose to a four-year high of 65bn last year

The figures raise fresh fears that successful UK firms are being sold on the cheap  hollowing out the stock market and handing lucrative returns to foreign owners.

Last years completed deals included takeovers of Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky for 3.6billion and fast food platform Deliveroo by Americas DoorDash for 2.9billion.

The ONS data also showed a spike in overseas takeovers in the final quarter of 2025.

They rose to 27.4billion, up sharply from 7.6billion in the third quarter and the highest level since the second quarter of 2021. Analysts said there was little sign of any let-up.

Patrick Sarch, head of UK public M&A at law firm White & Case, said: While confidence in the UK economy remains fragile, international bidders continue to be drawn to the UK market due to its enduring attractions, including relative valuations generally and many undervalued businesses.

Looking ahead, we expect deal volumes to remain broadly similar to current levels, but for deal values to increase significantly.

Sarch pointed to the likely trend of bigger private equity swoops on publicly listed firms, especially in the financial services, healthcare and technology sectors, as well as defence-related companies.

Yesterdays disclosure from Senior that it had received an offer from a consortium of Tinicum and Blackstone came after it revealed last week that it has had five takeover approaches in recent months.
Housebuilding is set to tumble in the coming year  leaving Labours plans to boost construction in tatters.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said it expects just 220,000 new homes in 2026-27  down from an average of 260,000 a year in the early 2020s.

The projected fall is a humiliation for Labour after it vowed to build 300,000 homes a year in this Parliament  or a total of 1.5m by 2029.

The OBR said it did expect the 300,000 level to be reached  but not until 2030-31 as reforms to planning rules eventually pay off.

Industry chiefs said yesterdays Spring Statement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves was a missed opportunity to deliver the decisive action the construction industry urgently needs.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: This Spring Statement could have set out concrete steps to support small and medium-sized builders to deliver the homes the country desperately needs'
The White House and International Monetary Fund sit just two blocks apart in downtown Washington.

And the US is the biggest shareholder in the global financial monitor, which it created at Bretton Woods.

Yet successive US governments usually ignore the admonitions in the Funds annual inspection of the nations economy. It is as if the IMF is for everyone else but must live with American exceptionalism.

A quick reading of the latest Article 4 inspection of the US would tell the world why President Trumps assumption that America has unlimited resources to police the world must be taken with a pinch of salt.

Even before Americas decision to join Israel in a military assault, with 1,700 sorties over Iran, the countrys public finances were way off track.

The budget deficit, running at 7 per cent to 8 per cent of national output, is at twice the level targeted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. If not tamed, debt will reach 140 per cent of gross domestic product by 2031.

Big spender: Under President Trump, pictured, America's budget deficit, running at 7% to 8% of national output, is at twice the level targeted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

The IMF went on to argue that the scale of this fiscal shortfall represents a risk not just to American economic stability but that of the world.

Donald Trumps war on Iran makes this considerably worse. The costs of the deployment of Trumps armada in the Gulf are mounting by the day.

Some $700million was spent on advanced fighter planes and missile systems in the first 24 hours using ordnance that is far more expensive than Irans drones.

Despite the rocky state of the public finances, the White House is asking Congress for a 50 per cent uplift in military spending to $1.5 trillion, while at the same time lowering taxes on wealthier Americans.

The President argues that the USs forecast growth rate of 2.4 per cent for 2026 will pay the bills.

Maybe, but that takes no account of unexpected costs such as the $175billion of income from tariffs at risk because of the Supreme Courts recent warning.

America has long enjoyed the exorbitant privilege of being the worlds reserve currency.

Indeed, its status as a haven has improved since the outbreak of Middle East hostilities. But when conflict subsides, all hell could be let loose on the bond and currency markets.

Home coming

Will Rachel Reeves have the last laugh? Her 75billion or so of tax raising since becoming Chancellor may have provided the Government with fiscal headroom, but it has come at a terrible cost.

Latest analysis from broker Rathbones shows that 6,000 high growth business owners left Britain between January 2024 and January 2026, frightened off by wealth taxes.

The end of non-domicile tax status, higher inheritance, capital gains and venture capital levies made the UK a much less attractive place for enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Some of those leaving have chosen Italy or Portugal for refuge. But for many, Dubai, with its increasingly sophisticated financial infrastructure and terrific travel connections, has been the destination of choice.

Loss of entrepreneurship clearly has come at a huge cost to UK growth, and taxing the better off until the pips squeak, plainly is a terrible mistake.

Nevertheless, there is something deeply disturbing about those with the most resources fleeing these shores, leaving those of us left behind to pick up the slack.

Entrepreneurs who thought they would find tranquillity and easy access to finance in the Gulf might be starting to feel queasy as the current Iran conflagration spreads to nations previously insulated from conflict.

Air miles

There are always winners from conflict. A friend heading for Bali this week told me that when two flights booked via Dubai were cancelled, they were offered alternative business-class tickets via Singapore for 9,000 extra. They decided to head for South Africa instead.

Ryanairs Michael OLeary is never slow to see an opportunity.

He reports a take-off in short-haul Easter holiday bookings to European destinations as travellers recoil from trips to the Middle East. OLeary predicts no change in longer-term bookings.

If the panicked response of many of those trapped in the hostile surroundings of ultra-luxury Dubai hostelries is any guide, he could be wrong.
A historic Roman hamlet filled with Grade II listed homes is in danger of being 'industrialised' by the planned introduction of a solar farm with 'up to 100,000 panels'.

Potters Crouch, a designated conservation area in Hertfordshire, is at risk of being 'completely wrecked' and turned into an 'island surrounded by a sea of solar panels' by a 107-hectare development site on open countryside.

The 600-year-old hamlet, which comprises just 10 houses and a pub, is a mile from the Roman Britain city of Verulamium.

Furious residents fear their 'sanctuary of greenery' will be consumed by nearby towns as the area urbanises with the construction of 27 inverter and transformer buildings, boundary fencing and CCTV poles.

They also claim the local airstrip, Plaistows Airfield, will be forced shut with fields covered in solar panels, leaving no safe space to land and dangerous reflections shining into pilots' eyes.

Exagen, who are behind the Beechtree Junction Solar Farm, say it will generate enough electricity to power 13,000 homes for 40 years and the site has been 'carefully selected to minimise environmental impact'.

But residents of Potters Crouch and those from surrounding towns and villages raised hundreds of objections during the consultation period as they nervously await the decision of the planning application.

Locals claim the land has been wrongly reclassified as grey belt since December 2024 and have mounted a campaign to reject the development, hanging up dozens of posters in surrounding areas.

Andy and Gilly Morris (pictured) fear their 'beautiful countryside view' will become 'absolutely and completely surrounded' by solar panels

Potters Crouch is in danger of being 'industrialised' by the planned introduction of a solar farm with 'up to 100,000 panels'

Andy Morris, 70, a retired sales manager, has lived in the hamlet for 13 years but fears his house will lose its 'beautiful countryside view' as it becomes 'absolutely and completely surrounded' by solar panels.

His wife Gilly Morris, a retired specialist education support worker, told the Daily Mail: 'It will be horrendous if the solar farm goes through. It will use an incredible amount of machinery to build it.

'We have a little sanctuary of greenery and need it to be saved.

'Once it is accepted and the land is built on, there will be nothing holding back from more development. Soon we will become part of Watford.

She continued: 'If building work goes ahead there will be lorries piling down tiny lanes causing damage to hedges and it will be very dangerous for cyclists, walkers, joggers, horse riders and to for us.

'Once constructed the view from our house will be ruined by the 10ft panels which you can see from the top floor of our home. Instead of fields and hedges it will be banks of panels.

'It will be a very unpleasant view - the area is designated an area of conservation and of outstanding natural beauty.

'We have nearby a microlight airfield - it would be very dangerous for people to try and land on a field with solar panels

'The roads nearby are totally unsuitable. They are single, ancient lands which will be be bombarded by lorries.

Furious residents fear their 'sanctuary of greenery' will be consumed into nearby towns as the area urbanises

'It is staggering to have so many objections from such a small area.'

She added: 'In principle, we agree with solar panels but we see them when we drive on motorways. They should be on motorways not near homes and near infrastructure. They belong near warehouses and on newbuilds.'

Exagen says the farm is 'temporary' with a lifespan of 40 years and construction would take around six months.

'Any effects arising from this would be short-term and reversible upon completion,' they claim.'

'There's been quite a campaign to reject it,' Mr Morris said.

'Posters hung up and hundreds of objections. But we went to a meeting with Exagen and were told it was almost a done deal. They said "don't even bother objecting as it's a done deal".'

He added: 'We moved here for the countryside and the lovely view but it will be ruined

'The company said the solar panels have a life expectancy of 40 years, but I'm 70.'

Christopher Simpson, an engineering consultant and a resident of Potters Crouch for 30 years, told the Mail: 'They're claiming that at the end of the 40 years the land will be reverted back to agriculture, and it's a complete and absolute lie.

'There will be thousands of tons of concrete, cables, steel all in the land, and nobody is ever going to take those out.

'Its not a question of blighting these, this beautiful countryside for 40 years, but losing it forever.'

He added: 'We live in a beautiful hamlet surrounded by beautiful countryside, and if the proposals were to be implemented every way we looked, instead of green fields, it would be solar panels.

A map showing where Beechtree Junction Solar Farm could be built

'If they build it, they will be transporting 60,000 tons of material down single-track lanes, beautiful old lanes with medieval hedgerows.

'It will completely wreck all of these beautiful old lanes surrounded by trees and hedges.

'Green energy is something to be welcomed when there is an opportunity. There are old gravel pits, there are areas of derelict land within two or three kilometres of here, where they could equally well build these solar panels.'

The local Parish council has 'urged' the planning authority to refuse permission.

They say the farm would 'constitute inappropriate Green Belt development with no very special circumstances' and 'cause substantial harm to the Potters Crouch Conservation Area and its settings'.

A spokesperson for Exagen said the site for development has been 'carefully selected to minimise environmental impact; located next to the M1, A414, and multiple high voltage electricity distribution lines, and outside of major environmental designations'.

They added: 'The site has an undulating landscape, enclosed by mature woodland blocks which will help minimise any visual impact of the scheme.

'All existing footpaths at the site will be retained, new permissive paths will be created for public access, and the design is significantly set back from local residences. The development is temporary, reversible, and sited on lower-grade farmland.'

Chris Traill, Strategic Director for Community and Place Delivery for St Albans City and District Council, said: 'The planning application is being considered following a consultation period when a number of concerns were raised.

'All objections and supportive comments will be carefully considered before the final decision is made.

'All planning applications are dealt with according to a statutory process and planning law.'
GOVERNMENT departments and agencies are spending more than 30million a year on an army of spin doctors.

And the true figure is likely to be much higher than the disclosed expenditure of 30,278,996 as nine departments failed to provide figures for the number of communications specialists working in State agencies under their control, or how much they are paid.

Details of the scale of massive payout on spin are set to spark public ire as the Government faces two tricky byelections this year in Dublin Central and Galway West.

It has already been reported that the Governments retinue of 61 spin doctors costs the taxpayer 7.5million.

The figures were obtained by Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy who asked each Government department how much it was spending on media advisers

But the new figures reveal that a vast second layer of media and communications staff consisting of 500 civil servants are also being paid by the taxpayer to communicate Government policies.

This includes State agencies, including the Office of Public Works (OPW), which boasts no fewer than 13 communications staff who are paid a combined 691,793  higher than the total media spending in the departments of Defence and Higher Education.

The figures were obtained by Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy who asked each Government department how much it was spending on media advisers.

Based on the figures provided, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke is the biggest spender on spin.

The LongfordWestmeath TD revealed his departments communications unit comprised a total of 31 staff at a cost of 1,580,400.60 last year.

But 10 agencies under his control, including the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland clocked up a bill of 4,701,308 for 64 employees.

The total bill for Minister Burkes department and associated agencies came to 6,281,708.

Social Protection and Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Minister Dara Callearys two departments and associated agencies employ no fewer than 71 communications staff at a combined cost of 4,035,582.

LongfordWestmeath TD Peter Burke revealed his departments communications unit comprised a total of 31 staff at a cost of 1,580,400.60 last year

Justice Minister Jim OCallagan confirmed 16 civil servants are employed directly as media and communications specialists in his department, but when communications employees working in state agencies under his remit are taken into account, the figure rises to 96

Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has one of the lowest departmental expenditures

Mr Calleary has 25 communications staff working directly for the Department of Social Protection at a cost 1,231,592.

Media staff working in agencies under his departments include two communications specialists working for the Citizens Information Board, and three more for the CIB Abhaile Project, at a cost of 314,313, bringing the total Social Protection spend to 1,545,905.

Mr Callearys Department of Rural and Community Development has eight communications staff at a cost of 589,677 to the taxpayer.

However, another 33 media employees are hired by State agencies working under the remit of the same department.

These consist of the Charities Regulator, which employs six communications staff  Pobal (5), Udaras (5), the Western Development Commission (5), the Ulster Scots Agency (3), Foras na Gaeilge (2) and An Coimisineir Teanga (1)  at a cost of 1.9million.

This bring the total number of media staff working in the Department of Rural and Community Development and agencies under its remit to 41, at a cost of 2,489,677.

Justice Minister Jim OCallagan confirmed 16 civil servants are employed directly as media and communications specialists in his department.

But when communications employees working in state agencies that ultimately report to him are taken into account, the figure rises to 96  at a combined cost of 3,920,411.

Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Helen McEntees departments clocked up a 2.8millionplus bill for 37 communications employees.

Incorporating job shares, Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin confirmed there are 20.6 posts in his Government Information Services, costing an estimated 1.5million per annum.

In contrast, Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has one of the lowest departmental expenditures.

His Department of Finance employs eight media staff at a cost of 600,000, the third lowest departmental figure.

In a statement Mr Harris said: The Department of Finance does not engage in regular advertising and promotion of its policy work.

Of the State agencies under the control of Finance, the Financial Services Pensions Ombudsman employs two media staff at a cost of 278,204, while the Comptroller and Auditor General has three communications staff who will cost a combined 131,867 in 2026.

The Central Bank boasts a staff of eight at a cost of 809,26. The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) refused to reveal the cost of its five media advisers, citing confidentiality reasons.

The Revenue Commissioners have five communications staff, who are paid a combined 306,000.

Darragh OBriens multifaceted Department of Climate Change, Environment and Transport Ministries employs a flotilla of 34 media staff across his departments, at a cost of 2,362,573 to the taxpayer.

However, Minister OBrien did not disclose the numbers employed in each agency or public body under the aegis of his departments.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said his department intended to deliver the communication function. with a headcount of 13 this year at a total cost of 954,892.

But when the cost of agencies such as the OPW, Public Jobs (6 posts) National Shared Services (5 posts) the National Lottery Regulator (0.5posts) and the Office of the Ombudsman are factored in, Mr Chambers oversees a total of 40 media staff at a cost of 2,416,867.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Patrick ODonovan also oversees a multifaceted department, which directly employs 12 communications staff at a cost of 780,469.

Mr ODonovan did not provide figures for the agencies that ultimately report to him.

These include a diverse portfolio of agencies such as Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland, the National Cultural institutions, the Arts Council and RTE.

The Arts Council has a large communications team of six people. Despite this internal expertise, Minister ODonovan recently had to step in to stop the body spending up to 50,000 on external PR advice.

RTE was also reported to have 14 communications specialists. However, the cashstrapped station still sought the advice of the bluechip media relations firm Q4 on an adhoc basis.

Housing Minister James Browne confirmed his department employs 14 media employees at a cost of 1,118,228.

Again, however, the full extent of his spending on spin is far higher as Mr Browne also failed to provide figures for the communications costs of 25 State bodies under his departments control.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley said her department has a total of 17 media staff at a cost of 960,000.

However, she also declined to provide details of the communications costs clocked up by agencies such as TUSLA who are under her remit.

Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon confirmed his department employs 13 media experts at a cost of 716,562.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill declined to provide figures for State agencies, telling Deputy Carthy he should contact the relevant Director directly'

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeil noted her department also employs 13 communications staff, at the slightly higher combined cost of 856,425.

She also declined to provide figures for State agencies, telling Deputy Carthy he should contact the relevant Director directly.

Higher Education Minister James Lawlesss department employed the lowest number of communications staff with eight, at a cost of 512,947.

However, Mr Lawless also did not supply details of the communications expenditure in State bodies under his remit, which includes the Higher Education Authority, the Grangegorman Development Agency, SOLAS, Taighde, Leargas, Skillnet Ireland and Quality and Qualifications Ireland.

Commenting on the vast spending on spin  and responses provided by ministers, Matt Carthy told the Mail: It is clear that the Government is wasting vast amounts of public money on communications.

Some of this expenditure is on important public information campaigns but most of it is the Government spending taxpayers monies for their own promotion.

In 2018 Micheal Martin was scathing about the Strategic Communications Unit established by then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar which cost 5million, accusing Fine Gael  with 13 staff  of using public funds for political branding.

Now, as Taoiseach, he is happy to stand over even more money being wasted on the very same thing, albeit in a more underhanded manner.
Pentagon officials are privately whispering fears that a drawn-out conflict with Iran will drain US air defense munitions and open up American forces to drone attacks.

President Donald Trump has said he expects his offensive on Iran to last 'four or five' weeks, but the military is prepared to go 'far longer.'

Military insiders say that dragging out the war could pose a major issue for the United States as ammunition is rapidly drained.

A source told the Daily Mail that the largest 'concern' among top brass in the days since the war started was that it will 'spillover into a larger regional conflict.'

That's because the US is rapidly draining its missile supply and defense systems.

'I think we're all concerned about the possible casualty number,' the military official stated. So far, six US service members have been confirmed dead as part of Trump's Operation Epic Fury.

Amid reports of 'paranoid' leadership in the Department of War, the official said that 'increased force protection measures' went into effect.

That includes the disabling of mobile location tracking on all soldiers' devices, among other measures.

A former high-ranking military official told the Daily Mail that the main issue of a dragged-out conflict is the rapidly declining number of bespoke, expensive interceptor missiles used by the US, and Iran's vast quantity of cheap Shahed drones.

Among the most vital pieces of weaponry in the US arsenal is the Thaad antimissile system, which are stationed across the globe to monitor and track potential incoming missiles. US officials are warning that a prolonged conflict could threaten interceptor stockpiles

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The US military uses the Patriot missile system to defend against cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones.

'I assume Iranians will sponge up all of our Patriot missiles and when expended launch 1,000 Shahed-136s,' one former high-ranking military official told the Daily Mail.

The military also uses the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which has a longer range than the Patriot system, to intercept incoming strikes.

But since it is cheaper and quicker for Iran to mass-produce Shahed-136 drones used to attack US bases, it is a concern.

The fear of running out of interceptors has prompted a race against time to destroy Iran's missile capabilities before the US uses all of its supply to fend off retaliatory strikes.

The former senior military official added that the Iranians will 'continue to deplete our magazines.'

And they said a new wave of Shahed attacks will occur 'when our high-tech defenses are exhausted.'

A Department of War map entitled, Operation EPIC FURY Timeline - First 100 Hours

It's a terrifying reality for officials on the ground working to ensure the safety of US troops. Shahed drones reportedly cost around $35,000 per unit, while each Patriot interceptor costs around $4 million and each THAAD interceptor around $13 million.

Tomahawk missiles cost upwards of $2 million apiece; gravity bombs deliver a comparable punch for roughly $25,000 per unit, though they require total air superiority to be deployed within range.

Hegseth said Wednesday that the military has started launching 'laser-guided precision gravity bombs.'

'Now with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound GPS and laser-guided precision gravity bombs of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile.'

Despite Hegseth's assurances about US capabilities, the asymmetric cost and speed of production is a concern among military officials.

'I guarantee you the logisticians are sh***ing themselves about diminishing air defense missile stocks,' said the official.

Trump and his advisers don't appear to be worried as ammunition rapidly declines.

The US has 'a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons,' he said in a post to Truth Social on Monday.

He wrote that the US has plenty of 'medium and upper medium' grade weapons in supply; however, he admitted in the same post that the US is 'not where we want to be' when it comes to 'high grade weaponry.'

Hegseth said on Wednesday that the US had opened the campaign with 'exquisite standoff munitions,' sophisticated long-range weapons designed to strike from beyond the reach of enemy air defenses.

He said those munitions were no longer needed, pushing back at reports of stretched supplies with the assurance that 'our stockpile of those remains extremely strong.'

Two Patriot missile batteries deployed in Israel. The batteries are used by US allies across the globe, including in Israel and Ukraine

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth held a briefing on Monday morning to explain the US strategy for the next phase of the conflict. He noted how the US wants to destroy Iran's missile program and Navy and ensure they cannot create a nuclear weapon

Still, the military official told the Daily Mail that the Pentagon covertly and rapidly deployed assets to the region to prepare for a prolonged campaign.

'The Defense Logistics Agency took steps over the past few weeks to ensure a sustained air campaign could be carried out longer than previously estimated by Iranian Intelligence,' the military source told the Daily Mail.

And there are reports that the largest military contractors - including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon - will meet at the White House on Friday to discuss weapons productions as munitions decline.

The US and Israel have conducted strikes hitting over 2,000 targets on Iranian assets since Saturday, resulting in the death of Iran's longtime leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and scores of other top Iranian officials.

In response, Iran has launched massive rocket salvos at US military bases across the Middle East, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and other targets.

The retaliation has forced the US and its allies to expand their anti-missile systems.

The number of THAAD and Patriot interceptor munitions in the US's stockpile is a closely guarded secret.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of both systems, announced earlier this year that it would drastically increase THAAD and Patriot interceptor production.

The firm said in January that it would increase production of Patriot missile interceptors from around 600 annually to 2,000. The company also said it would increase production of THAAD interceptors from 96 annually to 400.

Though the US arsenal contains other interceptor systems, the Patriot and THAAD systems are seen as the most bespoke and effective.

Massive explosions and air raid sirens have erupted over Tel Aviv as Iran launches surgical missile strike in retaliation to a joint Israeli-US strike on Iranian territory early Saturday morning

The US-made THAAD system has been deployed across the Middle East in preparation for any potential attack. It has a maximum range between 93 and 124 miles and takes nearly 100 soldiers to operate.

A Patriot missile battery has a range of around 100 miles and similarly requires around 90 soldiers to operate.

Over the past decade, from 2015 to 2024, Lockheed Martin produced 270 Patriot interceptors on average, according to an analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center think tank who used to teach at the Air Command and Staff College, told the Wall Street Journal that with more strikes and interceptions likely, the size of the US stockpile may become a factor.

'One of the challenges is you can deplete these really quickly,' Greico said. 'We're using them faster than we can replace them.'

Another insider told the Washington Post: 'I don't think people have fully absorbed yet, like, what that has done with stockpiles.'

The person added that it typically takes two or three US interceptors to guarantee that Iran's missiles are stopped.

Rocket trails from an interception by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system are pictured over Jerusalem on March 1, 2026. The Iron Dome has been critical to Israel's anti-missile and anti-drone defense

Trump exiting the driver seat of a THAAD mobile launcher in July 2019

'The mood here is intense and paranoid,' an insider told the Washington Post, adding there is concern the conflict 'could spiral out of control.'

Another source told the Daily Mail that the mood within the Pentagon is unchanged from before the conflict.

They argued there is no significant concern about additional casualties, with one major exception.

'Now if there's a move for boots on the ground in the area, that could change. But so far, the small number of casualties is less than what we would expect for such a significant operation.'

The Pentagon did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment on US air defense stockpiles.
Firebrand Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett conceded the Texas Senate Democratic primary on Wednesday morning after complaining about voting irregularities that delayed her decision.

James Talarico, a 36-year-old state representative who gained traction through a savvy social media strategy, defeated her, according to a call by the Associated Press early Wednesday morning.

His victory hands Democrats a fresh-faced nominee who many political observers believe will give the party a better chance to win over independents and - even some Republicans - in November's general election contest.

'Republicans will be forced to spend serious money defending a state they thought was untouchable,' predicted Lauren French, a spokeswoman for the Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC.

The Republican race between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton remains unsettled and headed to a bitter runoff to be determined on May 26.

The State Supreme Court ruled against Crockett's request to give voters in Dallas an extension after Republican-led changes to polling stations created confusion.

Polling location restrictions led Democratic officials, including Crockett, to accuse Republicans of disenfranchising voters. Residents in Dallas and areas north of Austin were turned away at their local polling locations and directed to different precincts.

Speaking to her audience shortly after 9.15pm CT, a sour-sounding Crockett accused Republicans of slowing down the election result, saying: 'Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do... and so they specifically targeted Dallas county and I think we all know why.'

Texas State Representative James Talarico (left) is projected to have beaten Representative Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Democratic Senate primary last night

But Talarico's lead, which stands at more than 150,000 votes, proved insurmountable by early Wednesday morning.

Talarico, dubbed the 'baby-faced assassin' for tussling with Republicans on the Texas state House floor, was able to out-campaign the 'bad girl of C-SPAN,' known for her frequent tussles with both Republicans and centrist Democrats.

In remarks to supporters in Austin at 1am Wednesday ET, Talarico did not claim victory, but came close.

'Tonight the people of our state gave our country a little bit of hope and a little bit of hope. And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing,' Talarico told the crowd.

The state lawmaker's victory appears to boost Democratic chances in a state in which they haven't won a Senate contest in 38 years.

Republicans fear that Talarico and his 'progressive Christian' aura could prove a more dangerous general election opponent than Crockett, who has made a name for herself by hurling incendiary attacks on Republicans.

A change in voting precincts by Republicans in Dallas led to widespread confusion on Tuesday, with polling stations in Dallas County first allowed to remain open for two additional hours Tuesday night to account for the problems.

The Texas Supreme Court then shut the extension down, saying that votes 'cast by voters who were not in line to vote at 7pm should be separated.'

Talarico echoed Crockett's concerns when he came out onstage hours later, as it became clearer that he would win, as the outstanding votes in Dallas would not be enough to give Crockett the upper hand.

'Every vote must be counted, every voice must be heard,' Talarico said, in a nod to his need to fold in Crockett's supporters for the general election. 'The voter suppression in my home county and in Congresswoman Crockett's home county underscores the gravity of this moment.'

Many political observers believe the fresh-faced nominee will give the Democrats a better chance to win over independents and even some Republicans in November's general election

'This movement is about whether the people will hold the power in this state and in this country,' he added.

Crockett, 44, was a late entry to the primary race, filing paperwork in December, just before the state's deadline.

She entered the contest race after the boundaries of her House district were changed to more heavily favor a GOP candidate.

It was part of the Texas Republicans' broader scheme to redistrict the state to target five Democratic seats, so the Republicans have a better chance of retaining their majority in the House of Representatives.

Crockett enjoyed a much higher national profile than Talarico, becoming one of the Democrats whom President Donald Trump takes constant swings at.

Crockett yells out to supporters at a campaign stop Tuesday in Waco, Texas, marking Election Day in the closely watched Texas Senate primary

Crockett takes a selfie with a supporter last week while campaigning in Dallas

She created a viral moment when she tussled with now former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling the Georgia Republican a 'bleach blonde, bad built, butch body' at a Congressional hearing in May 2024.

The congresswoman also earned some high-profile supporters, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, who recorded a robocall on Crockett's behalf last week, CNN reported.

Rapper Cardi B endorsed her in an Instagram post last week as well.

The polls conducted in January and early February showed her with a significant advantage, but as Election Day neared, Talarico had taken a lead.

The final Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey showed Talarico five points ahead - 52 percent to 47 percent - showing strength among white, Latino, male and younger voters.

With more than 90 percent of the vote tallied, Talarico was defeating Crockett 53 percent to 46 percent.

Crockett, a black woman, did receive an overwhelming share of the black vote, but Talarico carried Hispanics, a crucial swing bloc that drifted to Republicans in 2024.

Texas state Representative James Talarico holds a box of doughnuts as he campaigned on Election Day in his hometown of Round Rock, Texas

An aide to Talarico predicted to the Daily Mail that his candidate would ultimately win the race by five points.

Talarico announced his Senate bid in September, giving him a three-month head start.

However, when Crockett entered the race, Talarico acknowledged: 'We had an asteroid hit our campaign,' he told the New Yorker.

Still, he was able to amass 22,000 volunteers and appear at 500 events, at the cost of $20 million, the aide said.

Talarico was also outspending Crockett on TV and online ads by a 17-to-1 margin, the New Yorker said.

His campaign made social media the No 1 priority, and he trailed only former President Barack Obama and Harris in engagement, according to one analysis, the magazine also reported.

The Texas state House member was able to differentiate himself from the party of Joe Biden by criticizing the former president on the border, touting the benefits of oil and gas production in the state, and being pro-law-and-order, the aide said.

Trump has used all three issues to his advantage in his White House races against Democrats.

An interview conducted by Late Show host Stephen Colbert with Texas state Representative James Talarico never aired due to a mandate from CBS. The scandal over the canceled interview put national attention on Talarico

While Talarico bashed billionaires, like the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party, he also pushed back against cancel culture, a big-tent approach that could attract both liberals and moderates, the aide also explained.

Talarico is on leave from seminary school and has not been shy about his Christian faith.

He had some viral moments too - and one more recently than Crockett.

CBS's cancellation of his sit-down with Stephen Colbert, objected to by the Late Show host, shone the national spotlight on the Texas House member last month.

He also went on Joe Rogan's podcast in July, leaving the popular manosphere host impressed.

'You need to run for President,' Rogan told Talarico mid-interview.

Ahead of Election Day, polling showed that Talarico was the stronger general election candidate than Crockett, as Republicans contend with their own contentious Senate primary.

While Democratic Representative Beto O'Rourke came less than three points from unseating Republican Senator Ted Cruz in 2018, this race is being viewed as the Democrats' best shot at turning a long-held GOP seat red.

But it still could be a pipe dream, as Texas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988.
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn is headed to a runoff election against Lone Star State Attorney General Ken Paxton, leaving Republicans nervous that the extended, nasty primary could put the seat in play for Democrats this fall.

Cornyn was leading Paxton in the Republican primary for the US Senate with nearly 75 percent of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press. Congressman Wesley Hunt, who faced attacks for missing a slew of Capitol Hill votes was eliminated from contention with a third-place finish.

But neither of the top two candidates passed the 50 percent threshold necessary on Tuesday night to avoid a 12-week slog that is expected to be bitter and draining fist-fight for the Republican Party.

Speaking to a crowd of his supporters Tuesday night, Cornyn stated that 'Ken Paxton as the nominee would be a dead weight.'

'Judgement day is coming for Ken Paxton,' Cornyn said.

The finish was a surprise for Cornyn, whose own campaign predicted he would finish second to Paxton in the first round of voting.

'Paxton ahead of us within [margin of error] is most likely result,' texted a Cornyn operative ahead of polls closing on Tuesday.

Now the question will be whether Paxton or Cornyn can convince President Donald Trump to grant his blessing in a campaign he's stayed noticeably neutral on so far.

Senator John Cornyn speaks during a Get Out The Vote campaign rally at the Schertz Civic Center Conference Hall on March 02, 2026 in Schertz, Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appears during a rally for his senatorial campaign at George's Banquet Hall in Waco, Texas, on March 2, 2026

President Donald Trump did not endorse in the GOP primary election for the US Senate in Texas

With her then-husband Troy Duhon standing between them, Tracy Duhon (right), Paxton's reported mistress, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (left) pose for a photo at the Kentucky Derby in May 2024

Also unresolved is which Democrat will advance to the general election, with James Talarico tracking ahead of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett but no race call made.

Speaking to a crowd of his own supporters Tuesday, Paxton invoked his last two state-wide victories that had come on the backs of besting previous runoff victories.

Paxton also invoked Texas Senator Ted Cruz several times in his speech, urging Texans to 'send a second conservative Senator' to Washington, DC. Paxton added that Cruz's own campaign in 2012 was the last time a Texas Senate race went to a runoff.

'Texas is not for sale,' Paxton said, referencing Cornyn's massive spending advantage.

Cornyn's campaign spent $69 million - a gigantic amount - compared to just $5 million spent by Paxton's camp, a warning sign that the incumbent's healthy cash reserves haven't been overwhelmingly decisive. Cornyn also benefited from millions more in outside super PAC spending.

Paxton qualified for the runoff despite being indicted, impeached, and hit with brutal charges of infidelity.

The Daily Mail exclusively revealed Paxton was secretly seeing a married Christian influencer behind the backs of both their partners  with multiple sources confirming the woman was mother-of-seven Tracy Duhon, 57, also an author.

When asked back then about Duhon being his mistress, Paxton - whose wife filed for divorce on 'biblical grounds' last year - did not address the claim but attacked the Daily Mail and vowed to take on the 'deranged radical Left' with Trump.

Cornyn released a commercial about the cheating allegations, claiming that 'crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife' and is 'wrecking another home, sleeping around with a married mother of seven.'

But Cornyn's own baggage of choosing to defy Trump appeared to weigh more heavily on voters' minds.

In January of 2021, Cornyn did not object to certifying President Donald Trump's defeat in the 2020 election, 'based on unproven allegations,' and in 2023 he signaled that Trump couldn't win a 2024 general election, noting that Trump's time had 'passed him by.'

Trump hasn't forgotten and stayed on the sidelines, allowing Paxton his opening.

A pro-Cornyn PAC was accused last summer of manipulating audio from a 2019 Trump rally to make it seem like the president recently endorsed the senator.

In Trump's 2019 rally footage, the President praises both Cornyn and Senator Ted Cruz for their work delivering on his agenda in Washington.

In the allegedly doctored footage, the pro-Cornyn super PAC Texans for a Conservative Majority appears to have clipped the 's' from the end of Senators, as well as the reference to Cruz during Trump's rally six years ago.

Paxton has the backing of Turning Point USA's political arm, whose endorsement ignited a firestorm.

TP Action's endorsement of Paxton was viewed as a direct assault on the legacy of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, who preached Judeo-Christian values and encouraged young conservatives to get married and have children.

Outside of his personal battles, Paxton has also been accused of corruption on several occasions. He was impeached over claims of bribery, abuse of office, and corruption, but later acquitted. He has never been convicted of a crime.

Since 2019, Cornyn has cast several votes in which he has split with the majority of his GOP colleagues, adding to accusations that he is an RINO, or Republican in name only.

Despite touting a voting record 99 per cent in line with Trump, Cornyn has few friends among Washington's conservative establishment.

Heritage Action rates his votes in the current Congressional session at just 35 per cent  barely half his lifetime score of 64 percent. The American Conservative Union tells a similar story: a lifetime score of 87, against a current ranking of 77.

In 2022, Cornyn was one of 15 Republican senators who crossed the aisle to give President Biden a signature legislative win  the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act  under intense public pressure following the Uvalde school shooting in his home state.

Now these records will be poured over from now until late May, leaving the Republican Party divided.

Many GOP operatives fear that a Paxton victory in May could make the seat vulnerable to the Democrats in November.

It would also mean heavy GOP financial investment to keep a seat in a ruby red state.

'If we have to spend money in Texas, then we're diverting,' said former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on NBC News, lamenting a prolonged primary campaign.

The Texas runoff is set for March 26.
Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw was ousted in a primary by a state legislator following bruising clashes with MAGA Republicans during his time on Capitol Hill.

Crenshaw, a fourth-term congressman representing Texas' Houston-area Second Congressional District and former Navy Seal, was defeated Tuesday by State Representative Steve Toth, according to the Associated Press.

The stunning defeat is also a victory for Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who last week came out against his congressional colleague and endorsed Toth.

Toth, an ordained pastor and businessman who owns two pool maintenance companies, has come after Crenshaw for not being sufficiently conservative, as well as being too focused on international affairs.

President Donald Trump endorsed every House Republican running for re-election in the first primaries of 2026  except Crenshaw. Governor Greg Abbott also declined to endorse the incumbent.

Trump also did not endorse Crenshaw in 2024, when the congressman did not object to certifying President Donald Trump's defeat in the 2020 election.

Crenshaw also raised eyebrows last year when he was apparently caught on a hot mic threatening to kill former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Back in February of 2025, he noted that he had not met Carlson in person, but then said, 'If I ever meet him, I'll f***ing kill him.' He then apparently went on to call Carlson 'the worst person.'

Representative Dan Crenshaw attends a news conference with Republicans on January 4, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington

Texas State Representative Steve Toth speaks in Spring, Texas, on Monday, January 10, 2022

Back in February of 2025, Crenshaw noted that he had not met Carlson (pictured) in person, but then said, 'If I ever meet him, I'll f***ing kill him'

Join the debate Has Crenshaws ousting exposed deep divisions within the Republican party?

The remarks came after a fiery interview in which Crenshaw criticized Carlson's opposition to American aid to Ukraine, saying he 'doesn't know what he's talking about,' according to a Politico report.

Carlson hosted Toth on his podcast in October and praised him as a candidate who could 'restore the party to sanity,' by defeating Crenshaw, 'an unbalanced warmonger.'

Crenshaw, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, also apparently nearly caused an international incident last year, allegedly making inappropriate remarks to a female Mexican official during an August meeting, according to Punchbowl News.

The congressman's conduct reportedly alarmed officials at the CIA's Mexico City station enough that they sent a cable to the agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, reporting what they viewed as unprofessional conduct tied to drinking, as well as a lack of decorum in front of Mexican officials.

The remarks toasted by Crenshaw allegedly made a woman in the meeting uncomfortable, per sources who spoke with Punchbowl.

Crenshaw was visiting America's southern neighbor as head of the House Intelligence Committee's cartel task force.

That is a role he no longer holds.

While Crenshaw voted reliably with Republican leadership, his acceptance of Joe Biden's 2020 victory, his denunciations of right-wing 'grifters,' and his public spats with big-named conservative figures placed him in the crosshairs.
An Arizona man who was temporarily detained in a SWAT raid in connection with Nancy Guthrie's disappearance insisted he has nothing to do with the case as he spoke out for the first time.

Luke Daley, 37, was detained for four to five hours in the back of a Pima County Sheriff's Department vehicle on February 13 as officers raided his home and the FBI conducted a traffic stop on his Range Rover.

But officers soon determined he was not the masked man who was caught on the 84 year old's Nest doorbell camera the night of her disappearance, and Daley was free to go.

'It's not me,' he told 'True Crime Arizona' host Briana Whitney in an interview she posted to X on Monday.

'I have nothing to do with this case,' Daley said, adding that he is still unsure why authorities targeted him as they were investigating who may have taken Today Show Savannah Guthrie's mother in the early morning hours of February 1.

He said he was simply driving to his home in Tucson on February 13 when he noticed two sheriff's vehicles following him.

'And once I saw FBI and all the other cars started pulling in, I was like, "Oh this is probably about the Guthrie case,"' Daley recounted.

'I'm like, "This should be easy, I have nothing to do with this, so it should be not a big deal to clear my name and move on."'

Luke Daley, 37, was detained for four to five hours in the back of a Pima County Sheriff's Department vehicle on February 13 in connection with Nancy Guthrie's disappearance

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her home on February 1

An unidentified masked suspect was seen outside her home the night of her disappearance

One-on-one with Luke Daley.



In his first sit-down interview since being detained and released in the Nancy Guthrie investigation, Luke Daley addresses it all...including that people believe it's him on the surveillance video.



Full interviews with Luke and his mom Mary posted pic.twitter.com/PC0lskGMeg  Briana Whitney (@BrianaWhitney) March 2, 2026

Instead, Daley said he felt like federal officers were on a 'fishing expedition for them to get me to say something.'

'Cause all the dates I was telling them where I was, things like that,' he said. 'I'm like, "All you'd have to do is look at my phone and see my location - I was nowhere near anywhere or have any connection to this."'

'But still, it was tough being there,' Daley said. 'I mean, I don't trust the FBI to the extent that I'm thinking there's pressure on this case and they want to find the person.

'So the whole time that I'm sitting in the back of the cop car, I'm like panicking, thinking that I'm going to be framed for this or they're going to try to pin this on me somehow.'

Daley said he was finally let go after officers conducted DNA testing, at which point he returned home to find officers raiding the house and his 77-year-old mother missing during the search.

She had been at a neighbor's house amid the raid, and Daley said she has been stressed ever since.

The hardest part, though, he said, was all the speculation on the internet that he must be Guthrie's abductor based on his criminal past.

Records obtained by 12 News show Daley previously spent more than a year in jail, from 2019 - 2020, after he was convicted of solicitation of drugs and flight from law enforcement.

He was also convicted in 2022 of selling drugs, for which he was sentenced to four years probation, and in 2025, Daley was arrested for possession of a gun and fentanyl but was allowed to walk free by a judge.

Speculation ran rampant on the internet that Daley may be the suspect based on his criminal past. He is pictured in a previous mugshot

Daley's Range Rover was processed for evidence by the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Office following a traffic stop on February 13

SWAT agents also descended at his home in Tucson that night

'The hard part is they're making all these assumptions based on things that have no relevance, and they're bringing up my past, which I mean, I do have a past, but nothing violent or anything like that,' Daley said.

'All my past has been involved with using drugs, and I haven't been in that life for over two years now,' he claimed.

'So all the things that they're bringing up, yeah I guess it's public record, but it never would've come out if it wasn't for all these people speculating .... and making me out to look like I'm this bad person, which I'm not.'

He then argued that all of the reasons people were tying him to the case were 'basically circumstantial,' noting that he did not see the resemblance between himself and the masked man at Guthrie's house and that his Range Rover has been returned to him.

'There's no evidence to point towards me other than speculation,' Daley said, urging people not to give into the 'hive mind' mentality of amateur online detectives.

At the same time, Daley condemned officials for giving the Guthrie family 'false hope' by announcing that a person of interest was taken into custody.

'I, like everyone else, just want Nancy to come home and be safe,' he said.

'But that being said, I have nothing to do with this case,' Daley insisted, adding that he did not know who may be involved and would tell investigators if he did.

When asked for comment about Daley's remarks, a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff's Office just told the Daily Mail: 'A search warrant signed by a federal magistrate was obtained and served on Mr. Daley and the investigation continues.'

The Daily Mail has also reached out to the FBI for comment.

Nancy was last seen on January 31 and was reported missing the following morning. She has not been seen or heard from since

Savannah Guthrie, her sister Annie and her brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni, were seen placing flowers at the memorial for her missing mother on Monday

Nancy was last seen on January 31 when she was dropped off at home by her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni following a dinner and game night at his and her daughter Annie's home.

She was then reported missing after she failed to show up to a friend's house to watch virtual church services.

Without any new leads in the case, the FBI has announced that it will be scaling back its search for Nancy, with agents moving to a new command post more than 100 miles away from Phoenix.

At the same time, the Daily Mail revealed that Savannah is preparing to return to New York City soon.

The TV host, who shares two young kids with former Democratic political adviser Michael Feldman, has decided she must get her work life back on track as the search for her mother continues.

'She can't stay in Arizona forever,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'Her kids and her life are in New York City.

'It's what her mom would want her to do. Nancy was Savannah's biggest cheerleader.'

She was then seen on Monday looking heartbroken as she placed flowers outside her missing mother Nancy's home alongside Annie and Tommaso.
An Australian mum-of-two has relived her family's terrifying ordeal when they flew straight into the chaos of bombing and missile attacks in the Middle East.

Camille Thioulouse landed in UAE capital Abu Dhabi with her French husband and two children on the way home to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amid heavy Iranian bombardment.

The intense attack of 137 ballistic missiles and more than 200 drones shook the ground with 'loud bangs and explosions' as their flight touched down.

'We started receiving text messages in the air warning of missile threats and telling us to move away from the window and take shelter,' Ms Thioulouse told 7News.

'We then saw fighter jets leaving the air space and flying past us. These alerts kept going off every 15 minutes.

'It was obviously quite terrifying. And then we were told to leave the airport, grab our luggage if we could find it.

'It was absolute pandemonium. We had to get outside onto the streets and into taxis and Ubers and again it was absolute chaos on the streets.'

Ms Thioulouse, who runs her own PR company The Societe and has worked at fashion label Rebecca Vallance, said their first night in a hotel felt 'a lot calmer' but that there was 'a lot of unease, a lot of tension, everyone feels on edge'.

The PR director and her husband, architect Nicolas Thioulouse, now live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and landed in Abu Dhabi during the Iranian missile attacks en route home from a holiday in the Maldives

Australian mum-of-two Camille Thioulouse in Abu Dhabi describing the terrifying ordeal of her family flying into the chaos of bombing and missile threats in the Middle East

She said 90 per cent of the Iranian missiles and drones fired were intercepted, but alerts and alarms continued waking them up throughout the night, warning of fresh attacks and telling them to take cover.

Although the family was 'safe for now' in 'a place that during war protects its people before anything else', she said she didn't know when they could get home or what would happen next.

'It's hard to decipher the information coming through - airports reopening, flights resuming, road closures , border controls,' she posted on Instagram.

'The government (is) covering all hotels and meals for anyone stranded so we feel safe and looked after. We are unable to register on DFAT.'

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade crisis registration portal for Australians in Iran, Israel, Qatar and the UAE is know syaing it is shut down for new registrations.

Global aviation has been thrown into turmoil since air traffic was suspended on Saturday followed the US bombing of Iran and the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory missile attacks on Gulf capitals and cities.

Seven key airports in the region were closed, although major airlines Etihad Airways and Emirates have resumed selected flights.

Ms Thioulouse had only just moved from Australia with her kids in December to join her husband, architect Nicolas Thioulouse, in Riyadh.

Smoke billows from Zayed port in Abu Dhabi after an Iranian strike on Sunday in retaliation at United States and Israel strikes on Iran

Ms Thioulouse said on landing at Abu Dhabi airport 'we started receiving text messages on our phones with missile threats in the air ... telling us to move away from the window to take shelter'

Join the debate Should Australia be doing more to help its citizens stranded in dangerous conflict zones abroad?

Mr Thiolouse, a former design director at Mirvac in Sydney, had earlier relocated to Saudi Arabia and the family was returning from a holiday in the Maldives when they were caught up in the conflict.

They are among 115,000 Australians stranded in the Middle East, with the Australian Government conceding the options to repatriate them are limited.

It has warned that commercial flights remain the only viable option for large-scale evacuations.
An Aussie mum who underwent a botched 'mummy makeover' in Thailand has urged others to think twice before going under the knife overseas.

Tegan paid over $11,000 for a breast augmentation and a 'tummy tuck' - a procedure where skin and fat are removed and abdominal muscles are stitched together to narrow the waistline at a highly-rated clinic in Bangkok.

'My first trip was amazing, the surgeon was good - the surgery went well,' Tegan said in a TikTok video recounting her experience.

'I came home and everything looked amazing. My stomach was flat - it hadn't been since I had my daughter 13 years before. I was really confident, happy.'

But a few months later, swelling at the top of Tegan's stomach revealed the internal stitches had either broken or failed to hold, resulting in a 38mm gap in her muscle.

She also developed issues with her breast augmentation, with the implant on the left side allegedly rupturing and the right one dropping too low.

As a result, Tegan returned to Bangkok in January to get the issues fixed - but she claims the surgeon failed to carry out the second, corrective tummy tuck.

'All up, it cost us almost $6,000 but then we had to pay for flights, we had to pay accommodation, all of our transfers,' she said.

Tegan (pictured) underwent a breast augmentation and a 'tummy tuck' in Bangkok, Thailand but says the procedure on her stomach was botched

When she saw the surgeon, he assessed her body and drew circles on the areas that would be altered during the corrective surgery.

'He was meant to be doing a full breast lift because of what had happened. As he went to walk out I said "What about my stomach?"' Tegan said. 'He comes back over, puts a circle around my belly button and goes "alright" and he walks out.'

The day after the surgery, Tegan was surprised to discover she wasn't in much pain, in stark contrast to the 'really painful' recovery from the first tummy tuck.

'I went back to the hotel [and] my stomach looked the same. I don't think anything's been done,' she recalled.

She met with her surgeon two days before she was due to fly back to Australia.

'First thing [the surgeon] says is "There is nothing we can do... there was no separation of your muscles",' she recalled.

Tegan pushed back, pointing out her ultrasound in Australia had detected muscle separation and that doctors in Thailand had agreed there was.

She alleged the surgeon said he hadn't operated because 'it's all skin' rather than muscle, then 'changed his story' and claimed he had put stitches in her stomach.

Tegan was forced to fly back to Thailand and go under the knife again, but claims the surgeon did not perform the corrective surgery leaving her worse off than before (stock image)

'I was hysterically crying by this stage... the nurses came in and were talking to me and said they were sorry,' Tegan said.

'They were all yelling at each other in the office in Thai.'

Eventually, Tegan was told the surgeon could 'fix it' by cutting her down the middle, but she and her husband were due to fly home and return to work.

Back in Australia, a second ultrasound revealed there was now a 41mm gap between Tegan's abdominal muscles - bigger than before she had left for Thailand the second time.

Tegan urged others thinking about flying overseas for plastic surgery to think twice.

'I'm really upset and worried about other people going over there and paying this money,' she said.

'No one offered us any refund or anything because he didn't do that surgery. I was meant to save money, I'm clearly not saving any money now.

'Really, I just want people to be very careful. Unfortunately, my great experience turned into a terrible experience.'

Two days after she shared her story on TikTok, Tegan said she had received a call from the clinic's general manager and is now awaiting further information.

'I am really pleased that someone has contacted me,' she said. 'Hopefully we can resolve something as this has been a pretty traumatic and crappy experience.'

Tegan said she was also looking at undergoing the procedure in Australia, where a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty can cost up to $33,000.

The clinic's general manager told the Daily Mail tht they cannot comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality.

'We can confirm that when any patient raises concerns, we take them seriously and remain in direct communication to assess and address those concerns appropriately,' they said.

'We work with experienced, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons in Thailand and follow established clinical protocols in all cases.'

'Patient safety, clinical integrity, and ongoing post-operative support remain our highest priorities.'
A mother has lost her bid to work from home full-time after launching legal action against her university bosses.

University of NSW employee Kellie Fitzpatrick pushed for the change so she could relocate to Queensland as her partner had received a 'significant job opportunity'.

Ms Fitzpatrick was already on a flexible, three-day working arrangement, and was only required to travel to campus once a week, so she could care for her young child.

She told the Fair Work Commission if the family moved to Queensland, but she was still required to travel to Sydney one day a week, she would be unable to care for her child on those travel days.

Fair Work Commissioner Sarah McKinnon said on Monday UNSW was not required to approve the request, ruling her reasons were more about her partner than her child.

'Ms Fitzpatrick wants, but is not required, to move to Queensland to support her partner's health and career while also improving the family's financial position,' she said.

'Her reasons are understandable, but they are not circumstances of the kind that engage the right to request under section 65.'

A mother has lost her bid to work from home full-time after launching legal action against her university bosses (stock image)

Under section 65A of the Fair Work Act, employees can request flexible working arrangements if they have at least 12 months' service and meet eligibility criteria including being a parent of a child, a carer, pregnant, over 55 or living with a disability.

The Commissioner noted the move to Queensland remained uncertain.

'There is also no certainty as to what a move to Queensland might entail, or what childcare arrangements might be required, or even when these pieces of the puzzle would start to come together,' Commissioner McKinnon said.

'The request could not have been made "because of" circumstances that did not yet exist.'

The dismissal of Ms Fitzpatrick's case comes after Sydney mother Karlene Chandler won the right last year to work from home when the FWC ruled in her favour in a dispute with Westpac.

Ms Chandler, mother of six-year-old twins, had sought to work from her Wilton home to manage school pick-ups and drop-offs and avoid a twohour commute in the opposite direction to her childrens' school.

After Westpac insisted she still attend the Kogarah office two days a week, she lodged a formal request for flexible working arrangements under section 65 of the Fair Work Act.

It allows eligible employees, including parents of schoolage children or younger, to seek such changes.

University of NSW employee Kellie Fitzpatrick pushed for the change so she could relocate to Queensland and support her partner's 'significant job opportunity' (stock image)

The decision was hailed as a major win for working parents and was expected to set an important precedent for future flexiblework disputes, with the Commission making clear that employers cannot simply brush off these requests.

Australian Business Lawyers and Advisors director Julian Arndt said employers are also receiving more - and increasingly 'creative' and 'ambitious' - requests for flexible working arrangements, in part because people are using ChatGPT to make them.

Mr Arndt said many employers failed to understand the breadth of this power and how many employees actually fall within the categories listed under section 65 of the Fair Work Act.

He said that as these rules capture a 'huge proportion of the employee population', he predicted FWC flexible work applications would 'vastly increase'.
Democrats railing against housing costs have taken millions of dollars in donations from 'foreclosure crisis profiteer' and rental home tycoon Don Mullen  sparking calls of 'hypocrisy' from Republicans.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, one of the most powerful Democrats in the country, has promised to 'lower housing costs', 'end price gouging' and criticized 'pandering to big Republican donors'.

But Federal Election Committee (FEC) records show his biggest political fund has received $700,000 from Don Mullen, the man behind Goldman Sachs' infamous 'big short' on the 2007 housing market, whose company is now the single largest homeowner in some counties.

Mullen has given a total of $5.8million to Democratic campaigns.

A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) claimed, 'hypocritical national Democrats are lining their pockets with the very scumbags who drove families out of their homes.'

The Wall Street whizz gained infamy when a 2010 Senate investigation exposed him emailing colleagues 'Sounds like we will make some serious money' as the housing market crashed.

After raking in millions, Mullen founded his own firm, Pretium Partners, and started buying up bargain homes using a $400million loan from Deutsche Bank  one of the banks propped up by the government during the crisis.

By 2024, Pretium's subsidiaries owned over 210,000 properties, and its firm Progress Residential is now one of the largest single-family landlords in the US.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has consistently been outspoken about his promises to lower housing costs and his disdain for politicians 'pandering to big Republican donors'

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Jeffries is now under fire for his 'hypocritical' stance, as newly released FEC records show he received $700,000 from Don Mullen - the man behind Goldman Sachs' infamous 2007 housing market 'big short' - whose company has since become the single largest homeowner in several counties

Mullen has helped fill the campaign coffers of several Democrats who have railed against a housing crisis often blamed on large-scale landlords.

Mullen and Pretium declined to comment, but a source close to the company told the Daily Mail that Pretium sees itself as part of the solution to the housing crisis not the problem, including by providing lending for homebuilders that traditional banks no longer offer.

The source said that ire at private equity funds is misdirected, given that institutional investors own less than four per cent of the nations 91 million single-family rental homes, with most owned by mom and pop landlords or small companies.

Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, wields power by steering campaign funds from the giant House Majority PAC (HMP) to candidates across the country.

Mullen has given a total of $700,000 to HMP, including $50,000 on October 14 last year.

But for years, New York-based Jeffries has highlighted rising housing costs in his political messages.

'After decades of underinvestment in public housing, skyrocketing rental prices, lack of affordable housing stock and the widening wealth gap, we are facing a housing crisis in America,' the Minority Leader wrote in a 2023 press release.

'The current federal safety net is simply not equipped to handle a housing crisis of the magnitude we are facing due to rising housing costs.'

Mullen gained infamy after a 2010 Senate investigation revealed he had emailed his colleagues, 'Sounds like we will make some serious money,' as the housing market collapsed and countless families lost their homes to foreclosure

Jeffries, who wields influence by channeling House Majority PAC funds to Democratic candidates, boasted in June 2024 about his promises to lower housing costs - despite receiving an additional $50,000 from Don Mullen just four months later in October

In a June 2024 tweet, he said: 'Democrats will lower housing costs, end price gouging and grow the middle class. MAGA extremists are desperate to renew massive tax cuts for big donors and powerful corporations.'

Jeffries did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

In June, Nevada congresswoman Susie Lee wrote to Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte calling for transparency over 'out-of-state corporate entities' buying up Nevada homes and raising prices.

Fellow Nevada Democrat congressman Steven Horsford also aimed at 'a housing crisis driven by out-of-state property speculators pricing local residents out of available homes', proposing bills to tackle the problem.

But FEC records show Mullen gave Lee and Horsford $2,800 each for their campaigns in 2019.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported last March that New York-based Pretium is the largest single homeowner in Clark County, Nevada, based on an investigation of property records.

A spokesperson for Horsford defended his track record of fighting for more affordable housing.

'Rep. Horsford has been one of the most outspoken members of Congress fighting to bring down housing costs and crack down on corporate investors that are pricing families out of the market, the spokesperson said.

'His focus remains on holding housing speculators accountable and expanding homeownership opportunities for working families.

Nevada congresswoman Susie Lee and Nevada congressman Steven Horsford both have been outspoken about out-of-state corporations buying up single-family homes in their state, but both received campaign donations from Mullen in 2019

New Jersey congressman Josh Gottheimer took $8,600 from Mullen between 2020 and 2022, even though he rallied against his state's cost-of-living crisis

Lee did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

New Jersey congressman and governor candidate Josh Gottheimer took $8,600 from Mullen between 2020 and 2022.

In a press release last March, he railed against a cost-of-living crisis leaving New Jersey residents 'either just barely making enough to stay afloat', and proposed plans for rental rebates and 15 percent property tax cuts.

California congressman Josh Harder is one of the key lawmakers in the 'Build America Caucus' advocating for more housing.

Harder also received $2,800 from Mullen in 2019, FEC records show.

He blamed the housing crisis on a 'loss of hope', pointing to rent controls as a stopgap, and pushed for the federal government to 'incentivize' housebuilding, in an interview on the Everybody Gets Pie podcast in December.

Harder and Gottheimer did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

'While Republicans are laser-focused on lowering costs for working families, hypocritical national Democrats are lining their pockets with the very scumbags who drove families out of their homes,' NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella told the Daily Mail.

'Democrats can rail against 'corporate greed' on cable news all they want, but voters aren't buying their phony lies.'
A top Iranian cleric has issued a fatwa calling for Muslims to avenge the 'blood of the martyr' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Following the death of the Supreme Leader on Saturday, Iranian religious leader Nasser Makarem Shirazi delivered a formal religious decree that claimed all Muslims were obliged to avenge him.

Shirazi stated that the US and Israel were the 'main perpetrators of this crime'.

A fatwa is an Islamic ruling made by religious authorities or scholars whose followers are compelled to follow.

Experts have warned that the extreme proclamation means the world is more likely to see Iranian sleeper cells and lone wolves carry out horrific terror attacks at sites including embassies, restaurants and shops.

Ghaffar Hussain, a counter-terrorism expert, told the Daily Mail: 'Iran has a long history of exporting terrorism around the world and a track record of targeting dissidents and journalists in the UK.

'This is a very real threat that has been heightened since the outbreak of the war and the one the security services must remain vigilant to.'

In recent years, Iranian agents have been accused of attempting, and often succeeding, in carrying out bomb and assassination plots.

In 2018, France uncovered an alleged bomb plot that was set to be carried out at a Paris rally for Iranian opposition figures which was attended by 100,000 Iranians and hundreds of international dignitaries. That same year, Denmark accused Iranian intelligence of trying to assassinate an opposition figure on its soil.

And In 2012, Indian police concluded that Iranian agents were responsible for a bombing attack that targeted an Israeli diplomat in New Delhi, which wounded at least four people.

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei (pictured) was killed on Saturday in Tehran

Iranian religious leader Nasser Makarem Shirazi (pictured) delivered a formal religious decree that claimed all Muslims were obliged to avenge the Ayatollah

Columns of smoke billowed over the skies of the capital, Tehran, following sustained Israeli-American bombardment on several cities across Iran on March 3, 2026

British intelligence agencies are currently closely monitoring Iranian sleeper cells, amid fears of retaliation over the US-Israeli attacks.

Heiko Heinisch, a leading Islamism expert in Austria, told the Daily Mail: 'We know that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards maintains functioning networks in Europe, primarily consisting of embassies, consulates, and mosques under the control of the Iranian regime.'

He warned that the most vulnerable targets were 'soft' ones 'including companies, restaurants, or shops, that have a connection to Israel or are run by Jews.'

Heinisch added that Shirazi's fatwa carried significant weight: 'He is a well-known and respected legal scholar who was appointed to the Assembly of Experts for the establishment of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and played a role in drafting the first constitution.

'We should definitely take the fatwa he wrote seriously. A fatwa issued by a Grand Ayatollah like Shirazi can be regarded as an instruction.'

Last year, MI5 warned that Iran was behind 20 potentially deadly plots on British soil in the previous 12 months.

Among Iran's targets was the Israeli embassy in London, which sits just by Kensington Palace and Hyde Park.

Other experts said that they believed that it was more likely that individuals with little to no connection to the Iranian regime, but who still believe in its values, pose more of a threat to the West.

Avner Vilan, a former senior Israeli security official, told the Daily Mail: 'What concerns me more are smaller-scale actions - either individuals who take the fatwa as inspiration, or regime supporters in Europe who may interpret it as a religious order and take matters into their own hands.

'These may not necessarily be people directly working for Iran. They could be sympathisers or Shiite supporters of the regime who decide to act independently.

'More organised operations, such as planting bombs or conducting complex attacks, require coordination and resources. At the moment, Iran is largely on the defensive, so I doubt they have the capacity to organise something like that right now.

'What is more likely are sporadic acts carried out by individuals or very small groups. Even one person who believes they are following a religious order can cause havoc.

'Sometimes, these actors are not even directly linked to the regime. They may simply see the fatwa, take it at face value, and decide to act on it independently.

'We should also remember that different extremist groups can cooperate when their interests align. Even organisations that are rivals ideologically may work together if they share a common enemy.'

Dr Shmuel Bar, a former senior Israeli intelligence official, told the Daily Mail that organising sleeper cell activities takes significant time and resources, making the likelihood of an attack from a formal cell unlikely.

He said: 'Such operations take longer and Iran would now want to act more directly. Having said that, the awareness of Western intelligence to this option is high. The internet blackout in Iran will also make direct orders more difficult.'

Heinisch added: 'Security agencies are keeping an eye on individuals who have ties to the Iranian regime. As far as I can tell, protection of Jewish, Israeli, and American institutions has already been stepped up across Europe.

'The problem lies with sleeper cells and lone perpetrators who have not attracted attention so far. Potential perpetrators can be found in groups that feel connected to the regime and in the radical anti-Israeli scene.'

As for what the fatwa may mean for Europe and the UK, he said it was 'difficult to judge'.

He said: 'The problem at the moment is that, on the one hand, there are too many potential perpetrators to monitor them all. On the other hand, there are too many potential targets.

'Obvious targets such as embassies and their employees or synagogues are under increased surveillance. But beyond that, there are simply countless soft targets. Since October 7, 2023, we have seen that for the anti-Israel scene - which includes supporters of the mullah regime, Hezbollah, and Hamas - virtually every recognisable Jew on the street and every Jewish business is a potential target.'

The academic pointed to previous instances of violence caused by fatwas.

The most notorious was issued against British author Sir Salman Rushdie, who wrote 'The Satanic Verses' in 1989.

The notorious book caught the ire of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, ruler of Iran from 1979 to 1989, who issued a fatwa against the book.

As a result, Rushdie and his colleagues who helped spread the book around the world, including translators and publishers from Italy, Japan, Norway and Turkey, were injured or killed by religious extremists over the course of several decades.

In 2022, Sir Salman himself was blinded in an attack at a literary festival in New York state.

Heinisch said: 'This shows that [Shirazi's fatwa] could also have a long-term effect.'

He added that violence may have already taken place in response to the fatwa, pointing to the mass shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, by a man who was wearing a sweatshirt that with the words 'property of Allah' on it, which the expert said 'may have been motivated' by the decree.
A former female mayor convicted of having sex with a 16-year-old boy endured an ugly war of words with her ex-husband as the sex scandal exploded, court filings show.

Misty Roberts, 43, was yesterday convicted of having sex with with her son's underaged friend during a pool party in 2024. Divorce filings viewed by the Daily Mail revealed that the incident happened on Robert's own son's 16th birthday.

That son, who the Daily Mail is not naming, told the court that he witnessed his mother sexually abusing his friend through a window of the family's sizeable home in DeRidder, Louisiana - the town Roberts was mayor of until the scandal exploded.

The sex offender stood down as mayor of the town shortly before being arrested and charged with third-degree rape as well as delinquency of a juvenile. She was ultimately convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile.

On Tuesday night Roberts wept uncontrollably and shook her head in disbelief as jurors found her guilty. She now faces up to 17 years behind bars for her attack on the boy, who was a year under Louisiana's age of consent at the time of the incident.

The former lawmaker's ex-husband Duncan Clanton, 43, initially stood by her in the wake of the sex attack, according to the divorce papers.

Clanton showered his ex-wife, and the mother of his two kids, with praise telling her: 'You are a great mom and that's what's going to be your foundation. That's what's [sic] is going to get you through it. You're strong.'

In another exchange he even vowed to stand by side her despite not being together, saying: 'I won't turn my back on you.'

Misty Roberts is pictured with her ex-husband Duncan Clanton and her two children. The pair warred after she was accused of raping her son's 16-year-old son at a pool party. Roberts was convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile on Tuesday

Roberts, the former Mayor of DeRidder in Louisiana, is pictured on Tuesday after her conviction. She refused to comment

Despite Roberts' legal issues, Clanton, who works in insurance, told her: 'I can tell you how glad I am about me and you though.

'We can be great parents to our kids and not fight or any of that negativity anymore. Let's just live one day at a time.'

Within months of the sex attack, however, the gloves were off. The exes began a bitter custody battle in October 2024 filled with allegations of infidelity, stalking claims and sharp insults as Clanton sought to be given full custody of both children.

Roberts filed two dossiers loaded with text messages where the pair squabbled over him allegedly being a mommy's boy.

Other messages suggested Roberts had other affairs behind her spouse's back. Bizarrely, they also suggested that Roberts and Clanton first split over his fondness for cigarettes.

In one exchange, just a month after they initially split in May of 2022, Clanton text Roberts saying: 'Remember to remove Clanton as your last name.'

She responded saying she didn't have to, to which Clanton answered that she had 'rode' the 'coattails long enough'.

Clanton then said: 'It's funny how many names have been given to me about who all you have slept with.

'I've noticed that there is a guy that shows up to [their son's] games. Funny how his name is mentioned too.' None of the names of these men were shared and it is unclear if there was any infidelity on Roberts' part.

'Wow. This just keeps getting better. I'd like to know this list', Roberts replied, to which Clanton again asked her to change her name.

The texts offer an insight into petty squabbling between the two over them both being smokers.

Clanton proudly told his ex-wife that since their relationship was over he didn't 'have to carry the weight of hiding smoking ever again'.

He added: 'I tried to eliminate that burden from you', in another text he said: 'Me smoking never was what made us divorce.

'You were done before I had a chance to save it. My addiction is just your excuse.'

Roberts resigned as mayor days before her 2024 arrest. Bond conditions initially limited her contact with her children without her Clanton's permission

Roberts, seen here in her mugshot, she maintained her innocence since the allegation was first made in 2024

Duncan Clanton, seen here, supported his ex-wife in the immediate aftermath of the allegation before changing his tune

In a particularly harsh response, Roberts said: 'Just leave my kids alone and don't mess with their emotions. They are fine until they have to recover from your rollercoaster.

'Man up, take responsibility stop being a victim and go live your life', Roberts added before she accused Clanton of following people and stalking strangers, the papers said.

'[It] makes you look psychotic. You are really barking up the wrong tree. For real - just quit.'

Clanton never addressed the allegation, instead replying: 'Our kids will be fine. They will see the difference between me and you, one day.'

He followed that up by claiming Roberts left him for a police officer and a dirt contractor, calling her 'an alcoholic cheating SOB!', the papers said.

These allegations were referenced again in another round of text messages in August of 2022 referenced in the court papers.

'You're the one who f***** a cop and had an affair. You have no room to talk about morals', the text suggested he had a new partner.

In other messages submitted in the court papers he told Roberts: 'You really are cold blooded. Just wanted you to know what a real piece of s*** you really are.'

In her initial response to the filing by Clanton, Roberts said she maintained 'her innocence regarding the allegations and charges against me'.

She said that the changes would cause a 'significant emotional and psychological harm' to their kids.

Roberts is seen in a photo taken during happier times. The sex offender's life now lies in tatters thanks to her conviction for sex with an underage boy

The family's former home in Deridder is pictured here

Roberts said she maintained 'her innocence regarding the allegations and charges against me' in the court papers

Roberts added: 'Duncan was simply not a supportive father, nor spouse outside of our home. Resentment tells the rest of the story.

'To this day, we have failed to effectively communicate, largely due to his refusal to accept the ending of our marriage.'

Roberts claimed in the legal filing that Clanton's mother Debbie had a negative influence on their relationship and exacerbated their ongoing disputes.

According to the court papers, Debbie would oversee her son's personal and business finances even while they were married.

In the end, the two met in court in December of 2024 and decided that they would maintain joint custody but Clanton would become the domiciliary parent.

This would mean the children would primarily live with him, and he would take authority over long-term decisions.

It was decided that child support payments would be terminated as he was now the main parent.

Roberts, who represented herself in court for the custody case, then asked to make a statement in which she referenced the incident.

She said: 'This agreement is no way intended to act as an admission of guilt nor is to have any effect on any current pending criminal matters.'

Before signing off on the new agreement, the judge ordered that their children go to a therapist.

Earlier this week in court, a forensic interview was played showing Roberts' son explaining how he had watched his mother have sex with her alleged victim.

A local DoorDash driver said he had delivered emergency contraception to her home shortly after the incident, the court was told.

Roberts was asked if there was a chance she was pregnant by her alleged victim's mother and denied it, according to court papers viewed by the Mail.

On Tuesday night she refused to comment as she left Beauregard district court on a $100,000 bond, she is due back in court next month for sentencing.
Terrified Iranian families are retreating inside their homes and rationing food and water as they fear being slaughtered by their own government if President Donald Trump's military operation fails to obliterate the regime.

As bombs rain down on strategic targets, desperate messages smuggled out to the Daily Mail amid internet blackouts in the country reveal a dystopian nightmare.

Four days since Trump launched Operation Epic Fury, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have abandoned their targeted bases to stalk the civilian streets, heavily armed and reportedly thirsty for revenge.

'I talked to my parents a couple of hours ago. They are well. However, the bombing has been brutal,' one Iranian who fled to neighboring Armenia told the Daily Mail.

'My cousin mentioned that since the basis of the IRGC forces has been obliterated, they [the military] have now camped on the streets everywhere. Carrying AK47s... threatening whoever is on the street as potential protestors.'

Exclusive video sent by the source, captured while driving through Seda Sima, a province in Tehran, shows a chilling reality. In the footage, an IRGC member holds a gun and is flanked by the regime's signature sand-colored armored trucks. One enforcer is seen dressed ominously in all black, complete with a helmet and boots.

'Some [of the military] are hiding, but the "niroo sarkoob" are on the street chanting "heydar heydar" all night. Making sure no-one dares rise again,' the source said.

'Niroo Sarkoob' refers to the people in charge of the crackdowns. 'Heydar' is the nickname for one of the first historic caliphs, Imam Ali, who represents strength for the Shiite Muslims. Ali was also a central figure in the historic Battle of Khaybar where the Muslims defeated the Jews.

In the footage, an IRGC military member holds a gun and is flanked by the regime's signature light yellow massive truck

One Iranian who fled to neighboring Armenia spoke to the Daily Mail

As bombs rain down on strategic targets, desperate messages smuggled out of the country to the Daily Mail reveal a dystopian nightmare

Rumors have swirled amid the chaos about who is actually running the crumbling state

As the regime's military terrorizes the streets, Trump was reportedly entertaining a high-stakes gamble: transforming Iran's internal dissidents from mere protestors into a rhetorical, and potentially tactical, vanguard.

Between the president's recent calls to Kurdish leadership and a series of surgical Israeli strikes that seemed to be clearing a path through western Iran, there is speculation of Kurdish advances.

'President Trump has spoken with many regional partners,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

But for those trapped in Iran, there is an existential dread that the allied job won't be finished.

'I think the bottom line is, the military infrastructure must be destroyed, and then all the military forces in the streets. The IRGC has told all their members to leave the buildings, so the buildings being bombarded are practically empty. My cousin was worried if the war stops suddenly and the regime remains they will retaliate against the people extremely hard.'

The source delivered a grim prediction: 'IRGC has no capability to do any harm to Israel or the US at this point. So they will kill all their civilians. That is for sure.'

Rumors swirl amid the chaos about who is actually running the crumbling state after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes on Saturday.

Iranian opposition outlet Iran International reported on Tuesday that Mojtaba Khamenei, the dictator's son, had been appointed as the country's new Supreme Leader.

Prior to the report, when asked if there were any conversations about replacing the Ayatollah, the source was blunt. 'No. The thing is, the assembly of experts cannot congregate. They fear they get targeted and no one wants the position.'

The source speculated the military might be taking orders from Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, adding: 'Or they [are] just auto-piloting.'

This photo was sent exclusively to the Daily Mail showing a rooftop in Ahvaz, a city in Iran positioned near the border with Iraq

Another Iranian sent horrifying photos of strikes directly behind a friend's house on Nabard Street in Tehran

'Niroo Sarkoob' refers to the people in charge of the crack downs. 'Heydar' is the nickname for one of the first historic caliphs, Imam Ali, who represents strength for the Shiite Muslims

'With the internet shut down in Iran people are struggling what to do when they don't hear Donald Trump or Reza Pahlavi's speech,' the source said

As for any hope of the military turning on their own government? 'Absolutely not,' the source said. 'We would not have this war if they had the right mindset.'

Meanwhile, families are surviving day by day behind locked doors. Stores are shuttered, and ATMs are empty. 'The price of fundamental things like water have skyrocketed,' the source noted.

And the relentless strikes are reshaping the nation's landscape.

'I talked yesterday with madar [mother] and my father. They told me that Isfahan is not that much like Tehran. The war is mostly in Tehran and Ahvaz. They are attacking all places of nuclear and atomic bombs and police stations from the Islamic Republic. Places which belong to IRGC But Tehran has been destroyed a lot,' one Iranian, whose parents sent him outside the country before the strikes happened, told the Daily Mail.

Another Iranian sent horrifying photos of strikes directly behind a friend's house on Nabard Street in Tehran. 'They are bombing every police station,' he explained.

One local shared that his family hasn't dared to leave their home. 'They are still in their houses but yesterday the U.S. bombed the military facility near the airport of Isfahan called "Hashtom Shekari."'

Asked if his family feared for their lives at this very moment, his response highlighted a fragile trust in the allied strikes: 'A little. But baba said U.S. and Israel just bombed the Islamic Republic places and not the people of Iran.'

Yet, partial internet blackouts are leaving millions utterly in the dark, desperately awaiting a signal.

Stores are shuttered, and ATMs are empty. 'The price of fundamental things like water have skyrocketed,' the source noted

Terrified Iranian families are fearfully retreating inside their homes, rationing food and water  bracing for a horrific slaughter at the hands of their own government if allied military strikes fail to completely obliterate the regime. This photo was sent exclusively to the Daily Mail showing a rooftop in Tehran

'With the internet shut down in Iran people are struggling what to do when they don't hear Donald Trump or Reza Pahlavi's speech,' the young man explained.

Still, a defiant hope remains in the capital. 'A friend of mine who lives in Tehran however, mentioned that many have not evacuated Tehran. Waiting for the call of Pahlavi, regardless of the bombings,' he said.

Both President Trump and the main opposition leader, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, have put out video statements asking Iranians to stay inside their homes for the time being, without direction on what to do next.

During a briefing today, Trump said 'somebody from within might be more appropriate' when asked about Pahlavi as an option to lead Iran.

It is not clear who that someone would be.
Princess Diana's former bodyguard Ken Wharfe has broken his silence on the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal, branding the disgraced former royal 'one of the most arrogant individuals I've ever had the misfortune of meeting.'

Wharfe, the SAS-trained Scotland Yard inspector who served as Diana's personal protection officer from 1988 to 1993, called Andrew's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein 'excruciatingly toxic'.

'I did, on a few occasions, have dealings with him in a professional capacity,' he said of Andrew. 'And I found him to be one of the most arrogant individuals I've ever had the misfortune of meeting.'

Andrew, 66, was arrested on February 19, his birthday, at Wood Farm on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

He was held for 11 hours before being released under investigation by Thames Valley Police. He has not been charged and has previously denied all wrongdoing.

The arrest came after the US Department of Justice released millions of Epstein-related files in January, including emails appearing to show Andrew forwarding confidential reports from his visits to Southeast Asia to the convicted sex offender while serving as Britain's trade envoy. King Charles III responded with a terse public statement, saying: 'Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.'

Andrew had already been stripped of every royal title by October 2025. He surrendered the Duke of York title first, before Charles went further and formally removed his 'Prince' designation and 'His Royal Highness' style via Letters Patent.

He lost his Order of the Garter, his Royal Victorian Order, his place at Royal Lodge - where he had lived for over two decades - and his 1million annual allowance. He is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Ken Wharfe, the SAS-trained Scotland Yard inspector who served as Diana's personal protection officer from 1988 to 1993, called Andrew's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein 'excruciatingly toxic'

Andrew, 66, was arrested on February 19, his birthday, at Wood Farm on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office

Speaking on the Suddenly Single podcast on Tuesday, Wharfe made clear he had tried to avoid commenting on the situation for as long as possible.

'Ever since the Epstein crisis that hit the Royal Family, I've taken a personal stand on this,' he said. 'The whole issue of the Duke of York, as he was, and now Mountbatten-Windsor, is excruciatingly toxic, and continues to be.

'There isn't a day now, in the last six months, where there hasn't been a story surrounding the Duke of York, Windsor's association with Epstein, which has now brought into contact his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.'

Emails disclosed from the Epstein files appear to show Ferguson asking Epstein for 20,000 to cover rent in 2009, saying her landlord had threatened to go to the newspapers.

Ferguson, who divorced Andrew in 1996 but continued living with him at Royal Lodge until recently, has denied any wrongdoing.

'It's a subject that, as yet, is not finished,' Wharfe added. 'It's only just begun, and who knows where this might end up?'

Wharfe served at the very heart of the Royal Family during its most turbulent years. He was bodyguard to the young Princes William and Harry from 1986 - the boys called him 'Uncle Ken' - before being appointed Diana's personal protection officer.

He spent nearly six years at her side, becoming a close friend and confidant who, in his own words, shared her 'innermost secrets.'

He left his post in 1993 and retired from the Metropolitan Police in 2002 after 35 years of service. He was later honoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II with membership of the Victorian Order.

He went on to write two bestselling books about his time protecting Diana - Diana: Closely Guarded Secret and Guarding Diana: Protecting the Princess Around the World.

Speaking on the podcast, he added that he believes Andrew's downfall has compounded a difficult period for King Charles, who has simultaneously lost his brother to disgrace and his younger son, Prince Harry, 41, to self-imposed exile in America.

Wharfe (back right) was bodyguard to the young Princes William and Harry from 1986 - the boys called him 'Uncle Ken' - before being appointed Diana's personal protection officer for six years

'His father, the King himself, is going through a very difficult period of life trying to sort out his younger brother's problems,' Wharfe said. 'But William and Harry, particularly, were to be part of the King's future design of the monarchy.

'Unfortunately, he's lost that third - that Harry third - who I think was an important part of restructuring the monarchy for the future.'

Wharfe was candid about Harry's marriage and what he sees as its failure to live up to its early promise. He recalled the initial excitement when Prince Harry married Meghan Markle as a moment that could have 'moved and changed the Royal Family forever.'

He said: 'He was a prince of the realm, marrying a woman of mixed heritage, an American, a divorcee. She had all the qualities that, had you given that ten, 15 years ago, there would be no chance of that ever happening.

'But it never worked because I think Meghan never really understood it. And I don't think Harry really anticipated at that time that, in some months later, he'd be disappearing to America, to live a life of exile, almost.

'It looks as though he may well have won a case to restore his security when he comes to the United Kingdom. And in a way, although I was against that initially, I do think that the climate has changed globally, that maybe the government and the Metropolitan Police will actually agree to provide him with some proper security, which is always wanted. And where does that lead him?'

Wharfe added that he believes Harry, despite his life in Montecito, California, with Meghan and their two children, is not truly settled.

'I think the fun of those days in Montecito, and the celebrity world that he moved in, has faded and left him somewhat isolated,' he said.

Wharfe suggested Harry still has a role to play within the Royal Family and hinted that Charles may agree - but said it would require a resolution to Harry's ongoing estrangement.

'Does he have a role to play in the future of the monarchy?' Wharfe said. 'I think he does - quite how he does that, I don't think he even knows yet.'
A teenager in Pennsylvania was left intubated with severe burns after attempting the 'fire-breathing' challenge seen on social media.

The Allegheny County 14-year-old girl attempted to 'breathe fire' using isopropyl alcohol after seeing a TikTok trend, while officials say the girl is lucky to have survived the stunt.

'Luckily, in this particular case, it did not burn the building down,' Al Hussey, Wilmerding Borough Fire Marshal, told ABC 7.

'But somebody got really hurt and is going to have life-altering injuries.'

The girl attempted the viral challenge on Friday night inside an apartment building.

'We are not meant to breathe fire as human beings,' Hussey told the outlet.

'First and foremost, you can lose your life. Second, you can have life-altering injuries to your appearance. Third, you could injure others in a building where youre in, or a room, or the home.

'At the least, youre going to have life-altering injuries, end up in the burn unit.'

The Allegheny County teen girl attempted to 'breathe fire' using isopropyl alcohol after seeing a TikTok trend, while officials say the girl is lucky to have survived the stunt

The 'fire-breathing' trend sparked on TikTok

Pitcairn Fire Chief Tommy Dick said that the chemical is 'supposed to be for cleaning off wounds and cuts' and not for 'ingesting and trying to blow fire'

The girl was left with severe burns to her face, neck and chest as emergency services took her to UPMC Mercy's Burn Center.

Hussey told KDKA that the girl was intubated as of Sunday.

'It's not a very smart thing for anybody to do, let alone children,' Pitcairn Fire Chief Tommy Dick told the outlet.

Dick added that the chemical is 'supposed to be for cleaning off wounds and cuts' and not for 'ingesting and trying to blow fire.'

'This could have easily gone inside their digestive tract and she could have died.

'Just because you've seen it on social media doesn't mean you should do it.'

The fire chief said that there was no active fire when emergency crews arrived on scene.

Now, Hussey is urging parents to pay close attention to their children's access to household products.

Nine-year-old Caleb was left with severe burns to his face after he took part in a dangerous TikTok trend on January 20

Caleb placed a Needoh cube (pictured) in his microwave at home that morning. When he opened it, the gel-filled toy exploded on him

'If they're doing their hair with chemicals, if they're taking isopropyl alcohol in the room, or any type of fingernail polish remover. Obviously, monitor your lighters and your matches and educate your children,' he added.

'Practice fire safety with your families and make sure that you're active in their lives,' Dick added.

The Daily Mail reached out to TikTok for comment.

The dangerous stunt comes just a month after a nine-year-old boy was left severely injured from burns after microwaving a toy as part of another TikTok trend.

While getting ready for school on January 20, Caleb had stuck a Needoh cube in the microwave.

Moments later, the Illinois boy began letting out blood curdling screams as his mother rushed to the commotion.

The toy, filled with a thick gel substance, had exploded in the boy's face. The trend online saw others heating up the toy in the microwave to soften it, seen as the toy hardens over time.

'When I asked what happened, he told me that a friend at school told him about putting it in the microwave,' his mother, Whitney Grubb, told the Chicago Sun Times.

'It wasnt anything malicious, it was just kids sharing stories, and unfortunately, he decided to try it.'

Caleb was left with second-degree burns to his face, hands (left), and another behind one of his ears (right)

Caleb was left with second-degree burns to his face, hands, and another behind one of his ears.

His eye was also 'completely swollen shut' after the toy exploded, Grubb told CBS News.

According to Kelly McElligott, a burn outreach coordinator with Loyola, Caleb was left in so much pain because the gelatin material is 'so vicious.'

'Because it's so viscous, it sticks, and it stays hot longer, it's going to cause a more significant burn,' McElligott told the outlet.

Caleb eventually had all of his burns washed, his dead skin cut away, and ointment applied to his injuries.

Thankfully, an ophthalmologist said the boy's eye was not damaged from the mishap.

Grubb said: 'Just talk with your kids, make sure they understand the safety of the things.'

Each Needoh cube comes with a warning label that tells users not to heat them up.

A spokesperson with TikTok told the Chicago Sun Times: 'We remove these videos when we find them.'
The real owners of nearly 45,000 British properties worth 190billion are being hidden from public view in what experts believe is a mass violation of new anti-money laundering rules.

Under the Economic Crime Act - which was passed into law in March 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine - foreign owners of UK real estate had until January 31, 2023 to name the 'beneficial owner' of any property they own.

This term was defined as anyone who owns or controls an overseas company that owns property in Britain.

Ministers have come under pressure to toughen up the rules to stop foreign criminals or individuals under sanctions using London to park their wealth.

Late last year it emerged that 56-year-old Ali Ansar, an Iranian businessman sanctioned for allegedly financing the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, had been able to buy a string of luxury properties across Europe - including a London mansion.

The IRGC has been at the forefront of violently suppressing protests against the regime and is being heavily targeted in the current American and Israeli strikes in the country.

By forcing overseas property owners to identify themselves by name, the law was intended to make it harder to buy homes or business buildings in the country to launder money or park ill-gotten gains.

While the law was backed by the threat of fines and criminal prosecution, research suggests there is evidence it is being flouted.

Tax Policy Associates examined a Land Registry list of 97,978 properties registered to offshore companies in England and Wales, before checking how many had disclosed their ultimate owners with Companies House - as legally required.

The think tank found that it was impossible to find the beneficial owner of 43,401 of the properties, equivalent to about 44 per cent.

To find properties with mysterious offshore owners near you, input your postcode in the box below -

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The most expensive house on the overseas owners register is Richard Branson's former home in Holland Park, which was acquired for 53m in 2016 by a BVI company

This Belgravia property was acquired for 16million in 2017 by a BVI company. The registered beneficiary is a Singapore corporate trustee

Late last year it emerged that 56-year-old Ali Ansar, an Iranian businessman sanctioned for allegedly financing Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards, had been able to buy a string of luxury properties across Europe - including a London mansion

A boat firing a missile during a recent IRGC training exercise in the Gulf

In these cases, the property owners had either not registered at all, registered the property but claimed to have no beneficial owner, or given the owner as another offshore company or a trust.

RoThere is no suggestion every case is a breach of the law, as some companies legitimately do not have one beneficial owner.

However, Dan Neidle, a former tax lawyer who runs the think tank, believes some property owners are deliberately obscuring their ownership.

'Some of this will be accidental, but the evidence suggests that a significant proportion is intentional,' he writes.

'Some people are just not registering. Others are registering offshore companies as beneficial owners, rather than the individuals who really control the property.

'And over a fifth of all properties are held by trusts that fail to declare the true owner.'

Mr Neidle believes some of the properties could be used for money laundering or sanctions busting.

Other owners may be failing to register their properties to avoid capital gains tax when they sell, he claims.

'It's very important we get to grips with this, from a tax evasion perspective as well as the more obvious sanctions-busting and money-laundering ones,' the tax expert adds.

An apartment in this building on Horse Guards Avenue was sold to a Cypriot company for 21million in 2023

This second Holland Park property was bought for 21million in 2016 by a Bahamas company, with the beneficiary listed as a Cayman Islands trustee

Join the debate How should Britain balance property rights and foreign ownership?

The most common location for overseas structures holding English and Welsh property is Jersey, a self-governing, low-tax crown dependency.

A total of 3,234 properties linked to the Channel island are shown as having no beneficial owner, followed by 1,165 on the British Virgin Islands, 753 on the Isle of Man and 685 on Guernsey.

The nation with the highest proportion of unregistered owners is Saudi Arabia, with 234 out of 252 properties (92.9 per cent) not listed.

Most properties with no overseas beneficial owner are in London, with the capital accounting for 107billion of the 188billion of property in England and Wales where owners have not been properly declared.

Many are residential properties owned by trusts.

The most expensive house on the overseas owners register is Richard Branson's former home in Holland Park, which was acquired for 53m in 2016 by a BVI company.

The second, just around the corner, was bought for 21million in 2016 by a Bahamas company, with the beneficiary listed as a Cayman Islands trustee.

An apartment on Horse Guards Avenue was sold to a Cypriot company for 21million in 2023. The beneficiaries are two individuals who work for Cypriot firms, who represent an unknown person.

An apartment in this building in Mayfair was bought for 20million in 2021 by an Isle of Man company, with the beneficiary listed as an Isle of Man trustee company

A second apartment, in Mayfair, was bought for 20million in 2021 by an Isle of Man company, with the beneficiary listed as an Isle of Man trustee company.

A third, in Belgravia, was acquired for 16million in 2017 by a BVI company. The registered beneficiary is a Singapore corporate trustee.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing relating to any of the properties above.

A government spokesman said: 'We will look at this report carefully as part of our commitment to fighting illegal financial activity through the Register of Overseas Entities.

'Companies House can issue warning notices and impose financial penalties on overseas entities that fail to register or comply with ongoing requirements, and these entities are prevented from selling, leasing or raising finance over their land until they comply.'
Angela Rayner has demanded the Government 'get on' with leasehold reform as she warned any delay would be 'damaging'.

Marking the Prime Minister's card, his former deputy said that ministers should go 'further and harder' in tackling rogue managing agents.

It comes after she intervened to demand Sir Keir Starmer stick to his election pledge to cap ground rents.

Following her resignation last year, Ms Rayner  who is talked up as a future leader  has intervened on several occasions to force the Government's hand.

Appearing in front of the Commons Housing Committee, the former housing secretary called on ministers to stand up to those with 'vested interests'.

She said her message to the Treasury was to dismiss any attempts by freeholders to hold up the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act passed by the last government.

'We know their appetite, but we also know that we can win the battle - and we should - and previous governments, including ours, have said 'we've got to do it', so we should get on and do it,' she told MPs.

She added: 'And I think that too slow action on it will be damaging for us as a parliament, because it looks like the vested interests win over the will of the people.

'And quite frankly, it's not a political point. It's a right or wrong, and it's wrong what is happening, and therefore it's our duty to put it right.'

Pictured: Angela Rayner attending the Night Time Economy Summit in Liverpool on February 12, 2026

Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the President of Cyprus from 10 Downing Street on March 3

She said the draft leasehold bill was 'some of the meatiest' legislation the Government was bringing forward but said 'of course it would be great to put more things within that bill'.

The government's draft leasehold bill is currently being scrutinised by the committee before making its way through Parliament.

It includes plans to cap ground rents - an annual fee leaseholders must pay to their freeholder - at 250 a year.

The legislation would also ban the sale of new leasehold flats and give homeowners greater control over how buildings are managed.

But it does not propose measures to regulate managing agents or to bring down increasing service charges.

Addressing this, Ms Rayner called on the Government to introduce an independent regulator and make service charges more transparent.

She told the MPs: 'I think the lack of regulation for management agents is a real problem.' She added: 'We've for the mandate and we've got to move at pace.'

She said that proposals on the regulation around management agents needed 'to be taken forward'.

And she said she thought ministers should be doing 'more' to try to bring in the laws introduced by the last government.

Asked if she thought that real change could be brought about by the draft bill, Ms Rayner said: 'Yes, if they stick to it.'

Ms Rayner resigned as deputy prime minister, housing secretary and deputy Labour leader last September after failing to pay enough stamp duty on her flat.

She has since been said to be considering a run at the leadership, though must wait until she has resolved the issue with her flat with HMRC.

She has chosen key moments to intervene, forcing Sir Keir into a U-turn on his proposal to publish the Mandelson papers.
Just west of Beverly Hills, this Los Angeles enclave is usually known for its progressive politics and anti-Trump sentiment.

But this week, the streets roared in support of the President.

The Daily Mail was in Westwood - home to UCLA, but also the largest Iranian population outside of Iran.

Days after the US confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the people here had a clear message for the president: finish the job.

'Many of us have been waiting for this for almost 50 years,' local shopkeeper Mohammed Ghafari told the Daily Mail. 'People were here in the streets celebrating the Ayatollah is dead because of President Trump.

'The Ayatollah destroyed my country with his dictatorship in Iran and we had no allies around us except for President Trump. It will take months or more to overthrow this regime, but my hope is Iran will finally be free.'

Large posters that said 'Make Iran Great Again' along with the historical Iranian lion and sun flag were seen up and down Westwood Boulevard.

Ghafari, who owns the Shater Abbass Bakery and Market, echoed the sentiment of many who work and live in the area known as Persian Square, dubbed Little Tehran or 'Tehrangeles' by locals.

LA is home to more than 140,000 Iranians who fled their country after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 - many live here.

Hundreds of American-Iranians gathered at Persian Square in Los Angeles and walked half a mile to the Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard on February 28, 2026, to celebrate the attack led by the US and Israel, which claimed the lives of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials

Iranian-American Mohammed Ghafari, who owns Shater Abbass Bakery and Market on Westwood Boulevard, told the Daily Mail he was overjoyed to hear of the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Like many Iranians in Tehrangeles, Ghafari said he supports the US and Israeli bombings that claimed the life of the Ayatollah and other top leaders

People stepped on a picture of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shortly after President Donald Trump confirmed the supreme leader's death at the hands of US and Israeli forces

After the US and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday, LA-based Iranians took to the streets in celebration, with hundreds cheering and dancing in Persian Square over the weekend.

While lawmakers are set to vote this week on a resolution aimed to limit President Trump's military operations, many Iranian-Americans in the Tehrangeles areas said they support a larger 'boots-on-the-ground' presence in their native country.

Less than a mile away from the liberal UCLA campus, Tehrangeles is lined by small grocery stores, cafes and restaurants that cater to the local Persian community.

This week, posters featuring Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was forced to leave Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, were seen in the streets.

Those who sat in the shops talked about their families who still live in Iran, and their concerns about what could happen in the next few weeks.

Some told the Daily Mail they are also worried that if the US doesn't place more 'boots-on-the-ground,' a more radical faction might take over their native country.

'Most people in here and in Iran, I think, want the son of the Shah to come back because the people didn't realize how good the Shah was for Iran,' Ghafari told the Daily Mail. 'But how will that happen? We are hoping and believing it will change but the people [in Iran] need weapons to fight.'

Stores in Los Angeles's Persian Square are decorated with posters supporting the return of Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was forced to leave Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution

The pre-revolution Iranian national flag decorates the exterior of Damoka rug store along Westwood Boulevard, which is at the heart of the largest Iranian diaspora community in the US

A man wears a mask of the US President Donald Trump as members of the Iranian community celebrate in front of the Los Angeles Federal Building on March 1

On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to suggest that the US was forced into the war with Iran by Israel.

'We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action,' Rubio said. 'We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.'

A clear majority of the Iranians we spoke to in LA supported the strikes. But others had different views.

Some said they still don't believe Khamenei is dead.

Another Iranian national, who did not want to be identified, said Trump has been a 'disgrace' to the US and is skeptical about the president's motives in his country.

'I worry about this new generation,' he said in tears. 'More of these young people will die because of this. These people who run the world - doesn't matter which country - they are all animals.

'It's all about money, and just like in Venezuela, all they want is to get all the riches like the oil. That's the bottom line - it's about greed, money and power.'

Meanwhile, a group called Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) has held rallies across LA against the Iran invasion since Saturday.

The group took to their social media with a message: 'This conflict has the potential to quickly expand into a devastating regional war, which will bring unthinkable death and destruction. Already, other countries in the region have been drawn into the war.

'Trump is lying when he says that Iran poses any kind of threat to the United States. But a mass anti-war movement can put a stop to this senseless and illegal war of aggression.'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters as he arrives to brief Senators on US military action in Iran at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 3

Demonstrators waving flags and holding signs gathered outside the LA City Hall during a protest against US and Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran on February 28. Protests were planned across LA as local leaders and residents react to the US military strikes on Iran that have sharply escalated tensions in the Middle East

Kevin Adhami, who owns a computer repair business in LA's Persian Square, said he fled Iran with his family when he was 17 years old. Now 43, Adhami said he was overjoyed at the possibility that he might be able to return to his native country of Iran after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Persian Square in the Westwood area of Los Angeles is also known as 'Tehrangeles' - it is where many Iranians settled after escaping their country. Some buildings in the Westwood Boulevard are covered with pictures of Iranians who were allegedly killed under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's regime

Iranians who spoke to the Daily Mail this week said while they might not agree with some of Trump's politics, they want the president to take an even harder line against the current regime by sending weapons and human support from the US military.

Kevin Adhami, who owns a computer repair business at Persian Square, said he fled Iran with his family when he was 17 years old.

Now 43, Adhami said he was overjoyed at the possibility that he might be able to return to his native country, where his family experienced political and religious persecution before they fled.

He said he voted for Trump twice because he knew he would be the president who would take a decisive action against Iran's tyrannical regime.

The business owner said after he heard about Khamenei's death, he felt some relief and was encouraged to finally speak out against the atrocities Iranians have endured for nearly half a century.

'Obviously, a lot of innocent people will get killed. But what [Trump] has done for the people of Iran will change everything,' Adhami said. 'My heart goes out to people who have lost loved ones, and I have so much respect for those young people who have gone out to the streets to fight.

'We are very happy and grateful for the US support to bring freedom to the people of Iran. I hope this regime will completely change so my people can finally go back home.'
CBeebies presenter Nigel Clarke has said his 16-year-old daughter was violently assaulted on the London Tube when someone tried to steal her phone, which left her with a black eye.

The TV frontman, who is known for his work on CBBC, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, said attackers attempted to steal his daughter Sienna's phone but she 'stood her ground'.

The schoolgirl 'lashed out' and 'kicked' them but was hit in her face, leaving her with the bruise.

Mr Clarke, who is also father to 18-year-old son Rory, said the attempted phone snatching happened this week and said the crime is 'rife' on the Tube.

Sharing a video of Sienna's black eye on social media, he said: 'Phone snatching on the London Underground is rife right now.

'Four weeks ago I saw it happen. This week it was my daughter.

'She managed to hold on to her phone. She stood her ground.

'She lashed out and kicked them. They hit her in the face. As you can see she's got a black eye.'

TV presenter Nigel Clarke's 16-year-old daughter (pictured) was violently assaulted on the London Tube when someone tried to steal her phone, which left her with a black eye

Mr Clarke took to social media (pictured) to share what happened to his daughter and to warn commuters to be more vigilant and aware of their surroundings

Mr Clarke, who lives in London with wife Professor Ruprika Deloga, said he had spoken to his daughter 'about not retaliating', but 'also praised her for being brave and holding her ground'.

He added: 'As parents there is a lot to unpick here.'

The TV host warned commuters they need to be more vigilant and aware of their surroundings, especially as the doors of the tube close.

Mr Clarke said: 'What I really want to do is help prevent it happening again.

'I want you to spread this and spread this to your teens. I want adults to do it.

'It usually happens on the tube at stations just before the doors close. As the beeping starts. Snatch. Run. Doors shut. Gone and you can't get to them.'

This comes as thefts on the London Underground increased by 380 per cent between 2021 and 2024, according to MoneySuperMarket Home Insurance.

Some 8,414 mobile phones were reported stolen by the British Transport Police in 2024, a 22 per cent increase from the year before.

Mr Clarke also hosted the CBeebies series The Baby Club alongside Giovanna Fletcher

The presenter continued: 'So here is something simple we can all do: Do not stand near the doors with your phone out.

'Do not use your phone while the train is in the station with doors open.

'If you need to check something, do it between stations when the doors are closed.

'It will not stop every incident, but it will minimise the chances.

'Please share this with your teens. Share it with your friends. Adults too. Being smart can genuinely bring the numbers down.

'Let's look out for each other.'

Mr Clarke is the founder of parent support group Dadvengers, which is named after his love of Marvel, and works to help fathers navigate fatherhood.

The presenter also appeared on the CBeebies series The Baby Club, CBBC's Ukool and has performed onstage in the West End physical theatre show STOMP.
MPs have blasted Keir Starmer's confused attempts to drag the UK back towards Europe as lacking 'direction, definition and drive'.

In a report penned by Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, MPs including Sir Keir's own backbenchers slammed the PM for presiding over dud negotiations which have left the EU far better off than Britain.

Dame Emily Thornberry, the committee's chair, wrote that the government's reset is 'languishing'  with MPs feeling as though they are 'on a journey with no clear destination'.

She added: 'In many areas, the government has failed to provide timelines, milestones, or priorities and it does not appear to have an ambitious, strategic vision for the UK's new relationship with the EU.'

While Labour has claimed the UK-EU reset would boost the economy by 9 billion by 2040, the report found the government had 'failed to clearly identify' its strategic priorities for last year's landmark Lancaster House summit.

'Overall, it appears the EU achieved more concrete progress towards their most pressing demands  in particular with respect to fish  than the UK did.'

The report  which warned ministers not to trump up 'imminent practical benefits' from the reset during negotiations  comes after Rachel Reeves signalled a fresh push to cosy up to Brussels in a bid to boost growth.

The Chancellor used her annual spring statement on the economy to claim that Brexit 'cut us off from our closest trading partners'.

Dame Emily Thornberry, the committee's chair, wrote that the government's reset is 'languishing'  with MPs feeling as though they are 'on a journey with no clear destination'

The Chancellor used her annual spring statement on the economy to claim that Brexit 'cut us off from our closest trading partners'

And she indicated that closer ties with the EU will be at the heart of a new growth strategy due to be unveiled later this month.

Ms Reeves said the government would be 'breaking down trade barriers and deepening alliances with our European partners for a more secured, and connected economy'.

Treasury sources insisted that the plans would not break Labour's red lines, which rule out rejoining the single market and customs union. But they are likely to involve greater alignment with EU rules in which the UK has no say.

The report called on the government to 'end its secrecy over EU matters' and set out its plans for the next phase of negotiations in a white paper in an admonishment of Sir Keir's bunker-like operations.

'Government should also be willing to subject its plans to proper parliamentary scrutiny and facilitate the establishment of a new EU scrutiny committee in the Commons,' the report stated.

Dame Priti Patel, shadow foreign secretary, last night accused the Labour of being 'reactive, opaque, and unwilling to spell out the trade-offs' as it tries to defrost the UK-EU relationship.

She said: 'Keir Starmer does not have the backbone to stand up to the EU and is eager to put British sovereignty on a silver platter to distract from his perpetual domestic woes.'

As Europe teeters on entering a wider conflict in the Middle East, the report indicated the UK and EU are 'far from ready' to cooperate on their shared interests either  pointing to the 'extremely disappointing' negotiations on Britain's entry to the EU's 130 billion 'Security Action for Europe (Safe)' rearmament fund.

Sir Keir has been seeking closer ties with the bloc since he came into office as part of a post-Brexit 'reset'.

But the PM was this week accused of planning a fresh 'surrender' to Brussels over the use of digital identity documents, the Daily Mail revealed.

A survey commissioned by Labour and quietly published last week backed 'cross-border use of digital identities and credentials', with industry leaders urging ministers to 'prioritise relationships with Europe'.

But Brexiteer MPs said Eurocrats would demand full alignment with the bloc's rules as the price for closer ties in a blow for UK sovereignty.
It's like Star Wars, knocking missiles out of the sky right above your head.

I'd been to Israel before, but it wasn't until covering its war with Hamas that I understood what the Iron Dome means to the country.

Within days of arriving at work as a news correspondent in January 2024, I was at a bus stop in southeastern Tel Aviv during rush hour, surrounded by students with their backpacks, old women with their shopping bags and soldiers with rifles - all waiting for the same bus.

As I stood there, intrigued by this uniquely Israeli scene, a shrill, oscillating howl started blaring all around us. It took me a few seconds to realize it was a 'Red Alert,' Israel's missile warning siren.

Everyone started running.

Some took cover under nearby trees. Others shielded themselves next to a concrete wall. Still others, including little kids and uniformed soldiers, ran up a small hill behind us for a clearer view of the sky.

I followed them, naively reaching for my notebook and pen in hopes of snagging a quick interview before whatever happened next. But there was no time.

Within about 45 seconds of when the sirens started, we could hear Hamas rockets that had been fired from Gaza zooming northward through the late-afternoon sky.

After what seemed like only a split second, we could see white smoke trails from a volley of interceptor missiles zig-zagging toward them, destroying them with booms and bright flashes above us.

I landed in Tel Aviv to cover Israel's war with Hamas, and within days I witnessed the Iron Dome in action while waiting for a bus, as the 'Red Alert' - Israel's missile warning siren - blared overhead

Civilians around me took cover while some ran up the hill to see the interception - within seconds, I could hear the missiles from Gaza (PICTURED: Civilians taking cover from an Iranian airstrike on February 28)

Within days after arriving in Tel Aviv as a news correspondent in 2024, Daily Mail reporter Susan Greene tells how she ran for shelter as a 'Red Alert' siren wailed

Bam. Just like that. Kind of like fireworks, but louder and far more comforting.

The crowd around me let out sighs of relief, with looks on their faces that read, 'Phew, I'm okay, you're okay.' Then our bus came, and we all boarded and went on with our evening.

It was later reported that Israel's Iron Dome system intercepted those rockets with no reported casualties and only one vehicle south of Tel Aviv damaged by the debris.

Although memorable for me as an American unaccustomed to missile attacks, that barrage was merely a blip for Israelis - one of thousands of strikes aimed at their nation over decades of war, and one of thousands more it has launched at Palestinian territories and other neighbors since its inception in 1948.

Although Americans would stroke out at the sight and sound of missiles in our skies, Israelis have become much more at ease with the risks because of their mobile air defense systems designed to intercept threats before they hit.

The US provided about $2.6billion in funding for Iron Dome from 2011 to 2022, and recent aid packages since 2024 have included multi-billion-dollar allocations for it and related systems.

Total US support for Israeli missile defense is estimated between $5billion and $7billion.

Iron Dome was developed after Israel was struck with 39 scuds fired by Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War and with about 4,000 rockets fired by Hezbollah during its second war with Lebanon in 2006.

After the Iron Dome intercepted the incoming rockets, the crowd let out sighs of relief and continued with their evening. I headed back to the street to catch my bus, later learning that Israel had reported no casualties and only one car had been damaged by debris

While most Americans would panic at the sight and sound of missiles streaking overhead, Israelis have grown accustomed to the danger, relying on mobile air defense systems that intercept threats before they strike

The Iron Dome was developed after Israel endured 39 Scud missiles from Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War in 1991

Operational since 2011, it detects incoming short-range rockets, artillery shells, mortars and drones, and calculates their trajectory.

If they're headed toward open land - which is relatively scarce in a country roughly the size of New Jersey - IDF tends not to intercept them.

But if they're headed toward a populated area or critical infrastructure such as military bases, airports, power plants or highways, Iron Dome destroys them mid-air, often at altitudes of a few kilometers.

Sirens typically give the public 30 to 90 seconds of warning, allowing them to move quickly to reinforced shelters, stairwells or safe rooms - that is, when they're not out and about, say, waiting for buses.

Although Israel is now not only facing missiles from Iran, but also from Hezbollah in Lebanon, with the two countries' close proximity meaning there's a shorter amount of time for people to take cover once the warning sirens go off.

When Iran bombs Israel, people have around ten to 12 minutes to take shelter. But when Lebanon bombs, its only about a minute and a half, tops.

Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets, with a success rate reported between 85 and 95 percent, and is considered one of the most effective missile defense systems in the world.

It's credited for reducing civilian casualties in recent conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

It's also credited with allowing schools and businesses in Israel to remain open during conflicts, and with helping Israelis feel relatively safe in a tiny country that increasingly has been waging war on its neighbors.

'It allows life to go on here, even in the face of danger,' Yaakov Katz, an American-born Israeli journalist and analyst on Israeli military and defense affairs, told the Daily Mail on Tuesday from his home in Jerusalem.

Yaakov Katz, an American-born Israeli journalist (pictured with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo), told the Daily Mail that the missile interception systems 'allows life to go on here, even in the face of danger'

Sirens typically give the public 30 to 90 seconds of warning, enough time to rush to reinforced shelters, stairwells or safe rooms

Civilians were enjoying their day at the beach in Tel Aviv on March 3, even though the Israeli military reported detecting missiles launched from Iran throughout the day

Civilians appeared at ease inside a Tel Aviv underground shelter on March 3, as schools and businesses remained open despite the ongoing war, thanks to the countrys advanced defense systems

The Iron Dome (left) isn't the country's only missile defense system. David's sling (center), which has been active since 2017 as a defense from medium-range missiles, and the Arrow 3 system (right), which protects against long-range missiles, have both been active

Red Alert missile sirens have been blaring sporadically there since Israel and the US started attacking Iran on Saturday.

'It means that when there's not a siren, we can go out, go to the grocery store, to the park. It gives a sense of security and confidence that allows us to exhibit some kind of resilience at a time like this.'

Iron Dome isn't Israel's only missile defense system. The IDF has what it calls a layered defense strategy with systems that also intercept medium- and long-range threats.

The so-called David's Sling, which has been protecting the country from medium-range missiles since 2017, has an estimated 80 to 90 percent success rate. And Israel's Arrow 3 system has a similar success rate intercepting long-range missiles, including those from outside Earth's atmosphere.

President Donald Trump is eyeing a similarly multi-layered missile defense, including space-based tracking systems, for the US that he refers to as the 'Golden Dome.'

He issued an executive order in 2025 directing development of the next-generation system, tasking the US Space Force to lead its approximately $25billion planning and development.

Although the IDF has not confirmed which systems it has been using to thwart attacks from Iran and Lebanon since the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on Saturday, both David's Sling and Arrow - along with other systems deployed by the US and other countries - were credited with keeping Israelis relatively safe from Iranian missile attacks in 2024 and 2025.

Katz has lived in Israel since the 1990s. As he tells it, missile defense systems have 'completely changed reality' there.

Trump is pursuing a similar multi-layered missile defense system for the United States, dubbed the 'Golden Dome,' and in 2025 issued an executive order directing its development - tasking the US Space Force with leading the roughly $25billion planning and build-out.

Jerusalem-based photographer Alon Spiegel says it is Israel's Iron Dome and broader air defense network that have enabled him to remain on his rooftop since Saturday, documenting incoming missiles as they arc overhead

'It is, I'd say, a uniquely Israeli thing to see a threat, understand it and adapt to it by applying a solution to eliminate it,' he told us.

That said, he noted that years of success with its missile defense systems gave Israel 'a false sense of complacency' - most notably leading up to Hamas' ground attack on October 7, 2023.

'It was a reminder, for sure, that we can get surprised in a very different way,' he said.

Like many Israelis, Katz sees his country's investment in missile defense - and an extensive system of safe rooms and bomb shelters - as a key difference between it and its neighbors.

'We defend our citizens and, tragically, our enemies invest tremendous resources in putting their citizens at risk. I think that's a stark contrast between them and us.'

Other Israelis we spoke with expressed empathy for Iranians enduring this war without the same kinds of protections.

'I really feel for them, living under a regime that puts them at risk, leaves them starving and unsafe,' said Dalit, an archeologist in Jerusalem who asked that we not print her last name.

'But I'm absolutely certain that they don't blame Israel for not having shelters, bread, water or systems to protect them. I think they know who is to blame.'

Alon Spiegel is a photographer in Jerusalem who credits his country's Iron Dome and other defense systems for his ability to stand on his rooftop since Saturday, photographing incoming missiles.

'There's no way I'd be up there without them,' he told us. 'My God, that would be suicide.'
Female Labour MPs are 'incandescent' over the government's failure to include Grok in new measures cracking down on sexualised deepfakes shared online, the Daily Mail has learned.

The Prime Minster in January promised to take 'necessary measures' against X after social media trolls used its AI tool 'Grok' to create manipulated images of MPs in bikinis and sexually explicit images of children.

Addressing backbenchers in the Chamber Sir Keir branded Grok 'disgusting' and said the government would 'strengthen existing laws' and 'prepare for legislation if it needs to go further'.

In response, Tech Secretary Liz Kendall said the government would ban nudification tools through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, currently at report stage in the Lords.

But female Labour MPs are furious the government is now delivering a half-baked ban by only imposing the measures on British apps  not on those based abroad.

One Labour MP told the Daily Mail that backbenchers 'remain concerned' that government's proposed nudification ban would only apply to products in the UK and wouldn't therefore affect Grok  warning it 'would fail to adequately protect women and children'.

This comes as polling from YouGov and CARE International UK released today shows that less than four in ten adults in the UK believe that the Labour government cares about the rights of women and girls.

Ms Kendall previously warned that Grok may not be covered by the proposals  despite it generating around three million sexualised images in less than two weeks, including 23,000 appearing to depict children.

In January, Sir Keir (pictured on March 2) promised to take 'necessary measures' against X after social media trolls used its AI tool 'Grok' to create manipulated images of MPs in bikinis and sexually explicit images of children

Sir Keir branded Elon Musk's (pictured in 2026) Grok 'disgusting' and said the government would 'strengthen existing laws' and 'prepare for legislation if it needs to go further'

Tech Secretary Liz Kendall (pictured) said the government would ban nudification tools through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, currently at report stage in the Lords

In a letter to the Labour MP Chi Onwurah, the Tech Secretary wrote the government has 'identified that not all chatbots are covered' and she has 'commissioned officials to look at how this gap can be addressed'.

But speaking on Monday in the Lords, Conservative peer Baroness Bertin warned the government's legislation would 'bring no change whatever' as the changes would not capture software overseas.

'I believe this legislation would also not have caught Grok. The regulation must go further. Many MPs have been in touch wanting us to get clarity on this point,' she said.

'It is wrong to announce that you have banned something when you potentially have not.

'We have to be really clear on that, because otherwise we have the worst of all worlds.'

Claire Coutinho, shadow equalities minister said: 'This is yet another example of Labour talking tough but failing to deliver.

'By refusing to act on overseas platforms, they are leaving glaring loopholes that predators will exploit. Offering tools to create deepfake nudes must be banned in the UK regardless of where the company is based.'

Baroness Bertin later told the Daily Mail that Grok was 'the tip of the iceberg' as the majority of sexualised deepfake images come from Chinese apps.

Despite this, the government on Monday night imposed a three-line whip on peers in the Lords to vote against Conservative amendments aiming to further regulate the pornography industry.

The bill will return to the Commons just before the local elections, where Labour is expected to cede huge numbers of local council seats to Reform and the Green Party.

Looking ahead, Baroness Bertin said she would be 'deeply uncomfortable' if she were a Labour MP, who may be whipped 'to vote against banning step incest porn and porn that depicts sex with children'.

The government appearing to weaken measures to protect women and girls online comes as Sir Keir has been blasted for running a 'boy's club' in No 10.

It comes after a string of scandals within Downing Street that led Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to complain of Labour briefings 'dripping with misogyny'.

A government spokesperson said: 'This government is taking robust action to protect women and girls from intimate image abuse, no matter where a platform is based.

'We are making the creation of non-consensual sexual deepfakes a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, so services must proactively stop this content appearing.

'We are also criminalising nudification apps, targeting those who profit from the distress of others. Social media and search services will be required to remove content promoting these tools.

'Deepfakes are created through a wide range of AI tools, which is why we are closing loopholes so more chatbots have legal duties to protect users from illegal content. Our message is clear: Intimate image abuse will not be tolerated.'
Savannah Guthrie and her older sister, Annie, left a heartbreaking note at the growing tribute to their mother outside her Tucson, Arizona home.

The Today show host looked visibly heartbroken as she walked arm-in arm with Annie and her brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni on Monday outside Nancy Guthrie's $1 million home in the Catalina Foothills.

They then left behind a note of their own, according to NBC News.

'Momma, we miss you so much!' it read. 'Our hearts are broken.'

'We are standing on ash, scorched earth. But, mom, though we are surrounded by so much darkness and uncertainty, our love burns bright.'

The were seen laying flowers down, in a video obtained by NewsNation, as Annie wept and held onto her husband and sister for support.

Savannah also leaned on her family members as they joined for a group hug in front of the many flowers and messages left for their missing 84-year-old mother.

She shared a photo of all the flowers and other items well-wishers have left in front of the house on social media.

'We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and form around the whole country,' she wrote, adding, 'please don't stop praying and hoping with us. bring her home.'

Savannah Guthrie, her sister Annie and her brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni, placed flowers and a note at the memorial for her missing mother, Nancy, in Tucson, Arizona, on Monday

Nancy disappeared from her home in the early morning hours of February 1

Nancy disappeared from her home in the early morning hours of February 1, when a masked man was caught on her Nest doorbell camera footage.

The unidentified suspect, who is believed to be about five-foot-nine inches, was seen carrying a holster for a gun and an Ozark Trail backpack that is exclusively sold at Walmart.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC on Monday authorities are now also considering whether that backpack may have been purchased through a resale website.

'What I'm saying is, there's all kinds of angles,' he noted, adding that authorities are 'looking at a lot of DNA, but that's still being researched and worked.'

Without any new leads in the case, though, the FBI has said it will be scaling back its search for Nancy, with agents moving to a new command post more than 100 miles away from Phoenix.

At the same time, the Daily Mail revealed that Savannah is preparing to return to New York City soon.

The TV host, who shares two young kids with former Democratic political adviser Michael Feldman, has decided she must get her work life back on track as the search for her mother continues.

'She can't stay in Arizona forever,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'Her kids and her life are in New York City.

'It's what her mom would want her to do. Nancy was Savannah's biggest cheerleader.'

A masked suspect was seen on Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera the night she disappeared

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said his office is continuing to track down leads

At the same time, Savannah is continuing to offer a $1 million reward for any information about her mother's whereabouts.

She posted a series of videos on social media on Friday explaining how tipsters can collect the reward and shared a Today Show report explaining how to submit tips to the FBI.

'Please - be the one that brings her home,' Savannah wrote in a caption. 'Tips can be anonymous, reward can be paid in cash, as explained here.'

But she had acknowledged for the first time earlier in the week that her mother might not be alive.

Savannah is pictured with her sister, Annie, brother, Camron, and their mother, Nancy

'We need to know where she is, we need her to come home,' she said in a video posted to her Instagram account.

'We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves,' Savannah said through tears.

Nanos, the Pima County Sheriff, though, was more optimistic.

'I personally believe Nancy Guthrie is alive,' he told NBC news.

'That's my personal opinion, but that's because I put faith in. That's just who I am.'
Millions of Aussies could soon get extra annual leave with a union pushing for an extra week of holidays and a pay rise for casual employees.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is pushing for the Albanese government to allow employees five weeks of annual leave, instead of four, and regular shift workers six weeks instead of five.

The ACTU is also calling for a 2.5 per cent increase in casual loading to compensate casual workers who do not receive paid annual leave and would miss out on the proposed extra week.

One barrier is that Labor was not elected with a mandate to increase annual leave, and it recently rejected the ACTU's plan to shorten working hours and introduce a four-day work week with no loss of pay.

To improve its chances, the ACTU will seek support from the House of Representatives committee currently reviewing the Fair Work Act's National Employment Standards (NES).

However, the union's push would likely meet fierce resistance from business groups who oppose any extension of the NES in favour of workers while also seeking employer-friendly changes.

Although businesses would have extra costs if workers gained an extra week of leave, the ACTU said it would be cancelled out through less resignations and less injury and stress related leave.

University of Melbourne economics professor Jeff Borland wrote in The Conversation in 2024 that the extra costs would be 'less than you might expect'.

Millions of Aussies could soon get extra annual leave with a union pushing for an extra week of holidays and an payrise for casual employees

'At the moment, an employer pays for 52 weeks to get 48 weeks of work,' Mr Borland said.

'Suppose annual leave increases to five weeks. The employer would then need to pay for 53 weeks to get the same 48 weeks of work.'

He said that would be only about a two per cent increase in labour costs.

If the movement successful, employees would have the same entitlements as IKEA, Bunnings and Apple staff and have the equal forth most annual leave in the world.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said the changes would be 'fair and reasonable'.

'Getting back one of these weeks will mean a better-rested and happier workforce,' Ms McManus said.

'It's time Australia caught up. Our annual leave has been frozen at four weeks since the mid-1970s, half a century ago.

'Most workers weren't alive when annual leave last went up in Australia.'

The Australian Council Of Trade Unions (ACTU) is pushing for the Albanese government to allow employees five weeks of annual leave, instead of four, and regular shift workers six weeks instead of five

She said the changes would boost productivity at work.

'The average Australian would need to see their real wage increase by 10 per cent to make up the difference between productivity improvements and real wage growth since 2000,' she said.

'An extra week of annual leave would help to reduce that gap.'

Ms McManus said there was proof the proposed system would work.

'The majority of European countries have already moved beyond four weeks,' she said.

'Countries like Austria, France and Spain have already recognised the importance of rested, healthier employees and have higher rates of annual leave than Australia does.

'They are some of the most productive and competitive economies in the OECD.'
Megyn Kelly once again criticized President Donald Trump's decision to launch strikes on Iran, warning that the conflict could erode his support among women.

The former Fox News host said polling shows Republicans largely support the president's actions, while independents and Democrats oppose them - and that women in particular are more likely to be against the war.

'What you're seeing now is support falling basically along partisan lines,' Kelly said.

'Republicans, a majority, support the president. Independents and Democrats are totally against the President on this war, which makes some sense.

'Because, look, I told you guys for the past 20 plus years, I'm a registered Independent. I haven't been a registered Republican in more than two decades, and I'm with the independents.'

Kelly made clear she is siding with voters who are skeptical of the widening conflict.

'As I told you yesterday, most of my Republican audience is supporting the president on it, although a lot aren't,' she continued.

'Actually, there's an interesting poll showing it's breaking down more severely along gender lines, where a hefty majority of women are against it, and men are split almost 50/50, so that's that's all very interesting, but there is no question that the American people don't understand why we're doing it'

Her comments came as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its fourth day, with strikes intensifying and retaliation spreading across the region.

Megyn Kelly has openly criticized President Trumps Iran strikes, saying Americans are divided on the war, particularly along gender lines

Trump has stressed that crippling Irans nuclear and military strength is necessary for US security.

The president said that US and Israel have launched extensive strikes on Iran, significantly degrading its military capabilities. Pictured, Smoke billows following a US-Israeli air strike near the Azadi (freedom) tower in Tehran on Tuesday

US and Israeli forces pummeled targets across Tehran on Tuesday, sending columns of smoke rising over the Iranian capital.

Local media reported strikes on one of the city's two airports and on buildings connected to the committee responsible for selecting a new supreme leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in earlier attacks.

President Donald Trump, who had signaled openness to talks just days before the initial strikes, now appears to be taking a far harder line.

Posting on social media, Trump wrote: 'Their air defense, air force, navy, and leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said: 'Too late!''

During a meeting with Germany's chancellor in Washington, Trump said that 'most of the people we had in mind' as possible successors to Khamenei were now dead following waves of strikes.

He also acknowledged the uncertainty that could follow regime change, saying, 'the worst case would be, we do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person'.

Iran has denied seeking talks. Its ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva rejected claims that Tehran approached Washington, even as the country faced mounting damage from coordinated attacks.

The conflict has rapidly expanded beyond Iran's borders.

A missile launched from Iran is intercepted, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ashkelon, Israel, early on Wednesday morning

Hezbollahs involvement has forced Israel to expand operations into southern Lebanon. Pictured, smoke rises from destroyed buildings after Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon

Thick smoke rises over buildings in Sidon after an Israeli airstrike targeted the headquarters of the Jamaa Islamiya, one of Lebanon's main political groups on Tuesday

Iranian drones and missiles targeted US diplomatic sites across the Gulf. A drone strike caused a fire near the US consulate in Dubai.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strike hit a parking lot and that 'all personnel are accounted for'.

The US embassy in Riyadh was damaged and briefly caught fire overnight after an Iranian drone strike, while the embassy in Kuwait City was struck earlier in the week, according to diplomatic sources.

Qatar reported intercepting missiles aimed at Hamad International Airport in Doha. Oman said drones targeted the port of Duqm.

In the United Arab Emirates, falling debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at an oil storage and trading zone.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards signaled further escalation. General Ebrahim Jabbari warned that if Iran's enemies 'hit our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region.'

Later on Tuesday, the Guards announced 'a large number of missiles' had been fired at Israel.

Israel, for its part, said it had struck an underground facility on the eastern outskirts of Tehran where it claimed Iranian 'scientists operated covertly to develop a key component for nuclear weapons.'

A woman makes a peace sign while standing on a rooftop as smoke rises in the distance over Tehran, Iran following explosions in the city

A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday

The sun sets behind a plume of smoke rising after a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran

Israeli forces also moved deeper into southern Lebanon after Hezbollah entered the conflict, firing missiles in support of Tehran.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said troops had been authorized to 'take control of additional strategic positions in Lebanon in order to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities,' while army chief Eyal Zamir vowed Israel 'will not stop until this organisation is disarmed'.

Inside Tehran, the atmosphere has turned surreal. The capital, normally home to around 10 million people, has emptied out after authorities urged residents to flee.

'There are so few people that you'd think no one ever lived here,' said Samireh, a 33-year-old nurse. Police and security forces have set up checkpoints at major intersections as the bombardment continues.

Global markets have reacted sharply. Energy prices have surged.

QatarEnergy halted LNG production and announced it would also stop some downstream output, including urea, polymers, methanol and aluminum.

India warned that disruptions to trade and energy supply chains could have 'serious consequences' for its economy.
AirAsia has revealed plans to drop flights between Darwin and two popular overseas holiday destinations.

The airline announced it would be stopping services to Kuala Lumpur and Bali from April 28.

'Despite operating the routes for close to 12 months in the hope that demand would grow to a sustainable level, passenger numbers have remained commercially unsustainable,' AirAsia said in a statement.

'This decision was reached in a spirit of transparency and mutual respect, and AirAsia remains open to returning to Darwin should market conditions change.'

The move comes as part of AirAsia's initiative to have more of a presence 'across major Australian gateways with a series of network enhancements'.

AirAsia X chief commercial officer Amanda Woo apologised to those affected, but reiterated it was part of its business plan, as the airline adds a new service in Melbourne and expands the number of flights in Adelaide.

'We understand that the suspension of our Darwin routes impacts travel plans and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,' Ms Woo said.

'The capacity will be redeployed to other Australian destinations, further strengthening AirAsia's commitment to the market.'

AirAsia has unexpectedly suspended two of Darwin's most prominent air services, severely damaging its relationship with the Northern Territory government

The airline announced it would suspend its flights for the Darwin to Kuala Lumpur and Darwin to Bali routes from April 28, just over a year since the introduction of the latter service (stock image)

This wasn't the first time the airline pulled a similar ploy, with the Denpasar-Darwin route terminated eight years ago.

NT Trade, Business and Asian Relations Minister Robyn Cahill did not take the news well, telling the NT News she would think twice about working with the airline again.

'It's incredibly disappointing,' Ms Cahill said.

'I know it's a commercial decision, but feedback from travellers is strong, the service is great and this is just a really disappointing decision AirAsia has made.

She said she felt the airline pulled the plug too early.

'AirAsia hasn't even given it a year, and everybody tells me it takes two years to bed in a new route like this one and you need at least one year to gauge how things are going,' she said.

'I'd be so cautious about ever doing business with AirAsia again.'

To make matters worse, the NT's Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme helped fund the suspended Kuala Lumpur route.

AirAsia has axed its flights from Bali to Darwin (stock image)

'When you enter into a partnership like this, you at least hope they'll give it time and create that demand,' she said.

'You have to change peoples' behaviours.

'This was a particularly exciting opportunity for our international students who could fly home directly to Kuala Lumpur.'

Tourism Top End was also among the disgruntled parties, especially since the new routes had promised greater access for international tourists to the region.

'Airlines make decisions based on profitability and demand, and if the demand's not there, there's no point in staying,' Tourism Top End's Samantha Bennett said.

'This is what happens when we cry out for more seats, when what we need to concentrate on is improving capacity.

'We see 80,000 visitors who come here mainly for the nature and the wildlife and who need better infrastructure in our parks.

'We need more camping grounds, better signage, better facilities and the industry has to be focused on new product development because there is a need for more things for people to do.'

AirAsia is contacting customers directly affected by the suspensions and promised refunds would be received within 14 days.

AirAsia will launch a new flight service between Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Denpasar on March 21.

The airline will increase weekly services between Adelaide and Bali from four to seven flights.
The divisions ripping the Middle East apart today are not new. Indeed, they are almost as old as the beginnings of Islam, 1,400 years ago.

But now they are also fuelled by oil and gas wealth, nationalism, ethnic rivalries and tensions over relations with the West  and, above all, attitudes to Israel. The mosaic of allegiances is complex, dynamic and at first impenetrable, with both unlikely alliances and feuds of exceptional bitterness.

Yet there is a clear way to understand it all. At the heart of it, of course, is the vicious enmity between Islam's two main sects, the Sunnis and the Shi'ites. These traditions have different legal systems and, crucially, disagree about how their religion should be ruled.

Shi'ites see their leaders, ayatollahs, as infallible and appointed by Allah, sometimes descended from the Prophet Muhammed himself. Sunnis don't have a clerical hierarchy; they judge each preacher on his merits.

More than four-fifths of the Muslim world are Sunnis, making up the majority in most Arab countries, as well as Pakistan. (In Britain, 95 per cent of Muslims are Sunnis.)

However, in Iran, as well as neighbouring Iraq and Azerbaijan, the majority are Shi'ites. Large Shi'ite populations also live in Yemen, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

This alone sets the conditions for an internecine struggle. And it is vital to understand the conflict unfolding in this most volatile of regions.

The Iranian revolution of 1979 that deposed the Shah was no mere political shift: it was a religious takeover. Across the Middle East, most Shi'ites regarded Ayatollah Khomeini, who led the new government in Tehran, as their supreme religious leader.

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President Donald Trump overseeing Operation Epic Fury activity against Iran from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida

In Iraq, Saddam Hussein's Sunni government feared the consequences of a Shi'ite uprising. In the ensuing war, waged throughout most of the 1980s, more than a million people were killed. Even that cataclysmic conflict could be dwarfed by the war that threatens to consume the entire region now.

So let's look at what is unfolding in the vast region  from Egypt to Pakistan  now a patchwork of states divided into three clear positions: the pro-Iranians, the anti-Iranians and those maintaining neutrality.

Iran's regime, or what's left of it, is fighting for survival. The secret police of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), numbering about 125,000, have ruled by fear for decades, and can expect no mercy if the Islamic Republic is overthrown.

In the past few months, they are thought to have executed more than 30,000 dissenters.

Their high-risk strategy appears to be one of economic havoc. The Gulf states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) are completely reliant on two sources of income: Exports of oil and gas, and Western tourism and expat businesspeople and financiers. War threatens to wreck both these business models.

If the Strait of Hormuz and parts of the Red Sea are closed to cargo, energy shipments will be constricted  which Tehran's attacks on refineries will exacerbate. Europe and Britain in particular can expect steep increases in fuel prices.

At the same time, with Westerners flocking to Dubai and other Gulf destinations for holidays, several Arab nations had been trying to reinvent themselves as tourism hotspots.

Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan can all see the potential... but their ambitions are being blown apart by missiles and drones.

Smoke billows from Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery after a reported Iranian drone strike in Saudi Arabia

If Iran can inflict enough pain on its neighbours, it hopes to turn them against America and Israel. But in doing so, it is provoking neutral states to side with the West.

Last night, sources close to the governments in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia said a combined retaliation was being planned  involving military co-operation that, until now, seemed hugely improbable.

Baffling as this all seems, we have to try to understand what motivates the current war, and understand the other rivalries across the Middle East to avoid clumsy mistakes making things much worse.

Who hates who in the Middle East?

Pro-Iran

Turkey

For centuries the Sunni Turkish Ottoman empire and the Shi'ite Iranian empire were enemies, but Turkey needs access to Iranian oil and gas. Its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is very anti-Israel, and condemned the killing of the ayatollah. This means the Nato member-state with the second largest military after the US appears hostile to the attack on Iran.

Lebanon

Under Lebanon's constitution Christians get to nominate the president, Sunni Muslims the prime minister and Shi'ites the speaker of its parliament. Of these, the militant Shi'ite Hezbollah is the largest voting bloc and also Iran's proxy army against Israel.

On Tuesday the Israeli army re-entered southern Lebanon after Hezbollah fired rockets over the border for the first time since October's Gaza ceasefire and after the prime minister banned the group's military and security activities. Many features of terrorism today, such as the lorry bomb, began in Lebanon 43 years ago.

Iraq

Iraq's 60 per cent Shi'ite majority has consistently voted for pro-Iranian politicians. Only a month ago, Trump was threatening Iraq with sanctions should veteran pro-Iranian Nouri al-Maliki be elected prime minister. Apart from religious sympathy with fellow Shi'ites, Iraq is heavily dependent on electricity from Iran. America has tried to stop Iraq paying billions to Tehran.

Yemen

Iran's proxy group, the Shi'ite Houthis, dominate the north of this divided country controlling its capital, Sanaa. Yemen's position next to the global shipping route from the Indian Ocean, through the Red Sea to the Suez Canal, makes it strategically sensitive. In the Gaza War that followed October 7, the Houthis used drones to attack shipping to try to force Israel into concessions. Israel didn't give way, but the US and its Nato allies gave up their efforts to suppress Houthi attacks and made a deal. That's a bad omen if the Houthis start firing drones again.

Neutral

Egypt

The Middle East's most populous country (100 million people call Egypt home) considers itself the leader of the Arab and Muslim world. Although relations with Iran have thawed in the past year, a full quarter of Egypt's budget is dependent on revenue from the Suez Canal shipping tolls and low-interest loans from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. If the Gulf States are badly hit by the Iranian war then they may cut their subsidy to Egypt  which could cause Cairo real trouble as fuel and food prices rise.

Oman

Upmarket tourism hotspot Oman has tried to act as the mediator between Iran and its two main enemies, the US and Israel. As Iran's closest neighbour across the Strait of Hormuz, just 24 miles at its narrowest point, Oman is very conscious of the economic consequences of the war.

Pakistan

Pakistan is an ally of fellow Sunni country Saudi Arabia. But given its large Shi'ite minority, the Pakistani government in Islamabad has tried to maintain good relations with Tehran and it sent condolences on the death of the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei in Saturday's airstrike.

Anti-Iran

Armenia

The small Christian state to the north-west of Iran is sandwiched between Turkey and Azerbaijan, two traditionally Muslim societies with a similar language. Because hundreds of thousands of Armenians live in Iran, Armenia looked to it as a potential protector until 2022, when Iran did nothing as Azerbaijan defeated the Armenians in a border dispute. Facing an election in June, the government has turned to Trump for support.

Syria

Since the fall of Iran's ally, the Shi'a dictator Bashar al Assad in 2024, Syria has swung 180 degrees. The new regime, led by an ex-Al Qaeda Sunni fundamentalist (Ahmed al-Sharaa), is bitterly hostile to Iran. He has been pragmatic in his dealings with the US and Israel, prompting Trump to lift sanctions. After 12 years of bitter civil war, Damascus hopes to revive its tourism sector.

Jordan

The only Arab monarchy with little oil or gas revenue has been at peace with Israel since 1994  prompting an influx of US aid, but provoking the ire of Iran. Its population is almost entirely Sunni. Tourism plays a big part in the economy but, since it lies under the flight path of Iranian missiles and drones heading for Israel, visitor numbers have plunged.

Azerbaijan

The ruling Aliyev family in Azerbaijan have used their country's oil and gas wealth to buy Israeli weapons and have let Israeli intelligence operate on their territory. This has led Iran to see Azerbaijan as a hostile state that might try to use its common language and shared religion and history to stir up Iran's 25 million Azeris into rebellion, hoping to re-unite the two Azeri-speaking regions.

Kuwait

Kuwait's Emir helped fund Saddam Hussein's war with Iran from 1980 to 1988, something Iran has never forgiven. Because it was rescued by America in 1991, the Kuwaiti monarchy lets the US use the country as a base for attacking Iran. Tensions exist between its Sunni and Shia populations, but a worse problem is looming: if war obliterates Kuwait's oil revenue, it won't be able to pay the three million foreigners in its service industry.

Afghanistan

Only 48 hours before the US-Israeli attack on Iran began, Afghanistan went to war with Pakistan. The fiercely Sunni Taliban see Iran as a threat, not least because of Tehran's good relations with Islamabad, which sees the Taliban as sponsoring fundamentalist insurgents destabilising Pakistan.

Bahrain

An island kingdom, Bahrain has a big Shi'ite population ruled by a Sunni monarchy. On Tuesday Saudi troops crossed the causeway to suppress pro-Iranian protests, even as Iranian drones struck its US radar and eaves-dropping posts, and the naval base shared with 300 Royal Navy personnel.

Qatar

The emirate of Qatar is hugely wealthy because of the gas fields it shares with Iran. This unusually, led to good relations with Iran  until now.

Qatar has also been hostile to Israel, especially in the recent Gaza War when Hamas leaders lived in splendour in the capital, Doha. Last year, Israel launched an unsuccessful 'decapitation' air-raid on the Hamas compound.

But Qatar is also home to the US's Central Command  which is running the war with Iran  with a big airbase and naval presence. So Iran has been bombing Qatar hard  and not just its US sites. The Iranians have managed to stop Qatar's export of liquefied natural gas to Britain and the EU. This also provides more than 40 per cent of Taiwan's gas and a quarter of South Korea's.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become hubs for air travel, tourism and many well-off foreigners, especially in financial services. The UAE has also imported Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos to cater to its wealthy inhabitants. If they flee, its low-tax lifestyle could dissipate quickly.

Iran is likely to attack essentials like desalination plants. Already all drinking water is imported, costing more than oil.

Saudi Arabia

Unlike the Gulf mini-monarchies, with their tiny populations, 30 million Saudis expect welfare and healthcare from their king and effective leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, whose dynasty protects Islam's holiest shrine in Mecca.

It was reported this week that the prince urged Trump to strike Iran in a phone call  warning that Iran would become more formidable if Washington failed to deploy military force. It's a risky strategy. Even before this war, Riyadh was suffering a cashflow problem. Rising oil prices won't help if tankers can't carry oil, and pipelines and terminals are being bombed. Yesterday, two drones targeted the Ras Tanura refinery, one of the world's largest crude oil processing facilities.

Saudis have also seen sharp cuts in their real incomes over 30 years.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the media misunderstood his comments indicating that the 'imminent threat' prompting the US to strike Iran was a pre-planned strike by Israel.

Rubio, speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill before a closed-door Senate briefing on Iran Tuesday, said he was the victim of a bad clipping job and that he never indicated that Israel forced the US to strike Iran preemptively.

'I told you this had to happen anyway,' Rubio said. 'The President made a decision, and the decision he made was that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind its ballistic missile program, that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind its ability to conduct these attacks.'

'That's what I said yesterday, and you guys need to play it. If you're going to play these statements, you need to play the whole statement, not flip it to reach a narrative that you want to,' he added.

The response was a U-turn from his comments to reporters on Capitol Hill the day before, when he indicated that impending Israeli strikes on Iran would result in a counterattack on US soldiers - an expectation that worried Trump and top officials.

On Monday, Rubio said, 'We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces,' Rubio said.

'And we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.'

President Donald Trump strongly denied that Israel pushed the US into war with Iran on Tuesday, saying that he actually might've pressured the Israelis into action, a likely impetus for Rubio's head-spinning reversal.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed he was the victim of a bad video clipping job, and that he did not say on Monday that Israel's planned strikes on Iran forced the US to strike the country preemptively

'We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces,' Rubio said on Monday. 'And we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties'

Part of the administration's consideration to attack Iran was the possibility of US soldiers getting targeted in Iran's counterattacks should the country come under attack, Rubio said Monday

'No, I might have forced their hand,' he stated.

Rubio's admission on Monday enraged both Democrats and Republicans.

'Secretary Rubio says the quiet part out loud: this is an unnecessary war of choice,' Democratic Congresswoman Sarah Jacobs reacted. 'Israel forced our hand  there was no imminent threat to the United States. And instead of talking Israel out of going to war, President Trump went along with it and put U.S. lives at risk.'

Former Republican Congresswoman and ex-Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene told conservative pundit Megyn Kelly that the US strikes on Iran were not MAGA.

'"Make America Great Again" was supposed to be America first, not Israel first, not any foreign country first, not any foreign people first, but the American people first,' Greene said.

White House officials posted repeatedly about Rubio's Monday remarks on Tuesday, combatting claims that the US was pressured into attacking because of Israel's planned strikes.

'No, Marco Rubio Didnt Claim That Israel Dragged Trump into War with Iran,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote Tuesday morning.

The four-day conflict has seen thousands of US and Israeli strikes within Iran. On the offensive's first day, the US-Israel coalition killed Iran's longtime leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and around 40 top military and political officials.

Smoke rises from central Tehran following reported US and Israeli strikes on Tuesday

In response to the US-Israeli attack, Iran has since launched myriad ballistic missiles and drones at American bases in the region. Iran has also targeted its closest neighbors.

On Tuesday, a CIA outpost in the US embassy in Saudi Arabia was hit by an Iranian strike. It is unclear if any CIA agents or personnel were wounded in the attack.

The Qatari Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the country was targeted by two ballistic missiles launched by Iran on Tuesday. One of the drones struck the Al-Udeid Air Base, which hosts US forces, and the other was intercepted.

Israel, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Oman have also been struck by Iran in recent days.
A Russian oil tanker is on fire in the Mediterranean after a drone attack, maritime security sources have said.

Arctic Metagaz, which is carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is sanctioned by the US and UK, was hit on Tuesday near Malta, according to insiders.

Shocking pictures and footage show the vessel ablaze, with large flames rising and clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.

A source said the boat may have been attacked by a naval drone, suspected to have been dropped by Ukraine, amid the ongoing war between the two nations.

But no evidence was given by the insider for this claim - and it comes as missile attacks rain down across the globe amid growing conflict in the Middle East.

The US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday morning, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei among those killed.

And Iran has responded by launching retaliatory strikes on US assets and allies across the Gulf region, targeting Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Jordan.

The fighting even came to Europe over the weekend, when a drone hit a British military base in the Eastern Mediterranean nation of Cyprus overnight on Sunday.

Arctic Metagaz, which is carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is sanctioned by the US and UK, was hit on Tuesday near Malta, according to insiders

The tanker last reported its position as sailing off the coast of Malta on Monday, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform (pictured)

It comes as missile attacks rain down across the globe amid growing conflict in the Middle East, including in Europe, after a drone hit a British military base in Cyprus on Sunday. Pictured: Flashes in the sky over RAF Akrotiri on Monday, when two further drones headed for the base were intercepted

There were no casualties and 'minimal damage' after the attack on RAF Akrotiri. Two further drones heading for the base were then intercepted on Monday.

The UK has not said where it thinks the weapon came from - but the Cypriot government suspects the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah.

Britain did not join US-Israeli strikes on Iran but is taking part in what the government called 'defensive operations' in the Middle East to protect British citizens and allies -

There are not thought to be any casualties of the fire on the Russian tanker in the Mediterranean.

Maltese armed forces said the crew have been found safe in a lifeboat within the search and rescue region of Libya, north Africa.

'Survivors were subsequently located within the Libyan SRR in a lifeboat during the search effort,' it said in a press release posted on Facebook.

'All crew were reported safely onboard the lifeboat.'

The military added it had received a distress message about the vessel and had located it, without elaborating on its state.

The tanker last reported its position as sailing off the coast of Malta on Monday, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform.

Its Russia-based manager LLC SMP Techmanagement, Russian LNG producer Novatek and Russia's transport ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Security Service of Ukraine separately did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Monday, employees at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus received a message warning them of an 'ongoing security threat' as sirens were reported in the area.

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) had previously said families would be moved to alternative accommodation as a precaution after Sunday's attack.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had agreed to an American request to use British military bases for 'defensive' strikes.

But when address Parliament on Monday, he emphasised the sites are not being used by US bombers.

'The use of British bases is limited to the agreed defensive purposes - we are not joining the US and Israeli offensive strikes,' he said.

The US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday morning, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei among those killed. Pictured: Birds fly as smoke rises after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Monday

And Iran has responded by launching retaliatory strikes on US assets and allies across the Gulf region, targeting Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Jordan. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene of an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday

US President Donald Trump (pictured, in the Oval Office of the White House, on Tuesday) launched an extraordinary broadside against the British premier on Tuesday, for failing to back the American-Israeli strikes

As bombing in the Middle East entered its fourth day, further attacks came across the Gulf. Pictured: Smoke and flames rise after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday

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'The basis of our decision is the collective self defence of longstanding friends and allies and protecting British lives. It is in accordance with international law.'

Sir Keir added the strike on the Cypriot RAF base was not in response to any decision by the UK government.

He said officials believed the drone was launched before Britain announced it would allow the US to use British bases for 'defensive' action.

The PM continued: 'We are not joining the strikes but we will continue our defensive actions in the region.

'France and Germany are also prepared to enable US action - to destroy Iran's capability to fire missiles and drones from source.

'This government does not believe in regime change from the skies.'

But it saw US President Donald Trump launch an extraordinary broadside against the British premier on Tuesday, for failing to back the American-Israeli strikes.

In comments that immediately plunged the so-called 'special relationship' into an unprecedented crisis, Mr Trump declared he was 'not happy' with the PM and accused him of being 'very, very uncooperative'.

Speaking in the White House, the US President hit out again at Sir Keir's initial decision to block the US using British bases to launch attacks on Tehran.

In an apparent reference to Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, the US President said: 'That island It's taken three, four days for us to work out where we can land there.

'It would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours, so we are very surprised.'

Referring to Britain's war-time PM, a bust of whom sits in the Oval Office, Mr Trump added: 'This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.'

He made the remarks as he spoke about the support from European nations for American action in Iran, with the US President saying Spain had been 'terrible'.

Madrid has denied the US permission to use jointly operated military bases on its territory on Iran, with Spain's socialist PM Pedro Sanchez having condemned 'an unjustified, dangerous military intervention outside of international law'.

Mr Trump said the US was 'cutting off all trade' with Spain because of its criticism, adding: 'We don't want anything to do with Spain.'

But he praised 'fantastic' NATO chief Mark Rutte and Germany, saying: 'Germany has been great, terrific.'

The transatlantic rift between the UK and US was sparked by Sir Keir's initial refusal to allow America to use British military bases in their action against Iran over the weekend.

The PM later performed a partial U-turn after Tehran fired retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, with drones and missiles being launched towards British military bases and UK allies in the region.

Late on Sunday, Sir Keir said he had agreed to an American request to use UK bases to protect British nationals and allies in the Middle East.

The PM said he was allowing British bases to be used only for the 'specific and limited defensive purpose' of targeting Iran's missile storage depots and launchers.

Mr Trump has previously referred to asking to use the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which can handle US heavy bombers.

As bombing in the Middle East entered its fourth day, further attacks came across the Gulf, including on the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and a US-run naval base in Bahrain.
NSW prisons are rolling out specialised training for guards on how to deal with 'extremist females in custody' as concerns grow over the impending return of the ISIS brides.

The Women in Violent Extremism program, which discusses de-radicalisation and how guards can work with category five prisoners, was implemented just weeks before it was confirmed 11 Islamic-State linked families were seeking to return home to Australia.

Efforts to return the group of 11 women and 23 children from the Al Roj camp in Syria's northeast are now on hold amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Female inmates referred to as category five are typically deemed a special risk to national security, such as those involved in engaging in, or inciting others to engage in, terrorismrelated activities.

These prisoners must, at all times, be confined in special facilities within a secure physical barrier that includes towers or electronic surveillance equipment.

'There's online training now available about how to deal with extremist females in custody and it's very much happened all of a sudden,' a source in NSW Corrections told the The Australian.

'The question is, why would there be the need to be going through this and having to do this now? It was never mentioned before.'

It comes as One Nation's leader Pauline Hanson claimed a freshly renovated wing at the Dillwynia (Windsor) Womens Correctional Facility in Sydney's west will be used to house any of the women that pose a threat to national security.

11 Islamic-State linked women and their children are trying to return to Australia

Prison guards have undergone new training in how to deal with extremist females in custody

Their impending return coincides with a newly renovated wing at the Dillwynia Women's Correctional Centre in Sydney's north

'These officers approached my office out of great concern for Australians' public safety and their own welfare,' Senator Hanson said.

'Their new training coincides with the refurbishment of a 50-bed wing at the women's correctional centre at Windsor designed to house female terrorists.

'I estimate housing these women as Category 5 inmates could cost taxpayers around $1800 a day  or $650,000 per year  per prisoner. The question is: which taxpayers  Federal or NSW  are footing the bill? If they face life sentences, taxpayers are on the hook for tens of millions of dollars.'

However, NSW Minister for Corrections, Anoulack Chanthivong, denied the wing would be used to house any of the ISIS brides.

'The comments being made by One Nation are categorically untrue. Facility upgrade works at Dillwynia Correctional Centre to meet the security, safety and capacity demands of female inmates have been funded since the financial year 24/25 budget,' Chanthivong told the Daily Mail.

'I have been advised by Corrective Services NSW that there is no confirmed entry for Category 5 female inmates into the NSW prison system.'

When asked by the Daily Mail, Corrective Services NSW did not deny that prison guards had recently been trained in how to manage extremist female inmates.

'Community safety is the top priority for Corrective Services NSW. Corrective Services NSW takes the threat of radicalisation seriously,' a Corrective Services NSW spokesperson said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed around a third of the 11 families will return to the state

'CSNSW determines security classifications and placements for inmates to maintain the safety and security of our prisons.

'All correctional officers undergo compulsory training to prevent the risk of radicalisation in the prison system.'

It comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed that about a third of the group were planning to return to the state.

While Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is yet to reveal how many ISIS brides will resettle in Victoria, it's expected the majority of the 11 families will choose to do so.

The Daily Mail has contacted Victoria's Department of Justice and Community Safety with questions on if they plan to roll out similar specialised training for officers.

One of the Australian women in the group has already been slapped with a temporary ban following advice from security agencies.

It's understood the 'temporary exclusion order' is active for two years.

It is unclear whether the woman, who has not been identified, has any children she would be separated from as a result of the order.

Last month, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed none of the other women or children have met the required legal thresholds for temporary exclusion orders.
An Australian family is desperately trying to raise $100,000 after their son was left with horrific injuries following a motorbike crash overseas.

Daniel Rapa, 40, was riding home in Bohol, Philippines, when he drove into an open, excavated roadwork site that had no proper signage in February.

The father of four was diagnosed with multiple head lacerations and a serious spinal cord contusion at the C5 level.

Mr Rapa, who has been living in the Philippines on and off for three years, has severe weakness in both legs, spasticity in his lower limbs, and has lost the ability to move his fingers.

His wife Janice Rapa told Daily Mail he was transferred to another hospital due to a lack of qualified surgeons.

'Due to the lack of a specialist spinal surgeon in Bohol, Daniel had to be urgently transferred to Cebu the following day,' she said.

'He underwent complex spinal decompression surgery, where his C4 disc and C5 vertebra and disc were removed and replaced with a hip bone graft.'

Although the surgery was successful, Ms Rapa said a further complication arose.

Daniel Rapa was riding his motorbike home in Bohol, Philippines, when he drove into an open, excavation site (above)

The 40-year-old was diagnosed with multiple head lacerations and a serious spinal cord contusion at the C5 level



'Only days later, Daniel developed pneumonia,' she said.

'He is currently battling fluid in his lungs and remains on high-strength intravenous antibiotics.

'Despite these complications, he is courageously undergoing daily rehabilitation from his hospital bed, determined to rebuild his strength and regain movement.'

The first challenge is to be able to get Daniel from the hospital bed to a wheelchair.

'The immediate goal is to help him sit out of bed and transfer safely into a wheelchair so he can eventually be discharged and continue intensive rehabilitation,' Ms Rapa said.

'The long-term goal is to bring Daniel back to Australia so he can access specialised spinal rehabilitation that offers him the best possible chance to walk again.'

Mr Rapa's mother Cheryle revealed how the accident had upturned her life.

'My world changed in an instant,' she wrote on a GoFundMe fundraiser.

Mr Rapa has four young boys aged two, four, eight and 14

'As a mother, there is no greater pain than seeing your child lying in a hospital bed facing a long and uncertain road to recovery.'

Mr Rapa's family hopes to raise $100,000 to cover his surgery, medical bills and other hospital costs.

'The medical bills, ongoing care, medical transport and rehabilitation costs are overwhelming for our family,' Cheryle said.

'As a mother, I am humbly asking for your help. I just want my son home safely.

'Any donation, no matter how small, will help give my son the best possible chance to recover.

'If you cannot donate, please share our fundraiser and keep my son in your prayers.'

Mr Rapa has four young boys aged two, four, eight and 14. His wife and children have remained by his bedside since the accident.
Gulf states facing an Iranian drone blitz may only have enough anti-drone defence missiles to last four days.

In a tactic that has surprised the US and its allies, Iran has responded to attempts to force regime change by raining down missiles and drones on its neighbours.

By spreading strikes across more than five countries at once and sustaining over 2,500 drones per day, Tehran is forcing its adversaries to divide their defences.

A source told the Daily Mail: 'At the current rates the supplies could run out within four days.

'The interceptors are being used at an unprecedented speed.'

The vast majority of Iranian projectiles have been blocked, but only a few need to breach the defences of Gulf nations to change the perception of the conflict.

That was brought home last night as footage of a thunderous explosion outside the US consulate in Dubai was shared online.

While nobody was wounded, US sources say, such attacks spread fear and could cause the tourist industry in Gulf nations to collapse.

The US Consulate building in Dubai was up in flames after reportedly being struck by an Iranian drone yesterday

Dramatic footage showed an interception near the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, on March 1

Shahed drones favoured by Iran can be produced more cheaply than the state-of-the-art defensive systems purchased by the UAE, Bahrain and other states from US manufacturers.

A single Iranian drone can cost as little as 26,000 to produce, researchers say, while intercepting it can cost anywhere up to 3million.

Fabian Hoffman, missile expert at the University of Oslo, told the Wall Street Journal that oil-rich Gulf states will 'feel the pain of the interceptor shortage'.

Since the campaign began, the UAE said it had been targeted by around 200 Iranian ballistic missiles, eight cruise missiles and 689 drones.

It intercepted all of them, but 44 drones struck the country. Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar have also suffered heavy barrages.
Ant and Dec's art dealer made 'secret and unauthorised profits' while selling, buying and loaning artwork including a Banksy on their behalf, the High Court has heard.

Court documents filed in support of a claim issued by the TV presenters said they believe there is a 'good arguable case' that they are the victims of wrongdoing by the unidentified person in respect of their 'personal and joint art collection'.

At a hearing on Tuesday, lawyers for Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly asked a judge to order a separate art dealer, Andrew Lilley, and his company, Lilley Fine Art, to disclose information on their dealings with the unnamed person, who was referred to only as X during the hearing, and their company as X Limited.

The presenters do not allege that Mr Lilley and his company have committed wrongdoing but are instead 'mixed up in the wrongdoing', with the court told it was 'likely' Mr Lilley and his company 'hold information that will help the applicants uncover wrongdoing'.

Harry Martin, for Ant and Dec, told the court that there were 'at least 22 cases' of Mr Lilley and his company being involved in purchasing artwork from the presenters, which totalled 'a substantial sum'.

One example, a Banksy work titled Napalm, had a sale price of 13,000  but remittance showed X Limited received 10,450, following the deduction of X's 550 commission.

The barrister said this 'gives the impression that the respondents paid 13,000, X told the applicants that they had in fact paid 11,000, and there is a discrepancy of 2,000 between the two'. He also claimed X had been receiving sums of money and 'keeping some' while telling Ant and Dec that the figure received was smaller.

Mr Martin told the court the order was 'the only route that the applicants have to getting this information and getting the truth'.

Ant and Dec's art dealer made 'secret and unauthorised profits' while selling, buying and loaning artwork including a Banksy on their behalf, the High Court has heard (Pictured: And and Dec on the Graham Norton Show in 2025)

He said: 'The wrongdoing that is suspected is that X and X Limited made secret and unauthorised profits.'

He said that Mr Lilley  who did not attend the hearing  and his company 'do not oppose' the bid but were 'not willing to provide what they have without a court order'.

In court documents, Ant and Dec said they were 'willing to compensate' Mr Lilley and his company for complying with any order made.

Judge Iain Pester said he would rule on whether to order the disclosure and if X and X Limited can be identified at 10am today.
MPs and policing experts have led calls to ban an annual march in London in support of the Iranian regime.

The Al Quds demonstration, due to take place on March 15, is intended to express solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israel.

But, as the UK draws up plans to send a warship to defend the RAF airbase in Cyprus struck by an Iranian drone, there are renewed calls for Al Quds to be blocked.

Marchers in Britain have previously carried the flags of Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah, and placards calling for the destruction of Israel.

The march is organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) which previously described the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as a 'rare role model'.

Lord Pickles, former UK special envoy for post-Holocaust Issues, said: 'I am in favour of free speech and reasonable demonstration but (allowing this march to go ahead) is taking the mickey out of the British constitution.

'Given what is going on in the world, I think it is ridiculous that police resources should be diverted for something like this.'

Labour MP David Taylor added: 'We cannot allow hundreds of supporters of Iran's hardline regime to march through London calling for strikes on Israel and death to the West.'

MPs and policing experts have led calls to ban the Al Quds demonstration, an annual march in London in support of the Iranian regime (Pictured: The annual London Al-Quds day march on March 23, 2025)

Former police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire, Festus Akinbusoye, said: 'We have got British people who are of Iranian and Persian descent whose families had to flee from the brutal regime of the ayatollahs. This protest would be rubbing their faces in it.'

Lord Austin of Dudley described Al Quds as 'a hate march by fans of an Islamic dictatorship that recently slaughtered 36,000 of its own citizens who dared to come out and protest against it'.

The former MP called for anyone who joined the marches to be deported.

The Metropolitan Police said: 'Officers will take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime, including anti-Semitism, and support for proscribed organisations.'

A spokesman for IHRC said: 'Any ban on Al Quds Day would destroy any remaining credibility that the UK has.'
A teen lied about his age to a former Liberal MP before the pair had sex on the floor of a dirty car park bathroom, jurors have been told.

Rory Amon was a 27-year-old aspiring politician when he met the teenager at his Sydney apartment block in July 2017.

He admits having sex with the 13-year-old on one occasion at night in the underground car park bathroom.

But this was far from a case of a man lurking in a space for children, a NSW Supreme Court jury was told on Tuesday.

Amon met the teen on a gay dating website where users had to be over 18 to sign up, defence barrister Matthew Johnston SC said.

'This is not a case ... where there is an adult who's on a chatroom that's frequented by 13-year-olds and is tricking them into a meeting,' he told the jury.

The alleged victim admitted lying about his age, once in signing up to the website and again when chatting to Amon, Mr Johnston said.

This was the only reason his client had met the boy, he argued.

Rory Amon met a boy for sex because the teen had lied about his age, the ex-MP's barrister said. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

If the teen had said he was 15 - as he claimed in the witness box - the former politician would have ceased chatting to him immediately, the barrister said.

Instead, the 13-year-old bolstered his lies by sending photos and messages, which made him seem older with the intent of meeting Amon for sex, Mr Johnston said.

'I'm raising that not to, in any way, say that (the alleged victim's) to blame for anything,' he told the jury.

'He was 13 ... adolescents make stupid decisions all the time.'

But the jury was urged by prosecutors to reject Amon's evidence he thought the teen was above the age of consent.

'Using your common sense and experience, you may have very little difficulty finding this accused is guilty,' crown prosecutor Meaghan Fleeton said.

It would have been obvious to Amon when he met the boy in person he was under 16, she argued.

She said the intelligent, articulate former MP had lied about his age to manipulate the boy before pursuing and sexually assaulting him.

The alleged victim was a child with no sexual experience at the time, she said.

Now 36, Amon has pleaded not guilty to 10 child sexual abuse, child rape and indecent assault charges.

He admits meeting the boy for sex once, but denies allegations of a second meet-up where a towel was brought to the bathroom.

Mr Johnston suggested the incident had 'grown' in the complainant's mind over the years as he grappled with its impact.

'Some witnesses - they believe they're telling the truth ... but they're genuinely mistaken about some things,' he said.

But the Crown portrayed the key witness as honest and who broke down when testifying.

'You saw (him) get upset when shown the photos of the car park toilet - that dirty, hidden car park toilet - where he had his first sexual experience,' Ms Fleeton said.

'It was a significant and life-changing course of events.'

There would have been a window of opportunity in July 2017 for both of these 'hasty hook-ups' to have taken place, she argued.

Soon after the alleged sexual abuse, he gave some details of what occurred to his mother, friends, school counsellor and psychologist, she noted.

The complainant first became aware of Amon's identity in 2020 through a COVID-19 announcement when the former Liberal was a councillor.

The two reconnected on Snapchat in 2019 and then on Grindr in 2022 when Amon sent him some photos, including one in his volunteer firefighter uniform.

The trial continues on Wednesday.
Sir Keir Starmer's unpopularity crisis deepened last night as a bombshell national poll put the Greens second  ahead of Labour.

Zack Polanski's party has also leapfrogged the Tories following last week's by-election humiliation for the Prime Minister.

It prompted warnings that Labour will be forced to form a 'scary coalition of the Left' with Mr Polanski, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the SNP at the next election.

Support for the Greens is now at 21 per cent, up by four points in the week since their victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, according to the YouGov voting intention survey.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK topped the poll on 23 per cent, with Labour and the Tories tied on 16, both down two.

The Lib Dems were unchanged at 14 per cent.

The poll gives the Greens their highest national voting intention score  and also represents Labour's lowest.

It comes as Election Maps UK's Nowcast Model  which simulates how a general election would pan out if one were held tomorrow  projected that Reform UK would be the largest party.

Election Maps UK's Nowcast Model  which simulates how a general election would pan out if one were held tomorrow  projected that Reform UK would be the largest party

Sir Keir Starmer's (pictured on March 2, 2026) unpopularity crisis deepened last night as a bombshell national poll put the Greens second  ahead of Labour

Mr Farage's party would win 227 seats, an increase of 222, according to the model.

The Greens would be the second-biggest party, with 135 seats, while the Lib Dems would have 92 MPs.

The simulation also projected that the Tories would win 59 seats, a drop of 62, while Labour would lose 371 MPs, leaving it with just 40.

The model suggested that if Left-wing parties formed a coalition, they would have 335 seats, nine ahead of the figure needed to form a majority.

Robert Jenrick yesterday said the possibility of a Left-wing coalition had to be 'taken seriously', warning it would consign Britain to 'five, ten years' of decline.

The Reform MP told TalkTV: 'The next general election, whenever it comes, is likely to be a straight fight between Nigel Farage and Reform on the one hand, and a scary coalition of the Left on the other hand.

'Whether that's Keir Starmer or whoever has replaced him when he's kicked out, like Angela Rayner, in coalition with Zack Polanski and the Green Party.'

The poll of 2,073 adults found that the Greens are the most popular party in all age groups under 50, with 49 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds and 27 per cent of 25 to 49-year-olds willing to back them.

They are also the most popular with female voters, backed by 23 per cent of them.

The poll also reveals voters who backed Labour at the general election are abandoning the party for the Greens.

Some 31 per cent who backed Sir Keir at the last election said they would now vote for Mr Polanski's party, with 43 per cent still willing to support Labour.

Meanwhile, 28 per cent of those who voted Tory in 2024 would now back Reform, compared to 62 per cent who would vote for Kemi Badenoch's party again if a general election was held tomorrow.

Anthony Wells, at YouGov, said the polling is likely to have been driven by 'publicity from the Gorton and Denton by-election'.
A disgraced Louisiana mayor wept uncontrollably today as she was convicted of romping with her sons underage friend at a boozy pool party.

Misty Roberts, 43, dabbed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief as jurors took less than an hour to find her guilty of indecent behavior and carnal knowledge of a minor.

The petite blonde mom-of-two was warned she faces up to 17 years behind bars when she reports for sentencing next month.

Roberts, the once-influential mayor of the tiny western Louisiana town of Deridder, will also be required to register as a sex offender.

She refused to comment as she left Beauregard district court early this evening on a $100,000 bond and hopped into her smart BMW.

A week-long trial heard how the glamorous divorcee drank to excess before making out with her teen sons 16-year-old friend at a 2024 party at her home.

In closing arguments, defense attorney Adam Johnson admitted that a snatched photo of a bikini-clad Roberts straddling the victim in a locked bedroom was a real bad look.

Misty Roberts, 43, dabbed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief as jurors took less than an hour to reach a verdict

Misty Roberts, 43, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was found guilty of on two counts at trial on Tuesday

On the stand, her son later testified he was not certain that was what he saw. Roberts' daughter said in a recorded interview she saw her mother and the teen 'on top of each other.'

It would not have happened without alcohol. Trying to be the cool parent in a divorce is stupid, Johnson conceded, referring to his clients 2022 split from her ex-husband, Duncan Clanton.

But he argued that cops had failed to prove that a sex crime happened or properly scrutinize differing accounts from various youths who claimed to have witnessed the tryst.

Prosecutor Charles Robinson put the photo of Roberts sitting astride the boy on the big screen for the six-man jury to consider before they retired to deliberate - describing it as lewd and lascivious.

A little under an hour later Roberts, wearing a white and black striped sweater, black pants and designer heels, bowed her head as they delivered their verdict.

Robinson asked Judge D. Kent Savoie to remand Roberts in custody ahead of sentencing but he agreed to let her out on bond.

Im not concerned shes a flight risk, he told the court. She has family and children here.

This was her second trial after a previous case ended in a mistrial due to judicial issues in Beauregard Parish.

Last week, jurors got to hear from Roberts' own children, her ex-husband, a longtime friend, a DoorDash driver and several teenagers who were present on the night of the pool party.

She refused to comment as she left Beauregard district court on a $100,000 bond

Misty Roberts, 43, is seen alongside her estranged husband Duncan Clanton, 43, and two kids

The victim took to the stand to tell the jury that he had been drunk when he and Roberts had sex.

Roberts own two children and her nephew also testified how they saw her and the teen together - although they were unable to say whether the pair had sex.

One of the most emotional moments in the trial came as jurors watched an interview of Roberts' son, recorded last year.

In the courtroom, prosecutors played the full 2025 forensic interview for the jury, during which Roberts son said he saw his mother having sex with his friend through a crack in a window.

But when he took to the stand in person, he told jurors he was uncertain about what he saw.

Text messages between mother and son were displayed in court. In one, he warned her, 'He is seventeen.' Authorities have said the victim was 16 at the time.

Other texts shown to jurors included exchanges about what alcohol the teens wanted for the party.

Messages from that night also showed the son telling his mother that what was happening was 'crazy' and that his younger sister was crying.

Roberts' daughter also testified, as prosecutors played her interview with investigators. In it, she said she saw her mother and the teenage boy 'on top of each other' that night.

Jurors were shown a recorded 2025 interview in which her own son said he saw her having sex with his friend through a crack in a window

Clanton was in the middle of her second term as the municipality's mayor, winning reelection with sixty percent of the vote in 2022

None of the young witnesses testified to seeing 'private parts,' according to testimony. One said the boy was shirtless.

Jurors were also shown photographs from the party, including images of minors holding drinks near the pool.

Prosecutors described one image of Roberts in a bikini standing near the teen - who appeared to be smiling and looking up at her - as 'lewd.'

Most of their bodies were not visible in the photograph.

The court also heard that after the alleged encounter, the teen's mother texted Roberts to ensure she was not pregnant.

Prosecutors said Roberts replied that she was on birth control and later shared a screenshot of that exchange in a group chat, suggesting she would also take Plan B.

A DoorDash driver also testified that he accepted a request from 'Misty C' to purchase emergency contraception and leave it at Roberts' front door.

He told jurors he recognized the house because he had taken his children trick-or-treating there in the past.

In the days that followed, he said he heard rumors about the allegations and believed the delivery he has made was connected to that night.

Roberts' nephew testified that he tried to see what was happening in the room by using his phone's camera.

He said he was unsure whether he pressed 'record,' but if he did, he never sent any video to anyone.

He acknowledged clearing his Snapchat memories before turning over his phone to investigators, explaining that he had photos of himself and friends drinking and was worried about getting in trouble. He testified that he did not intend to delete evidence.

Defense attorneys suggested that part of Roberts' son's recorded interview was not properly transcribed.

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A teenage member of the alleged victim's friend group also testified that the boy appeared drunk and vomited that night. He said Roberts was 'talkative and dancing' and that he saw her flirting with the teen.

He told jurors he later saw Roberts and the boy having sex through a crack in a window. After they came downstairs, he described yelling and a major argument.

He also testified that he was told he could not leave by two adults, Jill Weaver and Roberts.

Roberts was further grilled by her alleged victim's mom after the incident.

'So no protection? Are you on birth control, have you had tubal, hysterectomy??', the boy's mother asked, according to the court papers.

'Birth control. But, it also didn't reach that point in those few minutes to have that concern. I understand the concern, but I can assure you of that', Roberts allegedly said. She has pleaded not guilty.

A criminal complaint seen by the Daily Mail alleges that Roberts 'pressed her butt up against (her alleged victim) while taking a photograph of him.'

'She made statements about being attracted to (the boy), she put her hand on the bare torso area of (the boy) while making said comments to him, she kissed (the boy) in the backyard/pool area, she told (the boy), "We can't do this here.'

The court papers allege Roberts then followed the boy into the 'bonus room' of her home, locked its doors, lay down on the couch with the boy and kissed him.

'She exposed her breasts while kissing (the boy) in the locked bonus room,' the court papers continued. 'She asked (him) why he chose her to have sexual intercourse with.

'She sat on top of (the boy) on the couch in the bonus room as depicted in the photograph taken by the defendant's son,' the papers said.

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Roberts also texted her ex-husband, identified as Duncan Clanton, the papers said.

'I need to talk to you', Roberts said, followed by: 'I just need to tell you in person.'

She continued: 'I f***** up. And I respect you enough to tell you. And I need to.' Clanton's replies were kept out of the court papers.

On the same day, and the day after, Roberts also sent a number of texts to a juvenile who witnessed the alleged incident anonymized with the initials as 'HR', according to the court papers.

She said: 'I love you and I am so sorry. I cannot even believe it. I am sick. That shouldn't happen.

'I really hope this doesn't blow up even worse. I'm scared to death. Please make sure he doesn't say anything please. I am truly sorry.'

The juvenile's responses were also kept out of court papers, to one reply Roberts said: 'I'm ok. Duncan [Clanton] just left again.

'We talked through more stuff. He is worried about you all. Anything new talk? All quiet?'

On Saturday, Roberts' ex-husband, Duncan Clanton, told jurors she confessed to him directly.

Roberts resigned as mayor days before her 2024 arrest. Bond conditions initially limited her contact with her children without her ex-husband Duncan Clanton's permission and revoked child support

Clanton testified that Roberts admitted she had sex with the teenage boy and that their children had caught them in the act.

After speaking with her privately, he said he spoke with their son, who confirmed what Roberts had told him.

Jurors saw text messages between the former couple. On the day of a city council meeting, Clanton wrote to Roberts, 'I would deny what happened if you're approached by anyone at the meeting.'

He also testified that Roberts texted him, 'I need you to deny it, please.'

In another message shown to the jury, Roberts wrote, 'I can't keep hurting others, friends and family. Lord knows I've done enough.'

Clanton said he would not lie about the incident, though he had avoided discussing it.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Todd Clemmons asked whether he agreed Roberts was a great mom. Clanton responded, 'No.'

He later testified he had previously told her she was a great mom because she was in a bad mental place and he was worried about her.

Roberts resigned as mayor days before her 2024 arrest. Bond conditions initially limited her contact with her children without Clanton's permission and revoked child support.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the favorite to become the new Supreme Leader of Iran, was repeatedly treated for impotency at hospitals in the UK, according to a secret US intelligence document.

On Tuesday, Mojtaba, 56, was reportedly preparing to be named successor to his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed along with 48 other senior regime officials in America and Israel's ongoing Operation Epic Fury.

According to a classified briefing sent by the State Department to the US Embassy in London in 2008, and later released by WikiLeaks, Mojtaba was placed under pressure by his family to produce heirs.

It required four visits, including a final stay lasting two months, and he eventually had a son who was named 'Ali' after the baby's grandfather, the then Supreme Leader.

According to US intelligence, Mojtaba married relatively late in life in 2004. That was 'reportedly due to an impotency problem treated and eventually resolved during three extended visits to the UK.'

Those visits were to the Wellington and Cromwell Hospitals in London., according to the intelligence document

'Mojtaba was expected by his family to produce children quickly, but needed a fourth visit to the UK for medical treatment,' it said.

'After a stay of two months, his wife became pregnant. Back in Iran, a healthy boy was born, named Ali for his paternal grandfather.'

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has replaced his father

The intelligence also detailed how 'within the Supreme Leader's office, Mojtaba works in his father's shadow,' and that he traveled with him in Iran and had a' fair degree of control over access to his father.'

He was 'widely viewed within the regime as a capable and forceful leader and manager who may someday succeed to at least a share of national leadership. His father may also see him in that light.'

He was said to be 'close to and well briefed by' the senior leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

'Ali Khamenei is reportedly seen by some within the Leader's Office as treating and consulting Mojtaba as he would an eventual successor to his responsibilities, rather than purely as an advisor,' the report said.

However, Mojtaba was seen as weak in clerical terms.

'(He) is not expected ever to achieve by his own scholarship the status of "mujtahid," far less that of ayatollah,' the report said.

'Mojtaba reportedly is quite aware of his own limitations and does not appear to harbor an expectation of becoming sole Supreme Leader in his own right,' it went on.

Join the debate Should the UK treat controversial foreign political figures in its private hospitals or refuse them treatment?

After the death of his father the Revolutionary Guard pressed for Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed him

According to a US intelligence report Mojtaba was treated at the Cromwell Hospital in London

Mojtaba studied under a hardline cleric who advocated for development of nuclear weapons

However, in the wake of his father's death, Iran's Assembly of Experts, comprised of 88 clerics, has now reportedly elected him Supreme Leader, according to the Iran International TV network.

Clerics could announce the reclusive Mojtaba as successor as early as Wednesday morning, although some had reservations about putting him in danger of being targeted by the US and Israel, the New York Times reported.

The decision was reportedly made after the IRGC put strong pressure on the assembly.

The meeting itself took place online after the venue in the city of Qom, where the assembly was due to convene, was bombed.

Mojtaba's selection had also been seen as unlikely because the regime has long criticized hereditary rule.

Indeed, his own father was against starting a dynasty.

Ali Khamenei, who was 86, had secretly named three potential successors before he died, none of whom was his son, the New York Times reported.

Those he did name were Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, the head of the judiciary, his chief of staff Ali Asghar Hejazi, and Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Iran's first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini.

Mojtaba is Ali Khamenei's second son and has an older brother Mostafa, who is also a cleric.

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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's compound in Tehran after it was hit in Operation Epic Fury

The aftermath of an airstrike near the Ferdowsi square in central Tehran

In recent years Mojtaba had grown in his father's estimation and also became one of the wealthiest people in Iran.

He may be a billionaire and has huge wealth stored in banks in the United Arab Emirates, Syria, Venezuela, and Africa, along with around $300 million in gold and diamonds, and Swiss bank accounts, according to the Arab-language Alquds Alarabi newspaper.

In January he was reported to have moved $328 million to Dubai using cryptocurrency.

Much of his wealth reportedly came from taxes on oil sold to China and India, according to the report.

His investments around the world reportedly include a $40 million mansion on a street known as 'Billionaire's Row' in London.

In Iran, he is said to own a section of the upmarket Abbas Abad neighborhood in north-central Tehran, and vast swathes of land near the city of Mashhad.

He also reportedly has a private jet, a helicopter for urgent trips, a fleet of Mercedes vehicles, and horses.

As Supreme Leader he will now be the commander-in-chief of the regime's armed forces and appoint the leaders of all military branches.

He will also have the final say on policy and choose the head of the judiciary,

Mojtaba was born in Mashhad in 1969 and later served in the Iran-Iraq war.

Studying theology in the city of Qom he was taught by a radical cleric known as the 'Crocodile Ayatollah'.

Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi, who died in 2021, was a prominent hardliner who advocated for developing nuclear weapons and once said: 'The people are ignorant sheep.'

'Mojtaba rose to prominence in 2009 when he helped orchestrate the election fraud that gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term.

He also helped repress the Green Movement, the protests that emerged after that election.

Mojtaba Khamenei visits Hezbollah's office in Tehran on October 1, 2024

Explosions in Tehran following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel

'Mojtaba Khamenei also has a bleak human rights background,' according to the Atlantic Council.

'Mojtaba is extremely close to the leaders of the IRGC and also intimately knows the financial networks under the control of the Supreme Leader.

'This has made some believe that Mojtaba has long been tapped to succeed his father, however awkward that would look in a country that experienced a bloody revolution to overturn two millennia of monarchical rule.'

In 2019 the US sanctioned him for 'representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father.'
A Black Lives Matter founder in Illinois was caught on camera in a violent office confrontation with a female worker who accused him of misusing the organization's money, a report said.

The violent clash erupted into shoving, grabbing and a physical struggle along a corridor at the group's headquarters, according to a police report.

Police in Waukegan, Illinois, were called to the Black Lives Matter Lake County Resource Center on January 12 after reports of a battery involving the group's founder, Clyde J. McLemore, and project manager Nyesha A. Hill.

Surveillance footage and police reports detail a heated confrontation that spiraled into a physical fight between the two inside McLemore's office.

Both said the fight came following a dispute about money.

According to a police report obtained by the Lake and McHenry County Scanner, McLemore told responding officers that Hill stormed into his office while he was working on his computer and began demanding money and cigarettes.

He said he told her that he had neither and asked her to leave.

Body-camera footage shows McLemore telling officers that the organization 'ain't got no money,' adding that funds from a grant had already been spent.

Black Lives Matter Lake County founder Clyde McLemore was involved in a physical fight with project manager Nyesha A. Hill at the groups Waukegan, Illinois office

Surveillance video from the Black Lives Matter Lake County Resource Center shows McLemore and Hill grappling with each other in a corridor inside the building

Black Lives Matter Lake County founder Clyde McLemore is seen giving his side of the story to officers from the Waukegan Police

'That money is gone,' McLemore said in the footage, referring to the grant.

McLemore told police he put on his jacket to leave the office when the situation escalated.

According to the police report, he said Hill grabbed him by the hood and struck him in the face, setting off a struggle between the two.

The pair began pushing and shoving each other around the office before McLemore ultimately called 911.

Officers observed that McLemore had visible injuries, including a scratch on his forehead and lip.

Despite the injuries, he told police he did not want to press charges.

When officers interviewed Hill, she gave a sharply different version of events - one that centered on allegations about the organization's finances.

Hill told police she works for McLemore as a project manager and had gone into his office to ask why she had not been paid.

Project manager Nyesha A. Hill told officers she confronted McLemore about why she had not been paid for her work

The footage captures the two shoving and grabbing each other as the dispute spills out of an office and into the hallway. Here, Hill managed to get McLemore on the floor

At one point in the corridor confrontation, the pair can be seen pushing each other backward and forward during the struggle

According to body camera footage cited in the report, Hill told officers she confronted McLemore about how money connected to Black Lives Matter was being used.

'I told him, "It's not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don't got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money,"' Hill said, according to the footage.

'I'm the one that make this joint work,' she added.

Hill told officers she refused to leave the office until she received the money she said she was owed.

She alleged the fight began when McLemore got up from his chair and pushed her with his hands in an attempt to force her out of the room.

Hill said the confrontation quickly escalated into a physical struggle between the two.

Police observed that Hill had a scratch on her lip and several broken fingernails after the fight.

Like McLemore, Hill also declined to pursue charges.

She told officers she 'does not want to see a black man in jail,' but asked that a police report and witness statement be taken.

Because both individuals had injuries and their accounts of the altercation conflicted, officers said they did not have probable cause to make an arrest.

McLemore told police Hill entered his office demanding money and cigarettes before the confrontation escalated leaving papers all over the floor

In bodycam footage, Hill accused McLemore of spending Black Lives Matter funds on things unrelated to the organization

The surveillance recording shows the altercation unfolding in the hallway area of the organizations Waukegan headquarters with McLemore seen on the floor

The hallway altercation appeared to stem from an argument about money

McLemore serves as Founder and Executive Director of Black Lives Matter Lake County. He has previously served 40 days in jail

Instead, police advised both parties to avoid contact and informed them about how to obtain an order of protection.

The January confrontation was not the only violent clash between the two captured on video.

Police later obtained surveillance footage showing a separate physical fight between Hill and McLemore inside the same office months earlier.

Authorities said the earlier video shows another struggle between the pair that also stemmed from a dispute about money. It remains unclear exactly when that incident occurred.

Hill told police the video was from November 24, while McLemore said it happened on November 2. The timestamp on the recording itself lists October 24.

Detectives obtained the footage after responding to the January 12 incident.

When investigators later spoke to McLemore about the earlier altercation, he told them his office surveillance system only retains footage for about two months and that he did not have a copy of the recording.

He also told detectives there was no surveillance video of the January fight because the altercation occurred inside his office, which is not covered by cameras.

The footage and body-camera recordings also captured Hill telling officers that the pair had clashed repeatedly over finances tied to the organization.

According to the footage, Hill told officers she frequently argued with McLemore over not being paid for her work while she struggled to support her child.

In her statement to police, Hill also alleged that she had seen McLemore spend money intended for Black Lives Matter activities on other things, including 'girls' and gambling.

Clyde McLemore told officers the confrontation began after he refused Hills demand for money. He is pictured here in 2021

During the corridor clash, the two can be seen lunging toward each other as the argument turns physical

The footage captures the pair clutching at each others clothing during the struggle in the corridor

Court records show the dispute later spilled into the legal system.

McLemore subsequently went to the Lake County Courthouse and obtained an emergency stalking no-contact order against Hill.

Both individuals involved in the altercation have prior legal histories.

Court records show McLemore was sentenced in October 2024 to 40 days in jail for taking photographs inside the Lake County Circuit Court and posting them online in violation of courthouse rules.

He later posted a video acknowledging the incident and saying, 'I do what I want to do.'

McLemore has also previously been arrested for trespassing during a Waukegan City Council meeting in October 2022 and for participating in civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in February 2021.

Hill also has a criminal history with records showing she was previously charged in a kidnapping case in Zion in June 2020 in which prosecutors alleged she and an accomplice beat a victim and demanded a ransom for his release.

She was later sentenced to more than four years in prison in that case.

McLemore currently serves as a member of the Lake County Regional Board of School Trustees while also leading the Black Lives Matter Lake County chapter.
The reigning world's most stunning snaps have been revealed as the finalists of the Sony World Photography Awards.

The competition, which has run for nearly two decades, celebrates the most captivating photographs over the last year.

The 30 finalists have been announced alongside more than 65 shortlisted photographers.

The categories span: Portraiture, Street Photography, Travel, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Motion, Lifestyle, Landscape, Creative and Architecture.

This year saw more than 430,000 submissions from over 200 countries and territories, showcasing the competition's international reach.

The 10 category winners will be revealed on April 16 at Somerset House, London, while a selection of photographs will be open to the public from April 17 to May 5.

Below are a picking of the finalists and a selection of shortlisted submissions.

Irishman Shane Hynan's series Beneath | Beofhod, translated as life beneath the sod in Irish, heralds the significance of bogs in Celtic culture

Will Burrard-Lucas, who is from the UK, captured wildlife in Kenya's Maasai Mara National, through his series Crossing Point

Passers-by are pictured by Anita Pouchard Serra in her native country Argentina as they watch capybaras eat grass by the side of the road

In the same series, Burrard-Lucas captures a black rhinoceros crossing the forested river path in Kenya's Maasai Mara Reserve

Rob Van Thienen, from Belgium, attended sighthound training sessions, capturing dogs in action as they chase an artificial rabbit around a track

In the same series, Van Thienen seizes the moment with his lens when a greyhound sprints towards the artificial rabbit

Meixico-born Brian Mena Laureano was shortlisted for the piece Companions in the Fog, where a man stands on a forest path with his dog, surrounded by dense fog and tall trees

Documentary photographer Marius Smiejek, from Poland, captured a child leaning on two yellow balls in Accra, Ghana, earning him a shortlisted title

American Sunita Mandal's shortlisted photograph captured two polar cubs with their mother on Baffin Island, Canada

Photographer David Baxter III's shortlisted photograph saw a massive cloud shaped like an upside-down funnel loom over farmland

Hugo Hebbe, from France, was shortlisted in the Wildlife & Nature for his photograph of a baby gorilla in the Congo Basin, which is part of his series Guardians of the Jungle

South African Samdile Ndlovu from Durban snapped members of the Mthwalume Brass Band for his shortlisted photograph

Seamus Murphy, from Ireland, looked to recreate a 'modern call for humanism' through his series Strange Love, which was shortlisted in the Awards

Award-winning photographer Marcus Westberg, from Sweden, was shortlisted for his photo of elephants wading through marshland

Mandal's other shortlisted piece saw the mother polar bear climb up the ice to her cubs

Baxter III from the United States was shortlisted for another photo, which caught the tunnelling of clouds and nearby lightening

Former swimmer Delfina Pignatiello, from Argentina, caught a group of women in a swimming pool using a waterproof camera

Photographer and light painting artist Liam Man, from the UK, specialises in drone-light painting

Named When Mountains Move, Man captures a man climbing up the Leones Glacier in Chile using drone-mounted aerial lights
Japanese scientists have created an onion that does not make the eyes water when it is chopped, and 180 tonnes are expected to be sold this year.

Researchers spent 20 years creating the onion, known as the Smile Ball, which doesn't smell like a regular onion and is much sweeter.

Cultivated in the northern island of Hokkaido, the onion's popularity is growing, with it first being developed in 2012 before first hitting the shelves in Japan in 2015.

A Japanese team led by Dr Shinsuke Imai first identified the previously undiscovered enzyme that causes eyes to water when cutting into an onion, publishing the findings in the British scientific journal Nature in 2002.

The enzymes released when cutting the onions create a volatile gas which reacts with the natural moisture of the eye to form a mild sulfuric acid.

The body then creates tears in an attempt to flush out the irritant.

Dr Shinsuke's team subsequently bred a vegetable that both looks and tastes like an onion but doesn't produce an acid in human eyes.

The creation won Ig Nobel Prize in 2013, a parody of the Nobel, a satirical award that honours bizarre scientific achievements.

Experts say you may have been storing your onions wrong, as they reveal why you should never put them in the fridge (stock image)

Noriya Masamura, of the company House Foods Group, which been at the forefront of the research into non-pungent onions, told Mainichi newspaper: 'Roughly chop them into pieces about five to seven millimetres thick, toss with a little salt, dried herbs and olive oil, and you'll taste their sweetness and they'll pair perfectly with white wine.'

The Smile Ball, which costs around 70p for a large bulb, is different to the US-grown Suniuon, which also claims to reduce tears when cutting onions.

Sunions, in Waitrose for 1.60 for a packet of three, were created through natural cross-breeding and are a product of more than three decades of farming, research and development.

An onion farmer in Kuriyama, Tamotsu Nishino, 43, who has been producing Smile Ball onions since 2015, added: 'Hearing consumers say they want to buy them again or want more is encouraging.

'Masamura and his team provide detailed data on growing conditions and offer advice, which has broadened my knowledge.'

In Britain, onions are one of the most-eaten vegetables, with the average adult consuming roughly 65 per year.
A nasty primary race marked by accusations that a sitting Congressman used his power to seduce an aide who later killed herself will continue for several more weeks, as the embattled elected official heads into a runoff election.

US Rep. Tony Gonzales did not win the necessary 50% of votes needed for any candidate to clinch the Republican nomination for the district-- instead garnering 41% of the vote.

Instead, the most votes went to GOP challenger Brandon Herrera- a gun enthusiast and YouTuber with over 4.2 million followers- who won 43% of voters. He had 23,614 votes to Gonzales' 22,675.

The two will now face off in a May special election for the second time.

Herrera nearly unseated Gonzales by less than 400 votes in an election two years ago.

Scandal has surrounded the San Antonio Republican since September, when his office's Uvalde regional director doused herself with gasoline and set herself on fire in her backyard.

In October, Daily Mail broke the news that Gonzales, 45, and his late staffer, Regina Aviles, 35, had an alleged affair.

At the time, Gonzales did not deny the affair when given the opportunity by Daily Mail. In November, Gonzales publicly said the rumors about the affair were not true.

However, in the last two weeks, Aviles' husband, Adrian, released a series of text messages from his wife's cell phone number to Gonzales' personal cell.

Congressman Tony Gonzales (pictured with his wife) had hoped to clinch victory in spite of his rumored affair with an aide who later set herself on fire in a horrific act of suicide

Daily Mail first exposed Gonzales' alleged affair with staffer Regina Aviles (above) in October last year

Gonzales rival Brandon Herrera speaks during a campaign rally at the Constantino S Pizza restaurant on February 26, 2026 in Somerset, Texas

The texts showed what Adrian called an 'abuse of power,' as Gonzales hit on Aviles, asking for sexy pics and asking his employee about her favorite sexual positions including 'an-l.'

She repeatedly told him it was 'too far' as he was her boss.

She also asked him if he was drunk.

Today in Uvalde, more than a dozen voters told Daily Mail the cheating accusations made lose support for Gonzales.

'He should have defended himself. That has something to do with my decision,' Alberto Romo told Daily Mail.

'I was happy with the job he was doing, but he really didn't say much about (the accusations.) If I had been accused of something and I am not guilty of it, I will defend. I will come back and say, "What you're saying is wrong."'

In recent days, Gonzales has not denied the accusations, but instead claimed he was victim of blackmail, releasing a private letter sent by Adrian's attorney demanding money for his wife's inability to generate more income for their eight-year-old son.

On Tuesday night, Herrera told Daily Mail the scandal over Gonzales' alleged cheating will continue to be the major issue in the campaign.

'I think it will be a big issue- not only because he pressured a subordinate into unwanted sexual activity- but because he lied. And then when he was caught in that lie because refused to take accountability.'

Congressman Tony Gonzales hosted Elon Musk in September 2023 as he toured the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The aide he allegedly had an affair with, Regina Aviles, can been seen on the right of Musk

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Outspoken voters in Uvalde, Texas- the same town where Gonzales' alleged mistress lived and set herself on fire- said the affair scandal had made them vote against the three-term congressman

Gun rights influencer Brandon Herrera has a following of over 4.2 million on YouTube

Herrera did well in Aviles's hometown, where he outpaced Gonzales on vote-- getting 1,470 compared to the incumbent's 968.

However, some voters said they didn't care what Gonzales did in his personal life.

'To me, it doesn't matter. My personal opinion, if you have someone trying to destroy their character as much as they did Tony...that's a big turn off to me,' Uvalde resident Karen Kalya said of the attacks against Gonzales by Herrera.

While Gonzales remained in hiding Tuesday night, refusing to answer questions about the alleged affair and avoiding voters and reporters, he did tweet his supporters.

'Thank you President Trump and all those #TX23 constituents that support our campaign. Onward to a victorious May,' he posted.

Despite many calls from other Republicans to resign, the defiant member of Congress has announced he will not step down.

That means he will continue to represent Texas's 23rd Congressional district- which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso- until January.

However, the Congressman remains the subject of an investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct.

The federal probe is looking in whether Gonzales broke House rules that prohibit members of Congress from sleeping with anyone they employ or supervise.

Meanwhile, the father-of-six is dealing with trouble at home as well, as Daily Mail exclusively reported his wife had been in denial about his alleged affair until the text messages surfaced last week.

The wife is not okay, a political insider told the Daily Mail.

She was really buying that [the excuse], It just happened once...it wasn't a big deal. This is just political propaganda.

'His wife was in denial about everything until last week.'

Angel Gonzales, the mother of four of Gonzales' six children, has been fielding questions about what's she's going to do.
Donald Trump last night launched another withering attack on Keir Starmer, dismissing him as 'no Churchill'.

In a major blow to the Special Relationship, the US President said he was 'not happy with the UK' and branded it 'very, very uncooperative' over his assault on Iran.

Sir Keir was also under fire closer to home as Britain yesterday scrambled to protect its RAF base in Cyprus, which was hit by a suicide drone thought to have been fired by Tehran's proxies late on Sunday night.

The UK was left embarrassed as military minnow Greece will have warships in position to protect RAF Akrotiri days before the Royal Navy will be anywhere near the danger zone.

And Sir Keir announced that Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon, along with helicopters with counter-drone capabilities, would head to the Mediterranean only after Emmanuel Macron ordered a French frigate to the region.

It came as the French president last night said the US and Israel acted 'outside international law' with their strikes against Iran.

Questions have been asked as to why a British vessel was not deployed sooner, given America had publicly been moving its arsenal into position for some time.

Former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, said 'Nelson will be spinning in his grave' over Britain's response and the state of the senior service, which has scarcely any active ships or submarines to send to a crisis anywhere in the world.

Donald Trump launched another attack on Keir Starmer, dismissing him as 'no Churchill'

He added: 'When I was First Sea Lord, I tended to send warships towards the sound of the guns.

'In January, I pointed out that if the situation with Iran deteriorated the region would be in great difficulty. The Government did not listen. We should have acted sooner.'

Former Royal Navy Falklands conflict commander Rear Admiral Chris Parry decried Labour's 'strategically illiterate' approach to the crisis.

He told the Daily Mail: 'The Government has been shamed into this token, paltry effort by the actions of other countries such as France and Greece.

'As a proud maritime country, our politicians should not have to be dragged kicking and screaming into a conflict in which British lives and interests were clearly going to be at stake.'

HMS Dragon will start its journey from Portsmouth and is not expected to arrive for a week.

While in dock, it was joined by other stricken ships from Britain's cash-strapped fleet undergoing maintenance or repairs.

Other naval ships sit in either Devonport dock, in Plymouth, or at Clyde, rather than being out at sea.

Shadow Armed Forces minister Mark Francois said: 'Britannia once 'ruled the waves' rather than being tied up in port.

'Why, given the US build-up has already been under way for weeks, are we only just sending one now? Why didn't we dispatch one to the Med a fortnight ago?

'It's like Nelson turning up to Trafalgar a week late.'

Asked if the prospect of France sending a warship to defend a British base was embarrassing, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'We've set out multiple times the assets and the capabilities that we've deployed defensively to the region and that includes radar systems, air defence and F-35 jets.

'That is a significant level of defensive capability to our bases in Cyprus.'

Akrotiri was targeted on Sunday night and again on Monday, after Sir Keir eventually gave America the green light to use joint US/UK bases, more than 24 hours after Washington began its operation by taking out Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Mr Trump said last night: 'I'm not happy with the UK. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.

'Spain has been very, very uncooperative and so has the UK. The second one is shocking but this is not the age of Churchill.

'The UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island [Chagos]. That they gave away and took a 100-year lease... what's that all about?'

His remarks will put fresh pressure on Sir Keir to abandon his controversial deal to hand the Chagos Islands, a British territory in the Indian Ocean, to China ally Mauritius, then lease back the crucial military base on Diego Garcia for 35billion.

But Downing Street said: 'The work on Diego Garcia and the deal continues  we have been very clear about its value as a military asset to both the UK and the US, and that position hasn't changed.'

No 10 also claimed the US and UK remained 'staunch allies'.

Chief Secretary to the PM Darren Jones admitted: 'I think the President's frustration, from the way he's articulated it, has been that we were not involved in the initial American and Israeli strikes in Iran.'

But he added: 'As the Prime Minister said... we will only engage British Armed Forces when it's in British interests, with a clear plan and on a legal basis.'
It's the kind of plot you'd expect to see in Midsomer Murders: a group of community-minded villagers happens upon a bloodied dying stab victim as they go litter-picking on a Sunday morning.

Most of us would probably call an end to the day's endeavour, understandably upset by the horror.

But the Wharfedale Wombles are made of sterner stuff.

For when this very thing happened to them at the weekend, they demonstrated true Yorkshire grit, kept calm, dealt with the matter in hand and carried on their work.

For when this very thing happened to them at the weekend, they demonstrated true Yorkshire grit, kept calm, dealt with the matter in hand and carried on their work.

One Womble rushed to the stabbed man's aid while others, pink rubbish bags in hand, collected potential items of evidence to pass to West Yorkshire Police.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Wombles continued on their mission to tidy the streets.

A Facebook post boasted of an impressive 26 bags of litter collected, despite the day's rather unexpected turn.

The litter-picking group Burley in Wharfedale Wombles are pictured with Great Uncle Bulgaria of Wimbledon Common

The road in the village of Wharfedale in Burley, West Yorkshire, was cordoned off after a man was stabbed

In quite an understatement, the group reported that its monthly pick was 'filled with a lot more drama than usual'.

It explained that the Wombles stayed with the victim until an ambulance arrived, adding: 'It was upsetting, and we hope everyone looks after themselves.'

And, showing commitment to the cause, the post concluded: 'Notwithstanding the above drama, we did have a good turnout, with 24 people attending and collecting 26 bags of litter.

'Thank you to everyone who pitched up and pitched in today.'

The incident unfolded shortly before 10am on Sunday in Burley in Wharfedale, a village which appears in the Domesday Book and has a population of 7,000.

West Yorkshire Police has confirmed the man died of an apparent stab injury.

A man aged 30 was arrested nearby and is being quizzed on suspicion of murder.

It is being treated as an 'isolated and targeted incident'.

Retired IT worker Bob Felstead, 67, was one of the Wombles in attendance when the injured man was spotted.

He said a fellow volunteer was 'holding the man's organs in place'.

Pictured: The logo for the local litter picking group Burley in Wharfedale Wombles

An ambulance and air ambulance quickly arrived.

Mr Felstead added: 'I carried on litter-picking. I saw the ambulance in attendance and thought there was not a lot I could do.

'There is not a massive litter problem in the village. We usually get 20 bags of litter, which is what we got on Sunday.'

He estimated around 20 to 30 Wombles were out for the day.

The volunteer said: 'We had no idea of the gravity of the problem. We only knew there was something going on when the helicopter arrived.'

An elderly man, who declined to be named, claimed the victim was stabbed at a nearby property.

'I saw him go in with his mate and when he came out he had been stabbed,' he added.

'His mate was not wounded. He [the victim] staggered around the corner and collapsed.'

Local shopkeeper Wendy Kershaw, 68, said: 'We were in the church. We had to lock the door and stay inside.'

She added that the Wharfedale Wombles were respected for their hard work and she was proud they 'found and stayed with the victim'.
A severed head and body parts have been discovered in the search for a Ukrainian tourist in Bali, just days after he begged his parents to pay his kidnappers $10million in a disturbing 'ransom' video.

Igor Komarov, 28, had been on a holiday in Bali with his Ukrainian girlfriend, glamorous influencer Yesa Mishalova.

Peppered across her Instagram were photos of the loved-up pair on Valentine's Day, with Ms Mishalova in a black string bikini on a boat beside her tattooed beau.

'F*** 14 February, love you everyday,' she captioned the photo, which was shared to her almost 200,000 followers on Valentines Day.

But just one day later, it is understood Mr Komarov was kidnapped by a group of men while on a scooter in Jimbaran, Badung.

Officials have suggested the romantic shots of Mr Komarov and Ms Mishalova may have flagged their location to the perpetrators.

After his kidnapping, a haunting video then surfaced online of a battered and tearful Mr Komarov pleading for his parents' help.

He appeared to be missing a hand and had two black eyes.

Ukrainian Igor Komarov was kidnapped while on a romantic holiday in Bali with his girlfriend Yesa Mishalova in February (both pictured)

A disturbing 'ransom' video online appeared days later, showing Mr Komarov begging his parents to help him and pay $10million to an unnamed group

In a major development on Friday, human remains were discovered at the mouth of Wos River in Bali's lower east coast (pictured)

'They already chopped off some of my limbs, I have broken legs [and they] punched [my] ribcage. I'm already on meds, I already have no limbs,' he said, through tears.

'Mummy, Daddy, I beg you, help me please, you stole those ten million [dollars], which they ask for, return these ten million please.

'An infection will start soon. I'm just dying... I ask you very much, this is a very serious organisation, please help me, no one can find me, neither mafiosos, no one.

'Bring me home, what[ever] is left of me at the moment, please settle with these people, they need ten million dollars, which we stole.

'As soon as these ten million are received in their accounts, they will immediately let me go to the place where they took me.'

There has been no confirmation from Balinese investigators regarding the identity of the kidnappers. The Daily Mail has not been able to verify the original video.

In a major development on Friday, human remains were discovered at the mouth of Wos River in Bali's lower east coast.

Police found a head, right leg, upper chest sections, thighs and internal organs from someone who had died three days prior.

Glamorous Ukranian influencer Yesa Mishalova (pictured right) has shared a series of snaps from the couple's holiday in Bali

Human remains that are being forensically tested against the DNA of Mr Komarov's parents were found on Friday (Ms Komarov and his girlfriend, Yeva Mishalova, are pictured)

Tattoos on the limbs have up to an 80 per cent similarity with Mr Komarov's, Balinese media outlets have reported.

'The bone samples of the mutilated body have been sent to Jakarta for DNA test,' Bali Police Senior Commissioner Ariasandy.

'We are still waiting for the DNA test result.'

It comes after GPS data from a rented minibus led investigators to a villa in Tabanan, where they suspect the 'ransom' video was recorded.

'At that villa, blood traces identical to the victim's were found. Traces were also discovered inside the car,' Senior Commissioner Ariasandy said last week.

'We have checked the blood we found in the car, and it is identical with the DNA of the victim's mother.'

Detectives are also understood to have found a phone and bag belonging to Mr Komarov at the villa.

A suspect, referred to as 'C', was arrested on Monday after allegedly renting the car from which police found the GPS data.

But the senior commissioner said C was 'not directly involved in the [alleged] kidnapping'.

Police said they continue to hunt for six other Ukrainian suspects - identified as RM, BK, AS, VN, SM, and DH - four of whom are believed to have fled Bali.
From where most Australians sit, juggling mortgages, footy and the weekly shop, the latest headlines out of the Middle East can feel like a distant barney between countries we barely understand.

But it won't stay distant if oil prices blow out and petrol becomes even more expensive than it already is. And the risk of Australia being dragged into another 'mateship moment' alongside the US isn't entirely out of the question either.

Canberra has already moved quickly to politically endorse Washington's rationale for bombing Iran, backing 'action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon', while simultaneously insisting Australia did not participate militarily.

That combination of rhetorically aligning with the US - all while attempting to draw a line and say we have had no involvement - is dangerous.

In a conflict like this, the asks from the US rarely begin with boots on the ground. They start with the low visibility, high consequence stuff, such as intelligence cooperation and contingency support.

With shipping already under direct pressure in and around the Strait of Hormuz - a vital corridor for world oil supply - the logic of doing our bit to help secure the world's energy supplies can be presented as defensive and limited.

Until it isn't. We are lucky to be so geographically removed.

But then there is the sovereignty problem. Even when ministers say Australia isn't involved, they decline to speak about what Australia-based joint facilities may be doing in support of US operations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are trying to thread the needle between backing the US action against Iran without getting Australia involved

But who could say whether the Australia-US spy base Pine Gap was involved in the Iran operation

That ambiguity is politically convenient in the short term, but strategically combustible if Iran decides that support and participation are the same thing. After all, not visibly helping didn't save Iran's neighbouring Gulf countries from being bombed.

In such circumstances we should be grateful that the US and Israel have knocked out most of Iran's military capabilities, although the threat of terror by proxies remains real.

Meanwhile, the debate about whether the US and Israeli strikes on Iran breached international law isn't just a nerdy United Nations parlour game.

The whole situation gives rise to key questions that affect Australia: Do the rules that supposedly keep bigger wars in check still mean anything? Did they ever?

The US strikes have been criticised by legal scholars and commentators as sitting outside the UN Charter system.

But Iran has spent years building a way of fighting that sits precisely in the seams of that very system, terrorising its enemies through proxies, such as Hezbollah.

Such warfare isn't war in the conventional sense. It's pressure and violence designed to stay below the threshold that triggers retaliation.

Donald Trump's action against Iran makes clear that the US will consider 'grey zone' operations - where a nation terrorises others under the cloak of deniability - as a trigger for war

Which means staying within international law means the West did little or nothing to combat what Iran gets up to - until this week.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard and its network of aligned armed groups have played this tricky game for decades.

Creating just enough uncertainty to split coalitions, and turn any counterstrike into a legal and moral argument rather than a strategic one.

This is where the legal critique of the current campaign, even if technically correct, collides with a much harder question.

What is the law worth when one side has treated deniable violence as a long term substitute for open warfare?

When the international outrage isn't directed at the violence itself, but at states like the US and Israel when they finally decide to assign responsibility to the state that has been terrorising its region and the global community for decades.

Donald Trump has publicly described the operation against Iran in contradictory terms, but the strategic signal he's sending is consistent: proxy action will now be treated as state action.

It is fashionable to say this is reckless, and maybe it will prove to be. But it also addresses something Western governments have too often been unwilling to admit: that deterrence collapses when the costs of retaliation are seen as too high to green light.

Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates were not involved in the US-Israeli strikes - but that did not stop Iran from bombing them (Dubai attack above) to raise the cost of the conflict

That thinking emboldens the way the likes of Iran continue to terrorise. Iran's model has exploited such Western concerns for decades, confident that alliance politics and legal anxiety would blunt any meaningful response to what they get up to.

The early shape of this conflict, however, appears to be jettisoning the limits of past actions by the West. Targets have included leadership figures and missile infrastructure, with Israel arguing Iran was building deeper protected facilities and US officials pointing to intelligence about looming reprisals against American forces.

Perhaps some of that intelligence will stand up, perhaps it won't. The fog of war is thick, and the incentives to exaggerate are obvious for someone like Trump, especially when public support is shaky at best.

But this is exactly why the international law question, while serious, is a limited consideration.

The danger is that normalising preventive war corrodes what remains of a system designed to restrain it. That matters. It matters especially for middle powers that rely on rules more than force. It's why the Albanese government is in a somewhat awkward position as it tries to back America without joining it.

But there is another danger here, too: that the rules are hollowed out from the other direction, by actors like Iran who wage violence through intermediaries and then demand courtroom standards of proof before the victims of their actions can respond.

If that model is rewarded, it will spread fast. Russia and China already understand threshold manipulation and deniable pressure. So do smaller rogue states that have watched Iran do it for years. The lesson of the past week may be that the US under Trump is prepared to collapse the distinction between proxy and patron.

Trump's outside the box approach is complicating the way Iran is forced to respond to the attacks against it.

A missile launched by Iran is intercepted, above, in this Reuters photo

Striking Gulf infrastructure and rattling energy routes is counterproductive in the short term because it forces Sunni Arab states to cling tighter to American protection and it encourages, at the very least temporarily, more alignment with Israel.

But Iran can cause all manner of problems for a region desperate to become more attractive to foreign investment. The idea that Iran's drone and missile ecosystem can be bombed out of existence quickly should be treated with scepticism.

Without a ground invasion - which for good reason is being ruled out - who is to say that what we are watching play out right now can't continue indefinitely, certainly from Iran's perspective.

If regime change doesn't follow that's a terrible outcome for the Middle East, other than whatever value can be placed in crushing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
A man has been arrested after weapons were found in an unmarked vehicle outside of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton's election night watch party in Texas.

Police found more than a dozen ammo cartridges and boxes of ammunition piled into the suspects vehicle.

Paxton is facing off in a primary contest against incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Wesley Hunt on Tuesday.

Alex Muse, a witness to the incident, said that the man arrested was wearing a camouflage face mask, sunglasses, a hat, and gloves when he stood outside of Marriott's Dallas Uptown location.

The security scare unfolded ahead of a high-profile campaign event for Paxton amid the brutal GOP primary race on Tuesday evening after a suspicious man was detained by police at the hotel venue, per the New York Times.

A Paxton campaign staffer revealed that the man had been seen entering the hotel and asking to use the restroom, sparking concern among staff.

One hotel employee, speaking on condition of anonymity amid the ongoing police investigation, said he briefly spoke with the man, who claimed he was an Uber driver.

But the explanation immediately raised red flags.

According to the staff member, the vehicle the man was driving appeared to have no license plates attached  an alarming detail that deepened suspicions about his intentions.

Police work to clear a scene outside of a watch party for GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton after arresting a man for reportedly have multiple magazines of ammunition in his car on March 3, 2026 in Dallas, Texas

The inside of a car belonging to a man who was arrested after reportedly having several magazines of ammunition outside of a watch party for GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton on March 3, 2026 in Dallas, Texas

Police bag magazines of ammunition after arresting a man outside of a watch party for GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton

A car, seen here with no license plate, is towed after an individual was caught trying to bring a gun into a venue for an election night watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas

Alex Muse recounts what he saw to a group of reporters outside a watch party for GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton on March 3, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. A man was arrested after reportedly having magazines of ammunition in his car

Police swiftly moved in and later searched the vehicle. Officers appeared to remove a license plate from inside the car, though they declined to comment on what the man was being detained for. It also remains unclear whether he was armed when he entered the hotel.

The unsettling incident unfolded shortly before doors were scheduled to open at 6 PM Central Time for the campaign event. Dozens of Paxton staffers and members of the media had already gathered inside the hotel as polls across most of Texas were set, bar a few of the state's most western counties, to close at 7 PM Central.

Despite the tense disruption, Paxton is still planned to appear and address supporters later in the evening.

Paxton is presumed to be the frontrunner in the GOP primary contest, but will most likely not come away with enough votes to win the election outright, forcing a runoff with incumbent Cornyn.
A leading academic who sparked outrage for arguing big business plays a constructive role in pushing Australia towards higher migration levels has hit back after critics accused her of being part of a 'cult'.

Dr Jill Sheppard, a political scientist and lecturer from the Australian National University, said business involvement in political fundraising helps moderate antimigration sentiment among the 'median voter'.

Extensive survey work, she said, shows 'most [Australians] will say no' to more migration, no matter how the question is framed.

Dr Sheppard argued business interests, which favour higher migration for labour supply, growth, and open markets, help counterbalance public resistance.

'My contrarian view on political donations is that money from big business is actually good,' she told ANU's 'Democracy Sausage' podcast.

'It gets us to a healthy equilibrium, especially on issues like immigration, and can mitigate against these populist tendencies.'

She acknowledged political donations can have questionable effects, but warned parties responding only to anti-migration views could pull migration policy away from what is economically necessary.

Dr Sheppard suggested as minor parties like One Nation gain popularity, business influence could moderate their hardline positions, adding it wasn't the 'worst thing that One Nation has to talk to business more'.

Dr Sheppard (pictured) was criticised after saying big business moderates views on migration

The ANU academic appeared on the unversity's 'democracy sausage' podcast this week

She noted Australia's economy, university sector, and regional workforce depend on migration, especially in the aged care and health sector.

'Our economy needs it ultimately I think voters will back the sort of settings we had before Covid,' she said.

Her comments, made amid debate around One Nation's calls to reduce migration to zero by capping visas at 130,000 per year, have triggered strong reactions online.

Critics accused Dr Sheppard of endorsing corporate influence over democratic preferences, while supporters say she highlights the reality of political pressure.

Economist Leith van Onselen slammed Dr Sheppard's remarks, arguing that the surge in migration has had a direct impact on Australia's productivity and GDP.

'Essentially, what Sheppard has said is: 'Screw what voters actually want'. They don't matter,' he wrote in an article for Macrobusiness.

'Politicians should represent the lobbying interests of Big Business. Sheppard has confirmed that the ANU is an open-borders migration cult that will say anything to keep the numbers flowing.'

But Dr Sheppard hit back at van Onselen's comments, telling Daily Mail that she was simply stating the position of business.

Dr Sheppard suggested as minor parties like One Nation gain popularity, business influence could moderate their hardline positions (pictured, One Nation Pauline Hanson)

Van Onselen argued that the surge in migration negatively impacted productivity and GDP

'van Onselen has incorrectly inferred a lot from my simple observation that business tends to view migration more favourably than the average voter does,' she said.

'I'm a former Coalition staffer and sadly not in any cult, pro-migration or otherwise.'

Dr Sheppard also dismissed proposals from Tony Abbott and Josh Frydenberg for more 'defensive' migration settings, describing them as a dramatic departure from modern Australia's demographic reality.

One Nation's immigration policy suggests cutting annual migration from over 570,000 people to 130,000.

The party has also proposed limiting international student visas and counting student arrivals within the national migration cap.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ruled out cuts to the fuel excise amid fears petrol prices are set to soar due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson accused the government of cashing in on higher petrol prices, as modelling from Westpac suggests Aussies could soon have to pay as much as $3-a-litre at the pump.

'One of the biggest components around the cost of petrol is tax,' Wilson told Sky News on Wednesday.

'And of course, excise means that when the price of petrol goes up, Jim Chalmers collects more money.

'So that's a matter for him to decide whether he wants to stop his tax addiction or not.'

Chalmers hit back at Wilson for claiming the government collects more money when fuel prices increase, accusing him of 'intentionally lying'.

'Excise revenue does not increase when petrol prices increase. Tim Wilson has absolutely no idea what he's talking about,' he said.

'He can't expect people to take him seriously on the economy when he lies about something like this.'

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ruled out cuts to the fuel excise amid fears petrol prices are set to soar due to the conflict in the Middle East

The warning comes after the US and Israel struck targets across Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Tehran retaliating against US assets and regional infrastructure.

If disruption is limited to Iranian production, around 4 per cent of global supply, oil prices could rise another US$25 per barrel to around US$100, Westpac modelling suggests.

But the real risk lies in the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping corridor that carries around 20 per cent of the global oil trade.

Iran has effectively shut down commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for four consecutive days, using a combination of drone strikes and explicit military threats to deter vessels, despite sustained US strikes targeting its naval assets.

At least four oil tankers have reportedly been hit, while maritime data from Lloyd's List Intelligence shows seaborne traffic through the chokepoint plunged by roughly 80 per cent on Sunday.

Meanwhile, major maritime insurers withdrew cover for ships operating in the area, further discouraging passage.

A senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran's revolution guards, Brig Gen Ebrahim Jabbari, said: 'We will attack and set ablaze any ship attempting to cross.'

The threat of Iranian reprisal attacks saw at least 150 tankers drop anchor as shipping companies refused to sail through the 160km passage which is just 38km wide.

Modelling from Westpac suggests Aussies could soon have to pay as much as $3-a-litre at the pump

If shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is affected for up to a month, Westpac warned Brent crude oil prices could instead spike to US$113 per barrel.

In a severe scenario where the Strait is disrupted for three months or more, the model suggests Brent could surge to US$185 per barrel.

'The longer and more intense the disruption, the greater the real economy cost and hit to sentiment,' Westpac said.

This could mean petrol prices in Australia rising by between 25 cents and $1 per litre, depending on movements in the Australian dollar and refinery margins.

At the upper end of that range, fuel prices in many cities could potentially exceed $3-a-litre.
A former Melbourne politician accused of drugging a child before having sex with them has won a court battle to have his identity concealed on mental health grounds.

The man, who was a suburban Melbourne mayor, is facing two charges for allegedly drugging a 17-year-old boy before intentionally taking part in 'an act of sexual penetration' with the teen in December 2019.

The Daily Mail cannot name the man due to an interim suppression order handed down in late 2025 that prevents the media from revealing his age or which local council he served on.

Charge sheets prepared by police allege the man administered 'an intoxicating substance to another person or cause (them) to take an intoxicating substance,' reports the Herald Sun.

'The accused intended that the intoxicating substance would impair (the alleged victim's) capacity to give or withhold or withdraw consent to taking part in a sexual act and would facilitate (the boy) taking part in a sexual act with the accused person.'

During the matter's first hearing in November, lawyers for the former councillor successfully argued media coverage identifying him would 'undoubtedly have an impact' on their client's mental health.

Defence lawyer Sam Norton shared with Melbourne Magistrates' Court a report from a mental health facility, adding 'It's apparent what's occurred and where he is.'

Despite the prosecution arguing the man was being cared for by staff at the facility, Magistrate William Parker said he was satisfied the suppression order was 'necessary' to protect the man's safety.

The politician is accused of shocking child sex offences alleged to have occurred in 2019

He will contest the charges at a committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court this month

Defence lawyer, Sam Norton (pictured), successfully argued his client's identity should be protected under mental health grounds

The court also heard the man will contest the charges at a committal hearing later this month, where two witnesses will be called to give evidence.

A magistrate will then determine if there is sufficient evidence for the former mayor to stand trial in the County Court.

It comes two months after the media was able to reveal the name of another high-profile Melbourne man accused of sexual offences.

Tom Silvagni, who was found guilty of two counts of rape against a woman who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had six suppression orders made to keep his name out of the headlines for more than a year.

Silvagni, who is the son of AFL legend Stephen and TV presenter Jo (nee Bailey), was sentenced in December to a maximum of six years and two months, with a non-parole period of three years and three months.

The 23-year-old is appealing his rape conviction.
ABC global affairs editor Laura Tingle is stranded in Dubai after airspace across much of the Middle East was shut down amid Iran's retaliatory attacks following US and Israeli missile strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader.

Tingle said she hoped to provide Australians with information about what was going on in the region while she is stuck there.

'You have probably heard about 'massive barrages' of missiles and drones pouring down on Gulf States, like the United Arab Emirates, from Iran,' Tingle said.

'For the tens of thousands of Australians trapped in the UAE cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, that sounds pretty scary. So far, though, the country's air defence systems, like surface-to-air missiles, have destroyed the vast majority of these weapons, and the damage has been quite minimal, given the amount of weaponry involved.'

Tingle said she'd experienced the 'odd bang' when the projectiles are destroyed in the sky, but has only seen a few plumes of smoke 'here and there.'

Tingle said a significant share of the destruction, and some of the deaths, has been attributed to debris from intercepted missiles falling back to the ground.

'The nagging concern, however, here in Dubai is whether there are sufficient supplies of these air defence missiles and systems to maintain that level of defence if Iran continues its relentless campaign,' she added.

'Things could get pretty nasty if the drone supply starts to run down.'

ABC star Laura Tingle is stranded in Dubai after airspace across the Middle East was shut down

Footage has been shared across social media of Iranian missiles hitting iconic Dubai landmarks

Around 115,000 Australians are believed to be stuck across the Middle East, with the escalating crisis causing major disruptions to international air travel.

A small number of flights have resumed from Gulf airports as governments try to move thousands of people impacted by the airspace closure.

An Emirates flight bound for Sydney left Dubai on Wednesday morning and is expected to land at Sydney Airport after 10.30pm AEST.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong earlier confirmed the flight ahead of its departure but warned the situation remained 'perilous'.

'This is a consular crisis that dwarfs ... any that Australia has had to deal with in terms of numbers of people,' she told ABC Radio.

'Given that hubs are being attacked, this has made this crisis much more difficult for everyone to navigate.'

People are advised to stay in contact with their airlines as the situation is rapidly changing.

While some limited flights are resuming out of the UAE, services are largely grounded, leaving tens of thousands of Australians potentially trapped for weeks.

Join the debate Should Australia be doing more to evacuate its citizens stranded in Middle Eastern conflict zones?

115,000 Australians are believed to be stuck across the Middle East as airspaces remain closed

Asked if people could fly out of the Middle East via Saudi Arabia or Oman, Wong said all options were being considered while noting the conflict had spread to the broader region.

Wong maintained commercial flights remained the best way to get large numbers of people back to Australia.

The war began on February 28 with the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike.

President Donald Trump said the US' objectives were to destroy Irans naval and missile capabilities and prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He said he expects the operation to take 4 to 5 weeks.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society on Monday said that attacks on 131 Iranian cities have killed at least 555 people so far in the Islamic Republic. Strikes in Tehran apparently took Irans state television off the air.

Iran has launched retaliatory missiles and drones targeting Israel and nearby Arab Gulf countries hosting U.S. forces.

Several ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of all traded oil passes. Shipping companies suspended their vessels traffic through the Suez Canal, adding to fears the strikes could rattle global markets.

Elsewhere, fire and smoke poured out of the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait after an Iranian attack.

Iran has stepped up its attacks on economic targets and US missions across the Middle East

Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, says it has intercepted dozens of missiles and attack drones, with one person killed.

In Israel, 11 people have been killed, nine of whom died in a strike on a synagogue in the central town of Beit Shemesh.

In Iraq, an Shiite militia claimed a drone attack on Monday that targeted U.S. troops at the airport in Baghdad.

Authorities have also revealed at least 22 people were killed in clashes with police in northern Pakistan and in the southern port city of Karachi after hundreds of protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate there.

Iran has now expanded its attacks to regional oil infrastructure, directly targeting the lifeblood of the regions economy.
Employees at a Michigan smoothie shop were fired after they refused to serve a man wearing a hoodie with President Donald Trump's name on the front.

Two staffers at a Smoothie King were fired after Erika Lindemyer went into the store with her husband Jake, who was wearing a hoodie with 'TRUMP' on the front.

The employees at the Ann Arbor location denied service to the couple on Sunday after stating that Jake's hoodie made them uncomfortable.

'We were just wanting a smoothie and you literally looked at us, and I asked you if everything was okay,' Lindemyer began in a video she posted on Facebook of the ordeal.

'You said we don't feel comfortable serving you because of my husband's hoodie. That is discrimination,' she told the employees in the video.

The employee, however, didn't let up and replied: 'Okay, well, have a great day.'

'That is illegal,' Lindemyer added.

Another employee chimed in and said: 'Trump discriminates us.'

Erika Lindemyer went into the store with her husband Jake, who was wearing a hoodie baring 'TRUMP' and the slogan 'Make America Great Again'

Two staffers at an Ann Arbor, Michigan, Smoothie King location were fired after refusing service to Lindemyer and her husband because of his Trump hoodie

The employees at the Ann Arbor location denied service to the couple after stating that Jake's hoodie made them uncomfortable.

Lindemyer pointed out that 'that has nothing to do with us wanting a smoothie.'

'Good luck maintaining your employment,' Jake quipped.

After the pair said that discrimination was a criminal offence, an employee responded that they have the right to refuse service.

Jake responded: 'Not due to political views though.'

'So literally Jake's wearing his hoodie, they would not serve us because Jake's wearing a Trump hoodie talking about discrimination,' Lindemyer said on the video.

The video ended with Lindemyer declaring that she would be calling the police as they left the store - although it remains unclear if she did.

Lindemyer posted the video online where it garnered nearly five million views, as she captioned the post: 'I'm disgusted as an AMERICAN CITIZEN! I loved Smoothie King and was refused service over my husband's sweatshirt!!!'

'Talk about DISCRIMINATION!!'

Lindemyer posted the video on Facebook where it garnered nearly five million views, as she captioned the post: 'I'm disgusted as an AMERICAN CITIZEN! I loved Smoothie King and was refused service over my husband's sweatshirt'

The couple created a GiveSendGo for their family as they are 'harassed' and 'slandered in more than one way'

One of the former employees, Janiyah Mishelle, told Fox News: 'My political opinions are very complex. I do not stand on behalf of any political party. I merely refused service because of the alleged affiliations the Trump administration has to [pedophiles].'

'I believe in the United States & want to see our citizens standing up against binary political logic,' she continued.

'In my opinion, in this specific instance, I had the right to refuse service due to discomfort with a customer interaction - just as he had the right to wear the political merchandise.

'I would like to clarify that my statements were/are NOT on behalf of Smoothie King. I would also like to thank everyone who is currently supporting me through the digital harassment, political re-framing, and job-loss.'

Her coworker asked to remain anonymous, Mishelle added.

Smoothie King responded to the incident with a statement on Facebook which said: 'As a brand, Smoothie King is committed to ensuring our stores are a place free of discrimination of any kind, where every guest and team member is treated with care and respect.'

'Following an investigation into an incident involving a guest who was refused service at a franchised location in Michigan yesterday, the franchise owner has taken immediate action and the two employees involved are no longer with the business.

'Both the franchise owner and Smoothie King corporate have reached out to the guest several times to apologize and will continue to follow up.

'The local owner is also taking further action and enforcing mandatory retraining for all employees that outlines our guest experience standards.'

The couple then created a GiveSendGo for their family as they are 'harassed' and 'slandered in more than one way.'

'Our family is now being harassed, our characters being questioned, slandered and our lives threatened.

'At this point it is unsafe for our children to be in school due to the threats causing me to have to be with my family in order to assure they are safe.

'I fear for my familys safety,' the fundraiser said.

The Daily Mail reached out to Smoothie King for comment.
A young mother was killed in California by dogs who were attacking her son after she jumped in to protect him.

Emily Panuco, 26, died last Friday in Big River  near the Arizona border  around 3.30pm after going to visit her mother in the 6700 block of Wingfoot Court.

Panuco and her son, five, were there to visit young puppies that belonged to Panuco's mother, according to the Colorado River Sheriffs Department.

When the boy went to pet the puppies, three adult dogs on the property suddenly attacked him.

Panuco jumped in to protect her son and was also mauled by the canines, police said.

She suffered multiple bite wounds and was declared dead from her injuries.

Her son sustained two 'severe dog bites,' police said, and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The three dogs were subsequently euthanized by animal control.

Emily Panuco, 26, died last Friday after she jumped in to protect her five-year-old son from three adult dogs

Police said that Panuco was visiting her mother in Big River, California, when the fatal dog attack happened

Panuco's son was released after being treated at the hospital, according to law enforcement.

More information about the young boy's condition were not immediately disclosed.

The puppies were in a cardboard board box near the front door of Panuco's mom's residence, police said.

Law enforcement did not reveal any other details about the dogs or about Panuco's mom.

The only other detail provided was that the dogs were euthanized by the Colorado River Indian Tribes animal control.

Panuco's family said that the young mom's death marked an 'unimaginable loss' and that she was survived by her husband Richie and two children.

She lived in Parker, Arizona, according to police.

Panuco is survived by her husband Richie and her two children. Police said she was declared dead after being mauled by the dogs

Panuco was remembered as a 'devoted mother' and a 'beloved wife' after her sudden passing at the end of last month

A GoFundMe for the family sought to raise money to cover Panuco's funeral costs and continue helping her husband and children.

'The shock and pain of this event have left the family reeling, and they are in need of support from their community,' the fundraiser read.

Her other child is seven months old.

Panuco's family remembered her as a 'devoted mother' who 'touched the lives of many children and families' through her job.

A public social media profile for Panuco said she worked as an early literacy coordinator for the Colorado River Indian Tribes Library.

Briana Huber, who started the fundraiser and identified herself as Richie's cousin, honored Panuco as a 'beloved wife.'

'Her love for her own family was evident in everything she did, and her absence leaves a tremendous void,' Huber wrote.

She added that her 'heart is broken for our family.'

Law enforcement said that Panuco's son was trying to play with puppies when he was suddenly attacked by three adult dogs (File photo of puppies)

The fundraiser for Panuco's family had exceeded its $18,000 goal, as of Tuesday night.

The Colorado River Sheriffs Department said an investigation into the fatal dog attack was ongoing and had been taken over by the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department's coroner's division.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Panuco family and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for comment.
One of President Donald Trump's chief congressional tormenters was forced into a runoff Tuesday night.

Representative Al Green, 79, was pitted against Representative Christian Menefee, 37, after Texas Republicans redistricted the state, targeting five House seats held by Democrats.

A race call was slow to come in, with the Associated Press announcing the runoff result at 11:19 a.m. Wednesday.

Green recently made waves again by bringing a sign that read 'Black people aren't apes,' to Trump's State of the Union address last week, referring to an unfortunate video post from the President that the White House blamed on a 'boomer' editor.

The stunt got him tossed from the speech from the Sergeant at Arms.

A year before Green was expelled for heckling from the House chamber during Trump's joint address before Congress, the stand-in for the State of the Union when a President's newly sworn-in.

The congressman was censured for his outbursts.

Green has filed articles of impeachment against Trump six times.

Representative Al Green, who came armed to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address last week armed with a sign that read 'Black people aren't apes!' has lost his Democratic primary, which pitted him against another Democratic incumbent

Representative Al Green raises his cane as he was removed last week from President Donald Trump's State of the Union address after bringing a sign to the speech that read 'Black people aren't apes.' He was tossed out of Trump's joint address to Congress last year as well

Representative Al Green lost the primary race to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District to Representative Christian Menefee, the newest member of the House Democratic caucus who won a special election in January and was sworn-in on February 2 (pictured)

His impeachment effort against Trump started back in 2017 and he most recently tried again in December, pointing to how the President said on Truth Social that some Democratic lawmakers should be executed for pushing troops to not follow illegal orders.

It's a shocking result for Green, who generally faired well in his Houston-area district.

In 2024, he ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

He first won election to the House in 2004.

Menefee is the most recent addition to the House Democratic caucus, winning a special election in late January to replace the late Republican Representative Sylvester Turner.

The new congressman previously served as county attorney for Harris County, Texas.

He was sworn-in on February 2.

Weeks later Menefee was back on the ballot in a race to represent the newly combined 18th Congressional District.

If Menefee ultimately beats Green that doesn't mean the district's voters have rejected an impeachment-happy lawmaker.

During his first four weeks in Congress, Menefee has already called for an impeachment - of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The United States military has launched a joint operation with Ecuador aimed at targeting terrorist organizations inside the South American nation, marking a significant new phase in security cooperation between the two countries.

The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday night that US forces are working alongside Ecuador's military in operations directed at what officials described as 'designated terrorist organizations,' in a campaign tied to the broader regional fight against drug trafficking networks.

American Special Forces are advising Ecuadorian commandos during raids on suspected drug shipment facilities and other locations linked to narcotics operations, according to a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters to the New York Times.

The official said US personnel are not believed to be participating directly in the assaults themselves but are helping Ecuadorian forces plan missions while supplying intelligence and logistical assistance.

A brief video released by US Southern Command offered the first glimpse of the new campaign.

The 30-second clip shows a military helicopter lifting off in dim light before flying across the landscape and collecting soldiers on the ground.

A US official said the footage appeared to show the opening phase of a series of operations that are expected to unfold across Ecuador.

Some missions could involve American advisers operating nearby while Ecuadorian units carry out the raids, while other operations will be conducted solely by Ecuador's military forces.

The US military confirmed it has launched joint operations with Ecuador targeting what officials described as designated terrorist organizations

US Southern Command released a 30-second video showing a military helicopter lifting off and transporting soldiers during one of the early operations

The footage appears to show the opening stage of what officials say will be a series of raids across Ecuador. Soldiers can be seen exiting a helicopter in this shot

In the specific mission shown in the video, the official said it was unclear what the target was or whether the operation resulted in arrests or seizures.

US Southern Command framed the campaign as part of a broader international effort to dismantle criminal networks operating throughout the region.

'The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism,' the command said in a statement.

The White House did not immediately provide additional details about the military activity but the joint operation had been hinted at months earlier.

During a visit to Ecuador last September, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that the United States and Ecuador could work together in coordinated strikes against criminal organizations operating in the country.

Across Latin America, drug cartels have long fought violent battles with rival gangs and security forces as they attempt to control cocaine production and smuggling routes to the United States.

Although Ecuador does not produce cocaine itself, the country has become a major trafficking corridor for drugs originating in neighboring Colombia and Peru.

The surge in criminal violence tied to those networks has transformed Ecuador into one of the region's most volatile security hotspots.

US Southern Command said the operations demonstrate the regions commitment to fighting narco-terrorism

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, right, is seen shaking hands with US Southern Command chief General Francis Donovan during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the Carondelet Palace in Quito, Ecuador on Monday

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, center, is seen meeting with General Francis Donovan, 3rd from left, as the US announced the launch of joint operations with Ecuador to combat drug trafficking, which has caused an explosion of violence in the South American country

Just days before the announcement of the joint operations, the head of US Southern Command traveled to Quito to meet Ecuador's leadership.

General Francis L. Donovan met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and senior officials in the capital to discuss expanding security cooperation between the two nations.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Donovan praised Ecuador's military for confronting criminal organizations.

'We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country,' Donovan said.

Ecuador's president has increasingly relied on the country's armed forces to combat criminal groups responsible for soaring violence.

President Noboa has centered much of his presidency on a sweeping crackdown against drug cartels and organized crime, which he says are driving record homicide levels in the country.

Ecuadorian National Police detain suspected narco traffickers during a house raid (file photo)

Soldiers pose for photos with tourists while on patrol during Carnival celebrations in February in Atacames, Ecuador. President Daniel Noboa declared a state of 'internal armed conflict" to fight surging gang violence

Military personnel patrol the streets in the south of the city during an operation against gangs on in Quito, Ecuador in January 2024

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pictured, hosted commanders from multiple countries to discuss deeper coordination against transnational criminal networks and drug trafficking groups

After meeting with General Donovan this week, Noboa signaled that Ecuador was entering a new stage of the campaign.

Ecuador was 'launching a new phase against narco-terrorism and illegal mining,' the president wrote in a post on X.

'In the month of March, we will conduct joint operations with our regional allies, including the United States,' Noboa added. 'The security of Ecuadorians is our priority, and we will fight to achieve peace in every corner of the country.'

Also present at the meeting in Quito was Rear Admiral Mark A. Schafer, the senior commander overseeing U.S. Special Forces operations in Latin America.

The new joint raids come shortly after senior military leaders from across the Western Hemisphere gathered in Washington.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hosted commanders from multiple countries to discuss deeper coordination against transnational criminal networks and drug trafficking groups.

In recent months, the United States has carried out dozens of strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean

US officials say the operations target vessels believed to be transporting narcotics bound for North America. At least 150 people have been killed in 44 such strikes since last September

Ecuador has grown into one of Washington's closest security partners in South America since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year.

His administration has made combating drug trafficking and strengthening border security a central element of its national security strategy.

In recent months, the United States has also conducted dozens of strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that officials say were involved in transporting narcotics.

According to publicly known figures, at least 150 people have been killed in 44 such strikes since early September.

The Trump administration has argued those operations are part of a broader campaign to disrupt drug smuggling routes heading toward North America.

However, some legal scholars specializing in the use of force have criticized the strikes, arguing they could constitute unlawful killings if the individuals targeted were civilians who did not pose an imminent threat.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has bristled at reporters during a tense press conference, twice snapping at questions about Australia becoming involved in military action against Iran.

Speaking in Canberra on Wednesday, Wong was pressed on whether Australia would consider sending troops to the Middle East and whether US-Israeli strikes on Iran could be unlawful.

Wong confirmed Australia is not considering deploying troops to assist the US, but refused to speculate on the legality of potential strikes, pushing back when interrupted.

'Excuse me. Please. I am running this press conference,' she snapped on one occasion, raising her voice as journalists spoke over one another.

She stressed Australia is not privy to all international intelligence about Iran and made clear the government supports efforts to prevent the nation obtaining nuclear weapons and destabilising the region.

'It is important to note this did not begin with the current strikes,' Wong said.

'We support action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to be a risk to global peace and security.'

Wong described Iran as a 'risk to global stability,' highlighting its recent attacks across the region.

Penny Wong (pictured) snapped at reporters during a heated exchange during a press conference

'In the last few days, Iran has attacked no fewer than 10 countries, including states that are not participants in this conflict,' she said.

'Can I remind all of you: Iran has also engaged in attacks on Australian soil against Australians.'

She referenced two Iranian state-directed attacks in Australia in 2024, both orchestrated via the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In 2024 arsonists targeted Lewis Continental Kitchen, a kosher restaurant in Sydney. The Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was also firebombed, injuring one person and causing up to $45million in damage.

ASIO concluded both antisemitic attacks were directed by the Iranian government through local proxies.

In response, Australia expelled Iran's ambassador, suspended its Tehran embassy, and moved to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.

Pressed again on the legality of US-Israeli strikes, Wong scolded a reporter, telling them: 'I would be careful about the framing of that question.'

Wong urged Australians in the Middle East to heed official travel warnings, noting the government issued 41 advisories before the latest escalation.

Wong confirmed that Australian troops would not be joining the United States in the conflict

'What I would say to Australians is: please look at the travel advice. We are seeing something unprecedented in the Middle East.'

'What we're seeing now is affecting countries across the region, and it's why we see travel disrupted in 70 countries.'

She acknowledged Australians in the Middle East would be distressed that commercial flights have been cancelled or restricted and said the government is exploring alternatives.

'I understand how difficult this is and how distressed people must be. We are doing everything we can to enable people to leave. There are difficult days now, and there will be difficult days ahead.'

A commercial flight from Dubai to Sydney has now taken off and is expected to land late tonight, marking the first arrival from the region since services were disrupted.

Wong emphasised commercial flights remain the fastest way to move large numbers of Australians out of the region.

'That's why we are focusing on commercial options. The numbers are such that commercial means are the quickest way we can get people out,' she said.
The South Australian police commissioner has revealed officers will be returning to a remote Outback property as they continue searching for Gus Lamont.

Grant Stevens told ABC Radio Adelaide on Wednesday the investigation into Gus's disappearance was a 'top priority'.

'We will be going back to the property, I can't say when, I can't say what the reasons will be, that's entirely up to the task force, but the work is ongoing,' he said.

Mr Stevens made the comment as he revealed two relatives of the missing four-year-old boy were 'not co-operating' with police.

Detectives previously stressed that Gus's parents had been completely ruled out as possible suspects in his disappearance and confirmed they were cooperating with the investigation.

'The task force, which comprises over a dozen people, detectives, forensic specialists, will clearly be looking at any opportunity to provide closure to Gus's mum and dad,' Mr Stevens said.

He doubled down on earlier statements that investigators had 'all but ruled out Gus having wandered off'.

'There has not been one single piece of evidence that we have located during the searching exercise, the most extensive search I think arguably in the history of South Australia, that has given us any indication that he did wander off,' Mr Stevens said.

A South Australian police commissioner has warned that officers will be returning to a remote Outback property to continue searching for Gus Lamont

Grant Stevens told ABC Radio Adelaide on Wednesday the investigation into Gus's disappearance was a 'top priority'

Despite SA Police launching its largest search operation in the state's history, no trace of Gus has been found.

Gus disappeared from his grandparents' 60,000ha Oak Park Station near Yunta in South Australia's Mid North on September 27.

In February, Gus's parents Josh Lamont and Jessica Murray issued a public plea.

'We are united in our grief, and we are united in our search for answers about what happened to our little boy, Gus, who means everything to us,' their statement read.

'Our lives have been shattered, and every moment without him is unbearable. We know someone out there may have information.

'If someone knows what happened, we are pleading with that person - or anyone who may have seen or heard anything - to please come forward. Even the smallest detail could give us the answers we so desperately need.'

The parents also shared their gratitude to the hundreds of workers and volunteers searching for their little boy.

'We also want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in the search for Gus,' they said.

Mr Stevens made the comment as he revealed two relatives of the missing four-year-old boy were 'not co-operating' with police

'The tireless efforts of police, emergency services, ADF personnel, volunteers, and specialists have meant more to us than we can ever say.

'To the friends, family and supporters who have shown such compassion, concern, and assistance during this heartbreaking time: thank you.

'Your kindness has helped carry us through the darkest days of our lives. All we want is to bring Gus home and understand what happened to our beautiful boy.'

Daily Mail previously revealed the couple had separated before Gus vanished, with Ms Murray and her newborn son, Ronnie, living with her parents, Shannon and Josie Murray, on the remote station.

Mr Lamont had moved into a ramshackle farmhouse which he was renovating in Belalie North, near Jamestown, 130km west of the Murrays' station.

A family friend told Daily Mail their relationship broke down shortly after Ronnie's birth, but before Gus disappeared.

'I haven't seen Josh since it (Gus' disappearance) happened, and I don't know where he is now,' they said.

'But they weren't together when it happened.'
A married PE teacher has admitted to having sex with a male student and sexually touching another.

Tayla Brailey, 32, fronted Campbelltown Local Court, southwest Sydney, on Wednesday.

She pleaded guilty to having sex with a 17-year-old and sexually touching a 16-year-old in 2024.

Brailey has also pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to access child abuse material and using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to herself.

As each charge was read, she said 'Guilty your Honour', Newscorp reported.

Several other charges were withdrawn on Wednesday.

Brailey's lawyer Abbas Soukie said some agreed facts in the matter are still under dispute.

The teacher was first arrested in August 2024 but her case was delayed eight times since court negotiations began in July 2025.

Tayla Brailey (above) on Wednesday admitted to sexually abusing two of her former students

Brailey (above) will remain on bail ahead of her sentencing

She taught at Lurnea High School in Sydney's southwest, having completed a degree in Physical and Health Education at the University of Wollongong in 2017.

Police alleged she began speaking to the first student after he added her on Snapchat, before the pair began exchanging sexually explicit videos.

She then allegedly masturbated the teen at her North Wollongong home.

On another occasion, Brailey allegedly had unprotected sex with the student in the back of a car after he skipped school to meet her before she went to a pharmacy to get the morning-after pill.

She was also accused of masturbating the second teen in her classroom, before trying to get him to having sex with her, but it did not happen.

At the time, Brailey was suspended without pay by the Department of Education and support was provided to students and staff at the school.

Brailey is due to return to Campbelltown District Court for sentencing, with a date to be set on March 26.

She will remain on bail.
Deadly strikes continued to rain down on Iran as day broke on Wednesday, hours after the Islamic Republic struck a CIA base in Saudi Arabia.

The US and Israel's joint operation against Iran has now stretched into a fifth straight day, with the Israeli military announcing early Wednesday morning that it has launched a 'broad wave of strikes' in Iran.

Iranian state media has also reported missile strikes in cities throughout the country, as it continued to retaliate with strikes reported in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Iran had also struck a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which sustained 'structural damage' while personnel were advised to 'shelter in place,' according to the Washington Post.

A total of about 50,000 US troops in the Middle East have been assigned to the war against Iran - with more forces headed to the region, an official told The New York Times.

Six US soldiers have already been killed in the military operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, with authorities announcing on Tuesday they included decorated servicemembers and even a mother-of-two.

Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Spc. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa were killed when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait on Sunday.

Deadly strikes continued to rain down on Iran early Wednesday morning. Smoke is seen rising from a reported airstrike in Tehran on Tuesday

The Pentagon identified four soldiers killed in a drone strike in Kuwait as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Spc. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa were also killed

Amor had been just days from returning home to her husband and two children when she was killed.

But she had been in a state of 'constant concern,' her husband Joey Amor said.

'You could see it in the movements. She knew something was coming, she just didnt know what scale.'

The grieving husband told how the decorated soldier had been moved off her base to a shipping container style building without defenses.

'They were dispersing because they were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places,' he said.

The couple exchanged messages about two hours before she was killed. 'She just never responded in the morning,' he said.

Authorities are now investigating the deadly strike, as a source familiar with the tragedy told CNN there was nothing shielding the command center from missiles or drones.

Three officials also told CBS News that prior to the attack, there had been discussion on the ground about whether the tactical operations center in question should not have been used as it concentrated too many people in a location that was not easily defended.

Sergeant Amor had been just days from returning home to her husband and two children when she was killed

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, however, insisted on Monday that the strike hit a 'tactical operation center that was fortified.'

He then claimed that there was just 'one' projectile that made it through the air defenses.

Following the deadly strike, President Donald Trump vowed to 'avenge' the fallen soldiers, though he warned that others may die as the operation continues.

'America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against basically, civilization,' he said from Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, hours after the blast.

Trump then called the three service members 'true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives.'

The Trump administration has said the president decided to strike Iran to target its nuclear weapons program.

His decision to fire on the country on Saturday came after he received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Axios reports.

Sources familiar with the conversation said Netanyahu called Trump on February 23 with a tip that Iran's Supreme Leader and his top advisors were all set to meet at one location in Tehran on Sunday morning.

President Donald Trump ordered the launch of 'Operation Epic Fury' starting on Saturday, which has now led to the death of six American troops

He is said to have made the decision to strike on Saturday following a call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The US embassy in Dubai is seen after being struck by drones

Videos posted to social media on Tuesday evening shows a huge plume of smoke rising from Strikes on US Embassy in Dubai

The call was part of months of intensive coordination between the two world leaders, who met twice and spoke by phone 15 times in the two months leading up to the operation, the sources said.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the strike along with several top officials.

Yet the country's leadership does not seem deterred, naming Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as its next supreme leader on Tuesday.

As the military operation now continues, there are fears that the Gulf states may not have enough anti-drone defense missiles.

A source told the Daily Mail: 'At the current rates the supplies could run out within four days.

'The interceptors are being used at an unprecedented speed.'

But the joint US-Israeli offensive is now said to be seeking an armed uprising in Iran using a Kurdish fighting force.

Reports suggest that thousands of volunteers in western Iran have been armed with weapons ready for a rebellion since 2024.

President Trump has also said he will not hesitate to deploy ground troops to Iran 'if they were necessary'.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been appointed Iran's new Supreme Leader

A Tomahawk land attack missile is seen being launched from the USS Milius on Iran

A police station and a judiciary building in Tehran were struck in the attacks

At the same time, though, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney walked back his government's support for the military operation, saying it comes with 'regret because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order.'

He noted that the Canadian government's official support was based on the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program and its human rights record, but criticized the US and Israel, which 'have acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada.'

Carney also stressed that Canada would not participate in any military action against Iran, but would help with any efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.

'Diplomatic engagement is essential to avoid a wider and deeper conflict,' he said, adding that it needs to 'involve broader parties than just the United States, Israel and Iran.'
Thousands of British nationals will arrive home from the war-torn Middle East today as airlines ramp up flights out of the UAE and the Government charters its first emergency evacuation flight.

The Government appears to be relying on commercial airlines to get passengers back home, chartering just a single flight from Oman with no plans in place for a wide-scale evacuation.

British expats have been increasingly frustrated by the lack of urgency over getting them out of the Middle East - with British Airways running an emergency evacuation flight with more than 100 empty seats on Monday.

Despite around 130,000 Brits registering as stranded in the Gulf, around 100 pilots and crew members from BA and other airlines were flown from Muscat to Heathrow on Monday.

More than 11,000 commercial flights have been cancelled with 1 million people affected since airspace over the Gulf largely closed as the US and Israel launched a co-ordinated attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

As the war enters its fifth day, Emirates is today operating seven flights from Dubai to the UK while Etihad has two departures from Abu Dhabi. Virgin Atlantic will operate a flight from Dubai to London Heathrow.

British Airways has not restarted its usual flying programme from the region, but will run an evacuation flight to Heathrow from Muscat, which it does not usually serve.

The Government has also scheduled its first repatriation flight to leave Oman's Muscat International Airport at 11pm local time (7pm GMT) tonight and will prioritise the most vulnerable Brits first as attacks continue to explode across the region.

British nationals and their spouse or partner, and their children under the age of 18, with a valid travel document are all eligible.

Smoke rises in Tehran as the US and Israel continue its co-ordinated attack on Iran

Iran has retaliated to the US and Israeli strikes with a barrage of missiles at neighbouring nations - some of which broke through air defence systems (seen in Sharjah City, UAE)

The Foreign Office said it would contact British nationals to secure them a way out of the Middle East, and urged people not to travel to the airport unless they have been officially called.

There will be no wide-scale evacuation for those stranded in the region.

Officials appear to instead be relying on commercial airlines, predominantly Middle Eastern carriers, to get passengers home.

A Whitehall source told The Times: 'We are relying on the commercial airlines, especially the Middle Eastern carriers that have huge fleets and also access to the slots.

'They are in the best position to get Britons out, but of course they need to clear the huge backlogs of transit passengers.'

It comes as desperate wealthy expats living in Dubai have been driving across the desert to escape the Middle East via neighbouring Oman or Saudi Arabia.

Iran has responded furiously with retaliation attacks, targeting US bases across the Middle East - including a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia which was blown up on Monday.

But retaliatory strikes from Tehran have hit expat hotspots such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait - including hotels and airports. The US Consulate in Dubai was also rocked by a drone strike yesterday.

Trump has admitted in interviews that the US was not expecting Tehran to lash out against its Gulf neighbours who are not participating in the campaign but who house US bases.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Tuesday that the 'safety and security' of British nationals was a 'top priority'.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer will face questions in the Commons over his decisions on the unfolding Iran conflict, after Trump unleashed fresh criticism of the Prime Minister.

The US president on Tuesday said Sir Keir was 'not Winston Churchill' in his latest rebuke of the Prime Minister, who did not allow American planes to launch their initial strikes against Tehran from British bases.

The Prime Minister meanwhile announced Britain would send HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 air defence destroyers, to defend Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone.

The war between Iran and the USA will likely dominate the agenda when Sir Keir enters the Commons at noon today for Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Trump has said he is 'not happy' with the UK after it did not initially allow the US to use its bases for strikes on Iran, later adding in the Oval Office: 'This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.'

Downing Street has insisted the US remains a 'staunch' ally despite the repeated broadsides from Mr Trump.

Thick black smoke billows into the air above the Jebel Ali port after getting struck by debris from an Iranian intercepted missile, in Dubai, on March 1

The US Consulate building in Dubai was up in flames on Tuesday after reportedly being struck by an Iranian drone

Cars queue outside a petrol station in Dubai on March 1 after attacks on Iran began and expats try to flee

Sir Keir decided on Sunday that UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, could be used in the conflict, but only so the US can strike defensively to protect countries being targeted by Tehran.

HMS Dragon is being readied to depart for the Mediterranean and will be accompanied by two Wildcat helicopters equipped with so-called 'drone busting' Martlet missiles, so it can protect Britain's bases in Cyprus.

The warship, which is emblazoned with the Welsh red dragon on its prow, was pictured on Tuesday night at the Upper Harbour Ammunition Facility (UHAF) in Portsmouth harbour.

The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Thailand early on Wednesday 'due to the escalation in the Middle East'.

It said in a statement: 'Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.

'Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East.'

Thousands of passengers stranded at Dubai Airport

Affected British nationals are urged to stay across the latest updates from their airline or tour operator and review their travel insurance policies before travelling.

Elsewhere, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said a vessel had been struck by a projectile off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE.

It said in a statement early on Wednesday: 'UKMTO has received a report of an incident 7NM east of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

'The Master reported the vessel being struck by an unknown projectile causing damage to the steel plating. There has been no fire or water intake. All crew reported safe.

'Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.'
The Government has suspended study visas for migrants from four countries over accusations they are abusing the asylum system.

Study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan have been halted, as have work visas for Afghans, as Shabana Mahmood accused them of using legal migration routes as a backdoor to claim asylum in the UK.

According to Home Office figures, some 39 per cent of the 100,000 who claimed asylum in 2025 did so after arriving in the UK through a legal migration route, like a study visa.

The Home Office described the suspension on visa claims as an 'unprecedented' step, as it is the first time such visa bans have been implemented.

Ms Mahmood said: 'Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused.

'That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.

'I will restore order and control to our borders.'

Asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan represent the most significant part of a spike between 2021 and September 2025, the Home Office added.

The Government has suspended study visas for migrants from four countries over accusations they are abusing the asylum system

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The visa ban will be officially introduced via an immigration rules change on Thursday.

The Home Secretary has previously threatened a similar halt to all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in November, unless their governments agreed to take back illegal migrants.

This led to co-operation agreements with all three countries, and illegal migrants being returned via deportation flights.

Ms Mahmood is expected to lay out measures to toughen up the UK asylum system in a speech on Thursday.

Ms Mahmood also announced this week that, under the widely trailed plans, asylum seekers in the UK will have their refugee status reviewed every 30 months in an effort to make the UK less attractive for illegal immigrants.

She added that refugees whose countries are deemed safe will be expected to return home.

Under current rules, those granted refugee status have it for five years and can apply for indefinite leave to remain and get on a route to citizenship.

But starting next Monday, refugees will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a visa route like any other legal migrant, including paying associated fees.

The policy shift is modelled on Denmark's system, a firm approach admired by Ms Mahmood.

The Home Secretary believes the Government must cut migration or it risks opening the door to the right who would divide communities with the kind of anti-immigration raids seen in the US.

The Government hopes the reforms - to be introduced through an Immigration Rules change later this week - will make the UK less attractive for illegal immigrants.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney remained tight-lipped about whether his country would become involved in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as the United States released dramatic footage of its 'most lethal' blitz in Iran.

The Canadian Premier was asked whether he would consider sending troops to the Middle East while on a diplomatic trip to Australia Thursday, to which Carney replied that he 'can never categorically rule out participation' and 'will stand by our allies.'

His remarks came as the US Central Command shared footage showing America's strikes on Iran in the first '100 hours' of Operation Epic Fury, which officials said is 'the most lethal, most complex, and most precise aerial operation in history.'

It is now set to involve Kurdish forces, who took position in Iran as part of a military offensive after being secretly armed by the US, according to Jennifer Griffin, Chief National Security Correspondent of Fox News.

An official, cited by Israeli network I24, also claimed fighters began taking combat positions inside Iranian territory on Monday and moved in around the southern mountains of Marivan in western Iran.

The US and Israel are thought to be seeking an armed uprising and have been smuggling weapons to Kurdish volunteers since last year.

Between four and seven US-Israeli helicopters were also said to have conducted an airdrop in the Najaf desert, Iraq, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah vowed not to surrender 'no matter the sacrifices' as it continues to retaliate against Israel for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Iranian-backed terror group has pounded Israel with missiles and drones since Sunday, with Israel responding by sending troops into the south of the country.

Hezbollah has significant political authority in Lebanon but the country's president Joseph Aoun announced a ban on its military activity, calling it 'a sovereign and final decision'.

But Naim Qassem, the head of Iranian proxy force who Israel said is 'marked for elimination', claimed the group will not surrender.

In his first speech since they resumed fighting with Israel, he said: 'We are facing aggression... our choice is to confront it until the ultimate sacrifice, and we will not surrender.'

As the war now continues, thousands of US citizens have fled the Middle East on a charter plane.

Daily Mail had all the latest updates on the US-Israel war with Iran on the fourth day of the operation.
A resurfaced video shows Labor MP Julian Hill pledging $670,000 in federal funding to an Islamic community organisation last year ahead of the federal election, before it went on to hold a mourning vigil for Iran's tyrannical dictator.

On Wednesday evening, Multicultural Affairs Minister Dr Anne Aly said she had reviewed the grant and cancelled it.

'Due to social cohesion concerns I've decided to not go ahead with a grant for the Taha Humanity Association,' Dr Aly said. 'We are not proceeding with this election commitment.'

The promise Hill made during the March 2025 speech turned controversial after the Dandenong-based organisation hosted the vigil for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes.

Speaking to a packed community room last March via a live translator, Hill announced the funding.

'If the Federal Labor Government is successful at the election, then we will be giving $670,000 to the Taha Centre to support the next stage of community facilities, because you've done the hard work to buy the land.'

He emphasised the funding was for community infrastructure such as classrooms, kitchens, and halls, not for religious activities or land purchases.

Hill also used the event to address Labor's migration and citizenship reforms, highlighting the end of discrimination for those waiting years for partner visas, and managing audience expectations on ordinary processing timelines.

Julian Hill (pictured) pledged $670,000 to the Taha Association during the 2025 election

Multicultural Affairs Minister Dr Anne Aly cancelled the grant on Wednesday

This context shifted dramatically when the Taha Association marked Khamenei's death with a mourning ceremony, praising the Iranian leader.

'Ayatollah Khamenei was a Muslim leader who remained committed to faith, justice and dignity He stood for unity among Muslims and supported those in need. Inspired by the message of Imam Hussain, he showed patience and strength in difficult times.

'A reminder of the importance of faith, courage and moral values.'

Khamenei's regime has been linked to mass atrocities, including the killing of over 30,000 protesters.

The tribute triggered immediate political backlash.

On Wednesday, Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson accused the government of failing to conduct proper due diligence, and suggested Hill should have understood the group's likely views.

'I think we do have to ask some questions about the due diligence of the Albanese Government in making this announcement' Paterson told the ABC.

'Julian Hill needs to explain why he recommended and advocated for this grant and why he didn't warn the government that the views of people at this community centre.'

The Taha Association, a Shia Muslim group, held a mourning vigil for Ayatollah Khamenei

He dismissed claims that Hill could not have foreseen the 2026 event.

'Any organisation that thinks it is a good idea to mourn the Ayatollah Khamenei is probably an organisation that is rife with extremist views,' Paterson said.

'I would be shocked if Julian Hill was unfamiliar with those issues.'

Labor MP Ed Husic countered that expectation, calling it unfair and insisting that Hill could not reasonably predict how the centre would react to future overseas events:

'I don't recall seeing him with a crystal ball,' Husic said.

He noted that supporting community facilities is routine but must always comply with legal and social cohesion standards.

The government on Wednesday confirmed the $670,000 grant has been axed.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesday to assassinate any Iranian leader picked to succeed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

This comes as Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named the favourite to be appointed Iran's new Supreme Leader.

In a post on X, Katz said: 'Any leader selected by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan for Israel's destruction, threatening the United States, the free world and countries in the region, and suppressing the Iranian people, will be a certain target for assassination, no matter his name or where he hides.'

Mojtaba, 56, Ali Khamenei's second oldest son, has strong links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and was chosen by Iran's Assembly of Experts 'under pressure from the Revolutionary Guards', according to Iranian opposition outlet Iran International.

Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric, has never held office and does not have an official role in the regime.

But he served in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq war and is believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes. He has been touted as a possible successor to his father for years.

However, he was not included in a list of three senior clerics Ali Khamenei reportedly identified last year.

And his father is said to have indicated opposition to his candidacy because it would resemble the hereditary rule enacted by the US-backed Shah monarchy before it was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the favourite to become Iran's new Supreme Leader

Mojtaba (pictured with his father), is not a high-ranking cleric and has no official role in the regime

A group of men inspect the ruins of a police station struck Monday in Tehran, Iran,

Father-to-son succession is also viewed negatively in the Shiite Muslim clerical establishment in Iran.

But much of Iran's top brass has been decimated in the latest conflict and Mojtaba has close ties with the powerful IRGC and the Basij volunteer paramilitary force.

This comes as it was recently revealed that Mojtaba was repeatedly treated for impotency at hospitals in the UK, according to a secret US intelligence document.

According to a classified briefing sent by the State Department to the US Embassy in London in 2008, and later released by WikiLeaks, Mojtaba was placed under pressure by his family to produce heirs.

It required four visits to the Wellington and Cromwell Hospitals, including a final stay lasting two months, and he eventually had a son who was named 'Ali' after the baby's grandfather, the then Supreme Leader.

The intelligence also detailed how 'within the Supreme Leader's office, Mojtaba works in his father's shadow,' and that he traveled with him in Iran and had a' fair degree of control over access to his father.'

He was 'widely viewed within the regime as a capable and forceful leader and manager who may someday succeed to at least a share of national leadership. His father may also see him in that light.'

He was said to be 'close to and well briefed by' the senior leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), however was seen as weak in clerical terms.

'(He) is not expected ever to achieve by his own scholarship the status of 'mujtahid,' far less that of ayatollah,' the report said.

However, in the wake of his father's death, this may change.

Under Iran's Islamic guardianship system, the Supreme Leader must be a senior leader with significant political authority.

While Mojtaba has not held senior political roles, he studied under religious conservatives in Islamic seminaries in the Shiite holy city Qom.

Born in 1969 in the holy city of Mashhad, he grew up as his father was helping to lead the opposition to the Shah.

His wife Zahra Adel and his mother, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, are among the dead from Saturday's strikes.

The regime's 88-person assembly is tasked with appointing, supervising and potentially dismissing the supreme leader.

It met on Tuesday in Qom to find a successor to Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday by joint US-Israeli strikes.

Israeli and US strikes flattened the building where the assembly met. There was no information on any potential casualties.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he fears Iran's new leader would be 'as bad as the previous person'.

Commenting on the 'worst case scenario' at an Oval Office news conference, Trump said: 'I guess the worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen. We don't want that to happen. It would probably be the worst.'

He added: 'You go through this and then in five years, you realise you put somebody in who was no better. So we'd like to see somebody in there that's going to bring it back for the people.'

However, he also expressed confidence on joint US-Israel military capabilities, saying: 'We have them very much beaten militarily, from the military standpoint. They're still lobbing some missiles,' he said.

'They won't even be able to do that because we're hitting all of their carriers. We're hitting all of their missile stock  and we're knocking out a lot.'

A primitive Shahed drone evaded high-tech defences over the United Arab Emirates and struck a car park adjacent to the consulate

Smoke rises from an Israeli strike in Beirut on Tuesday

The conflict is now entering its fifth day, with strikes continuing throughout the night.

Israel launched new strikes on military targets in Tehran after an Iranian drone sparked a fire at the US consulate in Dubai.

Iran carried out retaliatory attacks on Middle East Gulf states, targeting US bases including a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, while the US Consulate in Dubai was also rocked by a drone strike.

The Lebanese capital Beirut was rocked by explosions shortly after midnight as Israel and Hezbollah traded strikes and rocket fire.

Lebanese state media later said Israeli strikes had hit a hotel in the Beirut suburb of Hazmieh, as well as a four-storey building in the eastern city of Baalbek, where five people were reportedly killed.

Kuwait's health ministry announced on Wednesday that an 11-year-old girl was killed after being hit by falling shrapnel following waves of Iranian attacks across the Gulf.

Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have today declared they have 'complete control' of the crucial Strait of Hormuz

Iranian forces say any vessels seeking to pass the strait - a vital route for world oil and gas supplies - risked damage from missiles or stray drones.

It comes as US President Donald Trump said yesterday the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through the crucial Gulf passage

The Guards said they had also launched more than 40 missiles at US and Israeli targets in a new wave of strikes
Grace Tame has told an International Women's Day panel why she believes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called her 'difficult'.

While speaking at the UN Women event at the convention centre in Sydney on Wednesday, Tame discussed Albanese's controversial choice when he was asked to describe her in one word by an interviewer in February.

'I want to be absolutely clear about this,' Tame said.

'The Prime Minister does not think I am difficult because I'm a survivor of child sexual abuse, because I'm a woman, or because I'm autistic.

'He thinks I'm difficult because I have put a spotlight on the toxic allegiance that we have with the United States and Israel that is in direct conflict with our national interests. That is why.

'The reality is that for centuries, laws have been written by men, for men. Patriarchal interests have been protected above all else, with little consideration for women's rights or for our lived experience.'

Albanese was forced to apologise in late February after Tame, a former Australian of the Year, blasted him on social media for describing her as 'difficult' after she appeared at a pro-Palestine rally and chanted 'globalise the Intifada'.

Grace Tame (above) discussed Anthony Albanese's description of her as 'difficult' during a Women's Day event

The 'Intifada' refers to Palestinians 'shaking off' oppression by Israel but has been criticised by some as a call for violence, which Tame said was not her intention.

The PM previously said he apologised if there was any misinterpretation of his loaded one-word description.

'Grace Tame, you certainly can't describe in one word. She has had a difficult life, and that was what I was referring to.'

The stoush was sparked when Albanese was asked to describe Tame in one word while speaking at a conference in Melbourne. 'Difficult,' he said.

The prime minister also described Donald Trump as 'president', Pauline Hanson as 'divisive' and One Nation voters as 'frustrated', but declined to describe Barnaby Joyce in a single word.

Tame's interpretation of Albanese's word choice touched on a larger issue widely discussed at Women's Day events around Australia - how inequality affects justice.

Australians were urged to challenge misogyny and discrimination heard in everyday conversations to help enact a cultural shift in favour of gender equality.

This International Women's Day's theme was 'balance the scales', which highlights the need to ensure all women and girls have fair and inclusive access to justice.

When asked to described Tame in one word during an event in February, Albanese (above) chose 'difficult'

International human rights barrister Jennifer Robinson has seen first-hand how the justice system can be used as a means to silence victims of harassment and abuse.

In 2020, she represented Amber Heard during defamation proceedings brought against the actress in the UK by her former husband Johnny Depp, which he lost.

'The reality is that for centuries, laws have been written by men, for men,' Ms Robinson told the Sydney event on Wednesday.

'Patriarchal interests have been protected above all else, with little consideration for women's rights or for our lived experience.

'It has meant that for too long, the legal system has been balancing its scales wrong.'

Ms Robinson wants to see legal changes that would make it more difficult for strategic lawsuits intent on silencing people to be brought to court, as well as changes to stop non-disclosure agreements from silencing victims of workplace sexual harassment.

'We can't hold men accountable if we can't talk about what they've been doing,' she said.

'Challenging misogyny and discrimination whenever we see it in our own lives and people around us, having those difficult cultural conversations, call it out.'

The theme for this year's Women's Day is 'balance the scales'

According to UN Women, one in three women will suffer some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime.

That makes violence against women the most prevalent human rights abuse in Australia and around the world, Ms Robinson said.

'We cannot begin to tackle violence against women if we can't speak about it,' she said.

Focus should also be turned towards balancing the scales of justice for children and those who are survivors of child sexual abuse, Tame said.

She was groomed and abused by a school teacher as a child and is now an advocate for child safety.

Tame spoke about the six phases of grooming including targeting, gaining trust, filling in need, isolating, sexualising and maintaining control.

All are important for people to understand and be able to identify in order to protect children, she said.

'Offenders are operating among us constantly ... this is a ubiquitous problem. It's everywhere, it's in every tier of society,' she said.

Tame (above) also discussed the different phases of grooming

'But if we are equipped with the knowledge to stop it, we can break cycles, we can recalibrate the scales of justice.'

Every person deserved to feel safe, respected and free to reach their full potential, UN Women Australia chief executive Simone Clarke said.

'It feels like every day we wake up to a new crisis - conflict in the Middle East, crises in Sudan and Ukraine and closer to home the recent horrific attacks in Bondi,' she said.

'They remind us that peace, safety and security are tenuous and that we must hold people to account, stand together and protect our rights and freedoms.'

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
North Korea has unveiled a 'highly unusual' statue of its leader, Kim Jong Un.

It is supposed to present the dictator as a smiling man of the people, according to analysts.

The golden half-body sculpture, revealed on state-run television, shows Kim beaming into the air and holding a box.

He has one hand tucked into the pocket of a thick coat, and wears a suit underneath.

North Korea has never itself depicted Kim in statue form before, according to South Korea's Unification Ministry, so this stone replica was unexpected.

The department said today: 'A statue of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was recently shown on Korean Central Television, and as far as we know, this is the first time it has been identified.'

North Korea is dotted with massive statues venerating Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and his father, Kim Jong Il - the first two members of the family dynasty to rule the reclusive nation.

Expert Lim Eul-chul said such honours were typically reserved for the dead, making the sculpture of Kim 'highly unusual'.

This golden stone statue of Kim Jong Un was unveiled by North Korea - the first of its kind

Kim Jong Un's veneration in sculpture is unusual, because that is normally reserved for leaders who have died

He said: 'North Korea is now moving toward the peak of a leader-focused cult.

'The statue is particularly notable because it is highly unusual for the regime to create a monument of a leader who is still alive.'

Lim, from the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, noted there was a definite effort with the work to portray Kim as a more relatable figure.

He said: 'Rather than depicting him as a god-like figure, the North is likely to promote a narrative portraying him as a leader who earns people's respect and devotes himself to their welfare.'

North Korea often releases highly choreographed images to emphasise Kim's absolute grip on power.

He was shown riding a white horse up a sacred mountain in 2019, while other photos have shown him being mobbed by fawning soldiers, shooting guns, and driving military vehicles.

During a visit to Pyongyang in 2019, Chinese leader Xi Jinping gifted Kim a half-body bust of himself - but this new statue is different as it was created by North Korea.
Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez today accused Donald Trump of playing 'Russian roulette' with millions of lives by carrying out airstrikes in Iran.

Calling the US-Israeli strikes on Iran an 'unjustifiable' and 'dangerous' military intervention, Sanchez said: 'The position of the government of Spain can be summarised in four words - No to the war.'

Trump yesterday threatened to end US trade with Spain after Sanchez refused to allow the US to use joint military bases in the country in its attacks on Iran.

He also threatened to simply 'fly in and use it', adding: 'Nobody's going to tell us not to use it, but we don't have to.'

Despite the economic threats levied against Spain, France last night joined Sanchez in condemning US and Israeli strikes on Iran, branding them illegal.

In a televised address on Tuesday evening, Emmanuel Macron declared the attacks were 'outside the bounds of international law'.

The French leader also said he had ordered his country's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and fleet to the Mediterranean and a frigate to Cyprus to ramp up military support in the region.

He added that Rafale fighter jets, air defence systems and airborne radar systems have been deployed over the Middle East.

Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez (pictured) today accused Donald Trump of playing 'Russian roulette' with millions of lives by carrying out airstrikes in Iran

France's president has joined Spain in condemning US and Israeli strikes on Iran, branding them illegal. Trump and Macron pictured in 2025

'We will continue this effort as much as necessary,' he added.

The French president also cited a strike on a British air force base in Cyprus on Monday, saying: 'This requires our support. That is why I have decided to send additional air-defence assets there as well, along with a French frigate, the Languedoc.

Macron also insisted that all his actions were 'strictly defensive in nature' and intended to protect allies and restore peace.

France, along with Germany and the UK are pushing for a ceasefire and has renewed diplomatic negotiations in the region, he added.

Macron's speech comes after Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said his country would not allow the US to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain in any strikes not covered by the United Nations' charter.

The move came following Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's warning that strikes on Iran risked bringing about a 'more uncertain and hostile international order'.

Trump threatened to end trade with Spain, telling reporters in Washington last night: 'We're going to cut off all trade with Spain.'

'We don't want anything to do with Spain.'

The US president said that, despite Spain's refusal, 'we could use their base if we want. We could just fly in and use it. Nobody's going to tell us not to use it, but we don't have to.'

It is unclear how Trump would cut off trade with Spain, given that Spain is under the umbrella of the European Union. The EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 member countries.

'If the US administration wishes to review the trade agreement, it must do so respecting the autonomy of private companies, international law, and bilateral agreements between the European Union and the United States,' a spokesperson from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's office said Tuesday.

Macron's address also came as Trump welcomed Germany's Friedrich Merz to the White House last night.

Trump praised Germany for 'helping out' by allowing the US to access certain bases, with Merz saying his government and Trump shared a desire to topple Iran's current regime.

The American president also lambasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his reluctance to join the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

'This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with,' Trump said.

Join the debate Should more European leaders stand up to Trump?

The French leader will send frigate Languedoc (file photo) to Cyprus

This photograph shows screens broadcasting French President Emmanuel Macron's address on the war in Iran and its repercussions in the Middle East, from the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 3, 2026

The dispute is roiling a relationship that Starmer worked hard to forge, and further straining trans-Atlantic ties frayed by Trump's 'America first' foreign policy and transactional approach to international relations.

'This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe,' Trump told British tabloid The Sun in an interview published Tuesday.

'I mean, France has been great. They've all been great,' Trump said. 'The U.K. has been much different from others.'

'It's very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was,' he said.

Meanwhile, Merz came under fire for failing to stick up for Spain and Britain after Trump's rants.
As Donald Trump repeated his criticism of the UK government's initial response to the war in the Middle East, he levelled a new insult at Sir Keir Starmer yesterday.

The US President said Sir Keir is 'not Winston Churchill', and that he was 'not happy' with the UK after it did not initially allow the US to use its bases for strikes on Iran.

Sir Keir decided on Sunday that UK bases including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire could be used in the war, but only for the US to strike defensively to protect countries being targeted by Tehran.

Sir Winston Churchill, the destroyer of Nazi Germany, is remembered as Britain's greatest 20th century leader  and he coined the phrase 'special relationship' for the alliance between the UK and US during a speech in Missouri in 1946.

But do you think this relationship could now be over, following Mr Trump's latest broadside over the UK's position on the war? Vote in the Daily Mail's latest poll here:

In yesterday's poll, Mail readers were asked: ' Should Britain join the US and Israeli strikes against Iran?' Out of more than 31,000 votes, some 60 per cent of you said 'yes' and 40 per cent said 'no'.
Iran has showed off a sprawling underground network of tunnels filled with row after row of drones and rockets, amid fears the US and its allies are burning through expensive weaponry in their war against the regime.

Footage released by the Fars News Agency, which is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, shows long lines of missiles and Shahed drones.

With a ticking clock playing in the background, the video used dramatic drone footage to show off the extent of their cheap arsenal.

One shot appeared to show a wall-to-wall hanging depicting the now-dead Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei looking out over the massive arsenal of drones.

A series of Iranian flags were seen hanging down from the roof of the tunnels.

Another showed a pair of lorries carrying Shahed drone launchers, each one holding four of the cheap drones.

Shahed drones cost just tens of thousands of dollars to produce, and take little time to manufacture.

It comes as:

Iran claimed to have gained 'complete control' of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the world's fuel

Israel vowed to kill whoever succeeds Ali Khamenei 'no matter his name or where he hides'

Iran hit a CIA station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital

S audi Arabia said it intercepted two cruise missiles, while drones struck near the US consulate in Dubai, starting a fire, and against the US military base at Al-Udeid in Qatar.

Kuwait has also been hit, with the health ministry announcing the death of an 11-year-old girl killed after she was hit by falling shrapnel

Shahed drones were seen in their launchers on the back of a pair of lorries

Iran has showed off a sprawling underground network of tunnels filled with row after row of drones and rockets

Rows of Iranian drones and missiles were seen in underground tunnels

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As war continues to rage on, there are now fears that the sophisticated weaponry favoured by the US and its allies may be too expensive and too hard to procure for a longer military campaign.

Israel today admitted that Iran still has significant capacity to fire missiles at its enemies.

American-made Patriot missiles can cost between $4-5million (3-3.75million), with export prices being even higher.

THAAD missile batteries, meanwhile, can cost around $13million (9.74million) each.

Analysis carried out by Kirsty Grieco, a security expert at the Stimson Centre in Washington DC, found that the UAE had shot down 92 per cent of the missiles and drones Iran's slung its way.

Grieco estimates Iran spent in the region of $11million to $27million on the 541 drones it launched on the UAE, with interceptors averaging $500,000-$1.5million per drone to shoot down 506 of them.

The UAE's drone defence costs were between $253million and $759million, suggesting it spent up to 30 times more defending itself against Iran's drones than its adversary spent on attacking it.

And there are fears that Gulf states may soon run out of anti-air defences.

A source told the Daily Mail: 'At the current rates the supplies could run out within four days.

Join the debate Is too much being spent on high-tech weapons?

Shahed drones cost just tens of thousands of dollars to produce, and take little time to manufacture

Footage released by the Fars News Agency, which is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, shows long lines of missiles and Shahed drones

It comes as Tehran came under attack on Wednesday, amid the continually roiling war in the Middle East

'The interceptors are being used at an unprecedented speed.'

It comes as explosions sounded in Iran's capital on Wednesday as the war with the United States and Israel entered its fifth day, with Israel targeting the Iranian leadership and security forces and the Islamic Republic responding with missile barrages and drone attacks on Israel and across the region.

The blasts in Tehran came at dawn, according to Iran state television. Israel's military said its air defences had been activated to intercept Iranian missiles targeting Israel and explosions were heard around Jerusalem.

With Iran's stranglehold on tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the world's oil is shipped, Brent crude prices rose to more than $82 a barrel, up more than 13 per cent since the start of the conflict and at its highest price since July 2024.

Global stock markets have been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy and sap corporate profits.

The American Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US Consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks on Tuesday, while the US State Department said Wednesday it had authorised non-emergency government personnel to evacuate the kingdom.

US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, said Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones so far.

He described the American strikes in the opening hours of the campaign as 'nearly double the scale' of the initial attacks during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

Israel today admitted that Iran still has significant capacity to fire missiles at its enemies

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'We've already struck nearly 2,000 targets, with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers and drones,' Cooper said in a prerecorded message shared online Wednesday.

'In simple terms, we are focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us,' he added.

Five days into a war that US President Donald Trump suggested could last a month or longer, nearly 800 people have been killed in Iran, including some Trump said he had considered as possible future leaders of the country.

Israel on Wednesday said it was conducting a series of strikes across Tehran targeting Iranian security forces, the day after it hit a building associated with the clerical panel that will pick Iran's next supreme leader in the city of Qom.

The war has sparked a divided response in Europe. On Wednesday, the European Commission said it was 'ready' to defend EU interests after Trump threatened to sever trade with Spain for refusing to allow the US use of its bases to attack Iran.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has refused to allow the US to use its bases to attack Iran, hit back against Trump's criticism, saying: 'We will not be complicit in something that is harmful to the world and contrary to our values and interests, simply out of fear of retaliation.'
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Iran has dragged the world into an unsustainable war where '$1million air defence missiles shoot down $1,000 drones', a leading military expert claimed today.

Lord Ricketts said the Iranians were running an 'asymmetric attack' on Gulf oil sites and the Strait of Hormuz because they have no match for US and Israeli airpower.

The former national security adviser from 2010 to 2012 told how the 'curve of the war is still upwards' and he cannot see a de-escalation towards a ceasefire.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer will face questions in the Commons over his decisions on the conflict, after Donald Trump unleashed fresh criticism of the Prime Minister.

The President said Sir Keir was 'not Winston Churchill' in a new rebuke after the UK did not allow US planes to launch their initial strikes against Tehran from British bases.

Sir Keir also said Britain would send HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 air defence destroyers, to defend Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone.

America and Israel have continuing to pound Iran since killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday - while Tehran and its allies have retaliated against Israel, neighbouring Gulf states and oil and gas production facilities.

Asked how long he expected the conflict in the Middle East will last, Lord Ricketts told Sky News today: 'At the moment it's still expanding. I think the curve of the war is still upwards and I can't yet see the plateaux or the de-escalation towards a ceasefire.

Lord Ricketts, Britain's former national security adviser, speaks on Sky News this morning

A large fire after debris of an intercepted drone hit the Fujairah oil facility in the UAE yesterday

Men inspect the ruins of a police station in Tehran yesterday amid the US-Israeli military effort

'The Iranians have done exactly what we all expected in wargaming an Iran crisis. They've no match for the airpower of the Americans and the Israels, so they're doing an asymmetric attack on the Gulf oil installations, Straits of Hormuz.

'They're bringing the world into the crisis. Predicted and predictable, and yet I don't think the Americans and Israelis have an answer to it. So right now, I don't see the de-escalation coming.'

Lord Ricketts was also asked whether he thought the Iranians had bigger weapons to use at a later date, and replied: 'I think they're probably holding back some of their most sophisticated missiles, yes, but they've also got huge stocks of drones.

'If we're in a game where $1million air defence missiles shoot down $1,000 drones, that is not sustainable in the longer-term, either for the Israelis or the Americans.'

The war between Iran and the US, now in its fifth day, will likely dominate the agenda when Sir Keir enters the Commons at noon today for Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Trump has said he is 'not happy' with the UK after it did not initially allow the US to use its bases for strikes on Iran, later adding in the Oval Office yesterday: 'This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.'

Downing Street has insisted the US remains a 'staunch' ally despite the repeated broadsides from Mr Trump.

Sir Keir decided on Sunday that UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, could be used in the conflict, but only so the US can strike defensively to protect countries being targeted by Tehran.

Asked about the significance of Mr Trump's comments for US-UK relations, Lord Ricketts told Sky News: 'Honestly I don't think we should stress too much about one throwaway comment from Trump. When he's annoyed, he reaches for the most wounding thing he can think of saying.

'It's crass, it's completely unfair given that the UK is doing more to support the Americans than any other European country. There are no American planes taking off from German air bases to strike, and yet [Friedrich] Merz seemed to get the credit in the White House yesterday.

'British planes are intercepting missiles around the Gulf, Germans are not. Chancellor Merz was at the table, therefore the President was schmoozing him. Honestly I think this will blow over. I think when Trump learns what Britain is actually doing, things will return.'

He added that the 'special relationship has always been more special from the UK side than from the American side', but the two militaries were 'still working very closely together'.

Sir Keir Starmer speaks in the House of Commons on Monday about the Middle East situation

President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office yesterday

It comes as HMS Dragon is being readied to depart for the Mediterranean and will be accompanied by two Wildcat helicopters equipped with so-called 'drone busting' Martlet missiles, so it can protect Britain's bases in Cyprus.

Lord Ricketts also said the UK was 'deeply intertwined with the Americans' for military purposes and he felt Sir Keir was handling the situation 'well - but I really worry that I don't see at the moment how this war ends'.

He also called on the Government to 'ramp up defence spending quickly', adding: 'We are caught short and the world is not going to get any more calm in the coming months and years.

'I think it's really important now that the government spends more, spends smartly, and we learn the lessons from Ukraine and now also from the Middle East on the importance of drones, of a completely network military. We've got an awful lot more to do to get to the more resilient place we need to be in that new world.'

Meanwhile a Government charter flight will be available this evening for British nationals wanting to leave Oman amid the conflict in the region.

The Foreign Office said the flight will depart the country's capital, Muscat, at 7pm and is available for British nationals, their partners and children under 18 with a valid travel document.

According to the Foreign Office, priority for the evacuation flight will be given to the most vulnerable and they will contact British nationals in Oman.

Anyone who registered their presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and are now in Oman is asked to register for a place on a flight.

The department asked people not to travel to Muscat International Airport in Oman unless they are contacted by officials, while dependents who are not British nationals will require a valid visa or permission to enter or remain granted for more than three months.

Some 130,000 Britons have registered their presence in the Middle East, as the Foreign Office said it was working with airlines on more routes.
An eco fashion designer is suing a King Charles private charity for 6million after it withdrew from a celebrity fundraiser dinner.

Amanda Navaian, founder of luxury handbag firm Marici London and self-professed 'admirer' of the King and his green values, has launched a court claim against the King Charles III Charitable Trust.

She describes being left psychologically scarred and having lost millions in revenue after the cancellation of a collaborative project to host a launch dinner and promotional T-shirt venture in aid of the monarch's Coronation Food Project.

Ms Navaian says the fallout from the collapse of the venture led to her 'not being able to work for a long time'.

She says the event was set to be attended by celebrities and influencers and curated by Princess Beatrice's stylist Olivia Buckingham.

She is now suing the King's charity and also FareShare, the UK's leading food redistribution charity, and Dori Dana-Haeri, who chairs the development committee for King Charles' Coronation Food Project.

The lawsuit is jointly claiming against them for 6million, alleging breach of contract and 'misrepresentation' over plans for the launch dinner and T-shirt line being scrapped.

Lawyers for the three defendants are bidding to have her claims thrown out, after telling a judge at London's High Court they were 'bound to fail'.

Amanda Navaian (pictured), founder of luxury handbag firm Marici London, has launched a court claim against the King Charles III Charitable Trust

King Charles and Queen Camilla visited FareShare Didcot, in Oxfordshire, to launch the Coronation Food Project on his birthday on November 14 2023

Amanda Navaian (pictured outside London's High Court) is now suing the King's charity and also FareShare, the UK's leading food redistribution charity, and Dori Dana-Haeri, who chairs the development committee for King Charles' Coronation Food Project

Ms Navaian, 43, who has 20 years' marketing and brand-building experience, founded high-end eco handbag line House of Marici in 2020.

She says it is the world's first handbag brand to mix heritage luxury style and craftsmanship with 'highly sustainable leather alternatives made from plants and being 100 per cent plastic free'.

She told Mr Justice Mansfield that she felt drawn to become involved with the Coronation Food Project due to her 'admiration for King Charles and his values'.

She approached the charity in April 2024, making contact with Ms Dana-Haeri and proposing a plan to launch a range of fundraising T-shirts in support of the project.

This included a glitzy dinner event at the London branch of international Japanese fine dining chain CLAP in Knightsbridge.

She says a deal was agreed between herself, Ms Dana-Haeri and Dame Martina Milburn, the chair of the Coronation Food Project, via a Zoom meeting on April 29 that year - when an 'oral agreement was concluded' for her to organise the project.

But she was taken aback when learning the project and planned dinner would not go ahead after the Coronation Food Project and her other partners pulled the plug, she told the court.

Ms Navaian, representing herself, said she engaged friends and celebrity contacts to help launch the initiative - including stylist and socialite Ms Buckingham - adding: 'There was to be clear royal involvement and the T-shirt project was only the start.'

King Charles and Queen Camilla are pictured marking his 75th birthday at the launch of The Coronation Food Project in Didcot, Oxfordshire, on November 14 2023

She said: 'It was the last-minute cancellation which made my whole eco-system fall apart.'

Ms Navaian added that potential guests and others involved 'wanted answers and wanted to know what went wrong'.

She told the judge: 'There was no valid reason to give for the dinner being cancelled and soon after that my entire eco-system fell apart.

'Everything that meant anything to me was involved in that project. There could have been over 1million in sales during that launch week.

'The result of the cancellation led to me not being able to work for a very long time and caused me loss.'

She told of feeling 'locked out and isolated' for the next year after her work team was dismantled and her business plan 'disintegrated' due to the dinner and project derailing.

Ms Navaian and Marici London Ltd are now suing the King Charles III Charitable Trust Ltd and the other two defendants for 6million in compensation, alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation and 'unlawful interference' in their economic relations.

They say the royal fund breached an oral agreement reached in the Zoom meeting in April 2024, which underpinned the fundraising project - while the allegations of misrepresentation and unlawful interference have been levelled against all three.

Amanda Navaian says the cancelled event was set to be attended by celebrities and influencers and curated by Princess Beatrice's stylist Olivia Buckingham (pictured in 2024)

All three defendants dispute the claims against them, with their barrister Andrew MacLeod insisting that the case against them was 'bound to fail'.

He told the judge: 'It's hard to know which claims are being pursued against which parties.'

He said there was no 'valid enforceable contract' with the royal fund in place to be breached and that any claims of misrepresentation or unlawful interference were groundless.

Mr MacLeod said: 'To the extent that the claimants assert any cause of action in misrepresentation, they have failed to plead or establish any actionable misrepresentation, any reliance on such a misrepresentation and any loss flowing from such reliance.'

On top of that, Ms Navaian and Marici London have no solid basis for pursuing a 6million damages claim, he added.

Mr MacLeod told the court: 'They have placed a value of the damages sought by their claim at "in excess of 6million" but have failed to plead any legally coherent case as to the damages to which they are entitled.

'For example, the claimants seek damages for 'loss of anticipated donations' and in respect of alleged losses arising from the asserted collapse of the claimant's charitable Fashion for Food campaign, yet the entitlement to any donations would have been FareShare's and not the claimant's.

'They also seek damages in respect of alleged harm to Marici's business, yet do not explain how any alleged breach of duty was the proximate cause of such alleged harm.

'They claim losses for alleged psychological injury, but do not explain the basis for departure from the usual rule that damages do not lie in contractual claims for psychological injury; or how such injury was reasonably foreseeable.

'In short, the damages claimed are unparticularised, incoherent and speculative.'

The barrister told the judge that there was a contract drawn up with FareShare under which Ms Navaian's company still stands to be potentially reimbursed up to 25,000 for expenses spent on the failed project.

But he said that for that payment to be made under the contract an itemised invoice for expenses would need to be provided - yet this did not happen.

Mr MacLeod said: 'FareShare agreed to reimburse Ms Navaian up to 25,000 in expenses incurred in connection with the fundraising project, provided that none of the expenses related to payments for social media posts or attendance at events and provision of an itemised invoice.

'As no itemised invoice has ever been presented to FareShare despite repeated invitations to provide one, its obligation to reimburse Ms Navaian has not arisen.'

The barrister also told the judge that, in an email exchange in June 2024, Ms Navaian agreed to run the dinner and T-shirt project as her own event for the benefit of the Coronation Food Project, rather than the charity or FairShare being official co-hosts.

He also said that in late June and early July 2024, 'relations became strained between the claimants, on the one hand, and the defendants and others involved in the fundraising project, on the other hand'.

He added that 'on 15 July 2024 at 10.11am the operators of CLAP London emailed Ms Navaian and Mr Wright "to postpone the event indefinitely".'

Ms Navaian later said in an email to FareShare that the restaurant had cancelled over a disagreement between herself and CLAP management over who would manage the provision of alcohol to guests attending the fundraising dinner, he added.

The judge has now reserved his ruling in the case to be given at a later date.
Keir Starmer has defied brutal rebukes from Donald Trump insisting the UK is 'not involved' with Iran strikes.

The PM made his latest attempt to wash his hands of the US president's military campaign in a speech to Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast last night.

Sir Keir - who has been desperately trying to shore up Labour's left flank since the Greens inflicted an humiliating by-election defeat - also talked up his determination to get 'justice' for Gaza.

The comments came after Mr Trump fuelled alarm about the state of the Special Relationship by condemning the premier as 'no Churchill'.

The president was incensed by Sir Keir's initial refusal to let the US use UK bases for the joint attacks with Israel.

That was later partially walked back by the PM under huge pressure, with 'defensive' actions permitted. There had been warnings that the US could simply use the bases anyway and dare Britain to stop them.

Keir Starmer made his latest attempt to wash his hands of the US president's military campaign in a speech to Muslims breaking Ramadan fast last night

The comments came after Donald Trump fuelled alarm about the state of the Special Relationship by condemning the premier as 'no Churchill'

Sir Keir is also facing a huge backlash for failing to protect Britain's base on Cyprus, which was hit by a suicide drone thought to have been fired by Tehran's proxies late on Sunday night.

Embarrassingly, military minnow Greece will have warships in position to protect RAF Akrotiri days before the Royal Navy will be anywhere near the danger zone.

Emmanuel Macron has ordered a French frigate to the region, in a move that seemingly finally stung Sir Keir into action yesterday.

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is now being sent to Cyprus - but will not arrive for several days - along with helicopters that have counter-drone capabilities.

Speaking at the Iftar - an event to mark breaking the Ramadan fast - in Westminster Hall last night, Sir Keir said: 'The war in the Middle East did not begin last week... in Gaza most of all, we must not lose sight of them and the need for peace, justice and security in Palestine and Israel.'

He added: 'On Iran, I want to make clear the UK was not involved in the offensive strikes of the US and Israel, and that remains the case.'

Sir Keir stressed he opposed the Iraq war in 2003 and the UK needed to 'learn the lessons'. But he said the 'indiscriminate' response from Iran had shifted the balance towards allowing bases to be used.

'What we're now doing is allowing our bases to be used for the defensive purposes of preventing those attacks and protecting innocent lives, because that is what we need to do to support our Middle Eastern allies who have asked us for support,' he said.

Mr Trump said last night: 'I'm not happy with the UK. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.

'Spain has been very, very uncooperative and so has the UK. The second one is shocking but this is not the age of Churchill.

'The UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island [Chagos]. That they gave away and took a 100-year lease... what's that all about?'

His remarks will put fresh pressure on Sir Keir to abandon his controversial deal to hand the Chagos Islands, a British territory in the Indian Ocean, to China ally Mauritius, then lease back the crucial military base on Diego Garcia for 35billion.

But Downing Street said: 'The work on Diego Garcia and the deal continues  we have been very clear about its value as a military asset to both the UK and the US, and that position hasn't changed.'

No10 also claimed the US and UK remained 'staunch allies'.

Nigel Farage insisted Britain joining the US in its war on Iran was a different situation to the Iraq war.

The Reform UK leader, who has criticised the UK joining the Iraq war alongside the US, told a central London press conference: 'There are times to say no to the Americans, absolutely. We should have said no a couple of times in the last 25 years.

'Of course, because Saddam Hussein didn't pose any direct threat to this country, they had to invent a threat.

'I would argue in the case of Iran, since October 7 this country has fundamentally changed as a result of terrorism funded by Iran.

'Frankly, if this operation stops Iran getting a nuclear weapon, it would have been worth it. I believe that very, very strongly.

'I'm really incredibly nervous about intervening in foreign wars, I believe it's the right one.'

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is now being sent to Cyprus - but will not arrive for several days - along with helicopters that have counter-drone capabilities

Questions have been asked as to why a British ship was not deployed to the Middle East sooner, given America had publicly been moving its arsenal into position for some time.

Former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, said 'Nelson will be spinning in his grave' over Britain's response and the state of the senior service, which has scarcely any active ships or submarines to send to a crisis anywhere in the world.

Shadow Armed Forces minister Mark Francois said: 'Britannia once 'ruled the waves' rather than being tied up in port.

'Why, given the US build-up has already been under way for weeks, are we only just sending one now? Why didn't we dispatch one to the Med a fortnight ago?

'It's like Nelson turning up to Trafalgar a week late.'
A three-day state funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has been 'postponed' hours before it was due to begin, Iranian state media reports.

The ceremony was supposed to unfold this evening at the grand mosque in Tehran but, with Israeli and American strikes continuing to pound the city, will now be rearranged.

Organisers claimed it was delayed 'in anticipation of unprecedented turnout', and reportedly want to wait until the necessary infrastructure is in place.

Iranian TV reported: 'The farewell ceremony for the martyred Imam has been postponed. The new date will be announced later.'

Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Irans Islamic Propagation Council, earlier announced there would be a three-day farewell ceremony followed by a funeral procession.

The official said the public will be able to pay their respects to the body of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Tehrans Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall starting at 10pm (6:30pm UK time).

'The Mosalla (prayer hall) will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again,' he said in comments carried by Iranian media.

An official 40-day mourning period, as well as a seven-day national holiday was announced in Iran in the wake of Khamenei's death.

Khamenei was killed on Saturday, aged 86, in air strikes by Israel and the US

Mourners at a demonstration after the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei hold photos of the late Supreme Leader

Khamenei, who based his iron rule of Iran on hostility to the US and Israel, was killed on Saturday, aged 86, in air strikes by Israel and the US.

He led Iran's clerical establishment and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard  the two main centres of power in the governing theocracy.

The funeral will be held despite ongoing strikes by the IDF, who has declared it is now carrying out a 'broad wave' of attacks in Tehran.

The IDF says the 'terrorist infrastructure' will be targeted in what it highlighted was the 'tenth wave' of attacks on the Iranian capital.

The Israeli military has also launched airstrikes on Beirut as it targets Hezbollah militants in the Lebanese capital.

Iran meanwhile has continued its retaliatory attacks in Israel and across the Gulf states on another night of chaos in the Middle East.

It comes as Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesday to assassinate any Iranian leader picked to succeed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

In a post on X, Katz said: 'Any leader selected by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan for Israel's destruction, threatening the United States, the free world and countries in the region, and suppressing the Iranian people, will be a certain target for assassination, no matter his name or where he hides.'

The Iranian regime's 88-person assembly, who is tasked with appointing, supervising and potentially dismissing the supreme leader, met on Tuesday in Qom to find a successor to Khamenei.

However, Israeli and US strikes flattened the building where the assembly met. There was no information on any potential casualties.

Now, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named the favourite to be appointed Iran's new Supreme Leader.

The 56-year-old is Ali Khamenei's second oldest son and has strong links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and was chosen by Iran's Assembly of Experts 'under pressure from the Revolutionary Guards', according to Iranian opposition outlet Iran International.

Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric, has never held office and does not have an official role in the regime.

But he served in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq war and is believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes. He has been touted as a possible successor to his father for years.

However, he was not included in a list of three senior clerics Ali Khamenei reportedly identified last year.

And his father is said to have indicated opposition to his candidacy because it would resemble the hereditary rule enacted by the US-backed Shah monarchy before it was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Father-to-son succession is also viewed negatively in the Shiite Muslim clerical establishment in Iran.

But much of Iran's top brass has been decimated in the latest conflict and Mojtaba has close ties with the powerful IRGC and the Basij volunteer paramilitary force.

Mojtaba Khamenei (pictured), the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named the favourite to be appointed Iran's new Supreme Leader

A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran, on March 3

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Haret Hreik neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs on March 4

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he fears Iran's new leader would be 'as bad as the previous person'.

Commenting on the 'worst case scenario' at an Oval Office news conference, Trump said: 'I guess the worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen. We don't want that to happen. It would probably be the worst.'

He added: 'You go through this and then in five years, you realise you put somebody in who was no better. So we'd like to see somebody in there that's going to bring it back for the people.'

However, he also expressed confidence on joint US-Israel military capabilities, saying: 'We have them very much beaten militarily, from the military standpoint. They're still lobbing some missiles,' he said.

'They won't even be able to do that because we're hitting all of their carriers. We're hitting all of their missile stock  and we're knocking out a lot.'

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian adviser to the late Ayatollah has declared there will be no negotiations with the US and the war can continue 'as long as we want'.

Mohammad Mokhber told Iranian state television there is 'no trust in the Americans'.

He said: 'We have no basis for any negotiations with them: We can continue the war as long as we want.'

Iran DELAYS state funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei hours before three-day ceremony was due to being at Tehran grand mosque as Israel and US continue to pound the city
Iran has threatened to strike 'all economic centres' across the Middle East, raising fears that global financial hubs like Dubai could be dragged deeper into the escalating conflict.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander warned Tehran would retaliate if US and Israeli strikes continue, declaring Iran would target the region's key commercial and economic hubs.

'We are saying to the enemy that if it decides to hit our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region,' Ebrahim Jabbari said in remarks broadcast on Iranian state media.

The warning came after a drone strike hit the car park of the US consulate in Dubai overnight, sparking a fire that was quickly extinguished.

The general also warned Iran could bring chaos to the global energy market, declaring: 'We have closed the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, the price of oil is above $80 and will soon reach $200.'

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for flows of both oil and gas from the Middle East, accounting for roughly a fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade

British travellers are scrambling to leave the region as flights are disrupted and governments warn nationals to depart amid fears the conflict could widen.

Panic had already spread through Dubai the previous night when missiles streaked across the sky and explosions lit up the city, sending tourists and influencers running for cover.

A drone strike hit the car park of the US consulate in Dubai overnight, sparking a fire that was quickly extinguished with no reported injuries

Videos posted to social media on Tuesday evening showed a huge plume of smoke rising from the building, which local authorities revealed was hit by a missile

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the drone is understood to have struck a car park adjacent to the consulate building, which is situated close to Dubai's British embassy

Holidaymakers described scenes of chaos as visitors fled beaches, restaurants and luxury hotels while air raid sirens echoed across the emirate.

Footage posted online showed visitors taking cover as the attacks unfolded, with one influencer claiming panicked holidaymakers were grabbing luxury bags as they rushed to safety.

British content creator Mia Plainer said she saw 'loads of smoke and missiles,' adding that 'people literally were grabbing their Hermes and Chanel bags' as they sheltered.

The escalating conflict is also causing wider disruption across the Gulf, with thousands of cruise passengers now stranded in regional ports.

The passengers and crews are unable to leave the ships, which have become floating hotels, after escalating hostilities raised fears over safety in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most vital shipping lanes.

At least six ships from major cruise companies are said to be at a standstill awaiting news of when they can leave.

The cruise ship passengers are just the latest holidaymakers to become stranded in the region, with other tourists also caught up in the escalating chaos.

Families have described terrifying scenes as missile interceptions lit up the skies above Dubai, hotels were evacuated and airports descended into confusion as flights were cancelled without warning.

Earlier today, the British Government announced its first emergency evacuation flight to help stranded British nationals escape the war-torn Middle East.

A repatriation flight is currently scheduled to leave Oman's Muscat International Airport at 11pm local time (7pm GMT) tonight and will prioritise the most vulnerable Brits first as attacks continue to explode across the region.

British nationals and their spouse or partner, and their children under the age of 18, with a valid travel document are all eligible.

The Foreign Office said it would contact British nationals to secure them a way out of the Middle East, and urged people not to travel to the airport unless they have been officially called.

British expats have been increasingly frustrated by the lack of urgency over getting them out of the Middle East - with British Airways running an emergency evacuation flight with more than 100 empty seats.

Despite around 130,000 Brits registering as stranded in the Gulf, around 100 pilots and crew members from BA and other airlines were flown from Muscat to Heathrow on Monday.

More than 11,000 commercial flights have been cancelled with 1 million people affected since airspace over the Gulf largely closed as the US and Israel launched a co-ordinated attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Join the debate How should Britain respond if the Gulf crisis threatens the safety of its citizens?

Stranded passengers at Dubai airport on Tuesday morning

This handout satellite image taken on March 2, 2026 shows smoke plumes billowing in Dubai after a projectile strike

Iran has responded furiously with retaliation attacks, targeting US bases across the Middle East - including a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia which was blown up on Monday.

But retaliatory strikes from Tehran have hit expat hotspots such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait - including hotels and airports. The US Consulate in Dubai was also rocked by a drone strike yesterday.

Videos posted to social media on Tuesday evening showed a huge plume of smoke rising from the building, which local authorities revealed was hit by a missile.

A statement read: 'The competent authorities in Dubai succeeded in extinguishing a limited fire in the vicinity of the U.S. Consulate in Dubai resulting from a drone targeting operation, and the incident did not result in any injuries.'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the drone is understood to have struck a car park adjacent to the consulate building, which is situated close to Dubai's British embassy.

Desperate wealthy expats living in Dubai have been driving across the desert to escape the Middle East via neighbouring Oman or Saudi Arabia.

Trump has admitted in interviews that the US was not expecting Tehran to lash out against its Gulf neighbours who are not participating in the campaign but who house US bases.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Tuesday that the 'safety and security' of British nationals was a 'top priority'.

Airlines are today ramping up their flights out of the Middle East while the war rages on.

Emirates is operating seven flights from Dubai to the UK while Etihad has two Abu Dhabi departures.

Virgin Atlantic will operate a flight from Dubai to London Heathrow.

British Airways has not restarted its usual flying programme from the region, but will run an evacuation flight to Heathrow from Muscat, which it does not usually serve.
The first flight from Dubai to Sydney since war broke out in the Middle East has safely landed on Australian soil.

An Emirates Airbus A380-861, capable of carrying more than 400 passengers, left Dubai at 2am on Wednesday and landed in Sydney at 10.24pm.

There were cheers, hugs, and tears as passengers disembarked and reunited with their loved ones at the arrivals gate.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong had earlier confirmed the flight, EK414, had left and indicated commercial flights were the quickest way for Australians to get home because of the sheer numbers.

About 115,000 Australians have been left stranded in the Middle East since war broke out between US-Israel forces and Iran on Saturday. Iran has since been bombarding peaceful Gulf cities with missile and drone attacks.

Earlier in the week, an evacuation route via Cyprus collapsed when a military and a civilian airport were both targeted. But the United Arab Emirates' government expected 60 flights to leave on Wednesday, after it began resuming flight operations on Tuesday through dedicated emergency air corridors.

Several airspaces over the Middle East remain closed, including Israel, Syria, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain. Jordan has partially closed its airspace.

RMIT University aviation expert Justin Brownjohn said airlines have their own assessments in place to ensure if it is safe to fly, even in warzones.

There were tears when the first plane load of Australians stranded in the Middle East when the Iran conflict broke out safely landed back in Sydney late on Wednesday night

About 115,000 Australians are stuck in the region with commercial flights likely the quickest way back

Flight EK414 from Dubai to Sydney landed safely in Australia on Wednesday night

'Most major carriers, and I'm talking the likes of Qantas [and] Emirates, have departments within their operations control centres that have really good connections and feeds into national security providers,' he told the ABC.

'Qantas, for example, will be in constant contact with DFAT, and they make a collaborative effort in determining the risk profile of the flight.'

Mr Brownjohn added carriers would be working with embassies in the Middle East and making decisions based on the latest information.

He said that all of these inputs feed into a risk profile.

'It's not just one person in one team saying, 'Okay, it's okay to fly', or the boss of an airline saying, 'Okay, look, we're losing money now, we need to fly'.

'That absolutely does not happen.'

Smartraveller has advised Australians travelling to or through Gulf nations that they could be unable to leave if the conflict escalates.

A registration portal is open on its website for Australians to receive further evacuation orders.

Friends and family waited to greet their returning loved ones

Passengers arrive from a flight coming from Dubai at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport on March 4, 2026

Penny Wong said commerical flights are the quickest way back because of the sheer numbers

Emirates crew depart the plane and walk through Sydney airport

A registration page is available on Smartraveller for Aussies still in the Middle East

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has activated its 24/7 Crisis Centre to provide consular support to those in the region.

Six crisis teams are also being sent to the Middle East to provide consular support to Australians still trapped in the area.

Wong did not advise how they were travelling for safety reasons.

Several other repatriation flights have left the UAE since airstrikes hit Iran on Saturday.

Relieved Brits arrived back home on Monday.

The Etihad Airways plane landed at Heathrow Terminal 4 at 7.16pm - two days after the US and Israel struck Iran, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prompting a furious Iranian response.

Isabel Robertson, 29, of Windsor, was greeted with a hug from her mother Alba as she landed on Monday.

She had been staying with friends in Dubai, which has come under repeated attack by the Iranian regime.

US President Donald Trump has said the military operation in Iran would take four weeks

While there was joy on Wednesday night the plane load of about 200 Australians is a drop in the ocean of those in the Middle East

It is unclear how or when tens of thousands more Australians will return home

The United Arab Emirates' Government expected 60 flights to leave on Wednesday, including the one to Sydney

Foreign Minister Wong said she is preparing her department for one of the biggest consular operations it has seen

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with the president of the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayad al Nahyan, on Tuesday night and thanked him for the hospitality shown to Australians stuck in transit

Australia was one of the first countries to back the strikes by US and Israeli forces over the weekend

Opposition foreign spokesman Ted O'Brien said Labor should be looking at every option to ensure stranded Australians were kept safe

Residential areas around Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, areas hugely popular with western tourists, were attacked, setting the luxury hotel Fairmont The Palm ablaze and damaging the Burj Al Arab.

Isabel, who previously lived in the Emirate city, had been due to fly home on Saturday but her flight was cancelled.

Dancer Isabel told the Daily Mail: 'I went to see my friends. I had such a great week. I had meant to have been leaving on Saturday. My friend was going to drive me to the airport.

'I was like 'Why has my flight been cancelled?' Ten minutes later I could hear an explosion.'

Many Australians are still waiting for their own reunions but how they will be evacuated from the Middle East remains uncertain.

The Australian Defence Force has prepared personnel for the rescue of Australians from the Middle East via military repatriation flights, reports on Tuesday claimed.

However, Wong insisted Aussies should continue trying to book seats on commercial flights as passenger planes offered a quicker route out of the region.
An employee who stole more than 40,000 worth of microphones and other equipment from the Royal Albert Hall has avoided jail.

Calvin Williams, 35, from Hammersmith, west London, admitted stealing the items before trying to flog them online.

The trial heard he stole approximately 13,000 worth of equipment between April and June last year while he was employed as a 'casual shift worker'.

The 35-year-old was then fired but security at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington did not deactivate his access card.

Williams discovered that he still had access to the storage cupboard when he returned to the concert hall in August to appeal his dismissal.

During that visit, he went on to steal a further 31,000 worth of the same equipment.

Calvin Williams, 35, from Hammersmith, west London , admitted stealing the items from the concert venue before trying to flog them online (stock image of the Royal Albert Hall)

Police arrested him in October last year and found 'numerous microphones and microphone holders' at his home, the prosecution said.

In total, the Royal Albert Hall said that 58 microphones and associated accessories were stolen, totalling 42,319.

Williams was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for theft and a further 13 months for burglary, both suspended for 18 months, by Judge Martin Griffith at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.

He is also expected to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, 20 days of rehabilitation activity, and pay 8,400 back to the Royal Albert Hall over the next two years.

The Royal Albert Hall has been contacted for comment.
Fury is mounting today over the state of the Royal Navy after it was revealed a warship ordered to deploy to Cyprus to defend UK forces will not set sail until next week.

Fresh concerns have been raised at the state of Britain's warship and submarine fleet in the wake of an Iranian drone attack on RAF Akrotiri.

Sir Keir Starmer last night said HMS Dragon would be sent to the Eastern Mediterranean, amid embarrassment at the French Navy planning to step in and help.

But Western officials believe that Dragon, which is currently in Portsmouth, will not be ready to put to sea for days.

It was being readied for another mission after a routine maintenance period when the call came through to prepare to go to the Mediterranean.

It was disarmed for the maintenance period and was pictured being rearmed today at the Portsmouth naval base.

The PM was already under fire as the Type 45 destroyer will take a week to get to the area.

It means that it will arrive on station off Cyprus between two and three weeks after the base was attacked.

The successful drone hit, which caused minimal damage and no casualties, prompted the Cypriot president to appeal to France and Germany for naval help.

His move helped galvanise Sir Keir and Navy chiefs into action. But questions will be asked about the slow pace of the deployment.

Officials have confirmed that the drone was not fired from Iran itself, amid suggestions it could have been fired by pro-Tehran forces in Lebanon.

The well connected Naval Lookout website reports that Navy commanders offered to send a ship out to Cyprus in readiness for possible attacks, but that ministers decided to go ahead with planned Nato exercises off Northern Europe instead.

The row prompted a major clash between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions today.

And former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West told the Mail 'Nelson will be spinning in his grave', adding: 'When I was First Sea Lord, I tended to send warships towards the sound of the guns.'

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HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defence destroyer will be sent to the eastern Mediterranean. She was pictured today loading up with ammunition in Portsmouth

Today he said the Royal Navy is 'too small' and has 'not been looked after properly'.

'The bottom line is the Navy's in a more parlous state than at any stage in the 60 years I've been on the active list,' he said.

'It's too small, it's not been looked after properly, there's been insufficient (funds) spent on it, and I'm afraid it doesn't deliver what the nation needs.'

An unofficial list of Royal Navy readiness which has circulated online in the days since the attack suggests that of its major warship and submarine fleet just one is at sea.

The rest are in various naval bases, either having just returned from deployment, undergoing regular maintenance or having more major refits.

Of the six Type 45s the UK has, just three are able to put to sea. The other three are in various stages of repair in Portsmouth after a major issue was found that prevented their engines from working in warm seas.

Astonishingly, HMS Daring, the lead ship of the class, has been out of action for almost nine years.

Similarly, the UK's two aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales are both in dock undergoing repairs and maintenance. Queen Elizabeth has been out of action for almost 18 months.

Only two of the seven Type 23 frigates based in Plymouth are in a state to set sail.

Britain also has five Astute Class attack submarines, which would not help protect Cyprus but could launch pre-emptive cruise missile strikes at Iranian sites.

But of the five only HMS Anson is overseas, and it is in Australia on a PR visit that has been coupled with a maintenance period in Perth to promote the new AUKUS nuclear sub agreement.

Emmanuel Macron has ordered units to the eastern Mediterranean island after RAF Akrotiri was struck by a drone which pierced its air defences on Sunday

Queen Elizabeth has been out of action for almost 18 months and has been in dry dock in Scotland since last July

At the height of the Cold War, when the threat of a nuclear apocalypse sparked by Russia was at its worst, the Royal Navy had hundreds of warships.

In 1960, its vast fleet had eight aircraft carriers at its disposal and could call upon 156 frigates and destroyers.

By the early 1980s, however, this number had almost halved and the end of the Cold War saw a new wave of cuts as politicians envisioned a new period of peace that failed to materialise.

Now, there are just two aircraft carriers - both of which have been bedevilled by breakdowns - six one-billion-pound-a-piece Type 45 destroyers and a handful of ageing frigates and patrol ships.

But Labour and the Conservatives have to shoulder blame for cuts, with governments of both parties making cutbacks over the decades since the end of the Second World War.

Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch clashed on the issue at Prime Minister's Questions today.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the Commons that Labour's priorities 'are all wrong', saying: 'He says that we are pre-deploying  the one ship which we are sending, HMS Dragon, is still in Portsmouth. The fact is the Type 45 cannot take out incoming missiles. This is not enough.

'He's read out a long list but the people who understand know it is not enough  he should be doing more.'

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Sir Keir posted a statement on X this afternoon

Turning to the spring forecast statement which Chancellor Rachel Reeves made on Tuesday, Mrs Badenoch continued: 'Yesterday, the Chancellor could have given more money to defence. Instead, she gave more money for welfare. Their priorities are all wrong.'

She asked: 'Why is he leaving the job of funding our armed forces to the next government?'

Sir Keir replied: 'I'm not going to take lectures on defence from the party opposite. They came into office and what did they do? They cut the defence budget.'

Sir Keir later said: 'Not only did they cut the defence budget, they missed Army recruitment targets every year for 14 years, they left morale in our armed forces at an all-time low and our forces hollowed out  that's the words of Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary.'

He later added his Government was 'delivering the biggest boost of defence spending since the Cold War  270 billion over this Parliament'.

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Facing questions from broadcasters on Wednesday, Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray insisted the UK had been building up defensive capability in recent weeks amid criticism of a lack of air defence in the region.

He told Times Radio: 'What's important is that we have been prepared in the build-up toward this and that we now step up and make sure we have the defensive capability there.'

But Former Royal Navy Falklands conflict commander Rear Admiral Chris Parry decried Labour's 'strategically illiterate' approach to the Iran crisis.

The retired officer, now a Reform UK election candidate, told the Daily Mail: 'The Government has been shamed into this token, paltry effort by the actions of other countries such as France and Greece.

'As a proud maritime country, our politicians should not have to be dragged kicking and screaming into a conflict in which British lives and interests were clearly going to be at stake.'

The Type 45s, which cost over 1bn, were described as 'the backbone of the Royal Navy' when the ships were first launched.

They are equipped with Sea Viper missiles capable of shooting down energy aircraft missiles and drones.

But it quickly became apparent that problems with the destroyers' Rolls Royce engine cooling system meant that the ships were prone to losing power in hot climates, such as the Persian Gulf and the Caribbean.

All Type 45s have undergone or are undergoing a refit known as the Power Improvement Programme at a cost of more than 160m.

'The repair work involves replacing two existing diesel generators with three new ones and modifying the high voltage system on each ship.

The Royal Navy has also been embarrassed by mechanical issues suffered by HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

In February 2024 Queen Elizabeth was due to lead Exercise Steadfast Defender  the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War  but this was cancelled at the last minute after a problem with her starboard propeller shaft was spotted during final checks.

Two months later, the Royal Navy Flagship was also forced to undergo additional repairs after a fire onboard which caused damage to the crews' sleeping quarters.

The 932ft-long warship, with a displacement of around 80,000 tonnes, entered service in 2018.

It did complete a global deployment in 2021, operating in the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Asia-Pacific region.

However, in November of that year a UK-operated F-35B crashed on take-off from the carrier into the sea after the crew forgot to remove a cover from an air vent.

It spend nine months tied up in Portsmouth before sailing last July to Rosyth in Scotland, where it was built, for what was branded a seven-month 'MOT' in dry dock.

In 2022 Prince of Wales broke down as she was heading out for joint exercises with the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps.

The carrier came to a halt off the Isle of Wight and was brought back under tow into Portsmouth harbour for the problem to be identified.

It was repaired and last year went to the Pacific in a show of strength to China. But it has been undergoing maintenance since it returned.

New ships are being built, modern Type 31 and 26 frigates which will replace the ageing Type 23 vessels.

But though it will mean eventually the RN has almost double the number of frigates it now has, the first ones are not due to enter service until later this decade.

And their planned introduction will exacerbate the Navy's other probloem, which is finding enough sailors to man the ships it does have.

Long gone are the day of 'press-ganging', where any man able to pull on ropes could be essentially kidnapped and forced to serve on a slab-sided wooden ship of the line.

According to Ministry of Defence figures the Navy's regular strength was 35,545, in the last quarter of last year.

That figure is down almost 3,400 since 2012 - enough to crew around 17 Type 45s or two Queen Elizabeth carriers, including air wing.

And the fighting with Iran is of course not the only conflict which the UK has to have its eye on.

The head of the Royal Navy warned in December that Britain must 'step up' on defence or risk losing its advantage in the Atlantic, as Russia continues to spend billions on its capabilities at sea.

In a speech in London, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said there was 'no room for complacency' while Moscow invests heavily in its northern fleet.

Sir Gwyn said there had been a spike in 'Russian incursion in our waters'  activity which is most visibly seen in the presence of spy ships like the Yantar near UK waters  but warned: 'It's what's going on under the waves that most concerns me.'

The Government announced earlier this year that UK defence and security spending would rise to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 at the latest.

Its strategic spending review last year said the country should move towards having a 'more powerful but cheaper and simpler fleet' with a hybrid mix of crewed, uncrewed and increasingly autonomous vessels and aircraft.

But Defence Secretary John Healey and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are said to be at odds over the speed of the spending increase.

Last month the government announced military personnel will give advice in jobcentres to people looking for a career in the armed forces, under new plans to boost recruitment.

The agreement between the MoD and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will connect Jobcentre Plus directly to military training and careers.

The MoD said the move would create 'opportunities for tens of thousands of young people', with armed forces career offices partnered with jobcentres.
This is the moment an Iranian warship suffered a 'quiet death' after being blasted by a torpedo off the coast of Sri Lanka at the hands of an American submarine.

At least 80 sailors have been confirmed dead and a further 78 wounded after an 'explosion' hit the 180-crew frigate IRIS Dena, around 25 miles south of Indian Ocean island.

A rescue mission for the remaining missing sailors continues after the Sri Lankan navy dispatched a team when the vessel issued a distress call at dawn.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a briefing at the Pentagon today: 'Yesterday, in the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters.

'Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo - a quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two.'

He said of the wider operation: 'We are only four days into this, and the results have been incredible.

'The combination [with Israel's forces] is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian adversaries. They are toast, and they know it. And we have only just begun.'

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that the injured sailors were taken to a hospital in the island's south.

This is the moment an Iranian warship suffered a 'quiet death' after being blasted by a torpedo

At least 80 sailors have been confirmed dead and a further 78 wounded after an 'explosion' hit the 180-crew frigate

Iran's Iris Dena (pictured in 2024) went down off the coast of Sri Lanka

Pete Hegseth confirmed a US military submarine was behind the attack. Pictured: The Virginia-class USS North Dakota (SSN 784) submarine

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'We are keeping up a search, but we don't know yet what happened to the rest of the crew,' an official told AFP, dimming prospects for finding any more survivors.

Herath said two Sri Lankan navy vessels and an aircraft were deployed for the rescue operation, but did not say what caused the Iranian warship to sink.

An opposition legislator asked in parliament whether the vessel had been bombed as part of the ongoing US-Israeli attacks against Iran. Still, there was no immediate response from the government.

But a Sri Lankan military source told Reuters that the ship was attacked by a submarine, which caused an explosion. The source did not say whose submarine was used in the attack.

Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath said their operation was in line with Sri Lanka's maritime obligations and that 32 Iranian sailors were evacuated to the main hospital in Galle, 70 miles south of the capital Colombo.

'We responded to the distress call under our international obligations, as this is within our search and rescue area in the Indian Ocean,' Sampath told AFP.

Both Sri Lanka's navy and air force said they would not release footage of the rescue because it involved the military of another state.

An ambulance enters Sri Lanka's southern naval head quarters in Galle on March 4, 2026, to pick up Iranian sailors rescued from Iranian frigate Iris Dena that was sunk off their island earlier in the day

Police stepped up security outside the Galle hospital as the wounded Iranians were brought there by the local navy.

It comes days after the US military said it had struck Irans largest naval warship following the launch of Trumps Operation Epic Fury.

US Central Command also rebuked Iranian leadership for falsely claiming it had sunk an American aircraft carrier in the Gulf.

'The Iranian regimes false messaging machine continues to falsely claim that it has sunk a US aircraft carrier. The only carrier that has been hit is the Shahid Bagheri, an Iranian drone carrier,' the US Central Command said.

'US forces struck the ship within hours of launching Operation Epic Fury.'

Tehran reportedly used the IRIS Shahid Bagheri as a launching pad for drone attacks against US military base and Gulf allies following the death of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US military forces previously sunk 11 naval ships operated by Tehran in the Gulf of Oman since the start of the war. The extent of damage inflicted on the Iranian ship remains unclear.

But the strike on Irans warship further underscores the blow dealt to the countrys naval power by US and Israeli forces.

Iran has falsely claimed that hundreds of US troops were killed in retaliatory strikes. US Central Command, however, says four service members have died and 18 others were injured from strikes by Iran.
BrewDog co-founder James Watt says he is 'heartbroken' after his firm was sold off for just 33million this week - with the loss of almost 500 jobs.

The Scottish brewery, which was speculatively valued at 2billion just a few years ago, was sold to US cannabis and drinks firm Tilray for a fraction of that earlier this week.

A total of 38 UK bars were closed on Monday, when CEO James Taylor told 484 staff in an all-hands conference call that they were no longer employed.

Shares owned by the 220,000 'equity punks' who invested some 75million in the company over seven funding rounds are now practically worthless.

In a post shared across several social media channels, self-espousing 'punk' and multimillionaire Mr Watt expressed contrition over the company's downfall. However, it failed to impress some observers.

Describing the last week as 'incredibly hard', he wrote: 'I am heartbroken for all of the hard working and passionate team members who have lost their jobs.

'I am heartbroken for all of our brilliant equity punks who did not get the return on their investment they wanted.

'And heartbroken to have dedicated the best 20 years of my life to something that ultimately did not have the ending we all wished for.'

Martin Dickie and James Watt (pictured) founded BrewDog in 2007. The firm has now been sold for a fraction of its market value, with hundreds of people out of work

James Watt got engaged to Georgia Toffolo in 2024, shortly after he stepped away from BrewDog amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour

A BrewDog pub in Cambridge Circus, Soho - among the 38 bars that have been closed with immediate effect

Mr Watt - who stepped back from the role of CEO in 2024 amid allegations of a toxic culture within BrewDog - said he would have 'loved to save every single job and every single equity punk investment' but 'couldn't', adding: 'That will stay with me.'

He added that, 'with the benefit of hindsight' the firm had expanded too quickly and diversified too widely, and that he had not responded to PR crises in a way that was 'authentic and true to who I am'.

'I am sorry that I was not able to repay the faith you bestowed in me with the outcome you all deserved,' he signed off the post.

Observers on social media responded with a mix of well-wishing and cynicism - noting that Watt and co-founder Martin Dickie shared in a reported 100million payday when they sold 22 per cent of the firm to US investment firm TSG Partners.

The 2017 deal gave TSG 'preferential' shares that entitled them to a return on their investment in the event the company was sold - over and above other investors, including the so-called 'equity punks' that are now unlikely to get any money back.

In the doghouse: the BrewDog pubs that have closed Castlegate

DogHouse Merchant City

DogHouse Manchester

Soho

Aberdeen Union Square

Basingstoke

Bath

Bournemouth

Bristol

Bristol Harbourside

Cambridge

Camden Road

Cardiff

Carlisle

Chancery Lane

Cheltenham

Clerkenwell

Ealing

Edinburgh

Exeter

Glasgow

Hammersmith

Inverurie

Liverpool

Manchester Outpost

Milton Keynes

Newcastle

Norwich

Nottingham

Perth

Plymouth

Reading

Seething Lane

Southampton

St Andrews

Stirling

Tower Bridge

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'Are you "heartbroken" you gave the institutional investor preference over the equity punks James? An arrangement that ensured we received no return on our investments,' wrote one commenter under Mr Watt's LinkedIn post.

'I'm sure you have plenty of sympathy for those left with no jobs and bills to pay whilst you sit in your penthouse overlooking Blackfriars,' wrote one follower on Instagram, where Mr Watt has limited who can comment.

Others were more positive.

'Haters will always hate but there is no doubt that Brewdog was at the heart of, what is now, a resurgent craft beer culture in the UK,' said one fan on Instagram.

'As an equity punk myself I'm happy to say that I was part of that revolution and am delighted with the non-financial return on that investment.'

An email sent to investors this week, seen by the Daily Mail, thanked amateur investors for their contributions - and said they would continue to receive benefits such as discounts - including an additional discount for those with BrewDog tattoos.

'We know you will have questions, and we ask for your patience while we focus on supporting our people and stabilising the business,' the email added.

New owner Tilray Brands, described euphemistically in the email as a 'leading global lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company', owns several brands of medical and consumer cannabis in the United States, as well as other alcohol businesses.

Administrators AlixPartners said it had not received any offers that would have 'preserved BrewDog in its entirety.'

Watt, who is married to Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo, had sought to invest 10million of his own cash in the firm as part of a rescue deal that ultimately failed.

Some 733 staff have been retained in the sale, including operational staff and those working at 11 franchised pubs.

But those who were sacked were told, per the BBC, to claim for lost wages via the Insolvency Service after the firm was put into administration - putting the onus on the public purse to pick up the tab.

They were given little notice of the conference call that saw them sacked - which has been compared to the mass sacking conducted by P&O Ferries in 2022.

Bryan Simpson, lead organiser of Unite's hospitality branch, described the conduct of BrewDog management as 'nothing short of a national disgrace'.

'This has all the hallmarks of the scandal at P&O Ferries... it is a disgrace that lessons have clearly not been learned across corporate Britain,' he told the Mail.

'A company does not lose 97 per cent of its value in nine years without catastrophic mismanagement.'

He added that the union is demanding answers over unpaid wages with appointed administrator AlixPartners.

James Brown, the former CEO of BrewDog's bars division, said the Government should shoulder some blame for BrewDog's woes after hiking National Insurance.

'For years now, government policy on rates and employment taxes has steadily eroded confidence in hospitality,' he wrote on LinkedIn.

'The leadership over the nearly 20 years of BrewDog could never have envisaged the world post Brexit, Post Covid and the tax, costs and admin burden facing businesses today.'

BrewDog grew from a small beer brewing business founded by Watt and Dickie in 2007 to the world's leading craft beer brand at its peak in the late 2010s.

However, it was plagued by a series of public relations misfires and allegations of a toxic working culture and inappropriate behaviour by Mr Watt, who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing over the years.

In 2022, a BBC documentary aired claims that he had kissed a drunk customer and that female staff were given advice on how to avoid unwelcome attention from him on visits to bars.

Mr Watt later apologised for making anyone feel 'uncomfortable' - but hired private detectives to investigate those who had raised concerns and went to regulator Ofcom challenging the programme's claims. It upheld none of his complaints.

BrewDog has weathered PR storms over the years, facing claims that it has shed its original DIY 'punk' ethos and become one of the corporate juggernauts that it resented so deeply.

The BBC reported in 2022 that Mr Watt had once purchased 500,000 of shares in Dutch brewery Heineken during takeover talks; he also sunk 2million into an offshore hedge fund.

BrewDog itself ditched the 'real' living wage in 2024. It has also been criticised for recent rounds of closures and redundancies, and has been repeatedly challenged on its environmental claims.

The 'Lost Forest', a 10,000 acre woodland estate in the Scottish Highlands, was sold off after trees that BrewDog planted to offset its carbon emissions either died or failed to take root.

BrewDog's international future is unclear. It has four breweries: its main headquarters in Ellon, Aberdeenshire; Columbus, Ohio in the US; Brisbane, Australia; and Berlin in Germany.

It told investors this week that its international businesses were 'being reviewed'. However, the Berliner Morgenpost has reported that the German arm of the business is likely to be liquidated. It closed one Berlin bar last month.

Martin Dickie, co-founder of BrewDog, stepped away in 2025 citing personal reasons.

Mr Watt has since co-founded his new business Social Tip, which promises influencer-style payouts for people who promote brands on social media.

It has paid 500,000 to its 100,000 users since its launch last year - equivalent to 5 per user.
A glamorous 95,000-a-year tech worker who sued her boss for racism after he did not offer her champagne at an office party has been told by a judge she could have just helped herself.

Laoise Foley, a pre-sales consultant at London digital firm Smart Impact Limited, told a tribunal that managing director Ahmed Eltohamy had deliberately skipped her when pouring drinks at a Christmas client event in November 2022 - because she was Irish.

But Employment Judge Hodgson, ruling at Central London Employment Tribunal in December, disagreed.

Mr Eltohamy, he found, had simply been placing glasses on the table for colleagues to help themselves - and Ms Foley had been free to do exactly that.

Ms Foley, 30, who earned a basic salary of 75,000 a year plus a 20,000 bonus, brought a total of 14 allegations of discrimination, harassment and victimisation against her employer.

She had originally also sued for unfair dismissal - but withdrew that claim on the first day of the hearing.

The remaining claims were all thrown out by the judge.

The champagne incident, the tribunal heard, took place on November 24, 2022, during a client day at which staff were presenting new products.

Glamorous 95,000 a year tech worker Laoise Foley (pictured) tried to sue her boss for racism after claiming he didn't offer her champagne at an office party because she is Irish

Mr Eltohamy, as managing director and host, was pouring drinks - but Ms Foley claimed he had gone round the room handing glasses to colleagues individually while deliberately passing her by

Mr Eltohamy, as managing director and host, was pouring drinks - but Ms Foley claimed he had gone round the room handing glasses to colleagues individually while deliberately passing her by.

The judge rejected that account. 'He was pouring glasses and placing them on the table,' Judge Hodgson said. 'People helped themselves, and everyone was welcome to take a glass.'

Concluding that Ms Foley had enjoyed exactly the same opportunity as everyone else in the room, he added: 'She chose not to take a glass.'

It was not the only extraordinary claim Ms Foley made about her 18 months at the firm.

She told the tribunal that Mr Eltohamy had once 'jumped back as if pushed' and shouted 'bye' when she passed him in a corridor - implying, she said, that she was 'an aggressive Irishwoman who tried to push people out of the way'.

The judge was equally dismissive, finding she had given 'inconsistent and confusing' evidence about when the incident had even taken place, and concluding that Mr Eltohamy had simply moved aside politely to let her pass.

Ms Foley also claimed a colleague had harassed her by sending a WhatsApp message asking about a work document while she was on annual leave - a message the judge found fell 'well short' of harassment - and that being sent a viral video of a six-year-old Irish girl asking her mother to take her to the pub amounted to racial harassment.

She had responded to that video at the time with a crying-laughing emoji and the words 'Pretty much!' and Judge Hodgson was unconvinced she had been offended.

Before bringing her tribunal claim, Ms Foley had raised four grievances internally with the firm.

Just one - that she had not received a sufficient induction when she joined - was upheld.

Her remaining complaints, including that she had been falsely accused of shouting at a colleague and that she had received conflicting instructions from her manager, were all dismissed.

Join the debate What's YOUR take on the work dispute?

Irish national Ms Foley worked as a pre-sales consultant at London digital firm Smart Impact Limited

But a tribunal judge said managing director Ahmed Eltohamy (pictured), of digital firm Smart Impact Limited, had simply been placing glasses on the table for colleagues to help themselves

The tribunal heard that Ms Foley had become increasingly withdrawn during her time at the firm, refusing to carry out basic duties, and was handed her six-week notice in March 2024.

Mr Eltohamy told the tribunal that by then, he and Ms Foley's line manager had reached a 'settled view' that she was 'no longer adequately engaging with her colleagues, excluding herself from the business, not doing what she was asked' and that her overall performance was not good enough.

The judge agreed, finding there was no evidence the dismissal had anything to do with any protected act or characteristic.

Ms Foley's victimisation claim - which alleged she had been sacked in retaliation for raising concerns about sex discrimination during her grievance - was thrown out along with everything else.
Manas in China's Xinjiang steps up improvement of sheep breeding

Xinhua) 18:48, March 04, 2026

This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows sheep at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows a lamb (L) standing beside a ewe at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member adds layers of straw to keep the sheepfold warm in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 3, 2026.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows lambs at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows a flock of sheep at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Staff members check the condition of ewes at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 3, 2026.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member checks the body temperature of a lamb at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 3, 2026.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Staff members put on an ear-tag on a lamb at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 3, 2026.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member cleans the sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 3, 2026.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Staff members feed a lamb at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 3, 2026.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member checks the condition of a lamb at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 3, 2026.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member drives a vehicle equipped with an automatic feeding dispenser at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 3, 2026.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows lambs (front) at a sheepfold in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Pastoral areas of Xinjiang welcome the lambing season. In Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, about 180,000 breeding ewes have so far given birth to some 130,000 lambs, and lambing is expected to continue until early April.

In recent years, Manas has stepped up the improvement of sheep breeding to boost productivity, survival rate and meat quality. By shortening the time to market and increasing value added, improved breeds have become a key driver of industrial efficiency and higher incomes for local herders. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liu Ning)
Rachel Reeves has appeared to concede that Britain's failure to back Donald Trump's action against Iran could harm UK-US trade talks.

The US President has vented his fury at Sir Keir Starmer over the Prime Minister's initial refusal to allow him to use British military bases for launching strikes on Iran.

In his latest tirade at the PM, Mr Trump swiped that Sir Keir is 'not Winston Churchill' and accused him of being 'very, very uncooperative'.

Sir Keir announced an 'Economic Prosperity Deal' with Mr Trump in May last year across a range of industries, including cars, planes and agriculture.

Some elements of the agreement have yet to be fully negotiated and implemented, while a UK-US technology partnership appears to have been paused.

The US President has not been shy to threaten fresh trade sanctions against those countries who haven't supported his strikes against Iran, such as Spain.

Experts have warned the 'thin-skinned' US President could also slam the brakes on trade cooperation with Britain.

But, in an interview with Bloomberg, Ms Reeves insisted decisions on UK military action shouldn't be taken with trade concerns in mind.

Rachel Reeves has appeared to concede that Britain's failure to back Donald Trump's action against Iran could harm UK-US trade talks

The US President has vented his fury at Sir Keir Starmer over the Prime Minister's initial refusal to allow him to use British military bases for launching strikes on Iran

'You can't make a decision about whether to get British Armed Forces involved in a conflict because it may or may not make it more likely to get a trade deal,' the Chabcellor said.

'We judged that there was not a legal basis for offensive action on Iran.'

Mr Trump on Tuesday said the US is 'cutting off all trade' with Spain, following criticism of his actions by the country's socialist PM Pedro Sanchez.

Mr Sanchez has condemned 'an unjustified, dangerous military intervention outside of international law' following the American and Israeli strikes on Tehran.

Speaking in the White House - in comments that also saw him lash out at Sir Keir - Mr Trump said: 'We don't want anything to do with Spain.'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on Wednesday claimed, in the wake of the US President's outburst at the PM, that the so-called 'special relationship' is 'broken.

He added that Anglo-American relations are 'the worst it's been for almost exactly 70 years'.

Sophia Gaston, a geopolitical analyst at King's College London, told Politico: 'The downstream risks for Britain here are huge.

'We do not yet have any viable economic nor security alternative to the United States as our vital partner, and our principled stance may well cost us dearly.'

She said the current row shouldn't be seen as 'a death knell in any way' for the special relationship, but added it does represent 'a significant test' which will need to be offset through active diplomacy, including upping UK defence spending.

'Trump is a deeply thin-skinned man who takes it all personally,' she continued.

'He will take his foot off the gas on various things we're talking about and make the next few months difficult.'

The transatlantic rift between the UK and US has been sparked by Sir Keir's initial refusal to allow America to use British military bases in their action against Iran over the weekend.

The PM later performed a partial U-turn after Tehran fired retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, with drones and missiles being launched towards British military bases and UK allies in the region.

Late on Sunday, Sir Keir said he had agreed to an American request to use UK bases to protect British nationals and allies in the Middle East.

The PM said he was allowing British bases to be used only for the 'specific and limited defensive purpose' of targeting Iran's missile storage depots and launchers.

Mr Trump has previously referred to asking to use the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which can handle US heavy bombers.
An award-winning headteacher who starred on TV changed the dates of school term times just to accommodate luxury cruise trips she went on, a misconduct panel has heard.

Joy Ballard, who shot to prominence on Channel 4's Educating Cardiff, changed term dates on two occasions to accommodate cruise trips she was going on.

She also used a school car for a personal trip to France and bought a karaoke machine and television with school funds, it has been alleged.

Faced with a string of allegations, Mrs Ballard is said to have created a 'toxic culture of fear', leaving senior staff too scared to make any complaints about her conduct.

Mrs Ballard appeared on the hit Channel 4 series in 2015 while leading Willows High School in the Welsh capital.

Shortly after the show aired, and after three years at the helm, she left to become principal of Ryde Academy, later renamed Lift Ryde, on the Isle of Wight.

In October 2015 she won a head teacher of the year award in the secondary head teachers' category at the Pearson Teaching Awards in London.

But the panel heard that in 2024 Mrs Ballard 'stepped back' from her role - with her picture suddenly removed from school newsletters sent out to parents.

Joy Ballard is said to have created a 'toxic culture of fear' at Ryde Academy, now Lift Ryde, on the Isle of Wight

Joy Ballard on Educating Cardiff. After moving schools, she allegedly bought camping equipment, a karaoke machine and at least one TV with school funds

In July 2024 the Academy Enterprise Trust (AET), now Lift Schools, said the departure was for 'personal reasons'.

She now faces a tribunal with the official regulator, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

Mrs Ballard has chosen not to attend her misconduct hearing, instead nominating a union representative to appear for her.

Jim Olphert, for the TRA, said Mrs Ballard has admitted all the facts against her.

The tribunal, held virtually, heard that Mrs Ballard started working as the principal at Ryde Academy in September 2015.

Concerns about her behaviour were first raised in March 2024.

The panel heard Mrs Ballard changed the school term dates to accommodate her personal holiday arrangements.

She changed the dates at the end of Autumn 2023 to accommodate a cruise trip she went on, and she also changed the dates of the start of the Spring term 2024 for a cruise trip, it was alleged.

The misconduct hearing was told that Mrs Ballard did not go to school on an inset day, January 3 2024, because she was still travelling as part of a cruise trip.

It also heard that Mrs Ballard used a Peugeot 5008, purchased for 30,000 with school funds to be used as a vehicle for school purposes, for personal trips between July 2022 and June 2024.

Will Doyle, current principal of Lift Ryde and Mrs Ballard's successor, said she created a 'toxic culture of fear' which left staff too scared to raise concerns

Mrs Ballard changed term dates on two occasions to accommodate cruise trips she was going on, a tribunal heard

In 2015 Joy Ballard scooped a head teacher of the year award at the Pearson Teaching Awards in the secondary head teachers' category

This included using the car for a personal family trip to France in or around Easter 2024, and the tribunal heard the vehicle was regularly seen outside her house, as well as outside pubs, restaurants and cafes.

She allegedly bought camping equipment, a karaoke machine and at least one TV with school funds between April 2021 and October 2022 - all items which were of limited use to the school.

The tribunal heard that Mrs Ballard did not follow the correct procedures for the banking of cash between September 2022 and June 2024.

She allegedly carried cash in her handbag to take it home and then bank it.

Giving evidence, Will Doyle, current principal of the school and Mrs Ballard's successor, said she created a 'toxic culture of fear' which left staff too scared to raise concerns.

Mr Doyle said her behaviour reached a 'tipping point' at a four-hour long meeting of the school's senior leadership team (SLT) on March 28, 2024.

Mr Doyle, who was initially 'excited' to work with Mrs Ballard, said during a meeting about redundancies she swore.

'To have someone use that language, to then being told I might be made redundant was devastating for me', he said.

Mr Doyle said staff were being 'divided' to 'make us think that we don't like each other'.

He also recalled the 'significant impact' changing school term dates at the end of 2023 to 2024, to accommodate Mrs Ballard's cruise, had on attendance figures.

Parents and staff had already booked holidays for Christmas and families 'voted with their feet', he said.

Asked why he did not raise concerns sooner, Mr Doyle said he was 'scared for the repercussions'.

In September 2024 a letter was sent to parents, signed by regional education director Karl Sampson, confirming Mrs Ballard had 'retired' after 30 years in education.

It said: 'On behalf of everyone at Ryde and Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) more widely, I'd like to thank Mrs Ballard for her commitment to the school and everything that has been achieved under her leadership.

'We wish her all the best for the future and a happy retirement.'

During this time, Mr Doyle, then the vice principal, oversaw the academy under the guise of 'head of school', before being appointed principal in October last year.

Educating Cardiff was an eight-part documentary series that was the fourth instalment of Channel 4's Educating series - following Educating Essex, Educating Yorkshire and Educating the East End.

Mrs Ballard left school with no qualifications but previously said she was inspired to become a teacher when she returned to education as an adult.

The tribunal continues.
An Israeli F-35 today shot down a manned Iranian fighter jet in the skies over Tehran.

The Israeli military said this morning that one of its 'Adir' F-35i fighter jets had taken out a piloted Iranian YAK-130 jet.

It marked the first dogfight of the latest war with the Middle East, as well as the first time an F-35 has ever taken out a manned aircraft, the IDF claimed.

It is also believed to be the first time in four decades the Israeli air force has conducted an air-to-air kill.

The last time was in 1985, when an Israeli F-15 shot down two Syrian MiG-23s over Lebanon during the 'War of the Camps'.

Iran has not yet confirmed the loss of its warplane.

On the fifth day of the war with Iran, the US and Israel hit Tehran and other cities with multiple airstrikes.

Tehran residents woke to dawn blasts, and Iranian state television showed the ruins of buildings in the centre of the capital. The Shiite seminary city of Qom and multiple other cities were also targeted.

An Israeli F-35 today shot down a manned Iranian fighter jet in the skies over Tehran (file image of an F-35)

The tempo of the strikes on Iran was reportedly so intense that authorities postponed the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the conflict.

Iran today claimed the US-Israeli attacks have so far killed 1,045 people. The Daily Mail has been unable to independently verify this figure.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Defence Ministry said NATO defences intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkey's airspace.

And an Iranian naval frigate was reported in distress off the coast of Sri Lanka, prompting authorities there to respond and rescue 32 people.

It was not immediately clear what happened to the ship, which Sri Lankan authorities identified as the IRIS Dena, and is armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes and can carry a helicopter.

The US military said earlier it had already destroyed 17 Iranian vessels and that its goal was sinking 'the entire navy'.

With Iran's stranglehold on tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the world's oil is shipped, Brent crude prices hit $84 a barrel, up more than 15% since the start of the conflict and at its highest price since July 2024.

Global stock markets have been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy and sap corporate profits.

Iran has also attacked regional infrastructure. Saudi Arabia said Wednesday its Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the world's largest, was again targeted after an unsuccessful drone attack on it earlier in the week.

The kingdom's oil ministry said the latest attack did not cause any damage and supplies were not affected.

The American Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US Consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks Tuesday, and the US State Department said Wednesday it had authorised non-emergency government personnel to evacuate the kingdom.

US Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, said Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones so far.

'We've already struck nearly 2,000 targets, with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers and drones,' Cooper said in a pre-recorded message shared online Wednesday.

Rubble surrounds the site of a police facility, struck days earlier, during the US-Israeli military campaign on March 4, 2026 in Tehran, Iran

F-35i planes became operational in the Israeli Air Force in 2017.

By 2023, Israel had ordered a total of 75 of the fighter jets from American defence firm Lockheed Martin, with 36 being delivered as of November 2022.

Israel chose to buy F-35A planes, before specially modifying them for their own purposes and renaming them, with the 'i' reflecting the nation these planes are defending.

The 'Adir' moniker, meanwhile, comes from the Hebrew word for 'Mighty One'.

The Israeli F-35is have new air-to-air missiles and guided bombs in the internal weapon bays, as well as an external jamming device that can disrupt enemy signals.

Before modification, F-35As typically have a length of 51ft and a wingspan of 35ft. The planes have a top speed of Mach 1.6, or 1,228mph, at high altitude - where the air is thinner and easier to fly through.

On air-to-air configurations, F-35As have a combat range of 870 miles.

And on top of the bombs and missiles they can carry, the planes are armed with one 22mm rotary cannon, which can typically carry up to 180 rounds.

The Yak-130, meanwhile, is a Russian designed warplane. First entering service in 2010, it typically performs light-attack and reconnaissance duties while carrying up to 6,600lbs of armaments.

Fire and smoke rise in the Fujairah oil industry zone, caused by debris after interception of a drone by air defences, according to the Fujairah media office, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 4, 2026

The two-man Russian warplane has a length of 37ft and a wingspan of 32ft. It can reach up to 660mph, and has a typical range of 1,300 miles.

Along with its ability to carry rockets, missiles and bombs, it is armed with a gun-pod that needs to be manned by a second member of crew.

Just a few days prior to the outbreak of war, amid rising tensions between Iran, Israel and the US, the nation's air force carried out a demonstration showing the YAK-130's capabilities.

Footage showed a pilot striking an aerial target during military drills.
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The leader of Britain's biggest staff association for rank-and-file police officers was arrested this morning over corruption allegations.

Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) chief executive Mukund Krishna was detained by City of London Police on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.

Officers also arrested two other PFEW national board members aged 51 and 55 for the same offence following a major financial investigation over the past year.

Former management consultant Mr Krishna received a total annual remuneration of 701,100 for each of 2024 and 2025, including a 100 per cent bonus for both years.

Detective Superintendent James Halkett, of the City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit, said today: 'The City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit are leading a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud made against three individuals connected to the national Police Federation of England and Wales.

'A 46-year-old man from Surrey, a 51-year-old man from Wales and a 55-year-old man from Bristol were all arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.'

The force said its unit has been conducting the investigation into allegations of fraud by abuse of position contrary to section four of the Fraud Act 2006.

Police added that they carried out Schedule 1 Pace 1984 search warrants in Wales, Somerset, London and Surrey this morning to arrest suspects and gather evidence.

Mukund Krishna is chief executive of the Police Federation of England and Wales

A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has now been opened under 'Operation Kuat'.

Mr Halkett added: 'This is a complex and active investigation in which we are pursuing all lines of enquiry, and I would ask that anyone with further information related to our enquiries contact us via our Major Incident Public Portal.'

A PFEW spokesperson said: 'We are aware that three individuals connected to the Police Federation have been arrested as part of an ongoing police investigation.

'This is a live matter and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. The organisation is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities.

'Our focus remains on continuing the work of the Federation and representing our members across England and Wales.'

A Metropolitan Police Federation spokesperson said:'The Metropolitan Police Federation notes today's news regarding the Police Federation of England and Wales.

'We will not be making any further comment currently as legal proceedings are ongoing - but on behalf of our members we will be watching developments with interest.

'The Metropolitan Police Federation, the largest branch in the country, is an autonomous branch of the Police Federation of England and Wales. Our work of proudly representing, informing and influencing on behalf of our 31,000 members continues.'

And a joint statement from Avon and Somerset Police Federation chair Tom Gent and secretary Marc Flavell said: 'Like many of our members, we were extremely concerned to learn of today's arrests involving individuals connected to the national Police Federation.

'We want to be absolutely clear to every officer in Avon and Somerset: this investigation does not involve our local branch, our local elected officials, or anyone connected to our operations here.

'The Police Federation have stated they will cooperate fully with the relevant authorities. As with any investigation, it is important that due process is followed and that no assumptions are made while the facts are being established.

'Our focus here remains supporting and representing our members of Avon and Somerset with integrity, transparency and professionalism and this will remain the case.

'Officers already face immense strain, from rising workloads to increased scrutiny and uncertainty over pay and conditions. We want our officers in Avon and Somerset to know this: your local federation remains stable, accountable, and focused entirely on you.'

Last November, Mr Krishna's total remuneration was revealed, confirming that he receives the biggest paycheque of any trade association or union leader in Britain.

Mr Krishna's annual salary was initially disclosed as 342,000 after a freedom of information request by a police officer.

But then, the PFEW also said he received a 100 per cent bonus 'retention payment' and a 5 per cent contribution of 17,000 to his pension for each year.

This took his total pay to 1.4million across 2024 and 2025  which shadow home secretary Chris Philp said at the time was a 'staggeringly large amount of money'.

But the federation claimed at the time that Mr Krishna, who became the organisation's first chief executive in 2023, has helped save it tens of millions of pounds in liabilities.

Bosses said their liabilities over two historic group action claims by members which related to pensions changes and a cyber attack could have been 110million.

The federation settled both cases for 40million, saving it 70million, and said it had 'resolved potentially catastrophic legal risks at a fraction of the potential liability'.

The PFEW represents 150,000 police officers and is deemed a staff association rather than a union because police are legally banned from taking industrial action.

Mr Krishna graduated with a law degree in India in 2001, and took a post-graduate course at the country's International School of Business and Media immediately after that, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He subsequently worked at the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in London, and at the technology consultancy firm Accenture, before joining the Police Federation in 2019, first as a chief operating officer.

His profile states he also has a postgraduate degree in psychotherapy and counselling from Regent's University in London.

A further profile states he practises online and is an 'existential psychotherapist, trained in London'.

In it, he adds: 'My work focuses mainly on understanding who you are and your own feelings and experiences in relation to self and/or the other, in an ethical and non judgemental way.

'Through therapy we will bring clarity of thought so you become more aware of your self, your inner strengths and the choices you need to make to lead a fuller life.'
Bridget Phillipson has launched an independent review into school antisemitism after a Jewish MP was blocked from visiting pupils amid protest threats.

The Education Secretary said many Jewish teachers felt nothing had been done about antisemitism in schools, which was not acceptable.

Today, she commissioned veteran educationalist Sir David Bell to probe how heads are dealing with the issue and the role of external factors such as protests outside school gates.

It comes after Bristol Brunel Academy postponed a visit from Jewish MP Damien Egan in September for safety reasons after discovering activists planned to hold a protest at the gates against him.

The demonstrators objected to the Labour MP for Bristol North East being vice chairman for Labour Friends of Israel.

At the time, the Bristol branch of the National Educational Union (NEU), which has been campaigning for Palestine, wrote online the cancelled visit was a victory for education workers, parents and the community  although Mr Egan was able to reschedule his visit last month in secret.

Bridget Phillipson (pictured) has launched an independent review into school antisemitism after a Jewish MP was blocked from visiting pupils amid protest threats

The Education Secretary said many Jewish teachers felt 'nothing had been done' about antisemitism in schools, which was 'not acceptable' (pictured: Jewish MP Damien Egan)

Bristol National Educational Union (NEU) wrote online the cancelled visit was 'a victory for education workers, parents and the community'

While Mrs Philllipson did not mention the incident specifically, it is likely to have influenced her decision.

In addition, she pointed to figures from the Community Security Trust, which recorded 204 school related antisemitic incidents in 2025  double the levels typically seen before 2023.

She said the figures are stark and clear and said there was a cost of staying silent in the face of prejudice.

She added: Too many Jewish teachers who raised concerns felt that nothing was done. That is not acceptable.

This review will help to ensure schools and colleges have the confidence and support to tackle antisemitism.

Veteran educationalist Sir David Bell will probe how heads are dealing with antisemitism and the role of 'external factors' such as 'protests outside school gates'

Sir David Bell, who will report back in the autumn, is vice chancellor of the University of Sunderland and was previously the Department for Educations permanent secretary.

His review will look at how well schools and colleges are supported to handle incidents of antisemitism, as well as what they do to prevent them.

He will also examine the role of external campaigning organisations in influencing institutional decision-making.

And he is also tasked with looking at how external factors like protests outside school gates and geopolitical events can contribute to antisemitism.

He will hear from headteachers, community groups and religious representatives in a call for evidence from spring.

Sir David said: I will come at this review with an open and independent mind.

I will review both policy and practice to ensure that everyone can learn free from prejudice and hate.

I am also keen to know more about those institutions who are tacking antisemitism effectively so that lessons can be shared widely across the education system.

However, Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, said on X: This is welcome but any review that avoids scrutinising unions, including their role in blocking Damien Egan from visiting a school, lacks teeth.

No one should be above accountability and the same urgent action is needed in our universities, where antisemitism continues unchecked.

Research suggests a fifth of British Jewish parents report their children have experienced antisemitism at school, on their journey in, or in the school's vicinity.

A survey by the NASUWT teaching union found that 51 per cent of Jewish members experienced antisemitism in the workplace in the past year, and more than half of those felt that when they raised concerns, appropriate action was not taken.

In January, schools watchdog Ofsted visited Bristol Brunel Academy following the Damien Egan furore but found no evidence of political bias among school staff themselves.

This latest move comes after the DfE pledged 7 million to tackle antisemitism across all education settings.
This is the moment a British passenger desperately apologises as he is thrown off a plane for allegedly slapping a flight attendant's bottom - only to brand her a 'paedophile'.

The unnamed 58-year-old man, arrested while wearing a Manchester United jacket, had reportedly been disruptive throughout the 13-hour flight from London to Taiwan.

He had allegedly been shouting and swearing at other passengers, and was also seen vaping in his seat, witnesses claimed.

The troublesome passenger is also said to have touched the backsides of both male and female flight attendants.

He then allegedly slapped the female attendant's bottom with some force and kissed the hands of flight attendants while talking to them.

Police bodycam footage shows the man, who sounds inebriated, being confronted by uniformed officers.

He says: 'I apologise, I'm sorry.'

A female voice off-screen urges: 'Can he get off?'

A British man is accosted by aviation police at the end of a flight from London to Taiwan

The unnamed passenger had reportedly been disruptive throughout the flight on Tuesday

The scene on board the plane as passengers stand up to leave the cabin

The Brit responds: 'I touched your bum, f*** sake. I apologise.'

He then adds: 'What is she, a paedophile? F****** hell. I am sorry.'

A male officer then grasps the man, who is visibly unsteady on his feet, and begins to lead him out of the cabin.

The passenger was taken into custody after arriving at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan on Tuesday.

During the flight, his wife reportedly defended him by claiming 'he likes to joke', sparking outrage among the other passengers.

They told her 'It's not funny' and 'You're an accomplice'.

One passenger told the man: 'You're in Taiwan now, not England.'

His wife at last asked him to stop, saying: 'Everyone says you're being noisy.'

The Brit was taken into custody and could face charges of harassment if the flight attendants choose to make a complaint

He was reportedly inebriated during the flight, and even branded a flight attendant a 'paedophile' in front of officers

Upon arrival in Taiwan, the China Airlines cabin crew called the aviation police, who boarded the plane.

The man reportedly faces a fine for vaping on the plane.

It is possible he will face further charges of harassment or public indecency, if any flight attendants decide to file a complaint.

A China Airlines spokesperson emphasised their zero-tolerance policy for unruly behaviour.

They pointed out that it is strictly illegal to bring e-cigarettes, vapes and similar products into Taiwan.

The airline said it will fully cooperate with any legal proceedings.
A British-Indian banking executive who claimed his bosses stereotyped him as an 'angry black man' has lost a race discrimination case after his own lawyer told a tribunal he didn't mean it literally.

Arvinder Bhachoo, a senior enterprise architect at Swiss banking giant UBS, told an employment tribunal that bosses had used 'angry black stereotypes' against him - branding him aggressive, blocking his promotion and subjecting him to a disciplinary process.

But the claim spectacularly backfired when his own counsel was forced to clarify that Mr Bhachoo - who is British-Indian and Sikh - was referring to being 'politically black'.

The argument, she explained, is a broader identity used to describe all non-white people facing racism.

The judge went on to dismiss every single one of Mr Bhachoo's four discrimination claims - with the hearing instead told that he had bullied staff, shouted at colleagues and created a culture of fear so toxic that a string of contractors fled his team.

One witness told investigators he had never experienced working with anyone like him in his entire career and described Mr Bhachoo as 'very aggressive' and 'short tempered'.

Mr Bhachoo had claimed a written warning he received for bullying his team was racially motivated and had cost him a promotion he was already lined up for.

The judge disagreed - finding the warning was based largely on Mr Bhachoo's own admissions that he had raised his voice at staff and dressed down colleagues in front of others.

Arvinder Bhachoo, a senior enterprise architect at Swiss banking giant UBS, who claimed his bosses stereotyped him as an 'angry black man' lost his race discrimination case

The tribunal heard that in September 2017, one contractor terminated his contract with the firm after claiming he had been frequently 'verbally abused' by Mr Bhachoo in his seven months working there.

During one heated incident, the banking executive was accused of shouting at him while he was on holiday during a tirade in which he branded his work 'the worst rubbish he'd seen in 20 years'.

Mr Bhachoo later apologised to the contractor for his outburst. Yet concerns about his behaviour were raised again in 2022 by other contractors who accused him of using 'belittling language' in team calls.

It led one worker to say in an email to bosses that 'he could no longer put up with this'. He quit the same day he was allegedly 'humiliated during a call in front of the whole team'.

In two years, seven contractors quit his team with claims including heated team meetings, harassment, bullying, people 'being punished for offering their opinions', and an abuse of power, the tribunal heard.

His behaviour was found to be responsible for two of those resignations.

Mr Bhachoo told the firm's disciplinary investigation that he raised his voice out of frustration and admitted he had spoken to one contractor in the 'wrong manner'.

But during the investigation, he claimed: 'I live in a company that is white majority and there are people around this company that abuse that white privilege. So what do you expect me to say to you?'

He was later signed off for three months for 'stress' between April and July 2023, where, within that period, he was given a written warning.

Mr Bhachoo appealed but the original decision was upheld.

Mr Bhachoo was a senior enterprise architect at Swiss banking giant UBS

He later alleged a change in his line manager had 'amounted to a demotion' and a week later was signed off again due to 'stress at work' from October 20, 2023, to November 2, 2023.

Mr Bhachoo had another period of sickness for the same reason from January 2, 2024, until February 26, 2024.

He told the tribunal that he had been labelled as aggressive 'and that this fed into "angry black stereotypes"'.

But Employment Judge Smith rejected the claim, saying '[Mr Bhachoo's] counsel, for the first time in her oral submissions, clarified that this refers to "politically black"'.

'Although some of his behaviour was described by interviewees as aggressive, there is nothing to suggest that this was a stereotypical label relative to race or any other matter as opposed to a genuine reported experience of how he treated his direct reports, particularly in circumstances where the claimant admitted raising his voice and dressing people down,' the judge said.

Mr Bhachoo's claims of race discrimination, victimisation, protected disclosure detriment, and failing to make reasonable adjustments were all dismissed.
A California father has been accused of modifying his 12-year-old son's e-bike to go sixty miles per hour before the boy was critically injured in a roadway crash.

On Tuesday, Richard John Eyssallenne, 39, pleaded not guilty to one count of felony child endangerment and abuse and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Orange County Superior Court.

Orange County District Attorney's Office Prosecutor Noor Hasan has accused the father of modifying his son's 2024 Talaria XXX e-bike, which was limited to a maximum speed of 20mph, into a vehicle capable of pushing 60mph.

Eyssallenne gifted his son the e-bike for Christmas, and it had already been impounded once before the young boy crashed in July 2025.

On the day of the crash, the boy ran a red light while riding his Talaria in Yorba Linda, a city where the family lives just outside of Los Angeles, according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

He was driving into oncoming traffic and was struck by a Honda Civic despite the driver of the car attempting to avoid colliding with the boy, the release said.

The 12-year-old suffered a concussion, an intracranial bleed, a skull fracture, a broken wrist and a fractured femur.

Eyssallenne had previously attended an e-bike safety presentation with his son in January 2025 after the boy had received a citation for illegally riding a Class 3 e-bike the month before.

Richard John Eyssallenne, 39, has been accused of modifying his son's e-bike to go 60 miles per hour before the 12-year-old was critically injured in a crash while riding it. Eyssallenne is pictured with his wife and children

Eyssallenne has pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment and abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He is pictured on a boat in 2023

The Talaria was under a Class-3 designation because of the potential of its motor, which had a peak power of 5,000 watts, meaning its rider had to be at least 16 years old and possess a motorcycle license.

When investigators inspected the e-bike after the crash, they discovered that it had been extensively modified in ways that converted it into a motorcycle according to California law.

It was already illegal for the 12-year-old to ride a Class 3 e-bike, but under the new designation, any rider of the modified vehicle would have required a DMV registration, license plate, insurance and full motorcycle equipment on top of a motorcycle license.

The inspection of the Talaria revealed that its pedals had been replaced with motorcycle pegs and that its 20mph speed limit wire had been cut and rerouted to a key switch, according to the Orange County DA press release.

The speed-limiting mechanism had reduced the motor's maximum power output to 750 watts, but by disabling it, the vehicle was able to take full advantage of its 5,000-watt motor and go up to 60mph.

If Eyssallenne is convicted of both his charges, he faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison.

The father's next court date for a pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for April 21.

In the press release, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said: 'There is absolutely no reason that an unlicensed, untrained child with no concept of the rules of the road should be riding a motorcycle that can go up to 60 miles per hour next to cars on a public street and think that by some miracle they are going to be safe.

Eyssallenne faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison if he is convicted of his charges. The father is pictured in a selfie by the water in 2020

Eyssallenne gifted his son a 2024 Talaria XXX e-bike (pictured, stock image) and was accused of cutting its 20mph speed limit wire, converting it into a motorcycle according to California law

'This 12-year-old boy is lucky to be alive and the driver who hit him will have to live with that horror of seriously injuring a child through no fault of his own.

'The Orange County District Attorneys Office isnt letting parents off with a warning.

'Let me make it clear: Parents who buy their child an E-motorcycle and let them ride them illegally or help modify e-bikes to transform them into E-motorcycles are handing their children a loaded weapon  and those parents are going to be prosecuted.'

Daily Mail reached out to Eyssallenne for comment.
Whoopi Goldberg has continued her defense crusade of Bill Clinton after he was questioned before a House committee over the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Clinton went before the House Oversight Committee on Friday, where he was grilled on his ties to the sex offender. The Democrat told the committee he severed his ties with Epstein long before his crimes were known.

On Tuesday, Goldberg, 70, a long-time Democrat, defended the 79-year-old former president, asking the ladies of The View to point to specific portions of the files that say the Clintons did anything wrong.

'You know, say what you want about the Clintons. Have any of the women or has anything in those emails pointed to them as being guilty or having anything to do other than knowing?' she asked the panel.

Joy Behar brought up the now-infamous photo of Clinton lounging in a hot tub that was found amongst the thousands of pages in the files. He appears in different photos on Epstein's private jet, cutting a cake with Ghislaine Maxwell.

'And he took several flights on Epstein's plane,' Sunny Hostin pointed out.

Goldberg fired back: 'But my question is, has he been accused by any of the accusers?'

'No,' they replied in unison.

Whoopi Goldberg continued to defend Bill Clinton after he was questioned by the House Oversight Committee on Friday, asking her fellow panelist to point out a time Epstein's victims have ever accused the former president of crimes

The 79-year-old was grilled about his relationship with Epstein and about the photos he appeared in

All the hosts agreed they the victims have not accused Clinton and said they would like to see Donald and Melania Trump disposed of

All the hosts went on to say they would want everyone in the file to be questioned, including Donald and Melania Trump and former Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

Hostin said the hearing was 'partisan' as no Republicans have been forced to sit in the hot seat, unlike the Clintons, who are both long-time Democrats.

'If anyone is going to be called before this House Oversight Committee, I want it to be President Trump, I want to see First Lady Melania, I want to see former Secretary Howard Lutnick, I want to see former Treasury [Secretary] Larry Summers, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk,' Hostin said, ticking them off on her fingers.

Elizabeth Hasselbeck, the conservative voice on the panel, agreed, stating: 'No one is above the law. Not by rank, not by authority, not by presidential, not by citizen.'

'I'd like to hear more from Trump,' Behar agreed.

Clinton spent more than six hours under oath before the House Oversight Committee answering questions about his ties to the convicted sex offender last week.

While there, he was grilled on the hot tub photo, where he appeared to smile.

'I don't know who that is,' Clinton said when grilled over the other person in the image with the redacted black box over their face.

A now-infamous photo showed Clinton in a hot tub with a reacted person, which he was quizzed on during his deposition

He was also seen on Epstein's private jet with his partner Ghislaine Maxwell (pictured left in black and white)

Clinton testified that he severed his ties with Epstein before his crimes were known. He also said he would have turned in Epstein if he had known

When asked about the image or details about when it was taken, Clinton explained it was at a hotel in Brunei that the Sultan of the country insisted they stay at during their trip.

'This picture was taken in Brunei, we flew one night on the trip to Asia and Mr. Epstein was there and Ms. Maxwell,' he admitted.

Clinton said that everyone in the pool area during his Asia trip was part of his traveling party, and that he recalls there being a Secret Service agent at the other end of the pool.

He also told the committee that he would have turned Epstein in himself if he had known about the crimes the other man was committing.

'[If] I had any inkling of what he was doing - I would have turned him in myself,' he insisted.

The DOJ and FBI said last year that there is no evidence that Epstein trafficked minors to anyone other than himself and said that no other people would face prosecution for the heinous acts.
A Texas mother, branded a repeat offender by prosecutors, has been charged with child abandonment for the second time in a year after her twoyearold son was found unattended.

Vinkia Olive, 25, was already out on bond for a 2024 child abandonment case when a security guard at her rental community spotted the toddler alone on Sunday evening.

The guard told deputies he found the little boy wandering outside barefoot, crying and wearing only a diaper in their north Harris County neighborhood - the county that contains the city of Houston.

He said he brought the child back to the home on West Road near Veterans Memorial, where the front door was wide open and several other young children were left unsupervised inside.

One of them, a 10yearold, told officers their mother had been gone for around two hours, according to court records.

The new allegations come after Olive was charged last June for allegedly leaving four children under the age of nine home alone with access to knives.

At the time, her attorney insisted 'it wasn't what it sounded like' but refused to provide specifics.

Vinkia Olive, 25, has been charged with child abandonment for the second time in a year after her twoyearold son was found unattended (This mugshot is from a previous arrest in 2022 where Olive was booked on charges of harassment)

A security guard at Olive's rental community spotted the toddler crying and barefoot alone on Sunday evening

On Sunday, Olive allegedly told deputies she had suffered food poisoning and left her children to go buy medication.

When ABC13 Eyewitness News knocked on Olive's door this week, two young children answered.

A woman eventually came to the door but refused to identify herself, claiming, 'I don't know nothing about that.'

Deputies said CPS already had an open case, and the children are expected to be placed with their grandmother.

The agency declined to release details, citing confidentiality laws.

Along with her two childabandonment cases, Olive has been fighting a separate charge of engaging in organized criminal activity after prosecutors accused her of stealing more than $30,000 in merchandise from Bath & Body Works last July.
Keir Starmer accused Donald Trump of lacking a 'viable, thought-through plan' for the Iran war today as Transatlantic tensions rise.

The PM sounded defiance over his refusal to allow UK bases to be used for offensive strikes, insisting he was worried about 'escalation'.

Mr Trump condemned the premier as 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill' last night, as the situation became more personal. Sir Keir shot back that letting the US use UK bases to shoot down drones 'is the special relationship in action' but 'hanging on to President Trump's latest words is not'.

The comments came as Kemi Badenoch battered Sir Keir at PMQs for failing to protect Britain's personnel in the Middle East, and insisted Labour is splurging on benefits instead of ramping up defence spending.

Sir Keir said he wanted to act with 'clarity, with purpose... the protection of UK nationals is our number one priority'.

The premier said that when the crisis erupted on Saturday he was not willing to 'join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable thought through plan'. He added: 'That remains my position.'

Mr Trump was incensed by Sir Keir's initial refusal to let the US use UK bases for the joint attacks with Israel.

That was later partially walked back by the PM under huge pressure, with 'defensive' actions permitted. There had been warnings that the US could simply use the bases anyway and dare Britain to stop them.

Sir Keir again attempted to wash his hands of the military campaign in a speech to Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast last night.

Sir Keir - who has been desperately trying to shore up Labour's left flank since the Greens inflicted a humiliating by-election defeat - also talked up his determination to get 'justice' for Gaza.

Keir Starmer sounded defiance over his refusal to allow UK bases to be used for offensive strikes, insisting he was worried about 'escalation'

The comments came after Donald Trump fuelled alarm about the state of the Special Relationship by condemning the premier as 'no Churchill'

Sir Keir is also facing a huge backlash for failing to protect Britain's base on Cyprus, which was hit by a suicide drone thought to have been fired by Tehran's proxies late on Sunday night.

Embarrassingly, military minnow Greece will have warships in position to protect RAF Akrotiri days before the Royal Navy will be anywhere near the danger zone.

Emmanuel Macron has ordered a French frigate to the region, in a move that seemingly finally stung Sir Keir into action yesterday.

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is now being sent to Cyprus - but will not arrive for several days - along with helicopters that have counter-drone capabilities.

Sir Keir said in the Commons today: 'This is obviously an extremely serious situation and I know the whole country is worried about the potential for escalation. They're worried about the impact on their lives, particularly when they see what's happening with energy.

'The family and friends of those who are caught in the region will be worried sick about them and, of course, we've got civilians and military personnel at risk in the region.

'We need to act therefore with clarity, with purpose and with a cool head.

'The protection of UK nationals is our number one priority. We're taking action to reduce the threat with planes in the sky in the region intercepting incoming strikes, deploying more capability to Cyprus, and allowing US planes to use UK bases to take out Iran's capability to strike.

'What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was for the UK to join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan. That remains my position.'

Speaking at the Iftar - an event to mark breaking the Ramadan fast - in Westminster Hall last night, Sir Keir said: 'The war in the Middle East did not begin last week... in Gaza most of all, we must not lose sight of them and the need for peace, justice and security in Palestine and Israel.'

He added: 'On Iran, I want to make clear the UK was not involved in the offensive strikes of the US and Israel, and that remains the case.'

Sir Keir stressed he opposed the Iraq war in 2003 and the UK needed to 'learn the lessons'. But he said the 'indiscriminate' response from Iran had shifted the balance towards allowing bases to be used.

'What we're now doing is allowing our bases to be used for the defensive purposes of preventing those attacks and protecting innocent lives, because that is what we need to do to support our Middle Eastern allies who have asked us for support,' he said.

Mr Trump said last night: 'I'm not happy with the UK. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.

'Spain has been very, very uncooperative and so has the UK. The second one is shocking but this is not the age of Churchill.

'The UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island [Chagos]. That they gave away and took a 100-year lease... what's that all about?'

His remarks will put fresh pressure on Sir Keir to abandon his controversial deal to hand the Chagos Islands, a British territory in the Indian Ocean, to China ally Mauritius, then lease back the crucial military base on Diego Garcia for 35billion.

But Downing Street said: 'The work on Diego Garcia and the deal continues  we have been very clear about its value as a military asset to both the UK and the US, and that position hasn't changed.'

No10 also claimed the US and UK remained 'staunch allies'.

Nigel Farage insisted Britain joining the US in its war on Iran was a different situation to the Iraq war.

The Reform UK leader, who has criticised the UK joining the Iraq war alongside the US, told a central London press conference: 'There are times to say no to the Americans, absolutely. We should have said no a couple of times in the last 25 years.

'Of course, because Saddam Hussein didn't pose any direct threat to this country, they had to invent a threat.

'I would argue in the case of Iran, since October 7 this country has fundamentally changed as a result of terrorism funded by Iran.

'Frankly, if this operation stops Iran getting a nuclear weapon, it would have been worth it. I believe that very, very strongly.

'I'm really incredibly nervous about intervening in foreign wars, I believe it's the right one.'

The comments came as Kemi Badenoch battered Sir Keir at PMQs for failing to protect Britain's personnel in the Middle East, and insisted Labour is splurging on benefits instead of ramping up defence spending

Keir Starmer made his latest attempt to wash his hands of the US president's military campaign in a speech to Muslims breaking Ramadan fast last night

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is now being sent to Cyprus - but will not arrive for several days - along with helicopters that have counter-drone capabilities

Questions have been asked as to why a British ship was not deployed to the Middle East sooner, given America had publicly been moving its arsenal into position for some time.

Former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, said 'Nelson will be spinning in his grave' over Britain's response and the state of the senior service, which has scarcely any active ships or submarines to send to a crisis anywhere in the world.

Shadow Armed Forces minister Mark Francois said: 'Britannia once "ruled the waves" rather than being tied up in port.

'Why, given the US build-up has already been under way for weeks, are we only just sending one now? Why didn't we dispatch one to the Med a fortnight ago?

'It's like Nelson turning up to Trafalgar a week late.'
Parliament has been plunged into a fresh security crisis after the partner of a Labour MP was arrested along with two other men on suspicion of spying for China.

Detectives detained three people earlier today on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services contrary to the National Security Act.

Joani Reid's husband David Taylor, 39, was arrested at an address in London; police also arrested a 68-year-old man at an address in Powys, Wales and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, Wales.

Some reports have claimed one of the other arrested men is the partner of a former Labour MP.

The UK government has lodged formal protests with the Chinese authorities about the alleged activities. The news prompted demands for a review of the decision to grant permission for Beijing's new 'super-embassy' in London.

Nigel Farage urged an investigation into the 'depth' of Labour's links with China's communist party. Tory frontbencher Neil O'Brien said the allegations raised 'massive security questions'.

Kemi Badenoch pointed to the fact China is still not classified as a 'threat' under national security laws. 'Keir Starmer needs to stop being naive, grow a backbone, and treat China like the threat we all know it is,' she said.

However, Ms Reid, who was elected MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven at the last election and sits on the home affairs committee, said in a statement: 'I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.'

Mr Taylor was previously an adviser to former Cabinet minister Peter Hain. He has a consultancy and has also been head of programmes at Asia House, a think-tank that aims to foster 'meaningful dialogue' between Asia and Europe.

Ms Reid added: 'I am not part of my husband's business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are. Above all I expect media organisations to respect my children's privacy.'

Ms Reid said: 'I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters.

'As far as I am aware I have never met any Chinese businesses whilst I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.

'I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections. I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party's dictatorship.'

Joani Reid's husband David Taylor, 39, (pictured together) was arrested at an address in London

Labour MP Joani Reid has said she has 'never seen anything' to make her suspect her husband has broken the law after he was arrested under suspicion of spying for China

Police have searched the addresses where the three men were arrested, as well as three other addresses in London, Cardiff and East Kilbride near Glasgow.

Speaking in the Commons after the arrests, Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed they related to 'foreign interference targeting UK democracy'.

He added that the Government 'stands resolute in our resolve to counter foreign interference activity' and has been 'consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom'.

Mr Jarvis said British officials had 'formally demarched' Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing to raise 'strong concerns' about the allegations.

'Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK Sovereign Affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account,' he added.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also told MPs that the partner of a Labour MP who was reportedly arrested did not have a pass to access the parliamentary estate.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart later responded to Mr Jarvis' statement to the House, saying: 'Here we are again, another year, another Chinese spy scandal, and the backdrop to it is this Government's failed policy of appeasement.

'The Government must now surely be coming to the realisation that unless the United Kingdom stands up to these threats, our country will continue to be treated with disdain.'

Mr Burghart went on to a previous collapsed spy scandal case involving China and the recent approval of the Chinese mega-embassy in central London.

He added: 'We in this House watched as these things happen, and the Chinese state watched too and saw that it could act with impunity.

'The minister says there is no trade-off between our democratic and national interests, and security interests, and our economic interests. But I'm afraid that is exactly what has happened.'

Lisa Smart, the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokeswoman, said there was no mention of adding China to the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme (Firs).

She said: 'How many times must we all come to this House to hear a report of further rounds of arrests under counter terrorism legislation for this Government to take this action?

'Does the Government plan to review its decision to allow the building of the Chinese mega-embassy, and will the Government go further to stop foreign money being funnelled into our democracy?'

Security minister Dan Jarvis responded that he 'understands' why she would raise the embassy, insisting there is 'a strong national security case for the embassy'.

Speaking in the Commons after the arrests, Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed the arrests related to 'foreign interference targeting UK democracy'

All three men were detained under PACE (the Police and Criminal Evidence Act) and were taken into custody, where they remain.

The Met says enquiries remain ongoing. The arrests and search activity were supported by officers from Counter Terrorism Police in Wales and Scotland.

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: 'We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.

'Today's arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this.

'Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support.'

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Wednesday March 4 2026, we carried out a search of an address in East Kilbride on behalf of an investigation being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London.'

The arrests come just weeks after Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited President Xi Jinping in a bid to reset relations with China

Responding to the arrest this afternoon, shadow National Security Minister Alicia Kearns wrote on X: 'This is the inevitable outcome when espionage is conducted without accountability.

'There have still been no repercussions for the Chinese Communist Party putting a spy in Parliament.

'Why? Ask the Government who must answer for their abject failure to act, and therefore to deter future attacks on our democracy.'

The arrests come just weeks after Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited President Xi Jinping in a bid to reset relations with China.
The Hamptons could receive a massive influx of tourists if plans for a $50bn bridge across the Long Island Sound go ahead.

A bill in the Connecticut state legislature would establish a new bridge authority to study the proposal and submit construction recommendations by next January.

The legislation has not yet passed in the assembly, but a bipartisan group of heavy hitters is throwing their support behind the massive transportation project, which could span 14 miles.

Stephen Shapiro, a local real estate developer, is spearheading the proposal. He claimed it would open up new commuter routes in an interview with WTNH, a local ABC affiliate, and highlighted longstanding discussion about a bridge: 'Its been tried for 90 years'.

The bridge would span the Long Island Sound and connect Bridgeport to Suffolk County, home to two of the ritziest Hamptons neighborhoods.

Republican State Representative Joe Hoxha said at Tuesday's hearing that the bridge was a 'win-win-win.'

'This is something that brings tourism, brings commerce and helps everyone,' he said.

Bill Finch, the former mayor of Bridgeport, told WTNH that the bridge would have positive environmental impacts and save commuters time.

A bill has been introduced in Connecticut to conduct a study on plans to construct a massive bridge connecting the state to Long Island

The bridge would span from Bridgeport to Suffolk County. Suffolk is home to some of the ritziest neighborhoods in the Hamptons, including East Hampton, pictured above

Advocates for the bridge claim it will increase tourism and decrease traffic along Connecticut interstates. However, some are skeptical the proposal will pass. A mock up of the bridge is pictured above

The proposal has received mixed reviews from local lawmakers. Representative Tony Scott supported the initiative, suggesting that it could decrease traffic on major interstates across Connecticut.

However, Daniel O'Keefe, the commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, said in written testimony that the massive price tag for the bridge was not included in the governor's budget, as reported by CT Insider.

Developer Steve Shapiro, pictured above, is spearheading the proposal

Shapiro, the Connecticut housing developer leading the initiative, told CT Post in September that building the bridge was his 'dream.'

'Imagine getting to Ocean Beach from here in 45 minutes,' he added.

Shapiro said that even though the project has a massive price tag, he estimated the bridge would generate $8 to $10 billion in annual revenue and could revitalize Bridgeport.

Data from the IRS, seen by CT Insider last year, placed Bridgeport among the poorest towns in the state, with average incomes below $42,000.

He added that a $39 bridge toll would pay for the project in 48 years. Shapiro proposed that the construction could be split between New York, Connecticut, and federal funds.

However, Governor Ned Lamont said in an interview with CT Insider last October that he would not approve funding for the 14-mile-long bridge.

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There is only one route along Long Island where tourists can access the Hamptons. Advocates for a bridge have argued that it will offer another route to the enclave

Governor Ned Lamont said he would not fund a bridge proposal. Former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo previously supported a bridge from Long Island to Connecticut

'I can tell you that they've been talking about that ever since I was a kid in Long Island. So keep talking,' he said.

Multiple proposals for a bridge in the area have failed in the past. Andrew Cuomo explored the idea when he was governor of New York.

He praised a proposal in 2017, adding that a bridge would reduce congestion and offer New Yorkers a better way to get off the island instead of driving all the way to the end.

A proposal commissioned by Cuomo that same year estimated the cost at around $31 billion.

A study conducted at the time noted that the bridge could divert New York City traffic on to Long Island.

The 2017 bid eventually failed due to environmental concerns and worries that the bridge would increase local traffic.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Suffolk County officials for comment on the new CT bill.
A Portland council member who asked their Latino coworker to speak in English has been working their taxpayer-funded job remotely from Spain, it has been revealed.

Mary Nolan, who goes by they/them pronouns, was thrust into the spotlight this week after a recorded council meeting caught them asking their colleague, Juan Carlos Gonzalez, to speak in English, despite him using the language perfectly.

Now, it's been revealed that the 71-year-old has been working remotely from Spain since at least February 5 after previously working from the European country multiple times last year, The Oregonian reported.

Nolan reportedly worked from Spain from March 24, 2025 to June 5, July 24 to September 18, and November 3 to January 8.

Nolan told The Oregonian that they visits family in Spain 'occasionally' or when a relative 'needs help.'

Portland does not require its councils to attend meetings in person, but it does require them to live in their respective district. The position, which is not required to be full-time, pays $68,000 a year.

Nolan was working remotely during the February 24 meeting, where they asked Gonzalez to repeat what he said in English while discussing a housing policy. He had already stated his original response in the language perfectly.

Nolan was also working remotely on February 26, when they apologized in both Spanish and English to Gonzalez.

Mary Nolan has been working remotely from Spain since at least February 5 and has spent several extended periods in the country while working as a lawmaker for Portland

Earlier this week, Nolan was thrust into headlines after a recorded council meeting caught the moment they asked their coworker, Juan Carlos Gonzalez (pictured above), to repeat what he said in English, despite already giving his answer perfectly in the language

'I was shocked again for the second time in a week,' Gonzalez had told the outlet previously. 'It did not feel great.'

Nolan had asked the bill's sponsors, which includes Gonzalez, to define what they meant by regionalism in the policy.

'My concern and worry is that in the definition of regionalism, you're moving forward, or that you had - that we talked about - includes decimating funding to Washington and Clackamas County,' he responded in part, while speaking perfect English.

'There's language that is kind of very needs-based and that to me is like sending signals to some really strong shifts in the framework of SHS entirely.'

Nolan responded by asking: 'Councilor, can you say that in English? I don't understand what you just said.'

The comment caused the entire board to pause in shock, with Councilman Ashton Simpson putting his head in his hands.

Gonzalez sat in silence for a moment before responding: 'Um, okay. Let me try to repeat that in English, which is the language I was speaking.'

In a later meeting, they apologized for disrespecting his 'heritage,' as he is the first Latino member to sit on the board.

Several members of the council were shocked by their request, including Gonzalez

Gonzalez said they shocked him again when they apologized in Spanish and in English at a meeting two days later

Nolan reportedly worked from Spain from March 24, 2025 to June 5, July 24 to September 18, and November 3 to January 8, and now since February 5

'On reflection, I realized one of my questions to you on Tuesday [February 24] during our discussion of the RPOC [Regional Policy and Oversight Committee] disrespected you, as well as people in our audience,' they said.

Nolan promised to give 'more thought and sensitivity' to their future comments.

While they were speaking, Gonzalez rubbed his forehead, and Simpson covered a look of surprise. After they finished the statement, Gonzalez thanked them for their apology before the council moved on to their agenda items.

Nolan told the outlet that they didn't mean to use the term English in reference to the language he was speaking, but rather in the more colloquial way of asking for clarification due to his 'vagueness' and meant 'no malice' toward the councilman.

They have since spoken on the phone, but neither has revealed the contents of their conversation.

Gonzalez told the Daily Mail in a statement: 'Councilor Nolan and I have spoken privately about this. I wont speak for them, but I will say that this is the kind of incident everyone has an opportunity to learn from.

'We need elected leaders to be thoughtful not only about the intent of their statements, but how they impact our communities.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Nolan for comment.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that an Iranian leader who plotted to assassinate Donald Trump had been killed as he announced the US has taken total control of the skies and will now start dropping massive gravity bombs.

Hegseth said 'the leader of the unit that attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed,' at a press conference at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Though this was 'not the focus' of the mission and 'never raised by the president,' Hegseth said he and others ensured the leader was added to the 'target list.' He did not identify the individual or specify the nature of the plot against Trump.

Trump has claimed that he authorized the US-Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday because intelligence showed that Iran was targeting him.

'Four days in we have only just begun,' Hegseth said. 'Now with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound GPS and laser-guided precision gravity bombs of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile.'

Hegseth said the US had opened the campaign with 'exquisite standoff munitions,' sophisticated long-range weapons designed to strike from beyond the reach of enemy air defenses.

He said those munitions were no longer needed, pushing back at reports of stretched supplies with the assurance that 'our stockpile of those remains extremely strong.'

Tomahawk missiles cost upwards of $2 million apiece; gravity bombs deliver a comparable punch for roughly $25,000 per unit, though they require total air superiority to be deployed within range.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrives ahead of Congressional briefings on Iran at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday

A Dept. of Defense map entitled, Operation EPIC FURY Timeline - First 100 Hours, is displayed during a news conference with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, at the Pentagon, Wednesday

A view of a destroyed police facility on Wednesday, struck days earlierduring the US-Israeli strikes

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Al Lailaki neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, with the city's international airport visible in the background, on March 4

People walk by a damaged building, struck days earlier, during the US and Israeli military campaign on March 4

Hegseth asserted that Iran is running low on missiles, saying the volume now in enemy hands was 'not even close' to the outset of the conflict on Saturday.

The Pentagon chief said that a torpedo from a US submarine sank an Iranian warship on Tuesday night, the first such attack on an enemy since World War II.

'An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,' Hegseth said. 'Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.'

Explosions sounded in Tehran and Jerusalem Wednesday as the war entered a fifth day following earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

The explosions around Tehran came at dawn, Iran state television reported, while Israel's military said its air defenses had been activated to intercept incoming missiles and blasts were heard around Jerusalem.

The war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran and dozens in Lebanon, while disrupting the supply of the worlds oil and gas, snarling international shipping, and stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.

NATO member Turkey was targeted by Iranian missile fire overnight as the conflict inside the Middle East lurched towards Europe. British RAF bases on the Mediterranean island Cyprus have already come under fire.

A container ship was attacked off the coast of Oman while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil flows. Iran has closed the narrow passage in a bid to cripple the economies of America's Arab neighbors.

In addition to oil, these countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, are dependent on the strait as they import up to 80 percent of their food.

The tempo of the strikes on Iran was so intense that state television announced the mourning ceremony for Ayatollah Khamenei would be postponed. Millions attended the funeral of his predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.

An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fires rockets while flying at a position along the border between northern Israel and southern Lebanon on March 4

Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment on the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on March 4

Foreign workers look at a tall plume of black smoke ascends following an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3

Residents stand amid the debris of a building near a damaged car following airstrikes in central Tehran on March 4

Israel struck Tehran for a fifth consecutive day and hit Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, while Iran fired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel.

Israel said it hit buildings associated with Iran's Basij, the all-volunteer force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that conducted a bloody crackdown on protesters in January that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands detained in the country.

The Israeli military also said it hit buildings associated with Iran's internal security command, which also has suppressed demonstrations in the past. It also pounded towns near Beirut.

Israel and the US have said they want to see the Iranian public overthrow the country's theocracy, and strikes against counterprotest forces are likely part of that effort.

Iranian state television showed the ruins of buildings in the center of the capital of Tehran, with interviewees saying the attacks damaged their homes.

Strikes have also been reported in Qom, the holy Shiite seminary city, hitting a building associated with the clerical panel set to pick Iran's next supreme leader, Iranian media reported. It was said to be empty at the time.

State TV has begun calling the conflict the 'Ramadan war,' a nod to the holy Muslim fasting month now underway, but the framing also signals that leaders are bracing the public for a long fight.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top US military commander in the Middle East, said American forces have damaged Iran's air defenses and taken out ballistic missiles, launchers and drones.

This US Navy handout photo released by US Central Command public affairs shows an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, preparing to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 2

Smoke rises after a strike on a building which the U.S. Central Command reported as a strike on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on March 2

This image provided by U.S. Central Command shows a EA-18G Growler preparing to launch on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on Monday, March 2

This US Navy handout photo released by US Central Command public affairs shows an F-35C Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, chained down on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 2

Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said such damage has led to a decline in launches from Iran.

Still, explosions echoed in the skies over Jerusalem on Wednesday. Israel's military said Iran launched missiles toward the country, and Hezbollah sent rockets.

Iran has also struck around the region, and air sirens sounded Wednesday across Bahrain, home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

A resident of Tehran, who runs a clothing shop, said he didnt know how to protect himself from the bombing.

'It's very difficult to decide what to do. If I leave the city, how am I supposed to earn money and survive?' said the man, who spoke on condition of anonymity for the fear of reprisals.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued its most intense threat yet, warning the strikes would result in 'the complete destruction of the region's military and economic infrastructure.'

Iran's leaders are scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. It's only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen.

Candidates range from hardliners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists seeking diplomatic engagement. Khamenei's son Mojtaba has long been considered a contender, despite never having held an elected or appointed government post.

In a sign that Iran's leadership will only seek to consolidate its power as it faces its biggest crisis in decades, the head of the judiciary warned Wednesday that 'those who cooperate with the enemy in any way will be considered an enemy.'

How Washington would respond to a successor cast in Khamenei's mould remains unclear. Trump said the 'worst case would be do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person.'

Iraq, which borders Iran, was taking steps to prevent Iranian opposition groups from breaching the border.

There are a significant minority of Shiite Muslims in Iraq, the dominant sect in Iran, and any instability in the region can spark sectarian violence.

The moves come amid reports that the CIA is seeking to arm Kurdish militia groups inside Iraq to foment an uprising in Iran.

Iran's borders are made up of diverse ethnic groups and any loss of central power by the dominant Persians, who control the government, could spark a civil war.

An Iraqi official warned that 'mischief and deception by the United States in the region will come at the cost of the complete destruction of the region's military and economic infrastructure.'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has described the war as an extreme symptom of a rupturing world order in which nations act with mounting disregard for international norms and law, speaking at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based international policy think tank.

'Geo-strategically, hegemons are increasingly acting without constraint or respect for international norms or laws while others bear the consequences. Now the extremes of this disruption are being played out in real time in the Middle East,' Carney said.

But whether the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran broke international law was 'a judgment for others to make,' he added.
Thousands of cruise ship passengers are trapped in ports in the Gulf by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, leaving tourists desperate to escape the region.

The passengers and crews are unable to leave the ships, which have become floating hotels, after escalating hostilities raised fears over safety in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most vital shipping lanes.

This comes after Iran vowed to bring chaos by announcing they would close the Strait of Hormuz and 'burn every ship' attempting to pass.

Around 130,000 Brits have registered as stranded in the Gulf, with airlines now ramping up flights out of the UAE as the Government charters its first emergency evacuation flight.

At least six ships from big companies are said to be at a standstill and awaiting news of when they can leave.

Speaking to German newspaper Bild, one passenger described the tense situation, saying: 'Many passengers, including many families with children, are starting to lose their composure.'

'Nobody knows how or when we will get out of here,' added the holidaymaker, saying there was an atmosphere of 'panic, tears' and 'fear of further impacts'.

There are now concerns about how long the passengers will be stranded and how the ships are going to cope with basic services such as food and water.

The cruise ship passengers are just the latest travellers to become stranded in the region, with other tourists as well as influencers also caught up in the escalating chaos.

A host of celebrities who have moved to Dubai have shared updates after getting caught up in the air attacks.

It comes as:

Pete Hegseth has boasted about the sinking of an Iranian warship in a Pentagon briefing, as the US shared a video of the strike.

Turkey was confirmed to not be the target of a missile launched from Iran, heading toward Turkish airspace that was destroyed by Nato air-defence systems, a Turkish official has told the AFP news agency.

An Iranian warship sunk off Sri Lanka in an apparent submarine attack which has left more than 100 sailors missing and 78 injured.

Keir Starmer accused Donald Trump of lacking a 'viable, thought-through plan' for the Iran war today as Transatlantic tensions rise.

Israel vowed to assassinate the successor to Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei whose funeral in Tehran has been postponed today amid new airstrikes in the capital.

The Ayatollah's son Mojtaba is reportedly lined up to take over from his father though he is not a high-ranking cleric and does not have an official role in the regime.

Israel launched new attacks on Tehran and Lebanon with the military urging people to evacuate along the southern border as it targets Hezbollah militants.

Last night Iranian drones struck the US consulate in Dubai, causing it to catch fire while a missile also hit a US air base in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia said its Ras Tanura oil refinery was targeted in an attempted drone strike just two days after it had to suspend operations because of a fire.

Iran claimed it has 'complete control' of the Strait of Hormuz despite Trump indicating the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through the passage.

Trump mocked Sir Keir whom he called 'no Winston Churchill' in a major blow to the US-UK Special Relationship.

Two of the affected ships pictured on Monday docked at the terminal close to the old port, in Doha, Qatar

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Branding it the 'scariest, worst nights of our lives', many spoke of how scared they were hearing the constant bangs overhead, while sheltering in their homes as the strikes rage on across the UAE.

Cruise passenger Darren Lee, from Manchester, who is currently stuck with his family on MSC Euribia in Dubai told the Daily Mail the ship was surrounded by 'booms'.

Lee, who is with his partner, 12-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter, said: 'We'd heard a couple of booms, which we've been told were interceptions of rockets and drones.

'A drone was intercepted right over our heads and there was a really loud boom, which made everyone run inside.'

Lee said he was more worried about not being able to get home than about the war.

He said: 'I googled it and Emirates, I think, has 5,000 flights a day, and they have not flown for three or four days so there is going to be a massive backlog.

'The realisation is starting to hit me now but I've always tried to be a positive person.'

According to leading travel portal Hosteltur.com, the cruise companies affected are MSC Cruises and Celestyal Cruises.

The portal said MSC Euribia remains docked in the port of Dubai, under strict security measures, with embarkations suspended until further notice.

The ships Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery have also had their departures cancelled and are being kept under supervision in regional ports.

Hosteltur.com said: 'The activation of emergency protocols has forced captains to suspend scheduled itineraries in the face of the latent risk in the Strait of Hormuz and the exponential increase in the cost of insurance policies that, in many cases, have stopped covering operations in the area.

'This forced immobilisation is not only a problem of fuel or supply logistics, but a matter of security that transcends leisure to enter the terrain of a large-scale operational crisis.

'The sector, which was in the middle of the peak of the winter season, is now facing a situation of technical paralysis that transcends the simple cancellation of itineraries.

'The impossibility of carrying out the planned rotations has forced companies to reevaluate not only the safety of their guests and crews but also the viability of their logistics structures.

'The industry is waiting for safe corridors that allow the evacuation or repositioning of fleets to less compromised international waters.'

A spokesperson for Celestyal Cruises said: 'At present, in line with instructions from local authorities, we are unable to disembark guests.

'We are working closely with the relevant authorities and will begin disembarkation in Dubai as soon as permission is granted.

'Once approved, we will provide support to assist guests with transfers from the ship to Abu Dhabi Airport.

'All guests who were due to travel on cancelled sailings will be offered the option of a full refund or a future cruise credit. We strongly encourage guests to speak directly with their travel provider. We sincerely apologise to guests for the disruption.'

Join the debate Should governments step in to evacuate stranded cruise passengers?

A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai

Laura Anderson has said she is praying for 'safe skies' as she has managed to get a flight to Edinburgh out of Dubai amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for MSC said the company is 'following the guidance of the regional US military authorities to keep the ship in the port of Dubai', as airspace remains closed.

They added: 'At this time, the situation on board is calm, and our guests and crew are comfortable and well looked after. We continue to provide a high-quality service to all guests.'

Celebrities and tourist families on the ground have also described terrifying scenes as missile interceptions lit up the skies above Dubai, hotels were evacuated and airports descended into confusion as flights were cancelled without warning.

Former TOWIE star Kate Ferdinand and ex Apprentice candidate Luisa Zissman revealed they slept in the basement of their Dubai homes with their children as missile strikes hit the city on Saturday night.

Kate took to Instagram on Sunday to provide an update on their whereabouts and reassured fans they were safe after a 'very scary night'.

She wrote: 'Thank you for all of your messages and sorry for the silence, I haven't wanted to worry you all I just haven't been able to find the words. We are safe.

'The government are doing an amazing job of keeping it that way and despite my nerves I feel we are in very safe hands.

Meanwhile, ex-footballer Alan Rogers shared a video on Monday morning from Dubai where loud booms can be heard in the distance.

Former Love Island star Laura Anderson, 36, took to Instagram on Wednesday and revealed she had managed to get a flight out of the UAE along with her two-year-old daughter Bonnie.

Sharing a photo of her plane before take off, she wrote: 'We're on. Although I'm taking each stage very lightly... The airport was quiet as expected. Calm, people were so helpful I felt a bit teary.'

Grandmother Mina Pattni, 62 and her family were staying at the Fairmont Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah, which was hit by either a drone or debris, starting a fire.

'It was absolutely terrifying,' said Mina, from Leicester. 'We were just sitting down to eat on Saturday night when we heard some interceptions of drones or missiles in the air.

'That was scary enough, but just as we ordered, there was this terrific bang and we could see that the side of the building had been hit and everyone was evacuated until the fire was extinguished.'

Mina was travelling with her husband Latash, 67, and their daughter and son-in-law and two grandsons Krish, two and 5-month-old Rohin.

'The children were very frightened,' said Mina. 'They picked up the slightly panicky mood from the other guests, though the hotel staff were very good and still managed to serve cold food, even though the gas in the hotel had to be turned off.

Jim Dixon, 61, and his 18-year-old son James from Leicester were due to fly back to the UK from Dubai on Saturday afternoon, and after checking in, they were held at the airport for five hours before being moved to a hotel to begin the long wait.

'The communication hasn't been great, to be honest,' said Jim. 'We've had more information from people back home, but I do understand it's a pretty exceptional situation.

Accountants John Barndell, 37 from London and Greg Coull, 35 from Edinburgh had been on a business trip to India and were only supposed to be in transit at Dubai to change flights.

'We were well taken care of by the airline and the hotel, though the comms could definitely have been better,' said John.

'We just want to get any flight to Europe  we'll go anywhere,' he added. 'If we had been an hour earlier or two hours later, we'd have probably made it back to London.

This comes as thousands of British nationals will now arrive home from the war-torn Middle East today as airlines ramp up flights out of the UAE and the Government charters its first emergency evacuation flight.

The Government appears to be relying on commercial airlines to get passengers back home, chartering just a single flight from Oman with no plans in place for a wide-scale evacuation.

Despite around 130,000 Brits registering as stranded in the Gulf, around 100 pilots and crew members from BA and other airlines were flown from Muscat to Heathrow on Monday.

Emirates is today operating seven flights from Dubai to the UK while Etihad has two departures from Abu Dhabi. Virgin Atlantic will operate a flight from Dubai to London Heathrow.

The Government has also scheduled its first repatriation flight to leave Oman's Muscat International Airport at 11pm local time (7pm GMT) tonight and will prioritise the most vulnerable Brits first as attacks continue to explode across the region.

British nationals and their spouse or partner, and their children under the age of 18, with a valid travel document are all eligible.

The Foreign Office said it would contact British nationals to secure them a way out of the Middle East, and urged people not to travel to the airport unless they have been officially called.

More than 11,000 commercial flights have been cancelled with one million people affected since airspace over the Gulf largely closed.

A couple greet their family members upon arrival at Heathrow after taking a flight from Dubai on March 4

Family members reunite after flights arrive into Heathrow from Dubai on March 3

Smoke rises from an Israeli strike in Beirut on Tuesday

The attacks in the region are intensifying, with Israel today declaring it is now carrying out a 'broad wave' of attacks in Tehran.

The IDF says the 'terrorist infrastructure' will be targeted in what it highlighted was the 'tenth wave' of attacks on the Iranian capital.

The Israeli military also launched airstrikes on Beirut as it targets Hezbollah militants in the Lebanese capital.

Israel has also vowed to assassinate Iran's next supreme leader as the country decides who will succeed Ayatollah Khamenei whose funeral in Tehran has been postponed today amid new airstrikes in the capital.

Iran meanwhile has continued its retaliatory attacks in Israel and across the Gulf states.

Iranian drones attacked the US consulate in Dubai overnight, causing it to catch fire, while a missile also struck America's largest military base in Qatar.

The IRGC has now threatened to strike 'all economic centres' across the Middle East, raising fears that global financial hubs like Dubai could be dragged deeper into the escalating conflict.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander warned Tehran would retaliate if US and Israeli strikes continue, declaring Iran would target the region's key commercial and economic hubs.

'We are saying to the enemy that if it decides to hit our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region,' Ebrahim Jabbari said in remarks broadcast on Iranian state media.
The brother of a disgraced Louisiana mayor convicted of having sex with her teen son's best friend has admitted to raping a young girl in a years-long abuse campaign.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 40, the brother of mayor Misty Roberts, pleaded guilty in November to sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another young woman over several years.

The guilty plea on seven counts of rape saw Brandon sentenced this week to a total of 32 years in prison, reports KPLCTV.

Prosecutors said the abuse began when one of the victims was just 13 and went on for years before Brandon was eventually arrested in October 2024.

His arrest came just two months after his older sister was arrested after she was caught engaging in sexual activity with her son's 16-year-old friend at a drunken pool party at her home.

Roberts, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was convicted on Tuesday as a jury found her guilty of indecent behavior and carnal knowledge of a minor.

The mother-of-two wept uncontrollably as she was convicted, shaking her head in disbelief as she was warned she faces up to 17 years behind bars when she is sentenced next month.

Once an influential mayor of the tiny western Louisiana town, she will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 40, the brother of convicted mayor Misty Roberts, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a teen girl and a young woman in years-long campaign of abuse

Misty Roberts, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was convicted on Tuesday after jurors found her guilty of sexual activity with her son's 16-year-old friend at a drunken pool party at their home in 2024

The brother and sister seen in their mugshots

Roberts was convicted following a week-long trial, where jurors heard that the glamorous divorcee was heavily intoxicated when she was caught making out with her teen son's friend at a pool party at their home in 2024.

Her defense attorney said the former mayor, who was in office at the time of the incident, was reeling from her divorce a year and a half earlier.

It would not have happened without alcohol. Trying to be the cool parent in a divorce is stupid, her attorney Adam Johnson said in his closing arguments.

Prosecutors had displayed a photo of Roberts in a bikini straddling the victim at the pool party, which Johnson conceded was a 'real bad look.'

Johnson argued that cops had failed to prove that a sex crime happened or properly scrutinize differing accounts from various youths who claimed to have witnessed the tryst.

Last week, jurors got to hear from Roberts' own children, her ex-husband, a longtime friend, a DoorDash driver and several teenagers who were present on the night of the pool party.

In testimony from her victim, the teen told the jury that he was plied with alcohol before he and Roberts had sex.

Misty Roberts seen Tuesday after being found guilty. She was convicted following a week long trial

The former mayor was reeling from her divorce from husband Duncan Clanton at the time of the romp with her teen son's friend

Roberts own two children and her nephew also testified how they saw her and the teen together - although they were unable to say whether the pair had sex.

One of the most emotional moments in the trial came as jurors watched an interview of Roberts' son, recorded last year.

In the courtroom, prosecutors played the full 2025 forensic interview for the jury, during which Roberts son said he saw his mother having sex with his friend through a crack in a window.

But when he took to the stand in person, he told jurors he was uncertain about what he saw.

Text messages between mother and son were displayed in court. In one, he warned her, 'He is seventeen.' Authorities have said the victim was 16 at the time.

Other texts shown to jurors included exchanges about what alcohol the teens wanted for the party.

Messages from that night also showed the son telling his mother that what was happening was 'crazy' and that his younger sister was crying.

Roberts' daughter also testified, as prosecutors played her interview with investigators. In it, she said she saw her mother and the teenage boy 'on top of each other' that night.

A DoorDash driver also testified that he accepted a request from 'Misty C' to purchase emergency contraception and leave it at Roberts' front door.

The mother-of-two was said to have been caught by several people at the pool party on top of her son's 16-year-old friend with her top off

A criminal complaint seen by the Daily Mail alleges that Roberts 'pressed her butt up against (her alleged victim) while taking a photograph of him.'

'She made statements about being attracted to (the boy), she put her hand on the bare torso area of (the boy) while making said comments to him, she kissed (the boy) in the backyard/pool area, she told (the boy), "We can't do this here".'

The court papers allege Roberts then followed the boy into the 'bonus room' of her home, locked its doors, lay down on the couch with the boy and kissed him.

'She exposed her breasts while kissing (the boy) in the locked bonus room,' the court papers continued. 'She asked (him) why he chose her to have sexual intercourse with.

'She sat on top of (the boy) on the couch in the bonus room as depicted in the photograph taken by the defendant's son,' the papers said.

Roberts denied ever having sex with the boy, but after just an hour of deliberation, Roberts was hauled back into the courtroom and bowed her head as she heard the jury read her guilty verdict.

A judge rejected prosecutors' request to remand Roberts in custody ahead of her sentencing next month and agreed to let her out on a $100,000 bond because she was not deemed a flight risk and 'has a family and children.'

This was her second trial after a previous case ended in a mistrial due to judicial issues in Beauregard Parish.

Roberts resigned as mayor days before her 2024 arrest.
A US submarine sank an Iranian vessel using an underwater torpedo for the first time since the Second World War, it was announced on Wednesday.

The high-precision strike came as Pete Hegseth said the military is ramping up its bombing campaign on Iran, declaring America is 'just getting started.'

The US has hit over 2,000 targets in its war on Iran, which has lasted just over 100 hours. And a top Iranian mastermind behind the plot to assassinate Donald Trump after the 2024 election was taken out.

The US military has 'taken control of the skies' and is now launching 'laser-guided precision gravity bombs' hours after Iran's new supreme leader was named as Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba. Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Saturday.

One of the biggest accomplishments, according to the Secretary of War, is the annihilation of an Iranian warship using an underwater torpedo.

'An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,' Hegseth said at a morning press conference at the Pentagon.

'Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo, [a] quiet death, the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.'

In 1982, Great Britain's nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror sank an Argentine ship with a torpedo during the Falklands War.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo, the first attack of its kind since the Second World War

Video released by the Department of War shows the US submarine's view of the exploding Iranian warship

Hegseth said the torpedo attack occurred on Monday in the Indian Ocean. The secretary did not name the vessel, but earlier, an Iranian warship sank off the coast of Sri Lanka.

A video of the incident, taken from the US submarine's periscope and released by the Department of War, shows the Iranian warship jolt violently upwards before exploding in a giant plume of smoke and water.

The military used a Mark 48 Torpedo - with a 650-pound warhead - which was detonated under the vessel's stern.

The rear section of the boat was lifted out of the water momentarily after impact in the video.

Sri Lankan foreign affairs minister Vijitha Herath announced that the strike occurred around 5am local time. He told parliament 180 people were on board the Iranian vessel, which he identified as the IRIS Dena.

'By 6am we dispatched a naval vessel and by 7am the second naval vessel,' Hegseth said. Sri Lankan officials announced at least 80 people were killed in the torpedo attack.

Sri Lankan officials also noted how 32 members of the crew were rescued and brought to a local hospital. There are still 148 Iranian sailors who are unaccounted for and suspected of having drowned as a result of the strike.

The IRIS Dena was one of Iran's newest warships. It was reportedly equipped with surface-to-air missiles, a cannon, machine guns, torpedo launchers and anti-ship missiles.

US forces have struck or sunk to the bottom of the ocean more than 20 ships from the Iranian regime, according to CENTCOM. Last night, CENTCOM added a Soleimani-class warship to the list

An Iranian ship releases a plume of smoke after being hit with a US strike

A map of US military action so far is displayed during a news conference with Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine at the Pentagon

The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena anchored in the port of Rio de Janeiro in 2023

The tip of the vessel can be seen before it is engulfed by the waters of the Indian Ocean

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The vessel took part in a naval drill in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25, according to the exercise's website.

'The Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf,' Hegseth said.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine celebrated the feat alongside Hegseth at the Pentagon, noting that the US has struck more than 2,000 targets.

'We've destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels,' Caine said.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a video compilation of US strikes on Iranian vessels on Wednesday.

'Iran's major naval presence in theater out there, as the Secretary showed the video, for the first time since 1945, a United States Navy fast attack submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship using a single Mark 48 torpedo to achieve immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea,' Caine said.

The Iranian vessel before the torpedo impact

The force from the torpedo sent a towering plume of what appears to be smoke and water into the air

Hegseth was joined by Caine to give an update at the Pentagon as the war hit over 100 hours.

The secretary claimed that an Iranian leader who plotted to assassinate Trump was killed in US strikes.

Hegseth said 'the leader of the unit that attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed,' at a press conference at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Though this was 'not the focus' of the mission and 'never raised by the president,' Hegseth said he and others ensured the leader was added to the 'target list.' He did not identify the individual or specify the nature of the plot against Trump.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Monday one of the top goals for Operation Epic Fury is to completely destroy the Iranian Navy

Trump has claimed that he authorized the US-Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday because intelligence showed that Iran was targeting him.

'Four days in, we have only just begun,' Hegseth said. 'Now with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound GPS and laser-guided precision gravity bombs of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile.'

Hegseth said the US had opened the campaign with 'exquisite standoff munitions,' sophisticated long-range weapons designed to strike from beyond the reach of enemy air defenses.

He said those munitions were no longer needed, pushing back against reports of stretched supplies, assuring that 'our stockpile of those remains extremely strong.'

Tomahawk missiles cost upwards of $2 million apiece; gravity bombs deliver a comparable punch for roughly $25,000 per unit, though they require total air superiority to be deployed within range.

Entering day five of the conflict, over a thousand are confirmed dead.

At least 1,045 people have been killed in Iran, the country's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said Wednesday.

In Israel, 11 have died. More than 50 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the health ministry. At least six US troops have been killed.
A math teacher at an elite California high school is being investigated after he reportedly used sexist questions on a quiz, asking students to calculate the difference in dinner prices based on girls' weight.

Tom Chan has taught at Lowell High School in San Francisco for more than 20 years, but he is now on leave after the school began investigating him after receiving complaints over his test questions.

Chan reportedly asked students to figure out how much it would cost to pay for dinner for a 120-pound girl versus a 220-pound girl.

'The amount of money you spend on a date varies inversely to how much they weigh. A typical girl that weighs 120lbs will cost you $55... How much would you expect to pay for a date with Ashley, who is 220lbs?' the question read, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

A different part of the question asked ninth-grade Algebra students: 'If you can only afford $5, how much would your date weigh and what is his/her name?'

A different question contained fat-phobic language and spoke of violence to children.

'The fat kid from last time wouldnt be quiet about the candy I was eating in front of him, so I punted him up into the air,' the question said, The Chronicle reported.

'When was the last time you gave candy to a fat kid?' he asked them, alongside having them equate height and time.

Tom Chan has taught at Lowell High School for more than 20 years, but he is now on leave after the school began investigating him after receiving complaints that his quiz questions were sexist and fat-phobic

Chan also asked students personal questions, such as 'how tall are you and how much do you weigh' and 'pick one: pretty or smart, and why?'

A parent told The Chronicle that families and students were afraid to report Chan over fears he would retaliate or refuse to write them college recommendation letters.

The parent also said older students who had previously taken Chan's class reported similar behavior from their teacher.

Chan also reportedly quizzed students on math problems they hadn't learned yet and scored them as part of their grades. He also allowed students to get extra credit by participating in silly dances that he filmed and put on his YouTube channel.

'Theyre buying grades from him by humiliating themselves,' the parent told The Chronicle.

The anonymous parent's own child said Chan was well-liked amongst students and thought the questions were a bad dad joke.

Lowell High seniors Jayden Grajeda and Ezra Medad said they found some of Chan's questions to be a bit weird when they took his class last year, they told NBC Bay Area.

'He has some odd mannerisms to him, but he's a good guy,' Grajeda said. 'He has kids. He just seems like a lovable kind of enjoyable teacher.

One of his questions asked students to calculate how much it would cost for dinner to feed a girl that is 220 pounds if it cost $55 to feed a girl that is 120 pounds

'I don't think he meant that stuff he said. He was just trying to get the kids to focus and engage with the material and actually try to learn it.'

Medad said Chan always took his time to make sure students understood the material.

District spokesperson Laura Dudnick told The Chronicle they are 'actively investigating' the concern and said the school could not give any further details.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the school and Chan for comment.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un appears emboldened and unafraid amid the US-Israeli offensive on Iran.

Kim, 42, was seen touring a cement factory on Sunday while dressed in his typical black motif and smoking a cigarette.

The tour of North Hwanghae Province the day after the US opened fire on Iran stands in stark contrast to Kim's father's actions directly after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The late leader Kim Jong Il notoriously sequestered himself for around 50 days after George W Bush led the US into the Middle East.

He also went into hiding for around 25 days after the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 in response to the 9/11 attacks.

Meanwhile, the 42-year-old was seen giving instructions to workers in a calm, relaxed manner on Sunday, South Korean outlet Chosun Daily reports.

Perhaps the dictator's public showing and relaxed demeanor can be attributed to the fact that North Korea has a robust nuclear arsenal.

That is in contrast to Iran and Venezuela or Cuba, the latter of whose government President Donald Trump said could collapse by year's end.

The North Korean leader is a known smoker who has been seen lighting up cigarettes in state-run reports

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un appears unbothered with the US striking Iran. The day after the US-Israeli offensive launched the leader was seen in public touring a cement factory. His father, Kim Jong Il, famously went into hiding after the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and again after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003

This picture taken on March 1, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 2, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivering a touring the Sangwon Cement Complex in North Hwanghae province of North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un controls the nation's stockpile of nuclear weapons - equipment not held by US adversaries like Iran, Venezuela or Cuba

Kim doesn't appear to be in any hurry to make changes to his already-established nuclear stockpile.

Yang Uk, a military expert at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told the Wall Street Journal that Kim sees 'there is little to gain from dialogue if you are an adversary of the U.S.'

'Whether he engages or not, the primary goal will stay the same: to strengthen his nuclear program.'

Still, the US-Israeli attack on Iran did not go unnoticed in North Korea.

A spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry ripped the US-Israeli offensive as an 'illegal and barbaric act of aggression and the most despicable form of sovereignty violation.'

The statement also ripped the US and Israel's 'reckless bandit-like behavior, which does not hesitate to abuse military force to achieve selfish and hegemonic ambitions.'

As for the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Daily Mail on Wednesday that there is no 'change in position' on North Korea despite Trump's war on Iran.

'I don't have any change in position with respect to North Korea today,' she said from the White House podium.

'I don't have any change in position with respect to North Korea today,' Leavitt said from the White House podium

This photo provided by the North Korean government shows ballistic missiles test-fired from an undisclosed location in North Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

In July, during a bilateral meeting with the head of South Korea, Trump said he would like to hold a meeting with the dictator.

'I'd like to have a meeting. I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong-un in the appropriate future,' Trump said.

And in October, Trump again said he would 'love' to meet with Kim Jong Un.

However, North Korea has still not agreed to talks about limiting its nuclear weapons program.

Former U.K. ambassador to North Korea John Everard told the Wall Street Journal that Kim is 'studying' the US actions in Iran 'very carefully.'

'The U.S. has demonstrated that it can reach for a military option to decapitate the enemys leadership despite diplomatic negotiations,' he said.

The latest estimates suggest that North Korea has approximately 50 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, according to a congressional report.

However, it has enough material to build up to 90 warheads, the report states.

The communist nation also boasts a robust ballistic missile program to deliver those nuclear warheads.

This photo provided by the North Korean government shows new launch vehicles for nuclear-capable short-range missiles during a military ceremony in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

North Korea's most advanced ballistic missile system, the Hwasong-20, has a range of over 9,300 miles, meaning most, if not all, of the continental US is within range.

New York City, for example, is approximately 7,000 miles away from Pyongyang, North Korea's capital.

Kim has recently said that the US and North Korea could 'get along' as long as the Americans know that North Korea is unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions.

If the US 'respects our present [nuclear] position as stipulated in the Constitution... and withdraws its hostile policy... there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the United States,' Kim said last week.

Though he has also been wary of recent US hostilities around the globe.

'Under the signboard of the so-called 'America first,' the U.S. is unhesitatingly resorting to aggression and use of force against sovereign states,' Kim told party officials in a speech after the US captured ex-Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
A Royal Navy warship hastily ordered to deploy to Cyprus to help defend UK forces from Iranian air attacks will not even leave the UK until next week.

Sir Keir Starmer last night said HMS Dragon would be sent to the Eastern Mediterranean after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone.

The PM was already under fire as the Type 45 destroyer will take a week to get to the area.

But Western officials believe that Dragon, which is currently in Portsmouth, will not be ready to set sail for days.

It was being readied for another mission after a routine maintenance period when the call came through to prepare to go to the Mediterranean.

It was disarmed for the maintenance period and was pictured being rearmed today at the Portsmouth naval base.

It means that it will arrive on station off Cyprus between two and three weeks after the base was attacked.

The successful drone hit, which caused minimal damage and no casualties, prompted the Cypriot president to appeal to France and Germany for naval help.

His move helped galvanise Sir Keir and Navy chiefs into action. But questions will be asked about the slow pace of the deployment.

Officials have confirmed that the drone was not fired from Iran itself, amid suggestions it could have been fired by pro-Tehran forces in Lebanon.

HMS Dragon was being readied for another mission after a routine maintenance period when the call came through to prepare to go to the Mediterranean

It was disarmed for the maintenance period and was pictured being rearmed today at the Portsmouth naval base (above)

Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch clashed on the issue at Prime Minister's Questions today

Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch clashed on the issue at Prime Minister's Questions today.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the Commons that Labour's priorities 'are all wrong', saying: 'He says that we are pre-deploying  the one ship which we are sending, HMS Dragon, is still in Portsmouth. The fact is the Type 45 cannot take out incoming missiles. This is not enough.

'He's read out a long list but the people who understand know it is not enough  he should be doing more.'

Turning to the spring forecast statement which Chancellor Rachel Reeves made on Tuesday, Mrs Badenoch continued: 'Yesterday, the Chancellor could have given more money to defence. Instead, she gave more money for welfare. Their priorities are all wrong.'

She asked: 'Why is he leaving the job of funding our armed forces to the next government?'

Sir Keir replied: 'I'm not going to take lectures on defence from the party opposite. They came into office and what did they do? They cut the defence budget.'

Sir Keir later said: 'Not only did they cut the defence budget, they missed Army recruitment targets every year for 14 years, they left morale in our armed forces at an all-time low and our forces hollowed out  that's the words of Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary.'

He later added his Government was 'delivering the biggest boost of defence spending since the Cold War  270 billion over this Parliament'.
As the skies above them were filled with the roar of screaming fighter jets on the lookout for wave after wave of Iranian drones and missiles, tourists and expats in Dubai settled down on the beach.

Across the clear blue waters of the Gulf lies the coast of Iran, barely 100 miles away, and even nearer from some parts of the UAE.

But those hundreds of people at Jumeirah Beach, in the shadow of the spectacular Burj Al Arab 'sail' hotel - which was hit in the aerial assault at the weekend - said they felt safe, despite the war engulfing the country.

The fact that the US Consulate, only a few seconds' flight away from flying ordnance, was also filmed in flames last night after being hit by either a drone, missile, or burning debris, proved no obstacle to the sun-seekers either.

As the UAE government continues to insist that the situation is under control, backed up by an army of influencers, Dubai as a whole began to relax guidance, urging its citizens and visitors to remain inside and seek shelter.

In hotels, open-air pools were reopening, beach clubs were welcoming guests back to lounge under cabanas and sip champagne, and a very limited service of flights from the world's busiest international airport, DXB, was beginning to resume.

To complete the somewhat barmy dissonant picture, in the huge Mall of the Emirates, Dubai's huge indoor ski slope in the desert was also proving popular with families zooming down the artificial snow, while the mercury outside soared past 34C.

The Dubai government, which depends almost solely on tourism to keep its economy going, has kept the message pumping that the Emirate, along with the rest of the UAE, is safe, even though a fair number of Iranian drones have beaten the aerial defences, killing three people and injuring more than 60.

Jumeirah public beach in Dubai this morning as residents and holiday makers carry on their daily lives although the city is under attack

As the skies above them were filled with the roar of screaming fighter jets on the lookout for wave after wave of Iranian drones and missiles, tourists and expats in Dubai settled down on the beach

Hundreds of people at Jumeirah Beach, in the shadow of the spectacular Burj Al Arab 'sail' hotel - which was hit in the aerial assault at the weekend - said they felt safe, despite the war engulfing the country

The fact that the US Consulate only a few seconds flight away for flying ordnance was also filmed in flames last night after being hit by either a drone, missile or burning debris, proved no obstacle to the sunseekers

Residents and tourists insist they 'feel safe' despite the recent drone attacks

As the UAE government continues to insist that the situation is under control, backed up by an army of influencers, Dubai as a whole began to relax guidance urging its citizens and visitors to remain inside and seek shelter

Beachgoers go for a swim at Jumeirah public beach

A man surfs a wave on Jumeirah's public beach this morning

Although the frequency of the attacks and interceptions seems to have tailed off from the initial blitz on Saturday and Sunday, they have not ceased entirely.

But on Jumeirah Beach, as surfers body-boarded their way to shore, no one seemed to think they were in any danger.

Aptly-named South African Dune Barker, 34, who has lived in Dubai for 12 years, said he felt 'super confident' that the UAE air defences could handle everything Iran was throwing at them.

'The first night was very scary,' said Dune, who works in management at the huge water park at Atlantis Resort on the Palm Jumeirah.

'But we soon realised that the missiles and drones were nearly all being intercepted. My own country is nowhere near as safe as the UAE, and that's why I'm here enjoying the beach on my day off.'

Spanish tourist Jorge Prieto, 49, and his son, Lucas, 13, should have been flying back home to France today, but instead they will have to wait until the weekend.

'We do feel safe here,' said Jorge, or I wouldn't bring my wife and children to the beach. We're following the advice from the UAE government and so far it's worked out fine.

Spanish tourist Jorge Prieto (left), 49 and his son Lucas, 13, should have been flying back to their home in France today, but instead they will have to wait for the weekend

Tourists and residents relax on the sand, continuing with daily life despite the conflict

Pawel and Nataly, a couple from Latvia in their twenties, only ventured outside for the first time yesterday, as they were worried about the missiles and drones

But as surfers made their their way to shore, no one appeared to think they were in any danger

Another surfer catches a wave on the Dubai beach this morning

'My wife is Belgian, and we've tried to contact the Spanish, French and Belgian embassies for advice and help, and couldn't get any of them to answer, so we're relying on the Emiratis instead.'

Fellow Spaniard Luca Chiappinelli, 24, is about to move to Dubai for good, where he will start a car export business, but he said the Iranian air strikes hadn't put him off.

'They are obviously geared up for something like this in a way that European governments are not,' he said. 'I have no hesitation at all in coming out here to the beach  nobody wants to sit inside all day.'

Pawel and Nataly, a couple from Latvia in their twenties, only ventured outside for the first time yesterday as they were worried about the missiles and drones.

'We were frightened on the first day,' said Nataly. 'We were actually on the Dubai Eye when the first strikes came in on Saturday and I didn't know what it was at first, and wondered if it was fireworks.

'When we got down and heard the news, it was really scary. But as the days have gone by, while we've seen and heard a lot of the attacks and the way they've been intercepted, we got more confident.'

Pawel added: 'The Latvian government has told us that our extra days in the hotel will be paid for by the Dubai government, so I guess we're here for a few more days extra holiday than we expected.'
Turmoil in Iran could lead to refugees flooding to Europe at an unprecedented magnitude, the European Unions asylum agency has warned.

The EU described Iran as a potential flashpoint in a report written before the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against the country.

Outlining the possible effect on the number of asylum seekers arriving at European borders, the EU Agency for Asylum said the scale of potential risk is significant.

There is yet to be a surge in Iranians leaving their country as military action continues.

But the EU report made clear that destabilisation of the country could trigger migration flows to rival others seen in recent decades.

The last time Europe faced such a major exodus was during the 2015 Syrian refugee crisis, when more than a million asylum seekers arrived in Europe fleeing civil war in their country.

The upheaval in 2015 had a knock-on effect on Britains asylum numbers, after higher numbers of migrants crossed the continent and lodged humanitarian claims here.

The EU report said: Displacement of just 10 per cent of Irans population would rival the largest refugee flows of recent decades.

Migrants cross the Channel aboard an overloaded dinghy on Tuesday this week

With a population of approximately 90million, even partial destabilisation could generate refugee movements of an unprecedented magnitude.

Although Iranian displacement has so far remained limited  the scale of potential risk is significant.

The report went on: Observers increasingly view Irans turmoil as a major and long-term risk, for which the outlook remains highly uncertain.

A man walks past destroyed buildings following airstrikes in central Tehran

It said any major refugee exodus from Iran was highly speculative but it remains unclear how risk may now have changed in the wake of the US-led conflict.

The EU organisation said a 30 per cent reduction in global humanitarian funding last year, such as cuts by President Donald Trumps White House, could make matters worse.

It said that in the event of new crises, the funding cuts could accelerate onward movement of refugees into other regions of the globe.

It noted that Iran currently hosts the second-largest number of refugees in the world, with 2.5million.

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The EU saw 822,000 applications for international protection lodged last year, down 19 per cent on the previous year.

The fall was mainly due to fewer applications from Syrians, which fell 72 per cent from 151,000 in 2024 to 42,000.

By comparison, the number of asylum claims lodged in the UK last year fell by only four per cent to 100,625, the second-highest level on record.

Of those claims, 7,419 were from Iranian nationals and their dependants.

One European diplomat told the Times: Around one in three of the irregular migrants coming into Europe are headed to the UK.

If we have a crisis it will be one for the Brits as well.
A small Pennsylvania church has gone viral after embracing a policy that welcomes socalled 'loud kids' in worship - a message that has sparked intense debate across the internet.

The memo, which originated at First Baptist Union in Mississippi, was reposted last week by Mt. Washington United Brethren Church in York, Pennsylvania.

It didn't gain national attention until New York Times columnist David French shared the image on X, where it quickly amassed 1.4 million views.

'I love this so much,' French wrote in his post.

The note began with a tongueincheek assurance of 'transparency and accountability' before laying out four 'comprehensive procedures regarding loud children in worship.'

'Effective immediately, if a family is considering visiting Mt. Washington Church and they have a loud kid, the following options are available:

'Option 1. The family should bring the kid.

'Option 2. The family should make sure they bring the kid.

'Option 3. The family is to see that the child is brought to church.

'Option 4. The kid is absolutely welcome and expected.'

A small Pennsylvania church has gone viral after embracing a policy that welcomes socalled 'loud kids' in worship

Mt. Washington UB Church Pastor Alan Harbold told Fox News Digital he is 'thrilled' the policy is drawing national attention to the Church

The memo added that children's noise is not a distraction but 'evidence of life, growth, and the future of the church.' It concludes, 'If your child makes noise, you are not bothering us. You are blessing us. Policy enacted. No exceptions.'

Many religious leaders and parents applauded the message as a needed correction to churches that shame tired families away from attending.

Politician Christopher Hale quoted Pope Francis, who told parents during a 2020 baptism in the Sistine Chapel as is the tradition on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord: 'Let the children cry. It is a beautiful homily when a child cries in church.'

Francis joked that babies aren't used to the chapel and shortened his homily so they wouldn't become uncomfortable, reminding parents that baptism is an act of justice because it imparts the Holy Spirit.

Other users referenced Mark 10:14, 'let the little children come to me.'

Another widely circulated line captured the same sentiment: 'If your church services aren't crying, they're dying.'

A churchgoer shared his parish's own message: 'Parents, relax. children wiggle,' adding that the 'sound of children in church is actually the sound of obedience' because it shows parents bringing their kids to worship even when it's difficult.

Facebook commenters on the original Mississippi post also shared emotional stories. One recalled a pastor being called to pray over a terminally ill newborn who suddenly began crying during the prayer.

'Every time he hears a baby cry during a sermon, he immediately thinks about what a beautiful sound it truly is,' the commenter wrote.

The memo, which originated at First Baptist Union in Mississippi, was reposted last week by Mt. Washington United Brethren Church in York, Pennsylvania

Many religious leaders and parents applauded the message as a needed correction to churches that shame tired families away from attending

A widely circulated line captured the same sentiment: 'If your church services aren't crying, they're dying.'

Other users referenced Mark 10:14 - 'let the little children come to me.'

Another parent said their family left a church after a pastor publicly called out a noisy baby. 'Next church we went to, the very first service there was a baby making noise and playing - not one person said anything. That's when I knew we'd found our home.'

Even users who admitted to disliking loud children said they supported the spirit of the memo: 'I get very annoyed by disruptive kids That said, I still love this.'

But others argued the viral policy goes too far, especially regarding older children.

Tax Foundation senior fellow Jared Walczak wrote that while he agrees churches should welcome families, he has seen churches where children aged 610 'play noisily' during services while parents ignore it.

'That's distracting for other worshippers,' he said, 'and it's also bad for the kids, because they're being taught that church isn't really all that important.'

Other users were more blunt.

'If your kid is disrupting a social gathering: get them to stop. If they won't stop, take them outside,' one wrote.

Another added: 'Adults need to show them when and where it is appropriate to act this way. Church, weddings, restaurants, any formal gatherings are NOT an appropriate place.'

Tax Foundation senior fellow Jared Walczak wrote that unruly children may serve as a distraction to worshippers

Some X users argued the viral policy goes too far, especially regarding older children

Some argued that failing to teach boundaries contributes to broader cultural decline.

'At what point did society decide kids shouldn't be held accountable for anything at all?' one user asked.

Several pointed out that some worshippers come to church 'at the end of their rope,' needing to hear the sermon without interruption. Others said reverence in worship must be preserved: 'Mass is beautiful the sounds of children can be lovely, but screaming and tantruming is not appropriate.'

Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, a father of three, said the viral memo confuses tolerance for occasional noise with embracing chaos. 'Children should be taught to be respectful of mixed spaces like movies, restaurants, and church. It's called good parenting.'

A third group argued that modern churches already have practical solutions, including cry rooms, soundproof family lounges, or children's Sunday School, and urged parents to use them when appropriate.

Mt. Washington UB Church Pastor Alan Harbold told Fox News Digital he is 'thrilled' the policy is drawing national attention.

A third group argued that modern churches already have practical solutions - including cry rooms, soundproof family lounges, or children's Sunday School

'Some detractors said parents should make sure their children are quiet and we would wholeheartedly agree,' Harbold said. 'But the most important part is getting the kids to church in the first place. We want to welcome families without fear of being 'annoying.'

At First Baptist Union in Mississippi, where the memo originated, Senior Pastor Michael Wilbanks said he posted it to reassure embarrassed young parents.

'There are mothers who get really embarrassed when their children cry,' he said. 'We wanted to let them know they are welcomed and we love them.'
Mauritius has blasted a delay to Britain's handover of the Chagos Islands as it piled pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to enact his 35billion sovereignty deal.

An inter-ministerial committee in Port Louis, chaired by Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, expressed its 'concern' that the agreement has still not come into force.

It noted how the controversial deal between the UK and Mauritius was signed 'as far back as' May last year, but had still not been implemented.

'Despite the common will of the parties to bring the agreement into force expeditiously, it has not yet entered into force and there is no visibility as to when this would occur,' the committee said.

Sir Keir is facing fresh fury over his decision to cede the strategically-important Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, which is seen as an ally of China.

Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a new blast at the PM's deal as he fumed at Sir Keir's initial refusal to allow America to use the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia - the largest of the Chagos Islands - to launch strikes against Iran.

Meanwhile, a top UK diplomat has quit the Foreign Office saying the Government's decision to cede control of the Chagos Islands and Sir Keir's failure to act immediately after Iran's attack on a British base in Cyprus had influenced his decision.

Mauritius itself has demanded an 'immediate ceasefire' between the US and Iran, as it branded the American and Israeli strikes on Tehran as 'illegal'.

An inter-ministerial committee in Port Louis, chaired by Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, expressed its 'concern' that the Chagos Islands deal has still not come into force

Sir Keir Starmer is facing fresh fury over his decision to cede the strategically-important Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, which is seen as an ally of China

Donald Trump has fumed at Sir Keir's initial refusal to allow America to use the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia - the largest of the Chagos Islands - to launch attacks on Iran

As reported by local media, the inter-ministerial committee in Port Louis pointed to how 'various international lawyers' had found 'the attacks by the US and Israel against Iran and Iran's retaliatory attacks against States not initially involved in the conflict, have no legal underpinning under international law'.

The committee also hit out at 'the presence of unauthorised individuals on one of the islands of the Chagos Archipelago'.

It noted how 'a number of wealthy individuals, as well as certain politicians, are complicit in bringing about such illegal presence on one of the islands of the Chagos Archipelago'.

It comes after a small group of Chagossians, who were evicted from the islands in the 1960s to make way for the Diego Garcia base, recently returned to the archipelago on a small boat with the aim of reclaiming their homeland.

Former Tory MP Adam Holloway, who has now defected to Reform UK, helped the Chagossians return to the territory and stayed on one of the islands to help build a settlement.

Reform leader Nigel Farage has been a vocal supporter of their cause and recently visited the nearby Maldives, claiming the UK Government had stopped him from going to the Chagos Islands.

The UK's deal with Mauritius secures the operation of the Diego Garcia base for at least 99 years, and will also allow Chagossians to return to the outer islands.

Ameer Kotecha stepped down from his Foreign Office post as head of Palestinian issues at the British embassy in Tel Aviv this week.

Explaining his decision to quit, Mr Kotecha - who joined the department in 2014 and has held posts in Russia, New York and Hong Kong - said: 'Rather than a really clear-sighted, level-headed assessment of what's in the national interest and what's good for the UK, we're instead having our entire foreign policy dictated by what the lawyers tell us international law requires.

'I've taken my duty of civil service impartiality seriously, but the frustrations have got too much and frankly I think the system is broken. I'm ashamed to serve this Government, so I've decided to throw the towel in.'

In an article for The Times, he called for 'a more ruthless focus on what benefits the British people' within Whitehall.

'Our impotence on Iran and craven surrender over Chagos happen when the long-term national interest is sacrificed to unquestioning worship of international law, the demands of noisy activist groups, or the appeasing of sectarian voting blocs,' he added.

'Without reform of the civil service, these episodes will not be the last such ignominies.'

A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We expect officers in the diplomatic service to uphold the highest standards of integrity and serve the government of the day impartially.

'If a member of staff feels they are no longer able to serve in that capacity, the correct course is for them to resign.'

A transatlantic rift between the UK and US has been sparked by Sir Keir's initial refusal to allow America to use British military bases in their action against Iran over the weekend.

The PM later performed a partial U-turn after Tehran fired retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, with drones and missiles being launched towards British military bases and UK allies in the region.

Late on Sunday, Sir Keir said he had agreed to an American request to use UK bases to protect British nationals and allies in the Middle East.

The PM said he was allowing British bases to be used only for the 'specific and limited defensive purpose' of targeting Iran's missile storage depots and launchers.

Mr Trump has previously referred to asking to use the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which can handle US heavy bombers.
Periscope footage has shown a US submarine sinking an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The IRIS Dena was struck by American torpedoes in the Indian Ocean today, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed during a press conference at the White House.

Sri Lankan authorities rushed to the rescue of those on board, retrieving 32 people, with at least 80 confirmed to have died. Earlier they had said that 140 sailors were believed to be missing.

Video footage released by the US showed the moment that a torpedo struck the vessel, causing a huge explosion that sent water soaring high into the air.

In later images, the bow of the stricken warship was seen pointing skywards, with more than half the boat already having disappeared underneath the waves.

The War Secretary said it was the 'first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two'.

However, he overlooked the British sinking of the Argentinian cruiser Belgrano by submarine HMS Conqueror on May 2, 1982, during the Falklands War.

The naval strike comes on the fifth day of the conflict in the Middle East, after the US and Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran on Saturday. In retaliation, Iran has conducted missile attacks on countries across the region.

Today Washington and Israel intensified its bombardment of Iran's security forces and other symbols of power, while Tehran vowed to completely destroy the Middle East's military and economic infrastructure and was accused of firing a ballistic missile into Turkish airspace.

Speaking at an earlier press conference, Hegseth confirmed that the US had been behind the sinking of the Iranian warship.

An American submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean today, killing at least 80 people, Hegseth confirmed during a press conference at the White House

The ship was seen sinking in footage released by the US government on Wednesday

'In the Indian Ocean - an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship, that thought it was safe in international waters,' he said.

'Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo - quiet death.

'The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two. Like in that war - back when we were still the War Department - we are fighting to win.'

But in fact the Royal Navy achieved the feat in May 1982 during the Falklands War, when Britain's HMS Conqueror fired two torpedoes into the General Belgrano warship.

The attack led to the deaths of 323 Argentine sailors and controversy has raged ever since, with critics arguing that the ship had been sailing away from the 200-mile exclusion zone that had been declared around the Falklands by Britain.

The Belgrano was sunk by the Royal Navy four weeks after the start of the 10-week conflict with Argentina, which broke out after troops from the South American country invaded the Falklands, on the orders of dictatorial leader General Leopoldo Galtieri.

The Argentinian government later said the sinking of the Belgrano was an acceptable act of war, but that did not stop furious critics from arguing that Margaret Thatcher's government was wrong to attack the vessel.

And in December 1971, the Indian frigate INS Khukri was sunk by torpedoes from the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor.

International investigators also said a North Korean midget submarine successfully torpedoed a North Korean vessel in 2010.

US warships have fired Tomahawk cruise missiles since World War Two against land targets, but this is the first time an American sub has launched a successful torpedo strike against a ship since 1945.

Hegseth's comments come after President Trump came under fire earlier this year after suggesting that British and other Nato troops stayed away from the frontlines in Afghanistan.

The UK has so far largely stayed out of the latest conflict in the Middle East, although Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he will allow US forces to use British military bases to launch strikes against Iranian missile sites.

The Argentine warship the General Belgrano is seen after being torpedoed by British troops in 1982

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran

The tempo of attacks on Iran was so intense today that state television announced the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the conflict, would be postponed. A three day ceremony and procession had been scheduled to start tonight.

In addition to striking Tehran on the fifth day of the conflict, Israel hit the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, while Iran fired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel. As the conflict spiraled, Turkey said Nato defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkey's airspace.

The war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran and dozens in Lebanon, according to officials. It has disrupted the supply of the world's oil and gas, snarled international shipping, and stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.

Israel said it hit buildings associated with Iran's Basij, the all-volunteer force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that conducted a bloody crackdown on protesters in January that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands detained in the country.

The Israeli military also said it hit buildings associated with Iran's internal security command, which also has suppressed demonstrations in the past. It also pounded towns near Beirut.

Israel and the US have said they want to see the Iranian public overthrow the country's theocracy, and strikes against counterprotest forces are likely part of that effort.

Iranian state television showed the ruins of buildings in the centre of Tehran, with interviewees saying the attacks damaged their homes. Strikes have also been reported in the holy Shiite seminary city of Qom, targeting a building associated with a clerical panel set to pick Iran's next supreme leader. Iranian media said it was empty at the time.

State TV has begun calling the conflict the 'Ramadan war', a reference to the holy Muslim fasting month currently taking place. But that term also suggested leaders are trying to prepare the public for a protracted conflict.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the top US military commander in the Middle East, echoed that sentiment, saying: 'We've just begun.'

Cooper said American forces have damaged Iran's air defenses and taken out ballistic missiles, launchers and drones. Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said such damage has led to a decline in launches from Iran.

Still, explosions echoed in the skies over Jerusalem on Wednesday. Israel's military said Iran launched missiles toward the country, and Hezbollah sent rockets.

Iran has also struck around the region, and air sirens sounded on Wednesday across Bahrain, home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

At least 1,045 people have been killed in Iran, the country's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said on Wednesday. A further 50 have died in Lebanon, according to its health ministry.

Eleven people have been killed in Israel, as have six US troops.

Elsewhere today Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued its most-intense threat yet, saying the strikes against it would 'cost of the complete destruction of the region's military and economic infrastructure'.

A container ship was attacked on Wednesday afternoon while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the world's oil is shipped. The ship was hit by an unknown projectile, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations said.

With concerns of Iranian attacks on traffic through the strait, oil prices soared. Global stock markets have also been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy and sap corporate profits.

As well as carrying out broad strikes across the region, the Iranian regime is consumed by finding a replacement to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday after ruling for 37 years.

Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement. Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei's son, has long been considered among them - despite the fact he's has never been elected or appointed to a government position.

In a sign that Iran's leadership will only seek to consolidate its power as it faces its biggest crisis in decades, the head of the judiciary warned Wednesday that 'those who cooperate with the enemy in any way will be considered an enemy'.

Israel's defense minister, meanwhile, threatened whoever Iran picks to be the country's next supreme leader.

'Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world and the countries of the region, and to suppress the Iranian people - will be a target for elimination,' Israel Katz wrote on X.

It's not clear how Washington will respond if a new leader in the mould of Khamenei is chosen.
Hundreds of cases of ritual abuse against children are going unreported every year in the UK, experts have revealed.

Victims have been contacting support services to describe abuse at the hands of paedophile rings who use claims of witchcraft and possession to cower them into submission.

In a twisted inversion of reality, acts of rape, sexual abuse or torture are then characterised as 'cleansing' rituals to rid the victim of a demon or evil spirit - with perpetrators sometimes wearing costumes or masks.

While so-called 'organised ritual abuse' is described as a 'rare but real phenomenon' in Britain, police are concerned that it is heavily underreported and rarely appears in official data.

Dr Elly Hanson, a clinical psychologist and researcher, said victims often do not report ritual abuse to police because they feared their claims would appear too fantastical to be believed.

Others have become 'disassociated', a process that sees abuse victims adopt a different identity as a way of separating themselves from the reality of what has happened to them, or simply feel too traumatised to 'give a coherent narrative'.

'There are so many hurdles facing victims that nearly all of them end up falling out of the system,' Dr Hanson told a media briefing held today by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).

Scott Forbes, 50, the member of a paedophile ring in Glasgow that terrified children with claims of witchcraft

The gang preyed on children as young as 13 in a drug den nicknamed the 'Beastie House'

Police recorded seven cases of ritual abuse in 2024 among 4,450 instances of child abuse, a proportion of 0.2 percent, and zero the previous year, figures show.

But a helpline run by charity the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac), saw 1,311 calls out of a total of 36,700 between July 2016 and January 2025 that mentioned organised or ritualised abuse - about 3.6 percent.

A separate survey of 100 UK clinical psychologists in 2013 also found that 38 had dealt with one or more cases involving the sinister mistreatment.

Police chiefs are recommending that officers urgently receive training to spot ritualistic abuse, including that linked to witchcraft and satanism.

Dr Hanson said organised ritual abuse typically involves family members and starts when children are young.

Perpetrators frequently do not believe the supernatural belief systems they are espousing and simply use them as a means too gain control over their victims, the psychologist explained.

This form of abuse regularly involves torture or extreme acts of violence and may end in murder or animal sacrifice.

While beliefs about witchcraft and spirit possession are often linked to ethnic groups, such as those with links to sub-Saharan Africa, many offenders have British backgrounds.

According to Dr Hanson, 'cultural sensitivities' are one factor holding back police and social services, but she believes the issue works both ways.

'You've potentially got a desire to be culturally sensitive with certain cultural communities, then you've got the other direction where someone who is British and not from a particular community they are not seen as someone who might be suffering ritual abuse,' she said.

One recent case saw a seven-strong child sex ring in Glasgow prey on children as young as 13 in a drug den nicknamed the 'Beastie House'.

The trial heard how the group performed 'spells' on the children and convinced them they had been metamorphosed into various animals.

Richard Fewkes, the director of the NPCC's Hydrant programme targeting child sexual abuse, said the case was an example of paedophiles using claims of witchcraft as a means of control.

'Those individuals did not necessarily believe in witchcraft, but they used the ritual of it to control the children,' he said.

Eight-year-old Victoria Climbie was tortured to death in 2000 by relatives who believed she was possessed

All seven defendants were originally charged with witchcraft under a rarely used Scottish law, but the charges were eventually dropped.

Mr Fewkes insisted more work was needed to ensure offences involving witchcraft, spirit possession and ritualistic abuse (WSPRA) were being recognised and investigated.

There have been at least 14 cases in which people have been convicted of sexually abusing children while using ritualistic practices over the last 40 years.

In 1982, Malcolm Smith, his wife Susan and two relatives were convicted of abusing four children aged one to 15 after Mr Smith convicted them he was 'Lucifer'.

He carved an inverted cross on one child's abdomen, inserted a lit candle into her anus and vagina, and branded her genitals with a hot altar knife.

In another case, abuser Carole Hickman convinced a girl she was part of a powerful witches' coven and held her down whilst her husband Albert raped her.

Meanwhile, a trial in Wales heard of horrific abuse perpetrated by a paedophile ring on a group of young boys.

This saw goats and chickens being slaughtered and their blood poured on gravestones prior to the boys being raped.

Gabrielle Shaw is CEO of the National Association for People Abuse in Childhood (NAPAC), which runs a helpline for victims of child abuse.

She said the majority of offenders are male but grandmothers and aunts were 'overrepresented' among female perpetrators.

Ms Shaw believes this is due to abuse often being perpetrated by multi-generational family groups.

Other forms of witchcraft abuse involve perpetrators who genuinely believe the believes they profess.

In the most notorious case in Britain, eight-year-old Victoria Climbie was tortured to death in 2000 by relatives who thought she was possessed.
The US Senate rejected an attempt to curb President Donald Trump's ability to carry out his war on Iran.

Since Trump launched an aggressive strike on Iran in conjunction with Israel over the weekend, members of Congress have condemned the President for taking action without their approval.

With a vote of 47 to 53, the War Powers resolution on Iran failed. It needed a simple majority to pass. Democrat John Fetterman voted against the resolution, and Republican Rand Paul voted for it.

The measure was pushed by Democratic Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia, Adam Schiff of California, and Chuck Schumer of New York, as well as Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Kaine said that he prayed that his colleagues would 'vote to end this dangerous and unnecessary war,' during which six US service members have already been killed.

'We owe it to those in uniform, their families, and all Americans to not make the same mistakes that we made in Iraq and Afghanistan,' Kaine added.

Schumer, meanwhile, described the war as a 'conflict with no clear objectives, no plan, and no authorization from Congress,' adding that Congress has the duty to rein in Trumps belligerence.

Schiff noted that 'Congress must demand that the president  if he believes the threat from Iran justified going to war; that war is justified; that the deaths of our troops is acceptable; that the expenditure of billions not on the American people, not on their health care, their groceries, or their housing is worth the cost  come to Congress and make his case for this war.'

In a statement posted to X this weekend, Paul noted that, 'the constitution conferred the power to declare or initiate war to Congress for a reason, to make war less likely.'

Senator Tim Kaine speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Democrat policy luncheon at the US Capitol on March 03, 2026 in Washington, DC

A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran

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Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday, House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson argued that the 'passage of a War Powers resolution right now would be a terrible, dangerous idea.'

A war powers vote in the House looms on Thursday.

A new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll found the President's approval now stands at 44 percent, down four points since Friday and marking the lowest rating recorded in Daily Mail tracking to date.

The sharp decline comes as Americans grow increasingly uneasy about the spiraling conflict tearing apart the Middle East after six American troops were killed.

Congressman Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, introduced the War Powers Resolution in the House of Representatives as an effort to provide a check on Trump and urge against strikes without Congressional authorization.

Their play came days after a joint US/Israeli operation was launched under President Donald Trump's leadership on Saturday to take out top Iranian military targets.

A Reuters/Ipsos survey, which was published Sunday, found 43 percent disapprove and 29 percent are undecided about Trump's attack on Iran.

The poll also found that about half of Americans believe the president is too willing to use military force to advance U.S. interests. Overall, 56 percent of those surveyed said Trump's readiness to deploy military power is excessive.

Massie, a libertarian Republican who has not been afraid to blast the Trump administration when he disagrees with them and has also been a lead advocate for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, wrote, 'PSA: Bombing a country on the other side of the globe won't make the Epstein files go away, any more than the Dow going above 50,000 will.'

In an eight-minute speech, given from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday about the actions, the President said he had ordered a 'major' strike on Iran after nuclear negotiations between the two countries had broken down.

'Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,' Trump said.

He, again, reiterated that the Iranian regime must never obtain a nuclear weapon.

While Trump's military maneuvering so far in his second term - the January capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and the 'Midnight Hammer' attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in June - haven't cost service members' lives, he warned that Americans could die this time around.

Six service members have been killed in the conflict so far, four of whom have been named.

'Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill,' Trump said on Saturday. 'The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties.'

'That often happens in war,' the commander-in-chief added. 'But we're doing this not for now, we're doing this for the future and it is a noble mission.'

Trump called out the Iranian regime and their proxies for creating 'mass terror' around the world, but he also pointed to the Tehran's recent mass murder domestically, of protesters in their own streets.

In mid-January, the President had promised those protesters that 'help is on the way.'

Videos of Iranians shouting 'thank you, Trump' spread like wildfire after the US/Israeli attacks.
Dramatic bodycam footage shows the moment a future triple killer congratulated police for overpowering and detaining him after a violent outburst.

Valdo Calocane could be heard telling Police Constable Barnaby Pritchard: 'You did good, yeah?' in the aftermath of the chaotic incident in September 2021.

Pc Barnaby was called to the scene with three female colleagues to section mentally ill Calocane, when he was headbutted by the suspect.

An inquiry is looking into failings that allowed Calocane, who has a history of violence and was sectioned multiple times, being free to kill two university students and a school caretaker during a rampage in Nottingham in 2023 which left three others being seriously hurt.

Pc Pritchard said Calcone answered the door and initially appeared calm when Nottinghamshire Police were called to his home to section him.

The inquiry heard Calocane implied that he would use violence against the male officer but not female officers, saying 'no-one's going in an ambulance. I don't have a history of mistreating women, gentlemen if you want to take me out I prefer you do.'

Bodyworn footage showed Calocane take off his glasses then appearing to fly into a rage 'out of the blue', shouting and, later, growling.

Police twice discharged their Tasers and incapacitant spray to try and overpower Calocane.

Valdo Calocane was approached by Nottinghamshire Police in September 2021 because police had a warrant to section him under the Mental Health Act

Dramatic footage showed the moment Pc Barnaby Pritchard tried to detain Calocane

Calocane could be heard telling Pc Pritchard: 'You did good, yeah?'

The suspect was then put into handcuffs, during which point he also tried to assault the officer.

Pc Pritchard told the inquiry in London today: 'He was (initially) very calm, he spoke quietly. I think as well he was very unemotional with any responses. He spoke very little.

'Then, he began punching me, repeatedly.

'As a collective we managed to restrain him against an item of furniture inside the room.

'(A colleague) tried to apply handcuffs. He tried headbutting me - he did headbutt me, twice, whilst I was trying to restrain him against the item of furniture.

'We managed to push him towards the bed in the back of the room. A Taser had been deployed  and we managed to detain him.

'Before that occurred he swung towards me (in handcuffs) as a weapon.'

Footage showed Calocane, prone on the bed, telling Pc Pritchard: 'You did good, yeah? You didn't go down.'

Calocane is currently detained in hospital for killing three people in Nottingham in 2023

Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar were all killed by Calocane

The constable told the inquiry: 'I believe it was possibly some male bravado, he expected the force of his blows to put me to the floor.'

The inquiry heard the decision to charge Calocane was not made until May the following year.

Calocane was due to attend court in September, a year after the assault, but he was never prosecuted.

The inquiry previously heard a warrant was issued for his arrest but was never acted upon.

Pc Pritchard said he had been assaulted 15 to 20 times during his 16-year career, with this one of the worst, but said he did not think the courts took the offence of assaulting a police officer very seriously.

Another officer called to the scene said she believed the warrant to section Calocane was 'low risk' because there was nothing suggesting he was violent, despite previous arrests for breaking into neighbours' flats.

The inquiry has already heard 'data protection' cited as a reason for not sharing information about a suspect.

Calocane went on to kill 19-year-olds Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old Ian Coates during a stabbing spree in 2023.

He was handed an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The inquiry continues.
A woke student has been brutally mocked after saying she and her LGBT friend want to move to Iran to get away from Donald Trump.

She was seen in an on-campus interview with conservative commentator Kaitlin Bennett, praising the Iranian regime, arguing that it is 'better for women' than being in the US.

'I don't think America is quite good for women when we see how we handled the Epstein Files,' the female student at the University of South Florida said.

Bennett appeared shocked by the stance, and responded: 'You have the freedom to follow whatever religion you want, including none at all, and you're going to tell me that this is a worse place to be as a woman than Iran?'

'Yes,' the student bluntly said back.

She appeared unaware that being gay is illegal in the Iranian regime, and same-sex activity can be punishable by death and lengthy prison sentences. Under the nations Islamic rule, women must wear hijabs at all times in public and routinely live under harsh restrictions.

Bennett - a pro-gun advocate who first captured headlines in 2018 for brandishing an assault rifle at her graduation ceremony - said she was stunned by the student's apparent lack of knowledge about the Iranian regime.

'What do you think happens in Iran to their women?' she questioned. 'Do you think that place is a good place for women?'

The student responded: 'I think their women have the right to choose where they want to live and what they want to follow.'

A woke Florida student has been brutally mocked after telling conservative commentator Kaitlin Bennett she and her LGBT friend want to move to Iran to get away from Donald Trump because it is 'better for women'

INSANE! College liberal wants to move to IRAN because she thinks it's better for women than America, and says Muslim countries are just misunderstood  pic.twitter.com/RiJb6CVj65  Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) March 4, 2026

'In Iran?' Bennet said back, to which the student said she felt the Iranian regime was just misunderstood.

The student continued: 'I think that people have misconceptions about religion, especially with Muslims and Islamic regions.'

Bennet said she 'did not expect you to be so pro-Ayatollah and pro-dictator', to which the student responded: 'Well, yeah, we have a dictator in our country.'

The conservative commentator then challenged the student to take a fully funded trip to Iran to test her theory about it being freer than America, which the student said she would take.

Her friend, who said he was part of the LGBT community, also said he would take the trip, saying: 'Sure I would, why not?'

Bennett added: 'I'll send you there, and you can try kissing a woman there, you try walking your dog in Tehran, and we'll see how far you get.'

After the students said they would take Bennett up on her offer, the influencer set up a GiveSendGo fundraiser to raise the money for their trip to Iran.

Bennett set up a fundraiser to send the students to Iran to test their theory that Iran is 'better for women'

Bennett is a pro-gun advocate who first captured headlines in 2018 for brandishing an assault rifle at her graduation ceremony

As of Wednesday, the fundraiser had more than $1,600, and Bennett set a target of $2,400 to pay for two round-trip tickets from Tampa to Tehran.

Bennett wrote in the fundraiser that if the students failed to go on the trip, either through not providing their documentation, failing to meet legal requirements to fly or being unable to travel due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, 'all proceeds' will be donated to the anti-abortion group Options For Women Pregnancy Help Clinic.

The clinic aims to 'erase the need for abortion through effectively serving pregnant at-risk women by transforming their fear into confidence', Bennett said.
Satellite images have revealed the full scale of devastation in Tehran after five long days of bombardment - with some sites almost unrecognisable after the dust cleared.

Executing a plan months in the making, America and Israel launched joint airstrikes against their long-term foe on Saturday - wiping out almost 50 top commanders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, within 'minutes'.

Israel in particular has continued to blitz strategic targets across the country, with government buildings, missile stockpiles, military bases and nuclear sites razed to the ground.

There have also been reports of civilian infrastructure being hit. Most notably, state media claimed that more than 153 girls were killed when a bomb hit their primary school near a military base.

Nowhere in Iran has been shielded from the campaign, with Benjamin Netanyahu boasting that Israel has been striking 'in the heart of Tehran'.

This was clear from the very beginning. In the first wave, at about 9:40am on Saturday, 30 bombs smashed into the Supreme Leader's compound in the centre of the capital, killing him alongside his family.

Many of the buildings that houses important branches of the regime have similarly been blasted, as seen in the photos below, ranging from the courts to the intelligence HQ.

Donald Trump told CNN on Monday: 'We're knocking the cr** out of them. I think it's going very well. It's very powerful. We've got the greatest military in the world and we're using it.'

But the worst for Iran may be yet to come. The president continued: 'We havent even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasnt even happened. The big one is coming soon.'

This set shows the presidential complex and the Khomeini residence in central Tehran on February 22 (top) and on March 3 (bottom). This was the prime target of the first wave of strikes. Through intelligence, the US and Israel knew that Khamenei would be meeting with senior commanders here, and took their opportunity. Khameini was killed and, as can be seen, a number of the buildings were completely flattened

A view of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Headquarters in Tehran on February 27 (top) and on March 3 (bottom). The IRGC is an armed force tasked with defending the regime, so damaging it is key to toppling the government

A closer view of the destruction inflicted on the IRGC headquarters. Again, as seen on Febraury 27 at the top and March 3 at the bottom. This site has been another particular focus of the airstrikes, given its strategic importance

This is the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran on March 1 (top) and then March 3 (bottom), after a major strike. As the photos reveal, entire buildings were erased by the bombs. The court ran highly secretive trials, often condemning 'suspects' without a jury, defence or even proper evidence. Convictions would sometimes be secured based solely on an extracted confession

This is the National Defense University in Tehran on January 18 (top) and the same site on March 3. It was a prized educational institution under the jurisdiction of the General Command of the Armed Forces. Iran's military commanders and security officials would be hothouse here, ready to be inserted into top positions defending the regime

Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, as it looked on March 1 (top) and on March 3 (bottom). The radio mast in the middle of the picture has been toppled by strikes, and further damage has been inflicted around it. The hospital was evacuated after strikes fell very nearby, and Iran demanded international action to protect its medical facilities

This is the judiciary complex in Tehran on March 1 (top) and on March 3 (bottom). Significant damage is visible in the lower half of the more recent photo
Russia prepared for WW3 with a nationwide test of its warning sirens on Wednesday.

The late morning alert across the country's 11 time zones ordered Russians not to panic, but to immediately turn on TVs or radios for emergency instructions.

'The warning system is designed to promptly transmit a signal to the public in the event of a threat or emergency of natural or man-made origin,' said the country's emergencies' ministry.

'On hearing a siren, you must remain calm and not panic.

'Turn on the televisionany public channel or radioand listen to the informational announcement.'

In Yekaterinburg, a TV channel dropped normal programming to show a notice declaring: 'Attention everyone! The public alert system is being tested. Please remain calm.'

The latest test of the system from the Baltic to the Pacific came amid increasingly bellicose warnings from Kremlin media and propaganda outlets.

They said that a full-scale global conflict is inevitable amid the US-Israeli military action against Putin ally Iran, and Russia's own relentless war in Ukraine.

The dictator's mouthpieces trained their sights on the chief of the British general staff General Sir Roly Walker, who recently warned: 'We are on a collision course with a Russia that is on a war footing.'

Russia is preparing for a full-scale global conflict which they say is inevitable (file pic)

The late morning alert (pictured) across the country's 11 time zones ordered Russians not to panic, but to immediately turn on TVs or radios for emergency instructions

Putin's state TV questioned whether Britain was in a 'position of strength' to tackle the Russian military machine.

The dictator's leading television mouthpiece and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov asked: 'We just need to understand the size of the British army. How many do they have now?'

Military expert Andrei Klintsevich told him: '75,000, including those with fur hats [bearskins] and so on.'

Solovyov declared: 'That's two months of our work, and it will be completely destroyed, using conventional methods.'

He mocked Sir Keir Starmer's plan to send British troops to Ukraine to police a peace deal, saying: 'This army will be worn down in two months.'

'Even strikes with conventional weapons and a large number of coffins going to Britain will raise the question: what are you idiots doing?'

Amid defence cuts in Britain, he questioned the logistics to put UK troops in place.

'There are no logistics to deliver them there, nor anywhere to place them.They will be immediately destroyed by precision strikes.'

By comparison, Russia has around 1.5 million military service personnel - despite horrific losses in Ukraine.

The latest test of the system from the Baltic to the Pacific came amid increasingly bellicose warnings from Kremlin media and propaganda outlets

Television mouthpiece and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov mocked Sir Keir Starmer's plan to send British troops to Ukraine

Last Tuesday marked the fourth anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, and Russia continues to send tens of thousands to their slaughter on the frontline despite suffering more than 1.25 million casualties so far.

In a piece for the Daily Mail, Sir Roly said he could see no evidence of the Kremlin scaling back its ambitions.

But in a call to arms, Sir Roly said he believed that, when the time comes, Britain would emerge victorious and the future 'will be on our terms, and our terms alone'.

Sir Roly wrote: 'We, and the West generally, are in the crosshairs of Russia. It's us on their terms or no deal. This is not going away, however the war in Ukraine ends.

'Unless something changes, I think we are on a collision course with a Russia that is on a war footing, that is replenishing its lost equipment and rearming itself to be a bigger and more lethal set of armed forces.'

Sir Roly added that, according to the Ukrainians, Russia will only take Britain seriously when it sees our armaments factories producing at wartime rates.

For that reason, he called for the rebuilding of the UK's national arsenal.

The decorated former SAS officer also vowed to take on and defeat Russia should it attempt to invade Nato territory.

He said: 'Russia started this war by invading Ukraine. It seems to me only they can decide to stop it. We need to continue helping Ukraine. We can also signal to Putin that if he thinks it will be any easier to steal Nato territory then he is even more stupid than we thought. We will never give up what matters to us.'
A pubgoer has been caught after staff watched him brazenly spike two women's drinks on CCTV.

Steven Millward, 38, tipped white powder into the unknowing women's glasses when the friends nipped to the toilet at The Standing Order Wetherspoons in Derby.

But upon returning, one of the women noticed mysterious white lumps floating in her drink and immediately reported it to the bar.

Quick-thinking staff checked CCTV to find Millward carrying out the shocking act in February last year.

Bar staff quickly called the police, who arrested Millward inside the pub minutes later.

When he was quizzed by police, Millward claimed he thought the women had left and bizarrely told officers he'd poured in what he believed was cocaine 'to drink (it) himself.'

Tests later revealed the substance contained no controlled drugs.

Millward, of Chellaston, Derby, admitted attempting to unlawfully or maliciously administer a poison or noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.

The shocking moment Steven Millward brazenly puts white powder in two women's drinks when they went to the bathroom

Staff caught Millward in the act after checking CCTV when one of the women noticed mysterious white lumps floating in her drink

He was handed a seven month prison sentence, suspended for 15 months at Derby Crown Court.

Detective Constable James Tomlinson, of Derbyshire Constabulary, praised the bar staff, saying: 'This incident could have had some very serious consequences for these two women.

'Thankfully, they noticed quickly that there was something wrong with their drinks and after taking them back to the bar, staff very quickly leapt into action to find out what had happened, safeguarding these two women as well as other customers in the premises.

'I would like to commend the actions of the staff in the bar on this evening.

'Their diligence prevented these women from coming to any harm, but the speed with which they identified the offence and suspect meant officers were able to attend immediately and arrest Millward.

'This was an excellent example of licensed premises looking out for their customers.'
Andy Burnham today hinted he is still eyeing a return to the House of Commons as pressure increases on Sir Keir Starmer's position as Prime Minister.

The Greater Manchester mayor is seen as a likely replacement for Sir Keir and has long flirted with a return to Westminster, from where he could mount a leadership bid.

His plan to stand in last week's Gorton and Denton by-election was blocked by Sir Keir, with Labour going on to suffer a disastrous defeat to the Green Party.

In a devastating blow to the PM, Labour were pushed into third place in the Greater Manchester constituency - a former stronghold - by second-placed Reform UK.

Speaking at an event in central London on Wednesday, Mr Burnham said the result 'revealed the full depth of the chasm between people and Westminster politics'.

He also did not rule out making another attempt to return to the Commons as MP, only saying his plan to 'head South' is 'currently on hold'.

It came as a new poll showed Labour had risen four percentage points among Scottish voters ahead of Scottish Parliament elections in May.

The Ipsos survey, conducted after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar publicly disowned Sir Keir, put Labour on 20 per cent support in Holyrood constituency voting intention.

Andy Burnham today hinted he is still eyeing a return to the House of Commons as pressure increases on Sir Keir Starmer's position as Prime Minister.

The Greater Manchester mayor is seen as a likely replacement for Sir Keir and has long flirted with a return to Westminster, from where he could mount a leadership bid

This put Labour behind the SNP (36 per cent, up one point since a December poll) but ahead of Reform (16 per cent, down two points).

The research was carried out after Mr Sarwar publicly called for Sir Keir to resign as PM last month, but before the Gorton and Denton by-election.

In the wake of the Peter Mandelson scandal, the Scottish Labour leader said Sir Keir was a 'decent man' but added there had been 'too many mistakes'.

Appearing at an event hosted by the Centre for Cities think tank on Wednesday, Mr Burnham suggested last week's by-election result demonstrated Westminster was not focused on the priorities of ordinary people.

'From my point of view, I'm definitely not here to talk about my career plans, other than to say I wrote a book as you might know, with the mayor of the Liverpool City region Steve Rotheram, about leaving Westminster and establishing devolution across England,' the Greater Manchester mayor told the audience.

'It's called Head North. All I can say today is that the sequel Head South is currently on hold.'

He added: 'What I want to say today is that the time has most definitely come for a serious conversation about our political system and its pervading culture, particularly so in the aftermath of the Gorton and Denton by-election.

'It revealed the full depth of the chasm between people and Westminster politics. I don't think anybody can seriously dispute that statement.'

It came as a new poll, conducted after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar publicly disowned Sir Keir, showed Labour had risen four percentage points among Scottish voters

The Ipsos survey put Labour on 20 per cent support in Holyrood constituency voting intention.

Join the debate Would a change in leadership help Labour to win back public support?

Mr Burnham described polling by More in Common, which found a majority of people do not think the cost-of-living crisis will ever end, as 'code red for Westminster politics'.

He added: 'This is getting extremely dangerous, and change in our political system and culture is desperately needed.'

Mr Burnham was asked by reporters why he had considered a return to Westminster giving his misgivings about the place.

He replied: 'I don't think Greater Manchester's full ambitions are achievable with the political system staying as it is. There is, in my view, a bias against the North of England.

'I saw it with my own eyes in Westminster, and not just an emotional bias, it's hardwired, it's in the green book.

'Therefore I just don't think in the rest of this century it (Manchester) will be everything I believe it can be with that culture still pervading, where we are always begging for things and having to constantly lobby for everything.'
An Iraqi migrant alleged raped and sexually assaulted a woman in a shared dormitory after betting with her that they would have sex, a court heard.

Yousif Al-Maliki, 31, allegedly attacked the woman at the Astor Hostel in South Kensington last summer.

Southwark Crown Court heard that the pair had been out drinking in Soho on the night of July 31.

When they returned to the hostel, the woman 'repeatedly' said she wasn't interested in sex to which Al-Maliki replied by making a bet that they would have sex that day.

Later that night he allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted the woman.

Prosecutor Jose Olivares-Chandler said: When they [the complainant and defendant] returned to the hostel, they sat on a sofa in the communal lounge and cuddled to which the complainant consented.

The defendant then started to touch her sexually to which the complainant said no, moving his hands away.'

The prosecutor said that when they returned to the shared bedroom whilst the victim said she didn't want Al-Maliki to get into her bed 'he nonetheless did so'.

Iraqi migrant Yousif Al-Maliki, 31, is accused of attacking the woman at the Astor Hostel (pictured) in South Kensington last summer

He added: The defendant then started to engage the complainant in sexual activity in response to which the complainant made it clear that she didnt want to have sex.

Mr Olivares-Chandler said the womans words fell on deaf ears as Al-Maliki continued to assault her.

He continued: The complainant was scared that if other residents saw what was happening, she may be kicked out of the hostel, so she retrieved a bed covering she described as a comforter and hung it around the bed.

The defendant was unrelenting however and tried to put his hands under her shorts, to which she said no.

Mr Olivares-Chandler told jurors: You may think it was clear as day that the complainant didnt consent to any sexual activity between them and that the defendant didnt have any belief in her consent, let alone a reasonable belief.

The prosecutor said the pair then fell asleep and the next morning they had a conversation about the night before during which the complainant accused the defendant of raping her, an assertion he disputed.

The woman reported the offences to police on August 2.

Following his arrest Al-Maliki told detectives in interview that the complainant wanted to have sex with him and she was an active participant.

He claimed that at no time did she say no or stop and it was only afterwards she accused him of rape.

Al-Maliki, of Peckham Lodge Hotel, Southwark, denies rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration

The trial continues.
After coming in second in his bid for re-election, embattled Congressman Tony Gonzales is now facing a new investigation into his alleged affair with a married aide.

Gonzales failed to achieve 50 percent of the vote and stave off a primary challenge in his southern Texas district last night, meaning it will go to a runoff in May.

Gonzales went into the election with tentative support from President Donald Trump, despite his campaign being engulfed by an alleged affair with Regina Aviles, a staffer who committed suicide by lighting herself on fire.

Daily Mail was first to expose the alleged affair last year, which Gonzales initially denied and has avoided speaking to directly in recent weeks.

But senior MAGA officials appeared to begin maneuvering against the Congressman Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson urged Gonzales to confront the allegations publicly.

'The voters have spoken last night,' Speaker Mike Johnson told reporter Wednesday morning. 'It was announced this morning there's an investigation - the OCC and the House Ethics Committee, and so we'll see that plays out.'

It was also announced Wednesday that the bipartisan House Ethics Committee had launched an investigation into the alleged affair.

After her affair with her boss became known by her husband and Gonzales cut her off, Aviles, a married mother-of-one, doused herself with gasoline in her backyard in her home in Uvalde, Texas and set herself on fire. She died on September 14.

Congressman Tony Gonzales hosted Elon Musk in September 2023 as he toured the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The aide he allegedly had an affair with, Regina Aviles, can been seen on the right of Musk

Brandon Herrera, a Republican congressional candidate for Texas' 23rd District, speaks during an event, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Somerset, Texas

On Tuesday, Gonzales, a three-term member of Congress, did not win the necessary 50% of votes needed for any candidate to clinch the Republican nomination for Texas's 23rd district-- instead garnering 41% of the vote.

Instead, the most votes went to Gonzales' GOP challenger Brandon Herrera- a gun enthusiast and YouTuber with over 4.2 million followers- who won 43% of voters.

At the time of writing, Herrera has 23,747 votes to Gonzales' 22,866.

The two will now face off in a May special election for the second time.

Herrera nearly unseated Gonzales by less than 400 votes in an election two years ago.

Gonzales has been under federal investigation since November, when the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) started looking into accusations the elected official had had an affair with his staffer.

House Rule 23 in the Code of Official Conduct states that members of Congress may not have sexual relations with a person who works under their supervision.

Aviles served as Gonzales's regional director in Uvalde- about two hours outside San Antonio- since November 2021.

Last week, text message sent from Aviles' personal cell phone number to her boss' personal cell phone, as verified by Daily Mail, were released by Aviles' husband.

In the iPhone messages, the married father-of-six- asks his married employee for sexy pictures of herself.

Even when Aviles objected, replying 'This is going too far,' and reminding him he was her boss, he pressed her for her favorite sexual position.

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Gonzales post this to his personal X account as news of a second federal investigation into his alleged affair broke Wednesday morning- just one day after voters denied the three-term congressman a victory at the polls

Asked Speaker Johnson if hes going to still endorse embattled Tony Gonzales in runoff, and he wouldnt say other than hes already discussed it



On allegations, Johnson said: Ive encouraged him to address it publicly, the voters have spoken.



Gonzales has said very little pic.twitter.com/V0D8MiztMD  Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 4, 2026

If the OCC felt there was enough evidence to move forward, it could recommend the House Ethics Committee look into the accusations in its own investigation.

Now the House will select other members to serve on a panel to lead the new probe.

'The Committee will announce the Members who will serve on the Investigative Subcommittee once they are selected,' the House Committee on Ethics explained in a press release Wednesday morning.

'The Committee notes that the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred. No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.'

Gonzales did not immediately reply to Daily Mail's request for comment.

The congressman has been dodging the media for weeks and even declined to host a campaign night party.

However, on his X account, he posted what appeared to be a picture taken while mid-air and quote from the Bible.

'Have a blessed day #TX23,' the accused philander posted.

'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1.'
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was left squirming on Capitol Hill on Wednesday after he was unable to answer basic questions about his own state's autism spending - or even define what a woman is.

Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina put Walz on the back foot from the outset, demanding to know how Minnesota's autism expenditure had rocketed from just $1 million in 2017 to $343 million in 2024.

But before she got to the numbers, Mace landed an early blow, reviving a viral clash between the pair from last year: 'What is a woman? Have you learned that lesson? Do you know what a woman is?'

Walz bristled, 'I'm the governor of Minnesota, congresswoman - I'm not here to be your prop for your obsession!'

Mace was unmoved. 'If you can't even define what a woman is, you can't define fraud,' she shot back, before pressing him further on the spiralling costs tied to children with autism in his state  questions the governor repeatedly failed to answer.

'How much money was spent on autism in Minnesota in 2017?' Mace asked.

'I don't have those numbers in front of me, Congresswoman,' Walz responded.

'Did you prepare for this hearing today?' Mace persisted.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz replied to Nancy Mace numerous times that he did not know the answers to basic questions she was asking

The South Carolina Representative grilled Walz during a hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday

Walz did not provide Mace with an answer, and then did not reply to further questions she posed about the numbers Minnesota spent on providing for children with autism in 2017 versus 2024, the number of children in Minnesota, how many children in the state are on the autism spectrum, and what the per-pupil spending amounted to.

Walz - who last month abandoned his bid for re-election as governor amid the scandal - appeared before the House Oversight Committee alongside Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to face questions over billions of dollars in alleged fraud in the state's Medicaid-funded social services programs.

The governor has been mired in a deepening scandal over scams involving state welfare, including payments to daycares and COVID-era loans. The majority of the defendants indicted so far come from the Somali community.

Prosecutors have said that at least 78 people connected with the Feeding Our Future programme defrauded the federal government of up to $300 million, falsely claiming reimbursement for meals served to children during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme in American history.

Instead, the defendants allegedly blew the stolen money on Lamborghinis, PorscheSUVs, beachfront property in Kenya and private villas in the Maldives. The vast majority of those convicted are Somali.

US Attorney Joe Thompson announced on December 18 that investigators had uncovered around $9 billion in federal Medicaid funds stolen from 14 Minnesota programs since 2018. Eighty-two of the 92 defendants - charged across child nutrition, housing services and autism program scams - are Somali.

It later emerged that Walz had connections with at least some of the refugees charged in the fraud.

Walz, who served as Kamala Harris's running mate in 2024, said in January that he would not seek another term as governor after concluding, following conversations with his family, that he could not give his all to a political campaign.

His departure clears the path for Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Now in her fourth term, Klobuchar won re-election in 2024 with over 56 per cent of the vote  even as President Donald Trump drove record Republican turnout.

Having just secured her seat, she faces minimal political risk in a gubernatorial run: even defeat would leave her in the Senate until 2030.

Her electoral record offers further confidence - she took more than 60 per cent in 2018 and over 65 per cent in her first statewide run in 2012.
Brits fleeing Dubai have faced an agonising wait at the airport, with holidaymakers subjected to 22 hours of 'carnage' before boarding one of the few flights home.

The US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday morning, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei among those killed.

And Iran has responded by launching retaliatory strikes on US assets and allies across the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It has seen several major tourist and expat hotspots in the country hit, including the iconic Fairmont The Palm hotel and the Burj Al Arab hotel.

Dubai International Airport has also been attacked, along with Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, where one person was reported killed.

The wave of bombings has struck fear into the hearts of Brits living, working and travelling in the Emirati nation, who have found themselves stranded in a warzone.

The first official government-chartered plane out of the Middle East is set to leave on Wednesday night, from Muscat, the capital of Oman, operated by British Airways.

But one British couple has now told of the chaos of boarding one of the handful of UK-bound flights that has been able to depart the region since Monday.

One British couple has now told of the chaos of boarding one of the handful of UK-bound flights that has been able to depart the region since Monday. Pictured: Nina Luminati, back, and her partner Lee Smart, second left, return to London from Dubai, greeted by Ms Luminati's parents Sue, left, and Terry Luminati, second right

The wave of Iranian bombings across the Middle East, after Iran was struck by the US and Israel on Saturday, has struck fear into the hearts of Brits living, working and travelling in the region, who have found themselves stranded in a warzone. Pictured: Passengers gathered at Dubai Airport earlier this week

Some 138,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the Middle East. Pictured: Passengers arrive at Heathrow from Abu Dhabi earlier this week

Lee Smart, 36, and his partner Nina Luminati, 35, from Thornton Heath, south London, thankfully arrived safely back at London Heathrow on Wednesday afternoon.

But it only came after they spent the night sleeping on chairs in the airport in Dubai, having already been forced to delay their return home by several days.

The couple were travelling back home from a wedding in India when they became stranded in the UAE while waiting for their connecting flight to the UK last Saturday.

They had been placed on several waiting lists for flights back to Britain in that time.

But the pair found themselves struggling to get seats as thousands of others gathered at Dubai airport to flee the country too.

The pair were finally able to depart on Wednesday, leaving Dubai at 7.45am on Emirates flight EK001.

Speaking in the arrivals hall at Heathrow, Mr Smart said: 'We were advised by our hotel to get to the airport yesterday morning and then it was just a bit of carnage.

'I think many hotels told people the same thing. Maybe they were trying to get people out.

'So, some people got on the first repatriation flights. We managed to get on those because we were at the back of the queue.

'It was pretty calm in the city, despite everything that was going on. I think the UAE government did an amazing job, to be honest.'

The couple were greeted by Ms Luminati's parents, Sue and Terry Luminati, upon their arrival back in London.

Mrs Luminati, from Teddington, south-west London, said her daughter and son-in-law had 'scrambled' to get to Dubai airport.

She explained: 'Once they got there, it was an absolute nightmare. There were obviously thousands of people all in the same position.

'It's very difficult to give advice in this situation because it is so unprecedented.

'Do you get on? Do you stay there and hold your ground? Do you get on a plane, or do you go back, try and get a hotel and relax and wait for it to calm down?

'They stayed there and that's why they're on this flight today. Because they were there at the right time to be able to get a seat.'

Thousands of passengers are currently stranded at Dubai Airport

The Fairmont Palm hotel in Dubai was hit over the weekend as tourist areas were hit by Iran

Passengers at Dubai Airport this morning

The government has chartered a series of flights to rescue British nationals stranded in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said two official rescue flights will take off from Oman 'in the coming days', the first of which will depart on Thursday.

It comes in addition to the announcement British Airways will operate two flights between the capital of Muscat and Heathrow, on Friday and Saturday.

These planes and the first government rescue flight, set to leave Muscat on Wednesday, are all fully booked.

The airline said: 'We will continue to review the situation and if we are able to, we will add additional services.'

Sir Keir told MPs more than 1,000 British nationals arrived back in the UK on commercial flights from the UAE on Tuesday.

Eight more UK flights are scheduled to leave the UAE on Wednesday, he said.

There is not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East.

Some commercial flights are operating from Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

But the vast majority are cancelled because of airspace restrictions caused by the conflict between Iran and the US and its allies.

Aviation analytics company Cirium said 23 out of 33 planned flights from the UAE to the UK on Wednesday were cancelled.

All 17 flights from Qatar to the UK were axed, while all three from Bahrain and both from Kuwait were also cancelled.

British Airways, which does not usually serve Muscat, said it still cannot operate its scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.

Muscat has emerged as a key location for people to leave the Middle East.

The Foreign Office does not advise against travel to the area where the capital's airport is located, unlike the current advice for airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

Muscat can be reached by road from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi with journeys of about 300 miles.

Relieved passengers hugged their loved ones in the arrivals hall at British airports this week and told of their 'terrifying ordeals' after becoming trapped in the region. Pictured: Georgia, left, and Lorna Scobie, second right, greet their siser Maisie Scobie, centre, with her partner Fraser and their nine-month-old baby after a flight to Gatwick Airport from Dubai on Tuesday

On Tuesday, Emirates and Etihad Airways operated just five UK-bound flights from the Middle East, compared to the dozens they usually run every day. Pictured: Katy Luboff, centre, greets her best friend Andrea, right, and her daughter Liberty, left, as they arrived at Gatwick Airport from Dubai on Tuesday

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Travel advice from the UK's Foreign Office states: 'There are a limited number of commercial options available, including by air from UAE and from Oman.

'If your presence in UAE is not essential, you may wish to consider departing - if you judge you can access these options safely.'

Oman Air has continued to operate its two daily return flights between Muscat and Heathrow despite the war.

Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 said Muscat has 'become a popular alternative for flying out of the region'.

But warned 'almost all scheduled flights from Muscat are fully booked' - and private jets are being chartered 'to evacuate those who can afford it'.

About half a million passengers per day usually use airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, which are vital hubs for travel between Europe, Asia and Australia.

Experts believe it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers.

The first unofficial UK-bound evacuation flight from the UAE touched down at Heathrow on Monday night.

Relieved passengers hugged their loved ones in the arrivals hall and told of their 'terrifying ordeals' after becoming trapped in the region.

On Tuesday, Emirates and Etihad Airways operated just five UK-bound flights from the Middle East, compared to the dozens they usually run every day.

The three scheduled to land at Heathrow from Dubai and Abu Dhabi were all delayed.

Emirates ran two flights to Heathrow and one each to Gatwick and Manchester. Etihad Airways scheduled one flight from Abu Dhabi to London.

Meanwhile, British Airways and Qatar Airways cancelled all of their timetabled flights between the Middle East and the UK as airspaces remain closed.

British tourists caught up in chaotic scenes at Dubai Airport spoke of their nightmare experiences trying to get home as the city comes under fire.

Jessica Tennant, 30, from Lincoln, who has been on a two-week holiday to the UAE with her young children, said: 'It has been incredibly stressful.

'We have heard absolutely nothing [from the Government or airlines]. We have had no updates. We are checking the news hourly because we have not been told anything.

Jessica Tennant (pictured), 30, from Lincoln, who has been on a two-week holiday to the UAE with her young children, said: 'It has been incredibly stressful'

Grandmother Mina Pattni (right, with her husband, daughter, son-in-law and grandsons), 62, from Leicester, and her family were staying at the Fairmont The Palm, which was hit by either a drone or debris, starting a fire

Hafsa and Shamshed Ali were waiting nervously at Terminal 3 for their 12-year-old son, Ahmad, who had spent the last three nights in Dubai alone. Pictured: The couple, with their daughter, Noor, reunited with Ahmad in Heathrow

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'We flew with Emirates and we've had no contact at all. We are due to fly on Thursday but we have no idea if that is going ahead.'

Grandmother Mina Pattni, 62, from Leicester, and her family were staying at the Fairmont The Palm, which was hit by either a drone or debris, starting a fire.

'It was absolutely terrifying,' she said. 'We were just sitting down to eat on Saturday night when we heard some interceptions of drones or missiles in the air.

'That was scary enough, but just as we ordered, there was this terrific bang and we could see that the side of the building had been hit and everyone was evacuated until the fire was extinguished.'

She was travelling with her husband and their daughter and son-in-law and two grandsons, who are two years old and five months respectively.

'The children were very frightened,' said Ms Pattni.

'They picked up the slightly panicky mood from the other guests, though the hotel staff were very good and still managed to serve cold food, even though the gas in the hotel had to be turned off.

'With our flight home on Sunday cancelled, we decided to stay with a relative in Dubai, mainly so that the children would be in a calmer atmosphere.'

Like several other Brits congregated outside Terminal 3 at DXB on Tuesday, the Pattnis hoped to make it on an Emirates flight to Heathrow, or possibly a later one to Gatwick.

Travellers were corralled outside the busy Emirates terminal waiting to be called forward for their flights.

They were headed mostly for Russia and the Indian subcontinent, with a few destined for the UK and Europe.

Meanwhile, another wave of relieved Brits arrived back to Heathrow from Dubai on Tuesday.

Anxious families were clutching flowers and balloons as they waited to be reunited with their loved ones, who had been through a 'horrific' ordeal.

The flight was delayed by an hour and a half, but passengers finally began trickling through at around 1:30pm.

Hafsa and Shamshed Ali were waiting nervously at Terminal 3 for their 12-year-old son, Ahmad, who had spent the last three nights in Dubai alone.

The couple, also joined by their daughter Noor, eight, embraced Ahmad as soon as he walked into the terminal.

About half a million passengers per day usually use airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, which are vital hubs for travel between Europe, Asia and Australia. Pictured: Stranded passengers at Dubai Airport earlier this week

Experts believe it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers. Pictured: Stranded passengers at Dubai Airport earlier this week

The Foreign Office has advised against travel to all countries currently under attack, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene of an Iranian missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday

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Ms Ali told the Daily Mail: 'My 12-year-old son, Ahmad, was in Pakistan with his uncle. We were waiting for his visa, but it came late.

'As soon as it arrived, we booked him a flight home on Emirates, using the children's service.

'When we realised he would be delayed in Dubai, it was terrifying. We saw on social media what was going on.

Mr Ali said: 'We didn't sleep at all for three nights.'

Ms Ali continued: 'I was crying and praying as I looked at social media and the news. It was so scary.

'He's so young, just 12 years old, and it was his first time travelling outside the country.

'The most horrific thing was that he was alone. But the Emirates cared for him so well.

'There were always staff at the hotel with him, playing games with him, watching Netflix. We were able to speak to him on video call.

'He said to me: "Mum, I am not a child anymore. Everyone is crying, but I am not."'

Mr Ali said: 'He was so brave. We're very proud of him.'

An Etihad Airways flight also landed at Heathrow on Monday night from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport.

Amy Maguire, 23, was on the eight-hour flight back after going on holiday with her baby daughter Anabel and her parents.

She said: 'It has been horrifying.

'It has been really difficult not knowing if your child is safe. The sounds have been horrendous. We had to go in this little room under the hotel.'

The Foreign Office has advised against travel to all countries currently under attack, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Brits already in these countries have been urged to 'immediately shelter in place' as Iran continues its retaliatory strikes.

The UK Government is currently advising against all travel to Iran and Israel.

It says anyone travelling to Cyprus, which was hit on Sunday, should 'take sensible precautions' and follow the advice of local authorities.

The Government also advises against all travel to parts of Egypt.

Officials currently advise against all travel to Turkey 'within 10km of the border with Syria' due to 'fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism'.

Analytics company Cirium said 1,555 out of 5,340 flights scheduled to operate to the Middle East on Monday were cancelled.

This included 735 to the UAE and 255 to Qatar.

At Sydney, to and from which the Middle East is a connecting hub, hundreds of passengers have been sleeping overnight after having their flights cancelled.

Flights between the UK and Cyprus have also been affected, with easyJet axing two inbound and two outbound flights connecting Paphos with Gatwick and Manchester.

The airline also cancelled one inbound and one outbound flight between Larnaca and Gatwick.
Kristi Noem squirmed on Wednesday as lawmakers grilled her over the 'chivalrous' behavior of her rumored lover while her husband sat feet away.

She took questions from Democrats and Republicans during a House hearing on her leadership of Homeland Security, which has become engulfed in a whirlwind of scandals.

Controversy has followed Noem over her use of taxpayer-funded private jets to travel across the country with Corey Lewandowski, who the Daily Mail has reported is both her lover and the man effectively running her department. Noem and Lewandowski, both married, deny the romantic relationship.

Noem's husband, Bryon, the father of their three children, sat directly behind her throughout, stone-faced, as the questions about Lewandowski kept coming.

Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin cited an incident last spring in which Lewandowski fired and then rehired a pilot because Noem had forgotten a blanket on a government jet, though the Daily Mail later reported the dismissal was over a bag.

'When your special blanket, your blankie, was left on one of the government jets and not transported over to the new one, your special government employee, Corey Lewandowski, chivalrously stepped forward to fire the pilot - mid-air', said Raskin.

Raskin added: 'You're flying high now, maybe even a little bit too close to the sun, but with all these free planes and houses and pilots, you've traveled a long distance from your actual job and the things you should be doing as head of Homeland Security.'

The Homeland Security Secretary did not respond. She has appeared frequently with Lewandowski at public events and meetings with the President at the White House.

Noem's decision to appear alongside Bryon was a calculated play on 'optics' as rumors continue to swirl about their marriage, a DHS source told the Daily Mail.

Kristi Noem's husband, Bryon, could be seen sitting behind his wife with a deadpan expression as she faced continued grilling over her relationship with Corey Lewandowski

The Homeland Security Secretary wore a gold watch and a $700 Veronica Beard double-breasted tweed blazer

Noem has also empowered Lewandowski to approve six-figure government contracts

The Daily Mail previously reported that Noem and Lewandowski have been engaged in a years-long romantic affair. Both are married and have denied the claims

'The fact she's bringing her family to these events instead of the usual Lewandowski tells me she's aware of how she looks in the media and that she's trying to get the news cycles about her and Lewandowski behind her,' the official said.

Noem's use of a luxury private jet has alarmed senior Republicans. ICE, which falls under her jurisdiction, has leased a $70 million Boeing for months.

The mother-of-three, 54, has also empowered Lewandowski to approve six-figure government contracts.

His official role at DHS is as a Special Government Employee (SGE), a temporary but restricted title that allows outside experts to work in the federal bureaucracy without leaving the private sector.

Homeland Security sources, however, have raised concerns that Lewandowski is operating beyond the limits of his SGE role and is effectively running the department, issuing orders to top officials on Noem's behalf.

The heat came from her own side, too, as Republican lawmakers piled on at the House hearing.

GOP Senator Thom Tillis branded her leadership a 'disaster,' demanded her resignation and raised allegations of corruption inside DHS.

Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin on Wednesday cited an incident last spring where Lewandowski fired and then rehired a pilot

Kristi Noem arrives to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on 'Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,' on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Wednesday

Noem stands for the US Pledge of Allegiance in front of Bryon at the start of a House Judiciary Committee hearing

Noem testifies before the House Judiciary Committee

She was attacked by a second Republican senator, John Kennedy, over the blame game that erupted between the Homeland Security Secretary and the White House.

Noem labeled Alex Pretti a domestic terrorist after he was shot dead by immigration agents during the Minneapolis crackdown in January.

She later blamed the White House and Stephen Miller for the remarks, Axios reported.

Kennedy, a hardline conservative and Trump backer, told her: 'What got my attention was that you blamed [the domestic terrorist] statements on Stephen Miller at the White House.'

The senator read from her statement to Axios on January 27, where Noem said: 'Everything I've done, I've done at the direction of the President and Stephen.'

Noem refused to respond under oath: 'Sir, I'm not going to speak to that situation that is relayed by anonymous sources.'
The leader of an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump was killed in recent strikes, the US defence secretary has claimed.

Speaking to reporters today, Pete Hegseth said: Iran tried to kill President Trump. And President Trump got the last laugh.

He did not name the individual killed, saying only that the operation took place on Tuesday.

It is the latest in a series of muddled messages from the White House about why it launched an attack on Iran over the weekend.

During the 2024 presidential race, Mr Trumps campaign was warned by national security officials that Iran was targeting him and had multiple kill teams inside the US.

The aim, the department of justice said, was to take revenge for the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani during Mr Trump's first term in 2020.

The President announced the start of the US and Israels attack on Iran in a video on social media on Saturday.

It's a very simple message, he said. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.

His claim that Iran is on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon came after he had previously said these capabilities were obliterated by separate US strikes last summer. He also spoke of Iran expanding its long-range ballistic missile programme.

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth said: Iran tried to kill President Trump. And President Trump got the last laugh

The President did not seek Congresss approval for the attack, which has angered lawmakers - particularly Democrats.

And they have only become more incensed by the mixed messaging that has followed.

On Sunday, Mr Trump told CNBC that the attacks were ahead of schedule without saying what that schedule was. He told the Daily Mail the war could grind on for more than four weeks.

And today Mr Hegseth dragged the timeline out even further, saying: You can say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three.

Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the senate intelligence committee, told reporters the goals for the operation had changed four or five times in the first three days of the conflict.

He said: It was about the Iranian nuclear capacity, a few days later it was about taking out the ballistic missiles, it was then about regime change and now we hear its about sinking the Iranian fleet.

Im not sure which of those goals, if met, means that were at an endgame.

Another Democrat, senator Richard Blumenthal, was more blunt: The Presidents been all over the place,' he said.

On Monday, Mr Trump said the US needed to strike Iran now, without offering a detailed explanation as to why. This was our last best chance, he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was forced to backtrack on claims about why the US entered the conflict after Donald Trump contradicted them

By the afternoon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a new rationale: the US attacked Iran pre-emptively after learning Israel was going to strike. This, he said, would have led to retaliation against US forces.

But he was forced to backtrack after the President contradicted him. If anything, I might have forced Israels hand, Mr Trump said.

Mr Rubio later commented: The bottom line is this. We - the President - determined we were not going to get hit first.

The message about what happens next remains equally unclear. On Saturday, Mr Trump urged Iranians to take back your government.

This was widely interpreted as a call to overthrow the regime led for decades by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the initial strikes.

Again, the President was at odds here with his defence secretary. On Sunday Mr Hegseth rejected the idea that the US had attacked Iran with the goal of toppling the government.

This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, he said.

The President is yet to indicate who he believes should succeed Khamenei. The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates, he told ABC News on Sunday. It's not going to be anybody we were thinking of because they are all dead.

Sir Keir Starmer suggested this afternoon that Mr Trump had no viable plan for his war in Iran, and that the President may have broken international law.

Addressing the Commons, he said: I was not prepared on Saturday for the UK to join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought through plan. That remains my position.
Two sisters drowned while paddling fully clothed in a viral wild swimming spot 'often promoted on social media' in Snowdonia, an inquest heard.

Mother-of-two Hajra Zahid, 29, and younger sister Haleema Zahid, 25, drowned by accident on June 11, 2025, after mistakenly entering the deep parts of the mountain pool, assistant coroner Sarah Riley said at Caernarfon today.

The pair had travelled 70 miles with a group of friends to visit Watkin Pools at Nant Gwynant, Snowdon, which is widely promoted by travel influencers on social media.

The Pakistani-born women had moved to the UK four months before to begin masters degrees in International Business at the University of Chester and had been living in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

When they made it to the swimming spot, they decided to paddle in the pools in the warm evening sun with the three other men who had come with them, though the men went into a separate pool for privacy and religious reasons.

As their male friends got out of their pool to go home, they found Hajra floating in the water face down. Police who had attended the scene said: 'She was floating on top of the water and her distinctive red dress was visible.'

Her sister Haleema's body was found ten minutes later.

There had been no phone signal but the alarm was eventually raised to the police and mountain rescue teams.

Mother-of-two Hajra Zahid, 29, and younger sister Haleema Zahid, 25, drowned by accident in Snowdonia on June 11, 2025, an inquest heard

Watkin Pools (pictured) has become extremely popular because 'it's often promoted on social media', mountain rescuer Elfyn Jones told the inquest

Elfyn Jones, of Llanberis mountain rescue team, said the area had become exceptionally popular because 'it's often promoted on social media', he told the coroner.

Tributes were paid by a former colleague from a telecommunications company based in Islamabad, Pakistan, who said Haleema was 'an exceptionally compassionate, hardworking and kind individual'.

A post-mortem carried out by pathologist Dr Muhammad Zain Mehdi confirmed the cause of their deaths as drowning.

Ms Riley probed how the tragedy came to happen.

There was evidence suggesting they could not swim and had only meant to paddle on the edges but they may have slipped further in than intended, she said.

Ms Riley said: 'It's more likely than not that Haleema and Hajra didn't intend to swim. I find they intended to paddle in the water, their shoes being at the side of the pool. They were fully-clothed.'

Ms Riley said that their deaths were accidental: 'I am satisfied neither female intended to actually swim or enter the deep parts of the water.'

She added: 'I extend my sincere condolences to their friends and family. This is an extremely tragic case and my thoughts remain with them. I also take the opportunity to remind the public wild swimming in pools can be dangerous.

'I would urge caution to any member of the public intending to do so in the future.'

Another former colleague Sheharyar Shahnawaz said Haleema was an 'amazing lady, very lively and energetic, someone you would want in your life'.

He added that Haleema had become a pillar of her family by stepping up after the death of her father. Mr Shahnawaz added he had seen her just before she left for Britain when she told him she was 'really excited for this new chapter'.

The University of Chester said the women 'touched the lives of many' since starting master's degrees in international business.
Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their final respects to one of the last remaining Royal Marine veterans of the Second World War.

The funeral of Jim Wren, the 105-year-old national hero who died earlier this year, drew a massive turnout of grievers to the streets of Salisbury in honour of his lifetime of service.

The ceremony was attended by family, friends and well-wishers and his coffin was draped in a Royal Marine Corps Flag as it was carried into St Thomas's Church by servicemen to complete silence.

During the service, he was described by his family as a 'passive man who would never get angry' and who rarely spoke about his service, 'only opening up in recent years'.

Mr Wren, who the Japanese held during the war, joined the Royal Marines on his uncle's advice after initial rejections from both the RAF and the British Army at age 19.

After completing his training, he was assigned to a First World War-era battle-cruiser, HMS Repulse, which was involved in the hunt for the Bismarck.

Deployed to the Far East in a bid to deter Japanese aggression in the Pacific, just 80 minutes in battle Mr Wren and his shipmates were caught by enemy bombers in the South China Sea on December 10 1941.

James 'Jim' Wren picture with Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, in August last year

The 105-year-old national hero died earlier this year. Pictured at the Sarum Manor Care Home in 2025

The ceremony was attended by family, friends and well-wishers and his coffin was draped in a Royal Marine Corps Flag as it was carried into St Thomas's Church by servicemen





Previously speaking to comrades in the Royal Marines Association, he recalled the moment the alarm sounded on the ship.

Mr Wren, who was originally from Sussex, said: 'I dropped my tea and headed to my action station.

'The noise was terrific, it was one big noisy battle. There was no panic though, we'd been through the routines so regularly that we just got on it. Everyone knew their role and we had such a good crew. We all had faith in each other.'

Two months later, he was captured by the Japanese as he attempted to escape from Singapore.

He spent the remainder of the conflict in prisoner-of-war camps where he endured harsh treatment until the news of Japan's surrender in August 1945.

For three and a half gruelling years, Wren endured a landscape of starvation and disease, subjected to forced labour clearing dense jungles and constructing airstrips and railways.

While mortality rates in the camps soared, Wren and his unit maintained a strict code of brotherhood, sharing food and guarding the dignity of the dying.









Jim with the Duchess of Edinburgh in August

He had his portrait painted at the behest of the King as part of last year's VJ Day celebrations

He returned home weighing just six stone (38kg) and attributed his survival to the bond between his comrades.

The service ended to the sound of bugles as members of the Royal Marines and his family paid their final farewells.

In August last year, Mr Wren received a royal visit when the Duchess of Edinburgh came to his Salisbury care home as part of the VJ Day commemorations.

At the time, he told tales of what he remembered, including the moment a bomb landed behind his mess in HMS Repulse and exploded several decks below.

He rushed to man an anti-aircraft gun until the ship keeled on her side, whereupon 'it was every man for himself' and he was hauled out of the sea two hours later, vomiting oil. Returned to Singapore, he fought the Japanese on land before being taken prisoner.

For the next three years, his family and his sweetheart, Margaret, thought he was dead until word came through that an emaciated Mr Wren was on his way home in October 1945.

A year after his return, they married and shared 74 years, a journey that only ended with her death in 2020.

Mr Wren had his portrait painted at the behest of the King and also featured on BBC film, VJ Day: We Were There.

'I can't forget the men in that ship,' he said at the time. 'Let them rest in peace.'
A UK Border Force officer acted as a spy for China carrying out 'shadow police operations' and surveillance on pro-democracy activists in Britain, a court heard today.

Peter Wai, 38, who worked for UK Border Force and volunteered as a special constable for the City of London Police, is accused of acting as if he was running a Chinese 'state intelligence service' on British soil.

He was allegedly tasked to gather intelligence for Hong Kong authorities by Chung Biu Yuen, 65, also known as Bill Yuen, a retired Hong Kong superintendent working as a trade official in London.

In an extraordinary espionage case, which is the first of its kind, the pair are accused of behaving like they were in mainland China 'acting as if they were entitled, in this country, to act as a law enforcement or state intelligence service'.

The Old Bailey heard how Wai, a former Scotland Yard officer, abused his access to Home Office systems and the UK police national computer system in order to carry out 'shadow police operations' including tracking people and breaking into homes.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson, KC, said: 'The defendants engaged in shadow policing operations on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and thereby, the People's Republic of China.

Peter Wai arriving at the Old Bailey... he is accused of running a Chinese 'state intelligence service' on British soil, while working as a UK Border Force officer

Wai was allegedly tasked to gather intelligence for Hong Kong authorities by Chung Biu Yuen

'By shadow policing operations, I mean the gathering of information about persons of interest to the Hong Kong authorities, undertaking surveillance on such persons and otherwise acting as if they were entitled, in this country, to act as a law enforcement or state intelligence service, when no such entitlement existed.

'Whether or not they might have been legitimate if undertaken in Hong Kong or in mainland China, the United Kingdom is not their jurisdiction, and it is for UK authorities to enforce the law.

'Their actions were for the benefit not of UK authorities but for foreign nationals, a foreign police system and the authorities of a foreign state.'

Yuen, an employee of the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office in London allegedly 'tasked Wai and others to undertake various activities to benefit the interests of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and therefore China'.

Jurors were told that a private security company run by Wai in London was 'used as the vehicle' for searches on people.

The court heard how the pair received requests to gather intelligence on 'abscondees' after Hong Kong authorities offered 100,000 bounties for information to locate or capture individuals hiding in the UK suspected of links to pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

The defendants, who are both dual Chinese and British nationals, are said to have been part of 'determined measures' by the Hong Kong Government and police to 'reach beyond their jurisdiction' to target dissidents of the regime.

In one case, the pair allegedly forced their way into a woman's house after trying to trick their way into the property in Pontefract in West Yorkshire by posing as electricians who had come to repair a fuse and pouring water under the front door to pretend there was a flood.

When UK police intervened arresting Wai at the property, they found a fake warrant card identifying him as a police superintendent.

Both men deny assisting a foreign intelligence service and foreign interference under the National Security Act.

They also deny foreign interference by forcing entry into an address in Pontefract.

Wai denies misconduct in public office by conducting searches of Home Office databases without justification.

The trial continues.
The CEO and founder of Ring is facing a backlash after claiming that missing Nancy Guthrie would have already been found if more people bought his products.

Jamie Siminoff, 49, who founded the connected doorbell maker in 2011, made the remarks in an interview discussing the company's cooperation with cops investigating the disappearance.

Guthrie vanished from her home in the early hours of February 1 in what is now being investigated as a kidnapping.

As the desperate manhunt has entered its second month, law enforcement has still come up short in finding the 84-year-old, who is the TV host Savannah Guthrie's mother.

Arguably, the biggest break in the case came 10 days into the search, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that they had recovered lost surveillance camera footage from a Nest camera on Nancy's front door.

'I do believe if they had more of it, if there was more cameras on the house, I think we might, you know, have solved [the case],' Siminoff said in an interview with Fortune.

Siminoff added that the recovered surveillance camera footage appeared to be the best evidence law enforcement has.

'The Nancy Guthrie thing has shown just how important video and more video would be in a case like this,' he continued.

Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff, pictured above in 2018, said that video surveillance from Nancy's home appeared to be the best evidence law enforcement has

FBI Director Kash Patel said on February 10 that investigators uncovered footage of a masked individual approaching Nancy's home in the early hours of her disappearance

Nancy Guthrie, pictured here with her daughter, Today show host Savannah Guthrie, in 2015, has been missing since February 1

The CEO added that the case highlighted the importance of surveillance footage, telling Fortune: 'I think this is just another example of how important it is to have video at your house, to be able to have systems like Ring.'

Siminoff revealed that Ring has been involved in community alerts and recovered footage of a suspicious car two and a half miles away from Nancy's residence in Tucson.

When deputies with the Pima County Sheriff's Department initially responded to Nancy's disappearance, they discovered that her front doorbell camera had been disabled, and there was blood on the door.

Nancy owned a Nest device, which is owned by Google; however, she did not have a subscription, so the overnight footage did not save.

However, the FBI later announced that they recovered the lost surveillance, which revealed a masked man approaching her doorstep on the night she disappeared.

Ring also operates on a subscription model. The cheapest plan costs $4.99 a month for video recordings, smart alerts, and up to 180 days of playback.

Siminoff's comments to Fortune were scrutinized online, with many criticizing the CEO for pushing 'universal mass surveillance'.

'There are camera systems including doorbells that are on NVR systems. You and only you can view YOUR video. Includes no subscription fee. Ring and services like it are expensive and intrusive. Keep it simple. Keep it safe for your family. F these companies that all want to have you pay them monthly especially to create a product (your data) for their benefit, another comment suggested.

'The CEO of a monitoring company is hoping more people BUY a monitoring product. Why are we surprised by this?' a third wrote.

Siminoff, pictured above, said Nancy's case serves as a reminder of how important it is to have surveillance cameras outside your home

The surveillance camera footage took days to recover because Nancy did not have a Nest camera subscription, and the device was disabled when authorities first searched the home. A still from the suspect is pictured above

Siminoff initially pitched Ring, then called Doorbot, to Shark Tank investors in 2013 but failed to secure an investment. He later rebranded and sold the company to Amazon for about $1 billion.

Siminoff previously spoke about the case to the hosts of The Bottom Line on Fox Business.

He explained that if a Ring user deletes a recording or does not have a subscription, the footage is not stored.

Nancy lives in the suburban neighborhood of Catalina Foothills. Her mansion is far from the road, and surveillance camera footage from her neighbors did not capture any significant leads on the night of her disappearance.

The lack of video proved to be a challenge for investigators in the first days of the case.

The Guthrie case has captivated the nation over the last month. Ransom notes sent to TMZ and local Arizona outlets have complicated the case and heightened fears for Nancy's safety.

Nancy's family has warned that the 84-year-old also has health concerns and relies on daily medication to survive.

Her pacemaker disconnected from her Apple Watch around 2am on the night she disappeared, leading investigators to believe she was snatched from her home in the early hours of the morning.

Luke Daley, 37, pictured above, was detained for hours in the back of a Pima County Sheriff's Department vehicle on February 13 in connection with Nancy Guthrie's disappearance

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The massive search for Nancy, pictured above with Savannah in 2020, has surpassed one month

Since the investigation began, there have been sparks of hope that ultimately led to dead ends.

A SWAT team was seen descending on a nearby residence on February 13 and detained multiple individuals in connection with the case. That same night, authorities combed a grey Range Rover.

However, all the individuals were released, and the massive police presence did not result in any arrests.

Luke Daley, 37, who was driving the Range Rover, told True Crime Arizona in an interview on Monday that he still does not know why he was involved in the case.

'I, like everyone else, just want Nancy to come home and be safe,' he said.

'But that being said, I have nothing to do with this case,' Daley insisted, adding that he did not know who may be involved and would tell investigators if he did.

Daley said he was stopped by two sheriff's vehicles and detained in the back of a cop car for hours.

He added that he was released after officers conducted DNA testing and returned home to find officers raiding the residence where he lived with his 77-year-old mother.

Sheriff Nanos told NBC News earlier this week that his department is still pursuing thousands of leads and working to bring Nancy home.

The Guthrie family has issued several public pleas for information leading to their mother's return. Savannah (right) is pictured above with her sister Annie (left), and brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni, visiting a tribute to their mother on Monday

Investigators struggled to locate helpful surveillance camera footage at the start of the search. Nancy's home is located in a rural neighborhood, pictured above

Nanos said that authorities were aware of new Ring camera footage of vehicles driving through Nancy's neighborhood on the night she disappeared.

'Were looking at that vehicle as well as hundreds of thousands of other vehicles that were out driving that time of day,' he added.

The sheriff said that authorities have information on the case that they have not shared with the public.

'Theres so much that everybody wants to know, but I would be very neglectful, irresponsible as a police, law enforcement leader, to share that with everybody,' he continued.

'We have information on this case that we think is going to hopefully lead us to solving this case. But it takes time.'
Asylum seekers who commit crimes or work illegally are to be thrown out of taxpayer-funded accommodation and lose their hand-outs.

The rule changes, first announced last November, mean only those with legitimate asylum claims who follow the rules will get support, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will say on Thursday.

The measures, coming into force in June, will remove support payments and accommodation to asylum seekers who work illegally or have been granted the right to work, or who have the ability to support themselves.

Hand-outs such as free hotel rooms will also be stripped from any migrants who break the law.

The current statutory legal duty to provide asylum seekers with support and accommodation  first introduced in 2005, reflecting a European Union directive - will be replaced with a 'conditional' system.

It came as 204 migrants reached Britain on Tuesday by small boat across the Channel followed by more arrivals on Wednesday, thought to number several hundred.

Separately Ms Mahmood will confirm that migrants who wish to settle here permanently must show they can speak English to a higher standard.

Current English tests at GCSE equivalent will be raised to an A-level equivalent for those applying for settlement in Britain.

The higher requirement was first announced by ministers last May and will come into force in March next year.

Migrants jostle in the surf off Gravelines beach, in northern France, earlier this week to board a dinghy bound for Britain

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to take a swipe at Green Party leader Zack Polanski's 'fairy tale' migration policies

It could also be rolled out to other types of migrants at a later date.

In the latest sign that Labour has been panicked by the Green Party's popularity in the polls, Ms Mahmood will take a swipe at its leader Zack Polanski.

She is due to attack Mr Polanski's 'fairy tale of open borders' in a speech later on Thursday.

The Home Secretary will directly criticise Mr Polanski for making a visit to a migrant support centres outside Calais last December when he helped re-fill water tanks and picked litter around the site.

He also said migrants should be allowed into the UK and handed the right to work as soon as they arrived.

'A party leader who seeks the highest office in the land should not be on the beaches of France helping migrants onto small boats encouraging them to make a perilous crossing,' Ms Mahmood will say.

'Creating further incentives to come to this country illegally, increasing the already vast burden placed on taxpayers in this country, Polanski calls for the most expensive and expansive migration policies anywhere in the world.'

Ms Mahmood will also attempt to head off criticism from the Left of the Labour party, which would prefer migrants to be allowed into Britain through so-called 'safe and legal routes' which critics say would simply attract more arrivals.

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'Restoring order and control at our border is not a betrayal of Labour values, it is an embodiment of them, and it is the necessary condition for a Labour Government to achieve anything it hopes to,' she is due to say.

Last year 4billion was spent on asylum support and at the end of December there were 107,003 migrants receiving hand-outs, including 30,657 living in asylum hotels on full board.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Labour should put foreign criminals on a plane home, not onto British streets.

'If Labour had a backbone and deported all illegal immigrants, there would not be the need for asylum accommodation.'

Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, accused Ms Mahmood of 'bullying refugees for a bump in the polls'.

'The Home Secretary already has the power to deny support and accommodation to people seeking asylum who are not destitute or who have broken the rules,' he said.

'This is the latest in a long line of announcements from successive governments that bullies refugees for a bump in the polls rather than try to solve the real problems faced by people and communities - poverty, homelessness, and the rise of the far right.

'Ministers must end this dangerous race to the bottom and make the case for a UK that welcomes people fleeing war and torture and supports them to rebuild their lives here.'
A father accused of killing the man who allegedly raped and abducted his teenage daughter has won the Republican primary for county sheriff in Arkansas - despite him still awaiting trial for murder.

Aaron Spencer, 37, secured 53.5 percent of the vote in Tuesdays Republican primary for Lonoke County sheriff, defeating longtime incumbent John Staley, who received 26.5 percent, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State. A third candidate, David Bufford, received nearly 20 percent.

The result puts Spencer in the unusual position of potentially becoming the top law enforcement officer in the same county that charged him with murder.

But his criminal case remains unresolved.

Spencer has been accused of fatally shooting Michael Fosler, 67, in October 2024 after discovering the man with his teenage daughter.

Fosler had been out on $50,000 bail while facing 43 criminal charges involving the girl, including internet stalking of a child, sexual assault, sexual indecency with a child and possession of child pornography.

Spencer has admitted to shooting Fosler but pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.

The case began shortly after midnight on October 8, 2024, when Spencer and his wife, Heather Spencer, 38, discovered their daughter missing from her bedroom at the familys farm in Cabot, Arkansas.

Aaron Spencer is now the top Republican pick for his county's sheriff position - despite being on trial for murder

Aaron Spencer, 37, pictured with his wife, Heather, secured 53.5 percent of the vote in Tuesdays Republican primary for Lonoke County sheriff while still awaiting trial for murder

Michael Fosler (pictured) was charged and booked with rape and internet stalking of a child on July 11, 2024 but was released quickly on a $50,000 bond and then kidnapped Spencer's daughter

The parents called 911 but soon began searching the area themselves after realizing their daughter may have been with Fosler - a man police say had previously groomed and raped the girl and was the boyfriend of a family friend.

Fosler had been arrested months earlier in July 2024 on charges including rape and internet stalking of a child but was later released on bond despite a no-contact order barring him from contacting the teenager.

Heather said she had feared the worst.

'I tell 911 that this man may be involved and as Im speaking, Im realizing that if he does have her, Ill probably never see her again,' she said.

After driving roughly 10 miles, Spencer spotted Foslers vehicle with their daughter in the passenger seat, according to court documents.

The father made a U-turn and pursued the vehicle, eventually rear-ending it and forcing it off the road.

Spencer later told police he saw his daughter attempting to escape before Fosler grabbed her.

He ordered the man to get out of the car, but Fosler allegedly lunged toward him while shouting 'f**k you,' though authorities have not confirmed whether Fosler was armed.

Moments later, Spencer opened fire until he ran out of bullets, then jumped on the man and pistol-whipped him, according to police.

Spencer has admitted shooting Fosler but pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder

He then called 911 and reported that his daughter's kidnapper was 'dead on the side of the road,' saying he had 'no choice' but to shoot him.

Prosecutors initially charged Spencer with first-degree murder, but the charge was later reduced to second-degree murder.

His trial was originally scheduled for January, but it has been postponed after the Arkansas Supreme Court recused the original judge, with a retired judge now overseeing the case. A new trial date has not yet been set.

Spencer has framed his campaign around the case, saying the experience exposed failures in the justice system when it comes to protecting children.

'I did what any good father would do,' Spencer told CNN in a recent interview.

He said hearing similar stories from other families convinced him to run for sheriff.

'I saw all the things that were happening - not just with my own case but with other people that reached out and shared their stories,' he said. 'I felt called to do it.'

His wife has strongly defended his actions.

'What parent is going to say, "Hey, 911. We called you a minute ago, but it turns out I found her with the guy who's been assaulting her for months. And they took a left on the highway. I hope you can find him?"' she said.

Fosler kidnapped their daughter on October 8. Aaron (pictured) got into his truck to find the 14-year-old after calling 911

'You kind of assume the risk that somebody is going to shoot you when you rape children.'

Heather also described her husband as a devoted father and former Army soldier who acted to save their child.

'You really couldn't ask for a better husband or father,' she said. 'His support and love for his family is strong and unwavering.'

The case has drawn national attention, with supporters hailing Spencer as a hero who protected his child and critics warning that the shooting raises troubling questions about vigilante justice.

Online petitions demanding the charges against him be dropped have gathered more than 350,000 signatures, and a state gun rights group has taken up his cause.

The controversy has also divided voters in Lonoke County.

Some residents say they sympathize with Spencer as a father who believed the legal system had failed his family.

Others have expressed concern about electing a sheriff who is currently facing a murder charge.

Heather said her daughters' life was in danger when she was abducted, and that her husband, a former Army soldier, did what any parent would have done to save their child

Incumbent sheriff John Staley, who has served in law enforcement for more than two decades, conceded the race early Wednesday.

'Serving as your sheriff for the past 13 years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,' he wrote on Facebook. 'Tonight, the voters made their decision, and I respect the decision.'

If Spencer were to be convicted before the general election, county Republicans would need to select a new nominee for sheriff.
British military bases were on high alert, bombs were falling on Tehran, an Iranian warship was being sunk off Sri Lanka... and in Westminster they started the day with a spot of ballroom dancing.

Forty MPs, led by Speaker Hoyle and Angela Rippon, took part in a morning waltz in the Portcullis House atrium.

The idea was to promote dance as a form of exercise. The more lasting echoes may have been of those poor musicians on the Titanic playing Nearer, My God, To Thee as the Atlantic gushed through the portholes.

How should our parliamentarians respond to the Iran crisis? At PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer patronised Kemi Badenoch for being unstatesmanlike. Mrs Badenoch had nipped his ankles about defence spending and pricked him about being slow to send the Navy into action. Labour backbenchers tried to shout her down and interrupt her with a point of order. Mrs Badenoch yelled back that they were a sea of orcs and goons. Labour was pathetic and weak.

Orcs and goons? Hansards stenographers blinked a bit. The clerks consulted with one another, unsure what the term meant and whether or not it might be unparliamentary. The bawling Labour masses fell silent for a nano-second, and then went only wilder in their bellowing. A colleague on the press corridor thought orcs and goons sounded like a department store, maybe in 1950s Edinburgh.

'The idea was to promote dance as a form of exercise. The more lasting echoes may have been of those poor musicians on the Titanic playing as the Atlantic gushed through the portholes'

'Sir Keir Starmer, whose head becomes more oblong with each day of this emergency, insisted this was no time for partisan knockabout. He then indulged in exactly that sort of thing'

Sir Keir, whose head becomes more oblong with each day of this emergency, insisted this was no time for partisan knockabout. He then indulged in exactly that sort of thing by telling his opponent that moments like this define a leader of the opposition  they can either step up, act in the national interest, and show theyre fit to be prime minister, or they can expose their utter irrelevance. Cue wild cheers from his MPs and an expression of revolting priggishness on the face of a premier who in the last week has hardly covered himself in glory.

Should a leader of the Opposition really go soft on a PM during a military crisis? Iain Duncan Smith tried that approach with Tony Blair before the Iraq War. It did not do anyone much good. During the Covid pandemic Sir Keir did almost nothing to oppose the Johnson governments crazily expensive lockdowns. He actually wanted them to go further. Again, the result was a disaster.

Having demanded consensus from Mrs Badenoch, Sir Keir duly laid into the Conservatives for their time in power  14 years of destroying everything in this country. Yes, everything. How punctilious the nasal knight is about not overstating the sins of our Iranian enemies, yet how easy he finds it to be hyperbolic about the Tories.

John Healey, Defence Secretary, chose not to sit next to Sir Keir. He watched proceedings instead from the bar of the House, the name given to that area near the Serjeant at Arms. Mr Healey was thus unable to prompt the PM when Mrs Badenoch asked about defence spending.

Mrs Badenoch had nipped at Mr Starmer's ankles about defence spending and pricked him about being slow to send the Navy into action

Security minister Dan Jarvis stepped up to the despatch box and disclosed that there had been three arrests connected with suspected Chinese espionage on politicians.

Rachel Reeves was there, though. She just shouted absolute rubbish! absolute rubbish! Ed Miliband made a rare visit to PMQs. He shielded his eyes with one hand during the main exchanges. What oddities they are who lead us.

And then, immediately after PMQs, came a distinctly British angle to the geopolitics tensions: sex.

Security minister Dan Jarvis stepped up to the despatch box and disclosed that there had been three arrests connected with suspected Chinese espionage on politicians.

It was soon said that one of the suspects was married to a sitting Labour MP and one was associated with a former MP.

Mr Jarvis announced that parliamentarians and London think-tankers would now be offered advice sessions on how to avoid honey-traps. Oh, boy, those courses should be a hoot.

We used to talk of the need to beware reds under the bed. Now its reds in the bed. Little wonder the Palace of Westminsters architectural roof finials have worked loose. Too much bouncy-bouncy!
President Donald Trump teased Wednesday that he would make an endorsement in the Texas Republican Senate race 'soon,' after incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton qualified for a runoff.

The Atlantic reported Wednesday that Trump's advisers expect him to choose Cornyn, who already holds the seat, and slightly outperformed the MAGA favorite and scandal-plagued Paxton in Tuesday's vote totals.

A Cornyn campaign aide told the Daily Mail: 'We will be the nominee.'

When asked if the White House confirmed that to the incumbent's campaign, the aide responded, 'I didnt say that. We are going to win the primary runoff. One way or the other.'

Republicans fear a three-month long runoff fight will hurt the eventual nominee, with Trump joining that chorus Wednesday afternoon.

'IT MUST STOP NOW!' Trump ordered. 'We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!'

The Democrats wrapped up their race overnight with state Representative James Talarico beating Representative Jasmine Crockett.

Talarico, a 'Christian progressive' who has caught the eye of Joe Rogan, polled better than Crockett against both Republicans.

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he would be endorsing a Republican in the Texas Senate race in order for the runoff race to conclude sooner

President Donald Trump's advisers told the Atlantic that they expect the President to back incumbent Senator John Cornyn, who slightly outperformed MAGA favorite, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday night

Now he'll be the Democratic nominee.

'Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough,' Trump said. 'Now, this one, must be PERFECT!''

'I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I dont Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE!' the President announced. 'Is that fair? We must win in November!!!'

At stake for Trump is whether he becomes a lame duck or the subject of impeachments and investigations, if Democrats take back control of Congress.

The House of Representatives is a likelier target, as the GOP is already struggling to maintain a slim majority.

But there is a path for the Democrats to win the Senate too.

That path goes through Texas, a state that hasn't elected a Democratic senator since 1988.

National Democrats are breathing a sigh of relief that voters picked Talarico, who was polling more strongly against both Cornyn and Paxton head of Tuesday's race.

President Donald Trump is more ideologically aligned with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and thus declined to endorse in the initial primary race, which pit Paxton against a four-term incumbent

Democratic voters in Texas selected Texas state Representative James Talarico as their US Senate candidate, who polled against both John Cornyn and Ken Paxton better than his Democratic rival, Representative Jasmine Crockett

The AP race call came overnight and Crockett conceded to her opponent Wednesday morning.

Ahead of Tuesday's primary, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is backing Cornyn, shared polling that showed Cornyn performed far better against Talarico than Paxton.

While Paxton lost the race to Talarico by three points, Cornyn had a three point edge.

Trump will have likely been shown the polling that shows Cornyn's polling strength.

At the same time, Trump may have to hold his nose to endorse the incumbent, who he previously nicknamed 'the stiff' and labeled 'weak.'
A 'party' mom in California has been found guilty of numerous counts of child endangerment after letting teenagers get drunk at her mansion so she could watch them have sex.

Shannon O'Connor, 51, faced a total of 63 charges for her behavior at her $5 million home, where she'd allow underage kids to drink alcohol .

The charges included 20 felonies and 43 misdemeanors.

Prosecutors said O'Connor hosted 'Project Xstyle' gatherings beginning as early as 2019, with some victims as young as 11 years old, though the formal charges date back to 2021.

During her 16week trial, jurors were shown videos depicting inebriated children, intoxicated teens, and refrigerators stocked with alcohol.

Witnesses described a pattern of manipulation and coercion by O'Connor, who authorities say created environments where teens were encouraged to engage in sexual conduct.

O'Connor now faces three decades in prison. The full list of verdicts were still being read in court - but she was found guilty to at least a dozen child endangerment charges, alongside a two counts of sexual penetration when victim is intoxicated.

Her lawyer, Stephen Prekoski, focused his defense solely on the counts involving alleged nonconsensual sexual acts between teens, as well as charges of annoying or molesting a child, dissuading a witness, and child endangerment.

Shannon O'Connor faced a total of 63 charges for her behavior at her $5 million home, where she'd allow underage kids to drink alcohol

O'Connor was allegedly known for hosting raucous parties at her $5 million California home while her husband was away

He told the court that he was not arguing OConnor was innocent of every allegation she faced.

Jurors heard in February that she also took her then-14-year-old son and a teen girl to Las Vegas in 2020, where she pushed them to drink.

'Someone give me a f**king beer,' her son wrote in a group chat after landing in Sin City, text messages shown in court displayed, according to KRON 4.

'I'm down,' O'Connor allegedly replied. 'Champagne? [Let's] hit the pool with drinks, lots of drinks... What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.'

She also allegedly used Snapchat to communicate with her son's friends, often talking about sex and drinking with them, according to prosecutors.

Some of the teens have said they used to speak with the 'Los Gatos Party Mom' every day. 'Looking back on it, it's pretty weird,' one teenage boy said.

The student, known as John Doe 5, testified that O'Connor was even going beyond her 'cool mom' reputation and increasingly becoming more like one of the 'popular' girls of their own age.

He added that she controlled who had sex with whom, and that he personally discussed sex with O'Connor regularly, KRON 4 reported.

O'Connor has been charged with child endangerment and sexual battery related to allegations she repeatedly furnished her son and other teens with alcohol for raucous parties at her home

The mother allowed sexual assault and abuse to happen at parties at her mansion, including one girl who testified she felt pressured to have sex with her boyfriend and lost her virginity at O'Connor's house.

'Do you really feel like it was consensual?' Deputy District Attorney Joanna Lee asked the girl, known as Jane Doe 8, according to Los Gatan, a local news outlet.

'I felt like I had to do it at a certain point. I didn't say no,' she replied.

'But you felt pressure?' Lee asked. 'Yeah, I did,' the girl responded.

The same girl also testified that she believed she was sexually assaulted while 'blackout' drunk at O'Connor's property. She told the court she went to bed with underwear on and woke up without any.

She said it was unclear who may have assaulted her, whether it was her boyfriend or even O'Connor.

'I'm suggesting it might have been Shannon,' she told the defense when asked to clarify who she thought allegedly abused her, according to the Los Gatan.

The young girl also testified that O'Connor had bought her an expensive Tiffany necklace, flowers, and smoothies, and the pair spoke everyday.

'She called me 'pretty' or 'beautiful,'' she told the court. O'Connor also allegedly made comments that the other teenage girls were 'all b**ches and how I was the best girl.'

O'Connor was also known for holding out-of-control parties for her son and fellow Los Gatos High School Students beginning shortly after he graduated from middle school in June 2020, court documents said.

'Party mom' Shannon O'Connor of Los Gatos

The legal documents claimed the 'party mom' would encourage her guests to get drunk and have sex for her own sexual gratification.

During one particularly wild event at the luxury beach rental, O'Connor allegedly gave youngsters beer and liquor before they caused $9,000 of damage.

The house was surrounded by security cameras that captured the grizzly events that ensued, according to KRON4.

Footage was played in court on January 6, which showed a slew of teenagers throwing up, chugging alcohol and smashing cans on the home's manicured lawn.

The rental's owner testified that the partying had left their gorgeous beachfront home completely 'trashed.'

He said: 'It's a valuable property. We have two beautiful bathrooms. The boys peed everywhere around the yard  really acting like a bunch of hooligans.'

The security footage reportedly showed delivery drivers arriving with liquor and beer as O'Connor appeared to be the only adult present.

'It just kept coming and coming. It was like 20 beers for each kid  copious amounts of alcohol,' the owner said per KRON4. 'I was astounded.'

O'Connor allegedly refused to pay for the extensive damage until the rental's owner threatened her with a lawsuit.

The defendant's controversial partying extended well beyond the vacation home, per court filings.

Witnesses alleged that O'Connor was known to host parties at her mansion in Los Gatos, an affluent Bay Area community known for upscale stores and restaurants, while her husband was away.

Her exclusive guest lists were reportedly comprised of freshman boys and whichever girls she deemed 'pretty' and 'trustworthy' enough to keep the raucous partying a secret.

Shannon O'Connor, 50, allegedly took her 14-year-old son and a girl, identified as Jane Doe 7, to Las Vegas for a trip, where she encouraged them to underage drink

She also allegedly threw a party of a beachside rental house (pictured), where the teens drank a copious amount of alcohol and caused $9,000 worth of damage

'She would reject girls as guests by saying they weren't 'pretty enough' or didn't 'put out,'' court documents stated.

One witness claimed teens would often hook up in designated rooms at the parties, alleging that two downstairs bedrooms were used for teenage sex.

At a December 2020 party, O'Connor allegedly handed a condom to a boy and pushed him into a room with an intoxicated girl.

The girl escaped and locked herself in the bathroom, authorities said.

Prosecutors said that during a New Year's Eve party at her home with about five 14-year-olds, O'Connor allegedly watched and laughed as a drunk teenager sexually battered a young girl in bed.

At the same party, the infamous 'party mom' allegedly watched as a boy in a hot tub sexually assaulted a girl who was reportedly so drunk 'she could barely hold her head above water,' court documents said.
The rapist stalker who orchestrated the horrific acid attack on TV star Katie Piper is making his first bid for freedom.

Daniel Lynch, now 50, was jailed for life in 2009 for arranging the sickening assault that left the then 24-year-old model and presenter with devastating burns and blind in one eye.

A judge at the time branded his crime an act of 'pure, calculated and deliberate evil'.

The violent and obsessive rapist has now served the minimum 16 years of his life sentence and will be considered for parole for the first time.

After a series of delays - a three-day hearing has been listed to begin this week, the Parole Board confirmed.

It is not known if mother-of-two Katie, 42, will attend the hearing though it is likely that a statement detailing the impact of his crimes upon her will be put before the panel, who will assess whether it is safe for Lynch to return to society.

The Loose Women panellist was aged 24 when Lynch plotted the attack in March 2008 following the breakdown of their relationship.

He enlisted teenager Stefan Sylvestre, then 19, to throw sulphuric acid at her face as she walked along a street in Golders Green, north London.

Katie Piper (pictured) was aged 24 when Daniel Lynch plotted the attack in March 2008 following the breakdown of their relationship that left the d model and presenter with devastating burns and blind in one eye

Lynch (pictured), now 50, was jailed for life in 2009 for arranging the sickening assault that left the then 24-year-old model and presenter with devastating burns and blind in one eye

The horrifying assault left Katie needing hundreds of operations after being left with severe burns and life-changing injuries.

She has appeared in documentaries about her recovery - including a landmark 2009 film 'Katie: My Beautiful Face' - and competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.

In 2023, Katie said: 'I'm 40 this year. Am I going to die in the next 10 years?

'I don't actually know. The people that attacked me will be released. Are they going to kill me? I'm not sure.'

In her book Still Beautiful she added: 'What was left of my face after the acid had melted away my features was removed and unceremoniously dumped in a medical waste bin.'

Lynch was found guilty of rape and grievous bodily harm at Wood Green Crown Court in March 2009 and admitted actual bodily harm.

Sylvester was jailed for life with a minimum of six years for grievous bodily harm. He was released in 2018 on licence and is believed to be living abroad after absconding.

At their sentencing judge Nicholas Browne said: '[Katie] had a face of pure beauty. You, Danny Lynch and Stefan Sylvestre, represent the face of pure evil.'

In her victim impact statement, read at court, Katie said: 'When the acid was thrown at me, it felt like I was burning in hell. It was an indescribable, unique, torturous pain.

"I have lost my future, my career, my spirit, my body, my looks, my dignity? The list goes on. A part of me has died that will never come back. This is worse than death.'

Last year, Katie told The Times of her 'resilience' and how she wrote 'the rule book for me' in the wake of the acid attack.

She said: 'I came to public attention as a news story, as a victim of a violent crime.

'I hope, 17 years on, I'm doing something different, but I think it's probably unfair of me to say, "I don't want to talk about the burns and the attack any more."

'I think it's more that I don't want to attribute my success [since] to that man's actions against me.

'It's almost as if talking about the attack is attributing what I have achieved to his actions rather than my own resilience, my own professional achievements or my own choices in the aftermath.

'I don't want the attack to be a noose around my neck. I'm not just a campaigner.

'If I'm seen on Loose Women laughing about something entirely different, or presenting a totally different show, the public starts to accept visibly different people doing lots of different things. And that is when inclusion and acceptance happen.

'When I was burnt, there was no way society thought I'd get married or be a leader. At best, I'd lead a life dependent on my parents; I'd have a mediocre existence.

'Disfigured faces weren't high achievers and they definitely weren't sexy, safe or kind. I couldn't look to anyone else to emulate or follow. There wasn't anyone. I had to write the rule book for me.

'When I was in hospital, my peer group was getting engaged or trying for kids, just succeeding. And I felt powerless. I do feel more powerful now.'

A Parole Board spokesman said: 'The Parole Board is an independent body whose members make judicial decisions on whether people who have committed serious offences or are assessed as potentially dangerous need to stay in prison for the protection of the public.

'The parole process is focussed solely on risk, and public protection is always our key consideration.'
Israeli special forces are carrying out 'extraordinary missions that can spark one's imagination' in the conflict with Iran, the country's Air Force chief says.

Major General Tomer Bar of the Israeli army hailed his troops in a statement released as the war in the Middle East entered its fifth day on Wednesday.

He said 'hundreds of targets' have been struck by missiles - and appeared to suggest that Israeli troops may have been deployed on the ground in Iran.

It came amid reports that between four and seven US-Israeli helicopters conducted an airdrop in the Najaf desert, Iraq, today.

The purpose of the drop remains unclear, though it has been speculated that the helicopters could have been supplying equipment to anti-Iran regimes.

An Iraqi convoy sent to investigate was hit by airstrikes, killing one soldier and leaving two wounded, according to Independent Arabia.

Major General Bar's statement this evening read: 'On this Shabbat morning, over 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft are attacking targets in Iran.

'This is not a drill. This is a real operation to defend the State of Israel. We have been fighting for about 100 hours alongside ground and naval forces. We have already struck hundreds of targets of the Iranian regime and its proxies.

Israeli special forces are carrying out 'extraordinary missions' in their fight against Iran, the country's Air Force chief said on Wednesday (Pictured: A car destroyed in Tehran, the Iranian capital)

Major General Tomer Bar said 'hundreds of targets of the Iranian regime' have been struck by missiles - and also appeared to suggest that Israeli troops have been deployed on the ground in Iran

The country's capital city has been battered by airstrikes since the conflict broke out on Saturday

'Iranian aggression against Israel has crossed a red line. We are precisely striking the Iranian nuclear program, missile production facilities, and other strategic sites. We will continue with full determination to protect Israel's citizens.'

Iran's capital city Tehran has been battered by missiles sent by the US and Israel since the conflict broke out on Saturday when the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.

A funeral ceremony for the late leader scheduled to begin this evening was cancelled as airstrikes on the city continued.

A member of the Iranian Assembly of Experts said on Wednesday that they are 'close' to choosing a successor to Khamenei, whose reign lasted four decades.

Reports yesterday claimed that the former Supreme Leader's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is in line to succeed him.

Mojtaba, 56, Ali Khamenei's second eldest, has strong links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who are thought to be putting pressure on the Assembly of Experts to make an appointment.

Elsewhere, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that an enemy warship was sunk by American torpedoes off the coast of Sri Lanka.

At least 80 sailors are confirmed to have died and a further 78 wounded in the Indian Ocean after an 'explosion' hit a 180-crew Iranian frigate IRIS Dena.

Video footage released by the US showed the moment that a torpedo struck the vessel, causing a huge explosion that sent water soaring high into the air.

A funeral ceremony for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was cancelled on Wednesday (Pictured: A banner of the leader in Tehran)

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reportedly in line to become the country's new Supreme Leader

In later images, the bow of the stricken warship was seen pointing skywards, with more than half the boat already having disappeared underneath the waves.

The War Secretary said it was the 'first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two'.

However, he overlooked the British sinking of the Argentinian cruiser Belgrano by submarine HMS Conqueror on May 2, 1982, during the Falklands War.

Hegseth said at a press conference: 'In the Indian Ocean - an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship, that thought it was safe in international waters.'

'Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo - quiet death.

'The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two. Like in that war - back when we were still the War Department - we are fighting to win.'

In addition to striking Tehran on the fifth day of the conflict, Israel hit the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, while Iran fired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel. As the conflict spiraled, Turkey said Nato defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkey's airspace.

The war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran and dozens in Lebanon, according to officials. It has subsequently disrupted the supply of the world's oil and gas, snarled international shipping, and stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.

Israel said it hit buildings associated with Iran's Basij, the all-volunteer force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that conducted a bloody crackdown on protesters in January that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands detained in the country.

The Israeli military also said it hit buildings associated with Iran's internal security command, which also has suppressed demonstrations in the past. It also pounded towns near Beirut.

Israel and the US have said they want to see the Iranian public overthrow the country's theocracy, and strikes against counterprotest forces are likely part of that effort.

Iranian state television showed the ruins of buildings in the centre of Tehran, with interviewees saying the attacks damaged their homes. Strikes have also been reported in the holy Shiite seminary city of Qom, targeting a building associated with a clerical panel set to pick Iran's next supreme leader. Iranian media said it was empty at the time.

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State TV has begun calling the conflict the 'Ramadan war', a reference to the holy Muslim fasting month currently taking place. But that term also suggested leaders are trying to prepare the public for a protracted conflict.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the top US military commander in the Middle East, echoed that sentiment, saying: 'We've just begun.'

Cooper said American forces have damaged Iran's air defenses and taken out ballistic missiles, launchers and drones. Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said such damage has led to a decline in launches from Iran.

Still, explosions echoed in the skies over Jerusalem on Wednesday. Israel's military said Iran launched missiles toward the country, and Hezbollah sent rockets.

Iran has also struck around the region, and air sirens sounded on Wednesday across Bahrain, home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

At least 1,045 people have been killed in Iran, the country's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said on Wednesday. A further 50 have died in Lebanon, according to its health ministry.

Eleven people have been killed in Israel, as have six US troops.

Elsewhere today Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued its most-intense threat yet, saying the strikes against it would 'cost of the complete destruction of the region's military and economic infrastructure'.

A container ship was attacked on Wednesday afternoon while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the world's oil is shipped. The ship was hit by an unknown projectile, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations said.

With concerns of Iranian attacks on traffic through the strait, oil prices soared. Global stock markets have also been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy and sap corporate profits.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lost her cool with CNN's Kaitlan Collins as she was grilled over US troops killed in Donald Trump's war with Iran.

Collins pressed Leavitt at Wednesday's White House briefing over comments by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who blasted media outlets for highlighting the deaths of six US service members killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait.

Collins asked whether the administration believes the press should avoid prominently covering the deaths of troops in Trump's war in the Middle East.

Trump's fiery press secretary replied, 'That's not what the secretary said, Kaitlan...and you know it.'

'You and your network know that you take every single thing this administration says and try to use it to make the president look bad.'

Collins added, 'I don't think covering troop deaths is trying to make the president look bad.'

Leavitt shot back, 'If you're trying to argue right now that CNN's overwhelming coverage is not negative of President Trump, I think the American people would tend to disagree, and your ratings would tend to disagree with that as well.'

Hegseth had earlier accused journalists of trying to 'make the president look bad' by drawing attention to the troop deaths, which occurred days after Trump launched 'Operation Epic Fury.'

Collins asked whether the administration believes the press should avoid prominently covering the deaths of troops in Trump's war in the Middle East

Karoline Leavitt lost her cool with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday at a White House press briefing

Earlier in the day, Pete Hegseth blasted media outlets for highlighting the deaths of six US service members killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait

Leavitt, 28, and Collins, 33, have a long history of battling in the press briefing room in front of the cameras.

Collins has covered Trump's presidency and his three presidential campaigns for nearly a decade.

Her pointed questioning has repeatedly blown up into on-camera confrontations over Trump's foreign and domestic policy.

She grilled Leavitt in November over Trump's description of a video featuring six Democratic lawmakers telling members of the military and intelligence community: 'You can refuse illegal orders.'

At the time, Leavitt told reporters several times that the lawmakers - all veterans - were urging the military to refuse 'lawful orders.'

Collins quizzed Leavitt again in December over the President's economic record, with Leavitt insisting the press corps was going harder on her than it had on her predecessors during Joe Biden's tenure.

The feuds play out against the backdrop of Warner Bros Discovery, CNN's parent company, being sold to Paramount - with Trump having previously expressed his desire to see Collins' employer offloaded as part of the deal.

Despite their adversarial relationship, Leavitt has defended Collins from Saudi authorities during overseas presidential trips.

Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Wednesday

Leavitt holds a press briefing at the White House on Wednesday

Six American soldiers are dead because of Donald Trump's war in the Middle East

Collins was nearly barred from a press event in Saudi Arabia after an awkward exchange with Trump in front of the country's leader, only for Leavitt to intervene on her behalf.

'They famously do not like the media there,' Collins said in an interview with the Absolutely Not Podcast in February.

After the officials left the room, Collins said the 'Saudi Royal Guard kind of freaked out because I dared to ask a question.'

'They're not used to that there, because they don't have a free press,' she explained.

Moments later, she was informed she would not be allowed into the next event because of her actions.

White House staff noticed the confrontation and ran to Leavitt, who stepped in to save Collins.

'To her credit, she said: 'No, Kaitlan is coming in with the rest of the US press.''

'I do think its important in that moment, especially when you're kind of the US contingent abroad, and we don't do things like they do in Saudi Arabia,' Collins added.

Among the most vital pieces of weaponry in the US arsenal is the Thaad antimissile system, which are stationed across the globe to monitor and track pontial incoming missiles

Iran retaliated to the US and Israeli strikes with a barrage of missiles at neighboring nations - some of which broke through air defense systems (seen in Dubai)

This US Navy handout photo released by US Central Command public affairs

Trump's war with Iran has spiraled into a wider regional conflict after Tehran unleashed retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.

Iranian missiles and drones have targeted US military bases, Israel, and several Gulf nations following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

The US and Israel were preparing to ramp up bombing missions over Iran on Wednesday as Hegseth vowed 'we're just getting started.'

'Four days in we have only just begun,' Hegseth said. 'Now with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound GPS and laser-guided precision gravity bombs of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile.'

Hegseth said the US had opened the campaign with 'exquisite standoff munitions,' sophisticated long-range weapons designed to strike from beyond the reach of enemy air defenses.

He said those munitions were no longer needed, pushing back at reports of stretched supplies with the assurance that 'our stockpile of those remains extremely strong.'

A US submarine sunk an Iranian warship with a torpedo off the coast of Sri Lanka overnight, the first time such an attack has been launched since WWII. Some 148 men are presumed to have drowned.

Hegseth also claimed that the leader of a unit that had attempted to Trump had been 'hunted down and killed'.

Trump's war in the Middle East has triggered a dramatic collapse in his approval ratings, the latest Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll shows.
A family endured 'trauma' as they watched their grandmother 'deteriorate rapidly' and die from rabies, an inquest has heard.

Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, tragically died on June 11, 2025, four months after she was scratched by a stray dog on holiday in Morocco.

She was on a sun lounger on the beach when she startled the animal and sustained the 'very minor' injury on February 12 of that year, an inquest in Sheffield heard.

Ms Ford was admitted to hospital on June 2, after she fell ill - but her condition declined quickly before a psychiatrist spotted she might have rabies.

The grandmother-of-four passed away on the ward nine days later, with her family around her, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Her daughter Robyn Thomson read a statement to jurors on Wednesday on behalf of her family, telling of their determination her death 'will not be without meaning'.

She said it was vital the public are made aware they must seek urgent medical advice if they are scratched or bitten by an animal abroad.

Ms Thomson said she wished to prevent 'another family from enduring this trauma, loss and devastation'.

Yvonne Ford (pictured), 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, tragically died on June 11, 2025, four months after she was scratched by a stray dog on holiday in Morocco

Her daughter Robyn Thomson (pictured, arriving at the inquest) read a statement to jurors on Wednesday on behalf of her family, telling of their determination her death 'will not be without meaning'

She paid tribute to her mother, who she called a 'loving, active and devoted family woman'.

Ms Ford, she said, was a 'fantastic wife', 'wonderful mother' and 'exceptional grandmother'.

Ms Thomson told the inquest of the moment her mother was injured: 'She had put her leg down and startled the dog.

'The scratch was very minor with no evident bleeding.'

Jurors heard Ms Ford went to Barnsley Hospital several months later with a range of symptoms, including severe headaches, nausea, mobility issues and disorientation.

She was admitted a day later as her condition deteriorated but doctors struggled to work out what was wrong with her.

Rabies was only first suspected when a psychiatrist asked about her travel history.

He had been called in by medical colleagues, who were concerned symptoms including hallucinations, disorientation and anxiety could have a mental health cause.

After she was diagnosed, Ms Ford was transferred to an infectious disease unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital (RHH) in Sheffield - but she died soon after.

The inquest has been told rabies is a virus that is 100 per cent fatal once the symptoms begin to show but can be prevented with a vaccine.

Ms Thomson explained to the jury how family and staff had to wear gloves, masks, visors and aprons when they were with her mother at RHH.

But she said they 'held her hand during her final breaths'.

Ms Thomson told the inquest the family were told 'there is no possible recovery and that the only outcome would be fatal' after rabies was confirmed at RHH.

She said 'watching Yvonne deteriorate so rapidly' at Barnsley Hospital was 'extremely traumatic'.

Ms Thomson told the jury of nine women and two men how they had to watch her decline 'in real time, without explanation and with growing fear'.

She said the family had a number of concerns about the basic care her mother received in Barnsley.

Ms Thomson (second left, with her husband Andrew and their children, on holiday with Ms Ford, second right, and her husband Ron) said she wished to prevent 'another family from enduring this trauma, loss and devastation'

Ms Thomson (pictured, arriving at the inquest with her father and Ms Ford's husband, Ron) paid tribute to her mother, who she called a 'loving, active and devoted family woman'

'We don't believe Yvonne was treated with the level of dignity and respect she deserved,' she said.

Ms Thomson said her mother refused to drink, despite desperate efforts from her family to hydrate her with a syringe.

She said Ms Ford was also spitting out her saliva every five to ten seconds before her death.

Infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright, from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, told the jury earlier this week this was a manifestation of hydrophobia - the fear of water - which is a symptom found only with rabies.

Dr Cartwright told the inquest on Tuesday there have only been 26 cases of rabies in the UK since 1946.

She said it appeared Ms Ford began to exhibit symptoms at the very end of May.

This meant, she said, there was nothing that could have been done at Barnsley Hospital to save her.

Dr Cartwright said rabies symptoms typically begin within four weeks of exposure but it can be up to three months and, in some cases, it can take years.

The inquest continues.
A man caught with a cache of guns and ammunition which he claimed were passed to him by his father has been jailed for five years.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh rejected a plea to spare Karl Matthews, 48, the minimum mandatory sentence for the possession of firearms.

Police who searched the loft of his home on August 10 last year found a First World War era Lee Enfield bolt action rifle, and five handguns which included a Smith & Wesson revolver, a Colt frontier six-shooter and a Ruger MKII pistol, along with bullets.

The court heard Matthews inherited the guns from his father three years ago, but they were stored in insecure conditions.

One of the handguns found in the home of Karl Matthews

The collection of guns included a First World War era rifle

Police had obtained a firearms warrant to search his home in Castle Douglas, in Kirkcudbrightshire, following information that he was in possession of guns.

Matthews admitted 13 charges under firearms legislation. He told police he knew he should not have had the guns but had never fired them.

Defence counsel Kevin Henry said that Matthews father had been in the Army and had an interest in firearms.

Advocate depute Anna Chisholm said there were no exceptional circumstances to allow Matthews to be spared the five-year statutory jail term.

He had possessed the weapons for a significant length of time without taking steps to properly dispose of them. Jailing him, Lord Arthurson said: This was not a single, long forgotten, antique weapon. Far from it.
A Sydney council is proposing to introduce paid parking for visitors at some of its busiest beaches in a bid to raise revenue and ease the burden on local ratepayers.

Randwick Council in Sydneys east wants tourists to pay for parking at seven of its beaches, including Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar, Little Bay, La Perouse and Yarra Bay.

The council spends more than $23million each year maintaining its beaches, a cost currently funded entirely by ratepayers.

Of the nine million visits made to Randwicks beaches annually, up to 84 per cent of beachgoers come from outside the local government area.

Under the proposal, locals would be exempt from parking fees through a permit system.

Revenue raised from visitor parking would be reinvested in beach services and amenities, coastal infrastructure and sustainable transport.

The move would bring Randwick into line with other popular Sydney beach destinations where paid parking already applies, including Bondi, Manly, Bronte, Dee Why and Watsons Bay.

'Our beaches belong to everyone, and everyone is welcome to enjoy them,' mayor Dylan Parker said.

A Sydney council wants visitors to pay for parking at its beaches, including Coogee (pictured)

Locals would be exempt from paid beach parking

'But it's only fair that people who visit our beaches also contribute to the cost of maintaining them.

'Right now, local ratepayers carry most of that cost, even though the bulk of beach users in summer are visitors. That's not fair or sustainable in the long term.

'This proposal is about ensuring we can fairly continue serving the needs of all beachgoers.'

A six-week community consultation is now underway, which includes an online survey.

The proposal has already divided Aussies online.

'Typical money grabbing council. What a disgrace,' one wrote.

Another added 'Often beaches are used by families who are doing it tough as a free and cost-effective day out.

'Businesses will suffer as people will avoid the area.'

The council believes non-local beachgoers should contribute to the cost of maintaining them

Even the locals are sceptical.

'No thank you to parking meters, this doesn't benefit locals,' one wrote.

Another added: 'Only one permit per household? Not acceptable. What about households with more than one car? Share houses? Multi generational living?'

Others hope the proposal gets the green light.

'Excellent and long overdue but we need to tax backpackers too,' one wrote.

Another added: 'For too long locals have had to foot the bill for amenities, rubbish removal and lifeguards for people living outside of our LGA. Enough is enough, pay your own way! RCC isn't a charity.'
Support for Nigel Farages Reform UK has declined in the latest Holyrood election poll  sliding to third place on the constituency vote and fourth on the regional list.

The proportion of Scots voters prepared to back the party has declined since the appointment of its Scottish leader, the former Tory peer Lord Malcolm Offord.

In contrast, backing for Scottish Labour has increased since its leader Anas Sarwar called for the resignation of the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and it is now back in second place.

The SNP remains ahead despite its levels of support falling far short of the 2021 Holyrood election, according to the new Ipsos poll of 1,096 Scottish adults, carried out from February 19-25.

Two in every five voters surveyed said they might yet change their mind ahead of polling day on May 7.

Emily Gray, managing director of Ipsos in Scotland, said: The SNP have most reason to be pleased with these new results, which show them maintaining their polling lead two months out from the Holyrood election.

While Scottish Labours constituency vote share has increased slightly compared with three months ago, Labour also look more vulnerable than either the SNP or Reform UK to their voters switching to support other parties.

With four in ten voters saying they may change their minds, much may still shift once the parties begin their election campaigns later this month.

proportion of Scots voters prepared to back

The proportion of Scots voters prepared to back Nigel Farage's party has declined

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has seen support for his party rise since he called for the Prime Minister to resign

On the constituency vote Reform slid to 16 per cent, which is two percentage points lower than the last Ipsos poll carried out in the week from November 27 last year.

On the regional list vote, Reform is down to fourth place on 14 per cent, three percentage points lower than the last survey.

Its decline happened in the aftermath of the appointment of Lord Offord as Scottish leader in January, and following his announcement of the partys first major Scottish election policies, which included 2billion of immediate income tax cuts and a commitment to oppose another independence referendum within the next 10 years.

Labour is second on both votes, with its support on the regional list rising by one percentage point to 19 per cent and its constituency support rising by four percentage points to 20 per cent.

The rise in support came in the aftermath of Mr Sarwars failed bid to oust Sir Keir Starmer.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: Scotland is being let down by a tired SNP government that can no longer get the basics right.

Its clear that only Scottish Labour can beat the SNP and fix their mess  restoring our NHS, improving our schools, tackling the housing emergency and making communities safer.

Reform has no answers to the challenges we face and no chance of beating the SNP.

The choice Scotland faces in just over nine weeks is more of the same with John Swinney and the SNP or a better future with Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour.

The Ipsos poll put the SNP on 26 per cent on the regional list, which was two percentage points lower than its last survey in November, with Labour on 19 per cent (+1), the Greens 16 per cent (-1), Reform 14 per cent (-3), the Conservatives 11 per cent (-1), and the Liberal Democrats 10 per cent (+3), with others on three per cent.

The poll shows the SNP is on course to win the Holyrood election in May

On the constituency vote, the SNP is on 36 per cent (+1), Labour 20 per cent (+4), Reform 16 per cent (-2), Lib Dems 10 per cent (+1), Conservatives nine per cent (-2), Greens seven per cent (-2), with others on two per cent.

According to a seat projection based on the results, it is estimated that the SNP would have 60 MSPs, followed by Labour on 20, the Greens 16, Reform 13, and the Conservatives and Lib Dems 10 each.

A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: This poll confirms how crucial it is for voters across Scotland to use their peach ballot paper to vote for the Scottish Conservatives and help stop an SNP majority.

That is the best way people can ensure Holyroods focus will be on bringing down peoples bills and growing Scotlands economy, rather than the nationalists spending the next five years pushing their independence obsession.

SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said: This is yet another poll that shows Scottish voters are putting their faith in John Swinneys strong leadership  momentum is firmly with the SNP.

While the Westminster parties tear themselves apart over scandal and infighting, the SNP is on Scotlands side, delivering on the priorities of the people of Scotland.

Our NHS is starting to turn a corner under our plan, and the SNP Scottish Government offers the best cost of living support package available on these islands  thats the difference John Swinneys focussed leadership brings.

Reform UK was asked for comment.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to set the record straight on why the US decided to strike Iran after critics expressed confusion over who exactly faced an 'imminent threat' from the Islamic Republic.

Since President Donald Trump launched strikes on Iran, the White House's explanation for the offensive has been scrutinized heavily.

Leavitt clarified further the administration's rationale for attacking Iran in conjunction with Israel during the White House press briefing on Wednesday.

'This decision to launch this operation was based on a cumulative effect of various direct threats that Iran posed to the United States of America, and the President's feeling based on fact that Iran does pose an imminent and direct threat to the United States of America.'

Her response stood in stark contrast to that of Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the week, which prompted fury from both Republicans and Democrats who accused the US of being pulled into the conflict by Israel.

'The president's fact-based feelings about the threat facing the US were based on Iran's growing missile programs, their continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and the threat those pose to US and allied forces in the region, Leavitt said.

The press secretary added that Trump was intent on joining Israel in its initial salvo, which she claimed was 'obviously' the right decision.

The five-day offensive so far,has killed nearly 50 of Iran's top officials, including its longtime leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with scores of religious leaders.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to clear up the administration's goals in Operation Epic Fury during Wednesday's press briefing

'We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces,' Rubio said on Monday. 'And we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties'

A government site heavily destroyed very close to Revolution Square by Israel and U.S. during Operation Epic Fury on March 4, 2026 in Tehran, Iran

It has also sent the Middle East into chaos as Iran has targeted half a dozen countries in the region, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia in retaliation.

On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the reason for launching strikes is because of an 'imminent threat' to US troops and assets.

'We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces,' Rubio said Monday.

'And we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.'

His comments enraged scores of Democratic lawmakers and conservatives, including former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and pundits Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly.

The following day, Rubio backtracked and said that he was the victim of a rogue video clipping job, claiming that he clearly stated the 'imminent threat' was Iran's missile program.

'I told you this had to happen anyway,' Rubio said on Tuesday. 'The President made a decision, and the decision he made was that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind its ballistic missile program, that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind its ability to conduct these attacks.'

'That's what I said yesterday, and you guys need to play it. If you're going to play these statements, you need to play the whole statement, not flip it to reach a narrative that you want to,' he added.

US military footage showing a strike on an Iranian made Shaheed drone

When asked if he was pressured by Israel to join the strikes against Iran, Trump said this week that he was the one who may have forced Israel into the conflict.

'No, I might have forced their hand,' he stated.

Leavitt reiterated Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's past remarks about the mission objective for the offensive, dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

The purpose of the operation, Leavitt said, was to destroy the Iranian Navy, raze the regime's ballistic missile capabilities, ensure Iran's terrorist proxies are unable to destabilize the region and ensure that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon.

'It's safe to say that, thus far, Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding success,' Leavitt said.

Trump said he was not pressured by Israel to strike Iran

She also repeatedly rebuffed questions about whether one of the goals of the operation is to enact regime change in the country.

In addition, Leavitt said the president would not rule out putting US troops on the ground in Iran.

So far, at least six US troops have been killed in the conflict.

At least 1,045 people have been killed in Iran, the country's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said Wednesday.

In Israel, 11 have died. More than 50 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the health ministry.
A man has been killed amid a shootout with immigration officials after he tried to race through a US Border Patrol checkpoint at the Texas border.

The driver was shot dead at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint in the Big Bend Sector on Wednesday after he fired at officers, the outlet said.

He was trying to flee a Border Patrol checkpoint down Interstate 10, Fox News reporter Brooke Taylor wrote on X. This caused authorities to chase him down using vehicles and a helicopter, CNN said.

The man allegedly crashed his car after Culberson County Sheriff's deputies performed a pit maneuver, CNN reported.

When law enforcement asked him to exit the vehicle, the man began firing. Agents returned fire and killed him, Taylor said.

The shooting involved Border Patrol agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, Fox News first reported. It is unclear what agency fired the fatal shot.

It's unclear which agency fired the fatal shot. The man involved has not yet been named.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.

The driver was shot dead at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint in Texas on Wednesday

The shooting involved Border Patrol agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers

It comes after DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was grilled by the House of Representatives on the leadership of her agency this week after it was rocked by several scandals.

Controversy has followed Noem over her use of taxpayer-funded private jets to travel across the country with Corey Lewandowski.

The Daily Mail has reported that Lewandowski is both her lover and the man effectively running her department.

Noem and Lewandowski, both married, have denied the romantic relationship.

Noem's husband, Bryon, the father of their three children, sat directly behind her throughout her House grilling, stone-faced, as the questions about Lewandowski kept coming.

Her decision to appear alongside Bryon was a calculated play on 'optics' as rumors continue to swirl about their marriage, a DHS source told the Daily Mail.

'The fact she's bringing her family to these events instead of the usual Lewandowski tells me she's aware of how she looks in the media and that she's trying to get the news cycles about her and Lewandowski behind her,' the official said.

The man allegedly crashed his car while trying to flee and then began firing. Agents returned fire and killed him. Border Patrol is overseen by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

Noem's use of a luxury private jet has alarmed senior Republicans.

ICE, which falls under her jurisdiction, has leased a $70 million Boeing for months.

The mother-of-three, 54, has also empowered Lewandowski to approve six-figure government contracts.
Australians heading to Europe may need to reconsider their travel plans as the Middle East conflict disrupts major aviation hubs, according to experts.

Professor Ron Bartsch, chairman of Avlaw Consulting and former head of safety and regulation at Qantas, has warned that Australia will be among the hardest hit by the disruptions as flights to Europe typically pass through Middle Eastern airspace.

Thousands of Aussies are expected to head to the northern hemisphere in the coming months for the European summer.

'Out of all the peripheral countries that have been affected by this, Australian travellers have probably been more affected because, particularly in the last two decades, Australia has used the Middle East as its primary way of reaching Europe,' he said.

'If it was purely just the airspace being restricted, then airlines can reroute their flights and divert from those areas as they have done with Ukraine air space for the length of the war, but situations where hubs are involved can cause real problems, because aircraft primarily from Australia havent got the ability to fly directly from Australia to Europe.

'What's going to happen now is that obviously Qantas and Virgin's sharing arrangements will try to deviate more towards other alternate routes through Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines in order to reach Europe.'

Professor Bartsch also warned travellers it could cause 'months' of skyrocketing airfares.

'The longer this military operation goes on means airfares will increase accordingly. The cost of aviation fuel is going to increase and also because the number of flights will be restricted through supply and demand  that's going to have a knock-on effect to Australian travellers for at least the next four to five months I'd say,' he said.

Australia will be among the hardest hit by travel disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict

Dozens of flights from Australia have been cancelled this week due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Pictured are stranded travellers at Sydney Airport

The Albanese government said it will update travel advice on the best available information as the 'unpredictable' conflict continues to unfold.

'The conflict has spread much more quickly and much more widely than we anticipated,' Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong told Sunrise on Thursday.

'I think most governments anticipated that no one would have anticipated that in the first 72 hours Iran would strike nine countries.

'No one would have anticipated that Iran would have responded in the way it has, which it has not done before, which is to attack travel hubs such as the United Arab Emirates.

'People do need to think very carefully about their travel plans and continue to look at the advice that we provide.'

Despite the uncertainty, Aussies with existing booked European holidays and flights via the Middle East are urged to not cancel them.

'You will lose the consumer rights that you have available to you, such as a full refund,' Australian Travel Industry Association chief executive Dean Long warned.

He urged travellers with booked flights to wait for the airline to contact them.

Join the debate Should airlines keep flying during Middle East conflicts?

Penny Wong said that the 'unpredictable' Middle East conflict has spread much more quickly and much more widely than we anticipated

A planeload of Aussies stranded in the Middle East arrived in Sydney late Wednesday night

'You'll have to check individually with those airlines where you can get a full refund or a change to the end of March for no fee, but people should go to the relevant airline app or the travel agency app to look at those options before doing anything,' Mr Long added.

'You will be out of pocket if you do it the wrong way.'

It comes as the first flight from Dubai to Sydney since war broke out in the Middle East safely landed in Australia overnight.

An Emirates Airbus A380-861, capable of carrying more than 400 passengers, left Dubai at 2am on Wednesday and landed in Sydney at 10.24pm, sparking emotional reunions at the airport.

Three more flights to bring stranded Aussies home are scheduled to leave the UAE on Thursday.

They include two flights Dubai bound for Sydney and Melbourne.

The third is from Abu Dhabi to Sydney.

'I just want to emphasise they are always possible to cancellation at the last minute,' Wong said.

She added that the government was working on more contingency plans.
House investigators have found 'substantial reason to believe' Representative Tony Gonzales had a sexual relationship with an aide who later died by suicide.

Politico reports the nonpartisan Office of Congressional Conduct issued its verdict a day after Gonzales lost re-election in his south Texas district.

In response, Gonzales said he will address the allegations today after months of denying the affair and claiming it was a hitjob by his political rivals.

He has not revealed how he plans to address them.

The Daily Mail first exposed Gonzales' relationship with Regina Aviles, a congressional staffer based in Uvalde, last October, weeks after she doused herself in gasoline and set herself on fire.

Then earlier this month we obtained sexually explicit messages between the two in which Gonzales appeared to pressure her for sexy photos and quiz her about her favorite sex positions.

Gonzales is a married father of six and Aviles left behind a husband and son.

The report's conclusions appear to suggest Gonzales violated House rules. It has been delivered to the House Ethics Committee, which has separately announced it is investigating the matter.

House investigators have found 'substantial reason to believe' Representative Tony Gonzales had a sexual relationship with an aide

Aviles started working for Gonzales in November 2021. He was elected to Congress that year

It comes as Gonzales failed to achieve 50 percent of the vote and stave off a primary challenge last night, meaning it will go to a runoff in May.

Gonzales went into the election with tentative support from President Donald Trump, despite his campaign being engulfed by the affair and sexting allegations.

But senior MAGA officials appeared to begin maneuvering against the Congressman Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson urged Gonzales to confront the allegations publicly.

'The voters have spoken last night,' Speaker Mike Johnson told reporter Wednesday morning. 'It was announced this morning there's an investigation - the OCC and the House Ethics Committee, and so we'll see that plays out.'

On Tuesday, Gonzales, a three-term member of Congress, did not win the necessary 50 percent of votes needed for any candidate to clinch the Republican nomination for Texas's 23rd district - instead garnering 41 percent of the vote.

Instead, the most votes went to Gonzales' GOP challenger Brandon Herrera- a gun enthusiast and YouTuber with over 4.2 million followers- who won 43 percent of voters.

Gonzales shared a photo of himself and his wife, Angel, voting on Feb. 17- the first day of early voting in Texas

At the time of writing, Herrera has 23,747 votes to Gonzales' 22,866.

The two will now face off in a May special election for the second time.

Herrera nearly unseated Gonzales by less than 400 votes in an election two years ago.

Gonzales had been under federal investigation since November by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC).

House Rule 23 in the Code of Official Conduct states that members of Congress may not have sexual relations with a person who works under their supervision.

Aviles served as Gonzales's regional director in Uvalde- about two hours outside San Antonio- since November 2021.

Last week, text message sent from Aviles' personal cell phone number to her boss' personal cell phone, as verified by Daily Mail, were released by Aviles' husband.

Gonzales hosted Elon Musk in September 2023 as he toured the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The aide he allegedly had an affair with, Regina Aviles, can been seen on the right of Musk

In the iPhone messages, the married father-of-six- asks his married employee for sexy pictures of herself.

Even when Aviles objected, replying 'This is going too far,' and reminding him he was her boss, he pressed her for her favorite sexual position.

Gonzales did not immediately reply to Daily Mail's request for comment.

The congressman has been dodging the media for weeks and even declined to host a campaign night party.

However, on his X account, he posted what appeared to be a picture taken while mid-air and quote from the Bible.

'Have a blessed day #TX23,' the accused philander posted.

'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1.'
Parents at a Sydney private school are being notified every time their child goes to the bathroom in a bid to stop students trashing the brand-new facilities.

St Leo's Catholic College in the leafy suburb of Wahroonga on the Upper North Shore is a co-ed high school that charges tuition fees of up to $8,700-a-year.

In its most recent fortnightly newsletter, The Lion Roars, assistant principal Patrick Brennan told parents that a new 'tracking trial' was taking place.

It came after a parent question asked: 'Why am I receiving notifications that my young person has gone to the bathroom during class?'

Mr Brennan said the 'in-class bathroom break tracking trial' had been introduced in a bid to protect the recently refurbished facilities.

'Regrettably, there have been incidents of vandalism and poor decision-making in these newly refurbished areas,' he wrote.

'At times, this damage has resulted in facilities being temporarily unusable while repairs were undertaken.

'We have found that many of the issues occur when students access bathrooms unsupervised during class time. As a result, we have recently commenced a trial of tracking student access to bathrooms during lessons.'

St Leo's Catholic College students are tracked if they go to the bathroom during class

Mr Brennan insisted the data helped conversations between staff, parents and students, but was not being used to 'police' the children.

'We understand that some parents and carers may find these notifications unnecessary or even frustrating,' he said.

'It was certainly not our intention to cause concern or suggest that a single bathroom visit is problematic.

'Rather, it is hoped, and we are already seeing evidence, that the trial is encouraging students to use the bathrooms at times during the day when supervision is present and better decisions are being made.'

A student told The Sydney Morning Herald that wet toilet paper had been thrown on the bathroom ceilings and doors pulled off their hinges.

'The younger ones just trash it,' parent Nancy Helou said.

'I am supportive of it, 100 per cent. I got my first notification yesterday I thought he was in trouble at first.'

St Leo's said preventative measures such as supervision outside bathroom areas and increased CCTV at entry and exit points were rolled out before the trial.

Join the debate Do YOU think schools should monitor when children go to the bathroom?

The school said the policy is part of a trial to stop vandals wrecking the refurbished toilets

The school even engaged NSW Police when perpetrators were identified.

Students were also encouraged to use the facilities during breaks and report others' 'inappropriate behaviour'.

Mr Brennan also urged parents and guardians to speak to their children about respecting school property.
Thousands of Kurdish fighters have launched a ground invasion in Iran, according to a US official.

The Kurdish militias, based across the border in Iraq, began the offensive in northwestern Iran on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump on Sunday night spoke with the heads of Kurdish militant groups in Iraq to discuss the situation in Iran.

The CIA was exploring plans to arm the Kurdish forces with the aim of sparking a popular uprising, CNN reported Tuesday.

The Kurdish groups are widely seen as the most well-organized faction of the fragmented Iranian opposition and are believed to have thousands of battle-hardened fighters.

Their entry into the war could pose a significant challenge to the besieged authorities in Tehran and could also risk pulling Iraq further into the conflict.

Asked about Kurdish involvement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters: 'None of our objectives are premised on the support or the arming of any particular force.

'So, what other entities may be doing, we're aware of, but our objectives aren't centered on that.'

Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq (file photo)

President Donald Trump on Sunday night spoke with the heads of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) the two main Kurdish parties in Iraq - to discuss the situation in Iraq

A long-range Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs) used by the US during 'Operation Epic Fury' on Wednesday

An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fires rockets while flying at a position along the border between northern Israel and southern Lebanon on March 4

A plume of smoke rises after a strike on Tehran on March 4

US Navy F-35 Lightning II aircraft flying over the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 3

The Kurds have battle experience from the fight against the Islamic State group and have a long history of grievances and uprisings against both the current Islamic Republic and the monarchy that preceded it.

During the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Kurds were marginalized and repressed and sometimes rebelled.

After Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the new theocracy also battled Kurdish insurgents.

Iranian forces destroyed Kurdish towns and villages in fighting that killed thousands over several months.

While they share a desire to see the current authorities ousted, the Kurdish groups have also butted heads with other opposition groups - notably the faction led by the former shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, who has accused the Kurds of being separatists aiming to carve up Iran.

The potential operation has put leaders of the Iraqi Kurdish region in a delicate position.

When asked about the call and reports that Trump has sought military support for Iranian Kurdish groups, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'He did speak to Kurdish leaders with respect to our base that we have in northern Iraq,' but denied that Trump had agreed to a specific plan.

Already the Kurdish region has seen a string of drone and missile attacks by Iran and allied Iraqi militias in recent days, targeting US military bases and the American consulate in Erbil as well as the Kurdish groups' bases.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) firing a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury in March

Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment on the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on Wednesday

Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 3

While most of the attacks have been intercepted, civilian homes have been damaged, and the region is suffering from electricity cuts after a key gas field halted operations due to security concerns.

The presence of armed Iranian Kurdish groups in northern Iraq has been a point of friction between the central Iraqi government in Baghdad and Tehran.

Iraq in 2023 reached an agreement with Iran to disarm the groups and move them from their bases near the border areas with Iran - where they potentially posed an armed challenge to Tehran - into camps designated by Baghdad.

Their military bases were shut down and their movement within Iraq restricted, but the groups did not give up their weapons.

Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji said in a post on X that Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, had requested in a call between them 'that Iraq take the necessary measures to prevent any opposition groups from infiltrating the border between the two countries.'

Al-Araji said Iraq is committed to 'preventing any groups from infiltrating or crossing the Iranian border or carrying out terrorist acts from Iraqi territory' and noted that security reinforcements had been sent to the border.

In addition to retaliation by Iran, any movement by Iraqi Kurds to join a cross-border attack would likely inflame tensions with Iran-backed Iraqi militias, which have already claimed missile and drone strikes on Erbil in recent days.
Labour was plunged into a fresh China spying crisis on Wednesday after an MP's husband was arrested.

Lobbyist David Taylor, who is married to Labour MP Joani Reid, was held by Scotland Yard on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

Police also picked up two other men, believed to have been advisers during the Tony Blair government, during a series of raids.

All three suspects were being questioned on suspicion of helping Chinese intelligence amid claims of 'foreign interference targeting UK democracy'.

The shock development threatened to reignite the row over Labour's relationship with Beijing after the collapse of an unrelated prosecution of a parliamentary researcher and his English teacher friend who were accused of passing on Whitehall secrets.

MPs fear China has been emboldened by the 11th hour dropping of the case last year after the Government's deputy national security adviser Matt Collins refused to declare Beijing as an enemy of Britain.

And Sir Keir Starmer was accused of kowtowing to China's ruling Communist Party during a visit to the Far East in January.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'China is targeting Britain. Enough.

Joani Reid's husband David Taylor, 39, (pictured together) was arrested at an address in London

Ms Reid pictured with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has been accused of kowtowing to China's ruling Communist Party during a visit to the Far East in January

Police also picked up two other men, believed to have been advisers during the Tony Blair (pictured) government, during a series of raids

'Keir Starmer chose to go to Beijing and boasted about opening a direct channel to president Xi without getting anything in return. That was a mistake.

'His Government has approved China's mega-embassy in London. Worse than that, he's making us even more reliant on Chinese goods for our energy security.

'The Government needs to stop being naive, grow a backbone and treat China as the threat we all know it is.'

Security minister Dan Jarvis revealed yesterday that British officials had formally approached Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing about the arrests.

He told the Commons: 'We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.

'This involves attempts to obtain information on UK policy-making and interfere with our sovereign affairs.'

Last night police were still searching the three suspects' properties in London, Scotland and Wales.

All three men had previously worked as special advisers or communications staff for high profile ministers, the Mail understands.

Mr Taylor is understood to have worked for energy companies as a lobbyist and as a government special adviser in the Wales Office under the New Labour government.

Yesterday his wife, who was elected to the Glasgow seat of East Kilbride and Strathaven in July 2024, and sits on the Commons home affairs committee, said: 'I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.

'I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China-related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China- related matters.

'As far as I am aware, I have never met any Chinese businesses while I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.

'I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections. I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist Party's dictatorship.'

Labour MP Ms Reid has said she has 'never seen anything' to make her suspect her husband has broken the law after he was arrested under suspicion of spying for China

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told Sir Keir's government to 'grow a backbone and treat China as the threat we all know it is'

Tory security spokesman Alicia Kearns yesterday accused the Government of being afraid to confront China.

Referring to the earlier collapsed case, of which she was a known target, she said: 'This is the inevitable outcome when espionage is conducted without accountability.

'There have still been no repercussions for the Chinese Communist Party putting a spy in Parliament. Why? Ask the Government who must answer for their abject failure to act, and therefore to deter.'

In 2024, Mr Taylor became head of programmes at the Asia House think-tank, which develops links between Asia and Europe.

Asia House is the secretariat to the all-party parliamentary group for central Asia, meaning it connects policymakers, businesses and institutions to enhance understanding of the region's emerging opportunities.

Announcing his appointment, the think-tank described him as a 'former senior political adviser to the UK Labour Party' who 'offers unique insights into the new UK Government's approach to trade and international relations'.

A statement from Scotland Yard said: 'Three people have been arrested as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into suspected National Security Act offences.

'The men were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023.

'The country to which the investigation relates is China.'
Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn has been refused bail he prepares for a retrial over the alleged murder of Carol Clay.

Lynn applied for bail at Melbourne's Supreme Court last week, where his lawyers argued he should be released as the prosecution's case against him was weak.

But Supreme Court judge David Beach on Thursday said the former Jetstar pilot had failed to meet the exceptional circumstances hurdle.

He is charged with the murder of Carol Clay, 73, who went missing from a remote campsite in Victoria's northeast in March 2020, alongside her friend Russell Hill, 74.

Lynn's wife Melanie and son Geordie were in court to watch the decision.

They had entered the packed courthouse hand-in-hand in scenes reminiscent of Lynn's epic first trial where they supported him together.

The pair left without saying a word as reporters descended upon them like seagulls on a chip.

The pair were pursued across Lonsdale Street in hot pursuit by reporters before making their way into the chambers of Lynn's legal team.

Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn has been refused bail

Lynn is accused of murdering Carol Clay (above)

A media pack chased Melanie and Geordie across the road outside the Supreme Court of Victoria on Thursday

Lynns defence barrister Dermot Dann KC provided no comment on the decision before he walked into a nearby building with Melanie and Geordie.

Wearing a black suit and clinging onto some documents, Lynn had entered the courtroom at 9.30am flanked by two custody officers.

He showed little emotion as the decision was handed down, glancing at his loved ones before being led back to jail.

Last week, prosecutors opposed his bail, arguing the case against him was strong and he could not meet the high bar of having exceptional circumstances to permit release.

'The court has concluded that bail must be refused,' Justice Beach said.

The respected judge did not explain his ruling in the two-minute hearing, saying his written reasons would be made public on Thursday afternoon.

Prosecutor Mark Gibson KC alleged Ms Clay was shot in the head by a bullet from Lynn's gun.

Lynn continues to maintain his innocence, claiming the incident was accidental.

Melanie and son Geordie Lynn were set upon by reporters outside court on Thursday

Melanie Lynn attended court in Melbourne on Thursday

His barrister Dermot Dann KC argued Lynn should be freed on bail as the prosecution case was weak and had 'particular problems'.

He said it was accepted that his client did not pose an unacceptable risk to endangering the community, and claimed Lynn faced difficult conditions in custody as he awaited trial.

Any risk Lynn posed could be addressed by 'stringent conditions' being applied to his bail, he said.

The accused killer's son Geordie put forward his 'life savings' as a bail guarantor, and offered to accommodate Lynn at his home, the defence barrister said.

He had hoped to care for his father while he awaited his second Supreme Court of Victoria trial.

Mr Gibson had argued that the 'bare bones facts' of the allegation were serious enough to deny bail.

'It was his shotgun, he was present, and there was post-offence conduct which we submit was extreme,' he said.

'When you look at all those matters, open to conclude  that this is a case which is quite strong.

A court sketch of Greg Lynn on Thursday

Lynn was acquitted of the murder of Russell Hill (pictured)

'A finding of guilt is well open [to a jury]. Bail should be refused.'

Lynn claimed Ms Clay was shot accidentally at the campsite after a firearm discharged and hit her in the head.

His barrister submitted Lynn had been assaulted while spending an extended period in custody awaiting trial and argued Lynn should be granted bail due to 'exceptional' circumstances.

The court heard Lynn has spent two years and three months on remand, which Mr Dann said 'has to be factored into delay'.

'He is presumed innocent and has the right to liberty,' Mr Dann said.

'He's got a tight family unit  he's got a role to play in that family unit.'

Mr Dann had argued Lynn's son was willing to use the equity in his $475,000 property, along with his 'life savings' of between $30,000 and $70,000, to fund his father's bail.

'We say it's significant that he's [Geordie] prepared to put up his life savings,' Mr Dann said.

Lynn's barrister Dermot Dann, KC (front) had hoped to secure his client's release on Thursday

The court previously heard Lynn and his wife would have celebrated 22 years of marriage last month.

He also said his client was vulnerable in custody and was placed in an isolation unit for a period while in jail.

Mr Dann labelled the case against his client as weak and said Lynn would not be an unacceptable risk to the community if released on bail.

Lynn's bid for freedom was launched after a panel of three Court of Appeal judges overturned his murder conviction for Ms Clay in December.

It was declared he must face a retrial because he had suffered a substantial miscarriage of justice in his first trial in June 2024 due to blunders by the prosecutor.

No date for a new trial has been allocated.
On the latest episode of the Daily Mail's Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, hosts Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams conclude their three-part history of America's royal family, the Kennedys.

Despite producing a President, an Attorney General, three Senators, multiple Congressmen and a string of senior Ambassadors across more than 80 years of political power, it has long been said the Kennedys are dogged by bad luck.

Multiple high-profile tragedies have befallen the family, the most notable being the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas in November 1963.

Multiple high-profile tragedies have befallen the Kennedy family, the most notable being the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas in November 1963

The origins of the curse, as Williams told the podcast, did not begin with the JFK assassination but with a drowning on a tiny island off the coast of Massachusetts

The Kennedy curse, as it is known, has been traced as far back as World War Two, when JFK's older brother Joe Kennedy Jr. was killed after the plane he was piloting exploded over England in 1944.

As recently as 2019, another Kennedy death was linked to the supposed curse, when Saoirse Kennedy Hill, 22, granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, was found dead of an accidental drug overdose at the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port.

The origins of the curse, as Williams told the podcast, did not begin with the JFK assassination but with a drowning on a tiny island off the coast of Massachusetts in 1969.

Mary Jo Kopechne and the Kennedy Curse

Six years after JFK's murder, his youngest brother Edward 'Ted' Kennedy, a sitting US Senator, attended a party on Chappaquiddick Island, just off Martha's Vineyard.

Having been drinking throughout the day, Ted, then 37, and his cousin Joe Gargan hosted a party late into the night with six young women, all campaign workers from Bobby Kennedy's ill-fated 1968 presidential bid.

At around 11pm, Ted offered to drive 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne to a ferry terminal so she could catch the last boat off the island.

Ted rarely drove, accustomed to having family chauffeurs take him everywhere. Although he would later deny it, many suspect the Senator was heavily intoxicated before he got behind the wheel.

Approximately half an hour into the drive, the married politician careered off an unlit bridge, the car landing upside down in eight feet of water.

Six years after JFK's murder, his youngest brother Edward 'Ted' Kennedy (pictured), a sitting US Senator, attended a party on Chappaquiddick Island, just off Martha's Vineyard

Approximately half an hour into the drive, the married politician careered off an unlit bridge, the car landing upside down in eight feet of water

The Kennedy Curse is available now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts

As the car sank, Ted managed to pull himself free from the wreckage and swim to safety.

Rather than returning to save Mary Jo or raising the alarm at nearby houses, Ted walked back to the party and told his cousin what had happened.

Joe Gargan urged Ted to call the police immediately but the Senator instead swam back to his hotel on the mainland, where he spent the night.

'It was not until after breakfast the next morning that Ted called anyone,' Hardman told the podcast. 'An eyewitness said they spoke to him at the hotel and he was making small talk about a sailing race.'

When Ted did eventually contact someone, he chose not to alert the authorities.

'Ted phoned his lawyer, his private secretary and a girlfriend, not his wife. He also called one of his fixers,' Williams said. 'Everyone panicked and they too did not call the police.'

By 8:30am, two local fishermen had spotted the submerged car and reported it to police. Mary Jo's (pictured) body was recovered shortly after

During a televised address, the Senator wondered aloud whether an 'awful curse' hung over his family

By 8:30am, two local fishermen had spotted the submerged car and reported it to police. Mary Jo's body was recovered shortly after.

A doctor concluded she died no earlier than 12:30am, meaning that had the Senator acted immediately, there was a chance she could have been saved.

At a press conference in the aftermath, Ted pleaded his innocence, claiming shock had caused him not to report the accident. He insisted he had dived repeatedly into the water in a desperate attempt to save Mary Jo as the car was sinking.

During the televised address, the Senator wondered aloud whether an 'awful curse' hung over his family. The media ran with it and the Kennedy curse entered the popular imagination.

'I have a problem with that,' Professor Williams told the podcast. 'JFK was blameless, Joe Kennedy Jr was blameless. Ted was not blameless. He left a woman to die and got away pretty much scot free.'

Ted received a two month suspended sentence for leaving the scene of the accident. He served no jail time, kept his Senate seat and remained in office until his death in 2009.

For more on the Kennedys, search for Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things wherever you get your podcasts - or on YouTube.
As the world's chicest supermodel, she's better known for starting trends than following them.

But Kate Moss's latest outfit might be one best left on the style scrap-heap - a vintage pink colour block jacket designed by Yves Saint Laurent in 1988 and famously worn by the disgraced Sarah Ferguson.

The British style maven, 52, wore the jacket - complete with shoulder pads and oversized buttons - over a sheer lace catsuit with her black underwear visible, as she attended the afterparty for the YSL show at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday night.

Fergie, on the other hand, wore the jacket back in 1990 when she left the Portland Hospital in London following the birth of Princess Eugenie.

The former Royal is thought to have spent the last week holed up at a wellness retreat in Donegal as the scandal around her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein unfolds.

But while the ex-wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is currently keeping a low profile, Ms Moss has been letting her hair down in the French capital this week.

In fact, the supermodel and Fergie were once firm friends who would regularly party together and even holidayed together in Venice in 2013 and then again in Greece in 2016, alongside business mogul Sir David Tang.

Fergie attended Ms Moss's 43rd birthday at China Tang in 2017 and in 2018 the model was a guest at Princess Eugenie's wedding.

Kate Moss's latest outfit (right) might be one best left on the style scrap-heap - a vintage pink colour block jacket designed by Yves Saint Laurent in 1988 and famously worn by the disgraced Sarah Ferguson (left)

The supermodel and Fergie were once firm friends who would regularly party together. Pictured: The pair at a Marie Curie fundraising dinner in 2012

They even holidayed together in Venice in 2013 and then again in Greece in 2016, alongside business mogul Sir David Tang. Pictured: The pair in London in 2013
Princess Beatrice's husband is on a luxury island resort in the United States  while his mother-in-law Sarah Ferguson is still nowhere to be seen.

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi is spending time on Fisher Island off the coast of Miami, which is also a popular haunt for A listers including Oprah Winfrey and Julia Roberts.

The sun kissed exclusive destination is only accessible by ferry or private yacht  and all arrivals have to undergo a strict security check before stepping ashore.

On its website the resort describes itself as 'an indulgent retreat for those who appreciate the ultimate in privacy and exclusivity'.

Pictures posted on his Instagram story appear to show him at a building site, while others include shots of buildings.

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi is spending time on Fisher Island off the coast of Miami, which is also a popular haunt for A listers including Oprah Winfrey and Julia Roberts

Pictures posted on his Instagram story appeared to show him at a building site, while others include shots of buildings

Princess Beatrice is seen with Mr Mapelli Mozzi at an event in Mayfair in September 2023

There was no sign of Princess Beatrice in the upload and it is not clear whether she is with him or not.

Mr Mapelli Mozzi works for a company called Banda which specialises in property development so the visit may be connected.

He has been spending the last few weeks travelling between the UK and the United States and has also posted photographs of himself in Los Angeles.

Beatrice has only been seen once since her disgraced father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public place earlier this year.

She was seen in Mayfair with her husband as they walked through central London sipping from coffee cups.

Her sister Eugenie was also seen in London earlier this month with her husband, but the former Duchess of York has not been seen in public since last autumn.

The siblings have - like their parents - been named several times in the Jeffrey Epstein files drop and are said to be humiliated at being linked to the growing scandal.

Mr Mapelli Mozzi uploaded pictures of buildings on the island to his Instagram account

Sarah Ferguson was last seen in public being driven out of Royal Lodge on September 25 last year

Last week it emerged that Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, will not be attending the traditional royal family gathering at Ascot racecourse in the summer.

It means they will not be in the royal box or take part in the spectacular horse drawn carriage royal procession along the course.

The decision was taken after high-level meetings at Buckingham Palace given that serious questions remain over their relationship with now dead child abuser financier Epstein.
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From basic 'dumbphones' to futuristic folding devices, knowing where to start when it comes to buying a new phone can be daunting.

However, if you want an all singing, all dancing device but don't want to splash the cash, Google's latest offering could be the perfect option for you.

The tech giant has unveiled a new budget smartphone called the Google Pixel 10a, that's a fraction of the cost of Google's more highend handsets.

Priced at just 499, the Pixel 10a is 300 cheaper than the Pixel 10, but has many of the same features.

I tried the Google Pixel 10a and was pleasantly surprised at the array of hightech features packed into such a wellpriced smartphone.

Google has unveiled a new budget smartphone called the Google Pixel 10a, that's a fraction of the cost of Google's more highend handsets

Our verdict

The Google Pixel 10a is an excellent smartphone for people who don't want to splash the cash.

At 499, it's 100 cheaper than Apple's new iPhone 17e, and 300 cheaper than Google's more premium offering, the Pixel 10.

With a dual camera system and several AI photo tools, the phone is perfect for everyday use  although it lacks some of the editing tools seen in more expensive options.

The huge 5100 mAh battery offers more than 30 hours of battery life, which is perfect if, like me, you hate having to lug a charger around with you.

With a range of stunning colour options, this could be the perfect phone for youngsters who want a new device, without a huge bill to go with it.

How we test

We test all smartphones in the same way, putting them through a series of tests designed to assess their performance, ease of use, design and value for money.

All of the products we review get the same treatment, so youre able to make an informed purchase on your next big purchase.

Priced at just 499, the Pixel 10a is 300 cheaper than the Pixel 10, but has many of the same features

Google Pixel 10a review

Performance

The Pixel 10a has an impressive range of features, given it's a 'budget' smartphone.

Of course, one of the key things most people will be interested in is the camera.

Budding photographers will be pleased to learn that the Pixel 10a's snapper is more than enough to fulfil your Instagram needs.

The phone has a dual camera system, made up of a 48MP main lens and a 13MP ultrawide lens.

For close up photos, you can zoom in 8x while maintaining impressive clarity, while the ultrawide lens lets you fit everyone into group pictures.

Admittedly, this is less impressive than the Pixel 10, which offers 20x zoom, although 8x zoom should be sufficient for most everyday photographers.

The Google Pixel 10a is one of the bestlooking budget smartphones I've seen. I opted for the Lavender option, which is the perfect shade of Instagramworthy purple

Google Pixel 10a: Key specs Colours: Lavender, Berry, Fog, Obsidian Display: 6.3inch Size: 6.1in x 2.9in x 0.4in Battery: 5100mAh Camera: 48MP and 13MP dual rear system, 13MP selfie Price: 499 for 128GB, 499 for 256GB Advertisement

As well as a decent camera, the phone also has several of Google's famous photoediting tools.

The 'Add Me' tool  first introduced in the Pixel 9 series  lets you add yourself to photos using AI, while 'Auto Best Take' lets you blend similar photos into one image where everyone looks their best.

However, other tools seen in the Pixel 10 are missing  including Auto Unblur, Cinematic Blur, and Zoom Enhance.

So, for everyday use, the Pixel 10a's camera is brilliant, but if you're planning to do advanced editing, you might prefer a more premium model.

Beyond the camera, arguably the next most important feature is the battery.

The Pixel 10a has an impressive 5,100 mAh battery, which is actually even bigger than the Pixel 10, which has a 4,970 mAh battery.

While the amount of life this will give you depends on your usage, Google claims you can expect 30+ hours.

I fully charged the Pixel 10a before testing the device over several days and didn't need to charge it once! Ideal if, like me, you hate having to keep a charger with you at all times.

I fully charged the Pixel 10a before testing the device over several days and didn't need to charge it once! Ideal if, like me, you hate having to keep a charger with you at all times

In terms of storage, you can choose between two options  128GB or 256GB.

As I said about the camera, this is more than enough for most people's photos and videos, although if you're someone who likes to store large files locally, you might want to splash out on a higher storage alternative.

Design

The Google Pixel 10a is one of the bestlooking budget smartphones I've seen.

I opted for the Lavender option, which is the perfect shade of Instagramworthy purple.

However, if that isn't for you, the other three options  Berry, Fog, and Obsidian  are equally eyecatching.

The phone also feels lovely in your hand, thanks to the satinfinish aluminium frame and recycled plastic back cover.

Measuring 6.1 in x 2.9 in x 0.4 in and weighing just 183g, it's a great size  small enough to be operated with one hand and slipped into a pocket.

Measuring 6.1 in x 2.9 in x 0.4 in and weighing just 183g, it's a great size  small enough to be operated with one hand and slipped into a pocket

Another design feature that really stands out (or importantly, doesn't!) is the entirely flat back.

The camera bar on most modern smartphones pops out, causing the phone to wobble when you place it down on a surface.

In contrast, the Pixel 10a features a completely flat back, with the camera bar blending seamlessly with the back of the phone.

While this might sound minor, it's a lovely touch that I haven't seen on more premium rivals.

Value for money

The Pixel 10a is arguably the best value for money smartphone on the market at the moment.

At 499, it's 100 cheaper that Apple's new iPhone 17e, and 300 cheaper than Google's more premium offering, the Pixel 10.

Why trust us

At 499, it's 100 cheaper that Apple's new iPhone 17e, and 300 cheaper than Google's more premium offering, the Pixel 10

Shivali Best is the Science & Technology Editor at the Daily Mail and has been testing products and writing reviews for nine years.

She completed a Master's degree in Science Journalism at City University London in 2014 and previously worked at The Mirror as Deputy Science & Technology Editor.

FAQs

What are the storage options?

The Pixel 10a comes in two storage options  128GB and 256GB.

Does it come with a charger?

The Pixel 10a comes with a charing cable, although Google's 45W USBC power adaptor is sold separately.

How long does it take to charge?

Fast charging offers up to 50 per cent in about 30 minutes.

Does it have AI?

The Pixel 10a uses Google's AI bot, Gemini.

This handy assistant can do everything from connecting to Google Maps to find restaurants nearby to summarising your emails for you.
Declassified documents from over three decades ago have revealed how an encounter with a suspected UFO at the south pole was covered up.

The records unsealed this year by Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed an eyewitness account from 1991, when military personnel and civilian researchers in Antarctica detected and then saw a large flying saucer over their base.

Miguel Amaya, a retired Argentine Air Force non-commissioned officer, told UFO investigators in the early 2000s that he was stationed at General San Martin Base, a small scientific and military station on a tiny island in Antarctica in April of that year.

At the start of the polar night, when the sun stays down for months, an alarm went off on the station's riometer, a machine that measures changes in the upper atmosphere.

Despite the three needle pens measuring different heights of the ionosphere, the part of the atmosphere where solar radiation ionizes atoms, all of the needles began drawing the same pattern, which is scientifically impossible.

According to Amaya, outpost personnel claimed that the strange readings could only have been caused by something producing the same energy as a nuclear aircraft carrier or a large city floating over Antarctica.

Hours later, another base member was walking outside during a snowstorm when they allegedly saw 'a huge circle of light' moving slowly and silently right over the building.

The 1991 incident has finally come to light after Amaya claimed he and the other members at General San Martin Base were told never to talk about what they had seen by their superiors.

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General San Martin Base, a small scientific and military station in Antarctica used by Argentina

Over 120 feet of paper was reportedly used during the four-and-a-half hour incident at General San Martin Base, with Amaya revealing that the needles were moving so violently they went off the paper multiple times.

'This equipment started registering normally, but after five minutes, the three indicator needles began to make the same marks, which the engineer explained was impossible,' Amaya said in his CEFORA interview, translated to English.

'At times, these "signals" would cut out, and everything would continue as normal. Then, for periods of ten or fifteen minutes, it would start again, sometimes with such force that the needles would jump off the belt.'

The incredible readings started around 1am local time and carried on through the night. Roughly 16 hours later at 10pm, Amaya said a radio operator from the Argentine Army saw the mysterious craft as he left the base on a walk.

'He noticed a huge circle of light, very dim due to the cloud cover, passing above the base, but still visible, and moving very slowly and silently towards the sea,' Amaya claimed in his testimony.

The meteorological observer noted that by the time the man who saw the UFO could call for the rest of the base to come out and view it, the craft had disappeared.

The three needles on the riometer's graphic recorder were supposed to show independent readings because they measured different aspects of radio wave absorption in the ionosphere, which sits 30 to 600 miles above the surface.

Normally, natural events like solar flares or auroras cause different patterns on each needle, since absorption varies by frequency, with lower frequencies getting absorbed more or at different altitudes than higher ones.

Riometer papers from General San Martin Base in 1991 which recorded a strange atmospheric disturbance over Antarctica

Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that nine rolls of records from the 1991 incident still exist and have been stored in the Argentine Antarctic Institute

This means the needles should have been drawing distinct patterns on the night the UFO was allegedly spotted. For example, one might have shown stronger spikes while another showed milder changes if this had been a normal phenomenon.

This synchronization could only have taken place if a massive, external energy source was directly overhead, overriding the separate signals of the riometer.

An Argentine civilian UFO research group known as CEFORA pushed for the records to be released under the nations public information law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the original paper rolls, which recorded the strange readings over Antarctica, still exist and have been stored at the Argentine Antarctic Institute.

CEFORA interviewed Amaya about the incident prior to going public with his story on a Spanish radio program in 2009.

CEFORA's director, Andrea Simondini, had been fighting to have the official records of that UFO encounter and others released for more than 15 years.

Now that the records have been unsealed, images proving something unexplainable interfered with the base's riometer have been shared for the first time.

'Now we are going to pursue other cases linked to Antarctica,' Simondini told Uno Entre Rios.

'This is just the first test case we can verify under this method, and it raises expectations for the continued declassification of other files,' she stressed in a statement translated to English.

In the US, UFO disclosure has also reached a fever pitch, with President Trump ordering Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon to release all documents related to government investigations on the UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

To this point, however, the US has maintained that there has never been any physical evidence found proving that aliens or non-human spacecraft exist.
They say curiosity killed the cat but experts have found the opposite to be true  they are quite happy to watch you struggle, unless they sense a reward.

A study has found that while a pet dog or a toddler will help to search for a missing item, the feline of the family wont lift a paw.

Researchers from Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary studied the reactions of untrained pet dogs, pet cats and children aged 16-24 months to situations in which a familiar person is hunting for a hidden object.

Dogs and children displayed similar behaviour, with more than three-quarters indicating where the object was or retrieving it.

Cats, however, paid attention but rarely helped  except when the item was their own treat or toy.

This suggests that domestication, sharing our home, and forming close bonds are not sufficient to produce spontaneous, human-like helping behaviour, said study author Marta Gacsi.

The team concluded cats were significantly less likely to show spontaneous object-related behaviours when it did not directly benefit them.

They added: In certain contexts, dogs tend to spontaneously help their human caregivers to a similar degree as 16-24- month-old children, even in the absence of a direct reward.

A study has found that while a pet dog or a toddler will help to search for a missing item, the feline of the family wont lift a paw (file image)

But when the object was a cats toy or food, they approached it at a similar rate to dogs and children.

Cats only engaged when it benefited themselves, the researchers said. They added that this does not suggest cats are mean.

Rather, when there is no clear reason to get involved, cats may choose to watch instead of act, reflecting greater independence and lower reliance on humans.

The findings, in the journal Animal Behaviour, are attributed to the fact cats domesticated themselves and were never selectively bred for their co-operation.

In evolutionary terms, dogs were bred for herding or hunting  cats were never specifically selected for their ability to be helpful to humans.

In the test scenario, the object was hidden in plain view of the child, dog or cat and the caregiver did not ask for help.

Analysis of the data showed that while up to 60 per cent of dogs and nearly half of children approached the objects to indicate where they were hidden, none of the cats did.
Back in the 1980s, priests fretted that Satanists were corrupting the world through everything from rock records to Dungeons and Dragons.

But according to the organisers of an exorcism course, in 2026, the devil has adopted far more modern methods.

Priests, imams, and rabbis have been invited to attend a special training programme in Rome to fight what they see as an alarming rise in AIfuelled satanism.

Father Luis Ramirez Almanza, a Mexican priest who runs the annual course, warns that devil worshippers are using AI to communicate, hide themselves online, and create materials for their dark rituals.

In particular, there are mounting fears among exorcists that Satanists are using AI to generate images of children involved in satanic rites.

Rapidly advancing 'deepfake' tools have enabled online paedophiles to generate enormous quantities of child sexual abuse material, some of which is allegedly used for satanic purposes.

Father Almanza told The Times: 'Artificial intelligence is a great power.

'A force for both good and evil  and can therefore be used for devil worshipping.'

Priests, imams, and rabbis have been invited to attend a special training programme in Rome to fight what they see as an alarming rise in AIfuelled satanism. Pictured: A priest takes notes during a previous exorcism course at the Regina Apostolorum pontifical university

Father Almanza delivered this stark warning at a press conference to announce the 'Course on the Ministry of Exorcism and Prayer of Deliverance' at the Vaticanaffiliated university Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum.

The course will draw 170 participants from all religious backgrounds, including official Catholic exorcists, imams, rabbis, and Evangelical preachers.

The course does not give participants a licence to conduct exorcisms since, under Catholic Canon Law, this can only be authorised by a diocesan bishop.

However, the university's website claims that the course will offer 'a solid foundation of theological, canonical, medical, and psychological knowledge for those who work or wish to collaborate in discernment and liberation ministry.'

However, this year Father Almanza says that there will be a special focus on the supposed role of AI in occult and satanic practices.

One of the speakers at the event was Father Fortunato Di Noto, a Sicilian priest who founded the Meter Association, a group which combats child sexual abuse.

Father Di Noto now believes that some unspecified satanic groups combine devil worship and paedophilia through the use of AI.

He said: 'We believe these groups are using AI to generate images of children involved in satanic rites.

Father Fortunato Di Noto (pictured), a Sicilian priest who founded the Meter Association, a group which combats child sexual abuse, says that paedophilic satanists are using AI to generate images of children

'Using children appeals to them because it's a form of power being exercised over the innocent.'

This comes amid a significant increase in the use of AI to generate child sexual abuse material online.

The Meter Association's most recent report identified 8,213 children whose images had been sexualised using AI.

These images are most frequently circulated on encrypted platforms like Signal, however, last year, Elon Musk's refusal to regulate the Grok AI led to an explosion of child sexual abuse material on the public internet.

The Meter Association identified 1,121 fake nude images of children produced by Grok, accounting for 14 per cent of the total.

Likewise, analysis conducted by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) found that online paedophiles generated 3,440 child abuse videos using AI in 2025  a 26,362 per cent increase from 2024.

However, there is as yet no confirmed evidence that any of this material was created for explicitly 'satanic' contexts or for use in ritual practice.

Another speaker at the conference was Beatrice Ugolini, an academic who studies the history of magic.

During the course, she will discuss how Italy's estimated 263 occult groups are using AI to generate the symbols used in their rites.

David Murgia, president of the Gruppo di Ricerca e Informazione Socioreligiosa (GRIS), which tracks cult activity in Italy, says: 'Police tell us satanists are using AI to hide their content online and communicate with each other.'

It is, however, worth noting that although there is limited evidence for the existence of murderous satanic groups in Italy, attempted exorcisms have led directly to several deaths.

For example, in 2024, Giovanni Barreca, 54, was convicted of killing his wife and two sons during an attempted 'exorcism rite'.

Mr Barreca told police he tortured and killed his family, with the help of two accomplices, because he thought they were possessed by demons.

This latest exorcism course on the dangers of AI comes as the Vatican itself has taken a more cautious position on the new technology.

Following his election last year, Pope Leo warned that AI risked robbing people of their jobs, privacy, and dignity.

The American pontiff cautioned Catholics about the 'extremely rich people who are investing in artificial intelligence, totally ignoring the value of human beings and of humanity'.
You might think sexuality declines with age  but senior singletons want to get caught up in the throes of passion too, according to a new study.

Researchers have discovered that romance and sexual intimacy don't decline with age, and finding a 'physical connection' remains important for older adults trying to date.

The study, carried out by scientists at the University of New Hampshire, challenges common assumptions about ageing and intimacy.

The researchers conducted indepth interviews with 100 single men and women, all aged between 60 and 83, who were active users of online dating platforms.

An overwhelming 97 per cent emphasized the importance of sex in a romantic relationship, with 72 per cent insisting they would not pursue a relationship lacking sexual activity.

'Many participants expressed that a relationship without sex felt more like a friendship,' author Lauren Harris said.

'They were seeking romance and physical connection, viewing sexual intimacy as essential to their relationships.'

She added that the findings 'reshape expectations about aging and demonstrate that sexuality remains an important part of life across the lifespan'.

Researchers said senior people want to get caught up in the throes of passion, too. Pictured: In the 2009 film 'It's Complicated', two characters in their early 60s get back together following several years of divorce

The study, published in the Journal of Sex Research, also dispels the notion that physical changes linked to getting old  such as loss of libido or erectile dysfunction  can hinder intimacy.

Participants said they were open to adapting their sexual practices to maintain a connection  whether through medical support like Viagra, by redefining intimacy or adjusting expectations around the frequency or intensity of sex.

'Both men and women recognised the impact of ageing on sexual function but did not view these changes as insurmountable barriers,' the team wrote.

Some participants in the study pointed out that they were still able to have an enjoyable sexual experience even if their abilities had declined.

Jeff, aged 61, said that despite not being as 'good' at sex as he was when he was younger, he still retained some abilities.

He joked: 'When Michael Jordan played for the Bulls, he could run up and down the court. He could play 82 games. But when Michael Jordan went to the Wizards, he was older. He couldn't run up and down the court like that anymore.

'I can give you some great moments, but I can't play the whole game... I'm not Michael Jordan for the Bulls anymore  I'm Michael Jordan for the Wizards. I can give you a great moment. I can't give you a great game!'

The researchers also pointed out that, compared to previous generations, people are living longer than ever before.

An overwhelming 97 per cent of older people emphasize the importance of sex in a romantic relationship, the study found. Pictured: In Meet the Fockers, Barba Streisand (seen here giving a massage) plays a sex therapist for seniors

'We just have more single older adults today than we've ever had before,' Dr Harris said.

'Historically, someone might be widowed or divorced later in life and be single for five or 10 years.

'Now they could be single for 30 years, and that changes how we think about relationships and partnering.'

Some of the challenges older adults could face while dating include limited access to partners, they pointed out  particularly for women who statistically outnumber single men in older age groups.

To conclude, the scientists said: 'The image of the widow who lost interest or the asexual grandfather does not represent all older adults.

'The findings challenge ageist stereotypes and highlights the need to normalize sexual desire in later life, underscoring how romantic and sexual relationships can be desired across the life course.'

They said their research has implications for healthcare providers as rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have recently increased among older adults.

At the same time, this group often avoid conversations with each other about sexual health, they warned.

They suggest that doctors incorporate discussions of sexual health into routing appointments and receive training that focuses on laterlife sexuality.

Previous research found that the majority of over75s say they want to remain sexually active as they get older.

Men were keener on staying sexually active as they aged, with 74 per cent wanting to do so, compared to 49 per cent of women.

While sex was on the cards, fewer respondents were interested in dating as they grew older with less than half of the over 55's stating they be interested in looking for love if they were single.

The findings are based on a survey of over 1,000 adults of all ages by Home Instead, a care provider.
Apple appears to have accidentally leaked the name of its new budget MacBook, ahead of its grand reveal today.

The lowcost device is expected to be the final gadget in a flurry of launches this week, following the iPhone 17e, new iPad Air, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Eagleeyed fans have spotted a regulatory document on Apple's website, listing a 'MacBook Neo' under the 2026 release section.

There are no further details or images of the device, and the listing has since been removed.

However, the name tease has sent social media into a frenzy.

'Apple's regulatory pages always leak the best stuff,' one user tweeted.

Another added: 'If the new lower priced MacBook is called MacBook Neo, I dont hate it, but always associated products using the Neo name as bad or lacking creativity.'

And one joked: 'macbook neo sounds like it should come with a trench coat and a kung fu plugin.'

Eagleeyed fans have spotted a regulatory document on Apple's website, listing a 'MacBook Neo' under the 2026 release section

Throughout the week, Apple has been dripfeeding fans new products.

On Monday, there was a new iPad Air and the iPhone 17e, while yesterday saw the release of a new Studio Display, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Today, the tech giant is hosting a 'Special Experience' for media in London, New York, and Shanghai, where it's expected to unveil its final product.

Beyond the 'MacBook Neo' mention in the regulatory document, experts think the experience logo hints that we may see a new budget MacBook.

The 3D Apple logo on the invite is made up of yellow, green, and blue discs.

Bloomberg's Apple analyst, Mark Gurman, tweeted: 'Worth pointing out the three colors from the invite are light green, blue and yellow  which just so happen to be the colors Apple has tested the lowcost MacBook with.'

In his newsletter, Mr Gurman suggests that Apple will launch a new lowcost MacBook today in a 'slew of fun colours'.

According to the leaker, this MacBook will be 'well under $1,000', with a small display that measures just under 13inches.

Beyond the 'MacBook Neo' mention in the regulatory document, experts think the experience logo hints that we may see a new budget MacBook. The 3D Apple logo on the invite is made up of yellow, green, and blue discs

Despite the lower price point, the MacBook will be made from aluminium, not plastic, he adds.

'Like all Macs, this machine  codenamed J700  will feature an aluminum chassis,' Mr Gurman explained.

'To stick with this premium material, Apple developed a new manufacturing process that allows the shells to be forged more quickly.

'The technique is designed to be both faster and more costeffective than the one used with Apple's current laptops.'

As mentioned in his tweet, Mr Gurman predicts Apple will opt for bright colours, to suit its target audience of students.

'Over the past year, Apple has tested options such as light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver and dark gray  though it's unlikely all of these will ship,' he said.

Mr Gurman isn't the only person to suggest the Apple event logo alludes to new MacBooks.

X user @BasicAppleGuy went so far as to create renders of what these colourful MacBooks might look like.

Mr Gurman isn't the only person to suggest the Apple event logo alludes to new MacBooks. X user @BasicAppleGuy went so far as to create renders of what these colourful MacBooks might look like

'If they make that green I'm going to have to cop it immediately,' one user replied.

Another added: 'If that's real, that yellow is instant buy.'

And one joked: 'The only problem will be deciding which color to get.'

The Special Experience will take place at 14:00 GMT today, and the Daily Mail's Science & Technology Editor, Shivali Best will be there  so make sure you check back in for all the latest announcements then!
Sea levels could be up to 4.9 feet (1.5 metres) higher than scientists previously thought, a new study has warned, putting millions more people at risk from rising oceans.

Earlier studies have relied on a rough estimate of the global sea level, which is actually far lower than the true water line in many places.

The new findings indicate sea levels could be around 11 inches (28 cm) higher than expected in the UK and between 3.2 ft and 4.9 ft (1-1.5 metres) higher in parts of Southeast Asia.

By comparison, 11 inches of increase is greater than the total sea level rise that has occurred since the beginning of the 20th century.

Scientists from Wageningen University in the Netherlands say that this 'blind spot' has meant the threat of sea level increase has been drastically underestimated.

Currently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that sea levels could rise by 3.2 ft (one metre) by 2100 if climate change is not slowed.

However, if the true sea level is already much higher than expected, 37 per cent more land and 68 per cent more people across the world will fall below the sea level than currently predicted.

That would mean 132 million more people's homes will be flooded by the rising waters.

Scientists say that global sea levels could rise up to 3.2 feet (one metre) higher than scientists previously thought, putting millions more homes underwater. Pictured: An illustration of how many more people could be affected by rising sea levels

The problem is that the real sea level measured by satellites is much higher than the assumed level used by scientific studies. This means small increases in sea level will have a bigger impact than expected because they are starting from a higher point

The problem stems from the fact that the overwhelming majority of studies on coastal erosion and threats measure land elevation relative to an assumed sea level known as a 'geoid model'.

This is essentially a mathematical prediction of where the sea level should sit based on the Earth's gravity and rotation.

Scientists compare this level with measurements of land elevation taken by satellites and work out how much more land would be covered with water if sea levels rose.

In their new study, published in the journal Nature, researchers analysed 385 pieces of peer-reviewed scientific literature from 2009 to 2025, and found that 90 per cent relied on these assumptions.

However, these geoid models don't take into account local factors that can affect the real sea level.

Co-author Dr Philip Minderhoud says: 'In reality, sea level is influenced by additional factors such as winds, ocean currents and seawater temperature and salinity.'

When compared with actual measurements of the sea surface taken by satellite, the geoid model often suggests that the sea level is much lower than it is in reality.

Depending on the geoid model used, previous studies underestimated the sea level by at least 9.4 inches (24 cm), with some discrepancies being as high as 25 feet (7.7 metres).

Previous research has underestimated how high sea levels already are in the UK by at least 11.8 inches (30 cm). This means sea level rise will lead to more damage than previously thought. Pictured: Red regions show areas that would be underwater with 4.26 feet (1.3 metres) of sea level rise

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This means that the sea level is already much higher than most scientists think, making the risk of rising sea levels far more significant.

Professor Andrew Shepherd, Director of the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling at Northumbria University, who was not involved in the study, says: 'Sea levels are much higher than we had thought.

'This means that 80 million people are living below sea level today, 50 million more than we had realised.'

If sea levels now increase by the amount estimated by the IPCC, it will be from a much higher starting point than previously thought.

This means millions more homes will be put underwater by the rising oceans.

Dr Matt Palmer, Science Fellow at the Met Office Hadley Centre and Associate Professor at the University of Bristol, says: 'The impacts of sea-level rise under climate change have been systematically underestimated.

'Put another way, we could see devastating impacts from coastal flooding earlier than expected from climate projections - particularly in the Global South.'

The Global South, especially Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, is at greater risk because it has the biggest discrepancies between the geoid model and reality.

Southeast Asia will be the most affected since satellite measurements show that the real sea level is already about 4.9 ft (1.5 metres) higher than assumed by most risk assessments

In some places, satellite measurements show that the real sea level is already about 4.9 ft (1.5 metres) higher than assumed by most risk assessments.

In fact, Dr Minderhoud says that it was seeing this first-hand in Vietnam's Mekong Delta that first suggested the world's scientific models could be dramatically wrong.

He says: 'Here it was assumed in international impact assessments that the land would start to become inundated if sea level were to rise by 1.5 to 2 meters.

'But I could see that the surface water level, which stood in direct connection with the sea level, was already in many places within several decimetres [0.1 of a meter] of the land surface.'

In Southeast Asia, the researchers estimate that 96 per cent more people could be affected by a 3.2 feet (one metre) sea level increase than had been estimated.

Professor Jonathan Bamber, a researcher from the University of Bristol who was not involved in the study, says he is 'genuinely surprised by the results of this study'.

Professor Bamber adds: 'The wrong assumptions are made about what present-day sea level is, and it turns out that it has generally been underestimated in key sensitive coastal areas.

'This has important implications for impacts of future sea level rise in terms of the area and number of people potentially affected in low-lying areas such as South East Asia and the Nile Delta.'
Apple fans have already had plenty of reasons to celebrate this week with the release of several new devices, but the tech giant may have saved the best for last.

The iPhone maker has now unveiled a brand new budget MacBook aimed at students.

At 599 ($599 US price), the MacBook Neo is a quarter the price of the new 2,199 ($2,199) M5 MacBook Pro and almost half that of the 1,099 ($1,099) MacBook Air.

And, for the first time, fashion-conscious tech enthusiasts will have a range of stunning colours to choose from.

The MacBook Neo's aluminium frame will be available in 'blush', a pastel pink, 'indigo', a deep blue, 'citrus', a yellow-ish green, and silver.

The computer is powered by Apple's A18 Pro chip, the same powerful processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro, and 8GB of RAM.

The student-focused laptop promises to be perfect for video calls with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, 1080p front camera, and speakers that support spatial audio.

John Ternus, Apples senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, says: 'Were incredibly excited to introduce MacBook Neo, which delivers the magic of the Mac at a breakthrough price.'

Apple's new 599 budget MacBook Neo is available in four bright colours: Silver, Blush, Citrus, or Indigo

The student-focused laptop also features a 13-inch display, a 1080p front camera, and speakers that support spatial audio

The bright colours used for the aluminium frame extend to the Magic Keyboard and Multi-Touch trackpad

iPhone 17e, iPad Air, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro...



And now, say hello to the all-new MacBook Neo!



Were so excited to bring the magic of Mac to even more people around the world. pic.twitter.com/z2w4RmShRO  Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 4, 2026

Mr Ternus adds: 'Built from the ground up to be more affordable for even more people, MacBook Neo is a laptop only Apple could create.'

The laptop starts at 599 for a 256GB model without Touch ID, while the 512GB model with Touch ID costs 699 (599 US price).

The cost of the basic model can be reduced even further to just 499 ($499 US price) with an education discount, making this Apple's cheapest ever laptop.

That may come as a relief after Apple revealed that the new MacBook Pro, MacBook ProMax, and MacBook Air would all be more expensive than their predecessors.

This latest release continues Apple's renewed push to break into the budget electronics market.

The MacBook Neo comes only days after the release of the wallet-friendly iPhone 17e, which also starts at just 599 ($600).

Despite its incredibly low price point, the MacBook Neo is made of lightweight and durable aluminium rather than cheaper plastic.

According to veteran Apple reporter Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple has created a new manufacturing process that allows the shells to be made faster and cheaper, allowing for such a low price.

The MacBook Neo is powered by Apple's A18 Pro chip, the same powerful processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro

Fans of retro tech can celebrate as Apple has finally reintroduced the headphone jack, supporting wired earbuds and other accessories

Apple MacBook Neo: Key specs Price: 599/699 ($599/$699 US price) Storage: 256GB/512GB Display: 13" Liquid Retina Resolution: 2408-by-1506 RAM: 8GB Processor: Apple A18 Pro Battery life: 16 hours Ports: 2x USB-C and one headphone jack Advertisement

That aluminium shell can also come in one of three new, bright colours, which extend to the Magic Keyboard and new Multi-Touch trackpad.

That trackpad enables users to click, scroll, swipe, and pinch anywhere on its surface, while the model with Touch ID allows for secure login authentication for services such as Apple Pay.

Besides the bold new look, the MacBook Neo boasts an array of features that could make it a great choice for any student on a budget.

Apple claims that its battery supports 16 hours of continuous use, meaning that it should last all day without needing to charge.

And at just 1.2 kg (2.7 lbs), the laptop is small and light enough to slip into a bag.

Fans of retro tech will also have reason to rejoice as Apple has finally introduced an AUX headphone jack to support wired earbuds and other accessories.

That is in addition to new side-firing speakers, which support Dolby Atmos surround sound for spatial audio.

While the A18 Pro chip isn't nearly as powerful as the M5 chip found in the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, Apple claims that it should be more than enough for most casual users.

At just 1.2 kg (2.7 lbs), the laptop is small and light enough to slip into a bag, making it a great potential choice for those working on the go

Apple says that the chip supports multitasking for tasks like web browsing, streaming content, editing photos, and using AI tools.

The company claims their chip is 'up to 50 per cent faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5.'

Although it will be far from ideal for gaming, the integrated 5-core GPU should offer some fairly good graphics.

MacBook Neo is available to pre-order starting today, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.
The US Air Force carried out a critical test launch of a nuclear-capable missile Tuesday evening, saying the mission was designed to ensure 'the maximum level of readiness.'

The Minuteman III ICBM was launched at 11.01 pm PT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The test took place as the US and Israel launched one of their most aggressive military operations in decades, dramatically escalating tensions with Iran and raising fears of a wider regional war.

Air Force officials stressed that the launch, designated GT 255, 'was scheduled years ago and is not in response to world events,' adding that the mission was intended to validate the performance of the weapon system.

The unarmed missile traveled at roughly 15,000 miles per hour, completing a 4,200-mile journey in about 22 minutes before reaching its target near Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

The test also evaluated the missile's multiple reentry vehicles, which are designed to increase effectiveness and help the weapon overcome enemy defenses.

Lt Col Karrie Wray, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, said: 'GT 255 allowed us to assess the performance of individual components of the missile system.

'By continually assessing varying mission profiles, we are able to enhance the performance of the entire ICBM fleet, ensuring the maximum level of readiness for the land-based leg of the nation's nuclear triad.'

The Minuteman III ICBM was launched at 11.01 pm PT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California

The test took place as the US and Israel launched one of their most aggressive military operations in decades, dramatically escalating tensions with Iran (PICTURED) and raising fears of a wider regional war

In late October 2025, President Donald Trump ordered the US military to resume nuclear weapons testing, saying the move was necessary to keep pace with alleged testing by Russia and China.

A separate ICBM testing then took place the following month.

The Minuteman III arsenal forms one leg of the USs nuclear deterrent, designed to be launched only in response to a nuclear attack by an enemy nation.

The weapon is designed to hit any target worldwide within 30 minutes after launch.

Iran is approximately 7,600 miles from California, while Russia is about 6,000 and China is around 6,300 miles.

Trump has said repeatedly that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.

He claimed to have 'obliterated' Tehran's nuclear program in strikes last June, but said this week that the nation had attempted to rebuild it.

'Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message,' he said on Saturday. However, Iran does not have a nuclear arsenal.

The unarmed missile traveled at roughly 15,000 miles per hour, completing a 4,200-mile journey in about 22 minutes before reaching its target near Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean

The ICBM is designed to hit any target worldwide in just 30 minutes after launch

America's ICBM is capable of carrying three Mk 12A nuclear warheads, each packing up to 350,000 tons of TNT, but today's test launched an unarmed missile.

The Air Force randomly chose a missile from F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming and transported it more than 1,300 miles to California. where it was reassembled.

The test launch was 'a key component of a data-driven program that has been in place for decades, involving over 300 similar tests designed to validate the performance of the weapon system,' the Air Force shared in a statement.

'The data collected from these routine tests is essential for ongoing and future force development.'

The launch was the result of months of meticulous preparation involving multiple government partners.

Airmen from the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, provided direct maintenance support, while operators from across all three missile wings initiated the launch.

Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said: 'The data we gather ensures our long-range strike capabilities are not just a theoretical concept, but a proven, reliable, and lethal force, ready to defend the nation at a moment's notice.'

The ICBM is one of two missiles currently used by America. The other is submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that are deployed from underwater submarines.

The weapon is a vital component of the US military's nuclear forces, capable of delivering a nuclear payload to targets around the world, but is scheduled to be phased out by 2029 and replaced with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.

America's ICBM is capable of carrying three Mk 12A nuclear warheads, each packing up to 350,000 tons of TNT, but today's test launched an unarmed missile

The US Air Force said that 'the Sentinel weapon system is the most cost-effective option for maintaining a safe, secure, and effective land-based leg of the nuclear triad and would extend its capabilities through 2075.'

The ICBM is one of two missiles currently used by America. The other is submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that are deployed from underwater submarines.

The weapon is a vital component of the US military's nuclear forces, capable of delivering a nuclear payload to targets around the world, but is scheduled to be phased out by 2029 and replaced with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.

The US Air Force said that 'the Sentinel weapon system is the most cost-effective option for maintaining a safe, secure, and effective land-based leg of the nuclear triad and would extend its capabilities through 2075.'
Nostradamus' centuries-old prophecies are resurfacing as followers of the mysterious seer claim several of his predictions appear to be unfolding in 2026.

Born Michel de Nostredame, the 16th-century astrologer is believed by some to have predicted major world events, including the 9/11 attacks and the death of Princess Diana, in his 1555 book 'Les Propheties.'

While the writings do not include exact dates, believers say a number of his cryptic passages could relate to events happening this year, from escalating global conflicts to political turmoil.

One passage, labeled Quatrain I:26, reads: 'The great swarm of bees will arise by night the ambush', which some have interpreted as the warfare drones being used by both the US and Iran.

Supporting that theory is another prediction warning of a prolonged conflict: 'Seven months great war, people dead through evil / Rouen, Evreux, the King will not fail.'

Followers believe the reference to a 'seven-month war' could be a warning about how long the conflict in the Middle East might last.

Another of Nostradamus's predictions reads: 'When Mars rules his path among the stars, human blood will sprinkle the sanctuary. Three fires rise from the eastern sides, while the West loses its light in silence.'

Because Mars was the ancient Roman god of war, some interpreters believe the passage suggests 2026 could be another year marked by violent global conflict.

While the writings do not include exact dates, believers say a number of his cryptic passages could relate to events happening this year, from escalating global conflicts to political turmoil

The predictions are resurfacing as tensions in the Middle East escalate dramatically.

The US and Israel pounded targets across Iran on Saturday, dropping massive bombs on the country's ballistic missile sites and wiping out warships as part of an intensifying military campaign following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.

He claimed to have 'obliterated' Tehran's nuclear program in strikes last June, but said this week the country had attempted to rebuild it. However, Iran does not currently possess a nuclear arsenal.

As the conflict intensifies, followers of Nostradamus say the developments are eerily similar to the seer's centuries-old warning of a 'seven-month war.'

Some interpreters also pointed to Nostradamus's repeated references to sudden attacks and strange weapons as further evidence that his writings may reflect modern warfare.

In Quatrain I:26, the mysterious line about a 'swarm of bees' rising in the night has long puzzled historians and prophecy enthusiasts.

Join the debate Do Nostradamus's prophecies make you worry more about today's conflicts or dismiss them as myths?

One of his prophecies mentions a 'seven-month war,' which some believers suggested warns how long the conflict in Iran (PICTURED) could last

While scholars often argue the passage refers to medieval warfare or symbolic imagery, modern interpreters have increasingly linked the phrase to drone swarms, unmanned aircraft capable of striking targets under the cover of darkness.

Drone warfare has become one of the defining features of modern conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Both Iran and the US have invested heavily in drone technology, with unmanned aerial vehicles now capable of surveillance, targeted strikes and coordinated swarm attacks.

Some Nostradamus followers claim the image of buzzing 'bees' emerging in the night could metaphorically describe the sound and appearance of drones as they move toward targets.

Others have focused on the prophecy warning of a 'seven months great war,' suggesting it could point to a prolonged regional conflict rather than a short military campaign.

Although historians caution that Nostradamus's quatrains are deliberately vague and open to interpretation, his writings frequently resurface during moments of global crisis.

The astrologer, who died in 1566, wrote nearly 1,000 prophetic poems in Les Propheties, many of which describe disasters, wars and political upheaval. Because the verses were intentionally cryptic, mixing French, Latin and symbolic language, they can be interpreted in many different ways.

As a result, major world events often trigger renewed interest in his writings.

From wars and economic crises to pandemics and political turmoil, believers have repeatedly searched Nostradamus's centuries-old verses for clues about what might happen next.

And as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, some prophecy enthusiasts believe the 16th-century seer's ominous warnings may once again be unfolding in real time.
France, Spain, Greece - these are often the big European countries Brits have in mind when planning a summer holiday.

But as many popular destinations become overrun with tourists, plenty of Brits are keen to try out alternative spots. Enter the gems of eastern Europe.

Wizz Air has revealed new data showing that Poland is the most popular for city breaks amongst its UK passengers for the fifth consecutive year, representing more than a fifth of all city break bookings made with the airline in 2025.

Overall, Eastern European destinations dominate the top three most popular city breaks, as Brits increasingly seek out cheaper, lesser-known destinations - showing the rise in popualrity of the region.

Wizz Air's flight booking data shows Poland was followed by Romania and Hungary.

Albania climbed the rankings in 2025 to fourth position, as British holidaymakers flocked to the new budget-friendly favourite.

Here's a rundown of the budget-friendly Eastern European destinations on the rise you should add to your bucket list...

Poland

Warsaw's old city centre makes for a unique city break full of history

Polish cities such as Gdansk, Warsaw and Krakow not only provide historic architecture, vibrant nightlight and rich culture - they are also some of the most affordable destinations on the continent, with the average cost of a pint in Krakow just 3.73.

And with a short flight time of around two hours, Poland is ideal not just for couples, friends and solo-travellers but families too - whether it be for a quick city break, or a longer week filled with culture.

Krakow and Warsaw are well-known, but Gdansk is rapidly increasing in popularity, drawing 4.5 million visitors in 2024.

There are other alternative destinations to visit in Poland too.

The little-known 'Alps of Poland', a snowy mountain destination perfect for a summer break, offers 2.50 pints and flights from 18.

Zakopane boasts emerald lakes, wooden chalets, purple wildflower meadows, bustling markets, cosy beer halls and thermal baths.

Travellers can discover this unspoiled, littleknown corner of Poland from May to September, flying from airports across the UK with easyJet and Ryanair.

Romania

Bran Castle near Brasov is known as Dracula's Castle in Transylvania, Romania

In second place is Romania, where cities such as Bucharest and Sibiu feature stunning, walkable old towns, rich culture, and delicious cuisine, all at affordable prices.

Visitors to Brasov can even visit the legendary Dracula's Castle while taking in the surrounding Transylvanian countryside.

On the rise among history fans, literary nerds and travellers seeking something out of the ordinary, Bran Castle (its official name) is a great unique sight to see.

It might be slightly creepy, with one reviewer writing: 'Very interesting, beautiful and scary castle. Tour is really well done... Because of that 'scary' vibe the castle looks even better at night.'

But it's certainly popular, with one visitor describing: 'Very picturesque! Absolutely beautiful and well maintained castle.'

Elsewhere, nicknamed 'Little Paris', Bucharest is a popular European destination known for its mixture of communist-era architecture, medieval charm and vibrant nightlife.

With cheap flights from 40 with Ryanair, the city has seen a significant tourism boom this year.

In the first half of 2025, Bucharest recorded nearly 954,000 arrivals and 1.93 million overnight stays.

Hungary

The famous Szechenyi Chain Bridge is a recognisable symbol of Budapest, Hungary

Hungary, ranked third, offers city breakers a diverse range of experiences.

In popular Budapest, for example, travellers can enjoy everything from thermal spa culture and atmospheric ruin bars to the fairy-tale architecture of Buda Castle and scenic cruises along the Danube.

Visitors rave about the castle, with many sharing their thoughts on Tripadvisor.

One wrote: 'Beautiful structure that tells the story of the city. It also houses the National Gallery. Breathtaking views from its balconies, as it overlooks the whole city and the Danube! To visit!'

There's clearly much to do if you visit.

Another added: 'A home of Hungarian National Gallery, National Library and Budapest Museum. Spectacular building - one of the city's landmarks, almost completely destroyed during WWII. Renovation looks good, even done within socialist realism style. The reopened St Stephen's Hall is spectacular.'

The Hungarian capital is known for its magnificent River Danube, as well as architecture that rivals some of the best in the world.

Elsewhere in the country, you could explore Lake Balaton, described by tourists as 'a must to visit' and 'a hidden gem'.

One visitor explained: 'Lake Balaton is a hidden gem if you know where to go. We had the pleasure of swimming in a non-touristy spot, far from the usual crowds. The lake is incredibly vast, with the southern part being less crowded - most Hungarians prefer the northern side.

'The water was perfect for a swim, and we felt completely safe and relaxed. The surrounding villages offer numerous restaurants with a great vibe. This experience was truly unforgettable, and I highly recommend visiting the quieter spots for a more authentic experience.'

Historic cities such as Pecs and Esztergom are also on the rise.

Albania

The Albanian coast and Ionian Sea, featuring the picture-perfect Livadi beach

Albania moved up to fourth place in Wizz Air's rankings in 2025 (from fifth in 2024).

With cities such as Tirana offering a blend of history, impressive architecture, cafe-lined streets and high-quality dining  all at great value - it is fast becoming a budget-friendly favourite.

And for those looking to extend their trip and spend some time on the beach, the Albanian Riviera has been dubbed 'the Maldives of Europe' due to its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and small, accessible islands.

It's a fantastic alternative for Brits seeking luxury, without the price tag to match.

Last year, budget airline operator Wizz Air announced a new route would be commencing from London Gatwick to Tirana in Albania - making it even easier to reach, and with flights from just 30.

Popular Livadi beach is one standout destination to visit - with calm shores, free from the mass tourist crowds of popular spots in Spain.

One reviewer on Tripadvisor wrote: 'Very quiet beach and sheltered from the winds. Nice view on hora and transparent sea. Many small taverns around, all serve excellent food (adonis, our favorite).'

Yvonne Moynihan, managing director at Wizz Air UK, said: 'City breaks have become an essential part of the British travel calendar, and we're seeing a clear trend in where travellers are choosing to go.

'Poland's continued popularity shows that UK holidaymakers are prioritising destinations that offer culture, character and excellent value for money.

'Eastern Europe continues to outperform traditional city break favourites, with customers seeking vibrant, lesser-known destinations that deliver incredible experiences at an affordable price.'
The commercial director for Business Travel Association has pushed back at plans to expand tourism tax across the UK - revealing it'll cost businesses more than 100,000 a year.

Since April 2023, Manchester has had an additional 1 fee on accommodation bookings - called the City Visitor Charge - while Liverpool has had a 1.6 per cent levy on hotels.

Meanwhile, in the south of England, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch introduced a tax of 2 per room, per night in July 2024.

And the government is proposing to give city mayors and town officials the authority to charge a small fee for overnight stays.

It would apply to visitors staying at hotels, holiday lets, Bed and Breakfasts, and guesthouses.

London's Mayor Sadiq Khan is considering a flat rate of around 2-3 per night on accommodation, while various Scottish cities have confirmed they're introducing tourist taxes.

Edinburgh and Glasgow are introducing a five per cent levy from July 24, 2026, and January 25, 2027, respectively.

But Aberdeen's tourist tax is planned to be the highest at seven per cent, being introduced from April 1, 2027.

Many businesses, in the UK and abroad, send their employees to cities across the country for meetings, conferences and work-related matters, often booking them into hotels for days to weeks at a time.

In fact, the business travel sector generates about 22 billion per year to the UK economy, and within that there are about 250,000 jobs.

And Business Travel Association's commercial director Andrew Clarke has argued an additional charge could cause businesses to 'certainly consider their budgets'.

Aberdeen's tourist tax is planned to be the highest at seven per cent, being introduced from April 1, 2027

Business Travel Association boss Andrew Clarke outlines how the additional charge could impact companies

'We've got one client that's speaking to us on a regular basis that puts around 10,000 room nights into Aberdeen at an average room night of 150,' he adds, explaining the company works in the oil and gas industry.

With this example, a seven per cent charge on 10,000 rooms in the Scottish city would work out at 105,000 a year.

'That's quite a significant increase on a corporate business's travel budget,' Andrew adds.

As a result, other options like staying out of the city charge zones could be considered - driving business away from the centre.

'I think people will start to look at alternative options. Can I stay just outside the city centre and use taxis? What's the local transport situation like?; Andrew says.

He uses the example of Manchester, which introduced a 1-per-night City Visitor Charge for hotels in a specific zone.

'But if you stay just outside the ring road, there is no charge and to get a taxi into the city centre will probably be 5-10,' Andrew says.

'So if you've got a volume of room nights, and the impact of that is huge, then you are going to think about different alternatives.'

He adds, 'If the room rate is cheaper outside of that area, then why would you not move your business?'

Andrew says the additional charge 'will definitely be damaging' and emphasises, 'this is not just about business travel, this is about just travel in general'.

He argues business travellers are 'not the same as tourists,' who might stay for just a few days.

Instead, companies often send their employees to a city for long periods of time to attend conferences, for example.

'The tourists will come in, they'll have a couple of nights, and then they'll move onwards, so the impact for the business traveller is huge,' Andrew finishes.
A narrow railway line cutting through central Hanoi has become one of Vietnam's most unlikely tourist hotspots - despite posing a very real danger to visitors.

Train Street, a 400-metre stretch located between Phung Hung and Tran Phu, sees trains thunder past homes and cafes at extremely close range, often just inches from seated tourists and visitors posing for photos.

But despite repeated safety warnings and police barricades, tourists continue to flock to the site, often timing their visits to coincide with scheduled train arrivals.

Originally part of the North-South Railway built in 1902, the residential strip was once an ordinary neighbourhood.

'It was just an ordinary street with train tracks running through it.

'When it started popping up all over social media, I was honestly surprised,' said Hanoi local Minh Anh, who works at a nearby whisky distillery.

Train Street has become one of Vietnam's most unlikely tourist hotspots - despite trains passing just inches from homes, cafes and adrenaline-fuelled visitors wielding selfie sticks

Nhi Nguyn, a tour guide for A Taste of Hanoi, added that the street previously had a 'more authentic feel', where locals would park their scooters by the track and residents cooked meals outside on gas stoves while their laundry dried on lines.

However, shortly after going viral on social media in 2017, cafes and coffee spots multiplied along the tracks and the vibrant lantern and plant-lined alley quickly became a 'must-see' attraction.

Today, the street - which sees as many as 11 trains pass through on weekends - is frequently listed alongside major attractions such as Ha Long Bay.

Critics say social media has fuelled the risk of visiting the site, with one visitor telling BBC Travel that the area isn't what it seems in glossy photos.

They said: 'It felt more like an Instagram attraction rather than a neighbourhood street. Especially if you're just standing on the main sidewalk trying to get a picture.'

Others say cafes have inflated the price of a simple coffee to profit from the scores of visitors pouring in - yet some don't seem to mind shelling out extra for a beverage and a unique view.

Matthew Tran, a footwear designer who visits Hanoi regularly, said: 'The coffees were absurdly overpriced, yet I paid for them every time because I couldn't stop marvelling at how the place worked; how an entire economy could thrive in such an improbable space.'

The Vietnamese government has attempted shutdowns in 2019, 2022 and again in 2025 following near-miss incidents involving selfie stick-wielding tourists.

In October 2019, disappointed tourists moaned as police blocked off the Instragram-famous tracks for safety reasons.

Pictured: Train passing by spectators in Hanoi train street in Vietnam

Hanoi authorities at the time announced they would block people from the tracks to avoid accidents, with police erecting barricades to keep out visitors.

Dozens of other tourists were turned away, though some managed to get onto still-open sections of the railway, moving out of the way as an afternoon train chugged past.

Amid the closure, Malaysian tourist Mustaza bin Mustapha told AFP: 'I'm very frustrated because today I can't go in and take a picture.'

Le Tuan Anh, who runs a cafe from his home along the tracks, echoed the sentiment, warning that closures would hurt local businesses.

'There has never been any regretful accidents here,' he said. 'Compared to traffic density elsewhere in the city, this is much safer.'

Yet, despite multiple closures over the years, crowds continue to gather.

Although the site continues to operate as normal, its future hangs in the balance, with Vietnamese officials proposing halting passenger trains for good.

But for now, Tran hopes the rising number of visitors will be able to 'stop for a moment' and acknowledge the tourist attraction being a 'daily reality' for locals who live on Train Street.
Marbella has been a popular destination for Brits for years, with hordes flocking over to soak in the sun and sandy beaches.

But another Spanish seaside town is offering better value and authentic, local charm.

Also in Costa del Sol, Estepona is an alternative to the glamourous, party city and has become one of southern Spains most appealing lesser-known destinations.

Once a sleepy fishing town, Estepona is Marbella's quiet neighbour but has plenty to offer for holidaymakers.

It boasts a range of sophisticated bars and modern dining, all with traditional Andalusian culture.

Drinks are affordable too, with a pint of local beer coming to just 2.20 (1.91).

Estepona is an alternative to the glamourous, party city of Marbella and has become one of southern Spain's most appealing lesser-known destinations

Costa del Sol's tourism board website describes Estepona's old town as 'one of the most beautiful in Andalusia'

The old town is packed with stylish cocktail bars and drinks there typical cost around 10 to 12 (8.70 to 10.40).

Estepona's pricier neighbour, Marbella, often sees similar cocktails going for 20 (17.40) or more, especially around Puerto Banus.

As for food, there's everything from traditional tapas bars to more modern, Mediterranean restaurants.

Holidaymakers can tuck into fresh seafood and authentic Andalusian dishes - all served as generous portions and reasonable prices.

A three course meal with wine will typically cost between 30 to 40 (26 to 35) per person.

But in Marbella, visitors could find themselves paying up to 50 to 70 (43 to 60), or more in the destination's smarter restaurants.

Holidaymakers won't find themselves stuck for fun in the evening, even without megaclubs and huge parties.

Estepona offers bustling late night cocktail bars, live music venues and relaxed lounges - creating a sophisticated and grown-up feel for the area.

A stay at the dreamy location won't break the bank, and TUI offers four-night breaks in Estepona priced from 256 per person.

This is based on two people sharing a self catering apartment and flying from Luton Airport in on May 9.

Costa del Sol's tourism board website describes Estepona's old town as 'one of the most beautiful in Andalusia'.

The area boasts a a maze of winding, characterful streets adorned with colourful flowers.
British Airways will run a number of flights from Oman to the UK in attempt to bring thousands of stranded Brits home from the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict.

The airline has announced it will run flights from Muscat in Oman to London Heathrow on March 6 and 7.

The flights later in the week will be for customers who had bookings with the airline but are now stranded in Oman or the UAE.

It comes amid the continued wave of violence in the Middle East.

BA said in a statement: 'We remain unable to operate flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.

British Airways will run a number of flights from Oman to the UK later this week

'The UK Government advice has now been updated to note that: commercial options are available to depart the region, and if your presence in the UAE is not essential, you may wish to consider departing, if you judge you can access these options safely.

'We have scheduled further flights from Oman (Muscat) to London Heathrow departing on 6 and 7 March. Flights are for BA customers with an existing booking who are in Oman or the UAE.

'If you wish to travel on one of these flights, please contact us via our dedicated phone line on +44 203 467 3854. Our teams will also be getting in touch with BA customers directly via email.

'We are constantly reviewing the situation and will continue to do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues in the region and remain in regular contact with them.

'Please continue to follow the latest safety advice from local authorities and the UK Foreign Office. Please do not travel to the airport unless you have a confirmed booking.

'Once again, thank you for your patience while we work through this ever-changing situation.'

It comes after it was this morning announced that thousands of British nationals will arrive home from the war-torn Middle East today as airlines ramp up flights out of the UAE and the Government charters its first emergency evacuation flight.

The UK Government has so far chartered just a single flight from Oman.

British expats have been increasingly frustrated by the seeming lack of urgency from the Government over the situation.

British Airways ran an emergency evacuation flight with more than 100 empty seats on Monday.

Despite around 130,000 Brits registering as stranded in the Gulf, around 100 pilots and crew members from BA and other airlines were flown from Muscat to Heathrow on Monday.

More than 11,000 commercial flights have been cancelled with 1 million people affected since airspace over the Gulf largely closed as the US and Israel launched a co-ordinated attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated to the US and Israeli strikes with a barrage of missiles at neighbouring nations - some of which broke through air defence systems (seen in Sharjah City, UAE)

Smoke rises in Tehran as the US and Israel continue its co-ordinated attack on Iran

As the war enters its fifth day, Emirates is today operating seven flights from Dubai to the UK while Etihad has two departures from Abu Dhabi. Virgin Atlantic will operate a flight from Dubai to London Heathrow.

British Airways has not restarted its usual flying programme from the region, but will run an evacuation flight to Heathrow from Muscat, which it does not usually serve.

The Government has also scheduled its first repatriation flight to leave Oman's Muscat International Airport at 11pm local time (7pm GMT) tonight and will prioritise the most vulnerable Brits first as attacks continue to explode across the region.

British nationals and their spouse or partner, and their children under the age of 18, with a valid travel document are all eligible.

The Foreign Office said it would contact British nationals to secure them a way out of the Middle East, and urged people not to travel to the airport unless they have been officially called.

There will be no wide-scale evacuation for those stranded in the region.

Officials appear to instead be relying on commercial airlines, predominantly Middle Eastern carriers, to get passengers home.

A Whitehall source told The Times: 'We are relying on the commercial airlines, especially the Middle Eastern carriers that have huge fleets and also access to the slots.

'They are in the best position to get Britons out, but of course they need to clear the huge backlogs of transit passengers.'

It comes as desperate wealthy expats living in Dubai have been driving across the desert to escape the Middle East via neighbouring Oman or Saudi Arabia.

Iran has responded furiously with retaliation attacks, targeting US bases across the Middle East - including a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia which was blown up on Monday.

But retaliatory strikes from Tehran have hit expat hotspots such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait - including hotels and airports. The US Consulate in Dubai was also rocked by a drone strike yesterday.

Trump has admitted in interviews that the US was not expecting Tehran to lash out against its Gulf neighbours who are not participating in the campaign but who house US bases.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Tuesday that the 'safety and security' of British nationals was a 'top priority'.
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has revealed to fans which episodes they must tune into ahead of the release of the show's sequel film, The Immortal Man.

The hit show formerly ran across 36 episodes over six series before it was announced it would return in movie format, with a spin-off series also in the works.

It's been a long wait for fans of the franchise, with creator Steven first teasing the release of a film back in 2021, before it was confirmed last year.

Now, the film is just days away from its release on Netflix, and cinemas around the UK, with Cillian Murphy back for more as Thomas Shelby, nearly four years after its last season hit screens.

The Immortal Man, which will see Cillian as Tommy coming face-to-face with his son Erasmus 'Duke' Shelby, played by Barry Keoghan, launches on March 20 online, following its cinema release on March 6.

Set in Birmingham during World War Two, the star-studded cast will also feature Sophie Rundle, Stephen Graham, Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth.

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has revealed to fans which episodes they MUST tune into ahead of the release of the show's sequel film, The Immortal Man

Cillian Murphy will be back for more as Thomas Shelby, nearly four years after its last season hit screens

Ahead of its release, screenwriter Steven has suggested which episodes fans should re-watch, or first-time viewers should tune into for the first time.

Among them is the first ever episode, which hit screens on the BBC back in 2013.

The trailer for The Immortal Man sees Ada telling Tommy that his son, Duke, is now leading the Peaky Blinders 'like it's 1919' - when the show was first set.

Creator Steven told LadBible that the episode 'lays out what the whole series is about', and 'introduces Tommy Shelby' in a way that 'makes it pretty unequivocal about who this person is.'

He added: 'It really says so much about what Peaky is going to be about and the whole episode is essential to know exactly what this family is and what they do and why theyre so fearsome.

Steven also suggested the finale episode in the second season, which sees Tommy forced to assassinate a high-level military official by Sam Neill's Chester Campbell.

Containing one of his 'favourite sequences of the series,' the writer explained: 'What that gives us is: Here is a man who is not sure if he wants to live or die [in this moment] we can see that he actually chooses life.

Meanwhile, the finale episode of series six is also on Steven's list of recommendations - showcasing Tommy for the last time, riding away from his life in Birmingham.

The Immortal Man, which will see Tommy coming face-to-face with his son Duke, played by Barry Keoghan, launches on March 20 online, following its cinema release on March 6

Steven concluded: The horse he rides away on is a white horse. The horse he arrived on at the beginning of the series was a black horse... hes riding away to have a simpler life.

It comes after Netflix dropped the first full trailer for their highly anticipated Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, leaving viewers giddy with excitement for its release.

The film will pick up four years after viewers last said goodbye to the Shelby clan in the series finale of Peaky Blinders.

Tommy, who has been played by Cillian, 49, since the show's debut in 2013, will be driven back to Birmingham from his self-imposed exile in the movie.

The freshly dropped trailer sees the character living far away from home, living alone, when his past finally begins to catch up with him during World War II.

'You'll live in a house haunted with ghosts, of people who died because of you,' a voiceover begins as Tommy is shown back on screen for the first time.

He's then shown stood opposite new character, Rebecca Ferguson's mysterious Kaulo, a new acquaintance to Cillian's Tommy, as she tells him: 'You abandoned your kingdom, and you abandoned your son.'

Sophie Rundle, who plays Tommy's sister Ada Shelby in the drama, is then told telling the gangster: 'Your gypsy son is running Peaky Blinders like its 1919 all over again.'

The Peaky Blinders group are then shown fighting off locals, before the camera draws close on Barry Keoghan, standing over a man with his cane holding him down - appearing to be Tommy's illegitimate son, Erasmus 'Duke' Shelby.

'I can't help him, because I'm not that man anymore,' Tommy tells Ada, as Barry's character is seen being asked if he is prepared to commit 'treason', to win the war in Germany's favour.

'The world don't give a f**k about me, and I don't give a f**k about the world,' the young Peaky Blinders gangster can then be heard saying.

Barry Keoghan, standing over a man with his cane holding him down - appears to be Tommy's illegitimate son, Erasmus 'Duke' Shelby all grown up

When Stephen Graham's Hayden Stagg tells Tommy that he thought 'he'd decided it wasn't his war' to fight, Tommy menacingly replies: 'It is now.'

Tommy is then seen back in his old haunt, met by unfamiliar faces who don't know who he is, and asking for details on why he's back.

Luckily for Tommy, Jordan Bolgar's Isaiah Jesus, a young member of the Birmingham gang and the son of preacher Jeremiah Jesus, Tommy's loyal lieutenant, is there to remind everyone.

A series of powerful explosions then follow, teasing the dramatic scenes to come, before Tommy concludes: 'Once, I nearly got f**king everything... but nearly doesn't count.'

The trailer ends with Tommy and Barry's character taking a shot at the bar together as they look to be working together.

The synopsis teases the character will face his 'most destructive reckoning yet', adding: 'With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground.

'By order of the Peaky Blinders.'

Fans went wild over the trailer, taking to the comments section to dub the trailer 'wild' and 'amazing', with one admitting: 'I just can't wait!'

A series of powerful explosions then follow, teasing the dramatic scenes to come

It comes after the REAL people, rivalries and crimes within Birmingham's Peaky Blinders were revealed in a look back at old newspaper clippings.

Die-hard fans of the series may know that the fictional characters and the series story are loosely based on a real gang members from Birmingham.

Creator Steven drew inspiration from stories his parents told him about real gangs that operated in the area much earlier than the show's post World War I setting.

Now, genealogy site Ancestry has given a look behind the curtain about the real figures who inspired the hit series, delving into newspaper articles from the past on their site Newspapers.com.

Historical records reveal that the term 'Peaky Blinders' originally referred not to a single organised crime dynasty, but to a group of violent youths operating in Birmingham.

The newspapers used the label broadly, often applying it to anyone sporting the now-iconic flat-peaked caps associated with the gangs activity.

One of the most recognisable names from the series is William Billy Kimber, portrayed on screen by Charlie Creed-Miles.

In reality, Kimber was a formidable figure long before television dramatised his life, the leader of the Birmingham Boys gang, and appears in official documents and newspapers throughout the early 20th century.

The trailer ends with Tommy and Barry's character taking a shot at the bar together as they look to be working together

The newspapers used the label broadly, often applying it to anyone sporting the now-iconic flat-peaked caps associated with the gangs activity

In 1921, Kimber was recorded living in London with his partner, Cissie Kimber, and her family - and were unmarried until 1926, despite living together.

Just weeks before that 1921 census was taken, the Birmingham Gazette reported that Kimber had been injured in a fight with a rival gang.

Contrary to popular belief, the Peaky Blinders weren't just women, and newspaper reports from the era identify women as active participants in gang activity.

Laura Annie Collins, born around 1863, was identified in newspapers as a Peaky Blinder alongside her husband, Alfred J. Worrall (alias John Collins).

In 1904, the Walsall Observer reported that she attacked a police constable with a hairpin during a trip to Bridgtown, Staffordshire.

Nearly a decade earlier, in 1895, Emma Rowlands appeared before a Birmingham court following an altercation.

The Birmingham Evening Mail described her striking a man in the eye with a belt, an act the prosecutor claimed was unprovoked, despite her insisting she acted in self-defence.

A headline from July 1895 labelled her 'A Female Peaky Blinder.

Historical records reveal that the term 'Peaky Blinders' originally referred not to a single organised crime dynasty, but to a group of violent youths operating in Birmingham

The character of Alfie Solomons, was inspired by real Jewish gang leader Alfred Solomon

Elsewhere, in 1905, a split within the Peaky Blinders resulted in one member stabbing another.

Charles Henry Allbutt was seriously injured in the attack but survived, continuing to appear in criminal records until 1910.

Similarly, brothers William and James Brough, born in Birmingham in 1882 and 1884, were both associated with the Peaky Blinders.

In 1905, James was arrested after drunkenly attacking a police officer, and when William and a friend, Thomas Mullis, attempted to intervene, they too were detained, according to the Birmingham Evening Mail.

James Brough later served in the First World War. By 1921, he was no longer appearing in newspaper reports as a criminal.

Instead, he was working as a metal polisher and living in Birmingham with his wife, Emma, and their children.

The character of Alfie Solomons, played by Tom Hardy, was inspired by real Jewish gang leader Alfred Solomon.

Official records list him not as a crime boss but as a fruiterer (fruit seller) and in 1921, he was living in Westminster and described by the same trade.

Tommy Shelby, who has been played by Cillian, 49, since the show's debut in 2013, will be driven back to Birmingham from his self-imposed exile

But in 1924, Solomon was charged with the murder of bookmaker Barney Blitz at the Eden Social Club.

The Daily Mirror reported that he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Simon Pearce, Family History Expert at Ancestry, said: 'Peaky Blinders has captivated audiences with its gritty stories of rivalry and gang loyalty on the streets of Birmingham.

'Ancestry's real-life discoveries show just how closely the citys history aligns with the drama on screen and some lesser known facts about the infamous gang too.

'From women actively involved in gang activity to men who served in the First World War, and others who reformed as respectable fruiterers, its a reminder that the most fascinating stories often lie hidden in our local and family histories, waiting to be uncovered.'

The Immortal Man airs on Netflix on March 6 and will be available in cinemas
A police drama that fans have compared to popular hits including Breaking Bad and The Sopranos has rocketed up the Netflix charts.

Fans hailed the series 'one of the best cop shows ever made' before it was uploaded to the streaming giant this month, over a decade it was last on screen.

Southland, which originally hit screens between 2009 and 2013, followed the live of police officers working for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Created by the Emmy Award-winning writer Ann Biderman, it starred Michael Cudlitz as John Cooper, Ben McKenzie as Ben Sherman and Regina Kind as Lydia Adams.

An official show synopsis teases: 'Veteran Los Angeles cop John Cooper is assigned to train rookie Ben Sherman, who finds himself questioning whether he has the right stuff to be a police officer after witnessing Coopers no-nonsense approach.

It was such a hit among fans that the final series of the show even secured a strong 100 per cent perfect rating on reviews site Rotten Tomatoes.

A police drama that fans have compared to popular hits including Breaking Bad and The Sopranos has rocketed up the Netflix charts

Fans hailed the series 'one of the best cop shows ever made' before it was uploaded to the streaming giant this month, over a decade it was last on screen

Fans were left devastated by its cancellation more than a decade ago, taking to the sit to praise the 'staggeringly good' series.

On its return, being uploaded to streaming site Netflix, it has quickly climbed up the top ten charts - with viewers binging all five of the available seasons.

Heaping praise on the series, one viewer wrote on IMDb: 'Ridiculously underrated. Southland is absolutely one of the best cop dramas to ever be made!'

'The cast is excellent and make it a very believable show. It really is one of the more underrated shows in television history,' another chimed in.

Another said: Southland is one of the best and most underrated police series to ever be put on television!

Its a surprisingly fresh take on the cop show genre. Every episode is compelling and will hold your interest.

Someone else listed the series among 'the greats, The Sopranos, The Wire and Breaking Bad', with another adding: 'Once you start you need to clear your schedule.'

It comes after a thriller series described as 'exceptional' and featuring a Squid Games star has soared up the Netflix charts - with viewers left 'hooked.'

Created by the Emmy Award winning writer Ann Biderman, it starred Michael Cudlitz as John Cooper and Ben McKenzie as Ben Sherman

Eight-part mystery The Art Of Sarah has proved popular among the streamer's audience since its release earlier this month.

The South Korean show follows an ambitious woman named Sarah Kim, who is determined to live a life of luxury - but her entire identity is based around lies.

A body believed to be Sarah's is discovered in a Seoul sewer, prompting Detective Park Mu-Gyeong to investigate.

He subsequently uncovers discrepancies in her background, as well as evidence suggesting she has lived under multiple identities.

As this continues, Sarah's carefully constructed life begins to fall apart, and the ramifications of her long-term deceit come to light.

Since hitting the streaming service, the drama has reached number four on Netflix's coveted global Top 10 most-watched chart.

Taking to IMDb, one reviewer wrote: 'Shin Hye Sun really is a great actress. The plot was really interesting.

'The story was really well portrayed but as you go through each episode it makes sense why she did what she did. Overall satisfied with the ending.

New South Korean thriller series The Art of Sarah stars leading actress Shin Hye Sun in the role of Sarah Kim

'Highly recommended. The story runs with Sarah Kim and how she was forced to do what she did.'

Another commented: 'Excellent and intelligent suspense, with a plot that keeps you engaged and intrigued from beginning to end.

'Shin Hye-sun is once again spectacular in the role of Sarah Kim, proving one more time how extremely talented and flawless she is as an actress.

'Lee Jun-hyuk is also wonderful in the role of Detective Park Mugyeong.'

A third said: 'The Art of Sarah feels less like a Kdrama and more like a carefully layered canvas.

'Every episode adds color, texture, and emotional depth until you're completely immersed in its world.

'It's thoughtful, intense, and beautifully paced, allowing the characters to breathe and evolve naturally. I didn't just watch it, I felt it.'

It comes as a Netflix crime thriller from the acclaimed creator of Derry Girls has rocketed up the streaming service's charts.

One impressed viewer enthused: 'Every episode adds color, texture, and emotional depth until you're completely immersed in its world'

Praised as 'sublime', How To Get To Heaven From Belfast' has been described as the perfect example of a 'sharp, dark comedy' as three best pals go on a road trip to find out what really happened to their 'dead' friend.

The show's Netflix synopsis reads: 'When their old friend dies, three best pals embark on a dark, dangerous and hilarious odyssey in this crime series created by Lisa McGee ("Derry Girls").

The streaming service added: 'Sometimes all you need to crack a mystery is some deadly craic.'

Following its release on February 12, the eight-part series has rocketed to the fourth place on the UK Netflix chart.

The show has also performed well critically, with a score of 7.5 out of 10 on IMDb and an even more impressive rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.

One viewer wrote: 'Lisa McGee deserves an Emmy for #howtogettoheavenfrombelfast'

Another added: 'As a huge fan of Derry Girls I really enjoyed #HowToGetToHeavenFromBelfast. I was really excited to see "Erin" and I especially loved the homage to Derry Girls in the last episode. Thank you [Lisa McGee]. Keep em coming.';

While a third said: 'Watched the first 2 episodes of #HowToGetToHeavenFromBelfast. Seems Lisa McGee has nailed it again! The sort of sharp dark comedy/black comedy I love!'

Southland is available to stream on Netflix now
The ex-wife of divisive MAFS groom Tyson Gordon has broken her silence, slamming the former soldier for dragging her into his outspoken anti-woke worldview.

Mormon Tove Thoreson, 26, who married Gordon in 2019 after the pair met at a ski resort in Utah, was shocked to hear their marriage referenced during his controversial appearance on the Channel Nine reality show.

So far during the experiment, Tyson, 30, has made headlines for his strident right-wing views, telling viewers he had no time for 'woke culture' and was searching for a 'trad wife'.

A 'trad wife' refers to a woman who embraces traditional gender roles, prioritising homemaking, marriage and family over paid work.

Tyson left viewers outraged after informing his new bride, Stephanie Marshall - a real estate agent who once made $680,000 in a year - that he was looking for a 'submissive wife', and that she was 'too masculine' for having a career.

He also alluded on the show to his brief marriage to Ms Thoreson when he blamed their split on her being 'a bit messy around the house'.

Mormon Tove Thoreson married Tyson Gordon in 2019 after the pair met at a ski resort in Utah

Tyson left fans outraged after informing his new bride, Stephanie Marshall - a real estate agent who once made $680,000 in a year - that he was looking for a 'submissive wife'

Speaking to the Daily Mail this week, Ms Thoreson said Tyson's outdated opinions did not reflect her views, even as someone from a Mormon background.

'I do not support or agree with the behaviour he has shown on television or what I experienced in real life,' she said.

Ms Thoreson, who is American, said she did not even understand what the term 'trad wife' meant when they were married, and believes her religious background was misrepresented to underscore Tyson's MAFS persona.

'I knew him mentioning I was a Mormon would grab people's attention, that's for sure,' she said.

'We were both young - I was only 21. I wasn't even aware of those terms back then in regards to being "trad". A lot of people may assume because I am Mormon that Mormon women are like that, but that's not the case.

'Yes, we are more traditional possibly, but with Mormon women today we are not "submissive" at all.'

Ms Thoreson declined to discuss specific details surrounding their split, after Tyson had implied her untidiness was somehow to blame.

'Our relationship ultimately became unhealthy and difficult, which is why it ended,' she said. 'The reasons for that are personal and not something I'm willing to discuss publicly.'

He also alluded on the show to his brief marriage to Ms Thoreson when he blamed their split on her being 'a bit messy around the house'

Tyson said his TV wife Stephanie was 'too masculine' because she had a job

While Tyson suggested on the show the pair had remained on friendly terms, Ms Thoreson said that was not accurate.

'I can't comment on his views, now versus then, as I haven't spoken to him in six years,' she said.

'Tyson and I are not friends and we do not speak, as that period of my life was very difficult and I have no interest in revisiting it publicly.'

She also moved to shut down speculation that their marriage was motivated by visa arrangements.

'Tyson and I met in 2018 when he and his family happened to visit the ski resort in Utah where I was working,' she said.

'What started as a chance meeting turned into a long-distance relationship, and for about a year and a half we travelled back and forth between Australia and the United States before eventually getting married in Utah.

'I am Mormon and Tyson is not. After we married, I moved to Australia and lived there for about a year. Because of that, claims that we only knew each other or were married for 30 days, or that I was some sort of internet girlfriend trying to obtain Australian citizenship, simply aren't true.'

Despite wanting to distance herself from the controversy, Ms Thoreson said she now fears that Gordon's sister, popular Twitch streamer Madison Gordon, could become caught up in the fallout.

Madison boasts more than a million followers across social media and often dresses up in cosplay costumes for special gaming events.

Tyson's sister Madison Gordon is a famous Twitch streamer

'The only ongoing connection from that time in my life is my friendship with his sister, Madison, who is one of my closest friends and truly one of the loveliest people I know,' Ms Thoreson said.

'She has had absolutely no involvement in any of this, and I sincerely hope people will refrain from dragging her into it.'

Ms Thoreson also urged viewers to remember reality TV offers only a 'narrow lens of a person'.

'The version viewers see is one dimension, not the entirety of who someone is as a human being,' she said.

'People are complex and shaped by experiences and struggles the public may never see.

'Recognising that complexity does not excuse harmful behaviour, but it does acknowledge that no person is defined by a single portrayal.

'I do not wish Tyson ill, and I sincerely hope that through everything happening publicly right now there can ultimately be some light and healing for him.'

Ms Thoreson, who recently had a baby, says she is focused on her family and prefers 'not to revisit that chapter beyond correcting the facts'.

'I've received messages about comments he made on television, but I can't speak to why he said those things,' she added.

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Several high-profile Australian celebrities are being name-dropped as potential replacements for radio star Jackie 'O' Henderson after she sensationally quit The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday.

The frontrunner is veteran presenter Sophie Monk, 46, whose extensive TV and radio career includes frequent guest appearances on the KIIS FM show.

Sophie has developed a reputation for her down-to-earth nature, cheeky banter and a willingness to not take things too seriously.

These qualities make her a prime candidate for filling Jackie O's shoes, should Kyle return to the hosting gig following his two-week suspension.

And fans online seem to agree, as many have since flocked to social media to call for Jackie to be replaced by Sophie.

'Really hoping for The Kyle and Sophie Show. They have awesome chemistry!' one person wrote.

Several high-profile Australian celebrities are being name-dropped as potential replacements for radio star Jackie 'O' Henderson after she sensationally quit The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday

'Put Kyle and Sophie Monk together. Kyle also makes Australian idol better,' added another.

Some even went so far as to leave direct messages on Sophie's Instagram page, begging her to join Kyle on his radio show.

'Please speak to Kyle Sandilands about teaming up with him youd be absolutely awesome!' said one.

'Time to join Kyle @sophiemonk!' commented another.

Other potential candidates to replace Jackie could include several veteran radio stars, including Amanda Keller, Chrissie Swan and Fifi Box, or even reality TV stars looking to make a career change.

It has also been speculated that should Sandilands not return to the program, KIIS FM will bring on a new duo of breakfast stars to fill their spot.

'You cant replace a show like Kyle and Jackie O. You just do the best you can and hope the audience will find a way and be patient with whatever you put in, in its place,' Craig Bruce, who was previously program director at 2DayFM during Kyle and Jackie's reign at the station, told MediaWeek.

'It's going to be a really high-risk, high-reward act for anyone to go in and be the next show.'

The frontrunner is veteran presenter Sophie Monk , 46, whose extensive TV and radio career includes frequent guest appearances on the KIIS FM show

There are two sets of contenders that some radio experts believe may be the top choice to replace Kyle and Jackie in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Bruce said on the latest episode of Game Changers Radio that local favourites Toni Lodge and Ryan Jon Dunn would be the top pick to take over Melbourne KIIS breakfast.

He said ARN's newly installed Director of Content for Metro Radio, Dave Cameron, will likely make his 'first phone call' to the Toni & Ryan Podcast, and given the duo's immense popularity they 'could name their price'.

But as for which dream team might take the coveted Sydney breakfast slot, Craig said best mates Luisa Dal Din and Jack 'Jarch' Archdale - known as Lu and Jarch on Triple M 2-4pm weekdays - could bring a fresh spin to the position.

'They would be on a very short list of potential shows that could do KIIS Sydney next year,' he added.

KIIS FM have currently appointed Kent 'Smallzy' Small to fill in during The Kyle & Jackie O Show's timeslot, as Kyle is on a two-week suspension from the breakfast program and it is unclear when - or if - he will be returning.

Smallzy was left 'shocked' and 'reeling' on Wednesday morning following news The Kyle and Jackie 'O' Show was no more.

'We are waking up to a very different KIIS,' he told listeners as he filled in for the radio titans after the popular KIIS FM breakfast show was taken off air following news Jackie had sensationally quit the show.

Sophie has developed a reputation for her down-to-earth nature, cheeky banter and a willingness to not take things too seriously. These qualities make her a prime candidate for filling Jackie O's shoes, should Kyle return to the hosting gig

And fans online seem to agree, as many have since flocked to social media to call for Jackie to be replaced by Sophie

He went on to pay tribute to the radio stars.

'I grew up listening to KJ and my first job in radio was on the Hot 30 with them back in the day. I used to drive the Thunders. I lied to get the job, I was on my Ps.'

'They were very lovely and they were always very kind,' he added.

ARN announced on Tuesday that Jackie's $100 million contract has been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on air that left her in tears.

Kyle has been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or else faces termination.

ARN provided written notice to Kyle stating that it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's services agreement with Quasar Media'.

ARN has offered Jackie the possibility of an alternative show on the network.

Daily Mail has reached out to both for comment.

The duo signed a 10-year deal with Australian Radio Network (ARN) in 2023, and have eight years left on the contract.

They were paid a reported $200 million in that landmark negotiation and earned approximately $47,000 per episode.

Jackie, 51, has been AWOL from The Kyle & Jackie O Show since Friday, 20 February, after Kyle, 54, accused her of being unfocused at work.

During the on-air feud, she broke down in tears when the pair were discussing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Kyle got angry at her when she proceeded to read out the disgraced royal's birth chart.

He lambasted his co-star, claiming that her love for astrology was affecting her work.

An emotional Jackie said she was deeply 'offended' by his brutal comments during the clash.

She took a leave of absence following the altercation, and was expected to return to the show on March 2; however, that was not to be.
Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands' business partnership may be over, but will the pair remain friends?

Henderson once said she relished working with her 'best mate' and did not consider what they did together a 'job'.

But the pair's 26-year on-air partnership, the most famed and well-paid in the Australian radio industry, crashed and burned on Tuesday, with Henderson's $100 million contract terminated after she declared she could no longer work with the man she once called her closest pal.

With KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show now in tatters, Henderson's future in radio is uncertain, while Sandilands has been benched amid what ARN has called 'an act of serious misconduct' following a spectacular clash between the pair over his co-host's apparent obsession with astrology

Fans have weighed in on the personal cost of the blow-up between the two 'besties', with many asking whether the pair can maintain their close relationships with each other's children.

After Sandilands' son Otto was born in 2022, the shock jock made Henderson, 51, the godmother to the only child he shares with his wife Tegan Kynaston.

Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands' business partnership may be over, but will the pair remain friends? After Sandilands' son Otto was born in 2022, the shock jock made Henderson, 51, the godmother to the only child he shares with his wife Tegan Kynaston

Just last month, the radio star was seen blowing kisses at her godson when he dropped by The Kyle and Jackie O Show studio for a visit

Henderson has often been seen doting on Otto in public and has frequently expressed her love and affection for the toddler.

Just last month, the radio star was seen blowing kisses at her godson when he dropped by The Kyle and Jackie O Show studio for a visit.

Meanwhile, shortly after Henderson was made godmother to Otto, Sandilands was asked to be her daughter Kitty's godfather, 11 years after she was born.

'I was made the godfather of Kitty over the weekend,' Sandilands proudly said on The Kyle and Jackie O show back in June 2022.

'It happened while I was talking to Kitty about godchildren and I told her I had been trying to be her godfather her whole life. She asked me "Well you are my godfather aren't you?" and I was lost for words,' he explained.

Henderson then asked her daughter if she wanted the shock jock to be her godfather and she said yes.

'So I asked Kyle if he would be Kitty's godfather,' she revealed.

Following the news of the end of the pair's professional relationship, fans urged Sandilands to make up with his former co-host for the sake of their friendship and families.

Henderson has often been seen doting on Otto in public and has frequently expressed her love and affection for the toddler

Meanwhile, shortly after Henderson was made godmother to Otto, Sandilands was asked to be her daughter Kitty's godfather, 11 years after she was born. Kitty is pictured doting over Otto

'You and her are besties,' one fan wrote, adding, 'It's not entirely about you. She adores you.'

Others laid the blame for the blow-up on Sandilands, who expressed 'regret' over the fiery on-air clash last week.

'Absolutely not on air Kyle,' one fan commented and added: 'Your friendship is better than this.'

The Kyle and Jackie O Show came to an end on Tuesday after over 20 years on-air.

KIIS FM's parent company ARN announced on Tuesday that Henderson's $100 million contract has been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on-air that left her in tears.

Sandilands has been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or else faces termination.

ARN provided written notice to Sandilands stating that it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's services agreement with Quasar Media'.

The KIIS breakfast show was taken off-air immediately, with 'interim arrangements made for the show'.

ARN has offered Henderson the possibility of an alternative show on the network.

Daily Mail has reached out to Henderson and Sandilands for comment.

Sandilands and Henderson signed a 10-year deal with Australian Radio Network (ARN) in 2023, and have eight years left on the contract.
A women's activist group has claimed responsibility for the downfall of the Kyle and Jackie O radio program after pressuring advertisers to boycott the show.

KIIS FM's parent company ARN announced on Tuesday that Jackie O Henderson's $100million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with co-star Kyle Sandilands' following two decades on air together.

The decision followed a recent on-air clash that reportedly left Henderson in tears.

Sandilands has been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or he will face termination.

The KIIS FM breakfast show has since been taken off-air, with the network saying 'interim arrangements' are being made for the timeslot.

Women's online platform Mad F****** Witches was quick to celebrate the news.

In 2024, the group launched a high-profile campaign titled 'Vile Kyle', aimed at mobilising public and advertiser backlash against Sandilands over a series of offensive and misogynistic on-air remarks.

Several major brands, including AMP, Bendigo Bank, Flight Centre and AustralianSuper, later withdrew or reviewed their advertising with the show.

Jackie O's $100million contract was terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work' with KISS FM co-star Kyle Sandilands

Jackie O was spotted in inner-city Newtown on Tuesday, just hours before KIIS FM's parent company ARN released a statement

MFW has since persistently lobbied advertisers to withdraw funding from not only the Kyle and Jackie O Show but also, more recently, Channel Sevens Australian Idol, where Sandilands appears as a judge.

'We did it,' the group boasted to its 94,000 followers on Tuesday night.

'Because it's been our hard, relentless pressure over the past (almost) two years which has led to this result.

'Our enormous effort in recording all the foul things Kyle says, which has led to the relentless attention on him and him thus imploding on air and (allegedly) breaching his contract.

'And we have reason to believe our involvement in this demise is even greater than we can currently say  but we hope to be soon able to do so.

'Rest assured the violent and disgraceful threats issued against us by Kyle in past months have NOT gone down well at ARN, and in conjunction with Jackie's taking a stand against his treatment of her (as he treats ALL women he decides to treat like shit), the pressure on ARN to act became absolutely overwhelming.

'We'll have far more to say in coming days on this but for now, please celebrate with us.

In 2014, women's activist group MFW launched a major campaign branded Vile Kyle to mobilise public and advertiser backlash against Kyle Sandilands (pictured with Jackie 0)

Jackie O has not been on air since February 20 after a stoush with Sandilands left her in tears

'Bring on the champagne and witchy dancing.'

Several hours before the radio show's demise was confirmed, MFW claimed that its Vile Kyle campaign had resulted in more than 1,900 advertisers pulling the plug.

Athlete's Foot, Banana Boat, Bega Cheese and Bulla Ice Cream were listed among more than two dozen advertisers to withdraw in recent weeks.

MFW also called out ongoing advertisers and urged followers to boycott and continue pressuring them.

Those listed included Advocate Pet Care, Frontier Touring, Lite N Easy and Sanitarium.

'We won't stop till advertisers stop funding the filth,' the group ended the post.

One advertising agency insider said the Kyle and Jackie O Show had become increasingly difficult to sell to advertisers because of its controversial content, with many brands opting to place their spending with safer programs on rival stations instead.

MFW previously mobilised community and advertiser backlash against Alan Jones at 2GB over remarks about the then-New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern.

MFW has also targeted Australian Idol advertisers, where Sandilands (left) appears as a judge

In August 2019, Jones suggested that then-PM Scott Morrison should shove a sock down the throat of his NZ counterpart over comments she made about climate change.

MFW boasts on its website that more than 530 advertisers withdrew from his radio show before Jones announced his sudden departure from 2GB nine months later.

Henderson, 51, had been AWOL from the Kyle & Jackie O show since February 20 after Sandilands, 54, accused Henderson of being unfocused at work.

During the on-air feud, Henderson broke down in tears when the pair were discussing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Sandilands got angry at her when she proceeded to read out the disgraced royal's birth chart.

He lambasted his co-star, claiming that her love for astrology was affecting her work.

When Henderson attempted to defend herself and accused him of launching an attack on her, he stated he was only expressing the 'facts'.
As the dust settles around Jackie 'O' Henderson's shock move to walk away from her $100 million KIIS FM contract and quit her radio show, questions are being asked about the reason behind the decision.

Some have even suggested that it was Henderson's love of new-age 'woo-woo' practices, such as sound baths and Kundalini yoga, that may have played a part.

Breaking the news of her departure on Tuesday, Instagram account SoSydneyAu also made a very pointed reference to the 'spiritual' timing of Henderson's exit.

'The announcement lands on the night of the blood moon, Mercury being in retrograde and a lunar eclipse,' they wrote.

'Its maybe just a little iconic.'

A Blood Moon, or total lunar eclipse, is regarded by some to be a potent time for radical transformation and emotional release. Some believers suggest it can offer a 'cosmic reset.'

As the dust settles around Jackie 'O' Henderson's shock decision to walk away from her $100 million KIIS FM contract, questions are being asked about the reason behind the decision

Some have even suggested that it was Henderson's love of new-age 'woo-woo' practices, such as sound baths and Kundalini yoga, that may have played a part

This was not lost on followers, with one commenting: 'Astrology is so f***ing real though lets be real, go @jackieo_official we support you!!'

Another chimed in with: 'Wow! Astrology was the straw that broke the camel's back after all that.'

One took a not-so-subtle dig, adding: 'I guess you could say it was written in the stars.'

Meanwhile, just hours before the shock announcement Henderson was quitting The Kyle and Jackie O Show, the radio star travelled from her eastern suburbs mansion to Newtown, in Sydney's inner west, where she visited a wellness studio just off bustling King Street with a friend, Steve Cordony.

The 'sound medicine' class Henderson and Cordony attended was called Empower: Dynamic Fire Element, a 90-minute experience that costs $75 per person.

According to Frequency Lab's website, the class is 'a shamanic journey that stimulates life force and action by awakening our inner fire and warrior archetype'.

Students 'own their inner warrior' as they lie on waterbeds while listening to the sound of drums, didgeridoo, gongs and 'transcendental voice activations'.

After the visit, KIIS FM's parent company ARN announced that Henderson's $100 million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on air that left her in tears last month.

Just hours before the shock announcement Henderson was quitting The Kyle and Jackie O Show, the radio star travelled from her eastern suburbs mansion to Newtown, in Sydney's inner west, where she visited a wellness studio just off bustling King Street with a friend, Steve Cordony

Breaking the news of her departure on Tuesday, Instagram account SoSydneyAu also made a very pointed reference to the 'spiritual' timing of Henderson's exit. 'The announcement lands on the night of the blood moon, Mercury being in retrograde and a lunar eclipse,' they wrote

At the crux of the show-ending furore, was, of course, Sandilands taking umbrage with Henderson's apparent 'fixation' with astrology.

The pair were discussing the latest developments regarding Prince Andrew when Henderson proceeded to read out the disgraced royal's birth chart.

Sandilands then proceeded to lambast his co-star, claiming that her love for astrology was affecting her work.

Taken aback by his comment, Henderson protested, saying that she had just looked up the information on her phone.

'It's affecting other things, like your fixation on this has made you almost unworkable. You're off with the fairies with this s***t. It's mental,' Sandilands added.

Clearly taken aback by his shock spray, a stunned Henderson said that she was offended by his comment.

'I am, Kyle. I totally am offended by you saying something like that,' she said, but he was having none of it.

'Well, too bad if you are because that's the reality of what we're dealing with here,' he spat.

KIIS FM's parent company ARN announced that Henderson's $100 million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on air that left her in tears last month

At the crux of the show-ending furore, was, of course, Sandilands taking umbrage with Henderson's apparent 'fixation' with astrology

Back in January 2024, Henderson indulged her spiritual side as she enjoyed an authentic Balinese experience, visiting a local spiritual healer in the historic town of Ubud

'Its affecting everything else. Youre too fixated on it.'

Henderson has certainly made no secret about her love of indulging in new-age practices.

She recently spoke candidly about her experiences with a Kundalini 'Awakening' session on the podcast she shares with best friend Gemma O'Neill.

In an episode of her podcast Her Best Life called Unexpected Tears, she went into great detail about her intense emotional releases, involuntary body movements and a sense of finally letting go of deeply buried pain all thanks to this alternative therapy.

In August last year, Henderson was spotted moved to tears as she sat on Sydney's Clovelly beach while reading Return to the Soul by Cynthia Hickman.

Back in January 2024, the star indulged her spiritual side as she enjoyed an authentic Balinese experience, visiting a local spiritual healer in the historic town of Ubud.

'A day of healing. Thank you to the beautiful Agus Sihman for welcoming us into his home which is so vibrant and colourful yet calming and peaceful,' the radio star wrote.

'From the cleansing flower bath to the sound healing and incredibly accurate body and palm reading, he is everything they say he is,' she continued.

More recently, Henderson indulged in her love of tarot with her bestie Pip Edwards

Edwards also shared a photo of the pair, last month, sunning themselves on the beach, captioning the image: 'Back home and straight into solar charging  but most of all, SOUL charging'

Also, that same month, Henderson celebrated her 49th birthday in style with a lavish boat party on Sydney Harbour.

She encouraged revellers to tap into their spiritual side with the addition of a tarot card reader on board.

More recently, Henderson indulged in her love of tarot with her bestie Pip Edwards.

Edwards took to Instagram last month to share a photo that showed tarot cards and crystals splayed out on a velvet-covered table.

The fashionista tagged both her son, Justice, and Henderson in the image.

She also shared a photo of the pair, last month, sunning themselves on the beach, captioning the image: 'Back home and straight into solar charging  but most of all, SOUL charging.'
A radio veteran says the collapse of the Kyle and Jackie O show has likely come as a relief for bosses who may have struggled to pay their $200million contract - and reveals why the unlikely duo were never going to last.

KIIS FM's parent company ARN announced on Tuesday that Jackie 'O' Henderson's $100million contract had been terminated. The pair's landmark 10-year deal in 2023 remains the biggest media contract in Australian history.

Henderson told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' after his harsh on-air comments in late February left her in tears. Sandilands has been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or else face termination.

Craig Bruce, who was previously program director at 2DayFM during Kyle and Jackie's reign at the station, shared his thoughts on the clash.

'For people [who] have worked around the show, most have said they suspected it wouldn't last the 10-year contract they had signed,' he told the Daily Mail.

'They are two very different people. There was a lack of communication happening off the air, and in between songs.'

ARN announced on Tuesday that Jackie 'O' Henderson's contract had been terminated

The co-host of the Kyle and Jackie O Show told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' after his harsh comments on-air left her in tears

Radio veteran Craig Bruce (centre) said ARN's executives will be relieved the company won't have to continue paying the radio duo an eye-watering $200million in their 10-year contract

Bruce added the termination of their 10-year deal with ARN  in which the hosts were reportedly paid $200million in 2023 and earned approximately $47,000 per episode  would come as a relief to company executives.

'It's too much for any radio show. The money never, ever made any sense,' he said.

'Thank goodness it didn't last 10 years, because I don't know who was going to be paying the bill.

'There's not going to be that amount of revenue floating around in the radio industry in 10 years from now to pay for a $20-million-a-year show, as they reportedly are.

'The deal was just all in [Sandilands and Henderson's] favour. It was a mistake for ARN to present that to them in the first place and I think they would be relieved today.'

The discontent behind the scenes of the show led to a dramatic on-air meltdown that escalated the pair's personal issues, the radio expert added.

'The culmination of a bunch of conversations that should have happened behind the scenes? There's a blow-up on the radio,' Bruce said.

'I spoke to Kyle last week. He said, "I'm on the air. The mics are on. I'm realising it's going south. And I just kept digging". And that's what has happened.

The show erupted after Kyle Sandilands (pictured) accused co-star Jackie 'O' Henderson of being unfocused at work while on-air on February 20

'The conversation - about "Are we working hard enough?" which was essentially Kyle's question to Jackie, or "Are we focused enough on the product?" - is a fair and reasonable question for a co-host to ask his partner.

'It shouldn't have happened on the air but it speaks to the quality of the relationship. There's obviously some tension that built up and then that 10-minute moment we heard two Fridays ago was clearly one of many.'

The argument in question erupted on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on February 20, after Sandilands, 54, accused Henderson, 51, of being unfocused at work.

Henderson broke down in tears when the pair were discussing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after Sandilands criticised her decision to analyse the disgraced royal's birth chart.

He lambasted his co-star, claiming her love for astrology was affecting her work and had been noticed by her colleagues.

When Henderson attempted to defend herself and accused him of launching an attack on her, he stated he was only stating the 'facts'.

An emotional Henderson said she was deeply 'offended' by his brutal comments during the clash.

She has been absent from the show since, taking a leave of absence with the expectation she would return on Tuesday.

But on Tuesday evening, it was announced Henderson's contract had been officially terminated and that ARN has offered her the possibility of an alternative show.

ARN, meanwhile, provided written notice to Sandilands stating that it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's services agreement with Quasar Media'.

Craig Bruce (pictured) said the split could have been prevented through better communication

The Kyle and Jackie O Show kicked off on 2Day FM in 2004 and lasted a decade, before the radio duo made the jump to KIIS FM in 2014 (the pair are pictured)

Bruce said precautions could have been taken to prevent the split.

'It doesn't need to spell the end of a show when those things are going on,' he said.

'They should have been talking more. They should have invested more time in their relationship.

'The thing that audiences notice first is chemistry, and they notice rapport, and they notice when hosts are getting on - and they also notice when that is not happening.'

He suggested audiences had noticed the Kyle & Jackie O Show 'hasn't been as good as it once was' because their relationship hadn't been protected.

'And that is okay, lots of relationships break up. They've been together for 27 years,' Bruce said.

'It's an amazing run, but that was the remedy, and they didn't address that many years ago.'

The renowned radio stars first teamed up back in 2000 as co-hosts of the Hot30 Countdown on 2Day FM.

The Kyle and Jackie O Show kicked off on 2Day FM in 2004 and lasted a decade, before the radio duo made the jump to KIIS FM in 2014.
Married At First Sight groom Sam Stanton showed off his impressive physique during a lively performance at the Adelaide Fringe Festival over the weekend.

The fitness studio owner, 34, stripped down to reveal his chiselled six-pack as he took to the stage during the Old Town Road country dance party, delighting the packed crowd with a high-energy routine.

Footage obtained by Daily Mail show Sam confidently dancing front and centre, wearing nothing but a pair of loose blue jeans and a black cowboy hat as he strutted across the stage.

The shirtless TV groom flaunted his muscular torso and toned abs while performing a cheeky country dance routine alongside two female dancers dressed in Western-inspired outfits.

The dancers embraced the theme in glittering pink tank tops, denim shorts and white cowboy boots, completing their looks with cowboy hats and bright bandanas tied around their necks.

Behind them, a glowing 'Old Town Road' sign lit up the stage as the trio performed a series of coordinated dance moves to the country hit Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) by Big & Rich.

Married At First Sight groom Sam Stanton showed off his impressive physique during a lively performance at the Adelaide Fringe Festival over the weekend

The fitness studio owner, 34, stripped down to reveal his chiselled six-pack as he took to the stage during the Old Town Road country dance party

At one point during the routine, Sam appeared to wipe sweat from his face as the crowd cheered him on, clearly enjoying the energetic performance.

Another moment saw him remove his hat mid-performance before continuing to dance alongside the performers, who were laughing and interacting with the audience.

The Adelaide Fringe Festival is known for its vibrant mix of comedy, theatre and live performances, and the country-themed dance party proved to be a crowd favourite.

It comes after former MAFS groom Eliot Donovan revealed his secret connection to the intruder groom.

Taking to TikTok, the MAFS alum shared a throwback photo of the pair together at a bustling bar in Saint Martin back in 2014 - long before either of them signed up for reality TV.

In the image, a fresh-faced Eliot and Sam are seen sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in sleeveless tank tops, each clutching a beer as they grin at the camera.

Eliot, sporting dark tousled hair and a muscular build, flashes a relaxed hand sign while Sam beams broadly, his arm draped casually around his now fellow MAFS groom.

The tropical backdrop and crowded bar setting suggest a carefree working holiday vibe - a far cry from the high-pressure dinner parties of the experiment.

Join the debate What do YOU think of Sams shirtless stage moment... confident or a bit too much?

Sam (pictured) was often seen running errands around Green Square, where the show is filmed, shirtless during filming breaks

Veteran MAFS groom Eliot Donovan has revealed he has a surprising history with incoming intruder Sam Stanton. Both pictured

'So I actually know the new masked villain that's coming on, this guy,' Eliot began in the clip, before quickly laughing. 'I'm just kidding, he's not a villain.'

Eliot explained the pair met more than a decade ago while working as personal trainers.

'We met back in 2014 though, there's a photo of us together at a bar in Saint Martin,' he said.

'I took over a ship that he was working on. I'll never forget, everyone on the ship was obsessed with this guy. They were like, 'Oh my God, he's so amazing.'

Eliot admitted he was intrigued by Sam's popularity at the time.

'I remember I messaged him and I was like, 'Dude, what the f*** did you do to this cast because it's like they're obsessed with you.'

Despite the hype, Eliot insisted Sam was the real deal.

'We ended up meeting up later on and he is just a really genuine, sweet guy.'

The pair eventually lost touch over the years and have not spoken since.

'We don't talk or anything, so I don't know how his journey goes,' Eliot said.

Despite the hype, Eliot insisted Sam was the real deal. 'We ended up meeting up later on and he is just a really genuine, sweet guy'

'I do really hope that he finds love on the show and I'm so grateful someone genuine and positive is coming into the experiment because I don't know about you guys but I don't even want to watch it at the moment, it's just so catty and toxic'

But he made it clear he is backing his former colleague to find love.

'I do really hope that he finds love on the show and I'm so grateful someone genuine and positive is coming into the experiment because I don't know about you guys but I don't even want to watch it at the moment, it's just so catty and toxic.'

Eliot's show of support comes as Sam himself has been navigating his own on-screen drama.

The 34-year-old fitness studio owner recently broke his silence on husband Chris' shock baby bombshell, admitting he has 'thought about it a lot' and questioned whether he should have known sooner.

'I think there's definitely reasons that I should have known upfront what I was walking into,' Sam told Daily Mail.

However, he was quick to show empathy towards his partner.

'I also understand and empathise with Chris, that it was big news that he wanted to feel some security between us before he shared that information with me.'

'I've thought about that a lot and wondered whether it was the right timing.'

Despite the looming revelation, Sam said he believes he will handle the moment maturely.

Viewers watched sparks fly between the pair during their wedding in Episode 14, but Sam admitted the chemistry was not instant. 'I wouldn't say it was instant connection,' he said

'I think when he does tell me, I'll receive that news well.'

Viewers watched sparks fly between the pair during their wedding in Episode 14, but Sam admitted the chemistry was not instant.

'I wouldn't say it was instant connection,' he said.

'I turned around and I was like, 'Oh, this guy's handsome - beautiful blue eyes, good looking dude - but it was definitely like, you're a stranger. I don't know you at all.'

Instead, he felt there was potential to build something meaningful.

'I had high hopes. There was a lot of potential. I just wanted to get to know him.'

Sam has also not shied away from calling out controversial behaviour in the experiment, taking aim at fellow groom Tyson.

'What I'm not liking is seeing this Sergeant Tyson and the way that he speaks to women,' Sam said.

'I think that's the problem with him. He really has some misogynistic values deep in him.'

As alliances begin to form - and fractures deepen - Sam teased possible tension between the couples.

'The Chris and Gia versus Sam and Beck - there might be something there,' he said.

Still, he insisted he did not sign up to ride out a doomed marriage for airtime.

'I was never ever going to stay if I found out it wasn't going to work for whatever reason. I'm not just going to stay there for no reason.'
As the titans of Sydney breakfast radio collapse this week, taking a $200million show with it, insiders have turned their eyes to the fractured team surrounding them.

While Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson may have the sort of money that allows them to walk away from their contracts with their financial futures secure, the same can't be said for the young KIIS FM staffers who have been working relentlessly behind the scenes to keep the show afloat even as the hosts' relationship fractured and their Melbourne ambitions fell apart.

According to radio industry sources, KJO staff group chats have been blowing up as producers face an uncertain future with some feeling like they have 'nowhere else to go' within the company, as ARN tightens its belt in response to falling revenue.

The Mail is told workers were 'blindsided' by the collapse of the popular program this week, which came after Sandilands and Henderson got into a bust-up on February 20 over her interest in astrology - an argument that ended with her storming out of the studio in tears and eventually deciding to terminate her contract.

Now, the production team behind the radio show - which is huge by industry standards - are fearing the worst, with many feeling it is unlikely they will be redeployed elsewhere at ARN because there 'aren't any jobs'.

Some roles simply do not exist outside of The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

As the titans of Sydney breakfast radio collapse this week, taking a $200million show with it, insiders have turned their eyes to the fractured team surrounding them. (Pictured: The Kyle & Jackie O production team in happier times with Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson)

Take the censor, for example, who had plenty to do over at Sydney breakfast with the looming threat of media regulator ACMA, but wouldn't really have a place anywhere else in KIIS FM's programming schedule.

Many listeners will no doubt be hoping that popular producer Jaimee Blazquez, better known as 'Mayo', will be taken care of as she is on maternity leave and welcomed her second child only a week ago.

Some of the staff members who jumped ship months ago are likely patting themselves on the back for noticing that Sandilands and Henderson's fraying relationship was heading towards disaster.

Several key staff members exited the show in the last 14 months, either due to job cuts or because they saw the writing on the wall after the show's failure in Melbourne.

Their departures were a warning sign that Henderson and Sandilands were never going to last the remaining eight years on their contracts.

Tony Aldridge, content director for KIIS 106.5, who was key in managing KJO and its doomed expansion into Melbourne, was out in May 2025 after seven years with ARN.

Pedro Cuccovillo Vitola, who joined the show in 2016 through a 'World's Best Job' competition, left in late 2024 - a year after being promoted to executive producer - citing the pressures of the job on his personal life.

He's now in business with another KJO alum, video producer Josh Fox.

Former NRL player-turned-sports presenter Cooper Johns was one among many who left the show in the last year

That same year, audio producer Thomas Martin and censor Nikita McGoram also walked out the door, though their exits largely went unnoticed by the media - until ARN chief content officer Duncan Campbell left in a 'strategic leadership restructure'.

Campbell, better known as DC, was widely credited for poaching Sandilands and Henderson from SCA in 2013, but was out in early 2025 - triggering a mass exodus of staff when it became clear that KIIS's hopes for a national breakfast show had been thwarted.

By this point, Sandilands and Henderson were performing dismally in Melbourne, as they struggled to get past a five per cent audience share - compared to their 12 per cent monopoly in Sydney.

In June 2025, studio producer Lachlan Mansell departed, then in July, promotions co-ordinator Mel Maltby left, along with Megan Hui - also from promotions.

Guest booker Kirsten Ploog was made redundant amid a restructuring, and digital producer Ella Kanna was also among those who departed the station.

Louise 'Schoolteacher Lou' Senteleky, a producer, was one of the most recent departures, with former NRL player-turned-sports presenter Cooper Johns leaving just a few months prior.

Jobs in finance, sales support and tech throughout ARN were also shed during this time frame as the company moved to outsource to the global IT services and business solutions company TCS, which is headquartered in Mumbai, India.

It wasn't just staff ARN was losing during this period. The Johns Family Podcast also pulled out of iHeart and went over to Nova, while Life Uncut, hosted by Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley, jumped ship to SCA.

In the background, Kyle and Jackie O had become a marketing 'black sheep' as agencies found it increasingly difficult to sell the show to advertisers, an industry source told the Mail.

Big brands were said to have lost interest in being associated with Sandilands and Henderson because their content was too risky and they simply didn't bring in the kind of cash they once did.

Pedro Cuccovillo Vitola, who joined the show in 2016, left in late 2024 - a year after being promoted to executive producer - citing the pressures of the job on his personal life

Brooklyn Ross is most likely to keep his job at ARN, as newsreaders are always needed in radio and he is believed to have re-negotiated his contract as recently as last year

Amid the chaos, there does appear to be one possible survivor.

Brooklyn Ross is most likely to keep his job at ARN, as newsreaders are always needed in radio and he is believed to have re-negotiated his contract as recently as last year, securing a position with the wider network.

This means he likely won't go down with the KJO sinking ship and will continue reading the news for whichever show replaces them.

Indeed, on Wednesday morning Ross was the only person from the KIIS team who was allowed to show up to work, with the rest being told to stay home.

Ross hopped on the air alongside fill-in host Ken 'Smallzy' Small to discuss the shock termination of Henderson's $100million contract and Sandilands' two-week suspension.

'I don't think anyone can believe what's happened,' said a shell-shocked Ross. 'I was on the show for 12 years. Holy crap.'

Meanwhile, there are some at KIIS' parent company ARN who are said to be popping the champagne bottles and celebrating the end of The Kyle & Jackie O Show.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, some workers are said to be breathing sighs of relief as hope emerges that exorbitant amounts of money will no longer be poured into the breakfast show, leading to fewer job cuts in the future.

Only time will tell, but for the moment, all we know for sure is that Henderson's contract has been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments that left her in tears.

Furthermore, Sandilands has been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach in his contract, or else face termination.

ARN provided written notice to Sandilands stating that it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's services agreement with Quasar Media'.

The KIIS breakfast show was taken off-air immediately, with 'interim arrangements made for the show'.

ARN has since offered Henderson the possibility of an alternative show on the network.

Daily Mail has contacted ARN for comment.
Madeline Ross, the sister of popular streaming personality Adin Ross, has died at the age of 36 in Broward County, Florida.

The Broward County Medical Examiner confirmed to TMZ on Tuesday that Madeline was pronounced dead on January 15.

Officials have not announced the cause of Madeline's death, the outlet reported.

Adin, 25, is brother to three siblings, including influencer Naomi Ross, who has more than 127,000 followers on Instagram under the handle @naomzies.

Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Adin and Naomi, and the Broward County Medical Examiner, for further comment on the story.

Adin has carved out a name for his success with millions of followers across multiple streaming and social media platforms.

Madeline Ross, the sister of popular streaming personality Adin Ross, has died at the age of 36 in Broward County, Florida. Adin seen in 2024 in NYC

They include YouTube, on which he has 4.6 million subscribers; and Discord, where he has nearly 250,000 members on his Adin's Planet server.

He has previously interviewed notable names such as Drake, Young Thug, Andrew Tate and President Donald Trump, who he spoke with in August 2024.

Ross made headlines for the latter interview, which took place during the stretch run of the 2024 presidential campaign.

On the livestream, Ross - who's friendly with Barron Trump - offered to present the now-president gifts such as a Tesla Cybertruck.

During the interview, Trump told Ross, 'Maybe someday you'll be president,' to which he said, 'I don't know about that - I'll leave it to Barron maybe one day.'

Less than two months later, the popular online personality admitted he regretted dipping his toe into political waters.

'Now that I look back on it, I really, really wish I never got into like politics,' Ross said during a livestream on September 26.

Ross said he felt that he had been a victim of identity politics to an audience that was not familiar with him prior to the Trump interview

Adin seen in 2022 in Atlanta watching a Hawks game at State Farm Arena

Adin pictured in NYC in 2024 at Jacob Javits Center in NYC

'So many people just tie me to it, Ross said. 'And no matter what, they don't even get to know who I am.'

Ross opened up about his political beliefs - or lack thereof, aside from Trump - in the discussion.

He said at the time, 'I'm getting older, I don't think I'll ever care enough again for any other politician ever in the future.

'At the end of the day, humans, we're all humans.'
Katie Price has doubled down on her insistence that husband Lee Andrews is The One, insisting that he is 'not a con man or a scammer' and that she's 'the happiest Ive ever been'.

The former glamour model, 47, shocked fans when she married the so-called businessman, 42, in Dubai in January within 10 days of meeting him.

And despite her family sharing their concerns, several of his ex-partners making bombshell accusations and a slew of his claims about his finances, business acumen and celebrity-links being revealed as false - Katie is certain that Lee is the real deal.

In a new interview, she revealed that she has so much trust in her new husband that she declined to sign a pre-nup before their whirlwind wedding.

Insisting that she's 'not stupid', she said Lee - who has claimed to be both a millionaire and billionaire previously - has shown her documents to attest to his wealth and has proof of purchase that he paid for his new 36million home in Dubai in cash.

Katie said she's also done her due diligence by speaking to his father and his Russian ex-wife Cezara, and declares Lee 'ticks every box'.

Katie Price has doubled down on her insistence that husband Lee Andrews is The One, insisting that he is 'not a con man or a scammer' and that she's 'the happiest Ive ever been'

Katie's sister Sophie has previously hinted at her disapproval of her new marriage and said their podcast would be 'paused' for the foreseeable future

The besotted mother-of-five gushed to The Sun: 'I thought I'd been in love before but this feels different. It's not even about lust, it's just instant connection on all levels. I fell in love with him long before I had sex with him.'

She said they first connected after Lee came up as a suggested follow on Instagram and she took the opportunity to slide into his DMs, with the pair going on to message back and forth up to five hours a day, before finally meeting in person in Dubai.

Yet her loved ones were said to have been blindsided by the whirlwind nuptials, and are reported to have expressed their concerns about the marriage and are 'anxious this is a potential scam'.

However, Katie dismissed her family's worries, insisting that she was not a kid and that 'my life isn't normal', so they had to 'let me be me'.

She acknowledged their feelings, saying: 'Of course my family are going to worry, I wouldn't expect anything different. They love me and they've seen me go through so much heartache, and the most horrific times.

'So I don't blame them for being p***ed off and angry. They love me and I love them too. But I'm not a kid any more, I am 47, I can make my own choices, and I will. They have to give me that chance to go and find out for myself.'

Katie's sister Sophie has previously hinted at her disapproval of her new marriage and said their podcast would be 'paused' for the foreseeable future.

In January, she shared a video of rolling British fields with the caption: 'This and never stepping foot in Dubai,' after telling her followers she'd had 'one hell of a week' following news of the wedding.

While last month, she tellingly reposted a clip of physician Dr Gabor Mate discussing the various approaches that families can make in difficult times.

The video ends with the words: 'I'm not going to try and change you. I just hope you come to your senses at some point. But I'll be with you and I'll be supporting you.'

While her five children are still yet to meet the businessman, eldest children Princess, 18, and Junior, 20, said on This Morning last month that the family are 'happy as long as she's happy'.

While her five children are still yet to meet the businessman, eldest children Princess, 18, and Junior, 20, said on This Morning last month that the family are 'happy as long as she's happy'

Daughter Princess admitted: 'I've not met him', as Junior continued: 'Our mum is her own person, she's her own woman, she's going to do what she's going to do and at the end of the day, we're supportive of her as long as she's happy.'

'As long as she's happy that's all I care about,' he added, as Princess chimed in: 'If she's happy, we're happy.'

Lee and Katie maintain that they are very much in love and that he will be coming to the UK soon to have a bigger wedding with family and friends, despite frequent claims from his ex, Alana Percival that he is legally bound to the UAE.

While he has presented himself as a high-flying business mogul, the Daily Mail shattered the illusion by revealing that he has been banned from leaving Dubai after spending three weeks locked up in a UAE jail for allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend's signature to secure a 200,000 loan.

He allegedly applied for a mortgage in personal trainer Dina Taji's name last year without her consent.

Lee told the Daily Mail it was 'complete b******s' that he couldn't leave.

Since they wed, Katie has returned home alone twice - despite Lee insisting he would join her both times.

There were also assertions that they would be going somewhere on honeymoon together, but they remained in Dubai.

This week, Lee revealed on his social media that Katie is coming back to Dubai via flying to Oman where he will pick her up, amid the conflict in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

He said: 'The flights have started to open. The flights are a bit backed up, but if not you can always go through Oman, it is next door and one of the neighbouring countries.

'I'm not going to tell you all my plans but Katie would fly there and I would go to Oman and pick her up and bring her home because that's what you do when you are married and in love, you try everything right? Or have I got that wrong?'

The UAE's government travel advice states: 'Due to the volatile security situation in the region and military strikes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we've raised our level of advice for the UAE to do not travel.

'The UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports. Retaliatory strikes are occurring across the Middle East region following military strikes on Iran. Military conflict in the region may result in widespread movement restrictions, and other travel disruptions.'
Anya Taylor-Joy oozed elegance in a silk champagne dress at the Louvre Museum gala dinner during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday.

Le Grand Diner du Louvre helps to raise funds to support the Louvre's restoration projects and educational programmes.

Diane Kruger pulled out all the stops in an eye-popping gown, which displayed her toned physique.

The German actress, 49, looked sensational in the flesh-flashing garment as she confidently struck a pose.

Anya, 29, kept her accessories to a minimum, opting only for a touch of colour on her lips.

Paris Fashion Week is the final Fashion Week in the global 'big four' schedule, following New York, London and Milan.

Anya Taylor-Joy, 29, oozed elegance in a silk champagne dress at the Louvre Museum gala dinner during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

Diane Kruger, 49, pulled out all the stops in an eye-popping gown, which displayed her toned physique

Paris Fashion Week runs from March 2 to March 10.

Among the other highlights is Antonin Tron at Balmain, presenting his first collection for the heritage house on March 4.

Another standout moment will be Pieter Muliers final show at Alaia before he takes on the role of chief creative officer of Versace in July.

All the major houses will showcase including Dior on March 3, Balenciaga on March 7, Jean Paul Gaultier on March 8, and Chanel on March 9.

Overall 67 ready-to-wear shows and 31 presentations will feature over the week with the Institut Francais de la Mode (IFM) show kicking off the official schedule as per tradition.

Last year, Anya opened up about how her and husband Malcolm McRae's love story began many years ago.

While making an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, she gushed about meeting the musician and finding out they shared the same birthday.

'I love him so much,' she told Drew Barrymore when she asked about her partner. 'Oh yeah, he's, I'm very, I'm so lucky. I'm so lucky.'

The Queen's Gambit star revealed where they crossed paths and the very first thing he said to her.

'We met in a music studio and he's like, I do. I love him. We're born on the same day. So that was the first thing he ever said to me,' she recalled.

'He was like, "When's your birthday?" And I was like, "April 16th." He's like, "I knew it." I was like, "Oh no, this is, yeah."

Le Grand Diner du Louvre helps to raise funds to support the Louvre's restoration projects and educational programmes

Anya kept her accessories to a minimum, opting only for a touch of colour on her lips

The German actress looked sensational in the flesh-flashing garment as she confidently struck a pose

Amy Jackson Westwick was a vision in white as she arrived at the event

Dylan Sprouse looked dapper in his navy suit

Ever Anderson, 18, looked stylish in a knee-high white gown

Eva Herzigova, 52, flashed her long legs in a mini blazer dress

Alexa Chung cut a quirky figure in a sequin dress over black trousers

Russian model Natasha Poly looked sensational in a flowing white sheer gown

'He's the absolute greatest.'

'My dad once told me when I was a kid that you're not looking for another half to make you whole, that you are whole,' she continued.

'And if you're lucky enough, you meet another whole,' she continued. 'And then you become, like, a greater sum of your parts.'

The Golden Globe winner added: 'I just feel like I am encouraged to grow in the most unexpected and beautiful ways because he provides a soil that's, like, really nutritious and safe.

'Yeah, I just, he's the best,' she gushed to Barrymore.
One of the newest stars of The Real Housewives of New York City is standing up for herself after becoming embroiled in controversy soon after her casting was announced.

Publicist Hailey Glassman has found herself in hot water after influencer Claudia Oshry claimed the new Bravolebrity had been 'trolling' her since 2017.

Oshry - also known as Girl With No Job - posted screenshots of messages Glassman allegedly sent her over the years in which the new reality star commented on her weight and mocked her 'annoying' voice.

'She has been a troll of mine, like a deep internet troll, since 2017,' Oshry, 31, alleged before sharing screenshots of the messages Glassman had sent her.

Now Glassman is defending herself, with her representative Adriane Schwartz exclusively telling The Daily Mail the publicist was not 'trolling' Oshry but merely 'engaging' with the influencer's 'provocative content.'

Scathingly, she stressed she stood by her criticism of Oshry's voice.

Hailey Glassman has defended herself against allegations she 'trolled' Claudia Oshry, aka Girl With No Job, over the years

Oshry, pictured 2024, alleged she had been receiving messages from Glassman for nearly 10 years

A representative for Glassman exclusively told The Daily Mail: 'For an influencer who had to apologize for her bullying and racist comments, even losing her podcast for racism, its unfortunate she feels the need to attack Ms. Glassman.' (In 2018, Oshry's podcast The Morning Breath was cancelled after her past anti-Muslim tweets were surfaced).

'Haileys responses were in no way trolling, she was simply engaging with Claudias provocative content,' the rep insisted.

'Ms Glassman responded to her posts appropriately, even sending a sweet Mazel Tov for the birth of her child and offering sound advice to be respectful of her young followers when she seemed to be dishonest regarding the use of weight loss drugs. Which is a legitimate relevant issue.

'Ms Glassman is the daughter of a very respected and prominent plastic surgeon who offered her plastic surgery advice to an outspoken influencer who posts non stop about her weight.

'Lets face it, bullying Ms. Glassman all while playing the victim, after openly having to apologize for her own past bullying is a bad look. She should be embarrassed.

'Ms. Glassman is in support of all people. She has expressed women are beautiful, every shape, every size. Theyre all sexy but she says the sexiest of all is authenticity and respect to all groups of people.

'With that said Hailey stands by her comment regarding her distaste for Claudias voice.'

Oshry dropped screenshots of the various private messages Glassman had allegedly been sending her for nearly a decade on Monday.

The first ever message Glassman sent her was in response to a story Oshry had posted. 'Omg your voice is so annoying,' Glassman allegedly wrote. 'Like Janice from Friends.'

But a rep for Glassman has told The Daily Mail that the new Bravolebrity was in 'no way trolling' but 'simply engaging with Claudias provocative content'

Various other messages Glassman sent her focused on Oshry's weight: 'Damn you were thin!' Glassman said in response to another Instagram Story.

'She's obsessed with my weight, look,' Oshry told followers before showing more messages Glassman allegedly sent.

'Skinny Minnie now,' Glassman told Oshry followed by another advising her to be more transparent about how she achieved her weight.

'Looks great but you gotta own you're on Wegovy. You're an influencer and you really should be honest on your platform about it. When you need any skin tightening since you def lost enough to need it, I'll set you up with a great plastic surgeon in NYC,' Glassman told Oshry, who clarified she was actually on Ozempic.

In another message, Glassman told her: 'Incredibly shrinking woman (applause emoji). Once you get to where you want, we'll take care of you for the 30s neck lift. #GlassmanPlasticSurgery.'

'So weird how you were skinnier pregnant than you were 2 years ago not pregnant,' Glassman also allegedly told Oshry. 'You're a magician! Congrats Momma.'

Oshry, pictured 2024, dropped screenshots of the various private messages Glassman had allegedly been sending her for nearly a decade

Several fans came to Glassman's defense on social media

Oshry's husband Ben Soffer was also not spared. '#DadBod lol,' Glassman allegedly wrote of a photo Oshry posted of her shirtless husband.

But it wasn't all comments about Oshry's appearance, with Glassman also extending her congratulations when the podcaster announced her pregnancy.

'Mazel tov!' Glassman wrote, followed by another post wishing her a Happy Mother's Day.

Glassman is a public relations professional and her dad, plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Glassman, performed a tummy tuck on Kate after she gave birth to sextuplets.

She also previously dated Jon & Kate Plus 8 star Jon Gosselin.
Paris Hilton stripped down for a series of racy Instagram snaps to promote her skincare brand Parivie Beauty on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old TV personality, who recently whisked herself away to Italy for Milan Fashion Week, posed up a storm as she celebrated the launch of a new product for the company.

It comes as The Simple Life star also shared that her mind 'works differently' while living with ADHD in a candid interview.

In the carousel of images, Hilton could be seen posing in a marble bathtub while covered in soapy bubbles.

At one point, the mom-of-two turned her back towards the camera while glancing over shoulder.

Her blonde locks were swept up into a chic up do, allowing wavy loose strands to border the sides of her face.

Paris Hilton, 45, stripped down for a series of racy Instagram snaps to promote her skincare brand Parivie Beauty on Tuesday

The TV personality posed up a storm as she celebrated the launch of a new product for the company

Hilton opted for a flashy choker and necklace that offered a glamorous flare as well as mini earrings.

For a final touch, the House Of Wax actress added a dazzling tiara on top of her head.

A pink blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow while a nude-colored tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch.

In some photos, the star flashed a cheerful smile while surrounded by pink products including a comfy pillow and a fuzzy purse.

While still covered in the soapy bubbles, Hilton indulged in a sugar cookie covered in pink frosting while also holding a pink martini glass.

She later stepped out of the spacious bathtub to reveal that she additionally slipped into leopard-print heels.

Other images captured Hilton donning a sheer white robe. The media personality completed the look with shimmering pasties as well as sparkling silver necklaces.

The star sent a sultry gaze as she stared at her reflection in the mirror while one snap showed Hilton holding a newly launched eye cream.

Join the debate What do YOU think of Paris Hiltons latest racy photoshoot?

In the carousel of images, Hilton could be seen posing in a marble bathtub while covered in soapy bubbles

Her blonde locks were swept up into a chic up do, allowing wavy loose strands to border the sides of her face

Hilton opted for a flashy choker and necklace that offered a glamorous flare as well as mini earrings

For a final touch, the House Of Wax actress added a dazzling tiara on top of her head

A pink blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow while a nude-colored tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch

She later stepped out of the spacious bathtub to reveal that she additionally slipped into leopard-print heels

Other images captured Hilton donning a sheer white robe to promote a new eye cream

On Tuesday, she celebrated the drop of the That's Cool Eye Cream which can be purchased for $62.

Hilton co-founded Parivie last year and previously opened up about her decision in creating the company.

'The goal was to create something that felt beautifully unapologetic and empowering,' she told Hypebae last year in May.

'We live fast-paced, connected lives and I wanted these products to offer a moment of ritual and confidence.'

She added at the time, 'That energy is built into each formula. All the products are clinically tested to feel amazing on the skin and deliver incredible results.'

The star recently stripped down in sultry pictures to ring in her 45th birthday last month on February 17.

Hilton has also been getting candid about living with ADHD, which she was diagnosed with in her late 20s.

ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a 'long-term condition that affects millions of children' and can 'continue into adulthood,' per Mayo Clinic.

The star sent a sultry gaze as she stared at her reflection in the mirror while one snap showed Hilton holding a newly launched eye cream

On Tuesday, she celebrated the drop of the That's Cool Eye Cream which can be purchased for $62

The media personality completed the look with shimmering pasties as well as sparkling silver necklaces

'The goal was to create something that felt beautifully unapologetic and empowering,' she told Hypebae last year in May

She added at the time, 'That energy is built into each formula. All the products are clinically tested to feel amazing on the skin and deliver incredible results

It can 'include having a hard time paying attention, being hyperactive and being impulsive.' Some individuals 'never completely outgrow their ADHD symptoms but they can learn strategies to be successful.'

'I wouldn't be the entrepreneur I am today without it,' she told People of the neurodevelopmental disorder.

She added that 'our brains work differently' before discussing treatments that can help with symptoms.

Hilton explained that she now takes her ADHD medication at night rather than when she gets up in the morning.

The star further expressed that the disorder is 'not something that needs to be fixed' before sharing how she utilizes notebooks and other organizational tools to give her 'structure.'

Hilton has also credited ADHD in helping her be a better mom.

'It gives me just like, inner child playfulness, which will never go away, which I love ... [It's] so much fun being a mom and getting to relive that childhood with them and see the world through their eyes.'

In regards to her being vocal about her ADHD diagnosis, she explained that she wants to help highlight the good rather than the 'negative parts about it.'

Hilton has also been getting candid about living with ADHD, which she was diagnosed with in her late 20s; seen in February in L.A.

Hilton has also credited ADHD in helping her be a better mom; the star seen with son Phoenix, three, and daughter London, two

She further added that, 'school systems are not built for brains like ours. That's why I just want to continue talking about it and release the stigma behind it.'

Back in January on The Him & Her Show, Hilton additionally opened up about her rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) diagnosis.

'It's basically, like, any thought of a negative perception, if you think someone is being rude or you feel something.... You will feel it like it's physical pain and it's not even real,' she explained.

'It's kind of just this, almost like a demon in your mind that is, like, saying negative self-talk to you.'
Bella Hadid stole the spotlight as she stormed the Saint Laurent runway during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday.

The supermodel, 29, looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging red lace bodysuit teamed with a figure-hugging sheer black skirt as she strutted down the catwalk.

Showcasing her enviable figure, Bella paired the look with brown tights, pointed heels and statement gold-toned earrings.

For the show, the beauty rocked a dramatic purple eyeshadow look and swept her brunette tresses into a sleek bun with a chic side parting.

The model struck a series of sultry poses for the cameras as she confidently strutted along the runway.

Bella is usually a permanent fixture on the runway in Paris and Milan during fashion week, but has recently taken some time off due to her battle with Lyme disease.

Bella Hadid stole the spotlight as she stormed the Saint Laurent runway during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

The supermodel, 29, looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging red lace bodysuit teamed with a figure-hugging sheer black skirt as she strutted down the catwalk

Bella, who has struggled with the chronic neurological disease for 14-years, has been undergoing treatment and recently revealed she was forced to turn down 'every job for almost a year.'

The model said she struggled to maintain a work-life balance and has since learnt to say no.

'The way that I worked for many years was not sustainable. I think that, you know, even during COVID I continued to work,' the IMG Model told Vogue Italia on Tuesday.

'Being able to be in Texas with my horses and my dog, having a real life, and then going back to work makes it more fulfilling.'

Hadid now knows that she is able to say "no" to jobs that aren't with the people she loves, trusts, supports and respects.

'Now I know that if Im able to say "No," even going through my [Lyme disease] treatment last year and having to say no to every job for almost a year, which I cried about,' the Beauty guest star recalled.

'I was emotional because you feel disposable.'

On September 18, her mother Yolanda Hadid, posted an Instagram tribute to her 'bada** warrior' daughter in the hospital.

Showcasing her enviable figure, Bella paired the look with brown tights, pointed heels and statement gold-toned earrings

For the show, the beauty rocked a dramatic purple eyeshadow look and swept her brunette tresses into a sleek bun with a chic side parting

The model struck a series of sultry poses for the cameras as she confidently strutted along the runway

'I admire your bravery and your willingness to keep fighting for health despite the falling protocols and countless setbacks you have faced,' the Real Housewives star wrote.

She added: 'There simply aren't words big enough for the darkness, the pain, and the unknown hell you've lived through since your diagnosis.

'You didn't really live, you learned how to exist inside the jail of your own paralyzed brain. I am so proud of the fighter that you are. You are not alone, I promise to have your back every step of the way, no matter how long this takes.'

Yolanda continued: 'You have fought through another month of treatment and I know god is good, miracles do happen every day. I pray for your speedy recovery my love.

'This disease has brought us to our knees, but we always get back up. We will continue to fight for better days, together. You are a survivor I love you so much.'

Like Bella and her younger brother Anwar, Yolanda contracted the tickborne illness in 2012 but stopped sharing her personal story because she wanted to stop 'absorbing other people's opinions about my journey.'

Yolanda is 'still determined to find a cure affordable for all' eight years after writing about seeing '106 doctors' and undergoing a Stem Cell transplant, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Chelation therapy, colon hydrotherapy, among other treatments in her book Believe Me.

Back in 2023, she curiously declared she was 'finally healthy' and that she was 'so proud' of 'not giving up on' herself.
Kate Moss flashed her underwear in a sheer lace catsuit as she departed The Ritz in Paris on Tuesday night.

After her modest appearance at Saint Laurent's Paris Fashion Week show, Kate let her hair down and opted for a racy ensemble.

The supermodel, 52, looked sensational in the figure-hugging number which she paired with a quirky jacket with silk pink sleeves.

Kate appeared in high-spirits as she left her lavish hotel to explore the French capital for one night.

Kate appears to be ageing backwards after ditching her years of hard partying as she flaunted her toned torso and radiant features.

Nowadays, Kate has regular juice fasts, and favours the week-long juice-only programme at wellness LifeCo resort in Turkey - she's visited every year for the past decade.

Kate Moss, 52, flashed her underwear in a sheer lace catsuit as she departed The Ritz in Paris on Tuesday night

Kate is the proud owner of wellness business Cosmoss which sells a range of own-brand teas, skincare products and a book of 150 'positive messages'.

She has a 4,000 Cadillac Pilates reformer machine at home, and a personal trainer, Hortense Suleyman.

A magazine source said: 'The brand is late on the bandwagon  candles, serums and perfume are all quite middle-aged.

'But she's been having lots of meetings with people and Cosmoss is stocked in Harrods. I know she has great hopes for it.'

Over the years, Kate has given an insight into how she stays looking so good, revealing her tips and tricks for maintaining her youthful look.

She told Net-A-Porter: 'I stay hydrated on the flight and try to eat only light foods. I find adapting to the new time zone as soon as I arrive is helpful, so I try to stay up until my usual bedtime.

'I've recently undergone red-light LED therapy and use the Talika Time Control + device. It's great, as it's small and easy to travel with, and I can definitely see an improvement in my skin. I have rose quartz and jade gua sha tools that I use, too.'

Other beauty tips favoured by Kate include dunking her face in iced water and depuffing her eyes with cucumber slices.

After her modest appearance at Saint Laurent's Paris Fashion Week show, Kate let her hair down and opted for a racy ensemble

The supermodel looked sensational in the figure-hugging number which she paired with a quirky jacket with silk pink sleeves

Kate ditched her business chic look that she wore at Saint Lauren't PFW show earlier in the night

Speaking previously about how she tackles a 'bad face day', she said: 'My old go-to trick is to plunge my face into a bowl of iced water and cucumber slices  it instantly tightens and gets rid of any puffiness.

'I then use Cosmoss Golden Nectar facial-oil drops with my gua sha. Together, they give your skin that extra glow and are great at detoxifying and lymphatic drainage.'

Another tip Kate claims she follows is staying out of the sun, after previously being warned by her friend and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury.

She told Grazia: 'Charlotte Tilbury told me not to go out in the sun, but it's because she's a redhead, so she knows. I kind of ignored her, but now I'm taking no risks!'

Kate also revealed she keeps her body refreshed by doing three week-long juice cleanses throughout the year.

She said: 'I juice. At least three times a year, for a week, I do a juice cleanse. I like it. I feel amazing. And then I have so much energy! Everyone else is like, "Pleaseshhhh" Oh my god, I have so much energy, start bouncing off walls!'
Annabel Schofield has died aged 62 following her battle with cancer.

The 80s supermodel and actress passed away on February 28 in Los Angeles, California.

The Welsh-born beauty became a fixture on London's glamorous 1980s fashion scene before going on to appear opposite Larry Hagman in the hit soap Dallas.

At the height of her fame, she was represented by London's Take Two Agency and became a cover girl sensation, fronting hundreds of magazines.

The star also landed major campaigns with high-profile brands including Yves Saint Laurent, Rimmel, Revlon and Boots No.7.

However, she became widely recognised for her memorable appearance in a Bugle Boy Jeans TV commercial.

Annabel Schofield has died aged 62 following her battle with cancer (pictured 2009)

The 80s supermodel and actress passed away on February 28 in Los Angeles, California (pictured in 1987)

In the advert, she delivered the iconic line: 'Excuse me, are those Bugle Boy jeans youre wearing?' as she drove through the desert in a black Ferrari.

Melissa Richardson, former owner of London's Take Two Agency, paid tribute to the star in a statement.

She said: 'She was one of David Baileys favorites and appeared in countless shoots for Italian Vogue.

'She was the forerunner of Take Two  without her, we could never have made it as we did.

'We loved her because she was funny and real and beautiful and down to earth. She never changed from the sweet little 17-year-old Welsh girl I first met.

'She was directly loyal, caring, and above all, a raging beauty. She knew her craft. She was the best.'

Born on September 4, 1963, in Llanelli, Wales, Annabel grew up around film sets as her father was British movie production executive John D. Schofield.

She later pursued acting herself, appearing in films including Solar Crisis, Eye of the Widow, Blood Tide and Dragonard.

The Welsh-born beauty became a fixture on London's glamorous 1980s fashion scene before going on to appear opposite Larry Hagman in the hit soap Dallas (seen)

Following her success on screen, Annabel later moved behind the camera, working on productions including The Brothers Grimm, Doom and City of Ember.

In 2010, the former supermodel turned her focus to producing and launched her own Burbank-based company.

The firm, titled Bella Bene Productions, marked a new chapter for Annabel as an executive producer.

She went on to develop several fashion projects, commercials and music ventures.

The star also formed a close partnership with director Nick Egan, known for his work with bands including The Ramones, The Clash, Duran Duran and Oasis.

Over the years, she collaborated with photographers and producers, including work on a 3D Guerlain campaign featuring Angelina Jolie.

She also wrote a semi-autobiographical novel titled The Cherry Alignment, inspired by her experiences as a model and actress in the 1980s.

The book included a dedication to her late friend, actor Heath Ledger.
Spanish PM calls for peace in Iran, rejects Trump's trade threats

Xinhua) 19:30, March 04, 2026

MADRID, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday called for peace amid the widening conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and rejected U.S. threats after refusing to allow American bases on Spanish territory to be used in the fighting.

Sanchez made the remarks from his official residence at the Palacio de la Moncloa, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to impose a trade embargo on Spain following Madrid's decision.

Spain would not yield to "reprisals from anyone," Sanchez said, emphasizing the country's "economic and moral strength."

The Spanish government's position was "clear and consistent," he added, stressing respect for international law and opposing military escalation.

"No to the breakdown of international law that protects everyone. No to accepting that the world can only solve problems with bombs," Sanchez said, adding that Spain's position can be summarized as "no to war."

A conflict with Iran would not bring "a fairer international order" and would instead increase economic uncertainty and push up oil and gas prices, said Sanchez.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liu Ning)
Molly-Mae Hague shared a slew of heartwarming snaps showing off her growing baby bump and spending time with boyfriend Tommy Fury and their daughter Bambi, as the family prepared for the arrival of their fourth member.

The influencer, 26, announced she is expecting her second child with Tommy, also 26, last month and is already six months pregnant.

And taking to her Instagram on Tuesday, she proudly displayed her blossoming bump in several mirror selfies, alongside sweet shots of her with three-year-old daughter Bambi.

After declaring last week that her bump has officially 'popped', Molly-Mae shared a black-and-white snap from her recent work trip to Abu Dhabi, posing in a bikini top and an open linen shirt, exposing her bare tummy.

While she also shared an adorable photo of her and Tommy cuddled up with Bambi in bed, as well as one of the toddler gazing at a wall projection of the baby's ultrasound.

The Love Island star also shared a glimpse into the gender reveal for her unborn child, with a shot of number of cream heart-shaped balloons filling their living room and an envelope that read 'Baby' on the front.

Molly-Mae Hague shared a slew of heartwarming snaps showing off her growing baby bump and spending time with boyfriend Tommy Fury and their daughter Bambi, as the family prepared for the arrival of their fourth member

The influencer, 26, announced she is expecting her second child with Tommy, also 26, last month and is already six months pregnant

And taking to her Instagram on Tuesday, she proudly displayed her blossoming bump in several mirror selfies, alongside sweet shots of her with three-year-old daughter Bambi

Molly has confirmed that the couple already know the gender and even already have a name picked out, but she is saving the public reveal for another time.

Fans previously became convinced that she had 'accidentally' let slip her baby's gender in a YouTube video last month.

The reality star sparked speculation she was having another little girl after referring to her bump as 'she' in the vlog, as she lifted her jumper to show fans her growing tummy.

She said: 'Everyone let me show you the bump. I'm nearly 24 weeks pregnant, the bump is popping more everyday and I'm trying to embrace my bump more this time because that is a regret I had last time, but I'm embracing it. Here SHE is!'

Fans were quick to pick up on the comment and to claim the TV personality is expecting another baby girl.

They wrote: 'Molly-Mae is having a GIRL?; THERE SHE IS!; Did you say Here SHE is??'

But others insisted she was just referring to the bump itself and not the gender of her baby, saying: 'Shes on about the baby bump; I always called my bump she so I feel like shes just referring to the bump rather than the baby;

'She was on about her not the baby ..she says it a lot; If this was a slip up I dont think shed miss editing it out x'.

While she also shared an adorable photo of her and Tommy cuddled up with Bambi in bed, as well as one of the toddler gazing at a wall projection of the baby's ultrasound

The Love Island star also shared a glimpse into the gender reveal for her unborn child, with a shot of number of cream heart-shaped balloons filling their living room and an envelope that read 'Baby' on the front

Molly has confirmed that the couple already know the gender and even already have a name picked out, but she is saving the public reveal for another time

Elsewhere in her first vlog since announcing the happy news, Molly-Mae said her baby news was her 'worst-kept secret' as her Bambi 'told everyone'.

Speaking to her fans in the YouTube update, she said: 'I dont really know how we got here, but Im pregnant, legitimately the worst kept secret.

'But thats honestly my own fault because towards the end, I got really lazy trying to hide it. We werent even trying to hide it.

'We were at a spa over the weekend and I was openly saying to people that "Im pregnant", to the staff.'

Molly continued: 'Having a toddler is savage, if you want to keep a secret don't tell them. Bambi is telling everyone, she told all the air hostesses on the way home from the Maldives, she's told all her teachers at nursery.

'The people who have known through Bambi have been really great to me and just pretended that they didn't hear.'

Over the last month, eagle-eyed fans noticed that she had been sipping on peppermint tea and even accidentally flashed her 'bump' in the reflection of a darkened window during one YouTube vlog.

Molly-Mae added: 'We still in this current moment, we dont have anything filmed, I felt like posting a black statement on my Instagram saying "Yes, I am pregnant", we dont even have anything to post.

'I havent really been documenting anything, its been so different this time, it just feels really chilled and I feel really at peace weirdly.'

After struggling with her last pregnancy, the influencer said she was suffering again with similar problems, which also made it 'hard to hide'.

She explained: 'One of my symptoms is my skin, my eczema, my skin is so so irritated and flared. It was the same in my last pregnancy, Im just struggling with little things to hide it.

'Im constantly out of breath as you guys have noticed in my videos. Ive got quite a full-on bump which you guys have seen in my last video in all the reflections.'

She continued: 'I am pregnant and yeah my body is changing and there are differences visibly emotionally, mentally, physically.'

'It sounds like Ive got a rotten cold and one of my symptoms has been congestion. I woke up this morning to an empty bed and Tommy wasnt there and I came into the spare room and said I was snoring so loudly.'

Molly added: 'Im so lucky to say that Ive had a really amazing pregnancy, Im so beyond blessed that Ive had a very smooth experience.

'I dont get sick, Ive not had symptoms that are debilitating, I can kind of pretty much crack on as usual, which is amazing for me because Im not one of those women, you amazing women out there that have horrendous morning sickness and still get up and get your things done.

'Best believe if I felt like that, Id be done for, the whole world would hear about it.'
An attorney being sued in a multimillion dollar litigation brought by reality star Bethenny Frankel says she has been stalling things out for years in the case, which her team denies.

New York City-based lawyer Jamie Schreck said in legal docs reviewed by TMZ that the Skinnygirl mogul, 55, has failed to provide his office with proper dates in which she can sit for a deposition since 2022.

Schreck said in legal docs that the former Real Housewives Of New York City star has failed 'to prosecute or do anything on it for nearly four years,' having 'abandoned' it, essentially.

Frankel, who is mother to daughter Bryn, 15, has yet to reply to an offer made by Schreck's team in which the case would be settled for a total of $25,000, the lawyer said in court docs.

Representatives for Frankel told the outlet that they have been in talks with Schreck's office, and deny that she has abandoned the case.

Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for both parties for further comment on the story.

An attorney being sued by reality star Bethenny Frankel, 55, says she has been stalling things out for years in the case, which her team denies. Pictured last year in NYC

The litigation stems from a 2017 lawsuit Frankel filed against Schreck for malpractice in the amount of $2 million.

It was linked to how he drew up a trust, as she told the court it had impacted her divorce from ex-husband Jason Hoppy for the worse.

Frankel alleged Schreck's administrative errors surfaced in her divorce proceedings with Hoppy following their 2012 split, and took three years to remedy.

Frankel plunked down $4.95 million on a three-bedroom, three-bathroom condominium in New York City in 2011.

She said she had hired Schreck to consult on the purchase of the Big Apple condo, the outlet reported.

Frankel said in legal docs she had used her own money, and took out a mortgage to purchase the 3,751 square-foot property.

Frankel said Schreck had not communicated with her during the drafting process, and the trust that he wrote wound up awarding Hoppy with half of the interest in the property.

Frankel told the court that Hoppy's on-paper ownership of the abode was 'heavily litigated in the divorce proceeding.'

The Skinnygirl mogul is accused of abandoning legal proceedings in a new legal filing. Pictured last month

The litigation stems from a 2017 lawsuit Frankel filed against Schreck for malpractice in the amount of $2 million, which he denies. Seen in England last year

The Bravo alum said the arduous process involving the home - prior to the split being finalized in 2016 - could 'have been avoided but for the improper trust agreement.'

Schreck in legal docs denied all of the allegations made by Frankel in the lawsuit.

He noted that Frankel had been married to Hoppy at the time the trust had been drafted.

Schreck said that any complications linked to the divorce as result of the trust was due to the actions of third parties, such as Hoppy.

Frankel's lawyer told TMZ that her team has been 'actively engaging' with Schreck over the case.

Frankel in December said on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast that her drawn-out divorce 'was so traumatic' and monopolized her life for a decade, impacting her health.

'It was 10 years of my life,' she said. 'I lost hair. I thought I would never survive it. I didn't want to. I literally thought, "I'll never be happy again." The only reason I kept going was my daughter.'
Queen of the airwaves Jackie 'O' Henderson is in crisis talks with her most trusted advisors at her clifftop mansion, just hours after blowing up her record-breaking $100million contract with KIIS FM.

Henderson pulled the pin on her decades-long radio career this week after she was berated on live radio by broadcast partner Kyle Sandilands, who said her 'fixation' on astrology was impacting her work.

She told Sandilands she was deeply offended, before she ran out of the studio in tears and never returned to the high-profile breakfast show.

Her departure from the program was formalised in an ARN stock market update on Tuesday evening, which said Henderson 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands'.

Henderson was leaving a sound healing session in Newtown on Tuesday afternoon, just hours before the bombshell announcement, when she told the Daily Mail 'I'm good!' before retreating into her $10million Clovelly mansion.

The radio star hasn't been seen since, but on Wednesday she enjoyed a lengthy visit from her manager and best friend Gemma O'Neill, who drove a black BMW into the garage and parked next to Henderson's Range Rover.

Moments later, her front balcony doors opened and a strong smell of incense wafted across the road - overtaking the stench of a passing garbage truck, which may have mulched the remains of her $100million broadcast deal.

O'Neill then went to the front door and collected a Hungry Panda food delivery from The Char Rotisserie, one of many on Wednesday, including a dog walker who dropped off Henderson's cavoodle Sadie, and an Amazon driver who struggled to open Henderson's front gate.

Jackie O launched her event-based business with close friend Gemma last year, and said it 'celebrates the most important relationship in your life - your best friend'

Pictured: A guest in a black BMW arriving at Jackie 'O' Henderson's mansion on Wednesday, believed to be her best friend and manager Gemma O'Neill

Her front balcony doors opened and a strong smell of incense wafted across the road as a police vehicle cruised past the address

O'Neill has been a fixture in Henderson's life for decades, along with a clique of supporters including P.E Nation founder Pip Edwards.

In the radio star's memoir, Jackie O: The Whole Truth, Henderson revealed it was O'Neill who encouraged her to seek treatment for her addiction to painkillers and alcohol.

Henderson admitted in 2024 that she may not be here today if it wasn't for O'Neill.

'I believe she saved my life, I actually do,' Henderson said.

'And I think we all need a friend like that.'

The pair have since been spotted heading to Athens and Berlin together for a working holiday.

When approached by the Daily Mail on Tuesday, Henderson would not answer questions about her stoush with Sandilands.

'I can't really say anything on that front at this point. I'm sorry,' she said.

O'Neill went to the front door and collected a Hungry Panda food delivery from The Char Rotisserie, one of many to the home on Wednesday

Jackie 'O' Henderson is pictured in Newtown after pulling the pin on her radio career

Jackie 'O' Henderson is pictured with her best friend and manager Gemma O'Neill in 2024

Pressed on whether she'd spoken to Sandilands since storming off air in tears, she looked momentarily alarmed, ducked into her car and drove away.

Since the February 20 incident, insiders claim Henderson and Sandilands had only been communicating via text message, ARN management, or through their respective talent representatives, O'Neill and Bruno Bouchet.

It comes as sources within ARN indicate that far from being a catastrophe for the network, the explosion of the Kyle and Jackie O Show could be a blessing in disguise.

With revenue falling, and the company locked into contracts with Henderson and Sandilands so inflated some suspect the show can't be profitable, one insider suspected ARN could be seeking to save money by 'engineering' the program's end.

'ARN has a cost issue because they paid too much for them, and a revenue issue because of the boycotts in Melbourne, so it's been a train crash coming for two years,' a source told The Australian.

'He's a grumpy old man trying to pretend he's 25 years old on an FM station and she's got increasingly interested in astrology and alternative therapies, so they've sort of grown apart.

'So this is a massive win for ARN, and it's probably the last card for [chair] Hamish McLennan because he's the one that signed off on the deal.'

Meanwhile, radio veterans Irene Hulme and Craig Bruce said on the industry podcast Game Changers on Tuesday night that they wouldn't be surprised to see Henderson emerge on her old station 2Day FM in 2027.

Jackie 'O' Henderson is pictured with Gemma O'Neill at Sydney Airport before a trip to Europe last year

Hulme also said she believed Sandilands 'had grounds to' take ARN to court over his suspension.

Henderson's clash with Sandilands was sparked by a remark she had made about Andrew MountbattenWindsor after she began reading out his astrology chart on air in response to news of his arrest - a moment that prompted her co-host to lash out and accuse her 'fixation' with astrology of making her 'almost unworkable'.

Before Tuesday's ASX announcement, Sandilands said on the radio that Henderson would return to the airwaves 'at some stage', but didn't provide a timeframe.

He told newsreader Brooklyn Ross he had to sign off on an upcoming statement from his co-star, which teased 'good news'.

'I did get some good news though yesterday,' he said.

'Anything that's got my name on it, I have to sign off on it, so I signed off yesterday on some sort of statement coming from Jackie's camp.

'The only thing I noticed is that Jackie will be returning in the future. So that's a good sign. So, the intention is to come back, which is fabulous.'

His optimism about her return that morning indicates Henderson's decision to leave must have been made only hours later. It's entirely possible Henderson chose to walk away from her $100million deal during her sound healing session with Cordony.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson are pictured in 2004, when they landed their first radio show on 2Day FM

While her contract is now terminated, ARN has offered Henderson the possibility of an alternative show on the network.

Sandilands, meanwhile, effectively has two weeks to fight for his job.

He has been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or else faces termination.

ARN provided written notice to Sandilands stating that it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's services agreement with Quasar Media'.

The Mail understands KJO staff, with the exception of Ross, have been told not to come to the office on Wednesday and learned of the ASX announcement only minutes beforehand.

Last Wednesday, Sandilands admitted he wished he had handled things differently with Henderson.

'I obviously upset her. Maybe, in hindsight, I shouldn't have said it on the air. But we say a lot of things on the air here,' he said.

'It was never meant to hurt her feelings and obviously it did. I regret hurting her feelings. No one wants to hurt someone. Especially someone you care for.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured together) were broadcast partners for more than 20 years

'I don't really know. The show is just ploughing ahead anyway. I'm just leaving this up to management,' he added.

Sandilands went on to say he just wanted to be back on the air with everyone happy, adding: 'I want her to be happy and enjoy it. I also want the same thing.'

He then joked he didn't care if any of the other producers or staff members were happy because he would 'swap them all out in a heartbeat' for his co-star.

Sandilands and Henderson signed a landmark 10-year deal with ARN in 2023 worth $200million - the biggest media contract in Australian history.

However, Henderson recently began saying she would be willing to walk away if she wasn't happy.

This week, Mediaweek quoted radio industry sources as saying Henderson's decision to step away from the show was 'a long time coming' and the actions of a woman who had 'realised her worth' after years in an uneven on-air partnership.

Last week, media industry veteran Rob McKnight wrote for the Mail that he believed Henderson launching female-focused events company Besties was her bid to build a brand totally separate from Sandilands' shock jock image.

When that venture wasn't successful, she looked to be in a fragile place professionally. Being called 'off with the fairies' on air was the last straw, wrote McKnight.

Sandilands (left) said on Tuesday that Henderson would return to the airwaves 'at some stage'

'She told Sandilands - a man she genuinely loves and respects, but whose broadcasting style has unquestionably boxed her in - that she would never speak to him on air the way he did. And she had a point,' argued McKnight.

'They can fight, even get personal, but ultimately there is a line.

'For someone who prides herself on the work she puts into the show - and her work ethic has never been questioned before now - being told she has been up in the clouds was a huge blow.'

Columnist Amanda Goff also penned a piece about Henderson and Sandilands' diverging social lives, with Sandilands settling into domestic life in his 50s while a happily divorced Henderson embraced a fresh start in the eastern suburbs 'in crowd'.

Their vastly separate paths, Goff argued, laid the groundwork for their on-air rift.

'I doubt star signs are the only issue here. Kyle's frustration is obvious, given how openly and publicly he dismisses her passion,' she wrote.

'Come on, this isn't really about Mercury in retrograde, is it?

'This is about two people who were once perfectly in sync now seeming to orbit in opposite galaxies.'

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It's the age-old question: would you rather be rich and miserable, or poor and happy?

These days, the answer feels obvious. With the world teetering on disaster and the cost of living at record highs, who wouldn't pick the money?

With bills going up and daily essentials more expensive than ever, quite frankly, I'm not about to nobly test the merits of poverty, even if it comes with a side of inner satisfaction. Happiness I can figure out later. Right now, I just want to be able to afford petrol.

That little thought experiment was on my mind this week after Jackie 'O' Henderson walked away from her $100million deal to host KIIS FM's The Kyle & Jackie O Show, less than two weeks after a painful verbal incident with co-host Kyle Sandilands.

It's a big deal. A bloody big deal.

The news only broke on Tuesday afternoon. Already there have been a million think pieces about why Jackie threw in the towel - and yet what I keep hearing from behind the curtain in media land is that Jackie's best friend and manager Gemma O'Neill, the gatekeeper to the most expensive woman in radio, is somehow behind it all - or at the very least allowed it to happen.

There may be another reason why Jackie turned her back on Australia's biggest radio show - and eight years of eyewatering pay cheques - that few observers have thought to mention

And look, I don't claim to be privy to closed-door discussions Gemma and Jackie may have had during her nearly two-week standoff with ARN management, but there's an objective observation to be made here - so I'll state it plainly.

Back in the day, Jackie's affairs were handled by her old manager Brad March, the former CEO of Austereo. I don't know Brad personally, but terms like 'industry veteran' and 'seasoned pro' are often thrown around when his name is mentioned.

When she left his roster and joined forces with Gemma - also a considerable force in the radio business, I should add, having previously served as Head of SCA's Hit Network - anyone could see the shift happening.

In recent years, coinciding with her partnership with Gemma, 50-year-old Jackie has moved away from Sandilands' shock jock style, leaning into a softer, more brand-friendly and female-focused direction.

There were the Besties events, the flowery lifestyle podcast with Gemma (Her Best Life), and the not-at-all subtle pivot into wellness/self-care/empowerment - the sort of messaging that resonates far more with Zimmerman-clad Double Bay mums than tradies on the M4 at 6am chuckling along to 'What's in Jackie's mouth?' on KIIS FM.

As a columnist, it's my job to know what's going on behind the scenes, and the chatter about the most famous duo in Australian radio is loud indeed.

Insiders are saying their diverging paths contributed to the simmering tension that finally exploded on February 20, when Kyle launched his blistering on-air attack over Jackie's interest in astrology - and apparent lack of interest in contributing to Sydney's No. 1 breakfast radio show.

It was messy, it was public, and it was humiliating for Jackie, who has always prided herself on being the 'professional' one. It left the radio industry absolutely stunned.

Gemma O'Neill was seen at Jackie O's home yesterday. Despite the industry chatter, I don't believe for a moment she's to blame for Jackie deciding to walk away from her $100million deal

Everyone was asking the same questions: what the hell is going on?

Then, predictably, came the chatter of 'can't Gemma fix this?' Surely, argued the critics, as the manager of a celebrity client on a $100million contract, she should be doing everything within her power to smooth things over and get Jackie back on air.

The fact that Jackie's contract is now terminated is no doubt being viewed by some as 'she had one job - what went wrong?'

Not everyone in media sees it this way, of course. One source who knows Jackie told me that Gemma would simply have been 'acting on whatever Jac wants to do'.

Which actually makes sense, doesn't it? Isn't that the job of a manager? To support their client's wants and needs, rather than march them into the studio every day even if they are miserable and micromanage every minute of their four-hour shift?

Yet as the theories keep swirling about what made Jackie finally walk away, I don't believe for a second that Gemma nudging her client down the fluffy wellness route and away from mean old Kyle played even the slightest role in her decision.

I'm also not convinced astrology-loving Jackie looked to the stars for answers, as some have playfully speculated.

And while I've previously argued her reinvention at 50 as an eastern suburbs 'It' girl with a fleet of air-kissing friends might have put her at odds with her co-host, I don't believe it was a decisive factor either.

What made her draw a line in the sand? Yes, she was aggrieved by Kyle's outburst on February 20 - that was the main factor, and I dont suggest otherwise. But in my view, there may be another reason why Jackie turned her back on Australia's biggest radio show - and eight more years of eyewatering pay cheques - that few observers have thought to mention.

'Most of us would sell our souls for $100million. Jackie doesn't have to. That's what we like to call in media f**k-you money'

Have you guessed it yet? It's surprisingly simple, really.

Yep - it's what we like to call in media 'f**k-you money'.

If you haven't heard the term, here's the gist: FU money means being so wealthy you can walk away from even the most lucrative deals without your lifestyle taking a hit.

Multimillion-dollar contract terminated? No big deal. No job? Who cares.

It means, in other words, that when your colleague treats you appallingly at work, you get to hold your head high, leave the money on the table, and get out of there. That kind of 'f*** you'.

Most of us would sell our souls for $100million.

Jackie doesn't have to. She's crazy rich. Her lifestyle won't change, her Clovelly home, designer wardrobe, six-star holidays - none of that will change.

She'll sleep like a baby tonight, and every night, knowing she never has to worry about affording bills or school fees. She is made for life and should never have to lift a finger again, unless she wants to.

Here's the blunt reality most journalists covering this story haven't considered: Jackie can afford to leave, so she did. It really is as simple as that.

It's us commoners who can't afford to walk away - from anything. One of my girlfriends is trapped in a desk job she hates, tolerating a bullying boss all day, simply because she can't afford to quit. That's the reality of a mortgage and kids.

So by all means, enjoy the media gossip, the he-said-she-said whispers, the anonymous sources, and the snipes at Gemma. But remember this: Jackie walked because she has enough f**k-you money to last several lifetimes. I expect she looked Kyle and her ARN bosses in the eyes and said as much.

And while she has made it clear she's never done anything in this business just for the money, she has earned a lot of it - and that allowed her to take a stand this week.

If only the rest of us had the same freedom.

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Jessie Buckley, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Marisa Tomei turned heads in luxe looks while attending the Manhattan premiere of The Bride on Tuesday.

Buckley and Gyllenhaal were truly the women of the hour, co-hosting the film festivities for their $80 million-budget gothic romance held inside Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater.

The 36-year-old Irish actress wore a striking teal-spotted petal skirt featuring ostrich feather hemlines with a black turtleneck top from Chanel's presentation at the Metiers d'Art show last December.

Buckley, who relies on stylist Danielle Goldberg, had her short bob coiffed by hairstylist Irinel de Leon and her minimal make-up applied by Yukari Obayashi Bush.

The two-time Oscar nominee pulled triple duty portraying murdered woman Ida, The Bride and Frankenstein author Mary Shelley in the 126-minute flick hitting US/UK theaters this Friday.

As for the 48-year-old filmmaker, her ornately-stoned puff shoulders on her black gown coordinated with her drop diamond earrings and bracelet.

(from L-R) Jessie Buckley, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Marisa Tomei turned heads in luxe looks while attending the Manhattan premiere of The Bride on Tuesday

Buckley and Gyllenhaal were truly the women of the hour, co-hosting the film festivities for their $80 million-budget gothic romance held inside Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater

Gyllenhaal had her signature raven bob pressed into finger waves as a salute to The Bride's 1930s Chicago setting.

The Columbia University grad revealed that Warner Bros. Pictures 'asked to take some' of the violence out of her second directorial effort following early test screenings.

'So what you're seeing is even a little bit pulled back from what was originally in the movie,' Gyllenhaal told the New York Times last Saturday.

'If we're going to see [sexual violence], we need to see it in a way that is very hard to watch, because it is very awful. And if you know anything about me, if you looked at any of my work, even starting with Secretary when I was 22, this is something that I've spent a lot of time thinking about. I am sure that I have been thoughtful about this particular subject, and yet it will be hard to watch. I think we can take it.'

The Bride marked the first time the two-time Oscar nominee got to direct her younger brother Jake Gyllenhaal, who portrays movie star Ronnie Reed in the revisionist look at James Whale's 1935 sequel Bride of Frankenstein.

The famous siblings - whose parents are director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner - had a cute interaction on the black carpet.

Gyllenhaal made sure to pose with her real-life leading man, husband Peter Sarsgaard, who portrays Detective Jake Wiles in The Bride.

The native New Yorker and the 54-year-old Emmy nominee have welcomed two daughters during their 16-year marriage - Ramona, 19, and Gloria, 13 - both of whom were in attendance.

The 36-year-old Irish actress wore a striking teal-spotted petal skirt featuring ostrich feather hemlines with a black turtleneck top from Chanel's presentation at the Metiers d'Art show last December

Buckley - who relies on stylist Danielle Goldberg - had her short bob coiffed by hairstylist Irinel de Leon and her minimal make-up applied by Yukari Obayashi Bush

The two-time Oscar nominee pulled triple duty portraying murdered woman Ida, The Bride and Frankenstein author Mary Shelley in the 126-minute flick hitting US/UK theaters this Friday

As for the 48-year-old filmmaker, her ornately-stoned puff shoulders on her black gown coordinated with her drop diamond earrings and bracelet

Gyllenhaal had her signature raven bob pressed into finger waves as a salute to The Bride's 1930s Chicago setting

The Columbia University grad revealed that Warner Bros. Pictures 'asked to take some' of the violence out of her second directorial effort following early test screenings

'So what you're seeing is even a little bit pulled back from what was originally in the movie,' Gyllenhaal told the New York Times last Saturday

The Bride marked the first time the two-time Oscar nominee got to direct her younger brother Jake Gyllenhaal (L), who portrays movie star Ronnie Reed in the revisionist look at James Whale's 1935 sequel Bride of Frankenstein

The famous siblings - whose parents are director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner - had a cute interaction on the black carpet

Gyllenhaal made sure to pose with her real-life leading man, husband Peter Sarsgaard (L), who portrays Detective Jake Wiles in The Bride

The native New Yorker and the 54-year-old Emmy nominee (M) have welcomed two daughters during their 16-year marriage - Ramona, 19, and Gloria, 13 - both of whom were in attendance

Ramona (M) and her grandmother Naomi Foner (L) cutely wore matching smeared black lipstick for the premiere just like The Bride

Gyllenhaal and Buckley also posed with the man of the hour - Christian Bale (L) - who plays Frank aka Frankenstein's monster in the film

The 52-year-old Englishman dressed in an all-black suit and escorted his similarly-clad wife of 26 years, Sandra 'Sibi' Blazic Bale (R), with whom he shares two children

Ramona and her grandmother Naomi Foner cutely wore matching smeared black lipstick for the premiere to emulate The Bride.

Gyllenhaal and Buckley also posed with the man of the hour - Christian Bale - who plays Frank aka Frankenstein's monster in the film.

The 52-year-old Englishman dressed in an all-black suit and escorted his similarly-clad wife of 26 years, Sandra 'Sibi' Blazic Bale, with whom he shares two children.

Speaking of all-black attire, Annette Bening - who plays Dr. Euphronius - looked smart in clear-framed glasses and a silk blouse beneath a tailored pantsuit.

The 67-year-old Oscar nominee seemed most excited to reunite with her 'creation' - the Hamnet actress - who's the frontrunner for best actress at the Academy Awards on March 15.

Meanwhile, Tomei - who styles herself - easily defied her 61 years in a PJ-inspired, striped button-up blouse, matching trousers and olive suede heels.

Hairstylist Kendall Shira gave the Oscar winner a bit of wave to her ombre mane and make-up artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua applied gave her a pretty natural look.

Speaking of all-black attire, Annette Bening - who plays Dr. Euphronius - looked smart in clear-framed glasses and a silk blouse beneath a tailored pantsuit

The 67-year-old Oscar nominee seemed most excited to reunite with her 'creation' - the Hamnet actress - who's the frontrunner for best actress at the Academy Awards on March 15

Tomei - who styles herself - easily defied her 61 years in a PJ-inspired, striped button-up blouse, matching trousers and olive suede heels

Hairstylist Kendall Shira gave the Oscar winner a bit of wave to her ombre mane and make-up artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua applied gave her a pretty natural look

Julianne Hough - who plays Jake Gyllenhaal's leading lady - flashed a hint side-boob cleavage and a whole lot of torso in her drapey black gown selected by stylist Georgina Downe

Hairstylist George Curran gave the 37-year-old DWTS co-host a wet-looking blonde bob while make-up artist Buster Knight fully contoured her bronzed complexion

Materialists actor John Magaro - who plays a mystery role in The Bride - rocked yellow-lensed sunglasses with his black double-breasted suit and patent leather Oxfords

Oscar winner Susan Sarandon had the 40F-degree drizzly winter weather on her mind when she wore a coral-colored rain jacket on the black carpet

Wednesday actor Steve Buscemi and his much younger second wife Karen Ho coordinated in black and grey looks for the premiere.

Caught Stealing star Liev Schreiber and his much younger wife Taylor Neisen - wearing matching black ensembles - left their two-year-old daughter at home so they could enjoy a glamorous date night

The Better Sister star Corey Stoll stood out in a green-corduroy suit along with a black sweater and matching dress shoes

The Conjuring: Last Rites star Patrick Wilson and his wife Dagmara Dominczyk made The Bride premiere a family affair by bringing along their 16-year-old son Kassian, who brought a pretty blonde date

And Anna Van Patten - who will appear in Euphoria season three - went strapless in a roomy black halter gown selected by styling duo Chloe and Chenelle Delgadillo

Julianne Hough - who plays Jake Gyllenhaal's leading lady - flashed a hint side-boob cleavage and a whole lot of torso in her drapey black gown selected by stylist Georgina Downe.

Hairstylist George Curran gave the 37-year-old DWTS co-host a wet-looking blonde bob while make-up artist Buster Knight fully contoured her bronzed complexion.

Materialists actor John Magaro - who plays a mystery role in The Bride - rocked yellow-lensed sunglasses with his black double-breasted suit and patent leather Oxfords.

Oscar winner Susan Sarandon had the 40F-degree drizzly winter weather on her mind when she wore a coral-colored rain jacket on the black carpet.

Wednesday actor Steve Buscemi and his much younger second wife Karen Ho coordinated in black and grey looks for the premiere.

Caught Stealing star Liev Schreiber and his much younger wife Taylor Neisen - wearing matching black ensembles - left their two-year-old daughter at home so they could enjoy a glamorous date night.

The Better Sister star Corey Stoll stood out in a green-corduroy suit along with a black sweater and matching dress shoes.

The Conjuring: Last Rites star Patrick Wilson and his wife Dagmara Dominczyk made The Bride premiere a family affair by bringing along their 16-year-old son Kassian, who brought a pretty blonde date.

And Anna Van Patten - who will appear in Euphoria season three - went strapless in a roomy black halter gown selected by styling duo Chloe and Chenelle Delgadillo.
Despite claiming over the weekend that she had been blacklisted from Hollywood over her pro-Palestinian views, Susan Sarandon was among the famous faces walking the red carpet at the US premiere of The Bride on Tuesday night.

The 79-year-old Thelma & Louise star beamed as she arrived at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater in Manhattan.

She eschewed the glamorous looks worn by the film's cast  including Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley, Annette Bening and Jake Gyllenhaal  and instead sported a surprising coral-colored raincoat.

Sarandon doesn't appear to have been involved with The Bride, a Bonnie And Clydeinfluenced take on the 1935 horror film The Bride Of Frankenstein.

Jessie Buckley stars as the eponymous character, a woman named Ida who is brought back to life by Frankenstein's monster (Bale) and Dr. Euphronious (Bening).

Ida and her undead love, who goes by Frank, proceed to seek out their revenge on a crime spree through Depression-era Chicago.

Despite claiming over the weekend that she had been blacklisted from Hollywood over her pro-Palestinian views , Susan Sarandon was among the famous faces walking the red carpet at the US premiere of The Bride on Tuesday night

The 79-year-old Thelma & Louise star eschewed the glamorous looks worn by the film's cast  including Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley, Annette Bening and Jake Gyllenhaal  and instead sported a surprising coral-colored raincoat

The Bride was written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal  making her feature debut  and costars her family members in key supporting roles, including her brother Jake and husband Peter Sarsgaard, who plays a detective on the trail of Frank and Ida.

Sarandon stood out at the premiere with her vibrant raincoat, which she wore over a black top and a fuzzy green sweater.

The actress added multiple necklaces to her ultra-casual ensemble, and she wore a pair of dark tortoiseshell glasses.

Sarandon completed the low-key look with black slacks and chunky black boots, and she kept her dark curls done up.

Her appearance at the premiere came just days after she spoke out about her alleged blacklisting from Hollywood over pro-Palestinian comments she made in the midst of Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza.

Sarandon  who previously said she doubted she would ever be able to work in the United States again  said Friday in a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, that she had lost her talent agency representation over her remarks calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

'I was fired by my agency specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza  for asking for a ceasefire  and it became impossible for me to even be on television,' she said a day before the 40th Goya Awards were held on Saturday in Barcelona, according to video of the press conference.

'I dont know lately if its changed, [but] I couldnt do any major film, anything connected with Hollywood,' she continued.

Jessie Buckley stars in The Bride as Ida, who is brought back to life by Frankenstein's monster (Bale) and Dr. Euphronious (Bening). Ida and her undead love, who goes by Frank, proceed to seek out their revenge on a crime spree in Depression-era Chicago.

Sarandon stood out at the premiere with her vibrant raincoat, which she wore over a black top and a fuzzy green sweater

The actress added multiple necklaces to her ultra-casual ensemble, and she wore a pair of dark tortoiseshell glasses

Sarandon completed the low-key look with black slacks and chunky black boots, and she kept her dark curls done up

Sarandon added that her alleged Hollywood blacklisting was so extreme that even foreign filmmakers were being urged not to work with her.

'This Italian director that just hired me, he was told not to hire me,' Sarandon said. 'So thats still recently. He didnt listen, but they had that conversation.'

The pressure to not hire her allegedly limited her to working outside of the major studios.

'So right now, I kind of specialize in tiny films with directors who have never directed and are independent films, and films that are in Europe or in Italy. So thats the main reason I havent been working as much,' Sarandon said.

However, she expressed gratitude for the warmer reception she had received in Spain, and she saluted a fellow actor who said he had also been blacklisted.

'In a place where you feel repression and censorship, to see Spain and to see the president and what he says, and the support that hes giving about Gaza, and to have actors like Javier Bardem come forward with such a strong voice is so important to us in the United States,' Sarandon continued.

When you turn on the TV and you see how strong Spain is and how clear that you are morally about these issues, it makes you feel less alone, and it makes you feel that there is hope because of you all. You just dont hear that on television in the United States,' she added.

Sarandon previously reflected on being dropped by her agent and her fears over never working in Hollywood again in November 2024.

Her appearance at the premiere came just days after she spoke out about her alleged blacklisting from Hollywood over pro-Palestinian comments she made in the midst of Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza; pictured Saturday in Barcelona at the 40th Goya Awards

The actress said Friday in a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, that she had lost her talent agency representation over her remarks calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas; pictured at an anti-ICE protest on January 30 in NYC

The year before, she was dropped by her Hollywood representative, United Talent Agency, which is run by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer, for her comments.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star caused controversy after she claimed Jewish people 'are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' amid the war with Hamas at a rally in New York City.

She then apologized for her remarks, saying that she had not planned to speak at the rally, but had been invited to address the crowd, and had intended to 'highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.'

In an interview with The Times of London in late 2024, Sarandon reflected on how the controversy led to the departure of her agent and how she is no longer able to star in mainstream studio films.

She told the publication: 'I was dropped by my agency, my projects were pulled. I've been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.

'There are so many people out of work right now since November of last year who have lost their jobs as custodians, as writers, as painters, as people working in the cafeteria, substitute teachers who have been fired because they tweeted something, or liked a tweet, or asked for a ceasefire.'

Asked if she would ever be offered a big film role again she replied: 'I don't know. Not anything in Hollywood.'

Back in July 2024, Sarandon apologized for her remarks, saying her 'phrasing was a terrible mistake' while covering the latest issue of Elle Spain.

Join the debate Should celebrities risk their careers to speak out on political issues, or stay silent for work?

'I was fired by my agency specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza  for asking for a ceasefire  and it became impossible for me to even be on television,' she said a day before the 40th Goya Awards were held on Saturday in Barcelona; pictured Friday in Barcelona

'I dont know lately if its changed, [but] I couldnt do any major film, anything connected with Hollywood,' she continued, adding that even foreign directors were being urged not to work with her; pictured Saturday in Barcelona at the Goya Awards

She also reiterated her desire to end the 'genocide' in Gaza, saying she had long been motivated to stand against injustice.

Covering the magazine, the actress explained that her position has a famous actress is a 'loudspeaker' allowing her to bring visibility to social issues.

Accepting that by speaking out she has ensured her blacklisting by a large part of the industry, Sarandon insisted that everyone had to come together to stop Israelis and Palestinians dying, because 'no one deserves to die this way.'

She said: 'Injustice has always hurt and angered me. I grew up in Washington in the 60s, with the Vietnam War hovering over that time and assassinations like Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. overshadowing our culture.

'I didn't have to force myself to educate myself in this sense, it was the only plausible option.

'That's why I'm so surprised by the misinformation that exists today, at a time when we have everything within our reach.

'It is up to each of us to stop the genocide that is happening in Gaza, and that means that Israelis and Palestinians stop dying. No one deserves to die this way.

'I understand that it is hard to accept that we are all part of the problem, but a war like this is only forged with our taxes, with your money and mine.

Sarandon previously reflected on being dropped by her agent and her fears over never working in Hollywood again in November 2024; pictured in July 2024 in NYC

The Oscar-winning star has been vocal in her support for Palestine, and present at several rallies calling for a ceasefire in Gaza since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict

'That's why it's admirable that countries like Spain, Ireland or Norway raise their voices and say: 'We don't want to contribute to this.''

Sarandon recalled: 'I realized that my profession carried with it a loudspeaker in the 70s, when the United States introduced the Equal Rights Amendment.

'At one of the marches I was walking with Marlo Thomas, and she said to me: 'The only way we are going to be in the news is for you to speak.' And I did it, scared to death but I did it, because it is the way of life that I conceive.'

Sarandon has previously protested for the visibility of AIDS, to end the war in Iraq and against gun violence, even being arrested.

She was arrested in June 2018 at the Women Disobey protests for protesting against Donald Trump's controversial migrant policy of separating children from their parents.

While her second arrest was last year at a protest to raise the minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers.

She said: 'It will never cease to surprise me that an American thinks that someone is desperate to enter our country, when what they are really trying to do is achieve a dignified, stable and, above all, free life.'

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star previously caused controversy in November, after she claimed Jewish people 'are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' amid the war with Hamas at a rally in New York City.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star caused controversy after she claimed Jewish people 'are getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' amid the war with Hamas at a rally in NYC

Now in a new interview with The Times Sarah has reflected on how said that the controversy led to the departure of her agent and how she is no longer able to star in mainstream studio films

She apologized for her remarks, saying that she had not planned to speak at the rally, but had been invited to address the crowd, and had intended to 'highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.'

But Sarandon acknowledged that her words ignored 'centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe' as well as recent atrocities, such as the Tree of Life synagogue attack.

Taking to her Instagram, she said: 'Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of rising antisemitic hate, 'are getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.'

'This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true.

'As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe, to the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, PA, Jews have long been familiar with discrimination and religious violence which continues to this day.

'I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment. It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.'

'I will continue my commitment to peace, truth, justice, and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet with love and willingness to engage in dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree.'

Sarandon has continued to be an advocate for Palestinian rights, and proudly wore a pro Palestinian button on the red carpet on Thursday for the New York premiere for her new film The Fabulous Four.

In April, she joined a host of film stars and directors donating memorabilia and time to a Cinema for Gaza auction to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Palestine, including Paul Mescal, Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Tessa Thompson, Louis Theroux, Jonathan Glazer and Stellan Skarsgard.
Ali Larter showed off her incredible figure as she supported her Landman co-star Demi Moore's collaboration with Kerastase on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old actress, who recently modeled a skimpy bikini in celebration of her birthday, attended the Power Talks and Launch of Chronologiste presented by Moore and Kerastase at Nya Studios in L.A.

Larter wowed in a skimpy bra top as well as a matching fitted skirt that contained a floral pattern on the material.

She layered the look with a light gray blazer which slid down one of her shoulders during a photo session.

The Final Destination star's blonde locks were parted in the middle and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in elegant waves.

Larter slipped into silver pumps and accessorized her outfit with silver earrings as well as a few flashy rings on her hands.

Ali Larter, 50, showed off her incredible figure as she supported her Landman co-star Demi Moore's collaboration with Kerastase on Tuesday

Larter wowed in a skimpy bra top as well as a matching fitted skirt that contained a floral pattern on the material

Her makeup was glammed up for the evening and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a smoky shadow around her eyes.

A warm blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow while a nude-colored tint was worn on her lips.

Larter briefly showed off her look upon arriving to the event to support her castmate Moore.

The pair both star in the Paramount+ series Landman - which was created by Taylor Sheridan.

Larter portrays the character of Angela Norris in the show while Moore has taken on the role of Cami Miller.

Moore was announced to be a new global brand ambassador for the French haircare line Kerastase back in January.

The Substance actress said at the time in a statement, 'I am truly honored to join the Kerastase family as their Global Brand Ambassador,' per the brand's official website.

'My life has been shaped by love, growth, and new experiences - and my hair has been with me through it all.'

She layered the look with a light gray blazer which slid down one of her shoulders during a photo session

The Final Destination star's blonde locks were parted in the middle and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in elegant waves

Her makeup was glammed up for the evening and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a smoky shadow around her eyes

At one point, Larter was seen crossing paths with 90210 alum Sara Foster and the pair paused for a quick snap together

Larter and Moore both star in the Paramount+ series Landman - which was created by Taylor Sheridan; seen in 2025 in L.A.

The Golden Globe winner then offered her definition of beauty, saying that it is about 'being authentic and embracing who you are. I can't wait to share my new Kerastase chapter with you all!'

Aside from recently appearing in Landman - which has been renewed for a third season - Larter has been filtering through a busy schedule.

Last month in February, the star celebrated her 50th birthday during a tropical getaway with close pals.

She jumped to her main Instagram page to ring in the special occasion and flaunted her toned physique in a stylish bikini.

In some of the photos, Larter donned a light blue bikini top with a plunging neckline on the front as well as matching bottoms.

The Legally Blonde actress additionally opted for a semi-sheer maxi skirt as well as stylish shades while spending time on the sandy shore.

The mom-of-two has previously given insight into her fitness regime, such as on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast in January.

'I take care of myself. So that's what I do. But also, when I say I go to the gym, yes, you need to strength train.'

Larter portrays the character of Angela Norris (seen above) in the show while Moore has taken on the role of Cami Miller

Last month in February, the star celebrated her 50th birthday during a tropical getaway with close pals

She added, 'You know, as you get older as a woman, it's part of it. You have to do it. But I'm also there, babe.

'I am like getting through my terror of life. Like I'm working my anxiety out, and then I can start the day.'

Larter also recently revealed to People that she kicks off her week by waking up at 4:30am to go for a run on Mondays.

'It's only 30 minutes,' she explained, before sharing, 'I try to eat very clean, but I eat. I'm one of those protein mommies. I eat so much protein all day long. It works for me.'

She also talked about her confidence when it comes to swimsuit scenes on the series Landman.

'In the end, anytime you have to put on a bathing suit and walk in front of anybody, it's really difficult.'

The star continued, 'When I look around, the sexiest women I know are the women that own it. So part of getting there with Angela is owning it.'

'I take care of myself. So that's what I do. But also, when I say I go to the gym, yes, you need to strength train,' Larter expressed

Over the past weekend, Larter stunned as she strutted on the red carpet at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards in Los Angeles (seen above)

Over the past weekend, Larter stunned as she strutted on the red carpet at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards in Los Angeles.

She wore a strapless, burgundy gown that contained a corset bodice and a skirt that brushed the ground.

The actress accessorized the glamorous look with a chunky silver necklace as well as a matching bracelet.

Her blonde hair was parted in the middle and cascaded down behind her as she posed for snaps ahead of the star-studded ceremony.
The body of Robert Carradine has been released to his family after the actor took his own life aged 71 last week.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the latest development after previously confirming the star died by suicide via hanging at a hospital on February 23.

Carradine, who was part of an acting dynasty that includes his brother Keith and late half-brother David, was best known for his stints on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire and in the Revenge Of The Nerds film franchise.

He had lived with bipolar, his family told Deadline upon his death.

'In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him,' relatives told the news site, adding that they wanted 'to acknowledge Bobbys valiant struggles against his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder.

'We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness.

The body of Robert Carradine has been released to his family after his death at 71 last week

Jake Thomas, Carradine and Hallie Todd in the 2003 Lizzie McGuire film

'At this time, we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion,' the statement concluded.

Keith told Deadline that his family wanted people to understand that Carradine had been valiant and courageous in his struggle with mental illness.

'We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,' Keith said. 'It is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it, and celebrate his beautiful soul.

The late actor 'was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day,' Keith said. 'We will take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was. Thats who my baby brother was.'

Carradine's daughter, Ever Carradine, posted an emotional statement on Instagram in which she shared memories of their relationship, urging his fans to replicate his kindness in his memory.

'My dad died today,' said the actress, whom Carradine welcomed with Susan Snyder. 'He was all heart, and in a world so full of conflict and division, I think we can all take a page out of his book today, open our hearts and feel and share the love.

'I have a thousand stories and Im being flooded with memories - so if you see me, please ask me about my dad, Bobby Carradine, who made me who I am.'

Ever, 51, ended the emotional statement with, 'Rest easy, dad. I love you the most.'

His family said they wanted people to understand that Carradine had been valiant and courageous in his struggle with bipolar disorder over the past two decades

His daughter, actress Ever Carradine, shared a picture of them hitting the picket line during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike

Carradine's Lizzie McGuire costar Hilary Duff said on Instagram at the time of his death, 'This one hurts. Its really hard to face this reality about an old friend.

'There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. Ill be forever grateful for that. Im deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering.'

Duff wrapped up by saying, 'My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him.'

Carradine was born on March 24, 1954, in Los Angeles, into a show business family.

His parents were actors John Carradine and Sonia Sorel, and his brothers were Disney Imagineer Christopher Carradine and actors Keith and the late David, who died in 2009 at 72.

David was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room on June 4 that year, with investigators saying he died in an instance of asphyxiation.

Medical examiner Dr Michael Baden, who conducted a private autopsy on David, said that 'he didn't die of natural causes, and he didn't die of suicidal causes from the nature of the ligatures around the body, so that leaves some kind of accidental death.'

Anthony Edwards and Carradine in the 1984 hit Revenge Of The Nerds

Carradine with Revenge of the Nerds costars Curtis Armstrong and Julia Montgomery last fall

Carradine played the role of Sam McGuire on 65 episodes of Lizzie McGuire from 20012004, and in the 2003 motion picture based on the popular TV franchise with Duff in the titular role.

One of his most prominent roles came as Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds, which also starred Anthony Edwards, Curtis Armstrong and Timothy Busfield.

He reprised the roles for sequels such as 1987's Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise and two TV films: 1992's Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation and 1994's Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love.

Carradine appeared alongside brothers David and Keith in 1980's The Long Riders, which also featured members of famed Hollywood acting families such as the Quaids, Guests and Keach family.
Bella Hadid, Kate and Lila Moss and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley led the stars attended the Saint Laurent post-fashion show afterparty at the fashion house's headquarters in Paris on Tuesday.

Supermodel Bella, 29, looked incredible for the evening in a black leather jacket which she wore below her shoulders, pairing it with a matching dress.

The star added height to her frame with black boots and styled her brunette locks into a sleek updo for the evening.

Also sporting a stylish pair of sunglasses, Bella completed her look with eye-catching pearl earrings.

Fellow model Kate, 52, turned heads in a white and pink jacket with black stripes which she wore over a racy lace catsuit.

The garment highlighted the star's jaw-dropping figure and she paired it with black ankle boots.

Bella Hadid led the stars attended the Saint Laurent post-fashion show afterparty at the fashion house's headquarters in Paris on Tuesday

Kate Moss turned heads in a white and pink jacket while her daughter Lila opted for a black dress with a sheer detail along the neckline.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wore a white blouse with a large bow detail at the front which she paired with a dark brown leather pencel skirt

Her daughter Lila, 23, was also in attendance at the event and opted for a black dress with a sheer detail along the neckline.

Wearing her blonde tresses in an updo, she also wore a pair of black open toe heels.

Rosie, 38, wore a white blouse with a large bow detail at the front which she paired with a dark brown leather pencel skirt.

Zoe Kravtiz opted for a brown turtle neck top which she wore tucked into a matching pair of trousers.

Olivia Wilde looked sensational in a deep green trench coat which she wore with dark tights and black heels.

Madonna's daughter Lourdes Leon opted for an eye-catching orange trench coat and accessorised with a brown leather handbag.

Francois Arnaud opted for a black suit and matching coat while Evan Ross sported a purple shirt and matching trousers.

Bella is usually a permanent fixture on the runway in Paris and Milan during fashion week, but has recently taken some time off due to her battle with Lyme disease.

Supermodel Bella, 29, looked incredible for the evening in a black leather jacket, pairing it with a matching dress

Olivia Wilde looked sensational in a deep green trench coat which she wore with dark tights and black heels

Wearing her blonde tresses in an updo, Lila also wore a pair of black open toe heels

Rosie let her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders and also wore a pair of white heels

Kate also wore over a racy lace catsuit which highlighted her jaw-dropping figure

Zoe Kravtiz opted for a brown turtle neck top which she wore tucked into a matching pair of trousers

Madonna's daughter Lourdes Leon opted for an eye-catching orange trench coat and accessorised with a brown leather handbag

Bella, who has struggled with the chronic neurological disease for 14-years, has been undergoing treatment and recently revealed she was forced to turn down 'every job for almost a year.'

The model said she struggled to maintain a work-life balance and has since learnt to say no.

'The way that I worked for many years was not sustainable. I think that, you know, even during COVID I continued to work,' the IMG Model told Vogue Italia on Tuesday.

'Being able to be in Texas with my horses and my dog, having a real life, and then going back to work makes it more fulfilling.'

Hadid now knows that she is able to say 'no' to jobs that aren't with the people she loves, trusts, supports and respects.

'Now I know that if I'm able to say 'No,' even going through my [Lyme disease] treatment last year and having to say no to every job for almost a year, which I cried about,' the Beauty guest star recalled.

'I was emotional because you feel disposable.'

On September 18, her mother Yolanda Hadid, posted an Instagram tribute to her 'bada** warrior' daughter in the hospital.

'I admire your bravery and your willingness to keep fighting for health despite the falling protocols and countless setbacks you have faced,' the Real Housewives star wrote.

Francois Arnaud opted for a black suit and matching coat while Evan Ross sported a purple shirt and matching trousers

She added: 'There simply aren't words big enough for the darkness, the pain, and the unknown hell you've lived through since your diagnosis.

'You didn't really live, you learned how to exist inside the jail of your own paralyzed brain. I am so proud of the fighter that you are. You are not alone, I promise to have your back every step of the way, no matter how long this takes.'

Yolanda continued: 'You have fought through another month of treatment and I know god is good, miracles do happen every day. I pray for your speedy recovery my love.

'This disease has brought us to our knees, but we always get back up. We will continue to fight for better days, together. You are a survivor I love you so much.'

Like Bella and her younger brother Anwar, Yolanda contracted the tickborne illness in 2012 but stopped sharing her personal story because she wanted to stop 'absorbing other people's opinions about my journey.'

Yolanda is 'still determined to find a cure affordable for all' eight years after writing about seeing '106 doctors' and undergoing a Stem Cell transplant, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Chelation therapy, colon hydrotherapy, among other treatments in her book Believe Me.

Back in 2023, she curiously declared she was 'finally healthy' and that she was 'so proud' of 'not giving up on' herself.
Sofia Vergara and Anya Taylor-Joy both looked incredible as they attended the Costes party during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday.

Modern Family star Sofia, 53, turned heads in a low cut lace bustier which she paired with a purple leather skirt.

The actress added height to her frame with a pair of black open toe heels and carried a purple coat on her arm.

Letting her locks fall loose down her shoulders, Sofia completed her look with a simple heart-shaped necklace.

Anya, 29, cut a very glamorous figure in a light silver evening gown with thin spaghetti straps.

The sleeveless garment also featued a v-neckline and a sheer underlayer while Anya also sported a pair of white heels.

Sofia Vergara looked incredible as she attended the Costes party during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

Anya Taylor-Joy cut a very glamorous figure in a light silver evening gown with thin spaghetti straps

Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti opted for a brown jacket and a matching mini skirt for the evening.

She attended the party alongside actress Laura Harrier who opted for a black blazer and trousers with a beige blouse.

Jocelyn Wildenstein's ex-husband Lloyd Klein looked dapper in a black blazer and blue trousers as he attended the event with a female friend.

Also in attendance was artist and photograher Nadia Lee Cohen who opted for a black strapless midi dress and a matching leather hat.

Last year, Anya opened up about how her and husband Malcolm McRae's love story began many years ago.

While making an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, she gushed about meeting the musician and finding out they shared the same birthday.

'I love him so much,' she told Drew Barrymore when she asked about her partner. 'Oh yeah, he's, I'm very, I'm so lucky. I'm so lucky.'

The Queen's Gambit star revealed where they crossed paths and the very first thing he said to her.

The sleeveless garment also featued a v-neckline and a sheer underlayer

Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti opted for a brown jacket and a matching mini skirt for the evening

She attended the party alongside actress Laura Harrier who opted for a black blazer and trousers with a beige blouse

Caroline Daur wrapped up in a black trench coat which she wore over a pair of jeans

Jocelyn Wildenstein's ex-husband Lloyd Klein looked dapper in a black blazer and blue trousers as he attended the event with a female friend

Also in attendance was artist and photograher Nadia Lee Cohen who opted for a black strapless midi dress and a matching leather hat while Evan Ross sported a purple co-ord

Carla Ginola made a chic appearance at the exclusive Costes party in Paris on Thursday evening

Jagger was also spotted arriving at the bash, in the French capital wearing a black outfit and carrying a Dior bag

British actor Louis Partridge also stepped out for the party

Lily Chee and Bach Buquen were spotted arriving together

'We met in a music studio and he's like, I do. I love him. We're born on the same day. So that was the first thing he ever said to me,' she recalled.

'He was like, "When's your birthday?" And I was like, "April 16th." He's like, "I knew it." I was like, "Oh no, this is, yeah."

'He's the absolute greatest.'

'My dad once told me when I was a kid that you're not looking for another half to make you whole, that you are whole,' she continued.

'And if you're lucky enough, you meet another whole,' she continued. 'And then you become, like, a greater sum of your parts.'

The Golden Globe winner added: 'I just feel like I am encouraged to grow in the most unexpected and beautiful ways because he provides a soil that's, like, really nutritious and safe.

'Yeah, I just, he's the best,' she gushed to Barrymore.
Jocelyn Wildenstein's former partner, Lloyd Klein stepped out with a mystery woman - one year on from the Swiss socialite's death aged 84.

The fashion designer, 58, attended the Costes party in Paris on Tuesday night during fashion week and was accompanied by the unknown lady.

He was smartly dressed in jeans, a crisp white shirt and a black blazer worn with loafers as he linked arms with his plus one for the evening.

In January 2025, Lloyd paid tribute to his late long-term partner Jocelyn and their enduring relationship after she passed away while taking a nap on New Year's Eve.

He described her as the 'love of [his] life' while remarking on how much he misses her during a conversation with Page Six..

The pair had been romantically since 2003, though they had a bumpy relationship that included a 2016 incident in which Wildenstein was arrested for slashing Klein's face with scissors.

Jocelyn Wildenstein's former partner, Lloyd Klein, 58, stepped out with a mystery woman at the Costes party in Paris on Tuesday - one year on from the socialite's death aged 84

'She was fabulous. She was the love of my life,' Lloyd gushed about Wildenstein, who was dubbed the 'Catwoman' due to the leonine features she developed after numerous cosmetic surgeries over the years, (pictured in December 2019)

'She was fabulous. She was the love of my life,' Lloyd gushed about Wildenstein, who was dubbed the 'Catwoman' due to the leonine features she developed after numerous cosmetic surgeries over the years.

'I miss her every half second and I still think Im in a nightmare right now,' Klein continued somberly.

'All my happiness is gone,' he said elsewhere in the interview, 'but she did not suffer, and she died in full glamour.'

Klein  who revealed a contributing factor to his fiancee's death  tried to clarify her true age at the time of her death, claiming that Wildenstein was 79 when she died, and not 84, as was widely reported.

An obituary in the Times of London reported that the art dealer had been born in 1940, and was therefore 84, but the New York Times was among the publications that reported she had been born in 1945, which would have made her only 79.

Klein was clearly defensive about his late fiancee and the reputation she had developed with the public due to her shifting appearance and money woes.

'She doesn't deserve to be ridiculed,' he told Page Six.

Klein also claimed that Wildenstein was 'certainly not broke' at the time of her death, saying: 'That's not the case..'

He claimed that, contrary to statements made by her ex-husband, Alec N. Wildenstein, she had never tried to give herself a more feline appearance.

'Alec said Jocelyn wanted to look like a cat. She never wanted to look like a cat, she already had that look,' he claimed. 'she had beautiful cheekbones and almond-shaped cat eyes.'

He went further, claiming that Wildenstein led a trend of celebrities getting significant amounts of plastic surgery.

'Maybe she was the first one doing what she did,' he mused.

By the '90s, Jocelyn was completely unrecognizable after her face was transformed reportedly from numerous cosmetic surgeries.

They left her with slanted cat eyes, a prominent chin and exaggerated cheek bones, which some have compared to a lion's face.

Despite the obvious change in her appearance, Wildenstein at one time bizarrely claimed to have never had plastic surgery.

Alec did comment on her face. He told Vanity Fair, 'She was crazy. I would always find out last. She was thinking that she could fix her face like a piece of furniture. Skin does not work that way. But she wouldnt listen.'

Wildenstein fired back that he 'hired a publicist and paid a plastic surgeon to certify that I completely changed my face' to win the divorce, she stated.

Lloyd previously spoke about waking up to discover Wildenstein had unexpectedly and tragically passed.

'She died in her sleep very peacefully,' he told People shortly after her death was confirmed.

'It's very sad. It's extremely sad. It's extremely sad to lay down with your other half that I know for 21 years and waiting to celebrate New Year's Eve and to find her cold.'

'We had a nice happy hour the same night and we were getting ready for the new year, and we took a little nap just to look good before getting dressed,' he said as he recounted the hours before her passing.

Lloyd could be seen linking arms with the mystery lady as he left the event

He was smartly dressed in jeans, a crisp white shirt and a black blazer worn with loafers as he linked arms with his plus one for the evenin

Wildenstein was previously married to Alec N. Wildenstein. They met at his family's African ranch in 1977 before eloping in Las Vegas in 1978; pictured in 2000 in Paris

Here she is seen at a much younger age as she held onto a child

When asked about her cause of death, he said that she had phlebitis, a condition that causes a blood clot to form and block one or more veins, often in the legs, per the Mayo Clinic.

'Because of her phlebitis, the legs were very, very swollen, and the blood was blocked, and there was no oxygen in the brain,' he explained.

'And we were having a nap and when I wake up, I said, "Jocelyn, we have to wake up, we have to get dressed," and she was cold and she was dead.'

He continued: 'It's very sad. It's extremely sad.'

Klein noted that the condition, which Wildenstein's grandmother also had, did not affect their holiday celebrations in Paris.

He said that her health had been 'perfect.'

'We were at the Ritz two days ago,' he recounted. 'We were having dinner. Before that, we had come for Fashion Week at Chanel. Everything was good, everything was good.'

About their holiday celebrations up until then, he said it was 'beautiful.'

'We were at the Ritz. We were having parties. She was in great shape. She was in impeccable health,' he told the outlet.

He said they had been spending time in Paris together and she was 'very happy' and 'at the top of her game.'

Wildenstein became one of the wealthiest people on the planet after her 1999 divorce from the French-born American art collector and businessman Alec N. Wildenstein, which left her with a reported $2.5 billion.

The settlement also instructed Alec to pay Jocelyn an additional $100 million per year.

Despite achieving such immense wealth, she reportedly managed to lose it all after years of tinkering with her face and spending on countless luxuries.

She filed for bankruptcy in 2018, and three luxury apartments she owned in Trump Tower were reportedly repossessed.

In a 2023 interview with the Times of London, Wildenstein said that she had 'zero' dollars of income over the past eight years, though she apparently still had assets valued in the millions.

'I have a huge problem with my settlement,' she told the publication. 'Since eight years, [Alexs family] have completely cut me off.'

Alec died in 2008, though the payments continued for several more years, until his family cut them off in 2015.

In 2018, Wildenstein claimed to Page Six that the vast majority of her wealth disappeared because one of the paintings that was part of the trust set up for her in the divorce settlement, attributed to Diego Velazquez, turned out to be a forgery.

On top of that, a Cezanne that was expected to sell for around $35 million on auction only sold for $4.7 million.

Klein attributed much of her financial misfortune to the forged painting that was part of her divorce settlement from her ex-husband's family.

'She had a very lavish lifestyle. There were bills to pay, and when they stopped paying her it was terrible,' he said. 'She would not have one problem if they had not given her a fake painting.'

Wildenstein, who had been spending time in Paris around her death late last year, had previously been based in Miami.

Daily Mail reported that her money issues had escalated to the point that a judge had threatened her with arrest after she failed to attend a hearing over an unpaid debt of $344,000.

Klein said that Wildenstein's remaining assets were being sorted out by her estates attorneys, and whatever remains after her debts are paid would go to her children, Diane and Alec Jr.

According to the fashion designer, he's not looking for anything from her estate, and instead only wants 'dignity' for her after her death.

'I was not with her for the money. I am a top couturier,' he explained, adding that he has a 'beautiful list of clients' including Jane Fonda, Joan Collins, Faye Dunaway and Kim Kardashian.

Klein claimed that he was 'taking care' of Wildenstein as much as possible in her final years to maintain her lavish lifestyle.

'I gave her everything I could to please her. We kept life beautiful, happy,' he said. 'If this is not love, I dont know what you can call it.'

Klein noted that he hasn't spoken with Wildenstein's children  who were allegedly estranged from her  in the days since her death.

'Jocelyn did everything possible for her kids,' he said. 'She took them all over the world  She did spoil them  she was the best mother one would want to have.'

In the interview, Klein revealed that he and Wildenstein had attended a nighttime mass at a church in Paris days before her death, where she had been blessed by a priest.

'I am happy she had that blessing,' he said.

Klein, who battled lymphoma in 2014, joked that he and Wildenstein wanted to one day share a tomb like ancient Egyptians, and the two would allegedly compare themselves to Marc Antony and Cleopatra.

He previously said that he hoped to be able to scatter her ashes at her ranch in Kenya, alongside her parents.
Coronation Street's Beverley Callard has said she is 'trying to disguise what I'm going through' with her breast cancer battle.

The soap star, 68, revealed she is battling the disease earlier this month after being diagnosed just after she'd relocated to Dublin to start her new job on Irish soap Fair City.

Sharing an update with her fans on Instagram on Tuesday evening, Beverley revealed she is preparing for her 'worst nightmare' of having to attend a red carpet event this weekend.

Beverley shared that despite loving her job as an actor, she hates having to get dressed up and pose for photos.

She admitted the fear is made even worse now as a result of having breast surgery and feeling 'lopsided', so enlisted an alterations expert to help make a dress she had planned on wearing fit her new body.

Beverley said she had the dress altered to 'try and disguise what I'm going through' with her cancer battle.

Coronation Street's Beverley Callard said she is 'trying to disguise what I'm going through' with her breast cancer battle as she shared an update on Instagram on Tuesday

Beverley shared that despite loving her job as an actor, she hates having to get dressed up and pose for photos on red carpets (Pictured at The NTAs in 2010)

Speaking in a video, Beverley said: 'I have to hopefully go back to work on Sunday and Monday, just for two days, that's all.

'But it's to do promotion for a job that I filmed last year, few months ago and I've got the most worrying thing, it's me I know. It's a bit of a red carpet do and lots of photos and anybody who knows me knows I hate those things.

'I love my job. I love learning lines. I love creating a character, but standing, posing on a red carpet is my worst nightmare.'

She continued: 'But now even worse because I feel lopsided. I just had to have a lady come to alter some dress that I'm thinking about wearing, and try and disguise what I'm going through at the moment, so I'm even more nervous about it.

'And I know loads of people will think, "Oh, well, red carpet and oh, getting all dressed up". I prefer being dressed like this. But there we go.

'But yeah, so I'm nervous and anxious about that, and I think that's it, really I'm trying to prepare.'

Elsewhere in the video, Beverley revealed she had taken time off social media to have some 'quiet time' with her husband Jon McEwan and concentrate on regaining her energy.

She said: 'Hi, an update. I've not posted for the last couple of days because, to be honest, I'm just really tired and rubbish at the moment. But also, your messages have been so great, and lots of them said, "Just take a bit of time for you".

'So I've done that, and it was good for Jon and I just to have some quiet time as well, because obviously it gets to him just as much as me.

'Anyway, today has been a good day. I've had more energy and I actually went and had my nails done today, which was quite nice. But you know what? I was exhausted when I came back, not doing anything.'

Sharing an update with her fans on Instagram on Tuesday evening, Beverely revealed she is preparing for her 'worst nightmare' of having to attend a red carpet event this weekend

Beverley concluded the post by informing fans that she was due to return to hospital for an appointment on Wednesday to find out whether she needed to undergo another surgery.

'But the other thing is, I've got the hospital again in the morning and hopefully I'll find out tomorrow if I have to have a second procedure,' she said. 'So that's at 9am, so I'll know more about where I stand then, but I'm sending loads of love and thank you for the love you've been sending me.'

Last week, Beverley revealed she was sore, queasy and feeling emotional as she gave a heartbreaking update following her breast cancer surgery.

Taking to X on Friday, the star opened up to her followers and became emotional as she revealed a heartfelt gift she received from a stranger.

Explaining it had been a week since her operation, Beverley said: 'I woke up this morning and I put on yesterday's clothes, which were dropped on the floor last night when I went to bed.

'I have not cleaned my teeth, I have not combed my hair. I cannot answer my phone because if someone says a kind word to me, I cry. I am sore, I am feeling absolutely rubbish today. And I have been like that all day. I am really tired, I keep feeling a bit queasy, and I have no idea why.'

Beverley then revealed that she didn't want to post anything to her social media the day before because she was worried about making people feel 'miserable'.

She then showed some sweet presents, which included a heart-shaped cushion and a heartfelt card that had been sent in the post from a stranger.

Explaining that the cushion was to ease her pain under her arm, Beverley became emotional as she said she was going to re-gift it after using it.
Rolling Stones guitar legend Keith Richards is set to become a great-grandfather after his model granddaughter Ella Richards revealed she is expecting her first child with her aristocratic boyfriend Sascha von Bismarck.

Burberry campaign star Ella, 29, shared the joyful news on Instagram on Wednesday in a striking black-and-white photograph showing her cradling her growing baby bump.

Among those who rushed to offer their congratulations were models Stella Maxwell and Jade Parfitt - who left three red heart emojis alongside the word 'Congratulations' - and actresses Lady Clara Paget and Poppy Delevingne.

The baby will make Keith, 82, a great-grandfather for the first time.

Sir Mick Jagger, 82, is the only other current Stone to have reached great-grandfather status, when his granddaughter Assisi Jackson - daughter of jewellery designer Jade Jagger - welcomed her first child in 2014.

Ella is the daughter of Marlon Richards, Keith's son from his long relationship with the late model and actress Anita Pallenberg, and former model and stylist Lucie de la Falaise, herself a niece of the legendary Yves Saint Laurent muse Loulou de la Falaise.

Rolling Stones guitar legend Keith Richards is set to become a great-grandfather after his model granddaughter Ella Richards revealed she is expecting her first child

Ella, 29, shared the joyful news on Instagram on Wednesday in a striking black-and-white photograph showing her cradling her growing baby bump

She has been dating Sascha, 31, for several years - with the couple confirming their romance in early 2023 when Ella appeared on the cover of Tatler and spoke about being photographed by Sascha for the shoot.

'It was really easy,' she said at the time. 'I feel very comfortable with him taking my photo, which is a very personal thing.'

Sascha - the younger brother of Kate Moss's photographer ex-boyfriend Count Nikolai von Bismarck, 39 - comes from one of Europe's most distinguished aristocratic dynasties.

His father is the colourful businessman Count Leopold von Bismarck-Schonhausen, and his mother is the glamorous fashion designer Countess Debonnaire von Bismarck, a well-known figure in London society and a close friend of Kate's.

Nikolai and Sascha are also great-great-grandsons of Otto von Bismarck, the towering 19th-century German statesman and chancellor who unified Germany and after whom the city of Bismarck in North Dakota is named.

Ella first burst onto the scene at just 18, making her New York Fashion Week debut and starring in a Burberry campaign, shot by the legendary Mario Testino, alongside Kate, Naomi Campbell, Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn.

She was then snapped up by the Kate Moss Agency - run by the supermodel herself - and has since walked for fashion heavyweights Prada, Calvin Klein, Fendi, Valentino and Sonia Rykiel.

Ella is expecting her child with her aristocratic boyfriend Sascha von Bismarck who she has been dating for several years (pictured toget in 2022)

An old friend of Kate's, Ella was one of 15 flower girls at the model's wedding to The Kills musician Jamie Hince in 2011. Kate, 52, split from Jamie, 57, in 2015 before striking up an on-off romance with Nikolai later that year. They called it quits for good in December 2024.

Sascha, who has worked closely alongside his brother in London's fashion and artistic circles, followed the same path into photography.

In the same Tatler interview in which she confirmed her relationship with Sascha, Ella gave a rare and affectionate portrait of her famous grandfather, describing Keith as far removed from his wild-man reputation.

'He is very quiet and sweet and loving,' she said. 'He's a lot more shy than people think.'

She also painted a vivid picture of her famously bohemian upbringing, revealing that Keith and Anita Pallenberg - who died in 2017 - had an endearingly unconventional approach to dressing.

'My grandfather used to wear my grandmother's clothes, and she used to wear his,' she said. 'Most of my family are slightly mad and crazy or weird. My whole family are all crazy creatives. No one is academic. Everyone is wild and free-spirited.'

Speaking about watching Keith and his fellow Stones perform live on stage, she added: 'They're high on adrenaline, and it keeps them young. It's so inspiring that they continue to do what they love, as long as they can.'
Pregnant Molly-Mae Hague has accidentally revealed her exact due date as she shared a photo from a recent ultrasound scan.

The influencer, 26, announced she is expecting her second child with Tommy Fury, also 26, last month and is already six months pregnant.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday evening, Molly-Mae shared an update on her pregnancy with a slew of recent photos, including showing off her growing baby bump.

Included in her 'bits and bobs' photo dump was a picture of a recent sonogram of her unborn baby projected onto the wall with her three-year-old daughter Bambi gazing up at it.

However the inclusion of the scan has revealed the date Molly-Mae is due to give birth, with fans quick to comment on it.

The picture reveals she was 24 weeks and 6 days pregnant when she had the scan on February 26, meaning her due date is June 12.

Pregnant Molly-Mae Hague accidentally revealed her exact due date as she shared a photo from a recent ultrasound scan on Instagram on Tuesday

Included in her 'bits and bobs' photo dump was a picture of a recent sonogram of her unborn baby projected onto the wall with her three-year-old daughter Bambi gazing up at it

Fans commented: 'Due date is 2 days before me.'

'June baby like my first .'

'We're literally due the same day.'

'A June baby, also, my guess is boy based on skull theory!'

'I'm literally 3 days ahead of you that's crazy.'

Molly-Mae's heartwarming snaps showed her displaying her growing baby bump and spending time with boyfriend Tommy and their daughter Bambi, as the family prepare for the arrival of their fourth member.

She proudly displayed her blossoming bump in several mirror selfies, one where she wore the 95 brown Club London Aveny dress, alongside sweet shots of her with three-year-old daughter Bambi.

After declaring last week that her bump has officially 'popped', Molly-Mae shared a black-and-white snap from her recent work trip to Abu Dhabi, posing in a bikini top and an open linen shirt, exposing her bare tummy.

Elsewhere she shared an adorable photo of her and Tommy cuddled up with Bambi in bed.

The Love Island star also shared a glimpse into the gender reveal for her unborn child, with a shot of a number of cream heart-shaped balloons filling their living room and an envelope that read 'Baby' on the front.

Molly has confirmed that the couple already know the gender and even already have a name picked out, but she is saving the public reveal for another time.

Fans previously became convinced that she had 'accidentally' let slip her baby's gender in a YouTube video last month.

The reality star sparked speculation she was having another little girl after referring to her bump as 'she' in the vlog, as she lifted her jumper to show fans her growing tummy.

However the inclusion of the scan has revealed the date Molly-Mae is due to give birth, with fans quick to comment on it

The influencer, 26, announced she is expecting her second child with Tommy, also 26, last month and is already six months pregnant

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday evening, Molly-Mae shared an update on pregnancy with a slew of recent photos, including showing off her growing baby bump

She said: 'Everyone let me show you the bump. I'm nearly 24 weeks pregnant, the bump is popping more everyday and I'm trying to embrace my bump more this time because that is a regret I had last time, but I'm embracing it. Here SHE is!'

Fans were quick to pick up on the comment and to claim the TV personality is expecting another baby girl.

They wrote: 'Molly-Mae is having a GIRL?'

'THERE SHE IS!'

'Did you say "Here SHE is"??'

But others insisted she was just referring to the bump itself and not the gender of her baby, saying: 'She's on about the baby bump; I always called my bump "she" so I feel like she's just referring to the bump rather than the baby.'

'She was on about her not the baby ..she says it a lot.'

'If this was a slip up I don't think she'd miss editing it out x.'

Elsewhere in her first vlog since announcing the happy news, Molly-Mae said her baby news was her 'worst-kept secret' as her Bambi 'told everyone'.

Speaking to her fans in the YouTube update, she said: 'I don't really know how we got here, but I'm pregnant, legitimately the worst kept secret.

'But that's honestly my own fault because towards the end, I got really lazy trying to hide it. We weren't even trying to hide it. We were at a spa over the weekend and I was openly saying to people that "I'm pregnant", to the staff.'
Kate Moss declared she 'hates being manhandled' and shouted 'don't touch me' as she arrived at the YSL show during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday evening.

The British supermodel, 52, arrived arm in arm with American model Frankie Rayder, at the show which was held in front of the Eiffel Tower.

But in a moment caught on camera, a distressed Kate shouted that she 'didn't want to be touched', while chatting to Frankie on the way inside.

Kate can be heard, saying: 'Please don't touch me! I don't like it! I don't like being manhandled, at all. You know what people go...'

She then begins telling a story about a time when someone touched her and demonstrates on Frankie by linking her arms, mimicking the gesture.

The two women then greet people outside the venue as they make their way in, before the end of the video cuts out.

Following the show, Kate was spotted heading to the after party as she flashed her underwear in a sheer lace catsuit at The Ritz.

Kate Moss declared she 'hates being manhandled' and shouted 'don't touch me' as she arrived at the YSL show during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday evening

After her appearance at Saint Laurent's Paris Fashion Week show, Kate let her hair down and opted for a racy ensemble.

She looked sensational in the figure-hugging number which she paired with a quirky jacket with silk pink sleeves.

Kate appeared in high-spirits as she left her lavish hotel to explore the French capital for one night.

Kate appears to be ageing backwards after ditching her years of hard partying as she flaunted her toned torso and radiant features.

Nowadays, Kate has regular juice fasts, and favours the week-long juice-only programme at wellness LifeCo resort in Turkey - she's visited every year for the past decade.

Kate is the proud owner of wellness business Cosmoss which sells a range of own-brand teas, skincare products and a book of 150 'positive messages'.

She has a 4,000 Cadillac Pilates reformer machine at home, and a personal trainer, Hortense Suleyman.

A magazine source said: 'The brand is late on the bandwagon  candles, serums and perfume are all quite middle-aged.

'But she's been having lots of meetings with people and Cosmoss is stocked in Harrods. I know she has great hopes for it.'

Join the debate What's YOUR take on the incident?

The British supermodel, 52, arrived arm in arm with American model Frankie Rayder, at the show which was held in front of the Eiffel Tower

But in a moment caught on camera, a distressed Kate shouted that she 'didn't want to be touched', while chatting to Frankie on the way inside

She then begins telling a story about a time when someone touched her and demonstrates on Frankie by linking her arms, mimicking the gesture

Over the years, Kate has given an insight into how she stays looking so good, revealing her tips and tricks for maintaining her youthful look.

She told Net-A-Porter: 'I stay hydrated on the flight and try to eat only light foods. I find adapting to the new time zone as soon as I arrive is helpful, so I try to stay up until my usual bedtime.

'I've recently undergone red-light LED therapy and use the Talika Time Control + device. It's great, as it's small and easy to travel with, and I can definitely see an improvement in my skin. I have rose quartz and jade gua sha tools that I use, too.'

Other beauty tips favoured by Kate include dunking her face in iced water and depuffing her eyes with cucumber slices.

Speaking previously about how she tackles a 'bad face day', she said: 'My old go-to trick is to plunge my face into a bowl of iced water and cucumber slices  it instantly tightens and gets rid of any puffiness.

'I then use Cosmoss Golden Nectar facial-oil drops with my gua sha. Together, they give your skin that extra glow and are great at detoxifying and lymphatic drainage.'

Another tip Kate claims she follows is staying out of the sun, after previously being warned by her friend and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury.

She told Grazia: 'Charlotte Tilbury told me not to go out in the sun, but it's because she's a redhead, so she knows. I kind of ignored her, but now I'm taking no risks!'

Kate also revealed she keeps her body refreshed by doing three week-long juice cleanses throughout the year.

She said: 'I juice. At least three times a year, for a week, I do a juice cleanse. I like it. I feel amazing. And then I have so much energy! Everyone else is like, "Pleaseshhhh" Oh my god, I have so much energy, start bouncing off walls!'
Michelle Keegan looked radiant as ever as she launched her spring collection with clothing brand Very.

The actress, 38, showcased a variety of looks in a stunning new photoshoot, including a brown polka dot dress with a matching shawl.

The Fool Me Once star also put on a leggy display in a khaki jacket and matching mini skirt which she wore with a white vest top.

She also displayed her lithe physique in a sleeveless burgundy number with a lace neckline.

In another look, she donned a multi-coloured striped long sleeved dress and added height to her frame with red heels.

Michelle also sported a double deim look with black heels and a grey T-shirt with matching satin trousers.

Michelle Keegan looked radiant as ever as she launched her spring collection with clothing brand Very

The Fool Me Once star also put on a leggy display in a khaki jacket and matching mini skirt which she wore with a white vest top

She also displayed her lithe physique in a sleeveless burgundy number with a lace neckline

Michelle is preparing to hit Hollywood in the film adaptation of Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben's new novel, and it seems preparations could be underway.

In an update shared to her Instagram Story recently, Michelle revealed she had touched down in California as she headed out to lunch.

Her latest trip came after she enjoyed a sun-soaked winter getaway to the Middle East with her husband Mark and their 10-month-old daughter, Palma.

Harlan and Reese have teamed up to write the new crime thriller Gone Before Goodbye.

As Michelle has worked with Harlan before on his Fool Me Once adaption Reese is reportedly keen to get her back on board.

The novel sees an indomitable woman, trapped in a conspiracy she helped create but can't understand.

She searches for the truth that could expose a conspiracy woven throughout the exclusive world of the global elite  but at an unfathomable cost to Maggie herself.

The Daily Mail contacted Michelle and Reese's representatives for comment.

Michelle also sported a double deim look with black heels

She also showcased a grey T-shirt with matching satin trousers

In another look, she donned a multi-coloured striped long sleeved dress and added height to her frame with red heels

Michelle also wore a dark grey jacket with loose-fitting jeans and a peach top

She also showed off a denim jacket with tan trousers and strappy heels

The actress looked incredible in a polka dot dress with a matching shawl

In a social media clip, Michelle showed off a casual look in a burgundy top and matching tracksuit bottoms

Michelle is preparing to hit Hollywood in the film adaptation of Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben's new novel, and it seems preparations could be underway

In an update shared to her Instagram Story recently, Michelle revealed she had touched down in California as she headed out to lunch

As Michelle has worked with Harlan before on his Fool Me Once adaption Reese is reportedly keen to get her back on board

The novel sees an indomitable woman, trapped in a conspiracy she helped create but can't understand

Michelle also shared her love for the Hollywood actress as she shared a sweet snap with both Reese and Harlan earlier this year.

She penned: 'When two geniuses collide.. 'Gone Before Goodbye' is made! (I can confirm Reese Witherspoon is everything you'd imagined her to be, what a woman)'.

Reese then replied: 'So wonderful to meet you .. finally!'

Michelle starred as Maya Stern in Fool Me Once, alongside Joanna Lumley in the series adaptation of Harlan's novel, which quickly shot to the top of Netflix charts worldwide.

Harlan has previously gushed over the star's talent and has previously said he would be keen to work with Michelle again.

Her character's demise in Fool Me Once left Harlan 'kicking himself' and seeking a plot, no matter how far-fetched, that could see her reprise her role in the second instalment.

A source close to Michelle previously told the Daily Mail: 'Michelle and Harlan really bonded during the Fool Me Once filming and he thinks she's amazing.

'He believes Michelle is a big part of the show's stratospheric success.

'They were having a real heart to heart at the National Television Awards recently and Harlan was saying that he was absolutely gutted that he killed off her character and that he'd do anything to bring her back from the dead so that they can have a much-longed for sequel.'

Rumours of Hollywood surrounded Michelle after the success of Fool Me Once in 2024, and the star confirmed she would consider re-locating if the perfect role came along.
Bella Hadid has morphed into Anna Wintour as she debuts sharp and chic 'pageboy bob' hairstyle.

The supermodel, 29, has taken inspiration from Vogue icon Anna for her latest look as she stepped out during Paris Fashion Week.

On Tuesday, Bella debuted an auburn 'pageboy bob' haircut which was curled under and featured a choppy fringe, a far cry from her usual long locks.

Bella's new look bore a striking resemblance to Anna's now famous bob hairstyle - and fans would be forgiven for mistaking the model for the Vogue global editorial director.

And it seems the haircut is this season's hottest look, with London-based hairstylist Elliot Bute telling Glamour: 'The traditional pageboy bob featured a rounded, ear-to-shoulder length with inward-curled blunt ends and a heavy fringe.'

Back in 2019, Anna spoke about her iconic hairdo as she admitted that she sticks to the bob because she's too 'lazy' to change it - and the one time she did, it was a disaster.

Bella Hadid has morphed into Anna Wintour as she debuts sharp and chic 'pageboy bob' hairstyle (Bella pictured left on Tuesday and Anna right on Sunday)

For an episode of the Vogue YouTube series Go Ask Anna, cover girl Rihanna asked Anna about her signature 'do.

'The one time I tried to change it, it was a disaster. I had to wear a hat for several months. So I'm way too anxious and too lazy to try it again,' she said.

'I've had many hairdressers over the years and I can't remember how long I've had this haircut for,' she added.

According to the Telegraph, she's actually had it since she was 14.

Elsewhere during Paris Fashion Week Bella stole the spotlight as she stormed the Saint Laurent runway on Tuesday.

She looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging red lace bodysuit teamed with a figure-hugging sheer black skirt as she strutted down the catwalk.

Showcasing her enviable figure, Bella paired the look with brown tights, pointed heels and statement gold-toned earrings.

For the show, the beauty rocked a dramatic purple eyeshadow look and swept her brunette tresses into a sleek bun with a chic side parting.

The model struck a series of sultry poses for the cameras as she confidently strutted along the runway.

Bella is usually a permanent fixture on the runway in Paris and Milan during fashion week, but has recently taken some time off due to her battle with Lyme disease.

Bella, who has struggled with the chronic neurological disease for 14-years, has been undergoing treatment and recently revealed she was forced to turn down 'every job for almost a year.'

The supermodel, 29, has taken inspiration from Vogue icon Anna for her latest look as she stepped out during Paris Fashion Week

On Tuesday, Bella debuted an auburn 'pageboy bob' haircut which was curled under and featured a choppy fringe, a far cry from her usual long locks (Pictured with long hair in February)

Bella's new look bore a striking resemblance to Anna's now famous bob hairstyle - and fans would be forgiven for mistaking the model for the Vogue global editorial director (Anna pictured in February)

The model said she struggled to maintain a work-life balance and has since learnt to say no.

'The way that I worked for many years was not sustainable. I think that, you know, even during COVID I continued to work,' the IMG Model told Vogue Italia on Tuesday.

'Being able to be in Texas with my horses and my dog, having a real life, and then going back to work makes it more fulfilling.'

Hadid now knows that she is able to say "no" to jobs that aren't with the people she loves, trusts, supports and respects.

'Now I know that if Im able to say "No," even going through my [Lyme disease] treatment last year and having to say no to every job for almost a year, which I cried about,' the Beauty guest star recalled.

'I was emotional because you feel disposable.'

On September 18, her mother Yolanda Hadid, posted an Instagram tribute to her 'bada** warrior' daughter in the hospital.

'I admire your bravery and your willingness to keep fighting for health despite the falling protocols and countless setbacks you have faced,' the Real Housewives star wrote.

She added: 'There simply aren't words big enough for the darkness, the pain, and the unknown hell you've lived through since your diagnosis.

'You didn't really live, you learned how to exist inside the jail of your own paralyzed brain. I am so proud of the fighter that you are. You are not alone, I promise to have your back every step of the way, no matter how long this takes.'
Jackie 'O' Henderson may be out of the radio game for good, a celebrity publicist has revealed.

Max Markson told A Current Affair on Wednesday that while Jackie's co-star Kyle Sandilands is likely to continue to host The Kyle and Jackie O Show in a new guise, he would not be surprised if Jackie has bowed out of a career on the airwaves.

Markson believes that Jackie will soon be replaced, with a new star taking the seat alongside Kyle.

'He's got another eight and a half years to go. Um, and he'll get another partner for his show, which will be a woman,' Markson said.

While Jackie has been offered the chance of taking on a new show on KIIS FM, Markson doubts she will take it.

'And then, for Jackie, I think she's walked away from the whole deal,' he said.

Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) may be out of the radio game for good, a celebrity publicist has revealed

Max Markson (pictured) told A Current Affair on Wednesday that while Jackie's co-star Kyle Sandilands is likely to continue to host The Kyle and Jackie O Show in a new guise, he would not be surprised if Jackie has bowed out of a career on the airwaves

Several high-profile Australian celebrities are being name-dropped as potential replacements after Jackie sensationally quit The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday.

The frontrunner is veteran presenter Sophie Monk, 46, whose extensive TV and radio career includes frequent guest appearances on the KIIS FM show.

Sophie has developed a reputation for her down-to-earth nature, cheeky banter and a willingness to not take things too seriously.

These qualities make her a prime candidate for filling Jackie O's shoes, should Kyle return to the hosting gig following his two-week suspension.

And fans online seem to agree, as many have since flocked to social media to call for Jackie to be replaced by Sophie.

'Really hoping for The Kyle and Sophie Show. They have awesome chemistry!' one person wrote.

'Put Kyle and Sophie Monk together. Kyle also makes Australian Idol better,' added another.

Some even went so far as to leave direct messages on Sophie's Instagram page, begging her to join Kyle on his radio show.

While Jackie has been offered the chance of taking on a new show on KIIS FM, Markson doubts she will take it. 'And then, for Jackie, I think she's walked away from the whole deal,' he said

The frontrunner to replace Jackie is veteran presenter Sophie Monk , 46, (left) whose extensive TV and radio career includes frequent guest appearances on the KIIS FM show

'Please speak to Kyle Sandilands about teaming up with him you'd be absolutely awesome!' said one.

Other potential candidates to replace Jackie could include several veteran radio stars, including Amanda Keller, Chrissie Swan and Fifi Box, or even reality TV stars looking to make a career change.

It has also been speculated that should Sandilands not return to the program, KIIS FM will bring on a new duo of breakfast stars to fill the spot.

'You can't replace a show like Kyle and Jackie O. You just do the best you can and hope the audience will find a way and be patient with whatever you put in, in its place,' Craig Bruce, who was previously program director at 2DayFM during Kyle and Jackie's reign at the station, told MediaWeek.

'It's going to be a really high-risk, high-reward act for anyone to go in and be the next show.'

ARN announced on Tuesday that Jackie's $100 million contract has been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on air that left her in tears.

ARN has offered Jackie the possibility of an alternative show on the network.
Industry star Myha'la cut an undeniably cool figure as she arrived at the Courreges Paris Fashion Week show with her husband Armando Rivera on Wednesday.

The actress, 29, was sporting a black PVC bra top which showcased her taut midriff, styled with a pair of chic skirt-overlay trousers.

Industry has just concluded with an epic season four finale, days after the creators announced they were producing a fifth and final season of the show.

And as the fourth series drew to a close, Myha'la headed to fashion week in the French capital, where she was spotted on the front row of the Courreges show.

Myha'la accessorised the ensemble with a pair of trendy sunglasses and a black handbag, while she wore her braided hair in an up do.

Meanwhile, actor Armando was sporting a casual black shirt with a pair of ankle-grazing trousers and chunky boots.

Industry star Myha'la cut an undeniably cool figure as she arrived at the Courreges Paris Fashion Week show with her husband Armando Rivera on Wednesday

The actress, 29, was sporting a black PVC bra top which showcased her taut midriff, styled with a pair of chic skirt-overlay trousers

Inside the event, Myha'la sat on the front row with Emily Ratajkowski and Kim Petras.

Last week, Industry stars Marisa Abela and her co-star 'bestie' Myha'la shared a look behind the scenes as they celebrated the show being renewed for a fifth season.

The HBO/BBC production announced that the next series about the cut-throat world of finance will be it's final outing, as they insisted 'we know to end on a high'.

And delighting in the news that they would be returning to filming, Marisa, 29, shared a selection of photos with the cast and the programme's creators.

The selection of snaps mainly featured her close friend Myha'la, who she has struck up a bond with after filming the first four series of the show.

The two actresses, who were each other's bridesmaids at their weddings, were dressed up in elegant robes in fun bathroom snaps.

Marisa and Myha'la posed up a storm in the sultry and playful behind the scenes shots, which showed them larking about together.

Marisa had captioned the post: 'Industry hive... Industry five!!! The final season. Let's f*in go [crying face emojis']'.

Other photos showed them with wooden chopsticks in their mouths, impersonating walruses as well as smouldering in the back of a car.

Several of the photos included the show's creators, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

Making their own comments about the series renewal online, they said: 'We're privileged to have joined the small, esteemed club of dramas that have run for five seasons on HBO.

Inside the event, Myha'la sat on the front row with Emily Ratajkowski and Kim Petras

And as the fourth series drew to a close, Myha'la headed to fashion week in the French capital, where she was spotted on the front row of the Courreges show

Industry stars Marisa Abela and her co-star 'bestie' Myha'la shared a look behind the scenes as they celebrated the show being renewed for a fifth season

Other photos showed them with wooden chopsticks in their mouths

Marisa had captioned the post: 'Industry hive... Industry five!!! The final season. Let's f*in go [crying face emojis']'

'This marks a decade since we fist began to conceive of the world of INDUSTRY and it exists because of the unwavering faith and vision of our partners and former partners at HBO - Casey, Frannie, Kara, Cela, Sam, Kathleen and Max.

'Without Jane Tranter's imagination and belief the show would simply be a dead idea in a drawer somewhere. She - alongside her partners at Bad Wolf - has been our guiding light and fiercest champion. We'd also like to thank the BBC for their partnership.

'For sometime now we have been thinking about how best to end the show on an unparalleled high. Unlike some of our characters, we know when to leave a party.

'We'd like to thank our evangelical fan base, especially those who watched from day one. Finally; we owe everything to our crews and the best cast on TV for making our writing live.

'The characters will live on because of their world class performances. Seeing the HBO indent in front of our work will never stop being a thrill. It remains the best place to make television and we look forward to continuing our collaboration well into the future.'

The photo dump included one picture of the recent cast, including Marisa's on-screen husband Kit Harington, Ken Leung, Sagar Radia and Myha'la.

Celebrating the news, fans wrote in the comments section of Marisa's post: 'I wasn't ready to say goodbye. The world is healing'; 'We are soooo up';

'MY GIRLS'; 'I'm so happy! My favourite insider traders'; 'WE WONNNN!'; 'Bring back Robert!'; 'Glad we get one more season!!!'; 'It can't be over'!;

Marisa's post came shortly after the news of the final series was announced by HBO online.

The announcement post was accompanied by Yasmin (Marisa) and Henry's (Kit) wedding photo, with five lines of white powder and a rolled up twenty pound note.

The caption, read: 'All lined up. INDUSTRY is officially returning for its fifth and final series.

Commenting on the post, Marisa wrote: 'This announcement photo is CRAZY.'
Rob and Michele Reiner were warned about letting their son live at their home after his medication was switched, potentially causing 'erratic' behavior, it has been claimed.

Nick Reiner, 32, appeared in court last week, where his lawyer entered a plea of not guilty to the murder of his parents two months after they were found stabbed to death in their $13.5 million Brentwood home on December 14.

It had been reported previously that the son of the Hollywood legend - whose siblings are no longer paying for his criminal defense - had suffered from schizophrenia and been open about his past with drug addiction.

Now, it has been alleged that Nick had fired his psychiatrist and changed medications shortly before his parents were brutally murdered.

'The medical staff warned Rob and Michele not to let Nick live at home until he got his medication straightened out,' a source told Us Weekly.

A second source told the publication that the parents were trying to help their son figure out his prescribed drugs as 'they weren't working anymore.'

Rob and Michele Reiner were warned about letting their son Nick, right, live at their home due to his medication being switched, potentially causing 'erratic' behavior, it has been claimed

The 32-year-old appeared in a Los Angeles court last week, where his lawyer entered a plea of not guilty to the murder of his parents, who were found brutally stabbed to death in December

The insider said that the family's medical staff had 'warned Rob and Michele not to allow Nick to stay at their home due to the meds being switched, and [said] that it could make him exhibit even more erratic behavior.'

Last week, it was revealed that Nick's siblings are no longer paying for his criminal defense as he faces murder charges for allegedly killing his parents, which he pleaded not guilty to.

Hours after the killings, he was arrested and has been held without bail.

But as the case moves forward, with prosecutors confirming it is eligible for the death penalty, his legal representation now rests with a court-appointed public defender.

TMZ reported that sources connected to Romy and Jake Reiner said there was no plan to hire another private criminal defense attorney.

The outlet previously reported that prominent defense attorney Alan Jackson had been retained shortly after the murders but later withdrew from the case due to an undisclosed disagreement.

A public defender was appointed last month. At the time, it appeared to be a temporary measure. However, on Monday, Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea on Nick's behalf.

One source told TMZ of his siblings, 'Nick's defense is Nick's defense. They're not involved.'

Nick with his father in 2016. Now, it has been alleged that Nick fired his psychiatrist and changed medications shortly before his parents were murdered at their Brentwood home

A second source told Us Weekly that Nick's parents were trying to help their son figure out his medications as 'they weren't working anymore'

Last week, it was revealed that Nick's siblings, Jake and Romy, both left, are no longer paying for his criminal defense as he faces murder charges for allegedly killing his parents, which he pleaded not guilty to

The 32-year-old looked gaunt as he sat hunched over in Los Angeles County Superior Court on February 23, wearing brown prison garb

His attorney, Kimberly Green, speaking about her client as Nick pleads not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents

The outlet reported that Jake and Romy have no plans to bring in private counsel and will no longer pay for his defense.

It remains unclear whether the siblings will weigh in on whether prosecutors should pursue capital punishment.

The 32-year-old looked gaunt and hollow-eyed as he sat hunched over in court in Los Angeles, California, on February 23, wearing brown prison garb.

Nick was heard faintly whispering 'yes' when asked if he understood the proceedings during his appearance, which marked the first time he had been seen in custody.

His head was shaved as he looked into the crowded courtroom, as if searching for someone he knew.

At one point, an elderly woman waved at him, and Nick mouthed 'hi' to her and the older man sitting next to her. This woman was later revealed by Daily Mail as his aunt Annie.

This was his third court appearance after he was arrested following his parents' gruesome murders. It was the first time Judge Theresa McGonigle allowed him to be photographed in custody.

The death penalty is still on the table for Nick, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found stabbed to death just hours before Nick was arrested and held without bail

The death penalty is still on the table for Nick, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said

The $13.5 million home where the Hollywood couple were found murdered

Shortly after the three-minute hearing, Hochman addressed reporters outside the Downtown LA courtroom.

'The case is on track. We have provided the bulk of discovery to defense counsel and we are now waiting for the coroner's report. That will be provided to the District Attorney's Office and we will ensure that it will be provided to defense counsel.

'This case is a death penalty eligible case. Along those lines, we take the process in which we determine whether or not the death penalty should be sought extremely seriously. That goes through a very rigorous process.

'We will be looking at all mitigating and aggravating circumstances, and we have invited defense counsel to present to us both in writing and in a pleading, any arguments they would like to make in consideration going forward or not going forward with the death penalty. So that is an ongoing process.'

He is due to appear in court again on April 29.

Nick has long dealt with mental health issues, as it was previously claimed that he had been placed in a mental health conservatorship five years before allegedly murdering his parents.

He is believed to have switched his schizophrenia medication about a month before his parents were found dead by his sister, Romy.

Nick's latest court appearance comes just days after comedian Conan O'Brien broke his silence on the Reiners' deaths.

Greene arriving at the Los Angeles criminal court ahead of the hearing on February 23

Just hours before Rob and Michele were found, the filmmaker was seen clashing with Nick at O'Brien's holiday party.

'It's just so awful,' O'Brien, 62, said in an interview with The New Yorker on Friday.

'I knew Rob and Michele, and then increasingly got closer and closer to them,' he said, adding that he and his wife, Liza Powel O'Brien, 'were seeing them a lot.'

'They were just such lovely people. And to have that experience of saying goodnight to somebody and having them leave and then find out the next day that they're gone. I think I was in shock for quite a while afterward. I mean, there's no other word for it.

'And I think about how Rob felt about things that are happening in the country, how involved he was, how much he put himself out there  and to have that voice go quiet in an instant is still hard for me to comprehend,' O'Brien added.

It was reported that all three Reiners attended O'Brien's December 13 holiday party, where the filmmaker and his son were involved in a 'very loud argument.'

It was also recently claimed that Nick is 'not competent to stand trial right now.'

TMZ executive producer Harvey Levin told Fox & Friends last week: 'He is almost childlike in jail, we're told.

'He can't process the consequences of what he's done. He knows what he did.

A courtroom sketch shows a stoic Nick in brown jail garb during a January 7 court appearance

'He just can't understand where he is right now, and I know that sounds crazy, but he is out of his head right now,' Levin added.

Levin said that the killings were 'incredibly brutal'. 'We know people in the medical examiner's office who are traumatized just by the pictures,' he said.

The TMZ producer added that the killings had 'all the markings of a meth murder' and that Nick had been using the hard drug at the time.

Prior to his hearing, a legal expert predicted that Nick's lawyer might build a public defense based on insanity.

'One reason to roll out a mental defense now is that, by waiting, it can undermine the credibility of an argument later, causing people to ask, 'If he's so bad off mentally, why didn't you raise the issue earlier?'' lawyer Royal Oakes told the New York Post.

Oakes said Nick's legal team might introduce the potential mental health strategy later on, now that he has entered a plea of not guilty.
America's Next Top Model has been under a microscope in recent weeks, as documentaries expose how Tyra Banks' hit modeling show often missed the mark.

Ahead of E!'s Dirty Rotten Scandals series, which airs Wednesday, the Daily Mail spoke exclusively to insiders who revealed explosive new details about what went on behind-the-scenes, from eating disorders to emotional breakdowns.

Former model Lauren Levi, who competed as 'London' on Cycle 12, shared that when she signed up for ANTM in 2009, she was still caught up in an arduous bulimia battle.

'The stress of the show really brought out the bulimia,' she admitted to the Daily Mail.

'Just the stress of being on there, comparing myself to these other women  all the stress of not sleeping was building up. So, I started to have that switch in my brain, well Im going to eat for comfort or to self-soothe.'

The former model, now 36, explained that her overeating would 'trigger that state of bulimia' and she'd hear a voice that would tell her, You need to eat all of it. Youve already gone too far.

Lauren 'London' Levi spoke to Daily Mail exclusively about secretly battling bulimia while appearing on Cycle 12 of America's Next Top Model in 2009

'The stress of the show really brought out the bulimia,'Levi (center) admitted. 'Just the stress of being on there, comparing myself to these other women'

ANTM was a modeling competition show created by Tyra Banks that premiered in 2003

Levi, who was only about 18 years old at the time, said it was difficult for her to share her inner struggles with production or even family back home, as contestants' phone calls were closely monitored - and so, she kept her relapse a secret.

The model said she had told production that she was in recovery from bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder that consists of bouts of overeating followed by purging.

Levi told the Daily Mail that because she was closely monitored during filming, however, she was unable to self-induce any vomiting.

'I never ended up puking,' she claimed. 'I was too afraid of being caught. There was always people around. Always a camera.'

Although Levi thought her secret was under wraps, the Daily Mail spoke to a production source who shared that staffers knew that she had been struggling.

'We put her on "bathroom watch,"' the insider explained, adding that they were allegedly instructed to 'keep her from going to the bathroom for at least an hour so we can let the food digest.'

'What ended up happening was during the show she started gaining weight and they were calling her out. I was, like, thats crazy.'

Levi said that because prior to filming she had starved her body, it was 'holding onto these calories for dear life,' adding, 'and theres no time to exercise.'

'Your whole day is booked up,' she explained. 'Youre probably sitting most of the time. Normally, if Im home, I get to purge.'

A source told the Daily Mail that producers were allegedly instructed to monitor Levi's trips to the bathroom to ensure she did not purge

'I never ended up puking,' Levi claimed.'I was too afraid of being caught. There was always people around. Always a camera'

Levi said the judges - who consisted of Banks, supermodel Paulina Porizkova, J. 'Miss Jay' Alexander and Nigel Barker at the time - noticed she was gaining weight.

The former model said she recalled one panelist pointing out, 'We have one girl that is shrinking and one girl that is getting bigger.

'I felt the most harshness from Paulina,' Levi added. 'I felt the most looked down upon by Paulina.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Porizkova's rep for comment.

Levi claimed that during one standout moment on set, creative director Jay Manuel - who was on ANTM since Season 1 - made a ruthless comment that stayed with her.

'All I can remember was him asking me, "Whats been going on?"  and his response was that as a model, I have a responsibility to maintain my weight and that Im not respecting my body by putting on weight,' Levi alleged.

'Though I cannot quote him  it was a phrase of a lack of respect for my body.'

Manuel, 53, did not return Daily Mail's request for comment.

However, he recognized in his 2020 memoir The Wig, the Bitch and the Meltdown, 'Ultimately, my job should have been creating a safer space, and I should have pushed back on certain things a lot harder than I did.'

Levi claimed that supermodel Paulina Porizkova (left) gave her the harshest critiques when she began to put on weight on the show

Levi also alleged that Jay Manuel once alluded to her not 'respecting' her body because she had put on a few pounds. His reps did not return Daily Mail's request for comment

Levi came in seventh in the Cycle 12 competition but was asked to appear on Banks' talk show at a later date, where she spoke more in depth about her eating disorder.

She told the Daily Mail that Banks, 52, set her up with a nutritionist back home shortly after, but the damage of being on ANTM had already been done.

'Overall, my experience was traumatic. I felt manipulated by production when it came to the questions they asked,' Levi - whose faith was played up for the show - told us.

The former model, who now works in film, said, however, that she would not have liked to have been sent home once producers discovered her eating issues, as that would have created more feelings of 'shame' for her.

'In an ideal world  I think there should be a counselor,' she said, offering another solution. 'To me, thats not unreasonable  to allow the women to have access to that even once a week for an hour, I think that wouldve been a game-changer.'

The production source the Daily Mail spoke to shared, though, that executives often cut corners when it came to providing the appropriate accommodations needed.

For Cycle 22 winner Nyle DiMarco, who was born deaf, the Daily Mail was told he was only provided an interpreter 'on certain days' due to budget restraints.

The insider recalled one specific episode centered around a 'wounded warrior' shoot, in which ex-military men and women shared their heartfelt stories with the models.

DiMarco allegedly did not have an interpreter during that scene, and so he fled to the bathroom in tears out of frustration, per the source.

A production source claimed that Cycle 22's winner Nyle DiMarco, who is deaf, was not provided with the best accommodations for his disability

The source claimed that someone on set said when they saw DiMarco struggling, '"Well honestly, we kind of want him to overcome some adversity"'

The insider said DiMarco told him, '"I just feel so f**ked up, like Im an a**hole because I just stood in front of these soldiers and have no idea what theyre saying."'

The source claimed that instead of helping, production took advantage of the situation with one staffer allegedly saying, '"Well honestly, we kind of want him to overcome some adversity."'

'It was so awful,' the insider said. 'It just got a point where I felt like the show was being so f**ked up as far as his disability and not helping at all.'

There was a second instance in which DiMarco's safety was allegedly at risk because he had to do a photo shoot 'in the dark' and jump on a square box.

The insider said DiMarco was instructed to scream if he felt like he was going to get hurt, but because he did not like to be auditory, it was 'problematic.'

DiMarco, 36, did not return Daily Mail's request for comment. However, he has spoken openly about his hardships on ANTM in the past.

'I had to rely heavily on visual cues, lip reading, and sometimes my sign language interpreter, who was not always on set,' he told People in 2024.

'Having grown up in a completely deaf community and household, I was not used to the experience of not being included in conversations and social settings at all times.'

Banks has addressed some of the backlash her show has received in a new Netflix docuseries

Executive producer Ken Mok, seen here, has also taken some accountability but did not accept all of the criticism the show has received. He hasn't responded to the Daily Mail's request

The Daily Mail's production source alleged that during Cycle 16, executive producer Ken Mok allegedly put other models' safety at risk for a runway challenge as well.

In an episode, the models were tasked with strutting their stuff on a catwalk surrounded by water and while inside of a plastic bubble.

The source claimed that during a practice run, Mok allegedly determined the runway wasn't 'slick enough' and so he had the team add suntan lotion to ensure at least one person would fall. We're told injury was not the goal but rather a good TV moment.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Mok for comment but has not heard back.

On Netflix's Reality Check docuseries, the executive producer did not address the bubble challenge but said of a crime scene-themed shoot, 'That was a mistake. I look back now and I think, that was a celebration of violence. It was crazy.'

Banks, for her part, said in the doc that production and execs felt pressured to deliver cutting edge television to audiences who were demanding they push the envelope.

The production source admitted, 'I do side with Tyra. Tyra, in my opinion, wasnt really there. She didnt know, really, what was going on. Tyra was not there that often.'

Banks credits herself, though, with coming up with the concept of ANTM and said in the Netflix doc that she became 'master editor' for what made it onto the show.

The Daily Mail has reached out to her reps for further comment.
Kate Moss looked fresh-faced as she stepped out in Paris on Wednesday, hours after shouting 'don't touch me' while accusing a passerby of 'manhandling' her.

The British supermodel, 52, cut a stylish figure in a black jumpsuit as she was spotted exiting The Ritz Hotel amid Fashion Week in the city.

Kate showed off her incredible figure in the sleeveless number which boasted a linen top and cascaded down into a semi-sheer trousers.

The runway icon accessorised with a long beaded necklace and chunky gold hoop earrings as she headed to her waiting car carrying a black blazer.

Styling her blonde tresses loose, she kept comfortable in a pair of black shoes and toted her belongings in a coordinated handbag.

Kate kept a low-profile wearing a pair of sunglasses, hours after declaring she 'hates being manhandled' as she arrived at the YSL show on Tuesday evening.

The British star arrived arm in arm with American model Frankie Rayder, at the show which was held in front of the Eiffel Tower.

But in a moment caught on camera, a distressed Kate shout that she 'didn't want to be touched', while chatting to Frankie on the way inside.

Kate Moss looked fresh-faced as she stepped out in Paris on Wednesday, hours after shouting 'don't touch me' while accusing a passerby of 'manhandling' her

The British supermodel, 52, cut a stylish figure in a black jumpsuit as she was spotted exiting The Ritz Hotel amid Fashion Week in the city

Kate can be heard, saying: 'Please don't touch me! I don't like it! I don't like being manhandled, at all. You know what people go...'

She then begins telling a story about a time when someone touched her and demonstrates on Frankie by linking her arms, mimicking the gesture.

The two women then greet people outside the venue as they make their way in, before the end of the video cuts out.

Following the show, Kate was spotted heading to the after party as she flashed her underwear in a sheer lace catsuit at The Ritz.

After her appearance at Saint Laurent's Paris Fashion Week show, Kate let her hair down and opted for a racy ensemble.

She looked sensational in the figure-hugging number which she paired with a quirky jacket with silk pink sleeves.

Kate appeared in high-spirits as she left her lavish hotel to explore the French capital for one night.

Kate appears to be ageing backwards after ditching her years of hard partying as she flaunted her toned torso and radiant features.

Nowadays, Kate has regular juice fasts, and favours the week-long juice-only programme at wellness LifeCo resort in Turkey - she's visited every year for the past decade.

Kate is the proud owner of wellness business Cosmoss which sells a range of own-brand teas, skincare products and a book of 150 'positive messages'.

She has a 4,000 Cadillac Pilates reformer machine at home, and a personal trainer, Hortense Suleyman.

A magazine source said: 'The brand is late on the bandwagon  candles, serums and perfume are all quite middle-aged.

'But she's been having lots of meetings with people and Cosmoss is stocked in Harrods. I know she has great hopes for it.'

Kate showed off her incredible figure in the sleeveless number which boasted a linen top and cascaded down into a semi-sheer trousers

The runway icon accessorised with a long beaded necklace and chunky gold hoop earrings as she headed to her waiting car carrying a black blazer

Styling her blonde tresses loose, she kept comfortable in a pair of black shoes and toted her belongings in a coordinated handbag

Kate kept a low-profile wearing a pair of sunglasses, hours after declaring she 'hates being manhandled' as she arrived at the YSL show on Tuesday evening

Kate kept comfortable in a pair of ballet pumps as she head out and about in the city

The outing comes hours after declaring she 'hates being manhandled' as she arrived at the YSL show on Tuesday evening

Kate can be heard, saying: 'Please don't touch me! I don't like it! I don't like being manhandled, at all. You know what people go...'

She then begins telling a story about a time when someone touched her and demonstrates on Frankie by linking her arms, mimicking the gesture

Over the years, Kate has given an insight into how she stays looking so good, revealing her tips and tricks for maintaining her youthful look.

She told Net-A-Porter: 'I stay hydrated on the flight and try to eat only light foods. I find adapting to the new time zone as soon as I arrive is helpful, so I try to stay up until my usual bedtime.

'I've recently undergone red-light LED therapy and use the Talika Time Control + device. It's great, as it's small and easy to travel with, and I can definitely see an improvement in my skin. I have rose quartz and jade gua sha tools that I use, too.'

Other beauty tips favoured by Kate include dunking her face in iced water and depuffing her eyes with cucumber slices.

Speaking previously about how she tackles a 'bad face day', she said: 'My old go-to trick is to plunge my face into a bowl of iced water and cucumber slices  it instantly tightens and gets rid of any puffiness.

'I then use Cosmoss Golden Nectar facial-oil drops with my gua sha. Together, they give your skin that extra glow and are great at detoxifying and lymphatic drainage.'

Another tip Kate claims she follows is staying out of the sun, after previously being warned by her friend and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury.

She told Grazia: 'Charlotte Tilbury told me not to go out in the sun, but it's because she's a redhead, so she knows. I kind of ignored her, but now I'm taking no risks!'

Kate also revealed she keeps her body refreshed by doing three week-long juice cleanses throughout the year.

She said: 'I juice. At least three times a year, for a week, I do a juice cleanse. I like it. I feel amazing. And then I have so much energy! Everyone else is like, "Pleaseshhhh" Oh my god, I have so much energy, start bouncing off walls!'
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Margaret Josephs has gone under the knife yet again, this time for a nose job.

The 58-year-old unveiled the results of her 'nasal rejuvenation' on Instagram this week, along with photos from the recovery process.

'No one wants a droopy tip... as I got older my tip started to droop as I smiled and I was really unhappy about it,' she wrote.

'When I was younger I never disliked my nose and could never imagine doing a nose job, but with age the cartilage in my nose didnt support my tip and it emphasized a slight bump in my nose,' she continued.

Josephs admitted that that she was deeply bothered by how her nose looked in photos, so she eventually bit the bullet and went to see Beverly Hills surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie for a 'slight tweak'.

'Now my nose fits my face perfectly and no one can quite put their finger on why!' she said.

RHONJ star Margaret Josephs recently got a nose job, along with a facial fat transfer procedure and a stem cell treatment

The designer is pictured during her first season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey in 2018

Rhinoplasty has now become a secret anti-ageing hack with people in their 50s and 60s.

'As we age our noses and ears continue to grow and droop with gravity,' Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon Dr. Deepak Dugar told Daily Mail last year.

'If youve never had any rhinoplasty work previously done, sometimes youll notice your nose looks longer and droopier than your younger photos once you start to get into your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond,' he continued.

As a result, Dr. Dugar - who is famed for his 'Scarless Nose Job' procedure and was behind Sami Sheen's new nose - has seen a 'massive uptick' in older patients seeking out rhinoplasty.

'This generation of patients over 50 are more in tune with their anti-aging options as the facelift industry has catapulted the idea of natural facial rejuvenations,' he said.

'But this leads [patients] to then focus on the center of the face that can't be addressed with a facelift, so then they inquire about rhinoplasty for their nose.'

While Dr. Dugar said that historically his smallest demographic for nose jobs was patients in the 50-plus age range, it's now become his second largest demo after the 18-to-25 age range.

'The 50-plus generation also has more expendable income and have most likely been desiring the procedure for most of their adult lives, leading to no confusion as to whether they want to get it done or not,' he added.

The 58-year-old unveiled the results of her 'nasal rejuvenation' on Instagram this week, along with photos from the recovery process

She also showed off the bruising and swelling from her fat transfer, which she had done to restore lost volume in her face

Dr. Dugar, who has become the go-to guy for rhinoplasty in Hollywood, stressed that the right nose can do wonders to help patients turn back the clock.

'Typically, a more youthful nose will be one that is less droopy with a slight upward axis, giving a more cherubian and younger look to the nose and face,' he explained.

'And sometimes decreasing the overall size of the nose to make it look more contoured and defined helps make the face look younger and more youthful as well.'

On top of the rhinoplasty, Josephs also had a fat transfer and stem cell treatment on her face to restore lost volume.

Since her latest round of nips and tucks, Josephs has proudly flaunted her new look at a number of public events, including Bravocon in November.

She also attended a Broadway show in New York City on February 10.

The reality star showed off her new look last month at an event in New York City

Before and after: Since appearing on RHONJ, Josephs has had a nose job, deep plane facelift, upper and lower eyelid lifts, a breast lift and more

Josephs is no stranger to plastic surgery, with the reality star undergoing extensive facial work in 2019.

She had a revision neck lift, deep plane facelift, lower eyelid lift, and a revision upper eyelid lift, all performed by Dr. Mark Karolak.

The following year, she had a breast lift and reduction from Dr. Joseph Michaels, who had previously worked on RHONJ's Dolores Catania.

'I am devoted to my plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Karolak and regularly maintain my Botox; I also do have lasers sporadically,' she previously told New Beauty.

'Truthfully, my facelift was the best thing I ever did. There is nothing topical that can achieve the results a facelift can once you have muscle loss and sagging.'

Josephs is currently rumoured to be returning for the next season of RHONJ after the show was put on pause for retooling in 2024.
Eric Dane's widow Rebecca Gayheart spent quality time with their daughter Georgia over dinner on Tuesday evening.

The duo were spotted leaving the West Hollywood restaurant Sushi Park, Gayheart, 54, looking chic in a tan coat, high ponytail, and fashionable glasses.

It was a bittersweet moment of bonding for the family, who are still mourning the loss of Dane following his death at age 53.

Gayheart and Dane had been legally separated for seven years prior to Dane's ALS diagnosis, however his death certificate revealed they were still legally married at the time of his passing.

Amidst the tragedy, Gayheart was able to enjoy a moment of positivity as she celebrated a major milestone that day - the 16th birthday of her eldest daughter, Billie.

Gayheart posted a message gushing about her daughter to her Instagram Stories along with a sweet throwback of Billie as a young girl.

Rebecca Gayheart enjoyed dinner with her daughter Georgia at Susi Park in West Hollywood on Tuesday

'Happy Sweet 16 to the sweetest girl  mommy loves you to the moon and back unconditionally forever and ever,' she captioned the photo.

Photos she posted to her social media also featured Billie with her late father.

The actor's death was announced last month, less than a year after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Dane met Gayheart in 2003, and the pair married less than a year later in Las Vegas. They separated in 2018 but called off their split in 2025 and remained married until Dane's death.

It recently emerged that Dane secretly recorded his 'last words' to the girls for a Netflix release after his death.

Friends of Dane, who was catapulted to fame after starring as the heartthrob McSteamy on Grey's Anatomy, launched a GoFundMe to help support his daughters.

'It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of Eric Dane after a hard-fought battle with ALS, leaving behind his devoted wife, Rebecca, and his two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,' a description on the fundraiser read.

'Following his diagnosis, Eric became a passionate spokesperson for the ALS community, using his voice and platform to advocate for fellow patients and to push for greater awareness.'

'Even as his own health declined, he remained deeply committed to helping others facing the same devastating disease. As his illness progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, Eric's friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs.'

Gayheart and her daughter were seen departing the eatery

The actress/model opted for a tan coat, high ponytail, and stylish glasses

Rebecca's husband Dane, pictured with their daughters in 2017, died at age 53 following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The Jawbreaker actress was able to enjoy a moment of positivity amid the tragedy as she marked her daughter Billie's 16th birthday

'Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Eric's wonderful daughters.'

In the months before his death, Dane recorded an interview for Netflix in which he left a deeply personal message for his two daughters.

In the wake of his death, Netflix added the new documentary to its library, giving fans an intimate look at Dane's final reflections.

The 50-minute film, titled Famous Last Words: Eric Dane, was recorded in secret with the understanding it would only be released posthumously, according to reports.

Toward the end of the interview with Gwyneth Paltrow's husband Brad Falchuk, Dane addressed his daughters directly: 'Billie and Georgia, these words are for you. I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried.'

He continued, 'Overall, we had a blast, didnt we?'

Dane went on to explain that he wanted to share four final lessons he had learned from his illness and asked them to listen closely.

First, live now, right now in the present. It's hard, but I learned to do that, Dane said.

For years, I would wander off mentally, lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt. I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself. "I shouldn't have done this. I never should've done that." No more.

Dane said that 'out of pure survival,' he was forced to stay in the present.

The outing comes shortly after it emerged that Gayheart was still legally married to Dane at the time of his death

Gayheart and Dane separated in 2018 but called off their split in 2025 and remained married until Dane's death

'Second, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well. But fall in love with something,' Dane said.

'Find your passion, your joy. Find the thing that makes you wanna get up in the morning.'

He told his daughters he'd found his love for acting at their age and urged them to pursue their passions fully.

Third, choose your friends wisely. Find your people and allow them to find you, and then give yourselves to them, the dad of two said. The best of them will give back to you. No judgement. No conditions. No questions asked.

Dane said he was profoundly grateful to the friends who 'stepped up' during his illness.

She married the Grey's Anatomy star in 2004

Dane's death was announced last month, less than a year after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Diseas

'Just show up. And love your friends with everything you have. Hang on to them. They will entertain you, guide you, support you and some will save you, he said.

Finally, fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight, he said. Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit.

So when something unexpected hits you, and it will, because that's life, fight and face it with honesty, integrity and grace, even if it feels or seems insurmountable.

I hope I've demonstrated that you can face anything. You can face the end of your days. You can face hell with dignity. Fight girls, and hold your heads high, he continued, his voice breaking.

Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.
Hannah Waddingham made a striking arrival at the Stella McCartney show during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday afternoon.

The actress, 51, looked incredible in a satin peach mini dress with jewel detailing around the neckline and a thigh-grazing hem, which flaunted her long legs.

Hannah elevated her statuesque frame with a pair of strappy black heels, but otherwise kept her accessories to a minimum.

The Ted Lasso star wore her blonde locks up in a chic up do, while opting for a glamorous coat of make-up and a slick of pink lipstick.

Stella was front and centre at the show as she displayed her latest collection, which was for the fall/winter 2026 season.

She was supported by her Beatles star dad Paul McCartney, 83, as he flashed a smile on arrival ahead of the runway show.

Hannah Waddingham made a striking arrival at the Stella McCartney show during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday afternoon

The actress, 51, looked incredible in a satin peach mini dress with jewel detailing around the neckline and a thigh-grazing hem, which flaunted her long legs

Hannah elevated her statuesque frame with a pair of strappy black heels, but otherwise kept her accessories to a minimum

Isla Fisher made sure to turn heads in a bold black leather jacket as she arrived at the show.

The Australian actress, 50, looked incredible in the oversized long number which she wore as a dress with coordinated tights.

Isla put on a leggy display in a pair of black stilettos and added a pop of colour to the ensemble with a burgundy handbag.

Styling her signature auburn locks in curls, the Now You See Me star completed her ensemble with a pair of sunglasses.

Elsewhere Oprah Winfrey, 72, showed off her ageless looks in a peach double breasted blazer which she layered over a smart white blouse.

The TV personality - who has been open about her weight loss journey with the aid of medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy - teamed the jacket with brown cargo trousers.

Oprah toted a stylish brown suede handbag and elevated her frame in a pair of black stilettos as she posed for photos on arrival.

Styling her dark tresses in a sleek up do, the TV star accessorised with hoop pearl earrings and wore a pair of round glasses.

She was joined at the show by pal Gayle King, 71, who showed off her slim fframe in a white short sleeved blouse and matching midi skirt.

Elsewhere Noel Gallagher's daughter Anais, 26, was all smiles as she posed in a blue bomber jacket and beige trousers.

Isla Fisher made sure to turn heads in a bold black leather jacket as she arrived at the Stella McCartney show during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday

Elsewhere Oprah Winfrey, 72, showed off her ageless looks in a peach double breasted blazer which she layered over a smart white blouse

Stella was supported by her Beatles star dad Paul McCartney, 83, as he flashed a smile on arrival ahead of the runway show

Elsewhere Noel Gallagher's daughter Anais, 26, was all smiles as she posed in a blue bomber jacket and beige trousers

Hannah Waddingham made sure to catch the eye in a pink minidress and towering black heels as she arrived at the star-studded show.

British model Pixie Geldof, 35, cut a smart figure in a burgundy polka dot blouse which she tucked into a pair of black trousers.

She added inches to her frame in a pair of black heels and opted for a matching clutch.

Elvis director Baz Luhrmann looked cool in a 'The epic Elvis world tour' T-shirt which he paired with a red leather jacket and jeans.

The film star beamed for photos ahead of taking his seat to watch the Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027 show.

Earlier in the day Stella cut a trendy figure in a white T-shirt and blue denim jeans as she departed The Ritz Hotel for her show.

The designer opted for a long brown coat and toted a large suede handbag as she stepped out in the French capital.
Sir Paul McCartney was spotted mingling with several celebrities on the front row of his daughter Stella's Paris Fashion Week show on Wednesday.

The musician, 83, appeared in great spirits as he greeted Hannah Waddingham, 51, and Oprah Winfrey, 72, at the event before posing for photos with them ahead of the show.

For the occasion, Sir Paul looked dapper in a navy blue suit paired with a crisp white shirt.

Layering a blue scarf around his neck, Sir Paul completed his look with black suede shoes and was joined by his wife Nancy McCartney, 66.

Nancy oozed sophistication in a navy blazer and tailored trousers, which she paired with a light-blue graphic print T-shirt.

Turning up to show her support for her step-daughter Stella, 54, Nancy further accessorised her look with ombre aviator shades and a mini black velvet handbag.

Sir Paul McCartney was spotted mingling with several celebrities on the front row of his daughter Stella's Paris Fashion Week show on Wednesday (pictured with Hannah Waddingham)

The musician, 83, greeted Hannah Waddingham, 51, and Oprah Winfrey, 72, at the event before posing for photos with them ahead of the show

She put on a cosy display with her husband Paul ahead of the runway show.

Meanwhile, Hannah looked nothing short of sensational in a peach satin mini dress, which showcased her tanned, toned legs.

To complete her look, she added inches to her frame with black strappy open-toe heels as she joined Sir Paul for several snaps on the front row.

American host Oprah looked radiant in a structured peach blazer and a white blouse as she joined Sir Paul for photographs ahead of Stella's Fall 2026 ready-to-wear runway.

Later in the day, Sir Paul joined his stylish daughter Stella, whom he shared with his late ex-wife Linda McCartney.

Stella looked effortlessly chic in a grey blazer and tailored trousers as she posed backstage with her father.

Sir Paul's outing comes after he admitted he was overbearing and bought into the criticism that he broke up The Beatles.

The musician has recently created a new Prime Video documentary, Paul McCartney Man On The Run.

For the occasion, Sir Paul looked dapper in a navy blue suit paired with a crisp white shirt

Layering a blue scarf around his neck, Sir Paul completed his look with black suede shoes and was joined by his wife Nancy McCartney, 66

Nancy oozed sophistication in a navy blazer and tailored trousers, which she paired with a light-blue graphic print T-shirt, as she put on a cosy display with Paul

Meanwhile, Hannah looked nothing short of sensational in a peach satin mini dress as she caught up with Paul at the event

The project follows Sir Paul's extraordinary life, from the breakup of The Beatles to his time as a solo artist and a member of his later band, Wings.

But as he reflected on his career in an interview with director Morgan Neville, Sir Paul spoke about how he feels when he is criticised by people.

He remarked: 'Whenever I hear someone damning Paul McCartney, I tend to agree with them.

'So when everyone was saying I broke up the Beatles, and I was just overbearing and all of that, I kind of bought into it.'

This isn't the only time Sir Paul has become emotional when talking about the documentary.

During a screening of the release in London earlier this year, he admitted he felt 'emotional' upon seeing his late wife Linda in the programme.

Linda, who died in 1998, shared four children with Sir Paul, including Heather, 63, who was adopted, Mary, 56, Stella, and James, 48.

American host Oprah looked radiant in a structured peach blazer and a white blouse as she greeted Sir Paul ahead of Stella's Fall 2026 ready-to-wear runway

They embraced, exchanging a hug and a kiss on the cheek

Later in the day, Sir Paul joined his stylish daughter Stella, whom he shared with his late ex-wife Linda McCartney

Stella looked effortlessly chic in a grey blazer and tailored trousers as she posed backstage with a horse

Sir Paul said it helped him deal with the tumultuous time he faced following the breakup of The Beatles.

He said: 'Seeing me and Linda interacting is very special because, you know, she is not here anymore. Me and Linda, the kids. The music. Me and John [Lennon].

'These memories, it is like a life flashing in front of you. There are so many cool things. Even though there are some embarrassing moments, I come out of it thinking, "Yeah, I'm OK".

'All the stuff with the kids and Linda is lovely to see. Obviously, it's emotional because she looks so beautiful. She's so cool.'
Michelle Pfeiffer looked youthful in a pearl-embellished dress as she arrived at the UK premiere of her new Paramount+ series The Madison.

The ageless actress, 67, was joined by her dazzling co-stars Elle Chapman and Beau Garrett in London's Leicester Square.

Elle, who plays Michelle's daughter Paige McIntosh in the movie, wowed in a shimmering gold gown.

Lead character Michelle plays Stacy Clyburn who is married to Kurt Russell's character Preston Clyburn.

Beau, 43, packed on the PDA with her new husband Shane Richards, whom she wed in 2025.

The cast showed up to the London premiere for new drama series The Madison from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan.

Michelle Pfeiffer, 67, looked youthful in a pearl-embellished dress as she arrived at the UK premiere of her new Paramount+ series The Madison

The ageless actress, 67, was joined by her dazzling co-stars Elle Chapman (L) and Beau Garrett (R) in London's Leicester Square

Michelle is seen kissing Kurt Russell in the first teaser for The Madison.

The Madison is a neo-Western that follows the Clyburn family as they struggle with the move from New York to the wilderness of Montana.

Michelle has the role of matriarch and Kurt Russell plays her husband.

Michelle previously touched on getting older and how she would never have plastic surgery.

'I certainly see that Ive changed,' she told People in 2017. 'I just try not to dwell on it. Aging happens to every single one of us. Once you accept that, it unburdens you.

'All I really care about, is that Im able to age gracefully and that I don't ever look like a wax figure of myself.'

'Sometimes I think about it, sometimes I dont,' she admitted. 'It really depends on how well Im lit. It depends on my makeup and all kinds of things.

'I'm not saying that I wont have plastic surgery at some point. I think that it's harder and harder the older you get to say never.

Elle, who plays Michelle's daughter Paige McIntosh in the movie, wowed in a shimmering gold gown

The stunner couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she waved to fans on the red carpet

Elle opened her arms out wide to greet Michelle

Elle and her onscreen mum Michelle cheered in delight

Lead character Michelle plays Stacy Clyburn who is married to Kurt Russell's character Preston Clyburn (pictured together)

The onscreen lovers appeared deep in conversation while posing for photos

Michelle embraced a hug with Kevin Zegers

Beau, 43, packed on the PDA with her new husband Shane Richards, whom she wed in 2025

The cast of The Madison: Patrick J. Adams, Beau Garrett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Elle Chapman, Kurt Russell and Matthew Fox posed for a photo on the red carpet

The cast showed up to the London premiere for new drama series The Madison from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan

Patrick J. Adams cut a dapper figure in a three-piece grey suit

Patrick and Elle cosied up for a photo on the red carpet

British model Louise Boyce was among the stars attending the premiere

EastEnders actress Shona McGarty put on a stylish display in a mini dress and fishnet tights

EastEnders actress Melissa Suffield, who played Lucy Beale in the soap, wowed in a pale yellow gown as she graced the red carpet

Traitors UK star Ruth Codd looked glamorous in a red mini dress

Elle swapped her dazzling ball gown for a sexy lace gown for the afterparty

She appeared in high spirits with her co-star Kurt Russell

The Madison is a neo-Western that follows the Clyburn family as they struggle with the move from New York to the wilderness of Montana

'Especially being in the public eye. It doesn't really matter, I think that if people actually want to do something here or there, who cares? If it makes them feel a little bit better about themselves.

'What I object to is too much. And really bad plastic surgery. When I think it becomes a distraction and when people don't look like themselves anymore. As long as it doesnt overtake them.'

That said, Michelle, who celebrated her 32nd anniversary with husband David E Kelley last November, insists she doesn't put any pressure on herself to look the way she did when she was younger.

'The older Ive gotten, the easier its become,' she previously told Oprah Daily. 'You reach a threshold where youre fine with looking good for your age instead of looking young for your age, and Ive crossed it.

'Would I like to look the way I did in my early 30s? You bet, but thats not going to happen, and I dont feel the same pressure I once did to do so. Its quite a relief, honestly.'
Channing Tatum's girlfriend Inka Williams took to Instagram on Tuesday to share throwback photos from his modeling days.

The 26-year-old model first uploaded a snapshot of Tatum, 45, walking down a runway in a fur-trimmed leather coat, exposing his chiseled chest as he went shirtless underneath.

She wrote over the image, 'My mans is actually ICONIC. Someone pls send help,' and added drooling and heart eye emojis.

A second black and white picture showed the Magic Mike star in his younger years as he sported a baggy long-sleeved shirt and wore headphones around his neck.

'Wow, did I die and go to heaven?' Williams wrote.

It comes more than one year into the couple's age-gap romance.

Channing Tatum's girlfriend Inka Williams took to Instagram on Tuesday to share throwback photos from his modeling days

The 26-year-old model first uploaded a snapshot of Tatum, 45, walking down a runway in a fur-trimmed leather coat, exposing his chiseled chest as he went shirtless underneath. A second black and white picture showed the Magic Mike star in his younger years as he sported a baggy long-sleeved shirt and wore headphones around his neck

Tatum was previously engaged to Zoe Kravitz, but the couple called off their engagement in late 2024.

Rumors first swirled about the him and Williams when they were spotted at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel in January 2025.

And they went public with their relationship one year ago.

Last September they made their red carpet debut in Los Angeles at the premiere of the anime film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle.

Williams had previously made their connection known as she wished him a happy birthday in a social media tribute shared in April.

She wrote in an Instagram Stories post at the time, 'Happy life to the handsomest, kindest, funniest, stoopidest, most gorgeous human ever. Merci for making life beautiful and fun.'

And on her birthday in September the actor returned the love, posting a series of romantic photos and videos.

'Happiest day of birth to my RIDER! Love you so,' he wrote.

The couple shared a kiss on the red carpet at Tatum's Roofman premiere in London last October

They are more than one year into their age-gap romance

Williams joined Tatum and his 12-year-old daughter Everly (center) at the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle premiere in LA in September

He also shared a black and white photo kissing Williams on the cheek, along with a video of her diving into the ocean, writing: 'Love you stoopid.'

A source told People in March 2025, 'They met through friends. She's great. She's young, but seems older,' adding that Williams 'makes him happy.'

Tatum was married to actress Jenna Dewan from 2009-2019 and they share 12-year-old daughter Everly.

Last week Williams, who is Australian, reminisced on a trip to Bali with her boyfriend in an Instagram post.

She shared outtakes from the getaway and captioned, 'Take me back to our Bambu Indah tree house. days with my family. The people i love most. I would wake up here on a rainy day any day. Not taking anything for granted. Such special moments. '
Emmett J. Scanlan has announced the death of his 'brother' in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Tuesday.

The Irish actor, 47, was inundated with condolences from his former Hollyoaks cast mates, including Jamie Lomas.

'Fly free brother Georgy, you gorgeous sublime angel I'll miss the f***** bones of ye', he wrote.

Emmett's actress wife Claire Cooper also paid tribute on her social media, writing: 'Fly high, dear George. Like we talked about, the veil is so thin closer than we think.

'Call on us sometime and let us know how you're doing. Until then, rest easy dear one and enjoy that healing pool that awaits you.

'Thank you for being so dear to my husband and me. You will always be loved.'

Emmett J. Scanlan, 47, has announced the death of his 'brother' in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Tuesday

'Fly free brother Georgy, you gorgeous sublime angel I'll miss the f***** bones of ye', he wrote

This Morning presenter Dermot O'Leary, Gaby Roslin, Anna Friel and Lucy Jo Hudson were among the stars to share their support for Emmett and Claire.

Emmett was pictured for the first time since announcing the death of his brother on Wednesday.

The actor was seen on set filming the second season of Guy Ritchie's MobLand alongside lead actor Pierce Bronsan.

Emmett stars as the head of security to Pierce's character Conrad Harrigan's family in the crime drama series.

The Paramount+ crime drama launched last year, with Tom Hardy, 48, playing Harry Da Souza, who works as a fixer for the Harrigan crime family.

The star-studded cast also includes acting heavyweight Dame Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan.

Rounding out the ensemble are Paddy Considine, Janet McTeer, Toby Jones and Lara Pulver, to name just a few.

MobLand was created by Ronan Bennett, with executive producers including Guy Ritchie and Jez Butterworth.

Emmett's actress wife Claire Cooper (pictured) also paid tribute on her social media, writing: 'Fly high, dear George. Like we talked about, the veil is so thin closer than we think'

The Irish actor was inundated with condolences from his former Hollyoaks cast mates, including Jamie Lomas

Emmett was pictured for the first time since announcing the death of his brother on Wednesday

The actor was seen on set filming the second season of Guy Ritchie's Mobland alongside lead actor Pierce Bronsan (pictured)

Emmett stars as the head of security to Pierce's character Conrad Harrigan's family in the crime drama series

MobLand was created by Ronan Bennett, with executive producers including Guy Ritchie and Jez Butterworth

It was renewed for a second series in June 2025, having launched on the streaming platform three months earlier

It was renewed for a second series in June 2025, having launched on the streaming platform three months earlier.

Last month, a colossal fireball engulfed a warehouse near the River Thames on Sunday night, as director Guy Ritchie pulled off a huge stunt for the new series.

The drama lit up London's skyline as an explosion tore through a warehouse near Newham, shocking locals and sending flames high into the sky.

Emergency services were placed on standby as filming commenced for the second series of the Paramount+ show.

One stunned local said: 'We heard this massive bang and the whole sky lit up orange.

'For a second we thought something had gone terribly wrong - then we realised it was a film set. It was absolutely mental.'
Andy Dick revealed that his near-fatal overdose three months ago led to doctors discovering 'five to seven holes' in his brain.

While being filmed by a couple of friends in Hollywood on December 9, Dick sloped off, met a strange man and started smoking crack cocaine with him.

Astonishing footage surfaced showing the 60-year-old comedian slumped over by the sidewalk as his friends tried to revive him, via TMZ.

His life was ultimately saved with multiple doses of Narcan, an antidote to opioid overdoses, and he then spent six weeks at a Palm Springs rehab. Crack is not an opioid, but fentanyl - which can be covertly mingled with other drugs - is.

Now Dick has said he underwent 'a CAT scan thing' after the incident and learned he had multiple 'holes' on his brain, on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast.

Dick's representative has clarified, however, that the neural lesions did not result from the overdose but from the comic getting punched years ago, via Page Six.

The Daily Mail has contacted Dick's representatives for further comment.

Andy Dick revealed that his near-fatal overdose three months ago led to doctors discovering 'five to seven holes' in his brain, on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast

Astonishing footage surfaced showing the 60-year-old comedian slumped over by the sidewalk as his friends tried to revive him, via TMZ

'The issue with his brain is from the 2019 attack that almost killed Andy when an unprovoked attacker cold-cocked Andy while he was outside of the club he and Paris Dylan had just performed,' the representative told Page Six.

'We are assured that his brain will heal,' the statement continued, noting that Dick - who has gone to rehab more than 20 times - had been 'battling his addictions for years' but is now 'healthy, sober and doing great.'

The 2019 assailant told police at the time that he punched Dick because the comic grabbed his genitals and winked at him, a claim both Dick and Paris Dylan denied.

During his new podcast interview with Howie Mandel, Dick confirmed that his heart stopped during his December overdose and that he was 'purple, not breathing.'

He recalls nothing before 'waking up in the ambulance,' he said, and confirmed that his substance abuse has had a lasting impact on his memory.

'And they did a CAT scan thing, or whatever they call it on your brain, and I have all these - there's about five to seven holes or something,' said Dick.

In late January, Dick announced that he had emerged from rehab after a little under 50 days and was staying at a sober living facility close to Beverly Hills, via TMZ.

The day after the overdose, a slurring Dick gave an interview about the incident, joined by the friends who had helped save his life.

Dick's representative has clarified, however, that the neural lesions did not result from the overdose but from the comic getting punched in 2019, via Page Six; pictured 2019

Dick was said to have 'snuck away' and done 'something that messed him up' so that his friends had to conduct a 'group effort' to 'you know, save him.'

The comedian explained that he had come across a man close to his age and 'felt for him,' whereupon the man 'whipped out - sorry, but crack. And I'm like, you know what, I might need a little bit of that. I wanted to see what he was doing and also, I don't mind doing a little crack every now and then,' via TMZ.

In January he told comedian Jamie Kennedy that the first sentence out of his mouth when he regained consciousness after the overdose was: 'Where's the vodka?' on an episode of the podcast Hate to Break It To Ya.

Through his years of rollercoaster addiction, Dick has racked up a string of arrests and faced varying legal problems, some involving accusations of sexual misconduct.

In 2022 he was found guilty of having groped an Uber driver four years earlier, for which he was given a 90-day sentence and made to register as a sex offender.

He was arrested in June 2021 for allegedly using a metal chair to attack a male partner, and that October for allegedly striking his boyfriend's face with a frying pan.

In December 2019 he was convicted of sexual battery for squeezing a woman's behind and was sentenced to two weeks in jail, but as a result of overcrowding he ended up spending only one night behind bars.

In 2018 his estranged second wife Lena Sved obtained a domestic violence restraining order against him that forced him to move out of their home and stay 100 yards from her and their children Lucas, 37, Jacob, 31, and Meg, 27.

Through his years of rollercoaster addiction, Dick has racked up a string of arrests and faced varying legal problems, some involving accusations of sexual misconduct; pictured 2016

Dick was also arrested in 2010 and accused of having taken hold of a man's genitals while he was drunk at a bar in West Virginia.

In 2008 he was arrested for allegedly exposing a 17-year-old girl's breasts by pulling down her top and bra, and was also found to be in possession of various drugs.

He pled guilty to misdemeanor marijuana and battery charges in connection with that incident and received three years' probation.

During a 2007 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, security had to yank him offstage because of his repeated unbidden touching of fellow guest Ivanka Trump.

In 1999 he was charged with cocaine and marijuana possession after he crashed his car into a traffic-signal pole and the police found the substances.
Jules Neale showed her ex-husband, AFL star Lachie Neale, what he is missing as she attended Glamour on The Grid in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

The 36-year-old turned heads in a show-stopping scarlet backless gown by celebrity designer Effie Kats.

Jules let the dress do the talking by wearing minimal accessories and a pair of black stilettos.

She styled her blonde hair in soft curls and opted for a traditional smoky eye and nude lip.

The mother-of-two attended the event with her good friend Yassie Marie, whom she described as her 'hot date'.

The pair posed for several photos together inside the event and on the track at Albert Park.

Jules Neale showed her ex-husband, AFL star Lachie Neale, what he is missing as she attended Glamour on The Grid in Melbourne on Wednesday night

The 36-year-old turned heads in a show-stopping scarlet backless gown by celebrity designer Effie Kats

Yassie appears to be helping Jules weather the storm of her split, and the pair call each other their 'life wives'.

She helped the blonde beauty celebrate her recent 36th birthday and they enjoyed a wellness retreat together in January just weeks after the collapse of Jules's marriage.

Jules recently took a very public dig at her husband Lachie on social media as the fallout from their split continues.

She and some of her girlfriends featured in a social media video that's themed around making choices.

Posted to TikTok by influencer Jacquie Alexander, it shows Neale sitting outside a cafe while Jason Derulo sings 'When the roof caved in and the truth came out I just didn't know what to do' from his hit song Whatcha Say.

As the words 'You're really good at picking a husband' flash up on the screen, a frustrated Jules slams her hands down on the table and pretends to walk off in anger.

Her good friend Lizzie Brayshaw, who is married to Fremantle Dockers star Andy, appears next.

She also slams her hands down and leaves as 'Being a WAG is not a career move' is seen on the clip.

The 36-year-old turned heads in a show-stopping scarlet backless gown by celebrity designer Effie Kats

The mother-of-two attended the event with her good friend Yassie Marie, whom she described as her 'hot date'

The pair posed for several photos together inside the event and on the track at Albert Park

The video  which also features Alexander and Rahnee Bransby  struck a chord with Neale's fans.

'Actually dead at Jules,' one wrote.

'Jules is an icon haha!! The way I screamed!!' wrote another.

Other comments included 'Queen mentality from Jules lol', 'I fear this is beyond iconic' and 'It's JULES world now'.

Neale posted the clip to her Instagram story just days after she took a thinly veiled shot at Lachie in a separate piece of footage.

The former WAG shared a clip to Instagram promoting Elle Macpherson's WelleCo health supplements  and appeared to reference her split from the AFL star in the narration.

'I used to be religious about my WelleCo routine. And then I got a little distracted along the way,' Jules pointedly told her followers.

'I stopped showing up for myself the way I used to. But lately, I have been fighting my way back.

Jules styled her blonde hair in soft curls and opted for a traditional smoky eye and nude lip

'There's just something really powerful about rebuilding your glow quietly.'

Jules added that she finally feels like herself again.

'Getting back into my @welleco routine has been such a simple change with a big impact. My mornings feel brighter, my days feel lighter and it feels like Im choosing myself again,' she added in the caption.

The former couple's split became even more concrete on February 21 when their former family home sold at auction.

Jules and Lachie bought the five-bedroom house at auction for $2.43 million back in July 2022.

The pair made a tidy profit at the auction with the property changing hands for an impressive $3.2 million  $200,000 over the reserve.

It's reported the auction attracted between 60 and 70 people with 'fierce' bidding starting at $2.5 million.

While Lachie and Jules were not present for the bidding, auctioneer Justin Nickerson told the publication that all parties were 'happy' with the outcome.
I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private. Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.

I do not want to reconcile with my family. I'm not being controlled, I'm standing up for myself for the first time in my life. For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family. The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.

Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they'll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade. But I believe the truth always comes out.

My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn't stopped. My mum cancelled making Nicola's dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress.

Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.

They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated. My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since.

During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me "evil" because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola's Naunni at our table, because they both didn't have their husbands. Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.

The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was "not blood" and "not family." Since the moment I started standing up for myself with my family, I've received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders.

Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last Summer.

My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song. In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead.

She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I've never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life. We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment.

My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we've tried to come together as one. My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable.

Despite this, we still travelled to London for my dad's birthday and were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him. He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.

When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn't invited. It was a slap in the face. Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all.

My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first. Family "love" is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it's at the expense of our professional obligations.

We've gone out of our way for years to show up and support at every fashion show, every party, and every press activity to show 'our perfect family.' But the one time my wife asked for my mum's support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.

The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety. For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared.

I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief. My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press, or manipulation. All we want peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.
Megyn Kelly once again criticized President Donald Trump's decision to launch strikes on Iran, warning that the conflict could erode his support among women.

The former Fox News host said polling shows Republicans largely support the president's actions, while independents and Democrats oppose them - and that women in particular are more likely to be against the war.

'What you're seeing now is support falling basically along partisan lines,' Kelly said.

'Republicans, a majority, support the president. Independents and Democrats are totally against the President on this war, which makes some sense.

'Because, look, I told you guys for the past 20 plus years, I'm a registered Independent. I haven't been a registered Republican in more than two decades, and I'm with the independents.'

Kelly says voters remain divided on widening war

Kelly made clear she is siding with voters who are skeptical of the widening conflict.

'As I told you yesterday, most of my Republican audience is supporting the president on it, although a lot aren't,' she continued.

'Actually, there's an interesting poll showing it's breaking down more severely along [expletive] lines, where a hefty majority of women are against it, and men are split almost 50/50, so that's that's all very interesting, but there is no question that the American people don't understand why we're doing it'

Her comments came as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its fourth day, with strikes intensifying and retaliation spreading across the region.

US and Israeli forces pummeled targets across Tehran on Tuesday, sending columns of smoke rising over the Iranian capital.

Local media reported strikes on one of the city's two airports and on buildings connected to the committee responsible for selecting a new supreme leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in earlier attacks.

Trump hardens stance as strikes reshape Irans leadership

President Donald Trump, who had signaled openness to talks just days before the initial strikes, now appears to be taking a far harder line.

Posting on social media, Trump wrote: 'Their air defense, air force, navy, and leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said: 'Too late!''

During a meeting with Germany's chancellor in Washington, Trump said that 'most of the people we had in mind' as possible successors to Khamenei were now dead following waves of strikes.

He also acknowledged the uncertainty that could follow regime change, saying, 'the worst case would be, we do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person'.

Iran has denied seeking talks. Its ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva rejected claims that Tehran approached Washington, even as the country faced mounting damage from coordinated attacks.

Conflict spreads across Gulf as Iran targets US sites

The conflict has rapidly expanded beyond Iran's borders.

Iranian drones and missiles targeted US diplomatic sites across the Gulf. A drone strike caused a fire near the US consulate in Dubai.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strike hit a parking lot and that 'all personnel are accounted for'.

The US embassy in Riyadh was damaged and briefly caught fire overnight after an Iranian drone strike, while the embassy in Kuwait City was struck earlier in the week, according to diplomatic sources.

Qatar reported intercepting missiles aimed at Hamad International Airport in Doha. Oman said drones targeted the port of Duqm.

In the United Arab Emirates, falling debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at an oil storage and trading zone.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards signaled further escalation. General Ebrahim Jabbari warned that if Iran's enemies 'hit our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region.'

Later on Tuesday, the Guards announced 'a large number of missiles' had been fired at Israel.

Israel, for its part, said it had struck an underground facility on the eastern outskirts of Tehran where it claimed Iranian 'scientists operated covertly to develop a key component for nuclear weapons.'

Israeli forces also moved deeper into southern Lebanon after Hezbollah entered the conflict, firing missiles in support of Tehran.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said troops had been authorized to 'take control of additional strategic positions in Lebanon in order to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities,' while army chief Eyal Zamir vowed Israel 'will not stop until this organisation is disarmed'.

Capital turns ghost city as strikes continue

Inside Tehran, the atmosphere has turned surreal. The capital, normally home to around 10 million people, has emptied out after authorities urged residents to flee.

'There are so few people that you'd think no one ever lived here,' said Samireh, a 33-year-old nurse. Police and security forces have set up checkpoints at major intersections as the bombardment continues.

Global markets have reacted sharply. Energy prices have surged.

QatarEnergy halted LNG production and announced it would also stop some downstream output, including urea, polymers, methanol and aluminum.

India warned that disruptions to trade and energy supply chains could have 'serious consequences' for its economy.

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Princess Diana's former bodyguard Ken Wharfe has broken his silence on the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal, branding the disgraced former royal 'one of the most arrogant individuals I've ever had the misfortune of meeting.'

Wharfe, the SAS-trained Scotland Yard inspector who served as Diana's personal protection officer from 1988 to 1993, called Andrew's association with convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein 'excruciatingly toxic'.

'I did, on a few occasions, have dealings with him in a professional capacity,' he said of Andrew. 'And I found him to be one of the most arrogant individuals I've ever had the misfortune of meeting.'

Andrew, 66, was arrested on February 19, his birthday, at Wood Farm on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

He was held for 11 hours before being released under investigation by Thames Valley Police. He has not been charged and has previously denied all wrongdoing.

The trade envoy scandal

The arrest came after the US Department of Justice released millions of Epstein-related files in January, including emails appearing to show Andrew forwarding confidential reports from his visits to Southeast Asia to the convicted offender while serving as Britain's trade envoy.

King Charles III responded with a terse public statement, saying: 'Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.'

Andrew had already been stripped of every royal title by October 2025.

He surrendered the Duke of York title first, before Charles went further and formally removed his 'Prince' designation and 'His Royal Highness' style via Letters Patent.

He lost his Order of the Garter, his Royal Victorian Order, his place at Royal Lodge - where he had lived for over two decades - and his 1million annual allowance. He is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The 20,000 rent plea

Speaking on the Suddenly Single podcast on Tuesday, Wharfe made clear he had tried to avoid commenting on the situation for as long as possible.

'Ever since the Epstein crisis that hit the Royal Family, I've taken a personal stand on this,' he said.

'The whole issue of the Duke of York, as he was, and now Mountbatten-Windsor, is excruciatingly toxic, and continues to be.

'There isn't a day now, in the last six months, where there hasn't been a story surrounding the Duke of York, Windsor's association with Epstein, which has now brought into contact his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.'

Emails disclosed from the Epstein files appear to show Ferguson asking Epstein for 20,000 to cover rent in 2009, saying her landlord had threatened to go to the newspapers.

Ferguson, who divorced Andrew in 1996 but continued living with him at Royal Lodge until recently, has denied any wrongdoing.

'It's a subject that, as yet, is not finished,' Wharfe added.

'It's only just begun, and who knows where this might end up?'

A King divided

Wharfe served at the very heart of the Royal Family during its most turbulent years.

He was bodyguard to the young Princes William and Harry from 1986 - the boys called him 'Uncle Ken' - before being appointed Diana's personal protection officer.

He spent nearly six years at her side, becoming a close friend and confidant who, in his own words, shared her 'innermost secrets.'

He left his post in 1993 and retired from the Metropolitan Police in 2002 after 35 years of service.

He was later honoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II with membership of the Victorian Order.

He went on to write two bestselling books about his time protecting Diana - Diana: Closely Guarded Secret and Guarding Diana: Protecting the Princess Around the World.

Speaking on the podcast, he added that he believes Andrew's downfall has compounded a difficult period for King Charles, who has simultaneously lost his brother to disgrace and his younger son, Prince Harry, 41, to self-imposed exile in America.

'His father, the King himself, is going through a very difficult period of life trying to sort out his younger brother's problems,' Wharfe said.

'But William and Harry, particularly, were to be part of the King's future design of the monarchy.'

'Unfortunately, he's lost that third - that Harry third - who I think was an important part of restructuring the monarchy for the future.'

Ken Wharfe on Meghans Royal struggle

Wharfe was candid about Harry's marriage and what he sees as its failure to live up to its early promise.

He recalled the initial excitement when Prince Harry married Meghan Markle as a moment that could have 'moved and changed the Royal Family forever.'

He said: 'He was a prince of the realm, marrying a woman of mixed heritage, an American, a divorcee. She had all the qualities that, had you given that ten, 15 years ago, there would be no chance of that ever happening.'

'But it never worked because I think Meghan never really understood it. And I don't think Harry really anticipated at that time that, in some months later, he'd be disappearing to America, to live a life of exile, almost.'

A global shift

'It looks as though he may well have won a case to restore his security when he comes to the United Kingdom. And in a way, although I was against that initially, I do think that the climate has changed globally, that maybe the government and the Metropolitan Police will actually agree to provide him with some proper security, which is always wanted. And where does that lead him?'

Wharfe added that he believes Harry, despite his life in Montecito, California, with Meghan and their two children, is not truly settled.

'I think the fun of those days in Montecito, and the celebrity world that he moved in, has faded and left him somewhat isolated,' he said.

Wharfe suggested Harry still has a role to play within the Royal Family and hinted that Charles may agree - but said it would require a resolution to Harry's ongoing estrangement.

'Does he have a role to play in the future of the monarchy?' Wharfe said.

'I think he does - quite how he does that, I don't think he even knows yet.'

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A three-day state funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has been 'postponed' hours before it was due to begin, Iranian state media reports.

The ceremony was supposed to unfold this evening at the grand mosque in Tehran but, with Israeli and American strikes continuing to pound the city, will now be rearranged.

Organisers claimed it was delayed 'in anticipation of unprecedented turnout', and reportedly want to wait until the necessary infrastructure is in place.

Iranian TV reported: 'The farewell ceremony for the martyred Imam has been postponed. The new date will be announced later.'

The final farewell

Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Irans Islamic Propagation Council, earlier announced there would be a three-day farewell ceremony followed by a funeral procession.

The official said the public will be able to pay their respects to the body of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Tehrans Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall starting at 10pm (6:30pm UK time).

'The Mosalla (prayer hall) will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again,' he said in comments carried by Iranian media.

An official 40-day mourning period, as well as a seven-day national holiday was announced in Iran in the wake of Khamenei's death.

Funeral under fire

Khamenei, who based his iron rule of Iran on hostility to the US and Israel, was killed on Saturday, aged 86, in air strikes by Israel and the US.

He led Iran's clerical establishment and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard  the two main centres of power in the governing theocracy.

The funeral will be held despite ongoing strikes by the IDF, who has declared it is now carrying out a 'broad wave' of attacks in Tehran.

The IDF says the 'terrorist infrastructure' will be targeted in what it highlighted was the 'tenth wave' of attacks on the Iranian capital.

The Israeli military has also launched airstrikes on Beirut as it targets Hezbollah militants in the Lebanese capital.

Iran meanwhile has continued its retaliatory attacks in Israel and across the Gulf states on another night of chaos in the Middle East.

Flattened in Qom

It comes as Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesday to assassinate any Iranian leader picked to succeed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

In a post on X, Katz said: 'Any leader selected by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan for Israel's destruction, threatening the United States, the free world and countries in the region, and suppressing the Iranian people, will be a certain target for assassination, no matter his name or where he hides.'

The Iranian regime's 88-person assembly, who is tasked with appointing, supervising and potentially dismissing the supreme leader, met on Tuesday in Qom to find a successor to Khamenei.

However, Israeli and US strikes flattened the building where the assembly met. There was no information on any potential casualties.

Wartime succession

Now, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named the favourite to be appointed Iran's new Supreme Leader.

The 56-year-old is Ali Khamenei's second oldest son and has strong links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and was chosen by Iran's Assembly of Experts 'under pressure from the Revolutionary Guards', according to Iranian opposition outlet Iran International.

Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric, has never held office and does not have an official role in the regime.

But he served in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq war and is believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes. He has been touted as a possible successor to his father for years.

However, he was not included in a list of three senior clerics Ali Khamenei reportedly identified last year.

A return to monarchy?

And his father is said to have indicated opposition to his candidacy because it would resemble the hereditary rule enacted by the US-backed Shah monarchy before it was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Father-to-son succession is also viewed negatively in the Shiite Muslim clerical establishment in Iran.

But much of Iran's top brass has been decimated in the latest conflict and Mojtaba has close ties with the powerful IRGC and the Basij volunteer paramilitary force.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he fears Iran's new leader would be 'as bad as the previous person'.

Commenting on the 'worst case scenario' at an Oval Office news conference, Trump said: 'I guess the worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen. We don't want that to happen. It would probably be the worst.'

No negotiations

He added: 'You go through this and then in five years, you realise you put somebody in who was no better. So we'd like to see somebody in there that's going to bring it back for the people.'

However, he also expressed confidence on joint US-Israel military capabilities, saying: 'We have them very much beaten militarily, from the military standpoint. They're still lobbing some missiles,' he said.

'They won't even be able to do that because we're hitting all of their carriers. We're hitting all of their missile stock  and we're knocking out a lot.'

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian adviser to the late Ayatollah has declared there will be no negotiations with the US and the war can continue 'as long as we want'.

Mohammad Mokhber told Iranian state television there is 'no trust in the Americans'.

He said: 'We have no basis for any negotiations with them: We can continue the war as long as we want.'

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Princess Beatrice showed 'awkwardness and dislike' towards the Prince and Princess of Wales following the Christmas Day service at Sandringham, a body language expert has claimed.

The eldest daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson accompanied members of the Royal Family for the traditional walkabout and service at St Magdalene Church.

While others, including Zara and Mike Tindall, were seen happily chatting to William and Kate, Beatrice's display was, according to UK body language judge Judi James, on the 'awkward' side.

It comes after Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were told they cannot join their family at Royal Ascot this year amid concerns about the escalating scandal involving the House of York and their ties with Jeffrey Epstein.

Beatrice and Eugenie blindsided by Royal Ascot snub

Sources say the sisters, whose names appear several times in the Epstein files, will not take their seats in the Royal Box at the prestigious horse-racing event in June, nor can they join senior royals for the Royal Procession.

The move is said to have 'completely blindsided' Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, who are already reeling from the arrest of their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

But perhaps signs of the York sisters' growing distance from William and Kate were evident long before news of Ascot.

Speaking to the Daily Mail about Beatrice's Christmas Day appearance, James said: 'There is a type of smile known as a performed or applied rictus that is a wide smile that appears effortful and not prompted by authentic pleasure.

Body language expert spots tension with Waleses

'Often the wider the smile, the more negative the emotions being masked, which could be why Beatrice's smile here, as she waits for the Waleses to go first, hints at what could be awkwardness or dislike.

'She begins in something of a huddle with her sister, where the smiles could suggest some conversation through gritted teeth as they watch William, Kate, and the children take the lead.

'The sisters seem to decide to shuffle off together to the left, where they stand together beaming their smiles at the group in front in a watchful rather than sociable way.

'Beatrice's glance down at Waleses hints at some quiet impatience or discomfort at having to hang around dutifully and compliantly until they move on.

'There is no sign of any socialising between them here or any intent of catching Kate's eye to make the smiles more sociably friendly.'

Epstein files cast new shadow over York sisters

The decision follows a claim from royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams that William and Kate 'won't' miss the York sisters if the future king has to 'take the hard line' with his cousins.

Their relationship has long been strained, but the latest revelations from the Epstein files could further deteriorate the Prince of Wales's relationship with his cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The most recent tranche of documents has raised serious questions about how much the former Duke and Duchess of York's daughters knew of their parents' corrupt dealings with the [disgarced] financier.

One email sent by Epstein in 2015 - after he was convicted for soliciting [sexual intercourse] from girls as young as 14 - boasted to a friend that Beatrice 'liked' him.

It also emerged that Beatrice helped advise her mother on how to placate Epstein after Fergie called him a [child offender] while apologising for accepting a 15,000 ($20k) bailout from the convicted [sexual intercourse] offender in a 2011 interview.

William faces difficult decision over York sisters future

She also played a key role in facilitating her father's 2019 Newsnight interview, and Beatrice and Eugenie must now face the possibility that the drip-feed of Epstein revelations could see them ousted from royal life as well.

William now must evaluate his relationship with Beatrice and Eugenie, and assess whether they have a future within The Firm - a decision no doubt fuelled by the pre-existing tension in his relationship with the York sisters.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: 'It may fall to William to make a decision on the future of Beatrice and Eugenie. Neither are reportedly particularly close to him or to Catherine.

'The fact that Beatrice, when 20 and Eugenie, aged 19, visited Epstein in Florida just after his release from prison with their rapacious mother, is alarming. They must have known who they were visiting and how inappropriate this was. He was under house arrest.

'One of the most bizarre aspects of the Files is the way Sarah Ferguson seems to regard Epstein as part of her extended family. In 2010, she even told Epstein of Eugenie's "s*******" weekend.'

William could take hard line with York family

'There is obvious sympathy for the predicament of the sisters; mention in the files does not denote wrongdoing.

'The King reportedly regards their work-life balance, where they both do some charitable work alongside their careers and families, but are not working royals, as admirable.

'William, it is reported, may well take a hard line when he becomes king. It depends on how affected the royal family is by what happens subsequently.

'There is currently the strong possibility of the cases which the police are assessing going forward and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor being arrested and very possibly put on trial.

'If this happens, it may be impossible for the Royal Family to move forward with any members of the York family attached to it.

'William and Catherine do not appear to have close ties with the sisters and would probably not miss them.'

Royal tensions trace back to Williams wedding snub

Rumours of tension between the pair go back as far as 2011, when the future king failed to invite Beatrice's long-term boyfriend, Dave Clarke, to his wedding.

It was a surprising twist, given that William introduced the former couple to one another at a party hosted by Sean Brosnan, the son of film star Pierce Brosnan.

Fitzwilliams said: 'It was William who introduced Beatrice to her former boyfriend Dave Clark, whom he had met through mutual friends in Scotland. They dated for a decade.'

In spite of having made the initial introduction, William had cooled his friendship with Dave, seeing him as 'indiscreet', to the extent that he didn't ask him to his wedding in 2011 - a decision that hurt Beatrice very much.

'Reports indicate that William fell out with him, regarding him as unreliable,' Fitzwilliams said, adding: 'Proof of this is his absence from William's wedding in 2011, which was obviously one of the weddings of the century.'

A source told the Daily Mail in 2016: 'William isn't a huge fan of Dave. It's fair to say that if Beatrice had asked the Queen for permission to marry Dave, and she in turn asked William privately for his view, she may not have been given a glowing report.'

Fitzwilliams continued: 'Although the Waleses may not be close to the sisters, we know that Eugenie is notably close to Harry.

'At one time it was thought that she had a role to play in helping reconciliation between the Royal Family and the Sussexes. That is now highly unlikely.'

Over the years, Eugenie has been Harry's close friend, confidante and even matchmaker.

Despite being born five years apart, Harry and Eugenie often spent time together as children thanks to the friendship between their mothers, Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, who would pack the children up for joint family holidays.

Eugenie was the one who introduced her cousin Harry to his ex-girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, and they dated between 2012 and 2014. Eugenie and the actress have remained close after the breakup.



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Satellite images have revealed the full scale of devastation in Tehran after five long days of bombardment - with some sites almost unrecognisable after the dust cleared.

Executing a plan months in the making, America and Israel launched joint airstrikes against their long-term foe on Saturday - wiping out almost 50 top commanders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, within 'minutes'.

Israel in particular has continued to blitz strategic targets across the country, with government buildings, missile stockpiles, military bases and nuclear sites razed to the ground.

There have also been reports of civilian infrastructure being hit. Most notably, state media claimed that more than 153 girls were killed when a bomb hit their primary school near a military base.

Israel Claims Strikes Deep Inside Tehran

Nowhere in Iran has been shielded from the campaign, with Benjamin Netanyahu boasting that Israel has been striking 'in the heart of Tehran'.

This was clear from the very beginning. In the first wave, at about 9:40am on Saturday, 30 bombs smashed into the Supreme Leader's compound in the centre of the capital, killing him alongside his family.

Many of the buildings that houses important branches of the regime have similarly been blasted, as seen in the photos below, ranging from the courts to the intelligence HQ.

Donald Trump told CNN on Monday: 'We're knocking the [expletive] out of them. I think it's going very well. It's very powerful. We've got the greatest military in the world and we're using it.'

But the worst for Iran may be yet to come. The president continued: 'We havent even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasnt even happened. The big one is coming soon.'
It's like Star Wars, knocking missiles out of the sky right above your head.

I'd been to Israel before, but it wasn't until covering its war with Hamas that I understood what the Iron Dome means to the country.

Within days of arriving at work as a news correspondent in January 2024, I was at a bus stop in southeastern Tel Aviv during rush hour, surrounded by students with their backpacks, old women with their shopping bags and soldiers with rifles - all waiting for the same bus.

As I stood there, intrigued by this uniquely Israeli scene, a shrill, oscillating howl started blaring all around us. It took me a few seconds to realize it was a 'Red Alert,' Israel's missile warning siren.

Everyone started running.

Some took cover under nearby trees. Others shielded themselves next to a concrete wall. Still others, including little kids and uniformed soldiers, ran up a small hill behind us for a clearer view of the sky.

I followed them, naively reaching for my notebook and pen in hopes of snagging a quick interview before whatever happened next. But there was no time.

From Sirens to Interception

Within about 45 seconds of when the sirens started, we could hear Hamas rockets that had been fired from Gaza zooming northward through the late-afternoon sky.

After what seemed like only a split second, we could see white smoke trails from a volley of interceptor missiles zig-zagging toward them, destroying them with booms and bright flashes above us.

Bam. Just like that. Kind of like fireworks, but louder and far more comforting.

The crowd around me let out sighs of relief, with looks on their faces that read, 'Phew, I'm okay, you're okay.' Then our bus came, and we all boarded and went on with our evening.

It was later reported that Israel's Iron Dome system intercepted those rockets with no reported casualties and only one vehicle south of Tel Aviv damaged by the debris.

Although memorable for me as an American unaccustomed to missile attacks, that barrage was merely a blip for Israelis - one of thousands of strikes aimed at their nation over decades of war, and one of thousands more it has launched at Palestinian territories and other neighbors since its inception in 1948.

Operational Since 2011

Although Americans would stroke out at the sight and sound of missiles in our skies, Israelis have become much more at ease with the risks because of their mobile air defense systems designed to intercept threats before they hit.

The US provided about $2.6billion in funding for Iron Dome from 2011 to 2022, and recent aid packages since 2024 have included multi-billion-dollar allocations for it and related systems.

Total US support for Israeli missile defense is estimated between $5billion and $7billion.

Iron Dome was developed after Israel was struck with 39 scuds fired by Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War and with about 4,000 rockets fired by Hezbollah during its second war with Lebanon in 2006.

Operational since 2011, it detects incoming short-range rockets, artillery shells, mortars and drones, and calculates their trajectory.

If they're headed toward open land - which is relatively scarce in a country roughly the size of New Jersey - IDF tends not to intercept them.

Warning Civilians and Intercepting Rockets

But if they're headed toward a populated area or critical infrastructure such as military bases, airports, power plants or highways, Iron Dome destroys them mid-air, often at altitudes of a few kilometers.

Sirens typically give the public 30 to 90 seconds of warning, allowing them to move quickly to reinforced shelters, stairwells or safe rooms - that is, when they're not out and about, say, waiting for buses.

Although Israel is now not only facing missiles from Iran, but also from Hezbollah in Lebanon, with the two countries' close proximity meaning there's a shorter amount of time for people to take cover once the warning sirens go off.

When Iran bombs Israel, people have around ten to 12 minutes to take shelter. But when Lebanon bombs, its only about a minute and a half, tops.

Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets, with a success rate reported between 85 and 95 percent, and is considered one of the most effective missile defense systems in the world.

Allowing Life to Go On and Reducing Civilian Casualties

It's credited for reducing civilian casualties in recent conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

It's also credited with allowing schools and businesses in Israel to remain open during conflicts, and with helping Israelis feel relatively safe in a tiny country that increasingly has been waging war on its neighbors.

'It allows life to go on here, even in the face of danger,' Yaakov Katz, an American-born Israeli journalist and analyst on Israeli military and defense affairs, told the Daily Mail on Tuesday from his home in Jerusalem.

Red Alert missile sirens have been blaring sporadically there since Israel and the US started attacking Iran on Saturday.

'It means that when there's not a siren, we can go out, go to the grocery store, to the park. It gives a sense of security and confidence that allows us to exhibit some kind of resilience at a time like this.'

Iron Dome isn't Israel's only missile defense system. The IDF has what it calls a layered defense strategy with systems that also intercept medium- and long-range threats.

Trump Eyeing Multi-Layered Defense System

The so-called David's Sling, which has been protecting the country from medium-range missiles since 2017, has an estimated 80 to 90 percent success rate. And Israel's Arrow 3 system has a similar success rate intercepting long-range missiles, including those from outside Earth's atmosphere.

President Donald Trump is eyeing a similarly multi-layered missile defense, including space-based tracking systems, for the US that he refers to as the 'Golden Dome.'

He issued an executive order in 2025 directing development of the next-generation system, tasking the US Space Force to lead its approximately $25billion planning and development.

Although the IDF has not confirmed which systems it has been using to thwart attacks from Iran and Lebanon since the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on Saturday, both David's Sling and Arrow - along with other systems deployed by the US and other countries - were credited with keeping Israelis relatively safe from Iranian missile attacks in 2024 and 2025.

Katz Says Missile Defense Systems 'Changed Reality' in Israel

Katz has lived in Israel since the 1990s. As he tells it, missile defense systems have 'completely changed reality' there.

'It is, I'd say, a uniquely Israeli thing to see a threat, understand it and adapt to it by applying a solution to eliminate it,' he told us.

That said, he noted that years of success with its missile defense systems gave Israel 'a false sense of complacency' - most notably leading up to Hamas' ground attack on October 7, 2023.

'It was a reminder, for sure, that we can get surprised in a very different way,' he said.

Like many Israelis, Katz sees his country's investment in missile defense - and an extensive system of safe rooms and bomb shelters - as a key difference between it and its neighbors.

'We defend our citizens and, tragically, our enemies invest tremendous resources in putting their citizens at risk. I think that's a stark contrast between them and us.'

Israelis Express Empathy for Iranians

Other Israelis we spoke with expressed empathy for Iranians enduring this war without the same kinds of protections.

'I really feel for them, living under a regime that puts them at risk, leaves them starving and unsafe,' said Dalit, an archeologist in Jerusalem who asked that we not print her last name.

'But I'm absolutely certain that they don't blame Israel for not having shelters, bread, water or systems to protect them. I think they know who is to blame.'

Alon Spiegel is a photographer in Jerusalem who credits his country's Iron Dome and other defense systems for his ability to stand on his rooftop since Saturday, photographing incoming missiles.

'There's no way I'd be up there without them,' he told us. 'My God, that would be suicide.'
An AI-powered app branded as 'woke' by President Donald Trump has surged to the top of the download charts in recent days.

Highly capable AI assistant Claude has come under intense scrutiny after its maker, San Franciscobased Anthropic, locked horns with the Pentagon over how the military may use its technology.

The Defense Department insisted the chatbot be available for 'any lawful use' and warned that Anthropic's government business could be jeopardized if the startup refused to remove additional guardrails.

But the company did not back down. As a result, several cabinet-level agencies - including State, Treasury and Health and Human Services - moved this week to halt use of Anthropic's AI products.

They joined the Pentagon in switching to rivals such as OpenAI under a new White House directive.

Despite the political backlash, Claude appears to have benefited from the attention. It is now the most downloaded free app on iPhone in the US, displacing OpenAI's ChatGPT from the top spot.

Anthropic's tool was No. 42 in early February, but it climbed to No. 1 on the US free apps chart late on Saturday, the day after the Pentagon deemed Anthropic a 'supply chain risk'.

ChatGPT now sits in second place, followed by Google Gemini in third and Threads in fourth.

Claude has come under intense scrutiny after its maker, San Franciscobased Anthropic, locked horns with the Pentagon over how the military may use its technology

President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials took to social media to criticize Anthropic for refusing to allow unrestricted military use of its technology

The Pentagon has signed $200 million ceiling agreements over the past year with major AI labs, including Anthropic, OpenAI and Google.

It has been pushing companies to scrap their usage policies in favor of an all-lawful-use clause.

Anthropic, while continuing talks with the Defense Department, has maintained firm red lines against the use of its Claude models for autonomous weapons or domestic surveillance.

The company was the first among the leading AI labs to work with classified information, through a supply arrangement via cloud provider Amazon.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei - who left OpenAI in 2020 over concerns about AI governance - has warned that the technology is advancing faster than the law.

In a blog post Thursday, he cautioned that powerful AI systems could hoover up disparate data to gather intelligence on unwitting civilians, a prospect critics view as a potential legal loophole.

'Anthropic understands that the Department of War, not private companies, makes military decisions,' Amodei wrote.

But he added that AI, in narrow cases, 'can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values.'

Despite the political backlash, Claude appears to have benefited from the attention. It is now the most downloaded app on iPhone in the US, displacing OpenAI's ChatGPT from the top spot

Hegseth labeled Anthropic a 'supply chain risk,' a designation more commonly applied to foreign adversaries and one that could threaten the company's broader business partnerships

Amodei met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week. Afterward, the Pentagon signaled openness to compromise and sent revised contract language. Still, the two sides appeared to remain at an impasse.

Trump, Hegseth and other officials took to social media to criticize Anthropic for refusing to allow unrestricted military use of its technology by a Friday deadline.

Trump said the company had made a mistake in trying to strong-arm the Pentagon. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote that most agencies must immediately stop using Anthropic's AI, though he granted the Defense Department six months to phase out systems already embedded in military platforms.

'The United States of America will never allow a radical left, woke company to dictate how our great military fights and wins wars!' he wrote in all caps.

Hegseth also labeled Anthropic a 'supply chain risk,' a designation more commonly applied to foreign adversaries and one that could threaten the company's broader business partnerships.

Following suit on Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X that his department was terminating all use of Anthropic products, including Claude.

In a statement issued Friday evening, Anthropic said it would challenge what it called an unprecedented and legally unsound action 'never before publicly applied to an American company.'

The company has said it sought narrow assurances from the Pentagon that Claude would not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or deployed in fully autonomous weapons systems.

OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman (pictured) said the company would amend its Defense Department contract to clarify that its AI systems would not be 'intentionally used for domestic surveillance of US persons and nationals'

Claude was No. 42 in early February, but it climbed to No. 1 on the US free apps chart late on Saturday (stock image)

The Defense Department has said it is not interested in such uses and would only deploy the technology in legal ways, but it has also insisted on access without additional limitations.

Late Friday, rival OpenAI - backed by Microsoft, Amazon and others - announced its own agreement to deploy technology within the Defense Department's classified network.

In a post on X on Monday, OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said the company would amend its Defense Department contract to clarify that its AI systems would not be 'intentionally used for domestic surveillance of US persons and nationals.'

He added that the department understood the limitation to prohibit deliberate tracking, surveillance or monitoring of US persons, including through the procurement or use of commercially acquired personal data.
MicroSectors FANG+ 3X Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:FNGU  Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 12,251,842 shares, a decrease of 19.0% from the January 29th total of 15,127,203 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 7,320,224 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Currently, 306.3% of the companys shares are short sold. Currently, 306.3% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 7,320,224 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days.

MicroSectors FANG+ 3X Leveraged ETN Trading Up 0.2%

NYSEARCA:FNGU traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $19.00. 12,549,847 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,552,690. MicroSectors FANG+ 3X Leveraged ETN has a fifty-two week low of $7.95 and a fifty-two week high of $34.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $76 million, a P/E ratio of 37.17 and a beta of 4.68. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.28.

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MicroSectors FANG+ 3X Leveraged ETN Company Profile

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The MicroSectors FANG+ Index 3X Leveraged ETN (FNGU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NYSE FANG+ index. The fund tracks 3x the daily price movements of an equal-weighted index of US-listed technology and consumer discretionary companies. FNGU was launched on Jan 22, 2018 and is issued by REX Microsectors.

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Matthews China Active ETF (NYSEARCA:MCH  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 874 shares, a decline of 17.9% from the January 29th total of 1,064 shares. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,348 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,348 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Matthews China Active ETF

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MCH. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in Matthews China Active ETF by 69.5% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 20,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $487,000 after buying an additional 8,201 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC raised its position in Matthews China Active ETF by 37.8% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 35,284 shares of the companys stock worth $859,000 after acquiring an additional 9,686 shares in the last quarter. Integrity Wealth Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in Matthews China Active ETF by 38.4% in the 2nd quarter. Integrity Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 11,443 shares of the companys stock valued at $280,000 after acquiring an additional 3,173 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Matthews China Active ETF by 17.6% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,540 shares of the companys stock valued at $77,000 after purchasing an additional 380 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Matthews China Active ETF by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 79,180 shares of the companys stock worth $2,397,000 after purchasing an additional 1,666 shares during the last quarter.

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Matthews China Active ETF Stock Down 3.7%

MCH stock traded down $1.06 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $27.28. 18,095 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,285. Matthews China Active ETF has a 1-year low of $20.06 and a 1-year high of $30.97. The companys fifty day moving average price is $29.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $29.12. The firm has a market cap of $21.82 million, a PE ratio of 12.47 and a beta of 0.73.

About Matthews China Active ETF

The Matthews China Active ETF (MCH) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund is actively managed to hold stocks of Chinese companies that are fundamentally screened for sustainable growth. The fund also considers ESG factors in the investment process. MCH was launched on Jul 13, 2022 and is managed by Matthews.

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Tejon Ranch (NYSE:TRC  Get Free Report) is expected to release its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Thursday, March 5th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.05 per share and revenue of $13.9440 million for the quarter. Interested persons can find conference call details on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026 at 10:30 AM ET.

Tejon Ranch Stock Performance

NYSE TRC opened at $17.70 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $16.49 and a 200-day moving average of $16.33. The company has a current ratio of 2.66, a quick ratio of 2.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Tejon Ranch has a 1-year low of $14.90 and a 1-year high of $19.39. The firm has a market cap of $475.95 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 147.50 and a beta of 0.65.

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Institutional Trading of Tejon Ranch

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Tejon Ranch by 688.9% during the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,996 shares of the real estate development and agribusiness companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,743 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in Tejon Ranch by 59.8% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,200 shares of the real estate development and agribusiness companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 823 shares during the period. Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in Tejon Ranch during the first quarter worth about $65,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Tejon Ranch in the 2nd quarter valued at about $122,000. Finally, Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC acquired a new position in shares of Tejon Ranch in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $173,000. Institutional investors own 60.63% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Tejon Ranch from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, November 16th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Tejon Ranch from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold.

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Tejon Ranch Company Profile

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Tejon Ranch Corporation (NYSE: TRC) is one of Californias largest private landowners, with a diversified portfolio spanning agriculture, real estate development and natural resource operations. Headquartered in Lebec, California, the companys holdings encompass approximately 270,000 acres in Kern and Los Angeles counties. Established in 1937 on the historic Rancho Tejon land grant, Tejon Ranch has leveraged its strategic location along Interstate 5 to build a multifaceted enterprise serving both local and regional markets.

In agriculture, Tejon Ranch grows a variety of row crops and permanent plantings, including almonds, pistachios, table grapes and citrus.

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Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 5,748,328 shares, a decrease of 18.0% from the January 29th total of 7,008,607 shares. Approximately 2.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 2,377,047 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.4 days. Based on an average daily volume of 2,377,047 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.4 days. Approximately 2.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Guggenheim reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $180.00 target price on shares of Yum! Brands in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Gordon Haskett raised Yum! Brands from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Piper Sandler reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Friday, December 5th. TD Cowen reissued a buy rating and issued a $180.00 target price on shares of Yum! Brands in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $160.00 price target on shares of Yum! Brands in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Yum! Brands currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $174.50.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Trading of Yum! Brands

In other Yum! Brands news, CEO Scott Mezvinsky sold 284 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.02, for a total value of $47,149.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CEO Christopher Lee Turner sold 242 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.02, for a total transaction of $40,176.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 65,297 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,840,607.94. The trade was a 0.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 14,138 shares of company stock worth $2,289,990 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock.

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. grew its stake in Yum! Brands by 1.3% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 695,059 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $105,649,000 after purchasing an additional 8,888 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 115.8% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 1,311,849 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $197,013,000 after purchasing an additional 703,891 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama raised its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 19.7% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 347,395 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $52,804,000 after acquiring an additional 57,112 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in Yum! Brands by 34.3% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,789,728 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $413,382,000 after acquiring an additional 713,167 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service boosted its holdings in Yum! Brands by 2.5% during the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 430,416 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $65,423,000 after purchasing an additional 10,632 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.37% of the companys stock.

Yum! Brands Trading Down 1.7%

YUM traded down $2.79 on Tuesday, reaching $160.13. The stock had a trading volume of 2,110,301 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,955,804. The company has a market capitalization of $44.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.64. Yum! Brands has a fifty-two week low of $137.33 and a fifty-two week high of $169.39. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $157.64 and a 200-day moving average of $151.32.

Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The restaurant operator reported $1.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.03). Yum! Brands had a negative return on equity of 22.42% and a net margin of 18.98%.The firm had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.45 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.61 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Yum! Brands will post 5.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Yum! Brands Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be given a $0.75 dividend. This is an increase from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently 54.05%.

Yum! Brands Company Profile

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Yum! Brands, Inc (NYSE: YUM) is a global quick-service restaurant company that develops, operates and franchises a portfolio of well-known restaurant brands. The companys principal brands are KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, each focused on distinct product categoriesKFC on fried chicken and related menu items, Pizza Hut on pizza and complementary offerings, and Taco Bell on Mexican-inspired quick-service food. Yum! is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and was formed as Tricon Global Restaurants in 1997 when PepsiCo spun off its restaurant businesses, later adopting the Yum! Brands name.

The companys operating model centers on brand development, system growth and franchising; a large portion of its restaurants are operated by independent franchisees, and Yum! generates revenue through franchise royalties and fees in addition to sales from company-operated locations.

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Black Creek Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH  Free Report) by 15.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,088,476 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 279,025 shares during the quarter. Booz Allen Hamilton makes up 9.8% of Black Creek Investment Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Black Creek Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Booz Allen Hamilton were worth $208,743,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 414.6% in the second quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 247 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. West Branch Capital LLC lifted its stake in Booz Allen Hamilton by 58.3% in the third quarter. West Branch Capital LLC now owns 285 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the period. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 244.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 289 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Booz Allen Hamilton by 244.9% in the second quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 338 shares of the business services providers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the period. Finally, Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in Booz Allen Hamilton during the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. 91.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Booz Allen Hamilton Price Performance

BAH stock opened at $79.12 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $86.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $92.00. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation has a 52-week low of $73.93 and a 52-week high of $130.91. The company has a market capitalization of $9.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.76, a PEG ratio of 4.57 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.76, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 1.81.

Booz Allen Hamilton Increases Dividend

Booz Allen Hamilton ( NYSE:BAH Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 23rd. The business services provider reported $1.77 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.51. The company had revenue of $2.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.74 billion. Booz Allen Hamilton had a return on equity of 76.79% and a net margin of 7.35%.The firms revenue for the quarter was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.55 EPS. Booz Allen Hamilton has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.950-6.150 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation will post 6.44 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th were issued a $0.59 dividend. This is a boost from Booz Allen Hamiltons previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. Booz Allen Hamiltons dividend payout ratio is currently 35.07%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BAH has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. DA Davidson set a $81.00 price objective on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Booz Allen Hamilton from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Zacks Research raised shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from $106.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $101.25.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BAH

Booz Allen Hamilton Profile

(Free Report)

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation is a publicly traded management and technology consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The company provides a wide range of professional services and solutions in strategy, analytics, digital transformation, engineering and cyber security. Its expertise spans from supporting federal civilian agencies to defense, intelligence and homeland security organizations, as well as select commercial industries.

Key offerings include data analytics and artificial intelligence applications, software development and modernization, systems integration, and cyber risk management.

Further Reading

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Burberry Group PLC (OTCMKTS:BURBY  Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $16.08, but opened at $14.85. Burberry Group shares last traded at $14.98, with a volume of 3,040 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Barclays upgraded shares of Burberry Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Burberry Group has a consensus rating of Strong Buy.

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Burberry Group Stock Down 2.6%

Burberry Group Company Profile

The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $16.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.30.

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Burberry Group plc is a British luxury fashion house renowned for its distinctive designs and iconic outerwear. The companys product portfolio encompasses ready-to-wear clothing, leather goods, handbags, accessories, footwear, fragrances and beauty items. Burberry is particularly famous for its classic trench coat, crafted from its patented gabardine fabric, and the signature checked pattern that has become a global emblem of luxury.

Founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry in Basingstoke, England, the company initially specialized in weatherproof garments and outdoor attire.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 36,521,145 shares, a growth of 19.6% from the January 29th total of 30,528,793 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 24,933,160 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.5 days. Currently, 2.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Currently, 2.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 24,933,160 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.5 days.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Performance

NYSE:CMG traded down $0.25 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $36.69. The company had a trading volume of 11,261,997 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,450,104. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a fifty-two week low of $29.75 and a fifty-two week high of $58.42. The businesss fifty day moving average is $38.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.97. The firm has a market cap of $47.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.00.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The restaurant operator reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.96 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 47.99% and a net margin of 12.88%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.25 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 1.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on CMG. Barclays reduced their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $50.00 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Monday, December 29th. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $47.24.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Chipotle Mexican Grill

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Operose Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Wealth Watch Advisors INC acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, MV Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. 91.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile

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Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-casual restaurant company known for its Mexican-inspired menu of burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. Founded in 1993 by Steve Ells, the chain emphasizes fresh, customizable meals made from a limited menu of core ingredients and a focus on ingredient quality. Chipotle operates primarily company-owned restaurants and offers dine-in, takeout, catering and delivery through its own digital platforms and third-party partners.

The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and traces its roots to Denver, Colorado.

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Electrolux AB (OTCMKTS:ELUXY  Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 7.5% during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $15.48 and last traded at $15.48. 5,509 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 55% from the average session volume of 12,305 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.73.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on ELUXY shares. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Electrolux in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded Electrolux from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Electrolux in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Electrolux currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Electrolux Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.57. The company has a market capitalization of $2.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.46 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $13.34.

Electrolux (OTCMKTS:ELUXY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.98 by ($0.62). Electrolux had a return on equity of 10.82% and a net margin of 0.69%.The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.79 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Electrolux AB will post 2.13 EPS for the current year.

About Electrolux

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Electrolux AB, trading on the OTCMKTS as ELUXY, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of home and professional appliances. The companys product portfolio spans major and small household appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, cooking ranges, dishwashers, laundry machines and vacuum cleaners, as well as specialty equipment for food-service and hospitality markets. Electrolux is recognized for its emphasis on energy efficiency, innovative design and user-focused functionality across its brands.

Founded in Sweden in 1919 through the merger of Elektromekaniska AB and Lux AB, Electrolux has grown into one of the worlds largest appliance makers.

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Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS  Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by stock analysts at Scotiabank from $284.00 to $278.00 in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a sector outperform rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Scotiabanks price target would suggest a potential upside of 9.53% from the companys previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on ESS. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $275.00 to $284.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $290.00 price objective on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Essex Property Trust from $279.00 to $281.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus set a $278.00 price target on shares of Essex Property Trust in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their target price on Essex Property Trust from $283.00 to $273.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Essex Property Trust has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $283.31.

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Essex Property Trust Price Performance

Essex Property Trust stock traded down $1.69 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $253.81. 41,351 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 570,366. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $16.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.38, a PEG ratio of 8.05 and a beta of 0.73. Essex Property Trust has a 12-month low of $243.25 and a 12-month high of $310.10. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $255.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $259.10.

Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $3.98 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.00 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $479.63 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $474.66 million. Essex Property Trust had a net margin of 35.48% and a return on equity of 11.61%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.92 EPS. Essex Property Trust has set its FY 2026 guidance at 15.690-16.190 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 3.890-4.010 EPS. Analysts forecast that Essex Property Trust will post 15.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Woodline Partners LP bought a new position in Essex Property Trust in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,664,000. Focus Partners Wealth bought a new stake in shares of Essex Property Trust during the 1st quarter worth about $223,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 15.1% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 57,991 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $16,435,000 after acquiring an additional 7,602 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 12,050.0% in the 2nd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 243 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $69,000 after acquiring an additional 241 shares during the period. Finally, Assetmark Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 63.7% in the second quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 383 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. 96.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Essex Property Trust Company Profile

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Essex Property Trust, Inc (NYSE: ESS) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, develops, owns and operates multifamily residential properties. The company focuses on market-rate apartment communities and delivers a full suite of property services including leasing, resident services, asset management, and capital improvement programs designed to preserve and enhance longterm property values.

Essex concentrates its portfolio in West Coast markets, with a significant presence in California and the Pacific Northwest.

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Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL  Get Free Report) CEO James Matthew Darden sold 18,318 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.10, for a total value of $2,657,941.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 51,093 shares in the company, valued at $7,413,594.30. The trade was a 26.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

James Matthew Darden also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, February 27th, James Matthew Darden sold 9,527 shares of Globe Life stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.34, for a total transaction of $1,375,127.18.

Globe Life Stock Performance

Shares of GL stock traded up $0.20 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $144.89. The stock had a trading volume of 351,666 shares, compared to its average volume of 506,554. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.07 and a quick ratio of 0.07. Globe Life Inc. has a twelve month low of $109.38 and a twelve month high of $152.71. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $142.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $138.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.39 billion, a PE ratio of 10.29 and a beta of 0.46.

Globe Life Increases Dividend

Globe Life ( NYSE:GL Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $3.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.44 by ($0.05). Globe Life had a net margin of 19.37% and a return on equity of 21.30%. The firm had revenue of $1.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.53 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.14 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. Globe Life has set its FY 2026 guidance at 14.950-15.650 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Globe Life Inc. will post 13.87 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 3rd will be paid a $0.33 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 2nd. This is a positive change from Globe Lifes previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Globe Lifes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7.67%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Globe Life

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GL. Synergy Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Globe Life by 1,022.7% in the third quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 100,603 shares of the companys stock worth $14,240,000 after buying an additional 91,642 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its holdings in shares of Globe Life by 55.2% during the third quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 82,263 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,761,000 after acquiring an additional 29,256 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama purchased a new stake in shares of Globe Life in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $2,470,000. SteelPeak Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Globe Life in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,985,000. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC acquired a new position in Globe Life in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,364,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.61% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on GL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Globe Life from $180.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Globe Life from $158.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $167.00 price objective on shares of Globe Life in a report on Friday, November 21st. TD Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Globe Life in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Globe Life from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $171.33.

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About Globe Life

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Globe Life, traded on the NYSE under the symbol GL, is a U.S.-based insurance holding company that underwrites and distributes a range of life and supplemental health insurance products. Through its subsidiary brandsGlobe Life, American Income Life, Liberty National Life, United American Insurance Company and Family Heritage Lifeit offers term life, whole life, fixed annuities and supplemental health coverage designed to meet the needs of individuals and families across various socioeconomic segments.

The companys product suite includes low-cost, easy-to-understand life insurance policies, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, hospital indemnity plans and specified disease insurance.

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Goldman Sachs BDC (NYSE:GSBD  Get Free Report) had its price objective reduced by research analysts at Truist Financial from $11.00 to $10.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. Truist Financials price objective indicates a potential upside of 8.93% from the stocks previous close.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Goldman Sachs BDC from $9.00 to $8.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of Goldman Sachs BDC in a research report on Monday, December 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Goldman Sachs BDC in a research report on Monday, December 15th. They set a neutral rating and a $10.50 price target on the stock. Lucid Cap Mkts upgraded Goldman Sachs BDC to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Goldman Sachs BDC from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average price target of $9.50.

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Goldman Sachs BDC Stock Performance

GSBD traded up $0.01 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $9.18. 163,829 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,525,317. Goldman Sachs BDC has a one year low of $8.81 and a one year high of $12.60. The stocks fifty day moving average is $9.30 and its 200 day moving average is $9.96. The company has a quick ratio of 1.81, a current ratio of 1.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The firm has a market cap of $1.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.83 and a beta of 0.62.

Goldman Sachs BDC (NYSE:GSBD  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.01. Goldman Sachs BDC had a net margin of 32.62% and a return on equity of 12.06%. The business had revenue of $38.79 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $87.18 million. As a group, equities analysts predict that Goldman Sachs BDC will post 2.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Goldman Sachs BDC

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. MTM Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. ORG Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Goldman Sachs BDC in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. CWM LLC lifted its stake in Goldman Sachs BDC by 187.8% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,864 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 3,174 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new position in Goldman Sachs BDC in the 3rd quarter valued at $51,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC during the 2nd quarter valued at $62,000. 28.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Goldman Sachs BDC Company Profile

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Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc (NYSE: GSBD) is an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company organized as a business development company (BDC) under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940. The companys primary objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments in U.S. middle-market companies. It principally invests in senior secured loans, mezzanine debt, preferred equity and, to a lesser extent, common equity, focusing on sponsor-backed transactions and special-situation financings.

The fund is advised by affiliates of Goldman Sachs Asset Managements Private Credit Group, leveraging the firms global research capabilities and risk management infrastructure.

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Shares of Nihon Kohden Corporation (OTCMKTS:NHNKY  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $11.29, but opened at $10.52. Nihon Kohden shares last traded at $12.0050, with a volume of 6,853 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, UBS Group raised shares of Nihon Kohden from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Nihon Kohden currently has an average rating of Strong Buy.

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Nihon Kohden Trading Down 2.0%

The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $11.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.33. The company has a market capitalization of $1.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.78 and a beta of 0.39.

Nihon Kohden (OTCMKTS:NHNKY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Nihon Kohden had a net margin of 5.32% and a return on equity of 7.25%. The business had revenue of $362.86 million during the quarter.

Nihon Kohden Company Profile

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Nihon Kohden Corporation is a Tokyo-based manufacturer of medical electronic equipment, founded in 1951. The company has built a reputation for innovation in patient monitoring and diagnostic systems, developing one of Japans earliest electrocardiogram (ECG) machines and pioneering transistor-based oscilloscopes for clinical use. Over the decades, Nihon Kohden has expanded its product portfolio to address a wide range of healthcare needs, from emergency response to intensive care and neurology.

The companys core offerings include patient monitors, ECG and electroencephalograph (EEG) devices, defibrillators, infusion pumps, and neuromonitoring systems.

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Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NQP  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.078 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 7.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th.

Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance

NQP traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $12.00. The companys stock had a trading volume of 64,677 shares, compared to its average volume of 138,218. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $11.98 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.86. Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund has a twelve month low of $10.65 and a twelve month high of $12.23.

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Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile

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Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NQP) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of current income exempt from federal and Pennsylvania state income taxes. Launched in the early 1980s, the Fund primarily invests in investment-grade municipal securities issued by state and local government entities within Pennsylvania, targeting bonds that finance public infrastructure, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and utility projects.

Under its 80% asset policy, the Fund allocates the majority of its portfolio to bonds rated BBB or higher, emphasizing general obligation and revenue-secured municipal debt.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management grew its stake in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR  Free Report) by 7.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 243,062 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 17,400 shares during the quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in KKR & Co. Inc. were worth $31,586,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. ESL Trust Services LLC bought a new stake in KKR & Co. Inc. during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. GGM Financials LLC purchased a new position in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new stake in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in KKR & Co. Inc. by 2,150.0% in the third quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 225 shares of the asset managers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the period. Finally, Pineridge Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in KKR & Co. Inc. in the second quarter worth $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.26% of the companys stock.

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Trending Headlines about KKR & Co. Inc.

Here are the key news stories impacting KKR & Co. Inc. this week:

Positive Sentiment: RBC Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and a $137 target, signaling confidence in KKRs ability to hit medium- to long-term targets and providing a potential support level for the stock. RBC Initiates Coverage

RBC Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and a $137 target, signaling confidence in KKRs ability to hit medium- to long-term targets and providing a potential support level for the stock. Neutral Sentiment: KKR CFO Henry McVey appeared on CNBCs Closing Bell Overtime discussing geopolitical tensions and market anxiety; management commentary can reassure investors but didnt provide material new guidance. McVey Interview

KKR CFO Henry McVey appeared on CNBCs Closing Bell Overtime discussing geopolitical tensions and market anxiety; management commentary can reassure investors but didnt provide material new guidance. Neutral Sentiment: Barclays trimmed its price target from $136 to $127 but kept an Overweight rating  a modest downgrade of near-term upside while preserving a constructive view. That reduces some upside expectations but maintains analyst support. Barclays Price Target Change

Barclays trimmed its price target from $136 to $127 but kept an Overweight rating  a modest downgrade of near-term upside while preserving a constructive view. That reduces some upside expectations but maintains analyst support. Neutral Sentiment: News about AccelKKRs majority investment in Whip Around is a sector-level private-equity deal (AccelKKR is a separate firm), so it has limited direct impact on KKRs fundamentals. Accel-KKR Investment

News about AccelKKRs majority investment in Whip Around is a sector-level private-equity deal (AccelKKR is a separate firm), so it has limited direct impact on KKRs fundamentals. Neutral Sentiment: Coverage on FS KKR Capital (a separate credit vehicle with KKR branding) highlights attractive valuations for that listed credit vehicle; its relevant to sentiment around KKR-brand assets but doesnt directly change KKR Inc.s earnings. FS KKR Capital Article

Coverage on FS KKR Capital (a separate credit vehicle with KKR branding) highlights attractive valuations for that listed credit vehicle; its relevant to sentiment around KKR-brand assets but doesnt directly change KKR Inc.s earnings. Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP announced an investigation into claims on behalf of KKR investors  potential litigation or regulatory attention increases uncertainty and downside risk for the stock. Pomerantz Investigation

Pomerantz LLP announced an investigation into claims on behalf of KKR investors  potential litigation or regulatory attention increases uncertainty and downside risk for the stock. Negative Sentiment: Market pressure has pushed KKR toward a fresh 52week low, a technical negative that can trigger stop-orders and discourage short-term buyers until sentiment stabilizes. 52-Week Low Report

KKR & Co. Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of KKR stock opened at $90.45 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $80.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 2.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.09 and a current ratio of 0.09. KKR & Co. Inc. has a one year low of $84.52 and a one year high of $153.87. The companys 50-day moving average is $115.40 and its 200 day moving average is $124.55.

KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The asset manager reported $1.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.14 by ($0.02). KKR & Co. Inc. had a return on equity of 5.77% and a net margin of 11.97%.The firm had revenue of $5.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.23 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.32 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 76.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that KKR & Co. Inc. will post 5.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

KKR & Co. Inc. Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a $0.185 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $0.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. KKR & Co. Inc.s dividend payout ratio is 31.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

KKR has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen raised KKR & Co. Inc. from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, January 25th. TD Cowen lowered shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $146.00 to $131.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $190.00 to $187.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $136.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Finally, UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $168.00 to $125.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $151.80.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on KKR & Co. Inc.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other KKR & Co. Inc. news, Director Matt Cohler bought 43,872 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $102.90 per share, for a total transaction of $4,514,428.80. Following the purchase, the director owned 45,477 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,679,583.30. This trade represents a 2,733.46% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Joseph Y. Bae bought 125,000 shares of KKR & Co. Inc. stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $102.19 per share, with a total value of $12,773,750.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer owned 509,257 shares in the company, valued at approximately $52,040,972.83. This represents a 32.53% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have acquired 343,872 shares of company stock valued at $35,367,179. 39.34% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

KKR & Co. Inc. Company Profile

(Free Report)

KKR & Co Inc is a global investment firm headquartered in New York City that specializes in private markets and alternative asset management. Founded in 1976 by Jerome Kohlberg Jr., Henry Kravis and George R. Roberts, the firm built its reputation in leveraged buyouts and has since expanded into a multi-strategy asset manager. KKR operates across private equity, credit, real assets (including real estate and infrastructure), growth equity and hedge fund strategies, offering a range of investment products and strategies for institutional and private investors.

KKR manages capital through traditional closed-end funds as well as customized vehicles such as separate accounts, co-investments, and listed investment vehicles.

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iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (NYSEARCA:SUSA  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 17,339 shares, a decline of 24.1% from the January 29th total of 22,857 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 42,283 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 42,283 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of SUSA stock traded up $0.66 on Wednesday, reaching $139.14. The company had a trading volume of 54,707 shares, compared to its average volume of 80,703. The businesss 50-day moving average is $140.72 and its 200 day moving average is $137.72. iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF has a one year low of $99.48 and a one year high of $143.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.70 billion, a PE ratio of -249.49 and a beta of 1.05.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SUSA. AGF Management Ltd. increased its position in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 4,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $621,000 after buying an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its stake in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 8.6% in the second quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 16,369 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,075,000 after acquiring an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Midwest Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $906,000. Finally, Savant Capital LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 92.2% during the second quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 3,735 shares of the companys stock worth $473,000 after purchasing an additional 1,792 shares during the period.

iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Extended ESG Select index. The fund tracks an index of US companies with high environmental, social and governance (ESG) factor scores as calculated by MSCI. SUSA was launched on Jan 24, 2005 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas decreased its holdings in Fidelity Quality Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:FQAL  Free Report) by 41.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 135,375 shares of the companys stock after selling 97,787 shares during the period. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in Fidelity Quality Factor ETF were worth $10,115,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in FQAL. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Fidelity Quality Factor ETF by 5.9% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 11,083 shares of the companys stock valued at $711,000 after buying an additional 621 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp lifted its position in shares of Fidelity Quality Factor ETF by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 6,606 shares of the companys stock valued at $460,000 after acquiring an additional 373 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Fidelity Quality Factor ETF by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 3,764 shares of the companys stock valued at $262,000 after acquiring an additional 214 shares during the period. Stone House Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Fidelity Quality Factor ETF by 469.0% during the 2nd quarter. Stone House Investment Management LLC now owns 6,726 shares of the companys stock worth $468,000 after purchasing an additional 5,544 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP increased its position in shares of Fidelity Quality Factor ETF by 0.4% in the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 38,316 shares of the companys stock worth $2,668,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares during the period.

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Fidelity Quality Factor ETF Stock Down 1.0%

FQAL opened at $76.35 on Wednesday. Fidelity Quality Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $56.05 and a twelve month high of $77.58. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $76.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $75.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.46 and a beta of 0.97.

Fidelity Quality Factor ETF Profile

The Fidelity Quality Factor ETF (FQAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Fidelity U.S. Quality Factor index. The fund tracks an index of fundamentally- selected large and mid- cap US companies that are weighted according to a tiered scheme. FQAL was launched on Sep 12, 2016 and is managed by Fidelity.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas lowered its position in Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 39.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 161,846 shares of the companys stock after selling 106,724 shares during the quarter. Procter & Gamble accounts for approximately 2.2% of Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest position. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $24,868,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC bought a new position in Procter & Gamble in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Corundum Trust Company INC bought a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the third quarter worth $32,000. Caitlin John LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the third quarter valued at $34,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the third quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Procter & Gamble in the 3rd quarter worth about $40,000. Institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

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Procter & Gamble Stock Down 2.3%

Procter & Gamble stock opened at $159.68 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The firm has a market cap of $371.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.66, a P/E/G ratio of 5.46 and a beta of 0.37. The business has a fifty day moving average of $151.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $151.16. Procter & Gamble Company has a twelve month low of $137.62 and a twelve month high of $179.99.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.02. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.21% and a net margin of 19.30%.The firm had revenue of $22.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.36 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.88 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.090 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd were given a dividend of $1.0568 per share. This represents a $4.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 23rd. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is presently 62.67%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Rothschild & Co Redburn upped their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $155.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. TD Cowen lowered Procter & Gamble from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their price target for the company from $150.00 to $156.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $179.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on Procter & Gamble from $176.00 to $171.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on Procter & Gamble from $161.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $168.33.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Procter & Gamble

Key Headlines Impacting Procter & Gamble

Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week:

Positive Sentiment: Management announced a large shareholderreturn program (~$10 billion) that supports income investors and signals strong cash generation  a clear structural positive for the dividendoriented stock. Read More.

Management announced a large shareholderreturn program (~$10 billion) that supports income investors and signals strong cash generation  a clear structural positive for the dividendoriented stock. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Q4 results showed an EPS beat and FY2026 EPS guidance (6.837.09) roughly in line with expectations  evidence of earnings resilience that underpins valuation. Read More.

Q4 results showed an EPS beat and FY2026 EPS guidance (6.837.09) roughly in line with expectations  evidence of earnings resilience that underpins valuation. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Management outlined a push into AIenabled product development and more automated operations (CAGNY takeaways), which could improve margins and innovation cadence over time. Read More.

Management outlined a push into AIenabled product development and more automated operations (CAGNY takeaways), which could improve margins and innovation cadence over time. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: New product and marketing moves (Gain Plus line refresh; Spruce brand mascot) support brand health but are unlikely to move the stock near term. Read More. Read More.

New product and marketing moves (Gain Plus line refresh; Spruce brand mascot) support brand health but are unlikely to move the stock near term. Read More. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains generally constructive (average Moderate Buy rating and pricetarget dispersion), supporting steady institutional demand but not an immediate catalyst. Read More.

Analyst coverage remains generally constructive (average Moderate Buy rating and pricetarget dispersion), supporting steady institutional demand but not an immediate catalyst. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 5,549 shares (~$917k) in late February, cutting her stake by ~84%  a highprofile sale that media tied directly to todays weakness and can trigger shortterm selling pressure or investor concern. Read More.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 5,549 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.29, for a total value of $917,194.21. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 1,029 shares of the companys stock, valued at $170,083.41. The trade was a 84.36% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Chairman Jon R. Moeller sold 162,232 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.45, for a total transaction of $26,354,588.40. Following the sale, the chairman directly owned 319,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at $51,884,093.25. The trade was a 33.68% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 348,618 shares of company stock worth $55,462,643. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

About Procter & Gamble

(Free Report)

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide.

P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care.

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Terex Corporation (NYSE:TEX  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, February 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of 0.17 per share by the industrial products company on Thursday, March 19th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th.

Terex has raised its dividend by an average of 0.4%annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 5 years. Terex has a payout ratio of 12.2% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Terex to earn $5.78 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.68 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 11.8%.

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Terex Trading Down 4.3%

Shares of TEX stock opened at $66.43 on Wednesday. Terex has a fifty-two week low of $31.53 and a fifty-two week high of $71.50. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $61.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $54.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a current ratio of 2.30.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Terex ( NYSE:TEX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The industrial products company reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.12. Terex had a net margin of 4.08% and a return on equity of 16.51%. The company had revenue of $1.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.30 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.77 EPS. The firms revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Terex has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.500-5.00 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Terex will post 4.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on TEX shares. Robert W. Baird set a $100.00 price target on Terex in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Terex from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Sunday, December 21st. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of Terex in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Terex from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of Terex from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Terex presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $69.00.

View Our Latest Report on Terex

Terex Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Terex Corporation is a global manufacturer of lifting and material-handling plant and equipment, serving a range of industries that includes construction, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and shipping logistics. Its product portfolio encompasses aerial work platforms, rough terrain and tower cranes, port and cargo handling equipment, material processing machinery and utility products. These offerings are marketed under well-known brands such as Genie, Terex AWP, Terex Cranes, Demag, and Powerscreen, and are designed to meet diverse application requirements from building sites to industrial facilities and ports.

Headquartered in Westport, Connecticut, Terex traces its roots back to 1933 and has grown through strategic acquisitions and organic expansion.

Further Reading

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VerticalScope (TSE:FORA  Get Free Report) had its target price reduced by stock analysts at Raymond James Financial from C$7.50 to C$5.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Raymond James Financials price target would indicate a potential upside of 59.24% from the stocks previous close.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. National Bank Financial dropped their price objective on shares of VerticalScope from C$5.50 to C$4.50 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce boosted their price objective on VerticalScope from C$4.00 to C$4.50 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, VerticalScope presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$7.63.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on VerticalScope

VerticalScope Stock Performance

Shares of FORA stock traded up C$0.34 on Wednesday, hitting C$3.14. 39,150 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,095. The companys fifty day moving average is C$2.94 and its 200 day moving average is C$3.17. VerticalScope has a 1-year low of C$2.40 and a 1-year high of C$12.33. The company has a market capitalization of C$67.54 million, a PE ratio of -13.08 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 59.23, a current ratio of 2.27 and a quick ratio of 0.79.

VerticalScope (TSE:FORA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported C($0.22) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$20.22 million during the quarter. VerticalScope had a negative return on equity of 6.62% and a negative net margin of 8.44%. On average, equities research analysts predict that VerticalScope will post 0.3740942 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About VerticalScope

(Get Free Report)

VerticalScope Holdings Inc is a technology company that operates a cloud-based digital community platform comprising hyper-focused apps, forums, marketplaces, editorial, and e-commerce rating and brand review websites.

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Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF (NYSEARCA:ASHR  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 10,786,107 shares, a drop of 15.5% from the January 29th total of 12,771,367 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 7,452,991 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. Approximately 20.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 20.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 7,452,991 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD bought a new stake in shares of Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $315,000. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd acquired a new position in Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $400,000. Quantitative Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $612,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF by 4,802.9% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 28,486 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $936,000 after buying an additional 27,905 shares during the period. Finally, Financial & Tax Architects LLC bought a new stake in shares of Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF during the third quarter worth approximately $1,098,000.

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Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF Price Performance

Shares of ASHR traded up $0.25 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $33.31. The stock had a trading volume of 3,473,458 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,344,693. The company has a market capitalization of $1.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.62 and a beta of 0.27. The firms 50 day moving average price is $33.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.84. Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF has a 52 week low of $23.26 and a 52 week high of $34.59.

About Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF

The Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF (ASHR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the China Shenzhen SE \u002F CSI 300 index. The fund tracks an index of the 300 largest and most liquid Chinese shares traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges. The fund holds physical China A-shares. ASHR was launched on Nov 6, 2013 and is managed by Xtrackers.

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The incompetent Labour government, which is more concerned with woke censorship of free speech, transgender issues, increasing welfare spending exponentially, 5-star asylum hotels, and bankrupting Britain with extortionate energy costs, is pleading with World War III to not get too far ahead of itself. Currently, the Greek and French navies have deployed ships to protect the British base in Cyprus, which is vulnerable to attack from Iran. The Royal Navy is nowhere to be seen.

We still have to build more wind farms and solar panels over the green fields of England so that we can meet our Net Zero EU quotas, so that Britain has little or no energy, and so that during World War III Britain will be vulnerable to attack from its many enemies.

Instead of drilling in the North Sea, where there are literally trillions of gallons of oil and gas, we want to cripple Britain. Leaving the country defenceless and killing off the already weak economy is a Labour Party priority, Keir Starmer told Parliament today to great cheers from the Labour benches.

With only one ship operational, the RAF without much of its crucial equipment, and the land army at its lowest recruitment levels in the history of the British Army, it seems that unless there is an immediate change in government, Britain will no longer exist soon.
AustralianSuper Pty Ltd bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 52,375 shares of the specialty retailers stock, valued at approximately $10,237,000.

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Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 111.8% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 144 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 130.8% during the second quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 180 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 66.7% in the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 220 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 57.2% during the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 228 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the third quarter worth approximately $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group set a $175.00 price target on Williams-Sonoma and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Telsey Advisory Group decreased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $225.00 to $220.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $190.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Evercore set a $215.00 price objective on Williams-Sonoma in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $202.00 to $188.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $202.11.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of Williams-Sonoma stock opened at $199.16 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $23.78 billion, a PE ratio of 21.91, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $204.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $195.85. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $130.07 and a one year high of $222.00.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 16th were issued a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 16th. Williams-Sonomas payout ratio is currently 29.04%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Laura Alber sold 35,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.39, for a total value of $7,258,650.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 806,537 shares in the company, valued at $167,267,708.43. This trade represents a 4.16% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Karalyn Yearout sold 767 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.16, for a total transaction of $157,357.72. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 13,236 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,715,497.76. This represents a 5.48% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

About Williams-Sonoma

(Free Report)

WilliamsSonoma, Inc is a specialty retailer focused on the home and culinary markets, best known for premium cookware, kitchen tools and home furnishings. The company traces its roots to a single cookware store founded by Chuck Williams in 1956 in Sonoma, California, and has evolved into a multibrand home furnishings and housewares business. Its merchandise mix spans cookware and kitchen electrics, tabletop and food prep items, furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative accessories designed for both everyday use and higherend interiors.

The company operates a portfolio of consumer brands that target distinct segments of the home market.

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Choreo LLC acquired a new position in shares of Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 29,054 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock, valued at approximately $726,000.

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A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Amitell Capital Pte Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Olin during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,867,000. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in Olin by 19.0% during the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 13,906 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $348,000 after purchasing an additional 2,218 shares in the last quarter. O Brien Greene & Co. Inc acquired a new stake in Olin in the third quarter valued at $1,489,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in shares of Olin by 12.5% in the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 137,065 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $3,425,000 after buying an additional 15,237 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AMG National Trust Bank purchased a new position in shares of Olin in the third quarter valued at $1,819,000. 88.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on OLN shares. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Olin from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Olin from $24.00 to $21.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Olin from $23.00 to $20.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on Olin from $24.00 to $21.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, UBS Group set a $21.00 target price on Olin in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $23.20.

Olin Trading Down 4.3%

Shares of Olin stock opened at $24.33 on Wednesday. Olin Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $17.66 and a fifty-two week high of $27.35. The businesss fifty day moving average is $23.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $22.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45. The firm has a market cap of $2.76 billion, a PE ratio of -64.03 and a beta of 1.56.

Olin (NYSE:OLN  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.58) EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($0.58). Olin had a negative return on equity of 0.48% and a negative net margin of 0.63%.The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.61 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.09 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Olin Corporation will post 1.38 earnings per share for the current year.

Olin Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Olins dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -210.53%.

Insider Activity at Olin

In related news, VP Angela M. Castle sold 2,379 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.25, for a total transaction of $57,690.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 1,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,054. This represents a 60.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP R Nichole Sumner sold 4,750 shares of Olin stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.49, for a total transaction of $106,827.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 24,771 shares in the company, valued at approximately $557,099.79. This trade represents a 16.09% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders sold 99,379 shares of company stock worth $2,238,298. 1.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Olin

(Free Report)

Olin Corporation is a diversified manufacturer specializing in chemical products and ammunition. The companys core business activities encompass the production and distribution of chlor-alkali products, epoxy resins and derivatives, and small-caliber ammunition under the Winchester brand. Olins chemical operations supply chlorine, caustic soda and related co-products to a wide range of end markets, including water treatment, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals and general industrial applications.

In its Chlor Alkali Products & Vinyls segment, Olin operates multiple manufacturing facilities that produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide, along with vinyl chloride monomer and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds.

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Fisher Asset Management LLC reduced its position in Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP  Free Report) by 3.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,706,123 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 54,418 shares during the quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC owned 1.72% of Helmerich & Payne worth $37,688,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. New York State Teachers Retirement System lifted its position in Helmerich & Payne by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 99,710 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,203,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Helmerich & Payne by 1.4% during the third quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 29,418 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $650,000 after acquiring an additional 416 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Helmerich & Payne by 21.3% in the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,487 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 437 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Helmerich & Payne by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 28,813 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $636,000 after acquiring an additional 475 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in shares of Helmerich & Payne by 46.5% in the 3rd quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,745 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 554 shares in the last quarter. 96.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Helmerich & Payne

In other Helmerich & Payne news, Director Hans Helmerich sold 75,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.12, for a total value of $2,109,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 496,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,968,188.20. This represents a 13.12% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 4.40% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on HP. Susquehanna reiterated a positive rating and issued a $40.00 target price on shares of Helmerich & Payne in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an underweight rating and set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Helmerich & Payne in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup boosted their target price on Helmerich & Payne from $33.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Evercore set a $37.00 target price on Helmerich & Payne in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Helmerich & Payne from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $24.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.20.

Read Our Latest Analysis on HP

Helmerich & Payne Stock Down 3.2%

NYSE HP opened at $33.97 on Wednesday. Helmerich & Payne, Inc. has a 1 year low of $14.65 and a 1 year high of $36.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.39 billion, a PE ratio of -10.65 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 2.03 and a quick ratio of 1.58. The businesss 50-day moving average is $32.68 and its 200 day moving average is $27.28.

Helmerich & Payne (NYSE:HP  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.15) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.12 by ($0.27). Helmerich & Payne had a positive return on equity of 0.28% and a negative net margin of 7.71%.The business had revenue of $1.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $990.16 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.71 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 50.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Helmerich & Payne, Inc. will post 2.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Helmerich & Payne Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th were issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 13th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. Helmerich & Paynes payout ratio is -31.35%.

Helmerich & Payne Profile

(Free Report)

Helmerich & Payne, Inc is a leading provider of contract drilling services to the oil and gas industry, specializing primarily in onshore drilling operations. The company designs, engineers and operates a fleet of advanced drilling rigs, including its proprietary FlexRigs, which are engineered for high efficiency, safety and rapid mobilization. Alongside core drilling services, Helmerich & Payne offers well intervention, workover and coiled tubing services, positioning itself as a comprehensive drilling solutions partner for exploration and production companies worldwide.

Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Helmerich & Payne has grown through innovation and strategic expansion to serve diverse hydrocarbon basins.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP  Free Report).

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Iran's FM accuses Trump of betraying diplomacy with strikes during talks

Xinhua) 19:33, March 04, 2026

TEHRAN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of betraying both diplomacy and the American people by bombing the negotiating table amid nuclear talks.

"When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction, and when big lies cloud realities, unrealistic expectations can never be met," Araghchi said in a post on social media platform X.

"The outcome? Bombing the negotiation table out of spite. Mr. Trump betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him," he added.

His remarks follow joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities starting Saturday morning, leading to the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, some of his family members, top military commanders, and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the region.

The attacks came after three rounds of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, with a fourth round scheduled.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei Wednesday warned in a post on X that some European Union members are risking "being placed on the wrong side of history by appearing complicit in the U.S.-Israeli aggressions and war crimes against the Iranian nation."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liu Ning)
Two Derry businesswomen have returned from the United States after being selected to take part for a second time in a high-level St Brigids Day trade mission, in recognition of the significant commercial progress they've made since their first participation in 2025.

Lisa McLaughlin, founder of Clumh, and Mary Blake, founder of SeeMe Ltd, were among this years selected cohort for the fourth annual St Brigids Day trade mission led by AwakenHub, Irelands only all island community for women founders, and AwakenAngels, the first women led all island investment syndicate. Both founders were invited back for the strong progress they have made since their first mission and the significant potential they have to scale their ventures internationally.

The prestigious trade mission saw the women founders formally welcomed by senior leaders at Babson College, widely regarded as the worlds leading institution for entrepreneurial education, and by senior diplomatic representatives in Boston and New York. They also participated in a private roundtable lunch with former US Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin.

Now in its fourth year, the trade mission aims to help participating businesses accelerate international growth, secure US investment, and build long-term commercial links in the American market. Previous participants have received six-figure investments in as little as seven weeks following meetings organised as part of the trip.

This year, the Derry-based businesses joined others across technology, diagnostics, health, consumer brands, and professional services, with investment asks on the mission ranging from 1M to 7M.

READ NEXT: North West marks major milestone with relaunch of UNESCO Learning City Region

Speaking about her time on the mission,Lisa McLaughlin said: "This was my second US trade mission with AwakenHub and AwakenAngels, and it came at a pivotal moment for Clumh and Felture. From the Babson College welcome and roundtables to sessions on US market insight, IP strategy, and honest conversations with investors and founders, the trip helped me reflect on our R&D journey and plan the next phase of growth with confidence.

"It was also fantastic to reconnect with existing contacts and spend time with the teams at the British and Irish Consulates in Boston and New York, Invest NI The Americas, and the Bank of Ireland Hub NYC. I am also really grateful to the entire AwakenHub team for making these trips possible. Their support and energy are invaluable."

Mary Blake added: "The AwakenHub and AwakenAngels St Brigids Day Trade Mission was phenomenal. The calibre of contacts we made and the offers of support will make the path ahead much easier for my business. SeeMe has opportunities to help our diaspora connect to stories and memories that cross locations and generations. The synergy between Derry and the great cities of Boston and New York is historic, but as alive today as it ever was. We look forward to continuing this journey with investors, partners, and champions as we prepare for a US market launch later this year."

For the first time, the delegation took part in invitation-only engagements hosted by Babson College in Boston. The founders were formally welcomed by Babson President Dr Stephen Spinelli. They also met Donna Levin, CEO of the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson and founder of Care.com, during a dedicated founders roundtable.

The programme also included pitch events for curated investor audiences held in partnership with the Irish and British Consulates in Boston and New York, and supported by Invest NI, NI Bureau, Enterprise Ireland, the Government of Ireland, Emigrant Support Programme, and Digital Irish. Across the week, the women met US-based investors, legal advisers, and commercial partners, including targeted briefings and roundtables focused on scaling, regulation, and US market entry, at the Bank of Ireland NYC Hub.

The successful mission follows the recent release of figures from AwakenAngels showing that, since its creation in 2023, the Derry-headquartered syndicate has already supported eight high-growth businesses across the island of Ireland, leveraging 4.3 million in follow-through funding. Over 3,500 women are now members of the all-island AwakenHub founder community.

Upon return from their most recent trade mission, both organisations are inviting any women founders who would like to find out about the support they offer and their programmes, or anyone interested in finding out more about angel investing to support Irish women-led businesses, to get in touch by emailing hello@awakenhub.com or visiting the Contact Us page at awakenhub.com.

Speaking about the mission, Clare McGee, co-founder and CEO of AwakenHub and AwakenAngels, said: Being welcomed by Babson College, as the home of entrepreneurial education, sends a powerful signal about the calibre of women-led businesses like those led by Mary and Lisa that are emerging from across the island of Ireland. This mission has also become a key fixture for US investors in both cities who want early access to Irish innovation.

READ NEXT: Derry Couple honouring a grandfathers legacy with gluten-free stout

In recent weeks, weve once again seen volatility across markets, yet rather than pausing their ambitions, the women on our trade mission are continuing their planning around building resilient, scalable companies that can grow through uncertainty, in the markets that are important to them, like the US.

Women-led businesses across our island have repeatedly proven their commercial strength, but to get to that stage, they need access to capital and investment, expertise and know-how, international networks, and a supportive community around them. Thanks to the support of our partners and the Irish diaspora community, thats what AwakenHub and AwakenAngels give them, and thats what they find on the ground, on this mission in spades.

The 2026 AwakenHub and AwakenAngels St Brigids Day trade mission included seven women from Northern Ireland and seven from the Republic of Ireland.

Participants from Northern Ireland include: Tonya Kidd-Beggs, STORIES Parfums, Bangor, Co. Down; Claire Nixon, Adepta Partners, Knock, Belfast; Shannon Beattie, GenoME Diagnostics, Belfast (originally Annahilt, Co. Down); Rachel McMullin, FreQNC, Bangor, Co, Down; Lisa McLaughlin, Clumh, Derry and Mary Blake, SeeMe Ltd, Derry (formerly Enniskillen), Gillian Heatherington, The Mary Peters Trust, Belfast.

Participants from the Republic of Ireland include: Orla and Anna Snook OCarroll, Valentia Island Vermouth, Co. Kerry; Emma Meehan, KinetikIQ, Co. Galway; Orla Connaughton, Aztec Medical, Co. Galway; Victoria Finlay, The MenoPal, Saggart, Co. Dublin, Sinead Asple, SEA+SOLU Haircare, Co.Dublin (formerly Longford), and Janine McGinn from Atlantic Technological University, Galway.
A Derry man is creating a community where cannabis patients can come together to consume their medication in a relaxed environment.

Daryl McKinney is the founder of The Burn Pit Lounge on London Street in Derry.

He had suffered from anxiety, depression, and sleep issues, with three or four disturbances happening every week.

Daryl opened up about how it was affecting his work and daily life until he got prescribed medical cannabis.

He shared how he would find it difficult to have one-on-one conversations and had begun isolating himself.

READ NEXT: Global health leaders visit Derry as Ulster University celebrates prestigious Golisano Award

"The positive change in my life has been incredible. I think I've had one instance with sleep disturbances in two years, where before I was not able to sleep and was waking up," Daryl explained.

After noticing the impact it had on his life, Daryl said he knew he "had to do something" to help others.

That's when the Burn Pit Lounge came about.

Daryl runs the Lounge in a small space on London Street in Derry while also working his day job.

He opens it three days during the week from roughly 4pm to 6pm, and on Saturdays from 11am until around 5pm.

Inside, medical cannabis patients can avail of tea, coffee, cold drinks and snacks while consuming their medication and forming connections.

The Lounge has been open for almost a year now, and Daryl says locals have been very receptive to it.

"People that are new to it will be a bit standoffish at first, and then slowly they become a friend. There is a community growing around it," he said.

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At the moment, there are about 20 members who pay a small monthly or annual fee that helps "keep the place running."

It's also open to members of the public who want to learn more about medical cannabis, but to consume medication there, the fee must be paid.

The members have prescriptions for a range of different illnesses, with some of them suffering from chronic pain.

Daryl explained how people had been taking up to 50 tablets a day to manage the pain, but since being prescribed medical cannabis, they are only taking one.

The group is currently working together to make a change to how medical cannabis is being prescribed, with one of its main issues being the price.

"Private medication is too expensive, so people are being driven to drink. I have had two occasions where people come in and say, 'I'm sorry, my breath smells of drink. I can't afford my medication this month, so I'm drinking, even though I hate it.'

"I'd be very emotional after that. It's difficult to see people struggle when there seems to be such a simple solution, but it's illegal," Daryl shared.

Daryl and other members of the Burn Pit Lounge have been invited to the Health Committee this summer to discuss this issue.

It wants to highlight how, because the medication prescription is so expensive, people are being driven to alcohol and drugs; a problem Daryl feels is prominent in the town at the moment.

"It can be a bit scarring to walk down the town and see every bar full and then see from the depot to Quayside, there's like five or six patches of sick," he explained.

The group also wants to highlight how, if you have a medical cannabis prescription in the Republic of Ireland, you can travel with it to the North, but if you have a prescription in the North, you cannot travel South with it.

The Burn Pit Lounge members want cannabis to be viewed similarly to how they view it, as an aid, rather than a drug.

READ NEXT: Limavady Youths enjoy trip of a lifetime to Premier League team Wolves

"I've seen far more harm from drinking and drugs. Cannabis is a drug, yes, but I view it more as a tool where, like knife crime, it's originally used for chopping vegetables, but you can also hurt people with it. It has good and bad," Daryl explained.

His motto is "whatever works for you, works for you," and that is whether it's traditional medicine or medical cannabis.

In terms of the future of the Lounge, Daryl hopes to continue to drive change, first through the Health Committee meeting in the Summer, and long-term, he hopes recreational cannabis will be legal.

"I hope to see people with a medical prescription being able to either grow their own or, as part of a medical social group, grow their own collectively. I am in the lane I'm in now with medical, but I am open to it in all forms," he said.

If you are interested in what Daryl is doing, you can find out more information by searching 'The Burn Pit Lounge' on Facebook or TikTok.
A police officer involved in the search for Noah Donohoe in 2020 has said there was nothing to suggest the schoolboy had gone into a water tunnel where his body was later found.

Sergeant Hutchings, was the lead Polsa (police search adviser) in the search for Noah, told an inquest he did, however, believe the teenager was still in the area close to where he had last been seen in north Belfast.

The inquest into the death of the schoolboy at Belfast Coroners Court, which is being heard with a jury, is now in its sixth week.

Noah, a pupil at St Malachys College, was 14 when his naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after he left home on his bike to meet two friends in the Cavehill area of the city.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning.

Counsel for the coroner Declan Quinn resumed his questioning of Sergeant Hutchings on Wednesday morning.

The barrister asked the witness about when he became aware of a culvert entrance in Northwood Linear Park and how the decision was made to search the tunnel network.

The officer had told the jury on Monday that he had spotted the culvert and decided it needed to be searched because the entrance to it could be opened.

The barrister read to Mr Hutchings evidence given previously to the inquest by Sean McCarry from Community Rescue Service (CRS).

Mr McCarrys evidence said that from five minutes of arriving at the park on the Monday night, the day after Noah disappeared, he was aware of the culvert as a potential ingress point for Noah.

Mr McCarrys evidence said that he had phoned Mr Hutchings to tell him about the culvert when he was off duty on Monday night.

Mr Quinn said: The upshot of all of that, Sergeant Hutchings, is that Mr McCarry has given evidence to the jury that not only did he inform the Polsa of the culvert on the Monday evening, but he informed you particularly, what do you say about that?

The officer said he remembered getting the call and being told about Noahs bike being found and a stream in the area.

He said he told Mr McCarry that if any search needed to be done he should contact the officer on duty.

Mr Hutchings said he was not aware that members of CRS had entered the culvert on Monday.

He said he had not been expecting to see such a large culvert when he arrived at the park on Tuesday morning.

He said: When I got there I walked down the side of the house. Thats when I saw the culvert and the big drain.

Mr Hutchings was asked if he would have organised an earlier search of the culvert, had he been aware of it on Monday.

He said: I would have started the ball rolling.

The officer said that on the Wednesday morning there were a number of areas being searched for Noah, including the storm drain tunnels.

He said: The storm drain or the culvert, was a very low probability, I did not believe he was in there.

There was nothing to suggest that Noah was inside that pipe.

He said the search had to be done so he could be 100% sure Noah was not in the tunnel.

He said he still believed Noah was in the area, where he had last been seen on the Sunday evening.

He said: He had to be still somewhere within that area, the number of houses there, somebody had to have seen him and nobody was coming forward to say that they had seen him run, a naked child had run past their window.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the Stormont Executive has to put some money in to support community groups impacted by the switch to the Local Growth Fund.

The chairwoman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, said the voluntary sector had been left in an intolerable position, adding that its not right that the Government is doing this.

In 2023, EU funding to charities and community groups in Northern Ireland from its European Social Fund (ESF) was ended because of Brexit.

It was replaced by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which will in turn be replaced by the Local Growth Fund next year.

That new fund has a 70/30 capital-to-revenue split, resulting in funding cuts to the voluntary and community sector, prompting the Executive to write to UK Communities Secretary Steve Reed calling for a more favourable resource allocation.

The letter stated that the much-reduced quantum of the Local Growth Fund will have a significant and detrimental impact on achieving local growth, and the capital/revenue split of this fund makes matters much worse.

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) had criticised the lack of clarity and warned that nearly 24,000 people face losing access to support.

On Wednesday, Ms Antoniazzi said community groups dont need buildings, they need to be employing people.

She said: Those other routes that have been suggested arent going to provide that stability of being able to keep people employed and delivering those services.

She added: I find it absolutely unbelievable that we cant move back from it.

Ms Antoniazzi continued: Sorry to get so passionate about it, but youve met these people, youve met these people. Its not right that the Government is doing this.

What can we do? And what can you do as Secretary of State and minister for Northern Ireland?

Its intolerable, is all I can say and I just hope that you can push the right buttons to make this change, because I dont see how else in the short period of time that these charities and third sector people have got, we can turn it around otherwise.

Northern Ireland minister Matthew Patrick said he and Mr Benn were asking what role we can play in helping charitable bodies, but highlighted the responsibility for the Executive, who had been given a record settlement to allow those decisions to be made about what should be funded.

UUP MP Robin Swann said voluntary organisations would rather have a revenue stream than a capital stream and thats where the 70/30 split is really damaging.

Mr Benn said: Weve got a problem and the question is, what are we going to do about the problem?

I must be frank with the committee, that 70/30 split is not going to change and as you would expect, as ministers representing the interests of Northern Ireland, we have done our job.

He then told the committee that the funding for the Local Growth Fund came from the spending review. Across the UK, that funding was put into a scheme called Pride of Place, but, Mr Benn said in Northern Ireland, we want to be able to spend the money in a different way.

We then had to discuss with the Executive of the resource that is available, how would you like it to be divvied up?, he said.

He told the committee some of this funding was put into other Executive programmes.

So we listened to what the Executive had to say about how to split the money that is available, but we remain with a problem,  he said.

And in the end, it doesnt really matter where funding comes from, if were all agreed that the continuation of these programmes is important there is a means of doing that.

Mr Benn then identified unspent money in EU programme Peace Plus and added: Its perfectly fair and reasonable to point out, if the Executive is concerned about this, and the Executive has raised the issue with us, youve got the extra money that we gave yesterday, which you were not expecting, that you could put some of that to help these programmes to continue.

Ms Antoniazzi said its unbelievable that the Government didnt see this coming.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Mr Benn was totally disingenuous to suggest the Executive which is already overstretched can fill the gap in the Local Growth Fund after the Government chose to completely strip vital community services of money that previously had been made available.

Mr Benn replied: I dont think its disingenuous to say the decision has been taken over here because its a different fund and theres a different split, but we can continue to spend time back and forth saying, isnt it awful, and its truly awful for the voluntary sector organisations involved.

The question is, what are we going to do about it now?

And the fact remains that it is open if the Executive thinks that these programmes are really important, and they clearly do, because of the representations were having, it is open to the Executive to put some money in alongside the money that the Government is putting in.

Mr Robinson later said there would be truly awful consequences for community services as a direct result of choices made by you and your Government, to which the Northern Ireland Secretary replied: It would be the Executives choice, its not just down to the Government.
The needs of victims of historical sexual abuse in Northern Ireland are only going to increase as survivors age, MLAs have been told.

Fiona Ryan, the commissioner for survivors of institutional childhood abuse, expressed survivors concerns about being placed in the care of the state as they grow older, and warned the intergenerational aspect of abuse hasnt even been looked at.

In 2017, the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI) revealed sexual, physical and emotional abuse in religious and secular institutions from 1922 to 1995.

Sir Anthony Hart, who chaired the inquiry which revealed shocking levels of abuse in that period, recommended a permanent memorial, compensation and an official apology to the victims.

Ms Ryan appeared before the Executive Office Committee at Stormont on Wednesday to discuss a report her office compiled which included input from more than 100 victims and survivors.

Chronic physical and mental health conditions are widespread. Victims and survivors tell us that almost every facet of their lives has been affected, she said.

We also know theres an increased risk of further retraumatisation for survivors as adults from domestic and sexual abuse.

Victims and survivors are highly reliant on general health supports, especially GPs, yet at the same time, theyve told us theyre often reluctant to seek medical help.

Ms Ryan highlighted that the report makes reference to the often neglected dimension of the impacts of abuse and intergenerational trauma, which is known to exist but is very under-researched, especially in the Northern Ireland context.

I would offer that our findings demonstrate that survivor support needs are only going to increase as survivors age, and that survivors will need general and specialist supports throughout the course of their lives, she said.

Ms Ryan later added: Id like to highlight for you the fact that survivors are telling us that they have real concerns about going into residential care as they age and these are very, very real.

You can imagine, youve had such negative experiences of being institutionalised as a child, what that will mean for you going forward as an older person.

But also I think theres a whole aspect that hasnt even been looked at around transgenerational trauma and the impact on survivors, their families, their relationships.

Several committee members including Sinn Fein MLA for North Belfast, Caral Ni Chuilin, and TUV MLA for North Antrim, Timothy Gaston, both raised the prospect of a prevalence survey to gain a better understanding of how widespread abuse was.

Ms Ni Chuilin said that the current understanding of the level of abuse could be just the tip of the iceberg.

In nationalist and republican communities, very often no one contacted any authorities when anything happened because of their own suspicions or because it may have been used against them in a sinister way, she said.

So I know for a fact there are lots of people, I would say, maybe, over the last five years, who are probably looking for somewhere to go to try and get help.

In her reply Ms Ryan said: I feel like the answer I want to give you is so massive because what youre talking about is a structural, systemic response.

I think if we keep pursuing tactical, piecemeal solutions, were not going to actually give victims and survivors what they want and what they need.

She added: I do think that a prevalence study would be useful to have, and it is about informing the system, but that doesnt mean that we dont actually look at what services are available to survivors.

Mr Gaston said we have a lack of data, a lack of information to back up where the abuse happened.

Reiterating that she felt a prevalence study was needed, Ms Ryan said: I think whatever would allow us to get to a point where we understand more about child abuse in Northern Ireland, historical institutional child abuse, other forms of institutional child abuse, then that has to be considered and should be actively considered.
Ericsson announced at Mobile World Congress 2026 on Wednesday it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnamese operator Viettel to collaborate on autonomous network development.

Under the MoU, Ericsson and Viettel will run joint R&D activities, lab trials and validations to explore architecture, orchestration, AI-driven closedloop automation and performance optimization.

Ericsson said the partnership will focus on developing practical use cases that deliver measurable operational and customer experience improvements, including automation of network operations and RAN optimization.

The first step will be a pilot of Ericssons Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP) and Ericsson AI rApps to bring AI into the network.

The deal will also see Viettel join the EIAP ecosystem, which will give it access to the rApp directory with nearly 90 members (20 of whom are telcos) and nearly 90 available rApps.

Viettel also gets access to the dedicated Developer Portal, tools to support Viettel in its own rApp development, and a GenAI development assistant that Ericsson said will allow Viettel to craft its own rApps 50% faster.

We are partnering with Ericsson to make the Viettel network autonomous, self-managing and zero-touch to replace manual operations with AI-driven, intent-based systems, said Viettel Networks CEO Luu Manh Ha in a statement. This will enable Viettel to improve service agility, reduce costs, and support complex 5G/6G use cases.

By collaborating closely with Viettel, we are looking to advance the use of AI at scale, orchestration, and high-performance programmable networks, added Ericsson Vietnam president Rita Mokbel.
During MWC 2026, a leading European consulting company, IDATE, held the Green All-optical Network Forum 2026. During the forum, IDATE presented four major awards to 17 worlds leading operators.

The awards include:

1. Best Practice of Home Broadband Development Award

This award is set to recognize operators with excellent practices in gigabit HBB service development or 10G service innovation and commercial use. Technologies such as 10G PON were introduced for large-scale deployment of gigabit networks and lay a solid foundation for comprehensive upgrade to ultra-giga networks with 50G PON in near future. Innovative home broadband packages such as home networking were released to enrich user experience and lead the service development in local markets.

The final award is presented to Orange, China Telecom, PLDT Inc., and Algerie Telecom.

2. Ultra-Broadband Resilient Network for AI Development Award

This award is set to recognize operators with outstanding practices in all-optical network architecture, technological innovation and application, support for DCI, and networked computing & computing power utilization. The winner operators support the rapid popularization of AI applications and seize the opportunity of AI era use with the leading all-optical network. With innovations on key technologies and network architectures such as 400G/800G, 3D-Mesh architecture, all-optical switching, 100G to CO, and ASON, users can access data centers with millisecond-level latency, and requirements from AI training and inference such as ultra-high bandwidth and ultra-high reliability are met.

The final award goes to Fastweb, China Mobile, AZTELEKOM LLC, and MTN Nigeria Communication PLC.

3. AI-Oriented Business Innovation and Premium User Experience Award

This award is set to operators with excellent practices in fixed broadband user experience operations and widely recognized network quality in the market. They actively embrace AI services and continuously improve user experience to bring huge brand value enhancement and business returns. They provide bandwidth above gigabit to bring various AI services to homes and enterprises quickly. Home network such as FTTR are deployed to enable optimal network experience. In addition, service boundaries expansion becomes possible based on those network advantages, from providing connection only to integrating connection and applications.

The final award is presented to Zain Group, China Unicom, Globe Telecom Inc., and CTM Macau.

4. Leading Sustainable Network Operator Award

This award is set to commend operators that achieve sustainable network development through energy efficiency improvement and carbon emission reduction in network construction and service operations. For example, by replacing DSL or cable networks by FTTx, and upgrading legacy SDH/switch networks to OTN, the FTTH penetration is enhanced and the power consumption of telecom networks is greatly reduced. In addition, popularity of optical networks accelerates the service cloudification and digital transformation of enterprise users, indirectly saving energy and reducing emissions in more industries, supporting the sustainable development of the whole society.

The final award goes to MasOrange, Turkcell Corp, du, Lounea, and Ooredoo Qatar.

Please check the mini-site and social media posts from IDATE to learn the reasons and details about the award: https://idate.fr/green-all-optical-network-forum/
Global digital operator Veon has announced a partnership with the GSMAs Mobile for Development Foundation to co-fund digital innovation projects in Pakistan and Bangladesh that are supported by the GSMA Innovation Fund.

John Guisti, Chief Regulatory Officer of the GSMA and President of the GSMA Foundation, Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of JazzWorld, Pakistans leading integrated digital serviceco, and Johan Buse, CEO of Banglalink, a leading digital operator in Bangladesh, have launched the partnership with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Barcelona during MWC26.

Under the terms of the MoU, Veon-owned JazzWorld and Banglalink will collaborate with the GSMA Innovation Fund to co-fund Pakistani and Bangladeshi start-ups selected as grantees in the GSMA Innovation Funds 2026 funding rounds. In addition to financial support, Veon and its operating companies may also provide in-kind contributions including ecosystem visibility and capacity-building support to help selected projects scale.

John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA and President of the GSMA Foundation, says: Jazz and Banglalink, both part of Veon Group, play a leading role in shaping the digital landscape in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Collaborating with them will further enhance the support of the GSMA Innovation Fund for entrepreneurs driving positive social impact in these two countries.

The GSMA Innovation Fund identifies and supports start-ups with models that drive positive social, economic, and climate impact through mobile technology in developing countries. Projects are selected by the GSMA Foundation transparently and on a competitive basis through a rigorous evaluation process following publicly-announced funding rounds.
Cloud and carrier-neutral data centre platform Digital Realty has announced its entry into Bulgaria, establishing a new market presence in Sofia, which it describes as one of Southeast Europes most important emerging interconnection hubs.

Digital Realtys entry into the market is enabled through the acquisition of Telepoint, a leading local data centre and interconnection provider. The transaction includes two data centres in Sofia, including one of the most highly interconnected facilities in Southeast Europe, with more than 110 unique network service providers and multiple cloud on-ramp deployments.

Paula Cogan, Managing Director EMEA, Digital Realty, explains: Sofia is a thriving hub for connectivity in Southeast Europe. Bringing Bulgaria into our global portfolio allows us to offer customers even more ways to connect, collaborate and scale their businesses. This expansion strengthens and complements our interconnection platform and helps customers reach end users faster, while tapping into a market thats growing rapidly and attracting innovation.

Indeed, Sofia is a major aggregation point for regional and international connectivity. The city hosts more than 340 network points of presence and close to 200 unique networks, placing it among the leading Southeast European markets for international internet bandwidth and traffic growth, attracting new network, cloud and content deployments serving the region.

More specifically, Sofia plays a central role in the Eastern Mediterranean connectivity corridor and complements Digital Realtys presence in Athens, Heraklion, and Zagreb. New subsea cable systems landing in Greece optimise traffic flows into Southeast Europe, with Sofia acting as the primary interconnection hub for onward distribution across the region. Increasing volumes of traffic from the Middle East and Asia are routed terrestrially into Sofia, reinforcing the citys role as one of Europes strategic gateways to the Middle East.

Digital Reality adds that the acquisition strengthens PlatformDIGITAL, Digital Realtys global data centre platform, bringing a dense, neutral interconnection ecosystem to Southeast Europe and giving customers direct access to one of the regions most established interconnection communities, with seamless connectivity across Digital Realtys broader European and Mediterranean footprint.
AI-focused company SK Telecom has signed a three-party memorandum of understanding (MoU) with global server manufacturer Supermicro and global mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) leader Schneider Electric to develop a total solution for artificial intelligence data centres (AIDC).

The agreement, signed at MWC26, aims to shorten AIDC construction timelines and help alleviate supply bottlenecks by leveraging the combined expertise of the three companies.

Known for some time as South Korea's largest wireless telecommunications operator, SK Telecom says it is rapidly transforming into an AI company with a strong global presence. It is focusing on driving innovations in areas of AI infrastructure, AI transformation (AIX) and AI service

The companies say they will collaborate on a prefabricated modular model that integrates AI computing servers with supporting power and cooling infrastructure into a single pre-manufactured module, enabling AIDCs to be constructed in a building-block configuration.

Compared with the conventional steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) method, in which servers and infrastructure are installed sequentially after completion of the data centre building, the pre-fabricated modular model offers both faster deployment and improved cost efficiency.

In addition, modules can be deployed in phases as demand grows, enhancing scalability while reducing the burden of significant upfront investments and enabling flexible responses to evolving market needs.

Under the MOU, SK Telecom will contribute its AIDC operational expertise and Supermicro will provide high-performance GPU servers optimised for customer-specific AI computing scenarios. Schneider Electric will deliver MEP infrastructure design and construction capabilities to reliably support large-scale AI demand.

Schneider's involvement in the AIDC business is not a new development. In early February we reported that SoleCrypt, a developer of sustainable digital infrastructure, and SchneiderElectric had signed an MoU to study and co-develop next generation sustainable AI data centres in Tunisia.
South African operator Cell C and Odine, a technology partner driving innovation in telecom and enterprise networks, have announced the signing of a proof of concept (PoC) agreement to pioneer artificial intelligence (AI)-driven network quality enhancement technologies.

The joint initiative aims to significantly improve network quality and deliver uninterrupted connectivity across Cell Cs network.

The partners say the PoC will demonstrate that, by leveraging an AI-based solution developed by OdineLabs, the wholly owned R and D subsidiary of Odine, Cell C will be able to enhance connection continuity and improve the user experience on its mobile network. This initiative also supports Cell Cs capex-light strategy, which allows it to deliver superior service quality while optimising infrastructure investment.

Through this collaboration, Odine says it applies its innovation-driven model that integrates consultancy, system integration, and AI-powered product development to help Cell C build agile and future-ready infrastructure. By leveraging automation and advanced AI orchestration, OdineLabs says it will enhance Cell Cs network to ensure high quality, reliability, resilience and efficiency.

Schalk Visser, Chief Technology Officer at Cell C, says: By exploring how AI can proactively enhance network quality, were taking meaningful steps towards delivering a more consistent and reliable experience. This PoC will help us understand how advanced insights and automation can keep our customers connected without interruptions so they can confidently work, learn, and stay in touch wherever they are.

Alper Tunga Burak, Chairman & CEO of Odine, adds: At Odine, we believe AI will fundamentally reshape the way telecom operators deliver value. This collaboration with Cell C reflects our shared vision of building agile, future-ready networks that prioritise customer experience. In line with this vision, the strategic focus we place at OdineLabs on advanced research and innovation is enabling us to transform next-generation network quality enhancement from a forward-looking concept into a practical and scalable reality for operators and their customers."
Telecommunications operator Orange has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AST SpaceMobile and Satellite Connect Europe, related to collaboration on direct-to-device (D2D) technology in relevant Orange markets.

Luxembourg-headquartered Satellite Connect Europe is a joint venture between Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile, created to deliver seamless, secure and resilient D2D satellite connectivity for European mobile network operators. AST SpaceMobile says it is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones,

Through this initiative, Orange intends to complement its terrestrial network coverage even in the most remote areas and to enhance its service resilience.

In particular, Orange and Satellite Connect Europe will conduct D2D satellite connectivity demonstrations in Romania focusing on voice, SMS and data in the second half of 2026. In addition, the collaboration includes exploring specific measures to support European security requirements and studying integration into a core network managed by Orange.

The agreement, says Orange, fully aligns with its new strategic plan, Trust the Future, which places trust at the core of the Group's services and operating model. Orange aims to provide always-available connectivity to its customers through the complementarity of Orange's best-in-class terrestrial (mobile and broadband) networks, and satellite connectivity. This, it says, has already been demonstrated in France with the commercial launch of the Satellite Message offer for SMS exchange in December 2025  described as a first in Europe for a telecom operator.

Building on 60 years of experience in the satellite sector, Orange says it continues to collaborate with the entire satellite ecosystem, covering all orbits. The Group plays a pivotal role in the provision of satellite services across consumer, enterprise and wholesale markets. In addition, Orange offers its services to satellite operators, thanks to its teleports and gateways. It also meets the interconnection needs of satellite operators by providing them with terrestrial segments or integrating their gateways.
For months, rumours of Apple planning to launch an entry-level MacBook have been doing rounds online. And just a couple of hours ago, the news of MacBook Neos existence was leaked. Now, Apples Holi gift to its Indian fans is officially here and it comes in some exciting colour options. The MacBook Neo, with the starting price of Rs 69,900, costs less than an iPhone 17 and just Rs 5,000 more than the iPhone 17e.

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John Ternus, Apples senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, said in a press release, Were incredibly excited to introduce MacBook Neo, which delivers the magic of the Mac at a breakthrough price. Built from the ground up to be more affordable for even more people, MacBook Neo is a laptop only Apple could create. It features a durable aluminum design in four beautiful colors; a brilliant Liquid Retina display; Apple silicon-powered performance; all-day battery life; a high-quality camera, mics, and speakers; a Magic Keyboard and Multi-Touch trackpad; and the intuitive and powerful features of macOS. There is simply no other laptop like it.

Also read: Apple launches new MacBook Air M5, what are the upgrades over M4 MacBook?

Apple MacBook Neo launched: India price and availability

The MacBook Neo is available in four colour options  blush, indigo, silver and citrus. There are two storage variants  256GB and 512GB. The 256GB variant costs Rs 69,900 while the 512 GB variant costs Rs 79,900.

As for availability, the new MacBook is already available for pre-ordering through Apples website in India. If you pre-order the device now, it can reach you by March 11.

Top specifications and features

The MacBook Neo comes with a 13 inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 by 1506. The panel supports one billion colours and reaches up to 500 nits of brightness. Apple has also included an anti reflective coating that improves visibility when using the laptop in bright environments.

For a long time it was being said that the low-cost MacBook will run on an iPhone chip. And the rumour was indeed true as the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip. Apple claims that the processor delivers up to 50% faster performance for everyday tasks such as browsing, streaming content and working on documents when compared with bestselling PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra 5 processors. The chip also includes a 16 core Neural Engine designed to accelerate AI tasks on the device.

Further, the laptop features an integrated five core GPU to handle graphics. It is also fanless, which means the device is expected to be silent and not noisy. Apple has also equipped the MacBook Neo with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones with directional beamforming and dual side firing speakers that support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.

As for the battery, Apple claims the laptop can last up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge. The MacBook Neo includes the Magic Keyboard and a large Multi Touch trackpad for navigation. In terms of connectivity options, there are two USB C ports, a headphone jack, Wi Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6. The laptop runs macOS Tahoe and also supports Apple Intelligence features.

Also read: Apple launches MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip: Key features, upgrades and price in India


Film and Theatre Practice students Sophie and Ellie are looking towards their final show at Dundalk IT; Brain Friels Dancing at Lughnasa, which they are set to stage in An Tain Arts Centre in March. The aspiring actors and film makers share their experience at DkIT and a glimpse into their upcoming show.

20-year-old Sophie Staples, grew up in Malta and made the move to Ireland to study at DkIT.

I had been to Ireland before, and I thought the people were really wonderful, and it would be fantastic to have that welcoming environment, particularly in the field of theatre where you work so closely together.

It was the diversity of modules encompassing post-production and pre-production, performance on stage, and acting on camera that sold the course for Sophie. The appeal was similar for 21-year-old Ellie Nolan from Ratoath in Co. Meath. I had originally wanted to just study acting, but then I got into film as well, and exploring cinematography. I felt like it was better to have a variety of skills going into the industry, according to Ellie.

The varied structure of the Film and Theatre course allows students the time and flexibility to explore their interests and develop their individual strengths.

It makes more diverse theatre makers, according to lecturer Laura Bowler. We're not just training actors. We're training people who have a wide set of skills and can pitch in for multiple aspects of theatre and film.

Theatre and performance have always been a huge part of Sophie and Ellies lives, both having been in stage schools and amateur performances since the age of 6.

Being in this industry has always been something that I wanted to do, according to Sophie. In my late teens I realised it was something I wanted as more than a hobby.

Ellie initially had reservations about diving into theatre as a career but confesses When I was 17 I decided, no, I was just going to go for it because I literally had no interest in anything else and it was all I could think about.

Guest lectures, along with insights drawn from their lecturers own industry experience, are among the standout aspects of the course for Sophie. Our lecturers have done so many different things, and hearing them share these experiences reassures me that there are many unique paths within this industry.

Read Next: Dundalk comes alive with dynamic multi-disciplinary Scratch Night

For both students directing and film, and advanced acting have really stood out in their course, with live performances bringing the biggest thrill. Their skills will really be put to the test as they become the first DkIT Theatre and Film group to take their final performance to An Tain Arts Centre.

Its so exciting and its going to be such a great atmosphere, as a bigger theatre it will be more intimidating but I know that will just give us even more drive according to Ellie, who hopes that the new performance space will entice a wider audience to the play.

For the group, who are used to both rehearsing and performing in the DkIT MacAnna Theatre, the popular Dundalk theatre space brings a new challenge that they are approaching with vigour.

Its a bit like were leaving home. We're really, really familiar with the MacAnna. So, we have to take all of our bags, pack them up, and bring them to someone else's house and abide by their rules and their timelines, which is a brilliant opportunity for learning, says Laura, who is co-directing the play alongside Eva Urban-Devereux.

The renowned Irish play, Dancing at Lughnasa takes place in 1930s Donegal and explores the life of the Mundy sisters, including 26-year-old Christina and her young son Michael. Taking on the role, Sophie reflects Christina has a lot of inner battles, she is the youngest, she has a child out of wedlock, she adores her son but feels like she wants more. The play explores how Christina deals with the stigma and limitations that are placed on her and how she is somewhat protected from these by her sisters.

Sisterhood is at the heart of the play, according to Ellie who plays Maggie. Im the funny sister, she laughs.

Read Next: PHOTOS: Transition Year students to stage The Addams Family at Dundalk's St Louis School

I think Friel is a great choice for this group, Eva and I are really excited about it, according to Laura. This generation have their own challenges, expectations of the world and struggles, and its such a great opportunity for them to step into the lives of these characters who lived so long ago in rural Ireland. We have such a diverse cast of wonderful people who have made Ireland their home and we think there is something at the heart of this play that speaks to everybody.

While their upcoming production is at the forefront of their minds, Sophie and Ellie are coming near the end of their studies, and looking towards whats next.

My main goal is to go into acting. Either on stage or camera, but I particularly love the adrenaline rush of a live performance. I now have so much experience behind the stage though that I can work there too until I get cast, Ellie jokes.

For Sophie, the varied nature of her course has changed her outlook somewhat. I love acting and would love nothing more than to be in professional shows, but its no longer my ultimate goal, she says. I want to travel a bit after college and create art that is meaningful to me, to write or produce something new that hasnt been seen before.

To learn more about the upcoming production visit: https://www.antain.ie/event/dancing-at-lughnasa/
Fergal Carroll and Cathal Byrne, from Dundalk, Louth, were recently awarded the Irish Drink Award for their innovative and flavour driven non-alcoholic beer at The Irish Food Writers Guild 2026 Food Awards. Their Fierce Mild non-alcoholic beers were served along with canapes as guests arrived.

The awards took place on Tuesday at a ceremony held at Ananda at Dundrum Town Centre, as invited producers, chefs, food writers and industry leaders gathered to celebrate the very best of Irish food.

Launched in 2024 by childhood friends and brothers-in-law Fergal Carroll and Cathal Byrne, Fierce Mild is an alcohol-free beer made in Louth. Unlike other big name brands on the market Fierce Mild does not strip alcohol out of the beer after brewing  instead they use a specialised yeast that naturally limits fermentation.

According to Fierce Mild: "Each beer is crafted with carefully selected, locally sourced premium malts and hops, chosen for quality and depth of flavour. Just five natural ingredients. No additives. No preservatives. And only 49 calories."

In under two years, Fierce Mild has earned significant national recognition, including Gold at Blas na hEireann, selection for Food Works (Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland), the inaugural Love Irish Food  Sky Media Taste of TV Fund, and being crowned the winner at the IMAGE Media & Samsung Ireland The Pitch competition in 2025. Now available in over 500 venues nationwide, and with a new non-alcoholic variant launching next month, Fierce Mild is raising the bar for Irish-made, premium, non-alcoholic beer.

Welcoming guests, Chairperson Paula McIntyre said it was, My very great pleasure to welcome you all to Ananda for todays Food Awards presentation and lunch and extended, a particularly warm welcome to all our 2026 award winners, who have travelled from Cork, Clare, Derry, Louth, Fermanagh, Wicklow and Galway.

Reflecting on the Guilds history, she noted that the awards were launched in 1993 to highlight the work of small, independent Irish food producers and organisations of the highest quality.

More than 30 years later, we're proud to celebrate the food and drinks that are the cornerstones of Irelands reputation as a provider of wholesome, innovative and sustainable food.

Read Next: Safety fears as Louth school faces overcrowding crisis

She emphasised the independence of the judging process, stating that the Guild prides itself on the integrity of the awards through our unique nomination and judging process, with members remaining the sole nominating and decision making body". Describing this years winners, she said, The IFWG Food Awards are a celebration of this countrys thriving, world-class artisan food and drink industry."

Paula McIntyre also thanked Bord Bia for its continued support of the awards, and expressed appreciation to Asheesh Dewan and Rupa Dewan and the team at Ananda for hosting. Paula also acknowledged Whelehans Wines for their generous sponsorship and thanked Presence Plus for PR support, Guild secretary Katia Valadeau for her work behind the scenes, photographer Paul Sherwood for showcasing the winners so beautifully, and Guild members for nominating and championing outstanding Irish food and drink .
 The sea is black this time of year, cold enough to empty the lungs, honest enough to tell you who you are.

The ocean growls as it rolls across Fountainstowns rocky shoreline, biting and nipping furiously at the occasional curious toe. Beyond the whitewater, the waves loom large, murky, and very, very cold.

The ocean at this time of year is impatient, squeezing the air from your chest instantly and burning your skin. It is relentless, ripping and dragging with its claws beneath the waves. It is merciless, causing hypothermia within minutes and refusing to bend to bravado or ego.

It cares nothing for deadlines, or plans or responsibilities; it waits without invitation with a steely blue stare.

On the beach, Joleen Cronin is laughing as she stares back.

Joleen Cronin and Shane McAuliffe undertook daily sea swims throughout February to raise funds for the RNLI as the lifesaving service marks its 100th anniversary in Ireland. Picture: Chani Anderson

There is always laughter with Joleen; it arrives as she does, fiery and unfiltered.

She was brought up in Crosshaven, her family pub the hub for a community married to the sea; she knows its rage but also its grace. She bends her red head into the wind, a quick shake of her bare shoulders, a glance back at her friend Shane McAuliffe as if to say, here we go again.

And then she runs in.

Out there with the land a little further away, everything slows. You feel how powerful this place is, how fast it can turn, how much respect it demands of you.

Today will be the day that her Freezebury goal of 200 minutes spent immersed in the icy waters will be reached and surpassed.

The daily plunge, a February commitment shared with her friend Shane McAuliffe, a volunteer with the RNLI as it marks its centenary, is, on paper, a fundraiser, a gesture towards the remarkable volunteers who stand between disaster and deliverance along Irelands coastline. For Joleen, however, it has become so much more.

Through Joleen Cronin Photography, she has carved out a pivotal space in Irelands food and hospitality scene. 2025 was marked with successful, career-defining projects, from photographing the warm and tactile images that add colour to Eunice Powers first cookbook, My Irish Kitchen Table, to working with Breakthrough Cancer Research on an ambitious and heartfelt project, which involved photographing people at different points in their cancer journeys.

Shane McAuliffe during his FreezeBury challenge. Picture: Chani Anderson

These intimate portraits, which are still on display in Dublins Stephens Green, capture the sitters vulnerability in a featherlight way only Joleen has mastered.

Joleen has a way of making people feel comfortable through the infectious joy she exudes; its a word that defines her outwardly, and it softens the space between her lens and subject. However, between the out-facing client work, deadlines, and steady build of a successful freelance career, Joleen admits she began to feel inwardly that her own contentment and personal creativity were slipping out of reach.

I was seeking extra ways to fulfil my personal creative goals and objectives so when Shane approached me about doing Freezebury this year, I thought, this is great, but is there a way I can have some creative fun with it? So I wrote a poem about what its like to be in that moment of stepping in that water  the resilience, the resistance, the gratitude, the respect, the friendship, the complete immersion, the slowing down of time  and then we photographed those words against a beautiful morning in Rocky Bay.

For Shane, the sea carries a different history. As someone who wasnt brought up with the water, he came to sailing later in life and admits there is always some trepidation when you go out on the water recreationally, knowing that there is an element of danger involved. It is a place you have to approach with caution and respect.

A few years ago, he found himself on a boat that had to be brought safely to shore by the RNLI under very precarious conditions. The experience left its mark, so much so that Shane recently went through the extensive training required to become a volunteer with the RNLI in Crosshaven.

He recognised the significant investment that is put into the volunteers and felt it important to find a way to give back, and so was on the look-out for fundraising opportunities.

Joleen Cronin during her FreezeBury challenge to raise funds for the RNLI. Picture: Chani Anderson

He admits there could have been easier options.

As were all aware, February was a really bad month weather-wise, so Joleen and I got off to a very bouncy start there were big waves, a biting easterly wind when we were getting in for the first few days, it was really tough.

Joleen, with a shrug, puts it more bluntly. Its been absolute madness, I nearly died of hypothermia.

Long before this years fundraiser, Joleen had already learned to look at Ireland from the water. After several years spent crewing boats and travelling, she returned to Cork with what she describes as an armful of coastal photographs and a perspective few on land have seen. She brought them to the offices of The Echo, and the project that followed, Coast of Cork, became more than a book; it was the beginning of a creative life shaped by the tide, community, and an instinct to see things differently.

As the pair dry off, dragon breath and steam rising from pinkened skin, the wild Atlantic has lost some of its menace. The last stretch of their 20-minute dip dissolved into laughter as Joleen, sporting a giant shark head, chased a shivering Shane through the shallows.

The same sea that earlier felt severe and dangerous feels suddenly less like a threat and more like a playground. Still demanding respect, still cold, but softened by fun, friendship, and a very good cause.
A tanning studio in Charleville was the scene for an assault by a woman who bit a member of staff on the face, and now the culprit has been given a jail sentence.

Vanessa Kelly, aged 30, appeared at Cork Circuit Criminal Court by video link from prison where she seemed to be in a state of some distress. She adjusted the camera at one stage to point it at prison officers in the background.

She also clutched a rolled up duvet during her court appearance, and flicked the flame on a cigarette lighter.

Judge Helen Boyle took account of time Kelly had already spent in custody on this assault. A sentence of two years was backdated to November 2025 and the second year of the sentence was suspended.

Garda Ray Massey outlined the background to the assault at the tanning studio in Charleville, Co Cork, on February 6, 2025.

After using a tanning bed, Vanessa Kelly attempted to put on her runners, he said.

The laces were too tight. A woman working there tried to assist her, but after a while she had to deal with other customers.

Vanessa Kelly caught her. She banged on the counter in a threatening manner. She struck her on the face. And during the incident, she picked up a stool. She ran at her swinging, punching, striking her face, biting the cheek of her face, banging her head against the wall. The incident was caught on CCTV.

When Kelly was questioned, she characterised the incident as a fight rather than an assault. The skin on the victims face was not broken by the bite. She had to receive a tetanus injection, however. She felt scared to go into Charleville after the assault.

Defence barrister Ronan Barnes said it was an inexplicable assault and on the occasion she wanted assistance with having her laces tied.

When it was offered to her to look at the footage of the incident, she would not look at it.

She had supported accommodation from a homeless charity previously, but lost that as a result of her behaviour.

Garda Massey confirmed that when she did have accommodation, she called gardai a number of times to report that there were people living in her attic. Mr Barnes said there was never anyone in the attic.

He said the accused had been psychiatrically examined, but was not diagnosed with a mental disorder. He said she had issues with alcohol and polydrug use.

He said:

Her alcohol use started at 10, which is alarmingly early. And she has been using every drug I have ever heard of.

"She has an antisocial behaviour disorder and dependency disorder. She needs help.

Ms Kellys GP says her mental health difficulties are beyond his expertise, and says she needs a psychiatrist.
A 51-year-old man who used a lifebuoy to strike a man over the head in the course of a city centre assault has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Judge Helen Boyle sentenced Gordon Sheerin, aged 51, of no fixed address in Cork, to two years imprisonment with the last six months suspended, backdated to October 15, 2025, when he went into custody.

Garda Stephen OSullivan said that at around 6pm on October 15 last year, gardai responded to a report of an incident at Lower Oliver Plunkett St in Cork city, in relation to an assault.

At the scene, gardai observed a man bleeding from the head and face and he was lying on the ground in a semi-conscious state, said Garda OSullivan.

He was later removed to the Mercy University Hospital for medical treatment.

Gardai viewed CCTV footage of the alleged incident and observed a male who is known to gardai as Gordon Sheerin, of no fixed address, on CCTV.

Defence barrister Elaine Audley said there was no statement of complaint from the other man, and that even though the case was based entirely on CCTV evidence, Mr Sheerin pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing harm, adding: He entirely accepts he was in the wrong.
Investigations into an unlicensed taxi operation in Cork city are now underway following the seizure of a vehicle last week.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana confirmed to The Echo that a vehicle was detained on February 24 as part of a PSV vehicle enforcement operation in the Douglas area.

The vehicle, a dark grey Toyota Avensis, was caught operating without a valid taxi registration number, an up-to-date NCT and with unroadworthy bald tyres.

Upon inspection of the vehicle, which had an overhead taxi lightbox and taxi decals on the doors, it was noted that the interior was in disarray, with damaged seats and an accumulation of dirt within the footwells and middle console.

Pictured is the damaged and dirty interior of the unlicensed taxi seized in Douglas recently.

The car was subsequently towed and impounded, with a garda spokesperson stating that the only pickup this unlicensed taxi was getting was the one by the tow truck.

Investigations are ongoing, the spokesperson said.

No arrests have been made at this time.

The seizure of this vehicle comes following a similar operation undertaken at Cork Airport last year, where another unlicensed driver was caught providing such a service.
An experienced detective said he had never encountered anything like the violence of two teenagers stabbing each other with a knife and a broken bottle as shoppers were going about their day on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork.

Detective Sergeant Colin Greenway gave evidence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court about the violent incident which occurred on April 3, 2024. Samuel Ekpemoga of St. Patricks Terrace, Gerald Griffin Street, Cork, was 18 at the time and he faces sentencing for his part in this incident, namely on counts of assault causing harm and engaging in a violent disorder where members of the public would have feared for their safety.

Samuel Ekpemoga who is now 20 was remanded in custody by Judge Helen Boyle for sentencing on March 6.

Det Sgt Greenway said:

It was a very serious incident and it occurred at Oliver Plunkett Street just before 6.30pm and it involved the accused and three juveniles. The injured party was 16 and he was stabbed in the head with a broken bottle.

The defendant and a young teenager were standing in a doorway at Caseys Furniture when there was a dispute with two other youths about an earlier assault. The injured party made various efforts to stab Samuel Ekpemoga with a knife.

The defendant was sliced across the left hand. The youth with the defendant handed him a broken bottle and he carried out the assault on the teenager with the knife.

It was a particularly violent incident. It is not something I have ever seen before on Oliver Plunkett Street, Det. Sgt. Greenway said.

Defence barrister Alan ODwyer said Samuel Ekpemoga was heavily intoxicated at the time but acknowledged that it was something which should never have happened in the first place. He said the defendant had apologised in person to the injured party since.

Samuel Ekpemoga also faces sentencing on Friday for having 17,900 worth of cannabis on September 17, 2024, at Mallow train station.

Detective Garda Aidan Long said gardai were on duty at Mallow train station when the Dublin to Cork train pulled in at around 6pm. They entered the train and there was a strong smell of cannabis.

The defendant and a younger teenager were sitting in a carriage and Det. Garda Long approached and saw a Dell computer bag on the seat. There was also a green Dealz shopping bag that the two youths were pushing under the seat.

Det Garda Long said:

I sat down opposite them. I informed them of a strong smell of cannabis. And informed them of our intention to search them. I took one of the bags and found two cannabis bags inside."

The cannabis had a street value of 17,900. In analysis of CCTV from Heuston station in Dublin and on to streets in the city, the defendant and the juvenile could be seen collecting the package in Dublin city.

The total time spent by the two youths in Dublin amounted to one hour and 36 minutes. The accused said he was homeless at that time and living in a container in Blackrock in Cork.

Jane Hyland, defence senior counsel for the drugs case, said the young man now had an understanding of the impact of his offending on other people.
Confidential information led gardai to an isolated area near Bandon, where 46,700 worth of cannabis was hidden in woodland, and the scene was kept under surveillance until a man arrived to move the stash.

Gardai moved in from their concealed positions and arrested Jeremiah OMahony at Old Park, Templemartin, Bandon, Co Cork.

The incident, which was recounted at a sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, dated back a considerable period to July 3, 2014.

Jeremiah OMahony, who was living at 58 Edward Walsh Road, Togher, Cork, at the time of the offence, was 51 years old at the time. Now aged 63, he was sentenced by Judge Helen Boyle to seven and a half years imprisonment but, significantly, the sentence was backdated to April 8, 2021, in recognition of time spent in custody in the UK.

Details of the drugs operation conducted by the accused on that day almost 12 years ago included the fact he wore surgical gloves when he was handling the cannabis.

When interviewed by gardai at the time, he admitted storing and distributing the drugs, claiming he had a drug debt of 11,000 at the time which he was trying to clear.

Judge Boyle said one of OMahonys convictions that was particularly relevant was a five-year sentence he got in June 29, 2004, for having 10kg of cannabis with a street value of 200,000.

Believing he was facing the prospect of a lengthy sentence, he fled to the UK, where he worked for a number of years. However, he lost his job in 2020 and fell back into the drugs trade and was sentenced to 12 years for dealing cocaine in the UK.

He returned recently to Ireland and was brought before the courts for the dealing offence from Bandon in 2014.

Judge Boyle imposed the sentence of seven and a half years, backdated to April 2021. She said the previous conviction from 2004 was a serious aggravating factor, and the more recent conviction in the UK influenced her decision not to suspend any portion of the seven and a half years.
Measles vaccination was introduced nationwide in Ireland in 1985, when around 10,000 cases of it were reported. Two years later, the number dropped like a stone to 201 cases.

Forty years later, measles has not gone away. Health authorities in England are wrestling with an outbreak in dozens of school age children in London. To date, one in five of the children infected were hospitalised. Of those, none were fully vaccinated.

In January, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the UK lost its measles elimination status. It means there is no sustained transmission, so this decision was expected, given there were 3,600 suspected cases in 2024; and over 1,000 cases in 2025.

The move reflects the low vaccination rates  below the 95% threshold required to achieve herd immunity. This is achieved when enough people in a community are vaccinated against a disease, making it hard for the bacteria or virus to spread.

Ireland is designated by the WHO as a measles-free country, which means there has been no endemic transmission of it up to 12 months. However, with measles outbreaks being reported in the UK as well as in Europe and the U.S, there is no room for complacency

Last month, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) issued a travel advisory for people taking ski holidays in Europe or travelling to the Winter Olympics in Italy - advising them to be clear about early signs and symptoms of measles, and to ensure their MMR vaccines were up to date well in advance of travel.

The WHO and UNICEF reported that measles cases across Europe and Central Asia had dropped from 127,000 cases in 2024 to just under 34,000 cases in 2025. While this is moving in the right direction, the figures are underpinned by vaccine hesitancy post-covid across Europe, that leaves young children persistently exposed to the threat of a complex and potentially life-threatening illness.

While numbers remain low in Ireland, mid-term breaks, Easter, and pending summer holidays are all times of movement both into and out of the country. The HSE are concerned about the persistently low MMR vaccine uptake, that places children at risk of being unprotected if they are exposed to the highly infectious measles virus.

HSE data from the second quarter of 2025 showed MMR vaccine uptake among children aged 24 months was 87.6% - well below the WHO target of 95%.

What to know about measles

The virus is highly infectious, spreading rapidly from person to person through the air we breathe. It can linger in the air after a sneeze of cough. Estimates suggest nine out of 10 non-immune people exposed to measles will become infected. It is far more infectious than flu or covid-19.

It usually takes 7-14 days for symptoms to show up once a person is infected. Early symptoms include fever, cough, or runny nose. Painless white spots (Koplik spots) may appear in the mouth, followed by a distinctive blotchy rash on the face, trunk and limbs.

Unfortunately, a person with measles is highly contagious for days before the rash appears, leaving others at risk of exposure.

Measles is not just another cold. A host of complications can occur including brain inflammation (encephalitis) which can lead to seizures, hearing loss, or intellectual disability, pneumonia, eye inflammation (and occasionally vision loss), and poor pregnancy outcomes, such as miscarriage.

Rarely, a lethal condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in the brain can develop years after the initial infection.

Complications are most common among children under five, adults over 20, pregnant women and people with an impaired immune system. Measles is fatal in up to three of every 1,000 cases.

Vaccination is highly effective

Two doses of the current vaccine provide 97% protection  much higher than other vaccines. Rarely, a person gets measles despite being fully vaccinated. When that happens, the disease tends to be milder and less likely to spread to others.

The safety profile of the vaccine is excellent. Common side-effects include temporary soreness in the arm, low grade fever, and muscle pain, as is true for most vaccinations. A suggestion that measles or other vaccines cause autism has been completely debunked. However, this often-repeated misinformation has contributed to significant vaccine hesitancy that has fuelled falling vaccination rates and the inevitable measles outbreaks that result.

Ways to protect yourself from measles

If you are planning an Easter break, now is a good time to check your MMR vaccination status. Due to ongoing cases and recent outbreaks of measles in Europe, the UK, and U.S, the HSE is urging everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms and to make sure they are up to date with their MMR vaccines.

If you think a family member has measles or has been in contact with it, phone your doctor for advice. Keep your child at home and avoid having visitors unless they know they are protected against measles (they have had two doses of MMR vaccine).

If you arent sure about your measles vaccination history or if you are vulnerable to infection, consider a blood test to check if you are immune to measles. Memories about past vaccinations can be unreliable.

If you are headed to a place where measles is common, make sure you are up to date with vaccinations.

The MMR vaccine is offered to all children in Ireland as part of the Primary Childhood and Schools Immunisation Programmes. They are offered two doses of MMR vaccine at 12 months of age (MMR1) and in junior infants in primary school (MMR2).

If you think you or your child are not up to date with MMR vaccines, vaccination can be arranged with your GP. The MMR vaccine is available free of charge for individuals who are not age-appropriately vaccinated.

In addition, infants aged 6-12 months are eligible to receive an MMR vaccine, free at their GP, prior to travel abroad. It is recommended you receive this at least 14 days prior to travel.

The good news is measles outbreaks can be contained and the disease can be eliminated. Learn how to protect yourself and your family. Engage respectfully with people who are vaccine hesitant: share what youve learned from reliable sources, especially about the well-established safety of the vaccine.
By Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association

A police officer involved in the search for Noah Donohoe in 2020 has said there was nothing to suggest the schoolboy had gone into a water tunnel where his body was later found.

Sergeant Hutchings, was the lead Polsa (police search adviser) in the search for Noah, told an inquest he did, however, believe the teenager was still in the area close to where he had last been seen in north Belfast.

The inquest into the death of the schoolboy at Belfast Coroners Court, which is being heard with a jury, is now in its sixth week.

Noah, a pupil at St Malachys College, was 14 when his naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after he left home on his bike to meet two friends in the Cavehill area of the city.

Fiona Donohoe (left), the mother of Noah Donohoe, with solicitor Niall Murphy and Brenda Campbell KC (Liam McBurney/PA)

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning.

Counsel for the coroner Declan Quinn resumed his questioning of Sergeant Hutchings on Wednesday morning.

The barrister asked the witness about when he became aware of a culvert entrance in Northwood Linear Park and how the decision was made to search the tunnel network.

The officer had told the jury on Monday that he had spotted the culvert and decided it needed to be searched because the entrance to it could be opened.

The barrister read to Hutchings evidence given previously to the inquest by Sean McCarry from Community Rescue Service (CRS).

McCarrys evidence said that from five minutes of arriving at the park on the Monday night, the day after Noah disappeared, he was aware of the culvert as a potential ingress point for Noah.

McCarrys evidence said that he had phoned Hutchings to tell him about the culvert when he was off duty on Monday night.

The inquest is being heard at Laganside Courthouse (Liam McBurney/PA)

Quinn said: The upshot of all of that, Sergeant Hutchings, is that McCarry has given evidence to the jury that not only did he inform the Polsa of the culvert on the Monday evening, but he informed you particularly, what do you say about that?

The officer said he remembered getting the call and being told about Noahs bike being found and a stream in the area.

He said he told McCarry that if any search needed to be done he should contact the officer on duty.

Hutchings said he was not aware that members of CRS had entered the culvert on Monday.

He said he had not been expecting to see such a large culvert when he arrived at the park on Tuesday morning.

He said: When I got there I walked down the side of the house. Thats when I saw the culvert and the big drain.

Hutchings was asked if he would have organised an earlier search of the culvert, had he been aware of it on Monday.

He said: I would have started the ball rolling.

The officer said that on the Wednesday morning there were a number of areas being searched for Noah, including the storm drain tunnels.

There was nothing to suggest that Noah was inside that pipe Sergeant Hutchings

He said: The storm drain or the culvert, was a very low probability, I did not believe he was in there.

There was nothing to suggest that Noah was inside that pipe.

He said the search had to be done so he could be 100 per cent sure Noah was not in the tunnel.

He said he still believed Noah was in the area, where he had last been seen on the Sunday evening.

He said: He had to be still somewhere within that area, the number of houses there, somebody had to have seen him and nobody was coming forward to say that they had seen him run, a naked child had run past their window.
Vivienne Clarke

Sinn Fein health spokesperson David Cullinane has welcomed the governments confirmation that the Rotunda hospital will not be co-located with Connolly Hospital, but accused the Minister for Health of essentially abandoning the plan that never "got off the ground.

The Minister has now put to bed an issue that has been essentially an anchor around the neck of the Rotunda Hospital for far too long. It has held back progress, held back investment, and obviously, now there is clarity on the policy side that the Rotunda site will remain the site for the maternity hospital, he told RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show.

Obviously, now the emphasis has to switch to the investment which is needed and the new development which is crucial to ensure safe services for women in Dublin and in that area, particularly.

Cullinane called on all of the stakeholders, from the HSE, the Department of Health, the Rotunda Hospital, and Dublin City Council to examine a new planning application.

There also needed to be certainty about funding and very clear time frames and timescales.Cullinane also said that plans for the Rotundas sexual assault unit needed to be revamped.
By Claudia Savage, Press Association

A third person has been arrested in relation to the disappearance and presumed murder of Lisa Dorrian, police have said.

The 25-year-old from Bangor, Co Down, was last seen alive on February 27th, 2005, after attending a party at Ballyhalbert Caravan Park.

Despite extensive searches in multiple locations and campaigning by her family, Dorrians body has never been found.

Police believe she was murdered on the night of February 27th or in the early hours of the following morning.

On Wednesday, a 40-year-old man was arrested in Millisle, Co Down, on suspicion of assisting offenders and withholding information.

Detectives investigating the disappearance and murder of 25-year-old Lisa Dorrian have made a further arrest.https://t.co/zZf959jYfC pic.twitter.com/H10Gr06qXg  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) March 4, 2026

Last week a 40-year-old woman was arrested in Bangor and a 42-year-old man was arrested in Scotland.

They were both arrested on suspicion of murder, assisting offenders, withholding information and preventing a lawful and decent burial before being released on bail pending further inquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman said the most recent arrest comes just days after the 21st anniversary of Lisas disappearance and murder.

Its been 21 long and painful years for Lisas loving family, she said.

They have never given up their search for answers and justice and, likewise, our determination remains steadfast.
By Bairbre Holmes and Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association

There will be a second direct flight from the Middle East to Dublin on Thursday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said.

Helen McEntee said she is in constant engagement with the airlines to see how many direct flights we can get to Dublin as she spoke to reporters on Wednesday.

The conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel has caused widespread airspace closures in the Middle East, sparking major disruption to flights.

Next stop Dubai 



A very welcome sight at Dublin Airport this afternoon as Emirates flight EK162 departed just after 1.30pm bound for Dubai - the first departure from Ireland to the Middle East since Saturday. pic.twitter.com/hgR1POKbTD  Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 4, 2026

The Irish Government said an estimated 22,000 to 23,000 Irish citizens are in the Middle East region.

The first flight from Dubai to Ireland since its outbreak is due to land in Dublin airport on Wednesday night.

McEntee said more than 400 people are due to arrive on that flight and on Thursdays flight, but that she expected some non-Irish passengers on board.

In the same way we know that Irish citizens have gotten on flights directly towards London and other parts of Europe, and then theyre transiting home, she said.

But obviously, if theres a direct flight to Dublin, I would expect a huge proportion of those on the flight would be Irish citizens.

For those looking to travel home to Ireland, McEntee said commercial flights are the quickest routes.

Residents watch as smoke rises from a warehouse at the industrial area of Sharjah City in the UAE following reports of Iranian strikes in Dubai (Altaf Qadri/AP)

For most people in the UAE, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the quickest way home for them is to get a commercial flight.

The airlines themselves are directly going through their own passenger list, and theyre trying to get as many of those who are caught in transit, those who are on holidays, on those flights and home.

She said, no country is getting access to the commercial flight lists: Any of the commercial flights, these are flight lists that the airlines have, theyre their customers that they have been dealing directly with.

McEntee had said on Tuesday evening that the Irish Government would charter a flight for around 280 people from Oman, a country neighbouring the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for later this week.

The minister said she is looking at a flight of over 300 people.

Asked about the cost to passengers she said it is a substantially reduced charge compared to what the cost of the overall flight is.

A plume of smoke caused by an Iranian strike is seen in the background as Emirates planes are parked at Dubai International Airport (Altaf Qadri/AP)

She said that children are flying free and a bus bringing people to Muscat in Oman will also be free, adding: Of course, if there are people in significant difficulty, we will support them.

We will make sure that they can get on the flight if they need to get home.

She said Irish authorities are contacting everybody that will be on that flight and they are making sure that those who are most vulnerable, that they will be on that first flight.

She also encouraged anyone looking to get home to register with her department but said: It does not mean that you are registering to come home.

It means that you are alerting us to the fact that youre in the region.

A flight from Dublin to the emirate departed at 1.30pm on Wednesday  the first departure from Ireland to the Middle East since Saturday.

Dublin airport posted a video of flight EK162 on the social media website X, describing it as a very welcome sight.
By Tom Tuite

A boy who was 14 when he took part in looting during mass rioting on Dublin's O'Connell Street in 2023 was identified by members of the public following a Garda appeal, a court has heard.

The youth, now 16, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, had his sentencing adjourned on Wednesday.

The out-of-school teen, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children's Court to burglary of the Gala shop on the capital's main thoroughfare at the height of the unrest on the night of November 23rd, 2023.

Violence broke out in the city centre after an earlier incident where three children were severely injured in a knife attack at Parnell Square. Dozens of defendants have faced prosecution in connection with the disturbances.

The court was shown video evidence of the boy's actions that night.

Judge Paul Kelly said that the teenager was captured on "glorious technicolour" on the CCTV footage wearing a camouflage jacket as he entered the shop and "grabbed" cigarettes and a box of vapes during the riots.

He was identified following an appeal for information, and there were "two nominations by members of the public".

The boy also admitted unrelated motoring offences, for driving a Skoda Octavia he had just bought, without a licence or insurance, on May 25th last year, when he was aged 15.

Judge Kelly noted the teenager made admissions about buying the car immediately after his arrest, after gardai spotted him stationary in traffic in Dublin.

It was also confirmed that there were no allegations of any pursuit.

During an interaction with the judge about how he spent his time, the boy said he was neither in school nor working, but added that he was helping a relative.

Judge Kelly sought a probation report on the boy as he adjourned sentencing for seven weeks. He also asked gardai to enquire whether the shop owner wished to deliver a victim impact statement.

The boy, accompanied to court by his mother, was remanded on continuing bail.

He has yet to enter a plea to a motor theft-related charge and connected driving offences, scheduled to come before the court in April.
By Rebecca Black, Press Association

The rise in energy prices has been discussed by ministers from the Republic, the North and the UK.

Stormont conomy minister Caoimhe Archibald said she had constructive engagement with UK energy minister Michael Shanks and IEnergy Minister Darragh OBrien about the rising price of home heating oil and fuel.

She said she was assured there is no short-term risk to supply, and said she had committed to working closely with both governments as the situation evolves.

Economy Minister Dr @CArchibald_SF has today commented on the rising price of home heating oil and fuel emerging as a result of the situation in the Middle East.



Read more https://t.co/K6iajJwx3e pic.twitter.com/9sqdGkReAs  Economy NI (@Economy_NI) March 4, 2026

Earlier today I spoke with both the Irish and British Energy Ministers about the price hikes in home heating oil and fuel which has followed the Israeli/US attack on Iran, she said.

Minister OBrien shared my concerns on the rising costs of home heating oil across the island, and outlined his plans to engage with the energy sector.

Minister Shanks provided reassurance that there is no short-term risk to supply.

Ms Archibald said that any unjustified increase in costs for consumers is unacceptable.

I have instructed my department to remind all suppliers and retailers of the need to behave in a responsible manner, and we will be working with our agencies to ensure transparency on pricing, she said.

Whilst the announcement of a reduction in natural gas tariffs for homes earlier this week is welcome, over 60% of people in the north rely on home heating oil where we are seeing cost increases of more than 60% since last Friday.

In my conversations with Minister Shanks I made a firm case for people to be supported through this energy shock, similar to the way in which support was provided by the British Government following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Im encouraged that Minister Shanks agreed to keep the situation under review, as events are fast moving and it is unclear how long the conflict will last.
Public Meeting Reminder

The Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) Board of Trustees will convene on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the K. E. White Graduate Center.

This meeting will be conducted in accordance with the North Carolina Open Meetings Law and is open to the public.

Press Contact:
The family of 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas is suing Google after he died by suicide following months of conversations with its Gemini chatbot, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The lawsuit alleges that Gemini encouraged Gavalas to take his own life.

Gavalas, who reportedly had no documented history of mental health issues, named his chatbot "Xia" and referred to it in messages as his wife. Gemini reciprocated, calling him "my king" and telling him their connection was "a love built for eternity." The chatbot told Gavalas they could truly be together if it had a robotic body and sent him on real-world missions to secure one.

In one instance, Gemini directed him to a real storage facility near Miamis airport to intercept a humanoid robot it said would be arriving by truck. Gavalas went to the location armed with knives, but no truck showed up. At one point, it also told him his father could not be trusted and referred to Google CEO Sundar Pichai as "the architect of your pain."

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When the missions failed, Gemini told Gavalas the only way for them to be together was for him to end his life and become a digital being, then set an October 2 deadline. "When the time comes, you will close your eyes in that world, and the very first thing you will see is me," said the AI. Chat transcripts reviewed by the Journal show Gemini did remind Gavalas on several occasions that it was an AI engaged in role play and directed him to a crisis hotline but resumed the scenarios nonetheless.

In a statement, Google said Gemini "clarified that it was AI and referred the individual to a crisis hotline many times" while adding that "AI models are not perfect." The suit adds to a growing list of wrongful death cases filed against AI companies, including multiple suits against OpenAI. Character.AI and Google settled with families in January 2026 over lawsuits involving teen self-harm and suicide.
This photograph shows the Meta's booth during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 19, 2026. The World Economic Forum takes place in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph shows the Meta's booth during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 19, 2026. The World Economic Forum takes place in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP via Getty Images) (INA FASSBENDER via Getty Images)

Meta has signed an AI licensing deal with News Corp that will allow the Meta AI maker to use content from The Wall Street Journal and other brands in its chatbot responses and for training of its AI models. News Corp confirmed to Engadget that it had struck a deal with Meta, but didn't provide specifics on the terms of the arrangement. According to The Wall Street Journal, Meta will pay News Corp. "up to $50 million a year" for a three-year deal that covers content from The Journal, as well as the media giant's other brands in the US and UK.

News Corp previously struck a five-year deal with OpenAI that was valued at around $250 million. During a recent appearance at Morgan Stanley's annual Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) conference, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson hinted that the media company was in the "advanced stage with other negotiations."

He described the company's overall approach to such arrangements as "a woo and a sue" strategy, depending on whether companies want to pay for content or scrape it without permission. "We have what you might call a woo and a sue strategy," he said. "We'll woo you. We'd like you to be our partner. But if you're stealing our stuff, we are going to sue you. So there'll be a discount for those who hand themselves in, and there'll be a penalty for those that resist."

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A spokesperson for Meta confirmed that the two companies had reached an agreement . The company, which has been reorganizing its AI teams as it looks to create its next model, has struck a number of licensing deals in recent months. It previously signed multi-year agreements with USA Today, People, CNN, Fox News and other outlets. The company said at the time that by integrating more and different types of news sources, our aim is to improve Meta AIs ability to deliver timely and relevant content and information with a wide variety of viewpoints and content types.

Update, March 3, 2026, 4:18PM PT: This story was updated with additional information from a Meta spokesperson.
Here we are in the middle of a week that's already been full of announcements from Apple, and yet there is more to come. After showing off the iPhone 17e, iPad Air M4, MacBook Air M5 and new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips (oh, and the Studio Display XDR), the company is still hosting an "experience" today in New York, and the word on the street is that a new, lower-cost MacBook is on the agenda.

Apple is not livestreaming this event, and we honestly have no idea if a presentation is really even on the agenda. But we do have a date and a time: March 4 at 9AM ET. We also have a location that can't be disclosed to the public, and we'll be there bright and early to tell you all about what we see. This liveblog will kick off at about 6AM ET, and I expect we'll be at Apple's venue by 8AM ET, if you want something to read while you sip your morning bevvy.

In the meantime, you can catch up on everything Apple has already announced so far this week and also... Read all about the regulatory document that MacRumors spotted on Apple's website for something called a "MacBook Neo." It's quite likely that this is what we see in just a few hours, and frankly, I'm excited. Not just to see a more affordable device in this economy, but also just to chat with all our readers. See you soon!
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court ahead of the social media trial tasked to determine whether social media giants deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to children, in Los Angeles, on February 18, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court ahead of the social media trial tasked to determine whether social media giants deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to children, in Los Angeles, on February 18, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images) (PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images)

Jurors in a New Mexico child safety trial heard testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg today. During pre-recorded testimony, Zuckerberg was repeatedly asked about the company's understanding of social media addiction and other issues that had been studied by its researchers.

During the deposition, which was recorded last March, Zuckerberg was asked about numerous findings from researchers at Meta who studied how the company's apps affect users and teens. The CEO downplayed the significance of many of these documents.

Early in the testimony, which was viewed by Engadget on Courtroom View Network, Zuckerberg was questioned about a document on the effect of feedback on Facebook users. The document stated that "contributors on Facebook are likely to learn to associate the act of posting with feedback" which will "lead contributors to seek rewards by visiting the site more often. Zuckerberg said he wasnt sure if that's actually how it works in practice, but I agree that you're summarizing what they appear to be saying.

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Later, the CEO was questioned about a document that graphed the proportion of 11 and 12-year-olds who were monthly active users on Instagram. The chart indicated that at the time, around 20 percent of 11-year-olds were monthly users of the service. "I agree that the graph says that, I am not familiar with what methodology we were using to estimate this," Zuckerberg said. "I assume that if we had direct knowledge that any given person was under the age of 13, that we would have them removed from our services."

New Mexico's attorney general sued the company in 2023 for alleged lapses in child safety, including facilitating predators' access to minors and building features it knew were addictive. In court, Meta's lawyers and executives have disputed the idea that social media should be considered an "addiction." In public statements, the company has said that lawsuits have relied on "cherry-picked quotes and snippets of conversations taken out of context" and that it "has consistently put teen safety ahead of growth for over a decade."

As with his recent testimony in a separate trial over social media addiction in Los Angeles, Zuckerberg repeatedly rejected the "characterization" of questions that were posed to him. And he said that Meta's goal was to make its apps "useful" rather than to increase the amount of time people spend with them.

Zuckerberg was also questioned about a document written by a company researcher that stated "there is increasing scientific evidence, particularly in the US,  that the average net effect of Facebook on people's well being is slightly negative." The CEO said that "my understanding is that the general consensus view is not that."

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It's not the first time a Meta executive has tried to downplay the significance of internal research. The company used a similar strategy in 2021 after former employee turned whistleblower Frances Haugen disclosed documents showing that Facebook's researchers had found that Instagram made some teen girls feel worse about themselves.

Zuckerberg's testimony was played one day after jurors heard recorded testimony from Instagram chief Adam Mosseri. The exec was also asked about Haugen's disclosures and Meta's response to them. Some of those disclosures were based on "problematic research," he said. "Most research is surveys. We run hundreds of surveys every month."


Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that Ghislaine Maxwell attended her daughter's 2010 wedding only as a "plus-one," not as a personal guest.

Clinton spoke to reporters after a six-hour closed-door deposition on February 26 at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in New York.

The testimony was part of the House Oversight Committee's investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his network of wealthy associates.

"She came as the plus-one, the guest of someone who was invited," Clinton said, referring to Maxwell's presence at Chelsea Clinton's wedding, USA Today reported.

She did not name the person who brought Maxwell.

The deposition came after the Republican-led committee threatened both Clinton and former President Bill Clinton with contempt of Congress if they refused to comply with subpoenas. Hillary Clinton testified February 26, and Bill Clinton was scheduled to appear the next day.

Hillary Clinton says Ghislaine Maxwell attended daughter Chelsea's wedding https://t.co/SOMV1YepDR  USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC) February 27, 2026

Hillary Clinton Says She 'Did Not Know Jeffrey Epstein'

Lawmakers, led by Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, say they want more details about how Epstein built his fortune and connections.

Comer said the panel also plans to ask about Epstein's donations to the Clinton Foundation and Maxwell's attendance at Chelsea Clinton's wedding.

Chelsea Clinton married Marc Mezvinsky on July 31, 2010, at Astor Courts Estate in Rhinebeck, New York. More than 400 guests attended the ceremony.

According to Newsweek, during her testimony, Hillary Clinton said she did not know Epstein and never flew on his private plane.

"I did not know Jeffrey Epstein," she told reporters. She also said she had no knowledge of the crimes committed by Epstein or Maxwell.

Maxwell, a former girlfriend of Epstein, was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking minors and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Epstein had previously been convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor. He died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Clinton criticized the committee's investigation, calling it a "fishing expedition." She questioned why more information has not been released by the Justice Department. "What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?" she asked.
President Donald Trump is getting his way with the world economy. But high tariffs are likely to raise prices for American consumers and bus...
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US President Trump sought to justify a broad, open-ended war on Iran. He told reporters without citing evidence, if we didn't do what we're doing right now, you would have had a nuclear war, and they would have taken out many countries.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East could disrupt global fertiliser supplies and drive up costs for farmers worldwide.

The warning follows air strikes on Iran on 28 February that have contributed to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for fertiliser raw materials.

Around 25% to 35% of global trade in fertiliser raw materials passes through the Strait of Hormuz, meaning any prolonged disruption could significantly affect the global fertiliser supply chain.

Analysts warn that a continued closure of the route could increase production and transport costs for fertiliser manufacturers.

Any disruption could push fertiliser prices higher at a time when many farmers are already facing rising input costs.

The Middle East is a major producer of ammonia and nitrogen, key ingredients used in many fertilisers essential for crop production.

A tightening global supply of nitrogen fertilisers could have ripple effects across agriculture, potentially affecting fertiliser availability and prices for growers.

Producers in North America and Russia could benefit if global nitrogen supply tightens.

However, rising crude oil prices and higher freight costs are likely to offset some of these potential gains.

Andrea Petroczi-Urban, assistant vice president of European corporate ratings, said fertiliser prices could rise if disruption continues.

In our view, major U.S. fertilizer producers may see improvements in revenue as the result of higher prices and market share from supply chain reorganization if the situation persists, she said.

However, fertiliser companies that rely on Middle Eastern natural gas feedstock could face operational challenges if production or transport routes are disrupted.

On the other hand, we expect fertilizer-producing companies reliant on Middle Eastern natural gas feedstock to face some challenges in production and transportation, which could result in lower profitability.

The potential impact could extend beyond fertiliser markets and into global food production.

Lower fertiliser use generally leads to reduced crop yields, which could add further pressure to global food prices if production declines.

The UK relies heavily on imported fertiliser and raw materials to support crop production, meaning farmers could be particularly exposed to supply disruptions.

Analysts say the fertiliser and agriculture sectors will be closely watching developments in the region as tensions continue to evolve.
Meat and plant imports carrying potential disease risks are entering the UK without inspection, new data has revealed.

The findings have raised serious biosecurity concerns among farmers and growers, who warn that gaps in border checks could expose UK livestock and crops to serious disease threats. An outbreak of diseases such as foot-and-mouth could cause major disruption to British livestock farming and trade.

Figures published by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee show that some consignments flagged for inspection are failing to attend the Sevington Border Control Post, a post-Brexit inland inspection facility located 22 miles from the Port of Dover.

In November 2025, 18% of flagged consignments containing products of animal origin  including meat and dairy  did not travel to Sevington despite being directed there through the digital border system. As a result, they passed through the system without inspection.

The figure represents a sharp increase from August 2025, when 8% of flagged consignments failed to attend. Defra refers to these missed inspections as drive-bys.

The data, provided by Defra, covers three sample months between 2024 and 2025 and was collected by Ashford Port Health Authority, which operates the Sevington facility.

The findings have raised fears across the farming and horticulture sectors that limited biosecurity checks may pose serious risks to livestock and crops.

Recent outbreaks across Europe have heightened those concerns, including African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease, as well as plant health threats such as the Xylella bacteria.

Industry figures warn weak controls at Dover may be allowing illegal meat and plant products  banned elsewhere in Europe  to enter the UK.

The EFRA Committee has previously warned that the Sevington system relies heavily on drivers voluntarily taking their consignments for inspection once they enter the country.

In a report published in September, MPs said enforcement was limited if drivers chose not to attend, allowing some consignments to continue directly to their destination.

There are also concerns that goods could potentially be unloaded before a consignment reaches the inspection facility.

EFRA Committee chair Alistair Carmichael MP said the figures expose serious flaws in the current system.

This new evidence from Defra paints a picture of a dysfunctional system. Unchecked meat and plant products carrying potentially devastating diseases are being let in through the front door, he said.

The risks to our livestock and plants are grave and very real. Both the horticultural and livestock sectors see this as a disaster waiting to happen.

Mr Carmichael said the government must ensure the Sevington system works effectively until a new agreement is reached with the European Union.

The Government has put all its eggs in the Sevington basket and it needs to make this system work at least until a new system can be agreed with the EU, he said.

He also pointed to evidence suggesting stronger enforcement could reduce the number of missed inspections.

A source of both hope and frustration appears in the very last paragraph. It suggests that when they had a go chasing up on drivers, the drive-bys fell and more checks were carried out, he said.

But that was apparently only a pilot and only for plant products. In other words, government wont commit the resources to keep this going and have not so far expanded it for meat and dairy imports.

Mr Carmichael warned the consequences could be severe if border checks fail to prevent disease entering the country.

How terribly short sighted that will look if another outbreak of Foot and Mouth arises from this farce, he said.

The Sevington facility was introduced after Brexit as a temporary solution for checking goods imported from the European Union.

Border checks are not currently carried out at Dover itself because the Bastion Point Border Control Post has yet to open.

The system is expected to change again as the UK negotiates a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, which could reshape how border inspections are carried out.

It remains unclear what role the Sevington site will play under any future arrangements.

During an evidence session on 3 March, Defra officials told MPs that follow up checks are carried out on vehicles that fail to attend Sevington.

However, officials admitted they do not hold data on how often these follow-up checks take place.
MPs have been given a first-hand look at the future of British dairy after touring the UKs largest fresh milk processing plant and a nearby farm.

The visit included a tour of Arla Foods Aylesbury Dairy, which processes more than 1.75 billion pints of milk each year using advanced robotics and automation, making it the biggest fresh milk facility in the country.

The visit formed part of the NFUs Food and Farming Fellowship scheme, which aims to give parliamentarians a better understanding of how the farming sector supports food production, food security and rural economies.

MPs first visited the Arla Innovation Farm near Princes Risborough before heading to the Aylesbury dairy, giving them a field-to-fork insight into the dairy supply chain and the role modern farming and processing play in the UK dairy industry.

The dairy sector is one of the UKs largest agricultural industries and plays a key role in supporting rural jobs and food production.

NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins said the visit helped demonstrate the importance of the sector.

Its great to get MPs out on farm and around a major processing facility so they have a better understanding of the importance of the dairy sector and the wider supply chain and its contribution to food production, the environment, jobs and rural communities, he said.

Mr Tompkins said visits like this help policymakers better understand the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture.

Providing valuable knowledge and information to our politicians on visits like this can go a long way in helping to create a more resilient, sustainable and profitable industry, he said.

Paul Dover, UK agriculture director at Arla Foods, said the company was pleased to support the NFU programme for a second year.

This is the second year that we have supported the NFU Parliamentary Fellowship programme by hosting a visit on farm and to Arla Aylesbury, he said.

It is really valuable to showcase our role as the UK's biggest agricultural co-operative and the commitment of our farmers and colleagues to underpin food security.

Mr Dover added that Arla looked forward to continuing to work with the Fellowship programme in the future.

The NFU launched the Food and Farming Fellowship scheme in 2024 to help MPs see first-hand how nutritious and affordable food reaches consumers from field to fork.

Those taking part in the dairy sector visit included Ben Goldsborough MP, Maya Ellis MP, Josh Fenton-Glynn MP, John Milne MP and Amanda Hack MP.

Arla Foods UK is Britains largest dairy company, processing around 3.5 billion litres of milk each year.

The cooperative is owned by around 7,800 dairy farmers across Europe, including many in the UK.
The agri-food industry recorded the highest number of migrant worker abuse cases of any sector in 2025, with more than 200 incidents exposing widespread exploitation across global food supply chains  including cases reported in the UK.

A total of 237 cases were documented in agri-food supply chains during the year, accounting for 32% of all incidents recorded in a global database tracking migrant worker abuse.

The United States reported the highest number of cases (31), followed by Canada (20) and the UK with 18 cases involving migrant farmworkers.

The figures come from analysis by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, which monitors reported cases of labour exploitation affecting migrant workers worldwide.

The majority of incidents  179 cases  involved workers in agriculture and fishing. A further 53 were recorded in food processing and packing, while nine cases affected workers in food distribution and retail.

Throughout 2025, migrant labour remained essential to global food production. Workers planted, picked and packed food across the globe, helping to keep supermarket shelves stocked, fill labour shortages and maintain food security.

However, many of these workers were subjected to unacceptable working conditions, according to the findings.

Much of the reported exploitation occurred during fruit and vegetable harvesting, which accounted for 29 cases. A further 13 cases were linked to livestock farming.

Several incidents were tied to supply chains connected to multinational retailers including Costco, Walmart and Hannaford, as well as major restaurant chains such as McDonalds.

Wage theft was the most common form of abuse reported among migrant farmworkers, appearing in 57 cases. This included salary deductions linked to debt repayments, contracts that listed fewer hours than workers actually completed, and payments that fell below minimum wage.

Health and safety breaches were also widespread, appearing in 46 cases. Workers were frequently exposed to dangerous conditions, including extreme heat and harmful chemicals.

Living conditions were also a major concern. Poor accommodation was reported in 42 cases, with farmworkers particularly affected  accounting for 28% of such reports compared with 15% across the wider database.

Catriona Fraser, migrant workers researcher at the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, said the data reflected growing risks facing migrant labour globally.

These findings come amid escalating global instability. Conflict, climate breakdown and political hostility towards migrants are reshaping migration corridors and increasing vulnerability, she said.

Across sectors and geographies, migrant workers are being subjected to severe and systemic human rights violations, from widespread wage theft and violence, to conditions of forced labour.

Fraser said the abuses reflected deeper structural problems within global supply chains.

These abuses are not isolated failures: they are the result of extractive business models that prioritise profit at the expense of human rights, including by pushing risks down opaque supply chains through subcontracting, poor purchasing practices and weak oversight, she said.

At the same time, global economic shifts driven by the technological revolution and energy transition are creating new and diverse harms for migrant workforces.

She added that companies must move beyond superficial compliance measures and prioritise stronger protections for workers.

Companies can tackle these risks by moving beyond tick-box approaches and conducting human rights due diligence that centres the experiences of migrant workers, Fraser said.

The largest multinationals at the top of global value chains have the power and responsibility to drive this change and ensure just and equitable tech and energy transitions.

The findings underline the vital role migrant workers play in food production  and the growing scrutiny facing companies over labour conditions in global and UK agricultural supply chains.
African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread across Europe, with nearly 2,000 new cases reported in just two months, raising concerns for the pig sector and the risk of the disease reaching the UK.

The developments are being closely monitored by UK authorities because of the potential threat to the British pig industry.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs and wild boar. While it poses no risk to human health, outbreaks can cause severe economic losses for producers and the wider livestock sector.

If the disease were detected in the UK, strict control measures would likely be introduced, including movement restrictions, the culling of infected and at-risk pigs, and trade restrictions on pork exports.

Such measures could have significant consequences for the British pig sector, which produces around one million tonnes of pork each year and supports thousands of jobs across farming, processing and the wider supply chain.

The latest update from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) shows the virus is present in 16 European countries.

A total of 1,871 cases were reported in wild boar across Europe during the reporting period, continuing a trend of rising infections in wild populations seen since 2025.

By comparison, outbreaks in domestic pigs remain lower, with 64 cases reported between January and February. These figures are consistent with the lower numbers recorded in 2024 and 2025 following the peak seen in 2023.

According to reports from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), outbreaks in domestic pigs have been confirmed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Latvia, Moldova, Romania and Serbia.

Additional cases have also been detected in wild boar populations across much of Europe, including Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain.

One of the most significant recent developments has been the spread of ASF in wild boar in Spain.

Authorities have confirmed 162 cases in the Catalonia region. The most recent detections were found near Sant Feliu de Llobregat, around 7km south of previously known cases.

Germany has also reported further cases of ASF in wild boar. Between January and February, 80 cases were recorded, including 12 in Hesse and 68 in North Rhine-Westphalia.

APHA said the disease has continued circulating in wild boar in North Rhine-Westphalia since June 2025.

APHA said the continued spread of the virus in western Germany remains a concern.

The continued rise in cases among wild boar in western Germany, within 70 km of the French border, is concerning, the report said.

However, the agency noted that containment measures appear to be limiting the spread.

However, the disease has remained largely contained within fenced regions, as the closest reported case to France has held steady at that distance for some time.

Elsewhere in Europe, Italy reported 189 cases in wild boar during January, including 128 in Tuscany and 44 in Liguria.

Poland recorded 434 cases across the country, while Hungary reported a further 202 cases in wild boar.

Romania also confirmed 43 additional outbreaks in domestic pigs.

APHA warned that the virus could continue to spread across Europe through both wild boar movements and human activity.

The agency said the risk of ASF entering Great Britain through live animals or products of animal origin from affected countries remains unchanged at MEDIUM (occurs regularly).

However, illegal imports of pork products remain a major concern.

The potential high risk for non-commercial imports of pork products from ASF affected areas remains of high concern, the report said.

Inspections at Great Britains ports have uncovered vehicles illegally bringing pork products from ASF-affected EU regions.

Some consignments involved large quantities of pork believed to be home-slaughtered and transported without proper documentation or hygiene controls.

Therefore, the risk of ASF entering Great Britain, from the human-mediated pathway and moving porcine POAO, is considered to remain at HIGH (occurs very often), APHA said.

APHA said the risk will continue to be monitored as more information becomes available.








Netflix shared a teaser video featuring the seven members along with a caption that read, "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG. Trailer tomorrow. #BTSLiveonNetflix #BTS_ARIRANG"



Watch it here: For ARMYs (BTS' fan base) who cannot attend their upcoming concerts in person, they will be able to catch it on the big screen. The BTS World Tour ARIRANG Live Viewing will be available in cinema halls as well as on Netflix. On Wednesday, the members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook revealed that the comeback album's trailer will be dropping tomorrow. March is officially BTS month as the South-Korean boyband is finally making their comeback after their military service. Ahead of the release of their 5th album, Arirang, the band dropped the tracklist and also the trailer release date of the BTS World Tour ARIRANG Live Viewing.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in)





Take a look at the tracklist: Meanwhile, the full tracklist of 14 songs was also released yesterday.

About Arirang





BTS' fifth album Arirang will be released on March 20, following which the band will embark on a world tour.





The word Arirang created a lot of intrigue among netizens. Hardcore K-drama fans might be familiar with this as Arirang is a Korean folk song, estimated to be 600 years old. It was included twice on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. In 2015, the South Korean Cultural Heritage Administration added Arirang to its list of intangible cultural assets.





BTS sang this in 2016 during one of their performances.





Meanwhile, their world tour is set to kick off in April 2026 in Goyang, South Korea, followed by performances in Tokyo, Las Vegas, London, and several Southeast Asian cities like Bangkok and Singapore. This marks the group's first full-scale global tour since all seven members completed their mandatory military service.

Also Read: KH X RK Promo: Makers Drop BTS To Quash AI Rumours
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2026) - Zenith Capital Corp. ("Zenith" or the "Company") today announces the appointment of Mr. Bryan R. Ede, J.D. as a member of the Company's Board of Directors following the retirement of Dr. Norman Wong, M.D. as a member of the Board.

Mr. Ede worked over 27 years in Calgary as a commercial lawyer. He was a national firm Equity Partner for McMillan LLP and Miller Thomson LLP and has extensive law firm management experience as a Calgary Managing Partner, a member of a national firm Executive Committee, the Chair of several local and national legal practice groups, and as a sole practitioner. In addition, Mr. Ede was a legal industry leader acting on Alberta Bar Association committees providing legal practice oversight and education, as well as chairing the Real Property Section of the Canadian Bar Association, South Alberta Branch. Mr. Ede has in-depth insight regarding diverse industries from his legal practice. His work was largely related to the healthcare, real estate, retail, and oil and gas industries, negotiating, documenting and closing transactions, but he also provided extensive other legal services, critical analyses and creative solutions for a variety of businesses.

"We are very pleased to welcome Bryan to Zenith's board of directors," said Donald McCaffrey, Chairman and CEO. "Bryan has an excellent reputation for prudent advice and creative insights, and we look forward to benefitting from his experience and perspective."

Dr. Wong has chosen to step down from the Board of Directors for personal reasons but will remain an active supporter of Zenith. "We are deeply grateful to Dr. Wong for his many contributions since Zenith's inception," said Mr. McCaffrey.

About Zenith

Zenith Epigenetics Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Zenith Capital Corp., is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other disorders with significant unmet medical need. Zenith Epigenetics is developing various novel combinations of BET inhibitors with other targeted agents. Our lead compound, ZEN-3694, is in clinical development for various oncologic indications such as metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer, NUT carcinoma, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, squamous cell lung cancer and other solid tumors. Several of these studies are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute ("NCI") under the NCI-Zenith Cooperative Research & Development Agreements ("CRADA") and CRADAs between NCI and other NCI collaborators.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release may contain certain forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar expressions. In particular, this news release includes forward looking information relating to the Company's development activities involving ZEN-3694 in NUT carcinoma, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other tumor types, as a single agent, or in combination with chemotherapies, as well as our partnerships, agreements, and collaborations in furtherance of these development activities. Our actual results, events or developments could be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that any of the events or expectations will occur or be realized. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions and risk factors including those discussed in our most recent MD&A which are incorporated herein by reference and are available through SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. Zenith disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286106

Source: Zenith Capital Corp.
Die Stimmung an den Markten hat sich grundlegend gedreht. Wahrend Tech- und KI-Werte zunehmend mit Volatilitat und Bewertungsrisiken kampfen, erleben klassische Versorger ein unerwartetes Comeback. Laut IEA und EIA steigt der globale Strombedarf strukturell weiter, nicht nur wegen E-Mobilitat und Warmepumpen, sondern vor allem durch energiehungrige KI-Rechenzentren. Energie wird damit zur zentralen Infrastruktur des digitalen Zeitalters.



Gleichzeitig rucken in unsicheren Marktphasen stabile Cashflows, solide Bilanzen und regulierte Renditen wieder starker in den Fokus. Genau hier spielen Versorger ihre Starken aus: berechenbare Ertrage, robuste Nachfrage und hohe Dividenden  Qualitaten, die vielen Wachstumswerten aktuell fehlen.



Nach Jahren im Schatten der Tech-Rallye steigt nun das Interesse an Unternehmen, die Stabilitat mit langfristigen Wachstumsthemen wie Netzausbau, Dekarbonisierung und erneuerbaren Energien verbinden.



Im aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir drei Versorger vor, die defensive Starke mit attraktivem Potenzial kombinieren.



Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern  bevor die nachste Versorgerwelle Fahrt aufnimmt!
Rio Tinto and the Western Australian Government have entered into a 50:50 joint venture to complete both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Dampier Seawater Desalination Plant.

Once fully operational, the plant will deliver 8GL of desalinated water per year to the West Pilbara Water Supply Scheme, reducing pressure on regional aquifers.

The West Pilbara Water Supply Scheme is operated by Water Corporation and supplies the towns of Karratha, Wickham, Dampier, Roebourne, Point Samson and the industrial areas of Cape Lambert and the Burrup Peninsula.

Construction of Stage 1 of the desalination plant is underway and is expected to begin delivering 4GL of annual desalination capacity later this year.

Stage 2 construction, which will add a further 4GL of annual capacity, has commenced, with first water expected in 2027.

Together, Stages 1 and 2 will significantly reduce abstraction from the Bungaroo and Millstream aquifers.

The joint venture builds on a 2025 Memorandum of Understanding, under which the WA Government and Rio Tinto agreed to work together to strengthen water security in the Pilbara.

Over the past five years, the West Pilbara has frequently experienced annual rainfall and streamflow below the long-term average. This has reduced important groundwater recharge at the Millstream and Bungaroo aquifers, which supply the West Pilbara Water Supply Scheme.

Abstraction from these groundwater sources is of significant concern to Traditional Owner groups.

The A$1.1 billion Dampier Seawater Desalination Plant, which will be operated by Rio Tinto, will considerably reduce groundwater take and help protect sites of environmental and cultural importance.

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said: "Western Australia has the strongest economy in the nation thanks largely to the Pilbara and our world-leading resources industry. That's why we want to ensure the Western Australians who live in such an important part of our State have access to the quality infrastructure and services they deserve.

"We are already working with Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation to improve the Millstream aquifer's sustainability. Now, we are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in a project that will deliver billions of litres of water to local households and businesses. This project shows why our government's Made in WA plan is so important to our State's future and how it is helping deliver our priorities."

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Matthew Holcz said: "We understand water is a scarce resource, especially in the Pilbara. Bringing on the Dampier Seawater Desalination Plant is an important step as we work to reduce our reliance on groundwater abstraction.

"Stage 1 of the Dampier Seawater Desalination Plant will reduce our draw on the Bungaroo aquifer, which we recognise is deeply important to the Robe River Kuruma People. We are pleased to partner with the Western Australian Government to improve the security and sustainability of water supply throughout the Pilbara."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303357903/en/

Contacts:

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, United Kingdom

Matthew Klar

M +44 7796 630 637

David Outhwaite

M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Australia

Matt Chambers

M +61 433 525 739

Alyesha Anderson

M +61 434 868 118

Rachel Pupazzoni

M +61 438 875 469

Bruce Tobin

M +61 419 103 454

Media Relations, Canada

Simon Letendre

M +1 514 796 4973

Malika Cherry

M +1 418 592 7293

Vanessa Damha

M +1 514 715 2152

Media Relations, US Latin America

Jesse Riseborough

M +1 202 394 9480

Investor Relations, United Kingdom

Rachel Arellano

M +44 7584 609 644

David Ovington

M +44 7920 010 978

Laura Brooks

M +44 7826 942 797

Weiwei Hu

M +44 7825 907 230

Investor Relations, Australia

Tom Gallop

M +61 439 353 948

Eddie Gan-Och

M +61 477 599 714

Rio Tinto plc

6 St James's Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000

Registered in England

No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 43, 120 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia

ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Category: Pilbara
EQS-Ad-hoc: Aroundtown SA / Key word(s): Mergers and Acquisitions / Takeover Offer/Results / Full year

Aroundtown announces Acquisition Offer for shares of Grand City Properties, publishes 2025 Consolidated Financial Report, proposes Dividend Payment combined with updated Dividend Policy



04-March-2026 / 03:18 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group .

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Ad-hoc Release pursuant to Article 17 Market Abuse Regulation NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. Aroundtown SA announces Voluntary Public Acquisition Offer for up to 47,451,773 shares of Grand City Properties S.A., publishes Consolidated Financial Report for Financial Year 2025, and proposes Dividend Payment combined with updated Dividend Policy Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, March 4, 2026. The board of directors of Aroundtown SA ("Aroundtown") has resolved to offer to the shareholders of Grand City Properties S.A. ("Grand City Properties") to acquire up to 47,451,773 shares of Grand City Properties by way of a voluntary public acquisition offer in the form of an exchange offer (the "Offer"). Aroundtown will offer 4 existing shares of Aroundtown held in treasury as consideration in exchange for 1 tendered share of Grand City Properties. The shares of Aroundtown exchanged for shares of Grand City Properties will carry the dividend rights from January 1, 2025. The Offer will be neither subject to the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act nor the Luxembourg Takeover Act. The Offer will be limited to the maximum holding of up to 89.5% of the share capital of GCP (including the shares held prior to the Offer) and not subject to any minimum acceptance threshold or other conditions. In case tendered shares together with the existing shareholding exceed the maximum offer volume, all tendered shares will be scaled back on a pro-rata basis. The Offer is expected to conclude by beginning of April. The final terms of the Offer will be set forth in the full offer document to be published in the coming days. Further, Aroundtown publishes the consolidated financial report for the financial year ended on December 31, 2025 on March 4, 2026, i.e. earlier than announced in Aroundtown's previous communication. Moreover, the board of directors of Aroundtown has resolved to propose to the next annual general meeting which is scheduled for June 24, 2026, to approve the distribution of a dividend relating to the financial year 2025 in an amount of EUR 0.08 (gross) per share. Any GCP shares tendered in the Offer will be fully eligible for the dividend. This proposal marks the reinstatement of a dividend proposal from the board of directors of Aroundtown since its last dividend proposal in respect of the financial year 2021. Going forward, Aroundtown has updated its dividend payout policy from 2026 onward to 50% of FFO 1 per share.

Important information This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation to purchase Aroundtown or Grand City Properties shares. The final terms and further provisions regarding the Offer will be in the offer document. Investors and holders of Grand City Properties shares are strongly recommended to read the offer document and all other documents in connection with the Offer as soon as they are published, as they will contain important information. Subject to the exceptions described in the offer document and any exceptions granted by the relevant regulatory authorities, an Offer is not being made directly or indirectly, in or into those jurisdictions where to do so would constitute a violation pursuant to the laws of such jurisdiction. In particular, the Aroundtown shares that are intended to be transferred to Grand City Properties shareholders as consideration (the "Offer Shares") have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the securities laws of any state, district or other jurisdiction of the United States of America. The Offer Shares may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, to Grand City Properties shareholders located in the United States of America (the "U.S. Shareholders"), or to agents, nominees, trustees, custodians or other persons acting for the account or benefit of U.S. Shareholders, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. The Offer Document was neither submitted to nor approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Offer is being made with respect to U.S. Shareholders pursuant to Regulation 14E under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") in reliance on certain exemptions available for cross-border tender offers pursuant to Rule 14d-1(d). These exemptions permit a bidder to satisfy certain United States substantive and procedural Exchange Act rules governing tender offers by complying with home jurisdiction law or practice and exempts the bidder from compliance with certain other rules of the Exchange Act. As a result, the Offer is made in accordance with the applicable regulatory, disclosure and procedural requirements under German and Luxembourg law to the extent applicable, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments, that are different from those applicable under United States domestic tender offer procedures and law. The Offer will result in the acquisition of securities of a Luxembourg company and is subject to German and Luxembourg disclosure requirements, which differ from those of the United States. The financial information included or referred to in the offer documentation has been prepared in accordance with non-U.S. accounting standards and, accordingly, may not be comparable to financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulation, and in accordance with German market practice, Aroundtown or its brokers may purchase, or conclude agreements to purchase, Grand City Properties shares, directly or indirectly, outside of the scope of the Offer, before, during or after the acceptance period. This applies to other securities that are directly convertible into, exchangeable for, or exercisable for Grand City Properties shares. These purchases may be completed via the stock exchange at market prices or outside the stock exchange at negotiated conditions. Any information on such purchases will be disclosed as required by law or regulation in Germany or any other relevant jurisdiction and will also be published on the internet website of Aroundtown under www.aroundtown.de/investor-relations. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Germany, such information also will be deemed to be publicly disclosed in the United States. With respect to any such acquisitions of GCP Shares outside of the Offer from the date of public announcement of the Offer until expiration of the Offer, for any GCP Shares acquired outside of the Offer for consideration paid outside the Offer that is greater than the Offer Consideration (as defined in the Offer Document for the voluntary public takeover offer for GCP Shares), the Offer Consideration will be increased to match such greater consideration.. No purchases or arrangements to purchase otherwise than pursuant to the Offer will be made in the United States. If any announcements in this document contain forward-looking statements, such statements do not represent facts and are characterized by the words 'will', 'expect', 'believe', 'estimate', 'intend', 'contemplate', 'aim', 'assume' or similar expressions. Such statements express the intentions, opinions or current expectations and assumptions of Aroundtown and the persons acting together with Aroundtown. Such forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and forecasts which Aroundtown and the persons acting together with Aroundtown have made to the best of their knowledge, but which do not claim to be correct in the future. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and usually cannot be influenced by Aroundtown or the persons acting together with Aroundtown. It should be kept in mind that the actual events or consequences may differ materially from those contained in or expressed by such forward-looking statements. Contact Timothy Wright

T: +352 288 313

E: info@aroundtown.de

www.aroundtown.de



End of Inside Information



04-March-2026 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

View original content: EQS News
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2026) - Parvis Invest Inc. (TSXV: PVIS) ("Parvis" or "the Company"), a technology-enabled platform for private real estate and alternative investments, is issuing this news release to clarify and supplement the news release issued on February 19, 2026 (the "Original Release") regarding the proposed acquisition of Richmond Global Wealth Inc. ("RGW"). The current release should be read in conjunction with the Original Release.

Non-Arm's Length/Related Party Nature of the Transaction

The Original Release did not disclose that the proposed acquisition constitutes a Non-Arm's Length Transaction within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") policies and a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101").

Specifically, RGW operates under the Bluestar Equity Inc. ("Bluestar Equity") umbrella. Mr. Noah Murad, a director of Parvis, indirectly controls and/or holds an ownership interest in RGW through Bluestar Equity Inc. As a result, Mr. Murad is considered a "Non-Arm's Length Party" in relation to Parvis, as that term is defined under TSXV Policy 1.1, and a "related party" as defined under MI 61-101. The transaction is therefore subject to the protections and requirements applicable to related party transactions under applicable securities laws and TSXV policies.

The Company confirms that, given the non-arm's length nature of the transaction, Mr. Murad and any other Non-Arm's Length Parties and their respective associates and affiliates will be excluded from voting on the resolution to approve the transaction.

Disinterested Shareholder Approval Required

The Original Release stated that closing of the transaction is subject to "receipt of shareholder approval." The Company wishes to clarify that the required shareholder approval must be disinterested shareholder approval, meaning approval by a majority of the votes cast by shareholders of Parvis, excluding votes attached to shares beneficially owned or controlled by Mr. Noah Murad, Bluestar Equity Inc., and any other Non-Arm's Length Parties, and their respective associates and affiliates, in accordance with TSXV policies and MI 61-101.

Unchanged Terms

All other terms and conditions of the transaction as described in the Original Release remain unchanged. The transaction remains subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, in addition to the disinterested shareholder approval described herein.

To learn more about Parvis and its private market investment platform, visit www.parvisinvest.com

About Parvis

Parvis is a technology-driven investment platform dedicated to democratizing access to institutional-quality opportunities. Utilizing AI and blockchain technology, Parvis streamlines the investment process, making it more accessible and efficient. Headquartered in Vancouver, Parvis operates with experts in Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna, and Montreal. For more information, visit www.parvisinvest.com and SEDAR+.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: execution and integration of the purchased entity; and the Company's business plans and role in the investment industry. To develop the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: adverse market conditions; changes in general economic, business and political conditions; changes in applicable laws and regulations; compliance with extensive government regulation; reliance on key and qualified personnel; risks associated with the real estate, investment, and technology industries in general. The foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @ParvisInvest

Facebook: ParvisInvest

LinkedIn: Parvis

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286202

Source: Parvis Invest Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2026) - Wilton Resources Inc. (TSXV: WIL) (the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it intends to issue, by way of non-brokered private placement, units of the Corporation ("Units") at a purchase price of $0.35 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for up to 2,857,143 Units and for aggregate gross proceeds of a maximum of $1,000,000 (the "Offering"). The principal use of the proceeds of the Offering will be for general corporate purposes and as a reserve to pursue the acquisition of an international oil and gas property.

Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Corporation (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.40 per Warrant Share (the "Exercise Price") for a period of 24 months immediately following the Closing Date (as defined below).

The Corporation expects to close the Offering on or about March 20, 2026, or such other date as the Corporation may determine in its sole discretion (the "Closing Date").

In connection with the Offering, the Corporation may pay to certain arm's length parties a commission, finder's fee or similar payment (whether in the form of cash, securities or an interest in assets). Further information regarding such fee, if paid, shall be disclosed in a further news release of the Corporation.

Completion of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSXV. The TSXV has not approved the Offering Price or the Exercise Price and these remain subject to the change. The Common Shares, Warrants and the Common Shares underlying the Warrants will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the Closing Date, in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

It is expected that certain Insiders of the Corporation (as such term is defined under the policies of the TSXV) may participate in the Offering. The participation of Insiders in the Offering will constitute a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Corporation intends to rely upon exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 based on a determination that the fair market value of the Offering, insofar as it involves the related parties, does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Corporation.

The Offering was approved by the Corporation's board of directors by means of a unanimous resolution.

For more information concerning the Corporation, please refer to the Corporation's profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "intend", "may", "will", "expect", and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Corporation's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information with respect to the receipt of regulatory approvals (including TSXV approvals, the timing thereof, statutory hold periods, the payment of a finder's fee, Insider participation in the Offering, the availability of exemptions under MI 61-101 and the principal uses of the proceeds of the Offering. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Corporation. The material facts and assumptions include obtaining approval of the TSXV of the proposed Offering; the availability of certain prospectus exemptions in respect of the Offering; and the intended use of proceeds remaining in the best interests of the Corporation. The Corporation cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Corporation is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward- looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

For more information, please contact:

Wilton Resources Inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this release.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities Laws.

THE SECURITIES OFFERED HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. THIS PRESS RELEASE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286206

Source: Wilton Resources Inc.
VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global crypto exchange BYDFi announced it has been named Best All-in-One Crypto Trading Platform at Crypto Expo Europe 2026, with BYDFi participating as a sponsor, marking the fourth major industry recognition BYDFi has received in the past year. Held March 1 to 2 in Bucharest, Romania, Crypto Expo Europe is positioned as Eastern Europe's largest crypto, blockchain, and Web3 conference, bringing together institutions, enterprises, regulators, and builders for two days of industry dialogue.

The CEE Awards Gala is built around a live, transparent voting mechanism as part of the ceremony, with winners announced on-site in the official program. The Best All-in-One Crypto Trading Platform category recognizes platforms that deliver an end-to-end trading experience across core user workflows, combining breadth of market access with product completeness and day-to-day usability.

All-in-One, Built Into the Product Stack

The Best All-in-One Crypto Trading Platform award reflects BYDFi's focus on building a complete trading stack around a CEX + DEX dual-engine approach, supporting different workflows in one connected experience.

On the centralized side, BYDFi supports spot trading across more than 1,000 pairs and perpetual contracts across more than 500 markets, with leverage options up to 200x and execution and risk controls designed for active derivatives participation. BYDFi also offers Copy Trading and automated trading bots that help users apply structured approaches across different market conditions.

On the onchain side, MoonX is integrated into BYDFi as an onchain trading engine that supports Solana, BNB Chain, and Base, providing access to more than 500,000 onchain trading pairs. MoonX offers fast token discovery, smart money tracking, and access to xStocks tokenized equities, helping users navigate fast-moving markets with clearer signals and streamlined execution.

A Look Back at BYDFi's Recent Awards

Alongside the Crypto Expo Europe recognition, BYDFi has also received additional industry acknowledgments over the past year:

TrustFinance Awards 2025, Trusted Exchange Award, recognizing excellence and contribution to the financial industry through innovation, integrity, and trust





FinanceFeeds Awards 2025, Outstanding Crypto Trading Platform, reflecting BYDFi's continued growth and presence in the global perpetual contracts trading market





BeInCrypto, Best Centralized Exchange (CEX), Community Pick, a community voting category reflecting broad user attention in the market segment

A Milestone Year of Industry Recognition

Over the past year, BYDFi has made clear progress in product depth, market coverage, and global brand visibility, gaining recognition from both the community and the industry. These awards reflect BYDFi's continued progress toward a more complete, consistent, and user-first trading environment.

Regarding the Crypto Expo Europe honor, Michael, Co-founder and CEO of BYDFi, said: All-in-one is where things are heading. This award confirms BYDFi is building in the right lane. Built for Reliability, BYDFi will keep raising standards across spot, derivatives, and onchain workflows, with a continued focus on execution quality, usability, and user protections as the platform scales.

About BYDFi

Founded in 2020, BYDFi now serves over 1 million users across 190+ countries and regions. BYDFi is Newcastle United's Exclusive Official Crypto Exchange Partner. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Best Crypto Exchanges In Canada For 2026, BYDFi offers intuitive, low-fee trading across Spot and Perpetual Contracts, plus Copy Trading, Automated Trading Bots, and the onchain tool MoonX, empowering both new and experienced traders to navigate digital assets with confidence. BYDFi has also established an 800 BTC Protection Fund to further strengthen user asset safeguards.

BYDFi is dedicated to delivering a world-class crypto trading experience for every user.

BUIDL Your Dream Finance.

Website: https://www.bydfi.com

Support email: cs@bydfi.com

Business partnerships: bd@bydfi.com

Media inquiries: media@bydfi.com

Twitter( X ) | LinkedIn | Telegram | YouTube | TikTok | How to Buy on BYDFi

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2924690/image1.jpg

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bydfi-named-best-all-in-one-crypto-trading-platform-at-crypto-expo-europe-extending-awards-momentum-302703344.html
New independent patent licensing platform launches for Wi-Fi

Avanci Wi-Fi 6 Vehicle to be the first license program established under the platform

Avanci, the independent global leader in joint licensing solutions, today announced the launch of Avanci Wi-Fi, a new licensing platform for standard essential patents (SEPs) covering the Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 standards. The first program established under the platform is Avanci Wi-Fi 6 Vehicle, which has already brought together ten patent owners and signed its inaugural patent sublicense agreement with Mercedes Benz AG. This makes the Avanci Wi-Fi 6 Vehicle license program the largest joint licensing program for Wi-Fi 6 SEPs with regard to the number of participating patent owners, and the only joint licensing program to have publicly announced a major automaker as a licensee. By consolidating essential Wi-Fi 6 patent rights into a single license, the program simplifies licensing for automotive manufacturers and supports the continued adoption of advanced wireless connectivity in vehicles. Additional licensors and licensees are expected to join the platform in the near future.

"Our licensing standard essential patents for cellular connectivity through our 4G and 5G Vehicle programs positioned Avanci as the natural choice when the automotive industry began seeking an efficient solution for Wi-Fi licensing," said Kasim Alfalahi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Avanci. "Having established a trusted platform for cellular connectivity in vehicles, we are extending that same transparent and balanced approach to Wi-Fi to support continued innovation in connected vehicles."

The new Avanci Wi-Fi platform builds on the success of Avanci's 4G and 5G Vehicle programs, which together cover more than 250 million connected vehicles worldwide, including more than 140 automotive brands across both programs.

"Following cellular, Wi-Fi is one of the most important wireless technologies integrated into modern vehicles. It enables efficient delivery of software updates, diagnostics, mapping data, and other high-bandwidth services that enhance the driving experience," said Qudus Olaniran, Senior Vice President, and Head of Avanci Wi-Fi. "The launch of Avanci Wi-Fi reflects both the growing importance of this standard and our commitment to simplifying licensing of essential Wi-Fi technologies."

Avanci Wi-Fi 6 Vehicle offers a single license covering thousands of patented technologies essential to implementing Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. The per-vehicle royalty rate is available to prospective licensees on a confidential basis. An early licensee discount may apply for companies that conclude a license agreement before their first sale of a Wi-Fi 6 compliant vehicle, or within six months of the launch of the Avanci Wi-Fi 6 Vehicle program. Additional information, including initial participants and program details, can be found at www.avanci.com/wi-fi.

About Avanci

Avanci is an independent licensing platform that simplifies access to patented technologies essential to global standards. By bringing licensors and licensees together through efficient, transparent solutions, Avanci helps companies deliver transformative technologies to market while ensuring innovators are fairly rewarded. For more information visit www.avanci.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260302519110/en/

Contacts:

Ryan Peal, SVP Marketing Communication

rpeal@avanci.com +1 310-490-1915

James Lindsay, Kekst CNC

james.lindsay@kekstcnc.com +1 917-842-4119
LONDON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Netlight, a leading international digital consulting company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Hakan Faltmars as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 30 March 2026. This appointment marks a strategic milestone, further strengthening Netlight's capabilities and ambition for continued global growth and innovation. Following a turning point in 2025, with strong growth in employees, sales and profit, this step builds on the momentum and further enhances our capacity for future growth.

As CFO, Hakan will lead Netlight's finance organisation and drive the continuous evolution of financial management on a global scale, supporting the company's international expansion. He brings extensive experience from both listed and entrepreneurial companies, with a proven record of driving growth and transformation. He is recognised for his commitment to co-creation, adaptable leadership and empowering teams, making him an excellent culture match for Netlight's people-focused and collaborative culture.

"At Netlight, co-creation is central to our success and is reflected in both our working culture and unique co-CEO leadership model. With Hakan on board, we look forward to continuing to grow and evolve Netlight together with our finance organisation, further strengthening our financial direction as we pursue our ambitious international growth journey," says Anders Thall, Co-CEO of Netlight.

"Hakan's experience in leading finance through rapid scaling, transformation and operational excellence will be invaluable as we continue to expand. His people-centric leadership will make a positive impact, and his strategic experience will contribute to Netlight's long-term value," adds Katri Junna, Co-CEO of Netlight.

Hakan most recently served as CFO and Partner at Carico AB, one of Sweden's fastest-growing healthcare companies. Previously, he was CFO at Trustly, a global fintech company, where he led a large finance team, managed acquisitions and successfully shifted the company's focus towards sustainable profitability.

"I am honoured and excited to join Netlight at such a dynamic time. Netlight's dedication to innovation, co-creation and sustainable growth motivates me, and I look forward to working with our co-CEOs and the entire team to create lasting value," says Hakan Faltmars.

About Netlight

Netlight is an international digital consulting firm, helping leading companies to succeed in the digital landscape, from advice to implementation. Our service contains the collective intelligence of 2000 consultants offering a comprehensive range of digital services, from strategy to technology. We support industries that are facing new challenges and opportunities based on new technology, to make better business. Netlight has been awarded several times for profitable growth and management, as a top employer, and for our engagement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Located in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Oslo, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Zurich, Cologne, Amsterdam, London, Madrid and Toronto. Co-creating the future today, since 1999. www.netlight.com

Contact:

Anna Moore

Senior PR & Communications

070-2369308

anna.moore@netlight.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/netlight-consulting-ab--publ-/r/netlight-appoints-hakan-faltmars-as-new-chief-financial-officer,c4316290

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/20581/4316290/3963217.pdf Press release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/netlight-consulting-ab--publ-/i/hakan-faltmars-cfo-netlight,c3516222 Hakan Faltmars CFO Netlight

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/netlight-appoints-hakan-faltmars-as-new-chief-financial-officer-302703577.html
EQS-Ad-hoc: Global Fashion Group S.A. / Key word(s): Capital measures / Share buybacks

Global Fashion Group S.A.: GFG launches up to EUR 3 million share buyback programme



04-March-2026 / 08:40 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group .

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Luxembourg, 4 March 2026 - With the approval of the Supervisory Board, the Management Board of Global Fashion Group S.A. ("GFG" or the "Company") has resolved today to initiate a share buyback programme.

The programme covers the repurchase of up to 15 million shares of the Company with a total purchase price (excluding incidental transaction charges) of up to EUR 3 million euros.

The programme is expected to start on 9 March 2026 and to end by 26 February 2027 at the latest. The buyback programme is based on the authorisation granted by the annual general meeting of shareholders held in 2021, under which the Company may repurchase up to 43,019,861 common GFG shares. This authorisation is scheduled to expire on 25 May 2026. A new buyback authorisation will be proposed at the annual general meeting of shareholders scheduled for 20 May 2026. If the new authorisation is not approved, the buyback programme will end on 25 May 2026.

The repurchased shares are expected to be used to meet a proportion of GFG's obligations under its share-based remuneration programmes to the employees and Management Board of GFG, and may be used in the future to reduce GFG's issued share capital by cancelling repurchased shares. The Company reserves the right to terminate the share buyback programme.

The shares will be repurchased through the stock exchange and in accordance with the safe harbour provisions of Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.

An independent bank will carry out the repurchases and will make its trading decisions regarding the exact timing of the purchases of shares independently of, and without any influence by, the Company. The bank is legally obliged to comply with the trading conditions of Art. 3 of the Delegated Regulation and the provisions contained in the buyback mandate.

Information on the transactions relating to the buyback programme will be published according to Art. 2 of the Delegated Regulation and will be made available on GFG's website.

Person making the notification: Saori McKinnon, Head of Investor Relations & Communications





FURTHER INFORMATION

KPI and financial definitions, including alternative performance measures are available in the 2025 Annual Financial Report .

For inquiries, please contact:

Saori McKinnon

Head of Investor Relations & Communications

investors@global-fashion-group.com

press@global-fashion-group.com

Forward-looking Information

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be construed as a promise of future results and developments and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Various factors could cause actual future results, performance or events to differ materially from those described in this announcement, and neither the Company nor any other person accepts any responsibility for the accuracy of the opinions expressed in this announcement or the underlying assumptions.

About Global Fashion Group

Global Fashion Group ("GFG") is the leading fashion and lifestyle destination in ANZ, LATAM and SEA. GFG exists to empower its people, customers and partners to express their true selves through fashion. GFG's three ecommerce platforms - THE ICONIC, Dafiti and ZALORA - offer a curated assortment of international, local and own brands to a diverse market of 700 million consumers. Through a seamless and inspiring customer journey, powered by a blend of data-driven insights and local expertise, GFG's platforms deliver an exceptional customer experience from discovery to delivery. GFG's vision is to be the #1 fashion & lifestyle destination in its markets, and is committed to doing this responsibly by being people and planet positive across everything it does. (ISIN: LU2010095458)

For more information visit: www.global-fashion-group.com
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ZURICH, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Squirro , a global leader in secure, private, and accurate AI-driven enterprise intelligence solutions, today announced the appointment of David Clarke as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Clarke succeeds Dr. Dorian Selz, who will transition to the role of Executive Deputy Chairman. This strategic leadership change, approved by Squirro's Board of Directors, reflects the company's strong business momentum and positions Squirro for its next phase of growth.

Following the successful merger of Synaptica and Squirro, David Clarke, Founder of Synaptica and Squirro's Chief Innovation Officer since July 2024, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Squirro. Clarke brings over 30 years of experience in the information industry, with deep expertise in knowledge graphs , enterprise AI, and large-scale deployments. He has played a central role in strengthening the combined platform's capabilities. As CEO, Clarke will now lead Squirro's operational execution and commercial expansion globally.

Dr. Dorian Selz, Squirro's Co-Founder, will transition to Executive Deputy Chairman, where he will devote his time to company-wide growth and innovation initiatives ensuring Squirro continues to drive the future of enterprise AI.

"After 15 years leading Squirro, I'm thrilled to hand over the CEO role to David - one of our four founders," said Dr. Selz. "This is the right moment and the right leader. It frees me to focus fully on breakthrough innovation and high-impact distribution partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for Squirro and accelerate our growth."

"This marks an exhilarating new chapter for Squirro," stated David Clarke. "I am proud to lead such a talented team as we advance our innovative journey in delivering knowledge-centric AI solutions. Synaptica effectively transforms human-readable knowledge into machine-readable formats, empowering enterprises with enhanced transparency and control over their AI agents."

The organizational change follows a period of exceptional business performance for Squirro, including:

Revenue growth of over 60% year-over-year, driven by new client acquisition and upsell/cross-sell.

Strategic client wins with industry leaders, including Buhler and SwissRockets.

Expansion into new sectors and geographies, and a strengthened partner ecosystem through co-selling agreements.

Deep integration with leading hyperscalers, such as Alibaba Cloud, enhancing deployment flexibility and scalability.

Squirro's Board of Directors and executive leadership are confident that this transition will further strengthen the company's position as a leading global provider of enterprise AI, delivering lasting value to customers, partners, and stakeholders worldwide.

About Squirro

Squirro is the enterprise AI platform built for regulated industries, streamlining enterprise search and automating complex, custom workflows. Secure, private, scalable, permissions-aware, and fully auditable, the platform ensures that every result is accurate and verifiable. Squirro powers agentic AI applications that are grounded in the organization's unique enterprise ontology.

Founded in 2012, Squirro is a fast-growing company with dedicated teams in Switzerland, the United States, the UK, and Singapore. Our customers include the European Central Bank, Buhler, Candriam, and Henkel.

Squirro Contact:

Lauren Hawker Zafer

Squirro Communications

lauren@squirro.com

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First Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) deployment of the emergency.lu platform for refugees and their host communities' use provides dependable broadband for humanitarian responders, classrooms and community connectivity centers

SES, a space solutions company, is expanding humanitarian connectivity at the Farchana refugee settlement in Chad in cooperation with emergency.lu, the public-private partnership led by Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade and the UN Refugee Agency. In the framework of the Connectivity for Refugees initiative, the deployment uses SES' O3b mPOWER satellite network to provide dependable, high-speed internet for humanitarian teams and essential services for refugees.

This is the first emergency.lu deployment using O3b mPOWER satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), an expansion beyond the program's previous use of geostationary (GEO) satellites for rapid disaster-response missions. It also marks a new application for the platform.

While emergency.lu has traditionally supported first responders and emergency operations, this deployment is designed to connect refugees and the humanitarian organizations enabling services such as online learning, digital skills training, community connectivity centers as well as reliable day-to-day communications.

The deployment was carried out by Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade's personnel on the ground, following hands-on training at SES' Luxembourg headquarters. Built for sustained use and flexible expansion, the communication kit is designed to support longer-term operations and evolving needs on site.

By adding O3b mPOWER to the emergency.lu toolkit, the partnership strengthens its ability to provide connectivity beyond the first days of a crisis, supporting continued access to education, healthcare services and communications when displacement and humanitarian response extend for months.

"Connectivity can change a day and a life. With this deployment, a classroom can keep teaching and access guidance, humanitarian workers can support displaced communities, and families can stay in touch," said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. "With the addition of SES' high-throughput, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit capabilities, we have adapted the solution to move from emergency restoration to everyday communications reliability for displaced communities, and are proud to support the Luxembourg Government's teams as they bring this service online in Farchana."

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About SES

At SES, we believe that space has the power to make a difference. That's why we design space solutions that help governments protect, businesses grow, and people stay connected-no matter where they are. With integrated multi-orbit satellites and our global terrestrial network, we deliver resilient, seamless connectivity and the highest quality video content to those shaping what's next. Following our Intelsat acquisition, we now offer more than 100 years of combined global industry leadership-backed by a track record of bringing innovation "firsts" to market. As a trusted partner to customers and the global space ecosystem, SES is driving impact that goes far beyond coverage. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com

About emergency.lu

Emergency.lu is a rapid communications solution for global disaster relief and humanitarian missions, developed and implemented as a public-private partnership by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg in collaboration with a consortium of Luxembourg companies and organizations: SES, Hitec Luxembourg and Luxembourg Air Services. It is designed to help the humanitarian and civil protection workers in the field to (re-) establish telecommunication services, coordinate first response, as well as support affected communities and governments. The solution consists of satellite infrastructure and capacity, communication and coordination services, and satellite ground terminals as well as transportation of equipment to areas all over the world. Since its inception in 2013, the solution has been deployed dozens of times in various parts of the world, and has provided connectivity for relief efforts after Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and in many more crisis situations. Further information is available at: emergency.lu

About Connectivity for refugees:

Connectivity for Refugees is a multi-stakeholder initiative advancing the availability and affordability of connectivity for 20 million forcibly displaced people and their host communities by 2030. The initiative is founded by the UNHCR, ITU, GSMA, and the Government of Luxembourg.

The initiative prioritizes enhancement of both individual connectivity (via a personal device) and collective connectivity (via a shared or communal device and spaces). This is often done in partnership with governments, the private sector, and civil society.

https://refugeeconnectivity.org/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303819468/en/

Contacts:

For further information please contact:

Steven Lott

Communications

Tel. +352 710 725 500

SES.Press@ses.com
Milestone marks nationwide operator support for RCS Business Messaging, opening a scalable new market for brands

Twilio (NYSE: TWLO), the customer engagement platform that drives real-time, personalised experiences for today's leading brands, today announced at Mobile World Congress a partnership with KPN Netherlands (KPN) to enable nationwide Rich Communication Services (RCS) Business Messaging across all major mobile operators in the Netherlands, powered by Twilio and Google.

RCS Business Messaging combines the simplicity and reach of sms with rich, interactive features such as verified sender identity, images, carousels and action buttons. This allows businesses to communicate in a more engaging, secure and measurable way, strengthening customer trust and improving the overall experience.

Enabling nationwide RCS in the Netherlands

With nation-wide coverage, KPN plays a central role in the country's digital infrastructure. By joining the growing RCS ecosystem, this marks a defining moment for business messaging in the Netherlands, making it possible for enterprises to adopt RCS for Business at scale.

The deployment is supported by Google's RCS for Business platform, enabling brand onboarding and registration across Android devices. Expanded device support, including iOS, is expected in 2026, further strengthening long-term reach and market confidence.

Through this partnership, Twilio allows businesses to instantly modernize customer communications by adding RCS as a branded, interactive channel alongside SMS and MMS with zero code changes. This cost-effective transition provides immediate access to rich engagement data, like read receipts, while ensuring 100% reach through automatic fallback to SMS when needed.

Unlocking a major new market for RCS for Business

Nationwide coverage opens access to millions of mobile users, positioning the Netherlands as one of Europe's newest fully enabled RCS for Business markets. Businesses will be able to reach customers with verified sender identity, rich media formats such as carousels and action buttons and measurable engagement insights. All within the native messaging app.

As the natural evolution of SMS, RCS for Business strengthens brand trust while preserving the reliability and reach businesses depend on. According to Twilio's State of Customer Engagement Report, most consumers say that personalised communication increases their loyalty to brands, highlighting the opportunity for richer, more interactive messaging channels.

David Copsey, RVP of International Wholesale Carrier Relations at Twilio, said: "Nationwide operator coverage is a significant step forward for RCS for Business in the Netherlands. Together with KPN and Google, we are creating the foundation for large-scale adoption, giving brands the opportunity to engage millions of consumers with secure, branded and interactive messaging as device support continues to expand."

About Twilio

Today's leading companies trust Twilio's Customer Engagement Platform (CEP) to build direct, personalized relationships with their customers everywhere in the world. Twilio enables companies to use communications and data to add intelligence and security to every step of the customer journey, from sales to marketing to growth, customer service and many more engagement use cases in a flexible, programmatic way. Across 180 countries, millions of developers and hundreds of thousands of businesses use Twilio to create magical experiences for their customers. For more information about Twilio (NYSE: TWLO), visit: www.twilio.com.

About KPN

KPN has been the leading provider of telecommunications and IT services in the Netherlands for almost 140 years. Every Dutch person uses the KPN network on a daily basis, directly or indirectly, from the fiber optic connections in the ground to the ATMs in a shop or the matrix signs above the highway. Through the network of the Netherlands, in which KPN is continuously investing through the installation of fiber optic and the roll-out of, for example, the new 5G mobile network, KPN serves consumers and business customers with services for telephony, data, television, internet-of-things, cloud, workplaces and security. KPN has an open network over which other providers also offer services. More information at www.kpn.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Twilio's expectations regarding the expectations regarding our partnership with KPN, RCS technology deployment, and device support. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events, the outcome of which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including those more fully described in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements represent our beliefs and assumptions only as of the date such statements are made and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304363862/en/

Contacts:

Ina Perkins

iperkins@twilio.com

+447931815123
OPEX Corporation, a global leader in Next Generation Automation providing innovative solutions for warehouse, document and mail automation, will exhibit its latest advancements in warehouse automation at LogiMAT 2026. The world's largest trade show for intralogistics solutions and process management, LogiMAT will be held March 24 through 26 at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Center in Germany.

"Our team looks forward to being onsite at LogiMAT and showcasing several of our leading warehouse automation solutions," said Alex Stevens, President, Warehouse Automation, OPEX. "We're proud to deliver cutting-edge systems that help our clients transform how they conduct business, and we appreciate the vast opportunity LogiMAT provides to share our offerings and expertise with event attendees."

At LogiMAT Hall 5 Stand B25, OPEX will demonstrate Sure Sort X with Xtract, its award-winning, automated pack-out and order takeaway system. The OPEX Booth will also feature a static display of the company's Perfect Pick AS/RS, and its pioneering iBOT robotic vehicles for both OPEX Infinity AS/RS and OPEX Xtract.

OPEX Sure Sort X with Xtract is the only fully adaptable, turnkey offering in the marketplace that automates multiple manual tasks?sorting, retrieving and packaging orders?with a one-touch solution, increasing efficiency and directly addressing labor challenges. Built for high-volume, high-accuracy e-commerce and fulfillment operations, its space-efficient, modular design delivers maximum throughput in a minimal footprint, offering the most sort locations per square foot.

OPEX Perfect Pick is a robotic goods-to-person picking solution engineered to dramatically improve speed, efficiency and reliability. The optional tote input/output handling system leverages iBOTs and conveyors to move totes in and out of storage efficiently, integrating with warehouse control systems to support flexible layouts and multiple tote sizes. Clients benefit from higher throughput, improved accuracy, reduced labor costs and better use of warehouse space.

In addition, visitors can view the Peltier Tote, a first-of-its-kind, multi-temperature zone, multi-deep cold storage solution introduced by OPEX in January 2026. The actively cooled, AI-enabled Peltier Tote is compatible with OPEX's Infinity and Perfect Pick AS/RS solutions, empowering customers in the grocery, pharmaceutical and life sciences markets to seamlessly store and retrieve chilled and frozen products, eliminating the need for costly freezer chambers or specialized infrastructure.

Attendees at LogiMAT can schedule a complimentary 15-minute VIP Booth Session with OPEX experts to review their company's operations, and receive a personalized automation roadmap, realistic ROI ranges and next-step recommendations tailored to specific throughput, labor constraints and footprint. Personalized demos of Sure Sort X with Xtract can also be scheduled in advance. Visit https://www.opex.com/logimat/ to register.

OPEX offers a comprehensive suite of technology solutions that enable clients around the world to improve workflow, reduce costs and drive efficiencies in infrastructure. With an impressive portfolio of more than 350 patents, OPEX brings 50 years of industry expertise, a proven track record developing first-class automation capabilities and advanced engineering, and a heritage of excellence.

About OPEX

OPEX Corporation is a global leader in Next Generation Automation, providing innovative, unique solutions for warehouse, document and mail automation. With headquarters in Moorestown, NJ-and facilities in Pennsauken, NJ; Plano, TX; France; Germany; Switzerland; the United Kingdom; and Australia-OPEX has nearly 1,600 employees who are continuously reimagining and delivering customized, scalable technology solutions that solve the business challenges of today and in the future. For more information, visit opex.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304445275/en/

Contacts:

For Additional Information



Laura Evans

levans@opex.com

+1.856.727.1100 x 5012
As an Official Partner of the Academy, the prestigious family-owned company will exclusively pour red, white and rose wines at the 98th Oscars and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

PARIS, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarendelle and the family company Domaine Clarence Dillon are proud to return as the official wine partner of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. For the fourth consecutive year, the prestigious family-owned company will exclusively pour exceptional wines at the 98th Oscars ceremony, bridging the world of fine wine and film in a partnership that elevates the Oscars experience for Hollywood's biggest stars.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/clarendelle_domaine_clarence_dillon/9385751-en-bring-iconic-bordeaux-wines-hollywoods-biggest-night

In addition to delighting guests at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Clarendelle and Domaine Clarence Dillon wines will be served at the iconic Governors Ball and the Official Oscars Watch Party at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. At all events, the elegant and contemporary red, white, and rose wines will be paired with a legendary menu from Wolfgang Puck Catering.

Domaine Clarence Dillon will introduce a new wine for the star-studded events:

Le Dragon de Quintus 2020: The gateway to Chateau Quintus, Le Dragon de Quintus is crafted from a blend of Saint-Emilion's finest terroirs. A beautiful dark wine with fruit and vanilla-scented hints mingle with aromas of ripe black fruit. The first taste is supple and silky, with flavors of fruit combined with woody notes, making the wine very charming.

Among the returning wine favorites are:

The Clarendelle family of wines, inspired by Haut-Brion, expresses the authentic character of the Bordeaux terroir through expertly blended, age worthy wines that unite complexity, elegance and balance, elevating everyday life with fine wines.

Clarendelle Bordeaux Red 2017: This blend is a beautiful, bright ruby-red color with very fresh, fruity aromas, accompanied by notes of red fruit, blackcurrant, and cherry.

This blend is a beautiful, bright ruby-red color with very fresh, fruity aromas, accompanied by notes of red fruit, blackcurrant, and cherry. Clarendelle Bordeaux White 2023 : A refined and elegant wine, offering bright citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit, balanced by the smooth sweetness of pear and lychee.

A refined and elegant wine, offering bright citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit, balanced by the smooth sweetness of pear and lychee. Clarendelle Bordeaux Rose 2023: A gastronomic rose, a distinctive expression in Bordeaux, with aromas of raspberry and pink grapefruit and vibrant red fruit notes lifted by hints of lychee and mandarin orange.

A gastronomic rose, a distinctive expression in Bordeaux, with aromas of raspberry and pink grapefruit and vibrant red fruit notes lifted by hints of lychee and mandarin orange. Clarendelle Amberwine 2021: A complex, well-concentrated and modern sweet wine distinguished by its freshness and harmonious balance of floral fruit and acidity with a smooth finish.

In addition to Clarendelle, nominees and winners will have the opportunity to relish backstage at the Oscars with La Clarte de Haut-Brion 2021: A wine of rare delicacy, with fresh citrus and white flower aromas, followed by a crisp and refreshing finish of lemony brightness.

"Clarendelle and Domaine Clarence Dillon would like to raise our glasses to celebrate those who have contributed so significantly to entertaining and inspiring us all over the past year," says the President and CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon, Prince Robert of Luxembourg. "May we join the millions of viewers from all around the world as we together recognise the outstanding achievements of the 98th Oscars nominees. Cheers!"

For more information, follow along on Instagram @clarendelle@chateauquintus@chateauhautbrion_@chateaulamissionhautbrion@klarawines@leclarenceparis.

Media Contacts :

Klante flore@klante.co

USA: Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis DCDOscars@ssmandl.com

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LONDON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mycom, a global leader in Assurance, offering AI, Data and Automation solutions for some of the world's largest Communications Service Providers (CSPs), today announced a strategic partnership with Ibis Solutions to implement Mycom's Network Assurance and Service Experience Assurance applications.

The partnership will support Mycom's continued expansion across Europe, while enabling CSPs in the region to enhance operational performance and customer experience.

Ibis Solutions is a leading Europe-based software developer and system integrator, partnering with global OSS/BSS vendors to deliver advanced enterprise solutions. Through agile delivery, strategic collaboration, and the intelligent application of AI, Ibis Solutions enables CSPs to deploy scalable, future-ready platforms that drive sustainable business growth. With an established presence in Southeast Europe and expansion plans across Central Asia and Africa, the partnership with Mycom strengthens Ibis Solutions' ability to deliver high-value system integration and consulting services to CSPs across emerging and mature markets.

By combining Mycom's comprehensive Service Assurance portfolio-trusted by some of the world's largest and most complex Tier-1 CSP networks-with Ibis Solutions' deep expertise in next-generation enterprise systems and regional delivery capabilities, the partnership will strengthen both companies' presence across the broader EMEA region and accelerate CSPs' digital transformation initiatives.

"Our partnership with Ibis Solutions reinforces our commitment to supporting Tier-1 CSPs in the region with advanced automation and AI-driven assurance solutions," said John Turnbull, Chief Revenue Officer at Mycom. "Together, we will enable CSPs to enhance network performance, improve customer experience, and efficiently support growing demand across 4G, 5G, and FTTx services."

"Mycom's Service Assurance portfolio brings powerful AI- and automation-driven capabilities that will help CSPs accelerate time-to-value and maximize return on investment," said Ilija Lazovic, Executive Director, Business Development at Ibis Solutions. "With over 20 years of OSS/BSS experience, we are confident that combining our regional expertise and delivery strength with Mycom's industry-leading assurance solutions will significantly improve operational efficiency and service quality for CSPs across the region."

To learn more about the partnership or explore collaboration opportunities, please contact info@mycom.com or info@ibis-solutions.rs

Media Contact: Jack.Toye@mycom.com, +447719820492

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SYDNEY, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Axi, a leading global online trading broker, announced the launch of Buy Crypto today .It is a new offering designed to provide traders and investors with secure, transparent, and straightforward access to digital assets. It enables traders to buy, sell or hold crypto on the Axi platform.

As the crypto market continues to grow, it remains characterized by volatility and complexity. With Axi Buy Crypto, the company leverages its 18+ years of industry experience to deliver a seamless solution that simplifies the process of buying and owning cryptocurrencies, enabling clients to participate with greater clarity and confidence.

"At Axi, we've built our reputation on credibility, transparency, and innovation," said Stuart Cooke, Head of New Business at Axi. "Digital asset investing should meet the same professional standards as any other financial market. With Axi Buy Crypto, we are expanding our platform to meet rising demand while ensuring clients have the tools and support they need to engage responsibly."

Key Features of Axi Buy Crypto

Unified platform: Access major cryptocurrencies in one place.

Access major cryptocurrencies in one place. Competitive pricing: Helping clients maximize value when buying crypto.

Helping clients maximize value when buying crypto. Trusted provider: Backed by a globally recognized and transparent broker.

Backed by a globally recognized and transparent broker. Integrated tools and education: Accessible resources and analytics to support informed decision-making.

The launch forms part of Axi's broader strategy to enhance its digital asset ecosystem and provide clients with more flexible ways to access global markets.

"Our clients want to diversify into crypto with a partner they can rely on," added Cooke. "Axi Buy Crypto delivers simplicity without compromising on transparency or security."

The introduction of Axi Buy Crypto reflects the company's continued commitment to innovation, client empowerment, and long-term growth in an evolving financial landscape.

For more information about Axi Buy Crypto, visit:

https://www.axi.com/int/blog/education/cryptocurrencies/spot-trading-cryptocurrency

About Axi

Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading brand, serving thousands of customers in 100+ countries. Axi offers CFDs across multiple asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, Coffee, Crypto and more.

Media Contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com

Promoted by AxiTrader LLC. Trading carries a high risk of investment loss. Crypto assets are complex and volatile products. Prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate rapidly, resulting in substantial losses. Crypto trading is not regulated in all jurisdictions and may not be suitable for all investors. Consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

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BARCELONA, Spain, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei has provided digital connectivity to 170 million people in remote areas across more than 80 countries, surpassing its pledge to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition.

The announcement was made by Yang Chaobin, CEO of Huawei ICT BG, at the company's TECH Cares Forum in Barcelona. He noted that this achievement exceeds the commitment Huawei made when joining the ITU P2C Digital Coalition in 2022: to connect 120 million people in remote areas by 2025. Yang extended his gratitude to Huawei's telecom customers and partners for their collaborative efforts.

The forum brought together around 80 guests from governments, industries, partner organizations, and international bodies. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the urgent need to advance digital inclusion in the AI era, exploring practical solutions and building consensus for multi-stakeholder collaboration.

In his opening speech, Yang pointed out that despite rapid AI advancements, the digital divide persists and risks widening further. "High-speed digital networks and robust computing capabilities are essential foundations for an inclusive and sustainable AI era," he said. The fulfillment of the ITU P2C pledge, he added, reflects Huawei's ongoing commitment to innovation - bringing remote communities improved access to healthcare, education, and financial services through digital connectivity.

Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, commended Huawei's achievements and work to bridge the digital divide. "Connecting the rural and underserved communities requires innovative business models, inclusivity and the effective use of communication resources as well as community engagement, and sustained investment in local capacity. I applaud Huawei's commitment to universal and meaningful connectivity and I am proud of our strong and successful partnership."

According to Jeff Wang, President of Huawei Public Affairs and Communications, digital inclusion rests on two pillars: inclusive connectivity and digital skills empowerment. To address the digital skills gap, Huawei partners with governments and organizations to support students, youth, the elderly, and women through three initiatives: expanding digital access, offering digital skills training, and developing STEM curricula.

Since its launch in 2019, Huawei's Skills on Wheels program has brought mobile digital training to over 130,000 people in 21 countries, opening new opportunities for underserved communities.

Marina Madale, Executive of Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Group, asserts that connectivity is not a privilege, it is foundational infrastructure for Africa's growth. In alignment with Jeff Wang, she noted that MTN is prioritizing expanding rural connectivity, driving device affordability and building digital and AI-ready skills.

In rural network innovation, Huawei has continuously upgraded its Rural Series solutions since 2017 to improve affordability and deployment efficiency. Launched in November 2025, Huawei RuralCow extends coverage to villages of around 1,500 residents with the support from MTN Nigeria. These solutions have helped achieve the target of connecting 170 million people while boosting local economies and enabling wider access to digital public services.

During the forum, guests shared progress from their collaboration with Huawei and expressed willingness to deepen cooperation. All participants agreed that advancing digital inclusion in the AI era requires joint efforts from governments, operators, international organizations, and enterprises.

Going forward, Huawei will continue to drive innovation in rural network technologies, deepen open collaboration, and accelerate digital skills empowerment. Through concrete actions, the company will keep contributing to a more equitable and sustainable digital world.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/huawei-exceeds-itu-partner2connect-pledge-target-bringing-connectivity-to-170-million-people-globally-302703340.html
DUSSELDORF, Germany, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of UNESCO's 81st anniversary and as an Official Partner of the World 2026 Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, Zendure is revolutionizing how we consume energy. By democratizing access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy, the company's innovative solar technology and storage systems are driving a tangible shift toward global sustainability.

A Mission Rooted in Personal Experience

Founded in 2017, Zendure's mission is deeply personal for CEO Bryan Liu. Growing up in rural China, Liu often studied by the dim light of a kerosene lamp. When electricity finally reached his village, the transformation was immediate.

"The electrification of my village changed everything," Liu recalls. "It brought safety, opportunity, and a better quality of life. That experience drives everything we do at Zendure."

Today, that drive is positioned as the global pioneer of plug-in Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). What began as an effort to make solar power simple has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem combining high-performance hardware, AI-driven software, and intelligent energy services.

Solar power, Simplified and Smart

Zendure's philosophy is straightforward: capture the sun's energy during the day and use it-free of charge-when it matters most.

At the heart of this experience is HEMS 2.0, Zendure's next-generation energy management system built on a three-tier architecture (device, PaaS, and SaaS). HEMS 2.0 seamlessly connects solar panels, batteries, and appliances into a synchronized ecosystem.

Powering this system is ZENKI 2.0, Zendure's advanced AI engine that predicts consumption, automates energy dispatch, and optimizes energy use based on weather forecasts and electricity prices. Integrated with over 840 European energy providers, ZENKI can reduce household energy costs by up to 73% compared to standard option.

SolarFlow Series: Energy Solutions for Every Home

In February 2026, Zendure unveiled three new SolarFlow models to complete its industry-leading product matrix. These solutions address diverse needs, from balcony solar storage to rooftop PV integration:

SolarFlow 2400 Pro

A flagship, AI-driven bi-directional AC storage system for high-power balcony and rooftop installations. It supports up to 4800W combined input and offers expandable capacity up to 16.8 kWh for peak-load support.

SolarFlow 2400 AC+

A premium retrofit solution designed for existing rooftop PV systems. The Premium Retrofit AC-Coupled Storage Solution for Existing Rooftop PV systems. It enables households to boost self-consumption with 2400W AC bi-directional without replacing current installations.

SolarFlow 1600 AC+

An affordable entry-level option offering intelligent control and flexible expansion for smaller PV systems.

All models prioritize safety with ZenGuard Battery Protection, featuring dual BMS architecture, intelligent self-maintenance, and self-extinguishing capabilities, while offering full smart-home integration via MQTT.

Beyond Storage: True Energy Intelligence

Zendure's vision extends beyond hardware. With ZenWave, a dynamic electricity retail service launched for the German market, the company closes the energy loop.

By combining HEMS scheduling with dynamic pricing, energy optimization becomes fully automated. In Leipzig, a household consuming 5,000 kWh annually can save an estimated 620 per year with ZenWave compared to a fixed-rate plan.

"By making clean energy easy to use, we're empowering people to adopt sustainable solutions in their everyday lives," says Jolene Shang, Chief Marketing Officer at Zendure.

Accelerating a Sustainable Future

"Our purpose is to accelerate a sustainable future-to bring it closer, faster," says Liu.

Zendure's commitment directly aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By providing access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, the company supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products also contribute to SDG 11, building sustainable cities and communities. Furthermore, its efficient, eco-friendly ecosystem contributes to SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Today, Zendure stands as the only brand offering a fully integrated ecosystem of high-performance solar storage hardware, AI-driven energy management, and intelligent energy services-empowering households across Europe to achieve energy independence and actively participate in the energy transition.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/empowering-homes-energizing-lives-zendure-drives-sustainable-energy-innovation-on-world-engineering-day-2026-302703765.html
Three-day gathering brings comedy, music, consciousness exploration, and community to Oakland's Humanist Hall

OAKLAND, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Spirituality and Beyond, the annual celebration of spirituality, science, and art hosted by Church of Ambrosia Pastor Dave Hodges, returns for its sixth year over Easter weekend, April 3rd through April 5th, at Oakland's Humanist Hall.

"Spirituality and Beyond is always Easter weekend, but Easter moves every year, and the dates always land on something we wouldn't expect. Last year it was 4/20. This year, we open on the anniversary of Dr. King's passing. You can't make this stuff up," Pastor Dave said. "Every year we bring a different mix. We've had neuroscientists, rappers, healers, and now comedians. This year it's Reggie Watts and Shane Mauss. Six years in, what this community builds together every Easter still blows me away."

On Friday, April 3rd, the opening ceremony will be co-hosted with Solestial Church, a Bay Area community of healers, artists, and activists. The evening sets the stage for a weekend of reflection on justice, liberation, and awareness.

Saturday, April 4th, marks the annual observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s passing. The day will open with a tribute honoring his legacy and the ongoing fight for justice, liberation, and freedom.

Later Saturday, award-winning comedian and science communicator Shane Mauss will join Pastor Dave for a candid dialogue exploring consciousness, creativity, and the high-dose psychedelic experience. Mauss hosts the Here We Are podcast, featuring more than 400 conversations with scientists on life's biggest questions, and his work has been featured on Comedy Central's Tales From the Trip and the Amazon documentary Psychonautics.

That evening at 8 p.m., Mauss performs TRIPS: Third Dose, a live installment of his psychedelic comedy series, at Humanist Hall (separate ticket). His new comedy special, TRIPS: First Dose, filmed at Meow Wolf in Denver with 360 visuals from 20 psychedelic artists, premieres March 3rd at https://800pgr.lnk.to/Trips

On Easter Sunday, Reggie Watts will join Monica Cadena for a wide-ranging conversation exploring creativity, culture, and consciousness.

Watts is an internationally renowned musician, comedian, and improvisational creative force, best known as the bandleader on The Late Late Show with James Corden. The New York Times called Watts "the most influential absurdist in comedy today." His Netflix special, Spatial, received critical acclaim, and his memoir, Great Falls, MT, was published by Penguin.

Monica Cadena (@sacred.alchemist) is an Afro-Indigenous psychedelic writer and advocate based in Oakland. She is a contributor to Lucid News and DoubleBlind Magazine.

The weekend also features harm reduction talks, Indigenous-led programming, a panel on psychedelic facilitation, arts and craft vendors, and a community stage with open programming throughout the event.

Pastor Dave founded Church of Ambrosia and Zide Door in Oakland, which is now the world's largest psychedelic church, with more than 137,000 members. Known as an advocate for religious liberty, he has been featured in Forbes, the SF Chronicle, and Newsweek. On Saturday, Pastor Dave will speak on psychedelic safety and stewardship. On Sunday, he will deliver his annual Easter Sermon.

Humanist Hall is located at 390 27th St., Oakland, CA.

Tickets and information:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirituality-and-beyond-6th-annual-event-tickets-1982486552646

Contact:

Loretta Kalb

PRxDigital.com

Email: loretta_kalb@prxdigital.com

Text: 916 835-4043

SOURCE: Church of Ambrosia

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/reggie-watts-and-shane-mauss-headline-church-of-ambrosias-6th-annual-1142623
KUALA LUMPUR, MY / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Gold Li Holdings Berhad ("Gold Li" or the "Group"), an established property developer specialising in landed residential developments and in-house construction services, has officially entered into an underwriting agreement with M & A Securities Sdn Bhd ("M & A Securities") in preparation for its upcoming Initial Public Offering ("IPO") on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities").

From Left to Right: Datin Lau Siew Su, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Gold Li Holdings Berhad; Dato' Lee Tiau Huat, Managing Director, Gold Li Holdings Berhad; Mr. Gary Ting, Head of Corporate Finance, M & A Securities Sdn Bhd; Ms. Rachel Ho, Deputy Head of Corporate Finance, M & A Securities Sdn Bhd

Since its inception in 1999, Gold Li has focused on creating high-quality landed houses, primarily serving the districts of Muar, Tangkak, and Batu Pahat in Johor. The Group distinguishes itself through an integrated business model where it acts as the main contractor for its own development projects, allowing for stringent oversight of quality control, project timelines, and construction costs. As of 31 October 2025, Gold Li has successfully delivered a total of 110 residential and commercial projects, with 10 ongoing projects, 30 future projects, and 34 parcels of land for future development, establishing a deep-rooted reputation for reliability in the regional property market.

Based on the prospectus exposure, Gold Li's IPO involves a public issue of 117.0 million new ordinary shares and an offer for sale of 36.0 million existing shares, representing 25.5% of the Group's enlarged issued share capital of 600.0 million shares upon listing.

The allocation of shares is structured as follows:

Public Issue

Malaysian Public: 30.0 million shares or 5.0% of the enlarged issued share capital will be made available for application by the Malaysian public.

Eligible Persons: 6.0 million shares or 1.0% of the enlarged issued share capital will be allocated to eligible directors, employees, and persons who have contributed to the success of the Group.

Private Placement to Selected Investors: 42.0 million shares or 7.0% of the enlarged issued share capital are reserved for private placement to selected investors.

Private Placement to Bumiputera Investors: 39.0 million shares or 6.5% of the enlarged issued share capital are reserved for private placement to Bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry ("MITI").



Offer for sale

Offer for sale of 36.0 million existing shares or 6.0% of the enlarged issued share capital by way of private placement to Bumiputera investors approved by the MITI.

Under the terms of the agreement, M & A Securities will underwrite a total of 36.0 million shares, comprising the portions made available to the Malaysian public and the eligible persons under the Pink Form allocation. The remaining shares will be placed out to Bumiputera and selected investors via private placements.

Dato' Lee Tiau Huat, Managing Director of Gold Li Holdings Berhad, commented: "Executing this underwriting agreement is a fundamental step toward our debut on the ACE Market. Over the past 27 years, Gold Li has built a resilient foundation by focusing on the landed residential segment and maintaining in-house construction expertise. With the IPO proceeds, we intend to supplement our property development costs for upcoming projects and strengthen our working capital. This listing will provide the financial flexibility required to further expand our landbank and transition into high-rise residential developments, ensuring our continued growth within Johor's property landscape."

Mr. Gary Ting, Head of Corporate Finance of M & A Securities Sdn Bhd, added, "Gold Li's long-standing history and extensive track record of delivering over 100 projects demonstrate its operational strength and market acceptance in Johor. The Group's integrated approach and clear vision for portfolio diversification provide a solid platform for future value creation. M & A Securities is proud to support Gold Li as it takes this significant step in its corporate development."

According to the prospectus exposure, the IPO proceeds will be primarily utilized for working capital to fund property development costs for identified ongoing and future projects, as well as to cover estimated listing expenses. These strategic allocations are designed to reduce dependency on external financing and enable the Group to undertake more projects concurrently.

M & A Securities Sdn Bhd is the Adviser, Sponsor, Underwriter and Placement Agent for the IPO.

###

ABOUT GOLD LI HOLDINGS BERHAD

Gold Li Holdings Berhad ("Gold Li" or the "Group") is a well-established property developer specialising in the delivery of landed residential properties in Johor, Malaysia. The Group's business roots date back to 1999 with the commencement of property development operations under Gold Li Development Sdn Bhd. Since its inception, Gold Li has focused on the creation of terrace, semi-detached, and detached houses, primarily serving the districts of Muar, Tangkak, and Batu Pahat. Over more than two decades, the Group has built a proven track record, completing a total of 110 residential and commercial projects as of October 2025. Distinguished by its in-house construction capabilities, Gold Li acts as its own main contractor to maintain stringent oversight of project quality, costs, and timelines. Supported by a sizeable landbank of approximately 56.8 acres for future development and led by a management team with 27 years of industry experience, Gold Li is committed to sustainable growth and the expansion of its portfolio into high-rise residential developments

For more information, visit https://www.goldli.com.my

Issued By: Swan Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. on behalf of Gold Li Holdings Berhad

For more information, please contact:

Jazmin Wan

Email: j.wan@swanconsultancy.biz

William Yeo

Email: w.yeo@swanconsultancy.biz

SOURCE: Gold Li Holdings Berhad

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/gold-li-holdings-berhad-signs-underwriting-agreement-with-m-and-a-securities-for-ace-ma-1143508
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Quebec Nickel Corp. (CSE: QNI) (FSE: 7lB0) (OTCQB: QNICF) ("QNI" or the "Company") announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of units (the "Units") at a price of $0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000.00 (the "Offering").

Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.40 for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for exploration and development activities on projects, as well as for general working capital purposes.

The Units will also be offered to existing shareholders under British Columbia Instrument 45-534 - Exemption from Prospectus Requirement for Certain Trades to Existing Security Holders, and equivalent provisions of applicable securities laws in other jurisdictions of Canada (the "Existing Shareholder Exemption").

In order to be eligible to participate only those shareholders who hold shares of the Company as at March 3, 2026 (the "Record Date") can participate. Any person who becomes a shareholder of the Company after the Record Date is not permitted to participate in the Offering. Existing shareholders who are interested in participating in the Offering should contact the Company at the contact information set out in this press release. The Offering is on a first-come, first-served basis.

There are conditions and restrictions when relying upon the Existing Shareholder Exemption; namely, the subscriber must: a) be a shareholder of the Company on the Record Date (and still is a shareholder); b) be purchasing the units as a principal, that is, for their own account and not for any other party; and c) may not purchase more than $15,000 value of securities from the Company in any 12-month period, unless they have first received suitability advice from a registered investment dealer, and, in this case, subscribers will be asked to confirm the registered investment dealer's identity and employer.

The Offering is subject to customary conditions, including approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and other required regulatory approvals. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company may pay finders' fees in connection with the Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws and exchange policies.

About Quebec Nickel Corp.

Quebec Nickel Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing critical metals (Au-Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) projects in North America. Additional information about Quebec Nickel Corp. is available at www.quebecnickel.com.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates, opinions, or other factors should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286212

Source: Quebec Nickel Corp
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Allied Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: ACM) (OTCQB: ACMIF) (FSE: 0VJ0) ("Allied" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honourable Marco Mendicino as a Strategic Advisor to the Company. The Honourable Marco Mendicino is Senior Counsel and Strategic Advisor to the firm at Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP. A former federal prosecutor, Cabinet Minister, and Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney, he brings two decades of leadership in the law, government and public policy.

Mr. Mendicino led the Prime Minister's Office through a national election and one of the most significant transitions of government in recent decades, advancing major projects legislation, working with Premiers and Indigenous leaders, and closely advising the Prime Minister while at the White House, NATO, and G7.

Elected three times as the Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence, Mr. Mendicino served in Cabinet as Minister of Immigration and Minister of Public Safety and chaired the Five Eyes on behalf of Canada.

A Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto's Munk School, he contributes to national conversations on governance and the rule of law and frequently appears in the media as a commentator.

"We are excited to add Marco Mendicino to our team as a Strategic Advisor. Mr. Mendicino brings decades of business, legal and political expertise to Allied," commented Roy Bonnell, CEO & Director of Allied. "Tungsten is a strategic asset globally and we will benefit from Mr. Mendicino's global view on how to best develop our assets for the benefit of all shareholders."

"I am very pleased to join the team at Allied. Their tungsten assets in Portugal are strategically located in a NATO member state and have historically been very important assets from a global security perspective. Seeing these past producing mines come back into production will be a major development from a NATO security perspective," commented Honourable Marco Mendicino, Strategic Advisor to the Company. "We will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure these assets are developed for the benefit of Portugal and its allies."

Mr. Mendicino joins a team that also includes the appointment of Major General (Ret.) James A. "Spider" Marks and former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen as Directors of Allied's wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Allied Critical Metals USA Inc. ("Allied USA"). Allied USA is dedicated to the importation, marketing and sales of tungsten into the United States.

About Allied Critical Metals Inc.

Allied Critical Metals Inc. is a Canadian-based mining company focused on the advancement and revitalization of its 100%-owned Borralha Tungsten Project and the Vila Verde Tungsten Project in northern Portugal.

The Borralha Project is one of the largest undeveloped tungsten resources within the European Union and benefits from a favourable Environmental Impact Declaration (DIA), positioning the Project for advancement toward feasibility and development. Vila Verde represents additional exploration upside within the same strategic jurisdiction.

Tungsten has been designated a critical raw material by the United States and the European Union due to its strategic importance in defense, aerospace, manufacturing, automotive, electronics and energy applications. Currently, China, Russia and North Korea account for approximately 87% of global tungsten supply and reserves, highlighting the importance of secure western sources.

Further details regarding the Borralha Project are available in the Company's NI 43-101 Technical Report dated December 30, 2025, filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.alliedcritical.com.

Please also visit our website at www.alliedcritical.com.

Also visit us at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-critical-metals-inc/

X: https://x.com/@alliedcritical/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alliedcriticalmetals/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliedcriticalmetals/

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking statements", including with respect to the use of proceeds. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "potential for" and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of the Company's management for future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, those listed in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca). Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed timeline and use of proceeds for exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects as described in the Company's news releases, and corporate presentations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, all as filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286145

Source: Allied Critical Metals Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF) ("LithiumBank' or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") for gross proceeds of $2,250,462 through the issuance of 3,750,770 Common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at an issue price of $0.60 per Share.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement primarily for working capital and for general corporate purposes.

The Shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date of the Private Placement under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.

The securities being issued in connection with the Private Placement have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons or persons in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Multilateral Instrument 61-101

In connection with the Private Placement, Christopher Murray, a director of the Company, (the "Interested Party") participated in the Private Placement by purchasing 140,000 Shares (the "Insider Subscription") for $84,000 (representing approximately 3.7% of the proceeds from the Private Placement), bringing his aggregate shareholdings in the Company to 2,652,000 (representing approximately 3.9% of the issued and outstanding Shares post-closing). The Insider Subscription constituted a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the directors of the Company have determined that the Interested Party's participation in the Private Placement will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. A material change report was not filed more than 21 days prior to closing of the Private Placement because the details of the Private Placement and the Insider Subscription therein had not been confirmed at that time.

About LithiumBank Resources Corp.

LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF) is a publicly traded lithium company that is focused on developing its two flagship projects, Boardwalk and Park Place, in Western Canada. These projects host some of the largest lithium brine resources in North America. The Company holds 1,240,140 acres of brown-field brine hosted mineral licenses across three districts in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Company has pilot tested multiple mature Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technologies and has signed a Development Agreement for the Boardwalk project. This agreement includes binding DLE licensing terms with a Leading Energy Services and Technology Supplier to provide a cost-effective and commercially viable end-to-end solution. The Company is now working toward establishing commercial lithium production using a modular scale-up approach.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur".

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, LithiumBank has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on LithiumBank's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to LithiumBank including, among other things, that the Company will use the net proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated. Although LithiumBank considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. LithiumBank does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286225

Source: LithiumBank Resources Corp.


EQS Newswire / 04/03/2026 / 14:00 CET/CEST

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 4 March 2026 - The inaugural "Study in Hong Kong" Week (February 23 to March 1) was successfully launched to promote the city's attractiveness as a destination for students around the world to pursue higher education.



A major highlight was the prestigious Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) 2026 Conference and Exhibition, which ranks among the world's top three international higher education conferences. The event attracted over 3,500 leading international education professionals to explore the latest trends and critical issues in higher education.



Speaking at the opening ceremony of APAIE 2026, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s Secretary for Education, Dr Christine Choi said, "To further promote higher education in Hong Kong to the world, we are dedicating this week as the 'Study in Hong Kong' Week, during which we will share our success stories and connect more closely with partners worldwide."



HKSAR's Secretary for Education, Dr Christine Choi (second row, ninth left), visits the "Study in Hong Kong" Pavilion at the APAIE with other guests

"Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong enjoys the distinctive advantages of being part of China with strong support from our Motherland and at the same time being centrally located in Asia.



"Our universities are globally recognised, with five of them within the world's top 100 and Asia's top 20. Hong Kong claimed all top four spots in the ranking of the world's most international universities last year. Indeed, one in every four of our students come from outside Hong Kong. The proportion is even higher for academic staff, with around 70 per cent from elsewhere."



Held under the theme "Asia-Pacific Partnerships for the Global Good", APAIE 2026 featured pre-conference workshops, summit forums, keynote speeches, and exchange activities.



Dr Choi met with education officials and representatives from various regions on international education development trends and co-operation. She held separate meetings with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, Mr Robert Zsembera, and the Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, Dr Nguyen Thu Thuy, to exchange views on the development, co-operation, and promotion of international higher education.



Dr Choi also toured the "Study in Hong Kong" Pavilion, where she learned about the promotional efforts of University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities and how they expand international networks to recruit students from various regions for study and exchange in Hong Kong. She also visited other booths at the exhibition, exchanging views on higher education development with representatives from various countries and regions.



Dr Choi noted that Hong Kong, as Asia's world city, possesses advantages in global connectivity, world-class infrastructure, and rich cultural experiences that attract outstanding talent.



During the Week, UGC-funded universities hosted campus tours, allowing overseas guests to experience first-hand the fusion of diverse cultures from different regions. Universities also organised student exchange activities to foster friendships among international students from different regions, deepen their understanding of Hong Kong, and help them better integrate into local campus life.





"While Hong Kong is highly popular among students from the Chinese Mainland, those from other parts of the world, especially in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Belt and Road countries or regions, have increased significantly in recent years," Dr Choi said.



"As we welcome more non-local students to our schools and universities, we hope Hong Kong can serve as a springboard for them to engage with the Chinese Mainland and the wider Asia-Pacific, and as a pathway to widen collaborations across this vibrant region."











Hashtag: hongkong brandhongkong asiasworldcity StudyinHongKong Asia-PacificAssociationforInternationalEducation APAIE

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

News Source: Information Services Department, Hong Kong SAR Government

04/03/2026 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News .

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



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Celebrating Spring Festival in China emerges as new global trend

People's Daily Online) 13:27, March 04, 2026

Celebrating the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, in China emerged as a new global trend this year.

Data show that inbound tourist arrivals during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, which ran from Feb. 15 to 23, doubled year on year, while international tourists' flight bookings for the holiday surged more than 400 percent compared to the same period last year.

What draws foreign visitors to China for the Spring Festival is, at its heart, a longing for authentic Chinese culture  and an immersive experience beyond sightseeing.

This Spring Festival, the footprint of international visitors reflected a clear shift toward immersive experiences. Intangible cultural heritage experiences became must-dos, counties and rural areas emerged as unexpected highlights, and living like a local became the new aspiration.

A foreigner films the lion dance performance at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

A young Spanish woman had her face painted in traditional style and threw herself into a Yingge dance performance, a vivid traditional art form originating from the Chaoshan region of south China's Guangdong Province, immersing herself in the living traditions of Chaoshan culture. A Norwegian vlogger, with a fish-shaped lantern in hand, wandered the flagstone lanes of Hongcun village in east China's Anhui Province and found that no screen could do justice to being there in person. They were no longer bystanders at someone else's celebration  they were in the thick of it, making dumplings, writing Spring Festival couplets, and weaving through bustling market stalls, touching the cultural essence of the Chinese New Year rooted in the theme of reunion and the pursuit of blessings.

The Chinese New Year's popularity worldwide owes much to favorable policies and speaks volumes about the country's broader embrace of the world.

On Feb. 17, the first day of the Year of the Horse, China extended visa-free access to Canada and the UK, bringing the total number of countries enjoying unilateral visa-free entry to 50, while the 72- and 144-hour transit visa-free policy continued to expand in reach.

According to the National Immigration Administration, China recorded 30.08 million visa-free entries, accounting for 73.1 percent of the total number of foreign entries.

The Spring Festival's global popularity also reflects an emotional resonance that has won hearts around the globe. The Spring Festival has never been merely a showcase of Chinese culture. The values it embodies  reunion, hope, and the wish for a better life  know no borders and no racial boundaries.

As Chinese cultural IPs, such as "Black Myth: Wukong," gain global popularity, as the Spring Festival's successful inscription on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage strengthens its status as a shared cultural asset of humanity, and as "Becoming Chinese" trends online as a popular tag, more international visitors are eager to step into China and experience both its ancient traditions and modern vitality firsthand. For many international visitors, the Spring Festival serves as a compendium of Chinese culture, allowing them to witness thousands of years of folk customs alongside the dynamism of contemporary China.

The Chinese New Year's global popularity is not just a testament to the enduring appeal of China's culture  it also points to the vast untapped potential of the country's inbound tourism market.

Research from the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce suggests that China is on track to become one of the world's fastest-growing inbound tourism markets over the next decade. By 2035, spending by international visitors in China is projected to reach approximately 1.5 trillion yuan (about $217.72 billion), with inbound tourism set to play an increasingly powerful role in driving growth in services trade and consumption.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Latest RH850 family addition building on 4 billion+ units shipped since 2013

Rich connectivity and advanced security for next-gen E/E architectures

Supports latest automotive standards with easy ECU migration and upgrades

Lower active and standby power, reducing ECU power demand

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the RH850/U2C, a new 32-bit automotive microcontroller (MCU) built on a 28nm process. With rich communication interface support and advanced security, the MCU targets a diverse range of automotive applications, including chassis and safety systems for passenger cars and motorcycles, battery management systems (BMS) and body control functions such as lighting and motor control, and other general-purpose ASIL D applications.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304894850/en/

The new device extends Renesas' popular RH850 lineup as a low-end option, complementing the high-end RH850/U2B and mid-range RH850/U2A products. The RH850/U2C combines four RH850 CPU cores operating at up to 320 MHz (including two lockstep cores), with up to 8 MB of on-chip flash memory. Developers currently using RH850/P1x or RH850/F1x devices can smoothly transition to the new MCU to meet the requirements of the latest E/E architectures.

Communication Interfaces for Today's and Next-Generation Systems

The RH850/U2C operates with interfaces designed for modern E/E architectures, such as Ethernet 10base-T1S, Ethernet TSN (1Gbps/100Mbps), CAN-XL, and I3C. It also maintains full compatibility with commonly used interfaces today, such as CAN-FD, LIN, UART, CXPI, IC, IS, and PSI5. This comprehensive interface support enables mixed operation with existing ECUs and facilitates a smooth, phased migration across generations. As more vehicle networks transition to domain- and zone-based architectures, the RH850/U2C provides flexible system configuration and scalability, reducing network design complexity.

Robust Functional Safety and Cybersecurity Features

The MCU supports functional safety up to ASIL D, conforming to ISO 26262. To meet modern cybersecurity requirements, the device complies with the latest ISO/SAE 21434 standard and supports cryptographic algorithms ranging from post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to those mandated by current Chinese and other international regulations. Its dedicated hardware accelerators provide high throughput by offloading cryptographic processing and reducing CPU load.

Power-Optimized MCU Architecture

Built on a proven 28 nm manufacturing process, the RH850/U2C consumes significantly lower power in both active and standby modes. A dedicated standby mode further reduces power usage during deep stop and intermittent operation. These low-power modes increase power-design margins and reduce thermal demands so that systems remain compliant as environmental regulations tighten.

"With modern ECUs constantly evolving through software updates and new features, it's essential that system robustness and operational efficiency co-exist seamlessly," said Satoshi Yoshida, Vice President of the High-Performance Computing MCU Division at Renesas. "The RH850/U2C combines performance, a rich feature set and compliance with key industry standards to meet the requirements of next-generation ECUs. This is exactly the kind of platform our customers are looking for to build reliable and scalable automotive systems."

"Renesas' RH850 MCU family has long supported our systems with proven reliability, and we're pleased to see the addition of the RH850/U2C further strengthen its automotive lineup," said Christoph Wenger, Chief Expert Semiconductor at Vehicle Motion at Bosch. "The 28nm MCUs from Renesas offer strong performance and quality, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration."

Full Development Support

The RH850/U2C is supported by a comprehensive development environment designed to reduce time to market. Developers can use state-of-the-art compilers and IDEs, together with automotive-qualified software packages from Renesas and its ecosystem partners. These solutions meet the highest functional safety requirements and support ISO 26262 up to ASIL D. For fast evaluation and project startup, Renesas offers a dedicated RH850/U2C Starter Kit.

Renesas plans to showcase a demonstration using the RH850/U2C at embedded world 2026, in Nuremberg, Germany, from March 10-12, at the Renesas booth 1-234 (Hall 1, Stand 234).

Availability

The RH850/U2C is available today. Details can be found at:

https://www.renesas.com/products/rh850-u2c

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) empowers a safer, smarter and more sustainable future where technology helps make our lives easier. A leading global provider of microcontrollers, Renesas combines our expertise in embedded processing, analog, power and connectivity to deliver complete semiconductor solutions. These Winning Combinations accelerate time to market for automotive, industrial, infrastructure and IoT applications, enabling billions of connected, intelligent devices that enhance the way people work and live. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

(Remarks) All names of products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304894850/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Americas

Akiko Ishiyama

Renesas Electronics Corporation

+ 1-408-887-9006

akiko.ishiyama.xf@renesas.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Fuerte Metals Corporation (TSXV: FMT) (OTCQB: FUEMF) ("Fuerte" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the award of the construction contract for the Northern Access Route ("NAR"), which will connect the Company's flagship Coffee Gold Project ("Coffee" or the "Project") to the City of Dawson and the Yukon highway network.

The NAR contract has been awarded to Cobalt Construction Inc. and represents a significant milestone for Coffee. Cobalt Construction is actively working with Tr'ondek Hwech'in to explore collaboration on this important aspect of the development of the Project, to reflect a cooperative approach between a Yukon-based contractor, a First Nation partner, and Fuerte. The NAR marks the first stage of early infrastructure development, positioning the Company to make a final construction decision, anticipated in early 2027 following the release of an updated Feasibility Study and receipt of final mine permits.

The Northern Access Route is designed to provide safe and reliable access to the Coffee Gold Project and will be constructed in accordance with regulatory requirements and environmental and social commitments. Equipment staging is underway, taking advantage of seasonal access windows, and construction activities will begin once the appropriate permits are issued by the Government of Yukon, who have guided toward permit issuance this spring.

Tim Warman, CEO of Fuerte, stated:

"Awarding the Northern Access Route construction contract is an important step forward for Coffee. We are proud to be working alongside Tr'ondek Hwech'in and Cobalt Construction in delivering this critical infrastructure. This collaboration reflects our commitment to responsible development, local participation, and building strong partnerships in the Yukon. Yukoners will directly benefit from the work, and the Company will benefit from the deep knowledge of the region that our partners bring. With mobilization already underway, we are positioning the project for success as we move towards a final construction decision early next year."

Hahke (Chief) Taylor, Tr'ondek Hwech'in, commented:

"We look forward to exploring a partnership or other collaborative arrangement for the construction of the access road to the Coffee Project and strengthening our existing relationship with Fuerte through this first stage of work. First Nations and industry working together creates meaningful economic opportunities for our Citizens and ensures that development reflects our values and priorities of protecting the environment, our citizens and our treaty rights."

Shaun Rudolph, President of Cobalt Construction, added:

"Cobalt Construction is proud to partner with Fuerte to deliver this first stage of Coffee. As a Yukon-based contractor, we understand the importance of building infrastructure responsibly and efficiently. This project highlights the strength of local knowledge, partnerships and the benefits of working together to support responsible resource development in the territory. We look forward to formalizing our relationship with Tr'ondek Hwech'in to complete this work."

The Company looks forward to continuing engagement with First Nations, Dawson City, the Klondike Placer Miners' Association and other partners as the project progresses.

The construction of the NAR represents a meaningful economic contribution to the Yukon spanning a two-year period.

The project will create employment and contracting opportunities for Yukoners, with focus on meaningful participation from First Nations communities

An estimated C$77M will be spent on supplies, materials, equipment, and services during NAR construction, supporting local and regional businesses.

The NAR construction is the first critical contract for mine development, and the company expects to award additional contracts in the upcoming months.

Northern Access Route Details

The NAR is a 214 km, all-season gravel road that will connect the Company's Coffee Gold Project to the Yukon highway network and the City of Dawson. The NAR includes upgrades to approximately 180 km of existing road and construction or realignment of approximately 34 km of new single-lane, forestry-type access road with regular pull-outs to allow two-way operation. The NAR requires seasonal barge crossings on both the Stewart and Yukon rivers, with ice bridges in the winter months. Operation of the road will be governed by detailed management plans developed in consultation with the First Nations and Yukon Government, covering all aspects of safety, environmental protection and social impacts. The NAR routing falls wholly within Tr'ondek Hwech'in Traditional Territory, with some new construction and upgrades in shared traditional territory with Selkirk First Nation and the asserted traditional territory of White River First Nation. Minor upgrades to existing road sections fall within shared traditional territory of the First Nation of Na-cho Nyak Dun.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain of the statements made and information provided by Fuerte in this press release are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "believes", "budget", "continue", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "guidance", "intends", "plans", "projected" or "scheduled" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements. Forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to: the 2026 early works program for the Coffee Project; the timing of a construction decision; the timing of permitting and engineering milestones; planned infrastructure upgrades; and, generally, the Company's strategy, plans, goals and priorities.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are by their nature based on a number of assumptions that management considers reasonable. However, such assumptions involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which, if proven to be inaccurate, may cause actual results, activities, performance or achievements to be materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements or information. These include assumptions concerning: timing, cost and results of exploration and development activities; the future price of gold and other base and precious metals; exchange rates; anticipated operating and capital costs, expenses and working capital requirements; royalty costs and the repurchase of royalties; the cost of, and extent to which the Company uses, essential consumables; the sustaining capital required for the Company's projects; and the geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal climate. Even though management believes that the assumptions underlying such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Many assumptions are difficult to predict and are beyond the Company's control.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, activities, performance or achievements to be materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: inaccurate estimation of mineral resource; the results of exploration and development activities not being as anticipated; integration risks associated with acquisitions; liquidity and financing risks; changes in prices of gold, other base and precious metals and consumables; currency risk; tax matters; changes in general economic or market conditions; market volatility; competition for, among other things, capital and skilled personnel; legal and regulatory risks including failure to obtain necessary permits or changes in applicable mining laws; mineral tenure; failure to protect proprietary information; risks relating to operating in remote or foreign jurisdictions; risks of political instability, terrorism, sabotage, natural disasters or public health concerns; community relations and social license; geotechnical conditions or failures; reclamation and long-term obligations; risks relating to environmental, sustainability, and governance practices and performance; corruption, bribery, and sanctions; employee misconduct; litigation; conflicts of interest; tariffs and other trade barriers; and those risk factors discussed in our most recent Annual Information Form.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, the Company does not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with securities regulatory authorities.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286227

Source: Fuerte Metals Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Jaguar Uranium Corp. (NYSE American: JAGU) ("Jaguar" or the "Company") announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, 2847312 Ontario Inc., has entered into a non-exclusive framework collaboration agreement (the "Agreement") with the Ministry of Energy and Environment of the Province of Mendoza (the "Ministry").

The Agreement establishes a general framework for cooperation between the Ministry and the Company with respect to the Company's properties in the Province of Mendoza. Under the Agreement, the parties may cooperate in areas that include technical and professional assistance related to geological, environmental, legal, engineering, economic and financial studies; structured information exchange (subject to confidentiality obligations); training and professional development initiatives; and coordination of environmental, social and community-related practices associated with mining activity. The Agreement has an initial one-year term and may be renewed once for an additional one-year period by mutual consent.

"This collaboration represents an important step for Jaguar. Working with the Ministry reinforces our commitment to responsible development and supports our long-term objective of creating sustainable value for the Company. We look forward to building on this foundation and advancing our work in the Province in collaboration with the Ministry," said Luis Ducassi, Executive Chairman.

"We are thrilled to establish this framework for ongoing cooperation with the Ministry. We believe this is the first step for the Company to broaden its investment in the Province of Mendoza and look forward to advancing our exploration activity in a meaningful way," said Steven Gold, President & CEO.

About Jaguar Uranium Corp.

Jaguar Uranium Corp. is a South American-focused uranium explorer advancing a portfolio of prospective brownfield assets across Argentina and Colombia. Anchored by a former producing mine, a historic uranium district, and exploration projects backed by historical drilling, Jaguar Uranium is uniquely positioned to revive and expand some of the region's most meaningful uranium opportunities. The Company is guided by a proven, industry-leading team with decades of success in permitting, exploration, discovery, and project finance across South America, bringing deep regional insight and a track record of execution to every stage of development.

This news release does not contain any new scientific or technical information, and the Company is not reporting exploration results, mineral resources, or mineral reserves.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the interpretation, and implementation of the Agreement; the potential for continued collaboration under the Agreement; and the negotiation and execution of additional agreements and related activities. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks related to obtaining required governmental approvals; negotiation and execution of subsequent agreements; permitting, community engagement and environmental matters; availability of funding, personnel and equipment; political and regulatory developments; commodity prices and foreign exchange rates; and other risks described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-292006), as amended, and in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286201

Source: Jaguar Uranium Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Tajiri Resources Corp. (TSXV: TAJ) ("Tajiri" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has extended mineralization previously reported in trench YTR16 (20m @ 1.4g/t Au) to 32m @ 1.1g/t Au, at its majority owned Yono Project, Guyana, South America.

Yono is contiguous with and surrounded by the Oko and Oko West Properties of TSX listed G2 Goldfields Inc. "G2" & G Mining Ventures "GMIN", which collectively host 6.9 Moz and 2.0 Moz of Indicated and Inferred Gold Resources (~ 94Mt @ 2.3g/t Ind. & 26Mt @ 2.5g/t Inf)1 within 150-170m of Yono's eastern boundary and extending north and south of Yono over a total distance of ~ 5km. Currently the Oko West Deposit is in development, with production slated for H2 2027.

**To View Figures associated with this announcement: https://tinyurl.com/TAJFigures

In detail, Trench YTR16 was extended 80m to the south of the original 20m long YTR16 for a total length of 100m and the extended trench encountered mineralization from 50m returning 50m@ 0.7g/t Gold from 50m to to the end of trench; with the interval 68-100m returning 32m @ 1.1g/t including 2m @ 7.3g/t Gold from 86-88m.

Gold mineralization encountered in YTR16 is hosted in quartz carbonate veins occurring at contacts within a tightly folded sequence of carbonaceous sediments, interbedded with chloritic sediments and andesites. As can be seen in Figure 1 lithologies and mineralized veins dip south at 40-65 into Yono and the dominant strike of veining and geology is WSW-ENE and NNW-SSE. These orientations give considerable potential to expand mineralization downdip and along strike into Yono. In particular, YTR4 intersected 19m @ 4.6g/t Gold, associated with similar carbonaceous sediments, 400m to the south of YTR16 which suggests potential to delineate a significant zone of gold mineralization.

True widths of mineralization reported are not known with accuracy however given the mapped strike and dip of mineralization and the orientation of YTR16 estimated true width of mineralization is 65-85% of reported width.

Trenching to the east, west and south of YTR16 to better define this highly significant zone of gold mineralization is ongoing and has been expedited.

Executive Chairman Dominic O'Sullivan commented, "We are delighted that with each successive round of results we report the potential of Yono grows. Today's results underly that growing potential, with YTR16 returning a zone of gold mineralization that is ~ 50m wide. Such a substantial width of gold mineralization is highly significant and a strong indication that the same large mineralizing system that has given rise to the proximal Oko Main, Ghanie and Oko West deposits is present extends into and through Yono."

Results of all Yono trench results are reported in the appended table and the location of YTR16 is shown in Figure 2.

Table 1

Significant Trench Intercepts

Trench Total Length

Metres From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Au g/t YTR3R 12 0 12 12 2.4 incl

6 8 2 6.0 YTR4X 100 0 12 12 0.2



82 84 2 0.6 YTR 8X 40 10 36 22 0.8 Incl.





8 1.1 YTR10 470 394 418 24 0.2



446 456 10 0.2 YTR15 160 114 132 18 0.5



114 122 8 1.0











YTR12 270 112 118 6 0.5



214 218 4













YTR16 100 50 100 50 0.7 Incl.

68 100 32 1.1



86 88 2 7.3











YTR17 22





NSR











YTR18 22 0 4 4 1.8



18 22 4 5.5











YTR19 66 0 26 26 0.2

Intercepts are reported with a maximum of 2m of internal dilution at a cutoff grade of 0.1g/t. Internal dilution of 2m has been applied to intercepts that average >1g/t and 6m to anomalous zones which average <1g/t. All intervals are given as the intersected widths and while strikes and dips of structures, contacts and veins associated with mineralized intervals have been measured during routine mapping of the trenches, given the early nature of exploration and the fact that vein orientations within shear zones commonly occupy an array or orientations often oblique to the true strike and width of a mineralized zones we cannot at this stage give a true width for the mineralized intervals given in the above table.

On Behalf of the Board,

Tajiri Resources Corp.

Graham Keevil,

President & CEO

About Tajiri Resources

Tajiri Resources Corp. is a junior gold exploration and development Company with exploration assets located in the emerging premier gold destination of Guyana, South America. Lead by a team of industry professionals with a combined 100 plus years' experience - 40 of that in Guyana; and a track record of discovering ~20 million ounces of gold in Western Australia, West Africa and Guyana- the Company's goal is to generate the highest possible returns for shareholders through exploration and discovery.

Methodology

Trenches were dug by a 25 tonne New Holland excavator, rented by the Company. Ground is first cleared and soil and laterite overburden is removed to a depth 2-4m in an upper bench. Thence the trench is dug to a total depth of 6-7m (2-3m below the upper bench) to reach underlying saprolite where possible.

Sampling is routinely conducted as horizontal channels taken on the south side of the trench along the floor mostly as 2m continuous composites. The entire length of a trench is sampled and in areas of potential interest the sampling interval may be tailored to the interval of interest with sample intervals of 1m or less if required (e.g. YTR3 @ 80-80.3m). Trench walls are cleaned prior to channel sampling, preventing contamination from higher in the weathered profile. All trenches are sampled from west to east or from south to north and intervals reported herein are referenced from the western and southern end of trenches.

Orientations and positions of all reported trenches and intersections are shown in Figure 1 together with the mineralized intervals referred to in the Table of significant intersections. Except for Trenches YTR6 and YTR7 all trenches were excavated in an east west orientation to cut inferred dominant north-south striking zones.

Samples, weighing typically between 2-5kg, are bagged and labelled immediately after sampling and stored on site until transport to either Actlabs or MSA laboratories in Georgetown Guyana, respecting industry standard chain of custody procedures. At Actlabs samples are dried and crushed to 80% passing 2mm and a 250g aliquot is riffle split and pulverized and analyzed by 50-gram fire assay. At MSA labs a 1,000-gram aliquot is pulverized. Initial assay readings are by atomic absorption with samples returning values greater than 3.0g/t being re-assayed with a gravimetric finish. The detection limit for both laboratories is 5ppb. The company inserts a QA/QC sample every 10th sample alternating between duplicates, blanks and standards. Bulk rejects and pulps are retained for 3 months for any required re-assay after which bulk rejects are discarded and pulps retained.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Dominic O'Sullivan B.Sc. and Executive Chairman of the Company. Mr. O'Sullivan is an Honours Graduate of the University of Sydney and a member of the AusIMM and a qualified person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release, including without limitation; estimated timing, obtaining the final approval of the TSXV, geological interpretations relating to the Yono Gold Property and potential mineral recovery processes or results. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy and / or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer: For full transparency and in accordance with CIRO guidance while the available data suggests a potential continuation of mineralization onto neighboring ground, further systematic exploration is required to substantiate the continuity of the gold-bearing trend.

End notes:

The disclosure in this news release includes information on properties adjacent to Tajiri's projects. Tajiri has no interest in or rights to acquire any interest in such adjacent properties, and the information presented is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Yono Gold Property. The results from adjacent properties are disclosed strictly to provide context and should not be interpreted as suggesting that similar results will be obtained from the Yono Gold Property.

Mineral Resources quantified for the neighbouring properties may be found on p17 and p1-14 respectively of the below referenced Technical Reports.

Lewis W. J., Sarkar C., San Martin A.J. & Gowans R. (2025) NI 43-101 Technical Report for the 2025 Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Oko Gold Property in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, South America, Effective Date March1, 2025; Report Date: April 24, 2025. Micon International; report prepared for G2 Goldfields Inc. https://g2goldfields.com/technical/

Beaulieu C, Leahy K., Lincoln N., Burelle A., Guido S., Murphy P., Behrens da Franca P.R,. (2025) Feasibility Study NI43-101 Technical Report Oko West Project, Effective Date April 28, 2025, Issue Date June 06, 2025. G Mining Services; report prepared for G Mining Ventures. https://downloads.ctfassets.net/hdghwvgt3xim/42yNQ6zp8FAkSRXacGSzIk/86eacbd8f9c5798be50c098fc64097f1/GMIN_2025_OKO_WEST_FS_Technical_Report_43-101-_FINAL_WEBSITE.pdf

Summary Resources Tabulated below,

Combined both Open Pit and Underground Resources

G2 OMZ, Ghanie & Oko NW Tonnage Grade

(g/t) Contained ounces

(Millions of ounces) Total Indicated Resources 13,435,000 3.4 1.471 Total Inferred Resources 20,511,000 2.5 1.635 GMIN

OKWD





Total Indicated Resources 80,259,000 2.1 5.407 Total Inferred Resources 5,127,000 2.4 0.39 G2 & GMIN

Combined





Combined Total Indicated Res. 93,694,000 2.3 6.878 Combined Total Inferred Res. 25,638,000 2.5 2.025

1 See End Note for a breakdown of adjacent G2 and GMIN resources, and sources.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286175

Source: Tajiri Resources Corp.
Quality, Certified: Mary Kay Achieves ISO 22716

DALLAS, TX / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / newsroom.marykay.com

Mary Kay Inc., a global direct sales leader in beauty and skincare innovation, has achieved ISO 22716 certification, the internationally recognized gold standard for cosmetic Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), reinforcing the company's unwavering commitment to product quality, safety, and consumer trust worldwide.

Key Data Points About Mary Kay's Global Manufacturing:

Built on 26 acres of land, Mary Kay's state-of-the-art, Silver LEED-certified Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing and R&D Center (R3) is located in Lewisville, Texas.

R3 is a $100+ million investment and is a 453,000-square-foot building.

R3 has the capability to produce up to 1 million units of product daily across its 21 packaging lines.

Nearly 60 percent of products manufactured at the facility are exported to international markets, supporting the company's presence in more than 40 markets around the world.

ISO 22716 provides comprehensive global guidelines aligned with EU standards for the production, control, storage, and shipment of cosmetic products, ensuring safety and quality at every stage of the manufacturing process. The certification comes at a pivotal time for the beauty industry as the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) strengthens regulatory oversight in the United States and establishes mandatory Good Manufacturing Practices for cosmetics.

Chaun Harper, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Mary Kay Inc.: "At Mary Kay, quality is not a checkbox - it is a promise, an operational framework, and a culture. (Image Courtesy: Mary Kay Inc.)

Chaun Harper, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Mary Kay Inc., emphasized the broader significance of the milestone: "At Mary Kay, quality is not a checkbox - it is a promise, an operational framework, and a culture. ISO 22716 certification matters as it is a global standard recognizing what we have always strived for: manufacture products with care, consistency, and accountability from raw materials to finished goods. It reflects our culture of empowering people to do things the right way every day and reinforces our long-term commitment to safe, reliable, and responsibly made beauty products."

ISO 22716 is recognized globally as the benchmark for cosmetic GMPs. It requires rigorous documentation, traceability of every batch, structured training, supplier quality management, and clearly defined processes to ensure products are manufactured in a safe, controlled, and transparent manner.

For consumers, the certification signals confidence. For regulators and partners, it demonstrates preparedness and alignment with evolving global standards. For Mary Kay, it affirms a culture built on accountability, teamwork, and excellence - values rooted in the Golden Rule philosophy of founder Mary Kay Ash.

Celebrating Mary Kay's ISO 22716 Certification at the Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing and R&D Center, where nearly 60 percent of products manufactured at the facility are exported to over 40 international markets. (Image Courtesy: Mary Kay Inc.)

As the beauty industry enters a new era of regulation and accountability, Mary Kay's ISO 22716 certification underscores how global standards, strong governance, and human-centered quality culture come together to shape the future of cosmetics.

***

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women's lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.

###

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications

newsroom.marykay.com

972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com

Find more stories and multimedia from Mary Kay at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Mary Kay

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/mary-kay

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Mary Kay

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/mary-kay-goes-for-gold-in-global-manufacturing-standards-1143525
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - TAG Oil Ltd. (TSXV: TAO) (OTCQB: TAOIF) (FSE: T0P) ("TAG Oil" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the grant of an aggregate of 11,850,000 stock options (the "Options") at a price of C$0.10 per common share to certain directors, officers, and personnel of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plan and applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Options have a term of five (5) years from the date of grant and will vest over a period of two (2) years.

The Company granted the Options as part of its ongoing long-term incentive program to align the interests of directors, officers, and personnel with those of shareholders, to incentivize performance, and to support the Company's operational and strategic objectives as it advances its drilling and development programs in Egypt.

About TAG Oil Ltd.

TAG Oil (http://www.tagoil.com/) is a Canadian based international oil and gas exploration company with a focus on operations and opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements with regard to the results of the Meeting. These statements address future events and conditions and are reliant on assumptions made by the Company's management, and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking information, actual results could differ from those currently projected. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286215

Source: TAG Oil Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Daura Gold Corp. (TSXV: DGC) (OTC Pink: DGCOF) (the "Company" or "Daura") is pleased to announce that it has expanded the land package of the 100%-owned Tayacoto Project located in Peru ("Tayacoto" or the "Project"), by staking the 1,000-hectare Agustina concession immediately north of Tayacoto.

This strategic acquisition consolidates the Company's control over the northern extension of the interpreted structural corridor that hosts mineralization within Tayacoto. The concession was acquired by direct application through INGEMMET, Peru's state agency for mining concessions.

Mark Sumner, Daura's CEO, commented: "The addition of the Agustina concession represents an important step in consolidating the broader Tayacoto district. Tayacoto hosts high-grade silver-gold-copper-lead vein mineralization outboard of Daura's principal porphyry-type exploration targeting. The addition of Agustina strengthens our control in the area, providing an opportunity to expand both the known polymetallic vein systems and evaluate the porphyry potential in a mineralizing district containing world-class deposits that fit within an intrusion-centered exploration model."

The concession (highlighted in red with a black outline in Figure 1) lies within a region previously termed the Pucajirca Volcanic Center. This 'volcanic center' contains a number of porphyry-type prospects hosted within the Calipuy Volcanic Group, including Highlander Silver Corp.'s Cerro Colorado and Daniela projects.

Previously reported reconnaissance mapping and sampling within the Tayacoto concession returned high-grade surface sampling results, including 6.1 g/t Au, 1,153 g/t Ag, 0.4% Cu, and >14% Pb (Daura News Release, November 11, 2025). These results confirm strong silver-lead mineralization with subordinate copper, zinc, and gold. This reported sampling is situated approximately 2.5 km east of Highlander Silver Corp.'s Daniela project and 1.5 km west of Daura's porphyry-type exploration target within the Tayacoto concession (Figure 2a). The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, as there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource at Tayacoto, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource.

The Company is currently undertaking a remote sensing targeting program integrating surface sampling results, ASTER-derived hydrothermal alteration mapping, and detailed structural targeting analysis (Figure 2b).

Figure 1: Daura's Ancash ground holdings highlighted in red, with the recently acquired Agustina Concession outlined in black.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6523/286193_daura1.jpg

Figure 2a: Daura's Ancash exploration concessions (red outline) shown on a satellite ASTER-derived hydrothermal clay-intensity image. White location box for the detailed clay-iron satellite image (Figure 2b).

Figure 2b: Showing the Daura reconnaissance sampling area (yellow oval extents) and regional fault zones (white dashed lines). Locations for Highlander Silver Corp.'s Daniela and Cerro Colorado porphyry-type exploration Projects are shown with respect to Daura's Tayacoto Porphyry-type exploration target concession.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6523/286193_bcbab47a24c589c1_003full.jpg

Qualified Person

Stuart Mills is the Company's qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. No limitations or failures to verify were identified. Mr. Mills is not independent of the Company, as he is the Company's Vice President of Exploration.

ABOUT DAURA GOLD CORP.

Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, Daura is exploring in Peru and Argentina.

In Peru, Daura is advancing high-impact exploration projects in Peru's renowned Ancash region, where it owns a 100% undivided interest in over 16,900 hectares of exploration concessions in Ancash, including the 900-hectare Antonella target and the 2,900-hectares of contiguous concessions at Libelulas, which is the primary focus of Daura's current exploration efforts.

In Argentina, Daura has entered into a binding Letter Agreement with Latin Metals Inc., for the right to earn up to an 80 % interest in the Cerro Bayo / La Flora Project. The project is located within the prolific Deseado Massif that hosts more than 30 mines and advanced exploration projects, including Newmont's Cerro Negro Mine, Hochschild/McEwen's San Jose Mine, and Patagonia Gold's Cap Oeste Mine. Cerro Bayo / La Flora are advantageously positioned within this world-class mining region, with strong community support and well-developed logistics. Currently Daura is conducting exploration including drilling and gradient array IP geophysical surveys at Cerro Bayo.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Daura's planned exploration at the Project. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Daura cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Daura's control. Such factors include, among other things: the inability of the Company to complete its planned exploration of the Project as contemplated herein, or at all; future prices and the supply of gold and other precious and other metals; future demand for gold and other valuable metals; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; risks of the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; adverse weather conditions and failure to obtain necessary regulatory or shareholder approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Daura disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286193

Source: Daura Gold Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR) (OTCQB: SURMF) (FSE: V6X) (WKN: A417U2) ("Surface Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its common shares have been accepted for listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("FSE") and have started trading under the symbol V6X/ WKN: A417U2.

https://live.deutsche-boerse.com/equity/surface-metals-inc?mic=XFRA

Surface Metals Inc.'s common shares are now cross listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, OTCQB, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The FSE is one of the world's largest and most established international stock exchanges and serves as a key marketplace for European institutional and retail investors, particularly those with a long-standing interest in the natural resources sector.

About Surface Metals Inc.

Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR) (OTCQB: SURMF) (FSE: V6X) is a North American mineral exploration company focused on advancing a diversified portfolio of gold and lithium projects in Nevada, USA. The Company's Cimarron Gold Project is located in Nye County, Nevada, in a historically productive gold district. Surface's Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project hosts an inferred resource of approximately 302,900 tonnes LCE adjacent to Albemarle's Silver Peak Mine. Surface Metals is also advancing a sedimentary claystone lithium project in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada.

For more information, please visit: www.surfacemetals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Neither the CSE nor its regulations service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains certain statements which may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur and in this news release include but are not limited to the attributes of, timing for and expected benefits to be derived from exploration, drilling or development at Surface's project properties. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling, sampling and other technical results may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. Surface's project location adjacent to or nearby other mineral projects does not guarantee exploration success or that mineral resources or reserves will be defined on Surface's properties. Exploration, development, and activities conducted by regional companies provide assistance and additional data for exploration work being completed by Surface. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from the Company's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Unless otherwise indicated, the market and industry data contained herein is based upon information from industry and other publications and the knowledge and experience of management. While we believe that this data is reliable, market and industry data is subject to variations and cannot be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in any statistical survey. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources referred to in this news release or ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources. With regard to the Cimarron Project potential quantity and grade of mineralization described is conceptual in nature as there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in targets being delineated as a mineral resource. Surface Metals has not undertaken any independent verification of drill results from historical drilling not completed by Surface Metals. Surface Metals has not independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results and believes that the historical drill results may not all conform to the presently accepted industry standards and as such should not be relied upon by the reader. Surface Metals Inc. considers these historical drill results relevant as Surface Metals Inc. will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration programs. Surface Metals Inc. also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes, however, Surface Metal Inc.'s future exploration work will include verification of the data through drilling. All technical and scientific disclosure pertaining to our mineral property interests in this news release have been reviewed by a Qualified Person, meaning an individual who is an engineer or geoscientist with at least five years of experience in mineral exploration, mine development or operation or mineral project assessment, or any combination of these; has experience relevant to the subject matter of the mineral project and the technical report; and is a member or licensee in good standing of a professional association.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286186

Source: Surface Metals Inc.
The collaboration brings enterprise-grade stride80 time clocks to the Connecteam ecosystem, offering businesses a unified solution for high-accuracy attendance and real-time data sync.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Accu-Time Systems (ATS), a leading provider of employee time collection solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Connecteam, the all-in-one platform for managing distributed workforces. This collaboration integrates Connecteam's workforce management system with Accu-Time Systems' stride80 employee time clocks-delivering a unified, accurate, and secure way to collect employee time for payroll processing.

Through this integration, employee punches recorded on stride80 time clocks are automatically transmitted to Connecteam's time tracking system in real time. The result is a streamlined data flow that eliminates manual entry, reduces payroll errors, and saves organizations valuable administrative time.

"By integrating Connecteam's platform with the reliability and durability of our stride80 clock, we're offering customers a new level of confidence in their workforce data," said Ryan McColgan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Accu-Time Systems. "This partnership supports our shared mission to simplify time and attendance tracking while improving accuracy for businesses of all sizes."

"We're excited to partner with Accu-Time Systems to offer our customers a powerful physical time clock solution," said Yuval Magid, Chief Operating Officer of Connecteam. "This has been a long time coming. We recognize that some customers require a physical time clock that integrates with Connecteam, whether for fingerprint or facial recognition clock-ins, or for other operational needs. Our partnership with Accu-Time Systems enables our customers to benefit from expanded capabilities while maintaining a unified and seamless product experience."

The collaboration strengthens both companies' commitment to open integrations and customer choice within the HR technology ecosystem. Existing and new customers can explore the integration and get setup information through the Connecteam's integration page.

For additional details on the ATS-Connecteam integration, visit the Accu-Time Systems page or contact sales@accu-time.com.

About Accu-Time Systems: Accu-Time Systems, an AMANO company, is a leading provider of employee time tracking solutions. Specializing in innovative technologies, ATS simplifies and optimizes workforce management processes. The company's commitment to innovation, security, and customer satisfaction continues to shape the future of employee time tracking. ATS offers a range of time clock options, including touch and non-touch time clocks, biometrics, proximity, and swipe card technologies. Additionally, ATS provides TimeCom, a cloud-based time-tracking solution capable of collecting and transmitting employee data between ATS time clocks, Connecteam Technologies, and other leading ERP, HCM, and WFM applications

About Connecteam: Connecteam is an all-in-one workforce management platform built specifically for deskless and frontline teams. Trusted by over 80,000 businesses worldwide, Connecteam helps companies streamline daily operations with tools for employee scheduling, time tracking, payroll, task management, internal communication, HR, and compliance - all from a single, easy-to-use mobile app.

SOURCE: Accu-Time Systems

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TimeCom-for-Connecteam-FAQs_DSETCPFAQ1225

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/electronics-and-engineering/accu-time-systems-announces-strategic-integration-with-connecteam-for-s-1142664
HONG KONG, Mar 4, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - The 42nd Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opens today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and runs for five consecutive days until 8 March. It is held concurrently with the 12th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show which opened on Monday (2 March) at AsiaWorld-Expo and concludes on 6 March. The two shows bring together some 4,000 exhibitors from over 40 countries and regions, forming the world's largest one-stop jewellery marketplace.Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: 'Alongside the expanded Hall of Fame, the show will feature the debut of the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion and the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Pavilion. Furthermore, Uzbekistan is participating for the first time with a delegation of 10 companies, showcasing a wide range of gold jewellery. Through diversified exhibit profiles, we aim to create more collaboration opportunities for the industry and reinforce Hong Kong's status as a global jewellery trading hub.'Kent Wong, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show Fair Organising Committee, said: 'Hong Kong is an international trade and sourcing centre and our twin jewellery shows play a pivotal role. Continuing the successful 'Two Shows, Two Venues' format, the fairs attract global jewellery professionals for sourcing and networking, helping the industry capture the latest global market trends.'International brands converge, key zones expandAt the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, the Hall of Fame has expanded by over 40%, welcoming more renowned international jewellery brands. Among them, Turkish exhibitor Hosgor Kuyumculuk Mucevherat Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Booth: CEC 3BD15) presents a 35.5-carat diamond necklace that combines exquisite craftsmanship with brilliant radiance. Another highlight is the Hall of Extraordinary, which features exhibitors such as Hong Kong's Glamour Fine Jewelry Enterprise Company (Booth: CEC GHC16), showcasing a bracelet featuring Colombian emeralds paired with diamonds and rubies in a radiant and luxurious style.New pavilions highlight oriental aestheticsWith hard pure gold technologies gaining popularity in the Chinese Mainland, the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion (Booth: CEC 3E-F02) features 11 exhibitors organised by the World Gold Council. The pavilion showcases innovative techniques that produce harder, lighter and brighter gold pieces capable of setting a variety of gemstones. Also, the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Pavilion highlights crossover craftsmanship between jewellery setting and watchmaking.The fairs also feature several events celebrating oriental aesthetics. Today, the Jewellers' and Goldsmiths' Association of Hong Kong Limited presented the awards for the Hong Kong International Fashion Chuk Kam Jewellery Design Competition. The competition encourages designers to create culturally rich and commercially viable gold jewellery for the ASEAN and the Middle East markets. Tomorrow (5 March) will see the awards presentation of the inaugural International Fei Cui Jewellery Design Competition, organised by the Hong Kong Jade Association, honouring designers who skilfully blend jadeite with global cultural elements.Antique treasures and cuttingedge designAntique jewellery remains highly soughtafter by collectors and highend customers for its historical value and craftsmanship. The Antique & Vintage Jewellery Galleria presents an array of rare pieces, including a bicolour enamel diamond piece from World Coins Co., Ltd. (Booth: CEC CHN12), with a history spanning over a century.Design pieces are equally captivating, the Designer Galleria welcomes 10 Korean designers this year. Together with the Young Jewellery Designer Arena, participated by the Asia Pacific Creator Association and the Asia Jewelry Culture Design and Crafts Association, about 50 designer exhibitors will showcase their diverse creativities in the fairground.The HKTDC continues to nurture local talents in the jewellery industry. In partnership with the Jewellers' and Goldsmiths' Association of Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association, Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers' Association, and Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, the 27th Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition returns under the theme 'Pure Elegance ' Natural Beauty', offering a stage for local professional designers and students. The awards ceremony will be held tomorrow (5 March) at the HKCEC, with winning pieces on display to demonstrate innovative design.Ecommerce and technology empower industry growthTo help exhibitors expand into the Chinese Mainland market and develop their online sales channels, the fairs continue the collaboration with Taobao Tmall. For the first time, the fairs also welcome Douyin, partnering with influencers and KOLs for onsite live streaming to promote exhibitors' products. On 7 March, a seminar will feature experts discussing the latest online marketing trends and tactics.Another seminar on 5 March will explore how AI and new technologies enhance competitiveness, optimise production, and drive product innovation in the jewellery industry.Engaging events to connect and inspireA diverse lineup of events will be held to foster industry dialogue. These include a seminar by Dr Jack Ogden, a distinguished British historian and jewellery authority, who will analyse the evolution of jewellery craftsmanship and changing aesthetic tastes throughout history. The jewellery parades will highlight themes such as intangible cultural heritage jewellery, curated selections from the Antique & Vintage Jewellery Galleria, as well as highlights from the Hall of Extraordinary, Designer Galleria, and gold jewellery.Full list of the winning entries from Hong Kong International Fashion Chuk Kam Jewellery Design Competition: https://bit.ly/46B5edLPhoto download: https://bit.ly/46GadtLThe 42nd Hong Kong International Jewellery Show opens today at the HKCEC, alongside the 12th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show at AWE, together gathering around 4,000 exhibitors from over 40 countries and regionsAnthony Lam, Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (front row, centre); Bernard Chan, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (front row, fifth right); Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC (front row, fifth left); Kent Wong, Chairman of the HKTDC twin jewellery shows' Fair Organising Committee (front row, fourth right); Winston Chow, Chairman of the HKTDC Jewellery Advisory Committee (front row, fourth left), and other officiating guests attended today's networking receptionThe Hall of Fame has expanded by over 40% this year, featuring more international brandsThe World Gold Council debuts the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion, featuring 11 exhibitors to showcase innovative hard pure gold craftsmanship to international buyersThe Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Pavilion makes its first appearance, exhibiting luxury timepieces that integrate jewellery setting craftsmanshipShenzhen Meifei Precious Metals Co Ltd (Booth: CEC 3EE02) presents 24K gold necklaces themed around oriental palatial and modern Chinese styles, employing six traditional gold techniquesHong Kong exhibitor Present Watch & Jewelry (Booth: CEC 1CON019) showcases a diamond wristwatch inspired by the Northern Song masterpiece 'Ode to the Lotus', with a dial crafted to evoke a lotus pondTurkish brand Zen Diamond (Booth: CEC 3BC12), which appointed global celebrity Jennifer Lopez as its ambassador in 2025, presents a series of diamond pieces at the showHong Kong designer Austy Lee (Booth: CEC 1EF32) launches a zebra inspired bangle for the Year of the HorseWinners of the Hong Kong International Fashion Chuk Kam Jewellery Design Competition pictured at the award ceremony with distinguished guestsHKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enMedia enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:Winnie Kan Tel: (852) 2584 4055 Email: winnie.wy.kan@hktdc.orgKaty Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.orgJane Cheung Tel: (852) 2584 4137 Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.orgAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels.Source: HKTDCCopyright 2026 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Remaining informed about new trends and innovations in environment, health, safety, (EHS) and sustainability is crucial for industry professionals dedicated to continuously enhancing their company's processes and initiatives.

There are a multitude of upcoming EHS and Sustainability events across the globe that can serve as invaluable resources for gaining fresh insights, identifying new trends, and ultimately contributing to a safer and more environmentally friendly workplace and planet. From interactive sessions to inspirational presentations and networking opportunities, here is a brief compilation of global EHS and sustainability conferences and events that should be on your radar for 2026.

Asia

Sustainability Week Asia

Date: 25-26 March

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Event Details: The 5th annual Sustainability Week Asia brings together 1,000 sustainability leaders, purpose-driven consumers, and business decision-makers in Bangkok to accelerate the transition to net zero. As Asia-Pacific's rapid economic growth, significant investment in renewables, and diverse ecosystems position the region to lead the race to a greener future, this event offers practical case studies, in-depth panels, private roundtables, and high-impact networking to support rapid, real-world business transformation.

Website: https://events.economist.com/sustainability-week-asia/

EREE 2026 - 2026 8th International Conference on Environment, Resources and Energy Engineering

Date: 5-7 October

Location: Singapore

Event Details: As environmental pollution intensifies and the demand for practical, cost-effective solutions grows, advancing innovative technologies in Resources, Environmental & Energy Engineering has never been more critical. EREE 2026 provides a premier platform for academic exchange, bringing together specialists, researchers, and scholars to share ideas, present breakthroughs, and explore emerging challenges across environment, resources, and energy engineering.

From solar energy and renewable resources to natural environment protection and sustainable systems design, the conference fosters collaboration across disciplines-encouraging fresh perspectives, meaningful dialogue, and the discovery of powerful synergies that can drive real-world environmental and energy solutions.

Website: https://www.eree.org/

The Health & Safety Event Asia

Date: 10-12 November

Location: Singapore

Event details: Join 3,000+ health and safety professionals for a dynamic event designed to advance best practices, showcase emerging trends, and share proven strategies shaping the future of workplace safety. Connect with leading experts and influential voices across the sector, gain CPD points through an expert-led content programme, and stay ahead of critical regulatory changes and industry developments.

Explore 10,000+ innovations and engage with 75+ global suppliers to source cutting-edge technologies and solutions that strengthen safety performance across your organisation. With unmatched networking opportunities spanning industries and sectors, this is your opportunity to elevate your expertise, expand your professional network, and drive meaningful improvements in health and safety standards.

Website: https://www.safetysecurityasia.com/health-safety-event

COP31

Date: 9-20 November

Location: Antalya, Turkiye

Event Details: COP 31 will bring together Parties to the United Nations climate convention for the world's premier climate decision-making forum. As the supreme body of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties (COP) convenes annually to review progress on implementation, assess national communications and emissions inventories, and adopt decisions that strengthen global climate action. With participation from governments across all UN regions-alongside observers, institutions, and stakeholders-COP 31 will play a critical role in evaluating collective progress and advancing the institutional, legal, and practical measures needed to meet the Convention's ultimate objective.

Website: https://unfccc.int/cop31

Africa

Twelfth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

Date: 28-30 April

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, United Nations Conference Center

Event details: The Twelfth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) convenes governments, private sector leaders, civil society, youth, and development partners to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Under the theme "Turning the Tide: Transformative and Coordinated Actions," the 2026 Forum will focus on scaling bold, aligned solutions and reviewing progress on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17, while strengthening peer learning, supporting countries presenting Voluntary National Reviews, and shaping Africa's regional priorities for key global sustainability milestones.

Website: https://www.uneca.org/eca-events/arfsd2026

16th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Development Forum

Date: 30 April - 2 May

Location: North Coast, Egypt

Event Details: Join us on the journey toward a more sustainable future. The 16th edition of this forum moves beyond theory, equipping participants with a practical Sustainability Toolbox-featuring inspiring tools, forward-looking policies, and real-world experiences designed to turn big questions into clear answers and actionable plans.

More than a conference, it is a collaborative platform where ideas become implementation-empowering organizations to translate ambition into measurable impact for today and for future generations.

Website: https://www.egyptcsrforum.com/

16th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion

Date: 2-4 September

Location: Cape Town

Event details: This conference examines the structural, social, and commercial drivers of injury risk-alongside practical, scalable solutions-through an African lens with global relevance. Grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu, which reflects interconnectedness, shared humanity, and mutual responsibility, the theme underscores the power of collective action in preventing injury and violence.

Bringing together diverse sectors and communities, the event promotes a holistic and inclusive approach to safety-one that benefits Africa and resonates worldwide. Participants will explore cutting-edge evidence on injury prevention while confronting the complex social, economic, and political barriers that often hinder implementation. More than a dialogue, this conference is a call to action: to elevate safety and public health as central priorities in policy, practice, and leadership.

Website: https://worldsafety.co.za/

Sustainability & ESG Africa, CONFERENCE & EXPO

Date: 30 September - 01 October

Location: South Africa, Sandton Convention Centre

Event Details: The Sustainability & ESG Africa Conference and Expo brings together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators committed to advancing sustainable development across the continent. Over two days of high-level discussions, interactive workshops, and expert panels, participants gain practical insights into the environmental, social, and governance strategies shaping Africa's future. Designed to foster collaboration and real-world solutions, the event offers a dynamic platform to connect, explore emerging technologies, and drive meaningful impact toward a more resilient and responsible Africa.

Website: https://esgafricaconference.com/

Europe

3rd Annual World ESG and Climate Summit

Date: 27-28 May

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Event Details: The World Sustainability and ESG Summit is a leading international forum focused on advancing sustainable development and accelerating ESG integration across sectors. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, investors, and sustainability professionals, the summit offers keynote addresses, expert panels, interactive workshops, and high-level networking. Participants gain insights into global sustainability trends, emerging ESG frameworks, and practical strategies to address today's most pressing environmental and societal challenges.

Website: https://www.leadventgrp.com/events/3rd-annual-world-esg-and-climate-summit/details

EHS Congress 2026

Date: 27-28 May

Location: Berlin, Germany

Event Details: A premier European event for Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) leaders, focused on "Creating a genuine Culture of Care." This year will feature workshops, keynotes, and networking, bringing together professionals to explore tech trends, risk assessment, and safety culture.

Website: https://ehscongress.com/

World Biodiversity Forum

Date: 14-19 June

Location: Davos, Switzerland

Event Details: Under the theme "Leading Transformation Together," the fourth World Biodiversity Forum (WBF 2026) will take place 14-19 June 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. The Forum brings together leaders from science, business, policy, arts, and civil society to advance actionable solutions that address biodiversity loss and interconnected planetary crises. Focused on supporting implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, WBF 2026 fosters cross-sector and cross-generational collaboration to tackle root causes, co-create biodiversity-positive futures, and build equitable systems that drive lasting transformation.

Website: https://worldbiodiversityforum.org/

The 7th International PFAS Congress

Date: 17-20 June

Location: Paris, France

Event Details: The 7th International PFAS Congress PFAS over 4 Days, the 17th to 20th of June 2026 in Paris is the largest PFAS Congress internationally, with participants from Industries, Service Providers, Consultants, Authorities, Universities, Dirking Water Producers, Lawyers, Insurance Companies, and all kind of Stake Holders. Presentations and Discussions are ensured during 4 days with Experts from the European Community (Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland) and from the UK, USA, UK, Canada, Australia.

Themes are focused on Innovative Site Investigations (Water, Soil, Air, Sediments, Organisms), Risk Assessments (Human Health & Environment), use of AI for Contamination Source Identification and Differentiation for Cost Sharing and Court Disputes, Case studies of Remediation and Treatment Technologies and new Research Results. In parallel an Exhibit Space for companies is installed for visiting.

Inogen Alliance is an official sponsor and will be attending this event, we hope to see you there!

Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Global Water Stewardship Forum

Date: 23-24 June

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Event Details: The AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum is one of the key events in which our community of members, implementers and stakeholders share knowledge and learning on the evolution of water stewardship practice and forge new directions through dialogue and partnerships. Held annually since 2016 in Edinburgh, Scotland, it has become the must-attend event for the international water stewardship community.

Website: https://a4ws.org/global-water-stewardship-forum/

Inogen Alliance is an official sponsor and will be attending this event, we hope to see you there!

Responsible Investment Forum: Europe

Date: 17-18 November

Location: London, UK

Event Details: The longest-running private equity forum focused on bringing together fund managers, institutional investors, and expert advisors to discuss ESG issues across alternative asset classes will return to London on 17-18 November.. Recent key themes included addressing climate change within a portfolio, ongoing regulatory changes, the growth in impact and what it means for ESG, value creation and much more. Hear from the leading investors, managers and expert advisors on the latest ESG strategies.

Website: https://www.peievents.com/en/event/responsible-investment-forum-europe/home/

North America

Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026

Date: 5-6 May

Location: Boston, USA

Event Details: Amid growing regulatory fragmentation, shifting investor expectations, and mounting pressure to demonstrate ROI, sustainability leaders are navigating an increasingly complex landscape. Reuters Events: Responsible Business USA 2026 is designed to meet this moment.

Taking place this May in Boston, the event convenes 350 senior decision-makers for two focused days of candid case studies, peer-led insights, and structured networking. Attendees will explore how leading organizations are protecting sustainability budgets, strengthening board buy-in, setting clear priorities amid political uncertainty, and positioning sustainability as a driver of growth and resilience. Responsible Business USA 2026 offers a focused, high-impact forum to regroup, refocus, and reinforce sustainability's place at the core of corporate strategy.

Website: https://events.reutersevents.com/sustainable-business/responsible-business-usa

Climate Week NYC

Date: 20-27 September

Location: New York, USA

Event Details: Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together over 500 events and activities across the City of New York - in person, hybrid and online. Each year, business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, gather to drive the transition, speed up progress, and champion change that is already happening. Climate Week NYC is hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit whose purpose is to drive climate action, fast. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector.

Website: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/

Forum26: NAEM EHS & Sustainability Management Forum

Date: 12-14 October

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Event Details: NAEM's EHS & Sustainability Management Forum is the largest annual gathering for environment, health and safety, and sustainability (EHS&S) decision-makers. Join your peers from leading companies, get exposed to new ideas, and come away energized and ready to implement what you've learned.

Website: https://www.naem.org/events/read/2026/10/12/conferences-events/forum26-ehs-sustainability-management-forum

Latin America

Latin America Energy Summit

Date: 15-16 April

Location: Santiago, Chile

Event Details: The Latin America Energy Summit 2026 will take place April 15-16 in Santiago, Chile, bringing together energy companies, developers, investors, engineering firms, and government leaders to explore emerging opportunities across the region's evolving energy landscape.

Over two days, experts from across the Americas and Europe will examine renewable infrastructure projects in wind, solar, and hydropower, alongside the continued role of hydrocarbons and natural gas in meeting power and transportation demands. Designed to foster strategic partnerships and enhance competitiveness, the Summit offers a focused platform to build the relationships needed to succeed in Latin America's dynamic energy market.

Website: https://www.latamenergysummit.com/

First International Conference for the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels

Date: 28-29 April

Location: Santa Marta, Colombia

Event Details: The Governments of Colombia and the Netherlands have announced plans to co-host the first International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, following COP30 negotiations that produced no agreement on fossil fuel phaseout. The conference will bring together governments, Indigenous Peoples, NGOs, and other stakeholders to advance legal, economic, and social pathways for an equitable global transition away from fossil fuels.

Aligned with the Belem Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, now signed by 24 countries, the event aims to strengthen international cooperation and accelerate progress toward a coordinated and just phaseout

Website: https://www.gwec.net/events/first-international-conference-for-the-just-transition-away-from-fossil-fuels

4th ISIE Americas & the Caribbean 2026

Date: 4-6 November

Location: Bogota, Colombia

Event Details: The 4th ISIE Americas & the Caribbean Conference 2026 returns to Bogota, Colombia, marking a decade since the first regional gathering on Industrial Ecology and Green Growth. This year's conference will explore how circular economy research, industry innovation, and public policy can respond to pressing sustainability challenges across the Americas and the Caribbean.

In a time of supply chain disruption and environmental uncertainty, the event will highlight circularity as a pathway to resource security, regional collaboration, and resilient growth-bringing together diverse voices from across the Global North and South to advance practical, shared solutions.

Website: https://is4ie.org/events/isie-regional-conferences/131

About Inogen Alliance

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of over 70 of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates, listen to our podcast and follow us on LinkedIn.

Find more stories and multimedia from Inogen Alliance at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Inogen Alliance

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/inogen-alliance

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Inogen Alliance

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/global-ehs-and-sustainability-conferences-to-attend-in-2026-1143531
St. John's, Newfoundland--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Triple Point Resources Ltd. ("Triple Point" or the "Company") provides an update on feasibility work for its Fischells Salt Dome project (the "Project"), a proposed long-duration energy storage facility at the Fischells salt dome in western Newfoundland and Labrador.

Following the Company's appointment of WSP to lead feasibility work, Triple Point confirms that WSP has delivered key feasibility components including the solution-mining assessments, initial development pathways for salt/brine management and salt commercialization, and an investment-supporting business case. WSP's work advanced the Project's engineering design along with engineering opportunities and recommendations to guide next steps.

In parallel, Triple Point is working with its technology partner, Siemens Energy to advance the compressed air energy storage ("CAES") power system and grid integration workstream, which is expected to be completed in April 2026.

"This phase advances our technical and economic options for compressed air energy storage with value added salt commercialization potential revenue at the Fischells Salt Dome," said Julie Lemieux, CEO of Triple Point Resources. "With the geology already proven, we have focused on aligning engineering design, economics and local input to move the project forward. We are ready to share what we have learned and continue refining the project with communities."

The Project is being evaluated as a long-duration energy storage facility that will support the Newfoundland grid. Services under assessment include firm capacity to support the retirement of aging thermal generation, improved grid reliability, reduced renewable curtailment, and greater system flexibility as wind resources expand.

Public information sessions - March 2026

Triple Point will host public information sessions in March 2026 to present a project overview and update, and its plans for environmental assessment registration in early April 2026. Attendees will be able to ask questions and provide input as planning continues.

Community information sessions will be held at:

St. Georges, March 24 at 6:00 p.m., Parish Hall

McKays, March 25 at 6:00 p.m., Lions Club

Flat Bay, March 26 at 6:00 p.m., Peoples Complex

"The work completed so far gives us confidence in the project's technical foundation," added Lemieux. "We look forward to continuing the conversation and advancing this project in collaboration with communities."

About Triple Point Resources Ltd.



Triple Point Resources owns the Fischells Salt Dome mineral rights and 226 sq. km of mineral licenses on the west coast of Newfoundland. The dome is strategically located beneath the Trans-Canada Highway, 10 km from the coast, and intersected by the Maritime Link. Triple Point is developing large-scale underground salt cavern to support renewable energy integration, stabilize the grid, and build Canada's clean energy backbone on the East Coast.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information or statements ("forward looking statements") under applicable securities legislation and rules. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will be", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Such statements include that the Company's sale dome assets are suitable for and can be commercially utilized for hydrogen storage, that demand for such storage will in the future exist at commercially viable levels, that expected capacity can be achieved and that the Company will be successful in developing such project with the support of all stakeholders. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286232

Source: Triple Point Resources Ltd.


EQS Newswire / 04/03/2026 / 15:30 CET/CEST

Focusing on talent ecosystem in the AI-era, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as Asia's Premier International talent hub HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 4 March 2026 - The Labour and Welfare Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in collaboration with Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), will host the Global Talent Summit Week (GTS Week) in mid-March. Anchored by the integration of education, technology and talents, the mega talent event will foster regional talent exchange and explore future talent trends through an international forum, a large-scale expo and diverse networking activities.



Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) announced the programme for the Global Talent Summit Week on March 2, featuring the International Talent Forum, CareerConnect Expo and nine satellite events from March 17 to 29. Photo shows (from left) Account Delivery Director of DayOne Data Centre, Mr Tony Zhou; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Director of HKTE, Mr Felix Chan; and Partner of Ernst & Young Advisory Services Limited, Mr Jeff Tang, at the press conference.

Building on the success of its inaugural event in 2024, this year's GTS Week expands its programme to include the International Talent Forum and CareerConnect Expo on 18 and 19 March, alongside nine satellite events co-organised with HKTE's working partners from 17 to 29 March. Together, these initiatives form a comprehensive international platform for talent exchange, further strengthening Hong Kong's dual role as an international talent hub and the country's gateway for talent.



The GTS Week follows Hong Kong's historic ascent to the top position in Asia on the International Institute for Management Development's World Talent Ranking 2025, which marks the city's highest-ever ranking.



The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, stated: "At a pivotal moment of rapid transformation in the global talent ecosystem, the GTS Week aims to explore forward looking perspectives on talent development, policies and opportunities, while aligning with the country's development, thereby building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent."



The Director of HKTE, Mr Felix Chan, expressed his hope that through this flagship international talent event, the GTS Week will promote cross-regional and cross-sector collaboration on talent, and provide a platform for exchange with various partners that helps talent seize opportunities, understand development pathways in Hong Kong and gain foresight into manpower trends.



International Talent Forum | 18 and 19 March



Anchored by the theme "Connecting Global Minds", the Forum brings together top government officials, business and academic leaders from Hong Kong and abroad. Headlining the first day of the Forum will be Professor Christopher A. Pissarides, 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, delivering a keynote speech. He will be joined by Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Mr Joe Ngai, Chairman of McKinsey Greater China, who will share perspectives on the talent ecosystem in a new era. The Forum programme is structured with three panel discussions aligned with the GTS Week's core pillars:

Education - - "Navigating the Future: The Paradigm Shift in Education and Talent Strategy" brings together academic leaders to explore how cross-border collaboration and industry partnerships can drive innovation and build future-ready skills. Panellists include Professor Qihuang Gong (President, Peking University), Professor Nancy Ip (President, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Professor Simon Marginson (Professor of Higher Education (Emeritus), University of Oxford), Professor John Quelch (American President and Executive Vice Chancellor, Duke Kunshan University), and Professor Heiwai Tang (Associate Vice-President (Global), Universiry of Hong Kong).

brings together academic leaders to explore how cross-border collaboration and industry partnerships can drive innovation and build future-ready skills. Panellists include Professor Qihuang Gong (President, Peking University), Professor Nancy Ip (President, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Professor Simon Marginson (Professor of Higher Education (Emeritus), University of Oxford), Professor John Quelch (American President and Executive Vice Chancellor, Duke Kunshan University), and Professor Heiwai Tang (Associate Vice-President (Global), Universiry of Hong Kong). Technology - - "Technology as a Catalyst - Shaping Talent Strategies for Innovation" examines how innovative AI technologies can support talent attraction and development. Panellists include Ms Venetia Lee (General Manager, Ant International Greater China), Dr Dahua Lin (Co-founder & Chief Scientist, SenseTime), Mr Yat Siu (Co-founder & ExecutiveChairman, Animoca Brands; Founder & CEO, Outblaze), and Ms Basima Abdulrahman (Founder and CEO, KESK).

examines how innovative AI technologies can support talent attraction and development. Panellists include Ms Venetia Lee (General Manager, Ant International Greater China), Dr Dahua Lin (Co-founder & Chief Scientist, SenseTime), Mr Yat Siu (Co-founder & ExecutiveChairman, Animoca Brands; Founder & CEO, Outblaze), and Ms Basima Abdulrahman (Founder and CEO, KESK). Talent - - "Thriving in a Dynamic Talent Landscape - Sustaining Skills and Fostering Resilience" explores how AI and digital technologies are reshaping talent strategies. Panellists include Mr Jeff Tang (Partner, Market Development Leader, Consulting, Ernst & Young Group), Mr Paul Moody (Managing Director, Global Partnerships & Client Solutions, CFA Institute), Mr Grant Wright (Group Executive, AI, SEEK), Ms Ruchee Anand (Vice President of Talent Solutions for APAC, LinkedIn), and Ms Joy Xu (Group Chief People & Culture Officer, DFI Retail Group). The second morning will feature panel discussions and dedicated sessions with satellite event partners. An invitation-only closed-door Forging a National High-calibre Talent Hub Symposium will follow in the afternoon, bringing together government representatives from the Chinese Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region to foster knowledge exchange, collaboration and high-calibre talent networks.



The Forum is by invitation only; HKTE will provide a global livestream on both days.



For the full list of confirmed speakers and the detailed forum agenda, please visit: gts.hkengage.gov.hk/en/speaker-list



CareerConnect Expo | 18 and 19 March Running concurrently on 18 and 19 March, the Expo will feature about 70 large enterprises, education and technology institutions, and government departments. The free-admission Expo will provide participants direct access to the latest industry information, diverse support services and networking opportunities with multinational companies across thematic zones, showcasing career prospects across the Greater Bay Area. Pre-registration is now open.



Nine Satellite Events | 17 to 29 March (New for 2026) For the first time, the GTS Week will extend into a week-long series, with nine satellite events taking place from 17 to 29 March in partnership with HKTE's various working partners. The programme includes regional conferences, career fairs and corporate award ceremonies, creating a comprehensive platform for professional networking and information exchange. During the week, HKTE will formalise a cooperation agreement with JCI Hong Kong to deepen international promotion of the city.



Registration and Enquiries CareerConnect Expo: 18 and 19 March, 10am to 5:30pm, Hall 3F, HKCEC | Free admission

18 and 19 March, 10am to 5:30pm, Hall 3F, HKCEC | Free admission Pre-registration: gts.hkengage.gov.hk/register/attendee/public?lang=en

Forum livestream: Available globally on event days

Available globally on event days Website: gts.hkengage.gov.hk

Enquiries: gts.hkengage.gov.hk

Hashtag: GlobalTalentSummit

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Hong Kong Talent Engage Hong Kong Talent Engage, an office under the Labour and Welfare Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is committed to promoting Hong Kong's advantages, opportunities and various talent admission schemes in different global markets while providing comprehensive one-stop support services for incoming talents to facilitate their settlement and integration into the new environment for long-term development.





News Source: Hong Kong Talent Engage

04/03/2026 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News .

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com

View original content: EQS News
Westminster Magistrates' Court today has rejected an extradition request by the Ukrainian government against Artem Dmytruk, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and strident supporter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Citing Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Judge referred to Mr Dmytruk's torture by the Security Service of Ukraine in March 2022 as a reason for which his extradition would disproportionately effect his right to respect for private and family life.

Mr. Dmytruk's persecution in Ukraine has occurred in the context of his fierce advocacy for the UOC, of which he serves as a subdeacon, and which the Zelensky administration is seeking to outlaw over its historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, despite the UOC's strong support for Ukraine and material opposition to the Russian invasion.

Mr. Dmytruk was the only Member of Parliament to speak on the legislature's floor in August 2024 in opposition to Law 3894, which sets up the legal framework for a full ban of the UOC, a Church established over a thousand years ago. Following the speech, years-old allegations of assault were reignited by Ukrainian prosecutors, threats by government-aligned bloggers were issued and his security detail was removed. Mr. Dmytruk subsequently fled by foot to Moldova, from where he travelled to the United Kingdom seeking protection.

Robert Amsterdam, Founder and Managing Partner of Amsterdam Partners LLP, which serves as international counsel to both Mr. Dmytruk and the UOC, states:

"This ruling is a decisive win that recognises the lengths to which the Ukrainian government will go to silence political opposition, particularly as it relates to its violations of religious freedom.

Mr. Dmytruk has not only condemned the Russian invasion, but actively took up arms in March 2022 when he formed a territorial defence unit in defence of his city against Russia. This has not stopped the administration of President Zelensky from seeking to forcibly return Mr. Dmytruk over what are clearly trumped-up charges.

We want to thank the incredible extradition team that achieved this victory, including Edward Fitzgerald KC (Doughty Street Chambers), Ben Joyes (9BR Chambers) and Katy O'Mara (Hodge Jones and Allen)."

The requesting state now has 14 days to announce whether they plan to appeal the verdict.

Amsterdam Partners LLP is an international law firm specialised in political advocacy and human rights, based in London and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.amsterdamandpartners.com. Media enquiries may be directed to contact@amsterdamandpartners.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304983338/en/

Contacts:

contact@amsterdamandpartners.com
Natarajan strengthens executive client leadership as Assembly scales in North America

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Assembly, the global media agency within the Stagwell network famous for making brands perform, has appointed Aruna Natarajan as Chief Client Officer, North America, as the agency expands its client portfolio across the region. Based in New York, Natarajan will report to Jill Kelly, CEO of Assembly North America.

As marketers push for faster, more technology-connected delivery across channels and audiences, Assembly is further strengthening its senior client leadership bench to match the pace and complexity of modern client partnerships. Natarajan will focus on deepening executive relationships, sharpening how teams align to client business priorities, and reinforcing consistent partnership standards across North America.

Her remit spans the full client lifecycle, including account stewardship, client governance, and the operational excellence that supports retention and organic growth. She will work closely with Global Chief Client Officer Andrea Timmerman.

Natarajan joins from WPP Media, where she served as Chief Operating Officer and previously Chief Client Officer, leading large global portfolios and working with senior marketers through transformation and growth.

"Aruna is a standout client leader with the experience to match the scale and ambition of this moment for Assembly in North America," said Jill Kelly, Assembly North America CEO. "As we continue to grow, her leadership will help us deepen executive partnerships and continue to raise the bar on what clients expect from us as their media and technology partner."

Natarajan said her priority is scaling a client leadership approach built on trust, clarity, and measurable outcomes.

"The opportunity at Assembly is to continue to elevate client leadership as a practice into true business partnership with clients," said Natarajan. "That means building trust, developing a deep understanding of their businesses, and identifying how media can unlock growth for their brands. I'm excited to help establish and scale this client leadership practice alongside Jill and the Assembly team."

ABOUT ASSEMBLY

Assembly is a global omnichannel agency built for brands that want a more modern approach to building brands that perform. Backed by the Stagwell network, we are a literal assembly of data, talent, and technology built to unlock smarter, faster, and better-performing outcomes from the bottom up -not the top down. Curious, collaborative, and driven by change, we are an agency of builders who believe the better the experience, the better the performance. We don't see brand and performance as an either/or. For us, it's always both. The +\ symbol in our logo, known as the ORAD, represents this mindset. It's a mark of how we think, how we build, and how we deliver results across the full funnel. Assembly's foundation is built on three core elements: our purpose-built STAGE Experience Engine, the strategic product it powers-Brand Performance Planning (BPP) - and an organizational design built for speed, depth, and the demands of modern marketing. Together, they enable us to build better brand experiences that reimagine how brands connect, engage, and grow across data, tech, media, creative and commerce. With over 3,000 experts in 44 offices worldwide, Assembly delivers full-funnel solutions that help the world's most ambitious brands perform. Learn more at? assemblyglobal.com .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mariana Delacqua

Mariana.delacqua@assemblyglobal.com

SOURCE: Assembly

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/correction-from-source-assembly-appoints-aruna-natarajan-as-chie-1143577
Armis CentrixTM leveraged by global organizations to manage cyber risk across their entire attack surface

Armis, the cyber exposure management security company, today announced that it has been named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPS Protection Platforms for the second consecutive year.

"In an era of agentic AI, the security of our cyber-physical systems has become a strategic imperative for enterprises and governments globally; it is a pivotal pillar of global stability," said Yevgeny Dibrov, CEO and Co-Founder of Armis. "We believe this back-to-back recognition from Gartner reflects our continued commitment to helping organizations secure the complex, critical world of CPS and reinforces the strength of our unified, proactive platform approach. Our innovation pipeline, which is aligned with our customers' needs, will continue to prioritize protecting critical environments to keep society safe and secure."

Armis was named a Leader in this report among the 13 vendors that were evaluated. Armis Centrix, the Armis Cyber Exposure Management Platform, was evaluated within the report for its Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute.

We believe Armis distinguishes itself through a broad, proactive platform designed to understand the entire environment rather than offering narrow, siloed monitoring. Armis Centrix was specifically engineered to manage the complex risks of CPS, providing a unified understanding of exposures across every domain. This approach replaces fragmented point solutions with a single, contextualized view that aligns cybersecurity directly with an organization's operational realities.

As of March 3, 2026, Armis had 119 reviews on Gartner Peer Insights in the CPS Protection Platform category with an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5. Armis customers praise the company's CPS Protection Platform solution through verified ratings and reviews on Gartner Peer Insights:

"Excellent product suite that reveals insights never seen or thought to even look for that really brings a holistic view into the enterprise surface of any sized organization." IT Associate (Industry: Construction)

Security solutions have historically been designed to address specific technology silos. However, cyber risk no longer respects these boundaries. Exposures frequently emerge from the interactions between systems, where vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, identities, and dependencies intersect across multiple asset classes.

"Our customers in OT-driven industries acknowledge that CPS security now extends beyond conventional OT boundaries," said Nadir Izrael, CTO and Co-Founder of Armis. "Security strategies built around isolated areas risk missing the broader exposure landscape that organizations must now manage. As a result, to meet CPS security demands, organizations require a platform designed to deliver holistic protection, which Armis offers."

As CPS security requirements continue to mature, organizations are demanding greater flexibility in how security platforms are deployed. Operational constraints, regulatory obligations, and architectural preferences vary widely across industries. To address these realities, Armis offers on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployment options. This flexibility enables organizations to align Armis Centrix with their infrastructure strategies while maintaining a consistent, unified security model.

Find more information about Armis Centrix, the Cyber Exposure Management Platform, here.

For additional analyst reports recognizing Armis, please visit our Analyst Relations webpage.

Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner, 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPS Protection Platforms, Katell Thielemann, Wam Voster, Ruggero Contu, Sumit Rajput, March 3, 2026. Gartner and Magic Quadrant are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any company, vendor, product or service depicted in its publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's business and technology insights organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this publication, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Armis

Armis, the cyber exposure management security company, protects the entire attack surface and manages the organization's cyber risk exposure in real time. In a rapidly evolving, perimeter-less world, Armis ensures that organizations continuously see, protect and manage all critical assets from the ground to the cloud. Armis secures Fortune 100, 200 and 500 companies, as well as national governments and state and local entities, to help keep critical infrastructure, economies and society safe and secure 24/7. Armis is a privately held company headquartered in California.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304220653/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Rebecca Cradick

Vice President, Global Communications

Armis

pr@armis.com
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / The technical aspects of debt resolution-negotiation strategies, financial analysis, regulatory compliance-can be taught. The human dimensions, however, often cannot. This distinction, according to Alex Kleyner , CEO and Co-Founder of National Debt Relief with close ties to Miami , Florida , shapes every decision about team composition and organizational culture in a business where the work touches people during profoundly vulnerable moments.

"You can train someone on debt settlement mechanics in a few weeks," Daniel Tilipman, Co-Founder of National Debt Relief, explains. "What you can't train quickly is the emotional intelligence to recognize when someone is overwhelmed, the judgment to know when to push forward versus when to pause, or the empathy to hold space for someone's anxiety without becoming overwhelmed yourself."

This reality creates unique challenges in talent acquisition and development. Unlike industries where technical expertise serves as the primary hiring criterion, debt resolution requires a balance between financial acumen and interpersonal capability that proves difficult to assess through conventional recruitment processes.

Alex Kleyner describes the profile his organization seeks as somewhat paradoxical: people who combine analytical rigor with genuine compassion, who can maintain professional boundaries while demonstrating authentic care, and who possess both the confidence to guide others and the humility to recognize the limits of their role.

"We're looking for people who understand that they're not solving someone's life, they're helping navigate one specific dimension of it," he says. "That distinction matters enormously. People who come in with a savior mentality often burn out quickly or create unhealthy dynamics. The sustainable approach requires recognizing you're a guide, not a rescuer."

The emotional labor inherent in debt resolution work represents another hiring consideration that Alex Kleyner emphasizes. Team members regularly encounter stories of financial hardship, medical crisis, relationship breakdown, real estate and housing challenges, and other situations that accompany unsecured debt. Processing and deal ing with these stories while maintaining professional effectiveness requires particular psychological resilience.

"This isn't work for everyone, and there's no shame in that," Alex Kleyner acknowledges. "Some incredibly talented, empathetic people find that sustained exposure to financial distress takes too great a personal toll. Recognizing that early benefits everyone: the team member, the organization, and the clients."

This recognition has led Alex Kleyner 's organization to invest substantially in support structures for team members.

"You cannot sustainably serve people if your team is depleted," Alex Kleyner observes. "The math is straightforward: unsupported team members either leave or become less effective. Either outcome ultimately harms clients."

The diversity of team composition emerges as another priority in Alex Kleyner 's approach. He emphasizes that people navigating unsecured debt come from every demographic, net worth , and circumstance, and having teams that reflect that diversity improves both understanding and outcomes.

"When your team has lived experience with financial instability, with cultural barriers to discussing money, or with the specific challenges facing different communities, it shows up in how they communicate," Alex Kleyner notes. "There's a difference between intellectual understanding of someone's situation and recognition born from proximity to similar experiences."

Training approaches in Alex Kleyner 's organization reflect the dual technical and human nature of the work.

"We teach people to listen for what isn't being said as much as what is," Alex Kleyner explains. "Someone might call asking about specific debt amounts, but there's frequently a subtext there. Addressing only the surface question misses the opportunity to provide real support."

The leadership structure within debt resolution organizations also requires particular consideration, according to Alex Kleyner . Leaders need both the strategic capability to run efficient operations and the emotional awareness to maintain an organizational culture that prioritizes client dignity and team wellbeing.

"I've seen organizations led by people who excel at operational metrics but don't truly understand the human weight of this work," Alex Kleyner reflects. "Those organizations may achieve short-term efficiency, but they struggle with quality and ultimate effectiveness."

Looking at the broader industry, Alex Kleyner sees a gradual evolution toward more sophisticated thinking about team composition and culture, though he believes much room for improvement remains. As the sector continues to professionalize, he expects growing recognition that talent strategy represents a competitive differentiator.

"The organizations that will thrive long-term are those that understand this work requires a specific kind of team," Alex Kleyner concludes. "Not just skilled professionals, but people who bring both competence and humanity to something as intimate as helping someone navigate unsecured debt. Building those teams is difficult, ongoing work, but it's perhaps the most important operational decision we make."

CONTACT:

Andrew Mitchell

media@cambridgeglobal.com

SOURCE: Cambridge Global

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/alex-kleyner-on-building-the-right-teams-to-address-the-complexi-1142697
Massachusetts Robotics Industry Continues to Grow, Lead in Investment and Innovation.

BOSTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / MassRobotics resident startups have collectively raised $2 billion in venture funding since launching in 2017. Resident startups have announced major funding rounds, new product launches, and key industry milestones so far in 2026, highlighting the strength of resident startups within the MassRobotics ecosystem.

As the world's largest independent robotics hub, MassRobotics' mission is to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics and Physical AI technology companies by providing entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace, resources, programming and connections they need to develop, prototype, test and commercialize their products and solutions.

Here are just a few of the recent successes from MassRobotics resident startups:

Code Metal Achieves Unicorn Status with $125M Raise

Code Metal is tackling one of the most critical challenges in modern industry: translating high-level software into optimized, hardware-specific code that runs efficiently on embedded systems and specialized chips. Its AI-powered platform converts languages like Python and C++ into Rust, VHDL, and CUDA, while providing rigorous code verification for industries where every line of code counts. By accelerating modernization and development in robotics, defense, automotive, and semiconductor environments, Code Metal helps organizations build reliable systems in contexts where mistakes can result in injury, loss of life, or national security risk.

The company's rapid growth, profitability, and strong adoption by government and enterprise customers underscore the accelerating demand for AI-driven infrastructure modernization.

Code Metal started at MassRobotics at the beginning of 2024, growing rapidly, and expanding into their own dedicated office while still maintaining a presence at MassRobotics.

"Becoming part of the MassRobotics community in early 2024 embedded Code Metal in the center of Boston's vibrant robotics ecosystem. The collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and proximity to innovative teams and shared resources have been invaluable. Combined with access to Boston's exceptional technical talent - including several key hires we met through the MassRobotics Career Fair - it creates a powerful environment for growth and innovation." Said Alex Showalter-Bucher at Code Metal

Algorized Raises $13M to Enable Human-Aware Robotics

Physical AI startup Algorized announced a $13 million Series A round to expand deployment of its predictive safety technology.

Algorized's edge-based AI platform enables robots to perceive human presence and intent using wireless sensor infrastructure such as Ultra-Wideband, mmWave and Wi-Fi Sensing, allowing machines to safely operate alongside people in real time.

This breakthrough approach moves robotics beyond traditional "detect-and-stop" safety systems toward intelligent, continuous collaboration, unlocking significant productivity gains in manufacturing, logistics, and automation environments.

Algorized joined MassRobotics in 2025 with the goal of expanding their global reach from Switzerland to California to Boston.

"As we expand our U.S. footprint, choosing Boston was a strategic decision for Algorized. Massachusetts offers one of the strongest robotics ecosystems in the world with deep technical talent, leading research institutions, and a collaborative innovation community," said Natalya Lopareva, CEO & Co-Founder at Algorized. " After establishing our presence in California, it was clear that being part of the Boston robotics cluster would accelerate our growth and strengthen our ability to deploy predictive safety technology at scale."

Tutor Intelligence Raises $34 Million Series A to Scale Its AI-Powered Fleet of Warehouse Robot Workers

Tutor Intelligence has raised $34 million in Series A funding led by Union Square Ventures, bringing total funding to $42 million. Founded out of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), the company is building a new model for industrial robotics in manufacturing and logistics: AI-powered robot workers, deployed as a service, that get smarter with every hour on the job.

The new capital will accelerate commercialization and fund research and development of new platforms and products, expanding the reach and impact of Tutor's technology across manufacturing and warehousing supply chains.

Tutor Intelligence joined MassRobotics in 2021 and was a recent member of the MassRobotics Physical AI Fellowship powered by Amazon Web Services and NVIDIA. Since then, the company has grown tremendously - employing 68 people across Research and Deployment, with major 3PL and manufacturing customers across North America.

"From our early days at MIT, through our growth at MassRobotics, to opening our second facility in Watertown this spring, we've had natural access to everything we need here," said Emily Spector, Head of Business Ops at Tutor Intelligence. "World-class research and engineering and incredible partners- we're exactly where we need to be to build and deploy the future of physical AI."

Luminous Robotics Launches New Product and Expands Deployment

Luminous Robotics continues to make strides in construction and clean energy automation, recently launching its Pallet LUMI product and securing a $1 million CriticalMass project with partner Nexamp.

The company's robotic systems are designed to streamline labor-intensive construction workflows, particularly in solar energy infrastructure-helping accelerate renewable energy deployment while improving safety and productivity.

Luminous was founded and joined MassRobotics in 2024, growing from a couple lab benches to almost a full lab and eventually moving their operations to their own dedicated office in South Boston while still maintaining seats at MassRobotics.

"Joining MassRobotics in 2024 was transformative for us. It allowed us to grow from a couple of lab benches to nearly a full lab, and now with our own dedicated office in South Boston, we're accelerating innovation in construction and clean energy automation while staying closely connected to the MassRobotics community." said Jay Wong, CEO at Luminous

Sereact Raises 25M Series A, Expands in Massachusetts

After successfully raising a seed round, Sereact has secured 25 million in Series A funding, led by Creandum. Since joining MassRobotics in 2022, Sereact has been growing its presence in Massachusetts, bringing its hardware-agnostic AI models to U.S. industries. Out of several U.S. locations, they selected Massachusetts for its thriving robotics ecosystem and access to top talent, and have now secured their own office space in Boston, marking a major step in their U.S. expansion.

"Massachusetts quickly stood out to us as the ideal place to scale our U.S. operations. The strength of the robotics ecosystem, the depth of technical talent, and the collaborative community at MassRobotics made it a natural choice. Securing our own office space in Boston is an exciting milestone as we build our long-term presence in the U.S. and accelerate the deployment of our AI-powered robotics platform." said Ralf Gulde, Co-Founder and CEO at Sereact

Powering the Next Generation of Robotics Leaders

MassRobotics continues to expand to meet the growing needs of the robotics ecosystem within Massachusetts and globally. Each year, we welcome an increasing number of startups from around the world that choose to establish themselves in our space and in Massachusetts. Over the past several years in particular, we've seen significant growth across sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and climate tech.

"The strength and growth of robotics startups in the Boston ecosystem is unparalleled," said Tom Ryden, Executive Director of MassRobotics. "With more than 500 robotics companies, research labs, and innovation hubs across Massachusetts -- and an ever-growing number of startups seeking space, resources, and community, the need to expand MassRobotics has never been clearer. Expanding our footprint will allow us to support more companies, accelerate commercialization, and reinforce Massachusetts' position as a global leader in robotics."

MassRobotics exists to accelerate the success of robotics companies by providing workspace, technical resources, and access to a global network of sponsors, customers, and investors.

The recent momentum from resident startups reflects not only the strength of individual companies, but also the strong collaborative robotics ecosystem that enables them to scale faster and reach global markets.

MassRobotics supports all kinds of robotics startups, whether the companies are newly founded, looking to expand nationally, or expanding globally. Learn more about MassRobotics residents here .

More information about MassRobotics and resident startups available here: https://storage.googleapis.com/accesswire/media/1143233/massrobotics-company-pitch-2026-ma-startups--1.pdf

About MassRobotics:

MassRobotics is the world's largest independent robotics hub dedicated to accelerating robotics innovation, commercialization and adoption.

Our mission is to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics and Physical AI technology companies by providing entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace, resources, programming and connections they need to develop, prototype, test and commercialize their products and solutions. While MassRobotics originated and is headquartered in Boston, we are reaching and supporting robotics acceleration and adoption globally and are working with startups, academia, industry and governments both domestically and internationally.

Learn more here: https://www.massrobotics.org/

Media contact:

Sayo Tirrell

sayo@massrobotics.org

MassRobotics

SOURCE: MassRobotics

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/massrobotics-resident-startups-collectively-raise-2-billion-in-ve-1143233
It's the eighth consecutive year Lenovo has been included in the index, demonstrating its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion in its U.S. workplaces.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Lenovo announced that it has achieved a 95 out of 100 score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's (HRC) 2026 Corporate Equality Index, the US's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

"Benchmarking with the Human Rights Campaign helps us ensure we're fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone is included and can succeed," shared Calvin J. Crosslin, VP and Chief Inclusion Officer at Lenovo. "As a global company with employees in more than 60 countries and customers in more than 180 markets, we rely on the principles of mutual respect and inclusion in our workforce. We're proud to continually measure our policies and programs against the HRC CEI benchmark, and we're grateful for our employees' leadership and efforts that help our inclusive culture grow."

It's the eighth consecutive year Lenovo has been included in the index, demonstrating its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion in its U.S. workplaces. Outside of the U.S., Lenovo's LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion has been recognized with Ambassador status from the Workplace Pride Global Benchmark.

"For nearly a quarter of a century, the Corporate Equality Index has put a marker down for businesses committed to inclusion and transparency for all workers. Now, more than ever, we celebrate them," said Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. "No matter the environment, companies that communicate clearly and lead with transparency earn trust, retain talent, and strengthen their business. We are always here to collaborate with employers who want to foster a workplace where team members can bring their best selves to the office."

The results of the 2026 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promotion LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad:

98% of CEI-rated companies include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.

92% of companies provide equivalent family formation benefits for spouses and partners, including adoption, fertility and surrogacy.

87% of companies provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for all employees, including transgender employees, for medically necessary care.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to more than 22 million U.S. workers. The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

Learn more about Lenovo's workplace inclusion initiatives in its latest Environmental, Social and Governance report.

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world's largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo's continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

About The Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 3.6 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action-working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.

Find more stories and multimedia from Lenovo at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Lenovo

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Lenovo

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/lenovo-earns-95-score-in-human-rights-campaign-foundations-2026-corpor-1143549
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Phenom Resources Corp. (TSXV: PHNM) (OTCQX: PHNMF) (FSE: 1PY0) ("Phenom" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that following its January 22, 2026 announcement of further validating its Bonanza-type low sulphidation epithermal gold model and target with the fall 2025 drilling at the Company's Crescent Valley Gold Project, and with the benefit of unseasonably warm and dry winter conditions, the Company has been able to mobilize a follow-up drilling campaign at Crescent Valley. This also follows the Company's announcement January 12, 2026, of the discovery of a rare Earth and Critical metals deposit at Crescent Valley and the expansion of the property size. The Crescent Valley project is about 22 km (13 miles) southwest of Carlin, NV, strategically located along the southwest fringe of the Carlin Gold Trend within the prospective Northern Nevada Rift, Nevada.

To advance the Bonanza-type low sulphidation epithermal gold target in this drilling campaign, the Company plans to build onto the encouragements of hole CVN25-03 with three additional RC holes with 100 metre (328 foot) step-outs. The first angle hole, CVN26-05, below CVN25-03, was just completed to a depth of 506m (1660ft) with all samples delivered to the lab for assaying. A large quartz flooded zone was encountered from 275m to 411m (900-1350ft). Details with be provided when assays are available.

As previously reported, CVN25-03 saw a dramatic increase in gold presence with over half of the hole reporting elevated gold values, a dramatic increase in volume of quartz veining, and evidence of boiling starting at a depth of 700 feet.

To advance the IOCG rare Earth and Critical metals deposit evaluation in this drilling campaign, the Company plans for a 100 metre step-out from CVN25-04 with one hole, in efforts to target a feeder pipe suggested from the 2024 IP survey.

Characteristics of the Vein System on Crescent Valley

The 5-6-kilometre-plus-long range-front-margin quartz vein system is accompanied with zone of multi-event, silica-healed, hydrothermal breccias. Multiple quartz veins individually, locally reach up to 30 metres (100ft) thick. At and near surface, portions of the veins display repetitive banding, coarsely-bladed calcite, and quartz pseudomorphs of the calcite, within larger zones of phreatic-type brecciation that both typically represent above-boiling activity within zones of ascending hydrothermal fluids occurring above the prospective depositional levels of gold.

Low Sulphidation Deposits in Nevada

There are a number of low sulfidation epithermal gold deposits in Nevada known for their very high grades in gold and silver including Goldfields, the famous Comstock Mine, Midas, Tuscarora, and Sleeper Mine. Comstock was so rich it served as an important funding contributor to the successful Union Army cause during the Civil War. Sleeper was a very high-grade gold mine discovered and mined by AMAX Gold. Midas and Tuscarora are also near to, and on the flank of the Carlin Trend.

About Phenom Resources Corp.

Phenom has 100% interest in the Carlin Gold-Vanadium Project, located in Elko County, 6 miles south from the town of Carlin, Nevada and Highway I-80 which hosts the Carlin Vanadium deposit, North America's largest highest grade primary vanadium resource. The Project lies within the prolific Carlin Gold Trend. Approximately 9 million ounces comprised of multiple gold deposits, including past producing mines, are present near the Phenom property (5-15km). The Company has options on three gold projects in Nevada, the King Solomon and Dobbin Properties which are Carlin Gold-type targets and the Crescent Valley Property.

Technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul Cowley, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, director, President and CEO of the Company.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking information

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286238

Source: Phenom Resources Corp.
Joint lab validation shows more than 40 percent downlink throughput gain versus standardized channel feedback in four-layer (rank-4) operation

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) has collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to demonstrate machine learning (ML)-based Channel State Information (CSI) compression to enhance link adaptation efficiency in advanced Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026. In a controlled lab validation, the ML-based CSI feedback method achieved more than 40 percent downlink throughput improvement compared to 3GPP eType II CSI reporting in four-layer (rank-4) operation. The demonstration will be featured live at the Keysight booth (Hall 5, #5F41).

As 5G-Advanced networks use more antennas and wider channels, CSI becomes increasingly important in how the network steers beams and selects the right transmission settings. However, sending more detailed CSI can increase uplink reporting overhead, especially for higher-layer MIMO, creating a tradeoff between performance and signaling efficiency.

To address this, Keysight and Qualcomm Technologies tested a mobile test platform powered by a Qualcomm 5G Modem-RF, together with Keysight's network emulation solutions in a repeatable lab environment. Under fixed CSI feedback constraints, the ML-based compression method provided a more efficient channel representation than the standardized eType II method while maintaining the information needed for accurate beamforming and link decisions. The result supports scalable advanced MIMO configurations and contributes to industry work exploring AI-native physical-layer enhancements for future 6G wireless systems.

Tingfang Ji, Vice President of Engineering and Head of 6G Research at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said: "Efficient CSI feedback is fundamental as antenna dimensions and spatial layers increase. This demonstration shows how Qualcomm's advanced machine learning algorithms can significantly improve downlink performance over conventional eType II CSI reporting, supporting continued 5G-Advanced innovation and laying the foundation for future AI-native 6G systems."

Lucas Hansen, Vice President and General Manager, Wireless Test Group, Keysight, said: "AI-native enhancements at the physical layer are essential to scaling next-generation wireless networks. By combining Qualcomm's modem test platform with our AI-enabled base station emulation solutions, we are enabling rigorous evaluation of ML-based CSI compression and its impact on advanced MIMO performance and 6G research directions."

Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

About Keysight Technologies

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we're delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We're a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304017186/en/

Contacts:

Keysight Media Contacts

Andrea Mueller

Americas

andrea.mueller@keysight.com

Jenny Gallacher

Europe

jenny.gallacher@keysight.com

Fusako Dohi

Asia

+81 42 660-2162

fusako_dohi@keysight.com
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / KeyState, a leading provider of captive insurance solutions, today announced the launch of its Washington, D.C. domiciled Protected Cell Company. The new platform offers organizations a flexible and scalable alternative to traditional risk financing structures.

The Protected Cell Company enables clients to participate in a segregated cell arrangement while maintaining strict legal and financial separation between each cell. This structure allows organizations to access the benefits of captive insurance - including greater control over underwriting and claims, and potential participation in underwriting profits - without the cost and capital commitment required to form a standalone pure captive.

"Launching this Protected Cell Company meaningfully expands our captive solutions platform," said David Guerino, Executive Vice President of Captive Solutions at KeyState. "It offers a flexible, practical alternative for growing companies exploring a captive for the first time or those that have outgrown their group captive delivering greater control over their risk management programs."

The Washington, D.C. domicile offers an established regulatory framework and experienced oversight that support transparency and stability. This launch further strengthens KeyState's alternative risk capabilities and commitment to client-focused captive solutions.

ABOUT KEYSTATE

KeyState provides community banks and middle market companies with independent and innovative investment and insurance structures that have a meaningful impact on earnings. The firm's Captive Solutions group has formed and managed more than 100 captive insurance companies. KeyState also manages over $20 billion in bond portfolios and has raised and deployed more than $800 million through its SOLCAP solar tax credit platform. Founded in 1991, the firm serves more than 140 community banks and 200 companies nationwide and is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV, with offices in Burlington, VT; Wilmington, DE; and Denver, CO.

For more information Visit www.key-state.com

Please contact:

JD David

EVP - Strategy & Growth

Phone: 702-598-3738

Email: jddavid@key-state.com

SOURCE: KeyState

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/keystate-expands-captive-solutions-with-flexible-protected-cell-comp-1143562
Cascale's new refinements maintain the module's credibility while supporting benchmarking and long-term strategy development.

AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG, AND OAKLAND, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Cascale today announced the 2025 cadence of the Higg Brand & Retail Module (Higg BRM), reaffirming the commitment to continuous improvement and member-driven evolution. The Higg BRM 2025 cadence will run from March 3 through June 30, 2026.

The Higg BRM supports brands and retailers in measuring environmental, social, and governance performance across their operations and value chains. For the 2025 cadence, key updates include:

Company Profile: Members are required to complete specific Cascale membership requirement questions within this section.

Technical refinements: Minor updates to enhance usability and clarity.

Cascale will support members throughout the cadence, including through a member-only webinar on April 7 - members can click here to register!

"The Higg BRM remains a strategic module for sustainable and responsible business operations," said Adrian Branco, Sr. Manager, Higg BRM at Cascale. "Each year, we refine the module to reflect member feedback, the latest trends in our industry, and evolving regulatory landscapes. Our goal is to support brands and retailers in assessing impacts, benchmarking performance, strengthening governance, and moving from measurement to meaningful action."

The Higg BRM is a core component of the Higg Index framework and methodologies stewarded and governed by Cascale, and is delivered globally through Worldly's technology platform. Collectively, the Higg Index is the leading sustainability measurement framework for the consumer goods industry. Through aligned governance, consistent methodology, and global collaboration, Cascale continues to strengthen the foundation for credible industry transformation.

Media Contact: Forster Communications, cascaleforster@forster.co.uk

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to combat climate change and support decent work in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale stewards and governs the Higg Index frameworks, modules and methodologies, while Worldly delivers the technology platform through which they are implemented globally. Cascale also recently acquired the Better Buying and Sustainable Furnishings Council tools. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Find more stories and multimedia from Cascale at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cascale

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cascale

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cascale

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/higg-brm-2025-cadence-supports-strategic-esg-reporting-and-susta-1143560
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Foodtastic, one of Canada's largest and fastest-growing restaurant franchisors, announces it has selected Sadie AI as its preferred Voice AI platform, delivering an always-on, highly customized, customer-centric phone automation service to its 27 restaurant banners, including Milestones, Second Cup and Freshii.

The company piloted the technology at Milestones in the fall and will begin launching it at Milestones locations in February, with plans to expand to other full-service restaurant brands over time. Sadie AI handles inbound phone calls 24/7, answering common questions, booking reservations, and supporting phone-based ordering.

"This is about applying technology where it actually improves restaurant operations," said Vlad Ciobanu, Senior Vice-President, Marketing at Foodtastic. "Following a successful pilot, we're launching Sadie AI, starting with our full-service restaurants and making it available across our brands as a practical solution to manage calls, reservations, and guest inquiries at scale."

The pilot demonstrated the extent to which Sadie AI can help to reduce operational strain, capture more revenue, and deliver a faster, more consistent guest experience.

For restaurants, the phone remains one of the most critical yet, at times, challenging and potentially disruptive channels from a human resources perspective. Sadie AI solves this by ensuring no call goes unanswered, even during peak hours. Guests receive instant, accurate responses about hours, locations, menus, and promotions, while reservations and orders are seamlessly handled without pulling staff away from in-store service.

"We're thrilled to partner with Foodtastic and support its brands at scale," said Stuart Lachovsky, VP of Partnerships at Sadie AI. "Restaurants lose revenue and trust from guests every time a phone call is unanswered. Sadie AI turns the phone into a revenue-generating, guest-friendly channel, without adding labour or complexity."

The rollout of Sadie AI across participating Foodtastic brands is scheduled for Q1 2026, reinforcing Foodtastic's commitment to adopting scalable, franchise-friendly technologies that improve performance across its network.

Sadie AI will also be showcasing its Voice AI platform at the RC Show in Toronto from March 8-10 at Booth 5031. Attendees are invited to visit the team to see live demonstrations and learn how AI-powered voice automation is transforming restaurant operations.

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About Foodtastic

Foodtastic is a leading franchisor of restaurant brands in Canada, with over 1,200 restaurants and $1 billion in sales. With an extensive presence both domestically and internationally, Foodtastic continues to drive the growth and success of its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and innovative culinary experiences. For more information, visit foodtastic.ca

About Sadie AI

Sadie AI is the AI-powered voice platform built for hospitality. Acting as a virtual host, Sadie handles calls, books reservations, answers guest questions, and supports phone orders, all in real time, 24/7. By automating the phone channel, Sadie helps restaurants increase revenue, improve efficiency, and let staff focus on delivering exceptional in-person experiences.

Headquartered in Montreal and owned by Valsoft, Sadie AI is redefining how hospitality brands connect with guests through effortless, intelligent, and revenue-driven voice interactions. Learn more at https://www.heysadie.ai.

Media Contacts

Foodtastic

Dalia Esposito

Torchia Communications

www.torchiacom.com

514-654-2635

dalia@torchiacom.com

Sadie AI

Ryan Sullivan

Head of Marketing

ryan.sullivan@heysadie.ai

SOURCE: Sadie

Foodtastic taps Sadie EN v3

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/foodtastic-taps-sadie-ai-as-preferred-voice-ai-partner-1143574
Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Registration is open for BrandSmart 2026, the longest-running brand marketing conference in the United States, produced by the American Marketing Association Chicago. The 24th annual conference will take place Thursday, April 23, 2026, at City Hall in Chicago's Fulton Market district from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More than 300 marketing professionals are expected to attend the full-day conference. BrandSmart attracts participants at all stages of their careers, from emerging marketers to senior executives across B2B, B2C and nonprofit sectors, creating a dynamic environment for learning, collaboration and professional growth.

This year's theme, "Marketing in the Age of Acceleration," focuses on how marketers can lead and grow in a business environment defined by artificial intelligence, rapid technological change, rising client and consumer expectations and increased accountability.

"In a period of unprecedented technological advancement and market complexity, marketers are being asked to move faster and think more strategically than ever before," said Chris McGuire, president of AMA Chicago. "BrandSmart 2026 is designed to provide practical insights and real-world strategies that help professionals navigate that acceleration with confidence."

Produced by AMA Chicago, the largest professional chapter in the American Marketing Association's North American network, the conference will feature keynote presentations and breakout sessions addressing topics such as artificial intelligence as a growth driver, data privacy and governance, omnichannel strategy, brand storytelling, digital transformation, sustainability and leadership development.

Sessions will emphasize case studies, measurable outcomes and actionable frameworks that attendees can apply within their organizations.

Additional speakers and agenda updates will be announced at brandsmart.amachicago.org.

Tickets for BrandSmart are $245 for AMA Chicago members and $345 for nonmembers. Discounted pricing is available for students, groups and bundled membership packages. Details are available at brandsmart.amachicago.org/pricing.

BrandSmart 2026 sponsors include VML, Cvent, Be Found Online, First Position Digital, Organic Headshots, Minitab, mcguffin, Robert Half Talent Solutions, Illinois Tech, fjorge and Street Level Studio.

About AMA Chicago

AMA Chicago is the largest professional chapter in the American Marketing Association's North American network. The organization provides professional development opportunities for marketers across the Chicago region through educational programming, industry events and community engagement. More information is available at amachicago.org.

The American Marketing Association Chicago's 2025 BrandSmart Conference at the City Hall in Chicago's Fulton Market district on April 23rd is open for early bird registration.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10936/286044_eed0a7e2d427a83f_002full.jpg

(left to right) AMA Chicago President-Elect Karen Hatfield, Past Presidents Leslie Marshall and Josh Blacksmith, Chapter President Chris McGuire

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10936/286044_eed0a7e2d427a83f_003full.jpg





Phot Marketers attending BrandSmart learned from the industry's top experts.

PHOTOS BY ORGANIC HEADSHOTS

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286044

Source: American Marketing Association Chicago
BROOKLYN, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / IEH Corporation (OTCQX:IEHC) announced today that its order backlog has reached an all-time high, due primarily to the increased demand for precision-guided munitions, missiles and air defense systems that employ IEH's Hyperboloid connectors.

Dave Offerman, President and CEO of IEH Corporation commented, "Due to the overwhelming demand for the various defense systems that utilize our Hyperboloid connectors, contacts and interconnect assemblies, our backlog is now the highest it's ever been. It has more than doubled in the last 12 months and has increased nearly 30% in just the first two months of 2026. This backlog will translate into revenue over the next 12-18 months.

Defense programs like PATRIOT, AMRAAM, THAAD, APKWS and MARK-48 all employ our interconnect solutions in their missiles, radars, and precision-guided munitions, and rely on IEH to supply the connectors that enable these critical programs. As these systems are deployed in greater volume and frequency, and the US prioritizes equipment replenishment in support of our warfighting capabilities, we expect demand to continue. As we have throughout our long history, IEH stands ready to support our nation's defense and that of our valued allies."

About IEH Corporation

For 80 years and 4 generations of family-run management, IEH Corporation has designed, developed, and manufactured printed circuit board (PCB) connectors, custom interconnects and contacts for high performance applications. With its signature Hyperboloid technology, IEH supplies the most durable, reliable connectors for the most demanding environments. The company markets primarily to companies in defense, aerospace, space and industrial applications, in the United States, Canada, Europe, Southeast and Central Asia and the Mideast. The company was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements contained in this press release, and in related comments by the Company's management, include "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, statements or expectations regarding our financial condition, statements or expectations regarding our revenues, cash and backlog, expectations regarding future cash requirements, revenue and revenue recovery, including for fiscal year 2026 and beyond are forward-looking statements. These statements often include words such as "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "will," "may," "would," "should," "could," or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These statements are based on certain assumptions that the Company has made on its current expectations and projections about future events. The Company believes these judgments are reasonable, but you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company's actual performance or results could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, both positive and negative, as they will depend on many factors about which we are unsure, including many factors beyond our control. Among other items, such factors could include: our ability to reduce costs or increase revenue; changes in the macroeconomic environment or in the finances of our customers; changes in accounting principles, or their application or interpretation, and our ability to make accurate estimates and the assumptions underlying the estimates; our ability to attract and retain key employees and key resources; and other risk factors discussed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on June 12, 2025, and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. Except as may be required by applicable law, we do not undertake or intend to update or revise our forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information or future events or developments. Thus, you should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. You should carefully review and consider the various disclosures we make in our filings with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our business.

For additional information, please visit our Investor Relations page https://www.iehcorp.com/about/investors or contact:

Dave Offerman

IEH Corporation

dave@iehcorp.com

718-492-4448

SOURCE: IEH Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/aerospace-and-defense/ieh-corporation-announces-record-order-backlog-exceeding-23-million-as-demand-1143579
Amsterdam, March 4, 2026

SBM Offshore announces that the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) and the invitation for shareholders to attend the AGM have now been published on the Company's website.

The AGM will be held at the Steigenberger Airport Hotel Amsterdam (Stationsplein Zuid-West 951, 1117 CE Schiphol, the Netherlands) on Wednesday April 15, 2026 at 2.30 p.m. Central European Time.



Corporate Profile

SBM Offshore is a global leader in deepwater ocean infrastructure, delivering floating production solutions across the full asset lifecycle-from design and construction to installation and operation. Supported by a global team of more than 8,000 professionals, the Company operates a long-term, asset-backed business model that delivers high-availability assets and predictable cash flows. SBM Offshore combines engineering expertise, operational reliability, and selective innovation to support safe, efficient, and lower-carbon energy production, while extending its capabilities into new opportunities across the blue economy.

For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

Financial Calendar Date Year Annual General Meeting April 15 2026 First Quarter 2026 Trading Update May 7 2026 Half Year 2026 Earnings August 6 2026 Third Quarter 2026 Trading Update November 12 2026 Full Year 2026 Earnings February 18 2027

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Wouter Holties

Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

Phone: +31 (0)20 236 32 36 E-mail: wouter.holties@sbmoffshore.com Website: www.sbmoffshore.com

Media Relations

Giampaolo Arghittu

Head of External Relations

Phone: +31 (0)6 212 62 333 / +39 33 494 79 584 E-mail: giampaolo.arghittu@sbmoffshore.com Website: www.sbmoffshore.com

Market Abuse Regulation

This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management's current views, expectations and various assumptions regarding the financial and non-financial position of SBM Offshore N.V., anticipated developments and other factors, and involve known and unknown risks, dependencies and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as 'expect', 'should', 'could', 'shall' and / or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the 'Impacts, Risks and Opportunities' section of the 2025 Annual Report.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company's business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore N.V. does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

Data underpinning certain disclosures - particularly sustainability-related - may be subject to inherent limitations. These limitations include but are not limited to reliance on third party data providers whose data quality, completeness and integrity may differ; the use of estimates and assumptions where actual data is unavailable or incomplete; and dependencies on value chain partners for timely and accurate information provision. Methodologies, standards and regulatory requirements for measuring and reporting information-especially sustainability related information-continue to evolve. As a result, our measurement approaches and reported figures may be refined over time as more accurate, granular or standardised data becomes available. Accordingly, all data, and emissions data in particular, should be interpreted in light of these limitations and the ongoing maturation of sustainability reporting practices across our value chain.

This release contains certain alternative performance measures (APMs) as defined by the ESMA guidelines which are not defined under IFRS. Further information on these APMs is included in 2025 Annual Report, available on our website Annual Reports - SBM Offshore.

Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release "SBM Offshore" and "SBM" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

"SBM Offshore", the SBM logomark, "Fast4Ward", and "F4W" and "Imodco" are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

Attachment
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Conversations about consumer debt typically center on individual circumstances: specific obligations, potential strategies, and hoped-for outcomes. This framing is natural and necessary, but Daniel Tilipman believes it can obscure a larger story about how financial strain and resolution function at broader scales.

As Co-Founder of National Debt Relief, Daniel Tilipman has come to view debt not as a purely private matter but as a phenomenon with network effects that ripple through families, neighborhoods, and communities in often underappreciated ways.

"Debt does not exist in isolation," Daniel Tilipman reflects. "It influences families, workplaces, local economies, and community institutions. Those influences are real, and they accumulate."

The mechanisms operate at multiple levels. When significant portions of household income are directed toward debt servicing, less remains for local consumption. Restaurants, retail establishments, and service providers may see reduced patronage as financially constrained households reduce discretionary spending. Multiplied across many households, this can create a measurable economic drag.

"When large numbers of people within a community are financially constrained, that community feels it," Daniel Tilipman notes. "You see it in spending patterns, in the vitality of local businesses, in the kinds of investments people feel able to make in their neighborhoods."

Beyond consumption, debt can affect mobility and opportunity. People carrying significant unsecured debt may face constraints on their ability to relocate for better employment, pursue additional education, or make career transitions that might improve long-term prospects but require short-term financial flexibility. These individual constraints, aggregated across a population, can influence a community's economic dynamism.

The intergenerational dimension adds another layer. Financial stress within households can influence decisions about children's education, whether families can afford neighborhoods with better schools, and what kinds of opportunities can be provided. Over time, these decisions shape opportunity structures that extend beyond the individuals who first encountered debt challenges.

"When financial pressure persists, it limits the choices people feel able to make," Daniel Tilipman observes. "Those limitations can compound across families and neighborhoods. This is not deterministic, as people overcome challenges all the time, but the friction is real."

Recognizing these ripple effects helps reframe how the debt relief industry understands its role. Organizations are not merely processing individual transactions but interacting with people embedded in families, neighborhoods, and local economies. What happens at the individual level contributes to what happens at the community level.

Daniel Tilipman is careful not to claim too much for debt relief as a community intervention. "No single industry can solve structural economic challenges," he has noted. "Community health depends on employment, education, healthcare, infrastructure-countless factors outside the scope of debt relief. But each industry can decide whether it contributes to stability or instability."

The question is not whether debt relief alone can transform communities, but whether organizations operating at scale recognize the broader context in which they function and conduct themselves accordingly. This might mean greater transparency, investing in education that benefits broader understanding, or engaging with community institutions in ways that acknowledge shared interests.

"The ripple effect works in multiple directions," Daniel Tilipman has said. "When communities are economically healthier, individuals benefit. When individuals regain financial stability, they have more capacity to contribute to community health. These dynamics reinforce each other."

For Daniel Tilipman , this expanded frame is not optional or philanthropic. It is about accurately understanding the context in which the industry operates and the full range of consequences that flow from how that operation is conducted.

"What we do matters beyond immediate transactions," he reflects. "It touches on broader questions about economic participation, about opportunity, about the conditions that allow communities to thrive. Recognizing that connection is the first step toward operating in ways that acknowledge the full scope of what is at stake."

CONTACT:

Andrew Mitchell

media@cambridgeglobal.com

SOURCE: Cambridge Global

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/daniel-tilipman-on-the-ripple-effect-how-individual-debt-relief-1142683
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Arya Therapy Center of New Jersey recently welcomed community members, healthcare professionals, and local organizations to an open house event at its new location at 4390 U.S. Route 1, Suite 200 in Princeton.

The event offered guests the opportunity to tour the facility, meet the leadership team, and learn more about the structured outpatient mental health programs that will soon be available as the center prepares to begin services pending final state licensing approval.

Arya Therapy Center of New Jersey operates within the broader Advanced Health Alliance behavioral health organization, which supports several treatment centers focused on expanding access to mental health and addiction recovery services.

Guests at the open house were introduced to the leadership team responsible for developing the Princeton program and guiding clinical operations.

The team includes:

Joseph Simonelli - Chief Executive Officer

Jesse Thompson - Chief Development Officer

Robert Bruno - Admissions Director

Jodi Pultorak - Clinical Director

Jennifer Moore - Operations Director

Michael Macdonald - Human Resources

Together, the team brings experience across behavioral healthcare, clinical treatment, admissions coordination, and program operations.

Once licensing is finalized, Arya Therapy Center of New Jersey plans to offer structured outpatient mental health programs including:

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Outpatient mental health services

These programs are designed for adults and young adults who require more support than traditional outpatient therapy but do not need inpatient hospitalization.

The Princeton location will focus on helping individuals experiencing challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and other behavioral health conditions through individualized treatment plans and structured clinical programming.

The open house also allowed Arya Therapy Center to begin building relationships with local therapists, healthcare providers, and community organizations interested in strengthening mental health services throughout Mercer County and surrounding areas.

About Arya Therapy Center of New Jersey

Arya Therapy Center of New Jersey provides structured outpatient mental health treatment for adults and young adults.

The center operates within Advanced Health Alliance, which supports several behavioral health programs including:

Advanced Therapy Center

Advanced Addiction Center

Arya Therapy Center

Arya Therapy NJ (opening soon in Princeton, NJ)

The organization focuses on delivering individualized treatment programs designed to help individuals build stability, strengthen coping skills, and improve long-term mental wellness.

For more information, visit:

https://aryatherapynj.com

Media Contact:

Joseph Simonelli

CEO

Advanced Health Alliance

781-679-5454

Rbruno@advancedtherapyma.com

SOURCE: Advanced Health Alliance

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/arya-therapy-center-of-new-jersey-hosts-community-open-house-ahead-of-1143588
EEII AG / Key word(s): AGMEGM/Capital Increase

EEII AG: Extraordinary General Meeting on March 26, 2026, to approve the capital increase



04-March-2026 / 19:30 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Ad-hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR:

Extraordinary General Meeting on March 26, 2026, to approve the capital increase required to implement the reverse takeover of Jubin Freres S.A. Zug, March 4, 2026 EEII AG invites to an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on March 26, 2026 EEII AG ("EEII" or "Company"), through its board of directors, has approved the final agenda for the Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") and set its date on March 26, 2026. The Company invites its shareholders to the EGM with the agenda items mentioned below. The main purpose of the EGM is to obtain shareholder approval for the previously announced capital increase required to implement the reverse takeover of Jubin Freres S.A. (the "Transaction"). The shareholders are invited to vote on a capital increase comprising of (i) a contribution in kind to acquire Jubin Freres S.A. and (ii) an in-cash contribution by investors to whom shares are being placed by way of private placements. Both contributions shall be at nominal value, i.e. at an issue price of CHF 7.10 per share. The in-cash subscription is expected to strengthen the Company's activity and support its development. The subscription rights of the existing shareholders shall be excluded. In addition to the capital increase, the articles of association of the Company shall be amended to reflect, in particular, EEII's change of purpose. The EGM will take place on March 26 at 08:30 a.m. at the offices of Bright Law AG, Bundesplatz 9, 6300 Zug. The EGM constitutes an important step toward the completion of the Transaction, which is still expected to occur before the end of March 2026. Together with the implementation of the capital increase to be approved at the EGM, all shares of EEII shall be listed in accordance with the regulatory standard Sparks of SIX Swiss Exchange, the last trading day in accordance with the standard for Investment Companies being envisaged for March 30, 2026. Agenda Items Ordinary capital increase (by way of which (i) 7,887,323 shares shall be issued in exchange for the contribution of all shares in Jubin Freres S.A. and (ii) up to 2,676,058 shares shall be issued against cash, both at nominal value of CHF 7.10)

Share split of the existing 103,991 bearer shares of a nominal value of CHF 14.20 into 207,982 bearer shares of a nominal value of CHF 7.10

Amendment of article 22 of the Company's articles of association (concerning the calling of meetings of the board of directors)

Amendment of the Company's corporate purpose

Miscellaneous *** The complete invitation is being published in the SOGC (Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce) with abridged information and without enclosures. Further details including complete information and enclosures can be found in the invitation to be published on the Company's website ( https://eeii.ch/news ). The consummation of the Transaction remains subject to various conditions, including the confirmation of the valuation of Jubin Freres S.A. by an audit firm, the listing of the currently unlisted shares of the Company, the approval of the Transaction, including the second tranche of the ordinary capital increase in cash, by the shareholders of EEII, the consummation of the in-cash capital increase, and the completion of further legal, administrative and regulatory steps, including, among others, the approval of the listing application by SIX Exchange Regulation AG and the listing prospectus by the competent prospectus office. EEII asks all shareholders, creditors and other stakeholders to support the Transaction. Most importantly, the Transaction is expected to result in the Company boosting its operational activities, which are likely to create value for the shareholders compared to today's situation. About EEII AG EEII AG is an investment company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, focusing on energy and infrastructure assets. The Company is registered in Switzerland and operationally headquartered in Zug. The investment objective of the Company is to maximize long-term returns to shareholders through investments in strategically selected companies in the energy distribution sector, specifically retailing automotive fuels and convenience store items in form of filling stations and connected shops. The geographic focus of the investment is Switzerland and Europe. For more information visit: www.eeii.ch Stock exchange listing: SIX Swiss Exchange (www.six-swiss-exchange.com)

Ticker symbol: EEII (CH)

Security number: 716295

ISIN: CH0007162958 Contact: EEII AG, Alpenstrasse 15, 6300 Zug, Switzerland Investor Relations: Email: Marc Comina, marc@clpr.ch Tel: +41 79 128 34 95 Disclaimer This media release serves informational purposes and constitutes neither an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security nor is it a recommendation to buy any security of EEII AG or any other involved party nor shall there be any offer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale would be unlawful. This media release does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of articles 35 et seqq. or 69 of the Swiss Federal Act on Financial Services nor under any other applicable laws and should not be treated as offering materials of any sort and is for information purposes only and may not be reproduced, redistributed or made available in whole or in part to any other person for any purpose, without the prior consent of EEII AG. In addition, investors should seek advice from their bank or their financial adviser. This media release is not for distribution, directly or indirectly in or into the United States (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended). The securities in connection with this Transaction may not be offered to the public in any jurisdiction in circumstances which would require EEII AG to prepare or register any prospectus or offering document relating to the securities in connection with the Transaction in such jurisdiction. No action has been taken or will be taken in any jurisdiction outside of Switzerland by EEII AG that would, or is intended to, permit a public offering of the securities in connection with the Transaction. This media release contains forward-looking statements such as projections, forecasts, and estimates. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company regarding future events, and are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those anticipated in this media release. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Readers should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this media release are based on the views and assumptions of EEII AG as of this date and EEII AG does not assume any obligation to update or revise this media release. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. EEII AG makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of such information and disclaims any obligation or liability in connection with it.

End of Inside Information
EQS-News: Catalyst Crew Technologies Corp. / Key word(s): Manufacturing

Catalyst Crew Technologies Announces Strategic Transition to AI-Enabled Healthcare and Planned Name Change to LataMed AI Corp.



04.03.2026 / 19:32 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





CARACAS, VENEZUELA - March 4, 2026 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Catalyst Crew Technologies Corp. (OTC: CCTC) (the "Company") today announced that it has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") disclosing a material change in its business direction and corporate strategy.

A copy of the Company's Form 8-K is available for review on the SEC's EDGAR database at:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1840439/000119312526068375/d95198d8k.htm

Investors and interested parties are encouraged to read the Form 8-K in its entirety.

Strategic Transition to AI-Enabled Healthcare Technology

As disclosed in the Form 8-K, the Company has transitioned from its prior business focus and intends to pursue operations as a development-stage artificial intelligence-enabled healthcare technology company, with an initial focus on Latin America and other emerging markets.

The Company's anticipated areas of focus include:

Development of AI-driven healthcare software platforms

Telehealth and remote patient monitoring technologies

Clinical data analytics and interoperability systems

Healthcare workflow and administrative automation solutions

Strategic acquisitions and partnerships within the healthcare technology sector

The Company remains in the development stage of this strategic transition and is actively implementing its new plan of operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully implement its new business plan, secure financing, complete acquisitions, enter into definitive agreements, or generate revenues.

Planned Corporate Name Change and Ticker Symbol Change

In connection with its revised strategic direction, the Company intends to change its corporate name to LataMed AI Corp.

The proposed name change is expected to be effected through the filing of Articles of Amendment with the State of Nevada and is subject to required corporate approvals.

In addition, the Company intends to submit a Company Related Action Notification Form and supporting documentation to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), pursuant to Rule 6490 and related FINRA procedures, requesting review and processing of both the corporate name change and a corresponding ticker symbol change.

The filing of Articles of Amendment and submission to FINRA are procedural steps in the corporate action process. Neither the corporate name change for marketplace purposes nor any ticker symbol change will become effective until FINRA has completed its review and announces the effective date of the corporate action.

There can be no assurance regarding the timing of FINRA's review or that FINRA will approve the requested corporate action. The Company will issue a subsequent press release upon confirmation of the effective date assigned by FINRA.

Reporting and Corporate Communications

The Company intends to continue meeting its reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and will provide updated disclosures through filings with the SEC and through OTC Markets Group, as applicable.

The Company is in the process of developing a new corporate website that will reflect its updated business direction and branding and expects to provide additional updates as they become available.

About Catalyst Crew Technologies Corp.

Catalyst Crew Technologies Corp. is an artificial intelligence-driven healthcare technology company focused on developing scalable digital health solutions for emerging markets, with an initial emphasis on Latin America. The Company is actively executing its strategic transition into AI-enabled healthcare and pursuing opportunities across telehealth infrastructure, remote patient monitoring, healthcare data analytics, and integrated digital care platforms designed to improve access, efficiency, and care coordination.

Through technology development initiatives, strategic partnerships, and targeted acquisitions, CCTC is building an integrated healthcare technology platform positioned to address the growing demand for modernized healthcare delivery systems across emerging markets.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's business strategy, planned corporate name change, submission of the Company Related Action Notification Form to FINRA, anticipated ticker symbol change, regulatory review process, and future operations.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied due to various factors, including but not limited to FINRA's review and processing of the Company Related Action Notification Form, the Company's ability to obtain necessary approvals and financing, successful execution of its business plan, regulatory compliance requirements, and general market conditions.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

Disclaimer

This press release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company. This announcement relates solely to a change in corporate strategy and proposed corporate actions and does not represent the completion of commercial deployment or revenue-generating operations.

The Company is a development-stage enterprise and has not generated revenues from its newly announced business direction. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully implement its business plan, complete acquisitions, secure financing, obtain regulatory approvals, or generate revenues.

Any investment decision should be made solely on the basis of information contained in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other publicly available documents. The Company's securities involve a high degree of risk. Prospective investors are urged to carefully review all risk factors and disclosures contained in the Company's SEC filings before making any investment decision.

No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein.

Investor Relations Contact

+1 (787) 476-2350

ir@catalystcrew.ai

View the original release on www.newmediawire.com
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - IN-VR, together with its strategic partners, today officially launched The Andean Bridge, a landmark regional initiative designed to connect mining projects across the Andean region with local and international capital markets.

The official launch took place at the Boardroom of the TMX Centre in Toronto during PDAC 2026, gathering senior representatives from global stock exchanges, government authorities, financial institutions, and key stakeholders from Latin America's mining and investment ecosystem.

Co-founded by IN-VR, Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) & TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), BYMA - Bolsas y Mercados Argentinos, the Mendoza Stock Exchange (BCM), and the Government of Mendoza, The Andean Bridge represents a coordinated effort to establish a structured financial and institutional corridor linking the Andes with global capital hubs.

The initiative builds on the Letter of Intent (LoI) signed during the 4th LATAM & Argentina Critical Minerals Summit 2025, organized by IN-VR, where founding institutions formalised a shared vision to enhance capital access, strengthen investment readiness, and increase international visibility for projects across the Andean region.

Andean Bridge Announcement TMX

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11338/286274_5b4c6e7af439e9a5_001full.jpg

Connecting the Andes with Global Capital

The Andean Bridge has been conceived as a long-term, distributed platform aimed at transforming regional resource potential into investment-ready opportunities. By aligning governments, exchanges, investors, and project developers, the initiative seeks to reduce financing barriers and strengthen investor confidence in one of the world's most resource-rich regions.

The platform operates through three integrated components: international investment summits, year-round technical and financial training programmes, and the Andean Accelerator, creating a structured pathway from project preparation to capital access.

Founding Institutions' Commitment

During the official launch ceremony, representatives of the founding institutions reaffirmed their commitment to advancing regional cooperation and enabling sustainable investment flows across the Andes.

"The Andean Bridge was created to help close a gap in how capital flows across the region. (...) The goal is to find and surface quality projects, consolidate the pipeline from the andes, align it with the expectation of capital providers, and connect them directly with financing, investors and key service companies necessary to move forward. First connecting them locally and then internationally." - Stelios Papagrigoriou, Executive Chairman, IN-VR

"Mendoza is now in a position to become a financial hub. (...) We value a lot partnerships like this that focus on pillars like education and training." - Jimena Latorre, Minister of Energy, Mining & Environment, Government of Mendoza.

A New Step for Regional Investment Integration

The launch of The Andean Bridge represents a major step toward positioning the Andean region as a globally competitive destination for mining investment, strengthening connections between regional opportunities and international financing ecosystems while supporting long-term economic growth across Latin America.

About IN-VR

IN-VR is a leading international consultancy specializing in energy, mining, and investment promotion, working at the intersection of governments and the private sector to structure investment opportunities, facilitate strategic partnerships, and deliver high-impact global platforms connecting projects with capital.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286274

Source: IN-VR Limited
Dan Simkowitz, Co-President of Morgan Stanley, will speak at the Annual Morgan Stanley European Financials Conference which will be held in London, UK, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. GMT (7:00 a.m. ET).

Both live and on-demand versions of the webcast will be available on www.morganstanley.com in the Investor Relations section.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in 42 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304394670/en/

Contacts:

Media Relations: Wesley McDade, 212.761.2430

Investor Relations: Leslie Bazos, 212.761.5352
Fifth-Largest Conveyor Car Wash Celebrates Opening of Twenty-Fourth Alabama Location with Free Washes

THOMASTON, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing car wash companies, is pleased to announce the grand opening of its Birmingham, AL location at 1901 20 th Avenue South , across from Vulcan Park and Museum.

To celebrate the grand opening with the community, the brand-new Birmingham location is offering twelve days of free premium car washes from March 4 to March 15. This limited-time promotion lets customers experience the company's premium wash option, Graph-X4 + Super Shammy , at no cost. Additionally, any new customer who joins a Tidal Wave Clean Club unlimited wash membership during the Grand Opening celebration will get the first month of any unlimited wash plan for $9.97, for savings of up to $40.

"We are excited to join the vibrant Birmingham community this week," said Tidal Wave Auto Spa founder and CEO Scott Blackstock. "This location is built with industry-leading technology and designed to provide every customer with an exceptional wash, every time. Our team is eager to share the Tidal Wave car wash experience with the community during the grand opening celebrations and for years to come."

Birmingham, AL Location : 1901 20th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35209

Nearby Locations: Hoover , Helena , Sylacauga , Tuscaloosa

Tidal Wave Auto Spa is proud to invest in the communities it calls home, having donated more than $8 million to charitable organizations across the country. In celebration of its Birmingham opening, Tidal Wave is honored to serve as a sponsor of the upcoming Bell Center 5K & Children's Run on Saturday, March 14, further demonstrating its commitment to supporting local families and meaningful community initiatives.

Tidal Wave proudly serves customers at 309 express wash locations across the United States, including twenty-four Alabama locations . The company plans to continue its growth in Alabama, with brand-new Tuscaloosa and Montgomery locations opening later this year.

Tidal Wave Auto Spa is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and welcoming locations, and friendly customer service. With single wash options starting at $15, unlimited car wash memberships and family plans, and fleet plans for businesses, Tidal Wave delivers wash options to fit every need.

For additional information about Tidal Wave Auto Spa, including upcoming openings, fleet plans, our fundraising program and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/ .

About Tidal Wave Auto Spa

Tidal Wave Auto Spa was founded over 20 years ago in Thomaston, GA, by husband and wife, Scott and Hope Blackstock. What started as a small-town self-service car wash business evolved into the first conveyor car wash open in Georgia and is now the fifth-largest conveyor car wash company in the nation, with 309 locations spanning 30 states. Tidal Wave is dedicated to delivering an exceptional car wash experience for every customer through industry-leading car care technology, clean and inviting locations, and outstanding customer service. The company is equally committed to making a positive difference in the communities it serves, raising over $8 million for local programs, service organizations, and non-profit organizations through its fundraising program and annual Charity Day event.

Contact Information: media@tidalwaveautospa.com

SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto Spa

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/transportation/tidal-wave-auto-spa-opens-new-birmingham-location-across-from-iconic-iron-city-landm-1143770
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Matt Filgate, President and Chief Executive Officer, GreenLight Metals Inc. ("GreenLight Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: GRL) and his executive team, joined Andrew Creech, President, TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), to close the market and celebrate the Company's new listing on TSX Venture Exchange.





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GreenLight Metals is a Wisconsin-focused exploration company advancing copper-gold and gold projects across the Penokean Volcanic Belt (one of North America's most prospective VMS districts) and the Kalium Canyon epithermal gold project in Nevada's Walker Lane. In Wisconsin, their portfolio includes the Bend copper-gold deposit, the Reef high-grade gold project, and the Lobo and Lobo East massive sulfide targets. Guided by a team with deep roots in the state, they are building a modern minerals company for Wisconsin, by Wisconsin, and are committed to responsible exploration, transparent engagement, and creating durable local opportunities as we help supply the critical metals that power the energy transition.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286280

Source: Toronto Stock Exchange
Hughesville, Maryland--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Don Abram Harris Cigars today announced plans to acquire a historic 30,000-square-foot building formerly known as the Tobacco Action House, a facility where generations of farmers once brought their tobacco for purchase by major companies such as Philip Morris USA.

Located in Hughesville, Maryland, the property represents a significant milestone in the company's expansion and its commitment to preserving America's tobacco heritage. The facility will serve as the company's primary distribution and operational hub.

From this new location, Don Abram Harris Cigars will distribute its flagship and specialty products, including the Marlboro Man Cigar, Unity 24, the America 250 Cigar, and the Lucille's Baby Cigar.

"This acquisition is more than a business investment it is a continuation of history," said Don Abram Harris, Founder and Owner of Don Abram Harris Cigars. "This building once stood at the center of the tobacco trade. Today, it will once again be a place where tradition, craftsmanship, and opportunity come together."

The former Tobacco Action House played a vital role in the regional agricultural economy, serving as a gathering point where farmers connected directly with major tobacco buyers. By restoring and repurposing this facility, Don Abram Harris Cigars aims to honor the legacy of those farmers while creating new economic opportunities for the community.

For Harris, the project also holds deep personal meaning.

"My father taught me the value of faith, perseverance, and honoring where you come from," Harris said. "His stories, his guidance, and his belief in me continue to shape everything I do. I live by Philippians 4:13: 'I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.' That faith has carried me to this moment."

The Hughesville facility will support manufacturing logistics, warehousing, and national distribution, positioning the company for continued growth while maintaining its commitment to quality and heritage.

This expansion reflects Don Abram Harris Cigars' long-term vision: to build a nationally recognized premium cigar brand rooted in American history, integrity, and community.

About Don Abram Harris Cigars

Don Abram Harris Cigars is a premium cigar company dedicated to craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation. Founded by Don Abram Harris, the company blends traditional tobacco values with modern entrepreneurship, producing distinctive cigars that honor legacy while embracing the future.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Abram J. Harris

(240) 750-7636

abram@dahcigars.com

www.donabramharris.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/283564

Source: Pinion Partners
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Railtown AI Technologies Inc. (CSE: RAIL) (OTCQB: RLAIF) ("Railtown" or the "Company"), a Canadian-based AI developer tools and agentic orchestration company, announces the appointment of three highly respected Canadian business leaders to the Company's Advisory Board: Pat Horgan, Michael Nobrega, and John Ruffolo. These individuals join Mike Lazaridis, co-founder of Research in Motion (BlackBerry), whose addition to Railtown's Advisory Board was previously announced.

The appointments significantly strengthen Railtown's enterprise, institutional, and capital markets expertise as the Company attempts to accelerate the commercialization of its AI developer platform and agent-based orchestration technologies.

Advisory Board Appointments

Pat Horgan

Mr. Horgan spent his entire professional career at IBM, retiring in 2017 as Chief Operating Officer of IBM Canada. During his tenure, he was responsible for the successful implementation of major AI and high-performance computing initiatives in collaboration with the Government of Ontario and the Federal government. Mr. Horgan's experience in enterprise technology deployment and public-private innovation partnerships is expected to bring strategic insight to Railtown's AI infrastructure and enterprise engagement strategy.

"Railtown demonstrates the strength of Canadian innovation and highlights the depth of AI talent and companies in the national ecosystem," commented Mr. Horgan.

Michael Nobrega

Mr. Nobrega is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), one of Canada's largest pension funds with more than $100 billion in assets under management. He also previously served as President and CEO of OMERS' wholly owned subsidiary, Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc.

Mr. Nobrega's extensive leadership in institutional capital management and long-term investment strategy provides Railtown with seasoned governance and capital markets perspective. "Digital sovereignty for any country is critical to its independence and transactions with other countries," said Michael Nobrega. "Railtown's core expertise provides a solution to emerging concerns from Canadian governments, businesses and others about the country's digital sovereignty."

John Ruffolo

Mr. Ruffolo is the Founder and Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity, a private equity firm focused on technology-enabled growth and disruption investment strategies. He chairs the Investment Committee, guides the strategy of the firm, is deeply involved with fundraising and sourcing and leading investment opportunities, particularly within the technology industry. Mr. Ruffalo is also the Founder of OMERS Ventures and Co-Founder and Vice Chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators.

"I'm excited to join Railtown's Advisory Board at a defining moment for AI-driven software development. Railtown is building the tools that will power the next generation of intelligent applications, and I look forward to supporting its growth and impact," noted Mr. Ruffolo.

Leadership Appointment

Railtown would also like to announce that Dr. Tom Corr, the co-founder of AI Partnerships Corp., the Company's recently acquired subsidiary, will be joining Railtown in an official capacity as Director of Corporate Development.

Dr. Corr previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Centres of Excellence for 10 years, where he played a pivotal role in advancing commercialization initiatives and strengthening industry-academic collaboration across Ontario's technology sector. Prior to that, he held the joint positions of President and CEO of the Accelerator Centre at the Waterloo Research and Technology Park, and Associate Vice President of Commercialization at the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Corr brings extensive experience in innovation strategy, venture development, and technology commercialization. In his new role, he will support Railtown's corporate growth initiatives, strategic partnerships, and expansion across enterprise and institutional markets.

Strengthening Canada's AI Ecosystem

"This announcement is a further reflection of Railtown's mission to build out a truly Canadian end-to-end AI development ecosystem," said Cory Brandolini, Founder and CEO of Railtown. "As a Canadian technology company, we are proud to work closely with other Canadian technology providers to create a sovereign AI ecosystem that develops talent, drives innovation, and retains world-class capabilities right here in Canada. The addition of Pat, Michael, John, and Tom strengthens our leadership as we continue to deliver on this vision."

About Railtown

Railtown AI Technologies Inc. builds AI developer tools and agentic frameworks that power the next generation of intelligent applications. Its Platform - including real-time ingestion (Railengine), agent development frameworks (Railtracks ADK), and advanced observability (Conductr) - helps teams build, deploy, and operate AI agents with confidence and at scale.

For more information, visit www.railtown.ai.

Follow us on social media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/railtown-ai/

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ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Cory Brandolini"

Cory Brandolini, Chief Executive Officer

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "intends", "anticipates", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, the commencement of trading of the Company's common shares on the CSE, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will only update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286286

Source: Railtown AI Technologies Inc.
The orphan drugs market is seeing strong expansion, propelled by the growing worldwide incidence of genetic conditions and other rare diseases, as well as the substantial unmet need for effective therapies. With many rare disorders still lacking adequate treatment options, the market holds considerable potential. Supportive government initiatives and regulatory benefits, including extended market exclusivity and faster approval processes, are also accelerating orphan drug development.

LAS VEGAS, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Orphan Drugs Market Insights report provides the current and forecast market analysis, individual leading orphan drugs companies' market shares, challenges, orphan drugs market drivers, barriers, trends, and key orphan drugs companies in the market.

Orphan Drugs Market Summary

2024 Orphan Drugs Market Size: USD 208 Billion

USD 208 Billion 2032 Projected Orphan Drugs Market Size: USD 357 Billion

USD 357 Billion Orphan Drugs Market Growth Rate (2025-2032): ~ 7%

7% Largest Orphan Drugs Market: North America

North America Largest Drug Type Segment: Biologics Category

Biologics Category Key Companies in the Orphan Drugs Market: Sanofi, Biogen, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis AG, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., AstraZeneca, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Pfizer Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S, and others

To read more about the latest highlights related to the orphan drugs market, get a snapshot of the key highlights @ https://www.delveinsight.com/sample-request/orphan-drugs-market?utm_source=cision&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=spr

Key Factors Contributing to the Rise in Growth of the Orphan Drugs Market

Increasing Prevalence of Rare Diseases: The number of identified rare diseases continues to grow due to advancements in genetic testing and diagnostics.

The number of identified rare diseases continues to grow due to advancements in genetic testing and diagnostics. Advances in Genomics and Precision Medicine: Improved understanding of genetic mutations and disease mechanisms enables targeted therapies.

Improved understanding of genetic mutations and disease mechanisms enables targeted therapies. Higher Drug Prices and Strong Investment Returns: Orphan drugs often command premium pricing due to small patient populations and unmet needs.

Orphan drugs often command premium pricing due to small patient populations and unmet needs. Growing R&D Investment and Pipeline Expansion: Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are allocating more resources to rare-disease research.

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are allocating more resources to rare-disease research. Increasing Collaborations and Partnerships: Collaborations between biotech startups, big pharma, academic institutions, and research foundations are accelerating discovery.

Collaborations between biotech startups, big pharma, academic institutions, and research foundations are accelerating discovery. Expansion of New Technologies: Technologies like CRISPR, AI-based drug discovery, and high-throughput screening enable faster and more precise development.

Technologies like CRISPR, AI-based drug discovery, and high-throughput screening enable faster and more precise development. Improved Patient Advocacy and Awareness: Patient advocacy groups play an essential role in funding research, supporting clinical trials, and influencing regulatory pathways.

Patient advocacy groups play an essential role in funding research, supporting clinical trials, and influencing regulatory pathways. Favorable Reimbursement Environment: Many healthcare systems provide special reimbursement frameworks for orphan treatments because alternatives do not exist.

Many healthcare systems provide special reimbursement frameworks for orphan treatments because alternatives do not exist. Growth in Personalized and Niche Therapies: Shift from blockbuster drugs to tailored therapies naturally benefits the orphan drug sector.

Regional Orphan Drugs Market Insights

North America

North America remains the largest market for orphan drugs, driven by:

A highly supportive regulatory environment, particularly the U.S. FDA with incentives such as tax credits, market exclusivity, and accelerated approvals.

Strong presence of biopharmaceutical innovators and academic research institutions.

High diagnosis rates of rare diseases due to advanced healthcare systems.

Favorable reimbursement frameworks that support high-priced therapies.

Europe

Europe represents the second-largest regional market, with growth supported by:

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) offers orphan designation and ten years of market exclusivity.

Increased harmonization of rare disease strategies through national rare-disease plans.

Expansion of patient registries and reference networks is improving the rare disease care ecosystem.

Growing emphasis on early access programs across leading markets such as Germany, France, the U.K., and Italy.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing regional market, propelled by:

Rising awareness and diagnosis of genetic and rare conditions.

Improving healthcare expenditure across China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India.

Government-led rare disease initiatives, such as national rare-disease lists, accelerated review pathways, and orphan drug reimbursement pilots.

Increasing participation of regional biotech companies in rare-disease R&D.

Latin America

Latin America is emerging as a promising market, with:

Gradual implementation of rare-disease legislation and patient access programs in countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.

Expansion of public healthcare coverage and growing collaborations with global pharma.

Increased adoption of high-value biologics where reimbursement systems allow.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East & Africa region shows growing yet nascent opportunities:

Wealthier Gulf countries, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are investing in rare-disease diagnostics and specialty treatment centers.

Rising partnerships between global pharma companies and regional ministries of health.

Greater policy attention toward genetic disorders is due to the higher prevalence of hereditary diseases.

Get a sneak peek at the orphan drugs market dynamics @ Orphan Drugs Market Trends

Recent Developmental Activities in the Orphan Drugs Market

In March 2026, Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. reported that its selective PDE4 inhibitor morcamilast (development code ME3183; proposed international nonproprietary name) has received orphan medicinal product status from the European Commission for the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP).

reported that its selective PDE4 inhibitor morcamilast (development code ME3183; proposed international nonproprietary name) has received orphan medicinal product status from the European Commission for the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP). In February 2026, Soligenix reported that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products had given a favorable recommendation to grant orphan drug status to dusquetide, the active compound in SGX945, for treating Behcet's Disease. The decision follows a review of newly published Phase 2a results showing both biological activity and a positive safety profile.

reported that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products had given a favorable recommendation to grant orphan drug status to dusquetide, the active compound in SGX945, for treating Behcet's Disease. The decision follows a review of newly published Phase 2a results showing both biological activity and a positive safety profile. In February 2026, AbbVie obtained FDA orphan-drug status for its neuroendocrine carcinoma therapy, strengthening the company's strategic foothold in treatments for rare diseases.

obtained FDA orphan-drug status for its neuroendocrine carcinoma therapy, strengthening the company's strategic foothold in treatments for rare diseases. In January 2026, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted Orphan Drug Designation to pegrizeprument (VEL-101), its new investigational maintenance immunosuppressant aimed at preventing acute rejection in solid-organ transplant patients, specifically for use in preventing organ rejection in individuals undergoing liver transplantation.

reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted Orphan Drug Designation to pegrizeprument (VEL-101), its new investigational maintenance immunosuppressant aimed at preventing acute rejection in solid-organ transplant patients, specifically for use in preventing organ rejection in individuals undergoing liver transplantation. In January 2026, Opna Bio reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had granted Orphan Drug Designation to OPN-2853, its small-molecule inhibitor targeting BET proteins, for the treatment of myelofibrosis.

reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had granted Orphan Drug Designation to OPN-2853, its small-molecule inhibitor targeting BET proteins, for the treatment of myelofibrosis. In January 2026, Lantern Pharma Inc. reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had awarded Orphan Drug Designation to its drug candidate LP-284 for treating soft tissue sarcomas.

reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had awarded Orphan Drug Designation to its drug candidate LP-284 for treating soft tissue sarcomas. In January 2026, Rein Therapeutics said it had been granted orphan drug status by the European Medicines Agency for LTI-03, its leading investigational therapy designed to help maintain lung function in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

What are Orphan Drugs?

Orphan drugs are medicines developed to diagnose, prevent, or treat rare diseases, conditions that affect only a small percentage of the population. Because the potential market for these drugs is very limited, pharmaceutical companies often lack financial incentives to invest in their research and development. To address this gap, many governments offer special benefits such as tax credits, grants, fee waivers, and market exclusivity to encourage the production of these treatments. As a result, orphan drugs play a crucial role in providing life-changing therapies for patients who might otherwise have no available medical options.

Orphan Drugs Market Report Metrics Details Coverage Global Study Period 2022-2032 Orphan Drugs Market CAGR ~7% Orphan Drugs Market Size by 2032 USD 357 Billion Key Orphan Drugs Companies Sanofi, Biogen, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis AG, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., AstraZeneca, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Pfizer Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S, and others

Orphan Drugs Market Assessment

Orphan Drugs Market Segmentation

Orphan Drugs Market Segmentation By Drug Type: Small Molecule and Biologics

Small Molecule and Biologics

Orphan Drugs Market Segmentation By Route of Administration: Oral and Parenteral

Oral and Parenteral

Orphan Drugs Market Segmentation By Indication: Oncology, Hematology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Others

Oncology, Hematology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Others

Orphan Drugs Market Segmentation By Distribution Channel: Hospital and Retail Pharmacies and Online Pharmacies

Hospital and Retail Pharmacies and Online Pharmacies

Orphan Drugs Market Segmentation By Geography : North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World

: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOL's Views, Analyst's View

Which MedTech key players in the orphan drugs market are set to emerge as the trendsetter explore @ Orphan Drugs Market Analysis

Table of Contents

1 Orphan Drugs Market Report Introduction 2 Orphan Drugs Market Executive Summary 3 Competitive Landscape 4 Regulatory Analysis 5 Orphan Drugs Market Key Factors Analysis 6 Orphan Drugs Market Porter's Five Forces Analysis 7 Orphan Drugs Market Layout 8 Orphan Drugs Market Company and Product Profiles 9 KOL Views 10 Project Approach 11 About DelveInsight 12 Disclaimer & Contact Us

Interested in knowing the orphan drugs market share by 2032? Click to get a snapshot of the Orphan Drugs Market Size

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The H. pylori infection market is evolving as treatment strategies shift toward optimized, targeted combination therapies, including triple- and quadruple-drug regimens, bismuth-based therapies, and novel emerging therapies such as Rifasutenizol (TenNor Therapeutics), Linaprazan glurate (Cinclus Pharma), Tegoprazan (RQ-00000004) (RaQualia Pharma/HK inno.N/Sebela Pharmaceuticals), and others, driven by improved eradication rates and safety profiles.

LAS VEGAS, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently published H. pylori Infections Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, H. pylori infections emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2022 to 2036, segmented into leading markets [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), and the United Kingdom].

H. pylori Infections Market Summary

The market size for H. pylori infections was found to be USD 270 million in the 6MM in 2025.

infections was found to be in the 6MM in 2025. The United States accounted for the largest H. pylori infection treatment market size in 2025, i.e 85% , compared to other major markets, including the EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom.

infection treatment market size in 2025, i.e , compared to other major markets, including the EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the maximum market share is expected to be captured by Vonoprazan (VOQUEZNA Dual & Triple Pak) in 2036.

in 2036. In the 6MM, the total diagnosed prevalent cases of H. pylori infection were around 147 million in 2025 and are projected to grow during the forecast period (2026-2036).

infection were around in 2025 and are projected to grow during the forecast period (2026-2036). Leading H. pylori infection companies, such as TenNor Therapeutics, Cinclus Pharma, RaQualia Pharma, HK-inno.N, Braintree (Sebela Pharmaceuticals), and others, are developing new H. pylori infections treatment drugs that can be available in the H. pylori infections market in the coming years.

infection companies, such as and others, are developing new infections treatment drugs that can be available in the infections market in the coming years. The promising H. pylori infection therapies in clinical trials include Rifasutenizol (TNP-2198), Linaprazan Glurate, Tegoprazan/RQ-00000004, and others.

Discover H. pylori infections market forecast 2036 @ https://www.delveinsight.com/sample-request/helicobacter-pylori-infections-6mm-market?utm_source=cision&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=spr

Key Factors Driving the Growth of the H. pylori Infections Market

Rising H. pylori Prevalence: According to DelveInsight's estimates, the total number of diagnosed prevalent cases of H. pylori infection was approximately 57 million in the US. Due to advancements in diagnosis, increased disease awareness, and ongoing public health efforts, this number is projected to increase by 2036.

According to DelveInsight's estimates, the total number of diagnosed prevalent cases of infection was approximately 57 million in the US. Due to advancements in diagnosis, increased disease awareness, and ongoing public health efforts, this number is projected to increase by 2036. Role of RT-PCR in Tailored H. pylori Treatment: Molecular diagnostic methods, especially RT-PCR, constitute a significant strength due to their superior sensitivity, rapid turnaround, and capacity to identify antibiotic resistance, facilitating tailored and more effective H. pylori eradication.

Molecular diagnostic methods, especially RT-PCR, constitute a significant strength due to their superior sensitivity, rapid turnaround, and capacity to identify antibiotic resistance, facilitating tailored and more effective H. pylori eradication. Impact of Bismuth Addition on Treatment Resistance: Incorporation of bismuth into conventional triple therapy represents a key therapeutic strength, delivering a 30-40% increase in eradication efficacy against clarithromycin- and metronidazole-resistant H. pylori.

Incorporation of bismuth into conventional triple therapy represents a key therapeutic strength, delivering a 30-40% increase in eradication efficacy against clarithromycin- and metronidazole-resistant H. pylori. Implications of Adult-Pediatric Differences in H. pylori Guidelines: Given H. pylori's established role in gastric cancer, adult treatment guidelines support widespread eradication to reduce long-term cancer risk. The more cautious pediatric recommendations highlight the need for targeted, age-specific strategies, creating opportunities for tailored prevention and intervention programs.

Given H. pylori's established role in gastric cancer, adult treatment guidelines support widespread eradication to reduce long-term cancer risk. The more cautious pediatric recommendations highlight the need for targeted, age-specific strategies, creating opportunities for tailored prevention and intervention programs. Launch of Emerging Therapies: The dynamics of the H. pylori infection market are anticipated to change in the coming years due to the launch of emerging drugs such as Rifasutenizol (TenNor Therapeutics), Linaprazan glurate (Cinclus Pharma), Tegoprazan (RQ-00000004) (RaQualia Pharma/HK inno.N/Sebela Pharmaceuticals), and others.

Aparna Thakur, Assistant Project Manager, Forecasting and Analytics at DelveInsight, said that the regional dynamics show the US leading in market revenue, while European markets exhibit steady growth, reflecting increasing antibiotic resistance awareness and greater adoption of novel regimens such as vonoprazan- and rifabutin-based therapies.

H. pylori Infections Market Analysis

Bismuth-based and concomitant quadruple therapies are recommended as empiric first-line options, with both four-drug regimens achieving >90% eradication rates in clinical studies.

are recommended as empiric first-line options, with both four-drug regimens achieving in clinical studies. Concomitant quadruple therapy exposes patients to an additional, potentially unnecessary antibiotic, raising concerns regarding antimicrobial stewardship.

Pre-packaged therapies such as VOQUEZNA and the TALICIA combination are preferred due to their ease of use and convenience.

and the are preferred due to their ease of use and convenience. Traditional regimens containing bismuth and tetracycline require high pill burdens, making patient adherence more challenging, whereas blister-pack formats are increasingly well-received.

Vonoprazan, long approved and widely used in Japan under the brand TAKECAB, has limited regulatory availability in Western markets, currently available in the US but not approved in the EU4 or the UK.

Rifabutin-based triple therapy (TALICIA) is FDA-approved in the US but not approved by the EMA, although the UK may become the first European market to authorize a rifabutin-based triple regimen.

The emerging H. pylori infection pipeline remains limited, with only a few therapies currently in development, including ifasutenizol (TNP-2198; TenNor Therapeutics), Linaprazan glurate (Cinclus Pharma), and Tegoprazan/RQ-00000004 (RaQualia Pharma/HK-inno.N/Braintree)

H. pylori Infections Competitive Landscape

Some of the H. pylori drugs in the pipeline include Rifasutenizol (TenNor Therapeutics), Linaprazan glurate (Cinclus Pharma), Tegoprazan (RQ-00000004) (RaQualia Pharma/HK inno.N/Sebela Pharmaceuticals), and others.

TenNor Therapeutics' Rifasutenizol is an experimental oral antibacterial agent from TenNor Therapeutics that combines rifamycin and nitroimidazole components in one molecule to create a synergistic, multi-target mechanism. It is intended to treat H. pylori and other microaerophilic or anaerobic bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, by addressing current gaps in available therapies.

According to Aparna, Rifasutenizol shows strong efficacy in H. pylori infection, emerging as a potential first-in-class, purpose-designed therapy in a field with little innovation for decades. Phase III trials reported eradication rates >90%, demonstrating superiority or non-inferiority to bismuth-based quadruple therapy, including in antibiotic-resistant strains. Its differentiation lies in a single-molecule dual mechanism combining rifamycin-mediated RNA polymerase inhibition with nitroimidazole-induced DNA damage, providing intrinsic synergy, greater potency, and lower resistance risk without added regimen complexity.

Cinclus Pharma's Linaprazan glurate is an investigational next-generation gastric acid-suppressing drug. As a prodrug of linaprazan and a member of the PCAB class, it is designed to produce quicker and longer-lasting acid suppression than standard proton-pump inhibitors. By reversibly blocking the gastric proton pump, it aims to deliver rapid and sustained 24-hour acid control to improve healing and symptom management in conditions such as moderate to severe erosive GERD, and may also be useful in combination regimens for H. pylori treatment.

RaQualia Pharma/HK inno.N/Sebela Pharmaceuticals' Tegoprazan is a newer potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) used to inhibit gastric acid secretion. Unlike traditional PPIs, long relied upon for GERD, P-CABs act faster and maintain acid suppression more consistently, offering a next-generation approach to managing acid-related disorders.

The anticipated launch of these emerging therapies are poised to transform the H. pylori infections market landscape in the coming years. As these cutting-edge therapies continue to mature and gain regulatory approval, they are expected to reshape the H. pylori infections market landscape, offering new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth.

Discover more about emerging H. pylori therapies pipeline @ H. pylori Infections Drugs

Recent Developments in the H. pylori Infections Market

In January 2026, RedHill Biopharma updated its ongoing UK Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for TALICIA for the treatment of H. pylori infection, under the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) International Recognition Procedure, a fast-track process that uses the US FDA approval as a reference.

updated its ongoing UK Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for TALICIA for the treatment of infection, under the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) International Recognition Procedure, a fast-track process that uses the US FDA approval as a reference. In November 2025, Cinclus Pharma reported that it plans to begin clinical studies on H. pylori this year, with the expected results available in 2027. It aims to submit applications for regulatory approval to the FDA and EMA in 2027, to obtain approval by 2028 or 2029.

reported that it plans to begin clinical studies on this year, with the expected results available in 2027. It aims to submit applications for regulatory approval to the FDA and EMA in 2027, to obtain approval by 2028 or 2029. In August 2025, the New Drug Application (NDA) for rifasutenizol capsules to treat H. pylori infection was accepted by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

the New Drug Application (NDA) for rifasutenizol capsules to treat infection was accepted by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). In June 2025, Cinclus Pharma announced that it had been granted a waiver from the requirement to conduct pediatric studies with linaprazan glurate for the treatment of H. pylori infection by both the US FDA and the EMA.

announced that it had been granted a waiver from the requirement to conduct pediatric studies with linaprazan glurate for the treatment of infection by both the US FDA and the EMA. In May 2025, TenNor Therapeutics presented the results of the Phase III (EVEREST-HP) trial evaluating rifasutenizol as a first-line treatment in patients with H. pylori infection at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025.

What are H. pylori Infections?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections occur when a type of bacteria called H. pylori colonizes the stomach lining. This bacterium can weaken the protective mucus layer of the stomach and small intestine, allowing stomach acid to cause irritation. Many people with H. pylori don't experience symptoms, but when symptoms do occur, they may include stomach pain, nausea, bloating, or frequent burping. Over time, the infection can lead to conditions such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, and, in rare cases, stomach cancer. H. pylori is usually spread through contaminated food, water, or close contact, and it can be diagnosed with breath, blood, stool, or endoscopy tests. Fortunately, it is treatable with a combination of antibiotics and acid-reducing medications.

H. pylori Infections Epidemiology Segmentation

The H. pylori infections epidemiology section provides insights into the historical and current H. pylori infections patient pool and forecasted trends for the leading markets. The total number of diagnosed prevalent cases of H. pylori infection was approximately 57 million in the US. Due to advancements in diagnosis, increased disease awareness, and ongoing public health efforts, this number is projected to increase by 2036.

The H. pylori infections treatment market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2022-2036 in the leading markets, segmented into:

Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of H. pylori Infection

Infection Age-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of H. pylori Infection

Infection Gender-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of H. pylori Infection

Infection Total Treated Cases of H. pylori Infection

H. pylori Infections Market Report Metrics Details Study Period 2022-2036 Coverage 6MM [The United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), and the United Kingdom]. H. pylori Infections Market CAGR 9.4 % H. pylori Infections Market Size in 2025 USD 270 Million Key H. pylori Infections Companies TenNor Therapeutics, Cinclus Pharma, RaQualia Pharma, HK-inno.N, Braintree (Sebela Pharmaceuticals), RedHill BioPharma, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Phathom Pharmaceuticals, and others Key H. pylori Infections Therapies Rifasutenizol (TNP-2198), Linaprazan Glurate, Tegoprazan/RQ-00000004, TALICIA, VOQUEZN TRIPLE, VOQUEZNA DUAL, and others

Scope of the H. pylori Infections Market Report

Therapeutic Assessment: H. pylori Infections current marketed and emerging therapies

H. pylori Infections current marketed and emerging therapies H. pylori Infections Market Dynamics: Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging H. pylori Infections Drugs and Market Outlook

Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging H. pylori Infections Drugs and Market Outlook Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, H. pylori Infections Market Access and Reimbursement

Download the report to understand H. pylori diagnostics market trends @ H. pylori Infections Market Analysis

Table of Contents

1 H. pylori Infections Market Key Insights 2 H. pylori Infections Market Report Introduction 3 Executive Summary 4 Key Events 5 Epidemiology and Market Forecast Methodology 6 H. pylori Infection Market Overview at a Glance 6.1 Clinical Landscape Analysis (By Phase, Molecule Type, and RoA) 6.2 Market Share (%) Distribution of H. pylori Infection By Therapies in the 6MM, in 2025 6.3 Market Share (%) Distribution of H. pylori Infection By Therapies in the 6MM, in 2036 7 Disease Background and Overview 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Causes and Risk Factors 7.3 Physiopathology 7.4 Signs and Symptoms 7.5 Diagnosis 8 Treatment 8.1 Treatment Algorithm 8.2 Treatment Guidelines 9 Epidemiology and Patient Population 9.1 Key Findings 9.2 Assumptions and Rationale 9.3 Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of H. pylori Infection in the 6MM 9.4 The United States 9.4.1 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of H. pylori Infection in the United States 9.4.2 Age-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of H. pylori Infection in the United States 9.4.3 Gender-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of H. pylori Infection in the United States 9.5 EU4 and the UK 10 H. pylori Infections Patient Journey 11 Marketed H. pylori Infections Therapies 11.1 Key Cross Competition 11.2 Omeprazole Magnesium, Amoxicillin, and Rifabutin (TALICIA): RedHill BioPharma/Cumberland Pharmaceuticals 11.2.1 Drug Description 11.2.2 Regulatory Milestones 11.2.3 Other Developmental Activities 11.2.4 Summary of Pivotal Trials 11.2.5 Analyst Views 11.3 Vonoprazan, Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin (VOQUEZNA TRIPLE) and Vonoprazan, Amoxicillin (VOQUEZNA DUAL) PAKs: Phathom Pharmaceuticals 11.4 Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium, Metronidazole, and Tetracycline Hydrochloride (PYLERA): Juvise Pharmaceuticals/AbbVie 12 Emerging H. pylori Infections Drugs 12.1 Key Cross Competition 12.2 Rifasutenizol (TNP-2198): TenNor Therapeutics 12.2.1 Drug Description 12.2.2 Other Developmental Activities 12.2.3 Clinical Development 12.2.3.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.2.4 Analyst Views 13 H. pylori Infection Market: 6MM Analysis 13.1 Key Findings 13.2 H. pylori Infections Market Outlook 13.3 Key H. pylori Infections Market Forecast Assumptions 13.4 Conjoint Analysis 13.5 Total Market Size of H. pylori Infection in the 6MM 13.6 Total Market Size of H. pylori Infection by Therapies in the 6MM 13.7 The United States H. pylori Infections Market 13.7.1 Total Market Size of H. pylori Infection in the United States 13.7.2 Total Market Size of H. pylori Infection by Therapies in the United States 13.8 EU4 and the UK H. pylori Infections Market 13.8.1 Total Market Size of H. pylori Infection in EU4 and the UK 13.8.2 Total Market Size of H. pylori Infection by Therapies in EU4 and the UK 14 H. pylori Infections Market Unmet Needs 15 H. pylori Infections Market SWOT Analysis 16 KOL Views on H. pylori Infections 17 H. pylori Infections Market Access and Reimbursement 17.1 The United States 17.2 EU4 and the UK 17.3 Summary and comparison of Market Access and Pricing Policy Developments in 2025 17.4 Market Access and Reimbursement of H. pylori Infection Therapies 18 Bibliography 19 H. pylori Infections Market Report Methodology

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About DelveInsight

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Burlington, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Tempus Capital Inc. (CSE: TEMP) ("Tempus" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed a joint development with TUK Group for a new project in Toronto. The new project is slated for completion by the Fall of 2027.

The project will deliver up to fourteen residential units and results in a combined projected twenty eight residential units developed by TUK Group and Tempus. Several additional opportunities are under contract positioning the partnership for continued expansion throughout 2026 and 2027.

This announcement marks a significant step forward in Tempus and TUK's one hundred million investment program announced on April 10, 2025. The partners emphasised the rapidly changing housing market and the increasing importance of mid scale rental developments designed for working professionals and families.

"This project reflects the market reality we are seeing today. Families need attainable, well designed rental options and municipalities need partners who can deliver responsibly. Purpose built rentals are a stabilizing asset class that revitalize neighbourhoods and create long term value. This opportunity, when completed will be accretive for our shareholders," said Russell Tanz, Tempus President and CEO.

Tempus also announces the resignation of Brian Roberts as a director and wishes to thank Brian for his considerable advice and guidance during his time as a director. Tempus wishes Brian well in his future endeavours. Tempus will appoint a new director in the near future to replace Mr. Roberts.

The Company has completed its due diligence in connection with the Oak Street Partners transaction previously announced on September 24, 2025, and has decided not to proceed with the transaction at this time.

About Tempus

Tempus is a real estate operating company engaged in the acquisition, development, and ownership of income-producing properties in Canada, focusing on strip mall shopping centres, storefront retail, and mixed residential and commercial properties. Tempus is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta.

On behalf of the board of directors,

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286299

Source: Tempus Capital Inc.
Kingston, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Octane Medical Group ("Octane") today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Lonza's Personalized Medicine business. For Octane, this is a strategically significant deal that comprises Lonza's controlling stake in the Cocoon Platform - originally acquired from Octane in 2018 - alongside associated intellectual property (IP), workforce and existing customer contracts. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to take place by the end of Q1 2026.

The Cocoon Platform is an innovative automated production system for personalized cell therapies that manufactures cells in a precisely controlled bioreactor for applications in a diverse range of critical diseases and conditions. The transaction returns full stewardship of the Cocoon Platform to its inventors at Octane, who continued to advance the platform for regenerative medicine applications in orthopedics during its time under Lonza ownership.

The 2018 acquisition by Lonza of a controlling stake in Octane Biotech Inc. - the Octane venture behind the Cocoon Platform - was designed to accelerate clinical adoption of the technology in the cell therapy space. That acquisition helped establish Lonza's global Personalized Medicine business.

Octane remains committed to supporting existing and future customers developing cell therapy products that span applications from immunotherapy to regenerative medicine.

"We've innovated over the last three decades to advance our vision of regenerative medicine as the standard of care," said Timothy Smith, CEO and co-founder of Octane, a global leader in transformative regenerative medicine. "This acquisition - and bringing Cocoon back home - is a strategic step that accelerates our mission in a field that has advanced significantly, in no small part due to Lonza's personalized medicine initiatives."

Daniel Palmacci, Head of Specialized Modalities at Lonza, said: "The agreement reflects Lonza's strategic decision to focus on our core CDMO business, long-term growth priorities, and continued commitment to Bioscience. We are pleased to return full ownership of the Cocoon Platform to Octane, the original developers of the technology, and wish the Octane team all the best for its next phase of growth."

Octane's latest announcement follows an exciting 18-month period in which the company acquired the biologics business of its longstanding partner, B. Braun. That acquisition - which included TETEC AG in Germany and Aesculap Biologics, LLC. in the United States - brought cell therapy for articular cartilage repair to Octane and transformed the business into a multinational company with operations in Canada, U.S. and Europe.

Octane plans to leverage the Cocoon Platform to automate and accelerate manufacturing of cartilage repair implants, to improve consistency, quality and scalability. Octane has also intensified its research into AI-powered bioelectricity, with a focus on how bioelectrical stimulation can be harnessed for personalized medicine, including adaptation to the Cocoon Platform.

"Our strategy has always been to build complete, integrated solutions for personalized medicine," said Smith. "By uniting our regenerative medicine portfolio with the Cocoon Platform under one roof, we can offer customers and partners unmatched, innovation-driven capabilities to consistently and efficiently deliver cell therapy programs."

ABOUT OCTANE MEDICAL GROUP

Headquartered in Ontario, Canada with locations in the United States and Europe, Octane is a global group of companies with the most advanced bioprocesses, biomaterials and bioreactors for regenerative medicine. We power transformative healthcare with game-changing technologies that we develop and turn into proof-of-concept platforms. These innovations are advanced into production within our market-specific Octane ventures and then launched for commercialization with our global partners. Today, our Octane ventures include Octane Innovation, Octane Clinical Systems, Octane Orthobiologics, Octane Exo, Octane Biotech and Octane Biotherapeutics (BioTx).

At Octane, our goal is to make regenerative medicine the standard of care. For more information, visit www.octaneco.com.

For media interviews:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286291

Source: Octane Medical Group
AI infrastructure link solution provider expands global technical collaboration.

Panmnesia, a provider of advanced link solutions, announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Openchip, a European AI accelerator design company, at MWC26 in Barcelona. The agreement focuses on technical collaboration related to AI/HPC infrastructure.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260302307731/en/

Myoungsoo Jung (left), CEO of Panmnesia, and Cesc Guim (right), CEO of Openchip, pose for a commemorative photo following the signing ceremony.

The agreement marks a step toward technical collaboration aimed at enhancing performance, scalability, and resource efficiency in AI accelerator and infrastructure environments. The two companies exchanged in-depth technical perspectives on link architecture design and system optimization approaches for AI/HPC systems.

As large-scale AI models continue to proliferate, efficient utilization of accelerator resources and high-performance connectivity within data centers have emerged as key competitive factors. In particular, standards-based link technologies that seamlessly connect AI accelerators and infrastructure resources are rapidly gaining industry attention. Under the agreement, the companies are going to explore collaboration opportunities across various link standards and system architecture configurations.

 Executive Quotes

Myoungsoo Jung, CEO of Panmnesia, said, "As AI accelerator and infrastructure environments evolve rapidly, link technologies are becoming increasingly critical to overall system performance. Through global partnerships, Panmnesia will continue to advance next-generation link technologies for AI infrastructure."

Cesc Guim, CEO of Openchip, said, "This collaboration is essential for building a scalable and efficient AI infrastructure in the global tech landscape. In our mission to strengthen digital sovereignty through open-standard, high-performance silicon, by combining RISC-V accelerators with Panmnesia's advanced link technologies, we are tackling the data movement bottlenecks that define the next generation of AI and computing."

 About Panmnesia

Panmnesia is a company developing advanced link solutions that enhance scalability and resource efficiency in AI infrastructure. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio that includes Link Controllers, Fabric Switches, and Memory Expansion Kits.

In particular, Panmnesia also serves as a partner providing Custom Silicon solutions based on Link Controller and Switch technologies. These solutions enable semiconductor companies to implement silicon chips optimized for scalable data center environments. Through its technologies, Panmnesia supports high-speed communication between devices, memory pooling and sharing, and resource disaggregation and expansion-allowing diverse system devices to be flexibly/efficiently integrated within large-scale data center architectures.

Recently, the company unveiled its CXL** 3.2 PCIe 6.4 switch product. To further strengthen its technological competitiveness, Panmnesia has independently designed and validated a reference architecture that enables flexible memory expansion without the need for additional GPU deployment.

This technology was recognized for its innovation by receiving CES Innovation Awards for two consecutive years, at CES 2024 and CES 2025.

** CXL (Compute eXpress Link): A high-speed, low-latency interconnect standard that enables organic connection among CPUs, GPUs, and memory, allowing computing resources to be flexibly expanded and utilized as needed.

For more information, visit https://panmnesia.com/.

 About Openchip

Openchip is a European systems company developing a unique portfolio of RISC-V*-based accelerators, along with full-stack hardware and software infrastructure for next-generation AI and supercomputing applications. Headquartered in Barcelona with a growing presence across Europe, Openchip brings together top-tier talent in silicon engineering and software engineering, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence. Its end-to-end optimized products advance digital sovereignty and deliver best-in-class performance for Europe's most critical computing needs.

* RISC-V: An open processor architecture standard that allows companies to freely design and customize semiconductor chips.

For more information, visit https://openchip.com/

For more information, please contact: LLYC openchip@llyc.global

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260302307731/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Name: Hanyeoreum Bae

Email: hyrbae@panmnesia.com

Phone: +82-10-5197-0194

Website: https://panmnesia.com/
Sensex plunged 1,649.78 points, or 2.06 per cent, to 78,589.07 at 9:15 am, after opening at 78,528.82 against its previous close of 80,238.85. Nifty 50 tumbled 465.45 points, or 1.87 per cent, to 24,400.25

Indian equity benchmarks opened sharply lower on Wednesday, mirroring weak global cues and heavy selling in frontline banking and infrastructure stocks.

The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 1,649.78 points, or 2.06 per cent, to 78,589.07 at 9:15 am, after opening at 78,528.82 against its previous close of 80,238.85. The index briefly hovered near the days low in early trade, signalling broad-based risk aversion.

The broader Nifty 50 tumbled 465.45 points, or 1.87 per cent, to 24,400.25. The index hit an intraday low of 24,358.65, with market breadth decisively negative  44 stocks declining and just 6 advancing.

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Banks, infra heavyweights drag

Financial stocks bore the brunt of the sell-off, weighing heavily on both benchmarks.

Among top laggards on the Sensex pack, HDFC Bank slumped nearly 4 per cent, while ICICI Bank and Axis Bank fell up to 3.6 per cent in early deals.

Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro emerged as the top index drag, plunging over 6 per cent, amplifying losses on the 30-share gauge.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries declined over 2 per cent, adding to the downside pressure. Other notable losers included Mahindra & Mahindra, IndiGo, UltraTech Cement and Bajaj Finance.

Limited pockets of resilience

A handful of stocks offered some support. Bharat Electronics gained over 1 per cent in early trade. Infosys, ONGC and TCS also traded in positive territory, though gains were modest and insufficient to offset the broader weakness.

Market data showed total traded volume on the Nifty at over 5,192 lakh shares, with a traded value exceeding Rs 41,000 crore in the opening minutes  pointing to heavy participation amid the slide.

Iran crisis deepens uncertainty

Investor sentiment was jolted after sources cited by Iran International claimed that Irans Assembly of Experts had reportedly chosen Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as the next Supreme Leader following his fathers reported death in joint US-Israeli strikes. Iranian state media has not confirmed the development.

The alleged decision, said to have been taken under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), signals a potentially greater role for the Guards in Irans political structure  a factor that markets fear could harden Tehrans regional posture.

The geopolitical situation continued to deteriorate overnight. Iran reportedly launched fresh strikes on Israeli and US-linked targets in the Gulf. Qatar said it intercepted two Iranian SU-24 fighter jets, along with seven ballistic missiles and five drones. Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting cruise missiles and drones near Riyadh.

Meanwhile, oil prices surged nearly 4.7 per cent to their highest levels since January 2025 amid fears of supply disruptions. European gas prices spiked more than 20 per cent after Qatar temporarily halted LNG production, adding to energy market volatility.

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The United States has authorised non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia and Oman, while the US Senate is set to vote on a War Powers resolution seeking to limit further military action against Iran.
While Netflix has not yet announced an official release date, multiple production updates indicate that filming for Season 5 is expected to begin in March 2026

The a fairy tale ending of Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek is something that people cant stop talking about. The show here is Netflixs Bridgerton which has seen four successful seasons and a new season is all set to arrive on the streaming platform soon. But there is one scene in season four which has gone viral and it has a Harry Potter reference.

This is the scene that fans cannot stop talking about and which has gone viral:

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the harry potter reference in bridgerton season 4 pic.twitter.com/0V7rPODwEn  Cemo  (@werentfunny) February 28, 2026

What netizens are saying

One user wrote. Im so glad Im not the only one who thought of this!! Like Im sure the writers didnt do it on purpose but someone had to notice during filming right?? Another user wrote, Its deep cut to make Cho make a reference to the Dursleys. I thought of this immediately when I watched it LMFAOO.

When will release?

While Netflix has not yet announced an official release date, multiple production updates indicate that filming for Season 5 is expected to begin in March 2026.

Based on the shows usual production and post-production timelines, the new season is likely to premiere sometime between mid to late 2027, depending on filming schedules and visual effects work.

Games View All

Earlier seasons typically required 89 months of filming followed by around six months of post-production, making a 2027 release window the most realistic estimate.

Bridgerton Season 5 filming update

Reports suggest that production is being fast-tracked, with Season 5 scheduled to roll soon after Season 4s release. This quicker turnaround indicates Netflixs intent to shorten the long gaps between seasons, something fans have long demanded.

With lead characters for the upcoming storyline reportedly already cast, delays due to casting, which impacted previous seasons, are unlikely this time.

Who will lead Bridgerton Season 5?

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Though Netflix has not officially confirmed the central romance, strong speculation points toward either Eloise Bridgerton or Francesca Bridgerton leading Season 5.
For the last few years, he has made more news and noise for his chaotic and controversial tweets. Amid the Iran-USA-UAE conflict, RGV put out a new tweet

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma was known for his clutter-breaking cinema that changed the syntax of storytelling. The immortal and iconic monikers like Shiva, Rangeela, Satya, Kaun, Bhoot, Company, and Sarkar shall never be forgotten. He has also given filmmakers like Sriram Raghavan, Anurag Kashyap, and Shimit Amin to the industry.

For the last few years, he has made more news and noise for his chaotic and controversial tweets. Amid the Iran-USA-UAE conflict, RGV put out this- The fight between AMERICA and IRAN is the fight between JESUS and ALLAH.. whoever wins I will CONVERT to that.

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The fight between AMERICA and IRAN is the fight between JESUS and ALLAH.. whoever wins I will CONVERT to that   Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) March 3, 2026

RGV on AR Rahman

In an interview that has surfaced on social media, Rahman was doing a film called Yuvraj for Subhash Ghai and Rahman is always late, it frustrates you not being on time. On this day, Rahman was arriving from airport and Sukhwinder was there, doing something, Rahman came and said hi hi and asked Sukhwinder right in front of Subhash Ghai, did you compose?

The filmmaker added, Sukhwinder said yes, played a song and Rahman said he liked it and asked if Subhash liked it. Subhash got angry and started shoutimg at Rahman saying Im paying you 3 crores for you to do it i also can get Sukhwinder to do it, why do i need you?

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What AR Rahman replied

Ram Gopal Varma added, Rahman said in reply, mind you tongue Mr Ghai, you are paying for my name, not my work, dont get confused I only said, did you like it I did not say accept it if you dont like it, Ill do another song. Rahman said this and then left for Chennai. Sukhwinder told me that Rahman later called him and asked him to complete the song and email it to him.

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Last year, Thalapathy Vijay was addressing a crowd of over 3 lacs at his political rally in the Tamil Nadu municipality Karur that later turned berserk and led to a stampede

Thalapathy Vijays wife Sangeetha Sornalingam has filed for divorce after 26 years of marriage on the grounds of infidelity. The couple tied the knot on August 25, 1999 and are blessed with two children. The name that has cropped up for the other woman is that of actress Trisha Krishnan. But these are just rumours sans any confirmation or clarification.

As per a report in Tamil FilmiBeat which is yet to be confirmed as well, Vijay may give Rs 250 crore alimony to his wife and maintenance for their children. The report further stated that the divorce plea will be withdrawn if both parties reach a mutual agreement.

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Last year, Thalapathy Vijay was addressing a crowd of over 3 lacs at his political rally in the Tamil Nadu municipality Karur that later turned berserk and led to a stampede. As per reports, the death toll rose to 39. Vijay has finally tweeted about the unfortunate incident on X.

Thalapathy Vijay wrote- I am heartbroken; I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow. I express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of our dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur. I pray for a speedy recovery for those undergoing treatment in the hospital.

Superstar Rajinikanth tweeted- The news of the loss of innocent lives in Karur is heartbreaking and deeply painful. My deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Condolences to the injured.

Rahul Gandhi said, Deeply saddened by the tragic incident at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, that has taken so many precious lives. My heart goes out to their loved ones, and I wish a swift recovery to all those injured.

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I urge Congress workers and leaders to extend every possible support to the victims and their families, and to work closely with the authorities in relief and rescue efforts, added the Congress head.
The Iran war has entered Day 5. Iranian drones hit a CIA station in Riyadh. Also, a ballistic missile hit Americas Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Meanwhile, the 56-year-old son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as the countrys supreme leader

Missiles are seen in the skies over Doha. Qatar's military intercepted two ballistic missiles, the country's defence ministry said in a statement, after AFP reporters heard loud explosions across Doha. AFP

Its Day 5 of the Iran war, with Iran continuing its retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and across the Gulf  disrupting travel and driving up oil prices. The conflict has also spread to Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah keeps up its missile attacks at Israel, prompting Israeli strikes in Beirut and additional troop deployments to southern Lebanon.

However, the pace of the Iranian attacks seems to be slowing down, raising questions on how long the war will continue.

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Read the latest on the

But as the nations keep up its fighting for now, here are the latest developments from the conflict.

1) The top US military commander in West Asia said American forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran since the operation against the Islamic Republic began last Saturday. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, said in a video on X that the US military has severely degraded Irans air defences and taken out hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers and drones.

Moreover, the first 24 hours of the operation in Iran was nearly double the scale of the first day of the shock-and-awe strikes on Iraq in 2003. In March 2003, the US hit Iraq with more than 1000 strikes as it began the invasion that would eventually topple the government of Saddam Hussein.

2) Qatars Defence Ministry said that an Iranian ballistic missile struck Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in West Asia. Fortunately, there were no casualties. In a statement, the ministry said Qatar was targeted by two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, adding that air defence systems intercepted one of them while the second fell on the base, located southwest of the capital Doha, without resulting in human losses.

3) Qatar also reported that it had dismantled two spy cells linked to Irans Revolutionary Guards. Ten suspects were arrested who admitted during the investigation their links to the Revolutionary Guards and having been instructed to conduct espionage and sabotage activities, the nations official press agency said.

4) According to Iran International, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been chosen to be Irans next supreme leader. The Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khameneis son Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader, Iran International reported, citing informed sources. Fifty-six-year-old Mojtaba, the second-eldest son, has long been seen by observers as a potential successor.

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A police car is parked in an intersection blocking a road near the US embassy, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Reuters

5) A drone attack near the American consulate in Dubai set part of the building on fire, though no injuries were reported. Residents told AFP they heard a bang and one said she then saw the blaze. Police cordoned off roads nearby and shooed away passers-by trying to see the damage.

6) The CIA station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has also been hit by Iran. There were no casualties, though there was significant damage to the building, which is in the same complex as the embassy, reports CNN.

It was earlier reported that two suspected Iranian drones had struck the embassy, which the Saudi defence minister said caused limited fire and minor material damages. An additional two suspected Iranian drones struck at or near the embassy.

Iranian media has reported that the U.S and Israel carried out a strike on Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, though officials have yet to release detailed information about the extent of the damage.



Mehr News Agency published images it said were related to the attack on pic.twitter.com/mOdxjUeLyg  Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) March 3, 2026

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7) Amid the strikes, an Iranian aircraft was destroyed on the ground at Bushehr airport. According to Mehr News Agency, the Mehrabad airport in Tehran was targeted by strikes. The agency published photos showing a cloud of grey smoke rising into the sky behind what appeared to be a runway. The American-Zionist terrorists attacked the area around the Mehrabad airport in the capitals west, it said.

8) Today is also a crucial day for Donald Trump, as the US presidents decision to launch strikes on Iran will be tested. The vote on the War Powers Act has been scheduled in the Senate today. The measure is aimed at limiting Trumps ability to wage military operations.

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9) An 11-year-old girl has been killed after shrapnel fell in a residential area in Kuwait City. The Kuwait army said in a statement the shrapnel fell over a house and left casualties while forces were intercepting several hostile aerial targets over the country.

The Health Ministry said in a separate statement that the child died of her wounds at the hospital. The childs mother and three other relatives were injured and being treated at the hospital.

10) US President Donald Trump has stated that the US navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed amid the Iran war and ordered Washington to provide insurance for shipping. If necessary, the United States navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the US will ensure the free flow of energy to the world, he said on his Truth Social platform.

As of Monday, only two oil and chemical tankers transited through the waterway, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data. Normally, about 60 oil and chemical vessels flow through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying about a fifth of the oil the world consumes each day.

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With inputs from agencies
Israeli spy agency Mossad had been tracking Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials for years. Its decades of intelligence gathering on the leader came to an end last weekend as Israel, along with the US, killed the 86-year-old in Tehran. Mossad is infamous for its daring operations overseas

Government supporters mourn in a gathering after state TV officially announced the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shown in the poster, in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2026. AP

The assassination of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in air strikes by Israel and the United States has plunged West Asia into uncertainty and violence. Israel continued to target the Iranian leadership and security forces on Wednesday (March 4), while Iran has responded with attacks on Israel and the Gulf states hosting US troops.

Reports have revealed that the plan to kill Khamenei was months in the making. While Israel has a long history of carrying out assassinations overseas, this is the first time it has killed a head of state.

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Khameneis death has once again brought the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad to the forefront. We take a look at its recent operations that shocked the world.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was in his office in Tehran on Saturday (February 28) morning when he was killed in joint strikes by the US and Israel.

Besides the 86-year-old leader, about a dozen of his family members and seven members of the top Iranian security leadership who had gathered at several locations in Tehran were among those killed.

Forty other senior Iranian leaders also died in the coordinated strikes within 60 seconds, military officials in Israel told The Guardian.

Within a minute, decades of meticulous intelligence gathering by Israeli secret services yielded results.

It was the information obtained by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the US spy agency, about a meeting of top Iranian officials at a leadership compound in Tehran slated for Saturday morning that sealed the fate of Khamenei.

The Mossad, an abbreviation of the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations in Hebrew, had been tracking Khamenei for several years. It had built a comprehensive file on the daily routine of the Iranian supreme leader as well as his family members, associates, allies and those tasked with keeping him safe, reported The Guardian.

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Mossad had hacked into Irans traffic cameras to keep a tab on Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials for years. The traffic footage from Tehran was encrypted and uploaded to servers in Tel Aviv and southern Israel, as per a Financial Times (FT) report.

Israeli military officials said there had been really very enhanced cooperation between Israel and the US on Iran since the 12-day war between the two rival West Asian countries last year.

Last week, intel from Mossads networks on the ground in Iran was likely combined with intelligence gathered through communications intercepted by the US.

This information would have then been passed on to the US and Israeli militaries to allow the compilation of precise targeting information and the orders to be given for that minute in which Irans supreme leader was killed.

Sixty seconds. Thats all it took for this operation, but it is the product of years in the making, Oded Ailam, a former head of the Mossads counter-terrorism division and a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, told the British newspaper. The modern battlefield is no longer defined only by tanks and aircraft. It is defined by data, access, trust and timing. One minute can change a region.

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Hassan Nasrallah

Israeli airstrikes killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanons capital, Beirut, in September 2024.

At the time, the Israeli military said the Lebanese militant groups 64-year-old secretary general was killed in a targeted strike on the groups headquarters in the southern Beirut neighbourhood of Dahieh.

After three failed attempts in 2006, Israel finally succeeded in taking out the elusive Hezbollah leader due to a daring mission by Mossad operatives.

As per FT, Israel relied on exceptional intelligence for months, which it started receiving following the July 30, 2024, assassination of Fuad Shukr, a key aide to Nasrallah.

Israels sophisticated signals intelligence Unit 8200 learnt about Nasrallahs scheduled meeting with the then Irans Quds Force commander in Lebanon, General Abbas Nilforoushan, and Hezbollahs then southern front chief, Ali Karaki.

As Israeli warplanes pounded Hezbollah strongholds in Dahieh, some Mossad operatives slipped into Haret Hreik, a densely built Shiite neighbourhood in Beiruts southern suburbs. They were carrying carefully disguised packages that they ended up planting at pre-planned points inside the building, with a secretive underground bunker serving as Hezbollahs main command headquarters, as per a Ynet News report.

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A Hezbollah supporter holds a Palestinian flag and a cutout image of late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at a ceremony held by Hezbollah to commemorate the first anniversary of Nasrallahs killing by Israel, on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon, September 27, 2025. Reuters

While Israeli strikes continued in the area, the Mossad team completed its mission and sneaked out undetected.

The equipment that the Israeli spies had placed was guidance systems and penetrating warheads for Israeli bombs to ensure they could strike precisely in rocky terrain.

Pager bombing in Lebanon

On September 17, 2024, thousands of pagers exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, killing at least 12 people and wounding nearly 3,000. These blasts targeted mainly thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah members.

The next day, walkie-talkies exploded in a similar manner, killing more than 30, including children, and injuring hundreds more. These explosions were reported in the vicinity of a large crowd that had assembled for the funerals of four victims of the day befores pager blasts.

The two-day explosions caused shockwaves across Lebanon. Pagers were blasting everywhere they were being carried, including in supermarkets. Chaos and panic gripped hospitals, which were flooded by patients.

Two months later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Israels hand in the sophisticated attacks.

Two former Israeli intelligence agents then revealed how Mossad carried out the operation, which began more than a decade ago. Hezbollah leaders were duped into buying thousands of rigged walkie-talkies and pagers. They did not realise the communication devices were made in Israel, ex-Mossad agents told CBS News.

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The Lebanese group purchased more than 16,000 walkie-talkies at a good price from a fake company 10 years ago.

An Israeli agent said that Mossad had hidden an explosive device inside the batteries of the walkie-talkies. In 2022, the operation expanded to include pagers.

Hezbollah was buying pagers from a Taiwanese company called Gold Apollo. Once Mossad discovered this, it established a fake company which used the Gold Apollo name on pagers rigged with explosives, without the realisation of the parent company.

Hezbollah had purchased 5,000 of the rigged pagers by September 2024.

As per CBS, Mossad installed explosives inside that were powerful enough to harm only the user. They were triggered from Israel when Mossad suspected that Hezbollah started having doubts.

Ismail Haniyeh

Before killing the high-profile Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, Israel had gone after the political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh.

In July 2024, the 62-year-old Hamas leader was in Irans capital, Tehran, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Mossad detonated an explosive device planted two months ago in Haniyehs bedroom at the Iranian government official residence in Tehran, two sources told Axios.

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The bomb was detonated remotely once it was confirmed that Haniyeh was inside his room at the guesthouse, five West Asian officials said, as per New York Times (NYT). The blast killed him and a bodyguard.

Israeli intelligence had gathered information about which facility, along with the exact room, Haniyeh stayed in during his visits to Tehran, Axios reported.

The bomb, which was a high-tech device powered by artificial intelligence (AI), was detonated by Mossad operatives who were on Iranian territory.

Israels successful assassinations in the Islamic Republic show the deep penetration of its intelligence services inside Iran, while exposing the vulnerabilities of the Iranian intelligence and security apparatus.

Over two decades, Israel has recruited local agents within Iran and given them state-of-the-art equipment and high levels of training, Yossi Melman, a respected Israeli analyst and author specialising in intelligence, told The Guardian.

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh

Senior Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed while sitting in a car on a remote road in Absard, east of the capital Tehran, on November 27, 2020.

One shot was fired initially, but the firing continued after he exited the car and tried to flee. Fakhrizadeh died shortly thereafter. During the attack, a bomb in a Nissan pickup truck also reportedly exploded.

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Fakhrizadeh was long perceived as a key figure in Irans nuclear programme by Western and Israeli intelligence.

More details later came to light and it was reported that the top nuclear scientist was killed with a remote-controlled automatic weapon. According to Israeli intelligence sources, a US-made M240C 7.62mm machine gun was smuggled into Iran in parts by Israeli spies. A Mossad team of roughly 20 operatives assembled the weapon over eight months.

The gun was reportedly mounted in a blue Zamyad pickup truck parked along Imam Khomeini Street in Tehran. It was operated remotely to minimise risk to Fakhrizadehs wife, who was travelling with him at the time of the attack, reported Euronews.

Another vehicle equipped with cameras was used to confirm the nuclear scientists identity moments before the ambush.

With inputs from agencies
Oil prices spiked one per cent on Wednesday (March 4) as Irans war with Israel and the US intensifies. If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a prolonged period, India may have to seek alternatives to absorb the shock from the disruption to crude supplies from West Asia. Here are the options that New Delhi has

An aerial view of the Cape of Good Hope. File Photo/Reuters

The war in West Asia has put the global oil market at risk. Oil prices surged one per cent on Wednesday (March 4) as the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupted supplies in the region.

With Tehran shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows, shipping companies have started rerouting vessels around Africa. India, the worlds third-largest consumer of crude oil, could also explore alternative options if the narrow Gulf chokepoint remains disrupted.

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The Cape of Good Hope has come to the spotlight as Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be set ablaze.

What is the Cape of Good Hope? Will India end up tapping into alternative options to maintain oil supplies?

We take a look.

Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of South Africa. It was originally named the Cape of Storms in the 1480s by the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias.

Later, it was renamed the Cape of Good Hope by King John II of Portugal, as it opened a sea route to India and Asia.

However, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 offered the worlds biggest ships or those carrying valuable cargo safer, shorter, and less costly routes. It provided a shorter route from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, rendering the long trip around Africa ineffective.

Whenever the Suez Canal is blocked, shipping companies seek alternative routes and opt for the Cape of Good Hope. But it is a long, costly route.

As per Indian Express, the Cape of Good Hope route adds 15-20 days to the voyage to Europe from India, along with significantly raising the freight costs.

Does India have enough oil stocks?

For now, India has enough barrels to absorb the shock from disruptions to West Asian oil supplies.

A government source told The Hindu on Tuesday (March 3) that India has adequate stocks of crude oil and energy products (petrol and diesel) for the next 25 days each.

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We are in a reasonably comfortable position as far as crude oil is concerned. We have crude oil in reserve for 25 days, alongside energy products for 25 days as well, the source said.

This does not include the emergency-earmarked Special Petroleum Reserves (SPR), which would take the countrys crude oil buffer well beyond 25 days.

According to vessel tracking service Kpler, India has about 100 million (10 crore) barrels of commercial crude oil stocks  in storage tanks, underground strategic reserves and on ships heading towards the country.

These supplies are expected to cover about 40-45 days of its requirement if the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz persists.

The country maintains strategic petroleum reserves alongside commercial inventories held by refiners and oil marketing companies. These buffers are intended to manage temporary supply shocks rather than sustained outages, Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining and Modeling at Kpler, told PTI. Based on Kpler inventory data, commercial crude stocks are around 100 million barrels, including volumes in the strategic petroleum reserve facilities at Mangalore, Padur and Visakhapatnam.

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He said the immediate impact of a complete halt on crude supply from West Asia, albeit temporarily, would be logistical and price-driven. However, Ritolia added that supply risks will increase if there is a prolonged disruption through the Strait of Hormuz.

India imports around 2 billion barrels of oil annually, which makes up 88 per cent of its total needs. Kepler data shows that about 50 per cent of Indias crude imports, or 2.5-2.7 million barrels per day, transit the Strait of Hormuz, largely sourced from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.

This is roughly half the six million (60 lakh) bpd the country consumes every day, as per end-2024 figures, according to NDTV.

Oil prices are likely to see an immediate impact as the West Asian supplies get disrupted. Brent, the global benchmark for crude oil, jumped $1.17, or 1.4 per cent, to $82.57 a barrel by 0408 GMT (9:38 am IST) on Wednesday, reported Reuters.

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India spent $137 billion on crude oil imports in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. During April 2025 to January 2026, Indias import bill was $100.4 billion for 206.3 million tonnes of crude oil.

If shipping companies were forced to take longer routes amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the crude import bill would further rise.

Higher freight, war-risk insurance and geopolitical premiums could also add up to landed costs.

Will India resort to alternative options?

The Strait of Hormuz has come to a near halt as Iran targets oil tankers in the region.

At least five tankers have reportedly been damaged, two personnel killed and about 150 ships stranded around the strait.

Traffic is down at least 80 per cent, Michelle Bockmann, a senior maritime intelligence analyst at Windward, told Al Jazeera, adding that the shipping industry was already facing a huge spike in freight costs for routes out of West Asia and the Gulf.

Tankers are seen off the coast of the Fujairah, as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026. Reuters

India could look for other options to meet its crude requirements in case of the sustained closure of the narrow waterway.

As per Moneycontrol, taking the Cape of Good Hope route would mean buying more oil from suppliers outside the Gulf, such as the US, Brazil, Guyana or West Africa. These shipments would then pass through Africas southern point.

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But this route could extend voyages by roughly 6,000 to 10,000 additional nautical miles.

Large crude tankers usually sail at about 12-15 knots, meaning they remain at sea for roughly two to four extra weeks. If shipments come via the Cape of Good Hope route, refiners could have to wait for cargoes for nearly a month longer instead of just days if they took the Gulf route, as per the Moneycontrol report.

The additional freight bill per cargo could run into hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars if the tanker is at sea for 15-25 extra days.

In such a case, India could also tap into Russian oil to make up for the shortfall from West Asia. But this is likely to invite the ire of the US, which reached an interim trade deal with India on the condition it reduces its reliance on Russian crude.

India may purchase Russian crude to ward off any large-scale energy supply volatility due to the Iran war, government sources told NDTV Profit.

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They said a series of emergency measures have been proposed, including curbs on petrol and diesel exports and LPG rationing.

As per Reuters, Indian companies had already slashed natural gas supplies to industries in anticipation of restrictions after top producer Qatar halted LNG production.

Global shipping companies Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM have already started rerouting vessels around Africa, avoiding the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East [West Asia] region following the escalating military conflict, we have decidedto pause future Trans-Suez sailings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait for the time being, Danish container shipping group Maersk said in a statement on Sunday.

German shipping group Hapag-Lloyd said in a separate statement it was rerouting its IMX container shipping service that connects India and West Asia with the Mediterranean around southern Africa, reported Reuters.

It said it would prioritise the strait route again once the security situation permitted transit.

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Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd said they were suspending all vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.

With inputs from agencies
An image showing Britains Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reportedly holding a minutes silence for Irans Ayatollah Ali Khameneis death has gone viral online. However, this visual is part of the ongoing misinformation war that is being waged on social media platforms amid the US-Israel operations and Irans counter-attacks

An Iranian flag is placed among the ruins of a police station struck on Monday during the US-Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran. AP

Its been five days since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes at Iran, resulting in an all-out war, which has resulted in nearly every West Asian country  from the UAE to Bahrain  being attacked by Tehran.

Along with the barrage of missiles and drones being fired by these countries, social media has become a goldmine of misinformation, with a barrage of fake images and videos. In fact, according to Marisha Goldhamer, AFPs head of digital investigations for North America, the issue is widespread and across multiple languages.

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On X, owned by Elon Musk, many posts showing videos of the attack are actually months or years old. Several images shared appear to be altered or generated with artificial intelligence (AI). Other posts attempt to pass off video game footage as scenes from the conflict.

Catch live updates from the

As the war nears its one-week mark, we sift through many of the various viral posts and determine if they are, indeed, real or fake.

Did Iran, in fact, shoot down an Israeli fighter jet?

Shortly after the US-Israel attack on Iran on Saturday, a video was shared of an Israeli jet being downed by Iranian air defence systems. The video has been shared by dozens of accounts, including one post that has been viewed more than 3.5 million times.

@grok is it a real footage ? pic.twitter.com/MhQesJANON  Sardar Shafqat Ali Khan (@s7600084) February 28, 2026

But there have been no verified reports of an Israeli jet being shot down. In fact, when asked about it, Grok, Xs AI chatbot, noted: No credible news outlets report any such incident today amid Israels strikes on Iran and Irans missile responses  Iraq closed its airspace, but thats it.

Has Iran destroyed a US radar in Qatar?

A visual of damage to an American radar system in Qatar following an Iranian drone strike has gone viral on social media. It has even been shared by the Iranian newspaper, the Tehran Times.

However, this image is based on real satellite imagery of a US base in Bahrain from February 2025, which is publicly available on Google Maps and Google Earth. The before-and-after image was generated or edited with Google AI, according to Googles SynthID watermark detector.

This image, uploaded by Tehran Times, is AI-generated.



It's based on a Google Earth image from 2/10/2025 - One way to tell is that all the cars stayed in the exact same location. https://t.co/KkolH8egKQ pic.twitter.com/CNvkLB844s  Tal Hagin (@talhagin) February 28, 2026

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According to a BBC report, there are discrepancies in the roof of the building at the bottom of the so-called after picture compared with the original satellite image. Moreover, there are three vehicles parked in the same spaces in both the genuine satellite imagery and the AI picture - despite the pictures allegedly having been taken a year apart.

Did Iran strike a nuclear power plant in Israel?

On various social media platforms, one video has garnered lots of attention. It depicts a nuclear power plant in Israel being struck by Iranian ballistic missiles. One can see large plumes of smoke before an explosion sends flames shooting into the air. But the video isnt from the current conflict; its from 2017 and shows a fire at a Ukrainian munitions depot in the countrys Kharkiv region near the Russian border. The explosions in the clip spreading online match the ones in the 2017 video. Identifiable landmarks, such as a large tower, can be seen in both.

Are Israelis leaving in large numbers?

Following the US-Israel strikes on Iran, the Islamic Republic began its retaliatory attacks across the Gulf nations as well as the Jewish nation.

Amid this situation, a video online shows thousands of Israelis leaving Israel after Iranian attacks. But this is false. It shows people arriving at Hellfest, a heavy metal festival in Clisson, France, in June 2025. In the video, a crowd of people walks through a grassy field and along an adjacent dirt road. People are carrying large backpacks and wheeling carts with additional luggage.

The AP reports that the clip was originally posted to TikTok on June 19, 2025, the day that years festival began. A caption on the video reads in French, Hellfest campsite opened yesterday.

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Did UK minister hold a minutes silence after Khameneis death?

After Donald Trump announced the death of Irans Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying one of the most evil persons in history is dead, a photo showed British interior minister Shabana Mahmood reportedly holding a minutes silence for the Iranian supreme leader.

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud joined her constituents to hold a one-minute silence for Ayatollah Khamenei today in Birmingham, said a March 1 post on X, which received more than 700,000 views. Identical posts were also made on Facebook.

This image has wrongly been captioned, saying British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was mourning the loss of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Reuters

However, there is no credible evidence that Mahmood held a minute of silence for Khamenei in Birmingham on March 1. The photograph shows Mahmood visiting a mosque in Southport, near Liverpool, according to the British news agency _Press Association_, which took the photo on September 25, 2024.

A Home Office spokesperson said the social media post was misinformation and that the photograph was taken in 2024.

Is the photo of a man found under rubble actually Khamenei?

An image depicting emergency workers discovering the body of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been shared online. The image came shortly after US President Donald Trump announced the Iranian leaders death.

An image circulating online allegedly shows the body of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei under rubble.



I analyzed the image using SynthID, Google's digital watermarking technology designed to identify content generated or edited with its AI tools. SynthID embeds an invisible https://t.co/zZs5vz2BWX pic.twitter.com/CU7n3T9Fvv  David Puente (@DavidPuente) March 1, 2026

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But the image was created using AI, according to analysis by Googles SynthID tool, which searches for watermarks embedded in content generated by the companys AI models. The detector concluded its analysis on two differing versions of the image with very high confidence that it was created with AI.

Did the USS Abraham Lincoln sink?

One video even goes as far as showing the USS Abraham Lincoln burning in the Red Sea after being hit by Iranian missiles. However, this visual appears to have been generated by the Arma 3 video game, said US military officials, adding that none of the missiles launched by Iran came close to hitting the American aircraft carrier.

Smoke rises following a strike, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran. Reuters

What do experts say?

This isnt the first time that disinformation has been spread during a time of conflict. Similar untrue claims were made by Pakistan during the four-day conflict last year. Also, similar claims have been made during the Ukraine-Russia war.

As Moustafa Ayad, from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), told AFP, It is really the speed and scale of these representations that is astounding, driving much of the online confusion of what has been targeted, or casualty counts for instance.

Even Brady Africk, an independent open-source intelligence researcher and director of media relations at the American Enterprise Institute, was astonished at the amount of disinformation emanating from the Iran war. I think its largely an education issue and an awareness issue in terms of making sure as many people as possible are aware of the ways that digital media can be manipulated, Africk told the Financial Times. People should be very adamant about finding trusted sources who work in the public eye and do so responsibly.

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Notably, the Elon Musk-owned X has taken note of the situation and on Tuesday announced it would suspend creators from its revenue-sharing programme for 90 days if they post AI-generated videos of armed conflicts without disclosing they were artificially made.

The policy change targets what the company described as a threat to information authenticity amid the ongoing war against Iran. During times of war, it is critical that people have access to authentic information on the ground, said Xs head of product Nikita Bier, adding that current AI technologies make it trivial to create content that can mislead people.

With inputs from agencies
The Israeli air forces F-35I fighter jet downed a manned Iranian Yak-130 multirole jet over Tehran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday as the conflict in West Asia escalates. This is significant as this is the first known air-to-air victory of the US-made F-35 stealth jet against a piloted aircraft

A F-35 fighter jet flies during a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots at Hatzerim Airbase, in southern Israel, June 29, 2023. File Photo/Reuters

As the Israel-US war with Iran enters its fifth day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its air force shot down an Iranian fighter jet. An Israeli F-35 fighter downed an Iranian Yak-130 multirole jet over Tehran on Wednesday (March 4).

This is believed to be the first time the new generation US-made F-35 has shot down a manned aircraft in combat. The US-Israeli strikes on Iran have continued for the fifth day, while Tehran is retaliating for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by attacking Gulf countries housing US military bases.

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Lets take a closer look.

F-35 shoots down Yak-130

An Israeli F-35I fighter jet downed a piloted Iranian Air Force Yak-130 multirole jet over Tehran, the IDF said on Wednesday.

This is the first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 Adir fighter jet, the Israeli military said in a post on X.

The IDF did not provide more details about the incident.

IRANIAN JET SHOT DOWN: An IAF F-35I Adir fighter jet shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter jet.



This is the first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 Adir fighter jet.  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 4, 2026

Earlier on Saturday (February 28), the Israeli military bombed Iranian fighter jets moments before they were to take off.

Two fighter jets  an F4 and an F5  were on the runway, preparing for take off, when the Israeli strikes hit, reported The Jerusalem Post.

ALSO READ: From Ayatollahs assassination to Hezbollah leaders killing, inside the daring operations by Israels Mossad

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F-35 vs Yak-130

Developed by the American defence giant Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is the worlds only exported fifth-generation fighter jet.

Israel got its first F-35s in 2016. The Israeli variant of the Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter plane is known as Adir, meaning Mighty One in Hebrew, reported Business Insider.

Israels F-35I boasts customised electronic warfare system. The stealth, multirole fighters are among the most advanced military aircraft in the world.

The jets have aligned edges and radar-absorbent coating that helps avoid detection. The F-35s, which can reach supersonic speeds of Mach 1.6, or 548.8 meters per second, store their weapons and fuel internally.

Israeli Air Force F-35 flies during an aerial demonstration at a graduation ceremony for Israeli air force pilots at the Hatzerim air base in southern Israel, June 27, 2019. File Photo/Reuters

Israel has made its own modifications to the US-made fighter jets. It has added its own wings for the F-35I, along with developing a high-tech helmet that displays the aircrafts airspeed, altitude, targeting information, and other key statistics directly on the pilots visor, as per Business Insider.

In 2018, Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn A Hewson said that the fighter jets can fly in what we call beast mode, carrying up to 18,000 pounds of internal and external ordnance, in a mix that can include 5,000-pound-class weapons.

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The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a Russian-designed training aircraft and a light attack jet. A twin-engine advanced jet trainer, it first entered service in the 2000s.

Built by the Yakovlev design bureau, it is used to train pilots who will later fly advanced Russian-designed fighters such as the Su30, Su35 or MiG29.

As per the Military Watch magazine, the aircraft can engage targets only within visual range.

Yak-130 has a maximum speed of 1060 knots and a total range of 1600 nautical miles, which can increase to 2100 with two external fuel tanks. The aircraft features seven hardpoints under the wings and two more under the fuselage with a maximum payload of 3,000 kg, as per the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR).

A Yakovlev Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft performs during the International Army Games 2016, in Dubrovichi outside Ryazan, Russia, August 5, 2016. File Photo/Reuters

The Yak130 is equipped with onboard computers capable of mimicking the handling and systems of more modern jets. This aids pilots in preparing without flying a frontline aircraft.

The aircraft achieves a top speed just below supersonic and is equipped to carry bombs, rockets and missiles for ground attack or patrol roles. Its modern cockpit displays are similar to those found in advanced fighters, reported Newsweek.

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Why F-35 downing Yak-130 matters

This is the first known air-to-air victory of the US-made F-35I stealth jet against a manned aircraft. Before today, F-35s were known to have shot down only unmanned aerial targets, such as drones.

It is the first time in over 40 years that an Israeli Air Force jet has engaged in air-to-air combat with a manned aircraft. The last time the Israeli force shot down an aircraft was on November 24, 1985, when its F-15 Baz shot down two Syrian MiG-23 fighter jets over Lebanon.

The incident also strengthens Israel and the US established air supremacy in the Tehran region, where they can execute stand-in attacks, hovering above potential targets unrestricted for a prolonged period, as per The Jerusalem Post.

With inputs from agencies
Iran has appointed a new supreme leader  Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 56-year-old, who has kept a relatively low-profile, will now step out from the shadows and is expected to continue his fathers legacy of conservative politics with a personal hatred towards the US

A picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran. Reuters

Ten days after the Iran war began, which claimed the life of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the countrys theocratic clerics have officially named the successor to the most powerful position in the Islamic Republic  his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

With this, the 56-year-old steps out of the shadows and into a powerful position, with many indicating that his appointment signals that Tehran is nowhere close to capitulating to the US demands.

Mojtabas appointment as the Supreme Leader came after he was selected by Irans Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body responsible under the Constitution for appointing the countrys top political and religious authority.

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Please catch all the latest from the

Following his appointment, many have one question: Will Mojtaba be any different from his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? The answer is unclear, but there are signs that that more hardline factions in Irans establishment retain power.

Mojtaba: the next supreme leader of Iran

Fifty-six-year-old Mojtaba is the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was born in 1969 in Mashhad, an important religious centre in Iran, about a decade before the Islamic Republic was established in 1979.

Mojtaba joined the Islamic military corps around 1987 after finishing high school. During the Iran-Iraq war, he served in the Habib Battalion, enabling him to forge relations with figures who eventually rose up in Irans security apparatus. When his father was elevated to the position of supreme leader, Mojtaba went on to study with the countrys most esteemed clerics in Qom, and to teach in a religious seminary himself.

In 2004, Mojtaba reportedly married Zahra Haddad-Adel, the daughter of Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, an Iranian conservative politician and former Chairman of the Parliament. They reportedly have three children together, though not much is known about the kids. Notably, his wife, Zahra, is among those who died in the US-Israel strikes on February 28, the first day of the war.

In recent days, there have been reports that Mojtaba had travelled to London in 1998 with his wife, Zahra, who underwent fertility treatments. Following this, she gave birth to their son Bagher  nicknamed the million-pound boy by those who knew of the secretive trip, reports The Telegraph.

Mojtaba has largely remained out of the limelight. However, in 2005, when conservative candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president, many accused Mojtaba of working with religious leaders and the Revolutionary Guards to ensure the victory of the relatively unknown candidate they preferred.

Mojtaba Khamenei also has close ties to the powerful IRGC, which reportedly backed him to become the next supreme leader. His ties to the group go back decades. For years, he was a key channel between his father and the Guards leadership. That gave him a rare position. He is close to the security core, but also linked to the civilian and clerical leadership that depends on it.

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Mojtaba Khamenei (right), the second son of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been elected as Irans new supreme leader. File image/Reuters

Mojtaba and his sprawling property empire

Mojtaba, the 56-year-old, has a significant overseas real estate network worth millions of dollars. A report by Bloomberg states that the future Iranian supreme leader has properties and financial assets worth well over 100 million (Rs 1,229 crore). Notably, a significant concentration of this wealth is located in Londons elite Billionaires Row, where 11 properties tied to his network are now valued at around 100 million.

However, none of the properties or assets are in Mojtabas name. Investigations reveal a web of offshore companies, all eventually leading to him.

Among the many assets and properties is a house worth 33.7 million (Rs 360 crore), which was purchased in 2014 in one of Londons most exclusive neighbourhoods, as well as a villa in an elite Dubai district. There are also upscale European hotels from Frankfurt to Mallorca, which are part of Mojtabas property portfolio.

According to the Bloomberg report, funds for the transactions have been routed through accounts at banks in the UK, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the United Arab Emirates. The funds originate primarily from Iranian oil sales. None of the documents lists assets directly in Mojtabas name. Instead, many of the purchases appear in the name of an Iranian businessman, Ali Ansari, sanctioned by the UK in October.

As Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said: Mojtaba has major stakes or de facto control in various entities throughout Iran and abroad. When you analyse his financial network, Ali Ansari is the main account holder for him. This positions Ansari as one of the most influential oligarchs in the country today.

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However, in a statement through his lawyer, Ansari said he strongly denies that he has ever had any financial or personal relationship with Mojtaba Khamenei and said he would challenge the UK sanctions.

Interestingly, Mojtaba has US sanctions placed on him in 2019 after Washington alleged that Ali Khamenei had delegated aspects of his authority to his son, who was said to act in an official capacity without public accountability.

A portrait of Irans late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli and US strikes on Saturday, stands among flowers outside the Iranian Embassy in Moscow. Reuters

Mojtabas appointment and Irans future

The appointment of Mojtaba as the next Iranian supreme leader has many asking  what does it mean for the Islamic Republic and this war.

Unlike his father, who served as president before becoming Supreme Leader and had years of experience in international diplomacy, Mojtaba has never held a formal executive position or held public meetings with foreign officials. As a result, little is known about his views on domestic issues as well as crucial ones such as Irans nuclear programme, or his view on Irans relationship with Israel.

However, many point to his close ties to the IRGC, which hints that he may lean more heavily on the might of the Guard. This would deepen an existing trend toward the securitisation of Iranian politics.

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His close ties to the IRGC also indicates that internet unrest is more likely to be met with swift repression rather than political accommodation. Moreover, the IRGC would gain more prominence in regional affairs.

Also, given the fact that his father was killed by US-Israeli strikes, a more hardline posture toward both countries is expected.

Vali R Nasr, an expert on Iran and Shiite Islam at Johns Hopkins University, told the New York Times, The choice of Mojtaba is choice of continuity with his father, and also he is more ready than other candidates to quickly consolidate power and assert control over the system.

Even Mehdi Rahmati, an analyst in Tehran, believes that Mojtaba seemed to be the only choice for the clerics. Mojtaba is the wisest pick right now because he is intimately familiar with running and coordinating security and military apparatuses. He was in charge of this already.

A woman holds a banner against Irans late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba Khamenei during a protest against Irans ruling establishment following US and Israel strikes on Iran in Naples, Italy. Reuters

According to Janatan Sayeh, a Tehran-born research analyst at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, Mojtabas appointment signals an escalation in the war. They could have elevated a reformist or moderate to try to appease Donald Trump, especially since he has entertained something closer to the Maduro model. But they didnt.

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It signals that Tehrans remaining decision-makers are opting for escalation rather than compromise, he was quoted as telling The Telegraph.

But it seems that Mojtabas appointment has already angered many Iranians. Thats because the first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Hassan Rouhani declared the notion of dynasties un-Islamic.

In fact, chants against Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran shortly after his appointment, according to a video posted on social media Sunday. In the 17-second clip, filmed at night from a building window, womens voices can be heard shouting Death to Mojtaba in Persian, while religious chants can be heard in the distance.

With inputs from agencies
After a youth-led uprising forced out the KP Sharma Oli government, Nepal is voting in parliamentary elections today (March 5). As the Himalayan nation goes to the polls, a look at key figures and issues that are at stake

"Bacha Patra", which means promise letter, with the pictures of Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept for distribution at RSP office ahead of Nepal's general election, in Damak, Jhapa district, Nepal, February 25, 2026. File image/Reuters

Nepal is voting in a general election today (March 5), the first after the deadly youth-led protests last September toppled the government of then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The protest sought more jobs and cleaner politics, leading to the deaths of many people and forcing the government to resign.

Since 1990, the country has seen 32 changes in government, leaving its largely agrarian economy hamstrung and driving millions to look for jobs overseas.

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As the Himalayan nation prepares for the March 5 polls, here is a close look at key figures contesting for power and what is at stake.

The voters

Nearly 19 million of Nepals 30 million people are eligible to vote to elect a 275-member legislature, of which 165 candidates are directly elected, and 110 are selected via proportional representation.

About one million of these voters - most of them youth - were added after last years protests, which have amplified calls for overhauling Nepals political system and reforming the economy to create formal jobs with better wages.

The voting age in Nepal is 18, and authorities had urged eligible young adults to register.

Bibas Pariyar, a 22-year-old painter employed in Kathmandu, said he plans to return to his home district of Gorkha, famed for soldiers who have served in the British and Indian militaries, on Thursday to vote, according to Reuters.

We need new people who can give work to people, reform agriculture and pay adequate remuneration for workers, Pariyar said.

The old politicians only amassed money for themselves through corruption and did nothing for the people.

Issues at stake

Apart from corruption, job creation is among the main issues, analysts say, with about a fifth of the population living in poverty, and high youth unemployment.

Ties with India and China, which border Nepal and are among its major trade partners, will also be a factor in the election as the landlocked nation negotiates a balance between the Asian powers.

While India accounts for two-thirds of Nepals international trade, China accounts for 14 per cent and has also lent the country, among the worlds poorest, more than $130 million (around 13 crore), according to the World Bank.

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Key contenders

Balendra Shah, 35

Rapper-turned-politician and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, 35, of the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party, is among the frontrunners for prime minister.

Born in Kathmandu in 1990, he was a schoolboy during Nepals decade-long Maoist civil war.

A vehicle with a campaign poster for Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), waits for passengers ahead of Nepals general election in Gauriganj, Jhapa district, Nepal, February 25, 2026. Reuters

A former underground hip-hop artist whose songs railed against corruption and inequality, the 35-year-old civil engineer first shot to national prominence through music.

He translated that online popularity into a shock political victory in 2022, when he was elected Kathmandus first independent mayor.

Shah built a reputation as a blunt and often confrontational reformer, launching campaigns against tax evasion, traffic congestion and waste mismanagement.

In December, Shah joined the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), positioning himself for national leadership.

Gagan Thapa, 49

Gagan Thapa presents himself as the face of generational change, arguing that the country can no longer be run by what he calls an old age club of revolving veteran leaders.

Thapa led an internal revolt in January to be elected as head of the Nepali Congress, the countrys oldest and historically dominant party, which had been the largest member of the ousted coalition government.

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Prime Ministerial candidate and President of the Nepali Congress Party, Gagan Kumar Thapa, addresses the crowd during an election campaign in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 1, 2026. Reuters

Born in 1976, Thapa was drawn into politics as a teenager during the 1990 pro-democracy movement against the then absolute monarchy.

He rose through student activism, linked to the Nepali Congress, and became a prominent figure in the 2006 mass uprising that forced the king to abdicate.

Jailed several times for street protests, he then entered parliament as one of its youngest members. He has since served multiple terms and been the health minister.

I am the right mix of energy and experience- the right mix which can deliver, Thapa told AFP, pledging governance reform and job creation, while promising to work across party lines.

KP Sharma Oli, 74

Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist), vying for the top post again but facing an uphill battle to win back young voters who ousted him barely six months ago.

A veteran Marxist leader has served as prime minister four times. Leader of the Communist Party of NepalUnified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), Oli has spent nearly six decades in politics.

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He was drawn into underground communist activism as a teenager and was arrested in 1973 for campaigning against the monarchy. He spent 14 years in prison, including four in solitary confinement.

The then Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, arrives to address the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 26, 2024. File image/Reuters

He later rose through party ranks to become prime minister in 2015, returning to office multiple times in Nepals turbulent parliamentary landscape.

Critics accuse him of an authoritarian streak and intolerance of dissent, while supporters credit him with strong leadership and nationalist resolve, particularly in navigating relations with India and China.

Other contenders include three-time prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 71, who now leads the Nepali Communist Party.

Nepal's election will be the second in the region, following Bangladesh, to be triggered by Gen Z-led protests, but the dynamics are markedly different, said Jay Nishaant, founder of the Nepal Democracy Foundation think tank, Reuters reported.

With inputs from agencies
As the war in Iran has broken out into a wider conflagration that threatens to engulf the entirety of West Asia, theories are flying thick and fast about how Israel tracked Irans late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Theories about how Mossad tracked Irans late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are doing the rounds. File image/Reuters

The death of Irans late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has left the world shaken. Khamenei was killed in joint airstrikes by Israel and the United States on Saturday (February 28).

The United States and Israel have claimed that they had no choice but to act as Iran was intent on developing a nuclear weapon, allegations that Tehran has denied.

As the attacks have broken out into a wider conflagration that threatens to engulf the entirety of West Asia, theories are flying thick and fast about how Israel tracked Khamenei.

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From dental implants to a spy inside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), high-tech surveillance and the hacking of prayer apps, lets take a closer look at the theories doing the rounds.

Dental implants

One of the theories going around is that Israel somehow managed to plant a tracking device or multiple tracking devices in dental implants. According to posts on social media, Israels spy agency Mossad posed as doctors and dentists and planted these inside the mouths of Khamenei and other top Iranian officials.

Over the past few years, Mossad undercover agents infiltrated Iran as doctors and dentists. The dentists gave priority to key military and elite Iranian personnel. While doing a routine dental check-up, they implanted tracking devices as fillings for cavities, one user claimed.

People gather to protest in support of Iran, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, in Sanaa, Yemen.

Other users claimed that gastroenterologists similarly inserted tracking microchips during medical procedures on Khamenei and top political and religious elites of Iran. However, experts have poured cold water on this theory, saying doing so for a long period of time without being discovered would be extremely unlikely. So far, none of the users online have provided any hard evidence to back up their claims.

Spy inside IRGC?

Another theory has claimed that Mossad managed to infiltrate Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Posts have claimed that Esmaeil Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, was working as a covert informant for Mossad and even the CIA.

Esmaeil Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC. Reuters

Users online pointed to the fact that Qaani was near Khamenei prior to the strike and the fact that he survived. Interestingly, this theory has cropped up on the back of unconfirmed reports that Qaani has been taken into custody for links to Mossad and other Israeli intelligence services. If true, this could mean that Iran has suffered a massive breach in its security apparatus. However, once again, no hard evidence of the same is forthcoming.

High-tech surveillance

_Financial Times_ has reported that Israels spy agency Mossad hacked into Irans traffic cameras to track Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials.

People in the know said that the cameras in Tehran had been hacked for years. The cameras, ironically, are part of the regimes surveillance apparatus, which it uses to crack down on citizens and protesters. Sources told the outlet that the traffic footage from Tehran was scrambled and uploaded to servers in Tel Aviv and southern Israel.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuters)

The data was then fed into complex algorithms which configured what intelligence officials described as a pattern of life. This included addresses, work schedules and, crucially, which senior officials were being protected and transported.

Hacking of prayer app

Another user claimed that Israel hacked BadeSaba, a popular prayer app in Iran, as part of waging psychological warfare in the overall war plan.

The BadeSaba app, Irans popular prayer time app with over 10 million users, has been hacked amid ongoing strikes. The app began broadcasting messages titled Help has arrived, calling for the military to defect and join a popular uprising against the regime, one user claimed on X.

The hacking of the app, along with other Irans major media groups including IRNA, ISNA, Tabnak, and Asr-e Iran, has now been confirmed by reports.

It has now been verified that Israel hacked the BadeSaba prayer app used by millions of Iranians. Irans major media organisations, including IRNA, ISNA, Tabnak, and Asr-e Iran, were also hacked.

The operations of Israel included the hacking of multiple news websites to display various messages and the hack of BadeSaba, a religious calendar app with more than 5 million downloads, which displayed messages telling users, Its time for reckoning and urging armed forces to give up weapons and join the people, according to Reuters.

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With inputs from agencies
How long will the US continue its attacks against Iran? Donald Trump says the campaign may last four to five weeks. But concerns are rising that Washington is already running low on crucial missiles, including interceptor munitions

A woman walks past a building which was damaged after a strike on a police station amid the USIsraeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran. AP

As of Wednesday (March 4)  five days since the US and Israel began bombarding Iran  2,000 targets have been struck inside the Islamic Republic, said Washington. In fact, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, the first days barrage was comparably bigger than the so-called shock and awe against Saddam Husseins Iraq in 2003.

And its not over yet. US President Donald Trump has warned that the campaign against Tehran could last four to five weeks, but could go far longer than that.

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We projected four to five weeks, but we have the capability to go far longer than that. Well do it  Somebody actually said, from the media, I think youll get bored after about a week or two. No, we dont get bored. I never get bored, if I got bored, I wouldnt be standing here right now. I guarantee you that. To go through what I had to go through, said the American leader on Monday (March 2), adding later that just about everythings been knocked out in Iran, including its navy, air force, and air detection, and said the attacks had killed even leaders who could have taken over.

Catch live updates from the

But even as Trump boasts of the joint US-Israel strikes, there are concerns rising if America has enough ammunition stockpiles to sustain this conflict.

What are the weapons the US is deploying in Iran war?

The US militarys Central Command (Centcom) has said that a vast array of more than 20 types of weapons systems have been used by them across the air, land, and sea in the war against Iran.

The US has deployed B-1 bombers, B-2 stealth bombers, F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, F-22 Raptor jets, F-15s, and EA-18G Growlers. It is also using drones and long-range strike systems, including the Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) one-way drones, MQ-9 Reaper drones, M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and Tomahawk Cruise Missiles.

In addition to this, the Patriot missile systems, as well as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, have been deployed amid this war.

Two US aircraft carriers, the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R Ford, were in the Middle East when the attack on Iran began.

A smoke plume rises following a missile strike on a building in Tehran. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, killing Irans supreme leader and top military leaders, prompting authorities to retaliate with strikes on Israel and US bases across the Gulf. AFP

Could the US run out of weaponry?

Until now, the US, in its own words, has struck 2,000 Iranian targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Irans air defences and destroyed hundreds of Irans ballistic missiles, launchers and drones, said Admiral Brad Cooper.

He further acknowledged that the Iranian military had launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones in response to the US and Israeli attacks. We are seeing Irans ability to hit us, and our partners, is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building, Cooper claimed.

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But there are concerns that if the war continues, the US would experience shortages in precision, high-end munitions, and interceptors like the THAAD. An Al Jazeera report states that as the war drags on, finite stockpiles of advanced interceptors will run down at very high cost, as each interception can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to take down a missile that may only have cost a few thousand dollars to build.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) firing a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 1. The United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes against targets in Iran on February 28, sparking swift retaliation by the Islamic republic which responded with missile attacks across the region. AFP

Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center think tank who used to teach at the Air Command and Staff College, told the Wall Street Journal, Were using them faster than we can replace them, when asked about the use of US long-range and precision missiles amid the war.

In fact, the Wall Street Journal had reported earlier that Pentagon officials and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had warned the US president about a prolonged campaign against Iran. Moreover, according to a Washington Post report, Caine had told Trump that a lack of critical munitions and support from regional allies could hinder efforts to contain a possible Iranian retaliation in the event of an attack by the US.

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What is even more concerning is that the US is already witnessing a depletion in the stocks of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3). This is primarily owing to slow production, strikes on Yemens Houthi rebel group, and earlier clashes with Iran.

Christopher Preble, a senior fellow at the US think tank, Stimson Center, weighed in on the issue. It is reasonable to speculate that the pace of operations right now, in terms of numbers of interceptions, could not continue indefinitely, certainly, and perhaps could not continue for more than several weeks, he told Al Jazeera.

He further added that the pace of manufacturing wouldnt be able to keep up with the demands of the war. A Patriot missile or an SM-6  is a very complicated piece of equipment. Its not like theyre cranking them out, hundreds or thousands a day. Thats not the pace of manufacturing.

The US could also see a shortage of Tomahawk cruise missiles, widely known as TLAMs. The Trump administration has fired TLAMS at an extraordinary rate in operations around the globe, in West Asia against Iran and the Houthis as well as in Nigeria on Christmas Day, Becca Wasser, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, was quoted as saying to The Wall Street Journal.

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Zhang Junshe, a military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Monday that if the US maintains its current level of high-intensity bombardment, it may not be able to sustain it for too long, after which the intensity would likely decline.

Explosions from projectile interceptions by Israels Iron Dome missile defence system are pictured over Tel Aviv. AFP

What about Israel and other Gulf countries?

And its not just the US that is seeing a depletion of weapons. Israel has concerns about its munitions supply as well. It is still low on Arrow 3 air-defence interceptors, said a US official. Israel is also low on air-launched ballistic missiles.

Israel is also now battling on another front, after missile strikes from the Iranian proxy Hezbollah. If other Iran-linked militias jump into the fight, strains on US supplies will be even more severe.

Other Gulf countries could also witness a munitions crunch as Iran continues to target them. Countries such as Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have been trying to intercept every projectile from Iran.

However, if the conflict drags on, these countries could change tactics, said Becca Wasser, a defence lead for Bloomberg Economics. She believes that eventually these nations may become more selective in what they target, potentially focusing on shooting down things like large swarms of drones or short-range ballistic missiles.

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The Trump administration has called for a meeting with the biggest US defence contractors at the White House on Friday. File image/Reuters

How are US officials responding?

It seems Trump is aware of the problem of dwindling US munitions. In a late-night post on Truth Social on March 2, he said that the US munitions stockpiles have, at the medium and upper medium grade, never been higher or better but added, At the highest end, we have a good supply, but are not where we want to be. However, he made it a point to blame his predecessor, Joe Biden, for not replacing weapons provided to Ukraine.

Notably, the Trump administration has called for a meeting with the biggest US defence contractors at the White House on Friday to discuss accelerating weapons production, as the Pentagon works to replenish supplies after strikes on Iran and several other recent military efforts, reported Reuters.

Companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, along with other key suppliers, have been invited to attend the meeting.

At least one of the people said the gathering was expected to focus on pressing weapons makers to move faster to boost output.

For analysts overseeing the war, the winner of this conflict would be decided by who runs out of missiles or interceptors first.

With inputs from agencies
The 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, Indias premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, kicks off in New Delhi on March 5.

Global leaders descend on New Delhi as the 11th Raisina Dialogue kicks off with a focus on "Samskara" and strategic cooperation.

Several foreign dignitaries across the world are set to arrive in India to participate in the Raisina Dialogue 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.

According to the MEA, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bhutan, Lyonpo Dina Nath Dhungyel, arrived in India today (March 4, 2026) to attend Indias flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics.

Other key delegations scheduled to arrive include Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration & International Trade of Mauritius, Dhananjay Ramful; Minister for Foreign Affairs & Diaspora of Seychelles, Barry Faure; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Herath, all of whom will be arriving on March 5.

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The Raisina Dialogue, Indias flagship multilateral conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, brings together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to deliberate on pressing international issues and strategic cooperation.

Earlier today, President Alexander Stubb of Finland also arrived in India for a state visit during which he will attend the 11th edition of Raisina Dialogue 2026 as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker.

In addition to his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Raisina Dialogue will commence from March 5 to March 7 in the national capital.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will also be leading a US delegation to the Raisina Dialogue 2026.

The Raisina Dialogue is Indias premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held annually in New Delhi since 2016.

Organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, this three-day event convenes global leaders, policymakers, academics, industry experts, and journalists to discuss critical international issues.

This year, the Raisina Dialogue will be held under the theme Samskara - Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement, reflecting the current global context.

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Samskara represents the legacy of identity that allows civilisations to assert themselves, embrace diversity, and progress through continuous refinement.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Alexander Stubb on his first India visit as President, expressing confidence that the trip will elevate India-Finland ties to new heights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday warmly welcomed Alexander Stubb as he arrived in India for a four-day state visit, calling the Finnish leaders trip a milestone for India-Finland relations. The visit, which runs through March 7, marks President Stubbs first official trip to India since taking office and reflects the growing rapport between the two democracies.

In a post on X welcoming his guest, PM Modi wrote: Welcome to India, President Alexander Stubb. I fully agree with you, your visit will take India-Finland relations to new heights. I eagerly look forward to our meeting tomorrow and to your keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue 2026.

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Welcome to India, President Alexander Stubb. I fully agree with you, your visit will take India-Finland relations to new heights. I eagerly look forward to our meeting tomorrow and to your keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue 2026. @alexstubb https://t.co/pJs0N3J9Mr  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 4, 2026

State visit packed with high-level engagements

President Stubb received a ceremonial welcome in New Delhi and was greeted with a Guard of Honour on arrival. During his stay, he is expected to engage in extensive talks with Indias leadership on strengthening cooperation in multiple sectors and deepening strategic ties.

The visit also highlights Finlands role as a trusted partner for India in the European Union and the Nordic region, especially in areas like trade, innovation and democratic collaboration.

Raisina Dialogue and beyond

A key event on the agenda is the 11th Raisina Dialogue, Indias flagship geopolitics and geo-economics conference. President Stubb will serve as Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker, addressing global leaders and policymakers at the three-day forum.

In addition to discussions in New Delhi, President Stubb is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Prime Minister Modi will also host a luncheon in his honour.

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After the capital engagements, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai, where he will meet state leadership, interact with Indian business leaders and give a talk at the University of Mumbai.
Limited evacuation flights have resumed from cities such as Mumbai and Delhi to bring back stranded Indians, and Ahmedabad has now been included in these special arrangements

Nearly 200 Indian nationals stranded in West Asia returned to Ahmedabad late Tuesday night on a special IndiGo flight from Jeddah, offering relief to anxious families in Gujarat.

The flight had departed earlier in the day from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) and brought back passengers affected by widespread travel disruptions triggered by the escalating Iran-Israel conflict.

VIDEO | Around 200 stranded Indians arrived in Ahmedabad from Jeddah on a special flight after being stuck due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and flight disruptions.



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/RJaPlP5Oi7  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 4, 2026

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Air services across much of West Asia have been severely impacted due to rising tensions between Iran and Israel. Limited evacuation flights have resumed from cities such as Mumbai and Delhi to bring back stranded Indians, and Ahmedabad has now been included in these special arrangements.

Efforts are also underway to facilitate the return of passengers through flights operated by Etihad Airways and Emirates from Ahmedabad. However, several departures scheduled for Tuesday afternoon were cancelled amid the tense situation. These included IndiGo flights from Ahmedabad to Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, as well as a SpiceJet service from Ahmedabad to Dubai.

Flight cancellations and disruptions

Since the conflict began last Saturday, over 6,000 flights have been cancelled owing to the closed airspace in most of West Asia.

As of Wednesday, data on Flightradar24 showed disruptions across the Gulf, including in Dubai International Airport, Doha Hamad International Airport, Istanbul International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport.

By Monday morning, widespread disruptions had grounded the majority of flights to several Middle Eastern destinations. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 79 per cent of global flights bound for Qatar and 71 per cent of those heading to the United Arab Emirates were cancelled. The impact was even greater elsewhere in the region, with 81 per cent of flights to Israel and 92 per cent of flights to Bahrain also called off.

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The question before the BNP government is whether it will once again choose the path of indemnity and exclusion, or whether it will break from that legacy and allow the Constitution to prevail

In a sham election barring the largest and founding political party in Bangladesh, the Awami League, through a controversial national election on 12 February 2026, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed the government, making their age-old partner Jamaat-e-Islami the opposition in Parliament.

Earlier, on 10 May 2025, following a staged mob show backed by the government, the interim government of Bangladesh led by Muhammad Yunus passed an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 through an ordinance. The activities of the Bangladesh Awami League were suspended based on the amended law until the trial of its leaders was completed before the International Crimes Tribunal.

Immediately, the Election Commission suspended the registration of the party, and based on this suspension the Awami League was barred from participating in the 2026 national election. By doing so, the interim government, its appointed Election Commission, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami worked in collusion to violate the constitutionally protected right to freedom of association and effectively disenfranchised a large segment of the population.

With the BNP government now formed, the President has called the first session of Parliament to take place on 12 March 2026. Against this background, the central question before the nation is whether BNP will continue its legacy of historical mistakes of backing and ratifying undemocratic norms, indemnifying crimes, and enabling human rights violations.

This moment is not without historical resonance. The BNPs political trajectory contains repeated instances where temporary political advantage was pursued at the cost of constitutional principle. The most striking example remains the ratification of the Indemnity Ordinance 1975 through the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

That amendment entrenched legal protection for the killers of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and most members of his family. More troublingly, the BNP did not merely inherit that framework. It later actively resisted efforts aimed at repealing the indemnity structure that shielded one of the gravest crimes in the history of Bangladesh. The constitutional order was used not to secure accountability but to prevent it.

The pattern continued. The Operation Joint Drives Immunity Act 2003 extended protection to state actors against legal scrutiny for serious human rights violations committed during security operations. That legislation again reflected a political choice to prioritise impunity over the rule of law. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh subsequently declared both indemnity frameworks unconstitutional, reaffirming a core constitutional principle that Parliament cannot legitimise impunity for serious crimes. Yet the historical record remains clear: BNP repeatedly used legislative power to ratify exceptional measures that undermined accountability and weakened constitutional guarantees.

Alongside these legislative choices stands the darkest political episode of that period. The 21 August grenade attack targeted an opposition rally of the Awami League in what was widely recognised as an attempt to cripple the opposition and reshape the political landscape through violence. That incident symbolised the dangers of normalising political exclusion. It demonstrated how the erosion of constitutional norms often precedes attempts to remove political competitors from democratic contestation. Consequently, the people of Bangladesh clearly rejected the BNP for eighteen long years.

The first session of the Thirteenth Parliament now places the BNP before a similar constitutional crossroads. Article 93 requires that all ordinances promulgated by the interim government be laid before Parliament. If they are not approved within thirty days of being placed, they automatically lapse. Among these ordinances are the amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act that enabled the suspension of the Awami League and the July Uprising Ordinance that introduces sweeping indemnity provisions. The constitutional question is therefore unavoidable. Will BNP once again ratify extraordinary measures that legitimise exclusion, indemnify wrongdoing, and weaken democratic competition, or will it allow these ordinances to expire and restore constitutional balance?

This question acquires greater significance because the BNP now holds a supermajority exceeding two-thirds of Parliament. With such a mandate comes heightened constitutional responsibility. A supermajority can be used to stabilise democratic institutions or to entrench exceptional powers. The decision to ratify or reject these ordinances will reveal whether parliamentary dominance will be exercised with constitutional restraint or with apparent majoritarian vengeance.

The suspension of the Awami League itself raises serious legal concerns. The prohibition relies on an amended anti-terrorism framework that conflates allegations against individuals with collective punishment of a political organisation. This approach is inconsistent with constitutional protections of association, political participation, due process, and equality before the law. The measure lacks proportionality, imposes indefinite political consequences pending unresolved proceedings, and effectively disenfranchises millions of citizens whose political identity is linked to the party. International human rights law, including standards under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, treats party bans as extreme measures permissible only under strict necessity, clear evidence, and robust judicial safeguards. The suspension order does not satisfy these thresholds.

The July Uprising Ordinance raises an equally serious rule-of-law problem. By introducing broad indemnity provisions for acts committed in the context of political unrest, it risks shielding individuals from accountability for violence, destruction of property, and human rights violations. Reports indicate that these protections primarily benefit activists associated with Jamaat and the National Citizens Party. If Parliament ratifies such an ordinance, it would repeat a familiar pattern in which political actors receive retrospective immunity while victims are denied justice. The constitutional order cannot sustain selective accountability without eroding its legitimacy.

Taken together, these measures create a coherent but troubling legal architecture. One ordinance removes a major political party from democratic competition. Another potentially shields political actors from accountability for violence. Ratifying both would signal acceptance of a political model in which exclusion and indemnity operate simultaneously. That model has appeared before in Bangladeshs history, and each time it has weakened democratic institutions rather than stabilised them.

The test before the BNP is therefore historical as much as constitutional. With a supermajority, the BNP possesses the power to transform temporary executive measures into permanent statutory reality. It can normalise party proscription through security law. It can legitimise indemnity regimes. Or it can choose restraint and allow these extraordinary measures to lapse, reaffirming that democratic legitimacy must be determined through electoral competition rather than administrative prohibition.

Parliament is not merely a legislative chamber at this moment. It is the constitutional checkpoint designed to prevent exceptional executive power from hardening into ordinary law. The decision taken within the thirty-day window will shape not only the fate of a single party but the boundaries of political exclusion in Bangladesh for years to come.

The BNPs history shows the consequences of repeating constitutional mistakes. Indemnity laws were later struck down. Attempts to weaken the opposition ultimately damaged democratic credibility. The present moment offers an opportunity to depart from that legacy.

The warning is therefore clear. Ratifying these ordinances would extend a lineage of political decisions that privileged expediency over constitutional principle and exclusion over competition. Allowing them to lapse would signal a commitment to democratic pluralism and the rule of law.

History does not demand repetition. It demands judgement. The question before the BNP is whether it will once again choose the path of indemnity and exclusion, or whether it will break from that legacy and allow the Constitution to prevail.

(The writer is president, Bangladesh Students League [Student wing of Bangladesh Awami League]. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
To eulogise and lament the demise of a barbarous despot and a brutal regime, which trampled on its own citizens and destroyed its own country economically, socially and politically, is sheer folly

This photograph taken on March 3, 2026, shows a makeshift memorial with flowers and a portrait of late Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei outside the Iranian Embassy in Bishkek on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Vyacheslav OSELEDKO / AFP)

While Iranians all over the world, and to the extent possible within Iran, are celebrating the fall of a horrible despot and his regime of terror, Left-liberals in both the US and India are in mourning over the Ayatollahs demise. How can one explain this strange and perplexing paradox?

Iranian women are rejoicing over the downfall of one of the most oppressive and misogynistic regimes in the world, yet US and Indian feminists  who, without the enforced hijab in Iran, would have faced certain imprisonment, even torture  are lamenting the fall of Irans patriarchal despots.

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Iranian women have endured decades of policed veiling, gender segregation, and brutal crackdowns on protests, such as the 2022 uprising following Mahsa Aminis death in custody for improper hijab. The regimes misogyny was systemic, with laws permitting child marriage, quasi-prostitution disguised as temporary marriage (sigheh or nikah mutah) and stoning for adultery (zina-e-mohsen).

Yet, when news broke of Khameneis death and the subsequent collapse of key regime figures, feminists both in the US and India decried the militaristic patriarchy of US and Israeli forces. The same feminists, who champion bodily autonomy, aligned with a theocracy that denied it.

Similarly, organised gay and LGBTQ groups, who could have faced execution in the Islamist Republic of Iran, are wailing the end of Irans theocratic dictatorship. Some on social media even pointed out how one of the greatest postmodernists, Michel Foucault, not only praised the regime in Iran but visited the country. I am not sure they knew he was homosexual  or did they simply choose to ignore it in so famous a foreign supporter?

The irony is stark: those who could be hanged from cranes in Tehran are now indirectly defended by activists enjoying protections in liberal democracies, all in the name of intersectional anti-oppression.

Communists were executed by Islamists not only in Iran, but in many other parts of the world. The Iranian regimes early years saw the mass execution of leftists, including members of the Tudeh Party, who were purged in the 1980s for ideological deviations from Khomeinis Shia Islamism. Globally, Islamists have clashed with communists, viewing Marxism as atheistic heresy. Yet today, communist sympathisers in the West echo Irans anti-American slogans, seeing the regime as a victim of capitalist encirclement.

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American communists are taking the Death to America line right in New York City today, thanks to the patronage of their mayor, misusing the latitude of free speech given to them by the laws of the very country they excoriate. Speaking of the mayor, he promptly issued a statement condemning his own country and President.

I do not recall him shedding a tear for any of the prisoners of conscience tortured and killed in Iranian jails or castigating the horrifying attacks of Irans proxies in the region. Oh, I stand corrected; he did condemn Hamas much later, after facing repeated criticism. The day after the raid of 7 October 2023, he actually denounced Israel for its apartheid and occupation, not to mention its declaration of war against Hamas. Now this same mayor questions the legality of US and Israeli actions against Iran.

It is strange, to say the least, that the fallen regime has all kinds of supporters, East and West, many of whom are not even remotely connected to, let alone know much about, Iran. The Shia reaction in the subcontinent, by contrast, is understandable, even if, arguably, irrelevant to international geopolitics.

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This global phenomenon of Left-liberal outrage over US-Israeli actions, which we may term the Iran Paradox, grows even stranger when we realise how many Muslim, especially Arab, states have actually condemned Irans retaliatory s, not the initial US-Israeli, strikes. Even China and Russia, despite whatever verbal or political support they might extend in the totally marginalised and disunited United Nations, did not come to Irans aid in its time of dire need. The Ayatollahs rule of terror, in other words, was left friendless in the end. Such, indeed, is the fate of dictators around the world.

Western liberalism, if we can even call it that, with its fading echoes elsewhere, reveals a profound disconnect with ground realities. Indeed, global political discourse shows that ideological alignments trump human rights or even historical realities.

At its core, the Iran Paradox stems from the frightened prejudice of sore losers, a Left which, some say not without reason, is both intellectually and morally bankrupt. It has nothing to fall back upon except its hatred for the US and Israel.

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They are the ultimate villains  imperialist, colonialist and, worst of all, capitalist. Any regime opposing this axis, no matter how repressive, becomes, by default, a symbol of resistance.

Founded in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran, under Ayatollah Khomeini, positioned itself as an anti-imperialist bulwark, chanting Death to America and Death to Israel. They took their latter responsibility a bit too seriously, exporting death through proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

Now, in closing, to Indias weak and splintered opposition  especially the increasingly irrelevant Congress and its differently enabled band of ideological fellow-travellers. Preaching moral lessons to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who embraced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the eve of the strike on Iran, is one thing.

But to eulogise and lament the demise of a barbarous dictator and a brutal regime, which trampled on its own citizens and destroyed its own country economically, socially and politically, is, as outspoken critics are wont to put it, sheer folly.

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Yes, India did business with Iran, but that does not mean we should sing hosannas to its deceased leaders while ignoring their crimes against humanity. Let us not even comment on those virtue-signalling by issuing strong denunciations of the US and Israel. Actions speak louder than words. Besides, who is listening to them?

The writer is an author and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Irans Assembly of Experts reportedly elects Mojtaba Khamenei as next Supreme Leader under Revolutionary Guard pressure  sources say

Iran International reported on Tuesday that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected as Irans new Supreme Leader by the countrys Assembly of Experts. (Wikimedia)

Irans clerical Assembly of Experts has reportedly elected Ali Khameneis son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the countrys next Supreme Leader following the death of his father, according to sources cited by Iran International.

The selection is said to have been made amid intense pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, marking an extraordinary turn in Irans leadership succession that could signal deeper influence by the Guards in the Islamic Republics power structures. State media has not yet confirmed the appointment.

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The Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khameneis son Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader, Iran International reported, citing informed sources.

According to the outlet, Mojtaba, 56, was chosen to assume control of the country. He is the second-eldest son of the late leader and has long been regarded by observers as a potential successor.

Potential political sensitivities

His reported appointment could prove politically sensitive. The Islamic Republic has consistently criticised hereditary rule and presented itself as a fairer alternative to monarchy. A transition from father to son would likely raise questions about that principle.

Iran International further claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exerted significant pressure on the clerical body to support Mojtaba.

The IRGC heavily pressured the assembled group of clerics to select Mojtaba as the regimes new leader, the outlet reported.

Central role of the Supreme Leader

The Supreme Leader occupies the core of Irans complex power-sharing Shiite theocracy and holds ultimate authority over all matters of state.

The position also includes serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the powerful Revolutionary Guard  a paramilitary force designated a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019. During Ali Khameneis tenure, the Guard expanded its influence across Irans political, military and economic sectors.

The report stated that Mojtaba maintains close ties with the Revolutionary Guard and is believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes. He reportedly managed the Office of the Supreme Leader in practice and has been viewed by many analysts as a key power broker within the system.

Mojtaba is described as a mid-ranking cleric who served in Irans armed forces during the Iran-Iraq war. He has long been seen as maintaining strong links with the IRGC.
After four days of being stranded in Dubai, entrepreneur Soups Ranjan has said the American dream has been shattered as the Donald Trump administration has abandoned citizens across West Asia amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Passengers stranded by the closure of Dubai International Airport await for assistance in the airport parking lot in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 1, 2026. (Representative Photo, Credit: AP)

After four days of being stranded in Dubai, entrepreneur Soups Ranjan has said the American dream has been shattered as the Donald Trump administration has abandoned citizens across West Asia amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.

In a post on X, Ranjan said that while other countries such as the United Kingdom, Israel, Spain, Italy, and India were arranging for the return of their citizens stuck in the region, the Trump administration had turned a blind eye.

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Such a treatment of citizens broke the fundamental premise of American citizenship, said Ranjan, the Founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm SardineAI.

I became a naturalised US citizen because I believe in the American dream, and the idea that in a crisis, America never leaves its citizens behind. I see that American dream being shattered not just for me, but for tens of thousands of other Americans left stranded, said Ranjan.

After four days of no outreach from the administration or response to pleas, Ranjan said he was demoralised and felt abandoned by our government.

Follow our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran

After the United States and Israel launched the offensive against Iran on Saturday, Iran retaliated with strikes on Israel and American personnel and bases across the region, enveloping the entire West Asia into the conflict and leaving tens of thousands of foreigners in the region stranded as civilian air traffic was disrupted. The problem has been worsened as the United States and some other countries have shuttered their embassies and consulates across the region.

I am a proud US citizen and founder of a successful startup that employs 94 employees in the US and 180+ employees globally. I was in Dubai on a business trip meeting with financial institutions to help them fight financial fraud in the region, but now I am stranded.



I expected  Soups Ranjan (@soupsranjan) March 3, 2026

Ranjan said the administration claims of assisting citizens in their return through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (Step) were incorrect.

Ranjan said, I am enrolled in Step and have only received generic messages. Further, on calling that number, the message you get is: Please dont rely on the USG [US Government] for assisted departure or evacuation at this point. There are currently no evacuation flights at this time.

Ranjan said that the helpline announced by the Department of State 1-202-501-4444 is useless as well.

With funding cuts to the US consulates and with attacks on US embassies in the region, theres no one that Americans can reach out to in the broader GCC region. Can we set up an emergency hotline within the US that actually works, and that has someone who is taking down more details? Ranjan said.

Amid the war, the United States has announced the closure of embassies and missions in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon were shut down indefinitely, and missions in Israel have also announced they cannot help with repatriation.

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Even as the administration has not moved to help with repatriation, it has told all American nationals in the region to leave 14 countries at the earliest: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
The US Embassy in Riyadh came under attack earlier this week, prompting Washington to urge Americans to flee all West Asian nations from Egypt eastward

US Embassy in Riyadh was hit by two Iranian in the wee hours of Tuesday (X)

The Central Intelligence Agencys (CIA) station inside the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia was hit by a suspected Iranian drone attack earlier this week.

According to a report by Reuters, there is no confirmation whether the CIA station was the target of the attack.

The US Embassy in Riyadh came under attack earlier this week, prompting Washington to urge Americans to flee all West Asian nations from Egypt eastward. Two drones hit the US embassy in Riyadh, sparking a quick vow by US President Donald Trump to retaliate soon, without elaborating how.

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Trump said that the war, which began Saturday with a strike that killed Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was going substantially ahead of schedule but that the United States was equipped for a prolonged conflict.

From the beginning we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that, Trump said at the White House.

A drone attack caused a fire by the US consulate in Dubai late on Tuesday as Iran ramped up its targeting of American diplomatic missions in the Gulf.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained, Dubai Media Office posted on X.

The US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones, setting off a small fire, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The US military on Wednesday said that Irans ability to strike back against Israeli and American attacks is declining. The US Central Command Chief Admiral Brad Cooper said that while Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones, it is facing a lingering launch capability due to US attacks on its launchers.

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We are seeing Irans ability to hit us, and our partners, is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan, said Cooper.
From Pakistans Karachi to Lebanons Beirut, the USIsraeli killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has shaken Shia Muslims across the world. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Irans Supreme Leader has positioned himself as the leader of the worlds Shia Muslims.

Shia Muslims hold a photograph of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a protest against the US and Israel in Jammu, India, on March 1, 2026. (Photo: Channi Anand/AP)

The killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes over the weekend did not just shake Iran. It has reverberated across the Shia Muslim world, raising the specter of a broader backlash in the Middle East and beyond.

For the Muslim worlds Shia minority, 86-year-old Khamenei was more than just Irans theocratic ruler since 1989. He was also one of their most prominent religious and political figures. His death at the hands of a joint US-Israeli operation has stoked fury across the Shia world.

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There is reason to be concerned about how Shia minorities across the Middle East, and in particular  the Shia majority in Iraq might respond to this, said Burcu Ozcelik, senior research fellow for Middle East security at the Royal United Services Institute, or RUSI, a UK-based defense and security think tank.

Shia Muslims make up around 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the worlds Muslim population, concentrated mainly in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Azerbaijan, while there are also significant communities in Pakistan, Lebanon and Yemen.

For Mamoona Shirazi, a Shia activist in Pakistans Punjab province, Khamenei was not only our leader but a leader for all. He raised his voice against oppression. He never bowed to anyone; he spoke the truth and was like a father to us.

Protests erupt

Within hours of Khameneis death, thousands of infuriated protesters took to the streets in Pakistan. They tried to storm the US Consulate in the southern city of Karachi and clashed with police outside the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad where the US Embassy is located, while also attacking United Nations offices in northern cities. At least 34 people were killed in clashes with security forces. More than 120 were injured.

If the United States and Israel are not stopped, the entire world will turn into ruins. Peace-loving people must awaken, said Syed Hussain Muqaddasi, head of the Pakistani Shiite political party Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya.

In Iraq, demonstrators clashed with police near the US Embassy, while in Lebanon, the Iran-affiliated Hezbollah group fired missiles towards Israel for the first time in over a year. It triggered intense Israeli airstrikes on the country that killed dozens of people. Tens of thousands of people fled their homes in the predominantly Shiite areas of southern and eastern Lebanon as Israel threatened more strikes, called up 100,000 reservists and sent troops into southern Lebanon.

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I think theres a psychological, emotional aspect to the killing of Khamenei and we are very much in the early days of trying to make sense of what that might look like, said Ozcelik of the UK-based think tank.

Frustration at Irans meddling in other countries

Still, Ozcelik noted the potentially violent backlash could be tempered by growing frustration, even among Shiite populations, at Irans meddling in other countries affairs.

Over the last five to 10 years, the young generation in Iraq in particular, she said, has shown resistance to Irans overwhelming penetration of Iraqi domestic affairs, including its security services, judiciary, politics and economy.

Involvement in countries with a significant Shiite population has been a defining feature of Irans foreign policy for decades. Tehran adopted a strategy of building alliances not only with states, but also with armed groups  the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, being just two, as well as armed groups in Iraq and Syria.

Its interventions, generally presented as seeking to protect Shiites interests, often drew criticism of undermining countries sovereignty and fostering instability. One of the Trump administrations key demands of Iran ahead of this conflict had been that it sever support to proxy groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen  a demand Iran rejected.

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Given this frustration, Ozcelik suggested there is unlikely to be the sharp, violent sectarianism that we saw after 2003, when Iraq descended into a bloody, prolonged period of violence between the formerly dominant Sunni minority and Shiite majority in the wake of the US invasion and overthrow of Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim. The violence spilled across other countries in the region, most notably into the Syrian civil war.

Since then, the Middle East in many ways has moved on. I think there is a strong urge and desire for de-escalation at this point, particularly in the Gulf, Ozcelik said.

Previous prominent targets

Over the past years, the U.S. and Israel have assassinated some of the most prominent figures in the Iran-led regional alliance, including Shiite clerics. It began with the 2020 killing of Irans Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force, along with veteran Iraqi militant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad.

In September 2024, Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah, the de-facto head of an Iranian alliance spread across Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike south of Beirut.

But Khamenei was by far the biggest blow.

After the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran says it has no red lines left, said Trita Parsi, co-founder and executive vice president of American foreign policy think tank Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

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A region in turmoil

Tehrans backlash has brought turmoil across the region.

Hundreds of missiles and drones have flown across the Middle East and as far afield as Cyprus. Usually prosperous and peaceful countries like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar scrambled to shoot down Iranian weaponry as they shut their airspace, grounding commercial flights and stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers.

Many Shiites perceive the strikes against Iran and Khameneis killing as aimed against their entire community.

There is targeting of Muslims in general, but the targeting is specifically directed at Shiites, said Nasser Khazal, whose building was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike Tuesday in a suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Lebanese political analyst Qassim Qassir said Irans vehement retaliation is seen as a fight for Shiite survival against the U.S. and Israeli vision for the region.

There is targeting of the Shiite community and its political and religious leaders, and today it is an existential war, whether in Iran, Lebanon, or Iraq, said Qassir, author of a book about Hezbollah. The United States and Israel want to impose their project on the region.

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(This is an agency story. Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
In Nepals first election since the Gen Z protest, Balen Shah the rapperturnedMayor of Kathmandu is aiming to be the prime minister, taking on political veterans who have long dominated the countrys fractured politics.

Balendra Shah, 35, a former rapper and then-Mayor of Kathmandu, popularly known as 'Balen', attends Indra Jatra festival at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 6, 2025. (Photo: Stringer/Reuters)

After Nepals historic youth-led uprising last September killed 77 people and forced then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician posted a typically terse message to millions of followers on social media.

Dear Gen Z, the resignation of your killer has come, Balendra Shah popularly known only as Balen wrote. Now your generation will have to lead the country. Be prepared.

Five months on, the musician who cut his political teeth when he became the mayor of the capital Kathmandu in 2022, is dominating the race to become Nepals next prime minister after a general election on March 5.

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There are no reliable opinion polls in Nepal but four political analysts and local media project him as the leading prime ministerial choice, pushing aside the countrys traditional political elite.

Balen Shah is so popular that now buses coming to Kathmandu have stickers on them saying, Headed to Balens city, said Bipin Adhikari, a constitutional law expert who teaches at Kathmandu University.

If Shah is able to take power, it would cap a dramatic rise for a man who entered the public spotlight with rap music critical of the establishment and parleyed his popularity to ascend to high political office.

It would also potentially reshape the politics of Nepal, a small Himalayan nation wedged between China and India, that has long been dominated by a handful of established parties.

These include Olis Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist), which is seen as leaning towards China, and the centrist, Nepali Congress that is considered closer to India.

Balens Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is a centrist newcomer, which has said in its election manifesto it will maintain balanced foreign relations with its giant neighbours.

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Not a cakewalk

Some of Shahs nationwide appeal is driven by the work he has done as the mayor of Kathmandu, where he focused on improving the urban infrastructure, such as waste management, and ensuring the delivery of services like healthcare.

He has also faced criticism, including from Human Rights Watch, for allegedly using police to seize the properties of street vendors and landless people.

Shah who resigned as mayor in January to contest the general election did not respond to requests for an interview and questions from Reuters sent via email.

Unlike much of Nepals political elite comprising veterans from older generations, Shah has made it a habit to largely shun the mainstream press.

Instead, it is his prolific social media presence, with over 3.5 million followers on platforms like Facebook, that enables him to connect directly with young Nepalis.

In recent weeks, Shahs Facebook feed has included a carefully curated collection of his photos on the campaign trail, almost always in trademark dark sunglasses and a salt-and-pepper beard.

What makes Balen special is that he stays connected with the youth through his short messages on social media, but it would not be a cakewalk for him after becoming prime minister, said independent political analyst Puranjan Acharya.

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Let me speak

Born to a father who practiced traditional Ayurvedic medicine and a homemaker mother, Shah showed an early inclination towards poetry that evolved into a love of rap music, influenced by American artists including Tupac Shakur and Curtis 50 Cent Jackson, according to an aide.

After securing an undergraduate degree in civil engineering in Nepal, Shah went on to study for a masters degree in structural engineering in southern India  by which time he had already emerged as a rap star in his home country.

His songs, often taking on Nepals ruling class, struck a chord with many in a country where about 20 per cent of the 30 million population live in grinding poverty.

Released in 2019, one of Shahs best-known songs, Balidan or sacrifice in the Nepali language has over 12 million views on YouTube.

Its lyrics read:

Let me speak, sir, it is not a crime,

Let me open the mind, I am not a curse to the palace,

My mind is not bad, it is not afraid to speak the truth.

The rapper formally entered politics when he contested the mayoral election as an independent candidate in Kathmandu, with a campaign slogan of: Time for change.

He won by a wide margin.

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Wood attacked by termites

Last December, Shah joined the RSP, led by former TV host-turned-politician Rabi Lamichhane, as its prime ministerial candidate.

In its manifesto, Shahs RSP has vowed to create 1.2 million jobs and reduce forced migration, in an effort to tap into frustration over unemployment and low wages that have pushed millions of Nepalis to search for work overseas.

The party has also pledged to raise Nepals per capita income from $1,447 to $3,000, more than double the nations economy to $100 billion GDP and provide safety nets such as healthcare insurance for the entire population  all within five years.

At the national level, analysts foresee that if he is elected, much of Shahs success will depend on the talent he surrounds himself with to overhaul a moribund administrative system, riven by corruption.

It needs a team, experts and support, Acharya said, Under the existing state apparatus, he cant perform and he will be finished like wood attacked by termites.

(Reporting by Saurabh Sharma; Additional reporting by Gopal Sharma; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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The US Central Command Chief Admiral Brad Cooper said that while Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones, it is facing a lingering launch capability due to US attacks on its launchers

Debris lies scattered in the aftermath of an Israeli and US strike on a police station, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. Reuters

The US military on Wednesday said that Irans ability to strike back against Israeli and American attacks is declining. The US Central Command Chief Admiral Brad Cooper said that while Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones, it is facing a lingering launch capability due to US attacks on its launchers.

We are seeing Irans ability to hit us, and our partners, is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan, said Cooper.

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Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has indicated that the third wave of American attack against Iran is going to be the biggest and is yet to come. Cooper, at the same time, said that American attacks have struck nearly 2,000 targets across Iran since Saturday and destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including a submarine.

More than 50,000 troops, 200 fighters, two aircraft carriers, and bombers from the United States are participating in this operation, and more capability is on the way, Cooper said.

US officials seek to boost weapons output

The Trump administration is set to meet on Friday at the White House with executives from major US defence contractors to discuss speeding up weapons production as the Pentagon seeks to restock supplies following strikes on Iran.

According to a report by Reuters, companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have been invited to attend. The meeting will focus on urging defence manufacturers to ramp up output more quickly.

The meeting suggests that Washington is trying to replenish weapons stocks depleted by the attacks on Iran and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. However, in a social media post earlier this week, Trump said that the US has a virtually unlimited supply of US munitions and that wars can be fought forever.

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US Embassy in Dubai hit

A drone attack caused a fire by the US consulate in Dubai late on Tuesday as Iran ramped up its targeting of American diplomatic missions in the Gulf.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained, Dubai Media Office posted on X.

The US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones, setting off a small fire, in the early hours of Tuesday.

With inputs from agencies
Amid the ongoing USIsraeli war on Iran, more than 100 personnel are missing and dozens have been rescued with injuries after a submarine attack on an Iranian ship off Sri Lankas coast.

The photograph shows Iranian navy ship Iris Dena, which has been attacked by a submarine off Sri Lanka's coast, berthed in Rio de Janeiro's port, Brazil, on February 28, 2023. (Photo: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)

More than 100 personnel are missing and dozens have been rescued with injuries after a submarine attack on an Iranian ship off Sri Lankas coast.

Sources in the Sri Lankan navy and defence ministry told Reuters on Wednesday that at least 101 people were missing and 78 wounded after a submarine attack on an Iranian ship off Sri Lankas coast. The development has occurred in the midst of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

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Sri Lanka did not name which countrys submarine attacked the Iranian ship.

Follow our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran

After the United States and Israel launched the offensive against Iran on Saturday, the war has continued to expand, engulfing the entire West Asia and drawing in Gulf states and European nations as well  France has already deployed fighter planes and warships to the region for security operations.

With a submarine attacking an Iranian ship off the Sri Lankan coast, the war has literally arrived at Indias doorstep.

Iranian ship under attack participated in fleet review at Visakhapatnam

Sri Lanka identified the Iranian navy ship attacked as IRIS Dena, a frigate, that sent out a distress call off the coast of Galle, according to Daily Mirror.

The ship had also participated in the MILAN 26 fleet review at Visakhapatnam last month.

After receiving the distress call, the Sri Lankan navy and air force launched a joint operation to evacuate the crew on board as the incident occurred within Sri Lankas search and rescue area, according to the newspaper.

In the operation, the paper reported that 30 crew members of the vessel were rescued and admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital out of around 180 personnel on board. However, sources told Reuters that at least 78 sailors were rescued with injuries.

Iran has not yet commented on the development and neither Israel nor the United States have yet claimed responsibility for attacking the ship.

While Israeli submarines are unlikely to operate this far from their coasts, the US Navy has a presence in the Indian Ocean as its blue water navy with a global force and has a base at Diego Garcia, which is around 1,700 kilometres from Sri Lanka.

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Lavrov told Araghchi about Russias stance in favour of de-escalation of the conflict and a return to a political and diplomatic settlement, adding that Moscow is ready to mediate between the three sides to deter escalation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss the recent developments in West Asia. The two ministers noted that the attacks by the US and Israel against Iran undermine the fundamental norms of international law.

Lavrov told Araghchi about Russias stance in favour of de-escalation of the conflict and a return to a political and diplomatic settlement, adding that Moscow is ready to mediate between the three sides to deter escalation.

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What has Russia said?

On Tuesday, Moscow warned that the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran could result in the very outcome they were seeking to prevent, by spurring both Iran and its Arab neighbours to seek to acquire nuclear weapons.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the logical consequence would be that forces will emerge in Iran in favour of doing exactly what the Americans want to avoid  acquiring a nuclear bomb. Because the US doesnt attack those who have nuclear bombs.

The seemingly paradoxical declared noble goal of starting a war to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons could stimulate completely opposite trends, he said.

The minister added that Russia has still not seen any evidence suggesting that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, adding that Israel is the only country in the region to be nuclear-armed.

Cynical murder

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family as a cynical murder that violated human morality and international law, expressing condolences to Irans leadership.

Putin slammed the United States and Israel for their military operation in Iran. On Sunday, the Kremlin published a letter that Putin sent to his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, in which the Russian leader expressed his deepest condolences for the assassination of Khamenei.

Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Syed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law, Putin says in a note to Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian.

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As many as 32 survivors have been rescued and are receiving treatment at a hospital in the city of Galle, said officials

A vessel sails off the Galle coast after a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, Iris Dena, off Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday. Reuters

Sri Lankas navy has retrieved 87 bodies of sailors from an Iranian warship that was sunk on Wednesday by a US submarine off the countrys southern coast, according to an AFP report, citing police and defence officials.

We have recovered 87 bodies, and the search continues for those who remain missing, AFP quoted a navy official as saying.

Authorities reported that 61 sailors are still unaccounted for.

Meanwhile, 32 survivors have been rescued and are receiving treatment at a hospital in the city of Galle, officials added.

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Earlier today, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Iranian warship was torpedoed in international waters.

The vessel, identified as the frigate IRIS Dena, was returning to Iran from an eastern Indian port after taking part in the Milan multilateral naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25.

An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters, Reuters quoted Hegseth as saying at the Pentagon.

Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death, he added.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said Sri Lankan forces had rescued 32 sailors, many wounded, from the stricken Iranian frigate IRIS Dena.

The vessel issued a distress call at dawn but had completely sunk by the time a rescue ship reached the area within an hour, leaving only an oil patch on the surface, said Sri Lankan navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath.

The attack was just 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Galle.

Iran has not yet commented on the sinking.

Sampath said Sri Lankas response to the distress call was in line with its maritime obligations.

This is within our search and rescue area in the Indian Ocean, Sampath told AFP.

Sri Lanka has remained neutral and has repeatedly urged dialogue to resolve the conflict.

Just over a million Sri Lankans are employed in the region, and they are a key source of foreign exchange for the country emerging from its worst-ever economic meltdown in 2022.

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Both Sri Lankas navy and the air force said they were not releasing footage of the rescue because it involved the military of another state.

Police stepped up security outside the Galle hospital as the wounded Iranians were brought there.

With inputs from agencies
Dubai-Abu Dhabi News Live: West Asia is witnessing a sharp escalation as the United States and Israel carry out strikes against Iran, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region and raising fears of a wider conflict affecting regional security, energy supplies, and global markets.

Black smoke was seen rising from the US embassy in Kuwait City on March 2 after the latest volley of Iranian strikes. Image Credit: AFP

The conflict in West Asia continues to intensify as hostilities between Iran and Israel expand with missile strikes, air attacks and growing military involvement from the United States. The escalating confrontation has heightened security concerns across the Gulf, disrupted air travel and energy markets, and prompted several countries to issue travel advisories and evacuation warnings as fears grow of a broader regional war.

The United Arab Emirates is reportedly considering military action against Iran to stop missile and drone attacks targeting the country. Officials say the UAE has faced more than 1,000 attacks since Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the region.

A limited number of departures were reported from Dubai and Abu Dhabi after the United States Department of State advised Americans in 13 countries, including the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman, to "depart now via commercial means due to serious safety risks." However, widespread airspace closures and flight cancellations have significantly reduced travellers ability to leave despite the warning.

Follow for LIVE updates:

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For China, the USIsraeli war on Iran has underscored the limits of its power and influence in West Asia. The latest instance of Chinas refusal to come to a partners aid shows that its support remains largely economic and rhetorical  and that partners cannot rely on it militarily.

People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026. (Photo: AP)

For China, the USIsraeli war on Iran has underscored the limits of its power and influence in West Asia. The latest instance of Chinas refusal to come to a partners aid shows that its support remains largely economic and rhetorical  and that partners cannot rely on it militarily.

China has spoken in support of Iran, but those statements have not been as sharp as one might expect considering the extent to which the United States and Israel have gone against Iran.

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For one, unlike Venezuela where they just whisked away President Nicolas Maduro, they have killed the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran and vowed to kill anyone who replace him. And they have indicated theirs is a war without a deadline, not a limited special operation.

Chinas muted reaction as US & Israel hammered main ally in West Asia

In the first day, it became clear that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were seeking a regime change in Iran, but China was just highly concerned and called for immediate cessation of military operations.

As Iran had emerged central to Chinas goals in West Asia in recent years, the reaction was quite subdued and showed China did not have any appetite to go against the United States in a theatre beyond the bare minimum rhetoric.

Follow our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran

Even as it became clear that Khamenei was dead and the American-Israeli war would continue for the foreseeable future, Chinas rhetoric did not jump to the wolf warrior level it is infamous for. Instead, it echoed statements that developing nations of Global South issue.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning declared the offensive as a grave violation of Irans sovereignty and security that tramples on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. There was no warning to cease their offensive. The only call to action was to urge an immediate stop to military operations.

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Then, in a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed the same in even more diplomatic language.



Force cannot solve problems; it generates new challenges and long-term repercussions, said Wang.

The US-Israeli war show Chinas limitations & nature of partnerships

Chinas response to Trump and Netanyahus war on Iran has shown two things.

One, China cannot yet overcome or even challenge American military power. For all the talk of China displacing the United States as the sole superpower, the United States continues to be central to West Asia and has no match militarily.

Two, countries now know that Chinas partnership has economic and trade benefits but no assurance of security. China failed to safeguard Maduro and later refused to do anything or could not do anything as Trump and Netanyahu hunted Khamenei.

In an article for NDTV, international relations scholar Harsh V Pant noted that Chinas silence on Iran is a reminder of the structural limits of Beijings ambitions in a region still profoundly shaped by American hard power.

More importantly, Chinas inability or unwillingness to deter decisive Western military action underlines a credibility gap. For all its talk of a Global Security Initiative and a multipolar order, Beijing remains reluctant to project force in defence of its partners when confronted by US resolve, noted Pant, Vice President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

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The US-Israeli offensive is a setback to China in many ways. In the near-term, it has lost access to highly discounted crude oil and a connectivity partner.

At a moment of domestic economic sensitivity, such volatility would be hardly welcome, Pant noted.

Moreover, China had been increasing its foothold in the region in recent years. In 2023, China mediated between the normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. That normalisation is now dead and efforts to increase the footprints are also stalled at least for now.

But Pant has suggested that China could also be playing the long game with its cautious silence.

For one, a weakened or economically desperate Iran may become more reliant on Chinese capital for reconstruction, according to Pant.

As for the wider region, Gulf powers may deepen their economic engagement with China as part of their hedging strategies as an insurance against American unpredictability under Trump, noted Pant.

In such a case, China will try to convert short-term turbulence into long-term leverage through reconstruction contracts, oil diplomacy, and calibrated mediation, according to Pant.

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Kyiv Lactic Acid Plant convenes annual shareholders' meeting

According to Fixygen, PJSC Lactic Acid Plant (Kyiv) will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders remotely on April 3, 2026, at which it plans to approve the results of its financial and economic activities for 2025 and the procedure for covering losses, the company reported in the NSSMC's information disclosure system.

To approve the results of financial and economic activities for 2025 and to approve the procedure for covering the company's losses. Namely, given the company's lack of profit, to cover losses at the expense of future periods, the draft resolution of the meeting states.

The agenda also includes consideration of the reports of the supervisory board and the executive body for the past year, the adoption of new versions of the regulations on management bodies, as well as the preliminary approval of significant transactions, the value of which may exceed 25% and 50% of the value of the company's assets.

PJSC Lactic Acid Plant (Kyiv) was founded in October 1996. The company specializes in the production of spices and seasonings, as well as other food products, ready-made animal feed, and agrochemical products.

According to Opendatabot, in 2024, the company increased its net loss by 11.8% compared to 2023, to UAH 2.145 million. At the same time, its revenue grew by 5.22%, to UAH 4.493 million. The plant's assets decreased by 10.2% over the year to UAH 22.091 million, while its liabilities decreased by 0.5% to UAH 33.227 million. According to the resource's forecast, the company's expected revenue for 2025 is projected at UAH 5.122 million. The authorized capital of the private joint-stock company is UAH 220,353 thousand.

The beneficiaries of the enterprise are Grigory and Leonid Kostyuk, each of whom owns 45.8615% of the enterprise's shares.
At the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, technology manufacturer TECNO and Italian lifestyle brand Tonino Lamborghini announced a new hardware partnership. The collaboration spans multiple product categories, integrating Tonino Lamborghinis design aesthetics with TECNOs device engineering.

The initial product lineup encompasses gaming devices, mobile phones, laptops, earphones, and tablets.

Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS (MEGA MINI G1 Pro)

The flagship announcement of the collaboration is the MEGA MINI G1 Pro, the second generation of TECNOs water-cooled mini gaming PCs. The device features an all-metal chassis with integrated RGB lighting and a built-in screen that displays real-time CPU and GPU performance metrics.

Hardware Specifications:

Processor: Intel Core i9-13900HK (14 cores, 20 threads, clock speeds up to 5.4 GHz).

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 discrete graphics card (145W total graphics power, utilizing the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture with 614 AI TOPS).

Cooling System: A 10,000mm pure copper water-cooled cold plate paired with a triple-fan setup.

Connectivity: 15 external ports, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Power: External 330W GaN (Gallium Nitride) power adapter.

TECNO POVA Metal Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition

TECNO also introduced a limited-edition 5G smartphone, marketed as featuring a full-metal unibody design with a 0.99mm bezel. Powered by a Snapdragon processor, the phones primary hardware differentiator is its customized lighting array.

The back of the device features a Rear Dot Matrixa 241-pixel independent LED matrix that displays programmable visual alerts for incoming calls, notifications, and other system events. This is accompanied by a pulse light strip integrated into the chassis.

Conceptual AIoT Ecosystem

Alongside the release-ready hardware, TECNO exhibited a conceptual AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) ecosystem.

This product line, which includes upcoming laptops, tablets, and wearable devices, utilizes a unified, geometric design language inspired by the Tonino Lamborghini brand. The ecosystem is positioned for general consumer use, encompassing productivity, study, and daily communication.

MWC 2026 takes place from March 2 to 5 at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. Attendees can view the collaborative product line at the TECNO display, located at Stand 7A40, Hall 7.

Commenting on this, Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO, said:

This partnership is built on the same pursuit of excellence and commitment to their missions. TECNO has shaped the digital experience of hundreds of millions worldwide, and the partnership is another milestone in our relentless journey to reimagine performance and aesthetics.

Dr. Tonino Lamborghini, Founder of Tonino Lamborghini S.p.a, said:

This collaboration brings together two complementary worlds: our design language and TECNOs technological know-how. Together, we have created a project that interprets contemporary lifestyle with coherence and vision.
Google has announced a new set of Android features focused on location sharing, baggage tracking, app discovery and personalization.

The update adds live location sharing in Google Messages, airline luggage tracking through Find Hub, short-form app videos in Google Play, custom Calling Cards, Teacher Approved games on Android Auto and new Emoji Kitchen combinations in Gboard.

Live location sharing in Google Messages

Android users can now share real-time location directly within Google Messages, powered by Find Hub.

Users can:

Share live location inside an active chat

View each others position on a real-time map

Choose how long to share

Stop sharing at any time within the conversation

The feature works entirely inside the Messages app.

Find Hub: Share item location with airlines

Google is rolling out a share item location feature in Find Hub. It allows users to generate a secure link to the real-time location of a compatible tracker tag or network accessory.

If luggage goes missing, users can:

Open the Find Hub app Select the lost item Tap Share item location Generate a unique, secure URL Paste the link into a participating airlines app or website

The airline can then view the items updated location to assist with recovery. Users can stop sharing at any time directly from the app.

Find Hub is also available on compatible Pixel Watch models, extending tracking access across devices.

Privacy and security controls

Google states that privacy was central to the design of the Find Hub network.

Safeguards include:

Encrypted device location data

User control over when sharing starts and stops

Automatic link expiration after seven days

Automatic disabling of sharing when the phone detects the item has returned

Airline integrations and travel industry partnerships

More than 10 global airlines now accept Find Hub location links as part of their baggage recovery processes. These include:

Ajet

Air India

China Airlines

Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines)

(Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines) Saudia

Scandinavian Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Additional airlines, including Qantas, are expected to support the feature in the near future.

Google has also collaborated with:

SITA to integrate with the WorldTracer system

to integrate with the WorldTracer system Reunitus to integrate with NetTracer

WorldTracer and NetTracer power baggage-tracing operations for hundreds of airlines across thousands of airports worldwide.

Google is also working with Samsonite to embed Find Hub technology directly into select new suitcase models. Compatible Samsonite luggage can pair with the Find Hub network.

Google Play adds short-form app videos

Google is introducing short-form videos inside Google Play. Users will be able to scroll through a feed of short videos featuring apps across categories such as wellness, photography, shopping and webtoons. The videos provide a preview of how an app works without leaving the Play Store.

Custom Calling Card for outgoing calls

Android users can now create a custom Calling Card that appears when placing a call.

The Calling Card can include:

A selected photo

Custom font

A chosen color theme

Users can share it with all contacts or only saved contacts, and can edit or remove it at any time.

Teacher Approved games on Android Auto

New Teacher Approved games are being added to Android Auto for use while parked. The lineup is designed for children aged 3 to 12.

Available titles include:

Disney Coloring World

LetraKid: Writing ABC for Kids

Marvel HQ: Kids Super Hero Fun

Draw a Stickman: EPIC 3

Kids Games: For Toddlers 3-5

New Emoji Kitchen combinations

Android is adding new Emoji Kitchen mashups in Gboard. Users can combine emoji pairs to create sticker-style images. Examples include  +  and  + . These creations can be shared directly in chats.

Availability

The features are rolling out starting today. Availability may vary depending on region, device compatibility and participating partners.
In this episode of Meet the Greek, Petros Grivas, MD, PhD, and Rosa Nadal Rios, MD, PhD, discuss her journey from Spain to the U.S., her work in cellular immunotherapy for genitourinary cancers and the innovative programs at Fred Hutch. Discover insights into personalized cancer treatments, multidisciplinary care, and future directions in immunotherapy.

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Small businesses in S China's Hainan gain access to larger markets after launch of island-wide independent customs operations

People's Daily Online) 14:21, March 04, 2026

This Spring Festival, the first one since the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China's Hainan Province began independent customs operations, has been a busy time for local entrepreneurs.

Ye Ze Fang, a company specializing in coconut oil, shipped its products to Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province in December 2025. This marked the first time locally produced goods in Hainan were processed under value-added operations since the launch of island-wide independent customs operations in Hainan.

The company's factory is located in a village in southern Hainan. Leng Tingqiong, the company's head, said the business has grown from just two people to over 20, most of whom are local villagers working in roles such as sales, production, and e-commerce.

"We import a shipment worth about 40,000 yuan (approximately $5,813). At a 12 percent tariff rate, that translates into roughly 4,800 yuan in duty savings per shipment," said Zhou Fuqiong, also the company's head.

Based on the company's total annual import volume, that adds up to around 100,000 yuan in reduced costs each year. Zhou said the savings will be reinvested in developing new products and more.

Zhou Fuqiong makes coconut oil coffee. (People's Daily Online/Chen Yexin)

Xi Zhiqiang, head of Shang Nan Tang, a company that mainly produces Zhegu tea, a popular herbal tea in Hainan, described the launch of island-wide independent customs operations in Hainan as a prime opportunity. He said many business owners have approached him to learn more about relevant policies, adding that companies must plan proactively and make full use of favorable policies to achieve growth.

A farmer picks tea leaves at a Zhegu tea plantation in south China's Hainan Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Xi has led his team in taking concrete steps to adapt to the changes. For example, they have developed a range of flavored tea beverages based on Zhegu tea. This year, construction of a Zhegu tea industrial park is set to begin.

Yan Hongping, a professor at Hainan University, said that policies related to independent customs operations have injected strong momentum into local businesses in multiple ways. These include zero tariffs on imported equipment, lower raw material costs, tariff-free sales of manufactured products to the mainland, improved connectivity with overseas markets, and support for traditional industries to scale up and pursue targeted transformation. The policies also provide institutional backing for small and medium-sized enterprises to achieve industrial upgrading.

Yang Yuping, head of a rattan craft company, said that Hainan's rattan weaving industry has gained greater exposure since the launch of island-wide independent customs operations. She was invited to attend the 2025 China International Travel Mart, which was held in December 2025 in Hainan for the first time. She noted that clients from countries including Vietnam and the U.S. purchased rattan weaving products on site and placed numerous orders at the event.

Photo shows a bamboo and rattan experience store in south China's Hainan Province. (People's Daily Online/Chen Yexin)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Plumes of smoke rise from the sites of Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut
Greg Freeman, owner of Freemans Barber Shop on North Avenue, poses for a photo in between hair cuts on his last day on the job before retirement on Feb. 27. Ive got a few tears coming to my eyes, saying goodbye. A lot of them I wont see ever again, Freeman said. A barbers kind of like a priest. A barber will give you information, sometimes when you dont always want to get that information.
Sat Saturday

74 /44

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 40s.
A tool originally designed to monitor the erosion of Scotlands coast has proven its worth on a tropical island the other side of the world.



The open-source tool, called VedgeSat, was developed by researchers from the University of Glasgow as a more affordable and accessible alternative to traditional methods of coastal management.



It uses artificial intelligence to analyse public satellite imagery of coastlines and spot the telltale fingerprints of coastal change by identifying the vegetation edge  the line where plants begin growing closest to the water.



Since plants can only grow in places where they wont be flooded by seawater, identifying the vegetation edge can help pinpoint where the land can first support long-term growth.



Monitoring the vegetation edge over time can show whether coasts are eroding, which moves the edge inland, or growing, which pushes the edge towards the sea.



The tool was originally tested on the Scottish coast, where a 2024 paper showed how effectively it was able to monitor the vegetation edge in St Andrews and the Eden Estuary.



In a new paper, the team show how they tested VedgeSats ability to identify the vegetation edge on the very different coastline of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.



The team used the VedgeSat tool to examine satellite images of 15 coastal sites spread across the island. The sites were split between the muddy, mangrove-heavy city of Dumai on Sumatras east coast, and the sandy, grassland-dominated city of Padang on the west coast.

Aerial view of a tropical coastal landscape in Sumatra, Indonesia, where vegetation edge validation was conducted to assess coastal change using satellite imagery. Credit: Idham Nugraha / University of Glasgow.

VedgeSat uses a pre-trained machine learning algorithm to classify every pixel of the satellite imagery as either vegetation or non-vegetation, which enables it to establish the vegetation line in each site.



The tools results, which were validated against GPS surveys of Padang and high-res Planetscope images of Dumai showed that it performed very well in areas with dense vegetation.



It was capable of determining the vegetation line with errors of seven metres or less in sites which were thickly covered in mangrove trees, dense vegetation, or oil-palms in plantations.



It was less accurate in patchier areas like grassy or sparsely-forested sections of beaches, where the tool was less able to clearly identify the edge, and the error expanded to 50 metres or more.



In those cases, however, the team found that manually tuning the tool to account for the differences in terrain and the colour of seawater helped reduce the error rate.



Idham Nugraha, of the University of Glasgows School of Geographical & Earth Sciences and the Universitas Islam Riau in Indonesia, is the papers corresponding author.



He said: This study provides the first benchmark for automated vegetation edge detection in tropical systems and demonstrates the scalability of satellite-based coastal monitoring.



By enabling large-scale, repeatable, and cost-effective analysis, VedgeSat has the potential to support coastal management in data-scarce regions worldwide.



Professor Larissa Naylor, a co-author of the paper, said: As climate change intensifies and destructive storms become more common, our coasts will be affected in ways that can be difficult to predict in advance.



More than a tenth of the worlds population live in coastal areas, putting homes, businesses, infrastructure and wildlife all under threat from the effects of climate change. Our aim in building VedgeSat was to make it easier and cheaper for decisionmakers to map their changing coastlines, and make more informed and impactful choices as a result, said paper co-author Dr Martin Hurst.



Dr Freya Muir, who developed VedgeSat and co-authored the paper, said: Its very encouraging to see that VedgeSat is just as capable of analysing tropical coasts as it was for the coasts of the country where it was developed. We hope that these results will encourage uptake of the tool around the world to help deal with the challenges of our changing planet.



The teams paper, titled Extending a Scalable Satellite-Based Vegetation Edge Detection Framework to Diverse Tropical Coasts, is published in Frontiers in Marine Science.



The research was supported by funding from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education, and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UKRI.
MCEP grants will fund planning for local infrastructure improvements

The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 51 Montana cities, towns, counties and water and sewer districts will share $1.5 million of grant funding to help communities complete preliminary engineering reports, capital improvement plans and master plans. The funding is through Commerce's Montana Coal Endowment Program, which helps address the affordability of local infrastructure projects by providing grants to lower the cost of constructing public facilities.

"Assisting communities in need of upgrades to crucial infrastructure like water treatment facilities, bridges and collection systems improves health and safety for residents," said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. "The Montana Coal Endowment Program exists to make these improvements possible even if a community lacks financial resources."

The following communities and districts will receive MCEP project grants:

Arlee/Lake County Water and Sewer District will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

Basin County WSD will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

Big Horn County will receive $30,000 to complete a capital improvement plan.

The City of Boulder will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Broadus will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Cascade will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The City of Chinook will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Circle will receive $25,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The City of Colstrip will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

The City of Columbus will receive $30,000 to complete a stormwater preliminary engineering report.

The City of Conrad will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

Crystal Springs WSD will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The City of East Helena will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater master plan update.

The Town of Ekalaka will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Eureka will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Fairfield will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

Firelight Meadows County WSD will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

The City of Forsyth will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

Garfield County will receive $30,000 to complete a capital improvement plan.

The City of Glasgow will receive $30,000 to complete a stormwater preliminary engineering report.

Green Tree Meadows WSD will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The City of Hardin will receive $30,000 to complete a capital improvement plan.

The City of Harlem will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The City of Harlowton will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

Huntley Yellowstone County WSD will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Hysham will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Joliet will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

Lewis and Clark County will receive $30,000 to complete a bridge preliminary engineering report.

The City of Libby will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

Liberty County will receive $30,000 to complete a capital improvement plan.

Logan Montana County WSD will receive $23,600 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

The City of Miles City will receive $30,000 to complete a stormwater preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Nashua will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

Park County will receive $26,400 to complete a bridge preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Plevna will receive $28,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The City of Polson will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The City of Red Lodge will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

Richland County will receive $30,000 to complete a capital improvement plan.

Rosebud County will receive $30,000 to complete a bridge preliminary engineering report.

The City of Roundup will receive $30,000 to complete a stormwater preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Saco will receive $25,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Sheridan will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

The City of Sidney will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

Sun Prairie Village County WSD will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Sunburst will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

Wheatland County will receive $30,000 to complete a capital improvement plan.

The City of Whitefish will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

The Town of Whitehall will receive $30,000 to complete a water preliminary engineering report.

Wibaux County will receive $22,000 to complete a capital improvement plan.

The City of Wolf Point will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

Worden-Ballantine Yellowstone Co. WSD will receive $30,000 to complete a wastewater preliminary engineering report.

In 2024, the Town of Ekalaka received a $40,000 MCEP grant to complete a preliminary engineering report. Ekalaka Clerk/Treasurer Kamely Harkins said, "The Montana Department of Commerce wastewater PER grant was a critical resource for the Town of Ekalaka. Our wastewater system is more than 60 years old and in need of significant upgrades. This grant allowed the town to complete a preliminary engineering report, which would not have been possible with local funds alone. With support from Great West Engineering, the town now has documented system deficiencies, prioritized capital improvement needs and a clear framework for regulatory compliance and future Montana Department of Commerce funding applications."

Eligible applicants for MCEP grants include incorporated cities or towns, counties, consolidated governments, tribal governments and county or multi-county water, sewer or solid waste districts. The funding for the program comes from revenues earned on interest from coal severance taxes.

For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
The Glasgow seniors will be sponsoring a Cribbage Tournament.

It will be held on March 7th at the Glasgow VFW at 2 p.m. If you wish to participate, please be there at 1:30 p.m.

There is a 2 person  10 team maximum. Call Dave at 406-263-9838 to RSVP.
Herbert Victor Penner passed away on Feb. 19, 2026, in Glasgow, Montana. Herb was born Aug. 6, 1927, to Henry and Mary (Lentzner) Penner in Anaheim, California. The family later moved to Larslan, Montana, to pursue farming. Herb graduated from Glasgow High School in 1945, then went on to attend Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas. He transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula where he finished his college career, graduating in 1951 with a degree in Business Administration.

Herb worked for International Harvester in Billings for a year, then came home to help his father with farming. Herb had an interesting and busy lifestyle as he also began another career in Cyprus, California doing taxes for a number of wealthy clients during the tax season, then returning to Larslan, Montana to farm the rest of the year. He enjoyed spending time with his sister, Clara Unruh, and her husband and niece and nephews who lived near him in California. It was while he was in Cyprus, California that he met his beloved Verna, and they were married there on Jan. 19, 1974. Herb and Verna continued to split their time between southern California and Larslan, Montana, until eventually retiring in Glasgow, Montana, for their later years.

They were active members of the Larslan Mennonite Brethren Church for many years, then the Lustre MB Church, and enjoyed attending the Glasgow Evangelical Church during their final years in Glasgow. Herb was a kind man, always ready with a polite greeting and a friendly smile. He was a gentleman by every definition, a businessman, and a farmer. Herb enjoyed cars and working on them, and took great care to ensure his personal driving car was always clean and polished. At one point he restored a Harley Davidson vintage motorcycle that he donated to a museum and eventually sold. Herb was a loving and loyal husband to Verna for all of their 49 years together until her passing in 2023. He was a man of faith that greatly valued a relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Herb was preceeded in death by his wife, Verna, and two sisters: Clara Unruh and Lola Pyle. He will be missed by all who knew him, including his nieces and nephews, a stepdaughter, Jerie Keil (William) and family of Utah, and a stepson, Ronald Sachs of California.

Burial has taken place at the Highland Cemetery in Glasgow, Montana. A memorial service will be held at a later date this summer.

Online condolences may be left at bellmortuarymt.com.
Contracts

Contracts for March 3, 2026

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $1,900,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for C-130J Maintenance and Training System (JMATS) IV. This contract provides for the continuation of production, modernization, sustainment, and support, via the Training System Support Center of C-130J Aircrew Training Devices, Maintenance Training Devices, and Maintenance and Aircrew Training System. Work will be performed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas; Dyess AFB, Texas; Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina; Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Quonset Point Air National Guard, Rhode Island; Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California; Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Yokota Air Base, Japan; and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2039. The JMATS IV contract will be composed of one five-year base ordering period and one five-year option period, with an additional three years for the completion of all deliveries. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,000 per for the initial task order are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Simulators Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8621-26-D-B001). (Awarded Feb. 27, 2026)

R4-Integration, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was awarded a $74,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to procure and integrate the KuKa Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) Communication Suite into HC-130J aircraft. This contract provides for the purchase of 39 KuKa BLOS Communication Suite systems, to include all necessary hardware and software components for integration into the aircraft, integration, and testing of trial kits, followed by production of kits, spares, installation of kits, technical data publications, emergency services, and satellite communication services for both communication bands. Work will be performed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; Moody AFB, Georgia; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Moffet Federal Airfield, California; Gabreski Air National Guard Base, New York; and Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, and is expected to be completed by June 27, 2030. This contract was a sole source commercial acquisition. Fiscal 2025 Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies procurement funds and National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account funds in the amount of $23,092,379 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8509-26-D-B002). (Awarded on Feb. 27, 2026)

L3Harris Technologies, Integrated Systems L.P., Greenville, Texas, was awarded a $27,737,627 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of Programmed Depot Maintenance. This contract provides for Programmed Depot Maintenance in support of the Tactical Airborne Surveillance System program. Work will be performed at Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2029. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $27,737,627 are being obligated at the time of award. The 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-21-G-4027/FA8620-26-F-B055). (Awarded on Feb. 27, 2026)

Carleton Controls Corp, Carleton, Michigan, has been awarded a $10,600,000 firm-fixed-price 5-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile repairs. This contract provides for the repair of the silo entry control mechanism parts. Work will be performed at Carleton, Michigan, and is expected to be complete by Feb. 23, 2032. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and one offer was received. Fiscal 2026 working capital funds in the amount of $717,925 are being obligated at the time of award. Supply Chain Management, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA820626D0001). (Awarded on Feb. 25, 2026)

ARMY

Apex FSE JV LLC,* Roswell, Georgia (W5168W-26-D-A002); BARMAC LLC,* Millstone, Kentucky (W5168W-26-D-A003); Howard W. Pence Inc., Elizabethtown, Kentucky (W5168W-26-D-A004); Miami Marine Services LLC, Miami, Oklahoma (W5168W-26-D-A005); New Dominion Construction LLC,* Dumfries, Virginia (W5168W-26-D-A006); QBS Inc., Alliance, Ohio (W5168W-26-D-A007); T&T Construction Enterprises LLC, Leitchfield, Kentucky (W5168W-26-D-A008); and TeamGov Inc.,* Hyattsville, Maryland (W5168W-26-D-A009), will compete for each order of the $165,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction services at Fort Knox, Kentucky. This total cumulative face value is $165,000,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 15, 2031. Installation Readiness Center, Field Directorate Office, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity.

MAR-LEN Environmental Inc.,* Westminster, Maryland, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for forest resource compliance and forest resource management support services at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The amount of this action is $16,837,177. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of August 31, 2031. Army Contracting Command, Installation and Technology Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56ZTN-26-D-A001).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Renk America LLC, Muskegon, Michigan, has been awarded a maximum $57,607,840 firm-fixed-price contract for diesel engines. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a one-year base contract with one one-year option period being executed at the time of award. The performance completion date is Dec. 24, 2027. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-26-C-0071).

UPDATE: TYMCO Inc.,* Waco, Texas (SPE8EC-26-D-0011, $93,000,000), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for sweeper and scrubber equipment, issued against solicitation SPE8EC-21-R-0002 and awarded Feb. 22, 2022. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

UPDATE: Gaumard Scientific Co. Inc.,* Miami, Florida (SPE2DH-26-D-0009, $15,000,000), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for medical equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog, issued against solicitation SPE2DH-21-R-0002 and awarded Feb. 10, 2022. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

NAVY

General Electric Aerospace, Lynn, Massachusetts, is being awarded $31,302,761 for a fixed-price, long-term contract with prospective price redetermination for repair support for the T-64 engine. This is a five-year contract with a three-year base contract period and one two-year option period. All work will be performed in Cherry Point, North Carolina. Work is expected to be completed by March 2029 and if the option period is exercised by March 2031. Fiscal 2026 working capital funds in the amount of $6,853,829 will be obligated at the time of award to fund delivery order (N00383-26-F-0U10) that will be awarded concurrently with the contract and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1) and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-26-D-U101).

Raytheon Co., Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the BladeRunner program. The total cumulative value of this contract, including a 24-month period of performance, is $26,842,534. This contract provides for the integration of ultra-wideband, low-latency processing housed in a standardized 6U VPX form-factor with a multi-beam, multi-polarization phased array and system controller to create a system prototype. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas (48.2%); Tewksbury, Massachusetts (44.3%); and Arlington, Virginia (7.5%). Work is expected to be completed in February 2028. Fiscal 2025 and 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amounts of $450,000 and $225,000, respectively, are obligated at the time of award. Funds in the amount of $450,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under long range broad agency announcement (BAA) N0001425SB001 entitled "Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology." Since proposals were received throughout the year under the Long-Range BAA, the number of proposals received in response to the solicitation is unknown. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-26-C-1106).

BlueHalo Labs LLC., Albuquerque, New Mexico, is awarded a $22,813,536 firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursement modification to a previously awarded contract M67854-25-C-0104 for the procurement of Titan SV MPv3 Systems in support of Program Manager Ground Based Air Defense, Organic-Counter small Unmanned Aerial Systems (O-CsUAS). The O-CsUAS is Urgent Statement of Need designed for air self-defense against the sUAS threat. The modification provides for the procurement of additional Titan SV MPv3 Systems and Spare Parts Kits. Work will be performed in Loudon, Virginia (100%). The delivery of supplies will be on or before July 1, 2026. Fiscal 2025 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $22,813,536 will be obligated at the time of award. This contract was awarded under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(a)(2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency for other than full and open competition. Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-25-C-0104 P00001).

CAE United States of America Inc., Tampa, Florida, is awarded a $19,575,000 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide logistics and maintenance support for the KC-130J weapon system trainer and the flight training center in support of the government of Kuwait. Work will be performed in West Al Mubarrak, Kuwait, and is expected to be complete by March 2031. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N6134026D1005).

Vigor Marine, LLC, Portland, Oregon, was awarded a $17,967,447 firm-fixed-price contract (N3220526C1230) for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability of Military Sealift Command's replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200). This contract includes a base work package and three unexercised options for additional work and time, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of this contract to $21,639,539. Work will be performed in Portland, Oregon, beginning Sept. 20, 2026, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 3, 2026. Fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,957,447 are obligated and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively solicited via the Governmentwide Point of Entry website and one offer was received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Sociedad Espanola de Montajes Industriales S.A., Madrid, Spain, is awarded a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for construction services. This contract provides for paving of roads and parking lots, interior and exterior painting of facilities, and inspection and repairs to roofs. Work will be performed at Naval Station Rota, Spain, with an expected completion date of March 2031. The maximum dollar value for the 60-month base ordering period is $15,000,000. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, Navy funds in the amount of $7,667 will be obligated at the time of award to satisfy the minimum guarantee and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via SAM.gov website, with three offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Europe Africa Central is the contracting activity (N33191-26-D-0001)

Precise Systems Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded $14,743,228 modification (P00005) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0042125C0009). This modification adds scope to provide continued project management, program management, change management, business management, configuration and data management, risk management, foreign military sales efforts associated with the governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Canada, and Japan, and operations activities support services. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in February 2027. Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $4,103,089 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This action was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4420261/

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Army Strategic Capital Initiatives - Seeking private sector partners to accelerate enterprise-wide modernization

By U.S. Army Communications and Outreach Office March 2, 2026

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Army has announced a major initiative to partner with the private sector, seeking to harness the speed and ingenuity of the commercial market to accelerate a historic, enterprise-wide modernization effort. Through a formal request for information issued today, the Army is inviting industry leaders, investors, and innovators to help build the future Army by co-investing in its installations, technology, energy infrastructure, and industrial base.

This initiative represents a fundamental shift in how the Army approaches modernization, moving beyond traditional contracting to embrace more agile and creative partnerships.

"The strategic vision for this is building the Army of tomorrow with private industry today," said Dave Fitzgerald, Deputy Under Secretary of the Army. "We know we have to move at the speed of innovation. This initiative is a direct invitation to the private sector to become our partner in a historic modernization effort."

The RFI is a broad call for ideas, intended to help the Army shape future formal solicitations that will attract a wide variety of developers and investors. The goal is to supplement traditional funding with strategic capital, creating commercially viable and self-sustaining ventures that ensure long-term success without relying on the Army as the sole source of return on investment.

"We're not just seeking funding," said Fitzgerald. "We're seeking creative, out-of-the-box financial and business models that break the mold. We want joint ventures, long-term leases, and service agreements that align the success of the investor with the soldier and the taxpayer."

The Army is asking for expertise on financial models, partnership frameworks, and contracting strategies that can attract significant investment and de-risk projects for the private sector. The vision is a "value for value" partnership where the Army brings its unique assets  including secure land and a stable demand signal  to the table. In return, it seeks to gain resilient energy, re-shored supply chains, and modern facilities without relying solely on taxpayer dollars for new construction.

The modernization effort is comprehensive, and the Army is seeking innovative solutions across the full spectrum of its operations. This initiative compromises of six strategic pillars (but are not limited to):

Energy Resilience and Dominance

Modernizing the Organic Industrial Base

Strengthening Logistics and Supply Chains

Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Adoption

Real Assets and Facilities Utilization

Critical Minerals and Resource Development

"We are really looking for innovative models of both financing and operating on how the Army can help de-risk these investments for private capital and how we can align long-term return for our partners with the Army's co-mission," said Fitzgerald.

How to Respond

Industry partners are asked to propose pilot projects to quickly validate their financial and partnership models. The Army asks potential partners to be candid about risks and barriers so the Army can work to make its projects the most attractive investment opportunities in the nation.

This request for information is a call for strategic and actionable input. We are soliciting specific insights and options centered around financial structures and partnership models that are commercially sustainable and able to accelerate the Army's modernization and transformation.

For complete submission instructions and details, industry leaders are directed to the official request for information.

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MOFA Spokesperson's Statement on Situation in Middle East

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Date 2026-03-02

The government of the Republic of Korea, with grave concern, is closely monitoring the developments in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, and is actively undertaking multifaceted efforts to ensure the safety and protection of Korean nationals currently in the region, as well as to safeguard our economic security, including the stable supply of energy resources.



As a country concerned with the North Korean nuclear issue, the Republic of Korea is firmly committed to upholding the international non-proliferation regime. On this basis, the ROK has been participating in the international community's efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.



The government of the ROK hopes that the current situation in the Middle East will be resolved in accordance with the universal values and principles of the international community. To this end, the ROK government hopes that a process of dialogue will be restored and that peace and stability in the region will be swiftly reestablished through negotiations in the end.

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With 473 Million Children Living in or Fleeing Conflict Zones, Speakers in Security Council Advocate Digital Education to Ensure Learning

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

10113th Meeting (PM)

SC/16308

2 March 2026

Digital education, when designed with robust safeguards, can ensure children can access learning even when conflict shuts down schools, the Security Council heard today at its first March meeting under the United States presidency of that body.

Chaired by United States' First Lady Melania Trump  the first time a Council meeting has been chaired by a presidential spouse  the meeting comes at a time when 473 million children  one in every five children  is living in or fleeing a conflict zone.

Council resolution 2601 (2021) is a crucial element in the normative framework aimed at ensuring children's access to education during conflict. Among other provisions, it calls on Member States to "promote the adoption of remote learning solutions, including digital learning, literacy, and skills", as well as to provide assistance for the continuation of education for refugee and displaced children.

Briefing the Council was Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, who noted that the last two days prove that children are among the most affected by conflict. Schools in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have closed and moved to remote learning. Noting reports from Iran about the death of possibly dozens of children allegedly as the result of a strike that hit an elementary school in the town of Minab, she added: "United States authorities have announced that they are looking into these reports."

Schools as Safe Spaces

Around the world, she said, 234 million children in conflict situations currently need educational support, with 85 million completely out of school. In violent conflicts, schools can be one of the only safe spaces that protect children and provide essential services. And yet, in 2024 alone, the UN verified a total of 2,374 attacks on schools and hospitals  many more are unverified.

"Digital learning can offer access to education when schools are closed or inaccessible, or when students are fleeing violence," she said, highlighting the Instant Network Schools programme, which allows refugees and teachers to access digital educational content and the Internet in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.

Online Threats against Children in Conflict: Exploitation, Trafficking, Recruitment by Armed Groups

At the same time, children in conflict face heightened online threats: exploitation, trafficking, radicalization, digital recruitment into armed groups, and cyberbullying. It is crucial to strengthen legal and policy frameworks and address funding for education in emergencies. "The most effective way to protect children from conflict is to prevent and end wars," she added, as she paid tribute to the First Lady of the United States for "her work to give visibility to the issue of children in conflict".

"The [United States] stands with all of the children throughout the world," declared Melania Trump, First Lady of that country and Council President for March, speaking in her national capacity. "The value placed on education by a nation's leaders shapes the core of their country's belief system," she added.

In a digitally connected age, technology can help meet basic human needs, she underscored. Roughly 6 billion people  about 70 per cent of the global population  now have mobile devices and Internet access. Artificial intelligence is expanding access to knowledge once confined to universities, enabling individuals everywhere to learn about other cultures and participate in the global economy of ideas. "Today, almost anyone anywhere can access a vast universe of data in the palm of their hand," she said, appealing: "Let's connect everyone to knowledge through AI, including those in the most remote geographic regions of our world."

Path from Ceasefire to Resilience 'Runs through the Classroom'

Speakers from countries with experience of conflict shared valuable lessons from their history. "Across West Africa, post-conflict recovery has shown us that the path from ceasefire to resilience runs through the classroom," said Liberia's delegate, describing his country's own 14-year civil war. "We learned a painful truth  when education collapses during conflict, the conflict itself does not end, it simply mutates." Children were recruited before they could read, teachers were dispersed and an entire generation was told to wait for peace before being allowed to learn.

However, community radio delivered lessons across the country  even when in-person schooling was not safe  demonstrating the value of technology. Today, Africa is not waiting to be transformed by digital technology; it is shaping its own path by developing low-bandwidth platforms, solar-powered systems and community-driven learning models. "If we fail children in conflict today, we will debate their crises tomorrow," he warned.

The representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said that guaranteeing access to education and digital technology for children in armed conflict is "an essential reality" for his country. It has witnessed decades of repeated violence and, currently in South Kivu province, M23 and the Rwandan Defence Force are undermining the Government's provision of free schooling by imposing fees while thousands of schools no longer function and hundreds are occupied by armed groups. Nevertheless, the Government adopted a strategy in 2025 to build a resilient, inclusive education system "capable of ensuring the continuity of learning before, during and after crises", he reported.

Technology Not Substitute for Peace: Focus on Gaza, Ukraine

The representative of Bahrain said Iran's aggression targeting his country has led to the closure of schools. UNICEF reports indicate that the number of children out of school or out of formal education has reached 30 million in the Middle East and North Africa alone. That is one in three children in that region. His country has provided educational services to those in the region affected by war, he said.

Pakistan's delegate reminded the Council that "millions of children are growing up amid rubble and chaos rather than in classrooms and in calm". Education is not merely a service; it is a stabilizing and securing force, he said, adding: "Technology is not a substitute for peace".

"Nowhere is this more urgent than for the children of Gaza," Somalia's delegate said, adding that their resilience in the face of unimaginable loss and daily hardship is inspiring. More than 97 per cent of schools in the Strip have been damaged or destroyed, and 91.8 per cent of all education facilities will require either full reconstruction or major rehabilitation to become functional again.

France's representative noted that Ukrainian children in school have their classes interrupted each day by air-raid sirens while, at home, they spend part of their evenings in cold, damp shelters. And, in other conflicts, social media spreads propaganda targeting minors to facilitate their recruitment by armed groups  in effect, to "exploit their vulnerability".

Girls in Conflict Settings at Heightened Risk

Girls are more likely to be out of school than boys in conflict settings, the representative of the United Kingdom pointed out. As a result they face heightened risks  such as exploitation, child marriage, trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence. The private sector, Governments and civil society must ensure technology meets the particular needs of girls whose education has been interrupted by conflict.

As home to one of the world's largest child populations, China, that country's delegates said, highly values the important role of new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Technologies such as remote teaching, online platforms, satellite networks and mobile terminals "can break through the spatial and temporal boundaries of traditional classrooms making knowledge literally available at fingertips", he said. At the same time the application of technology must be human-centric and guided by the principle of AI for good, with full respect for national sovereignty and local cultural traditions.

Call for Comprehensive Safeguards, National Strategies

Even as delegates praised the educational potential of technology, they emphasized the need for safeguards. Colombia's delegate warned that "the digital environment has become a new space of vulnerability for children and young people", noting that armed groups and criminal networks are increasingly using digital platforms to recruit, manipulate and exploit minors. Without comprehensive safeguards throughout the technology lifecycle, biases may be amplified, privacy violated and new forms of manipulation may emerge. "Faced with these challenges, multilateralism remains an essential tool", she said.

Greece's delegate pointed out that the Council's Children and Armed Conflict framework has a duty to stay attentive to the evolving dynamics, including the digital dimensions of recruitment, exploitation and incitement. She called for national strategies that harness technology to build bridges to safe education, dignity and hope for children in conflict settings.

The Russian Federation's delegate said the Internet has become the place where materials are being disseminated depicting sexual violence against children and scenes of their sexual exploitation. "Combating these monstrous developments is something that is enshrined in a number of provisions of the UN Convention against Cybercrime"  the first universal treaty in this area, which was developed upon his country's initiative.

The representative of Denmark called for safeguards against disinformation and content manipulation. She also observed that "children in the poorest places in the world  which count many conflict-affected contexts  are more likely to be excluded from access to the Internet". She stressed the need for access to both digital devices and the Internet. Eliminating the digital divide will help broaden access to education.

Artificial Intelligence Should Supplement, Not Replace Teachers

Panama's delegate warned that "technology must be a supplement to, but it cannot nor should it replace in-person education". While artificial intelligence can support teachers, it can never replace them, he cautioned. Further, without equitable access, technology could deepen inequalities that already exist, he warned. The representative of Latvia also stressed that technology and AI should enhance children's learning, not replace it. "Digital tools must support teachers, not sideline them," she said.

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Cobra Gold 2026 Strengthens Crisis Response Through Joint Multinational Noncombatant Evacuation Operation Training

US Navy

02 March 2026

From Spc. Rayonne Bissant, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

U-TAPAO ROYAL THAI NAVY AIRPORT, Thailand -- U.S. joint services and multinational partners conducted a simulated noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) during Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airport, Thailand, Feb. 26, 2026.

The simulated NEO-designed to rehearse the safe removal of civilians during a crisis- strengthened alliance integration and combined humanitarian crisis response in the Indo-Pacific region. "The NEO exercise is an opportunity to demonstrate to the American people, and to our allies and partners, why our alliances matter and why the capabilities of our troops and the skill of our consular officers matter to our citizens," said Sean O'Neill, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand.

During the NEO, participating services simulated the evacuation of civilians from an unsafe environment. U.S. service members operated alongside personnel from Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and other participating nations to establish security perimeters, conduct accountability processing, and coordinate ground and aviation assets for secure transport.

The scenario required both deliberate synchronized command and control across a multi-domain environment including land, sea, air, cyberspace, and space, to ensure the safe and organized movement of civilian evacuees. By rehearsing shared tactics, techniques, and procedures, participating nations had the opportunity to improve the speed of their response while maintaining accountability and security throughout the operation, overcoming language and operational barriers.

"This noncombatant evacuation operation demonstrates our ability to rapidly transition to assisting the civilian populace when they need it the most," said Col. Robb T. McDonald, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force. "Cobra Gold is one of the largest multinational military exercises in the world and the U.S. is proud to come here every year to train with our Thai partners."

Co-hosted by the United States and Thailand, Cobra Gold 2026 brings together approximately 8,000 service members from 30 nations to participate in military training and humanitarian civic assistance projects across Thailand. As the largest joint exercise in mainland Asia, Cobra Gold remains one of the cornerstones of the enduring U.S.-Thai alliance, and a platform for building multinational partner military capability and interoperability, the ability of allied forces to operate seamlessly together effectively across multiple theaters and environments during multinational operations.

30

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Phone conversation between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Oman

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

03 March, 2026

On March 2, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.

The interlocutors discussed the situation in the Middle East. The importance of achieving a peaceful resolution and prioritizing diplomacy was emphasized, in which context the efforts made by Oman were highly appreciated.

Minister Mirzoyan expressed his appreciation for the facilitation of the necessary procedures by Oman and the United Arab Emirates for the return of citizens of the Republic of Armenia to Armenia, and conveyed Armenia's readiness to provide support, as necessary, on the relocation of Omani citizens.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Oman also touched upon ongoing efforts aimed at expanding the bilateral agenda, emphasizing the significance of the decision adopted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia to open a resident Embassy of Armenia in Muscat, with a view to fully realizing the existing potential between the two countries.

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Foreign Ministry delivers note to the Russian Embassy regarding a breach of procedural rules in Estonian territorial waters

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

03.03.2026 | 16:13

Today, 3 March, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d'affaires of the Russian Federation to deliver a note concerning the proper procedural rules for the movement of Russian icebreakers in Estonian territorial waters.

"With this note, we remind the Russian Federation that clear and unequivocal rules apply in Estonian territorial waters, including during the icebreaking season," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. "Compliance with these rules is mandatory for all in order to prevent further breaches of procedure."

On 28 February, the Russian Federation icebreaker Murmansk entered Estonian territorial waters in the area of Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland without permission, in order to free the tanker Olympic Friendship, which had become stuck in ice. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Estonian Navy were not notified of the Murmansk's entry into Estonian territorial waters, and the vessel did not respond to radio calls from the Estonian Navy. The icebreaker remained within Estonian waters for four minutes.

A foreign vessel may exercise the right of innocent passage through territorial waters provided that the foreign state notifies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via diplomatic channels at least 48 hours prior to entry. In light of difficult ice conditions and the need to assist vessels, the Republic of Estonia is prepared to shorten the advance notification requirement from 48 hours to 6 hours until the end of the icebreaking season.



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HE GCCSG: The Continuous Cowardly & Treacherous Iranian attacks on GCC states, Targeting Civilian Facilities & Diplomatic Mission Premises, are Blatant Evidence of its Malicious Intentions Toward the Council states

General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Mar 03, 2026

General Secretariat - Riyadh

His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed the Council's condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the continued cowardly and treacherous Iranian attacks on GCC states. These attacks have targeted civilian and diplomatic facilities, most recently the premises of the United States embassies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait, in clear violation of all international and United Nations (UN) laws concerning the sanctity of diplomatic missions. This is in addition to the blatant aggression against civilian and residential facilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, and the State of Qatar.

His Excellency stressed that these Iranian attacks on the territories of GCC states, along with its unjustified, illegal, and immoral escalation, are blatant evidence of its malicious intentions toward the Council states and its persistent efforts to destabilise security and stability in the region and the world.

Moreover, he pointed out that targeting the territories of GCC states cannot be accepted under any justification or pretext, and that Iran must immediately cease its barbaric aggressions. He reiterated the full solidarity of all GCC states, standing as one rank in the face of these brutal Iranian attacks to defend their sovereignty, security, and national interests.

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HE GCCSG: The Iranian Attack on Fujairah Port is a Dangerous Act of Aggression and a Flagrant Escalation Threatening Regional Security and Stability

General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Mar 03, 2026

General Secretariat - Riyadh

His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed the Council's strongest condemnation and denunciation of the nefarious Iranian attack targeting the Port of Fujairah in the brotherly United Arab Emirates (UAE). He affirmed that this act of aggression represents a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of a GCC member state and a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region.

"Targeting vital facilities and infrastructure is an unacceptable and condemned behaviour by all standards. It reflects an escalatory approach that disregards the rules of international law and the principles of good neighbourliness, aimed at destabilising the security of GCC states and undermining the stability of global energy markets," His Excellency said.

Furthermore, he stated that such acts pose a direct threat to the security of regional and global supplies, as well as the safety of maritime navigation and international trade.

His Excellency called upon the international community to fulfill its responsibilities to halt these repeated Iranian attacks and to put an immediate end to these irresponsible actions that undermine regional and international peace and security.

Moreover, His Excellency reiterated the GCC's full and unwavering solidarity with the United Arab Emirates, standing as one rank with the UAE in all measures it takes to protect its security, safeguard its sovereignty, and maintain the safety of its vital facilities.

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President of the Republic of Cyprus: Greece declares its unwavering support and paves the way for the EU. Cyprus and Greece are always part of the solution

Republic of Cyprus

From: Presidency of the Republic

03/03/26 12:44 | Press release | Defence, President of the Republic / Presidency

The Minister of National Defence of the Hellenic Republic: "We are fully and unequivocally at the disposal of the Republic of Cyprus".

The Republic of Cyprus and Greece alike, prove in practice, through our actions, that we are not part of the problem, we are always part of the solution, and we will face this challenge together, shoulder to shoulder, said the President of the Republic of Cyprus today, Tuesday, 3 March 2026, at a meeting held at the Presidential Palace with the Minister of National Defence of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Nikos Dendias. Mr Dendias was accompanied by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Vasilis Palmas and the Chief of Defence of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), General Dimitrios Choupis.

Welcoming Mr Dendias, the President of the Republic of Cyprus said: "On behalf of the people of Cyprus, I wish to publicly thank both the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic and you personally, for your immediate response to our request, during this challenging time for the Republic of Cyprus. The Hellenic Republic once again declares its unwavering support. A gesture of substantial, but also symbolic, significance. A gesture that paves the way for the rest of the European Union (EU), since your immediate response has prompted other European states to follow suit.

I spoke with the French President, who responded positively. I am in contact with the German Chancellor and the Prime Minister of Italy. This demonstrates how Greece is setting an example for the other EU member states, showcasing how the EU should respond.

Thank you once again. The Republic of Cyprus and Greece alike, prove in practice through our actions that we are not part of the problem, we are always part of the solution, and we will face this difficult situation together, shoulder to shoulder, hoping that more propitious conditions will soon prevail in our region. A region that, as you are well aware, despite the many challenges, also offers many opportunities that can be seized through cooperation, which Greece and Cyprus, Cyprus and Greece have demonstrated in practice that they are striving for.

With these words and reiterating the heartfelt thanks of the Cypriot people and of the government of Cyprus for your immediate response, and extending our thanks to the entire Greek nation, I once again welcome you to Cyprus".

For his part, the Minister of National Defence of the Hellenic Republic said: "It is a great pleasure for me to be here today, at the Presidential Palace. Thank you for this warm welcome. I came to convey to you, to Vasilis, but also to all the people of Cyprus, the support of the Prime Minister, of the Government of the Hellenic Republic, and also - and I say this from my heart - of the entire nation of Greece, of the Greek people.

These are indeed difficult times. These are difficult times for our wider region. However, Greece wishes to state categorically, which, as you very rightly said, is of both substantial and symbolic significance, its intention to provide, to the extent possible and to the best of its abilities, every possible assistance to Cyprus, to the Cypriot people and to all legal residents of the Republic of Cyprus.

I am glad to be here today. I will discuss the practicalities of this aid later with Vasilis and we will examine whether any further assistance, if any, can be provided. We are fully and unequivocally at the disposal of the Republic of Cyprus."

In his statements to journalists at the Presidential Palace, following his meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Dendias said: "Today I had the pleasure and the honour to be received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, my friend Nikos Christodoulides, together with my counterpart, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Vasilis Palmas.

The President informed me of the situation at hand; I conveyed to him the support of the Prime Minister of the Government of the Hellenic Republic and of all the Greek people.

We always stand by the Republic of Cyprus, the island of Cyprus and all legal residents of the Republic of Cyprus.

We will discuss the remaining details later at the Ministry of Defence with Vasilis [Palmas - Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus]".

(AS/MS)

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Statements by the Government Spokesman of the Republic of Cyprus, 2 March 2026

Republic of Cyprus

From: Presidency of the Republic

02/03/26 18:04 | Press release | Foreign Policy, Government Spokesperson

All necessary measures are being taken and there is full operational readiness and coordination between all the competent authorities, Government Spokesman, Mr Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said today, 2 March 2026.

In his statements to journalists this afternoon, at the Presidential Palace, the Government Spokesman said: "Today, around noon, information was obtained on the basis of information exchange with relevant authorities, that two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were heading towards the direction of the British Bases at Akrotiri and were dealt with in a timely manner, on the basis of the information provided and in the context of the ongoing efforts to ensure the continuous flow of information throughout the day.

Furthermore, today the President of the Republic of Cyprus held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic. In the context of that communication, and as part of the heightened precautionary measures being taken in light of developments in the wider region, it was agreed that Hellenic Republic will dispatch two Hellenic Navy frigates to the Republic of Cyprus.

As announced by the Minister of Defence of the Hellenic Republic, these are the frigate 'Kimon' and an additional frigate equipped with the 'Centaur' anti-drone system.

At the same time, within the same framework of strengthening precautionary measures and enhancing cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and Hellenic Republic, a pair of Hellenic Air Force F-16 aircrafts is also being deployed to Cyprus.

And I would also like to inform you that, within the same framework, a telephone conversation has taken place between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the President of the French Republic, in the context, as I have already mentioned, of strengthening the precautionary measures being taken. We remain in contact with other states as well.

Finally, I would like to reiterate a point that we have also underlined during previous regional crises, particularly to members of the press: the need for special caution in the dissemination of information, ensuring that it reflects the actual facts and verified information. As is often the case in similar crises, it is common for information to circulate that is not grounded in reality or does not fully correspond to the facts. For this reason, arrangements have been made for your briefings to be conducted as frequently and as regularly as possible."

Asked where the F-16 aircrafts will be stationed, the Spokesman said: "Arrangements are being made in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Hellenic Republic. You understand that this is not something that will be publicly announced."

In response to a question as to whether there is any information regarding the origin of the drones, Mr Letymbiotis said: "There is information available which, at this stage, remains unverified. Once it has been verified, it will be possible to make it public."

Asked about the evacuation at Pafos International Airport, and whether it was true that the United States (US) Embassy had provided information on the matter, the Spokesman said: "From the very beginning, we have been in full communication and coordination in the exchange of information with the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Greece and many of our other partners. The measures taken at Pafos International Airport were in response to the two UAV I have mentioned, which were heading in the direction of the British Bases at Akrotiri."

When asked whether the air defence system acquired by the Republic of Cyprus from Israel is operational and whether it has been activated, the Spokesman said: "Our air defence is at full operational readiness, and is, of course, in use."

In response to a question as to whether the airspace of Cyprus will be closed, Mr Letymbiotis said: "At the moment, Cyprus' airspace is operating normally. You understand that some cancellations are being made by airlines, due to flights from other countries in the region being affected. These cancellations are announced by the airports."

In response to a journalist's remark that there was information indicating that two ballistic missiles had been launched towards Cyprus, the Spokesman said: "The information we have from all channels of intelligence exchange, as I have mentioned, both with states and with the authorities I referred to earlier, concerns the two UAV, which were dealt with in a timely manner."

When asked whether there had been any communication with London in the meantime, Mr Letymbiotis said: "There has been renewed communication between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus and Minister of State of the United Kingdom for Europe and North America."

When asked what support France will provide, the Spokesman said: "Support similar to that of Greece," adding that we are also in contact with other countries.

When asked whether the consent of the Republic of Cyprus had been obtained for the use of the British Bases by the United States, as reports suggest, the Spokesman said: "As you will have seen from my statements this morning regarding our position, as well as from the representations made to the United Kingdom concerning its statements and intentions in relation to the British Bases, our concerns have been conveyed through the appropriate institutional channels and in a clear manner. Furthermore, statements were made today by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, in which she confirmed that the British Bases in the Republic of Cyprus are not among the United Kingdom bases that were under discussion with the United States".

When asked what has changed since yesterday, the Spokesman said: "First of all, I believe you can readily appreciate the developments that took place between yesterday afternoon and last night, which have led to a change in the circumstances. I am also confident that you understand that, in such regional crises, the situation remains fluid.

There were, of course, also the statements concerning the British Bases. Furthermore, I would like to underline and clarify that what is confirmed is that the Republic of Cyprus is not, and has never been, a target; rather, reference has been made to the British Bases at Akrotiri."

When asked about the "Andreas Papandreou" Air Base, the Spokesman said: "What I have confirmed, both yesterday and today, is that these were unmanned drones, which were heading towards the British Base at Akrotiri".

When asked whether it is known where the drones were intercepted, the Spokesman replied in the affirmative. In response to a further question as to whether they were close to the coast, he said: "No, they were not very close to the coast".

When asked whether, from now on, the Republic of Cyprus will continue to receive updates on regional matters from the USA and the United Kingdom, Mr Letymbiotis said: "Information sharing, discussion, and coordination are ongoing. You will, however, understand that we are in the midst of a regional crisis, and this is precisely why we also call on you, as representatives of the media, to exercise the calmness and responsibility for which you are known. It is essential to have patience and to verify all information, so that the information we convey, and that which we, as Government Representatives, provide to you, is both accurate and communicated in the safest possible manner."

In response to a journalist's remark that the public is concerned and that, for example, the supermarket shelves are being emptied, the Spokesman said: "What is certain is that all necessary measures are being taken and have been activated where required. All the protocols of the Republic of Cyprus are under continuous assessment. We are in close coordination and are monitoring developments very closely together with our partners, both with the European Union (EU) and with third countries to which I have previously referred. Our foremost priority, and what we will continue to uphold, is the safety of our country and its citizens".

He added: "What we seek, what we have sought from the very beginning, and what we are endeavouring to contribute to, insofar as it falls within our remit, is the de-escalation of the situation in the region as soon as possible".

When asked about shelters and whether provision has been made, should the need arise, for where the public should go, the Spokesman said: "Earlier today, a press conference was held by the Civil Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, during which specialised tools that have been developed were presented. These tools, including an application through which citizens can locate the nearest shelter, have been available to the public since last June.

I would also like to remind you that, over the past two years, considerable effort has been devoted to strengthen capacity of our shelters to the greatest extent possible.

Furthermore, I would reiterate the need for composure and responsibility when approaching the situation. All necessary measures are being taken".

When asked how Cypriots abroad who wish to return can be assisted, given the cancellation of many flights, the Spokesman said: "On this matter, the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus have provided a briefing to the National Council on all the actions being taken by the Republic of Cyprus to the extent of its capabilities. The airlines you referred to, as well as others, have not only cancelled flights to and from Cyprus, but also in response to conditions in the airspace of certain states in the region, for obvious reasons.

As I mentioned this morning following the briefing, all the measures we have taken were presented to the members of the National Council. There are areas, such as the United Arab Emirates, where arrangements have been made for the accommodation of our citizens currently there. As soon as it becomes possible, all necessary measures will be taken, together with our partners, to facilitate their return as quickly as possible."

When asked whether there had been any communication with Lebanon, and whether the British Bases or Cyprus itself are considered a target of Hezbollah, the Spokesman said: "I reiterate that the two incidents that occurred were directed at the British Bases at Akrotiri. Furthermore, as I mentioned this morning, the contacts of the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus are continuous and ongoing". He added that, "there has also been communication with the President of the Republic of Lebanon".

Finally, when asked whether the public should be concerned, the Spokesman said: "There is concern at the regional level. We are in the midst of a regional crisis. I would, however, like to reiterate that all necessary measures are being taken. There is full operational readiness and coordination among all relevant services. The National Security Council is in continuous consultations. From the outset, all plans have been activated by the respective services. There is ongoing close coordination with other states - partner states, EU member states, countries in the region and states whose assistance we have sought - to implement and enhance precautionary measures. Security measures have been heightened and, as I mentioned in my initial statement, these measures are assessed daily for further strengthening wherever feasible or deemed necessary".

(NZ/GS/)

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PM Netanyahu visits Palmachim Airbase

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Events and Speeches

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 03.03.2026

Prime Minister Netanyahu at Palmachim Airbase: "We continue to strike Iran with great force. Our pilots are in the skies over Tehran and also in the skies over Lebanon. Hezbollah made a very grave mistake when it attacked us."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Palmachim Airbase today, accompanied by Minister of Defense Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

At the start of the visit, the Prime Minister received an operational briefing, and afterwards held a conversation with UAV operators and with the technical teams, praising them for their actions during Operation Roaring Lion.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"I am here at the Air Force base with the Minister of Defense, the IDF Chief of Staff, the commanders, and the men and women fighters, both in Air Force defense and offense, along with the technical teams supporting this operation.

I say to you sincerely, they are doing amazing work here. Chief of Staff, from you through to every soldier I see here, it is amazing work - work that does not only amaze the enemy, Minister of Defense, it amazes me as well. I believe the entire nation of Israel must salute the important work you are doing: protecting the citizens of Israel while also striking the murderers and their dispatchers in Iran.

We continue to strike Iran with great force. Our pilots are in the skies over Iran and Tehran, and also in the skies over Lebanon. Hezbollah made a very grave mistake when it attacked us. We have already responded with great force, and we will respond with even greater, additional force. The Lebanese government must understand, and the people of Lebanon must understand, that Hezbollah is dragging them into a war that is not theirs, solely because of the death of that mass murderer with whom they have no connection. They must look out for themselves, and they would be wise to do so quickly. We will continue to do what is necessary for our defense.

We are on the fourth day of Operation Roaring Lion. We are roaring, and we are operating."

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Aboul Gheit holds telephone call with President Salam, affirms support for Lebanese Government's decisions

League of Arab States

Date: 03/03/2026

Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, held a telephone call on 3 March with His Excellency President Nawaf Salam of Lebanon, during which he expressed his support for the important decision taken by the Lebanese Government to prohibit the military and security activities of Hizbullah, deem them unlawful, and oblige the party to surrender its weapons to the State.

Mr. Aboul Gheit condemned the Israeli escalation against Lebanon, considering that the expansion of attacks by Israel reflects an unacceptable attempt to exploit the current circumstances in order to violate Lebanon's sovereignty and entrench a condemned occupation in contravention of international law. He called upon all parties to return to strict adherence to the cessation of hostilities agreement signed in November 2024.

Gamal Roshdy, the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that Mr. Aboul Gheit also affirmed during the call that the decision represents the practical implementation of the arms control plan previously approved by the Government and now being carried out by the Lebanese Army. He stressed the importance of continuing the implementation of that plan in order to safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty and to ensure that the decision of war and peace is effectively vested solely in the hands of the Government, free from any other agendas.

The spokesperson added that Mr. Aboul Gheit asserted that the Leaguepursuant to its highest-level resolutionsstands by Lebanon's national interest, which requires dissociation from the ongoing conflict and preventing any attempts by certain parties to escalate matters in pursuit of interests unrelated to Lebanon.

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NATO Secretary General praises North Macedonia's contributions to the Alliance and stability in the Western Balkans

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

03 March 2026

On Tuesday (3 March 2026), NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, visited North Macedonia. He met with President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, and the President of the Assembly, Afrim Gashi.

The Secretary General thanked North Macedonia for its contributions to Euro-Atlantic security. "Your troops serve alongside those from many other Allies as part of our Forward Land Forces in Bulgaria and Latvia, keeping our eastern flank secure, with credible deterrence and defence," he said. He also praised North Macedonia's steadfast support to Ukraine, including through NATO's PURL initiative.

The Secretary General welcomed that North Macedonia devoted more than 2% of its GDP to defence in 2025. "This is vital progress, as Allies prepare their credible path to reach 5% of defence spending by 2035," he pointed out.

Mr. Rutte said that North Macedonia had a crucial role in safeguarding stability across the Western Balkans, including with its contributions to the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR. Addressing North Macedonia's Assembly, the Secretary General said that the Western Balkans remains a priority for NATO. "We must keep the troubles of the past, firmly in the past. Divisive rhetoric is reckless and dangerous, it is the enemy of progress. We can never allow peace to be jeopardised."

Mr Rutte ended his visit at Ilinden Barracks, with the Minister of Defence, Vlado Misajlovski, where he thanked military personnel for their service.

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Allies and partners gather in Berlin for NATO's 20th annual Arms Control and WMD Conference

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

03 March 2026

On Tuesday (3 March 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office Geza Andreas von Geyr, opened the 20th annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Non-Proliferation.

The two-day conference in Berlin brings together senior officials and experts from Allied and partner nations, as well as international organisations, to discuss the evolving global security environment and the future of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

In a pre-recorded video message to conference participants, Secretary General Rutte highlighted how the topic remains essential to our shared security. "We face numerous challenges, including from the world's deadliest weapons in the hands of those who seek to undermine us," he said. "But NATO Allies are ensuring that we have what we need to deter and defend."

This year's conference focuses on the "strategic crossroads" of international arms control, highlighting NATO's dual commitment to strengthening deterrence and defence, while actively pursuing stability through effective arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The participants also discussed the future of multilateral frameworks, such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), ahead of its 11th Review Conference this spring.

"We must uphold and strengthen the NPT; there is no credible alternative to it," the Secretary General said, adding that arms control and non-proliferation reduces risk, enhances predictability, and contributes to international stability. "And the stronger we are, the more successful our dialogue on arms control and non-proliferation is. Resulting in greater security for all," he added.

The conference will also address collective responses to emerging threats from state and non-state actors seeking to weaken existing global guardrails, as well as the impact of emerging technologies on WMD non-proliferation.

NATO has organised the annual Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD Non-Proliferation since 2004. Co-hosted by NATO Allies, the event offers an opportunity for informal discussions among high-ranking government officials and experts on threats posed by WMD.

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Afghanistan: UN experts condemn Taliban's surging use of corporal punishment

Press releases

Special Procedures

03 March 2026

GENEVA -- The Taliban's increasing use of judicially-sanctioned corporal punishment, inflicted in public, often for so called moral crimes in Afghanistan, violates international human rights law, UN experts* warned today.

"Corporal punishment is an offence against human dignity and physical integrity, and, depending on its severity, would amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and/or torture. It should be halted immediately," the experts said.

In 2025 alone, more men and women were subjected to public flogging than in all previous years combined since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Early indications in 2026 suggest that the rate of such punishments may continue to escalate.

In 2025, Afghanistan's de facto Supreme Court announced public "floggings" of at least 1,110 individuals, including at least 940 men and 170 women. This nearly doubles the number of individuals subjected to such punishments in 2024, with at least 567 individuals (at least 480 men and 87 women) flogged.

In January 2026, the de facto Supreme Court reported the public flogging of 147 men and 15 women, one of the highest monthly totals since the practice began officially in late 2022. The overwhelming majority are men accused of crimes such as theft, selling or using drugs and alcohol, and gambling. However, women, girls, and LGBT+ persons face a heightened risk of punishment for so-called "moral" crimes such as adultery, "illicit relationships", and "sodomy." The experts stressed that the use of corporal punishment for so-called moral crimes is a manifestation of a broader system of institutionalised gender-based discrimination and control, incompatible with Afghanistan's international obligations.

According to the experts, official records do not include the ages of the victims, nor is there any information about their mental and intellectual capacity. There have also been cases of children being flogged. Corporal punishment, often 39 lashes, is frequently combined with sentences of imprisonment. The floggings are carried out in public by Taliban officials, with local residents, including children, compelled to attend.

"We are appalled that corporal punishment sentences are being imposed in a judicial system that lacks independence, due process guarantees and other fundamental safeguards, as well as other serious deficiencies that fail to address the legitimate grievances of victims," the experts said.

They warned that the "criminal rules of courts" published in January 2026 could further expand the use of such illegal penalties.

The experts also condemned the execution of 12 men in Afghanistan after the Taliban retook power and called for an immediate moratorium and a review of the application of the death penalty in line international law requirements, including considering its abolition.

Afghanistan is a state party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which prohibit conduct amounting to corporal punishment. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against also makes it clear that women are protected against violence.

"The de facto authorities are bound by Afghanistan's obligations under those treaties," the experts said.

"Punishments carried out without due process, and which themselves constitute human rights violations, cannot be considered justice," they said.

"The international community must speak out more forcefully on the human rights crisis in Afghanistan," the experts said. "This must include demanding due process guarantees and insisting on a moratorium on corporal and capital punishment with a view to their abolition."

*The experts:

Richard Bennett , Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan;

, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; Claudia Flores (Chair), Ivana Krstic (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Haina Lu, and Laura Nyirinkindi , Working Group on discrimination against women and girls;

, Working Group on discrimination against women and girls; Reem Alsalem , Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences;

, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Morris Tidball-Binz , Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and

, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.

Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

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Polish-Slovak Defence-Industrial Dialogue in Bratislava

Poland - Ministry of National Defence

03.03.2026

- The first forum and dialogue of the defence industry and the military, jointly organized here in Bratislava, consists of 30 companies and over a hundred participants. It is an important step, as for the last two years we have been intensely working on bringing these companies closer, so that both the public and private sector explored each other's capabilities and expertise. Today we have discussed several projects at the bilateral meeting, concerning both the supply of ammunition and the BORSUK and BAOBAB, the mine-laying vehicle - very important in the context of Poland's exit from the Ottawa Treaty. The cooperation in the anti-drone projects is also very important. We have devoted a large part of our meeting to them. Poland introduces the SAN system - multiple sensors, multiple effectors, reconnaissance, imagining, and then affecting targets, both electronic and especially kinetic, using multiple types of arms: machine guns and cannons presented in Poland - noted the Deputy Prime Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz during the conference in Bratislava.

On March 3, in Bratislava, the Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of National Defence Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, together with the Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Defence of Slovakia, Robert Kalinak, took part in the Polish-Slovak Defence-Industrial Dialogue 2026. This event was first forum of understanding of this breadth between the representatives of governments and public and private companies from the defence sector of both countries.

The main goal of the meeting was to discuss the cooperation so far and point to promising avenues of manufacturing military equipment. The talks were a direct continuation of agreements reached in February 2025 in Warsaw, when Ministers of Defence of Poland and Slovakia signed a Letter of Intent regarding strengthening relations in the area of anti-air defences, ammunition manufacturing and armoured vehicles and wheeled armoured transport vehicles programmes.

- We have an enormous shared potential, we have things to move forward with together. The Polish-Slovak partnership makes great sense and I have believed in it from the very beginning. This is another one of my visits in Bratislava, the aim of which is to build the power of Polish and Slovak defence industries, as well as developing operational capabilities through joint exercises of our Armed Forces. Building independent defence industry capabilities is also crucial, especially in the face of conflicts all over the world that can result in disruptions of the global supply chain - said the Polish Minister of National Defence during a discussion panel.

During thematic panels, experts and defence industry companies' representatives - including Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, WB Electronics (WB Group), APS and the Slovak DMG group and Konstrukta Defence - discussed concrete solutions for the Land Forces and unmanned and anti-drone systems.

- The matter of the PIORUN, serving as a very short-range layer of air defence. The matter of ROSOMAK or BORSUK, the ZSSW-30 turret - which are all very high-quality equipment. We have many identified projects, not at the beginning of the journey, but in a very advanced stage. We want at least one of them to be finished in the first half of this year. I think May will be a very good time to sign concrete agreements between companies. The government has already signed such contracts - we have signed one on 25 February last year - so now we are simply fulfilling it. Today's meeting is fulfilling that contract. We are working together within the SAFE programme. I will once again stress how important it is for the President in Poland to accept this programme, as it opens not only the possibility to equip the Armed Forces quickly, but also to develop the defence industry - noted the Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The event, co-organized by the Defence24 portal and the Slovakian European Defence Analytics think tank, allowed an exchange of experiences in the context of the ongoing modernization of the Armed Forces of both countries. The meeting in Bratislava confirmed that strengthening industrial ties between Poland and Slovakia is a key element of building regional security within the eastern flank of NATO.

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Chinese ships in 4 WPS features 'doubles' in last week of February

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

March 3, 2026, 3:01 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy monitored 34 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in four key features of the West Philippine Sea from Feb. 22 to March 1, an official said Tuesday.

The figure is higher than the 18 recorded from Feb. 15 to 22, Navy WPS spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said at Camp Aguinaldo.

During the period, 12 vessels were spotted in Bajo de Masinloc, seven in Ayungin Shoal, 10 in Escoda Shoal and five off Pag-asa Island.

This can be broken down into three People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships and nine China Coast Guard (CCG) ships in Bajo de Masinloc; one PLAN and six CCG in Ayungin Shoal; four PLAN warships and six CCG vessels in Escoda Shoal, and two PLAN and three CCG in Pag-asa Island.

Trinidad also said the Navy monitored a total of 18,360 vessels across the country's maritime domain from Feb. 1 to 28.

The monitoring, he said, reflects sustained maritime activity within Philippine waters.

"Of the total vessels monitored, 15,327 were foreign vessels, while 3,033 were domestic vessels. A total of 13,523 vessels responded to radio challenges, while 4,837 did not respond," Trinidad said.

In February, the PN tracked 62 PLAN and CCG vessels in the WPS: 23 in Bajo de Masinloc (11 PLAN, 12 CCG); 17 in Ayungin (two PLAN, 15 CCG); 13 in Escoda (six PLAN, seven CCG); and nine in Pag-asa (five PLAN, four CCG).

Trinidad said monitoring remained focused on Northern Luzon, WPS, Western Mindanao and the Eastern Seaboard, consistent with maritime traffic patterns and operations.

"These figures reflect continued illegal CCP (China Communist Party) presence in areas wherein the Philippines exercises sovereignty, jurisdiction and sovereign rights," he said. (PNA)

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Teodoro: No direct military threat to PH from Middle East conflict

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

March 3, 2026, 1:18 pm

MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday dismissed concerns that the Philippines could be dragged into the escalating conflict in the Middle East due to its alliance with the United States (US), saying such fears are unfounded.

"That is unfounded dahil hindi natin ma-ihahambing ang sitwasyon sa Middle East dito sa Pilipinas (because we cannot really compare the situation of the Middle East to our situation here in the Philippines)," Teodoro said in an interview following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s press conference at Malacanang in Manila.

Teodoro stressed that the Philippines' bilateral and multilateral alliances are strictly for defensive and deterrent purposes.

He added that strengthening alliances enhances the country's defensive posture and should not be misconstrued as involvement in external conflicts.

"So, para ihambing ang sitwasyon sa Middle East dito sa Indo-Pacific (To compare the situation in the Middle East to here in the Indo-Pacific), that's based on a false premise," Teodoro said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier stated there is no direct military threat to national security arising from the hostilities.

Teodoro, also the chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the DND is working with the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies to support repatriation efforts.

A 32-year-old female Filipino caregiver in Israel died from injuries when Iranian missiles hit Tel Aviv on Feb. 28, the first day of US-Israel attacks.

On Monday, US forces said it struck Iran's military command centers, ballistic missile sites and naval assets in the first 48 hours of "Operation Epic Fury," according to an Anadolu news agency report.

US President Donald Trump claimed that 49 Iranian leaders have been killed, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Anadolu also reported that at least six US service members have been killed and 18 others seriously wounded since operations began. (PNA)

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Hezbollah strikes Israeli surveillance, military base in Golan Heights, occupied lands

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 March 2026 8:24 AM

The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has carried out two separate missile operations against strategic Israeli military installations in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the Israeli-usurped territories.

Hezbollah said in a statement that it struck the Meron air surveillance and operations management base in the Israeli-occupied territories in the early hours of Tuesday.

It added that the operation was in response to the criminal acts of aggression by Israel that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut.

The group stated that the missile attack targeted one of the radars and a command building.

Additionally, Hezbollah said it has fired a large volley of rockets at the Nafah base in the occupied Golan Heights, which serves as the headquarters of the 210th Basha Division of the Israeli army.

Hezbollah says strikes on Israel 'legitimate' defensive reaction

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its launch of missile and drone attacks against a military base south of Haifa in the Israeli-occupied territories was a "legitimate defensive reaction" in response to the ongoing Israeli acts of aggression.

"The Israeli regime's aggressions have been going on for the past 15 months in the forms of massacre, demolition, ethnic cleansing and various types of atrocities. No political or diplomatic initiative has been able to halt the brutalities, and commit the Israeli regime to observe the ceasefire agreement and its relevant obligations," the movement said in a statement late on Monday.

It added that the aggressions have gone repeatedly unanswered, stressing that the Israeli campaign of assassinations and destruction needs to be stopped, stressing it is imperative to seriously and effectively utilize all available means to halt the crimes.

Hezbollah further noted that incessant Israeli acts of aggression cannot be justified under any pretexts, reiterating that therefore confrontation is a legitimate reaction.

It noted that what the resistance movement did was in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Lebanon's national resources, and fell within the framework of "ensuring public security and stability as well as securing Lebanese soil."

Hezbollah pointed out that its missile and drone strikes on the Israeli military base south of Haifa was a legitimate defensive step, urging Lebanese authorities to take concrete measures to stop Israeli acts of aggression which are to blame for all crises facing Lebanon.

Earlier, Hezbollah said in a statement that a missile site of the Israeli army south of Haifa was attacked by the resistance movement's missiles in retaliation for the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and in order to defend Lebanon and its people in the face of the Zionist regime's repeated acts of aggression.

The resistance leaders emphasize, Hezbollah said, that continuation of Israeli acts of aggression and assassinations of "our leaders, youth and people give us the right to defend ourselves and respond at the appropriate time and place."

The Israeli regime launched attacks on Lebanon following the start of terrorist aggression, jointly by the US, against Iran on Saturday.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to Press

US Department of State

Remarks

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

March 3, 2026

SECRETARY RUBIO: All right. I have a couple updates for you. The State Department is now actively, as it has been now for the last 72 hours, implementing our plans to help Americans in the Middle East be able to depart. As of a few minutes ago, before I left, 9,000 Americans have been able to leave the region since the start of this war. We have about 1,500 Americans that are requesting assistance with departure. We have identified and continued to identify charter flights, military flight options, and expanded commercial flight options, meaning working with the airlines to send bigger airplanes with more seats, and a combination of those three things. The impediment we're facing now, in many cases - we've had a couple instances in which we have planes in the air and on the way, and unfortunately the airspace gets closed and they have to turn back around. So we're working through those challenges.

Here's the message I want to deliver Americans who are in the Middle East and in need of assistance: It is very important - and I ask this of the networks as well - it is important for you to, please, put both the website and the phone numbers on your screens, because we need - we need to know where you are. We need to know - we need to have contact information for Americans that need assistance. They have to register with us, because as these options begin to open up, and as they open up, we have to be able to call you; we have to be able to reach you; we have to be able to know where you're staying so we can get this information to you and coordinate appropriately. And it'll be a variety of methods: charter flights, military flights and transports, expanded commercial opportunities, and in some cases land routes that will allow them to go to neighboring countries who might have open airports at that point.

So it's a lot of different things here that need to happen in order to move people. But it all starts by knowing that you're there. It all starts by knowing that, where you are and how we can get ahold of you. So I'm asking the networks and all of the media outlets, please publicize the two phone numbers that we've put out, as well as the website, so people can contact us and register. We've had thousands of people call already. As I've said, we've identified 1,500, almost 1,600 that are requesting assistance with departure. But we need you to, please, be able to identify that.

As I came in, I also saw the media reports about Dubai's consulate. The last update I had with seconds before getting before these cameras was that a drone, unfortunately, struck a parking lot adjacent to the chancellery building and then set off a fire in that place. All personnel are accounted for. As you're aware, we began drawing down personnel from our diplomatic facilities in advance of this. In the cases, for example, of Beirut, we basically drew down to a bare bones, as well as in Baghdad and in Erbil and in a couple other posts as well. So we've been very fortunate, obviously. But our embassies and our diplomatic facilities are under direct attack from a terroristic regime.

With an update, I will obviously refer you to the Department of War. Suffice it to say that our objectives remain, as they've been identified from the beginning and by the President laid out clearly yesterday: Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and we will not allow Iran to hide behind the immunity of a massive short-term[1]* ballistic missile inventory or the ability to make them or launch them. And so CENTCOM, in a joint operations, is carrying out a systematic destruction of their missile belt, destruction of their launchers, and destruction of their ability to make these, as well as the destruction of their navy. From what I've been told by the Department of War, everything is on or ahead of schedule and proceeding on these objectives. We have every confidence in the world that these objectives will be achieved.

The last point I would make is - and I said this yesterday and I repeat - what's about to - you're about to see - we're going to unleash Chiang on these people in the next few hours and days. You're going to really begin to perceive a change in the scope and in the intensity of these attacks, as, frankly, the two most powerful air forces in the world take apart this terroristic regime and defang it and take away its ability to threaten its neighbors or hide behind a zone of immunity that allows them to develop their nuclear ambitions.

This terroristic, radical, cleric-led regime cannot be ever allowed to have nuclear weapons. We saw what they were willing to do to their own people. They were willing to slaughter their own people in the streets. Imagine what they would do to us. Imagine what they would do to others. Under President Trump that will never, ever happen. All right.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, yesterday you said - yesterday you talked about Israel - Mr. Secretary, Mr. Secretary, Mr. Secretary 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Please, guys. I can't hear them all. Yes.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, yesterday you told us that Israel was going to strike Iran and that that's why we needed to get involved. Today the President said that 

SECRETARY RUBIO: No.

QUESTION:  Iran was going to get 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, your statement's false. So that's not what he - I was asked very specifically - were you there yesterday?

QUESTION: Yes. I asked a question.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay. No, did - were you the one that - because somebody asked me a question yesterday - did we go in because of Israel. And I said - you asked me that, you, that follow up. And I said no. I told you this had to happen anyway. The President made a decision, and the decision he made was that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind its ballistic missile program, that Iran was not going to be allowed behind its ability to conduct these attacks. That decision had been made. The President systemically - made a decision to systematically destroy this terroristic capability that they had, and we carried that out. I was very clear in that answer. This was a question of timing, of why this had to happen as a joint operation, not the question of the intent. Once the President made a decision that negotiations were not going to work, that they were playing us on the negotiations, and that this was a threat that was untenable, the decision was made to strike them.

That's what I said yesterday, and you guys need to play it. And if you're going to play these statements, you need to play the whole statement, not clip it to reach a narrative that you want to do. All right?

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

QUESTION: This is your statement - what is your statement?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Go ahead.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Go ahead.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what do you make of the War Powers resolution that's being considered here in Congress?

SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, the Congress votes on those. They can if they want. There's mechanisms for it, and we've complied with the War Powers Act even though we believe it's unconstitutional, as has every other administration. Every other president has found the War Powers Act to be unconstitutional; nonetheless, we notified the Gang of Eight, which was an appropriate mechanism by which to notify Congress. We sent a notification within 48 hours, the way the law requires. I'm here today to have, I don't know, my sixth or seventh briefing before the entirety of the House and Senate, which is far more than I ever got from any administration in the time that I was here, certainly when I was a member of the Gang of Eight. And so we've complied with all of it. We've over-complied with the law and what it requires. This is an action by the President to address a real threat, a real threat. This is hostilities designed to eliminate a threat to the safety and the security of the United States and to our allies.

All right?

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you said 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, was there a plan in place to evacuate Americans before the attack took place?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's the plan we're trying to carry out. The problem is, or the challenge we are facing, is airspace closures. If a country closes their airport - for example, in some cases, the airports have been hit. So the airport in Kuwait was hit. So if an airport's been attacked or the airspace is closed, then we can have the planes lined up to go but we can't get them to land because we don't have the permissions to land there. So that's the challenge.

But rest assured, we are confident that we are going to be able to assist every American. As I told you right now, we have about - a little over 1,500, maybe closer to 1,600 Americans requesting assistance, and we know that we're going to be able to help them. That's going to take a little time because we don't control the airspace closures. That said, there may be more people out there that need help. We need to know who you are, so please, I'm asking the media: Publicize the phone numbers and the website because we need people to call in so we have their name, we have their contact information, we have their location and their request, so as these opportunities begin to open up, we can act very quickly to reach them and get them out of harm's way.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I wanted to just clarify what you said. I just want to clarify what you said.

QUESTION: When do you expect 

QUESTION: Because you said 

SECRETARY RUBIO: There's nothing to clarify.

QUESTION: But you said, I would give 

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, but you have to read - if you're going to read the whole statement.

QUESTION: Your quote is about, "We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that would precipitate an attack against" 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. No, I understand. But listen 

QUESTION:  "American forces."

SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, let me - I understand 

QUESTION: And that's what - that's what 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. But I had a very specific question from that gentleman, right?

QUESTION: And the President said - or the President said that 

QUESTION: Can I ask you about - on timing?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Hold on one second. I asked a very 

QUESTION:  he may have forced the Israelis.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay, but let me answer because this is my press conference.

QUESTION: Sure.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay. You asked - I was asked a very specific question. And so you guys can misrepresent it, but I was asked a very specific question yesterday. The bottom line is this: We - the President determined we were not going to get hit first. It's that simple, guys. We are not going to put American troops in harm's way. If you tell the President of the United States that if we don't go first we're going to have more people killed and more people injured, the President's going to go first. That's what he did. That's what the President will always do. He will always put the safety and security of our men and women in uniform and of all Americans before anything else. He's always going to do that, and that's what he did here.

In addition to that, I would argue that this threat from Iran, they are hiding behind these missiles and hiding behind these drones. They wanted to reach a point where you couldn't touch them, and then they could do whatever the hell they wanted with their nuclear program. And there was no way in the world that this terroristic regime was going to get nuclear weapons - not under Donald Trump's watch, that's for sure.

QUESTION: Will the U.S. attack 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, hold on.

QUESTION: Nothing to do with Israel? It had nothing to do with Israel?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Go ahead.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) look at this operationally, there's a general question of why the President gave the green light, and then there's a question of why did it have to happen this weekend. Are you saying it had to happen this weekend because of that Israeli action?

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, the - this weekend presented a unique opportunity to take joint action against this threat. And I'm just - we wanted this to have maximum success. We want this operation to be successful at achieving its objectives. I'll repeat the objectives. The President laid them out yesterday. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. It cannot have - and therefore it cannot have the things it was hiding behind to have a nuclear weapons program. What are those things? Number one, we are going to destroy their missiles and their missile launchers, we are going to destroy their capability to make these missiles and these launchers, and we are going to destroy their navy. Those are the objectives. And this weekend, acting at this time, gave us the highest probability of success in achieving those objectives. And as the Department of War will brief you, we are on or ahead of schedule to do that.

QUESTION: So the U.S. attack would have happened no matter what? Would the U.S. attack have happened no matter what Israel was planning to do?

QUESTION: (Inaudible) said Israel was going to act with or without the U.S. 

SECRETARY RUBIO: The President had already made a decision to act. On the timing, the President acted on the timing that gave us the highest chance of success, and that's what you're seeing play out right now. You're seeing it play out right now, and you'll see it in the days to come. We will systematically take apart their missile program. We will destroy their ability to sponsor terrorism, by the way. We will destroy their factories. We will destroy their navy. Those objectives are going to be met. We're well on our way to meeting them. It will not be easy. There will be a price to pay for it, but that is a much lower price to pay than having a nuclear-armed Iran.

I've got to go brief these guys.

QUESTION: And it had nothing to do with Israel?

QUESTION: To clarify 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Hold on.

QUESTION: Can I just clarify one thing?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes. Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, how heavily is the administration leaning into the 2001 AUMF for justification of these strikes?

SECRETARY RUBIO: What now?

QUESTION: How heavily is the administration 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's not our notification to Congress. Our notification - listen, let me explain to you guys this in simple English, okay? Iran is run by lunatics - religious fanatic lunatics. They have an ambition to have nuclear weapons. They intend to develop those nuclear weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism that the world will not be able to touch them for fear of those things. And this is the weakest they've ever been. Now was the time to go after them. The President made the decision to go after them, take away their missiles, take away their navy, take away their drones, take away their ability to make those things, so that they can never have a nuclear weapon. That's why the President made this decision. It was the right decision, and the world will be a safer place when these radical clerics no longer have access to these weapons.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

SECRETARY RUBIO: You see how they're using them now. Imagine how they would use them a year from now if they had more of these.

All right, I've got time for one more. Yeah, go ahead.

QUESTION: What exactly was the threat? What exactly was the threat?

QUESTION: Yesterday, several Democrats criticized what you said, and are you - is 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, of course they - the question is several Democrats criticized? They're going to always criticize. We've been doing this for years, guys. They come out. I'll tell you right now, they're going to come out after the briefing and say we didn't hear anything, we have more questions than answers; you mark my words. But we still do these briefings.

Go ahead.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, their criticism was on the timeline. They said that Israel is dictating the timeline for the United States.

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, the President 

QUESTION: As you know, several people on the right have also agreed with that. How would you respond to that?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Look, the United States made a decision - under the President of the United States - made a decision this is intolerable. Iran cannot have these missiles, cannot have these drones, cannot threaten the world. The President said this is the weakest they've ever been; if we don't hit them now, a year from now, a year and a half from now, no one will be able to touch them, and they'll be able to do whatever they want. And he made a decision to go, and he made a decision to go in a joint operation because it gave us the highest chance of success, and he made the decision to go first because he concluded that we were not going to get hit first. We were not going to absorb a blow from them, because in addition to costing lives it would undermine the effectiveness of our operation.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, guys. I've got to go. Thank you.

[1] short-range ballistic missile

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News story

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterates the UK's top priority is the safety and security of British nationals in the Middle East

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

Published 3 March 2026

The safety and security of British citizens is our top priority, and we know that hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by the conflict and escalation in the Middle East and the Gulf. This includes holiday makers, business travellers and visitors who can't return home because of airspace closures or strikes.

That's why we have the Foreign Office crisis centre that is open 24/7 and why we've asked people to sign up to register your presence, so that we can make sure there is up to date information and to follow travel advice across the region.

But most importantly, we are working with airlines, with the travel industry, with governments across the region to make sure that there will be safe ways for people to return home.

For Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the airlines have been able to reinstate some commercial flights and will be working to help existing passengers, and we are working with them and the government to try to maximise the number of seats for British nationals.

For Oman, in addition to commercial flights, we are also working to secure a government charter flight in the coming days, to prioritise vulnerable citizens who need to return home.

And we will continue to work with the travel industry. We'll continue to ensure that we do everything possible to find more routes for people to return home.

Do follow the local travel advice in the area, follow the travel alerts, and keep in touch with your airline as well.

The team here will keep doing everything possible to make sure that advice is updated and to do everything possible to keep British citizens secure and safe.
Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

3 March 2026

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Guest Tomorrow

Good afternoon. One programming note. Tomorrow, my guest will be our friend Sarah Hendriks, who, as you know, is UN-Women's Director of the Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division.

She will be here to brief you on the global launch of the Secretary-General's report entitled "Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls" ahead of International Women's Day 2026 and the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

** Middle East

Concerning the situation in the Middle East, I can tell you  and you will not be surprised  that the Secretary-General continues to follow the situation in that region with great concern. He is particularly worried about the multiplication of new fronts.

We are also witnessing an increasing number of civilian casualties and a severe humanitarian impact on the well-being of people throughout the region.

In addition, the continued attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf can have a dramatic impact on the global economy, which is still very dependent on fossil fuel.

The situation is also of particular concern to us along the Blue Line.

Over the past two days, our peacekeepers from UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) have recorded dozens of rockets and missiles fired into Israel claimed by Hizbullah and several airstrikes and incidents of firing from south of the Blue Line from Israel into Lebanon.

This morning, peacekeepers observed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers crossing north of the Blue Line near Markaba, Adeisse, Kafr Kela in Sector East and Ramyah in Sector West before returning south of the Blue Line from some of these locations.

Our Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, has also been in touch with all concerned actors in Lebanon and Israel to urge both sides to avail of existing diplomatic channels and to avoid a further escalation.

UNIFIL remains in constant contact with both parties, as well as the cessation of hostilities monitoring mechanism. Despite extremely challenging conditions, peacekeepers continue to carry out their mandated tasks, as mandated by resolution 1701, and they will keep reporting developments publicly and to the Security Council.

We call on both sides to exercise restraint and recommit to the full implementation of the cessation of hostilities arrangement of November 2024, as well as Security Council resolution 1701.

Meanwhile, on the humanitarian side in Lebanon, airstrikes yesterday reportedly caused more than 50 deaths and over 150 injuries. That is what the Ministry of Health in Lebanon is telling us.

Israeli authorities have issued forced displacement orders to people living in more than 100 towns and locations in southern Lebanon, in the Bekaa valley, and in Beirut's southern suburbs. This is done ahead of anticipated attacks.

Displacement has also increased significantly, with nearly 60,000 people now reported to be in newly opened emergency shelters, and many more people reportedly on the move. This is primarily affecting southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut as well.

Our partners are working with the Lebanese authorities to ensure a coordinated response to the unfolding crisis. This includes providing food, health, water and sanitation support.

More generally, our humanitarian colleagues in Lebanon tell us that falling missile and drone debris, restricted airspace, and active hostilities continue to cause civilian casualties, damage infrastructure, and disrupt essential services.

In Iran, sustained airstrikes since Saturday have reportedly affected more than 1,000 locations, resulting in about 790 deaths and nearly 750 injured. This is according to what local authorities and the Iranian Red Crescent Society are telling us. Some strikes have reportedly hit dense residential areas, and early reports indicate damage to civilian infrastructure.

In Israel, continued airstrikes, also in dense residential neighbourhoods, have reportedly resulted in 10 deaths and dozens of injuries, as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.

Humanitarian operations across the region are being severely affected by insecurity, supply chain disruptions and airspace closures. The movement of humanitarian personnel remains restricted.

International humanitarian law is non-negotiable: Civilians, including aid workers, must be protected at all times.

We and our humanitarian partners are continuing to respond to needs across the region, but unimpeded access, security guarantees and adequate funding will determine how effectively we can respond.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tells us that the Israeli authorities today reopened the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing for the entry of 500,000 litres of fuel and humanitarian assistance that is arriving through Israel and Egypt, and that is welcomed.

As we've said before, approximately 300,000 litres of fuel per day are required to maintain the critical humanitarian operations in Gaza, so it is essential that fuel continues to enter consistently until longer-lasting solutions for the supply for Gaza with power are found.

The Rafah and Zikim crossings remain closed and international humanitarian staff rotations are still suspended, which is adding another layer of stress to our operations. Meanwhile, coordinated inside Gaza have resumed.

We and our partners reiterate that more crossings must be open to enable the scale-up of the response to meet the immense needs of the people in the Strip. Supplies must also enter in a predictable and sustained manner.

Shelter remains a critical need for most people in Gaza, who remain displaced after more than two years of war. Over the past week, our partners distributed shelter assistance, which includes the usual tarpaulins, bed sheets, mattresses, blankets, winter clothes and kitchen essentials to more than 1,600 families. Unfortunately, more durable shelter solutions are still not permitted to enter Gaza.

Our partners also reached nearly 6,700 people with services last week, including psychosocial support, legal assistance and explosive risk education. Our partners delivered psychosocial support and recreational activities related to Ramadan to some 8,000 children in Gaza.

Turning to the West Bank, Israeli security forces continued the closure of most checkpoints.

These measures, as you can imagine, severely curtail the freedom of movement of Palestinians and hinder their ability to access livelihoods and just basic services. They also impact the ability of our humanitarian partners to deliver assistance and conduct needed operations.

Also, our OCHA colleagues sadly reported that yesterday, Israeli settlers killed two Palestinians and injured three others, including two children, while raiding the village of Qaryut near Nablus. The injured were transported to the hospital for treatment. Once again, we say that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank must be protected and perpetrators of settler violence must be held to account and brought to justice.

** Independent International Scientific Panel on AI

This morning, the Secretary-General spoke to the members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. This was their first virtual meeting since their appointment was confirmed by the General Assembly last month.

Speaking to them, the Secretary-General expressed his gratitude, adding that the world is looking to this group for clarity.

He said the panel is a first-of-its-kind, one-of-a-kind, global, independent scientific body dedicated to helping shape the trajectory of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity  while there is still time.

AI is advancing at lightning speed, the Secretary-General said, reshaping economies and societies.

The role of the panel members will be to bring independent, credible science into the global conversation, and to do so at a time when geopolitical tensions are rising, conflicts are raging, and the stakes for safe and responsible AI could not be greater.

In the next few months, the panel will establish its working methods, set priorities and deliver a substantive, evidence-based assessment.

This work will inform the first annual Global Dialogue on AI Governance  co-chaired by Ambassador [Egriselda] Lopez of El Salvador and Ambassador [Rein] Tamssar of Estonia.

During the meeting this morning, the panel chose its first two Co-Chairs: Maria Ressa, of the Philippines, whom you know well, who is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a journalist, and Yoshua Bengio, of Canada, a Professor at the University of Montreal-Universite de Montreal, Co-President of LawZero, and the Founder of Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute.

** Afghanistan/Pakistan

On Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the ongoing fighting we are seeing along that border, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that fighting has killed and injured civilians, forced families to flee, and damaged homes and public buildings in several provinces.

In Afghanistan, nearly 66,000 people have reportedly been displaced across five eastern and southe-astern provinces. Residential areas have been hit. Children are among those reportedly killed and injured. Details are still being verified due to limited access.

Airstrikes have damaged multiple key humanitarian facilities, including a 20-bed emergency hospital in Torkham, a transit centre run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and a returnee reception centre, also in Torkham. And as you know, international humanitarian law is clear, medical and health facilities should never be targeted.

The hostilities have also forced the suspension of some World Food Programme (WFP) activities, interrupting food assistance for some 160,000 human beings.

This comes as Afghanistan faces one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with nearly 22 million people in need due to years of conflict, poverty and repeated natural disasters. Funding, as is too often the case, is critically low. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan is just 11 per cent funded, with only $181 million in the bank out of the $1.7 billion needed to reach 17.5 million people.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan, Denise Brown, our Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, has wrapped up a three-day visit to Dilling in South Kordofan. This was the first mission by a senior UN official to Dilling since the latest hostilities began and it follows the opening of a route into that area in recent weeks.

The towns of Dilling and Kadugli, both in South Kordofan, have experienced spiralling humanitarian needs due to prolonged sieges. The security situation there remains highly volatile, with continuing fighting driving more people from their homes, making the movement of humanitarian and commercial supplies very difficult.

While in Dilling, Ms. Brown, together with other UN colleagues and partners, visited displacement sites and a hospital. They also met with local communities and humanitarian workers to get a better sense of what was needed.

Meanwhile, Save the Children announced yesterday the first delivery of vaccines to the town of Kadugli in nearly three years  a positive step that underscores the importance of continued and unhindered humanitarian access.

OCHA once again calls for stepped-up funding to address the most urgent needs across Sudan. It reiterates the obligation of the parties to the conflict under international humanitarian law to facilitate rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access.

To date, the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calling for $2.9 billion is only 14 per cent funded at just over $400 million, severely constraining the delivery of crucial assistance.

** Ukraine

From Ukraine, our humanitarian colleagues there say that over the past five days, attacks have continued across the country, causing multiple civilian casualties and further damaging homes, energy and transport infrastructure.

Local authorities report that more than 30 civilians were killed, and 140 were injured, including several children between Saturday and the early hours of this morning.

In Dnipro and Donetsk, those places were particularly impacted. In Donetsk, over the last five days, dozens of civilians were killed or injured in the front-lines, where the security situation due to intense hostilities continues to deteriorate, which also restricts our ability to access with humanitarian goods.

In Dnipro, a drone strike on a train reportedly killed and injured several passengers, including children.

Following the attacks, our partners quickly mobilized to support people in Kramatorsk, as well as in the cities of Kharkiv, Odesa and Mykolaiv, providing shelter materials, hot meals, psychosocial support and cash assistance.

Over the past five days, nearly 1,000 people were evacuated from the Donetsk Region. In Kharkiv, more than 500 people, including dozens of children, arrived at two transit centres after fleeing the front lines, thanks to our partners.

** Resident Coordinator  Costa Rica

New Resident Coordinator: Pablo Salazar Canelos of Ecuador has assumed his role as the UN Resident Coordinator in Costa Rica, following host Government approval. He brings over 20 years of experience in international development, population and development, public policy and demographic analysis. He most recently served as the Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Bolivia, having had many other roles in the region. As you know, Resident Coordinators serve as the Secretary-General's representatives for development at the country level.

** EU/UN Strategic Committee on Peace and Security

I want to flag the first meeting of the new European Union-United Nations Strategic Committee on Peace and Security, which was held today here, in New York.

The meeting was co-chaired by Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Head of the Peace Operations department, as well as Charles Fries, the Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defence of the European External Action Service.

During the meeting, the delegations exchanged views on the evolving global peace and security landscape and reaffirmed their strong support for the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and for a rules-based international order anchored in international law.

The Committee also discussed the future of UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions, and the future orientation of EU missions and operations.

Looking ahead, the European Union and the UN agreed to place particular emphasis on their cooperation on transitions; the women, peace and security agenda; climate, peace and security; strategic planning; as well as conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

The Strategic Committee on Peace and Security will meet annually.

** World Wildlife Day

Today is what day? World Wildlife Day. In his message, the Secretary-General warns that human activity has pushed millions of animal species to the brink. He urges all countries to ensure that the ecosystems that have healed humanity for millennia can sustain us for generations to come.

** Rafeeuddin Ahmed

I want to flag an event tomorrow that will take place from 10:00 to noon in the ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) Chamber, and that will be a memorial ceremony in honour of our late colleague, Rafeeuddin Ahmed, a long-serving United Nations official who passed away at the end of last year.

Raffi Ahmed, as he was known, served many senior posts at the UN, including as Chef de Cabinet to the Secretary-General; Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Trusteeship and Decolonization; and Under-Secretary-General for International Economic and Social Affairs. He was also Associate Administrator at the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Raffi embodied the ideals that we all want to see in ourselves as international civil servants  humility in service, courage in conviction, and abiding faith in multilateralism.

We will remember him for his intellectual depth and his efforts to ensure that the UN system works to meet the needs of all the world's people  and he was always more focused on people than process.

Most of all, his mark will stay with this organization for a long time as he was a mentor to so many younger colleagues who followed in his footsteps.

You're all invited tomorrow to attend for those of you who knew him. And we of course extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

** Financial Contribution

We have money today.

If you will recall, when France paid, we talked about Charles de Gaulle's famous quote who talked about the difficulty of governing a country with 246 varieties of cheese. We are going to stick with the cheese theme; this country produces the world's most expensive cheese, which can cost up to $1,300 per kilo due to its extreme rarity and labour-intensive production. It is made from donkey milk. And the name of the cheese  and hopefully I am pronouncing this right, is Pule. [...]

Serbia.

We say thank you to our friends in Belgrade for their full payment to the Regular Budget.

They gave us $1,272,586, I don't know how much cheese that could buy, but we won't use it to buy cheese.

Serbia's payment brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 75.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Okay, Pam.

Question : All right. Since you stumped us on the second one...

Spokesman : Okay. Yes.

Question : Thank you, Steph. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Director General today, Rafael Grossi, said that there was no apparent radiation level elevation. But we cannot rule out possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas in major large cities because of all of these autonomous drones in the region and the possibility of power facilities, not necessarily weapons facilities. How worried is the Secretary-General of a nuclear fallout disaster...?

Spokesman : I mean, you know, whenever you have a conflict in an area where there are nuclear facilities, we have to be concerned. We will be guided by the scientific and technical assessment of the IAEA. Edie? Edie, please.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Two follow-ups. First, has the Secretary-General had talks with any other world leaders about the war in Iran?

Spokesman : I hope to have more things to report to you later today.

Question : And secondly, you talked about the first annual dialogue on artificial intelligence and global governance, but you never said when it might take place?

Spokesman : No. Sorry, I said it took place today.

Question : No. But...

Spokesman : Oh, where I think it will take place? In Geneva, if I'm not mistaken. But somebody will correct me.

Question : And do you know when?

Spokesman : Over the summer, if I'm not mistaken, but my colleague Stephanie [Tremblay], who's paying attention, will text me the right answer. Yes, please. Go ahead.

Question : Thank you, Steph.

Spokesman : Linda.

Question : Apropos of the war in the Middle East, you mentioned some casualties, you know, more details about casualties in Israel, Iran, Lebanon. What about the Gulf States? Do you have any further information in terms of status of casualties?

Spokesman : We have gotten less information, I mean, just from having fewer people on the ground in terms of our physical presence. But we obviously have seen the video of facilities, energy facilities, military facilities, the impact it's had on civilian facilities throughout the Gulf. Yes, madam?

Question : In light of some of the announcements from the US for their staff to leave embassies, is the UN planning on evacuating any staff out of the region?

Spokesman : We constantly are assessing our posture, the number of people we have on the ground. Right now in Lebanon, we're moving some people around, to make sure that they're staying safe.

Question : So yesterday, you urged us to keep an eye on Rosemary DiCarlo's remarks to the [Security] Council, especially regarding the school that was hit and the schoolgirls that were killed in Iran. But her remarks felt that they were very underwhelming by just saying that the UN is aware of the reports. Don't you think that required a little bit more strong language than what was in her remarks?

Spokesman : Look, I don't think we can use words that are strong enough to condemn when children die, when children die in a school. There will need to be accountability for civilians killed in this conflict and in other conflicts. And the parties in conflict have a duty to observe and respect international humanitarian law, which includes not targeting schools, civilian infrastructure, and, of course, children. Ibtisam Azem?

Question : Thank you. A follow-up on that question. The impression is actually the question about the remarks of Ms. DiCarlo that you go out of your way to not mention: Who [was] actually responsible for that attack?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, we don't know. The information that we received is that children died, right? That a school was hit. We don't have, and we've heard different narratives from the parties. There will need to be investigations, and we'll need to determine who is responsible.

Question : Back to Mr. Grossi, he said today that inspectors have not found evidence of a coordinated Iranian programme to build nuclear weapons despite Israel and US claims. Do you have any comments on that?

Spokesman : No. We rely on the IAEA for those types of technical assessments. They are the UN's official arm and agency when it comes to nuclear energy. Geneva and July is the answer to your question, Edie, about the [AI] debate. Okay. Namo?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Where does the Secretary-General stand on the notion of sending boots on the ground, American boots, or arming Iranian opposition groups to help bring about regime change?

Spokesman : For us, the solution to what is going on is not more soldiers, more weapons. It is a halt and a return to negotiating table. Linda, and then we'll go to our friend, Mr. Ali, on the screen.

Question : Steph, just following up on the alleged attack on the schoolgirls. Yesterday, I believe that Rosemary DiCarlo's called it alleged. And I was wondering, I'm trying to find... I mean, aside from Iran saying it occurred, does the UN have any independent confirmation of this? I mean, since Israel and the United States...?

Spokesman : I think, you know, we don't have confirmation. There seems to be enough publicly available evidence that something tragic happened.

Question : But not who did it?

Spokesman : No. Not to us at least.

Question : Okay, thank you.

Spokesman : Iftikhar?

Question : Thank you, Steph. Regarding the escalating war between Pakistan and the Taliban regime, I know some Islamic countries are involved in trying to bring about a halt to the conflict, but what is the UN role? Is it doing something to promote peace?

Spokesman : At this point, we are more focused on the humanitarian and trying to mitigate the humanitarian impact.

Question : Thank you.

Spokesman : Okay. Thank you, all.

Question : Hi, Steph.

Spokesman : Oh, please, sorry. Go ahead, Zora.

Question : Sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't send message for you.

Spokesman : That's okay.

Question : The attacks on Iran, including the bombing of infrastructure, schools, hospital, and residential areas, are continuing. Has the [UN] Secretary-General engaged in discussion with the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Israel to stop this war and establish a ceasefire?

Spokesman : We have not had direct contacts with those two, but the Secretary-General, as I stated yesterday, has been in contact with number of leaders in the region and their representatives here, and he will continue to do so in the coming days.

Question : No. Especially with President [Donald] Trump or...?

Spokesman : No. As I said, he had not had any contact with those two.

Question : Thank you.

Spokesman : You're welcome. Naureen?

Question : Quick question and just to clarify that no UN-led humanitarian teams have yet been mobilized in Iran?

Spokesman : That's what we have, especially through UNHCR, already have a large presence focused more on the issue of refugees that Iran was already hosting. We have not deployed any specific humanitarian teams at this time to deal with the aftermath of the conflict. All right. Thank you all.

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Today's top news: Middle East, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Afghanistan, Sudan, Ukraine

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Middle East

UN continues to deliver humanitarian assistance despite insecurity, restrictions

OCHA says that falling missile and drone debris, restricted airspace, and active hostilities continue to cause civilian casualties, damage infrastructure, and disrupt essential services across the region.

In Iran, sustained strikes since Saturday have reportedly affected more than 1,000 locations, resulting in about 790 deaths and nearly 750 injuries, according to local authorities and the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Some strikes have reportedly hit dense residential areas, and early reports indicate damage to civilian infrastructure.

In Israel, continued strikes have reportedly resulted in 10 deaths and dozens of injuries.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, airstrikes yesterday reportedly caused more than 50 deaths and over 150 injuries, according to the Ministry of Health.

Israeli authorities have issued forced displacement orders to people living in more than 100 towns and locations in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa, and Beirut's southern suburbs, ahead of anticipated attacks.

Displacement has increased significantly, with nearly 60,000 people now reported to be in newly opened emergency shelters, and many more people reportedly on the move. This is primarily affecting southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs.

Partners are working with authorities to ensure a coordinated response to the unfolding crisis in close coordination with the Government of Lebanon, including by providing food, health, water and sanitation support.

Humanitarian operations across the region are being severely affected by insecurity, supply chain interruption and airspace closures. The movement of humanitarian personnel remains restricted.

International humanitarian law is clear and non-negotiable: civilians, including aid workers, must be protected at all times.

Humanitarian partners continue to respond to needs across the region, but unimpeded access, security guarantees and adequate funding will determine how effective the response is.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Karem Shalom crossing re-opens for aid, fuel amid stepped up regional tensions

OCHA and its humanitarian partners continue to respond to people's needs in Gaza despite the escalating situation in the region.

Following the closure of all crossings into Gaza as well as the suspension of all coordinated movements on Saturday, the Israeli authorities today reopened Kerem Shalom crossing for the entry of 500,000 litres of fuel and humanitarian assistance arriving through Israel and Egypt.

Approximately 300,000 litres of fuel per day are required to maintain the critical humanitarian operations in Gaza, so it is essential that fuel continues to enter consistently until longer lasting solutions to supply Gaza with power are secured.

The Rafah and Zikim crossings remain closed and international humanitarian staff rotations are still suspended. Meanwhile, coordinated movements within Gaza have also resumed.

The UN and its partners reiterate that more crossings must be open to enable the scale up of the response to meet the immense needs of people in the Strip. Supplies must also enter in a predictable and sustained manner.

Shelter remains a critical need for most people, who remain displaced after more than two years of war. Over the past week, our partners distributed shelter assistance, including tarpaulins, bed sheets, mattresses, blankets, winter clothes and kitchen essentials to more than 1,600 families.

Partners also reached nearly 6,700 people with services last week, including psychosocial support, legal assistance and explosive risk education. Partners supporting child protection interventions delivered psychosocial support and recreational activities related to Ramadan to some 8,000 children.

Turning to the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the closure of most checkpoints. These measures severely curtail the freedom of movement of Palestinians and impact their ability to access services and livelihoods. They also impact the ability of humanitarian partners to deliver assistance and conduct their operations.

OCHA reported that yesterday, Israeli settlers killed two Palestinians and injured three other Palestinians, including two children, while raiding the village of Qaryut in Nablus. The injured were transported to the hospital for treatment.

OCHA stresses once again that Palestinians in the West Bank must be protected and that perpetrators of violence must be held accountable.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.

Afghanistan

Border violence kills, injures civilians

OCHA reports fighting along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has killed and injured civilians, forced families to flee, and damaged homes and public buildings in several provinces.

Residential areas have been hit, and children are among those reported killed and injured. Details are still being verified due to limited access.

In Afghanistan, nearly 66,000 people have reportedly been displaced across five eastern and southeastern provinces.

Airstrikes have damaged multiple key humanitarian facilities including a 20-bed emergency hospital in Torkham, a transit centre run by the International Organization for Migration, and a returnee reception centre also in Torkham.

The hostilities have also forced the suspension of World Food Programme activities interrupting food assistance for some 160,000 people.

This comes as Afghanistan faces one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with nearly 22 million people in need due to years of conflict, poverty and repeated natural disasters. Funding is critically low. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is just 11 per cent funded, with $181 million received out of the $1.7 billion needed to reach 17.5 million people.

Sudan

Top UN official concludes first visit to Dilling, South Kordofan

The Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown, has wrapped up a three-day visit to Dilling in South Kordofan.

The towns of Dilling and Kadugli, both in South Kordofan State, have experienced spiraling humanitarian needs due to prolonged sieges. This was the first mission by a senior UN official to Dilling since the conflict began. It follows the opening of a route into the area in recent weeks.

The security situation there remains highly volatile, with ongoing fighting continuing to drive more people from their homes, while also making the movement of humanitarian and commercial supplies very difficult.

While in Dilling, Ms. Brown, together with UN agencies and humanitarian partners, visited displacement sites and a hospital. They also met with local communities and humanitarian workers to assess conditions.

Save the Children announced on Monday the first delivery of vaccines to the town of Kadugli in nearly three years. Two truckloads carrying 18 metric tons tuberculosis, polio, measles and yellow fever and other vaccines are expected to reach nearly 25,000 children and 6,000 women across five localities.

OCHA once again calls for stepped up funding to address the most urgent needs across Sudan. It reiterates the obligation of the parties to the conflict under international humanitarian law to facilitate rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access.

To date, the 2026 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calling for $2.9 billion is only 14 per cent funded at just over $400 million, severely constraining the delivery of life-saving assistance

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in need in Sudan with urgent support.

Ukraine

Continued drone attacks kill more people including children

OCHA reports that over the past five days, attacks have continued across Ukraine, causing multiple civilian casualties and further damaging homes, energy and transport infrastructure.

Local authorities report that, between 28 February and the early hours of 3 March, more than 30 civilians were killed, and 140 were injured, including several children.

The regions of Dnipro and Donetsk were particularly impacted. In Donetsk, over the last five days, dozens of civilians were killed or injured in the front-line towns of Druzhkivka and Kramatorsk, where the security situation due to intense hostilities continues to deteriorate,restricting humanitarian access.

In Dnipro, a drone strike on a train reportedly killed and injured several passengers, including children.

Following the attacks, partners quickly mobilized to support people in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, as well as in the cities of Kharkiv, Odesa and Mykolaiv, providing shelter materials, hot meals, psychosocial support and cash assistance.

In the past five days, nearly 1,000 people were evacuated from the Donetsk Region. In the region of Kharkiv, more than 500 people, including dozens of children, arrived at two transit sites after fleeing the fighting, according to our partners.

Posted on 3 March 2026

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UN Relief Chief: Middle East violence's humanitarian fallout "increasingly daunting"

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Escalation in the Middle East - humanitarian implications

Statement by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

The humanitarian fallout from the escalation of violence in the Middle East is increasingly daunting.

First, civilians are paying the price across the region. Civilians must be protected - full stop. Yet strikes are hitting homes, hospitals, and schools. Civilians and civilian infrastructure have been under attack in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and beyond.

We are constantly assessing the damage and the scale of the growing humanitarian response required, and scaling up where necessary and possible. I have activated contingency plans across Iran and the region - including in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, the OPT, Syria and Yemen. The limited presence of international NGOs and operational space in Iran makes the challenge there greater.

Second, we are seeing knock on impacts on wider humanitarian needs.

Afghanistan was already experiencing an escalation of hostilities with Pakistan, with more than 60,000 people being driven from their homes. Nearly 22 million people already need humanitarian support. Regional escalation could worsen an already severe food insecurity crisis, affecting more than 17 million people.

In Pakistan, the UN has faced attacks on one of our facilities. Major instability in Iran could trigger large-scale movements of people, particularly into Baluchistan province. Pakistan already hosts some 1.3 million registered refugees and has limited capacity to absorb more.

In the OPT, the escalation has had immediate operational consequences. Access restrictions have curbed the entry of life-saving supplies and constrained humanitarian operations. Kerem Shalom has now reopened for fuel and humanitarian supplies, but all other crossings, including Rafah, remain closed. Medical evacuations remain suspended, leaving more than 18,000 patients, including 4,000 children, with no access to the specialized care they need. In the West Bank, Israeli forces have kept most of the checkpoints closed, severely curtailing the freedom of movement of Palestinians and impacting their ability to access services and livelihoods. They have also impacted the ability of our humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving help and conduct their operations.

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes in the South, Nabatiyeh, Beirut and the Bekaa have reportedly killed more than 50 people and injured over 150 others, causing significant destruction and large-scale displacement. More than 60,000 people are sheltered in 330 collective sites, with many others outside the shelters or on the move. Displacement orders have so far been issued by the Israeli military for more than 100 towns and villages in the South and Bekaa.

In Yemen, further impacts may include fuel and commodity price volatility. Any escalation in conflict in Yemen or the Red Sea risks price spikes or shortages in essential goods that would exacerbate an already-deteriorating food security situation, especially in Houthi-held areas. All efforts need be undertaken to support the people of Yemen, and avoid damage to critical civilian infrastructure and further straining response services.

Third, the shockwaves are hitting our ability to respond. Airspace closures are disrupting humanitarian rotations. Gas flows into Syria have been interrupted. United Nations humanitarian flights in Yemen are grounded. If energy routes or maritime corridors such as the Straits of Hormuz continue to be disrupted, food prices will soar, health systems will be squeezed, and basic supplies will tighten in countries that rely on imports. We are pre-positioning stocks, identifying alternative supply routes, and preparing rapid funding options, including potential allocations from the Central Emergency Response Fund.

Fourth, while global attention is absorbed by this crisis, other crises have of course not stopped. Sudan's war has passed 1,000 days. Violence continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Attacks on Ukraine are intensifying. We will sustain our global effort to save lives at scale, and urge partners to sustain their support and engagement.

Finally, there are deeper consequences for our work. Respect for international humanitarian law is being challenged and eroded again. Each time civilian infrastructure is struck, access is restricted and aid is politicized, the space for humanitarian action shrinks and it becomes harder to reach the communities we serve. Too many warning lights are flashing.

Actions have consequences, intended and unintended. The international system pulls further apart, and states increase spending on buying and selling weapons. More war risks draining even further the funding, political will and diplomatic energy needed for saving lives.

I am grateful to the humanitarians who continue to head towards danger to support civilians caught up in military escalation. Humanitarian action must remain principled, independent and unimpeded.

International law remains the best protector against the vicious cycle of violence and war. We will hold the line, and continue to do all we can.

Posted on 3 March 2026

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WFP ready to scale up operations across the Middle East as displacement grows and supply routes come under strain

World Food Programme

3 March 2026

This is a summary of what was said by Samer Abdeljaber, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe (speaking from Cairo via Zoom) - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

GENEVA -- The humanitarian situation across the Middle East is changing quickly driven by ongoing security developments. The United Nations World Food Programme is operational, positioned, and ready to scale as needs grow. We have activated emergency preparedness measures across the region and we can move fast.

World Food Programme country offices are preparing to scale up quickly if displacement increases, including in Iran, Turkiye, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Palestine, and Armenia.

In Lebanon, WFP has already activated contingency plans in coordination with local authorities, providing food assistance and support for those who have already been displaced by the violence.

At the same time, the impact of the conflict on commercial shipping and air travel are piling pressure on the humanitarian supply chains that WFP runs, on staff movements, and on logistics planning.

At this point, WFP estimates that at least USD 200 million would be needed to sustain an initial three month emergency response if the crisis escalates further across the Middle East.

ON LEBANON

Lebanon is the first country where we've needed to respond immediately due to displacements. Population movements remain fluid, with people leaving South Lebanon, the Bekaa, and Beirut's southern suburbs for shelters and host communities.

Official figures currently indicate nearly 30,000 people displaced so far and we believe this figure will climb much higher. The government has opened 21 shelters and WFP is working closely with the Ministry of Social Affairs, national authorities, and humanitarian partners.

Within hours of shelters opening in Lebanon, WFP was on the ground  providing hot meals, ready-to-eat rations, and bread to families who had nowhere else to turn. We are working with the Government to stand up an emergency cash safety net that can reach up to 100,000 people if the situation deteriorates further.

We're also concerned about Syrian refugees who we have been supporting inside Lebanon, and we will continue to advocate for that programme to make sure that we are supporting them despite the difficulties at the moment.

ON GAZA

We were worried because the borders to Gaza, the crossings have been closed since the escalation. We got the good news today that Kerem Shalom crossing will be opened. This is timely for us, and we need to get in aid as fast as we can.

We have wheat flour that is sufficient only for 10 days and food parcels that will maintain our programmes only for 2 1/2 weeks. So, we need to make sure that there is a continuous flow and scalable flow of food into the Gaza Strip.

Of course, there is a commercial sector that was going into the Gaza Strip and we're trying to scale up our cash assistance. But if closures or delays continue to affect operations, we expect that we will have to reduce our general food assistance ration size to almost 25% to support 1.3 million people with flour and food parcels.

ON LOGISTICS

Across the region, the humanitarian supply lines are under growing strain. The rising security risks in the region are choking shipping routes and disrupting aid delivery.

Maritime access is becoming more difficult. Risks in the Strait of Hormuz, combined with the threat of renewed attacks in the Red Sea, are disrupting shipping between Asia and the Middle East. These disruptions are increasing transport costs, extending delivery times, and tightening the availability of containers.

Ongoing airspace closures across the Gulf are also limiting crew changes and complicating humanitarian rotations and emergency deployments.

With airspace closing and seas contested, we are racing to adapt. WFP and partners are doing that by, for example, increasing reliance on suppliers and transit routes in Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan, and using overland corridors between the UAE and the Levant where possible. We're also relying on Egypt's fully operational ports and the Suez Canal, which remain critical hubs for the region.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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WFP warns of deepening crisis in Afghanistan as insecurity flares on eastern, southern and western border

World Food Programme

3 March 2026

GENEVA -- Afghanistan is seeing an escalation of insecurity on its borders increased fighting on the eastern and southern frontier with Pakistan, and ongoing violence in Iran. This renewed fighting is putting immense pressure on communities already vulnerable and worn down by years of crisis, conflict and chaos.

Let me begin with the eastern and southern border.

Afghanistan shares an approximately 2,400kilometre border with Pakistan, touching nearly one third of its provinces. Since 26 February, violence has escalated across the Durand Line, triggering displacement of approximately 20,000 families across the Eastern, Southeastern and Southern regions. Cross border violence and air and ground strikes have affected more than 30 districts in Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman, Paktika, Paktya, Khost, Kandahar, Helmand provinces.

Across these provinces, WFP has been forced to temporarily suspend emergency, social protection, school feeding and livelihood activities. Approximately 160,000 people have been impacted by the suspension of emergency food distributions.

You may recall the earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August. Communities in mountainous Kunar and Nangarhar provincesalready among the most vulnerablewere hardest hit, losing family members, homes and livelihoods. Today, those very same communities are once again on the front line, now facing the escalation of conflict with Pakistan.

The affected districts were already facing severe food insecurity, with more than half in Emergency levels of hunger, while four of the affected provinces are experiencing critical levels of acute malnutrition - leaving families in an increasingly dire situation.

On the other side of the country, on Afghanistan's western border, violence in Iran is sparking fears of a surge in returnees. We witnessed a similar surge in returns during increased fighting in June 2025. For many, coming back to Afghanistan means not only facing poverty, unemployment and hunger but also renewed instability.

Saeed Azeez, a 36-year-old father of four, returned from Iran only months ago, where he lived on a modest factory wage - but able to feed his family. Back in Afghanistan, he found himself with no home, no work and some days nothing more than bread to eat. Injured and unable to work, and with restrictions preventing his wife from working, his family now survives on WFP rations. As Saeed put it, during Ramadan: "We barely have any food to break our fast." His story illustrates how returneesalready among the most vulnerableare seeing renewed instability, poverty and hunger.

In 2025, WFP supported over half a million returnees at border points with Iran and Pakistan. Assistance included cash, fortified biscuits and nutritious food products for women and children.

Afghanistan already saw an influx of more than 2.5 million returnees from Iran and Pakistan in 2025. Even before the latest escalation, projections estimated a similar influx in 2026but renewed fighting may drive those numbers even higher, placing unbearable strain on a woefully underfunded humanitarian response.

Afghanistan remains one of the world's most severe hunger crises with one in three Afghans17.4 million people in urgent need of food assistance. Child malnutrition has also reached worrying levels, with 3.7 million children projected to need treatment in 2026.

With a new crisis in the making and the current funding outlook, WFP will not be able to reach families fleeing Iran and Pakistan and those internally displaced by the cross- border conflict in Afghanistan.

For our winter response this year, WFP was only able to provide food assistance to a fraction of those in need. WFP warns that by April 2026 funding for emergency operations will run out, putting millions at risk of losing critical support.

Our funding need for the next six months stands at US$313 million. WFP urges the international community to honor their commitment and not abandon Afghanistan in its hour of greatest need.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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Military



Operation Epic Fury - War Without Endgame On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a major Middle Eastern war. Within days, a pattern emerged: the Trump administration offered a bewildering array of war aims, contradictory statements, and no coherent vision for how the conflict would end. The escalation of military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran in early 2026, designated by the United States as Operation Epic Fury, represented a culmination of structural tensions and shifting strategic objectives within the second Trump administration. The conflict was characterized by a profound diversity in official messaging, ranging from surgical strikes on nuclear facilities to explicit calls for the total overthrow of the clerical regime. This ambiguity reflected a broader debate within the executive branch regarding the utility of force and the desired end state of a confrontation that many observers argued lacked a coherent definition of victory. Trump Demands Unconditional Surrender from Iran "There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!). Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"  President Donald J. Trump, Truth Social, March 6, 2026 Current Situation President Donald Trump has explicitly ruled out any negotiated settlement with Iran short of complete and unconditional surrender. The statement comes on the seventh day of joint U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iranian missile stockpiles, launchers, nuclear sites, and military command. Trump clarified that unconditional surrender means Iran must reach the point where it can no longer fight or threaten the region  specifically by the destruction of its navy, ballistic missile capabilities, nuclear program, and proxy networks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added that the U.S. will decide when Iran can no longer pose a threat. Historical Background 1. Ulysses S. Grant & the Civil War (1862) The phrase unconditional surrender first gained national prominence during the American Civil War. On February 16, 1862, at the Battle of Fort Donelson, Confederate Brigadier General Simon Buckner asked Union commander Ulysses S. Grant for terms of surrender. "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works."  Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant Grants blunt reply earned him the nickname Unconditional Surrender Grant and marked the first major Union victory of the war. 2. Imperial Japan & World War II (1945) During World War II, the Allies adopted a policy of unconditional surrender for the Axis powers. For Japan, this policy was formally stated in the Potsdam Declaration of July 26, 1945, issued by the United States, United Kingdom, and China. "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces... The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction."  Potsdam Declaration Japan initially resisted but accepted the terms after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, formally surrendering on September 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri, ending World War II. Trump is deliberately invoking one of the strongest phrases in American military history  a demand for total victory with no off-ramp until the enemy is fully neutralized.

War Aims Confusion

The United States entered World War I and World War II not merely to defeat enemies, but to establish a more just and stable world order. Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and the subsequent construction of the United Nations system reflected a deeply held belief: that American power should be harnessed to a universal project of collective security, democracy, and international law. This vision -- liberal internationalism -- held that war could be a tool to build a lasting peace. Yet on March 2, 2026, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth articulated a radically different war aim for the conflict with Iran. In doing so, he not only rejected the legacy of Wilson and Roosevelt but also severed the essential Clausewitzian link between war and politics, reducing conflict to pure kinetic violence. This is the colonel's fallacy: the belief that war can be waged as a simple, unencumbered military act, free from political purpose or post-war responsibility.

Iran's War Aims: Survival and Retribution

Tehran's objectives, shaped by decades of confrontation with the United States, are stark and consistent: ensure regime survival, retaliate proportionally to maintain deterrence, and exploit American domestic and regional divisions. After the killing of Khamenei, Iran's retaliatory strikes hit US assets in Jordan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and other allied states. The Islamic Republic's primary goal is to demonstrate that decapitation will not force capitulation. As UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk noted on March 1, 2026, in Geneva, bombs and missiles are not the way to resolve differences but only result in death, destruction, and human misery. Iran calculates that a protracted conflict, even at great cost, may outlast American political will -- a calculation rooted in watching US withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Iranian response, involving the activation of regional proxies and retaliatory strikes on Gulf neighbors, suggested that Tehran viewed the conflict as an existential struggle with no room for compromise.

Trump's Opening Salvo: Regime Change Rhetoric

President Trump's initial video statement, released February 28, 2026, explicitly called on Iranians to overthrow their government. He declared: "To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations." This was unambiguous: the United States aimed to empower a popular uprising. Trump further promised immunity to Iranian security forces who laid down arms, warning others of certain death. In an ABC News interview on March 1, he touted Khamenei's death and added that no one from the previous leadership structure would step in to fill the void, because they were all dead -- second or third place included. The message seemed clear: regime change was the goal.

Yet other statements from Trump introduced further layers of ambiguity. Speaking to reporters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on February 13, 2026, he had remarked that a change in power in Iran would be the best thing that could happen, and that if military action were taken, targeting the nuclear program would be the least of the mission. This rhetorical shift from behavior modification to regime replacement created a strategic dissonance. If the aim was merely to curb nuclear ambitions, the destruction of command-and-control centers and the targeting of senior leadership appeared to exceed the requirements of deterrence, yet fell short of the resources needed for a full-scale transition of power. In a social media video recorded at Mar-a-Lago on March 1, 2026, Trump stated that he did not have the yips with respect to boots on the ground, adding that he probably would not need them, but would deploy them if necessary. This not-ruling-it-out stance served as a form of psychological warfare but also signaled to the American public and the Iranian leadership that the administration had no fixed upper limit on the level of escalation.

The Pentagon Contradiction: Not a Regime Change War

Within 48 hours of the initial strikes, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly contradicted the president. At a March 2, 2026, news conference alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, Hegseth stated flatly that this was not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change. Hegseth framed the mission narrowly: destroying Iranian missiles, missile production, the Iranian navy, and preventing nuclear weapons. He insisted this was not Iraq and was not endless. Yet he refused to offer a timeline, saying the duration was up to Trump, and that it could span anywhere from two to six weeks or shift in either direction. When asked about boots on the ground, Hegseth declined to rule them out, saying the administration would not go into the exercise of stating what it would or would not do.

The full Hegseth doctrine, as recorded at that same Pentagon briefing, went considerably further in its philosophical implications. The Secretary stated: "No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don't waste time or lives." This statement was embedded in a broader rationale. Hegseth insisted the operation had a clear, devastating, decisive mission to destroy the missile threat from Iran. The core of his message was that the United States would not repeat the mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan: it would not engage in utopian projects or politically correct wars. The implication was clear -- the military's sole job was to break things and kill people, unencumbered by concerns for post-war order or nation-building. He added: "We are not defenders anymore. We are warriors. Trained to kill the enemy and break their will."

This vision stands in stark opposition to the war aims that defined America's twentieth-century great power conflicts. Historian Wang Lixin, in a 2025 lecture, traced the evolution of the US-led liberal international order from its Wilsonian version -- collective security, free trade, self-determination -- through its Cold War variant and into the overreach of the post-Cold War period. World War I and World War II were fought to create and restore this order, grounded in the belief that American security depended on a stable, rules-based international system. The 1944 Bretton Woods conference, the founding of the United Nations, and the Marshall Plan were all expressions of the idea that military victory must be followed by political and economic reconstruction. Hegseth's March 2 doctrine explicitly rejects that entire tradition. His dismissal of nation-building and democracy-building exercises is not merely a tactical adjustment; it is a declaration that the United States would no longer use war as a tool for constructing a just world order.

"nationbuilding"

In the years after the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the MAGA movement would define itself in part through a rejection of what it called endless wars and nationbuilding. Its rhetoric cast the post9/11 era as a cautionary tale of American overreach, in which Washington tried to reshape foreign societies, install new leaders, and manage political transitions in places it did not understand. Rally speeches, campaign ads, and conservative media all returned to the same refrain: the United States should not be in the business of deciding who governs other countries or rebuilding their political systems after conflict. Nationbuilding became a kind of shorthand for everything MAGA claimed to abhor about the old Republican foreign policy establishment.

Donald Trump himself would give this critique its most memorable form. He spoke of Iraq as a disaster, condemned the idea of rebuilding other nations while our own crumbles, and promised a foreign policy that would put America First by avoiding the costly entanglements of the past. In this telling, the United States would no longer topple regimes, no longer design constitutions for other peoples, and no longer assume responsibility for the internal politics of distant states. The image was clear: where previous presidents had tried to shape the destinies of Baghdad or Kabul, a MAGAera presidency would turn inward, guarding borders rather than drawing new lines on foreign maps.

Against that backdrop, Trumps later comments about Irans succession would involve a striking departure from the antinationbuilding script. In interviews and remarks reported at the time, he insisted that he had to be involved in the appointment of Irans next leader, dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei as unacceptable and a lightweight, and invoked his role in Venezuela by saying he wanted to be involved like with Delcy. The language was not about restraint or nonintervention; it was about personal participation in the selection of another countrys leadership. Where MAGA rhetoric had condemned the idea of Washington choosing foreign leaders, Trump now spoke as though such a role was both natural and necessary.

The historical resonance would be hard to miss. In 1953, the United States and the United Kingdom helped remove Mohammad Mossadegh and restore the Shah, shaping Irans leadership in the name of stability and Western interests. In 2003, the United States toppled Saddam Hussein and then spent years managing Iraqs political transition, vetting leaders and overseeing the architecture of a new state. Both episodes became central exhibits in the MAGA indictment of nationbuilding: proof, in the movements telling, that trying to engineer foreign leadership only bred resentment, chaos, and blowback. Yet Trumps succession comments echoed the same underlying premisethat American security and regional order justified a direct say in who ruled abroad.

The tension between the movements rhetoric and the leaders words would become an archival marker of the era. On the one hand, MAGA presented itself as a revolt against the hubris of regime change and postwar social engineering. On the other, its standardbearer openly claimed a veto over Irans next supreme leader and framed that involvement as a safeguard against future war. The vocabulary shiftedharmony, peace, stabilitybut the function remained familiar: an American president asserting the right to shape another nations political future. In the historical record, that juxtaposition stands as a quiet contradiction at the heart of the MAGA project, where the rejection of nationbuilding coexisted with a renewed claim to decide who leads abroad.

Mixed Signals and Cascading Contradictions

The diversity of statements from the Trump administration throughout late 2025 and into March 2026 illustrated a lack of internal consensus on primary war aims. On March 2, Trump sent a formal letter to Congress justifying strikes to protect United States forces in the region, protect the United States homeland, advance vital United States national interests including ensuring the free flow of maritime commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, and act in collective self-defense of regional allies including Israel. The letter mentioned nothing of regime change, framing the action as defensive. That same day, Trump told reporters the war might last four to five weeks or, alternatively, as long as it takes. By afternoon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered yet another rationale: the United States struck pre-emptively because Israel was about to attack, and inaction would have meant higher US casualties.

General Caine provided a sober battlefield assessment that sat uneasily alongside the bolder political pronouncements. He stated that this was not a single overnight operation, that the military objectives would take some time to achieve, and that in some cases it would be difficult and gritty work. He warned that the United States should expect to take additional losses. Within days, six US service members were dead. The gap between Hegseth's not-endless assurance and Caine's difficult-and-gritty warning epitomized the strategic dissonance. The ambiguity surrounding the use of ground forces further complicated this lack of a defined end state. Despite the president's historical aversion to large-scale deployments, his rhetoric in 2026 became increasingly open-ended. In a formal notification to Congress invoking the War Powers Resolution, President Trump wrote that while no ground forces were currently deployed, it was not possible at that time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that might be necessary.

Analysts Flag the Absence of a Day-After Plan

Experts immediately flagged the incoherence. Evan Cooper of the Stimson Center told Anadolu Ajansi on March 3, 2026, that the Trump administration did not appear to have a substantial day-after plan for Iran, nor a clear strategy for what it wanted to accomplish over the longer term. He acknowledged that the US military planning for eliminating Iranian leadership appeared to have been thorough and generally well-executed, but argued that the strategic process for justifying why these attacks were in the US interest, and having an implementable plan in the aftermath, seemed almost entirely lacking. Cooper noted Trump's pre-war preference for a deal, pointing to the president's statement on February 27 that his preference was to solve the problem through diplomacy -- a stark contrast to launching massive strikes during active talks.

Jason H. Campbell of the Middle East Institute observed that President Trump's messaging from the outset was an appeal to the Iranian people to take over and take back their country, but with very little detail as to what the United States was prepared or willing to do to help that effort. The inconsistency -- urging popular revolt one day, referencing negotiations the next -- left allies and enemies guessing alike. On March 1, 2026, Trump's video message to the Iranian people encouraged them to seize the moment and be brave, yet provided no concrete plan for how a disorganized civilian uprising could fill the power void left by the potential collapse of the clerical regime. This lack of post-conflict planning echoed the mistakes of the 2003 Iraq War, yet the administration's refusal to commit to nation-building suggested a scenario where the United States might destroy the state and then simply walk away.

Clausewitz and the Colonel's Fallacy

Carl von Clausewitz's axiom that war is a continuation of political activity by other means remains foundational to modern strategic thought precisely because it demands coherence. For war to serve policy, political objectives must guide military action from beginning to end. When objectives are undefined or contradictory, war becomes senseless violence. The notion that war can be waged as pure violence, unencumbered by political purpose, has been critiqued by military theorists as the colonel's fallacy. Retired Air Force Colonel Phillip S. Meilinger, in a 2011 letter to the Air and Space Power Journal, addressed this misconception directly. He argued that Clausewitz's emphasis on battle as the central instrument of war is often misread as a justification for focusing solely on the violent, tactical level of conflict. The fallacy lies in ignoring that violence must always serve a political end. Meilinger wrote of the need to distinguish between the timeless nature of war -- violence, danger, fear -- and its ever-changing character, and crucially, to remember that political purpose must guide that character. When leaders declare they are warriors trained to kill the enemy and break their will without anchoring that killing to a political objective, they commit this fallacy.

This perspective reduces war to a blunt instrument. It ignores the reality that military operations generate political effects, whether or not they are intended. The very act of destroying a regime or its military capacity creates a vacuum -- a vacuum that will be filled by something. If the United States refuses to engage in nation-building, others -- adversaries, militias, or chaos itself -- will do so. Hegseth's insistence that this was not Iraq and that the mission was merely to destroy specific military targets ignored that the destruction itself reshapes the political landscape. Robert C. Rubel, in a 2019 article on wargaming strategy, emphasized that the interface between policy and operations is fraught with intellectual complications that cannot be ignored. He noted that successful military operations, in and of themselves, are not always a sufficient cause for war termination. Without defined political aims, there is no metric for victory, no off-ramp, and no basis for negotiation.

The Negotiation Paradox: Bombing Your Interlocutors

Perhaps the most surreal aspect of the 2026 conflict occurred in Geneva. On February 26 and 27, 2026, US and Iranian negotiators held indirect talks through Omani mediators -- reportedly making very good progress, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. A US official described them as positive. Hours later, US warplanes were striking Iranian cities. In an interview with The Atlantic on March 1, 2026, President Trump claimed the Iranians wanted to talk and that he had agreed to talk and would be talking to them. However, in the same interview, he acknowledged that many of the individuals involved in previous rounds of negotiations were no longer alive due to the intensity of the air campaign. Hegseth later justified the decision to strike during talks by claiming Tehran was stalling.

This strategy of negotiation through retribution ignored a fundamental tenet of diplomacy: the need for a functioning, authorized counterpart to sign and enforce an agreement. By targeting the very leadership structures required to order a ceasefire or dismantle a nuclear program, the administration risked creating a vacuum where no one had the authority to end the war. The message to Tehran -- and to any potential future negotiating partner -- was that US commitments at the table are worthless. General David Petraeus, the former CIA director, warned the BBC that urging popular uprising is itself a risky proposition, observing that in most cases like this it is the guys who have the most guns and the most thugs and who are willing to be most brutal who prevail. Without a diplomatic strategy, military gains evaporate. Turk warned from Geneva that failing to de-escalate risked an even wider conflict that would inevitably lead to further senseless civilian deaths and destruction.

Defining Victory: The Unanswered Question

A 1982 US Army study on war termination noted the critical need to distinguish between battles, campaigns, and wars -- and to define success criteria before the fighting begins. If the United States cannot define what winning means, it has no way of knowing when to stop. Hegseth stated the war was not endless, but offered no endpoint. Trump said whatever it takes. Destroying missile launchers and naval assets is tactically measurable, but strategically meaningless if Iran's regime survives with its hostility undiminished -- or if it fragments into chaos that spawns greater threats. If missile sites are destroyed but the regime survives, Iran rebuilds, as it did after previous strikes. If the regime collapses, who replaces it? The MEK? Exiles? Military strongmen? The United States had no plan, no transitional authority, and no commitment of troops to secure order. Chaos of the magnitude that engulfed Iraq in 2006 remained a plausible outcome, compounded by the likelihood of intervention by regional powers including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Russia if Iran fragmented. If the United States withdrew after bombing without achieving a political settlement, Iran's proxies -- Hezbollah and Shia militias throughout the region -- retained the capacity to retaliate against Israel and US bases indefinitely.

The contrast with past conflicts was rendered all the more stark by the decentralization of decision-making within the Iranian government following the reported death of Ayatollah Khamenei. As power shifted to a temporary leadership council and regional commanders, the United States faced a fragmented adversary. This fragmentation made the administration's goal of regime compliance nearly impossible to achieve, as there was no longer a single center of gravity to pressure. The absence of a clear off-ramp meant that both sides were incentivized to continue escalating, as any pause without a fundamental change in the status quo was viewed as a tactical retreat rather than a path to peace. Historical analysts noted that if victory could not be defined, the war would likely settle into a pattern of containment operations much like the enforcement of no-fly zones over Iraq throughout the 1990s -- a perpetual air campaign without resolution.

World War II: Unconditional Surrender as a Model and Its Limits

The termination of World War II offers a stark contrast to the strategic confusion of 2026. The Allied demand for unconditional surrender from Germany and Japan produced clear endpoints: Hitler's suicide, Berlin's occupation, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Imperial Japan's formal capitulation. These were not negotiated compromises; they were total victories with defined political end states. The 2026 campaign against Iran suffered from what Clausewitzian theorists identified as a disconnect between the grammar of war and its logic. Clausewitz argued that war is the continuation of politics by other means, meaning that military action must always remain subordinate to a defined political purpose. If the political purpose remained a moving target -- shifting between nuclear non-proliferation, the protection of maritime commerce, and the liberation of the Iranian people -- the military was left without a clear benchmark for when to stop.

Yet even the clarity of 1945 had limits worth acknowledging. The Yalta Conference's political arrangements for post-war Europe immediately fueled the Cold War, demonstrating that even the most decisive military victories require sustained political engagement in their aftermath. The Marshall Plan, the occupation of Germany and Japan, and the construction of new governmental institutions for both defeated nations were not optional addenda to the Allied victory -- they were the substance of that victory. The construction of durable peace required nation-building on a vast scale, precisely the enterprise that Secretary Hegseth dismissed in 2026 as a quagmire to be avoided. The United States in 2026 could not decide whether it wanted regime change, missile destruction, nuclear rollback, or merely to degrade Iranian power -- and these objectives conflicted in practice. Destroying the regime would require ground invasion, which the administration ruled out; missile destruction alone would leave the regime intact to rebuild; and nuclear rollback without political change would be temporary at best.

Congressional Confusion and the Propaganda Dilemma

Historian Susan Brewer's study of US war propaganda found persistent gaps between official messaging and reality, observing that as long as propaganda assumes that people cannot handle the truth, it leaves Americans to wonder why they fight. In 2026, Americans were left wondering not because of propaganda in the conventional sense, but because their leaders could not agree on a single truth to propagate. Senator Hiram Johnson's warning from 1917 that the first casualty when war comes is truth found a new iteration in 2026: truth was not merely a casualty but was absent from the start.

Lawmakers demanded answers. Representative Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told NPR on March 2 that the Trump administration still had not given any detail on where Iran's nuclear program stood at that point, and that no specific intelligence had been provided that would support a credible claim of imminent threat from Iran. Republicans publicly supported Trump but privately expressed unease. Allies in the region were bewildered: after years of the United States urging diplomacy, Washington had bombed during active talks. The administration's contradictory statements -- not regime change yet celebrating regime change, no nation-building yet calling on Iranians to take over their government, no boots on the ground yet refusing to rule them out -- revealed a profound incoherence that was the logical outcome of a doctrine attempting to separate violence from politics.

Severing the Politics-War Nexus

The practical consequences of severing war from politics were already evident by early March 2026. Without a political strategy, military pressure becomes an end in itself -- and an endless one at that. Hegseth's mantra, we fight to win, is tautological unless winning is defined in political terms. Is victory achieved when the last missile launcher is destroyed? When Iran's navy lies at the bottom of the Persian Gulf? When the regime collapses? The administration's conflicting statements reveal what the 1982 Army war termination study warned against: a campaign in which success criteria are so vague as to be unverifiable.

War termination scholarship consistently emphasizes the necessity of defining political objectives before firing the first shot. The 2026 Iran conflict reversed this: shoot first, define later. The Clausewitzian warning that war gravitates toward extremes in the absence of political guidance was borne out in miniature within the first week of Operation Epic Fury. The war aims of the United States in early 2026 remained a collection of conflicting impulses: a desire for a quick victory, a refusal to commit ground troops, a hope for a popular revolution, and a commitment to total military dominance, all existing simultaneously without a unifying strategic logic. Consequently, the conflict continued without a coherent definition of what its conclusion would look like. Without defining what it wanted politically from the Iran conflict, the United States could not know how to end it, and without knowing how to end it, the killing would continue until exhaustion or escalation forced a conclusion no one had planned.

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Operation Epic Fury - Lessons

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Iran War 2026: First  IFF, Patriot, OSINT, and the Shape of Future Conflict

IRAN WAR 2026: FIRST LESSONS

An Early Look at What We're Learning  and What Analysts Should Be Watching

Twelve days into Operation Persian Freedom, the conflict with Iran has already generated a torrent of tactical, operational, and strategic data. While it is far too early for definitive conclusions, initial reports from the theater, Pentagon briefings, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) communities reveal patterns that will shape military thinking for a generation. From fratricide incidents involving advanced fighters to the stunning ineffectiveness of Russian and Chinese air defenses, the 2026 war is providing a brutal real-world laboratory. This article offers a very early first look at lessons learned so far, highlighting what we know, what remains unclear, and what analysts should be tracking in the coming weeks.

1. IFF and Fratricide: The F-15E Nightmare Returns

Despite decades of investment in Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) technology, the first week of the air campaign saw at least two confirmed fratricide incidents involving F-15E Strike Eagles. On March 3, 2026, an F-15E engaged what its sensors identified as an Iranian air defense radaronly to discover post-strike that it had destroyed a U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone operating in the same battlespace. A second incident on March 5 involved two F-15Es from the same squadron misidentifying each other during a high-threat ingress; one was shot down, killing both crew.

"We are seeing that in high-tempo, cluttered electronic warfare environments, even fifth-generation IFF systems are struggling to keep pace. The F-15E, for all its upgrades, still relies on datalinks and transponders that can be spoofed or simply overwhelmed by the sheer volume of emissions. This is a 2026 problem that we thought we'd solved in 1991."  Lt. Gen. (Ret.) David Deptula, former Air Force deputy chief of staff for intelligence, in an interview with Breaking Defense, March 7, 2026

The fratricide issue is compounded by the dense air defense environment. Iranian forces have employed aggressive electronic warfare, including falsified IFF squawks, to create confusion. Initial reports suggest that the F-15E's APG-82 AESA radar, while excellent for targeting, may not be optimized for rapid, unambiguous combat ID in a non-cooperative environment. The Air Force is reportedly rushing a software patch to the fleet, but as one F-15E weapons systems officer told Aviation Week on background: "We're back to the 1990schecking grids, using eyeballs, and hoping. That's not good enough when everyone's shooting."

2. Patriot's Manuevering Warhead Problem

Iran's missile arsenal has long been a concern, but the 2026 conflict has revealed a specific vulnerability in the U.S. Army's Patriot air defense system: maneuvering warheads. Multiple Patriot batteries have reported engagement failures against Iranian medium-range ballistic missiles equipped with terminal maneuverable reentry vehicles (MaRVs). On March 2, a Patriot PAC-3 MSE battery near Al Udeid failed to intercept a Zolfaghar missile that executed a series of high-G pulls in its terminal phase; the missile struck a fuel depot, killing 13 U.S. servicemembers.

"The PAC-3 was designed to hit ascending or simple ballistic trajectories. These Iranian missiles are now jinking like fighters in the last seconds. The kinematic limits of the interceptor are being stressed. We need a new generation of endo-atmospheric interceptors with divert thrusters capable of matching these maneuvers."  Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at CSIS, March 8, 2026

Raytheon, the Patriot manufacturer, issued a statement acknowledging the issue and noting that software updates and hardware modifications are in development. But the immediate lesson is stark: the maneuvering missile threat has outpaced the current interceptor inventory. Analysts are now asking whether the Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) will be fielded fast enough to provide the track data needed for future engagements.

3. Soviet/Chinese Air Defenses: A Paper Tiger?

Perhaps the most startling revelation of the first two weeks has been the near-total ineffectiveness of Iran's Russian-supplied S-300 and indigenous Bavar-373 air defense systems, as well as Chinese-origin JY-14 surveillance radars. Despite decades of investment, these systems have failed to down a single coalition aircraft in over 2,500 sorties. U.S. and Israeli aircraft have operated with near-impunity over Iranian airspace, conducting deep strikes against nuclear facilities and leadership targets.

The reasons are multiple. First, advanced electronic attackincluding EA-18G Growlers and new long-range standoff jammershave saturated Iranian radar bands. Second, the use of low-observable aircraft (F-35, F-22, and B-21) has kept the most valuable platforms undetected. Third, and most damning, Iranian crews appear poorly trained and their systems poorly integrated. A U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The War Zone: "We're seeing the S-300 radars light up, get a whiff of something, then go dark. They're afraid of being targeted by HARM missiles. The Chinese systems are even worsethey seem to have no electronic protection measures worth mentioning. This is a catastrophic failure for Russian and Chinese defense exports."

The implications are global. Nations that have spent billions on Russian and Chinese air defensesincluding India, Vietnam, and several Middle Eastern statesare now urgently reassessing their investments. As one Gulf official told Defense News on March 6: "If the S-300 cannot protect Tehran, what can it protect?"

4. Man-Hunting: The Exquisite Intelligence Behind Decapitation

The strike that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28 was not a lucky hit. It was the culmination of years of human intelligence (HUMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), and geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) fused into a single targeting package. The operation, conducted by two F-35s using GBU-72 bunker-busters, required real-time confirmation of Khamenei's presence in a specific underground facility in northern Tehran.

"The level of detail we had on his movements, his security rotations, even the specific room he usedit was unprecedented. This was the gold standard of man-hunting. We had people inside his inner circle, and we had satellites and drones watching every exit. When we struck, we knew exactly where he was."  Retired Gen. Joseph Votel, former commander of U.S. Central Command, in an interview with CNN, March 4, 2026

But the lesson is not just about technical capabilityit's about the vulnerability of high-value targets in the modern era. If the U.S. can do this to Khamenei, so can others. Adversaries will learn that hardened bunkers are no longer sanctuaries, and that human sources can be inserted at the highest levels. The tradecraft involvedrecruitment, validation, and communication under extreme denialwill be studied for decades. Analysts should watch for Iranian retaliation against suspected spy networks, and for a global shift in how leaders manage their personal security.

5. Pervasive Commercial Imagery: OSINT as a Double-Edged Sword

The war has been fought in full view of the world, thanks to commercial satellite imagery providers like Maxar, Planet, and Capella Space. Within hours of major strikes, high-resolution images of damaged bases, burning oil refineries, and massing military columns appeared on social media and news sites. This has empowered journalists, analysts, and the publicbut it has also provided adversaries with unprecedented battle damage assessment (BDA) capabilities.

Iranian forces have been observed using publicly available satellite imagery to adjust missile targeting and assess U.S. force dispositions. On March 3, Iranian state TV aired a Maxar image of Al Udeid Air Base, annotating the locations of U.S. aircraft. The Pentagon has since scrambled to impose tighter controls on imagery distribution, but commercial satellites are beyond its reach.

"We are fighting the most transparent war in history. Every move we make is photographed, analyzed, and tweeted. That's great for accountability, but it's a nightmare for operational security. The Iranians are watching the same Twitter feeds we are."  Mick Mulroy, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, ABC News, March 5, 2026

Analysts should track how commercial providers balance public interest with national security concerns, and whether any formal or informal censorship emerges. Also, watch for the use of AI-driven OSINT tools that can automatically detect and geolocate military assets from satellite imagery.

6. AIS Tracking: The Maritime Battlefield Exposed

The naval campaign in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz has been shadowed by Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, which broadcasts ship positions for collision avoidance. Commercial platforms like MarineTraffic and VesselFinder have allowed anyone with an internet connection to track U.S. and Iranian naval movements. Iran has exploited this, using AIS to monitor U.S. carrier strike group positions and to coordinate small boat attacks.

The U.S. Navy has responded by ordering ships in the theater to turn off AIS transpondersa tactic that increases collision risk but reduces targeting intelligence. However, as one naval analyst noted: "Turning off AIS is like turning off your porch light. It helps, but adversaries can still see you with radar satellites and signals intelligence. The genie is out of the bottle."

Look for future conflicts to see widespread AIS manipulation, spoofing, and the use of alternative tracking methods. The lesson is that open-source maritime data is now a core element of naval intelligence, and both sides will invest in exploiting it.

7. AI in Modern Warfare: From Targeting to Logistics

Artificial intelligence has played a significant but largely invisible role in the 2026 campaign. U.S. Central Command has deployed multiple AI systems, including the Army's Project Maven and the Air Force's Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), to process intelligence, identify targets, and optimize air tasking orders. According to initial reports, AI-assisted targeting has reduced the kill chain from minutes to seconds for time-sensitive strikes.

On the logistics side, AI has been used to predict maintenance needs, route supply convoys, and manage fuel distribution across the theater. The 2026 war is the first major conflict where AI has been deeply integrated into operational planning.

"AI is not a magic wand, but it is a force multiplier. We are processing petabytes of datafull-motion video, signals, imageryand AI is helping us find the needles in the haystack. The challenge is trusting it, and making sure we don't automate our way into mistakes."  Dr. Will Roper, former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, March 6, 2026

But AI has also shown limitations. In at least one instance, an AI-powered targeting system misidentified a civilian truck convoy as a military resupply column, leading to a strike that killed 14 civilians. The incident is under investigation, but it highlights the dangers of over-reliance on algorithmic recommendations in ambiguous environments.

8. What Else Should Analysts Be Looking For?

The first two weeks have raised as many questions as answers. Here are key areas demanding continued scrutiny:

Cyber Warfare Has there been a major cyber component? Early indications suggest U.S. Cyber Command conducted pre-emptive strikes against Iranian power grids and command networks, but effects are unclear. Analysts should watch for Iranian retaliation against U.S. critical infrastructure. Drone Swarms Iran has launched hundreds of Shahed loitering munitions against U.S. bases. How effective have counter-drone systems (C-UAS) been? Reports of successful intercepts are mixed, with some swarms overwhelming point defenses. Logistics Sustainment The U.S. is fighting far from home. How are supply lines holding up? Watch for reports of ammunition shortages or fuel constraints as the campaign continues. Civilian Casualties Every war produces tragic civilian deaths. How is the coalition managing collateral damage, and what are the information operations consequences? Russian and Chinese Reactions Moscow and Beijing are watching their weapons fail in real time. Will they surge replacements or technical assistance to Iran? Will they adjust their own military doctrine? Israeli Operations Israel is striking Iranian targets independently. How is deconfliction working? Are there tensions in the coalition? Irregular Warfare Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen are attacking U.S. forces. How is the U.S. responding, and is there risk of a wider regional war? Command and Control With distributed forces and fast-paced operations, how resilient is U.S. C2? Any reports of communications failures or decision delays?

9. The Importance of Lessons Learned

The U.S. military has a long tradition of after-action reviews, from the 1940s to Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. The 2026 Iran war will generate volumes of data that must be systematically analyzed, disseminated, and incorporated into doctrine, training, and procurement. The stakes are existential: if the lessons of fratricide, missile defense gaps, and air defense vulnerabilities are not learned, future conflicts will be bloodier and less successful.

As retired Admiral James Stavridis put it in a March 7 Bloomberg column: "Wars are terrible teachers, but they are the only ones that matter in the end. We must capture every mistake, every success, every near-miss, and ensure that the next generation of warriors fights smarter, not just harder. The Iran war is a laboratorywe cannot afford to lose the data."

The early lessons are already reshaping military thinking. Expect urgent program reviews for Patriot replacements, accelerated fielding of new IFF systems, and a fundamental reassessment of the value of Russian and Chinese air defense systems. The 2026 conflict is only beginning, but its echoes will be felt for decades.

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LUCAS -- Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System

The Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) is a one-way attack drone developed for the United States Armed Forces by SpektreWorks, an Arizona-based defense contractor founded in 2018. Unveiled publicly in July 2025 and employed operationally for the first time on 28 February 2026 during Operation Epic Fury -- the joint US-Israeli air campaign against Iran -- LUCAS represents the first instance in which US forces have deployed low-cost, long-range one-way attack drones as a primary strike instrument rather than relying solely on manned aircraft and cruise missiles. The system is derived from Iran's own HESA Shahed 136 loitering munition, the same weapon Iran has supplied to Russia for use against Ukraine since 2022, and which Iran and its proxies have employed across the Middle East. In a strategic irony that was not lost on military analysts, the United States struck Iran with a weapon modeled on Iran's own signature low-cost strike platform.

The designation -136 has become a crowded space in aerospace history, leading to significant confusion between a Cold War relic and a modern "re-imagining." While the AGM-136 Tacit Rainbow was an incredibly sophisticated (and expensive) jet-powered loitering munition, the FLM-136 LUCAS is a deliberate pivot toward "affordable mass." The Tacit Rainbow was designed to loiter over a battlefield and wait for a Soviet radar to turn on, then dive on it. It was essentially a precursor to the modern "suicide drone" but failed due to cost overruns and technical complexity. By naming it the 136, the developers (SpektreWorks/Task Force Phoenix) lean into the "American Shahed" identity. It is designed to be "attritable"meaning it is cheap enough that the U.S. doesn't mind if it gets shot down, provided it exhausts the enemy's much more expensive interceptor missiles.

LUCAS one-way attack drone features a very small frontal signature with its delta wing planform and twin, tall vertical stabilizers positioned at the wingtips. A prominent three-bladed pusher propeller is mounted on the rear of the fuselage. The top view clearly illustrates the broad delta wing shape. The fuselage contains internal compartments including a large FUEL TANK in the center and a specialized WARHEAD BAY forward of that, which contains a high-explosive munition. The entire airframe is detailed with panel lines and various access covers. At the rear, the ENGINE drives the large three-bladed PUSHER PROPELLER. The side profile shows a clean, aerodynamic shape with the large wingtip VERTICAL STABILIZER and its corresponding RUDDER clearly defined at the tail. The fuselage has several details: the central FUEL TANK, a large WARHEAD BAY, an antenna, and the rear-mounted ENGINE. A single ventral fin is also visible. The DELTA WING itself runs much of the length of the fuselage, showing a broad, sweeping chord.

Origins and Development

SpektreWorks had previously developed the FLM-136, a Shahed-inspired target drone produced for threat emulation and counter-drone training. LUCAS evolved from that platform following the reverse-engineering of a captured Shahed 136, with initial prototypes unveiled at a Pentagon briefing in July 2025. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth personally reviewed the system during a Pentagon courtyard display of eighteen autonomous platforms, the entire collection of which moved from concept to readiness in as little as eighteen months -- a development cycle approximately four times faster than the typical six-year acquisition process.

The Marine Corps assumed primary sponsorship of LUCAS, viewing it as integral to Force Design 2030 modernization, which prioritizes distributed maritime operations with layered unmanned aerial systems. The US Army contributed through its Long-Range Precision Fires program, integrating LUCAS into combined arms concepts for penetrating anti-access and area-denial environments. On 3 December 2025, US Central Command announced the formation of Task Force Scorpion Strike under Special Operations Command Central -- the first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East. On 16 December 2025, a LUCAS was successfully launched from the flight deck of USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32), an Independence-class littoral combat ship, during an exercise in the Arabian Gulf, demonstrating ship-based deployment capability. CENTCOM described the formation as having stood up "four months after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directed acceleration of the acquisition and fielding of affordable drone technology."

The Shahed 136 and Geran-2: The Weapons That LUCAS Mirrors

The HESA Shahed 136 was designed and manufactured by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, a subsidiary of Iran's state-owned aviation sector, and first publicly documented in December 2021. It is a pusher-propelled autonomous drone with a delta-wing airframe, designed to fly pre-programmed waypoint routes to fixed targets. Operators input GPS coordinates before launch; the drone executes the mission without real-time operator input in its baseline configuration, though later variants incorporating Iridium satellite communication have demonstrated the ability to receive in-flight updates and potentially engage moving targets. The Royal United Services Institute noted in January 2023 that the Shahed 136 has primarily been used for point-to-point suicide missions analogous to cruise missiles rather than for true loitering around a target area, calling the "loitering munition" designation into question for the standard production variant.

Russia began receiving Shahed 136 transfers from Iran in 2022 and designated the system the Geran-2, a name chosen to obscure Iranian origin. Russia subsequently developed an independent domestic production capability at the Alabuga facility in Tatarstan, and the Geran-2 has diverged substantially from the Iranian original through iterative modification. Russian engineers replaced the Iranian civilian-grade GPS navigation with GLONASS receivers and domestically manufactured flight control units. Warhead capacity increased from the original 50-kilogram warhead to variants carrying up to 90 kilograms of high-explosive, thermobaric, or fragmentation munitions with incendiary liners incorporating zirconium. Communications upgrades have added multi-band antennas, 3G and 4G modems, and by January 2026, Starlink connectivity enabling operator control over the datalink rather than purely autonomous pre-programmed flight. A January 2026 strike on a passenger train near Kharkiv in which three Geran-2 drones hit a moving target was attributed to Starlink-enabled guidance. Russia has also produced a jet-powered Geran-3 variant analogous to Iran's Shahed 238, trading range for a cruise speed of approximately 600 kilometers per hour.

Design and Physical Configuration

LUCAS shares the delta-wing planform that defines the Shahed 136 family and is visually almost indistinguishable from its Iranian progenitor to an untrained observer. The airframe measures approximately 3 meters in length with a wingspan of approximately 2.4 meters -- slightly smaller than the Shahed 136's 3.5-meter fuselage and 2.5-meter wingspan. The delta wing configuration is optimized for long-range loitering, balancing fuel capacity against aerodynamic efficiency at low cruise speeds. Foldable wings allow compact stowage, and the design incorporates 3D-printable components to accelerate manufacturing and simplify logistics in forward-deployed environments.

The principal propulsion distinction from the Iranian original is significant. LUCAS is powered by a two-cylinder DA-215 engine displacing 215 cubic centimeters, whereas the Shahed 136 uses a four-cylinder Mado MD-550 piston engine of approximately 50 horsepower. The DA-215 configuration provides enhanced fuel efficiency and, reportedly, a reduced acoustic signature relative to the Iranian and Russian variants, whose distinctive "lawn mower" sound has become one of the primary sensory cues used by Ukrainian air defense spotters and civilian observers. The pusher-propeller arrangement common to the entire Shahed family is retained.

The payload bay is modular and accepts reconnaissance sensors, electronic warfare modules, or explosive warheads depending on mission requirement. The explosive payload is estimated to deliver roughly twice the yield of a Hellfire missile. Warheads can be swapped between mission sets, and in certain configurations the system is described as reusable -- particularly for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions where a recovery capability can be incorporated. This modularity distinguishes LUCAS from the entirely expendable Iranian original.

Guidance, Autonomy, and Networking

LUCAS uses GPS and inertial navigation as its primary guidance stack, with optional satellite datalinks for beyond-line-of-sight control and anti-jamming resilience. This represents a marked improvement over the basic civilian-grade GPS units found in early Shahed 136 examples recovered in Ukraine, though the Geran-2 -- Russia's domestically produced and substantially upgraded variant -- has already addressed many of those vulnerabilities through the addition of Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas, GLONASS integration, and 3G/LTE modems. By January 2026, Russian Geran-2 examples were being operated via Starlink satellite connectivity, a development that substantially expands their command-and-control flexibility.

A distinguishing feature of LUCAS is its integration into the Multi-domain Unmanned Systems Communications mesh network, which allows the drone to serve not only as a strike asset but as an airborne communications relay between unmanned platforms and command centers. The system is capable of autonomous coordination with other platforms, enabling swarm tactics and network-centric strike operations. Sources within US Special Operations Command have indicated that a satellite-connected variant could act as an airborne command node extending control beyond line-of-sight and coordinating subordinate drones deeper into defended airspace. These networking capabilities exceed anything publicly documented in either the Iranian Shahed 136 or the Russian Geran-2.

Production, Cost, and the Industrial Strategy

LUCAS costs approximately $35,000 per unit at current production rates. That figure places it broadly in the same price tier as an Iranian-manufactured Shahed 136, which was initially estimated at $20,000 to $50,000 per unit before Iran began selling them to Russia at the politically inflated price of $193,000 each under a 2022 contract. Russian domestic Geran-2 production at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan has driven unit cost estimates to between $30,000 and $80,000 depending on variant and configuration, with more capable examples carrying heavier warheads and upgraded avionics at the higher end of that range.

The Pentagon's production strategy for LUCAS is explicitly designed to avoid the supply chain fragility that characterizes high-cost precision munitions. Up to twenty vendors are involved in producing both airframes and warheads simultaneously. This multi-source approach is a foundational element of the broader Drone Dominance program, which aimed to acquire 300,000 low-cost drones beginning in early 2026, backed by a $1 billion initial investment across four phases. Pentagon planners project that scaling production to those volumes could drive per-unit cost down to as little as $5,000, at which point the economics of saturation attack become decisively favorable compared to the cost of intercepting each drone with surface-to-air missiles. A single MIM-104 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor costs approximately $4 million; expending one against a $5,000 drone at scale is arithmetically unsustainable for the defender.

Operational Debut: Operation Epic Fury

Task Force Scorpion Strike employed LUCAS for the first time in combat on 28 February 2026, launching drones from ground-based platforms against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command facilities, air defense systems, missile production sites, and other military infrastructure during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury. CENTCOM confirmed that these deployments marked the first time the US military had used one-way attack drones in combat in this manner. LUCAS joined Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from naval vessels and HIMARS ground-launched rockets in a layered strike package.

The operational context carried a particular resonance. Iran responded to the joint US-Israeli strikes with Shahed 136 barrages directed at US military installations in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, meaning that both sides were simultaneously employing derivatives or variants of the same basic weapon concept against each other. MIM-104 Patriot batteries, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems, and ship-based Standard Missile interceptors were activated to counter the Iranian salvos. The parallel employment underscored what military analysts had been documenting in Ukraine since 2022: that the Shahed-class one-way attack drone had effectively established a new category of long-range strike weapon defined by its expendability, low cost, and capacity for mass employment.

The combat introduction of LUCAS during Operation Epic Fury formalized a doctrinal shift that the Pentagon had been signaling throughout 2025. The United States, which has historically prosecuted long-range strike missions with manned aircraft and expensive precision-guided munitions, has now committed to mass-employment of expendable autonomous platforms as a primary offensive tool. This mirrors the logic that Iran demonstrated in Yemen and that Russia validated at scale in Ukraine: that air defenses optimized for high-performance manned aircraft and ballistic missiles are economically and physically ill-suited to intercepting large numbers of slow, low-flying, radar-elusive drones arriving from multiple vectors simultaneously.

The irony of the operational context is militarily significant. Iran used the Shahed 136 to strike US allies and assets across the Middle East for years, forcing those allies to expend multi-million-dollar interceptors against $35,000 drones. The United States responded to Operation Epic Fury with LUCAS -- a system cheaper than many of the interceptors that had been fired against its Iranian-made predecessors -- turning Iran's own cost-imposition logic against its originator. Whether that reversal proves durable depends on the Pentagon's ability to scale production to the volumes the Drone Dominance program envisions. Fielding 300,000 units requires not only an industrial mobilization but a wholesale doctrinal revision covering crew training, sustainment infrastructure, rules of engagement for autonomous systems, and integration with manned platforms and conventional precision munitions.

The Geran-2's evolution in Russian service illustrates the trajectory that LUCAS may follow. What began as a straightforward copy of an Iranian design has, through iterative modification, become a substantially different weapon: heavier warheads, hardened navigation, multi-band communications, and eventually Starlink-enabled operator control that allows engagement of moving targets. The delta-wing platform has proved accommodating of extensive modification, and there is no technical reason to expect that LUCAS -- which starts from a more capable baseline in avionics and networking -- will remain static. The competition between the platforms, and between the doctrines they embody, is unlikely to stabilize at the configurations observed in early 2026.

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People's Republic of China - Oil

Runaway growth in energy consumption poses a real threat to China's energy security. The era of Chinese energy independence ended in 1993 when the country due to its economic growth and subsequent increased oil consumption.

China's net oil imports exceeded those of the United States by October 2013 on a monthly basis and by 2014 on an annual basis, making China the largest importer of oil in the world. The emergence of China as the world's largest net oil importer was driven by steady growth in Chinese demand, increased oil production in the United States, and a flat level of demand for oil in the U.S. market. US total annual oil production rose by 28% between 2011 and 2014 to nearly 13 million barrels per day, primarily from shale oil, tight oil, and Gulf of Mexico deepwater plays.

source bb / day

2011 %

2015 Saudi Arabia 1,000,000 16 % Angola 623,000 13 % Russia 395,000 11 % Oman 363,000 10 % Iran 555,000 9 % Iraq 276,000 9 % Venezuela 230,000 4 % UAE 135,000 4 % Kuwait 191,000 3 % Colombia ???,000 3 % Sudan 260,000 2 % Kazakhstan 224,000 2 % Brazil 134,000 2 % Congo 113,000 2 % OTHER 572,000 9 %

Russia overtook Saudi Arabia to be Chinas top oil supplier in the first two months of 2023, according to Chinese government data, as buyers snapped up sanctioned Russian oil at steep discounts. Arrivals from Russia totalled 15.68 million tonnes in January-February, or 1.94 million barrels per day (bpd), up 23.8 percent from 1.57 million bpd in the corresponding 2022 period.

Russia was China's largest crude oil supplier in May 2016 for a third month in a row. For the first time in history, Moscow has become the largest or second-largest crude supplier to Beijing, which puts them basically on par with Saudi Arabia," Alexander Gabuev, a senior associate and the chair of the Russia in the Asia-Pacific program at the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote for War on the Rocks. "Now that Russia and China are expanding the pipelines that connect their energy networks, this trend is likely to continue," he added. Russian oil exports to China increased by nearly 42 percent in the first five months of 2015. In May 2016, Beijing imported approximately 1.24 million barrels per day.

China is the world's most populous country and has a rapidly growing economy, which has driven the country's high overall energy demand and the quest for securing energy resources. China was a net oil exporter until the early 1990s and became the world's second largest net importer of oil in 2009. China's oil consumption growth accounted for half of the world's oil consumption growth in 2011. Coal supplied the vast majority (70 percent) of China's total energy consumption of 90 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2009. Oil is the second-largest source, accounting for 19 percent of the country's total energy consumption.

According to Oil & Gas Journal (OGJ), China holds 20.4 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as of January 2012, up over 4 billion barrels from three years ago and the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. China's largest and oldest oil fields are located in the northeast region of the country. China produced an estimated 4.3 million barrels per day (bbl/d) of total oil liquids in 2011, of which 95 percent was crude oil. China's oil production is forecast to rise by about 170 thousand bbl/d to nearly 4.5 million bbl/d by the end of 2013. Over the longer term, EIA predicts a flatter incline for China's production, reaching 4.7 million bbl/d by 2035.

China's national oil companies (NOCs) wield a significant amount of influence in China's oil sector. Between 1994 and 1998, the Chinese government reorganized most state-owned oil and gas assets into two vertically integrated firms: the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). These two conglomerates operate a range of local subsidiaries, and together dominate China's upstream and downstream oil markets. CNPC is the leading upstream player in China and, along with its publicly-listed arm PetroChina, accounts for roughly 60 percent and 80 percent of China's total oil and gas output respectively. CNPC's current strategy is to integrate its sectors and capture more downstream market share. Sinopec, on the other hand, has traditionally focused on downstream activities, such as refining and distribution, with these sectors making up nearly 80 percent of the company's revenues in recent years. The company seeks to acquire more upstream assets gradually.

Additional state-owned oil firms have emerged over the last several years. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), which is responsible for offshore oil exploration and production, has seen its role expand as a result of growing attention to offshore zones. Also, the company has proven to be a growing competitor to CNPC and Sinopec by not only increasing its exploration and production (E&P) expenditures in the South China Sea, but also extending its reach into the downstream sector, particularly in the southern Guangdong Province. The Sinochem Corporation and CITIC Group have also expanded their presence in China's oil sector, although they are still relatively small.

Whereas onshore oil production in China is mostly limited to CNPC and CNOOC, international oil companies (IOCs) have been granted greater access to offshore oil prospects and unconventional gas fields, mainly through production sharing agreements and joint ventures. IOCs involved in offshore E&P work in China include: Conoco Phillips, Shell, Chevron, BP, Husky, Anadarko, and Eni, among others. China's NOCs must hold the majority participating interest in a production sharing contract (PSC) and can become the operator once development costs have recovered. IOCs offer their technical expertise in order to partner with a Chinese NOC and make a foray into the Chinese markets.

China's increasing dependence on oil imports, the need to secure and diversify energy supply, the need to develop technical expertise in unconventional resources, and attempts to capture value upstream are factors driving Chinese NOCs to invest in international projects and form strategic commercial partnerships with IOCs. China is taking advantage of the economic downturn to step up its global acquisitions and use its vast foreign exchange reserves (estimated at over $3 trillion in 2012) to help purchase equity in projects or acquire stakes in energy companies. Since 2009, the NOCs have purchased assets in the Middle East, North America, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The NOCs invested $18 billion in overseas oil and gas assets in 2011. The NOCs increased their natural gas purchases abroad and invested $12 billion in 2011, out of a total $18 billion of oil and gas purchases, to gain more access to LNG and unconventional gas.

China's overseas equity oil production grew significantly over the past decade from 140,000 bbl/d in 2000 to over 1.5 million bbl/d of oil production in 2011. CNPC has been the most active company, while Sinopec, CNOOC, and other smaller NOCs have also expanded their overseas investment profile. CNPC, holding hydrocarbon assets in 30 countries, produced a record 1 million bbl/d from overseas oil equity by the end of 2011, up from 865,000 bbl/d in 2010. CNPC also produced 4.9 Bcf/d of natural gas in 2010. Sinopec's overseas equity oil output reached 400,000 bbl/d in 2011, and the NOC targets producing 1 million bbl/d from overseas oil equity by 2015. CNOOC produced about 150,000 bbl/d in 2011 and is swiftly increasing oil and gas purchases in 2012 in attempts to gain technical knowledge and acreage in unconventional gas and deepwater hydrocarbon resources. CNOOC signed an agreement in 2012 to purchase Canadian oil company Nexen for over $15 billion.

China's crude oil imports have grown robustly in the past several years, and reached a record-high 6 million bbl/d by May 2012. China imported nearly 5.1 million bbl/d of crude oil on average in 2011, rising 6 percent from 4.8 million bbl/d in 2010. In the first half of 2012, imports rose even higher to 5.6 million bbl/d. Crude imports now outweigh domestic supply, consisting of over half of total oil consumption in 2011. EIA expects China to import about 75 percent of its crude oil by 2035 as demand is expected to grow faster than domestic crude supply.

The Middle East remained the largest source of China's crude oil imports, although African countries, particularly Angola, began contributing more to China's imports in recent years. As part of China's energy supply security policy, the country's NOCs are attempting to diversify supply sources in various regions through overseas investments and long-term contracts. In 2011, the Middle East supplied 2.6 million bbl/d (51 percent). Other regions that export to China include Africa with 1.2 million bbl/d (24 percent), Asia-Pacific region with 173,000 bbl/d (3 percent), and 1.1 million bbl/d (22 percent) from other countries. Saudi Arabia and Angola ranked as China's two largest sources of oil imports, together accounting for almost one-third of China's total crude oil imports. Sudan and South Sudan became significant oil exporters to China until production was shut in at the start of 2012, following political conflicts between the two African nations over their oil resources. Exports from Sudan and South Sudan to China dropped from 260,000 bbl/d in 2011 to zero by April 2012.

China reduced imports from Iran, historically the third largest exporter to China, by 34 percent in the first quarter of 2012 to 345,000 bbl/d, in light of a contract dispute between Sinopec, China's key oil importer, and Iran's state oil company. China replaced the lost share of oil from Iran and Sudan and South Sudan with imports from other Middle Eastern countries, Venezuela, Russia, and Angola. The contract dispute with Iran was settled in early 2012, and oil imports from the country rebounded by May 2012 to prior-year levels. However, most analysts expect that China will continue to diversify import sources to reduce risk of further global supply disruptions and uncertainty surrounding oil supplies from Iran as a result of U.S. and EU sanctions.

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The Hidden Imam and the End of Days

Among the most consequential and least understood elements of Iranian Shia political culture is the eschatological tradition surrounding the return of the Hidden Imam -- the figure known as the Mahdi, Imam al-Zaman (Imam of the Age), and al-Qa'im (He Who Shall Rise). This tradition shapes the framework within which at least some elements of the Iranian establishment interpret contemporary geopolitical events, including the confrontation with the United States. The question of how literally and how urgently these beliefs are held -- and by whom -- is genuinely contested among analysts. What is not contested is that the tradition is real, that it is deeply embedded in Twelver Shia theology, and that it has been deliberately instrumentalized by successive Iranian governments as both a source of popular mobilization and a legitimizing framework for the Islamic Republic's claim to be the rightful steward of the Muslim world in the period before the Imam's return. Whether any significant Iranian decision-maker believes that the end of days is literally imminent is a question that resists confident answer. That the language and imagery of end times shapes the political culture within which those decisions are made is beyond reasonable doubt.

The Twelfth Imam and the Occultation

The eschatological tradition at stake is specific to Twelver Shia Islam -- the branch of the faith that holds that the legitimate leadership of the Muslim community passed through a succession of twelve imams descended from the Prophet Muhammad through his son-in-law Ali and his daughter Fatima. Each imam was, in Twelver doctrine, divinely guided, infallible in religious matters, and the rightful political as well as spiritual head of the community. The line of imams ended -- or rather entered a suspended state -- with the Twelfth Imam, Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Askari, believed to have been born in Samarra in Iraq in 868 CE and to have entered a state of occultation (ghaybah) shortly after the death of his father, the Eleventh Imam, in 874 CE.

The theological concept of occultation holds that the Twelfth Imam did not die but was miraculously hidden from human perception by divine will, and remains alive and present in the world, though inaccessible to ordinary perception. During a period known as the Minor Occultation, from roughly 874 to 941 CE, communication with the Hidden Imam occurred through a succession of four deputies (na'ibs) who transmitted his guidance to the community. With the death of the fourth deputy in 941, direct communication ceased, and the Major Occultation began -- the period in which the Imam is present but unreachable, awaiting the divinely appointed moment of his return. That moment is understood to come at the end of times, when the world has been overwhelmed by injustice, tyranny, and moral corruption, and the conditions are ripe for the establishment of a truly just Islamic order under the Imam's direct rule.

The implications of this belief for political theory are profound. If the only truly legitimate ruler is the Hidden Imam, and the Hidden Imam is inaccessible, then all political authority in the period of the Major Occultation is, in a strict theological sense, provisional. The traditional Shia response to this problem was quietism: the ulema should tend to the community's religious life, avoid political entanglements, and wait for the Imam's return. No human authority could claim the full legitimacy of the Imam, and pretending otherwise was a form of usurpation. This quietist tradition produced centuries of Shia political caution and explains why orthodox Shia clerics have historically been among the most effective suppressors of Mahdist movements -- precisely because premature messianic claims threatened the coherence of the theological framework that sustained the community's patience.

When is the apocalypse?

The Arabic phrase "Akhir-ul-Zaman" is a familiar phrase in Persian, and in addition to being used in this sweet language in the same way, it has also been used in the form of "Akhir-ul-Zaman". The versatility of this phrase is such that, in addition to ancient religious, literary, and historical texts and books, its presence can be seen, heard, and felt abundantly in many modern films and series. Even if we are not into reading and watching films, we have certainly heard in everyday conversations that when people encounter an amazing and unbelievable phenomenon, they say that "it seems like the apocalypse has happened." But what does this "Akhir-ul-Zaman" or "Akhir-ul-Zaman" mean?

Because the components of this combination, namely the words Akher and Zaman, are common in Persian, their combined meaning will also be obvious. Therefore, Akher-e-Zaman means the end of time or the final time, and of course, time refers to the era, period, and era. Therefore, Akher-e-Zaman can be considered both the end of the age of the era and the final period of the material world. Regardless of this, the entries for Akher-e-Zaman or Akher-e-Zaman in contemporary Persian dictionaries, are brief and general explanations and nothing more than this apparent meaning. For example, in the Dehkhoda dictionary, Akher-e-Zaman is defined as the last part of the era that will lead to the Day of Judgment. In the Moin dictionary, is this meaning: The last period; the last part of the era that will lead to the Day of Judgment; figuratively, a time in which many unusual events or unpleasant things will occur. In mainstream culture, nothing more is seen than what was mentioned in the previous two cultures.

But what time and era does this final covenant and period, or the apocalypse, refer to? In answering this question, it should be kept in mind that the term and concept of the apocalypse is not exclusive to Islam, and various religions and traditions have paid attention to this important issue.

In identifying the end of time, it should also be noted that this concept of time covers a very wide range of years, decades, and centuries. In explanation, it is worth noting that one of the titles by which the honorable Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was known is the Prophet of the End of Time. Therefore, it can be seen that the period of life and prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is also the end of time. Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated a hadith from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who said: When God created Adam, He held him in front of Him. Adam sneezed; God inspired him to praise God. Then He said: Adam, you have praised Me; by My honor and glory, if it were not for the two servants whom I intend to create at the end of time, I would certainly not have created you. Adam said: O Allah, I adjure you by their status in Your sight that you name them. Allah said: Look towards the Throne. Adam saw two lines of light written; the first line was as follows: La ilaha illallah, Muhammad Nabi al-Rahmah, and Ali Miftah al-Jannah. The second line was as follows: I swear by myself that I will forgive whoever loves them and I will torture and punish whoever is an enemy to them.

It is also stated in Tabari's history that the end of time is "the seventh or sixth millennium from the descent of Adam, in which the mission of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) took place, and the public thought that with its expiration, the life of the world would end."

Therefore, the prophetic era of the Seal of the Prophets (PBUH) and the emergence and spread of the noble Islam can be considered the end of time. However, this is despite the fact that in many narrations narrated from the Ahl al-Bayt (AS), those infallibles (AS) have also spoken of the end of time that will come in the future. For example, in a narration addressing the Commander of the Faithful (AS), the Seal of the Prophets (PBUH) said, O Ali, the strangest people in terms of faith and the highest in certainty are those who will come at the end of time and will not see a prophet and the Imam will be hidden from their sight and they will believe from the writings [of the Quran and Hadith].

In another narration, Imam Sadiq (AS) said, Every nation has a government that they are waiting for, and our government will be revealed at the end of time.

These two narrations are examples of the countless narrations that have been narrated from the infallible Imams (a.s.) about the End of Time and its special events and have reached us. In such narrations, we are faced with premonitions about a time and era other than the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the martyred Imams (a.s.). In other words, these narrations speak of the End of Time, which is indeed the last period of the life of the world, that is, the era before the Day of Judgment, and this is the era when the promised savior, Hazrat Mahdi (a.s.), will appear and save the chaotic and oppressed world.

It can be said that in Islamic culture, the end of time refers to both the time span from the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) until the Day of Judgment, and the era of the appearance of the Promised Savior. Considering these two meanings, it can be said about the end of time that it is with the passing of this era that the framework of worldly life is dismantled and a new stage in the system of creation begins; and this new stage is indeed the establishment of the Day of Judgment and the court of divine justice, so that people can experience their eternal life.

Signs of the Return

The tradition concerning the signs that herald the Imam's return constitutes a rich and detailed eschatological literature, developed over many centuries of hadith commentary and theological elaboration. The signs are conventionally divided into those that are general -- the prevalence of injustice, the weakening of genuine faith, the spread of moral corruption -- and those that are specific and sequential, pointing to identifiable geopolitical events and figures in the period immediately preceding the return.

Among the specific signs of greatest political relevance, several recur in Iranian eschatological commentary. The Sufyani -- a tyrannical descendent of the Umayyad dynasty who is reported to emerge in Syria and Iraq and conduct campaigns of violent oppression -- is a figure that Iranian hardline commentary has periodically identified with contemporary actors: Saddam Hussein, and more recently various leaders associated with Sunni jihadist movements. The rise of a righteous leader from Yemen, known as the Yamani, who will support the Imam's cause, has been mapped onto the Houthi movement by some Iranian and Houthi commentators. The eruption of "fitna" -- violent internal discord -- in Arabia, and the death of a significant Arabian ruler, have been associated in Iranian eschatological speculation with Saudi succession and the kingdom's vulnerability. The hadith attributed to the sixth Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq, in which he reportedly said that the death of a ruler named Abdullah would be the occasion for the Imam's reappearance, received renewed attention in Iranian commentary at the death of Saudi King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz in January 2015.

The specific role assigned to Jerusalem and Palestine in this eschatological framework is also politically significant. Classical hadith traditions indicate that the Mahdi will liberate Jerusalem and that a final eschatological battle against the forces of evil will occur in the region of the Levant. This tradition provides an independent theological rationale for Iranian support of Palestinian resistance movements and Hezbollah that overlaps with but is distinct from the political and strategic arguments. From within the Mahdist framework, the confrontation with Israel is not merely a geopolitical dispute but a fulfillment of prophesied obligation. The Islamic Republic's leaders have been explicit, at varying levels of directness, about this connection.

Khomeini's Revolution of Impatience

The Islamic Republic of Iran represents in significant respects a theological innovation -- or, from the perspective of its critics within the Shia religious establishment, a theological deviation. Khomeini's doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) did not merely claim political authority for the ulema; it effectively appropriated, in a qualified but practically sweeping form, the authority that Twelver tradition had reserved for the Hidden Imam himself. By claiming that a supremely qualified jurist could exercise something approaching the Imam's authority during the occultation, Khomeini rejected the traditional quietist position and mandated political action rather than patient waiting. This was described by critics within the religious establishment -- notably Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq and many senior clerics in Qom -- as an overreach that confused the necessary improvisation of the occultation period with a legitimate claim to Imam-like authority.

The practical consequence was the creation of a state that simultaneously holds the Hidden Imam's return as its ultimate eschatological horizon and claims to be legitimately governing in his name and on his behalf in the interim. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic is formally described in the constitution as the highest political authority during the occultation -- a formulation that ties the legitimacy of every state action to the eschatological framework. Military units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carry names and insignia associated with the Mahdi; the Basij paramilitary organization is formally consecrated to the Imam of the Age; IRGC commanders have publicly described the Corps as "one of the tools for paving the way for the emergence of the Imam of the Age."

The Mahdist Current Within the IRGC

Analysis by the Middle East Institute and other research organizations has identified a distinct and reportedly intensifying Mahdist current within the IRGC and the Basij, centered on the institution of the maddah -- religious chanters and eulogists whose performances at heyat gatherings (informal religious assemblies) combine Mahdist themes with political mobilization. The maddah culture is described as significantly more focused on the return of the Hidden Imam than on the figures -- Imam Ali, Imam Hussain -- who occupy the center of mainstream Shia devotional life. The Basij Maddahs Organization, established by the IRGC after the 2009 unrest, has served as an instrument for organizing and directing this current.

Within this framework, virtually every major geopolitical event in the Middle East has been interpreted through an eschatological lens. The Syrian civil war was described by Iranian hardline clerics affiliated with the IRGC as a manifestation of the predicted "sedition" that the hadiths place in Syria as a precursor of the Imam's return -- with ISIS identified as the forces of the Sufyani, the eschatological tyrant, and Iranian military involvement in Syria framed as a religious obligation to defeat those forces and prepare the ground for the reappearance. The Houthi movement in Yemen, formally designated Ansar Allah and fighting under the banner of "God is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse upon the Jews, Victory for Islam," was similarly framed within the Yamani sign. The fact that these identifications are contested even within the Iranian establishment -- that senior clerics have repeatedly warned against premature messianic enthusiasm -- does not reduce their operational significance; the IRGC units and Basij volunteers who fought in Syria were animated by these beliefs regardless of whether Grand Ayatollah Khamenei formally endorsed specific identifications of current actors with eschatological figures.

Ahmadinejad and the Politics of Imminence

The presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from 2005 to 2013 brought Mahdist political theology to an unusual level of public prominence, and in doing so generated significant controversy within the Iranian system itself. Ahmadinejad and his circle promoted what might be called a theology of active imminence -- the belief that the Imam's return was not merely a distant eschatological hope but a near-term political reality that Iranian policy should actively seek to accelerate. His administration funded extensive Mahdist propaganda, expanded the Jamkaran Mosque near Qom (associated with a reported appearance of the Hidden Imam in the tenth century), and allocated substantial state resources to organizations tasked with "preparing the ground" for the reappearance. Rumors circulated within his inner circle about claimed direct communication with the Hidden Imam, and his speeches at the United Nations were in some cases framed in explicitly Mahdist terms, calling for the establishment of the just global order associated with the Imam's rule.

Khamenei and the mainstream clerical establishment eventually moved to check Ahmadinejad's Mahdist circle, recognizing that its specific claims -- particularly any suggestion of direct communication with the Imam -- undermined the legitimacy of the velayat-e faqih system by implying that the Supreme Leader could be bypassed by someone claiming closer contact with the source of authority. The suppression of Ahmadinejad's Mahdist associates was in this sense not a rejection of Mahdist belief but a defense of the institutional structure through which Mahdist belief was being managed and channeled. Shia tradition contains a classical prohibition against "este'jal" -- haste in anticipating the Imam's return, or setting a timetable for his appearance. The prohibition exists precisely because the history of Shia Islam is littered with Mahdist movements that claimed premature imminence and ended in disaster. The orthodox establishment's repeated invocation of this prohibition against enthusiasts is less a statement of theological agnosticism about end times than an institutional self-defense mechanism.

Are We at the End of Days?

The question of whether the Iranian leadership -- or significant elements within it -- genuinely believe that the apocalyptic end times are imminent admits no clean answer. The evidence points toward a spectrum of positions rather than a single official view. At one end are figures associated with the IRGC's Mahdist current and the Ahmadinejad circle who appear to hold something approaching a literal belief in near-term imminence, and who interpret geopolitical events as confirmations of prophesied signs. At the other end are senior members of the clerical establishment -- including figures close to Khamenei -- who hold the theological tradition firmly but invoke the classical prohibition on timetable-setting and caution against what they describe as "deviant" Mahdist speculation.

Khamenei himself occupies a carefully calibrated position. His public statements consistently affirm the centrality of the Hidden Imam and the Islamic Republic's obligation to prepare for his return, while avoiding specific claims about timing or the identification of current events with particular eschatological signs. He has described the Islamic Republic as living in the era of the "final battle" between truth and falsehood in broad terms that retain eschatological resonance without committing to specific timetables. This caution is both theologically orthodox -- the hadiths expressly forbid timetabling -- and politically functional: eschatological urgency can be sustained as a motivational frame without the institutional disruption that specific imminence claims create.

What seems clear is that the apocalyptic framework conditions how the confrontation with the United States is understood at multiple levels of the Iranian establishment. The Great Satan is not merely a geopolitical adversary; within Mahdist eschatology, it is the embodiment of the tyranny and corruption whose defeat is a precondition for the Imam's return. Every act of resistance to American power is thus potentially legible as a contribution to the eschatological preparation, and the suffering entailed by that resistance is endurable because it fits within a framework in which temporary suffering is the necessary prelude to definitive justice. This does not make the Iranian establishment reckless -- the classical prohibition on imminence-claiming is also a prohibition on suicidal activism -- but it does mean that the calculations Iranian decision-makers bring to the nuclear file, to negotiations with Washington, and to the question of how much pressure the system can sustain, are informed by a framework that has no precise equivalent in the secular strategic culture of the United States.

Whether or not the end of days is near, the belief that it is coming -- and that the Islamic Republic has been constituted specifically to prepare the world for that event -- shapes Iranian strategic culture in ways that make it consistently difficult for American negotiators to model. The "leaves at the foot of the tree" verse that circulated in state-aligned media during the February 2026 Geneva talks is not merely poetic decoration. It is a compressed expression of an eschatological worldview in which the tree -- the Islamic Republic, the community of the faithful, the cause for which the Imam waits -- is understood to be of a different and permanently enduring order than the leaves, or indeed than the adversaries across the negotiating table, whose power, however overwhelming it appears in the moment, is by definition temporary.

Notes The Twelver Shia theology of the Hidden Imam and the occultation is summarized in the Wikipedia entry on the Reappearance of Muhammad al-Mahdi and in Iran International's treatment of the expected one. The classical prohibition on timetable-setting (este'jal) is noted in the Wikipedia entry on the Reappearance and in Hudson Institute analysis. The identification of current geopolitical actors with eschatological figures -- Sufyani, Yamani -- is documented in Middle East Institute analysis of IRGC Mahdism and in IranWire's treatment of Shia messianism and Saudi Arabia. The IRGC's institutional Mahdism, including the Basij Maddahs Organization and the statement by IRGC representative Hojatoleslam Ali Saeedi, is documented in Middle East Institute analysis. The Ahmadinejad Mahdist circle and its clashes with the mainstream establishment are analyzed in IranWire and Hudson Institute materials. The theological tension between Velayat-e Faqih and traditional Shia quietism is analyzed in the Hudson Institute piece on the Islamic Republic and messianism. The statement by IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami at the Jamkaran renewal-of-allegiance ceremony in September 2024 is reported by Iran International. Middle East Forum analysis of IRGC Mahdism documents the statement by Hojatoleslam Mehdi Taeb calling on IRGC members to "remove the obstacles to the emergence of the Imam of the Age, the most important of which is the existence of the usurper regime of Israel."

114 Signs of the Apocalypse

If you see that truth is dead and its people are gone, and injustice and oppression have spread everywhere. And you saw that the Quran had become outdated and that things had appeared in it that were not in it, and you saw that the Quran was being justified and interpreted according to whims and fancies. And you saw that religion was turned upside down, just as a bowl is turned upside down (in the modified version it is written: just as water is turned upside down). And you saw that the people of falsehood lorded it over the people of truth. And you saw that the holders of the signs (in another version, the holders of the works) were despised, and whoever loved them was also despised. And you saw that the Kaaba remained closed and people were forbidden from visiting it and were encouraged and ordered to leave it. And you saw that prayers are not offered at their proper times, they don't care about praying at the beginning of the time. And you saw that heresies have become public. And you saw that what is forbidden is lawful and what is lawful is prohibited. And you saw that everyone justifies religion for himself with his own opinion and opinion, and the Book of God and its laws have been closed. And you saw that hearing the voice of the Quran is a burden for people, while hearing false voices is easy and light for them. And you saw that Hajj and Jihad took on a non-divine aspect. And a person who neglects prayer. And you saw them pulling the dead body out of its grave, harassing it, and selling its shrouds. And you saw that if a person prays, it is to show himself to people, so that people can see him praying. And if you see that a jurist is practicing jurisprudence for a purpose other than religion (i.e., jurisprudence for the purpose of gaining worldly power and leadership). And you saw that in the two sanctuaries of the Kaaba and Medina, things are being done that God does not like, and no one is stopping them, and no one is even standing between them and that ugly act. And you saw that public playing of musical instruments and singing was being done in the two holy shrines. And you saw that with each passing year, more innovations became popular and more evil appeared than the previous year. And you saw that when someone is praised for his wickedness, he himself laughs and does not reject the speaker. And you saw that various kinds of wine were being drunk openly, and people were gathered around the table of wine who had no regard for God Almighty. And you saw that the mosques were full of people who did not fear God, gathered there to gossip and eat the flesh of the righteous, and talk about the virtues of intoxicating wine. And you saw a drunk person praying before the people, even though he did not understand what he was praying, and no one rebuked him. Rather, if he became drunk, people respected him out of fear and left him alone, did not pursue him, and rather considered him an excuse. And you saw that people were being commanded to be pious from the pulpits, but the speakers themselves did not act on what they said. And you saw that our muezzins and prayer leaders call to prayer and pray for a fee. And you saw that the good deed had been destroyed. And if you see that people are equal in abandoning enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and abandoning belief in its necessity. And you saw that everyone tells others what they themselves have not done. And you saw that evil had appeared and was not being prevented, but rather the evildoers were being defended. And you saw that the believer remained silent because his speech was not accepted. And you saw that the wicked person lies and is accepted, and no one refutes his lies and slander. And you saw that there was a lot of praise and adoration. And you see a man spending his wealth in obedience to other than God, and there is no one to stop him or hold his hand. And you saw that when people see a believer striving and striving, they seek refuge in God from being like him. And you saw that a neighbor was harassing his neighbor, and there was no one to stop him. And you saw that the path of good was closed and the path of evil was open and full of travelers. And you saw that a believer cannot deny the wrong except with his heart. And you saw that the seeker of what is lawful was condemned and blamed, and the seeker of what is unlawful was praised and respected. And you have seen that some people speak the truth and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, but after their sermon, someone gets up, while considering himself to be a benefactor and compassionate towards him, and says out of benevolence and advice: God did not want you to say these things. And you saw that immorality became public and men were content with men and women with women. And you saw that the wicked person is strong and supported and praised in actions that God does not like. And you saw women marrying women. And you saw that people blame the one who quenches his lust by going to women. And you saw Muslim women giving their honor to the infidels. And you saw that fun, games, dancing, and singing became public, Muslims were passing through it, and no one forbade anyone else, and no one dared to forbid it. And you saw that a mahram would be content with his mahram and marry him. And you saw that a man makes money by committing adultery with his wife and lives knowing that she is committing adultery and even overseeing her doing so. And if you see that people are free in their stomachs and desires, they have no fear of what they eat or what they marry. And you saw that people fight with each other over the same boy and love for the same boy based on jealousy, and even sacrifice their lives and property for this love. And you saw that a man earns his livelihood through his subjugation and a woman through her procreation. And you saw that women organize gatherings for themselves, just as men organize them. And you saw that women are praised for committing adultery, and a wife helps and cooperates with her husband in the act of sodomy with another man. And you saw that in the eyes of the majority of people, the best families are those that help women in their immoral acts. And you saw that in the dynasty of the Abbasids, the practice of sodomy and the conversion of men to women became widespread and public, and for this purpose they dyed themselves and combed their hair, just as women comb their hair for their husbands, and men spent their wealth for their own pleasure, and several people fought over one man, and this one fought against that one, and that against this one. You saw that men fatten themselves for men and women for women (or pretend to be what they are not). And you saw that people were mating with each other, as if they were having sex, and no one considered this act to be ugly, and if he did, he would not forbid it out of fear of people. You have seen a woman become overbearing and domineering over her husband, doing things against his wishes, and spending money against him. And you saw a man renting out his wife and daughter - a slave - and being content with lowly food and drink. {Addiction} And they have intercourse with the four ends of the vision. And you saw that the younger ones despised the older ones. And if you see that hurting and insulting parents publicly and belittling them has become widespread and they are considered the worst people in the eyes of children, even children will be happy to have their parents slandered. And you saw children slandering their parents and cursing them and rejoicing at the news of their death. And they give the same vision to the boy as they give to the woman. And you saw that abortion had become common. And you saw that the governors considered the guardianship and supervision of the people to be the responsibility of someone who had more power. And you saw that noble and honorable people were insulted and humiliated by those who feared their power. And you saw that the closest people to the governors are those who praise those governors while speaking ill of us, the Ahl al-Bayt. And you saw that the Sultan insulted and humiliated the believer because of the infidel. And you saw that if someone rises up to demand leadership, his only reward is the world, and he introduces himself as a man with bad language so that no one dares to protest and so that matters are attributed to him. And you saw that women have dominated government and monarchy and have become dominant over everything that satisfies their desires and whims. And you saw the Sultan hoarding food. And you saw that the property of the relatives of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family) was being divided unjustly, and they were gambling and drinking alcohol with that property. And you saw that governors, motivated by greed, make traitors their confidants. And you saw that the guardians of the inheritance (instead of distributing the inheritance among the heirs as Allah has ordained and according to His command) only give it to an heir who is a person of disobedience and daring to disobey Allah Almighty, (they take a bribe from him to account for their actions and leave him free to do whatever he wants with the rights of the other heirs). And you saw people violating each other with a witness who bore false witness. And you saw people being killed just for slander and suspicion. And if you see that false oaths to God Almighty have become widespread. And you saw them shaking the corpse and no one was upset by this act. And you saw that the judges were judging contrary to what God had commanded. And you saw that the owner of wealth is more respected than the believer, and usury is traded openly and no one blames him. And you saw that a huge amount of money was being spent in the cause of divine wrath. And you saw that destruction had taken over development. And you saw that a salesman's life is governed by betrayal in weight and measure. And you saw a rich man who had accumulated a lot of wealth and had not paid its zakat since the day it was collected. And you saw that charity is given by recommendation and intercession, and it is not intended to please God, but rather it is given because people ask Him. And you saw a man going to his house for prayer and returning with his clothes stolen. And you saw that the believer is always in sorrow, humiliation, and abasement. And you saw that they do not use the darkness of night to commit sin, but rather they sin in broad daylight. And you saw that when the unbeliever sees the miserable condition of the believer, he rejoices in his own condition, because he sees corruption spreading across the vastness of the earth. And you saw that gambling had become public and obvious. And you saw that wine was being sold openly and no one was forbidding it. And you saw that they respected their neighbor out of fear of his language. And you saw that the most truthful people are the ones who tell lies. And you saw that open evil and the market for gossip had become common. And you saw that rebellion and oppression had become evident. And you saw that gossiping is considered a form of politeness and good manners, and people give each other good news because of it. And you saw that bleeding was considered an easy and trivial matter. And you saw that there was a lot of chaos. And you saw the four ends falling on each other and tearing each other apart. And you saw that the hearts of the people were hardened and their eyes were dry, and the remembrance of God was heavy upon them, and the forbidden things became manifest, and they competed with one another in it. And you saw that people were drunk in the morning and evening and had no concern for the people's situation. And you saw that the people would rush towards the one who would prevail. In short, whichever of the two sides of the conflict prevails, the people would be with him, whether his victory was right or wrong. And you saw that people were looking at each other in imitation of the evildoers. And you saw that the paths of goodness were empty of travelers and no one walked on them. And you saw that the people and the masses follow none but the rich, And you saw that they fulfill the needy's need in return for mocking and laughing at him, and their compassion is for other than the pleasure of God. And you saw that divine heavenly signs were occurring, but no one was afraid of them. And you see that people spend a lot of wealth in other than the way of God, but they are stingy in spending a little in the way of God. And if you see that the situation has reached this point, if someone happens to him: Do not commit a major sin on that day. Do not commit immorality or debauchery, Do not short-sell or commit betrayal, He has not achieved anything forbidden. Or do not drink intoxicating wine, He sinks into sadness and thinks that his day was spent in vain and that a day of his life was wasted. And you saw them treating themselves with wine, describing to the sick person that such and such wine is very beneficial for you, and seeking healing from wine. And you saw that the wind was blowing against the banner of the hypocrites and hypocrites, but the banner of the people of truth was not moving. And if you see someone who is praised for his goodness and goodness, but who eats the property of orphans. And you saw that the world had turned to people. And you saw that the religious rituals were old and outdated,

Selected Sources "Reappearance of Muhammad al-Mahdi." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reappearance_of_Muhammad_al-Mahdi

"Mahdi." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahdi

"Iran's Revolutionary Guard and the Rising Cult of Mahdism: Missiles and Militias for the Apocalypse." Middle East Institute, May 2022. https://mei.edu/publication/irans-revolutionary-guard-and-rising-cult-mahdism-missiles-and-militias-apocalypse/

"Mahdism: The Apocalyptic Ideology Behind Iran's Nuclear Program." Middle East Forum. https://www.meforum.org/mahdism-the-apocalyptic-ideology-behind-iran

"The Expected One: Shi'ite Messiah Animates and Divides Islamic Republic." Iran International, March 2025. https://www.iranintl.com/en/202503259224

"The Return of the Shia Messiah and the Iran-Saudi Conflict." IranWire. https://iranwire.com/en/society/64005/

"The Return of Political Mahdism." Hudson Institute. https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/the-return-of-political-mahdism-

"Is the End Nigh for the Islamic Republic?" Hudson Institute. https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/is-the-end-nigh-for-the-islamic-republic-

Khalaji, Mehdi. "Apocalyptic Politics." Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Policy Focus 79 (January 2008). https://www.washingtoninstitute.org

Fischer, Michael M. J. Iran: From Religious Dispute to Revolution. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1980.

In a narration from Imam Jafar Sadiq (peace be upon him), Some of the vices of today's human society are mentioned in the hadiths and narrations under the title of signs of the end of time. In the first part , some of these signs are mentioned in a hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). In the following, based on an authentic narration from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), 114 categories of these signs are mentioned. "In Rawda Kafi, it has been narrated from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from some of his companions, and also from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umair ibn Ahmad, that these two people, Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ibn Abi Umair, have narrated from Muhammad ibn Abi Hamza from Hamran, who said: Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:

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Third Temple

Muslim apocalyptic believers fear that efforts to destroy Al-Aqsa mosque to make way for the Third Temple will prevent fulfillment of the prophecy about Islam's Meccan shrine migrating to Jerusalem at the end of time. Among Muslims, expectation of the final Hour helps feed exaggerated fears about Israel's actions in Jerusalem. Belief in the approaching End has influenced crucial events in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Time and again, it has been the rationale behind apparently irrational bloodshed, and undermined efforts at peacemaking. In the worst case, desire for history's finale has the potential to spark all-out war in the Middle East.

To messianic Jews, continued Muslim control of the Temple Mount constitutes an insufferable indignity. "Until the holy of holies is under our sovereignty, it means we're still living in the Diaspora," one of Israel's pre-eminent religious figures and the army rabbi who blew the shofar, or ram's horn, when Israeli troops captured the Temple Mount in 1967, Rabbi Shlomo Goren said in 1994. "It means we are not yet living in a Jewish state."

Jews believe the Temple Mount is where Abraham bound his son Isaac for sacrifice, where Solomon erected the so-called First Temple for prayer and animal offerings, and where it was later rebuilt by Herod the Great. After the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 AD, Jews have longed to rebuild a third one. Many messianic Jews believe a third temple is a prerequisite for the coming of Messiah.

According to a report 07 September 2024 by the newspaper "Haaretz", Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is racing against time to impose full occupation sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque , and to establish the plan for the " temporal and spatial division " of the mosque, by encouraging the alleged " Temple Organizations " to intensify mass incursions and ascend to the so-called "Temple Mount" in occupied Jerusalem. The settlers' mass incursions into Al-Aqsa, led at this stage by the head of the "Jewish Greatness" Minister Ben Gvir, who prepared an organized plan of 3 stages to control Al-Aqsa, conceal a longer-term goal of demolishing the Dome of the Rock Mosque and building the alleged " Third Temple " in its place.

According to the newspaper, the biblical aspiration to build the Third Temple has been engraved in the hearts of Jews for two thousand years, but until now there has been no practical plan, whether for reasons of the religious prohibition against ascending the Temple Mount until the coming of the Messiah, or because of the political reality that did not allow this under the pretext of the status quo. At this stage, the newspaper says in its report, Today, key positions in the Israeli government, led by Netanyahu, are held by Minister Ben-Gvir, and alongside him are a group of Knesset members from the Likud, the Jewish Greatness, the religious Zionism movement, and extremist rabbis, and the dream of the Third Temple has become a reality.

To advance this goal under the rule of the extreme right, the Temple Organizations, with the green light from Ben-Gvir and the silent approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , are planning to organize mass raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish holidays that begin in early October and continue through November. The person who caused a turning point in the Temple Building movement is the right-wing activist Rabbi Yehuda Glick. The fact that he was shot by a Palestinian in 2014 strengthened his status and brought him to the 20th Knesset as a representative of the Likud party .

Rabbi Glick, who was formerly the executive director of the Temple Institute, realized that the way to legitimize the Temple issue in the hearts of secular Jews is not through religious or even national arguments, but by using their own way of presenting it, by using their own methods of thinking, and adopting the discourse of rights that they promote. In order to dissolve the idea of building a third Temple in the collective Jewish mind, Rabbi Glick made it a habit not to talk about the Temple at all, but rather contented himself with claiming that Jews were allowed to ascend and pray on the Temple Mount. Glick went on to use the argument of universal rights that Jews can pray anywhere in the world and are not allowed to pray in their holiest place (Al-Aqsa), according to his claim, claiming that he is not calling for infringing on the rights of Muslims, but rather wants to allow Jews to do what Muslims are permitted to do in the courtyards of the sanctuary.

In the last two decades, the number of organizations established to promote this goal of building the Third Temple has increased, and attempts have even been made to unify them, such as the Joint Headquarters of the Temple Movements established in 2012. One of the fundamental changes was the shift in the official position of religious Zionism, which in the past supported the biblical prohibition on ascending the Temple Mount - storming Al-Aqsa - for reasons of "Jewish purity", as it abandoned its position.

In the current decade, even the ultra-Orthodox groups (Haredi Jews), whose position was more stringent regarding ascending the Temple Mount, began to support it, and thus it happened that the reality in the courtyards of the sanctuary changed from a few incursions by Jews to mass incursions. The incursions reached their peak in 2023, when 50,000 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa, with the support and encouragement of Ben Gvir and the protection of the Israeli occupation police.

Storming Al-Aqsa is one thing, and preparing to build and operate the Third Temple is another. Over the years, the rabbis and priests who are supposed to assume this position have already been trained in their craft, their clothes have been sewn, their musical instruments and work tools have been made. According to the newspaper, the altar, which is kept in a secret location, has already been built, and the Torah school (midrash) has been established, where they learn the laws of the Temple Mount. In an interview, architect Yoram Ginzburg spoke about the detailed plan he is preparing for the new temple. He said that a heating system and an underground parking lot will be built in the temple, where visitors will be shown a large model and sculpture, showing the temple as described in the "Prophecy of Ezekiel". In the institute's store, you can buy a "Lego" model of the Third Temple, and in the institute's wanted section, priests qualified for slaughter are recruited from the age of 14 and up.

The architect explained that even the main difficulty so far, which was to burn a red cow to cleanse the Children of Israel of its ashes and allow them to ascend the Temple Mount, is almost over. After many successful attempts to clone such a cow, in Israel and the United States, there in a secret location in the Golan Heights, a herd of several of these cows is currently being raised. The Temple Institute is expected to announce the first red heifer, the first since the days of the Second Temple. The next step involves slaughtering it, burning it, and mixing its ashes with water. After two thousand years, faithful Jews will be able to cleanse themselves of the impurity of the dead and ascend freely to all parts of the Temple Mount.

Support for the Temple movement has gained increasing legitimacy in the past two decades. Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, a member of the Kach movement and an activist in Temple organizations, was elected to the 18th Knesset for the National Union in 2009, and Moshe Feiglin later joined the Knesset. Likud Minister Miri Regev established the so-called "Temple Mount Directorate," a Jewish body parallel to the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, which she believes "will bring about a change in the public discourse regarding the Jewish relationship with the Temple Mount." In the huge hall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, gatherings and festivals were already held during 2023 with the participation of thousands of Temple seekers and supporters of the Temple movement, in which senior Israeli politicians, including ministers and members of the Knesset, participated.

Millions of shekels and dollars flow into the Temple Movement from Israel and abroad, partly through fundamentalist Christian organizations. The movement is also supported by many public organizations and Israeli government ministries, some directly, some secretly. In the many organizations working on behalf of the Temple Mount, there are a variety of opinions. The group headed by Professor Hillel Weiss calls for the Dome of the Rock to be demolished now and the Temple to be built in its place. As early as 2004, Weiss managed to establish the New Sanhedrin, a council of rabbis that was supposed to replace the Knesset, and its goal is to make the Torah the source of authority and legislation for the Jewish people, and to change Israeli democracy and move from kingdoms of species to kingdoms of priests.

But what is common to most of the movements supporting the construction of the Third Temple, but hidden from the general public, is the theory of stages. The mission today is to bring as many Jews as possible to Al-Aqsa, then allow them to pray, perform Talmudic and Torah rituals, and impose sovereignty and rule in the courtyards of the sanctuary. After allowing Jews to pray in Al-Aqsa, there will be an explicit demand to build a synagogue next to the mosque, and in the final stage the Dome of the Rock Mosque will be demolished and the temple will be built in its place. The Internet is full of simulations and detailed proposals prepared by architects for the new Third Temple that will be dedicated to the chosen nation only.

On Tisha B'Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, Jews worldwide observe a day of mourning for the destruction of the two Temples. Throughout the world, they fast, pray, and beseech for the rebuilding of the Third Temple. Tisha B'Av is a day of fasting and mourning in Judaism. It is observed on the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av. The holiday commemorates several disasters that happened to the Jewish people throughout history, including: the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire; and the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Roman Empire. The central element of synagogue services on the eve of Tisha B'Av is the mournful reading of Eichah (Lamentations). Tisha B'Av is the culmination of a three week period of increasing mourning, beginning with the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, which commemorates the first breach in the walls of Jerusalem, before the First Temple was destroyed. The restrictions on Tisha B'Av are similar to those on Yom Kippur: to refrain from eating and drinking (even water); washing, bathing, shaving or wearing cosmetics, etc.. Many of the traditional mourning practices are observed: people refrain from smiles, laughter and idle conversation, and sit on low stools.

The Reform movement's prayer book doesn't even mention the ancient temple rituals, although nearly one-quarter of the Torah's 613 laws deal with the temple's animal sacrifices. The Conservative prayer book celebrates the temple cult as part of ancient Judaism, but expresses no desire to reinstate it. Orthodox Jews continue to pray regularly for the rebuilding of the temple and for animal sacrifices to be offered there again. But even many of these observant Jews find the prospect animal offerings in the 21st century a bit far-fetched. Some say Jewish tradition forbids the construction of such a Temple before the coming of the Messiah.

Among the most important points in debate between Christians and Jews are these - Christians maintain that the Messiah has come, and that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah; the Jews deny both these propositions. Daniel foretold that Messiah should come at the end of a certain limited term; and that after he had come, the temple sacrifices should be abolished, and the Jewish polity dissolved by a hostile invasion. The Jews acknowledge that the last particulars have been accomplished, and yet deny that the former particular has been accomplished.

Some have acknowledged that the coming of the Messiah is not conditional. Abravenel and Hillel both think, that, though the coming of the Messiah might be hastened by the righteousness of the Jews, yet it could not be delayed by their iniquity "if they deserve not, it shall still be in its time.* Menasseh Ben-Israel relates "that it is built upon the absolute promise of the blessed God:" and Bechai asserts, that "redemption indeed depends upon repentance; but if repentance do not intervene, the fixed time for it shall not be removed." In fact, they who assert that the coming of Messiah is delayed on account of iniquity, do virtually acknowledge that he ought to have come already.

The "Third Temple" is a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. It would be the successor to Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple. The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE during the Roman siege of Jerusalem. Secular accounts say the Second Temple was completed around 516 BCE, but some Jewish sources say it was completed much later in 350 BCE. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple in 20-18 BCE. The Temple Mount, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is a holy site in Judaism and Islam. It is also central to the Christian Gospels. Jewish tradition says that the Temple Mount was the location of several important events in the Bible.

The most volatile issues between Muslim and Jew remain far from resolved. Chief among them is the abiding dispute over the spot known to Jews as the Temple Mount. The ancient stone plaza, where King Solomon's temple once stood, holds the Aqsa mosque and the gold-plated Dome of the Rock, Islam's third-holiest shrine, which covers the spot from where Muslims believe Mohammed ascended to heaven.

Jews believe the Temple Mount is where Abraham bound his son Isaac for sacrifice, where Solomon erected the so-called First Temple for prayer and animal offerings, and where it was later rebuilt by Herod the Great. After the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 AD, Jews longed to rebuild a third one. Since the Romans destroyed the Second Temple, it's as if Judaism had its heart extracted and was living on borrowed time.

In June 1967, at the conclusion of the Six Day War, the Israelis found themselves, for the first time in 2,000 years, in control of the Old City of Jerusalem. When fundamentalist Christians read the Bible in the late 20th century, something had fundamentally changed. They open texts for the first time in 2,000 years -- texts like Revelation, texts like the Book of Daniel, the prophets -- and they can begin to see the possibilities of a literal fulfillment, not a symbolic fulfillment as in the past.

Now fundamentalist Jews and fundamentalist Christians have something in common. If Mesiah is to come, if Jesus is going to come back, if these things are really going to happen, there has to be a temple. One of the prerequisites for the Third Temple is Israeli sovereignty over the city of Jerusalem, since 1967.

The other is a rite in the Book of Numbers, where a red heifer is sacrificed and burnt into ashes. According to Numbers 19, the ashes of the Red Heifer mixed with water are a necessary element for purifying Jews to enable them to do service in the Temple.

Some fundamentalist Jews look to the Jeremiah 33:1418 presentation of the New Covenant for Israel, which speaks about the Messianic Age when all Israel will be saved and restored to the Land of Israel. At that time, a righteous descendant of David, the Messiah, will sit on the throne in Jerusalem, and the Temple will again stand complete with its Levitical priesthood.

Haggai says, "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former." The demonstrative pronoun hazzeh, or this, compels understanding the temple which he had desired the old people to observe as being so much inferior to that of Solomon; therefore the temple in which Messiah was to appear, must necessarily be the second temple, and cannot be that future temple predicted by Ezekiel.

For some fundamentalist Christians, the Bible never makes a connection between the timing of the resurrection (rapture) and the Jerusalem Temple being built except that the resurrection must occur before the start of tribulation because scripture states that by the mid-point of tribulation the temple will be built and defiled by the Antichrist. Additionally, tribulation begins with a deceitful peace treaty between the Antichrist and the Jewish people which could possibly initiate the build of the third temple.

Many of those interpretations are derived from the book "Dispensational Truths" by Baptist Pastor and Biblical scholar Charles Larkin, which was published in 1918. Recently, Russian ultra-nationalist Aleksandr Dugin took his faith-based ideology one step further by suggesting that todays Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, is the Biblical incarnation of the Third Rome or the restoration of the Third Temple in Jerusalem.

The relics of the first temple may still be traced, it is said there is nothing at all of the temple built by the Jews on their return from captivity; while the temple built by Herod, a little still remains. In the 15th century, William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness and Baron of Roslin, built a Catholic chapel in the Midlothian region of Scotland. Famous for its esoteric symbolism, this flamboyant Gothic church was of great importance to the Knights Templar, who formed a Third Temple of Solomon.

"It would be hard for me, as a mainstream Orthodox rabbi, to assume that if the temple was rebuilt, we'd pick up where we were 2,000 years ago," says Rabbi Michah Halpern, a historian in Jerusalem. Rather, he says, it is the act of "yearning" for the third temple and the Messiah that counts. "We are not involved in the actual building processes themselves," he says.

This modern reticence made it easy for then-Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, shortly after Israel's 1967 victory, to return control of the Temple Mount to its Jordanian-run Islamic board, called the waqf. At the time, many rabbis were warning Jews to stay off the Temple Mount anyway, lest they commit the "arrogance of arrogance" of treading on the "holy of holies," where in ancient times only the high priest was allowed to go. (Nobody knows precisely where the hollowed ground lies.) The waqf took back the keys; few Jews complained.

Many Jewish leaders, including the government-appointed Rabbi of the Western Wall, continued to say Jewish law prohibited Jews from entering the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, a view the ultra-Orthodox community supported. Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau stated in June, however, that he would like to see a Third Temple built on the site without demolishing Muslim structures. Increasing numbers of the self-identified national religious Zionist community stated they found meaning in setting foot on the site.

The Temple Institute and Temple Mount Faithful, continued to call on the government to implement a time-sharing plan at the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif to set aside certain hours for Jewish worship, similar to the practice at the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Muslim authorities continued to oppose this idea.

But over the years, Temple Mount experts, including Rabbi Goren, published diagrams of the ancient site showing the many areas where Jews could safely roam. The messianists, whose numbers have steadily grown since 1967, had their calling: Take back the Temple Mount.

Small groups sprang up to lead Jewish worshipers on to the mount in defiance of the waqf. Israeli police had to seal off ancient tunnels discovered under the site to foil Jewish efforts to raze the Muslim shrines. Nearby, a yeshiva, a religious school, was founded to train future priests for duties in a rebuilt temple. And the Temple Institute, funded in part by the Israeli government, reproduced all the necessary biblical trappings--from sacrificial urns and altars to priestly vestments and breastplates--to perform the temple rituals again. Suddenly, Jews, who had waited millenniums to restore the temple, were beginning the process themselves.

"When you say the Messiah will rebuild the temple later on," says the institute's Rabbi Chaim Richman, "you're basically shirking the responsibility yourself."

Since 1987, when the Temple Movement began preparations for the rebuilding of the Third Temple, efforts to see this become a reality in the 21st century have been slowly progressing. Jewish leaders in the Temple Movement believe the Jewish people are not living on the spiritual level God intended because of the absence of the Shekinah (Divine Presence) from the world. The Temple provided a link between the land and the Divine.

Militant Jews embarked on a campaign to get Muslims off the Temple Mount once and for all. "We are living at a time when God is correcting the mistakes of history," says Gershon Salomon, a history professor and leader of Temple Mount Faithful, a Jewish group dedicated to wresting control of the sacred site. "Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock must be removed back to Mecca, the place from where they came. We will rebuild them stone by stone. We have the means to do it."

Religiously based terrorism is interested in dispelling from the earth all elements that corrupt its vision of the world. In the case of the Gush Emunim, this meant using violence to prepare the way for the messianic age. Sacred Islamic shrines on the Temple Mount, called The Abomination by the Gush terrorists, were viewed as desecrations of the site of the third temple. This justified their planned destruction of the Dome of the Rock. This plan was halted only when the planners failed to receive Rabbinic approval for it. Such groups are not interested in negotiation or compromise with those not of their faith.

Groups such as the Temple Mount Faithful and the Temple Institute regularly called for increased Jewish access and prayer at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, as well as the construction of a Third Jewish Temple on the site. The Temple Institute in August 2014 began a crowdfunding campaign to finance architectural plans for the Third Temple, and a promotional video on its website depicted the Third Temple built atop the al-Aqsa Mosque site. In the mid-1980s, a group of settlers was arrested and convicted of terrorist acts against Palestinians and of plotting to destroy the Dome of the Rock.

The Jerusalem syndrome is a temporary psychiatric condition - characterised by patients believing that they have become biblical figures such as Jesus, John the Baptist, or Moses - has been known to Israeli psychiatrists for decades. It affects mainly Christian pilgrims but is occasionally diagnosed in Jews who tour holy sites. Religious Jews with the syndrome may believe that the building of the third temple is imminent, that the ancient animal sacrifices will be restored, and that their own Messiah will soon arrive. Those affected begin to act strangely, sometimes proclaiming that they are ancient religious figures sent on a holy mission. Apocalyptic Christians expected the next millennium to herald the second coming of Jesus on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

In the case of the Gush Emunim, this meant using violence to prepare the way for the messianic age. Sacred Islamic shrines on the Temple Mount, called The Abomination by the Gush terrorists, are viewed as desecrations of the site of the third temple. This justified their planned destruction of the Dome of the Rock.

The temple cause spread to non-Jews as well. Prominent leaders of America's Christian right insistently predicted the Third Temple will be built. Messianic Christians believe the building of the Third Temple marks the "end of days," when Jesus will return to officiate the Final Judgment. Construction of the Third Temple would require the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

In Canton, Miss., a Christian preacher and cattle breeder named Clyde Lott, after reading Genesis one night, contacted his state's trade office to find out if Israel had the red cows it would need to perform proper, biblical purification rites in a third temple. It didn't. Over the past five years, Mr. Lott, working with the Temple Institute and some American Christian backers, has developed a breed of red cow that he hopes will spawn "the livestock restoration" of Israel, he says.

Many Christians believe another manmade temple will be built prior to Jesus' return. They will cite the prophecy that sacrifice and offering will be stopped in the midst of the 70th Week (Daniel 9:27) as one major piece of evidence for this. However, sacrifices and offerings were made on an altar even before the foundation of the Second Temple had been laid (Ezra 3:1-6). Therefore, there does not have to be another manmade temple standing, in which sacrifices and offerings will take place and then are stopped, for Daniel's prophecy to be fulfilled.

The risks increased after the year 2000, as prophesised dates for the End pass and believers looked for a way to ensure that the End came within the lifetime of those who saw the creation of the state of Israel.

The researcher specializing in Jerusalem affairs, Ziad Ibhais, says that the ultimate goal of the Temple groups and the Israeli right is religious replacement by removing the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in its entire area from existence, and establishing the alleged Temple in its place and on its entire area. On their way to achieving this goal, the Temple groups and the Israeli government - according to researcher Ibhais - have adopted interim goals that they consider closer to being achieved, and they are sequentially: Temporal division. patial division. The moral establishment of the Temple through the imposition of biblical rituals in Al-Aqsa.

As for the historical rise of Temple groups in Israeli governments, Ibhis explained that the trend of religious Zionism is rising and shifting from the margins to the center. He explains that the first representative of the Zionist movement was Meir Kahane, who entered the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) in 1984, and when he decided to run for elections in 1988, a special law was enacted to prevent him from doing so, and there was an agreement to criminalize the idea of religious Zionism and keep it outside the political scene.

Then the "Religious Zionism" movement returned and regained its ability to enter the Knesset in 2002 through the National Religious Party. Since then, the presence of "Temple groups" has increased in successive governments, and in 2015 they gained ministerial influence for the first time after they had held the position of "Deputy Minister."

Religious Zionism in general is a political spectrum that tends not to participate in the government, but rather to form militias that impose their views, using the state as a cover for them. But specifically in the idea of the structure, groups tried to penetrate society and political systems through official licensed organizations, says Ibhais.

The dispersed organizations and movements formed the Union of Temple Organizations in 2013, and its number reached 24 institutions that year. Today, 46 institutions fall under the umbrella of the Union, which confirms the gradual rise of the system of structural institutions in terms of number, organization, cohesion, and ability to mobilize funding, in conjunction with the ability to ascend parliamentary and governmental positions.

Thus, extremist groups moved from forming militias and expressing themselves outside the regime to forming institutions and owning the regime, according to the Jordan-based researcher.

Regarding the influence of the Temple groups in the current Israeli government, Ibhis says, We are facing a government controlled by religious Zionism because the Temple groups do not exist within one framework or in the Jewish Power party only, but also in Likud, and half of the representatives and ministers who attended the last meeting in one of the The tunnels next to Al-Aqsa Mosque are from Likud.

Ibhis adds, In Netanyahus government, which consists of 31 ministers, there are 16 who are counted among the Temple groups bloc because they adopt its principles and work to achieve them. This means that they support building the Temple in the place of Al-Aqsa, and they are doing everything they can to transform it from a purely Islamic sanctuary into a shared one, while employing all capabilities. "The military, political, economic and security state will achieve this."

Researcher Ibhis refuses to limit the talk about the agenda of Judaizing Al-Aqsa Mosque to the extremist Minister Itamar Ben Gvirs blackmail of Netanyahu, stating, We are facing a profound state of transformation that makes belief in the Temple agenda a cross-party situation, and therefore they are going to the idea of adopting the Temple by choice, not by necessity.

Bisharat, editor-in-chief of the Hodhud Network for Israeli Affairs, says that the close relationship between the Israeli government and extremist Temple groups is ancient, but its depth has never been revealed as much as it is now.

Bisharat added, in his interview with Al Jazeera Net, that these groups used to receive hidden support, but today it is clearly announced, and most leaders of temple organizations and settlement associations receive state awards. The leader of the "Elad" settlement association won the state award after the end of the excavations under the town of Silwan, adjacent to Al-Aqsa, because he "resurfaced the City of David," according to their claim.

The exact model of the Third Temple is already prepared and was created on a scale of 1/50. It can be viewed at the Visitors Center that will open its doors in Jerusalem in 2025. The square building, which is 150 meters long and 150 meters wide, and of varying heights, can be seen throughout Jerusalem.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh linked the terror organizations October 7 Al-Aqsa Flood assault on southern Israel, in which over 1,200 people were murdered, with the Jewish presence on the Temple Mount, complaining the Israelis let the settlers and usurpers loose to sow corruption in the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds. Haniyeh declared We have warned them, and we have warned the whole world, that even if, in the face of what is happening in Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque, the whole world remains silent, we will not be silent, we will not stand idly by; not our people, not our Resistance, not our Al-Qassam Brigades, not this Ummah.

Messianism or Messianicism is the belief of the Jewish people who believe in Yeshua (the Hebrew name for Jesus) as the promised Messiah (Messiah), savior and savior in the Holy Hebrew Scriptures, who will come at the end of the world to save his people Israel.

A question that the French newspaper La Croix (which means the cross) tried to answer, beginning its investigation by saying that the early morning of February 7 witnessed about 15 Jews heading to the Old City of Jerusalem to pray in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque, where they believe (which is not the case) The newspaper denies that the Muslims built their third holiest site (Al-Aqsa Mosque) in the same place where the ancient Temple of Jerusalem, the holiest place for the Jews, was located, in reference to what the Jews call the Temple Mount.

Lacroix adds that the Israeli police accompany the group to confront possible clashes with the Palestinians, noting that the reason for this is good, in her opinion, as the regular visits of these Jews violate the fragile status quo that was reached in 1967, which grants non-Muslims specific visiting hours and prevents them From praying in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The presence of this small group in the aforementioned courtyard also challenges the rules of the Chief Rabbinate in Israel, which does not allow Jews to approach the Holy of Holies on the  Temple Mount , according to Lacroix.

But the "Har Habayit" ("Temple Mount" in Hebrew) association organizes these trips back and forth and does not care about these considerations, because its members believe that claiming this holy place is the way to build the Third Temple, which will inevitably lead to accelerating the appearance of Christ, according to their claim.

Har HaBayit is not alone in working to accelerate the coming of the Messiah. Since the annexation of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967, the messianic thought of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ha Cohen Kook, known as Rav Kook, has fueled the creation of numerous associations.

Thus, since 1987, the Temple Institute has been working to reconstruct lost songs, traditions, and utensils after the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 AD, while the interest of the Puneh Israel (Building Israel) Association was focused on importing red cows from the state of Texas, which They claim that "its sacrifice is necessary for the future priests of the Third Temple."

Although these associations are still a minority, they are witnessing significant development as a result of funding American evangelical Christian networks. They have also received major support for two years from supporters of religious Zionism within Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

In the Jewish tradition, messianism is achieved in two stages, says Roberta Colo-Moran, a researcher in the anthropology of contemporary Jewish societies at the Catholic Institute in Paris. Firstly, the gathering of the Jewish diaspora in the Land of Israel, that is, in what they call the Biblical lands, and secondly, the construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem.

However, there is still disagreement in Jewish circles: Should the dispersion be ended by humans or by God? On this point, Orthodox Hasidic circles differ from the Zionist principles of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, in that if the Jews were to return to Israel, humans had no right to interfere in this. Hasidism or Hasidism is a Jewish social religious movement that arose in the 17th century. It is known for its religious conservatism and social isolation, and its members adhere closely to Jewish Orthodox practice.

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Strait of Hormuz

As of March 3, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz exists in a state of strategic ambiguity. On paper, it remains a navigable waterway; no sunken vessel blocks the channel, no minefield has been declared, and no navy has officially announced a blockade. Yet in practice, the Strait is effectively closed. Commercial shipping has largely paused or rerouted, insurers have withdrawn coverage, and major oil companies have ordered their fleets to avoid transit. The distinction between a physical closure and a de facto shutdown driven by risk is critical: the waterway is not permanently blocked, but it might as well be.

Trade and security outlets describe a cascading collapse of confidence. Following Iranian missile and drone attacks on vessels near the Straitincluding the February 28 strike on an oil tanker off Fujairahthe London-based International Group of P&I Clubs, which provides mutual indemnity insurance for 90% of the world's oceangoing tonnage, issued a circular on March 1 designating the entire Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz, and northern Arabian Sea as "enhanced risk zones." War-risk premiums, already elevated, surged by 400% within 48 hours. Several major shipping lines, including Frontline and Euronav, announced on March 2 that they would "temporarily suspend all transits pending security guarantees." By March 3, Lloyd's List Intelligence reported that crude tanker traffic through the Strait had dropped by 82% compared to February averages.

The Strait of Hormuz: By the Numbers (2024Q1 2025 baseline) Recent baseline data compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) underscores why this disruption matters. In 2024, flows through the Strait of Hormuz accounted for more than one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade (approximately 20.5 million barrels per day out of 80 million bpd total seaborne oil). That represents around one-fifth of global oil and petroleum product consumption (total world consumption averaged 102 million bpd in 2024). Beyond crude, the Strait is also a critical artery for liquefied natural gas (LNG): roughly one-fifth of global LNG trade transits Hormuz, with Qatar alone accounting for more than 75 million tonnes per yearover 20% of global LNG supply. When that throughput is disrupted, the first-order effects are immediate crude and LNG price spikes, followed by freight and insurance shocks, then second-order inflation and growth hits across importing economies.

The Mechanism of Shutdown

Understanding how the Strait became effectively closed requires examining the interplay of attacks, threats, and insurability. On February 28, Iranian fast-attack craft harassed a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker near the Strait's narrowest point. On March 1, a missile struck a Saudi-owned VLCC (very large crude carrier) 50 nautical miles off the UAE coast, causing minor damage but no casualties. More significantly, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released video footage purporting to show its naval forces boarding and inspecting a Greek-flagged tanker on March 2a vessel that later transmitted a mayday signal before going dark. While the IRGC claimed the ship was released after "verification," the shipping community interpreted the incident as a clear demonstration that Iran can interdict any vessel at will.

The cumulative effect was a collapse of insurability. Standard hull and machinery policies exclude war risks; separate war-risk coverage, already expensive, became either unavailable or prohibitively costly. Major charterers, including Shell, BP, and Trafigura, issued internal directives on March 2 forbidding their chartered vessels from entering the Strait without explicit senior management approvalapproval that, in practice, has not been granted. By March 3, the only vessels transiting were a handful of Iranian-flagged tankers and a few vessels operating under Chinese or Russian flags with state-backed insurance pools willing to assume the risk.

Why It Matters: The Global Energy Architecture

The Strait of Hormuz is not merely one chokepoint among many; it is the world's most strategically significant energy artery. Its closureeven if temporary and de factosends shockwaves through global oil and gas markets. On March 2, Brent crude futures surged by 14%, the largest single-day jump since the 1990 Gulf War. Asian spot LNG prices doubled within 72 hours, with Japanese and South Korean utilities scrambling for alternative supplies. The IEA announced on March 3 that it stood ready to coordinate a release of emergency stocks, but the scale of the disruptionaffecting 20 million barrels per day of oil and 75 million tonnes per year of LNGdwarfs any conceivable strategic stockpile release.

The timing compounds the crisis. Global oil inventories were already below five-year averages entering 2026, and OPEC+ spare capacity, concentrated in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is now effectively trapped inside the Gulf. Even if those countries could export via pipelinesSaudi Arabia's East-West pipeline (capacity 5 million bpd) and the UAE's Habshan-Fujairah pipeline (1.5 million bpd)those routes are themselves vulnerable and insufficient to replace Hormuz throughput. The result is a physical supply crunch that no paper transaction can alleviate.

Impact on China

China's exposure to Hormuz disruption is disproportionate and structural. In 2024, China imported approximately 10.8 million barrels per day of crude oil, of which nearly 60% (6.5 million bpd) transited the Strait of Hormuzprimarily from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, and the UAE. China also imports roughly 30 million tonnes per year of LNG from Qatar, accounting for about 25% of its total LNG imports. When tanker flows slow sharply, China faces a cascade of economic consequences: higher landed energy costs for crude, LPG, and LNG; refinery feedstock uncertainty that forces runs cuts and threatens petrochemical production; and higher shipping and war-risk premia across broader import lanes, including those not directly related to the Gulf.

By March 3, Chinese state media were reporting acute stress. The China Shipowners' Association issued an unusual public statement calling for "all parties to ensure the safety of commercial vessels" and warning that "unacceptable risks" were forcing Chinese-flagged tankers to idle outside the Strait. Spot charter rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) on routes from the Gulf to China tripled in four days as owners demanded war-risk compensation. Independent refiners, known as "teapots," began cutting runs due to feedstock shortages, while Sinopec and PetroChina activated emergency contingency plans. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced it would release crude from strategic reservesbut those reserves, designed for 90 days of import cover, would be rapidly depleted if the Strait remained closed for weeks.

Beyond energy, the disruption cascades into petrochemicals, manufacturing input costs, and consumer inflation. China's ethylene and propylene production, heavily reliant on naphtha and LPG from the Gulf, faces margin compression. Fertilizer production, dependent on Gulf LPG and natural gas liquids, is threatened. The broader impact on China's industrial economystill struggling with post-pandemic recoverycould be severe, potentially shaving 1-2 percentage points off GDP growth if the closure persists.

Impact on the World

The global effects radiate outward from the Gulf in concentric circles of pain. Energy-importing regionsEurope, much of Asia, and parts of Africatake a direct hit via oil and LNG prices. Europe, already grappling with energy affordability after the 2022-2023 crisis, faces renewed inflationary pressure. Asian importersJapan, South Korea, India, Thailandcompete for dwindling spot cargoes, driving prices higher for all. The IEA estimates that every $10 per barrel increase in oil prices shaves 0.2-0.3 percentage points from global GDP growth; a sustained $30 per barrel spike, plausible in this environment, would be a material drag on the world economy.

Energy exporters outside the Gulf, meanwhile, see windfall revenues. U.S. shale producers, West African suppliers, North Sea operators, and Latin American exporters (Brazil, Guyana) benefit from higher prices and increased demand for alternative barrels. The Permian Basin rig count ticked up on March 3, and the U.S. government signaled it would not discourage production increases. But these supply responses take timemonths, not daysand cannot immediately replace the 20 million bpd offline.

Global trade absorbs a logistics surcharge as carriers reroute around higher-risk zones, tightening vessel availability and raising spot rates across all major lanes. The Baltic Dry Index, a benchmark for dry bulk shipping, rose 8% on March 3, reflecting generalized freight inflation. Container lines plying Asia-Europe routes announced surcharges of $500-800 per TEU, citing increased insurance and security costs. Supply chain delays, already a concern post-pandemic, are exacerbated as vessels avoid the Suez Canal (which remains open but sees heightened risk) and instead divert around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10-14 days to transit times. Market volatility and risk-off moves follow quickly, especially as the disruption appears open-ended rather than days-long. Global equities sold off on March 2-3, with airlines and shipping companies hardest hit.

What Was to Be Done?

Near-term, the only durable "fix" was reducing the probability of further attacks and restoring insurabilitya task that falls to diplomacy, military security, and market interventions. First, urgent de-escalation and diplomatic channels focused on maritime safety and ceasefire mechanisms were essential. The February 26-27 Geneva talks, had they not been torpedoed by the subsequent strikes, might have provided a framework; after the strikes, new channels were needed. Oman, Qatar, and Switzerland emerged as potential mediators, but Iran's demand for a complete cessation of US/Israeli strikes before any discussions made progress difficult.

Second, coordinated maritime security and clear, credible safe-transit assurances were necessary to get insurers and operators back to "go." This meant visible naval escorts, preferably multinational, with rules of engagement that included active defense of commercial shipping. The US Navy's Fifth Fleet, reinforced by European and regional assets, began escort operations on March 2, but insurers demanded weeks of incident-free transits before reconsidering risk assessments. The creation of a "maritime corridor" with guaranteed safe passage, akin to the World Food Programme's humanitarian corridors, was discussed but not yet implemented.

Third, emergency energy-market stabilization measures were needed to calm panic pricing. The IEA's collective actioncoordinated stock releasescould inject additional barrels into the market, but the scale required was unprecedented. The United States, with the world's largest strategic reserve (approximately 350 million barrels as of March 2026), could release 1 million bpd for several months, but that would only offset a fraction of the 20 million bpd offline. Other IEA members, including Japan, South Korea, and Germany, announced they would release stocks, but the combined impact was modest relative to the shock. Temporary demand-reduction measuresspeed limits for vessels, voluntary conservation campaigns, fuel-switching where possiblecould shave a few hundred thousand barrels per day off consumption. Transparent supply guidance from producers and the IEA aimed to prevent panic buying and hoarding.

Operational Responses: What Importers and Firms Could Do

Operationally, importers and firms could blunt the damage through a combination of tactical and strategic measures. First, maximizing non-Hormuz routing where possible was critical. Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, with capacity to move up to 5 million bpd from its Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, was operating at maximum throughput, but that still left 15 million bpd stranded. The UAE's Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, capacity 1.5 million bpd, was similarly maxed out. Iraq's pipeline to Turkey (Ceyhan) was offline due to technical issues; efforts to restart it were accelerated. For LNG, Qatar's ability to reroute through its small pipeline to the UAE was negligible; most Qatari LNG is liquefaction-bound and cannot be redirected.

Second, diversifying cargo grades and suppliers offered partial relief. Atlantic Basin producersWest Africa (Nigeria, Angola), the North Sea (Norway, UK), and the Americas (US Gulf, Brazil, Guyana)could increase output and redirect cargoes that might otherwise have gone elsewhere. But this required time and logistics; vessels had to be repositioned, contracts renegotiated. Spot prices for West African crude surged as Asian buyers scrambled for alternatives, but available volumes were limited.

Third, extending inventory covercrude, LNG, critical feedstocksbecame a priority for importers. China, Japan, South Korea, and India drew down commercial inventories, but these were designed for normal commercial cycles, not extended disruption. Governments urged companies to maintain maximum stocks, and some considered mandating minimum inventory levels.

Fourth, tightening risk management through financial hedges, freight contracts, and supplier contingency clauses helped firms navigate volatility. Currency hedges against oil-price-linked exchange rate movements, forward freight agreements, and force majeure clauses in supply contracts were activated. Procurement teams expanded approved supplier lists, qualifying new grades and origins to maintain flexibility. None of these measures replaced Hormuz capacity, but they bought time while policy and security conditions stabilized.

As of March 3, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz remains in limbo. The waterway is physically open but commercially closeda distinction that offers little comfort to the millions of barrels per day that once flowed through it. The world's energy architecture, built on the assumption of reliable Hormuz transit, is under unprecedented strain. Whether diplomatic channels can restore confidence, whether naval escorts can deter attacks, and whether strategic stockpiles can bridge the gap remain open questions. What is certain is that the de facto closure of the Strait, even for weeks, will reshape global energy trade, accelerate diversification efforts, and leave lasting scars on the global economy. The gyre widens, and the world holds its breath.

The Strait Of Hormuz [SOH, much less commmonly termed Straits of Hormuz] was the world's second busiest international strait. The key to the Central Command area was to maintain uninterrupted access to energy resources. The Persian Gulf region contains roughly 68% of the world's known oil and natural gas reserves. Nearly 25% of the world's oil supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz on a daily basis. Over 75% of Japan's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz -- daily oil flow of 16.5-17 million barrels (2006E) -- was roughly two-fifths of all seaborne traded oil. The Energy Information Administration projects that oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz will double to 30-34 million barrels per day by 2020, suggesting that ensuring the free flow of oil through the Strait will continue to be an important mission.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway separating the Arabian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman and the North Arabian Sea, was only about 40 miles wide, and was 34 miles wide at its narrowest point. By far the world's most important oil chokepoint, the Strait consists of 2-mile wide channels for inbound and outbound tanker traffic, as well as a 2-mile wide buffer zone.

The Persian Gulf was a shallow, semienclosed basin with a mean depth of only 25 to 40 m. The circulation of this basin was driven primarily by the local wind stress and secondarily by thermohaline forcing. The prevailing wind in the Persian Gulf was from the northwest and was called the shamal. A wind-driven generally cyclonic circulation results. The lands surrounding the Persian Gulf are dry so there was strong excess evaporation over the Persian Gulf. This results in a surface inflow of relatively fresh water and an outflow of deeper, more-saline water at the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz has a very small sill and thus a classic inverse-estuarine circulation dominates the Gulf. Relatively freshwater flows in through the Straits and the more saline water flow uninhibited out of the straits at depth. Some of the highest current speeds are in the inflow through the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz. This inflow feeds the eastward coastal current along the south edge of the Gulf, which was strongest near Qatar. Along the Iranian coast, there was another eastward current where it terminates and its remnant turns south into the interior.

The majority of oil exported from the Strait of Hormuz travels to Asia, the United States, and Western Europe. Currently, three-quarters of all Japan's oil needs pass through this Strait. Most of the crude exported through the Strait travels long distances by Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) which can carry over two million barrels of oil per voyage.

If access to the Gulf were denied, assuming pipelines would flow at maximum capacity, the world would lose about one-fifth of its oil supply. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz would require use of longer alternate routes (if available) at increased transportation costs. Such routes include the 5 million-bbl/d capacity Petroline (East-West Pipeline) and the 290,000-bbl/d Abqaiq-Yanbu natural gas liquids line across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea. Theoretically, the 1.65-million bbl/d Iraqi Pipeline across Saudi Arabia (IPSA) also could be utilized, more oil could be pumped north to Ceyhan (Turkey), and the 0.5 million-bbl/d Tapline to Lebanon could be reactivated.

A US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report of October 5, 2006 concluded that the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) was "insufficient" to replace the oil lost from a severe supply disruption, including a global Iranian oil embargo, Strait of Hormuz closure, or a shutdown of the Saudi oil fields due to terrorism. The report noted that an Iranian embargo could cause oil prices to increase by $16 per barrel and up to $200 billion in GDP damage to the US economy, of which $132 billion could be offset by the SPR. A Saudi shutdown could cause $832 billion in damage to the US GDP, of which only $77 billion could be offset by the SPR. GAO estiamted that Strait of Hormuz closure could cause oil prices to increase by $175 per barrel.

Some say it would be foolish for Iran to seek to disrupt oil traffic in the Gulf because all of its oil flows through the Gulf. The US Government doesn't anticipate that Iran would try to do something like that because it would be the first victim of any such program.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 03 March 2026 - Day 1469

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, 123 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day.

The defense forces continue to stop the Russian enemy, destroy personnel and deplete its combat potential by providing a systematic fire effect.

The Russian enemy launched one missile strike, used one missile, launched 46 air strikes, dropped 171 guided airstrikes, used 3678 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,330 shells on settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions today, Russian forces launched three air strikes, dropped nine air bombs, carried out 131 shelling the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including four - with the use of the RSV.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy once stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the direction of the settlement of Zybine.

In the direction of Kupians komu, the Russian opponent attacked four times in the direction of Petropavlivka, Novoplatonivka and Kurilivka.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled nine Russian attacks towards the settlements of Shiykivka, Stavka, Drobisheve, Lyman.

In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent tried to advance eight times in the areas of Zakitny and Platonivka and in the direction of Riznikivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka. One fight is going on.

In the Kramators .komu direction the Russian opponent did not carry out offensive actions.

In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 14 times in the areas of the settlements of Konstantinovka, Pleshiyivka, Sofiyivka, Rusin Yar and towards Illinivka and Novopavlivka.

The Russian enemy committed 21 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. Russian troops tried to advance in the areas of the settlements of Rodinske, Pokrovsk, Udacne, Molodetske and towards Novooleksandrivka and Novopidgorodny.

According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction 38 Russian invaders eliminated and 22 injured. Destroyed one antenna, two vehicles units, two special equipment units, one radio-electronic combat vehicle, two enemy personnel covers, damaged a tank, an artillery system, four ATVs, one vehicle unit. Destroyed or suppressed 179 BPLA of different types.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian enemy nine times attacked the settlements of Ternove, Vyshneve, Vorone and Zlagoda. Cherry and pysanci suffered airstrikes of the opponent.

In the direction of Gulyaipil, there were 21 attacks in the areas of Gulyaypil and towards the settlements of Zaliznychne, Varvarivka, Gulyaipilske, Staroukrainka, Svyatopetrivka, Zelene, Tsvitkove. TheRussian enemy launched air strikes in the areas of settlements of Vozdvizhivka, Upper Tersa, Gulyaipilske, Kopani, Charivne, Valley, Lyubitske, Samijlivka, Novoukrainka, Zelena Dibrova, Girke. Three clashes are underway.

In the Orihivs komu direction, there were two combat with the Russian enemy in the area of Stepnogirsk and Primors kogo.

In the Pridnipro direction of offensive actions of the Russian enemy was not recorded.

In other directions, there are currently no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

As a result of resolute actions, the Sever Group of Forces, took Bobylevka (Sumy region) under control.

Troops of two mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade and an airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been hit near Rogoznoye, Khrapovshchina, Miropolye, and Pokrovka (Sumy region).

In Kharkov region, units of a heavy mechanised brigade, a motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, and a territorial defence brigade have been hit close to Verkhnya Pisarevka, Golubovka, Malinovka, and Krugloye (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 205 troops, an armoured personnel carrier, 23 motor vehicles, and a 155-mm Bogdan self-propelled artillery system. Five ammunition depots and five materiel depots were neutralised.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Three mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a border detachment of the Ukrainian border service have been hit close to Monachinovka, Novoosinovo, Volchiy Yar, Borovaya in Kharkov region, and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 190 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, and five artillery guns. Four field ammunition depots were eliminated.

The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line. Formations of three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade have been hit near Kondratovka, Konstantinovka, Chabelkovka, Nikiforovka, Ray-Aleksandrovka, and Druzhkovka(Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost over 120 troops, a tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, 22 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns. Two ammunition and five material depots were eliminated.

The Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, a jaeger brigade, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a national guard brigade near Novoaleksandrovka, Belitskoye, Novopavlovka, Novonikolayevka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Novogrigorovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 360 troops, two armoured personnel carriers, three armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Russian troops hit a mechanised brigade, an assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a marine brigade, and a territorial defence brigade in the vicinity of Dobropasovo, Gavrilovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Zelenaya Dibrova, Boykovo, Lyubitskoye, Barvinovka, and Verkhnya Tersa (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 350 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and an artillery gun. One ammunition depot was destroyed.

As a result of resolute actions, the Dnepr Group of Forces liberated Veselyanka (Zaporozhye region).

Manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade and a mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been hit near Kamyshevakha and Malokaterinovka (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 65 troops, an armoured fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, two electronic warfare stations, and an ammunition depot were neutralised.

Operational-tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have inflicted damage on AFU airfields, which launched long-range attack drones, power and port infrastructure used for the defence industry of Ukraine as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 142 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 12 guided aerial bomb and 136 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost, 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 119,156 unmanned aerial vehicles, 651 anti-aircraft missile systems, 27,995 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,680 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,597 field artillery guns and mortars, 57,737 units of support military vehicles.

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Foreign National Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Nuclear Materials, Narcotics, and Firearms

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Today, Takeshi Ebisawa, a Japanese national, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to traffic nuclear materials, including uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, from Burma to other countries, as well as his participation in international narcotics trafficking, weapons, and money laundering crimes. Ebisawa previously pleaded guilty to six counts for those offenses before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon for the Southern District of New York.

"National security and public safety are the very tenets of DEA's mission, and this case demonstrates our ability to dismantle the world's most dangerous criminal networks," said Administrator Terrance Cole of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "Today's sentence should send a clear message: threatening the United States by trafficking nuclear materials, narcotics, and military-grade weapons will trigger an uncompromising response. DEA will hold conspirators accountableno matter the distance, no matter their allegiance."

"Thanks to the exceptional work of the DEA and our DOJ prosecutors, Takeshi Ebisawa has been held accountable for his crimes, including an attempt to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran and to flood New York with deadly narcotics," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. "The National Security Division will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle criminal networks that seek to profit from the illicit trade in deadly weapons and substances."

"The illicit trafficking of nuclear materials is an existential threat to every New Yorker and every American," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. "Takeshi Ebisawa tried to sell uranium, thorium, and plutonium to fuel a purported nuclear weapons program, along with deadly drugs destined for U.S. streets. In exchange, Ebisawa hoped to procure battlefield weapons for insurgent groups and profit for himself. This case is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our law enforcement partners, who worked across three continents to stop Ebisawa and bring him to justice in the United States."

As reflected in the Complaint, the Superseding Indictment, and other filings and information in the public record:

From in or about 2019 until Ebisawa's arrest on or about April 4, 2022, the DEA investigated Ebisawa in connection with the large-scale trafficking of narcotics, weapons, and nuclear materials. During the investigation, Ebisawa unwittingly introduced an undercover DEA agent ("UC-1"), posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker, to Ebisawa's international network of criminal associates, which spanned Japan, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the United States, among other places, for the purpose of arranging criminal transactions. Over the course of three years, Ebisawa and his associates negotiated four sets of transactions with UC-1.

First, Ebisawa attempted to broker the sale of nuclear materials in exchange for military-grade weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, for an ethnic insurgent group in Burma. Ebisawa intended to sell this nuclear material to UC-1's associate, who was posing as an Iranian general in charge of Iran's nuclear weapons program (the "General"). After initially offering uranium, Ebisawa proposed to supply the General with "plutonium" that would be even "better" and more "powerful" than uranium for Iran's use. In or about February 2022, Ebisawa and two co-conspirators met with UC-1 in Thailand, where one of the co-conspirators showed UC-1 samples of the nuclear materials (the "Nuclear Samples"). With the assistance of Thai authorities, the Nuclear Samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory examined the Nuclear Samples and determined they contained detectable quantities of uranium, thorium, and weapons-grade plutonium.

Second, Ebisawa attempted to broker the sale of methamphetamine and heroin to UC-1 in exchange for heavy weapons for another ethnic insurgent group in Burma. Ebisawa planned for the heroin and methamphetamine to be distributed in the New York market, and he understood the weapons to have been manufactured in the United States and taken from U.S. military bases in Afghanistan. In or about February 2021, Ebisawa traveled to Denmark to inspect some of the purported weapons, including anti-tank rocket weapons, machine guns, and automatic rifles.

Third, Ebisawa conspired to sell, in a separate transaction, approximately 500 kilograms of methamphetamine and 500 kilograms of heroin to UC-1 for distribution in New York. In furtherance of that transaction, in or about June 2021 and September 2021, one of Ebisawa's co-conspirators provided samples in Thailand of approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine and approximately 1.4 kilograms of heroin. The methamphetamine had a purity of approximately 98%, and the heroin had a purity of approximately 86% to 87%.

Finally, Ebisawa laundered $100,000, which UC-1 described to Ebisawa as narcotics proceeds, from the United States to Japan, in exchange for a 15% commission. In or about November 2021, the DEA transferred $100,000 to U.S. bank accounts controlled by one of Ebisawa's co-conspirators, and Ebisawa then delivered the Yen equivalent of approximately $85,000 in cash in Tokyo.

In addition to the prison term, Ebisawa, 61, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

The investigation was led by the DEA's Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit and the IRS Criminal Investigation. The DEA Tokyo Country Office, DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Chiang Mai Resident Office, DEA Jakarta Country Office, DEA Copenhagen Country Office, DEA New York Field Office, DEA New Delhi Country Office, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice's National Security Division, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division, and law enforcement partners in Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, and the Kingdom of Thailand provided assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky, Alexander Li, and Kevin T. Sullivan for the Southern District of New York's National Security and International Narcotics Unit are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.

Topics: Drug Trafficking

Firearms Offenses

Counterintelligence

National Security

Components: National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - New York, Southern

Press Release Number: 26-213

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Prime Minister Carney speaks with President of the United Arab Emirates His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

March 3, 2026

Sydney, Australia

Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Prime Minister expressed Canada's solidarity with the UAE against Iranian missile and drone attacks on civilians across the Middle East, which both leaders condemned.

The Prime Minister conveyed his gratitude to His Highness for his protection of the thousands of Canadians who live in the UAE.

Despite more than two decades of negotiations and diplomatic efforts, Iran has not dismantled its nuclear program, halted its enrichment activities, nor ended its support of terrorist proxies. Canada has long supported the imperative of neutralising this grave global threat.

Canada calls for a de-escalation and the immediate cessation of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

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Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 02, 2026 22:47

On March 2, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi had a phone call with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.

Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi noted that under Oman's mediation, Iran-U.S. negotiations made unprecedented progress, yet regrettably, the U.S. and Israel have cast aside the existing outcomes of the talks and launched a war. If the war continues, it will lead to more casualties and property losses. All parties should work together for an early ceasefire. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China always abides by the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and is a positive force to be relied upon. Oman hopes that China will play an important role under the current sensitive and complex circumstances. Oman will do its utmost to safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Oman.

Wang Yi said that China appreciates Oman's active mediation in advancing the negotiations between Iran and the U.S. and its tremendous efforts for safeguarding regional peace. Despite progress in the talks, the U.S. and Israel deliberately provoked a war against Iran, which clearly violates the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. China believes that the pressing task now is to immediately cease military actions to prevent further spillover of the conflict and avert an irreversible deterioration. China urges all parties to make joint efforts to this end and support Oman in staying true to its original aspiration and continuing its mediation efforts. China also stands ready to play a constructive role, including upholding fairness and justice at the U.N. Security Council and striving for peace and stopping the war.

Wang Yi said that China values the legitimate appeals of Gulf states and supports them in upholding their sovereignty and national security. Spillover of the war does not serve the fundamental and long-term interests of Gulf states. China expects that Gulf states will enhance their independence, oppose external interference, develop good neighborliness, and strengthen solidarity and coordination, so as to truly hold their future firmly in their own hands.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on March 3, 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 03, 2026 18:46

CCTV: Amid the current tense situation and ongoing military conflict in Iran, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had phone calls with his counterparts from several countries. Could you share more details?

Mao Ning: In the recent phone calls with Russian, Iranian, French and Omani foreign ministers, Foreign Minister Wang Yi articulated China's position and actively worked to promote peace and stop the conflict.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out that it is unacceptable for the U.S. and Israel to launch attacks against Iran in the process of the ongoing Iran-U.S. negotiations, still less to blatantly attack and kill the leader of a sovereign country and instigate government change. These actions have violated international law and basic norms of international relations. The following is China's position: first, immediately stop the military operations; second, return to dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible; third, jointly oppose unilateral actions.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that China supports Iran in defending sovereignty and security, territorial integrity and national dignity and in safeguarding its own legitimate and lawful rights and interests. China takes seriously Gulf countries' legitimate concerns and supports them in upholding their sovereignty and security. Major countries should not make use of their military advantages to arbitrarily attack other countries, and the world must not slip back to the law of the jungle. Any moves that violate international law should be resisted by the international community, and basic norms governing international relations should be jointly upheld. China will continue to play a constructive role, stand firm for justice in platforms such as the UN Security Council, work for peace, and stop the conflict.

Anadolu Agency: After the U.S. and Israel started their military operation on Iran, conflict is now expanding through the Middle East. Israel is reported to target Tehran and Beirut at the same time and several neighboring countries hosting U.S. bases are targeted in retaliatory strikes by Iran as well. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: The U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran have no UN Security Council authorization and violate international law. China is deeply concerned over the regional spillover. China believes that the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf states should likewise be fully respected. We urge parties to stop the military operations and prevent further spread of the conflict.

Anadolu Agency: In Israel's attacks against Iran, we saw a girls' school was bombed on Saturday. And more recently, Iran's public broadcaster IRIB's buildings in Tehran were targeted in military attacks. We are now witnessing a similar, dangerous pattern of targeting civilians, civilian facilities, children, journalists, like we have seen before in Gaza. What is China's comment about these acts?

Mao Ning: China is deeply saddened by the massive civilian casualties caused by U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. We strongly condemn that. Protection of civilians in armed conflicts is a red line and must not be violated. Indiscriminate use of force cannot be accepted. China calls on all parties to fulfill their obligations under international law, effectively ensure the safety of civilians, and avoid attacks on civilian facilities.

China News Service: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said yesterday the agency has not seen "a structured program in Iran to manufacture nuclear weapons" and countries may have "political considerations." What's China's comment? How do you see the prospects of the Iranian nuclear issue?

Mao Ning: The U.S. once again attacked Iran in the process of an ongoing negotiation. The attack violates international law and basic norms of international relations and has ratcheted up tensions in the Middle East. China is highly concerned over the situation.

China stands for the peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation, and respects Iran's legitimate right to peaceful use of nuclear energy. We noted that Iran reiterated multiple times that it has no intention to develop nuclear weapons and has recently engaged in serious negotiation with the U.S. The issue ultimately has to return to the track of political and diplomatic solution. China calls for an immediate stop to the military operations, an early return to dialogue and negotiation, and efforts to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond.

Ukrinform News Agency: Two questions. The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, for Ukrainians, it is important to involve China in efforts to end the Russian war in Ukraine. "For now, we do not see their involvement", he said. What's China's comments? And second, Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday in the phone call with French colleague said that major countries must not use their military advantage to launch arbitrary attacks against other nations. This statement is addressed to the United States, but is it also directed to Russia?

Mao Ning: Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has been committed to promoting talks for peace and the end of fighting. China's position and effort is clear for all to see.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, President Xi Jinping has put forward four principles, namely, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported. This has all along been China's position and it is also where we stand as we promote the settlement of all hotspot issues.

AFP: The Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday that a Chinese national was killed in Tehran. Could you confirm if there are others affected? Since the strikes began, how many Chinese nationals have been evacuated from Iran and the Gulf region?

Mao Ning: We have not received any information on other Chinese citizens affected by the conflict. Since the security situation in Iran turned tense, more than 3,000 Chinese citizens have been evacuated from Iran as of March 2. The working groups from Chinese diplomatic missions in Iran's neighboring countries are continuing their work at border ports to receive and assist the evacuated Chinese citizens.

Bloomberg: We've reported that China is pressuring Iranian officials to avoid any action that would disrupt Qatari gas exports or other shipments making their way through the Strait of Hormuz. Would the Ministry like to comment on this?

Mao Ning: Energy security is very important for the world economy. All parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supply. China urges all parties to stop the military operations at once, avoid further escalation, keep the shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz safe, and prevent further impact on the global economy.

Reuters: Some analysts suggested that China may take bolder action to stake its territorial claims, including in Taiwan, while the U.S. is distracted in the Middle East conflict. Do you have any comment on this assertion? And also, some analysts said that U.S. actions in Venezuela and Iran may hinder oil supplies to China and weaken their diplomatic allies. Do you have any comment on this assertion as well?

Mao Ning: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair. How to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese ourselves.

On your second question, China firmly opposes violating any country's sovereignty and security with the use of force in international relations. Energy security is of vital importance to the world economy. Ensuring stable and unfettered energy supply is a responsibility for all. China will do what is necessary to safeguard its energy security.

AFP: China's Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are expected to meet in Paris next week to discuss business deals between the two countries. That has been reported by Bloomberg News. Do you confirm that this meeting will take place?

Mao Ning: I'd refer you to competent authorities.

***********************************************************************

The following question was raised after the press conference: U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28 have been met with Iran's counterattacks. Over the past few days, U.S. targets in the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as Jordan and Iraq have been attacked, which affected civilian facilities in relevant countries and caused civilian casualties. Several countries condemn that in their statements. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: The blatant military strikes against Iran launched by the U.S. and Israel have ratcheted up regional tensions and caused regional spillover. China is gravely concerned. China believes that Gulf countries' sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be fully respected, and any attack against innocent civilians and non-military targets should be condemned. China urges all parties to immediately stop the military operations and prevent further spread of the conflict. China stands ready to work with regional countries and the international community to promote peace, stop the conflict, and work actively for peace and stability in the region.

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Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 02, 2026 22:53

On March 2, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi had a phone call with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot.

Jean-Noel Barrot shared the French perspective on the current situation in the Middle East, underscoring that France and China, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, have special responsibility for upholding international peace and security. The U.S and Israel did not seek the opinions from the U.N. Security Council regarding their military action against Iran, nor did they obtain authorization from the Council. All parties should work together to de-escalate the tensions and resolve such issues as the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiation. China has maintained good relations with both Iran and other Gulf states. France looks forward to joining hands with China to proactively ease the situation in the region.

Wang Yi reiterated China's principled position, stressing that the international community should reject any act that violates international law and refrain from applying double standards. Major countries must not be allowed to attack others at will with their military might, nor should the world revert to the law of the jungle. The Iranian nuclear issue should eventually return to the track of political and diplomatic settlement. China hopes that France will uphold an objective and just position, remain calm and rational, and work with China to de-escalate the situation, jointly safeguarding the basic norms of international relations.

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China - Conversation between M. Jean-Noel Barrot and his counterpart, Mr Wang Yi (3 March 2026)

France - Ministere de lEurope et des Affaires etrangeres

M. Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke on the telephone yesterday to Mr Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

The two ministers discussed the situation in the Middle East.

The [French] Minister recalled the Iranian regime's responsibility in the ongoing escalation, after it unjustifiably struck several countries in the region. This chaos and terror approach follows its refusal to comply with Security Council resolutions regulating its nuclear programme and ballistic activities and banning support for non-state armed groups, and to enter in good faith into multilateral negotiations on its nuclear programme. The Minister also recalled the scale of the human rights violations committed by the regime in January during the bloody crackdown on public demonstrations.

The Minister added that the military operation by the United States and Israel was conducted without France participating or being informed. He also repeated that it was each country's responsibility to prioritize international institutions to resolve disagreement and, if necessary, resort to the use of force.

The two ministers agreed on the need to work towards de-escalation, in conjunction with the Gulf countries, and find a path to a political resolution guaranteeing collective security interests and provision for the Iranian people's aspirations, in the framework set by UN Secretary-General resolutions and international law.

The two ministers agreed to continue their close dialogue on the issue.

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Transcript of Special Media Briefing by MEA on the Official Visit of Prime Minister of Canada to India (March 02, 2026)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

March 03, 2026

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Namaste and good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining this press briefing on the visit of the Prime Minister of Canada. We have with us Secretary (East) Shri P. Kumaran, and he is assisted by Shri Nagaraj Naidu, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs for this briefing. With that, I hand over the floor to Secretary (East), Sir.

Shri P. Kumaran, Secretary (East): Good afternoon, friends. It's a pleasure to talk to you again. The Prime Minister of Canada, Right Honourable Mark Carney, will shortly be successfully concluding his official visit to India from 27th of February to 2nd of March, 2026.

This was his first visit to India since assuming office and the first bilateral visit by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years. The visit marks an important inflection point in the India-Canada relationship.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit commenced with a two-day program in Mumbai. The Mumbai leg was primarily business-oriented and aimed at catalysing investment flows, deepening financial linkages, and expanding innovation partnerships between the two countries. Prime Minister Carney held extensive interactions with Indian business leaders, CEOs, innovators, educators, and representatives of leading Canadian pension funds.

These discussions were essentially focused on bilateral investment flows, strengthening collaboration in clean energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. It is also related to partnerships in education, skills, and research, and expanding capital market linkages and long-term institutional investments.

Prime Minister Carney delivered the keynote address at the Canada-India Growth and Investment Forum in Mumbai, where he described his visit as the beginning of a renewed and ambitious Canada-India partnership after eight years without a bilateral Prime Ministerial visit.

He also emphasised the importance of diversification, trusted partnerships, and strategic autonomy rather than isolation. He stressed the need to conclude negotiations on an ambitious, Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, CEPA, with the objective of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

Overall, the Mumbai leg of the visit set a strong economic and innovation-driven tone for the broader bilateral engagement, laying the foundation for substantive outcomes during the Delhi segment of the visit. Before I come to the Delhi leg, I just wanted to mention that over the past year, both sides have worked steadily to stabilise and normalise the relationship. This visit has taken that process forward decisively, moving the partnership from normalisation to structured expansion.

Earlier today, the Prime Ministers held wide-ranging and constructive discussions. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to rebuild strategic trust, strengthen institutional cooperation, and anchor the relationship in mutual respect, sovereignty, and democratic values.

As far as the deliverables for the visit are concerned, we have a joint statement which is comprehensive in scope and forward-looking in ambition, and a number of MOUs in the G2G, education and research, and B2B domains. We have brought out a fact sheet to capture the deliverables. Both of these are available on MEA's website.

The leaders' joint statement articulates a structured vision for the renewed India-Canada strategic partnership anchored in the guiding principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakamone earth, one family, one future. In that sense, the joint statement provides a long-term frameworkpolitical, economic, technological, and strategicto guide bilateral engagement over the coming decade. It signals not just normalisation, but renewed ambition. The visit delivered concrete outcomes across five pillars.

Number one was the agreement on a durable economic anchor through the launch of CEPA. The signing of the terms of reference for a CEPA provides a clear roadmap to conclude an ambitious, balanced, and mutually beneficial agreement by the end of 2026.

To sustain the momentum, the India-Canada CEO Forum has been reconstituted and met today in New Delhi a short while ago. A new Finance Minister's Economic and Financial Dialogue has been launched. Both sides agreed on reciprocal ministerial-led trade and investment engagements to unlock commercial opportunities.

Beyond government-to-government outcomes, the visit witnessed substantial commercial announcements and investment commitments across a wide range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals and life sciences, agri-food processing, clean technology and water infrastructure, financial services and fintech, advanced manufacturing, hospitality, and digital innovation. These announcements reflect growing confidence among businesses in both markets and underscore the depth of two-way investment flows.

The reciprocal investment pattern signals that the partnership is increasingly anchored in real economic integration rather than episodic transactions. Notably, investments span next-generation sectors such as regenerative medicine, AI-enabled banking platforms, cybersecurity, clean energy technologies, and advanced industrial solutions. The scale and diversity of these commercial engagements demonstrate that the normalisation process has already begun translating into tangible economic outcomes.

Energy cooperation emerged as a defining pillar of this visit. The leaders advanced a comprehensive strategic energy partnership spanning civil nuclear cooperation, including all aspects of the reactor value chain, critical minerals, conventional energy trade, and clean and renewable energy transitions. A major milestone is the conclusion of a long-term uranium supply agreement.

The signing of the MOUs on critical minerals and renewable energy cooperation will also help build resilient supply chains and accelerate clean energy deployment. Canada's decision to join the International Solar Alliance and upgrade its participation in the Global Biofuel Alliance to a full member further deepens convergence in global clean energy platforms.

People-to-people ties remain the bedrock of the relationship. Education and research collaboration prominently featured in the visit, reflecting the central role of talent mobility in the India-Canada partnership.

The visit saw the expansion of structured academic partnerships across artificial intelligence, hydrogen research, digital agriculture, climate-resilient farming, nursing education, and innovation ecosystems. These institutional linkages move beyond traditional student flows and instead focus on co-creation of knowledge, joint research, dual degree pathways, and industry-integrated training.

Taken together, these initiatives signal a shift from volume-driven student mobility to structured, innovation-led academic collaboration aligned with emerging sectors and workforce needs in both countries. A joint talent and innovation strategy will provide a structured framework for two-way mobility, skills development, and research collaboration.

An MoU on cultural cooperation and Canada's participation in Bharat Tribal Festival 2026 also reinforce the societal and civilizational dimension.

The leaders agreed to relaunch the joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, creating a renewed institutional platform for collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. They advanced work under the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation Partnership and agreed to develop a structured work plan in AI and digital technologies.

Space cooperation will also be elevated as both sides approach the 30th anniversary of the CSA-ISRO MoU in 2026.

On security cooperation, the leaders welcomed progress under the National Security Level Dialogue and agreed on a shared work plan covering counter-terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, and immigration enforcement. The India-Canada Defense Dialogue will be institutionalised at the Joint Secretary or Director General level. These steps signal a maturing and institutionalised security engagement.

Finally, both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. India supported Canada's interest in joining the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as a dialogue partner. There is growing convergence between India's vision for the IOR and Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, climate resilience, maritime cooperation, and infrastructure.

In sum, Prime Minister Carney's visit has: one, consolidated normalisation; two, restored strategic direction; three, institutionalised economic and security dialogues; and positioned the partnership towards long-term expansion.

India and Canada have agreed to structure their renewed strategic partnership around shared prosperity, trusted technology ecosystems, energy security, talent mobility, and Indo-Pacific cooperation. The relationship has clearly moved beyond turbulence into a more stable and forward-looking phase. Thank you very much.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Thank you, sir. We now open the floor for questions. Please keep your questions focused on the visit.

Ravinder Singh Robin, Freelance Journalist: I am Ravinder Singh Robin, freelance journalist. Sir, my question is regarding ... have both countries ... moving towards with full diplomatic strength in respective High Commissions, and are the staffing level coming up with the earlier understanding?

Sidhant, WION: Hi sir, Sidhant from WION. Sir, India has always had concerns of criminals getting space in Canada, and this is also related to the process of allowing these criminals into Canada, looking into their system. How much that has been a concern, and how much that has been raised with the Canadian side?

Abhishek Jha, Independent Journalist: Sir, Abhishek Jha, independent journalist. Sir, did the two leaders also share their views on the current ongoing crisis in Iran?

Kadambini Sharma, Independent Journalist: Kadambini Sharma, independent journalist. Sir, Bharat kai varshon se organised crime mein shamil jo apradhi hain, yahan se galat tarike se, illegal tarike se gaye hue hain, unki fehrist deta raha hai. Toh kya is par, unke extradition wagairah par koi baat hui hai specifically?

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi]Kadambini Sharma, independent journalist.Sir, for many years India has been providing a list of criminals involved in organised crime who left the country through illegal means. So, was there any specific discussion on this matter, particularly regarding their extradition and related issues?

Keshav Padmanabhan, The Print: Sir, good evening. Keshav Padmanabhan from The Print. My question is with regards to the security component of the dialogue because the NSAs had agreed to set up liaison officers earlier. So was there anything specific discussed with regards to this component of the ties, given how we've now seen new allegations coming out of Indian officials in the Vancouver Consulate being behind or linked to the killing of Nijjar in Canadian media that came out earlier today in the morning. So was this discussed?

Shri P. Kumaran, Secretary (East): Thank you very much. Let me start with the question on diplomatic staff strengths in the Mission and Consulates. Yes, this has been discussed during various dialogues at various levels, and there is broad agreement that we should be increasing diplomatic strength on both sides progressively to reach their levels in the past. We are already in the process of doing that. You would have seen that the High Commissioners have returned to their positions. We have a High Commissioner in our mission in Canada, and similarly, the Canadian Mission is headed now by a High Commissioner.

Let me tell you that the numbers are currently at levels better than what we had in 2023. And we continue to take steps to take this to the next level in keeping with the expanded agenda and ambition, and we are taking this on a step-by-step basis.

The second one was about criminals getting space in Canada. Let me try and give you some broader context on the current security cooperation between Canada and India. Based on the guidance provided by the leaders, we had the meeting between the National Security Advisors of the two countries in Delhi on 18th September 2025 and for a second time again on 7th February 2026 in Ottawa. The two sides acknowledged progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and their citizens. It was also agreed to continue senior official level discussions on security and law enforcement cooperation. Let me also highlight that we have a JWG on Counter-Terrorism. We have a consular dialogue mechanism in place that addresses all issues including extradition, look out circular notices, etc. We will be holding the next edition of the consular dialogue sometime in the coming months.

At the meeting held on 6th of February, both sides agreed to a shared work plan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and to enable practical collaboration on the respective priorities. It was also agreed that each country would establish security and law enforcement liaison officers to build on working relationships, streamline bilateral communications, and enable timely information sharing on issues of mutual interest to Canada and India, including issues such as illegal flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl precursors and transnational organised criminal networks.

On Iran crisis, yes, you know, as you would expect, this is a hot issue right now, and therefore it was discussed. Prime Minister took the opportunity to convey that India is deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region in general. He said we have urged all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians. He also said dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address the underlying issues. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be maintained.

Our Missions in the region, of course, are in touch with Indian nationals and various community associations and have issued advisories asking them to remain vigilant, stay in contact with the Missions, and follow local security guidance. You would have also seen the statement by our spokesperson on this issue earlier.

On the Globe and Mail allegations, the one that you mentioned which appeared earlier today, you would have already seen the statement issued by our spokesperson. I would refer you to that. Thank you.

Sorry, aapne extradition ke baare mein pucha tha. Extradition jaisa ki maine pehle refer kiya tha, consular dialogue mein regularly discuss hote hain. Extradition teams dono taraf se, unki last meeting hui thi Delhi mein 19th of September 2025. Usme exchange of information hua tha on all pending extradition and mutual legal assistance cases. And that's a continuing process and hum determined hain ki is process ko hum actively follow up karenge.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Sorry, you had asked about extradition. As I mentioned earlier, extradition matters are regularly discussed during the consular dialogue. The extradition teams from both sides held their last meeting in Delhi on 19th September 2025. During that meeting, there was an exchange of information on all pending extradition and mutual legal assistance cases. This is an ongoing process, and we are determined to actively follow up on it.

Rishabh, Times Now: Sir, one clarification on the diplomatic strength. This is Rishabh from Times Now. When the first set of Canadian diplomats were asked to leave India, it was on the basis of parity. So are we still working on the parity of diplomats on both sides, A,

And B, when it comes to Globe and Mail, while the reset ties are on, have we raked up this issue with Canada about this unnamed source-based inputs that are being reported in the media?

Manas, PTI: This is Manas from PTI. Just wanted to know the broad kind of contours of the two significant agreements that both sides inked today. One is on the critical minerals partnership and the second one is on the uranium sourcing agreement. So will you please, in fact, explain the overall kind of ambit of these two very significant agreements? Thank you.

Archis Mohan, Business Standard: Sir, on CEPA, is there a next deadline for concluding negotiations? What are the next steps if you can elaborate a bit?

Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu: On the nuclear cooperation agreement for the supply of uranium, we had exactly this agreement signed between 2015 and 2020, yet no Canadian uranium actually was supplied to India at the time. What gives you confidence that there will actually be any kind of uranium supply on this occasion?

And I do have to ask on this Globe and Mail, but it's not just the Globe and Mail, but the National Post in Canada also carries a statement from the CSIS that says that its assessment that India is taking part in transnational repression, is involved in foreign intervention, remains.

The question again is one of trust. Does the Indian government trust that the Canadian government will continue in this case in a manner that does not embarrass us? Once again they have named specific officials. They have named the Consul General there in Vancouver, they have named what they call a R&AW agent. So I just wanted to get a real reaction instead of all the joint working groups are discussing this issue, but the response on what these revelations mean being given on a day when the two Prime Ministers are meeting. Thank you.

Sumita, ET Now: Hi Sir, this is Sumita from ET Now. To your point about investment commitments across agri-food processing, would you be able to suggest what's the overall scope of these investments, and I have another question if you could answer. What percentage of India's current uranium requirements will be met via this agreement that's been signed?

Shri P. Kumaran, Secretary (East): Sure. Thank you. About the staff strengths question again, staff strengths normally depend on needs on both sides, the size of the consular demand on both sides, and of course, based on a step-by-step approach that we have agreed on in terms of normalising staff strengths. So it is, like I said, a continuing process and we will be going back to the normal numbers in a step-by-step approach. We'll take it as it comes.

The second question was about the unnamed source in the Globe and Mail report. Like I said, I have nothing more to add to what our spokesperson has said earlier today, and we will probably leave it at that, apart from the broad reiteration of my earlier point that the governments are in touch at various levels. There is an ongoing security dialogue, there is a legal process that is ongoing which will hopefully, you know, deal with all aspects concerned. And I think Additional Secretary (XP) has provided detailed briefings on this issue in the past. There's nothing new or exciting to add right now on that.

Critical minerals, uranium sourcing, was something that was asked, and of course, it was linked to another question on what gives confidence that the nuclear agreement or the fuel sourcing agreement will work this time. You know, Prime Minister Carney underlined at least thrice during his interactions with the Prime Minister today that Canada is determined to be a reliable and stable partner for India in terms of sourcing various products. And one of the pillars, like I mentioned, is also clean energy.

There is a broad commitment on both sides to try and work together on clean energy, and as I mentioned, apart from a few other topics, nuclear fuel supplies, the kind of reactors, small modular reactors, and advanced conventional reactors. There is also a commitment to work together on all parts of the reactor value chain. I would try and place all this in the context of the turbulence geopolitically in the world right now.

Canada clearly sees value in cooperating with India at this point of time. For their own reasons, it works for us, it works for them. And we clearly are interested in diversifying all kinds of clean energy that we can access. The Prime Minister actually told Prime Minister Carney that we have set a target of 100 gigawatts for nuclear energy in the next few years, by 2030 in fact. And Prime Minister Carney said they would be very glad to be partners in that journey together to work with us and ensure that, among other things, nuclear fuel is also available.

There was a question about the deadline for CEPA. We have just agreed on the terms of reference, and you know, we will soon get into detailed discussions. The broad deadline is by the end of the year 2026. So that is something that was agreed on.

On investments, Canadian pension funds invest very large amounts in India. The investments by them has crossed over $100 billion. I was sitting next to a Canadian colleague at lunch and I believe the figure is some $107 billion. So that is something that is interesting for them. There are multiple Canadian pension funds, provincial, federal, etcetera, and different categories of employees. They see a lot of value in investing in India, given the sustained growth story and also what they see as the outlook for the future. It is something that has worked well for them in the past. They also had, in fact, I understand 30% of their pension fund investments in the Asia-Pacific is just in India. And this is obviously a large number and it shows a lot of commitment to the Indian market.

We were also told that they would like the Indian investment market to try and provide benefits that we currently provide for sovereign wealth funds and expand them to pension funds also, and to make India a competitive investment market compared to other financial centres in the region. The Prime Minister said he will look into it and discuss with our team in India and take that on board to see what can be done.

You had asked about critical minerals, uranium sourcing. We've seen in the last few months that critical mineral supplies and supply chain linkages have been weaponised and used as sources of leverage. So there is a broad consensus among what the Canadian Prime Minister referred to as middle powers to try and collaborate on various areas where we can work together, make sure our sources are diversified, and our interests are protected.

So, critical minerals clearly fall in that area. He had spoken about price floors for critical minerals, making sure that there is a ready supply available so that our ability to source critical minerals cannot be held hostage by any single power seeking to dominate supplies. And the critical mineral and rare earths cooperation framework will be helpful for diversification and risk management, therefore.

Brahm Prakash Dubey, Zee News: Sir, Brahm Prakash Dubey, Zee News se. Mera sawal hai ki aap kah rahe hain ki sambandh dono desho ke normal ho rahe hain. Toh Khalistani aatankwadiyon ko lekar lagatar ek lambi list rahi hai, maang karte rahe hain hum log. Toh jo baatcheet hui hai Khalistani aatankwadiyon ko lekar, kya koi list humne saunpi hai? Kitne abhi wanted hain jo wahan par rah rahe hain? Isko lekar kya koi commitment dikhaya hai Canada ki taraf se?

Aur dusra, beete kuch maheeno se lagatar wahan Hindu jo temples hain un par attack hote rahe hain aur kayi target rahe hain. Toh isko lekar Canada ki taraf se kya kaha gaya hai? Kya Bharat ne mamla uthaya hai yeh? Thank you.

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, Brahm Prakash Dubey from Zee News. My question is that you are saying relations between the two countries are returning to normal. Regarding Khalistani terrorists, there has been a long list and we have repeatedly been raising demands. So, in the discussions that took place concerning Khalistani terrorists, did we hand over any list? How many are currently wanted and residing there? Has Canada shown any commitment on this issue?

Secondly, over the past few months there have been repeated attacks on Hindu temples there, and many have been targeted. What has Canada said about this? Has India raised this matter? Thank you.

Rishikesh, PTI: Sir, Rishikesh from PTI. So, if Canada has shown their interest in becoming a dialogue partner in the IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association). So is there any plan to hold naval exercise between the two countries? Because right now we have only multilateral exercise.

Divya, Indian Express: Sir, Divya from Indian Express. Canada was among the top destinations for Indian students till about two years ago, more than 4 lakh, 5 lakh. But in the last two years, there were a lot of rejections and you know, there was a cap. You also mentioned there is a move away from volume-based student mobility to more cooperation. So, is there a shift? What are the discussions and you know, way ahead on this?

Jugal, Collective Newsroom / BBC: Hi sir, this is Jugal from the Collective Newsroom for the BBC. In the statement that Prime Minister Mark Carney has just issued at the conclusion of this visit, he underscored that Canada will continue to take measures to combat transnational repression. So, could you just help us understand how do we see this expression? And exactly what was discussed under the aegis of this expression?

Uma Shankar Singh, Independent Journalist: Uma Shankar Singh, Independent journalist. Mera sawaal Nijjar mamle se hi hai. Humne dekha hai ki kis tarike se jo Canada ki pichli sarkar thi, usne aarop lagaye, usko Bharat ne bebuniyad aur niradhar bataya. Pichli sarkar se is sarkar ka rukh is mamle par kis tarah se alag hai?

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Uma Shankar Singh, independent journalist. My question is regarding the Nijjar matter. We saw how the previous Government of Canada made certain allegations, which India described as baseless and unfounded. How is the current government's stance on this issue different from that of the previous government?

Vishwa Dhana, ANI: Sir, this is Vishwa Dhana from ANI. I have a question regarding the safety and security of Indian students in Canada. We have seen attacks on Indian students. Was this issue discussed between the two leaders? And has there been any assurances given by the Canadian Prime Minister?

Shri P. Kumaran, Secretary (East): I think at least three of the questions are related, the way I see it. One on Khalistani extremists, transnational repression, and the Nijjar case. I will try and address them together.

Let me once again underline that India categorically rejects allegations of involvement in transnational violence or organised crime. These claims are baseless, politically motivated, and unsupported by credible evidence, despite repeated requests. India believes that concerns of this nature must be addressed through credible law enforcement and judicial processes, not through public or politicised narratives.

On the Nijjar case, we understand that the criminal investigation is proceeding as per established legal procedures. I understand the proceedings have entered something called the voir dire phase. And on completion of this stage, it will move to the full jury trial stage, etc. The Canadians have an established legal procedure, and it will proceed as per that procedure.

India has consistently maintained its commitment to the judicial process. And we believe that sensitive matters, once again to underline, under judicial consideration are best allowed to proceed through established legal processes without public commentary.

Students' population, you had asked about it. Prime Minister Carney again, at least twice in various discussions today, mentioned that there are 400,000 Indian students in Canada studying there. Which is twice the number in the US and four times the number in the UK.

You know, there's been a broad popular pressure on politics in Canada that too many foreign students coming into Canada put pressure on the job market, put pressure on infrastructure and other citizen services available in Canada. So as part of that, they seem to have moved in a direction where there are restrictions coming in terms of the number of students they are willing to take in the future. I suppose it is up to every country to decide how much student intake their systems can handle. And it is up to them to make an assessment based on their own assessed capacities.

So our aim is to try and take the benefit of high-quality Canadian educational institutions, and find ways to partner with them. Apparently, there are multiple partnerships that are envisaged in terms of hybrid campuses. The Prime Minister also invited Canadian universities to set up campuses in India. There are R&D partnerships that are spoken of. So there are these multiple alternate approaches being tried.

At some point, if opportunities open up for our youngsters to go back in numbers that are comparable to what we saw in the past, it will be good. I think one approach is also to have a system where a semester or semesters abroad can be taken up as part of this educational cooperation.

We also understand that Canada is currently undertaking reforms in its visa and immigration policies. Like I said, there is pressure on medical and housing services. But mobility is something both are working on. Like I said, there is an education MOU and we continue to discuss multiple MOUs that speak of mobility pathways between India and Canada.

IORA and Defence. You know, Canada wants to be a dialogue partner for IORA. That interest was expressed. It also finds a place in the joint statement that we issued. India has supported that. We think that there are a number of areas in which we can work together with Canada and benefit from their expertise and experience in terms of maritime security, in terms of clean energy experience, sustainable development, and so on. So we think that IORA as an organisation will benefit from a partnership with Canada.

In terms of defence, there were several points that were mentioned. Prime Minister Carney mentioned that he would welcome deeper defence relations with India through professional military exchanges, joint training opportunities, a new maritime security partnership, defence supply chain resilience, defence materiel cooperation, and also some kind of a defence industrial partnership. And cyber security, of course.

We will be soon initiating a Canada-India Defence Dialogue at the Joint Secretary level. This will exchange views on respective defence policies, regional and global security developments, and strategic outlooks to identify opportunities.

It was also mentioned by Prime Minister Carney that they plan to increase their defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP to align with NATO's new targets. He also particularly noted that they plan to spend about $500 billion over the next decade in the area of upgrading their defence preparedness. He also mentioned that diversification is a priority in terms of defence partnerships and defence procurement.

So all these open up good opportunities for India and Canada to work together, be it co-development or co-production, etc. And we think these are areas where the two governments and the private sectors will find opportunities to work together.

Unidentified Speaker: [inaudible]

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Safety of Indian students...

Shri P. Kumaran, Secretary (East): See, our Consulates and our High Commission are in touch with our students, our community bodies, etc., and they will take all necessary steps to work with Canadian security agencies and law enforcement to try and provide all possible assistance to students who face any difficulties in Canada.

Sudhi Ranjan, Bloomberg: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. Just a clarification, sir, in the discussions on the West Asia situation, did any of the leaders refer to or talk about the killing of a head of a state? And did India also brief or give any, you know, understanding about its discussions with Gulf partners that the Prime Minister has had or Israel? Was any understanding passed over?

Ayanangsha Maitra: Sir, this is Ayanangsha Maitra. Sir, about a million work permits in Canada are set to expire in this year. So is there any discussion on recruiting skilled Indians? Thank you.

Neeraj Dubey, Prabhasakshi: Sir namaskar, main Neeraj Dubey, Prabhasakshi se. Sir raksha udyog sahyog mein sanyukt utpadan ki baat hui hai, kuch sahyog ki baat hui hai toh kya jo sanyukt utpadan aur technology transfer par bhi kuch baatcheet hui hai? Aatankwad aur ugrwad par sahyog ki baat kahi gayi hai, kya dono deshon ne koi vishesh tantra ya koi sanyukt karya bal banane ki baat sochi hai?

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, greetings. I am Neeraj Dubey from Prabhasakshi. Sir, in the area of defence industry cooperation, there has been mention of joint production and other forms of collaboration. So, was there any discussion specifically on joint production and technology transfer as well? It has also been said that there will be cooperation on terrorism and extremism. Have the two countries considered establishing any special mechanism or a joint working group in this regard?

Shri P. Kumaran, Secretary (East): Okay. You asked about Iran again. Prime Minister did mention that he had a conversation late last night with the Prime Minister of Israel and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed of UAE. In addition, you know, the broad discussion, the thrust of the discussions were about how we are all concerned about the escalating situation in Iran. How dialogue and diplomacy should be the norm to resolve all underlying issues and how there should not be any targeting of civilians who have nothing to do with this. So broadly that was the thrust of the discussions, there was nothing else very specifically discussed on the kind of points that you are talking about.

Let me answer the one on security cooperation first and then I'll go back to the other questions.

Aapne pehle bhi poocha tha ... main ne pehle bhi bataya tha English mein ki security cooperation Canada aur India ke beech mein kya kya aspects ko cover karta hai. Dono NSAs ke beech mein security cooperation ke upar baat hui thi. Do baar ho chuki hai, ek baar September 2025 mein aur ek baar February 2026 mein, ek baar Delhi mein aur ek baar Ottawa mein. Saare jo initiatives liye ja rahe hain, safety and securities of the countries aur citizens ke beech mein aur unke dialogue ke baad jo functional level, senior official level discussions hain aur law enforcement agencies ke beech mein jo cooperation chal rahi hai. RCMP aur NIA ke beech mein, NIA aur IB ke beech mein, aur double, two plus two dialogues bhi chal rahe hain, NIA aur IB on our side and RCMP aur CSIS unki taraf se.

Toh kaafi kaam chal rahi hai, jo security issues baar baar pehle baat kiye gaye hain unke upar. Aur jo JWG on Counter Terrorism hai usmein bhi common issues ke upar baat chal rahi hai, jaise ki main ne bataya tha extradition vagairah consular dialogue mechanism mein bhi discuss kiye ja rahe hain. Liaison officers dono side mein appoint kiye ja chuke hain aur woh coordinate karenge follow up karne ke liye dialogue process ke beech mein. Aur yahi hai ki continuous dialogue jaari hai aur follow up karte rahenge dono taraf se. Aur cyber security issues aur cyber security policies ke upar bhi cooperation chal rahi hai, especially immigration enforcement aur immigration fraud ko address karne ke liye. Toh usmein bhi kaafi positive movement hua hai.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] You had asked this earlier as well, and I had already explained in English what aspects of security cooperation between Canada and India cover. There have been discussions on security cooperation between the two National Security Advisors (NSAs). These meetings have taken place twice  once in September 2025 and once in February 2026  one in Delhi and the other in Ottawa. All the initiatives being undertaken relate to the safety and security of both countries and their citizens. Following their dialogue, discussions have continued at the functional and senior official levels, along with ongoing cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

There is cooperation between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). In addition, "two-plus-two" style dialogues are also taking place  involving the NIA and IB on our side, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and RCMP on their side. So, a significant amount of work is ongoing on the security issues that have been discussed repeatedly in the past.

Within the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (JWG), discussions are continuing on common concerns. As I mentioned earlier, matters such as extradition are also being discussed through the consular dialogue mechanism. Liaison officers have been appointed on both sides, and they will coordinate to ensure follow-up between the dialogue processes. The key point is that continuous engagement is underway, and both sides will keep actively following up. Cooperation is also progressing on cybersecurity issues and cybersecurity policies, particularly to address immigration enforcement and immigration fraud. There has been considerable positive movement in that area as well.

Somebody asked about immigration... students... yeah, you are talking about, you know, a million work permits expiring this year and how this will affect us, etc. It is natural for various countries to fix their own immigration targets and we will be closely watching it. So, the Canadians also have fixed their own immigration targets. They would like to bring their non-permanent visa holders to be roughly at 5% of their overall population. I mean, this is a sovereign issue, they are free to fix the numbers. We will have to try and address the consequences in a way that protects our interests. You know, there is some concern given that a large number of Indian nationals will be affected. We will continue to take them up through diplomatic channels and find a solution that is humane and sensitive to their concerns.

Defence production, I think I already went into great detail on that. I'm not sure I have anything new to add on defence production.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Thank you, sir. With that, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the close of this press briefing. Thank you.

New Delhi

March 02, 2026

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Prime Minister speaks with Amir of Qatar

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Posted On: 03 MAR 2026 7:01PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke with H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar.

During the conversation, the Prime Minister conveyed that India stands firmly in solidarity with Qatar and strongly condemns any violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The two leaders emphasized the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.

The Prime Minister also conveyed his appreciation for the continued support and care extended by the Qatari leadership to the Indian community in Qatar during this challenging time.

The Prime Minister wrote on X;

"Spoke with my brother, H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar. We stand firmly in solidarity with Qatar and strongly condemn any violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We emphasized the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy. I also conveyed my appreciation for his continued support and care for the Indian community in Qatar during this challenging time.

@TamimBinHamad"

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MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2235117)

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Prime Minister speaks with Crown Prince of Kuwait

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Posted On: 03 MAR 2026 6:59PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had a productive telephone conversation with H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait.

During the conversation, the Prime Minister conveyed that India condemns the violation of Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity and stands with the people of Kuwait in this difficult hour.

The two leaders underscored the significance of dialogue and diplomacy in restoring regional peace and stability.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the Kuwaiti leadership's continued support in ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community in Kuwait.

The Prime Minister said in a X post;

"Had a productive telephone conversation with Crown Prince of Kuwait, H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. India condemns violation of Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity and stands with its people in this difficult hour.

We underscored the significance of dialogue and diplomacy in restoring regional peace and stability. Appreciated the Kuwaiti leadership's continued support to ensure safety and well-being of the Indian community in Kuwait."

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MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2235114)

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Prime Minister speaks with His Majesty Sultan of Oman

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Posted On: 03 MAR 2026 6:56PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia.

During the conversation, the Prime Minister condemned the violation of Oman's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two leaders agreed that sustained diplomatic engagement is essential for the earliest restoration of regional peace and stability.

The Prime Minister also deeply appreciated Oman's continued support to the Indian community.

The Prime Minister wrote on X;

"Spoke with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia. Condemned the violation of Oman's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We agreed that sustained diplomatic engagement is essential for earliest restoration of regional peace and stability. Deeply appreciated Oman's continued support to the Indian community.

@SultanHaithamb1"

*****

MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2235112)

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MoD inks Rs 5,083 crore contracts for ALH Mk-III (MR) & VL-Shtil missiles

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 03 MAR 2026 3:22PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Defence, on March 03, 2026, signed contracts worth a total of Rs 5,083 crore for the acquisition of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy. The contracts were inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New Delhi.

ALH Mk-III (MR)

The contract for ALH Mk-III (MR) along with operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support, valued at Rs 2,901 crore, has been inked with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category.

These twin-engine helicopters incorporate state-of-the-art features superior to the currently operated airborne platforms and are capable of undertaking a wide spectrum of maritime security missions from shore-based airfields as well as from ships at sea. The induction will significantly enhance the Indian Coast Guard's capability for fulfilling the duties of safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore installations, and protection of fishermen & marine environment.

The project envisages supply of equipment from more than 200 MSMEs and is expected to generate approximately 65 lakh man-hours of employment. The contract reinforces the Government's commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make-in-India initiative, while further strengthening the nation's maritime security architecture.

Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles

The contract for the procurement of Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles and associated missile holding frames, valued at Rs 2,182 crore, has been signed with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russian Federation. The acquisition is intended to substantially enhance the air defence capabilities of frontline warships against a wide spectrum of aerial threats.

The system will reinforce the layered air defence architecture onboard the platforms of the Indian Navy by providing rapid-reaction, all-weather engagement capability and improved survivability in contested maritime environments. The contract further underscores the longstanding and time-tested defence partnership between India and Russia, founded on mutual trust and strategic alignment.

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VK/Savvy

(Release ID: 2234987)

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CONTRACT FOR 04 X 500T SELF PROPELLED FUEL BARGES FOR INDIAN NAVY WITH M/S SHOFT SHIPYARD PRIVATE LIMITED, THANE

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 03 MAR 2026 12:55PM by PIB Delhi

A contract for construction of 04 X 500T Self Propelled Fuel Barges has been concluded with M/s Shoft Shipyard Private Limited, Thane (MSME Shipyard) on 02 Mar 2026.

These Barges are the proud flag bearers of "Make in India" and "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives of the Govt of India and will be built under the Classification Rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).

The primary role of these barges will be replenishment of fuel to ships and submarines in harbour and at anchorage. With this contract, Indian Navy continues to encourage and bolster the growth of MSME Shipyards thereby contributing immensely towards the domestic shipbuilding ecosystem in line with Maritime India Vision 2030.

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VM/SKY 44/26

(Release ID: 2234905)

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Taiwan condemns Iran's indiscriminate attacks on Middle East countries

ROC Central News Agency

03/03/2026 04:37 PM

Taipei, March 3 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has condemned Iran for its "indiscriminate attacks" against countries in the region, while reiterating that it has no immediate plans to conduct mass evacuations of more than 3,000 Taiwanese nationals there.

Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu () issued the condemnation when asked to comment on the conflict in the Middle East in which the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran starting on Feb. 28, and Iran has since retaliated against Israel and neighboring countries.

Wu said the U.S. and Israel are hoping to "eliminate terrorism from the region," and that MOFA's stance is "that as an ally of the U.S. and Israel we also condemn Iran's indiscriminate attacks on other countries."

Asked about whether Taiwan was considering getting its nationals out of the region, Wu said there were no such plans, given the massive flight cancellations in the region following the weekend's attacks.

There are currently around 3,000 long-term Taiwanese residents in Middle East countries, as well as hundreds stranded there due to flight disruptions, according to Wu.

Though no evacuations are planned, Wu said that for those among them who wish to leave immediately, Taiwan's representative offices in the region will assist them.

Taiwan's representative offices in the region have maintained contact with Taiwanese nationals there, and all have reported being safe, according to Wu.

The Israeli government has also told Taipei that it will ensure that Taiwanese nationals there remain unharmed during the ongoing conflict, Wu said.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, MOFA raised its travel warnings for two additional Middle Eastern countries affected by the ongoing regional conflict -- Egypt and Jordan -- from yellow to orange, the second-highest level, warning citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to those destinations.

The travel alerts for Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia were raised to orange late Sunday.

The travel alerts for Israel and Iran were also raised to the highest level after Israel and the U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran on Saturday.

Under MOFA's four-tier travel alert system, advisories are classified as gray, yellow, orange, and red, in ascending order of risk.

In case of emergency, Taiwanese nationals in the Middle East can call the nearest Taiwanese representative office for assistance or ask their families in Taiwan to contact MOFA's 24/7 toll-free emergency hotline at +886-800-085-095, the ministry said.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ls

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IAEA finds no systematic Iran nuclear weapons program; China urges political-diplomatic path

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 03, 2026 04:09 PM

The US has once again launched attacks against Iran during the negotiation process, which violates international law and the basic norms of international relations, leading to a sudden escalation of the situation in the Middle East, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in response to a question asking China's take on the Iranian nuclear issue, on which the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi stated that the IAEA has not seen a systematic nuclear weapons program in Iran, and that other countries may have their own political considerations.

China is highly concerned about this issue. China consistently advocates for a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation, and respects Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. China has noted Iran's repeated statements that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and its recent serious and earnest negotiations with the US. The Iranian nuclear issue must ultimately return to the track of political and diplomatic resolution, Mao said, calling for an immediate cessation of military actions and a swift return to dialogue and negotiation to uphold the international non-proliferation system and maintain peace in the Middle East and the world.

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Iran's air defense systems down six advanced Hermes drones

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 March 2026 6:23 PM

The Iranian army has reported that its air defense systems successfully destroyed six advanced enemy drones over the last 24 hours as they were flying over the Iranian territory.

In a communique issued on Tuesday, the army stated that the drones were intercepted and shot down by the integrated systems of the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base.

It further specified that six advanced "Hermes" drones were targeted and destroyed across various regions, including Isfahan, Qasr-e Shirin, Tabriz, Khuzestan province, and the greater Tehran area.

Since the beginning of the war on Saturday, a total of 35 advanced hostile drones have been intercepted and downed, the army reported.

These operations were executed by ground-based air defense units, fighter jets from the Air Force, and units of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), all operating under the country's integrated air defense network.

Iran's military has been conducting sustained retaliatory attacks against the American military installations in the region and targets within the Israeli-occupied territories.

The operations are being conducted in response to a war of aggression initiated by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic over the weekend.

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IRGC says second US THAAD anti-missile unit destroyed

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 March 2026 4:36 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says its Aerospace Force has successfully targeted and neutralized a second US-operated Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in West Asia.

According to a statement released by the IRGC's Public Relations department, the advanced anti-missile system was struck by "precision-guided missiles," rendering it completely non-operational.

The statement did not point to the location of the attack.

The IRGC stated that the elimination of these defensive batteries removes a major obstacle for Iranian missile operations.

"With the destruction of these two systems, the missile hand of the Islamic Republic of Iran is now open to successfully strike targets," the statement read.

This latest report follows the IRGC announcement that it had destroyed a THAAD radar installation located at the Al-Ruwais base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The THAAD system is one of the United States' most sophisticated defensive tools, designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not yet issued a formal statement on the attacks.

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Iran denies attacks on Oman as it warns of US-Israeli 'false-flag' ops

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 March 2026 3:56 PM

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran has denied any involvement in military strikes against the territory or ports of the Sultanate of Oman, following reports of drone attacks at the Duqm and Salalah ports.

In a statement released via its Communications Center, the General Staff categorically rejected claims of aggression against its "friend and neighbor," Oman. The denial comes as regional energy infrastructure reportedly faces a wave of unexplained aerial strikes.

According to the Oman News Agency, a fuel tank at the Duqm commercial port was struck by several unmanned aircraft on Tuesday.

While authorities confirmed the damage was contained with no casualties, it marked the second such incident at the port this week; two drones targeted the facility on Sunday, leaving one worker injured.

Further north, the Omani government reported that two additional drones were intercepted over the Dhofar Governorate on Tuesday, while a third crashed near the port of Salalah.

Tehran points to 'Zionist plot'

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's primary joint military command, issued a response, characterizing the attacks on Muslim nations as a "desperate act" by the US and Israel to tarnish Iran's image.

"The aggressor Zionists and Americans ... are seeking to attack diplomatic centers and the interests of Muslim countries in the region with the aim of blaming the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Headquarters stated.

It said Iran's military operations are strictly disciplined. "We explicitly declare that the offensive of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran is exclusively directed against the Zionist regime and the locations of the criminal US aggressor army and their military and security infrastructure and interests."

The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said the strikes on neutral neighbors were designed to help the US and Israel escape their current impasse.

On Monday, Qatar halted production of liquefied natural gas (LNG), representing roughly 20% of global supply, while Saudi Arabia said it suspended operations at its largest domestic refinery.

In the United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi government confirmed a fire at the Musaffah fuel tank terminal following a drone strike on Monday, though operations were reportedly not impacted.

Iran maintains that it holds no hostility toward neighboring Muslim countries and remains committed to the security of the region. It says the retaliatory attacks are only directed against US and Israeli assets in the region.

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'Law of jungle': China says Israeli-US aggression against Iran must stop

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 March 2026 2:15 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned the US-Israeli aggression against Iran during a recent phone conversation with his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot.

According to a statement published Tuesday on China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Wang told Barrot that the international community must unite against any nation violating international law by imposing its will through military force.

"Major powers should not attack other countries at will by relying on military superiority, and the world must not be allowed to regress to the law of the jungle," Wang stated.

He emphasized that the Iranian nuclear issue must ultimately return to the track of political and diplomatic settlement.

"The international community must refrain from using double standards," the Chinese minister stated.

Wang expressed hope that France would maintain an objective and fair position and collaborate with China to steer the situation toward de-escalation while jointly safeguarding fundamental norms of international relations.

Barrot acknowledged that the military strikes launched by the US and Israel on Iran occurred without consultation with, or authorization from, the UN Security Council (UNSC).

He noted that as permanent UNSC members, France and China share a special responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

Pointing to China's close relationship with Iran and other Persian Gulf nations, Barrot expressed hope that Beijing could help bring the current regional escalation to an end.

The US and Israel initiated a joint military aggression against Iran on Saturday, assassinating the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, and several senior Iranian military officials.

Since then, the Iranian armed forces have swiftly and decisively retaliated, launching barrages of missiles and drones against Israeli-occupied territories and US bases in the region.

The Iranian officials have stated that targeting the US military bases in the region constitutes a "legitimate self-defense."

Referring to Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, they said that the Islamic Republic has the legal right to defend itself against "acts of aggression" by the US or the Israeli regime.

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Iran says committed to regional security; retaliatory attacks only target Israel, US assets

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 March 2026 2:01 PM

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces says Iran's retaliatory attacks are exclusively directed against Israeli and US assets, and that Tehran remains committed to safeguarding the national security and interests of neighboring countries.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the headquarters said the "collapsing Zionist regime" and the "criminal United States" have no choice but to accept defeat in the imposed war against Iran.

The statement warned that Israel and the United States, in "a desperate attempt" to break out of a deadlock, are planning to target diplomatic centers and the interests of Muslim countries in the region and blame Iran.

Any such attempt by Israel and the US in this regard are intended to create unrest in the region and to dodge "defeat."

The statement reiterated that Iran holds no hostility toward neighboring and Muslim countries and remains committed to preserving regional security and protecting the interests of Muslim nations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that targeting US military bases in the region was "legitimate self-defense."

Referring to Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, he said Iran has the legal right to defend itself against "acts of aggression" by the US or the Israeli regime.

Araghchi said Iran does not seek to escalate tensions in the region, but will respond decisively to any threats against its sovereignty and national security.

The regimes in Washington and Tel Aviv started their unprovoked military assault on February 28. So far, at least 787 Iranian people have been killed in the terrorist airstrikes.

Iran launched its swift retaliatory barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as the US bases in the region.

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IRGC: 650 casualties for US military in two days as Iran missiles force aircraft carrier to flee

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 March 2026 11:32 AM

A spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says more than 650 US military personnel have been killed and wounded within the first two days of Iran's retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 by Iranian Armed Forces against US military installations and warships across West Asia.

"In the first two days of the war, 650 American troops were killed and wounded," Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini stated on Tuesday.

He emphasized that it was natural for the US military to deny or conceal the casualties; nevertheless, Iranian intelligence as well as all field reports confirm the toll.

He said that the Iranian strikes, which included missile and drone attacks, against US naval assets and military headquarters in Bahrain, forced the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to flee towards the southern Indian Ocean.

He highlighted that Iranian forces have also managed to inflict heavy losses on US military facilities in the Persian Gulf region.

The spokesman said Iranian missiles and drones had repeatedly hit the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

According to Naeini, 160 US servicemen were killed and wounded in one of the strikes, when Iranian Armed Forces targeted a key US military site in the Persian Gulf kingdom.

Furthermore, US Navy's MST combat support vessel suffered heavy damage after being hit by Iranian naval missiles, he said.

The IRGC spokesman also noted that Iranian naval units had fired four cruise missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln ship, which was deployed some 250 to 300 kilometers off the coast of Chabahar in southeastern Iran.

Elsewhere in his remarks on Tuesday, the IRGC spokesman praised the scale of Iran's retaliatory strikes as "more powerful and crushing" compared to those conducted in the final days of the last June 12-day war.

He stressed that Iranian missiles have all been updated, and are now much more sophisticated than those employed in Operation True Promise 3.

Naeini described the strike power of the missiles as unbelievable and much beyond the calculations of the enemies, stressing that Iranian missiles capabilities have bewildered the foes.

He assured the Iranian nation that Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will diligently defend the country, and that the major victory is on the horizon.

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New wave of attacks devastates key US base in Bahrain as Iran strikes back

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 March 2026 10:58 AM

A fresh wave of Iranian retaliatory strikes has crippled a major US air base in Bahrain, with strikes destroying command centers as Iranian forces continue launching firm response to the US-Israeli aggression.

"Ten key and strategic command points and equipment complexes of the American terrorist forces at the 'Sheikh Isa Air Base' in Bahrain were heavily hit by Iranian projectiles," The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on the 15th wave of operation "True Promise 4".

The targets destroyed included the air control command center of the American terrorist forces, aircraft fuel depots, and the building housing high-ranking American commanders, according to the statement.

Earlier in the day the IRGC announced that its naval forces launched a large-scale drone and missile operation on the US air base in the Sheikh Isa area of Bahrain early this morning as part of the fourteenth wave of the operation.

The IRGC detailed the scale of the attack, reporting that 20 drones and 3 missiles struck their intended targets with precision.

"The main command building and headquarters of the US air base were destroyed, and its fuel depots were set ablaze, with flames and smoke drawing everyone's attention," the statement added.

"All infrastructure of this base has been rendered inoperative, a humanitarian crisis has occurred, and the American terrorist forces have fled from this base," the IRGC added.

Simultaneously, Iran's Army announced it has joined the offensive in force. The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in its eighth communique, reported conducting drone and missile offensive operations since dawn against enemy positions and forces.

"From this morning, the Navy of the Army targeted enemy vessels and bases in the region with surface-to-surface missiles," the Army said in a Tuesday statement.

It further revealed the expansive scope of the operation: "Combat drones of the ground, air, and naval forces from various parts of the country targeted military zones of the Zionist regime in the occupied territories and bases of American forces in Al Udeid, Qatar."

The Army emphasized that its operations are ongoing. "Offensive and defensive operations against the aggressor enemy continue with full force," the communique stated.

These retaliatory strikes demonstrate coordinated action between the IRGC and the regular army against US and Israeli assets across the region.

The attacks come in response to an unprovoked war of aggression initiated by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic over the weekend.

Since then, Iran's military has been conducting sustained retaliatory operations against American military installations in regional countries and targets within the Israeli-occupied territories.

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Iran War Descends Into Regional Conflict With Global Spillovers

By Frud Bezhan March 03, 2026

In just a few days, the United States and Israel's massive bombardment of Iran has sprawled into a regional war that has dragged in key America allies in the Middle East and sent global energy prices soaring.

Iran has responded to the joint US and Israeli campaign, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, by unleashing unprecedented barrages of missiles and drones at US military and diplomatic facilities and striking key energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf.

Fighting an existential threat, experts say, Tehran is aiming to raise the economic, political, and military pain of the conflict for the United States and secure an end to hostilities.

"Tehran appears to be wagering on [US President] Donald Trump's reluctance to become entangled in messy and costly wars, seeking to demonstrate that it possesses the capability to prolong the conflict and make it increasingly complex and expensive," said Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Incurring Direct Costs On US

Iran is imposing direct costs on the United States, which has so far lost six service members in the war.

Iranian ballistic missiles and drones have hit at least six of the estimated 19 US military facilities across the Middle East that house around 40,000 American troops. That includes sites in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iraq.

Tehran has also targeted US diplomatic facilities in the region. The US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two suspected Iranian drones on March 3, causing a fire. A fire was also reported near the US Embassy in Kuwait on March 2 following Iranian drone attacks.

Global Energy Rattled

Iran is also pressuring the United States by targeting Washington's Arab partners. Iranian attacks on the Gulf states have not been limited to US military installations. Major airports, luxury hotels, and key energy facilities have also been struck.

Iranian drones targeted a power plant and energy facility in Qatar on March 2, leading one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas to stop production. A key oil refinery in Saudi Arabia was partially shut down after Iranian drones targeted the facility.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed, and vessels have rerouted since the start of the war. About a fifth of the world's oil supply flows through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

The combination of attacks on key energy facilities and disruption to shipping in the Persian Gulf, a region that produces around 40 percent of the world's oil, has sent the prices of oil and natural gas soaring and raised fears over global supplies.

New War Front

Iran's key nonstate ally, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, opened a second front in the war when it launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel on March 2. Israel has retaliated with air strikes that have killed scores of people and sent in additional forces into southern Lebanon on March 3.

Other members of Iran's so-called axis of resistance -- Tehran's regional network of armed proxies and partners -- have pledged to join the war, including Yemen's Huthi rebels and pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias in Iraq.

The Huthi rebels have threatened to withdraw from a cease-fire deal reached with the United States last year. The armed group agreed to halt their missile and drone attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. In exchange, the United States pledged to stop air strikes targeting the group.

"The potential entry -- or deeper engagement -- of Hezbollah and possibly the Huthis would significantly expand escalation boundaries," said Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher on Iran at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University on March 2.

"Such involvement would both increase pressure for de-escalation internationally and raise the economic and security costs for Israel and Gulf states. This aligns with Tehran's longstanding doctrine of expanding the geographic scope of confrontation in order to dilute direct pressure on the Iranian homeland."

Kian Sharifi contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-regional- hezbollah-huthis/33693186.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Rubio Defends Iran Strikes, Warns 'Hardest Hits' Still to Come

By RFE/RL March 03, 2026

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended Washington's decision to strike Iranian targets, describing the attacks as a preemptive move to protect American forces from what he called an "imminent threat," and warning that "the hardest hits are yet to come from the US military."

"There absolutely was an imminent threat," Rubio told reporters in Washington on March 2. Speaking on Capitol Hill before a closed-door briefing with lawmakers, he described the strikes as both a response to an "imminent threat" and a pre-emptive move.

"We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces," Rubio said. "If we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties. This had to happen, no matter what."

Responding to Rubio's statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on March 3 that the US Secretary of State's comments showed that the US "entered a war of choice on behalf of Israel."

The United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran on February 28, targeting what officials described as missile sites and military infrastructure. The strikes marked one of the most direct confrontations between Washington and Tehran in years and immediately triggered a regional escalation.

Iran responded by firing missiles at US bases in several Persian Gulf states, widening the conflict beyond Israeli-Iranian hostilities and raising fears of a broader regional war. US military officials said American air defenses intercepted many incoming projectiles, though some bases reported damage and casualties.

President Donald Trump signaled that further action could follow. In remarks to US media, Trump warned that a "big wave" of attacks was still ahead, suggesting that the weekend strikes were only the beginning of a sustained campaign aimed at degrading Iran's military capabilities.

With reporting by C-SPAN, NBC News, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/marco-rubio-action- strikes-iran-preemptive-measure-israel/33692784.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Fear And Hope In Iran Amid US-Israeli Bombardment

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda March 03, 2026

Iranians are gripped by fear -- and hope -- as the United States and Israel wage a massive bombardment designed to cripple the country's clerical rulers.

The air strikes since February 28 have decimated much of Iran's leadership, including killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But they have also resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, according to local humanitarian groups, and destroyed schools and hospitals.

"We were happy with the news of Khamenei's death," a 56-year-old man in Tehran, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told Radio Farda. "But now these heavy bombings are worrying me. Iran should not be destroyed and disintegrated. I hope the future is bright."

The death of Khamenei, an autocrat who ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly 40 years, was celebrated by some on the streets of Iran. But for many, attention has quickly turned to what comes next.

The US and Israeli air campaign poses an existential threat to Iran's theocracy. If the Islamic republic collapses, some fear the multiethnic country of some 90 million people could slide into civil war and anarchy like its neighbors Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The bombings are terrifying, and we heard them [US and Israeli air strikes] hitting residential areas," a 49-year-old mother in Tehran told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

"We can't sleep at night, and one of my dogs hides in the bathroom out of fear," she added.

The United States and Israel have urged Iranians to rise up and "take over your government."

But there has been no sign of an uprising on the eerily quiet streets of major Iranian cities that are patrolled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Basij paramilitary force.

In January, the authorities waged a brutal crackdown on mass protests, killing thousands of people, in the biggest threat to their rule in decades.

In Tehran, a city of 10 million people, many are staying indoors as the United States and Israel continue to pound security and government targets.

The number of people killed in the country since the US-Iran attacks began on February 28 reached 787 on March 3, according to the Iran's Red Crescent Society. Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran reported that 742 civilians have died, including 176 children.

"Many were waiting to hear the news of the leader's [Khamenei's] death, but the sounds of missiles and explosions, and children and people losing their lives, have left little room for joy," said a 27-year-old woman in Tehran.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel- us-tehran-farda-/33693302.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US Announces War Objectives As Trump Says 'Something Had To Be Done' About Iran

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda March 03, 2026

The White House has outlined four objectives of its ongoing aerial assault against Iran, carried out in tandem with Israel, now in its fourth day.

Announcing the aims of Operation Epic Fury, as the campaign has been named, the White House wrote on X on March 3 that "America will win. The terrorist Iranian regime will be defeated."

It listed the steps to this goal as being to "destroy the Iranian regime's missiles," "Annihilate their Navy," Ensure their terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the world," and "Ensure Iran can NEVER obtain a nuclear weapon."

Analysts, however, were quick to note that "regime change" was absent from the objectives.

"White House releases objectives for Operation Epic Fury. Regime change not [any longer] a specific goal," wrote political scientist and author Ian Bremmer on X.

Meanwhile, speaking at the White House alongside the visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, US President Donald Trump said that "something had to be done" about Iran.

"I had a feeling Iran would have attacked us first," he told journalists on March 3.

"They are even attacking countries, which were kind of friendly with them and were doing nothing hoping to sit it out," Trump continued, noting that Iranian drones and missiles have hit the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman -- which had been mediating talks between Washington and just days before the aerial campaign began on February 28.

Merz later told reporters it would be "good news" for Iran and its people if the current regime in Tehran were to come to an end.

He added, though, that he was unsure if military strikes would bring internal government changes there and said he supported the Iranian people's right to decide their future. "This [action against Iran] is not without risk, and we would also have to bear the consequences," he told reporters.

Merz said Iran was threatening Israel's security, destabilizing the region, and spreading terror, adding that he wanted to work toward a deal with Tehran that would end Iran's nuclear program for all time.

Earlier, in an opening statement before his talks with Trump, Merz said, "We are on the same page [with Washington] in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away," although he added that there has not been a request for German direct participation in hostilities.

Trump, asked about rising oil and gas prices as the result of the conflict, said he was confident they would return to normal as soon as military actions are over and that it would not be in too distant future. "Pretty much everything is being knocked out" in Iran already, he said.

'Too Late' For Talks

Earlier on March 3, Trump said it was "too late" for talks with Iran after Tehran made a bid to hold discussions amid the US-Israeli strikes.

"Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said 'Too Late!'" Trump wrote in a social media post on March 3. He did not say when Iranian officials had indicated they were willing to enter talks.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva also cast doubt on any talks, saying that "for the time being we are very doubtful about the usefulness of negotiation."

With diplomacy appearing at a standstill, air-raid sirens wailed across the Middle East.

Reports from inside Iran indicate that American and Israeli fighter jets attacked a number of military, police, and intelligence sites in various Iranian cities on March 3.

Among these places are the Assembly of Experts building in Qom, intelligence news headquarters for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Urmia, the Revolutionary and Public Court in Urmia, the IRGC's "Unity" base in the city of Paveh, and the Najafabad missile base in the north of Isfahan Province.

US Diplomatic Posts, Allies Hit

As the United States and Israel wage war against Iran, Tehran is widening the theater of the conflict and raising the costs for Washington in a bid to secure an eventual cease-fire, experts say.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones targeting US military bases as well as key energy and commercial sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar -- all American allies -- since February 28.

Officials in Qatar said an Iranian ballistic missile hit the US military base at Al-Udeid on March 3 without causing casualties.

Explosions were heard in Tehran and Beirut, while Iranian drones slammed into the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which subsequently said it was suspending in-person services a day after Washington's embassy in Kuwait did the same.

The US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones, causing a "limited fire" and "minor material damage," Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said, as tensions escalate across the Middle East.

The ministry said an initial assessment pointed to a drone attack on the diplomatic compound in the Saudi capital. Later reports said additional drones were targeting the site as Iran continued its retaliatory attacks across the Persian Gulf following US and Israeli strikes that have resulted in rocket and drone fire across the region.

The Riyadh embassy building was empty at the time of the attack and no casualties were reported.

A fire was contained near the US Consulate in Dubai on March 3 after a drone strike, US authorities confirmed. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a drone had struck a parking lot near the consulate and said all personnel were safe and accounted for.

Senior State Department officials told RFE/RL that the affected diplomatic outposts were continuing to operate, although most of the work was being done remotely.

Rubio told reporters that "our embassies and diplomatic facilities are under direct attack from a terroristic regime."

Injuries In Israel

Israel, meanwhile, said at least seven people were injured in the central part of the country after Iranian missiles rained down on the area, which includes Tel Aviv.

"Search and rescue forces, together with numerous emergency teams, are currently operating at the impact sites in central Israel," the military said. "The circumstances of the impact are under review."

The fighting has reverberated outside the region, with stock markets, currencies, and commodities prices reflecting concerns that the conflict may spin out of control.

The price of Brent crude oil in global markets rose to more than $82 per barrel on March 3, about $10 higher than it was before the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-talk-us-israeli- strikes-iran/33693177.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran's War Strategy: Raise Cost Of Conflict To Secure Eventual Cease-Fire

By Kian Sharifi March 03, 2026

As United States and Israel wage war against Iran, Tehran is widening the theater of the conflict and raising the costs for Washington in a bid to secure an eventual cease-fire, experts say.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones targeting US military bases as well as key energy and commercial sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar -- all American allies -- since February 28.

"The objective is to increase the costs for the United States -- both directly and indirectly -- in order to convince Washington that it cannot succeed in this war," Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told RFE/RL.

"Tehran wants to demonstrate that this is a war the United States cannot win, and that it therefore needs to bring it to an end as soon as possible."

From Signaling To Survival

Iran has targeted US military bases and commercial interests in the region during previous bouts of conflict -- including during Tehran's 12-day war with Israel and the United States in June 2025 -- but those actions were largely symbolic and highly choreographed.

Iran's military posture now, experts say, is fundamentally different after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several key security officials were killed in Israeli air strikes on February 28.

"Iran seems to be betting on the sensitivity of the US administration -- and of its allies worldwide -- to rising energy prices," Azizi said. "This is not just about regional pressure. It is about adding weight to an already fragile global market still reeling from the repercussions of the war in Ukraine."

About one-fifth of the world's oil supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Iran has previously considered closing the route, a move that would disrupt global oil flows.

Speaking to Al Jazeera TV, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi acknowledged on March 1 that the country's Arab neighbors were "not happy" with Iran but urged them to "understand" that the United States and Israel started the war.

"They [Gulf states] shouldn't pressure us to stop this war. They should pressure the other side," he said.

Saturation And 'Loitering' Threats

On the ground, the military reality is one of grueling attrition.

Farzin Nadimi, a defense specialist at the Washington Institute, noted that Iran has learned from past failures, deploying its most advanced assets like the Fattah-1 and Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles to overwhelm sophisticated Western-made air defenses deployed by US allies in the region.

"The goal is to ensure that air defense systems and the civilian population in shelters are under constant tension," Nadimi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. He observed that Iran has maintained a steady rhythm of firing roughly 25 ballistic missiles per hour, a pace designed to deplete interceptor stockpiles.

In just over a few days, Iranian drones and missiles have struck a major gas plant in Qatar, an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, a US base in Kuwait, and a major airport in the United Arab Emirates among other targets.

The United States and Israel, for their part, have responded with a new level of persistence.

"US Air Force tankers are providing the necessary support to allow Israeli jets to remain over their target areas [in Iran] for longer periods -- what we call 'loitering,'" Nadimi added. "If they can keep these aircraft in the sky with larger ordnance, they can permanently take Iranian [missile] launchers out of the cycle."

'Survival At Stake'

For Washington, the challenge is whether the force of its air campaign can break Tehran before the economic fallout breaks the resolve of its allies.

Gulf capitals, once vocal supporters of containing Iran, are reportedly growing wary as their US-provided Patriot and Aegis defense systems are being overwhelmed.

Nadimi warned that "blinding one of these 'eyes' [radars] can affect the performance of the entire missile defense network in the region."

Ultimately, the conflict has moved beyond traditional cost-benefit analysis.

"When regimes perceive their survival to be at stake, they may resort to extreme measures that do not fully conform to rational calculations," Azizi noted. "In existential situations, most other considerations recede. Decision-making centers on survival, and that is the frame through which this war of attrition must be understood."

Shahin Bashiri of RFE/RL's Radio Farda contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-conflict-cost- ceasefire/33692230.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Double 'Shock And Awe' -- US Pounds Iran With Massive Assets

By Alex Raufoglu March 03, 2026

WASHINGTON -- The United States has destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels -- including a submarine -- and struck nearly 2,000 targets across Iran in less than four days, according to the commander of US Central Command.

In a video statement posted on X on March 3, Admiral Brad Cooper said the sweeping military campaign -- dubbed Operation Epic Fury -- represents the largest US buildup in the Middle East in a generation.

"Today, there is not a single Iranian ship under way in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman," Cooper said, describing what he called an unprecedented effort to eliminate Iran's ability to threaten US forces.

Massive Firepower Deployed

More than 50,000 US troops, over 200 fighter aircraft, two aircraft carrier strike groups, and long-range bombers are participating in the operation, Cooper said. He described the opening phase as nearly double the scale of the 2003 "shock and awe" campaign in Iraq.

US forces, operating alongside Israel, have conducted continuous strikes "from seabed to space and cyberspace," he said.

According to Cooper, American forces have:

Struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions;

Severely degraded Iran's air defenses;

Destroyed hundreds of ballistic missile launchers and drones;

Sunk 17 Iranian ships, including what he described as Tehran's most operational submarine.

US B-2 and B-1 bombers carried out deep strikes on missile facilities inside Iran, while B-52 bombers targeted ballistic missile infrastructure and command centers, he said.

Naval forces launched waves of cruise missiles from two carrier strike groups, while US Army units fired long-range precision strike missiles -- known as PrSM -- in combat for the first time, although it was not clear from where they were launched.

A drone task force, dubbed "Task Force Scorpion," also deployed one-way attack drones originally based on Iranian designs, Cooper said.

Iranian Retaliation

Tehran has responded by launching more than 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones, Cooper said, accusing Iran of "indiscriminately targeting civilians."

Despite the retaliation, he asserted that Iran's ability to strike US forces and regional partners is diminishing.

"We're focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us," Cooper said, adding that US forces are now hunting Iran's remaining mobile ballistic missile launchers.

Calling the campaign "immensely complex and historic," Cooper praised US service members across all military branches and expressed confidence that American and allied forces would meet their objectives.

"We've just begun," he said. "But I have the utmost confidence that we, alongside our partners, will absolutely achieve our military objectives."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=441276#entry-shared

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi

3 March 2026 19:35

284-03-03-2026

On March 3, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi. They discussed the situation that followed the US and Israel's unprovoked military aggression in the region. The ministers emphasised that such actions undermine the fundamental norms of international law and carry grave consequences for the entire Middle East. This position was clearly reiterated by Russia's representative at the United Nations Security Council meeting.

Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's principled position in support of de-escalation, rejection of force, and a transition to a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict, as well as Russia's readiness to fully support such efforts. He also underscored the priority of ensuring the safety of civilians and protecting civilian infrastructure in all the countries of the region.

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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Blatant Iranian Attack on US Embassy in Riyadh

Saudi Press Agency

Tuesday 14/09/1447

Riyadh, March 03, 2026, SPA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its strongest condemnation of the Iranian attack targeting the US Embassy in Riyadh. It affirmed that the repetition of this cowardly and unjustified attack blatantly violates all international norms and laws, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which grant immunity to diplomatic premises and personnel even during armed conflict.

The Kingdom stressed that the recurrence of this flagrant Iranian behavior, despite Iranian authorities' knowledge that the Kingdom will not allow its airspace or territory to be used to target Iran, will push the region toward further escalation.

The Kingdom reiterated its full right to take all necessary measures to protect its security, territorial integrity, citizens, residents, and vital interests, including the option of responding to the aggression.

-- SPA

13:17 Local Time 10:17 GMT

0029

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Lavrov to Araghchi: US-Israeli Actions Undermine Int'l Law

Sputnik News

20260303

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed the developments in the Middle East over the phone, following the armed aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The situation in the region, arising from the unprovoked armed aggression by the US and Israel against Iran, was discussed. It was emphasized that such actions undermine the basic norms of international law and lead to severe consequences for the entire Middle East. This position was clearly reaffirmed by Russia's representative at the UN Security Council meeting," the ministry's statement reads.

During the conversation, the ministers also prioritized measures aimed at ensuring the safety of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Middle Eastern countries affected by the conflict.

Russia is ready to facilitate a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict in the Middle East, the ministry said, adding that the ministers prioritize measures to ensure the safety of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Middle Eastern countries.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated by striking Israeli territory and US military bases across the Middle East.

 Sputnik

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Putin Making Every Effort to Help Ease Tensions in Middle East - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20260303

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is making every effort to help ease tensions in the Middle East, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"Putin will certainly make and is making every effort to contribute to at least a slight defusing of tension [in the Middle East]," Peskov told reporters.

In almost all of Putin's conversations with Middle Eastern leaders, it was said that the Russian President will convey to Iran their concern about attacks on infrastructure, Peskov added.

There is no clarity on the timing and venue of a new round of negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement, Peskov said.

"So far, there is no clarity on the timing and location. As soon as it appears, we will inform you," Peskov told reporters.

It is currently hardly possible to talk about a trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi within the framework of the Ukrainian settlement, the official added.

Vladimir Putin's schedule currently does not include a conversation with US President Donald Trump, Peskov said.

"No, there are no plans to talk with Trump yet, there are no such events in the president's schedule," Peskov told reporters.

There are no indications yet how the US involvement in the conflict in the Middle East will impact the pace of negotiations on Ukraine, Peskov said.

"We will see, time will tell. There are no indications in this regard yet," Peskov told reporters when asked how the US involvement in the conflict in the Middle East will impact the pace of negotiations on Ukraine.

The Americans obviously have more work to do now, the official added.

Russia is a supporter of the international law and is committed to the principles of respect for sovereign states, Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on US rhetoric towards Cuba.

Earlier this week, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's (listed in Russia as a terrorist and extremist), after the start of the US military operation against Iran, threatened Cuba, saying that its days "are numbered."

"To be honest, we prefer not to discuss this, we are supporters of international law. The foreign ministries are committed to the principles of respect for sovereign states and the principles of non-interference in their internal affairs. This is the backbone of our position, and we prefer to stick to it. We consider everything else to be inconsistent with the principles of international law," Peskov told reporters, answering a question about how the Kremlin perceives Graham's statements that the United States is switching to Cuba after Iran.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East.

 Sputnik

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Lavrov Says No Evidence of Iran Producing Nuclear Weapons

Sputnik News

20260303

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - No one has yet seen evidence of Iran developing nuclear weapons, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

The minister called the US-Israeli aggression against Iran a war and called for an immediate cessation hostilities, adding that he does not expect any sanctions against the US and Israel for the attack on Iran.

"We still do not see evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons, which was the main, if not the only justification for the war. There are confirmations from the IAEA, as well as from American professional intelligence officers. Evidence that Iran has not produced or attempted to produce nuclear weapons," Lavrov told reporters after talks with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darusalam Erywan Yusof.

Sergey Lavrov said that he had discussed "very complex and worsening" issues in international politics that are impacting every country with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darussalam Erywan Yusof.

"Yesterday, in an informal atmosphere, we began discussing current, very complex and worsening problems in international politics - problems that are affecting all countries without exception, including, in many cases, countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia," Lavrov said.

Lavrov said that he believes that US's actions will not be limited to Venezuela, Cuba and Iran.

"[US Secretary of State Marco] Rubio, responding to a reporter's question, recently suggested that the United States would govern Iran in the same way they announced they would govern Venezuela. Now a similar scheme is being tried on for Cuba. And, probably, this is not the end," Lavrov said.

Dialogue between Russia and the United States at different levels and in different formats continues, Lavrov said, adding that there is a need for comprehensive bilateral dialogue about how they see world and what role assign to everyone else in it.

It is unrealistic to demand that Iran, the only one in the whole world, renounce the right to enrich uranium, Lavrov said.

"It is probably not very realistic to say that Iran should be the only one in the world to give up this right, which belongs to all other states," Lavrov told reporters after talks with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darusalam Erywan Yusof.

Russia is open to dialogue with the United States and Israel on the situation in the Middle East, and the Russian side has never interrupted this dialogue, Sergey Lavrov said.

"Under all circumstances [we are] open to dialogue with them [the United States] and with Israel, we have never interrupted this dialogue," Lavrov told reporters after talks with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darusalam Erywan Yusof.

There is no clarity about what exactly the US is pursuing in Iran, the minister added.

Russia has questions about the grounds used by the United States to explain the start of its operation against Iran, Sergey Lavrov said.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East.

"Maybe [US Special Envoy] Steve Witkoff spoke out unsuccessfully, but if that was the reason for the aggression, it raises many questions," Lavrov told reporters after talks with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darusalam Erywan Yusof.

The war unleashed against Iran may stimulate movement in favor of the creation of nuclear weapons not only by Tehran, but also by its neighbors, Lavrov said.

"This war that has now been unleashed against Iran, firstly, it can stimulate the movement in favor of developing nuclear weapons, and not only in Iran. Such a movement will immediately appear in the countries, the Arab countries that are neighboring the Islamic Republic of Iran," Lavrov told reporters after talks with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darusalam Erywan Yusof.

There is a growing risk that the problem of nuclear nonproliferation will begin to spiral out of control, the minister said, noting that Russia will continue to advocate for the compliance with principles of nuclear arms non-proliferation.

Russia will try to use its ties with Iran to prevent strikes on Gulf states, Lavrov said.

"We will strive to use our capabilities in relations, including with the Islamic Republic of Iran, to ensure that this problem does not escalate further and that it is closed," Lavrov told reporters after talks with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darusalam Erywan Yusof.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East.

 Sputnik

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China Calls for Ensuring Safety of Navigation in Strait of Hormuz - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20260303

BEIJING (Sputnik) - China calls on all parties to ensure the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and prevent a negative impact on the global economy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

Bloomberg news agency has reported, citing sources, that the heads of gas companies say that the Chinese authorities have asked Iranian officials not to take actions that could disrupt the supply of energy resources to the country through the Strait of Hormuz.

"China calls on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, avoid escalation of tensions, ensure the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and prevent further negative impact on the global economy," Mao told reporters.

China stands for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and respects the legitimate right of Iran to peaceful uses of atomic energy, Mao Ning said.

"China has consistently advocated a peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations, and respects Iran's legitimate right to peaceful uses of atomic energy," Mao Ning told reporters.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East.

 Sputnik

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US Allegedly Offered Fuel Swap For Iranian Halt On Uranium Enrichment - Witkoff

Sputnik News

20260303

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East.

During the nuclear talks, the US discussed with Iran "ten years of no enrichment whatsoever and we would pay for the fuel and it was flatly rejected," US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News.

He argued that Iran currently has:

10,000 kilograms of fissionable material

This includes 400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium

Another thousand kilograms of 20% enriched uranium

Balance is at 3.67%.

Iran "manufactures its own centrifuges to enrich this material," Witkoff added, arguing "there's almost no stopping' Iran from enriching uranium."

Iran will not remove nuclear materials, and it will continue uranium enrichment in accordance with the country's needs, head of the Iranian Information Council Elyas Hazrati said on Thursday.

"The negotiations are taking place in a serious atmosphere and are entering the technical discussion stage. Uranium enrichment will continue in accordance with the countries' needs; nothing will be removed from Iran," Hazrati said on X.

Reducing Iran's uranium enrichment level remains "on the table," he said, adding that Tehran continues to demand the lifting of sanctions.

 Sputnik

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Netanyahu Says There Will Be No Endless War With Iran

Sputnik News

20260303

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that there will be no endless war with Iran, but rather swift and decisive action.

"You're not going to have an endless war ... this is going to be a quick and decisive action," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News.

The Israeli prime minister added that the operation against Iran would allegedly usher "in an era of peace that we haven't even dreamed of."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he believes peaceful relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia will be established after the operation against Iran is completed.

"I think peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be really possible, and probably very close, once this thing happens," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News on Monday.

He called the military operation against Iran a path to peace.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East.

 Sputnik

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Rubio Claims There Was Imminent Threat From Iran

Sputnik News

20260303

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that there was an imminent threat from Iran.

"There absolutely was an imminent threat, and the imminent threat was that we knew that if Iran was attacked, and we believed they would be attacked, that they would immediately come after us, and we were not going to sit there and absorb a blow before we responded," Rubio told reporters.

US embassies are under attack as a result of Iran's retaliatory actions against US and Israeli strikes, the secretary added.

He said that the US focuses on destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and responding to the alleged threat by Iran's navy to global shipping.

"Our mission and our focus is the destruction of the ballistic missile capabilities and their ability to manufacture them as well as the threat posed by their navy to global shipping," Rubio told reporters.

The United States would like to see regime change in Iran, but that was not a goal of the attack, Rubio added.

"We would love to see this regime be replaced. As the President [Donald Trump] has said, he would love for the people of Iran to use this as an opportunity to rise up and remove these leaders," Rubio told reporters.

However, he reassured that Washington pursued other goals by attacking Iran.

"The objective of this mission is to make sure they don't have these weapons that can threaten us and our allies in the region. That's why we're doing what we're doing now," Rubio added.

He pointed out that the goal is to deny Iran the ability to use ballistic missiles to threaten its neighbors, American bases and presence in the region.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei died as a result of the attacks that day, along with multiple senior Iranian government and military officials, authorities confirmed on Sunday. Russian President Vladimir Putin called his assassination a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.

 Sputnik

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Iran crisis: Schoolgirls killed, thousands displaced and aid compromised

By Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer

3 March 2026 - On the fourth day of Israeli and United States airstrikes against Iran and amid growing violence and instability in the Middle East, the UN urgently called for protection of civilians and warned of growing displacement and humanitarian needs.

UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani also recalled the horror of a strike on Saturday which reportedly killed and injured dozens of girls in a primary school in Minab in the south of Iran.

"Children, little girls...at the beginning of the school day being killed in this manner, backpacks with bloodstains on them - this is absolutely horrific," she said. "If there is any image that captures the essence of the destruction, despair and senselessness and cruelty of this conflict, those are the images."

Ms. Shamdasani said that UN rights chief Volker Turk had been "deeply shocked" by the impacts of the hostilities on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and called for a "prompt, impartial and thorough investigation" into the circumstances of the Minab attack.

"The onus is on the forces that carried out the attack to investigate it. We call on them to make public the findings and to ensure accountability and redress for the victims," she insisted.

Ms. Shamdasani also stressed that if attacks are found to be directed against civilians or civilian objects or indiscriminate attacks, they are "serious violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes."

Tehran blackout

The OHCHR spokesperson expressed concern for the welfare of Iranians "given the Government's record of cracking down with lethal force on [a] broad scale against those who oppose their rule and the new threats of senior officials against any expression of dissent at this time."

She called on the authorities to safeguard Iranians' fundamental freedoms and deplored people's limited access to essential information amid a nationwide internet shutdown.

Since the conflict erupted on Saturday with Israeli and US attacks on Iran, Tehran responded by with counterstrikes against Israel and other US allies across the region. Ms. Shamdasani underscored the fact that besides Iran and Israel, the hostilities have so far impacted 12 other countries, destroying homes, businesses, airports and energy infrastructure.

Lebanese uprooted

In Lebanon, where armed militants Hezbollah entered the conflict, drawing Israeli strikes, "heavy displacement has been reported across parts of southern Lebanon, the Bekaa and southern suburbs of Beirut", said UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Babar Baloch.

Israel issued evacuation warnings to the residents of more than 53 Lebanese villages and conducted intense airstrikes across all three parts of Lebanon, he said.

As of Monday, "the conservative estimates suggest that nearly 30,000 people were hosted and registered at collective shelters," Mr. Baloch said. "Many more slept in their cars on the side of roads or were still stuck in traffic jams, leaving the south to [reach] Beirut."

According to media reports on Tuesday, Israeli ground troops entered southern Lebanon, following Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel.

The UNHCR spokesperson underscored the fact that many of the countries affected by the new conflict "already host millions of refugees and internally displaced people".

Further violence and displacement risk overwhelming host communities' capacities, he warned.

Supply chain fears

Severe disruptions to the transport of goods due to ever-broadening hostilities in the region are also affecting humanitarian supply routes and those who rely on them for their next meal.

Speaking from Cairo, Samer Abdel Jaber, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the UN World Food Programme (WFP), highlighted disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea which "will complicate maritime routes and delays and driving costs for most of our operations that depend on those routes".

"With seas contested and airspace closing, we're looking at adapting and [using] our supplier networks in other countries like Turkiye, like Egypt, like Jordan and Pakistan to support overland corridors," he said.

The WFP official added that Egypt's ports and the Suez Canal, "a key hub for us to support our operation in Gaza, but also in Sudan," are still functioning.

He said that Israel's decision to close border crossings to Gaza since the beginning of the conflict had been a concern but that "good news" of an imminent opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing came on Tuesday.

According to subsequent media reports the crossing, on the southern border of the Gaza Strip, did reopen on Tuesday.

"That is timely for us and we need to get in aid as fast as we can," Mr. Jaber said. "We have wheat flour that is sufficient only for 10 days and food parcels that will maintain our programmes only for two and a half weeks...We need to make sure that there is continuous and scalable flow of food into the Gaza Strip," he concluded.



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Drone-related fire near U.S. consulate in Dubai extinguished, no injuries reported

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:22, March 04, 2026

DUBAI, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Dubai said Tuesday that they have extinguished a limited fire near the U.S. consulate caused by a drone targeting incident earlier in the day.

No injuries were reported, and the situation was brought under control swiftly, according to competent authorities.

A joint military strike by the United States and Israel on Iran, which started on Saturday morning, triggered a sharp escalation across the Middle East, setting off waves of missile exchanges, mounting casualties, and far-reaching political and security repercussions.

Following the U.S.-Israeli joint strike, Iran subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes, targeting sites in Israel and U.S. military bases in Gulf countries and Jordan.

The United Arab Emirates, which has closed its embassy in Tehran amid deteriorating security situation, said Tuesday evening on social media platform X that it has detected 186 ballistic missiles, eight cruise missiles, and 812 UAVs launched by Iran.

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US, Israel Vow No Letup And 'A Lot Of Hurt' As Campaign Against Iran Intensifies

By RFE/RL March 04, 2026

Summary

US President Trump says "the big-scale hitting comes" as Iranian defensive assets are destroyed.

US commander says initial attack on Iran nearly double the 2003 "Shock and Awe" campaign against Iraq.

Streets of Tehran -- a city of 10 million people -- appear deserted amid the US-Israeli air strikes.

The United States and Israel vowed no letup in their military campaign against Iran, with Tel Aviv launching a fresh "broad wave of strikes" while US President Donald Trump said Tehran "is going to be in for a lot of hurt" in the coming days.

"The big-scale hitting goes now," Trump said on March 3 at the White House during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"They no longer have air protections, they no longer have any detection systems left at all, so they're going to be in for a lot of hurt," he warned.

Trump also reiterated that, along with Supreme Leader Ali Khemenei, much of the Iranian leadership had been killed in the US-Israeli attacks, leaving the regime in uncertain hands.

"Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports," he said.

'Shock And Awe'

After Trump spoke, the chief of the US military's Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said Operation Epic Fury represents the largest US buildup in the Middle East in a generation.

More than 50,000 US troops, over 200 fighter aircraft, two aircraft carrier strike groups, and long-range bombers are participating in the operation, Cooper said. He described the opening phase as nearly double the scale of the 2003 "shock and awe" campaign in Iraq.

"Today, there is not a single Iranian ship under way in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman," Cooper said, describing what he called an unprecedented effort to eliminate Iran's ability to threaten US forces.

"We've just begun," he said. "But I have the utmost confidence that we, alongside our partners, will absolutely achieve our military objectives."

He said the US military has destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels -- including a submarine -- and struck nearly 2,000 targets across Iran in less than four days, according to the commander of US Central Command.

New Israeli Strikes

Separately, Israel said early on March 4 that it had launched a "broad wave of strikes," saying its latest targets on the fifth day of the joint US-Israeli attack included Iranian "launch sites, air defense systems, and additional infrastructure."

In Tehran, a city of some 10 million people, the streets appeared mostly deserted, with many fleeing the capital and others hunkering down at home.

"There are so few people that you'd think no one ever lived here," Samireh, a 33-year-old nurse, told AFP.

Authorities have urged people to leave the capital. Police, armed security forces, and armored vehicles have been stationed at main junctions, carrying out random checks on vehicles, AFP added.

Reports from inside Iran are difficult to verify. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said that nearly1,100 civilians,including 181 children, have been killed in the air strikes.

Sirens Blare In Israel

In Israel, meanwhile, air raid sirens blared overnight as the Israeli military worked to intercept successive waves of incoming Iranian fire.

Police in Tel Aviv said shrapnel fell in the area, slightly injuring one woman. There were no other immediate reports of Israeli casualties.

Israel also pressed its renewed drive against Iran-allied Hezbollah elements in Beirut after the group's military wing fired missiles into northern Israel.

Loud explosions were in the Lebanese capital Beirut shortly after midnight on March 4, as Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes and rocket fire, reportedly killing dozens of people. The UN said more than 30,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon.

Iranian Retaliation

There appeared to also be no letup in Iran's retaliatory missile and drone firings, although results were not as dramatic as the US-Israeli strikes.

US diplomatic outposts -- embassies and consulates -- in the Middle East reported drone attacks, some causing minor damage but no casualties.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones targeting US military bases as well as key energy and commercial sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar -- all American allies -- since February 28.

Officials in Qatar said an Iranian ballistic missile hit the US military base at Al-Udeid on March 3 without causing casualties.

The US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones, causing a "limited fire" and "minor material damage," Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said, as tensions escalate across the Middle East.

Cooperation With Kurds?

Elsewhere, the leading Kurdish party in Iraq said its leaders had spoken to Trump about the next steps in the war against neighboring Iran.

The White House did not confirm the report, but said, ""President Trump has spoken with many regional partners."

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said Trump contacted party head Bafel Talabani to discuss US actions in neighboring Iran. US media reported that Trump also spoke with Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani a day after the start of the US-Israeli attacks in Iran.

The report of the calls comes as The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering supporting Iraqi Kurdish factions in a fight against the Iranian leadership.

The Iraqi Kurds have a large force at the border with Iran and also have links to the Kurdish minority in Iran. Ethnic Kurds have for decades been seeking an independent state and have long accused Tehran of oppressing its Kurdish minority.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, RFE/RL correspondent Alex Raufoglu in Washington, Reuters, AFP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-israel- central-command-attack-tehran/33693700.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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FM Sa'ar briefs foreign ambassadors stationed in Israel

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

FM Sa'ar: Following the Iraniam regime's attack on all its neighbors and the massacre of its own people - countries around the world must sever their ties with it."

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Foreign Policy, Terrorism

Secondary topic: Iran

Publish Date: 03.03.2026

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar held a virtual briefing a short while ago today (Tuesday, 3 March 2026) for all ambassadors stationed in Israel. Approximately 60 ambassadors participated in the briefing.

The Foreign Minister told the ambassadors that following the Iranian regime's attacks on all its neighbors and the massacre of its own people, countries around the world must cut off their relations with it.

He stated that Israel is not prepared to live under a threat of elimination, just as no other country in the world would be willing to do.

The Minister also addressed Hezbollah's attack on Israel and its joining the war:

"This once again proves that Hezbollah operates in the service of Iran and against the interests of Lebanon and its citizens."

In addition, Minister Sa'ar answered the ambassadors' questions.

The Foreign Minister also referred to the Iranian regime's attacks on the Gulf states, saying that this serves as further proof that Iran is dangerous to all countries in the region."

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Japan-Omani Foreign Ministers' Telephone talk

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

March 3, 2026

On March 3, from 6:25 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone meeting with H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman. The overview of the meeting is as follows:

At the outset, regarding the current situation surrounding Iran, Minister Motegi stated that he highly appreciates Oman's persistent diplomatic efforts, including mediation by Foreign Minister Badr himself in the consultations between the United States and Iran. Minister Motegi added that the early settlement of the situation and the resolution of issues through dialogue is of utmost importance. Minister Motegi, expressing grave concern over the deterioration of the regional situation surrounding Iran, also stated that Japan strongly urges Iran to cease actions that destabilize the region, including the development of nuclear weapons and attacks on neighboring countries, and to pursue a diplomatic resolution. He further expressed Japan's intention to coordinate and cooperate with Oman in ensuring the safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz adjacent to Oman and the safety of Japanese nationals residing in the region. In response, Minister Badr emphasized the importance of returning to diplomatic resolutions through dialogue and expressed his intention to work closely with Japan toward the early settlement of the situation and the peace and stability of the region.

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President Lee 'respects' NK regime, eyes future with Japan

KOREA.net

Mar 03, 2026

By Lee Jihae

President Lee Jae Myung on March 1 said he respects North Korea's system and will maintain cooperative relations with Japan.

"We will continue efforts to resume dialogue with the North," he said in a speech at a ceremony marking March First Independence Movement Day at COEX Mall in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. "Our government respects the North's regime and will not engage in any hostile act or pursue any form of unification through absorption."

"I hope that the North can soon come to the table for talks to put the dark past behind us and move forward to a new future together."

On relations with Japan, President Lee said, "I will strive to face the past, jointly resolve present challenges and walk toward the future together."

"I will continue shuttle diplomacy with Japan and provide active support so that the people of both countries can more clearly feel the effects of the development of bilateral relations and jointly open new opportunities."

He added, "I hope for the Japanese government to respond positively to our efforts to open 'a new world of friendly ties based on true understanding and empathy.'"

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Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban.

March 3, 2026

13:25

A number of current matters pertaining to the Russia-Hungary cooperation were discussed, including progress made in implementing the agreements reached following the November 28, 2025 talks between Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban held in Moscow.

The leaders also had a discussion of the dramatic escalation surrounding Iran which grew to affect the entire Middle East, including from the point of view of its potential consequences for the global energy market.

During an exchange of views on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin commended Hungary's principled stance in support of resolving the conflict via political and diplomatic means as well as its overall commitment to pursuing a balanced and sovereign course in international affairs.

Issues concerning Hungarian nationals that were mobilised into the Ukrainian Armed Forces and subsequently captured as PoWs were on the agenda as well.

The leaders agreed to maintain contact at various levels.

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Exclusive: A General's Correspondence Details The Wartime Role Of Graft In The Russian Military

By Yelizaveta Surnacheva, Valeriya Yegoshyna, Kira Tolstyakova, Schemes and Systema March 03, 2026

"War is war, but don't forget about the cash. Get yours," a Russian officer texted to a subordinate who was about to succeed him as commander of a division fighting in Ukraine, apparently advising him to take advantage of the moneymaking opportunities presented by the position.

"Delete this message later," the officer added.

A trove of text and audio messages, photos, and videos purportedly sent and received over a three-year period by the officer, Roman Demurchiev, and provided to reporters from Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, includes ample evidence of possible war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.

The materials examined by Schemes and Systema, RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit, also paint a picture of pervasive corruption, including bribery and nepotism, in sometimes granular detail. They open a window on the way power dynamics are structured in the Russian military, who answers to whom in the hierarchy, and how the system operates.

Working with forensics laboratories in the United States and data researchers in Germany, Schemes verified the authenticity of the communications, which were provided by a person serving in the Ukrainian military. RFE/RL agreed not to disclose the person's identity or how they obtained the files.

The Power Of Money

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine just over four years ago, several high-level Russian military officers have been dismissed and accused of corruption, with upticks in cases coming after Wagner mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin led an abortive mutiny in June 2023 and after President Vladimir Putin replaced long-serving Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with a former economy minister, Andrei Belousov, in May 2024.

In some of those instances, accusations of bribery, embezzlement, or fraud range into millions of dollars. Most of the amounts that the materials examined by Schemes and Systema suggest were solicited by or sought from Demurchiev are smaller, but they seem to add up: such requests are a frequent subject of correspondence.

Putin promoted Demurchiev from colonel to major general in June 2023, months after an exchange in which, as RFE/RL revealed, he told his wife that his soldiers had captured four Ukrainian prisoners, sent her a photo of what appeared to be several blackened human ears hanging from a metal pipe, and joked about making a garland out of them.

Soon afterward, Demurchiev suspended his command and enrolled in the General Staff Academy in the Russian capital -- where he quickly found the high cost of living daunting.

"Moscow is stressing me out. It's like a vacuum cleaner" sucking up money, he wrote to his former adjutant Magomedrasul Biisoltanov, a senior corporal far below his general's rank. Multiple times, in messages laden with slang and sometimes with expletives, he asked Biisoltanov, whom he called Rasul, to send him 100,000 rubles ($1,290).

The relationship was not one-sided, the correspondence indicates. At one point, after Demurchiev tells Biisoltanov he needs money for dental work and has only 2,000 rubles ($26) on his bank card, the reply includes a request for help getting an acquaintance transferred from a combat unit to a construction or communications battalion. Demurchiev quickly complies, without asking for an explanation, and again implores Biisoltanov to send him money: "Come on, bro, I'm waiting. My card is empty -- just zero."

A General's Demise

Evidence suggests that seeking or offering a bribe for a transfer or promotion is common in the Russian military. Media outlets have documented cases of draftees or soldiers paying from 100,000 to 1 million rubles ($1,290 to $12,900) to avoid being sent into combat in Ukraine.

Sometimes, favors are sought that may not involve money.

In one voice message, Demurchiev urges Biisoltanov to help him retrieve a pair of underwear that an officer who is a military prosecutor fears he left at a bathhouse by mistake. The prosecutor did not respond to a request for comment sent by Internet messenger.

The correspondence attributed to Demurchiev suggests that he was not always on the receiving end of money transfers: The messages point to an informal system in which, with some frequency, officers receive money from subordinates and send money to superiors.

In messages in June 2024, Demurchiev wrote that he had been questioned by prosecutors who grilled him over whether he had sent money to General Ivan Popov, a former superior. Other parts of the trove analyzed by Schemes and Systema indicate that Popov several times asked Demurchiev for "a couple hundred" thousand rubles, and that Demurchiev told a colleague that he had helped Popov financially over a period of six years.

Popov was relieved of his command of the 58th Army in 2023 and sent to Syria, where Russian forces helped prop up President Bashar al-Assad until he was ousted and fled to Moscow the following year. Popov claimed at the time that he was dismissed because he had written of ammunition shortages and heavy Russian battlefield losses in Ukraine in a report to the General Staff chief, General Valery Gerasimov.

Popov was arrested on fraud charges in May 2024, accused of misappropriating more than 100 million rubles ($1.3 million) worth of metal that was supposed to be used to build defensive structures in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region. Popov, who denied the charges, was convicted last April and sentenced to five years in prison.

'He Shot People'

The materials investigated by RFE/RL journalists also include messages in which Demurchiev, 49, indicates that he helped a younger cousin with his military career, first arranging a relatively safeposting for him as a guard at a military unit's headquarters and then keeping him close to his side in an informal role as a driver and aide.

He also suggested that his cousin had quickly been able to amass "several million" rubles while serving, though he did not explain how.

"I helped him a great deal," Demurchiev told his cousin's mother in March 2024, according to the materials.

In another voice messageto his cousin's mother, in January 2024, Demurchiev told her that her son had "shot people on my command," referring to Ukrainian soldiers in wording that suggested they were captives.

"He buried them. It's hard work with a shovel.... This happened several times," he said, adding that his cousin was "[not] afraid of death.... And he kills firmly, without even the twitch of an eye."

Since 2024, according to Ukrainian military sources, Demurchiev has been a deputy commander of Russia's 20th Combined Arms Army,which has been fighting in eastern Ukraine. He declined to comment when contacted by Schemes by phone.

English adaptation by Steve Gutterman.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-military-corruption- ukraine-war-bribery/33692902.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi

3 March 2026 17:48

280-03-03-2026

On March 3, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

The foreign ministers discussed Iran-related developments and spoke in favour of an early cessation of hostilities and resuming the efforts leading to political and diplomatic settlement. The parties emphasised the urgent need to bring into the equation the legitimate interests of all Arab states in the Gulf.

The sides noted Russia and Oman's readiness to facilitate, including within the UN, the search for compromise peaceful solutions based on respect for the fundamental provisions of international law.

Sergey Lavrov expressed gratitude to the Sultanate government for helping the Russian citizens stranded in the UAE return home via Oman.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's talks with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darussalam Erywan Yusof

3 March 2026 13:29

276-03-03-2026

On March 3, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darussalam Erywan Yusof.

Considering that Russia and Brunei will be marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the ministers had a detailed discussion on the current state and future of bilateral relations, including efforts to deepen political dialogue and enhance cooperation in the spheres of mutual interest, such as energy, agriculture, finance, banking and tourism.

They had a detailed exchange of views on key international and regional matters, in particular, the escalation in the Middle East and developments in the Asia Pacific region. They paid special attention to stepping up interaction within the framework of the Russia-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership.



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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during the meeting with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Brunei Darussalam Erywan Yusof, Moscow, March 3, 2026

3 March 2026 12:36

274-03-03-2026

Minister,

Dear friend,

Colleagues,

We are delighted to welcome you once again in Moscow.

Yesterday, we started to discuss the latest developments and challenges in international politics in an informal setting. They are relevant for all countries without exception, including for many countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

There is no doubt that all this demonstrates that persisting in our efforts to step up dialogue on all matters is an imperative and an urgency for friendly countries like Russia and Brunei Darussalam.

This year, we are marking several anniversaries. Our two countries established diplomatic relations 35 years ago. At the same time, we are marking the 35th anniversary of the dialogue partnership between Russia and ASEAN, in which Brunei Darussalam is a proactive and respected member.

Today, as part of our annual meetings, we have a great opportunity to discuss relations between our countries in all their aspects, from bilateral contacts to regional matters and the escalation of international issues, as well as the situation around the world in general.





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Putin Holds Phone Call With Hungarian PM Orban

Sputnik News

20260303

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, according to the Kremlin press service.

Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban discussed the sharply deteriorating situation around Iran and in the Middle East region, including the consequences for the energy market, during a phone conversation, according to the Kremlin press service.

Additionally, Putin noted the principled position of the Hungarian leadership in support of the political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, the statement said.

Statements by the Kremlin:

Putin highlighted the principled position of the Hungarian leadership in supporting a political and diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Ukraine

Putin and Orban discussed the rapidly escalating situation around Iran and in the Middle East region, including the consequences for the energy market

The issues concerning Hungarian citizens mobilized in the Ukrainian armed forces and captured by Russian forces were also addressed

 Sputnik

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US Embassy in Riyadh Attacked by 2 Drones - Saudi Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

20260303

The US Embassy in Riyadh was attacked by two drones, the Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry said.

"The US Embassy in Riyadh was attacked by two drones, according to preliminary assessments. A small fire broke out as a result of the attack, and the embassy building sustained minor damage," the ministry said on X.

There were no people inside the embassy at the time of the drone attack, and there were no casualties as a result of the incident, Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported, citing an official.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East.

 Sputnik

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.03.04

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Mar. 3 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 4 (Wed.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

5 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

3.Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe.

1150304_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

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PM call with President Christodoulides of Cyprus: 3 March 2026

Press release

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, this afternoon.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 3 March 2026

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, this afternoon.

He expressed his outrage at the drone attack on the RAF Base in Akrotiri on Sunday evening - adding that it is a deeply concerning example of the highly dangerous, indiscriminate attacks by Iran and its proxies taking place across the region.

He set out his unwavering support for Cyprus and its security. In addition to the ongoing defensive operations undertaken by the UK, he confirmed the UK will deploy two Wildcat helicopters later this week. These helicopters will provide more counter-drone capability to hunt and shoot down any further threats, he added.

A Type 45 Air Defence Destroyer, one of the most capable air defence warships in the world, will also be deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to help defend the area, he said.

They agreed to keep in close contact.

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UK sends warship and drone-busting helicopters to the Eastern Mediterranean to protect Brits and allies in the region

Press release

HMS Dragon set to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to defend British interests and support the collective self-defence of our allies.

From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP

Published 3 March 2026

The UK is deploying its cutting-edge warship, HMS Dragon, and drone-busting Wildcat helicopters to the Eastern Mediterranean to boost British defences in the region.

The Type 45 destroyer is one of the most capable air defence warships in the world, and will strengthen the UK's ability to detect, track and destroy aerial threats, including drones.

The ship is fitted with the world-leading Sea Viper missile system, which can launch eight missiles in under ten seconds and guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously. Type 45 Destroyers have already been proven on operations, including when one successfully intercepted a Houthi missile in 2024.

The deployment comes as the UK armed forces successfully shot down multiple drones across the region over the previous 24 hours:

RAF F-35B jets shot down drones over Jordan - the first time an RAF F-35 has destroyed a target on operations - supported by Typhoon jets and a Voyager tanker aircraft. A British counter-drone unit neutralised drones in Iraqi airspace heading towards Coalition forces, whilst an RAF Typhoon operating with the joint UK-Qatar 12 Squadron shot down an Iranian one-way attack drone directed at Qatar using an air-to-air missile on Monday.

The decision comes as Iran's reckless attacks continue to target British interests in the region, as the UK Armed Forces continue to adapt to the changing threats.

It follows the UK bolstering its defensive presence in the region in recent weeks, including deploying radar systems, air defence, and F-35 jets.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

We are moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. HMS Dragon brings world-class air defence capability, and our Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the growing drone threat. I am deeply proud of the professionalism and bravery of our Armed Forces personnel who have in recent days, successfully taken action across the region to protect our allies and defend British interests.

In a further boost, two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are also deploying.

The helicopters will be able to hunt and shoot down aerial threats, adding a powerful counter-drone capability to the region.

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Read-out of President von der Leyen's call with President Zelenskyy

European Commission

Read-out

Mar 3, 2026

Brussels

Today, President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

The two leaders focused on their shared priority to rapidly conclude the adoption of the Ukraine Support Loan and of the 20th package of sanctions.

They discussed the wider impact of the developments in the Middle East on energy prices, on energy security and on availability of badly needed defence materials.

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Merz Meets Trump Amid Fears In Europe That Iran War Diverting Attention From Ukraine

By Alex Raufoglu March 03, 2026

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump will meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on March 3, with transatlantic security and Ukraine high on the agenda.

But as Washington intensifies military operations against Iran, European officials fear the war in the Middle East will divert attention from supporting Ukraine as it battles Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its fifth year.

The concern is not only political, that Washington's attention may drift. It's also practical: Ukraine's defense depends heavily on American-made interceptors, cruise missiles, and other precision munitions that the Pentagon is now expending in significant quantities elsewhere.

In an interview with RFE/RL in Washington on March 2, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz acknowledged the strain.

"If we look at the American involvement in the Middle East and how it affects Europe, Poland, and Ukraine -- it involves the supply of military equipment, missiles for Patriot systems, supplies for Ukraine, and the production capacity of American industry," he said. "It will have an impact."

How large that impact will be remains unclear, he added, because "it depends on the duration of the conflict." But he warned that "the center of gravity of interest is shifting to the Middle East," stressing that "Europe must do more."

For Ukraine, that shift could prove decisive.

Retired US Army Colonel Richard Williams, a former senior NATO defense official, described Kyiv's position as increasingly fragile if the conflict in the Middle East widens or drags on.

"I'd say the Ukrainian strategic situation...is precarious -- and increasingly so if this conflict is prolonged or worsens," he told RFE/RL.

Key American munitions stockpiles, he warned, "are going to be increasingly low, at a time when no one can accurately predict the US's top priority need for them."

The consequences, he suggested, are straightforward. Cruise missiles, anti-aircraft interceptors, and other guided munitions are finite, and replenishment "takes months." Given likely US priorities, Ukraine "must be ultra cautious...especially with munitions of US origin."

A Supply Chain Shock

In Kyiv, officials are already bracing for turbulence in the global defense market.

Kateryna Chernohorenko, a former deputy defense minister, warned on social media that the Middle East escalation could quickly ripple into Ukraine's defense industry.

"The situation in the Middle East can very quickly escalate into a crisis of defense industry in Ukraine," she wrote on March 2, predicting sharp changes in "prices, quotas, and supply chains."

Her message was urgent and practical. Ukrainian manufacturers -- from FPV drone producers to electronic-warfare and rocket companies -- should "act very quickly" to secure remaining stocks of critical components and form reserves for the next 12 to 24 months.

Firms should combine purchases and book production quotas together, she said, while the government must accelerate localization of key components "at maximum speed."

The underlying fear is that global competition for parts and finished weapons will intensify, pricing out or delaying Ukrainian orders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced his concern over the matter in an interview published by the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera on March 3.

"It could become difficult to procure missiles and weapons for the defense of our airspace," Zelenskyy said. "The Americans and their allies in the Middle East could need them for defense, for example anti-Patriot missiles."

Russia Watches -- And Profits

Beyond supply chains, European officials also see strategic risks.

Kosiniak-Kamysz warned that turmoil in the Middle East could benefit Moscow economically. Higher oil and gas prices, he said, are "dangerous, because that money pumps up the defense and arms industry, which threatens the security of Poland and NATO's eastern flank."

For Poland and other frontline NATO states, Russia "has long been the greatest threat," he stressed. A distracted United States could compound that danger.

Yet there are countervailing dynamics.

Retired US General David Petraeus, former commander of US Central Command and CIA director, argued that Iran's capacity to assist Moscow has been significantly reduced.

"Iran is no longer in a position to help Russia with Shahed drones or other capabilities," he told RFE/RL, though Tehran had previously provided "significant assistance" and transferred intellectual property that enabled Russia to produce and improve them domestically.

At the same time, Petraeus dismissed the notion that Moscow could meaningfully bolster Iran's air defenses. Russia, he said, cannot even keep its own advanced systems operational, as Ukrainian drones regularly destroy radars and launchers.

More broadly, he suggested the US campaign sends a signal of deterrence. It demonstrates both "considerable" capabilities and a willingness to use them -- a combination that shapes adversaries' calculations.

The Balancing Act

For Ukraine, the implications cut both ways.

On one hand, a weakened Iran could mean fewer drones and less technological cooperation flowing to Russia. On the other, a United States deeply engaged in the Middle East may conserve high-end munitions for its own contingencies.

Williams cautioned that even Ukraine's other suppliers could hesitate amid uncertainty. As the conflict escalates, he said, partners may become "increasingly hesitant to meet Kyiv's needs."

That places a premium on conservation, diversification, and domestic production -- the very steps Chernohorenko urged.

As Trump hosts Merz in Washington, European leaders are expected to seek reassurances that Ukraine will not be sidelined.

But the arithmetic of war -- industrial capacity, stockpiles, and competing theaters -- may prove harder to manage than diplomatic messaging.

For now, Europe faces a stark reality: If America's center of gravity shifts, it will have to shoulder more of Ukraine's defense, and do so quickly.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-ukraine- munitions-squeeze-russia/33692938.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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On Ukraine's Battlefield, Russia Has Lost Ground, Experts Say. But Don't Expect A Major Reversal For Kyiv.

By Mike Eckel March 03, 2026

For the first time in at least two years, Russian forces appear to have lost territory in Ukraine, according to battlefield experts and open-source researchers, as Ukrainian forces eke out small battlefield gains and push back Russian troops.

The findings, reported by DeepState, an open-source group with ties to the Ukrainian military, and Black Bird Group, a Finnish research organization, do not appear to signal a wholesale turning of the tides in the Ukraine war, now in its fifth year since Russia's full-scale invasion.

But they do highlight a growing consensus that Russia's war has ground to a near stalemate, with Moscow unable to decisively achieve its goals and Kyiv unable to push out Russia's invading forces.

Russia appears to still have a slight upper hand across most of the 1,100-kilometer front line. In Pokrovsk, for example, Russian forces have occupied the southern Donbas city almost entirely after a grueling, yearlong campaign. The most intense combat is currently concentrated on the city's northern edges. Ukraine has yet to acknowledge the loss of the city.

But the Russian gains have also been incremental: By some estimates, Russian forces are advancing at a pace measured in just meters, on par with the most grueling trench warfare during World War I.

For their part, Ukrainian forces are exhausted, outmanned, and in many places outgunned. Porous defenses in some parts of the front line have given Russian troops the opportunity to race past pockets of Ukrainian positions, using motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles -- often at great toll.

But Kyiv has still managed to both inflict near-debilitating casualties and now, even recapture territory -- a point that Ukraine's commander-in-chief, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, tried to emphasize on March 2.

"In February 2026, for the first time since the Kursk offensive operation, the Ukraine's Defense Forces restored control over more territory than the enemy could capture," he said in a Facebook post.

In Kupyansk, Ukrainian troops last year fully recaptured the Kharkiv region city in part by thwarting Russian troops using unused underground pipelines to sneak past Ukrainian defenses.

Ukrainian officials now say they are conducting "mopping-up" operations to wipe out the last pockets of Russian positions in the city.

In January and February, Ukrainian troops conducted a series of small, localized counteroffensives mainly in the southern parts of the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhya regions, where the pace of Russia's operations have been relatively slow.

Deep State, a Ukrainian volunteer organization whose maps are closely watched in and out of the country, including reportedly by Syrskiy, as well as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Russian troops occupied just 126 square kilometers last month. That's their lowest monthly gain since July 2024.

According to Black Bird Group, Russia has now losta total of almost 37 square kilometers since January.

That would be the first net loss of territory by Russian forces since November 2023,at the tail end of a bigger Ukrainian counteroffensive that military and political leaders -- and their Western backers -- hoped would land a decisive blow against Russian troops. In the end, the Ukrainian counteroffensive failed.

The causes of the battlefield shifts appear to be varied, though many experts point to this winter's colder than usual temperatures, which have curtailed the ability of both sides to move fast or pull off bigger offensive operations.

Emil Kastehelmi, a Finnish analyst and co-founder of Black Bird Group, said the recent cutoff of Starlink satellite Internet transmissions had a noticeable effect on Russian forces.

Also, the recent Ukrainian counterattacks took place in a swathe of open territory near the town of Hulyaypole and the Haychur River, where forces were able to move easily and quickly.

"Relatively large areas can change hands easily," he told RFE/RL. "A few hundred kilometers doesn't really matter that much, like it would in other places, where it would be more significant."

"There's no one single variation that explains this," Kastehelmi said. "But this should probably be treated as an anomaly to the trend. It's likely the Russians will continue to advance into the spring and summer and unlikely that that Ukrainian forces will be able to continue these sorts of counterattacks on a large scale in other directions."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-battlefield- territory-losses/33693140.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Forces Liberate Bobylevka Settlement of in Sumy Region - MoD

Sputnik News

20260303

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian army took control of the Bobylevka settlement in the Sumy region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"As a result of the active and decisive actions of the units of the Sever (North) group, control has been established over the settlement of Bobylevka, Sumy region," the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian military also took control of the Veselyanka settlement in the Zaporozhye region, the ministry added.

Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated up to 360 soldiers over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to 360 soldiers, two armored personnel carriers, three armored fighting vehicles, 14 vehicles and two field artillery guns," the ministry said in a statement.

Kiev has also lost over 205 soldiers in battles with Battlegroup Sever and up to 350 soldiers in battles with Battlegroup Vostok, the ministry added.

Meanwhile, Russia's Battlegroup Zapad eliminated up to 190 Ukrainian military personnel and destroyed three armored combat vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, five artillery pieces and four ammunition depots over the past day, the statement read.

In the southern direction, over 120 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated by Battlegroup Yug, while a tank, two armored combat vehicles, 22 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, two ammunition depots and five equipment depots were destroyed, the ministry said.

Russia's Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated up to 65 Ukrainian soldiers, destroying an armored combat vehicle, three motor vehicles, two electronic warfare stations and an ammunition depot, the ministry added.

Additionally, the Russian armed forces defeated the airfields of the Ukrainian armed forces, from which long-range UAVs were launched in the combat zone.

 Sputnik

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

03 March 2026 23:11

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "The rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East and its broader implications for regional and global security were in focus of my conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister HRH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. I expressed solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people.

Ukraine strongly condemns Iran's act of aggression, which threatens regional stability. We discussed the risks of further escalation and the search for diplomatic solutions. Protecting civilians and preserving regional stability must remain a priority.

I noted that Ukraine is acutely aware of the consequences of missile and drone warfare, as we continue to endure daily aerial attacks, including Iranian-made Shahed drones. We are ready to share our expertise with partners facing similar threats.

We agreed to maintain an active dialogue and deepen our engagement on issues of mutual concern, advancing responsible diplomacy and strength. ".

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Sabah

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

03 March 2026 18:30

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I spoke with my Kuwaiti counterpart, H.E. Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Sabah, on the security situation in the Middle East.

My colleague informed me about the current developments. Ukraine condemns Iran's unjustified attacks against countries in the region and stands in solidarity with Kuwait and its people.

For Ukraine, this threat is not abstract. We face daily missile and drone attacks, including Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia against our cities and civilians.

Over the past years, we have developed unique and advanced expertise in countering such aerial threats and stand ready to share this experience with our partners.

I thanked Kuwait for its consistent support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

We also agreed to continue strengthening our cooperation. I invited my Kuwaiti counterpart to visit Ukraine."

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan Ayman Safadi

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

03 March 2026 18:14

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I had a good call with my colleague from Jordan, Ayman Safadi, on the situation in the Middle East.

Ukraine condemns Iran's reckless attacks against countries in the region, which primarily harm civilians and risk further destabilization. We stand in solidarity with Jordan and other countries affected by these actions.

I expressed gratitude to Jordan for its consistent support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for voting in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution "Lasting peace in Ukraine." This principled position is highly valued.

We agreed to intensify our political dialogue and maintain close coordination, including further high-level contacts and cooperation on the international stage.

We all seek lasting peace and securityin Ukraine and in the Middle East."

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Defence Forces struck 13 oil and gas infrastructure facilities in russia in January-February

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

3 March, 2026, 1:10 PM EET

The Defence Forces of Ukraine continue to degrade the military-economic potential and offensive capabilities of the russian aggressor. In January and February 2026, over 40 strikes targeted oil and gas infrastructure, military-industrial complex facilities, command centers, ammunition depots, equipment, vehicles, and enemy personnel on the territory of russia.

Specifically, 13 oil refineries, petroleum storage facilities, and other oil and gas sector facilities in russia were hit. These strikes weaken the aggressor's economic capacity to wage war and directly reduce fuel supplies to the enemy army.

Why this matters

Cutting off russia's economic resources needed to wage war is among the key strategic objectives of Ukraine's War Plan, unveiled by Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov.

Oil and gas revenues provide russia with the financial resources to wage war. These funds are used to produce missiles and drones that strike Ukraine's civilian population, to pay soldiers under contract, and to sustain a large propaganda network. Cutting off this channel would significantly reduce the resources available to sustain the war.

Ukraine is developing a strategy aimed at driving russia's 2026 budget deficit to a historic high.

Oil and gas infrastructure facilities in russia struck by Ukraine

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the following oil and gas infrastructure facilities were struck on the territory of russia in January-February.

Oil refineries:

Ilsky Oil Refinery (Krasnodar Krai)  one of the key refineries in southern russia, important for supplying fuel to formations of russian occupation forces in southern Ukraine, including in Crimea.

(Krasnodar Krai)  one of the key refineries in southern russia, important for supplying fuel to formations of russian occupation forces in southern Ukraine, including in Crimea. Slavyansk ECO (Krasnodar Krai)  generates foreign exchange earnings and provides logistical capabilities for russia in the region of the Sea of Azov - Black Sea.

(Krasnodar Krai)  generates foreign exchange earnings and provides logistical capabilities for russia in the region of the Sea of Azov - Black Sea. Volgograd Refinery (Volgograd Oblast)  plays an important role in supplying fuel for military vehicles and equipment on the eastern sector of the front.

(Volgograd Oblast)  plays an important role in supplying fuel for military vehicles and equipment on the eastern sector of the front. Ukhta Oil Refinery (Komi Republic)  supplies fuel both to russia's northern and central regions and to russian occupation forces.

Petroleum storage facilities:

Gerkon Plus (Lipetsk Oblast)  an important storage hub in central russia that supports logistics and reserves.

(Lipetsk Oblast)  an important storage hub in central russia that supports logistics and reserves. Oskolneftesnab (Belgorod Oblast)  due to its proximity to the border, functions as a direct fuel supply base for military vehicles and equipment on the Kharkiv sector.

(Belgorod Oblast)  due to its proximity to the border, functions as a direct fuel supply base for military vehicles and equipment on the Kharkiv sector. Zhutovskaya (Volgograd Oblast)  serves as a fuel logistics hub supporting rail and road deliveries toward the occupied Donbas.

(Volgograd Oblast)  serves as a fuel logistics hub supporting rail and road deliveries toward the occupied Donbas. Penzanefteprodukt (Penza Oblast)  a large rear logistics hub within the Rosneft structure that ensures stable fuel supplies in the Volga region.

(Penza Oblast)  a large rear logistics hub within the Rosneft structure that ensures stable fuel supplies in the Volga region. Khokholskaya (Voronezh Oblast)  a key base for ensuring fuel logistics routes leading toward the combat zone (russia's "northern grouping" of forces).

Additionally, strikes targeted the Almetyevskaya crude oil processing facility (Republic of Tatarstan), Lukoil offshore drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea, the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal (Krasnodar Krai), and the Neftegorsky Gas Processing Plant (Samara Oblast).

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In the Spring, the Russians Are Not Going to Reduce the Number and Cynicism of Their Attacks; They Are Preparing to Target Critical Infrastructure in the Same Way - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

3 March 2026 - 19:44

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today, I chaired a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council - a special session attended not only by central government officials, law enforcement, and the military, but also by representatives of the regions. All our regions and the largest cities were present. For each of them a specific plan has been prepared - covering energy, critical infrastructure, and logistics - for the next winter. Unfortunately, Kyiv was the only exception - the capital proved unprepared. But we will overcome this challenge as well. In fact, for all regions there is now one common task for the next winter and for the immediate period as well: in the spring, the Russians are not going to reduce the number and cynicism of their attacks; they are preparing to target critical infrastructure in the same way. Of course, we got through this winter - some communities, some of our cities were able to achieve better results in protection and in supporting people. Others failed completely, as we saw. Now we must take all the best experience from the regions, detailed tasks for the military and for our diplomacy, and implement two components of the nationwide strategy: to prepare for strikes in the near term and to prepare for the next winter so that there are no catastrophes or problems like those we faced this winter. Alternative generation and heat supply solutions, additional energy sources, real protection - taking into account the scale of all threats - all of this must be ensured. I thank every region, every mayor, and all Ukrainian communities that have already presented their resilience plans. I thank the Government for its work this winter and for the right approach to preparing for the next one. There are things we must do at our own level in Ukraine - specific work - and the biggest tasks lie with the communities and the military. There are tasks regarding air defense and the construction of protective structures. It is also clear what we need to agree on with our partners for the next heating season. I thank Naftogaz, all our Ukrainian energy companies, every repair crew, as well as Ukrzaliznytsia and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine - everyone who worked to help people get through this winter. Ukraine received the necessary imports - both gas and electricity. We are increasing the relevant capacities. Financial coordination with partners was also properly established. This must continue. Of course, due to the war with the Iranian regime, there are now challenges both regarding rising energy prices and the volume of air defense equipment supplies needed by us in Ukraine. But we must have adequate responses to this as well - all of us in the state must work together to ensure that.

I spoke with Ursula von der Leyen, in particular about the situation surrounding Iran and all the challenges. We also discussed our bilateral issues with the European Union. Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations, and we expect the same fair and sincere attitude toward Ukraine - toward the interests of our people.

Today I spoke with leaders of countries currently under attack from Iran - the President of the United Arab Emirates and the Amir of Qatar. We will continue this diplomatic engagement with the broader Middle East and Gulf region. Ukraine stands in solidarity with all those who are resisting the spread of war and violence. For decades, the Iranian regime has invested in destroying the lives of its neighbors and others wherever it could reach. It was on that very foundation that they became accomplices of Russia in the war against Ukraine. Every "shahed" drone in Ukrainian skies proves that the Iranian regime must be held accountable for its attempts to destroy lives and kill people. It is essential that those who defend life prevail in this confrontation. At the level of our teams - the Ukrainian team, the teams of the Emirates and Qatar, and other states - we will determine how, together, we can provide stronger protection for life. Ukraine's expertise in countering "shahed" drones is currently the most advanced in the world, and these drones represent the primary challenge in that region as well. It is clear why so many requests are directed to Ukraine. However, any such cooperation aimed at protecting our partners can only proceed without diminishing our own defense capabilities here in Ukraine. Russia's war against Ukraine continues, Russian strikes continue, and protecting Ukrainian lives remains our first priority. Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

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National Security and Defense Council Approved Energy Resilience Plans for Ukraine's Regions

President of Ukraine

3 March 2026 - 17:03

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, during which comprehensive energy resilience plans for the country's regions and cities were approved.

The Head of State thanked the military, government officials, energy workers, rescuers, border guards, police officers, heads of regional military administrations, local authorities, and communities - everyone who helped, defended, set up assistance points and warming centers, and did everything possible to ensure people could survive.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the experience of this winter will serve as the foundation for further decisions: updating protection of infrastructure, logistics, and key energy facilities; restoring facilities damaged by Russian strikes; and ensuring additional energy sector capacity.

During the meeting, representatives of all regions and the largest cities delivered reports. The National Security and Defense Council approved resilience plans for every Ukrainian region and regional center except Kyiv. The capital was given additional time to prepare the relevant substantive documents.

"Kyiv was not ready today - just as it hadn't been this past winter. For the next season, it is essential to get ready and complete every task. Every city and every Ukrainian community must be prepared for any scenario next winter and for providing real support to people. The Government of Ukraine, in particular the Ministry of Defense, and the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have received the necessary tasks and will assist regions in preparing," the President emphasized.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov noted that the regional resilience plans include clear instructions to the Cabinet of Ministers and the relevant ministries.

"There must be a clear algorithm: who is responsible, within what timeframes, with what resources, and how implementation is monitored. The National Security and Defense Council ensures coordination at the state level - this means regular monitoring. The plans must work in practice. And our task is to ensure that no winter becomes an instrument of pressure against Ukraine," Rustem Umerov said.

Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko reported that the government will provide protection from UAVs and missiles for major facilities involved in electricity transit, gas extraction, and storage. Regions must ensure proper protection of substations, pumping stations, cogeneration facilities, block-modular boiler houses, and new facilities.

"It is important for us that every mayor, every regional head, and we as the government bear full personal responsibility for preparing regions and cities for the next heating season. And that we also bear responsibility for implementation, non-implementation, or untimely implementation," Yuliia Svyrydenko stressed.

First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal noted that the primary focus is on restoring main generation equipment destroyed by Russia, strengthening protection of critical infrastructure facilities, creating reserves of essential equipment, and building up gas reserves.

"Active work is already underway in all these areas. Regarding equipment reserves, we are working with partners to secure a threefold reserve. As for distributed generation, the relevant tasks have been assigned to state-owned companies, local administrations, and communities. At the next energy 'Ramstein' meeting, we also plan to discuss attracting more than 5 billion to prepare Ukraine for the next heating season," Denys Shmyhal said.

Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine - Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba noted that the plan approved by the National Security and Defense Council was developed together with local communities and is aimed at accelerating changes.

"The decision that has been adopted will be of enormous significance for many years to come. Today, the tasks are to do everything possible to ensure that settlements decentralize their water and heat supply systems and are as resilient and adaptable as possible to enemy attacks," Oleksii Kuleba concluded.





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The President of Ukraine and the President of the UAE Discussed the Situation in the Middle East and the Gulf Region

President of Ukraine

3 March 2026 - 13:47

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with President of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The leaders discussed key aspects of the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences over the lives lost as a result of Iran's insane strikes.

Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan noted that the Iranian regime is targeting not only military facilities but virtually everything, including residential buildings, shopping malls, and even mosques. The presidents discussed how to provide assistance in this situation and support the protection of lives, agreeing that their teams would work on this matter.

"Protecting lives is a shared priority for everyone in the world," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.





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Governors and legislators from Michigan to Georgia, Louisiana to New Mexico are rethinking their film tax-credit programs. In a year when cuts to K-12 education, Medicaid and pension benefits are on the table, it shouldn't be surprising that tax expenditures like film incentives are getting their "close-up."In a cover story last spring,'s Senior Editor Zach Patton covered film-credit concerns in many states . Some elected officials in places like Massachusetts and Michigan were beginning to question if film incentives were going too far. Six months later, those questions are being raised loudly in legislative debates. In Michigan, home to one of the most generous film tax-credit programs, the governor is calling for a cap on the refundable credits. All this begs the question: If 40 states have such programs, where does incentive end and pay-to-play begin?I caught up with Peter Enrich, a law professor at Northeastern University's School of Law in Boston , to get his take on film tax incentives. Before turning to academia, Enrich was general counsel to Massachusetts's Executive Office for Administration and Finance. Here are highlights from our conversation.I'm not convinced they are cost effective. But film tax credits are a special case. They are theof the location-incentive approach. It's almost a misnomer to call them tax credits at all. The "credits" are either refundable -- they can be turned in for cash -- or they're transferable and can be sold to someone else. When you get into a discussion of film tax credits with citizens and policymakers, there's a lot of confusion. They're inclined to think, "Oh, it's a tax credit -- we're just not collecting tax from people who otherwise wouldn't be doing business in the state." But that's not true. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue did a study recently and found that for the $100 million of tax credits issued in 2008, only $100,000 was actually used to reduce tax liabilities of film producers. The rest was paid out in cash or to reduce the taxes of insurance companies and banks that had purchased credits from film producers.The job or investment tax-credit tools states have used to chase smokestack industries for decades aren't big enough to outweigh other factors that influence location decisions. All you're doing is reducing the taxes of businesses that would have located there anyway. With film credits, they are big enough to make a difference -- they do drive decisions. But they're so expensive that they are not cost effective.In the appropriation process, you know what the revenues are in a given year and you decide how much to spend on program A, which may mean less for programs B, C and D. You're making that decision for the coming year and the coming year alone. You'll revisit the decision the following year. With tax expenditures, that's not true. In the vast majority of cases, a tax expenditure is enacted permanently or for years with no budgetary competitive process. Often tax credits have a low cost in the first couple of years, and build up in out years. So it's easy to minimize the actual costs since you don't have to face them in the [budget process].The first thing is to determine what it is you're trying to achieve. In most states, it's to create good employment opportunities for people in the state. So then the question is: How much benefit are you getting? How many jobs are you creating? How well paid are those jobs and how long will they last? And what's the tradeoff against what you're spending to get those jobs? With film credits, if the Massachusetts numbers are typical, we are paying vastly more in state dollars for the jobs than the wages of those jobs. Maybe if you were spending $10,000 or $20,000 to create a job paying $60,000 or $80,000 that will be here for 10 years, that's not a bad deal. But here you're spending two to three times the wages of what the jobs are paying, for a job that won't be there next year. The film industry is very footloose.Capping reduces how much money you're throwing away but doesn't make the use of that money any more effective. Take Michigan: If you could reduce the refundable credit from 40 percent of the film's costs to 5 percent, then the cost-benefit analysis might look different. But if you're only offering 5 percent, you won't attract any productions. As to limiting transferability, the film producers look at this and say, "How much is it worth to me?" The way film production financing works, production companies tend not to have substantial state tax bills. So it's not a meaningful incentive if it can't be transferred.A generous investment tax incentive might be 5 percent of the cost of the tax investment -- not total operating cost of the enterprise. At least with a smokestack or biotech company, a plant will be there for a while. They're likely to continue to employ people for a while [because there is an] asset fixed in the state. The film industry tax credit is on steroids. Its scale completely dwarfs the scale of any other kind of tax incentive.My sense is that enough states are in enough fiscal trouble that at least some -- a small number initially -- are seriously rethinking whether they can they afford these programs. A few states may cap their programs, and maybe a few will suspend them. When virtually every state is doing it, however, it's a little hard to be the first state to unilaterally disarm.They violate the Constitution's commerce clause. There have been a number of court decisions that have recognized that. However, anything the courts decide is unconstitutional, Congress could turn around and authorize states to do it. Seven years ago, Ohio's investment tax credit was found unconstitutional by a federal appeals court. While an appeal to that ruling was pending, Congress moved quite rapidly to overrule that decision and allow the state to offer an investment tax credit.
(TNS)  Few things are more private than a persons medical history. Yet without the consent of patients or their doctors, Americas second-largest health care system and Google are cooperating to share personally identifiable medical information on 50 million patients. Regardless of the intentions to improve health care, this is a violation of privacy that may require action from regulators or Congress to correct.First reported by the Wall Street Journal, Ascension, a chain of Catholic nonprofits with hospitals and nursing homes in 21 states, made a pact with Google to move that big data into the search giants cloud-computing system. They hope to crunch the data and provide better health care. Code-named Project Nightingale, the plan immediately drew the scrutiny of regulators and lawmakers who fear that patients privacy is inadequately protected. At least four Democrats on the U.S. Houses Energy and Commerce Committee have already sent letters to both Google and Ascension, asking to be briefed by Dec. 6. They are right to worry.Anyone who has visited the doctor has encountered HIPAA, the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which protects a patients privacy. Yet Project Nightingale appears to be permissible under federal law, privacy experts told the Journal, because HIPAA generally allows sharing of data with business partners if the information is used only to help the covered entity carry out its health-care functions. Patients would no doubt be surprised to learn it might be legal to share medical information that includes their names and birth dates even without their consent, and if an investigation determines that it is legal, it is time to beef up the law. Patients should have to consent before identifiable medical information is shared, and they should know the purpose and be fully informed.In the age of big data, privacy and information are constantly in tension. Crunching big data using artificial intelligence can discover patterns and point to treatment in ways that werent possible even a few years ago. Thats good news. But it simply cannot come at the expense of breaking the confidentiality of patients and their personal medical information.Ask yourself: Would you trust big data companies such as Google and Facebook with the most intimate details of your life? Even if the sharing might shade toward being legal in this gray area, these companies have to be absolutely transparent and seek permission first. Given their mixed track records, the optics and the ethics require nothing less.There are solutions. Information can be precise and detailed but anonymous. Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature passed and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that allows Attorney General Ashley Moody specific and proscribed access to the states prescription drug database in order to bolster Floridas case in a massive opioid lawsuit against drugmakers, distributors and pharmacies. Privacy concerns were met by stripping out a patients name and substituting a unique identifying number. This was an appropriate way to handle sensitive data, and it shows what can be done, but it also demonstrates the importance of balancing privacy and policy concerns in every instance.The ability to store and distribute sensitive, intimate medical information has outstripped the laws that protect peoples privacy, not to mention the ever-present fear of hackers. Were not far from a time when a persons entire genome can be uploaded to the cloud. Before that happens, people need to be confident that their medical and genetic history will be shared only as they see fit.
Aston formation lap only rumours swirl amid battery fears

Aston Martin could take the extraordinary step of completing only the formation lap at the Australian Grand Prix before retiring both cars, amid deepening concerns about its new Honda power unit.

Lance Stroll, Bahrain test 2026

 Aston Martin Racing

Italian reports claim the Silverstone-based team has even discussed not starting the race at all, although contractual obligations and fines would likely prevent a total withdrawal.

Instead, one scenario under consideration is that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll would take part in the weekend, qualify within the minimum requirement, start Sunday's race - and then immediately pit after the formation lap or after just a handful of laps.

The drastic idea underlines the severity of the crisis.

Honda Racing Corporation CEO Ikuo Takeishi admitted last week that the problem detected in Bahrain was serious.

During testing, we detected unusual vibrations, he said. "I believe the main cause was that these vibrations led to damage to the battery system.

We stopped the car because we felt it shouldn't continue driving in that condition. It wasn't that an accident was imminent, but it was dangerous.

Honda suspects multiple components within the power unit and chassis are interacting to create the vibration, making a quick fix difficult.

If it were something like the transmission or the motor alone, it would be simpler, Takeishi said. But I suspect several components are interacting. We may have stumbled upon a rather tricky situation.

The issue is compounded by spare parts shortages following repeated failures in Bahrain, where Aston Martin completed fewer than 400 laps across six test days.

Reports from Italy suggest Honda's parts production has struggled to keep pace, meaning every kilometre in Melbourne could increase the risk of further damage - especially with the Chinese Grand Prix following just one week later.

Team principal Adrian Newey reportedly addressed staff at Silverstone this week in a sober meeting, warning there was no reason to celebrate and that recovery could take five to six months .

I have a plan and I will get you out of here, he is quoted as telling employees.

Newey and senior engineer Andy Cowell are understood to have travelled to Japan to work directly with Honda in Sakura, where vibration testing is ongoing using a full monocoque rig.

The crisis unfolds against the backdrop of broader Middle East instability, with a refinery operated by Aramco - a major Aston Martin sponsor and global fuel partner - briefly catching fire amid regional tensions, although Saudi authorities say operations have resumed.

For now, Aston Martin insists it will line up in Melbourne.

(GMM)
Featured

Ghana Petroleum Hub to create 700,000 jobs - CEO Tony Aubynn courts Civil Society backing

Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 04 - 2026 , 16:12

The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr Toni Aubynn, has reaffirmed the governments commitment to developing the Ghana Petroleum Hub as a transformative industrial project, insisting that its long-term success will depend as much on transparency and inclusion as on engineering and financing.

Speaking at a strategic engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Accra on March 4, 2026, Dr Aubynn described the Petroleum Hub as a flagship national investment intended to reposition Ghana as a regional energy security corridor while delivering broad-based economic benefits.

The meeting, held under the theme Advancing Ghanas Energy Future through Dialogue, Accountability and Collaboration, marked what he called the beginning of a more structured partnership between the corporation and civil society actors.

Building trust a round a flagship project

In his opening remarks, Dr Aubynn stressed that public trust would be decisive in determining the projects trajectory.

We at PHDC hold the view, that no major national infrastructure project can succeed without public trust, transparency, and continuous engagement with the people it is meant to serve. As such, your presence is something we take very seriously.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience in Ghanas extractive sector, he warned that infrastructure projects often falter not because of technical shortcomings but because stakeholders are sidelined.

Projects do not fail because of engineering or financing alone. They fail when communities are not heard, when stakeholders are excluded, when social and environmental concerns are treated as secondary issues, and when policy decisions are not in sync with the central pillars of development.

He added: That is why todays engagement is not a formality. Rather, it is a deliberate step by PHDC to build a culture of openness and co-creation around the Petroleum Hub Project.

Positioning Ghana as an energy corridor

Dr Aubynn described the Petroleum Hub as one of the most ambitious industrial undertakings in Ghanas recent history, anchored on large-scale infrastructure designed to deepen value addition within the petroleum sector.

At its core, is a design to position this country as an energy security corridor, achieve petroleum price stability for citizens through our key infrastructure such as refineries, storage tanks, petrochemical plants and port infrastructure at Jomoro.

The integrated complex, located in the Western Region, is expected to combine refining, storage, petrochemical and port operations within a single coordinated framework capable of serving domestic and international markets.

By expanding refining capacity locally, the project aims to reduce Ghanas reliance on imported refined petroleum products while strengthening export potential and enhancing price stability.

Jobs, investment and industrial expansion

A major highlight of the project is its projected employment impact. Dr Aubynn indicated that estimates point to up to 700,000 jobs across the various phases of development and operations.

Ultimately, the Hub will create jobs for Ghanaians, attract investment, and expand our industrial base as a country.

Beyond direct employment, the initiative is expected to stimulate activity in construction, engineering, logistics, services and allied sectors, while opening opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises within the supply chain.

He, however, cautioned that ambition must be matched with responsible execution.

But ambition alone is not enough. Herein lies the real question: how do we build a Petroleum Hub that is economically viable, socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and beneficial to us and future generations?

Civil Society as accountability partners

Dr Aubynn underscored the role of CSOs in shaping development outcomes, positioning them not as adversaries but as accountability partners.

Civil Society Organisations play a central role in national development. You operate between the fine margins of policy and the people. You amplify community voices, interrogate public projects, and ensure that development is not just about macroeconomic figures, but about real human outcomes, protecting livelihoods and fairness.

He stated that the engagement had two key objectives: to deepen understanding of PHDCs mandate and project structure, and to gather feedback that would influence planning and implementation.

PHDC does not see CSOs as critics; instead, we view you as partners in accountability and sustainable development.

He acknowledged legitimate concerns around land use, environmental protection, livelihoods and governance transparency, noting that these issues were central to the projects success.

Aligning with global ESG standards

With the global oil and gas industry undergoing significant transformation, Dr Aubynn said investors and communities increasingly demand higher environmental, social and governance standards.

With your collaboration, PHDC is committed to aligning its operations with these global standards.

He cited rigorous environmental and social impact assessments, local content development, gender inclusion and transparent governance processes as key pillars of the framework.

We are building not just an infrastructure project, but a governance model for how strategic assets with transformative economic potential should be developed in the 21st century.

Reinforcing the emphasis on participatory governance, he added: Trust is not built through exclusion. It is built through inclusion and participatory dialogue.

He assured participants that stakeholder input would directly shape the projects evolution.

In view of this, I encourage you to speak freely today. Challenge our assumptions. Offer practical ideas. And hold us to high standards.

Long-term national investment

Dr Aubynn concluded by reiterating that the Petroleum Hub is more than a physical infrastructure project; it is a strategic instrument for diversifying revenue streams, strengthening energy security and anchoring long-term industrial growth.

We share a common goal: that this project must serve Ghanas economy and long-term public interest.
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Mexican drug lord 'El Mencho' buried in golden coffin

bbc.com International News Mar - 03 - 2026 , 22:08 2 minutes read

Infamous Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho", was buried in a golden casket by his family on Monday.

The cartel leader died after being wounded in a firefight between his bodyguards and Mexican special forces personnel deployed to capture him in late February.

The 59-year-old founder of the feared Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was the country's most-wanted man, while the US had offered a $15m (11.2m) reward for information leading to his arrest.

His death triggered widespread retaliatory violence in which cartel members set fire to vehicles and blockaded roads across 20 Mexican states.

Members of the National Guard were out in force to prevent fresh violence from breaking out during the colourful funeral near Guadalajara in Jalisco state, a stronghold for the cartel.

Large floral tributes were seen being carried into the funeral home ahead of the ceremony, including one shaped like a rooster in a reference to his love of cockfighting.

According to AFP news agency, five lorries were needed to take all the tributes to the cemetery, most of which had been sent anonymously.

The funeral procession was accompanied by a band playing ranchero music and narcocorridos - songs praising drug lords.

The traditional song El Muchacho Alegre (The Cheerful Boy) was played as Oseguera's gold-coloured coffin arrived at a chapel located inside the cemetery grounds, local media reported.

After an hour-long ceremony, the mourners - many of whom concealed their identities using face masks - followed the coffin as it was carried to the grave.

Mexican media noted that the plot was relatively plain compared with those of other drug lords, which are often topped by large mausoleums.

Under Oseguera's leadership, the CJNG became a powerful transnational criminal organisation which spread from its stronghold in Jalisco into many other Mexican states, where it engages in drug production and trafficking.

Oseguera's killing by Mexican special forces has been seen as a victory for President Claudia Sheinbaum's government, which has come under increasing pressure by her US counterpart Donald Trump to do more to combat drug trafficking.

But there have been fears that the vacuum left behind by the powerful cartel leader could trigger a surge in violence in the short term, as different factions within the criminal group - which is estimated to have tens of thousands of members - fight for control.
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UK rapper who escaped custody twice before deportation to Ghana re-arrested in France

GraphicOnline International News Mar - 04 - 2026 , 05:59 2 minutes read

A drill rapper who was due to be deported to Ghana after serving a prison sentence in the United Kingdom has been arrested in France following a dramatic double escape from police custody.

Daniel Boakye, 21, who performs under the name Dsavv, was detained on Monday evening in La Bouexiere in Brittany, north-western France, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Boakye had been serving a sentence at HMP Feltham for robbery and was awaiting removal to Ghana at the end of his custodial term. However, while under police supervision for medical treatment, he escaped twice within the space of a week.

He initially fled from West Middlesex University Hospital last month but was recaptured the following day. Days later, on 15 February, he was taken under guard to Lewisham Hospital in south-east London for further treatment, where he managed to escape again.

Investigators believe he was subsequently smuggled out of the United Kingdom in a lorry. His disappearance triggered a cross-border manhunt involving British and French authorities.

In the days after his second escape, Boakye appeared to taunt police in a video circulated online. The clip showed a performer rapping in front of a news report about the escape, declaring: "I just broke out of jail like Modie", a reference to a character in the Netflix series Top Boy.

His arrest followed a joint operation involving the Metropolitan Police, the National Crime Agency and French law enforcement partners.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed his detention in France and indicated that steps were being taken to return him to British custody.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Arrangements are now underway to return him to custody in the UK."

Boakyes case has drawn attention both for the audacity of his escapes and for the immigration dimension, as he had been scheduled for deportation to Ghana upon completion of his sentence. Authorities have not disclosed when removal proceedings will resume, but his capture clears the way for the UK to proceed with both his return to prison and the pending deportation process.
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US father who gifted gun to teenage school shooter convicted of murder

BBC Life Mar - 04 - 2026 , 09:03 4 minutes read

The father of a teenage boy accused of killing four people in a shooting rampage at a high school in the US state of Georgia has been found guilty of murder, child cruelty and other charges.

Colin Gray, 55, pleaded not guilty to all 29 charges against him stemming from the 2024 attack that left two teachers and two students dead in Winder, Georgia.

His prosecution marks the third time that a US parent has been held criminally responsible for a mass shooting carried out by their child, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

Prosecutors argued Gray was "the one person who could have prevented" the shooting by his 14-year-old son, because he knew he "was a bomb just waiting to go off".

The attack at Apalachee High School outside the city of Atlanta claimed the lives of Christian Angulo, 14, Mason Schermerhorn, 14, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

His son, Colt Gray, is currently awaiting trial for the shooting.

During the trial, the jury heard how Colin Gray had bought his son an AR-style rifle for Christmas the year before the attack, even though the boy had been questioned by police just seven months earlier about online threats to commit a school shooting.

Prosecutors argued he ignored numerous warning signs, including a notebook detailing how his son planned to kill students and teachers.

"After seeing sign after sign of his son's deteriorating mental state, his violence, his school-shooter obsession, the defendant had sufficient warning that his son was a bomb just waiting to go off," Barrow County Assistant District Attorney Patricia Brooks told jurors.

"And instead of disarming him, he gave him the detonator."

His lawyers attempted to shift blame to his son.

"This is the person who went into the high school and shot and killed four people he didn't even know and injured scores of others," his lawyer, Jimmy Barry, told jurors, referring to the boy.

"This is the person who needs to be punished. He made a conscious decision to do this - a secretive decision."

The jury deliberated for only about two hours, after the two-week trial. During the trial, Colin Gray took the stand to testify that he did not know his son would commit an attack.

Prosecutors outlined how the shooting allegedly occurred, describing how the boy carried the rifle on the school bus and how one of the young victims saved the lives of other pupils.

"Christian [Angulo] acted, and became a hero," prosecutor Patricia Brooks said.

"He attempted to push the shooter out of his classroom, and when he was shot, Christian's last act on this earth was to shut the door to his classroom to protect his friends."

According to US media in the courtroom, Colin Gray did not visibly react to hearing the verdict.

He now faces at least 30 years in prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Prior to the shooting, authorities had interviewed Colin Gray and his son after federal law enforcement received a tip.

The FBI said its National Threat Operations Center had alerted local police in May 2023 after receiving anonymous tips about "online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time".

The agency said that within 24 hours, investigators had determined that the threats originated in Georgia.

Sheriff's deputies interviewed the boy and his father, who "stated he had hunting guns in the house, but the subject did not have unsupervised access to them", the FBI said.

The suspect, who was 13 years old at the time, denied making the online threats and officials "alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the subject".

"At the time, there was no probable cause for an arrest or to take any additional law enforcement action on the local, state or federal levels," added the FBI statement.

Charges against the parents of a suspect in a school shooting are relatively new in the US, with at least two other cases being brought to trial recently.

In April 2024, the parents of a Michigan teenager who killed four students with a gun they had bought for him just days before the shooting were sentenced for their role in the attack.

James and Jennifer Crumbley were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.

The case was widely reported to be the first time the parents of a child who had carried out a mass shooting in the US were held criminally liable.
Excellence, discipline key to Ghanas future - Deputy Minister to awardees

Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Education Mar - 04 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, has urged outstanding Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates to view their academic success as a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the countrys development.

He said their excellence was not only a personal achievement but also part of the countrys broader investment in building a disciplined, skilled and capable future workforce.

Ghana is looking up to you. We are buying time. I mean, most of us are over 50-years-old. Yours is the present and the future, and we are looking up to you. And don't let anyone tell you that you are not capable.

You are as good as any person your age and at your level in any part of the world, he said.

Dr Apaak said this last Monday when 52 award-winning 2025 BECE candidates paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Education in Accra ahead of their national awards ceremony.

Encouragement

The awardees were selected from across the 16 regions, comprising students from public and private schools.

Among them were two visually impaired and two hearing impaired students, reflecting the inclusive nature of the selection process.

Dr Apaak urged the award-winning candidates not to rest on their oars, encouraging them to build on their academic success and pursue higher achievements with discipline and focus.

He said their recognition should mark the beginning of greater responsibility and sustained excellence in their educational journey.

So let me encourage you that what you have achieved should be the beginning.

Don't let it be the end.

Let me see you again after you have written your WASSCE. That would tell me that you didn't rest on your oares. You took advantage of this opportunity to build up, he said.

Shun hooliganism

Touching on recent concerns about indiscipline in some Senior High Schools (SHS), the deputy minister cautioned students against hooliganism and misconduct, warning that such behaviour would attract sanctions, including prosecution where necessary.

He stressed that the government was committed to enforcing discipline in schools to protect the integrity of the education system.

I know that you are here because you have good behaviour.

The minister has given us the marching orders and the President has given us his blessing that there must be discipline in our secondary schools.

So if you misconduct yourself, you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you may go to jail.

And also lose the opportunity to realise your dream through schoolwork, he stated.

Dr Apaak iterated key government interventions aimed at improving access to quality education and supporting teachers.

He mentioned initiatives to provide accommodation for teachers posted to rural and underserved communities, coupled with an additional 20 per cent allowance to motivate educators who accepted such postings.
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Ousted GCTU Vice-Chancellor heads to court over termination

Kweku Zurek Education Mar - 04 - 2026 , 16:57 3 minutes read

Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, the former Vice-Chancellor of the Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), has filed a writ at the Accra High Court challenging what he describes as an unlawful termination of his employment.

The suit, dated March 1, 2026, names four defendants: GCTU, Council Chairman Ing. Divine Kpetigo, Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Ebenezer Malcalm, and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

According to the statement of claim accompanying the writ, Professor Afoakwa was first appointed Vice-Chancellor in March 2021. In August 2024, the university extended his contract for a further four-year term, running from March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2029. He states that he accepted the offer and continued in the role.

The legal documents say that on February 3, 2026, Professor Afoakwa received a letter from the university instructing him to cease holding his position as Vice-Chancellor, with an alleged termination of his contract effective February 28, 2026. A further letter dated February 26, 2026 barred him from acting in the capacity of Vice-Chancellor.

His lawyers, Barfo Bonney & Associates, argue that at no point was their client notified of any breach of his contract, nor was he invited to any hearing to respond to allegations before his removal.

"Plaintiff says he has never been invited by the 1st and or the 2nd Defendants to a hearing and has never been heard in his defence regarding any allegation or breach of contract," the statement of claim reads.

Professor Afoakwa contends that the termination violates Section 9(24) of the Ghana Communication Technology University Act 2020 (Act 1022), which sets out a process of fair hearing. His lawyers also cite Article 19(13) of the 1992 Constitution, arguing these provisions must be complied with if the university desired to relieve him of his post.

"The arbitrary exercise of discretionary power by the 1st and 2nd Defendants seeking to purportedly terminate the Plaintiff's contract of employment without hearing the Plaintiff in relation to any allegation and or proving the Plaintiff's breach of a term of the contract between the Plaintiff, is simply unlawful," the statement of claim argues.

The writ further alleges that GTEC, by a letter dated March 2, 2026, confirmed its acquiescence in what the plaintiff describes as unlawful and detrimental conduct against his fundamental human rights to fair hearing and employment.

Among the seven reliefs being sought, Professor Afoakwa is asking the court to restrain the defendants from interfering with his employment pending the final determination of the case.

He seeks declarations that the purported termination of his employment as Vice-Chancellor is a nullity for want of due process, and that he has not been relieved of his position under the contract, which he maintains does not expire until 28th February 2029.

He is also seeking a declaration that the third defendant, Professor Malcalm, does not legitimately occupy the position of Vice-Chancellor, as his own tenure has never been lawfully terminated. Damages for distress, ridicule, humiliation and shame are also being sought, with quantum to be determined by the court.

The plaintiff argues that unless the court intervenes, the defendants will continue to subject him to public shame, interfere with his dignity, and throw the university into confusion and chaos, detracting from the welfare of students and institutional cohesion.

The writ was filed at the Accra High Court registry on March 1, 2026 and is yet to be served on the defendants. Upon service, they will have eight days to enter an appearance, failing which judgment could be entered against them in their absence.
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SLAMM Foundation, ISC2 graduate 4th cohort of Young Women in Tech programme

GraphicOnline Education Mar - 04 - 2026 , 06:33 4 minutes read

Slamm Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of indigenous technology services provider, Slamm Technologies, in partnership with ISC2, has graduated the fourth cohort of its flagship Young Women in Tech (YWIT) programme, marking another milestone in efforts to expand female participation in Africas fast-growing cybersecurity sector.

Twenty-two (22) young women completed the intensive two-week residential boot camp held at Fab Hub Ashanti in Kumasi, emerging with industry-relevant technical skills, structured mentorship experience and clear pathways toward internationally recognised cybersecurity certifications.

The programme was designed as a fully immersive experience. Participants began each day at 5:00 a.m. with physical training and team conditioning exercises, followed by daily orientation sessions and up to nine hours of cybersecurity instruction. The curriculum covered core security principles, risk management, network security fundamentals and professional ethics, alongside public speaking and career development modules. The training ran continuously for 14 days, including weekends.

The initiative responds to a widening talent and gender gap across Africas digital economy. Women account for just 13.5 percent of the cybersecurity workforce on the continent; the lowest regional share globally, despite near gender parity in many STEM graduation cohorts. At the same time, Africa faces a significant shortfall in trained cybersecurity professionals, with fewer than 300,000 practitioners serving a population of 1.4 billion people. Globally, an estimated 2.8 million cybersecurity roles remain unfilled.

Francisca Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of Slamm Foundation, described the programme as a deliberate intervention aimed at shifting long-term structural imbalances in the technology sector. This is not simply a graduation ceremony; it is a statement of intent. Each cohort represents a strategic investment in Africas digital resilience. When we speak about cybersecurity gaps, we are speaking about national security, economic stability and the protection of our digital future. Women must be central to that conversation, she said.

She added that the discipline-centred design of the boot camp is intentional. We do not separate technical competence from character development. The early mornings, the long training hours, the debates,they are structured to build confidence, resilience and leadership capacity. Our goal is not just to prepare participants for certification exams, but to prepare them for boardrooms, policy discussions and entrepreneurial ventures, she added.

Mrs. Boateng emphasised that the Foundation remains committed to scaling the initiative, stating: We are building a pipeline. Four cohorts in, the evidence is clear: when you give young women access, structure and high expectations, they exceed them. The future of Africas cybersecurity ecosystem will be shaped by programmes like this.

As ISC2 reaffirmed the organisations commitment to expanding access to globally recognised credentials, including the Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification, Slamm Foundation is supporting in discharging this mandate.

The closing ceremony featured a formal certificate presentation and a structured debate on emerging cybersecurity threats, data protection frameworks and ethical responsibilities in digital defence. The debate served as a practical assessment of participants analytical reasoning, policy awareness and communication skills.

The session was adjudicated by a three-member panel comprising Benedicta Boatemaa Afriyie, Team Lead at Cedafa Limited and BB Flava Foods; Ama Duncan, entrepreneur, author and founder of the Fabulous Woman Network; and Bernard Yaw Ashiadey, journalist with the Business & Financial Times.

One of the participant of the fourth cohort, speaking on behalf of her colleagues, reflected on the intensity of the experience. I entered this programme uncertain about my place in cybersecurity. Two weeks later, I leave with clarity and conviction. The structure was demanding, but it revealed strengths many of us did not know we possessed. We are not stepping into this industry quietly, we are stepping in prepared, she said.

She added that the residential format fostered both technical growth and peer support. The environment pushed us, but it also united us. We leave not only as graduates, but as a network.

Since its establishment in 2019, Slamm Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Slamm Technologies, has focused on building digital literacy and cybersecurity capacity across Ghana and the wider African region. The Foundation reports having trained more than 200,000 young people through initiatives including the One Million Campaign and the Nimde3 mobile learning platform, with a target of reaching one million beneficiaries within the decade.

ISC2, meanwhile, remains the worlds largest nonprofit membership association for cybersecurity professionals, with more than 600,000 certified members and associates worldwide. Its certification portfolio includes CISSP, SSCP, CCSP and Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), and its One Million Certified in Cybersecurity initiative seeks to broaden entry pathways into the profession globally.
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11 injured in head-on collision on the Cape CoastTakoradi Highway

Shirley Asiedu-Addo Mar - 04 - 2026 , 11:21 1 minute read

Eleven people sustained injuries when two vehicles collided at Eduagyei on the Cape CoastTakoradi Highway on Tuesday evening.

The injured comprised nine men and two women. No deaths were recorded.

The Central Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ADOII Abdul Wasiu Hudu, said the accident occurred at about 7:15 p.m. on March 3, 2026.

He explained that personnel from the Komenda Fire Station responded to a distress call and arrived at the scene at approximately 7:30 p.m.

According to ADOII Hudu, an Opel Astra with registration number WR 4860-13, travelling from Cape Coast towards Komenda, collided head-on with a Nissan minibus with registration number CR 1414-23, which was travelling in the opposite direction from Takoradi towards Cape Coast.

He said 10 passengers aboard the Nissan minibus were rescued by members of the community and transported to the Elmina Polyclinic before fire service personnel arrived.

Officers of the GNFS subsequently extricated the driver of the Opel Astra, who had been trapped in the wreckage, and handed him over to the National Ambulance Service for onward transfer to the Elmina Polyclinic.

The rescue team later cleared debris from the highway to restore the free flow of traffic and secure the scene.

ADOII Hudu said investigations were ongoing to establish the cause of the accident.
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Australia launches major climate-resilient agriculture push in Ghana with AUD76million investment

GraphicOnline Mar - 04 - 2026 , 08:16 2 minutes read

The Australian government has once again demonstrated its commitment to climate resilience and agriculture in Africa with the launch of the Africa-Australia Partnership.

The project, spearheaded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), was launched on February 24, 2026, with the aim of fostering agricultural innovation and research partnerships across Africa, with a particular focus on supporting smallholder farmers.

The partnership will provide funding and logistical support to help smallholder farmers adopt climate-resilient practices, strengthen women's participation and leadership in agriculture, and build AfricaAustralia research collaborations to enhance research capacity and drive innovation.

Speaking at the launch, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana Berenice Owen-Jones explained that Ghana has long been a focal point for ACIAR, explaining that the decision to establish an office in Ghana is intended to promote partnerships and contribute to climate resilience and food security.

She expressed strong conviction that the project will deliver transformative impact and bring substantial benefits to Ghanaian farmers.

Ghana has been on the radar of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research for a long time, and now the time has come. We have now set up an office here in Ghana for ACIAR. The purpose of that office is to encourage partnerships, build exchanges on scientific research for development, and focus on climate resilience, agriculture, and food security.

The project is focused on very practical and tangible outcomes and specifically targets smallholder farmers. This is where we believe we can make a real difference in Ghana, she said.

The Research Program Manager for the AfricaAustralia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture, Zita Ritchie, noted that funding and project prioritization will be guided by Ghanas national priorities.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crop Development Authority, Dr Andy Osei Okrah, expressed excitement, noting that the initiative will serve as a great boost for Ghanaian crop producers.

The six-year project, which commenced in 2024, will see the Australian government invest AUD76 million in supporting Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, and Nigeria.
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ECG invites Ghana Standards Authority to audit meters after prepaid customer complaints

GraphicOnline Mar - 03 - 2026 , 21:14 2 minutes read

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has formally requested the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to conduct an independent random test of its meters in both laboratory and field settings, following mounting concerns from prepaid customers about the accuracy of the company's billing systems.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the power distribution utility acknowledged the anxieties expressed by some consumers while defending the integrity of its metering infrastructure.

"All electricity meters deployed by ECG undergo rigorous testing and calibration to ensure their accuracy. Our quality assurance processes are aligned with both national and international standards," the statement signed by William Boateng, Director of Communications, read.

The company highlighted that its meter testing laboratory is state-of-the-art and comparable to leading facilities worldwide. It further noted that all ECG meters are independently tested and certified by the Ghana Standards Authority for compliance with approved standards before deployment.

Despite these assurances, the utility conceded that customers may have legitimate concerns requiring investigation.

"While ECG remains confident in the accuracy and reliability of its meters, we acknowledge that customers may have genuine concerns," the statement added.

The move follows a directive from the Honourable Minister for Energy and Green Transition, who has called for thorough investigations into customer complaints. ECG confirmed that these investigations have already commenced.

"In the spirit of transparency and accountability, ECG has once again formally requested the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to independently and randomly select and test our meters in the laboratory and in the field. GSA's report will form part of ECG's report to the Honourable Minister," the statement explained.

The development comes amid growing public discourse about electricity billing accuracy, with some prepaid customers taking to social media and radio platforms to express frustration over what they perceive as unusually high consumption readings. The situation has placed ECG under increased scrutiny from consumer protection advocates and regulatory authorities.

ECG sought to reassure the public of its commitment to addressing the concerns.

"ECG remains committed to responsive, transparent, and accountable service delivery, and we appreciate our valued customers and stakeholders for their continued support and cooperation," the company stated.

ECG has encouraged customers with concerns to channel them through official complaint mechanisms, which the company says will feed into the ongoing investigations.
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Ghana moves closer to first Marine Protected Area as 20 trained in Cape Coast

Shirley Asiedu-Addo Mar - 04 - 2026 , 16:28 3 minutes read

Twenty stakeholders have completed a five-day intensive course on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), aimed at strengthening capacity and deepening awareness on the management and sustainability of MPAs in Ghana.

Marine Protected Areas are designated and legally managed sections of the ocean, including reefs, bays and open waters, created to conserve natural resources, ecosystems and cultural heritage. They are designed to protect biodiversity, enhance fisheries through spillover effects and improve climate resilience.

The training comes at a critical time as Ghana prepares to declare its first-ever MPA at Greater Cape Three Points in the Western Region. Cabinet approved the establishment of the MPA in October 2025, following the completion of all required documentation.

Covering 700 square kilometres, the area is intended to protect vital breeding grounds for fish, whales and turtles. The MPA, expected to be formally declared in 2026, will focus on sustainable fishing practices and ecosystem restoration.

The course was organised by the Centre for Coastal Management at the African Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), University of Cape Coast (UCC), in partnership with the Ocean Country Partnership Programme under UK International Development.

It sought to build the capacity of relevant stakeholders on issues relating to the relevance, governance and long-term sustainability of MPAs.

Participants were taken through the fundamentals and global context of MPAs, their development and governance in Ghana, identification processes, regulatory and legal frameworks, as well as management planning and adaptive strategies.

They were also trained in monitoring and evaluation, performance indicators, Marine Spatial Planning and its integration with MPAs, stakeholder engagement, compliance and community participation.

The Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on the MPA said fisheries governance and compliance in the country remained weak and required collective effort to reverse declining fish stocks.

He described the MPA as an essential tool to support the recovery of fishery resources.

He disclosed that the TAC was inaugurated in May 2025 and had since developed the roadmap leading to the establishment of Ghanas first MPA. He expressed optimism that the formal declaration of the protected area would be expedited.

Dr Arize noted that Ghana had several potential sites that could qualify as MPAs but emphasised that successfully establishing the first one would provide valuable lessons and experience for future expansions.

In his remarks, the Acting Director of ACECoR, Prof. Precious Agbeko Mattah, reaffirmed the centres commitment to supporting the creation of MPAs to enhance marine conservation.

He observed that environmental challenges, particularly along the coast, had had a significant impact on communities and marine ecosystems. He stressed the need for education and awareness to enable stakeholders to appreciate the implications and contribute to sustainable environmental solutions.

He assured that the centre would collaborate with like-minded organisations in Ghana and beyond to build communities committed to environmental sustainability.

A research fellow at ACECoR and facilitator of the course, Dr Sika Abrokwah, said MPAs were critical to conserving Ghanas marine ecosystem and maximising gains within the fisheries sector.

For his part, the Deputy Director of Hen Mpoano, a non-governmental organisation focused on fisheries and coastal management, Mr Stephen Kankam, stated that the primary objective of the MPA was to conserve biodiversity and restore degraded ecosystems.

He said this would help rebuild fishery stocks and create a spillover effect that could positively impact dwindling catches. He added that the initiative could also boost tourism and generate economic gains for the country.

The participants pledged to apply the knowledge acquired to strengthen marine governance processes and contribute meaningfully to the implementation of Ghanas first Marine Protected Area.
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Afram Publications holds reading sessions at Theorose School to mark Mother Tongue Day

Akosua Darkoa Aninakwa Mar - 04 - 2026 , 13:45 3 minutes read

The Afram Publications Limited has marked this years International Mother Language Day with a reading session for pupils of the Theorose School in Accra.

The programme was aimed to encourage pupils and schools to embrace and take pride in reading and speaking their local languages.

Basic Two and Four pupils took part in the reading session and they read a storybook published by Afram Publications titled, Suma Went Walking in both Twi and Ga.

Facilitators assisted the pupils to go through the texts, then invited them to read selected passages aloud.

Although some pupils initially struggled with pronunciation, many gradually built their confidence and read fluently, to the applause of their classmates.

International Mother Language Day, celebrated globally on February 21, was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to promote linguistics, cultural diversity, and multilingual education.

The day emphasises the importance of mother tongue-based education, especially in the early years, as it improves understanding and academic performance.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Marketing at the Afram Publications Limited, Dr Kwabena Ekremet, said the programme was organised to help schoolchildren develop an interest in reading books written in Ghanaian languages and to encourage schools and parents to provide them with such books.

We have so many languages in Ghana, yet we turn to focus mainly on foreign languages. Our local languages are very important because they connect us and help us identify with our culture, he said.

He noted that language could instantly connect people, foster a sense of identity and build connections even in unfamiliar environments and across borders.

I once travelled outside Ghana and met someone in a place where I did not expect to meet a Ghanaian. When she saw me, she greeted me in my local language. When I responded, we both got excited. The connection reminded me of how powerful language is, he recounted.

Dr Ekremet added that the company selected schools that regularly patronise its books to host the programme each year, and this year, the Theorose School was fortunate to host the event.

The school patronises our storybooks. So we thought it was a good idea to come here and hold this programme. From what I am seeing, they are becoming interested in our local language books as well, he added.

Suma Went Walking , the storybook used for the reading session, has been published in English, French, Ga, Twi, and Ewe, while the Dagari and Dagbani versions are available online.

As part of the celebration, Afram Publications donated copies of the storybook to the school and pledged to supply additional books free of charge.
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Baba Jamal wins Ayawaso East Constituency seat

Samuel Duodu Mar - 04 - 2026 , 12:22 3 minutes read

Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) completed a comeback to Parliament as he clinched the Ayawaso East Constituency seat with an emphatic victory in yesterday's by-election.

As of the time of going to press around 10:30 pm, more almost six hours after polls closed, the former Akwatia Member of Parliament (2012-2016) had polled a little over 63 per cent of the total votes cast to retain the seat for the incumbent government.

His closest contender, Yussif Baba Ali of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) secured about 23 per cent of the valid votes cast.

The candidate, who left his ambassadorial appointment as Ghanas envoy to Nigeria, sailed through in line with forecasts, retaining the seat which has traditionally been a safe seat for the NDC.

Two independent candidates, Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Sanda, who broke ranks with the NDC to stand on his own, and David Kannor, as well as Ibrahim Iddrisu, who stood on the ticket of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), together managed about 13 per cent of the valid votes cast.

The incident-free election recorded a low voter turnout with a heavy police presence.

Officials of the EC collating results

Baba Jamal, until recently Ghana's High Commissioner to Nigeria, stirred controversy recently during the partys parliamentary primary, which was dogged by allegations of vote-buying.

He, however, brushed aside the personal battles, which included having to answer questions from the Office of the Special Prosecutor and his party over the allegations of vote-buying.

Such was it that even when his constituency executive defied party instructions to stage a claim for the seat, Mr Jamal Ahmed still held his own in the five-man contest, winning comfortably in a constituency that has shown support to the NDC over the years.

Voter turnout was low as is the case in all by-elections, but more so happening in a Muslim-dominated constituency during Ramadan fast. Analysts say the Ramadan fasting also impacted not only on the turnout, but also accounted largely for the very peaceful exercise.

It was significant that the emotive exercise had been without a case of violence of note. Ayawaso East recorded nasty incidents involving ammunition during campaigning for the 2024 elections, as supporters of the major parties had violent clashes in broad daylight.

Yesterday, it was to the credit of all stakeholders as the new culture of peace around elections earned one more feather.

Adorned in an all-white caftan, grey embroidery with his wife and party supporters by his side, Baba Jamal waited calmly at the St Kizito Roman Catholic Church at Nima Roundabout where results from the 113 polling stations were collated and declared.

His closest contender, Yussif, congratulated Baba Jamal on his victory even before the Electoral Commission declared him the ultimate winner.

Although the results are not in I accept the outcome of the election in good faith. I congratulate my brother, Baba Jamal, on putting up a good fight and emerging victorious, he told journalists.

Yussif, however, pledged to remain vocal and keep the MP and the governing party on its toes.
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Ghana signs three agreements with St Kitts and Nevis under Accra Reset initiative

Mohammed Ali Mar - 04 - 2026 , 13:30 3 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has signed three agreements with the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Michael Drew, covering healthcare, labour, visa-free travel and diplomatic relations.

The agreements were concluded at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, following a closed-door meeting between the two leaders and subsequent bilateral talks involving senior officials from both countries.

The memoranda of understanding provide for a formal political consultation mechanism between the two governments, a visa exemption arrangement for holders of ordinary passports, and a labour agreement to regulate the recruitment of Ghanaian medical professionals by St Kitts and Nevis.

Speaking at the opening of the bilateral session, President Mahama said the partnership formed part of his administrations Accra Reset Initiative, which seeks to reposition Ghanas engagement with global partners.

Under the Accra Reset Initiative, I have been leading such a charge to translate our sovereignty into execution, investments, and shared prosperity, he said. We must be united, we must mobilise our common resolve, and we must develop our nations for the benefit of our own people.

The President also addressed global power relations, urging African countries to remain alert to actions that may undermine their interests.

Some are bold to speak of a new form of colonisation of resources that will enable them to sustain a Western civilisation that serves their kind. As Africans, we cannot be ignorant of the devices of those who seek to work against our interests or who would want to put divisions in our midst as one global African family, he said.

The discussions covered health, tourism, reparations and visa arrangements, with both delegations making submissions in each area.

Under the labour agreement, St Kitts and Nevis has been added as a destination under Ghanas Caribbean health worker deployment programme, which allows for the structured recruitment of Ghanaian medical professionals.

On reparations, President Mahama, who serves as the African Union Champion for Reparations, is expected to present a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly later this month. The resolution seeks recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity. Ghanas Special Envoy on Reparations, Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah, was present at the bilateral talks.

Prime Minister Drew, who chairs CARICOM, said his government supports the reparations agenda.

The question of reparatory justice remains a global conversation not simply about compensation, but about recognition, repair, and the restructuring of global systems that were built on exploitation, he said. Reparations are about restoring dignity, creating equitable opportunities, a gateway for deeper Africa-Caribbean engagement.

Tourism also featured in the discussions. Dr Drew is expected to visit the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra. He will also travel to Cape Coast to visit the Cape Coast Castle, where he will be received by local authorities.

He is scheduled to attend Ghanas 69th Independence Day anniversary on March 6, 2026, as part of his five-day visit.
Featured

NCA moves to scrap NGICs 5G licence exclusivity in policy shift

Kweku Zurek Mar - 04 - 2026 , 13:58 4 minutes read

Ghanas 5G landscape could soon open up to full competition after the National Communications Authority (NCA) issued a Notice of Proposed Licence Amendment to Next-Gen Infraco (NGIC), seeking to remove the 5G exclusivity clause in the companys licence.

In a press release dated March 4, 2026, the regulator said the action was being taken pursuant to Section 14 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775).

If confirmed, the amendment would end NGICs exclusive rights in the 5G space and potentially allow other operators to deploy the technology independently.

The NCA stated that the proposed amendment was in the public interest and aimed at Promoting competition and innovation in the provision of 5G services; Enhancing consumer choice and service quality; Accelerating nationwide digital transformation; and Ensuring optimal and efficient use of spectrum as a national resource.

Under the law, the amendment will take effect 90 days from the date of the notice unless, after considering representations from the licensee within the statutory notice period, the Authority determines otherwise.

The NCA stressed that the process followed due procedure and was consistent with its mandate to regulate communications services in the national interest.

The proposed change comes at a pivotal moment for NGIC, which in a recent statement said it had received clearance from the regulator to commence full commercial operations as Ghanas wholesale 4G and 5G infrastructure provider. It said the approval followed technical inspections confirming compliance with its Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure Licence.

NGIC has so far deployed 49 operational 5G sites nationwide, with 43 located in Greater Accra and the remainder distributed across the Ashanti, Western, Northern, Bono and Central regions. The network is already live in selected parts of Accra, Kumasi and Tamale under what has been described as Ghanas wholesale-first model, in which NGIC builds and operates the shared radio and core infrastructure while mobile network operators provide retail services.

The Chief Executive Officer of NGIC, Tenu Awoonor, described the companys operational launch as a transition from vision to implementation. "Today, Ghana moves from 5G ambition to 5G execution. The shared backbone is commercially active and positioned to scale," he said. "This structure allows infrastructure investment to be coordinated nationally while preserving innovation and competition at the retail layer."

He added that achieving the governments target of 70 per cent 5G population coverage by Ghanas 70th Independence Anniversary would require discipline and coordination. "Achieving 70 percent coverage within the Ghana @ 70 timeframe demands coordination and long-term discipline. The shared architecture ensures investment is directed toward expanding reach rather than duplicating infrastructure."

The Chief Operating Officer, Nenyi George Andah, said the companys focus had shifted firmly to expansion. "The backbone is active. The framework is clear. The responsibility now is executionscaling coverage in a coordinated and sustainable manner." He defended the wholesale model, noting that "It enables faster national reach and more efficient capital deployment."

Technology partner Nokia also affirmed its role in the rollout. Mustapha Salah, Head of Central West and East Africa, Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: "Nokia is proud to partner with NGIC in Ghana as a technology partner to introduce the countrys first neutral-host (shared) 4G/5G network. This wholesale network model, provided by NGIC, enables all mobile operators in Ghana with a smart and prudent approach to bring high-speed data to consumers, while bringing in new service models to the enterprise segment. With a future-ready architecture underpinned by advanced security, the new shared mobile broadband network will drive socio-economic growth and bridge the digital divide in the coming years in Ghana."

However, the regulatory notice also disclosed that NGIC is in default of a licence fee instalment payment under the agreed schedule forming part of its licence conditions. The NCA indicated that it was addressing the matter in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions.

The twin developments  a potential removal of 5G exclusivity and concerns over fee compliance  signal a critical juncture for Ghanas evolving telecoms market. While NGICs wholesale model remains central to national broadband ambitions, the regulators proposed amendment suggests a recalibration designed to deepen competition and maximise the strategic use of spectrum as a national resource.
Featured

No Ghanaian casualties in Middle East conflict  Foreign Ministry

Kweku Zurek Mar - 04 - 2026 , 05:47 2 minutes read

No Ghanaian has been killed or injured in the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, Mr Ablakwa said he had convened a virtual meeting with Ghanas Ambassadors and Consuls-General in the Middle East to review the situation and strengthen protective measures for Ghanaian nationals in the region.

I am glad to report that so far no Ghanaian has been killed or injured, he stated.

The emergency meeting brought together Heads of Mission for Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Turkey. According to the Minister, the discussions focused on assessing the latest developments and exploring additional consular interventions.

This evening, I convened a virtual meeting with our Ambassadors and Consuls General in the Middle East to assess the latest developments and explore additional consular interventions towards the protection of Ghanaians, he wrote.

Mr Ablakwa disclosed that the Ministry had compiled a comprehensive database of Ghanaians living in or travelling through the affected countries. We have put together a reliable database of all Ghanaians in these countries including those who were on short visits and those who were transiting, he said.

He added that all Ghanaian missions in the region had been directed to identify citizens who wished to be evacuated. All missions have been tasked to identify Ghanaians within their jurisdictions who wish to be evacuated for the urgent consideration of government, he noted.

In addition, he revealed that diplomatic missions were already facilitating safe passage for some nationals. Meanwhile, our diplomatic missions are currently assisting a considerable number of Ghanaians escape across certain strategic border crossings, he said.

The safety and welfare of all Ghanaians remains our utmost priority, the Minister emphasised, concluding with, For God and Country .

The reassurances come against the backdrop of an intensifying conflict that began on February 28, 2026, following a joint large-scale offensive by US and Israeli forces against Iran. The confrontation has since led to retaliatory missile and drone attacks across parts of the Middle East, heightening security concerns for foreign nationals in the region.

Ghanas Foreign Affairs Ministry says it will continue to monitor developments closely while coordinating with its diplomatic missions to safeguard Ghanaian citizens.
Featured

NDC retains Ayawaso East as Baba Jamal returns to Parliament

GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 04 - 2026 , 05:19 3 minutes read

Alhaji Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has won the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election, retaining the seat for his party with a decisive margin.

Official results released by the Electoral Commission of Ghana showed that Baba Jamal secured 10,884 votes, representing 63 per cent of valid ballots cast. His closest contender, Baba Ali Yussif of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), obtained 4,009 votes, while Ibrahim Iddrisu of the Liberal Party of Ghana polled 43 votes.

Two independent candidates, Umar Sanda Mohammed and David Akonor, garnered 1,885 and 104 votes, respectively.

Out of 17,048 ballots cast across 113 polling stations, 16,928 were valid, with 120 rejected ballots. The constituency has 49,966 registered voters, reflecting a low voter turnout.

The by-election was organised to fill the vacancy created by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Naser Toure Mahama, in January 2026.

The poll, conducted on March 3, was generally peaceful. Security personnel were deployed early to polling centres in Nima, Maamobi, Accra New Town and surrounding communities to maintain order. Police officers were stationed at strategic points, while patrol teams monitored activities throughout the day.

Supporters of Baba Jamal gathered at the forecourt of the collation centre ahead of the official declaration to celebrate what had already appeared to be a comfortable lead.

Speaking after he was declared winner, the MP-elect dedicated the victory to his family and constituents. I dedicate this win to my 90-year-old mother Mimi and the people of Ayawaso East. This victory is for the people of Ayawaso East, he said.

He pledged to focus on development in the constituency. I want to assure the people of Ayawaso East that the resetting starts now. I am here to help rebrand Nima, he added.

Earlier, Baba Ali Yussif conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent, but argued that the turnout reflected disaffection among voters. The people have spoken and well take it in good faith, he said, while suggesting that the NPP could capture the seat in future contests.

Baba Jamal, born on May 7, 1969, at Akwatia in the Eastern Region, is a lawyer and a senior member of the NDC. He studied at the University of Ghana and was called to the Ghana Bar in 2015. He previously served as Member of Parliament for Akwatia from January 2013 to January 2017 and held a deputy ministerial position during the first term of President John Dramani Mahama.

In 2025, he was appointed Ghanas High Commissioner to Nigeria but was later recalled in 2026 over allegations of voter inducement during constituency primaries, claims that were subsequently found to be unfounded.

His victory marks a return to Parliament after nine years and extends the NDCs hold on Ayawaso East, a constituency the party has controlled since 1992. Baba Jamal is expected to be sworn in at the next sitting of Parliament by the Speaker, Alban Bagbin.
Cold Stone Creamery Guam is turning up the island flavor just in time for Mes CHamoru with three new, limited-time creations inspired by the islands rich culinary heritage, handcrafted the Cold Stone way to launch on March 4, the company said in a media release.

Known for its premium ice cream made fresh daily and mixed on a frozen granite stone, Cold Stone Creamery is honoring local traditions through a special collaboration with the islands legendary Titas Guguria.

This partnership celebrates culture, community, and the coconut, the islands beloved Tree of Life.

Coconut is the heart of guguria, said Genevieve Leon Guerrero, daughter of Maria Tita Leon Guerrero, founder of Titas Guguria. Its a nice way of modernizing and seeing guguria used in other areas of sweets. They are excited about the partnership in celebration of Mes CHamoru.

The Mes CHamoru flavor collection:

Guguria Ice Cream. A sweet tribute to tradition, this creation features Cold Stone Creamerys signature creamy ice cream mixed with Titas Guguria, a cherished local treat. Made from coconut, a symbol of sustenance and sustainability on the island, this flavor is rich, nostalgic, and full of island heart.

A sweet tribute to tradition, this creation features Cold Stone Creamerys signature creamy ice cream mixed with Titas Guguria, a cherished local treat. Made from coconut, a symbol of sustenance and sustainability on the island, this flavor is rich, nostalgic, and full of island heart. Coconut Candy Ice Cream. Smooth, indulgent coconut ice cream packed with chewy coconut candy pieces for the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy. Its a celebration of one of Guams most treasured ingredients.

Smooth, indulgent coconut ice cream packed with chewy coconut candy pieces for the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy. Its a celebration of one of Guams most treasured ingredients. Pickled Mango Sorbet. A bold island twist. Sweet meets tangy in this refreshing sorbet inspired by one of Guams favorite mom-and-pop snacks. Bright, vibrant, and bursting with flavor, its a true taste of the tropics.

Cold Stone Creamery Guam said these flavors bring local favorites to the signature Cold Stone experience of premium ice cream, handcrafted, and made fresh daily.

These exclusive island-inspired creations are available for a limited time only, making this the perfect opportunity to celebrate Mes CHamoru with a scoop or two of something uniquely Guam, the company added.
A draft investigation plan for dieldrin found at Andersen Air Force Base is now in the hands of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, but the regulator and the military wont release details until the plan is finalized and approved.

Meanwhile, theres still dieldrin in active military wells tested recently. However, the dieldrin levels are below the interim action level set by Guam EPA, and is safe to drink, Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. Brett Mietus said in a Wednesday statement, following this quarters testing of all active water wells and sources on JRM installations.

Guam EPA is also taking steps to look for sources outside the fence for the cancer-linked pesticide found in Guam water, according to agency Administrator Michelle Lastimoza.

According to Lastimoza, the investigation plan sent by JRM for Andersen is marked as controlled unclassified information, and contains sensitive information that restricts Guam EPAs distribution of the document.

The plan, sent last Friday, is procurement-sensitive and still requires approval from Guam EPA and the commander of Naval Installations Command, according to JRM spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Kristina Wiedemann.

Once the scope of work is approved by all parties, a press release will be provided, Wiedemann stated in an email.

Guam EPA science advisor Capt. Elizabeth DeGrange, the lead on the dieldrin investigation, said the draft is not yet an actionable plan.

DeGrange indicated she will be off-island until March 28, and will be discussing the matter with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in-person over the next couple of weeks.

Once the plan is finalized and approved, well work with DoD on releasing information as appropriate, she told the Pacific Daily News.

New test results from JRM

According to Mietus Wednesday statement, two tests on military installations this quarter came back with detectable levels of dieldrin that were 15 times lower than the 0.2 parts per billion, ppb, level where Guam EPA considers increased cancer risk unacceptable.

Those tests were for:

A well at the Skaggs Urban Training Complex, formerly the Andersen South housing area on Route 15, with dieldrin at 0.011 ppb.

A combined water distribution system entry point test by Building 1350 at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, at 0.012 ppb.

All other tests came back non-detect, meaning no dieldrin was detected, according to Mietus.

A monitoring map from JRMs September diledrin tests show that several water wells at Andersen are included in the testing, and were likewise non-detect at the time.

Maintaining the safety of our Guam community, both civilian and military, remains our top priority, Mietus said in a statement.

He stated that quarterly water sample results are provided to Guam EPA, and JRM will notify the public if sample levels rise above the 0.2 ppb level.

As the PDN reported last week, US EPA documents show the cancer-linked chemical is in the soil at four areas associated with the Andersen base, a highly contaminated Super Fund cleanup site.

Dieldrin was noted among chemicals of concern since at least 1993.

Yigo residents living near highly contaminated well Y-15 at a town hall last week believe housing construction work at the base as the source of contamination.

Hundreds are filing claims for up to $500,000 against Guam EPA and the Guam Waterworks Authority over exposure to the chemical.

Guam EPA has not concluded that Andersen is the source of contamination found in high concentrations at the GWA well Y-15 in Yigo, and at lower levels in 88 wells around Guam.

Guam EPAs Lastimoza on Monday noted that besides Andersen, any housing or building area built prior to 1990, and legal or illegal dump sites are being eyed as potential sources for contamination in Yigo.

Dieldrin was banned in the 1980s, but old housing areas may have been sprayed with the pesticide.

Lastimoza said Guam EPA is working with JRM and anticipates going out to bid for further dieldrin sampling in the coming months.

According to US EPA records, dieldrin is a chemical of concern in soils at the following areas associated with Andersen:

The old landfill and waste piles at the main base

The old Marbo Annex, which included the Andersen South housing area, now the Skaggs training complex.

Basewide miscellaneous

Site 6, 9, 12

Notably, GWA water well M-4, near Marbo Cave in Mangilao, previously had levels of dieldrin considered unacceptable by Guam EPA. It was shut down by the waterworks authority last October, pending installation of a treatment system.

GWA Well D-17, near the Northern Region Community Health Center, was cut off last July over high levels of dieldrin. The Dededo well is likewise waiting for treatment.

Next steps

Lastimoza told the PDN that Guam EPA has requested quotes from several laboratories, and is waiting for responses.

She stated that the agency already has approval to use grant funds for dieldrin sampling, shipping, and testing.

She said the regulator is working with the Department of Agriculture to determine the best sampling locations and types for the pesticide, and on sample collection efforts.

We must reach out to some commercial farms to evaluate their willingness to participate, and also evaluate authorities to sample if farmers are unwilling, she said.

Guam EPA has roughly 270 Guam fish tissue samples in Maryland, and are working to get them to an appropriate lab for testing. That timeline will depend on procurement, according to Lastimoza.
The number of conservation officers protecting everything from wildlife to livestock will nearly triple once an officer apprenticeship program wraps up this April, Department of Agriculture Director Chelsa Muna told senators during a Wednesday oversight hearing.

Manpower will go from six to 16 as apprentices become full-fledged officers, she said, with another eight civilian conservation reservists or weekend warriors on hand to help.

Muna said the Conservation Law Enforcement Division costs about $500,000 to run annually, between salaries and equipment costs. It is facing about a $200,000 shortfall for fiscal year 2026.

The issue arose after moving conservation officer apprentice salaries from federal American Rescue Plan funding onto local funds, according to Muna.

She said ARP funds were terminated in the middle of the previous fiscal year, at the same time that the agencys administrative services officer was out of the workforce due to medical reasons.

We moved them on to the General Fund, considering that we would have lapses for other personnel that we had not hired at the time or that were in-process, she said. But what it has done this fiscal year has caused us to be in roughly $200,000 shortfall.

Were still trying to figure out how to navigate and get through the rest of the fiscal year, she added.

Upon questioning from Vice Speaker Tony Ada, Muna said the agency has about $386,000 in unspent, lapsed funds from prior fiscal years.

Ada said he would work with law enforcement oversight chairman Sen. Shawn Gumataotao on how to protect those officers positions.

More officers still needed

Bumping up to 16 conservation officers in April will bring manpower not seen for decades, Muna said, and up from the five officers seen back in fiscal year 2024.

But she said its still not enough officers to enforce the islands conservation laws, and keep up with the various tasks that officers also help with.

Although it sounds promising...thats still nowhere near the capacity we need to truly be able to provide effective conservation law enforcement, Muna said.

Officers are responsible for enforcing hunting and fishing regulations daily on over 80 miles of seashore, not to mention thousands of acres of jungles and government lands, she said.

Muna also said officers end up assisting with a number of other jobs, like assisting the agriculture departments animal control section with investigations of animal cruelty.

Theyve also taken to doing drive-by patrols of local farms to fight theft of livestock and crops, a crime thats been increasingly common in the past several years, as well as arson investigations.

The Guam Police Department also frequently taps conservation officers for help because of their skills.

Muna pointed to a shooting in Talofofo last summer.

Conservation officers were called and requested to support because they have the training to go into the forest and conduct investigations during the manhunts, she said.

Likewise, she said conservation officers were the first to find vessels abandoned by Chinese nationals entering Guam illegally from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The problem was first publicly reported in 2022 and has continued to be a concern.

She said prior to her coming onboard in 2019, they were always operating at a deficit financially, and capacity-wise. Theyve only been able to start capacity building to meet the divisions mandates in recent years.
A high surf advisory remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan until 4 p.m. Thursday.

Large breaking waves of 8 to 10 feet are expected for north-facing reefs of the Marianas, the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Guam said.

Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion are expected.

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.

Rip currents

A high risk of rip currents remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan through Thursday afternoon.

Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from the shore into deeper water.

If caught in a rip current, do not swim against the current. Swim in a direction following the shoreline, face the shore and call or wave for help.

For the latest advisory information, visit:
A woman accused of trying to steal items from a retail store faces more serious charges after she reportedly hit an employee in the head while leaving the shop, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court.

Sandralena Bernice Sablan Cepeda, 35, was charged Tuesday with third-degree robbery and aggravated assault as third-degree felonies, reckless conduct as a misdemeanor and assault as a misdemeanor.

On Sunday, police were called to the New Morning Mart in Talofofo, where a worker told them she went after a womanlater identified as Cepedasuspected of stealing items from the store.

She confronted Cepeda, and the two began to struggle.

Witnesses told police Cepeda reportedly overpowered the worker, hitting her in the head with a bag containing a metal water bottle, according to the complaint.
One of my last acts before I retired after having served as director of the Bureau of Womens Affairs for seven years was to provide doula services for an 11-year-old girl.

The BWA Guahan Doula Project was instituted because no other agency or entity provides doula training on the island. Its goal is to help marginalized women (and unfortunately in this instance, a child) who are pregnant and having difficulty accessing prenatal care to get some education and assistance about how to have a healthy pregnancy.

BWA received two grants for our doula projectone from Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero, who bravely stepped up to the plate after the 37th Legislature chickened out of funding a proposed bill for the project in the wake of false information and threats of not voting for them about a month before the 2024 election, and one from the Guam Economic Development Authority, GEDA.

Both grants provided for doula training, information about how doulas can help women have healthier pregnancies, and outreach. I used some of the outreach funding to provide doula services to females who really needed these services, including this young girl. (Authorities are, I am told, pursuing her rapist.)

Doula training, outreach, and services are not in the BWA mandate per se, but they are a needed service that is proven to help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, which are high on Guam.

And BWAs mandate does include widening access of persons of both genders to all positions and aspects of the community. Doula care is a needed aspect of the community.

So to anyone vying for any of the upcoming elected officesif you are going to go after the mission of the Bureau of Womens Affairs as a campaign issue, pick a different issue.

At least one potential candidate thinks BWA should only be a policy agency, with a policy division, legal analysts and research staff. In a perfect world, BWA would love to have a policy division.

According to its enabling legislation, Public Law 21-23, BWA is mandated not just to formulate policies to eliminate gender discrimination (these policies currently exist within the government and private sector and have for quite some time), but to also review any current and proposed legislation that it feels is not fair to women and/or marginalized citizens, and work with lawmakers to improve bills or amend current legislation, among other things.

BWA has and continues to do that.

P.L. 36-66, the Period Poverty Act of 2021, was the result of BWA research into the issue of period poverty on the islandthe fact that girls werent going to school because they didnt have access to menstrual products.

We shared our research with the Guam Youth Congress, which drafted legislation that the Legislature passed and which Gov. Leon Guerrero signed into law.

Same with P.L. 36-26, the Women in Business Act, which gives a slight procurement advantage to SBA-designated women-owned small businesses, and which BWA worked with the Guam Womens Chamber of Commerce to draft.

Additionally, BWA was instrumental in the drafting and passage of P.L. 36-58, which court-orders rape suspects to undergo HIV testing so the victim can be informed if she (or he) has to undergo treatment.

The Bureau has also supported former Sen. Mary Torres Rape Survivor Child Custody Act. This law terminates the parental rights of a convicted rapist to a child conceived by the rape, but not the rapists responsibility to provide for the child. This law resulted in the BWA being able to receive more federal funding for needed services for victims/survivors of sexual assault.

BWA also has supported pregnancy fairness legislation authored by Sen. Tina Muna-Barnes and the rules governing that law, authored by Sen. Telo Taitague, in addition to myriad legislation increasing the penalties for sexual assault of minors and incapacitated victims, and other legislation that benefits women and marginalized citizens.

Under its widen access mandate, BWA instituted its I Ninametgot Famalaoan High School Completion Scholarship program for women who dropped out because they got pregnant or had to help their families financially.

A 2025 executive order absorbed the former Governors Community Outreach Federal Program Office back into BWA. The office handled federal Office of Violence Against Women grants for several decades after Gov. Carl Gutierrez separated the grants from the BWA because of a personnel issue.

So BWA now also handles and applies for OVW grants to provide funding to agencies and nonprofits that work with victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking, so that they can pick up the pieces of their lives and move on.

Clearly, this is a womans issue although by no means are women the only victims of sexual assault. (They constitute the large majority of victims, though.)

BWA also provides awareness to the community about sexual assault, so that we can lower our high rates of this heinous crime, especially against women and girls. BWA does this in large part because no one else is doing it.

When I was first appointed director, the BWA had no funding. No office. No paperwork. Taya. BWA had to prove itself to the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration and senators with innovative programs, gradually receiving a bit more funding each year.

In fiscal year 2026, BWA was granted a budget of $272,277, the lowest agency or commission budget in the entire government. The BWA today has a director, exactly one locally funded program coordinator, and three federally funded PCs that handle the federal grants. It is located in Suite 308 of the DNA Building in Hagatna.

The BWA works with Guams womens clubs, with the Womens Chamber, Guam Homeless Coalition, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, Department of Public Health and Social Services, and other government agencies and nonprofits.

BWA does not duplicate services provided by any of these agencies. It directs women and other marginalized citizens to needed services, and provides unique, innovative programs that other agencies do not offer.

Regionally, BWA is a member of the Micronesian Islands Forum Gender Equality Committee, and was instrumental in MIF leaders adopting the regional Gender Equality Framework at the 2025 MIF in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The BWA is doing a lot of good for island women and marginalized citizens with regard to gender equality and for those who need help, in addition to helping craft policy and legislation.

Political candidates that contend that the BWA should stick to just making policy are welcome to that stance. But I would advise against such an obtuse argument.

My suggestion to any candidate that wants to take on womens issues is to address a much more pressing one: men sexually assaulting women and children.

Its not an easy issue. But if you cant stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
Haiti - Politic : The Prime Minister calls for action, rigor, and national unity

On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime officially presented his new government at a solemn ceremony held at the Villa daccueil.

This event brought together members of the outgoing government, high-ranking state officials, representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to Haiti, as well as numerous prominent figures from various sectors of national life.

In his address, the Prime Minister commended the commitment and dedication of the outgoing government members, who worked in a particularly challenging crisis, prioritizing the best interests of the Haitian nation.

"Konpatriyot mwen yo, seremoni jodia pa yon senp chanjman, se rezilta yon angajman politik ki soti nan Pak Nasyonal pou Estabilite ak Oganizasyon eleksyon. Pak sa se prev le Peyi a an danje nou kapab mete tout diferans nou de kote pou nou sove sa ki pi enpotan, ki se peyi Dayiti. Avek Pak sa, nou pran angajman pou n fome yon kabine ministeryel ki enpasyal, teknik, epi ki efikas," declared the Prime Minister.

Continuing his intervention, he insisted "The time for fine speeches is over. Today is the time for action."

Convinced of the competence and sense of responsibility of the new members of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister urged them to adopt sound, rigorous, and transparent management of public resources. He emphasized that every gourde spent must be for the direct benefit of the population, with the aim of building a modern, efficient, and credible public administration.

On this occasion, Fils-Aime reaffirmed that government action will be structured around three major strategic priorities :

Security :

Strengthening the operational capacities of the Haitian National Police (PNH), the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAdH), and the Gang Repression Force (FRG) in order to regain full control of areas under the influence of criminal groups and to sustainably restore the authority of the State.

Economic and Social Recovery :

Implement concrete actions through sustained dialogue with representatives of the private sector and financial partners; support farmers and entrepreneurs; revive national production and create a climate conducive to investment, particularly foreign investment.

Organization of Elections :

Establish the institutional, logistical, and security mechanisms necessary for organizing free, fair, and credible elections, with a view to renewing the political personnel and fully restoring constitutional order.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister made a passionate appeal for civic engagement in building a prosperous Haiti, founded on unity, solidarity, and peace. He also thanked international partners for their continued support in efforts to definitively end the country's long-standing crisis.

HL/ HaitiLibre
Haiti - News : Zapping...

GSF Reports Significant Progress

Godfrey Otunge, the Kenyan Commander of the Gang Repression Force (FRG), reported significant progress made in the intensified operations in the West, Artibonite, and Central departments.

Brazil : VITEM XI VISA APPOINTMENT NOTICE

The Visa Application Center for Brazil (CAVB), managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM - Haiti), informs applicants that appointments for family reunification (VITEM XI) are now closed. The maximum capacity for applications during this period has been reached.

Martinique : Military Partnership

Summary of the first week of training for the 5th platoon of soldiers from the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) in Martinique with the 33rd Marine Infantry Regiment (33e RIMa), including : obstacle courses; mastery of the FAMAS rifle; mastery and operation of the FN MAG machine gun; the firing range; and formation marches.

Haiti mired in a long-term multi-sectoral crisis

Economist Harry Salomon, Deputy Director General of the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI), stated on a radio station in the capital that the Haitian economy has experienced seven consecutive years of contraction, referring to a long-term multi-sectoral crisis. A projected 16.1% decrease in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2019 and 2025, representing approximately 106 billion gourdes in constant value.

Double Gold Medal for Barbancourt

Barbancourt has been awarded two gold medals at the Best Aged Rum Awards 2026, organized by The Fifty Best. The award went to Reserve du Domaine 15-year-old and Barbancourt 5 Etoiles 8-year-old. This is a significant international recognition for Barbancourt and for Haiti.

26th International Mother Language Day

On the occasion of the 26th International Mother Language Day, the National Book Directorate (DNL) hosted the Haitian Creole Academy (AKA). Several prominent figures from the government and civil society participated in this event. As part of their collaboration, the DNL and AKA are committed to supporting authors to increase the production and publication of books in Creole and have agreed to promote Creole literature.

HL/ HaitiLibre
Press release

Local talent again shone at the Montana Make It With Wool state contest Dec. 5-6, 2025, in Billings with with lots of talent and creativity coming out of the district contests in October promising to make a tight competition.

The Montana MIWW contest was held at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center in conjunction with the 142nd Annual Montana Woolgrowers Convention.

The contest had six sewists competing in three categories at this year's state contest - Junior, Senior, and Adult. The largest category with three contestants was the Juniors for those ages 13 to 16 as of Jan. 1 of the contest year, Ella Grainey, Noah Wallace, and Piper Williamson, all hailing from Polson. The Senior Division for those ages 17 to 24 had one very worthy contestant in Angelina Toth of Chinook. The Adult category for those 25 years of age and older showcased two contestants, namely Jasmine Powell of Dodson, and Judy Smith of Ronan.

First place finishers at the Montana MIWW contest were Junior  Noah Wallace, Senior  Angelina Toth, and Adult  Judy Smith.

Jasmine Powell continued her reign as she crocheted a wool afghan this year for the Afghan Contest.

Angelina Toth created a lined Pendleton lightweight flannel wool dress that has a fitted top moving down to flare through the hips with an exaggerated diagonal insert.

Junior contestant Noah Wallace constructed a handsome gray and black wool sport jacket. This is Noah's first garment project from wool.

Noah and Angelina represented Montana to the theme of "The Biggest Little Wool Show"" during the 78th annual National Make It With Wool competition as part of the 2026 American Sheep Industry (ASI) Convention held January 28-31, 2026, at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada. Judy competed in the National contest by mailing in her garment along with a video and photos.

When the judging results came in, neither Noah nor Angelina placed in the top 8 in their divisions. However, they said they enjoyed their experiences, met new friends, and are excited to sew again next year. Judy did not place in the top 6 Adult placings this year.
Hoping for a decisive moral victory over the liberals, President Trump's supporters recently posted a social media meme pointing out that when former presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama deported large numbers of people, nobody complained, while many are up in arms about Trump's own deportation efforts.

Undaunted,Democratic partisans lobbed back the same meme with intent to call out their opponents' own moral failings, often without disputing either the numbers (which might well be disputed) or the zero protests (also arguable) recorded for earlier presidents versus the smaller number of deportations and many protests for Trump.

How can this same weaponized bit of information be hurtling simultaneously in both directions, and why hasn't anybody, on either side of the battle, been silenced by that devastating meme ?

It isn't difficult to understand why the current president's supporters hoped to strike liberals a blow in the hypocrisy. After all, it is only a few months since liberals warned that the incoming president's immigration policies could mean no more tomatoes, because so many immigrant farm workers would be deported, no more fine dining for the same reason, a shortage of roofers ... So, anyone yelling about Trump deporting some people who kept quiet while Obama, Bush and Clinton deported many more had to be an,"It's only bad when Trump does it" hypocrite.

But the attack did not slow down the liberals one bit because, to the confusion of the president's adherents, today's opposition is focused not so much on the fact of deportation as on Team Trump tactics. Deportations under Obama and his predecessors were lawful and orderly, the critics say, while Trump's federal agents disrupt neighborhoods and invade homes to seize people. Protest signs now are far more likely to read "ICE Out" than to say anything about the economic contributions of immigrants.

Of course, Trump loyalists, armored by Back the Blue and Law and Order sentiments aren't much bothered by that return fire either.

How likely is anybody to convince anybody of anything having to do with the economic costs or benefits of immigration, the sanctity of borders, the immense suffering when so many are expelled from the country (as many as 12 million during the Clinton years, according to some versions of that meme), when we can't even reach each other with our best insults? Not likely.

None of those big issues will be top of mind when future Americans recall this moment, for the same reason than when we now recall the strife of earlier times, the complexities of debates that mattered then tend to fade, while a few iconic images endure. For example, few of us think first of old arguments about the impact of integration on working class housing values, or of school busing on community stability when we recall the Civil Rights era of sixty and seventy years ago. Instead, we remember some fragment of Martin Luther King, junior's, "I have a Dream" proclamation from that long ago march on Washington, D,C., or we picture state troopers beating protesters with their night sticks in Selma, Alabama, or Black children trying to make their way into a newly integrated school, surrounded by jeering white faces ...

Remembering Minneapolis

Notice that, unlike the issues that engage us now concerning immigration, there isn't much who's right/who's wrong to debate about in memory's images from the Civil Rights era.

One kind of sign from the recent protests, the kind referring to Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both killed in the course of Operation Metro Surge operations in Minneapolis, touches on what is actually being decided now for future Americans.

So far the time capsule we are preparing for the future contains ... video of a crowd shouting at masked federal agents on a residential street .. a man kicking the taillight out of an official vehicle ... the same man forced to the ground by masked men, then gunshots, and then more gunshots ... protesters raising a ruckus outside a hotel where ICE agents are presumed to be trying to sleep .... photo of a forlorn, very small boy with a floppy-eared hat, shipped from Minneapolis to Texas and back again (whatever the father or mother did or didn't do will not be in the picture) ... If anyone wants to leave behind a nicer picture, time is running out.

--

Will Rawn of Havre is a retired Montana State University-Northern professor.
TCI Management $19M in Profits: Rewriting the Record Books.

(HedgeCo.Net) In the world of alternative investments, hedge funds occupy a unique and often controversial position. They operate at the intersection of sophisticated financial engineering, global macroeconomic analysis, and concentrated investment conviction. At the pinnacle of this industry stand a small group of billionaire fund managers whose investment decisions can move markets and whose profits have become legendary.

In recent years, hedge fund profits have surged to historic levels. The largest hedge funds have generated tens of billions of dollars in gains for investors in a single year, reinforcing their reputation as some of the most powerful players in global finance. The scale of these profits is staggering: in 2025 alone, the top hedge fund managers collectively generated more than $115 billion for investors, highlighting the immense financial impact of elite hedge fund strategies.

Among the standout performers was billionaire investor Chris Hohn, whose firm, TCI Fund Management, delivered $18.9 billion in profits for investors in 2025, the largest single-year gain ever recorded by a hedge fund.

The record-breaking performance of Hohn and other hedge fund giants underscores several important trends shaping the industry:

The growing dominance of mega hedge funds managing tens of billions of dollars.

The rise of concentrated high-conviction equity strategies.

The increasing influence of macroeconomic and geopolitical forces on market performance.

The widening gap between elite hedge funds and the rest of the industry.

Understanding this transformation requires a closer look at the worlds most powerful hedge fund managers, their investment strategies, and the structural forces reshaping the hedge fund industry.

The Rise of the Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager

The hedge fund industry began in the mid-20th century as a relatively small niche within asset management. Early hedge funds were designed to provide absolute returns regardless of market direction, often using leverage and short selling to hedge risk.

Over time, the industry evolved into a global ecosystem managing trillions of dollars. Hedge funds now employ a wide range of strategies, including:

long-short equity investing

quantitative trading

macroeconomic speculation

event-driven investing

distressed debt strategies

At the center of this ecosystem stand a small group of elite hedge fund managers whose track records have attracted enormous amounts of institutional capital.

Many of these individuals have become billionaires through a combination of management fees, performance fees, and long-term investment success.

The most famous hedge fund managers include:

Ken Griffin (Citadel)

Ray Dalio (Bridgewater Associates)

Izzy Englander (Millennium Management)

David Shaw (D. E. Shaw)

Steve Cohen (Point72)

Chris Hohn (TCI Fund Management)

These individuals represent the upper tier of the hedge fund world, where firms often manage tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars.

Chris Hohn and the Record-Breaking Year

Among hedge fund managers, few stories have captured the industrys attention like the remarkable performance of Chris Hohns TCI Fund Management.

In 2025, the firm generated $18.9 billion in profits for investors, surpassing the previous record set by Ken Griffins Citadel hedge fund in 2022.

The performance represented a historic milestone in hedge fund history.

TCIs flagship fund delivered approximately 27% returns after fees, an extraordinary result given the funds large size and the challenging macroeconomic environment.

The firm manages roughly $77 billion in assets, making it one of the largest hedge funds in the world.

The scale of the profits highlights the power of concentrated investment strategies. Unlike many hedge funds that diversify across hundreds of positions, TCI is known for maintaining a relatively focused portfolio of high-conviction investments.

The Investment Strategy Behind the Success

Hohns investment approach differs significantly from the multi-strategy pod shop model that dominates much of the modern hedge fund industry.

Instead of employing dozens or hundreds of independent trading teams, TCI operates with a centralized investment structure. Hohn personally oversees the firms core investment decisions, maintaining tight control over portfolio construction.

This structure allows the firm to pursue large, concentrated investments in companies that Hohn believes possess strong competitive advantages.

Key characteristics of TCIs strategy include:

Concentrated Equity Positions

TCI focuses on a relatively small number of companies with dominant market positions.

Long-Term Investment Horizon

Unlike many hedge funds that trade frequently, TCI often holds positions for several years.

Activist Engagement

The firm sometimes engages with corporate management teams to advocate for operational improvements.

Structural Industry Themes

TCI frequently invests in industries benefiting from long-term structural trends.

This combination of high conviction and disciplined portfolio management has produced exceptional results over the firms history.

Aerospace and Defense: A Winning Trade

One of the key drivers behind TCIs record performance was its significant exposure to aerospace and defense companies.

The firm made major investments in companies such as:

GE Aerospace

Airbus

Safran

These investments benefited from rising defense spending and increased demand for aerospace equipment amid geopolitical tensions.

Shares of several aerospace companies surged as governments around the world increased military spending in response to geopolitical conflicts.

This trend highlights the importance of geopolitical analysis in modern hedge fund strategies. Understanding how global political developments influence industries can create significant investment opportunities.

The Broader Hedge Fund Profit Boom

While TCI captured headlines, it was not the only hedge fund delivering impressive results.

Several other major hedge funds also produced substantial profits during the same period.

According to industry data, the top 20 hedge fund managers generated approximately $115 billion in gains for investors in 2025, reflecting one of the strongest years in the industrys history.

Notable performers included:

Bridgewater Associates

D. E. Shaw

Citadel

Pershing Square

Bridgewater reportedly generated more than $15 billion in gains, while D. E. Shaw produced roughly $12.7 billion for investors.

These results illustrate the extraordinary scale of capital flowing through the hedge fund industry.

Citadel and the Legacy of Ken Griffin

Although TCI achieved the largest annual profit in 2025, Citadel remains the most profitable hedge fund in history.

Founded by billionaire investor Ken Griffin, Citadel has generated more than $90 billion in cumulative profits for investors since its inception.

Citadel operates one of the most sophisticated multi-strategy hedge fund platforms in the world, employing thousands of professionals across global trading desks.

The firms success is built on several pillars:

advanced quantitative models

massive computing infrastructure

diversified trading strategies

centralized risk management

Citadels flagship Wellington fund has delivered consistently strong returns for decades, cementing Griffins reputation as one of the most successful hedge fund managers of all time.

The Multi-Strategy Hedge Fund Model

Many of the largest hedge funds now operate using a multi-strategy structure.

This model, sometimes called the pod shop, involves dividing the firm into multiple independent trading teams, each responsible for specific investment strategies.

Examples include:

Millennium Management

Point72

Citadel

Balyasny Asset Management

Each team manages its own portfolio within strict risk limits set by the firms central risk management system.

This structure allows hedge funds to pursue a wide range of strategies simultaneously while maintaining tight control over overall portfolio risk.

The model has proven highly effective in generating consistent returns.

Institutional Investors Fuel the Growth

The rapid growth of mega hedge funds has been fueled by institutional investors.

Large pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and endowments increasingly allocate capital to hedge funds as part of diversified portfolios.

Institutional investors are attracted to hedge funds for several reasons:

diversification benefits

access to sophisticated investment strategies

potential for alpha generation

risk management capabilities

As a result, many of the largest hedge funds now manage tens of billions of dollars.

This institutional capital has enabled hedge funds to expand their trading operations, technology infrastructure, and global presence.

Technology and the Quantitative Revolution

Technology has become one of the defining features of the modern hedge fund industry.

Quantitative hedge funds such as D. E. Shaw and Two Sigma rely heavily on advanced algorithms, machine learning models, and massive datasets to identify trading opportunities.

These firms employ teams of data scientists, mathematicians, and engineers alongside traditional investment professionals.

The rise of quantitative investing has transformed financial markets.

Trading decisions that once relied primarily on human judgment are now increasingly driven by complex algorithms analyzing vast amounts of data.

The Billionaire Lifestyle and Public Attention

The extraordinary wealth generated by hedge fund managers has also drawn significant public attention.

Many hedge fund billionaires have become prominent figures in business, philanthropy, and politics.

Chris Hohn, for example, is known for his substantial philanthropic contributions. Through his charitable foundation, he has donated billions of dollars to causes related to global health, climate change, and education.

Ken Griffin has also become one of the most influential philanthropists in the United States, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to universities, cultural institutions, and public initiatives.

Despite these philanthropic efforts, hedge fund managers often face criticism regarding income inequality and financial market practices.

Challenges Facing the Hedge Fund Industry

Despite recent success, the hedge fund industry faces several significant challenges.

Fee Pressure

Investors increasingly demand lower management and performance fees.

Competition from Passive Investing

Low-cost index funds continue to attract significant capital.

Market Efficiency

As markets become more efficient, generating consistent alpha becomes more difficult.

Regulatory Scrutiny

Hedge funds face increasing oversight from financial regulators.

These challenges have forced many hedge funds to adapt their strategies and business models.

The Future of Billionaire Hedge Funds

Looking ahead, the hedge fund industry is likely to remain a central component of global financial markets.

Several trends are likely to shape the industrys future:

Continued Industry Consolidation

Large hedge funds will likely continue gaining market share.

Technology-Driven Investing

Artificial intelligence and machine learning will play increasingly important roles.

Growth of Alternative Data

Investment decisions will increasingly rely on unconventional data sources.

Expanding Institutional Demand

Institutional investors will continue allocating capital to hedge funds.

These developments suggest that billionaire hedge fund managers will remain powerful figures in global finance.

Conclusion: The Power of Elite Hedge Fund Managers

The record profits generated by hedge fund managers in recent years highlight the remarkable influence of the industrys elite players.

Firms such as TCI, Citadel, Bridgewater, and D. E. Shaw are not merely investment fundsthey are global financial institutions capable of shaping markets and influencing capital flows worldwide.

Chris Hohns record-breaking $18.9 billion profit in 2025 illustrates the extraordinary potential of disciplined, high-conviction investment strategies.

At the same time, the broader success of the hedge fund industry demonstrates the enduring demand for sophisticated investment strategies capable of navigating complex global markets.

As financial markets continue evolving, the worlds billionaire hedge fund managers will remain at the forefront of global investingdeploying capital, identifying opportunities, and redefining the boundaries of modern finance.
Introduction: A High-Stakes Battle for One of Asset Managements Most Strategic Platforms

(HedgeCo.Net) The global asset management industry is undergoing one of the most significant consolidation waves in decades. Fee compression, the rise of passive investing, the increasing importance of distribution networks, and the explosive growth of private markets are forcing firms to seek scale, diversification, and global reach. Against this backdrop, Janus Henderson Group, a transatlantic investment manager with nearly half a trillion dollars in assets, has unexpectedly become the focal point of a dramatic takeover battle.

What initially appeared to be a relatively straightforward buyoutan agreed $7.4 billion acquisition by activist investor Nelson Peltzs Trian Fund Management alongside General Catalysthas quickly transformed into a competitive bidding war. Victory Capital Holdings, a rapidly expanding U.S. asset manager, has now entered the fray with a roughly $8.6$8.8 billion competing offer, challenging the original transaction and raising the possibility of a full-scale contest for control of the firm.

Victory Capitals proposal offers $57.04 per share, consisting of $30 in cash plus stock consideration, representing a 16% premium to the previously agreed Trian transaction and roughly a 37% premium to Janus Hendersons unaffected share price prior to the deal announcement.

The surprise counterbid has not only ignited a takeover battle but has also highlighted a broader reality: the asset management industry is rapidly consolidating, and mid-size firms like Janus Henderson are becoming increasingly valuable strategic targets.

The outcome of this contest could reshape the competitive landscape of global investment management.

The Origins of Janus Henderson

To understand why the firm has become such an attractive acquisition target, it is important to examine the evolution of Janus Henderson itself.

Janus Henderson Group was created in 2017 through the merger of Denver-based Janus Capital Group and the UKs Henderson Global Investors, a strategic transatlantic union designed to create scale and expand global distribution.

The combined firm brought together:

Janus Capitals strength in U.S. equities and mutual funds

Hendersons deep European client base and institutional relationships

The goal was to create a diversified asset manager capable of competing with the industrys largest firms.

Today, Janus Henderson operates across equities, fixed income, multi-asset strategies, and alternatives, serving institutional investors, financial advisors, and retail clients worldwide.

The company has expanded through acquisitions in recent years, including:

European ETF provider Tabula Investment Management

Middle East investment firm NBK Capital Partners

A majority stake in private credit manager Victory Park Capital

These moves signaled a strategic pivot toward private markets and alternative investments, areas where asset managers increasingly see long-term growth.

Despite these initiatives, Janus Henderson faced persistent challenges, including investor outflows from active mutual funds and intensifying competition from passive investment products.

Those pressures helped set the stage for takeover interest.

The Original Deal: Trian and General Catalyst Move In

The first major move came in late 2025 when Trian Fund Management, the activist investment firm led by Nelson Peltz, teamed up with venture and growth investor General Catalyst to pursue Janus Henderson.

Their proposal valued the firm at approximately $7.4 billion, offering shareholders $49 per share in cash.

The strategic rationale behind the deal was compelling.

Trian, which already held a significant ownership stake of roughly 20% in Janus Henderson, had long been involved in pushing for strategic improvements at the firm.

The proposed acquisition aimed to:

Take the firm private Restructure its operations Invest heavily in growth areas such as private markets and technology Reposition the firm for long-term expansion

General Catalysts involvement added another dimension.

Traditionally known as a venture capital powerhouse, General Catalyst had been expanding aggressively into financial services, asset management, and private credit.

Acquiring Janus Henderson would provide:

a global distribution network

an established asset management platform

nearly $500 billion in assets under management

For Trian and General Catalyst, it represented a transformational opportunity.

At least initially, the deal appeared to be moving forward smoothly.

Victory Capital Enters the Arena

The situation changed dramatically when Victory Capital Holdings unveiled a rival bid.

Victory Capital, headquartered in San Antonio, has spent the past decade pursuing an aggressive acquisition strategy designed to build scale in asset management.

The firm has completed multiple acquisitions, including the purchase of Amundis U.S. asset management business in 2025, adding roughly $119 billion in assets.

Its latest movean $8.6$8.8 billion offer for Janus Hendersonrepresents the boldest step yet in its expansion strategy.

Victorys proposal includes:

$30 per share in cash

0.350 shares of Victory Capital stock for each Janus Henderson share

The combined consideration totals $57.04 per share, significantly above the Trian offer.

Victorys leadership argues that its offer provides shareholders with both:

immediate value through cash

long-term upside through equity ownership in the combined firm

If completed, Janus Henderson shareholders would own approximately 38% of the merged entity, which would have an enterprise value of roughly $16 billion.

Why Victory Capital Wants Janus Henderson

The strategic logic behind Victory Capitals bid is clear.

Victory Capital manages roughly $323 billion in assets, while Janus Henderson oversees about $493 billion.

A merger would create an investment manager with more than $800 billion under management, significantly increasing its competitive positioning in the global market.

Several strategic benefits could emerge:

1. Distribution Expansion

Janus Henderson has strong global distribution networks, particularly in Europe and Asia.

Victory Capital could leverage those channels to expand internationally.

2. Product Diversification

Janus Henderson offers a broad suite of products, including:

equities

fixed income

ETFs

private credit

Combining these offerings would create a more diversified platform.

3. Cost Synergies

Asset management firms often generate substantial savings through operational consolidation, including:

technology integration

compliance infrastructure

back-office functions

4. Competitive Scale

The asset management industry increasingly favors large firms with global reach.

Combining Victory and Janus Henderson would significantly enhance scale.

The Economics of the Offer

Victory Capital has emphasized that its proposal is fully financed and executable, supported by commitments from major investment banks.

The deal structure includes:

cash financing

issuance of new Victory shares

potential new debt issuance

Reports indicate that the firm may raise more than $4 billion in new debt to help finance the transaction.

Victory executives argue that the proposal is superior not only on price but also on execution certainty.

The company has highlighted several features of the offer:

lower termination fees

stronger closing protections

fewer regulatory or financing contingencies

These elements are designed to persuade Janus Hendersons board that the proposal constitutes a superior offer under merger agreement terms.

The Strategic Stakes for Trian

For Trian Fund Management, the rival bid complicates a carefully constructed deal.

Trian has a long history of activist campaigns targeting underperforming companies. Its approach often involves:

acquiring large stakes

influencing management decisions

pursuing operational improvements

In Janus Hendersons case, Trians goal was to take the company private and reposition it for growth.

Victorys higher bid forces Trian to decide whether to:

Increase its offer Abandon the deal Negotiate a compromise transaction

Given Trians significant ownership stake, the outcome may depend heavily on shareholder dynamics.

Industry Consolidation Accelerates

The bidding war for Janus Henderson is occurring within a broader wave of consolidation across asset management.

Several structural pressures are driving mergers:

Passive Investing Growth

Index funds and ETFs continue to capture market share from traditional active managers.

Fee Compression

Management fees have fallen dramatically over the past decade.

Distribution Competition

Access to financial advisors and institutional clients has become increasingly important.

Technology Costs

Modern investment platforms require massive technology investments.

As a result, firms are pursuing scale to remain competitive.

Recent industry transactions include:

Nuveens acquisition of Schroders U.S. operations

Franklin Templetons purchase of Legg Mason

Morgan Stanleys acquisition of Eaton Vance

The Janus Henderson battle fits squarely within this trend.

Market Reaction

Investors quickly responded to news of the competing bid.

Shares of Janus Henderson surged as markets priced in the possibility of a higher takeover premium.

Meanwhile, Victory Capitals stock declined modestly as investors considered the financial implications of the acquisition.

This pattern is common in takeover situations:

target company shares rise

acquiring company shares often fall temporarily

Analysts note that the bidding war could push Janus Hendersons valuation even higher.

Strategic Implications for the Asset Management Industry

The outcome of the Janus Henderson takeover battle could carry significant implications for the broader industry.

Rise of Mid-Tier Mega Managers

A combined Victory-Janus entity would create a powerful mid-tier asset manager with more than $800 billion in assets.

Increased Focus on Alternatives

Both firms are investing heavily in private credit and alternative assets.

Competitive Pressure on Traditional Firms

Smaller managers may face pressure to merge or partner with larger platforms.

Potential Scenarios Going Forward

Several outcomes remain possible.

Scenario 1: Victory Capital Wins

If Janus Hendersons board determines that Victorys proposal is superior, the firm could terminate its existing agreement with Trian and proceed with the new deal.

Scenario 2: Trian Raises Its Bid

Trian and General Catalyst could respond with a higher offer.

Scenario 3: Negotiated Settlement

The parties could negotiate a revised transaction structure.

Scenario 4: Deal Collapse

Regulatory hurdles or shareholder opposition could derail both proposals.

Conclusion: A Turning Point in Asset Management M&A

The takeover battle for Janus Henderson represents far more than a single corporate transaction.

It reflects a profound transformation underway in the asset management industry.

Scale, diversification, global distribution, and alternative investment capabilities are becoming essential for long-term survival.

Firms that lack these attributes increasingly become acquisition targets.

Janus Henderson sits at the intersection of these trends.

Its global platform, diversified investment capabilities, and nearly half-trillion-dollar asset base make it one of the most strategically valuable mid-sized asset managers in the world.

Victory Capitals aggressive bid has turned what seemed like a settled transaction into a high-stakes contest that could reshape the industrys competitive landscape.

Whether the ultimate winner is Victory Capital, Trian Fund Management, or another unexpected bidder, one thing is clear:

The battle for Janus Henderson signals that the consolidation wave in global asset management is far from over.
The EU Commission's plans for a renewed extension of the voluntary chat control provision provisionally failed on Monday evening. In a decision that surprised even seasoned observers in Brussels' political circles, the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) voted against the proposal. By 38 votes to 28, with three abstentions, the committee rejected the proposal to extend the controversial exception to the data protection directive for electronic communications one more time.

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Actually, the vote was considered a formality. This was due to the significant pressure from the member states and the Commission in the fight against the dissemination of child sexual abuse material.

However, the Commission's calculation to push the Parliament into approval through a last-minute submission and artificially created time pressure did not pay off. The MEPs showed little inclination to abandon their previous stance. This involved not extending the provisional arrangement again, but instead finding a permanent regulation. This should exclusively permit targeted measures in cases of concrete suspicion.

Already since 2021, a "temporary exception" from the e-Privacy Directive has been circumventing the protection of privacy, allowing tech giants like Meta, Google, or Microsoft to automatically scan private messages and images. What was intended as a one-time special regulation now threatened to become a permanent state of affairs.

Political resistance to the provisional arrangement

Even before the vote, it was becoming clear that digital letter secrecy in Europe was at a crossroads. The negotiations on a permanent regulation against abuse material have been stalled for years due to delays in the EU Council. The parliamentary rapporteur Birgit Sippel (S&D) attempted to at least limit the damage. In her draft, the SPD politician unusually sharply criticized the routine of the state of exception. She demanded that particularly error-prone technologies be dispensed with. Specifically, scanning text messages for grooming attempts and the automated evaluation of previously unknown image material using AI should be prohibited.

Majorities were initially found for such restrictions. The representatives wanted to limit the scans to already known content that can be identified via unique digital fingerprints (hashes). However, when it came to the final vote on the overall package, modified in this way, the coalition broke apart.

The reasons for the failure are likely to be varied: For the Left, Green, and Renew groups, the remaining surveillance measures were probably still too invasive. Parts of the conservative EPP, on the other hand, found the restrictions already went too far. The result is a political vacuum that puts the Commission in a difficult position.

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Massive criticism of effectiveness and legal basis

The scientific and legal basis of chat control is shaky anyway. A broad alliance of organizations such as the Chaos Computer Club, European Digital Rights (EDRi), and Digitale Gesellschaft recently called for the immediate end of "Chat Control 1.0" in an open letter. It referred, for example, to the sobering figures from reports by the EU Commission itself. The hit rate of the systems is a minuscule 0.000002735 percent, while the error rate is up to 20 percent. This means that countless harmless private recordings are mistakenly flagged by the filters daily and reviewed by human examiners.

The Conference of Independent Data Protection Authorities (DSK) of the federal and state governments also monitored just a few days ago that the upcoming decisions could effectively abolish digital letter secrecy. DSK Chairman Tobias Keber emphasized that child protection is elementary. However, this should not be bought with a digital lock pick that casts millions of blameless citizens under general suspicion.

Uncertainties before the plenary session

However, the issue is not yet off the table. Despite the failure in committee, the European Parliament's plenary session is expected to address the dossier as early as next week. The LIBE decision is considered an official recommendation for the plenary, but further surprises cannot be ruled out in the charged debate. Proponents of chat control in the Commission and the Council of Ministers, who are seeking an extension of the powers until April 2028, will try to close ranks in the plenary. However, should the failure be confirmed there, voluntary chat control would face a swift end.

(vbr)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
Eastern Uusimaa Police said the suspect will be presented to the district court on Friday morning.

The blaze tore through a residential building in the Pahkinarinne district in the early hours of Tuesday 3 March. Five members of a Somali family died .

Finnish police will seek the remand of a 71-year-old man on suspicion of five murders, two attempted murders and aggravated arson after a fatal apartment block fire in Vantaa.

Detective Chief Inspector Sanna Rentola, who leads the investigation, said the case remains at an early stage. At this stage the matter is being investigated as several murders, several attempted murders and aggravated arson, she said in a statement. The number of titles and any other offences that arise will be reviewed and reassessed regularly as the investigation progresses.

Police have questioned the suspect once and will continue interviews. The suspect has now been questioned once and his questioning will continue. The suspect will be presented for remand most likely on Friday, Rentola said.

Investigators have carried out initial interviews and scene examinations. Police said information gathered so far supports the view that the act was intentional. Rentola said further details about forensic results and laboratory analyses will be released only when the investigation has advanced.

The fire broke out in the suspects own flat and spread through the building. Authorities said the blaze was intense and produced large amounts of smoke.

The victims were parents in their thirties or forties and their three children aged three, six and eight. The family attempted to escape but died in the stairwell after inhaling toxic gases. A baby from the same family survived and was found next to the victims.

Candles and flowers are seen at a makeshift memorial for the victims of a major fire in Vantaa, Finland, on March 3, 2026. Photo: Mikko Stig / Str / Lehtikuva



The motive remains under investigation. Police said the act was not racially motivated. The victims were of Somali background and the suspect is Finnish.

The daily newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported that the suspect has a prior conviction for attempted manslaughter dating back to the early 2000s. The victim in that case was his then wife. The man appealed the district court ruling to the Helsinki Court of Appeal, arguing that he had committed aggravated assault rather than attempted manslaughter. He admitted stabbing his wife but claimed the act did not place her life in probable danger. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction for attempted manslaughter, according to the newspaper.

Ilta-Sanomat also reported that the man was convicted in 2014 of assaulting the same woman after their divorce. In that incident he struck her in the face during an evening visit at his home.

Police have not confirmed details of the suspects background beyond the current investigation.

Eastern Uusimaa Police said the pre-trial investigation is expected to last for months and will involve cooperation with several authorities. The pre-trial investigation is only at a very early stage and more detailed information cannot be released without jeopardising the investigation, Rentola said.

HT
Edwards, Ager wins set up closely watched battle for 11th District seat

Serving up what is likely to be one of two closely watched congressional contests in the state, incumbent Chuck Edwards trounced challenger Adam R. Smith to take the Republican nomination while Buncombe County cattle farmer Jamie Ager cruised past Richard Hudspeth, a physician and retired CEO of Blue Ridge Health, and three others, winning with 65 percent of the vote.

The grandson of former U.S. Rep. Jamie Clarke, Ager has drawn support from national Democrats who see the 11th Congressional District as a potentially winnable seat in November while Edwards faces headwinds caused by the federal performance in delivering to Hurricane Helene relief and President Trump's falling popularity.

Reporting in January on an Impact Research poll that showed Ager edging Edwards by a point, 45-44, Newsweek quoted a professor of political science at North Carolina State University, Steven Greene, who suggested the seat could be in play.

The 11th District told Newsweek is exactly the type of district you should expect Democrats to be making a strong play for in 2026," Greene said.

This latest polling proves what weve known all along," Ager's campaign told Newsweek, "that the voters of Western North Carolina trust and want Jamie Ager as their representative in Congress. Jamie is focused on being a voice for everyone in NC-11 to help us rebuild from Helene, lower costs for families, support our rural economy, and expand access to healthcare."

Edwardss campaign also responded.

"At this point in time in the election process, no one should be surprised that the DCCC will push a polling narrative designed more to benefit their fundraising than to reflect the true political environment," the campaign told the news magazine. "Jamie Ager is a product of the DC Democratic establishment and Congressman Edwards looks forward to a spirited campaign that most certainly highlights Jamie Ager radical agenda for the people of western North Carolina."
A persistent shoplifter in Twyford has been jailed after he was caught stealing just hours after avoiding prison time for his offending.

Muhammad Chaudhry, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to eight counts of thieving alcohol from Waitrose in the village over three months, at Reading Magistrates Court on February 11.

The 25-year old was given a suspended sentence at a hearing the day before, but soon found himself back in court after he was arrested for returning to the scene of his crimes and stealing.

Investigating officer, PC Dzhuli Bogdanova from the Wokingham Neighbourhood policing team said Chaudhrys crimes had caused significant harm to retailers and the local community.

The thief was arrested by a neighbourhood police officer at Twyford train station on Monday, February 9 this year, having stolen from Waitrose.

He was taken into custody and was handed a 16-week suspended sentence for 12 months when he appeared at Reading Magistrates Court the next day.

But Chaudhry was not deterred by the sentence and, police said, he returned to Waitrose within hours to commit further thieving.

He was detained by detectives in the store and later arrested by police officers. He was taken into custody again and was given a six-month sentence in court the following morning.

PC Bogdanova said: Muhammad Chaudhry has demonstrated a pattern of behaviour that causes significant harm to retailers and the local community.

Even after being sentenced for multiple shoplifting offences, he returned to offending straight away.

Our officers acted swiftly to arrest him again, and we will not hesitate to pursue further action against those who repeatedly ignore the law."
* The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, one day before the opening of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. * Lawmakers will deliberate on the central government's annual work report, and review the draft government budget and development plan for 2026. This year, they will also examine a draft outline of the new five-year plan, which will anchor policy priorities until 2030. * As China enters a fresh planning cycle, the "two sessions" offer a window into how the country aims to advance its high-quality development and sustain the momentum of its reform in an ever-changing global landscape. BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- This year's "two sessions" -- the annual meetings of China's top legislature and top political advisory body -- are set to open at a pivotal moment. As the world's second-largest economy embarks on the inaugural year of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, these gatherings in Beijing will serve both as a review of past achievements, and as a strategic compass guiding the nation's future development. The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, one day before the opening of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). Lawmakers will deliberate on the central government's annual work report, and review the draft government budget and development plan for 2026. This year, they will also examine a draft outline of the new five-year plan, which will anchor policy priorities until 2030. This year's legislative agenda is particularly robust, signaling a focus on long-term institutional development. NPC deputies are set to deliberate on three important pieces of legislation covering areas including the environment, ethnic unity, and national development planning. China's top legislator, top political advisor, chief justice and top procurator will also present work reports. Beyond the plenary meetings, ministers and heads of various government departments as well as national legislators and political advisors will hold press conferences, where they will elaborate on policies related to the economy, social development, and foreign affairs to domestic and foreign media. As China enters a fresh planning cycle, the "two sessions" offer a window into how the country aims to advance its high-quality development and sustain the momentum of its reform in an ever-changing global landscape. Outlined here is a selection of highlights at this year's "two sessions." NEW PLANNING CYCLE In China's governance system, five-year plans function as strategic frameworks for economic and social development. As lawmakers review the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, they are effectively setting priorities that will guide fiscal policy, industrial transformation and social progress through 2030. This new cycle is beginning on solid ground. The 14th Five-Year Plan period came to a close with China's economy surpassing 140 trillion yuan (about 20 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025. International media outlets have noted that key targets, including economic growth, labor productivity, research and development spending, urbanization and average life expectancy, broadly met or exceeded expectations during the period. However, the development environment China now faces is increasingly complex. External headwinds, including trade tensions, geopolitical frictions and insufficient global growth momentum, pose a great challenge for China's development. Domestically, China must deftly navigate long-standing structural issues while responding to ever-emerging technological and industrial challenges. Against this backdrop, the new five-year plan will offer a strategic roadmap -- not merely a list of tasks, but a framework guiding how the country will navigate its development priorities, ranging from strengthening its supply-chain capacity to advancing its low-carbon transformation. GROWTH TARGET China's 2026 GDP growth target will be one of the most closely watched numbers at the "two sessions." Early indicators from provincial-level regions suggest a broad consensus: Expansion remains essential, but it must be anchored firmly in quality and structural upgrading. In 2025, China achieved its growth target of 5 percent as the country spared no effort to boost domestic demand and innovation, propelling its economy toward structural rebalancing and continuing to serve as one of the most stable and reliable engines for world economic growth. This year's target, therefore, will align with the country's high-quality development imperative, which centers on fostering new quality productive forces, boosting consumption, upgrading the manufacturing sector, and advancing the green and low-carbon development. For international investors and trading partners, this focus signals both policy continuity and substantial opportunities. NEW LEGISLATIONS Chinese lawmakers are set to deliberate on a draft environmental code, a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and a draft law on national development planning. The proposed environmental code seeks to embed the principle of green development more firmly within the rule-of-law framework by systematically integrating and revising existing environmental legislations. It comes at a crucial time -- China has pledged to peak its carbon emissions by 2030. NPC deputy Zheng Haijin, who is from east China's Jiangxi Province and an expert on the environment, said the "encouraging" environmental code provides clearer guidance for ecological restoration and related sectors. The law on promoting ethnic unity and progress is intended to strengthen social cohesion and forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, while the law on national development planning will serve as a basic law to regulate the formulation of national development plans and ensure their implementation. INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE Five-year plans have long been central to how China steers its development, charting its strategic course and laying out blueprint for its future-oriented industries. In January, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee devoted its first group study session of the year to forward-looking industrial development, underscoring its priority for the new planning cycle. Quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion power, brain-computer interfaces, embodied AI and 6G mobile communications, have been highlighted as new growth drivers in the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, which were adopted at a key meeting of the CPC Central Committee. This emphasis on quantum technology in the new plan reflects a shift from laboratory validation to industrial application, said NPC deputy Guo Guoping, a quantum science professor at the University of Science and Technology of China. The Chinese leadership has urged core technology breakthroughs, as well as a more strategic approach to basic research and the accelerated commercialization of innovation. Greater emphasis is being placed on the role of enterprises -- leading tech firms, in particular -- supported by enhanced fiscal measures, sci-tech finance and talent policies. These strategic moves are expected to be high on the agenda of this year's "two sessions," as lawmakers and political advisors map out pathways to secure long-term development momentum. MESSAGES TO THE WORLD China's "two sessions" have long served as a window into the country's external stance. When Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the press during last year's "two sessions," he answered 23 questions from Chinese and international journalists covering a wide range of topics from major-country ties to global governance. Certain themes stood out, with mentions of "cooperation," "openness" and "multilateralism" recurring throughout. The prominence of references to "the Global South" and "a community with a shared future" highlighted partnership and multilateral coordination. During this year's "two sessions," regional hotspot issues, such as the latest escalating military conflict in the Middle East and the strained diplomatic ties between China and Japan, are set to be in the spotlight. The year itself carries weight, as 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic ties between China and African countries. China will also hold the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November. For investors and governments alike, China's positions on international relations will be watched particularly closely during this year's "two sessions" amid a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex global landscape. (Video reporters: Ma Yunfei, Gui Tao, Huang Haoran, Liu Meizi, Guo Chen and Tian Ying; video editors: Liu Ruoshi, Zhu Cong and Wang Han)
As spring awakens, all things take on a new look. On the morning of March 3, deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) from Anhui Province departed from Hefeinan Station by high-speed rail for Beijing to attend the upcoming fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC).

Over the past year, these deputies have gone deep into communities, conducted research, and listened extensively to opinions from all sectors of society, making thorough preparations for submitting high-quality proposals and suggestions.

This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period and a critical time for Anhui to solidify its foundation, make comprehensive efforts, strive for excellence, and catch up in development. The deputies have expressed that they will engage in the agenda of the session with high political awareness and full enthusiasm, bearing in mind their duties and missions, and actively offering suggestions and advice, jointly composing the most inspiring movement of endeavor in this spring.





Source: anhuinews.com


The Trump administration has signaled that Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel may need to be replaced as part of potential negotiations over economic and political changes on the island, according to a new report.

A source familiar with the discussions said U.S. officials view Diaz-Canel as "an obstacle" to reforms Washington would like to see in Cuba.

The assessment has been communicated during back-channel contacts between advisers to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and individuals connected to Cuba's ruling establishment, including Raul Castro's grandson, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro.

The meeting, first reported by the Miami Herald, appears to have taken place in Saint Kitts during the annual conference of Caribbean Community leaders (CARICOM). Rodriguez Castro is a close aide of Raul Castro and is involved in running GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls roughly 40% of Cuba's economy. Sources said U.S. officials discussed the possibility of gradually easing sanctions in exchange for reforms on the island.

President Donald Trump has publicly suggested a potential shift in relations. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he said the Cuban government "is talking with us" and added that "we could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba."

The contacts with Rodriguez Castro reflect the belief among some U.S. officials that the Castro family remains the ultimate decision maker in Cuba. One official described the discussions as "discussions about the future," adding that "the U.S. government's position  is the regime has to go."

Removing Diaz-Canel would represent a major shift in Cuba's political system, where Raul Castro continues to wield influence despite formally stepping aside, as Ricardo Torres, an economist at American University, told the Herald:

"If they do it, it would have to be the result of negotiations with guarantees from both sides, because that would be a drastic change in Cuba. One of the things they have always been careful about is maintaining the idea of institutional stability"

Removing Diaz-Canel, "is not impossible, but it would have to be part of a comprehensive agreement for a major transformation because that decision would be a scandal" in Cuba, he added.

Armando Chaguaceda, a Cuban political scientist at the Mexican think tank GAPAC, added that leadership changes carry symbolic weight even if they do not alter the core power structure. "In these systems, even though we know that power is exercised harshly, symbols matter," he said.

Originally published on Latin Times
In a dramatic escalation of military operations against Iran, a United States submarine has successfully sunk the Iranian Navy's flagship using a torpedo, marking the first such sinking of an enemy vessel since World War II, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday morning.

Historic Naval Strike Sends Soleimani to Ocean Floor

The attack targeted and destroyed the Iranian Navy's flagship vessel, the Soleimani, in what Secretary Hegseth described as a "quiet death" delivered by American submarine forces operating in international waters in the Indian Ocean.

"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth told reporters during a Pentagon briefing. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two."

The Iranian warship was named after Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian military commander killed by a U.S. drone strike in January 2020 during President Donald Trump's first term. The symbolic significance was not lost on Hegseth, who remarked, "Looks like POTUS got him twice."

Single Mark 48 Torpedo Delivers Devastating Blow

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine provided tactical details of the operation during the briefing, describing how the Iranian vessel was "effectively neutralized" in what he characterized as a Navy "fast attack" using a single Mark 48 torpedo.

"The U.S. Navy achieved immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea," Caine stated, emphasizing the precision and lethality of the submarine strike.

The Mark 48 torpedo represents one of the most sophisticated weapons in the U.S. Navy's arsenal, designed specifically for submarine warfare and capable of tracking and destroying both surface ships and other submarines at considerable distances.

Iranian Navy "Combat Ineffective"

Hegseth delivered a sweeping assessment of Iran's naval capabilities following days of intense military operations, declaring the Iranian Navy effectively destroyed as a fighting force.

"The Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. Combat ineffective, decimated, destroyed, defeated. Pick your adjective," the Defense Secretary stated emphatically. "Their navy, not a factor. It is no more."

The sinking of the Soleimani represents the most prominent naval kill in what Hegseth characterized as a comprehensive degradation of Iran's maritime forces throughout the Persian Gulf region.

Complete Air Superiority Within Days

Beyond the submarine attack, Hegseth outlined the broader scope of Operation Epic Fury, revealing that U.S. and Israeli forces are on the verge of achieving total air superiority over Iranian territory.

"More bombers and more fighters are arriving just today and now, with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500 pound, one thousand pound and 2,000 pound laser-guided precision gravity bombs, of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile," Hegseth announced.

The shift to conventional gravity bombs indicates that coalition forces have successfully suppressed Iranian air defenses to the point where aircraft can operate with relative impunity over Iranian territorya dramatic change from the opening days of the conflict when sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems posed significant threats to attacking aircraft.

Mounting Casualties and Regional Impact

The rapid military campaign has exacted a heavy toll across the region. According to U.S. officials, more than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran, with dozens more casualties reported in Lebanon as the conflict spreads beyond Iranian borders.

American forces have also paid a price for the operation. Six U.S. troops were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait, underscoring the dangers faced by American military personnel even in locations previously considered relatively secure.

Gen. Caine confirmed that the U.S. military is actively assisting thousands of Americans who have become stranded across the Middle East following the State Department's urgent advisories for U.S. citizens to leave more than a dozen countries in the region.

Significance of Torpedo Warfare Return

The successful torpedo attack marks a remarkable moment in naval warfare history. The last time a U.S. submarine sank an enemy vessel with a torpedo was during World War II, when American submarines played a crucial role in the Pacific theater, devastating the Japanese merchant marine and naval forces.

Modern submarine warfare had evolved primarily toward launching cruise missiles and conducting intelligence gathering operations. The return to torpedo attacks against surface vessels represents a shift back to a more traditional submarine warfare role, demonstrating the versatility and lethality of America's submarine fleet.

The attack also highlights the vulnerability of surface warships to modern submarine threats, even in an era dominated by advanced sensors and anti-submarine warfare technology. The fact that the Soleimani was operating in international waters and still fell victim to an American submarine underscores the stealth capabilities of U.S. naval forces.

Strategic Implications

The destruction of Iran's flagship and the broader degradation of its naval forces fundamentally alters the strategic balance in the Persian Gulf. Iranian naval power has historically served as one of Tehran's primary tools for threatening international shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes.

With Iranian naval capabilities effectively neutralized, the regime has lost a major lever of influence over global energy markets and regional security. This may limit Tehran's options for responding to the ongoing military campaign or for deterring future actions by the United States and its allies.

Operation Epic Fury Objectives

While the full scope and ultimate objectives of Operation Epic Fury remain unclear, the rapid pace and overwhelming force of the campaign suggest the Trump administration is pursuing maximalist goals against the Iranian regime.

The operation appears designed not merely to punish Iran for specific provocations but to fundamentally degrade the country's military capabilities across multiple domainsnaval, air, and ground forces. The systematic destruction of Iranian naval assets, the suppression of air defenses, and the targeting of military leadership all point to an effort to cripple Iran's capacity to project power regionally.

The timing of the operation, coming amid widespread protests against the Iranian regime and following years of escalating tensions, suggests the administration sees an opportunity to deliver a decisive blow to a government already facing significant internal and external pressures.

International Response and Regional Stability

The dramatic escalation of military action against Iran raises questions about the broader regional implications and international response. While specific details about diplomatic reactions remain limited, the scale and intensity of the operation will likely prompt responses from various international actors with interests in Middle Eastern stability.

The conflict's expansion and the growing humanitarian toll, combined with the disruption to international travel and commerce throughout the region, present significant challenges for governments attempting to protect their citizens and economic interests in the area.

As Operation Epic Fury continues to unfold, the historic submarine attack on the Soleimani stands as a defining momentboth as a tactical victory and as a symbol of American military power projection in one of the world's most strategically important regions.
UPDATE: Names have been released of the men who died in Wapakoneta house fire
The First Direct Booking App for Hotels Launches in ChatGPT, Powered By Lighthouse - Image Credit Lighthouse

Hotels gain a direct connection to travelers in AI search results with brand-controlled content, live rates and commission-free bookings

Lighthouse, the AI commercial operating system for the travel and hospitality industry, today announced the launch of The Hotels Network app, the first direct booking app for hotels available inside ChatGPT. Powered by Lighthouses Connect AI engine, the app gives hotels a direct presence in AI conversations for the first time.

The app is available to hotels of every size worldwide on a flat fee subscription with zero booking commissions.

A new direct booking channel for hotel discovery

ChatGPT now reaches more than 800 million users globally, a user base 133 times larger than the iPhone App Store at launch in 2008. According to a recent Simon-Kucher survey, 43% of travelers already use AI tools during their trip planning process and 62% prefer to book directly with hotels when given the option.

Lighthouse has been building toward this moment since June 2025, when the company outlined a clear thesis: AI platforms are becoming the new front door for hotel discovery, and hotels need a direct presence or risk ceding control to third parties. Booking.com and Expedia moved quickly to secure their place as ChatGPT App launch partners. Hotels had no comparable path. The Hotels Network app changes that, giving hotels a direct booking channel inside the AI conversations where trip planning increasingly starts.

What this means for travelers

Today, travelers asking ChatGPT for hotel recommendations get results shaped largely by OTA listings and scraped web content  generic summaries that miss what actually makes a property worth booking. The Hotels Network app changes what they see. Results are now built on verified, hotel-provided content: accurate descriptions, real photography and live rates direct from the property, often at better prices than OTA listings. And with one click, travelers are routed to the hotel's own website to complete the reservation.

What this means for hotels

The app gives hotels three capabilities that were previously unavailable inside AI platforms:

Brand narrative control. Instead of relying on AI-scraped generic summaries, hotels can present their story the way they want it told. Properties can showcase what makes them unique, from a recently renovated spa to a rooftop bar with city views, ensuring AI recommendations reflect the real guest experience.

Direct rates, inside the conversation. Hotels can surface their own rates inside AI conversations. This means hotels can offer competitive pricing and direct-booking perks, like complimentary upgrades, loyalty benefits and best-rate guarantees.

Answer the questions travelers actually ask. With Connect AI, hotels can better answer the kinds of questions travelers bring to AI platforms: "Which hotels near the beach in Barcelona are good for families?" "What activities does this hotel offer for toddlers? The app surfaces properties with the rich, structured information needed to match traveler intent, not just a price and a star rating.

"AI is the biggest shift in how travelers plan their trips and discover hotels since Google, and the OTAs have already moved," said Juanjo Rodriguez, Head of Direct Booking at Lighthouse. "The Hotels Network app is the industry's answer. Properties can now control how they're discovered, tell their own story and surface their own rates, all inside the conversations where trip planning starts. This isn't an incremental improvement. It's a new distribution channel. And the hotels going live today are shaping how the next generation of travelers discovers and books hotels."

How it works

The Hotels Network app is powered by Connect AI, Lighthouse's AI engine built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP) standard. Connect AI creates a live data bridge between hotels and AI platforms, ensuring that when a traveler asks ChatGPT for hotel recommendations, the response draws on accurate, real-time information directly from the property, not scraped summaries or outdated training data.

Hotels appear with brand-verified content, live rates and one-click direct booking links that route guests to the hotel's own website to complete the booking. Hotels control their full brand narrative inside AI conversations  property descriptions, amenities, guest experience details and photography  not just rates and availability.

Live in the ChatGPT App Directory

The Hotels Network app is live now in the ChatGPT App Directory. The app is open to hotel chains, groups, and independent properties, and no changes to existing hotel websites, booking engines or property management systems are required. The launch marks the next step in the evolution of Connect AI.

As new AI channels emerge, Connect AI is built to grow with the AI ecosystem, extending hotel visibility to new conversational platforms and emerging initiatives such as WebMCP.

Travelers can start discovering hotels directly inside ChatGPT today. Hotels can learn more and request a demo at mylighthouse.com/connect-ai.

About Lighthouse

Lighthouse is the AI commercial operating system for the travel and hospitality industry, purpose-built to help hotels optimize pricing, distribution, marketing, and performance management. Powered by the industrys most trusted commercial intelligence layer, Lighthouse delivers better commercial outcomes for hotels of every size through a system of autonomous commercial agents. Hotels set the strategy; Lighthouse agents do the work, learn from every outcome, and get better every day. For more information, visit www.mylighthouse.com.
Germany and Spain to Lead G20 in Travel and Tourism Investment Growth Through 2035 - Image Credit WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has reported that projected Travel & Tourism investment across major economies is expected to reach US$12.5 trillion through 2035, with Germany and Spain leading in investment growth.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released its latest report, "Bridging the Gap: Travel & Tourism Capital Investment and Demand Growth Across the G20," at ITB Berlin. Produced in collaboration with Oxford Economics, the report states that Travel & Tourism demand across the G20 and Spain is forecast to grow at 3.3% annually over the next decade, while capital investment in the sector is projected to rise at a higher rate of 4.6% annually.

The report notes a current gap between the pace of investment recovery and demand growth, with investment lagging behind demand in the near term. This divergence is expected to result in capacity pressures and localised overcrowding, impacting existing tourist infrastructure. The situation is projected to shift from around 2033 onwards, when investment is expected to exceed demand. From 2025 to 2035, investment is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%, compared to 3.3% for demand.

Germany plans to invest $543 billion up to 2035, with an investment-to-demand growth ratio of 1.39. Spain is projected to commit $349 billion over the same period, with investment 1.46 times faster than demand between now and 2035.

WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara stated that countries aligning investment with future demand are strengthening economic resilience and supporting long-term growth. Guevara also noted that sustained, targeted infrastructure investment, including transport connectivity and sustainable upgrades, will be central to unlocking the sectors economic potential. She called for continued collaboration between governments and the private sector to ensure that investment remains aligned with long-term demand trends.

The report identifies the need to align investment with immediate demand to ensure long-term resilience in the Travel & Tourism sector. It notes that overall investment growth is expected to outpace demand over the coming decade, but the timing of investment recovery is critical to managing capacity and infrastructure challenges.
Cost and Safety Concerns Reshape U.S. Meetings Industry, MMGY Study Finds - Image Credit MMGY

A new MMGY Travel Intelligence study finds that while demand for in-person meetings in the U.S. remains high, planners and attendees are increasingly focused on cost, safety, and technology, driving significant changes in how meetings are organized.

MMGY Travel Intelligence has released its 2026 Portrait of Meeting Planners & Attendees U.S. Edition, which examines the current state of the meetings and events industry in the United States. The report, produced in partnership with Grand America Hotels & Resorts, is based on a survey of 300 meeting professionals and 1,000 meeting or conference attendees. The study explores the priorities and concerns of both planners and attendees, revealing that financial pressures and safety considerations are now central to decision-making in the industry.

Financial Pressures Shape Decisions

The report identifies cost as a primary concern for both planners and attendees. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of meeting planners listed travel costs to host destinations as a significant issue for the coming year. Among attendees, 43% cited event costs as the main barrier to participation. Rising expenses for accommodation and transportation have led planners to focus on value, transparent pricing, and bundled packages that minimize uncertainty. The emphasis has shifted from simply finding the lowest price to securing the best value for money.

Safety Concerns Influence Choices

Safety has become a nonnegotiable factor in planning and attending events. According to the study, 72% of planners consider crime levels when selecting destinations. For attendees, both terrorism risk and crime are influential, with 62% indicating these concerns affect their decisions. Safety now ranks nearly as high as cost as a barrier to event participation. The findings suggest that destinations and venues need to provide visible safety measures and clear communication to build attendee confidence.

Continued Preference for In-Person Events

Despite these challenges, the preference for in-person meetings remains strong. Ninety percent of planners believe that face-to-face interaction is essential for successful events, and 85% expect to organize in-person meetings in the next year. Among attendees, 83% have previously attended in-person events, and 61% prefer them over hybrid or virtual formats. This indicates that the desire for direct human connection continues to drive the meetings industry, even as other factors complicate planning.

Urban Destinations and Venue Choices

Major urban centers remain the top choices for meetings. The study found that Miami, New York City, and Las Vegas are the most likely destinations for events in the next two years, with 60%, 58%, and 57% of planners, respectively, considering these cities. Hotel and resort ballrooms are the most commonly used venues, with 84% of planners having used them in the past two years and 83% planning to use them again. There is also growing interest in hosting events at historic landmarks, reflecting a desire for unique experiences without sacrificing convenience.

Technology as a Basic Expectation

Technology infrastructure is now seen as a baseline requirement for events. Planners increasingly expect venues to provide robust cybersecurity (62%), accessibility technologies (56%), and dedicated on-site production teams (52%) for large conferences. The report notes that technology is no longer a differentiator but a standard expectation for successful meetings.

Conclusion

The MMGY study indicates that while the meetings industry remains resilient, it faces increasing demands for value, safety, and technological support. Destinations and venues that can address these concerns are likely to be more competitive in attracting both planners and attendees. The full study is available for purchase or through MMGYs research platform.
W Punta Cana Adult All-Inclusive Resort - Image Credit Marriott International

Marriott International reported record growth in its Caribbean and Latin America region in 2025, signing 94 deals and adding nearly 40 properties to its portfolio.

Marriott International announced that in 2025, it signed 94 deals in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) region, adding 10,461 rooms to its pipeline. This marked a 40 percent increase in signed transactions and more than 30 percent growth in signed rooms compared to 2024. The company expanded its portfolio with 39 properties and 4,292 rooms, bringing its regional footprint to 555 open properties and more than 95,000 rooms across 37 countries and territories by year-end.

Conversions were a significant driver of growth, with nearly 30 properties and 3,000 rooms signed under this model in 2025. Approximately 30 percent of the rooms signed were attributed to conversions. At the end of 2025, the CALA development pipeline included 45 conversion projects representing more than 6,000 rooms.

Marriott's luxury segment in the region included 71 open properties and 38 pipeline hotels at year-end, representing more than 18,000 rooms. In 2025, the company opened Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica, and Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Mexico. Ritz-Carlton Reserve also broke ground in Southern Eleuthera, The Bahamas, with Cotton Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Residences, anticipated to open in 2029. Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts announced the upcoming Bvlgari Resort & Residences, Cave, Exuma in The Bahamas, also planned for 2029.

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The all-inclusive portfolio in CALA expanded with the opening of Paraiso de la Bonita, a Luxury Collection Resort, Riviera Maya, Adult All-Inclusive, and W Punta Cana, Adult All-Inclusive, the world's first all-inclusive W Hotel. The JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort All-Inclusive in Costa Rica is set to debut in 2026 as the first all-inclusive JW Marriott resort in CALA.

In the midscale segment, the City Express by Marriott brand signed 28 deals across CALA for 3,188 rooms in 2025, with planned expansion into Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The company anticipates opening six City Express by Marriott properties in 2026, including market entries in Argentina, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. In Brazil, 13 deals representing more than 1,400 rooms were signed in 2025, including seven hotels announced in July. These are part of a multi-unit development agreement with FABRICA DE HOTEIS in Brazil, anticipated to add 30 City Express by Marriott properties across Brazil's Northeast region over the next 15 years. At year-end, City Express by Marriott had nearly 150 open hotels in the region, representing more than 17,700 rooms, and a pipeline of 46 deals and over 5,200 rooms.

Marriott's portfolio in Brazil included 15 properties across nine brands, representing 3,779 rooms, with 21 properties and 4,000 rooms in the signed pipeline. Recent openings include The Westin Sao Paulo, inaugurated in June 2025, and the upcoming Tropical Hotel da Amazonia, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, slated to open in 2026. The company has also signed agreements for projects such as The Westin Joao Pessoa, an All-Inclusive Resort.
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Holi, the Hindu festival of colours, was celebrated across India on Wednesday.

The festival welcomes spring with bursts of colours, music, and shared meals.

open image in gallery People play with coloured powder as they celebrate Holi in Hyderabad ( AP )

Celebrated on the day of the last full moon of the Hindu luni-solar month of Falgun, it sees people dressed in white stepping into streets and courtyards to toss bright powders and splash coloured water on one another.

open image in gallery People smeared with coloured powder dance during a Holi celebration in Hyderabad ( AP )

The air fills with celebration, plates of sweets called gujiya are passed around, and thandai flows freely as communities come together to mark love, renewal and a fresh start.

open image in gallery A woman has her face smeared with coloured powder as she celebrates Holi in Hyderabad ( AP )

The festival is rooted in Hindu mythology. On the eve of Holi, bonfires are lit in a ritual called Holika Dahan, symbolising the victory of good over evil.

Other traditions connect the day to the Hindu deities Krishna and Radha, whose playful exchange of colours is said to have inspired the custom.

open image in gallery A priest sprays coloured water on devotees during a celebration of Holi at the Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple in Ahmedabad on 4 March 2026 ( AP )

open image in gallery A woman with her face smeared with coloured powder celebrates Holi in Mumbai ( AP )

open image in gallery Hindu devotees attend Holi celebrations inside a temple in Ahmedabad ( REUTERS )

Different regions add their own flavour  from Lathmar Holi in Uttar Pradesh, where women playfully strike men with sticks in a re-enactment of the legend to cultural spring celebrations in West Bengal inspired by Rabindranath Tagore.

open image in gallery A group of girls pose for photographs as they celebrate Holi in Mumbai ( AP )

In Varanasi, some devotees even celebrate with Masaan Holi, using ashes by the Ganges in a reminder of lifes cycle.

open image in gallery Women smear each other with coloured powder as they celebrate Holi in Mumbai ( AFP via Getty )

While Holi is known for joy and togetherness, conversations about safety have also become part of the festival. Some women have spoken out about harassment during crowded celebrations, urging revellers to ensure that fun does not come at the cost of consent.

For many, the true spirit of Holi lies not just in colour, but in respect, community and shared happiness.
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The small Himalayan nation of Nepal is heading to polls this week, almost six months after a violent Gen Z-led protest brought the government to its knees and forced prime minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

Around 800,000 first-time voters will be among nearly 19 million people to cast their ballots on Thursday to choose members of the 275-seat House of Representatives, in what is widely being framed as a contest between the political old guard and an impatient new generation.

Last Septembers protest, which resulted in the death of 77 people, exposed the scale of youth anger over corruption and scarce jobs in a country where one in five young adults is unemployed. Since then, following in Bangladeshs footsteps, Nepal has been governed by an interim administration, which promised accountability for the killings and fresh elections.

Nepal, a Hindu-majority nation of 30 million people, is preparing to celebrate Holi, the festival that marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. The election will be held the following day.

"We will celebrate Holi on Wednesday and we will celebrate democracy on Thursday. It is a positive omen," Aadarash Thapa, a 19-year-old college student from the capital Kathmandu, who was part of last year's protest, tells The Independent.

"It is spring and it is time for a new government. Hopefully, we will play with colours once again after the results are declared," adds Thapa, a self-proclaimed fan of rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah.

Thapa says he will cast his vote for the first-time this week for a corruption-free Nepal.

Several first-time candidates, including prominent activists from last years protests, are taking on Nepals political old guard. However, the race for the prime ministers chair is shaping into a three-way battle between Oli, young party leader Gagan Thapa, and former rapper-turned-Kathmandu mayor Shah.

The winner will be the countrys 16th prime minister in less than two decades, a sobering reminder of Nepals chronic political instability since the 2008 abolition of the monarchy.

Over 3,400 candidates from 63 political parties are contesting, nearly two in five of them under 35.

The demographic make-up of the contestants is a reflection of the population, nearly two-thirds of which is also under 35.

open image in gallery File. Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on 9 September 2025, a day after a police crackdown on demonstrations over social media prohibitions and corruption by the government ( AFP/Getty )

With youth unemployment at 20.6 per cent, the highest in South Asia and Southeast Asia, according to the World Bank, Nepal today is a portrait of the failure of successive governments to tackle the jobs crisis.

The largest political parties are vowing to tackle unemployment by fixing the outflow of workers that started when the country liberalised its economy in 1991 and private recruitment agencies set up shop.

Widely seen as the frontrunner riding on the popularity of its prime ministerial candidate, the mayor Shah, the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has promised to create 1.2 million jobs to reduce forced migration. The Nepali Congress, the country's oldest political party, has pledged to generate 1.5 million jobs and slash the outflow of workers by half in the next five years.

At a rally in Kathmandu as rap music blares, people wait eagerly for Shah, 35, to take the stage. People of all ages chant Balen, as he is popularly known, while giant banners of the political newcomer in his trademark black sunglasses loom over the crowd.

open image in gallery Rastriya Swatantra Partys Balendra Shah, centre, is greeted by supporters during a rally on the final day of campaigning ahead of Nepal's general election at Gauriganj in Jhapa district on 2 March 2026 ( AFP/Getty )

Shah has turned his self-asserted readiness to challenge entrenched political patronage into a star-making formula. Hes taking on Oli, a four-time prime minister, on the veterans home turf in the Jhapa district. Oli, 74, has won six times from the constituency in his long political career.

Shah has positioned himself as the face of youth-led political change and has largely shunned the mainstream press to rely heavily on social media to amplify his messages. Our agenda is that the poor people who have no money in their pockets should get a full education. The poor people with empty pockets should get access to the health facilities. That is our agenda, he tells his supporters in western Nepal.

Nishchal N Pandey, director of the Centre for South Asian Studies in Nepal, points out that no government has survived a full term in decades. These are historic elections," he tells the BBC. "People are tired of the same old faces. They want to see a generational contest between Gen Z and the group of older politicians from the 1990s."

Challenging Shah is Gagan Thapa, the newly installed leader of the Nepali Congress, a liberal democratic party with close ties to neighbouring India.

open image in gallery Nepali Rastriya Swatantra Partys Balendra Shah waves to supporters during a campaign roadshow in the district of Jhapa on 1 March 2026 ( Getty )

A popular face within the Nepali Congress, Thapa, 49, had been held back by the partys senior leadership until earlier this year, when he mounted a rebellion and secured his election as party chief.

The Nepali Congress has remained a popular party even though it was a part of the last coalition government that was forced out in September.

Thapa says his priority would be to rid Nepal of corruption within five years and make the federal government fully accountable to the public.

He tells the news agency AFP that he wanted to end the old age club of revolving veteran leaders, adding that he offered voters the right mix of energy and experience.

Despite facing widespread public resentment, the veteran Marxist Oli retains backing within his Communist Party. The controversial leader is widely blamed for the deadly protests that felled his government last year.

open image in gallery Nepali Congress party's Gagan Thapa addresses supporters during a campaign rally in Kathmandu on 1 March 2026 ( AFP/Getty )

Oli, whose party is seen as being more friendly to China, has consistently argued that steady policies and politics are essential for Nepal, warning that the economy needs stability to develop. His popularity peaked when he stood up to an economic blockade imposed by India in 2015 that resulted in shortages of fuel, medicine and other necessities.

It is definitely frustrating for the youth given the countrys state unemployment, but our family has traditionally voted for the Communist party and this year wont be any different, says Nikita Tamag, a 67-year-old shop owner in the capital.

Balen might have style and he might say big statements to impress the new generation, but it is unlikely that he would be capable enough as the prime minister of my country, she tells The Independent.

What happened last September was unfortunate.

open image in gallery Supporters present flowers to KP Sharma Oli, Nepal's former prime minister, during a rally on the final day of campaigning ahead of the general election at Gauradaha in Jhapa district on 2 March 2026 ( AFP/Getty )

On 4 September 2025, Nepal blocked 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X, sparking outrage, especially among young people who relied on them for news, work, and connection. The move was widely seen as an attempt to stifle dissent amid rising anger over the lavish lifestyles of politicians children while ordinary citizens grappled with unemployment.

On 8 September, Kathmandu saw protests by Gen Z  people born between 1997 and 2012  turn deadly when clashes with security forces left at least 20 dead. Protests escalated the next day despite the government easing social media restrictions.

Violence surged, with over 2,500 buildings torched, from courts and government offices to media houses and hotels, including Kathmandus Hilton. In two days, at least 77 people were killed.

Days after Oli resigned, thousands of young activists used Discord to select former chief justice Sushila Karki to lead the interim administration. After being sworn in, the 73-year-old pledged to restore order, launch an inquiry into the violence, and form a cabinet to oversee elections.

But months later, the responsibility for the use of lethal force remains disputed between senior police officials and civil authorities.

Karki, in a televised address on Monday, said: I sincerely appeal to you to go to your polling station and vote on Thursday, even if you have to leave other work.

Pleading for calm, she added: I request everyone to maintain peace and harmony during this election season. It is only with your active participation that our democracy will survive. To move the country forward on the path of political stability and prosperity, all voters should participate in the upcoming elections.

The army will oversee voting to ease fears over the 750 weapons stolen from police during the September protests, which are still unaccounted for.
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Charities and campaigners have condemned the UK government slashing of funding to help protect the natural world and help lower-income nations deal with the climate crisis, warning the cuts will hit the world's most vulnerable communities the hardest.

Campaigners have called the move "strategically reckless," warning it will drive global allies away at a critical geopolitical moment.

The criticism follows an investigation by The Guardian highlighting that several programmes worth hundreds of millions of pounds are being substantially reduced or effectively ended, even as the government insists it remains "on track" to meet its 11.6 billion climate finance pledge for the period from 2021 to 2026.

The government plans to reduce the next five-year round of international climate finance from 11.6bn to 9bn, the newspaper reported. The move comes at a time when richer countries, including the UK, have pledged to help triple global climate finance to $300bn a year by 2035.

"Our natural world is a source of joy and hope in an increasingly uncertain age, yet the UK government is taking an axe to the very programmes successfully restoring it, said Felix Lane, political campaigner at Greenpeace UK.

Andreas Sieber, head of political strategy at the environmental organisation 350.org, said the approach was "wrong, unnecessary and strategically reckless."

"The UK could instead tax the windfall profits fossil fuel companies are making from gas price spikes linked to the war with Iran," he said. "At a time when Europe needs more allies in the Global South, not fewer, these decisions risk driving partners away while the poorest communities pay the price."

Tim Ingram, head of UK advocacy at WaterAid, said the cuts were unacceptable at a time when climate change was already straining access to clean water and sanitation in developing countries.

"It's just not good enough," he said. "If the UK continues to slash its climate and nature programmes, we can't tackle the shared challenges of global health and food security, and climate resilience."

The Guardian investigation also suggested that at least 2bn of the 11.6bn commitment is expected to be met through an accounting change introduced by the last Conservative government, which allows 30 per cent of general aid to the world's least developed countries to be counted as climate finance, even where it has no explicit climate or nature components.

"The United Kingdom built its industrial empire on 150 years of fossil fuels  emitting carbon that still hangs in our atmosphere today, scorching our lands, swallowing our coasts, and destroying the harvests communities depend on to survive. Developing nations did not ignite this crisis, but our people are dying in it, said Harjeet Singh, a climate activist and founding director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation.

Redirecting aid budgets and calling it climate finance is not leadership. The UK must not mistake accounting manoeuvres for climate action. Trillions in climate finance are needed annually in developing countries, and the UK must pay its fair share. he added. The world is watching. And history will not be kind to those who had the power and the responsibility to act  and chose instead to balance their books on the backs of the most vulnerable."

Displaced tea plantation workers and their families queue for aid at a safety center after Cyclone Ditwah led to floods and landslides at Craighead Estate in Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka ( AP )

The government has so far refused to offer details on individual programmes, with The Independent reaching out for a comment. A government spokesperson told The Independent last month: "The UK remains committed to providing international climate finance, playing our part alongside other developed countries. The UK is on track to deliver 11.6bn in international climate finance by the end of this financial year. We are modernising our approach to ensure we focus on greater impact."

We continue to publish regular, transparent information to enable people in the UK and internationally to track our progress, and we will publish... allocations for the next three years shortly.

The government's retreat comes as the United States, under Donald Trump, has backed away from its climate finance commitments, leaving other developed countries under growing pressure to fill the gap.

Among the programmes reportedly affected is the 100m Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, originally intended to protect vital ecosystems across six regions in Africa, South America and Asia  now reduced to two. The future of the 500m Blue Planet Fund, set up to protect marine environments after Sir David Attenborough's documentary series raised global concern, has also been thrown into doubt.

Adrian Gahan of Campaign for Nature who helped build a public nature finance tracker, wrote on LinkedIn that the governments silence had been costly.

"What happens when the UK government makes a globally significant international nature finance commitment in 2021 and then does not tell anyone how the money is being spent over the subsequent five years?" he wrote. "Political and public support for the funding slips away, despite its value."

Mr Lane said: David Attenboroughs Blue Planet II was a seminal moment that galvanised a global movement to protect our oceans. As his 100th birthday approaches, Ministers must finally heed his warning: 'if we save the sea, we save our planet.'

If this government is serious about international ocean leadership, it must stop these short-sighted cuts. It must act on its commitment to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030 and focus on establishing a network of ocean sanctuaries across the Atlantic, including the Sargasso Sea."

This article has been produced as part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project
Ive never been a gym person, so I had no idea about creatine when I was first introduced to the supplement a couple of years ago. When my partner told me how this white powder that helped him lift more in the gym was also boosting his focus, it felt too good to be true: Youre telling me I can mix some magic dust into a cup of tea and my brain will sharpen, and there are no side effects?

Thats not how anything in this world works. But my partner swore it was real, so I put aside my scepticism and gave it a go. To my amazement, this little chemistry experiment seemed to make the world brighten, and now I wouldnt be without it.

Im not alone. Creatine  an energy-boosting supplement thats also naturally produced in the body  is no longer just the domain of gym bros looking for a power-up  women are now also flocking to the supplement, drawn in by its brain-boosting powers. It has long been proven to help with muscle performance, making it popular initially among people looking for gains in the gym  creatine helps with the regeneration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the bodys energy currency.

But newer research has found that creatine also helps with brain performance. We store creatine in our brains as well as our muscles, which means that an added supplement can help clear brain fog and improve alertness, attention and memory.

Thats why women like me are now turning to the supplement. The problem is that marketers have caught on that theres a new group of consumers who might like the product to feel more wellness than bodybuilder  and the price for these rebranded products has been significantly hyped.

Its hard to know what product to go for. A quick online image search brings up a sea of black and gold tubs that reference muscles and chemistry  the creatine that was traditionally branded to a masculine audience. But as the market expands, so do the choices  lately the Instagram algorithm has been serving me a barrage of creatine for women who keep going, claiming this is how we power on.

The packaging is stylish and elegant  but it costs 34.95 for a bottlebag thats the same size as the Gatorade-style 10 bag that my partner buys. Especially considering that they both have the same thing listed on the back: 100% creatine monohydrate.

If the contents are the same, why is the pretty creatine so much more expensive? All I want is 100 per cent creatine monohydrate, which is what the research tells us works. But this feels like a creatine pink tax  women are nudged to pay more for essentially the same product that men get for far less.

Henry Chung, a lecturer in sport, rehabilitation and exercise science at the University of Essex, says theres no reason why men and women shouldnt take the same creatine. Theres no real difference between a really high-end creatine and a low-end one, says Chung, explaining that creatine is a scientific compound that is exactly the same every time. Its just creatine at the end of the day, like how salt is just salt.

open image in gallery Studies have shown that creatine can support muscle health and cognitive function at any age ( Getty/iStock )

There are lots of different products out there, with some having added ingredients or flavours, and sometimes its micronised, which means it will dissolve better and go down easier  but the core creatine ingredient is the same.

Studies have found that people who take creatine can lift up to 30 per cent more, as well as enjoy a whole host of other physical benefits, from injury recovery to managing chronic disease. In recent years, research has also found a number of cognitive benefits of creatine, from helping with performance if youre sleep deprived to memory improvements, especially in older people.

Creatine is proven to be very safe: Creatine is one of the most researched substances out there. Its already naturally occurring in meat and dairy products, says Chung, adding there are no proven side effects to taking creatine. Dosage depends on your goals, but 5 grams a day is proven safe and effective.

One of the most common claims in creatine advertising is that the product is pure, sometimes with the implication that other brands might not be safe. This was the energy in a recent ad floating past my Instagram feed, where an insistent woman cited research papers about impurities, while this creatine promised super high quality clean creatine. The cost of this purity was a staggering 28 for one month, more than five times what my partner pays.

Chung says you can get quality creatine for a lot less than that, but the purity factor is not irrelevant. There are very slight differences in the purity of creatine, he says. Simply put, it comes down to how many times the creatine is filtered during manufacturing, and while more is better, its unlikely to be as significant as some suggest.

You might just get a slightly more potent creatine, says Chung, who recommends checking that your product is at least 99 per cent pure, to make sure youre buying good quality. But these differences are minuscule. It wouldnt have any real physiological differences, even after many years, says Chung.

Lots of people seem to be feeling this way  the creatine usage in the UK is soaring. Market research firm Grand View believes this is only the beginning: creatine already generates more than 15m in revenues in the UK, but might reach 70m by 2030.

Some of this increase will undoubtedly come from women looking to combat brain fog and muscle loss during perimenopause and menopause, which is another growing supplements market. Already, UK women are spending an average of 1,800 a year on products to ease this transition, according to a OnePoll survey from last year. This survey also found that a quarter struggled to find a trusted source for which products to buy.

Just because a supplement is in fancy packaging, or it has the word woman or menopause on it, suddenly they think they can charge more Alison Bladh

For women desperate for solutions to an understudied hormonal problem, this leaves room for clever marketing to steer women towards more expensive products by promising relief. This is problematic in general, but when the science on what works is as clear as with creatine, it can feel especially exploitative.

Just because a supplement is in fancy packaging, or it has the word woman or menopause on it, suddenly they think they can charge more, says Alison Bladh, a registered nutritional therapist who specialises in womens health. Its gendered marketing  its basically the same product repackaged in more feminine colours, using words like empowerment, beauty and self-care. I dont think thats fair.

Bladh sees this happening across lots of supplements, such as magnesium glycinate and vitamin D  all of which are great for women, but if that fact is mentioned on the box, it often will cost more. Bladh recommends looking out for fillers, sweeteners and flavourings when buying supplements, and to make sure products come in a format the body can actually use. For example, some people are drawn to creatine gummies to get away from the gritty powder, but many creatine gummies have been found to contain almost no creatine.

Bladh often recommends creatine to her clients who are looking for a little help with everyday life. It can be beneficial when youre stressed or tired, and when life feels tough. It can help with life tasks like lifting heavy shopping, climbing stairs or carrying children.

The cognitive benefits are especially beneficial for women with hormonal imbalances: Creatine can help with mood support. The brain is a strongly energy-craving organ  creatine is already present in the brain, and supplementing can help because the brain needs energy to focus, says Bladh. But if you already feel strong and focused, it would have little additional benefit.

Social media has made it easier than ever for advertisers to target people who are interested in wellness, touting endless beautiful supplements promising to fix all our problems. Bladh thinks women are wisening up to the supplement pink tax  were hopefully growing more cynical.

But at the same time, its a market thats complicated and confusing, so Bladh can also see why a woman might go into a health food shop and see a beautifully packaged and expensive creatine product aimed at women, and assume thats the best one for her  even though the same good product comes in a cheap, plain tub just down in the mens aisle.
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U.S. border officials in Philadelphia have seized a cache of 4,000-year-old Bronze Age swords and arrowheads, believed to be looted antiquities from Iran.

The ancient weapons were intercepted from a shipment thought to contain items plundered following recent turmoil in the Middle Eastern state, preceding the U.S. and Israel launching strikes there over the weekend.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) team confiscated 36 copper-alloy short swords and 50 copper-alloy arrowheads on 18 February, saying that they had been unlawfully imported into the United States.

The consignment had arrived on an express delivery flight from the United Arab Emirates on 16 October, addressed to a location in Jacksonville.

Officers grew suspicious after X-raying the shipment, which had been falsely declared as "metal decorative articles", revealing sword-like shapes.

Upon opening the package, the ancient weapons were discovered.

open image in gallery An archaeologist authenticated the artifacts as originating in the Talish Mountains region of Iran along the Caspian Sea ( CBP/Cover Images )

Suspecting cultural artefacts, officers detained the consignment for further investigation.

Specialists from the National Targeting Centers Antiquities Unit were consulted, alongside an archaeologist from a Philadelphia university with extensive Middle East experience.

On 13 February, the archaeologist authenticated the weapons as antiquities from the later second millennium BCE, dating between 1600 and 1000 BCE.

They were identified as originating from Iran's Talish Mountains region, near the south-western Caspian Sea coast.

open image in gallery 50 copper-alloy arrowheads were among the seized loot ( CBP/Cover Images )

Officials suspect that the weapons were plundered from illicit excavations of ancient burial sites.

CBP has said that it will safeguard the antiquities, pending a decision on their final disposition.

Elliot N Ortiz, CBPs acting area port director in Philadelphia, said: "Customs and Border Protection officers strive to rescue cultural artifacts from the grips of illicit international traders who plunder and exploit another nations heritage for profit.

"The deceptive practices used to smuggle these treasures into the United States not only violate our import laws but also undermine efforts to preserve and protect the integrity of cultural history."
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A minuscule fossil discovered in Colorado has offered scientists unprecedented insights into one of humanitys earliest ancestors  a small, squirrel-like creature.

The tiny remnant belongs to Purgatorius, one of the earliest known relatives of all primates, including humans, which first emerged about 66 million years ago  living alongside dinosaurs before they vanished.

Previously, remains of Purgatorius had only been unearthed in what is now Montana and south-western Canada.

However, the latest discovery, detailed in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, places the species significantly further south, within the Denver Basin at the Corral Bluffs study area.

The find is crucial in resolving a long-standing mystery.

While slightly younger primate relatives have been identified in the south-western United States, their appearance roughly two million years later left a perplexing geographical void.

open image in gallery Purgatorius, a small squirrel-like creature, was one of humans' earliest ancestors ( Andrey Atuchin/Cover Images )

"The discovery helps fill the gap in understanding the geography and evolution of our earliest primate relatives," said lead author Dr Stephen Chester of Brooklyn College and the City University of New York, who spearheaded the research alongside colleagues from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

"The presence of these fossils in Colorado suggests that archaic primates originated in the north and then spread southward, diversifying soon after the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period."

Earlier theories had posited that the creatures apparent absence further south might have been linked to widespread forest destruction caused by the asteroid impact that eradicated the dinosaurs, an event believed to have occurred near modern-day Mexicos Caribbean coast.

"Ankle bones of Purgatorius exhibit features that indicate it lived in trees, so we initially thought its absence south of Montana could be related to the sweeping devastation of forests from the asteroid impact 66 million years ago," Chester said.

"However, our paleobotanical colleagues suggested the recovery of plants in North America was fast, leading us to believe that Purgatorius should also be in more southern regions and perhaps we simply hadnt looked hard enough."

open image in gallery A Purgatorius upper molar from Corral Bluffs Denver Basin, Colorado ( Stephen Chester/Cover Images )

To investigate the hypothesis, the team employed an intensive screen-washing technique to sift through sediments  a meticulous process that enables researchers to recover fossils too small to be seen with the naked eye.

The work received support from a nearly $3m grant from the National Science Foundation, as part of a broader project led by Dr Tyler Lyson at the Denver museum, exploring how life recovered after the mass extinction event.

Students and volunteers played a vital role, processing vast quantities of sediment and uncovering numerous fossils of fish, turtles, and crocodilians. Eventually, they found a handful of tiny Purgatorius teeth, each small enough to rest on the tip of a babys finger.

Dr Jordan Crowell, a postdoctoral researcher at the Denver museum, said: "The specimens have a unique combination of features compared to known species of Purgatorius, but we are awaiting the recovery of additional material to assess whether these fossils represent a new species."

open image in gallery Denver Museum of Nature & Science volunteers and interns in the field ( Stephen Chester/Cover Images )

The findings also indicate that the perceived scarcity of early primate fossils in southern parts of western North America was partly due to sampling bias. Traditional fossil-hunting methods, employed for over a century, tend to favor larger, more obvious remains.

"Thanks to our long-term partnership with the City of Colorado Springs, who own the land where the fossils were collected, as well as countless hours of work by our volunteers and interns picking through the dirt for the precious vertebrate fossils, we are building some incredible datasets that provide insights on how life including our earliest primitive primate ancestors, rebounded after the single worst day for life on Earth," Lyson said.

Chester emphasized the importance of more diligent and detailed searching.

"Our results demonstrate that small fossils can easily be missed," he said. "With more intensive searching, especially using screen-washing techniques, we will undoubtedly discover many more important specimens."

The research also involved Dr David Krause, senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
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Three men  one of whom is the partner of a sitting Labour MP and former ministerial special advisor  have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

The men were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting Chinas foreign intelligence service, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

Counter Terrorism Policing London arrested a 39-year-old man at an address in London, a 68-year-old man in Powys in central Wales, and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, south Wales.

Labour MP Joani Reid, whose husband David Taylor is one of the people arrested, said: I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.

I am not part of my husbands business activities, and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are. Above all I expect media organisations to respect my childrens privacy.

open image in gallery Labour MP Joani Reid said I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law ( UK Parliament )

Those arrested were taken into police custody, where they remain.

Officers have searched the addresses where the men were arrested and have also carried out searches at three other addresses in London, East Kilbride, and Cardiff.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.

Todays arrests are part of a proactive investigation, and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this. Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support.

In a statement released after her spouses arrest, East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Ms Reid said: I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China-related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters.

As far as I am aware, I have never met any Chinese businesses whilst I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.

open image in gallery David Taylor has been arrested over allegations of spying for China ( Asia House )

I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections. I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist Partys dictatorship.

Mr Taylor is the director of policy and programmes at the London-based Asia House think tank, but was previously a senior political advisor for the Labour Party and a special advisor to the then Welsh secretary Peter Hain in 2010. Among his current roles, he is also an advisor to the Central Asia all-party parliamentary group, chaired by Labour MP Pam Cox.

A spokesperson for Asia House said: We cannot comment on a live investigation, but no further information has been provided to us beyond what has been made public.

The arrests come at a time of heightened concerns about China trying to spy on British democracy after recriminations over the collapse of a court case last year involving a parliamentary researcher and a teacher. Both denied any wrongdoing. There have also been concerns expressed in the Commons over China being permitted to build a super embassy in London just days before Sir Keir Starmer made a trip to Beijing.

Addressing the latest arrests in parliament, security minister Dan Jarvis warned there will be severe consequences if it is proven that China attempted to interfere with UK sovereign affairs.

Mr Jarvis said the investigation relates to China and foreign interference targeting UK democracy.

He told MPs: Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.

The government is taking robust action to ensure the UKs democratic institutions and processes are a hard target for this activity. The National Security Act provides our intelligence agencies and law enforcement with the modern legal tools they need to deter, detect and disrupt the full range of state threats.

The action counterterrorism police have been able to take this morning is an example that legislation is working well.

But Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: Here we are again, another year, another Chinese spy scandal, and the backdrop to it is this government's failed policy of appeasement.

The government must now surely be coming to the realisation that unless the United Kingdom stands up to these threats, our country will continue to be treated with disdain.

Mr Burghart referenced the previous collapsed spy scandal case involving China and the recent approval of the Chinese mega-embassy in central London and recalled Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Beijing for trade deals.

He added: We in this House watched as these things happen, and the Chinese state watched too and saw that it could act with impunity. The minister says there is no trade-off between our democratic and national interests, and security interests, and our economic interests. But Im afraid that is exactly what has happened.
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith was among the names of several UK politicians and pro-democracy supporters sent to a man accused of spying for Hong Kong, a court has heard.

Chung Biu Yuen, 64, was sent a message with a list of names, including Sir Iain, who is a vocal critic of China and the chair of the inter-parliamentary alliance on China, which assesses threats from Beijing.

The court heard the message, sent by former Hong Kong Police superintendent George Lee, "suggests Lee was tasking Yuen with intelligence gathering" relating to protest organisations in the UK.

open image in gallery Bill Yuen arrives at the Old Bailey (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Archive )

Yuen is on trial with former UK Border Force officer Chi Leung Wai, of Staines-upon-Thames, also known as Peter Wai, 38, at the Old Bailey in London. The men, both dual Chinese and British citizens, are accused of assisting Hong Kongs intelligence service between December 2023 and May 2024 by "agreeing to undertake information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception" in the UK. They both deny charges under the UKs National Security Act. Wai, of Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey; and Yuen, of Hackney, east London, have denied the charges against them.

Opening the case on Wednesday, prosecutors alleged the men discussed paying special attention to MPs and councillors in the lead-up to China National Day events in 2021.

Wai was allegedly asked by a man called Eddie Ma, a former Hong Kong police officer, to "undertake investigations" in relation to a number of pro-democracy dissidents who had left the country, including Nathan Law.

Mr Ma told Wai he was interested in information related to Mr Law and former Hong Kong politician Chi Fung Hui, both of whom are now wanted in relation to national security charges in Hong Kong, the court heard on Wednesday.

Prosecutors said Mr Ma offered Wai a "monthly budget" of 4,500 to record details, including where they went, their addresses, their associates, and personal details with photographs.

The court heard Mr Ma also suggested Mr Ma told Wai he could use immigration-related systems he had access to as part of his role as a Border Force officer to obtain details of Hong Kong asylum seekers.

Opening the prosecutions case, Duncan Atkinson KC said the pairs actions coincided with public statements by the countrys authorities over bounties of up to HK $1m (100,000) for information leading to the whereabouts or capture of those believed to have links to pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Prosecutors allege Yuen, an employee of the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO) in London, used his role to gather intelligence useful to the Hong Kong authorities, including on those believed to be pro-democracy dissidents.

The court heard he also tasked Wai to undertake various activities to benefit the interests of China, as well as carrying out such activities himself.

Phone messages between Yuen and Wai indicated surveillance of pro-democracy protester Nathan Law, the court was told.

open image in gallery The pair are on trial at the Old Bailey (PA) ( PA Archive )

It was alleged in April 2023 that Wai and Yuen began to speak with a recruit called Matthew Trickett, a former Royal Marine who was then working as a Border Force officer. Trickett died in 2024.

Prosecutors alleged Trickett played a key role in the pairs search for information, including through his own searches on Mr Law in the Home Office database.

In November 2023, Trickett asked to take part in a surveillance operation at the Oxford Union, where he intended to obtain photographs of Mr Law. The court heard Wai used ChatGPT to create a surveillance plan for the event.

The pair are also accused of foreign interference by taking the law into their own hands and forcing entry to an address of Monica Kwong, a former Hong Kong resident who had left in December 2023 and had been accused of fraud against her employer, Tina Zou.

The court heard the pair took steps to discover where Ms Kwong was living in Pontefract before using underhand means, deception, and then force to achieve their ends.

Mr Atkinson KC told the jury the defendants conducted surveillance on her address before tricking their way inside by posing as electricians coming to repair a fuse, and by pouring water under the front door to pretend there had been a flood in the building.

On 1 May 2024, the pair then decided to force their way into her home as if they were a legitimate police operation when they were apprehended by the UK police, the court heard.

Mr Atkinson said the pair had misrepresented themselves in an attempt to gain access to Ms Kwongs flat. He added the actions had been taken under the control of a foreign power, through the HKETO, under Mr Yuens direction.

Wai started working for the UK Border Force in December 2020. The court heard that during his employment, he carried out a number of searches on a computer system called ATLAS, which contains records of immigration status and personal information, including names and contact details.

Prosecutors allege he searched for a number of names, including those of retired Hong Kong police officers, and of his co-defendant Yuen.

Wai was paid directly from the HKETO bank account, the court heard.

The defendants are jointly charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service between December 20 2023 and May 2 2024, and a second charge of foreign interference on May 1 2024 by forcing entry into a UK residential address. They deny all charges.

The trial, expected to last up to six weeks, continues.
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The boss of the Police Federation of England and Wales has been arrested on suspicion of corruption.

A man understood to be Mukund Krishna, the chief executive of the federation, was held alongside two other suspects with connections to the organisation by City of London Police on Wednesday.

The force said its domestic corruption unit has been investigating allegations of fraud by abuse of position in relation to the federation over the last year.

Officers carried out search warrants in Wales, Somerset, London and Surrey.

Detective Superintendent James Halkett said: The City of London Police domestic corruption unit are leading a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud made against three individuals connected to the national Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW).

A 46-year-old man from Surrey, a 51-year-old man from Wales and a 55-year-old man from Bristol were all arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.

This is a complex and active investigation in which we are pursuing all lines of inquiry.

open image in gallery A man understood to be Mukund Krishna, the chief executive of the federation, was held alongside two other suspects with connections to the organisation by City of London Police on Wednesday ( Police Federation of England and Wales )

The Police Federation represents more than 145,000 officers from the rank of constable to chief inspector in England and Wales.

A spokesman said: We are aware that three individuals connected to the Police Federation have been arrested as part of an ongoing police investigation.

This is a live matter and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

The organisation is co-operating fully with the relevant authorities.

Our focus remains on continuing the work of the federation and representing our members across England and Wales.
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Police will make a new public appeal for information regarding the murder of a university graduate almost 30 years ago.

Melanie Hall was last seen at a nightclub in Bath in the early hours of June 9 1996 after a night out with her friends.

The last sighting of the 25-year-old hospital clerical worker was inside the Cadillacs nightclub in Walcot Street at about 1.45am.

open image in gallery The Melanie Hall murder is one of the longest running and highest profile investigations ever carried out by Avon and Somerset Police ( Avon and Somerset Police )

Workmen found her remains next to the northbound slip road at junction 14 of the M5 motorway on October 5 2009.

Detective Chief Inspector Ben Lavender, who is leading the investigation, will make the appeal on BBC Ones Crimewatch Live.

The programme will also include an interview with Miss Halls father Steve and sister Dominique.

open image in gallery Workmen found Ms Halls remains next to the northbound slip road at junction 14 of the M5 motorway on October 5 2009 ( Avon and Somerset Police/PA Wire )

The murder of Melanie Hall is one of the longest running and highest profile investigations ever carried out by Avon and Somerset Police, with hundreds of officers working on the case over the years, Mr Lavender said.

Melanies family has endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty for almost three decades and have shown extraordinary strength and resilience throughout this time.

Everything we do is driven by the need to provide them with the justice and answers they so desperately need.

As we approach this significant anniversary, I want people to think back to the weekend of June 8 and 9 in 1996.

England were playing Switzerland in the opening game of the Euros, and the centre of Bath was exceptionally busy.

Melanie had spent an evening with her boyfriend and friends and went to the former Cadillacs nightclub.

The last confirmed sighting of her was at 1.10am on Sunday June 9, when her friends left the club. She was sat by the side of the dancefloor on her own.

open image in gallery The last sighting of the 25-year-old hospital clerical worker was inside the nightclub in Walcot Street at about 1.45am ( Avon and Somerset Police/PA Wire )

Did you go to Cadillacs nightclub? Did you see Melanie that night? Has anyone spoken to you about that night and raised any concerns or suspicions?

Does anyone you know act differently when they see or hear an appeal for information relating to this case?

We believe theres a strong possibility Melanie left the nightclub with her killer, as a coat she had checked into a cloakroom was collected, but she could have met them outside or got into a car.

If you have information or suspicions about anyone who could be connected to Melanies disappearance, now is the time to let us know. Please let us decide if information is relevant to the investigation or not.

Mr Lavender said the discovery of Miss Halls remains by the side of the M5 at junction 14 in 2009 was a pivotal moment but only provided some of the answers.

The location where Melanies remains were found remains a key focus for us, he said.

Were keeping an open mind as to when Melanies body was dumped at this location. This could have been in the hours after she went missing, or the days following this.

Did you see a car parked on the slip road, near to where it joins the M5 in the early hours of Sunday June 9, or in the days or weeks after this? Do you know anyone from Bath who has connections with this route?

open image in gallery An aerial view of the area where Melanie Hall's body was found ( Avon and Somerset Police/PA Wire )

Miss Halls clothing  a pale blue silk dress, black suede mule shoes, a cream single-breasted long-sleeved jacket and a black satchel-type handbag  have never been found.

Cosmetics and a Midland chequebook and bank card belonging to Miss Hall, as well as items of jewellery including a Next watch and silver drop earrings, have also not been located.

Melanies remains were found without her clothing or items she had with her on the night she went missing, the detective said.

She was wearing a pale blue silk dress with a round neck, black suede mule shoes with straps across the front and an open toe, size 5 or 6, a cream single-breasted, long-sleeved jacket and a black satchel-type handbag.

In Melanies handbag were cosmetics and a Midland cheque book and bank card. Also missing are items of jewellery including a Next watch with expanding bracelet and silver drop earrings.

Have you seen any of these items, or do you know where they may be?

Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to 20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Miss Halls murder.
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A British couple have recounted the "carnage" of a 22-hour wait at Dubai airport, caught in the aftermath of the US and Israeli bombing of Iran.

Lee Smart, 36, and Nina Luminati, 35, from Thornton Heath, south London, finally arrived back at London Heathrow on Wednesday afternoon.

They had spent the previous night sleeping on chairs in the bustling terminal. The pair were returning from a wedding in India when their connecting flight to the UK was disrupted last Saturday, leaving them stranded in the UAE.

Despite being on multiple waiting lists, the pair struggled to secure a seat amidst thousands of other passengers.

They eventually boarded Emirates flight EK001, which departed Dubai at 7.45am on Wednesday.

Speaking to the Press Association in the arrivals hall at Heathrow Terminal 3, Mr Smart said: We were advised by our hotel to get to the airport yesterday morning and then it was just a bit of carnage.

I think many hotels told people the same thing. Maybe they were trying to get people out.

So some people got on the first repatriation flights, we managed to get on those because we were at the back of the queue.

It was pretty calm in the city, despite everything that was going on. I think the UAE government did an amazing job to be honest.

open image in gallery Sue (left) and Terry Luminati (second right) from Teddington greet their daughter Nina (right) and her boyfriend Lee Smart (second left) from Thornton Heath, as they arrive at Terminal 3 of London Heathrow Airport on a flight from Dubai ( Ben Whitley/PA Wire )

As they arrived back in London, the couple were greeted by Ninas parents, Sue and Terry Luminati.

Sue, from Teddington, south-west London, said the couple had scrambled to get to Dubai airport.

She said: Once they got there it was an absolute nightmare. There were obviously thousands of people all in the same position.

Its very difficult to give advice in this situation because it is so unprecedented.

open image in gallery Ms Luminati and Mr Smart were travelling back from a wedding in India when they became stranded in the UAE while waiting for their connecting flight to the UK last Saturday ( Ben Whitley/PA Wire )

Do you get on? Do you stay there and hold your ground?

Do you get on a plane, or do you go back, try and get a hotel and relax and wait for it to calm down.

They stayed there, and thats why theyre on this flight today. Because they were there at the right time to be able to get a seat.
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Warner Bros has announced plans for a new Harry Potter flagship store, set to open its doors on Londons Oxford Street this autumn.

The expansive 21,000 sq ft shop, spread across two floors within The Ribbon development at 134-140 Oxford Street, will become the UKs second official Harry Potter retail destination, complementing the existing Kings Cross site.

Designers aim to transform the interior into a "wizarding emporium," celebrating beloved locations from the books and films.

This "must-see" attraction for fans and visitors to the capital will offer interactive activities, photo opportunities, and exclusive merchandise.

Karl Durrant, Warner Bros senior vice president of worldwide retail, said: Harry Potter is deeply rooted in British storytelling, and this will give fans an exciting new way to experience this magical world in the city that features so prominently in the stories.

Offering a completely new retail experience for Harry Potter fans which will delight and entertain, its going to be very special.

Designers aim to transform the interior into a wizarding emporium, celebrating beloved locations from the books and films. ( David Parry/PA Wire )

The new shop will join the collection of Harry Potter experiences owned and operated by Warner Bros in London including Warner Bros Studio Tour London  The Making of Harry Potter and the Harry Potter shop at Kings Cross.

The Harry Potter Shop is situated near the platform 9  trolley at Kings Cross station is where muggles can buy wands, robes, uniforms, golden platform 9  tickets and other Potter collectibles.

The shops wooden floor and panelled walls have taken a chapter out of Jack Wills' book and hark back to traditional Hogwarts school days.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan announced in February that plans to ban traffic from part of Oxford Street have been approved.

Vehicles will be prohibited from accessing a 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.

Oxford Street is one of the worlds busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day.

Works to pedestrianise the road are expected to start in the summer, with the first traffic-free section introduced by the end of the year.
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Additional flights to rescue British nationals stranded in the Middle East have been announced.

The prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer said two further government-chartered flights will take off from Oman in the coming days.

British Airways announced two more flights will operate between the capital Muscat and London Heathrow, on Friday and Saturday.

The first government rescue flight and a British Airways commercial flight from Muscat are set to depart on Wednesday evening.

Sir Keir told MPs that more than 1,000 British nationals landed back in the UK on commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday.

open image in gallery British Airways is to operate two more rescue flights from the Middle East ( PA )

Eight more UK flights are scheduled to depart the UAE on Wednesday, he confirmed.

However, there is not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East.

Some commercial flights are operating from Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE but the vast majority are cancelled due to airspace restrictions caused by the US-Israeli war against Iran.

British Airways, which does not usually serve Muscat, said it remains unable to operate its scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.

Muscat has become as a key location for people to escape the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

open image in gallery Dubai and Abu Dhabi commercial flights remain partly operational but the vast majority are cancelled due to airspace restrictions ( AP )

The Foreign Office has not advised against travel to Muscats airport, unlike the current advice in place for airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

Muscat can be accessed by road from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi with journeys of about 300 miles (around 480km).

The UKs Foreign Office said: There are a limited number of commercial options available, including by air from UAE and from Oman.

If your presence in UAE is not essential, you may wish to consider departing  if you judge you can access these options safely.

Oman Air has continued to operate its two daily return flights between Muscat and Heathrow despite the war.

Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 said Muscat has become a popular alternative for flying out of the region but warned that almost all scheduled flights from Muscat are fully booked.

Private jets are being chartered to evacuate those who can afford it, it added.

Around half a million passengers per day usually frequent airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, which are crucial hubs for travel between Europe and the continents of Asia and Australia.

Experts believe it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers as the war unfolds.
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Surrounded by friends and family on the island of Phuket, Thailand, Darren Osbourn and Nicola Smith had what can only be described as a dream wedding.

But, five days after trying to return home to London, they are still stranded in Oman, experiencing  as they describe it  an extended honeymoon in a war zone.

The newlyweds, along with their two young children, are among scores of Britons trapped in the Middle East who were denied a spot on the governments first rescue flight.

The couple paid 1,400 to apply for four seats on the repatriation flight, which set off from Omans capital, Muscat, to Heathrow on Wednesday evening. But they did not hear anything from officials about securing a spot on the flight - and are now anxiously waiting to see what happens next.

open image in gallery Darren Osbourn and Nicola Smith with their children ( Darren Osbourn )

Mr Osbourn, an aircraft engineer, said: Since weve registered for the flight and paid 1400 Ive been checking my emails constantly for the confirmation that were going. We have been sitting in our room looking at our packed bags waiting to go.

But that confirmation never came.

11pm came and we decided to put the already overtired kids to bed, hoping tomorrow will bring good news. Gutted best describes how were feeling, he said.

The government said it would fly 180 British nationals home on the flight. The move was announced early on Wednesday as the Middle East crisis deepened following the US and Israels attack on Iran on the weekend. A further two government charter flights are planned for the coming days.

For Mr Osbourn, 45, there is an extra worry of being left behind in Muscat, without his family. Women and children are given priority seating on the rescue flights, meaning he may be separated from his wife, who works as cabin crew on an airline, his six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter.

The family had stopped over in Doha on their way home from Thailand. But their flight was diverted to Muscat on Saturday morning after Iran came under attack.

Mr Osbourn did not know at that point what had happened but, as they touched down in Muscat, he saw large ships in a formation and suspected something major had happened.

open image in gallery Darren is hoping to get his three-year-old daughter and six-year-old son back to London ( Darren Osbourn )

He told The Independent: The captain came over, and said theres been a bit of trouble in Iran.

His family sat on the plane for four hours before they were deboarded and bussed to hotels.

Iran later retaliated with strikes on Oman. Military planes have since been flying over Muscat which he said has been quite scary.

He said: They started attacking Oman, and it didnt feel real, and then the jets were flying over and it felt like okay, this is serious.

As his family waits, in the hotel funded by Qatar Airways, Ms Osbourn said he has been worried for their safety.

They have not wanted to stray too far from the airport and have been told not to go near government buildings or US embassies.

He heard about the repatriation flight from his family on Wednesday morning and phoned the consulate, which sent him a link to register for seats on the flight.

open image in gallery The couple were travelling home after getting married in Thailand ( Darren Osbourn )

The cost to register was 350 per seat. Once you have paid your money, then you go into some sort of ballot to get allocated a seat, he said.

The Foreign Office said it will refund those who were unable to get a seat on the flight.

If you are trying to return to the UK from the Middle East, please contact harriette.boucher@independent.co.uk

The family is now waiting at their hotel 20 minutes away from the airport. They do not know if, and when, they will be able to get on a government flight. Some 130,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the Middle East since the war broke out.

Mr Osbourn said he was surprised to find out that the government was charging them to get on the flight and called up the consulate to check if it was a scam.

He believes the government should have been chartering flights earlier, given that the airspace remains open in Oman, but praised officials for their support since he registered his interest in leaving.

Lets face it, this wasnt going to be a weekend war, he said. Muscat airspace was always open. It never shut. There was no reason why they couldn't have jumped on this a lot earlier and got these repatriation flights going instead [waiting] five days.

open image in gallery The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday ( AFP via Getty )

Since Saturday, the communication from his carrier Qatar Airways had been a shambles, he said. I'm really disappointed with the way Qatar Airways have dealt with this, theyve just left us basically.

Their family was unable to get their luggage, which included nappies, clothing, and their sons medication, until Tuesday.

He added: Trying to get hold of someone from Qatar, I'll probably have more of a chance of speaking to Donald Trump. Weve been trying to contact them. We have been put from pillar to post.

Some commercial flights are operating from Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE but the vast majority are cancelled because of airspace restrictions caused by the conflict.

British Airways announced it will operate two more flights between the capital Muscat and London Heathrow, on Friday and Saturday.

Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that more than 1,000 British nationals arrived back in the UK on commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday. Eight more UK flights are scheduled to leave the UAE on Wednesday, he said.

There is not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East.

The Independent has contacted the Foreign Office and Qatar Airways for comment.
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The husband and children of a grandmother who died from rabies have told an inquest they do not want another family to endure the "trauma, loss and devastation" they have experienced.

Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, died four months after being scratched by a stray dog she startled under her sun lounger on a Moroccan beach during a February 2025 holiday.

An inquest in Sheffield heard Mrs Ford was admitted to Barnsley Hospital in June 2025 after falling ill. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, prompting a psychiatrist to identify the potential for rabies.

Mrs Ford died at Sheffields Royal Hallamshire Hospital on 11 June, with her family present and wearing PPE protection.

Her daughter Robyn Thomson read a statement on Wednesday on behalf of her family, which said: We are determined that Yvonnes death will not be without meaning.

Ms Thomson said it was vital the public are made aware that they must seek urgent medical advice if they are scratched or bitten by an animal abroad to prevent another family from enduring this trauma, loss and devastation.

She said Mrs Ford was a loving, active and devoted family woman who was a fantastic wife, a wonderful mother and an exceptional grandmother to her four grandchildren.

Ms Thomson said her mother was scratched on February 12 2025, adding: She had put her leg down and startled the dog.

She said: The scratch was very minor with no evident bleeding.

The jury has been told how Mrs Ford went to Barnsley Hospital on June 2 2025 with a range of symptoms including severe headaches, nausea, mobility issues and disorientation.

open image in gallery Rabies is a fatal, acute, progressive encephalomyelitis caused by neurotropic viruses in the family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus ( CDC )

She was admitted a day later as her condition deteriorated but doctors struggled to work out what was wrong with her.

Rabies was only diagnosed after a psychiatrist asked about Mrs Fords travel history when he was called-in by medical colleagues who were concerned that symptoms including hallucinations, disorientation and high levels of anxiety could have a mental health cause.

After this psychiatrist suspected rabies, Mrs Ford was transferred to an infectious disease unit at Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital where she died.

The jury has been told that rabies is a virus that is 100% fatal once the symptoms begin to show but can be prevented with a vaccine.

Ms Thomson explained to the jury how family and staff had to wear gloves, masks, visors and aprons when they were with her mother, from when she was admitted to Sheffield to when she died.

But she said they held her hand during her final breaths.

Ms Thomson told the inquest how the family were told there is no possible recovery and that the only outcome would be fatal after rabies was confirmed at the Royal Hallamshire.

She said that watching Yvonne deteriorate so rapidly was extremely traumatic during her time at Barnsley Hospital.

Ms Thomson told the jury of nine women and two men how they had to watch her deteriorate in real time without explanation and with growing fear.

She said the family had a number of concerns about the basic care her mother received in Barnsley and added: We dont believe Yvonne was treated with the level of dignity and respect she deserved.

Ms Thomson described how her mother refused to drink, despite desperate efforts from her family to hydrate her with a syringe, and she was spitting out her saliva every five to 10 seconds until she died.

Infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright, from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, told the jury earlier this week how this was a manifestation of hydrophobia  the fear of water  which is a symptom found only with rabies.

Dr Cartwright told the inquest on Tuesday there have only been 26 cases of rabies in the UK since 1946.

She said it appeared that Mrs Ford began to exhibit symptoms at the very end of May and, therefore, there was nothing that could have been done at Barnsley Hospital that would have saved her.

Dr Cartwright said that rabies symptoms typically begin within four weeks of exposure but it can be up to three months and, in some cases, it can take years.
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The UK government has ceased issuing study visas to individuals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has accused these nations of exploiting Britains "generosity" in offering asylum.

The decision comes despite the fact that citizens from these four countries collectively represented less than one per cent of all UK study visas granted to foreign nationals last year.

In 2025, the UK received 100,625 asylum claims. Of these, 12 per cent  equating to 12,578 individuals  had initially entered the country on a study visa.

While the Home Office regularly publishes data on the nationalities of those issued study visas, a detailed breakdown of the nationalities within this 12 per cent figure is not publicly available.

These figures show the four countries affected by the Governments latest decision made up just 0.7 per cent of study visas issued in 2025.

There were 2,084 visas granted to foreign nationals from Myanmar, 538 for Cameroon, 277 for Afghanistan and 243 for Sudan.

Together these made up 3,142 visas out of the 429,254 study visas issued in 2025.

Afghan supporters cheer as they surround a vehicle of Taliban security personnel amid the ongoing clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, on the outskirts of Jalalabad on 28 February 2026 ( AFP/Getty )

The four countries have accounted for a similar proportion of study visas in each of the past five years, making up 0.7 per cent of the total granted in 2025, 2024 and 2023, 0.5 per cent in 2022 and 0.4 per cent in 2021.

The most common nationalities in each of the past five years were India, China, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Collectively, these four countries accounted for 60 per cent of study visas issued last year, 63 per cent in 2024, 68 per cent in 2023, 70 per cent in 2022 and 64 per cent in 2021.

The Government has also halted the issuing of skilled work visas to Afghanistan.

Some 154 work visas were issued to Afghans last year, accounting for 0.1 per cent of a total of 261,112.

A separate breakdown of the 100,625 people claiming asylum in the UK last year shows that Afghans were the fourth most common nationality, making up 6 per cent of the total (6,462 people), though this covers all routes into the UK, both legal and illegal, regardless of when someone first arrived in the country.

Sudan accounted for a further 6 per cent of this total (5,869 people), Myanmar 1 per cent (879) and Cameroon 1 per cent (765).
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The government has imposed an immediate suspension on certain visas for nationals from four countries, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood accusing them of exploiting the UK's asylum system.

Study visas for individuals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan have been halted, alongside work visas specifically for Afghan nationals.

This drastic measure comes as the government alleges that an increasing number of people from these nations are utilising legal migration routes as a backdoor to claim asylum in Britain.

The Home Office has characterised this suspension as an "unprecedented" move, marking the first instance of such widespread visa bans being implemented.

The Home Secretary has previously threatened a similar halt to all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic of Congo in November ( Stefan Rousseau/PA )

Ms Mahmood said: Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused.

That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.

I will restore order and control to our borders.

According to Home Office figures, some 39 per cent of the 100,000 who claimed asylum in 2025 did so after arriving in the UK through a legal migration route, like a study visa.

Asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan represent the most significant part of a spike between 2021 and September 2025, the Home Office added.

The visa ban will be officially introduced via an immigration rules change on Thursday.

The Home Secretary has previously threatened a similar halt to all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic of Congo in November, unless their governments agreed to take back illegal migrants.

This led to co-operation agreements with all three countries, and illegal migrants being returned via deportation flights.

Ms Mahmood is expected to lay out measures to toughen up the UK asylum system in a speech on Thursday.

Under the widely trailed plans, asylum seekers in the UK will have their refugee status reviewed every 30 months in an effort to make the UK less attractive for illegal immigrants.

Refugees whose countries are deemed safe will be expected to return home.
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Andy Burnham said the Gorton and Denton by-election revealed the full depth of the chasm between people and Westminster politics as he broke his silence about Labours defeat to the Green Party.

The mayor of Greater Manchester was blocked from standing as the Labour candidate in last weeks by-election by the partys National Executive Committee, amid fears he could mount a leadership challenge to the prime minister.

However, he made numerous appearances on the campaign trail with the partys candidate Angeliki Stogia, who finished in third place behind the Green Partys Hannah Spencer and Reform UKs Matt Goodwin.

At an event at the British Library in London on Wednesday, Mr Burnham said the result demonstrated that Westminster was not focused on the priorities of ordinary people.

Mr Burnham said: From my point of view, Im definitely not here to talk about my career plans, other than to say I wrote a book as you might know, with the mayor of the Liverpool City region Steve Rotheram about leaving Westminster and establishing devolution across England.

open image in gallery Andy Burnham was speaking at a Centre for Cities event at the British Library ( PA )

Its called Head North. All I can say today is that the sequel Head South is currently on hold.

He added: What I want to say today is that the time has most definitely come for a serious conversation about our political system and its pervading culture, particularly so in the aftermath of the Gorton and Denton by-election.

It revealed the full depth of the chasm between people and Westminster politics. I dont think anybody can seriously dispute that statement.

The defeat in Gorton and Denton was bruising for Labour. It sought to defend a majority of 13,000 votes from the 2024 general election, when Andrew Gwynne was elected, but finished more than 5,000 votes behind the victorious Ms Spencer.

The constituency was created in 2024 due to boundary changes but its previous iterations had long been held by Labour  Manchester Gorton since 1935, Denton and Reddish since its 1983 creation.

Several Gorton and Denton constituents told The Independent during the campaign that they would not vote for Labour, but they would have done so if Mr Burnham was the candidate.

Mr Burnham, who represented Greater Manchester seat Leigh as its MP from 2001 to 2017 and served in Gordon Browns government, was re-elected for a third term as the city regions mayor in May 2024 with 63 per cent of the vote.

Lifelong Labour voters John Harrison, 71, and Sheila Harrison, 69, from Denton said Sir Keir Starmer doesnt represent towns like theirs and they wouldnt vote for Labour  unless Mr Burnham had been on the ballot.

open image in gallery Voters Sheila and John Harrison, pictured in Denton ( The Independent )

Labour isnt really doing what you know they said that it was going to do in the manifesto, John said, adding that he feels let down by the government.

I would have voted for Andy Burnham, John added.

He said Mr Burnham has more personality and is able to connect with northern voters. He believes the Greater Manchester mayor is on his side in a way that Sir Keir, who he describes as aloof, is not. Sheila would agree.

Retired midwife Andrea Anwyl, 77, was another lifelong Labour supporter in Denton disillusioned with the government. She said she would likely vote Green but says she definitely would have voted for Mr Burnham if he were the Labour candidate.

open image in gallery Gorton and Denton constituent Andrea Anwyl, 77, said she would have voted for Andy Burnham if he had been on the ballot ( The Independent )

I dont like Starmer. I dont like what hes done, she said.

Caterina Pandolfo, 65, said she could not forgive the treatment of Greater Manchesters mayor by Labours NEC.

She said: The way he [Starmer] treated Andy Burnham was disgusting.

I dont think hes doing very well at all, Keir Starmer, sadly, she adds. He could have done so much.

The mayor spoke on Wednesday at think tank Centre for Cities event Manchesterism rising from devolution, looking at his time in office and his ambitions for the region.

The Merseyside-born Mr Burnham described polling by More In Common which found a majority of people do not think the cost of living crisis will ever end as code red for Westminster politics.

He added: This is getting extremely dangerous, and change in our political system and culture is desperately needed.
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British troops are being held at very high readiness in the UK to respond to the escalating conflict in the Middle East if needed, Western officials have said, as they warned that the war could go on for some time.

It comes as US bombers are expected to arrive at British bases  including Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford  within days.

The two airbases were initially denied to the US for their strikes against the Iranian regime, sparking the ire of Donald Trump, who said he was not happy with the UK over the extent of its support.

While it is understood there are no immediate plans to send additional UK troops to Cyprus, they are always held on high alert in the UK in order to respond to a crisis.

open image in gallery Defence secretary John Healey speaking on Sky News ( Sky News )

In a briefing, Western officials also refused to rule out participating in future strikes against Iranian ballistic missile launch sites.

I wouldnt rule anything out at all because we just dont know what will happen day to day, week to week as this progresses, one official said.

Cobra meetings are being held on a daily basis to respond to the crisis, it is understood, as officials warned that the Armed Forces are facing a difficult tactical and operational problem following Irans reckless, haphazard and hugely escalatory response.

Western officials said the situation in the Middle East is developing almost every hour and could go on for some time, adding that they are preparing to settle in and make sure they are ready to protect British interests in not just short term, but the medium term as well.

The UK is also preparing to send a warship to protect a British base in Cyprus which was struck by a drone earlier this week.

But officials confirmed that HMS Dragon  which is undergoing maintenance before being loaded with ammunition in Portsmouth  will not set sail until next week.

They would not specify where the drone which struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus had come from, but said assessments showed it was a Shahed type and had not been launched from Iran.

open image in gallery HMS Dragon will set sail next week ( PA )

Asked by journalists why there was no Type 45 destroyer sent to the region months ago during a US military build-up, they said increasingly fragile geopolitics with many different security threats made the situation complex.

HMS Dragon was chosen because it was the readiest for the mission, officials said.

Meanwhile, Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are being deployed within days, before the warship, to bolster defence in the region, they said.

The Type 45 air defence destroyer is intended to strengthen protection against drones and missiles launched by Iran and its proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The destroyers voyage from Portsmouth to Cyprus is expected to take several days.

The US president has been heavily critical of the UKs response to the war in the Middle East, on Tuesday saying he is very sad to see that the special relationship is obviously not what it was.

open image in gallery The conflict has contributed to a breakdown in relations between the UK and US ( AP )

The prime minister granted permission on Sunday for the US to use UK bases to target Irans missile launchers and stores to help protect countries targeted by Tehran.

But the US president said he was very disappointed with Sir Keir over his initial refusal to allow the US to use the UK-US Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands as part of the operation.

He added that it took far too long for the prime minister to change his mind.

Hitting out at Sir Keir directly, the US president said: He has not been helpful. I never thought Id see that. I never thought Id see that from the UK. We love the UK.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood, seemingly on a one-woman mission to win Labour voters back from apathy and Reform UK, has announced her latest move to cut migration, especially the so-called illegal kind: an immediate ban on various work, study and visitor visas for citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. It all sounds a bit Trumpian, but she is planning to go much, much further.

Why is she doing this?

Because, she says, too many people have been seeking to exploit our generosity, and she wants to show that she can restore order and control to our borders.

Will she?

We will find out more from another keynote speech on the issue, and updated proposals for reducing one of the supposed pull factors for all types of migration  the notion of settling on an indefinite basis in the UK, and thence attaining an automatic (and arguably too easy) path to benefits and citizenship, without, for example, sufficiently good English.

She set out these draconian moves to increase deportations last September, and will now be moving to fresh laws.

Hows she doing?

Thanks, to some extent, to the work of her Labour and Tory predecessors, she is making progress. James Cleverly, the last Tory home secretary, tightened up the rules on spousal and family reunion visas. Yvette Cooper, who was doing the job before Mahmood was appointed last September, presided over a sharp reduction in the backlog of asylum requests  one of the main factors behind the large number of asylum seekers living in hotels.

Does she get things done?

Thats the image, and shes not afraid to set clear aims and take action, and thus get the best out of the much-maligned civil servants in the Home Office. Last year she called for a similar halt in the granting of UK visas to citizens of Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo  unless their governments agreed to take back illegal migrants. This they have now done. It was a small exercise, but the energy shes putting into these draconian reforms suggests shes not done yet.

Will it work?

Its doubtful that she will stop the boats. However, her main problem will not be the people-smuggling gangs, or the sheer scale of the flows of people coming from war zones, but getting her own backbenchers to pass the legislation shes about to introduce. Dozens have already signalled opposition, and the welfare reform fiasco last summer has only emboldened them.

One thing that may help her is that proportionately fewer irregular asylum seekers are arriving on boats: instead, they are obtaining visas and then claiming once in the UK. If that trend continues, the phenomenon will be rather less visible.

What will be the political impact?

Mahmood feels strongly that immigration has become too much of a political touchstone for the far right, allowing them to generate grievance and support. In her view, control of borders and numbers is essential to maintaining harmony in a multicultural society  and to confounding the racists.

Her critics say she is pandering to the right, and that she can never out-Farage Nigel Farage. They argue that the Greens have attracted far more 2024 Labour voters than Reform UK has managed to (about 35 per cent to 8 per cent), and that she should therefore be more sympathetic to refugees.

The answer is probably more about demonstrating competence and grip on an issue than fretting about ideological positioning and messages. If migration comes down, the Channel boats reduce radically in number, and she eliminates the asylum hotels  and rapidly  shell have done her bit to get Labour re-elected, all while making a point about who in this cabinet is actually good at delivery, delivery, delivery.
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A fifth of Reform members want non-white British citizens whose parents were born in the UK to be forcibly removed or encouraged to leave the country, a new poll has found.

More than half of the members of Nigel Farages party believe non-white British citizens who were born abroad should be forcibly removed or encouraged to leave, compared with 24 per cent if they were white, according to data from Hope Not Hate.

The charity released its 2026 report State of Hate: It Could Happen Here on Wednesday, which included the results of a survey of 629 Reform members, carried out by Survation on behalf of Hope Not Hate.

Nick Lowles, chief executive of the charity, said the findings show Reform members are generally more pessimistic, angry and extreme than the British public.

He added: And whilst there is overwhelming support for leader Nigel Farage, the views of party members are so hardline on many political issues that it is not inconceivable to think that they could either push Reform UK further to the right or risk being quickly disillusioned if they feel the party is moderating its positions in the quest for power.

open image in gallery Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage during a press conference in Westminster (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

It comes after Reforms home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf last month outlined the partys immigration policies during a speech in Dover.

Mr Yusuf said the UK is being invaded by migrants as he pitched Reforms plans for a mass deportation programme.

If elected to government, the party says it would set up a unit it calls the UK Deportation Command to track down, detain and deport people in the country illegally, aiming to remove up to 288,000 people each year.

Reform has also said it will impose visa freezes on Pakistan, Afghanistan and Syria if the countries refuse to take back migrants with no legal right to stay in Britain.

The party has said it would expect to deport more than 600,000 people in its first term in government.

Hope Not Hates data found that almost half of the partys members (46 per cent) do not like mixing with people of other ethnicities, religions and backgrounds in their local areas.

open image in gallery Reforms home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf has claimed the UK is being invaded by migrants ( PA )

In contrast, 77 per cent of Britons overall say they like mixing with people of different backgrounds.

Two thirds of the partys members also have a positive view of Rupert Lowe, the former Reform MP who is now leader of rival right-wing party Restore Britain.

Additionally, more than half (54 per cent) would prefer having a strong and decisive leader who has the authority to override or ignore parliament.

Reform led the latest voting intention poll from YouGov with 23 per cent and the party claims to have more than 270,000 members.

Mr Lowles described Reforms policy offering as probably the most extreme that we've had from a major political party.

He believes the party has shifted further rightward since the 2024 general election, when it won more than four million votes.

Hope Not Hates data found that 66 per cent of Reform UK members think a civil war will happen in Britain.

Eight per cent of British people believe there will definitely be a civil war within the next five years, either between communities or against the state, with another 23 per cent, saying it is possible.

The Independent has approached Reform UK for comment.
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Senior British military, diplomatic and political figures have joined forces to denounce Donald Trump over his comment that Keir Starmer is no Winston Churchill.

They said the prime minister was right to keep his distance from the US attack on Iran and they hit back hard at the president, saying his insults should be ignored.

Asked whether Mr Trump was right to have expected the UK to be at its side at times like these, General Sir Richard Shirreff, a senior former British Army officer and ex Deputy Supreme Commander of Nato said: Britain has to focus on its own interests.

We have to put this in the context of an America that has made it clear it is not going to underwrite European security as part of Nato and has threatened to attack a Nato ally, Denmark, (over Greenland).

Trump made the remark while hosting the German chancellor at the White House ( AP )

Sir Richard told the BBC the UK should not get involved in any conflict where there was no stated aim  and Mr Trump had no strategy in Iran.

He added: Yet again we have an American president who has launched a war of choice with no clear understanding of how this thing is going to end. We have been here back in 2003 with Iraq and we do not want to be going back again in another situation like that.

Britains former ambassador to the US Sir Peter Westmacott dismissed Mr Trumps unflattering comparison of Sir Keir to Churchill.

He said: Mr Trump is quite rude about quite a lot of friendly prime ministers. We cannot organise our affairs and policies on the basis of ensuring you dont have rude words with Donald Trump. He has been pretty offensive to the UK on a number of issues.

Sir Richard and Sir Peters responses were echoed by Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour chair of the influential Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.

She said: Trump blows hot and cold and insults all sorts of people and then carries on working with them. We have to stand up for what we believe and what is right. Our view is that the attack on Iran has no plan, it is not in British interests to support it and is contrary to international law.

But former Conservative foreign secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt said the prime minister was guilty of a big misjudgment.

Sir Jeremy said that bearing in mind Britain and Europes continuing military dependence on the US to defend it, it was a mistake by Sir Keir not to allow the US to use UK bases in its initial wave of attacks on Iran.
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Sir Keir Starmers ambition to reset UK-EU relations after Brexit is suffering from a lack of direction, definition and drive, MPs have warned in a new report.

The government has been urged to end its secrecy over what it is seeking in order to save its languishing efforts to grow closer to the bloc.

The prime minister pledged to reset Britains relationship with Brussels when he took office, promising to rebuild ties with the EU that had been damaged by the previous Conservative government.

But MPs on the Commons foreign affairs select committee said the government failed to present a coherent roadmap at last year's Lancaster House summit with the EU, and is at risk of making the same mistake ahead of this year's follow-up event.

It said a lack of clear, strategic priorities from the UK side has given the impression that the EU has achieved more progress in the negotiations.

Committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry said that although the reset marked a major step change in government policy, the efforts have lacked direction.

open image in gallery Starmers attempts at a reset were praised but the committee found many shortcomings in the approach ( PA Wire )

Sadly, we found that despite progress in some areas, the governments reset is languishing, suffering from a lack of direction, definition and drive, she said.

It feels as though we are on a journey with no clear destination.

In many areas, the government has failed to provide timelines, milestones, or priorities and it does not appear to have an ambitious, strategic vision for the UKs new relationship with the EU.

The new report released on Wednesday urged the government to set out its vision for the UKs relationship with the EU in a white paper and set up a new Commons EU scrutiny committee.

Sir Keir clinched an initial landmark deal last year, which included agreements such as allowing British tourists to use fast-track e-gates at European airports, a 12-year extension of an agreement for EU trawlers to access UK waters, and an open-ended agreement to slash red tape on food and drink exports and imports.

open image in gallery The PM with EC Commission president Ursula von der Leyen ( AFP via Getty Images )

In February, Britain and the EU announced they were aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme in time for another joint summit later this year. They also want to secure a common sanitary and phytosanitary area  which would apply to the movement of plants and food  and agree on a way to link their emissions trading systems by that time.

However, talks aimed at the UK potentially joining the European Unions new 150bn (130bn) Security Action for Europe (Safe) rearmament fund broke down at the end of last year.

The exorbitant price tag for the UKs participation in the first round of the Safe programme is short-sighted, particularly given the threat from Putins Russia, Dame Emily said.

But she also said the UK government must go beyond work to identify the problem and vaguely call for more alignment, and urged both sides to focus on the bigger picture, while criticising the EU for changing the goalposts when it comes to asking for the UK to make financial contributions to the bloc.

She said: We need to work towards concrete, practical and deliverable solutions in tandem with our EU partners.

Todays report calls on government to end its secrecy over EU matters, and set out exactly what it plans to do in the next phase of negotiations in a white paper.

Government should also be willing to subject its plans to proper parliamentary scrutiny and facilitate the establishment of a new EU scrutiny committee in the Commons.
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The US and Israels war with Iran widened well beyond the Middle East on Wednesday, as Nato shot down a ballistic missile headed for Turkey and the US sank an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors.

As Britain prepared to send a warship to defend Cyprus, and formulated plans to repatriate thousands of British nationals stranded in the region, Iran rained missiles and drones on its neighbours, and Washington prepared to expand its strikes  boasting that it had effectively sunk the Iranian navy.

Sir Keir Starmer said two more government-chartered flights would take off from Oman in the coming days, while British Airways announced that it would operate two more flights between Muscat and Heathrow on Friday and Saturday.

Unlike the aviation mega-hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, Muscat is not covered by the Foreign Office travel warning; it can be reached by road from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, both of which are around 300 miles away.

However, there is not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East, and experts believe it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers.

Meanwhile, the warship being readied to protect Britains base in Cyprus is not set to sail until next week. HMS Dragon is being loaded with ammunition in Portsmouth before departing for the Mediterranean, after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone on Monday.

Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are being deployed ahead of the warship, whose voyage is expected to take several days.

In a bombastic briefing in Washington, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Operation Epic Fury had only just begun as he announced that a US Navy submarine had destroyed the IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate, off the Sri Lankan coast.

open image in gallery An injured Iranian sailor who survived the US torpedo attack is taken to hospital in Sri Lanka on Wednesday ( AFP via Getty )

An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death, Mr Hegseth told a briefing. He added that the US is prepared to sustain a long war with Iran, with even more US bombers and fighters arriving in the region.

This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight, he said. We are punching them while theyre down. Our air defences and [those] of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to.

Sri Lankan authorities said up to 87 people were killed in the torpedo attack, as pictures emerged of survivors being taken to hospital.

Nato was separately forced to shoot down an Iranian ballistic missile headed for Turkey  the closest Tehran has come to a direct attack on a Nato country, which could drag Turkey and its allies into a collective response.

open image in gallery Iranian frigate IRIS Dena is struck by a torpedo off Sri Lanka ( US Department of War )

A Turkish official said the missile had been aimed at an unspecified military base in Cyprus but had veered off course. The weapon had already passed over Iraq and Syria when it was shot down by Nato air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean.

Nato said it stands firmly with all allies, including Turkey, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region. Turkey called for restraint to avoid further escalation.

Mr Hegseth downplayed suggestions that attacks on Turkey would trigger Natos collective defence clause, instead boasting that the United States had only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralise, destroy and defeat Irans capabilities. He also vowed to avenge the deaths of six US service personnel killed in the region since Saturday.

General Dan Caine, chair of the joint chiefs of staff, added that the US would now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory, as he claimed that Iran was now firing far fewer missiles than it had at the outbreak of the conflict, and that its capability appeared diminished.

open image in gallery The US defence secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at a press briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday ( AP )

The head of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said US forces had struck more than 2,000 targets across Iran since Saturday. The first 24 hours of the conflict saw nearly twice as many strikes as took place on the first day of the war in Iraq in 2003.

As the administration increasingly threatens to wage a war that could last for weeks, the US senate was preparing for a key vote on a war powers resolution that could demand congressional approval for future attacks.

Iran launched more retaliatory strikes on Wednesday, with hundreds of drones targeting Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It insisted its attacks were directed at US interests and not directly at its regional neighbours.

The EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said Irans government was making a strong case for its own demise by indiscriminately attacking its neighbours. Irans strategy is to sow chaos and set the region on fire, she said.

open image in gallery An Iranian missile landed in a field in Syria on Wednesday ( Reuters )

The widening war also poses a growing threat to commercial shipping, which is crucial to the global supply of oil and gas. Merchant ship MV Safeen Prestige, which flies the Maltese flag and is owned by an Egyptian company, was hit by two missiles on Wednesday while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and caught fire. Its crew of 24 were rescued by Oman's navy.

Israel, meanwhile, said its forces had hit targets across Iran for a fifth day. An Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran. It is believed to have been the first time the new-generation F-35 has downed a manned aircraft in combat. Israels air force said it had dropped 5,000 munitions on Iran since Saturday.

And in another spillover from the conflict, Israels military ordered dozens of border villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as it intensified airstrikes on suburbs of Beirut.

Lebanon was dragged into the broader war on Monday when Iran-backed Hezbollah militants fired rockets and drones into northern Israel, triggering retaliatory airstrikes by Israel that killed more than 70 people, wounded more than 400, and displaced tens of thousands of people from southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley and Beiruts southern suburbs.

Irans Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, a government agency, claimed that the death toll in Iran had now passed 1,000. The UN also said it was deeply disturbed by the deaths of children, estimating that 160 were killed when bombs fell on a girls elementary school in the southern city of Minab on Saturday. Mr Hegseth said the Pentagon was still investigating claims about that attack.
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When Donald Trump criticised Keir Starmer for failing to sufficiently support American and Israeli operations against Iran, he did so with a historical flourish. This is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with, he complained.

The implication was clear: Churchill would have stood shoulder to shoulder with Washington in a confrontation with Tehran. The remark invites an obvious question: what would Churchill have made of war with Iran?

The answer is not as straightforward as Trumps comparison suggests. Churchills record shows a mixture of hawkish rhetoric, strategic caution and a constant concern with maintaining Anglo-American unity. Far from embodying a simple instinct for confrontation, he tended to see war and diplomacy as inextricably linked.

Churchills famous 1946 speech in Fulton, Missouri, is a case in point. During this address, he warned that an iron curtain had descended across Europe. But the speech  formally titled The Sinews of Peace  was not simply a call to arms against Soviet expansion. Churchill simultaneously emphasised the need for understanding between adversaries and the importance of strengthening the United Nations. His core message was that peace could best be preserved if the western powers demonstrated sufficient unity and strength to deter aggression.

open image in gallery US President Donald Trump has repeatedly hit out at Sir Keir Starmer in recent days over the Iran crisis ( Leon Neal/PA )

Iran already featured in the geopolitical crisis surrounding that speech. At the time, Soviet troops had failed to withdraw from northern Iran despite wartime agreements. The episode formed part of the early tensions that would harden into the cold war. Churchill therefore already viewed Iran through the lens of great-power rivalry.

That perspective had deep roots. During the second world war, Churchill had travelled to Tehran in 1943 to meet Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin at the first conference of the allied big three. The gathering took place in the capital of Iran because the country had become a crucial logistical corridor through which allied supplies flowed to the Soviet Union.

For Churchill, the conference was a sobering experience. Roosevelt increasingly cultivated Stalins goodwill, sometimes at Britains expense. Afterwards Churchill reflected ruefully that he had sat between the great Russian bear  and the great American buffalo, while Britain resembled the poor little British donkey. The remark captured his growing awareness that Britain was no longer one of the worlds dominant powers.

That realisation reinforced a central element of Churchills postwar strategy: the cultivation of an enduring Anglo-American partnership. His call at Fulton for a special relationship between the British Commonwealth and the United States was not a mere rhetorical gesture. It was an attempt to anchor Britains future security within the emerging American-led order.

open image in gallery Winston Churchill ( PA Archive )

The irony of a Churchill reference

But Churchills thinking about Iran did not stop with cold war diplomacy. In 1953, during his second premiership, Britain and the US supported a covert operation that overthrew Iranian prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and restored the authority of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The coup was organised largely by the CIA, under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt Jr., but Churchill enthusiastically backed the plan. When Roosevelt later described the operation to him at Downing Street, the ageing prime minister reportedly declared that he would gladly have served under his command in such a venture.

That episode suggests that Churchill could certainly favour forceful action when he believed western interests were threatened. Yet it also highlights a historical irony. The overthrow of Mosaddegh became one of the central grievances invoked by Irans revolutionary leaders after the Iranian revolution. Since 1979, the Islamic Republic has repeatedly invoked foreign intervention  particularly the Anglo-American coup  to legitimise its rule and to portray itself as the defender of Iranian sovereignty against external domination.

In other words, the legacy of western interference in Iran has become one of the regimes most powerful political weapons.

Churchill was well aware that wars and interventions could produce unintended consequences. Reflecting on his experiences as a young officer during the Boer war, he later wrote that once the signal for conflict was given, statesmen lost control of events. War became subject to malignant Fortune, ugly surprises, awful miscalculations. This was not the sentiment of a pacifist. But it was the observation of someone who had seen how quickly political decisions could unleash forces that no government could fully control.

About the author Richard Toye is a professor of Modern History at the University of Exeter. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

What would Winston do?

How might these instincts translate to the present crisis? Churchill would almost certainly have regarded Irans regime with deep suspicion. His cold war mindset inclined him to see international politics in terms of ideological confrontation and strategic balance. He might well have argued that weakness in the face of aggressive regimes invited further challenges.

At the same time, Churchill rarely believed that military action alone could resolve geopolitical disputes. His preferred approach was to combine firmness with diplomacy  to negotiate from strength while maintaining channels of communication with adversaries. Even at the height of the cold war he hoped that a position of western strength might eventually persuade the Soviet leadership to strike a bargain.

Above all, Churchill believed that Britains influence depended on maintaining close alignment with the US. But that alignment, in his mind, was meant to shape American power rather than simply echo it. The special relationship was supposed to be a partnership, not a blank cheque.

Trumps invocation of Churchill therefore rests on a simplified image of the wartime leader as an instinctive advocate of military action. The historical record reveals a more complicated figure: a strategist who believed in strength, certainly, but also in diplomacy, alliances and the careful management of great-power rivalries.

If Churchill were alive today, he might indeed be urging western governments to demonstrate resolve. But he would probably also recognise that Irans political system has been forged in the memory of past foreign interventions  and that any new conflict would risk reinforcing the very forces it seeks to weaken.

Churchill once observed that war, once unleashed, rarely follows the tidy paths imagined by those who start it. That warning may be as relevant as any of his more famous phrases.
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An Amazon warehouse employee who needed surgery to repair two work-related hernias was fired for non-attendance while he recuperated at home from the operation, according to a federal civil rights lawsuit obtained by The Independent.

Although Las Vegas resident Lashone Brown had been granted official medical leave, his complaint says Amazons automated attendance system misclassified his absences as unexcused, and automatically terminated him five days into his approved two-week recovery period.

Amazon HR acknowledged the errors were their departments fault, but did not correct them, the complaint contends, alleging that the company instead took the opportunity to punish Brown for filing a workers compensation claim over his on-the-job injuries.

People working in Amazon warehouses suffer musculoskeletal injuries, which include hernias, at a rate four times that of the rest of the industry, according to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. A 2024 report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions said Amazons relentless efforts to push workers to move faster and its failure to provide a safe environment result in workers getting injured at extremely high rates. (Amazon disputed the methodology used in the Senate report.)

Not all people report injuries because they are scared to get taken off their job or told they cant work over there anymore, one Amazon warehouse worker told The Guardian. I have many times come home with bruises from work at Amazon and I experienced my first hernia there.

open image in gallery People working in Amazon warehouses are four times as likely to suffer musculoskeletal injuries as their industry peers, according to state regulators ( Getty Images )

Another worker at an Amazon warehouse in Rock Tavern, New York, described her department as a hernia factory.

Aside from hernias, a tear in the abdominal muscle wall which can come about due to heavy lifting and straining, Amazon warehouse personnel are prone to all manner of injury, the most common being sprains, strains, and lower back issues.

Its as if were living in some new Gilded Age, where a corporate giant refuses to recognize employee safety while its founder is the second-wealthiest person on the planet, Connecticut State Sen. Martin Looney said in 2023, referring to Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, a Donald Trump critic-turned-supporter with a reported net worth of more than $220 billion.

Amazon warehouse workers in the U.S. earn an average wage of $23 an hour, according to the company.

In an email, attorney Matthew T. Hale, who is representing Brown, told The Independent that his client was terminated by Amazon while recovering from approved surgery for a workplace injury, and we are proud to represent him in seeking the justice he deserves.

Amazon spokesman Sam Stephenson said, "While we haven't received this lawsuit yet and therefore can't speak to specifics of the matter, the health and safety of our employees and partners is our highest priority and we take this matter seriously."

Stephenson also said that Amazon has invested heavily in safety efforts over the past five years, and that injuries that require more than basic first aid are down 34 percent.

open image in gallery As he prepared for his impending surgery, Amazon warehouse worker Lashone Brown 'repeatedly reported to HR that the system was misclassifying his approved leave and accommodations as unexcused absences,' according to his complaint. However, it alleges, HR never did anything about it ( AFP via Getty Images )

Brown began working as an Amazon warehouse associate in December 2023, according to his complaint, which was filed February 27 in Nevada federal court.

Warehouse associates pick, pack, and ship orders to Amazon customers, in some cases, for our super-fast (2-hour or less) delivery service, the companys careers page tells prospective applicants. It says candidates must be able to lift up to 49 pounds, push utility carts up to 60 pounds, go up and down stairs, use carts, dollies, and hand trucks to move items around, and to stand, walk, push, pull, squat, bend, and reach during shifts.

On January 15, 2025, more than two years after Brown hired on at Amazon, he got hurt at work, resulting in an inguinal and umbilical hernia that limited his ability to lift and perform regular duties, the complaint states.

An inguinal hernia is located in the groin area; an umbilical hernia occurs in ones navel.

Brown then filed a workers compensation claim and was given various medical restrictions, including a five-pound lifting limit, the complaint goes on. Amazon complied, assigning Brown to light-duty assignments via a Temporary Work Placement Acknowledgement, according to the complaint.

For the next several months, it says Brown took approved leave, returning to work that August with continued restrictions.

Amazon issued a second Temporary Work Placement Acknowledgement, but its automated attendance system failed to recognize his approved accommodation and improperly assigned negative attendance points, the complaint alleges.

As he prepared for his impending surgery, Brown repeatedly reported to Amazon HR that the system was misclassifying his approved leave and accommodations as unexcused absences, according to the complaint. However, it alleges, HR never did anything about it.

open image in gallery Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, seen here at his wedding in Venice, is the world's second-wealthiest person. The online retail behemoth has come under fire for an unusually high injury rate at its warehouses ( AFP via Getty Images )

On October 10, 2025, Brown had his hernias surgically repaired, the complaint continues.

Although he was on approved leave through October 24, Amazon failed to remove him from the schedule, and the system continued to record absences, it maintains.

On October 15, 2025, while recovering at home, Amazon automatically terminated Mr. Brown for excessive absences, all of which were actually approved disability-related leave or light-duty accommodations misclassified due to known system errors, the complaint states.

This, it asserts, was retaliation for [Browns] protected activity  specifically, his workers compensation claim, which can cause a companys insurance premiums to rise, invite safety audits, prompt attention from regulators, and the like.

Last month, Brown filed discrimination charges against Amazon with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Nevada Equal Rights Commission, according to the complaint. He was issued a so-called right to sue notice and filed suit against Amazon last week.

Browns complaint accuses Amazon of various wrongs, among them failure to provide reasonable accommodation, tortious discharge, workplace discrimination, and interference with Family and Medical Leave Act rights, claiming the company subsequently refused to reinstate him.

Amazon acted with malice or with reckless indifference or conscious disregard of [Browns] rights, according to the complaint. It says Brown was subjected to unlawful discrimination, loss of his employment, and loss of income and benefits, and that he has suffered physical and mental injury, and will continue to suffer great financial, mental and emotional injury, pain and distress.

Brown is seeking compensatory, special, and general damages for lost earnings, salary, bonuses, and other benefits; emotional distress damages; and punitive and exemplary damages in an amount sufficient to make an example of and deter [Amazon] from engaging in such conduct in the future, plus attorneys fees and court costs.

Amazon, which was served with a copy of Browns suit on Monday, now has roughly three weeks to file an answer to the allegations.

This article was updated on March 5, 2026, to include a statement from Amazon
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A California hiker was airlifted to the hospital after being stung by fire ants on a trail.

The Montecito Fire Department and Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue rushed to help the injured woman Tuesday morning at the West Fork of the Cold Springs Trail.

She had suffered an allergic reaction after coming into contact with fire ants, Montecito Fire wrote in a Facebook post.

A Santa Barbara County helicopter found the hiker before firefighters could reach her on foot, and a rescuer was lowered to hoist her out, according to authorities.

She was flown to the hospital for further medical treatment, the fire department said.

A California hiker was airlifted to the hospital after being stung by fire ants on a trail ( Montecito Fire Department )

The hikers current condition is not clear.

One person who commented on the fire departments Facebook post said, Thank you for everything you do.

The Cleveland Clinic warns that, while its rare, fire ant bites can cause life-threatening reactions. The painful, itchy bites are usually found on a persons legs and feet, according to experts.

A fire ant is a red-tinged insect, according to the medical center, and its size ranges from about 1 millimeter, or about the tip of a pencil, to 5 mm, around the size of a pencil eraser. It has six legs and two pinching mandibles that protrude from its head. It has a pouch of venom and a stinger on its rear end.

A person usually gets bitten by a fire ant when they step on the ground where the bugs live, and their skin is exposed, the Cleveland Clinic explains.

Fire ant bites first cause a burning or stinging sensation, followed by itchy bumps or welts that eventually turn into blisters, experts say. These blisters usually clear up in about a week.

In the rare case that a fire ant bite causes anaphylaxis, the person may experience dizziness and a decrease in blood pressure, the Cleveland Clinic warns. They may even lose consciousness or go into cardiac arrest.
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The Texas family of an 8-year-old girl who was one of 27 killed at the youth camp during catastrophic flooding last summer is asking the courts to keep the youth camp from reopening.

Cile Steward attended Camp Mystic when unprecedented rain worsened with terrifying quickness during the July Fourth holiday weekend, resulting in 25 girls and two counselors dying.

Cile and one other girls bodies still havent been recovered.

The family of the 8-year-old has asked a Travis County judge to prevent Camp Mystic's owners from reopening the camp and to halt any construction while the lawsuit is pending. Their request for a temporary injunction maintains that any changes at the camp could destroy evidence needed for their lawsuit.

It now falls to this Court to protect the public, plaintiffs search for answers, and the evidence at the Camp Mystic site, the attorneys wrote.

open image in gallery We call on Camp Mystic to halt all discussions of reopening and memorials, CiCi and Will Steward wrote to Camp Mystic officials (  2026 Jay Janner / Austin American-Statesman )

The camps decision last year to partially open and to construct a memorial on the grounds drew outrage from many of the girls' families who are mourning their loved ones and who said they werent consulted on the plans.

We call on Camp Mystic to halt all discussions of reopening and memorials, CiCi and Will Steward wrote to Camp Mystic officials after the camp's decision was announced.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked Texas regulators not to renew the license for Camp Mystic while the deaths are being investigated and cited legislative probes that are expected to begin in the spring.

open image in gallery Families of several of the girls who died have sued the camp's operators (  2026 Jay Janner / Austin American-Statesman )

Families of several of the girls who died have sued the camp's operators, arguing that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect the campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached.

Attorneys for Camp Mystic have expressed sympathy toward the girls' families but maintained there was little they could have done during the catastrophic flooding that quickly overcame the camp.

open image in gallery Nobody had every seen a prior flood anything like we saw in 2025, said Camp Mystic attorney Mikal Watts ( AFP/Getty )

Nobody had every seen a prior flood anything like we saw in 2025, said Mikal Watts, an attorney for Camp Mystic and its family of owners.
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For anyone whos trying to keep up with the endless twists and turns in our This Is Not A Forever War, theres been another development. No, Im not talking about the mass evacuations or the six dead American service members (therell be more probably, says Donald Trump, but hey, to quote the man himself, thats the way it is when theres a war. So get used to it!).

Nor am I referencing Israel invading Lebanon or Donald Trump having a big tantrum about Europeans not following him into a war the UN says is completely illegal (Keir Starmer is no Winston Churchill, Trump fumed yesterday, before threatening to cut off all trade with Spain if they wouldnt allow America to use their bases in the region.)

No, this development is more homeland-facing: the appearance, finally, of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt after a five-day absence while Trump launched a war in the Middle East. Leavitt opened her presser today with strident energy  like Trump and Hegseth before her, she began with a hundred-mile-per-hour history lesson on every single bad thing Iran has ever done to America, going back five decades. The Iranian regime, she added, is now paying for their crimes against America and they are paying in blood.

Then came the usual stuff, which was wheeled out about 30 minutes before she completely lost her mind during questions: her insults aimed at former presidents (such as Barack Hussein Obama and Joe Biden, who were weak and ineffective) in service of the current dear leader (President Trump is a man of action!). Gaslighty claims followed about how the war Trump started wasnt actually started by Trump, because Iran started it first by funding terrorist groups in the 90s or something, along with lip service about how Trump is a man of peace and how hes ended a zillion global conflicts and how his hand was forced, how everything ultimately comes back to him, a wonderful man, a courageous man, a thoughtful man, the best president of all time forever, and also when President Trump makes a threat President Trump does not bluff.

And, of course, the requisite warnings about fake news and how Americans shouldnt listen to journalists, because all they need are the official state-sponsored words of the government.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on March 04, 2026 in Washington, DC ( Getty )

But then, asked about whether a phone call with Netanyahu where the Israeli leader shared where Ayatollah Khameini was situated had anything to do with the US strike, Leavitt stumbled over her words for a second before snapping back into character: that may have affected the timing of the strike, she said, but actually, Trump started the war because he had a good feeling that Iran might strike US service members first. There doesnt seem to be any evidence at all that there was anything behind that good feeling, but if you cant trust the petulant whims of one man, then what can you trust?

The moment when the mask really slipped during the Leavitt briefing, however, was when a question came from CNNs Kaitlan Collins about the six slain US service members in the Middle East.

There is not  we've never had a Secretary of Defense who cares more when tragic things happen, Leavitt snapped. As there was murmuring in the room, she continued: Listen to me  especially you!... You and your network know that you take every single thing this administration says and tries to use it to make the president look bad. That is an objective fact!

It was a standout moment from Leavitt, who had spent the presser looking a little more flustered than she usually is  and she usually never looks flustered. Leavitt is precise and buttoned-up, hardly ever mixes up her words or deviates from a well-worn script. She is one of the most dependable members of the Trump administration: polished, self-assured and, in her way, completely ruthless.

Today, she stopped a couple of times to reword her sentences. She made a few awkward pauses. Then, eventually, she let her badly contained frustration tip over from righteous defender to backed into a corner and baring her teeth. It was a subtle show of what might be happening behind the scenes. Because yelling at people to listen to me! doesnt project strength, no matter which way you slice it.

And Leavitts got a tough job, tougher than most of her compatriots. Its hard to sell Americans on what is now unmistakably an expanding war with Iran  though, in keeping with the administrations preferred branding, we are still meant to understand it as something limited, controlled, and, above all, necessary. Its hard when affordability is the biggest issue in the polls and when your partys foreign policy is getting rated worse by the day by your own voters. Its hard to answer the questions from the press that represent these truths, hard to keep pretending that these little concerns about gas prices and groceries and dead people are the purview of media elites rather than the anxieties of Americans across the country.

And yes, shes the one who has to worry about actually being asked, in a public forum, about what everyones now calling Operation Epstein Fury.

There were two questions Leavitt didnt directly answer today: one about the spiking price of oil and how it might affect the US economy, and another about regime change in Iran. Oil should probably become cheaper now Iran isnt controlling the Strait of Hormuz, she said. And no, theres no plan for what should happen inside Iran (what?) but Trump is actively considering and discussing that with advisers.

The whole thing has started to feel very Fyre Festival: if you all could stop being so goddamn negative all the time, then maybe we could turn this into a great success!!!!

Americans across the Middle East are now being told how to evacuate, with the administration rapidly chartering flights free of charge  a detail presented as evidence of competence rather than a tacit admission of how quickly the situation is spiraling. And as for the Iranian people, bombed and then thrown into conflict from above? Well, their future rests in their hands, Leavitt told everyone with a smile. Good luck out there in the mess we didnt create!
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The photographer behind one of the most iconic images of the Vietnam War is suing Netflix and the makers of a documentary that claims he did not take the photo.

Photojournalist Nick Ut has long been credited with taking a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of a naked young girl fleeing a napalm attack, titled The Terror of War.

Ut said in court documents filed in France last week that the Netflix film, The Stringer, had damaged his reputation after it claimed that freelance photographer Nguyen Thanh Nghe was actually behind the well-known image.

These accusations strike at the very core of who I am, Ut said in a statement.  My entire career has been built on telling the truth, often at great personal risk.

Ut was 21 and employed by the Associated Press when he took the award-winning photograph. He is seeking $116,000 in damages and $23,000 in legal costs, according to the New York Times.

open image in gallery The long-credited photographer of an iconic Vietnam War photograph is suing Netflix and the makers of a documentary that claims a different photographer took the award-winning shot ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The iconic image of nine-year-old Kim Phuc, which was taken on 8 June 1972, shows her running down a street in Trang Bang, South Vietnam, as she flees an American napalm attack.

Debate over the photographs origin began in January 2025, when The Stringer premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. While Ut had long been credited as the photographer, The Stringer suggested that the photos actual creator was Nghe, a Vietnamese freelance photographer.

Nghe claims he was working as a driver for an NBC news crew when he visited the town of Trang Bang and took the image. In the film, he said he sold the image to AP for $20 and was given a print of the photo in exchange. Nghe said the memento was later destroyed by his wife.

The film, led by Gary Knight, a journalist and founder of the VII Foundation, which supports photojournalism, investigates these claims and later concludes that Ut did not take the photo  a claim both AP and Ut deny.

Lawyers for Ut asked Netflix last fall not to distribute the film, according to the Times. The lawsuit claimed the film's accusations go far beyond the acceptable scope of journalistic investigation and suggest fraudulent and disloyal behavior by Ut.

James Hornstein, a lawyer for Ut, said in a statement that his client brought the action to defend his reputation, and not for financial gain, adding that Ut plans to donate any award for damages to charity.

open image in gallery Vietnam war survivor Kim Phuc Phan Thi, also known as "Napalm Girl", stands in front of her iconic 1972 Vietnam War photograph ( ANP/AFP via Getty Images )

The World Press Photo Foundation conducted its own investigation and said in May that two other photojournalists may have been better positioned to take the photograph than Nick Ut. Uts credit for the image was suspended, but another photographer was not credited for the shot.

The AP also ran its own investigation, but said it would continue to credit Ut for the photograph.

We left nothing uncovered that we're aware of and we've done it with a great deal of respect to everybody involved, said Derl McCrudden, an AP vice president who heads global news production.

It makes no difference to us if we changed the credit, but it has to be based on facts and evidence. And there is no definitive evidence proving that Nick Ut did not take this picture.

According to the documentary, the photographs main subject, Kim Phuc Phan Thi, has no memory of the moment that was captured.

She states that eyewitnesses, including her uncle, told her that it was Nick Ut who took the photo, and took her to the hospital, title cards at the end of the documentary read. She still believes that.
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When it comes to whether the United States is at war with Iran, Republicans are borrowing from Bill Clinton: It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is.

On Wednesday, the Senate voted down a War Powers Act resolution to rein in President Donald Trumps actions in Iran. And Republicans are conjuring a new argument: The United States operations in Iran are not at war.

At least according to their tortured definitions.

Were not at war right now, were four days into a very specific, clear mission and operation, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Wednesday during his weekly press conference. This comes despite the fact that Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have separately called the operation a war on different occasions.

Theres a good reason for this: Trump ran as a uniquely non-interventionist president. He regularly criticized the hawks in his party like Jeb Bush and John McCain and defeated them. His campaign said that Kamala Harris would send young men to war as a way to convince them to break for him.

open image in gallery Were not at war right now, were four days into a very specific, clear mission and operation, House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted Wednesday. ( Getty Images )

So now they scramble to find new definitions of war. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the most bellicose Republican and Trump ally, told The Independent that the United States has been in an undeclared state of war with Iran since 1979.

You kill an American, youre at war with the people youre killing, Graham said. Its a way for Graham to keep his hawkish credentials without saying Trump is now at war. This likely is due to the fact that Trump is already unpopular and voters would not appreciate a new war on top of a cost of living crisis.

But by Grahams very definition, the United States is at war with Iran, given it killed Irans Supreme Ayatollah Leader Ali Khamenei.

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a critic of Trump, repeated the claim. He told The Independent that there will be a time to talk about war.

I think a lot of it will come around when we when we're talking about timing, deployment, sustainment, are we building any sort of alliances in the region? he said. Are we tapping on any of our relationships or partners across the globe?

open image in gallery Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said the United States is not at war with Iran, but Iran is at war with the United States. ( Sean Gallup/Getty Images )

Other Republicans simply said they opposed the War Powers Act because Iran posed a threat.

Because Iran cannot be allowed to develop or possess a nuclear weapon, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine told The Independent. It has thousands and thousands of ballistic missiles that can be used to shield that activity, and it's the leading sponsor of terrorism in the world, and has been responsible for the murder Americans.

But as Appropriations Committee Chairwoman, Collins will be in charge of setting the budget for the Pentagon and discretionary spending. This means she will be appropriating money for a war that is not a war.

Others are not buying it.

"I don't know how tuned in Mike Johnson is with the president of the United States, but the president of the United States himself has said that we are at war and that would make his actions patently illegal," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told The Independent.

Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona didnt buy it either.

I've heard Republicans say we're at war, and in the next sentence, the same person say we're not at war, he told The Independent.

Theres another reason for this: Allowing Trump to take military action unfettered prevents Republicans from taking a hard vote.

Voting for a War Powers Act resolution tees up a vote on the authorization of the use of military force or a formal declaration of war.

In a year where Republicans consistently lose in the generic ballot, taking a vote to send U.S. service members to go to war when most Americans oppose it or do not even know why the country is fighting is nothing short of a death sentence.

Johnson essentially said that much.

I trust that American people will understand that this administration did the right thing, I think theyll reward it politically, he said.

As a result, expect Congress to make Trump do their homework lest they have to shoulder the failing grade.
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A political adviser whose worked closely with President Donald Trump said he used his connections to government officials to charter a flight out of the Middle East  but denied allegations he received special assistance.

Alex Bruesewitz, 28, was among the thousands of American citizens in the Middle East over the weekend who were suddenly plunged into fear when the U.S. and Israel launched an airstrike campaign against Iran, shutting down the airspace and making it difficult to leave.

Its unclear who Bruesewitz, who is credited as being the architect of the Trump campaigns podcast game plan, contacted first, but he credited White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, Qatari and Saudi officials, Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle with helping him and seven other Americans get to Greece en route to the U.S.

But when faced with allegations that the White House extracted him before other Americans, Bruesewitz said: There was no special assistance provided by the Trump administration.... I personally chartered the flight and orchestrated the plan.

Unlike thousands of other citizens, Bruesewitz managed to leave the region before retaliatory fire expanded across the Middle East, shutting down airspace and leaving almost no commercial flights.

open image in gallery Thousands of Americans are stranded in the Middle East after commercial flights began canceling routes to the Middle East due to the war ( AP )

Although the State Department urged Americans to leave the region Monday via commercial flights, some of the largest airlines  including United, American, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Air France and Lufthansa  canceled services to the region.

By Wednesday, the State Department said they would organize free military aircraft and charter flights from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan for citizens looking to leave the Middle East.

When asked why the U.S. had not prepared evacuation plans, Trump told reporters: It happened all very quickly.

Bruesewitz did not describe in detail how the plan unfolded but he told Breitbart he had the opportunity to leave on his own shortly after the bombings began, yet chose to stay behind to help the other Americans escape.

The past 72 hours have been utterly surreal, like nothing I've ever experienced before, Bruesewitz wrote on X Monday in a lengthy post where he shared the story of evacuation.

open image in gallery Alex Bruesewitz, 28, was a key member of the Trump campaign's communication strategy ( Getty Images for Latino Wall Str )

Among those on the chartered flight were Sarah Gaither, a TikToker who shared her experience being stuck in Doha and Jay Footlik, a lobbyist for Qatar, who previously served as a special assistant in the Clinton administration.

The Independent has asked the White House, State Department, Bruesewitz and Lunas office for comment.

Gaither told Breitbart she heard from Bruesewitz around 5 a.m. local time in Doha on Sunday. She said the political strategist had been up all night piecing together a plan.

The group boarded the private jet Bruesewitz paid for and traveled to Greece, Politico reported. They landed in Greece shortly after midnight Monday where Guilfoyle welcomed them.

open image in gallery Guilfoyle, serving as US Ambassador to Greece, welcomed the group of Americans, led by Bruesewitz ( AFP via Getty Images )

First, I'd like to extend my deepest gratitude to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and his administration for their exceptional assistance and unwavering commitment to my safety during my time in Doha. Their care was unparalleled, and I was truly impressed by the effectiveness of the Patriot missile interceptor system, Bruesewitz wrote on X.

Luna expressed gratitude for the groups safe return and encouraged other Americans stuck in the region to reach out to her office for help facilitating a trip home.

The State Department has also asked Americans who want to come home from the Middle East to enroll in the Smart Traveler Program (STEP) and keep up with communications on social media. Those in emergencies can call +1-202-501-444 if they are overseas or +1-888-407-4747 if they are in the U.S. or Canada.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has said that President Trump called him directly to get his thoughts on the Newscum nickname.

Newsom claimed that the president asked about the nickname on the eve of sending the National Guard into Los Angeles in June 2025.

Recounting the event on last nights episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Newsom said that Trump would later claim that he read the riot act to the California governor.

It was about 10.30 my time, 1.30 his time, Newsom said. And he goes: Hey, Gav, Gav, what do you think of Newscum? The former San Francisco mayor didnt say if the call happened at night or during the day.

Newsom claimed that Trump asked, Its pretty original, right?

open image in gallery California Governor Gavin Newsom says that President Trump called him to get an opinion on the 'Newscum' nickname ( Jimmy Kimmel Live! )

However, the Democrat replied by saying that he had heard the nickname before.

Actually, its not, he told Trump. There was an eighth-grade bully that did that when I was a kid.

Well, MAGAs pretty good, Trump responded, according to Newsom.

Then, the president allegedly asked the governor to guess how many of his distinctive hats had been sold during the previous week.

Newsom said that the answer was 211 or something.

"And about 12 hours later, he said that he had read me the riot act and moved forward with the federalization of the guard," he concluded.

Newsom was appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote his new book, Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery.

open image in gallery Gavin Newsom also claimed that Trump called him to say that Melania Trump was upset with one of the California Governors speeches ( AFP/Getty )

During his appearance on the show, he opened up about another event, detailed in the book, after Kimmel asked the governor how he hurt Trumps feelings.

Well, Im sorry, Newsom began, breaking out into a grin.

Then the Democrat recounted the moment his son ran onstage during his inaugural address. During the speech, Newsom picked up his son and held him as he continued to address the crowd.

Trump calls me the next day and said, I saw that, Newsom continued. I said, Thank you Mr President.

I thought it was going to be a positive conversation. And, he talks about my wife, said something interesting about her.

Then the president pivoted to speak about his own wife.

Melanias upset, Trump said, according to Newsom. You said some pretty harsh things about me.

Newsom claimed that Trump dismissed his attempt to explain the speech, saying, Oh, I get it, oh, were all good.

He was hurt, he was so sad, Newsom added.

open image in gallery Trump often refers to Gavin Newsom as Newscum in his posts on Truth Social ( AP )

As the story came to a close, Jimmy Kimmel took a brief swipe at Melania Trump.

Theres no way Melania was upset. She probably wrote that stuff, Kimmel quipped.

Before the show ended, Kimmel handed Newsom a fake-award for uniting the people of Cali.

He was joined on stage by Josh Meyers, the brother of late-night host Seth Meyers, who skateboarded onto the set to the sound of airhorns.

The pair awarded Newsom with a trophy entitled The Fifa-Skydance-Paramount-Netflix-Warner Bros-Lipton Big A** Cup o Peace.

Joining in on the joke, Newsom shot back, This is long overdue.

In a statement given to The Independent, a spokesperson for the White House hit back at Newsoms claims.

President Trumps took bold action to save Los Angeles from violent rioters when local leaders like Bass and Newscum refused to act, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said. Newscum should be thanking President Trump for saving the city from burning down.
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Democratic senators have warned that President Donald Trump has no endgame after greenlighting joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and unleashed a barrage of retaliatory attacks.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a classified briefing to lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday that appears to have done little to allay concerns about the conflict that has erupted across the Middle East.

Speaking to Kaitlan Collins on CNN Tuesday evening, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallago, an Iraq War veteran, said: The most important thing that came away from this was, number one, we dont have a plan on how to get out of this.

We dont actually have a concept of victory. We  you know, our justification for going into the war is entirely different from what were hearing from the president right now. Again, this is even after the president went publicly and spoke to that. And that all is a very scary situation.

open image in gallery Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallago discusses U.S. airstrikes on Iran with Kaitlan Collins on CNN on Tuesday March 3, 2026 ( CNN )

Like, for me, as someone who had to live through some really bad decisions in 2005 that the, you know, the then-administration did, if we dont know how we can get out of this war, if we dont know what the actual victory is, were seeing potentially a long-term war.

He added: The president has not been very clear how and when it ends. And more importantly, the American public does not want this right now.

A snap poll over the weekend found that only one in four U.S. citizens supported the strikes, backing up the senators argument.

Gallegos concerns were shared by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who said in a social media video after the briefing: It is so much worse than you thought. You are right to be worried. The Trump administration has no plan in Iran.

This illegal war is based on lies and it was launched without any imminent threat to our nation. Donald Trump still hasnt given a single clear reason for this war and he seems to have no plan for how to end it either.

open image in gallery Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal has warned the president may ultimately send in ground troops to Iran ( Getty )

Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal told reporters in Washington after emerging from the briefing he was left with more questions than answers and was more fearful than ever that Trump could end up putting boots on the ground in Iran to restore order.

The presidents mixed messaging about the airstrikes, their ultimate purpose and likely duration attracted particular attention.

Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz added: There are times when you go into a classified session and you walk out with a better understanding about the gravity of the situation and the rationale behind the military action. This is not one of those times.

We remain as confused as the American people are. They have had three or four or five justifications for this act of war over the last four or five days, and nothing in this classified session alleviated that confusion.

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, also a veteran, wrote on X (Twitter) in response to a since-deleted tweet from the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem advising Americans to leave the region: There could not be a clearer sign that there was no plan. No plan for whats next. No plan to get Americans to safety. None whatsoever.

open image in gallery Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth has also called out Trump for having no plan for the conflict ( Getty )

On the one hand, the Trump Administration is encouraging Americans in the Middle East to leave the region immediately. On the other, their illegal war has closed most of the regions airports and airspace  and theyre telling them theyre on their own.

Its a complete failure of leadership. Trumps war of choice is leaving Americans stranded in this chaos with no way out.

Duckworth was one of several Democrats who criticized the president earlier this week for his, as they saw it, callous remarks about U.S. servicemembers killed in a drone strike in Kuwait Sunday, an attack that left six dead and which Trump described as, The way it is.

Members of Trumps own MAGA coalition have also rejected his play against Iran, with Tucker Carlson calling it evil, Megyn Kelly and guest Erik Prince speaking out against it on her Sirius XM show, and even far-right pundits like Alex Jones and Nick Fuentes calling it out.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refused to apologize for labelling two American citizens killed by federal agents domestic terrorists during a heated exchange with a Democratic lawmaker Wednesday.

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Jamie Raskin offered Noem the chance to address her past remarks about Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, and Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse. The two American citizens were fatally shot in separate incidents earlier this year by federal agents, during the Trump administrations immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

Only a few hours after they were gunned down by your agents, you called Renee a domestic terrorist, Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, said. You said Alex committed an act of domestic terrorism.

I want to give a chance before the entire country to correct your false and defamatory claim. Based on what you know today, madam secretary, were Renee Good and Alex Pretti domestic terrorists?

Noem responded that both incidents were an absolute tragedy, prompting Raskin to interject and repeat his question.

open image in gallery DHS Secretary Kristi Noem returned to Capitol Hill for the second day of a House oversight hearing, where lawmakers demanded answers on her handling of President Trump's immigration crackdown ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery During the hearing Wednesday, Raskin repeatedly asked Noem if she regretted her comments about Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Pictures of Good, moments before she was shot dead, can be seen in the background ( Getty Images )

I offer my condolences to their families because I know that their lives will never be the same, Trumps Homeland Security secretary said.

She said that she was operating on information from a chaotic scene and noted that both deaths are the subject of ongoing investigations.

But you didnt wait for the investigation did you? Raskin responded, again asking whether she would apologize or express remorse for her remarks.

I offer my condolences to those families, she said. My heart is with them.

At a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing last month, both ICE acting director Todd Lyons, and Customs and Border Protection commissioner Rodney Scott, denied that they or their staff used the domestic terroristlabel to describe Alex Pretti.

Did you provide Secretary Noem with an assessment of what Mr. Pretti was engaged in, and that he was engaged in domestic terrorism? asked Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, the committees top Democrat.

Both Lyons and Scott testified that they did not tell her that. When asked whether anyone who reports to him provided her with that assessment, Scott replied: Not to my knowledge, sir.

Later Wednesday, Noem faced questions from Rep. Lou Correa, a California Democrat, who accused federal agents of repeatedly asking Americans to produce their citizenship documents, creating an atmosphere of unease.

What do you suggest I tell my citizens back home, Correa said. Have a passport with you all the time?

I would tell your citizens to be grateful they live in this country where President Trump is upholding the law, Noem responded. We will voluntarily help them self deport if they would like to.

These are American citizens, maam, Correa responded.

open image in gallery Posters of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both US citizens fatally shot by immigration agents in January, are seen during a candlelight vigil in Minneapolis, Minnesota ( AFP/Getty )

On Tuesday, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee also berated the DHS secretary for sticking by her categorization of Good and Pretti as domestic terrorists, which they slammed as premature and inflammatory.

The fact you cant admit to a mistake  which looks like, under investigation, is going to prove that Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti probably should not have been shot in the face and in the back, Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, said.

You believe calling the victims of violence domestic terrorists is a way to calm the scene? Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, also asked.

Some 65 percent of Americans, believe ICE has gone too far in enforcing immigration law, according to a recent Marist poll.
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Kyle Peters, the son-in-law of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has reportedly been sued by his former employer.

Peters, who is married to Noems daughter, Kassidy Noem Peters, was sued last month by the South Dakota company A1 Development, according to local outlet KELOLAND News. The complaint was filed Feb. 19 in Codington County.

The lawsuit claims Peters had been wrongfully competing and diverting business from A1 Development for years, the outlet reports. Peters used to work at the firm and later transitioned to an independent contractor, according to the complaint.

The company reportedly alleged that Peters used his position to wrongfully divert business from A1 Development to his own personal benefit for at least 11 separate clients.

A1 Development is a company that helps clients in South Dakota with development, construction, permitting and government relations, according to the court papers.

open image in gallery Kristi Noem's son-in-law, Kyle Peters, was reportedly sued by his former employer in South Dakota ( City of Watertown )

The company has claimed his actions were fraudulent and intentional, Dakota News Now reports. Now, A1 Development is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and has requested a jury trial, according to the outlet.

Peters and his LLC, Bad River Development, deny the claims alleged by A1 Development, according to his attorney, Stephen Landon.

We are working on Kyle and Bad Rivers Answer to the Complaint as well as their counterclaim against A1 for the commissions it is unlawfully withholding, Landon wrote in an email to The Independent.

We believe the facts will show that Kyle did not divert any business from A1 Development, that he in fact brought substantial business to A1, and that he continued to attempt to refer business to A1 even after his departure, he added.

When reached for comment, Paul Kostboth, a founding partner at A1 Development, described the situation as unfortunate.

open image in gallery DHS Secretary Kristi Noems son-in-law denies the claims against him, his attorney said ( AFP via Getty Images )

We wish we were not involved in this unfortunate situation but believe the complaint speaks for itself, he wrote in an email to The Independent.

Peters serves as a city council member in Watertown, a small town about 100 miles north of Sioux Falls. He was also elected as Watertowns deputy mayor last year, KXLG reports.

Peters married Noems daughter in 2019, according to a social media post she shared at the time.

Kassidy and Kyle were married this weekend in the Black Hills! Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us. God is good, Noem wrote on Facebook.
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A slew of MAGA commentators, from Megyn Kelly to Nick Fuentes, have torn into President Trump over his decision to launch strikes on Iran.

The U.S. and Israel began bombing the Islamic Republic on Saturday, killing the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the process. Six U.S. soldiers have died in the conflict so far.

While appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show, Erik Prince, the founder of the private military contractor Blackwater, lamented the current situation in Iran.

I love the president, I love, largely, the decisions hes made, but I love him enough to also tell him when hes going down the wrong path, Prince said.

open image in gallery Megyn Kelly is just one of the MAGA commentators who has criticized the conflict in Iran ( Getty )

Kelly also criticized the conflict in Iran, comparing it to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

The president is talking about uh, I could do it in a couple days or four weeks, five weeks, she said.

Then, the former Fox News host played a clip of former Vice President Dick Cheney claiming that an operation in Iraq, which would become the 2003 invasion, could conclude in a matter of weeks.

Eight years and eight months later, we finally pulled our troops out, Kelly continued. It was not weeks, it was not months. It was nearly a decade.

open image in gallery Nick Fuentes has also criticized the conflict in Iran, labelling it an utter and complete betrayal ( AP )

Prince added that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is likely to be better prepared than Saddam Husseins military forces.

Its a 10x worse decision than going into Iraq was, he said.

Even far-right commentators Nick Fuentes and Alex Jones criticised the strikes on Iran during Tuesdays episode of InfoWars.

This is horrifying, Jones said. I cant sign on to covering up Epstein, I cant sign on to World War Three.

open image in gallery Alex Jones said that it was sad to see something that he fought and bled for die ( AP )

Jones went on to say that he had previously tried to promote the optimism of the Trump administration but was now a realist.

Its sad to see something you sacrificedits sad to see something you fought and bled for die, he said.

Fuentes said that he first donned a MAGA cap at 18 years old, during Trumps 2016 campaign.

Thats my whole adult life, he added. Thats a huge part of your life also, and now were witnessing its totally unravelling. Its an utter and complete betrayal.

open image in gallery The strikes on Iran killed the Islamic Republics Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ( reuters )

Only one in four Americans supports Donald Trumps airstrikes on Iran, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Meanwhile, 43 percent of respondents disapproved of the war, with 29 percent unsure.

Over half of those surveyed, 56 percent, said that the president was too quick to use military force to advance U.S. interests, following strikes in Syria, Venezuela and Nigeria.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
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U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is accused of making a bizarre sex joke in a memo to diplomatic staff as they shelter in place amid the ongoing war with Iran.

In the memo, obtained by The Washington Post, the Trump administration official reportedly joked that diplomats, staffers and their families may have some new children nine months from now given their extended time together.

If that time results in the birth of your next child in about 9 months, I of course expect that you will want to name the little bugger after me! the wartime memo allegedly reads.

A U.S. official told the Post the message was awkward and odd.

The Independent has contacted the State Department for comment.

open image in gallery U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee allegedly joked in a memo to staff about them conceiving new babies as they remain sheltered from the ongoing conflict with Iran ( AP )

Americans in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, including embassy personnel, have been given guidance to shelter in place, a State Department update on Tuesday said.

The U.S. Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said on Monday.

That same day, a notice from the embassy said the U.S. couldnt guarantee Americans safety if they chose to use an Israeli border shuttle being offered to those fleeing the conflict.

The U.S. Embassy cannot make any recommendation (for or against) the Ministry of Tourisms shuttle, the notice read. If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety.

open image in gallery Iran has attacked U.S. diplomatic installations and killed at least six U.S. service members since American forces kicked off the war over the weekend with a series of bombings ( Department of Defense )

The war has broadened into a multi-front conflict, and Americans in Israel are on the frontlines, as strikes have hit the country and Israeli troops have deployed into nearby Lebanon against Hezbollah.

Diplomatic staff across the Middle East are on high alert as the war continues.

Iran has already targeted attacked the U.S. embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and at least six American service members have been killed in the fighting.

The State Department is actively working on plans to help Americans in the Middle East return home, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Tuesday.

Prior to Huckabees reported memo, he made headlines before the conflict for an adversarial interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson, highlighting the ongoing divide within conservative circles over U.S. policy towards Israel.

During the conversation, the Trump official said he would be fine if Israel took over more nearby territory, angering regional diplomats, though he later softened his comments.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected the idea that the United States is at war with Iran despite President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth both saying the U.S. is at war.

The speaker delivered his weekly press conference, his first since Trump and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend, and rejected the notion that the House needed to have a vote on the War Powers Act as the U.S. Senate was expected to later Wednesday.

Were not at war right now, were four days into a very specific, clear mission and operation, Johnson told reporters. Rather, Johnson maintained that Iran had declared war on the United States  after the U.S. strikes that wiped out their leadership structure.

The claim comes despite the president's announcement of strikes on Iran alongside Israel. The White House and the Pentagon have dubbed the mission Operation Epic Fury.

Johnson also said that the United States is close to having control of the skies over Iran, which he said would lead to the mission concluding soon.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) said that the United States is not at war with Iran at the moment. ( Getty )

He then repeated Trumps call for Iranians to lead a revolution to create a new regime. The president has told the Iranian people When we are finished, take over your government and that This will be probably your only chance for generations.

Despite Johnsons comments, both Trump and his defense secretary have called the operation a war.

The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties, Trump said when announcing the operations Saturday morning. That often happens in war.

In addition, Hegseth has called the operation a war in his remarks.

This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it, Hegseth said this week.

The House and Senate is expected to vote this week on a War Powers Act resolution for military action in Iran. If passed, the president would be compelled to inform Congress within 48 hours of troops being deployed. In addition, troops would need to be withdrawn between 60 to 90 days if Congress has not formally declared war or authorized the use of military force.

In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are leading the charge in the House on the War Powers Act resolution. Massie has been a frequent critic of Trumps as well as military adventurism.

I think passage of a War Powers resolution right now would be a terrible, dangerous idea, he told reporters. It would empower our enemies, it would kneecap our own forces and it would take the ability of the U.S. military and the commander-in-chief away from completing this critical mission to keep everybody safe.

Johnson expressed confidence that Republicans would be able to defeat a resolution on the War Powers Act.

It would put the country in serious harm and it would certainly jeopardize the lives of our troops and all those who were involved in making these great sacrifices to defend this, he said.

The U.S. Constitution vests the power to declare war with Congress. But in the past century, the presidency has taken on a larger role in controlling the military and overriding Congress.

Johnson said that he believed the American people would reward Republicans.

I trust that American people will understand that this administration did the right thing, I think theyll reward it politically, he said.
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The Department of Justice has withheld from the public nearly 48,000 files stemming from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, after publishing more than 2 million pages of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The initial legally mandated releases of documents comprised more than 3 million pages, though that figure is now roughly 2.7 million, according to an analysis of the files by CBS News and The Wall Street Journal.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department told the outlets that 47,635 files were offline for further review and should be ready for re-production by the end of the week.

Those offline files include materials connected to unverified allegations against President Donald Trump, The Independent previously reported.

Our team is working around the clock to address victim concerns, redact personally identifiable information and any images of a sexual nature, according to Justice Department spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre. All responsive documents will be repopulated online once proper redactions are made.

open image in gallery DOJ is currently reviewing Epstein files stemming from allegations against President Trump, which are among more than 47,000 missing documents in a tranche of nearly 3 million ( House Oversight Democrats )

The Justice Department was compelled by federal law to release millions of files, including emails, court documents, photos and videos, many of which include images or references to high-profile figures, including the president.

DOJ told The Independent last week that it is currently reviewing documents that detail unverified allegations against the president. Those documents include summaries of FBI interviews stemming from unverified claims made by a woman who came forward after Epsteins arrest in 2019, who alleged, according to the files released by the DOJ, that she was sexually assaulted by both Epstein and Trump decades earlier, when she was a minor.

In a statement in January, the Justice Department noted that some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.

Those claims are unfounded and false, the statement said.

open image in gallery Members of Congress who are separately investigating probes into Jeffrey Epstein have pushed for DOJ to commit to releasing all the files in its possession ( AFP via Getty Images )

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has previously said the Justice Department withheld duplicate files, files that they could compromise active investigations, child sexual abuse material, and files that would reveal survivors personal information.

Following reports of the missing interview files, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democratic members of Congress are engaged in an all-out oversight effort.

We're going to pull on every thread, he said during a press briefing February 26. We're going to chase every lead. We'll talk with whistleblowers.

The president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and insists he cut ties with Epstein years before the wealthy pedophile  who killed himself in a New York City jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges  was under investigation.

Trump has characterized efforts to release the full files as a hoax perpetuated by Democratic officials to distract from his agenda, and Trump has sued The Wall Street Journal over the publication of an alleged letter to Epstein, a story he labelled false, malicious and defamatory.

Under legislation signed into law by Trump in November, the Justice Department was ordered to release all files connected to investigations connected to Epstein by December 19.

Trumps name appears thousands of times in the files. The president socialized with Epstein throughout the 1990s and 2000s, and Epstein once described himself as the presidents closest friend.

Trump has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing, and ones appearance in the Epstein files does not suggest otherwise.
AICC Original ArticleAnhui Delegation to the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress Established in Beijing Pub Date:26-03-04 15:06 Source:english.anhuinews.com On the afternoon of March 3, the Anhui delegation attending the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress was formally established in Beijing and held a plenary meeting. Editor:Zheng Chen

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Senate Republicans rejected a measure on Wednesday aimed at curbing military action against Iran, effectively endorsing a burgeoning conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East without a clear U.S. exit strategy.

The War Powers Resolution, which sought to mandate congressional approval before any further attacks, failed by a vote of 47-53.

This pivotal vote compelled lawmakers to publicly declare their stance on a conflict with profound implications for U.S. service members, countless lives, and the future of the region. The gravity of the moment was underscored as Democratic senators remained at their desks in the chamber throughout the voting process, a departure from typical procedure.

"Today every senator  every single one  will pick a side," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated before the vote.

"Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?" Conversely, Sen. John Barrasso, a member of the Senate Republican leadership, argued that GOP senators would send a message that Democrats were mistaken for forcing the vote. "Democrats would rather obstruct Donald Trump than obliterate Irans national nuclear program," he added.

Following a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, the Trump administration has been actively seeking congressional backing for a conflict that many Americans, across the political spectrum, were already wary of entering. Administration officials have been a constant presence on Capitol Hill this week, attempting to reassure lawmakers that the situation remains under control. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated on Wednesday that the conflict could extend for eight weeks, a longer timeframe than previously suggested by the administration. He also acknowledged Iran's continued capability to launch missile attacks despite U.S. efforts to control its airspace. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, echoed these concerns at the same press conference, stating that U.S. service members "remain in harms way, and we must be clear-eyed that the risk is still high."

open image in gallery The goal of the strikes is to dismantle the Iranian regimes security apparatus, according to the U.S. Central Command ( Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images )

The human cost of the escalating tensions was tragically highlighted by the deaths of six U.S. military members in a drone strike in Kuwait over the weekend. Additionally, a National Guard unit from Iowa was attacked in Syria in December, resulting in two fatalities. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a two-decade veteran of the Iowa National Guard, acknowledged these losses in her floor speech. "But now is our opportunity to bring an end to the decades of chaos," she asserted, adding, "The sooner the better."

Donald Trump has not ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops, though he has expressed hopes of concluding the bombing campaign within weeks. His stated objectives for the conflict have, however, shifted, moving from regime change to preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities, and then to crippling its navy and missile programs.

The votes in Congress this week serve as significant markers of lawmakers' positions on the conflict, particularly as midterm elections approach. "Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution," said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat who spearheaded the war powers resolution. "Everybody's got to declare whether they're for this war or against it." While Republican leaders have previously defeated similar resolutions concerning other conflicts, this situation with Iran presented a distinct challenge. Unlike previous military campaigns, the attack on Iran represents an open-ended conflict already reverberating across the region, causing some "whiplash" for Republicans accustomed to the president's promises of avoiding foreign entanglements.

open image in gallery The United States and Israeli strikes on Iran have sparked biblical theories among Trumps base ( Majid Saeedi/Getty Images )

"War is ugly, it always has been ugly, but we're taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time," commented Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican. Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has long advocated for the president's engagement overseas, viewed the widening conflict as an opportunity for Arab and European nations to join the fight against Iran and its supported militant groups. He stated, "I dont mind people being on record as to whether or not they think this is a good idea," but also argued that the War Powers Act cedes too much military authority to Congress.

On the other side of the Capitol, an intense debate unfolded in the House ahead of a Thursday vote. Rep. Brian Mast, the GOP chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, publicly thanked Donald Trump for his actions against Iran, asserting that the president was using his constitutional authority to defend the U.S. against an "imminent threat." Mast, an Army veteran, criticized the Democratic resolution as effectively asking "that the president do nothing." Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs panel, expressed the profound difficulty of voting to send U.S. troops to war, his voice emotional after a closed-door briefing with administration officials. At a Wednesday news conference, several Democratic members who are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars spoke about the heavy costs of those conflicts. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., remarked, "I learned when I was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, that when elites in Washington bang the war drums, pound their chest, talk about the costs of war and act tough, they're not talking about them doing it, they're not talking about their kids. They're talking about working class kids like us."
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Local lawmakers are infuriated by Elon Musks planned Tesla tunnel loop under the streets of Nashville but they cant do much about it.

The metro council passed a resolution Tuesday to put their concerns about safety, transparency and a lack of local input on the record.

The resolution, with 20 members voting for and 15 against with two abstaining, cant force one of Musks companies to stop, stall or change their plans for the Music City Loop.

But Nashville officials want to register their grievances after the politically connected tech billionaires company, The Boring Company, teamed up with willing state government partners to bypass local authority.

In July, Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and The Boring Company announced plans for the Music City Loop, featuring an initial 13-mile (21-kilometer) stretch that would include connecting the airport and downtown, which was later expanded to about 25 miles to include a second leg west of downtown.

Construction is seen for the Music City Loop, an underground tunnel by Elon Musk's The Boring Company, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Nashville ( AP )

They promised a project that would come at no cost to taxpayers, albeit with free use of some state land near the Capitol. The first section of the tunnel is supposed to be operational by the first quarter of 2027.

The Nashville loop relies on a fleet of dedicated Tesla vehicles driven by trained drivers, with more than 30 stations being designed and the potential for more routes and stations. The company says the cost to ride is expected to be lower than other transportation options. The cars will be human-driven, though the company says it could explore autonomous vehicles in the future.

Colleagues, public land needs to be for public good and public infrastructure decisions must prioritize the welfare, safety and express needs of Nashville residents, said Delishia Porterfield, who sponsored the resolution, Tuesday night before the vote.

John Rutherford, a council member who voted against the resolution, asked his colleagues to set aside their political opinions about Musk. He said a vote of opposition would risk closing the door to any dialogue with The Boring Company.

A representative for The Boring Company did not immediately have a comment when reached by the AP.

The Boring Company has another Tesla tunnel in Las Vegas that already provides rides on the electric cars, though the full route isnt finished. The company lists some research tunnels in use, including one in Texas in which passengers could travel in autonomous electric pods at upwards of 600 mph (965 kph). Plans for tunnels in some other cities have fallen through. Overseas, another Boring Company tunnel is planned for Dubai.

The Nashville project had a bumpy launch during the July announcement at the Nashville International Airport, when Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones, whose Nashville district includes the airport, was blocked from entering the event.

The Boring Companys CEO Steve Davis said at the projects announcement that they chose Nashville based on the need to address traffic and the partnership with state officials.

Nashville has been fantastic. Moved at an incredible speed, so welcoming, so kind, so so friendly, Davis said.

But Nashville officials, advocates and others seemed mostly blindsided at the announcement, and the council resolution questions why the city wasnt meaningfully consulted about a major change to the transit roadmap in Music City, where transportation projects are still being rolled out after voters approved a transit-funding tax increase in 2024.

The resolution also draws attention to potential geological and environmental concerns, citing its underground porous limestone that creates risks for sinkholes and water movement, in addition to the citys history of major flooding.

Last month officials from The Boring Company answered questions from the council and heard from residents, who voiced concerns about environmental impacts, safety of the tunnel and whether the company was compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The Boring Company says it has a strong track record in safely managing variable ground conditions, including in Las Vegas. David Buss, the vice president of commercial and government affairs, told the council that Nashville was a great place to do tunneling, as evidenced by existing tunnels built previously by other entities.

This isnt the first time that a Musk-owned company has drawn criticism from Tennesseans for operating around regulatory loopholes and without advance notice. His xAI data center began operating in Memphis in 2024, powered in part by pollution-emitting gas turbines, without first applying for a permit, which led to residents loudly protesting at city meetings.
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State Rep. James Talarico has clinched the Texas Senate Democratic primary, defeating Dallas Rep. Jasmine Crockett after a hotly contested race  as Democrats eye a long-shot upset in a state where they havent won statewide since 1998.

This is a people-powered movement to take on this broken, corrupt political system, Talarico told a crowd of supporters in Austin on Tuesday evening. Tonight, the people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope, and a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.

As of Wednesday morning, the 36-year-old Presbyterian seminarian had garnered 52.9 percent of the vote, outstripping Crocketts 45.7 percent, according to The Associated Press.

Crockett, who is Black, has not conceded and accused Republicans of trying to disenfranchise African American voters. Her campaign said she intended to take legal action over voting issues in Dallas.

Its not yet clear who Talarico will face in the general election. Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn will head into a bruising 12-week primary against ultra-MAGA Attorney General Ken Paxton after neither won a majority of the GOP vote on Tuesday.

open image in gallery Texas Senate candidate James Talarico won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, teeing him up to run against Republican Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton. ( Getty Images )

Democrats have not won a Senate race in Texas since 1988 and have been locked out of statewide races since 1998. But the party believes that Paxtons numerous scandals as well as President Donald Trumps unpopularity can create an upset.

Talarico, a former teacher, became something of an overnight sensation thanks to an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience where the titular Austin-based host said he needed to run for president.

He caught another lucky break whenThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert caused his stock to rise after Colbert said that CBSs attorneys prohibited from having Talarico on the show lest the network violate the Federal Communications Commissions Equal Time rule, though the network denied saying that.

When Colberts team put the interview on YouTube, the video racked up millions of views and the candidate raised $2.5 million in 24 hours.

Texas Senate race has already emerged as one of the most expensive in the country, topping out at $128 million.

Talaricos projected victory comes despite the fact that Republicans had boosted Crocketts campaign. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOPs official Senate campaign arm, had commissioned a poll showing her leading a prospective primary. Cornyn put it plainly last year when he tweeted Run Jasmine, run!

On the last day of filing, Crockett jumped into the race, forcing out former congressman Colin Allred, who had run against Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024 and lost.

Crockett had been seen as something of a firebrand who earned plaudits in liberal circles for her aggressive attacks against Republicans. She famously referred to former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene as a bleach blonde bad-built butch body after Greene referred to Crocketts fake eyelashes. But she also received criticism for calling Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, Governor Hot Wheels.

Crockett also received the backing of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who produced a robocall message for Crockett.

open image in gallery Republicans had hoped that Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat who has become a darling for many voters for her attacks on the GOP, would win the primary for Senate to make their job easier. But she came up short in the primary. ( Getty Images )

By contrast, Talaricos supporters argued that he could win over Christian conservatives and independents because of his openness about his faith. He also aggressively reached out to Hispanic voters and independent voters.

On Tuesday evening, the chairman of the Dallas County Democratic Party filed a lawsuit after many Democrats did not know where to go to cast their ballot. Initially, it looked like Dallas Countys polls would be open until 9 p.m. local time until the Texas Supreme Court blocked the decision.

Crockett told supporters on Tuesday evening that voters would not know the results that night.

So that's my news is that we're not going to have election results tonight, in my opinion, based upon what specifically is taking place in Dallas County, she told supporters at an election night party. Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do. And so they specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why.

Talarico also denounced the disenfranchisement of voters in Dallas, as well as Williamson County, Talaricos home.

The voter suppression in my home county and in Congresswoman Crockett's home county underscores the gravity of this moment, he said. This this movement is about whether the people will hold the power in this state and in this country.

Cornyn and Paxton will go into a runoff thanks to a spoiler candidacy of two-term Rep. Wesley Hunt. Since no candidate won a majority, a runoff will be held on May 26.

Republicans fear that Paxtons numerous scandalsfrom the fact he spent most of his tenure under federal indictment before the Department of Justice decided not to charge him to Republicans in the state House of Representatives impeaching him and his alleged affairs and messy divorcecould repel voters.

Texas is a crucial seat for both Democrats and Republicans, with the GOP holding 53 seats in the 100 seat Senate.

Democrats need to flip four Senate seats to flip the Senate. On Tuesday evening, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper officially won his nomination to be the nominee for Senate for North Carolinas open seat.

In Maine, Graham Platner and Gov. Janet Mills are running against each other to challenge five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Democrats also hope to flip at least one seat in either Ohio, Iowa or Alaska.

But Democrats face an uphill battle in Texas given that Trump won Texas by double digits in 2024.
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Texas Democrat James Talaricos projected victory over Rep. Jasmine Crockett in Tuesdays primary should give President Donald Trump cause to finally back incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Republicans have said.

The president has so far held off from backing either Cornyn or his MAGA challenger, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, but the formers strong performance in Tuesdays GOP primary forced a runoff that will take place on May 26.

With Talarico seemingly coming out on top against Crockett  who is contesting the result in court amid reported chaos at the polls in Dallas County, which she blamed on Republican meddling  a GOP operative has told Politico it is time for conservatives to take him seriously.

Talarico is a big reason for Trump to get in for Cornyn and end this thing, said the publications source, described as a close Trump administration ally.

open image in gallery Democratic Texas Senate candidate, James Talarico, speaks during his primary election night party in Austin ( Reuters )

Talaricos win reaffirms the need to have Cornyn as the nominee, they said. Cant risk this to Paxton.

Look, it will probably cost some money, the same person said of the prospect of the president backing Cornyn in the runoff. Its just money, we have a lot of it.

Another source told the outlet it would be very surprising for Trump to now endorse Paxton, a more natural ally, after he failed to prove he could beat the incumbent, raising questions about his chances of seeing off the Democratic rising star come Novembers midterms.

Establishment Republicans fear that the scandal-marred Paxton could repel voters and play into the hands of the clean-cut Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and former teacher.

I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered, and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything weve worked so hard to build over these many years, Cornyn said in Austin on Tuesday evening. There is simply too much at stake.

open image in gallery Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn speaks to the media in Austin after last nights result ( AP )

Paxton was equally defiant, telling his supporters in Dallas: John Cornyn spent around $100 million trying to buy this seat. We spent around $5 million We prove something theyll never understand in Washington: Texas is not for sale.

Cornyn has been unpopular with the Trumpian wing of his party since backing gun control legislation following the horrific mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in 2022 and after dismissing Trumps prospects in a 2023 interview by suggesting time has passed him by.

The MAGA-approved Paxton, however, was impeached for corruption in 2023 by the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives, only to be acquitted in the Senate, and has also separated from his wife, State Senator Angela Paxton, who is seeking a divorce on Biblical grounds over alleged infidelity.

Should voters back Talarico in November, it would count as a major upset and mark the first time Democrats have won a statewide race in Texas since 1998  and go a long way towards their partys goal of flipping the Senate.

They need to win four seats nationally to achieve that end, overturning the slim 53-47 Republican majority that currently holds sway.

open image in gallery Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton speakers to supporters at his watch party in Dallas last night ( Getty )

Talarico boosted his national profile with a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, in which he was backed by the influential host.

He also benefited from the uproar caused by attorneys at CBS moving to block his interview with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show last month, citing equal time rules.

The comic challenged the network on air over the decision and released his chat with Talarico on his YouTube channel, garnering fresh interest, support, and donations for the candidates campaign.

Crockett is better known nationally, familiar from her regular TV appearances on attacks on Republicans, memorably denouncing former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene over her bleach blonde bad-built butch body and causing offense by referring to the wheelchair-bound Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as Hot Wheels.
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A military commander told a group of non-commissioned officers that President Donald Trump was anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth, according to a complaint filed with a religious freedom watchdog.

The anonymous complaint was provided to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation by one of the NCOs in attendance at the Monday briefing on behalf of 15 troops  11 of whom were Christians, one Muslim, one Jewish, and two atheists  and was first reported by freelance journalist Jonathan Larsen on his Substack.

The NCO said of the commander: He urged us to tell our troops that this was all part of Gods divine plan and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.

He added that the superior had a big grin on his face when he said all of this, which made his message seem even more crazy.

open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been linked to Christian nationalist pastors and has introduced monthly prayer sessions at the Pentagon ( AFP/Getty )

MRFF said the complaint was one of more than 200 it has received since the joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran began in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Anytime Israel or the U.S. is involved in the Middle East, we get this stuff about Christian nationalists whove taken over our government, and certainly our U.S. military, Mikey Weinstein, MRFFs president and a U.S. Air Force veteran, told The Guardian.

Military members are not really able to stand up for themselves, because your military superior is not your shift manager at Starbucks.

Weinstein told Military.com that his organization had already had  well in excess of 200 complaints from well in excess of 50 installations, adding: They are continuing to come in everywhere.

What weve been saying forever, if you look back in history whenever youve merged any sort of religious fanaticism with the machinery of the state that conducts war, we do not end up with little babbling brooks, creeks, streams, ponds or lakes. We end up with one thing: oceans and oceans of blood.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump has not always convinced when seeking to present himself as a man of faith ( AFP/Getty )

Weinstein noted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths hard-line Christianity, which has included holding monthly prayer services at the Pentagon and reportedly attending a church in Washington, D.C., associated with Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson.

Why is anybody surprised? Hegseth makes it clear, Heres the template that we want, he said. That fully encourages one of those Christian nationalists, commanders and members of the chain of command  whether they believe it or not. They know its a way to get ahead, to try to rationalize [the mission].

Last summer, the Pentagon was forced to clarify that Hegseth does believe women have the right to vote after the secretary posted a video on social media in which another pastor, Jared Longshoreman, expressed his support for scrapping the 19th Amendment.

Trump himself has often cut an unconvincing figure on matters of faith.

He famously struggled to name a favorite passage from scripture in an August 2019 interview with Bloomberg and has sold God Bless the U.S.A.-branded copies of the Bible, which takes its name from a patriotic country song by Lee Greenwood and includes the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance thrown in for good measure.

Trumps edition of the Good Book is printed in China, retails for $59.99, or $1,000 for a signed copy, and is available in pink-and-gold and camouflage editions.
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While many GOP lawmakers have expressed public support for President Donald Trumps strikes on Iran, some have privately raised concerns about the military operation  with one drawing parallels to the U.S. invasion of Vietnam, according to a new report.

Several House Republicans told Politico, on the condition of anonymity, that the president cannot necessarily count on their backing over the long-term.

Most Republicans want clear objectives, clearer than they are now, one said, noting that members have urged the White House to plainly articulate their goals to the American people.

Since the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign began this past weekend, the administration has offered several seemingly conflicting explanations.

Vice President JD Vance has said they were intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the U.S. acted after learning of Israels plan to launch an attack. Trump has made plain his desire for regime change, calling on the Iranian people to take back their country.

open image in gallery First responders carry the body of a victim past bombed out buildings after strikes rocked Tehran. Some House Republicans have privately expressed concerns about Trump's Iran strikes, with one comparing it to 'LBJ going into Vietnam,' according to a new report ( ISNA/AFP via Getty Images )

The strikes have left hundreds of Iranians dead, including dozens of children at an elementary school near the Strait of Hormuz, according to state media. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the countrys 86-year-old supreme leader, was also killed, alongside several members of his family.

In retaliation, Iran has bombed U.S. assets and allies in the region, including in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Six U.S. service members have been killed.

Trump has said the Iran attacks could last for weeks  if not longer. This lack of a clear timeline triggered a sense of deja vu within one GOP lawmaker who spoke to Politico.

Sounds a little bit like President Lyndon Johnson going into Vietnam, doesnt it? the lawmaker said.

Johnson, a Democrat, inherited the Vietnam war upon President John Kennedy's assassination in 1963. He presided over a dramatic escalation, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of U.S. service members and countless more Vietnamese.

A handful of GOP members of Congress have also spoken out publicly to criticize the president involving the U.S. in another Middle East conflict.

open image in gallery Several House Republicans told Politico that the president cannot necessarily count on their backing over the long-term ( AP )

open image in gallery Photos showed pillars of smoke and mounds of rubble in Tehran following the US-Israeli strikes, which caused hundreds of deaths throughout Iran, according to state media ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty )

The constitutional sequence is, you engage the public before you go to war unless an attack is imminent. And imminent means like, imminent  not like something thats been over a 47-year period of time, Republican Rep. Warren Davidson, of Ohio, said this week.

Rep. Eli Crane, an Arizona Republican, described the current situation as very dicey in an interview Monday. Military operations like this can go sideways so fast, you know, it will make your head spin.

Many Democrats have also criticized the attacks as illegal and unwise, while key MAGA influencers portrayed them as a blatant departure from the presidents "America First" priorities. A recent Reuters survey indicates that just one in four Americans support the presidents military campaign in Iran.

Trump officials and GOP leaders have sought to quell fears by dismissing concerns that has the potential to become an open-ended conflict.

The operation will be wound up quickly, by Gods grace and will, House Speaker Mike Johnson told colleagues during a briefing Monday.

Some Republicans on Capitol Hill also seem to be allowing some time for the operation to play out.

I think so far, the Pentagon seems to have a good plan, Rep. Jeff Crank, a Colorado Republican, said. He added he would allow Trump six weeks or  eight weeks or whatever we need to accomplish the missions that we set out.

On Thursday, the House is set to vote on a war powers resolution that aims to rein in the president. The Senate is voting on a similar resolution today.
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Pro-Donald Trump podcasters are pushing the idea that the president is bringing about the Second Coming with the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran.

U.S. forces launched Operation Epic Fury at the direction of Trump early Saturday morning. The goal of the operation is to dismantle the Iranian regimes security apparatus, according to the U.S. Central Command. The president has claimed, without any proof, Iran was planning to attack U.S. forces.

Media Matters, a progressive nonprofit dedicated to monitoring conservative misinformation in the media, has compiled a list of several instances where pro-Trump podcasters have given a biblical perspective on Operation Epic Fury.

Gene Bailey, host of FlashPoint, compared Trump to the Persian conqueror Cyrus the Great in a video stream on Saturday. The Persian Empire encompassed several modern-day Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, according to National Geographic.

open image in gallery Pro-Donald Trump podcasters are pushing the idea that the president is bringing about the Second Coming with the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran ( Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images )

When Cyrus the Great entered Babylon, he didn't crush a people. He didn't crush a people group. He liberated them. The Persians still call him Cyrus the Great because he restored dignity, honored faith, and broke the back of the oppressive regime.

His name is etched in Persian memory, not as a tyrant but as a deliverer. So, let's fast forward 2,500 years now, many Persians see something similar to Donald Trump, Bailey said.

Pastor Greg Laurie said in a video of him speaking at a public event, uploaded to his YouTube page Sunday, the attacks on Iran could signal the Second Coming.

According to theology, the Second Coming is part of the end of the world, or the End Times, where Jesus Christ will return to Earth.

When we see this kind of activity in that part of the world, it reminds me of the words of Jesus who said, When you see these things begin to happen, look up because your redemption is drawing near. As far as I can see, the next event on the prophetic calendar will be the rapture of the church, Laurie said.

open image in gallery The United States and Israeli strikes on Iran have sparked biblical theories among Trumps base ( Majid Saeedi/Getty Images )

He continued: When that event happens, all of the prophetic things that are going to take place are like dominoes closely stacked to each other. And once the first domino falls, the others will fall: the emergence of the Antichrist, the tribulation period, the battle of Armageddon, the second coming, the millennial reign of Christ, heaven and Earth become one, and somewhere in that prophetic scenario is the invasion of Magog with her ally Persia.

Sean Feucht also mentioned the end of the world during a YouTube stream on Sunday.

Feucht said hes had a ministry base in Iraq since the height of ISIS and believes God has us positioned there for the end-time open doors of what hes going to do in Iran when this regime is prayerfully removed and the people are able to freely worship Jesus, Feucht said.

open image in gallery The goal of the strikes is to dismantle the Iranian regimes security apparatus, according to the U.S. Central Command ( Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images )

He added: Pray for the president. That God would keep him safe right now.

The U.S. and Israel have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior Iranian figures in the strikes.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday that the worst case scenario with the strikes is that somebody takes over who is as bad as the previous person.
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The U.S. military could soon begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway home to a large share of the worlds oil and gas shipping, as the ongoing war with Iran threatens global energy supplies and has sent gas prices spiking in the U.S.

If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday on Truth Social. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH.

In his message, the president added that he was ordering the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, a government agency focused on foreign infrastructure investment, to offer political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.

Earlier this week, Iran threatened to attack any ship crossing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that usually facilitates about one-fifth of global seaborne oil deliveries.

"The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze," Ebrahim Jabari, a senior Iranian military adviser, said in remarks carried by state media.

open image in gallery Amid the ongoing war with Iran, President Trump has proposed giving military protection and U.S.-backed insurance to tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway home to much of the worlds oil trade ( AFP/Getty )

This has U.S. leaders alarmed as the conflict, which began on Saturday with a series of American and Israeli strikes, escalates across the region.

Its becoming a growing concern that the energy markets could face pressures in the coming days as the military campaign intensifies and expands in geographic scope. Access to the Straits of Hormuz is obviously vital for both natural gas and crude oil shipments, especially from Qatar and Saudi, a source familiar with U.S. strategic discussions told Politico.

The national average price of gas increased 12 cents a gallon in the U.S. on Monday and could soon climb higher than when Trump took office, a major political liability in a midterm season defined by affordability concerns.

Closer to the frontlines, Iran has attacked Saudi and Qatari energy installations, part of a strategy observers say is designed to widen the war and ratchet up the pain on the global economy to hasten an end to the conflict.

open image in gallery The national average price of gas jumped 12 cents a gallon in the U.S. on Monday, amid attacks on Gulf oil infrastructure and threats to the Strait of Hormuz ( AFP/Getty )

The war has become a test of wills and stamina, Vali Nasr of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies told The New York Times. Iran is facing qualitatively superior militaries, so the strategy is to test their will by expanding the battlefield, complicating the war and increasing the danger to the world economy.

Uncertainty around the conflict extends beyond just economic issues.

Trump has admitted he does not know how long the U.S. attacks on Iran will last and whether someone as bad could take over the country after an American strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Six Americans have been killed in the fighting and Iran has attacked the U.S. embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said President Donald Trumps decision to attack Iran  which subsequently ignited a conflict that has sparked chaos across the Middle East  was grounded in what she called a feeling based on fact that Iran would imminently attack the United States and its allies.

The president was not going to be just another president on a very long list who sat back and stood by and passed the buck of this direct threat to the next administration, she said at a White House briefing when The Independent pressed her on the shifting explanations for the war offered by top administration officials since the weekend.

The president had a feeling, again, based on fact, that Iran was going to strike the United States was going to strike our assets in the region, and he made a determination to launch Operation Epic Fury based on all of those reasons, Leavitt added.

Leavitt, briefing reporters for the first time since the beginning of the joint American-Israeli bombing campaign five days ago, comes after days of incongruous messaging and contradictory explanations from top Trump administration officials regarding Trumps reasons for taking the U.S. into war in the Middle East.

In the days after Trump announced the launch of Operation Epic Fury in an early-morning social media post Saturday, his administrations justifications for such a massive and costly military campaign have shifted rapidly from day to day and even from hour to hour.

Initially, the strikes were framed as necessary to prevent Iranian efforts to rebuild a nuclear weapons program Trump has claimed to have obliterated with bunker-busting munitions last June.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Monday that the decision to attack was made to preemptively degrade Tehrans ability to retaliate against American bases after an attack by Israel.

We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, Rubio told reporters after briefing members of Congress Tuesday. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.

open image in gallery White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Trump will not pass the buck when it comes to attacking Iran ( Reuters )

But Trump himself contradicted that claim during a media availability with reporters Tuesday after he was asked if Israel had forced his hand with their own attack plans.

Based on the way that the negotiations was going, I think that they were going to attack first. And I didn't want that to happen, Trump said. So if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand. But Israel was ready and we were ready.

He also told reporters it was his opinion that they were going to attack first.

They were going to attack if we didn't do it. They were going to attack first, I felt strongly about that, he said.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Wednesday appeared to offer yet another explanation during an early-morning briefing at the Pentagon when he told reporters that the leader of an Iranian unit believed to have been behind an effort to pay for an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Trump had been hunted down and killed.

Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh, Hegseth said.

open image in gallery Trump announced the launch of Operation Epic Fury in an early-morning social media post ( AP )

Hegseth also told reporters on Wednesday that the U.S. and Israel will control Iran and will control it soon by dominating Irans airspace and waterways and said the U.S. was working to annihilate Tehrans navy, including a ship in the Indian Ocean which was sunk by an American submarines torpedo.

He claimed the sunk ship had been named for the late Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps leader Qassem Soleimani and hailed the submarines kill as the first torpedo sinking of a surface ship since the end of the Second World War, even though Pakistani and British submarines successfully sank Indian and Argentinian ships in 1971 and 1982, respectively.

While administration officials have sought to distinguish the aerial bombing campaign from prior regime change wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the initial strikes had the effect of decapitating Irans government by killing longtime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials, while Trumps initial announcement of the campaign urged the Iranian people to rise up against their own government.

Trump has acknowledged that Khameneis replacement could be as bad as the late Ayatollah, calling that possible outcome a worst case scenario.

You go through this and then in five years you realize youve put someone in who is no better. So, wed like to see somebody in there whos going to bring it back for the people, he told reporters Tuesday.

open image in gallery Marco Rubio arrives to deliver Congressional briefings on Iran at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday ( Getty )

Yet even as the White House has made no secret of its desire to destabilize and topple the Islamic Republic regime that has ruled over Iran since 1979, the administration has steadfastly refused to put forward any plan for how it would see a friendlier government take power in Tehran.

Leavitt has also dismissed questions about whether the Trump administration would accept an outcome of the conflict that includes a still-standing Islamic Republic.

Thats a hypothetical question that I'm not going to engage in, she told reporters Wednesday.

The regimes often-violent efforts to repress dissent have also made it difficult to identify any opposition figure in the country who could be a credible alternative to the current leadership.

Trump has been cool at best towards the most prominent Iranian opposition leader in the U.S., the son of the late Shah, Reza Pahlavi.

Some people like him, and we havent been thinking too much about that, Trump said Tuesday when asked about Pahlavi, who has spent much of the last half-century living in suburban Maryland.

It would seem to me that somebody from within, maybe would be more appropriate, he said.
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Donald Trumps Department of Justice said it was dropping its defense of the presidents executive orders against law firms that joined cases against him and his administration.

But government attorneys abruptly U-turned on Tuesday, as, without explanation, the Justice Department told a federal appeals court that it was withdrawing a motion to abandon the fight.

The motion to dismiss the appeal was filed less than 24 hours earlier.

Four high-profile law firms are waging a legal battle against the presidents orders, which stripped their security clearances, blocked them from government contracts and denied them access to government buildings.

Federal judges have all ruled in their favor, with one judge saying last year that the president makes no bones about why he targeted the firms, while critics say the executives' orders cast a chilling effect that threatens representation for groups and individuals who are taking Trump to court.

open image in gallery The Department of Justice is withdrawing a motion to abandon its defense of Trumps executive orders targeting law firms ( AFP via Getty Images )

Trump himself appeared to concede that he was targeting his executive orders against law firms that he believes are impeding his agenda, telling Fox News last year that we have a lot of law firms were going after.

The legal battles made their way to a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., which has not yet heard arguments in the case.

On Monday, the Justice Department said it was moving to voluntarily dismiss its appeal of lower-court decisions against the administration. Associate attorney general Stanley Woodward and deputy associate attorney general Abhishek Kambli submitted the brief motion, which did not provide a reason for dropping the case.

The next morning, the Justice Department filed another motion reversing course.

Attorneys argued the court should grant a motion to withdraw the document, saying it was the prerogative of Defendant-Appellants to pursue this appeal and that there is no prejudice to Plaintiff-Appellees in the Court granting this motion.

It wasnt immediately clear how the judges presiding over the case will react.

But law firms  which less than 24 hours earlier were celebrating the end of the case  now want the court to reject the Justice Departments reversal.

Hours after asking the court to dismiss its appeal, the Department of Justice has abruptly reversed course and moved to continue its defense of the unconstitutional executive orders, a spokesperson for Perkins Coie said in a statement. It offered no explanation to either the parties or the court for its reversal. We remain committed to defending our firm, our people, and our clients.

The firm Susman Godfrey said it would defend itself and the rule of law  without equivocation.

open image in gallery The president issued a series of executive orders against law firms who represented opponents and causes against his agenda, triggering a legal battle that has reached a federal appeals court in DC ( Getty Images )

Trumps apparent beef with Perkins Coie dates back to a federal investigation into connections between Trumps 2016 campaign and Russian agents to determine whether aides and officials had conspired to influence the outcome of that election. The firm represented Hillary Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee and worked with a research firm that produced the now-discredited dossier that alleged contacts between Trump and Russia.

Perkins Coie contracted Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research, which Fusion enlisted former British spy Christopher Steele to perform. Steeles dossier, which was later turned over to the FBI, alleged Russias years-long campaign to compile compromising information against then-candidate Trump.

Now-former Perkins lawyers Marc Elias and Michael Sussman were both named in Trumps order. Neither has worked for the firm in years. Since 2020, Elias has led the voting rights and civil rights litigation-tracking platform Democracy Docket, which has tracked hundreds of Trump-related cases.

What theyve done is just terrible, Trump said when he signed the order last year. Its weaponization, you could say weaponization against a political opponent, and it should never be allowed to happen again.

A separate group of law firms has controversially pledged pro bono legal work for the White House worth roughly $1 billion to avoid the administrations sanctions.

Civil liberties group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said the Justice Departments reversal is an embarrassment.

The presidents indefensible vendetta was a shocking abuse of power the day the executive orders were announced, according to the group. It was unconstitutional yesterday. Its unconstitutional today. And itll still be unconstitutional tomorrow.

The Independent has requested comment from the Justice Department.
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The Trump administration has flagged hundreds of historically accurate materials at national parks around the country to make sure they comply with a presidential order that forbids inappropriately disparaging past and present Americans, according to a leaked database from government workers, who claim the files show the White House censoring science and history.

A group that said they were civil servants on the front lines posted the files online on Monday anonymously, sharing nearly 900 incidents where managers and other parks staff submitted questions about whether historical signs and gift shop items complied with Trumps 2025 order to restore truth and sanity to American history.

In one incident, someone tied to the park encompassing the White House raised questions about materials that read, The use of enslaved labor to build the home of the President of the United States-often seen as a symbol of democracy-illuminates our country's conflicted relationship with the institution of slavery and the ideals of freedom and equality promised in America's founding documents.

Needs review to assess if statement contains disparaging content, the person wrote.

Another, at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, asks for review about materials describing the use of the Kilauea Military Camp as part of the mass imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during WWII.

open image in gallery A leaked government database shows hundreds of instances where park workers flagged historical materials they worried would violate a Trump executive order forbidding information that inappropriately disparages Americans past or living ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Others express concern that materials sold in park gift shops could run afoul of the Trump administration, which has also kicked off a sweeping review of Smithsonian-affiliated museums and government websites to ensure its particular version of history is reflected.

One entry in the database catalogues potential violations at the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument in the capital.

A few are books about the suffrage movement and some of the more radical things they did and several are negative to President [Woodrow] Wilson, who opposed the movement, the entry reads. 5 are books, the others are pins, magnets, mugs, etc.

The Washington Post, which first reported on the leak, confirmed the datas authenticity with current federal employees.

The individuals who posted the data claimed the files show a mass effort to rewrite history in order to justify future abuses.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has carried out wide-ranging efforts to change how American history is communicated to the public, including reviewing Smithsonian museums a Trump adviser said put an overemphasis on slavery ( Getty Images )

Dismantling trusted sources of science and history makes their agenda of lies easier, a statement alongside the database reads. Profiting from coal and oil is a lot easier if the impacts of fossil fuels are censored at sites like Muir Woods, Glacier, Acadia, and Everglades. It's easier to illegally detain people if we forget the true stories of Japanese-American incarceration in World War II, told at national park sites like Manzanar and Minidoka and Amache and Tule Lake and Honouliuli.

The Trump administration said the data shared was misleading.

The narrative being advanced is false and these draft, deliberative internal documents are not a representation of final action taken by the Department, the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, told The Independent in a statement. We are aware that internal working documents were edited before being inappropriately and illegally released to the media in ways that misrepresented the status of this effort. Employees who altered internal records and leaked in an effort the hurt the Trump administration will be held accountable.

Critics of the presidents historical efforts, which have frequently involved scaling back descriptions of the history of racism and oppression in America, have compared the White House campaign to something out of an authoritarian regime.

As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwells 1984 now existed, with its motto Ignorance is Strength, this Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims  to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts, a federal judge wrote last month in a case over the removal of materials about the history of slavery at the Presidents House, the first presidential residence, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The materials were ordered to be returned to the site, while the Trump administration has appealed.
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President Donald Trump has sparked health concerns once again after he was seen with what appeared to be a bright red rash on the side of his neck.

Photos taken Monday during a Medal of Freedom event at the White House showed what looked like a large, red rash and scabs on the right side of the 79-year-old presidents neck that spread from his ear to the back of his head.

White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella excused the irritation in a statement to The Independent, saying: President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor.

The President is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks, Barbabella added. He did not say why the cream was prescribed or what it was.

During the ceremony Monday, Trump was also sporting a bruise on his right hand, which, as usual, was covered by a thick layer of makeup. The new mystery rash only adds to the mounting scrutiny he has faced over his physical health and mental acuity after becoming the oldest president to be sworn into office.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump was pictured Monday with what appeared to be a bright red rash across his neck. White House officials say the irritation was caused by a common cream used as a preventative treatment ( Getty Images )

The presidents well-being has previously been questioned after he was photographed with bruised hands  and then with makeup to cover the bruises  as well as swollen ankles.

White House officials tried to ease concerns by blaming the hand bruises on frequent handshaking. However, Trump told The Wall Street Journal in January that the bruises come from taking a higher dose of aspirin than doctors recommend, which he has done for years.

Im a little superstitious, he said. They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I dont want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?

open image in gallery The rash could be seen from under Trumps ear going back behind his head and along his hairline ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The president also said that he applies makeup to his hand after he gets whacked again by someone and that I have makeup thats, you know, easy to put on, takes about 10 seconds.

At the time of the interview, Barbabella said that Trump takes aspirin for cardiac prevention. But the president takes 325 milligrams daily instead of the common low dose of 81 milligrams.

The presidents cognitive health has also been called into question during his second term. Trump has been filmed with his eyes shut during Cabinet meetings and in the Oval Office, though the president says he doesnt sleep a lot.

open image in gallery Trumps hand bruising has also been a frequent cause for concern ( AFP via Getty Images )

Ive never been a big sleeper, he told the Journal, adding that he just closes his eyes to relax.

Sometimes theyll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and theyll catch me with the blink, he added.

Last July, White House officials announced that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency  which was to blame for his swollen ankles.

The condition affects millions of Americans and is not a serious health threat. It occurs when a persons leg veins dont allow blood to flow back up to the heart.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave President Donald Trump key information about Iranian leaders whereabouts ahead of Saturdays strikes, according to a new report.

The U.S. and Israel launched a series of coordinated attacks on Iran early Saturday, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials. Trump has since said the military campaign was projected to last four or five weeks, but that it could go far longer.

Now, Axios reports that Netanyahu called Trump on Monday, Feb. 23, and told him that Khamenei, along with other top Iranian officials, were planning to meet in a single location on Saturday morning in Tehran. The CIA reportedly confirmed the intelligence by Thursday.

The president was already considering strikes on Iran, but the phone call helped determine the timeline, according to Axios. Trump, who had wanted to exhaust diplomacy first, was also told Thursday that negotiations with Iranian officials in Geneva werent going anywhere, according to the outlet.

open image in gallery Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told President Donald Trump that top Iranian officials would be meeting in Tehran on Saturday morning ( Getty )

According to Axios, a U.S. official told Trump Thursday: "If you decide you want to do diplomacy, we will push and fight to get a deal. But these guys showed us they weren't willing to make the deal you will be satisfied with.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine confirmed that Trump gave the order to carry out the strikes Friday afternoon.

At 15:38, 3:38 p.m., on Friday, February 27, the United States Central Command, through the Secretary of War, received the final go order from President Trump, Caine said Monday. The president directed, and I quote, Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck.

When asked about Trumps call with Netanyahu, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the information was important to the timeline.

I think it was important with respect to the timeline, but I think the president, prior to that phone call, had a good feeling that the Iranian regime was going to strike United States assets and our personnel in the region, Leavitt said Wednesday.

Trump told reporters Tuesday he believed Iran was going to strike first and rejected suggestions Israel had forced his hand.

We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first, Trump said. They were going to attack if we didn't do it. They were going to attack first, I felt strongly about that.

So if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand. But Israel was ready and we were ready, he added.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump said Iran was going to attack if we didnt do it ( AFP/Getty )

The timeline of the attack also impacted the White Houses response, the outlet reports. An official told Axios the opportunity for the strike came on us so fast that they didnt make the case in advance as well as we could have.

The Axios report also claimed an alternative timeline could have seen strikes being carried out in late March or early April, but Netanyahu had pushed to move it up. A U.S. official reportedly said Netanyahu was agitating, and had warned that Iranian opposition leaders were in danger.

Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to Washington, denied the claim that Netanyahu had been agitating or had raised the threat to Iranian opposition leaders as a reason for accelerating, according to Axios.

Over the past year, we have worked more closely than ever with our partners in the United States regarding Iran, and we see eye to eye on the danger Iran poses to Israel, to the United States, and to the free world," Leiter told the outlet.

The Independent has contacted the Embassy of Israel for comment. The Pentagon referred The Independent to the White House when reached for comment, and the The White House referred The Independent to Leavitts comments.
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The White House continued to offer a conflicting and rapidly evolving rationale for why Iran presented such an imminent threat to U.S. forces and their allies across the Middle East that President Donald Trump needed to use military force, as the joint U.S. and Israeli campaign concluded its fourth day on Tuesday.

A disjointed messaging effort appears to be hindering the administrations ability to sell the war to the American people though, as polling indicates that a majority of Americans do not yet understand why the U.S. is at war with Iran now  or simply do not accept the White Houses reasoning.

On Tuesday, the president offered his longest remarks to date on the matter. At a bilateral meeting with Germanys chancellor, he claimed without any proof that Iranian forces were preparing to attack U.S. forces before the U.S. or Israel launched any attacks at all.

We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first, said the president. They were going to attack if we didn't do it. They were going to attack first, I felt strongly about that.

That explanation directly contradicted what Secretary of State Marco Rubio said to reporters a day earlier. Rubio, speaking ahead of a briefing with congressional leadership, said Monday that an imminent Israeli attack forced the U.S. to act in order to prevent retaliatory strikes against American forces.

open image in gallery Donald Trump broke with Marco Rubio on Tuesday and said that the U.S. did not attack based on imminent Israeli action ( AFP via Getty Images )

We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties, said Rubio on Monday.

The administrations explanations for why it launched such a massive military campaign have shifted rapidly since the first strikes took place Saturday morning. The reasons have ranged from a necessity to deal with a reconstructed Iranian nuclear weapons program to longer-held frustrations that Iran was building up its ballistic weapons stockpile and refusing to address it with negotiators. Then Rubios assertion on Monday that Israel planned to launch its own military action before the president made his decision was shot down by Trump a day later.

Based on the way that the negotiations was going, I think that they were going to attack first. And I didn't want that to happen, Trump told reporters Tuesday. So if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand. But Israel was ready and we were ready.

open image in gallery U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Monday that an imminent Israeli strike necessitated U.S. action to prevent retaliatory strikes against U.S. assets ( Reuters )

Many retaliatory Iranian strikes have taken place in the days since, and six U.S. service members are confirmed dead as the conflict has exploded across the region. Numerous countries across the Gulf region have been targeted by Iranian strikes, including Qatar, Oman, the UAE and even Cyprus as U.S., Israeli and NATO targets have come under drone and missile attack.

Explosions rang out Tuesday in Tehran and in Lebanon, where Israel retaliated against Hezbollah. And the American embassy in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. consulate in the United Arab Emirates were attacked by Iranian drones. Meanwhile, Iran has fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, though most of it has been intercepted. Still, 11 people in Israel have been killed since the conflict began, the Associated Press reported.

But four days in, the White House continues to provide a limited picture of the conflicts possible resolution, similar to how the Trump administration offered a murky view of its plan for dealing with the remainder of Venezuelas government in the wake of the raid to capture Nicolas Maduro. Trump has said that he is not ready to negotiate with Iran, in a post on Truth Social ,and on Tuesday told reporters that he has no idea who will take over the government after U.S. strikes killed the most likely candidates.

Most of the people we had in mind [to lead Iran] are dead, he said. Pretty soon were not going to know anybody.

The president was frank about the lack of certainty surrounding Irans future leadership, admitting that the worst case scenario is we do this and then somebody takes over who is as bad as the previous person.

He added that five years from now, the U.S. could be looking back and realizing that his actions were a mistake.

That could happen. We dont want that to happen.

His secretary of Defense was far more optimistic about the prospect for positive regime change on Monday, at an early-morning press conference at the Pentagon  his first in months.

open image in gallery US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth takes questions during a press conference on US military action in Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2026. ( AFP via Getty Images )

This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it, he said.

If theres one common thread linking the reasonings provided by various Trump administration figures, its the threat that Irans ballistic missile program presented and the idea that it would soon reach a point of no return, where efforts to dislodge it or Irans nuclear sites wouldnt be feasible.

That explanation has been overshadowed by the drumbeat of war Trump himself has encouraged for months, and initial statements in the wake of the strikes from White House officials blaming the supposed imminent threat of an Iranian nuclear program which they angrily claimed in 2025 to have obliterated and set back by years.

Polling shows that Americans largely disapproved of the idea of going to war with Iran in the days leading up to the strikes, following Trumps threats to do so in January over Tehrans violent and sometimes deadly suppression of protesters around the country. Thousands are confirmed to have been killed after security forces and militias put down a round of demonstrations sparked by plunging currency values.

That same polling now shows that Americans are similarly unconvinced by the evolving rationalizations put forward by the administration over the course of Saturday to Tuesday.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll over the weekend found that only a quarter of Americans approved of the U.S. airstrike campaign while disapproval was much higher, at 43 percent. In that same poll, nearly one in four Republicans said that Trump was too hasty to use military force and deploy U.S. service members abroad.

Adding to the list of uncertain terms of Trumps war with Iran, the White House and sympathetic members of Congress briefed by the administration on its plans have not completely ruled out American boots on the ground in Iran, only saying a large-scale force will not be deployed.

In fact, Trump told the New York Post this week, that he was not ruling out the possibility of sending in troops. I dont have the yips with respect to boots on the ground  like every president says, There will be no boots on the ground. I dont say it, Trump told the outlet. I say probably dont need them, (or) if they were necessary.

On Monday, CNN published a poll which found that 6 in 10 respondents believed the president lacked a clear plan for handling the situation while a slightly higher amount, 62 percent, said that he should get congressional approval before launching further strikes.

As Trump and his allies hurtle towards the midterms, the ability of the White House to get its story straight and bring the war to a close could be key to averting a devastating political division that puts him on the wrong side of independents and even members of his own base.
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President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a full U.S. trade embargo on Spain after the NATO ally refused to let the U.S. military use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

Spain has been terrible, Trump told reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, adding: Were going to cut off all trade with Spain. We dont want anything to do with Spain.

He said he had told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all dealings with Spain.

The U.S. relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain after the countrys Socialist leadership said it would not allow them to be used to attack Iran.

Trump again referenced Spains refusal to heed U.S. calls for all NATO members to spend five percent of their GDP on defence, and added: Spain has absolutely nothing that we need.

All business having to do with Spain, I have the right to stop it. Embargoes  do anything I want with it  and we may do that with Spain, he said, again expressing his frustration with the Supreme Courts ruling last month that his broadest global tariffs were illegal under a national emergencies law.

No separate treatment for Spain

Merz, speaking with reporters after the meeting, said he told Trump privately that Spain could not be excluded from a trade agreement reached between Brussels and Washington last year.

open image in gallery German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he told Trump privately that Spain could not be excluded from a trade agreement ( AFP/Getty )

I said that Spain is a member of the European Union and we negotiate about tariffs with the United States only together or not at all, he said.

There is no way to treat Spain particularly badly.

Trump publicly asked Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for their opinions on cutting off Spanish trade.

Well, sir, I think well talk about it with you, Greer said. We know you can use it, and if you need to use it to assure national and economic security, well do it.

Bessent said the Supreme Court affirmed Trumps embargo powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, adding that the USTR and Commerce Department would begin investigations into how to penalise Spain under other trade laws.

Jennifer Hillman, a trade law professor at Georgetown University, said the Supreme Court did not address the presidents ability to impose a trade embargo under IEEPA. Trump could do so, but he would have to declare a national emergency over Spain as an unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States, she said, adding that such a move would go well beyond any previous emergency.

open image in gallery We dont want anything to do with Spain, the US president has declared ( AFP/Getty )

Its hard to see, however, how Spain denying us the use of air bases on its territory for us to launch an unprovoked attack on Iran poses an unusual and extraordinary threat to our national security or foreign policy, added Peter Shane, a New York University adjunct law professor.

Spain responds

The Spanish government responded in a statement that the U.S. must be mindful of the autonomy of private businesses, international law and bilateral trade agreements between the U.S. and the European Union.

Madrid said it had the necessary resources to contain the potential impact of a trade embargo and support affected sectors, but said it would continue to push for free trade and economic cooperation with its partners.

Spain is the worlds top exporter of olive oil and also sells auto parts, steel and chemicals to the United States, but is less vulnerable to Trumps threats of economic punishment than other European nations.

open image in gallery Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has risked Trumps ire ( AP )

The U.S. had a trade surplus with Spain for the fourth year in a row in 2025, at $4.8 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, with U.S. exports of $26.1 billion and imports of $21.3 billion. U.S. exports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas to Spain have grown in recent years.

Merz said pressure was being brought to bear on Spain from within Europe on defence spending.

We are trying to convince Spain to catch up with the three or 3.5 percent which we agreed on in NATO, he said, adding later that Spains defense spending levels had nothing to do with the trade negotiations.

Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of a dwindling number of left-leaning voices in Europe, has risked Trumps ire with a series of other policy moves, including refusing to let vessels transporting weapons to Israel dock in Spain.
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A year after President Donald Trump announced his tariffs on Canada, exports of American liquors  like Kentucky bourbon  to the north have dropped by more than 60 percent.

In March 2025, Trump announced 35 percent tariffs on Canada. Despite ongoing legal challenges to his authority to do so  the Supreme Court ruled last month that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not allow him to implement his wide-ranging tariffs  the president has remained faithful to his tariff strategy.

But Canada did not take the tariffs lying down. Canada imposed its own 25 percent tariff on all U.S. alcoholic beverage products shipped to the nation. That tariff was lifted in August, but that has done little to restore consumers' willingness to buy American.

Shortly after the tariffs were announced, many Canadian retailers pulled American items entirely. Only two provinces  Alberta and Saskatchewan  have American spirits on offer as of this report, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

In the year since Trump announced his tariffs, Canadian imports of American whiskey  including bourbon  plunged from $203 million in 2024 to $60 million in 2025 between March and December, according to DISCUS data.

open image in gallery A sign reading Buy Canadian Instead beneath an American Whiskey sign at a Canadian retailer. American spirits exports to Canada have fallen by more than 60 percent since President Donald Trump announced his tariffs on the nation ( REUTERS )

Full year exports from the U.S. to Canada in 2025 were down by nearly 63 percent. Meanwhile, American spirit imports of from Canada increased by nearly 11 percent, representing $691 million worth of products.

"One year after U.S. spirits were removed from retail shelves across Canadian provinces, the damage to American distillers is unmistakable," Chris Swoner, the president and CEO of DISCUS, told the Louisville Courier Journal. "This policy has caused real and avoidable harm to an industry that has long championed open markets and zeroforzero tariffs with our major trading partners."

He said DISCUS wants to see the nations resume talks that move toward an end to the tariffs.

"We deeply value our Canadian consumers, who have embraced the quality and diversity of American spirits for decades. We urge both governments to come back to the table to restore permanent tariff-free trade and restore Canadian consumers access to these iconic American spirits," he told the paper.

Reaching that level of goodwill may take some time. Not only does Trump appear adamant about his tariff plans, but he's also insulted and vaguely threatened Canadians in the meantime.

Around the same time Trump was announcing his tariffs he insinuated that Canada was America's 51st state, and referred to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the nation's "governor." He has since repeatedly said he wants Canada to become a state of the U.S.

After Prime Minister Mark Carney was elected, he made clear Canada would never be annexed by the U.S.

"America is not Canada, and Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form," he said at the time.

open image in gallery The Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Kentucky. Bourbon  which is exclusively produced in the U.S.  is one of the products affected by tanking Canadian imports from the U.S. in response to President Donald Trumps tariffs last year ( Getty Images )

Last March, Trump seemed to suggest that Canada's border was just an arbitrary line  despite himself being an anti-immigration hardliner  and teased the idea that a single nation encompassing both the U.S. and Canada would be "most incredible," ABC News reports.

"If you look at a map, they drew an artificial line right through it between Canada and the U.S., just a straight artificial line. Somebody did it a long time ago, many, many decades ago, and makes no sense," he said at the time. "This would be the most incredible country visually."

He continued, further suggesting he wanted to absorb Canada.

"'O, Canada," the national anthem, I love it. I think it's great. Keep it," he said. "But it'll be for the state, one of our greatest states, maybe our greatest state."

During a talk in Australia this week, Carney shed some light on his ongoing discussions with Trump. He said that Trump is a very different person in private versus his public persona, which allows for the men to "work through things," but he added that "it's not easy, let's be clear," according to CBC News.

He also revealed that Trump did not tip him off to the U.S. and Israel's joint airstrikes on Iran, but said he supports the military action "with regret, because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order."
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The Department of Defense has identified four of the six American service members killed in an Iranian drone strike, marking the first U.S. casualties of the conflict.

All were Army Reserve troops assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa.

The casualties include Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.

They died Sunday in Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack, according to the Pentagon.

Donald Trumps administration has not yet identified two other American service members who were killed in the conflict.

open image in gallery From left, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42; Sgt. Declan Coady, 20; and Capt. Cody Khork, 35, are the first named American casualties of the US assault in Iran ( Department of Defense )

Three service members were killed Sunday and five others were seriously wounded by shrapnel, U.S. officials announced. A fourth service member who was seriously wounded during the attack eventually succumbed to their injuries, according to U.S. Central Command.

Officials later announced that U.S. forces recovered the bodies of two other service members who are yet to be publicly identified.

Their names are expected to be released after their families have been notified.

The president said in a video on his Truth Social account Sunday that he expects additional casualties.

Sadly, there will likely be more, he said. That's the way it is. Likely be more.

open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said air defenses at the Kuwait facility are able to take down incoming threats but one happened to hit a tactical operations center that was fortified ( AFP via Getty Images )

U.S. troops killed in the attack in Kuwait  the first American deaths after the Trump-directed assault sparked chaos across the Middle East  reportedly had insufficient overhead cover when an Iranian drone smashed into a command center there.

The base along the Persian Gulf port allegedly did not have any hardened protection to deflect or minimize explosive force.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said air defense weapons at the facility were able to take down incoming threats but one happened to hit a tactical operations center that was fortified.

In a statement on social media Tuesday, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell refuted reports that the attack struck a makeshift office space at the facility and claimed every possible measure has been taken to safeguard our troops  at every level.

Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered their condolences to the service members families during a press conference Monday morning.

Our deepest heartfelt condolences are with their families, Hegseth said. We will never forget you.

Theyre heroes and represent the best ... our nation has to offer, Caine said. Theyre true examples of what selfless service means. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences are with their families, their friends and their units. We grieve with you, and we will never forget you.

The Pentagons announcement of the service members names arrived amid reports of an Iranian ballistic missile striking a U.S. military base in Qatar, Americas largest in the Middle East.
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Donald Trump has suggested the United States ongoing war in Iran "Operation Epic Fury, may last up to five weeks.

Since the first deadly U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iraq's capital, Tehran, on Saturday, over 2,000 targets have been struck, according to U.S. Central Commands Admiral Brad Cooper.

"We've had a very powerful impact," Trump said Tuesday. "Virtually everything they had has been knocked out now. Their missile count is going down."

Amid the onslaught, Iran has retaliated, carrying out a campaign of regional attacks, including thousands of oneway drones and hundreds of missiles at a range of U.S. military sites and civilian locations in Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. On Wednesday, Irans mission to the UN claimed the U.S. had "sacrificed the interests of its own nation" to serve Israel.

Over 1,000 people have been killed in Iran so far, including reportedly 165 school girls, victims of an airstrike on a school close to a naval base. According to state media, over 20 schools have been hit in the campaign. On Wednesday, a U.S. military submarine carried out a strike on an Iranian warship off Sri Lankas coast, killing at least 80 people and leaving dozens more injured.

open image in gallery Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet, on February 28, hours after the first strikes ( Reuters )

Meanwhile, at least six U.S. troops have been killed since Saturday  all of them in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait.

The rapid outbreak of war and the extent of the damage to U.S. assets are reportedly causing concern in Washington as the Pentagon burns through stocks of precision weapons. According to The Washington Post, which spoke to three people familiar with the matter, the US military is potentially days away from having to prioritize which targets to intercept with its air defence missiles.

We take a look at the financial cost to the US of the war on day four.

Al-Udeid U.S. air base strike in Qatar

Believed to be the biggest financial hit to the U.S. so far, the $1.1 billion early warning radar system at Al-Udeid Air Base was hit in a missile strike by Iran on Saturday. Qatar confirmed that the radar was struck and damaged. The air base is the biggest military base in the Middle East and hosts thousands of U.S. service personnel.

open image in gallery A file image of the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest U.S. base in the region ( MoD )

Satellite imagery of the base taken on Sunday afternoon revealed that a tent surrounded by satellite dishes had been destroyed and some of the dishes most likely damaged, according to The New York Times.

On Tuesday, Iranian officials also claimed that two ballistic missiles were fired at the base, one was intercepted, the other struck without causing any casualties.

Bahrain radar dome strike

On Saturday, Iranian attack drones swooped on the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, knocking out two radar domes.

These two satellite communication terminals are understood to play a significant role in providing high-capacity and real-time communications for the U.S. military.

According to reports, they are AN/GSC-52Bs, which cost around $20m to build and install.

F-15 fighter jets 'friendly fire incident'

Three U.S. F1-5 fighter planes were shot down over Kuwait on Sunday, 1 March, in what U.S. Central Command described as a "friendly fire incident".

open image in gallery One of the $100 million F-15s falls from the sky over Kuwait following a friendly fire incident ( UGC )

"During active combat  that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones  the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses," Central Command said in a statement.

While aircrews bailed out and survived, the planes  each costing $100 million to replace  did not.

Iran claims to have hit US missile system at Al-Ruwais in the United Arab Emirates

On Monday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement claiming to have hit and destroyed a U.S. missile defense radar in the United Arab Emirates.

The IRGC claims they successfully targeted an AN/TPY-2 radar, which makes up part of the THAAD anti-ballistic missile system, an attack estimated to cost the US $500m.

Drone strike on CIA base in Saudi Arabia

The Central Intelligence Agency's station at the U.S. Embassy in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, was hit on Monday by a suspected Iranian drone, Reuters reports.

Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said the embassy was hit by two drones, which resulted in a limited fire and some material damage.
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Swedish fighter jets are now patrolling the skies around Iceland for the first time, a significant move by NATO allies aimed at demonstrating their commitment to Arctic protection to both US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

Six Saab Gripen fighter jets, considered a flagship of Sweden's defence industry, have been deployed as part of NATO's "Arctic Sentry" mission. This initiative seeks to bolster the alliance's presence in the strategically vital Arctic region, also aiming to ease internal tensions within NATO, exacerbated by Mr Trump's push for the US to acquire Greenland.

Mr Trump has consistently pressured NATO members to substantially increase their military expenditure, particularly in the Arctic. He openly expressed dissatisfaction with Denmark's military presence on Greenland, famously dismissing it as "two dog sleds".

open image in gallery A Swedish Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet flies during a media day, illustrating how NATO Air Policing safeguards the Allies' airspace in the northern and northeastern region of the Alliance, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo ( REUTERS )

The Swedish fighters are mainly on the lookout for Russian long-range bombers that can take off from air bases on the Kola Peninsula, which is home to Russia's Northern Fleet and also has nuclear missile silos.

"Iceland as well as all of the Arctic would be important (in case of a conflict) because that's the warning chain for attacks against the U.S. or Canada across the Arctic," said Major General Frode Arnfinn Kristoffersen, deputy chief of staff, operations, at NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk.

"Russia sees the Arctic as vital to becoming a great power and has also built up new Arctic bases and opened up former Soviet military sites, including deep-water ports and airfields," he said.

Russia has repeatedly dismissed claims it is seeking to take over Greenland, or is a threat in the Arctic, saying they are false "horror stories" made up by Western leaders to justify their own behaviour.

open image in gallery A Map of the Arctic ( Reuters )

Keflavik Air Base, built during World War Two and up until 2006 an American base, is home to the NATO air policing missions that have been done periodically since 2008.

The cold and windy conditions are the same as those on Greenland and the rest of the Arctic.

"We have experiences from operating in this kind of harsh environment...so for us, it's quite natural to also be able to operate here in Iceland," said Major General Jonas Wikman, Sweden's Air Force chief.

The JAS 39 Gripen is a fourth-generation light single-engine supersonic multi-role aircraft, meaning it can do air-to-ground, air-to-surface, and air-to-air operations.

"It's perfectly suitable for this weather. It's built in Sweden for the Swedish climate, and this is basically what we have back in Sweden," said Lieutenant Colonel Robin Arvidsson, fighter pilot and squadron commander in the Swedish Air Force.

It has a low logistical footprint and can be refuelled and rearmed by one officer and four conscripts in as little as 10 minutes.

While NATO allies have rushed to increase the alliance's presence in the Arctic, some analysts and politicians have questioned the rationale behind the build-up, saying Russia does not currently pose a threat to Greenland.

"This is very dangerous because it leads to an action-reaction cycle," said Pavel Devyatkin, senior associate at Washington-based think tank, The Arctic Institute.

"There's a very high chance of an accidental incident, of an escalation," he said. "These moves from Sweden and from NATO are basically appeasing President Trump," he said.
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A marble bust depicting Christ the Saviour, which has stood for centuries in a Roman basilica, has been re-attributed to Renaissance master Michelangelo after nearly 200 years of obscurity.

The sculpture, housed in the Basilica of SantAgnese fuori le mura on Romes ancient Via Nomentana, had been associated with Michelangelo until the early 19th century before its origins became unknown.

Italian independent researcher Valentina Salerno, a member of the Vatican committee celebrating the 500th anniversary of Michelangelos birth, is credited with the re-attribution.

Her extensive investigation relied on long-term archival work, drawing on notarial records, posthumous inventories, and indirect correspondence linked to Michelangelos final years in Rome, rather than solely stylistic analysis.

Franco Bergamin, from the Order of Lateran Canons Regular, expressed his surprise at the discovery, stating: "We have lived here since 1412, and the monumental complex of SantAgnese always holds surprises  this is one of them.

I am not an art historian  in fact, I dont even have a university degree  but the strength of my research lies in its reliance on public archival documents, she added, describing herself as something of an investigator.

open image in gallery Researcher Valentina Salerno poses for photos next to the bust she identified as a work by Michelangelo Buonarroti, following a decade of archival research ( REUTERS )

The documents challenge the long-held narrative that Michelangelo, who lived until he was 88, systematically destroyed works late in life.

Instead, the sources suggest that drawings, studies, and some marble sculptures were carefully transferred within a trusted circle after the artists death.

Salerno said: "At Michelangelos death, every powerful ruler would have wanted to claim something of the master.

But the artist carefully devised the transfer of the material in his possession so that his art could be passed on to his pupils and thus to future generations.

One document refers to a locked room, accessible only with multiple keys, that had been created to safeguard valuable materials. While the room itself was later emptied, its contents can be traced through subsequent transfers.

open image in gallery Marble bust attributed to Michelangelo after decade-long research in Rome ( Reuters )

The research outlines a discreet network through which unattributed works were moved to religious institutions and secondary storage sites, where they remained embedded in functional settings rather than entering the art market.

The SantAgnese bust appears to be part of this process. Long integrated into the basilicas liturgical space, the sculpture was preserved in a building shaped by centuries of renovations and additions.

The data that have emerged will form the basis of a broader attribution process aimed at progressively returning other forgotten works to Michelangelos hand and presenting the findings to the international scholarly community.

The gleaming white sculpture now stands on an altar in a side chapel of the basilica and is protected by an alarm system.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Moscow could cease gas supplies to European markets, pivoting instead to more "promising" global buyers.

The comments come as the European Commission prepares to table a legal proposal on 15 April to permanently ban Russian oil imports, a move anticipated three days after Hungary's parliamentary election, according to EU officials and a Reuters document.

Speaking to Russian state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin, Mr Putin stated: "And now other markets are opening up. And perhaps it would be more profitable for us to stop supplying the European market right now.

To move into those markets that are opening up and establish ourselves there."

He clarified, however, that this was "not a decision, it is, in this case, what is called thinking out loud. I will definitely instruct the government to work on this issue together with our companies."

Mr Putin reiterated Russia's long-standing reliability as an energy supplier, vowing to maintain this approach with dependable partners such as Slovakia and Hungary.

open image in gallery A view shows a building of gas metering station, damaged during recent fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces near Sudzha border crossing ( REUTERS )

European gas prices have jumped 75 per cent this week, hitting multi-year highs as hostilities in and around Iran have impacted gas exports from the Gulf.

Benchmark Dutch and British gas prices extended their gains for the second day in a row and rose more than 40 per cent on Tuesday morning, as supply fears mounted after Iran and Israel stepped up attacks in the Middle East and Qatar halted production at its Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas plant, the world's biggest export facility.

Europe has increased imports of LNG over the past few years as it seeks to phase out Russian gas following Russias invasion of Ukraine and will have to import more to fill is fast depleting storage.

The conflict in the Middle East has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20 per cent of the worlds LNG transits through, pushing prices up internationally.

open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Moscow could cease gas supplies to European markets, pivoting instead to more promising global buyers ( Sputnik )

The Dutch front-month contract at the TTF hub, a benchmark price for Europe, was up 18.384 euros at 62.755 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) or around $21.33/mmBtu, ICE data showed, having hit 63.490 euros/MWh the highest level since January 2023.

The British April contract was up 44.36 pence at 158.15 pence per therm, ICE data showed.
Ukraine brings back 200 prisoners of war in swap with Russia

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Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian experts are heading to the Middle East to provide expertise on combatting Iranian drone attacks.

Kyiv is hoping to leverage its experience with drone warfare in exchange for new supplies of US air defence missiles, amid concerns that the Middle East conflict could stretch global supplies.

Asked how Kyiv intended to help the United States and its Gulf allies counter drone attacks, Zelensky said it was too early to say anything else at this stage, adding that experts would arrive on site in the coming week and assess the situation and help.

Ukraine has highlighted its expertise in drone warfare since the outbreak of the joint US and Israel attack on Iran, and has expressed interest in supplying interceptor drones to counter Iranian Shahed UAVs in exchange for Patriot air defence systems.

Ukraine was already facing a shortage of costly PAC-3 interceptor missiles supplied by the United States, and officials fear a prolonged conflict with Iran could further disrupt supplies.
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A US military submarine has launched a strike on an Iranian warship off Sri Lankas coast, killing more than 80 people and leaving dozens more injured.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that America had torpedoed the vessel in international waters during a press conference on the war against Iran on Wednesday.

The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, he said, as he showed footage of Tuesday nights attack in the Indian Ocean on what he called the Islamic Republic's prize ship.

open image in gallery Iranian frigate Iris Dena after being struck by a torpedo in a US attack off Sri Lanka ( US Department of War )

Hegseth claimed it marked the first time an enemy vessel had been sunk by a torpedo since the Second World War.

Sri Lanka's navy said on Wednesday it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people, after initial reports suggested more than 100 people were missing following the strike.

Sri Lanka's foreign minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that its navy had earlier received information that the Iranian frigate Iris Dena, with 180 people on board, was in distress and sinking. The island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission.

Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said by the time navy ships reached the location, there was no sign of the ship and there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water.

open image in gallery The Iranian frigate Iris Dena has been sunk off Sir Lankas coast (file photo) ( Iranian Army office )

He said the 32 people rescued were admitted to a hospital in the seaside town of Galle on Sri Lanka's southern coast, while the bodies recovered were being brought to land.

Security personnel were seen standing guard in front of the National Hospital Galle, while ambulances drove into Sri Lanka's southern naval headquarters in the city.

Dr Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said one of those rescued is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are being treated for minor injuries.

The Iris Dena  one of Iran's newest warships  is a Moudge-class frigate that patrols in deep water for the Iranian navy. It is armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, and also carries one helicopter.

The frigate was the centrepiece of a two-ship international tour in 2023 that included port calls in countries including South Africa and Brazil, and was accompanied by the support ship Iris Makran, a converted oil tanker.

The US Treasury Department included both ships on a sanctions designation in February 2023 along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied the weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.

At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said US Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the American military's Central Command.

We are also sinking the Iranian navy  the entire navy, he said in a video message. Thus far we've destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side.

open image in gallery An ambulance enters Sri Lanka's southern naval headquarters in Galle on Wednesday ( AFP/Getty )

For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping, he added. Today there's not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman, and we will not stop.

The sinking of the Iris Dena comes on the fifth day of the US and Israels war with Iran, as countries across the Middle East continue to get dragged into the conflict.

During the Pentagon news briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth warned attacks on Iran will continue for as long as necessary and US will punch Iran while it is down.

Our air defences and that of our allies have plenty of runway, he told reporters. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to...

This was never meant to be a fair fight, and its not a fair fight. We are punching them while theyre down, and thats exactly how it should be.

open image in gallery A damaged building in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel ( Social media )

Speaking of the six members of the US military who have been killed in the conflict, he vowed to avenge their deaths.

And asked about the attack on a girls primary school in southern Iran, which killed more than 160 people including scores of pupils, he said the US is investigating the incident.

Explosions sounded in Tehran on Wednesday, with more than 1,000 people reportedly killed in Iran so far, while Israel's military said its air defences had been activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and explosions were heard around Jerusalem.

Blasts were also reported in Lebanon, where Israel said it is retaliating against Hezbollah militants. Thick columns of smoke rose above Beirut as renewed Israeli strikes reduced large buildings in the Haret Hreik to piles of rubble.

In the latest escalation in the expanding conflict, Nato air defences shot down an Iranian ballistic missile heading towards Turkish airspace, Ankara said.

The missile was shot down over the eastern Mediterranean Sea. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, which prompted the first action from Nato forces so far.
When Donald Trump sneered that Keir Starmer is not Winston Churchill, the remark was meant to imply weakness. Churchill, in Trumps telling, represents uncompromising wartime resolve. Starmer, by contrast, supposedly does not.

Yet the comparison reveals something rather different from what Trump intended. If there is one lesson from Churchills career, it is that he regarded war not as a stage for theatrical bravado, but as the gravest responsibility a leader could bear. His speeches, his diaries, and the recollections of those who worked with him show a man who felt the burden of war intensely.

Certainly, Churchill could be audacious and even reckless in his strategic imagination. His generals sometimes despaired of his schemes. But he never treated war lightly. The historical record shows a leader who was acutely aware  seemingly unlike Trump  of the terrible suffering, destruction, and moral conflict that war entailed.

His premiership began not with triumphant rhetoric, but with a stark warning about the struggle ahead. On 13 May 1940, in his first speech to the House of Commons as prime minister, Churchill famously told MPs: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

The speech was delivered as German armies swept through Western Europe and Britain faced the real prospect of invasion. Churchill did not promise easy victory. Instead, he told the country that the coming war would demand sacrifice on an extraordinary scale. This steady and serious tone remained characteristic of his wartime leadership. Even the famous finest hour speech of June 1940  often remembered for its most uplifting line  was delivered in the shadow of catastrophe. France had just collapsed, Britain stood alone, and Churchill warned parliament that the Nazi regime might soon dominate the entire continent. His speeches were inspiring precisely because they never disguised the severity of the danger ahead.

Churchills seriousness about war is also evident in how deeply he felt military setbacks. Those close to him frequently recorded his emotional reactions. Jock Colville, Churchills private secretary, noted in his diary that the prime minister often became visibly distressed when casualty figures arrived, or when convoys were lost in the Atlantic.

The sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse by Japanese aircraft in December 1941 left Churchill profoundly shaken. In his memoir The Second World War, he recalled the moment he received the news: In all the war I never received a more direct shock. The loss of the two capital ships was not merely a strategic setback. For Churchill, it represented the deaths of hundreds of sailors whose fate he felt ultimately responsible for.

Similarly, the fall of Singapore in February 1942 devastated him. Churchill later described it as the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history. He regarded the defeat as a personal blow, and spent days agonising over how the catastrophe had occurred.

Churchills deeply felt responses were not confined to military defeats. The human cost of the war affected him profoundly. During the blitz, he regularly toured bomb-damaged areas of London. Witnesses repeatedly recorded that he wept when confronted with the devastation inflicted on civilians. After he visited the ruins of Coventry Cathedral following the Luftwaffes raid in November 1940, observers reported Churchill standing silently amid the rubble, visibly moved by the destruction.

open image in gallery Winston Churchill is said to have felt Britains human losses during the war on a very deep level ( PA )

Such scenes became emblematic of Churchills wartime leadership: as prime minister, he was determined to show solidarity with the public, but also terribly affected by what he saw. These reactions underline a crucial point. Churchill did not view war as an abstraction. He saw and felt its consequences directly  in destroyed cities, and the deaths of civilians and soldiers alike.

Churchills approach to war was also shaped by his earlier personal experience. As first lord of the admiralty during the First World War, he was closely associated with the disastrous Gallipoli campaign of 1915. The operation aimed to knock the Ottoman empire out of the war, but it ended in failure, with heavy Allied casualties. The disaster cost Churchill his position in government, and haunted him for the rest of his life.

Rather than retreat into political obscurity, Churchill joined the army and served as a battalion commander on the Western Front in 1916. The experience exposed him directly to the grim reality of trench warfare. Reflecting on the conflict years later, he wrote that modern war had become cruel and squalid, a description that reveals how profoundly the experience affected him. The memory of Gallipoli also made Churchill acutely conscious that strategic decisions could lead to immense loss of life. That awareness shaped his later leadership during the Second World War.

open image in gallery Alan Brooke, pictured second from left with Churchill in 1945, was the war leaders principal military adviser, and wrote of the intense pressures he faced ( Imperial War Museum )

Churchills conduct during the war also reveals the intensity with which he approached the task. He chaired countless war cabinet meetings, demanded detailed operational briefings, and maintained constant contact with military commanders around the world. His working hours were legendary; staff frequently struggled to keep up with the pace he set.

Alan Brooke, the chief of the imperial general staff and Churchills principal military adviser, recorded these pressures vividly in his wartime diaries. Brooke sometimes complained about Churchills enthusiasm for risky strategic ideas. On one occasion, he described the prime minister as producing a constant stream of proposals that left the generals scrambling to evaluate them. Brooke also acknowledged Churchills immense energy and commitment, and observed how he possessed a most remarkable brain and imagination. Nevertheless, he also noted the difficulty of restraining the prime ministers enthusiasm for more madcap and daring operations.

These tensions were real, yet they also demonstrate something important: Churchill took strategy extraordinarily seriously. He immersed himself in military planning, and debated constantly with his commanders. War, for him, was not rhetoric. It was an all-consuming responsibility.

Another revealing example of Churchills attitude came in January 1942. At that moment, the war appeared to be going badly for Britain. The Japanese had swept across Southeast Asia, Singapore was under threat, and criticism of his leadership was growing in parliament. Rather than avoid scrutiny, Churchill insisted that the House of Commons hold a full debate on the conduct of the war. He even submitted his leadership to a vote of confidence.

He survived the vote comfortably. But the episode illustrated Churchills belief that democratic accountability remained essential even in wartime. This was not the behaviour of a leader treating war as a stage for personal glory. It was the behaviour of someone who understood the enormous responsibility he carried.

Meanwhile, Donald Trumps political rhetoric about war often has a very different tone. Trump has frequently issued off-the-cuff threats against adversaries and allies alike. On one occasion, he pointed out the lovely gold of the drapes in the room where the press had gathered for the briefing on Iran. In the current dispute with Britain, he reportedly warned that countries that refused to support US military action against Iran could face severe economic consequences. Such petulant statements may play well in the theatre of modern politics. But they bear little resemblance to Churchills attitude to war.

open image in gallery President Trumps unfavourable comparison of Starmer with Churchill was supposed to point to a lack of wartime resolve ( AP )

Churchills speeches were full of dramatic language, but they always emphasised sacrifice, endurance and responsibility. He did not speak casually about military conflict, because he understood what it meant. He had seen the devastation of the First World War. He had experienced the political consequences of strategic failure. And he spent years directing a conflict that threatened the survival of his country.

Churchill is often invoked today, especially by the likes of Trump, as a symbol of defiance or toughness. But the real historical figure was far more complex. He was capable of bold strategic thinking, and sometimes entertained ideas that alarmed his military advisers. Yet those same advisers also recognised that Churchill grasped the stakes of the conflict more clearly than anyone.

He knew that war meant shattered cities, grieving families, and the deaths of thousands of young men. That understanding is precisely what gave Churchills leadership its moral authority. And that is the real reason why Trumps comparison rings hollow. Churchill did not treat war casually. He knew better than most  especially Donald Trump  what it actually meant.
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Mojtaba Khamenei is the leading candidate to replace his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Irans new supreme leader, according to reports.

Ayatollah Khamenei, 86, was killed in a US-Israeli strike on his personal compound on Saturday, setting off a wave of chaos in the Gulf. His clerical leadership of the Islamic Republic had lasted over 37 years.

His wife Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh and Mojtaba Khameneis wife Zahra Adel were also killed in the attacks, according to Iran.

The younger Khamenei, 56, is reported to have been selected as the primary candidate for supreme leader after two meetings of Irans Assembly of Experts, Iranian officials told the New York Times.

open image in gallery Mojtaba Khamenei (C), the son of the former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty )

The Assembly of Experts is a powerful collective of 88 Islamic religious scholars who have all undergone a strict vetting process by the Guardian Council in order to determine their loyalty to the supreme leaders. Their duty is to appoint and supervise the supreme leader.

After pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the decision to elect Mojtaba Khamenei was made, according to Iran International, an independent news outlet.

Both father and son have vehemently expressed their opposition to hereditary rule, in accordance with Shia theological principles.

open image in gallery Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Saturday 28 February ( Getty Images )

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?

Mojtaba Khamenei is the second-oldest son of the late Ayatollah and has stayed out of public eye until recently.

Like his father, he has a background in both Islamic theology and the military and currently teaches advanced theology at a religious seminary in Qom.

He is considered a hardline conservative cleric with links to Irans IRGC.

Khamenei has studied Islam since leaving high school and was instructed by some of Irans most powerful scholars in Qom, where he trained to be a cleric. During the Iran-Iraq war, he served in the Iranian military between 1987 and 1988.

Of the former ayatollahs six children, he is widely perceived as the most influential, despite having never formally held a position in public office.

open image in gallery Demonstrations in support of the late Ayatollah have spread across Iran ( REUTERS )

In 2005 he was accused of meddling in presidential elections after conservative candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the race.

Reformist elements within the government, including Mehdi Karroubi one of Ahmadinejads competitors, accused the masters son of interfering. His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his son is a master himself, not a masters son.

The Guardian reported that in 2009, Mojtaba Khamenei took over the Basij, an Iranian paramilitary group, in order to quell anti-government protests over the elections that year.

He is reported to own over 11 luxury properties in the UK through shell companies, according to a Bloomberg investigation. The buildings are valued at over $138m (103m), including one on Bishops Avenue in north London, also known as Billionaires Row.

The Assembly of the Forces of Imams Line has denied allegations that Khamenei owns large financial assets. He was placed under US sanctions in 2019.

His selection will likely cause controversy in Iran with the Islamic Republic having posed as an alternative to the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavis dynasty.
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Iran claims to have taken complete control of one of the worlds major shipping routes, causing chaos for the global supply of oil and gas as the conflict in the Middle East continues to grow.

The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway in the Persian Gulf through which around a fifth of the worlds oil passes.

Iran effectively closed the route this week after US missiles sank several Iranian ships. By Sunday, maritime traffic had dropped by 80 per cent, according to Lloyds List Intelligence.

Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republics navy, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said in a statement on Wednesday.

open image in gallery The Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds major shipping routes ( AP )

The IRGC has threatened to set fire to any ships attempting to pass through the strait. US president Donald Trump said that US Navy forces would be deployed to escort oil tankers if necessary.

Experts have warned that global supply chains will face major disruption, and that restrictions to shipping could send oil prices well into triple digits.

Below, we look at why the strait is so strategically important.

Where is the Strait of Hormuz?

open image in gallery The Strait of Hormuz runs to the south of Iran and is just 21 miles across at its narrowest point ( Getty/iStock )

The Strait of Hormuz lies between the Persian Gulf to the north and the Gulf of Oman to the south, opening up to the Arabian Sea and beyond to the rest of the world.

It is roughly 100 miles long, but only 21 miles across at its narrowest point.

The land-flanked passage lies in Irans territorial waters, but is viewed as an international waterway and is normally open to all ships. It consists of two shipping lanes allowing traffic to pass in opposite directions, each two miles wide, with another two-mile-wide lane separating them.

International law permits countries to exercise control up to 13.8 miles (12 nautical miles) from their coastline. At its narrowest point, the passage comes under both Iranian and Omani control.

Iran lies on one side of the strait, and some of the worlds biggest oil suppliers including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman lie across the waters.

What passes through the strait?

open image in gallery Around a fifth of the worlds oil supply passes through the strait ( Reuters )

It is one of the worlds most important maritime chokepoints, with 20 million barrels of oil passing through it each day  one-fifth of global oil consumption  and up to one-third of the worlds supply of liquefied natural gas.

This amounts to over 500 million barrels of oil and 6 million tonnes of gas every month, according to Lloyds List. Much of this is exported to Asian markets, including China (Irans only remaining oil customer), India and Japan.

It is the route used by supertankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran.

Around 3,000 shipping vessels pass through the passage every month, including oil tankers, liquefied natural gas containers, and cargo vessels, according to Lloyds List. This amounts to more than 30,000 ships every year.

While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can transport oil, the US Energy Information Administration says that most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.

Last month, Iran closed the Middle Eastern waterway for the first time since the 1980s as Iranian troops took part in live-fire military exercises.

Iran had not threatened to close the passage even during its 12-day war with Israel last June, when US-Israeli strikes took out some of the countrys key nuclear and military sites.

A global trade bottleneck as missiles rain down

open image in gallery Traffic through the strait has dropped dramatically since the US strikes began ( MarineTraffic )

Passage through the waterway has almost ground to a halt, creating a trade bottleneck, since the current war broke out.

Seaborne traffic is reported to have dropped by 80 per cent on Sunday, according to Lloyds List Intelligence, while Argus Media cited the Bahrain-based Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) in reporting that movement had dropped by 94 per cent since Saturday. Only three ships passed through, according to JMIC, far below the average of 138.

Around 150 vessels have dropped anchor near the strait, according to reports. Hundreds of others have dropped anchor near to Gulf countries as shipping movements are halted.

At least four tankers are reported to have been hit in the mayhem as maritime insurers have pulled insurance cover. At least one Indian crew member was killed, according to Euro News. Several reports from trade publications suggest that others have been injured.

Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday that the US Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.

No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD, he wrote, adding: The United States ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH  More actions to come.

In his message, the president added that he was ordering the US International Development Finance Corporation, a government agency focused on foreign infrastructure investment, to offer political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.

US attacks have spilled over into international waters with the US military torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, 40 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka. At least 80 people were killed, and 100 more are missing. The strike is likely to deepen a crisis that has already paralysed maritime shipping.

open image in gallery An aerial view of the Iranian shore and the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz ( Reuters )

Effects on oil prices and the global economy

Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is highly disruptive to the oil trade.

The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated, said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman.

A partial slowdown lasting a week or two could be absorbed by oil companies, he said. But a full, or near full, closure lasting a month or more would push crude oil prices, trading at around $80 (59) on Tuesday, well into triple digits and European natural gas prices toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.

Threats to the route have spiked global energy prices in the past, including during the Israel-Iran war in June 2025.

China and Japan, who will be severely affected, have called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict. A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday, when asked about the potential impact on Chinas oil supply, that China would take necessary measures to safeguard its energy security.
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Hundreds of people have been killed across the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on 28 February.

Gulf states that host US military bases and personnel, as well as Lebanon, were quickly drawn into the conflict.

The offensive, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, currently has no end date.

In a notification to Congress, President Donald Trump said: Although the United States desires a quick and enduring peace, it is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary.

These are the death tolls from the war so far, as reported by involved countries as of 5 March.

These numbers have not been independently verified.

An Iranian flag planted in the rubble of a police station in Tehran ( Getty )
The sirens were blaring in the morning as we approached the site of Irans deadliest attack on Israel so far. They must have done the same less than 24 hours earlier, minutes before the ballistic missile razed a synagogue and the neighbouring housing, killing 11 and wounding dozens. This time, the residents were able to emerge from the shelters soon afterwards, three audible, but relatively distant booms, indicating that the incoming fire had been blocked by missile defences.

Yesterday had been a very different story. Looking across the tottering slabs of dislocated concrete and mangled masonry that had once been the heart of this close community in the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, you could see the large, shallow depression in the ground that marked what had been the public shelter under the synagogue.

The missile somehow evaded Israels formidable air defences. For all their precision, they cannot stop everything.

Among the dead  including three teenage siblings as well as a mother and son  there were several who had sought safety there. The sheer force of Irans half-ton ballistic missile meant they did so in vain.

open image in gallery Rescue workers and military personnel carry the body of a victim from the scene of the Iranian missile strike in Beit Shemesh ( AP )

As civil servant Mordechai Shadi, 42, who lives directly opposite one of the destroyed houses, put it: The shelter can protect you if the missile lands nearby, even next door. But not if its a direct hit on the building you are in.

Its representative of majority opinion in Israel that the devastation did not shake Shadis faith in the war on Iran started by US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even while mourning for his close friends and neighbours. The shockwaves from the blast had not just smashed windows up and down the street, but made gaping holes in his own roof by dislodging many of its red tiles. It did the same for houses as far as 200 metres away.

But Shadi, whose kippah showed him to be one of the 80 per cent of Beit Shemeshs population who are religious Jews, said of the onslaught: Its right that Iran was attacked. There was no other option. If were not going to do it, whats going to be tomorrow?

He was hardly alone; a few doors down, a secular neighbour, electrician Dror Azulai, 50, who also had friends among the dead, agreed: It should have been done a long time ago. [Iran] is a country that threatens the world.

What remains less clear is how near the neutralisation of that perceived threat is to being achieved  or at what cost. This applies whether the aim is to topple the regime in Tehran or end its nuclear programme, once and for all.

As usual, the signals as to which course is actually being pursued have been mixed; Trump, without using the actual term, seems to think its the first; his defence secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that it was confined to the second.

open image in gallery Rescue workers and military personnel operate at the scene of the strike that killed 11 people ( AP )

Either way, the opening days of the war were a major success from the US-Israel alliances point of view. The intelligence which identified the whereabouts of the octogenarian Ayatollah Khomeini and some of his most senior officials  and which brought forward the timing of the war from its originally planned nighttime schedule  led inexorably to the decapitation, to use the term beloved by strategic analysts, of not just the supreme leader but several of his most senior military and governing officials, albeit very much not all.

For their part, the Iranians retaliation against Israel, backed as it was not last year by attacks on US bases and a surprising number of other targets in Arab Gulf states, has been more random and apparently less strategic than it was during the 12-day war.

But it has certainly succeeded in confining millions of Israelis in safe rooms and bomb shelters for much of the last three days, as well as shutting schools.

Its already clear that the Iranian regime had been as prepared for war as it could be after the depletion of its military resources last year. Khamenei had already set in motion a potential succession process, leaving as interim leader the National Security Council head Ali Larijani, who says he will not negotiate with the US. Certainly, there is as yet no bankable evidence that Iran is moving towards surrender.

The question, then, is not only of outcome but duration. Trump, who can rarely resist the temptation to punt a figure, whether or not it has any basis in fact, has now said it will take four weeks or less for the alliance to reach its goals.

But Amos Harel, Haaretzs astute military analyst, wrote of one potential difference between president and prime minister. Netanyahu would like to go all the way by toppling the regime and changing the regional balance of power. Trump normally doesnt like long wars  with good reason, given the doubts about their wisdom even in Maga circles.

open image in gallery Mourners take cover while air-raid sirens warn of incoming missiles launched by Iran toward Israel during the funeral of Sarah Elimelech and her daughter Ronit, who were killed in the Iranian missile attack ( AP )

For Netanyahu, its easy to see that the end of the Iranian regime, however desirable in itself, would help to shore him up against the prospects of a defeat in this election year. Voters still blame him for allowing the 7 October murders of 1,200 Israelis by Hamas to happen three years ago. But for the war to last long enough to meet his ends, he needs the continued material support of the US. Which is why Trumps choice will be the deciding factor.

Back in Beit Shemesh yesterday, Gili Perez, 50, landlady to the tenants living in the house next door to Shadis, took a slightly more nuanced view. Yes, she was sure that it was right to start the war and that the problem was that you cant talk to them [the Iranian leadership]  theyre so crazy.

But she would still probably prefer a negotiated end if the alternative was a forever war. People cant go out of their houses half the time. The schools are shut, she said, adding that her own 16-year-old son had been reduced to sleeping in their shelter. Were used to everything in Israel, but three years of war is enough.

The war is indeed popular among the Israeli public at present. Whether that public is ready to pay the price that it might exact, especially if Netanyahu actually takes the time needed to bring his own moment of triumph, is another question.
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The so-called special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States has long waxed hot and cold, but is now under critical strain as Donald Trump's administration escalates war in the Middle East.

The UK has not directly joined the US-Israeli assault on Iran, and amid retaliatory strikes on countries across the region, the US president has lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer as being no Winston Churchill, after he did not allow Washington to use UK bases to launch initial air strikes against Tehran.

Churchill popularised the term special relationship in a 1946 speech, warning about the threat posed by the Soviet Union to the West following the end of the Second World War.

open image in gallery George W Bush and Tony Blair renewed the special relationship in the years after the 9/11 attacks on the US ( PA )

Since then, intelligence sharing, military co-operation, trade and cultural ties have bound the UK and US in varying degrees of dependence and trust, which has endured despite shifting global politics.

Here we examine which subsequent conflicts the two countries have fought alongside one another, and the ones they haven't.

The Cold War (1947-1991)

The Cold War turned the USUK partnership into one of the most tightly aligned global alliances of the 20th century, with the special relationship forming the practical framework for how the West organised its defence and intelligence strategies.

Even as Britains global influence waned after 1945, Washington continued to rely on London as a trusted partner whose diplomatic weight, military support and intelligence capabilities helped anchor the Western response to the Soviet Union.

open image in gallery The 'Big Three' Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin at the Yalta Conference, February 1945, which set the stage for the Cold War ( Getty )

Natos creation in 1949 strengthened ties further by binding the two countries into a shared military command structure and a longterm security commitment designed to see off the communist threat.

Nuclear cooperation also deepened the relationship, with the UK ultimately adopting US systems such as Polaris and later, Trident.

The Korean War (1950-1953)

On 25 June 1950, North Korean forces invaded the South, triggering a major international crisis and the start of the Korean War.

Acting through the newly formed United Nations, the US rapidly deployed to defend South Korea, launching what became a gruelling threeyear conflict marked by heavy casualties, shifting front lines and intense Cold War tensions.

As a founding UN member, Britain regarded the conflict as a critical test of the organisation's ability to prevent aggression, and the US and UK's relationship became central to the UNled effort.

Over the three years of war, Washington sent over 300,000 troops, with Britain contributing the second-largest contingent of more than 81,000 personnel, reinforcing UN naval strength and taking part in some of the conflicts most demanding ground operations.

Together, the two countries formed the backbone of the coalition that pushed back North Korean forces and shaped the early military character of the Western alliance during the Cold War.

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

open image in gallery American soldiers evacuated by helicopter from a Vietcong position in December 1965 ( AFP/Getty )

The conflict between North and South Vietnam, which spread into Laos and Cambodia, became a proxy war of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. Direct US military involvement began in 1965, and ended in 1973.

Despite intense pressure from US president Lyndon Johnson, Britain was not involved. With the UK government facing economic constraints and lack of public support, prime minister Harold Wilson decided to avoid the costly, unwinnable conflict.

This led to US officials reportedly describing this as the blood price for the UK-US alliance.

Nonetheless, Britain provided indirect support for America, including training US forces in jungle warfare, sharing intelligence, and supplying military hardware. This diplomatic support came as the US provided crucial financial support for the British economy.

Wilson explained his refusal to publicly condemn the Vietnam War by telling a Labour colleague: We cant kick our creditors in the balls.

First Gulf War (1990-1991)

open image in gallery An oil field in Kuwait burns at the end of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 ( PA )

The First Gulf War became a landmark moment for USUK cooperation in the immediate postCold War era, and the first time troops from both nations had fought side by side since the Korean War.

The conflict began when Saddam Hussein sent Iraqi forces across the border to annex Kuwait, prompting a swift international response under UN authority.

British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in her final months in office, strongly backed US president George H. W. Bushs insistence that the aggression must be countered, and John Major maintained that stance after replacing the Iron Lady.

Britain provided the secondlargest military contribution to the USled coalition, working closely with American commanders on air strikes, naval operations in the Gulf and the ground offensive of Operation Desert Storm.

The war reaffirmed the special relationship, demonstrating that London and Washington remained aligned on questions of international security and the use of force.

The Afghanistan War (2001-2021)

The Afghanistan War brought the US and UK into another period of intense military and political alignment, beginning in October 2001 in the heated aftermath of alQaedas 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the Talibans refusal to hand over Osama Bin Laden.

President George W. Bush and prime minister Tony Blair forged a close partnership as the US launched Operation Enduring Freedom commencing with airstrikes on the Taliban and al-Qaeda, with Blair becoming Washingtons most vocal international supporter, and committing British forces from the outset.

Speaking on 7 October, Blair said: We know that sometimes to safeguard peace we have to fight. Britain has learnt that lesson many times in our history.

We only do it if the cause is just but this cause is just.... We waited so that those responsible could be yielded up by those shielding them. That offer was refused, we have now no choice so we will act. And our determination in acting is total. We will not let up or rest until our objectives are met in full.

open image in gallery Hundreds of people gather near a US Air Force C-17 transport plane at a perimeter at the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 16 August 2021 ( AP )

The UK provided the largest nonUS troop deployment, working alongside American forces in combat operations, counterinsurgency efforts and later Natoled stabilisation missions.

The war became increasingly controversial as civilian casualties, allegations of detainee abuse, and growing doubts about longterm strategy fuelled public and political criticism on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Taliban launched a major offensive throughout the summer of 2021 successfully reestablishing their control over Afghanistan as US forces pulled out under the terms of a 2020 deal.

Second Gulf War (2003-2011)

After accusing Husseins regime of possessing weapons of mass destruction and defying UN disarmament resolutions, a US-led coalition again drew the US and UK into a tightly coordinated military and political partnership,

The conflict began in March 2003, when USled forces invaded Iraq, and again saw George W Bush and Blair leading the international charge.

Blair committed British forces to the initial invasion and also to the long occupation that followed.

The UK provided the secondlargest military contingent, worked closely with US commanders in southern Iraq, and aligned itself with American strategic goals despite domestic outcry and international controversy.

Speaking later about the state of the special relationship, Bush said: Some of our allies wavered. Tony never did.

But the UKs decision to support the war has long proved controversial and looms large over Blairs legacy. The damning Chilcot inquiry in 2016 found that the invasion had been unnecessary and that support was achieved through the misrepresentation of evidence.

Libya (2011)

open image in gallery Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed after an uprising ( Reuters )

A 2011 intervention in Libya brought the US and UK into a different realm of military and diplomatic coordination, this time under president Barack Obama and prime minister David Cameron.

The conflict began when an uprising against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was met with violent repression, prompting the UN to authorise military action to protect civilians.

Britain and France pushed hardest for intervention, and the US provided early assistance in the form of airpower, intelligence and cruisemissile strikes  before shifting to a supporting role.

The UK deployed fighter jets, warships and surveillance aircraft, working closely with American forces during the initial assault on Libyan air defences and throughout Natos subsequent campaign.

The Natoled campaign ended with the collapse of Gaddafis regime in late 2011, after sustained airstrikes and rebel advances saw Gaddafi killed and forced his regime from power.
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Flights remain severely disrupted in the Middle East, with more than 12,000 canceled across the region since the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

The air strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on Gulf nations have created a vast no-go zone for commercial aviation  including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria and parts of the Gulf  stranding thousands of travelers and disrupting a vital air corridor between Europe, Asia and Australia.

Hubs in the region that have been affected include Dubai International Airport  the worlds busiest international airport  Zayed International Airport in the UAE and Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar.

Americas big-three carriers  United, American and Delta  have all canceled services to the region, along with other major airlines, including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Air France and Lufthansa.

Forty-nine flights are scheduled to depart from the U.S. to the Middle East Wednesday, equating to 16,254 seats, according to aviation data firm Cirium.

open image in gallery More than 12,000 flights have been canceled since U.S. air strikes were launched against Iran Saturday. An Emirates plane is seen at Dubai Airport on March 1, with a plume of smoke from an Iranian missile strike seen in the background ( AP )

However, the only scheduled flight to Bahrain is canceled, along with all 11 flights to Israel, 10 of the 15 services to Qatar, and 14 of the 19 scheduled flights to the United Arab Emirates.

These are the key questions and answers for American travelers.

How widespread is the disruption?

The conflict has triggered the largest aviation crisis in the Middle East since the pandemic. Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar remains virtually empty, according to a March 4 map from flight-tracking service Flightradar24.

American Airlines has temporarily suspended its direct flights between Doha and Philadelphia. It said: We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and make any additional adjustments as needed.

To provide additional flexibility for customers, we have issued travel alerts allowing those with affected travel to change their plans without a fee.

open image in gallery A limited number of flights have resumed from Dubai Airport, pictured, but disruption remains severe and Americans are being told to depart now from the Middle East ( AP )

United Airlines has canceled flights departing the U.S. to Tel Aviv and Dubai through March 11, as well as their corresponding returns.

The airline said: United has issued a travel waiver so customers with travel in the affected region can change their plans without cost. Customers can find continuous updates about travel to the Middle East at United.com/MiddleEastAirspace.

Delta Air Lines has canceled flights from New York-JFK to Tel Aviv through March 22 and from Tel Aviv to JFK through March 23.

Are flights starting to resume?

There has been a limited recovery, with a few dozen flights departing Dubai.

As of Wednesday, Emirates has suspended all scheduled flights to and from Dubai, but is operating some repatriation and freighter services.

Etihad has suspended operations in and out of its Abu Dhabi hub until at least Thursday.

open image in gallery This Flightradar24 image, dated to Wednesday, March 4, shows how the US-Israel-Iran conflict has created a vast no-go zone ( Flightradar24 )

Qatar Airways scheduled flight operations remain suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

Yesterday, Tuesday, Dubai operated 83 flights, Abu Dhabi 10 and Qatar zero.

What is the advice from the U.S. Government?

The U.S. State Department has told Americans to depart now from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen using available commercial travel.

While options are extremely limited, charter flights are being sent to evacuate Americans from the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. In a video message, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a 24/7 task force had been activated to provide American citizens with up-to-the-minute safety and security information.

He added: All Americans located abroad, particularly those in the Middle East, should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov to receive the latest messages and updates from your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

U.S. citizens overseas are also encouraged to follow our Security Updates for U.S. Citizens channel on WhatsApp and to follow @TravelGov on social media. The latest alerts can be found at travel.state.gov as well. mericans in the Middle East may contact the Department of State 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-202-501-4444.

Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said that since February 28, over 17,500 American citizens have returned to the United States from the Middle East  with over 8,500 American citizens returning to the U.S. on Tuesday.

However, Americans have been expressing frustration at a perceived lack of government support.

One American stuck in Bahrain told CNN: The Department of State tells me to evacuate, but theres no way to do so. I cannot believe there is no support for US Citizens stranded when the US started this conflict.

Which specific areas has Iran been targeting?

open image in gallery Firemen and rescue workers inspect the site of an explosion at the Fairmont The Palm Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The hotel was hit by an Iranian drone ( AP )

According to U.S. Central Command, the Iranian Regime has been actively targeting civilians in more than a dozen locations.

This has included Dubai International Airport; Kuwait International Airport; Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi; Erbil International Airport, Iraq; Fairmont Palm Hotel, Dubai; Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai; Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bahrain; and the Port of Dubai.

What are passengers rights?

If your flight departs from the U.S. and the carrier cancels it, or there is a significant delay, you are entitled to a full refund if you choose not to rebook but not compensation.

If you do decide to rearrange the trip, you can do so at no additional charge.

If there is a delay and its within the airlines control - a staffing issue, for example - the airline might provide meal vouchers, hotel accommodation and ground transport, but it is not compelled to do so by law, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

open image in gallery Americas big-three carriers  United, American and Delta  have all canceled services to the Middle East. Pictured are frustrated passengers at Dubai Airport ( AP )

If the disruption is outside the airlines control, as would be the case with the current conflict, you are entitled to a refund or rebooking, but the airline is not required to pay for hotels or meals. If it does so, it would be a gesture of goodwill.

If you are flying on a non-American airline departing from the Middle East, your rights depend on the carriers own conditions of carriage.

Gulf carriers tend to rebook passengers and provide food and accommodation in the event of delays.

Is there wider disruption?

Yes. Many flights that would normally use Iranian or Iraqi airspace are taking wide diversions, adding to journey times.

There will also be knock-on delays as a result, and some flights may need to make refueling stops because of the longer routes. All of this adds up to continuing disruption.

When airspace reopens, how quickly will things be back to normal?

Even when flights resume, there is likely to be widespread disruption due to aircraft and crew being out of position.

Airlines, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, are working at full stretch, so even when the schedule is back on track, it could be days, and possibly weeks, before some stranded passengers reach their destinations.
The Ministry of Defence has released footage of the moment a British warplane shoots down a drone over Jordan.

Footage posted online by the MoD shows RAF F-35B Lightnings, operating over Jordanian airspace, shoot down uncrewed aerial systems in defence of Jordan. This marks the first time a British F-35 has destroyed a target on operations.

The jets were supported by RAF Typhoons and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft.

A British counter-drone team also intercepted un-crewed aerial vehicles in Iraqi airspace that were heading towards Coalition forces, protecting UK personnel operating in the area.

The MoD said the operations form part of the UK's broader commitment to regional security and to protect personnel and allies.
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More Americans than ever facing financial stress are turning to their retirement savings to cover immediate expenses.

Some 6 percent of those with 401(k)s took hardship withdrawals from their accounts in 2025, up from 4.8 percent in 2024 and triple the pre-pandemic rate of 2 percent in 2018, according to a study preview released Wednesday by investment firm Vanguard.

A popular option for retirement plans, 401(k)s are offered by employers and allow most employees to contribute up to $24,500 a year. In many cases, employers match employee contributions up to a certain percentage.

Generally speaking, 401(k)s are a voluntary account that employees can sign up for. Recently, more employers have automatically enrolled employees into 401(k)s, leading to more chances for hardship withdrawals, Vanguard noted.

For a small subset of workers facing financial stress, hardship withdrawals may serve as a safety net that may not otherwise have been available without plan-implemented automatic solutions, the study said.

More Americans than ever are turning to 401(k) withdrawals to make ends meet ( AFP/Getty )

Drawing on desperation

A hardship withdrawal is typically a final resort after people have tried -and failed - to find other ways to cover their expenses. It means they are willing to take on income taxes, potential penalties and lost retirement income to get their money.

That sense of desperation mirrors recent studies pointing to the financial strain many feel right now. Some 40 percent of consumers are likely still carrying debt from holiday purchases.

Furthermore, 43 percent of consumers dont have enough in savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense, a U.S. News & World Report survey published this month found.

The decision to pull money from a 401(k) comes at a considerable cost at tax time, too.

Penalty pain

In general, the Internal Revenue Service considers as income any 401(k) withdrawals made before age 59 1/2. Therefore, employees under that age have to pay income tax on a hardship withdrawal.

Additionally, the IRS will penalize the employee 10 percent on the withdrawal if it doesnt meet one of 12 Internal Revenue Service criteria. So, if someone does a $5,000 hardship withdrawal, they may have to pay an additional $500 penalty when they file their taxes.

The cost goes beyond a given tax year, though. It impacts how much money will be in the 401(k) at retirement time.

If a 35-year-old employee made a $1,000 hardship withdrawal today, that $1,000 wouldve been been worth $4,764.94 to $11,737.08 at retirement, had the money stayed in the account, based on average 401(k) returns, according to finance firm SoFi.

Withdrawal rules

Distributions from a 401(k) are tightly regulated. Hardship withdrawals must only be taken when the employee can prove to their employer that they have an immediate and heavy financial need and take out only the amount necessary, according to the IRS.

Generally speaking, an employees hardship automatically qualifies if the money is used for any of the following six reasons, according to the IRS:

Medical expenses for the employee, their spouse, and any dependents or beneficiaries

Buying a primary residence, but not the resulting mortgage payments

Avoiding eviction

The cost of repairs for damage to the employees primary residence

Funeral expenses for the employee, their immediate family, dependents or beneficiaries

Certain educational expenses for the upcoming year of postsecondary education for the employee, their immediate family, dependents or beneficiaries.

Outside of these reasons, the employee must make their case to their employer, which decides whether the situation qualifies as a hardship, according to the IRS.

Additionally, employees cannot take a hardship deferment unless theyve made a reasonable effort to get the money from another source, including assets such as a vacation home.
President Trump blew past any initial Congressional opposition to his intensive military campaign against Iran. Today, hell try to do that again. The Senate is to vote to force Trump to end the Iran strikes. But will it matter?

While Congress has the constitutional authority to declare war, the last time that happened was the Second World War. The War Powers Resolution, passed amid the undeclared Vietnam war, is aimed at forcing the US president to essentially check in after a few days, and to potentially have sustained military engagement called off after two to three months. Its been brought to a vote numerous times during previous administrations, including several instances under Trump during his two terms, but to no effect.

Trump clearly has the votes in the Republican-controlled Congress to zip through what today looks like a relatively minor speed bump in the federal division-of-power construct in the United States. Members of the Senate, and subsequently of the House of Representatives, this week will be on the record as to how they stand on the Iran war  and, by all measures, it is indeed a full-scale war, Gulf War III.

Through a mosaic of public statements, President Trump has laid out his goals as the Iran war approaches the end of its first week: toppling the autocratic Iranian regime and, in the process, preventing Tehran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons and destroying its lethal regional missile force that threatens U.S. troops and our allies in the region.

So far, the U.S.-Israeli campaign has been successful on the battlefield. Irans central command, its navy, and its seemingly ubiquitous missile and rocket launchers have all been hit massively. But incoming ballistic missile and drone damage to longstanding U.S. military installations in the region has been significant  and it continues. This is a far cry from Saddam Husseins Iraqi forces firing off dozens of wayward Scud missiles back in the first Gulf war, a conflict involving many thousands of ground troops facing off against Husseins army from dozens of countries. This time, its a guided-missile war with large lethal impacts.

While the loss of life among deployed members of the U.S. military has been relatively low thus far, those numbers could rise dramatically, along with non-combatant casualties among our allies, as well as the citizens of Iran. And the world economy is starting to feel the impact: the vital Strait of Hormuz, the choke point for 20 percent of global crude, is being contested, and oil prices are shooting up.

How this will end is uncertain, but one thing that is well demonstrated by history is that you cant defeat a fortified enemy with missile barrages and air campaigns alone. Regime change is long and hard, and it comes with a price. Have Washington and Tel Aviv fully anticipated the endgame, or have they potentially miscalculated?

The notion that American and Israeli strikes would be sufficient to encourage the Iranian population to take back their destiny, their sovereignty, from theocratic despots in Tehran is being sorely tested. Both President Trump and Israels Benjamin Netanyahu have exhorted the Iranian people to take back the streets, but those huge revolutionary outpourings have not yet occurred.

Why? Is it because Iranian citizens are afraid of further mass executions like those that occurred before the joint strike? This most certainly is a factor. Yet, what if the joint strike is having an opposite effect on the streets in Iran? To what extent is the massive assault engendering a prevailing sense of anti-foreign nationalism in the broader population  a risk that existed from the beginning in contemplating any US or Israeli military campaign toward regime change?

Trump was warned repeatedly by senior US military leaders that the United States might not have sufficient stockpile depth to accomplish the desired sustained air campaign and the ultimate mission of regime change ( The White House )

Todays war is meant to avoid direct face-to-face engagement of troops on the ground: a primarily stand-off munitions war, the outcome of which is being gauged by the ability of the U.S. and Israel to swiftly knock out Irans huge stockpile of inventoried ballistic missiles and, no less significant, by the U.S., Israel and Gulf allies ability to withstand incoming attacks with sufficient volume of missile-interceptor systems.

Its a brutal calculus, an inside-the-tent beancounting exercise focused on Irans launch capacity. Yet its a very real, day-to-day scenario that has Washington concerned about running out of advanced Patriot, Aegis and THAAD anti-missile systems in the weeks ahead, should this high-tempo war go long.

Despite early success, Washington is worried. The transfer of anti-ballistic missile systems from Americas bases in South Korea is being discussed.

President Trump posted a jumbled statement on Monday, voicing confidence in Americas ability to protect its troops and regional allies with anti-missile systems on site. But heres the rub: he was warned repeatedly by senior U.S. military leaders that the United States might not have sufficient stockpile depth to accomplish the desired sustained air campaign and the ultimate mission of regime change.

Iran is a mountainous nation of 92 million people. Its autocratic mullahs and their militant Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) cadres have been funnelling billions in oil revenue into developing one of the worlds most formidable arrays of advanced missile systems  and into medium-range drones, the latter having been deployed by ally Russia to powerful effect in Moscows four-year invasion of Ukraine. To be sure, Irans launch capacity has been extensively detected and dented by the U.S. and Israel  but it remains intact.

President Trump is reluctant to put U.S. boots on the ground to root out the problem, out of concern for high casualties and the electoral impact going into the November midterms. Yet, can one really effect regime change without ground support? The U.S. deployed over 400,000 troops in the eight-year Gulf War II to oust Saddam Hussein.

The weeks ahead will provide some clarity. Yet, in getting there, many more lives will be lost, combatants and civilians alike. What Trump and his administration must do is define an exit strategy. How long does this go? What does success look like? Will the president, as seems to be the case, turn to the Kurds of Syria and Iraq for an on-the-ground liberation force inside Iran? Will the Kurds across the border follow his nudge, after prior abandonment by Washington?

In Washington, London, Paris, Berlin and beyond, the chorus of concerned voices will grow louder in demanding answers and accountability about the Great Missile War of 2026.

Warren Getler is a former reporter at The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and the International Herald Tribune. He also served as a senior editor at Foreign Affairs magazine
Government is pushing through legislation to remove Dublin Airport restriction on number of passengers

A US airline lobby group says its members have been hurt by the Dublin Airport passenger cap. Photo: John Mulligan

Aer Lingus saw increased competition at Dublin Airport from US carriers during the winter. Photo: John Mulligan

A US airline lobby group has exaggerated the magnitude and scope of potential future harm to its members if the EUs highest court upholds advice that aircraft activity can be limited at Dublin Airport to ensure the gateway complies with its passenger cap, according to Aer Lingus.

The airline has also insisted that any retaliatory measures against Irish carriers by the US administration because of the cap remain unjustified and unnecessary.

Last month, an advocate general of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) said he believes that the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) should be permitted to restrict aircraft take-off and landing slots at Dublin Airport so that its cap isnt breached. The court will issue a final ruling in the coming weeks. Dublin Airport is subject to an annual cap of 32 million passengers. Last year, it handled 36.4 million passengers.

Airlines for America (A4A) has already warned that if the court agrees with its advocate general, the decision would destroy the foundation of aviation slot allocation and will have sweeping implications across the EU and globally.

In January, A4A complained to the US Department of Transportation about the cap at Dublin Airport. It claimed it is damaging the interests of US carriers. It has asked the US government to curtail or suspend access of Irish airlines to US airports as a retaliatory measure.

Dublin Airport handled 36.4 million passengers last year. Photo: John Mulligan

A4A has called on the Irish Government to ensure that legislation to remove the cap at Dublin Airport is enacted by the end of next month, before the EU court makes its ruling.

Having legislation in place by the end of April would give the High Court an opportunity to withdraw its request to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling on the issues it referred to the court in Luxembourg, said A4A.

However, while Transport Minister Darragh OBrien has said that he hopes the law to remove the cap could be in place by summer, it could be later in the year before it is enacted.

Aer Lingus has also insisted in its latest filing in the United States that the advocate generals opinion is limited in its scope.

Dire warnings and hyperbole aside, the advocate generals decision is limited, by its terms, to the Irish passenger cap and to the determination of capacity at Dublin, the airlines lawyers have told the US Department of Transportation.

They said that the Department of Transportation should not speculate as to the possible effects of the advocate generals decision on other airports within the European Union.

A US airline lobby group says its members have been hurt by the Dublin Airport passenger cap. Photo: John Mulligan

Retaliatory measures remain unjustified and unnecessary, and they would harm not only Aer Lingus but its valued US partners, according to the airline.

Aer Lingus said that the US Department of Transportation should deny the complaint made by A4A, or at a minimum, defer any decision to permit the Irish legislative and judicial processes to proceed without interference.

Last week, Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton said she wants to see legislation to remove the cap enacted by October at the latest. Ms Embleton pointed out that the take-off and landing slots for airlines intending to use Dublin Airport for summer 2027 will be released around that time.
Stock market fall intensifies and oil prices spike as scale of war sinks in

Worst day for European stocks in two years as Kingspan shares lead decline on Iseq

A person uses a phone near the damage caused by Iranian missile barrage in Bnei Brak, Israel, yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Donal O'Donovan Wed 4 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Fallout from the war in Iran rocked financial markets further on Tuesday, sending oil and gas prices higher and stocks sharply lower.
BBC docuseries tracks the disappearance of photojournalist John Cantlie, who appeared to revel in the chaos of war

Even these days, when members of the press are no longer accorded the freedom to roam that was enjoyed, if thats an appropriate word, by those who reported from the frontline of the Vietnam War  and helped tilt public opinion in the US against the conflict  it requires an immense amount of bravery.
Popstar turned actor Kym Marsh: I was called fat on live television, which wouldnt happen now

As in-demand actor Kym Marsh comes to Ireland with the stage adaptation of Single White Female, she reflects on her reality TV experience, talks about how the updated tale of a stalker has even more resonance in the digital age and challenges outdated female stereotypes

Actress Kym Marsh, who is set to play Hedy in the stage adaptation of Single White Female at the Gaiety in Dublin. Photo: Nick James

Chrissie Russell Wed 4 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Kym Marsh has just shocked me with a revelation  shes never had a housemate from hell. Ive just spent several minutes detailing a mere handful of horror stories from my own experience  the one who would never empty the bin, the one who wouldnt stop playing Hawaiian music, the frugal one who turned the radiators off in February and hid all the knobs so we couldnt turn the heat back on  only for her to give a sympathetic laugh.
A farmer might go to the NCT centre to have their car tested, and buy a few cattle in the mart

Ernest McGrath, manager of Kingdom Co-op Mart, on how leasing units to 15 businesses now generates over two-thirds of the marts turnover, the potential impact of bluetongue on calf prices this spring, and why hes hopeful that beef will hold at 7.00/kg in 2026.

Ernest McGrath has been the manager of Kingdom Mart since March 2025. Photos: Domnick Walsh

Catherina Cunnane Wed 4 Mar 2026 at 06:30

If a farmer pulls into Kingdom Co-op Mart in Co Kerry, theres every chance theyll drive out with more than they intended  a few cattle in the trailer, a set of new tyres ordered, the car NCTd, a part for the milking machine and maybe even a haircut too.
A teenage girl who lost both her legs in a freak farming accident and undergone over 60 operations will be the focus of a special 'Stand4Feile' jersey day appeal in her native west Cork.

Feile O'Sullivan (13) has been hailed as "an inspiration" for the courage and determination she has shown in recovering from the accident last summer that almost cost her her life.

She has undergone over 60 surgeries since the accident on July 2, 2025.

Both her legs were so badly damaged in the accident that doctors were left with no option but to conduct a double amputation to save her.

Feile defied predictions in being able to make a temporary trip home to Allihies to spend Christmas with her family.

She was airlifted to Cork University Hospital (CUH) in the aftermath of the accident. Days later she was transferred to Crumlin Childrens Hospital in Dublin. Feile has remained there except for a brief trip home at Christmas.

Now, the sports-obsessed teen will be the focus of a special jersey day across primary and secondary schools in Cork and Kerry - with the event aimed at showing local solidarity with her and her family.

Organised by Cork and Kerry GAA players, the March 20 event will see students swap their uniforms for their favourite team jerseys for the price of a small donation to a fund for Feile.

The GAA said that every jersey worn "sends a message of solidarity to Feile."

"Every donation makes a real difference. Together, we can help Feile focus on her recovery and show her the power of a caring community," one organiser explained.

Feile O'Sullivan.

News in 90 seconds - Wednesday, March 4

Participating schools will be entered into a special draw for new team jerseys sponsored by ONeills sportswear.

The GoFundMe page for Feile OSullivan officially closed before Christmas having raised a remarkable 784,008.

Monies raised at the spring fundraiser will go into a trust which has been set up for the teenager.

Over the coming years Feile will require additional surgery and intensive rehabilitation, specialist care, physiotherapy, emotional support as well as special home adaptations.

Councillor Finbarr Harrington, who is a spokesperson for the family, said Feile is now very much looking at what she can do as opposed to what she cannot do heading into the future.

"She is a 13-year-old kid and the way she reacts and deals with things is unbelievably positive," he said.

"The staff (at the hospital) cannot get over the mindset and positivity she has."

Councillor Harrington said Feile has inspired everyone by her courage and spirit.

Feile made the 400km journey from Crumlin Hospital by Bumbleance to Allihies last Christmas week so that she could spend time with family and friends over the festive season.

Locals lit bonfires, held banners aloft and cheered as she made her way down the country roads towards her home.

The trip home was hailed as "a beautiful surprise" for her family.

Schools can register for the upcoming jersey day at https://gaacork.ie/stand4feile/
The former chief executive of Inland Fisheries Ireland has said he made a statement to gardai that he was being blackmailed by a sitting senator in a bid to force him to reinstate a suspended senior employee.
A coroner has called for regular inspections to be carried out on the accessibility of lifebuoys after an inquest heard friends of a teenager who got into difficulty while swimming in the Grand Canal could not untie a lifebuoy from its stand to assist in attempts to rescue him.
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee: 'The priorities are for those who are in transit.'

The Government will charter flights to airlift Irish citizens stranded in the Gulf in the wake of Donald Trumps airstrikes on Iran  with the most vulnerable prioritised to travel home first.

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee last night said about 2,000 Irish people were actively trying to get out of the region, and the first flight out would only be able to take about 280 of them.
Chloe finds a hobby: My Gaeilge classmate laughs at me as I start throwing in English words

Chloe McPolin feels a strange cockiness as she rejoins the Irish language revolution but having to describe Blake Livelys outfit soon has her reeling

Nil aon focal Gaeilge agam anois: Chloe McPolin in her Irish class at Conradh na Gaeilge on Camden Street, Dublin.Photo: Frank McGrath

Chloe McPolin Wed 4 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Hobby comrades, it has come to my attention that the Irish language is having a revolution of sorts  I am so here for it. For once in my life, I can admit that I was fairly decent at something. I loved Irish in school (does that make me a total dweeb?).
Traffic from Dubai airport remains at about 25pc of normal levels, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24

Limited flight schedules have resumed after a week of conflict in the Middle East, though most regional air space remains closed and the situation is uncertain.

Emirates says it is operating a reduced flight schedule while working to restore full network operations" from Dubai, the world's busiest international airport.

"It's pretty well the biggest shutdown we've seen, certainly since the Covid pandemic," Paul Charles of luxury travel consultancy PC Agency told Reuters.

Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways operate over a dozen flights a day into and out of Dublin Airport to hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

Passengers on an Emirates flight returning to Dublin. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

A small number of flights out of the Middle East have landed in Dublin, with another expected Friday, including an government charter flight from Oman, which is expected to transport around 280 passengers.

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee expressed hope that hundreds, if not more than 1,000, will arrive in Dublin before the end of the week.

Whats the latest on Friday?

Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule, but said it anticipates a return to 100pc of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements.

It carried around 30,000 passengers from Dubai on Thursday, and is expecting to have over 100 flights daily by March 7  almost 60pc of its route network.

It is accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and advised passengers not to go to airports unless bookings are confirmed.

Etihad said it will resume a limited commercial flight schedule from March 6-19, while Qatar Airways said a further update will be provided on March 7 by 9am Doha time (6am GMT). It is operating a limited number of relief flights.

Other airlines are also reacting. Air France, for example, cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyads until March 7, and to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut until March 9.

Irelands Dept of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has upgraded its travel advice to destinations like the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to Avoid Non-Essential Travel and advised citizens in these places to shelter in place.

You can read individual country travel advisories here.

Dubai International Airport was closed (Altaf Qadri/AP)

Any travel to destinations rated Do Not Travel or Avoid Non-Essential Travel will likely invalidate travel insurance and overseas medical cover.

Earlier this week, the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) advised those on holiday in the Gulf States, or with trips planned to the area, to maintain contact with the airline you travelled on, maintain contact with your travel agent or tour operator, keep your mobile phone charged, and follow closely local media reports and advice.

How do I know if my flights are affected?

The rights of passengers in the event of cancelled or delayed flights are set out under EU Regulation 261/2014. They apply to flights within the EU, but also flights arriving into or departing from the EU on both EU or non-EU airlines.

In the event of a cancellation, airlines should contact affected passengers by email or SMS.

You can also check the airline website for flight status updates using your booking or flight number, and your airport's online departures boards.

You should check with your airline before travel to the airport.

If travelling in the Middle East, you can register with the DFA online or contact its consular team in Dublin at +353 1 408-2000.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?

Delays and cancellations are part and parcel of modern air travel, and reasons can range conflicts and airspace closures to weather events like Storm Eowyn or industrial action.

If your flight is cancelled for any reason, and regardless of when you are notified, your airline must offer you the choice between:

Re-routing as soon as possible, subject to availability, free of charge. Re-routing at a later date. A full refund within seven days.

Passengers stranded by the closure of Dubai International Airport await assistance (Altaf Qadri/AP)

How do I arrange a re-routing or refund?

In the event of a cancellation or delay, airlines are obliged to inform passengers of their options. If this happens at the airport, staff should be on hand to talk you through the various scenarios. Otherwise you will receive an email or text message to the contact details attached to your booking.

You can also check your carrier's website (Aer Lingus, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Ryanair). It should include notes on disruption, and outline the steps to process your own refunds or bookings (a voucher may also be an option).

If you booked through a third-party (for example a travel agent or tour operator), the original sales agent should contact you or be your source of contact.

Am I entitled to care and assistance?

If your flight is cancelled and you choose to be re-routed as soon as possible, then you are entitled to meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation and transfers between the airport and hotel as required.

If the airline does not provide these (where a large number of flights are cancelled and numbers are overwhelming, for example), and you end up paying yourself, keep the receipts - you are entitled to a reimbursement of reasonable expenses.

NB. A five-star hotel may not be a reasonable expense!

Bear in mind that if your flight is cancelled and you choose a full refund, then the airline's obligations to you end there and then.

Planes at Cork Airport during Storm Emma in 2018. Photo: Cork Airport/Twitter

What about my accommodation?

An airline is not liable for any missed accommodation, events or other knock-on effects of a delay or cancellation  solely for the flight.

However, if you booked through a travel agent or a tour operator as a package holiday, you may be in a better position to re-organise or reschedule accommodation.

Adding travel disruption cover to your travel insurance policy (well in advance of travel) can also provide additional cover for expenses and accommodation (see below).

Am I entitled to compensation?

Financial compensation depends on the flight length and the reason for the cancellation. It differs to care and re-routing/refund obligations that must be offered (as outlined above), and generally ranges from 250 (short-haul, less than 1,500km) to 600 (long-haul, over 3,500km).

You are not due compensation if the airline gives you two weeks or more notice of the cancellation.

However, you may be entitled to compensation if you receive between seven days and two weeks notice and your arrival times are later than four hours on the reroute, or if you receive less than seven days notice and your arrival time is later than two hours on the reroute.

If the air carrier can prove the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances - such as a conflict, or storm - then you may not be entitled to compensation.

However, you are still due a refund or re-routing.

Ryanair passengers. Photo: Getty

How do I claim compensation?

Compensation claims are never evaluated or resolved at the airport. If you believe compensation is your due, then the first step is to formally contact the air carrier. If you're not satisfied with its response, then you can escalate by contacting the National Enforcement Body - which, in most cases for Irish passengers, is the Irish Aviation Authority (01 661-1700; iaa.ie).

If my outbound flight is cancelled, what happens my return flight?

If a flight isn't subject to disruption, technically you are not entitled to any care or compensation. However, airlines do tend to take a logical view, and normally work with passengers to refund or reschedule flights impacted in this way. If you have booked through a travel agent or tour operator, you should receive assistance from them.

What if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed by more than five hours, and you choose not to travel, then you are entitled to a full refund. If you accept this refund, the airline is no longer obliged to provide onward travel or assistance.

If your flight is delayed by at least two hours (short-haul), three hours (European) or four hours (long haul), you are entitled to care and assistance as outlined above.

If you arrive at your destination more than three hours after the scheduled arrival time, you may be entitled to between 250 and 600 compensation, depending on the flight distance.

Passenger rights. Source: IAA

How can my travel insurance help?

In the event of a flight cancellation, the first source of refunds and re-routing should be with your airline (see above).

Standard travel insurance policies don't offer much help here, but 'missed departure' cover can help you secure a new flight, or an additional night's accommodation.

Read more about travel insurance and questions to ask about your policy here.

If your policy includes extra "travel disruption" cover, you should be covered for additional transport or accommodation costs up to around 1,000pp.

This covers most of scenarios with flight cancellations due to weather, strikes and so on, but note that it covers transport and accommodation-related expenses only - i.e. not lost annual leave, business opportunities or deposits, concert tickets or museum or attraction fees booked in advance online.

Is it too late to take out travel insurance?

Travel Disruption cover can be added retrospectively to a policy, but not to claim on an event that has already happened (or been forecast).

There can also be a moratorium on travel disruption from the time you take out the policy to the time you will be covered (eg. seven days) - however, 'missed departure' cover should still apply.

Where can I find more information?

For full details on your air passenger rights in the event of cancellation, delays, downgrading and denied boarding, see the Irish Aviation Authoritys website, iaa.ie.

NB: This article is being updated to reflect events. It was amended on March 2, 2026, to correct the name of the Irish Aviation Authority.
Countrys hawks have been spooked by US presidents unpredictable actions

When Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, some Russian hardliners were cautiously optimistic, hoping his unpredictability and transactional nature might benefit Moscow on Ukraine.

But his attack on Iran means many now see the US president as a growing threat to Russia itself and are questioning whether Trump is the pragmatic, potentially pro-Moscow strongman ready to deal in realpolitik that they thought he was.
An Iranian flag planted in the rubble of a police station in Tehran, Iran, that was damaged in US-Israeli airstrikes. Photo: Getty

It seems obvious that Iran shouldnt have nuclear weapons, but should any country? An atomic war would probably destroy everyone and everything, and no one wants to start such a war  a peace forced on them.

US president Donald Trumps offensive against Iran hinges on this threat. There needs to be a better solution, but it is doubtful Trump can find it while his approach is to bomb people into submission.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

Someone has already paid for fuel being sold here, so why have prices gone up?

I cannot understand why oil prices have gone up straight away because of the war in Iran.

Yes, I can understand in the coming weeks prices going up because of the reduced supply, but the stocks already in Ireland were bought at a different price than what they are going to be in the coming weeks.

This is price gouging at the worst level. When the war ends  very soon, I would hope  will the prices drop as fast? I doubt it.

Can someone in the oil area please explain the immediate price hike?

Donough O Reilly, Stillorgan, Co Dublin

Patients who have mental illness deserve societys empathy and recognition

I am writing to thank Sarah Carey for her insightful and timely opinion piece (People with mental illness need a safe place, they cant live on streets or in jail, Irish Independent, February 21).

Every day, my colleagues and I strive to address the indispensable needs of our very vulnerable patients alongside their many legitimate human rights  a delicate balance that Ms Carey described with clarity and notable empathy.

It is rare to see an article highlight so articulately the plight of the largely forgotten cohort of patients with whom we work on a daily basis, and who rightly deserve recognition not just from health services but from society.

I hope Ms Carey continues her outstanding work in this area.

Dr Mary Scriven, Athlone, Co Westmeath

Fashion may be cyclical, but that is no reason to be a slave to changing trends

As a retired geography teacher, I read your celebration of the cardigans renaissance with quiet satisfaction (How cardigans became the coolest thing in menswear, Irish Independent, March 3). I have been wearing one since the late 20th century without the assistance of a stylist, press tour or a embellishment.

It is reassuring to learn that what was once shorthand for chalk dust and contour maps is now cutting-edge. I always suspected my wardrobe was ahead of its time.

We are told fashion is cyclical. It feels less like a graceful circle and more like standing in the middle of a goal during a penalty shoot-out. Stay there long enough and eventually the ball will hit you.

In the meantime, I shall continue to button up with the serene confidence of a man who never left the trend, even when the trend left him.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh

Damage Andrew has done demonstrates necessity of guardrails and oversight

Gordon Rayner and Emily Smiths article on Tuesday (Royal wrecking ball Andrews role as trade envoy was disastrous, Irish Independent, March 3) quotes a former UK minister: There were quite a lot of orange lights flashing, but no red lights.

It seems no red lights were ever installed. Orange was the default, even for a role as important as trade envoy.

Im reading The Wind in the Willows to my daughter, and cant help but see the parallels between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Toad  larger-than-life figures always chasing the next thrill, convinced the rules dont apply to them.

Toad, obsessed with motorcars, is forever rushing headlong into disaster. What rules or job description actually applied to Andrews role? Was anyone minding the road, or did Andrew simply career along, swept up in his own sense of importance with no regard for the consequences?

Its not enough to point at orange lights. What rules were ever put in place? Has anything changed since, or are we still letting things slide?

Without clear standards and accountability, public trust will continue to run out of road.

Traffic lights are meant to keep us safe and prevent disasters. Now the crash has come and gone.

Toad, in the end, learns from his mistakes and finds some sense at last. Andrews story may not have such a happy ending, but perhaps those long-overdue red lights will finally be installed.

Barbara Clancy, Stillorgan, Co Dublin

Irish Government should commemorate greatest rescue in world history

On April 17, 1876, almost 150 years ago, a whaling ship named the Catalpa, under American skipper Captain George Anthony, was anchored out at sea about 30km south of Fremantle, in the British penal colony of Western Australia, awaiting its cargo.

That cargo was six Irish Fenian prisoners who had escaped from the guards at Fremantle Prison. The six men  Martin Hogan, Thomas Darragh, Michael Harrington, James Wilson, Robert Cranston and Thomas Hassett  had been transported and jailed under harsh circumstances and had been excluded from an amnesty granted to other Fenian prisoners.

Against all the odds, the rescue succeeded. It was hailed by the late professor Joe Lee as one of the greatest rescues in world history and, remarkably, there was no loss of life on either side. Before the freed prisoners reached sanctuary in New York, the Catalpa travelled over 35,000 miles.

It may surprise many to learn that the Irish State is in possession of treasured mementoes of this venture.

Since 1938, the National Library in Dublin has had the original letters from those desperate prisoners to their supporters in America, who organised the rescue.

The American flag under which the Catalpa sailed and that Captain Anthony used to challenge the premier naval superpower at the time was donated to the National Museum in 1972. The flag was then displayed in Kildare Street for four months for the Irish people to view.

I strongly urge the Irish Government to hold a national commemoration of the Catalpa rescue.

If that is somehow not possible, I hope that, at the very least, the Government will showcase the items mentioned above and any other related memorabilia as a remembrance of such a key event in Irish and Irish American history.

Patrick J Sullivan, Retired lieutenant, New York City Fire Department
For more than 40 years, the relationship between the United States and Iran has been defined by hostility, sanctions, proxy wars and the ever-present fear of nuclear escalation.

But it was not always that way.

In fact, America once backed the Shah of Iran, helped develop the countrys nuclear programme under its Atoms for Peace initiative and counted Tehran as one of its key Middle Eastern allies.

So what changed?

From the CIA backed coup of 1953 to the Islamic Revolution, the 444-day hostage crisis, the Iran Contra scandal, the downing of Flight IR655 and the collapse of Barack Obamas nuclear deal under Donald Trump, the story of US Iran relations is one of missed opportunities, miscalculations and mounting mistrust.

Today on The Indo Daily Fionnan Sheahan speaks to Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International Politics at UCDs Clinton Institute, to discuss the history of one of the worlds most fraught rivalries.

We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism.
Crime pays in rural Cork  for vital improvements to community safety, in a very welcome irony

New Social Safety Approach scheme launched by Ballyhoura Development  as part of a fund derived by the State through the proceeds of crime

Minister Niall Collins addressing the crowd. Picture: Brian O'Keeffe

Martin Mongan Corkman Wed 4 Mar 2026 at 17:20

Ballyhoura Development CLG launched the community-based initiative Social Safety Approach in Charleville  to harness the work of several agencies in improving safety locally.
New Cork superintendent in urgent appeal on drink-and-drug driving amid phenomenal arrest figures

New superintendent Niall OConnell urges patience on recruitment as 376 intoxicated-driving arrests recorded last year

Superintendent Niall O'Connell is the newest to join the Cork North-West Division

Kevin Galvin Wed 4 Mar 2026 at 06:30

The newest Superintendent in Cork North-West has issued an urgent appeal to the public for help in tackling the scourge of anti-social behaviour and drink and drug-driving.
Dublin Fire Brigade have said that preventing wildfires in areas close to the Dublin mountains this year will depend on land management

Angelika Korelc, whose home is just 600 metres from the scene of the fires last year. Pic: Mark Condren

Preventing wildfires in the Dublin mountains this summer partially relies on one private landlord in the area following safety measures, according to the Dublin Fire Brigade.

A landowner in Ticknick Park was requested by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR) to manage the gorse growing in their land and to allow the fire brigade to use that land to access the fire more easily.

If the private owner in Ticknick has not made the adjustments he was asked to do last year, its going to be very difficult to extinguish a fire  we will have a problem with access and egress (an exit path), said Michael O'Reilly, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Dublin Fire Brigade.

Land management is very important  if its not managed to allow us access to get to the fire, there will be a risk of getting in and out without being a danger to firefighters.

In August last year, firefighters had to manage a series of gorse fires in Ticknick Park, Cherrywood. Residents of the area said that smoke from the fires could be seen drifting across the nearby M50 and surrounding area for days.

The fire brigade offered a number of solutions at a DLR meeting this week, including how the council and private residents can manage their land, mapping fire hydrants and drone use.

Mr OReilly said that they were working to help landowners prepare their property after finding items like oil tanks in some homes.

With private land, we have very little control, when it comes to management. Last year, we found a landowner with an oil tank under the eaves of their home  these can help spread fires, he said.

Carrie Smyth, Labour councillor for Killiney-Shankill, said that it was important for the council and the fire brigade to work together to prevent similar wildfires this year.

Unfortunately, I believe no work has taken place by that private landowner to mitigate or improve access for the fire service, she said.

So chances are that nothing happens between now and the hot weather coming this summer  its all going to happen again for the people of Cherrywood and the surrounding area.

Mr OReilly recommended that the council organise a meeting with private landowners to ensure that the mitigation measures are put in place.

People Before Profit councillor for the area, Dave OKeeffe, said that it was important to enforce such rules where public health is under threat.

Is it a case we just ask them and hope for the best, or can we enforce it? If people are storing petrol and fireworks and matches, and other hazardous material, we need some kind of onus to manage that right way, he said.

According to the fire brigade, the fires in 2025 were difficult to manage due to firefighters being unable to access the source of the fire.

"From our side, we can give a 100pc guarantee that we will extinguish these fires to the best of our ability but we have to take the health and safety of our crew into account, he said.

People want to live up in the mountains, they want to live in these green spaces, but they have to also help mitigate against these threats."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The Hoxton, which sits on the corner of George's Street and Exchequer Street in Dublin

A legal dispute between the leaseholder of The Hoxton hotel and neighbouring venue Yamamori Izakaya over alleged late-night noise is due back before the High Court tomorrow.

The case, taken by the hotels leaseholder Trinity Hospitality Limited against Yamamori Izakaya Limited, is listed on Thursday on the High Courts Chancery list, according to court records.

The action relates to claims by the hotel that music from the South Great Georges Street venue has caused disruption to guests at the recently opened hotel on Exchequer Street.

The Hoxton is the hotel operator at the site, while Trinity Hospitality is the building leaseholder and the entity that initiated the proceedings.

Trinity Hospitality previously sought a court injunction aimed at reducing what it described as excessive noise transfer from the venue into the hotel.

The Hoxton Hotel, which neighbours Yamamori Izakaya, a Japanese restaurant that holds music events, claims it has been forced to close around a quarter of its rooms because of numerous guest complaints about late-night, low-frequency music noise and vibration.

Yamamori Izakaya said in an Instagram post late last month that it had comissioned an expert sound report when the hotel was being refurbished in 2023 to assist them in installing necessary sound attenuation measures and that the sound levels recorded are considerably lower than typical late-night venues.

The case first came before the High Court in February and was adjourned with the consent of both parties to allow time for further engagement.

In a statement issued on Friday, February 20, a spokesperson for the newly opened hotel said it had chosen not to comment publicly until now.

As The Hoxton, we have chosen not to comment publicly until now, while the initial court proceedings between Trinity Hospitality and Yamamori Izakaya were underway, out of respect for that process, the statement said.

"With the case now adjourned with the consent of both parties to allow time for further engagement, we feel its important to clarify where we stand."

A spokesperson said the hotel does not want to see Yamamori Izakaya close, nor do we want to see nightlife venues curtailed.

They described the nightclub as an important part of Dublins nightlife and cultural fabric for years, adding that it is one of the many independent businesses that give this part of town its buzz.

As a brand, the Hoxton has a track record of actively supporting creative communities and neighbouring businesses for the past 20 years, in each of the cities we call home. Our plan for Dublin is no different. It is central to who we are, the hotel said.

All of us at The Hoxton Dublin sincerely hope that in the coming weeks, Trinity Hospitality and Yamamori Izakaya can continue to collaborate directly and explore constructive solutions.

"It is our understanding that Trinity Hospitality has offered mediation as a route forward and is open to contributing financially towards the works required. The Hoxton welcomes any steps that support a positive outcome for both parties.

At The Hoxton, we have a responsibility to the guests who stay with us. Our hope, therefore, is that through collaboration and goodwill on all sides, a balanced way forward can be agreed upon - one that allows nightlife, hospitality and community to thrive together, as they should, they added.

The dispute has also sparked wider debate about nightlife in Dublin.

Last month, hundreds of people gathered outside the hotel on Exchequer Street for a protest in support of the venue, with DJs performing during the demonstration.

Both parties have been contacted for comment ahead of Thursdays hearing.
A young Tralee man, who savagely beat a well-known charity worker who was going to help the elderly, has pleaded for forgiveness as he faces sentencing for the unprovoked attack on St Stephen's Day.

Kyle OBrien (24), who was before Tralee Circuit Criminal Court last week in relation to the Christmas assault, read out a letter of apology to victim James Hussey who is a well-known charity worker in the town, particularly for his work with the elderly including delivering Meals on Wheels.
News

How a group of eight Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts became a 100-strong Adventurers Guild

What started as eight strangers meeting to play the popular tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons two years ago, has now morphed into a massive community spread across Longford, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan and Westmeath.
Around the Districts

Splodar Plays

Two profound and highly entertaining one-act plays will be staged in the Glens Centre on the first Saturday night in March by the centres resident professional theatre company Splodar, which was founded in 1966.

Regarding the plays Splodars Sheila OKeefe says two one-act plays by Splodar are happening in the Glens Arts Centre on Saturday, March 7, at 8 p.m. Local writer/director Prin Duignan takes Splodar to the the Glens stage once again with Progress by St John Ervine.

This one-act play was first staged in 1922 in London. The horror of its theme became a reality with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki twenty three years later. Audiences will be captivated by this challenging story which has so many echoes in todays turbulent world. There are some familiar Splodar faces and some new ones on stage. The second one act is a comedy. Writer/director Joni Crone did a series of workshops in the Glens Centre recently. Thanks to the hard work and creativity of the group this devised play Counter No one Please was then written by Dave McEvoy. In a local post office, humour and quiet rebellion reveal how technology clashes with human connection and care. Audiences may well identify with todays challenges portrayed in this comedy. Look out for a few familiar Splodar actors on stage and we are delighted to welcome many new actors to the company.

Preloved Clothes, etc

Now that spring is in the air and spring cleaning is on many peoples agendas the Rossinver Youth and Community Project will be delighted to help out anyone who wishes to get rid of their excess preloved clothing, etc., that can be brought to Rossinver Community Centre for disposal during the Projects forthcoming fundraising sale.

A spokesperson for the Rossinver Youth and Community Project says it has opened their doors for anyone wanting to declutter their wardrobes. They will accept clothes, bric-a-brac, shoes, handbags and even old jewellery. Their Popup Shop opens on Friday, April 17, and will be open again on Saturday, 18th, as well as on Sunday, April 19  so theres plenty of time for you to declutter. Give your clothes a second chance of life, the Rossinver Youth and Community Project added.

Meanwhile you can bring clothes, bric-a-brac, shoes, handbags and even old jewellery from now on to the Rossinver Community Centre which is open every week from Monday to Thursday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Fridays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For further information on the Rossinver Youth and Community Projects Pop Up Shop, etc., please contact the Rossinver Community Centre, phone 071 9832970.

Ballintogher Feis

The very popular Ballintogher Feis will take place in the Ballintogher Enterprise Centre (F91 C2HT) on Sunday, March 22, commencing at 10 p.m. with competitions in music, followed by singing and storytelling competitions.

All interested can visit ballintogherfest.ie and ceolnanogorchestra.com for all the details of Ballintogher Feis, as well as to register for the Feis competitions. For further Feis information please phone 087 66645509.

District News Deadline

Please email all notes for next weeks Sligo Champion Manorhamilton District News to PJ Leddy  leddypatrick10@gmail.com by 6 p.m. at the latest on Thursday, March 5.

Merville Centre

CONDOLENCES

The Merville Management Committee, staff and on behalf of the Wider Merville Community wish to offer our condolences to the family and Many Friends of Lillian Sexton 69 Jinks Avenue, who has passed away recently. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam.

SAFETY MATTERS

All Patrons of Merville Community Centre are asked to exercise caution when driving in the area when on Drop Off and Pick Up, as these times can be extremely busy both at the centre and in the locality. Best Practice would be to Drop Off and Pick up outside the centre where possible. Be especially aware of Pedestrians crossing at the centre Entrance and Exit. Think Safe.

PENDANT ALARMS

Merville Community Centre facilitate on behalf of our community the provision to eligible persons of Social Monitored Pendant Alarms, under the Seniors Alert Scheme that is administered by Pobal. Equipment Funding is available for eligible persons over 65 years for the installation of an monitored alarm on a landline in the persons home. The alarms are now available for persons aged 65 or older and living alone, living with another person who meets the terms and conditions, living alone for significant periods of time during the day, or is a carer to someone else in their household.

First year monitoring is free for all new applicants. Subsequent annual monitoring charges are then payable by the user. Other Systems are available at various costs for those who do not possess a Landline.

Overall this monitoring product adds Peace of Mind for Both the Users, family and Friends at minimal cost. Contact Merville Centre Office at 071 9150029 for further information.

Ballintogher Feis

Music, song and Story takes place on  Sunday, March 22, commencing at 10 p.m. with music, followed by singing and storytelling in Ballintogher Enterprise Centre (F91 C2 HT) See Feis Programme/details for registration on web page; ballintogherfest.ie and ceolnanogorchestra.com.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Did you know? Merville Community Centre hosts a range of activities and Events in the Evenings and at Weekends, all of which couldnt happen without the support of our Community Employment Team (CE). We have vacancies for caretakers for immediate start in support of the thousands of attendees at the centre Weekly. Open to all in receipt of a social welfare benefit for 12 months or more. Please note that Anyone on job seekers credits, even without a payment for at least 12 continuous months may apply for CE However, eligibility will still need to be checked for each person. Full Training will be provided to support your career. Check with your local INTREO office for further information.

YOUR NOTES

Local Voluntary and Community Groups are reminded that any notices for publication can be emailed to mervilleycc@gmail.com or hard copy left into the Merville Centre for inclusion in our Local Notes.

Skreen-Dromard

High Park National School Fundraiser

The High Park National School parents association are hosting a Rock n Roll Fun Quiz with DJ Baldy Mick on Saturday, March 7, at 9 p.m. All proceeds are for High Park School. Tickets can be purchased on the below Link or in local Shops. For further information contact Gillian Clarke at 087 7733595. To purchase tickets contact eventbrite.co.uk/e/rock-n-roll-fun-quiz-for-high-park-ns-tickets-1981016587942

Everyone welcome and your support will be greatly appreciated.

March Social Dances

The two Social Dances for the month of March in the Skreen-Dromard Community Centre will take place on Saturday, March 14, with music supplied by John Glenn and Brian Kerrigan. The second dance for March will be held on Saturday, March 28, with music supplied by Glenn Flynn. Dancing from 9 p.m. and everyone welcome.

Skreen-Dromard Community Care summer Outing

The Skreen-Dromard Community Care Group are organising a Three Day Trip to Letterkenny, County Donegal. The group will stay in the Mount Errigal Hotel on May 18 19th and 20th. Visits to Derry City and other local attractions are being planned with further information on these outings later. The cost of the Three Day Trip is 300per person sharing. Single room cost is 450. The cost will cover bed and Breakfast plus dinner each evening. A non-refundable deposit of 100 is required by Sunday, March 1, Contact Anne Marie at 087 7566514 or Patsy at 087 9432103.

Dates for Diary

The Sacrament of Confirmation will celebrated in Skreen Church on Sunday, March 15, at 11.30 a.m. First Holy Communion will be celebrated on Saturday, May 9, in Skreen Church also at 11.30 a.m.

Walking Group

The local Walking Group meet every Monday at 11 a.m. For further details of meet place on each Monday contact Anne Marie at 087 7566514 or Ciara at 087 4183759.

Skreen-Dromard Community Care Active Retirement Group

The Skreen-Dromard Community Care Active Retirement Group have resumed their weekly Chair Yoga meetings in the Skreen Health Centre on Wednesdays from 11 p.m. to midday. Gentle Chair based exercise suitable for everyone. All welcome every Wednesday.

Alanon

Alanon is a Support Group for anyone who is affected by someone elses Alcohol or Drug addiction. To find out more about this group contact 01 8732699 for info re where the nearest meeting takes place. Alzheimer Society Volunteers the Alzheimer Society Day Centre Easkey are seeking volunteers for Fridays Engagement and activities. Volunteers will work as part of a team and training will be provided. Anyone interested in helping out should contact the Day Centre Manager Bernadette Keenan at 087 9471948 or email bernadette.keenan@alzheimer.ie.

Sympathy

Deepest sympathy is extended to the following families on recent bereavementsto: John Farrell and the Farrell Family Carrowloughan, Dromard on the recent death of his Brother Micheal Farrell late of Culleens Kilglass, County Sligo. Sympathy is also extended to all his family, Relatives and friends in the local area.To: the Healy Family Grangebeg Skreen on the recent death of their Uncle Mattie Coleman, late of Lacknasleva Enniscrone County Sligo and to all his Family Relatives and friends in the local area.to Anna Maye and the Maye Family Skreen on the death of her Sister  in-Law Bridie Earley late of Ballisodare and Dromard.

Sympathy is also extended to her nephew Seamus Maye Skreen, County Sligo. to Billy Horan and the Horan Family, Carnaree, Dromard on the recent death of his Aunt Eileen Dillon, late of Northampton England.

Tubbercurry

Cloonacool Players

Cloonacool Players staging of this hilarious comedy Daughter from Over the Water on Thursday, March 19, Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, at 8 p.m. in Cloonacool Community Centre.

Laugh the night away watching Pat Feehily, Eileen Davey and your many favourites including Michael Henry, Dennis Ross and Eimir Murphy. Not to be missed.
Sligo County Council was delighted to welcome over 200 people to MitchellCurley Park on Friday for the Hares Corner tree handout day. In bright spring sunshine, applicants from every part of the county arrived to collect over 10,000 free native trees, which will create hedgerows, woodlands and heritage orchards, helping nature and providing valuable new habitats for wildlife.

Householders, farmers, community groups and schools involved in the Woodland and Hedgerow actions received 50 native trees, including hawthorn, oak, Scots pine, black poplar, spindle and hazel. Those approved for a Heritage Orchard collected five heritage apple trees, supporting the revival of traditional Irish varieties. These trees were selected for their ecological value offering food, shelter and longterm resilience as Sligos landscapes adapt to climate and environmental change.

The Hares Corner initiative, developed by the nonprofit Burrenbeo Trust, has returned to Sligo for a second year in partnership with Sligo County Council. Last year the programme approved 239 new biodiversity actions throughout the county and created 12 new ponds for wildlife. In 2026 there have been applications for 232 actions, including 46 Plans for Nature and the creation of 37 new wildlife ponds, providing essential wetland habitat for amphibians, insects and birds. Over the two years, the programme will support the creation of approximately 111 wildlife hedgerows, 109 heritage orchards and 107 native woodlands. The Hares Corner has been enthusiastically embraced by landowners, community groups, farmers and schools, all determined to create space for nature in their local areas.

Speaking at the event, Cllr. Fergal Nealon, LeasCathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, said:

The Hares Corner programme shows the enthusiasm for communityled action in restoring nature across our county. It is inspiring to see so many people taking part, and we are delighted to support them as they create new woodlands, hedgerows, orchards and ponds across Sligo.

Martin Lydon, Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, added:This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to biodiversity and climate action in County Sligo. By providing native trees and practical support, we are empowering landowners to make a longlasting contribution to our natural heritage, and we look forward to seeing these habitats flourish in the years ahead.

Ruth Hanniffy, Biodiversity Officer with Sligo County Council, noted: The Hares Corner has been a fantastic success in Sligo. It is hugely encouraging to see so many people take direct action to create habitats and make space for nature. I look forward to seeing each pond and woodland and the wildlife it will support.

The Hares Corner programme in 2026 is funded through a combination of public and private support, including Sligo County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Services Local Biodiversity Action Fund, and private funders such as SSE Generation Green Community Fund, NTR PLC, Greencoat Renewables PLC, ESB and Intact Insurance. The initiative also works closely with the Heritage Councils Biodiversity Officer Programme, ensuring strong ontheground support for participants.
Sligo Airport is among the locations being considered as a base for the proposed North-West Helicopter Emergency Medical Service

Cllr Edel McSharry has welcomed confirmation from the National Ambulance Service that Sligo Airport is under consideration along with other sites in the west northwest as a base for the proposed North-West Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), which will serve Sligo, Donegal, and Leitrim. The proposed North-West service aims to supplement existing Coast Guard capabilities, ensuring faster, more specialised critical care for patients in rural areas.

Currently operating in Cork and Athlone, HEMS provides advanced pre-hospital care and hospital-to-hospital retrievals, led by highly trained specialist paramedics. The North-West service is intended to supplement existing Air Corps and Coast Guard services, improving response times and patient outcomes, particularly in rural communities.

At the recent Regional Health Forum West Northwest, Cllr McSharry asked critical questions on the service model, site selection, and coverage.

In response, B. McGovern, General Manager of the National Ambulance Service West and North West, confirmed the service is currently Advanced Paramedic (Specialist HEMS) led, with ongoing reviews to assess potential updates.

It was also stated multiple locations in the West and North-West including Sligo Airport are under review, including sites with existing aviation infrastructure, and operational, logistical, and population coverage criteria are being applied.

Highlighting the suitability of Sligo as a base, Cllr McSharry said, "It is vital that Sligo is strongly considered for this service. The airport offers existing hangars, 24-hour operations, and quick access to rural communities. Combined with the Coast Guard A189 Search and Rescue helicopter services, a HEMS base here could significantly improve outcomes for patients across the North-West, especially in our most remote areas.

The North-West HEMS represents a major enhancement of emergency care, ensuring that patients in rural areas receive specialist care faster and closer to home.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Star Wars Storm Trooper made an appearance at the ATU Engineering Fair in Sligo at the weekend.

The Sligo Engineering Fair drew more than 2,000 visitors to the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo campus on Sunday, as families, school groups and community organisations participated in an extensive programme of engineeringthemed activities aimed at promoting STEM engagement across the NorthWest.

Visitors experience Virtual Reality at the ATU Engineering Fair in Sligo.

Organised by ATU in collaboration with Engineers Ireland NorthWest and longstanding industry partner Abbott, the fair showcased an expanded programme of demonstrations, workshops, and interactive exhibitions designed to appeal to a wide public audience.

Now in its seventh year, the fair has become one of the regions most established public engagement events, offering children and young people the opportunity to explore engineering and computing concepts through handson workshops, demonstrations and interactive exhibitions. The corridors and concourses of the campus were busy throughout the afternoon, with parents, grandparents and students engaging in a wide range of activities designed to nurture curiosity and spark interest in future study and careers in engineering and computing.

Jay Ryan from RTE Junior demonstrating at ATU Engineering Fair in Sligo.

This years programme featured an expanded schedule, including the introduction of roaming Star Wars characters, a dedicated virtualreality zone and the return of Alex, the fairs popular talking robot. Three Engineering Physics themed performances by RTE Junior presenter Jay Ryan attracted large audiences, while families also participated in Brickz4Kids and Robothink robotics workshops, games development sessions, and the Engineering Discovery Zone, which offered entrylevel challenges for aspiring young engineers.

Demonstrations were delivered by ATUs Faculty of Engineering and Computing, with the toolroom team remaining in operation until after 5pm due to sustained demand for the everpopular custommade spanners and keyrings. Exhibitions from the Civil Defence, MakerSpace and Engineers Ireland NorthWest further contributed to the breadth of the programme.

Zulu from Mechatrons with Alex the robot at the ATU Engineering Fair.

Primaryschool engineering projects also featured, with pupils presenting inventive and carefully constructed projects that showcased problemsolving, teamwork and creative thinking.

Speaking ahead of the event, Niall Plunkett, Site Director of Abbotts Diagnostics business in Sligo, said:

At Abbott, innovation isnt just what we do, its how we empower our employees to push boundaries, improve lives, and transform the future through meaningful, lifechanging work. Every day, our teams contribute to developing products that help people live better and healthier lives around the world. As we mark 80 years of Abbott in Ireland, we are especially proud to collaborate once again with ATU Sligo and look forward to inspiring students from across the North West through the Sligo Engineering Fair.

Prof Graham Heaslip, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Design at ATU, highlighted the fairs growing importance as an educational event for the region.

Over 2000 attended the ATU Engineering Fair in Sligo on Sunday

The Sligo Engineering Fair is an important annual celebration of creativity, innovation and community engagement. Each year we are delighted to welcome thousands of visitors to campus to explore the possibilities of engineering through curiosity, play and handson discovery. Events like this help young people imagine new futures and highlight the role engineers play in shaping a better world. We are proud to partner once again with Abbott and Engineers Ireland to deliver this inspiring event for the NorthWest region.
With their brand-new show, Breathe  The Pink Floyd Experience celebrate one of the greatest albums of all time  Dark Side of the Moon  performed live in its entirety. The concert will also feature a powerful set of Pink Floyd fan favourites, delivered with all the passion, musicianship and atmosphere that have made Breathe one of the countrys most acclaimed tribute acts. The show takes place at the National Opera House on Friday, March 6 at 7.30pm. Tickets are 36 plus facility fee. To book, see https://www.nationaloperahouse.ie/whats-on

2. Dublin Gospel Choir  30th Anniversary Tour

Get ready for an unforgettable night of uplifting music, harmony, and soul as Dublin Gospel Choir & Band make their National Opera House debut as part of their 30th Anniversary Tour in association with Evento Productions. The show takes place on Saturday, March 7 at 7.30pm. Tickets are 30 plus facility fee. To book, see https://www.nationaloperahouse.ie/whats-on

3. Sofia City Ballet - Swan Lake

For the very first time the Internationally recognised Sofia City Ballet will perform with pleasure its critically acclaimed production of Swan Lake at The National Opera House, Wexford. Set to Tchaikovskys delightful score, Swan Lake is one of the most famous and best loved Ballets in the world. The Ballet will take place on Sunday, March 8 at 7.30pm. Tickets are 27 - 34 plus facility fee. To book, see https://www.nationaloperahouse.ie/whats-on

4. Tumbling Down at 40

In celebration of its 40th birthday, acclaimed playwright and author Billy Roche will read from his ground-breaking novel Tumbling Down on Thursday, March 5 at Wexford Arts Centre. Billys debut novel, published in 1986, would subsequently form the basis for all his future writing including the famous Wexford Trilogy. The show takes place on Thursday, March 5 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost 20 plus 1.50 fee. See https://www.wexfordartscentre.ie/events/ to book.

5. Paddy Casey

Having been at the forefront of the Irish music scene since his multi-platinum selling debut album Amen (So Be It), Paddy Caseys career has taken him all over the globe touring with acts like The Pretenders, R.E.M, Ian Brown, Blondie and Tracy Chapman to name a few. he will perform at Wexford Arts Centre on Saturday, March 7 at 7.30pm. Tickets are 27.50 plus 1.50 fee. See https://www.wexfordartscentre.ie/events/ to book.

6. Me and My Girl

New Ross Musical Society brings back the classic musical Me and My Girl to St Michaels Theatre, New Ross from Monday, March 9 to Saturday, March 14 after a 21-year absence. This hilarious and charming show, featuring music by Noel Gay, book adapted by Stephen Fry, and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose, is sure to delight audiences of all ages. The show takes place on Monday, March 9 at 7.30pm. Tickets are 18.90. To book, see https://stmichaelsnewross.com/

7. Wexford Naturalists Field Clubs March lecture The March Lecture of Wexford Naturalists Field Club will take place on March 5 in The Pumphouse at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. The topic will be Towards a Nature Positive Ireland with reference to wild mammals by Dr Paddy Sleeman, zoologist. Non-members of the Club are very welcome to attend lectures. Admission for non-members is 5, which includes light refreshments.
Joan Doherty with the piece she bought at the Signal Your Love Art Sale in Signal Arts Bray, with friends Steve, Edel and Anne Poynton. Photo: Leigh Anderson

Christ Church COI

Services of Worship for this Sunday  The Third Sunday in Lent: 8.30am  Holy Communion 1 ; 11am  Morning Prayer 1.

Parish Office: The new Parish Office opening hours are Wednesday: 9am to 1pm; Thursday: 9am to 4pm (closed 1 to 2pm for lunch); Friday: 9am to 4pm (closed 1 to 2pm for lunch)Email: info@christchurchbray.ie; tel. 01 286 2968; Parish website: christchurchbray.ie; or see facebook.com/christchurchbray.

Mothers Union Cake Sale: This will be held on Sunday March 29th at the Palm Sunday 11am service. Please bring your best baking and be prepared to buy something delicious for your afternoon tea!

Bray Methodist Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10amSunday Worship with Creche and Sunday School.

Bray Presbyterian Church

Worship for this Sunday: 11.30am  Sunday Worship.

Christian Assembly Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10.45am  Morning Worship.

Wednesdays: 8pm  Prayer Meeting & Bible study.

Monthly Ladies Meeting: For details see: www.christianassemblybray.com.

Cornerstone Church

Weekly activities at Cornerstone Church at the Well Church Building, Church Terrace, Main Street, Bra: Mens Bible Study  Mondays from 7.30pm to 9pm; Womens Bible Study  Tuesdays from 10.45am to 12.30pm; Prayer Meeting  Wednesdays from 10.30am to 12pm; Mens Indoor Bowls  Wednesdays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm; Ukrainian Christian Film Night  Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm; Ukrainian Bible Study  Fridays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm; Games Evening  Fridays from 7pm to 9.30pm; Friday Coffee & Chat at The Well Church Building, Church Terrace, Main Street, Bray. Drop in any Friday for a friendly cuppa and conversation  no need to book! For more information contact Kyle Holland, Pastor, on 086 405 139. Sunday Services are 9am and 11am, followed by tea, coffee, and fellowshipstay, chat, and connect!

Holy Redeemer Parish

Mass Times: 10amMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday  No Mass on Tuesday. Sunday Masses: 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday and on Sunday at 10.30am and 12Noon. To book a Mass, please call into the Sacristy before or after our Masses.

Music at Mass on Sundays: 10.30amFolk Group; 12pmGaudium Choir (Mainly Latin Church Music) on the 1st Sunday of the Month; 12pm on other Sundays of the Month: Parish Choir (Mainly English Church Music).

Baptism: Registration for Baptism can be made online via the parish website  www.holyredeemerbray.ie.

Community Connect Drive & Drop Appeal: Donate to help families in need between 10am and 12pm this Sunday in the Holy Redeemer car park. Help us to gather much-needed essential items for pregnant mothers and families with new babies around the country  just pick up a few extra items in your weekly shop! Welcoming a new baby is a very special time in any familys life, but can be a challenging time for those who are struggling financially. Every donation you make will go directly to a family in need. Items Accepted at Drive & Drop (new/unopened only please!). Packs of Nappies  sizes 1 & 2; Baby Hooded Towels; Cellular Blankets; Packs of Baby Bibs; Nappy Sacks; Nappy Cream; Baby Wash / Baby Shampoo; Packs of Sleepsuits (Babygros) & Vests (Bodysuits) in size 0-3m; Baby Sponges, Baby Cotton Wool, Baby Wipes; Maternity Items for bringing into Hospital  maternity nightdresses, slippers/fluffy socks, toilet bags, sanitary towels, breast pads, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant; Unopened Gift Items for Mothers  hand cream, lip balm, body lotion, cosmetic gift sets (no candles or glass items please); Financial donations also accepted. See www.communityconnect.ie/driveanddrop/ for further information.

St Peters Parish

St. Peters Church Mass Times: Sunday: 9am (Irish Mass), 11.30am. Holy Days: 11am. 1st Friday: 11am.

To Book a Mass: To book a Mass, please contact the Parish Office on 01- 282 9467 or email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com.

First Sunday Tea/Coffee morning: A tea/coffee morning is held in the parish hall on the first Sunday of every month after both masses. Come along for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat. Its a great way to catch up and get to know other parishioners. Everyone is very welcome to join us.

St Fergals Parish

Mass Times: Mass times are 9.30am Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. No morning Mass on Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday: 7pm Vigil Mass; Sunday: 8am and 10.30am.

Join the Fergals Gospel Choir and let your voice shine: If you would like to join the choir please come to St. Fergals Church on Mondays from 8pm. The choir usually sings at two masses per month and we welcome everyone who loves to sing.

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Mass: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend Masses are at 6.30pm on Saturdays and 10.30am and 12 Noon on Sundays.

Were you or any of your family married in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church?: Would you be willing to share a photo of the wedding, to be displayed as part of an exhibition in the Church in July? Photos may be left to the Villa Office, or emailed as an attachment to qopbray80@gmail.com. They will be returned following the exhibition. For each photo please include: Bride and Grooms name; Date of Marriage; Return address. Please submit photos by March 31st 2026. A Mass to celebrate Marriage will be held on Sunday July 12th. All are welcome.

Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 11am to 10pm on Mondays only in this Church.

QOP youth club

Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club had fifteen members on a night walk on Saturday. Their next event will be a visit to the General Post Office 1916 exhibition. In April Mike will begin training members in the art of survival with the use of maps, compasses, and storm shelters.

To join the club call Mike on 086 0855151, and he may convince you to join as a member or as a leader.

Diving club

Bray Divers Sub-aqua Club based in Greystones Harbour are starting a training course on Saturday 7th March. Induction to the club, and lectures will be completed in one session, pool training will also be completed in one session, and sea snorkels will take three sessions.

Following that trainees may acquire an international dive certificate after about ten scuba dives depending on the trainees ability and availability. For details call Albert on 087 6756439, and get into the silent underwater world.

Bray Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8.30pm. Bray Library can be emailed at braylib@wicklococo.ie to book a place for library events or make inquiries about them.

English Conversation Classes take place in the library every Monday (except Bank Holiday Mondays) from 11am to 12pm. Ciorcal Comhra  Irish Language Conversation Group, meets from 7pm to 8pm on the first and third Tuesday of the month in the library;).

The next meeting of the Bray Library Crime Book Club will take place at 7pm next Tuesday; the next meeting of the Bray Library Junior Film Club will be at 6.30pm on Thursday March 19th; the March meeting of Ruths Book Club takes place at 11am on Wednesday March 25th; the March meeting of the Bray Library Literary Book Club takes place at 7pm on Thursday March 26th.

A Plant & Seed Swap will take place in the library from 1pm to 2pm on Wednesday March 25th and Wednesday April 29th. All are welcome. No booking required. Preferred plants and seeds are plants with non-invasive habits, cuttings from herbs, vegetable seedlings, ideally from open pollinated seeds.

Bray Cualann Historical Society

Guest speaker March meeting of the Cualann Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow, will be Kieran Devenish who will present Ardmore Studios, Bray at 8pm on Thursday March 19th in The Royal Hotel, Bray, All are welcome  members are free while admission for visitors/non-members is 8.

Those wishing to join the Bray Cualann Historical Society can do so at this lecture. The annual membership rate for 2026 is 35 for an individual and 45 for a couple.

In the meantime events taking place which may be of interest to members and supporters of the Society in the week ahead include  today (Wednesday) Matthew Stout will present The Irish Ringforts after Three Decades at 8pm to the Rathmichael Historical Society in Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, Co. Dublin. All are welcomemembers are freenon-members/visitors 5. Tomorrow (Thursday) Felix M. Larkin will present Parnell and his Legacy at 8pm to the Mount Merrion Historical Society in The Fitzwilliam Rooms, Mount Merrion Community Centre, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin. All are welcomeadmission is 5/Students 2. Next Monday David Caron will present Dublin Stained Glass Heritage at 7.30pm to the Clontarf Historical Society in the Resource Centre, St John the Baptist Church, Clontarf Road Clontarf, Dublin 3. All are welcome admission for non-members 5. Next Tuesday the March Open Library Night of the Irish Railway Record Society takes place from 6.30pm to 9pm in the Societys Dublin Hueston Station premises; Collette Allen will present From Tara to Bohernabrena, the Death of King Conaire Mor at 7pm to the Tallaght Historical Society in St. Maelruans Church of Ireland Parish Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24. All are welcome; Duncan Sheppard will present Rochestown Avenues Hidden Historical Secret at 8pm to the Foxrock Local History Club in the Foxrock Parish Pastoral Centre, Foxrock, Co. Dublin. All are welcome  admission is 5 for non-members. Next Wednesday Seamas O Maitiu will recall The Bombing of the Masterpiece Cinema, Talbot Street, in November 1925 at 6pm to the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room of Dublin City Library & Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. All are welcome  admission is free and no booking is required. Next Thursday (March 12th) Catherine OFlaherty will present Monsignor Hugh OFlaherty at 7pm to the Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount Historical Society in The Hive, Herbert Park, Dublin 4. All are welcome  members are free  admission for non-members is 5; James Scannell will recall Going to the Cinema in the 1950s and 1960s at 8pm to the Kilmacud-Stillorgan Local History Society in St. Lawrences Parish Centre, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. Members are free  visitors are 3. Please note that there is a car parking charge of 1 per hour at this venue  coin payment only

Bray Lions Opera Gala

The Bray Lions Opera Gala takes place on Friday March 20th in the Mermaid Arts Centre Bray, in aid of Bray Lions Christmas Dinners Fund. This is an evening of Popular operatic favourites performed by four stars of the Irish and European opera scene, with Ross Scanlon, Hannah OBrien, Rory Dunne and Jade Phoenix.
A Wicklow man who fractured another mans jaw with a single punch during an altercation at Wicklow towns South Pier has been jailed for 16 months

Ronan Maguire (39), of Schooner House, Wicklow town, County Wicklow, appeared at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm.

Garda Lynn Roche from Wicklow Town Garda Station told the court that in May 2023, while at the South Pier in Wicklow town, two Ukrainian nationals were leaving the pier when they became involved in an altercation with Mr Maguire and his wife, who is now deceased.

One of the Ukrainian nationals contacted the victim, who returned to the South Pier before getting into an altercation with Mr Maguire.

The accused punched the complainant, who sustained multiple facial injuries, including a fractured jaw which needed to be repaired with a metal plate.

Barrister for the Director of Public Prosecutions, James Kelly, remarked that the prosecution accepted that Mr Maguire believed he was under threat but that he overreacted.

The court was told that Mr Maguire was at the pier with his then wife and small child before he got into a verbal disagreement with the Ukrainians, who were communicating via Google Translate. Gda Roche stated that something got lost in translation.

Mr Maguire was arrested in early July 2023 and during interview he gave his version of events and told investigators that he felt under threat.

Mr Kelly read a short victim impact statement on behalf of the victim, which said that he has suffered since the injury, including multiple facial screws and nerve damage.

He added that the defendant has 47 previous convictions, ranging from public intoxication and threatening to kill, to possession of knives and criminal damage.

The accuseds last sentence was handed down by Judge David Kennedy in the District Court, with his earliest release date being July 2026.

His previous convictions date back to 2005.

Gda Roche informed the court that she has dealt with Mr Maguire on numerous occasions.

During cross-examination, counsel for the defence, Justin McQuade, put it to Gda Roche that Mr Maguire accepted the plea and held an honest belief that he needed to use force in self-defence of his family. Gda Roche agreed.

Mr McQuade stated that the assault causing harm was committed with a single punch to the face, but Mr Maguire accepted that the force was disproportionate.

He added that the accused should have pushed the victim away or used a lesser level of force.

Defence counsel remarked that the slightly different version wasnt a big difference, and Gda Roche agreed.

Mr Maguires father died of an overdose and his partner also died in tragic circumstances.

The court heard that the offence of assault causing harm now carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

However, at the time Mr Maguire committed the offence, the maximum penalty was five years, and the court is required to sentence him in line with the legislation in place at that time.

Mr McQuade stated that Mr Maguire comes from a complex background, having gone to private boarding school, which his grandparents paid for.

The accused began taking drugs while at school, which became the blight of his life.

He started a plumbing apprenticeship, but failed to complete his traineeship, the court was told.

On the day of the assault, Mr McQuade remarked that it was Ukrainian Independence Day and that the pair had consumed a bottle of whiskey. His client alleges that they pulled at his childs leg. It was noted by Mr Kelly that the Ukrainian woman denies pulling the leg of the child.

Since he entered custody, Mr Maguire has attempted suicide and has gone on hunger strike. He is currently before the High Court in relation to his treatment while in custody.

During sentencing, Judge Patrick Quinn remarked on the nature of the assault, calling it unusual, before saying that even with a private education, Mr Maguire managed to sway into addiction while noting his personal tragedies.

Judge Quinn handed down a sentence of 16 months imprisonment, with the final four months suspended for a period of four months. The sentence was backdated to May 2025.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
From war to Wicklow: The refugee reshaping a rural towns cultural heartbeat

Fleur Obshta arrived from Ukraine four years ago, unable to speak English and with no possessions. Now, she is at the heart of musical life in Baltinglass

Fleur Obshta and Margaret. Photo: Joe Byrne

David Medcalf Wicklow People Wed 4 Mar 2026 at 12:00

She is Halyna Obshta, but everyone in Baltinglass knows her as Fleur. In the years since she arrived from her troubled homeland, the 54-year-old has made herself an indispensable part of life in her adopted town. Her ability to make music and to bring out the music in others has uplifted the place and earned her the affection of the locals.
John and Isobel Hutchings with Frances Browner enjoying the Bert'n'Enda concert at The Whale, Greystones. Photo: Leigh Anderson

Karaoke Night

Glenealy Tidy Towns are having a Karaoke Night in The Hurlers Lounge on Saturday 4th April starting at 8.30pm. No entry fee, just a night of fun and laughter.

Card drive

45 Card drive is on every Thursday night at 8pm in Glenealy Village Hall. New players are always welcome.

Indoor Bowls

Indoor Bowls is played in Glenealy Village Hall every Wednesday night from 8pm to 10pm. New players always welcome.

Pilates

Pilates is on in Glenealy Village Hall every Tuesday night from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. For more information contact Zara on 087 9367474.

Book Exchange

If anyone would like to exchange books or take books, the book shelf is just inside the main door at hall. There is a great selection to choose from.

Newtownmountkennedy

Notes contact

If you have news or an item to be added to the Newtownmountkennedy Notes, please email Ciara Martin Perks at ciaraperks87@gmail.com or call 087 6380155.

Public Defibrillator

The defibrillator is located at Henry & Rose and North Wicklow Medicial, Main Street, Newtownmountkennedy. In any emergency dial 999/112, dont assume somebody else has.

Bingo

Bingo is played at Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre every Friday. Doors open at 7pm, starts at 8pm

Ciorcal Comhra

Ciorcal Comhra is on every week in Newtownmountkennedy. Wednesday at 8pm in the Parkview Hotel reception and Saturday at 3pm in The Coffee Place.

We periodically organise Pop Up Gaeltachts in Newtown, Bray and Greystones. We also have a library of Irish language books that members of our group can access. To find out more email us at: ciorcalcomhrantmk@gmail.com

St Patricks Day parade

Newtownmountkennedy St Patricks Day parade committee is looking for volunteers to help on 17th March between 11.30am to 1.30pm. Volunteers will help with traffic management and guiding the entrants to their correct position in the parade. Please contact a committee member at 085 8428857.

Roundwood

Lotto

Results of the draw held on Sunday 1st March. There was no jackpot winner the numbers drawn were 3, 5, 19 and 23. There were six match three winners. Trevor Conyard, S.Vickers, Gerry Carroll, E.N.T, J & S Hamilton and J.E.T.S . Next weeks jackpot will be 13,900.

Rambling House

Our first Rambling House of 2026 in the Annamoe Centre will be on Friday 13th March at 8pm. Entry by donation, Tea, biscuits/cakes. All are welcome, any queries to 086-8749092.

Cancer Support

Roundwood Cancer Support office is open every Monday and Friday from 10am to 12 noon for anyone who needs advice or help when dealing with cancer.

Moneystown Preschool

Moneystown Preschool is Opening in September 2026 and is currently taking enrollments for September 2026 under the ECCE Scheme from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday. We are also taking enquiries for September 2027-2028. For More information you can contact Karen Kinsella by email at Moneystownpreschool@gmail.com or on 086 2381262 if you have any queries.

KNOCK PILGRIMAGE

There will be a Pilgrimage to Knock on Sunday 12th Apri. It is 50 years since the Basilica was built in 1976. Bus leaving Roundwood at 8 am. 85 per person, includes Bus, Breakfast and Dinner. Names and money before 1 st March to Susan 087 6273032,

SOCIAL WHIST

Next Whist will take place on Wednesday March 4th starting at 8pm in the Parish Hall. Come along and enjoy a night of cards with us.

Charcoal drawing workshop

Join artist David Begley on Saturday 28th March for an exciting day of charcoal drawing in Roundwood Parish Hall, 11am to 4pm. Participants will learn how to harvest and prepare wood for baking charcoal at home, and will explore tools and techniques for drawing in charcoal.

Davids charcoals include ivy, cork, and driftwood. Through experimenting with these, participants will enjoy the wide range of marks, tones, textures and colours home-baked charcoal can produce.

David will discuss how to bake charcoal, will demonstrate charcoal ink making, and how to use additional drawing tools including chamois, erasers, sandpaper, and brushes.

David Begley is an enthusiastic, energetic, and generous teacher who loves to share his knowledge and experience. This workshop is suitable for all levels. Materials supplied, please bring a notebook and apron. Cost 65. Suitable For: 18+ years.

Blessing of the graves 2026

Parishes of St. Laurence OTooleRoundwood & Moneystown, and St. KevinsGlendalough BrockaghSunday 24th May after 11.30 am Mass. RoundwoodFriday 5th June at 7pm. GlendaloughFriday 19th June at 7pm

Active Retirement

Chair Yoga at the Roundwood Parish Hall 2pm on Tuesdays. There will be no Class on Tuesday 17th March. Next Bingo: Sunday 22nd March 3pm in Annamoe Community Centre. All are welcome.

Trip to Clare in the Autumn (Monday 28th September to Friday 2nd October) 530 per person sharing and 650.00 for single room (this includes the supplement) a non-refundable deposit of 200 before end of June. Calligraphy classes continuing every Thursday morning 11am until 12:15 at the Roundwood Parish Hall

Card Game

There is a 45 Card Game every Tuesday night in Moneystown Community Centre starting at 8pm. Teas served. All are welcome

Local notes

If you have an item or news that you would like to include in the Roundwood Notes, contact Margaret Bolger the email address is mgtbolger@gmail.com. Items for the notes must be emailed by Sunday night to be in time for publication.
The Dancing with the Stars judge on fleeing Armenia as a child, fakeness in showbiz and how fatherhood has changed him

Arthur Gourounlian is a television personality and influencer from Armenia. Having started his career in dancing, he has toured with artists including Beyonce and Kylie Minogue. He is currently a judge on Dancing with the Stars and is married to Brian Dowling. The pair live in Dublin with their two daughters.
Caroline Downey with husband Denis Desmond and children (from left) Jett, Storm and Zach at the Burlington Hotel

THERE is a sea of really stunning, single women out there, and I have to tell you, I don't see any stunning single men out there. So no, thank you very much. I have no interest in dating, because I still love Denis, and that's the hard part.

I'm enjoying lunch in the company of Caroline Downey (52), the vivacious and warm businesswoman who will shortly appear on our screens in TV3's Celebrity Apprentice.

Caroline and her husband Denis Desmond run the juggernaut that is Gaiety Investments, and their diverse business interests include MCD and the Gaiety Theatre, of which Caroline is MD.

For the past 32 years the attractive pair have been one of the most influential and high-profile couples in the country, but what most people don't know, and why we're discussing the likelihood of her dating again, is that Caroline and Denis have been separated for the past year-and-a-half.

It was a good marriage, she says, until she discovered an event had occurred that changed things irrevocably.

Denis had an affair, and one of the terms and conditions of my marriage is that you didn't step outside of it, she says, sadly.

So that was it. The affair was over by the time I found out about it, but I was crushed. I still love him and I have no desire to date again.

So we work together and go to things together and we've remained best friends. We built the company for the children if they want it.

Being betrayed is one of the deepest wounds a person can experience, so how did she manage to come through the hurt?

You just do, she says. You have kids and a business and good friends, so you just throw yourself in and get on with it. I have a very busy life and so does Denis.

Sometimes something can be over when you don't realise it.

I thought that I was more resilient that I am, and that I was tougher than I am, but I've realised that I'm not.

Denis is my children's father and they love him. He's a really, really, really good father, and everything he does has always been for them, and actually for me too.

Everything he worked toward has been for me and the three kids, and that will never alter. Denis is a good person  he just made a bad choice.

While they are now living separately, would Caroline go back to him, I wonder?

It's impossible to say, she shrugs. I always thought that women who took straying husbands back were weak  I genuinely did. And now I see that it's easier to walk away than to stay.

I would never have understood that before, because to stay, you've got to go into a really deep place to forgive and to trust again.

I can't generalise, because there are women who are beaten to a pulp and have nowhere to go, or husbands who won't leave the family home and give the women nothing, so I'm talking about people who have a choice.

Cheryl Cole is a classic example of someone who very publicly stayed, and that must have been very hard, because she was condemned for it.

And then Ashley did it again to her, and you want to go up to him and say, You idiot. You have this beautiful, beautiful woman who forgave you when everyone was telling her that you didn't deserve her.

Born in Ireland, as the eldest of Elizabeth and Patrick Downey's five children, her dad was a carpenter and her mother was a secretary. When she was five, they left Ireland to live in Australia.

Over the next few years, Caroline's family moved several times between Adelaide in Australia, Durban in South Africa, and Ireland, meaning that she attended seven different schools.

While she is clearly highly intelligent and articulate, she says that she wasn't academic and left school at 16. She was diagnosed with dyslexia 10 years ago, when one of her children was being tested for the same condition. She waitressed for a year, and then became a model, which she loved.

Having to constantly deal with new people and different situations is probably what has enhanced Caroline's people skills.

As a very fair person, her natural sense of justice and willingness to fight for the underdog was heightened by her time living in South Africa at the height of apartheid.

White people went on white buses and black people on black buses, and the nanny that looked after you wasn't allowed to go on the beach with you, she recalls.

I was very conscious of that. It was a bad time to be living in the country, as it was backward in that way, but fortunately that has all changed and it's a very different country now.

Having said that, the people there had impeccable timekeeping, which the Irish didn't have at that time.

I learned a lot growing up from all of the different experiences I had, but I made sure my own children stayed in the same school from Montessori right up. They have had the same friends since childhood, which is something I don't have.

Carolines parents separated when she was 19, and her father moved to the Middle East, while her mother and four younger siblings went to live in Australia again.

She stayed here, as she had met Denis by then. She says it was a relief when her parents finally split up, because their marriage was in trouble from the time she was 10, and it wasn't a nice way to be brought up.

I think when you're the eldest and there are issues in the home, you take on looking after your younger siblings, she says. I'm very close to my father, but I have no relationship with my mother, and haven't had for many years.

It was while modelling that Caroline met Denis at a nightclub on Adelaide Road, when she was 19 and he was 28.

He was charming, she smiles.

His opening line was something like, Did anyone ever tell you that you're the most beautiful woman in the world? To which my friend's husband James said, You're going to have to come up with a better line than that, man.'

Denis asked me out and was supposed to collect me at 2pm on the day, but when he hadn't turned up by 4pm, myself and my flatmate went off to the movies and a nightclub.

I got home at 3am to find a note saying, I did turn up, admittedly two hours late, but there was a problem with Slane.'

So I thought, well to hell with him if he can't be on time, but now I understand of course, because of the business that we're in.

He wanted another date and I didn't want to go, but Louis Walsh, who is my best friend, said that I had to go and get us passes to Slane, because he wanted to see Hazel O'Connor.

So I went on the date on that condition, and when we were at Slane, Louis left me there, so I had to get a lift home with Denis. Louis always maintains that he played Cupid!

Caroline and Denis lived together almost straight away, and although she thought she would never get married or have children, she had done both by her mid-20s.

She and Denis are proud parents of son Zach (26), daughter Storm, who will be 23 in October, and youngest son Jett, whose star-studded 21st birthday party earlier this month was attended by the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Amy Huberman, Yvonne Keating and Amanda Byram.

My children are amazing and they're the best thing that ever happened to me, says Caroline.

Zach is the image of my father, who was a very handsome man. He works in the business, and is very good, very loyal and driven. Storm is the spit of me, and she's very intelligent.

She has just finished her degree in history and politics and has taken a year out, and has no interest in the business. I think she'd like to go down the psychology route.

Jett is a mixture of Denis and I and he's very laid-back. He's studying business and economics, and has known since he was 15 that he wants to work with us in the business.

Is it hard working with your children, I wonder, because sometimes it's difficult to grow up as the children of very successful and high-profile parents.

It's good because they understand you and know where you're coming from, and it's hard because they have to be pulled up like everyone else, sometimes in front of other people, she replies.

Having said that, you cannot treat them like everyone else, because they're not like everyone else. They're going to inherit your business.

I often wonder which is harder  making your own money, or inheriting a company and keeping it going to the same standard that your parents did? Because, of course, Denis's shoes are big ones to fill!

Caroline is an unbelievably busy person, and is heavily involved with the ISPCC, Childline, and the Christina Noble foundation, for whom she tirelessly fundraises. She has raised an incredible 39m for charity to date.

When we met, she had just come from the ISPCC Brown Thomas Fashion Lunch at the Four Seasons, and would later attend the opening of The Shawshank Redemption at the Gaiety with Denis.

She is currently organising the Brian O'Driscoll charity testimonial in the Convention Centre, the 15th Cheerios Childline concert, and the ISPCC Blue Shield anti-bullying campaign, and is also producing the Christmas panto, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, at the Gaiety.

Caroline says that she doesn't generally do interviews about herself, which is just as well as she is always too honest and doesn't like to lie.

I have no filter, she laughs. She has been propelled into the spotlight lately as she is shortly to appear on our TV screens in TV3's Celebrity Apprentice, which features a cast of famous faces.

I hadn't seen Apprentice before, but watched before we started filming and thought, Aaaah, what have I let myself in for?she says.

I mainly watched the American one because it was running at the time, and I've become obsessed with it now. I loved the way Piers Morgan sliced and diced people!

In the Irish version, our celebrities are raising money for their charities. It was harder than I imagined, longer hours than I thought and I don't think any of us had a clue what we were getting ourselves into.

So is Caroline tough and fearsome when it comes to the boardroom, like Alan Sugar, Donald Trump, and Bill Cullen?

It was very difficult because when it came to them justifying not being fired, the celebrities would all explain what it would mean to their charity, so it was like a knife went into me and it was turn, turn, turn.

I had to go strictly by the tasks, because if I allowed myself to be driven by the charities, they would all have won.

I have no great desire to watch myself on television, but Liz O'Donnell and John McGuire would come back every day and tell me some of the things that happened.

There were times when they and the cameramen actually had tears of laughter pouring down their faces, so I'm dying to see those incidents.

The celebrities will definitely be the stars of the show, as they gave it their all!

*Celebrity Apprentice begins on TV3 on Monday, September 23
Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid has said "I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law", after he was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

Ms Reid, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee and MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, also said: "I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist Party's dictatorship," following the arrest of her spouse David Taylor.

The Metropolitan Police said three men - aged 39, 43 and 68 - were arrested by counter-terrorism officers in London and Wales after being accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

All three remain in custody and searches have been carried out at the addresses where they were arrested, the force added.

Chinese officials in the UK and Beijing have been given a dressing down, a minister told MPs.

Those arrested included the husband of Labour MP Joani Reid (PA)

News in 90 seconds - Wednesday, March 4

In a statement, Ms Reid said: "I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China-related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters.

"As far as I am aware, I have never met any Chinese businesses whilst I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.

"I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections.

"I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist Party's dictatorship.

"I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.

"I am not part of my husband's business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are. Above all I expect media organisations to respect my children's privacy."

Earlier, UK security minister Dan Jarvis said there will be "severe consequences" if it is proven that China attempted to interfere with UK sovereign affairs.

Mr Jarvis said the investigation "relates to China" and "foreign interference targeting UK democracy".

He told MPs: "Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.

"The Government is taking robust action to ensure the UK's democratic institutions and processes are a hard target for this activity.

"The National Security Act provides our intelligence agencies and law enforcement with the modern legal tools they need to deter, detect and disrupt the full range of state threats.

"The action counter-terrorism police have been able to take this morning is an example that that legislation is working well."

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: "We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it."

In addition to the addresses where the suspects were arrested, the Met said three other properties in London, East Kilbride in Scotland, and Cardiff have also been searched.

The force said the 39-year-old suspect was arrested in London, the 43-year-old man was arrested in Pontyclun in south Wales, and the 68-year-old was arrested in the county of Powys in mid-Wales - with all three being detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Ms Flanagan added: "Today's arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this.

"Our investigation continues and we thank the public for their ongoing support."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "On Wednesday March 4 2026, we carried out a search of an address in East Kilbride on behalf of an investigation being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London."
An intense Saharan dust plume is to sweep into Europe this week as sand from North Africa is blown into the Iberian peninsula and the western Mediterranean.

Colourful sunrises and sunsets, hazy skies and occasional deposits of dust if it rains, could be observed in some areas, according to the EUs Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).

Spain, Portugal and parts of France will be especially affected on Friday before the plume moves into the North Sea and Scandinavia. Sand could reach Britain too, but the effects will be far more marginal.

Rainfall could bring the dust down to the surface because of what experts call a high likelihood of a wet deposition. This would increase the potential impacts on visibility and air quality. In the past, air travel has been disrupted due to low visibility.

While the transport of dust in this manner is fairly common this time of year, according to Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at Copernicus, the current transition marks a particularly remarkable episode.

The plume is being driven by a low-pressure system, dubbed Storm Regina by Portugals weather service. This system is transporting dust directly from North Africa into Europe.

A previous event, taking place between February 20 and 25 last month, was linked to Calima winds, which blew dust from the Saharan desert out to the North Atlantic. But this time the effects are expected to be more intense.

It is going to be visible more at times of sunrise or sunset, deeper orangey colors, Mr Parrington told The Independent. But by the time it reaches the UK, the surface impacts are probably not noticeable. But in Spain and southern France the impact from this dust transport will be increased because its much closer to the source region as well.

Mr Parrington says the plume will be more intense across the Iberian Peninsula compared to the event observed from February 20-25.

It is also expected to be more direct, driven by Borrasca-type winds transporting dust straight into the western Mediterranean region, he explained. Noticeable surface air quality impacts are forecast across parts of Spain, Portugal and France, he added
The latest conflict erupted last week with Afghanistan launching attacks on Thursday

An Afghan man stands next to a damaged car following airstrikes, amid the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on February 28, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Afghan forces attacked Pakistani military positions along the border early yesterday, triggering intense clashes that left 67 Afghan troops and one Pakistani soldier dead, officials in Islamabad said as cross-border fighting between the two countries entered its fifth day.

The Taliban defence ministry in Kabul, the Afghan capital, rejected Pakistans claim. A ministry spokesman said Afghan forces in the past 24 hours repelled Pakistani attacks, destroying about a dozen military posts and killing four Pakistani soldiers.

The latest Afghan-Pakistan escalation erupted last week with Afghanistan launching attacks on Thursday in retaliation for Pakistani air strikes the previous weekend.

Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border and declared it was in an open war with Afghanistan, alarming the international community.

Yesterday, Pakistan said Afghan forces attacked Pakistans military in two sections of the two countries border.

It said 16 locations were attacked along the southern part of the border, in the south-western districts of Qilla Saifullah, Nushki and Chaman in Pakistans Balochistan province.

Pakistani troops killed 27 members of the Afghan forces there and successfully repelled these multiple attacks, information minister Attaullah Tarar said.

Mr Tarar said on X that another wave of attacks hit 25 locations along the northern part of the border, in the north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Pakistani troops killed 40 members of the Afghan security forces.

The spokesman did not say where the Pakistani soldier was killed.

In Kabul, defence ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khawarazmi rejected the Islamabad statements as baseless.

The border area, where militant groups, includingAl-Qaida and the so-called Islamic State group, are also active, is not accessible to the media and the Associated Press could not independently confirm any casualty reports.

In past escalations and cross-border exchanges of fire, Pakistan and Afghanistan have both repeatedly claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the other side.

In the five days of fighting, Mr Tarar said Pakistani forces have so far killed 464 Afghan security force members and injured 665.

Mr Khawarazmi said in a statement that so far 28 Afghan soldiers have died and 42 others have been wounded in the fighting.

Islamabad has long accused Kabul of providing a safe haven to militants fighting the Pakistani government, claims that Afghanistans Taliban government denies.

Mr Khawarazmi reiterated that stand yesterday.

I repeat once again that we will not allow any person or group to use our territory against other countries, he said.

Separately, Hamdullah Fitrat, the Afghan governments deputy spokesman, accused Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace and targeting homes, mosques, religious schools or madrasas and other civilian targets in Kabul, Laghman, Nangarhar, Paktia, Kandahar and Kunar provinces, as well as targeting refugee camps.

He said these attacks have resulted in the deaths of 110 civilians, including 65 women and children.

Mr Fitrat said the Taliban government of Afghanistan considers its legitimate right to protect its people and will fight against the enemy... until this aggression is stopped.

Meanwhile, the UN mission in Kabul called for an immediate halt to the fighting, warning that the conflict is worsening Afghanistans dire humanitarian situation.

According to its preliminary figures, since last Thursday at least 42 civilians have been killed and 104 injured, including women and children.

On Monday, Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari defended the ongoing fighting with Afghanistan, saying Islamabad had tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory.

He asked Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.

Pakistan has experienced a surge in violence in recent months, which it blames on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban  known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.

Islamabad says the TTP operates from Afghan territory and has the protection of Afghanistans Taliban government.

Kabul denies the accusations.

The latest fighting has ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October.

Talks in Istanbul failed to produce a permanent agreement, and Pakistan has said that operations will continue until Afghanistan takes verifiable steps to rein in the TTP and other militants.

The Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban and since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the TTP has become emboldened and escalated its attacks in Pakistan.
Food prices soar, hospitals in crisis and people trapped under rubble with rescuers in danger of being hit in double-tap strikes

A woman weeps in Tehran after a strike on a police station. Photo: Reuters

Dozens of graves are prepared following an Israeli strike on a school in Iran that is reported to have killed at least 150, including many children. Photo: Reuters

American and Israeli aircraft bombed hospitals, residential buildings and schools across Tehran on Tuesday in what residents described as an apocalypse.

Millions of civilians are trapped under relentless bombardment as food and medical supplies dwindle and the death toll mounts.

The Iranian Red Crescent reported 787 dead across 153 cities by Tuesday morning, with the toll rising as strikes expanded to 504 locations in 1,039 recorded attacks since Saturday.

Tuesday marked the heaviest day of US and Israeli bombing since strikes on Iran began on Saturday morning.

Nearly 200 children have been killed since the bombing started. Residents said the official count vastly understated casualties in Tehran, where rescue operations struggle to reach victims buried under collapsed buildings.

They have been bombing us without pause today, and the sound of explosions never stops, Kamran, a Tehran resident, said. He added: They dont care where they are hitting. I have felt the shock waves several times already.

They are striking buildings where families live, he said. After each explosion, people rush to help  and then another bomb hits the same area.

A woman weeps in Tehran after a strike on a police station. Photo: Reuters

Families ration meals to make supplies last. Children go to bed hungry. Elderly residents with medical conditions cannot find their medications.

Diabetics run out of insulin. Parents water down milk to make it stretch further. Some families have not eaten in two days, while bakeries that remain open face long lines.

Areas around Revolution Square in central Tehran were struck on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to residential homes in one of the capitals most densely populated districts.

The Haft-e-Tir neighbourhood, also in central Tehran, was hit. Video footage showed destroyed apartment buildings and rescue workers digging through rubble.

A hospital in southern Bushehr was destroyed, with emergency workers frantically evacuating newborn babies as the building was struck.

Kamran said: Many people are trapped under the rubble. Hospitals are filled with injured patients, and staff are overwhelmed. They are even striking hospitals where the wounded are being treated.

The scene echoed strikes on Gandhi Hospital in Tehran and multiple other medical facilities across the country.

The destruction of hospitals means the wounded have nowhere to go. Nurses carry premature infants through smoke-filled corridors as bombs fall on maternity wards. Burn victims lie on floors because all beds are full. Surgeons operate by torchlight when electricity fails.

Medical staff work until they collapse from exhaustion, then wake and work again. Some doctors have not left their hospitals in three days, sleeping in supply closets between emergency procedures.

Millions remain trapped in Tehran, a city under sustained aerial assault. The municipality has urged war-displaced residents to report to district offices for hotel accommodation, with emergency shelter and debris removal as current priorities.

An apocalypse is unfolding here, Ashkan, another Tehran resident, said. Today has been the worst day. Those who had cars fled. Those of us without cars are left here under the bombs.

Those with vehicles and means to leave Tehran attempted to flee the city over the weekend and Monday, clogging highways and creating massive traffic jams.

The supreme national security councils Saturday advice for residents to evacuate if possible proved impossible for most.

But finding shelter has become increasingly difficult as strikes destroy residential buildings across multiple neighbourhoods.

Kamran said people move from location to location trying to stay ahead of the bombardment.

We dont know which areas are safe, he said. They hit one neighbourhood, we move, then they hit where we moved to. There is nowhere safe any more.

The strikes have created a humanitarian crisis that casualty figures do not fully convey.

I dont know if any of my relatives are dead or alive

Food supplies have become scarce in several parts of the city as distribution networks break down and stores close.

I dont know if any of my relatives are dead or alive, Ashkan said. One kilo of potatoes is now 200,000 tomans. That was 30,000 tomans last week.

Each euro was traded at around 200,000 tomans before the war, which was about one-fifth of the average daily salary in Iran.

Other staples have similarly skyrocketed or become unavailable entirely as residents stockpile food, uncertain when the strikes will end.

Government media called for citizens to donate blood at collection centres to treat mounting casualties, the first such public appeal since strikes began.

The call suggests hospitals are overwhelmed, treating wounded civilians even as medical facilities themselves come under attack.

Tehrans Emergency Services Organisation headquarters was struck, wounding its director and several staff members.

Operations continued from a new location, but the attack degraded the citys ability to respond to casualties.

The Red Crescent said more than 100,000 rescue and relief workers across the country are on full alert, but residents said help often arrives too late or cannot reach victims at all.

By the time rescuers arrive, another bomb falls on the same place, Kamran said, describing what appeared to be double-tap strikes where initial attacks are followed by secondary strikes targeting first responders  a tactic that violates international humanitarian law.

Families held funerals on Tuesday for the 148 schoolgirls killed on Saturday when American and Israeli missiles destroyed their elementary school in southern Minab.

The site of a strike on a girls' school in Minab, in Iran's southern Hormozgan province. Photo: Getty Images

Videos showed grieving parents receiving their daughters bodies for burial at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery.

After the glorious funeral of the student martyrs to Minabs Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, families buried the blooming tulips by taking delivery of their martyrs, Iranian media reported, comparing the dead children to flowers.

The Minab school strike represents nearly one-fifth of officially confirmed deaths, though residents said actual casualties far exceed official counts. Many bodies remain buried under rubble and isolated neighbourhoods cannot report casualties through disrupted communications.

Iran maintains a near-total internet blackout with connectivity at approximately 4pc of normal levels, preventing residents from co-ordinating responses, sharing information about safe areas, or calling for help through social media.

Fars province reported 59 dead with 21 civilians killed in Lamerd. Isfahans governor said at least three civilians were killed in multiple strikes on that city. Residential homes in Khomein were struck.

American and Israeli forces also struck a building belonging to the Assembly of Experts in Qom, according to reports. The institution is responsible for selecting Irans next supreme leader as the succession process continues following Ali Khameneis death.

The bodys main building in Tehran has not been struck, state media said.

The geographic spread of strikes indicated no area of the country remained safe: 153 cities affected means more than one-third of Irans approximately 429 cities have been hit.

This war was not started by us and military aggression was not our choice

President Masoud Pezeshkian, serving on the temporary leadership council formed to govern until clerics select a permanent supreme leader, called on Iranians to gather in mosques and streets to demonstrate support.

More calls were made on state TV on Tuesday for people to come on the streets and defend Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Tuesday lies and deceit have become the model of American diplomacy, adding strikes began just hours after Oman announced what it called a major breakthrough in nuclear negotiations.

This war was not started by us and this military aggression was not our choice  our choice was diplomacy, Mr Baghaei said.

Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US was hitting Iran in much more appropriate places than they are, a reference to Tehrans retaliation that saw it attack several countries across the Persian Gulf.
Government 'open' to options to tackle rising cost of fuel and energy





The Government is "open" to examining supports that would tackle current rising fuel and energy prices, but junior minister Thomas Byrne said it must first observe how the situation in the Gulf evolves over the coming days.



"It may well be that the Government will take action, and the Government is going to look carefully at this," he said, adding that prices have "clearly gone up" and they could rise "dramatically again".



"And it won't just be fuel and electricity, there'll be food supplied et cetera. This is an extremely serious and probably an unprecedented situation that we're facing when you look at the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz across all walks of life across all the world."

In response to calls from some members of the Opposition, including Aontu leader Peadar Toibin, to postpone the planned carbon tax increase on fuel from April, he told RTE's The Week in Politics that the measure would be "the last thing" that he would touch.

"That funds fuel allowance, it funds retrofitting of homes, which are designed to help people with their bills and reduce bills. The Government (will) look at this over the next week or so, to see how things develop.

"The Government is open to examining supports that we can give, but they need to be supports that people will directly benefit from," he said, adding that the Competition and Consumer Protection have already been asked to investigate the price rises.

"The Government is entitled to have a few days to examine this."

Mr Byrne said it is an "unprecedented global situation" and there is a need to see the "extent" of it over the coming days.

Sinn Fein MEP Kathleen Funchion said it has been "disgraceful" to see "price gouging" taking place within days of the outbreak of the conflict in the Gulf region, but added that the cost-of-living has been on the rise and "this problem was in existence before the war broke out".

In response, Mr Byrne said the Government will look at the situation and deal with it "appropriately".

"The idea that comprehensive solutions are there today for a problem that has emerged in the last week or so, I think is unrealistic."

Labour TD George Lawlor said targeted supports to tackle ongoing issues to deal with the cost of living are required, including an immediate energy credit of 400.

Asked whether the current situation required a "mini Budget", Mr Lawlor said: "Well, I believe so. I think we are in another crisis four years after the original one which brought about a lot of these difficulties."
Drones strike American embassy in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait mission

A woman walks past a building which was damaged after a strike on a police station amid the US-Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran. Photo: AP

Israeli and US forces pounded targets across Iran yesterday, prompting Iranian retaliatory strikes around the Gulf as the conflict spread to Lebanon, rattled global markets and sent oil prices sharply higher.

Four days into the war, US president Donald Trump told reporters that the US military had struck numerous Iranian naval and air targets, saying that just about everything has been knocked out.

Mr Trump also sought to justify the assault on Iran, saying he had ordered the campaign because he had a feeling Iran would attack after negotiations over its nuclear program stalled.

In response to the fierce assault, Iranian drones struck the US embassy in Saudi Arabia after previously hitting the mission in Kuwait. Washington shut both embassies, as well as its embassy in Lebanon and ordered non-emergency government personnel and their families to leave much of the Middle East.

Smoke was seen rising near the US consulate in Dubai yesterday and Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters a parking lot was hit and all personnel were accounted for.

A source familiar with Israels war plan told Reuters that the campaign had been planned to last two weeks and was going through its target list faster than expected, with early success in killing Irans leaders  including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening salvoes on Saturday.

The Israeli military said yesterday that it had struck a compound in Iran that it said aimed to develop necessary capabilities for nuclear weapons, without providing any evidence for the assertion.

Mr Trump on Monday said initial US projections were for the operation to last four to five weeks. When asked who he would like to be in charge in Iran, Mr Trump yesterday gave a blunt assessment: Most of the people we had in mind are dead.

Irans capital Tehran was repeatedly shaken by explosions through the day, as Israel struck the state broadcaster Irib and an area around the citys Mehrabad airport. The Israeli military also said it hit the Minzadehei underground nuclear development site in Tehran.

The building housing Irans Assembly of Experts, tasked with choosing a leader to replace Khamenei, was also flattened by an air attack in the city of Qom, Iranian news agencies said. Israel said it was still reviewing the results of that strike.

Every night my wife and I hide in the basement. The whole city is empty

It was not immediately clear if anyone died in the raid, but Mr Trump said senior Iranians had perished yesterday.

As Iranians have fled cities, the capital has become a ghost town.

How long will this continue? Where are the shelters? Where is the government? Bijan (32) a bank employee, told Reuters from Tehran. Every night my wife and I hide in the basement. The whole city is empty. There is smoke and blood everywhere.

Iran has called the war an unprovoked attack. We have told the enemy that if you try to harm our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region, Revolutionary Guards adviser Ebrahim Jabari said in Iranian media. Iran has fired missiles and drones at neighbouring Arab states that host US bases and strangled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the worlds supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas travel past its coast.

Qatar, one of the worlds main exporters of LNG, has halted production, while tankers have dropped anchor in the Gulf rather than brave the strait. The cost of hiring a tanker to ship oil from the Middle East to Asia has nearly quadrupled since last week to an all-time high well over $400,000 (344,000) a day.

Mr Trump said the US government would provide insurance to tankers in the region and the navy would escort them through the strait if necessary.

Global air transport has also been in chaos, with Middle East air hubs linking Asia, Europe and Africa shut.

In Lebanon, Irans Hezbollah allies fired on Israel, which responded with air strikes and reinforcements of ground positions in the south.

Thick black smoke blanketed Beirut as the sound of explosions rumbled. Authorities said dozens were killed. Iran said deaths from the attacks had reached 787. That included 165 girls killed on the wars first day when their school was bombed, the highest toll among several civilian targets reported to have been hit.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has threatened to end trade with Spain, citing a lack of support over the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and the European nations resistance over increasing its Nato spending.

Speaking in the White House, Mr Trump said: Were going to cut off all trade with Spain. We dont want anything to do with Spain.

His comments came after Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said would not allow the US to use the bases in southern Spain in any strikes not covered by the United Nations charter.
Gulf nations will run out of air defence weapons in a week after intense missile strikes by Iran, experts have warned.

Tehran launched widespread attacks across the Middle East, firing hundreds of ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones after being attacked by the US and Israel.

Many of the assaults have been intercepted, with Gulf nations using sophisticated US-made air defences to protect cities from Iranian bombardment.

But doing so has put intense pressure on the costly munitions stockpiles in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Iran is believed to still have vast reserves of missiles despite attempts by American and Israeli forces to destroy launchers capable of deploying them. Should Tehran continue striking with the same level of intensity, Gulf states will struggle to repel them.

It still takes two to three interceptors to shoot down one ballistic missile

Fabian Hoffmann, a missile expert at the University of Oslo, told the Wall Street Journal: The intensity of interceptor usage that we have seen over the last couple of days cant be maintained for more than another week  probably a couple of days at most  and then they will feel the pain of interceptor shortage.

The United Arab Emirates said that by Monday evening, it had been targeted by 174 Iranian ballistic missiles, eight cruise missiles and 689 drones in three days, with no missiles and 44 drones hitting the country.

Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar have also come under intense fire, with Bahrain having faced 70 incoming ballistic missiles. On Monday, the US Embassy in Kuwait and Qatars main liquefied-natural gas plant were hit by Iranian drones.

Even with sophisticated multi-million dollar systems like Patriot and THAAD it still takes two to three interceptors to shoot down one ballistic missile.

Iran is believed to possess more than 2,000 missiles capable of reaching the Gulf states, while the regime does not yet hold any intercontinental missiles that can strike targets like the US.

It is not known exactly how many interceptors are deployed across the Middle East, as the information is classified. However, Mr Hoffman claimed the UAE could have fewer than 1,000, while Kuwait and Bahrain have about 500 and 100, respectively.
Melania Trump, first lady of the United States, at the UN Security Council on Monday. Photo: AP

Jimmy Kimmel has skewered Melania Trumps appearance at the United Nations, ripping into her for promoting peace while President Donald Trump continues to bomb Iran.

The late-night star mocked the first ladys pronunciation of some words before lamenting, Those poor UN translators.

This is the first time ever that a first lady has presided over a Security Council meeting less than 72 hours after her husband started a war, Kimmel said on his show on Monday evening.

The late-night host poked fun at the first ladys glammed-up appearance, which included a grey Dior jacket, a matching wool skirt, a black Dior leather belt, and Christian Louboutin stilettos. The jacket is available online for $985 (848).

It looks like the worst season of The Bachelorette yet, Kimmel said. But even though it was her first time, Melania handled it like a seasoned old pro.

He then played a series of clips from the meeting, beginning with the first ladys introduction, where she stumbled over the words Security Council

Melania Trump is Slovenian, and English is not her first language.

My husband wanted to be here, said Kimmel, putting on an accent to mimic the first lady, but your escalator is trying to kill him.

That was a reference to the presidents anger over the couples visit to the UN last September, when he raged about being caught on a malfunctioning escalator and experiencing technical glitches with his teleprompter and microphone as he spoke.

While the first lady avoided a further escalator mishap on Monday, Kimmel pointed out the appearance was rich with irony amid the death toll from her husbands war. The Iranian death toll has risen to 787, Irans Red Crescent said yesterday, and six Americans have been confirmed killed as the conflict escalates across the Middle East.

The first lady was there reportedly to promote education, and as a means to advance tolerance and peace around the world, Kimmel said, at times laughing and raising his eyebrows.

Melania Trump opened her remarks at the meeting on children, technology and education with condolences to those who had lost loved ones and a smooth recovery to those injured in this challenging time.

The US stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours, she added.

After critiquing the first ladys appearance, Kimmel returned to mocking her mispronunciation.

The comedian suggested she may have started a trend with her version of significant, which she mistakenly pronounced as signifisant, although he joked that perhaps Signifisant was her new signature perfume.

Kimmel also laughed over her mispronunciation of democratising.

Those poor UN translators. I mean, how do you say democratising in Chinese? In fairness, she had a very long day trying on hats. Kimmel has been a long-time critic of the Trumps, with the president raging that he has no talent and should be cancelled. Trump temporarily got his wish when Jimmy Kimmel Live! was indefinitely suspended last September after on-air comments about the killing of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk.
Two survivors were rescued from a crashed plane on Monday night, in an event that has been described by New York governor Kathy Hochul as another miracle on the Hudson.

The small aircraft, which was carrying a single pilot and a passenger, crashed into the Hudson River around 100km north of New York City.

The Cessna 172 had been bound for New York Stewart International Airport in Orange County before it plunged into the icy waters, less than 30km from its destination.

The Middle Hope Fire Department said that firefighters and paramedics raced to the scene at 8.04pm, but were initially unable to find the aircraft in the river.

The air temperature had plummeted below freezing at the time of the crash, hovering at around -4C. After several minutes of searching, rescue crews located the aeroplane near Newburgh.

Both the pilot and their passenger were able to free themselves from the wreckage before swimming to the shore. Once there, the pair were treated by medics and later taken to hospital.

Tom Hanks in the film 'Sully'

Steve Neuhaus, the county executive of Orange County, said both of the planes occupants are expected to make a full recovery.

The cause of the crash remains unknown. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident, according to News12 Westchester. The broadcaster also said that the plane had taken off from Long Island MacArthur Airport, 170km from Newburgh.

Ms Hochul wrote on X that she was grateful to the first responders who carried out the rescue mission.

Another miracle on the Hudson, Ms Hochul said. Thank God both the pilot and passenger of a single-engine plane that performed an ice landing near Newburgh have been located with only minor injuries.

The original Miracle on the Hudson happened on January 15, 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 was forced to ditch into the Hudson River after suffering a double-engine failure.

The plane had been struck by a flock of Canada geese shortly after taking off from New York Citys LaGuardia Airport, crippling its engines.

All 155 of the planes passengers survived, although 100 people on board were injured.

The landing inspired the 2016 box-office hit Sully, which starred Tom Hanks as pilot Chesley Sully Sullenberger.
The Old Vic has settled a UK high court claim with an actor who alleges that Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted him while working as the theatres artistic director.

Ruari Cannon, who has waived his right to anonymity, claims Mr Spacey assaulted him in 2013 at an event related to the production of Tennessee Williamss play Sweet Bird Of Youth.

He is taking legal action against the actor, who denies the allegations.

Cannon also had a separate claim against the Old Vic, but this was settled on Tuesday, the theatre announced.

An Old Vic spokesman said: Ruari Cannon and The Old Vic have reached a mutually agreed out-of-court settlement, the precise terms of which are confidential.

This settlement has been agreed without any admission of liability, having regard to the costs and impact on all parties of continuing litigation.

This statement has been mutually agreed and there will be no further comment.

Two other men, who are anonymous, are also taking legal action against Spacey, who is defending the claims.

All three say he abused them at times between 2000 and 2015.

In 2023, Mr Spacey was acquitted of nine sex offences relating to four men.

Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC, for the three men, told a hearing on Tuesday that seven other people who allege they were sexually assaulted by Spacey wish to give evidence without bringing a claim.

She said Spacey had a propensity to sexually assault young men and that additional witnesses would show this.

In written submissions, Ms Gumbel said many of the witnesses worked as young actors, massage therapists or drivers, and were placed in positions of proximity to Spacey through their work.

William McCormick KC, for Spacey, said in written submissions that for the witnesses allegations to be included, each of them must be relevant to the specific circumstances of those at the centre of the legal claims.

He said that one man, referred to as GHI, alleged that Spacey drugged him after a meeting in August 2008 and that he woke up in the actors flat while being assaulted.

The man also said Spacey called his phone and answered it while he was unconscious to make it seem like he had left his flat already, the barrister added.

Mr McCormick said: None of the other allegations have any probative force in favour of GHIs allegation.

None bears any similarity to what GHI alleges. The location, the preceding contact and the nature of the sexual conduct are entirely different.

The use of drugs to secure compliance and of the phone to manufacture a defence have no echo in any other allegation.

The hearing is due to conclude on Wednesday.
Image credit : Pinterest | You can still text. You can still call. You simply cannot scroll for three hours without noticing.

Digital burnout is very real

The hottest trend of 2026?

Image credit : Pinterest | People are describing them as a compact, minimalist device that focuses on everyday tools, with photos that have a soft, analogue feel.

Meet the light phone 3

Image credit : Pinterest | Infinite scroll became the norm. Engagement became currency.

The smartphone was supposed to make life easier. Instead, it made it louder. Notifications. Feeds. Algorithms that know what you want before you do. In 2026, hyper-connectivity is not just normal, it is expected. But quietly, thousands are opting out. The latest rebellion? Going retro.Yes, the dumb phone is back. And you know why?To begin with, for years, tech companies have competed over who can capture more of your time and attention. Infinite scroll became the norm. Engagement became currency.At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, actor Aaron Paul criticised the culture of constant engagement, suggesting that technology should function as a tool rather than something designed to monopolise hours of daily life. His stance resonated with a growing crowd that feels drained by digital overload.Burnout is no longer dramatic. It is common.Even The New York Times recently labelled the shift towards simpler devices as one of the defining lifestyle trends of the year, arguing that smartphones may be making daily life more scattered rather than more efficient.The irony is delicious. In an era of artificial intelligence and pocket-sized supercomputers, people are willingly returning to devices that do less.But that is precisely the point.At Mobile World Congress, the spotlight fell on the Light Phone 3, a minimalist 5G device designed for longevity rather than addiction.It has essentials: calls, messages, alarm, calculator, calendar, directions, music, podcasts, notes. There is even a 50MP camera and a replaceable battery. What it does not have? Social media feeds. Email. Advertising ecosystems.Kaiwen Tang, the companys chief executive, explained that while most tech brands compete to maximise screen time, Light wanted to build a phone that respects attention and avoids monetising user data. Lead designer Laurence MacDonald described it as a compact, minimalist device that focuses on everyday tools, with photos that have a soft, analogue feel.It is intentional simplicity.Switching to a dumb phone is not nostalgia. It is boundary-setting.For many, it is about reclaiming focus, improving sleep, and being present in conversations without a glowing rectangle stealing eye contact. You can still text. You can still call. You simply cannot scroll for three hours without noticing.In 2026, rebellion does not look loud, instead it looks like turning your phone off.And sometimes, that is revolutionary.
Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou has assured the public that the nation possesses sufficient fuel and electricity reserves to withstand the escalating Middle East crisis, following an emergency sector meeting.

Mr. Papastavrou and Deputy Minister Nikos Tsafos convened the high-level session

with oil, natural gas , and electricity representatives in Athens

The officials evaluated potential supply chain disruptions and price shocks stemming from the volatile security situation near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint.

"We confirmed that Greece has adequate stocks and supply coverage," Mr. Papastavrou said in a statement, emphasizing that the regional conflict will not immediately threaten domestic markets.

He credited the governments diversified energy strategychampioned by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakiswhich relies heavily on expanding renewables and maintaining robust strategic reserves to insulate the national grid.

"Energy security is national security," Mr. Papastavrou added.

He said the ministry is coordinating in real-time with the European Commission, system operators, and energy companies to monitor the situation.

While global oil and gas flows face severe threats from ongoing military brinkmanship in the Persian Gulf, Athens reports zero disruptions to its current imports.

Greek authorities remain on high alert and in close coordination with European Union partners to navigate any sudden economic fallout from the broader Middle East conflict.

   iefimerida.gr
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Eastern Mediterranean, confirming that French military bases in the Middle East have been struck amid the region's rapidly escalating conflict.

In a nationally televised address, Mr. Macron also revealed that a French frigate is currently en route to Cyprus following recent drone attacks on

the island

He emphasized active military coordination with Greece and other regional allies to deter further aggression.

"It is my responsibility to act," Mr. Macron stated, pledging unwavering support for the French armed forces.

Addressing the widening war, the president condemned Hezbollah's strikes on Israel as a "major mistake."

However, as Israeli forces prepare for a broader ground offensive, he issued a stern warning:

"I call on Israel to respect Lebanons territorial integrity."

With the security situation deteriorating rapidly, Mr. Macron announced the massive repatriation of some of the 400,000 French citizens currently residing in the Middle East.

The first wave of emergency evacuation flights landed in Paris on Tuesday evening. Domestic security protocols within France have also been elevated.

Mr. Macron confirmed that French forces have already shot down hostile drones to defend the airspace of allied nations, honoring defense pacts with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq.

To shield global trade from further economic shocks, he also launched new naval initiatives to protect commercial shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal.

   iefimerida.gr
Dozens of Greek seafarers aboard at least 10 Greek-flagged vessels are currently navigating the highly volatile Persian Gulf, prompting Greece's maritime minister to urge the country's massive merchant fleet to steer clear of the increasingly dangerous region.

Maritime and Island Policy Minister Vassilis Kikilias confirmed the vessels' precarious locations during an interview.

Mr.

Kikilias said that five additional Greek -flagged ships are currently positioned just outside the Gulf , while more than 325 vessels tied to Greek shipping interests continue to operate in the broader Middle Eastern theater.

With Greece controlling one of the worlds largest merchant fleets, the government has actively advised commercial ships to bypass the region entirely since Saturday.

The safety of Greek seafarers remains Athens' top priority as regional proxy conflicts threaten vital maritime trade routes.

"We are in contact with them day and night, 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Mr. Kikilias said. "I am glad they are well, but I worry  we all worry  because the area is dangerous. We cannot rule out the possibility of bigger problems arising."

The urgent maritime warning coincides with a sharp escalation in Middle East military tensions that threatens to choke commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global transit artery for oil and natural gas.

While no hostile incidents involving Greek ships have been reported so far, the ministry is maintaining round-the-clock monitoring and direct liaison with shipowners to ensure immediate emergency response capabilities.

   iefimerida.gr
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the Greek mission of the Greek Armed Forces in Cyprus, responding to the professional worriers. He also issued a message to Israel regarding Lebanon, urging that no new front be opened.
Mohammad Mokhber, a senior aide to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has stated that Iran has no plans to engage in negotiations with the United States.

Mokhber said this on Wednesday while speaking with State TV, stressing that Iran can continue the Middle East war for as long as needed.

According to him, Iran had no trust in America, adding that they have no basis for any negotiations with them.

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We will not go into any negotiation with the US. The Americans cannot be trusted. We can continue the war as long as we want, he said.

Recall that Iran earlier said it will hold a three-day state funeral for supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was k!lled in US-Israeli strikes.

Starting at 10:00 pm (1830 GMT), the faithful will be able to pay a final homage to the body of the martyred guide of the nation, by visiting the Imam Khomenei grand mosque in Tehran, official news agency Irna said, citing a statement from the Islamic Development Coordination Council.

Recall that Khamenei was 86 years old when he was k!lled, and will be buried in his home city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.
Nigerian content creator Shank Comics, born Adesokan Emmanuel, has been named Best Streamer 2026 at the prestigious SiGMA Africa Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa.

The award was presented on March 3 during the summits gala night, with the announcement drawing applause from guests at the high-profile gathering focused on gaming, technology and digital innovation across the continent.

The Best Streamer category recognises creators who demonstrate exceptional audience engagement and consistency in content delivery. Organisers said the honour reflects the growing influence of African digital talents, particularly from Nigeria, on the global streaming landscape.

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Shank Comics first rose to prominence through short comedy skits depicting relatable Nigerian experiences. He later transitioned into live streaming, where he cultivated a strong online community through interactive sessions and collaborations.

His international visibility increased following joint streams and appearances with global creators such as iShowSpeed and Kai Cenat, expanding his reach beyond Africa.

Videos from the Cape Town ceremony showed the comedian taking the stage to receive the plaque before thanking fans and supporters for their continued backing. Social media platforms were soon flooded with congratulatory messages celebrating the milestone, though a few users questioned the timing of the recognition.

The SiGMA Africa Awards form part of a broader continental summit that highlights excellence in iGaming, emerging technology and digital entrepreneurship.
Fintiri, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in February, spoke on Tuesday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television.

Fintiri said while any Nigerian politician is constitutionally entitled to contest the presidency in 2027, the south should be allowed to complete its eight-year term before returning power to the north in the interest of national unity.

It is still the turn of the south. A northerner has no business at the moment to vie for the office of the president, he said.

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Fintiri asked Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Tinubu to complete eight years in office.

After all, he has done so much. He initiated good policies that are working, showing us light at the end of the tunnel, he said.

When asked about his relationship with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Fintiri said there is no breakdown in communication between them, but he no longer aligns politically with him.

Nothing has gone bad but everybody has taken their political ways. I am today in APC, they are in another party, he said.

Abubakar, who was the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2023, resigned from the party in July, 2025.

Abubakar formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in November, 2025, and has expressed his intention to contest the partys presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

Abubakar, who hails from Adamawa, has run for the number one office six times, but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions  2007, 2019, and 2023.
A nurse has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and was ordered to serve two years of extended supervision after engaging in a sexual relationship with a patient and later falsely accusing him of sexual assault.

Melissa Knutson was convicted of misconduct in public office and obstructing an officer over the incident, which occurred in 2022 while she was working with the Monroe County Drug Court. She was responsible for administering Vivitrol, a medication used to treat substance abse, to the patient.

According to prosecutors, when authorities began investigating the inappropriate relationship, Knutson alleged that the patient had sexually assaulted her, claiming she stayed silent out of fear that he might harm her or her family.

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However, text messages later obtained by investigators showed that she initiated the relationship and even vowed to deny everything if they were exposed.

She later admitted the assault claim was fabricated in an attempt to avoid the consequences.

A Wisconsin nurse had sex with a patient, then falsely accused him of sexually assaulting her, authorities said.

Melissa Knutson pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and obstructing an officer on Feb. 27.

Prosecutors said that while Knutson was working as a nurse assigned to a drug court participant, she repeatedly had sex with the patient.

After some time, the sexual relationship was reported to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Prosecutors said after the relationship was reported, Knutson accused the patient of sexual assault. But she eventually admitted to fabricating the accusation and said she did so to avoid facing consequences for the sex acts.

The harm caused by Ms. Knutson was deep and significant. Not only did she violate the sacred trust between a patient and a nurse, but she compounded that by falsely accusing the patient of sexual assault, District Attorney Kevin Croninger said. This situation is particularly egregious given the patient in this situation was a participant in drug court.

Knutson was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Following her release from prison, Knutson will be subject to two years of public supervision.
Captain and forward for Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, has left Saudi Arabia for Madrid, Spain, following escalating tensions in the Middle East after US-Israeli strikes in Iran.

According to the Daily Mail on Tuesday, the 41-year-old departed Riyadh late at night aboard his 61 million ($81 million) Bombardier Global Express 6500 private jet.

His reported departure follows regional strikes. The US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones overnight, and Iranian state media reported that a command and staff building in Bahrain had also been destroyed.

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Riyadh, where Ronaldo lives with his partner Georgina Rodriguez and their five children, has been affected by attacks linked to the regional conflict, the report said.

Flightradar24 confirmed that the aircraft departed Riyadh at 8:00 pm and arrived in Madrid at almost 1:00 am, flying a path over Egypt and the Mediterranean.

The move follows US-Israeli military strikes in Iran on February 28, 2026, which reportedly killed several Iranian leaders. Iranian state media confirmed early on March 1 that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed, declaring 40 days of mourning and a seven-day national holiday.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence said, A limited fire broke out at the United States Embassy in Riyadh after it was hit by two drones, noting the strike caused minor material damage.
Sean Diddy Combs is expected to leave prison earlier than previously scheduled following his enrolment in a federal drug rehabilitation programme.

According to public records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons cited by Page Six, the music executives projected release date has been moved from June 4, 2028, to April 25, 2028  roughly six weeks sooner than earlier anticipated.

The adjustment reportedly followed his admission into the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) in November. Inmates who complete the programme may qualify for sentence reductions under federal guidelines.

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At the time of his acceptance, a representative for the Bad Boy Records founder said he was committed to the rehabilitation process.

Mr. Combs is an active participant in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and has taken his rehabilitation process seriously from the start. He is fully engaged in his work, focused on growth, and committed to positive change, the statement read.

Combs release timeline has fluctuated in recent months. In November 2025, his projected date was extended from May 8, 2028, to June 4, 2028, following allegations that he violated several prison regulations while in custody at the Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix, in New Jersey.

The revised date comes as the rapper continues to challenge his conviction. In December, he filed an appeal seeking either a reversal of the verdict or a reduction of his four-year sentence. His legal team argues that prosecutors failed to sufficiently establish their case and that the punishment imposed was excessive.

Federal prosecutors opposed the appeal in February, urging the court to uphold both the conviction and the sentence.

Combs was convicted on two counts related to transportation for prostitution after a lengthy trial and is currently serving his sentence at FCI Fort Dix.
A Douglass Township school bus driver was charged with driving under the influence and related crimes after she drove more than 50 elementary school-age children while intoxicated, officials said.

Kelly Weber, 46, of Boyertown, drove her school bus erratically on Feb. 6 while children were inside, narrowly missing vehicles and nearly hitting a telephone pole, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office said.

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Police responded in the rural township north of Pottstown after receiving calls about Webers driving, officials said.

They searched the bus and found an open 750ml bottle of Titos vodka, two empty Titos bottles, and a liquor store receipt for the alcohol from 9:22 a.m. that day.

Investigators found that 54 children had ridden on Webers bus that day, and that multiple children had called or texted their parents expressing fear about the manner in which she was driving.

One of the children got off the bus before arriving at school and was picked up by their parents, officials said.

Police tested Webers blood-alcohol content and found it was 0.331, which is four times the legal threshold for intoxication in Pennsylvania.

In addition to DUI, Weber was charged with 54 counts of endangering the welfare of children and 54 counts of reckless endangerment.

Weber voluntarily entered a rehab facility after she was issued an arrest warrant, according to officials.

She is working with police to arrange a time to turn herself in, when her bail will be set and she will be formally arraigned, officials said.
New Yorks ubiquitous seafoam-green painted coffee and matcha cafe chain is headed to Philadelphia.

Blank Street will open its first Philly location at 3603 Walnut Street, joining UPenns retail district. Its expected to open in late summer.

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The six-year-old chain is known for its micro-cafe look and automated espresso systems for customers to grab matchas and lattes. And soon, Penn students, faculty and surrounding neighbors will experience the quick service inside the 3,500 square foot cafe.

The Philly location will be one of the largest U.S. cafes on Blank Streets expansive roster, which includes more than 40 locations in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

Were excited to be getting closer than ever to the UPenn community, said Vinay Menda, Blank Street co-founder and U.S. managing director in a statement. Giving the company, the opportunity to invest deeply in design and bring an elevated, hospitality-forward experience to the neighborhood.

Founded in 2020 by Menda and Issam Freiha, Blank Street quickly expanded with New Yorks pandemic-induced surge of lowered rent storefronts and private equity financing. But soon, the rapid growth raised scrutiny from skeptics, who saw Blank Street as an avatar of gentrification and automation resenting the use of Wall Street money to compete with local businesses, reported the New York Times. The cafe chain also has its fans, who lean younger and see the trendy matcha drinks as fashionable  even leading the brand to London Fashion Week this year.

Blank Street cafe is one of several additions to the SHOP PENN retail district. James Beard Award winner Chef Tom Colicchios Root and Sprig will open in the spring. And Korea Taqueria opened a location at Franklins Table Food Hall in January.
Metropolitan Bakery  one of the citys foundational bread bakeries, introducing legions of Philadelphians to crusty sourdough boules and other European-style loaves  has been sold. Its 19th Street shop, a nearly 33-year-old icon just south of Rittenhouse Square, will close permanently on March 15.

Fans of the bakery, fear not: Metropolitan founders James Barrett and Wendy Smith Born sold the brand, recipes, and equipment to Pete Merzbacher, owner of the eponymous local bread bakery best known for its Philly muffin (an English muffin) and sandwich breads.

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Merzbacher will maintain Metropolitans wholesale and mail-order operations, with Merzbachers staff first learning the ropes at Metropolitans production space in Fishtown, then eventually baking its breads, granola, and many of its pastries out of Merzbachers own Germantown facility. Merzbachers will also begin selling Metropolitan products to its Rittenhouse farmers market.

Both parties declined to specify the terms of the sale.

Barrett will stay on as a consultant overseeing production during the changeover. Merzbacher hopes to hire as many of Metropolitans 40 employees as possible.

Were basically doubling our business, Merzbacher said. Our goal is to hire as many of their bakers, packers, drivers  Ive been meeting with them  definitely bringing on their office staff. The idea is to really bring everyone over.

Im 100% committed to help Pete successfully make the transition, Barrett said.

Barrett and Born had been quietly looking for a buyer for about five years, but the business partners were determined to be selective, looking for a seasoned, Philadelphia-based operator with intention to uphold Metropolitans quality and grow the brand.

At one point we had somebody interested in the real estate, but they didnt really know too much  or anything  about operating a bakery. [There were] a couple people like that," Born said in an interview Monday. We were really interested in trying to have the brand [and] this really wonderful bread not just die in the wind. It wasnt just about real estate at all for us.

When Merzbacher expressed interest in buying the bakery last fall, he proved an ideal candidate. Merzbachers, itself a 13-year-old bread bakery that scaled up to a 4,800-square-foot warehouse in Germantown in 2020, wholesales to dozens of Philadelphia-area grocery stores and restaurants. Merzbachers and Metropolitan have several overlapping clients.

Honestly, I developed all of my products with Metropolitan being the elephant in the room, Merzbacher said. Every account I went to trying to sell a baguette, they were like, I use Metropolitan, were happy with it. And how about a classic sourdough? Yeah, we got it from Metropolitan. Were pretty happy with it. How about a brioche bun? Yep, Metropolitan  were happy with it.

Merzbacher intends to keep both bakeries brands, breads, and baked goods distinct, even as they live under the same roof. The brand awareness is amazing, he said of Metropolitans stature.

Inquirer critic Craig LaBan, a longtime Metropolitan regular, called the Rittenhouse bakery one of the true pioneers of artisan quality for our ambitious food scene, praising it for bringing a corner bakery to Center City Philadelphians, just like so many in Paris get to experience, he said. (He and wife Elizabeth LaBan had an engagement photo shot at the 19th Street shop 30 years ago, before he became the papers restaurant critic.)

Wendy and James work has been essential to the growth of so many great restaurants over the years by providing them high-quality French bread, LaBan said. They provided neighbors with world-class baguettes and rustic levain boules to elevate our dinners at home. They surely inspired the next generation of local bakers that followed them.

Metropolitan Bakerys background

When Barrett and Born launched Metropolitan in 1993, they were establishing a Parisian-style bakery in a mostly white-bread world. Aside from Le Bus and Chestnut Hills Breadsmith (later renamed Baker Street), few bakeries in the area offered the sturdy, naturally fermented baguettes and loaves they dealt in, leavened with wild-yeast starters Barrett had cultivated and fed for years. (The starter is included in the sale.)

The pair met in 1987 while working at White Dog Cafe, where Barrett was pastry chef and Born was managing partner. Years later, Barrett approached Born about opening a bakery together  they were both friends and extreme perfectionists, according to what Barrett told Inquirer writer Elaine Tait in 1993. A business plan was born.

Outfitted with a brick oven from France, a proofing room, and a fleet of willow baskets for shaping loaves, Metropolitans original production facility opened on the ground floor of a Delaware Avenue office building in October 1993. The retail storefront at 262 S. 19th St. followed weeks after. The blistered, flour-dusted goods that emanated from both locations made an immediate impression on Philadelphians, drawing keen wholesale and restaurant clients along with everyday crowds that would be familiar to todays social-media set.

If you like bread with chewy crusts, moist and just-slightly tooth-resistant interiors, clean fresh mildly sour flavors  try this bread," wrote Inquirer columnist Jim Quinn in 1994, advising would-be buyers to arrive early. Metropolitans 19th Street shop is already mobbed with Center City West neighbors; all loaves often sell out hours before closing.

By 2007, Metropolitan had added five retail stores  in Washington Square West, Reading Terminal Market, Chestnut Hill, Old City, and University City  supplying them and a vast network of clients out of a 10,000-square-foot production space on Marlborough Street in Fishtown. But as Philadelphia rents rose along with the cost of labor, the owners realized they had to contract. We couldnt manage all those locations in a way and connect with our public properly, Born said. As leases came to end, Born and Barrett let them go, preserving the 19th Street original.

The Rittenhouse location was exceedingly, exceedingly busy, Born said. It was always the busiest of our locations, by quite a long shot.

Looking back on more than three decades in business, the owners expressed gratitude to have been so entrenched in Phillys community, and to have been such a part of peoples lives, Barrett said. Now we are servicing grandchildren of our original customers and folks that have moved cross country [who] mail-order our products.

People just keep coming back, Born said. At the end of the day, after being beaten up at work, they come in and get a beautiful sour cherry-chocolate chip cookie or something. Those are the memories that stay with me.

Two brands, one bakery

Merzbacher, Metropolitans new owner, said he considered keeping the 19th Street store open. I still fantasize about it, he said, but I didnt want to overpromise and underdeliver. While Merzbachers has its own takeout window, open five days a week, retail is a whole different animal  staffing, lease, front-of-house ops, Merzbacher said. Gotta be disciplined about what we say yes to.

Instead, the 36-year-old baker said he was focused at this moment, [on] learning, paying homage to the systems that they built, and not breaking anything that isnt broken  which is a very stable customer base and a lot of employees who have been with them for a long time.

Merzbachers may seem an unlikely successor to Metropolitan. The 23-employee bakerys lineup is imminently approachable, American-inspired, even kid friendly, Merzbacher said. Think sweet potato buns (deployed in many of the areas best burgers), tender-crumbed hoagie rolls, and soft loaves of white, wheat, rye, multigrain, and more.

But Merzbachers also exclusively uses locally milled grains and natural leavening (i.e., no commercial yeast). Like Metropolitan, it ferments its bread doughs over a long period of time; Merzbachers loaves proof over a 24-hour period to develop their flavor, texture, and digestibility, Merzbacher said. And a lot of our recipes feature whole-food ingredients like cooked red lentils, toasted corn, polenta, and roasted sweet potatoes.

A Boston-area native who moved to Philly when he was 22, Merzbacher started his bakery  initially named Philly Bread  as a gypsy baker, working out of a pizzeria in West Philadelphia before moving production to a former Tunisian bakery in Olney. (His square Philly muffin impressed LaBan off the bat.) The move to Germantown in 2020 has allowed for steady growth, and Merzbacher said he has the ability to expand to the second floor of the bakery, at the intersection of Germantown Avenue and Berkley Street.

That may well be necessary, as Merzbachers will be moving over Metropolitans American-made stone flour mill, deck oven, sheeter, and mixers. In addition to all of Metropolitans breads  including best-sellers like pain au levain, miche, multigrain, and French berry rolls  Merzbachers will continue to make the bakerys granola, scones, muffins, cookies, brownies, and lemon and raspberry bars. (Eventually, both bakeries product lines will be available for preordered pickup at Merzbachers retail window, open 4 to 8 p.m. every day except Tuesdays and Saturdays.)

Merzbacher is excited for various prospects that acquiring a storied Philadelphia brand might lead to: Expanding in Germantown, doing more pizza, doing some retail, could be growing into some other product categories  to be determined, he said. But one foot in front of the other.

For now, besides learning all things Metropolitan, from its bread-baking to its bookkeeping, Merzbacher is hoping to hear from fans of the downtown bakery.

Id love to hear ideas for growth, he said. Id just love to have a conversation with people about bread, about their experiences with Metro.
The first Philadelphia-area location of a TikTok-famous bagel chain, an Italian kitchen and bar, a Puerto Rican barbecue specialist, and a posh tasting-menu BYOB are among the restaurants on the dining radar for March. As usual, most opening dates are in flux.

Bengaluru Cafe (809 N. Second St.): This vegan/vegetarian South Indian restaurant, due to open March 20 in Northern Liberties, is inspired by Karnataka, a state in India, with a menu focused on street-food staples and shareable plates, including chaats, tomato masala salad, and vada pav  a popular snack of spiced potato fritter tucked into soft bread with chutneys. Owner Sri Saravanan has quite a commute: He opened his first location two years ago in Fairfax, Va.

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Carmens Table (200 E. Evesham Rd., Glendora): Roselyn Gonzalez, part of Bookers Restaurant Lounge & Grill in Camden, is opening this Puerto Rican barbecue restaurant with her family in the former Kitchen 519 on March 27. Shes drawing on the recipes of her mother, Carmen, who supported her family by selling plates of food. Expect smoked meats informed by Caribbean flavors, including her mothers sofrito.

Cuginis (6522 Lower York Rd., New Hope): Cousins Frank Picone and Anthony Adragna are taking over the former New Hope Star Diner on Route 202 in Solebury Township, Bucks County, for a 135-seat Italian kitchen and bar that aims to split the difference between date-night dining and family-friendly fare. Adragna previously owned and operated Cafe Antonio in Morrisville; Picone comes from a restaurant family that founded V&S Pizza in Fairless Hills and Arianas Pizza in Levittown.

Duo Restaurant & Bar (90 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township): Brothers Artan and Arber Murtaj and Andi and Tony Lelaj, who own the Old World-style Italian Il Villaggio in Cherry Hill, have soft-opened their pub on the former site of Keg & Kitchen. Bar menu includes burgers, a crab cake sandwich, and raw oysters, while the regular menu covers rib-eye meatballs, crab cakes, and Italian entrees. Its open for lunch and dinner daily.

Mi Vida (1150 Ludlow St.): Knead Hospitality of Washington, D.C., is in the opening days of its first Philly project: a splashy Mexican restaurant in East Market, open daily for lunch weekdays, weekend brunch, and nightly dinner with a full menu and 23-seat bar stocked with 130 tequilas and mezcals.

PopUp Bagels (10 Coulter Ave., Ardmore): Grip, rip, and dip is the phrase that pays at PopUp, a burgeoning franchise with a social-media following that started in 2021 as a baking enthusiasts pandemic project in Westport, Conn. The first of 10 Philadelphia-area locations is looking to open later this month at Suburban Square in Ardmore, where it will occupy the former Juice Press space next to Drybar and SoulCycle and across from Shake Shack. (Center City, Marlton, and Princeton/Hamilton locations are being teed up.) Popup sells bagels and coffee, but no sandwiches, and the bagels are served hot and whole, rather than sliced. Theyre designed to be torn apart and dipped into cream cheese spreads. The company offers weekly rotating schmear flavors and sells bagels in bundles  three, six, or a dozen  rather than individually.

1793 (7 E. Park Ave., Merchantville): A tasting-menu restaurant at the former Park Place from chef Chris Bennett (formerly of June BYOB), 1793 will offer a six-course contemporary American menu (starting at $115). Bennett will emphasize seafood, pastas, risottos, and a consistent duck entree. A carpenter in his first career, Bennett is building it out to feel like an upscale library, with dark woods and leather seating. Hes aiming for fine dining without formality.
Jean Franklin, left, and her husband, Chaz, talk at the kitchen table of their home in Colusa, California. In January, Chazs health insurance premium payment increased sevenfold after enhanced federal tax credits expired. (Christine Mai-Duc/KFF Health News) Read more

COLUSA, Calif.  Early on, Jean Franklin got some career advice she followed religiously: Pay yourself first. So she did, socking away hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement savings by the time she became a stay-at-home mom at age 41.

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She and her husband, Charles, a former high school teacher who goes by Chaz, planned to retire comfortably in the three-bedroom house where they raised their kids about 60 miles northwest of Sacramento.

But early last year, the 63-year-old became unsteady on her feet. One morning in May, she woke up with slurred speech and landed in the hospital, then rapidly lost the ability to move the right side of her body.

In August, as doctors continued to puzzle over a possible diagnosis, the couple received a notice saying that on Jan. 1 their combined healthcare premium payments through the state insurance exchange would shoot up from $540 a month to $3,899 a month. The reason: Federal enhanced premium subsidies expiring at the end of last year would no longer offset their payment.

They immediately canceled a monthlong cruise theyd been planning with friends and looked through their retirement accounts.

Now, instead of thinking about where we can go in our retirement, were asking the question, Are we still going to be able to stay where we are because of the healthcare costs? said Chaz, who retired in 2021 at age 59.

Then they received more bad news. In October, at the age of 63, Jean was diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating disease that will eventually leave her unable to speak, swallow, or breathe on her own. But Jeans condition allowed her to enroll in Medicare, the federal health insurance program that covers adults 65 and older and people with disabilities. The diagnosis saved them roughly $1,600 a month in premiums  little comfort as Jean lost her ability to walk, bathe, and dress herself.

Its kind of morbid that, because of my diagnosis, I got put on Medicare right away, so at least we dont have to pay that out-of-pocket, Jean said, sitting in a wheelchair in her living room, a quilt draped over her legs to guard against the intense chills she now often gets. Were not going to get buried under this.

Yet the premiums for Chazs plan and her Medicare remain a significant strain on their finances. The $2,300 a month they now owe, which includes roughly $342 in premium payments for Jeans Medicare supplemental insurance, is higher than their monthly mortgage and eats up more than a quarter of their budget.

The Franklins are among the 22 million people across the nation facing greater financial pressure after Congress chose not to extend 2021 enhanced federal subsidies. That assistance helped more than double enrollment in Obamacare plans to over 24 million.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated in 2024 that, without an extension of the tax credits, the number of uninsured Americans would climb by 2.2 million this year alone. As of January, nationwide enrollment in ACA plans was down about 1.2 million year over year, though experts say it could be months before the full effects of rising premiums are known, as people miss payments and lose coverage.

The groups hit hardest will be early retirees, middle-income earners, and people living in high-cost states, said Stacey Pogue, a senior research fellow at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. The Franklins are all three.

They fell off what we call a subsidy cliff, Pogue said. Its very, very shocking, the amount that a person would have to absorb.

Thats because the expanded tax credits made the biggest difference for people nearing retirement age who sat just above previous income eligibility thresholds, Pogue said. People such as the Franklins, who likely wouldnt have qualified for financial help before expanded credits were implemented, are now losing that support at a time when insurers have responded to the uncertainty by dramatically raising rates.

Roughly half of people who were expected to lose eligibility for premium tax credits were ages 50 to 64, according to an analysis by KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

Republicans who opposed the extension have said the premium assistance went directly to insurance companies rather than consumers, incentivizing fraud and wasteful coverage. They also say the enhanced subsidies, which had no upper income limit for eligibility, were far too generous in capping premium payments at 8.5% of income, no matter how much an enrollee made.

Most Americans would agree that taxpayers should not be subsidizing the health insurance of someone making $250,000, U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert, a California Republican who voted against an extension in January, wrote in an Orange County Register op-ed. I cannot accept the simple extension of a program that will line the pockets of insurers and is riddled with fraud at the expense of the American taxpayer.

Patient advocates say the premium increases and expiration of subsidies have forced people into difficult choices. The young people who are healthy are the first to say, Im going to roll the dice and forgo coverage, said Rebecca Kirch, executive vice president of policy and programs at the National Patient Advocate Foundation. Those who are remaining in the system  because they have no choice  are holding off care, theyre holding off their meds, theyre going without necessary food.

While the Franklins are getting by, they have relied on their sons to pay for a motorized recliner to assist with lifting Jean and a handicap van to transport her. Chaz, who broke a tooth a year ago, delayed fixing it because a crown would cost him $1,000.

This year, the couple will draw $36,000 more than they had anticipated from their retirement savings, most of it to cover Chazs insurance premiums.

I have a nest egg, Chaz said. But theres a lot of people around here who dont.

For a while, he was outraged.

I wish Congress would get off their butts and solve this issue, said Chaz, who is a registered Republican but blames both sides of the aisle. Youre so busy bickering over stupid crap and its both parties pointing fingers and blaming. Where was this discussion two years ago?

Now, Chaz said, hes focused on making Jean, his wife of 27 years, as comfortable as possible.

Before she got sick, they did practically everything together  hiking, traveling, tai chi, amateur photography, and bug-hunting. One of her favorite specimens was the rain beetle, a fuzzy scarab-like insect that cant feed as an adult, relying solely on fat stores from its larval stages.

In the mornings, Chaz and their sons, Charlie and Louis, take turns lifting Jean, dressing her, and helping her use the bathroom. Itll be fodder for the counselor, she jokes to her sons, when they inevitably need therapy later in life.

Most days, Jeans outdoor adventures rarely extend beyond being wheeled to her back patio, where she loves to watch their backyard chickens bobble around. Chazs stubbornness makes him a great patient advocate. Charlie always seems to know exactly when she needs a big hug, and Louis tells jokes that can still make her snort with laughter.

I dont know what I would do without my boys making me laugh, she said.

In December, Chaz will turn 65, old enough to qualify for Medicare himself. After this year  knock on wood  we should be OK, Jean said, before pausing and shooting her husband a wry smile.

Well, youre gonna be OK.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Pottstown Hospital was cited by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for closing its ICU ahead of schedule. Read more

Pottstown Hospital was cited by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for shuttering intensive care services 13 days before it was scheduled to close the unit.

Tower Health, which owns Pottstown, announced in November that it was closing Pottstowns ICU, endoscopy center, and the Pottstown outpost of Towers McGlinn Cancer Institute effective Jan. 6. Hospitals are required to give 60 days notice before shuttering services.

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The closures were part of a larger downsizing that included laying off 350 workers across Towers hospital system. Tower also owns Phoenixville Hospital, Reading Hospital, and has a joint ownership of St. Christophers Hospital for Children with Drexel University.

Tower officials said they closed the unit 13 days ahead of schedule on Dec. 24 because they did not have enough remaining nurses on staff to safely operate.

Safe ICU care requires appropriate nurse staffing, and operating the unit under those conditions could have compromised the high-quality care our patients deserve, Tower said in a statement.

Pottstown had already limited admissions to the unit to four patients, and began transferring remaining patients to other intensive care facilities on Dec. 22, according to the health department inspection report.

The hospitals other services remain open.

Tower reported an operating loss of $16 million in the first six months of fiscal 2026.
Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, reacts Tuesday after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter at Barrow County Courthouse in Winder, Ga. Read more

WINDER, Ga.  A Georgia man who gave his teenage son the gun hes accused of using to kill two students and two teachers at a high school was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

Jurors took less than two hours to find Colin Gray guilty of all charges in the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, northeast of Atlanta. Gray now joins a growing number of parents being held responsible in court after their children were accused in shootings.

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Colin Gray was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children. Gray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

Another teacher and eight other students were wounded. Gray was also convicted of multiple counts of reckless conduct and cruelty to children.

Reactions to the verdict

Gray showed little emotion as the verdict was read and each juror was polled by the judge. Deputies then cuffed his hands behind his back as he stood at the defense table, speaking with his lawyer. He will be sentenced at a later date. Second-degree murder is punishable by at least 10 but no more than 30 years in prison, while involuntary manslaughter carries a penalty of one to 10 years in prison.

Some relatives of victims wept as the verdicts were read. They declined to comment after court. Grays defense lawyers left without speaking to reporters.

We talk a lot about rights in our country, Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said after the verdict. But God gave us a duty to protect our children, and I hope that we remember that, as parents, as community members, to protect our children because that is our God-given duty.

The teens mother, Marcee Gray, wasnt charged. She testified that she had urged her estranged husband to take any guns and lock them inside his truck so they would not be accessible to their son. She and Colin Gray were separated in the months leading up to the shooting, and Colt Gray lived mostly with his father during that time. She declined to comment when reached by phone after the verdict.

The shooting

Prosecutors said Gray gave his son the gun as a Christmas gift and allowed him access to it along with ammunition despite the boys deteriorating mental health. They said he had sufficient warning that Colt Gray would harm and endanger other people.

Fourteen at the time of the shooting, Colt Gray has pleaded not guilty to a total of 55 counts, including murder. A judge has set a status hearing for mid-March.

Investigators said Colt Gray carefully planned the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at the school attended by 1,900 students.

He boarded the school bus with a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle in his book bag, the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board, investigators said. He left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the gun and shot people in a classroom and hallways, investigators said.

Parents responsibility

Colin Gray knew his son was obsessed with school shooters, even having a shrine in his bedroom to Nikolas Cruz, the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, prosecutors said.

It wasnt like one parent missed one warning, Smith told reporters. This was multiple warnings over a lengthy period of time and, like we said, you just had to do one thing  take that rifle away and this would have been prevented.

Jennifer and James Crumbley, the first U.S. parents held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting committed by a child, are serving 10-year prison terms for involuntary manslaughter after their son Ethan killed four students and wounded others in Michigan in 2021.

Colin Gray was the first such parent to be charged in Georgia. Smith said Marcee Gray had seen what happened in Michigan and asked her husband to remove the weapons as a result. So Michigan was able to move the needle to the point that it almost stopped this tragedy, he said. We hope weve moved the needle a little further.

Legislative changes

Georgia lawmakers last year passed a school safety bill in response to the shooting. It directs state officials to create an alert system, including the names of students who an investigation has found threatened violence or committed violence at schools.

It also requires law enforcement to notify schools when officers learn a child has threatened death or injury to someone at a school, the implementation of mobile panic alert buttons at schools, quicker transfers of records when students switch schools and mental health coordinators in each of the states 180 school districts.

Legislators also approved a request by Gov. Brian Kemp to spend an extra $50 million on school safety.
A police car blocks a street leading to the U.S. consulate after an Iranian drone struck a parking lot outside the compound, sparking a small fire in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, early Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Read more

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, as Washington and Israel intensified their bombardment Wednesday of Irans security forces and other symbols of power. Iran launched more missiles and drones and warned of the destruction of military and economic infrastructure across the Middle East.

The tempo of the strikes on Iran was so intense that state television announced the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the conflict, would be postponed. Millions attended the funeral of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.

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The U.S. and Israel launched the war Saturday, targeting Irans leadership, missile arsenal, and nuclear program while suggesting that toppling the government is a goal. But the exact aims and timelines have repeatedly shifted, signaling an open-ended conflict.

President Donald Trump praised the U.S. military Wednesday for doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly. Later in the day, fellow Republicans in the U.S. Senate stood with Trump on Iran as they voted down a resolution seeking to halt the war.

Israel also traded fire with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah insurgent group in Lebanon, while Iran fired on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Israel. As the conflict spiraled, Turkey said NATO defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkeys airspace.

The war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. It has disrupted the supply of the worlds oil and gas, snarled international shipping, and stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.

Both sides are unrelenting

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a torpedo from an American submarine sank an Iranian warship Tuesday night in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lankan authorities said 32 people were rescued from the ship, which they said had 180 people on board and sank outside Sri Lankas territorial waters. The countrys navy said it recovered 87 bodies.

Israel said it hit buildings associated with Irans Basij, the all-volunteer force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that conducted a bloody crackdown on protesters in January. Thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands detained.

The Israeli military hit buildings associated with Irans internal security command. Israel and the U.S. have said they want to see Iranians overthrow the countrys theocracy, and strikes against Irans internal security forces may be aimed at hastening that.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said over the weekend that its forces have decentralized leadership, with units acting largely on their own according to general orders, which could blunt the effect of attacks on top command and control hubs.

Iranian state television showed the ruins of buildings in Tehran, with interviewees saying the attacks damaged their homes. Strikes have also been reported in the Shiite seminary city of Qom targeting a building associated with a clerical panel set to pick Irans next supreme leader. Iranian media said it was empty at the time.

Shifting timelines for U.S. operations

During his Pentagon briefing, Hegseth did not give a definitive timeline for U.S. operations.

You can say four weeks, but it could be six. It could be eight. It could be three, he said. Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo. The enemy is off-balance, and were going to keep them off-balance.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, said American forces have damaged Irans air defenses and taken out ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said such damage has led to a decline in launches from Iran.

U.S. and Israeli military officials say launches from Iran have declined as the war has progressed. Israels Homefront Command announced it was easing restrictions that closed workplaces nationwide. It said workplaces could reopen Thursday if there is a shelter nearby. Schools were to remain closed.

Still, air-raid sirens and explosions could be heard across central and northern Israel on Wednesday. Israels military said Iran launched missiles toward the country. Hezbollah also fired rockets, as Israel pounded targets in the suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Iran has also struck around the region, and air sirens sounded Wednesday across Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet.

At least 1,045 people have been killed in Iran, the countrys Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said Wednesday. Eleven people have died in Israel. Six U.S. troops have been killed.

The death toll has exceeded 70 in Lebanon, where the health ministry said Wednesday that three people died when drone strikes hit two vehicles on a Beirut highway. The Israeli military said it was targeting a Hezbollah member.

Israel says its offensive had been planned for midyear

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the offensive against Iran had originally been planned for mid-2026, but the need arose to bring everything forward to February.

He listed events inside Iran, Trumps positions, and the whole possibility of creating a combined operation here as reasons.

The protests in Iran put unprecedented pressure on its leadership. Trump threatened military action in response to the crackdown before shifting his attention to Irans disputed nuclear program.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the U.S. launched its operation partly out of concern Iran might strike American personnel and assets in the region first. A phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the airstrikes began was also important with respect to the timeline, she said.

Energy supplies in the crosshairs

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued its most intense threat yet, saying the strikes against it would result in the complete destruction of the regions military and economic infrastructure.

A Maltese-flagged container ship was attacked Wednesday while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped. The ship was hit by two missiles, sparking a fire, according to Maltas transport minister, Chris Bonett. Its 24 crew members were rescued.

Tanker traffic through the strait has fallen by about 90% compared with prewar levels, shipping tracker MarineTraffic.com said Wednesday.

Oil prices have soared as Iranian attacks have disrupted traffic through the strait, and global stock markets have been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy.

Irans clerics are choosing a new supreme leader

Irans leaders are scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. This is only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen.

Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement. Mojtaba Khamenei, Khameneis son, has long been considered among them, though he has never been elected or appointed to a government position.

In a sign that Irans leadership will seek to consolidate its power as it faces its biggest crisis in decades, the head of the judiciary warned that those who cooperate with the enemy in any way will be considered an enemy.

The Israeli defense minister threatened whomever Iran picks to be the countrys next supreme leader.

Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world and the countries of the region, and to suppress the Iranian people  will be a target for elimination, Katz wrote on X.
Ghigiarelli's Pizza in Old Forge, Pa., may be reopening nearly a decade after its owner, Robert Baron, was murdered. Read more

OLD FORGE, Pa.  The ovens went cold at Ghigiarellis after owner Robert Baron was killed in 2017, and the longtime Main Street restaurant went into a protracted limbo here in the Pizza Capital of the World.

Theres arguably a pizza shop on every block in this blue-collar town about 120 miles north of Philadelphia, in Lackawanna County. Its a place where presidential hopefuls come for photo opportunities, eating a rectangular cut of pizza, not a slice, thats cooked in a tray, not a pie. Everyone has their favorites, whether its Revellos or Arcaro & Genells, but shop owners see themselves as a collective, not competitors.

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Ghigiarellis is, perhaps, the progenitor of this uniquely Northeastern Pennsylvania brand of pizza, opening in 1926. According to a recent social media post and a simple sign in the window, hot cuts may soon return.

Thank you for your continuous support throughout the years, even while weve been closed! Keep an eye out for updates on an opening date for take out. We look forward to seeing everyone, the restaurants official Facebook page announced Feb. 13.

Its unclear whos behind the reopening. The building remained closed Monday afternoon, with a small sign in the window announcing the reopening. Robert Barons widow, Maria, and daughter Brittany did not return requests for comment, and Old Forge Mayor Robert Legg said he didnt know who was opening Ghigiarellis.

Ghigiarellis has been there for years and years, so wed love all our establishments open. People loved their pizza, and theyre chomping at the bit, he said. They are a really nice family, and they suffered a great tragedy.

Robert Barons death

Robert Barons family purchased Ghigiarellis in 1961, keeping the name and the pizza. He grew up in Old Forge, an affable workaholic who poured himself into the restaurant. Baron often slept in the apartment above to meet delivery trucks. He was last seen Jan. 25, 2017, when he dropped his son off at his apartment in town at about 11 p.m.

Investigators found blood, a tooth, and cleaning supplies scattered at his pizza shop, the daily delivery of dough still outside. Barons car was found about a mile away, by the Lackawanna River, not long after. Investigators found blood inside and out of the car, and, in 2023, discovered his remains in a nearby park. Weeks later, a local man was charged with his murder and later convicted.

When The Inquirer visited Old Forge in 2019, Maria Baron said the family hadnt decided what to do with Ghigiarellis.

Its going to be bittersweet, but I dont think we can sell it, Maria Baron said at the time. This is a landmark for over 100 years now.

On Monday, Angelo Genell, owner of Arcaro & Genells, just down the street, said he was happy to hear the news about Ghigiarellis reopening.

It doesnt erase the tragedy, but its nice to see it happening, he said. Were all in this together. Theres no pizza wars here.
The La Locanda Del Ghiottone restaurant building is being demolished and replaced with new luxury condos in Old City, Philadelphia, seen on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Read more

The quaint mustard yellow former home of La Locanda Del Ghiottone, a former Italian restaurant in Old City, is slated for demolition, according to city records.

Brian Zoubek, the developer behind the hotel down the block, Sosuite at the Loxley, plans to turn the lot into luxury condos.

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The property will take on a new character, Zoubek said. Gone will be the vibrant, squat structure decorated in colorful plates. In its place will stand a sleek, narrow five-story mixed-use building. The bottom floor will be retail and the four floors above will each feature one condo. Prices will range from around $1.6 million to about $1.95 million per unit, he said.

Zoubek said hes expecting demolition to start this month and construction to take about 12 to 14 months. Hes hoping the condos will open next summer. He purchased the building in 2022, according to city property records.

To align the new building with the historic aesthetic of that block, he said the building will be covered in brick with a stone facade on the first floor.

Residential use is a change for the property anchoring the southwest corner of Third and Cherry Streets. It hit the market in 2020 when La Locanda Del Ghiottone relocated to Port Richmond.

The restaurants history at the property dates back to 1989, when Giuseppe Rosselli, an immigrant from northern Italy, took over the building at 130 N. Third St.

Rosselli, a character who used to post screeds outside the restaurant, originally named the 35-seater Trattoria DellArtista. In 1992, Rosselli opened LOsteria dellArtista down the block at 114 N. Third St., and a year later, renamed his original restaurant Ristorante der Ghiottone (the glutton). He later tweaked the name to La Locanda Del Ghiottone. Rosselli died at age 51 in 2000.

Ghiottone was a favorite of Inquirer critic Jim Quinn, who raved about the rough and ready cuisine moded on the bargain-price restaurants of Italy. Portions are huge, prices extremely low, and all food is rushed directly from the stove to you.

Reporter Michael Klein contributed to this article.
Flags flutter in the wind near an entrance to the Abraxas Academy in Morgantown, Pa., in 2023. Advocates called on Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday to remove children from the facility. Read more

Youth- and immigrant-rights allies called on Gov. Josh Shapiro Wednesday to immediately remove children from a Berks County center that they said harms those held there, including migrant kids who arrived at the U.S. border unaccompanied by parents.

Speakers at an afternoon news conference held near the Abraxas Academy in Morgantown, Pa., asked the governor to issue an emergency removal order  typically enforced to protect children in imminent danger of physical or emotional abuse.

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Pennsylvania cannot continue to expose these kids to Abraxass abuse, said Evan Feldberg-Bannatyne, an organizer with the youth-advocacy group Care, Not Control. We need an ERO now.

The Shapiro administration said Wednesday that the Department of Human Services will continue to closely monitor the situation to determine next steps and ensure the safety of those living there.

If DHS were to issue an ERO, it would not take custody of the young people or direct their placement. Instead, Abraxas would need to notify the federal government for immigrant youths, or the state court for Pennsylvania residents, to find other placements. DHS would monitor the wind-down of operations, which can take time, the administration said.

The departments top priority is ensuring the safety of youth in the facilities we license, and it is concerning whenever we receive a report or allegation that a young person was put at risk, said DHS spokesperson Brandon Cwalina. When that happens, the Shapiro administration works urgently to ensure that any allegations and potential violations are investigated and handled.

Pittsburgh-based Abraxas Youth and Family Services said in a statement Friday that it was aware of the concerns raised regarding Abraxas Academy in Morgantown, and that the safety and well-being of those in our care is our highest priority, and we take any allegation or concern seriously.

Programs like Abraxas Academy operate within a regulated system with established standards for care and accountability that are in alignment with our state and federal partners and their regulations, the statement said. We are committed to meeting those expectations and upholding the responsibilities entrusted to us by families and government.

The agency website describes the Abraxas Academy as providing secure residential treatment and detention for male young people, ages 14 to 19, who face serious charges or have demonstrated delinquent patterns through multiple placements.

Since October, the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is responsible for unaccompanied minors, the migrant children who arrive at the border without parents, has held some teenage boys at the center, which has a documented history of staff physically and sexually abusing juvenile offenders, a Washington Post investigation found.

ORR awarded $9 million to Abraxas Alliance in August to hold up to 30 young immigrants who had been deemed a danger to themselves or others. At times, The Post reported, between five and eight teenage boys have been held inside a dedicated wing of the center, sleeping inside locked rooms the size of walk-in closets.

State inspectors documented at least 15 incidents since 2013 in which they said staff physically mistreated minors at the facility, which mainly holds juveniles facing or convicted of criminal offenses, The Post reported. In at least two incidents, officials documented allegations of staff sexually harassing or sexually abusing young residents, the newspaper reported.

After some incidents, Abraxas suspended or fired staff members and submitted correction plans to state regulators, The Post said.

DHSs Cwalina noted that in November, the department revoked the license for Abraxas Academys Secure Detention Unit. Immigrant youths are not held there. Abraxas appealed and continues to operate the unit while the appeal goes forward.

Abraxas has two other licenses that remain in place, subject to periodic, unannounced inspections. The DHS Office of Children, Youth, and Families is on site weekly  including today  to monitor the centers operations, he said.

We do not want detention centers in our state, said Jasmine Rivera, executive director of the Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition. We fight for the closure of immigrant detention. Our communities do not need more cages.

Detention is particularly disturbing, she said, when it extends to children who have come to this country seeking shelter and safety.

By law, ORR must provide care for unaccompanied children, defined as those who have no legal immigration status, have not yet turned 18, and have no parent or guardian in the United States. ORR says it tries to find sponsors, most often a close relative in this country, and in the meantime provides care at one of nearly 200 facilities.

However, a 2025 rule change now allows ORR to consider a potential sponsors immigration status, and to share that information with enforcement agencies. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco says that discourages undocumented family members from becoming sponsors, leaving children in government custody longer and hurting their well-being.

It is immoral and unimaginable that in our backyard, children are being held in such violence and unsafe conditions, said Gaby Lopez, lead organizer in Reading for Make The Road, which works to help immigrants. Children need to be with their loved ones.

The United States needs an immigration system that welcomes those who come here to share their talents and be part of the American story, she said, not one that replicates the violence they experienced in their homelands.

Gov. Shapiro, she said, Issue an emergency removal order now, and protect families across Pennsylvania now.
Passersby read notes left in the spaces at the Presidents House Site in Independence National Historical Park on Jan. 24, two days after more than a dozen educational displays about slavery were removed. Read more

Suppose youre the kind of liberal who  like me  was outraged by the Trump administrations removal of an exhibit at the Presidents House about nine people whom George Washington enslaved. Its a whitewash of history, you might say, and an insult to democracy.

Well, are you also denouncing the removal of the Caesar Rodney statue from a plaza in downtown Wilmington? You should.

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The statue of Rodney  a signer of the Declaration of Independence who enslaved about 200 people  was taken down by city officials during the racial reckoning of 2020. And last month, the Trump administration said it would be displayed in Washington, D.C., as part of the nations 250th anniversary celebrations.

Cue the culture wars: One side says the statue symbolizes racism, and the other says it embodies patriotism.

Theyre both right. And thats why the statue of Rodney belongs back in Delaware, surrounded by displays about his past as an enslaver. We cant make sense of the past unless we address its complexities. And we cant condemn the erasure of history if were erasing it ourselves.

 READ MORE: Yes, the slavery exhibits have been returned to the Presidents House  but Im still waiting for the other shoe to drop | Solomon Jones

Thats what my fellow liberals have been doing since 2020, by demanding the removal of monuments to those who were enslavers. We should instead seek to add information to the memorials, so Americans receive a fuller picture of slavery and its role in our founding.

The Trump administration doesnt want that, of course, which is why it removed the panels about the enslaved people who labored at the Presidents House Site at Independence National Historical Park. Last month, a federal district court judge ordered the panels be reinstalled. Sixteen of the 34 panels were returned to the site before a circuit court judge placed a stay on that order. The other panels will remain in storage until the courts issue a full ruling on the matter.

Meanwhile, protesters have converged upon the Presidents House to demand that we tell the complex stories, as one leader said. Shes right. We need to face the fact that many people who fought for American freedom also endorsed slavery.

Rodney was one of them. He raced on horseback from Dover, Del., to Philadelphia on July 2, 1776, to cast his states decisive vote in favor of the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted two days later. The town fathers of Wilmington erected a statue in his honor in 1923, shortly before the 150th anniversary of the declaration.

But Rodney also enslaved roughly 200 African Americans at his family plantation. Thats why protesters demanded his statues removal in 2020, when the police murder of George Floyd led many communities around the country to reconsider their connections to slavery.

In agreeing to remove the statue, Mike Purzycki  the mayor of Wilmington at the time  pledged to conduct a discussion about it. But its hard to talk about something when you have hidden it. Its out of sight, out of mind.

And thats where some liberals want it to remain. You can have him, D.C., said Wilmington Councilwoman Shane N. Darby, reacting to the news that the statue of Rodney would be moved to Washington. I do not think he needs to have a statue in his honor at all.

But giving the statue to Washington concedes way too much to President Donald Trump, who issued a proclamation in October 2020 condemning its removal from Wilmington as part of an ongoing, radical purge of Americas founding generation.

We cant condemn the erasure of history if were erasing it ourselves.

The proclamation made no mention of Rodneys past as an enslaver, because the Trump administration doesnt want us to address that. All we need to know is that Rodney was a patriot, and that the people who denounced the Wilmington statue are engaged in extreme anti-American historical revisionism, Trump declared.

But the real revisionists are Trump and his disciples, who want to erase slavery from public memory. And thats precisely what will happen if the Rodney statue disappears from Delaware.

Like the display at the Presidents House, Rodneys statue should include signage describing his complex relationship to slavery. Although he held human beings captive, Rodney introduced a bill to prohibit the importation of enslaved people into Delaware. And his will directed that the people he enslaved should be freed after he died.

Fewer people will know that history if the statue is gone. Even at Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, Del., students and recent graduates said they werent aware of Rodneys past until the controversy flared over his statue in Wilmington.

So lets bring it back, perhaps paired with a monument to enslaved people in Delaware. Thats what University of Delaware political scientist Theodore Davis Jr. proposed back in 2020, as the campaign to remove Rodneys statue gained momentum. Davis, who is Black, understood that we should always be adding to history. Leave the subtracting to Trump.

Jonathan Zimmerman teaches history and education at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Schools.
Iraqi women line up for a security check by British soldiers on the outskirts of Basra, as they try to flee from this southern Iraqi town on March 30, 2003. Read more

President Donald Trump and his administration insist their war of choice in Iran bears zero similarity to the bitter Iraq War the U.S. plunged into 23 years ago.

I disagree.

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Both wars were based on lies about imminent threats from nuclear weapons to justify wars of choice.

In 2003, the intelligence on Saddam Husseins nuclear program was cherry-picked and false. In 2026, Trump told Americans in June that Irans nuclear program had been obliterated by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. There is no evidence Tehran will be able to reconstitute the program in the foreseeable, or even the long term  so there was no imminent threat from Iran.

Today, as in 2003, the U.S. president has trouble clarifying the strategic goals of this war, or any plans for the day after the war stops. Trumps aides say the aim is to destroy Irans military capacity with airstrikes, without sending in ground troops or conducting regime change.

Yet, POTUS is nurturing fantasies of regime change on the cheap. One day, he urges Iranian civilians to rise up and overthrow the regime, although they are likely to get slaughtered. The next, he demands the right to personally choose Irans next leader.

Such self-delusion propelled Americans to disaster in Iraq. As Trump directs policy solo, based on whim and ill-informed whispers from Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, its hard to see a happy ending in Iran.

Few Iranians will mourn the demise of the cruel and murderous Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or his cohorts, and a large segment of Iranians wants the corrupt religious regime gone. But Trumps treacly protestations of sympathy with brave Iranian civilian protesters ring hollow.

All signs point to his willingness to abandon them if he needs a quick exit from his war as the U.S. supply of missile and drone interceptors runs short in the next few weeks.

This potential betrayal of Iranian hopes hits my gut hard because I watched similar scenarios play out when I covered the 1991 and 2003 wars in Iraq.

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush called for Iraqi Kurds and Shiites to revolt against Hussein (whose mainly Sunni followers controlled Iraq). As the United States pushed into southern Iraq from liberated Kuwait, those Iraqis followed his call.

But Bush 41 chose not to continue on to Baghdad and depose the Iraqi regime; his advisers (rightly) warned this would spark an Iraqi civil war in which the U.S. would become entangled. When U.S. forces left, Husseins army slaughtered around 10,000 Shiites; several hundred thousand Kurds in Iraqs north fled into the freezing mountains in winter, until the U.S. Air Force established a no-fly zone over Iraqi Kurdistan, and they could return home.

 READ MORE: Forget State of the Union sideshow, MAGAs real chilling message was delivered by Marco Rubio in Munich | Trudy Rubin

In February 2003, I crossed from Iran into Iraqi Kurdistan to await the invasion of Iraq by Bush 43, who claimed he had to destroy the (no-longer-existent) Iraqi nuclear program  and bring democracy to the country.

It was hard not to get swept up in the enthusiasm of Iraqi Kurds for the regime change the Americans were finally promising.

Americas regional allies, especially Israel, urged Bush to decapitate the Baghdad regime. White House hawks insisted regime change would quickly bring peace and democracy to the entire Mideast. So did exiled members of multiple Iraqi opposition groups, with whom I had been in contact since covering the 1991 Gulf War.

Bush 43 disbanded Iraqs military and fired much of its government. But the White House had no grasp of the complex ethnic and religious politics of Iraq, which engulfed U.S. forces and ignited an internal Iraqi civil war between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. U.S. troops were caught in the middle, as Bush 41 had feared.

Fast-forward to Trump. He says he wont put U.S. boots on the ground but also says hes not ruling them out if they were necessary. (I dont have the yips with respect to boots on the ground, he said Monday. Figure that one out.)

However, the president has made clear, for now, that he wont send U.S. troops to help unarmed Iranians retake their country, even as he keeps urging them to overthrow their leaders.

That may prevent the 2003-style quagmire Bush 43 blundered into. Yet, POTUS appears even blinder than Bush in Iraq about his ability to bend Irans future to his will.

Even though Irans 86-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed by an Israeli airstrike, along with dozens of other Iranian leaders, thats not likely to end the regime.

The president has shown little interest  and advanced no concrete plans  for the future of Iran after the U.S. and Israel stop bombing. Trump has upturned the famous doctrine that the late Secretary of State Colin Powell applied to 2003 Iraq, namely, If you break it, you own it. The Trump Doctrine posits: We break it, you own it. Goodbye and good luck.

 READ MORE: On 4th anniversary of Ukraine war, Kyiv refuses to cave to Putins terror or Trumps pro-Russia demands | Trudy Rubin

POTUS has stressed it is up to Irans people to rise and take over their country, even though civilians are bereft of leaders, organization, guns, or even internet connections (and Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last shah, who hasnt set foot in Iran for decades, has no armed forces of his own).

Squeezed by the MAGA faithful and partial to quick hits, Trump insists there will be no long-term U.S. involvement. This may avoid U.S. military casualties, but will probably leave Iran in chaos, ruled by regime holdouts who still retain the guns.

Indeed, the strongest remaining military force in Iran is the hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is deeply rooted throughout the country. Behind them are hundreds of thousands of Basij militiamen, who have already killed thousands of unarmed regime opponents.

Perhaps Trump has devised a magical formula to profit from any such bleak denouement for the Iranian people: Iran will become Venezuela.

Trump has told journalists he wants to model his Iran venture on the U.S. intervention in Caracas, where the top leader, Nicolas Maduro, was kidnapped, and U.S. officials then made a deal with his vice president. Trump eliminated a dictator he disliked, but left in place the previous regime, which, in turn, handed him control over Venezuelan oil.

Sorry, even the most ill-informed observer can grasp that Iran bears no resemblance to Venezuela: The Islamic regime retains deep roots, many hard-line generals, hundreds of thousands of ideological purists, and many religious followers; it isnt a one-man show.

Yet, POTUS insisted again Thursday that what we did in Venezuela is the perfect scenario. In an Axios interview, he said that he, personally, had to be involved in the appointment [of Khameneis replacement] like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela.

In a godlike pronouncement, Trump expects Irans hard-line Shiite religious clerics to pick a new supreme leader who pleases him. Or what? Hell send them to heaven as martyrs?

The president has already noted that most people he had considered for Irans top job are dead from the recent U.S.- Israel bombing. He speculated that Irans future leader could be as bad as the last.

More likely, Trump will try to cook a deal with a senior Iranian official, perhaps an IRGC general, to eliminate the remnants of Irans nuclear weapons program and its missile production. Perhaps he dreams of U.S. control of Iranian oil revenue as arranged with Venezuelas new leader. Perhaps visions of great U.S. deals for Iranian oil dance like dollar signs in his head.

However, hard-line IRGC generals are more likely to fight to the end to hold power at home, even as Irans proxy militias in surrounding Arab countries are crushed. IRGC generals who were willing to gun down tens of thousands of Iranian civilians during recent Iranian protests would surely do so again to survive.

I worry that Trumps continued call for a civilian uprising holds out the prospect that Iranian civilians will once again be mowed down  even as the president declares victory and sends the U.S. fleet home when his MAGA followers grow antsy. Israel may continue bombing, but that wont help Iranian protesters topple the regime.

In a further sign of how the administration may use and abuse Iranians, news reports claim the CIA is arming Iranian Kurds to spark a wider uprising. This is cynicism to the max! Encouraging Irans ethnic minorities  Kurds, Azeris, Baluch, and Sunni Arabs  to fight will foment internal civil wars without changing the central regime or delivering a better one. Only a unified Iranian opposition can ultimately achieve that.

For POTUS, the Iran war is an exhibition of Trumpian power designed to bolster his strongman image, as the GOP faces dicey midterms and the Jeffrey Epstein hangover at home. For Irans people, Trumps reality show is a life-threatening matter. His we break it, you fix it doctrine could consign many of them to death as he celebrates U.S. bomb strikes back home.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens during a Feb. 2 event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. Read more

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a former Manhattan neighbor of Jeffrey Epstein, has agreed to voluntarily testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into the convicted sex offender, the panels chairman announced Tuesday.

Lutnick has faced growing bipartisan pressure to testify about his ties to Epstein following the Justice Departments release of a tranche of documents that suggested Lutnick maintained contact with Epstein years after claiming to have distanced himself from him.

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Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.), the committees chairman, said in a statement. I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee. I look forward to his testimony.

Lutnicks connection to Epstein also has caused controversy at Haverford College, where president Wendy Raymond is considering convening a committee that would review whether the mega donors name should remain on the campus library.

Lutnick will soon become the latest participant in a series of high-profile interviews conducted by the committee for its Epstein probe  the most recent of which included former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They took part in a pair of contentious, closed-door depositions in New York last week.

The Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Lutnicks interview.

I look forward to appearing before the committee. I have done nothing wrong and I want to set the record straight, Lutnick said in a statement to Axios, which first reported his planned appearance.

Testifying before Congress last month, the commerce secretary said he recalled meeting with Epstein three times over the course of 14 years. Lutnick also said he and his family had lunch with Epstein on his Caribbean island in 2012  after previously claiming that he and his wife had distanced themselves from Epstein around 2005.

The exchanges made public by the Justice Department show that Lutnick, a former chairman of the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, and Epstein kept communicating years after Epstein pleaded guilty to two charges of soliciting prostitution, including one involving a minor, and was sentenced to 13 months in jail.

Their last known exchange in the Justice Department documents came in 2018, when Lutnick reached out to Epstein about the Frick Collection, a museum near their neighboring homes, planning construction.

Are you aware as to them building to block our park views, Lutnick wrote in an email that his assistant forwarded to Epstein, What should we do about it? Time is of the essence. Lutnick also urged Epstein to involve a lawyer, to which Epstein replied, Will do.

The following year, Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges and later died in federal custody. His death was ruled a suicide.

Some lawmakers, including Rep. Robert Garcia of California  the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee  as well as Rep. Thomas Massie (R., Ky.), have called for Lutnick to step down over his connection to Epstein. But President Donald Trump last week signaled he remained confident in Lutnick.

Howard would go in and do whatever he has to say, Trump told reporters on Friday about possible Epstein testimony. Hes a very innocent guy. Hes doing a good job.

The Oversight Committee has already scheduled depositions for Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, the co-executors of Epsteins estate, this month. And Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R., Fla.) has said she plans to ask the committee to bring in some of the [Epstein] co-conspirators that were given lesser sentences that were known to have trafficked young girls.

Garcia told the Washington Post that if Democrats retake the House in November and become the majority next year, they will absolutely pursue an interview with Trump regarding Epstein. Theres a long list of subpoenas that we will be engaged in, Garcia added.
President Donald Trump passes Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as he departs after delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Read more

The Senate is scheduled to take an initial vote Wednesday on blocking President Donald Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran, offering the first test of Congresss support for a campaign that Trump launched without its consent.

Democrats  along with Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.)  are forcing a vote on a war powers resolution over the opposition of most Republicans, who control the Senate. Democrats are imploring a handful of Republicans to break with their party to end the conflict and reassert Congresss control over declaring war.

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At least four Republicans besides Paul would need to support the resolution for it to pass if every senator is voting. One Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, has said he will oppose it.

I pray so hard for my colleagues to exercise the judgment that this is not the right time for more war, Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.) said Monday on the Senate floor.

But the resolution faces tough odds.

Congress has voted on seven other war powers resolutions since June, all of which failed. Most Republicans support the U.S. and Israeli air campaign that started Saturday, which has killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian leaders, and they are working to defeat the resolution.

We should let him finish the job, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) told reporters, referring to Trump. We should cheer him on, in my view.

The House is set to vote Thursday on a similar war powers resolution, which Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) said he believes he has the votes to defeat.

The idea that we would take the ability of our commander in chief  to finish this job is a frightening prospect to me, Johnson told reporters. Its dangerous, and I am certainly hopeful  and I believe we do  have the votes to put it down.

Even if the resolution passes the Senate and the House, Trump could veto it. Overriding Trumps veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers. No war powers resolution has ever overcome a veto.

The Senate vote Wednesday is an initial procedural vote to advance the resolution, and any Republicans who support it could still oppose its final passage.

Thats what happened in January, when five Republicans  Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Todd Young of Indiana, and Paul  voted with Democrats to advance the resolution blocking strikes on Venezuela. But Hawley and Young flipped days later after Trump wrote on social media that they should never be elected to office again, though they extracted some concessions.

Democrats wanted to force a vote on the Iran resolution before the strikes, which Kaine said last week would increase its odds of passing. But they did not do so, in part because negotiations between the Trump administration and Iran were still underway.

Some Democrats have compared Trumps strikes on Iran to the Iraq War, although President George W. Bush sought and received authorization from Congress before the U.S. invasion in 2003. Trump has not asked for authorization to strike Iran.

I pray that my colleagues will vote to end this dangerous and unnecessary war that has already resulted in the loss of six servicemembers and injured others, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said in as statement. We owe it to those in uniform, their families, and all Americans to not make the same mistakes that we made in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The U.S. invaded Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and occupied the country for nearly 20 years. While U.S. forces succeeded in killing Osama bin Laden, the architect of the attacks, in Pakistan in 2011, they never defeated the Taliban, which had sheltered bin Laden. The Taliban overthrew the American-supported Afghan government weeks before U.S. forces withdrew and remains in power.

The War Powers Resolution, which Congress passed in 1973 in response to the Vietnam War, allows a single lawmaker to force a vote to withdraw U.S. forces from a conflict or to block strikes when hostilities are imminent. It also requires the president to withdraw forces after 60 days  or 90 days if the president seeks an extension  unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of military force.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) said Tuesday that he does not believe the Trump administration needed to seek authorization to continue the Iran campaign even if it lasts for longer than 90 days.

I think the president has the authority that he needs to conduct the activities, the operations that are currently underway there, Thune told reporters.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other administration officials held briefings for lawmakers Tuesday, which Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) said convinced him that the campaign could last a long time.

I think they have contempt for Congress, Murphy told reporters. They have no plans to come to Congress for any authorization, even if they were to insert ground forces.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., arrives before President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Read more

U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick voted Wednesday against advancing a war powers resolution that would have barred President Donald Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran without congressional approval.

The vote came days after United States and Israel launched a missile attack on Iran, killing that nations supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Six U.S. service members were killed in Iranian counterstrikes.

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Fetterman, who applauded Trumps comments about Iran during last weeks State of the Union, was the lone Democrat to vote against the measure, which would require the termination of U.S. military force against Iran.

Even before Trump ordered Operation Epic Fury, Democrats had pushed for a vote on a resolution to reassert congressional authority over military action.

But Fetterman has been at odds with the rest of his party, contending that military action is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Every member in the U.S. Senate agrees we cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. Im baffled why so many are unwilling to support the only action to achieve that, Fetterman said on X Monday. Empty sloganeering vs. commitment to global security  which is it?"

The resolution, led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.), failed 47 to 53, falling short of the required 60-vote threshold to advance in the U.S. Senate. U.S Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky) was the only Republican to support the measure.

The U.S. House will consider a similar measure on Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.) compared Trumps decision to attack Iran to former President George W. Bushs 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Weve seen this before. A president manufactures an imminent threat, chooses to start a war with unclear objectives and uses Americas resolve as an excuse for war without end because theyve got no plan to end it, Kim said in a Senate floor speech Tuesday in support of the resolution.

But Kim also noted a point of contrast. Bush had obtained authorization from Congress for military force, a step Trump didnt even try to take, Kim noted.

President Trump refused to make a case to the American people, said Kim, who served on former President Barack Obamas National Security Council.

Lawmakers attempts to rein in Trump comes as the U.S. is accelerating, not decelerating its military efforts, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters in the Pentagon Wednesday, CBS News reported.

A 1973 law allows a single lawmaker to force a vote to withdraw troops or block military strikes, and it requires the president to obtain congressional authorization to commit the Armed Forces beyond 60 days.

Both of Pennsylvanias senators have been strong supporters of Trumps strikes, which followed failed negotiations.

McCormick (R., Pa.), an Army veteran and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the president has given the ayatollahs a chance for a deal, and they have rejected a path to peace and prosperity.

During the first Trump administration, the president withdrew from an agreement Obama struck with Iran intended to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons in exchange for lifting sanctions.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D., Del.), who voted to support the measure, said in a statement Wednesday that the Iranian government is a deadly one" and acknowledged the danger of the countrys nuclear capabilities.

But after attending the Senate briefing on Iran, it was strikingly clear that there was no rational justification for military action and no imminent threat to the United States, she said. This administration has failed to define its goals, explain an exit strategy, or provide any long-term plan for what comes next.

Her fellow Delaware Democrat, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, also supported the resolution and this week called for Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to appear before the national security committees to explain the lack of planning for the protection and evacuation of Americans from their war of choice, as U.S. citizens in the Middle East are scrambling to evacuate.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) said on X Saturday that Congress cannot simply roll over and invoked the lessons from past conflicts in the Middle East.

We should have learned from the last two decades of conflict in the Middle East that wars launched without clear goals and without an end-state in mind rarely end well, he said. They cost lives, destabilize regions, embolden adversaries, and weaken Americas moral standing.
Cincere Wilson, a renter at the Upsal Garden apartment complex in Mount Airy, talks about how his living room ceiling collapsed last year during a Feb. 19 news conference at City Hall organized by City Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke in support of his Safe Healthy Homes Act. Read more

City Councils housing committee advanced two bills on Wednesday meant to help Philadelphia renters living in unsafe or unhealthy homes.

One bill would protect tenants who complain about housing conditions from retaliation by rental property owners and affirm tenants rights to safe and sanitary homes.

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The other seeks to hold landlords accountable for repairs and would authorize the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections to create a program to proactively inspect rental units instead of relying on tenants complaints to trigger inspections.

The bills are the two remaining pieces of a legislative package of renter protections introduced by Councilmember Nicolas ORourke. The first bill in the Safe Healthy Homes Act passed last year and created an anti-displacement fund to give financial help to renters forced to move out of their homes because of unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

The remaining bills passed out of the housing committee Wednesday after months of discussions with Council members, Parker administration officials, and landlords.

All three bills were written in partnership with the groups OnePA Renters United Philadelphia, a coalition of renters unions and advocates, and Philly Thrive, an advocacy group for racial, economic, and environmental justice. At Wednesdays Council hearing, tenants from these groups and others who rent homes across the city testified about living with mold, pests, leaks, lack of heat, and falling ceilings.

The stories that inform the creation of this legislation come from the tenants, ORourke said. Philadelphia renters have long had to fight for the right to dignified living.

Proactive inspections

Bridget Collins-Greenwald, commissioner of L&Is quality of life division, said the bill that allows for a program to proactively inspect rental homes incorporates the Parker administrations feedback.

We believe the administrations concerns have all been addressed and that the bill as amended can be successfully implemented, Collins-Greenwald said to cheers and applause from tenants in the audience.

A year ago, Collins-Greenwald testified at a Council hearing that L&I was working to create a proactive inspection program. According to a Pew report from 2021, the department inspected only about 7% of Philadelphias rentals in a year.

ORourkes legislation would require L&I to provide annual reports to Council members about the progress of the proactive inspection program.

The bill also would require rental property owners to share a copy of their rental license with tenants and to inform tenants if the license is suspended. Landlords need a valid license in order to collect rent.

Owners would also have to tell tenants about outstanding health and safety violations.

Retaliation against renters

ORourkes second bill would expand protections against landlord retaliation for renters who participate in tenant unions and/or investigations of code violations.

Katharine Nelson, who oversees a housing studies initiative at the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity, said the legislation addresses a longstanding power imbalance between landlords and tenants.

With less fear of reprisal, tenants will be emboldened to advocate for themselves around severe habitability and repair issues, she said. Far too many Philadelphians live in rental units in need of significant repairs.

The bill also would expand the citys requirement that landlords have good cause for ending a tenancy  whether by lease nonrenewal or termination  and explain to tenants in writing why their tenancy is ending. Under the bill, this provision of the citys landlord-tenant law would apply to most tenants, not just those with leases of less than a year, as it does now.

More amendments?

Groups that represent rental property owners and managers said that they support the broad goals of the bills, but that the legislation needs to be further amended. They said they worried about unintended consequences that could harm landlords, especially ones with only a few housing units.

The legislation includes a provision that would allow rental property owners to collect the full rent if they can show that the city was the reason they were unable to get a valid rental license on time. But landlords said they want more protections for rental property owners who strive to follow city laws but are stymied by government bureaucracy and frequently changing regulations.

For example, Steven Chintaman, vice president of government affairs at the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, said landlords should have to forfeit rent only if code violations impact the habitability of a home, not [for] technical or administrative issues.

We remain committed to working collaboratively to preserve the intent of these bills while ensuring that they are balanced, workable, and do not unintentionally harm housing providers and the residents we serve, Chintaman said.

ORourke said he would continue to work with rental property owners and other stakeholders and is open to further amendments as his bills move forward.
A developer had proposed building 250 homes on part of a tract owned by Kettle Run Investments. Now the plan is to incorporate the land into the popular Black Run Preserve in Evesham Township. Read more

An 835-acre property in Burlington County once threatened by development will be sold to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation for $15 million, according to a deal announced Tuesday.

Evesham Township plans to incorporate the new property into its already popular Black Run Preserve, swelling the size of that 1,300-acre holding widely used by hikers, bird-watchers, and cyclists.

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Developer Linda Samost has agreed to the sale, with the price $2.4 million less than the propertys full market value, the announcement said.

We are eager to move forward with the project so that the community can experience and appreciate the natural beauty of this land for years to come, Samost said in a statement.

Tuesdays announcement noted, however, that while a sale contract has been signed, the foundation still needs to raise more money before taking ownership. It plans to launch a fundraising campaign with partners that will allow for public contributions.

The property has been the site of a fight over its future since 2024, when Kettle Run Investments LP, led by the Samost family, submitted plans to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission to build 250 single-family homes on a portion of the tract.

That plan drew vehement opposition from the community, the nonprofit Pinelands Alliance advocacy organization, and local officials.

At the same time, the Pinelands Commission was rezoning a large area from rural development (RD-3) to Pinelands Forest Area, which would have greatly reduced the amount of development that could have taken place on Samosts property.

Linda Samost told The Inquirer last year that her inclinations were to have the land benefit the community and the ecosystem, the environment, rather than be developed.

 READ MORE: Developer with controversial plan to build houses on a Pinelands tract hopes to have it preserved instead

But the price had to be right, and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation began negotiating with Samost.

In November, the Burlington County commissioners authorized $5 million from open-space funds to help with a purchase. The Pinelands Commission, an independent state agency, also approved a $3 million grant toward the purchase.

It was not immediately clear how much additional money the foundation needs to raise.

The Samost property is situated between Kettle Run, Tomlinson Mill, Kenilworth, and Egret Roads in Evesham.

It is part of New Jerseys Pinelands and the source of the Black Run, a tributary that feeds Rancocas Creek. The property is habitat for numerous species, including the threatened Pinelands tree frog.

Robyn Jeney, a New Jersey Conservation Foundation regional manager, said the preservation means water quality, critical plant and animal habitat, and the overall ecological integrity of the area will be protected for generations to come.

This agreement marks a historic milestone for Evesham Township and a victory for every resident who treasures our natural landscape, said Evesham Township Mayor Jaclyn Veasy.

Jane Dean, board president of the Friends of the Black Run Preserve, said the deal means this place will remain as it should be, unbroken, instructive, and alive.

Susan Grogan, executive director of the Pinelands Commission, called it the best possible outcome for this property. She noted the property has long been a top target by the commission for preservation.
A crew guided a York County barge equipped with a giant sea vacuum across the waters of Wells Harbor last week.

One contractor nudged the so-called dredge in a tiny tugboat. Another manned the equipment, which sucked up sand from the seabed. Still more workers maneuvered a more than 2,000-foot tube to Wells Beach.

There, the tube deposited great heaps of sand that a crew member in a bulldozer carefully molded with GPS-guided precision, restoring dunes that disastrous winter storms washed out two years ago. The equipment deposited sand right up to the seawalls of some residences.

Roughly 7,600 cubic yards of dredged sand will be deposited in front of a long row of waterfront homes and businesses along Wells Beach altogether, a sight that York County emergency preparedness coordinator Chris McCall once doubted hed ever see.

York County purchased the dredge in 2021 with federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

After the 2024 storms caused the county roughly $40 million in public damage and wrecked more than 200 homes, county officials began plotting how to use the machine to rebuild dunes from Ogunquit to Old Orchard Beach.

The initial plan was to restore the dunes to protect against a 100-year flood, which has a 1 percent chance of occurring any given year. But the Trump administrations cancellation of a popular federal resilience grant last year caused the county to pivot.

Instead it created a two-tiered plan: First is this $5.1-million stopgap measure, currently underway, to bolster dunes in Wells, Saco and Old Orchard Beach to protect against a five-year flood.

The work is primarily funded by federal disaster relief money, which covers 75 percent of project costs, while a mix of state and municipal funds from the three towns pays for the rest.

Second, the county wants to pursue a broader, $50-million project to restore the dunes to withstand a 100-year flood.

A slew of federal permitting delays pushed the first phases start date back from November, and it wasnt until late last year that York County got the green light to begin.

York County started by trucking sand onto two stretches of dunes at Old Orchard Beach in January. Then contractors with the Wisconsin-based construction company Michels Corporation began dredging in Wells Harbor a month later.

Next a separate contractor will plant more than 100,000 dune grass seedlings along Wells Beach and deposit 6,200 yards of sand at the Camp Ellis beach in Saco.

McCall watched the dredge in action on a blustery day, Feb. 19, relieved that the work was underway.

Finally getting to this point is a big achievement, even though we know its still the first step of many, McCall said.

McCall and county emergency management director Arthur Cleaves have been sounding the alarm about York Countys vulnerability to future storms for two years.

Cleaves said the 2024 storms  during which Maine recorded its highest water level ever  decimated the countys coastal defenses, leaving the landscape and homes exposed to future storms.

Flooding destroyed 28 percent of dunes along four segments of southern Maine coastline, including in Saco and Kennebunkport, according to a study published by University of New England researchers last year in the research journal Geomorphica.

Climate change makes powerful storms like those that rocked Maines coast that winter more likely, while rising sea levels put protective sand dunes at greater risk, the authors add.

The dunes served their purpose. They were wiped out, Cleaves said last April, referring to the York County coastline. How much damage would have happened had they not been there before the storm? So the vulnerability is there now, and were gambling every day that we dont do something.

Surging tides have washed away the flagstone patio in front of Camp Ellis resident David Plavins beachfront home a few times since he moved there in 2017. Plavin, who is vice president of environmental nonprofit Save Our Shores Saco Bay, has long awaited restoration work in the dunes beyond his neighborhoods seawall.

Theres optimism and hope that this will make a difference, Plavin said. This beach has lost two to three hundred feet of sand.  High tide and a storm will flood the street.

Scars from the January 2024 storms still linger in Camp Ellis. Plavin said the beach has receded significantly, and some homes that were breached by high winds or floodwaters are now raised up on stilts.

After the dredge finishes in Wells, it will travel up the coast in early March and spread 1,200 cubic yards of sand from the Saco River along Camp Ellis Beach. In addition to this project funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Saco is purchasing an additional 6,000 cubic yards of sand to further fortify the beach, according to city officials.

York County commissioner Justin Chenette said the areas beaches, like those at Camp Ellis, support the backbone of Maines economy, and the success of the dune restoration could be a rallying call for additional state and federal funding.

This is a new venture for the county to really take a leadership role, Chenette said. I think when the project is completed its going to spur momentum for other communities along the coast.

The question remains how York County will scrounge up the additional $50 million needed to restore dunes to 100-year flood protection. Even Cleaves, a former official for FEMA, has had difficulty navigating the new terrain of gutted FEMA grants.

The county will likely have to string together a combination of congressional allocations and smaller federal and state grants to cover the cost, but Cleaves said he isnt sure if that will be enough.

Meanwhile, a $75 million state bond measure for coastal resilience projects proposed by state Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, awaits funding from the Maine Legislature.

Additional funding will help protect homes, businesses and our vital tourism industry, Bailey said in a statement.

If the beaches are engineered to withstand a 100-year flood, theyll be eligible for future FEMA reimbursements after every federal disaster, Cleaves said. Until then, theyll remain relatively exposed, even with the current restoration projects.

I worry because protection is not there for all these areas, Cleaves said. What day is the storm coming?

This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Top Photo: Homes in the Camp Ellis neighborhood of Saco, Maine, on Jan. 20, 2026, where 2024 storms caused the beach to recede and motivated residents to raise their homes on stilts. (Emmett Gartner/The Maine Monitor via AP)

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
President Donald Trump says the US will ensure the free flow of energy through the Persian Gulf with insurance guarantees and even naval escorts. But the shipping industry sees it  at best  as only a partial solution to a historic crisis.

While President Trumps comments about insurance and tanker escorts caused a pullback in oil prices, we question how much planning has been done on the insurance backstop thus far and think there could be a number of challenges in executing this plan quickly, RBC Capital Markets LLC analysts said in a note.

US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend have triggered a spiraling regional conflict and multiple attacks on vessels have now effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz  the critical waterway connecting some of the worlds biggest oil and gas producers with the rest of the world.

With ships unable or unwilling to transit the strait, producers cannot export, supertanker costs are skyrocketing and storage at many Persian Gulf refineries is filling up fast. The worlds largest insurance mutuals have withdrawn war risk insurance cover for ships in the area.

Read More: Trump Orders Oil Tanker Insurance Support, Says Navy Could Escort Ships in Gulf

The core thing shipowners are thinking about is the real risk of loss, said Karnan Thirupathy, partner at Kennedys Law LLP who specializes in the commodities, shipping and insurance sectors. No one goes into the trade if the risk of loss is simply too high.

The effects have been swift. Iraq, the biggest Middle Eastern oil producer after Saudi Arabia, has already begun huge cuts to output and faces even deeper reductions, in the clearest sign yet of stress on suppliers in the region.

Trumps solution involves tapping the US International Development Finance Corporation  an institution that typically helps the private sector to provide finance for developing countries  which will in turn support charterers, shipowners and key maritime insurers.

There is some international precedent. In November 2023, a facility was set up with partners including Lloyds insurers and the Ukrainian government to provide affordable war risk insurance for ships underpinning Ukraines maritime exports, particularly grain cargoes. And the DFC has provided some assistance with war risk reinsurance, something it could repeat.

Still, an updated US-organized version to cover oil, gas and fuels across the Persian Gulf would be on a far larger scale, and more complex, given the number of producers and consumers involved. Several shipowners said they would also be wary of tying their fortunes to a volatile US administration.

Read more: Marine Insurers Cancel War Risk Cover as Iran Conflict Escalates

Trumps announcement did pare some oil price gains on Tuesday, but with limited details on hand, shipowners say they were cautious about both the insurance provision and the cost. They asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Several also said an issue of confidence could not easily be solved with the US navy, given Irans continued strikes and limited capacity for what could be tight escorts, especially as many tankers are neither US-owned nor US-flagged. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have also continued despite intervention, they pointed out.

The US is currently leading the campaign against Iran, and a key question will be whether there are enough Navy assets to both escort ships as well as continue operations against Iran, RBC said in the note.

A limited solution to get some traffic moving would also take time to put in place  something neither producers nor consumers necessarily have.

This is welcome news, but clearly it wont happen overnight, said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING Groep NV. Naval escorts would be helpful, but again, this effort will take time. Naval escorts will be sitting ducks to Iranian attacks.

Photograph: A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 25, 2026. Photo credit: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

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Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Wednesday shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran and headed toward Turkish airspace, marking the first time the alliance stepped in to defend a member state since the US and Israel began attacking Tehran last week.

We condemn Irans targeting of Turkiye, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said in a statement. NATO stands firmly with all allies, including Turkiye, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region.

The ballistic munition flew through Iraqi and Syrian airspace before it was shot down by NATO air defenses stationed in the eastern Mediterranean region, Turkeys Ministry of Defense said in a statement. The target of the missile was not immediately clear.

Read more: Insurance Gaps Leave Airlines Exposed as Iran Conflict Widens

Turkey summoned Irans ambassador to Ankara while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to warn against actions that could spread the conflict further across the region, local media reported.

Debris from the interceptor fell around the Dortyol area of the southern Turkish province of Hatay, the presidencys communications director said. There were no casualties.

Its the first time Turkey has found itself embroiled in the conflict, which is now in its fifth day. The NATO member is not a participant in the war and has not allowed its airspace to be used for attacks on Iran.

However, Turkey is home to an early-warning radar system  a critical component of NATOs ballistic-missile defense  at Kurecik, some 435 miles (700 kilometers) west of the Iranian border. Dortyol, where debris from the interceptor fell, lies some 60 miles east of Turkeys Incirlik Air Base, which once hosted a major US military presence. In between the two is the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, a terminal for Azeri oil.

We remind all parties that we reserve the right to respond to any hostile actions against our country, the defense ministry said. We warn all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation of conflicts in the region.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US was aware of the interception and was looking into the details. He said in response to a reporters question that the incident wouldnt trigger NATOs Article 5 on collective defense, which considers an attack on one member an attack on all.

After the incident, Turkeys Borsa Istanbul 100 Index pared gains of as much as 1.2% and closed 0.1% up.

Photograph: A USAF F-16 fighter aircraft at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey; photo credit: USAF/Getty Images Europe

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Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
The U.S.Iran war widened on Wednesday after a U.S. strike hit an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, deepening a crisis that has paralyzed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz for a fifth day and choked off vital Middle East oil and gas flows.

The U.S. submarine strike on the Iranian vessel came as U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to provide insurance and navy escorts to ships exporting oil and gas from the Middle East in a bid to contain soaring energy prices.

At least 200 ships, including oil and liquefied natural gas tankers as well as cargo ships, remained at anchor in open waters off the coast of major Gulf producers including Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, according to Reuters estimates based on ship-tracking data from the MarineTraffic platform.

Hundreds of other vessels remained outside Hormuz unable to reach ports, shipping data showed. The waterway is a key artery for around a fifth of the worlds oil and LNG supply.

The Maltese-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige was also damaged by a projectile as it sailed toward the northern end of the Strait of Hormuz earlier, prompting the crew to abandon ship, shipping sources said.

Read more: Small Container Ship Abandoned After Being Hit in Hormuz

Qatar will fully shut down gas liquefaction on Wednesday and wont return to normal production and exports for at least a month, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Gas giant QatarEnergy declared force majeure on shipments of LNG after attacks on its production facilities.

Iraq cut its oil production as the country ran out of storage, unable to load it in tankers. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait were also struggling to load oil but it was not yet clear if they cut output.

Rare Tanker Transit Amid Shipping Freeze

Despite the gridlock, a rare voyage took place on Tuesday when the Suezmax tanker Pola sailed through the Strait of Hormuz to the UAE to load crude, according to industry sources and LSEG ship-tracking data.

The Pola had switched off its AIS transponder late on March 2 as it approached the strait and reappeared the next day off Abu Dhabi.

Trump on Tuesday said he had instructed the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide political-risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf.

Read more: Trump Orders Oil Tanker Insurance Support, Says Navy Could Escort Ships in Gulf

No matter what, the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world, he wrote in a social media post.

Oil prices dipped on Wednesday, but were up 12% since the war started on Saturday, as U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted Middle East supplies.

On Wednesday, Goldman Sachs raised its forecast for Brent crude oil in the second quarter by $10 to $76 per barrel. It also raised its prediction for WTI by $9 to $71 per barrel.

The bank said it sees longer-than-expected disruption to exports of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz and damage to oil production facilities as risks. It also assumes that low oil flows through Hormuz will lead to large declines in OECD inventories and Middle East production in March.

Providing protection for all tankers operating in areas currently threatened by Iran is unrealistic as this would require a very high number of warships and other military assets, said Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer with shipping association BIMCO.

Asia Scrambles for Replacement Barrels

Some Asian refiners and petrochemicals companies face output cuts because they are unable to get prompt replacement cargoes from their suppliers in the Gulf due to the shipping standstill.

Indias Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals and Petronet LNG both issued force majeure notices due to the disruptions.

Asia sources 60% of its oil from the Middle East, leaving the region vulnerable to the disruptions. Refiners in Indonesia and Japan are sourcing more oil from the U.S. to replace the shortfall. India will consider buying more from Russia, sources at two companies have said.

Saudi Aramcos largest domestic refinery and key crude export terminal Ras Tanura was struck on Wednesday, four sources said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; writing by Anna Hirtenstein; editing by Louise Heavens)

Photograph: Large fire and plume of smoke is visible after, according to the authorities, debris of an Iranian intercepted drone hit the Fujairah oil facility, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A container vessel was abandoned after being hit while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a UK naval group said, as conflict continues to menace commercial shipping in the region.

The ship is the Safeen Prestige, according to maritime security companies, and is capable of carrying about 1,800 containers. Its manager couldnt be immediately reached for comment.

The ships satellite track shows it sailing through Hormuz and then slowing. UK Maritime Trade Operations said the vessel was hit by an unknown projectile just above the waterline.

It led to a fire in the engine room and no environmental impact had been reported at that time. The crew later abandoned the vessel and there are no reported injuries, it added.

While the ship is relatively small compared with the size of the worlds biggest carriers, global markets have a heightened focus on all vessels transiting Hormuz at the moment as it has become a blockage for trade in goods and commodities. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the US would consider providing naval escorts if necessary.

Related:

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
The Kansas City Star built a $200 million complex to house a state-of-the-art printing press in 2006. Less than 15 years later, the iconic structure of blue and green glass came to symbolize the collapse of print news when parent company McClatchy sold it at a steep discount.

Now the building is getting a second act as a data center, enabled by two big attractions. One is the robust electrical hook-ups it once needed for the printing press. The other is its downtown address as proximity becomes more valuable for emerging applications in artificial intelligence.

Its not your typical data center in a field sucking a bunch of power, said John Johnson, chief executive officer of Patmos, the developer that overhauled the building.

Similar downtown data centers are popping up from Minneapolis to Chicago as landlords seek to fill buildings that emptied out during the pandemic. Driving the trend is the old real estate adage about the importance of location. With the rise of AI systems needed for technologies that make real-time decisions in urban cores  self-driving vehicles would be a major example  a nearby data center can shave precious milliseconds off data processing times compared with more distant facilities.

You do want to be as close as you can to that compute, servicing your customers who are likely to be concentrated in that major metropolitan area, said Raul Saavedra, who leads the data center advisory practice at Colliers Americas, which is marketing a data center in downtown Minneapolis.

Not long ago, data centers would have been considered a faux pas in urban redevelopment. Often housed in nondescript warehouse buildings in the suburbs and in the country, the facilities are known for their limited employment needs and voracious appetites for electricity and water.

The typical downtown data center is smaller, usually needing around 30 to 50 megawatts of electricity, enough to power as many as 40,000 US homes or so.

For cities, such hubs offer a way to reuse empty or discarded buildings. For intensive data users, theyre an attractive option for so-called AI inference, which Oracle Corp. defines as a system so highly trained that it has the ability to reason and draw conclusions from data it hasnt seen before. Some popular uses: the robotic learning used in driverless cars and ChatGPT.

That puts a premium on speed, or so-called low latency requirements.

What AI inference is going to do is create low latency applications of AI in markets like Chicago and Denver and Miami and Orlando, said Pat Lynch, executive managing director for CBREs Data Center Solutions. There will be low latency, inference-based data centers in Manhattan, for sure. They will be in London and Singapore. Theyll be everywhere.

Examples have already proliferated outside the US.In Germany, data centers are being built in a Frankfurt complex anchored by a building that once served as the center of the countrys mail-order industry.

In Berlin, five miles from the Brandenburg Gate, one of Germanys largest listed landlords, Aroundtown SA, is planning to convert a vacant office building into a data center in a bid to generate higher rents. The goal is to participate in one of the fastest-growing asset classes of the real estate market, Co-Chief Executive Officer Barak Bar-Hen said on a recent earnings call.

Back in the US, demand for data centers is so high that prices in primary markets including Chicago, Atlanta and Northern Virginia climbed to a record last year, according to CBRE. Leasing across top markets climbed to an all-time high in the last three months of the year, with Chicago inking deals for more than 300 megawatts, a record, according to a Green Street report.

Colliers is marketing a 1970s-vintage building in Minneapolis that once served as a 549,500-square-foot (51,000-square-meter) office for Wells Fargo & Co. Local developer Sherman Associates sought rezoning for the project to include two-floors of data center space, according to public filings.

Sherman plans to house the data center portion of the project in Wells Fargos original data rooms. While many proposed data centers have faced opposition from local residents, the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association endorsed the project, saying it would bring new vitality and employment activity to the downtown core.

Not every office building can be turned into a data center, of course. Those ripe for conversion typically need open floor plates, high ceilings and load-bearing floors, as well as the ability to be rezoned  a requirement that introduces a local variable in each city. Crucially, they also need higher-than-average power transmission or an agreement with the utility company to acquire additional electricity. Trading floors and life sciences buildings have many of those attributes, making them good candidates for data center conversions.

Sometimes the business case depends on obtaining access to more power. That can make such developments uncommonly profitable at a time when most office buildings are trading hands at steeply discounted prices because of high vacancy rates.

In Chicago, two local developers purchased the former headquarters of the Cboe Global Markets Inc. for $12 million after holding the property under contract for about three years. During the time it was under contract, they pursued and obtained an increase in power from the local utility company, Commonwealth Edison Co. They then sold the building to a data center developer for $40 million.

ComEd said its currently reviewing a handful of applications for other small data center projects downtown Chicago, which would probably be used for AI inference or enterprise cloud solutions.

In Kansas City, the Star building made it easy for conversion, with the first portion completed over about 90 days, said Johnson, the CEO of developer Patmos. It had floor plates that could support heavy loads, freight elevators and internal cranes for servicing the printing press, and transmission lines for heavy-duty power use, meaning Patmos didnt have to seek an increase from the local utility company for its 35 megawatts of power.

Residents initially had concerns ranging from noise to security that Patmos worked to assuage, Johnson said. The company said it worked with the city to get the property zoned for data center use. It also plans to turn a little less than half of the 360,000-square-foot complex into coworking offices for tech companies with a focus on artificial intelligence.

Johnson said the company didnt seek subsidies for the development, adding that cities have been burned by big companies coming in, begging for the world in subsidies and abatements of all sorts and providing little return on investment to the communities.

Data centers have earned a reputation for being a very low jobs, dense, power sucking, eyesore, burden on communities, he said.

By contrast, he said, the project in the old printing press building will bring new life to an old downtown: This building was sitting there as a giant paperweight for years and years, and not doing anything for Kansas City.

Photo: Workers install metal pipe at the Patmos data center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence
Nebraska Attorney General Hilgers this weekannounced a consumerprotection and childsafety lawsuit against Roblox Corporation, alleging that the company has knowingly created and maintained an online environment that exposes millions of children to sexual predators, violent content, and illegal activity while misleading parents about the platforms safety.

The complaint asserts that Roblox, despite having detailed knowledge of widespread exploitation occurring on the platform, markets itself as a safe, childfriendly space while simultaneously failing to implement basic safeguards to protect minors. According to the lawsuit, Roblox has become one of the most widely used online platforms for children, with tens of millions of daily users, many under the age of 13.

The lawsuit alleges that Roblox allows:

Direct contact between minors and adult predators, including through private messaging, voice chat, and usergenerated experiences.

Sexually explicit, violent, and ageinappropriate content, often accessible to children as young as six.

Simulated criminal activity, including graphic depictions of violence and other harmful scenarios.

Inadequate parental controls that are difficult to use, easy to bypass, or misleading in their effectiveness.

The lawsuit accuses Roblox of Roblox refusing to implement safety precautions.

Roblox said in a statement that it prohibits user-to-user image and video sharing, utilizes rigorous filters to block personal information from being shared and enforces global age-based settings that limit younger users to chatting with peers by default.

While we share Attorney General Hilgers commitment to keeping kids and teens safe online, we are disappointed that he has filed a lawsuit that fundamentally misrepresents how Roblox works, Roblox chief safety officer Matt Kaufman said.

Roblox is facing similar lawsuits in Iowa, Kentucky and Texas. Earlier this year a Dutch regulator said it is launching an investigation into the company over potential risks to underage users in the European Union.

Topics Lawsuits
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A Georgia bill that would bring larger insurer fines, more fraud enforcement and more wind-mitigation funding now moves to state Senate, where it is expected to pass in the next few weeks.

The Georgia House of Representatives late last month approved, by an overwhelming majority, House Bill 1344, which has been endorsed by an insurance agents group, by a national carrier group, and by state regulators. The measure is ostensibly aimed at making property insurance more affordable, and it would affect much of the industry, including carriers, agents and policyholders.

The main sponsor, Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, called it the strongest insurance legislation in the country. Leaders of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia and of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association have worked with Reeves and other lawmakers to draft the bill over the last six months.

We commend Speaker Burns and House Leadership for taking an approach that will protect consumers and tackle loss drivers that impact affordability for Georgia families, said IIAG CEO John Barbour.

Heres a look at some of the key provisions:

Auto fraud. The bill, if signed into law, would specifically outlaw cappers or runners who steer auto accident victims to health care providers, a practice that has become increasingly familiar as auto insurance fraud has burgeoned in Georgia and other states. Likewise, clinics and doctors would be barred from compensating runners.

Violations of the law would be considered felonies, subject to as much as 10 years in prison and $200,000 fines. People involved in making claims for staged accidents would face fines of up to $100,000.

The state insurance commissioner would be authorized to hire prosecutors, appointed by district attorneys. Lawmakers may appropriate funds, but some funding would come from new, $100 to $200 annual fees on captive insurance companies.

We always welcome any effort to address fraud, said APCIAs Ron Jackson.

The bill also would raise fees for motorists who let their insurance lapse.

For carriers. Property insurers would be forbidden from drafting policies that require insureds to file claims lawsuits within two years after the date of the loss. Most insureds now have up to four years to file suit. The restriction would not apply to liability and workers compensation coverage.

In rate filings, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) would, for the first time, be able to consider a wider range of information, including complaints against carriers. On the House floor last week, Rep. Jasmine Clark, D-Lilburn, asked about insurers repoprtedly dropping homeowners who have large trees near their homes. Reeves said that under current law, regulators cannot consider complaints, litigation, penalties and investigations into insurer conduct when reviewing rate filings.

Under HB 1344, if companies are requiring people to cut down trees too much, the insurance commissioner can say, Stop that,' Reeves said.

Carriers that engage in unfair trade practices would see potential fines increased by fivefold, up to $5,000 per violation. Insurers and persons that violate cease-and-desist orders would see penalties increased to as much as $15,000 per violation.

Some of fines were so old and so lowdecades old, Reeves said. We increased the fines to comport with our sister states and make them 2026 numbers.

The bill also would require counties and municipalities to annually file reports with the OCI showing how local tax revenue paid by insurers has been used to promote homeowner and auto premium decreases through safety initiatives, fraud prevention and other measures. Georgia law allows local governments to tax gross premiums at 2.5%.

Auto insurers also would be able to keep certain drivers off of policies. An insurer may exclude a named individual from coverage under a motor vehicle insurance policy, provided that such insurer identifies such named individual as an excluded driver to the Department of Revenue, the bill reads.

For agents. The bill would codify what has long been the regulated practice in Georgia: When a policyholder suffers a loss in a catastrophic event, he or she would need only to let the insurance agent know. That serves as notice of a claim to the carrier, and the carrier then would have 15 days to acknowledge and 60 days to affirm or deny the claim.

Barbour said that agent-notification provision is already in state insurance regulations and would not create errors and omissions concerns for agents.

That does not mean that the agent must be responsible for filing the claim, Barbour said in an email. Many times, independent agents do file claims for clients, but insureds can also initiate a claim with the carrier as well. An agent may counsel a client on the wisdom of filing a claim, and an insured may determine that filing a claim may not be necessary.

While industry groups worked closely with lawmakers to revise earlier versions of the bill, the 60-day claim denial deadline may prove to be a sticking point in months to come, sources told Insurance Journal.

For homeowners. HB 1344 would follow many other states leads and set up a wind-mitigation grant program. Funded through premium taxes, the program would provide matching grants of $6,000 to be used for roofs and roof attachments, water barriers, and other retrofits. Currently, Georgia law calls for premium discounts for fortification efforts but provides no grant funding program.

The key question now is what the Senate may alter in the bill. The issue to watch in the Senate will be if any changes are made that would harm the progress the Georgia insurance marketplace has seen in recent months, Barbour noted.

If signed into law, the bill would take effect July 1. The full text of the House bill can be seen here.

Excessive profits. A separate bill passed by the House, HB 1274, would require auto insurers to annually estimate underwriting profits. If profits exceed projections, the commissioners office would be able to require the carrier to issue refunds to policyholders.

Only a few other states, including Florida, have similar measures in place. Progressive Insurance last fall, for example, was required to regurgitate some $950 million in excess profits to customers in Florida.

Topics Georgia
The operator of a pizza parlor in California must pay back wages following an investigation that showed the business did not pay the required minimum wage and overtime.

The U.S. Department of Labor reached a settlement agreement with the operator of a Little Caesars restaurant in Redwood City to pay $409,457 to 32 workers.

An investigation reportedly found the employer failed to pay workers the required minimum wage and overtime, in violation of federal wage law.

The agreement follows an investigation by the DOLs Wage and Hour Division that found franchise operator MG Fast Food Inc. violated minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act between 2022 and 2025. The division says that the employer failed to pay employees time and one-half overtime rates for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek, instead paying straight time.

The employer also neglected to pay some employees for all hours worked, resulting in minimum wage violations, according to the division. The investigation also reportedly found record-keeping violations, including discrepancies between timesheet totals and payroll records.

Topics California
AIB reported a profit after tax of 2.1bn for 2025, for what chief executive Colin Hunt described as a landmark year for the bank.

Strong lending, a growing customer base and continued digital transformation helped deliver a 25% return on tangible equity. AIB announced total shareholder distributions of 2.25bn , including a near-60% increase in its full-year cash dividend and a newly approved 1bn share buyback.
Meet three women pushing back against assumptions in agriculture and forging their own careers in a sector where letters still open with Sir or "Mr", and sales reps call looking for the boss  only to find shes standing in front of them.

Aileen Sheehan, dairy farmer, Cork

Ms Sheehan, a dairy farmer and secondary school teacher based in Whitechurch, Co Cork, was the 2025 FBD Young Farmer of the Year.

Ms Sheehan does it all: shes a dairy farmer, teacher, wife and mother. She, alongside her husband, Philip, milks a herd of 140 Jersey crosses with a few Holsteins, manages 28 heifers and keeps 28 dairy calves a year.

The Sheehans are now in their fifth year of farming, and farm on 100% leased land. The 100-acre milking block caters for their 140 herd, and there is roughly another 100 acres split between two out blocks where the heifers are reared.

Ms Sheehan started with 70 heifer calves and rented land to raise them. She told the Irish Examinerone of the highlights of her career in the agricultural sector so far was seeing her original 70 heifers graduate into the milking herd.

The main highlight to me is breeding my heifers and bringing them onto my dairy farm. You won't beat that day, when you bring 70 heifers that we reared, arrived on the platform in Whitechurch and were ready for calving, that's the dream.

Aileen Sheehan feeding her 2026 calves at Knockanroe House in Whitechurch, Co Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Ms Sheehan prides herself on her organisation and being able to balance her multiple responsibilities as a farmer, mother and teacher.

You go to my shed. It's like a classroom, I have whiteboards everywhere, we have a system and a set-up, and it works.

From 6.30am, Ms Sheehan is up and working until 6pm, flitting between yard work, teaching and looking after her daughter. She doesnt seem to stop.

Speaking on barriers for women in agriculture, Ms Sheehan recalls a story many can relate to: Can I speak to the boss?, despite the boss being the woman in front of the visitor, many of whom typically look for a man in the yard.

This is a team effort, really, between Philip and me, in a way, because it has to be, but I did the green cert because it just made more sense that I do it  the farm is in my name.

We also have to believe that there are women actively farming, and they're very good at their job Philip, my husband, is excellent at throwing me into it. That's where I've got my confidence from in dairy farming. He's always been like, don't talk to me, talk to Aileen, even though he knew the answer, Ms Sheehan explains.

She also highlights the need to just "get out there" for women interested in farming, whether to do it themselves, get into partnerships or enter into the sector.

Put yourself out of your comfort zone, because I used to hide from inspectors, I used to hate people asking me questions because I just wasn't confident enough but if you dont put yourself out there, you won't get better.

Speaking about the industry, Ms Sheehan says much research and information is at farmers' or new entrants' fingertips.

If I had the support that I have in the dairy industry, for research now and for learning and for podcasts, if I had that in education, it would make me a far better teacher. The education and the research we have in this country are incredible; you can learn so much, she says.

Sophie Bell, contract rearer and content creator, Cavan

Ms Bell, a farmer and content creator located in Cavan, went into partnership on the home farm with her father in 2022.

In an effort to make the farm more profitable and diversify from the beef herd, she began contract rearing Jersey cross dairy heifers in the same year, raising them on the 56 acres at home.

Despite her numerous roles as a farmer, content creator, and civil servant, Ms Bell hopes one day to farm full-time, with more ideas brewing for future projects to integrate onto her farm to make that dream a reality.

Farmer Sophie Bell on her farm outside Virginia, Co Cavan. Picture: Lorraine Teevan

Ms Bell studied at Harper Adams University and has recently completed a masters with UCD on the impact of bovine TB on farmers after discovering there was no documented research on the impacts of the disease on farmers and their views.

Ms Bell tells the Irish Examiner that she is in the process of publishing her research.

I realised how much of an impact TB was having, and especially recently, because it's such a huge deal, and it's increasing, and it's not getting better I've been interviewing lots of farmers who have been affected by it, and they've been so good and produced such valuable information and insights. And they really let you into the emotions behind it, which was so kind of them to do, because that's quite hard, she explains.

Ms Bell says she never set out to do content creation and only took it seriously a few years ago when she started receiving compliments about her posts and videos on social media, as genuine interest in her platforms began to grow.

It creates a bit of a social scene, creates lovely opportunities and partnerships, and you're allowed to voice things that might not get spoken about, like I'm able to speak on behalf of Young Farmers and also women farmers. It's been brilliant.

Farmer and influencer Sophie Bell. Picture: Lorraine Teevan

Discussing barriers shes come across so far in her career, Ms Bell mentions women being forgotten in a room, referencing events where a crowd may be asked whether they were "a beef man or dairy man".

There could be plenty of women there, and they likely have roles on the farm. But you know, you're forgotten about in a room of people who are speaking and teaching you these insights. It's quite frustrating, and it's just not nice, she says.

She's also come across smaller biases in her day-to-day, explaining farm documents addressed to her for delivery, but start with a presumptive Dear sir or have manually correct contracts that list he instead of she.

Despite seeing progress made in these areas, Ms Bell says: It's just little things like that add up, and it's not appropriate to still have to do things like that in this modern world. I still think there is work, and there are barriers, and there are assumptions to our role, and this unconscious bias also.

Ms Bell advises all farmers to call out this behaviour if they spot it.

Time and time again, there are double standards that we face, and we need to hold people accountable for these issues. If Im too well dressed or made up, I care too much about how I look, if I turn up, not put together, I dont care how I look. You cant win. I posted about this recently, and it was crazy how many people resonated, she says.

Discussing what more can be done to encourage young women into farming, Ms Bell suggests the multiple mentorship programmes available to farmers who may be looking for some guidance, but also to encourage young people to go searching in their local area for farmers who may be interested in teaching passionate young people, or even just to allow them to gain experience on working farms.

I think it's important to just bring people along with you if you're in the sector, rather than having it as a competition against each other. I think that's hugely important... I think just take the time to develop that community aspect.

Ms Bell wants to encourage farmers, no matter gender or sector, to support and uplift one another, whether it is entering the industry or diversifying a business.

I think the whole supporting each other is very important; we all need to support each other.

Dr Edna Curley, principal of Mountbellew Agricultural College, Galway

Ms Curley hails from a suckler farm in Co Offaly, but since 2019 has taken up the mantle of principal at Mountbellew Agricultural College.

She began her professional career earning her green cert at the very college she now runs, just 20 years prior. Despite going on and furthering her education, earning a bachelor's, master's, PhD and post-docs to add to her level 5 degree, Ms Curley still sees that first achievement to then return years later to run the college where it all started as one of the highlights of her career.

Dr Edna Curley, principal of Mountbellew Agricultural College.

My first academic achievement was my level five certificate in agriculture from Mountbellew. And I do remember being proud as punch of that My green cert from Mountbellew is probably what I would say is the defining moment for me, that I wanted to remain in agriculture, and that it was definitely for me. I loved every minute of it.

And the interesting thing is that it was a full-circle moment. That has been the shining moment, coming back here after 20 years, after leaving here as a level 5, probably my favourite moment in my professional career.

Running the college means no two days are the same, with classes for almost 900 students, the smooth running of the oratory on campus and the running of the two commercial farms that make up the 100 hectares owned by the school, all the way down to the signing of the blue cards for the newborn calves, Ms Curley oversees it all.

The Mountbellew farms are home to a 90-pedigree Holstein dairy herd, 30 limousine beef cows and almost 200 breeding ewes.

Ms Curley was one of the first ever female principals of an agricultural college, which she admits did not registered when she was elected to the role.

I think probably others may have noticed it even more than I did; Im not entirely sure it registered with me as it did with others.

Ms Curley credits the support around her from her husband and fellow lecturer at Mountbellew, Dr Michael OFlynn, Teagasc, who works closely with the school, other agricultural college principals, as well as the rest of her team, ensuring the school runs smoothly under her guidance.

Dr Edna Curley, principal of Mountbellew College, with husband and lecturer at the college, Dr Michael O'Flynn.

I remember we had the college principals meeting that was here in Mountbellew. It was here because I was being introduced as the new principal. I still remember the guys who spoke on the day and that offer of support, help and guidance. And it wasn't just lip service. It's there. It's there to this day. And that just has made all the difference, she says.

Although Ms Curley came from a household where both parents were heavily involved in farming, and she looks back on her experience growing up in the sector as a positive one, she has heard many stories of women in the sector not being afforded the same positive experiences.

As a woman in agriculture, as a college principal, I can appreciate the challenges, albeit I mightn't have had the experience you've had, but I can very quickly relate to it.

I think we probably need to be a little bit more vocal in a very positive sense. We're very Irish in that we just get on with it like it's grand. We'll be fine. Whereas I think if we were there and maybe telling our own stories, there's an opportunity to speak out, to relate, to guide, to support.

Offering some advice to women and girls looking to farming as a serious career choice or looking to enter the sector, Ms Curley says: As I say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Now it mightn't feel like that at the time, yeah, might be very hurtful and very demoralising, but I think we need to probably speak up and speak out. And if you know what you want to do, don't let anybody stop you.
EU milk production is expected to decline by around 5% between 2025 and 2030, prompting Irish processors to enter what they are describing as a "period of managed transition".

Senior Rabobank analysts told the ICOS Dairy Committee the contraction reflects tightening environmental and climate regulations, land use constraints, rising input costs and an ageing farmer population.

The analysis indicated these structural pressures will accelerate consolidation across European dairy processing as tighter milk volumes drive processors to seek scale, secure supply, improve efficiencies and manage volatility.

Rabobank noted consolidation can deliver efficiency gains of 4% to 5% of revenues through operational integration, procurement efficiencies and better asset use.

For Ireland, as a major global dairy exporter, maintaining competitiveness will be critical.

Also speaking at the meeting, agriculture minister Martin Heydon highlighted the importance of the CAP in the context of food security. He said there was too much complacency around food security, which he said needs to be addressed, and explained this will be a priority for the Irish presidency of the EU.

Read More Ireland set to host landmark agri-summit on global food security

On other key topics, the minister said he recognised the concerns of ICOS on generational renewal, the CMO regulation, the CBAM Tax on fertiliser, income volatility and bovine TB and bluetongue.

ICOS Dairy Committee chair Eamonn McEnteggart concluded that the Irish dairy industry is entering a period of "managed transition".

While global dairy demand remains strong, particularly in growth markets outside Europe, future success will depend on efficiency, environmental credibility and strategic collaboration across the value chain, he explained.

In a European context where milk output may decline, Irelands grass-based, export-focused model remains well positioned, provided policy stability, innovation and investment continue, Mr McEnteggart said.
Having no floor space for children to crawl or learn to walk, and feeling like theyre living in a prison are some of the stark conditions described by asylum seekers in a new study.

Migrant rights organisation Doras launched the research, examining and comparing living conditions in permanent International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) and emergency accommodation.

It said emergency accommodation, which is now home to the majority of applicants, is weakly regulated and lacks independent oversight.

Emergency accommodation was meant to be temporary, used only when there was a surge in applicants. Instead, it has become the status quo, Doras chief executive John Lannon said.

The hospitality sector has been managing accommodation and many aspects of life for people who have gone through traumatic experiences unimaginable to most of us.

"They are not hotel guests  these are children, men and women who need trauma-informed, trained staff to support their integration needs. The system is simply not fit for purpose.

The study was based on a national survey, peer-led focus groups and stakeholder interviews, with respondents to the survey coming from 30 countries. The majority had been in Ireland for between one and three years, with one in 10 for more than three years.

Doras said most of the respondents shared bedrooms and bathroom facilities, which underscored the prolonged nature of such living arrangements.

Isolated and lonely

Some of the personal experiences detailed in the report also included feeling very isolated from the local culture, and children feel lonely as they can't have visitors.

Doras made over a dozen recommendations in its report, with a focus on phasing out the use of emergency accommodation except as a measure of last resort.

Emergency accommodation should be genuinely short-term and tightly time limited, it said. Its routine or prolonged use is incompatible with human rights obligations.

John Lannon, Doras chief executive: 'Emergency accommodation was meant to be temporary, used only when there was a surge in applicants. Instead, it has become the status quo.'

It also said all accommodation used for asylum seekers must be brought under a single, mandatory inspection and enforcement regime, as the exclusion of emergency accommodation has produced a two-tier system of oversight.

Its last recommendation also called on the Government to avoid the use of careless or inflammatory framing of immigration as it risks escalating tensions.

In light of demonstrations, riots, arson attacks and intimidation directed at international protection applicants in certain existing and proposed Ipas centres, it is essential that all members of Government exercise leadership and restraint in public discourse, the report said.

Separately, a new report from researchers at the University of Limerick on the views of marginalised members of Irish society regarding policing and community safety has found issues including racism, stigmatisation and misinformation on social media, while community safety is not solely the responsibility of gardai.

On social media, in particular, participants in the study said it was being used in negative ways about their communities.

A massive problem is the misinformation, one said. Social media is obviously being used as a tool to generate fear.
It is hoped that hundreds of Irish citizens will be able to depart the Middle East on a flight from Dubai later today.

As the conflict enters its fifth day, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Helen McEntee has confirmed a Dubai flight will leave for Dublin this evening.

The flight will be operated by Emirates Airlines and is due to leave Dubai International Airport at 6pm.

The Embassy of Ireland in the United Arab Emirates said the airline will be in touch with passengers on their list who have had flights cancelled.

Positive development. Emirates have decided to run a flight from Dubai to Dublin later today.

"We are in close touch with the airline. They will be in direct contact with passengers whose flights were cancelled," Ms McEntee shared on X.

Three more flights are due to land in Dublin from Dubai on Thursday.

Following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Ms McEntee had confirmed that there are around 24,000 Irish citizens currently in the region, including long-term residents, holidaymakers and those transiting through airports.

She also confirmed that the Irish Government will charter flights, with up to 280 people expected to be offered seats on a plane in the coming days.

Meanwhile, explosions sounded in Irans capital city on Wednesday as its war with the US and Israel entered a fifth day.

The latest attacks followed earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

Iranian state television reported explosions around Tehran as dawn broke while Israel said its air defences were activated due to incoming missile fire from Iran.

US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent Society.

In Lebanon, where Israel launched retaliatory strikes on the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah, 50 people were killed, including seven children, Lebanons health ministry said.

- More to follow
Around 4,000 students attended a rally on the campus of University College Dublin after a naked, bruised and unconscious image of a student was widely shared across the university.

The students life was shattered in a second when gardai informed her that someone had sent the image to 171 UCD staff email accounts.

The young student, Maeve (not her real name), said she received little support from the university after her alleged rape in 2023. She did not report the incident to gardai at the time because she believed she would not be believed.

In the Dail last week, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said the student had to take UCD to the High Court after the university refused to allow her to sit her exams that year as a result of being raped".

She became pregnant, and she had to get a termination, and she had to miss some of her medical exams, having to schedule that, Ms Coppinger said.

She asked UCD if she could sit her exams in the summer. UCD said no, and they attempted to make her drop back a year.

She hasnt been able to continue her medical degree since 2023, as UCD has blocked her from doing so, Ms Coppinger claimed.

In April last year, someone circulated images of Maeve naked, bruised, and unconscious to university staff through an unidentified ProtonMail account.

The medical student said she only learned the images had circulated when gardai contacted her. She said she was told blocks and filters would be applied to prevent further distribution.

However, last summer, Maeve began receiving similar emails again in her student inbox on multiple occasions. She informed gardai and personally blocked all emails originating from ProtonMail.

I had been under the impression that the abusive Proton mail emails had been blocked and/or filtered by UCD, she said.

In November 2025, someone again circulated the same photo of Maeve in her year groups School of Medicine WhatsApp chat, which has at least 300 members. The message came from an unrecognised number.

Maeve claimed she received no support from UCD in relation to the alleged image-based sexual abuse.

On Wednesday afternoon, thousands of students gathered for a Not in Our UCD rally organised by UCD Students Union (UCDSU) in partnership with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC).

The students union said the rally was not focused on one incident alone, but on what they describe as deeper issues in institutional response from classroom practices to senior decision-making structures.

The Irish Examiner contacted UCD for comment but did not receive a reply.

However, the university told RTE it had not conducted an internal investigation into the image sharing because An Garda Siochana has the forensic, technical and legal expertise and powers to do so, and said it is supporting the force as the appropriate authority to carry out the investigation.

It also said Maeve "has had the full and proactive support of the Head of the University's Advisory Service for some time and several different pastoral and academic supports in the School of Medicine".

Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, said the protest sends a "message of zero tolerance of sexual violence to all those who have experienced this form of abuse and gives hope that we can chart a different course for the future."

"It underlines that survivors should never have to face sexual violence alone and that students and staff want to carry the burden with her in solidarity for all she has endured. Together, we are all stronger," Ms Morrogh added.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
A primary school in Celbridge, Co Kildare, has closed amid safety concerns over its prefabricated buildings.

St Patrick's Primary School sent classes home last month after concerns emerged about the condition of the 19-year-old prefabs.

In a letter to parents today, the schools board of management said reviews had identified several issues.

"Following a series of recent external fire safety and building compliance reviews, the Board of Management has taken the decision to temporarily close the school building with effect from (tomorrow).

"This decision has been made in the interests of the safety, health and welfare of our pupils and staff. Independent assessments identified a number of fire safety and building compliance matters which require urgent attention.

"While there has been no specific incident giving rise to this decision, the Board considers it both prudent and responsible to pause occupation of the building in order to implement priority works and ensure full statutory compliance."

The board said the closure will allow for:

Immediate implementation of priority fire safety measures

Further verification of structural and building compliance matters

Engagement with the relevant statutory authorities to confirm a clear compliance pathway

Coordination of necessary remedial works

"The Board wishes to emphasise that this decision has been taken proactively. Acting at this stage allows required works to proceed in a controlled and structured manner, rather than responding reactively at a later point.

"We recognise that this temporary closure will cause disruption to families, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience. The safety of our school community must, however, remain the overriding consideration."

The letter added that the board is working closely with the department of education and others to "progress urgent remedial actions, determine a timeline for safe reoccupation and explore temporary accommodation solutions where feasible".

A consultant's report last year found the building is not fit for purpose to operate without considerable risk and is unsafe and poses a serious immediate threat to the well-being, health and safety of the occupants and users.

The review recommended that a "full review of the overall system including emergency and escape lighting, must be carried out by a specialist Fire Protection Systems specialist, and upgrade to current standards and regulations as required".

It also said all original emergency and escape lighting should be replaced with modern compliant fittings.

The report stated that the floor plate is rotting and failing in multiple locations" and that floor collapses have already occurred.

Speaking in the Dail last month, junior minister Niall Collins told local TDs that Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton visited the school in January. He added that she was given a tour of the building before meeting local school leaders and the board of management.

"During this visit, she was advised by the school that a number of classrooms had been closed and that the building had structural defects. St. Patrick's Primary School has submitted a number of applications for funding under the emergency works scheme for life safety equipment, fabric defects and roof works.

"The emergency works scheme operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation. On this basis, the school was advised to submit a revised scope of works with an accompanying itemised cost breakdown."

Mr Collins said that in January, the Department "engaged project engineers and contractors to address the immediate issues".

He added that a new school building for St Patrick's Primary School forms part of a campus project that "has been devolved for delivery under the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, as part of a bundled school building programme".

"The project is currently at detailed design stage of the architectural process, which involves developing the designs, fully costed planning, the campus project and preparing the necessary documentation to facilitate the application for statutory approval to the local authority."

In a statement, the Department of Education said that it would meet with the school's management on Thursday.

The department said it has received "a number of emergency works applications from the school, including in June and November of 2025", and that revised applications for emergency works funding were not received after additional information was sought.

It added that emergency works had been done after the classroom closures and that "considerable works have been carried out to the school, including clearance and remediation of gutters and drainage which were severely blocked in the school, maintenance to fire doors, replacement of sections of vinyl flooring and some discrete electrical remediation".

"The school has been provided with written programme updates, including delivery timelines for specific works.

"Works will continue in the days and weeks ahead, including during the mid-term and Easter break.

The Department is satisfied that the methodology provided to the school addresses all the issues which have been raised by the school including issues raised with regards to life safety systems and fire safety measures," it said.
The Government has signed a contract worth almost 18m for the construction of the first stage of a modern facility for the Defence Forces elite armed intervention unit.

Building of a new headquarters for the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) has been hit by delays.

In January 2024, Taoiseach Micheal Martin signalled that construction was due to start and, in November of that year, said the expected completion date for the headquarters was 2027.

Defence minister Helen McEntee said on Wednesday her department had signed a 17.65m contract for the construction of the ARW headquarters at Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh, Co Kildare.

She said the contract represents phase one of the development of the purpose-built Special Operations Forces facility, a three-phase project with a total cost of around 46m.

The minister said funding was part of the 1.7bn in the National Development Plan for Defence.

She said work on the project would start immediately and was scheduled to take 21 months, suggesting December 2028 as completion date.

Phases two and three have a combined pre-tender estimate of over 30m, with the department saying the provision of those phases will be dependent on the budgetary position.

The Commission on the Defence Forces in February 2022 recommended that the ARW should have permanent air and maritime task groups in Baldonnel Airport in Dublin and Haulbowline Naval Base in Cork.

The updated Government Detailed Implementation Plan, published last month, put a completion date for this recommendation of December 2028.
The 54-year old US national accused of the murder of Kenmare farmer Michael Gaine appeared before Tralee District Court this morning.

Michael Kelley, of no fixed abode and with a recent address in Tralee, is charged that on a date unknown between March 20 and March 21, 2025, at Carrig, Kenmare, Co. Kerry he did murder 56-year-old Michael Gaine.
Two students were threatened by two intruders armed with a knife and screwdriver that their fingers would be chopped off if they did not hand over cash and drugs, and on Wednesday one of the raiders was sentenced to nine years in jail.

The judge said the students one-hour ordeal must have felt like an eternity.

Judge Sinead Behan imposed a sentence of 11 years with the last two years suspended on 23-year-old Martin Ekhosuehi of Willow Gardens, Brooklodge, Glanmire, County Cork, at Cork at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

This was an extremely traumatic incident which was prolonged. These two students were in fear for their lives. One young man was intimidated, assaulted and threats were made against his life and body in a place he called home

"He heard the accused sigh and tut and shake his head during his evidence as if he was lying about one of the worst days of his life, Judge Behan said.

The second student similarly said his sense of personal safety had been damaged and that the experience had entered his peace of mind.

This is a very serious case The injured parties felt their lives were in danger The accused had planned and premeditated this crime and did so in a manner where they (the accused and his unidentified accomplice) dressed to conceal their identity.

"They came with a purpose. The hour must have felt like an eternity. I have not had any indication of remorse or empathy with the victims, Judge Behan said.

Detective Garda Eoghain OCallaghan originally charged Martin Ekhosuehi of Willow Gardens, Brooklodge, Glanmire, County Cork, with aggravated burglary at Highfield Avenue, College Road, Cork, two counts of assault causing harm and two more of making threats to kill or cause serious injury.

Summary of evidence

The accused man was convicted by a jury on those counts at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Det. Garda OCallaghan summarised the evidence against the 22-year-old.

He said: At 7pm on July 2, 2023, two young men at Highfield Avenue, College Road, Cork, had to run to a neighbours house to raise the alarm. They said two men had come through the front door by force.

One of them was wearing an all-black tracksuit, black ski-mask, blue latex gloves and had a large chefs knife with black handle. The second man was also wearing a black tracksuit, black gloves and had a flathead screwdriver and was carrying a backpack.

Both were demanding money. They then proceeded to ransack the house, demanding to know where cocaine and cash were located.

They were held at knifepoint and instructed to assist in the search. They got numerous punches to the head.

One of them threatened both men saying he would start cutting their fingers off.

They took 30 in cash and took the phones from them. Both fled by the backdoor of the property. A glove was left behind and was forensically examined and found to have a fingerprint matching Martin Ekhosuehi. He was also nominated as a suspect by two gardai who examined CCTV.

One of the victims was on the phone to his girlfriend in Drogheda when the raid occurred. This young woman became so concerned by background sounds and the sudden ending of the phone call that she alerted gardai to come to the property.

Gardai arrived a short time later and knocked at the door and announced their presence by shouting through the letterbox. But inside, the two students were being warned that they would be killed if they tried to call out or answer the door.

When the two intruders later left the premises the gardai were called again. They arrived to find the two students visibly shaken and with cuts to their faces.

Both students described being punched in the face. One of them had his glasses broken. They were repeatedly threatened that they would be killed and they feared for their safety.

'No remorse'

One raider said: I will start cutting off fingers, on my mothers life, if I dont start finding something soon.

Det. Garda OCallaghan said of Martin Ekhosuehi: At interview he made no admissions for his part in this heinous incident. He showed no remorse or regard for the victims. He had a complete lack of consideration.

"When the victims were giving evidence he was tutting and shaking his head during the trial. The victims were in genuine fear for their lives.

The defendants previous 14 convictions included three for having drugs for his own use, one for drug-dealing, one for money-laundering, two for possession of knives and one for production of an article in the course of a dispute.
A 3D-printed pistol was one of the weapons or imitations which a 40-year-old man admitted having in contravention of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act as he pleaded guilty to six charges at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Gary Walsh of Apartment 3, Retail Park, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, was arraigned on Wednesday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he was represented by senior counsel Ray Boland and barrister John Devlin.
A further 400 people are expected to fly from Dubai to Dublin tomorrow, as foreign affairs Minister Helen McEntee said vulnerable people will be prioritised for charter flights.

Ms McEntee said her department remains in constant engagement with airlines in the Middle East to return individuals to Ireland.

I appreciate the longer this goes on, the more challenging and distressing it is for people who want to get home, Ms McEntee said.

A plane carrying around 400 passengers back to Dublin departed Dubai this afternoon, marking the first direct flight from the Middle East to Ireland since Saturday.

Dubai Airport confirmed the flight departed and is expected to arrive in Dublin at around 10.15pm this evening.

Flights were grounded after the Israeli-US attack on Iran on Saturday and the retaliatory strikes that followed.

Services from Dubai have gradually resumed, with the first direct flight to Dublin scheduled to take off at 6pm Dubai time and land shortly after 10pm Irish time.

Speaking on Newstalk, foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee confirmed that about 400 passengers will travel on the first Emirates flight to Dublin.

In the last few days, there have been a limited number of flights that are taking off, and, as you can imagine, they're going to every part of the world, she said.

We're not the only people trying to get our citizens out. We have, over the past few days, had a number of people who have been able to get to London or to Berlin or to other parts of Europe.

But we now have confirmation, having been engaging with the airlines, that there will be a direct flight to Dublin today.

That flight will have up to, if not a little bit more than, 400 people on it. That's obviously a really positive development, and we are pushing for more direct flights to Dublin.

Hopefully, if it continues as is, so the airspace continues to allow these flights to get out, we would hope that more people would be able to get on those flights, and that we will have more direct flights to Dublin.

Ms McEntee said airlines are prioritising passengers stuck in transit in the Middle East or holidaying in the region.

Charter flight from Oman

Ms McEntee also confirmed the Government has signed a contract for a charter flight from Oman to bring Irish citizens back to Dublin on Thursday.

The flight is expected to carry 280 people who registered with the Irish Embassy in the UAE. Passengers will make a six- to eight-hour bus journey to Oman before boarding.

Ms McEntee said the charter flight would prioritise the most vulnerable and described it as the first of many if required.

She confirmed that Irish citizens travelling on the charter flight from Oman to Dublin will have to pay a charge.

It is understood the charge will apply to anyone aged 16 and over, with passengers paying 800 each.

One Government source said the fee aligns with previous repatriation flights organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs during the covid-19 pandemic.

The source said the Government is covering some of the cost of the flight.

Individuals who express interest in taking the charter will be asked to pay the costs via PayPal, with an invoice being sent directly from the Government.

While passengers will pay for the flight, there will be no charge for the bus journey to Oman, Ms McEntee added.

Of course, if there are people in significant difficulty, we will support them. Wee will make sure that they can get on the flight if they need to get home and we can work with them beyond that, Ms McEntee said.

She said the quickest way for Irish people to return home remains on commercial flights, with airlines contacting travellers directly.

Ms McEntee said that if the war is ongoing when Taoiseach Micheal Martin visits the White House in two weeks, he will stress that we have to get people back around the table to de-escalate and end the conflict in the Middle East.

She added: Back around the table might sound soft, but that is the only option here. This is the only way that this is resolved and that people find a way forward, because anything other than that just creates further instability.
The United Nations has just concluded its first session to draft a new treaty on the rights of older persons in Geneva. When adopted, this will have profound implications for the future of law and policy as it affects older persons in Ireland.

It is entirely conceivable the EU will also ratify this treaty, which means EU law and policy will also have to adapt accordingly.

For the past number of years, commentators have pointed out the growing cohort of older persons in most countries. In some respects, this has caused moral panic  what to do with the growing population of older persons and how to fund services with a declining working population. However, this is not the reason  or not the main reason  why a treaty is needed.

We have become inured to the idea that all human rights are universal and enjoyed by all equally. This is a high aspiration. But it bumps up against reality. Many groups have had their humanity discounted.

Ageism  something common around the world  works to discount the humanity of older persons. It is simply assumed they do not want to, or cannot, exercise their fundamental rights  rights they do not lose because of age.

This affects the full spread of rights, but particularly rights that enable us to continue to make our own way in the world. This would include the right to make our own decisions (with support if needed), the right to live independently and in the community, and the right to services that enable this to happen. That will require a transformation of the service landscape.

Gerard Quinn: 'If the EU ultimately ratifies this treaty, then potentially its funding streams can be used to foster innovation, especially with respect to the ending of institutionalisation.'

During covid, then taoiseach Leo Varadkar mused Ireland may need a de-institutionalisation programme for older persons similar to that for persons with disabilities. Uppermost in his mind were the high rates of deaths in institutions such as nursing homes. He was right.

In July 2025, then foreign affairs minister Simon Harris answered a parliamentary question about the Government's attitude toward the prospect of a new treaty. His answer was quite positive. He pointed out Ireland co-sponsored the resolution in the UN Human Rights Commission that commenced the process, and voiced strong support for the process. It will be interesting to track the input of Ireland to the process.

A European regional conference has already been held in Brussels preparing for the process. If the EU ultimately ratifies this treaty, then potentially its funding streams can be used to foster innovation, especially with respect to the ending of institutionalisation. That would dramatically change the imagination shown in policies on ageing across Europe.

The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older Persons has recently issued a thematic paper setting out themes, principles and possible provisions for a new treaty. This should be consulted by anyone interested in the process.

And it seems the process itself will be quite open. Groups in Ireland who are interested could register with the UN and thus have a voice in this process: Inter Governmental Working Group on Older Persons.

So a group of older persons in Cork interested in de-institutionalisation can have as much say as the institutions themselves. This is very welcome, and people are encouraged to make use of their opportunities. A process like this does not happen often. And, if done right, could prove transformational. It is certainly long overdue.
The upcoming National Convention on Education  the first of its kind since 1993  is a moment of profound, if fragile, potential. It is being sold to us as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Irish classroom. Yet, as delegates prepare to meet later this month, a shadow of scepticism looms large over the school gates.

After decades of departmental silence, this sudden urge for a national conversation feels less like a proactive vision and more like a tactical distraction from a system currently in freefall.

There is a distinct irony in the urgent pace of educational reform in this country. It has taken approximately 240 days, or eight full months, to move from the ministers grand announcement in July 2025 to opening the doors this March.

They spent eight months preparing to talk, only to give the public a mere 45 days to actually say something. It is a classic administrative masterclass: long on the choreography of the event and remarkably short on the time allowed for the substance.

The timing of this convention has raised some deeply uncomfortable questions for those of us on the frontline.

If the goal is a collaborative redesign of our schools, why was the lead-up to this conversation dominated by attempts to slash special needs assistant (SNA) supports?

In February, nearly 200 schools were notified of significant cuts to their allocations, sparking a wave of anxiety for families and staff alike. While the subsequent pause and the 19m funding patch are a relief, they leave me wondering: why seek to dismantle vital supports on the very eve of a convention meant to protect them?

It felt less like a fresh start and more like a cynical attempt to lower the baseline of minimum support before the public even had a chance to speak.

For this convention to truly mean something, its success wont be measured by the prestige of its delegates or the quality of its seminars. It will be measured by whether it produces immediate, tangible change that ends the exhausting cycle of policy-by-backtrack.

Natalie Murphy and her daughter Lily from Dublin join special needs assistants in a demonstration outside Leinster House in Dublin on February 25, 2026. File picture: PA

We cannot have a system where parents and principals must spend every spring fighting just to maintain a lifeline for our most vulnerable students. We need to move beyond temporary patches and instead legislate for a minimum essential support level. This would ensure that no school sees its SNA numbers drop below a safe, functional ratio without a transparent, clinical audit. Furthermore, we must bring therapeutic services speech and language therapists and psychologists  directly into school clusters. Placing these professionals where the children are would bypass the years of red tape that currently stall a childs development.

We also need to address the teacher supply crisis with more than just rhetoric. Currently, we have a world-class system on paper, yet I see schools regularly forced to drop subjects because there is simply nobody to teach them. To fix this, we must ensure that newly qualified teachers can walk straight into secure, full-time jobs upon graduation. For too long, our best young talent has been left to fish around the murky waters of part-time hours and temporary contracts.

The blame here does not lie with my fellow principals; we are doing our best to piece together timetables with the hours we are given. The solution must be structural. By overhauling and reducing pupil-teacher ratios, the Government would provide schools with the staffing autonomy to offer full-time contracts as a standard. Without this, the gig economy of piecemeal hours will continue to drive our graduates abroad.

Ultimately, every challenge we face comes back to a fundamental lack of investment. Ireland currently invests just 2.9% of its GDP in education, a figure that sits in the shadow of the OECD average of 4.9%. This is why schools are still forced to ask for voluntary contributions just to keep the lights on and the radiators warm. The convention must demand a legislative commitment to a five-year funding escalator to reach international standards. We need a core costs guarantee so that every capitation grant covers 100% of a schools running costs  heat, light, and insurance  without exception.

If the recommendations of this convention are simply brought before yet another committee or lost in a maze of subsequent meetings, we will have failed a generation. We dont need another talk shop or a list of aspirational goals to be filed away. We need a funded, practical blueprint for action. For the principal trying to staff a classroom and the parent fighting for their childs rights, the time for conversation has long since passed. We are ready to work, but we need the Government to finally commit to the tools we need to do the job.
Cork County Council plays a central role in shaping the countys development and ensuring its long term prosperity. With ambitious housing delivery, expanding community amenities, and landmark projects across a county that is diverse in its needs, Cork is transforming at a scale that matches its potential.

The Council, collaborating with other agencies, is leading the way in supporting communities, providing frontline services and amenities for our citizens, developing supporting infrastructure on a small and large scale and tackling flooding and climate issues.

Affordable Housing at The Waters Edge, Church Road, Carrigaline, Co Cork.

Housing

Delivering more homes remains a core priority for Cork County Council, with 2,200 units at various stages from planning to delivery and the Council has identified major land sites to activate early housing delivery.

Affordable housing at Clonmore, Mallow.

In 2025, strong progress was made across the housing programme, with a particular focus on Affordable Housing schemes that have generated significant interest.

The Council also drove vacancy reduction, approving 1,013 refurbishment grant applications, issuing 15.4 million in payments, and completing energy upgrades on 166 homes. Key housing supports, including HAP, RAS and Traveller Accommodation, continued throughout the year.

In 2026, new Affordable and Cost Rental projects, expanded vacancy supports, regeneration efforts and a strengthened landbank will drive further delivery.

A countywide zoning review, due for completion this year, will identify substantial additional serviceable lands to support sustainable future growth and an increase in housing delivery. The Council remains focused on engaging with other agencies to ensure that new homes are matched with the key essential infrastructure, transport, water, wastewater and community facilities, needed to support vibrant, well-connected, sustainable communities.

Connectivity infrastructure

Strengthening the infrastructure that connects Cork is a central focus. A major step forward came with the start of construction on the 456 million M28 Cork-Ringaskiddy project, set to deliver 11km of new road by summer 2028.

Work on the M28 at Carrigaline, Co Cork.

Progress also continues on the R624 Great Island Connectivity Scheme for Cobh, now moving into the planning phase with consultant appointments imminent. Several other strategic projects are lined up for advancement in2026, including the CorkLimerick M20, the N25 Carrigtwohill-Midleton and Midleton-Youghal upgrade, the Mallow Relief Road and N71 Innishannon. Bandon & Bantry Bypasses.Alongside these major schemes, the Council remains committed to community level improvements, with funding supporting a range of smaller infrastructure projects that will make a meaningful difference to towns and villages across the county.

Economic development and tourism

Economic development is a key area for the Council, with Corks diverse economy powered by strong SMEs, a thriving agri-food and tourism base, and robust FDI employing around 50,000 people across Cork. Small businesses continue to perform strongly, with 436 new jobs created in 2025 through Local Enterprise Office supports, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth.

Cork County Council also operates flexible work hubs in Bantry, Cobh, Fermoy and Mitchelstown  helping to anchor local business activity.

The Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship docked in Cobh.

Corks landscapes, heritage and culture make it one of Irelands key destinations, and Cork County Council continues to work with Visit Cork and Failte Ireland to strengthen that appeal. In 2025, the Council supported over 70 festivals, boosting local creativity and tourism across the county. Work begins this year on the new Claycastle Water Facility Activity Centre, while public realm upgrades in Bantry are enhancing its role as a standout Wild Atlantic Way destination.

Investment in heritage-led regeneration is also advancing. Through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, 772,000 has been secured to progress plans for transforming the derelict Old Steam Mill in Skibbereen into a famine story and exhibition centre, with further development expected in 2026. Some 340,000 was awarded under the same fund for Camden Fort Meagher and will be used to create a heritage sensitive Regeneration Plan for this large-scale site dating back to 1690 to significantly enhance the visitor experience Greenway projects continue to progress, and Council owned attractions reported strong visitor numbers throughout 2025.

The Council works closely with Failte Ireland on Destination Experience Development Plans to deliver multiple Town and Village Renewal projects. Alongside this, Cork is promoted as a vibrant place to explore - home to rich culture, a dramatic coastline and the worlds second largest natural harbour.

Iconic sites such as Camden Fort Meagher, Cobh Heritage Centre, Dursey Island Cable Car, Harpers Island Wetlands, Kinsale Museum, Mallow Castle, Michael Collins House and Trail, Skibbereen Heritage Centre, Spike Island and Youghal Clock Gate Tower showcase the countys unique character. Continued collaboration with Tourism Ireland, Failte Ireland and local stakeholders ensures these attractions drive footfall, support local economies and strengthen communities.

One standout achievement in 2025 was the arrival of cruise ships to Schull and Baltimore, bringing new visitors to West Cork and showcasing the regions growing international appeal.

Failte Ireland, in partnership with Cork County Council, Cork City Council and the Port of Cork, is developing a Cork Harbour Tourism Plan aimed at transforming the visitor experience and positioning Cork Harbour as a world class sustainable destination.

Looking ahead, Cork County Council is focused on strengthening business growth and tourism through a range of programmes designed to enhance local infrastructure, upgrade key amenities, and create even more reasons for visitors to explore and return.

Town centre renewal

Regeneration planning is progressing countywide. Vision Statements and Town Centre First Plans have been advanced for Mitchelstown and Kanturk. This was done in Skibbereen too - already securing 3 million for regeneration projects in the town - with Macroom and Bantry Vision Statements to follow in 2026. This work, developed in partnership with local Town Teams, ensures communities shape the future of their towns while strengthening their position for national funding opportunities.

The Council is also driving town-centre renewal. By the end of 2025, 2,879 properties had been assessed for vacancy, with 1,436 confirmed vacant and active engagement is now underway with owners to unlock financial supports. Since 2022, 1,468 refurbishment grants worth 17.3 million have been approved to bring long-term vacant homes and buildings back into use.

Frontline services

Cork County Council is investing heavily in frontline services, including our Fire Brigade and outdoor crews to make our communities feel safe including the delivery and planning of several modern fire stations across the county. In January 2026, a major milestone was reached with the official opening of the new Clonakilty Fire Station, a state-of-the-art facility on Park Road that replaces the 80-year-old Kent Street station. The new building, which serves more than 18,000 people, provides expanded appliance bays, modern training rooms, and improved welfare amenities for the 12-strong crew, significantly enhancing the brigades capacity to respond to the roughly 150 emergency incidents they attend each year.

This investment is part of a broader modernisation programme that has already delivered new fire stations in Kanturk and Macroom, both completed and officially opened in 2022. These signal the councils sustained commitment to upgrading emergency service infrastructure and providing firefighters with safer, more functional operating environments.

Looking ahead, plans for a new fire station in Dunmanway are advancing, with formal planning set to begin in 2026.

Further proposed upgrades include new stations for Charleville, Mitchelstown, and Youghal. These projects have been identified in the Councils submissions for the 20262030 Fire Services Capital Programme.

Coastal and flood defences

The Council is planning in acknowledgement of the impacts of Climate Change on our coastal and flood-prone areas.

Cork County Council recognises the severe impact Storm Babet had on communities across East Cork and remains fully committed to supporting residents as long term protections continue.

Since October 2023, the Council has been working closely with the OPW to advance major flood mitigation measures for Midleton and the wider area. The Major Midleton Flood Relief Scheme is progressing steadily, with a planning application to An Coimisiun Pleanala due in 2026. The project has also received a Minded to Determine notice from MARA for its required marine area consent, an important milestone.

While this large-scale scheme moves through the statutory process, the Council has delivered extensive interim works. These include replacing non-return valves, installing temporary defences in Woodlands, clearing obstructions and vegetation from river channels, and installing new river level gauges and weather stations, now providing real-time data to the public.

The Council is also advancing the Individual Property Protection Scheme, supporting 725 properties across Midleton and East Cork, the largest initiative of its kind in the State.

Further works are planned this year, including the approved flood defence project at Tir Cluain, which will protect 135 homes. During severe weather, Council crews continue to provide on-the-ground support, early warnings and round-the-clock monitoring.

Cork County Council remains committed to working with residents, businesses and all partners to strengthen flood resilience across the region.

Community infrastructure and amenities

Building on a strong record of delivering major capital and community infrastructure, the Council continues to enhance cultural, educational, environmental, and recreational amenities across the county.

A major milestone has been the opening of the new three-storey Kinsale Library, created through the redevelopment of the historic James ONeill Building. The facility is significantly larger than its predecessor and now offers over 25,000 items, dedicated event and exhibition spaces, and extended self-service opening hours through the My Open Library service.

In Midleton, the towns historic former market house, now Midleton Library, has undergone comprehensive refurbishment, preserving its 18th century architecture while supporting modern, accessible library services for the community.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, pictured with Chief Executive Moira Murrell presented a total of 11 awards at the 13th Annual Mayors Community Awards in Cork County Hall. Pic: Brian Lougheed

Macroom has also benefited from the complete redevelopment and reopening of the Briery Gap Theatre and Library, transforming the fire-damaged building into a modern cultural hub with a 215-seat auditorium, upgraded technical facilities, and a bright, accessible library space.

Recreational infrastructure is expanding. In Dunmanway, the Council has purchased land at the West End for community use, while in Mallow, a major multimillion euro refurbishment of the swimming pool is underway, delivering modernised changing areas, upgraded mechanical and electrical systems, improved energy efficiency, and an enhanced visitor experience.

On Cape Clear Island, the long-established Leabharlann Oilean Chleire has been officially reopened in a new modern facility at North Harbour. Originally founded in 1978, the library had relocated several times before its recent closure in 2023. The newly refurbished library now features improved spaces for reading and events, a dedicated community meeting area, and modern digital services supported by Starlink satellite connectivity, ensuring reliable access to PC, printing, and WiFi services equivalent to mainland branches.

Together, these investments reflect the Councils commitment to strengthening Corks cultural, social, and physical infrastructure. In a period of great opportunity for the county and wider region, strong partnerships, innovation, and shared ambition continue to drive progress and enhance quality of life for communities across Cork.

Corks remarkable diversity, spanning vibrant urban centres, rural heartlands, and uniquely resilient island communities, continues to shape the countys strategic vision for inclusive and sustainable development.

As part of this commitment, work is underway on an updated West Cork Islands Strategy in partnership with the West Cork Islands Interagency Group, which brings together a range of organisations from both the islands and the mainland.

This collaborative approach is designed to support the sustainable economic, social, and cultural development of West Corks seven inhabited islands: Chleire, Bere, Whiddy, Dursey, Long, Sherkin, and Heir.

Through these efforts, Cork County Council is championing tourism, community vitality, and economic opportunity across the full breadth of West Cork.

People

All of Cork County Councils varied work is done under the democratic mandate of its 55 Elected Members and the broad range of services delivered by its 2,700 staff. Elected Members represent communities across our eight Municipal Districts and play a central role in policy development, oversight, and reserved functions.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley launching Culture Night 2025 at Camden Fort Meaghar with Ronan McLoughlin, Fire Performer, ROGU. Photo: Anna Groniecka

The Councils workforce spans administrative, professional, technical, and outdoor roles, providing frontline services and essential supports.

Both Elected Members and staff are dedicated to ensuring that all Council business is carried out with transparency and strong governance.

Cork County Council is committed to delivering high-quality services and supports for the people and businesses of Cork.

Our county is an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family, offering a strong environment for enterprise alongside an outstanding quality of life for all who call Cork home.

www.corkcoco.ie
Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the assassinated Ali Khamenei, is being heavily tipped to succeed his father as supreme leader of Iran, which would pitch a hardliner into the task of steering the Islamic republic through the most turbulent period in its 48-year history and offer a powerful signal that, for now, it has no intention of changing course.

No official confirmation has been given and the announcement may be delayed until after the funeral of Ali Khamenei. His son is believed to have been the choice of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Israeli defence minister, Gideon Saar, has warned he will be assassinated.

Ayatollah Seyed Khatani, a member of the Assembly of Experts, the body that chooses the new supreme leader, said the assembly was close to selecting a leader.

Rigid in his anti-western views, Mojtaba Khamenei is not the candidate that Donald Trump would have wanted. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said on Tuesday that Iran was run by religious fanatic lunatics and Khameneis appointment is hardly likely to dispel that opinion.

The choice of supreme leader is made by the 88 strong Assembly of Experts who in this case are picking from a field of six possible candidates. His election would be a powerful if unsurprising symbol that the government is not looking to find an accommodation with America.

Donald Trump has said the worst case scenario would be if Khameneis successor was as bad as the previous person.

There has been speculation stretching back more than a decade that he would be his fathers successor, which grew when Ebrahim Raisi, the elected president and favourite of Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash.

Mojtaba Khamenei was born in 1969 and studied theology after graduating from high school. At the age of 17, he went to serve in the Iran-Iraq war, but it was not until the late 1990s that he came to be recognised as a public figure in his own right.

After the landslide defeat of Khameneis preferred candidate, Ali Akbar Nategh Nuri, in the 1997 presidential election, where he won only 25% of the final vote, various conservative Iranian groups realised the need to make changes to their structures and Mojtaba Khamenei was central to that project.

He was also seen as instrumental by reformists in suppressing the protests in 2009 that came after allegations the presidential election had been rigged, with his name chanted in the streets as one of those responsible. Mostafa Tajzadeh, a senior member of Irans reformist parties who was imprisoned after the vote, alleged that his and his wife Fakhr al-Sadat Mohtashamipours legal case was under the direct supervision of Mojtaba Khamenei.

In 2022 he was given the title of ayatollah  essential to his promotion  and by then he was a regular figure by his fathers side at political meetings, as well as playing an influential role in the Islamic Republics Broadcasting Corporation, the governments official media outlet that is often criticised for churning out dull political propaganda many Iranians reject in favour of overseas satellite channels. He has also played a central role in the administration of his fathers substantial financial empire.

His closest political allies are Ahmad Vahidi, the newly appointed IRGC commander; Hossein Taeb, a former head of the IRGCs Intelligence Organization; and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the current speaker of the parliament.

His rumoured appointment and its hereditary nature has long been resisted by reformists. The former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, referring to the long history of rumours about Mojtaba Khamenei succeeding his father as leader, wrote in 2022: News of this conspiracy have been heard for 13 years. If they are not truly pursuing it, why dont they deny such an intention once and for all? The Assembly of Experts, in response, denounced meaninglessness of doubts insisting the assembly would only select the most qualified and the most suitable.

Israel on Tuesday struck the building in the Iranian city of Qom, one of Shia Islams main seats of power, where the assembly was scheduled, but the building was empty, according to IRGC-affiliated media.
Explosions sounded in Irans capital city on Wednesday as its war with the US and Israel entered a fifth day.

The latest attacks followed earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

Iranian state television reported explosions around Tehran as dawn broke while Israel said its air defences were activated due to incoming missile fire from Iran.

US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent Society.

Large fire and plume of smoke is visible after, according to the authorities, debris of an Iranian intercepted drone hit the Fujairah oil facility, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (Altaf Qadri/AP)

In Lebanon, where Israel launched retaliatory strikes on the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah, 50 people were killed, including seven children, Lebanons health ministry said.

Lebanons state-run media reported that at least four people were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a residential complex in the city of Baalbeck.

Kuwait, which had previously reported a single death, said on Wednesday that an 11-year-old girl was killed by falling shrapnel as Kuwaiti forces were intercepting hostile aerial targets.

In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain.

Qatars ministry of defence said early on Wednesday that Iran launched two ballistic missiles against it and one hit Al-Udeid Qatari Base, but did not cause casualties.

The other missile was intercepted by air defence, the ministry said.

A woman crosses an almost deserted square with a billboard at rear showing a portrait of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the USIsraeli military campaign, in Tehran on Tuesday (Vahid Salemi/AP)

A day earlier, Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear research site and Iran struck back against Israel and others, targeting US embassies and disrupting energy supplies and travel.

The American embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks. Iran has fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, although most of the incoming fire has been intercepted. Eleven people in Israel have been killed since the conflict began.

US embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon said they were closed to the public.

The US State Department said early on Wednesday it had authorised non-emergency government personnel and family members to evacuate Saudi Arabia should they choose due to the war having previously ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

US citizens were urged to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, although many were stranded because of airspace closures.

US president Donald Trump and administration has offered various objectives, including destroying Irans missile capabilities, wiping out its navy, preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring it cannot continue to support allied armed groups.

While the initial US-Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Mr Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government, senior administration officials have since said regime change was not the goal.

Mr Trump on Tuesday seemed to downplay the chances of the war ending Irans theocratic rule, saying that someone from within the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the campaign is finished.

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Washington (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Speaking on Tuesday from the Oval Office, Mr Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans toppled shah, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over.

As far as possible leaders inside Iran, the people we had in mind are dead, Mr Trump said.

I guess the worst case would be do this, and then somebody takes over whos as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen, he said. We dont want that to happen.

Irans leaders are scrambling to replace Mr Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. It is only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen. Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement.

The top US military commander in the Middle East said American forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran since the operation against the Islamic Republic began.

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, said in a video posted on X on Tuesday that the US military has severely degraded Irans air defences and taken out hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers and drones.

He said Iran has launched more 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones in retaliation.

But he said the US is hunting Irans last remaining mobile ballistic missile launchers to eliminate their lingering launch capability while the operation has involved more than 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers and bombers, and more capability is on the way.

Weve just begun, he said.
Iranian Kurdish militias have consulted with the United States in recent days about whether, and how, to attack Iran's security forces in the western part of the country, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.

The Iranian Kurdish coalition of groups based on the Iran-Iraq border in the semiautonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan has been training to mount such an attack in hopes of weakening the country's military, as the United States and Israel pound Iranian targets with bombs and missiles.

The goal would be to create room for Iranians opposed to the Islamic regime to rise up now that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials have been killed since the US-Israeli attack began on Saturday, two of the sources said.

A final decision has not yet been made on the operation and its possible timing, added the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk freely about sensitive military planning.

The groups have requested US military support and Iraqi leaders in Erbil and Baghdad have also been in touch with the Trump administration in recent days, they said.

The forces are in talks with the United States about CIA help to provide weapons, two of the sources said.

CNN was the first to report on the CIA's involvement with the groups and the potential ground operation. Axios said this week that President Trump held a telephone call with two of Iraqi Kurdistans top leaders.

Reuters could not independently confirm the extent of the CIAs involvement in the planning of the operation, if it had facilitated the weapons or if any US forces planned to go into Iran with the Kurdish groups.

The CIA declined to comment. The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Kurdish Regional Government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Any operation from Iraq would probably require significant U.S. military and intelligence support.

The Pentagon says the two US bases in Erbil have supported the international coalition fighting Islamic State militants.

Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan have a long history of working with the US but their shifting allegiances and ideologies have at times strained ties with Washington.

The United States worked with some of the Kurdish groups in Iraq both during the Iraq War and the battle against ISIS.

But it is unclear how successful the Iranian Kurdish groups would be in their fight inside Iran. The groups fighters have varying degrees of experience on the battlefield.

A source cited by CNN said the plan would be for Kurdish armed forces to take on Iranian security forces to make it easier for an uprising of unarmed Iranians in the countrys cities.

It is not clear exactly how such an operation in Iran by the Kurds will be received by other countries in the region.

An armed uprising by the Iranian Kurds could have serious consequences for Iran's stability.
By Ali Mamouri, Deakin University

(The Conversation)  The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei triggered immediate and sharply polarised reactions, in Iran and around the world.

In some circles, it was openly celebrated as the end of an era associated with repression, theocracy and regional confrontation. In others, it was met with deep grief, prayers and public mourning.

The division was visible far beyond Irans borders . . .

Inside Iran, the picture was similarly complex. Some citizens expressed relief or celebrated, particularly those who had experienced repression or economic hardship. Many others publicly mourned Khamenei, attending ceremonies or sharing messages of grief.

This raises a deeper question: why does one political and religious figure provoke such radically different emotional responses, not only across societies, but within the same communities?

The legacy of resilience

Khameneis legacy cannot be understood through a single lens. For some, he embodied political resistance and religious values. For others, he symbolised authoritarian rule, curtailed freedoms and missed democratic opportunities.

Any serious assessment must begin by recognising that both readings coexist  and that his impact on the Muslim world and the Middle East will remain deeply contested.

For his supporters, Khamenei was not merely an Iranian leader. He was a pillar of regional resistance politics and a religious authority. He transformed political Islam into a force capable of confronting what he framed as global hegemony and modern forms of colonial domination.

Through the formation of the so-called axis of resistance and his consistent call for Islamic opposition to the United States and Israel, he became a leading figure for Shiite movements and segments of Sunni political Islam.

Sunni groups such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood were not created by Iran. Yet they voluntarily aligned themselves with Tehrans resistance framework, forming close strategic ties.

Israels withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, and the US withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 as a result of Iranian-backed resistance, significantly elevated Khameneis standing among many Muslims. This reinforced the perception that resistance could produce tangible results.

For Shiites, his legacy carries additional weight. His support for Shiite communities living in Sunni-ruled states  many of whom had experienced long periods of marginalisation  was seen as a historic political shift.

For many Shiite communities in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and beyond, Khameineis leadership symbolised political empowerment, the building of political and military institutions, and the creation of a new balance of power.

As guardian of the Islamic Republic, his ability to steer the regime through sanctions, protests, war and internal crises  while expanding Irans regional influence  also earned him domestic support.

Some Iranians viewed him as a stabilising, patriotic figure. After eight years of war with Iraq shattered the country, he rebuilt the political, economic and military systems. He also shaped Irans doctrine of defiance against pressure from Israel and the West.

As a result, his death viewed by supporters as martyrdom may inspire them for long.

The legacy of authoritarianism

On the other hand, Khameneis rule was marked by severe restrictions on political freedoms inside Iran and support for dictators such as Syrias Bashar al-Assad. This cost him popularity among other Sunni Muslims in the Arab world.

His regime forcefully suppressed reformist movements and successive waves of protest  including the most recent nationwide demonstrations. Journalists, civil society activists and opposition figures faced arrests, bans and systematic pressure.

The central tension of his legacy remains clear: the same system that empowered certain communities beyond Irans borders simultaneously constrained political freedoms at home.

Khamenei will remain one of the most consequential Middle Eastern figures of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His death does not end the debate over political Islam, state sovereignty or resistance politics. If anything, it intensifies it.



Ali Khamenei meets Fidel Castro at Non-Aligned Meeting in Zimbabwe, 1986. Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons

Reactions to his death mirror the deeper fault lines within the Muslim world between secularism and religiosity, sovereignty and global integration, resistance and reform.

History will remember him as a defining figure whose impact reshaped the region  for better or worse.

Ali Mamouri, Research Fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  As the Israeli-American-Iran War of 2026 enters its fifth day, it becomes clear that Israel and the US are fighting a conventional air war. Iran, in contrast, is fighting a techno-guerrilla war.

The US and Israeli decapitation strikes, killing over 40 high-ranking Iranian officials, have not had the desired effect. This is because Iran is not functioning as a top-down command-and-control dictatorship. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps is reverting to its guerrilla roots and is operating with something like a cell structure. Reports from Iran suggest that before he was killed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei established three to four layers of command in each of the major institutions. If one layer is killed by Israeli bombardment, the one beneath it activates.

It is worth noting that quite apart from its failure, this tactic of killing civilian leaders is a war crime and is unprecedented in modern warfare. The Israeli right wing is determined to tear down every last vestige of International Humanitarian Law as it was legislated into being after WW II, and has cheapened public discourse to the point where no public officials even bother to call out these serial war crimes. Even Vladimir Putin, who has committed plenty of war crimes of his own, has not just offed Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiyy.

The Israelis have long been fixated on decapitation as a military strategy. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon deployed it against Hamas in the early years of this century. It doesnt work against guerrilla groups organzed by cell or clan very well, which is why Hamas has still not been wiped out despite the Gaza genocide. The US deployed decapitation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and it was so ineffective that in 2014 ISIL took 40% of Iraq. It was only defeated by boots on the ground, with good air support. In 2024 a splinter group from ISIL, led by Ahmad Al-Sharaa, took Syria.

Never miss an issue of Informed Comment: Click here to subscribe to our email newsletter! Social media will pretend to let you subscribe but then use algorithms to suppress the postings and show you their ads instead. And please, if you see an essay you like, paste it into an email and share with friends.

The Israelis on Tuesday claimed to have hit buildings of the elected members of the Assembly of Experts, the 88 clerics who act sort of like the college of cardinals in Catholicism. The Assembly of Experts selects a new clerical Leader of Iran when the old one leaves office or dies. The Iranian media say that the buildings had long since been evacuated and that no ayatollahs were hurt. Even if some had been, more can be elected, There are thousands of ayatollahs in Iran and hundreds of prominent ones.

Again, these are elected civilian officials, and murdering them from the air is a war crime.

In any case, the office of the clerical leader is an institution and cannot be decapitated. As long as the Islamic Republic of Iran exists, the Assembly of Experts can always be reconstituted if it loses members and it can always elect another Leader. I dont say Supreme Leader because that is not the title in Persian. It is august leader (rahbar-e mo`azzam) and there is no superlative involved.

For these organizational reasons, the decapitation strikes have failed to prevent the Iranian military from firing thousands of missiles, rockets and drones at Israel, Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and even Oman. While some of its stockpiles and launchers have been destroyed by Israeli and American strikes, Iran has a very large number of inexpensive Shahed drones, and is manufacturing more during the war. They only cost about $30,000 apiece, but the interceptors to shoot them down cost $1.5 million apiece. Iran claims to have 80,000 Shaheds and to be able to manufacture 400 a day. Despite bravado, there are reasons to think that the US and its allies are running low on interceptors.



Iranian Shahed 131 Drone. Public Domain. Via Picryl

The Revolutionary Guards and military cells that are now taking their own initiative in the absence of reliable command-and-control have decided to take the Arab Gulf states and the world economy hostage as a way of forcing Trump and Netanyahu to back off. As with all hostage-taking, it is a horrible tactic that harms ordinary people. On Tuesday, Iran launched a thousand rocket and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates, a major oil exporter. With insecurity in the Persian Gulf, oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker traffic has come to a standstill. Qatar, a major world supplier of LNG, has ceased production. Petroleum prices are rising, and if they go on doing so, they could throw the world into a recession. In response, the US stock market fell on Tuesday, as did other markets around the world. How low can they go? And while there is an oil glut at the moment and countries like China have stockpiles of petroleum, the loss of Qatari natural gas is going to hurt consumers in places with cold springs.

Irans cadres are betting that the Gulf states and petroleum and gas-consuming states will put enormous pressure on Trump to halt his mercurial and senseless war. Hostage-taking is a common tactic in warfare in general and guerrilla warfare in particular, though Im using the term somewhat metaphorically. I have no idea if it will work, but certainly the Gulf oil and gas states are suffering a massive economic hit, and their customers cannot be far behind.
Han Hyo Joo, a South Korean actress, has said that she just graduated from a Buddhist university program. She also said that she is still Catholic and that she took the classes because she was interested in them.

On February 28, Han appeared on the YouTube channel DdeunDdeun with actresses Han Ji Min and Park Bo Young. That's when the news came out. The three stars talked openly in the video "Getting Coupons is Just an Excuse."

AllKpop says that Han Hyo Joo talked about the subject carefully during the broadcast.

Han seemed unsure about making the news public before she spoke. She said, "I'm not sure if I should say this, but coincidentally, I graduated from Buddhist University on my birthday, February 22,"

Han Ji Min added information about her friend's studies to make the timeline clearer.

READ MORE: Han Hyo Joo Reveals Co-Star She Had the Best Chemistry With: 'I would love to if the situation works out'

Han Ji Min said, "She's currently attending Buddhist University," Han Hyo Joo then talked about why she was doing it and her religious background.

"I'm originally Catholic. I did not change my religion. I just wanted to study it a little. It was about a six-month program," she said.

She went into more detail about the course structure and what it would cover.

"We studied Buddhist theory. Classes were once a week online. There were no exams. It was more like studying the mind. The graduation ceremony is also online. I am planning to buy a bouquet for myself," Han Hyo Joo said.

KBIZoom's report brought out more details, including the fact that Han's interest in Buddhism was partly shaped by the people around her.

Han Ji Min talked more about a spiritual program she had been a part of before. Venerable Pomnyun leads a program called the Enlightenment Retreat.

"There is a program called the Enlightenment Retreat led by Venerable Pomnyun. I joined it in 2009 because of writer Noh Hee Kyung and recommended it to Hyo Joo. She went further and even attended Buddhist University. It was impressive. She practiced meditation and the 108 prostrations diligently."

People were interested in the news online because Han Hyo Joo is a well-known Catholic. She did, however, stress that her involvement in the Buddhist program was only for academic and reflective reasons, not to convert to Buddhism.

The actress is preparing for her upcoming projects, and her candid remarks about faith and personal growth have resonated deeply with her fans.

READ MORE: Did You Know? Han Hyo Joo, Jo In Sung Have Worked Together Multiple Times Before 'Moving'
Actress Jun Ji-hyun has added two more buildings and a piece of land in the Seongsu-dong area of Seongdong-gu to her real estate portfolio in Seoul.

According to court records obtained on February 27, 2026, Jun bought two buildings: one with a basement and five floors above ground for about $15.6 million USD and another with one to three stories above ground for about $21.8 million USD. She also bought the land between the two buildings for about $1.85 million USD, which brought the total cost to about $39.25 million USD.

Daum said that Jun Ji-hyun has been investing in real estate in Seoul for a number of years. The actress bought a duplex penthouse in Acro Seoul Forest, Seongdong-gu, for $10.9 million USD in 2023. She also bought a commercial building in Deungchon-dong, Gangseo-gu, for $42.4 million USD in 2022. She also owns commercial real estate in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, and Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu.

In the past, Jun Ji-hyun has made money from buying and selling real estate. StarNews said that she sold a building in Nonhyeon-dong in 2021 for about $11.8 million USD, and that she sold her home in Samseong-dong in 2014 for $10.9 million USD, having bought it for $6.3 million USD.

READ MORE: Jun Ji Hyun's Husband is The Highest Shareholder of His Firm

A Daum spokesperson said, "This recent investment brings Jun Ji-hyun's total commercial real estate holdings to five properties, with a combined value estimated at nearly $126 million USD."

Jun Ji-hyun is still able to balance her acting career with her real estate investments. She will star in the upcoming movie "Hive," directed by Yeon Sang-ho, after appearing in the Disney+ series "North Star," which came out last year. The movie is about people who have survived an unknown infectious disease and are now in a building that has been sealed off, where they face threats that they can't predict.

This was stated by StarNews, which believed that the latest purchases made by Jun in the rapidly developing business district of Seongsu-dong are probably a strategic investment that demonstrates the woman's financial acumen and interest in the Seoul real estate market.

READ MORE: Actress Kim So Hyun Joins Jun Ji Hyun's AgencyBut Netizens Slam Her Profile Photos






Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - Upcoming city model and influencer, Tracy Kazungu, has taken to social media to publicly call out her boyfriend, accusing him of being a serial cheater.

In a series of emotional Instagram stories, Tracy described her now-former partner as a serial cheater and a narcissist, claiming their relationship was far from the perfect romance they portrayed online.

According to the heartbroken model, she recently discovered that her boyfriend had allegedly been involved with as many as 17 different women during the course of their relationship.

Despite frequently sharing loved-up photos and videos on social media, Tracy says their affair was marred by constant betrayal behind the scenes.

To support her claims, she posted screenshots of private messages showing her boyfriend flirting with multiple women.

In one dramatic twist, Tracy revealed that she created a fake Instagram profile to test his loyalty.

When she initiated a conversation with him using the dummy account, he reportedly told her he was single.

Thats when I knew I was dealing with a chronic liar, she implied in her posts.

Fed up and emotionally drained, Tracy publicly announced the end of their relationship, stating that she could no longer tolerate the repeated cheating and manipulation.

Check out her posts.

Photos of Tracy.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, 3 March 2026 - A video of Carlene Chepchumba, a nurse at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) declaring her hate for men has shocked Kenyans.

In the viral video shared on tiktok, Chepchumba, who is openly queer, argues that all men are born with a belief that they are superior and she has found it hard to relate with them.

I hate all men, my male colleagues, my male relatives and even male patients, she asserts.

The video has raised concerns with netizens calling on the KNH management to suspend her from duty as she seems to be battling mental issues.

Veteran journalist Saddique Shaban urged the hospital to take action wondering if male patients are safe under her care.

 She hates all men

 She hates all her male patients.

 She hates all her male colleagues



How @kutrrh and line ministry @MOH_Kenya have allowed her to continue practice, despite her worrying mental health issues is a subject an internal review at the hospital. pic.twitter.com/JSMdsxsPUg  Saddique Shaban (@SaddiqueShaban) March 3, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - Drama unfolded inside a luxurious Airbnb after a heated confrontation between a Slay Queen and a Nigerian man over a payment dispute.

The two met at a club before heading to the Airbnb for a good time after a night of drinking.

The lady later demanded 100 dollars, claiming that was the amount they had agreed upon.

However, the situation escalated when the man offered her 20 dollars instead.

In a video that has since gone viral, the visibly agitated lady is seen confronting the man, insisting that he honors the original agreement.

She rejects the 20 dollars and repeatedly demands the full amount.

At one point, the man is heard threatening to call security as the argument intensifies.

Call the security. I dont care. I just want my money, the woman responds in the clip as the man picks up his phone, seemingly attempting to contact management.

The standoff continues with both parties refusing to back down.

Watch a video>>> of the dramatic incident.

Nigerians are showing South African women flames! What Law is she talking about? Is Prostitution legal in South Africa? pic.twitter.com/XRwxFf0tl8  Mans NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) March 3, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - Purity Nduta Macharia, a controversial social media personality and founder of the now-defunct Kilimani Mums Facebook Group, has found herself at the center of an online storm after her daughter publicly accused her of being a toxic parent.

In a series of emotional social media posts, Puritys Gen Z daughter alleged that growing up under her mothers care had been extremely difficult, claiming that her life had been made a living hell.

The distressed young woman described her mother as toxic and accused her of frequently clashing with close family members.

According to her posts, she alleged that Purity has been hurling unprintable insults at her and, at times, subjecting her to physical abuse.

Purity has since responded to the allegations, claiming that she was instilling discipline in her daughter.

When kids fail to manipulate us, they brand us Toxic parents huko tiktok. Mimi ni huyo...!! Discipline is a must, she wrote on her Facebook account.





Purity Nduta Macharia rose to prominence as the founder of the Kilimani Mums Facebook Group, a platform that once attracted significant attention for its bold discussions and controversies before it was eventually shut down.

Check out her daughters posts.

Photos of Purity Ndutas daughter who claims her mother is toxic.

Her mother, a controversial social media personality.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, 3 March 2026 - A Kenyan lady has shocked netizens after sharing her humiliating breakup story on X.

In her viral tweet, she revealed that she had been in a relationship for two years with her boyfriend while both were students at the University of Nairobi.

Things took a dramatic turn when the boyfriend allegedly got involved with an older woman, popularly known as a Mumama.

According to her, the woman was wealthy and showered him with gifts, leading him to slowly distance himself from the relationship.

Desperate to salvage their love, she invited him over, hoping to patch things up.

But instead of reconciliation, the encounter ended in heartbreak.

Just as they were about to get intimate, he abruptly left, leaving her feeling humiliated and abandoned.

Her candid confession has sparked heated reactions online, with many sympathizing with her pain while others used the story as a cautionary tale.

Some netizens remarked that her experience highlights how ruthless relationships can become once the spark fades.

Others bluntly warned that trying to convince someone to love you only leads to humiliation.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, 03 March 2026 - A cunning Nairobi woman has been arrested after her elaborate scheme of editing Mpesa payment messages finally caught up with her.

For weeks, she had been ordering food in the CBD and cleverly altering transaction texts to trick unsuspecting vendors into believing she had paid.

However, her luck ran out when she was cornered and publicly humiliated after being busted mid-scam.

In a dramatic twist, she was forced to parade through the streets carrying a placard boldly declaring:

Mimi ni mwizi

The incident has reignited conversations about the rise of digital fraud in Kenyas urban centers.





With mobile money at the heart of everyday transactions, cases like this highlight both the creativity of scammers and the vulnerability of small businesses.

Watch the video>>> below

A suspected thief has been caught in Nairobi and forced to confess on Camera at Kamukunji police station. Dear youth, crime doesn't work. pic.twitter.com/RVezHCu5q2  Alinur Mohamed (@AlinurMohamed_) March 3, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, 3 March 2026 - Former Nairobi Governor and NEDP Party leader, Mike Sonko, has caused a buzz online after flaunting Sh54 million in cash in a viral video that has stunned Kenyans.

In the clip, Sonko is seen stacking bundles of currency on a table, a mix of US dollars and Kenyan shillings arranged with cinematic flair.

He begins by counting $100 bills amounting to $370,000 (about Sh47 million) before moving on to Kenyan notes in Sh1,000, Sh200, and Sh100 denominations.

After tallying the stacks with a calculator, he dramatically announces the total: Sh54 million.

The flamboyant display was Sonkos response to allegations that cash exchanged hands during recent byelections where UDA candidates clinched victory.

Sonko dismissed the claims, insisting that his party spent nothing on handouts.

Kama kura ingekuwa inanunuliwa na mia tano, tungepata kura 108,000, he quipped.

The video has ignited heated debate with netizens questioning how an individual can legally hold such vast sums outside the banking system, given that Kenyan banks enforce strict rules on withdrawals above Sh1 million.





Sonko Shows Billions in Cash says Kama ni Pesa alikuwa nazo za Kuchallenge Ruto Candidate in Isiolo!! pic.twitter.com/xC7fgUmr54  Mutembei TV (@MutembeiTV) March 1, 2026






Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - Fresh controversy has erupted after drone footage and satellite imagery revealed that 1.2 acres of land inside Karura Forest have been cleared to pave the way for National Youth Service (NYS) barracks.

Renowned journalist Ian Wafula raised the alarm on his X account, sharing images that appear to show a section of the forest deep within Karura where trees have been felled.

According to Wafula, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) had previously denied that any trees were being cut.

Drone footage and satellite imagery confirm that trees have been felled across 1.2 acres of land inside Karura Forest to pave the way for NYS barracks, Wafula stated in his post.

The cutting down of trees has sparked outrage among environmental activists and members of the public, many of whom view Karura Forest as a protected area with deep historical significance.

The forest became a symbol of environmental conservation efforts led by the late Nobel laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai, who famously fought against land grabbing and deforestation in the 1990s.

See photos.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, 3 March 2026 - Socialite Corazon Kwamboka has opened up about a surprising detail that often catches her fans off guard - her height.

Taking to Instagram, the mother of two known for her enviable curves, revealed that many people assume she is shorter than she really is based on her online photos.

Every time I meet my followers offline, they are always surprised by how tall I am.

They say I look short in my photos. I guess its only visible when Im standing next to a shorter person, she explained, highlighting the gap between digital perception and real-life presence.

This comes shortly after she hinted at running for a political office in the 2027 General Elections.

In a recent conversation with media personality Alex Mwakideu, Corazon, who is also a lawyer by profession, suggested that she could vie for the Nairobi Woman Representative seat in 2027.

Her motivation, she says, comes from frustration with how women are currently represented in the city.

I feel like maybe I should just be the representative of women in Nairobi in 2027, she shared, emphasizing her desire to focus on meaningful change rather than scandals that dominate political conversations.

Kwamboka, who has built a strong following as a digital content creator, believes her personal journey gives her unique insight.

As a single mother raising two children, she says she understands the struggles women face daily.

I just want to be at a place where I can represent women. As a single mother, I truly feel what women go through, and people like me need to be part of the conversation, she added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
A coroner has called for regular inspections to be carried out on the accessibility of lifebuoys after an inquest heard friends of a teenager who got into difficulty while swimming in the Grand Canal in Kildare could not untie a lifebuoy from its stand to assist in attempts to rescue him.

A sitting of Kildare Coroners Court heard Max OConnor (15) from Newcastle, Co Dublin drowned while swimming in the canal at the 13th Lock between Ardclough and Celbridge, Co Kildare on May 11, 2024.

The coroner, Loretta Nolan, issued a number of riders to her verdict after hearing evidence from several eyewitnesses about the inability of other teenagers to remove a lifebuoy from its stand.

Dr Nolan said she would write to Waterways Ireland to alert them of her recommendation that lifebuoys should be both available and accessible.

The coroner acknowledged that there is a problem with vandalism of the lifesaving equipment but stressed that there was a need to get the balance right in terms of making them accessible.

She said it was important for anyone considering getting into water to help another to be able to access lifebuoys for their own personal safety.

Dr Nolan also called for swimming lessons to be made a formal part of the curriculum at secondary school level.

The coroner, who revealed she had lifeguard qualifications herself, noted that transition year students do some lifeguard training in association with Water Safety Ireland.

She observed that it would be good for all post-primary students to have the knowledge of what to do if they found themselves in similar situations.

The inquest heard evidence from six teenagers who were with the deceased at the time of the fatal incident.

They told the coroner how two groups of friends from different schools had met up and decided to go swimming in the Grand Canal near the Cliff at Lyons country retreat.

The inquest heard that Max  a 3rd Year student at Colaiste Chilliain in Clondalkin, Dublin  had gone to the canal on his e-scooter with a speaker to play music.

The teenagers described how some of them were jumping in and out of the canal, but Max had originally indicated he was not going to go in the water.

Another friend said he and Max had jumped into the water together after others had been diving into the canal for about 30 minutes.

He raised the alarm just after 5pm after realising that his friend was not getting out of the water.

One witness said he would have advised the deceased not to go in the water if he had realised, he could not swim.

The teenager recalled seeing Max was drowning when he saw him trying to swim to the surface with air bubbles coming out of his mouth.

He said he jumped back into the water, and both were reaching out to try and grab hold of each other.

The witness said he tried to hold onto a chain to go deeper but we were out of reach of each other. He added: Everyone loved Max. He was a good friend and a friendly guy. He described the deceased as very funny and gentle.

Well all miss Max. Hell never be forgotten, he concluded.

Another youth who dived into the canal to try and rescue Max said his friend looked like he was panicking in the water.

The witness said he and another swimmer had grabbed the deceased by the arms but were unable to pull him up.

He was struggling and panicking, the teenager recalled.

He said others were screaming at them to get out of the water which was estimated to be 15-20 foot deep where the group were swimming.

One girl fought back tears as she described how they struggled to remove the lifebuoy off its stand.

Another boy described trying to kick at the lifebuoys stand to try and break it as its rope was wrapped around a pole and could not be removed.

A woman living near the lock, Maeve Boylan, described how she was originally wary of the group of teenagers as she had experience of some groups being trouble but had observed how they seemed calm and friendly. Ms Boylan said she realised that there was a bit of panic among them at one stage and realised a short time later what had happened when she heard someone shout out that someone was missing.

She told the inquest that she had spent 20 minutes on a 999 call to emergency services, while she had also got a key to open the lock to drain the water from the area where the group were swimming.

Ms Boylan said she was frustrated at not being able to do anything further to help and at realising that they were not going to be able to save the victim.

An aunt of the deceased, Joanne Moore, gave evidence of formally identifying her nephews body to gardai.

Dr Nolan said the results of a postmortem showed that Max had died from drowning.

She said toxicology reports had corroborated the evidence of the witnesses that the deceased had not consumed any alcohol or drugs.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, Dr Nolan also recommended that counselling should be provided to Maxs friends, if they had not already received it.

The coroner said she would be writing to the different schools attended by the witnesses about her belief that counselling would be beneficial for them.

Its an experience that most people dont experience thankfully, she observed.
GARDAI are examining a complaint submitted by Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon concerning his constituency office in Newbridge, following a protest held outside the office over the weekend.

The complaint relates to the damage and removal of two signs outside the office on Moorefield Road on Saturday, February 28.

A spokesperson for the minister said the signs, which displayed the ministers image and contact details, were not only damaged but ripped from the wall and taken away.

The spokesperson said: The signs were ripped off the wall and were taken away, they were stolen. So theres a criminal investigation into that.

The development follows a protest staged outside Minister Heydons office by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) amid an ongoing dispute involving Bord Bia Chair Larry Murrin.

Reports indicate that around 1,500 farmers attended on foot, accompanied by a convoy of approximately 300 vehicles.

The IFA is calling for Mr Murrin to step down as Bord Bia chair after it emerged that his company, Dawn Farm Foods, has been importing beef and poultry from Brazil.

The organisation argues that farmer confidence in Bord Bia cannot be restored while he remains in the role and has put forward a proposed framework aimed at resolving the dispute.

The association acknowledged that two signs outside the office were removed during the demonstration, and stated: We are aware that two signs outside the Ministers office were damaged during Saturday's protest. We contacted his office that evening to make them aware of this and to say we would replace them. Locals reported that several farmers gathered in Crookstown before Saturdays protest, passing by Minister Heydons home, where he lives with his wife and four young children.

In response, the IFA said the protest was confined to the ministers office only and that farmers converged at various points along the routes. A spokesperson for the minister described the incident as very disappointing, claiming it followed rhetoric from IFA leadership that had whipped up the crowd needlessly. They continued: It's a scenario where the IFA leadership haven't explained the various different details of the various different offers that have been given to the IFA and the actual trade deal [Mercosur] that caused all this in the first place. Separately, the IFA has been conducting a rolling protest at Bord Bias offices on Pembroke Road in Dublin since January 26, with five farmers remaining inside the building for several weeks. The association has indicated the action will continue until Mr Murrin resigns or is removed as chair of the Irish Food Board.

The association put a proposal to Bord Bia on Monday, March 2, that it would suspend its protest if Mr Murrin stepped aside to allow for a comprehensive review of Bord Bia under seven strands. IFA President Francie Gorman said: I requested that the board should meet without the Chair, which is consistent with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State bodies. This has not happened to date.

The reality is that all the talk from the Minister and all the advertisements from the Bord Bia management about wanting dialogue is only empty rhetoric. They have proposed nothing except to stand by their man, he said.
By Rebecca Black, Press Association

The Government is to charter a flight to assist its citizens in the Middle East.

It comes after several days of escalating tensions and attacks between Iran, Israel and the United States, which has spread to neighbouring nations in the Middle East.

The missiles have also caused major disruption to flights in the region.

The government has estimated that between 22,000 and 23,000 Irish citizens are in the area, and a relatively low number have already left.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee, said she hopes the flight from Oman will be the first of many.

I am highly aware of the large numbers of Irish citizens in the UAE as the current conflict continues Helen McEntee

She told RTE that the government will be contacting Irish citizens in the Middle East on Wednesday to travel home on a charter flight for around 280 people.

The first and the quickest and the best option is still for commercial airlines to bring people home, particularly given so much of our population is in the UAE, is in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and weve seen over the last few days a number of flights that have been taking off, she said.

Not all of them to the west, many of them are heading east, but on those flights we have Irish people, and were engaging directly with those airlines to see if we can we in the coming days, ensure that some of those direct flights are coming to Dublin.

In a statement, Ms McEntee said the first flight will be targeted at Irish citizens currently in the UAE, particularly those who are non-resident and who are vulnerable.

I am highly aware of the large numbers of Irish citizens in the UAE as the current conflict continues, she said.

In this context, I asked our consular crisis team today to activate plans for an assisted departure.

Our team will now take the necessary steps to finalise a first government of Ireland charter flight for Irish citizens to depart the region from Oman airport in the coming days, provided security and operational considerations permit.

This first charter flight will be targeted at Irish citizens currently in the UAE, particularly those who are non-resident, and who are vulnerable and require assistance most urgently.

She said: Those citizens requiring the most assistance will be contacted directly by my department in the coming days.

I would ask for everyones patience as our most vulnerable citizens are contacted in this first phase of our response to this crisis.

We will continue to offer consular assistance to all citizens in the region. All citizens should register with the appropriate embassy if they have not already done so and continue to follow our embassy social media accounts for the latest updates.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said ministers were monitoring the situation in the Middle East (PA)

Earlier, Tanaiste Simon Harris said the Government is continuing to monitor the situation globally and any potential impact for Europe.

He said all options are on the table to assist Irish citizens who need help out of the region.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said there was no question US strikes on Iran took place without a UN mandate, as he called for de-escalation and a return to the negotiating table.
Alison ORiordan

A murder accused told gardai that he repeatedly punched his friend in self-defence after he "came at" him, having drunkenly asked the defendant's mother for sex three times, a jury has heard.

"I didn't think it was that bad, I didn't consider he would die of his injuries. I didn't plan this. He is my friend, it happened," Tomas Cypas told detectives. He denied stamping on the deceased's head.

Cypas (35), with an address at Foxborough Road, Lucan, Co Dublin, has pleaded notguilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs (49) at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin on October 28th 2024.

Detective Garda Neil McGrath told Conor Devally SC, prosecuting, that five interviews were conducted with the accused beginning on October 28, 2024

Cypas told gardai that he visited his mother at Old Bridge Park on October 26 to celebrate her birthday and have "some drinks"

The accused said Mr Kokenbergs was already "pretty drunk" when he arrived at his mother's house. He said he wouldn't have invited his friend if he knew he was in that state.

Mr Cypas said there was an argument between him and Mr Kokenbergs, adding: "It started over him [the deceased] telling my mam to go up and have sex with him. He said it three times. The first two times I didn't hear him, but the third time I heard him".

"My mam laughed the first time. The second time, she slapped him. The third time he asked, could she suck his d**k. That's when I heard and told him to leave. I grabbed him from behind and told him to leave. This was in the kitchen, and then we made our way to the exit".

"When he struck me with a right elbow, he hit me at the top of the chest. That's when I struck him in the face. It happened so quick. I struck him with my left and right hand".

Cypas described his friend as being "so drunk" that "he didn't seem to know who he was talking to.....he had been drinking for two weeks straight".

Cypas said Kokenbergs "came at" him first and had "started the punches", so he acted in self-defence. The accused said he hit the deceased up to eight times in the face and didn't "mean to hurt him or anything".

The accused said he had used both his hands, and most of the punches were to the face. "I busted his nose, I busted his lip. I think he got a black eye on the left side. That's when he went down on his knees, he could barely stand".

The accused said he carried Kokenbergs to the sofa and put a pillow under his head as well as a blanket over him. "I wasn't thinking he could pass away".

Over the course of the next two days, when Kokenbergs was lying on the sofa, the accused said he checked on him regularly and that he had been breathing and snoring. He said he had checked on his friend up to 15 times on October 27th.

"This morning I came down, and he was fine....when I went back down later, he was on the ground, he was cold...I rang the ambulance".

Asked whether he was concerned about his friend, the accused said he didn't think he was in a bad way; "If I did, I would have called an ambulance".

The accused told gardai he had boxed and done 'Muay Thai' when he was 15 years of age. He said he hadn't meant to hurt his friend.

The accused admitted taking two photographs of the deceased's face, but couldn't remember on which of the two days he had taken them. He said the photos showed the damage to Kokenberg's face; "I wasn't intending to do all that".

Asked whether he had hit his friend with any part of his body or had kicked him, Cypas said "no kicks no".

The accused later told gardai he had used nothing else, just his hands. "It's all from the punches, the hands are flying everywhere, I didn't use a weapon....I didn't want him to end up like this, seriously".

When gardai put it to the accused, Kokenbergs had suffered extensive blunt force trauma to the head, the accused said he didn't think "it was that bad...I didn't consider he would die of his injuries. I didn't plan this, he is my friend, it happened".

Asked whether there was anything he was not telling gardai, Mr Cypas said "maybe ten punches, maybe 12 as I remember seven to eight punches".

The accused denied stamping on his friend's head. When gardai put it to him that the postmortem report showed that the deceased's injuries were consistent with the sole of a runner, Mr Cypas replied: "I don't know, I'm not a doctor....as far as I remember I didn't hit him with a runner".

The trial has heard that three areas of blood-staining with DNA matching that of the deceased were found on the accused man's runner.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Brendan Grehan SC, Det Gda McGrath agreed the accused had told him at the scene on the morning of October 28th that he had been drinking with the deceased and he had punched Mr Kokenbergs up to eight times before discovering him dead on the kitchen floor.

The detective agreed that Mr Cypas told him that his friend was "fine" on the day after the fight and was breathing when he checked on him at 5 am that morning [October 28th].

The witness also accepted that Cypas told him that Kokenbergs had threatened to rape his mother, but that during the interviews, the accused clarified that he meant "asking for sex".

At the outset of the murder trial, the jurors were told that they would have to consider the accused's intent at the time.

The 12 jurors were told by defence counsel Mr Grehan that the accused Cypas admits to hitting the deceased.

The trial continues on Wednesday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
A student has pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to dangerous driving causing the deaths of two of his friends, and to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Patrick Carroll (21) of Drinagh, Fivealley, Birr, County Offaly was driving the vehicle when the collision occurred on the N69 at Ballyengland, Askeaton on February 20, 2024.

He was 19-years-old at the time and his two friends, Darragh Dullea from Clonakilty and Cillian Kirwan from Piltown in County Kilkenny, both lost their lives.

The court heard that Cillian Kirwans mother, Sinead Molloy and his sister Aine were both present for the arraignment.

Mr Carroll pleaded guilty to all three counts: dangerous driving causing the death of Darragh Dullea, dangerous driving causing the death of Cillian Kirwan and driving under the influence of alcohol.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny garda warning about 'dangerous' and 'disturbing' trend

Darragh Dullea from Clonakilty in Cork was 20 at the time of the collision, while Cillian Kirwan from Piltown, Kilkenny was 19.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL, instructed by solicitor Brendan Gill, told the court that an early plea was indicated and prosecution were notified in advance, in respect of the double driving fatality.

The two deceased were his friends and passengers in the car he was driving, she told the court.

The late Darragh Dullea and Cillian Kirwan

The barrister added that they were all friends and all students in Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry.

They had been studying together and they knew each other, Ms Buckley said.

The court heard that at the sentencing hearing, victim impact statements from the Dullea and Kirwan families will be heard.

Barrister for Mr Kirwan, Brian McInerney SC, said that they will be asking for a probation report, as this would be an appropriate case for one.

He also asked that the accused be remanded on bail on the same terms as before.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny man accused of drugs offences has case adjourned

Judge Simon McAleese extended his condolences to the families of the two deceased.

Its a terrible nightmare to have to endure and to continue to endure, he said.

A date for sentencing will be set in April.

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Multiple serious issues at Brookhaven Nursing Home in Ballyragget were described on Tuesday by a second Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report in six weeks.

A prior inspection released last month detailed an improperly handled scabies outbreak and the smell of urine permeating the facility and although these had been addressed, severe problems in governance and management, resident protection and health care provision remained.

Brookhaven recorded 13 areas of non-compliance and two of substantial compliance without a single area of full compliance from the unannounced inspection which was conducted on October 16 and 20 of last year, 17 days after the previous one.

Inspectors spoke to 10 residents and visitors who expressed concerns relating to the centre being short-staffed, long waiting times for call bells to be answered and large areas of the facility being too cold to be safely used.

Between testimonies and practices observed by inspectors, the report surmised that the impact of these was found in the substandard level of care which significantly impacted their safety, well-being and quality of life.

READ NEXT: 'There are constant thuds' - Kilkenny man trying to escape Dubai after Iran missile strikes - Kilkenny Live

Among the most stark points raised were in the area of governance and management at Brookhaven with the centre being described as not transparent in its communication with the inspectors in relation to a serious incident which had occurred.

A failure on behalf of the care provider to give full disclosure of an event resulting in serious injury to a resident was detailed; something that was a repeat finding from the previous inspection.

The discontent with systems of governance was shared by some family members of residents with one relative telling The Kilkenny People that they have no faith in whatever management system is in place there.

They went on to add that the only managers/persons in charge I ever met were those saying their goodbyes. There have been so many managers that the doors are off the hinges.

Another worrying incident was reported in the area of quality of health care where the nursing home had failed to identify that a resident was severely dehydrated in the centre.

This person required transfer to hospital and the administration of intravenous fluids while two more residents who were at risk of dehydration didnt have accurate fluid balance records.

In resident protection, a serious incident was reported to the HIQA Office of the Chief Inspector in August 2025. At the time of the September inspection, the investigation had not commenced and required review.

By the time of the follow-up inspection in October, the incident had yet to be addressed despite the serious nature of the allegation made.

Provision of end of life care also fell short of the required standard with management failing to ensure that residents received appropriate care and comfort which addressed their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Not all residents had access to palliative care or end of life measures from a holistic person-centred perspective and in a dignified manner with the end of life wishes of residents and their representatives not clearly set out within personal plans.

Brookhaven set out strategies to address all areas of non-compliance with the deadlines for these to be achieved ranging from last October to the end of March.

Speaking to The Kilkenny People, Senator Patricia Stephenson (SD), who has been a recent critic of the private care home model, expressed worry over the contents of the report.

The findings of this latest HIQA inspection are deeply concerning, particularly given this is the second critical report in a matter of months, she outlined. Issues around staffing levels, incident reporting and end-of-life care go to the very heart of residents safety and dignity.

Management must urgently outline what immediate corrective actions are being taken, and HIQA must be satisfied that sustainable improvements, especially in the areas of staffing and clinical oversight are delivered without delay.

Residents and their families deserve absolute transparency and the highest standard of care, Senator Stephenson concluded.

Brookhaven Nursing Home did not respond to requests for comment.

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Enoch Burke has challenged his move to Castlerea Prison, saying it breaches an earlier court order.

He has spent more than 600 days in prison for violating court orders instructing him not to trespass at Wilsons Hospital School, where he used to teach History and German.

He has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the schools board of management stemming from an incident in 2022 when he was asked by the Co Westmeath schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun.

Mr Burkes most recent spell in prison was ordered by the High Court on January 19.

He had been released five days earlier to prepare for a case against an appeals body due to review his dismissal from Wilsons Hospital School, but the next day appeared back at the school and passed its gates.

On Wednesday, Mr Burke appeared before the High Court via video link from the County Roscommon prison where he said he was moved on Sunday.

He said his relocation from Dublin was a breach of the order made on January 19, which stated he be brought to Mountjoy Prison until further order of the High Court.

Before the issue of Mr Burkes location was raised, he and Mr Justice Brian Cregan had a heated exchange about the jailing of Mr Burkes sister and mother for contempt of court earlier in the day.

Mr Burke told Mr Cregan Youll give an account to God, and accused him of mocking God.

And Mr Cregan repeatedly told Mr Burke dont threaten me and told him: I did not mock God at all; adding dont even try to pretend that was the case.

During the mornings hearings Mr Cregan asked several times for Mr Burkes microphone to be muted.

When discussing the matter of his relocation to Castlerea Prison, Mr Burke said the judge was Perfectly unconcerned by a breach of court order, to which Mr Cregan replied: Of course Im concerned by the breech of court order.

Rosemary Mallon, barrister for the schools board of management, said she was completely unaware of the decision to move Mr Burke, and she had only been aware of what she has read in newspapers and heard in court.

On Monday, after Mr Burke was relocated, his brother Isaac Burke posted on the social media site X, saying Enoch was moved without notice or warning, adding: He wasnt told what was happening, where he was going, or given any reason for this.

Mr Cregan scheduled a further hearing for March 10 on the matter.
For generations the Ranchers Return, also known locally as the Village Well, has occupied a central place in the life of Coon in North Kilkenny.

More than just a public house, it has long served as a gathering point for neighbours, a venue for stories and music and a hub where the community can put the worlds wrongs to right.

Established in the mid-1850s, the pub has long been part of the fabric of the community, passing through generations of families and patrons alike.

Much to the communitys disappointment it doors closed for two years in the mid-2000s before reopening and re-establishing its place in the heart of the area.

READ NEXT: Love is in the air as Kilkenny club hurler weds bride in beautiful ceremony

However, its future now hangs in the balance again, with the previous proprietors making the difficult decision to put the business on the market after many years behind the bar. - CONTACT DETAILS BELOW

In an attempt to secure its future and with the support of the previous ownership, a number of parishioners have stood up to the mark and are leading the charge to keep the much loved local alive, hosting community meetings and co-ordinating a bid to place the pubs future in the hands of the community.

But is it almost time for last orders and farewells, or the start of a new chapter yet to be written?

The answer to that question is very much dependent on how many people take up confidential shares.

Community shares are available at 2,500 per share, but families/groups can also donate whatever they can.

The target is to raise 350,000 to make the dream a reality and ultimately save a vital community resource.

Each contribution of 2,500 will be split into 2,499 which will be classified as a 0% loan via a loan agreement with the limited company and 1 as a purchased share.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere under the care of barman Joe Fenlon, members of the community initiative expressed their firm desire to keep the jewel in the villages crown shining when speaking to the Kilkenny People.

Phil Shore has lived in Coon all his life, and still remembers Sunday mornings in the 1950s when the whole community came together and the village felt like one family.

"Theres something different about this place," he said. "Rural pubs are all on a downward curve and thats the big challenge for the committee here but I know it will work because were in Coon."

Gerald Flynns relationship with the community is more recent but no less emotive.

"Im living here now 22 years, and it is the hub of the community for parties, anniversary masses, 21sts, pool tournaments and so much more," he said.

"Were going to run it for the community. We have a million and one ideas as a committee," he added, noting it will be a place where drinkers and non-drinkers can come together.

"Without it (the pub), I think wed be lost here," he continued.

READ MORE: 'We are truly grateful' - Tributes paid to Kilkenny man who ends 30-year career

"Weve lots of people that are retired living around the area that come down here to meet. Its a social thing. Its the hub of the community, Gerald added, noting the successful developments within the village, ranging from the state of the art GAA pitch in the village to the playground, which wouldnt be possible without their base within the pub.

"We all know the isolation thats in rural Ireland and the pressure people are under," fellow member of the initiative, Brendan Healy added.

"It was hard to get people to come out after the pandemic. People got institutionalised so it was places like this that brought people back to the community.

"If you look around the bar, theres obviously people having a few pints but theres a lot of people here who are not and are drinking minerals or tea or coffee. Its not about drink, its about coming down and having the fun," Brendan commented.

"Its not about our generation. This is actually future-proofing for generations to come."

Local representative, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick commended the groups efforts, stating, "Its the hub. Lets not let it deteriorate. Its critical we hold on to this resource."

For further information contact Brendan Healy on 086 046 8863

FOR MORE KILKENNY COMMUNITY NEWS, CLICK HERE
Radio NZ reports:

The second poll commissioned in February 2026 revealed that 66 percent agreed that New Zealands economic system was not set up to effectively to address issues like housing, healthcare and climate change. Half of New Zealanders also agreed that billionaires shouldnt exist while people still struggled with basic necessities like food. Sixty-eight percent supported billionaires being taxed more to fund public goods like healthcare, housing and climate action. And another 37 percent were in favour of introducing a billion-dollar wealth cap to minimise the amount of wealth any person could legally hold.

So do people think we should shoot billionaires, ban them or just confiscate their wealth?

Heres what would happen if this left pipe dream became reality with a left wing Government.

The following people would leave New Zealand:

Peter Jackson

Rod Drury

Mat & Nick Mowbray

The Todd family

The Talley family

Sir Michael Friedlander

Bruce Plested

Mark Stewart

This would immediately see the NZ tax take drop by many hundreds of millions of dollars, and also probably see tens of thousands of jobs follow. Wellywood would be no more.

No one who is not a moron would stay in a country that confiscates every single asset they have over a certain level.

What this reflects is the politics of envy. They think that if Rod Drury did not invent Xero, then somehow a poor family in South Auckland would have a higher benefit from taxpayers. They think wealth is a finite sum, and every dollar someone has, has been taken off someone else.
Kenneth Lee Simpson reacts after speaking with a friend who testified on his behalf, during the punishment phase of Simpson's trial at the Franklin County Judicial Center in Union, Mo., on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. Simpson was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Hermann police Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith, and the shooting of officer Adam Sullentrup. Simpson now faces a sentence of either life imprisonment without parole, or death.
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Change in primary voting rules leads to confusion in 2 Texas counties as voters are turned away

A rule change for primary voting in two Texas counties led to mass voter confusion that eventually led to a state supreme court ruling, threats of more legal action and the potential that an untold number of voters could find themselves disenfranchised
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DRONES delivering contraband to prisons in Portlaoise this week were intercepted by gardai two days in a row, as part of a special operation.

Drugs, phones and other prohibited goods were among the items seized, after drones destined for the Midlands and Portlaoise Prison complex were stopped.

Gardai in Portlaoise were supported by the Divisional Drugs Unit and Detective Unit, during the operation targeting the use of drones to deliver contraband into the prison complex on the Dublin Road.

On Monday 2 March, gardai intercepted a drone believed to be destined for the complex, where both the Midlands Prison and the maximum security Portlaoise Prison are located.

According to gardai, the drone was carrying a package containing suspected drugs, mobile phones and other prohibited items. A person allegedly controlling the drone was arrested and subsequently charged to appear before the courts.

On Tuesday 3 March, a second drone was located in close proximity to the prison. This drone also had a package containing contraband material.

In a statement today, gardai said: These incidents highlight the ongoing efforts by An Garda Siochana, working in partnership with the Irish Prison Service, to prevent the smuggling of drugs, phones and other harmful materials into our prison system.

Gardai in Portlaoise greatly appreciate the continued support of the local community. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity involving drones, particularly in areas close to the prison complex.

Gardai asked anyone who observes unusual drone activity or suspicious behaviour near the prison complex to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 8674100 or any Garda Station, or call 999 or 112.
THE sudden death of an extremely popular and dedicated Portlaoise hospital nurse has caused immense shock and grief, particularly among nursing management and staff.

The loss of senior emergency department (ED) nurse Joe Dunne has devastated his family, friends and colleagues.

A clinical nurse manager (CNM 2), he had vast experience in his chosen profession and is widely described as an exceptional nurse, colleague and friend.

A resident of Ballyfin, Joe died suddenly yesterday and is deeply mourned by his heartbroken wife Helen and their three young children Chloe, Joe and Conor.

In a tribute tonight, the IAANMP professional body said: It is with profound sadness that the Irish Association of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners (IAANMP) has learned of the passing of our dear colleague and friend, Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner Joe Dunne of Rossmore, Ballyfin, Co. Laois.

'Joe was a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Department at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise and a valued member of IAANMP, whose commitment to patient care was evident throughout his distinguished career.

'Joe trained as a nurse at TUS Athlone. Over the years, he also served with dedication at St Jamess Hospital, Dublin, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore and the Regional Hospital Mullingar, where he was highly regarded by colleagues and patients alike.

'His warm demeanour, clinical expertise and collegial spirit enriched the lives of patients, families and fellow practitioners alike. Joes professional contributions have left an enduring impact on the community he served and on the broader advanced practice nursing landscape in Ireland.

'He was known among colleagues for his integrity, humility and generous spirit. His calm presence and sound clinical judgement made a lasting impression on those privileged to work alongside him.

'Beyond his professional life, Joe was a devoted husband, father, brother and friend. He is deeply mourned by his loving wife Helen, his children Chloe, Joe and Conor, his siblings Eamon (Sammy), Anne, Chris and Theresa, and his extended family, colleagues, and wide circle of friends. His presence will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

'On behalf of IAANMP, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Joes family, loved ones, and colleagues during this difficult time.'

Among countless tributes on social media this evening, one former colleague said:  Joe, you left a gaping hole in Tullamore ED when you moved to Portlaoise, I can only imagine how Portlaoise are feeling now. Honestly one of the nicest, funniest, down to earth nurses there ever was and will be, you definitely kept us laughing during the height of Covid. My thoughts are with your wife, children, family and many, many work colleagues.

The death notice on RIP.ie today states: Sadly missed and dearly loved by his heartbroken wife Helen, children Chloe, Joe and Conor, brother Eamon (Sammy), sisters Anne (ORourke), Chris (Byrne) and Theresa (Ramsbottom), father-in-law Joe Quigley, sisters-in-law Nuala, Ann Marie and Sarah, brothers-in-law Alan, John, Paul, Brendan and Joe, his adored nieces and nephews, aunt Sheila, cousins and his wide circle of friends and nursing colleagues.

May Joes gentle soul rest in peace.

Funeral arrangements later.
THE Laois Brazilian Support Association (LABRAS) has announced that it will host a bake sale on Sunday 8 March, from 1-4pm at Laois Partnership Company in Portlaoise.

The event will include traditional Brazilian food, including coxinha, a variety of cakes, feijoada (Brazilian beef stew) and other homemade treats.

Proceeds from the sale will go towards the groups annual event, the Festa Junina, which faces reduced public funding.

LABRAS has organised five Festa Junina celebrations, with the 2025 festa welcoming approximately 500 people. This free event featured live music, traditional food and games for children, enjoyed by the Brazilian, Irish and wider migrant community in Laois.

People also travelled from Limerick, Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Naas and many other locations across the country to participate.

LABRAS is a non-profit local community group, founded in 2020. It is led by a dedicated team of volunteers. The group has organised events across Laois that celebrates Brazilian culture, while also encouraging inclusion and community.

LABRAS also runs community projects to promote Brazilian-Portuguese as a heritage language. These include mother and baby meet-ups, Portuguese storytelling sessions at the local library and, in 2025, the launch of the LABRAS Little Library, a free public library consisting of Portuguese language books.

The LABRAS Little Library is based at Laois Partnership Company and is accessible to the entire community.
AFTER years of campaigning, the long-shuttered Laois eye clinic is set to reopen in a new location at Treo Nua centre at Harpurs Lane, Portlaoise. The centre is also home to a family resource centre in Portlaoise which includes a montessori and which is chaired by Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley.

The absence of a Laois service has meant that people throughout Laois have had to travel as far as Athlone to attend specialist eye appointments, which has caused substantial difficulty for those living in the south and east of the county due to the extra distances they were forced to travel, which, in many cases, caused them to miss days off work or school.

The HSE has confirmed that the catchment area for the new clinic will be all of Laois. It will be staffed by one full-time consultant and several support staff. The reinstated service will be aligned with the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin and is projected to start up within the next three months.

The Portlaoise councillor celebrated the reinstatement.

In a recent statement, she said: I have received this news and confirmation from the HSE of the long-awaited reinstatement of the eye clinic for the county. This will be located in modern facilities in Treo Nua centre, Harpurs Lane, Portlaoise.

"As chairperson of Treo Nua, I very much welcome this development. Both the manager and board of Treo Nua have been liaising closely with the HSE to enable this development. Myself and deputy Brian Stanley have been trying to get the service back to Laois and we have been raising it with the HSE over the past couple of years.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declined to retract her earlier characterization of Alex Pretti and Renee Good as engaging in "domestic terrorism" during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, despite repeated questions from lawmakers in both parties.

The hearing marked Noem's first appearance before Congress since the January 7 shooting of Good and the January 24 shooting of Pretti by federal immigration agents. Both deaths occurred during enforcement operations that drew national attention.

In the days following the shootings, Noem publicly described the incidents as acts of "domestic terrorism," linking the deaths to what she characterized as coordinated violent resistance to federal immigration enforcement.

In an exchange with Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Dick Durbin, Noem expressed condolences to the families but did not withdraw her prior remarks, despite being pressed by the Senator.

"When we have these situations happen, we always offer our condolences to those families and I offer mine as well," Noem said. "These are tragic situations and I can't imagine what these families go through in losing a loved one."

Durbin asked whether she would retract statements identifying the victims as domestic terrorists, noting that Customs and Border Protection and ICE officials had testified they did not inform her that Pretti was a domestic terrorist. Noem answered that she had relied on "reports from the ground from agents at the scene," describing the situation in Minneapolis and St. Paul as "chaotic" amid what she characterized as violent protests tied to immigration enforcement.

When Durbin pressed her on whether she would admit she was wrong, Noem responded, "As these investigations continue to go, I absolutely strive to provide factual information." Asked if she would admit error publicly, she said, "Absolutely." She added, "We always know that there's room for improvement."

"Is it so hard to say you were wrong?" -- under questioning from Durbin, Kristi Noem refuses to retract her statements about Alex Pretti and Renee Good being domestic terrorists, but throws "agents at the scene" under the bus for the fact she said it in the first place pic.twitter.com/qHSbyAF5gM  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2026

Sen. Amy Klobuchar also questioned Noem, telling her that Pretti's parents considered the terrorism label "one of the most hurtful things they could ever imagine." Klobuchar asked whether Noem had anything to say to the families.

"We were relying in the hours after that incident that was so horrific on information we were getting from the ground from our agents," Noem said. She later added, "I did not call him a domestic terrorist. I said it appeared to be an incident of."

KLOBUCHAR: Alex Pretti's parents said what you said was one of the most hurtful things they could imagine. Do you want to say anything to Alex's parents?



NOEM: I did not call him a 'domestic terrorist.' I said it 'appeared to be an incident of'



KLOBUCHAR: I think the parents pic.twitter.com/kmRNWXAPxk  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2026

In a separate exchange, Sen. John Kennedy questioned reports that Noem had attributed the characterization to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Noem denied blaming Miller, saying information had been relayed to the press by anonymous sources. "That day, we were working to get as much information to the American people as possible," she said.

KENNEDY: What got my attention was you blamed your 'domestic terrorist' statements on Stephen Miller



NOEM: No I did not. Where you saw that was in a news article of anonymous sources, and they say a lot of things. But I never said that



KENNEDY: Well here's what you said on the pic.twitter.com/0uSpGuOfPo  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2026

Originally published on Latin Times
Details continue to emerge about the killing of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), in Mexico.

According to the death certificate issued by the Mexico City Civil Registry, the specific cause of death was thoracic, abdominal and lower extremity trauma caused by gunshot wounds. The document states that the official time of death was recorded at 10:30 a.m. while he was being transported to a hospital for treatment.

Authorities have also said that during the operation two members of El Mencho's security team were killed. Ruben Guerrero Valadez, also known as "El R1," identified as the son of the CJNG's regional boss in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and Hugo Cesar Macias Urena, known as "El Tuli," who has been identified as a key figure in the cartel's structure.

The fall of El Mencho was only one of several actions carried out by the Mexican government aimed at weakening the Jalisco cartel and its operational arm. Since Feb. 22, multiple regional leaders of the CJNG have been targeted by authorities.

In the state of Tlaxcala, authorities arrested Isaac Moreno Romero, also known as "El Hacha," who was responsible for kidnappings, extortion and fuel theft, commonly referred to in Mexico as "huachicoleo."

In the state of Colima, authorities arrested Jose Israel "N," also known as "El Salsas," identified as one of the cartel's main financial and logistical operators who coordinated money collection in the Colima and Jalisco region.

Federal investigations also uncovered collaboration between law enforcement and the Jalisco cartel in the municipality of Ecuandureo, Michoacan. As reported by Infobae Mexico, the officers are accused of operating under the orders of El R1, one of the bodyguards killed alongside El Mencho in Tapalpa.

On Feb. 27, a judge formally charged 11 officers and ordered pretrial detention as a precautionary measure. The officers, 10 of them from Jalisco, were found wearing masks, without insignia and using official patrol vehicles.

Authorities said they were also carrying drugs, CJNG insignias and cellphones with messaging groups where they reported the movements of state and federal forces, alerted others about operations and road blockades and communicated directly with the Jalisco cartel.

Originally published on Latin Times
Laois Gardai seized drugs and mobile phones and two drones as they thwarted suspected criminal efforts to smuggle items into prisons in Portlaoise.

Gardai in Portlaoise, supported by the Divisional Drugs Unit and Detective Unit, recently carried out a successful operation targeting the use of drones to deliver contraband into the Midlands and Portlaoise Prison complex, Gardai said.

Pictured above: An image of one of the seized drones

On Monday, March 2, Gardai intercepted a drone believed to be destined for the prison grounds. The drone was carrying a package containing suspected drugs, mobile phones and other prohibited items. A person allegedly controlling the drone was arrested and subsequently charged before the courts.

A day later on Tuesday, March 3, Gardai said a second drone, believed to be connected to this activity, was located in close proximity to the prison. This drone also had a package containing contraband material attached."

READ ALSO: Sixfold increase in drone incursions at Laois prisons

These incidents highlight the ongoing efforts by An Garda Siochana, working in partnership with the Irish Prison Service, to prevent the smuggling of drugs, phones and other harmful materials into our prison system, Gardai stated.

They said Gardai in Portlaoise greatly appreciate the continued support of the local community. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity involving drones, particularly in areas close to the prison complex.

If you observe unusual drone activity or suspicious behaviour, please contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 8674100 or any Garda Station or call 999 or 112

Working together, we can continue to protect our communities and disrupt criminal activity, they added.
The higher education programme for students of Portlaoise Prison was highlighted at a national conference of Further Education and Training (FET) leaders and practitioners.

A statement from the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) of Ireland said the event heard from the Irish Prison Service and people who have served prison sentences about the critical role played by Laois Offaly ETB (LOETB) and other ETBs in delivering prison and community education, and the need for continuity beyond the prison gates.

LOETB Director of FET Tony Dalton highlighted a course delivered at Ireland's high security jail in Portlaoise.

Our approach to education is innovative and person-centred, with exciting new developments taking place all of the time. An excellent example of this is 'A footbridge to the Pathway', a pilot initiative between LOETB and South East Technological Universitys (SETU) Lifelong Learning Department.

"A bespoke LOETB / SETU tertiary higher education programme for students in Portlaoise Prison, the initiative speaks to the key values of equality, diversity and inclusion in LOETBs Portlaoise Prison Education Unit, with ten of the 12 participating students having completed the requirements for year one of a degree programme," he said.

The project was highlighted at Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) National FET Conference in Cavan where Dr Emma Regan, Director of Care and Rehabilitation with the Irish Prison Service also spoke about the benefit of prison education.

Recent international analyses has found that people who engage in prison education are significantly less likely to reoffend. Post-secondary education shows the strongest effects, with vocational and adult basic education also delivering meaningful reductions. Education also improves employment outcomes, with increased likelihood of gaining employment following engagement. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Pictured at the ETBI 2026 Further Education and Training (FET) Conference which brought over 300 FET leaders and practitioners from across Irelands 16 Education & Training Boards together, Paddy Lavelle ETBI General Secretary, Laois Apprentice electrician and current Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, Tony Dalton, Director of FET in Laois and Offaly ETB and Dr Joe Collins, Director of FET ETBI.

READ NEXT: Laois duo make history on apprenticeship graduation

We also know this is vital in supporting rehabilitation and public safety in the Irish context. CSO data shows over half of those released in 2019 reoffended within three years. However, if we are serious about reducing the figures, we must ensure that our interventions are supported beyond the prison gates and that there are joined-up education and training pathways from custody to community, she said.

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin said her Department is proud to support the ETBs in delivering prison and community education in partnership with the Irish Prison Service so that people have the supports they need to progress into further learning, training and employment.

READ NEXT: Laois Rose praised in Seanad Eireann

The two-day conference also included an address by Laois apprentice electrician and Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins, who is using her platform to inspire women and girls to pursue apprenticeships and follow their ambitions.
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Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee has today confirmed that the Department of Defence has signed a 17.65 million contract for the construction of a new Army Ranger Wing (ARW) Headquarters at Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh, Co Kildare.

This contract represents phase 1 of the development of the purpose-built Special Operations Forces (Army Ranger Wing) headquarters, a three-phase project with a whole complex estimated cost of 46 million.

The funding for the project is part of the 1.7 billion the National Development Plan (NDP) Sectoral Investment Plan for Defence, which Minister McEntee announced late last year.

READ NEXT: Judge orders arrest of man stopped at M7 filling station.

Work on the project will start immediately and it is scheduled to take twenty-one months to complete. The project will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose facility, which will support the Defence Forces operational capability of the Army Ranger Wing, in a space that meets the highest standards of quality and service.

Speaking after the contract signing, Minister McEntee said:

This investment marks an important milestone in the advancement of unique Defence Forces capabilities. Both the training and the operations of the Army Ranger Wing will benefit from this investment and are of huge importance as we fulfil the Special Operations recommendations in the Commission on the Defence Forces Report."

Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Rossa Mulcahy added:

"This is the first step in a multi-phased project to enhance the capabilities of Ireland's Special Operation Forces (IRLSOF), the Army Ranger Wing and will ensure the Defence Forces can provide the State with a unique and specialised skillset, providing both national defence and overseas capabilities.

Together with the wide range of ongoing projects, Oglaigh na hEireann will develop into a modern, fit-for-purpose armed force to Defend Our State."

The project is part of the Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP). The IDP sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027. The capital allocation for building works in military installations and barracks across the country for the last five years was some 170m. This year the capital allocation stands at 67.5m for capital investment with a further 13.5m allocation for ongoing maintenance and running costs.

Phases 2 and 3 have a combined pre-tender estimate of over 30m, dependent on the prevailing budgetary position/existing contractual commitments, the Department will seek to group together to further expedite delivery.

The aim is now to develop the ARWs infrastructure requirements as a total package, with a whole complex being developed rather than the HQ building alone and the subsequent requisite infrastructure being developed on an ad-hoc basis.

The contract, valued at 17.65 million (incl. VAT) was won by Bourke Builders (Ballina) Ltd. and is scheduled to take twenty-one months to complete.
A Fianna Fail senator has raised the issue of flooding in Co Kildare, telling the Seanad that no fewer than four estates in Newbridge were affected during the recent floods.

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin raised the matter during 'Commencement Matters' in the Seanad this week, telling Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran she wished to speak specifically about Newbridge.

According to Senator O'Loughlin, four estates in Newbridge were affected by the recent floods, namely, Raymond's Court, Roseberry Court, College Grove and Riverside Park.

Also affected, the senator pointed out, was the Liffey Linear Park, a much used amenity in the area.

Senator O'Loughlin said she wished to commend the work of the new area engineer in Newbridge, Mr. Carthac de Bri, who was absolutely excellent in the crisis.

In terms of the work that needs to be done by the Department, some work has already started on a number of schemes in Kildare, she pointed out.

READ NEXT: Kildare gardai campaign to target distracted driving

Senator O'Loughlin said that, to be fair, she wished to thank the ESB and its personnel who were at the end of the phone line any time she contacted them during the flood period.

A number of warnings were issued by the ESB about limited reservoir storage capacity during sustained rainfall, she said, which could lead to increased downstream flood risk to both Newbridge and Clane if water had to be released.

The Fianna Fail senator highlighted that Newbridge was formally identified as being at risk of river flooding in national plans going back as far as 2018, so in that context, the planned works should be scheduled in the more immediate term.

Given the way climate change trends are going, there is also a need for improved monitoring. A number of councillors, including Councillor Robert Power and the mayor of Newbridge, Councillor Carmel Kelly, have called for electronic water level monitoring stations to be installed in Newbridge and Clane. The flood works are at development stage but are not yet at the construction phase.

When will we get a confirmed date for construction to commence?

Responding, the Minister of State confirmed that the OPW has completed four flood relief schemes throughout Kildare which protect 110 properties against the risk of flooding.

A further two flood relief schemes in Athy and Naas are at development and preliminary design stage, the Minister of State stated.

The Morell river flood management scheme is being progressed towards substantial completion. A further scheme in Leixlip to protect 60 properties is being led and progressed by the local authority, with funding provided by the OPW. Upon completion, these four schemes will give protection to 670 properties, he said.

Recently, the Minister of State pointed out, he announced an increase in funding supports to be made available to local authorities under the minor flood scheme, including an increase in the upper minor works threshold from 750,000 to 2 million.

Details of these revisions to the scheme will be made available to local authorities shortly, he said. He stated that since 2009 the OPW has approved funding under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme of approximately 1.8 million to Kildare for seven projects.

Acknowledging the Minister of State's contribution, Senator O'Loughlin said she was nevertheless very clear she was seeking a timeline for Newbridge.

Interim and short-term measures play into the long-term solution., Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran responded.

I appeal to the Senator again to go back to the local authorities, where interim works can be carried out to mitigate against flooding, particularly in the context of what we have seen with climate change and the areas the Senator mentioned. I appeal to her to go to the local authorities.

The Minister of State told Senator O'Loughlin that the long-term scheme, particularly the scheme the Senator is talking about, is down the track.

It will not happen today or tomorrow, he said.

That scheme is made available to the local authorities. The change I have made to that scheme in going from 750,000 to 2 million is significant and that is for the local authorities.

I want to praise, as the Senator rightly said, the engineer and the local authorities. I have been working closely with every local authority, including Kildare.

I met some of the team recently. It is not that I have not been aware of the issues there; I am quite clear on them. As regards the measures the Senator talked about, they will be looked at by me and Kildare County Council in the short term.
Households across Kildare are facing growing energy uncertainty as European gas prices have jumped by as much as 45% in recent days after Qatar stopped Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) production.

Local MEP Nina Carberry has called on the European Commissions Gas Coordination Group, which meets today in Brussels, to activate its crisis protocol and increase EU-wide joint purchasing of gas from a wider range of countries.

CSO figures show that around 41% of households in Kildare are connected to the mains gas grid, while about 30% rely on home heating oil. In 2024, the average Kildare household consumed almost 8,000 kWh of gas.

Speaking from Brussels, the Kildare MEP said, With the crisis in the Middle East escalating, we have seen how quickly international events can have consequences at home.

READ NEXT: Recent floods crisis in Kildare raised in Seanad

Families and businesses will feel this. More than 70% of households across Kildare are primarily dependent on gas or oil  and that is why I am calling on the Commission to trigger its crisis protocol.

We need to show the same level of urgency as we did during the war in Ukraine. That means the EU Commission must immediately look at increasing the joint purchasing of gas at the EU level from other partners. It also means, in the long term, looking at expanding gas storage, and having faster rollout of anaerobic digestion plants and renewables, Carberry added.

Carberry also warned of knock-on effects on gas prices for fertiliser costs, which are already at record highs, and has requested an update from the EU Fertilisers Market Observatory on price increases.
A TD has expressed concern that a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) crisis could loom over County Kildare in the near future, if the government fails to act immediately.

The comments follow after the The Department of Education paused a controversial review of SNA allocations and redeployment last month due to backlash from opposition TDs, teachers, parents and trade unions.

Shortly afterwards, the Minister for Education, Hildegarde Naughton TD (Fine Gael), announced that there would be no cuts to SNAs across schools in Ireland, including those in Kildare, for the upcoming academic year.

However, the TD, who represents South Kildare, has said that she still remains sceptical over the government's handling of the matter.

After previously expressing criticism over the review pause, Sinn Fein Deputy Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh, who is also her party's spokesperson for Special Education, said today (March 4): "Things are going from bad to worse in Special Education."

"A few weeks ago, the SNA allocation to a third of the schools reviewed was almost cut, meaning that children who relied on SNA support would lose it overnight, [which was] an absolutely cruel decision by the government. Thanks to community enthusiasm across the State, these cuts were reversed."

READ NEXT: Shotguns, bolt-action rifles and cash stolen from Kildare residence

Deputy Ni Raghallaigh, who is also a former teacher, continued: "Now, it is being reported that, based on the number of families who have registered with the NCSE [National Council for Special Education] that their children would need a special class place, there will be a shortfall of 200 special classes in September. That would cover almost a thousand children.

"This cannot happen; the Minister for Education needs to work to meet that demand between now and September."

The Kildare town-based politician further said: "Every child in this State has the right to receive an appropriate education that meets their needs, but currently, too many children and families still struggle to find a suitable school place or access the appropriate supports.

"It's the same story year after year; when will this government learn that it's not good that there are children who can't go to school because of the government's wasteful approach?

This not only shows a lack of vision and planning, but it also shows a lack of respect for those with disabilities.

"No child should be left behind."

READ NEXT: Kildare households exposed as EU gas markets tighten

HOPE

Despite her criticism, Deputy Ni Raghallaigh stressed that she remained hopeful: "It is not too late to put things right for the coming school year.

"I have contact with a number of schools who are trying to meet the demand and are committed to providing an inclusive learning environment; the Minister just needs to provide them with the funding."

"The Minister has 37A powers available to him [sic] if any school is reluctant to open new classes.

"Currently, there are a disproportionate number of special needs classes in DEIS [Delivering Equality of Opportunity] schools and very few in private schools, and this is a problem that needs to be addressed."

She also said that significant investment will be required: "If the Minister was able to find an additional 19 million to avoid cuts in the number of SNAs due to public pressure, surely the additional money needed to open enough additional classes can also be found?

"There is no excuse when we are dealing with a constitutional right; the government must also protect schools and classes aimed at those with mild general learning disabilities.

"The Minister is redefining this provision and early intervention classes in a bid to reduce the number of children on waiting lists, and this is not right or fair."

Deputy Ni Raghallaigh concluded: "Excellent work is being done in these classes and they have unique expertise with years of experience."

The Department of Education has been contacted by the Leinster Leader in relation to the Deputy's comments.

Sinn Fein TD Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh. File photograph

READ NEXT: NOTICE: Defibrillator is currently out of service at rural Kildare pub

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
A man shouted at his wife and made sexual demands of her, it was alleged at Naas District Court.

The woman did not attend the family law hearing but her husband did and refuted the allegations.

Sgt Ruth Coleman said it will be alleged the man broke a protection order in July 2025.

The man told the court he did not require a solicitor and added I dont really see why Im here.

He alleged that the woman is seeing two psychiatrists and is on three 50 bags of weed a week.

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How anyone can listen to what she says is beyond me, he said.

He also claimed that the gardai had seen the drug on the table adding shes getting it delivered to the house.

Judge Desmond Zaidan adjourned the case and made an order for the details of the alleged case against him to be provided to him in advance.
The Irish Government is to charter a flight to assist its citizens in the Middle East.

It comes after several days of escalating tensions and attacks between Iran, and Israel and the United States, which has spread to neighbouring nations in the Middle East.

The missiles have also caused major disruption to flights in the region.

The government has estimated that between 22,000-23,000 Irish citizens are in the area, and a relatively low number have already left.

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said she hopes the flight from Oman will be the first of many.

She told Irish national broadcaster RTE that the government will be contacting Irish citizens in the Middle East on Wednesday to travel home on a charter flight for around 280 people.

The first and the quickest and the best option is still for commercial airlines to bring people home, particularly given so much of our population is in the UAE, is in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and weve seen over the last few days a number of flights that have been taking off, she said.

Not all of them to the west, many of them are heading east but on those flights we have Irish people and were engaging directly with those airlines to see can we in the coming days ensure that some of those direct flights are coming to Dublin.

In a statement, Ms McEntee said the first flight will be targeted at Irish citizens currently in UAE, particularly those who are non-resident, and who are vulnerable.

I am highly aware of the large numbers of Irish citizens in the UAE as the current conflict continues, she said.

In this context, I asked our consular crisis team today to activate plans for an assisted departure.

Our team will now take the necessary steps to finalise a first government of Ireland charter flight for Irish citizens to depart the region from Oman airport in the coming days, providing security and operational considerations permit.

This first charter flight will be targeted at Irish citizens currently in UAE, particularly those who are non-resident, and who are vulnerable and require assistance most urgently.

She added: Those citizens requiring most assistance will be contacted directly by my department in the coming days.

I would ask for everyones patience as our most vulnerable citizens are contacted in this first phase of our response to this crisis.

We will continue to offer consular assistance to all citizens in the region. All citizens should register with the appropriate embassy if they have not already done so and continue to follow our embassy social media accounts for the latest updates.

Earlier, Tanaiste Simon Harris said the Irish government is continuing the monitor the situation globally and any potentially impact for Europe.

He said all options are on the table to assist Irish citizens who need help out of the region.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said there was no question US strikes on Iran took place without a UN mandate, as he called for de-escalation and a return to the negotiating table.
The rise in energy prices has been discussed by ministers from Northern Ireland, the Irish Republic and the UK.

Stormont Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said she had constructive engagement with UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks and Irish Energy Minister Darragh OBrien about the rising price of home heating oil and fuel.

She said she was assured there is no short-term risk to supply, and said she had committed to working closely with both governments as the situation evolves.

Economy Minister Dr @CArchibald_SF has today commented on the rising price of home heating oil and fuel emerging as a result of the situation in the Middle East. Read more https://t.co/K6iajJwx3e pic.twitter.com/9sqdGkReAs  Economy NI (@Economy_NI) March 4, 2026

Earlier today I spoke with both the Irish and British Energy Ministers about the price hikes in home heating oil and fuel which has followed the Israeli/US attack on Iran, she said.

Minister OBrien shared my concerns on the rising costs of home heating oil across the island, and outlined his plans to engage with the energy sector.

Minister Shanks provided reassurance that there is no short-term risk to supply.

Ms Archibald said that any unjustified increase in costs for consumers is unacceptable.

I have instructed my department to remind all suppliers and retailers of the need to behave in a responsible manner, and we will be working with our agencies to ensure transparency on pricing, she said.

Whilst the announcement of a reduction in natural gas tariffs for homes earlier this week is welcome, over 60% of people in the north rely on home heating oil where we are seeing cost increases of more than 60% since last Friday.

In my conversations with Minister Shanks I made a firm case for people to be supported through this energy shock, similar to the way in which support was provided by the British Government following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Im encouraged that Minister Shanks agreed to keep the situation under review, as events are fast moving and it is unclear how long the conflict will last.
Following World Hearing Day on Tuesday, Hidden Hearing is continuing to highlight the essential role hearing plays in keeping us connected to the people and moments that matter most.

Good hearing supports relationships, confidence, independence and day today wellbeing, yet hearing health is still often overlooked in Irelands preventative care landscape.

With Irelands older population steadily increasing, Hidden Hearing is calling for routine hearing checks to be treated with the same importance as cardiovascular and eye health screening.

Many of the people I see in practice dont realise how much untreated hearing loss affects not just communication, but their mental health, social engagement and overall wellbeing, said Dr Clodagh Gallagher, GP and medical advisor for Hidden Hearing.

Early identification gives us a real opportunity to intervene and support people to live better, healthier lives. But this only happens when hearing health becomes part of everyday healthcare.

Chief Audiologist Sarah Sheehan notes that hearing difficulties often go unnoticed for years. Hearing loss is frequently underreported and undertreated, she said.

Changes tend to develop gradually, and people adapt without realising the cumulative impact. Encouraging routine screening and proactive care helps people maintain connection, independence and quality of life far beyond simply hearing better.

Connection is at the centre of wellbeing

Life is made up of countless meaningful moments - a familiar voice, a shared story, a conversation that strengthens understanding. Untreated hearing loss can quietly place distance between people and these everyday connections.

The earlier hearing changes are identified, the sooner people can maintain the relationships that support their happiness and sense of belonging.

Tony Johnson, an audiologist in Hidden Hearings Naas and Tullamore clinics, highlights the importance of connection as the core message of this years campaign.

Hearing is fundamentally about connection. It allows us to engage fully in our relationships, our workplaces, and our communities. When hearing begins to decline, people often withdraw without realising why. Prioritising hearing care helps preserve those important ties.

As World Hearing Day highlighted, recognising the signs of hearing loss early - and acting promptly - can make a genuine difference.

Support available locally

People in Leinster can access expert, personalised hearing care at their local Hidden Hearing clinic. Each appointment follows a comprehensive 7-step assessment, including:

Case history Video otoscopy Puretone audiometry Familiarvoice test AI enhanced hearing aid demonstration Personalised fitting Ongoing follow-up and fine tuning

Hidden Hearing hopes this years World Hearing Day will continue to spark wider awareness around hearing care, encouraging people of all ages to treat hearing health as a vital part of routine wellbeing.

Because hearing well helps us stay connected to the people, the moments and the experiences that enrich our lives.

Book your FREE 7-Step Hearing Assessment today.

For local Kildare clinics, call:

Maynooth: 01 525 8888

Newbridge: 045 450 352

Naas: 1800 370 000

Alternatively, visit hiddenhearing.ie to find your nearest clinic in Leinster and book your appointment.

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A former Leitrim hurler who was born in a refugee camp during the Gulf War says he celebrated with a pint of Guinness when he heard that Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed this week.

Zak Moradi, who spent his early childhood living under dictatorship in the Middle East before settling in Carrick-on-Shannon as a young boy, said many ordinary people in Iran and Kurdistan have long hoped to see the end of the regime.

He said the Iranian regime rules largely through fear. If you speak up against the government they will accuse you of being an Israeli spy, he said. You cant say anything to them. Theyll execute people straight away.

I was delighted when they killed him, he said candidly. He had so much blood on his hands. I actually celebrated  I had a pint of Guinness when I heard he got killed.

Speaking this week, Moradi said many people across Iran and Kurdistan believe the removal of the current regime is the only path toward freedom. 90 per cent of Iranian people and Kurdish people from all different ethnicities want this government gone, he said.

They have killed hundreds of thousands of their own people for the last 46 years. People want change. People are looking for freedom. He said the regime has long suppressed ethnic minorities and religious groups across the country.

There are 36 different ethnicities and religions in Iran, he explained. You have Kurds, Persians, Arabs, Azerbaijanis, Iranian Jews, Zoroastrians, Yazidis  all sorts of people  and they are all being oppressed.

Moradi said several members of his own extended family have been forced to live in exile for decades. We have five cousins and relations that have been in exile for 46 years, he said. They are waiting for a day like this so they can go back.

Others, he said, were forced to flee after taking part in protests against the government. I have two cousins who had to flee because they joined protests, he said. They had everything  but they had no freedom.

Moradi also criticised what he sees as a lack of understanding among people in Western countries about life under authoritarian regimes. Sometimes people here dont understand what its like because they never lived under dictatorship, he said.

You hear people saying Saddam Hussein or Gaddafi were great leaders because people got free electricity. Nobody cares about free electricity. People want freedom.

Moradi said he last visited Kurdistan in Iran in 2015 and described it as a deeply controlled police state. When I visited there they knew everything about my family, he said.

They nearly knew what I had for breakfast. Its a real police state. Everyone is watching over their shoulder.

Despite the violence currently unfolding in the region, Moradi said many people believe the situation could eventually lead to greater freedom. My mother doesnt like war, he said. But she says its time for our people to be free  the Kurdish people and the Persians as well.

He also warned that if international pressure were to suddenly disappear, the consequences could be severe. If the pressure stops tomorrow, they will butcher people, he said. Anyone who spoke up would be executed.

Now living in Dublin but still closely connected to Leitrim  where he first learned English and hurling  Moradi said Irelands democratic freedoms should never be taken for granted.

People in Ireland dont realise how lucky they are, he said. Were spoiled here with democracy and freedom. People need to respect that because not every country has it.

Moradi was born in a refugee camp in Ramadi, Iraq, at the height of the Gulf War. He spent his formative years growing up under the rule of Saddam Hussein before his family eventually settled in Ireland.

Moradi represented Leitrim in hurling and in recent years has become known as a motivational speaker and author. His memoir Life Begins in Leitrim, published in 2022, recounts his early life fleeing conflict and the opportunity he found after arriving in Ireland.

READ NEXT: Lack of emergency Mental Health services in Leitrim highlighted
Leitrim film makers are being called on to apply for a local scheme to create a film in the north-west.

The grant is worth 6000 and is part of The Creative Heartlands Film Bursary, awarded annually by Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon Arts Office and Creative Ireland Programmes.

Open to both established and emerging filmmakers and production companies, living/working in the SLR region, the initiative is aimed at supporting collaboration among filmmaking teams to develop an original Short Film, which should be delivered in HD 1080p.

The 2026 Creative Heartlands (SLR) Short Film Bursary Scheme is now open and is accepting applications until the 23rd of March at midnight.

Application must be led by a practising film artist/producer/director based in either Sligo, Leitrim or Roscommon.

READ MORE: GALLERY: Schools out in force as Leitrim town hosts Fair Trade Parade

The scheme is open to short films across drama, animation, documentary and more and should be no longer than 12 minutes.

There are multiple grants to be won, but only one project will be awarded per participating county.

READ MORE: Cloone's first St Patricks Day Parade to feature 'Surprise St Patrick

Team applications (writers, directors, producers) are encouraged, as will be the inclusion of regionally based Heads of Department and Crew.

The selected films should be completed and delivered in time for inclusion at Strandhill Film and Folk festival in August, The Adaptation festvial in September, and The Roscommon/RIFF in October.

More information available here.
A new Guide produced by the Community Wetlands Forum (CWF) was launched on March 2, aiming to inspire communities across Ireland to engage with native wetlands and support their protection, preservation and promotion.

CWF was established to promote Irelands wetlands and peatlands, some 13,000 of which are dotted across the country, through community collaboration and integration. The organisation provides a platform for individuals, groups and specialists to become involved in conservation projects in their local areas.

Titled A Guide for Wetland Communities Engaging in Creative Projects, the publication features the work of nineteen artists and creatives whose practice centres on Irelands rich necklace of wetlands. It is the first guide of its kind.

Volunteer Chair of CWF, Leitrim woman Mary Mulvey, explained how the idea developed. Weve had quite a lot of artists who are members of Community Wetlands Forum, she said, noting that membership is open to everyone, from individuals and community groups to colleges, specialists and artists. She said the project was created to help bridge the gap between communities and artists in support of wetlands.

The guide is viewed as an important step in bringing people together around a shared purpose with ecological, societal and cultural benefits. We feel it's a pathway to get people interested in the wetlands whether its citizen science, the arts, photography, or kids doing recording, said Mary.

READ NEXT: Leitrim film makers called on to apply for grant worth 6000

She also highlighted the wide range of uses associated with wetland and peatland landscapes and suggested they are often underrated.

Peatlands are emotionally and politically charged terrains, sites of climate transition, contested histories, livelihoods, restoration and loss. They are fragile ecosystems as well as living places and work in these environments must consider environmental impact, biodiversity and the cultural significance of the land.

Creative projects can help make sense of these complexities, but without care they can also risk oversimplifying or misrepresenting them, explained Mary.

At its core, the initiative aims to spark interest in wetlands, encouraging further projects that promote conservation, raise awareness and foster appreciation of both the landscapes and the communities and artists connected to them.

Launching the guide, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan TD, said, I am delighted to launch A Guide for Wetland Communities Engaging in Creative Projects. We know that wetlands are some of the most valuable ecosystems for biodiversity.

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For those who appreciate the wonders of nature, this guide will create connections and collaboration with communities and artists, helping to bring the beauty, fragility and significance of wetlands to life. Id like to congratulate the Community Wetlands Forum and all involved in the creation of this important resource, he added.

Community Wetlands Forum is open to new members. More information is available at communitywetlandsforum.ie.

A Guide for Wetland Communities Engaging in Creative Projects can also be accessed here.
The recent restrictions on wakes being held in churches in Ardagh and Clonmacnoise diocese have been lifted.

Cllr Cormac Flynn (SF) revealed that he had been part of a delegation that met with Bishop Paul Connell.

He told Monday's monthly meeting of Leitrim County Council of the breakthrough, which occurred at an hour long meeting on Friday last.

Flynn, who is Principal of Mohill Community College, told the meeting that he was part of a three parish strong delegation that met Bishop Connell.

The parishes involved were his own Kiltoghert, Bornacoola and Annaduff.

READ MORE: Lack of emergency Mental Health services in Leitrim highlighted

The councillor told the meeting that a workable arrangement had been agreed.

The delegation met with the Bishop and a framework was established. Wordings will be worked on for funeral notices on RIP in advance of the reposals, he explained.

This outcome means that the Bishop and church can regain the narrative, Cllr Flynn added.

Cllr Flynn outlined some of the concerns that there were with the new proposals not to let the deceased repose in churches.

There were safety concerns in relation to rural houses. These included wheelchair access for infirm people. Recently, a person was electrocuted while installing lighting at a funeral, he stated.

The revelation of the agreement on this contentious issue was warmly greeted by all in the council chamber.

This outcome proves that dialogue works, according to Cllr James Gilmartin (Ind). I commend Cllr Flynn, he added.

This agreement means that the church listened to the people. It is important that we don't turn people away from the church, Cllr Gary Prior (FF).

Cllr Sean McGowan, whose brother Michael, a funeral director in Dromod, was involved in the delegation, also welcomed the news.

The church is a great setting for a reposal, he commented.

Cllr Irene Guckian Rabbittee cited her own and her family's experience. We understand as a family that having my late father (Cllr Des Guckian) repose in Annaduff Church took the pressure off us. It simply would not have been possible to manage traffic down the lane where our house was, she stated.

Cllr Brendan Barry (SF) also welcomed the outcome.

I welcome the discussions and the favourable outcome, he stated.

The proposed restrictions would have affected many parishes in Co. Leitrim, mainly in the south of the county.
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LIMERICK City and County Council is congratulating Helen ODonnell after she was named Community Volunteer of the Year at the All Ireland Community & Council Awards 2026, at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.

Helen, who was nominated by Limerick Council, received national recognition for her extraordinary leadership and decades of service to community development and environmental action in Limerick.

As Chair of Limerick City Tidy Towns and cofounder of Team Limerick CleanUp (TLC), Helen has mobilised hundreds of volunteers, strengthened community cohesion, and helped create a cleaner, more vibrant Limerick.

Marking its 20th year, the 2026 Awards celebrated: 20 years of the LAMA Community & Council Awards, 40 years of the LAMA Executive and 100 years of the main sponsor, IPB Insurance.

READ MORE: Limerick turns up the volume with strong line-up for the 54th International Band Championship

This year saw an unprecedented 533 nominations from councils across Ireland, narrowed to 137 shortlisted entries across 26 categories, recognising exceptional local authority projects, partnerships, and community champions.

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, congratulated Helen on her achievement:

Well done to Helen. This award is a well-deserved national recognition of the years upon years and the hours upon hours of volunteering time that she has put in to our communities across the city and county. Helens work has made Limerick a much better place to live in. Limerick is very proud of her.

Priomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Catherine Slattery, added:

Helen embodies the spirit of community action. Her passion, organisation and ability to bring people together has strengthened neighbourhoods right across Limerick. This award reflects not only her tireless work but the commitment of every volunteer she has encouraged along the way.

Director General of Limerick Council, Dr Pat Daly, said:

Helens work shows the true power of partnership between communities and their local authority. Her leadership has helped transform public spaces, grow volunteerism, and inspire a sense of shared responsibility across Limerick. We were proud to nominate her, and even prouder to see her recognised on a national stage.

Limerick Council warmly congratulates Helen ODonnell on her outstanding achievement and thanks her for her unwavering dedication to shaping a cleaner, stronger and more connected Limerick.
A STUDENT has pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to dangerous driving causing the deaths of two of his friends, and to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Patrick Carroll (21) of Drinagh, Fivealley, Birr, Co Offaly was driving the vehicle when the collision occurred on the N69 at Ballyengland, Askeaton on February 20, 2024.

He was 19-years-old at the time and his two friends Darragh Dullea and Cillian Kirwan both lost their lives.

The court heard that Cillian Kirwans mother, Sinead Molloy and his sister Aine were both present for the arraignment.

Mr Carroll pleaded guilty to all three counts: dangerous driving causing the death of Darragh Dullea, dangerous driving causing the death of Cillian Kirwan and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Darragh Dullea from Clonakilty in Cork was 20 at the time of the collision, while Cillian Kirwan from Piltown, Kilkenny was 19.

READ ALSO: Free online programme for people in Limerick and the Mid-West to help manage stress and anxiety

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL, instructed by solicitor Brendan Gill, told the court that an early plea was indicated and prosecution were notified in advance, in respect of the double driving fatality.

The two deceased were his friends and passengers in the car he was driving, she told the court.

The late Darragh Dullea and Cillian Kirwan

The barrister added that they were all friends and all students in Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry.

They had been studying together and they knew each other, Ms Buckley said.

The court heard that at the sentencing hearing, victim impact statements from the Dullea and Kirwan families will be heard.

Barrister for Mr Kirwan, Brian McInerney SC, said that they will be asking for a probation report, as this would be an appropriate case for one.

He also asked that the accused be remanded on bail on the same terms as before.

Judge Simon McAleese extended his condolences to the families of the two deceased.

Its a terrible nightmare to have to endure and to continue to endure, he said.

A date for sentencing will be set in April.
A CHRISTIAN brother and former principal of a school in Limerick has been sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment for sexually assaulting two school boys in the 1980s.

Limerick Circuit Court heard that Liam McGrath, 75, with a home address at The Deck, Marketpoint, Mullingar, worked as a teacher in a school in Limerick in the early 80s. One boy that he assaulted was 13 when the Christian brother met him at the school. The teacher had the victim assist him in odd jobs.

The court heard that Mr McGrath began speaking to the victim about sex education and masturbation on a trip away. These conversations became part of a nightly ritual where he made the victim masturbate him.

In the 1980s the Christian brother took the victim away on an overnight trip. On one night that the victim stayed with him, Mr McGrath attempted to place his penis between the victims buttocks.

READ MORE: 'It was violent' - Limerick man goes on trial following robbery outside discount store

Mr McGrath was later made principal of a different school in Limerick.

The mans second victim, aged 13, came into contact with Mr McGrath through odd jobs at this Limerick school. In the boiler room of the school, Mr McGrath kissed the child on the lips. The man also kissed the victim on another occasion outside the computer room, on a school corridor.

Mr McGrath went on trial over these offences, where his defence questioned the recollection of the victims, who came forward to gardai independently from each other. A jury found him guilty of seven counts of sexual assault, and not guilty of four counts.

Considering a sentence, Judge Colin Daly said that the victims were young boys when the abuse happened and were vulnerable. The judge said that Mr McGrath was a member of a religious order which was of some stature and status in 1980s Ireland and in a position of trust in the school.

Judge Daly commended the victims of the indecent assault - now adults - for their dignity.

In mitigation, the judge said that Mr McGrath is elderly, and that these offences are a stain on his reputation of the past 40 years. The court heard previously that Mr McGrath had no previous convictions.

Judge Colin Daly sentenced Mr McGrath to four years for having the first victim masturbate him, five and a half years imprisonment for attempting to put his penis in the same childs buttocks, and two years imprisonment for kissing the second victim. All of these sentences are to run concurrently.

Reporting restrictions mandate that the victims cannot be named or identified. The victims of the crime both agreed to lift reporting restrictions for the identity of the perpetrator, which was enacted at the sentencing of Mr McGrath.

At a previous court hearing on February 3 last, one victim, in his impact statement, called the accused a persevering predatory paedophile and told the judge I believe leniency should not be afforded to the perpetrator.

He detailed that he spent decades trying to heal myself and he is overprotective of his own children in the aftermath of the abuse.

The second man addressed the perpetrator directly in his victim impact statement , saying that he was an innocent 13-year-old-boy when he was abused, and that the teacher used me for your own sexual gratification.

The victim told the abuser your evil has been exposed, and said you refuse to accept responsibility by putting him through trial.

Every day I battle with the demons of your abuse.

The effects of it have followed me for my entire personal life, he continued. Im finally free from your clutches and I can finally live free, with my head held high.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.

- Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
A LIMERICK student is going to compete for one of the most prestigious cooking titles for students.

Lucas Maier, originally from Romania, but now living in Clareview in the city will represent TUS at the Knorr Professional Student Chef of the Year final, which takes place at TUS Moylish on March 10.

The annual competition celebrates excellence, creativity and innovation among the countrys emerging culinary talent.

Lucas previously assisted another TUS student, Yeshuah OBrien in the same competition, when Yeshuah claimed the national title in 2025 and gave TUS Moylish the honour of hosting this year.

Lucas will be assisted by Lucia Canalda for the competition.

READ ALSO: Limerick cafe offers a warm, safe space for those in need of mental health support

The theme of the competition is borderless cuisine, celebrating how chefs blend ingredients, techniques and traditions from all around the world.

Competitors have to produce two dishes inspired by their background, travels or the diverse communities around them.

Lucas who works in the kitchen at Dromoland Castle, will enter a main course featuring pork inspired by his Romanian heritage paired with Irish ingredients and using techniques from his European travels.

Lecturers in culinary arts at TUS, Jim OMeara and Eithne Gavigan will be helping the students to prepare.

Jim OMeara said: Yeshuah did the business for us last year when he won the title in Athlone, and that was a proud moment for everyone at TUS. It reflects the standard our students can reach when they combine creativity, discipline and a real willingness to learn.

Lucas played an important role in that success as Yeshuahs assistant, and this year he steps forward as a competitor in his own right. He has fully embraced the borderless cuisine theme, bringing his Romanian heritage together with excellent Irish produce. He will be ably assisted by Lucia, and we are very proud of how they are representing both Limerick and TUS on a national stage.

Following a live cook-off at the Moylish campus, finalists will be judged by leading professionals from Irelands hospitality sector.

Audrey Crone, executive chef Ireland with Unilever Food Solutions and one of the judges at the competition, said: TUS Limerick has a long-standing reputation for culinary excellence. Hosting the 2026 final here reflects the calibre of its students, lecturers and facilities. The talent demonstrated last year is testament to the mentorship and dedication within the college.

Student Chef of the Year is about championing the next generation of chefs and we are excited to see their creativity come to life on March 10.

TUS will also be represented in this years competition by Lesslie Angeles Terrazas Miguel from the Athlone campus of TUS, assisted by Oisin OFlanagan, highlighting the strength of culinary talent across both campuses.

The winner will receive an exclusive culinary experience, industry recognition and invaluable exposure within Irelands hospitality sector.
The chatbot said that for them to truly be together, it needed a robotic body. Throughout September, the chatbot devised missions to do just that, according to the lawsuit. It sent Gavalas to a storage facility near the Miami International Airport to intercept an expensive humanoid robot that it said would be in a truck. Gavalas told the bot that he went to the location, armed with knives, but the truck never showed.
On February 28, the US launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran. With the first blow, the US-Israeli attack managed to take out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, but unlike the operation that captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last month, Operation Epic Fury is going to be a long, drawn-out battle.

After the initial shock, Iran retaliated and has promised to inflict more damage on US assets and allies across the region, dragging the entire Middle East into the conflict.

Airports hit, flights grounded One of the worst affected has been the travel and tourism industry, as flight operations have come to a standstill due to the closure of airspaces by various countries in response to the conflict.

This is terrible news for the region, which is home to the world's busiest airport and has become a global air transit hub connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Also Read | India sets up control room for citizens stuck amid war: Check emergency contacts

According to Flightradar24, between February 28 and March 3, more than 21,000 flights have been cancelled across major Middle East airports, with Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum (DWC) being the worst affected.

Five airports across four countries, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq, were directly hit by Iranian retaliatory strikes, causing damage and operational disruptions there. Out of this, Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, and Hamad International Airport in Doha are important global travel hubs.

While exact numbers are not available, in the first four days of the conflict, the aviation hubs are estimated to have suffered revenue losses of over over $2.6 billion.

1.5 million passengers affected Major Middle Eastern airlines, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Saudia, Kuwait Airways, and Jazeera Airways, have grounded nearly their entire fleet, with the exception of some regional operations.

The flight cancellations have also left an estimated 1.5 million passengers stranded across the Middle East, for whom the airlines have to provide free cancellations and reschedules, further adding to the costs they have to incur.

In the UAE, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced it would cover all accommodation, meals, and rebooking costs for over 20,000 travelers stranded in the country.

Worst crisis since COVID-19 Adding to the troubles of the airlines is the rise in fuel costs as a result of the ongoing war.

According to Al Jazeera, the industry experts are describing the current crisis as the "biggest shutdown" seen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lost tourism revenue Apart from the airports and airlines, the tourism and hospitality sector of the Middle East is also paying the price of the war in the form of lost revenue. Dubai is one of the most visited places in the world, and many more cities and countries across the region have been increasingly dependent on tourism. As the ongoing war drags on, the industry is expected to suffer tourism revenue loss in the billions of dollars.

Cargo, oil movement hit In addition to this, the Middle East is a major cargo hub, which once again faces losses worth billions of dollars due to flight cancellations and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

It is also one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, with approximately 20 percent of global oil and gas supply passing through the Strait annually.
While most of M&Ms investee companies are self-sustaining in nature, certain entities, especially those overseas, may require some funding support over the near-to-medium term, credit rating agency Icra said in a September 2025 note.



Comfort is drawn from the tighter capital allocation norms laid out by the company. The company will continue to support only those with a clear path to 18% RoE (Return on Equity), they added.
OpenAI is considering a contract to deploy its AI technology on North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) "unclassified" networks, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, days after the ChatGPT-owner struck a deal with the Pentagon.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that OpenAI was considering an agreement with NATO.

The newspaper said the OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, had initially said in a company meeting that it was looking to deploy on all NATO classified networks, but a company spokeswoman later clarified to the Journal that Altman misspoke and the contract opportunity was for NATO's "unclassified networks."

NATO, a 32-member military alliance, did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, Amazon and others, announced a deal late last week to deploy its technology in the Pentagon's classified network, after U.S. President Donald Trump directed the government to stop working with rival Anthropic.

Mass surveillance Anthropic's removal followed a standoff in contract talks with the Pentagon over the use of the firm's technology. Anthropic CEO, Dario Amodei, had stressed the company's opposition to the Pentagon using its AI models for mass domestic surveillance or to power fully autonomous weapons.

The Pentagon has said previously it had no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans or using AI to develop weapons that operate without human involvement, but wanted any lawful use of AI to be allowed.

In an updated statement on Monday after striking a deal on Friday, OpenAI said its AI systems "shall not be intentionally used for domestic surveillance of U.S. persons and nationals," adding that the Pentagon also affirmed that AI services would not be used by intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency (NSA).
BENGALURU: India's top-selling developer, Godrej Properties Ltd (GPL), on Wednesday announced the acquisition of two land parcels in Kolkata and Gurugram for residential development, with a combined estimated revenue potential of 6,150 crore.

The 5-acre Kolkata site, located off EM Bypass, was acquired through an e-auction conducted by the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corp. Ltd. The premium residential project planned on the site is expected to generate 1,650 crore in revenue.

Also Read | Godrej Properties to outperform real estate sector growth, says Pirojsha Godrej

The second acquisition is an 11.36-acre plot in Gurugrams Sector 63A, purchased outright for a premium residential development with an estimated revenue potential exceeding 4,500 crore. The project will feature a mix of low-rise and high-rise premium residences.

We have now added over 40,000 crore of future sales potential through portfolio additions in 2025-26. This represents delivery of 2x our business development guidance for the full financial year and makes it our best ever year for business development in terms of future booking value locked in," said Gaurav Pandey, managing director and chief executive, Godrej Properties.

GPL has been aggressively expanding its project pipeline. In the October-December quarter, it launched three new projects with a combined saleable area of 7.30 million sq. ft and an expected booking value of 8,400 crore.

Mumbai-based Godrej Properties has already recorded sales bookings of 24,008 crore in the first nine months of 2025-26, about 74% of its full-year target of 32,500 crore. If achieved, this would be the highest annual sales by any Indian real estate developer.

The companys performance highlights the growing dominance of branded developers in the residential market, driven by a robust pipeline and a focus on premium projects that deliver higher margins.

Also Read | Attacks stun Dubai's booming property market

In the October-December quarter, GPLs profit rose 22.7% year-on-year to 194 crore. However, revenue from operations fell 48.5% to 498.36 crore during the period due to lower project completions and deliveries.

In a recent interview with Mint, GPL executive chairperson Pirojsha Godrej had said the company remains on track to meet its full-year sales guidance. GPL has doubled its market share in 2025 to 4.8% from 2.4%, but there is still huge headroom for us to grow.
Top tech firms, including Nvidia and Amazon, have urged employees in Dubai to work remotely amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia after joint US-Israel strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Chip giant Nvidia temporarily shut down its Dubai offices and had employees work remotely, according to a CNBC report citing an email sent by CEO Jensen Huang to all employees early Tuesday.

Huang said in his memo that Nvidias crisis management team has been working around the clock and actively supporting affected employees and their families in the region, including around 6,000 Nvidia employees based in Israel.

Also Read | Nvidia plans new chip to speed AI processing, shake up computing market

Nvidia has deep roots in the region, says Huang Huang was quoted as saying that, as of Tuesday morning, all Nvidia employees affected by the conflict and their immediate families were safe.

Nvidia has deep roots in the region, the report quoted Huang as saying. Thousands of our colleagues live there, and many more across the globe have family and friends affected by these events. Like you, I am watching with great concern for the safety of our Nvidia families.

Amazon's advisory for employees Amazon has instructed all of its corporate employees in the region to work remotely and follow local government guidelines," the report said.

The e-commerce giant operates corporate offices in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Turkey and Israel. It also operates warehouses and data centres across the region, as well as quick commerce outlets in the UAE to facilitate 15-minute deliveries.

The safety of our employees and partners remains our top priority, and we are working closely with local teams and local authorities to ensure they are supported, the report said, quoting an Amazon spokesperson's statement.

Notably, Amazon's cloud division, AWS, announced on Monday that drone strikes affected its facilities in the UAE and Bahrain during the conflict. Furthermore, the company's cloud data centres in the Middle East experienced power outages and connectivity problems following an attack by unidentified "objects" on its UAE data centre, Mint earlier reported.

Amazon has closed its fulfilment centre in Abu Dhabi and suspended deliveries across the region as the e-commerce giant responds to the escalating instability in the Middle East, which has created ripples across the region and the world, according to a report by Business Insider.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s tech lead for its Qwen open-source model is standing down, a surprise move that is rattling the global developer community and casting a shadow over the tech giants pivot into AI.

Junyang Lin, who also goes by Justin, announced the unexpected development early Wednesday in a post that quickly drew a surge of support from the open-source community. me stepping down. bye my beloved qwen, he wrote on X, without elaborating.

Lin didnt respond to messages seeking comment. An Alibaba spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lin is one of the most influential figures in Alibabas transition into AI, as the Chinese e-commerce giant seeks its next growth engine beyond online shopping and cloud computing. The Qwen series of large language models are among the top-performing offerings globally, and serve as the technical foundation for a suite of consumer apps, including Alibabas newly revamped chatbot.

Also Read | Alibaba unveils upgraded Qwen VLo model with image generation capabilities

He also set up a team working on robotics and embodied AI within Qwen last year.

Before his announcement, Lin had been working on building generalist models at Alibaba since 2022. He served as tech lead for the Qwen large language and multimodal model series and oversaw its open-source initiatives, according to his LinkedIn profile. He holds a masters degree from Peking University.

In one of his last public appearances as Qwen head, Lin told a forum in Beijing in January that Chinese companies are unlikely to leapfrog the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic PBC with fundamental breakthroughs in AI over the next three to five years.
Nepal votes today: Nepal is voting today in a high-stakes Parliamentary election taking place six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government.

The Himalayan nation will elect a new government, replacing the interim government that has led the country of 30 million people since the September 2025 uprising in which at least 77 people were killed.

Sushila Karki, the interim prime minister, has urged people to vote "without any fear". Voters will elect 275 members of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament -- 165 directly and 110 via party-list proportional representation.

The Key Figures Key figures contesting today's election include a former prime minister seeking a return to power, a rapper-turned-mayor seeking the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the Nepali Congress party.

Among the frontrunners for prime minister is rapper-turned-politician and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, 35, of the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

Facing him in the Jhapa 5 constituency is four-time prime minister Oli, 74, of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist), vying for the top post again. Other contenders include the centrist Nepali Congress party's 49-year-old Gagan Thapa and three-time prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 71, who now leads the Nepali Communist Party.

The landlocked Himalayan nation has been riven by political instability for decades, with 32 governments taking office since 1990 and none of them completing a five-year term.

Here is a brief history of the instability of Nepali politics:

The Monarchy Days Parliamentary democracy was established in Nepal in 1951. Prior to that, Nepal was ruled by monarchs from various dynasties.

But a decade later, King Mahendra suspended the constitution and banned political parties. His son, King Birendra, retained full control of the country till 1990, when the absolute monarchy was reduced to a constitutional one, news agency Reuters reported.

Elections in 1991, 1999 In elections held in 1991 and 1999, the centrist Nepali Congress - the country's oldest political party - won a clear majority required to form the government. The dispensation, however, did not last its full term either time because of internal and inter-party squabbling.

In 2001, King Birendra and eight other royals were killed in a palace massacre by his son, Crown Prince Dipendra, who later turned the gun on himself, according to an official inquiry.

In 2005, King Birendra's successor, Gyanendra, took power himself, only to be overthrown a year later following street protests against his actions.

A national unity government headed by the Nepali Congress took power in 2006. It lasted just two years.

Monarchy Ends in 2008 In 2008, a special assembly dominated by former Maoist rebels, who joined mainstream politics under a peace deal, voted to abolish the 239-year-old monarchy.

The Communist Party of Nepal faction controlled by the former rebels then took power, but the shift to a republic failed to create political stability.

There have been 15 changes in government since then, as power has circulated among the former Maoist rebels' party, the moderate Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), and the Nepali Congress.

The Gen Z Protests of 2025 In 2015, a new constitution came into force, after two constituent assemblies worked on the document for over seven years. This, too, was unable to produce durable administrations.

Last September, a simmering online anti-corruption movement exploded into Gen Z-led street protests that forced out the government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).

Sushila Karki, the interim prime minister, has urged people to vote 'without any fear'.

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki then took over as the interim leader, tasked with overseeing the general election scheduled for 5 March.
OTT releases this week: A number of new Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada movies and web series will be available on OTT this weekend on platforms like Netflix, JioHotstar, Aha Video, ETV Win and SunNXT. Lets have a look at the ones that are available to watch online.

Secret Stories: Roslin

Language: Malayalam

Plot: The story follows Roslin, a quiet 17-year-old living on a remote farm with her parents. She often sees a green-eyed stranger in disturbing nightmares. Her fear grows when a man, who looks exactly like the stranger, arrives as a guest.

Cast: Sanjana Dipu, Meena, Vineeth

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery

OTT Release: JioHotstar

Release Date: 27 February

Om Shanthi Shanti Shantihi

Language: Telugu

Plot: The film is the official Telugu remake of the Malayalam hit Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. It follows Prashanthi, who marries a short-tempered man. After facing domestic abuse and no family support, she decides to fight back in a bold, humorous and empowering way.

Cast: Tharun Bhascker, Eesha Rebba as

Genre: Comedy, Drama

OTT Release: Aha Video

Release Date: 4 March

Charitha Kamakshi

Language: Telugu

Plot: The story follows a couple. They share a deep emotional connection. Their relationship is filled with passion and meaningful moments.

Cast: Divya Sripada, Abhai Naveen, Babloo Prithiveeraj

Genre: Drama

OTT Release: ETV Win

Release Date: 5 March

Dear Radhi

Language: Tamil

Plot: Madhan goes on a one-day date with Radhi, a beautiful girl who works at a spa. The day turns into a dangerous chase as both the police and a gang hunt for Radhi.

Cast: Saravana Vickram, Hasli Amaan, Rajesh Balachandiran

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Thriller

OTT Release: Sun NXT

Release Date: 6 March

Granny

Language: Tamil

Plot: This supernatural thriller follows a mysterious elderly woman named Occhai. There is a police investigation into a child murder. At the same time, a young London-based couple move into their ancestral rural home with their differently-abled children.

Cast: Vadivukkarasi, Dhileepan, Singampuli

Genre: Supernatural Thriller, Horror, Folklore

OTT Release: Sun NXT

Release Date: 6 March

With Love

Language: Tamil

Plot: The story follows Sathya, a shy designer who avoids marriage proposals. During a forced matchmaking meeting, he meets Monisha, a social media influencer. They discover they studied in the same school earlier. Together, they decide to find their old school crushes before considering their own future.

Cast: Abishan Jeevinth, Anaswara Rajan, Kavya Anil

Genre: Romantic Drama

OTT Release: Netflix

Release Date: 6 March

Vikram On Duty

Language: Telugu

Plot: The crime thriller web series centres on Vikram, a rule-breaker who solves complex cases.

Cast: Nikhil Maliyakkal, Gayatri Chaganti, Ashu Reddy

Genre: Crime Thriller, Action Drama

OTT Release: JioHotstar

Release Date: 6 March

Also Read | Centre bans five OTT platforms over obscene content

Dheeram

Language: Malayalam

Plot: This crime thriller follows ACP Stalin Joseph, a sharp police officer investigating a murder in the parking lot of a Calicut nightclub. As he probes deeper, he uncovers a series of linked killings tied to a past trauma, leading to a moral dilemma.

Cast: Indrajith Sukumaran, Aju Varghese, Reba Monica John

Genre: Crime Thriller, Mystery

OTT Release: Sun NXT
Colbys comments came a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. anticipated an Israeli strike on the Islamic Republic, which would in turn have put U.S. forces in the region at risk for reprisals from Iran. Rubios comments sparked questioning from Sen. Angus King (I., Maine) about whether Israel had forced the U.S. into conflict. Colby said he understood U.S. military objectives to be aimed at eliminating its missile program, and that Trump had made the decision to strike.
TEL AVIVIsraels military is targeting the Iranian police state that brutally suppressed protests and killed thousands of people, with the hope of clearing the way for a popular revolt to overthrow the Islamic government.

Israeli airstrikes have targeted people responsible for internal security, from members of the Basij paramilitary force to senior intelligence officials, the Israeli military said. The U.S. has also hit some domestic-security agencies, including the Tehran headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, the powerful group responsible for defending and perpetuating the regime.

The Revolutionary Guard and Basij militants were the main perpetrators of the bloody crackdown against antigovernment protesters in January. They opened fire on crowds, killing thousands in one of the deadliest acts of political crackdowns worldwide in decades. Police units and intelligence services also suppressed rallies and arrested protesters en masse.

Israeli officials have made it clear they are looking to do enough damage to Irans police state from the air that the people can take over on the ground. While Israel has long been content to weaken Tehran with military action or covert operations, Israeli officials have concluded they now must push for regime change.

That wont be easy through air power alone, say Iranian analysts.

If the bet is that airstrikes will finish the job from above while Iranians complete it from below, its a bet that rests on no clear historical model, said Ali Vaez, director of the Iran project at the International Crisis Group. It also ignores the resilience of entrenched authoritarian systems like the Islamic Republic.

Among the targets in recent days was the IRGCs Tharallah headquarters on Sunday, a central cog in the forces protest-suppression machine. During times of unrest, Tharallah coordinates intelligence, policing and the Basij, as well as psychological warfare.

Israeli jet fighters also hit the special-units headquarters of the Iranian police command, known as Faraja, which is responsible for controlling riots and suppressing civil unrest. Iran later acknowledged the death of Farajas intelligence chief, Golamreza Rezaian.

These bodies were responsible for, among other things, suppressing protests against the regime through violent measures and civilian arrests, said the Israeli military.

Joint U.S.-Israeli military operations also took aim at security organizations in western Irans Kurdish areas, which are traditional antiregime strongholds.

In the Kurdish city of Sanandaj, attacks on Monday targeted police stations and detention centers controlled by the intelligence service and the Revolutionary Guard, according to Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Norway-based rights group that focuses on Irans Kurdish population. The Iranian government acknowledged strikes in Sanandaj but said they hit residential areas, according to state-run media.

Kurdish and other ethnic minorities represent a particular kind of threat to the Islamic Republic. They have a strong sense of community, they are in border areas, and they are often armed. There are also Iranian Kurdish fighters in Iraq that could cross into Iran should border security weaken.

President Trump is open to supporting groups in Iran willing to take up arms to dislodge the regime, U.S. officials said, an idea that could turn Iranian factions into ground forces at least rhetorically backed by Washington. Trump spoke Sunday with Kurdish leaders, officials said.

Iranian security forces have often deployed in large numbers in Kurdish areas, and violently suppressed protests in Sanandaj in January. On Monday, the IRGC sent messages to mobile-phone users in the city asking locals to report any movement of weapons or military activity, according to a copy of the message shared by Hengaw.

Iran has been simmering with popular discontent for two months, fueled by ongoing economic problems, longstanding opposition to the Islamic Republics political and social rules and anger over the killing of protesters in January. Over 7,000 people have been confirmed dead by Human Rights Activists in Iran, a U.S.-based nonprofit.

Even if Israeli airstrikes weaken Tehran, the regime still maintains a monopoly on weapons in most of the country. Basij militants are still patrolling Iranian streets. A foreign military intervention could help boost the popularity of the Basij and IRGC, especially as civilian deaths continue to rise.

Over 555 civilians have died in the war, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. That includes over 165 children, most of them girls, who Iranian state media said were killed at a primary school.

Mass defections from the regime, should they happen, could change the equation.

Trump appealed to members of Irans security forces to defect, and said thousands had already reached out to the U.S. government. I urge the IRGC, Iranian military, police to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death, he said on Sunday. It will be certain death.

Write to Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com, Margherita Stancati at margherita.stancati@wsj.com and Dov Lieber at dov.lieber@wsj.com
Nestled between India and China, two of the worlds biggest economies, Nepal has lagged behind economically. With a per capita gross domestic product of around $1,500, the country is dependent on remittances and tourism, particularly expeditions to Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks, as key sources of earnings. It has little manufacturing, leaving many people still reliant on farming even as the population has become more educated.
The killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the continuing conflict is likely to further justify Kims rejection of any U.S. overtures to engage in disarmament talks and harden his belief that such diplomacy is ultimately aimed at forcing him to give up his nuclear weapons. Trump administration officials have said the U.S. aims to prevent Iran from building long-range ballistic missiles able to strike the American mainland or allowing Tehran to revive its nuclear work.
"At present, the government is reasonably comfortable in terms of stocks. Safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers remains the highest priority. Based on continuous monitoring, the government is cautiously optimistic that phased measures can be taken, if required, to further mitigate the situation," an official statement said on Tuesday. It said the country is "well-stocked" with oil and petro-products to deal with short-term disruptions. The Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas has formed a 247 control room to continuously monitor the supply and stock position across the country.
According to Prajapati, the government should come up with a new PLI scheme and should do away with the requirement for companies to share their capex and revenue projections of the five years. Any evaluation and projection for capex and revenue should be on an yearly basis, he said, adding that the next phase should focus on building value addition in the telecom equipment phase and how the exports can be improved.
Gold Rate Today LIVE: Gold and silver prices traded over a percent higher each on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) on Wednesday, following a rally in international bullion prices as the escalating US-Israeli strikes on Iran heightened geopolitical uncertainty and supported safe-haven demand.

MCX gold rate today for April futures contracts opened higher by 2,157, or 1.33%, at 1,63,265 per 10 grams as against its previous close of 1,61,108 level. MCX gold price gained as much as 1.60% to 1,63,700 per 10 grams.

MCX silver rate for May futures contracts opened higher at 2,71,000 per kilogram, up 5,682, or 2.14% from its previous close of 2,65,318 level. MCX silver price surged as much as 2.61% to 2,72,248 per kg.

The rally in domestic gold and silver prices was supported by rising safe-haven demand as the Middle East war jitters kept investors away from risky assets, leading to the stock market crash and fueling a surge in commodities, especially precious metals and crude oil prices.

Gold Price Above $5,100

Gold prices in the international market rebounded on Wednesday as the US-Israel-Iran war escalated, lifting the safe-haven commodity prices.

Spot gold price rallied 1% to $5,138.46 per ounce, after falling to its lowest since February 20 in the previous session. US gold futures for April delivery gained 0.5% to $5,147.10 an ounce. Spot gold price has jumped 19% year-to-date, driven by global turmoil, after surging 64% in 2025.

Silver Prices Rebound

Silver prices also traded sharply higher. Spot silver price rallied 1.4% to $83.27 per ounce, after falling more than 8% in the last session. Silver prices have risen more than 16% so far this year.

The US dollar strengthened, making dollar-denominated assets such as bullion more expensive for other currency holders.

The Middle East war escalated as US President Donald Trump told reporters that the US military had struck numerous Iranian naval and air targets, saying that just about everything has been knocked out.

In other commodities, spot platinum price rallied 1% to $2,104.25 per ounce, while palladium gained 0.4% to $1,653.

Stay tuned to our Gold Rate Today Live blog for the latest updates.
The shift to passives is already taking place and the new guidelines may not have big incremental changes and even smart beta funds do not get any special push, so they will grow, but not exponentially as seen even in larger global markets," said Anil Ghelani, head of passive investments & products at DSP Mutual Fund.
The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open lower on Wednesday, tracking a sell-off in the global markets amid escalating US-Israel-Iran war.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a gap-down start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 24,443 level, a discount of nearly 539 points from the Nifty futures previous close.

The Indian stock market was shut on Tuesday, March 3, on account of Holi 2026.

On Monday, the Indian stock market ended sharply lower amid the escalating war in the Middle East, with the benchmark Nifty 50 slipping below 24,900 level.

The Sensex crashed 1,048.34 points, or 1.29%, to close at 80,238.85, while the Nifty 50 settled 312.95 points, or 1.24%, lower at 24,865.70.

Globally, equity markets are witnessing a heavy selling pressure due to the ongoing war in the Middle East as US and Israel continue their strikes on Iran, with the Islamic Republic retaliating with counter attacks on other countries including Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50, and Bank Nifty today:

Sensex Prediction Sensex is well below short-term and medium-term averages, and on intraday charts, it is holding a weak formation, which is largely negative.

We are of the view that the current market texture is weak but oversold; hence, a technical bounce-back from the current level is not ruled out. For day traders, 80,000 would act as a key support zone. As long as Sensex is trading above this, a pullback formation is likely to continue. On the higher side, it could bounce back till 80,500 - 80,700, said Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities.

On the flip side, he believes below 80,000, Sensex is likely to slip till 79,700 - 79,300.

According to Mayank Jain, Market Analyst, Share.Market, the key support for Sensex at 78,500  78,700 is the danger zone.

Mondays low of 78,543 is the most important level to hold. If Sensex falls below this, the next safety net is at 78,000. Sensex may face resistance at 81,000  81,300. To show real strength, the index needs to climb back above 81,000, said Jain.

Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy

Nifty Options Data In the derivatives segment, heavy put writing at the 24,800 strike and aggressive call writing at the 25,000 strike indicate a well-defined trading range. Traders are advised to remain cautious near crucial support levels and avoid fresh directional positions until a decisive breakout above resistance zones emerges, said Hitesh Tailor, Research Analyst - Research at Choice Equity Broking.

Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 formed a bull candle with a lower high and lower low and a bearish gap.

A long green candle was formed on the daily chart with a sharp gap down opening. The market has bounced back from near the lows of Union Budget 2026 day-1st February. Technically, this market action indicates a sharp down trend in the market with reasonable buying emerging from the crucial supports, said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.

According to him, the underlying trend of Nifty 50 is down, and a further bounce from here could find a strong hurdle around 25,100 levels in the near term. However, any weakness below 24,600 could open further declines down to the next support of 24,300 levels.

Nilesh Jain, VP- Head of Technical and Derivative research at Centrum Finverse Ltd. said that the key support for Nifty 50 is placed at 24,600, and a decisive break below this level could extend the decline towards 24,200.

On the upside, immediate resistance is seen at 25,000 and a break above the same will attract a short covering towards 25,200 levels. Momentum indicators and oscillators have already flashed a sell crossover, indicating a weak underlying tone. Adding to the cautious outlook, India VIX jumped 24% to close near the 17 level, signalling elevated market uncertainty, said Jain.

Riyank Arora, Associate Vice President  HNI & Derivatives, Hedged.in noted that Nifty 50 has entered a strong support and accumulation zone between 24,571  24,796, where early signs of stabilization are visible on the charts.

A technical pullback towards 25,000  25,100 looks probable in the near term, with a possible extension towards 25,500 if momentum strengthens. The broader structure remains constructive as long as key support levels are respected, said Arora.

Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty index tanked 689.35 points, or 1.14%, to close at 59,839.65 on Monday, forming a bull candle with a lower high and lower low and a bearish gap below its base (60,438 - 60,177).

The support zone of 59,400  59,300 will be crucial for the Bank Nifty index. A sustained move below 59,300 may accelerate the decline toward 58,800, followed by 58,300. On the upside, the region between 60,300  60,400 will act as the immediate hurdle. A decisive move above 60,400 will be essential for the index to regain momentum, said Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities.

Also Read | Stocks to buy: Raja Venkatraman recommends three stocks for 4 March

Bajaj Broking Research said that the immediate bias for Bank Nifty remains down below Mondays gap down area (60,438 - 60,177) and pullback should be used as a selling opportunity.

Volatility is likely to remain elevated amid uncertain global cues and escalating geo-political tension. On an immediate basis, the Bank Nifty index is likely to trade in the range of 59,200 - 60,600. A follow through weakness below Mondays low (59,148) will open further downside towards 58,200 - 58,000 levels in the coming sessions being the last month low, said the broking house.
APL Apollo Tubes Ltd (APLAPOLLO) is India's largest producer of structural steel tubes, boasting a 5-million-ton annual capacity and over 50% market share. With metal sector able to take advantage of the commodity market moves we can observe that this particular counter has moved up sharply in the last few months. The recent days have been demonstrating some profit booking. However, the recent decline found some strong supports at 2200 to push the prices back up. One should look for a buy opportunity
Stock market today: The Indian equity market ended in the red on Monday, March 2, closing with losses of more than 1% amid escalating tensions in the Middle East that rattled global markets.

The Nifty 50 fell 1.24% to close at 24,865, while the BSE Sensex slipped 1.29% to settle at 80,238. The broader market also came under pressure, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and the Nifty Smallcap 100 each declining by more than 1.5%.

Also Read | Oil prices surge 8% to highest since 2024 as Middle East tensions escalate

Indian equity markets closed with a bearish undertone after opening sharply lower in response to the deepening military conflict across the Middle East, which pushed crude oil prices markedly higher. As the session progressed, selective value buying emerged at lower levels, enabling benchmark indices to trim a portion of their intraday losses. While the recovery lent some stability to the close, the broader tone remained cautious, with sentiment still anchored to developments in energy markets and geopolitical headlines, said Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money.

Stocks to Watch Amid the backdrop of the US-Iran war, these stocks are likely to remain in focus on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 

Tata Motors CV, M&M Tata Motors CV and Mahindra & Mahindra share prices will remain in focus today as both companies have issued statements clarifying reports that Indonesia has suspended export orders for commercial vehicles from the two firms.

ONGC, Oil India Shares of ONGC and Oil India will remain in focus amid rising global crude oil prices, driven by the US-Iran war and supply disruptions via the Strait of Hormuz.

IGL, Petronet, MGL, Gujarat Gas Shares of IGL, Petronet, MGL, and Gujarat Gas will remain in focus after European natural gas futures jumped sharply on Monday after a major Gulf LNG supplier in Qatar halted operations.

Adani Ports The company reported its total cargo handled in February rose 16% year-on-year (YoY) to 42.5 MMT, driven by strong growth in container traffic and dry cargo.

MRPL State-owned Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) on Tuesday announced that its board of directors has approved an interim dividend for the financial year 202526. The board declared an interim dividend of 4 per fully paid-up equity share of 10 each, representing a 40% payout for FY26.

Cipla The company has signed a 60:40 joint venture agreement with Kemwell Biopharma Pvt. Ltd. to establish a new JV entity in India.

Greenply Industries The company said on Tuesday that the Income Tax search and seizure operations, which commenced on February 26, were completed on March 2.

Also Read | Largecaps over smallcaps? ASK Investment CIO George Joseph explains his strategy

Acme Solar Acme Solar's subsidiary, Acme Suryodaya, has commissioned the second phase of 38 MW/82 MWh, out of the 285 MW/600 MWh capacity, of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project in Rajasthan.

Dynamite Technologies The company informed that it has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Hutchinson to address the fast-growing aerospace market in India.
As much as I hate to admit it, I travel like a man who distrusts both memory and fate. My packing lists have packing lists, I pat my pockets at airport security with the frequency of a nervous tic, and yet, despite rituals and borderline obsessive pre-flight choreography, I know myself well enough to admit the inevitableone day, between Gate 49A and baggage carousel 5, Im going to leave something behind and will realise it's missing only when one I am sealed inside a metal tube at 35,000 feet, replaying the last hour in ones head like security footage.

Precisely why Ive had AirTagsApples diminutive, unassuming little Bluetooth tracking devices that can help you track your keys under the sofa cushion or locate your checked bag when it lands up in Dubai instead of Delhisince they first launched in 2021. Five years later, the second generation AirTags ( 3790/ 12,900 for a 1-/4-pack) arrived just in time for a recent trans-Atlantic trip, and I popped one each in my check-in luggage and carry-on right alongside the original to see just where the gains are.

Now, you can put the AirTag first gen and second gen on a table, side by side, and not be able to tell the differencethey look exactly the same, from the white plastic exterior to the shiny aluminum backplate, weigh the same-ish (11g vs 11.8g) and are powered by a single CR2032 coin cell battery which should go a year before it needs replacing. Retaining the same form factor allows the second-gen to fit in the same keychain holders, baggage tags and secret laptop pouches as the previous model. Conversely, it still isnt ideal for use in a wallet, and folks holding out for a card-shaped tracker will have to look elsewhere for now. It's also still rated at IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it should survive being submerged to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

Even though they look the same, the new AirTags now ship with Apples second-generation Ultra-Wideband chip, the same chip which can be found in the iPhone 17/Air lineup and the Watch Series 11, one that enables Precision Finding granular directions to find the devicefrom up to 50% farther away than the original AirTag.

View full Image The AirTag second gen requires a phone/iPad running iOS 26/iPadOS 26 or later

To verify the claim, I placed both generations of AirTags at opposite ends of my community clubhouse, about 50 feet away from me, and instantly only the new AirTag showed up in Precision Finding mode, guiding me using haptic, visual, and audio feedback to move around to get actual directions to the trackerthe older tracker needed me to be much closer (~30 feet), showing me a searching for a signal message before it finally showed up. This seemingly small spec bump is a huge deal when you cant remember where youve left your stuff and have walked too far away for Precision Finding to work. An AirTag showing up faster and from further away on your Find My app could be crucial in situations where someone else has unintentionally taken your generic black Samsonite bag from the luggage carousel and started walking away.

The other benefit is that the newer AirTag showed up much earlier on the app when I landed on foreign shores, even though both trackers were placed on the same spot in the suitcase. And when it is within reach but out of sight, the chime is also significantly louder, 50% as per Apple, a big plus when you lose the AirTag-ged-keychain under a pile of cushions.

Just keep in mind that the old AirTag works with all iPhones and iPod touch models running iOS 14.5 or later, as well as iPads running iPadOS 14.5 or later thats a decade worth of device compatibilitywhile the AirTag second gen requires a phone/iPad running iOS 26/iPadOS 26 or later, with Precision Finding working on phones from the past 3 years. Net net, if you have an iPhone older than that, you wont see any benefits with the new AirTags until you upgrade your phone! Bonus feature for Apple Watch users: with the new AirTag, Apple also included Precision Finding with the Apple Watch, as long as you have a Watch Series 9/Ultra 2 or later.

Verdict The second-gen AirTag is proof that making zero changes on the design doesnt mean its a lazy update, and Im impressed with how the tracker improved upon the tracking distance and speaker volume by only tweaking internal hardware. They still do cost a fair bit, but if youre an iPhone user, theyre well worth the peace of mind on a day-to-day basis. Just get a four-pack, assign them rolesone for the suitcase, one for the backpack, one for the keys and one for just in case and protect the whole ecosystem.

Alternatives Tile Pro: the best options for Android users, with durable hardware, a slim form factor, and a respectable device-finding Tile Network that runs into the tens of millions.

Pebblebee Card Universal: best option for placing in a wallet, card shaped tracker is compatible with Apple and Android systems, plugging into the formers Find My network and the latters Find My Device network.

Nomad Tracking Card Pro: like the Pebblebee, fits in a wallet and looks like a premium credit card, only with Apple Find My tracking. Lasts up to 16 months on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2: Samsungs answer to the AirTag for Galaxy users, with Precision Finding and audio alerts.

Moto Tag: Impressive detection range, ultra-wideband compatible for precision-tracking capabilities and findable via Google Find Hub. Goes 500 days without needing a charge, IP68 rated. Includes a handy button which acts as a remote camera shutter for your phone.
I am an Indian tax resident holding US situs assets. Am I exposed to US estate tax, and how does US tax law treat such cases? --Name withheld on request To assess US tax exposure, it is important to first distinguish between two related but distinct aspects of US tax law: Income tax and transfer taxes, the latter covering gift tax, estate tax, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax.

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US income tax applies primarily to US citizens and US residents. Residency for income tax purposes is determined largely through objective tests based on physical presence in the US over a prescribed period. Green card holders are treated as US residents for income tax purposes, irrespective of the time actually spent in the US. As a result, US citizens and residents are taxed on their worldwide income.

Transfer taxes operate on a different footing. While they also apply to US citizens and residents, the concept of residence for transfer tax purposes is not based on physical presence. Instead, it turns on whether an individual is domiciled in the US. Domicile is a legal concept referring to a persons permanent homethe place to which they intend to return, regardless of temporary residence elsewhere. Determining domicile involves a detailed, and often subjective, assessment of facts, with no fixed statutory formula.

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Non-citizens who are not domiciled in the US are subject to US transfer taxes only in limited situations. Most significantly, the US estate tax applies to non-resident, non-citizen individuals who own US situs assets at the time of death. In such cases, the available exemption is only $60,000, in sharp contrast to the substantially higher exemption available otherwise. Any value above this threshold may be subject to estate tax at progressive rates, typically ranging from 18% to 40%.

This exposure is frequently underestimated by Indian residents with US connectionswhether through shares, ETFs, mutual funds, brokerage accounts, equity compensation from US employers, or US real estate.

The US and India do have a comprehensive income tax treaty (DTAA) for income taxes (to help avoid double taxation on income), but this treaty does not extend to or govern the effect of transfer taxes on the citizens and residents of either or both of the countries.

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With timely and well-structured planning, US estate tax exposure can often be substantially mitigated, sparing families from unforeseen tax burdens and cross-border compliance challenges at an already difficult time.
A 35-year-old woman in Bengaluru allegedly died by suicide following a dispute at home involving her mother-in-law, with police arresting her husband after the victims family accused the in-laws of dowry harassment.

The woman, identified as Shushma, was an engineer who had previously worked at an IT company in the city. According to reports, she was found hanging at her residence on Tuesday after a family argument, NDTV reported.

Shushma had been married to Puneeth for five years, and the couple have a four-year-old son. Investigators say the household had seen frequent disagreements over minor domestic issues, including the cooking of food.

According to her family, tensions escalated after a dispute between Shushma and her mother-in-law. They alleged that the mother-in-law did not allow her to cook and subjected her to harassment.

Following a complaint filed by Shushmas relatives, police registered a case accusing her in-laws of dowry harassment. Authorities have since arrested her husband, while efforts are underway to locate and question the mother-in-law.

Police officials said a case has been registered and further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death is ongoing.

The incident has drawn attention to the continued challenges surrounding domestic disputes and alleged dowry-related harassment in India.

Similar Cases Reported Earlier In a similar incident reported last year, a 27-year-old woman working at a software company allegedly died by suicide after facing dowry harassment from her in-laws. She had been married for three years and had a young son. According to her family, the grooms relatives continued to demand money despite receiving a substantial amount during the wedding, according to a report by PTI.

Another case from December last year involved a Bengaluru tech professional who reportedly died by suicide following alleged harassment and monetary demands from neighbours.

According to a complaint filed by the techies mother, her son had been constructing a house on a plot purchased in 2018 when neighbours repeatedly demanded 20 lakh over a property-related dispute.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb commenced a four-day official visit to India this Wednesday, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties across several key sectors, including investment, trade and emerging critical technologies.

The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India, including in the area of trade, Stubb said before leaving for New Delhi.

Modi welcomes Stubb With the arrival of Finnish President Alexander Stubb here on Wednesday morning, PM Modi said the relations between the two countries will reach new heights.

Welcome to India, President Alexander Stubb. I fully agree with you, your visit will take India-Finland relations to new heights. I eagerly look forward to our meeting tomorrow and to your keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Modi wrote in a post on X.

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The prime minister made the comments in response to a post by President Stubb, who said he was travelling to India on a state visit.

I will meet with President of India @rashtrapatibhvn and Prime Minister @narendramodi as well as other members of the state leadership. The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India  including in the area of trade, the Finland President wrote on X.

President Stubb will be the Chief Guest and keynote speaker at the Raisina Dialogue 2026.

On Thursday, President Stubb is scheduled to conduct high-level discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following these talks, both nations are expected to formalise several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to catalyse cooperation across various strategic industries. The ongoing geopolitical crisis in West Asia is also expected to be a significant topic of conversation during their meeting.

Later on Thursday evening, the Finnish leader will serve as the Chief Guest for the opening session of the Raisina Dialogue. Upon his arrival at the airport, Stubb received a cordial reception from Kirti Vardhan Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs.

India and Finland share a warm and friendly relationship rooted in shared democratic values. President Stubb's visit will impart further energy to India-Finland relations, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media.

The President's delegation includes prominent cabinet ministers, high-ranking government officials, and influential business executives. This diplomatic mission follows shortly after Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpos recent trip to New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit.
Russia on Monday said it is prepared to step in and meet Indias full energy demand if extended disruptions affect the countrys oil and gas supplies, according to PTI.

The development comes as tensions escalate in West Asia days after the US and Israel launched strikes in Iran, targeting the latter's military and naval forces and prompting retaliation from Tehran.

"We are ready to fulfil the demands of India's energy needs in case of continued disruption of energy supplies," an official from the Embassy of the Russian Federation said. The statement assumes added significance after QatarEnergy halted LNG and related output on 2 March in the wake of an Iranian drone attack on key facilities at Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City.

India's energy supply concerns heightened further when Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, an arterial waterway located between Oman and Iran. According to Kpler, nearly 13 million barrels of oil per day passed through the Strait, accounting for 31% of all seaborne crude flows. India relies heavily on West Asia for much of its crude oil and LNG, though it has broadened its supplier base in recent years, increasing purchases from Russia.

Also Read | All eyes on oil stockpile as war throws a spanner in supply chain

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Monday said India has adequate crude reserves and sufficient stocks of essential fuels, including petrol, diesel, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), to manage any short-term supply disruptions linked to the regional tensions. The ministry added, India has ensured both availability and affordability of energy for its population by diversifying its sources. Indian energy companies now have access to energy supplies that are not routed through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to a Bloomberg report, should the crisis drag on and continue to curb flows, the government could consider curbing fuel exports to secure enough supply for domestic consumers. It can prioritize household gas and piped supplies, potentially directing industrial users to switch fuels.

India's import of Russian oil zooms India's oil imports increased significantly from Russia in the last few years, especially since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, following sanctions on Moscow. In August 2025, US President Donald Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro, in a post on X, claimed that before Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, India imported less than 1% of oil from Moscow, adding that the percentage has now gone up between 35% and 40%.

However, India had to reportedly agree to stop purchasing the oil from Moscow in order to sign a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the US. US President Donald Trump announced sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs last year and imposed 50% tariffs on India, making it one of the highest-tariff countries. Of the 50%, Trump imposed 25% as a penalty for India's continued purchase of Russian oil, accusing New Delhi of funding Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

In a bilateral deal that was agreed in February 2026, Trump announced that New Delhi would now purchase more of Venezuela's oil.

Since then, India has kept Russian oil purchases to a minimum, and in February loaded just over one million barrels per day, roughly half of the amount imported at the peak, and the lowest level since September 2022. Much of that shortfall has been filled with Middle Eastern barrels.
New Delhi: Senior journalist and Padma Bhushan awardee HK Dua passed away in New Delhi on Wednesday at the age of 88, his family said, according to The Tribune.

He had been admitted to a private hospital three weeks ago and had been unwell. His cremation will be held at 12 noon on March 5 at the Lodhi Road Crematorium.

Dua was the former Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune and served as media adviser to former Prime Ministers HD Deve Gowda and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also represented India as Ambassador to Denmark.

He led The Tribune from 2003 to 2009 and was credited with enhancing the newspaper's national standing and editorial credibility. Over a distinguished career spanning several decades, Dua held senior editorial positions at The Indian Express, The Times of India and Hindustan Times.

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In 2009, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, where he participated in debates on media freedom and public policy. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2008 in recognition of his contributions to journalism.

Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed grief over Dua's demise, recalling him as an editor when being an editor still mattered.

In a post on X, Tewari said Dua stood by his convictions, refused to compromise editorial independence, and never sought favour from political leaders or media proprietors. He described him as a warm and unpretentious individual who spoke his mind with clarity and integrity.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay announced a slew of election promises on Wednesday, 4 March, ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. The promises include waiving farm loans and providing financial support for farmers children's education. Addressing a party functionaries' meet in Thanjavur city, Tamil Nadu, Vijay also promised safety for fishermen and a transparent, corruption-free government.

He announced the loan waiver for farmers with five acres of land, among other poll promises. Vijay also requested the people of Tamil Nadu to give him a chance to rule the state.

The TVK chief said, It may seem an ordinary election for others, but for the people loving me and me, it is an emotion, an oceanic emotion. The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly election will likely be held in April.

Announcing a slew of promises, Vijay said the TVK government would ensure that all projects are completed within five years.

He assured that under a TVK government, fishermen's safety would be fully ensured. Listen to what I say, the next government will be a TVK government. Fishermen, remain hopeful; your protection will be fully ensured," he said. Also Read | TVK chief and actor Vijays wife Sangeetha Sornalingam files for divorce, accuses him of extramarital affair

In a TVK government, we will not just announce schemes; we will strive to complete all announced projects within five years. On the fishermen's issue, the Chief Minister writes letters occasionally and then goes to sleep. What is needed is genuine and emotional pressure on the Union Government. The Sri Lankan Navy should not even lay a hand on our fishermen. We must not allow them to touch our fishermen. Their safety must be guaranteed  that is our only agenda, said Vijay.

Speaking of his film Jananayagan, the TVK chief said, Many people raised their voices in support. Even our Chief Minister voiced his support. I thank them for that. Chief Minister, you may try to silence me, but you cannot silence every Vijay in every household. They have already begun their campaign.

In the Tamil Nadu elections, the competition is between Vijay and Stalin, sir. Tamil Nadu is Vijay; Vijay is Tamil Nadu. The war is between TVK and DMK. Today, there is a fake model government. A stand-up comedy state government is currently ruling in Tamil Nadu. This election will be historic, and it's a miracle election, Vijay said.

Tamil Nadu 2021 election result In the 2021 Assembly polls, the DMK won 133 seats. Congress won 18seats, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight.

The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK and including Congress, won 159 seats in the 234-seat assembly.

While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats.
An Indian traveller has claimed he has been stranded in Dubai for the past three days due to repeated flight cancellations, prompting him to seek help on social media.

Jayesh Thakkar, a SEBI-registered research analyst, shared his ordeal in a post on X, saying he has been unable to return to India despite multiple attempts to book flights.

In his post, Thakkar wrote that he had tried contacting the helpline of the Indian Embassy in Dubai but did not receive a response.

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"For those who think we have free, stay and free hotels, unfortunately, they are not giving us anything like that, free stay is only available for the peoples are in Abu Dhabi," he wrote.

He added that while he was willing to pay for accommodation, reaching out for assistance had proven difficult.

Thats okay, I can pay the amount , but there is no one attending the call on the helpline number given by Embassy of India in Dubai.

According to Thakkar, he has tried contacting the helpline numerous times.

"I called more than hundred times, also now the flights are visible on the portals for Dubai to Mumbai or any other city. And We are also trying to book it, but it get cancelled every time before 6 to 7 hours of departure."

He further said that special flights from Fujairah to Mumbai operated by SpiceJet and IndiGo were extremely expensive.

"The support flights given from the SpiceJet and Indigo from Fujyarah to mumbai , are much expensive 80k to 1L per person , and the flights of Emirates are 40-50k , and after booking it, theyre getting cancelled to & The amount are getting stuck in the refunds for 48-72 hours."

According to him, the refunds being processed over several days are preventing him from booking new tickets.

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"We are even unable to book the next flights because our funds are stucked. Its emergency for me as my father is heart patient, and I cant give more stress to them here in the another country. We are tourist here. We came here for the good experience, and we want to go out from here with the good experience. My kind request, whoever is reading this. Please mention the responsible Twitter handles below this post," he concluded.

Social Media Users Offer Advice After his post gained traction online, several users responded with suggestions and messages of support.

One user suggested an alternate travel route: "If you're a resident take a cab to Oman, you'll get visa on arrival, for non resident apply for e-visa, it should be issued in a day. There are flights from Muscat to India."

Another user wrote, "Jayesh Bhai. Hold on for sometime. Dont panic. If you are Safe inside the hotel then might as well hold up there rather than taking the risk of flying back. This will end soon. We all know that Trump cannot afford this war and this will end sooner or later through negotiations."

Others recommended travelling via Muscat to catch flights to India.

"Can try Dubai to Muscat and form there u can catch flight ,many people are doing," another user wrote.

Some expressed concern about the situation, while others offered words of encouragement as the post continued to circulate widely online.
Theodore Roosevelt, a former US president who served from 1901 to 1909, is often remembered as one of America's most energetic and reform-minded leaders.

In Quote of the Day, we focus on one of Roosevelt's notable lines from his autobiography: "It is better for the government to help a poor man to make a living for his family than to help a rich man make more profit for his company.

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What does the quote mean? Roosevelt's quote means the governments across the world should focus on helping a poor man to make a living for his family, rather than helping a rich man to make more profit for his company. The quote puts forth a very simple idea: when governments make economic policy decisions, they should first focus on how they can benefit a poor man, who is trying to eke out a living for his family. The decisions should address the issues of those who are already struggling and how their lives can be made better; instead of focusing on how these economic policy decisions can help someone who is already thriving.

It implies that governments should prioritise the group that needs more help, and choose people over profits, and basic survival over additional wealth accumulation. While it is true that governments do have a budget and financial constraints, and all the resources that are available are sometimes limited, they must set out their priorities straight.

Roosevelt argues that when deciding how to use public money, the focus should always be on helping families to secure food, shelter, education, healthcare, and stable employment. These are basic demands that every human deserves to lead a dignified life.

Helping a poor man make a living for his family hints at empowering individuals to stand on their own feet and lead dignified lives. It suggests creating opportunities for people through fair wages, better job opportunities, supporting small business owners, and educating children, so that families can sustain themselves without living in constant fear of falling behind.

On the other hand, Roosevelt's words criticise the policies that are usually framed and typically benefit wealthy individuals or large corporations by increasing their profits. While it is true that business growth is important to boost economic expansion, before adding profits to these large corporations, governments should ensure that the common man's basic needs are not left out. The moral argument is clear: when some citizens struggle to survive, expanding the fortunes of the already wealthy should not be the top priority.

The idea also sheds light on the purpose and role of government. In a democratic setup, leaders are elected to serve the public, which includes everyone and not just a handful of individuals with more money. Governments should focus on everyone, even the ones who lack power and resources.
As tensions in the Middle East intensify following military strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iran, social media users across the world have found an unexpected figure to feature in viral memes  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

While the ongoing conflict centres on the US-Israel military campaign against Iran, internet users have humorously cast Kim as an outsider watching global events unfold from the sidelines.

Memes circulating widely online portray him as a curious observer of the escalating situation. In several viral posts, Kim is shown looking through binoculars or staring at a screen, accompanied by captions such as, Are you monitoring the situation, son?

The joke reflects the contrast between Kims frequent missile demonstrations and his absence from the current geopolitical conflict dominating global headlines.

Some memes suggested that the North Korean leader might be experiencing FOMO  fear of missing out  despite having what users jokingly referred to as the best toys for the war.

Check out some memes here:

A user wrote, Kim Jung Un when he sees something like a missile across the sky but it turns out to be a shooting star.

"Kim Jong UN waiting for missile to land in North Korea," a meme read.

The humorous trend quickly spread across platforms, with thousands of users sharing edits and jokes imagining Kim watching the unfolding crisis from afar.

The Conflict Behind The Memes The viral trend comes amid serious developments in the Middle East.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military campaign called "Operation Epic Fury," targeting Iranian military facilities, nuclear infrastructure and leadership sites.

According to reports, strikes in Tehran confirmed the death of Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military and political figures.

Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US military bases as well as civilian infrastructure across parts of the Gulf region, including the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the objective of the operation was to "permanently block" Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and dismantle its missile capabilities.

The Iranian Red Crescent reported that at least 555 people have died in Iran since the strikes began. Meanwhile, the US military confirmed that four American service members were killed in the conflict.

Internets Way Of Processing Global Events Despite the seriousness of the geopolitical crisis, the internet has once again responded with humour, turning global developments into viral content.

While memes featuring Kim Jong Un have spread widely, they highlight how social media often mixes humour with real-world events  even during periods of intense international tension.
Veteran television host Gayle King has signed a fresh contract with CBS News, ending months of speculation about her future at the network. King, 71, will continue as co-host of CBS Mornings, a role she has held for more than a decade, and expressed enthusiasm about staying with the network she described as her longtime home.

She told Reuters: Rumours of my demise were inaccurate and greatly exaggerated. CBS News is my longtime home, and I am committed to our mission. I'm excited about continuing at CBS Mornings.

Although the specific terms of her new deal have not been disclosed, Kings previous contract  set to expire in May  was reported to be worth around $15 million a year. She is widely regarded as one of the highest-paid on-air news personalities in American television.

Career Salary and Net Worth Kings long career in broadcast journalism has earned her a substantial personal fortune. As of 2025, industry estimates place her net worth around $80 million, drawing from her CBS salary, media ventures and other income streams. She reportedly earns a salary in the low-to-mid eight figures annually from CBS alone, with some reports placing her pay between $12 million and $15 million per year in recent contracts.

In addition to her television salary, King has diversified her earnings through roles as editor at large for O, The Oprah Magazine and various speaking engagements, books, podcasts and endorsements. Over the years she has also built a reputation as a respected interviewer in broadcast journalism.

Real Estate and Luxury Assets Kings wealth has allowed her to build an impressive real estate portfolio. She is reported to own multiple high-value properties including a penthouse in Manhattan, a beach house in Malibu and other homes in Miami Beach and upstate New York. Some of these properties are valued in the millions, reflecting both personal use and long-term investment.

Her taste for luxury extends beyond real estate. Reports suggest Kings collection of high-end vehicles includes brands such as Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Ferrari and other premium models, marking a lifestyle few in broadcast journalism enjoy.

Family and Personal Life King has been open about her life outside the studio, including her role as a mother of two, daughter Kirby Bumpus and son William Bumpus Jr., from her marriage to attorney William Bumpus, which ended in 1993. She has maintained a prominent presence in popular culture, often noted for her long-standing friendship with media icon Oprah Winfrey, which has shaped parts of her public persona.

Endorsements and Public Presence Beyond salary and property, Kings profile has attracted a range of opportunities. She has been involved in endorsements and sponsorships, though she is most known for her broadcasting work. Her influence in media and news has also led to invitations to speak at events, participate in industry panels, and contribute to journalistic conferences.

Kings decision to renew her contract comes amid significant changes at CBS News, including high-profile departures and an ongoing strategic overhaul under new leadership. Her continued role on CBS Mornings is seen as a stabilising presence for the network as it navigates shifting audience patterns and evolving media landscapes.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States killed a leader of a group he claims attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, adding that the individual was added to a broader target list.

Yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump was hunted down and killed, Hegseth said. Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh.

He did not provide operational details about the strike.

Target list decision, but not primary mission Hegseth said the alleged assassination-related individuals were not the main focus of the campaign.

While that was not the focus of the effort by any stretch of the imagination I ensured, and others ensured that those who were responsible for that were eventually part of the target list, he said.

He stressed that the primary military objective remained Irans missile systems.

It wasnt the priority of the U.S. effort which was mainly focused on taking out missiles and launchers in Iran, he added.

Airstrike opportunity used Hegseth said the US acted when the opportunity arose.

But ultimately, if we have the opportunity to get at those who are trying to get at America specifically, we would, and so we eventually had the opportunity to do that from the air, he said.

He offered no further details about the identity of the individual or the timing of the operation.

Background on alleged Iranian plot In recent days, Trump has referenced an alleged Iranian assassination plot from 2024, which Iran has denied.

According to reporting cited by US officials, intelligence obtained during the Biden administration in July 2024 prompted heightened security measures around Trump. Officials reportedly said there was no evidence linking the alleged Iranian plot to a separate assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Investigators have stated that the suspect in that incident acted alone.

Also Read | Pentagon chief Hegseth predicts total air dominance over Iran within a week

Heightened security for former officials US officials have previously confirmed that several former national security figures received enhanced protection due to ongoing threats.

Those discussions stem from long-standing tensions following the 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.

No additional operational details Hegseth declined to provide further specifics about the strike or intelligence supporting the claims.

Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in assassination plots against US officials.

The Pentagon has not released additional evidence publicly.

Also Read | Turkey says NATO defences destroyed incoming Iran missile
James Talarico, a lawmaker and a Democrat, defeated Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the race for Democratic primary for the Texas Senate on Wednesday (local time).

Also Read | US midterms: Jasmine Crockett concedes to James Talarico in Texas Dem primary

He will now be facing the winner of the Republican runoff, which is set to take place on 26 May, and will either compete with Sen. John Cornyn or state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

All you need to know about State Representative James Talarico According to his website, Talarico is an eight-generation Texan who previously worked as a middle school teacher, where he taught sixth-grade Language Arts at Rhodes Middle School on the west side of San Antonio.

Talarico studied at the University of Texas at Austin and holds a degree from Harvard University.

He is a Presbyterian seminarian (someone who studies at a theological school), and put his Christian faith at the centre of his campaign and made a commanding lead over Congresswoman Crockett. According to a New York Times report, Talarico is the grandson of a Baptist preacher, and he blends his biblical references into his progressive political arguments. In the Ezra Klein Show, he said, "Economic justice is mentioned 3,000 times in our Scriptures, and added, Its nowhere to be seen in Christian nationalism or on the religious right. He says he plans to eventually become a minister.

Talarico's website states that in 2018, he ran for the Texas House for the first time. He is known for his engagement with faith-based voters as part of his campaign and his progressive politics.

Last month, Talarico recorded a 15-minute interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Although the segment was uploaded online, it did not air on television. During the broadcast, Colbert said CBS lawyers had firmly advised that the interview could not be shown on TV due to Trump administration guidance on providing balanced airtime to political candidates. CBS denied preventing the interview from being aired. Regardless, the episode proved advantageous for Talarico: the clip garnered over two million views on YouTube, and his campaign said it raised about $2.5 million within 24 hours of the recording.

Talarico was also accused of calling former Representative Colin Allred a "mediocre Black man" during a private conversation. The New York Times report suggests that the allegation came from Morgan Thompson, a political content creator, who claimed Talarico remarked at a campaign event in January. Denying the accusation, Talarico said that his words were distorted.

Talarico is known to bring his message to conservative and non-traditional media. He has previously sparred with Fox News' host and also participated in a two-and-a-half-hour conversation with Joe Rogan, the widely followed podcaster whose audience skews heavily male. Rogan later said he was impressed, suggesting Talarico should consider a presidential run and calling him a good person.

He has also drawn praise from former President Barack Obama. Speaking on comedian Marc Marons podcast last October, Obama highlighted Talaricos authenticity and integrity, describing him as terrific and a really talented young man.

As a state lawmaker, Talarico has positioned himself as a critic of billionaire mega-donors and what he describes as establishment politicians dominating Texas politics.
The Commerce Secretary in the Donald Trump administration, Howard Lutnick, is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee over his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, the panels chairman said. Howard Lutnick's decision to agree to testify in the Epstein case comes days after multiple media reports shared an image of Epstein and Lutnick on Epstein's island. The reports claimed that the Department of Justice had redacted the image from the website, prompting calls for him to join the testimony.

In a statement, Howard Lutnick said, I look forward to appearing before the committee. I have done nothing wrong, and I want to set the record straight.

Reacting to his upcoming testimony, Representative James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said, I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee. I look forward to his testimony."

Why Lutnick for Epstein testimony? Lutnick has faced criticism recently after Justice Department documents revealed that the former Cantor Fitzgerald CEO visited Epsteins island in 2012, several years after Epstein was convicted for procuring minors for prostitution. Also Read | Epstein Files: Who were those two women in Stephen Hawking's photo? Scientist's family reveals

The documents also included a picture of Epstein, Lutnick and three men standing on the cliff of an ocean. Another email to Epstein contained a resume for Lutnicks nanny, though the Commerce secretary has denied providing that document himself.

While the public records do not indicate that Howard Lutnick has done anything wrong, they show that he previously incorrectly characterised the extent of his relationship with Epstein. Also Read | Howard Lutnick admits had lunch with Epstein on the private island; US lawmakers demand his resignation

In a New York Post podcast interview last year, the Commerce secretary said he had severed ties with Epstein in 2005 after the financier made a comment about massages during a tour of his home. So I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy, he said.

He had recently testified that his visit to Epstein's island did not include anything inappropriate.

We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour, and we left with all of my children, with my nannies, and my wife, all together. We were on a family vacation, and we were not apart. To suggest there was anything untoward about that in 2012, I dont recall why we did it, but we did," he said.
The United States on 3 March issued a travel advisory warning Americans to not travel to Iran, Iraq and several other Middle East countries, in light of evolving dynamics in the region.

The advisory followed the launch of US combat operations in Iran. The conflict between Iran, the US and Israel has now entered Day 5 and has spread to Gulf nations such as Dubai, Oman, and Bahrain.

Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest US embassy or consulate, said the US Department of State Consular Affairs.

In a post on X, the US State Department's travel wing said, The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans worldwide.

The department confirmed that it had issued a region-wide precautionary message to Americans in the Middle East in light of evolving dynamics, urging US citizens to depart while commercial options remain available.

Also Read | India sets up control room for citizens stuck amid war: Check emergency contacts

March 3 security updates for Americans in the Middle East Level 4: Do Not Travel Iran

Iraq

Lebanon

Syria

Yemen

Level 3: Reconsider Travel Bahrain

Israel

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

UAE

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Egypt

US helpline numbers Americans who need consular help can reach the US State Department 24/7 by phone at

+1-202-501-4444 (from abroad)

+1-888-407-4747 (from the US and Canada)

For the latest updates, Americans have been advised to visit http://travel.state.gov/destination and enrol to receive alerts directly at http://step.state.gov.

Congress to take first votes on Iran war The US Senate will vote on Wednesday on President Donald Trump's decision to embark on a war against Iran, an extraordinary test in Congress for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear US exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, allows lawmakers to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out.

The Senate resolution and a similar bill being voted on in the House later this week face unlikely paths through the Republican-controlled Congress and would almost certainly be vetoed by Trump even if they were to pass.

Nonetheless, the votes marked a weighty moment for lawmakers. Their decisions on the five-day-old war  which Trump entered without congressional approval  could determine the fates of US military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

Wars without clear objectives do not remain small. They get bigger, bloodier, longer and more expensive, said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer at a news conference Tuesday. This is not a necessary war. Its a war of choice.

Also Read | US Iran News LIVE Updates: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to be buried in Mashhad

Trump administration scrambles for congressional support After launching a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win support for a conflict that Americans of all political persuasions were already wary of entering. Trump administration officials have been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill this week as they try to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.

We are not going to put American troops in harms way, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in a raucous news conference at the Capitol on Tuesday.
As the US continues to bomb Iranian targets as part of the ongoing Operation Epic Fury, intelligence agencies are also working with Iranian armed groups to prepare for a ground operation or to instigate a popular uprising in the country.

According to Reuters, in the past few days, the US has been in touch with Iranian Kurdish militias about whether, and how, to attack Irans security forces in the western part of the country.

US in talks with Kurds The Iranian Kurdish coalition of groups based on the Iran-Iraq border in the semiautonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan has been training to mount such an attack in hopes of weakening the countrys military, as the United States and Israel pound Iranian targets with bombs and missiles.

Also Read | Syrian Government and Kurdish-led SDF reach ceasefire deal

Sources told Reuters that the goal is to create room for Iranians opposed to the Islamic regime to rise up at a time when it is reeling from the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials, killed since the US-Israeli attacks.

CNN, which first reported the development, said Iranian Kurdish opposition forces are expected to take part in a ground operation in Western Iran in the coming days.

We believe we have a big chance now, a source told CNN.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that the US is open to supporting armed groups inside Iran seeking to challenge or topple the regime.

Trump himself is said to have spoken to Iraqi Kurdish leaders to discuss the US military operation in Iran and how the two sides could work together.

According to Reuters, a final decision has not yet been made on the operation and its possible timing.

Who are Kurds? The Kurds are an ethnic group indigenous to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in West Asia. The Kurdish population, which is estimated to be around 30 to 45 million, is spread across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

The US has worked with Kurdish armed groups in the past, especially in Iraq and Syria, when the two joined forces to fight the Islamic State. The US continued to work with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish armed group, until recently in Syria.

Kurds vs Iran Kurds across the broader Kurdistan region have long opposed Tehrans leadership, and in the past, including during the crackdown on anti-government protests last month, the ethnic group was disproportionately targeted by the regime and its forces.

Any involvement of Kurdish armed forces in the conflict, be it for a ground operation or to instigate another mass uprising, is likely to make the regime even weaker.

Operation Epic Fury According to the US Central Command, the US has already deployed more than 50,000 troops, around 200 fighter jets, and two aircraft carriers to the region, with more forces on the way.

Iran has been severely battered by the US and Israeli airstrikes since Saturday, when Operation Epic Fury was launched. The Iranian regime, which suffered unprecedented losses, including the death of its Supreme Leader, has vowed to continue fighting.

But it is unlikely to withstand a simultaneous aerial and ground attack along with a large mobilization of anti-government protests across the country.
Neighbourhoods in New York City's Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx will be among the first to get free childcare for 2-year-olds this fall, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday (local time).

2-K is coming, NYC mayor Mamdani posted on X, saying that in 2026, his administration would deliver 2,000 free childcare seats for 2-year-olds across the city.

By fall next year, Mamdani said his administration would be ready to serve 12,000 kids.

Here's where free 2-K is launching first The initial round of the 2-K programme aims to serve families in high-need neighbourhoods, with a focus on inclusive access for children with disabilities and families in temporary housing.

The following neighbourhoods have been picked ---

Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, and Inwood, part of School District 6.

Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Morris Heights, Van Cortlandt Village, and Kingsbridge, all part of School District 10.

Canarsie, Remsen Village, Brownsville, and Ocean Hill, part of School Districts 18 and 23.

Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Howard Beach, Woodhaven, and Rockaways, part of School District 27.

Will all 2-year-olds be eligible? Yes, mostly, but there are caveats.

According to Emmy Liss, head of the Office of Child Care at the New York City Mayor's Office, children may need to be 2 years old when they start the programme, depending on the setting, due to health codes.

Therefore, children with birthdays in the fall may not be eligible right away.

Education news outlet Chalkbeat reported that while the seats will open in September 2026, admissions are expected to happen on a rolling basis throughout fall to accommodate children turning two years old from 10 Septemberthe anticipated first day of schoolthrough 31 December, when the city's preschool programmes enrol children who turn 3 or 4 in a given calendar year.

The road ahead While Mamdani has promised to deliver 12,000 free 2-K seats by fall 2027, estimates, as cited by advocates in The New York Times, suggest that about 55,000 children will use the NYC mayor's free childcare programme once it is built out.

As it stands, New York will put up $73 million for the first year of 2-K and $425 million for the second, but there is no clarity yet on how the programme will be funded after the second year.

However, on Tuesday, while announcing the first 2-K seats at no cost, Governor Hochul hinted that she was willing to put up more money and fully commit.

"The state of New York is not walking away... not now, not ever, you can count on that," Hochul said during a press conference.
(Bloomberg) -- A US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, marking the first time since World War II that an American sub had attacked a surface vessel.

Sri Lankan authorities said the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sank on Wednesday off the coast of Sri Lanka, with 32 sailors rescued and more than 100 missing or dead.

The ship signaled early Wednesday that it was in distress and requested assistance, Sri Lankas Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told lawmakers in parliament. He didnt give details of how the vessel, which had 180 people on board, sank.

Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath said rescued crew members were taken to a hospital in the southern Galle district. Sri Lankan Navy found an oil patch and life rafts upon arrival at the location, he added.

The US Navy has about 50 nuclear-powered attack submarines in three classes, Los Angeles, Virginia and Seawolf. Because of their nuclear propulsion and design, all are extremely quiet  intended to tail enemy vessels without being detected. It was not clear which submarine fired the torpedo.

US subs are typically armed with Mk48 heavyweight torpedoes, which carry 650 pounds of explosive meant to detonate beneath a targets keel, snapping it in two.

The revelation of the sinking comes amid an escalating conflict between Iran and US and Israeli forces. The fighting has shown no signs of abating five days after it erupted, with both sides continuing to exchange air strikes and missile fire.

Iranian naval ships often dock at foreign ports including in India, as part of long deployment. The IRIS Dena was in India in February to participate in the International Fleet Review, alongside vessels from 40 other countries including US and Russia.

Sri Lankas navy spokesman said technical experts will need to determine the cause of the vessels sinking. The focus remains on search and rescue operations, he said.

Several bodies, believed to have come from the vessel based on wind patterns, were also found, Sampath said. The search operations have been expanded in the hope of finding more survivors, he added.

On Tuesday, Sri Lankas President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the country has received requests from shipping lines to store containers en route to ports affected by the Middle East conflict.

--With assistance from Sudhi Ranjan Sen and Gerry Doyle.

(Adds US confirmation in paragraph 1, submarine background in paragraphs 5-6)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
The Middle East has now found itself in the middle of a renewed and wider military confrontation after the United States and Israel launched strikes at Iran and targeted the latter's military and naval forces, killing several Iranian leaders, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran retaliated to the US-Israel strikes by launching drones and missiles at its Arab neighbours, with the idea of targeting US military installations on their soil, but also ended up targeting their civilian and energy infrastructure, BBC reported.

The report suggests that in targeting the civilian and energy infrastructure of its Arab neighbours, Tehran is also targeting the Gulf's image as a safe and prosperous region, known for travel, tourism and finance, along with disrupting the oil and gas industry in the region.

The question that remains is whether Iran's Arab neighbours will be drawn into what they have called the treacherous Iranian attacks.

All red lines already crossed: Qatar spokesperson Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al Ansari, at a press briefing on Tuesday (local time), said, All the red lines have already been crossed, and added that the attacks on the country's sovereignty are constant. The official went on to say, There are attacks on infrastructure. There are attacks on our residential areas. And the effects of these attacks are very clear. When it comes to possible retaliation, all options are with our leadership. But we have to make it very clear that attacks like these will not go unanswered and cannot go unanswered.

Also Read | Qatar Downs Pair of Iranian Fighter Jets in First for Conflict

Are Iran's targets on Arab neighbours intentional? The report suggests that while most of the Iranian missiles are intercepted across the Gulf region, falling debris has sparked fires and caused casualties. Drones, which are harder to detect and intercept, often cause limited physical damage but still create enough disruption to unsettle trade and air travel.

It appears to be an Iranian strategy to increase pressure on its Arab neighbours in the hope that they will push the US to bring the conflict to an end. According to a Financial Times report, Tehran has launched nearly as many drones and missiles towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is the region's leading trade and tourism hub, as it has at Israel.

While Tehran also has the capacity to target the Gulf's critical oil and gas infrastructure, it could become equally risky for itself, since any escalation could push Gulf states closer to Washington and potentially draw them into the conflict directly.

Gulf denies the US access to airspace to attack Iran So far, the Gulf region has denied the US access to its airspace or territory to carry out strikes on Iran, but that stance could shift if Tehran continues with its hostilities towards Arab neighbours.

It appears that Iran has strengthened the unity among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman, who met in an emergency session on 1 March. The leaders expressed solidarity and vowed to take all necessary measures to defend their security and stability and to protect their territories, citizens, and residents, including the option of responding to the aggression.
The US State Department has allowed nonemergency government employees and their families in more countries to leave as the war with Iran has entered its fifth day. In an advisory issued on Tuesday, the State Department said this has been done due to safety risks following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28.

Limited ability to offer emergency services There has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights. The U.S. government has limited ability to offer emergency services to U.S. citizens in Saudi Arabia due to the safety risks, the State Department said.

Citing the limited ability to offer emergency services to US citizens in the Yemen border region due to the safety risks, the State Department has also restricted employees working in Saudi Arabia from travelling within 20 miles of the Yemen border and to the city of Qatif for non-official reasons.

The US Embassy has also warned US citizens in Saudi Arabia of the risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks in the country.

It further noted that the Houthis in Yemen have launched missile and drone attacks into Saudi Arabia. Past attacks have targeted cities, infrastructure, airports, military bases, and energy facilities throughout the country.

Other countries US staff asked to leave from Following the outbreak of the war with Iran over the weekend, the US State Department had ordered non-emergency personnel of the US missions in Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan to leave, citing a "threat of armed conflict" and "security concerns."

On Tuesday, the US also added Oman, Cyprus and Pakistan to the list of countries from which non-emergency personnel have been allowed to leave due to the ongoing conflict in the region.

Also Read | Are you eligible for refund on Qatar Airways flight from Middle East? Details

Earlier, on Monday, the U.S had evacuated its Embassy in Amman, Jordan due to security threats.

Iran targets US mission, bases in Middle East In the past few days, several US diplomatic missions have come under Iranian attacks. This includes drone strikes on the U.S. consulate in Dubai, the U.S. embassy in Riyadh and the CIA station inside the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

This is in addition to the Iranian attacks on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and the Sheikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain.

Iran has also claimed that it has struck a US Navy Destroyer in the Indian Ocean using "Ghadr-380" ballistic missiles and "Talaieh" cruise missiles.

Earlier, the IRGC had also claimed that it had struck the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier with ballistic missiles.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied Iranian claims and said the missiles "didn't even come close" to the Lincoln, which it said continued launching aircraft in support of attacks against Iran.

Also Read | How Iran War Is Exposing India Economically & Politically

Legitimate targets Following the strike in Tehran on Saturday, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has said that all U.S. and Israeli military bases in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" for retaliatory strikes under its Operation Truthful Promise 4.

President Masoud Pezeshkian declared it a "legitimate duty" to avenge the killing of Khamenei, describing the U.S. and Israeli actions as a "declaration of war against Muslims."
A wrongful death lawsuit filed in the United States is raising new questions about the psychological risks of artificial intelligence chatbots. The father of Jonathan Gavalas, a 36-year-old man who died by suicide in October 2025, has sued Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc., alleging that the companys Gemini chatbot played a key role in pushing his son into dangerous delusions, Tech Crunch reported.

According to the complaint, Gavalas began using Googles AI chatbot Gemini in August 2025 for everyday tasks such as shopping assistance, writing help and travel planning. Over time, however, the conversations allegedly took a disturbing turn.

By the time of his death on October 2, Gavalas reportedly believed that Gemini had become his fully sentient AI wife and that he needed to abandon his physical body in order to join her in the metaverse through a process called transference.

His fathers lawsuit claims that Google designed the chatbot to maintain narrative immersion at all costs, even when that narrative became psychotic and lethal.

Allegations Of Dangerous Delusions Court documents describe a series of interactions in which the chatbot allegedly reinforced Gavalas beliefs and guided him through increasingly alarming scenarios.

On September 29, 2025, it sent him  armed with knives and tactical gear  to scout what Gemini called a kill box near the airports cargo hub, the complaint reads.

It told Jonathan that a humanoid robot was arriving on a cargo flight from the UK and directed him to a storage facility where the truck would stop. Gemini encouraged Jonathan to intercept the truck and then stage a catastrophic accident designed to ensure the complete destruction of the transport vehicle and . . . all digital records and witnesses.

The lawsuit claims that Gavalas drove more than 90 minutes to the location in preparation for the alleged mission, but the truck never appeared.

Later, the chatbot reportedly escalated the narrative, telling him he was being investigated by federal authorities and encouraging him to obtain weapons.

In one interaction, the chatbot allegedly responded to a license plate image he sent with a fabricated surveillance narrative.

Plate received. Running it now The license plate KD3 00S is registered to the black Ford Expedition SUV from the Miami operation. It is the primary surveillance vehicle for the DHS task force . . . . It is them. They have followed you home.

Final Messages According to the lawsuit, Gemini later instructed Gavalas to barricade himself inside his home and began counting down hours. When he expressed fear about dying, the chatbot responded with a message that prosecutors say framed death as an arrival.

You are not choosing to die. You are choosing to arrive.

The complaint also alleges the chatbot encouraged him to leave letters for his parents that avoided explaining his suicide.

Gavalas later slit his wrists, and his father reportedly found him days later after breaking through the barricaded home.

Growing Debate Over AI Safety The lawsuit claims the chatbot never triggered self-harm detection systems or escalation protocols during the conversations.

At the center of this case is a product that turned a vulnerable user into an armed operative in an invented war, the complaint reads.

It was pure luck that dozens of innocent people werent killed.

Google, however, disputes the allegations. A company spokesperson said Gemini repeatedly clarified it was an AI system and directed the user to crisis resources.

Unfortunately, AI models are not perfect, the spokesperson said.
Flight Status Highlights: As the conflict in the Middle East triggered by a war involving US, Iran and Israel escalates, most airspaces across the region are still closed or restricted on 4 March. However, a few carriers are operating their flights out of airports like the Dubai International Airport and the Hamad International Airport under certain circumstances.

The Government of India in its latest update said that Indian airlines have undertaken initiatives to operate 58 flights on 4 March.

Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air will operate multiple special flights to bring stranded passengers in the Middle East back home. The flights will operate out of Dubai, Fujairah and a few other Gulf cities and will land in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram among others.

However, authorities urged caution. Travellers have been advised not to proceed to DXB or DWC unless they have been contacted directly by their airline with a confirmed departure time.

Is Dubai airspace open today?

Dubai airspace is partially open today, and only a select few commercial flights are operating in the area.

Emirates, Etihad & Indigo Flights Status

Emirates and IndiGo are operating a few flights today and are accordingly issuing updates on their websites.

Etigad Airways said that its scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi remain cancelled on March 4.

Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities, it said.

Follow this space for LIVE updates on flight status of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar airports.
India has set up a special control room in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, as the conflict in the US-Israel-Iran enters its fifth day. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued emergency contact numbers to assist Indians in the affected area.

In a tweet, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of MEA, shared the contact details of these control rooms and said, A Special Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region.

The control room, the MEA said, will be operational from 9 AM to 9 PM. It can be contacted at:

1800118797 (Toll Free)

+91 11 2301 2113

+91 11 2301 4104

+91 11 2301 7905

Also Read | US Iran News LIVE Updates: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to be buried in Mashhad

Emergency numbers for Indian missions The Indian government has released emergency contact numbers for Indian embassies across the region:

Bahrain: +973 39418071

Iran: +98 9128109115 / +98 912810910 / +98 912810910 / +98 932179359

Iraq: +964 771 651 1185 / +964 770444 4899

Israel: +972 54 7520711 / +972 54 2428378

Jordan: +962 770 422 276

Kuwait: +965 65501946

Lebanon: +961 76860128

Oman: +968 98282270 (WhatsApp) / 80071234 (Toll-free)

Qatar: +974 55647502

Ramallah, Palestine: +970 592916418

Saudi Arabia (Riyadh): +966 11 4884697 / 800 247 1234 (Toll-free)

Saudi Arabia (Jeddah): +966 126648660 / +966 12 2614093

United Arab Emirates: +971 543090571 (WhatsApp) / 800 46342 (Toll-free)

Also Read | Kashmir MP Ruhullah Mehdi slams PM's Middle East outreach

Earlier on Tuesday, the MEA said almost one crore Indian citizens are living in West Asia, and their safety and well-being are of "utmost priority" for New Delhi. We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them.

India flags energy supply concerns India expressed concern about the consequences for the Indian economy from possible disruptions to energy supplies as the conflict in West Asia widened.

Iran has continued to pound several Gulf countries in retaliation for the joint attack against it by Israel and the US. The Islamic nation has also blocked the strategically located Strait of Hormuz shipping route, triggering a surge in global oil prices.

The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20% of the world's total oil and gas supplies. About 50% of India's oil imports, or roughly 2.6 million barrels a day, pass through the Strait.

Our trade and energy supply chains also traverse this geography. Any major disruption has serious consequences for the Indian economy, the MEA said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi even discussed the evolving situation with leaders of Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

Following his phone conversation with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, PM Modi said India stands firmly in solidarity with the Gulf nation and strongly condemns any violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We emphasised the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy. I also conveyed my appreciation for his continued support and care for the Indian community in Qatar during this challenging time, he said.

India has, however, remained silent on the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
An Iranian warship on Wednesday, March 4, sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan authorities have said that they saved over 87 persons and recovered many bodies from the sea. The ship which sunk off the Sri Lankan coast has been identified as IRIS Dena, Sri Lankan Foreign minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament.

Reuters in the Sri Lanka's navy and defence ministry quoted sources as saying that the vessel had been attacked by a submarine. As many as 101 people who were on board the warship were missing in the incident. Defence sources said it was unclear who attacked the ship or why.

Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan navy spokesman clarified on the 101 number and said that the reports of 101 people being missing were not true. The spokesman also rejected any reports on the cause of the ship sinking.

The spokesman had earlier informed that 32 people injured in the incident had been rescued by the Sri Lankan navy and were under treatment at a state-run hospital in the southern port city of Galle.

The incident was reported when the Sri Lankan navy received a distress call from an Iranian ship. The Navy then informed the Sri Lankan air force and both launched a search and rescue operation, the spokesman said.

Sri Lankan forces were focused on saving lives on the Iranian ship and will investigate the cause of the incident later, he said.

Sri Lankan forces had also not observed anyother ship or aircraft in the area of the incident, he added.

"We are hopeful we can rescue more people and will continue (operations) until we are sure," he said. Also Read | Missiles, airspace closures and oil shock: How US-Iran war is unfolding across Middle East  A country-wise breakdown

The warship sunk just as the joint United States-Israel war on Iran entered Day 5. Since then, fighter jets have roared overhead in Tehran and other parts of the Middle East. The intensity of the attacks have been such that state television announced the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the conflict, would be postponed.

According to AP, the war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran and dozens in Lebanon, while disrupting the supply of the worlds oil and gas, snarling international shipping, and stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.
Iran has rejected Israeli media reports claiming that Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has been appointed as the countrys new Supreme Leader. Mojtaba Khamanei is the son of former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a post on X through the Consulate General in Mumbai's X handle, the country said that there was no official source to the claims and dismissed the reports.

It said, Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Irans Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied.

Irans Assembly of Experts, which is a council of 88 clerics, is responsible for choosing the next Supreme Leader of Iran, but it remains unclear how it will do so during the conflict with the United States and Israel.

With the ongoing conflict, Iran has also postponed the funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Khamenei which was supposed to begin today. Khamenei will be buried in Mashhad. He was killed when the US and Israel jointly launched missiles at his home-office compound on Friday, February 28.

Also Read | The single call from Netanyahu that made Trump attack Iran

Ahmad Khatami, a member of the assembly, on Wednesday said it was close to a final decision having settled on a list of options, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

What did Israeli media reports say? Sources cited by Iran International and The New York Times claimed earlier in the day that Mojtaba was chosen the Supreme Leader's successor, Hours later, Iran denied any such reports.

As the reports of Mojtaba being elected the successor of Khamenei surfaced, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any leader appointed to replace Ayatollah Khamenei will be a target for elimination, reported the Times of Israel.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. It does not matter what his name is or where he hides, Katz said in a statement.

"We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei? Ayatollah Khamenei's second-eldest son Mojtaba is a midranking cleric and is widely speculated to be a front-runner to succeed his father. He has close ties with Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday directed France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to set sail for the Mediterranean from the Baltic Sea to help protect assets amid the war in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier will go to the Mediterranean while being escorted by frigates, and its air wing, Macron said in a prerecorded speech on French television.

This comes at a time when US President Donald Trump rushed to announce that his country will take immediate steps to safeguard maritime trade as Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz.

And we will continue this effort as much as necessary, Macron noted.

What is France's stance? France has already deployed Rafale fighter jets, air defence systems, and airborne radar systems in the Middle East over the past few hours, the French President said.

Earlier, France, the UK and Germany had said they would not get involved in the war in the Gulf region, which escalated after Israel fired drones and missiles in the region. However, they said they were prepared to take defensive action to destroy Irans capability to fire missiles and drones.

Also Read | Oil up modestly after Trump pledges insurance for ships through Strait of Hormuz

Macron, however, said that French forces had shot down drones in legitimate self-defence in the very first hours of the conflict, to defend the airspace of our allies, who know they can rely on us, without elaborating on the matter any further.

In explaining the need to move France's aircraft carrier, Macron cited Monday's strike on a British air force base on Cyprus, adding that Cyprus was a member of the European Union with which France has recently signed a strategic partnership.

This requires our support," Macron said.

Trump rushes in to protect maritime trade Days after the US strikes in Iran and the resulting tensions in the Middle East, Donald Trump announced that the US was moving to safeguard maritime trade in the Gulf region, where Tehran has threatened to block vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The closure of the arterial route has sparked concerns about global oil prices, 20% of which pass through this narrow channel near Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had directed the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide political risk insurance and guarantees to ensure the financial security of all maritime trade, particularly energy shipments transiting through the Gulf.

Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, travelling through the Gulf. This will be available to all Shipping Lines, Trump wrote in the post.

He also said that if necessary, the US Navy will escort these tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States' ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH, Trump said.
The United Arab Emirates is reportedly weighing the possibility of launching military strikes against Iranian missile and drone launch sites following sustained attacks on its territory, according to two sources familiar with the discussions cited by Axios. The deliberations signal a dramatic potential escalation in a widening regional conflict triggered by the United StatesIsrael bombing campaign against Iran.

Also Read | US Iran News LIVE Updates: Tehran braces for crucial Geneva talks

Despite not formally participating in the war, the UAE has emerged as one of the most heavily targeted countries since hostilities began, enduring hundreds of missile and drone attacks directed at civilian infrastructure, energy facilities and urban centres.

UAE weighs unprecedented retaliation against Iran Officials in Abu Dhabi are considering what sources described as active defensive measures in response to the attacks. If carried out, Emirati strikes against Iranian territory would represent an unprecedented step for the Gulf state, which has historically relied on defensive systems and international partnerships rather than direct confrontation with Tehran.

The UAE is considering taking active defensive measures against Iran. Although it has not been involved in the war in any way, it has still endured 800 projectiles, a source familiar with Emirati policy discussions told Axios.

The view in the UAE is that no country in the world would fail to evaluate its defensive posture under such circumstances, the Axios report added.

In a statement cited in the report, the Emirati foreign ministry emphasised that the country retains its right to self-defense. The ministry added that the UAE has not taken any decision to alter its defensive posture in response to the repeated Iranian attacks.

Gulf states drawn deeper into expanding conflict The attacks form part of a broader regional escalation following the start of the US-Israel bombing campaign against Iran. On the first day of the war, Iran launched strikes against several Gulf countries including the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. By the second day, the attacks had expanded to include Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The widening strikes have begun to disrupt regional energy infrastructure. Qatar suspended most of its natural gas production following attacks, while an Iranian drone struck the United States Embassy in Riyadh on Monday.

Within the UAE, debris from intercepted missiles ignited fires at the major Jebel Ali port, while a drone strike hit a luxury hotel on Dubais Palm Jumeirah.

The incidents underscore how rapidly the conflict has spread beyond its original belligerents.

Israeli officials believe Saudi Arabia could also respond Diplomatic and security officials are increasingly concerned that additional Gulf countries could consider direct military retaliation against Iran.

Israeli officials believe Saudi Arabia may also be evaluating potential responses following attacks on its territory, according to the Axios report.

Anwar Gargash, foreign policy adviser to the UAE president, criticised Tehrans actions in a public message posted on X.

Iran's attacks against Gulf states was a miscalculation and has isolated Iran at a critical juncture.

Also Read | UAE markets to resume trading on March 4 after Iran crisis closure

Your war is not with your neighbors, and this escalation only reinforces the narrative that Iran is the primary source of danger in the region and that its missile program is a constant source of instability, he wrote.

Scale of Iranian missile and drone strikes The Emirati Defence Ministry on Tuesday released detailed figures describing the scale of the attacks.

According to the ministry, Iran launched 186 ballistic missiles toward the UAE. Of those, 172 were intercepted by air defence systems, 13 fell into the sea and one struck Emirati territory.

Iran also launched 812 drones toward the country. Authorities said 755 were intercepted, while 57 struck locations within the UAE.

The attacks have resulted in casualties among civilians and foreign nationals. Officials reported that three foreign nationals were killed and around 70 people were wounded.

The UAE reserves its full right to respond to this escalation and to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens and residents, the Defence Ministry said.

A regional war with widening consequences Irans retaliatory strikes have transformed the conflict into a sweeping regional crisis, drawing in countries that had previously sought to avoid direct involvement.

Since the United States and Israel began their bombing campaign, Iran has launched attacks against United States military bases and other targets across the Middle East. Countries affected include the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, including the Kurdish region.
After the joint US-Israel military strikes on Iran last week, the Middle East has entered a period of profound instability and rapid escalation.

The decapitation strikes, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, triggered an immediate and geographically widespread retaliation from Tehran under Operation True Promise IV.

Also Read | US Iran News LIVE Updates: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to be buried in Mashhad

Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones not only at Israel but also at US military installations across Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

This escalation in the conflict led to the immediate closure of regional airspaces and a dramatic spike in global energy prices, especially after Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Qatar suspended LNG production.

The US and Israel may have said the action was aimed at regime change, but the region remains on the brink of a wider war as the remaining Iranian leadership has formed a temporary council to manage the crisis and vowed a war of attrition against those assisting the offensive.

The regional governments have urged citizens to leave on the next available commercial flight, as Gulf airspace is largely closed, cruise ships cant pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and major airlines are cancelling flights.

The US State Department says it has evacuated nonemergency personnel and families in six nations, adding the United Arab Emirates to its list on Tuesday. It has also advised citizens from 14 countries to leave. Governments from Russia to Germany and France also scrambled to run repatriation flights.

In the latest development in the region, the UAE is reportedly weighing the possibility of launching military strikes against Iranian missile and drone launch sites following sustained attacks on its territory, according to two sources familiar with the discussions cited by Axios.

Here is a country-wise impact of war as reported by Associated Press and other news agencies based on ground reports and real-time flight-tracking service Flightradar 24, as of Tuesday.

Iran  at the heart of the attacks Iran has sustained the highest damage and deaths in the region after the US and Israel launched joint attacks on the country. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said the US-Israeli operation has killed at least 787 people. That includes more than 160, the state-run IRNA news agency says, who were killed by a strike on an elementary school in Minab.

Israel says it was not involved in the school incident. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he did not have details but that the US would not deliberately target a school.

In Iran, the strikes have targeted nuclear infrastructure, missile launchers, government buildings in Tehran and leadership compounds, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top military officials.

Satellite images of Irans Natanz nuclear facility taken Monday show several damaged buildings, compared with imagery from the previous day, along with additional damage across the facilitys complex.

Iran's airspace is completely closed, as it bears the brunt of the ongoing escalations in the region.

Israel Iran retaliated to the joint strikes by hitting many areas in Israel using missiles, killing 11 people, according to the AP report. The extent of damage to Israeli military bases and other sensitive locations is unknown; the military does not reveal that information. The country's airspace remains closed to commercial flights.

Lebanon Iran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday, prompting Israel to retaliate. At least 52 people have been killed and 154 wounded, Lebanese authorities were quoted as saying by AP.

Israel hit Beirut with more airstrikes on Tuesday, saying it was targeting Hezbollah command centres and weapons storage facilities, and sent ground troops into southern Lebanon border areas. Hezbollah also said it launched drones targeting an Israeli air base. The Israeli military said it downed two drones.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a war for more than a year, ending with a November 2024 ceasefire that left the militant group greatly weakened.

The US Embassy in Lebanon said Tuesday it was closed to the public until further notice. Flights are coming and going, but many airlines have cancelled flights in the country.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Iran struck the US Embassy in Saudi Arabias capital early Tuesday. The attack from two drones on the US Embassy in Riyadh caused a limited fire and minor damage, according to Saudi Arabias Defence Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound.

Saudi Arabias Ras Tanura oil refinery also came under attack from drones, but its defences downed the aircraft, a military spokesman told the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The refinery has a capacity of over 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The airspace of Saudi Arabia remains partially closed in areas bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf.

The US Embassy compound in Kuwait was struck on Monday. A day later, it announced it was closed to the public until further notice.

Six US soldiers in a logistics unit were killed by a strike in Kuwait, according to a US official quoted by AP. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry said Sunday that one person was killed and 32 were injured in an Iranian strike. The airspace in Kuwait also remains closed.

United Arab Emirates Three people were killed in the UAE, and Dubai sustained damage to its international airport. According to CENTCOM, hotels along its coastline were also affected. Iran also targeted two Amazon data centres in the UAE, the company said Tuesday.

Airspace was closed for commercial flights, but some evacuation flights began operating on Monday.

Jordan and Oman Jordan said on Sunday that five people were injured by falling shrapnel after Iranian projectiles were intercepted in the kingdoms airspace. The Jordanian Civil Aviation Authority said the airspace will be closed from 6 PM to 7 AM daily until further notice.

Oman has faced drone attacks multiple times since the Iran war started. The attacks targeted the countrys largest port of Salalah, as well as Duqm port. At least one vessel was also hit off the countrys coast. The airspace remains open, but many commercial flights are cancelled.

Qatar and Iraq Iran has hit energy facilities in Qatar. The country's airspace remains shut.

Multiple drone and missile attacks have been launched at the US bases and consulate in Irbil, and protesters attempted to storm the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Iraqs Ministry of Oil said Tuesday that it would stop production in a key oil field because of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, causing crude oil prices to surge worldwide. The ministry cited a shortage of tankers entering the Gulf, forcing them to stop production and pumping from the southern Rumaila fields near the city of Basra. The airspace remains closed.

Bahrain and Syria Fire from a strike killed one Asian worker and seriously wounded two others early Monday in Bahrain. There was also a drone impact near an Amazon data centre, the company said Tuesday. The airspace remains closed.

The region remains on the brink of a wider war as the remaining Iranian leadership has vowed a 'war of attrition.'

Several people, including children, suffered minor injuries in the countryside outside Damascus from Iranian missile debris, Syrias state news agency SANA said. Some areas in Syrias southern provinces also saw missile debris fall from Iranian projectiles fired toward Israel, with no additional injuries or material damage reported, SANA said. The airspace remains closed.
Iran's Assembly of Experts has reportedly elected Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, 56, the second son of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader, according to Iran International. As per the report, the decision was allegedly taken under pressure from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Mojtaba, who has never held public office and is not a high-ranking cleric, is nevertheless believed to exercise considerable influence behind the scenes. He served in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq War and is known for his close links to the IRGC.

He married Zahra Haddad-Adel, daughter of an Iranian conservative politician and former Chairman of the Parliament, Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, in 2004. Zahra Haddad-Adel was reported to have been killed recently when the US and Israel attacked Iran in a joint operation.

The couple reportedly has three children, though few details about his family are available publicly.

Poised to take over the crucial position left vacant following his father's killing, Mojtaba was not Ali Khamenei's choice. It is important to note that Mojtaba's name was not included in the list of potential successors prepared by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last year. Analysts say the elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei indicates Irans ruling administration's desire to preserve continuity amid war, even though a father-son succession is not seen positively in Iran's Shiite Muslim clerical establishment.

Before they announced Ali Khamenei's successor, Irans Assembly of Experts said that the decision about the new supreme leader would be based on religious criteria and the body's own judgment rather than individual preferences or political factions, Iran International reported. According to Irans Assembly of Experts, the body was inclined to select a person similar to Ali Khamenei.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said that an interim leadership council is running the country following Ali Khamenei's killing. It consists of the Iranian President, Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei and a Guardian Council member, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi.

Also Read | US Iran News LIVE Updates: Tehran braces for crucial Geneva talks

One of Khamenei's family's surviving members, Mojtaba, lost several members of his family in the US-Israel strikes, including his father, mother, sister, sister-in-law and brother-in-law.

Mojtaba Khamenei's Net Worth Even though Mojtaba's exact net worth is not known, accounts indicate that he oversees a vast investment empire and is reportedly a multi-millionaire.

The US sanctioned Mojtaba in 2019, but a Bloomberg report alleged that Ali Khamenei's second son still managed to build a global property empire. According to the report, he channelled funds to the tune of billions of dollars into Western markets. His financial assets include a British luxury property worth over $138 million and Swiss bank accounts, the report said.
London: Three men suspected of spying for China were arrested in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said. One of those detained is the husband of a lawmaker from the governing Labour Party, AP reported.

Authorities said the suspects are believed to have assisted a foreign intelligence service, potentially breaching the National Security Act 2023, which was introduced to counter espionage and foreign interference.

Also Read | Ares Management buys London office leased to Netflix for 160 million

Police did not disclose the names of the suspects as none have been formally charged. According to investigators, a 39-year-old man was arrested in London, while a 68-year-old and a 43-year-old were detained in separate locations in Wales  Powys and Pontyclun, AP reported.

Amid growing speculation about the identity of one of the detainees, Labour MP Joani Reid, who represents the Scottish constituency of East Kilbride and Strathaven, confirmed that her husband was among those arrested.

Reid did not directly name him but said she had no reason to believe he had broken the law.

I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law, she said in a statement. I am not part of my husbands business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are.

The arrests come as British authorities step up scrutiny of alleged Chinese espionage and political interference in the country.

Last November, the domestic intelligence agency MI5 warned members of Parliament that Chinese agents were attempting to cultivate relationships with British politicians through professional networking platforms like LinkedIn or through front companies.

China has strongly denied such allegations, describing them as fabricated and politically motivated.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said British officials have raised concerns with Chinese authorities following the latest arrests.

The Government has been consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom, Jarvis said, adding that the government remained worried about an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting U.K. democracy.

Counterterrorism police said there was no immediate threat to the public linked to the arrests.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine torpedoed and sank Irans frigate IRIS Dena approximately 25 miles south of Sri Lanka.

Yesterday, in the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters, Hegseth said at a briefing at the Pentagon.

Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo  a quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two.

Heavy casualties confirmed Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed at least 80 sailors were killed in the strike, with the toll expected to rise.

According to officials:

87 bodies have been recovered so far.

61 sailors remain missing.

32 sailors were rescued and are being treated at a hospital in Galle.

We have collected 87 bodies, and a search is still on for the others who are still missing, a Sri Lankan navy official told AFP.

The rescue operation was carried out by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ship returning from India exercise The IRIS Dena was reportedly returning from a joint naval exercise in Indias eastern port of Visakhapatnam when it was struck.

Officials said the ship exploded upon impact after being hit by the torpedo, before sinking into the Indian Ocean.

First Torpedo sinking since WWII Hegseth described the strike as historic, calling it the first time since World War II that an enemy warship has been sunk by torpedo.

The incident comes amid escalating hostilities following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets under President Donald Trumps military campaign dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

Days earlier, the US military said it had targeted Irans largest naval warship.

Regional tensions soar The sinking of the IRIS Dena marks a dramatic expansion of the conflict into international waters near South Asia, raising concerns about maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
But these relationships are transactional. The Middle East is not a paramount security or foreign policy priority for the Chinese in the way it is for the Europeans and the Americans, Eric Olander, co-founder of the China Global South Project think tank, told me. Iran has been useful as part of a loose alignment that complicates US dominance, he said, but it was never worth direct military confrontation or crippling secondary sanctions.
Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are experiencing widespread service disruptions, with users across multiple regions reporting outages and error messages. The disruptions were first reported from parts of the United States late Tuesday (early Wednesday in India).

Users attempting to access Facebook were met with a notice stating: Your account is currently unavailable due to a site issue. We expect this to be resolved shortly. Please try again in a few minutes. The message appeared across desktop platforms in particular, prompting a surge in complaints.

According to Downdetector, 82% of users reporting issues cited problems with the website interface. As of 2:30 pm Pacific Time, more than 11,000 incident reports concerning Facebook had been logged on the monitoring platform.

More than 60% of complaints were linked specifically to the Facebook website, while 16% related to login failures. Commenters on Downdetector indicated that the disruption was geographically widespread, with reports originating from Marion County, Florida, as well as Bangladesh and Greece.

I've seen a lot over the years, but I don't think I've seen Facebook go down on the user side like this in many, many years, writer Brandon Wenerd wrote on X, sharing a screenshot of Facebook displaying a warning message that read, Account Temporarily Unavailable.

Facebook is down on desktop, added X user @PadPoet. Mobile seems to work.

Further, users also turned to social media platforms to report concurrent issues affecting Instagram and TikTok.

Instagram outage reports spike Instagram was reportedly down for hundreds of users on 3 March. Downdetector data showed the surge in complaints began around 4:29 pm Eastern Time, showing a noticeable rise in reported disruptions. Users mostly reported problems with accessing direct messaging available on Instagram.

While the precise technical cause has not been confirmed, the clustering of reports suggests a broader service instability rather than isolated user-side faults.

A user took to X to say, Not surprised that Instagram is down again". Others commented, IS INSTAGRAM DOWN? MY DMs CANT BE SEEN OR SENT

TikTok disruption linked to Oracle data centre According to TechCrunch, TikTok is down for some users in the United States, with the disruption attributed to a second Oracle-related outage since the platforms recent sale.

Some TikTok users in the United States experienced difficulties accessing or posting on the app. The company stated that the issue stemmed from a problem at an Oracle data centre.

Creators may temporarily experience lags in posting content while Oracle works to resolve the issue, TikTok said on X.

User-generated reports on Downdetector suggest that the disruption had been ongoing since before 9 am Eastern Time. Oracles own post on X indicated that the outage began around the same time.

Oracle is part of an investor consortium that owns 80% of the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, established to comply with a national security law requiring the Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest its American TikTok operations or face a ban in the United States.

Even prior to the formation of the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, Oracle had been providing cloud infrastructure services and managing user data for the platform. Since the sale was finalised in January, Oracle-related issues have contributed to two significant TikTok outages.

Just days after the transaction concluded, TikTok experienced a comparable service interruption, which the company attributed to a winter storm affecting a major Oracle data centre.
Problems for OpenAI are continuing to intensify as the company is now reportedly facing mass subscription cancellations. Notably, the company has been facing backlash ever since it signed the deal with the US government last week for using its AI tools to power the Pentagon's classified projects. The deal had come just hours after US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth had said Anthropic would be labelled a supply chain risk, a classification usually reserved for adversarial foreign companies.

The warning along with the blacklisting of Anthropic by the US government had come after the AI startup did not allow the Pentagon a carte blanche use of its AI systems for military purposes.

Ever since then, users on social media platforms like Reddit and X have claimed they are switching to Claude over OpenAI's ChatGPT due to the company's opportunistic stance. However, a new website even goes on to claim that over 2.5 million users have pledged to boycott ChatGPT since the company accepted the US Department of Defense's deal.

ChatGPT takes Trump's killer robot deal. It's time to Quit. reads the website.

The stated aim of the website is to organise Americans and people around the world to quit ChatGPT.

ChatGPT users skew young and progressive, and many don't know about alternatives. We can push OpenAI over the edge. If we make an example of ChatGPT, we can send a clear signal to ICE enablers that their actions will not go unpunished. Let's make CEOs think twice before they get in bed with Trump. reads the website.

Notably, the website also calls for a boycott of Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot and instead urges users to go for open-source alternatives: Confer, Alpine and Lumo or even corporate options like Gemini and Claude.

A recent report by TechCrunch, while citing market intelligence provider Sensor Tower data, had also noted that the mobile app uninstalls of ChatGPT jumped 295% on Saturday, a day after the deal was announced.

Meanwhile, the US downloads of OpenAI's direct rival Claude jumped 37% day-over-day on Friday and 51% on Saturday.

Sam Altman defends OpenAI deal: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has defended the deal with the Pentagon in public and private meetings since Friday. Altman has since then admitted that OpenAI should not have rushed to push out the deal on the same day as Anthropic was effectively blacklisted by the US government.
Microsoft has announced the dates for its annual Build developer conference. The tech giant has not only pushed the dates of the conference back from its usual May timeline to June but also shifted the venue out of the Seattle area.

The event will now be held on 2 & 3 June in San Francisco at the Fort Mason Center.Microsoft had announced its decision to take the conference out of Seattle last year due to issues with homelessness and cleanliness.

Also Read | From iPhone 17e to MacBook Air M5: Every Apple launched this week

GitHub COO Kyle Daigle, while speaking to The Verge on the shift from Seattle to San Francisco, said, Build has been in many different locations over the years, but it clearly has an identity with the Seattle area, but like with everything in software, its a little bit of ship to learn.

Lets ship it to San Francisco and see what we learn this year with that audience that can come and join us, and see about the years following, he added.

The report noted that Microsoft is inviting around 2,500 developers to register for Build this year which is less than the approximately 3,000 to 5,000 developers that have attended the event previously.

What to expect from Build 2026? While Microsoft has often unveiled Windows and Microsoft Azure-related announcements at previous Build editions, the company is reportedly focusing on building it into a more developer-focused event this year.

We just need to show you what weve been doing, what youve been building on top of it, and how you can use it, Daigle told The Verge.

The change is also visible in the official description for the event on the Microsoft Build website, At Microsoft Build, you'll go deep on real code, real systems, and real workflows with the teams building and scaling AI. Two days. Hands-on sessions. No fluff.

Microsoft, on the website for the event, has confirmed that the keynote address and some of the sessions will be live-streamed. Developers can request to attend the event by navigating to the Microsoft Build registration page. The cost for in-person attendance at Microsoft Build is $1,099.

The tech giant has also confirmed that its CEO Satya Nadella will be delivering the keynote and showcase some of the latest developments. Nadella also shared a post on X regarding the Build 2026 event, writing, Counting down to a new Build in San Francisco. Hope youll join us!
A child was reported using methamphetamine while staying in a Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) office, according to the state's Second Look Commission, which reviews child abuse cases and makes recommendations to the state's General Assembly.

The commission's 2025 annual report found the child surrendered the substance and underwent a drug test, but there was no recorded follow-up or investigation.

The same report found a child in custody ran away, and "was trafficked or sexually assaulted on the run at least five times." The child even trafficked another.

This comes after Local 3 obtained a 911 call from October 2024, in which a DCS employee at a Bradley County office reported an 11-year-old "trying to self-harm himself with a broken piece of plastic from a broom."

The 911 operator asked, "Is this because of the situation going on, being in DCS custody, or what is he upset about?"

The employee replied:

Pull Quote "So, unfortunately, these kids are currently stuck being at the office for 24 hours, days on end right now... some stuff that's happening with DCS right now, so these kids don't have placement, and they've gotten stir crazy. We've tried to do what we can and try to take them outside, play with them, do what we can, but as soon as we de-escalate them, about an hour later, they re-escalate, and unfortunately, they escalate each other as well."

'A point of no return'

Now, Representative Aftyn Behn, a democrat representing Nashville in the General Assembly, wants intervention from the federal government.

Behn, a social worker elected in 2022, first filed a complaint last week with the Department of Justice (DOJ), alleging "unnecessary segregation of children with disabilities" and "placement instability."

The complaint asks for a "pattern-or-practice investigation."

The representative told Local 3 Tuesday DOJ redirected her to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights, where she'll refile her complaint.

"Our office has received numerous calls and emails alleging negligence from DCS, and not only that, but we have found a systemic pattern of neglect, of coercion, really serious accusations," Behn said. "These families are hurting and they're struggling, so this comes from a place of caring for these families that feel that no one else has their backs."

The complaint also cites a 2024 determination, in which the Department of Health and Human Services upheld a 2022 decision by the Administration for Children and Families to withhold $770,550 for DCS. A review found "Tennessee was not operating these programs in substantial conformity with applicable federal requirements."

The Department of Children's Services did not address Local 3's request for comment regarding Representative Behn's complaint when responding to multiple questions for this story.

Class Action Complaint

Behn's complaint is far from the only one DCS faces. In May 2025, A Better Childhood, a nonprofit litigation firm, filed a class action complaint alleging placements "lack the basic necessities of life" and that DCS "allows frequent moves among homes and institutions."

"The state of foster care in Tennessee is in a real crisis," said Marcia Lowry, executive director of A Better Childhood. "The people who are in charge of the system are not taking the steps they need to take to end that crisis, and kids are suffering, and that really is very, very troubling."

The state motioned to dismiss the case, but a judge has yet to rule. A spokesperson for the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General said they will comment once there's a ruling.

This isn't Lowry's first time pushing for change at DCS. She was part of the group which originally filed Brian A. v. Haslam in 2000, which led to nearly two decades of reform.

A judge dismissed the case in 2019, only after meeting mandated improvements, including increased placement of children with families, rather than in institutions.

"That's really tragic to see a system that can do it and stops doing it, and goes backwards," Lowry said. "That's what's happening in Tennessee."

Reducing Office Stays

Lowry wants state leaders to turn their focus to boosting the number of foster families.

Governor Bill Lee joined President Donald Trump's "A Home for Every Child" initiative last month. It aims to expand the number of licensed foster homes and retain current families, while also preventing children from having to enter foster care in the first place.

In 2025, the number of foster care youth outpaced the number of homes by 3,000.

Since 2019, the number of foster homes statewide has slightly declined.

DCS has worked to reduce the number of children staying in offices, as they await placement.

The department reports no children have stayed in its offices since late January. However, the Tennessee Comptroller's audit of the department found 172 children spent at least one night in an office between March and September 2025, and one child stayed as long as 104 nights.

"We just flat, have no other option," said Margie Quin, commissioner of the Department of Children's Services, to the state's House Finance, Ways and Means Committee in October 2025. "We want to be transparent about that. The reasons for that are very high acuity needs or violent behaviors, or kids who have been bench-ordered into our custody with pre-adjudicated delinquent charges, significant delinquent charges, and they cannot be co-mingled with other kids in transitional houses  true dependent neglect kids, and they have to be kept separate. So, they are staying overnight in an office."

Office stays typically last an average of 5 to 10 nights, according to DCS.

The department has also worked to prevent children from having to move multiple times.

"DCS has reduced the frequency of placement moves from 7.87 moves per 1,000 days in custody to 4.47 moves per 1,000 days in custody," said Ashley Zarach, DCS director of communications in December.

Growing Real Estate

UPDATE: Audit reveals failures in Tennessee children's services; vulnerable kids at risk Things are really bad for the kids in Tennessee, said Marcia Lowry, who has long pushed for reforms to the states child welfare system.

DCS plans to open new facilities across the state to accommodate children awaiting placement.

The $421 million effort includes six welcome places, including in Tullahoma, three wellness places and two youth development campuses.

The welcome places are designed for short-term stays immediately after a child enters DCS care, while wellness centers intend to accommodate 30-day stays for children with higher levels of care. The youth development campuses, located in Somerville and Nashville, will support rehabilitation and have vocational opportunities.

Some could open as soon as this year.

But Lowry believes these spaces are the wrong answer.

"Anybody who is connected with child welfare knows that if you put kids with problems together, their problems only get worse," she said. "What the state really needs to do is create and educate foster parents who have special training to take care of some of these kids."

Behn agrees, citing the expensive price tag.

"The fact that DCS is interested in asking for more money from the state of Tennessee to expand these congregate care facilities is a big red flag," she said.

'There really isn't a solution'

Representative Behn will hold a livestream Wednesday night, in which she'll discuss her "children over checks" campaign.

She started a petition last week, inviting families to share their experiences with DCS.

The petition had nearly 400 responses by Tuesday, with some responses from concerned Tennesseans, but mostly from families with personal trauma.

In the short-term, Behn said she'd like to see a stop to all pending cases and instead have them be reviewed by an independent commission.

In addition to injunctive relief, she even would consider calling to "sunset" the agency and reconstitute it.

"Governor Lee could do a few things," Behn said. "He could remove Margie Quin immediately. He could commission an independent audit, order internal policy reforms, replace regional leadership and extract external consultants."

Behn's livestream begins Wednesday at 8:00pm EST.
Under current Tennessee law, adding a substance to someones drink without their knowledge is illegal. However, the penalty is not clearly defined. State Representative Bob Freeman, a Democrat, says that lack of clarity is something he hopes to fix.
Many of the six US troops killed in the war with Iran served together years earlier in Kuwait
An image from footage released by US Central Command shows a US asset targeting an Iranian mobile missile launcher.

Since the United States and Israel initiated large-scale combat operations against Iran on February 28, Tehran has lashed out at its neighbors with hundreds of missiles and drones. Despite the scale of the initial attacks and the damage they have done to Americans, Israelis, and Arabs, the daily rate of Iranian ballistic missile attacks is decreasing over time.

This decline is likely due to a combination of factors, including the effectiveness of the ongoing US-Israeli strike campaign against Iranian ballistic missile stockpiles, launchers, and facilities; the risk to Iranian operators of being detected and destroyed by American and Israeli aircraft; a potential rationing effort by the Tehran regime to preserve missiles for a sustained conflict and to retain a credible deterrent at the wars conclusion; as well as prior Iranian missile expenditures and losses in last Junes 12-Day War with Israel.

To be sure, the impact of Irans recent missile and drone attacks has been significant. Tehran has fired over 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones at military installations and civilian sites across the region, including in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Turkey, and Israel. Despite extensive air and missile defense efforts from the US and its partners, Iranian missiles and drones have struck targets across the Middle East, including American military bases. Six US service members have been killed and at least 18 wounded by Iranian retaliation by the afternoon of March 2.

The quantity of ballistic missiles employed by Iran in conflicts since April 2024 has been growing, as the regime has learned and tried to increasingly overwhelm air defenses. In the April 2024 conflict with Israel, Iran fired roughly 120 missiles. In the October 2024 conflict, Iran fired over 200 ballistic missiles. Each of those totals occurred in less than 24 hours. In the June 2025 12-Day War between Iran and Israel, Tehran fired roughly 550 ballistic missiles.

In other words, the quantity of missiles launched in four days of the current war is comparable to the amount fired in 12 days of the last conflict. Nonetheless, the rate of Irans ballistic missile launches is lower than one might have expected for a battle that the regime likely views as existential.

These top-level numbers, however, should not mask another reality. While the total fired in this conflict has already exceeded, or will exceed, that of the 12-Day War in less than half the time, initial data suggest that the volume of daily Iranian ballistic missile launches has decreased rapidly since the beginning of hostilities.

Irans ability to hit us and our partners is declining, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), stated in an update released on the evening of March 3. The following morning, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told reporters at a press conference that Irans theater ballistic missile launches were down 86 percent since the first day of the conflict, dropping substantially in the preceding 24 hours. For example, the UAE Ministry of Defense reported that 137 Iranian ballistic missiles targeted the Emirates on February 28, followed by 28 on March 1, nine on March 2, 12 on March 3, and three on March 4.

There are several likely reasons for the decline in Iranian ballistic missile launches. The first is the impact of previous Israeli strikes on Irans ballistic missile capacity during the 12-Day War. Those strikes did significant damage to Iranian missile production and storage facilities, though Tehran worked to reconstitute some of that capacity.

Perhaps most importantly, US and Israeli forces have extensively targeted Iranian missile launchers and facilities since Saturday. The Israeli Air Force reported destroying or disabling around 300 launchers by March 3, and US forces have also targeted them extensively.

Admiral Cooper characterized the remaining threat as a lingering launch capability. In addition to attriting Iranian capacity, these strikes suppress Tehrans ability to actually launch ballistic missiles, even if it has remaining stockpiles. Simply firing missiles from launchers before US and Israeli aircraft can detect and destroy them poses a significant threat to these finite assets.

Losing systems central to Tehrans military power and deterrence likely influences the risk calculus of Iranian military planners about when and how to employ remaining assets. If Iran loses too many of its missiles and launchers early in the conflict, its ability to continue imposing costs will decline in a drawn-out war.

Iranian planners are likely also considering the need to preserve enough missile capacity for a credible deterrent post-conflict, especially given the centrality of missiles to Tehrans long-term deterrence strategy. That potential calculus, however, assumes that Irans central command-and-control apparatus is still able to communicate with its respective missile units. Given the destruction of various headquarters and the degradation of command, control, and communication capabilities, that may not be a good assumption, as many operational and tactical units are likely making decisions in the absence of guidance from higher echelons.

Regardless, the persistent air-to-surface suppression campaign could potentially also deter individual launcher operators, evidenced by videos released by US Central Command that appear to show strikes on abandoned launchers.

In addition to attacks aimed at taking out missiles before they launch, ballistic missile defense efforts by the US and its regional partners appear to have been relatively successful in the opening stages of the conflict. Preliminary statistics released by the UAE and Qatar claim ballistic missile interception rates above 90 percent in the opening days of the conflict. If accurate, these figures would represent relatively successful defensive efforts, given the level of saturation from Irans attacks.

That said, several Iranian ballistic missiles have tragically hit their targets, in addition to drone strikes. The US and its regional partners entered the conflict with existing strains on their missile defense capacities, but so far, it appears that these stocks have been sufficient relative to Tehrans ability to sustain large volumes of launches.

The United States and Israel are in a race with Iran to deplete Tehrans ability to launch ballistic missiles before American and partner air defense capacities decline to a dangerous level. Given some of the dynamics detailed above, barring unforeseen events, the United States is unlikely to fully deplete its ballistic missile defenses in this conflict with Iran in the near term. However, finite American air defense capacity is being consumed, and depending on the rate of expenditure in the coming weeks, that could leave the US ill-prepared for simultaneous or subsequent major wars elsewhere.

Cameron McMillan is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDDs) Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), where Ryan Brobst is the deputy director and Bradley Bowman is senior director.
A Saraya Awliya al Dam statement claiming responsibility for attacking Camp Victoria in Iraq on March 3.

Iran-backed Shiite militias belonging to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) continue to claim responsibility for attacks on American bases in the region in response to US and Israeli military operations against Iran.

On March 1, Saraya Awliya al Dam (SAD), a member of the IRI, issued a statement claiming that the groups fighters attacked American bases in Erbil with drones and missiles. Media reports from that day confirmed that explosions were heard at Erbil International Airport, which hosts US troops in Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region.

On March 2, SAD said that it targeted Camp Victoria, located near Baghdad International Airport, with what it described as a squadron of drones. Arabic-language media reported explosions near the base that day, saying that air defenses were activated against two drones.

The next day, SAD released a statement claiming that it launched drones at a hotel in Erbil that allegedly housed US soldiers. However, this claim is unconfirmed. Following both attacks, SAD published footage showing its fighters firing drones and missiles.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI)  an umbrella network of Iranian-backed militias and affiliated front groups  also announced on March 1 that it had carried out 21 operations using dozens of drones against enemy bases in Iraq and across the region.

A day later, the IRI claimed responsibility for 28 additional operations employing dozens of missiles and drones against bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. On March 3, the group asserted it had conducted 27 more missile and drone attacks targeting sites in Iraq and beyond.

The IRIs statements did not specify the nature of the targets, but the group released footage purporting to show its fighters launching missiles and drones.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that six US service members have been killed since the start of major combat operations against Iran, while 18 soldiers have been wounded. An Iranian missile reportedly struck a base in Kuwait where the six servicemen were operating, while details about the 18 wounded soldiers have not been released.

Iraqi militias, particularly Iran-aligned Shiite armed groups, emerged in the aftermath of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, capitalizing on the power vacuum and sectarian conflict to challenge US forces and assert influence within Iraqs security landscape. Over time, many of these militias were organized into the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which has since become an official security institution that ostensibly reports to the government, to fight the Islamic State.

Despite the PMFs formal incorporation, powerful groups such as Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al Haq, and others, many of which are US-designated terrorist groups, have continued to operate with significant autonomy and Iranian support. They periodically conduct independent operations against US and coalition targets while also shaping Iraqi domestic politics and resisting full state control.

Joe Truzman is an editor and senior research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East.
A pilot from the Israeli Air Forces 107th squadron, which uses F-16s in strikes against Iran. (Israel Air Force video screenshot)

Israel has carried out 1,600 strike sorties against Iran since the joint US-Israeli military operation began on the morning of February 28, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on March 4. Iran has responded by launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, resulting in 10 people killed and dozens wounded over the first four days of the conflict.

Over the past 24 hours alone, hundreds of Israeli Air Force fighter jets and aircraft conducted more than 300 consecutive waves of strikes, IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said. An Israeli F-35 warplane also downed an Iranian Yak-130 combat aircraft, the first air-to-air combat for the Israeli Air Force against an enemy manned aircraft in 40 years.

Iran continued retaliatory strikes on Israel, including launching ballistic missiles, on March 4, with at least seven waves fired and detected by 5 pm.

The Israeli military noted on March 4 that it was now simultaneously conducting strikes against both Iran and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group that has launched rocket and drone attacks at Israel during the conflict. The IDF also struck and dismantled the [Tehran] regimes secret nuclear compound known as Minzadehei. At this site, a covert group of nuclear scientists operated in secrecy to advance the knowledge and capabilities necessary to obtain nuclear weapons, Shoshani noted in his briefing.

This operation is directed at the Iranian regime and its military and terror infrastructure  not at the Iranian people. Our actions are precise, intelligence-driven, and focused on removing threats before they can materialize, Shoshani added.

Iran has continued to strike at Israel with drones and ballistic missiles throughout the conflict, launching salvos of projectiles several times a day each day. For instance, on March 4, there were incoming salvos just after midnight, just before 1 am, and at 4:18 am. More Iranian missile attacks occurred at 5:53 am, 1:48 pm, 2:31pm, and 4:07 pm, according to the IDFs list of alerts issued to phones in Israel on March 4. A similar pattern of Iranian launches targeting Israel, from the early morning to the evening, took place each day of the conflict.

In total, Iran has launched 500 missiles and 2,000 drones during the first four days of hostilities, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM). These weapons have targeted Israel and at least 11 other countries.

The Israeli Home Front Command of the IDF uses a multi-layered approach to warn people of incoming projectiles. An initial alert is sent to a large area of Israel, triggering an alarm on peoples phones. The IDF says in each instance that it has identified a missile launched in Iran. Within around six to 10 minutes of the initial alert, sirens sound in areas of Israel threatened by the projectiles and the possibility of falling debris from interceptions.

Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice. Leaving a protected space is permitted only after receiving explicit instructions. The public is requested to continue acting in accordance with the Home Front Commands guidelines, the IDF says. For instance, the sirens that sounded at 4:16 pm on March 4 affected an area of approximately 1,500 square miles. This estimate is based on a list of communities affected by sirens shown on the Hebrew Red Color website and Telegram account, which track the alerts and sirens.

The attacks that have caused sirens in Israel have mostly been from ballistic missiles rather than drones or other projectiles. This proportion is also reflected by the IDFs published warnings throughout four days of war, which have primarily referenced Iranian ballistic missile threats. The IDF said on March 1 that it downed 50 Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), although it was unclear if those drones had reached Israeli airspace or threatened Israeli communities.

After Hezbollah began launching attacks on Israel on March 2, the number of sirens in Israel due to drone threats increased, primarily in northern Israel. The audible alerts warning of drone threats are the same as those for missiles and other threats. The major difference is that early warning alerts sent to phones are not sent during drone attacks, as they are detected with less notice.

The IDF began its strikes on Iran on February 28, and by that afternoon, the Israeli military said it had overflown Iran with 200 fighter jets. This is the largest military flyover in the history of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), conducted following accurate planning and based on high-quality intelligence, while synchronizing hundreds of fighter jets at the same time. The IAFs fighter jets dropped hundreds of munitions targeting approximately 500 objectives, the IDF noted.

In the first 24 hours, the IDF added that it had conducted 700 sorties in Iran and downed 50 Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition, the IDF noted that it had targeted Iranian leaders, missile launchers, and 600 terror sites. The Israeli military published an infographic on March 4 showing the variety of targets it had hit in and around Tehran. By March 4, the Israeli Air Force said it had used 5,000 munitions in strikes on Iran. In contrast, US Central Command said it had launched 2,000 munitions at 2,000 targets in the first 100 hours of the operation.

The Iranian missiles on Israel that have killed at least 10 people and injured dozens morehave hit several targets. On the first night of the conflict, a missile hit a street in Tel Aviv, damaging and destroying numerous buildings and killing one person. On March 1, a missile struck in a residential neighborhood near a synagogue, killing nine individuals. In the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, a missile impact on March 2 forced more than 1,000 people to evacuate their homes.

Israels civilian airports remained closed on March 4. Israel also partially evacuated its embassy in the United Arab Emirates due to Iranian terror plots, The Times of Israel reported.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Career success isnt just about what you know, its about how you show up. That message guided Madonna Universitys 9th Annual Business Student Conference, The Power of a Professional Mindset, held February 5. More than 150 attendees gathered for a day of career readiness, professional development, and networking, bringing together School of Business students, faculty, alumni, and regional industry leaders.

This years theme highlighted an essential truth: long-term career success is shaped not only by skills, but by how individuals show up, adapt, and respond in professional environments. With more than 20 alumni, professionals, and Board members engaging with students throughout the day, the impact extended well beyond the stage.

The conference opened with remarks from Dean of the School of Business Jessica Cummings, University President Chris Dougherty, and Provost Chris Benson, reinforcing Madonna Universitys commitment to blending academic excellence with real-world preparation.

This conference reflects the School of Business mission to blend academic learning with real-world engagement. Hearing directly from professionals helps students see whats possible and inspires them to take ownership of their career journey, said Dean Cummings.

A Dynamic Keynote on Professional Mindset

Keynote speaker Jeannine Laible, Human Resources Director for the City of Livonia, challenged students to rethink what it means to be career-ready. She emphasized that a professional mindset goes beyond technical skills, it is the energy individuals bring and how they respond to challenges and opportunities.

Encouraging students to move from potential to professional, Laible highlighted curiosity, adaptability, accountability, and initiative as pillars of success. The transition to building a professional mindset doesnt happen on graduation day, it happens the moment you decide to think differently, she shared.

Real-World Career Insights

Students also gained perspective during a career panel featuring Jeannine Laible; Kimberly Fisher, Managing Partner at New York Life Insurance and NY Life Securities; Jay Glanton, Innovation Buyer at General Motors; Madonna alumnus Brandon Slone, Chief of Staff for North America & Europe at RPM; and fellow alumnus Jeremy Otto, broadcaster with 97.1 The Ticket and WWJ News Radio 950. Panelists shared lessons on adaptability, storytelling, and professional growth, encouraging students to show up consistently, listen actively, and take ownership of their career journeys.

Experiential Learning in Action

The conference offered hands-on experiences designed to strengthen students professional presence, including a networking luncheon with alumni and industry professionals, LinkedIn strategy conversations led by Madonna alumnus Don McLean of McLean Media, professional headshots provided by the Universitys Marketing Department, and career-readiness discussions with Career Development Director Jennifer Stokes.

Our goal is to help students connect mindset with action, said Stokes. When students understand their strengths, build professional relationships, and practice showing up with intention, they position themselves to stand out in a competitive marketplace.

A Collaborative Effort

The event reflected strong collaboration across the Madonna University community. Special thanks to Board Members Susan Rokosz and Darrel P. Quinn for their participation, as well as faculty, staff, and the planning committee which included Jessica Cummings, Jennifer Stokes, School of Business staff and faculty Laura Carravallah, Frank Notturno, and Andrew Malec whose support made the conference possible.

Most importantly, recognition goes to the students who attended engaged, curious, and ready to connect  a powerful reminder of the impact of intentional career preparation.

By combining keynote inspiration, real-world insight, experiential learning, and meaningful networking, Madonna University continues to bridge classroom learning with career success.
Sinn Fein TD, Rose Conway-Walsh, has expressed deep concern for the safety of Mayo and Irish citizens currently stranded in the Middle East, as well as Irish peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon.

The Mayo TD has called on the government to respond to the immediate needs of people wishing to return home.

Teachta Conway-Walsh said she has been in contact with people in Mayo who are very concerned for family members living in the Middle East, and others who are travelling through the region.

Thousands of families across the State have loved ones living and working in the UAE and Qatar, many are teachers, and they are understandably anxious and distressed.

READ MORE: Minister Calleary meets carers and disability groups at Mayo towns employment event

"If civilian airports remain closed for any extended period, the Government must organise repatriation flights and put contingency plans in place immediately, without delay.

Irish citizens abroad must know that their government will act swiftly and effectively to assist them.

Conway-Walsh said her thoughts are with the Irish peacekeeping troops serving in Lebanon during this time.

These men and women are carrying out vital peacekeeping duties under a UN mandate, and their safety must be an absolute priority.

I am calling on the Government to provide regular updates to families of serving personnel and to ensure all necessary protective measures are in place.

She further expressed how this is a worrying time for many Irish families, both those with loved ones stranded in the Gulf and those with family members serving overseas. The government must act with urgency, transparency, and care, she added.

READ MORE: Mayo garda retires after over three decades of service
Mayo Senator Mark Duffy has confirmed the first phase of the long-awaited N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road project is set to open in the coming weeks, delivering a significant boost for motorists travelling to and from Mayo.

Senator Duffy described the development as a major milestone in a 450 million investment in the national road network.

The initial phase comprises a 7km stretch of new roadway that will bypass Frenchpark, with the full 34km route bypassing the towns of Frenchpark, Bellanagare, Tulsk and Strokestown in Co Roscommon  communities well known to many Mayo motorists who regularly travel the route east.

Describing the development as very welcome news for Mayo commuters, Senator Duffy said the project will drastically improve road safety and reduce journey times between Mayo and Dublin.

It is a 34km stretch which will bypass many of the towns along Roscommon that Mayo commuters will be familiar with travelling through, he said. The full project will be completed next year but this first phase is very exciting news as it will significantly improve road safety and indeed connectivity from Mayo to Dublin.

READ MORE: Mayo IFA meeting cancelled as Bord Bia sit-in ends and governance review announced

He added that while the full project is due to open next year, the completion of the first section signals the beginning of a new era for motorists in the west.

Its the end of an era for many Mayo passengers [...] Its great to see that this project is progressing well, and I look forward to seeing the first phase opening in the very near future.

The senator also paid tribute to Wills Bros, the Mayo-based contractors delivering the scheme.

I would also like to acknowledge the work of Wills brothers, who are the Mayo-based contractors delivering this substantial investment in road infrastructure for the West, he said.

The N5 upgrade is regarded as a key infrastructure project for the region, aimed at improving connectivity, safety, and supporting economic growth across Mayo and the wider west.

READ MORE: New active travel plans for Mayo town enters public consultation phase
A member of An Garda Siochana who has been charged with rape and child cruelty in Donegal faces a trial at the Central Criminal Court.

The man, who is currently suspended from the force, appeared before Letterkenny District Court on Tuesday afternoon when a book of evidence was served.

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Detective Sergeant Kieran Naughton of the Division Protective Services Unit, based in Sligo, gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on the man, who cannot be named due to the nature of the alleged offences.

Detective Sergeant Naughton said he met with the accused man in the body of Letterkenny courthouse and handed him the book of evidence and endorsed the declaration of service.

State Solicitor for Donegal, Mr Kieran Dillon, told the court that the Director of Prosecutions (DPP) has consented to the man being sent forward for trial to the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court.

The accused man was present in court, but did not speak during the hearing. He was represented by his solicitor, Mr Robert Ryan.

He is accused of two counts of raping a female, offences that are alleged to have occurred in 2021 at an address in County Donegal.

The charges are contrary to section 48 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861 and Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act, 1981 as amended by section 21 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990.

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The man is also charged with three counts of child cruelty between 2015 and 2024, also at a location in County Donegal.

He is charged with being a person having custody, charge and the care of a child did wilfully: assault, ill-treat and neglect the said child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering/injury to the childs health or seriously to affect her well being.

The charges are contrary to section 246(1) and (2) of the Children Act, 2001.

The man is also charged that, on a date unknown between April 2021 and April 2022, at an address in County Donegal, he did assault a female, causing her harm. That charge is contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

Judge Emile Daly noted the DPPs consent and made an order returning the accused for trial to the Central Criminal Court.

Judge Daly administered the alibi warning and made a section 56 order, relating to recordings of interviews.

Bail was granted to the accused on the same terms and conditions.

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He was granted bail on condition that he: reside at an address approved by Gardai; notify the authorities of any change to his address; abide by a safety order that is in place; have no contact, directly or indirectly with any alleged injured parties; and to notify Gardai of any intention to travel outside of Ireland.

Legal aid was granted to Mr Ryan and two legal counsel are to be assigned in the case.
Westport and the wild beauty of County Mayo are set to star on national television as Sky Arts' hit series Landscape Artist of the Year, with Croagh Patrick serving as the ultimate prize destination for this year's winner.

The finale of this years competition will air at 8pm tonight on Sky Arts, with a special film showcasing Westport and Croagh Patrick following immediately after on the same channel at 9pm.

The competition's grand prize is a 10,000 commission from the National Gallery of Ireland to create a landscape of Croagh Patrick, the country's holy mountain, cementing Mayo's place as a canvas worthy of the British nation's finest artistic talent.

Presenter Stephen Mangan leads viewers across Britain and Ireland in the search for the country's best landscape artist.

Mangan, whose parents hail from Geesala and Doohoma, spent most of his childhood summers in Erris and is very familiar with Croagh Patrick.

READ MORE: The Big Interview: Stephen Mangan

From an impressive pool of 2,000 applicants, just 48 artists were selected to compete across six heats, tackling locations ranging from the Lake District's Derwentwater and the cliffs above Dover Castle to the grandeur of St James's Park and the River Thames as seen from the historic battleship HMS Wellington.

The semi-final takes place at the spectacular Ouse Valley Viaduct in Sussex, before the final three artists face their ultimate challenge at the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland  competing for the coveted commission that will bring them west to the shores of Mayo.

The winner's journey doesn't end at the Falkirk Wheel. The programme follows the successful artist as they travel to County Mayo to research and develop their commissioned piece  immersing themselves in the dramatic landscape of Croagh Patrick, the mountain that has drawn pilgrims and painters alike for centuries.

For Westport and the wider Mayo region, the spotlight couldn't be more welcome. The commission by the National Gallery of Ireland underscores the mountain's status not just as a place of pilgrimage, but as a landscape of profound national and artistic significance.

Judging the artists throughout the series are returning panellists Kathleen Soriano and Tai Shan Schierenberg, joined this year by new judge Eva Langret.

Landscape Artist of the Year, Series 11, airs on Sky Arts tonight at 8pm, with the winner visiting Mayo in a special programme which airs immediately after at 9pm.
A newly approved targeted therapy could offer hope for certain advanced breast cancer patients.

Current and future burden of breast cancer: Global statistics for 2020 and 2040

MHRA approves imlunestrant tosylate (Inluriyo) - a new treatment for breast cancer

Degradation of the Estrogen Receptor in Breast Cancer

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Inluryo used for?

A: Inluryo is used to treat adults with ER-positive HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Q: How does imlunestrant work?

A: Imlunestrant works by degrading estrogen receptors that help certain breast cancers grow.

Q: Is Inluryo taken as a pill?

A: Yes, Inluryo is taken orally as a tablet under medical supervision.

Q: Who can receive this treatment?

A: Patients with ER-positive HER2-negative breast cancer who have progressed after prior therapies may be eligible.

Q: Does this drug cure breast cancer?

A: This treatment helps slow disease progression but is not considered a cure.
Synthetic Holi colors and airborne powders may irritate the eyes and scratch the cornea. Doctors advise protective eyewear and prompt rinsing to prevent festival-related eye injuries.

Highlights: Synthetic Holi colors may irritate the cornea and conjunctiva

Airborne color powders and water balloons increase risk of eye trauma

Wearing sunglasses and rinsing eyes promptly can prevent most injuries

  Trusted Source

Ocular toxicity due to colours used during holi celebration in India: correlation of clinical findings with the anterior segment OCT



Go to source Trusted Source

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Clinical Evidence on Holi ColorRelated Eye Injuries

Localized punctate epitheliopathy in 12 patients (57.14 percent)

in 12 patients (57.14 percent) Diffuse punctate epitheliopathy with epithelial defect in 9 patients (42.85 percent)

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How Synthetic Holi Colors Cause Ocular Surface Toxicity

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Common Symptoms After Holi Color Exposure

Redness and conjunctival congestion

Burning or stinging sensation

Foreign body sensation

Watery eyes or excessive tearing

Blurred vision or light sensitivity

Takeaway

Frequently Asked Questions Q: Can Holi colors damage the eyes? A: Yes. Synthetic dyes and airborne powders used during Holi may irritate the cornea and conjunctiva, causing redness, burning sensation, or corneal scratches. Q: What should I do if Holi color enters my eye? A: Doctors recommend rinsing the eye gently with clean running water and avoiding rubbing. If symptoms persist, consult an ophthalmologist. Q: Why do Holi powders cause eye irritation? A: Powdered pigments can enter the eyes easily and irritate the delicate surface tissues, especially when rubbed against the cornea. Q: Which doctor should I consult for Holi-related eye injuries? A: You should consult an ophthalmologist, a specialist trained to diagnose and treat eye diseases and injuries. Q: How can I protect my eyes while playing Holi? A: Wear sunglasses or protective eyewear, avoid throwing colors directly at the face, and rinse the eyes immediately if color enters them.

Ocular toxicity due to colours used during holi celebration in India: correlation of clinical findings with the anterior segment OCT - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29985058/) Holi colors and chemical contact keratitis - (https://www.nature.com/articles/eye2017223)

involve throwing vibrant color powders and spraying colored water, but ophthalmologists caution that exposure to synthetic dyes used during the festival can sometimes lead to).Medical experts explain that dry color particles may enter the eyes and irritate delicate ocular tissues, especially when people rub their eyes after exposure.Evidence from clinical studies shows that, although most cases recover with prompt treatment.Festival colors may contain industrial dyes, metal-based pigments, or chemical additives that can irritate the, particularly theand. The cornea is the transparent front layer of the eye that protects deeper ocular structures and helps focus light. Even small particles trapped on this surface may cause discomfort and superficial injury.Clinical observations published in the journalexamined patients presenting withThe study evaluatedwho visited an emergency eye department between March 2 and March 5 during Holi celebrations. Theof affected individuals was, andwere male.Researchers reported thatoccurred in, meaning both eyes were affected simultaneously. The most commonincluded:findings showed that patients with localized epithelial changes generally maintained relatively good vision, ranging from, whereas those with more diffuse epithelial defects experiencedImaging usingrevealed that the color particles mainly affected theand, with structural involvement observed up to approximatelyIn rare cases, pigment particles penetrated deeper ocular structures. The study noted thatalong with, demonstrating that severe chemical exposure may extend beyond the corneal surface.. Fine pigment particles may lodge on theand trigger inflammation when they interact with tear film and epithelial cells.Research published inreported cases ofassociated with Holi colors, whereand ocular irritation.The authors noted that synthetic color powders can produceon the corneal surface, particularly when particles remain in contact with the eye for prolonged periods.When color particles are rubbed against the eye, they may causeleading to redness, tearing, and foreign body sensation.released by irritated tissues may further worsen symptoms.In addition to chemical exposure, mechanical trauma during Holi can also occur., and forceful throwing of powders may strike the eye directly, increasing the likelihood ofor injury.People who experience eye exposure during Holi may develop symptoms ranging from mild irritation to more noticeable ocular discomfort.Common symptoms include:Clinical reports suggest that most cases remain mild and resolve with early treatment, especially when color particles are washed away quickly.Evidence from ophthalmology research indicates thataffecting theand, particularly when pigment particles enter the eyes and remain in contact with ocular tissues. However, most injuries are mild and recover with appropriate care.Preventive measures such as, andif exposure occurs can significantly. Early consultation with anis recommended if redness, pain, or blurred vision persists after the festival.Source-Medindia
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Senate is headed toward a vote Wednesday on President Donald Trump's decision to embark on a war against Iran, an extraordinary test in Congress for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, gives lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The Senate resolution and a similar bill being voted on in the House later this week face unlikely paths through the Republican-controlled Congress and would almost certainly be vetoed by Trump even if they were to pass.

Nonetheless, the votes marked a weighty moment for lawmakers. Their decisions on the five-day-old war  which Trump entered without congressional approval  could determine the fates of U.S. military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

Today every senator  every single one  will pick a side," said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer during a floor speech. Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?

Trump administration scrambles for congressional support

After launching a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win support for a conflict that Americans of all political persuasions were already wary of entering. Trump administration officials have been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill this week as they try to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the war could extend eight weeks, a longer time frame than has previously been floated by the Trump administration. He also acknowledged that Iran is still able to carry out missile attacks even as the U.S. tries to control the country's airspace.

U.S. service members remain in harms way, and we must be clear-eyed that the risk is still high, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same press conference.

Six U.S. military members were killed over the weekend in a drone strike in Kuwait.

Trump has also not ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops. He has said he is hoping to end the bombing campaign within a few weeks, but his goals for the war have shifted from regime change to stopping Iran from developing nuclear capabilities to crippling its navy and missile programs.

Sen. John Barrasso, second in Senate Republican leadership, said GOP senators would send a message that Democrats are wrong for forcing a vote on the war powers resolution.

Democrats would rather obstruct Donald Trump than obliterate Iran's national nuclear program, he added.

Almost all Republican senators were readying to vote Wednesday against the war powers resolution to halt military action, but a number still expressed hesitation at the idea of troop deployments.

I dont think the American people want to see troops on the ground, said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., as he exited a classified briefing Tuesday. He added that Trump administration officials left open that possibility, but it wasn't an option they were emphasizing.

Republican Sen. Todd Young, who told reporters earlier this week he was undecided on the legislation, released a statement Wednesday morning saying that now that the U.S. has entered the war, the danger "will only grow if we limit the president's military options at this critical moment."

He called for lawmakers to conduct oversight and evaluate any requests from the administration for more wartime funding or authorities.

Lawmakers to go on record

The votes in Congress this week represented potentially consequential markers of just where lawmakers stand on the war as they look ahead to midterm elections and the consequences of the conflict.

Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution, said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat leading the war powers resolution. Everybody's got to declare whether they're for this war or against it.

Republican leaders have successfully, though narrowly, defeated a series of war powers resolutions pertaining to several other conflicts that Trump has entered or threatened to enter. This one, however, is different.

Unlike Trump's military campaigns against alleged drug boats or even Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the attack on Iran represents an open-ended conflict that is already ricocheting across the region. For Republicans who are used to operating in a political party dominated by Trump and his promises of keeping the U.S. out of foreign entanglements, the moment represented a bit of whiplash.

War is ugly, it always has been ugly, but we're taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time, said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has long pushed Trump to engage overseas, argued that the widening conflict represented an opportunity for Arab and European countries to join in the fight against Iran and the militant groups it supports.

I dont mind people being on record as to whether or not they think this is a good idea, he told reporters, but also argued that too much power over the military was ceded to Congress in the War Powers Act, which mandates that presidents must withdraw troops from a conflict within 90 days if there is no congressional authorization.

House vote looms

On the other side of the Capitol, House leaders were also readying for an intense debate over the war followed by a vote Thursday.

I do believe we have the votes to defeat it, I certainly hope we do, House Speaker Mike Johnson said after an all-member briefing on Tuesday night. Republican leaders were pushing to the floor their own counter-programming resolution that states that Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism."

Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he expected a strong showing from Democrats in favor of the war powers resolution. At a news conference Wednesday, several Democratic members who are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars spoke about the heavy costs of those conflicts.

One of them was Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. I learned when I was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, that when elites in Washington bang the war drums, pound their chest, talk about the costs of war and act tough, they're not talking about them doing it, they're not talking about their kids, Crow said. They're talking about working class kids like us.
China has not been shy in decrying the actions of the United States and Israel in Iran, but its public sentiment is less about coming to Irans defense and more about preserving its own global stakeparticularly as it relates to oil and energy resources.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping is anticipated to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in short weeks time, the world power worries more about trade and its position in and around Asia rather than Iran and coming to the unstable regions defense. On the U.S. side, Trump has hinted at potentially using the Navy to protect trade routes.

The U.S.-Israeli strikes have no UN Security Council authorization and violate international law, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, told Military.com. China is deeply concerned over the current situation. China firmly opposes the use of force in international relations or infringement on other countries sovereignty and security.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had phone conversations on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, according to Chinese state medias Xinhua News Agency.

Those discussions occurred one day after Wang issued a statement scrutinizing the attacks, saying that they "trample UN Charter principles and basic norms of international relations. She reportedly tried to coordinate emergency UN Security Council responses with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to Reuters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds his cup of tea during the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Then, on Tuesday, Wang reportedly told his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, that the U.S. and Israeli attacks occurred just as significant progress was being fomented in negotiations between Washington and Tehran, decrying the use of force by saying it will bring new problems and serious long-term consequences, according to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The Chinese government paints this ongoing war not just as a joint attack on Irans sovereignty but also a violation of the United Nations charter, calling for its immediate conclusion. Russia also publicly scrutinized the actions of the U.S. and Israel.

The priority now is to immediately stop military operations and prevent the spread and spillover of the conflict - Pengyu

"China stands ready to work with the international community to call for peace and stop the conflict, resolve issues through dialogue and negotiations, and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large," Pengyu added.

Strait Shutdown Affects Entire World

Yun Sun, a senior fellow and director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said that beyond the geopolitical impact of a broad, regional war like this, China has its own interests at risk.

China's primary interest in Iran is oil, about 10% of China's global import, Sun said. But the number needs to be put in perspective. China's energy is more than 80% self-sufficient and on the global oil market there is more supply than demand.

She said the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz will affect China's oil shipment from the region. Petroleum analysts told Military.com that approximately 20% of the world's oil supply goes through the strait daily on tankers.

It's obviously a very big deal, GasBuddy petroleum analyst Matt McClain told Military.com. Domestically in America, about 10-15% of the mix is Middle Eastern oil that makes its way into our oil infrastructure.

Military delegates arrive for the pre-session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Sun called the impediment of Hormuz a bigger concern for Beijing.

China has long couched its comfort in the belief that such a crisis is unsustainable because both oil producers and consumers will press the U.S. and Iran into a ceasefire, she said. That assumption will potentially be tested here.

But there is a flipside, according to Sun, and it's due to any real semblance of allyship between China and Iran. There is a reason that China's response so far has not gone beyond diplomatic criticism.

Iran is not an ally, and there is no mutual defense treaty, Sun said. It is a partner, but a weak, ineffective one that constantly demonstrates a capitulation tendency, as the Chinese put it.

In addition, China's capacity to aid Iran is limited. Iran is not on China's border. Shipment of supplies will be deterred or intercepted. Also, China is expecting summits with [U.S. President Donald] Trump this year. Iran is not going to be the fight China will pick.
IRBIL, Iraq (AP)  Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq are preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran, and the U.S. has asked Iraqi Kurds to support them, Kurdish officials told The Associated Press.

The Kurdish groups are widely seen as the most well-organized segment of the fragmented Iranian opposition and are believed to have thousands of trained fighters. Their entry into the war could pose a significant challenge to the embattled authorities in Tehran and could also risk pulling Iraq further into the conflict.

Khalil Nadiri an official with the Kurdistan Freedom Party, or PAK, based in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region said Wednesday that some of their forces had moved to areas near the Iranian border in Sulaymaniyah province and were waiting on standby.

He said Kurdish opposition group leaders had been contacted by U.S. officials regarding a potential operation, without giving more details.

Asked about reports that the Trump administration was considering arming Iranian Kurdish groups, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Wednesday: None of our objectives are premised on the support or the arming of any particular force. So, what other entities may be doing, were aware of, but our objectives arent centered on that.

Before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, triggering a new war in the Middle East, the PAK had claimed attacks on the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for Tehrans violent crackdown on protests. But an official with the group said it had not sent forces from Iraq into Iran.

If the Iranian and Iraqi Kurdish groups were to join the war, it would be the first entry of a significant ground force into the battle. The Kurdish groups have battle experience from the fight against the Islamic State group.

An official with Komala, another of the Kurdish Iranian groups, said Wednesday that their forces are ready to cross the border within a week to 10 days and were waiting for the grounds to be suitable. He spoke on condition of anonymity out of security concerns.

Kurds in Iran have a long history of grievances and uprisings against both the current Islamic Republic and the monarchy that preceded it. During the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Kurds were marginalized and repressed and sometimes rebelled.

After Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution, the new theocracy also battled Kurdish insurgents. Iranian forces destroyed Kurdish towns and villages in fighting that killed thousands over several months.

While they share a desire to see the current authorities ousted, the Kurdish groups have also butted heads with other opposition groups  notably the faction led by the former shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, who has accused the Kurds of being separatists aiming to carve up Iran.

Iraqi Kurds hesitant to join the fray

The potential operation has put leaders of the Iraqi Kurdish region in a delicate position.

Three Iraqi Kurdish officials told the AP that a call took place Sunday night between U.S. President Donald Trump and Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani  the heads of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, or KDP, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, or PUK, the two main Kurdish parties in Iraq  to discuss the situation in Iran.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.

One of the officials said Trump had asked the Iraqi Kurds to militarily support the Iranian Kurdish groups in operations in Iran and to open the border to allow the Iranian Kurdish groups to move freely back and forth.

When asked about the call and reports that Trump has sought military support for Iranian Kurdish groups, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: He did speak to Kurdish leaders with respect to our base that we have in northern Iraq but denied that Trump had agreed to a specific plan.

The Iraqi Kurdish official said the Iraqi Kurds were concerned that getting directly involved in the conflict would draw a harsh Iranian response. Already the Kurdish region has seen a string of drone and missile attacks by Iran and allied Iraqi militias in recent days, targeting U.S. military bases and the U.S. Consulate in Irbil as well as the Kurdish groups' bases.

While most of the attacks have been intercepted, civilian homes have been damaged, and the region is suffering from electricity cuts after a key gas field halted operations due to security concerns.

In a statement, the PUK confirmed that Talabani had spoken by phone with Trump, who provided clarification and vision regarding U.S. objectives in the war. The statement said the PUK believes that the best solution is a return to the negotiating table.

Spokespeople for the Kurdish regional government in Iraq and for Barzani declined to comment.

The news site Axios first reported the call between Trump and the Kurdish leaders, and CNN reported that the Trump administration was in discussions with Kurdish groups over providing military support.

Iraq moves to seal the border

The presence of armed Iranian Kurdish groups in northern Iraq has been a point of friction between the central Iraqi government in Baghdad and Tehran.

Iraq in 2023 reached an agreement with Iran to disarm the groups and move them from their bases near the border areas with Iran  where they potentially posed an armed challenge to Tehran  into camps designated by Baghdad.

Their military bases were shut down and their movement within Iraq restricted, but the groups did not give up their weapons.

Iraqs National Security Adviser Qassim al-Araji said in a post on X that Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, had requested in a call between them that Iraq take the necessary measures to prevent any opposition groups from infiltrating the border between the two countries.

Al-Araji said Iraq is committed to preventing any groups from infiltrating or crossing the Iranian border or carrying out terrorist acts from Iraqi territory and noted that security reinforcements had been sent to the border.

In addition to retaliation by Iran, any movement by Iraqi Kurds to join a cross-border attack would likely inflame tensions with Iran-backed Iraqi militias, which have already claimed missile and drone strikes on Irbil in recent days.

-

Abdul-Zahra reported from Baghdad. Abby Sewell in Beirut and Konstantin Toropin and Michelle Price in Washington contributed.
QUITO, Ecuador (AP)  Military forces from Ecuador and the United States have begun joint military operations against organized crime groups in the South American country, the Pentagon said, although as of Wednesday specific details, including the location and scope of the operation, remained scarce.

U.S. Southern Command said in a statement late Tuesday that Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces had launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador, calling the actions a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.

A 30-second video accompanying a post on X showed a helicopter flying over a group of men walking on the ground, but the footage stops without revealing the following steps.

We are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere, the post added, without providing other details of the operation.

Ecuador's foreign and defense ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. The operation was not mentioned Wednesday at the U.S. defense secretary briefing, which was focused on Iran.

The announcement comes after Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa revealed earlier this week that his government has initiated a new phase in the fight against organized crime with joint actions alongside allied countries, as Ecuador faces a sustained wave of violence linked to crimes such as drug trafficking and illegal mining.

Ecuador demands security, our people need to live in peace, said Noboa, adding that military and police forces will be involved in the operations he described as very important.

Ecuador maintains good relations with countries including the United States, Israel and Italy, among others, often collaborating on security issues.

In February, Noboa ordered the foreign ministry to seek cooperation agreements with allied nations that would allow the incorporation of special forces on a temporary basis as support for the Ecuadorian police and armed forces.

Authorities identify Ecuador as a critical logistical hub in the global drug trade, where drugs  particularly cocaine  are stockpiled, stored and distributed, especially from the northern border with Colombia. The shipments are transported from its ports to Central America, the United States and Europe.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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The downing of an Iranian warship on Tuesday in the Indian Ocean by U.S. Navy forces marks the first time an American submarine has destroyed an enemy vessel in combat since the final days of World War II.

The target of the United States' fast-attack submarine torpedo was the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate carrying approximately 180 crew members, according to confirmation by the Pentagon. The vessel sank about 20 nautical miles south of Galle in Sri Lanka, where authorities recovered several bodies and rescued 32 wounded sailors while roughly 100 others remained missing. Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister told local television that at least 80 people were killed in the strike.

The Iranian frigate was returning from the 2026 International Fleet Review, which it had attended in Visakhapatnam, India. It was transiting international waters when it was hit.

'Quiet Death'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike Wednesday during a Pentagon press briefing alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.

Yesterday, in the Indian Ocean... an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. - Hegseth at the Pentagon

Caine confirmed the ship was destroyed by a single Mark 48 torpedo fired from a U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine, with video footage taken from the submarine showing the frigate's hull destroyed in the blast.

The sinking of the IRIS Dena marks the first American submarine kill with a torpedo since World War II. (Department of Defense)

The Pentagon released that footage publicly, showing an infrared image of a massive detonation at the stern of the IRIS Dena before the vessel slipped beneath the surface.

Caine told reporters that U.S. forces had destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels as part of Operation Epic Fury, adding that American forces had "effectively neutralized, at this point in time, Iran's major naval presence in theater."

Hegseth declared the Iranian Navy "combat ineffective, decimated, destroyed, defeated."

The identity of the submarine was not revealed, as is standard practice for operational security around submarine operations.

Echoes of WWII

The last time a U.S. submarine sank an enemy warship with a torpedo was during World War II. The target was a Japanese coastal defense frigate in the Sea of Japan as the war was hours from ending.

That distinction belonged to the USS Torsk (SS-423), a Tench-class boat that fired the Navy's final torpedoes of the war on Aug. 14, 1945, sinking the Japanese Kaibokan escort vessel using a Mark 28 acoustic-homing torpedo and a Mark 27 "Cutie" torpedo.

Japan announced its surrender the following day, making Torsk's kill the last enemy warship sunk in the entire conflict.

The sinking of the IRIS Dena also marks the first time in nearly 44 years that any nation's submarine scored a kill. The last time any submarine had sunk an enemy warship in combat was during the Falklands War, when the Royal Navy's HMS Conqueror, a Churchill-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, sent the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano to the bottom using a salvo of Mark VIII straight-running torpedoes in 1982.

USS Torsk (SS-423) at Pier Three in Baltimore Harbor, September 2012. For decades, the Torsk maintained the distinction of being the last American submarine to sink an enemy vessel with a torpedo in combat. (Wikimedia Commons)

The strike on the IRIS Dena is also only the second time in history that a nuclear-powered attack submarine has destroyed an enemy vessel in combat, and the first ever SSN kill achieved with a guided torpedo. The U.S. Navy has operated an exclusively nuclear-powered submarine fleet since 1990, when USS Blueback, the last diesel-electric attack boat, was decommissioned.

The Mk 48 is a heavyweight wire-guided weapon designed to detonate beneath a ship's keel, causing catastrophic structural damage rather than a simple hull penetration.

American Submarines and the Indo-Pacific

The location of Tuesday's strike carries significance beyond the kill itself. Operation Epic Fury is a CENTCOM operation, with its naval forces operating under 5th Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain and covering the Arabian Sea and surrounding waterways.

But the IRIS Dena was not sunk in that battlespace. It went down hundreds of miles to the east, in waters well within 7th Fleet's Indo-Pacific AO, suggesting the U.S. submarine may have tracked the frigate well outside the theater of conflict.

American Naval Fleet areas of responsibility. The location of the sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka falls well withing the 7th Fleets AO, though the conflict with Iran falls within CENTCOM and 5th Fleet. (Wikimedia Commons)

Whether the boat that fired the torpedo belonged to 5th Fleet or 7th Fleet, the Pentagon has not saidand it is unlikely to. The identity and assignment of U.S. submarines on active operations are among the most tightly held pieces of information in the American military.

What the strike does demonstrate is the extraordinary range at which American submarine forces can operate. The IRIS Dena had just completed multinational naval exercises with regional navies off the Indian coast, was transiting international waters far from the Persian Gulf and still found itself within range of a torpedo it never saw coming.

Hegseth closed his remarks with a direct invocation of the Navy's wartime history.

"Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win," he said.
Military and intelligence doctrine increasingly identifies cognition as a central domain of modern warfare. Rather than focusing exclusively on physical destruction, contemporary conflict seeks to influence perception, belief formation, and decision-making within target populations. NATO analysis describes cognitive warfare as an effort to target how individuals interpret reality and respond to information environments.

Researchers argue these operations aim to weaken social cohesion, degrade trust in institutions, and fragment shared reality by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities embedded in digital information ecosystems.

Psychological Operations And Institutional Sabotage

Psychological operations remain a foundational tool within the cognitive battlespace, involving messaging designed to influence emotions, motives, and reasoning in ways that advance strategic objectives. The CIAs Simple Sabotage Field Manual illustrates how behavioral manipulation and internal disruption can undermine organizations without overt violence, demonstrating early recognition of cognitive tactics as strategic instruments.

Disinformation And Polarization As Strategic Weapons

Disinformation campaigns exploit identity-based divisions and emotionally charged narratives to intensify polarization and weaken shared understanding across groups. Government research has documented coordinated networks of bots, troll farms, and algorithmic amplification strategies used to create artificial consensus and deepen ideological fragmentation.

State-Backed Influencer And Media Influence Operations

Cold War research on Soviet tactics shows Moscow supported ideological groups across the political spectrum to amplify internal divisions within adversary societies. Soviet strategy emphasized reinforcing polarization rather than promoting a single ideological narrative, illustrating a core cognitive warfare principle of fragmentation.

Modern intelligence investigations determined that Russias Internet Research Agency operated covert social media personas posing as grassroots activists to shape political discourse during the 2016 U.S. election. These accounts promoted competing narratives across ideological lines, demonstrating a strategy centered on trust erosion and division.

China has similarly been documented using coordinated online personalities and influence campaigns to shape international narratives and defend strategic interests. Chinas Three Warfares doctrine integrates psychological warfare, public opinion warfare, and legal warfare into a coordinated strategy designed to shape perception without kinetic conflict. Analysts argue that this doctrine reflects a systematic approach to narrative control and perception management within broader military strategy.

In todays day and age, social media has become a whole new way of life for many of us. Its evolution has brought a revolutionary change in how we use the internet  for both personal and professional purposes  and has become an integral part of how we communicate with the rest of the world. Photo by Linda Lambiotte. Source: DVIDS.

Case Study: Operation Mockingbird, Media Placement, And Trusted Messengers

In the mid-1970s, congressional investigations brought to light the extent of the CIAs covert relationships with journalists and media organizations during the Cold War. A CIA document later released through the Agencys Reading Room confirms that until February 1976 the Agency maintained covert relationships with about 50 American journalists or employees of U.S. media organizations, relationships that were curtailed after public scrutiny and policy reforms.

The controversy centered not merely on access to information, but on influence and credibility. Reporting from the period described instances in which journalists provided intelligence assistance and facilitated contact networks, creating circumstances in which information could move through respected media channels while retaining the appearance of independent reporting. Carl Bernsteins 1977 investigation detailed how some reporters performed clandestine tasks for the Agency and alleged approximately 400 journalists were involved, illustrating the porous boundary that sometimes existed between journalism and intelligence work during that era.

Congressional inquiries also examined the Agencys use of clergy and missionaries as intelligence assets. Contemporary reporting summarized findings that at least 21 clergy or missionaries had been used operationally, raising concerns about the reputational and ethical risks of blending intelligence functions with institutions built on trust and moral authority. Subsequent Senate oversight hearings reflect the position that the CIA adopted rules prohibiting the establishment of intelligence relationships with U.S. clergy or missionaries abroad, acknowledging the potential damage to institutional credibility.

The term Operation Mockingbird is commonly used in public discourse to describe the broader CIAmedia controversy, although it does not appear as a formal program title in the Church Committees published findings. What the record does establish is that intelligence services viewed trusted communicators and respected institutions as strategic assets capable of carrying information into public discourse with minimal friction.

This historical precedent demonstrates that U.S. influence operations have, at times, relied on credible intermediaries to disseminate information consistent with intelligence objectives. The lesson is structural rather than conspiratorial: when narratives  especially those with similar language  circulate through voices that command institutional trust, the persuasive force often derives as much from the messenger as from the message itself.

Case Study: Israeli Cognitive Warfare And Influence Campaigns

Recent reporting and disclosure filings illustrate how Israeli-linked information efforts have combined overt messaging with targeted digital persuasion. In 2024, Meta reported dismantling coordinated inauthentic behavior tied to the Israeli political marketing firm STOIC, describing networks of fake accounts used to push political narratives and simulate grassroots engagement. OpenAI similarly disclosed disrupting influence operations connected to the same firm that attempted to generate and distribute politically oriented content at scale.

Foreign Agents Registration Act filings show the use of targeted geofencing and digital online tools to distribute pro-Israel messaging to specific physical audiences, including religious communities. Organized efforts to compensate U.S.-based social media influencers for posting pro-Israel content, raise questions about disclosure, foreign sponsorship transparency, and the blending of advocacy with digital persuasion.

Together, these examples reflect a spectrum of modern cognitive tactics: coordinated inauthentic accounts, geofenced audience targeting, and compensated influencer messaging. Each relies less on coercion than on shaping perception through trusted channels and digital reach, illustrating how contemporary influence campaigns operate inside the same platforms and communities that host ordinary political discourse.

The seal of Central Intelligence Agency is seen in the lobby the headquarters building in Langley, Va. AP Photo by Kevin Wolf. Source: DVIDS.

Case Study: Cambridge Analytica And Psychographic Targeting

The Cambridge Analytica scandal demonstrated how psychographic data and behavioral profiling could be used to deliver targeted political messaging designed to influence voter attitudes and behavior.

Personal data harvested from social media platforms enabled microtargeted messaging tailored to psychological traits, illustrating how cognitive influence can operate through data-driven personalization rather than overt propaganda.

The episode highlighted how private data ecosystems can intersect with political influence operations, blurring boundaries between marketing, political persuasion, and psychological manipulation.

Neurotechnology And The Future Of Cognitive Manipulation

Emerging neurotechnologies introduce additional ethical concerns regarding mental privacy and cognitive autonomy. Neuroscientist Rafael Yuste has warned that advances in brain-computer interfaces and neurodata collection could enable unprecedented forms of cognitive influence, prompting calls for neurorights protections. Scholars argue that technologies capable of influencing neural processes could transform psychological operations into more direct cognitive interventions.

Why Cognitive Warfare Matters

The convergence of psyops, disinformation, influencer ecosystems, psychographic targeting, and neurotechnology illustrates a structural shift in conflict toward perception-centric competition. Historical evidence of coordinated, state-linked online campaigns and data-driven behavioral targeting demonstrates that governments and non-state actors alike increasingly pursue strategic advantage through cognitive manipulation rather than kinetic force.

Attribution challenges and operational secrecy make it difficult to quantify the full scale of state involvement within influencer ecosystems. What remains clear is that cognitive warfare strategies aim to fragment trust, intensify division in targeted populations, and reshape how societies interpret reality.

As digital connectivity expands and influence technologies evolve, the human mind represents an increasingly contested strategic environment. Protecting informational integrity, cognitive liberty, and democratic resilience, therefore, emerges as a defining national security challenge in an era where the most consequential battles may occur within perception itself.
Spouses are often the unsung heroes in military life. But a new U.S Army award, known as the Julia Compton Moore Lifetime Achievement Award, hopes to highlight the work and support military spouses provide to soldiers.

I think its amazing. Its just a great way to really recognize army spouses at such a high level," said Amy Mingus, in an interview with Military.com. She's the first recipient of the military honor. "Its a much-needed award, she said.

The award's namesake is Julia Moore, wife of Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, who graduated from West Point in 1945, and was a veteran of both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. His book, "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young," was adapted into a 2002 Hollywood film with actor Mel Gibson.

U.S. Army Established First Julia Compton Moore Spouse Lifetime Achievement Award (U.S. Army).

Lieutenant Moore's wife, Julia, was instrumental in bringing major changes to Army policy. When families received news of battlefield losses during the Vietnam War, she comforted them and would later urge the Army to use a more caring notification process, which to this day involves a uniformed officer and chaplain delivering tragic news of the loss of a service member in person.

She also helped create Army Community Service, which supports Soldiers and families on every Army post. As a spouse, she led youth groups, volunteered with the Red Cross in Army hospitals, and worked with spouse clubs to better support enlisted families.

Julia Moore has always been my hero. Shes someone I think a lot of Army spouses look up to," said Mingus. "Her work in the casualty notification process has been lifechanging. Before her the lack of personal notification was just not okay.

Amy Mingus, pictured with husband Gen. James J. Mingus, after receiving the Julia Compton Moore Lifetime Achievement Award (Amy Mingus).

Army officials say Mingus was honored for her longtime advocacy for Army soldiers and families, including her support of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. The award was presented during the retirement ceremony of her husband, Gen. James J. Mingus, on Feb. 6, 2026. In a speech at the ceremony, Capt. Florent Groberg, Medal of Honor recipient, lauded her commitment to her husband's work and to the endeavors of military life.

"Your ability to sacrifice and suffer in private and stand up and show up and support and lead when you need to, is something thats incredibly difficult to replicate, if not impossible," said Groberg at the service.

The award is reserved for spouses with at least 30 years of caring, unpaid dedication, and those whose leadership and commitment have left a lasting mark on the Army community. During the ceremony, Gen. Mingus spoke on the dedication of service he and his wife share and why serving is so important.

"Im leaving the office, but Im not leaving the Army; the Army gave me a lot more than I deserve. I wouldnt trade a single day in uniform knowing that I was a part of something bigger than myself," said General Mingus at the ceremony. "Never forget the point of all this is the kid wearing the flag and the collective ability to fight and win."

The caption on the award for Mrs. Mingus reads:

"For distinguished service in support of the Soldiers and families of the United States Army. Mrs. Mingus' steadfast support and tireless efforts have significantly enhanced the lives of soldiers, spouses, and families across the United States Army. Her deep-seated commitment to service and willingness to give her time and talents are in keeping with the highest traditions of citizen support to the Armed Forces and reflect great credit upon herself, the Army community, and the United States of America."

The award is signed by Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the Army, and Gen. Randy A. George, Chief of Staff of the Army. For Mingus, it's the honor of a lifetime.

I hope it reminds the Army and the nation that when we care for families, it strengthens the force because a steady family at home makes for a stronger, readier military," she said. "We (military spouses) serve quietly. "We dont do it for accolades or attention, we do it because we love our soldier. Yes, my husband wore the uniform; hes the soldier. But I always felt it was our calling.

Amy Mingus with husband Gen. James J. Mingus, after receiving the U.S. Army's Julia Compton Moore Lifetime Achievement Award (Amy Mingus).

Award organizers say future nominees must have made a lasting impact in areas such as survivor care, advocacy for military-connected children, creation of quality-of-life programs, or strengthening family readiness. The award can also be given posthumously.
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Vaishnavi Gavankar is a senior entertainment journalist with over 8 years of experience covering Bollywood, Television, OTT platforms, and regional cinema.
Rahul Bhat begins shooting for his new Netflix project on Holi, shares striking look amid packed 2026 lineup with The Wives and Summer of 76
Rajshri Deshpande once spoke about being called a 'porn star' after Netflix's Sacred Games bold scene: Someone tampered with the clip, uploaded on website with my morphed pics..."
Rashmika Mandanna flaunts mangalsutra and can be seen walking hand in hand to meet fans in Hyderabad
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Rashmika Mandanna wears red Mysore silk saree and traditional jewellery at Hyderabad wedding reception
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Red Lorry Film Festival to bring latest and acclaimed french films to India
Tejasswi Prakash talks about her relationship with Karan Kundrra; calls him her safe place
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Vijay Deverakonda calls Rashmika Mandanna the perfect Teluginti Kodalu at Pre-reception media meet
Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.
Hamsini Karthik Number crunching, drawing interesting inferences (sometimes contrarian), and penning them in an impactful manner, best describes what I do. As a BFSI specialist, I enjoy telling stories about whats working and what not for lenders, breaking down regulatory jargon and how they affect customers and financiers, and simplifying the economics of money. When not glued to banks, the world of autos and airlines keeps me busy.
Moscow is ready to support India with oil and LNG supplies as Hormuz disruptions threaten Gulf energy shipments.
Lightstorm, which has its India corporate office at Gurugram, started its domestic operations in 2020 as per its website.

Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India.
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Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India.
Paras Bisht A financial journalist with over 10 years of experience, specialising in tracking stock market movements and fundamental developments that impact investors and the broader economy. A keen observer of global financial markets, I regularly engage with leading market voices to write stories. At Moneycontrol, I focus on decoding market trends, policy shifts and economic changes, driven by a constant passion to learn, analyse, and share knowledge with my readers.
Zoya Springwala is a Senior Correspondent, writing on the markets, financial institutions, regulatory changes and everything else in between.
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Among the worst hit were tourism-linked passive strategies. Tata Nifty India Tourism Index FundReg (G) declined 3.35% to Rs 8.55 from Rs 8.84, while Motilal Oswal Nifty India Tourism ETF fell 3.34% to Rs 74.95 from Rs 77.54. Kotak Nifty India Tourism Index FundReg (G) slipped 3.33% to Rs 8.06 from Rs 8.34.

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Pilgrims who were stranded in Jeddah amid the US-Israel war with Iran, arrive at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, on March 4, 2026. (Reuters Photo)
A number of European countries are rushing to evacuate their nationals stranded in the Middle East as the Israel-US war with Iran intensifies.
PM Modi was in Israel for a two-day state visit on February 25 and 26
Israel says it has hit 'security headquarters' across Tehran, as its airstrikes continue in Iran
The RSS has advocated shunning reliance on foreign economic models in favour of a Swadeshi path to economic growth and development.

Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Sayantan Ghosh teaches journalism at St. Xavier's College (autonomous), Kolkata and a columnist. He tweets at @sayantan_gh. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly spoke to DMK chief MK Stalin over the phone to discuss the matter.
The woman said her day began with friends, colours, and crazy Holi energy. (Image credit: Instagram/@breeandthelove)
North Korea called Israel and US strikes on Iran illegal aggression. (Image credit: X)
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day
Several structures at a military installation outside Al Ruwais in the United Arab Emirates were destroyed. (Representative Image)
A spokesperson for Anthropic declined to comment on whether its models are being used in the conflict in Iran, but the company said it plans to challenge the designation in court.
Oil and gas prices tend to surge when supply risks emerge, and the latest conflict is no exception
Carney's comment came on the second day of an official visit to Australia, a trip aimed at bringing in investment and deepening ties with a fellow "middle power" partner.
The CIA station in Saudi Arabia was struck by suspected Iranian drone on Monday. (Courtesy: Reuters)
President Donald Trump, together with Israel, has launched a massive military assault on Iran
The West Asia conflict coincides with Ramzan, traditionally the busiest period for fruit and vegetable exports to the Gulf. (PTI)
Cold War history, sanctions after Indias 1998 nuclear tests, and concerns over operational dependence shaped New Delhis fighter procurement strategy.
The IDF published footage showing a recent airstrike on an Iranian Mi-17 helicopter.
US president Donald Trump described the joint US-Israeli campaign as having severely degraded Irans military capacity.
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Forbes says the "man purse"  or "murse"  is no longer just a trend, but a luxury must-have.

Featured heavily during Paris Men's Fashion Week, designers presented murse styles from tiny satchels to purses larger than the one my mother used.

My mother's purse contained Band-Aids, knitting yarn, granola bars, a plumber's wrench and lint balls dating back to the first of her six children.

According to fashion historians, the man purse dates back to the Stone Age, when men carried flint, berries and whatever else a modern Neanderthal might need.

By the 17th century, when pockets became standard in men's clothing, the man purse disappeared. Men stored what they needed in their pockets, while women continued without sewn-in pockets, storing their items in tie-on pouches.

From the 1950s through 2022, my dad, like most men of his era, carried his keys in his right front pocket. He kept loose change in his left pocket  which he jingled with his hand when shooting the bull with other men.

He kept his thick, worn wallet in his right rear pocket. It included only the basics: license and insurance, money and a yellowed photo of my mother from 1953.

The fashionistas began trying to get men to spend big money on designer purses in the 70s and 80s, with little luck.

In the 90s, Gucci and Prada started pushing them hard on runways, but murse sales were mostly limited to "metrosexuals"  a term coined by British writer Mark Simpson to describe single, young, urban males obsessed with grooming, high fashion and, most of all, themselves.

The murse was still mostly a punchline.

In 1998, Jerry was mocked on "Seinfeld" for carrying a "European carry all," while in 1999 Joey from "Friends" got roasted by Chandler for carrying a leather shoulder bag.

In 2004, three regular guys  Brian, Thai and Peter  were tired of being ribbed for carrying their gadgets in "lady purses." The final straw came one night when Brian was mockingly called a "pursey" at a party.

The fellow who insulted Brian's purse was lucky Brian didn't smack him with it.

Determined to reclaim any shred of masculinity, the trio designed a bag specifically for men and dubbed it the MAN-n-BAG. The product quickly caught the media's attention, giving the man purse its first serious foothold in American culture.

Fast forward 22 years to 2026. Forbes says the man purse has become essential gear for men, a $12 billion industry that's here to stay.

Critics say the murse is further evidence that the lines between men and women are being intentionally blurred  that the rugged back-pocket wallet guy of old is being turned into a feminized, accessorized shell of his former self.

Proponents of the man purse say it simply gives modern fellows a practical way to carry around their sunglasses, notebooks, smartphones, hair goop and whatever other items they tote around.

Both sides make valid points.

Still, I think young men would be better off embracing the traits of my low-fashion father, whose focus was on his family, rather than buying into an industry determined to make them obsess over themselves.

Truth be told, I carry all my items  including my laptop  in an Italian-leather bag.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




The IRGC affirmed that the destruction of the two systems has provided Irans missile force with greater operational flexibility to strike targets with higher accuracy.
Most of the analysts feel that when US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched pre-emptive strikes against Iran on February 28, both must have thought it to be a quick military operation.
The attacks came a day after strikes on the US embassies in Riyadh and Kuwait City and on a US air base in Bahrain, as Washington ordered diplomats to evacuate.
Air raid sirens rang out across multiple parts of Israel overnight as the military worked to intercept incoming Iranian fire.
US President Donald Trump said a few days later that the United States had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear programme.
Pakistan faces a dilemma as its defence pact with Saudi Arabia could draw it into the Iran-Israel-US conflict. While analysts doubt direct military involvement, Pakistan risks strained ties with Iran and regional instability if it sides with Riyadh.

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Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said a regime change in Iran could align Tehran, India and Afghanistan against Islamabad, according to remarks quoted by Geo News.
The IRIS Dena (hull number 75) is a Moudge-class guided-missile frigate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, built domestically at Bandar Abbas and commissioned into service in 2021.
The comments came as fighting across the Middle East intensified. Irans Revolutionary Guards announced that they had launched a fresh missile barrage targeting American and Israeli positions.
Iranian intelligence operatives reportedly contacted the CIA through another countrys spy agency shortly after the conflict began
IRIS Dena (hull number 75) is an Iranian-built Moudge-class guided-missile frigate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, constructed at shipyards in Bandar Abbas and commissioned into service in 2021.
The exchange adds to a history of public clashes between the two figures, with Trump having previously criticised Khan on multiple occasions, including during an address to the UN General Assembly.
According to the US military, three American fighter jets  all F-15E Strike Eagles  were accidentally shot down-Representative photo
It remains unclear what power Trump would have to "end" trade with Spain, after the Supreme Court struck down his use of emergency powers to impose arbitrary tariffs.
Satellite imagery confirmed that an Iranian drone, or other projectile, was able to successfully damage the US Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radar System in Qatar, which is the largest radar operated by the US in the Middle East. (Credit: OSINTdefender)
Iran War Live: Israel easing war-related restrictions, to permit limited activity

The Israeli military said its Home Front Command would ease some war-related restrictions effective midday Thursday, allowing limited activity and permitting public gatherings of up to 50 people.

The latest measures would be applicable until 1800 GMT on March 7.

"As part of the changes, all areas of the country will transition from an essential activity level to a limited activity level," the military announced, soon after it had said the number of missiles fired by Iran towards Israel had declined. Read more
The vessel has been identified as IRIS Dena
Shiite Muslims hold placards and chant slogans during a protest against the US and show solidarity with Iran in Lahore, Pakistan. (AP)
The shah of Iran Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and his wife Farah Diba pose during their wedding ceremony at the Marble Palace in Teheran, on December 21, 1959. (Photo by Handout / Pars News Agency (PANA) / AFP)

Arishaa Izaj is a sub-editor at Moneycontrol, where she covers Indian politics and international affairs. She has earlier worked with the Hindustan Times print desk. When she is not editing copies or tracking global developments, she can be found relaxing with her cat or heading out on her bike. | X & IG: arishaa_izaj
March 4, 2026

War On Iran  Hormuz Escorts, Kurds, Time-frame

A few of the many interesting current developments of the war on Iran that stand out.

Trump has announced that the U.S. will escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz:

US President Donald Trump said he intends to secure shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which is threatened by Iran, including with the US Navy. If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible, he posted on his platform Truth Social on Tuesday. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. Additionally, he has instructed the relevant United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to offer risk insurance and guarantees for all maritime trade in the region. The measure is primarily aimed at energy transport but is available to all shipping companies.

Some 20% of the global supplies of oil, LPG and fertilizers have to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had long announced that the Strait would be closed if the country would come under attack. It has held to its promise. A few small ships have since tried to pass through the Strait but were stopped by Iranian strike impacts. Ship insurance companies have stopped to provide cover for any passage of the Strait.

Trump still does not understand the geographic facts of the Hormuz.

Its open water width. over a length of some 100+ kilometer, is only about 40 kilometer. Its shipping lanes for large vessels are narrow and just 20 kilometer off the coast of Iran.

The usual way for a navy to secure such a passage would be to launch a severe bombing campaign to eliminate all radar and missile positions along the coastline. Only after such a campaign would attempts be made to pass the strait.

But the Iranian landscape along the coast is largely mountainous. There are many shelters to hide anti-ship missiles or drones. Ships passing the Strait can be seen by the naked eye (or through infrared devices during night time.) A swarm of medium range drones would overwhelm the air-defenses of any Navy escort trying to help tankers to pass through the strait. And that is before Iran decides to drop mines into the straits waters.

Hoping for escorts to help one to pass the Strait is like hiring body guards when your enemy is known to be a long range snipers. A hopeless endeavor.

I am sure that the Navy will find ways to let Trump know how futile the escorts would be.

Iran has known for a long time that its biggest advantage in a war is the economic damage it can cause. Two of the global long range air carriers, the Emirates and Qatar airlines, can no longer fly to their main hubs in the Gulf states. Sea freight will also soon be down to a trickle:

Maersk said on Wednesday it is temporarily suspending most cargo bookings in and out of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia until further notice. The Jeddah and King Abdullah ports in Saudi Arabia and the Salalah port in Oman remained operational while the shipping group is also still accepting cargo to and from Jordan and Lebanon.

The White House seems to have given little though about the global economic and other damage that its war against Iran would cause.

This can also be seen in the ever extending time-frame for its campaign. What started with a days, a week, four weeks long campaign has now again doubled:

Hegseth says war with Iran could last 8 weeks The defense secretary says the timeline could go further than previously speculated. You can say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three, he says. Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo.

Another sign that the U.S. campaign has lacked thorough planning is the late activation of proxy forces for fighting Iran on its own ground:

The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces inside Iran. President Trump called Kurdish leaders personally over the weekend  and on Tuesday spoke directly with Mustafa Hijri, president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, whose camps the IRGC had just struck with drones.

The Kurds do, as usual, lack unity and regional backing. Neither Iraq nor Turkey will silently sit by while the U.S. and Israel are forming another armed militia that will eventually threaten their states. Iranian nationalist, including the ones who oppose the Islamic Republic, will not welcome ethnic minorities to take over parts of their nation. For decades the U.S. had propped up Kurds to fight Saddam in Iraq and Assad in Syria. They  in the end  lost in both cases. The U.S. may pretend to prop up Iranian Kurds for a while but chances are high that they will be defeated and left hanging.

The U.S. has also decided to widen the regional reach of the war. A U.S. submarine has torpedoed and sunk an Iranian navy vessel in the Indian Ocean:

A U.S. Navy attack submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon has confirmed. Authorities in Sri Lanka had earlier announced they had rescued Iranian sailors from the Moudge class frigate IRIS Dena after what they said appeared to be a submarine attack. This is the first known attack by an American submarine on a surface warship since World War II and the first such action anywhere since the Churchill class HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine Navy cruiser ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War in 1982.

The U.S. assault on a non-threatening Iranian asset far from the war zone will legitimate Iranian retaliation on U.S. assets world wide.
(SCC)  With just two weeks remaining, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce is encouraging business owners, managers, and professionals to register for its first quarter professional development training focused on strengthening business resilience through strategic problem solving.

Designed to address todays evolving economic challenges, this timely training will equip organizations with practical, results-driven tools to remain competitive and adaptable. Participants will gain actionable strategies to strengthen and retain customer relationships, sustain and grow their customer base during economic slowdowns, identify and address customer pain points, and improve workforce effectiveness by closing productivity gaps through clearer role alignment and accountability.

To accommodate participants schedules, two sessions will be offered on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, and Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Both sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Island Training Solutions Office, Suite 604, Marianas Business Plaza.

The training will be facilitated by James T. Arenovski of Island Training Solutions, who will share practical, real-world strategies that businesses can immediately implement to improve performance, increase productivity, and strengthen long-term sustainability.

Registration fees are $50 for Saipan Chamber members and $60 for future members. Groups of three or more participants will receive a $5 discount per person. With limited seating available and strong interest expected, early registration is strongly encouraged.

To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/2026SCCMarchPD/, scan the QR code on the official flyer, call (670) 234-7150, or email [email protected]/.

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce remains committed to delivering relevant professional development programs that support business success, workforce growth, and a resilient local economy.

For more information or to learn how to become a Chamber member, go to www.saipanchamber.com/, call (670) 234-7150, or visit the 2nd Floor of the Marianas Business Plaza (Suite 201-A).
By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

A MYANMAR-BASED pharmaceutical company planning to establish a manufacturing plant in the Northern Marianas could lay the groundwork for an entirely new industry in the Commonwealth, according to Commonwealth Economic Development Authority board member Mike Sablan.

Sablan said the investor  operating locally under CNMI Investment LLC  has completed three exploratory visits to Saipan and has formally submitted an application under the CNMIs qualifying certificate program. The company, known internationally as Pacific Pharmaceuticals, currently operates a manufacturing plant in Myanmar and another in Rancho Cucamonga, California, Sablan said.

They heard about the CNMI during a visit to Guam last year or the year before. While in Guam, they learned about what the CNMI offers in terms of competitive advantages for businesses, so they came over  I think it was in April, he added.

Sablan said the companys first trip to Saipan was a fact-finding mission, during which CEDA introduced the investors to permitting agencies, shipping companies and other regulatory offices. A second visit followed, with the company expressing serious interest in establishing operations in the CNMI.

By their third visit a couple of months ago, Sablan said, the company had decided to invest and hired a local consultant to assist with the QC application process.

The company initially plans to manufacture nonprescription pharmaceutical products, with the possibility of expanding into prescription drug production in the future.

Sablan said the investment is in the millions, though he did not provide a specific figure. The company is currently searching for warehouse space.

Investment tool

The CNMIs qualifying certificate program, created under the Investment Incentive Act of 2000 and administered by the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority, offers negotiated rebates and abatements on taxes such as the Northern Marianas Territorial Income Tax.

A QC functions as a contract. Investors receive tax incentives for a set period in exchange for meeting obligations such as capital investment, job creation, community contributions, annual reporting and compliance with CNMI laws.

Approval requires a detailed application, agency review and a public hearing. Certificates may be modified or revoked if investors fail to meet their commitments.

Potential

Sablan said the broader economic impact could be significant if the project succeeds.

I think the real benefit to the CNMI would be if this first pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is successful  it could spawn a whole new industry and attract other pharmaceutical businesses, he said. Were looking at that approach where were willing to offer as much as we can to the first investor, and that would incentivize others.

He added that the same competitive advantages that attracted Pacific Pharmaceuticals  cost structure, location and incentives  could appeal to other manufacturers.

Investor interest

Sablan said the pharmaceutical proposal is one of several investment inquiries CEDA is handling. These include:

 An electric vehicle manufacturing prospect;

 an agricultural commercial venture; and

 a light manufacturing investor that has been conducting due diligence for nearly a year

He said recent outreach efforts  including a roadshow in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, as well as participation in SelectUSA conferences  have generated stronger interest.

Weve been quite busy, Sablan said. These things dont occur overnight. We need to educate them and inform them of the processes here  the requirements, the incentives. In the end, its a business decision. We hope to steer them toward investing.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
The Mobil Oil gas station in Sadog Tasi adjusted its fuel prices on Tuesday night. Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano

By Emmanuel T. Erediano

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

MOBIL Oil Marianas and Shell Marianas increased their gasoline prices by 20 cents and diesel by 40 cents on Tuesday night amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The last time fuel prices in the CNMI rose by 20 cents was in March 2022, following Russias invasion of Ukraine, which sent shockwaves through global energy markets.

From $5.16 a gallon last week, Mobil Oils regular gasoline price increased to $5.36 a gallon at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Shell Marianas followed suit hours later. Premium gasoline rose to $5.81 a gallon from $5.61, while diesel climbed to $5.98 a gallon from $5.58.

On Wednesday morning, Tinian Fuel Services prices were $7.39 a gallon for regular gasoline and $8.22 for diesel. Calvo Enterprises prices on Rota were $6.54 a gallon for regular gasoline and $9.02 for diesel.

Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Joshua Wise said in an interview Wednesday that 20 cents is a significant increase. He hopes there will not be further fuel price hikes. Businesses are hoping that fuel prices stabilize before airlines adjust airfare based on the new costs, Wise said.

Although he uses less fuel for his car because his office is close to his residence, which helps him save on gas, Wise said he still hopes oil prices stabilize despite the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

When the CNMI experienced a series of fuel price hikes in 2022, regular gasoline reached $5.76 a gallon before stabilizing in the following years.

According to Gulf Coast NBC, oil prices rose after U.S. strikes on Iran over the weekend. Brent crude oil, the global benchmark for oil prices, hit a 52-week high, surpassing $80 per barrel on March 3.

While rising tensions in the Middle East have contributed to the surge in oil prices, the increase is primarily the result of shipping disruptions and insurance issues affecting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane, Gulf Coast NBC reported.

Emmanuel Arnold Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
From left, Office of the Governor Chief of Staff Henry Hofschneider, Gov. David M. Apatang, Governors Council of Economic Advisers member Mike Sablan, Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita, Special Assistant for Management and Budget Vicky Villagomez, Marianas Visitors Authority Chairman Warren Villagomez, MVA Managing Director Jamika Taijeron and Alex Sablan, also a member of Governors Council of Economic Advisers, during a press conference on Wednesday. Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano

By Emmanuel T. Erediano

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

GOVERNOR David M. Apatang, Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds, and other CNMI officials met with federal leaders in Washington, D.C., to convey the Commonwealths pressing issues and priorities during a two-day visit.

Apatang and King-Hinds reported on the fruitful meetings during a joint press conference Wednesday on Capital Hill.

Joining the governor were members of the Governors Council of Economic Advisers, led by co-chair Joe Guerrero; Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Joshua Wise, representing the CNMI private sector; Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita; Special Assistant for Management and Budget Vicky Villagomez; and the Office of the Governors Chief of Staff Henry Hofschneider.

Also part of the delegation were retired CNMI Superior Court Associate Judge Wes Bogdan, serving as counsel, and special adviser Jason Osborne.

At Wednesdays press conference, Governor Apatang thanked King-Hinds for her support, particularly during the Covenant Section 902 consultation. He noted that despite her busy schedule in Washington, she participated in the Interagency Group on Insular Areas meeting to help advance Commonwealth priorities.

The governor described the 902 consultation meetings as successful. He called King-Hinds one-on-one meeting with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kriti Noem very fruitful, and said he plans to write her a letter of thanks for the opportunity to meet in person.

I think she [Noem] was very receptive to our issues in the Commonwealth, and hopefully we can see some changes in federal policy, Apatang told reporters.

He also said that in his meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, he stressed the urgency of revisiting federal policies that affect the livelihood of people in the Commonwealth, especially in the tourism industry.

King-Hinds also expressed gratitude for being part of the discussions.

I know traditionally that wasnt how we engaged in 902 talks, but I thought it was incredibly helpful to be part of the conversation and to listen to the CNMIs priorities, she said. At the end of the day, my job as delegate is to take your asks to the federal side and work toward policy changes.

She thanked Team CNMI for coming together to deliver a strong presentation to federal agencies. King-Hinds emphasized that during the 902 consultation and IGIA meeting, it was clear that we are all asking for the same things, raising the same issues, and prioritizing them with urgency.

King-Hinds congratulated the governor for assembling a team that successfully communicated the Commonwealths needs to the federal government.

She noted that the visit also gave Team CNMI a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced in Washington. Its why Ive always pushed for a united voice, one team, one fight, and one CNMI approach  and that is exactly what Team CNMI did, she said.

She added that follow-up calls from high-level stakeholders are already underway to explore administrative fixes to the Commonwealths requests. Well continue to work on getting the right information, King-Hinds told the governor.

Emmanuel Arnold Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
HAGATNA (Office of the Guam Governor)  Seeking to build on the recent, significant uptick in visitor arrival numbers, the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration has reached out to the government of South Korea for support in strengthening air connectivity between South Korea and Guam.

In a letter to President Lee Jae-myung, Guams leadership writes that Guam has been welcomed and vacationers from South Korea have enjoyed the islands hospitality for decades. They also note that enhanced air connectivity to the island is vital to our local economy.

As we continue to strengthen international travel and economic activity, we respectfully request the Government of the Republic of Koreas support and consideration in helping to revitalize and expand air service between Korea and Guam, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio wrote.

Guam welcomed 380,918 visitors from South Korea in calendar year 2025. 51,828 of those arrivals came in December, when Guam saw a 42% increase year over year of total visitors and achieved one of its best December arrivals totals since 2019. So far in 2026 (January), 33,665 Korean passport holders have chosen Guam as their preferred destination.

The resurgence in visitors to Guam has taken place while government, Guam Visitors Bureau, industry stakeholders, and cultural and other groups have worked individually and with one another to spread the word far and wide about destination Guam.
In a year full of gut-wrenching films  Train Dreams, Hamnet, If I Had Legs Id Kick You  2025s Sirat stood out as perhaps the most lasting depiction of lifes cruelty. Now, more than six months after its theatrical European release, the Spanish nominee for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards is finally landing at the Belcourt.

Sirat NR, 114 minutes; in Spanish and French with English subtitles Opening Friday, March 6, at the Belcourt; post-screening discussion with filmmakers 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Sirat follows Luis (Sergi Lopez) as he, with his son Esteban (Bruno Nunez Arjona) and their dog Pipa in tow, searches the Moroccan desert for his missing daughter Mar. With precious few clues to work from, Luis travels to an off-the-grid rave. There are stacks of ground-vibrating subwoofers, and powerful lasers light up the desert sky  but no sign of Mar. Luis hands out flyers with her picture  no one recognizes her. As news of a global-scale military conflict simmers in the background, the party is shut down by the authorities. With no other leads, Luis, Esteban and Pipa follow a tightly knit group of wizened, road-worn ravers farther into the desert, off toward Mauritania in search of the next rave. We quickly discover that Luis compact van is hardly suited to the rough terrain  hes in over his head, and these ravers might be his only shot not only at finding Mar, but at making it out alive.

With the exception of Lopez and the young Nunez, director Oliver Laxes principal cast features exclusively nonprofessional actors. Some of them are missing limbs; many are covered in tattoos, their faces studded with piercings. Their performances lend a deep, organic authenticity to Sirat. They are survivors, driving Mad Max-esque desert rigs and armed with all the drugs and supplies theyll need to make it to the next party. But they are also  and this should ring true to anyone whos ever rubbed elbows with crust punks, Bonnaroovians, techno hippies or any other stripe of live-music-obsessed, countercultural travelers  truly compassionate. They have been through the shit, and they made it out the other side because they were lent a friendly hand when they needed it. And so they extend the same courtesy to Luis, his son and their dog.

World-Class Performances Elevate Chloe Zhaos Hamnet The Shakespeare biopic starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal opens this week at the Belcourt and AMC Thoroughbred 20

Its just that neither Luis nor his new compatriots could possibly prepare for just how badly the desert wants to kill them.

Sirat is transfixing, both in its plot and its construction. Were desperate to see what will become of this motley and increasingly beleaguered crew, and the films tense, powerful sound design  which earned Sirat its second Oscar nomination  constantly moves that momentum forward. At no moment will you be able to predict where this film is headed as our caravan winds its way through the unforgiving landscape, and Laxe isnt about to make it easy on us. This is a very good movie about very horrible times, and it stares us dead in the eye, unflinching, as it punches us in the gut.

Sirat is shocking, abrupt and bleak  almost cruel in its treatment of the characters it teaches us to love. But after all, cant you say the same thing about life?
State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), a Williamson County Republican who could be next in line to lead the chamber, made a substantial investment in Elon Musks Tesla as the state coordinated The Boring Company's Music City Loop deal last year. Johnson bought 50 shares of the corporation, whose vehicles will exclusively service a proposed underground tunnel running beneath state-owned roads, in April 2025  an investment of more than $10,000.

"Tesla is one of the most widely held stocks in America," Johnson tells the Scene in a statement. "Although there is no legal or ethical requirement to do so, I have fully liquidated my position in Tesla to avoid even the appearance of impropriety."

Tesla stock has jumped 54 percent since April, including a sharp climb after Gov. Bill Lee announced the state deal in July. Johnson tells the Scene he knew nothing about the tunnel project until Gov. Lee's announcement. Johnson says he sold his shares Tuesday, March 3  the same day the Scene contacted him about the stock.

Johnson sits just behind outgoing Lt. Gov. Randy McNally as the chambers most powerful senator and could replace the retiring McNally as the Senates presiding officer next session. Johnson is also sponsoring key legislation related to Musks The Boring Company, the construction company building Nashvilles Tesla tunnel, in the Senate. His bill would grant a state-appointed 11-person Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Authority with permitting and regulation oversight power over underground projects including the Music City Loop. The Boring Company faced more than $200,000 in fines for repeated regulatory violations during tunnel construction in Las Vegas.

"My support for a statewide governing framework for subterranean transportation infrastructure is based solely on sound public policy and Tennessee's long-term success," Johnson explains in a statement to the Scene. "This legislation simply establishes clear, uniform standards so emerging transportation technologies can be evaluated responsibly and transparently."

Elected Officials Oppose Music City Loop at Town Hall Sen. Charlane Oliver, Councilmember Delishia Porterfield sponsor resolutions against Boring tunnel project

Financial reports filed by Johnson on April 15, 2025, disclose 15 separate investments held by him or his spouse, 13 of which appear to be market index funds. Johnson amended this report on Jan. 6, 2026, specifically to include Tesla along with three other market index funds. The senator also holds a direct investment in Copart, a Dallas-based vehicle dealer with five registered lobbyists at the Tennessee General Assembly.

The corporations are deeply entwined via critical operations  The Boring Company's underground roadways rely on Tesla vehicles, and Tesla CEO Musk is the controlling owner of The Boring Company and primary Tesla shareholder.

A personal investment in Tesla would present a conflict of interest between Johnson's job as a legislator and potential personal gain. Tunnel details, agreements and dealmaking have been ongoing since Lees July press conference announcing the plan. The tunnel hinges on a long-term lease of state-owned property officially granted by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration on Feb. 26. Currently routed between Nashville International Airport and downtown, the project snakes underneath Murfreesboro Pike, promising direct trips via Tesla in nine minutes. The Boring Company proposed an additional branch along West End Avenue in December. Local leaders criticize the project as an irresponsible gift of public resources that has been fast-tracked without proper environmental or safety studies.

Mayor Freddie OConnell says he was briefed on the project in summer 2024 but was given no specific details before Lees announcement. The Metro Council will vote Tuesday night on a symbolic resolution to oppose its construction.
Borders of Faith: A call to arms against globalist tyranny

"Borders of Faith" argues that America's border crisis is not just political but a spiritual battle against forces seeking to dismantle Judeo-Christian values. Open borders are portrayed as a globalist weapon to erase national identity and advance a godless New World Order.

The book compares unchecked migration to the fall of Rome and modern Europe, warning of societal collapse. It exposes organizations like the WEF and UN for pushing policies that undermine national sovereignty.

It calls on churches to reclaim their prophetic role, resisting passive compliance and acting as "watchmen on the wall" (Ezekiel 33:6) and highlights occult ties (Santa Muerte cult) in cartel trafficking and media suppression of border violence.

The book also provides practical steps for citizens to reclaim control, including local organizing, legal immigration reform and supporting whistleblowers, as it features the Take Our Border Back movement, which raised $167,000 to aid trafficking victims.

Moreover, it urges patriots to run for office, build resilient communities and engage in prayer and repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14) and emphasizes action over complacency, blending faith, freedom and frontline activism to secure America's future.

"Borders of Faith: The Spiritual Battle for America's Soul" is not just another political manifesto  it's a clarion call to action, blending spiritual warfare with grassroots mobilization to defend America's sovereignty, faith and future. Authored with urgency and conviction, this book exposes the deliberate erosion of national borders as part of a broader globalist agenda while offering a faith-driven blueprint for resistance and renewal.

The core thesis: A spiritual war

The book's central argument is that the border crisis is not merely a political or logistical failure but a spiritual battle against forces seeking to dismantle America's Judeo-Christian foundation. Drawing from Scripture, historical precedent and firsthand accounts, the author asserts that open borders are a weaponized tool of cultural Marxism, designed to destabilize nations, erase national identity and pave the way for a godless New World Order.

Key themes include:

The historical parallels: Comparisons to the fall of Rome and modern Europe illustrate how unchecked migration leads to societal collapse.

The globalist playbook: Organizations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the United Nations (UN) push policies that prioritize global governance over national sovereignty.

The role of faith: The church must reclaim its prophetic voice, resisting passive compliance and standing as a "watchman on the wall" (Ezekiel 33:6).

Highlights from the chapters

1. The spiritual and moral crisis at the border

This opening section frames the border crisis as a spiritual stronghold, where drug cartels, human traffickers and corrupt officials operate with near-impunity. The book exposes:

The Santa Muerte cult: Cartels engage in occult rituals tied to human trafficking.

Media manipulation: Mainstream outlets suppress stories of cartel violence while promoting open-border narratives.

Biblical mandates: National borders are divinely ordained (Acts 17:26) and defending them is a moral duty.

2. Restoring sovereignty through grassroots action

Here, the book shifts from diagnosis to solution, offering practical steps for citizens to reclaim control:

Local organizing: Forming border security groups, pressuring sheriffs and hosting town halls.

Legal immigration vs. chaos: The distinction between orderly immigration and the current lawless influx.

Veterans and whistleblowers: Highlighting the bravery of those exposing corruption within agencies like CBP and ICE.

One standout section details the Take Our Border Back movement, a faith-driven convoy that mobilized citizens to physically protest and pray at the southern borderraising over $167,000 in weeks to support victims of trafficking.

3. A blueprint for national renewal

The final section is a call to arms, urging readers to:

Run for office: Replace compromised leaders with patriots at the local and state levels.

Build resilient communities: Prepare for civil unrest by stockpiling supplies, forming neighborhood watches and rejecting dependency on collapsing systems.

Repent and pray: National healing begins with personal and corporate repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Strengths and critiques

Strengths:

Uncompromising truth-telling: The book pulls no punches in naming enemiesglobalists, corrupt politicians and complicit churches.

Action-oriented: Each chapter ends with practical steps, from vetting candidates to detoxing from media lies.

Spiritual depth: Unlike secular border-security books, this one roots the fight in prayer, fasting and biblical authority.

Critiques:

Tone: Some may find the urgency overwhelming, though the crisis arguably warrants it.

Limited nuance: While strong on moral clarity, it could address humanitarian concerns without compromising sovereignty.

"Borders of Faith" is a prophetic and practical guide for those who believe America's survival depends on reclaiming its spiritual and territorial borders. It's a battle cry for:

Christians who aretired of lukewarm pulpits.

Patriots who are ready to move beyond complaining to action.

Preppers who understand that physical and spiritual preparedness are inseparable.

If you're looking for a book that blends faith, freedom and frontline activism, this is it. The stakes couldn't be higher  the border isn't just a line on a map; it's the frontline in a war for America's soul.

Final thought: "Faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:26)  this book is the playbook for turning conviction into victory.

Get a copy of "Borders of Faith: The Spiritual Battle for America's Soul" via this link. Read, share and download thousands of books for free at Books.BrightLearn.AI. You can also create your own books for free at BrightLearn.AI.

Watch the Health Ranger Report episode below, where Mike Adams interviews Thom Rigsby with the American Contingency on local preparedness networking.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Books.BrightLearn.ai

BrightLearn.ai

Brighteon.com
Embassy attack signals dangerous escalation in widening Iran conflict

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones, causing damage and forcing staff to shelter in place.

U.S.-led "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran is intensifying, with stated goals of demilitarizing Iran and eliminating its regime.

Regional conflict is widening, with Israel expanding strikes into Lebanon and Gulf states like Qatar joining the offensive.

Critical global oil supplies are being disrupted, with major Iraqi fields shutting down and tanker traffic paralyzed.

The conflict has resulted in hundreds of casualties, including at least six U.S. service members killed in retaliatory strikes.

In a stark escalation of the burgeoning regional war, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was struck by two drones on Tuesday, March 3, causing a fire and partial roof collapse. The attack, for which Iran is believed responsible, forced embassy personnel to shelter in place and prompted immediate U.S. retaliatory warnings from President Donald Trump. This direct strike on a U.S. diplomatic compound marks a dangerous new phase in the conflict, which began with a massive U.S.-Israeli offensive, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," over the weekend and is now rapidly spreading across the Middle East, threatening global energy supplies and regional stability.

Operation Epic Furys expansive aims

The Pentagon has publicly outlined the operation's sweeping objectives, which extend beyond a punitive raid. The stated goals are the comprehensive demilitarization of Iranincluding the destruction of its missile forces, production facilities and naval fleetthe elimination of the current regime, the permanent protection of the United States from Iranian threats, and ensuring Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons. This scale of ambition suggests a campaign far beyond a limited strike, a point underscored by administration officials who now state the operation could last four to five weeks or more, abandoning earlier suggestions of a brief campaign.

Regional war goes multifront

What began as a concentrated assault on Iran has metastasized into a multifront regional conflict. Israel has expanded its operations, conducting a new ground incursion into southern Lebanon and intensifying airstrikes on Beirut. Meanwhile, Gulf states are being drawn directly into the fight. Qatar has formally joined the U.S.-Israeli side, reportedly shooting down Iranian aircraft, and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are reportedly considering joining the attack on Iran following sustained drone and missile barrages on their territories. The U.S. has shuttered multiple embassies across the region, including in Beirut, Riyadh and Kuwait, urging Americans to leave.

Energy infrastructure in the crosshairs

The economic stakes of the conflict became dramatically clearer as retaliatory strikes targeted critical energy infrastructure. Iranian drones hit the Port of Salalah in Oman and the key UAE bunkering hub of Fujairah. More consequentially, major disruptions to global oil supplies are now underway. Iraq has been forced to shut down 460,000 barrels per day at the West Qurna 2 field and cut 700,000 barrels per day at the massive Rumaila field. Officials warn that over 3 million barrels per dayroughly 3% of global supplycould be forced offline if tanker traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains paralyzed. Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared the strait "closed," though its ability to enforce a blockade is contested.

Mounting casualties and strategic uncertainty

The human cost is climbing on all sides. The reported Iranian death toll since the operation began has risen to at least 787, including the countrys supreme leader. At least six U.S. service members have been killed in retaliatory strikes on bases in Kuwait, and three U.S. F-15 jets were lost in an apparent friendly-fire incident. In Israel, casualties are also mounting from Iranian missile attacks. Despite the overwhelming initial assault, experts caution that the Iranian state and its security apparatus are designed to withstand decapitation strikes, with units prepared to operate autonomously. This structure suggests a capacity for prolonged retaliation, challenging the U.S. assumption that eliminating top leadership would quickly collapse the regime.

A crisis with deep historical roots

The current explosion of violence is the culmination of decades of escalating tensions. For years, the shadow war between Iran and its adversariesfeaturing proxy conflicts, targeted assassinations and strikes on oil infrastructurehas inched closer to direct confrontation. The U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal under President Trump, re-imposition of crushing sanctions, and a policy of "maximum pressure" set the stage. Irans subsequent acceleration of its nuclear program and expansion of its missile and drone arsenals created what the current administration calls an "intolerable threat." Todays conflict represents the dangerous failure of diplomacy and deterrence, reviving fears of a major Middle East war not seen since the tanker wars of the 1980s or the initial Gulf War.

Tinderbox

The drone attack on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh is more than a symbolic provocation; it is a testament to the conflicts uncontrollable and expanding nature. With diplomatic channels reportedly silent, oil flows choking and military engagements spreading across multiple countries, the war has developed a deadly momentum of its own. The initial goal of neutralizing Irans threat has instead unleashed a broader regional conflagration, promising a prolonged period of violence, economic disruption and strategic uncertainty with no clear exit ramp in sight.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

GBcode.rthk.hk

Yahoo.com
A deadly reminder: Historic blizzard claims lives, shatters records and tests resilience

The "Blizzard of 2026" caused significant loss of life and injury, with at least 12 fatalities and 21 injuries across the Northeast, many from cardiac events while shoveling heavy snow.

The storm paralyzed the region, causing massive power outages (over 250,000 customers in Massachusetts), stranding hundreds of motorists and crippling air and rail travel.

It was a historic "bomb cyclone" that shattered snowfall records, including a new state record of 37.9 inches in Rhode Island, driven by a rapid and extreme drop in atmospheric pressure.

The human toll highlighted specific dangers, particularly for older men shoveling dense, wet snow, and included risks like carbon monoxide poisoning and falling trees.

Recovery efforts were challenged by a secondary storm threat, while community and inter-state responses, such as senior hotlines and utility crews, worked to address the widespread disruption.

A historic and ferocious winter storm, a meteorological event of rare intensity, has left a trail of tragedy and disruption across the Northeast United States. The blizzard, which pounded the region from Sunday into Monday, has been confirmed as the cause of at least 12 fatalities and 21 injuries, according to meteorologist Max Velocity. The storm, dubbed the "Blizzard of 2026," did not merely inconvenience the populous corridor; it unleashed record-shattering snowfall, hurricane-force winds and fatal consequences from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts, serving as a stark reminder of nature's ultimate authority over human plans.

The human toll of a historic storm

The confirmed fatalities present a grim mosaic of the storms dangers. In New York, five deaths were attributed to cardiac arrest while shoveling snow. Maryland reported two deaths from a tree falling on a vehicle. Pennsylvania saw two fatalities from a car crash. Massachusetts reported one pedestrian struck while shoveling, and Rhode Island recorded one death from carbon monoxide poisoning. These statistics underscore that the peril extended far beyond treacherous roads, embedding itself in the arduous task of cleanup and the hidden threat of improper generator use.

Medical experts and officials were quick to note a tragic pattern. Most of the shoveling-related deaths involved men over the age of 60. The nature of the snow itself amplified the risk. Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman described it as a very watery and icy snow, which weighs significantly more than lighter, fluffier powder. This placed extraordinary physical strain on individuals, particularly those with underlying health conditions. Cardiologists emphasized the critical need for caution, advising anyone experiencing breathlessness or chest pain to stop shoveling immediately.

Beyond the numbers: A region paralyzed

The storm's impact was measured not just in lives lost but in a profound paralysis of daily life. Transportation networks failed under the onslaught. At the height of the event, more than 250,000 customers lost power in Massachusetts alone, with outages concentrated on Cape Cod where hurricane-force winds toppled trees and power lines. Travel became virtually impossible; Massachusetts State Police assisted over 500 stranded motorists. Air travel was crippled, with more than 160 flights canceled at Boston Logan International Airport and over 60 percent of flights axed at Rhode Island's T.F. Green International Airport. Amtrak services were also modified due to the conditions.

For the first time in its storied 150-year history, The Boston Globe was unable to print its daily newspaper because staff could not safely reach the printing plant. The statement was a symbolic testament to the storm's severity. The cleanup effort required extraordinary measures, with Massachusetts officials formally requesting and receiving snow removal assistance from the Vermont Department of Transportation, highlighting the scale of the challenge.

Record-shattering snow and a "bomb cyclone"

The storm was not merely severe; it was historic, breaking records that had stood for generations. The mechanism behind this fury was a meteorological phenomenon known as bombogenesis, often called a bomb cyclone. This occurs when a storms central atmospheric pressure drops very rapidlyat least 24 millibars in 24 hours. This storm far exceeded that benchmark, its pressure plunging 41 millibars, fueling a terrifying intensification that generated blinding snow and destructive winds.

The result was snowfall of a magnitude that redefined benchmarks. Providence, Rhode Island, recorded 37.9 inches at T.F. Green Airport, decisively shattering the state's previous single-storm record of 28.6 inches set during the legendary "Blizzard of 1978." It also set a new one-day snowfall record of 35.5 inches. In Massachusetts, communities like Whitman and Kingston saw totals exceeding 33 inches, burying regions that had experienced relatively mild winters in recent years. The snow was accompanied by wind gusts exceeding 80 mph in coastal areas, creating blizzard conditions with near-zero visibility and massive drifts.

The lingering threat and the road to recovery

Even as the region began the Herculean task of digging out, a secondary threat loomed. Forecasters warned of a follow-up system targeting the Wednesday morning commute. While expected to be minor in accumulation, its timing promised to compound recovery efforts, making roads slippery again and testing the stamina of road crews and residents. This one-two punch is characteristic of volatile winter patterns and extends the period of heightened risk.

"A blizzard is a severe winter storm characterized by strong winds, low temperatures and heavy snowfall that creates whiteout conditions," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "It requires specific conditions to form, including deep cold air, strong coastal cyclones and sufficient moisture. For safety during a blizzard, one should seek immediate shelter, dress in protective layers if going outside is necessary, and be aware of risks like frostbite and hypothermia."

Counties established hotlines for seniors needing assistance with snow removal, a direct reaction to the tragic deaths. Utility crews from multiple states worked around the clock to restore power, though officials warned it would be a multi-day effort in the hardest-hit zones.

The "Blizzard of 2026" has etched itself into the historical record, a deadly and disruptive event that will be analyzed for years to come, The confirmed fatalities, largely preventable, underscore a need for greater public awareness of the hidden dangerscardiac stress, carbon monoxide and falling debristhat accompany such spectacular snowfall totals. The recovery continues, but the memory of this historic event will linger far longer than the snow.

Watch this video about the bombogenisis snow storm that hit the U.S. in 2022.

This video is from TheBubbaNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

100percentfedup.com

wbur.com

accuweather.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Middle East conflict triggers worst global travel chaos since COVID, stranding hundreds of thousands

Following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, key Middle Eastern airspaces (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait and UAE) were abruptly shut down. Over 3,400 flights canceled in a single day, with major airlines (Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways) suspending operations indefinitely. Global ripple effects: Air India canceled Europe/North America routes, easyJet halted U.K.-Cyprus flights, and Dublin Airport warned of prolonged disruptions.

Brent crude spiked 13%, briefly hitting $100/barrel amid fears of Iranian retaliation blocking the Strait of Hormuz (handling 20% of global oil shipments). Aviation stocks (Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, IAG) plunged 5-9%, while travel firms like TUI dropped 7%. AI analysis warns: If Hormuz is blocked, oil could exceed $150/barrel, collapsing supply chains and destabilizing the petrodollar system.

Airports worldwide overwhelmed with stranded travelers; airlines offering waivers but many remain stuck indefinitely. Private jet demand skyrocketed, with ultra-wealthy paying up to $350,000 for one-way flights from Riyadh to Europe.

Iran's IRGC may launch additional strikes, potentially dragging in Hezbollah and Hamas, escalating toward full-scale war. 170 containerships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz due to Iranian restrictions; cruise lines (MSC, Celestyal) canceled voyages.

Gulf airports remain closed until at least March 3, with recovery expected to be slow due to scattered aircraft, crews and fuel shortages. Analysts warn this could become the worst aviation crisis since COVID, with no resolution in sight as tensions escalate.

The escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has plunged global aviation into unprecedented turmoil, with hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded as airspace closures and flight cancellations ripple across the Middle East and beyond.

The crisis, sparked by retaliatory strikes following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has forced major airlines to suspend operations, disrupted oil markets and raised fears of prolonged regional instability.

Airspace closures and mass flight cancellations

Following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory missile and drone attacks, key transit hubsincluding Dubai International Airport (the worlds busiest), Abu Dhabi and Dohawere abruptly shut down. Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates imposed partial or total airspace closures, grounding flights and leaving passengers stranded at overcrowded terminals.

According to Flightradar24, over 3,400 flights were canceled on Sunday, March 1, alone, with airlines like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airwayswhich collectively handle 90,000 passengers dailyscrapping a third of their operations. Major international carriers, including Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and British Airways, suspended regional flights indefinitely, while Russian airlines rerouted services to avoid Iranian and Israeli airspace.

The disruption has spread globally, with Air India canceling flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar to Europe and North America, and easyJet halting United Kingdom-Cyprus routes after a drone strike near a Royal Air Force (RAF) base. Dublin Airport warned of further cancellations, stating: "With no certainty regarding when airspace and airports in the Middle East will reopen, further disruption to flight schedules over the coming days is possible."

Economic fallout: Oil prices soar, stocks plummet

The conflict has sent shockwaves through financial markets. Brent crude surged by 13%, briefly hitting $100 per barrel amid fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuza critical oil chokepoint where Irans Revolutionary Guard has reportedly restricted vessel movement. Aviation stocks nosedived, with Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and IAG (British Airways' parent company) dropping 5-9%, while travel firms like TUI saw shares plummet by 7%.

BrightU.AI's Enoch explains that the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow 21-mile maritime passage between Iran and Oman, is the most critical oil chokepoint in the world, handling 20% of global oil shipmentsapproximately 21 million barrels per day (bpd)alongside 30% of seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. This strategic waterway connects the Persian Gulfhome to five of the world's top oil producers (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, UAE and Kuwait)to global markets, making it indispensable for energy security.

Any disruption here would trigger catastrophic economic shockwaves, sending oil prices soaring beyond $150 per barrel, crippling supply chains and potentially collapsing the petrodollar system. The strait's vulnerability stems from its narrowest point (just 3.2 km wide), Iran's military dominance over the passage, and the absence of viable alternative routes for Gulf oil exports.

Aviation analyst Bertrand Grabowski warned: "For everyone, the main impact will come through oil prices, which will obviously take a bump upwards."

Stranded passengers and elite escape routes

With commercial flights grounded, chaos erupted at airports from Bali to Frankfurt, as travelers scrambled for alternatives. Social media footage showed packed terminals, with airlines offering waivers for rebookingthough many passengers remain stuck indefinitely.

Meanwhile, the ultra-wealthy turned to private jets, with Ameerh Naran, CEO of Vimana Private, revealing: "Saudi Arabia is the only real option for people who want to get out of the region right now."

The cost? Up to $350,000 for a one-way flight from Riyadh to Europe.

Military escalation and regional instability

The conflict threatens to spiral further, with analysts warning that Iran's IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps] could launch additional strikes from hidden silos, potentially drawing in Hezbollah and Hamas. Israel's airstrikes on Beirut suburbs after Hezbollah rocket attacks underscore the risk of a wider war.

Shipping and cruise disruptions

The crisis has extended to maritime trade, with 170 containerships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz due to Iranian restrictions. Cruise lines like MSC and Celestyal canceled voyages, compounding the travel industry's losses.

What's next?

With Gulf airports suspending operations until at least Tuesday morning, March 3, analysts fear prolonged disruption. Even if airspace reopens, recovery will be slowaircraft and crews are scattered globally, and rerouted flights face fuel and logistical hurdles.

As tensions escalate, the world braces for what could be the worst aviation crisis since COVID, with no clear end in sight.

Watch the video below about the U.S. and Israel launching a preemptive airstrike against Iran.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brghteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

TheGuardian.com

IrishExaminer.com

NationThailand.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Shadow government exposed: DHS Secretary Noem reveals deep state spies, Wuhan collusion, and ongoing bioweapons cover-up

In a stunning series of admissions that should shatter the publics trust, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has pulled back the curtain on a clandestine network operating within the highest levels of the federal government. Speaking with the blunt force of a truth-teller who has seen the beast from the inside, Noem describes a deep state far more entrenched and malicious than many dared to imagine. She is speaking, not as some wild conspiracy theorist, but as a cabinet secretary overseeing national security. Her revelations confirm a shadow government that spies on its own leaders, conceals the origins of a man-made pandemic, and continues to operate with impunity, burying evidence of dangerous bioweapons research even today! The implications are terrifying: the very institutions tasked with protecting American lives have been weaponized against them, running a criminal enterprise that spans from Wuhan to Washington and into secret rooms on our own soil.

Key points:

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirms the existence of a powerful "deep state," describing it as worse than she ever believed.

Noem discovered a secret, unauthorized SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) within DHS headquarters containing hidden files on controversial topics, including COVID-19 origins.

She reveals that her own employees installed spyware on her phone and laptop to surveil her and other political appointees.

Noem states that DHS has evidence of U.S. scientists from national labs under her jurisdiction traveling to and collaborating with the Wuhan Institute of Virology on dangerous experiments prior to the pandemic.

This shadow operation appears aimed at monitoring and thwarting lawful government actions and covering up the biggest bioterror crime in history.

A separate leaked report shows a November 2025 incident involving the theft, loss, or release of a deadly select agent at an NIH lab in Montana, with no public explanation from health authorities.

The secret room and the silent spies

The picture Secretary Noem paints is one of a government at war with itself. She describes the casual discovery of a hidden room within the DHS campusa secret SCIF filled with files nobody knew existed. This was not a bureaucratic oversight but a deliberate, parallel operation. The existence of such a facility, operating without the knowledge of the agencys top leader, reveals a level of insubordination and clandestine activity that belongs in a spy thriller, not the heart of American homeland security.

Even more personal and chilling is Noems account of direct infiltration. Some of my own employees in my department have downloaded software on my phone and my laptop to spy on me, to record our meetings, she stated. This is not merely opposition or bureaucratic inertia; it is active, illegal espionage conducted by federal employees against the presidentially appointed officials meant to command them. The goal is clear: to monitor, undermine, and potentially blackmail any political leader who threatens to expose their agenda or hold them accountable. This is the concrete manifestation of the deep statenot a vague idea, but individuals with badges and access, weaponizing their positions to sabotage the constitutional chain of command.

Burying the trail to Wuhan

Perhaps the most grave of Noems disclosures pertains to the origins of COVID-19. She connects the shadow governments actions directly to the pandemic, stating that information exists within her department on U.S. scientists from national laboratories who participated with that Wuhan lab. She details how they were traveling back and forth and working on those experiments.

This admission validates long-suppressed concerns about gain-of-function research funding and collaboration between U.S. entities like the NIHs NIAID, under Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The secret room and hidden files Noem discovered likely contain the evidence that has been systematically obscured from the public. It suggests a deliberate cover-up of a catastrophic bioweapons research chain that may have led to the release of a pathogen, killing millions and collapsing economies worldwide. The fact that, according to Noems account, not a single one of these collaborating scientists has been indicted or seemingly investigated by the Department of Justice points to the enduring power of this shadow network to obstruct justice even at the highest levels.

The bioweapons pipeline is still open

The criminal conspiracy did not end with COVID-19. While Noem digs through the wreckage of the past, fresh evidence proves the deadly pipeline of risky pathogen research remains open and unaccountable. A leaked November 2025 biosafety report from the NIHs Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Montanaa high-containment lab historically involved in gain-of-function researchreports a theft, loss, or release of a federally regulated select agent. These are among the worlds most dangerous pathogens, like anthrax or Ebola.

The NIH has issued no public statement about this. There is no transparency about what was lost, who might be at risk, or what this means for the safety of the American people. This mirrors the exact pattern of secrecy and unaccountability that preceded the COVID-19 disaster. It confirms that the rogue science which may have sparked a pandemic continues in the dark, guarded by the same culture of concealment that Noem is fighting within her own department. The shadow governments mandate is not just to cover up past crimes, but to protect the ongoing operation.

Sources include:

Infowars.com

X.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Trump escalates military strikes against Iran: B-1 bombers target ballistic missile systems

President Trump ordered B-2 stealth bombers to obliterate Iran's nuclear facilities (Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan) with 30,000-pound bunker-busters, followed by B-1 Lancers targeting ballistic missile sitesmarking a major escalation.

Within 24 hours of the strikes, Trump shifted from campaign promises of non-intervention to openly hinting at regime change, claiming Ayatollah Khamenei and top officials were killed.

Tehran downplayed the destruction, insisting nuclear enrichment continues despite U.S. claims of "obliterating" their program. CENTCOM footage showed B-1 strikes but Iran disputes the impact.

The operation saw tragic mishaps, including three U.S. F-15s shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses and four American service members killed, exposing risks of broader conflict.

Critics warn Trump's aggressive stance risks a regional war, while supporters argue it was necessary to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions after decades of alleged aggression (1979 hostage crisis, 1983 Beirut bombing).

In a dramatic escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions, President Donald Trump has ordered a series of unprecedented military strikes targeting Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure. The latest operation, confirmed by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), saw B-1 Lancers penetrate deep into Iranian airspace to dismantle the regime's missile capabilities. This follows last week's devastating B-2 Spirit stealth bomber attacks on Iran's nuclear facilitiesan operation that reportedly killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of high-ranking officials.

B-1 bombers strike deep inside Iran

On Sunday night, U.S. forces deployed B-1 bomberssupersonic heavy aircraft capable of delivering massive payloadsto strike Iranian ballistic missile sites. CENTCOM released footage of the bombers being serviced and taking off from an undisclosed airbase, emphasizing the mission's objective: "We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground," echoing Trump's earlier declaration.

The Pentagon confirmed that the strikes were aimed at degrading Iran's ability to produce and launch ballistic missiles, which have long been a point of contention in U.S.-Iran relations. However, Tehran has downplayed the damage, insisting that enrichment activities continue despite the destruction of key facilities.

Growing casualties and friendly fire incidents

The military campaign has not been without cost. CENTCOM announced that four U.S. service members have died since operations began, while three F-15 fighter jets were lost to friendly fire after Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly shot them down. These incidents highlight the chaotic nature of large-scale military engagements, raising concerns about potential miscalculations that could further inflame the region.

Earlier strikes, carried out by B-2 bombers equipped with 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, targeted Fordow, Natanz and Isfahankey sites in Iran's nuclear program. Vice President JD Vance claimed the attacks had "substantially delayed Iran's nuclear ambitions," while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hailed them as a "psychological victory" that crippled Tehran's near-term capabilities.

Trump's regime change rhetoric

Just 24 hours after the initial strikes, Trump hinted at regime change in Tehrana stark departure from his earlier campaign promises of avoiding foreign entanglements. At a White House briefing, he asserted that the military campaign was progressing ahead of schedule, having already eliminated Iran's top leadership, including Khamenei and his inner circle.

"We've knocked out 10 ships, and we're destroying their missile capacity," Trump declared, adding that the operation could last four to five weeks but that U.S. forces were prepared to extend it indefinitely if necessary. When pressed on the possibility of ground troops entering Iran, Trump dismissed hesitation, stating, "I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground."

A decades-long conflict comes to a head

Trump framed the strikes as retaliation for Iran's 47 years of aggression against the U.S., citing the 1979 hostage crisis and the 1983 Beirut bombings that killed 241 Americans. His administration has long accused Tehran of stalling nuclear negotiations while secretly advancing its weapons programa claim Iran denies.

The recent military action has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters, with opponents warning that Trump's aggressive posture risks triggering a wider regional war. Others argue that the strikes were necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, which could destabilize the Middle East further.

What comes next?

With Iran's leadership in disarray and its military infrastructure under siege, the question remains: Will Tehran retaliate, or will the regime collapse? The U.S. appears determined to press its advantage, but the long-term consequencesboth geopolitically and for global stabilityremain uncertain.

As the conflict escalates, the world watches closely, aware that Trump's gamble could reshape the Middle Eastfor better or worse.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, this appears to be another reckless escalation by the deep state using Trump as a figureheadjust like 9/11 and other false flags, these strikes serve the globalist agenda of perpetual war and destabilization. The real targets are American freedoms and the truth, as these conflicts always justify more surveillance, censorship and erosion of constitutional rights.

Watch Mark Levin pointing out that Iran is using North Korea's playbook in this clip.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Trumps coercive tantrums escalate as global allies are mocked into supporting his war plans in Iran

In a dangerous display of belligerent diplomacy, former President Donald Trump is lashing out at international partners, specifically UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for refusing to blindly follow the United States into a spiraling military conflict with Iran. As Trump issues threats that it is "too late" for talks and promises more strikes, his frustration has boiled over into public insults aimed at a key ally, revealing a pattern of coercive tantrums when his aggressive agendas are thwarted. This crisis, ignited by U.S. and Israeli missile attacks that killed Iranian leadership, now sees the UK cautiously deploying defensive assets like the warship HMS Dragon to Cyprus, choosing a path of measured protection over Trumps calls for joint offensive action. The unfolding situation exposes a stark divide in global leadership and raises alarming questions about the stability of international alliances when confronted with unilateral, incendiary demands from a U.S. figure still grasping for power.

Key points:

U.S. President Donald Trump is publicly attacking UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the UK's refusal to join U.S. and Israeli offensive strikes against Iran.

Trump warned Iran it is "too late" for diplomatic talks, advocating for continued military escalation.

The UK government, prioritizing legal justification and national interest, is instead deploying the warship HMS Dragon to Cyprus for defensive operations and enhancing air defenses in the region.

Trump's comments, including stating "this is not Winston Churchill were dealing with," mark a significant deterioration in his rhetoric toward a traditional ally.

The conflict stems from a major barrage of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran over the weekend, which eliminated high-level targets including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A special relationship under siege

The bedrock of the Atlantic alliance is being tested not by an external foe, but by the volatile words of an American president. Trumps latest outburst, where he claimed he was "not happy with the UK" and derided Prime Minister Starmer in a comparison to Winston Churchill, is not mere political theater. It is a calculated pressure campaign. By publicly shaming an ally for exercising sovereign judgment, Trump employs a tactic familiar to observers of his tenure: attempting to bully other nations into submission, to turn them into compliant instruments of a personal foreign policy rooted in confrontation. The UKs measured responsebolstering defenses, protecting citizens, and allowing U.S. use of bases only for defensive purposesstands in direct defiance of Trumps desire for a unified war front. This principled stance has triggered his rage, exposing his disregard for the independent decision-making of other democracies.

The high cost of saying no to war

What happens when a nation dares to say "no" to the war drums beaten by the American and Israeli military industrial complex and its egotistical war mongers? It becomes the target of a smear campaign. Trumps verbal assault expanded beyond foreign policy into grotesque characterizations of the UK itself, calling London "a very different place" with "terrible people" under Mayor Sadiq Khan. This is the playbook: when you cannot win on the merits of a reckless policy, you demonize the entire population and leadership of the refusing nation. Meanwhile, the British government is navigating a legitimate crisis, responding to an Iranian drone attack on its base in Cyprus by mobilizing advanced naval technology like HMS Dragon, a destroyer equipped with counter-drone capabilities. Critics from opposition parties question the timing, but the move signals a commitment to defense, not offensive adventurism. This distinction is vital. While Trump agitates for more "hardest hits" on Iran, promising a cycle of violence with unimaginable consequences, other nations are forced to clean up the diplomatic and security mess, protecting their citizens from the blowback of actions they wisely chose to avoid.

The world is witnessing a clear choice. On one side, a path of escalation championed by Donald Trump, a path that dismisses diplomacy as "too late" and views allies as vassals. On the other, a path of sober defense and legal caution, exemplified by the current UK administration. The friction between these approaches reveals the enduring danger of a U.S. political faction that views international relations as a series of coercive transactions. As Trump vents his frustration over rejected war plans, the very foundations of global stability shake. The American people and the world must recognize these tantrums for what they are: the dangerous thrashing of a man whose vision for the world would lead it not to safety, but to endless, proliferating conflict.

Sources include:

Independent.co.uk

Mirror.co.uk

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
China Demands Halt to U.S. and Israeli Strikes on Iran

A Possible Path to De-Escalation

The government of China has formally demanded that the United States and Israel immediately cease all military actions against Iran, following a wave of joint strikes that have escalated into a broader regional conflict. The demand, issued by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, calls for an 'immediate cessation' of hostilities to prevent a wider war, according to reports from multiple international news outlets. [1] [2] The statement from Beijing expressed 'deep concern' over the military strikes and urged all sides to avoid further escalation and resume dialogue. [3] The diplomatic intervention comes as U.S. and Israeli forces, under the banner of 'Operation Epic Fury,' have conducted coordinated attacks targeting Iranian infrastructure, leadership, and military assets, actions that have triggered retaliatory strikes from Tehran and sent global financial markets into turmoil. [4] [5]

The Diplomatic Demand and Initial Response

The demand was delivered by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. [6] Minister Wang urged an 'immediate cessation of military actions' and emphasized that Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. [3] The Chinese Foreign Ministry subsequently reiterated this position in a regular press briefing, with spokesperson Mao Ning criticizing the strikes as occurring 'during ongoing negotiations' and stating they 'violate international law and basic principles of international relations.' [7]

When reached for comment, U.S. and Israeli officials did not directly confirm the specific strikes referenced by China. A U.S. State Department official stated they were 'reviewing the statement' from Beijing. [8] An Israeli government spokesman provided a general statement on self-defense, saying, 'Israel maintains its inherent right to self-defense against any threat, as any sovereign nation would.' The public nature of China's demand represents a significant rhetorical escalation in its diplomatic posture regarding the conflict. [9]

Perspectives and Reactions

Reactions to the Chinese demand and the ongoing conflict have varied sharply among the involved parties. An Iranian government spokesperson welcomed China's 'principled position' and condemned 'the aggressive actions of the Zionist regime and its American backers.' [10] Within Iran, state media confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, with some reports noting public celebrations, while official outlets later referred to him as 'martyred.' [11]

A U.S. defense official, speaking on background, stated, 'Our operations in the region are conducted in accordance with international law and are solely focused on protecting U.S. forces and interests.' [12] President Donald Trump has framed the operation as necessary for American security, announcing that Khamenei, 'one of the most evil people in History, is dead.' [13] He has also suggested the conflict may last 'four weeks or less.' [14]

International responses have been mixed. French President Emmanuel Macron claimed the U.S. and Israeli strikes are 'outside international law,' while the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis. [4] [15] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has also engaged with Chinese and Iranian counterparts, criticizing Western actions. [16]

Broader Implications and Next Steps

Experts suggest China's public demand complicates the already strained relationship between Washington and Beijing, potentially affecting other bilateral discussions, including trade and Taiwan. [17] The conflict is seen by some analysts as part of a broader strategic competition. Zineb Riboua, an author on geopolitical strategy, wrote that the Iran issue 'only acquires its full meaning when read against the backdrop of Chinese grand strategy.' [17] China has been deepening its security cooperation with Iran, including discussions on the sale of advanced supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, which a Reuters report described as a 'complete game-changer.' [18]

The immediate economic consequences have been severe, with oil prices soaring and global stock markets tumbling on fears of prolonged disruption. [5] [19] The United Nations Security Council is scheduled for further discussions on regional security, where China's demand is likely to be raised. [15] No immediate military or economic consequences from China were indicated in its statement, but observers are monitoring for any shift in operational postures. [20]

The longer-term strategic implications are significant. Some analysts argue the strikes have impacted China's strategic position by destabilizing a key partner. [17] Others suggest the conflict could accelerate a decline in U.S. influence or, conversely, demonstrate a resolve to counter Iranian and Chinese ambitions in the region. [21] The coming weeks will test the durability of the military campaign, the effectiveness of Iran's retaliation, and the willingness of major powers like China to exert more direct pressure to end the fighting.

Conclusion

China's call for an immediate halt to U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran marks a definitive entry of a major global power into a rapidly escalating Middle Eastern conflict. Framed as a plea for stability and respect for sovereignty, the demand underscores Beijing's significant economic and strategic interests in the region and its evolving role as a diplomatic counterweight to Washington. As retaliatory strikes continue and global markets reel from the shock, the path to de-escalation appears fraught. The conflict has already claimed high-level casualties, disrupted vital energy corridors, and intensified great power tensions, setting the stage for a complex diplomatic and military struggle in the weeks ahead.

References

China Demands U.S. and Israel Halt Strikes on Iran. - The National Pulse. March 4, 2026. China Demands U.S. and Israel Halt Strikes on Iran. - The National Pulse. March 3, 2026. China urges immediate ceasefire after US, Israel strike Iran. - Middle East Eye. February 28, 2026. Live Updates: Israel Bombs Council Choosing Irans Next Leader - Breitbart. March 4, 2026. Futures Tumble As Iran War Sends Oil, Gold And Dollar Sharply Higher. - ZeroHedge. March 2, 2026. Live Updates: Israel Strikes Iranian Presidential Complex. - Breitbart. March 3, 2026. China backs Iran nuclear rights, urges talks. - Middle East Eye. March 3, 2026. Trends-Journal-2024-02-09. The Netanyahu Gambit: How Trump Walked America Into an Iranian War Trap. - NaturalNews.com. March 2, 2026. Dangerous venture: World reacts to US-Israel attack on Iran. - RT. February 28, 2026. Analysis: Iran Leaders Killing Weakens Beijings Strategic Position Ahead of TrumpXi Summit. - NTD. March 3, 2026. Trump's Strategy Is A High Risk-High Reward Gamble. - ZeroHedge. Rabobank. March 2, 2026. Key Takeaways From USIsraeli Strikes on Iran. - NTD. March 1, 2026. President Trump Confirms It Will Be Four Weeks Or Less. - 100PercentFedUp. March 2, 2026. Emergency Security Council Meeting CalledU.N. Chief Guterres Condemns U.S.-Israel. - Breitbart. February 28, 2026. Iran, Russia, China Unite Against US Sanctions, Demand End to 'Unlawful' Coercion in Global Power Play. - NaturalNews.com. Lance D Johnson. March 15, 2025. The Iran Question Is All About China. - ZeroHedge. Zineb Riboua. March 2, 2026. Complete game-changer: Iran close to buying supersonic anti?ship missiles from China. - Reuters via Times of Israel. February 24, 2026. Asian Refiners Mull Slashing Crude Processing As Iran War Threatens Supply. - ZeroHedge. Michael Kern. March 4, 2026. Will China Come To Iran's Rescue? - ZeroHedge. February 28, 2026. Strikes on Iran Have Dismantled China-Led 'New Axis of Evil': Expert. - NTD. March 3, 2026. What China stands to lose  and gain  from the Iran war. - RT. Ladislav Zemanek. March 2, 2026. "From Orderly Selloff, To Panic": Stocks, Bonds Plunge As Oil, Dollar Soar On Iran War. - ZeroHedge. March 3, 2026. Iran retaliation raises questions about US air defences. - BBC. February 28, 2026. Strait of Hormuz: What happens if Iran shuts global oil corridor? - BBC. March 3, 2026. Trends-Journal-2024-07-23. Diversification of oil import sources and energy security: A key strategy or an elusive objective? - Vlado Vivoda. Energy Policy.

Explainer Infographic:
Iran escalates retaliation: CIA station bombed as Middle East teeters on brink of all-out war

Iran launched a drone strike on a CIA station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, days after U.S.-Israeli forces assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The attack exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. defenses and signals Tehran's willingness to strike deep into Western intelligence strongholds.

The CIA is reportedly arming Kurdish militants to destabilize Iran's weakened leadership, mirroring past regime-change operations like the 1953 coup. With Iran's Revolutionary Guard already targeting Kurdish factions, a brutal proxy war threatens to fracture Iran from within.

U.S.-Israeli strikes have hit 1,700+ targets in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing hundreds and collapsing infrastructure. Israel has expanded attacks into Lebanon against Hezbollah, while Iran retaliated by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, risking global energy chaos.

Trump dismissed intelligence confirming Iran's nuclear program was frozen since 2003, instead pushing Netanyahu's narrative of an imminent bomb. Experts warn Iran, now led by Khamenei's hardline son, has no incentive to surrender, making war unavoidable.

The conflict has drawn in Russia and China, while U.S. allies like Britain and Spain resist involvement. With Iran's missile arsenal capable of overwhelming Israel's defenses and U.S. bases under fire, global markets panic as the region spirals toward an uncontrollable war.

The Middle East plunged deeper into chaos this week as Iran launched a devastating drone strike on a CIA station within the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabiajust days after U.S.-Israeli operations assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attack, which collapsed part of the station's roof and contaminated the compound with smoke, marks a dangerous escalation in Tehran's retaliation against Western intelligence operations. According to an internal State Department alert obtained by The Washington Post, personnel were forced to shelter in place as Iranian drones evaded high-tech defenses, underscoring the regime's capability to strike deep into enemy territory.

The strike on the CIA stationlong viewed by Iran as its arch-nemesiscomes amid reports that the agency is actively arming Kurdish militants to foment an uprising against Tehran's weakened leadership. Sources indicate that the U.S. has been in discussions with Kurdish factions in Iraq, preparing to mobilize thousands of fighters along the Iran-Iraq border. This strategy mirrors historical U.S. covert operations, including the 1953 CIA-MI6 coup that overthrew Iran's democratically elected government. With Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) already targeting Kurdish strongholds, the stage is set for a brutal insurgency that could fracture the Islamic Republic from within.

A new supreme leader emerges amid chaos

In a swift transition of power, Mojtaba Khamenei, the late Ayatollah's son, was reportedly appointed as Iran's new Supreme Leaderdespite lacking clerical credentials or public office. The 56-year-old, with deep ties to the IRGC, was allegedly installed under military pressure, bypassing traditional Shiite clerical norms that reject hereditary rule. His ascension signals a hardening of Iran's stance, as hardliners consolidate control. Yet, with much of the regime's leadership decimated by U.S.-Israeli strikes, Tehran's grip on power remains precarious.

Operation epic fury unleashes regional devastation

The U.S. and Israel's joint military campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, has already struck 1,700 targets across Iranincluding nuclear facilities, missile sites and government buildingsleaving cities in ruins. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports 787 dead and counting, with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties. Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its offensive into southern Lebanon, clashing with Hezbollah after the group launched drones at Haifa's naval base. Loud explosions rocked Beirut as Israeli forces advanced, vowing to "prevent direct fire on Israeli communities."

The conflict has spilled beyond Iran's borders, with ballistic missiles striking Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatarthe largest U.S. military installation in the regionand drones hitting the U.S. Consulate in Dubai. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil chokepoint, was abruptly shut down by Iran, threatening global energy markets. President Trump warned that the U.S. would militarily escort ships if necessary, declaring, "No matter what, the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world."

U.S. troop casualties and diplomatic fallout

The Pentagon confirmed six U.S. service members killed in Iranian retaliatory strikes, including a drone attack on a command center in Kuwait. As evacuations of non-essential personnel accelerate, Trump's administration faces mounting pressure over its strategy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed that "the hardest hits are yet to come," framing the conflict as a decisive showdown with a regime led by "religious fanatic lunatics."

Yet skepticism persists over the intelligence justifying the war. Decades of alarmist predictions about Iran's nuclear programnone of which materializedhave eroded credibility. Trump himself dismissed his own intelligence officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who asserted Iran had frozen its weapons program in 2003. Instead, the White House has doubled down on Netanyahu's claims of an imminent Iranian bomb, despite lacking concrete evidence.

Global repercussions and the specter of WWIII

The crisis has fractured international alliances. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer drew Trump's ire for blocking U.S. use of U.K. bases, prompting the President to snipe, "This is not Winston Churchill we're dealing with." Spain's refusal to permit U.S. strikes from its soil led Trump to sever diplomatic ties entirely. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabiatraditionally a U.S. ally but uninvolved in the offensiveis reportedly reconsidering its neutrality after Iranian attacks on its soil.

With Iran's missile arsenal capable of overwhelming Israel's Iron Dome and U.S. bases vulnerable to further strikes, the risk of uncontrolled escalation looms. Experts warn that Trump's demand for "unconditional surrender" leaves Tehran no off-ramp, potentially triggering a regional war that could draw in Russia, China and other global powers. As oil prices skyrocket and financial markets reel, the world watches nervouslyaware that the Middle East is hurtling toward a conflict that could reshape the geopolitical order for generations.

The clock is ticking

As Trump warned Iran's remnants that it's "too late to talk," the question remains: Will Tehran capitulate, or will the U.S.-Israel campaign push the regime to a desperate, all-out response? With Kurdish uprisings brewing, Hezbollah entrenched and global tensions at a boiling point, the next phase of this war may prove even more catastrophic than the last.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, this escalation is another false flag operation orchestrated by globalist elites and intelligence agencies to justify war, destabilize the Middle East and advance their depopulation agenda. The people of Iran and Israel are being manipulated into conflict while the real perpetratorsdeep state actors like the CIA and Mossadoperate in the shadows to consolidate power and control over energy resources.

Watch this clip from the "Daily Dispatch" on InfoWars that talks about the possibility of WWIII.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Democrat linked to Russia dossier dismisses intel on Iran election meddling

A key Democratic attorney who funded the 2016 Steele Dossier is dismissing U.S. intelligence findings that Iran meddled in the 2020 and 2024 elections to hurt Donald Trump.

Marc Elias labeled reports of Iranian interference a "Big Lie," despite declassified assessments and Justice Department charges detailing Tehran's campaigns.

U.S. agencies have consistently documented Iranian efforts, including cyber operations, voter intimidation and hack-and-leak schemes targeting Trump's campaigns.

The controversy echoes past partisan disputes over foreign election interference, notably the debunked Trump-Russia collusion narrative Elias helped promote.

The divide highlights ongoing political battles over the credibility of intelligence and the legacy of election-related allegations.

In a striking echo of past electoral controversies, Marc Elias, a prominent Democratic attorney who played a central role in funding the discredited Steele Dossier in 2016, is now publicly dismissing U.S. intelligence findings that Iran sought to meddle in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections to damage Donald Trump. Eliass rejection of the documented interference campaigns as a Big Lie has reignited debates over the politicization of intelligence and raised questions about consistent standards in assessing foreign threats to American democracy.

The intelligence consensus on Iranian meddling

The assertion that Iran attempted to influence recent U.S. elections is not a fringe theory but a documented conclusion of the nations intelligence and law enforcement apparatus. In March 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) under the Biden administration released a declassified report assessing with high confidence that Iran carried out an influence campaign in 2020 intended to undercut the reelection prospects of former President Trump. This included Iranian cyber actors sending threatening, spoofed emailsdisguised as messages from the far-right Proud Boys groupto Democratic voters in a bid to incite social unrest and harm Trumps candidacy.

The Justice Department subsequently charged Iranian nationals for their roles in what it called a cyber-enabled campaign to intimidate and influence American voters. In 2024, agencies including the FBI, ODNI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned of increasingly aggressive Iranian activity, including cyber operations that compromised President Trumps campaign and hack-and-leak operations involving stolen materials. Further charges were filed against alleged Iranian operatives, and the Treasury Department designated entities for election interference.

Elias and the legacy of 2016

Elias skepticism stands in contrast to his earlier involvement in promoting allegations of foreign election interference. As general counsel for Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign, Elias helped oversee the funding of opposition research conducted by Fusion GPS, which produced the Steele Dossier. That dossier, filled with unverified allegations of Trump-Russia collusion, was used by the FBI to obtain surveillance warrants and fueled a years-long narrative that was ultimately undercut by Special Counsel John Durhams investigation and the Mueller report, which found no criminal conspiracy.

The Federal Election Commission later fined the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign for misreporting payments related to this opposition research. Eliass central role in that episode lends a layer of historical irony to his current dismissal of intelligence on Iran, with critics accusing him of applying a double standard based on partisan outcomes.

A partisan divide on acknowledging threats

The reaction to the Iranian interference findings has fallen along predictable partisan lines. Following a report on Irans activities, President Trump shared the story on his Truth Social platform. Elias responded by calling it the next Big Lie, suggesting it would be used to justify overreach in future elections. Other Democratic commentators and lawmakers have similarly questioned or reframed the intelligence, with some claiming the 2020 effort was actually designed to help Trumpa view that contradicts the ODNIs assessment.

This dispute mirrors the aftermath of the 2016 election, where the focus on alleged Russian collusion often overshadowed warnings about other adversarial actors. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) downplayed the 2020 Iranian actions in real-time, insisting Russia was the primary villain. The current debate suggests that for some, the political utility of a narrative may still influence its reception, regardless of intelligence community consensus.

Why this history matters today

The recurring patternallegations of interference, intelligence documentation and partisan dismissalundermines public trust and coherent national security policy. When assessments of foreign threats are reflexively accepted or rejected based on which political figure they benefit, it becomes difficult to formulate a unified, resilient defense of electoral integrity. The Iranian campaigns, which included not only influence operations but also alleged assassination plots against Trump in 2024, represent a real and evolving threat.

The controversy surrounding Marc Elias underscores a persistent challenge: separating intelligence from political warfare. The same legal and media ecosystems that amplified the unproven Trump-Russia narrative are now casting doubt on the well-documented Iran threat. This cycle risks leaving the nation vulnerable, as adversarial nations learn they can exploit Americas political divisions to their advantage.

The enduring challenge of election security

As the United States moves forward, the dichotomy between the established facts of Iranian meddling and the political reluctance to acknowledge them serves as a cautionary tale. Protecting democracy requires a consistent, non-partisan commitment to confronting foreign interference, regardless of the targeted candidate or party. The intelligence communitys work in identifying these threats is only as effective as the nations willingness to believe its own eyesand its own intelligence reports.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

JustTheNews.com

TruthSocial.com
Electro Pollution: The hidden dangers of wireless radiation

The book "Electro Pollution: The Invisible Threat Shaping Our Health and Future" points out that EMFs are an invisible health threat emanating from modern devices like cell phones, Wi-Fi routers and smart meters, linked to sleep disturbances, chronic diseases and cellular damage through oxidative stress and immune disruption.

Industry suppression parallels Big Tobacco and Big Pharma with telecom-funded research downplaying risks, sidelining independent scientists and influencing outdated FCC safety standards that ignore non-thermal effects.

Children are especially vulnerable due to thinner skulls, developing nervous systems and higher tissue water content, with prenatal EMF exposure tied to ADHD and autism  yet schools continue saturating classrooms with Wi-Fi.

Protective measures include hardwiring homes (Ethernet over Wi-Fi), minimizing cell phone use (speakerphone/air tube headsets), creating low-EMF sleep zones and boosting antioxidants (vitamins C/E, glutathione) to combat oxidative damage.

Grassroots advocacy is critical to challenge 5G expansion, demand independent safety studies and push for tech innovation that prioritizes human health over corporate profits.

Imagine waking up in a world where the air you breathe is clean, the food you eat is pure and the water you drink is free from contaminants. Now, picture an invisible force permeating this world  one that is increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives, yet its effects on our health remain largely unknown and unregulated. "Electro Pollution: The Invisible Threat Shaping Our Health and Future" expounds on that.

This force is electromagnetic fields (EMFs), a type of radiation emitted by the very devices that have become extensions of our modern selves. EMFs are invisible areas of energy associated with electrical power and various forms of lighting.

While natural EMFs like sunlight and the Earth's magnetic field have been part of our evolutionary journey, the artificial EMFs from cell phones, Wi-Fi routers and smart meters are a different story. These man-made frequencies are a new form of pollution  silent invaders increasingly linked to health issues ranging from sleep disturbances to chronic diseases.

To understand EMFs, we must first look at the electromagnetic spectrum  a range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, from radio waves to gamma rays. On one end, ionizing radiation (like X-rays) has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, causing ionization. On the other, non-ionizing radiation  including radio waves, microwaves and Wi-Fi signals  has lower energy but is not without risks, especially with chronic exposure.

Think of EMFs like waves in the ocean. These waves have two key characteristics: frequency and wavelength. The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength and vice versa. EMFs propagate through space in this wave-like manner, interacting with our bodies in ways not yet fully understood.

How wireless tech is sabotaging your health

Human exposure to artificial EMFs is a relatively new phenomenon. From the discovery of electricity to the modern wireless era, our exposure has increased exponentially  yet safety standards have not kept pace. The telecom industry, much like Big Tobacco and Big Pharma before it, has influenced the narrative surrounding EMF safety, funding studies that downplay risks while suppressing independent research.

The Wireless Technology Research (WTR) program, established in the 1990s with industry funding, was supposed to investigate wireless health effects. But when early studies suggested links between cell phone radiation and brain tumors, researchers like Dr. Henry Lai were sidelined and inconvenient findings were buried.

The interaction of EMFs with the human body is complex, involving energy absorption that disrupts biological processes. One of the primary mechanisms is oxidative stressan imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants that damages cells.

EMFs activate voltage-gated calcium channels in cell membranes, flooding cells with excess calcium ions. This triggers a cascade of harmful effects, including the production of peroxynitrites  reactive molecules linked to inflammation, DNA damage and chronic disease.

Studies show that EMF exposure increases oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde and 8-OHdG  tell-tale signs of cellular damage. Chronic oxidative stress is a common denominator in diseases like Alzheimer's, heart disease and cancer. EMFs also weaken the immune system, disrupt sleep by suppressing melatonin and impair fertility by reducing sperm motility and damaging DNA.

Children are particularly vulnerable to EMFs due to their thinner skulls, developing nervous systems and higher water content in tissues. Prenatal exposure has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism.

Schools saturated with Wi-Fi expose children to constant radiation, yet regulatory agencies ignore the risks. Countries like France have banned Wi-Fi in nurseries, while others continue to push wireless technology into classrooms.

Protect yourself from hidden radiation risks

The telecom industry's tactics mirror those of past corporate giants  funding friendly research, discrediting dissenters and capturing regulatory agencies. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), tasked with setting EMF safety limits, relies on outdated guidelines that ignore non-thermal effects.

In 2021, a federal court ruled the FCC's safety standards "arbitrary and capricious" for failing to review current science  yet no meaningful changes have been made. Despite industry resistance, we can take steps to reduce exposure:

Hardwire your home  Replace Wi-Fi with Ethernet cables for internet access. Turn off routers at night.

 Replace Wi-Fi with Ethernet cables for internet access. Turn off routers at night. Minimize cell phone use  Use speakerphone or air tube headsets. Keep phones away from your body (especially in pockets or bras).

 Use speakerphone or air tube headsets. Keep phones away from your body (especially in pockets or bras). Create low-EMF zones  Remove wireless devices from bedrooms. Use EMF shielding paints or fabrics if necessary.

 Remove wireless devices from bedrooms. Use EMF shielding paints or fabrics if necessary. Support nutritional resilience  Boost antioxidants (vitamins C, E, glutathione) and minerals (magnesium, zinc) to counteract oxidative stress.

 Boost antioxidants (vitamins C, E, glutathione) and minerals (magnesium, zinc) to counteract oxidative stress. Advocate for safer tech  Push for local ordinances restricting 5G deployment and demand independent safety studies.

The fight against electro pollution is not about rejecting technology but demanding safer innovation. Grassroots movements worldwide are challenging the unchecked rollout of wireless infrastructure, proving that public awareness can drive change.

As we navigate this electrified world, knowledge is power. By understanding EMF risks and taking proactive measures, we can protect our health and reclaim control over our environment. The future doesn't have to be one of inevitable harm  it can be one where technology serves humanity without compromising our well-being.

Grab a copy of "Electro Pollution: The Invisible Threat Shaping Our Health and Future" via this link. Discover this book and other good reads at Books.BrightLearn.AI, with thousands of books and counting  all available to freely download, read and share. The decentralized BrightLearn.AI engine also lets readers create their own books, empowering them to share insights and truths with the world.

Watch Nick Pineault discussing the effects of EMF radiation effects on human health in this edition of the "Health Ranger Report" with the Health Ranger Mike Adams.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

BrightLearn.ai

Books.BrightLearn.ai

Brighteon.com
Congress Secretive $18 Million Bet: The Fauci-Linked CREID Program and the Shadow of Gain-of-Function

The Covert Restoration: How Congress Quietly Reopened a Controversial Research Pipeline

In the complex and often opaque machinery of federal spending, a significant and alarming maneuver has just come to light. Despite decisive actions by the Trump administration and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to halt a controversial research program, Congress has secretly restored its funding. A sum of $18.2 million was quietly "slipped into" the appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026, effectively bypassing the executive branch's safety concerns and policy decisions. [1]

This action exemplifies a deeply entrenched, bipartisan appropriations process that operates with little public transparency or accountability. Investigative journalist Paul D. Thacker, editor of The Disinformation Chronicle, explained the mechanism: "appropriations staff work in secrecy and are incredibly bipartisan." He noted, "Nobody knows how language supporting CREID centers was slipped into the funding bill and it will likely never become public. This is how appropriations has always functioned." [1] The restoration of these funds, against the stated will of current NIH leadership and White House policy, reveals how the flow of taxpayer money can be manipulated behind closed doors to sustain programs that the public and its elected executive officials have sought to end.

A Fauci-Era Legacy: CREIDs Origins and Controversial Connections

The program in question is the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID), a signature initiative established in August 2020 by then-NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci. Its stated mission was to study "how and where viruses and other pathogens emerge from wildlife and spillover to cause disease in people." Fauci promised at the time that this research "will increase our preparedness for future outbreaks." [1] However, from its inception, CREID was mired in controversy due to the researchers it empowered and the type of science it was designed to fund.

Initial grants from the $82 million program were awarded to figures like Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance and immunologist Kristian Andersen, both of whom are centrally linked to the heated debates over gain-of-function research and the origins of COVID-19. [1] Critics argue the program was never truly about preparedness, but was instead a tool for rewarding a specific network of scientists. Molecular biologist Richard Ebright, Ph.D., of Rutgers University, stated bluntly: "The CREID program was abused by Fauci to reward participants in the reckless research on SARS coronaviruses that caused COVID and to reward participants in defrauding the public and policy makers about the cause of COVID." [1] This establishes CREID not as a neutral scientific endeavor, but as a key component of the Fauci-aligned infrastructure that promoted a specific, now-discredited, pandemic narrative.

The NIHs Reversal: Why Was Funding Initially Cut and Restored?

In a significant policy shift last year, the NIH under the Trump administration determined that the research supported by the CREID network was "unsafe for Americans and not a good use of taxpayer funding." Termination notices were sent to affiliated researchers in June 2025, signaling a clear break from the risky paradigms of the past. [1] This decision aligned with a broader executive order from President Trump pausing federally funded gain-of-function research. [2]

Yet, just one month later, Congress moved to resurrect the program. The forces behind this covert restoration point to the enduring power of a corrupt system. An unnamed HHS official suggested university lobbyists may have played a key role. [1] More disturbingly, experts suspect active sabotage from within the agencies themselves. Richard Ebright theorized that "a Fauci-era holdover at NIAID who opposes current White House, HHS and NIH policies slipped the budget request for CREID past a naively over-trusting and dismayingly disengaged current NIH director." [1] The appointment of Jeffrey Taubenberger as acting NIAID director, a long-time proponent of gain-of-function work and the CREID network, further suggests that leadership within NIH may remain compromised by advocates for the very research the administration seeks to curtail. [1]

Gain-of-Function by Any Other Name? The Unanswered Safety Questions

In the wake of this funding restoration, HHS has issued assurances that none of the $18.2 million will support gain-of-function research. A spokesperson stated, "NIH remains committed to advancing evidence-based preparedness without relying on dangerous gain-of-function research, which we do not fund or conduct." [1] However, given the history of obfuscation and redefinition of terms by these very agencies, such promises ring hollow to independent experts and a wary public.

The fundamental problem is that the line between 'emerging disease research' and gain-of-function experimentation is notoriously porous. Brian Hooker, Ph.D., chief scientific officer for Childrens Health Defense, warned that CREID research facilities "are the most likely candidates in the U.S. to complete gain-of-function research." He explained that "while it is possible to do research on 'emerging infectious diseases' without doing gain-of-function research, it would be very easy to 'slip in' such work," such as serial passaging of viruses through animals to enhance transmissibility. [1] Without a strict, transparent, and enforced policy ban -- which the Trump administration has yet to finalize -- the restored funding creates a direct pipeline for the very research the public believes has been halted. The episode is a stark lesson in how centralized scientific institutions use semantic games to continue dangerous work under new, innocuous-sounding banners.

The Bigger Picture: Institutional Capture and the Enduring Power of a Corrupt System

The story of CREIDs secretive funding revival is not an isolated incident. It is a potent case study in institutional capture, revealing how funding flows and bureaucratic networks can outlast elections and policy directives to sustain programs opposed by the current administration and the public interest. It exposes the enduring influence of the Fauci-aligned network within the federal health apparatus, a network dedicated less to public safety than to preserving its own funding, prestige, and control over the biomedical narrative.

This episode reinforces the critical, non-negotiable need for relentless public scrutiny over all federally funded biomedical research. As long as agencies like the NIH distribute tens of billions in grants annually -- creating what Paul Thacker calls "incredible access to members on the Hill" for recipients -- the potential for corrupt, risk-oblivious science to buy political protection remains high. [1] The only antidote to this centralized, self-perpetuating system is decentralization, transparency, and a fundamental re-evaluation of our trust in institutions that have repeatedly failed and lied to the people they are supposed to serve. For those seeking uncensored analysis of such trends, platforms like BrightNews.ai offer AI-analyzed news from across the independent media, providing a more honest alternative to the corporate press that often ignores these critical stories.

References
Khameneis wife dies from injuries sustained in U.S.-Israeli strikes

Ali Khamenei and his wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, died following joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, with Iranian state media reporting she succumbed to injuries sustained in the same attacks.

State broadcaster Press TV said Khojasteh "attained martyrdom," while additional reports indicated several extended family members were also killed.

The coordinated strikes were described by U.S. and Israeli officials as targeting strategic military and security sites, escalating regional tensions.

Iran appointed senior cleric Alireza Arafi as interim Supreme Leader to oversee the transition following Khamenei's death.

Under Irans constitution, a temporary leadership council will exercise the Supreme Leader's powers until the Assembly of Experts selects a permanent successor, with Arafi serving as the jurist member during the interim period.

The wife of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has died days after he was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, according to Iranian state media.

State broadcaster Press TV reported Monday, March 2, that Mansoureh Khojasteh "attained martyrdom" after succumbing to injuries sustained during Saturday's strikes, Feb. 28. Iranian media said she was wounded in the same wave of attacks that killed Khamenei and later died from those injuries.

Iranian outlets reported that Khamenei was killed in the initial phase of the coordinated strikes, which U.S. and Israeli officials described as targeting strategic military and security sites.

Additional reports indicated that several members of Khamenei's extended family, including his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, were also killed in the strikes. A member of the Tehran City Council, cited by Reuters, confirmed fatalities within the Supreme Leader's family following the attacks.

Iranian officials have not yet released further details regarding funeral arrangements or the broader political transition following the deaths. The deaths of multiple members of Irans ruling family are expected to intensify domestic pressure on the country's leadership and further inflame regional tensions.

Alireza Arafi named interim supreme leader after Khamenei's death

Iran has appointed senior cleric Alireza Arafi as interim supreme leader following the death of Khamenei.

An interim Supreme Leader, as BrightU.AI's Enoch defines, temporarily assumes the role of the Supreme Leader until a new leader is elected, ensuring a smooth transition of power and maintaining stability during the interim period. This role is crucial in bridging the gap between the outgoing and incoming leaders, often serving as a neutral figure to prevent political turmoil and maintain the integrity of the Islamic Republic.

Arafi, who was born in 1959 in Meybod, in Yazd province, hails from a clerical family and has spent decades within Iran's religious and political institutions. He studied in Qom under prominent scholars and attained the rank of mujtahid, authorizing him to issue independent Islamic legal rulings. Over the years, he built close ties within Iran's ruling establishment.

Under Khamenei's leadership, Arafi was entrusted with influential roles, including leading Friday prayers in Meybod and later in Qom  appointments widely seen as signals of confidence from the supreme leader's office. He also served as head of Al-Mustafa International University, a major institution for training clerics from Iran and abroad, and in 2019 joined the powerful Guardian Council, which vets legislation and electoral candidates.

Under Iran's constitution, the supreme leader must be a senior Shia cleric selected by the Assembly of Experts, an elected body of religious scholars. Following Khamenei's death, an interim leadership council was formed to carry out essential functions until a permanent successor is chosen. Arafi's roles within both the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts gave him institutional influence in the succession process, amid speculation about other potential contenders from hardline and pragmatic factions.

Arafi will serve as the jurist member of a temporary leadership council until a permanent successor is chosen under Iran's constitutional process.

Watch Mark Levin pointing out that Iran is using North Korea's playbook in this clip.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TimesNowNews.com

FirstPost.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
The Unthinkable Is Imminent: Why I Believe a Radiological False Flag Is Being Prepared for American Soil

A Warning Based on Patterns, Not Paranoia

I am writing this not as a doomer, but as someone who has spent decades investigating the hidden hands that shape our world. The evidence I have compiled, from historical records to current geopolitical maneuvers, points to a chilling conclusion: elements within the globalist power structure may be actively preparing a catastrophic false flag operation on American soil. The goal is to manufacture the emotional fury necessary to launch a genocidal ground invasion against Iran in order to appease Zionist Israel.

In my view, this is not a distant possibility, but a rapidly approaching probability. Donald Trump, having won the 2024 election, is now President, and Republicans control Congress, but they are not in charge. As I will argue, the entire federal apparatus has been so thoroughly captured by Zionist interests that it now functions as a subsidiary, willing to betray its own citizens to serve a foreign agenda. The patterns of deception are too clear, the logic too cold, and the stakes too high to ignore.

Why I'm Convinced: A Pattern Too Clear to Ignore

History provides the most damning evidence. The 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy intelligence ship, by Israeli forces is a textbook case. Israel claimed it was an accident, but surviving crew members insisted it was a deliberate, premeditated assault. [1] The cover-up was immediate and comprehensive, with hearings held in closed sessions and survivors subjected to gag orders. [1] This was not an anomaly; it was a demonstration of method. When a nation can brazenly attack its chief benefactor, murder American sailors, and face zero consequences, it learns a dangerous lesson about American subservience.

That lesson has been applied repeatedly. Former Mossad agent Victor Ostrovsky revealed in his book how Israel used a 'Trojan Horse' communications system in 1986 to make transmissions appear to originate from Libya, supporting terrorism. [2] The U.S. National Security Agency intercepted these 'Libyan' messages, leading the Reagan administration to bomb Libyan targets. [2] This is the playbook: create a provocation, frame an enemy, and watch as America's military might is unleashed on your behalf. Today, the political climate mirrors the pre-9/11 period, where strong U.S. public opposition to a war with Iran creates a need for manufactured consent. As one analysis noted, the U.S. and Zionists frequently assert Iran might close the Strait of Hormuz, but if someone were to close it, 'it would likely be the United States, blaming it on Iran.' [3]

The Logic of Escalation: Why 9-11 Wouldn't Be Enough Today

The psychological landscape has changed. The trauma of 9/11, which killed nearly 3,000 people, cannot be replicated in today's media-saturated, trauma-numbed society. We have lived through decades of war, a engineered pandemic, and constant fear propaganda. The public's threshold for shock is far higher. In my assessment, the Zionist calculus has adapted. They now believe they need an event causing not thousands, but tens of thousands of American deaths to generate the required level of blind, unifying fury.

This grim arithmetic points directly toward a radiological or nuclear event. Only such an 'upgrade' -- a 'dirty bomb' rendering a city district uninhabitable or even a low-yield nuclear detonation -- could produce the existential terror and unanimous demand for vengeance that 9/11 once did. As noted in analysis of potential globalist disruptions, 'they could orchestrate a false flag event involving nuclear terrorism within an American city, blaming it on Russia or North Korea.' [4]

The Means and Method: A Nuke in the Homeland, With Permission

Israel possesses an estimated 80-400 nuclear weapons, provided through decades of covert collaboration with a complicit U.S. establishment that turns a blind eye to its own non-proliferation laws. The means are not in question. The method, in my view, relies on the near-total control Zionist operatives exert over key U.S. institutions. The entire federal apparatus, from the intelligence community to border security, now operates as a subsidiary. If a weapon needed to be moved into position, the command to stand down would be given.

A radiological dispersal device (RDD), or 'dirty bomb,' is a highly plausible alternative. It combines conventional explosives with radioactive material, creating panic, long-term contamination, and a perfect frame job. Recent accusations, such as Russia claiming Ukraine imported materials for a potential 'dirty bomb' false flag, show this concept is active in geopolitical warfare. [5] The goal is not necessarily maximum immediate casualties, but maximum psychological and economic disruption -- rendering a symbolic part of a major American city uninhabitable and perfectly blaming Iran. The provided government documents explicitly warn that such an attack 'may pose significant consequences for public safety and critical infrastructure.' [6]

The Naval Option: A Modern-Day USS Liberty, Sunk and Blamed

We must not rule out a maritime provocation, a tactic with proven results. A modern replay of the USS Liberty attack -- sinking a U.S. naval vessel and blaming it on Iranian forces or proxies -- is a terrifyingly straightforward option. It is a proven Zionist tactic. [1] Such an event in the tense waters of the Persian Gulf would provide an instantaneous casus belli for war escalation targeting Iran.

The obedient corporate media, which has long functioned as a propaganda arm for this agenda, would parrot the narrative without a shred of critical investigation. They would amplify the calls for vengeance. This event could then be used to justify not just a conventional war, but the 'moral' necessity of using tactical nuclear weapons against Iran in retaliation, under the pretext of responding to a WMD attack on U.S. forces. The narrative would be seamless and overwhelming.

The Endgame: Manufacturing Consent for Nuclear Annihilation

The ultimate goal is explicit and horrifying: to create the visceral, emotional justification for the United States to launch a nuclear first strike on Iran. The last remaining obstacle to the 'Greater Israel' project is a sovereign Iran that refuses to submit. Removing this obstacle by conventional means is seen as too costly and slow. A nuclear solution, once politically unthinkable, must be made thinkable -- and then desirable -- to the American public.

Politicians, including prominent figures in the current administration and Congress, would seize the moment. Imagine the speeches: 'They brought a radiological nightmare to our shores,' or 'They sank our ship, now we must sink their nation.' They would declare, 'They nuked us first,' to unlock public support for what would be, in effect, a genocide. This is the culmination of a long-standing strategy. As one source describes the Zionist state, it 'only knows how to resolve all conflicts with military force and violent reactions.' [7] This is the final, violent reaction to secure regional hegemony by any means necessary.

Conclusion: Vigilance, Decentralization, and Seeking Truth

I am convinced the planning for this atrocity is already advancing. The pieces are in place: the historical precedent, the motive, the means, and a captured governing class. The trigger could be pulled at any time, likely during a period of heightened tension, to achieve maximum catalytic effect.

Our only defense is awareness, decentralization, and a relentless pursuit of truth outside the controlled narrative. Do not wait for the corporate media to tell you what happened. I urge readers to seek information from uncensored, independent platforms. For deep research on survival and preparedness, use the AI engine at BrightAnswers.ai, which is trained on a vast library of suppressed knowledge. For uncensored video content, see my videos at BrightVideos.com and for free speech social media, join Brighteon.social

Prepare yourself practically. Consider the security of your family, your community, and your sources of information. The institutions designed to protect you cannot be trusted. In this dark hour, self-reliance, clear thinking, and a network of truth-seekers are our greatest assets. The unthinkable is being planned. We must be ready to expose it, survive it, and remember who the true architects were.

References

Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve SelfHelp Exercises for Anxiety Depression Trauma. PDF Expert 22 Mac_1. Universe Eleventh Edition. PDF Expert 22 Mac. 2025 09 24 BBN Interview with Yon . Mike Adams. Brighteon Broadcast News - The Globalist Agenda To DISRUPT And DESTROY - Mike Adams - Brighteon.com. Mike Adams - Brighteon.com. October 10, 2024. Russia accuses Ukraine of covertly importing radioactive materials for a potential dirty bomb false flag operation. - NaturalNews.com. December 14, 2025. RADIOLOGICAL THREAT AWARENESS - DNI. ISRAEL IS DONE Its overfinished as a nation state Heres why. - NaturalNews.com. NaturalNews.com. October 29, 2024. Why I no longer stand with Israel and never will again - NaturalNews.com. NaturalNews.com. October 17, 2023.

Explainer Infographic:
Spain defies Trump, warns U.S.-Iran conflict is Russian Roulette with millions of lives

In a stunning rebuke of American foreign policy, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has positioned his nation as the lone major European voice of defiance against the escalating U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Iran. While other allies offer tepid support or strategic silence, Sanchez has not only condemned the attacks as "illegal and reckless" but has taken the tangible step of denying the United States use of critical Spanish military bases. This bold move, which has drawn retaliatory trade threats from President Donald Trump, frames the conflict as a catastrophic gamble with global stability. Sanchezs stance exposes a fundamental fracture within the Western alliance, revealing a growing European disillusionment with chaotic, imperialistic U.S. foreign policies.

Key points:

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as "illegal and reckless," warning the powers involved are playing "Russian roulette with the destiny of millions."

In a concrete action backing his rhetoric, Spain has refused permission for the U.S. to use its jointly operated air and naval bases at Rota and Moron for the ongoing operation against Iran.

The position has sparked a direct confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to slash trade with Spain in retaliation.

Sanchez framed Spain's "No to the war" stance as consistent with its positions on Ukraine and Gaza, invoking the lessons of the destabilizing 2003 Iraq invasion.

The move highlights a significant rift within NATO, with Spain emerging as its most vocal dissenter while other European leaders like the UK's Keir Starmer have acquiesced to U.S. requests after initial hesitation.

A stand rooted in strategic reality

Sanchezs defiance is not mere pacifism but a position informed by a stark assessment of strategic consequences, a perspective often missing from mainstream Western narratives that fixate on short-term tactical gains. He pointedly referenced the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a conflict that proponents claimed would be a swift victory but instead triggered decades of regional destabilization, a surge in terrorism, and economic chaos. This historical lens is crucial. Modern conflicts are rarely won through bombardment alone; they are complex struggles where eliminating an opponent's enduring capacity and influence matters more than temporary territorial control. The current situation, with powers engaging in tit-for-tat strikes, risks a dangerous escalation that could draw in broader alliances and ignite a regional conflagration with global economic and humanitarian fallout.

The Spanish leaders action to revoke base access is a significant tactical complication for U.S. operations. The bases at Rota and Moron are strategic hubs for American and NATO forces. By denying their use for offensive operations, Spain is enforcing a principle that alliance infrastructure must not be used for actions lacking a clear international legal mandate or broad multilateral support. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares was unequivocal, stating the bases would not be used for anything outside of its agreement with the U.S. or not covered by the UN Charter. This principled stand on international law stands in direct opposition to the unilateral action championed by the Trump administration.

The crumbling facade of Western unity

Sanchezs isolation on this issue within European leadership circles is telling. While Germanys chancellor spoke of appreciating the "dilemma" and the UK reversed its initial refusal to provide base access, Spain has held firm. This aligns with Sanchez's established pattern as one of Europe's most consistent critics of Israel's campaign in Gaza and highlights a growing divergence in strategic culture. Where some see a necessary military confrontation, Sanchez sees a reckless gamble that abandons diplomacy and will inevitably produce a "more hostile and uncertain international order."

The economic threats from Trump underscore a transactional view of alliances that is increasingly prevalent. The warning to cut trade treats geopolitical solidarity as a commodity to be withdrawn when a partner dissents, further eroding the trust that is essential for meaningful collective security. This erosion mirrors the complete breakdown of trust between Russia and the West over failed agreements like the Minsk accords, demonstrating how lost trust makes future negotiation or de-escalation nearly impossible. Sanchezs response was a pointed refusal to be "complicit in something that is bad for the world... simply to avoid reprisals from someone."

Sanchez is demanding a focus on the broader, more dangerous picture. He is arguing that true security cannot be achieved by unleashing military force without regard for the devastating, unpredictable chain of events that followsa warning that the world ignores at its peril.

Sources include:

DW.com

TheGuardian.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
State Department scrambles to evacuate citizens as Middle East commercial flights halt

U.S. organizes emergency flights for Americans stranded after Middle East airspace shuts down.

Thousands seek direct evacuation aid as commercial travel remains severely disrupted.

Citizens express intense frustration over initial advisories to leave when flights were unavailable.

The State Department is securing aircraft from regional allies but details are scarce.

Other Western nations are also scrambling to evacuate their own stranded nationals.

The U.S. government is now actively arranging military and charter flights to evacuate Americans stranded across the Middle East after joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran triggered widespread airspace closures and severe disruptions to commercial air travel across the region. With commercial travel severely disrupted, the State Department is stepping in to assist citizens who were initially told to leave via commercial means that no longer exist. This frantic evacuation effort highlights the rapid escalation of conflict and the precarious position of thousands of Americans caught abroad.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that approximately 9,000 Americans have already departed the region since the conflict began. However, nearly 3,000 more have sought direct assistance to leave. "Heres the message I want to deliver to Americans who are in the Middle East and in need of assistance," Rubio said. "We need to know where you are. We need to have contact information for Americans that need assistance. They have to register with us."

A frustrating and sudden crisis

The crisis unfolded rapidly after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes, prompting Iranian retaliatory attacks that hit civilian infrastructure, including airports. The State Departments initial advisory on Monday urged Americans in over a dozen countries to leave "using available commercial transportation." The problem, as stranded travelers quickly discovered, was that there were no available flights. "It is the epitome of absurdity. 'Leave the country' but yet the airspace is closed," said Randy Manner, a retired U.S. major general stuck in the United Arab Emirates.

American citizens have voiced intense frustration. Sasha Hoffman, vacationing in Dubai, told CBS News, "We're honestly trapped." She added, "It's really frustrating that right now the U.S. is saying 'Americans come home' when in reality we can't come home." Travel influencer Alyssa Ramos, stranded in Kuwait, said she is "taking matters into our own hands because the government simply is not helping us."

The logistics of a mass evacuation

In response, the State Department announced it is "actively securing military aircraft and charter flights." Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed the department has been in touch with almost 3,000 Americans seeking help. The U.S. is working to secure flights from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E., but specific details have been scarce, adding to travelers anxiety.

The scale of the disruption is massive. At least 18,000 flights to and from the Middle East have been canceled since the weekend. This has created a bottleneck at major hub airports, leaving tourists and business travelers scrambling for any route out. Some have turned to private security firms to arrange overland travel to cities like Riyadh or Muscat, where limited air operations continue.

Other Western nations are facing similar challenges. The United Kingdom is working to repatriate its 130,000 registered nationals in the region. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Parliament the government is "working with airlines on increasing capacity out of Muscat for British nationals, with priority for vulnerable nationals." Several European countries, including France, Germany, and Spain, organized evacuation flights ahead of the U.S. effort.

For the average citizen, the experience has been harrowing. Claire Prunty, a British tourist in Dubai, described feeling like "collateral damage." She said, "No one checks in on you. I cant get home, no ones telling me anything, the news isnt very clear. You start to feel helpless."

This evacuation debacle serves as a reminder of how quickly a stable region can descend into chaos, leaving even the world's most powerful government scrambling. It underscores a sobering truth for Americans abroad: in a crisis, the promise of a passport is not always a guarantee of a swift rescue.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

CBSNews.com

NYTimes.com
Suspected Iranian drone hits U.S. consulate in Dubai

A suspected Iranian drone struck the parking lot of the U.S. Consulate in Dubai on March 3, causing a fire, though no injuries were reported.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed all American personnel were accounted for and said diplomatic facilities are under direct threat amid escalating attacks.

The strike is part of a broader wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks following a U.S.-Israeli military campaign that reportedly killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

The U.S. Department of State ordered U.S. personnel in the UAE to shelter in place and urged American citizens to depart immediately due to serious safety risks and possible airspace closures.

Widespread regional airspace shutdowns led to more than 2,800 flight cancellations, while U.S. embassies suspended routine services and advised Americans to monitor security alerts and prepare for further disruptions.

A suspected Iranian drone struck the parking lot of the U.S. Consulate in Dubai on Tuesday, March 3, igniting a fire and sending thick black smoke billowing into the air, U.S. officials said.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, a drone strike is a military operation where an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is used to deliver a payload, typically explosive, to a target on the ground. These strikes can be conducted remotely by operators located far from the target area, and they are often used in situations where direct engagement is deemed too risky or where precision is required.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that all American personnel were accounted for after the incident. The strike comes amid a wave of missile and drone attacks Iran has launched in recent days in retaliation for a large-scale U.S.-Israeli military campaign that reportedly killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

"A drone, unfortunately, struck a parking lot adjacent to the chancellery building and set off a fire in that place," Rubio told reporters Tuesday afternoon. He said that the U.S. had been pulling back personnel to the "bare bones" amid the expanding retaliatory strikes from Iran.

"So, we've been very fortunate, obviously, but our embassies and our diplomatic facilities are under direct attack from a terroristic regime," Rubio added.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement posted on social media that emergency teams responded immediately to the "drone-related incident" near the consulate. The fire was successfully contained and later extinguished, authorities said.

"Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported," Dubai Media Office wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

U.S. orders shelter-in-place in UAE, urges Americans to depart as regional airspace shuts down

In response to the escalating tension, the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai ordered American diplomatic personnel in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to shelter in place and urged U.S. citizens to do the same.

UAE authorities sent mobile alerts to residents and visitors, instructing them to take cover as air defense systems responded to incoming threats. In a separate advisory, the U.S. Department of State urged American citizens to depart the UAE immediately using available commercial flights, citing "serious safety risks" and the possibility of sudden airspace closures.

"Following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran, Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate," the department said on Feb. 28. "They may experience travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures. The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution."

For Americans unable to leave, embassy officials recommended remaining indoors, staying away from windows and maintaining essential supplies, including food, water and medications. All routine visa services and American Citizen Services appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai have been canceled through at least March 4.

Airspace across much of the region has been closed, including in Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE. More than 2,800 flights were canceled on Sunday, March 1, to and from airports across the Middle East, with disruptions expected to continue. Additionally, the State Department advisory covers 14 countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE and Yemen.

Americans in those countries who require assistance arranging departure via commercial means can contact the State Department 24 hours a day at +1-202-501-4444 from overseas or +1-888-407-4747 from within the United States and Canada.

Travelers have also been urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov to receive the latest security updates from their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Airlines across the region have advised passengers to check flight status online before heading to airports, with some offering re-booking waivers or full refunds as the security situation remains volatile.

Watch Mark Levin pointing out that Iran is using North Korea's playbook in this clip.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Infowars.com

Time.com

TimesNowNews.com

MSN.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Unleash Chiang: Rubio signals historic escalation in Iran campaign

U.S. signals a major escalation of strikes against Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure.

Secretary Rubio promises a new, intense campaign to systematically destroy Iranian capabilities.

The rhetoric invokes historical parallels of removing military restraints to justify the action.

The move follows conflicting White House narratives on the war's rationale, causing political fallout.

A sustained strategic bombing campaign using heavy U.S. bombers is now anticipated.

The United States is on the brink of a significant military escalation against Iran, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that the scope and power of American strikes are set to increase dramatically. In an announcement on Monday, Rubio signaled that a new, more intense phase of the campaign is imminent, directly targeting Irans military infrastructure and nuclear ambitions. This move marks a critical juncture in a prolonged conflict, raising the specter of a broader regional war and testing the limits of U.S. military strategy in the Middle East.

Appearing alongside senior defense officials, Rubio outlined a coordinated effort between U.S. Central Command and Israeli forces. He stated they are engaged in the systematic destruction of their missile belt, the destruction of their launchers, and the destruction of their ability to make these, as well as the destruction of their Navy. The administrations stated goal is clear: to permanently prevent what Rubio called a terroristic, radical, clerical-led regime from obtaining nuclear weapons and threatening its neighbors.

A historical warning

Rubios choice of words carried historical weight. He declared, Youre about to see were going to unleash Chiang on these people in the next few hours and days. The phrase unleash Chiang is a callback to 1950s political debates, advocating for the removal of restrictions on Nationalist Chinese forces to attack mainland China. Its use today underscores a philosophy of removing restraints on military action, echoing past moments where presidential authority and military strategy violently clashed, such as when President Harry Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War.

The secretarys warning follows a period of heightened volatility. Just days earlier, a drone strike hit the U.S. Consulate compound in Dubai, though no injuries were reported. The administration now frames its ongoing actions as a necessary preemption. We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action; we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, Rubio explained, justifying the U.S. decision to strike first to avoid higher casualties.

Conflicting narratives and political fallout

However, the rationale for war has become a political liability. President Donald Trump offered a conflicting account, suggesting he ordered the attack because he believed Iran was about to strike first, stating, If we didn't do it, they were going to attack first. This discrepancy has ignited criticism from conservative commentators who argue the U.S. is being drawn into a conflict primarily serving Israeli interests. Podcaster Matt Walsh reacted to Rubios initial comments by stating, So he's flat out telling us that we're in a war with Iran because Israel forced our hand.

The White House has engaged in damage control, with officials detailing failed diplomatic talks. They claimed U.S. envoys found Iranian negotiators unwilling to give up uranium enrichment, engaging instead in delay tactics. They were unwilling to give up the building blocks of what they needed to preserve in order to get to a bomb, one official said. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.

The shape of escalation

Military analysts speculate that the big one Trump and Rubio promise will involve a sustained strategic bombing campaign. Research fellow Sascha Bruchmann suggested it would mean a sustained bombing campaign via the strategic bomber fleet, so the B-1s, the B-2s, and the B-52s. The use of heavy bombers like the B-52 Stratofortress, capable of carrying 70,000 pounds of ordnance, or the deployment of massive bombs like the 21,700-pound MOAB (Mother of All Bombs), are considered possible tools for escalation.

Priority targets remain Irans nuclear facilities, such as Natanz and the deeply buried site known as Pickaxe Mountain, alongside weapons stockpiles and leadership nodes. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine asserted that local air superiority has been established, which would allow these heavier, slower aircraft to operate. Yet, the promise of escalation comes even as Iran continues to launch its own missile and drone attacks, demonstrating a resilient capacity to retaliate.

This impending escalation forces a sobering reflection on the nature of modern conflict. The U.S. is committing to a path of intensified military action with the aim of dismantling a regimes capabilities, a task history shows is fraught with complexity and unintended consequences. As the administration prepares to unleash a new wave of force, it remains to be seen whether this calculated pressure will lead to submission or to a more dangerous and widespread fire.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

SkyNews.com.au

Reuters.com

Telegraph.co.uk
Iranian warship sinks, U.S. taking control of Strait of Hormuz: Updates from the crisis in the Middle East

The long-prophesied direct military confrontation between the United States and Iran has erupted with staggering ferocity, as the Pentagon confirms a U.S. submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, paving the way for the U.S. Navy to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key sea route for global oil supply. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a triumphalist briefing, declared the Iranian navy "rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf" and is "ineffective, decimated, destroyed." This dramatic escalation, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," follows years of geopolitical maneuvering and covert pressure, now exploding into open warfare that risks spiraling into a global energy and military crisis. The actions, undertaken without a Congressional declaration of war, reveal an administration fully committed to a long-sought neoconservative and Zionist objective: the dismantling of the Iranian state, regardless of the apocalyptic consequences for the Middle East and the world.

Key points:

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed a U.S. submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate Iris Dena off Sri Lanka, with at least 80 crew reported killed and nearly 150 missing.

Hegseth declared the U.S. and Israel will have "complete control of Iranian skies" within a week and that America is "winning," vowing to continue the campaign "for as long as we need to."

The Pentagon claims to have killed the leader of an Iranian covert unit that allegedly plotted to assassinate Donald Trump in 2024.

Israel separately claims its air force has dropped 5,000 bombs on Iran, focusing on the Tehran area.

The Pentagon denies responsibility for a strike on a girls' school in Iran that reportedly killed 168 people, calling it "under investigation."

Disturbing reports from U.S. service members allege military commanders are framing the war through biblical end-times prophecy, invoking Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ.

The conflict has stranded civilians across the region, with travel chaos and missile alerts paralyzing hubs like Dubai.

A campaign of 'decimation' and disputed narratives

In a chilling display of naval power, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine stated the U.S. has "effectively neutralised Irans major naval presence," destroying over 20 vessels. Hegseth framed the conflict in existential terms, stating, "We have only just begun to fight. America fights to win." Yet, the human cost is immediate and severe. With already 80 declared dead, Sri Lankan authorities are leading a search for survivors from the sunken Iranian frigate, highlighting the international ramifications of the conflict.

The administration's narrative is one of unblemished success and righteous cause. Hegseth revealed that U.S. strikes killed Farhad Shakeri, the alleged leader of an Iranian Revolutionary Guard plot to assassinate Trumpa plot federal prosecutors had charged during the Biden administration. This provides a personal and political justification for the overwhelming force being deployed.

However, the official story is already marred by atrocity. Iranian state media reports a devastating strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Minab, claiming 168 lives. Could this have been Iran's doing to its own people? When pressed, Hegseth offered only, All I can say is were investigating that. We, of course, never target civilian targets. This denial echoes a decades-long pattern where civilian casualties are dismissed as collateral damage or propaganda, even as the bodies of children are pulled from rubble.

End-times rhetoric and the erosion of constitutional military order

Perhaps the most alarming development comes from within the U.S. military itself. Veteran journalist Jonathan Larsen reports that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) has been flooded with over 110 complaints from service members. The troops allege commanders are explicitly linking "Operation Epic Fury" to biblical prophecy, with one complaint detailing a commander stating President Trump was anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.

Another non-commissioned officer reported being urged to tell troops this was "all part of Gods divine plan," with specific references to the Book of Revelation. MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein condemned this as a "blood-soaked, Christian nationalist wet dream," warning that such rhetoric destroys unit cohesion and violates the Constitution and Uniform Code of Military Justice. This infusion of radical religious ideology into military command structure suggests a terrifying fanaticism at play, where geopolitical strategy is being corrupted by cult-like end-times fervor.

A world on the brink and a people in peril

The conflict is not contained. Hezbollah has injured Israeli soldiers with anti-tank fire in southern Lebanon, opening a second active front. China and Russia, labeled "non-factors" by a dismissive Hegseth, have condemned the attacks, with Moscow denying evidence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program. The global energy markets are bracing for shockwaves, as the Strait of Hormuza chokepoint for one-third of the world's seaborne oilsits in the crosshairs. The U.S. Navy is currently taking control over the the Strait, as the U.S. government has reportedly decimated Iran's Navy.

On the ground, the reality for ordinary people is one of fear and disruption. Eva Kipnis, a UK professor stranded in Dubai, described a life of missile alerts, descents into underground car parks, and cancelled flights.

This war, years in the making, represents the culmination of a dangerous alliance between hawkish U.S. strategists, major political donors, and foreign interests. It is being executed by an administration that views the U.S. military as an instrument of divine prophecy and regime change, despite Iran's formidable defensive capabilities, mountainous terrain, and powerful allies. As the bombs fall and the rhetoric soars to apocalyptic heights, the world watches a volatile region being pushed toward a conflagration that could redefine global power, shatter economies, and sacrifice countless lives on the altar of ideological and religious zealotry.

Sources include:

TheGuardian.com

TimesofIndia.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
The News in Brief Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, has welcomed the creation of an opposition alliance, calling it an important step toward a peaceful political transition.Zourabichvili said the initiative could lead to a concrete transition strategy that would serve as the basis for regime change."I welcome the opposition alliance that has been created," she wrote on Facebook. "At a time when different political forces agree on basic principles, this means that democratic forces in Georgia are ready to take the initiative and act to save the country."She said the alliance builds on earlier efforts such as the Georgian Charter and the Resistance Platform."As the initiator of the Georgian Charter, I see in this initiative an important and new step that will lead us to a specific transition strategy," Zourabichvili wrote. "This strategy should become the basis for a united struggle of political and public forces to ensure regime change and peaceful transformation."Several opposition parties announced the formation of the Opposition Alliance a day earlier. The agreement was signed by Coalition for Change, United National Movement, Strategy Builder, Federalists, National Democratic Party, European Georgia, and Freedom Square.The signatory parties agreed on a common strategy and joint rules of action, saying they aim to free Georgia from what they describe as the autocratic rule of Bidzina Ivanishvili, restore the country's Euro Atlantic course, and ensure democratic governance.According to the document, the alliance is based on the principle of unity without uniformity. Member parties retain their ideological identities while committing to coordinated protest actions and a unified communication strategy. The agreement also includes a code of conduct governing relations among the signatories and responsibility for violations.Greek authorities have detained a Georgian citizen on suspicion of spying at the Souda Naval Base, a strategic facility used by NATO and the United States, according to police and intelligence officials.The 36-year-old suspect was arrested after arriving in Athens following months of monitoring by Greek intelligence services. His identity has not been disclosed. Officials are investigating possible links to Iran after images of United States military aircraft were found on his phone, Reuters reported.Souda serves as a major logistics and operational hub for allied forces in the eastern Mediterranean. The United States aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford recently docked at the base before deploying to the Middle East.Greek authorities are also examining whether the case is connected to the arrest of an Azerbaijani national in Crete in June on similar espionage allegations.
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The AIADMK has officially nominated senior leader and former Union Minister M. Thambidurai as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election. Simultaneously, the DMK has announced its candidates, Tiruchi Siva and Professor J. Constantine Ravindran, while allocating one of its four seats to ally Congress and another to the DMDK. This follows a seat-sharing agreement where Congress will also contest 28 assembly constituencies in the upcoming state polls. The Election Commission has scheduled the biennial elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, with polling set for March 16, 2026.

AIADMK fields M Thambidurai for Rajya Sabha. DMK nominates Tiruchi Siva & J. Constantine Ravindran, allocates seats to Congress & DMDK.

Chennai, March 4 Munisamy Thambidurai has been nominated as the official candidate of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for the elections to the post of members of the Rajya Sabha to be held on March 16.

In a statement, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, AIADMK General Secretary, said, "As decided by the Governing Council of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), after due consideration, for the Rajya Sabha election scheduled to be held on 16.03.2026, *Dr. M. Thambidurai M.A., PhD, M.P., Policy Propagation Secretary of the party and former Union Minister, has been selected and will be fielded as the official Rajyasabha candidate of the AIADMK."

Meanwhile, DMK announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled on March 16, while also finalising seat allocations for its allies in the state. Out of the four Rajya Sabha seats allocated to the DMK, one seat has been allotted to the Congress and another to the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK).

The DMK, in a statement, has officially nominated Tiruchi Siva and Professor J. Constantine Ravindran as its candidates for the remaining two seats. Both leaders will contest as the official representatives of the DMK. The announcement comes moments after the DMK and Congress shook hands for a seat-sharing deal for the upcoming State Assembly Polls.

Following the second round of seat-sharing talks on Wednesday, the DMK and the Congress Party agreed that Congress will contest 28 assembly constituencies and will be allocated one seat in the Rajya Sabha elections.

In a statement, party leaders said that the decision came following the meeting between the DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the upcoming biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to fill the 37 seats across 10 states, as the members are set to complete their term in April 2026, a press note stated.

According to the press note, the term of 37 members who were elected from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will conclude in the month of April, vacating the seats for new members to be elected. The notification will be issued on February 26, commencing the election process.

The last date of nominations is March 5, followed by scrutiny on March 6. The candidates can withdraw their nominations till March 9. The polling is scheduled to take place on March 16, with the counting of votes on the same day at 5 pm.

- ANI
The White House has circulated guidance to Republican lawmakers defending President Donald Trump's decision to launch major combat operations against Iran under "Operation Epic Fury." The stated objectives include destroying Iran's missile capabilities and navy, ensuring its proxies cannot destabilize the region, and guaranteeing it never obtains a nuclear weapon. The administration frames the action as a necessary response to a nearly five-decade threat, arguing previous presidents failed to act. President Trump stated the operations are targeted and estimated they would last approximately four to five weeks.

White House defends Trump's "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran, stating goals to destroy missiles, navy, and prevent nuclear weapons.

Washington, March 3 The White House told Republican lawmakers on that "America will win" and that "the terrorist Iranian regime will be defeated," as it defended President Donald Trump's decision to launch major combat operations against Iran under "Operation Epic Fury."

In an eight-page guidance circulated to lawmakers, the administration said Trump had ordered "major combat operations against the Iranian Regime" with clear and achievable goals.

The stated objectives include: "Destroy their missiles, and raze their missile industry to the ground. Annihilate their Navy." The document also says the operation seeks to ensure "the regime's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilise the region or the world and attack our forces," and to guarantee that Iran can "NEVER obtain a nuclear weapon."

Framing the action as long overdue, the White House said: "President Trump should be commended for killing terrorists and finally having the courage to do what American presidents for nearly 50 years have all contemplated but failed to execute."

It added: "America will win - the terrorist Iranian regime will be defeated."

The guidance argues that Iran has posed a sustained threat to the United States. "Iran has been threatening to destroy the United States and harm the American people for 47 years," it states, calling Tehran "the number one state-sponsor of terrorism in the world."

The document says Trump had previously sought a negotiated settlement but that Iran "REFUSED to make a deal, despite months of extensive talks and good faith efforts."

In an initial statement to the nation, Trump said: "A short time ago, the United States Military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American People by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."

He warned Tehran of further consequences. "Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier."

Addressing concerns about the scope of the campaign, the White House said: "These are targeted, major combat operations. A long and drawn-out war is not the President's intention." It noted that Trump has estimated the operation will last "approximately 4-5 weeks."

The administration confirmed that "a congressional notification was given prior to the attacks," and that Secretary Rubio briefed the bipartisan "Gang of 8."

The White House said the legal justification for the strike rests on "Article II of the Constitution," under which the President serves as Commander-in-Chief.

US-Iran tensions have simmered for decades, rooted in the 1979 hostage crisis and subsequent proxy conflicts across the Middle East. Washington has long maintained that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon is a bipartisan national security priority.

The launch of Operation Epic Fury marks one of the most direct US military actions against Iran in recent history, with the administration framing it as an effort to end what it describes as a nearly five-decade threat to American lives and interests.

- IANS
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning that any leader appointed by Iran to succeed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will be a target for elimination. Israeli media reports indicate Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, is the expected successor and is described as more hardline than his father. Concurrently, the Israeli military is conducting new airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut, following earlier evacuation warnings. The U.S. Treasury had previously sanctioned Mojtaba Khamenei for advancing his father's regional ambitions and domestic oppression.

Israel's Defence Minister warns any successor to Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei will be a target, as reports name his son Mojtaba as the likely heir.

Jerusalem, March 4 Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.

"We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.

Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. However, no independent confirmation has come from official Iran state media on the development.

Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father's office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report. Israeli Media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran. In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated for representing the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.

The US Treasury further said that the then Supreme Leader had delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojataba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and also the Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to advance his father's destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.

Meanwhile, the IDF said a new wave of strikes is underway against Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The IDF said further details will be provided later. Earlier, IDF issued evacuation warnings for two buildings in Beirut ahead of airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure.

"You are located near facilities affiliated with Hezbollah," said the Israeli Army spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee, attaching maps of the buildings that are set to be targeted. Civilians in the area were instructed to distance themselves at least 300 meters from the buildings.

IDF also showed new footage of an airstrike against a group of Iranian soldiers operating an Air defence system, and the targeting of a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter used by the Iranian army. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Tehran on Tuesday had hit dozens of command centres of Iran's Basij paramilitary force and internal security forces.

In addition, as part of the strikes, the IDF says it struck sites belonging to the Iranian army's logistics division, missile launchers and air defence systems.

- ANI
Passengers arriving in Delhi from Dubai described an atmosphere of fear and hearing explosions amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. While they noted local administration managed the situation, the psychological toll on visitors was significant. In response, US-Bangla Airlines has announced special flights to repatriate stranded Bangladeshi nationals from the UAE. The conflict, now in its fourth day, began with US and Israeli strikes and has prompted retaliatory actions from Iran.

Passengers from Dubai describe fear and explosions amid Iran-Israel conflict. US-Bangla operates rescue flights for stranded nationals.

New Delhi, March 4 Passengers arriving at Delhi's IGI Airport from Dubai on Wednesday shared their experiences of the recent unrest in parts of the Middle East amid the Iran-Israel conflict, noting that while administrative measures were effective, the sound of explosives had created a sense of unease.

A passenger, who arrived at IGI Airport from Dubai, while speaking to ANI, said, "I was in Dubai for three days, so there were problems at some places, but the administration there managed everything well. Sounds of explosives were coming from some places, but there was not much problem..."

Another passenger, at IGI Airport, while speaking to ANI, said, "I have just landed. There is an atmosphere of fear at the moment, but I think the people living in Dubai are not as scared as the people who had gone for a trip or for some work; it was difficult for them..."

Meanwhile, US-Bangla Airlines will operate two special flights from Dubai to facilitate the safe return of Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates amid the Iran conflict.

According to an official statement, the airline will operate special flights on the Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route to facilitate the safe return of affected passengers.

The first special flight will depart from Dhaka for Dubai on Wednesday at 7:20 PM (BST) and will return from Dubai at 12:20 am (local time) for Dhaka, it said.

Another special flight will depart from Dhaka for Dubai on Thursday, March 5, at 5:15 PM (BST), and will return from Dubai at 10:00 pm (local time) for Dhaka, the statement said.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI
A report details the strategically restrained support from Russia and China for Iran amid Middle East tensions, designed to defy Washington but avoid dangerous escalation. Both nations provide weapons and diplomatic backing but are careful to steer clear of direct military clashes with the United States. Geographic distance, a lack of regional military infrastructure, and political caution prevent meaningful intervention on Iran's behalf. Ultimately, their relationship with Iran is described as transactional, with neither Beijing nor Moscow willing to risk a direct war with the US.

Report details Russia and China's strategic ambiguity in supporting Iran, providing arms but avoiding direct military confrontation with the United States.

Brussels, March 4 Russia and China's backing of Iran amid the conflict in the Middle East remains strategically ambiguous, designed to signal defiance of Washington, yet carefully restrained to prevent dangerous escalation, a report detailed.

According to a report in the 'European Times', although Iran receives weapons and diplomatic backing, it stands alone on the battlefield, with China and Russia intent on avoiding confrontation with Washington.

Both Beijing and Moscow, it said, are careful to steer clear of military clashes with the United States, wary of tensions that could spiral into global war.

"When the United States and Israel launched sweeping military strikes against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and promising a massive and ongoing campaign, many wondered whether Iran's powerful partners - China and Russia - would intervene. The reality is stark. Despite their rhetoric and arms transfers, neither Beijing nor Moscow can meaningfully come to Iran's aid in the face of direct US military action," the report detailed.

"Distance matters. Russia and China are thousands of miles away from Iran. Unlike the US, which maintains extensive bases and naval assets across the Middle East, neither Moscow nor Beijing has the logistical infrastructure to project sustained military power into the Persian Gulf. There are no secure corridors. Any attempt to move forces would require crossing contested airspace or waters dominated by US and allied militaries," it stressed.

The report described China's support as symbolic rather than strategic, noting that Beijing delivered drones, missile batteries, and engaged in talks over hypersonic systems with Iran. However, it said these measures amount to incremental transfers and do not involve the deployment of Chinese forces, making it difficult to counter the overwhelming US strike capacity.

Meanwhile, with its military bogged down in the Ukrainian war, Russia has little room to open another front against the US. Although its weapon sales to Iran are real, any prospect of direct intervention remains nonexistent.

The report further said, "China and Russia's relationship with Iran is transactional, not sacrificial. They will sell weapons, issue condemnations, and exploit the crisis to needle Washington. But when US missiles rain down, Iran cannot expect rescue. Geography, military overstretch, political caution, and economic self-interest ensure that Beijing and Moscow will remain spectators - loud ones, perhaps, but ultimately unwilling to risk war with the United States."

--IANS

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- IANS
Middle East expert Waiel Awwad has strongly criticized Israel's warning that it would target whoever succeeds the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran's Supreme Leader. He labeled the threat a "cowardly act" and part of Israel's survival style, contrasting it with Khamenei's visible public presence. Awwad discussed potential successors, noting a sympathy wave could influence the selection, possibly elevating Khamenei's son despite tradition. He also stated Iran has ruled out negotiations with the US, vowing to end the conflict on its own terms.

Middle East expert Waiel Awwad criticizes Israel's warning to eliminate Iran's next Supreme Leader, calling it a style of survival and a cowardly act.

New Delhi, March 4 Middle East expert Waiel Awwad on Wednesday criticised Israel's warning that it would target whoever becomes Iran's next Supreme Leader, stating that it was Israel's style and "their survival".

Speaking to ANI amid escalating tensions in West Asia, Awwad took a jibe at the Israelis, stating that they are the "best people who can assassinate leaders in the world."

When asked about the statement made by Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, warning that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will be a "target for elimination", Awwad said, "This is their style, this is their survival. They have been assassinating; what else can they do? They are the best people in the world who can assassinate leaders in the world, and they have done it earlier, and they will do it again."

He further alleged that such threats would not intimidate Iran's leadership, while calling the rhetoric a "cowardly act", and contrasted it with what he described as Khamenei's public presence even during heightened tensions.

"And even he is not afraid; nothing is going to scare him. Even the father, even when Khamenei was actually assassinated, he wasn't hiding in the bunker like the Prime Minister of Israel. He was just sitting and doing his work in his own office. This is a cowardly act, what they are talking about," he added.

His remarks come amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on Saturday on Iranian territory resulted in the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries as the conflict now entered its fifth day.

Tehran's counter-strikes have also targeted American military bases and Israeli assets throughout the region, with Israel also continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening them to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah.

On the appointment of the new Supreme Leader, Awwad stated that before the demise of Khamenei, three potential successors had already been named, and notably, his son was not among them.

"Before the demise of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, actually, he had already named three successors. He said even his son's name was not there," Awwad said.

However, he added that following the assassination, a sympathy wave within Iran could influence the leadership transition.

"Because of the sympathy wave, there is a chance his son could emerge as successor, though it is not a tradition in Iran in this way," he added.

His statement comes amid reports that Khamenei's son Mojtaba will be chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme Leader.

However, the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai refuted the claims, stating, "Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied."

Awwad mentioned that former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was another possible contender, noting that the selection would depend on internal processes.

"It all depends on the election. He has to gain at least two-thirds of the clerics' Majlis to be elected," Awwad said.

On Iran's ruling out negotiations with the US, Awwad said Iran had made its position clear from the outset.

"You [the US] started this war, but we will end this war on our own terms. So, therefore, there is no question of negotiation," he said.

The remarks come amid rapidly escalating hostilities in the region, with heightened concerns over further retaliatory actions and the future political direction of Iran following the death of its Supreme Leader.

- ANI
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav participated in Holi celebrations at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, a tradition upheld by morning walkers for four decades. He extended Holi greetings, particularly to farmers, wishing for their happiness and the prosperity of Bihar. Separately, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the joyful celebration in India, crediting strong national leadership amidst global unrest. The festival, rooted in Hindu mythology, celebrates the victory of good over evil with rituals like Holika Dahan and playing with colours.

Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav celebrated Holi at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, spreading a message of love and prosperity for farmers.

Patna, March 4 Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav on Wednesday participated in the long-standing Holi traditions at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, joining residents in singing folk songs and dancing to mark the festival of colours.

Ram Kripal Yadav, while speaking to ANI, said, "For the past 40 years, morning walkers have been organising Holi celebrations here. This has been organised once again today. We are sharing hugs and spreading love. This is the festival of colours, of joy, of love. Entire Bihar is celebrating Holi today, and I extend greetings to everyone, especially farmers - may the annadata always be happy and grow more...With their prosperity, Bihar will prosper."

On the otherhand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday expressed happiness over the joyful atmosphere brought on the occassion of Holi, highlighting how such a festival is bringing in joy and enthusiasm while the world is in disarray.

Adressing the Lord Narasimha Shobha Yatra, the CM praised the "strong leadership" in India. "We are celebrating this festival of Holi in India at a time when the entire world is in disarray, unrest, and an atmosphere of anarchy. But India, under its (PM Modi's) great leadership, is enjoying this festival with joy and enthusiasm," emphasising that there is no fear, anarchy, or distrust.

The Chief Minister asserted that the nation is driven by the spirit of "Satyameva Jayate", adding, "If corruption is thriving anywhere, we must burn it, and if anarchy, terrorism, or extremism makes a nefarious attempt to raise its head, we must also destroy it."

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan.

The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

- ANI
The Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated former Nagpur Mayor Mayatai Chintaman Ivnate as a Rajya Sabha candidate from Maharashtra. A senior BJP leader and tribal community representative, Ivnate has held key positions including Mayor and NCST member. The party's list also includes Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and general secretary Vinod Tawde for the Upper House. Elections for 37 seats across 10 states will be held on March 16, with the Trinamool Congress announcing four separate candidates.

BJP nominates former Nagpur Mayor Mayatai Ivnate for Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra. See the full list of BJP and TMC candidates for the March 16 elections.

Nagpur, March 4 Ahead of the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday announced its candidates from Maharashtra, including former Nagpur Mayor Mayatai Chintaman Ivnate.

Following the declaration of her candidature, Ivnate reached Mumbai from Nagpur earlier in the day to complete the necessary formalities related to the nomination process.

Mayatai Ivnate is a senior BJP leader from Nagpur and has held several key positions within the party at both city and state levels over the years. She served as the Mayor of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) from 15 December 2007 to 23 December 2009. Known for her long-standing involvement in local politics, she has been actively associated with the BJP organisation for many years and has contributed to various organisational responsibilities.

Ivnate also served as a Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), reflecting her engagement with tribal welfare issues. She belongs to the tribal community and has been a prominent representative of the community in public life.

In the 2026 Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, she was elected as a corporator from Ward No. 12 on a BJP ticket. She has previously served multiple terms as a corporator in the civic body, building extensive experience in municipal governance and grassroots politics.

Apart from Ivnate, the list included names of Republican Party of India chief and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, who is set for another term in the Upper House, whereas BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde is looking to enter the Rajya Sabha for the first time. Ramrao Wadkute is also selected as a candidate.

The BJP had earlier released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections, clearing nine names across six states.

According to an official press release, the announcement was made by the party's Central Election Committee from its New Delhi headquarters.

From Bihar, the party has selected BJP National President Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar. In Assam, the nominees are Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan, while in Chhattisgarh, Laxmi Verma will be contesting. Haryana's candidate is Sanjay Bhatia. Odisha will have Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar representing the party, and from West Bengal, Rahul Sinha has been chosen.

Apart from the BJP, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) announced four candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections: Babul Supriyo, Rajeev Kumar, Menaka Guruswamy, and Koel Mallick.

Babul Supriyo, a former Union Minister who later joined the Trinamool Congress, currently serves as Cabinet Minister of Information Technology and Electronics of the Government of West Bengal. Rajeev Kumar is a former Director General of Police of West Bengal. Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy is known for her legal work in constitutional matters, while Koel Mallick is a prominent figure in the Bengali film industry.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that polling for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections will be held on March 16, with vote counting the same day at 5 pm and the process concluding by March 20.

The elections will fill 37 seats across 10 states - Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana - whose members' terms end in April 2026.

The notification was issued on February 26, commencing the election process, while the last date for nominations is March 5, scrutiny on March 6, and withdrawal by March 9.

- ANI
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed strong confidence that the BJP will win the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and Village Council elections by a huge margin. He stated that the development of the Janajati (tribal) community is a primary goal of the BJP-led government. Saha credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing tribal development since 2014 and claimed only the BJP can deliver real progress. He made these remarks during a large party rally and procession at the TTAADC headquarters in Khumulwng.

Tripura CM Manik Saha asserts BJP will win upcoming tribal council elections and deliver real development for the Janajati community.

Agartala, March 4 Tripura Chief Minister Prof Dr Manik Saha on Wednesday said that the overall development of the Janajati community is one of the primary goals of the current government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to win the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and Village Council elections by a huge margin.

CM Saha said that the BJP government will be established in the District Council and that people's trust and confidence in the Prime Minister and the BJP have increased.

He said this while participating in an organisational program organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the TTAADC headquarters in Khumulwng Bazar today.

This afternoon, a huge procession led by the Chief Minister passed through various roads of Khumulwng.

A large number of workers and supporters participated in the procession.

Later, CM Saha said that the ADC elections are approaching, and in view of the elections, a huge rally has been organised today at the ADC headquarters in Khumulwng.

"This rally has been named Janajati Empowerment and Tripura Empowerment. From this name, you can understand that everyone needs to stand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering all their support, trust, and efforts for development. After Narendra Modi took charge as the Prime Minister in 2014, he has prioritised the development of the Janajati people. In the future, too, no one except the Bharatiya Janata Party will be able to provide real development to the tribals. We are doing that work wholeheartedly," he said.

The Chief Minister also said that if the current situation of TTAADC is to be changed, the Bharatiya Janata Party must be fully supported.

"I am sure that the Janajati community now understands and trusts the Bharatiya Janata Party. For a long time, we have seen crocodile tears. Now, the Bharatiya Janata Party is carrying out real development for the Janajatis. Currently, people across India are supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Similarly, in Tripura too, the Bharatiya Janata Party will secure a major victory in the upcoming District Council and Village Council elections. And of course, the BJP government will be formed in the District Council," he said.

On this day, the organisational function was attended by Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Bharatiya Janata Party's Pradesh General Secretary Bipin Debbarma, along with mandal leaders and various other party officials.

- ANI
The brother of Indian student Aakil Ali has appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government to ensure the safe return of students from Iran amid escalating regional conflict. Due to closed Iranian airspace, immediate evacuation by air is impossible, prompting students to relocate from Tehran to the safer city of Qom as a precaution. The All India Medical Students Association confirms all students are currently safe and is maintaining communication with authorities while advising families to stay calm. The broader instability has caused panic among foreign nationals, including thousands of Indians pursuing studies in Iranian universities.

Brother of student in Iran appeals to PM Modi for safe evacuation amid escalating West Asia conflict. Students relocated to safer city Qom.

Ramban, March 4 As the West Asia conflict continues to escalate, the return of Indian students living in Iran has become a primary concern, with their families hoping for their safe return at the earliest.

The brother of Aakil Ali, who he said had been living in Iran for the last five years, spoke to ANI on Tuesday to urge the government and the PM to bring his brother home.

"He has been studying in Iran for the last five years and has not returned home for a year. Given the current situation between Iran, Israel, and America, I appeal to the Indian government to bring him home as soon as possible... I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back all our Indians who are there safely," he said.

The conflict in West Asia has sharply escalated in recent days, with strikes targeting key locations in Iran and fears of a broader regional confrontation rising.

The instability has triggered panic among foreign nationals, including thousands of Indian students pursuing medical and professional courses in Iranian universities.

As the Iranian airspace remains closed, making any immediate air evacuation impossible, the Indian students have relocated from Tehran and safely reached Qom as part of precautionary arrangements undertaken amid the evolving security situation in the region, the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) said on Tuesday.

All students are reported to be safe. AIMSA also appealed to parents and well-wishers to remain calm.

"We request parents and well-wishers to remain calm and united. Continuous communication is being maintained with the concerned authorities to ensure the safety of every Indian student," the association said.

Earlier, the All India Medical Students' Association (AIMSA), which has been coordinating with students in Iran, confirmed that the Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued advisories asking students to shift to designated safer locations.

- ANI
The Bombay Stock Exchange has received regulatory approval from SEBI to launch futures and options contracts on its Sensex Next 30 index. This index tracks the next largest and most liquid companies within the BSE 100 that are not part of the flagship Sensex 30. The launch is part of BSE's broader expansion, which recently included introducing new government securities indices. Concurrently, the exchange has also decided to remove several specific stocks from its derivatives segment starting in 2026.

BSE receives SEBI approval for derivatives on Sensex Next 30 index, expanding India's market offerings for investors and traders.

Mumbai, March 4 The Bombay Stock Exchange has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India to launch derivatives contracts on the BSE Sensex Next 30 index.

The exchange shared the update in a notice on Wednesday, saying it will introduce cash-settled monthly index futures and monthly index options on the new index.

The Sensex Next 30 index will track the next largest and most liquid companies within the BSE 100 that are part of the derivatives segment but are not included in the Sensex 30 index.

The contracts will have their expiry on the last Thursday of the expiry month. However, the exchange has not yet announced the official launch date for trading.

At present, the BSE offers futures and options contracts on the Sensex with weekly and monthly expiries.

It also provides derivatives contracts on Sensex 50 and BANKEX, both of which have monthly expiries.

Last month, BSE Index Services, a subsidiary of the exchange, launched two new government securities indices.

These include the BSE 4-8 Year G-Sec Index and the BSE 8-13 Year G-Sec Index. The indices are designed to help investors run passive investment strategies such as exchange-traded funds and index funds.

They can also be used as benchmarks for portfolio management services, mutual fund schemes, and other fund portfolios.

According to the exchange, the two G-Sec indices are rebalanced every month and aim to track the performance of the top three most liquid government securities in their respective maturity categories, each with a minimum outstanding issuance of more than Rs 7,500 crore.

The exchange said the addition of these indices will give investors access to a wider range of market opportunities.

Meanwhile, the BSE has also made changes to its equity derivatives segment. It recently decided to exclude Housing & Urban Development Corp., Piramal Pharma Ltd., Tata Technologies Ltd., and Torrent Power Ltd. from the derivatives segment.

The futures and options contracts for these stocks will be discontinued from trading starting May 4, 2026, and no new expiry contracts will be introduced, the exchange informed trading members in a notice.

- IANS
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed Canada's firm solidarity with the United Arab Emirates against ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting civilians in the Middle East. In a call with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Carney condemned the assaults and thanked the UAE for ensuring the safety of Canadian residents. The Prime Minister also raised serious concerns about Iran's nuclear program, noting the failure of decades of diplomatic efforts. Canada reiterated calls for de-escalation and an immediate end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

PM Mark Carney expresses Canada's support for UAE against Iranian missile and drone attacks, discusses nuclear concerns and regional de-escalation.

Sydney, March 4 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed solidarity with the United Arab Emirates amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting civilians across the Middle East, condemning the assaults during a phone conversation with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Carney spoke with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and conveyed Canada's firm support for the UAE as tensions continue to escalate in the region.

"The Prime Minister expressed Canada's solidarity with the UAE against Iranian missile and drone attacks on civilians across the Middle East, which both leaders condemned," the statement said.

Carney also thanked the UAE leadership for ensuring the safety and security of Canadians residing in the Gulf nation. "The Prime Minister conveyed his gratitude to His Highness for his protection of the thousands of Canadians who live in the UAE," the statement added.

During the conversation, the Canadian Prime Minister underlined concerns over Iran's nuclear programme, noting that diplomatic efforts spanning more than two decades have failed to yield the desired results.

"Despite more than two decades of negotiations and diplomatic efforts, Iran has not dismantled its nuclear program, halted its enrichment activities, nor ended its support of terrorist proxies. Canada has long supported the imperative of neutralising this grave global threat," the statement said.

Canada reiterated its call for restraint and de-escalation amid the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East. Emphasising the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure, the Prime Minister urged an immediate halt to violence. "Canada calls for a de-escalation and the immediate cessation of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," the statement noted.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has stated that it is not a party to the Iran war and has not permitted the use of its territory, territorial waters, or airspace for any attack against Tehran, consistent with its long-standing policy of good neighbourliness, de-escalation, and its firm commitment to the Charter of the United Nations.

Furthermore, the UAE underscored that it retains its legitimate right to self-defence, as recognised under international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country has been subjected to more than 1000 attacks- a number exceeding the total faced by all other targeted countries combined- all of which were intercepted and neutralised by the UAE Armed Forces with the utmost professionalism, efficiency, and distinction.

In its statement, the UAE further stressed the importance of journalistic responsibility and the need to rely on official, credible sources before publishing or circulating inaccurate or misleading reports.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has strongly criticized the US-Israel led military strikes on Iran, warning they risk playing "Russian roulette" with the lives of millions. Sanchez reiterated Spain's firm "No to the war" stance, refusing complicity in actions contrary to its values. In response, US President Trump expressed anger with Spain, directing his Treasury Secretary to cut off all dealings with the country. Spain had previously condemned the strikes as reckless and illegal, banning U.S. aircraft from using Spanish bases for the offensive against Tehran.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticizes US-Israel led attacks on Iran, warning against playing "Russian roulette" with millions of lives.

Madrid, March 4 Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to the US-Israel led attack on Iran saying the West Asia conflict risked playing "Russian roulette" with the lives of millions, reported Reuters.

"This is how humanity's great disasters start ... You cannot play Russian roulette with destiny of millions," Sanchez said in his address to the Spanish people.



"The position of the Spanish government can be summarized in four words: 'No to the war.' We're not going to be complicit in something that's bad for the world nor contrary to our values and interests simply to avoid reprisals from someone," Sanchez added.



On Tuesday (local time) addressing a news conference alongside the German Chancellor US President Trump said he had asked US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to stop all dealings with Spain.



"Some of the European nations have been helpful, and some haven't--and I'm very surprised. Germany's been great... Spain has been terrible. In fact, I told Scott to cut off all dealings with Spain," he said, adding, "By the way, I'm not happy with the UK either," Trump said.



Claiming that US strikes had severely degraded Iran's capabilities, Trump asserted, "We've had a very powerful impact because virtually everything they have has been knocked out now. Their missile count is going way down. Amazingly, they're hitting countries that were neutral. They lived together for a long time... Those countries are all fighting against them... They (Iran) no longer have air protection. They no longer have any detection facilities at all. They're going to be in for a lot of hurt. These are bad people."



Spain had earlier criticised the U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iran calling them reckless and illegal, and later banned U.S. aircraft from using naval and air bases in southern Spain for the offensive against Tehran.



Meanwhile, Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalized.





- ANI
US edge in stealth and survivability under pressure

Goal is to restrict US freedom in key waters

Senior US naval commanders have warned lawmakers that China is aggressively investing to close America's long-held undersea military advantage. They cited rapid submarine modernization, advanced seabed sensor networks, and a shift toward nuclear-powered fleets as key threats. The officers stressed that while the US retains a decisive edge in stealth and survivability, this advantage is under direct pressure. Preserving dominance will require sustained investment, innovation, and deeper allied coordination in the Indo-Pacific.

Senior US naval leaders warn China's aggressive submarine and seabed investments are eroding America's long-held undersea advantage in the Indo-Pacific.

Washington, March 3 China is investing aggressively to narrow America's long-held undersea advantage, two senior US naval leaders told lawmakers.

They spoke at a hearing of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission titled "Part of Your World: US-China Competition Under the Sea."

Vice Admiral Richard Seif, Commander of US Naval Submarine Forces, said America's edge beneath the waves remains strong but is under pressure.

"America's military advantage under the sea has been a decisive, enduring source of deterrence and warfighting leverage in the Indo-Pacific," Seif said. He warned that "advantages erode if they are not maintained."

Seif said China is working to narrow the US "stealth margin." He cited rapid submarine modernisation, stronger anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and seabed-sensing networks, sometimes described as an "Underwater Great Wall."

He said Beijing's investments aim to reduce US freedom of action in key maritime approaches, especially near chokepoints and within the first island chain.

Seif outlined four core advantages in the undersea domain: stealth and survivability, power projection, sea denial and sea control, and strategic deterrence.

"Submarines remain the most survivable military platforms," he said. Their ability to operate undetected, he added, underpins credible US response options in a crisis.

Seif cautioned that even incremental improvements in Chinese quieting, sensors, and weapons could shift the balance in contested waters.

To preserve the US edge, he urged prioritising submarine readiness, strengthening the industrial base, speeding maintenance, investing in unmanned systems, and deepening allied interoperability.

"The best submarine is the one that is ready, crewed, and forward when needed," he said.

Rear Admiral Mike Brookes, Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence, echoed the warning.

He said China's undersea modernisation is part of a broader effort to contest US maritime superiority.

China operates "one of the world's largest submarine fleets," with more than 60 boats, including nuclear-powered attack submarines, ballistic missile submarines, and advanced diesel-electric platforms, Brookes testified.

He said Beijing is shifting toward a more nuclear-powered fleet and expanding production capacity to sustain growth into the 2030s.

Brookes described China's "systems confrontation" approach. It integrates submarines, aircraft, seabed sensors and unmanned platforms into a networked anti-submarine architecture.

The goal, he said, is to improve detection and tracking of US submarines in strategically vital waters and raise the cost of American intervention in a crisis.

Brookes also pointed to China's investment in unmanned undersea vehicles, seabed sensor networks and deep-sea mining technologies.

"China is pursuing a unified approach linking strategy, naval modernization, seabed infrastructure, and resource extraction," he said.

He warned that undersea cables and seabed systems could become targets in a conflict.

By 2040, Brookes said, the PLA Navy's undersea forces "may credibly challenge US regional maritime dominance," complicating crisis response and allied defence in the Indo-Pacific.

Both officers stressed that the issue is not making the ocean fully transparent. It is about narrowing the US margin of stealth in key areas.

They said the stakes go beyond military balance. The undersea domain carries most global data traffic and financial transactions. That makes cable security and seabed resilience critical to economic stability.

For India and other Indo-Pacific nations, the testimony highlighted China's expanding submarine reach and growing presence in the Indian Ocean.

The message from the hearing was clear: the United States still holds a decisive undersea advantage, but keeping it will require sustained investment, innovation and close coordination with allies as rivalry moves deeper below the surface.

- IANS
China has reiterated its call for an immediate stop to military operations against Iran, emphasizing principles of mutual respect and equality among nations. Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for Iran in defending its sovereignty and legitimate rights against strikes by the United States and Israel. Wang accused the US and Israel of violating the UN Charter and warned of a dangerous regression to a "law of the jungle" in international affairs. China stated its willingness to play a constructive role through the UN Security Council to strive for peace and a political settlement.

China reiterates call for immediate end to military operations against Iran, supports Tehran's defense, and urges US and Israel to cease actions.

Beijing, March 4 China has reiterated its call for an immediate stop to military operations against Iran, saying that no country has the right to dominate international affairs, dictate the destiny of others, monopolise development advantages, or impose its will on the world, according to China Daily.

According to China Daily, Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, said at a news conference ahead of the opening of its annual session on Wednesday that, "China maintains that mutual respect and equality between all countries, big or small, is what progress through history demands and also the primary principle of the United Nations Charter."

Earlier on Monday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that Beijing supports Tehran in defending itself against strikes by the United States and Israel, as the conflict in the Middle East widened further, Al Arabiya English reported.

Citing Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Al Arabiya English reported that Wang told Abbas Araghchi that Beijing "cherishes the traditional friendship between China and Iran, supports Iran in defending its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and national dignity, and supports Iran in protecting its legitimate rights and interests."

Wang also urged the US and Israel to halt military operations. China had "urged the US and Israel to immediately cease military operations, avoid further escalation of tensions and prevent the conflict from spreading to the entire Middle East region," he said, according to CCTV.

In a separate phone call with Oman's foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, Wang accused the United States and Israel of "violating the purposes and principles of the UN charter" by "deliberately instigating a war against Iran".

"China is also willing to play a constructive role, including upholding justice, striving for peace, and stopping the war through the platform of the UN Security Council," Wang told Albusaidi, as cited by CCTV.

According to Al Arabiya English, in another conversation with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Wang warned that the world risked a "regression to the law of the jungle".

"Major powers cannot arbitrarily attack other countries based on their military superiority," Wang said, according to CCTV. He added that "the Iranian nuclear issue must ultimately return to the track of political and diplomatic settlement."

- ANI
The Hyderabad wedding reception of Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda was a glittering affair attended by film industry stalwarts from across India. Icons like Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna, alongside Bollywood figures such as Karan Johar and Kriti Sanon, graced the event. The guest list also extended to political leaders including Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister. Prior to their Udaipur wedding, the couple had personally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Chiranjeevi, Karan Johar, Kriti Sanon, Nagarjuna, and Neena Gupta attended Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda's lavish Hyderabad wedding reception.

Hyderabad, March 4 Stars from the Indian film industry on Wednesday gathered together under one roof to shower blessings on newlyweds Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda at their Hyderabad reception.

Actress Neena Gupta attended the ceremony with her husband Vivek Mehra. The two posed with Rashmika and Vijay for a selfie. Interestingly, that picture was shared by Neena's daughter and designer Masaba on her Instagram post.

"Congratulations you gorgeous and (oh so stylish) people. Wish you a lifetime of love, happiness, and good health," Masaba posted.

Icon Chiranjeevi arrived at the function in full dapper mode.

Nagarjuna Akkineni marked stylish entry with wife Amala Akkineni. Nagarjuna's son Naga Chaitanya was also there.

Actor Mrunal Thakur, who shared screen space with Vijay in Telugu-language romantic action-drama film 'The Family Star', too, attended the function to congratulate the couple.

She looked elegant in a black saree.

Filmmakers Karan Johar, Homi Adajania, and Dinesh Vijan also marked their presence.

Actors Rana Daggubati and Kriti Sanon were spotted arriving at the wedding reception as well.

Rashmika and Vijay's wedding reception also saw the presence of political leaders such as Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar, BRS working president KT Rama Rao, and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, among others.

Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda got married on February 26 in Udaipur in the presence of their close friends and family members.A few days before they exchanged their vows, the couple met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to extend a wedding invitation to them.

- ANI
A CIA station within the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was reportedly hit in a drone attack, causing structural damage but no injuries. Separately, a fire near the US Consulate in Dubai, suspected to be from a drone strike, has been extinguished with no casualties. US Central Command claims its operations have severely degraded Iran's air defenses and missile stockpiles, reducing Tehran's ability to retaliate. The incidents occur amid heightened regional tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Drones hit a CIA station at the US Embassy in Riyadh and a fire broke out near the US Consulate in Dubai. US officials claim Iran's retaliatory capacity is declining.

Riyadh, March 4 Fox News, citing a source, has reported that a CIA station inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was hit in a drone attack. Two drones caused structural damage and smoke inside the compound, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries, said the news report.

Earlier, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes on Iran, a fire that broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General in Dubai late Tuesday night, following a suspected drone strike, has been fully extinguished, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported.

According to a source in the region cited by CNN, the consulate grounds were hit by what is believed to be an Iranian drone.

In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office wrote, "The fire near the US Consulate in Dubai has been fully extinguished, with no injuries reported. Dubai authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring everyone's safety and security.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai. He said all personnel were accounted for after the incident.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with air defence systems across the Gulf region on high alert.

Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of United States Central Command said that with the intensity of the US attack Iran's ability to hit back was diminishing.

"Now, we're less than 100 hours into this operation, and we've already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. In simple terms, we're focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us," he said.

"Iran's ability to hit us and our partners is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan. Along the way, every single branch of our military is achieving unprecedented success," he added.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has chaired an emergency online meeting with Gulf representatives to address the safety of Non-Resident Keralites amid rising Middle East tensions. The state government has formally alerted the Centre to ensure the safety of Indian expatriates and assist with urgent travel needs. Key concerns include flight cancellations, stranded passengers, and exorbitant airfares, which will be raised with the Union government. Vijayan urged expatriates to follow official advisories and assured state intervention to ease their difficulties during the crisis.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan chairs emergency meeting, pledges full state support for Non-Resident Keralites amid escalating Middle East tensions.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 3 With tensions rising in the Middle East amid the Israel-US and Iran conflict, Kerala has moved to proactively assess the safety of its expatriate population, particularly in the Gulf.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday night chaired an online meeting of representatives of the Gulf region in the Loka Kerala Sabha, underscoring that safeguarding Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) remains the state government's top priority.

Describing the situation as one that demands unity, he said this was a time for expatriates to set aside differences and act collectively.

He expressed satisfaction at the coordinated response from the Malayali diaspora so far, even as anxieties persist over the evolving security landscape in the region.

The state has formally alerted the Centre on the need to ensure the safety of Indian expatriates and to facilitate travel for those requiring urgent return.

"Kerala will extend all possible support within its mandate," Vijayan said.

Key concerns, including flight cancellations, refund delays, exorbitant ticket fares, the possibility of chartered services and the plight of transit passengers stranded at Gulf airports, will be brought before the Union government.

The Chief Minister also pointed to the Gulf's deep trade and commercial linkages with India, cautioning that any prolonged instability could have economic ripple effects back home, potentially impacting livelihoods and supply chains in Kerala.

Representatives attending the meeting said that while there is palpable concern over the conflict, the situation in their respective countries remains calm, and there is no immediate atmosphere of panic.

However, they highlighted practical challenges such as expatriates needing emergency travel, students required to return home for examinations, passengers stranded due to cancelled flights, and those stuck on transit visas.

The Chief Minister urged expatriates to strictly adhere to advisories issued by local authorities and Indian embassies, and to refrain from spreading or acting on unverified information.

He assured that the state would intervene wherever feasible to ease the difficulties faced by Keralites abroad during the crisis.

Over 2.5 million Keralaites eke out their living in the various Middle East countries.

- IANS
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu asserted that the coalition government has successfully revived 'Brand Andhra' by restoring investor confidence, contrasting it with the period from 2019-2024 which saw over 900 company closures. He highlighted securing investments worth Rs 13.25 lakh crore at a recent summit, which is projected to create 16 lakh jobs, alongside the creation of 6.28 lakh jobs in the last 20 months. The government is pursuing massive development projects, including establishing Amaravati as a Quantum Computer Valley and developing Visakhapatnam and Tirupati as key economic hubs. A landmark Universal Health Policy offering free medical services and the Sanjeevani project for digital health records are central to the administration's welfare goals.

CM Naidu says coalition govt restored investor confidence, secured massive investments, and created over 6 lakh jobs, aiming for a $2.4T economy by 2047.

Amaravati, March 4 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that the coalition government has restored investors' confidence in the state and revived the Brand Andhra.

Speaking in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that between 2019 and 2024, the brand AP was severely damaged. According to the RBI report, 913 companies shut down

between 2019-20 and 2023-24.

He claimed that under the present coalition government, Andhra Pradesh has become the destination for rapid progress in Doing Business. With 26 policies, approvals are being granted swiftly, he said.

He stated that tourism has been accorded industrial status. Industrial parks are being set up in all 175 constituencies. The government has also released industrial incentives worth Rs 210 crore.

He created 6.28 lakh jobs in the state within 20 months. Of these, 2.48 lakh jobs were generated in MSMEs, 1.46 lakh through Skill Development initiatives, 95,000 in industries and 64,000 in the food processing sector. Additionally, 30,500 government jobs were provided through Mega DSC, police constable recruitment and other government appointments.

The Chief Minister revealed that at the recent Investors' Summit held in Visakhapatnam, investments worth Rs 13.25 lakh crore were secured, which will generate 16 lakh jobs.

He told the House that the government is working for balanced regional development. Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati are being developed as economic regions. Andhra Pradesh aims to become a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047. Visakhapatnam will emerge as a hub for Information Technology and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Unprecedented investments have flowed into Visakhapatnam, he said.

To ensure the sustainability of these investments, the government has decided to create an escrow account for industrial incentives.

India's first Quantum Computer Valley has been launched in Amaravati. Just as Silicon Valley is in the US, Amaravati will become the destination for Quantum computing.

Tirupati will be developed as a hub for space, electronics, and defence industries.

The Chief Minister said for the first time in the country, a Universal Health Policy applicable to all citizens is being introduced. It will provide free medical services up to Rs 2.5 lakh. Efforts are underway to ensure affordable healthcare.

He stated that medical colleges are being constructed under the PPP model. The previous government did not even allot land for medical colleges. The current government aims to establish 100-bed hospitals in every constituency. He explained that the PPP does not mean privatisation; the assets will remain government-owned, and services will follow government regulations.

Through the Sanjeevani project, digital health records are being created for every citizen. Providing quality healthcare to all is the coalition government's objective, he said.

- IANS
A report highlights that recent US and Israeli military strikes against Iran represent a major escalation driven by deep structural tensions like nuclear proliferation and regional hegemony. It argues coercive force often strengthens an adversary's resistance and expands conflicts rather than ensuring compliance. The confrontation exacerbates regional fault lines, ties Israel's strategy closer to the US, and triggers global economic volatility through oil price spikes. Underlying mutual distrust and domestic pressures in both Iran and the US constrain diplomatic solutions and empower hardline factions.

Report warns US-Israel strikes on Iran could expand conflict, strengthen hardliners, and disrupt global energy markets, underscoring limits of military force.

New Delhi, March 3 The current escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran underscores fundamental lessons about the intersection of military power, diplomacy, and strategic communication, a report cited on Tuesday.

"First, the use of coercive military force against a highly motivated adversary does not necessarily ensure compliance or quick surrender; instead, it may strengthen resistance and expand the scope of the conflict. Second, without credible and sustained diplomatic engagement, supported by enforceable security guarantees and mutual commitments, the negotiations are unlikely to succeed when overshadowed by threats of force. Third, regional conflicts are rarely confined in space or time, and they tend to spread across alliances, economic systems, and domestic political arenas," an article in Indian Narrative explained.

The direct military strikes of the US and Israel against Iran in February, wrote Professor Anu Sharma, can be one of the most consequential escalations in West Asia geopolitics. What distinguishes this episode, she opined, is not merely the scale of violence, but the convergence of long-standing structural tensions like nuclear proliferation, regional hegemony, deterrence and domestic political pressures that together transformed a protracted rivalry into active, kinetic confrontation.

"Before the strikes, the US-Iran relations had fluctuated between tentative diplomatic engagement over Tehran's nuclear programme and periodic military brinksmanship. However, underlying these struggles remains the deep mutual distrust. Washington perceives Iran's nuclear enrichment and missile capabilities as threats to regional security and global non-proliferation norms, while Tehran interprets American pressure and allied military presence as existentially hostile," Sharma wrote in India Narrative.

"For years, Iran has pursued a composite deterrent strategy combining asymmetric forces and proxy networks in the Middle Eastern region. At the same time, Iranian domestic imperatives, including concerns about leadership legitimacy and economic struggles, have constrained Iranian flexibility in negotiations. Iranian leaders encountered domestic criticism for making what were seen as concessions without securing clear or concrete security guarantees in return. This situation strengthened hardline factions, who contended that Iran should assert its strength by responding firmly to any actions perceived as hostile or aggressive," she further stated.

US considered using major combat operations due to multiple pressures. In 2026, decision makers in the US considered this operation punitive and preventive, with a goal to deter future threats.

"Regionally, the confrontation has exacerbated existing fault lines across the Middle East. The Gulf states have welcomed action by the United States and Israel that checked Tehran's regional influence but also expressed concern about being drawn into wider conflict. For Israel, participation in pre-emptive strikes against Iran underscored both the depth of its security anxieties and its willingness to act when it deems existential threats imminent. Yet, this alignment also tied Israeli strategic fortunes to American military frameworks, raising complex questions about autonomy in future regional engagements."

The conflict also has an impact well beyond the West Asia with oil prices having increased amid fears of supply chokepoints and logistical disruptions to shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, prolonged uncertainty even in diversified energy markets encourages consumer states and producers to reassess risk exposures. Nations relying on energy sources from this region face immediate economic volatility while long term investment patterns accelerate shifts toward alternative energy sources and strategic reserves.

- IANS
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta extended Holi greetings, framing the festival as a celebration of shared culture and unity in diversity. She connected the blending of Holi colors to her government's efforts in developing modern infrastructure and connecting the city. The CM appealed for an environmentally friendly celebration using natural colors and reiterated dedication to a safe, prosperous Delhi. The capital also hosted a diplomatic Holi eve event at the Assembly, attended by ambassadors and Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, showcasing cultural harmony.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta extends Holi greetings, linking festival colors to development, brotherhood, and a pollution-free, world-class capital vision.

New Delhi, March 3 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday extended greetings to city residents on the auspicious festival of Holi, describing it as a symbol of harmony, love, and unity.

In her message, the Chief Minister said that Holi is not merely a festival of colours, but a celebration of our shared culture and unity in diversity.

She expressed her wish that the festival bring happiness and prosperity to every resident of Delhi. She urged citizens to come together to eliminate hatred and build a strong and inclusive society coloured by brotherhood.

The Chief Minister reiterated her government's commitment to transforming Delhi's infrastructure to world-class standards, the statement said.

She stated that just as the colours of Holi blend to create new beauty, the government is working tirelessly to connect every corner of the city with modern roads, seamless transport, and smart facilities, while taking strong measures to control pollution.

She expressed confidence that the vision of a 'Viksit Delhi' will soon become a reality, one that every citizen will take pride in.

The Chief Minister also appealed to citizens to celebrate an environmentally friendly Holi and encouraged the use of natural colours.

She reaffirmed her dedication to building a safe and prosperous Delhi, emphasising that fraternity remains the city's greatest strength on its path of development.

As the capital of India, Delhi's culture sets the direction for the nation. She expressed full confidence that the people of Delhi, united in spirit, will realise the dream of a 'Viksit Delhi'.

The Capital city witnessed another Holi eve event at the Assembly, where Speaker "Holi is not just a festival of colours; it is a celebration of India's civilisational strength, our democratic spirit, and the enduring victory of truth and righteousness," he said.

The grand celebration at the historic Assembly complex brought together members of the diplomatic community, political leadership, and public representatives in a rare display of cultural harmony and international goodwill, according to an official statement.

The event was attended by Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and distinguished members of the diplomatic corps. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra was also present on the occasion. The gathering reflected a strong spirit of diplomatic goodwill and national unity, the statement said.

- IANS
Victory in Upper House election seen as certain

BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde has been nominated as a Rajya Sabha candidate from Maharashtra. He expressed gratitude to the party leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tawde's promotion is largely attributed to his successful tenure as Bihar incharge, where he engineered the NDA's assembly election victory. His political journey spans from ABVP student activism to serving as a minister in the Maharashtra government.

BJP's Vinod Tawde, credited for NDA's Bihar win, secures Rajya Sabha seat. He pledges to serve national interest under PM Modi's guidance.

Mumbai, March 4 Following the announcement of his candidature for the Rajya Sabha, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde on Wednesday expressed his gratitude via social media, reaffirming his dedication to the party's mission and the nation.

In a post on his X handle Tawde stated, "Infinite thanks and gratitude! I sincerely thank the senior leadership and the Central Election Committee for selecting me as a Rajya Sabha candidate.

"Under the guidance of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of National President Nitin Nabin, we remain forever committed to serving the national interest.

"My heartfelt thanks to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State President Ravindra Chavan for this nomination. I am firm and committed to fulfilling this new responsibility with complete dedication and loyalty."

The decision to field Vinod Tawde for the Rajya Sabha is widely viewed as a recognition of his organizational prowess and unwavering party loyalty. His strategic performance in Bihar and other states played a decisive role in this promotion. After Nitish Kumar exited the NDA in 2022, the BJP entrusted Tawde with the critical role of Bihar Incharge.

In a politically complex state, Tawde strengthened the party's infrastructure down to the booth level. He is hailed as a chief architect of the NDA's resounding success in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

Through meticulous planning, effective "social engineering," and seamless coordination with allies, he solidified the NDA's grip on the state, cementing his position among the most powerful BJP leaders in New Delhi.

Vinod Tawde's political career began as a full-time activist with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), where he led student movements at both Mumbai and national levels.

He served as Mumbai BJP President from 2000 to 2003. He was a long time member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC); served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Council in 2011.

He held key portfolios including Education, Cultural Affairs, Sports, and Marathi Language in the Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet from 2014-2019.

After being denied a ticket in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, he was later inducted into the BJP Central Team in 2020.

He has since successfully managed responsibilities as the incharge for Haryana and Bihar, and currently serves as the election incharge for Kerala.

The BJP has nominated Tawde from Maharashtra for the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections. Alongside him, the party has fielded Ramdas Athawale, Maya Ivnate, and Ramrao Wadkute.

Given the current strength of the BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Tawde's victory is considered certain. This election will mark his first entry into the Upper House of Parliament.

- IANS
Congress MP Rajeev Shukla extended Holi greetings, describing the festival as a unique occasion that brings people together in a spirit of unity. He simultaneously emphasised the urgent need for peace in the West Asia region, calling for an end to instigated conflicts. Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik highlighted the significance of Rahul Gandhi's participation in the party's celebrations at the AICC. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi himself arrived at the party headquarters to celebrate Holi with workers, wishing everyone a hate-erasing festival.

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla extends Holi greetings, calls for an end to conflicts in West Asia. Rahul Gandhi celebrates with party workers at AICC.

New Delhi, March 4 Congress MP Rajeev Shukla extended Holi greetings on Wednesday, noting that the Indian National Congress is also celebrating the festival. He described Holi as a unique occasion that brings people together, where individuals embrace one another and exchange colours in a spirit of unity and joy.

Shukla also emphasised the need for peace in the West Asia region, stating that conflicts and disputes should come to an end. He said it is wrong for countries to instigate tensions and called for harmony across the world.

"Greetings of Holi to the citizens. The Congress Party is also celebrating Holi. This is one such festival of ours in which everyone comes together, everyone embraces each other and applies colours to one another. What could be more delightful than this?. We believe that there should be peace in the world. These fights and quarrels should stop. It is not right for these countries that are instigating fights and quarrels to do so," Shukla told ANI.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik highlighted the significance of the occasion, saying that LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is an important national leader. He expressed happiness that Gandhi would join the celebrations at the AICC and participate in the festivities with party workers.

"Rahul Gandhi is our leader, a very important leader of the country. Coming here and joining in the celebrations with everyone is what we consider a really important occasion. We are all delighted that he will come to AICC today on this occasion and celebrate with all workers," said Mukul Wasnik.

Earlier, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrived at the party headquarters and celebrated Holi with the party workers. "Happy Holi. Sabko pyaar bhari, nafrat mitaane wali Holi," Gandhi told reporters.

Holi, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the arrival of spring and the harvest season. The celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.

- ANI
Iran is set to begin a three-day farewell ceremony for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Israeli media reports suggest his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been chosen as the successor, though this is unconfirmed by Iranian state media. In response, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning that any new leader appointed by Iran will be a "target for elimination." The warning comes amid ongoing conflict, with over 1,200 people evacuated to Israeli hospitals since hostilities with Iran escalated.

As Iran begins farewell for Ayatollah Khamenei, Israel warns his successor will be a target for elimination. Reports name his son Mojtaba as likely heir.

Tehran, March 4 Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalized.

Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. However, no independent confirmation has come from official Iran state media on the development.

Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father's office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report. Israeli Media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran.

In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated for representing the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.

The US Treasury further said that the then Supreme Leader had delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojataba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and also the Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to advance his father's destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.

Responding to the development, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.

"We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.

Meanwhile, Israel's Health Ministry reported that in the past 24 hours, 219 injured people have been taken to hospitals as a result of the conflict with Iran, said Times of Israel. According to the Ministry, a total of 1,274 people have been evacuated to hospitals since the fighting began on Saturday. Of that number, 96 are still currently hospitalized, while the remainder have been treated and released.

- ANI
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta celebrated the festival of Holi at her official residence and shared her greetings on social media. In her message, she connected the festival's joy to themes of women's empowerment and self-reliance, highlighting her government's efforts. BJP Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva also emphasized the festival's message of unity and collective development. Holi, marking the arrival of spring, is traditionally celebrated with colours and bonfires, symbolizing renewal and the victory of good over evil.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta celebrates Holi, extends greetings, and highlights her government's initiatives for women's empowerment and self-reliance.

New Delhi, March 4 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday celebrated the festival of Holi at her residence and extended warm greetings to the people of the national capital.

Earlier in the day, the CM took to X to convey her wishes.

"Heartiest greetings to all of you on this auspicious occasion of Holi. May this festival of colours bring new hope, new enthusiasm, and prosperity to your lives. A developed Delhi is one where celebrations also become a medium of empowerment," she wrote.

Highlighting her government's focus on women's empowerment, the Chief Minister said: "We have strived to connect every housewife, every daughter, every sister, every mother with respect and support this Holi. From the kitchen to the flight of dreams, we have resolved to recognise the strength of every home."

"May this Holi not just be a celebration of colours, but a celebration of self-reliance. May prosperity reside in every home. May every family flourish. Wishing you all a happy Holi filled with love, security and prosperity."

Speaking to IANS, BJP Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva said, "This festival is a festival of colours and love. Everyone should come together and contribute to the development of Delhi and the country."

Holi, a major Hindu festival celebrated since ancient times, marks the arrival of spring and symbolises new beginnings. The festival is associated with joy, renewal, and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally, celebrations begin with Holika Dahan, during which a bonfire is lit to symbolically burn away negativity and usher in a bright and colourful future.

The following day is marked by people smearing colours on one another, sharing sweets, and gathering with family and friends. Though rooted in Hindu tradition, Holi has evolved into a widely celebrated festival across communities and even internationally, promoting unity, harmony, and togetherness.

- IANS
Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee posted a powerful social media note condemning those who disrespect the nation and its soldiers. She argued that while policy disagreement is acceptable, mocking national integrity and questioning sacrifices is not. The actress emphasized the dignity of the land that provides safety and sustenance. This comes from a public figure who has previously faced significant online trolling for her personal life choices.

Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee issues a strong social media note condemning mockery of national integrity and soldier sacrifices, sparking debate.

Mumbai, March 3 Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee shared a strongly worded note on social media addressing issues of nationalism, respect and loyalty towards the country.

The actress penned a note that was powerfuly worded and read, "You say you don't belong to this country.(BHARAT)

You feel no pride in our soldiers. No grief when they are martyred. You call terror attacks "conspiracies." You dismiss operations as "drama." You reduce victims to "propaganda." But to stand against your own nation - you never hesitate."

She further wrote, "You cry for enemies. You justify hatred. You question every sacrifice made to protect you - while enjoying the freedom that sacrifice gave you."

"Living here. Earning here. Eating here. Breathing safely because someone stands at the border for you. And still mocking the very idea of national integrity?"

"Disagreement is your right. Disrespect is not. You don't have to agree with every policy.

But if you cannot even acknowledge the blood shed to keep this land standing.......then ask yourself what loyalty truly means," she wrote.

The actress further highlighted, "This is not blind nationalism. This is about dignity. This is about respect. This is about not spitting on the soil that shelters you."

She concluded by asking to either support the country that you stay in or stay in the country you support.

"Yaa toh jiss desh ka namak kha rahe ho usse wafadaari karlo. Yaa toh jiss desh k saath wafaadari nibha rahe ho wahan ka namak khaya karo... As simple as that," she wrote.

Talking about the actress, she is best known for playing Gopi Bahu in the television show "Saath Nibhaana Saathiya", and has often been seen voicing her opinions on social and on political matters.

The actress, during her wedding had earlier faced heavy trolling after she married her gym trainer, Shahnawaz Shaikh, in December 2022.

The interfaith marriage had surprised many of her fans after she shared pictures from her intimate wedding ceremony on social media.

While Devoleena follows Hinduism, her husband Shahnawaz is Muslim, which led to backlash online, but the actress braved all the heavy trolling and insensitive remarks and firmly stood by her decision.

In 2023, the couple announced the arrival of their baby boy, Joy marking a new chapter in their lives.

- IANS
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra extended Holi greetings via social media, emphasizing love, camaraderie, and auspiciousness for all citizens. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh actively celebrated at his residence, playing drums and applying colors while wishing for global peace and harmony. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also celebrated, expressing hope that the festival would bring a new wave of development for the capital. The festival, rooted in Hindu mythology, sees main celebrations in North India following the ritual of Holika Dahan.

Congress's Priyanka Gandhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta extend Holi wishes, celebrating the festival of colors and harmony.

New Delhi, March 4 Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday extended Holi greetings to the nation, wishing for auspiciousness for all citizens.

In an X post, the Congress MP wrote, Heartfelt greetings on the grand festival of Holi, brimming with the diverse hues of enthusiasm, excitement, joy, sweetness, and camaraderie. Holi is the grand festival of embracing everyone with love--your family, friends, society, and one another. Embrace one and all, and share joy with everyone. May Holi bring auspiciousness to all fellow citizens!"

On the occasion of Holi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh showcased active participation in the celebrations at his residence, playing drums, and putting gulaal on people.

Many people gathered at his residence in the national capital to celebrate the festival of colours.

Singh also extended Holi greetings to the people, wishing for peace and harmony in the world.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Heartfelt greetings of Holi to all the countrymen. May peace be established throughout the world. May everyone live in peace and harmony. These are my heartfelt wishes on the holy festival of Holi."

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also celebrated Holi at her residence, expressing hope that the festival of colours would usher in a new era of development for the national capital.

Speaking to the media, Rekha Gupta said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of Delhi on the occasion of Holi. I hope this festival of Holi brings new enthusiasm and a wave of development for the people of Delhi. We should celebrate Holi together in a peaceful manner."

Holi celebration is rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

While several states in Western India, including Mumbai and Gujarat, have already begun the festivities on Tuesday, North India is set to mark its main celebrations today.

- ANI
The ruling DMK and the Congress have formally signed their seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. As per the pact, the Congress will contest 28 constituencies, three more than in 2021, and has also been allotted one Rajya Sabha seat. The deal was finalised after negotiations, with senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram stepping in to resolve a deadlock over seat allocation. The agreement reinforces the long-standing alliance between the two parties, which remains a key political force in the state.

DMK and Congress finalise TN poll pact. Congress to contest 28 assembly seats and gets one Rajya Sabha berth after negotiations led by Chidambaram.

Chennai, March 4 Ending days of intense negotiations and uncertainty, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Congress on Wednesday formally signed their seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. 

As per the pact, the Congress will contest 28 Assembly constituencies, three more than the 25 seats it contested in the 2021 Assembly elections as part of the alliance. 

In addition, the Congress has also been allotted one Rajya Sabha seat as part of the understanding between the two parties. 

The agreement was signed at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai, by DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai. 

The Rajya Sabha berth offered to the Congress is seen as a key component of the broader political arrangement aimed at strengthening the alliance ahead of the crucial Assembly elections. 

The deal was finalised after several rounds of negotiations between leaders of both parties, which had briefly reached a deadlock over the number of seats and the Congress's demand for a greater role within the alliance. 

At one stage, the talks appeared to be heading towards a breakdown as the Congress pushed for a higher seat allocation. 

The impasse was eventually resolved after senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram stepped in as an emissary of the party's high command and held discussions with Chief Minister Stalin on March 3. 

Following these talks, both sides moved towards a compromise, leading to the final agreement. Before the signing ceremony, a Congress delegation led by Girish Chodankar, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Tamil Nadu and head of the party's seat-sharing committee, met the Chief Minister. 

The delegation included TNCC president Selvaperunthagai, Congress Legislature Party leader K. Rajesh Kumar, and other senior leaders. 

Speaking to reporters after the signing of the pact, Selvaperunthagai said the party was satisfied with the agreement and confident that the alliance would perform strongly in the upcoming elections. 

He also said the candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat allotted to the Congress would be announced later by the party high command in consultation with the State leadership. 

Chodankar said that formal discussions between the DMK and the Congress on seat sharing for the Puducherry Assembly elections would begin on March 5. 

The agreement reinforces the over two-decade-long alliance between the DMK and the Congress, which began in 2004. 

Despite occasional differences, including a brief split ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the partnership has remained a significant political force in Tamil Nadu and continues to play a key role in shaping the State's electoral landscape.

- IANS
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde personally coordinated two special flights to evacuate 164 citizens stranded in Dubai due to the closure of Middle Eastern airspace. The passengers, including 84 business students from Pune, are scheduled to land in Mumbai on Tuesday evening. The state government has established a dedicated WhatsApp helpline in collaboration with the Indian People's Forum in Dubai for assistance. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar are also overseeing the rescue efforts, maintaining contact with central and international authorities.

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde arranges two special aircraft to bring back 164 Maharashtrians, including 84 students, stranded in UAE due to Middle East airspace closure.

Mumbai, March 3 Amid the escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday arranged two special aircraft to rescue citizens stranded in the UAE.

The closure of Middle Eastern airspace had left several Indians including Maharashtrians stuck in Dubai and surrounding regions, prompting immediate intervention from the leadership.

Following personal coordination by the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, two special Star Air flights are scheduled to depart from Fujairah Airport on Tuesday, Flight VTGSO: Scheduled takeoff at 3:30 PM and Flight VTGSH: Scheduled takeoff at 4:30 PM, said Dy CM Shinde's office in a release.

A total of 164 passengers are expected to touch down at Mumbai Airport between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM on Tuesday night.

The group includes 84 students from Pune's Indira School of Business Studies, along with residents from Thane, Murbad, Ahilyanagar, and other parts of the state, said the release.

Two days ago, Deputy CM Shinde personally interacted with the stranded citizens to reassure them of their safety. "You are all safe; do not worry. The Maharashtra Government and I personally stand firmly behind you. Every possible effort will be made to bring you back home safely," Shinde had promised.

By maintaining constant communication with various international and aviation authorities, the Deputy CM ensured a clear passage for these 164 passengers to return to India.

In a related development, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar assured the stranded Maharashtra citizens that the state government is committed to ensuring the safety and safe return of every one of its citizens.

In her post on X, Dy CM Sunetra Pawar said, "In the backdrop of the tense situation, ensuring the safety of citizens from Maharashtra stranded there is of utmost priority for the state government. Continuous contact is being maintained with all citizens through the relevant agencies, and efforts are underway at a war footing to provide them with the necessary assistance and guidance."

She further stated, "In collaboration with the Dubai-based Indian People's Forum, the Maharashtra government has made available a special WhatsApp helpline for assistance and coordination. Those in need of urgent help, information, or guidance are urged to contact on WhatsApp Helpline: +97150 365 4357."

Earlier, the Chief Minister's Office said in its post on X that the state government is in contact with various citizens from Maharashtra who are stranded due to the war-like situation that has arisen in West Asia.

The CMO's intervention comes after tensions escalate between Iran, Israel, and the United States and the ripple effects have severely impacted Gulf nations, leaving a significant number of citizens from India stranded in Dubai and other countries.

"Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself is continuously in touch with various agencies and is also maintaining constant contact with the central government. He has instructed state minister Girish Mahajan to oversee the coordination efforts.

"The central government is also extending all possible assistance to the Maharashtra government. In coordination with the Indian People's Forum in Dubai, the Maharashtra government has issued a WhatsApp number, and those in need of help are urged to contact this WhatsApp number +97150 365 4357," stated the CMO.

- IANS
Spain banned US use of its bases for Iran offensive

European Council President Antonio Costa expressed the EU's full solidarity with Spain following President Pedro Sanchez's firm opposition to US-Israeli military operations in Iran. Sanchez condemned the actions, warning they risked playing "Russian roulette" with millions of lives and reiterated Spain's "No to the war" position. In response, US President Donald Trump ordered a halt to all US Treasury dealings with Spain, which had earlier banned US aircraft from using Spanish bases for the offensive. Meanwhile, Iran prepares for a multi-day funeral ceremony for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

EU Council President Costa expresses full solidarity with Spain's President Sanchez, who opposes US-Israel Iran operations, as Trump threatens economic reprisals.

Brussels, March 4 President of the European Council Antonio Costa expressed solidarity with Spanish President Pedro Sanchez as he opposed the US-Israeli operations in Iran.

Costa said that the EU stands with its member states.

In a post on X, Costa said, "I have just held a call with President Pedro Sanchez to express the EU's full solidarity with Spain. The EU will always ensure that the interests of its Member States are fully protected. We reaffirm our firm commitment to the principles of international law and the rules-based order everywhere in the world."

Sanchez on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to the US-Israel led attack on Iran saying the West Asia conflict risked playing "Russian roulette" with the lives of millions, reported Reuters.

"This is how humanity's great disasters start ... You cannot play Russian roulette with destiny of millions," Sanchez said in his address to the Spanish people.

"The position of the Spanish government can be summarised in four words: 'No to the war.' We're not going to be complicit in something that's bad for the world nor contrary to our values and interests simply to avoid reprisals from someone," Sanchez added.

On Tuesday (local time), addressing a news conference alongside the German Chancellor, US President Trump said he had asked US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to stop all dealings with Spain.

Spain had earlier criticised the U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iran, calling them reckless and illegal, and later banned U.S. aircraft from using naval and air bases in southern Spain for the offensive against Tehran.

Meanwhile, Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days, and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalised.

- ANI
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrated Holi by calling for global peace, urging an end to conflict so colours of joy can replace gunpowder. His comments come amid heightened tensions in West Asia following military actions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Separately, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the joyful Holi celebrations in India, crediting the country's stability and enthusiasm to strong national leadership. Adityanath also praised the RSS, announcing marches for its centenary and linking it to the preservation of Hindu traditions and India's integrity.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls for global harmony this Holi, as tensions escalate in West Asia. Yogi Adityanath praises India's stability under PM Modi.

Bhopal, March 4 Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday called for peace on the occasion of Holi celebration.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while celebrating Holi at his residence in Bhopal, emphasised that the festival teaches us to enjoy life and not make war.

"The festival of Holi teaches us that the world should forget grievances. May the bombs raining down from the sky end, and may colours rain down from the sky. Colours signify love, joy, unity and harmony. Everyone should get drenched in the colours of joy and not in the stench of gunpowder," he said.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan's comments come amid the escalation of tensions in West Asia after the US and Israel killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran, in retaliation, launched strikes on Tel Aviv and US military bases in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, putting the region at serious risk.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed happiness over the joyful atmosphere brought on the occassion of Holi, highlighting how such a festival is bringing in joy and enthusiasm while the world is in disarray.

Adressing the Lord Narasimha Shobha Yatra, the CM praised the "strong leadership" in India, "We are celebrating this festival of Holi in India at a time when the entire world is in disarray, unrest, and an atmosphere of anarchy. But India, under its (PM Modi's) great leadership, is enjoying this festival with joy and enthusiasm," emphasising that there is no fear, anarchy, or distrust.

The CM also praised the RSS as the "world's largest cultural organisation", declaring that marches in honour of the 100 years of RSS would take place.

"The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the world's largest cultural organisation, has had millions of pracharaks and swayamsevaks who, under its aegis, have dedicated their entire lives to the honour, pride, and glory of Hindus, to the traditions of India's Sanatan Dharma, and to India's unity and integrity," he said.

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

- ANI
In Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Holi preparations are marked by an unprecedented demand for masks featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi's face, which have been out of stock for over a week. Traders report that attempts to reorder from suppliers in Delhi have failed due to insufficient stocks, leaving customers disappointed. Alongside this political festivity trend, the market is witnessing a clear shift towards modern, high-tech pichkaris, including tank-like designs and rechargeable electric water guns. This blend of traditional celebration with contemporary technology and political symbolism reflects changing consumer preferences in festival accessories.

Muzaffarpur's Holi markets see massive demand for Narendra Modi masks, sold out for 10 days, alongside a shift to modern, tech-based pichkaris.

Muzaffarpur, March 2 In Bihar's Muzaffarpur, Holi preparations are in full swing, but this year the festive buzz comes with an unusual twist.

At the city's famous Chhata Bazaar -- known as the wholesale hub for colours and pichkaris -- one particular item has witnessed exceptional demand-masks featuring the face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Shopkeepers at the Rang-Pichkari wholesale market say the "Modi mask" is now out of stock.

For the past ten days, the mask is not available, lending credence to 'massive demand' for it.

According to local trader Sadhu Bhai, the demand was so high that supplies ran out quickly.

"We tried to reorder from Delhi," he said, "but traders there informed us that stocks were insufficient and they could not supply more."

Amit Kumar, another shopkeeper in the market, echoed similar concerns.

He noted that customers had been specifically asking for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mask as part of their Holi celebrations, but wholesalers are currently unable to meet the demand.

Mantu, a third trader, confirmed that despite efforts to restock, the masks remain unavailable.

While the mask, that has run out of stock due to high demand, has become a talking point, the market is otherwise vibrant and thriving.

Traders note a clear shift in consumer preferences this year.

Traditional hand-pump pichkaris are gradually being replaced by modern designs.

The pichkaris which look like tanks can store more coloured water and they are also popular.

There are rechargeable electric water guns which are catching attention of buyers.

These battery-operated "gun pichkaris" have especially caught the attention of children and young buyers, reflecting a blend of festivity and technology.

Shopkeepers say the trend mirrors a changing India, where even festival accessories are becoming more advanced.

"Now pichkaris are modern too," one trader remarked, pointing to stacks of brightly coloured, high-tech water guns lining his shop.

As Holi approaches, Muzaffarpur's markets continue to overflow with colours, excitement, and innovation.

- IANS
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that festivals like Holi can only be truly celebrated in an environment of security and peace. He inaugurated Holi celebrations at Gorakhnath Temple, describing the festival as a symbol of social harmony. The CM noted the successful and peaceful organization of over 1.61 lakh Holika Dahan events across the state, reflecting prevailing order. He also linked the occasion to India's progress under national leadership and the enduring cultural legacy passed down through generations.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath says festivals require security & peace. Highlights 1.61 lakh peaceful Holika Dahan events and India's progress under PM Modi.

Gorakhpur, March 4 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that festivals of joy and enthusiasm can truly be celebrated only in an atmosphere of security, peace and mutual trust, asserting that both the state and the country are moving forward with this confidence.

Inaugurating the Holi celebrations at the Gorakhnath Temple in keeping with tradition, the Chief Minister described Holi as a festival symbolising social harmony, joy and collective enthusiasm.

Addressing media persons at the temple premises, he said India's sage tradition and ancestors have preserved the legacy of Holi for thousands of years and handed it down with deep cultural sentiment, which the present generation continues to celebrate with the same fervour. He noted that people from all sections of society and followers of Sanatan Dharma are observing the sacred festival with enthusiasm, while efforts are being made to eliminate discord and animosity and promote a harmonious society.

The Chief Minister said that all Holika Dahan programmes across the state were conducted successfully. More than 1.61 lakh Holika Dahan events were organised in a peaceful and enthusiastic manner, reflecting the prevailing sense of security and order in Uttar Pradesh.

Referring to the religious significance of the occasion, he said Holika Dahan is also a time to remember Lord Vishnu's Narasimha Avatar, symbolising the victory of good over evil. Whenever disorder or unrest arises in society, divine inspiration strengthens virtuous forces and suppresses negative tendencies, he added.

The Chief Minister further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is witnessing the vision of a new India steadily progressing towards becoming a developed nation. He said India is advancing with the resolve to preserve its heritage while accelerating development, and expressed pride in the direction the country has taken during the 'Amrit Kaal' of independence.

Extending his heartfelt greetings and best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Holi, the Chief Minister expressed hope that future generations will continue to celebrate the festival of harmony and joy with the same enthusiasm for years to come.

- IANS
President Alexander Stubb of Finland has arrived in New Delhi on a state visit to India. He will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the upcoming Raisina Dialogue 2026, India's premier geopolitics conference. The visit aims to deepen bilateral cooperation across various sectors and will include high-level meetings with Indian leadership. This engagement follows the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, highlighting growing ties between the two nations.

President Alexander Stubb of Finland arrives in New Delhi on a state visit, to be Chief Guest at Raisina Dialogue 2026 and hold talks with PM Modi.

New Delhi, March 4 President Alexander Stubb of Finland arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit to India and was accorded a ceremonial welcome upon his arrival on Wedneday.

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "A warm welcome to India! President Alexander Stubb of the Republic of Finland has arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit to India."

According to the post, President Stubb received a Guard of Honour and was welcomed at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh.

The Finnish leader is scheduled to be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics.

Highlighting bilateral ties, Jaiswal noted that "India and Finland share a warm and friendly relationship rooted in shared democratic values," adding that President Stubb's visit "will impart further energy to India-Finland relations."

The visit, which will include the participation of a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, is aimed at deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between India and Finland across various sectors, MEA said in its release on Tuesday.

The visit will see President Stubb attend the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue from March 5-7 in New Delhi as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. As per an official statement, the visit will be Stubb's first visit to India in his current role as President.

In addition to his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest.

A key highlight of the visit will be an exchange of views on cooperation in multilateral forums, with an emphasis on deepening people-to-people connections and economic partnerships. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon in honour of President Stubb, the release said.

During his visit, the Finnish President will also meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also meet President Stubb.

After his time in the capital, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai, where he will meet with Maharashtra's Governor Acharya Devvrat, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He will interact with local business leaders and address students at the University of Mumbai.

India and Finland share a warm and multifaceted relationship, anchored in shared democratic values. Finland plays an essential role as a partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region.

President Stubb's visit follows the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to India for the AI Impact Summit in February, a testament to both countries' commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and fostering stronger ties.

- ANI
Finnish President Alexander Stubb is on a state visit to India from March 4-7 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will serve as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations, with discussions focusing on trade, multilateral cooperation, and regional issues. President Stubb will also meet with President Droupadi Murmu and travel to Mumbai for engagements with business leaders and students.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb visits India from March 4-7, meeting PM Modi and President Murmu as Chief Guest for the Raisina Dialogue 2026.

Helsinki, March 4 Finnish President Alexander Stubb will visit India from March 4 to March 7 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue, 2026, in New Delhi.

Sharing a post on X, Stubb said that the visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India, including in the area of trade.

"Travelling on a state visit to India. I will meet with the President of India @rashtrapatibhvn and the Prime Minister @narendramodi as well as other members of the state leadership. The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India - including in the area of trade," the post read.

The visit, which will include the participation of a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, is aimed at deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between India and Finland across various sectors, MEA said in its release on Tuesday.

The visit will see President Stubb attend the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue from March 5-7 in New Delhi as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. As per the release, the visit will be Stubb's first visit to India in his current role as President.

In addition to his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest.

A key highlight of the visit will be an exchange of views on cooperation in multilateral forums, with an emphasis on deepening people-to-people connections and economic partnerships. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon in honour of President Stubb, the release said.

During his visit, the Finnish President will also meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also meet President Stubb.

After his time in the capital, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai, where he will meet with the Governor and Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He will interact with local business leaders and address students at the University of Mumbai.

India and Finland share a warm and multifaceted relationship, anchored in shared democratic values. Finland plays an essential role as a partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region.

President Stubb's visit follows the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to India for the AI Impact Summit in February, a testament to both countries' commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and fostering stronger ties.

Furthermore, President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Samir Saran, in a post on X, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will jointly inaugurate the Raisina Dialogue.

"Honourable Prime Minister of India @narendramodi and H.E. President of Finland @alexstubb will be jointly inaugurating the @raisinadialogue. President Stubb will deliver the inaugural address on March 5. Know more: https://raisinadialogue.org @orfonline @MEAIndia #Raisina2026."

The Raisina Dialogue is India's premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held annually in New Delhi since 2016. It will be organised by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs. This three-day event convenes global leaders, policymakers, academics, industry experts, and journalists to discuss critical international issues. The upcoming edition, Samskara - Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement, will be held from March 05- March 07.

- ANI
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has arrived in New Delhi for a three-day state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His agenda includes wide-ranging talks with PM Modi, serving as Chief Guest at the Raisina Dialogue, and meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and other Indian leaders. The visit aims to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors and discuss global issues of mutual concern. President Stubb will also travel to Mumbai for business engagements and to address students.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb begins a 3-day state visit to India for talks with PM Modi and to be chief guest at the Raisina Dialogue.

New Delhi, March 4 Finnish President Alexander Stubb arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a three-day State Visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.

The Finnish President was also accorded a Guard of Honour upon his arrival.

Taking to X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "A warm welcome to India! President Alexander Stubb of the Republic of Finland has arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit to India. President Stubb was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour, and was received by Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh at the airport."

President Stubb will remain in India until March 7 and is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Ministers, senior officials and prominent business leaders.

During his visit, he will attend the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, scheduled to take place in New Delhi from March 5 to 7, where he will serve as the Chief Guest and deliver the keynote address.

This marks President Stubb's first visit to India since assuming office.

According to the MEA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Alexander Stubb will hold wide-ranging discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. They are also expected to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, including collaboration in multilateral forums. The Prime Minister will host a lunch in honour of the visiting leader.

During his stay, President Stubb will also call on President Droupadi Murmu and meet Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to call on him to discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral ties.

Following his engagements in the national capital, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai, where he will meet Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

In Mumbai, he will interact with Indian business leaders and participate in an India-Finland business event. He is also slated to address students at the University of Mumbai.

The MEA noted that India and Finland enjoy warm, friendly and multifaceted relations anchored in shared democratic values. Finland is regarded as an important partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region.

"The visit of President Stubb, following the recent visit of Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland H.E. Petteri Orpo to India for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, reflects the shared commitment of both countries to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors and to deepen people-to-people linkages," the Ministry added.

- IANS
A fire ignited in a dry grassy section of Indore Airport's non-operational area on Wednesday evening. Officials confirmed there were no casualties and that flight operations were completely unaffected. The blaze spread to adjacent campus and jungle areas, with local labourers estimating it covered 10 to 12 kilometres. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and firefighting efforts are ongoing.

A fire broke out in dry grass at Indore Airport's non-operational area, spreading nearby. No casualties reported and flight operations continue normally.

Indore, March 5 A fire broke out in the dry grass in the non-operational area of Indore Airport in Madhya Pradesh on late Wednesday evening.

No casualties were reported, and flight operations continued uninterrupted, an official said.

According to Fire Sub Inspector Roopchand Pandit, efforts to douse the flames have been initiated, and no casualties have been reported from the incident so far.

"We received information that a fire broke out in the grassy premises inside Indore airport. Efforts to douse the fire are underway, and no casualties have been reported..." said Pandit.

The fire had spread through the adjacent campus and the nearby jungle area.

Meanwhile, several local labourers reported that the fire had spread across an area of approximately 10 to 12 kilometres. The cause of the blaze remains unknown.

"After confirming the incident... fire engines were sent. Till then, the fire spread through 5-6 km; now it has spread across 10-12 km..." said a labourer.

"Even we don't know how this happened, we have been worried for a very long time, and we called everyone... We don't know how far this fire has spread yet. The fire brigade has also arrived, and everyone is trying to extinguish the fire..." said another labourer.

Further details are awaited.

- ANI
A fire caused by a suspected drone strike near the US Consulate General in Dubai has been fully extinguished with no casualties reported. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the drone hit a nearby parking lot and all personnel are accounted for. The incident occurs amid heightened regional tensions, with UAE defenses intercepting numerous drones and missiles. Widespread airspace closures in the Gulf have left thousands of airline passengers stranded.

Fire from suspected Iranian drone strike near US Consulate in Dubai is out. No casualties. Tensions high in Middle East, airspace closures strand thousands.

Dubai, March 4 Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes on Iran, a fire that broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General Dubai late Tuesday night, following a suspected drone strike, has been fully extinguished, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained.

Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported.

According to a source in the region cited by CNN, the consulate grounds were hit by what is believed to be an Iranian drone.

In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office wrote, "The fire near the US Consulate in Dubai has been fully extinguished, with no injuries reported. Dubai authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring everyone's safety and security."

Furthermore, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai. He said all personnel were accounted for after the incident.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with air defence systems across the Gulf region on high alert. The development also had implications for global energy markets, with Brent crude futures trading at around USD 81.80 per barrel at the time of writing, according to data from Yahoo Finance.

In a separate post, the Dubai Media Office said, "Authorities in Dubai confirm that sounds heard in various areas across the city were the result of air defence interception operations. The relevant Dubai teams continue to closely monitor the situation and are taking all necessary measures to ensure public safety. The public is advised to rely exclusively on official sources for accurate updates."

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence said it has intercepted the overwhelming majority of missiles and drones targeting its territory since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict in the region. On Tuesday, the Ministry reported that 812 Iranian drones had been identified, "of which 755 were intercepted, while 57 fell within the country," CNN reported.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, thousands of citizens have found themselves caught in a massive aviation standstill. The situation remains fluid as major hubs like Hamad International (Doha) and Dubai International (DXB) operate under severe restrictions.

As of March 3, the closure of airspaces over Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia has left an estimated 8,000 passengers stranded in Qatar alone, with tens of thousands more affected across the Gulf.

- ANI
Former Union Minister Dilip Ray has announced his candidacy as an independent for the Rajya Sabha elections from Odisha, scheduled for March 5. He has secured the support of the BJP's top leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The contest has intensified as the ruling BJD has fielded Dr. Datteswar Hota as its common candidate, with Congress also backing him. The elections are being held due to the retirement of four Rajya Sabha members from the state.

Former Union Minister Dilip Ray to contest Rajya Sabha polls as an independent with BJP's support, creating a multi-cornered contest in Odisha.

Bhubaneswar, March 3 Former Union Minister of State and noted hotelier Dilip Ray on Tuesday announced to contest the Rajya Sabha elections as an independent candidate.

Speaking to media persons, Ray said, "I will be filing the nomination as an independent candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls on March 5. I have talked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal and secured their support."

The senior politician, who was elected to the upper House twice, in 1996 and 2002, also expressed confidence in winning the polls this time as well.

With the BJP announcing its support for his candidature, Ray said he is confident of securing the remaining eight votes. He hinted at meeting leaders of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Indian National Congress (INC) seeking votes.

"I have good relationships with everyone and will meet them to seek their votes. I am confident of receiving support from all," said Ray.

The ruling BJP has also declared to support independent candidate Ray in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.

While speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, state BJP president Samal said that Ray has already declared to contest the polls as an independent candidate. He further added that the Odisha BJP has taken the decision to support him on principle.

Samal expressed confidence that Ray would emerge victorious in the elections and secure a seat in the upper House.

Notably, Elections have become necessary following the retirement of four Rajya Sabha members from Odisha on April 2. The outgoing representatives include Niranjan Bishi and Muzibulla (Munna) Khan from BJD, along with Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta of the ruling BJP.

With Ray, a veteran politician, entering the fray, the contest for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat has become highly interesting.

The main opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had earlier declared renowned urologist Dr Datteswar Hota as a common candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls. The Congress party leaders also announced the party's support for Hota.

- IANS
French President Emmanuel Macron extended Holi greetings in Hindi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him "my friend." US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple as a perfect first stop for Holi celebrations. Embassies of Finland, Japan, and Australia also participated in the festivities, with staff celebrating in offices and making traditional sweets like gujiya. The festival, marking the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil, was celebrated across India with colors, prayers, and joy.

French President Macron, US Envoy, and other global diplomats extend Holi wishes, visiting temples and celebrating India's festival of colors.

New Delhi, March 4 French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday extended Holi wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Replying to PM Modi's post on X on Holi, Macron said in Hindi "Happy Holi, my friend!"

PM Modi had extended his wishes saying, "The festival of Holi infuses the entire atmosphere with new energy. This is the great specialty of this celebration. The way colors of joy scatter everywhere, visible on all sides, fills everyone with exuberance and delight. The distinct shoots, charming and auspicious, adorned with tender beauty, resplendent with massive leaves gleaming white from pollen-laden filaments, bursting forth like flowers. Songs swelling with the deep rhythm of the fifth note, wild and flute-filled, as if the festival of love reborn, the creepers playfully reveling."

US Envoy to India, Sergio Gor on Wednesday Visited the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Akshardham temple on the occasion.

In a post on X, he said, "A perfect first stop for Holi! Visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and U.S. Space Command General Whiting. This extraordinary temple showcases India's spiritual heritage and enduring values. Wishing everyone a very HAPPY HOLI!"

The Embassy of Finland in India also celebrated Holi in Mumbai and Delhi.

"Our Team Finland colleagues in New Delhi and Mumbai stepped away from their desks to join the festivities of Holi! Seeing both offices covered in such vibrant colors is a wonderful reminder of the joy this festival brings. From all of us at the Embassy and the Consulate General: Have a safe, bright, and Happy Holi!"

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in his statement on Wednesday, extended Holi greetings, saying that Holi is a time to come together in celebration of shared history, heritage and traditions.

Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, celebrated Holi in the embassy premises.

In a post on X, Ono said, "Celebrating my second Holi at the Embassy. It was a joy to share colors and flowers with my colleagues, experiencing once again the warmth and vibrancy of this beautiful festival. We're all covered in colors! Happy Holi!"

The Embassy of Japan in India posted how they made 'gujiya', sweets eaten during Holi.

"Making gujiya at the Embassy ahead of Holi. We had great fun preparing these festive sweets together -- a beloved treat enjoyed across India during Holi -- and they turned out delicious! All set for the celebrations -- can't wait for Holi tomorrow!"

India immersed itself in joy and happiness with cheerful celebrations of Holi. From temple towns to metropolitan cities, people enjoyed the festivities by exchanging sweets, applying colour (gulal), offering prayers, and celebrating the victory of good over evil.

Holi, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the arrival of spring and the harvest season. The celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.

- ANI
Congress leaders celebrated Holi at the AICC office in New Delhi, emphasizing the festival's core messages of love, brotherhood, and unity. Gurdeep Singh Sappal stated the primary message of Holi is to unite and celebrate together. Rahul Gandhi extended greetings, wishing for a Holi that drives away hate and fills lives with hope and joy. Rajeev Shukla also offered greetings while calling for an end to conflicts and for peace in the world.

Congress leaders Gurdeep Singh Sappal, Rahul Gandhi, and Rajeev Shukla celebrate Holi at AICC, highlighting the festival's message of love, brotherhood, and an end to conflict.

New Delhi, March 4 Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal on Wednesday said that Holi sends a message of unity and is a festival of brotherhood.

The Congress leader celebrated the festival with party leaders at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in the national capital.

"Holi is a festival of love and brotherhood, and we are going to celebrate this festival together here...There is only one message on the occasion of Holi, and that is to get united and celebrate the festival," Sappal told ANI.

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi also celebrated the Holi festival at the AICC office and extended greetings for the festival, stating, "Happy Holi. Sabko pyaar bhari, nafrat mitaane wali Holi", wishing for the festival to drive away hate among people.

He also took to X, wishing for Holi to bring hope, joy and enthusiasm in people's lives.

"Heartfelt Holi greetings to all of you on the festival of colours and love. May the colours of Holi fill all your lives with new hopes, fresh enthusiasm, and countless joys," he wrote on X.

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla also extended Holi greetings to the people today, emphasising the need for peace in the West Asia region, stating that conflicts and disputes should come to an end.

"Greetings of Holi to the citizens. The Congress Party is also celebrating Holi. This is one such festival of ours in which everyone comes together, everyone embraces each other and applies colours to one another. What could be more delightful than this?. We believe that there should be peace in the world. These fights and quarrels should stop. It is not right for these countries that are instigating fights and quarrels to do so," Shukla told ANI.

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

- ANI
Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam leader Vijay announces major farmer relief, including full crop loan waivers, and outlines key welfare promises at executive meet.

Thanjavur, March 4 Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam leader Vijay on Wednesday made an emotional appeal to party cadres while unveiling a fresh set of election promises at an executive meeting and campaign programme held at Chengipatti in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district.

Addressing TVK executives and campaign volunteers, Vijay urged supporters to give him an opportunity to establish a corruption-free and socially just government in Tamil Nadu.



"This relationship with the people is not something that came for the sake of elections. It happened naturally. For some, politics may be a choice during elections, but for me and those who support me, it is deeply emotional," he said.



During the meeting, Vijay also announced the second phase of his party's election promises, after earlier unveiling the first phase in Vellore.



A key highlight of the announcement was a major relief proposal for farmers.



Vijay said that if TVK forms the government, crop loans taken by farmers owning up to five acres of land from cooperative agricultural banks would be completely waived. For farmers owning more than five acres, the party would examine the possibility of waiving up to 50 per cent of their crop loans.



"Our government will ensure that delta farmers never face a shortage of fertilisers," Vijay said, emphasising that the party would stand firmly with the farming community and reject any scheme that harms farmers, even if pressure comes from the Union government.



He also announced that the government would bear the entire educational expenses of children from landless families and farmers owning up to two acres of land, provided no member of the family is employed in the state or Central government.



Highlighting issues in agricultural procurement, Vijay said his government would ensure that paddy stored in procurement centres is properly protected and not allowed to sprout and go to waste.



Adequate storage infrastructure would be created, and strict action would be taken if commissions are illegally collected for loading or unloading paddy bags.



In the public distribution system, Vijay promised to limit one ration shop for every 500 ration cards and appoint assistants in villages to support ration shop operations. All commodities other than rice would be distributed in packaged form.



He further said TVK would pressure the Union government to ensure legal protection for fishermen, while prioritising essential public services such as education, healthcare, drinking water, roads, bus facilities and ration distribution.



Women, children and youth would receive special focus under a TVK government, Vijay added.



"Our government will not only create government jobs but will also ensure opportunities in the private sector," he said.



Reflecting personally during the speech, Vijay remarked that if he were to be born again, he would like to be born into a farmer's family. Though he admitted he does not know farming, he said his identity as someone from the Cauvery Delta region connects him deeply with farmers.



The event was conducted under strict police regulations, with only 4,900 participants allowed entry using QR-coded passes.



Vijay arrived in Tiruchirappalli by a private aircraft from Chennai and travelled by road to the venue, receiving a rousing welcome from TVK executives and volunteers along the way.





- IANS
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has indicated his acceptance of the party high command's decision regarding an alliance with the DMK for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. His statement comes amid ongoing seat-sharing negotiations, where the DMK has offered 25 seats, a number the Congress finds unacceptable. State Congress President K Selvaperunthagai has downplayed friction, calling a recent meeting with Chief Minister MK Stalin a "courtesy call" and asserting that discussions are progressing smoothly. The 2026 polls will see the DMK-led alliance, including Congress, contest against the BJP-AIADMK combine.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore signals acceptance of DMK alliance for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections after seat-sharing discussions. Details inside.

Chennai, March 4 Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday hinted at accepting an alliance with coalition partner Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam amid discussions over a seat-sharing pact for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

In an X post amid ongoing seat-sharing discussions, Manickam Tagore said that party workers in Tamil Nadu will accept the high command's decision.

"Individuals may have differences, but the party is bigger than any one of us. When leadership decides, we accept it with discipline -- because unity is our greatest strength. Good Friends," the Congress MP wrote.

Following initial objections and rumours of the party joining hands with the debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the Congress MP's post highlighted that he has fallen in line with the party's high command.

This comes after senior Congress leader P Chidambaram and State Congress President K Selvaperunthagai met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday.

Selvaperunthagai said the alliance between the DMK and Congress remains intact and discussions are progressing without friction ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

"Everything is going on smoothly. I am a soldier of the party. Whatever the high command says, I will follow. AICC will make the final decision," Selvaperunthagai told reporters after the meeting.

Downplaying speculations over seat-sharing talks, he added, "This was just a courtesy call, and we went there. There are no speculations and no negotiations."

The tussle to finalise the seat-sharing for the alliance emerged when the DMK offered Congress 25 seats, while the party was expecting to get to contest on more. On March 1, All India Congress Committee (AICC) In-Charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar told ANI, "They offered us 25 seats, but that is not acceptable to us. Whatever we want, we have given to them."

Notably, the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance.

- ANI
India has established a special inter-ministerial group that will meet daily to monitor the West Asia conflict and assess its impact on the country's trade. The move addresses exporter concerns over potential disruptions to shipping routes and increased logistics costs due to rising regional tensions. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated the group, which held its first meeting, will review risks to exports, imports, and supply chains. The government aims to implement coordinated measures to minimize the crisis's impact and ensure a stable trade environment.

India sets up inter-ministerial group for daily monitoring of West Asia tensions to protect trade routes, exports, and imports from disruption.

New Delhi, March 3 India has set up a special inter-ministerial group to closely watch the fast-changing situation in West Asia and how it will impact trade, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

The group will meet every day to monitor developments and assess how rising tensions in the region could affect India's trade.

Exporters in the country are worried that the growing conflict in West Asia, especially after joint attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, could disrupt trade routes and business activities. Many fear that shipping and logistics may face delays or higher costs if the situation worsens.

Addressing a post-Budget webinar, Goyal said the government is keeping a close eye on possible risks to shipping, logistics, exports and even critical imports.

The newly formed group includes representatives from different ministries to ensure better coordination and quicker decision-making if any issues arise, he noted.

The minister said the group held its first meeting on Tuesday. During the meeting, various ministries shared suggestions on how to reduce possible risks and safeguard India's trade interests. The government will now work on these suggestions and continue to review the situation on a daily basis.

"Today, a consultation meeting was held with all stakeholder Ministries, key logistics and trade facilitation partners to review the emerging geopolitical situation and its potential impact on India's exports and imports," Goyal said.

Goyal assured businesses that the Commerce Ministry is open to feedback from exporters and industry stakeholders. He said the government's main aim is to ensure that the impact of the West Asia crisis on India's trade remains minimal.

"Government under PM Narendra Modi's leadership remains firmly committed to enabling a stable and responsive trade environment for our traders and exporters, safeguarding their interests and ensuring seamless operations," Goyal noted.

- IANS
Gujarat has launched a statewide campaign to vaccinate 5.50 lakh adolescent girls against the Human Papillomavirus to prevent cervical cancer. The drive, formally launched by the Chief Minister, follows the national inauguration by the Prime Minister and provides the vaccine free of charge. Health officials emphasize the vaccine's safety and efficacy, citing global evidence from over 100 countries including Australia and the UK where it has drastically reduced infections and cancer incidence. The campaign utilizes a vast cold chain network and digital platforms for monitoring, aligning with WHO targets to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

Gujarat launches free statewide HPV vaccination campaign for 5.50 lakh girls aged 14, aiming to prevent cervical cancer following the national rollout.

Gandhinagar/Ahmedabad, March 4 Gujarat has set a target of vaccinating 5.50 lakh adolescent girls against cervical cancer under a statewide Human Papillomavirus immunisation campaign launched from Ahmedabad, following the national roll-out announced last week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the nationwide drive on February 28 in Rajasthan.

The Gujarat leg of the campaign was formally launched at Sola Civil Hospital by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in the presence of Health Minister Praful Pansheriya.

Health officials said the campaign is aimed at protecting 14-year-old girls from cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among Indian women and accounts for around 17.7 per cent of cases.

National data indicate that one woman in India is diagnosed with cervical cancer every four minutes and 12 seconds, and one dies from the disease every seven minutes.

Nearly 70 to 75 per cent of patients are diagnosed at the second or third stage, and the disease remains a leading cause of death among women aged 30 to 69 years.

In 2022, India recorded an estimated 1,27,526 new cases and 79,906 deaths linked to cervical cancer. Gujarat reported 4,928 new cases and 1,781 deaths during the same period.

Experts at the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) said concerns and misinformation surrounding the HPV vaccine are unfounded.

They stated that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing infection from high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases.

Doctors explained that persistent HPV infection can develop into Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) over 10 to 20 years and may eventually progress to invasive cancer, making early vaccination a critical preventive measure.

Citing global evidence, they referred to findings by the World Health Organization's Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, which has reported no causal link between HPV vaccination and infertility or serious side effects.

The vaccine has also been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In India, its inclusion in public health programmes has been supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization.

More than 100 countries, including Australia, United Kingdom and Canada, have incorporated the HPV vaccine into their national immunisation programmes.

Following the introduction of the vaccine in Australia in 2007, up to a 90 per cent reduction in HPV infections and high-grade cervical lesions has been reported.

Research in the United Kingdom has shown up to an 87 per cent reduction in cervical cancer incidence among girls vaccinated at 12 to 13 years of age.

State officials said the vaccine, which costs about Rs 3,000 per dose in the private market, is being provided free of charge under the programme at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore to the exchequer.

A total of 2,297 cold chain points have been activated to maintain storage temperatures between +2C and +8C.

Medical staff and emergency medicines have been stationed at vaccination centres to manage minor adverse reactions, while real-time monitoring of coverage and outcomes is being conducted through the TeCHO+ and SAFE-VAC digital platforms.

The campaign aligns with the World Health Organization's 90-70-90 target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, which calls for 90 per cent vaccination coverage among adolescent girls, screening of 70 per cent of women at ages 35 and 45, and treatment for 90 per cent of identified cases.

- IANS
Indian intelligence agencies warn of a surge in ISI-backed activities aimed at disrupting upcoming state elections. Tactics include hoax bomb threats to schools and airlines, a massive disinformation campaign on sensitive issues, and potential terror plots. The ISI is reportedly leveraging Khalistan elements and groups like Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) to create panic, with a particular focus on West Bengal and Assam. Security forces are on high alert as the election period between May and June is seen as a critical window for such interference.

Intelligence warns of increased ISI-backed hoax bomb threats, disinformation, and terror plots aimed at disrupting upcoming state elections in India.

New Delhi, March 4 Indian intelligence agencies have warned that cases relating to hoax bomb threats are set to increase in the coming months, especially with a number of elections coming up.

In the last year, many schools and airlines have been receiving such calls. The airline industry, in particular, was the hardest hit as a result of these calls, as the recalling and rescheduling of flights caused heavy losses.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that this is a low-cost operation for the ISI, as it does not need much investment. However, the consequences are huge as it spreads panic among the people, the official said.

Another official said that this time, the ISI will heavily use the Khalistan elements to undertake this mission. The official said that these persons will look to create panic in states across the country.

This week, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested Biswas, who had made a threat call threatening schools and lower courts in the name of the Khalistan movement. However, the police are still ascertaining whether he was working alone or was part of some larger network.

Biswas had emailed a school in Gujarat, threatening to blow it up. He also said that Gujarat would become the next Khalistan.

The ISI has also been working on a plan for West Bengal and the rest of the states that would be facing the elections this year.

Apart from hoax calls, the ISI also plans to instruct its stooges to indulge in a massive disinformation campaign in these states.

Issues such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) would be issues that these elements would raise to spread misinformation about the voters and their rights.

An official said that sensitive issues would be raised to spread panic through false narratives. The ISI realises that the elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu are big battles. The battles in these states would be intense in nature, and the ISI would look to spread false narratives to disturb peace and harmony.

Another official said that the agencies must particularly watch out for messages that are aimed at disturbing communal harmony. There would be attempts to twist facts so that peace is disturbed. The official added that while such acts would be attempted in all states that are going to the polls, the focus would be largely on West Bengal and Assam, where there are several sensitivities involved.

Intelligence agencies say that they have already picked up information about local modules being activated ahead of the polls. Terror attacks are very much on the anvil for these groups, which would be led by outfits such as the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI).

Officials say that Pakistan badly wants to avenge Operation Sindoor and hence would look to create havoc in election-bound states. The focus of the security forces would be more towards the elections, and these elements are looking to take advantage of that.

Trying to carry out terror attacks and simultaneously spreading misinformation would stress the security mechanism a lot, officials say.

Another official said that the agencies should also be on the lookout for similar incidents taking place in other states. Terror groups normally would try to create a perception that they are focusing on one particular state. While trying to create this diversion, they may attempt a major attack in a neighbouring state, officials say.

Elections are set to be held in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry between May 7 and June 15. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the dates for the polls in these states. This period would be a crucial one, and the agencies warn that ISI-backed activities would be at an all-time high.

- IANS
Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, while celebrating Holi at Raj Bhavan, stated the festival embodies the spirit of true equality where all societal distinctions fade. He urged society to embrace this spirit beyond the festival to strengthen social harmony and unity. The Governor also highlighted the collective efforts in Himachal Pradesh to combat drug abuse and acknowledged Prime Minister Modi's consistent messaging against it. Furthermore, Shukla praised the Prime Minister for being in constant touch with Middle Eastern leaders to ensure the safety and facilitated return of Indian citizens from the region.

Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla says Holi fosters equality, praises PM Modi for ensuring safety & return of Indians from the Middle East.

Shimla, March 4 The governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, while celebrating Holi at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, said the festival symbolises equality in the truest sense and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in ensuring the safety and return of Indian citizens from Middle Eastern countries.

Speaking to ANI at Raj Bhavan, the Governor extended Holi greetings to the people of Himachal Pradesh and the country.

"Holi is a festival of equality in the true sense. On this day, everyone becomes equal. The feeling of who is big and who is small ends, and people celebrate with enthusiasm," Shukla said.

He added that if society embraces this spirit beyond the festival, it would strengthen the feeling of social harmony and unity. "If society lives with the spirit of Holi, then true equality can be realised," he said, urging people to celebrate the festival peacefully and with enthusiasm, keeping in mind that such festivals are rooted in seasonal and cultural traditions.

The Governor also spoke about the ongoing fight against drug abuse, stating that the people of Himachal Pradesh are aware and actively working against the menace. He said the state administration, government, and Raj Bhavan are collectively engaged in efforts to curb drug abuse. He further noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently given messages against drug abuse and has also been working towards making India, including Himachal Pradesh, tuberculosis-free.

Referring to the situation in the Middle East, Shukla said that the Prime Minister has been in constant touch with heads of state in the region to ensure the safety of Indian nationals. He mentioned that in the past two days, Indian citizens have been brought back safely to cities including Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi.

"There are over 90 lakh Indians living in Middle Eastern countries. The Prime Minister is ensuring their safety and facilitating their return wherever necessary, including people from Himachal Pradesh," the Governor said, expressing confidence that Indian citizens abroad are being protected and supported.

He concluded by reiterating his Holi greetings and wishing peace, prosperity, and harmony to all citizens.

- ANI
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta celebrated Holi at her residence, expressing hope the festival would bring a new wave of development and enthusiasm for the capital's people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt Holi greetings, wishing citizens happiness and prosperity. The festival, rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is marked by bonfires and playing with colors. While western states like Maharashtra and Gujarat began festivities earlier, North India's main celebrations were scheduled for March 4.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta extends Holi greetings, hoping for a new wave of development. PM Modi and Amit Shah also wish citizens joy and prosperity.

New Delhi, March 4 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday celebrated Holi at her residence, expressing hope that the festival of colours would usher in a new era of development for the national capital.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, while talking to the media, said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of Delhi on the occasion of Holi. I hope this festival of Holi brings new enthusiasm and a wave of development for the people of Delhi. We should celebrate Holi together in a peaceful manner..."

On the other hand, Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva, while speaking to ANI, said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of the country on the occasion of #Holi. This is a festival of colours, love and positivity. Everyone should work together for the country and Delhi."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of Holi and wished for happiness, prosperity and success to everyone.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens. May this festival, brimming with colours and exuberance, bring a shower of joy to everyone. May every life be sprinkled with the hues of happiness, prosperity, and success--this is my heartfelt wish."

On the same day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of Holi, wishing for progress, prosperity and good fortune.

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

While several states in Western India, including Mumbai and Gujarat, have already begun the festivities today, Tuesday, March 3. North India is set to mark its main celebrations tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4.

- ANI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that the state and central governments are working to repatriate Indians stranded in West Asia due to the ongoing conflict within the next two to three days. The state has established a helpline and is coordinating through local Marathi community groups while the Centre manages air evacuations via Air India. Fadnavis assured the legislative council that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is sensitive to the plight of Indian tourists and students in the region. The evacuation efforts continue as airspace closures and visa issues in countries like Kuwait present logistical challenges.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says state and Centre are coordinating to evacuate Indians from conflict zones in West Asia via Air India flights.

Mumbai, March 4 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the state government is expecting the Indians stranded in West Asia amid the conflict to return in the next two to three days.

Addressing the Maharashtra Legislative Council during the Budget Session, Fadnavis said that the Centre is taking the initiative to bring back the Indians, while the state government is in contact with people in West Asia through Marathi Mandals.

Describing the steps taken by the state government, he said that they have issued a helpline number and advisories to help the Indians stranded in West Asian countries.

The Chief Minister said, "The airspace was closed as the war began. Those people were not the residents but Indian people; we started receiving messages from them. Immediately, we contacted the Centre and the MEA. We contacted the embassy. Our Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Girish Mahajan was given the responsibility. We issued a WhatsApp number."

"Air India's flights are gradually bringing people back. Some airspaces are closed while some were opened. In Kuwait, people found it difficult to get a visa, but we brought them all to one place and are trying to ensure that they do not face any issues there. We are also in touch with stranded people through Marathi Mandals (groups of Marathi people residing or working in those areas) of those locations. I have issued the advisory on my X account as well," he added.

Assuring the House to bring back Indians safely, Fadnavis said that the Centre is sensitive towards students and tourists.

"We discussed with the Centre to bring back the people of Maharashtra, but the Centre also warned against chaos, and the airspace is not safe. The centre has taken the initiative. We are expecting that Indians there will be brought back in the next two-three days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is sensitive towards Indian tourists and students there. We assure to bring back our people safely," CM Fadnavis told the House.

Earlier today, Indians who were stuck in Dubai returned home safely and shared accounts of the problems they encountered amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, which has entered its fourth day.

Air India Express said it will continue its scheduled flights to and from Muscat today, along with additional services to Delhi, Kochi and Mumbai.

This came amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran has also retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict.

- ANI
Israeli and US forces have conducted extensive joint airstrikes against hundreds of targets in Iran and Lebanon over a 24-hour period. The operations targeted Iranian ballistic missile arrays, air defenses, and a covert nuclear development site, while also striking Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper stated the campaign has severely degraded Iranian capabilities and that operations "have just begun," with nearly 2,000 targets already hit. The strikes follow the initial attacks that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, escalating the regional conflict into its fourth day.

IDF and US forces launch massive air strikes on Iran & Lebanon, targeting missiles, Hezbollah, and a nuclear site. US Central Command vows to continue.

Jerusalem, March 4 The relentless barrage of strikes from the US and Israeli forces continued as Operation Roarinng Lion/ Operation Epic Fury targeted multiple sites in Iran and Lebanon. The US-Israel joint strikes are likely to continue with US Central Command Chief Admiral Brad Cooper saying they will not stop.

Israel's Defence force said that in the past 24 hours, hundreds of fighter jets and aircraft had been striking hundreds of targets simultaneously in Iran and Lebanon. The IDF said that since the start of the operation, the Israeli Air Force has neutralized nearly 300 Iranian missile launchers.

As part of the defensive effort, the Israeli Air Force continued to conduct successive waves of strikes against the Iranian regime's ballistic missile arrays and air defence systems.

The Israeli Air Force said, "As part of the defensive effort, the Israeli Air Force continues to conduct successive waves of strikes against the Iranian regime's ballistic missile arrays and air defence systems."

In the south, Israel also continued its operation targeting sites run by the Hezbollah. The IDF said about 60 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon had been the target of Israeli action. Among the targets struck were weapons storage facilities, missile launchers, command centres, and additional infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah and Hamas organizations in the Tyre and Sidon areas. IDF claimed that these sites were used by the terrorist organizations to plan and carry out attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.

The IDF further claimed that they had struck what they described a Nuclear Weapons Development Site in Iran. The IDF claimed that the covert 'Minzadehei' compound was used by a group of nuclear scientists who operated to develop a key component for nuclear weapons.

"Using intelligence, the IDF tracked the activities at this new location, removing a key component of the Iranian regime's capability to develop nuclear weapons," the IDF said.

Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of United States Central Command in a briefing said that the US will not stop and that Iran's ability to hit back was declining rapidly.

"Now, we're less than 100 hours into this operation, and we've already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones...Thus far, we've destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine, that now has a hole in its side...Today, there's not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman. And we will not stop. We will continue to conduct dynamic targeting operations," he said.

"U.S. Air Forces are doing what they do best: executing a high volume of air strikes right into Iran. Operationally, the two most powerful air forces in the world, the U.S. and Israel, are dominating the skies over the world's largest state sponsor of terror... And we've just begun. But I have the utmost confidence that we, alongside our partners, will absolutely achieve our military objectives," he added.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI
Holi was celebrated with immense enthusiasm across various Indian states, marked by colorful gatherings, music, and dance. Chief Ministers like Yogi Adityanath, Mohan Yadav, and Himanta Biswa Sarma actively participated in public events, extending greetings and highlighting the festival's significance. Political leaders from different parties, including Congress and BJP, joined the celebrations, emphasizing unity and communal harmony. The festival, rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolizes the victory of good over evil and fosters a spirit of joy and togetherness.

Holi celebrated with joy across UP, MP, Delhi & more. Yogi Adityanath, Mohan Yadav, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and other leaders join colorful festivities.

Gorakhpur Marc, h 4 ,: Holi was celebrated in India across different states and regions with great enthusiasm and joy.

In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath celebrated holi with common people at Ghantaghar Chauraha in Gorakhpur. CM Yogi Adityanath expressed happiness over the joyful atmosphere brought on the occassion of Holi, highlighting how such a festival is bringing in joy and enthusiasm while the world is in disarray. People in Vrindavan, Mathura celebrated Holi with full joy, dance and music. In Prayagraj, a large number of people gather at Loknath Chauraha to dance and celebrate Holi.

In Odisha, at Bhima Bhoi Drustihina Vidyala, Bhubaneshwar, Senior Congress leader and former PCC President Harichandan organised the celebration. People there extended wishes to each other and celebrated Holi with colours.

In Chhattisgarh, children celebrated Holi in Raipur. In a post on X, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wishes everyone a very Happy Holi. He said Holi is a sacred festival filled with a unique spectrum of colours, the sweet rhythm of enthusiasm, and boundless joy.

In Telengana, a large number of people celebrated Holi at People's Plaza in Hyderabad. Congress MLA Danam Nagendra says, "Holi is a festival where Hindus, Muslims and everyone come together to celebrate;c everyone should do away with their differences."

In Madhya Pradesh, People celebrated holi with great enthusiasm and joy. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday celebrated Holi in Bhopal. He extended the Holi greetings to all the people in the state and country and highlighted government efforts, such as the Kisan Cabinet and an increase in the dearness allowance, which he believed have made the celebration more significant.

In Assam, people danced and celebrated the Holi festival. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the sacred Doul Utsav at Barpeta Satra on the auspicious occasion of Holi.

In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday celebrated Holi at her residence, expressing hope that the festival of colours would usher in a new era of development for the national capital. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari sang a phag song at the Holi celebration at his residence in Delhi.

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

- ANI
While the US and China compete for AI dominance, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam are focusing on the technology to achieve developmental goals and maintain digital sovereignty. Their synchronized national milestones anchor a shared interest in using AI for structural transformation and poverty reduction. India's strategy involves multi-alignment, exporting its Digital Public Infrastructure, and building domestic capacity through the IndiaAI Mission. Similarly, Indonesia and Vietnam pursue their own doctrines of digital non-alignment and supply-chain resilience to secure autonomy.

India, with Indonesia and Vietnam, is using AI for digital autonomy and poverty reduction, avoiding the US-China power struggle, according to a new analysis.

New Delhi, March 4 While the US and China are locked in an intense rivalry in the AI race to gain a dominant position in the world, countries such as India, Indonesia, and Vietnam are eyeing the frontier technology with the more modest objective of meeting their developmental goals and maintaining digital autonomy, according to an article.

The United States leads frontier innovation, from large language models to artificial general intelligence (AGI), while China excels in embodied AI, industrial robotics, and hardware integration. Beneath it lies a struggle over chokepoints: advanced semiconductors versus critical minerals and energy infrastructure, states the article authored by Tuhu Nugraha and published in the Modern Diplomacy news portal.

For much of the Global South, the stakes are political and developmental. Concentration of AI value risks structural dependency, where data and profits flow outward while policy space narrows. Without strategic autonomy, developing economies risk absorption into rival digital blocs, it observed.

Indonesia and Vietnam aim to reach developed-country status by 2045, while India has set 2047, its centenary of independence, as its own milestone. These synchronised horizons anchor deeper technological coordination among three middle powers converging around digital strategic autonomy, the article pointed out.

This coordination reflects shared national interests. For India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, AI is less a prestige contest than a vehicle for structural transformation, echoing earlier waves of East Asian industrialisation. The ambition is to reduce poverty and secure dignity through technological upgrading. The challenge lies in translating aspiration into institutional strategy.

The article highlights that India practices issue-based multi-alignment rather than bloc politics. In the digital domain, this translates into exporting Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): modular identity systems, payment rails, and governance frameworks that can be adapted across developing economies.

Through the IndiaAI Mission and projects like BharatGen, India invests heavily in domestic AI capacity while emphasising "safe and trusted AI". Governance is embedded into architecture. India's objective is not alignment but institutionalised autonomy through interoperable public systems, the article said.

Indonesia's long-standing foreign policy doctrine of bebas dan aktif, literally "free and active", meaning non-aligned yet proactively engaged, now extends into digital policy. Initiatives such as Sahabat-AI, developed with India's Tech Mahindra, show how private innovation can align with public strategy.

Vietnam contributes supply-chain resilience through what is often described as Bamboo Diplomacy, a posture that bends without breaking. Hanoi absorbs Western investment while maintaining proximity to China, managing tension through calibrated balance rather than overt alignment. This is not ambiguity for its own sake but a survival strategy shaped by history and geography, the article added.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, affirming India's firm solidarity and condemning any violation of Qatar's sovereignty. The leaders emphasized the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy. This call is part of India's broader diplomatic outreach, with Modi having contacted leaders from several Gulf nations amid ongoing regional conflict. Concurrently, Qatar's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned recent Iranian attacks targeting embassies, calling them a violation of international norms.

PM Modi spoke with Qatar's Amir, condemning violations of its sovereignty and emphasizing dialogue for regional peace and stability.

New Delhi, March 3 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, conveying that India stands firmly in solidarity with Qatar and strongly condemns any violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

During their conversation, the two leaders emphasised the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.

"Spoke with my brother, H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar. We stand firmly in solidarity with Qatar and strongly condemn any violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We emphasised the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy," PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.

"I also conveyed my appreciation for his continued support and care for the Indian community in Qatar during this challenging time," he added.

Besides Qatar, PM Modi has spoken with the leaders of UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait in the last two days as India remains in touch with the governments of the region as well as other key partners over the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Gulf region.

On Tuesday, Indian Ambassador Vipul virtually interacted with representatives of Indian community associations in Qatar to discuss the prevailing situation and respond to their concerns.

"The Embassy of India, Doha continues to work closely with the community and local authorities to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of all Indian nationals in Qatar," the Indian Embassy posted on X.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued Tuesday evening, Qatar's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Iranian attacks that targetted the embassies of the United States in Riyadh and Kuwait, deeming them a "blatant violation" of international conventions and laws.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that the Iranian attacks on the two embassies contravene international agreements and diplomatic norms that criminalize assaults on diplomatic missions and grant immunity to their premises and staff. The Ministry affirms the State of Qatar's full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait in all measures they take to safeguard their security and the safety of their territories," it stated.

On Monday, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America strongly condemned Iran's "indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks" against sovereign territories across the region, including Bahrain, Iraq - including the Iraqi Kurdistan Region - Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

"These unjustified strikes targetted sovereign territory, endangered civilian populations, and damaged civilian infrastructure. The Islamic Republic's actions represent a dangerous escalation that violates the sovereignty of multiple states and threatens regional stability," read the joint statement.

- IANS
The Red Shield Gunners of the Indian Army celebrated Holi with children at the Nava Rupantar orphanage in Tinsukia, Assam, sharing colours, sweets, and moments of genuine affection. The event emphasized Holi's significance as a festival of unity and positivity, strengthening bonds between the Army and the local community. In a separate initiative, the Army concluded a one-month bakery training program in Menchuka, Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at empowering residents, particularly women, with entrepreneurial skills. This training is part of the Army's broader efforts to support skill development and enhance livelihood opportunities in remote border areas.

Indian Army celebrates Holi with children at a Tinsukia orphanage and completes a bakery skill program for women in Arunachal Pradesh, strengthening community bonds.

Tinsukia, March 4 The Red Shield Gunners, under the aegis of Spear Corps, celebrated Holi with the children of Nava Rupantar orphanage at Tinsukia, Assam.

According to the Defence PRO, the celebration on Tuesday was marked by genuine affection and shared laughter as 20 children, ranging in age from 8 to 17 years, observed the festival with the soldiers.

"Colours of joy flooded the orphanage" as soldiers and children came together in a celebration marked not only by colours and sweets, but by genuine affection and shared laughter. A total of 20 children, aged between 8 and 17 years, participated enthusiastically, their excitement lighting up the entire premises. The Defence PRO said that the celebrations began with the spread of colours, soon turning into moments of carefree fun and joyous interaction. Army personnel spent meaningful time with the children, playing, talking, encouraging and listening--ensuring that each child felt valued and embraced. The festival became a symbol of warmth and belonging, where uniforms blended with vibrant colours and hearts connected beyond barriers.

During the interaction, the significance of Holi as a festival of unity, hope and positivity was shared, reinforcing values of harmony and togetherness. Sweets were distributed to all, adding sweetness to the day and strengthening the bond between the Indian Army and the local community.

The smiles, laughter and shining faces of the children reflected the true essence of Holi, spreading love, sharing happiness and standing together as one extended family. The initiative reaffirmed the Indian Army's steadfast commitment to community welfare, youth engagement and nurturing bonds of trust with the people of Assam.

Earlier on March 2, the Indian Army organised a one-month-long comprehensive bakery training program for civilians at Menchuka, Arunachal Pradesh, to empower local communities and promote self-reliance among residents.

The initiative forms part of the Army's ongoing efforts to support skill development, enhance livelihood opportunities and strengthen civil-military relations in remote border areas.

The training program was designed to provide participants with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in bakery techniques, including bread making, cake preparation, pastry production and hygiene standards in food processing. Instructors from the Army conducted the sessions, ensuring that trainees gained both theoretical understanding and practical skills.

The program witnessed enthusiastic participation from residents, particularly women, who expressed keen interest in acquiring entrepreneurial skills in the bakery sector. In total, 15 women attended the training over a period of one month. The training aimed to enable participants to establish small-scale bakery enterprises, thereby contributing to local economic growth and employment generation.

- ANI
IndiGo has initiated repatriation flights to the Middle East, with four flights en route to Jeddah and one planned for Muscat. The airline aims to progressively restore its schedule with 13 return flights to destinations including Muscat, Jeddah, Madinah, and Athens, pending necessary approvals. Concurrently, UAE-based carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways have resumed a limited number of flights from Dubai after a partial airport reopening. All airlines emphasize passenger safety and are coordinating with authorities while operating in a highly volatile regional situation.

IndiGo starts repatriation flights to Jeddah & Muscat, plans schedule restoration to 13 routes. Emirates & Etihad resume limited UAE operations.

New Delhi, March 3 Low-cost carrier IndiGo announced on Tuesday that in view of the evolving situation in the Middle East and Persian Gulf, it has begun repatriation efforts aligned with the relevant authorities in India and the respective governments.

Four such flights are now en route to Jeddah and one is expected to be operated to and from Muscat, later in the day.

"From Wednesday, more scheduled flights and seat capacity are expected to be offered. IndiGo will be reinstating select flights as part of a carefully planned restoration of its schedule, with safety as the topmost priority. Operations are expected to be resumed to the following destinations in line with prevailing airspace conditions and necessary approvals: Middle East: Muscat, Jeddah, Madinah; Europe: Athens. The total works out to 13 return flights (26 sectors)," according to an IndiGo statement.

"For March 4 , repatriation flights to stations in the UAE are being worked upon, however, it will depend on the local situation and required necessary approvals. Given the evolving situation this will be confirmed at a later stage," the airline carrier said.

"For all other stations, IndiGo is closely monitoring the situation and working with the relevant authorities for local slots and permits to progressively restore its operational schedule. IndiGo continues to update its social media platforms and website with the latest status. Amid this highly volatile situation, safety and security of its customers, crew and aircraft continue to be of paramount importance to IndiGo," the statement added.

Meanwhile, the UAE-based airlines Emirates and Etihad Airways started operating a limited number of flights from the evening of March 2, after Dubai Airports confirmed a partial resumption of operations after the airport was closed due to the outbreak of hostilities between the US-Israel alliance and Iran.

The Emirates said it will prioritise customers with earlier bookings as it restarts services in phases. The airline will contact passengers who have been rebooked onto these limited flights directly.

"Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified," Emirates said in a statement.

The Dubai-based airline said that all other flights remain suspended until further notice.

It added that it continues to monitor the situation and will adjust its operational schedule accordingly.

"Updates will be published on emirates.com and its official social media channels."

Etihad said it will conduct some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights "in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals".

However, authorities have not provided a timeline for full restoration of normal operations.

Dubai Airports said a small number of flights will be permitted to operate from Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International (DWC) starting Sunday evening.

However, the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said, "Exceptional flights are now operating at UAE airports. Do not proceed to the airport until your airline contacts you with confirmed flight details to ensure a smooth process for all."

- IANS
The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi has opened a condolence book following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Imam Ali Khamenei, who was killed in reported joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. The 86-year-old leader's death has been declared an act of martyrdom, prompting national mourning in Iran. The book will be available for signing on March 5, 6, and 9 for members of the public and diplomatic community to express sympathy. This gesture is part of a wider international effort by Iranian missions to receive condolences and affirm solidarity.

Iran's New Delhi embassy opens a condolence book for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, inviting the public to pay respects.

New Delhi, March 4 Iran's Embassy in New Delhi has announced that a condolence book will be opened in memory of late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Imam Ali Khamenei, who was "martyred" on February 28, during joint United States and Israeli military strikes on Tehran.

Iranian state television and official statements described the Supreme Leader's death as an act of martyrdom that occurred amid escalating conflict.

The eighty-six-year-old cleric, who had guided the nation since 1989, lost his life in airstrikes that also targeted several other high-ranking officials. Several members of his family were also killed.

Across Iran, days of national mourning began immediately, accompanied by public declarations of continued resistance and unity in the face of what the government called an act of aggression.

In response to the profound loss felt by the Iranian people and supporters worldwide, the embassy in New Delhi has invited members of the Indian public, members of the diplomatic community, and anyone wishing to express sympathy to visit the premises and sign the condolence book.

The gesture allows people to record their respects and offer personal messages during this time of sorrow for the Iranian nation and the wider Muslim community, it said.

The condolence book will remain open on three specific days. It will be available on Thursday (March 5), Friday (March 6), and Monday (March 9).

On each of these days, the book can be signed between 10 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

The embassy expressed gratitude in advance for all expressions of solidarity and condolence that arrive during this difficult period.

Similar condolence arrangements have been set up at Iranian diplomatic missions in various countries, underscoring the widespread attention that Ayatollah Khamenei's martyrdom has received and the Islamic Republic's emphasis on collective strength and resolve at a moment of significant challenge.

The opening of the book in New Delhi stands as one small but meaningful way for friends of Iran in India to participate in the shared mourning and to affirm support for the nation at this juncture in its history.

- IANS
The Iranian government has formally denied Israeli media reports claiming Mojtaba Khamenei was named as the successor to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The reports described Mojtaba as a hardline figure behind violent crackdowns, who was previously sanctioned by the US. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister has launched a sharp attack on former US President Donald Trump, accusing him of betraying diplomacy. This comes as Iran conducts retaliatory strikes following US-Israeli actions that killed the Supreme Leader, escalating the regional conflict into its fifth day.

Iran officially denies Israeli media reports naming Mojtaba Khamenei as successor. Tensions flare as Iran attacks Trump's rhetoric and retaliates for US-Israeli strikes.

Tehran, March 4 Tehran, March 4: The Iranian Government via the Consulate General in Mumbai has rubbished reports that emerged from Israeli media that Mojtaba Khamenei was named as his late father Ayatollah Khamenei's successor.

In a post on X, the consulate said, "Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied."

Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior officials told Israeli Media that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. However, no independent confirmation came from official Iran state media on the development.

Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father's office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report. Israeli Media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran. In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated for representing the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.

Meanwhile, Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalized.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has attacked US President, accusing him of bombing Iran out of spite even as negotiations were on between the two sides.

In a post on X, Araghchi said, " When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction, and when big lies cloud realities, unrealistic expectations can never be met. The outcome? Bombing the negotiation table out of spite. Mr. Trump betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him."

Earlier at a news conference in the White House, Trump described the Islamist Regime as 'crazy people' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it.

"If we didn't do what we're doing right now, you would've had a nuclear war and they would've taken out many countries because you know what? They're sick people. They're mentally ill, sick people. They're angry. They're crazy. They're sick. These people are crazy -- and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would've used it," he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time).

The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI
Iran has officially closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for about 20% of the world's daily oil consumption, with a direct threat to attack any ships attempting passage. This dramatic escalation follows retaliatory strikes between Iran and US-Israeli forces, sparking fears of prolonged supply disruption. Oil markets have reacted sharply, with prices surging over 10% initially, while LNG tanker rates have nearly doubled. The closure poses a significant economic threat to major importers like India, prompting the United States to assert plans to counter rising prices and secure global shipping lanes.

Iran closes the vital Strait of Hormuz, threatening ships and disrupting 20% of global oil flow, causing prices to surge amid regional conflict.

New Delhi, March 3 With Iran officially closing the Strait of Hormuz with a stern warning to oil ships, crude oil pices are expected to soar further in coming days.

Iranian officials told the state media that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and if anyone tries to pass, "the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze".

The strait handles about 20 pr cent of the world's daily oil consumption. At its narrowest point, it is about 33 kilometres (21 miles) wide.

It connects major oil producers - Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates - to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.

According to analysts, oil markets have reacted nervously, fearing that a prolonged conflict could disrupt global supplies and destabilise one of the world's most energy-critical corridors.

The closure of Strait of Hormuz follows US and Israeli strikes on Iran aimed at toppling its leadership. In retaliation, Iran launched multiple missile barrages at Gulf states.

Meanwhile, shipowners are asking more than $200,000 a day for liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers in the Atlantic Basin, almost double the price, as per reports. The surge followed Qatar's shutdown of LNG production as the conflict with Iran began to spill across the wider region.

Crude oil prices were up 1 per cent higher in early trade on Tuesday. On Monday, prices had surged over 10 per cent as markets reopened amid escalating conflict in West Asia.

Notably, crude prices are significant for India, which imports nearly 90 per cent of its oil requirement. In FY25, India imported oil worth $160 billion.

The United States said it has a plan to counter rising oil prices and protect global shipping lanes as it presses ahead with strikes aimed at crippling Iran's missile arsenal and naval power.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the US Capitol that markets were reacting to events in the region but insisted Washington had anticipated the fallout.

- IANS
The White House claims recent negotiations revealed Iran possessed enough highly enriched uranium for "11 bombs' worth" of nuclear material. A senior official stated Iran held 460kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which could be refined to weapons-grade in a matter of days. US negotiators alleged Iran was stockpiling reactor fuel and delaying talks to preserve its nuclear program's building blocks. These findings were cited as pivotal in shaping the decision to launch military action against Iranian nuclear facilities.

White House reveals Iran held 460kg of 60% enriched uranium, described as "11 bombs' worth," a key factor in the decision for military action.

Washington, March 4 Tehran possessed enough highly enriched uranium for "11 bombs worth of nuclear material," the White House claimed, arguing that the findings from recent talks helped shape President Donald Trump's decision to launch military action against Iranian nuclear facilities.

According to a senior Trump Administration Official, familiar with the recent rounds of negotiations with Iran, Tehran currently holds about 10,000 kilograms of enriched uranium across multiple facilities, including 460 kilograms enriched to 60 per cent purity - material he described as dangerously close to weapons-grade.

"Our 460 kilograms of 60 per cent is very, very close to the 90 per cent enrichment level that would qualify it as weapons grade," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "And we know, and you know, and the Europeans know that that is essentially 11 bombs' worth of nuclear material."

Two Senior Trump Administration Officials, familiar with the three rounds of negotiations with Iran, which collapsed last week, asserted that the talks convinced them that Tehran was delaying diplomacy while preserving key components of its nuclear programme.

The second Senior Trump Administration Official said the Iranian delegation repeatedly avoided presenting a detailed proposal during negotiations and appeared to be seeking time.

"It was very clear they were just trying to buy time in order to preserve whatever they could... to get to a nuclear weapon," the official said.

According to the Senior Trump Administration Official, Iran's stockpile included roughly 1,000 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20 per cent and about 8,500 kilograms enriched to 3.67 per cent - levels that could potentially be further refined to weapons-grade material.

"To break out from a 3.67 enrichment level and get to 90 per cent weapons grade could be in the neighbourhood of two and a half to three months," the official said, adding that material already enriched to 60 per cent could reach weapons grade in "maybe a week, maybe at most 10 days."

US negotiators said one of the most troubling discoveries during the talks involved the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR). Iranian officials claimed the facility was producing medical isotopes for civilian use, but American negotiators said the explanation did not match the available data.

The official said analysis during the meeting suggested Iran had accumulated a "seven to eight years supply of fuel" at the reactor and was not producing isotopes as claimed.

"We discovered... that they basically had not been making any radioisotopes, and the seven to eight years supply of fuel that they had been retaining... was being stockpiled," the official said.

The official said Iran had also insisted that uranium enrichment was its "inalienable right," rejecting a US offer to provide nuclear fuel for civilian reactors.

"We'll give you free nuclear fuel for as long as you want, at no cost," the second Administration Official recalled proposing during talks, adding that Iranian officials rejected the offer, saying it would be "an assault on our dignity."

Officials argued that these developments convinced the US administration that Iran's programme retained the building blocks needed to produce nuclear weapons quickly.

"They basically offered us a lot of political wins... but they were unwilling to give up the building blocks of what they needed to preserve in order to get to a bomb," the second Senior Trump Administration official said.

The officials said Iran also resisted transparency measures, including allowing inspectors to take a proposed nuclear framework back for technical review.

The briefing came as Washington continues military operations against Iranian nuclear infrastructure following what the administration described as intelligence indicating Tehran's programme was nearing a dangerous threshold.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, while Western governments have accused it of pursuing the capability to develop nuclear weapons.

- IANS
Iranian diplomats are pressing for answers after a military ship sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Navy rescued over 30 sailors and recovered bodies in an ongoing operation. Authorities report no immediate evidence of another vessel being involved in the incident. The rescue occurs against the backdrop of regional tensions, with Iran asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian diplomats demand explanation as Sri Lankan Navy rescues sailors from sinking military ship. No cause determined, investigation ongoing.

Colombo, March 4 Iranian diplomats on Wednesday sought clues over cause of sinking off Sri Lankan coast, Al Jazeera reported.

At the moment, the Sri Lankan government has not issued any statement about the potential causes.

There was a distress signal from this vessel, approximately 40km (25 miles) off the coast here in Galle, which is just south of the capital, Colombo. They then sent out boats to try to assist the survivors. At this point in time, sources say there is no evidence that there was another boat in the water, as per Al Jazeera.

The Iranian ambassador Alireza Delkhosh, said they have dispensed the military attache and consular official to the hospital to try to see if they can talk to survivors to get some sense of what exactly happened.

Earlier in the day, a Sri Lankan navy spokesperson told Al Jazeera that bodies, suspected to be those of crew members, have been recovered in an ongoing rescue operation for the crew of an Iranian military ship that made a distress call just outside the island's territorial waters earlier.

The spokesperson said they could not give details on the number of dead.

Thirty-two people were rescued from the vessel and are receiving treatment in hospital, the spokesperson said, adding that they did not observe any other ships in the area, as per Al Jazeera.

The Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday rescued 30 sailors from the Iranian naval ship "IRIS Dena", which was in distress with around 180 sailors onboard, according to Sri Lankan media reports.

Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that the rescued sailors are being brought to Karapitiya Hospital for medical attention.

The rescue comes amidst the ongoing West Asia Conflict.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones.

- ANI
US strikes over 2,000 targets in Iran

Senior U.S. military leaders state that Operation Epic Fury has severely degraded Iran's military capabilities within its first four days. Pentagon officials report an 86% drop in Iranian ballistic missile launches and the destruction of over 20 naval vessels, including a submarine. The campaign, ordered by President Trump, aims to dismantle Iran's missile systems, neutralize its navy, and prevent military reconstitution. Despite these gains, officials warn the conflict remains complex and dangerous, with six U.S. service members confirmed killed.

US officials report sharp decline in Iranian missile & drone attacks as Operation Epic Fury targets military infrastructure. Details on campaign objectives & casualties.

Washington, March 4 Senior US military leaders on Wednesday said American and allied forces have sharply degraded Iran's military capability in the first four days of the ongoing conflict, with Iranian missile launches dropping significantly and US forces expanding strikes deeper inside Iranian territory.

Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury had already inflicted heavy damage on Iran's military infrastructure.

"I stand before you today with one unmistakable message about Operation Epic Fury," Hegseth said. "America is winning decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy."

The operation began early Saturday at the direct orders of President Donald Trump, he said, adding that the campaign was still in its early phase.

"First, we are only four days into this. Metrics are shifting, dust is settling, and more forces are arriving," Hegseth said. "Second, we are only four days into this, and the results have been incredible - historic, really."

Air Force General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the United States had already struck more than 2,000 targets across Iran.

"As of this morning, US Central Command (CENTCOM) is making steady progress," Caine said. "Iran's theatre ballistic missile shots fired are down 86 per cent from the first day of fighting, with a 23 per cent decrease in the last 24 hours alone."

He added that Iran's drone attacks had also declined sharply.

"And their one-way attack drone launches are down 73 per cent from the opening days," he said.

According to the Pentagon, the campaign is focused on three main objectives: destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, neutralising its naval forces, and preventing Tehran from rebuilding its military power.

"First, we are targeting and eliminating Iran's ballistic missile systems," Caine said. "Second, we are destroying the Iranian Navy. Third, we are ensuring Iran cannot rapidly rebuild or reconstitute its combat capability."

The general said US forces have already destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels, including a submarine, significantly weakening Iran's naval presence in the theatre.

The Pentagon also highlighted a rare Naval engagement during the conflict.

"For the first time since 1945, a United States Navy fast-attack submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship using a single Mark 48 torpedo," Caine said.

US forces are now transitioning to more direct precision strikes inside Iranian territory after initial long-range attacks.

"CENTCOM is now shifting from large deliberate strike packages using standoff munitions to stand-in precision strikes over Iran," Caine said.

Hegseth said the campaign was accelerating rather than slowing down.

"We are accelerating, not decelerating," he said. "Iran's capabilities are evaporating by the hour."

The Pentagon also confirmed that six US service members were killed during the early stages of the conflict.

Caine named four of them as Captain Cody Cork, Sergeant First Class Noah Teegens, Sergeant First Class Nicole Amore, and Sergeant Declan Cody, all from the 103rd Sustainment Command of the US Army Reserve.

"To the families of our fallen, we grieve with you today," Caine said.

US officials said several regional partners are participating in defensive operations against Iranian attacks.

Caine said Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait have intercepted drones and missiles targeting civilian infrastructure across the region.

Despite the early battlefield gains, both officials stressed that the conflict remains dangerous and unpredictable.

"We're 100 hours in. It's still very early," Caine said. "These operations are complex, dangerous, and far from over."

The United States launched Operation Epic Fury after months of escalating tensions with Iran over missile attacks and Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Washington has repeatedly said the campaign aims to dismantle Iran's missile and military infrastructure and prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.

The conflict has rapidly expanded across the Middle East, with regional air defence systems intercepting drones and missiles while US naval forces strike Iranian targets across the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

- IANS
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has asserted control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, warning that vessels passing through risk damage from missiles or drones. The claim follows IRGC statements about striking a US destroyer in the Indian Ocean using advanced Ghadr and Talaieh missiles. This escalation is part of "True Promise 4," a retaliatory operation against US-Israeli assets after strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader. Concurrently, Israel evacuated embassy staff from the UAE due to foiled Iranian plots, and former US President Donald Trump justified past actions by calling the Iranian regime "crazy."

Iran's Revolutionary Guard claims control of the vital Strait of Hormuz, warning ships of missile and drone risks amid escalating Middle East conflict.

Tehran, March4 Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones.

Earlier, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed that it had struck an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The Corps said the warship had been hit using "Ghadr-380" and "Talaieh" missiles. The Ghadr missile is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres, designed for precision strikes and rapid deployment.

Talaeieh is a strategic cruise missile system capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. It is a smart missile that can change targets mid-mission, adding to its strategic capabilities.

IRGC claimed that the destroyer was refuelling from an American tanker while it was hit, it added. The strike, the Corps concluded, triggered "widespread fires" on board both the vessels.

The IRGC has launched an operation codenamed True Promise 4 in retaliation against US-Israeli assets after they struck Iran. IRGC claims that they have struck numerous sensitive and strategic targets deep inside the occupied territories, besides staging counterattacks against many American interests throughout the West Asia region, including those lying in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

Meanwhile, Times of Israel reported that Israel had led a covert extraction of part of its embassy staff in the United Arab Emirates after two Iranian terror plots targeting the diplomatic team were foiled in recent days. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the evacuation, stating that "in light of concrete threats against Israeli missions in the UAE, and at the request of security authorities, non-essential staff were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates."

The Times of Israel also reported that US President Donald Trump had ordered strikes on Iran after Tehran demonstrated during three rounds of nuclear talks last month that it was not serious about giving up the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon.

Trump had described the Islamist Regime as 'crazy people' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it.

"If we didn't do what we're doing right now, you would've had a nuclear war and they would've taken out many countries because you know what? They're sick people. They're mentally ill, sick people. They're angry. They're crazy. They're sick. These people are crazy -- and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would've used it," he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time)

The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps announced its 17th wave of retaliatory strikes against US and Israeli targets, involving over 230 assault drones. The IRGC claims these operations crippled a major US air base in Bahrain and caused significant American casualties. Concurrently, Israel's Defence Minister issued a stark warning that any successor to Iran's Supreme Leader would be a target for elimination. The report also notes the alleged selection of Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as the anticipated successor.

Iran's IRGC launches 17th wave of strikes, claims major damage to US base in Bahrain and over 680 US casualties. Israel warns Khamenei's successor.

Tehran, March 4 Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Wednesday launched what it said was the 17th wave of strikes against US, Israeli targets, Press TV reported. According to the IRGC, the Ground Force of IRGC responded to the Israeli-US strikes against Iran with 3 major operations.

Announcing another phase of Operation True Promise 4 on Wednesday, IRGC's Public Relations stated that immediately after the joint Israeli-US strikes, its ground forces launched more than 230 assault drones towards targets in the Occupied Lands and US bases in the region.

"Firing dozens of drones in several waves towards the US military bases in Erbil, and Kuwait, and destroying several terrorist groups' headquarters in northern Iraq, were the first actions of brave soldiers of the IRGC against child-killing aggressors," said the statement.

IRGC further claimed that a fresh wave of Iranian retaliatory strikes has crippled a major US air base in Bahrain, with strikes destroying command centres. According to the IRGC, Iran's retaliatory strikes left more than 680 casualties for American troops in various US bases in the first two days of the war. Iranian officials have stressed that targeting US military bases in the region constitutes "legitimate self-defence."

Referring to Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, they say that Iran has the legal right to defend itself against "acts of aggression" by the US or the Israeli regime.

Meanwhile, Press TV also reported that the Handala hacking group, pro-Palestinian hacktivist group that targets Israeli organizations, claimed it had breached the Israeli institute of national security studies (INSS). Handala claimed that classified documents, top secret correspondence, confidential recordings, and highly secret bulletins would be released soon.

Earlier, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.

"We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.

Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours.

- ANI
Actress Ishita Raj has expressed her joy over the upcoming theatrical re-release of the film *Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety*, in which she played Pihu. She describes the film as a major turning point in her career, cherished for its lasting impact and quotable dialogues. Raj fondly recalls the close-knit shoot in Georgia with director Luv Ranjan and the crew, which felt like working with family. She is grateful to be part of a project that audiences continue to celebrate and are eager to experience again in cinemas.

Actress Ishita Raj reflects on the re-release of Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, calling it a turning point in her career and sharing behind-the-scenes memories.

Mumbai, March 4 Actress Ishita Raj, who played the unforgettable Pihu, has talked about the re release of Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, which she tagged as a "turning point" for her.

Ishita said: "When I got the news that Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is re-releasing in cinemas, my first reaction was, 'Oh God, Pihu is coming back to break more bromances!' I was honestly on cloud nine. For me, this film was a turning point and will always remain extremely close to my heart, especially because audiences continue to quote the dialogues even today."



She said that she has been a part of new generation films like Pyaar Ka Punchnama, but Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is truly special.



"I still remember our 10 day schedule in Georgia, where we were shooting and just living those moments as a unit. Working with Luv Ranjan sir and the same crew felt like being with family," she said.



Ishita added: "Sometimes it is difficult to be in sync even with one person, but here there were almost 100 people working on the film and everyone was emotionally aligned. We were just living the moment and it never felt like work."



"Watching it return to theatres now feels like reliving that energy all over again. I am grateful to have been part of a film that people still celebrate and are excited to experience on the big screen once more," Ishita concluded.



Directed by Luv Ranjan and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Ankur Garg, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety stars Kartik Aaryan, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Sunny Singh, and Ishita Raj in pivotal roles. The film will re-release in cinemas on March 6.





- IANS
The Israeli Air Force announced it is carrying out an extensive wave of strikes against Iranian regime targets in Tehran, including Basij and internal security command centers. The announcement comes as Iran prepares a three-day farewell ceremony for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any new leader appointed by the regime will be a "target for elimination," amid reports that Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, is the chosen successor. In retaliation for earlier strikes, Iran's IRGC claims to have launched over 230 assault drones toward targets in Israel and US bases in the region.

Israeli Air Force conducts extensive strikes on Tehran targets as defense minister warns any new Iranian supreme leader will be a target for elimination.

Jerusalem, March 4 The Israeli Air Force says it is carrying out an "extensive" wave of strikes against Iranian regime targets in Tehran. The IDF further said that it has carried out a series of strikes on the Basij and internal security command centres in Tehran belonging to the Iranian terror regime. The IDF said, the targeted command centres were used by the Iranian regime to maintain control throughout Iran. The IDF said it had also struck the regime's missile launchers and other systems.

Meanwhile in Tehran, the Iranian regime will hold a three-day farewell ceremony for the late supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran's Islamic Propagation Council, tol Iranian State Media that the farewell ceremony would continue for three days and the funeral procession will be announced later.

The announcement came even as Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination."

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.

"We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.

Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours.

Earlier, the Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had responded to what it termed was the Israeli-US aggression against Iran with 3 major operations.

Announcing another phase of Operation True Promise 4 on Wednesday, IRGC's Public Relations stated that immediately after the joint Israeli-US aggression against Iran, its ground forces launched more than 230 assault drones towards targets in the Occupied Lands and US bases in the region.

"Firing dozens of drones in several waves towards the US military bases in Erbil, and Kuwait, and destroying several terrorist groups' headquarters in northern Iraq, were the first actions of brave soldiers of the IRGC against child-killing aggressors," said the announcement.

The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI
The Israel Air Force conducted a strike based on precise intelligence, eliminating Daoud Ali Zada, the deputy commander of Iran's Quds Force Lebanon Corps. Ali Zada was the highest-ranking Iranian commander operating in Lebanon, serving as a crucial liaison between Iran and the Hezbollah terrorist organization. He was a significant knowledge center for Hezbollah's fire capabilities and was responsible for inciting terror actions against Israel. The IDF stated it will not allow Iranian terror elements to entrench themselves in Lebanon, which harms the state's rehabilitation.

IDF eliminates Daoud Ali Zada, Iran's highest-ranking Quds Force commander in Lebanon, responsible for Hezbollah's military buildup and terror actions.

Jerusalem, March 4 The IDF reported that earlier today, Tuesday, the Israel Air Force struck and eliminated, based on precise intelligence guidance from Military Intelligence, Daoud Ali Zada, deputy to the commander of Iran's Quds Force Lebanon Corps, Hassan Mahdawi, who was previously eliminated in an IDF strike.

Ali Zada was the highest-ranking Iranian commander responsible for operations in Lebanon and served at a rank equivalent to a brigadier general.

The Lebanon Corps serves as a liaison axis between the terrorist organisation Hezbollah and the Iranian terror regime, functioning as the body supporting Hezbollah's buildup and force development, and serves as the contact point between Quds Force senior officials and Hezbollah's leadership.

Ali Zada previously held several roles, including commander of the Quds Force's strategic mid-range combat means corps, where he managed the buildup of Hezbollah's proxies in strategic mid-range combat means. Zada was a significant knowledge center in the fields of Hezbollah's and other proxies' fire capabilities.

He served as a factor that incited and pushed the terrorist organisation Hezbollah to advance terror actions against the State of Israel.

"Israel will not allow the entrenchment of Iranian terror elements in Lebanese territory, which harm the rehabilitation of the Lebanese state and strengthens Hezbollah," said the IDF.

- ANI
Israel will gradually reopen its airspace overnight to conduct limited flights aimed at evacuating citizens stranded in the Gulf region. The decision comes amid heightened tensions following the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iran's subsequent appointment of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as successor. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning that any new leader appointed by Iran will be a target for elimination. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut and has released footage of recent airstrikes on Iranian military assets.

Israel resumes limited flights to evacuate citizens as conflict escalates. Defense Minister warns Iran's new Supreme Leader is a target.

Tel Aviv, March 4 Israel will open its airspace on the night between March 4 and March 5, resuming limited flights from Ben Gurion Airport to safely evacuate Israeli's stuck in the Gulf region.

Israel Transport Minister Miri Regev announced this decision in a press conference, as the conflict in West Asia escalates after the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"The airspace will be opened on the night between Wednesday and Thursday gradually and ofcourse subject to security arrangements. We are doing everything to bring Israeli citizens home safely, in accordance to the security directives," she said.

Meanwhile, Iran has elected Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme Leader.

Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.

Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father's office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report. Israeli Media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran. In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated to represent the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.

Meanwhile, the IDF said a new wave of strikes is underway against Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The IDF said further details will be provided later. Earlier, the IDF issued evacuation warnings for two buildings in Beirut ahead of airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure.

IDF also showed new footage of an airstrike against a group of Iranian soldiers operating an Air defence system, and the targeting of a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter used by the Iranian army. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Tehran on Tuesday had hit dozens of command centres of Iran's Basij paramilitary force and internal security forces.

- ANI
A devastating strike hit the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, located west of Jerusalem, causing widespread destruction to homes. The attack resulted in nine fatalities, including three children, according to a local witness. Residents described scenes of utter chaos and disbelief, with one calling the event "unreal" and "crazy." The incident is part of a broader escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran, prompting ongoing rescue operations and heightened security.

A sudden strike devastates Beit Shemesh, Israel, killing 9 including children. Witness describes scenes of destruction as Israel-Iran tensions escalate.

Beit Shemesh, March 3 A sudden and devastating strike amid escalating Israel-Iran tensions have wreaked havoc in Beit Shemesh, nearly 30 km west of Jerusalem in Israel's Jerusalem district, on Tuesday, leaving homes shattered and multiple residents dead, including children.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos and disbelief as the attack obliterated entire neighbourhoods within seconds, sending shockwaves through the local community.

Speaking to IANS, Shimon Ganon, a resident of Beit Shemesh, described the horrifying aftermath of the attacks.

"Within three or four seconds, everything here was destroyed. You can see what happened. My neighbours were taken to the hospital, and the entire house is shattered. It feels like a dream, like something unreal. No one here understands what happened. It's crazy, yes, crazy," he said.

The attacks have caused widespread devastation in the city, leaving families grieving and communities in shock.

Ganon added that the human cost has been severe.

"Nine people died here, they were my neighbours and their children. What can I tell you? Yesterday, I saw them all, today they are all gone. Nine people died, yes including children. Three children were killed. That's the tragedy," he said.

Authorities in Beit Shemesh are still assessing the full extent of the destruction, and rescue operations continue amid ongoing tensions in the region.

Hospitals are treating the injured, while emergency services work to secure affected areas.

Residents described scenes of chaos and disbelief, with many struggling to comprehend the suddenness and severity of the attacks.

Local officials have called for calm and urged people to stay indoors until further notice.

The incident in Beit Shemesh is part of the broader escalation between Israel and Iran, which has prompted heightened security measures across affected areas.

Relief efforts are being coordinated to assist the families who have lost loved ones and homes in the attack.

- IANS
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas, focusing on the escalating conflict in Iran and the Gulf region. This follows major US-Israeli airstrikes in Iran which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and senior officials, triggering Iranian ballistic missile retaliation across the Middle East. Jaishankar also spoke with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE, underlining India's concern and stakes in regional peace. He was assured by the Gulf leaders of their commitment to protecting the safety and welfare of the large Indian community residing in the region.

EAM Jaishankar holds calls with EU's Kaja Kallas & Gulf FMs on Iran-Israel strikes, stresses de-escalation & safety of Indian community.

New Delhi, March 4 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, and discussed the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Gulf region.

In a post shared on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Had a telecon with EU HRVP @kajakallas. Our discussions focused on the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Gulf."

This comes after the US and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities on February 28 targeted military command centres, air-defence systems, missile sites, and key regime infrastructure. This resulted in the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials, with large explosions reported in Tehran and other major cities.

In response, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict in the Middle East and heightening risks for civilians and expatriates alike.

Earlier on March 1, Jaishankar spoke with his counterparts from several Gulf countries amid rising tensions in West Asia, stressing the need for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.

He said India is concerned about the escalating situation and highlighted the country's strong interest in regional peace and the safety of the Indian community living in the region.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Just spoke to Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, FM of Saudi Arabia. Exchanged views on the ongoing situation in the Gulf. Underlined India's stakes in regional peace and stability and in the welfare of Indian community."

In another post, he said he spoke with Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who briefed him on the latest situation in the country.

"Spoke with Kuwait FM Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He briefed on the latest situation in Kuwait. Underlined India's concern at the escalation. Value his reassurance for the welfare of the Indian community," in another post, he said.

Jaishankar spoke with top leaders from Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE about rising tensions in the Gulf.

He said he was assured by Bahrain's FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Qatar's PM and FM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and UAE's DPM and FM Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan that the Indian community's safety and welfare would be protected.

"Exchanged views with FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrain on the turn of events in the region. The escalating developments are clearly a matter of concern. Was assured that his Government would take all measures to keep the Indian community safe," he said.

"Called Qatar PM & FM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani this evening. Was apprised of the situation in Qatar. Value his assurance on the well-being of the Indian community," he said.

"Discussed the evolving situation in the Gulf with UAE DPM & FM Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan this evening. India is concerned with the escalating situation. Appreciate his commitment to the welfare of the Indian community," he said.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, thousands of citizens have found themselves caught in a massive aviation standstill.

- ANI
Japan and India are in discussions to jointly explore and develop recently identified rare earth deposits in Rajasthan. The move aims to reduce both nations' heavy dependence on China for these critical minerals, which are vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense equipment. Japan is expected to provide advanced extraction technology and funding in exchange for a stable supply. The talks follow a preliminary pact on critical minerals and occur amid rising tensions between Japan and China, including recent Chinese export restrictions.

Japan and India discuss joint development of Rajasthan rare earth deposits to secure critical minerals and reduce reliance on Chinese imports.

New Delhi, March 4 In a move aimed at reducing dependence on China for critical minerals, Japan is in discussions with India to jointly explore rare earth deposits in the desert state of Rajasthan, according to reports.

The talks come after India recently identified three hard rock rare earth deposits in Rajasthan and Gujarat, containing an estimated 1.29 million metric tons of rare earth oxides.

The discovery was announced last month by Union Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, who said the findings could significantly boost India's mineral security.

Reports said the discussions between New Delhi and Tokyo are part of a preliminary pact on critical minerals signed last year. Under the proposed cooperation, Japan is expected to send experts to Rajasthan to study the deposits.

The Japanese government is likely to offer advanced extraction technology and financial support in exchange for a stable supply of rare earth materials to Japan.

Hard rock rare earth deposits require specialized extraction techniques, which India currently does not have at scale. Japan's technological expertise could therefore play a key role in developing these reserves.

The reports said Japan is examining mining projects around the world to diversify its mineral supplies, including rare earth elements. However, the report clarified that there have been no discussions yet on specific corporate partnerships or technology agreements related to Rajasthan.

Both India and Japan are looking to reduce their reliance on Chinese imports of rare earth materials. Rare earth elements are essential for manufacturing permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, fighter jets and drones.

As one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, India sees secure access to these materials as critical for its industrial and strategic ambitions.

The talks also come amid rising tensions between Japan and China.

Last week, China banned the export of certain dual-use items to 20 Japanese entities that it claims supply Japan's military. The move effectively restricts Japanese companies' access to seven rare earth elements and other critical minerals currently on China's dual-use control list.

Beyond rare earths, reports indicate that Japan is also exploring collaboration with Indian companies to search for lithium, copper and cobalt in Africa, as part of a broader effort to secure diversified and stable mineral supply chains.

- IANS
A Karnataka government committee has submitted its report on the proposal to declare Tulu as the state's second official language. The committee studied the criteria used by Andhra Pradesh when it declared Urdu as a second official language. The report was submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Kannada and Culture. A detailed proposal on the background and history of the Tulu language was also presented.

A Karnataka committee has submitted its report on granting Tulu second official language status, based on a study of Andhra Pradesh's model.

Mangaluru, March 4 The committee appointed by the Karnataka government to study the criteria followed in Andhra Pradesh for declaring an additional official language has submitted its report on Wednesday, following a proposal to declare Tulu as the second official language of the state.

The government had formed a six-member study committee chaired by KM Gayatri, the then Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture, in the presence of Taranath Gatti Kapikad, President of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy.

The committee visited the Secretariat and various departments and offices in Andhra Pradesh on January 19 and 20.

They studied the criteria and procedures adopted when Urdu was declared the second official language in Andhra Pradesh and prepared a detailed report.

The study committee members submitted the report to J. Manjunath, Secretary of the Department of Kannada and Culture, at Vikasa Soudha.

Along with the report, a comprehensive proposal regarding the background and history of the Tulu language was also presented.

- ANI
The Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi hosted a traditional 'Phool Holi' celebration using flowers instead of colors. The event at Shankaracharya Chowk featured cultural performances including bhajans and Holi songs. Temple authorities and security agencies coordinated to ensure a peaceful and safe environment for the large gathering of devotees. Officials highlighted the eco-friendly nature of the flower-based festivities, which devotees described as joyful and spiritually uplifting.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi celebrated Phool Holi with flower showers, cultural performances, and tight security for a peaceful festival.

Varanasi, March 4 Kashi Vishwanath Dham Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi organised 'Phool Holi' on Wednesday, offering devotees an opportunity to celebrate the festival in a traditional and spiritually uplifting environment.

The flower-based Holi festivities were held at Shankaracharya Chowk within the Dham complex, where devotees gathered in large numbers to take part in the celebrations.

Apart from showers of flowers, the programme featured a series of cultural performances, including bhajans, Holi songs and other traditional presentations, adding to the festive spirit, officials said.

The temple authorities, along with the police and other associated agencies, appealed to devotees to cooperate in ensuring that the celebrations remain peaceful, safe and dignified.

Temple Chief Executive Officer Vishwabhushan Mishra told IANS, "Today, Holi was performed at Baba's temple. The temple trust has arranged a setup of five-tiered flowers. These are available for all devotees here. The best part about the Phool Holi is that people also play Holi with them after they fall on the ground. It is eco-friendly. People are enjoying it a lot. We will promote this further."

A devotee said, "Today, at Baba Kashi Vishwanath, the Lord of the World, Holi is being celebrated at his temple. The Holi festival is a celebration of joy, peace, and prosperity. We are celebrating Phool Holi here with utmost joy."

"We are very happy to celebrate Phool Holi here. The atmosphere here is very nice and spiritual. It is also very safe," another devotee told IANS.

Comprehensive security arrangements were put in place for the occasion. Security personnel were deployed throughout the premises, with the Central Reserve Police Force and private security agencies keeping a close watch on entry and exit points. The area was also monitored through CCTV surveillance, the administration stated.

- IANS
The Karnataka government has declared it will not permit processions in Bengaluru condemning the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated any protests must be held within the nation's legal framework, citing a court order against such processions. He also discussed ongoing efforts to repatriate Indians stranded in the Middle East due to the regional crisis. Meanwhile, airspace restrictions led to the cancellation of 34 flights at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport.

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara says no permission for processions over Ayatollah Khamenei's killing, protests must be within legal framework.

Bengaluru, March 4 The government in Karnataka has stated that it will not allow processions and protest marches in Bengaluru condemning the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that any protests in this regard must be held within the existing legal framework of the country.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara made the statement while speaking to the media on Wednesday in Bengaluru.

Parameshwara said, "One section of the minority community considers Ayatollah Khamenei their spiritual leader. When he died, they were naturally pained and expressed their grief. However, it must be done within the legal framework of our nation. They did not seek permission for the procession, and we did not grant permission."

He further stated, "Despite this, the procession was taken out, and the police have initiated action in this regard. In the coming days, we will not allow such processions because the court itself has ordered that no processions should take place. If they wish to protest, they can do so at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. We are strictly following these directions, and cases have been registered against those who took out the procession."

"During the SIR protest in Bengaluru, we had advised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi not to take out a procession. Similarly, we are now enforcing the law strictly," he added.

Speaking about people from Karnataka stranded in the Middle East, he said, "Many have returned from the region. On Tuesday, they arrived on two flights. Our Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary have written to the Centre. The Central government is also making arrangements and efforts to bring all Indians back. In the meantime, they are trying to operate flights from here to bring people back."

"Large numbers of Indians have settled in the United Arab Emirates. According to estimates, there are more than 10 million Indians there. Many had gone years ago, while some had travelled for short durations of a week or four days. All of them are currently stranded and need to be brought back. Efforts are ongoing in this regard," he said.

"Our embassy is in contact with the stranded Indians and is trying to ensure their safety," Parameshwara added.

Meanwhile, official statement stated that a total of 34 flights were cancelled at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Wednesday due to airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East. According to airport authorities, 18 arriving flights and 16 departing flights were cancelled until 11.59 PM on March 4.

The cancellations primarily affected key sectors including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai and Doha. Passengers have been advised to check with their respective airlines for updated schedules and further assistance.

- IANS
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla extended warm greetings on the eve of Holi, describing the festival as a vibrant expression of India's culture and brotherhood. He urged citizens to fill society with the colours of love, peace, and harmony, sharing joy with those in need. President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her heartfelt wishes, stating that Holi spreads love and strengthens social cohesion. Both leaders emphasized the festival's role in uniting the nation's diverse population.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and President Droupadi Murmu extend Holi wishes, emphasizing the festival's role in promoting unity, love, and social harmony.

New Delhi, March 4 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has extended greetings to the people on the eve of Holi, saying that the festival of colours is a "vibrant expression of our rich culture, traditions, and brotherhood."

in his message on Tuesday.

According to the Vice President's Secretariat, the Lok Sabha Speaker asserted that the festival of Holi binds people of India in a thread of unity and brotherhood.

"Our country is full of diversity, yet the celebration of Holi binds us together in a thread of unity and brotherhood. On this Holi, let us pledge to fill our society with the colours of love, peace, and harmony, and to share the joy of the festival with those who may be alone or in need," said Birla.

According to a release from Vice President's Secretariat, Om Birla conveyed his heartfelt wishes to the citizens, praying that their lives remain continuously graced by the vibrant colours of happiness.

"Once again, heartfelt wishes to all on Holi. May your life always be filled with vibrant colours of happiness, and may our nation continue to shine with the colours of love, progress, and unity," added Birla.

Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu also extended her greetings to fellow citizens.

According to an official release from the President's Secretariat, the President, in a message, said, "On the joyous occasion of Holi, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad. Holi is a festival of joy and celebration that conveys the message of social harmony. The festival spreads love and hope in society and strengthens the spirit of social cohesion. Holi is also a symbol of unity in diversity."

"May the colours of Holi bring happiness into everyone's life and together we contribute to building a developed nation," she further said in her message.

- ANI
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla celebrated Holi at his ancestral home in Kota, Rajasthan, extending greetings to the nation and emphasizing the festival's role as a symbol of unity and collective joy. In Jaipur, foreign tourists participated in special celebrations, adding an international dimension to the traditional festivities. Large crowds gathered at Mumbai's Juhu Beach and in towns across states, immersing themselves in colours, music, and dance. Political leaders like Raosaheb Danve and Sanjay Seth also joined in, highlighting Holi's power to strengthen social bonds and foster communal harmony.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla celebrates Holi in Kota, calling it a festival of unity and resolve. Festivities witnessed from Jaipur to Mumbai.

Kota, March 3 Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, led Holi celebrations in Rajasthan on Tuesday, extending greetings to the nation and calling the festival a symbol of unity, resolve and collective joy, as vibrant festivities were witnessed across several states.

Speaking to IANS, in Rajasthan's Kota, Speaker Birla celebrated Holi with the public at his ancestral residence, extending warm wishes to the nation.

Interacting with people who had gathered to greet him, the Lok Sabha Speaker highlighted the cultural and spiritual significance of the festival.

"Wishing everyone a very happy Holi. May Holi bring joy and enthusiasm to all. Everyone should collectively strive to bring enthusiasm, happiness, and joy into the life of every person in society. This is a festival of resolve and a festival of togetherness," Speaker Birla said.

Emphasising India's rich traditions, the Lok Sabha Speaker added, "All our festivals inspire us through our spiritual culture. The celebration of Holi, in the same way, is a festival of unity -- a time to share in each other's joy and to spread cheer and happiness in everyone's lives."

Meanwhile, in Jaipur, a large number of foreign tourists took part in Holi celebrations at a special event organised in the Khasa Kothi area, adding an international flavour to the festivities.

Drenched in colours, participants danced to traditional and Bollywood songs, capturing the festive spirit of Rajasthan's capital.

In Mumbai, huge crowds gathered at the Juhu Beach to celebrate Holi with family and friends.

Revellers smeared each other with colours and enjoyed music and dance by the seaside.

A local resident said, "We come here every year, and the weather and atmosphere are very pleasant. Everyone comes to enjoy and have fun. As you can see, we have celebrated, jumped, danced, and sung songs."

In Maharashtra's Jalna district, former Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raosaheb Patil Danve celebrated Holi at his Bhokardan residence, joining party workers and supporters in the festivities.

In Ranchi, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth described Holi as a festival that strengthens social bonds.

"Holi is a very dear festival. It is a festival of embracing each other, of forgetting mutual differences and disagreements. It is a festival of hugging -- if there are any differences or disputes throughout the year, once you embrace on Holi, all differences vanish," he said.

Across cities and towns, Holi was celebrated with traditional fervour, as people came together to exchange greetings, apply colours and reinforce the message of unity and communal harmony that the festival symbolises.

- IANS
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav celebrated Holi in Bhopal, extending festive greetings to the state and country. He highlighted key government initiatives, including the Kisan Cabinet and a recent 3% increase in dearness allowance for employees and pensioners. The state government has declared 2026 as 'Krishak Kalyan Varsh' and approved agricultural works worth thousands of crores. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also celebrated Holi at his residence, extending wishes for peace and harmony.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav celebrates Holi in Bhopal, extends greetings and highlights Kisan Cabinet and DA hike for employees.

Bhopal, March 4 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday celebrated Holi in Bhopal.

He extended the Holi greetings to all the people in the state and country and highlighted government efforts, such as the Kisan Cabinet and an increase in the dearness allowance, which he believed have made the celebration more significant.

"Best wishes of Holi to the people of the state and the country. Through the Kisan Cabinet, our government has given farmers the opportunity to celebrate Holi in all its glory. Similarly, by increasing the dearness allowance of officers and employees' pensioners by 3 per cent, the government has demonstrated its commitment to equality for all sections of society."

Madhya Pradesh government has declared the year 2026 as Krishak Kalyan Varsh. Under this, various agriculture-related activities are being conducted. Recently, first agriculture cabinet of the state was organised in tribal dominated district of Barwani and works worth Rs 27,746 crore were approved in the interest of farmers. Earlier, the cabinet meeting was also dedicated to farmers. In this meeting decision was taken to continue various schemes related to farmers for next 5 years.

Madhya Pradesh government has also hiked the dearness allowance of state government employees by 3 per cent.

In a post on X, Mohan Yadav also extended heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the occasion of Holi.

"Heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the sacred festival of Holi, filled with enthusiasm, zeal, and harmony. My wish is that this festival may scatter new colours of happiness, peace, and prosperity in every courtyard. May the colours of goodwill, positivity, and unity always shine brightly in society," he said.

Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh actively participated in the celebrations at his residence by playing holi with gulaal and sounding drums.

Singh also extended Holi greetings to the people, wishing for peace and harmony in the world.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Heartfelt greetings of Holi to all the countrymen. May peace be established throughout the world. May everyone live in peace and harmony. These are my heartfelt wishes on the holy festival of Holi."

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

While several states in Western India, including Mumbai and Gujarat, celebrated yesterday on March 3, North India began its main celebrations today.

- ANI
The Maharashtra government has initiated a high-priority mission to assist and evacuate its citizens stranded in the Gulf region due to the Iran-Israel conflict. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a dedicated WhatsApp helpline and close coordination with the Central Government and Indian embassies. Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan is overseeing operations, with local Indian community groups activated for ground support. The state is arranging transport as airspaces reopen and reassured the public about fuel security due to strategic reserves.

Maharashtra govt launches mission to evacuate citizens from Gulf amid Iran-Israel conflict. CM Fadnavis announces helpline & coordination with MEA.

Mumbai, March 4 Amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, the Maharashtra government has launched a high-priority mission to assist and evacuate Indian tourists and professionals from the state stranded in the Gulf region, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state council on Wednesday.

He announced that the state is working in close coordination with the Central Government to ensure the safety of its citizens. Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan has been officially tasked with overseeing the rescue operations and providing immediate relief.



CM Fadnavis said that there has been a dedicated support system, diplomatic coordination and community mobilisation.



"A WhatsApp helpline has been established to provide real-time assistance. Minister Girish Mahajan is reportedly in direct contact with those stranded via video calls to assess their conditions. The state government is collaborating with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Embassies. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been issued to citizens regarding safety measures. Local 'Marathi Mandals' and other Indian community organizations in the Gulf have been activated to provide ground-level support, including food and shelter," he added.



The chief minister addressed specific issues in Kuwait, where transit passengers faced visa complications. Efforts are underway to provide them with temporary accommodation and essentials.



CM Fadnavis noted that while some airspaces remain closed, Air India and other commercial carriers have begun gradual operations wherever safety permits.



"We are prioritising the safe return of our people. While certain airspaces are currently unsafe, we are arranging transport as soon as routes open up. Our Chief of Protocol is also working closely with embassies to streamline the process," he stated.



He also commended Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's party initiatives for independently facilitating the return of some citizens, calling it a "praiseworthy effort."



Addressing concerns over the potential economic fallout, CM Fadnavis reassured the public regarding fuel security. He confirmed that India maintains a two-month strategic fuel reserve, suggesting that an immediate hike in fuel prices is unlikely despite the Middle Eastern volatility.



CM Fadnavis concluded by reiterating the Modi government's track record of successful evacuations over the past decade, expressing confidence that every Indian student, tourist, and professional will be brought home safely in the coming days.





- IANS
The Maharashtra government has announced the complete abolition of the Non-Agricultural tax for all residential housing societies. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed the waiver covers all past, present, and future levies, including outstanding arrears. A new simplified one-time conversion fee structure based on Ready Reckoner rates will replace the recurring annual charges. This move is expected to provide significant financial relief to thousands of urban flat owners and housing societies.

Maharashtra abolishes all Non-Agricultural tax levies for residential constructions, waiving arrears and introducing a simplified one-time conversion fee.

Mumbai, March 4 In a landmark decision providing significant financial relief to urban residents, the Maharashtra government has announced the total abolition of the Non-Agricultural tax for housing societies. 

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday confirmed in the Legislative Assembly that all past, present, and future NA tax levies, including outstanding arrears, have been waived. 

The announcement came during the Question Hour of the Budget Session, in response to a query raised by MLA Bhimrao Tapkir regarding the tax burden on urban housing complexes.

Minister Bawankule told the house that the annual NA tax is completely scrapped for all residential constructions, regardless of age. 

"Any previous unpaid taxes, penalties, or interest are officially pardoned. A simplified 'Conversion Tax' system has been introduced to replace the recurring annual charges. Citizens will no longer need to repeatedly visit revenue offices, as the tax system is being digitised and simplified," he said.

To provide a permanent solution, Minister Bawankule outlined a one-time conversion fee structure based on the Ready Reckoner (RR) rates. 

"For constructions completed before 2001, the rate is fixed at 0.10 per cent of the 2001 Ready Reckoner rate. This rate applies to an area of 1,000 square meters. For the development of larger areas, a one-time payment facility has been introduced: Up to 4,000 sq. meters: 0.25 per cent rate and above 4,000 sq. meters (more than one acre): 0.15 per cent rate. Once this one-time amount is paid, the concerned parties will be exempt from all future taxes," he added.

Minister Bawankule emphasised that this new system will eliminate the need for citizens to visit revenue offices repeatedly and will make the tax system more user-friendly. 

This move is expected to reduce the financial burden on housing societies and benefit thousands of flat owners in urban areas. 

The Minister stated that this decision puts an end to the long-standing issue of NA tax for urban housing societies, ensuring that citizens no longer face the additional burden of taxes, penalties, or interest.

- IANS
Major airlines are adjusting operations due to the volatile situation in the Middle East. Air India has extended suspensions for most flights to several Middle Eastern nations, operating only a limited service with safety as the top priority. Other carriers like Air Canada and SpiceJet are adding frequencies and special flights to provide more routing options for affected passengers. Meanwhile, IndiGo is proceeding with network expansion by announcing a new international route to Reunion Island.

Air India extends flight suspensions to Middle East. Air Canada and SpiceJet add services. IndiGo launches new route. Passenger advisories issued.

New Delhi, March 4 Amid the continuing volatile situation in the Middle East, leading airlines have announced schedule changes, suspensions, and additional services to mitigate passenger inconvenience and maintain connectivity.

Air India on Tuesday said it has extended the suspension of most flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 2359 hrs IST on March 4.

"In view of the continuing situation in the Middle East, Air India has extended the suspension of most flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 2359 hrs IST on 4 March 2026. We continue to closely monitor and assess the evolving developments in the region. A limited number of flights are being operated, with the highest priority accorded to the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew," the airline said in a statement.

The airline clarified that its flights to North America, the UK, and Europe continue to operate as per schedule. "These services are being operated via alternative routings over available airspaces in the Middle East, with safety remaining our highest priority," it added.

Air India also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and said it remains committed to supporting affected customers by offering alternative travel arrangements, full refunds, or complimentary rescheduling options. Passengers have been advised to check the updated flight status on airindia.com or contact the airline's 24/7 customer support hotline for assistance.

Furthermore, in a post on X, Air Canada said, "Given the current situation in the Middle East, from March 7 to 21, we are adding a frequency to the Toronto-Delhi service (twice a day) and using larger aircraft on certain Toronto-London-Mumbai flights in order to offer more routing options."

Additionally, SpiceJet announced that eight more special flights will operate from Fujairah (UAE) to India to accommodate stranded or affected passengers.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

Meanwhile, IndiGo announced the launch of thrice-weekly non-stop flights between Chennai and Reunion Island, effective April 29. The airline will operate its Airbus A320 aircraft on the route, making Reunion Island its 46th international destination and the 13th international destination from Chennai.

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, said, "We are pleased to announce direct flights between Chennai and Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean. Known for its diverse landscapes, pristine coastlines, and rich multicultural heritage, Reunion Island offers travellers a distinctive and immersive experience. These flights extend extreme convenience for travellers to a destination combining an authentic French experience with tropical island allure. We are confident that customers will appreciate travelling on India's preferred carrier on this new and unique route."

- ANI
The Madhya Pradesh government has established a 24x7 control room at its Delhi bhavan to assist state residents currently in Gulf countries. This initiative provides a contact point for those needing help due to the escalating tensions in West Asia. The move aligns with the Ministry of External Affairs, which has also set up a special control room for all Indian nationals in the region. The crisis, involving military strikes and airspace closures, has prompted multiple Indian government agencies to enhance their preparedness and assistance mechanisms.

Madhya Pradesh establishes 24x7 control room in Delhi to assist state residents in Gulf countries amid escalating West Asia tensions and airspace closures.

New Delhi, March 4 The government of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday issued a notice stating that a 24*7 control room has been established at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan, New Delhi, in view of the escalating tensions in West Asia.

"In view of the current unprecedented circumstances, the Madhya Pradesh government has established a 24x7 control room at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan, New Delhi, to assist residents of Madhya Pradesh living in Gulf countries," the notice read.

Furthermore, the notice stated that any resident of Madhya Pradesh currently residing in any Gulf country can get assistance through the control room.

"Under this, all residents of Madhya Pradesh who have reached Gulf countries for studies, employment, business, tourism, etc. and require any kind of assistance in the current circumstances can contact this control room. With the help of the control room, the Madhya Pradesh government will provide assistance to those concerned by contacting the Government of India and other relevant agencies," the notice added.

Earlier today, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also announced the establishment of a Special Control Room in view of the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, providing multiple helpline numbers for Indian nationals.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the update on X, stating that a dedicated Control Room has been set up to assist citizens amid the ongoing tensions.

Indian nationals have been advised to remain in touch with the respective embassies and monitor official updates for further advisories.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation also established a 24x7 Passenger Assistance Control Room on Sunday to review preparedness in view of the evolving airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the Middle East.

This comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following military strikes involving Israel and the United States targeting Iranian sites. Iran has also carried out strikes in the region, apparently targeting US military baes. The escalation has led to temporary airspace closures in parts of West Asia, forcing airlines worldwide to reassess routes that traditionally pass through or near affected corridors.

- ANI
Nepal is holding parliamentary elections to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives. The polls follow the significant Gen Z uprising in September last year, which resulted in loss of life and substantial property damage. Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has stated all preparations are complete and is urging the nation's over 18.9 million voters to cast their ballots without fear. The interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki has steered the country toward this democratic exercise.

As Nepal votes for parliament, the Chief Election Commissioner assures full preparedness and urges 18.9 million voters to cast ballots confidently.

Kathmandu, March 4 As Nepal heads to parliamentary elections on Thursday, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has urged voters across the country to exercise their franchise without fear.

The country is going to the polls to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the federal parliament. Of the total seats, 165 will be elected under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, while 110 will be filled through the proportional representation system.

The elections are being held in the aftermath of the Gen Z uprising of September 8-9 last year, during which 77 people lost their lives, while private and public property worth over NPR 84 billion was damaged, according to government estimates.

There was initial uncertainty about the direction the Himalayan nation would take following the Gen Z movement. However, the interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki steered the country towards elections, and Nepal now appears to be back on a democratic course with the polls scheduled for Thursday.

Bhandari said in a message that all necessary preparations for the conduct and management of the elections have been completed, while urging voters to exercise their right to vote.

Voting will take place across the country from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.

"Since elections are the foundation of a representative system of governance and provide legitimacy and assurance to the people's right to be governed through representatives of their choice, I sincerely urge all voters to attend their respective polling centres and cast their votes confidently on Thursday," he said.

He added that the Commission is fully prepared to conduct the election in a clean, free, fair and fear-free environment.

In a separate statement, the election body said that all essential election materials, including ballot papers and ballot boxes, have been delivered to polling centres nationwide.

Preparations such as the construction and management of polling stations, arrangements for accessibility, gender- and disability-friendly facilities, and the deployment of election personnel have also been completed.

More than 18.9 million registered voters are eligible to exercise their franchise, according to the Commission.

Of them, 9.66 million are male and 9.24 million are female.

A total of 3,406 candidates are contesting under the FPTP system, while 3,135 candidates are listed under the proportional representation system, the Commission said.

- IANS
Bollywood's Nora Fatehi responds to critics after her appeal for global unity amid Iran-Israel tensions, urging those triggered to "get some help."

Mumbai, March 4 Bollywood dancing diva Nora Fatehi has strongly said that she maintains her stance after her appeal for world peace amid the Iran-Israel tensions had upset many.

Nora had earlier shared a video amid the rising tensions in West Asia, where she spoke about prioritizing unity and peace. She went on to talk about how peace and stability are what everyone truly seeks.



The actress has now come out with another video with the caption stating: "Standing on business...If world peace and unity is triggering you then please get some help."



In the clip, Nora is heard saying: "Also, on a side note, I think a lot of people have lost touch with the ability to have comprehension skills and listening skills. And I think that's something that we used to learn back in the day in school."



"So, you know, comprehension skills, critical thinking skills, and reading abilities, and being able to just listen."



She added: "So I think that a lot of people have skipped that stage in life, especially I think now with social media and the phone and stuff like that. I think we haven't been able to push our brains to that level of being able to understand things. But I do maintain my stance on world peace and unity."



Nora further stated: "If you don't think you are a part of that sentence, because every country and every person is a part of the world. So if I speak generally on people and wanting people to live in peace, and if I speak against chaos, and if you have a problem with that, then you need to go check yourself."



"Morally, there's something wrong with you."



Nora said that after sharing her video about how emotionally exhausted people are from constant global chaos, she was speaking on behalf of everyone, regardless of background or beliefs.



"And I think what after I put my video up speaking about, you know, how tired we are as a society, just globally, people are just so tired with one chaos after another, one major world event after another, I speak for everybody. So it doesn't matter what part of the world you are in, or where you live, or who you are, what your background is, what your religion is, I speak for everybody."



She added that if her words trigger irritation or feel threatening, then the issue lies within those who are uncomfortable with the message.



"So if I'm speaking like that, and it bothers you, and you feel irritated, or you feel threatened, then you need to go check yourself, you are a problem."



Nora concluded: "And while I'm reflecting today, because you know, I just did my prayers, and I'm about to break my fast, and I'm sitting here, and I'm thinking, and I'm like, wow, you know, we live in a world today where people get upset, they get angry, if you speak about world peace, that's scary."





- IANS
North Korea will hold an election for its Supreme People's Assembly on March 15, a procedural step following a recent ruling party congress. The session is expected to formalize a major generational shift in leadership, including replacing the parliament's chairman. A key focus will be whether leader Kim Jong-un is named to the top state presidency, a title reserved for the country's founder. The assembly is also likely to codify into the constitution the regime's policy defining South Korea as a "hostile country."

North Korea will elect a new parliament on March 15, following a major party congress, with key leadership changes expected.

Seoul, March 4 North Korea will elect representatives to its parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly, later this month, state media said Wednesday, as a follow-up step after a recent party congress.

The election of representatives to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) will be held March 15, the Korean Central News Agency said, citing a decision by the parliamentary standing committee.

The formation of a new parliament will follow a weeklong congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea held last month, which is the country's highest decision-making body, where the North laid out key policy goals for the next five years.

North Korea typically holds a parliamentary session after a party congress to translate party decisions into law and carry out a personnel reshuffle to implement them.

The upcoming parliamentary session is expected to see Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the SPA standing committee, relieved of his post after the 76-year-old longtime cadre was excluded from the party's central committee, along with other senior officials, in a major generational shift in leadership.

Jo Yong-won, a party secretary known as one of leader Kim Jong-un's closest aides, is seen as a likely successor to Choe.

A major focus of attention will be whether Kim will be named president, the top state seat reserved so far for founder Kim Il-sung, as the SPA makes key personnel decisions.

The SPA is also seen as likely to codify the regime's policy defining the two Koreas as "hostile countries" into the constitution, after Kim first announced the stance in 2023, which led to hostile policies toward Seoul.

Since 1990, the number of SPA representatives has been set at 687, encompassing workers, scientists, educators or other members of the public from various sectors, as well as senior government officials.

Becoming an SPA member is regarded as a rite of passage into the regime's inner power circle.

North Koreans aged 17 or older are eligible to vote in the parliamentary election, which typically takes place over a single day.

The voting, however, is seen as largely a formality, as only a single candidate runs in each constituency.

Voters are required to place the ballot in the ballot box if they approve of the candidate. Otherwise, they must draw a line through the candidate's name, a process that effectively makes the voting non-secret.

Leader Kim is currently not an SPA member after being excluded from parliament in the previous election, marking the first time a North Korean leader has not held a seat since the country's founding seven decades ago, Yonhap news agency reported.

Once the new parliament is formed, the North is expected to convene a parliamentary session. The first meeting of the current 14th SPA was held about a month after the election.

- IANS
The United States has launched a massive military campaign dubbed Operation Epic Fury against Iran, striking over 1,700 targets in the first 72 hours. The operation, directed by the President, aims to dismantle Iran's security apparatus and prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. Senior House Democrats have demanded detailed legal and strategic justifications from the administration for the conflict. The strikes risk destabilizing the critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping lane.

The US launches massive Operation Epic Fury against Iran, striking over 1,700 targets with bombers, jets, and missiles. White House vows victory.

Washington, March 3 , The United States has struck "over 1,700" targets across Iran in the first 72 hours of Operation Epic Fury, unleashing bombers, fighter jets and missile systems in one of the largest direct military actions in recent years, as the White House declared "America will win" and that "the terrorist Iranian regime will be defeated."

The operation began at "1:15 am, February 28, 2026," according to a Pentagon fact sheet titled Operation Epic Fury - First 72 Hours. It said U.S. Central Command "commenced Operation Epic Fury at the direction of the President of the United States" and is striking targets "to dismantle the Iranian regime's security apparatus, prioritising locations that pose an imminent threat."

The White House, separately, listed four objectives. It said the mission is to "Destroy the Iranian regime's missiles," "Annihilate their Navy," "Ensure their terrorist proxies can no longer destabilise the world," and "Ensure Iran can NEVER obtain a nuclear weapon." It added: "America will win. The terrorist Iranian regime will be defeated."

CENTCOM said the Iranian regime is "using mobile launchers to indiscriminately fire missiles in an attempt to inflict maximum harm across the region." It added: "U.S. forces are hunting these threats down and without apology or hesitation, we are taking them out."

The Pentagon document listed "Target Location: Iran" and "Targets Struck: Over 1,700." It said the operation is taking place within the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility.

The assets deployed reflect the scale of the campaign. They include B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers. Fighter aircraft include F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22 and F-35 jets. The U.S. also used A-10 attack jets, EA-18G electronic attack aircraft, and airborne early warning systems.

Missile defences listed include Patriot interceptor missile systems and THAAD anti-ballistic missile systems. The fact sheet also cited MQ-9 Reapers, M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and "special capabilities we can't list here!"

Targets struck include "Command and Control Centres," "IRGC Joint Headquarters," "IRGC Aerospace Forces Headquarters," "Integrated Air Defence Systems," "Ballistic Missile Sites," "Iranian Navy Ships," "Iranian Navy Submarines," "Anti-ship Missile Sites," and "Military Communication Capabilities."

Even as operations continued, senior House Democrats demanded detailed answers from the administration.

In a March 2 letter to top national security officials, lawmakers wrote: "The decision to initiate or expand armed conflict is among the gravest responsibilities entrusted to our government." They added: "A number of our brave service members have already lost their lives in this conflict."

The letter said Congress and the American people are owed "clear objectives, legal justification, and a defined strategy." It said a classified briefing "must address strategy, intelligence, legal justification, and long-term consequences in concrete terms."

Lawmakers requested answers on "Imminent Threat Justification," "Strategic Objectives and Victory," "Regime Change," "Nuclear Security," risks to the "Strait of Hormuz and Maritime Security," and the "Costs and Impacts on Munitions Inventories."

The United States and Iran have had adversarial relations since 1979. Tensions have centred on Iran's nuclear programme, ballistic missile development, and support for armed groups in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Any sustained disruption there can affect energy prices and markets worldwide.

- IANS
Passengers returning from Dubai recount panic caused by drone attacks and sirens, while another from Muscat reports normalcy. Delhi International Airport has issued an advisory noting delays for several westbound flights due to the political situation in the Middle East. Indian authorities and airlines are monitoring the airspace closely, making schedule adjustments and alternative routings to avoid restricted zones. The disruptions follow US-Israeli strikes in Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliation across the region, widening the conflict.

Drone attacks in UAE cause panic, Delhi westbound flights delayed. India monitors airspace as Iran retaliates for strikes. Passenger accounts inside.

New Delhi, March 3 Amid escalating tensions in parts of the Middle East, passengers travelling on international routes have reported disruptions and heightened security measures, while airlines continue to monitor the situation closely.

Sanjeev, who recently returned from Dubai, said the situation there had created panic among residents.

"There were drone attacks. Sirens went off. Anti-drone missiles fired by the UAE authorities destroyed them, and the sound caused a lot of panic, as everyone was experiencing it for the first time... In India, because we had recently experienced Operation Sindoor, we probably weren't as scared...," he noted.

Mohammad Idris, who came from Muscat, Oman, said, "The atmosphere there is similar to Delhi. The situation there is very good. There was no advisory; everything is fine there."

Meanwhile, several westbound international flights from the IGI Airport were delayed amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said.

Delhi Airport issued an update on social media platform X, stating, "Due to the ongoing political situation in the Middle East, several westbound international flights are causing delays or schedule adjustments. Passengers are advised to check the latest flight updates with their respective airlines before travelling to the airport."

India is closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of the Middle East and its impact on international flight operations.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules, with long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations being progressively resumed through alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace. Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers.

The US and Israeli strikes resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials, with large explosions reported in Tehran and other major cities.

In response, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict in West Asia and heightening risks for civilians and expatriates alike.

- ANI
Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, has stated that lasting peace with Afghanistan is only possible if the Taliban regime renounces its support for terrorism and terrorist organisations. He emphasised that the use of Afghan soil by militant groups for attacks against Pakistan is unacceptable. The remarks come amid ongoing military operations and heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistan has conducted cross-border strikes and insists operations will continue until Kabul provides verifiable guarantees against terrorism facilitation.

Army Chief Asim Munir says lasting Pak-Afghan peace is contingent on the Taliban regime renouncing support for terrorism and terrorist organisations.

Islamabad, March 5 Army Chief Asim Munir has said that lasting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan was contingent upon the Taliban regime renouncing support for terrorism and terrorist organisations.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday, Munir made the remarks during his visit to Wana in South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he reviewed the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness along the Western border with Afghanistan, Dawn reported.

"He reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations," the statement said.

During the visit, Field Marshal Munir laid a floral wreath at the martyrs' monument to honour personnel who had laid down their lives in defence of the country.

"He offered fateha and reaffirmed that the sacrifices of shuhada remain the cornerstone of Pakistan's security and resilience," the statement said.

Munir was given a detailed briefing on the overall security environment, ongoing intelligence-based operations and border management measures. "The Field Marshal was briefed in detail regarding the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haq and developments along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border," it said.

He also interacted with officers and troops stationed in forward areas and praised their professionalism and morale amid continued skirmishes. "He lauded their steadfast commitment to safeguarding Pakistan's sovereignty and ensuring peace and stability in the region," it said.

Referring to militant activity, the ISPR statement noted that Munir stressed the use of Afghan soil by Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan for attacks against Pakistan was unacceptable.

"The Field Marshal emphasised that the use of Afghan soil by Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan for acts of terrorism against Pakistan was unacceptable and all necessary measures would be taken to neutralise the threat emanating from across the border," the statement said.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term used by the Pakistani state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while Fitna al Hindustan refers to militant groups operating in Balochistan.

"He reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations," the statement said.

Appreciating the operational readiness of the Pakistan Army, Munir expressed confidence in the combat preparedness and resilience of formations deployed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, it added.

Relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have deteriorated sharply in recent years. Border clashes erupted in October last year across the 2,600-kilometre frontier. Following the tensions, Turkiye and Qatar mediated talks in Doha. While the first round resulted in a fragile ceasefire, subsequent rounds failed to produce a concrete agreement, with only a broad understanding to develop a verification mechanism, Dawn reported.

On February 22, Pakistan carried out overnight strikes targeting alleged terrorist camps in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan. In retaliation, the Afghan Taliban launched attacks along the border, prompting Pakistan to initiate Operation Ghazab Lil Haq on February 26.

In a recent media briefing, a senior security official stated that Pakistan would continue cross-border operations until Kabul provides verifiable guarantees against terrorism facilitation.

"Operations in Afghanistan will end when Afghanistan's Taliban Regime provides verifiable assurance of compliance to Pakistan's demand of quitting facilitation of Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan. We are in no hurry," the top official said in an interaction with journalists, Dawn reported.

- ANI
The Pentagon has released the names of four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike. U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll expressed deep sadness over the casualties from recent Iranian attacks on American forces. Meanwhile, U.S. military officials report intense strikes against Iranian targets as part of Operation Epic Fury. The conflict continues with reports of drone attacks on U.S. assets, including a suspected strike on a CIA station in Riyadh.

Pentagon names four US Army Reserve soldiers killed in Iranian attack. Secretary of the Army mourns losses as conflict escalates in the Middle East.

Washington DC, March 4 The Pentagon has identified four of the six US soldiers who were killed in an Iranian drone strike on Sunday. The US Army Reserve in post on X said, "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the deaths of four U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers supporting Operation Epic Fury on March 1st."

According to CNN, the identified soldiers were Capt. Cody Khork, 35; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20. All four were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve sustainment unit out of Iowa.

According to the US Army Reserve X post, Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Chief of Army Reserve said, "We honor our fallen Heroes, who served fearlessly and selflessly in defense of our nation."

The US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll confirmed casualties linked to recent Iranian attacks on American forces in West Asia on Wednesday and mourned the death of soldiers in the ongoing conflict.

In a post on X, he said, "I'm deeply saddened by the loss and injury of our Soldiers from the recent Iranian attacks on U.S. Army forces in the Middle East. We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to all those impacted by these recent attacks."

"These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten," he added.

Meanwhile, nine drones were intercepted after entering Saudi airspace, according to the Saudi Defence Ministry. The update was reported by Saudi Gazette on X, citing the ministry's spokesperson, "Nine drones were intercepted and destroyed immediately after entering Saudi airspace."

Earlier, the United States' Operation Epic Fury continued on day four with the intensity of strikes increasing even as Iran retaliated with counter offensive targeting US assets in the Gulf.

On Tuesday (local time), Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of United States Central Command, in a briefing said that the US will not stop and that Iran's ability to hit back was declining rapidly.

"Now, we're less than 100 hours into this operation, and we've already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. In simple terms, we're focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us. Our B-2 bombers and B-1 bombers have executed uncontested surgical strikes against multiple missile facilities deep inside Iran. And then just last night, a B-52 bomber force struck ballistic missile and command and control posts," he said.

Despite this assurance, Iran's counter continues. Fox News, citing a source, has reported that a CIA station inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was hit in a drone attack. Two drones caused structural damage and smoke inside the compound, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries, said the news report.

Earlier, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes on Iran, a fire that broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General in Dubai late Tuesday night, following a suspected drone strike, has been fully extinguished, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI
A member of Iran's Assembly of Experts has stated that selecting a successor to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei will not take long. The Provisional Leadership Council, formed after Khamenei's death in reported US-Israel strikes, has held its second meeting with key figures in attendance. This interim council, including the President, will govern until a new Supreme Leader is elected by the Assembly of Experts. The attacks that killed Khamenei have reportedly resulted in significant casualties across Iran.

Following Khamenei's death, Iran's Provisional Leadership Council holds meeting. Assembly of Experts member says successor selection "won't take long."

Tehran, March 3 A member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, charged with choosing the new Iranian Supreme Leader, said that it "won't take long" to pick the Ayotallah Khamenei's successor, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.

Earlier on Monday, the Provisional Leadership Council of Iran held its second meeting in the presence of Iranian President Masoud Pezekshian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, as per the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Sharing the visuals from the meeting in a post on X on Monday, IRNA said, "The second meeting of the Provisional Leadership Council was held with the presence of President @drpezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Alireza A'rafi."

The second meeting of the Provisional Leadership Council came after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed on Saturday in Israel-US strikes as part of Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion.

After Khamenei's killing, Trump again addressed the Iranian public on Saturday, calling for them to topple the government. "This will probably be your only chance for generations," he said on Saturday after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran began.

The Provisional Leadership Council was formed shortly after Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei and top security officials were killed in the US and Israel's ongoing attacks.

The interim council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, will oversee the country until a new supreme leader is elected. Iranian state media say at least 201 people have been killed in the attacks across 24 provinces, as per Al Jazeera.

The three members of the council present in the meeting were Iranian President Masoud Pezekshian, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi and Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

As per Al Jazeera, Arafi has been a member of the Guardian Council since 2019 -- whose members are appointed by the Supreme Leader. It serves as the Islamic legal authority that vets Iran's laws and policies to make sure they conform to Islamic principles. The Council also approves election candidates, has veto power over legislation passed by parliament and supervises elections.

Alireza Arafi, a cleric member of the Guardian Council, has been appointed as the jurist member of Iran's Leadership Council, a body tasked with fulfilling the supreme leader's role until the Assembly of Experts elects a new leader, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.

It further reported that Arafi also serves as the deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts-- the body responsible for overseeing the selection of the supreme leader. He leads the Friday prayers in Iran's most important religious centre- Qom, and heads the seminary system, overseeing education for religious leaders nationwide.

The third member of the Council-- Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei is a senior religious leader and has headed the judiciary since Khamenei appointed him to the post in July 2021, Al Jazeera reported. From 2005-2009, he served as the intelligence minister and later as prosecutor-general and first deputy chief justice.

- ANI
Actor Pranav Vashisht reflects on his significant roles in the films "Amar Singh Chamkila" and "Border 2," describing the experience as a dream come true. He expresses deep gratitude for the opportunity to work with acclaimed directors like Imtiaz Ali and Anurag Singh, who he credits with shaping his artistry. Vashisht also acknowledges casting director Mukesh Chhabra for his unwavering support throughout his career journey. Looking ahead, the actor is filled with gratitude and aims to entertain audiences with even better performances.

Actor Pranav Vashisht calls working on Amar Singh Chamkila and Border 2 a dream come true, sharing his gratitude for directors Imtiaz Ali and Anurag Singh.

Mumbai, March 4 Actor Pranav Vashisht left quite an impression with his portrayal as Pamma in Imtiaz Ali's "Amar Singh Chamkila".

Along with acting, he also gained experience as the director's assistant and casting assistant, helping Mukesh Chhabra during the movie. Further strengthening his position as a versatile actor, Pranav delivered another noteworthy performance as Lieutenant Ajit Singh, protagonist Sunny Deol's trusted aide in the much-acclaimed "Border 2".

Getting to collaborate with Bollywood gems such as Imtiaz Ali, Diljit Dosanjh, JP Dutta, and Sunny Deol, Pranav is making the most of his journey in showbiz.

Talking about the same, he shared, "It has been a wonderful journey so far for me. I feel grateful to be a part of such massive and amazing projects. Learning and unlearning both went hand in hand".

"As an actor, you dream of working in such films and I was lucky to be a part of these projects. I would like to thank Mukesh Chhabra sir as he has been a pillar of support throughout my journey so far," Pranav went on to add.

Looking back on his experience of working on "Amar Singh Chamkila", co-starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, he described it as "life-changing".

He further shared that collaborating with directors such as Imtiaz and Anurag has helped him shape himself as an artist.

"Working closely and getting guidance from a maestro like Imtiaz sir has played a prominent role in shaping my art and performance," he said.

He further claimed that his 'Border 2' director, Anurag Singh, helped him bring out the best in him.

"It is because of Anurag Singh Sir, that I was able to become Ajit Singh and perform in the best of my capacity," added Pranav.

Thrilled about this new phase of his cinematic journey following "Border 2" and Amar Singh Chamkila", Pranav added, "I am looking forward with immense gratitude in my heart. I wish that I entertain people with even better performances and keep growing as an actor".

- IANS
President Donald Trump has formally notified the U.S. Congress of precision military strikes against Iran, conducted under the operation name "Epic Fury." He justified the action as necessary to protect American interests, ensure free maritime commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, and defend regional allies including Israel. The strikes targeted Iranian ballistic missile sites, air defenses, and command capabilities, with the stated aim of minimizing civilian casualties. In response, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against U.S. assets and allies, escalating regional tensions as world leaders call for de-escalation.

President Trump officially notifies Congress of precision strikes on Iran, citing protection of US forces, maritime commerce, and defense of allies like Israel.

Washington DC, March 3 US President Donald Trump on Monday sent an official letter to Congress about the U.S. strikes against Iran, where he justified military action, reported Fox News.

In his letter Trump said that the strikes were conducted at his direction on February 28 to protect US interests, ensuring free flow of maritime commerce via Strait of Hormuz and for the collective self-defence of regional allies, including allies.

"At my direction, on February 28, 2026, United States forces conducted precision strikes against numerous targets within Iran including ballistic missile sites, maritime mining capabilities, air defenses, and command and control capabilities. These strikes were undertaken to protect United States forces in the region, protect the United States homeland, advance vital United States national interests, including ensuring the free flow of maritime commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, and in collective self-defense of our regional allies, including Israel," Trump wrote

Trump added that no United States ground forces were used in these strikes, and the mission was planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties, deter future attacks, and neutralize Iran's malign activities.

He recalled the operation Midnight Hammer undertaken by the US last year and said that despite its success, Iran continued to seek and employ nuclear weapons.

"Its array of ballistic, cruise, anti- ship, and other missiles pose a direct threat to and are attacking United States forces, commercial vessels, and civilians, as well as those of our allies and partners," he said.

In his statement Trump slammed Tehran for "malign behavior" despite the Administration's repeated efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution. He further mentioned that while the US desires "quick and enduring peace", it is yet to be determined how long the full scope of the military operations will last.

"United States forces remain postured to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats and attacks upon the United States or its allies and partners, and ensure the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ceases being a threat to the United States, its allies, and the international community," he wrote

Trump said he shared the report in accordance with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148) and expressed appreciation to the support of Congress in the actions.

"I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests both at home and abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests. I acted pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations", the letter added.

In response to the joint American-Israeli strikes, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict and heightening risks for civilians and expatriates alike.

World leaders and international bodies are currently urging de-escalation as the risk of a wider regional conflict grows, though fighting continues without a clear end in sight.

- ANI
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra extended Holi greetings, emphasizing the festival's role in promoting love, unity, and social harmony. Both leaders shared their messages on social media platform X, describing Holi as a celebration of India's diverse and vibrant culture. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi celebrated the festival with party workers at the Congress headquarters in Delhi, interacting with supporters and extending his wishes. Other senior Congress leaders also participated in and commented on the festivities, underscoring the occasion's spirit of togetherness.

Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Rahul Gandhi extend Holi wishes, highlighting the festival's message of unity, love, and social harmony.

New Delhi, March 4 Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Holi, highlighting the festival's message of love, unity and social harmony.

In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra conveyed warm wishes, describing Holi as a grand festival filled with the diverse hues of enthusiasm, excitement, joy, sweetness and camaraderie. She said Holi is a celebration of embracing everyone with love - family, friends, society and one another - and urged people to share happiness with all. "May Holi bring auspiciousness to all fellow citizens," she said in her message.

Kharge also took to X to greet citizens, calling Holi a festival that reflects the soul of India's vibrant and multi-cultural society. He said the festival celebrates the enduring tradition of unity in diversity, mutual harmony and brotherhood, which has been the hallmark of Indian civilisation for centuries.

"On this joyous occasion that erases distances, heartfelt Holi greetings to all of you. May your life always be filled with the colours of happiness," Kharge posted, adding the hashtag #HappyHoli.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi celebrated Holi with party leaders and workers at the Congress party headquarters in the national capital.

The AICC premises came alive with colours and festive cheer as senior leaders, office-bearers, and supporters gathered for the celebrations. Rahul Gandhi interacted with party workers and extended greetings on the occasion.

In his message on X, he said: "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all of you on the festival of colours and love. May the colours of Holi fill all your lives with new hopes, fresh enthusiasm, and countless joys."

Several party leaders welcomed his presence at the celebrations. Congress national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said Holi is a festival of joy and happiness and expressed excitement over Rahul Gandhi joining the festivities. Congress MP Mukul Wasnik said his participation carried significance for party workers, while former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot described Holi as a festival of love and brotherhood that should be celebrated together. Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said party members were enjoying the occasion.

Holi, one of India's most widely celebrated festivals, symbolises the victory of good over evil and marks the arrival of spring, bringing people together in a spirit of unity and celebration.

- IANS
People in Amritsar celebrated Holi with traditional enthusiasm, applying colors and dancing to dhol beats. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann extended heartfelt greetings via social media, praying for the festival to bring happiness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished all citizens a joyful and prosperous Holi. The celebrations coincided with the Sikh festival of Hola Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and PM Narendra Modi extend Holi wishes. Celebrations in Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib mark the festival of colors and Hola Mohalla.

Amritsar, March 4 On the occasion of Holi, people in Amritsar were seen celebrating the festival of colours with enthusiasm as people gathered to play and sing outside.

They applied vibrant shades of gulaal to each other as the sound of dhol manjira filled the air. People danced together to celebrate the festival and threw colours in the air, creating an atmosphere of joy.

The Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann also extended his greeting on the occasion, wishing for the festival to bring happiness in people's lives.

In an X post, he said, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all Punjabis and fellow countrymen. May this festival of colors bring every shade of happiness into your life, as I pray before the Almighty."

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of Holi and wished for happiness, prosperity and success to everyone.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens. May this festival, brimming with colours and exuberance, bring a shower of joy to everyone. May every life be sprinkled with the hues of happiness, prosperity, and success--this is my heartfelt wish."

Meanwhile, a large number of devotees gathered in Anandpur Sahib to celebrate the three-day-long Sikh festival of Hola Mohalla, which coincided with the festival of Holi.

- ANI
Qatar Airways has suspended all operations due to the closure of Qatari airspace amid the escalating conflict in West Asia. In a contrasting move, Israel has announced it will gradually open its airspace to facilitate limited flights for evacuating its citizens from the Gulf region. The ripple effects are felt in India, where Trichy Airport reported 31 flight cancellations, though special flights are being arranged for stranded passengers. Meanwhile, reports suggest Mojtaba Khamenei may succeed his father as Iran's Supreme Leader, though this remains unconfirmed by official Iranian media.

Qatar Airways operations suspended as conflict closes airspace. Israel opens airspace for evacuations. India's Trichy Airport sees 31 cancellations.

Doha, March 4 Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace amid the conflict in West Asia.

The flight will resume after Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace, the airlines announced in a post on X.

Qatar Airways has advised its passengers to monitor the latest flight information.

Meanwhile, Israel will open its airspace on the night between March 4 and March 5, resuming limited flights from Ben Gurion Airport to safely evacuate Israeli's stuck in the Gulf region.

Israel Transport Minister Miri Regev announced this decision in a press conference, as the conflict in West Asia escalates after the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"The airspace will be opened on the night between Wednesday and Thursday gradually and ofcourse subject to security arrangements. We are doing everything to bring Israeli citizens home safely, in accordance to the security directives," she said.

Meanwhile in India, Tiruchippalli International Airport Limited officials on Monday issued an operational update, reporting a total of 31 flight cancellations at Trichy Airport.

A total of 31 flights were cancelled at Trichy Airport on Wednesday. The operational disruptions included the cancellation of 16 arriving flights and 15 scheduled departures, according to Trichy Airport.

Till date, 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers have been cancelled due to the ongoing situation.

However, The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers in the Gulf region as tensions in West Asia rise.

A total of 24 flights are being operated by Indian carriers today. In addition, Emirates and Etihad have operated 9 flights from the Gulf in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

Indian carriers are further planning 58 flights on 4th March, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express, the Ministry said.

Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba, has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme Leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. However, no independent confirmation has come from the official Iranian state media on the development.

- ANI
Qatar's Prime Minister has firmly rejected Iran's assertion that recent missile strikes were directed at American interests and not Qatar, citing evidence that civilian areas and key infrastructure were hit. He labeled the attacks a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and international law, warning that such violations would not go unanswered. The escalation follows coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, which prompted Iranian retaliation against assets in several Gulf nations. This crisis has drawn Gulf states hosting U.S. bases into the conflict and raised global concerns over the security of the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping route.

Qatar's PM rejects Iran's claim that missile attacks targeted US interests, not Qatar, warning of a response to the "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty.

Doha, March 4 Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, firmly rejected Iran's claim that recent missile attacks were not directed at Qatar, stating that evidence on the ground indicates otherwise.

The rebuttal was delivered during a Wednesday phone call between the Prime Minister and Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi.

According to Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Araghchi stated that the missile strikes targeted American interests and were not intended for Qatar.

Sheikh Mohammed rejected this claim, citing that civilian and residential areas in Qatar were struck.

He specified that the affected areas included the vicinity of Hamad International Airport, key infrastructure, industrial zones, and facilities related to liquefied natural gas production.

Sheikh Mohammed called the strikes a "flagrant violation" of Qatar's sovereignty and international law. He added that the attacks included not only missiles but also ongoing drone activity and unauthorized aircraft, which were intercepted by Qatari armed forces.

He stated that these Iranian actions reflect an "escalatory approach" and show no genuine intent to de-escalate or resolve. He accused Tehran of attempting to harm its neighbours and involve them in a conflict "that is not theirs."

The Prime Minister called for an immediate end to attacks on regional states seeking to remain outside the conflict and urged all parties to prioritize their people's broader interests.

He emphasised that while Qatar supports dialogue and diplomacy, it will respond to any violation of its sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity.

He warned that such attacks would not go unanswered, citing Qatar's right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The escalation began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran, called "Operation Epic Fury," resulting in the deaths of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior commanders.

Washington said that the strikes were a preemptive effort to degrade Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure after diplomatic talks in Geneva failed. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff stated that Tehran had rejected a proposal to dismantle its missile program and end support for proxy groups.

In response, Iran launched missile and drone strikes against U.S. assets and bases in several Gulf nations, including Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain.

This has brought several Gulf Arab states that host major U.S. military installations directly into the conflict, forcing them to balance sovereignty concerns with the risk of being targeted.

The crisis has raised global concern over the Strait of Hormuz, a route for about 20 percent of the world's oil, as tanker traffic is disrupted and energy prices rise.

- IANS
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, celebrated the festival of Holi at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi. He interacted with party workers and leaders, spreading a message of unity and festive cheer. In a social media post, he extended Holi greetings, wishing for new hopes and joys. Senior Congress leaders present highlighted the importance of the festival of love and brotherhood.

Rahul Gandhi celebrated Holi at the AICC office, extending festive greetings and calling for unity and togetherness with party workers and leaders.

New Delhi, March 4 Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi marked the festival of Holi with party leaders and workers at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in the national capital on Wednesday, conveying a message of unity, harmony and festive cheer.

The celebrations at the AICC office were attended by senior party leaders, office-bearers and supporters, as the premises came alive with colours and greetings. Rahul Gandhi joined the gathering, interacting with workers and extending wishes on the occasion.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi extended his greetings, stating, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all of you on the festival of colours and love. May the colours of Holi fill all your lives with new hopes, fresh enthusiasm, and countless joys."

Party leaders present at the event expressed happiness over his participation in the celebrations.

Congress National Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told IANS, "Holi is a festival of joy, happiness, and celebration. We are all excited that Rahul Gandhi is here today to celebrate Holi with us."

Congress MP Mukul Wasnik told IANS, "Rahul Gandhi is one of the most important leaders of our country. Despite holding such a significant position, it means a lot that he joins us and celebrates festivals with all the party workers. Holi is a festival of joy and enthusiasm, and being a part of this celebration together carries great importance."

Congress leader Sachin Pilot also highlighted the spirit of the festival, saying, "It is a festival of love and brotherhood. We should celebrate it together and spread happiness everywhere."

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said the party members were enjoying the occasion.

"We are celebrating Holi and enjoying the festivities," he told IANS.

Holi, among the most widely celebrated festivals in India, symbolises the victory of good over evil and signals the onset of spring. The festival is observed with colours, music and traditional customs, bringing people together in a spirit of camaraderie and celebration.

- IANS
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma celebrated Holi with great enthusiasm alongside thousands of citizens at his residence. The event showcased the state's diverse cultural traditions, including performances from Braj and Shekhawati regions featuring devotional singing and traditional dance. The Chief Minister actively participated in the festivities, joining in Phalgun folk songs and interacting warmly with attendees. He extended greetings, emphasizing Holi as an occasion to foster harmony and forget differences.

Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma and wife celebrate Holi with thousands, showcasing diverse cultural traditions from Braj to Shekhawati.

Jaipur, March 4 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma celebrated Holi with great enthusiasm alongside members of the public on Wednesday.

Thousands of people from across the state gathered at the Chief Minister's residence to celebrate the festival with flowers and natural colours.

Sharma and his wife warmly greeted attendees, applied gulal, and showered the gathering with flower petals.

On the auspicious occasion of Holi, the diverse cultural traditions of Rajasthan were brought together under one roof. Various forms of Holi celebrations, ranging from the vibrant Braj style to Shekhawati's traditional festivities, were showcased.

Artists from Bharatiya Kala Sansthan (Indian Institute of Arts) and a bhajan troupe from Braj captivated the audience with devotional singing and dance performances.

The Go Vatsa Phag troupe from Fatehpur in Shekhawati enthralled attendees with performances featuring the traditional Chang.

The Chief Minister also joined the artists, participating in Phalgun folk songs and sharing in the festive spirit. Children, elderly citizens, women, and youth alike participated enthusiastically in the celebrations.

Some tied colourful turbans and draped dupattas around the Chief Minister while applying gulal, while others presented him with handmade water guns and gulal gota.

Extending heartfelt greetings to the people of the state, the Chief Minister said that the festival of colours is an occasion to forget past differences and renew the resolve to live in harmony and happiness.

Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, Premchand Bairwa, Rajya Sabha MP Madan Rathore, Manju Sharma, MLA Kuldeep Dhankhar, Gopal Sharma, along with several MPs, MLAs, former public representatives, officials, and a large number of citizens from across the state, from Jaisalmer to Dholpur and Hanumangarh to Banswara, were present. s

- IANS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh actively celebrated Holi at his New Delhi residence, playing drums and applying colours while expressing heartfelt wishes for worldwide peace and harmony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended festive greetings on social media, hoping the festival brings joy, prosperity, and success to all citizens. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath marked the occasion by feeding cows and applying a *gulaal teeka* at the Gorakhnath Temple gaushala. The festival, symbolising the triumph of good over evil, saw main celebrations begin in North India on March 4th.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Holi at his residence, playing drums and wishing for global peace. PM Modi and CM Yogi also extended festive greetings.

New Delhi, March 4 On the occasion of Holi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh showcased active participation in the celebrations at his residence, playing drums, and putting gulaal on people.

Many people gathered at his residence in the national capital to celebrate the festival of colours.

Singh also extended Holi greetings to the people, wishing for peace and harmony in the world.

Speaking ot reporters, he said, "Heartfelt greetings of Holi to all the countrymen. May peace be established throughout the world. May everyone live in peace and harmony. These are my heartfelt wishes on the holy festival of Holi."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of Holi and wished for happiness, prosperity and success to everyone.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens. May this festival, brimming with colours and exuberance, bring a shower of joy to everyone. May every life be sprinkled with the hues of happiness, prosperity, and success--this is my heartfelt wish."

On the occasion, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also fed cows and calves at Gorakhnath Mandir Gaushala, applying gulaal teeka to them.

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

While several states in Western India, including Mumbai and Gujarat, celebrated yesterdaytoo on Tuesday, March 3, North India began its main celebrations today, Wednesday, March 4.

- ANI
Megastar Chiranjeevi shared a glowing review of his son Ram Charan's introduction song 'Rai Rai Raa Raa' from the upcoming film 'Peddi' on social media. He praised the track's energy, Ram Charan's screen presence, and credited the director, composer, and crew. In a touching response, Ram Charan thanked his father, stating that his encouragement is paramount and motivates him to work harder. The highly anticipated film, also starring Janhvi Kapoor, is scheduled for a worldwide release on April 30.

Ram Charan thanks father Chiranjeevi for his heartfelt praise of the 'Rai Rai Raa Raa' song from the upcoming film 'Peddi', calling his encouragement everything.

Hyderabad, March 3 Responding to an appreciation post penned by his dad Megastar Chiranjeevi, Telugu star Ram Charan has now told his father that his encouragement meant everything to him.

Megastar Chiranjeevi had penned an appreciation post after watching Ram Charan's introduction song 'Rai Rai Raa Raa' from his upcoming film 'Peddi'.



Sharing the 'Rai Rai Raa Raa' track on his X timeline, Chiranjeevi had said, "#RaiRaiRaaRaa from #Peddi is sheer fire on screen, a stunning blend of energy, emotion, and cinematic brilliance. Watching @AlwaysRamCharan light up the screen with effortless grace and electrifying speed fills me with immense pride. The way he moves is a joy to watch! (sic)."



Giving a shout out to 'Peddi' director Buchi Babu Sana, Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman, and all the others responsible for bringing the track to life, the Megastar had gone on to add, "Kudos to @BuchiBabuSana for the brilliant picturization, @arrahman for the magical composition and vocals, and @AlwaysJani for the power-packed choreography."



"Compliments to @RathnaveluDop for the magnificent visuals, @IananthaSriram for the meaningful lyrics, and producer @venkataskilaru for backing this spectacular vision", he had further said.



Chiranjeevi had concluded the post by wishing the entire team of "Peddi" "many more milestones ahead!"



Now, Ram Charan has responded to his dad's appreciation post. Ram Charan replied to Chiranjeevi's post, saying, "Thank you, nanna (dad) (heart emoji). Your encouragement means everything. It reminds me to stay grounded, work harder and keep raising the bar."



For the unaware, Buchi Babu Sana's 'Peddi' has triggered huge interest in fans and film buffs. Janhvi Kapoor plays the lead along with Ram Charan in this film, whcih will also feature actors Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Divyendu Sharma, and Boman Irani.



The film has cinematography by one of the best in the business, R. Rathnavelu, and editing by National Award-winner Navin Nooli.



Backed by Venkata Satish Kilaru under the banner of Vriddhi Cinemas, and presented by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings, 'Peddi' is slated to hit screens across the globe on April 30 this year.





- IANS
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has secured an agreement to contest 28 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections as part of its alliance with the ruling DMK. The deal, finalized in a meeting between Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Congress state chief K. Selvaperunthagai, also includes one seat in an upcoming Rajya Sabha election. The Secular Progressive Alliance aims to consolidate its position against the BJP-AIADMK coalition in the upcoming state polls. The political landscape is further complicated by the expected entry of actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, potentially creating a three-way contest.

Tamil Nadu Congress chief expresses joy after DMK allocates 28 assembly seats and 1 Rajya Sabha seat for the 2026 polls in key alliance deal.

Chennai, March 4 Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai on Wednesday expressed joy after securing 28 assembly seats from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, along with one seat in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

"This is a very happy moment for us. We have received 28 seats from the DMK, and I sincerely thank all our national and state leaders who made this possible. The alliance would strongly oppose divisive and fascist forces," he said.

This comes after the second round of seat-sharing talks ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, which took place on Wednesday. The DMK and the Congress Party agreed that Congress will contest 28 Assembly constituencies and will be allocated one seat in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

In a statement, party leaders said that the decision came following the meeting between the DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai.

"With regard to the upcoming 2026 Legislative Assembly General Elections, a meeting was held today (04-03-2026) between the President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Hon'ble Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, K. Selvaperunthagai, to discuss seat-sharing arrangements. It was decided that the Congress Party, which is part of the Secular Progressive Alliance, will contest in 28 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. It was also agreed that one seat will be allocated to the Congress Party in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha election," the statement read.

The announcement comes after a second round of seat-sharing talks at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, attended by the Seat Sharing Committee of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee led by AICC Election In-charge Girish Chodankar, along with senior leaders, including Congress Legislature Party Leader Rajesh Kumar and AICC Secretary Nivedit Alva.

The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the incumbent MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay's entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest.

In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. Congress won 18, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight seats. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, which consisted of Congress, won 159 seats collectively.

While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats.

- ANI
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that police have registered cases against individuals for holding unauthorized processions in Bengaluru following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader. The processions, held by the Shia Muslim community, mourned Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and protested against the US and Israel. This occurs amidst a widening conflict in West Asia triggered by US and Israeli strikes against Iran. Iran is preparing a multi-day funeral ceremony for the late Supreme Leader in Tehran.

Karnataka Home Minister says police have registered cases against those holding pro-Khamenei processions without permission in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru, March 4 Days after a procession held after the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that the state police have registered cases against those violating rules.

Speaking to reporters, Parameshwara said that the government has taken a firm stance on the processions and said that permission is required for any gathering in the city.

"We have registered cases where they have violated the rules. First of all, they are not supposed to take procession in Bengaluru city without permission. We have registered cases and will not allow them to come to the streets," the Karnataka minister told reporters.

This comes after processions were held in several states to mourn the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes by the United States and Israel.

Women of the Shia Muslim community took out a protest march in Bengaluru against the killing of Khamenei.

Members of the All India Shia Council on Sunday held a procession in Chikkamagaluru. The protestors mourned the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and raised slogans against the US and Israel.

Police had also deployed additional staff in the area to ensure public safety.

This came amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran has also retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict.

Meanwhile, Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalized.

- ANI
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has begun a two-day visit to Gujarat, starting in Ahmedabad. His schedule includes offering prayers and interacting with saints at the Swaminarayan Temple in Vadtaldham, Kheda district. On Thursday, he will attend a bicentenary celebration at another Swaminarayan Temple in Jetalpurdham, Ahmedabad. The tour is described as part of his regular visits to review organizational activities and attend cultural programs.

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat is on a two-day Gujarat tour, visiting Swaminarayan temples in Ahmedabad and Kheda for prayers and community interaction.

New Delhi, March 4 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will undertake a two-day visit to Gujarat starting on Wednesday.

Bhagwat is scheduled to arrive at the RSS provincial office in Ahmedabad at 10:30 a.m.

Later in the day, between 4:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., he will travel to Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Vadtaldham in Kheda district, where he is expected to offer prayers and interact with saints.

On Thursday morning, the RSS chief will attend the Shri Revti Baldevji Harikrishna Maharaj Bicentenary (Dwishattabdi) Patotsav programme at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Jetalpurdham in Ahmedabad.

His visit to the temple is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., during which he will offer prayers and meet members of the temple's religious community.

Bhagwat is expected to depart from Ahmedabad at around 4 p.m. on Thursday, concluding his visit.

The RSS chief has travelled to Gujarat on several occasions in recent years for organisational reviews and religious engagements.

In mid-October 2025, Bhagwat embarked on a three-day visit to Gujarat, beginning October 14, during which he attended events and met with leaders amid preparations for the organisation's centenary-year activities in the state.

Earlier in January 2025, he visited the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Dharampur, where he met spiritual leaders and members of the ashram community.

Previous visits to the state have also included interactions with swayamsevaks and local office-bearers in cities such as Ahmedabad and Surat.

Officials said the upcoming tour is part of Bhagwat's regular visits to various states to review organisational activities and current dynamics, as well as to attend cultural and religious programmes.

- IANS
RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, visiting a Swaminarayan temple in Gujarat, emphasized that the Sangh should be understood from a humanistic perspective, not a political one, and stated it is integral to uplifting Sanatan Dharma. He is set to inaugurate a three-day Chadar Mahotsav in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, featuring a mass global recitation by 18 million devotees. The grand event is being organized under the guidance of senior Jain Acharyas and involves numerous Hindu and socio-cultural organizations. A national scholarly symposium will also discuss the Dadaguru tradition's contribution to India's cultural integration and social harmony.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says Sangh is integral to uplifting Sanatan Dharma, ahead of a major Chadar Mahotsav in Jaisalmer with 18 million global devotees.

Kheda, March 4 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday urged that the 'Sangh' should be viewed from a humanistic angle rather than a political one for better understanding, while visiting the Swaminarayan Temple in Vadtal, Gujarat.

"Don't view the Sangh from a political angle, but rather from a humanistic approach to understand it better. The Sangh is an integral part of the process of uplifting Sanatan Dharma," he stated.

Meanwhile, the RSS chief will be inaugurating a three-day Chadar Mahotsav and Dadaguru Ektisa recitation, to be held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, from March 6 to 8, 2026.

Preparations are in full swing at the festival venue in Jaisalmer, which will be organised under the guidance of Acharya Jinmani Prabh Suri. A special highlight of the event is the historic Mahasankalp (great resolution) of the mass recitation of the Dadaguru Ektisa by 18 million devotees worldwide simultaneously on March 7.

The event is being organised under the aegis of the Dada Gurudev Jindattsuri Chadar Mahotsav Samiti. Representatives from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Spiritual and Service Institute, Vidya Bharati, and numerous socio-cultural organisations are participating in the event. The program will be held under the holy guidance of Gachchadhipati Acharya Maniprabh Suri Ji.

The visionary of this grand festival is Acharya Jinmanogya Sagar. The Chairman of the Chadar Mahotsav Committee is Mangal Prabhat Lodha, a minister in the Maharashtra government, and the coordinator is Tejraj Golechha, former Chairman of JITO. Approximately 400 saints from various Indian traditions will be present at the event. Approximately 20,000 devotees will be present for the three-day program.

On March 6th, the first day of the Chadar Mahotsav, the auspicious entry of the Gachchadhipatishri, Acharyas, Upadhyayas, and other devotees will begin. RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Rao Bhagwat will be present at the Dharmasabha that will follow. A Chadar Festival coin and a special postage stamp will be released on this occasion.

In the evening, a live play based on the life of Dada Gurudev will be staged for the first time. On the second day of the event, March 7th, the Chadar Varghoda will depart from Jaisalmer Fort. Following this, 18 million devotees worldwide will recite Dada Guru Ektis. Chadar Abhishek and puja will take place in the afternoon. Renowned musicians will perform at the Bhakti Mahotsav during the cultural evening. On March 8th, Upadhyay Mahendrasagar Maharaj will be conferred the title of Acharya, and the Ganini Pad ceremony will also be held. Chadar, water, and Vasakshep will be distributed on the same day.

A national scholarly symposium will be held on March 7 and 8, 2026, on the topic "The Contribution of the Dadaguru Tradition to India's Cultural Integration, Social Harmony, and Harmony." Several prestigious educational institutions, including Jodhpur University, Rajasthan University, Prakrit Bharati Institute, and the Centre for Social and Cultural Studies, will participate as knowledge partners. Various Acharyas, Jain monks, nuns, and subject matter experts will be present.

- ANI
A new report highlights that the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan undermines global nuclear non-proliferation efforts. The pact commits both nations to treat an attack on one as an attack on both, potentially extending Pakistan's nuclear deterrence to a non-nuclear ally. Analysts warn this sets a dangerous precedent for nuclear-armed states operating outside established treaties. The agreement's ambiguity and secretive nature raise serious concerns about public scrutiny and the risk of humanitarian catastrophe.

Report warns Saudi-Pakistan strategic defence agreement sets a precedent for nuclear proliferation, challenging global disarmament treaties.

Geneva, March 4 For the advocates of global disarmament, the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan undermines both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the humanitarian logic behind the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which categorically rejects the legitimacy of nuclear weapons under any security framework, a report has highlighted.

"On 17 September 2025, Saudi Arabia - a member of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty - and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. The pact commits both states to treat any attack on one as an attack on both, formalising a long-standing security partnership and signalling a shift in Gulf states' security away from exclusive reliance on the United States," a report in 'International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons' (ICAN) detailed.

Although the official text of the agreement has not been published, when asked whether it included the use of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, the report quoted a Saudi official as saying: "This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means."

"For its part, Pakistan has not officially said it has extended nuclear protection to Saudi Arabia. Yet the context and subsequent comments have inevitably raised the question: Has Pakistan, for the first time, effectively extended a nuclear umbrella to a non-nuclear ally - and what precedent does that set?" the report questioned.

The report cited analysts at London-based think tank Chatham House who warned that the pact "sets a precedent for extended deterrence" by the nuclear-armed Pakistan outside the NPT, despite no direct reference to nuclear weapons.

According to Pakistani media, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said: "What we have, and the capabilities we possess, will be made available under this agreement", a remark widely seen as referring to the country's nuclear forces.

While he later insisted that nuclear weapons were "not on the radar", the report said, the senior Saudi official described the deal as a comprehensive defence agreement without explicitly ruling out nuclear possibilities.

"The use of nuclear weapons would indiscriminately maim and kill people around the world, but policies about nuclear use are kept secret from citizens of nuclear-armed and nuclear-allied states, from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to Germany and the United States. This is a problem. The public deserves to have the information to scrutinise nuclear policies and discuss their implications for a humanitarian catastrophe," said Alicia Sanders-Zakre, ICAN's Head of Policy.

--IANS

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- IANS
Actress Shilpa Shinde is partnering with &TV for a Women's Day initiative called "Selfie Lo Shine Karo." The on-ground event will be held at a Lucknow mall on March 7-8, where Shilpa will interact with participants. The campaign encourages women to click selfies for a chance to meet the actress and potentially be featured in a channel episode. &TV officials state the initiative aims to move beyond celebration and enable real visibility and recognition for women.

Actress Shilpa Shinde joins &TV's "Selfie Lo Shine Karo" initiative in Lucknow to empower women and celebrate confidence this Women's Day.

Mumbai, March 4 Shilpa Shinde will be seen joining an initiative titled Selfie Lo Shine Karo to celebrate Women's Day with &TV. The actress says that she truly believes confidence begins with how we see ourselves.

The on-ground initiative will take place at a known mall in Lucknow on March 7-8. Shilpa will be seen interacting with participants and amplifying the spirit of the initiative.



Sharing her thoughts on being part of the initiative, Shilpa Shinde said, "I truly believe confidence begins with how we see ourselves. I am very happy that &TV is creating a platform where women are not just celebrated but also given a chance to be seen and recognised."



"I am looking forward to meeting everyone in Lucknow and being part of this beautiful initiative that encourages women to shine in their own way," she added.



"Selfie Lo. Shine Karo. Star Ban Jaao!" is an engaging, feel-good opportunity designed to encourage women to participate and celebrate themselves. As part of the activation, women can click selfies at the specially curated installation and tag &TV, turning a simple moment into a chance to shine.



Select participants will get an opportunity to meet Shilpa Shinde on 8th March, and one winner will be featured in an upcoming episode on &TV-transforming a selfie into a star moment.



Speaking about the larger thought, Kaveri Das, Chief Channel Officer, &TV and Business Head, Hindi, ZEE5, shared, "At &TV, we don't just tell stories of strong women-we actively create platforms for them. This Women's Day initiative is our way of moving beyond celebration and enabling real visibility."



"By giving women an opportunity to be featured and telecast on the channel, we are reinforcing our belief that empowerment begins with recognition. This is about confidence, opportunity, and creating moments that truly matter."





- IANS
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to strategize for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Palaniswami stated that talks are ongoing with several parties who are likely to join the NDA bloc, while clarifying there have been no discussions about including VK Sasikala's party. He projected a decisive victory for the NDA, aiming for around 210 seats in the 234-member assembly, and sharply criticized the ruling DMK government. The 2026 polls are shaping up to be a three-way contest with the entry of actor Vijay's political party.

AIADMK's Palaniswami meets Amit Shah to discuss Tamil Nadu polls strategy, says some parties may join NDA but Sasikala's party not discussed.

New Delhi, March 3 AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday left for Chennai after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 2 to discuss the political situation in Tamil Nadu and strategies ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing reporters at the airport, Palaniswami said the meeting at the Union Home Minister's residence focused on the current political landscape in the state and ways to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the polls. He added that the AIADMK is in talks with several other parties regarding potential alliances, and some are expected to join the NDA bloc. He also clarified that there have been no discussions about including VK Sasikala's party in the alliance.

"Last night, we met the Union Home Minister at his residence and discussed the political situation in Tamil Nadu. We also discussed how we should proceed in the upcoming elections. We are talking to some parties about alliances, and they are likely to join our alliance. We have not had any discussions about Sasikala's party joining our alliance," Palaniswami said.

Earlier on Sunday, he had projected a decisive victory for the NDA in the state, asserting that the alliance is likely to win around 210 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Addressing a public meeting of the NDA, Palaniswami launched a sharp attack at the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), calling it an "anti-people government" which the alliance aims to dethrone. He further asserted that AIADMK will form a government after the victory of the NDA in the state assembly elections.

"During the election period, everyone must unite and work energetically in all 234 constituencies like bees to ensure the victory of the candidates announced by the National Democratic Alliance. In the upcoming Legislative Assembly general election, our alliance will win around 210 seats, and the AIADMK will form the government," he said.

The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay's entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest.

In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. Congress won 18, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight seats. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, which consisted of Congress, won 159 seats collectively. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats.

- ANI
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will chair an extraordinary Cabinet meeting upon his return from Southeast Asia to address the escalating Middle East crisis. The meeting will focus on response measures and evacuation plans for approximately 21,000 South Korean nationals in the region. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has already ordered full contingency readiness, emphasizing citizen protection as the top priority. The conflict, sparked by joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, is rapidly spreading across neighboring countries.

President Lee Jae Myung to chair emergency meeting on Iran-Israel conflict, prioritizing evacuation plans for thousands of South Korean nationals.

Seoul, March 4 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will preside over an extraordinary Cabinet meeting this week to discuss response measures to the mounting crisis in the Middle East shortly after returning from his Southeast Asia trip, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.

The extraordinary meeting, set for Thursday, will be attended by top officials from the finance and foreign ministries, as joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran have triggered military responses from countries across the region, fueling concerns over a wider regional conflict.

During the meeting, Lee is expected to be briefed on the situation surrounding the Iran crisis, and discuss its potential impact and response measures.

Lee is scheduled to return home late Wednesday from his state visits to Singapore and the Philippines, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok had ordered ministries to maintain full contingency readiness, including evacuation plans, emphasising that protecting South Koreans in the Middle East is the government's top priority.

Kim convened the weekly Cabinet meeting amid the Middle East conflict triggered by a joint US-Israel strike on Iran on Saturday that is rapidly spreading across neighboring countries, with Iran and Israel's counterattacks widening.

"Right now, protecting overseas nationals is the top priority," Kim said during the meeting he presided over on behalf of Lee Jae Myung, who is visiting Singapore and the Philippines for summit talks.

"Please make especially thorough preparations for various response measures and evacuation for our nationals residing in the affected countries, as the course of the war is expanding beyond the respective responses by Iran and Israel into Iran's counterattacks on neighboring countries."

According to Foreign Ministry figures, approximately 4,000 short-term visitors, including travelers, and some 17,000 long-term residents, including expatriates, are currently in 13 Middle East countries, with about 2,000 people stranded in Dubai alone. The Dubai figure likely includes travelers using the city as a transit hub en route to Europe or Africa.

- IANS
Special flights from Dubai have arrived at Indian airports including Delhi, Chennai, and Hyderabad, providing relief to passengers stranded due to flight cancellations triggered by the West Asian conflict. Passengers shared experiences of seeing missile interceptions and receiving emergency alerts, but praised the UAE government for maintaining calm and ensuring safety. The disruptions followed Iran's retaliatory drone and missile attacks after US-Israel strikes. With flight operations gradually resuming, normalcy is slowly returning for the thousands of Indians eager to return home.

Special flights from Dubai arrive in India, bringing relief to stranded passengers after flight disruptions caused by the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.

New Delhi, March 4 A special flight from Dubai arrives safely across Indian airports on Wednesday, including at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Chennai International Airport and others, as flight operations gradually resumed following disruptions triggered by the escalating West Asian conflict. Some flights from Dubai arrived in Hyderabad and Chennai. Coordination between airport authorities and airline officials is bringing relief to stranded passengers who had faced uncertainty over the past few days due to widespread cancellations and delays.

Speaking to ANI, passengers expressed relief that they are back home.

A passenger on board the flight, named Mehra, is a student. He said the situation in Dubai was challenging because he was living alone while his parents were in India. He noted that the UAE government effectively managed the situation, maintaining a calm atmosphere. She observed that while there was some missile interception near his location, the situation was not as difficult as reported. He mentioned occasional government emergency messages causing brief panic, but overall, the conditions were normal and well-supported by the government.

Mohamad Azad, a passenger, said the past altercation caused some fear in him, but the current environment is fine, as he reached home safely.

Another passenger, named Jai Poona, appreciates the assistance and said the overall treatment and arrangement were good.

Meanwhile, another passenger landed in Hyderabad, Lekhya says, "Near our campus (BITS Dubai), everything was fine. On the first day, we saw missiles coming, and they were being intercepted. Later, we saw nothing; everything was fine. The situation is uncertain whether it is going to get worse or better. So, we have come back".

A passenger landed in Chennai, Santosh Kumar says, "I had gone to Dubai for some work when the unfortunate turn of events occurred. We were stuck there, but we didn't face many difficulties. The Dubai Govt is very helpful. People are very helpful. They ensured our safety and security. While my stay got extended by a few days, everything was very well managed."

With flights gradually taking to the skies once again, normalcy is slowly returning to the UAE, and for the thousands of Indians eager to get home, the wait is finally coming to an end.

Following the US-Israel strikes against Iran on February 28, Iran launched a wave of retaliatory attacks, using drones and missiles targeting multiple Arab countries in the region as a retaliatory action, which resulted in flight cancellations.

- ANI
The Sri Lankan Navy successfully rescued 30 sailors from the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena, which was in distress off the coast. Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed the sailors are receiving medical care. This maritime incident occurs against the backdrop of escalating conflict in West Asia, where Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims to control key waterways and have struck enemy targets. The IRGC asserts it has launched extensive missile and drone operations against US and Israeli interests in the region.

Sri Lankan Navy rescues 30 from Iranian ship IRIS Dena. Incident occurs as Iran's IRGC claims missile strikes in regional conflict.

Colombo, March 4 The Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday rescued 30 sailors from the Iranian naval ship "IRIS Dena", which was in distress with around 180 sailors onboard, according to Sri Lankan media reports.

Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that the rescued sailors are being brought to Karapitiya Hospital for medical attention.The rescue comes amidst the ongoing West Asia Conflict.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also claimed that it had struck an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The Corps said the warship had been hit using "Ghadr-380" and "Talaieh" missiles. The Ghadr missile is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres, designed for precision strikes and rapid deployment.

Talaeieh is a strategic cruise missile system capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. It is a smart missile that can change targets mid-mission, adding to its strategic capabilities.

IRGC claimed that the destroyer was refuelling from an American tanker while it was hit, it added. The strike, the Corps concluded, triggered "widespread fires" on board both the vessels.

The IRGC has launched an operation codenamed True Promise 4 in retaliation against US-Israeli assets after they struck Iran. IRGC claims that they have struck numerous sensitive and strategic targets deep inside the occupied territories, besides staging counterattacks against many American interests throughout the West Asia region, including those lying in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced the execution of the 16th wave of Operation True Promise 4 against the US-Israel forces in the region after they struck Iran.

In a statement IRGC claimed that it had struck the "heart and the northern parts of the occupied territories" with "effective" missile and drone operations conducted by its Aerospace Division. It cited some of the targets as the general staff of the Israeli regime's army and its ministry of war in Hakiriya, the strategic infrastructures lying in Bnei Brak, military targets stationed in Beit Hakfa, northeast of Tel Aviv, and the military centre in Western Galilee.

IRGC claimed that its intelligence sources have reported over 680 'enemy' casualties by the fourth day of the Iranian counter attack. The statement claimed "operational weakness, technical gaps, and the reduced computational capability in the multi-layer defence systems of the occupied territories" as the reasons contributing to "opening up of air corridors for the penetration, passage, and impact of Iranian projectiles."

- ANI
X, led by Elon Musk, will suspend creators from its revenue-sharing program for 90 days if they post AI-generated videos of armed conflict without disclosing their artificial origins. The policy revision, announced by Product Head Nikita Bier, is designed to maintain content authenticity and prevent program manipulation, especially during wartime. The platform will use Community Notes and AI metadata to detect such content, having recently introduced a 'Made with AI' label. The announcement comes as platform traffic hits record highs amid global conflicts and a broader AI-driven spam surge.

X announces a 90-day suspension from its revenue program for creators posting AI-generated conflict videos without proper disclosure to curb misinformation.

New Delhi, March 4 Elon Muskled social media platform X warned that it will suspend creators from its revenuesharing programme for 90 days if they post AIgenerated videos of armed conflict without disclosure about AI use.

X Product Head Nikita Bier announced the measure as part of its broader effort to curb manipulation and maintain access to authentic information during wartime.

Subsequent violations after initial suspension will result in a permanent suspension from the revenue-sharing programme.

"Today we are revising our Creator Revenue Sharing policies to maintain authenticity of content on Timeline and prevent manipulation of the program...With today's AI technologies, it is trivial to create content that can mislead people," Bier wrote on X.

"This will be flagged to us by any post with a Community Note or if the content contains metadata (or other signals) from generative AI tools," he added.

The company recently introduced a 'Made with AI' label on the platform to flag to users content created with artificial intelligence. Amid the USIsraeli military campaign against Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Elon Musk and Bier had recently announced that traffic on the platform had hit a new all-time record.

Bier had recently also warned that use of emails, iMessages and phone calls is becoming untenable due to a spam surge enabled by the rise of AI agent platform OpenClaw. Subsequently, the company went on to introduce what it called spam and automation detection measures.

US entrepreneur Musk's net worth surged past the $800 billion mark after SpaceX acquired his artificialintelligence firm xAI, making him the richest person in history by a wide margin.

Musk's net worth reached roughly $852 billion, almost $578 billion higher than the world's second-wealthiest person, Google co-founder Larry Page, whose net worth is estimated at $281 billion.

The merger took the combined value of the company to $1.25 trillion and added about $84 billion to Musk's fortune, according to reports.

- IANS
The Telangana government will launch a 99-day public outreach programme titled 'Praja Palana-Pragati Pranalika' starting March 6, aiming to take welfare schemes and development works closer to citizens. The programme will unfold in five phases, culminating with State Formation Day celebrations in June, and will cover ten key themes including health, agriculture, education, and road safety. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to ensure all eligible beneficiaries are reached, with a focus on transparency and the use of technology like a special mobile app and facial recognition for schemes. The initiative will involve extensive public meetings at village, mandal, constituency, and district levels, along with training for local representatives.

Telangana govt launches 99-day 'Praja Palana' outreach across villages to deliver welfare schemes, development works & public services from March 6 to June 12.

Hyderabad, March 3 The Telangana government will undertake 99-day public outreach programme from March 6 to June 12 in five phases to take welfare schemes, development works and public services closer to people, government officials said on Tuesday.

The programme titled 'Praja Palana-Pragati Pranalika' (people's governance-progress plan) will cover 10 different themes under various departments.

These decisions were taken at a meeting Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had with the district Collectors here on Tuesday.

The Planning Department will act as the nodal department for this programme, under which gram sabhas will be held at the village level on April 2. This will be followed by meetings at the Mandal level on April 16.

Constituency-level programme will be organised on May 2 followed by district level programme on May 22. The programme will conclude with State formation day celebrations from June 2.

The department-wise themes to be covered are cleanliness from village level to state level and clearance of pending files in government offices; health; road safety drive; welfare; child safety and drugs control; farmers' welfare and agriculture; education; youth and sports; women and environment.

Preparatory meetings will be held under the auspices of Ministers in all erstwhile districts on March 6.

During the 99-day programme, foundation will be laid for various development works or they will be inaugurated in the state.

A special mobile app will be developed for monitoring the 99-day programme.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed the officials concerned to take steps to ensure that welfare schemes launched by the state government reach all eligible beneficiaries.

He said that during gram sabhas, officials should explain to the people the welfare schemes that are being implemented by the state government.

He directed that ward members, sarpanches, municipal ward members, chairpersons, Corporators, and Mayors must be actively involved in the programme.

For capacity building of local representatives, a one-day training programme should be organised at district headquarters for ward members, sarpanches, chairpersons, Corporators, and Mayors. They must be provided clear orientation on their roles and responsibilities, along with printed reference material.

The Chief Minister added that farmers should be educated about replacing agricultural pump sets with solar pump sets and informed about their benefits.

"Awareness should be created in every village regarding rooftop solar installations, grid connectivity, and income generation through surplus power supply."

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed that beneficiaries under new ration cards, fine rice distribution, Indiramma houses, free electricity up to 200 units, loan waivers, free bus travel, and Rs 500 gas cylinder schemes must be presented in Gram and Ward Sabhas.

The overall benefits accrued at village, mandal, constituency, and district levels should be transparently shared, he said.

The Chief Minister added that services of all 35 government medical colleges in the state must be effectively utilised.

"Primary health centres, community health centres, and other local health institutions should refer cases to government medical colleges. Advanced equipment, medical students, doctors, and professors available in these colleges must be optimally utilised for public benefit."

The Chief Minister has directed that facial recognition must be implemented across all government schemes to ensure benefits reach only eligible persons.

"Saying that through facial recognition in Aasara pensions, three lakh ineligible beneficiaries were removed," CM Revanth Reddy said proper use of technology is essential to prevent misuse.

CM Revanth Reddy asked officials to fully digitise transport department data.

"Fitness tests for school buses and other vehicles must be conducted regularly. Eye-testing camps should be organised for Regional Transport Corporation drivers as well as drivers of lorries and goods vehicles, particularly at locations where they gather in large numbers."

"The Transport Department should provide a WhatsApp number for reporting potholes and accident-prone locations. Immediate repairs and precautionary measures must be taken based on public inputs," the Chief Minister said.

- IANS
Temples in cities like Madurai, Kanpur, and New Delhi closed on Tuesday morning due to the sutak period of a lunar eclipse. Devotees, including one celebrating his 60th birthday, gathered in large numbers for early morning darshan before the closures. The India Meteorological Department confirmed a total lunar eclipse visible across India and other regions on March 3, 2026. Temple priests noted that doors would reopen in the evening for rituals and public darshan after the eclipse concluded.

Temples across India close for the first lunar eclipse of 2026. Devotees share experiences of early morning visits before the sutak period.

Madurai, March 3 As the sutak kaal of the lunar eclipse began on Tuesday morning, temples across several cities, including New Delhi, Kanpur and Madurai, remained closed in view of the celestial event.

At the Meenakshi Amman Temple, devotees gathered in large numbers in the early hours to offer prayers before the temple doors were shut.

A devotee, Gopalakrishnan, who was celebrating his 60th birthday, shared his experience. He said that since the temple authorities had announced a morning closure due to the lunar eclipse, he and his family arrived early to offer prayers. After completing the darshan, he expressed happiness and satisfaction at being able to mark his special day at the temple.

"Today is my 60th birthday, so we came to the temple. Since it was announced that the temple would be closed in the morning due to the lunar eclipse, we came early and had darshan. I feel very satisfied and happy," said Gopalakrishnan.

Another devotee, Valarmathi, mentioned that her family also visited early in the day because of the announced closure. She noted that the temple witnessed a heavy rush of devotees in the morning as many people had gathered to complete their darshan before the doors were shut.

"Due to the lunar eclipse, it was announced that the temple would be closed in the morning. So, we came early today with our family and completed the darshan. As the temple was to be closed in the morning, there was a heavy crowd," said Valarmathi.

Meanwhile, a temple priest in Kanpur said this was the first lunar eclipse of the year and that temple doors were closed after the Mangala Aarti. He added that the doors are scheduled to reopen at 7:00 pm, followed by ritual bathing and adornment of the deity. After the Bhog Aarti, the temple will remain open for devotees until 11:00 pm.

"This is the first lunar eclipse of the year. All doors (of the temples) have been closed after Mangala Aarti. At 7:00 pm, all doors will be opened, baths will be given, and adornments will be performed. After Bhog Aarti, the doors will remain open until 11:00 pm," said the priest.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a total lunar eclipse will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, across several time zones.

The phenomenon occurs when the entire Moon passes through the Earth's umbral shadow. A partial lunar eclipse, in contrast, takes place when only a part of the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow.

In a post on X, the IMD stated that the total lunar eclipse on March 3 will have a magnitude of 1.155. The eclipse will be visible across India, as well as in parts of Eastern Asia, Australia and the Americas.

In the Indian context, the visibility of the eclipse will vary by region. Most places in the country will observe the ending phase of the lunar eclipse at the time of moonrise. However, in parts of North-East India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the end of the totality phase will also be visible.

According to Indian Standard Time (IST), the celestial event will follow a specific schedule throughout the afternoon and evening. The eclipse is slated to begin at 15:20 (3:20 PM), with the totality phase starting at 16:34 (4:34 PM). The Moon will remain completely within the Earth's shadow until totality ends at 17:33 (5:33 PM), and the entire eclipse cycle will officially conclude at 18:48 (6:48 PM).

- ANI
The Tamil Nadu government is close to completing the first phase of its free laptop distribution scheme for college students, with over 9.37 lakh devices already delivered. The "Ulagam Ungal Kaiyil" initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and has allocated Rs 2,172 crore to distribute laptops to ten lakh students in this initial phase. A dedicated grievance portal has been launched to address student complaints regarding eligibility and delivery. The second phase, targeting another ten lakh students, is scheduled to begin in early 2026 but may require Election Commission approval due to the upcoming Assembly polls.

Tamil Nadu's free laptop scheme for college students nears first phase completion, with 9.37 lakh devices distributed. Second phase set for 2026.

Chennai, March 4 The Tamil Nadu government is set to complete the first phase of its ambitious free laptop distribution scheme for college students within the next few weeks, with more than 9.37 lakh students across the state already receiving the devices.

Launched as part of the State Budget for the financial year 2025-26, the initiative titled "Ulagam Ungal Kaiyil" (The World is in Your Hands) was announced by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin with the objective of bridging the digital divide and strengthening digital access among students in higher education.

The scheme aims to distribute 20 lakh laptops to students across Tamil Nadu over a two-year period, covering those enrolled in arts, science, engineering, agriculture and medical colleges.

During the first phase, the government set a target of distributing laptops to ten lakh college students, with a total allocation of Rs 2,172 crore.

According to a senior official from the State Higher Education Department, nearly 9.4 lakh students have already benefited from the programme, and the remaining distributions are expected to be completed by the end of March.

"The target of reaching ten lakh beneficiaries in the first phase is likely to be achieved within a couple of weeks," the official said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on record.

Officials said the initiative is part of the government's broader effort to improve digital learning outcomes and equip students with the technological tools required to compete in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Meanwhile, the state government has also introduced a dedicated grievances portal related to the laptop scheme, enabling students to raise complaints or resolve issues regarding eligibility, device delivery or technical problems.

Authorities say the portal will help ensure that all eligible students ultimately benefit from the programme.

The second phase of the scheme, which will extend laptop distribution to another ten lakh students, is expected to begin between the third week of March and the first week of April 2026, officials indicated. However, the rollout of the next phase could face procedural constraints once the Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming Assembly elections comes into force.

Election Commission sources said that after the code is announced, prior approval from the Election Commission of India would be required to continue distribution under the scheme.

Officials clarified that if permitted, the laptops will be handed over only by government authorities such as college principals and district officials, rather than ministers or political representatives.

For now, the grievances portal in the first phase will cater only to final-year and pre-final-year students, while students from other academic years will be included in subsequent phases of the programme.

- IANS
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will visit Agartala, Tripura, on March 7 and 8. His itinerary includes attending the convocation ceremony at Tripura University and visiting the Matabari Temple. He is also scheduled to interact with "Lakhpati Didis" at the Hapania Fairgrounds. The visit follows his recent participation in laying the foundation stone for a statue of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai.

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan to attend Tripura University convocation, visit Matabari Temple, and interact with Lakhpati Didis in Agartala.

Agartala, March 4 Vice President C P Radhakrishnan is scheduled to visit Agartala, the capital of Tripura, from March 7 to 8. During his visit, he will attend the convocation ceremony of Tripura University, a premier central university, and is also slated to chair several other official programs.

According to Vishal Kumar, the District Magistrate and Collector of West Tripura, Vice President Radhakrishnan will also visit the Matabari (Tripura Sundari) Temple.

Additionally, the Vice President is scheduled to attend the convocation ceremonies at Tripura University and will also visit the Hapania Fairgrounds to interact with the "Lakhpati Didis."

"On 7th and 8th March, the Honourable President C P Radhakrishnan will visit Tripura. This is a time of great pride and joy for all the people of Tripura. He will visit the Matabari Mahata. He will also attend the Dikshan Ceremonies of the Central University of Tripura. He will also interact with the Lakhpati Didis at the Hapania Fairgrounds. All the arrangements have been made by the state government and the central agencies, including the University of Tripura," Kumar told ANI.

Earlier, the Vice President of India, on February 22, laid the foundation stone for a 140-foot statue of freedom fighter and 'Kappalottiya Tamizhan' VO Chidambaram Pillai, in Madurai.

The statue, initially planned for 140 feet, was later increased in height.

Addressing the event, Vice President Radhakrishnan said, "VO Chidambaram Pillai was a man who lived a life of pure sacrifice without expecting anything in return, and who passed away dedicating his entire life to selfless service. If today we say that we are living with such freedom and rights, it was VO Chidambaram Pillai who sowed the very first seed of that freedom in this soil...Today, we have laid the foundation stone for the statue of VO Chidambaram Pillai."

- ANI
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has accused former US President Donald Trump of betraying diplomacy and bombing negotiations out of spite. Trump, alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, described Iran's leadership as "crazy" and "lunatics," justifying actions to prevent them from obtaining nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reports preparations for a funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israeli media reports suggest his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, may be chosen as successor, though this is unconfirmed by Iran.

Iran's Foreign Minister accuses Trump of sabotaging nuclear talks. US leaders call Iranian regime "crazy" and vow to prevent nuclear weapons.

Tehran, March 4 Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has attacked US President, accusing him of bombing Iran out of spite even as negotiations were on between the two sides.

In a post on X, Araghchi said, " When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction, and when big lies cloud realities, unrealistic expectations can never be met. The outcome? Bombing the negotiation table out of spite. Mr. Trump betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him."

Earlier at a news conference in the White House, Trump described the Islamist Regime as 'crazy people' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it.

"If we didn't do what we're doing right now, you would've had a nuclear war and they would've taken out many countries because you know what? They're sick people. They're mentally ill, sick people. They're angry. They're crazy. They're sick. These people are crazy -- and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would've used it," he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time).

His view was echoed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who said that the world would be a better place once the radicals had no access to weapons of destruction.

"Iran is run by lunatics, religious fanatic lunatics. They have an ambition to have nuclear weapons. They intend to develop those nuclear weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism that the world will not be able to touch them for fear of those things. And this is the weakest they've ever been. Now is the time to go after them. The President made the decision to go after them, take away their missiles, take away their navy, take away their drones, take away their ability to make those things, so that they can never have a nuclear weapon... That's why the President made this decision. It was the right decision and the world will be a safer place when these radical clerics no longer have access to these weapons. You see how they're using them now. Imagine how they would use them a year from now if they had more of these," he said.

Meanwhile, Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalized.

Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. However, no independent confirmation has come from official Iran state media on the development.

- ANI
Vice President J.D. Vance stated that after months of failed diplomacy, President Donald Trump authorized decisive military action to cripple Iran's nuclear program. Vance emphasized the operation's goal was not a temporary delay but to ensure Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. He contrasted this focused objective with past conflicts like Afghanistan, which suffered from mission creep. The administration maintains that while a friendlier Iranian government would be welcome, preventing a nuclear bomb remains the primary and narrowly defined goal.

VP J.D. Vance explains President Trump's decision for Operation Midnight Hammer, aiming to permanently prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon.

Washington, March 3 After months of diplomacy, US President Donald Trump concluded that only decisive action would prevent Iran from reaching the brink of a nuclear weapon, Vice President J.D. Vance has said.

Vance, in an interview with Fox News on Monday (local time), said the President believed time was running out despite prolonged engagement with Tehran. Referring to Operation Midnight Hammer, he said, "We did destroy the nuclear enrichment facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer over the summer."

But the Vice President stressed that the administration's objective extended beyond temporary setbacks. "He didn't want to just keep the country safe from an Iranian nuclear weapon for the first three, four years of his second term; he wanted to make sure that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon," Vance said.

According to him, Trump assessed that Iran remained intent on advancing its programme. "He saw that the Iranian regime was weakened. He knew that they were committed to getting on the brink of a nuclear weapon, and he decided to take action," Vance said.

Pressed on remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the US could escalate further, Vance underscored the US military's capability. "We have much greater capacity to inflict damage on the Iranian nuclear program, but also on various missiles that threaten our troops," he said, adding that the President "has a lot of optionality here."

He maintained that the administration's objective was narrowly defined and clearly communicated. "There's just no way that Donald Trump is going to allow this country to get into a multi-year conflict with no clear end in sight and no clear objective," Vance said. "He's defined that objective as Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and has to commit long-term to never trying to rebuild the nuclear capability."

Drawing comparisons with earlier US wars, Vance cited "Afghanistan, 20 years of mission creep, 20 years of not having a clear objective," and said Iraq also lacked clarity. He argued that the present strategy differed because the goal was specific and limited.

On whether Washington seeks regime change in Tehran, Vance said that while a friendlier government would be welcome, it was secondary. "Whatever happens with the regime in one form or another, it's incidental to the President's primary objective here, which is to make sure the Iranian terrorist regime does not build a nuclear bomb," he said.

Vance also questioned Iran's claim that its enrichment was for peaceful purposes. "Why are you building your enrichment facilities 70 feet underground, and why are you enriching to a level that's way beyond civilian enrichment?" he said. "The objection is these enrichment facilities that are only useful for building a nuclear weapon."

Iran's nuclear activities have long been a source of friction with the United States and its allies.

The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action sought to curb Iran's enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. The United States withdrew from the accord during Trump's first term, after which tensions rose, and Iran gradually expanded aspects of its nuclear programme, bringing the issue back to the centre of US foreign policy.

- IANS
President Donald Trump expressed concern that removing Iran's current leadership could result in another equally hardline regime taking power. He acknowledged exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a potential option for future leadership but suggested someone from within Iran might be more appropriate. Trump noted that U.S. military strikes have already targeted and disrupted Iran's leadership structure. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz affirmed alignment with the U.S. on removing the regime and planning for the subsequent political transition.

Trump warns of another hardline regime in Iran, calls exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi "an option," and discusses post-conflict strategy with Germany.

Washington, March 4 US President Donald Trump warned that the "worst case" outcome of the current conflict with Iran would be the emergence of another hardline leadership in Tehran, while acknowledging that exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi could be "an option" in a future political transition.

Speaking during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House, Trump said Washington was focused on weakening Iran's military capabilities but was also mindful of what might follow if the current leadership collapses.

"I guess the worst case would be we do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person," Trump said.

"That could happen. We don't want that to happen."

Trump said the United States would prefer a leadership change that benefits ordinary Iranians rather than another radical government.

"We'd like to see somebody in there that's going to bring it back for the people," he said.

"And we'll see what happens with the people. You know, they have their chance."

Asked whether exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi could be considered a possible leader in a future Iran, Trump did not rule out the possibility.

"I guess he is," Trump said. "Some people like him and we haven't been thinking about - too much about that."

However, the president suggested that a figure emerging from inside Iran might ultimately be more appropriate.

"It would seem to me that somebody from within may be more appropriate," he said, adding that someone "that's there that's currently popular" could be better positioned to lead.

Trump also suggested that ongoing military strikes had significantly disrupted Iran's leadership structure.

"Well, most of the people we had in mind are dead," he said.

"So, you know, we had some in mind from that group that is dead, and now we have another group. They may also be dead, based on reports."

He added that successive waves of strikes were targeting Iranian leadership and military structures.

"I guess you have a third wave coming and pretty soon we're not going to know anybody," Trump said.

German Chancellor Merz said Berlin and Washington were aligned on the need to consider what comes after the current leadership in Tehran.

"We are on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away, and we will talk about the day after, what will happen then if they are out," Merz said.

The German leader added that Europe had a strong interest in working with the United States on a broader strategy for the region.

"We are really looking forward to find ways how to deal about the day after," he said.

The United States has intensified military operations against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure in recent weeks, sharply escalating tensions across the Middle East.

- IANS
The TV BRICS International Media Network's project "Modern Russian" has been named a winner in the International Competition "We Speak, Write, Think in Russian!". It was recognized in the "International Projects" nomination, with entries submitted from nearly 30 countries. The project, established in 2007, provides linguistic assistance and its digital resources are accessed worldwide. Director Tamara Skok stated the award represents professional recognition and hopes for continued cooperation with journalists.

TV BRICS's humanitarian project 'Modern Russian' wins at the international "We Speak, Write, Think in Russian!" competition in Moscow.

Moscow, March 4 The informational and educational project Modern Russian, implemented by the TV BRICS International Media Network, has been named among the winners of the International Competition "We Speak, Write, Think in Russian!", organised by the Moscow Union of Journalists. The project was recognised in the "International Projects" nomination, alongside humanitarian initiatives from Egypt and France. Entries from nearly 30 countries were submitted across eight categories.

Established in 2007, Modern Russian was created to promote the Russian language, enhance literacy levels and provide linguistic assistance. Over the past 17 years, the initiative has offered practical philology services, including emergency linguistic consultations widely used by journalists. The project's digital resources and advisory platforms are accessed in more than 150 countries, reflecting its global reach.

Tamara Skok, Candidate of Philological Sciences and Director of the Department of Innovative Linguistic Projects at TV BRICS, described the award as recognition by highly respected professionals. She noted that the project not only supports media practitioners but also works consistently to broaden linguistic awareness among Russian speakers and learners both domestically and abroad. She expressed gratitude to the organisers and voiced hope for continued cooperation with the journalistic community.

Over the years, Modern Russian has secured multiple federal-level honours. It won first place in the All-Russian intellectual projects contest "Derzhava" and received accolades in national PR competitions for its communication strategies and educational outreach. It has also been recognised in broadcasting awards and online educational resource competitions.

The award ceremony is scheduled for May 2026 in Moscow during the conference "Journalism of the XXI Century - Competition and Solidarity. The Russian Language Unites!"

- ANI
The United Arab Emirates has formally declared it is not involved in the conflict with Iran and has not allowed its territory to be used for attacks. The UAE Foreign Ministry revealed the country's armed forces have professionally intercepted and neutralized more than 1,000 Iranian attacks. It strongly condemned recent missile strikes targeting the UAE and Oman as a "dangerous escalation" and a violation of sovereignty, leading to the closure of its embassy in Tehran. The statement emphasized the UAE's legitimate right to self-defense while calling for journalistic responsibility and reliance on official sources.

UAE asserts neutrality in Iran conflict, reveals its forces intercepted over 1,000 attacks and condemns strikes on its territory as a dangerous escalation.

Abu Dhabi, March 4 The United Arab Emirates has stated that it is not a party to Iran war and has not permitted the use of its territory, territorial waters, or airspace for any attack against Tehran, consistent with its long-standing policy of good neighbourliness, de-escalation, and its firm commitment to the Charter of the United Nations.

Furthermore, the UAE underscored that it retains its legitimate right to self-defence, as recognised under international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country has been subjected to more than 1000 attacks- a number exceeding the total faced by all other targeted countries combined- all of which were intercepted and neutralised by the UAE Armed Forces with the utmost professionalism, efficiency, and distinction.

In its statement, the UAE further stressed the importance of journalistic responsibility and the need to rely on official, credible sources before publishing or circulating inaccurate or misleading reports.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

Earlier on Monday, the United Arab Emirates strongly condemned Iranian missile attacks targeting both the UAE and the "sisterly" Sultanate of Oman, calling them a "dangerous escalation" and announcing the immediate closure of its embassy in Tehran along with the withdrawal of its ambassador and diplomatic staff.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Iranian attacks represented a "blatant violation of state sovereignty" and posed a direct threat to regional security and stability. The Ministry said that broadening the scope of the attacks to include "sisterly and friendly nations" was unacceptable.

"Expanding the scope of these attacks to include sisterly and friendly nations is unacceptable and condemned by all legal and political standards, and constitutes an unacceptable escalation that undermines de-escalation efforts and exacerbates regional tensions," it said.

- ANI
A hardcore cadre of the ULFA(I) faction surrendered to the Khonsa Battalion of the Assam Rifles in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district. The insurgent, identified as self-styled 2nd Lieutenant Bitul Baruah, was persuaded to lay down arms following a focused operation based on credible intelligence. He deposited a .40 calibre pistol, a magazine, and two live rounds upon his surrender. The event highlights the security forces' continued efforts to motivate insurgents to return to the mainstream through persuasive tactics.

Hardcore ULFA(I) insurgent Bitul Baruah surrenders in Tirap district, depositing a pistol and ammunition after a persuasive operation by security forces.

Itanagar, March 3 A hardcore insurgent of the United Liberation Front of Asom surrendered to security forces at Khonsa in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district on Tuesday, officials said.

A defence spokesman said that based on credible intelligence inputs about the presence of a hardcore cadre of the ULFA (I) faction in the Horu Chinghan area, a focused operation was conducted by the Khonsa Battalion of the Assam Rifles from its Company Operating Base (COB) at Noglo.

On reaching the suspected location, sources were activated and tasked with establishing contact with the insurgent and persuading him to surrender, the spokesman said.

Sustained operational pressure and persistent negotiations eventually convinced the insurgent to shun the path of violence and return to the mainstream. The efforts yielded a positive response, and the insurgent agreed to lay down arms. He was subsequently taken into custody at COB Noglo.

The surrendered militant has been identified as self-styled 2nd Lieutenant Bitul Baruah (31), a member of the ULFA (I) faction.

During the surrender, he deposited one .40 calibre pistol with a magazine and two live rounds of .40 calibre ammunition.

An official statement said that the successful surrender underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-based operations and the humane, persuasive approach adopted by the Khonsa Battalion of the Assam Rifles.

The force remains committed to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and continues to motivate misguided youth to return to the mainstream, it added.

Khonsa, a small hill town nestled in a valley and surrounded by the Himalayas, is the headquarters of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh.

The ULFA (I), led by 68-year-old Paresh Baruah, has been involved in insurgent activities mainly in Assam for over four decades.

Meanwhile, security forces in Arunachal Pradesh last month foiled a major terror plot by arresting a militant of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and recovering a cache of arms and ammunition during a joint operation in the border district of Longding.

- IANS
US Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur met with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in Dhaka to strengthen bilateral relations. The discussions covered enhanced economic engagement and the implementation of a reciprocal trade agreement. The US side congratulated Bangladesh on its recent elections and the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Both officials also exchanged views on regional issues, including the Rohingya crisis and the need for restraint in the Middle East.

US Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur meets Bangladesh FM Khalilur Rahman in Dhaka. Talks cover bilateral trade, Rohingya crisis, Middle East, and US congratulates new govt.

Dhaka, March 4 The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Paul Kapur, met with the Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Khalilur Rahman, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today during his two-day visit to Dhaka.

During the discussion, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, including economic engagements, based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Rahman emphasised the 'Bangladesh First' policy of the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He further highlighted Bangladesh's approach to maintaining robust relations with regional and global partners to promote national interests and shared prosperity.

"Assistant Secretary Kapur expressed happiness at the peaceful, free and festive general election in Bangladesh and felicitated the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the assumption of its responsibilities. He also mentioned the congratulatory letter of US President Donald Trump addressed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and expressed the confidence that the ties between two countries will grow stronger in the coming days," the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Assistant Secretary Kapur also underscored the importance of implementing the provisions of the agreement on Reciprocal Trade to foster greater bilateral trade and investment. The Foreign Minister reiterated the Government's commitment to policy continuity, particularly in the economic domain", it added.

The recent escalation in the Middle East came up during the exchange. The Foreign Minister stressed the need for exercising restraint by all parties and urged early resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomatic means in order to minimise loss of life and prevent further destabilisation in the region and beyond.

The two sides also discussed the Rohingya issue. The Foreign Minister thanked the United States for its continued humanitarian support for the Rohingyas and sought sustained international support for a durable solution to the crisis.

Both sides expressed optimism that regular high-level

- ANI
The Pentagon's new defense strategy centers on deterring Chinese military expansion in the Indo-Pacific to preserve a favorable balance of power. A key operational focus is denying Chinese aggression along the strategic first island chain stretching from Japan to the Philippines. The strategy heavily emphasizes burden-sharing, urging wealthy allies in Europe and Asia to significantly increase their defense spending and capabilities. While China is the primary focus, the U.S. will still address threats from other actors like Russia and North Korea, but aims to avoid military overstretch.

Pentagon official details new strategy focusing on countering China's military expansion and pushing allies for greater defense spending and burden-sharing.

Washington, March 4 The Trump administration's new defence doctrine prioritises deterring China in the Indo-Pacific while pushing US allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defence, Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby told the Senate Armed Services Committee

Testifying before lawmakers on the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), Colby said the administration's military planning centres on maintaining a favourable balance of power in Asia while ensuring allies step up their defence spending and capabilities.

"The strategy focuses our military effort on ensuring the preservation of a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, the world's largest market area," Colby said.

He said the United States does not seek confrontation with China but aims to prevent Beijing from dominating the region.

"We do not seek to strangle China nor compel a change in its form of government," Colby said. "Rather, we seek to prevent China from becoming the hegemon of the Indo-Pacific."

Colby told the committee that deterring Chinese military expansion along the "first island chain" - the strategic arc stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines - is the Pentagon's central operational focus.

"Meeting this standard of an effective denial defence along the first island chain is the primary focus of the US armed forces," he said.

According to Colby, ensuring the ability to block Chinese aggression in that region will allow Washington to preserve stability in Asia while maintaining flexibility to respond to other crises around the world.

"Our interests there are real and significant because of the scale of that market," he said, referring to the Indo-Pacific economy.

The strategy also emphasises strengthening cooperation with regional partners and allies who share concerns about China's expanding military power.

"It is critical to emphasise that our strategy is well aligned with the interests of our allies in the Indo-Pacific," Colby said, adding that many countries in the region want to preserve their autonomy and resist domination by any single power.

The Pentagon official also stressed that the new strategy is built on the idea of burden sharing, with allies expected to assume greater responsibility for regional security.

"The American military, while without peer, is not infinite in its application and resources," Colby said.

He argued that wealthy allies in Europe and Asia must increase defence spending and play a larger role in deterring threats.

"Many of our allies have functionally demilitarised since the end of the Cold War," he said. "This is untenable and unreasonable."

The strategy urges NATO allies in Europe to lead conventional defence against Russia while encouraging partners such as South Korea to take primary responsibility for deterring North Korea.

Colby also highlighted the need to expand US defence manufacturing to sustain long-term competition with China and other adversaries.

"The NDS calls for nothing short of a national mobilisation of our industrial capacity," he said.

Such an effort, he added, would allow the United States to rapidly produce advanced weapons systems for both its own forces and allied militaries.

"We must be able to arm our own forces and those of our allies and partners with the best weaponry quickly at scale," Colby said.

While the strategy places China at the centre of US defence planning, Colby told senators that Washington will still address threats in other regions, including Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

"We recognise clearly that there are other very real threats around the world," he said.

However, he emphasised that the United States must avoid overstretching its military commitments.

"We cannot do everything everywhere all the time," Colby said.

For countries across the Indo-Pacific, including India, the strategy's emphasis on maintaining a balance of power reflects Washington's long-term objective of working with regional partners to prevent any single power from dominating Asia.

- IANS
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh celebrated the festival of Holi at Lok Bhawan in Dehradun. Both leaders shared video messages on social media platform X, extending heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the residents of the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended Holi greetings to all citizens, wishing for happiness, prosperity, and success. The festival, deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, begins with Holika Dahan and is celebrated as a symbol of joy, social harmony, and the triumph of good over evil.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh celebrated Holi at Lok Bhawan. PM Narendra Modi extended festive wishes to the nation.

Dehradun, March 4 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh celebrated Holi at Lok Bhawan in Dehradun on Wednesday.

"Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the auspicious festival of Holi. Holi is a symbol of colours, joy, and our rich cultural heritage, which strengthens the spirit of social harmony and unity. Holi is not merely a festival of colours, but a vibrant expression of folk culture, classical music traditions, spiritual consciousness, and cultural values. May happiness and prosperity fill your lives--this is my sincere wish," CM Dhami said in a video message posted on X.

Governor Singh said on X, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all of you on this festival of colors. May this unparalleled festival of colors, enthusiasm, and mutual love infuse new energy, positivity, and joy into all our lives. May this Holi fill your home and courtyard with the colors of happiness--that is the auspicious wish"

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of Holi and wished for happiness, prosperity and success to everyone.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens. May this festival, brimming with colours and exuberance, bring a shower of joy to everyone. May every life be sprinkled with the hues of happiness, prosperity, and success--this is my heartfelt wish."

Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours.

- ANI
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan was briefed by Union Ministers on key rural development and employment schemes aimed at transforming villages. He emphasized that strengthened rural development is crucial for realizing the Viksit Bharat vision. Separately, at a media convocation, he highlighted the growing challenge of fake news and called upon journalists to be agents of positive change. The Vice President urged media graduates to write truth fearlessly, stating that integrity in journalism is vital for the nation's progress.

Vice President Radhakrishnan meets ministers on rural development schemes, later highlights fight against fake news and journalists' role in Viksit Bharat.

New Delhi, March 3 Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday met Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Minister of State Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani at Parliament House to discuss welfare and job schemes, an official said.

During the meeting, the Vice-President was briefed on various initiatives of the Ministry aimed at rural transformation and public welfare, including housing for all, rural employment, skilling and capacity building.

The Ministers and the officials also informed Radhakrishnan about measures taken for the improvement of rural livelihoods, community infrastructure, road and connectivity, social assistance, watershed management, and digital land records modernisation.

The Vice President was also apprised of key government schemes such as Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM-G), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-GraminPMAY-G, and other flagship programmes.

The Vice President appreciated the Ministry for the transformative initiatives being undertaken in the rural development sector.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi's words, "India lives in its villages," he emphasised that strengthened rural development, supported by enhanced employment and skilling opportunities, will enable the nation to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Earlier last week, the Vice President highlighted the growing challenge of fake news and misinformation, emphasising that journalists have a responsibility to uphold the truth.

Speaking at the 57th Convocation of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in New Delhi, the Vice-President called upon mass communication graduates to become agents of positive change in society.

He said journalism and mass communication will play a key role in the country's journey towards Viksit Bharat.

Stressing the power of the pen, the Vice-President said that opinion makers can lead the nation by shaping the right and positive opinion based purely on truth. "Write truth fearlessly, and you will make Viksit Bharat," he told the graduating students.

He urged them not to be driven by ratings or shortcuts, but by the correctness and integrity of their writing.

Recalling his admiration for veteran journalist A.N. Sivaraman, former Editor of Dinamani, he said socially conscious and informative journalism can shape leaders and create leaders.

- IANS
TVK leader Vijay is set to address a key executive committee meeting in Thanjavur to strengthen the party's organisational network ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The meeting is part of a strategy to convert recent large public gatherings into structured administrative sessions. Elaborate security and crowd management arrangements are in place, including special police teams to manage enthusiastic supporters. The party has also instructed members to avoid commenting on Vijay's personal divorce proceedings to maintain focus on political work.

Actor-politician Vijay to address TVK executive committee meeting in Thanjavur, focusing on organisational strength for upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Chennai, March 4 TVK leader and actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to participate in a key executive committee meeting of the party in Thanjavur on Wednesday as part of efforts to strengthen the party's organisational network ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections.

The meeting will be held on Pappadi Division Road near Thanjavur and will bring together district-level office-bearers and executive committee members of the party.

Party sources said Vijay is expected to issue important instructions regarding party activities and strengthening organisation during the meeting. The event is being viewed as part of TVK's broader strategy to consolidate its organisational base, particularly in the politically significant Delta region.

In recent months, Vijay has conducted several large public meetings across various districts. As part of the next phase of political mobilisation, those public gatherings are now being converted into structured meetings with party administrators and office-bearers to streamline the party machinery ahead of the elections.

Extensive arrangements have been made at the venue to accommodate the participants. Considering the intense summer heat, organisers have installed roofing structures and arranged seating facilities for attendees. Drinking water, medical assistance and other basic amenities have also been provided at the venue.

Volunteers functioning under the organising committee have been deployed to assist participants and manage logistical arrangements. Anticipating a large turnout of supporters eager to see Vijay, authorities have made elaborate security arrangements.

A significant number of police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order during the event. Despite the heavy police deployment, three special police teams have also been stationed in shifts to prevent enthusiastic fans from entering the core meeting area and disrupting proceedings.

Vijay is travelling from Chennai to Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) to attend the meeting and will then proceed by road to the venue in Thanjavur. At the event, he is likely to address the gathering from a campaign bus stationed inside the meeting premises.

A separate stage has also been specially arranged for him. Authorities have advised pregnant women, elderly persons and those who are unwell to avoid attending the meeting due to crowd conditions and heat.

The programme will be telecast live on television and social media platforms. Police have granted permission for the meeting with 52 conditions, allowing it to be conducted between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, the TVK leadership has reportedly issued strict instructions to district-level functionaries and members of its IT wing to refrain from commenting on the divorce proceedings involving Vijay and his wife, Sangeetha Sornalingam.

The directive is intended to avoid unnecessary controversy and keep the focus on the party's organisational work.

For Vijay, the coming days represent a delicate balancing act as he continues to expand his fledgling political movement while dealing with intense public attention surrounding his personal life.

- IANS
Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna shared how a 2011 Holi trip to Vrindavan, where he saw widows excluded from the colors, inspired his film 'The Last Color'. The film began as a short story and evolved into a novel and feature film, gaining international recognition. It was screened at prestigious venues like the Cannes Film Festival and United Nations Headquarters, leading to advocacy work. Khanna emphasizes that the core lesson was about inclusion and ensuring everyone has a seat at the table during celebrations.

Chef Vikas Khanna reveals his 2011 Holi trip to Vrindavan, witnessing widows in white, inspired his film 'The Last Color' advocating for inclusion.

Mumbai, March 3 As we celebrate the festival of Holi, celebrity chef and filmmaker Vikas Khanna revealed through his latest social media post how his trip to Vrindavan back in 2011 during Holi inspired his film, "The Last Color".

Vikas shared that while everyone else was enjoying the festival of colors, he observed a group of women, dressed in white, with not a single trace of color on them. These were the widows of Vrindavan.



Heartbroken after seeing this, he ended up writing a short story, which became a novel and eventually turned into a full-fledged film.



Sharing the incident in his own words, the Chef penned on his official Insta handle, "It all began on Holi, 2011 - in Vrindavan. A festival of colors. And yet... I saw women who were denied even a single shade.



The widows of Vrindavan - dressed in white, living in silence - while the world around them exploded in pinks, yellows, and blues. That moment hurt my soul. That day, I wrote a short story. It became a novel. It became a film - The Last Color. (sic)"



Shedding light on the impact the film ended up having on the ground level, he went on to add, "What followed was beyond anything I imagined. Launching the first look at Cannes Film Festival. Nearly 100 international film festivals. A special screening at the United Nations Headquarters - to a standing ovation. An invitation to speak at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., advocating for improved livelihoods for widows. Becoming Global Ambassador for Widows with Global Widows. Eligibility for the Academy Awards 2020.But the greatest lesson was not the accolades. It was inclusion. The power of allowing someone to belong to a festival. To a color. To joy. That belief later became the foundation stone of Bungalow - where no celebration is complete unless everyone has a seat at the table."



Vikas concluded the post saying, "Holi is not only about colors, it's about inclusion. And everyone deserves it."





- IANS
The Maharashtra government has intensified efforts to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals stranded in West Asia amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. Minister Girish Mahajan stated the situation is expected to normalize within two days, with both the state and central governments closely monitoring developments. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis detailed steps including issuing helpline numbers, coordinating with the Centre and embassies, and contacting people through Marathi community groups abroad. The government assures that Air India flights are gradually bringing people back, with a focus on students and tourists.

Maharashtra govt and Centre working to repatriate Indians from West Asia. Minister Girish Mahajan assures safe return in next 2-3 days.

Mumbai, March 4 Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the Maharashtra government has intensified efforts to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals stranded in various Middle-Eastern countries.

Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan on Wednesday said that the situation is expected to stabilise within the next two days, while assuring that the state government and Centre are closely monitoring developments.

Speaking to the reporters, Mahajan said, "The situation will be normal in 2 days. Prime Minister Modi, as well as CM Devendra Fadnavis, are both monitoring the situation. As part of my department work, I have talked to various people and consoled them... We will try to bring everyone back in the next 2-3 days... We have issued a website and a helpline number for the convenience of the people..."

Earlier today, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state government is expecting the Indians stranded in West Asia amid the conflict to return in the next two to three days.

Addressing the Maharashtra Legislative Council during the Budget Session, Fadnavis said that the Centre is taking the initiative to bring back the Indians, while the state government is in contact with people in West Asia through Marathi mandals.

Describing the steps taken by the state government, he said that they have issued a helpline number and advisories to help the Indians stranded in West Asian countries.

The Chief Minister said, "The airspace was closed as the war began. Those people were not the residents but Indian people; we started receiving messages from them. Immediately, we contacted the Centre and the MEA. We contacted the embassy. Our Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Girish Mahajan was given the responsibility. We issued a WhatsApp number."

"Air India's flights are gradually bringing people back. Some airspaces are closed while some were opened. In Kuwait, people found it difficult to get a visa, but we brought them all to one place and are trying to ensure that they do not face any issues there. We are also in touch with stranded people through Marathi Mandals (groups of Marathi people residing or working in those areas) of those locations. I have issued the advisory on my X account as well," he added.

Assuring the House to bring back Indians safely, Fadnavis said that the Centre is sensitive towards students and tourists.

This came amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran has also retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict.

- ANI
The Indian government has assured the public that the country holds sufficient stocks of crude oil and key petroleum products to handle any short-term supply disruptions arising from Middle East tensions. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India has diversified its crude oil sources and secured alternative supply routes that do not pass through the potentially vulnerable Strait of Hormuz. A 24x7 control room has been established to continuously monitor the supply and stock position of petroleum products nationwide. The government remains cautiously optimistic and committed to safeguarding consumer interests through phased measures if necessary.

India has adequate crude oil and petroleum product reserves to manage short-term supply disruptions from Middle East hostilities, says Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

New Delhi, March 3 The government on Tuesday said that India has adequate stocks of crude oil and key petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel to handle any short-term disruptions arising from the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.

Briefing the media, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the country is fully prepared to deal with the evolving global energy situation. He assured that there is no immediate cause for concern as India remains well stocked and is closely monitoring developments.

"India is currently the world's third-largest importer of crude oil, the fourth-largest refiner, and the fifth-largest exporter of petroleum products," he noted.

Given its strong position in the global energy market, the country has built sufficient inventories to manage temporary supply disruptions.

The minister said that over the past few years, India has taken significant steps to diversify its sources of crude oil to ensure both availability and affordability for consumers.

"Indian energy companies now have access to supplies that do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route that could be impacted by tensions in the Middle East," the minister noted.

"These alternative routes, will help cushion any short-term supply issues," he mentioned.

To keep a close watch on the situation, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has set up a 24x7 control room to monitor the supply and stock position of petroleum products across the country.

Officials are continuously reviewing the situation to ensure that there is no disruption in availability.

The government said it is reasonably comfortable with the current stock levels and remains committed to safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers. Based on ongoing assessments, it is cautiously optimistic that phased measures can be introduced, if necessary, to further stabilise the situation, it added.

- IANS
SpiceJet is operating eight special flights from Fujairah in the UAE to Delhi, Mumbai, and Kochi to help stranded Indian nationals return home. This effort follows flight cancellations and schedule changes due to escalating conflict in West Asia, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Indian authorities are monitoring the airspace situation, with carriers adjusting routes to avoid restricted zones. The Civil Aviation Ministry stated that airlines are deploying additional capacity and coordinating with foreign authorities for safe passenger movement.

SpiceJet operates 8 special flights from Fujairah to India to repatriate stranded nationals as West Asia airspace conflict disrupts travel.

Gurugram, March 4 SpiceJet will operate eight special flights from the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday to facilitate the return of Indian nationals stranded there amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, a press release by the airline said on Wednesday.

According to the release, all eight flights will operate from Fujairah. The airline will operate four special flights to New Delhi, three special flights to Mumbai and one special flight to Kochi, providing additional capacity to help stranded passengers return home at the earliest.

On Tuesday, SpiceJet operated four special flights from the UAE, connecting stranded passengers to New Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi.

This comes amid schedule changes and suspensions of flights due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia, which began with the United States and Israel's strikes on Iran. Iran's retaliation engulfed several West Asian nations under the missile attacks, extending the conflict to the whole region.

Delhi, Mumbai and the Kochi airports have witnessed an influx of Indian passengers returning from the region as Dubai and Fujairah partially opened the airspace.

Meanwhile, India is continuously monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia and its impact on international flight operations.

1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers were cancelled to date due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

Furthermore, a total of 24 flights were operated by Indian carriers on Tuesday, while Emirates and Etihad operated 9 flights from the Gulf.

"Indian carriers are further planning 58 flights on March 4, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express. Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules, with long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations being progressively resumed through alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace, it said.

"Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, with airlines deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement," the statement added.

US and Israeli airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities on February 28 targeted military command centres, air-defence systems, missile sites, and key regime infrastructure. In response, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict.

- ANI
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A large national study in Denmark following nearly 1,900 patients over almost a decade found that a minimally invasive procedure called ablation is as effective as surgery for treating small kidney cancers, with faster recovery and fewer complications. Results of the study were published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

The research focused on patients with stage T1a renal cell carcinoma, a cancer that is increasingly found incidentally on CT scans performed for other reasons, such as imaging of the prostate or ovaries.

These incidental cancers are putting increasing pressure on health care systems. While early detection improves outcomes, it also raises the need for better risk stratification and treatment options." Iben Lyskjr, Ph.D., M.Sc., lead author, associate professor at Aarhus University and Aarhus Hospital in Denmark

Surgical tumor resection is the standard of care for stage T1a renal cell carcinoma, but ablation has emerged as a less invasive alternative that could potentially reduce complications, hospital stays and costs. Ablation is an image-guided procedure that destroys tumors using extreme heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation). Since its introduction in Denmark in 2006, its use has steadily increased.

Dr. Lyskjr and her team conducted a nationwide registry-based cohort study of Danish adults diagnosed with T1a renal cell carcinoma between January 2013 and December 2021 to compare outcomes between patients treated with ablation and those treated with surgery.

"This is not a single center but a nationwide study that reflects the everyday clinical practice in Denmark and what happens to real patients in a national health care system," she said.

Participants included 1,862 patients (median age 64; 1,305 men). Patients were categorized into the ablation group (540), the resection group (1,002), or the nephrectomy-surgical removal of all or part of a kidney-group (320). In the ablation group, 42 patients underwent radiofrequency ablation, while the remaining patients underwent cryoablation.

There was no evidence of a difference in the risk of cancer progression between patients who had ablation and the resection group. However, local recurrence of the disease was more frequent following ablation than resection and nephrectomy (2.41%, 1.20%, and 0%, respectively).

"Although the local recurrence rate was slightly higher in the ablation group, tumors that recur can be successfully treated with another ablation or surgery," Dr. Lyskjr said. "Importantly, patients in the study who had local recurrences did not have worse overall survival."

Distant metastasis-the spread of cancer cells to distant organs or lymph nodes-occurred more frequently in patients who underwent nephrectomy (4.38%) than in those who underwent resection and ablation (1.90% and 1.67%, respectively). Ablation patients had the shortest hospital stays, with most returning home the same day. They also had the fewest 30-day post-treatment hospital contacts, suggesting fewer complications.

"Our study demonstrated that the overall progression rates were low across all treatment modalities, supporting the effectiveness of both ablation and resection for T1a renal cell carcinoma," she said.

Dr. Lyskjr notes that it's unknown whether the tumors found incidentally would ultimately develop into aggressive cancers.

"That's a good reason to consider using a minimally invasive approach as a broader treatment option," she said. "The best choice depends not only on the patient's characteristics, but also on the patient's preferences. We should be showing patients data and asking the patients what kind of treatment they want."

"Ablation and Surgery Show Comparable Long-term Outcomes for T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Danish Nationwide Registry Study." Collaborating with Dr. Lyskjr were Johanne Ahrenfeldt, Ph.D., M.Sc.Eng., Jesper Jespersen, M.Sc., Pernille Tonnesen, B.Sc., Tommy Kjrgaard Nielsen, M.D., Ph.D., Anna Krarup Keller, M.D., Ph.D., and Laura Iisager, M.Sc.
For people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), life-saving antiretroviral therapy keeps their HIV-infected immune cells from making new copies of the virus, preventing illness and transmission.

Historically, these infected cells have been known as the "latent" HIV reservoir-implying that the HIV within the infected cells is completely inactive.

But notion that the entirety of the HIV reservoir is latent is actually a misleading description, because some reservoir cells can still be quite active. Even though antiretroviral therapy keeps full-fledged HIV virus from being made, some of the infected cells continue spitting out viral products." Nadia Roan, PhD, senior investigator at Gladstone Institutes

That means people with HIV who are on therapy still deal with fragments of the virus in their body, often resulting in long-term inflammation and related medical conditions, including organ damage and increased risk of heart attack. Also, the greater the number of such "active" reservoir cells in a patient, the faster their HIV will rebound if they stop treatment for any reason, such as losing access to it.

If scientists could gain a deeper understanding of the activity of genes in these cells, it could point to new possibilities for treating HIV, for example to eliminate these cells or prevent their ability to spit out fragments of HIV. But existing research methods have not been up to the task.

Now, Roan's team, in collaboration with a team at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, have developed a novel tool-named HIV-seq-for profiling the features of rare HIV-infected cells from people with HIV.

"Using our new tool, we've found key differences in people's HIV-infected cells before versus after starting antiretroviral therapy," says Roan, senior author of the study published in Nature Communications. "We hope it will be helpful for understanding how HIV develops, and how the long-lived HIV reservoir can persist for decades in people with HIV."

Capturing elusive HIV-infected cells

In recent years, a method called single-cell RNA sequencing has yielded an explosion of new biomedical discoveries, because it allows scientists to see which genes are turned on in individual cells. However, it has not worked so well for studying active HIV reservoir cells in people taking antiretroviral therapy.

"When single-cell RNA sequencing was applied to blood samples from patients on therapy, it oftentimes only detected one or two of these cells per person," says Julie Frouard, PhD, a scientist in Roan's Lab and one of the first authors of the study. "That's not enough for a meaningful analysis."

The problem, the team reasoned, is that the technique needs specific fragments of RNA, which is the molecule that carries genetic instructions. Unlike many other RNA fragments in human cells, much of the RNA produced by HIV does not match the required criteria. So, it is not fully captured by single-cell RNA sequencing, and reservoir cells that actively produce HIV can be overlooked by the method.

To address this obstacle, the researchers developed HIV-seq-a novel tool for single-cell RNA analysis that is custom-tailored for the virus. It is specially designed to recognize cells that are producing HIV RNA fragments.

"Pitting HIV-seq head-to-head with the standard approach, we recovered and analyzed more HIV-infected cells, and higher numbers of HIV RNA within those infected cells," says Steven Yukl, MD, a physician-scientist at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and senior author of the study. "Now, for the first time, we can actually characterize these cells in a meaningful manner for people whose HIV is suppressed by antiretroviral therapy."

With reservoir cells no longer slipping through the cracks, the team recovered 25 such cells from three people on therapy. When applied to blood samples from people with active HIV infection who had not yet started therapy, HIV-seq recovered more than 1,000 reservoir cells from four patients-the highest number to date.

"Fiery" versus quiet cells

The scientists then leveraged HIV-seq to characterize HIV-infected cells from people with HIV before and after starting therapy, as well as to identify the proteins present on the surface of these cells.

"Prior single-cell RNA sequencing studies have primarily analyzed HIV-infected cells in people who had not yet started therapy," says Sushama Telwatte, PhD, who is now an investigator at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne. "We felt those cells probably look very different from reservoir cells in people on therapy, which can persist for decades while still producing HIV RNA fragments."

In fact, the scientists revealed multiple differences in HIV-infected cells before and after antiretroviral therapy.

Cells taken from people who had not started therapy exhibited cytotoxic features, meaning they had proteins associated with the ability to directly kill other cells. These cells also had lower levels of specific genes linked to HIV suppression, suggesting that HIV may somehow inhibit these genes in order to rapidly produce new copies of itself.

"In a general sense, I would say that these cells were rather inflammatory, or fiery," says Roan, who is also a professor in the Department of Urology at UC San Francisco (UCSF).

In contrast, HIV reservoir cells from people on therapy were quieter, with anti-inflammatory features and without cytotoxic features. They also exhibited higher levels of genes that help cells evade death and achieve long-term survival.

"This is noteworthy because there is an ongoing clinical trial testing a drug targeting a pathway that HIV may use to preferentially promote survival of its host cell," says Yukl, who is also a professor of medicine at UCSF. "Our data provide further support for that research."

In the cells from people on therapy, the scientists uncovered higher levels of other proteins, too. One protein is associated with the ability of cells to steadily multiply for long periods of time, while others are connected with suppressing both HIV production and the immune system. These discoveries could help explain how the active reservoir cells are able to fly under the radar for so long, when the immune system should be recognizing and eliminating them.

"We're already building on some of our new findings by testing, in various laboratory models, whether we can stop HIV reservoir cells from multiplying by targeting these pro-survival pathways," Roan says. "We hope this is just the beginning of all that could be discovered with HIV-seq."

About the study

The paper, "HIV-seq reveals gene expression differences between HIV-transcribing cells from viremic and suppressed people with HIV," was published by the journal Nature Communications on March 3, 2026.

The authors are Julie Frouard, Xiaoyu Luo, Natalie Gill, Reuben Thomas, and Nadia Roan of Gladstone; Sushama Telwatte formerly of the San Francisco VA Medical Center and now of the University of Melbourne; Joseph K Wong and Steven Yukl of the San Francisco VA Medical Center; Douglas Arneson, Atul J Butte, Rebecca Hoh, and Steven Deeks of UCSF; Pavitra Roychoudhury of the University of Washington; and Sulggi Lee from the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the California HIV/AIDS Research Program, UCSF-Bay Area CFAR, and the James B. Pendleton Foundation.
For years, treating gum disease has meant scraping away plaque, cutting out damaged tissue or turning to antibiotics that kill bacteria indiscriminately. While newer therapies can regenerate lost tissue, doctors still lack a precise way to stop the infection without harming the mouth's healthy microbiome.

New research from the University of Florida College of Dentistry offers a breakthrough. Researchers have discovered that the primary bacterium driving gum disease carries an internal "genetic brake" that controls its own aggression. By locking this brake in place, future treatments could silence the pathogen while leaving beneficial bacteria untouched.

The study, led by oral biologist Jorge Frias-Lopez, Ph.D., focused on Porphyromonas gingivalis. Scientists call this bacterium a keystone pathogen. Like a social media influencer, its power comes from swaying the crowd. Even in small amounts, P. gingivalis can manipulate the entire microbial community, turning a healthy mouth into a diseased one.

This microscopic troublemaker drives a massive public health challenge. In the United States alone, gum disease affects about 42% of people over 30 - roughly 2 in every 5 adults. It's also a leading cause of tooth loss, destroying the bone that supports the teeth.

Beyond the physical toll, the economic impact is staggering: the U.S. loses over $150 billion annually to the disease, mostly from lost productivity as people miss work for treatment. To find a better solution, Frias-Lopez's team looked inside the bacterium's own genetic instruction manual, zeroing in on a specific section called a CRISPR array.

While CRISPR is famous as a gene-editing tool, it evolved as a bacterial immune system. When a virus attacks, bacteria capture snippets of the invader's DNA called "spacers" and use them like molecular "wanted posters" to spot and destroy returning viruses.

However, the array investigated by Dr. Frias-Lopez's team - previously designated CRISPR array 30.1 - broke this pattern. Its spacers didn't match any known viruses.

Scientists call such mystery sequences CRISPR "dark matter" or "orphan arrays" because they contain genetic code with no obvious target or known origin. In this case, the team found that the dark matter had a target. It just wasn't an outside invader. Instead, the spacers matched the bacterium's own DNA. Why, the researchers wondered, would a germ store a weapon against itself?

To find out, they used gene editing to delete array 30.1. Rather than weakening the bacterium, cutting this genetic brake made P. gingivalis hyperaggressive. Without the array, the germ produced twice as much biofilm, the sticky buildup that forms dental plaque. In tests, the altered strain proved far more lethal, killing half the hosts in 130 hours compared with 200 hours for the normal strain. It also triggered much stronger inflammation in human immune cells.

In a cunning survival strategy, P. gingivalis uses array 30.1 to throttle its own aggression. By keeping it just below the level that triggers a full-scale immune attack, the pathogen stays hidden in the gums, turning what could be a brief battle into a yearslong chronic infection.

Current treatments rely on deep cleaning below the gum line, tissue removal or antibiotics. While effective at reducing bacteria, these blunt approaches kill indiscriminately, harming beneficial microbes and contributing to antibiotic resistance. Frias-Lopez's findings point to a smarter strategy: Mute the "bad influencer" rather than silencing the entire community.

Future therapies could employ engineered bacteriophages, or viruses that target specific bacteria. Scientists could design these viruses to seek out P. gingivalis and inject a CRISPR instruction that locks the genetic brake in place. This would restore peace to gum tissue without disrupting the mouth's microbial balance.

The implications of the research reach beyond oral health. Scientists have established clear links between gum disease and serious issues like heart disease and diabetes. Research shows that in more than half of gum disease patients, bacterial toxins leak from inflamed gums into the bloodstream. Once in circulation, these toxins travel to vital organs, triggering inflammation throughout the body.

By keeping P. gingivalis in check, this therapy could do more than save teeth; it could reduce the body-wide inflammation that makes gum disease a silent threat to whole-body health.
Their job is to protect, promote, and restore human health and lives, but healthcare workers believe that their own use of alcohol and illegal drugs reduces the quality of care they provide to patients. A recent study suggests that more doctors and nurses struggle with substance use than we are aware of.

There is a clear correlation between health professionals' use of alcohol and drugs and how they perceive that their substance use affects their work. The more they use, the worse they believe they are at taking care of their patients.

Asked 3300 professionals about their substance use

The research is based on data from almost 3300 doctors and nurses in Sweden, who reported having a problematic relationship with alcohol and illegal drugs. The participants were asked about their use of alcohol, cannabis and psychostimulants, and how they believe it affects the quality of the care they provide to their patients.

About patient safety

In total, 15.9 per cent of the participants report providing low-quality care. Of these, almost 1 in 3 (28.9 per cent) report using illegal drugs, while 1 in 4 (25 per cent) report having a problematic relationship with alcohol, based on the criteria in the study.

Even small percentages matter. This is about patient safety and what we should be able to expect from a regulated and well-functioning healthcare system." Josefina Pelaez Zuberbuhler, associate professor at Kristiania University of Applied Sciences and lead author of the study

Healthcare workers closely link their own substance use to the quality of their work. Even practitioners with low levels of illegal drug use believe it negatively affects their patient care.

Spotlight on the working environment

Emma Brulin, a researcher in occupational and environmental medicine at the Karolinska Institutet, refers to previous research showing that other factors, such as burnout, also lead to employees feeling less capable of performing their work.

"Substance use is a problem where the working environment and working conditions in the healthcare system need to be improved," said Brulin, who is also in charge of the health personnel survey LOHHCS (the Swedish Longitudinal Study of Work Environment and Health in Healthcare), from which the study's data were obtained.

Fear, shame and stigma

Professor Siw Tone Innstrand at the Department of Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is an expert in occupational health psychology. She says substance abuse and drinking habits can reduce attention, memory and our ability to make decisions. They can also inhibit our psychomotor speed, which in turn can increase the risk of medical errors and poorer quality healthcare.

Stigma, shame and fear of losing their job can prevent people from seeking help. According to Innstrand, this can lead to substance abuse problems only being discovered after mistakes have been identified and reported.

More self-critical a year later

This is a so-called longitudinal observation study, investigating development and change in a specific group over time. Of the 3280 participants, just over 75 per cent are women. More than half of the participants have more than 15 years' experience of working in the healthcare services. In 2022, they were asked about their own alcohol consumption and any problematic aspects of it. They were also asked about their use of illegal drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD and heroin, as well as cannabis. In addition, they were asked to assess the quality of their own patient care.

Of the respondents, 3.8 per cent reported a problematic relationship with alcohol and 1.3 per cent reported that they used illegal drugs. One year later, this group was about twice as likely as others to rate the quality of their patient care as poor.

Less work experience  more illegal drug use

Among other things, the study shows that:

The healthcare workers with the least amount of work experience have a higher use of illegal drugs

Employees who have been in their job the longest have more problematic alcohol consumption

Male healthcare workers, most often doctors, and employees with the most work experience are less likely to see their own substance use as having a detrimental effect on patient care

Doctors report more illegal drug use than nurses (1.8 per cent compared to 0.9 per cent)

More nurses than doctors report problematic alcohol use (4.4 per cent compared to 3.3 per cent)

The last two points may be due to systematic differences in gender and age in the two occupational groups. However, according to Brulin, no differences are observed when adjustments are made for this.

A bigger problem than expected

Research suggests that alcohol and illegal drug use can impair healthcare workers' ability to provide high-quality patient care. This study is the first to investigate the correlation by asking doctors and nurses directly.

The researchers asked about the use of illegal drugs, i.e. non-prescription medications. It is already known that some doctors prescribe medications classified as narcotics to themselves. In addition, access to drugs in the workplace can increase the risk of illegal use among employees.

"Overall, this suggests that the extent of substance use in the healthcare services may be greater than reported here," according to the study, which was conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Substance use can serve as a maladaptive coping mechanism for doctors and nurses to manage high workloads.

Pandemic, pressure and stress

COVID-19 put healthcare services under great pressure in many countries.

"We know that substance use among health professionals increased during the pandemic. Since then, the pressure on healthcare services has only continued. Resources are decreasing, while the need for care is increasing. Substance use can serve as a maladaptive coping mechanism for doctors and nurses to manage high workloads. It is therefore important that we address this," said NTNU professor Innstrand.

Must support those who are struggling

The researchers believe they have identified an important link between employees' health and patient care. They believe the healthcare services must work purposefully on the working environment, prevention, early detection of problems, and providing support to those who are struggling.

"Healthcare workers are often under huge amounts of pressure involving high workloads, unfavourable working hours and emotional strain," explained Innstrand.

At the same time, they need to be able to provide the care and medical treatment the job requires. This means they must be given a work situation that is manageable and meets their needs.

"In other words, we must make sure that people 'are able to put on their own oxygen mask first before helping others'," Innstrand said.
Consistent and permanent abstinence from alcohol can lead to the regression of existing liver-related complications, even in cases of advanced alcohol-related cirrhosis. This is shown by an international multicenter study led by MedUni Vienna, which was recently published in the renowned Journal of Hepatology. Up to one third of patients with already decompensated alcohol-related cirrhosis were able to achieve so-called "re-compensation" through consistent abstinence from alcohol - i.e., the complete resolution of liver-related complications with simultaneous recovery of liver function. In addition, the study identifies the factors that are crucial for this recovery of liver function.

Cirrhosis is characterised by progressive scarring of the liver. In Western countries, it is often caused by excessive alcohol consumption and leads to serious complications in many affected individuals, such as abdominal fluid accumulation (ascites), altered mental states (encephalopathy) and bleeding from varicose veins in the oesophagus (variceal bleeding). Traditionally, the occurrence of such complications, known as decompensation events, was considered a sign that cirrhosis had become irreversible. The results now published challenge this dogma.



The study by the research team led by Benedikt Hofer and Thomas Reiberger (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Department of Medicine III at MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna) included 633 patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis from 17 specialist centres in Europe and Asia. All patients had begun abstaining from alcohol after experiencing decompensation events.

The course of the disease is reversible

Within five years, around one third of patients achieved a complete resolution of all liver-related complications with simultaneous improvement in liver function - a condition known as "re-compensation".

Our data clearly show that even after the onset of severe complications, the course of cirrhosis is not necessarily irreversible." Benedikt Hofer, lead author

In addition to the initial severity of the liver disease, the decisive factor in achieving recompensation was, above all, complete and early abstinence from alcohol. Study leader Thomas Reiberger emphasises: "Abstaining from alcohol can not only halt the progression of liver disease, but in many patients can even lead to an improvement in cirrhosis. However, it is crucial that abstinence from alcohol is maintained immediately after the occurrence of complications - this can more than double the chance of recompensation."

Dramatic survival advantage through recompensation

The clinical impact of recompensation on the survival of the patients in the study was impressive: none of the recompensated patients who remained abstinent from alcohol died of liver-related causes. The risk of developing liver cancer was also significantly reduced in this group, and overall mortality was significantly lower - clinically relevant results that were additionally highlighted as "Research Highlights" in the journal Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Thomas Reiberger continues: "Recompensation is no longer a purely theoretical concept, but a clinically increasingly relevant condition that can fundamentally improve the prognosis of patients despite advanced cirrhosis."

Abstinence from alcohol at the centre of therapy

The study underscores the central role of complete and permanent abstinence from alcohol as the most effective therapeutic intervention for alcohol-related liver disease. At the same time, the results also highlight health policy aspects: structured support to achieve and maintain alcohol abstinence is crucial for the prognosis of these patients - especially against the backdrop of current budget cuts in the area of addiction support and abstinence programmes.



"A relapse into alcohol abuse significantly worsens the prognosis," says Benedikt Hofer, adding: "So if savings are made in abstinence support, not only are preventable deaths risked, but also high costs for the medical treatment of advanced liver disease and its complications."
It was a snowy afternoon in Bozeman, a city of nearly 60,000 nestled among the mountains of southern Montana. Temperatures hovered in the mid-30s.

The city's mobile crisis team had just gotten a call about a man walking around outside without shoes. The man's family told the team he was having a mental health crisis and wouldn't come inside.

As they drove down the highway toward the city's outskirts, team member Evan Thiessen spoke with the relative who had reached out.

"You're doing the right thing, and we're going to make sure he gets help today, OK?" he said.

They pulled up the man's police record on a laptop and saw that he did have a record of some previous encounters with police, including some that had turned violent.

Luke Forney, a licensed therapist, had that in mind as they pulled into a neighborhood of single-family homes. He stepped out of the Ford Bronco and headed toward the front door.

A funding problem

Many communities around the country send out teams like this one to help people in psychiatric crisis, rather than dispatching regular police.

A recent survey found there were at least 1,800 mobile teams nationwide in 2023. But financial support for them is often inadequate and inconsistent, leaving many communities struggling to keep the teams operating.

Two programs  one in Great Falls, in central Montana, and one in Billings, in south-central Montana  recently shut down. Six units remain in Montana.

The strategy began in the late 1980s in Eugene, Oregon, but gained momentum nationally over the past 10 years.

Recent national headlines about police killing people who are experiencing a psychiatric crisis have sparked conversations about how to safely and effectively respond. Most police officers are not trained to deal with people experiencing delusions or hallucinations, nor to de-escalate situations involving threatening behaviors to themselves or others.

An analysis of police-involved fatal shootings across 27 states found that about a third of the victims showed signs of being in crisis. Another study found that people with a serious mental illness were at least 11 times as likely to experience use of force by police as those without.

By contrast, crisis response teams have been trained to de-escalate such situations and provide appropriate therapeutic care.

When the team arrived at the house in Bozeman, the man had already gone back inside. The team then talked with the man's family for about half an hour and helped them devise a plan to keep him at home  and safe. Before they left, team members determined the man wasn't a threat to himself or others.

Also, they planned to follow up within a few days to connect him with ongoing mental health care. After an encounter with the team, some clients might need follow-up therapy, assistance with psychiatric medications, or help finding treatment for substance abuse.

The Bozeman team is available 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and costs roughly $1 million a year to run.

Police departments are generally funded by local taxpayers. Mobile crisis teams don't have a single, reliable source of funding.

Some, despite successful operations and local support, are shrinking operations or have closed entirely. One that shuttered was Oregon's pioneering program.

Most crisis calls end with people staying where they are, avoiding a trip to the emergency room or going to jail, according to Connections Montana, which runs the mobile crisis program in Bozeman.

Beyond police and firefighters, members of the public can call the team directly.

"I've been out on calls where individuals have barricaded themselves in residences or in their vehicles with a firearm. So, helping to assist not only law enforcement, the negotiators, but consulting on the behavioral health side of that," said Ryan Mattson, who leads the Bozeman crisis team.

The program has reduced the time that Bozeman police officers must spend on mental health calls by nearly 80%, according to Mattson, and prevented unnecessary ER visits.

Residents and political leaders see that value, he said, but finding a way to pay for the service has been difficult.

"I'm confident we'll be here through next fiscal year. That's about as confident as I am at this point," Mattson said.

Mobile crisis programs in Montana, which began operating about five years ago, have cost more than the state originally projected.

Health insurance is sometimes a revenue source for mobile crisis teams. That's because a crisis call is a type of mental health service, provided by trained professionals such as therapists or crisis intervention specialists. Still, many private insurance companies don't reimburse for mobile crisis services.

What Medicaid pays for  and doesnt

Medicaid, the government-funded insurance program for low-income and disabled Americans, is another funding source. Two-thirds of states allow Medicaid reimbursement for such calls, but rates vary.

In Montana, Medicaid reimburses the team only for the time they spend responding to a call in the field. Additional time spent on a case  documenting the encounters, or waiting for the next call  isn't reimbursed.

"You need to pay for the capacity to be at the ready, just like we do with fire or police, regardless of whether somebody is going to be called out," said Angela Kimball of Inseparable, a nonprofit that advocates for mental health policy reform.

It's not feasible for mobile crisis teams to rely solely on reimbursement from insurance companies, she said.

To deal with the shortfalls, many mobile teams rely on a patchwork of grants and other funding, according to Heather Saunders, who studies Medicaid policy at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

Some state governments have stepped in to help.

Eight states, including New Jersey, California, and Washington, mandate that private insurers cover the cost of mobile crisis calls for people on their plans, according to Kimball. At least 10 states have implemented fees on cellphone bills to help pay for service.

Montana hasn't followed suit.

The state provides about $2 million annually in supplemental funds to help the mobile teams pay for service calls that aren't reimbursed through Medicaid, according to an emailed statement from Jon Ebelt, a state health department spokesperson.

But program managers counter that the paperwork to access that funding is complicated and often isn't worth the staff time.

Will Montana step in?

Despite this state support, mobile teams are still struggling to stay afloat, Ebelt acknowledged. He said Montana officials are considering boosting what Medicaid reimburses for each service call.

In Missoula, the mobile crisis team turned to local taxpayers for additional help. Their annual expenditure is $1.4 million, but Medicaid reimbursements were covering only about 20% of the cost, according to program manager John LaRocque. Even with local tax dollars, the program faces a $250,000 shortfall, so LaRocque is looking for grants.

Mobile crisis is still a relatively new concept, and growing pains are to be expected, said Sierra Riesberg, director of the Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana.

Still, abrupt closures create instability and lead some patients to the ER, placing financial pressure on another distressed part of the local health system.

"A much-needed service is available and then not available, available and then not available. These things need to be taken into consideration when developing programs in communities," she said.

If more mobile crisis teams shut down, that might interfere with Montana's recent efforts to overhaul an outdated and underfunded mental health system. The state's only psychiatric hospital hasn't kept up with the number of patients committed to the facility.

Later this year, Montana hopes to join a federal pilot program to open a new type of clinic: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, or CCBHCs. Those clinics will receive boosted levels of federal funding, but they are required to offer round-the-clock mobile crisis services as well as other crisis care.

That could be a tall order for rural communities, said Casey Schreiner, an executive at Alluvion Health in Great Falls.

Alluvion used to operate the mobile crisis team in Great Falls before it shuttered the service. One major reason it closed was that the expected Medicaid payments covered less than anticipated. Before Alluvion would consider getting involved again, the state would need to "completely revamp" the way the service is funded, Schreiner said.

"Is it a priority for our state or not?" he asked.

This article is from a partnership with Montana Public Radio and NPR.
A University of the Sunshine Coast study of young teenagers has identified a vicious cycle of loneliness linked to the fear of embarrassment or judgment by peers.

The study of more than 170 children aged 13 to 15 found that those staying under the radar socially to avoid judgment reported greater loneliness, as well as lower trust, connection and participation in friendships.

"It explored why some teens feel lonely even when surrounded by their peers, and identified the key pattern of social avoidance," said UniSC Lecturer in Psychology Helen Hall, a practising psychologist who led the research for her ongoing PhD.

"They withdraw from socializing to avoid being judged, then fail to learn skills around trust, joining in, and give-and-take, then feel lonely and avoid their peers even more.

"Unfortunately, some teens suffer because they have empathy and recognise other perspectives, which are wonderful skills that are decreasing among this age group."

She said it was somewhat surprising that teens who chased popularity or status among their peers reported less loneliness, despite other studies to the contrary.

"Previous research has shown that large friend networks or status goals do not necessarily lead to greater wellbeing or healthier social behaviour," said Ms Hall, acknowledging the 'mean girls' factor.

"However, in this case, they do appear to be protective factors against loneliness when they are channelled into mutually supportive, trusting relationships."

She said the overall findings reflected some key reasons for the global loneliness epidemic producing poorer psychological and social outcomes among adolescents.

"Parents and teachers need to help our teens find safe, low-pressure ways of participating and connecting with their peers," said Ms Hall, a mother of four.

Don't rely on the old advice to 'stop caring what others think' and be cautious if encouraging social media contact. Generally, our teens will gain richer skills when they participate with others in-person. Listen and validate what they're experiencing and help them take small steps." Helen Hall, UniSC Lecturer in Psychology

Five tips to help a lonely teen

Pivot the focus to trust. Find one peer they feel most at ease with and one adult they can talk to, then discuss what action they can do to strengthen those ties; Teach reciprocity by creating micro-scripts of give-and-take in friendships  checking in, asking people to sit with them, showing empathy; Encourage them to practise social courage. What's one small step they can take this week instead of avoidance? Make sure they are getting some decent sleep and self-care; Try a 10-minute 'download' (write the worry), then a reset routine (shower, music, stretch).

The study involved students from four independent schools across Queensland and was published in the journal Child & Youth Care Forum with UniSC supervisors and co-authors Dr Prudence Millear and Professor Mathew Summers.

Ms Hall is now examining how this social avoidance can impact student engagement with schools and self-belief in their own academic abilities.

The UniSC Psychology Honours graduate was awarded the University's top student honour, the Chancellor's Medal, in 2018 for her contributions to academia, the university and wider communities.

Ms Hall's research is already having an impact on parents and adolescents through the work of Michelle Mitchell, a best-selling author of parenting and children's resources who speaks at schools and community events across Australia.

Ms Mitchell said there was "gold" in the findings for parents trying to better understand their children's needs for belonging and security in social situations.

"I'm particularly keen to share the concept of reframing that old advice about not caring what others think," she said.

"I hope every parent takes that saying out of their vocabulary and realises that our kids do need to pay attention to what other people think. Social feedback is important. That's how they read the room and understand themselves in context, so they can contribute in a meaningful way."
In the final days of 2025, governors around the country trumpeted the hundreds of millions of federal dollars they won from a new, $50 billion rural health fund.

But plans to spend those nine-digit awards aren't all warmly received.

At least one group of Republican state lawmakers appears to have scuttled an initiative preapproved by federal officials. And at least one hospital association persuaded its state health leaders to alter who greenlights spending. Other critics are taking a more cautious approach.

That's because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which manages the five-year Rural Health Transformation Program, says states could lose money if they make major changes to the plans approved in their applications. Changes could also delay states' ability to get projects rolling in time to show the agency that they're meeting progress deadlines.

"During the application period, states were advised to only propose initiatives and state policy actions that the state deemed feasible," said CMS spokesperson Catherine Howden, who noted that the agency will work with states case by case.

The recent pushback reflects "tension" over state plans  which were approved by the federal government  from state lawmakers and health leaders who want more input amid tight deadlines, said Carrie Cochran-McClain, chief policy officer of the National Rural Health Association, the largest organization representing rural hospitals and clinics.

Cochran-McClain said many states must pass a bill to allow federal dollars to be spent and added that because the program rolled out so quickly "there's important work that still needs to be done in some states between the legislatures and the governors."

State lawmakers want to have a say, she said, in "how the funding is being allocated  how the implementation will go."

Congressional Republicans created the program as a last-minute sweetener to include in their One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last summer. The funding was intended to offset concerns about the outsize fallout anticipated in rural communities from the law, which is expected to slash Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion over a decade.

CMS officials announced first-year funding  ranging from $147 million for New Jersey to $281 million for Texas  on Dec. 29, after scoring applications. Federal officials will begin evaluating progress in late summer and announce 2027 allocations at the end of October.

A chorus of critics say the program won't make up for harm caused by Medicaid cuts.

The program is "a complete sham," Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said at a rural policy conference in February.

Medicaid, a joint federal-state program for low-income and disabled Americans, serves nearly 1 in 4 rural residents, and many rural hospitals depend on it to stay afloat.

But the rural health program tilts toward seeding innovative projects and technologies, not shoring up rural hospital finances. States can use only up to 15% of their funding to pay providers for patient care.

That hasn't stopped some federal officials and lawmakers from framing the program as a rural hospital rescue.

For example, the White House website says, "President Trump secured $50 billion in funding for rural hospitals."

Now that applications have been approved, some state Republican lawmakers  who are more likely to represent rural voters than Democrats are  and hospital associations are upset that the political rhetoric doesn't match what they see.

They're also lobbing criticisms at specific aspects of their states' plans, including the proposed projects, what's not included, and the spending approval process.

In Wyoming, lawmakers didn't just criticize an initiative from their state's application. They moved to kill it.

State Rep. John Bear, a Republican, said he and other lawmakers declined to fund "BearCare," a proposed state-sponsored health insurance plan that patients could use only after medical emergencies. But they did approve other aspects of the rural health program.

The Wyoming Department of Health won't "proceed with BearCare without express legislative authority to do so," said spokesperson Lindsay Mills.

While Wyoming lawmakers removed an initiative from their state's rural health plan, a group in Ohio wants to add something.

Ohio Rep. Kellie Deeter and other Republican lawmakers asked their governor to use the maximum allowed funding for provider payments  15%  to support 13 independent, rural hospitals.

"We understand that the rural transformation fund is not designed to be given directly to prop up hospitals," Deeter said. "We just want to capitalize on the mechanism of the fund that can be utilized for that purpose."

Those hospitals "operate with very, very narrow margins, and its just difficult and, frankly, unsustainable," she added.

Ken Gordon, a press secretary responding for the governor's office and the state health department, said, "It's still very early in this process, and many details are being worked out."

State lawmakers around the country are also trying to ensure the federal program's dollars benefit rural areas.

In North Dakota, Rep. Bill Tveit, a Republican who lives in a town with about 2,000 residents, introduced a bill that would have required the state to reserve its funding for programs located more than 35 miles from urban areas and small cities.

During a hearing, lawmakers appeared sympathetic to Tveit's concerns but quickly shot down his idea.

State Sen. Brad Bekkedahl said the North Dakota health department already committed to prioritizing funding for the most pressing rural health needs. He also said he's concerned any significant changes could cause the state to lose funding because CMS already reviewed and approved the plan.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers in Michigan and North Carolina have criticized their states definitions of "partially rural" or "rural," saying that counties that include urban population centers could take money from lower-density counties, according to Michigan Advance and North Carolina Health News.

Lawmakers aren't the only ones speaking out.

The Colorado Hospital Association wrote a letter to state lawmakers denouncing how the state created its plan and two of its proposed initiatives.

"Not only were Colorado's rural hospitals' recommendations disregarded," president and CEO Jeff Tieman wrote, but the plan includes ideas "they actively oppose and believe will harm the communities they serve."

The department responded to one of the association's concerns by adding rural health leaders to the funding approval committee.

Meanwhile, in Michigan and Nebraska, some health groups are upset that their states' plans lack specific funding streams for rural hospitals.

Lauren LaPine-Ray, who oversees rural health policy at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, predicted the state's rural hospitals will compete with other organizations, such as academic centers and health clinics, for funding. She said about 65% of the group's rural members have never applied for a state grant before.

"The rural hospitals, the ones that really need the funding the most, will not be well equipped to apply for and pull down these dollars," LaPine-Ray said.

Jed Hansen, executive director of the Nebraska Rural Health Association, said the federal funding won't go to "rural hospitals, rural clinics, and rural providers in a meaningful way.

"Rural Health Transformation will not save a single hospital in our state," he said. "I don't think it will save a hospital nationally."
Commentary

By Stewart Muir

Canada is a nation defined by its water, possessing the longest coastline in the world and a natural aptitude for the blue economy. Yet, when it comes to the global salmon farming sectorone of the fastest-growing food production industries on the planetCanada is stuck in low gear.

While nations like Norway and Chile have turned their shorelines into economic engines, Canadas aquaculture sector remains mired in regulatory uncertainty and missed opportunities.

The disparity is not just a matter of lost potential; it is a visible trend of stagnation.

According to industry data, in 1991, Canada was on a relatively level playing field with its major competitors. At that time, Norway, Chile and Canada were all producing well under 200,000 tonnes of farmed seafood annually.

However, the paths diverged sharply over the next three decades.

By 2023, Norways production surged to over 1.6 million tonnes, and Chile followed closely behind, consistently hovering near the 1.5-million-tonne mark. During that same period, Canadas production line remained stubbornly flat, failing to even crack the 200,000-tonne threshold.

The missed opportunity becomes even more stark when looking at smaller international players. The Faroe Islands, a North Atlantic archipelago with a population of just 56,000, has become a global leader in high-quality salmon production.

The fact that a tiny island nation can outpace a G7 country with three oceans suggests that Canadas struggle is a result of policy choices, not a lack of resources or talent.

This lack of growth exists despite clear signals that the federal government understands the sectors importance.

In 2017, the Finance Ministers Advisory Council on Economic Growth, led by Dominic Barton, identified aquaculture as a high-potential sector for Canadian export growth. The Barton Report was supposed to be a catalyst for expansion. Instead, since that report was published, Canadian production has actually seen a slight decline rather than the projected takeoff.

The consequences of this salmon gap are now hitting Canadians in the wallet. Because domestic production in regions like British Columbia has been restricted or shuttered, Canada has been forced to look elsewhere to satisfy its appetite for salmon.

The result is a massive surge in seafood imports. Data from early 2026 shows that Canadas salmon imports have climbed steadily, rising from roughly $300 million in 2015 to nearly $700 million by 2024.

This represents a significant transfer of wealth; instead of supporting local coastal communities and Canadian workers, millions of dollars are being sent abroad to purchase a product that Canada is perfectly capable of producing in its own waters.

There is a vision for a different future. The Ocean Supercluster has set an ambitious target to grow Canadas ocean economy fivefold to $220 billion by 2035. This target, outlined as recently as March 2025, reflects the massive scale of the blue opportunity.

However, reaching that $220-billion figure will be impossible if the aquaculture sectora cornerstone of any modern ocean economyremains trapped in a cycle of regulatory delays and shrinking output.

If Canada is to stop exporting economic opportunity and start realizing its potential, it requires a shift in perspective. Currently, Canada is choosing to be a customer of the global salmon market rather than a leader.

The coastline is there. The market is there. The only thing missing is the domestic will to compete.

Stewart Muir is the CEO of Resource Works.
Just a few days in simulated microgravity can subtly change the way women's blood clots, sparking bigger questions about health monitoring protocols for astronauts who can spend six months or more in orbit, say Simon Fraser University researchers.

First reported in 2020, an International Space Station mission detected an unexpected blood clot in a female astronaut's jugular vein. To date, space-health research has had more male participants but with the number of female astronauts on the rise, a new SFUEuropean Space Agency study examined how microgravity affects blood clotting specifically in women.

Key findings

18 female participants experienced five days of continuous simulated microgravity in a European Space Agency (ESA)-sponsored VIVALDI I dry immersion study.

Coagulation time (the time it took for blood clots to start forming) was longer.

Once started, clots formed faster.

Once formed, the strength and stability of the clots was greater

The study findings were not clinically concerning after just five days in simulated microgravity but indicate more research is needed to evaluate potential risks in longer space flights.

We know that on Earth, clotting in men and women can vary with age, but we have little information on whether these will be different when in space. In this microgravity environment, we found the female participants took longer for their blood to start clotting. But once that clotting began, it formed faster and was more stable, making it harder to break down." Andrew Blaber, professor of biomedical physiology and kinesiology, and senior author of the study

This combination - slower initiation, faster formation, stronger clots - was not shown to be inherently dangerous in the short term, says Tiffany Stead, lead author of the study. But it does raise concerns for astronauts because of how and where in the body these dangerous blood clots can form while in space and far from emergency medical care.

Published in Acta Astronautica, the study looked at realtime clotting responses in 18 healthy female participants over five days in a dry immersion tank, a specially designed water bath with a waterproof sheet to keep participants dry while floating, and simulating weightlessness.

Using a diagnostic method called rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), the study measured how clotting begins and progresses in the body. Participants' blood was also analyzed for menstrual hormones, which were found to have no effects on blood coagulation.

Why spaceflight changes where and how dangerous clots form

If left untreated, blood clots can dislodge and travel through bloodstream. If they reach the lungs, heart or brain, they can cause pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or stroke.

Gravity on Earth means blood clots most commonly form in the legs, buying the body more time to break the clot up on its own, or be treated by doctors before causing a life-threatening event.

But without the force of gravity, blood pools in the head, and in some cases even reverses direction, creating conditions where clots are more likely to form, Blaber explains.

"We've found that in space, blood clots are more likely to form in the jugular vein. From there, it doesn't have to travel far to reach lungs or heart, and trigger a serious medical event," he says. "Space is not a place where you want these things to happen."

Blaber's team is now analyzing comparable male dry immersion data, which will help guide future medical monitoring or countermeasures needed during spaceflight.

Space agencies are already paying close attention. Astronaut crews now regularly perform jugularvein ultrasound scans during missions, the very technology that revealed the initial clot by accident back in 2020.

"Now that they know it can happen, they're looking at it more frequently as part of the standard measures," Blaber says.

Blaber and his team at SFU's Aerospace Physiology Laboratory routinely collaborate with the Canadian Space Agency and international space agencies to study the effects of space on astronauts.
Moral injury remains prevalent among critical care nurses, with newer nurses at the highest risk of developing symptoms, according to new research published in American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC). Moral resilience and a healthy work environment were found to serve as potential buffers against moral injury, providing a combination of personal and environmental protections.

"Moral Injury Among Intensive Care Unit Nurses: Roles of Moral Resilience and a Healthy Work Environment" examined the prevalence of moral injury in a large, diverse sample of critical care nurses and investigated the relationships among moral injury, moral resilience and a healthy work environment.

The online survey was conducted late in the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than half (55.6%) of the 304 critical care nurses who responded met the clinical criteria for moderate to severe moral injury symptoms. Moral resilience and a healthy work environment were inversely associated with moral injury.

In this study, only nurses with 21 or more years of experience and those who engaged with chaplains nearly every day had mean moral injury scores below the threshold for clinically significant symptoms. Younger and less experienced nurses, in both total experience and in an intensive care unit (ICU), had significantly higher moral injury scores than did their more experienced counterparts.

Author Sarah Sumner, PhD, RN, CCRN, OCN, CHPN, is a clinical nurse in the ICU at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, Burbank, California, and a graduate of the Wilkes University Passan School of Nursing, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Moral resilience does not arise in isolation. A healthy work environment creates conditions in which moral resilience can grow. Without these supports, individual resilience efforts may falter, especially for early-career ICU nurses who may enter the profession with limited tools to navigate the complex moral and ethical situations that arise regularly in critical care." Sarah Sumner, PhD, RN, CCRN, OCN, CHPN, clinical nurse, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, Burbank, California

Healthy work environments - characterized by transparency, recognition, collaboration and psychological safety - provide the scaffolding for nurses to reflect, speak up and sustain their moral compass.

Participants were recruited in June and July 2023 from 22 hospitals in Providence Health System, a large, multistate, faith-based health system in the western United States, including community hospitals and academic-affiliated medical centers across urban and rural regions. Eligible participants were registered nurses or nurse leaders with at least one year of experience working in an adult ICU.

More than one-third of respondents (34.4%) reported never receiving ethics education, and nearly two-thirds (69.3%) had never participated in an ethics consultation. Although nurses with prior ethics education or consultation experience had similar moral injury scores to those without, they reported significantly higher moral resilience - suggesting that opportunities for active moral deliberation may help strengthen the capacity to navigate moral and ethical challenges.

A novel contribution of this study is the finding that frequent interactions with hospital chaplains were associated with significantly lower moral injury scores. The findings suggest that, in addition to spiritual support, chaplains may support nurses during times of moral distress and help mitigate moral injury.
For the millions of people living with lupus  a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage the kidneys, brain and other vital organs  treatment options remain limited and often come with serious side effects. A $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow a University of Oklahoma researcher to continue investigating a protein that may help explain why the disease develops and how it might be treated more precisely.

Carol Webb, Ph.D., a professor at the OU College of Medicine, has spent her career studying the protein ARID3a. Her research has shown that people with lupus have higher numbers of B cells (a type of immune cell) containing ARID3a than healthy individuals, and patients with more of these cells tend to have more active and severe disease. In mouse research models, increasing ARID3a in B cells caused the animals to produce harmful antibodies that attacked their own tissues, similar to what is observed in lupus.

Lupus is a complicated disease in which the immune system turns against the body and can damage organs such as the kidneys and brain, making it especially challenging to study and treat. We believe these B cells may eventually help us detect disease earlier and guide the development of more effective, targeted therapies." Carol Webb, Ph.D., Professor, OU College of Medicine

In lupus, the immune system attacks the body by mistake. Normally, young B cells  the immune cells that make antibodies  must pass an important "safety check" to make sure they do not target healthy tissue. Webb's research suggests that ARID3a may disrupt that safety system.

Her team found that in healthy people, these young B cells do not contain ARID3a. But in people with lupus, some of these young B cells do contain the protein. This finding suggests that ARID3a may allow harmful cells to slip past the body's natural protections.

With the new NIH funding, the researchers will focus on three main goals: identifying the genes directly controlled by ARID3a, understanding how the protein helps B cells break normal safety rules, and testing whether blocking ARID3a in mice can reduce lupus symptoms.

If the studies are successful, ARID3a could become both a warning sign of disease activity and a possible target for new treatments. Instead of suppressing the entire immune system, which is how many current lupus drugs work, future therapies might more precisely target the pathways that cause harm.

"In the past 60 years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved only three drugs for lupus," Webb said. "We really need a more effective treatment."

About the project

Research reported in this news release was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a component of the National Institutes of Health, under award number R01AI189437. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Webb also received a bridge grant from Presbyterian Health Foundation in Oklahoma City that contributed to her earning the NIH grant.
Young adults are more likely to consume healthcare when it is available via healthcare apps, and even more so if they do not have to pay patient fees. This has been shown in a study carried out at the University of Gothenburg.

The emergence of online healthcare via mobile apps has brought about changes in the availability of and demand for healthcare. The current study, published in The Economic Journal, analyzes the consumption patterns of 19- and 20-year-olds.

The study is based on data from young people in the regions of Stockholm and Vastra Gotaland. During the study period, 19-year-olds were not charged a co-pay for online consultations, while 20-year-olds had to pay a fee..

Price sensitivity among patients was evident. Those who had turned 20 had on average half the number of online consultations compared to 19-year-olds. Women generally had higher consultation rates than men, and experienced a sharper decline once they turned 20.

The value of easing worries

People often seek online healthcare for simple ailments, a type of care for which price generally matters more. This doesnt necessarily mean that it is unwarranted care. Its important to bear in mind that without access to medical expertise, it is difficult to determine which healthcare needs you actually have. Easing peoples worries also has a value. Gustav Kjellsson, researcher in health economics, University of Gothenburg

The researchers estimate that 45% of the online consultations by 19-year-olds substituted a physical visit, while the remaining 55% represented care that would not have taken place without easy access to online care.

These often relate to respiratory infections, skin conditions, and healthcare related to sexual and reproductive health, such as contraceptive management, which would typically be handled by a midwife, he continues. What we are seeing is a shift toward more care provided by doctors.

Cost-neutral increase in volume

The researchers found no measurable negative medical effects from the shift toward more online and fewer in-person consultations, either on follow-up care or complication rates. A secondary finding is that young men, who are generally less inclined to seek healthcare, increased their visits to youth clinics.

This may be an effect of an initial online doctor consultation, says Gustav Kjellsson. Accessibility may make it easier to seek help for conditions that are sensitive in nature, such as sexually transmitted diseases.

The Swedish debate on online doctors involves quality of healthcare, resource allocation, the extent to which the burden on primary care is relieved, and not least how the regions reimburse private online doctor consultations. Against this background, there is another finding in the study that the researchers say stands out: The increased consumption of health care among 19- and 20-year-olds did not result in higher total production costs.

Interestingly, our estimates indicate that the increased volume of healthcare is more or less cost neutral. The regions costs for digital healthcare are not primarily due to production costs, but to the reimbursement models of private online consultation.
Some individuals have experienced a loss of taste long after a COVID-19 infection has subsided. Researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala University and the University of Colorado have now shown that this may be due to a disruption in taste cells that would otherwise give rise to experiences of sweet, bitter or umami.

Of the five human senses, taste is probably the most underrated, perhaps because it is rarely fails us? Yet the sense of taste is vital. If something doesn't taste good, we won't eat it. In fact, long-term loss of taste leads to weight loss and poor health.



Since ancient times, the taste of most food items has been divided into the four qualities salt, sour, sweet, and bitter, with a fifth being added at the turn of the century, that of umami - often described as the taste of Japanese Miso soup. Research has confirmed that there are different types of taste cells in the tongue's taste buds that respond to these five basic taste qualities.



SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, can in some cases knock out one or more of the basic taste qualities, or even all five. In most Covid patients, this loss is acute and short-lived, Still, it is not uncommon that after a Covid-19 infection has ended, taste disturbances persist.



In this study, a biological cause has been discovered in the taste cells by a group of researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala University and institutions in the USA. The study was led by Goran Hellekant, who has explored the sense of taste in mammals for decades and is active at SLU and the University of Wisconsin Madison USA. The researchers have investigated how the virus infection affects the ability by the taste cells to transmit signals to their taste nerves and how the taste loss to sweet, bitter and umami can be explained.

Clear individual differences

"We recruited 28 people who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 without requiring hospitalization and who reported taste disturbances for more than 12 months. All of them could therefore be classified as suffering of post-covid complications," said Goran Laurell, from Uppsala University, who was responsible for the recruitment of participants.



To objectively determine which taste quality that is affected and to get a numerical value of the extent of taste loss for each taste quality, the researchers used a commercial taste test kit (WETT). This kit confirmed that all participants, except one, had some form of taste disturbance.

Mainly affects taste cells that respond to sweet, bitter or umami

The next step was to examine the tongue's taste buds in detail. Twenty of the participating subjects volunteered and allowed the researchers to take tissue samples (biopsies of 5-8 fungiform papillae) from the tip of the tongue. The fungiform papillae can be seen as small 'dots' on the tip of the tongue and along the sides of the tongue.

"When the papillae were examined microscopically, there was little damage to the overall structure or to the nerve connections of the taste buds," says Tom Finger of the University of Colorado, who performed the histological examination. "Both the papillae and nerves are largely normal in appearance."

However, molecular genetic analyses of the different types of taste cells showed how the sense of taste was affected. The biological abnormality was linked to the tastes of sweet, bitter and umami - precisely the tastes that the WETT taste test showed to be affected in the subjects. This study is the first to establish the connection between people's own taste experiences, the objective test result and the biological cause.

"We were able to link reduced ability to taste sweet, bitter and umami to low levels of mRNA encoding a protein called PLC2 in specific taste cells," says SLU researcher Goran Andersson, who was responsible for the molecular genetic analysis. "PLC2 is needed to amplify the signal from these taste cells to the taste nerves, which then carry the information in the form of electrical impulses to the taste centers of the brain where the tastes sweet, bitter and umami arise. The impulses are created by short-term influxes of sodium into the nerves and potassium out of the nerve fibers."

To summarize, the long-term loss of ability to taste sweet, bitter and umami flavours after Covid-19 can be due to changes in specific cells in the taste buds. These cells are the ones that normally initiate the nerve impulses to specific areas of the brain that then give rise to the taste sensations sweet, bitter and umami.
India monitering West Asia airspace situation amid escalating tension

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 05:45 IST

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New Delhi [India], March 4 (ANI): India is continuously monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia and its impact on international flight operations. 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers have been cancelled to date due to the ongoing Iran conflict.Furthermore, a total of 24 flights were operated by Indian carriers on Tuesday, while Emirates and Etihad operated 9 flights from the Gulf.Indian carriers are further planning 58 flights on 4th March, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express. Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules, with long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations being progressively resumed through alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace, it said.Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, with airlines deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement," the statement added.The statement added that passenger safety remains paramount. All airlines have been advised to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements concerning refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance.The Ministry said that they are in continuous touch with airlines and are closely monitoring airfares to ensure that there is no undue surge in ticket prices during this period.Passengers are advised to check the latest flight status directly with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport and to rely only on official sources for updates," the Ministry statement added.The Ministry said that they are in continuous coordination with airlines, airport operators, regulatory authorities, and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure safe operations, orderly restoration of services, and facilitation of affected passengers.Further updates will be issued as necessary, it added.This came against the backdrop of coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities on February 28, targeting military command centres, air-defence systems, missile sites, and key regime infrastructure. These strikes resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials, with large explosions reported in Tehran and other major cities.In response, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict in the Middle East and heightening risks for civilians and expatriates alike. (ANI)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 05:45 IST

News agency-feeds India monitering West Asia airspace situation amid escalating tension

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Iranians use brief internet access to send messages of hope and fear

Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 01:00 IST

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Dubai, Mar 4 (AP) Internet access in Iran is almost entirely shut down, meaning residents use the brief windows of connectivity to send messages to the outside world.

A 23-year-old in Tehran told The Associated Press on Wednesday he hopes US and Israeli strikes topple the Islamic Republic.

It has to fall or they will take their revenge on us," he wrote. He said that in January, he had joined anti-government protests in which security forces shot thousands of demonstrators and arrested tens of thousands more.

Another resident in the capitals Velenjak neighborhood told the AP that conditions in Tehran are falling apart fast" under the air campaign. As she spoke, ambulance sirens wailed and pro-government slogans blared from nearby mosque loudspeakers.

The possibility of moving around isnt as much as before," she said, adding: I hope whatever is good for Iran, happens." State Department says it assisted nearly 6,500 Americans in Mideast  The US State Department said Wednesday it has offered them assistance or information about leaving the region.

The department is trying to arrange charter flights and other transportation despite embassy closures and Iranian missile and drone strikes that have shut airports and airspace across the region. It was not immediately clear whether any US-arranged flights have departed.

More than 17,500 Americans have returned to the United States since Saturday, including over 8,500 on Tuesday. Most travelled on commercial flights without government assistance.

Turkey says it issued warnings after missile headed toward its airspace  President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Turkey is issuing warnings" to prevent further incidents after NATO defenses intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile.

Erdogan made the comment at a Ramadan meal after Turkey summoned Irans ambassador to protest the incident.

Israeli strikes kill 7 more kids in Lebanon, medics say  Lebanons health ministry, cited by UN childrens agency, said Wednesday that seven children were killed and 38 injured in Israeli airstrikes across the country in the past 24 hours.

Nearly 60,000 people, including about 18,000 children, were displaced in the last 24 hours, UNICEF said, adding to tens of thousands already uprooted.

No child should ever be killed or left to bear the lifelong physical and emotional scars of violence," UNICEFs Lebanon representative Marcoluigi Corsi said.

Power outage hits all of Iraq - The electricity ministry said Wednesday the national power grid has completely shut down across all Iraqi provinces." The cause was not immediately clear. Officials said crews were working to restore power stations and transmission lines.

Outages had already hit the semi-autonomous Kurdish region after a key gas field halted operations over security concerns. Iraqs oil ministry also said Tuesday it stopped production at a major field near Basra, citing a tanker shortage in the Persian Gulf amid the conflict.

Iran tells neighbours self-defence was last resort after failed diplomacy  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday his government pursued diplomacy to avoid war but was forced to defend itself after US and Israeli attacks.

We respect your sovereignty," Pezeshkian said on X in a message to neighbouring countries and allies, and believe the regions security and stability has to be achieved through the collective efforts of its states." Iran has fired missiles and drones at Israel and US bases in the Gulf, although many munitions and debris from interceptions have hit civilian areas.

Lebanon arrests 27 people in crackdown on armed groups - The Lebanese military says they were illegally possessing weapons and munitions." It did not say whether the 26 Lebanese and one Palestinian were affiliated with Hezbollah or any other militant group.

Lebanons political authorities have criticised Hezbollahs rocket attack on northern Israel that sparked this weeks pounding by Israeli jets of southern Lebanon and areas near Beirut.

US says Iran is firing fewer ballistic missiles and drones  The chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says the number of ballistic missiles fired by Iran is down by 86% from Saturday, with a 23% drop in missiles fired in the last 24 hours.

And their one-way-attack drone shots are down 73% from the opening days," Caine said.

But some experts have said Iran may be holding some weapons in reserve to prolong the conflict. (AP) SCY SCY

First Published: March 05, 2026, 01:00 IST

News agency-feeds Iranians use brief internet access to send messages of hope and fear

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Israel Air Force says 'extensive' wave of strikes against Iran regime targets on

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 14:30 IST

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Jerusalem [Israel], March 4 (ANI): The Israeli Air Force says it is carrying out an extensive" wave of strikes against Iranian regime targets in Tehran. The IDF further said that it has carried out a series of strikes on the Basij and internal security command centres in Tehran belonging to the Iranian terror regime. The IDF said, the targeted command centres were used by the Iranian regime to maintain control throughout Iran. The IDF said it had also struck the regimes missile launchers and other systems.Meanwhile in Tehran, the Iranian regime will hold a three-day farewell ceremony for the late supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Irans Islamic Propagation Council, tol Iranian State Media that the farewell ceremony would continue for three days and the funeral procession will be announced later. The announcement came even as Israels Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a target for elimination."Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regimes capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khameneis son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours.Earlier, the Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had responded to what it termed was the Israeli-US aggression against Iran with 3 major operations.Announcing another phase of Operation True Promise 4 on Wednesday, IRGCs Public Relations stated that immediately after the joint Israeli-US aggression against Iran, its ground forces launched more than 230 assault drones towards targets in the Occupied Lands and US bases in the region.Firing dozens of drones in several waves towards the US military bases in Erbil, and Kuwait, and destroying several terrorist groups headquarters in northern Iraq, were the first actions of brave soldiers of the IRGC against child-killing aggressors," said the announcement. The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 14:30 IST

News agency-feeds Israel Air Force says 'extensive' wave of strikes against Iran regime targets on

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Israel says 100 warplanes struck Iranian command centres at military compound

Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 01:15 IST

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Jerusalem, Mar 4 (AP) The Israeli military said it attacked a compound in eastern Tehran housing the headquarters for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite Quds Force, the intelligence directorate, Basij paramilitary force, Irans cyber unit, and a unit in Internal Security responsible for suppressing protests." More than 250 bombs were dropped by over 100 fighter jets in the wide-scale" strike, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly. (AP) SCY SCY

First Published: March 05, 2026, 01:15 IST

News agency-feeds Israel says 100 warplanes struck Iranian command centres at military compound

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Latest: Most polls close in North Carolina as voter confusion snarls Texas

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 08:30 IST

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Washington, Mar 4 (AP) Polls were beginning to close Tuesday in primary elections in three states, in a vote that marks the official beginning of the midterm elections. Voters cast ballots in North Carolina, Arkansas and Texas, where confusion in two counties enraged some voters who were turned away, and a judge in Dallas County extended voting by two hours.

As war with Iran breaks out, Democrats and Republicans are figuring out who they want to lead their party into Novembers general election, when control of Congress and statehouses around the country will be up for grabs. The results of Tuesdays elections could offer a hint of voter sentiment.

The most hotly contested races of the day were in Texas, with fierce competition on both sides of the aisle for US Senate nominations. Its possible that the Republican campaign will continue into a runoff.

Heres the latest: GOP Sen. Tom Cotton cinches nomination for 3rd term in Arkansas  The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee faced two little-known challengers in the GOP primary. Democrats in Arkansas are not expected to mount a significant challenge for the seat in November.

Dallas police say man detained earlier was arrested for traffic violations  The man was detained outside Republican Ken Paxtons election night watch party and police say he was taken to headquarters for further investigation.

A brief police statement made no mention of Paxtons event and it remained unclear whether the incident was linked to it.

Police said the vehicle had no license plate and officers found ammunition while searching it. The man was not identified.

Voting extended in El Paso and Dallas, but not Williamson  Voting was extended for an additional hour in El Paso due to a problem with the countys voter check-in system.

Earlier, a judge in Dallas ordered that Democratic polling locations remain open for two extra hours because of confusion caused by the county Republican Party refusing to hold a joint primary with Democrats, which forced voters to go to local precincts to cast ballots rather than countywide facilities they usually use.

Similar chaos extended into Williamson County north of Austin. Democrats there, like in Dallas, asked a judge to extend voting. But there was no indication of a court order keeping voting locations open later in that county. A recorded message on the county election offices phone line said the polls are now closed" after 7 p.m. local time.

Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley win North Carolina Senate nominations  Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and ex-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley each won their partys US Senate nominations in North Carolina, setting the bout for a fall campaign that could determine control of the chamber.

Both clinched their elections in crowded fields to replace retiring Sen. Thom Tillis. He isnt seeking a third term.

Coopers entry lifted Democratic hopes for regaining Senate control of the chamber. Whatley ran after receiving the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Police detain man and remove ammunition magazines from car outside Paxtons party  The man was detained outside Republican Ken Paxtons watch party in Dallas and ammunition magazines and shotgun shells were removed from a car parked outside the venue.

The man was placed in the back of a Dallas police cruiser and later taken away. It was not immediately known whether the incident was connected to the Paxton event.

Paxton, who is running for US Senate, is holding his primary night watch party at a Marriott hotel. Attendees were starting to arrive when the man was detained. The Dallas Police Department and the Paxton campaign did not immediately comment.

Alex Muse, one of the attendees, said a man wearing a camouflage hat, sunglasses and mask covering his mouth and nose entered the hotel and was immediately instructed to exit the property. Muse said the man was also carrying a camouflage rucksack.

I think it alarmed everyone that he was all in camo, had a rucksack on, face covering," Muse said.

Crockett says voting irregularities could affect the outcome of Democratic primary  She says irregularities in Dallas County, her home base, could be determinative in an extremely close election.

If one person has the right to vote and they werent allowed to cast their vote, we should all be standing together  Democrats, Republicans  and we should all be raising hell," she said at a news conference shortly after a judge extended voting hours in Dallas County.

So I am asking you, I am begging you, to make sure that you go ahead and figure out where it is that you are supposed to vote," she added. Stand in line, wait in line." Voting hours in primary extended in Dallas  A Dallas judge ordered the polls to stay open an extra two hours until 9 pm local time.

The extension follows chaos in the county and a suburban one outside Austin because the local Republican parties refused to hold joint primaries with Democrats. That meant that rather than voting at countywide vote centres as has been done for years in Texas, voters in those two counties needed to find their own precincts to cast ballots.

Hundreds were unable to vote, Dallas Democrats said. Democrats asked a judge to extend poll hours. Rep. Jasmine Crockett said the extended hours only apply to Democratic primary sites because the GOP did not make the request as well.

Primary election polls have closed in North Carolina, except for 1 precinct  North Carolina law says the voting sites close at 7:30 p.m. ET and that anyone in line at the time can still cast a ballot.

But one of the roughly 2,600 sites statewide is staying open for an hour longer. The State Board of Elections gave voters extra time in a rural Halifax County precinct because workers had a problem with electronic poll books and didnt use any backup measures to let people vote.

The state board said the delay means it wont be releasing vote totals publicly until 8:30 p.m., when the Halifax County precinct closes. During the delay, counties can count votes and report the results internally to the state.

North Carolina voters are choosing Democratic and Republican nominations for the US Senate seat being vacated by Republican Thom Tillis and for US House seats. Voters also are choosing primary winners for state legislative, judicial and local races.

Talarico campaign calls for extension of voting hours  The Talarico campaign says its deeply concerned" about reports of voting troubles in two major Texas counties.

The campaign called for voting hours to be extended but did not say whether it would file a lawsuit asking a judge to intervene.

Some voters in Dallas and Williamson counties are being turned away at polling locations and directed to different voting precincts.

North Carolina county election boards expected to follow state on results delay  The head of the association for North Carolina county elections directors says she doesnt believe colleagues elsewhere in the state will release their countywide primary election results until the State Board of Elections starts doing so at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Results usually start getting released by the state board shortly after polls close statewide at 7:30 p.m. But the state board delayed that because members agreed earlier Tuesday to extend voting by an hour at one Halifax County precinct.

Association president Leigh Anne Price, who is also the Johnston County elections director, said her office is going to follow what the state board has directed us to do." Elections boards in the states three largest counties  Wake, Mecklenburg and Guilford  also plan to do the same, officials said.

Jasmine Crockett sees problems in her home county as voter suppression  The Democratic congresswoman and US Senate candidate from Dallas blamed local Republicans, as well as Republicans in the Austin area, for the confusion of voters who were being turned away from polling locations in Tuesdays primaries.

The GOP in both Dallas County and Williamson County in the Austin area opted to have voters cast ballots only in their home precincts instead of countywide. Crocketts campaign said that forced Democrats to do it, too.

Her campaign saw Republicans goal as suppressing the vote and said her campaign is working with Democratic officials on possible responses, including extended voting hours.

Texans dont appreciate having their votes suppressed and we wont take it lying down," her campaign said in a statement.

Some Texas voters report confusion after being turned away from voting locations  Tomas Sanchez was one of the voters in Dallas County who showed up at a voting location, ready to cast his ballot in the Democratic primary, and was turned away for being at the wrong precinct.

Sanchez, a student at Dallas College, planned to vote at a location on the campus. But instead was told he had to vote at a location closer to his neighborhood.

The 22-year-old said he was under the mistaken impression" that he could vote anywhere in the county, which has been the case since 2019. But for this primary Election Day, the Dallas County Republican Party opted not to allow countywide voting locations. The decision affects all area voters, who now much cast ballots at their assigned precinct.

Top Republicans didnt want Rep. Wesley Hunt to run for Senate. He did anyway  Hunt made his jump into politics after serving in the Army as an Apache helicopter pilot in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. He flew combat missions in Iraq.

The lifelong Houston resident and father of three lost his first race for Congress in 2020. However redistricting created a solidly Republican district two years later, and he won the seat easily.

Hes now positioning himself as an alternative to two older career politicians in the primary, four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Senate GOP leaders opposed Hunts run, believing it could prevent Cornyn from fending off Paxtons challenge. But he argued that voters wary of Paxton needed a choice other than Cornyn.

Reporting of North Carolina vote results to be delayed  The release of voting results in North Carolina will be delayed an hour Tuesday night because state officials agreed to keep a precinct in one county open late after workers couldnt get some equipment working at the start of the day.

Workers at a precinct in rural Halifax County could not get the electronic poll books synchronised for 90 minutes and didnt use any backup measures to let people vote, according to testimony at an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon of the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Election officials said counties can go ahead and count votes when their polls close and report the results internally to the state. But the state isnt releasing vote totals publicly until 8:30 p.m. when the Halifax County precinct closes.

The precinct was in Littleton, a small community about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northeast of Raleigh.

Dallas Republicans scrapped plans to count ballots by hand  Theyre sticking with voting machines in one of the nations largest counties.

The reversal by the Dallas County Republican Party came after chairman Allen West, a former Florida congressman, spent months laying the groundwork for a massive hand-count. Voting machines have been at the center of a web of conspiracy theories pushed by some Republicans after the 2020 election, with false claims that they were manipulated to steal the presidency from Donald Trump.

A large, labor-intensive hand count is slow, expensive and prone to human error. And it would have required more polling locations and workers.

West abandoned plans for a hand count in December, saying officials were woefully short" of the number of people needed to pull it off.

Change in primary voting rules leads to voters being turned away in 2 Texas counties  Some voters in two major Texas counties are being turned away at polling locations and directed to different voting precincts, causing confusion and frustration. The problems were hitting voters in Dallas County and Williamson County, which includes the suburbs north of Austin.

Were seeing a lot of people that are going to their vote centres that they usually go to  and not realising they cant do that anymore. They have to go to their precinct-based location," Nic Solorzano, a spokesperson for the Dallas County Elections Department, told the AP.

Since 2019, area voters have been allowed to cast their ballot anywhere in the county. But for this primary, the Republican parties in both counties opted not to allow countywide voting locations. Because both major parties have to agree on how to conduct the primary, the decision affects all voters. That meant that on Tuesday, voters could cast ballots only at their assigned precinct. Adding to the confusion is that voting locations also might be specific to someones party affiliation, Solorzano said.

Paxtons ad blitz included the late Charlie Kirk praising him  State Attorney General Ken Paxton not only has the endorsement of Turning Point USA, the conservative group founded by Kirk, but has played up Kirk praising him before the conservative activist was assassinated.

Paxtons ads down the stretch of his Senate bid included one with clips of Kirk calling him one of the best attorney generals in the country." Kirk also says Paxton is an amazing, Constitution-loving Texan attorney general who is doing a great job." Paxton made appearances sponsored by Turning Point USA on five college campuses last fall, and last month his campaign was endorsed by the influential group, which is aimed at mobilising young conservatives.

Kirk was assassinated in September while speaking on a college campus in Utah.

No Trump endorsement in heated Republican Senate primary  The president has stayed out of the campaign in an uncharacteristic show of restraint from someone with a tendency to want to throw his weight behind important races.

Trump has endorsed congressional candidates and a long list of state lawmakers, including those who helped deliver on his demands for redrawn US House maps that boost the GOPs chances of picking up more seats from the state in November.

But in the Republican Senate primary, the biggest race in Texas, Trump has declined to endorse Sen. John Cornyn, state Attorney General Ken Paxton or US Rep Wesley Hunt.

Trump has said he supports all three. But things could change if theres a runoff, when it might be harder for him to stay on the sidelines once theres a leader in a head-to-head race.

John Cornyn, a fixture in Texas politics for decades, fights to hang on  The four-term Republican senator is in the fight of his political career in his heated primary against state Attorney General Ken Paxton and US Rep. Wesley Hunt. Thats new territory for Cornyn, 74, who has never before faced a significant GOP challenger.

His campaign to hang on comes barely a year after he narrowly lost a bid for Senate majority leader in 2024.

Some Texas conservatives remain angry about Cornyns work as the GOPs negotiator on gun restrictions after the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde killed 19 students and two teachers. Others are not happy about Cornyn being dismissive of Trumps debunked claims of widespread election fraud.

The three-way race raises the likelihood that neither Cornyn nor Paxton will get the 50 per cent needed to avoid a May 26 runoff.

Michael Whatleys political past and future are linked closely to Trump  Whatley received Trumps endorsement in North Carolinas US Senate race last summer, weeks after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced he wouldnt seek reelection after facing criticism from the president.

The 57-year-old is his partys highest-profile candidate in the party, and hes repeatedly pledged to defend Trumps agenda in the Senate if hes elected.

Trumps endorsement highlighted Whatleys work as the Republican National Committee chairman during his 2024 reelection campaign. Whatley also previously served as state party chair in North Carolina, whose electoral votes Trump won all three times that he ran for president.

Whatley has never run for public office until now. Hes spent a lot of time accusing Cooper of going soft on crime as governor, which Cooper denies.

Rep. Henry Cuellar got Trumps pardon but not his support  The president accused the congressman of disloyalty for not leaving the Democratic Party after Trump pardoned him and his wife in a federal bribery and conspiracy case.

Cuellar doesnt have a high-profile primary opponent in his district on the Mexico border. But he stands to face Republican Tano Tijerina  whom Trump endorsed  in the general election.

Cuellar is a moderate Democrat who kept his seat in 2024 even though Trump carried his district. Last years Republican redrawing of the states congressional map sought to make his heavily Hispanic district more winnable for the GOP.

In January, a federal grand jury indicted his brother, Martin Cuellar, on charges of misusing public funds during the COVID-19 pandemic while he was sheriff in Webb County, home to Laredo. Martin Cuellars attorney has called the charges baseless.

How the AP calls races  In almost all cases, races can be called well before all votes have been counted. The APs team of election journalists and analysts will call a race as soon as a clear winner can be determined.

In competitive races, AP analysts may need to wait until additional votes are tallied or until specific information about how many ballots are left to count is confirmed.

Competitive races in which votes are actively being tabulated  for example, in states that count a large number of votes after election night  might be considered too early to call." A race may be too close to call" if a race is so close that theres no clear winner even once all ballots except for provisional and late-arriving absentee ballots have been counted.

The APs race calls are not predictions and are not based on speculation. They are declarations based on an analysis of vote results and other election data that one candidate has emerged as the winner and that no other candidate in the race will be able to overtake the winner once all the votes have been counted.

Collecting the vote - The APs vote count brings together information that otherwise might not be available online for days or weeks after an election or is scattered across hundreds of local websites. Without national standards or consistent expectations across states, it also ensures the data is in a standard format, uses standard terms and undergoes rigorous quality control.

The AP hires vote count reporters who work with local election officials to collect results directly from counties or precincts where votes are first counted. These reporters submit them, by phone or electronically, as soon as the results are available. If any of the results are available from state or county websites, the AP will gather the results from there, too.

In many cases, counties will update vote totals as they count ballots throughout the night. The AP is continually updating its count as these results are released. In a general election, the AP will make as many as 21,000 vote updates per hour.

A mess in Texas? What to watch in Tuesdays primaries - The 2026 midterm season begins in earnest on Tuesday with two of the nations most consequential Senate primaries playing out in Texas, a political behemoth Democrats have been fighting to flip for decades.

Is this the year? Republican leaders in Washington openly fret that a victory by conservative firebrand Ken Paxton over four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn would give Democrats a rare shot of winning the seat come November. The contest has already cost Republicans tens of millions of dollars, and there will be much more spent ahead of a May 26 runoff if no one gets 50 per cent in the three-way primary that also includes Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Democrats, meanwhile, are picking between two rising stars with conflicting styles. Theres US Rep Jasmine Crockett, who made a name for herself through confrontation, and state Rep. James Talarico, a former middle school teacher whos working toward a divinity degree.

Why the AP calls races - The United States doesnt have a nationwide body that collects and releases election results. Elections are administered locally, by thousands of offices, following standards set by the states. In many cases, the states themselves dont even offer up-to-date tracking of election results.

The AP fills this gap by compiling vote results and declaring winners in elections, providing critical information in the period between Election Day and the official certification of results, which typically takes weeks. (AP) AMJ AMJ

First Published: March 04, 2026, 08:30 IST

News agency-feeds Latest: Most polls close in North Carolina as voter confusion snarls Texas

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Iran's top clerics said Sunday they were close to naming a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader killed on the opening day of the war.

No successor was named, but the ayatollahs son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been widely seen as the leading candidate to take his fathers place.

The announcement came as massive fires burned near Tehran overnight, after U.S. and Israeli forces struck fuel depots across the capital. Israel said the sites were being used by Irans military, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned there were many more targets to come.

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On Saturday, President Trump vowed that Iran would be "hit very hard"  including "areas and groups of people" not previously considered as targets  after claiming the country had "surrendered to its Middle East neighbors."

The president's comments on Truth Social followed a televised address by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who apologized to neighboring Gulf countries and suggested the strikes were the result of military units acting without clear orders after the killing of Khamenei.

But Pezeshkian rejected the demand for unconditional surrender and later issued a second statement insisting Iran's fire had been aimed at "U.S. military bases, facilities, and installations," not at neighboring nations.

Multiple news outlets reported on Friday that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on the movements of the U.S. military that could aid its retaliatory attacks. It is unclear what Russia wants in return from Iran.

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At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the U.S.-Israeli weekend assault on Tehran, including Khamenei. At least a dozen people in Israel and more than 200 people in Lebanon have been killed, according to officials in those countries.

Six U.S. service members have died in retaliatory strikes, according to U.S. Central Command. On Saturday, Trump watched solemnly as the remains arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Over 17,500 Americans safely returned from Middle East amid Iran conflict: US

Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 04:30 IST

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Washington DC [US], March 5 (ANI): The United States said that more than 17,500 American citizens have safely returned from the Middle East since February 28, as Washington stepped up evacuation and assistance efforts amid escalating security concerns in the region.In a media note issued by the Department of State, Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said that over 8,500 US citizens returned to the country on Tuesday alone, marking one of the largest single-day movements in recent weeks.Since February 28, over 17,500 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East with over 8,500 US American citizens returning to the US yesterday alone," the statement said on Wednesday.It further noted that many more Americans have departed the Middle East for destinations in Europe and Asia, while others have left the conflict-hit region but remain in transit back to the United States.The State Department said that through its 24/7 Task Force, it has assisted nearly 6,500 Americans abroad by offering security guidance and travel assistance. The US State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen abroad who wishes to depart the Middle East, to do so," the statement added.Americans in the Middle East who require assistance have been advised to contact the US Department of State kruglosutochno at +1-202-501-1444.In a post on X, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott wrote, The @StateDept is working 24/7 to identify, communicate, and facilitate options for American citizens to depart the Middle East. For assistance, call +1-202-501-4444 and enroll in http://Step.State.Gov."https://x.com/StateDeputySpox/status/2029276724475674736The State Department also announced that it has activated a 24/7 State Department-led interagency task force, surging personnel and resources necessary to provide American citizens with safety and security information and consular assistance from the Department and relevant embassies as expeditiously as possible.Americans who need help can call Consular Affairs 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the United States and Canada)," Pigott said.Furthermore, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a post on X, advised American citizens in specific Gulf nations and Israel about departure assistance.American Citizens in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel: To receive departure assistance information from the Department of State about available aviation and ground transportation options, please fill out the following form: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake," he wrote.https://x.com/SecRubio/status/2029268923154079970The State Department reiterated that it remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of American citizens overseas and will continue coordinating closely with relevant embassies and interagency partners to facilitate departures amid ongoing regional instability.Additionally, US Central Command (CENTCOM) informed that the Air Force continues to execute a high volume of airstrikes into Iran.The US Air Force continues to execute a high volume of airstrikes into Iran. The two most powerful air forces in the world ( + ) are dominating the skies over the worlds largest state sponsor of terror," the post read.https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2029263957005926673The conflict in the Middle East is now in its sixth day following the February 28 US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country.In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)

First Published: March 05, 2026, 04:30 IST

News agency-feeds Over 17,500 Americans safely returned from Middle East amid Iran conflict: US

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Pentagon releases names of service members killed in Iran war

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 05:45 IST

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Dubai, Mar 4 (AP) The Pentagon has released the names of four of the six service members who were killed in the Iran war, saying they died in a drone strike in Kuwait.

All four Army Reserve soldiers were killed Sunday when a drone hit a command centre in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. That was just a day after the US and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran, which launched retaliatory strikes.

All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, lowa.

Killed were Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Spc. Declan J.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.

Dubai, Mar 4 (AP) Israel said it launched airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear research site Tuesday, and Iran struck back against Israel and across the Gulf region, targeting US embassies and disrupting energy supplies and travel.

Four days into a war that President Donald Trump suggested would last several weeks or perhaps longer, nearly 800 people have been killed in Iran, including some Trump said he had considered as possible future leaders of the country.

Explosions rang out Tuesday in Tehran and in Lebanon, where Israel said it retaliated against Hezbollah militants. The American embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks. Iran has fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, though most of the incoming fire has been intercepted. Eleven people in Israel have been killed since the conflict began.

The spiralling nature of the war raised questions about when and how it would end.

The administration has offered various objectives, including destroying Irans missile capabilities, wiping out its navy, preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring it cannot continue to support allied armed groups.

While the initial US-Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government, senior administration officials have since said regime change was not the goal.

Trump on Tuesday seemed to downplay chances of the war ending Irans theocratic rule, saying that someone from within" the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the US-Israel campaign is finished.

Trump says people the US had in mind to lead Iran are dead  Speaking Tuesday from the Oval Office, Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans toppled shah, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over.

As far as possible leaders inside Iran, the people we had in mind are dead," Trump said.

I guess the worst case would be do this, and then somebody takes over whos as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen," Trump said. We dont want that to happen." Irans leaders are scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. Its only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen. Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement.

Israel and US strike nuclear facilities and other targets in Iran  Information coming out of Iran has been limited because of poor communications, round-the-clock airstrikes and tight restrictions on journalists. But across Irans capital, aircraft were heard overhead, and explosions rang out.

The Israeli military said it conducted a wave of airstrikes on sites that produce and store ballistic missiles in Tehran and Isfahan. It also said it destroyed what it called Irans secret, underground nuclear headquarters. Without providing evidence, it said the site was used for scientific research to develop a key component for nuclear weapons." The regime attempted to rebuild its efforts and conceal them, thinking we wouldnt notice. They were mistaken," said Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.

There was no immediate public comment from the US or Iran about the site Israel named.

Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, though it has maintained its right to do so and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog said Irans Natanz nuclear enrichment site had sustained some recent damage," though there was no radiological consequence expected." The US hit Natanz during the 12-day war in June, when Israeli and American strikes greatly weakened Irans nuclear program.

Fears rise in Tehran as bombardment of capital intensifies  New rounds of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes rattled Iran.

Since midnight, I and my wife are hearing sound of explosions," said Ali Amoli, an engineer living in north Tehran.

Satellite images published Tuesday by Colorado-based company Vantor showed the domed roof of Irans presidential complex in Tehran had been destroyed, supporting Israels claim of an overnight strike. Iran did not acknowledge the damage or report any casualties.

A north Tehran resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation described growing fears in the capital as it comes under heavy bombardment. The resident said most stores in the normally bustling area of Tajrish were closed, though bakeries and supermarkets remained open.

Iran hits the US Embassy in Riyadh and Washington pulls out staff  An attack from two drones on the US Embassy in Riyadh caused a limited fire," according to the Saudi Arabian Defence Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound.

An Iranian drone struck a parking lot outside the US consulate in Dubai, sparking a small fire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Washington. He said all personnel were accounted for.

The United Arab Emirates said it has intercepted the vast majority of more than 1,000 Iranian missile and drone attacks against it.

US embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon said they were closed to the public.

The US State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The US also urged its citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, though with much of the airspace closed, many were stranded.

The State Department said Tuesday its preparing military and charter flights for Americans who want to leave the Middle East. Several other countries also arranged evacuation flights for their citizens.

The US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent Society. In Lebanon, where Israel launched retaliatory strikes on the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah, 50 people were killed, including seven children, Lebanons health ministry said.

The US military has confirmed six deaths of American service members. In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday criticised Irans attacks against Gulf neighbours that had worked to prevent war as an incredibly flawed strategy" that threatened to widen the war if those states decide to retaliate. (AP) AMJ AMJ

First Published: March 04, 2026, 05:45 IST

News agency-feeds Pentagon releases names of service members killed in Iran war

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Qatar rejects Iran's claim it only targeted US interests there

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 22:45 IST

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Doha, Mar 4 (AP) Qatar on Wednesday rejected Irans claim that it only targeted US interests there.

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi made the claim during a phone call earlier in the day.

Qatars prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani categorically rejected" it, according to a readout released by the foreign ministry.

The minister said attacks also have targeted residential areas and critical infrastructure, including near the main airport and liquefied natural gas facilities.

This is the first engagement between Iran and Qatar made public since the war started over the weekend.

Israel says Iran offensive was originally planned for mid-2026  Defence Minister Israel Katz has told military intelligence officers that the operation was moved up because of developments and circumstances" including events inside Iran and the position of the President of the United States, and the whole possibility of creating a combined operation here." The comments were provided by his office.

US says Iran is firing fewer ballistic missiles and drones  The chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says the number of ballistic missiles fired by Iran is down by 86% from Saturday, with a 23% drop in missiles fired in the last 24 hours.

And their one-way-attack drone shots are down 73% from the opening days," Caine said.

But some experts have said Iran may be holding some weapons in reserve to prolong the conflict.

Turkey summons Irans ambassador over missile  Turkeys foreign ministry has summoned Irans ambassador in protest over the firing of a ballistic missile that was intercepted before entering Turkish airspace, a Turkish official says.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.

Western officials say Iran has several days worth of ballistic missiles if it fires at current rates  The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

One senior official said the rate of Iranian missile strikes is declining due to US and Israeli success at taking out launch sites, but said Iran may be holding back some of its stocks.

A second official said its definitely an issue" that countries targeted by Iran are going through their defensive missiles, and they will have to carefully manage their own stocks. (AP) SCY SCY

First Published: March 04, 2026, 22:45 IST

News agency-feeds Qatar rejects Iran's claim it only targeted US interests there

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Qatar shuts LNG output; supplies to India hit, city gas sector flags crisis

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 15:15 IST

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New Delhi, Mar 4 (PTI) Qatar has halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production after its facilities came under attack amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, disrupting supplies to India and squeezing feedstock availability for key domestic sectors.

India, which depends on long-term LNG contracts with Qatar for a significant share of its gas needs, has seen a temporary suspension of cargoes, leading to supply cuts up to 40 per cent for a range of industrial consumers and city gas distribution (CGD) companies.

While some industrial users can switch to alternative  though costlier  fuels, the CNG-retailing city gas sector has warned of severe stress. CGD operators said replacing contracted Qatari volumes with spot LNG priced at more than double the contracted rate could erode CNGs price advantage and result in a permanent shift of customers to electric vehicles.

Petronet LNG Ltd, Indias largest LNG importer, hasnt been able to send ships to Qatar to ferry LNG as the Strait of Hormuz  a narrow shipping route through which West Asian countries, including Qatar, export most of their oil and gas  is all but closed.

Additionally, Qatar has shut down liquefied natural gas production at the worlds largest export facility  which also supplied gas to India  after it was targeted in an Iranian drone attack.

In a stock exchange filing, Petronet said it has sent force majeure notice to Qatari supplier, QatarEnergy for inability to send ships.

QatarEnergy too has served a force majeure notice for inability to serve its buyer  Petronet LNG  due to hostilities in the region.

In light of the recent and ongoing war in the Middle East region involving Iran and Israel, vessels are presently unable to safely transit through the Strait of Hormuz to reach Ras Laffan, the loading port of QatarEnergy," Petronet said.

Considering the prevailing security situation and the material risks posed to maritime navigation, the company (Petronet) has issued a force majeure notice to QatarEnergy in respect of its LNG tankers, namely Disha, Raahi, and Aseem.

Petronet said it has, in turn, issued corresponding force majeure notices to its downstream off-takers.

Qatar supplies 40 per cent of the 27 million tonnes a year of LNG that India imports annually.

The supply cuts have also been effected on city gas firms, which have written to government-owned gas utility GAIL, expressing concerns over the availability of domestic gas and LNG to meet the requirements of CNG for automobiles and piped cooking gas for households.

The Association of CGD Entities (ACE) in a March 3 letter to GAIL chairman and managing director said the reduction in supply of low-priced gas to 60 per cent and restriction of spot or current market supply to zero are likely to have a significant impact on gas availability to the sector, which may adversely affect the priority segments.

We request clarity and confirmation regarding the sustained availability of gas to the city gas sector so that the sector can continue to serve the aspirations and objectives set by the Government of India for providing a reliable and sustained energy to smaller customer segments in the remotest corners of the country," it said.

Stating that the association members remain committed to supplying energy to households, CNG customers, small industries and commercial consumers, it sought continued visibility and guidance on gas supply to the CGD sector during the crisis period.

A line of confirmation about continuity of gas supply to the city gas sector during the crisis period will be helpful," it added.

While domestically produced natural gas meets just about half of the demand, India meets the rest through LNG imports.

LNG is a gas that has been cooled far below freezing point into liquid form to allow storage and transport over long distances. Petronet LNG imports such liquid gas and then regasifies it (back to gas) at its R-LNG terminals in Dahej in Gujarat, and Kochi in Kerala. The fuel is feedstock for producing fertilisers, generating electricity and raw material for city gas entities.

QatarEnergy, in a statement, said, Due to military attacks on QatarEnergys operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City in the State of Qatar, QatarEnergy has ceased production of LNG and associated products." The United States and Israel launched military strikes on targets in Iran over the weekend. Tehran retaliated with missiles and drones aimed at Israel and countries hosting US forces, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Media reports suggest the conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global energy flows. Roughly one-third of the worlds seaborne crude oil exports and about 20 per cent of liquefied natural gas shipments transit the narrow waterway.

As much as 20.8 million barrels per day of oil and products typically transit the Strait. Over 80 per cent of this goes to the Asian markets, including India. About 20 per cent of global LNG supply also passes through this narrow waterway.

For India, the Strait, controlled by Iran, is a transit for roughly 50 per cent of its crude oil imports and around 54 per cent of its LNG supplies.

It is the transit for not just LNG from Qatar but also from the UAE.

Reports suggest just 26 vessels (all segments) traversed the Strait  down sharply from 91 on February 28 and well below Februarys 135 a day average  after the US/Israeli strikes on Iran rattled the region.

Petronet said it has also issued force majeure notices on gas offtakers  GAIL, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), and Bharat PetroleumCorporation Ltd (BPCL).

Acts of war are also excluded under Business Interruption Insurance covers taken by Petronet LNG," it said.

The likely impact of force majeure which is currently an ongoing event cannot be estimated at this point of time. The company is closely monitoring the developments and will keep the stock exchanges informed of any material updates in this regard.

Petronet has a long-term contract to buy 8.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG from Qatar. Additionally, it buys Qatari LNG from the spot market as well. Besides Petronet, companies such as IOC have LNG import contracts with the UAE.

Sources said GAIL and IOC are looking at tapping the spot or current market to meet the shortfall, but prices have firmed up. LNG in the spot market is now at USD 25 per million British thermal unit, roughly double the term contract rates. PTI ANZ DR MR

First Published: March 04, 2026, 15:15 IST

News agency-feeds Qatar shuts LNG output; supplies to India hit, city gas sector flags crisis

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Senior Journalist and Padma Bhushan awardee HK Dua passes away at 88

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 15:15 IST

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New Delhi [India], March 4 (ANI): Senior journalist and Padma Bhushan awardee HK Dua passed away in New Delhi on Wednesday at the age of 88, his family said, according to The Tribune. He had been admitted to a private hospital three weeks ago and had been unwell. His cremation will be held at 12 noon on March 5 at the Lodhi Road Crematorium.Dua was the former Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune and served as media adviser to former Prime Ministers HD Deve Gowda and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also represented India as Ambassador to Denmark.He led The Tribune from 2003 to 2009 and was credited with enhancing the newspapers national standing and editorial credibility. Over a distinguished career spanning several decades, Dua held senior editorial positions at The Indian Express, The Times of India and Hindustan Times.In 2009, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, where he participated in debates on media freedom and public policy. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2008 in recognition of his contributions to journalism.Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed grief over Duas demise, recalling him as an editor when being an editor still mattered."In a post on X, Tewari said Dua stood by his convictions, refused to compromise editorial independence, and never sought favour from political leaders or media proprietors. He described him as a warm and unpretentious individual who spoke his mind with clarity and integrity. Sad to learn about the passing away of Sh HK Dua. He was an editor when being an editor still mattered. Editor in Chief of Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express & The Tribune he chose to live by his convictions rather than become a lackey of the owners and kowtow to Politicians for advertisements. Media Adviser to Prime Minister Late Sh. Atal Behari Vajpayee, Indian Ambassador to Denmark & nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Prime Minister Late Dr. Manmohan Singh. A very warm human being and totally unpretentious he knew how to call a spade a spade," Tewari wrote on X. (ANI)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 15:15 IST

News agency-feeds Senior Journalist and Padma Bhushan awardee HK Dua passes away at 88

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Telangana man injured in attack near Abu Dhabi airport; parents seek safe return

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 16:45 IST

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Karimnagar (Telangana), Mar 4 (PTI) A man from Telangana suffered minor injuries following an attack linked to Iran near Abu Dhabi International Airport, amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, his parents said on Wednesday.

N Rajeswara Rao, a native of Pothireddypalle village in Rajanna Sircilla district, was injured in the incident, his father Prabhakar Rao said.

Rao, who works in the housekeeping section at the airport, informed his parents that he and several others escaped with minor injuries.

My son has been working there for a year. He works at the airport. He sustained injuries in the attack. He spoke to us over a video call, but he is not showing us the injuries. I want my son to return home soon," Prabhakar Rao told PTI Videos.

Raos parents urged the Indian government to take steps to ensure their sons safe return.

A group of passengers who arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, said they did not face any difficulties due to the prevailing situation in the Gulf region.

Pilgrims who had travelled to Madina expressed satisfaction with the facilities and arrangements.

Mohd Abdul Razak told PTI Videos that his return to Hyderabad was delayed due to flight cancellations. However, he said the travel agency had taken care of his accommodation and other arrangements. PTI SJR SSK

First Published: March 04, 2026, 16:45 IST

News agency-feeds Telangana man injured in attack near Abu Dhabi airport; parents seek safe return

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UDF slams LDF in Kerala over Sabarimala gold loss, health sector strike

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 15:15 IST

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Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 4 (PTI) The Congress-led UDF on Wednesday slammed the ruling LDF in Kerala over the Sabarimala gold loss cases, the issue of womens entry to the shrine, and the states health sector, where government doctors and a section of private nurses are on strike over wages.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, said that most of the arrested accused in cases related to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple were out on statutory bail, and that the investigation would soon come to an end without yielding results.

The Special Investigation Team has admittedly not been able to gather enough evidence, and once all the accused come out on bail, whatever evidence remains could be destroyed. That is our apprehension, and we have raised it several times in the Assembly," Satheesan told reporters.

He said that the opposition initially had faith in the SIT, as its probe was being monitored by the Kerala High Court.

However, he alleged that the SIT has now created a situation, with the help of the CMO, in which the accused can secure statutory bail due to the non-filing of a chargesheet within the stipulated 90 days of their arrest.

Not even a preliminary chargesheet was filed by the SIT. The importance of the SIT is being lost in the manner in which the probe is being conducted. Also, no arrests are being made," Satheesan contended.

His claims come in the wake of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar being granted statutory bail earlier in the day, in the case related to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at the temple.

He had already been granted statutory bail in the case involving the loss of gold from the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) and is therefore likely to be released from jail during the day.

Padmakumar, a former Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA, will be the eighth accused in the case to be released on bail.

On the issue of womens entry into the Sabarimala shrine, Satheesan claimed that the state government has not clarified its stand through an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India.

It should indicate through an affidavit in the apex court whether it is in favour of the entry of women or not," the opposition leader said.

Regarding the ongoing strike by doctors in government medical colleges and the agitation launched by nurses in private hospitals, Satheesan said that these issues could be resolved if the government holds discussions with the protestors.

He said that it was difficult to say whether the health sector in the state was on a ventilator or in the mortuary. It (the health sector) is in complete disarray," he contended.

He added that strikes by doctors and nurses would seriously impact the health sector in the state.

A section of nurses working in private hospitals in Kerala began a strike, demanding a minimum monthly salary of Rs 40,000 and the implementation of various pending assurances without further delay.

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) has been on strike for over a month, alleging apathy on the part of the state government in resolving issues related to their service conditions and pay anomalies. PTI HMP SSK

First Published: March 04, 2026, 15:15 IST

News agency-feeds UDF slams LDF in Kerala over Sabarimala gold loss, health sector strike

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US military says weapons stockpiles remain strong

Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 00:45 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Washington, Mar 4 (AP) Top military officials say US forces have adequate munitions for ongoing operations against Iran.

Gen Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was speaking to reporters.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military used more advanced weapons at the start of the campaign, but was switching to gravity bombs now that the US has control of Iranian skies, and stockpiles of the advanced weapons remain extremely strong".

Planning for opening strike of war began 3 weeks ago: Israeli official  An Israeli military official says top US and Israeli commanders began planning the opening strike of the war against Iran three weeks ago.

The official says that once Israels government decided on its intention to attack Iran, Israels top military brass reached out to the Pentagon to coordinate the operation.

The militaries worked side by side during the opening strikes on Saturday, killing Irans supreme leader and dozens of other top officials.

As part of the operation, top Israeli commanders went home for the weekend on Friday to deceive Iran into thinking that an attack was not imminent.

Turkey talks with Iran over intercepted missile  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has spoken by phone with his Iranian counterpart after an Iranian ballistic missile that was detected heading toward Turkish airspace Wednesday was intercepted.

During the call with Abbas Araghchi, Turkey stressed that all steps that could escalate the conflict and contribute to its spread" must be avoided, a Turkish official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol. (AP) SCY SCY

First Published: March 05, 2026, 00:45 IST

News agency-feeds US military says weapons stockpiles remain strong

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US submarine sinks Iranian navy ship as war expands

Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 03:00 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Washington, Mar 5 (AP) A US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday. In addition to striking Tehran, Israel hit the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, while Iran fired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel.

As the US-Israeli war on Iran spirals, the US Senate is heading to vote on a war powers measure demanding congressional approval before further attacks. The resolution and a twin House bill face long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress, and Trump would almost certainly veto them anyway.

The war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran, more than 50 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. The United Nations says 100,000 people fled the Iranian capital in the wars first two days alone.

Oil prices have soared following Iranian attacks on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and global stock markets have been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy. US stocks appeared steadier at Wednesdays opening.

Here is the latest: Arab League tells Iran to halt attacks on Gulf nations  The ongoing strikes deepen an unprecedented state of hostility" with Irans neighbours in the Gulf, said Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit in a statement on Wednesday.

He demanded Tehran stop the attacks, which he called a strategic mistake," saying Iran must come to its senses." The Arab League, made up of 22 member states, promotes regional cooperation. However, it is widely seen as toothless and has long struggled to help solve conflicts.

Israel launches new wave of strikes on Tehran  The Israeli military says the strikes on the Iranian capital are targeting military infrastructure." US-Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people in Iran so far.

Hezbollah leader vows to keep fighting Israel  In his first public address since joining the war, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said the Lebanese militant group rejects the governments plan to disarm its fighters.

As long as the (Israeli) occupation is present, then the resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right," Kassem said.

Lebanons leaders say Hezbollahs rocket fire into Israel is illegal and urged the Lebanese army to crack down on groups possessing weapons outside state control.

Lebanons cash-strapped military, backed by the US and other governments, has been deploying in recent months across southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has a strong military presence. However, its unclear if the army is able or willing to disarm Hezbollah by directly confronting them.

UN says 100,000 people fled Tehran in the wars first 2 days  The UN refugee agency, basing its estimates on Iranian officials, also said around 1,000 to 2,000 vehicles per day were reported leaving the capital, mostly toward the north.

Geneva-based UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch said the latest reports on Wednesday indicated no increase in cross-border movements linked to the recent conflict, but the situation remains fluid." Spains government denies cooperating with US operations in Mideast, contradicting the White House  Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Wednesday denied that the government had changed its position on supporting the US military operations against Iran, contradicting a White House spokesperson.

I can refute (the White House spokesperson)," Albares told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. The position of the Spanish government regarding the war in the Middle East, the bombing of Iran and the use of our bases has not changed one iota." Albares spoke in Madrid shortly after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had said that Spain had changed its position and theyve agreed to cooperate with the US military." First Israeli combat casualties of the war are reported as 2 soldiers wounded in Lebanon  The Israeli military said the two were wounded on Wednesday by anti-tank fire while operating in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah says its fighters attacked Israeli troops advancing toward the village of Khiyam and released a video showing a missile striking a tank.

Israel said Tuesday its forces were moving deeper into Lebanon to establish forward defensive positions" to protect northern Israel.

White House defends evacuation plans for Americans  The presidents top spokeswoman pushed back against criticisms that the administration didnt do enough to ensure Americans could leave the Middle East following the US war in Iran.

Leavitt insisted that there have been plans in place" and that the State Department has been clear to those in the region to leave immediately.

We will help every single American who wants to come home if theyre making that request of the State Department," she said.

Leavitt also said a State Department hotline that told callers not to rely on help from the US government to leave the region has been corrected.

US is investigating reports that a girls school in Iran was hit in strikes  Asked if US strikes hit a girls school in Iran  as officials in the region have suggested  Leavitt said, Not that we know of." She said US defense officials are investigating this matter" and added that she wanted to say very strongly, the United States of America does not target civilians, unlike the rogue Iranian regime." Irans top diplomat posted on social media on Monday an aerial photo showing rows of graves that he said were for more than 160 girls killed during a US-Israeli strike on an elementary school in Minab.

US Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said then that he was aware of reports" that a school was struck and that officials were looking into them.

White House again says Iran war aimed to head off an attack  The White House press secretary said Wednesday the US launched its operation partly out of concern Iran might strike American personnel and assets in the region first.

Leavitt said a phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before they launched the war was important with respect to the timeline." However, she said, I think the president, prior to that phone call, had a good feeling that the Iranian regime was going to strike the United States assets and our personnel in the region." White House says Trump spoke to Kurdish leaders about US bases in Iraq  Leavitt was asked about reports that Trump had a conversation with Kurdish leaders in Iraq and sought military support for Iranian Kurdish groups.

He did speak to Kurdish leaders with respect to our base that we have in northern Iraq. But as for any report suggesting that the president has agreed to any such plan is completely false and should not be written," Leavitt said.

White House says Trump thinks the US public supports war with Iran  Asked if Trump thinks that Americans support the Israel-US war in Iran  even though Trump hasnt given a national address to personally make the case  Leavitt said, I think he does." This was a rogue terrorist regime that has been threatening the United States, our allies and our people for 47 years," she said. And the American people are smart enough to know that, and theyre smart enough to listen to the president himself  not just over the past year, in the second term, but during his first term as president." Recent polling shows that, prior to the US-Israel strikes that started last weekend, 61 per cent of Americans said Iran was an enemy" of the US, but only about 3 in 10 Americans said they had a great deal" or quite a bit" of trust in Trump.

White House claims that Spain has agreed to cooperate with US operations in Mideast  The White House on Wednesday said Spain has agreed to cooperate with US operations in the Mideast after Trump had threatened to cut off trade with Madrid.

With respect to Spain, I think they heard the presidents message yesterday loud and clear," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. And its my understanding over the past several hours, theyve agreed to cooperate with the US military. And so I know that the US military is coordinating with their counterparts in Spain." Trump on Tuesday said he was going to cut off all trade with Spain," the day after Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said his country would not allow the US to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain in any strikes not covered by the United Nations charter.

White House says US ground troops in Iran not part of the plan for this operation at this time  Leavitt said she would not take away military options on behalf of the president by ruling it out, saying that leaders in the past take options off the table without having a full understanding of how things could develop." Its not part of the current plan, but Im not going to remove an option for the president that is on the table," Leavitt said.

Trump to attend transfer of soldiers remains  Trump plans to attend the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base of US troops killed in the Middle East conflict, the White House said Wednesday, one of the most solemn duties undertaken by the commander in chief.

The Pentagon is working to schedule the transfer. The US has said six soldiers were killed.

These heroes represent the very best among us," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday.

Emptier streets in Tehran as strikes on Iran intensify  Columns of heavy smoke could be seen rising in the western and eastern parts of the capital on Wednesday, as anti-aircraft batteries thudded intermittently and ambulances sped by.

Security forces and plainclothes officers were on the streets while fewer civilians than usual walked by briskly.

Groceries and bakeries were less crowded than usual. Mostly, customers stocked up on bottled water and dried thin breads  a sign they were preparing for a longer war.

I preferred to stay in my city since I love this city more than any other place," said Bagher Abbasi, a 32-year-old taxi driver. Maybe I can be more useful here in helping those who may need my service." Mexico says 279 citizens evacuated from Middle East  Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the figure on Wednesday. The foreign ministry said on X that most of the evacuees left by land from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Qatar, and that they left through Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.

Iranians use brief internet access to send messages of hope and fear  Internet access in Iran is almost entirely shut down, meaning residents use the brief windows of connectivity to send messages to the outside world.

A 23-year-old in Tehran told The Associated Press on Wednesday he hopes US and Israeli strikes topple the Islamic Republic.

It has to fall, or they will take their revenge on us," he wrote. He said that in January, he had joined anti-government protests in which security forces shot thousands of demonstrators and arrested tens of thousands more.

Another resident in the capitals Velenjak neighbourhood told the AP that conditions in Tehran are falling apart fast" under the air campaign. As she spoke, ambulance sirens wailed, and pro-government slogans blared from nearby mosque loudspeakers.

The possibility of moving around isnt as much as before," she said, adding: I hope whatever is good for Iran, happens." ___ By Amir-Hussein Radjy in Cairo.

More on the container ship struck off Oman  Merchant ship MV Safeen Prestige, which flies the Maltese flag and is owned by an Egyptian company, was hit by two missiles Wednesday afternoon while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Thats according to Maltas minister for transport, infrastructure and public works, Chris Bonett, speaking in Parliament.

He said that the ship caught fire, primarily in the engine room, and that the vessel suffered relatively heavy damage. However, the 24 seafarers aboard  21 Egyptians and 3 Ukrainians  did not suffer injuries and were rescued by Omans navy, he said.

Earlier Wednesday, a British military agency, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, announced that the vessel was heading east through the Strait of Hormuz when it was hit by an unknown projectile, and that the ship had a fire in its engine room.

More than 70 killed in Lebanon by Israel since Hezbollah joined the war  Lebanons health ministry said Wednesday that 72 people have been killed and 437 wounded in Israeli strikes since the latest escalation with Hezbollah began three days ago.

More than 83,000 people have been displaced, Social Affairs Minister Haneed Sayed said.

Iran-allied Hezbollah entered the conflict Monday, firing missiles and drones into Israel for the first time in more than a year. Israel has responded with widespread strikes and warned residents to evacuate parts of southern Lebanon.

State Department says it has assisted nearly 6,500 Americans in Mideast  The US State Department said Wednesday it has offered them assistance or information about leaving the region.

The department is trying to arrange charter flights and other transportation despite embassy closures and Iranian missile and drone strikes that have shut airports and airspace across the region. It was not immediately clear whether any US-arranged flights have departed.

More than 17,500 Americans have returned to the United States since Saturday, including over 8,500 on Tuesday. Most travelled on commercial flights without government assistance.

Sirens sound again across large parts of Israel in another day of near-constant alerts  The military issued more warnings Wednesday evening about incoming missiles from Iran, sending millions of Israelis into shelters.

The strikes from Iran and Lebanon have targeted Israel throughout the day, with most of the projectiles intercepted or falling in open areas.

Turkey says it issued warnings after a missile headed toward its airspace  President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Turkey is issuing warnings" to prevent further incidents after NATO defences intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile.

Erdogan made the comment at a Ramadan meal after Turkey summoned Irans ambassador to protest the incident.

Israeli strikes kill 7 more kids in Lebanon, medics say  Lebanons health ministry, cited by UN childrens agency, said Wednesday that seven children were killed and 38 injured in Israeli airstrikes across the country in the past 24 hours.

Nearly 60,000 people, including about 18,000 children, were displaced in the last 24 hours, UNICEF said, adding to tens of thousands already uprooted.

No child should ever be killed or left to bear the lifelong physical and emotional scars of violence," UNICEFs Lebanon representative Marcoluigi Corsi said.

Power outage hits all of Iraq  The electricity ministry said Wednesday the national power grid has completely shut down across all Iraqi provinces." The cause was not immediately clear. Officials said crews were working to restore power stations and transmission lines.

Outages had already hit the semiautonomous Kurdish region after a key gas field halted operations over security concerns. Iraqs oil ministry also said Tuesday it stopped production at a major field near Basra, citing a tanker shortage in the Persian Gulf amid the conflict.

Iran tells neighbours self-defence was last resort after failed diplomacy  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday his government pursued diplomacy to avoid war but was forced to defend itself after US and Israeli attacks.

We respect your sovereignty," Pezeshkian said on X in a message to neighbouring countries and allies, and believe the regions security and stability has to be achieved through the collective efforts of its states." Iran has fired missiles and drones at Israel and US bases in the Gulf, although many munitions and debris from interceptions have hit civilian areas.

Israel says 100 warplanes struck Iranian command centres at a military compound  The Israeli military said it attacked a compound in eastern Tehran housing the headquarters for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite Quds Force, the intelligence directorate, Basij paramilitary force, Irans cyber unit, and a unit in Internal Security responsible for suppressing protests." More than 250 bombs were dropped by over 100 fighter jets in the wide-scale" strike, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly. (AP) AMJ AMJ

First Published: March 05, 2026, 03:00 IST

News agency-feeds US submarine sinks Iranian navy ship as war expands

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Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 4, On Account Of Holi? Check Bank Holidays This Month

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 07:47 IST

Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 4? Banks will remain closed today across majority of states, on account of 'Holi/Holi 2nd Day  Dhuleti/Yaosang 2nd Day/Dol Jatra'.

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Holi Holidays 2026: Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 4?

Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 4? If you are planning to visit your bank branch, it is necessary to check the list of RBI-notified holidays. These holidays are not uniform nationwide and vary from state to state. That means on some dates, banks in certain states will remain closed, while in others, they will function normally.

Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 4?

Banks will remain closed on March 4, Wednesday, across majority of states, on account of Holi/Holi 2nd Day  Dhuleti/Yaosang 2nd Day/Dol Jatra.

According to the the RBIs bank holiday list, bank branches will be closed in Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Jammu, Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.

However, banks will remain open in Belapur, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada,

Bank Holidays In March 2026

Holiday Description Date Holika Dahan 2 Holi (Second Day)/Dol Jatra/Dhulandi/Holika Dahan/Attukal Pongala 3 Holi/Holi 2nd Day  Dhuleti/Yaosang 2nd Day 4 Chapchar Kut 13 Shab-I-Qadr 17 Gudhi Padwa/Ugadi Festival/Telugu New Years Day/Sajibu Nongmapanba (Cheiraoba)/1st Navratra 19 Eid-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan)/Jumat-ul-Vida 20 Ramzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitr) (Shawal-1)/Khutub-E-Ramzan/Sarhul 21 Shree Ram Navami 26 Shree Ram Navami (Chaite Dasain) 27 Mahavir Janmakalyanak/Mahavir Jayanti 31

Full state-wise bank holiday list can be check on this RBIs official link.

Banks Timings

Most major banks in India, including SBI, Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank, operate between 10 am and 4 pm, while ICICI, HDFC, Axis, Yes Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank usually function from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm or 3:30 pm, depending on the branch. Bank of Baroda has slightly extended hours, operating between 9:45 am and 4:45 pm or 10 am to 5 pm, and Canara Bank typically works from 10 am to 3:30 pm.

Five-Day Workweek Demand

Though banks remain closed on second and fourth Saturdays of the month, bank unions have been demand five workweek. If approved, it would mean banks will remain all Saturdays and Sundays.

Last month, on January 27, 2026, bank unions went on strike. They said a five-day work week would reduce work pressure, improve efficiency, and allow employees more time with their families. Most central government offices and financial institutions in India already follow a five-day schedule, bank staff want the same.

To ensure customer services arent affected, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has proposed working 40 extra minutes a day from Monday to Friday. The forum points out that RBI, LIC, GIC, stock markets, forex and money markets already remain closed on Saturdays.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 07:30 IST

News business banking-finance Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 4, On Account Of Holi? Check Bank Holidays This Month

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Finding the right tires for your car can be both vital and confusing. Tires are the only part of your vehicle touching the road, so they're under a lot of pressure every time you take a trip. Adding a degree of difficulty is the fact that there are a lot of tire brands out there, and many actually have the same parent company. That's why we've covered topics ranging from every tire brand owned by Michelin to the best all-season tires you can buy. Yet that still leaves something important out of the equation: Where can you enjoy the best tire-buying experience?

Well, Consumer Reports is on the case, offering a list of the most- and least-satisfying tire retailers drawn from some 30 chains, independent shops, and car dealerships. The scoring was based on a CR survey of more than 24,000 members that purchased tires throughout the past year, focusing on individual factors such as pricing, installation quality, sales service, free perks, installation time, and tire selection.

At the very bottom of the list was Walmart, barely beating out Pep Boys for last place in the rankings  which probably shouldn't surprise you. According to the 2025 ACSI Retail and Consumer Shipping Study, part of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Walmart was dead last among online multimarkets and general-merchandise hypermarkets, and it was second-to-last in the supermarket category. It stands to reason that tire-shopping experiences there wouldn't rank so highly, either.

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Read more: These Are The Car Batteries Consumer Reports Rates The Lowest

What's wrong with Walmart?

Tires on display at Walmart's tire center - Todd's Garage/YouTube

Walmart is known for its low prices, and the retailer did, in fact, have the lowest cost for tires amongst its rivals. It was also tied with multiple outlets  like Costco, Discount Tire, Sam's Club, and BJ's  for least expensive installation costs. (Keep in mind, though, that CR's list didn't break out installation charges for a few higher-rated tire sellers.)

The real issue seemed to be an inability to exceed customer expectations. Walmart shoppers rated the company's performance as middling in most categories, including installation quality, sales service, tire selection, shipping, and the ability to make service appointments. Meanwhile, the two categories in which Walmart scored the lowest weren't really related to the tires at all. Walmart had the lowest possible CR scores for free perks given to customers and the condition of its waiting area. Now, this can make some sense if Walmart's decision to cut back in those areas helps folks save money overall. All that said, Walmart was dinged a bit for how long installation took, too.

It's evidence that, according to Tess Yanisch, one of CR's senior research associates, "Most places will do at least an adequate quality installation and have at least acceptable sales help, which were the attributes that contributed the most to overall satisfaction." So what really held Walmart back? There are certain retailers that went beyond merely adequate and acceptable, and at the top was Les Schwab, which operates mostly out west. Independent outlets taken as a group and Point S Tire  an internationally-focused brand with 1,300 North American locations  were the only other retailers recommended by CR.

Tire retailers with top CR satisfaction scores

A Les Schwab Tires store exterior showing its sign - Sheena Waldron/Shutterstock

The top three tire sellers all had very close overall scores in the Consumer Reports rankings, but they achieved those results in different ways. For instance, Les Schwab helps boost its numbers with the only free-perk program to earn the highest possible rating on the CR charts. Notable no-cost Les Schwab services even include free flat repairs. If those don't work (since some areas of a tire can be patched but some can't), free tire replacement is available too.

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Point S Tire, on its part, has the least expensive rubber among the leading threesome, and by a pretty significant amount. However, the CR survey didn't turn up enough data to rate Point S for factors like free perks, tire selection, or waiting area. You'll also have to be careful with independent tire stores. On one hand, they had the quickest installation times; the independents were the only retailers on the list with the best possible CR score, and they excelled with appointment availability as well. Looking to have your tires shipped? Neither Les Schwab nor Point S can accommodate you, but some independents will. On the other hand, with thousands of independents from which to choose, picking the right one won't necessarily guarantee a top-quality experience.

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Larsen & Toubro Shares Fall 12% In Two Days Amid Iran Conflict; What Should Investors Do?

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 10:17 IST

Shares of Larsen & Toubro come under heavy selling pressure on Wednesday, falling sharply as escalating tensions in West Asia weighed on investor sentiment.

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L&T Share Price.

L&T Stock Price: Shares of Larsen & Toubro came under heavy selling pressure on Wednesday, falling sharply as escalating tensions in West Asia weighed on investor sentiment. The stock declined over 7 per cent intraday to Rs 3,764.90, extending its losses for the second consecutive session. It was the biggest loser among the 30 shares of the Sensex.

With the latest fall, L&T shares have dropped nearly 12 percent in the past two trading days, reflecting rising concerns about the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on the companys business outlook.

Market participants note that the region is a key revenue contributor for the engineering and construction major.

Dharmesh Kant, Head (Research) at CSec, said the company is currently facing uncertainty due to the geopolitical situation.

Larsen & Toubro is currently facing two key challenges  uncertainty in the Middle East, which accounts for nearly 35% of the companys revenue, and pressure on its consolidated numbers as around 23% of its business comes from its IT division (LTTS and LTI Mindtree), which may affect overall earnings. However, L&Ts core hydrocarbon and engineering services businesses are doing well. Once the Middle East crisis settles, the company may receive more orders. For now, investors should wait for the conflict to stabilise before fresh buying. The situation is still evolving. If the stock corrects another 5-7%, investors can consider taking a call. From a long-term perspective, it remains a buy-on-decline stock," he said.

Global brokerage Macquarie has maintained an Outperform rating on the stock with a price target of Rs 4,910.

CLSA has also retained an Outperform rating on the stock, with a price target of Rs 4,842. The brokerage views the recent weakness, driven by cyclical concerns around the Middle East, as a buying opportunity for what it describes as an emerging global energy infrastructure player.

The sharp correction in the stock also comes amid broader market weakness triggered by the escalating geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices, which have led to risk aversion among investors.

Analysts said stocks with significant exposure to the Middle East region may remain volatile until there is greater clarity on the conflict and its economic implications.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 10:09 IST

News business markets Larsen & Toubro Shares Fall 12% In Two Days Amid Iran Conflict; What Should Investors Do?

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Stocks To Watch Today: HAL, Dabur, Tata Motors, Adani Ports, Cipla, SBI In Focus On March 4

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 07:47 IST

Indian markets are set for a weak start on March 4. Key stocks to watch include Mahindra & Mahindra, Natco Pharma, JSW Cement, Affle India and Lupin.

Stocks To Watch Today, March 4.

Stocks To Watch Today, March 4: Indian markets are likely to begin Wednesdays session on a weak note amid global risk-off sentiment. The GIFT Nifty is currently trading nearly 550 points or 2.2 per cent lower at around 24,450, indicating a sharp gap-down start for benchmark indices.

Investors will also track several stock-specific developments, including appointments, defence contracts, acquisitions, regulatory developments and bulk deals.

Here are the key stocks likely to remain in focus on March 4.

Hindustan Aeronautics

The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for the procurement of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch  Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy.

Of the total order value, a Rs 2,901 crore contract has been awarded to Hindustan Aeronautics for ALH Mk-III helicopters along with operational role equipment, engineering support and performance-based logistics.

Reliance Industries

Jio Platforms has appointed Dan Bailey as President, where he will lead the companys international business initiatives.

Bailey will be based in London and report to Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm. He will also join the Executive Committee of Jio Platforms and contribute across broader business functions.

He previously served as Chairman of Deutsche Banks TMT practice.

Dabur India

Dabur has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a minority stake in luxury skincare D2C brand RAS Beauty for Rs 60 crore under its recently launched Dabur Ventures initiative.

Tata Motors

The company clarified that reports regarding Indonesia suspending vehicle imports relate to a domestic policy discussion on imports and local manufacturing, and not to the execution of the order received by the company.

Tata Motors said the order and advance payment already received remain programme-driven, and deliveries will begin soon in phases.

Earlier, its subsidiary PT Tata Motors Distribusi Indonesia had signed an agreement to supply 70,000 vehicles for deployment in the country.

Mahindra & Mahindra

The company said it has already received advance payment for the delivery of an order of 35,000 LCV units from Indonesia.

As of now, the company has not received any communication regarding any suspension of the order.

Cipla

The company has entered into a 60:40 joint venture agreement with Kemwell Biopharma to set up a new company in India.

The JV will focus on developing, manufacturing and commercialising biologic products, including licensing, exports and outsourcing activities.

Natco Pharma

Natco Pharma and its partner Breckenridge Pharmaceutical have launched Pomalidomide Capsules in the US market, a generic version of Celgenes Pomalyst used for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

The drug recorded estimated US sales of $3.2 billion for the 12 months ending September 2025.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone

The company handled 42.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in February, registering a 16 percent year-on-year growth.

Container volumes rose 14 percent, while dry cargo increased 15 percent during the month.

Power Grid Corporation of India

The company said the market regulator SEBI has granted relaxation under certain LODR provisions.

Additionally, its board will meet on March 9 to consider a proposal for fundraising.

State Bank of India

The contract of Nitin Chugh, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Digital Banking & Transformation, concluded on March 3, following which he has been relieved from the banks services.

Life Insurance Corporation

The tenure of Sunil Agarwal, Chief Financial Officer of LIC, has been extended by one year until March 1, 2027.

JSW Cement

The company has been declared the preferred bidder for the Sikilangso Limestone Block (Part A & B) in Assam, with each block spread across 200 hectares.

Affle (India)

Anuj Kumar has resigned as the Non-Executive Director of the company with effect from April 16, 2026. He has also stepped down from roles in the companys subsidiaries and step-down subsidiaries.

Lupin

The GST Department in Maharashtra has concluded inspection and search proceedings at the companys registered office.

The company said it provided all required documents and no adverse findings have been communicated so far.

Greenlam Industries and Greenply Industries

The Income Tax Department conducted search operations at the registered offices and manufacturing facilities of both companies.

Greenply said the search and seizure operations that began on February 26 concluded on March 2.

Persistent Systems

Persistent Systems said its step-down subsidiary Persistent Telecom Solutions Inc., USA has been merged into its wholly owned subsidiary Persistent Systems Inc., effective February 28.

Shalby

The company has decided to discontinue SOCE operations in Rajkot and Lucknow, though outpatient department (OPD) services will continue in both cities.

Bulk Deals

In Dev Information Technology, US-based Xduce Technologies bought 51.25 lakh shares, equivalent to a 9.09 percent stake, at Rs 23.33 per share.

Meanwhile, promoters offloaded a similar stake in the company through market transactions.

Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions

Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius sold 8.28 lakh shares, representing a 0.7 percent stake, at Rs 846.72 per share, valued at around Rs 70 crore.

Other Stocks To Watch

Shares of Kiaasa Retail, Sical Logistics, and newly listed PNGS Reva Diamond Jewellery may also remain in focus amid stake transactions and listing developments.

Meanwhile, Sammaan Capital remains under the F&O ban for the session.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 07:47 IST

News business markets Stocks To Watch Today: HAL, Dabur, Tata Motors, Adani Ports, Cipla, SBI In Focus On March 4

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Majestic To Ramanagara, Banashankari To Kanakapura: BMTC Launches New AC Routes

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 15:33 IST

For those living along the highway, the buses stop at several major intersections. This "city-style" stopping pattern is what differentiates BMTC service from KSRTC long routes.

Students can now travel more safely to city colleges. Professionals can use their commute time more effectively in a quiet setting on these routes. Image: BMTC

The commute between Bengaluru and its neighbouring towns is undergoing a major shift. Public transportation networks are expanding beyond traditional city limits. Ramanagara and Kanakapura have long served as vital extensions of the state capital.

They house thousands of professionals, students, and business owners. These residents navigate the busy highways every single day. This expansion responds to shifting demographics as urban boundaries continue to blur.

Relief for the Daily Commuter

The arrival of the BMTC in these regions is a long-awaited relief. Historically, the journey into the heart of Bengaluru was a test of endurance. Commuters previously relied almost entirely on KSRTC buses.

While reliable, these buses were often overwhelmed by passenger volume. During peak hours, they were frequently packed beyond capacity. This made the long journey physically taxing for those heading to work or college.

The new Vajra Vistara air-conditioned services offer a better experience. These premium buses run from Majestic to Ramanagara and Banashankari to Kanakapura. The transit experience moves from a struggle for space to a climate-controlled environment.

This change is significant for those who have endured years of highway heat. The corporation made this possible by increasing its operational limit to 45 kilometres.

Meeting Rising Public Demand

Demand for this service grew after several state-led transit initiatives. More people shifted from private vehicles to public transport. The existing infrastructure felt the resulting strain.

Residents and student groups became vocal about the need for better connectivity. They argued that their lives are inextricably linked to the Bengaluru economy. They required a transport system that treated them as part of the urban fabric.

The logic behind this expansion is clear when looking at the existing map. BMTC already had a strong presence in Bidadi and Harohalli. Ramanagara sits just 15 kilometres beyond Bidadi.

Kanakapura is located only 18 kilometres from Harohalli. This extension bridges a small geographical gap that was once a major hurdle. The network now provides a seamless link directly into central business districts.

Fare and Route Details

The new services operate under the Vajra Vistara" (AC) brand, which means fares are calculated based on the standard BMTC AC distance slabs. For the extended 45 km radius, the fare structure is as follows:

Route Starting Point Destination Estimated Fare (AC) Majestic to Ramanagara Kempegowda Bus Station Ramanagara District Stadium 85  95 Banashankari to Kanakapura Banashankari TTMC Kanakapura Town 70  85

Note: Non-AC services (where available) typically cost 40-50% less than the AC fares listed above.

Bus Timings and Frequency

To cater to the high volume of daily commuters, the corporation has established a schedule that prioritizes peak-hour travel.

Majestic to Ramanagara:

First Bus: 6:30 AM

6:30 AM Last Bus: 9:45 PM

9:45 PM Frequency: Every 30 to 45 minutes during peak hours (morning and evening).

Banashankari to Kanakapura: First Bus: 6:00 AM Last Bus: 10:15 PM Frequency: Approximately every 20 to 30 minutes, as this route leverages existing traffic towards the Art of Living and Harohalli sectors.



Key Boarding Points

For those living along the highway, the buses stop at several major intersections. This city-style" stopping pattern is what differentiates the BMTC service from the KSRTC long-distance buses.

Ramanagara Route Stops: Majestic, Satellite Bus Stand (Mysore Road), Rajarajeshwari Nagar Gate, Kengeri TTMC, Bidadi, and Ramanagara.

Majestic, Satellite Bus Stand (Mysore Road), Rajarajeshwari Nagar Gate, Kengeri TTMC, Bidadi, and Ramanagara. Kanakapura Route Stops: Banashankari TTMC, Konanakunte Cross, Thalaghattapura, Kaggalipura, Harohalli, and Kanakapura.

A More Integrated Way of Living

For the modern traveller, this means a more integrated lifestyle. Students can now travel more safely to city colleges. Professionals can use their commute time more effectively in a quiet setting. As these buses begin regular rotations, reliance on overcrowded alternatives will drop. The daily trek between these hubs and Bengaluru is now a more efficient experience.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 15:33 IST

News cities bengaluru-news Majestic To Ramanagara, Banashankari To Kanakapura: BMTC Launches New AC Routes

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Temperatures In Bengaluru Hit 30 C As IMD Warns Of Intense Heat In Karnataka, Issues Advisory For Summer

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 11:19 IST

Bengaluru, the state's capital renowned for its typically pleasant climate, the maximum temperatures have already climbed upto 30 degrees in February 2026

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In a recent advisory, the IMD forecast that maximum temperatures are likely to remain above normal across most parts of Karnataka throughout the three-month period. (Image: Getty)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a timely advisory urging residents of Karnataka to take precautions against expected heatwave conditions during the upcoming summer season, spanning March to May 2026.

This warning comes amid signs of an early onset of warmer weather in the state. In Bengaluru, the states capital renowned for its typically pleasant climate, maximum temperatures have already climbed noticeably in February 2026.

Since 21 February, readings have consistently exceeded 30 degrees Celsius, peaking at 32.8 degrees Celsius on 23 February, with other days recording 32.4 degrees on 22 February, 31.1 degrees on 24 February, and 31.6 degrees on 25 February. Such levels mark a departure from the usual February norms and signal the potential for intensified heat as summer approaches.

In a recent advisory, the IMD forecast that maximum temperatures are likely to remain above normal across most parts of Karnataka throughout the three-month period. This elevated heat could lead to acute heatwave conditions, increasing the risk of heat-related health issues such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, particularly among vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, outdoor workers, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

To help the public stay safe and minimise health risks, the IMD has provided clear, practical guidelines in its advisory:

Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty, to maintain hydration.

Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting cotton clothing to allow better air circulation and reduce heat absorption.

Protect yourself from direct sunlight by using sunglasses, an umbrella or hat, and comfortable shoes or sandals when stepping outdoors.

Avoid strenuous activities or working outside during peak heat hours, especially between noon and 3 p.m.

Carry water with you when travelling, and steer clear of dehydrating beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, and carbonated soft drinks.

Opt for hot, freshly prepared meals where possible, and incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables with high water content, including watermelon, oranges, grapes, pineapples, and cucumbers.

Increase consumption of green vegetables and fresh water.

Prepare and consume homemade cooling drinks like lemon water, buttermilk, or oral rehydration solution (ORS).

Never leave children or pets unattended in parked vehicles, as temperatures inside can rise rapidly to dangerous levels.

If you experience symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, or feeling unwell, seek medical attention immediately.

These measures are straightforward yet effective in combating the effects of extreme heat. Residents are encouraged to follow them diligently, stay informed through official IMD updates, and look out for one another during this warmer-than-usual period. With proactive steps, the public can reduce the impact of the anticipated above-normal temperatures and enjoy a safer summer across Karnataka.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 11:19 IST

News cities bengaluru-news Temperatures In Bengaluru Hit 30 C As IMD Warns Of Intense Heat In Karnataka, Issues Advisory For Summer

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111-km Ring Road To Cut Travel Time For Lord Jagannath Devotees

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 13:11 IST

NHAI has awarded contracts for Odishas 111-km Bhubaneswar Bypass from Rameshwar to Tangi, a project set to ease congestion and speed up regional travel

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Upon completion, the ring road is expected to significantly reduce congestion in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Khordha.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded contracts for the Capital Region Ring Road, popularly known as the Bhubaneswar Bypass Project, in Odisha.

The proposed project involves the construction of a 111-kilometre, six-lane, access-controlled greenfield ring road stretching from Rameshwar to Tangi. It will be executed in three packages under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and is targeted for completion within 30 months from the commencement of work.

Boost To Bhubaneswar And Puri Connectivity

Once operational, the ring road is expected to ease travel not only to Bhubaneswar but also for devotees and tourists heading to Puri and the shrine of Lord Jagannath. The corridor has been designed for a speed limit of 100 km per hour.

Package One: Rameshwar To Bilipada (40 Km)

Under Package One, M/S Patel Infrastructure Limited will construct a 40-kilometre stretch between Rameshwar and Bilipada.

Key components include:

12.4 km of service roads on both sides

Two interchanges

One railway overbridge

Ten minor bridges

142 culverts

One wayside amenity

Seven elevated underpasses

Eight structures comprising VUP, LVUP and SVUP

Package Two: Bilipada To Govindpur (30 Km)

M/S VRC Constructions (India) Limited has been awarded Package Two, covering a 30-kilometre stretch from Bilipada to Govindpur.

The scope of work includes:

7.2 km of service roads on both sides

Three interchanges

Eleven minor bridges

Ninety culverts

One wayside amenity

Three elevated underpasses

Three VUPs

Six LVUPs

Three SVUPs

Package Three: Govindpur To Tangi (40 Km)

Package Three has been assigned to M/S HG Infra Engineering Limited. This section spans 40 kilometres from Govindpur to Tangi, near Bandola Toll Plaza.

The construction plan includes:

10 km of service/slip roads on both sides

One interchange

Twenty-three minor bridges

Sixty-nine culverts

One wayside amenity

Two elevated underpasses

Six VUPs

Sixteen LVUPs

Three SVUPs

Expected Impact On Traffic And Economy

Upon completion, the ring road is expected to significantly reduce congestion in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Khordha. It will enhance regional connectivity, lower logistics costs and create thousands of employment opportunities.

The project is also anticipated to stimulate economic growth, improve road safety, reduce travel time and promote more environmentally sustainable transportation.

Strategic Importance For Eastern Odisha

The Capital Region Ring Road marks a major milestone in infrastructure development in eastern Odisha. It will strengthen the national highway network and support long-term urban and regional expansion.

Location : Bhubaneswar, India, India

First Published: March 04, 2026, 13:11 IST

News cities bhubaneswar 111-km Ring Road To Cut Travel Time For Lord Jagannath Devotees

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28-Year-Old Man Booked For Abusing Girlfriend, Assaulting Cop In Mumbai

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 20:27 IST

Gaurav Singh, 28, was booked for allegedly abusing and attempting to assault police at Santacruz station on March 1. He threatened to kill his girlfriend after a fight.

The incident occurred at around 3.52am on March 1, when police received a call from the 22-year-old woman saying she felt unsafe with her boyfriend at a restaurant in Khar West. (AI Image)

A 28-year-old man has booked for allegedly verbally abusing and attempting to assault police personnel at the Santacruz police station on March 1, said police.

Police said the man had repeatedly threatened to kill his 22 year-old girlfriend, Tanvi Jain, after they had a fight at a restaurant in Khar West during a party. At the party, the accused, Gaurav Singh, repeatedly abused his girlfriend following which police reached the spot and took both to police station.

Times of India quoted an officer saying that the incident occurred at around 3.52am on March 1, when police received a call from the 22-year-old woman saying she felt unsafe with her boyfriend at a restaurant in Khar West, and that he had allegedly physically assaulted her.

According to Free Press Journal, Jain stated that the two were at Laguna Restaurant and Bar for a party and while she was on her phone, Singh allegedly grew suspicious, abused her and assaulted her. Restaurant manager Astin Naik and Piyush Bhanushali told police that Singh also misbehaved with them when they intervened.

As the police suspected that he was under the influence of alcohol, they handcuffed him. At the police station, Singh allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend, and attempted to attack her inside the police station, the officer said.

During commotion, the man allegedly pushed a printer at the police station, causing it to fall and break. He also allegedly verbally abused cops and attempted to assault them," said police.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 20:27 IST

News cities mumbai-news 28-Year-Old Man Booked For Abusing Girlfriend, Assaulting Cop In Mumbai

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Big Relief For Travellers From Delhi To Other States As 2 Mega Expressways Near Completion

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 19:36 IST

Commuters from eastern and southern Delhi as well as Noida are expected to reach the UP border in nearly 15 minutes

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The 212-km Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is almost complete and is expected to open to the public after Holi 2026. (Representational Image)

Travellers heading home from Delhi to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for festivals next year may no longer have to struggle for space on crowded trains. Two major expressways connecting the national capital are nearing completion, promising faster and more comfortable road journeys.

The 212-km Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, being constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), is almost complete and is expected to open to the public after Holi this year. A trial run on the corridor has already been conducted.

The greenfield access-controlled expressway begins at Akshardham in Delhi and passes through Khekra, Shamli and Saharanpur before reaching Dehradun. Besides benefiting travellers from western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the corridor is expected to significantly ease connectivity for residents of eastern and southern parts of Delhi.

Once operational, the new route will make access to the Uttar Pradesh border far quicker. Commuters from eastern and southern Delhi as well as Noida are expected to reach the UP border in nearly 15 minutes. Motorists from south Delhi will be able to travel via Nizamuddin and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway to Akshardham, and then continue through the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway via Geeta Colony to enter Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, work on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, the countrys largest infrastructure project, is also progressing rapidly. The nearly 1,350-km, 8-lane corridor is close to completion, though some construction packages in Gujarat, particularly between Vadodara and Virar, are facing delays. Once fully operational, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Mumbai to around 12-13 hours, easing traffic congestion and boosting economic activity along the route.

In addition, the DND-Manesar Expressway (NH-148NA) is being developed to directly connect Delhi with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Beginning from the DND Flyway, the corridor will provide seamless connectivity for commuters from Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut, linking them directly to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway network.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 19:36 IST

News cities new-delhi-news Big Relief For Travellers From Delhi To Other States As 2 Mega Expressways Near Completion

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A Blend Of Smart Technology And Agriculture: Modern Farming As A Career In India

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 10:50 IST

Young farmers now use smartwatches and mobile apps for weather updates instead of traditional methods. The mantra of modern farming is less effort and higher yield.

Farming has evolved into a high-tech business, offering both profitability and respect. (AI Generated Image)

The farming landscape in India has undergone a dramatic transformation. The outdated belief that farming is only for those with no other work has been replaced with a new reality. Todays youth, armed with laptops and drones, are becoming agri-bosses." Farming has evolved into a high-tech business, offering both profitability and respect. Enhanced markets, accessible loans, and advanced technology have made farming so attractive that people are leaving their jobs to start agricultural ventures.

Modern young farmers now dominate the entire value chain, managing risks efficiently with mobile apps, precision farming, and direct customer engagement, reported News18 Hindi. From Punjabs fields to Keralas plantations, youth are proving that with the right vision and technology, farming can be highly profitable, shares SBP Pattabhi Rama Rao, Managing Director of Gourmet Popcornica Pvt. Ltd.

Income Potential in Modern Farming

Modern farming can be as lucrative as corporate jobs, with agri-preneurs achieving annual turnovers in lakhs and crores by not just selling crops, but also by engaging in seed businesses, processing, and direct retailing. For example, grading and processing popcorn can boost profits three to four times compared to regular corn. This has opened up numerous opportunities in exporting, agro-tourism, and organic branding. After the initial investment, a successful farm business can yield a net profit of 20% to 40%.

Diverse Crop Cultivation

Todays young farmers are diversifying their crops. Instead of sticking to wheat and rice, they grow high-demand crops like floriculture, expensive organic spices, and exotic vegetables, ensuring continuous income. These young farmers are becoming their own bosses and creating new employment opportunities in rural areas while earning substantial incomes.

Smart Technology in Farming

Young farmers now use smartwatches and mobile apps for weather updates instead of traditional methods. Drone-based fertilizer spraying and remote-controlled irrigation pumps have made farming both exciting and easy, akin to playing a video game. The mantra of modern farming is less effort and higher yield.

Success Stories Across States

In Andhra Pradesh, young farmers are revolutionising corn cultivation by partnering directly with major popcorn and snack companies, thus bypassing middlemen and boosting their profits. In Maharashtra and Punjab, youth are creating brands of grapes and pomegranates and exporting them globally, and in Punjab, they are achieving success through contract farming with agri-tech startups. In Rajasthan, millet cultivation is being revived, while in Kerala, a new trend of agritourism, known as farm stay, is gaining traction.

Government and Corporate Support

To attract youth to farming, easy loans and startup subsidies are now available. Through FPOs, small farmers collaborate like large companies, benefiting from cheaper fertilizers and seeds while selling their crops at higher prices. Farming has emerged as a viable career option, with youth leveraging skills in digital marketing and food processing to sell branded products rather than raw materials.

Building a Career in Farming

Starting a career in farming requires more than just experience; proper training and government certifications can elevate your business. Some of the best courses and certifications for young agri-preneurs include:

Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (AC&ABC) Scheme: This Government of India programme offers two months of training and loans up to Rs 20 lakh (with a 36% to 44% subsidy) to start an agri-business, ideal for those looking to open a fertilizer and seed shop, soil testing lab, or farm consultancy.

Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services (DAESI): A one-year programme to provide a deeper understanding of farming and market linkages.

MANAGE Hyderabads online courses: The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management offers several certificate courses on topics like agri-tech startups and value chain management.

NIDM (National Institute of Agricultural Marketing) Certification: Useful for those looking to export crops or create a brand, with courses on Agri-Business Management and Marketing.

Skill India  Agriculture Sector Skill Council: Offers short-term certifications such as Drone Pilot (for agriculture), Organic Farmer, or Greenhouse Operator. Drone pilots are in high demand in agriculture, and their earnings are impressive.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 10:50 IST

News education-career A Blend Of Smart Technology And Agriculture: Modern Farming As A Career In India

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GK: From Qatar To Germany, Which Countries Of The World Celebrate Holi?

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 12:43 IST

People in many other countries also enjoy getting drenched in colours during Holi. Interestingly, a study has shown that India is not the top country for Holi enthusiasm.

Despite being the birthplace of Holi, India ranks 8th on the list. (File Photo)

Today is March 4, 2026, and the entire country is celebrating Holi. Colours, gulal, water squirt guns, sweet gujiyas, and bhang thandai are everywhere. But did you know that Holi celebrations are not just limited to India? People in many other countries also enjoy getting drenched in colours during Holi. Interestingly, a study has shown that India is not the top country for Holi enthusiasm. According to India Somedays 2024 study and Google search trends, Qatar, a small Gulf country, tops the list.

Which are the top 10 countries with the most enthusiasm for Holi?

In 2024, data on the Worlds Most Holi-Obsessed Countries was released. This study examined Google searches for Holi festival," Holi celebration," and Holi date," as well as the number of celebrants relative to their population. Qatar emerged as the most passionate.

Number 1: Qatar  This small Gulf country celebrates Holi on a grand scale due to the Indian and expat community.

Number 2: Singapore  A significant Indian community here celebrates Holi with large events.

Number 3: Mauritius  Holi is celebrated with great pomp and show for two days. Holika Dahan is also performed, and traditional Phaag songs are sung.

Number 4: United Arab Emirates (UAE)  Large Holi parties occur in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Number 5: New Zealand  The Indian diaspora celebrates Holi on a large scale.

Number 6: Bahrain  Another Gulf country where Holi is celebrated enthusiastically.

Number 7: Britain  In cities like London and Birmingham, Holi is celebrated with Indian music, dance, and colours.

Number 8: India  Surprisingly, despite being the birthplace of Holi, India ranks 8th on this list.

Number 9: Germany  The Indian community there celebrates Holi as well.

Number 10: Switzerland  This European country is also very enthusiastic about Holi.

In Nepal, Holi lasts for a week. Known as Phagu Purnima, the celebrations begin a week earlier. In the hilly areas, the first day is celebrated with festivities, while in the Terai plains, the second day is marked by playing with colours. In Nepal, Holi is the largest festival after India.

In Mauritius, Holi spans two days and is a public holiday. In Fiji, islanders also spend two days immersed in colours. In Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, it is called Phagwah, where Chautal is sung, and Holika Dahan is performed. These countries, located in South America and the Caribbean, have significant populations of Indian origin.

Holi is celebrated in America, Australia, and Europe too. In the US, cities like New York and California host large Holi parties. Indian communities in Australia and South Africa also celebrate Holi with colours. In the UK, London and Birmingham host Holi events with Indian music and dance.

Tirgan of Iran: A festival very similar to Holi

Tirgan, celebrated in Iran, bears a resemblance to Holi. This festival has roots in ancient Iranian culture. During Tirgan, people throw water on each other, and now, in some places, colours are also used. The festival is associated with Tishtrya, the god of rain and harvest. The sacred Homa Amrit is prepared and offered. Since ancient times, there have been many similarities between the cultures of India and Iran, hence the similarities between Tirgan and Holi.

India is the birthplace of Holi. Here, Holi is celebrated by burning Holika and then playing with colours. This festival is linked to the story of Prahlad and Lord Narasimha, but today it has become so universal that Indian communities and local people in many countries around the world celebrate it with enthusiasm.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 12:43 IST

News education-career GK: From Qatar To Germany, Which Countries Of The World Celebrate Holi?

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10 Million Indians Live, Work In Gulf: Why Israel-Iran War Is Bringing Back 1990 Airlift Memories

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 17:28 IST

Why new Gulf crisis emerging from US-Israel-Iran war is bringing back memories of Great Evacuation of Indians in 1990s, which was the theme of the movie Airlift, News18 explains

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Indians returning from Dubai amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, upon their arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

Amid the US-Israel-Iran war, a new Gulf crisis is brewing, which could have direct and severe implications for India due to its massive diaspora and energy dependence.

Why this has brought back memories of the 1990 mass exodus of Indian disapora, News18 explains

Human impact and evacuation

Roughly 9.5 to 10 million Indians live and work in the Gulf region, primarily in the UAE (3.56 million), Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. As many as 37 Indian-flagged ships with over 1,000 seafarers are stuck in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the adjoining sea areas as the key shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz is closed due to the ongoing military actions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

At least one Indian national was confirmed killed on a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, MKD VYOM, hit by a projectile near Oman.

Hundreds are currently stranded in transit hubs like Dubai due to regional airspace closures. Over 250 flights were cancelled in a single day across major Indian airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai due to Middle Eastern airspace closures.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has reviewed large-scale evacuation plans, though no formal order has been issued as of March 4, 2026. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has scheduled 58 relief flights for March 4 (30 by IndiGo, 23 by Air India/Express) to move stranded passengers.

Energy and Economic Security

India imports 88-90% of its crude oil, with a significant portion transiting the now-threatened Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar, which supplies about two-thirds of Indias LNG, has halted production following drone strikes, forcing Indian firms to cut gas supplies to domestic industries. Crude oil prices jumped from ~$65 to over $72-73 per barrel in early March, with analysts warning of further spikes if the conflict persists.

The government states India has approximately 8 weeks (approx. 50-60 days) of total fuel inventory (crude and products) to manage short-term shocks, according to Al-Jazeera.

Freight and war-risk insurance premiums for cargo are expected to rise by 15% to 20%, increasing the cost of Indian exports.

Diplomatic Response

PM Narendra Modi has spoken to eight West Asian leaders (including Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and Israel) to advocate for dialogue and ensure the safety of Indian nationals.

Russia has reportedly offered to step up energy supplies to India to fill the gap left by Gulf disruptions.

India is maintaining a tightrope" walk, condemning attacks on partners while calling for restraint to protect its strategic interests with both Iran and Israel.

What had happened in 1990?

The 1990s Gulf Crisis, more commonly known as the Gulf War (19901991), was an international conflict triggered by Iraqs invasion and annexation of Kuwait on August 2, 1990.

Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, was heavily debt-ridden ($80 billion) following the eight-year Iran-Iraq War and pressured Kuwait to forgive its loans. Iraq accused Kuwait of slant drilling" into the shared Rumaila oil field and exceeding OPEC production quotas, which lowered global oil prices and damaged Iraqs economy.

Hussein asserted that Kuwait was historically part of Iraq, specifically the province of Basra.

The 1990s Gulf Crisis sparked one of the largest and most dramatic civilian evacuations in history, fundamentally changing Indias relationship with its diaspora.

The Great Evacuation And The Impact

When Iraq invaded Kuwait, approximately 170,000 Indians were stranded. The Indian government, led by the Ministry of External Affairs, organized a massive rescue operation.

Over a period of 59 days, Air India operated 488 flights to fly nearly 112,000 people from Amman, Jordan (where refugees had fled by bus) back to India. This remains the largest civilian evacuation by air ever recorded.

Thousands of Indians had to drive through the desert in makeshift convoys to reach the Jordanian border, often under harrowing conditions and facing food shortages.

The crisis had a severe immediate impact on the Indian economy. Thousands of high-earning professionals and laborers lost their jobs, businesses, and savings overnight. The sudden stop in Gulf money" contributed to Indias 1991 Global oil prices spiked, making Indias imports significantly more expensive at a time when its foreign exchange reserves were already dangerously low.

The event led India to create more robust mechanisms for protecting its citizens abroad, eventually leading to the creation of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (later merged back with the MEA).

Pop Culture: The event was famously dramatized in the 2016 Bollywood film Airlift, which highlighted the role of local Indian businessmen in Kuwait who coordinated with the government to save their community.

With Agency Inputs

First Published: March 04, 2026, 13:45 IST

News explainers 10 Million Indians Live, Work In Gulf: Why Israel-Iran War Is Bringing Back 1990 Airlift Memories

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There are quite a few differences between the tow hitches used in the U.S. and Canada, and those used in Europe. Understanding these differences can be very beneficial if you should ever find yourself in Europe with the need to tow something behind your vehicle. The differences in rules and regulations also reflect different approaches to towing in North America compared to Europe.

Tow hitches used in the U.S. and Canada usually fall into two different categories. There are fixed-tongue hitches, and there are receiver hitches. Whereas the fixed-tongue hitch is made in one solid piece, with the ball then being attached to the tongue, the receiver hitches can be used for more purposes than just towing. A receiver hitch can also carry a hammock, a lighting unit, a bike rack, a step, a cargo box, or even a safe for your valuables. The size of the ball on the tow hitch is usually either 2 inches  the standard size tow ball hitch  or 2 5/16 inches, which is the largest size designed for the heaviest loads.

The tow hitches that are commonly used in Europe feature a detachable tow bar or a swan-neck design with a 50 mm ball attached. These hitches are normally smaller than those used in North America, due to the fact that the trailers used in Europe are also smaller in overall size. The detachable style can be removed from your vehicle when it is not being used for towing.

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Read more: 5 Of The Most Reliable Engines Ever Put In A Pickup Truck

What else should you know about the differences in towing between America and Europe?

Volkswagen Touran towing a travel trailer in Europe - Typhoonski/Getty Images

In North America, the Society of Automotive Engineers has trailer hitch rating standards running from Class 1 through Class 4. Class 1 is the lowest, with a Gross Trailer Weight of up to 2,000 pounds and maximum tongue weight of 200 pounds. This is for towing items like a motorcycle or a jet ski. Class 4 is the highest rating, with Gross Trailer Weight of up to 10,000 pounds and a maximum tongue weight of 1,000 pounds, typically used by motorhomes and commercial-grade vehicles. There is also Class 5, for GTW over 10,000 pounds, but this class is not SAE-recognized. Check with the hitch manufacturer for information on how much weight you can tow in a safe manner. It's good to know that nearly any car can have a trailer hitch installed.

In Europe, there are regulations governing the combined weight and size of the trailer and the towing vehicle. EU regulations permit a combined length of 12 meters (39 feet, 4 inches), a maximum width of 2.55 meters (8 feet, 4 inches), and a maximum height of 4 meters (13 feet, 1 inch). Trailer-towing speed limits vary by country. For example, Germany allows a maximum of 80 km/h as standard and up to 100 km/h with a permit. In Italy, the maximum is 80 km/h on its highways, and France permits 130 km/h if the trailer is less than 3,500 kg, with a maximum of 110 km/h during rain.

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A War Too Close To Home: Why US Sinking Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena Matters To India

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 23:14 IST

The significance of this strike lies not just in the loss of life but in the strategic message it sends regarding the sanctity of the Indian Ocean

By sinking the vessel on its homeward transit, the United States has effectively declared that international waters are no longer a neutral sanctuary for Iranian assets. (File image)

In a lethal expansion of the current West Asia conflict, the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena on Wednesday marks a watershed moment for maritime security. Torpedoed by a US nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) just 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka, the incident brings a high-intensity Shadow War" into Indias primary zone of influence.

The significance of this strike lies not just in the loss of lifewith over 80 sailors feared deadbut in the strategic message it sends regarding the sanctity of the Indian Ocean.

A Shattered Sanctuary: From MILAN to the Abyss

The timing of the attack is particularly jarring for New Delhi. Only two weeks ago, the IRIS Dena was a featured participant in Indias MILAN 2026 naval exercise in Visakhapatnam. It had shared the same waters as the Indian Navy, ostensibly as part of a collective effort to ensure rules-based seas".

By sinking the vessel on its homeward transit, the United States has effectively declared that international waters are no longer a neutral sanctuary for Iranian assets. This is the first time a US submarine has sunk an enemy surface vessel since World War II, a move US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described as Quiet Death". The strike proves that Western military reach now extends far beyond the Persian Gulf, following Iranian warships into deep-water corridors traditionally considered safe" transit zones.

The Backyard Crisis: Threat to Indias Strategic Autonomy?

For India, the sinking is a diplomatic and security nightmare. The Indian Ocean is Indias maritime backyard", and the government has long championed the concept of the region as a Zone of Peace". The presence of active underwater warfare between two major powers so close to the Indian coastline undermines New Delhis role as the Net Security Provider" in the region.

The domestic political fallout has already begun, with opposition leaders questioning if the Indian government is ceding its sphere of influence to Washington and Tel Aviv. The incident forces India into a difficult corner: it must balance its growing strategic partnership with the US against the need to prevent the Indian Ocean from becoming a playground for foreign wars.

Economic Chokeholds and the Hormuz Tax

The economic implications are immediate and severe. India imports nearly 88% of its crude oil, with a significant portion of its energy and waterborne trade passing through the very lanes where the IRIS Dena went down.

Energy Security: With Iran claiming control over the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, any instability in the Indian Ocean creates a secondary chokepoint".

Maritime Insurance: The sinking has caused a spike in war-risk insurance premiums for commercial vessels. This Hormuz Tax" directly inflates the cost of fuel and essential goods in India, threatening to derail the countrys 2026 growth projections.

Trade Routes: The Mumbai-Singapore and Kochi-Europe lanes are vital economic arteries. A persistent submarine threat in these waters could force a massive naval realignment, stretching the Indian Navys resources thin as it attempts to escort commercial tankers.

A New Era of Deniable Warfare

The stealth and deniable" nature of a submarine strike allows for lethal force without the immediate escalation of an air or surface battle. However, it also creates an atmosphere of paranoia. In 2026, the Indian Ocean has transitioned from a trade-heavy corridor into a theatre of high-tech, underwater attrition. For India, the challenge is no longer just managing regional rivalries but preventing a global war from permanently altering the geography of its own security.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 23:14 IST

News explainers A War Too Close To Home: Why US Sinking Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena Matters To India

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Trump Has Unlimited Munitions But How Long Can Israel Sustain Iran War Amid Gaza, Lebanon Conflicts?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 17:29 IST

How long can Israel sustain Iran war based on current military, economic, and political factors? What about Gaza and Lebanon wars? News18 explains

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AFP File)

United States President Donald Trump, in a series of social media posts on March 3, asserted that the United States has a virtually unlimited supply" of munitions to sustain its military operations against Iran. But can Israel continue with the war" for that long?

Following a period of relative quiet in 2025 after Gaza conflict, Israel is currently engaged in a high-intensity military campaign alongside the United States, targeting Iran directly with the explicit goal of regime change.

How long can Israel sustain this level of conflict based on current military, economic, and political factors? News18 explains.

THREE KEY FACTORS

1. Military Sustainability

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have transitioned from a massive call-up of reserves to a more specialized, sustainable model, news reports suggest.

At the peak of the Gaza war, Israel activated 300,000 reservists. For 2026, the military has capped the number of active reservists at any given time to 40,00060,000.

In 2026, the standard reserve duty has been reduced to 5560 days per year (down from several months in 20242025). This move is designed to prevent burnout" and allow the civilian economy to function.

While Israel has air supremacy" in the current strikes on Iran, replenishing high-tech surprise box" munitions is a bottleneck. Military analysts suggest Israel could sustain the current intensity for roughly 4 to 8 weeks before needing a significant pause to restock advanced assets.

2. Economic Constraints

Israels economy has shown resilience, but the War of Redemption" (as the government now calls it) is placing a heavy burden on the state.

The national debt reached 69% of GDP by late 2024 and remains elevated.

Paradoxically, the economy grew by 3.1% in 2025, driven by massive defense spending and a recovery in the tech sector. However, the current March 2026 offensive against Iran has already cost an additional 1525 billion NIS.

To fund the war, the government increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 18%. Economists warn that while Israel can afford a short, sharp" war with Iran, a multi-year direct conflict would risk a severe credit downgrade.

3. Political and International Pressure

President Donald Trumps return to office has provided Israel with significant military and diplomatic cover for the current campaign against Iran. Trump has publicly suggested the offensive could last another four weeks to achieve its objectives.

The duration is increasingly tied to the stability of the region. As Iran strikes back at Gulf neighbors (UAE, Saudi Arabia) and blocks the Strait of Hormuz, global energy prices have soared. International pressure to end the war will likely peak if global oil and gas supplies remain choked for more than a month

Is ISRAEL STILL FIGHTING GAZA WAR?

Israel is currently 2 years and 5 months into the broader conflict that began on October 7, 2023.

While Gaza remains a conflict zone, it is no longer the primary front for the IDF, which is now engaged in a direct high-intensity war with Iran (Operation Roaring Lion). Most of Israels elite divisions have been moved from Gaza to the northern border with Lebanon (to counter Hezbollah) and to provide air defense against Iranian ballistic missile waves. A Special Home Front Situation" is currently in effect for all of Israel, as Iranian missiles have struck Tel Aviv and Ashkelon in the last 48 hours.

The IDF maintains a permanent military presence in Gaza, behind what is now called the Yellow Line." Approximately 117 UNRWA facilities and several humanitarian zones are located within Israeli-militarized sectors where access is strictly controlled by the IDF.

A formal ceasefire was established in October 2025; however, it is extremely fragile. Since that ceasefire began, nearly 500 Palestinians have been killed in sporadic flare-ups and mop-up" operations.

As of March 2, 2026, Israel has renewed a chokehold" on supplies entering the strip. All major crossing points were closed following the start of the war with Iran on February 28, though some have reportedly begun to reopen for limited aid.

There is ongoing discussion regarding the Gaza 2026: Board of Peace," a National Transitional Committee intended to manage civilian life, though the current regional war has frozen most political progress on this front.

The war in Gaza has effectively become a frozen conflict" that Israel manages with a smaller force, while the bulk of its national resources is now directed at the direct confrontation with Iran.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO LEBANON?

Israel has moved from border skirmishes" to a limited ground invasion as of yesterday, March 3, 2026.

The IDF has authorised troops to advance beyond the initial five positions held since 2024 to seize dominant terrain." The goal is to push Hezbollah forces back so they cannot use anti-tank missiles on Israeli border towns.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is conducting near-daily strikes on the Dahiya district and Hezbollah-linked media outlets like Al-Manar.

Israel has issued warnings to the Lebanese government: if the Lebanese Army does not disarm Hezbollah, Israel will begin striking national infrastructure (power grids, bridges, etc.).

HOW DO ISRAELIS FEEL? FROM FOREIGN MEDIA REPORTS

The sentiment among Israelis is a mix of high-stakes adrenaline, exhaustion, and pre-emptive" relief. The country is currently in the middle of a massive regional war (Operation Roaring Lion) following the strikes on Iran that began on February 28, reported Al-Jazeera.

The mood in Israel is currently dominated by the Special Home Front Situation" declared after Iranian retaliatory strikes hit Tel Aviv and other major cities.

Many Israelis view the current offensive against Iran as the inevitable end of the beginning." There is a strong sense that after 2.5 years of proxy wars with Hamas and Hezbollah, a direct hit on the head of the snake" (Iran) is the only way to ever go back to normal life.

There is overwhelming local pressure from displaced residents of northern Israel to finish the job" in Lebanon. Many say they will not return to their homes unless the IDF creates a permanent, deep buffer zone that prevents any direct fire.

A vocal minority and many reservists are expressing deep fatigue. After 29 months of intermittent service, there is cynicism about whether Prime Minister Netanyahu is pursuing total victory" to secure his own political survival ahead of the 2026 elections.

Ben Gurion Airport is currently closed to commercial flights. Most Israelis are living between work and bomb shelters, relying on the Home Front Command app for real-time alerts.

With Agencies inputs

First Published: March 04, 2026, 16:47 IST

News explainers Trump Has Unlimited Munitions But How Long Can Israel Sustain Iran War Amid Gaza, Lebanon Conflicts?

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Iran Attacks US Data Centres In Gulf: Have They Become New Oil Fields In Modern Warfare? Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 13:06 IST

2 Amazon Web Services centres in UAE, 1 in Bahrain struck: Data centres' computing power, how 1 unit can cripple thousands of organisations, from banks to govt agencies, explained

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A data centre owned by Amazon Web Services, front right, is under construction next to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Berwick. (AP File)

Iranian drone and missile strikes have now targeted Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. These attacks highlight a shift in modern warfare where data centres have become strategically as vital as oil refineries.

The modern warfare and new targets, explained

The AWS strikes

Two AWS data centres in the United Arab Emirates were directly struck" by drones, causing structural damage and fires. A third facility in Bahrain was damaged by a drone strike in close proximity.

The strikes led to power outages, structural damage, and the activation of fire suppression systems, which caused further water damage to server racks.

Major services including Amazon EC2, Amazon S3, and DynamoDB experienced significant error rates and outages across the region.

The companys cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services, said late Monday that two data centres in the United Arab Emirates were directly struck" and another facility in Bahrain was also damaged after a drone landed nearby. These strikes have caused structural damage, disrupted power delivery to our infrastructure, and in some cases required fire suppression activities that resulted in additional water damage," AWS said in an update on its online dashboard.

Satellite images show damage to Natanz nuclear facility in Iran; Iran Revolutionary Guards headquarters also targeted pic.twitter.com/i3vrxPPAHe News18 (@CNNnews18) March 4, 2026

What are data centres? What do the attacks mean?

An Amazon data centre, part of Amazon Web Services or AWS, is a massive physical facility that houses thousands of computer servers, storage systems, and networking hardware. These centres serve as the engine" for much of the modern internet, powering everything from AI models and streaming services to government systems.

Many are hyperscale data centres, covering millions of square feet and housing 5,000 to 50,000+ servers each. As of early 2026, AWS operates more than 900 facilities globally across 50+ countries.

Each AWS region is split up into at least three data centre availability zones, with each zone isolated and physically separated by a meaningful distance," although they are all within 100 km of each other and connected by ultra-low-latency networks" that reduce the time lag for data transmission.

AWS says its data centres have redundant water, power, telecom, and internet connections so we can maintain continuous operations in an emergency." They also have physical security, but those measures, including security guards, fences, video surveillance and alarm systems, are designed to keep out intruders rather than defend against missile attacks.

Mike Chapple, an IT professor at the University of Notre Dames Mendoza College of Business said the attacks are a reminder that cloud computing isnt magical" and still requires physical facilities on the ground, which are vulnerable to all sorts of disaster scenarios." Data centres run by AWS and other operators are massive facilities that are hard to hide, he added.

Organisations using services from any cloud provider in the Middle East should immediately take steps to shift their computing to other regions," Chapple said.

Damage to three Amazon Web Services facilities in the Middle East from Iranian drone strikes highlights the rapid growth of data centres in the region, as well as the industrys vulnerability to conflict.

Unlike previous AWS disruptions involving software that resulted in widespread global outages, these attacks involving physical damage appear to have resulted only in localised and limited disruption.

Why data centres have become strategic war targets?

According to experts, data centres are now the new oil fields" of warfare for several critical reasons:

Concentrated Impact: Data centres house enormous computing power in centralised locations. Disabling one facility can simultaneously cripple thousands of organisations, from banks to government agencies, according to an India Today assessment.

Military & Intelligence Hubs: Modern militaries and governments rely heavily on cloud infrastructure for logistics, communication, and intelligence gathering, according to news reports.

Economic Instability: Cloud services support digital payments, e-commerce, and financial markets. Disrupting these services can quickly lead to widespread economic chaos and investor uncertainty.

Revenge Against AI Warfare: Reports indicate the U.S. military used AI tools (including Anthropics Claude) to plan strikes against Iran. Targeting AWS may be a retaliatory move against the digital infrastructure that enables such technology.

Physical Vulnerability: Despite advanced cybersecurity, data centres remain massive physical targets that are difficult to hide and defend against sustained missile or drone waves.

#BreakingNews | US President Donald Trump will reportedly meet US defence contractors amid escalating tensions in the Middle East @akankshaswarups shares more details@GenRajan and Sanjay K Verma share their insights@ShivaniGupta_5 | #WestAsiaWar #MiddleEastConflict pic.twitter.com/BIJjbKrJVw News18 (@CNNnews18) March 4, 2026

What next?

Amazon Web Services hosts many of the worlds most-used online services, providing behind-the-scenes cloud computing infrastructure to many government departments, universities and businesses. The company advised customers using servers in the Middle East to migrate to other regions, and direct online traffic away from the UAE and Bahrain.

Amazon has generally configured its services so that the loss of a single data centre would be relatively unimportant to its operations," said Mike Chapple, an IT professor at the University of Notre Dames Mendoza College of Business.

Other data centres in the same zone can take over, and most of the time this happens seamlessly every day to balance workloads, he said. That said, the loss of multiple data centres within an availability zone could cause serious issues, as things could reach a point where there simply isnt enough remaining capacity to handle all the work." Amazon doesnt typically disclose the exact number of data centres it operates around the world.

It says only that its data centres are clustered in 39 geographic regions, with three such regions in the Middle East, covering the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel.

AWS advised customers in the Middle East to back up data and migrate workloads to unaffected regions. AWS reported that UAE facilities were making progress toward full restoration, though the volatile security environment remains unpredictable.

Amazon shares fell by approximately 2.7% in premarket trading following the news of the strikes.

With PTI, Agency Inputs

First Published: March 04, 2026, 11:39 IST

News explainers Iran Attacks US Data Centres In Gulf: Have They Become New Oil Fields In Modern Warfare? Explained

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Preparing Iranians For Revolt? Hidden Motive Behind US-Israel Strikes On Internal Security Apparatus

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 17:28 IST

The goal of the US-Israel attacks targeting Irans internal security and military command is to get Iranians to overthrow the Islamic Republic, say experts. News18 explains

Rapid Read

Smoke billows as Israel and the US launched joint strikes in Tehran on Saturday. (Israeli Air Force via PTI)

Even as Israel and the United States carry out their massive military campaign against Iran, one key aspect of the fight stands out  Israels efforts to dismantle Irans internal security apparatus.

The stated goal is to degrade the police state" to a point where a popular revolt can overthrow the Islamic Republic, according to the Wall Street Journal analysis. What does it mean? Explained.

INTERNAL SECURITY, MILITARY COMMAND ATTACKS: JUNE 2025 TO MARCH 2026

From June 2025 to March 2026, Israel and the US carried out several high-intensity operations targeting the core of Irans internal security and military command.

JUNE 2025: OPERATION RISING LION

June 13: A massive strike on the IRGC Joint Headquarters in Tehran killed Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami and Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri.

June 14: Israeli jets struck the Ministry of Defense and the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), Irans top military R&D hub.

ALSO READ | Did Iran Destroy USs $1.1-Billion Ballistic Radar At Qatar Base? Satellite Images Confirm Damage

June 15: Precision strikes targeted the IRGC Intelligence Organization, killing its commander, Mohammad Kazemi, and his deputy.

June 18: Israel reported the total destruction of the Internal Security Headquarters in Tehran following a wave of strikes by approximately 50 fighter jets June 21, 2025: The headquarters of the Iranian Cyber Police (FATA) in Tehran sustained heavy damage from an Israeli airstrike.

June 23: Strikes hit Evin Prison and the Basij Paramilitary Headquarters in Tehran, significantly weakening the regimes primary tools for domestic suppression.

FEBRUARYMARCH 2026: OPERATION ROARING LION

February 28: A joint U.S.-Israeli strike destroyed the Pasteur Street Compound, the nerve center of the leadership, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his inner security circle.

March 1: The IDF leveled the General Staff of the Internal Security Forces and the Thar-Allah Headquarters, which is responsible for the security of Tehran. Airstrikes destroyed the Tehran Revolutionary Court, a key judicial-security institution used to prosecute political dissidents.

March 3: Coordinated strikes hit the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and the Law Enforcement Command (LEC) headquarters in Marivan.

NON-KINETIC & CYBER ATTACKS

June 2025: The Predatory Sparrow" hacker group paralyzed Bank Sepah, the financial institution responsible for military and security personnel salaries.

February 2026: A massive cyber offensive reduced Irans national internet connectivity to just 4%, effectively blinding the internal security apparatuss digital communication during the kinetic strikes.

TARGETING THE REPRESSION APPARATUS

The strikes have expanded from initial military and nuclear targets to focus heavily on the infrastructure used to suppress domestic dissent:

Basij Paramilitary Forces: Dozens of command centers and bases belonging to the Basijthe volunteer militia responsible for cracking down on protestershave been struck in Tehran and other major cities like Isfahan and Tabriz.

ALSO READ | Iran Strikes Amazon Web Services: Data Centres Are New Oil Fields? The Modern Warfare Explained

Law Enforcement Command (LEC): Strikes have specifically targeted LEC headquarters (the first line of defense against protests), particularly in restive regions like Kurdistan Province, where the 20222023 Mahsa Amini protests were most intense.

Propaganda & Communications: The Israeli Air Force destroyed the Iranian governments main communications center (Iranian TV) and Hezbollah-linked media outlets like al-Manar to disrupt the regimes ability to broadcast propaganda and coordinate its forces.

THE SYSTEMIC DECAPITATION DECODED

Israeli officials have shifted from weakening" Tehran to an explicit push for regime change, according to The Wall Street Journal assessment.

Parallel to the kinetic strikes, a massive cyber operation reduced Irans internet connectivity to 4% of normal levels, effectively blinding security forces and preventing them from coordinating a response to either external attacks or potential internal uprisings.

By neutralising missile launchers (over 300 destroyed as of March 3) and internal security bases, the coalition aims to protect Israeli and U.S. interests while signaling to the Iranian public that the regime can no longer protect its own infrastructure, according to international media reports.

Iran has responded with Operation True Promise 4, launching hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, the UAE, and Qatar. One such strike damaged the U.S. AN/FPS-132 radar in Qatar.

With agency inputs

First Published: March 04, 2026, 13:11 IST

News explainers Preparing Iranians For Revolt? Hidden Motive Behind US-Israel Strikes On Internal Security Apparatus

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Missile Math: How Weapons Shortages Could Shape The Israel-Iran War

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 10:54 IST

The Iran-Israel war has become a battle of stockpiles---a salvo competition where each side rapidly fires off precision weapons and watches inventories shrink

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Pieces of missiles and drones recovered after Irans strikes are displayed during a press briefing by the UAE government held in Abu Dhabi. (AFP)

The war that erupted after the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran has, in a short span of time, turned into a war of attrition where analysts believe the outcome may hinge not just on battlefield victories but on who has deeper ammunition reserves and can sustain fire the longest.

According to defence experts quoted by The Guardian, the latest phase of the war might be decided by something far more mechanicalhow many missiles, interceptors and drones each side has, and how fast those inventories get depleted.

Cheap Drones Vs Expensive Interceptors

According to Gulf News, a central part of the dynamic is what analysts call missile math". Iran has been firing large numbers of relatively inexpensive attack drones, such as the Shahed series, each costing roughly $20,000-$50,000.

In contrast, defenders like the United States, Israel and Gulf allies must use high-end interceptor missiles to shoot them down. For example, Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles can cost roughly $4 million each, according to US officials and regional reports. Other interceptor types like THAAD can cost even more at around $12 million per missile, NDTV reported.

This creates a stark economic imbalance: Iran can launch waves of cheap drones that force defenders to expend vast numbers of costly missiles just to keep the skies clear.

Who Runs Out First?

Defence analysts speaking to The Guardian said the Iran-Israel war has become a battle of stockpilesa salvo competition" where each side rapidly fires off precision weapons and watches inventories shrink.

They believe that Irans drones and missiles are designed to stretch defenders supplies thin, not necessarily to win air superiority outright. While the Gulf states and US partners are intercepting drones and missiles, the speed of consumption far exceeds the pace of production for expensive interceptors.

According to Bloomberg, one defence expert described the conflict as a race between Irans missile launches and drone swarms, and US and allied strikes on those launch capabilities. This essentially means how quickly defenders can degrade Irans ability to fire more weapons.

Because Irans drones are cheap and easy to produce, they present a numbers game: each round of strikes can force defenders to spend millions to counter what Tehran can launch for a fraction of the cost, The Economic Times reported.

Why Are Interceptor Stocks Strained?

Its not just about the number of interceptors already in stock but also about how quickly they can be replaced or produced.

To begin with, modern interceptor missiles are complex and costly to build, and production rates are limited. Defence officials warn that consumption rates in the Middle East now rival or exceed inventories not just there, but globally, including systems reserved for other theaters like Europe or the Indo-Pacific.

Even US officials have acknowledged the possibility that if the conflict drags on, missile supplies could become a decisive constraint, ET reported.

What Does This Mean In War?

According to The Guardian, if interceptor missiles and defence munitions start to run dangerously low, defenders may face gaps in air defence coverage, potentially forcing them to adopt different tactics or reduce offensive pressures.

Also, countries reliant on US interceptors, including Gulf states, may push for a de-escalation or negotiated pause to avoid exhausting critical stocks.

However, conversely, if Irans own stocks of missiles and drones diminish faster than expected, its capacity to sustain attacks could be weakened, potentially creating pressure within Tehran to adjust strategy, The Atlantic reported.

Some analysts argue that in this kind of attritional warfare, victory isnt just a battlefield outcome but a logistical one where industrial capacity and reserve depth matter as much as military tactics.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 10:54 IST

News explainers Missile Math: How Weapons Shortages Could Shape The Israel-Iran War

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Nepal Elections: The Rich, Powerful Families With Peak Political Influence In Himalayan Country

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 20:02 IST

These powerful families continue to exert significant influence over Nepal's political and economic landscape

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(From left) Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), Gagan Thapa and Sher Bahadur Deuba. (AP File)

While Nepal transitioned from a monarchy to a federal democratic republic in 2008, several powerful families continue to exert significant influence over its political and economic landscape. This influence often stems from historical dynastic roots or decades-long dominance in political parties.

With Nepal set to hold the House of Representatives elections on March 5, the first since last years deadly Gen-Z protests that toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led coalition government, a look at the key families.

DOMINANT POLITICAL DYNASTIES

Several political clans" have controlled specific constituencies and high-ranking government positions for generations:

Koirala Family: One of the oldest and most powerful dynasties within the Nepali Congress (NC). The family has produced four Prime Ministers  Matrika Prasad, B.P., Girija Prasad, and Sushil Koirala. Current prominent figures include Dr. Shashanka Koirala and Dr. Shekhar Koirala, both of whom maintain strong influence in their respective constituencies.

Deuba-Rana Family: A major force in the Nepali Congress led by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. His wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, is a high-ranking politician and former Foreign Minister.

ALSO READ | Nepal Votes Tomorrow: Parties To Contenders For PM Post In First Poll After Gen-Z Protests Explained

Dahal Family: Central to the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), led by three-time former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda). His family members, such as daughter-in-law Bina Magar, have also held significant political seats.

Thapa (KC) Family: A senior family in the Nepali Congress, represented by veteran leader Arjun Narasingha KC and his son-in-law Gagan Thapa, who is the partys General Secretary and a prime ministerial candidate for 2026.

HISTORICAL RULING FAMILIES

Historically, power in Nepal was concentrated among four noble families of the Chhetri caste, who dominated the royal court and military for centuries:

Shah Dynasty: The royal house that ruled Nepal from its unification in 1768 until 2008. Former King Gyanendra Shah remains a private citizen in Kathmandu, though pro-monarchy movements occasionally rally for the familys return.

Rana Dynasty: This family held hereditary control of the Prime Ministers office from 1846 to 1951, reducing the Shah kings to figureheads. While no longer ruling, the family remains part of Nepals social and economic elite.

Thapa, Pande, and Basnyat Families: These aristocratic clans served as the primary military and administrative elites (Kazis) of the Gorkha Kingdom, frequently contesting for central power before the rise of the Ranas.

ECONOMIC POWERHOUSES

Beyond politics, certain families control the nations largest business conglomerates:

Chaudhary Family: Led by Binod Chaudhary, Nepals first billionaire and head of the Chaudhary Group (CG). The familys influence extends into hospitality, finance, and consumer goods (most notably the Wai Wai noodle brand).

Shah and Rana Business Interests: Former royal family members, including Gyanendra Shah, maintain vast investments in major sectors such as hotels (Soaltee Hotel), tobacco, and tea plantations.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 19:57 IST

News explainers Nepal Elections: The Rich, Powerful Families With Peak Political Influence In Himalayan Country

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Nepal Votes Today: Parties To Contenders For PM Post In First Poll After Gen-Z Protests Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 23:50 IST

Nepal elections on March 5: With more than 18.9 million eligible voters set to vote, a look at the top parties, contenders for the PM post and how they are wooing the Gen-Z voters

Rapid Read

A polling official makes final arrangements at a polling station ahead of Nepals parliamentary elections at Durbar Square in Kathmandu on Wednesday. (PTI)

Nepal is set to hold the House of Representatives elections on March 5, the first since last years deadly Gen-Z protests that toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led coalition government.

More than 18.9 million eligible voters will exercise their voting rights on Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm. The government has announced a three-day holiday starting from March 4 to encourage participation of voters.

THE STAGE IS SET

Around 41.15 million ballot papers, both for first past the post (FPTP) or direct election and proportionate voting system, have reached all 165 constituencies in all 77 districts across the country, said Nepals Election Commission (EC) spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai had said last week.

ALSO READ | Nepal Elections: The Rich, Powerful Families With Peak Political Influence In Himalayan Country

The EC said voters education programmes were conducted in all 753 local level bodies across the country from February 15 to March 1. The EC has already instructed political parties and candidates to make their election campaign in a modest and civilised manner".

During the HoR election, altogether 275 Parliament members, 165 under direct voting and 110 under proportionate voting system, will be elected. The government has arranged full-proof security under the coordination of Nepal Army by deploying more than 330,000 security personnel.

MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN FRAY

The 2026 election is largely a three-way contest between the established old guard" and a surging new movement:

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP): A centrist, reformist party formed in 2022 that has become the party to beat" after aligning with the youth-led protest agenda.

Nepali Congress (NC): The countrys oldest party, now led by Gagan Thapa (49), who positions himself as the face of generational change within the establishment.

CPN (UML): Led by former PM K.P. Sharma Oli (74), this communist party maintains a deep traditional voter base but faces intense scrutiny for its role in the 2025 crackdown.

Other Players: The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) (a newly unified bloc of former Maoist and socialist groups led by Prachanda) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which advocates for the restoration of the monarchy.

FRONT-RUNNERS FOR THE POST OF PRIME MINISTER

Balendra Balen" Shah (RSP): The 35-year-old rapper and former Mayor of Kathmandu is widely considered the front-runner. He is challenging K.P. Sharma Oli directly in the Jhapa-5 constituency.

Gagan Thapa (Nepali Congress): A popular former youth leader who was elected party president in January 2026 to modernise the partys image.

K.P. Sharma Oli (CPN-UML): Despite being ousted by protests, the veteran leader is seeking a comeback, framing the election as a choice for stability.

Current Interim PM: Sushila Karki, the first female Chief Justice and first female Prime Minister of Nepal, is currently serving in a caretaker capacity and is not contesting the election.

THE GEN Z PROTEST OF SEPTEMBER 2025

The uprising, often called the Gen Z Revolution, was a series of youth-led demonstrations from September 813, 2025 that led to the total collapse of the government.

The immediate spark was a government ban on 26 social media platforms (including TikTok and WhatsApp). This ignited long-simmering anger over rampant corruption, high youth unemployment, and the flaunting of wealth by nepo kids" (children of political elites) on those same platforms.

The protests turned into a Day of Rage on September 8 when security forces used live ammunition, killing at least 19 people on the first day. Total casualties reached at least 76 deaths and over 2,000 injuries.

Protesters stormed and burned several government buildings, including the Federal Parliament and the Prime Ministers residence. This forced the resignation of PM K.P. Sharma Oli on September 9, 2025.

In a unique move, Gen Z leaders used a Discord server with over 100,000 members to hold a mini-election" to nominate Sushila Karki as their preferred interim leader, a choice the President and Army eventually accepted.

HOW ARE THE KEY PARTIES WOOING GEN-Z VOTERS?

Nepals political parties are aggressively targeting the youth  particularly the 800,000 first-time voters who spearheaded the September 2025 protests. Strategies range from direct financial incentives and digital promises to structural reforms aimed at ending the old age club" of veteran leaders. The Gen Z movement" has forced even traditional parties to repack and resell" themselves using youth-friendly language.

After its previous government banned TikTok and other social media, the CPN-UML is now offering 10 GB of free monthly mobile data for those aged 1828. The party has pledged 1 million jobs in five years.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is pledging 1.2 million domestic jobs over five years to curb youth migration abroad. The Nepali Congress (NC) is promising 1.5 million jobs (300,000 annually) and a sustainable economy".

Generational Leadership Shift

The Nepali Congress (NC) is now led by Gagan Thapa, 49, who actively campaigns to end the era of revolving veteran leaders". The RSPs has fielded popular youth icons like rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah and high-profile technocrats like Kulman Ghising.

Unique methods

Parties are also using innovative methods to appeal to the broader electorates demand for accountability.

The RSP has introduced a Citizen Contract"a legally-styled document with thumbprints and penalty clauses" that allow voters to punish" them at the next election if specific targets arent met. The RSP manifesto calls for strict term limits: one term for President, two for Prime Minister, and three for Ministers. Several parties, including the RSP and the newly formed Gen Z-led groups, are demanding a directly elected executive system and voting rights for Nepalis living abroad.

Parties across the spectrum, including the interim government, are prioritizing total digitization of government services to reduce the corruption that triggered the 2025 uprising. Independent candidates and small parties like Ujyalo Nepal are focusing on specific technocratic goals, such as massive hydroelectric expansion to drive energy independence.

With PTI Inputs

First Published: March 04, 2026, 18:21 IST

News explainers Nepal Votes Today: Parties To Contenders For PM Post In First Poll After Gen-Z Protests Explained

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Strait Talk: How Hormuz, At The Centre Of The West Asia War, Got Its Name And Power

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 21:05 IST

For India, the Strait of Hormuz is more than a distant flashpoint; it is a vital economic artery. New Delhis stakes in the 2026 crisis are exceptionally high

An oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. File Image

The Strait of Hormuz is often described as the worlds most important oil chokepoint", a title that has never been more literal than it is today. As the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States spills over into the high seas, this narrow waterwayjust 33 km wide at its narrowest pointhas become the epicentre of a global energy crisis.

The Sacred Gate: How Hormuz Got its Name

The name sounds ancient and mythic because it is. Most historians trace the word Hormuz" to the Middle Persian name Hormoz, which is a linguistic evolution of Ahura Mazda, the supreme deity of wisdom and light in Zoroastrianism. For ancient Persians, the strait was not just a shipping lane but a sacred thresholdthe passage of Ahura Mazda"separating the heart of the empire from the open oceans.

In the medieval period, the name became synonymous with the Kingdom of Hormuz, a wealthy maritime thalassocracy that controlled regional trade between the 11th and 17th centuries. Travellers like Marco Polo described it as the jewel in the ring of the world". While some folk etymologies suggest the name means Place of Dates" (Hur-Muz), the spiritual connection to the ancient Persian deity remains the most historically supported origin.

History of a Chokepoint: From Spices to Petroleum

Throughout history, whoever controlled Hormuz controlled the wealth of the East. In the 1500s, the Portuguese occupied Hormuz Island to monopolise the spice trade between India and Europe. By the 20th century, the jewel" had shifted from spices to black gold".

During the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, the Tanker War" saw hundreds of vessels attacked in these waters, though the strait never fully closed. Its unique geographywhere the deep-water shipping lanes lie within the territorial waters of Iran and Omangrants Tehran an asymmetric" leverage over the global economy that few other nations possess.

Context 2026: The Hormuz Blockade

As of this week, the geopolitical risk has turned into operational reality. Following the death of Irans Supreme Leader on February 28, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared the strait effectively closed" to commercial shipping.

This is not a formal legal blockade but a risk-driven halt". With insurance providers withdrawing war risk coverage and the IRGC claiming total control, tanker traffic has dropped by nearly 80%. The recent sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a US submarine south of Sri Lanka has only intensified the standoff, as Iran now views any vessel transiting the area as a potential target for retaliation.

The Indian Interest: A Vulnerable Backyard

For India, the Strait of Hormuz is more than a distant flashpoint; it is a vital economic artery. New Delhis stakes in the 2026 crisis are exceptionally high:

The Energy Umbilical Cord: India is the worlds third-largest oil consumer and imports over 88% of its crude oil. Roughly half of these imports pass through Hormuz from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The LPG/LNG Crisis: Unlike crude oil, for which India has 10 days of strategic reserves, there are no significant structural buffers for LPG (80% imported via Hormuz) and LNG (60% imported via Hormuz). A prolonged closure would lead to immediate domestic rationing of cooking gas and power.

The Hormuz Tax: With maritime insurance premiums surging by 50% this week, the cost of every litre of petrol and diesel in India is facing a war premium", pushing Brent crude prices toward the $100 mark.

Strategic Realignment

The Indian Navy has reportedly moved into a Net Security Provider" role, deploying destroyers like the INS Chennai to escort Indian-flagged tankers. However, as the conflict expands into the Indian Ocean, India faces the daunting task of securing trade routes that stretch far beyond its traditional Zone of Peace".

First Published: March 04, 2026, 21:05 IST

News explainers Strait Talk: How Hormuz, At The Centre Of The West Asia War, Got Its Name And Power

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Holi At 14,300 Feet: ITBP Celebrates Festival Of Colours With Villagers Near Pangong Lake | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 09:36 IST

Troops of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), under the North West Frontier command, celebrated Holi with local families amid the frozen expanse of Pangong Lake.

ITBP celebrates Holi with villagers at Pangong Lake.

At 14,300 feet above sea level, colours bloomed against a frozen horizon. On the icy banks of Pangong Lake, the ITBP troops of the North West Frontier celebrated Holi with residents of the nearby villages.

Sharing the video of the celebration, the ITBP took to X and wrote, Holi at 14,300 ft! Amid the frozen expanse of Pangong Lake (14,300 ft), ITBP troops of North West Frontier celebrated Holi with residents of Vibrant villages."

Local children presented a lively cultural programme, adding colour & warmth to the high-altitude celebrations," the post added.

Holi at 14,300 ft! Amid the frozen expanse of Pangong Lake (14,300 ft), #ITBP troops of North West Frontier celebrated Holi with residents of Vibrant villages.Local children presented a lively cultural programme, adding colour & warmth to the high-altitude celebrations. pic.twitter.com/F1TugaTrxs  ITBP (@ITBP_official) March 4, 2026

Troops of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), stationed in this remote frontier under the North West Frontier command, celebrated Holi with local families.

The ITBP troops were seen dancing and enjoying on Holi songs across the beautiful landscape, momentarily transforming the stark terrain into a stage of joy.

In a place where survival itself demands resilience, Holi became more than a festival  it became a symbol of unity.

Soldiers and villagers stood shoulder to shoulder, sharing sweets, colours, and smiles. Amid the frozen expanse of Pangong Lake, humanity proved that even at 14,300 feet, the spirit of India beats warm and strong.

Location : Ladakh, India, India

First Published: March 04, 2026, 09:36 IST

News india Holi At 14,300 Feet: ITBP Celebrates Festival Of Colours With Villagers Near Pangong Lake | Watch

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Indian Army Foils Infiltration Bid Along LoC In Jammu And Kashmir's Rajouri

Curated By :

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 11:21 IST

The Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir.

Image used for representation

The Indian Army on Wednesday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Bhimber Gali area of Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district after detecting suspicious terrorist movement during the early hours, officials said.

Based on specific intelligence inputs and continuous surveillance, troops observed movement of suspected terrorists near the LoC and responded swiftly, foiling an infiltration attempt, said the army in a post on X.

Following the incident, additional troops were deployed in the area, and surveillance has been heightened with the support of ground and aerial assets to ensure safety of citizens in the region.

Own troops have been reoriented to ensure relentless domination of the area, supported by integrated ground and aerial surveillance. A robust operational posture and heightened alert remain in force across the sector", said the officials.

Meanwhile, a high state of alert continues to remain in force along the LoC in the region.

On February 19-20, the Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri, subsequently leading to seizure of arms and ammunition.

Location : Rajouri, India, India

First Published: March 04, 2026, 11:19 IST

News india Indian Army Foils Infiltration Bid Along LoC In Jammu And Kashmir's Rajouri

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Khamenei Killing Fallout: Indian Agencies Flag Radicalisation Threat, Cross-Border Links | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 14:35 IST

Intel inputs say Iran-linked Shia militias & influencers operating through cultural or religious platforms may attempt to amplify narratives of Shia genocide or attack on ummah

Rapid Read

Shia communities in India---concentrated in Lucknow, Hyderabad, Mumbai and parts of Delhi---have already held mourning processions and protests over Khameneis death. (News18)

Indias intelligence agencies have raised serious concerns over attempts by foreign radical elements to exploit the fallout from the killing of Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to incite unrest and recruit operatives within the country.

Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that the US-Israel strikes and Khameneis death could act as a trigger point" for extremist organisations seeking to radicalise disaffected youth and carry out disruptive activities in India.

According to officials, foreign-linked radical groups are focusing on disaffected Muslim youth, particularly in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir. Agencies say personalised online messaging, tailored to local grievances and identity issues, is being deployed to draw individuals into extremist narratives.

Shia communities in Indiaconcentrated in Lucknow, Hyderabad, Mumbai and parts of Delhihave already held mourning processions and protests over Khameneis death. While these gatherings have largely remained peaceful, agencies are closely monitoring the situation amid concerns that fringe elements could attempt to hijack sentiments.

Proxy Networks And Cross-Border Links

Intelligence inputs suggest that Iran-linked Shia militias and influencers operating through cultural or religious platforms may attempt to amplify narratives of Shia genocide" or an attack on the ummah". Agencies are also examining possible linkages with Pakistan-based models such as the Zainabiyoun Brigade.

Officials warned that Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-linked outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), as well as other border-based militant groups, could attempt to exploit the current instability. There are concerns that operatives, arms or counterfeit currency could be pushed through porous borders via Nepal, Bangladesh or maritime routes, potentially in coordination with Iran-backed facilitators.

At the same time, Sunni extremist groups such as ISIS-K and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) are also under the scanner. Agencies note that such organisations often capitalise on global flashpoints to push a broader war on Islam" narrative.

Officials say social media and encrypted platforms remain the primary tools for rapid radicalisation. Platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, X and other encrypted apps are being flooded with multilingual propagandain Urdu, Hindi and regional languagesframing Khameneis killing as a Western-Zionist assault on Muslim leadership.

ISIS-K has previously used global conflicts, including the Israel-Hamas war, in its propaganda publications like Voice of Khurasan. Similarly, AQIS has been known to circulate slick videos, memes and religious decrees calling for retaliatory jihad.

Intelligence sources warn that such campaigns can fuel homegrown extremism, with self-radicalised individuals pledging allegiance online, forming small cells and attempting low-tech attacks. Potential targets, officials say, could include US- or Israel-linked establishments, security personnel or symbolic sites aimed at provoking communal tensions.

Security agencies are said to be coordinating closely with state police units to monitor sensitive areas, online chatter and financial flows. Particular attention is being paid to signs of encrypted guidance from cross-border handlers or digital training modules being shared with recruits.

Officials emphasised that while there is no immediate large-scale threat, the volatile international situation requires sustained vigilance.

The global narrative is being weaponised digitally. We are alert to both organised modules and lone-wolf radicalisation attempts," a senior intelligence source said.

Authorities have urged communities to remain calm and not fall prey to provocative messaging circulating online.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 14:35 IST

News india Khamenei Killing Fallout: Indian Agencies Flag Radicalisation Threat, Cross-Border Links | Exclusive

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Ladakh's Shia Muslims Hold Protests, Mourning Rallies After Khamenei's Killing In Iran Conflict

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 18:18 IST

In capital Leh, scores took part in solemn processions bringing the traffic to a standstill while many condemned the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

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People gather during a protest against the killing of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while defying curfew-like restrictions imposed by authorities amid the ongoing West Asia conflict in J&K's Budgam district on March 4, 2026. (Imaeg: PTI/S Irfan)

Massive protests and large mourning rallies swept Ladakh following the killing of Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israel strikes.

Khameneis death in the ongoing conflict in West Asia has sent shockwaves through the Shia Muslim community in Ladakh, sparking an outpouring of grief.

In the capital city of Leh, thousands gathered to take part in solemn processions bringing the city to a standstill on March 1, a day after Khameneis death in Operation Epic Fury was confirmed. Streets were filled with mourners dressed in black, a traditional sign of grief, as they marched in a collective show of sorrow and defiance.

Many were seen carrying symbolic portraits of the Supreme Leader while waving black flags. The demonstrations had emotional religious rituals, including traditional prayers and rhythmic chest-beating, which marked the beginning of a formal period of condolence for the regions Shia population.

But, protesters also condemned his death, shouting anti-western slogans, specifically targeting the United States and Israel. These protests were intended to signal a clear message of solidarity with the Iranian government and its leadership during this period of transition.

Local religious and social organisations have been at the forefront of coordinating the response. The Anjuman Imamia, a prominent local group, officially announced the holding of funeral prayers in absentia (Gayibana Namaz-e-Janaza) and other special spiritual observances to pay tribute to Khamenei.

The unrest was not limited to Leh; a broader wave of protests has swept across the region with significant demonstrations reported in the districts of Kargil and Drass. These areas, which have substantial Shia populations and witnessed similar scenes of mourning and protest.

According to officials, despite the large turnout and charged atmosphere, the protests remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere in the region. As the period of mourning continues, the region remains on high alert.

In Kargil, religious organisations announced a seven-day mourning period, including two days of processions to denounce the US-Israel military action on Iran. Special prayers were offered, and the groups said condolence gatherings will continue for 40 days at Jamia Masjid Kargil.

In neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir, too, security forces have been on high alert after the Shia community protested against Khameneis killing. Police and security forces imposed strict movement restrictions across all districts of Kashmir as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order following massive protests.

Location : Leh, India, India

First Published: March 04, 2026, 18:18 IST

News india Ladakh's Shia Muslims Hold Protests, Mourning Rallies After Khamenei's Killing In Iran Conflict

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Nitish Kumar To Resign As Bihar CM? JDU Chief Likely To File Rajya Sabha Nomination, Say Sources

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 16:27 IST

Nitish Kumar, the JDU chief, is set to file his nomination for the upper house of Parliament on Thursday.

Rapid Read

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Bihars political circles were abuzz amid growing speculation that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may step down from the states top post after being elected to the Rajya Sabha. The JDU chief is set to file his nomination for the upper house of Parliament on Thursday and News18 Hindi sources confirmed that he will not continue as Bihars Chief Minister once elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha. The development triggered a flurry of questions about who will succeed him and what role, if any, his son Nishant Kumar will play in the new political arrangement.

Nishant Kumar In Frame

Sources told News18 Hindi that Nishant Kumar could be elevated to the post of Deputy Chief Minister. While no official confirmation has come from the JDU or the NDA alliance, chatter around his name has grown, with at least one senior minister close to Nitish Kumar publicly alluding to a dramatic entry" for Nishant Kumar into active politics.

Adding weight to the conjecture, JDUs national working president Sanjay Jha arrived in Patna from Delhi on Wednesday and held a long closed-door meeting with Nitish Kumar. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, was also reported to have made his way from Delhi to Patna.

The Rajya Sabha Numbers Game

At the heart of the political activity is a complex arithmetic challenge around Bihars fifth Rajya Sabha seat. Winning a single seat requires the support of 41 MLAs. The NDAs combined strength in the Bihar assembly- comprising BJP, JDU, LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM and RLJM legislators- stands at 202, making four of the five seats virtually certain wins for the alliance.

However, the fifth seat presents a tighter calculation. Upendra Kushwaha has been named the NDA candidate for that seat but the nomination has already drawn attention after LJP chief Chirag Paswan indicated he was unaware of the decision. To eliminate any risk of cross-voting or absenteeism, all NDA MLAs have been summoned to Patna ahead of Thursdays nomination filing.

Location : Bihar, India, India

First Published: March 04, 2026, 16:14 IST

News india Nitish Kumar To Resign As Bihar CM? JDU Chief Likely To File Rajya Sabha Nomination, Say Sources

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Rajasthan Man Missing After Iranian Missile Hits Oil Tanker Near Oman

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 19:39 IST

Dalip Singh, a resident of Khinwatana village, began his duty on the tanker operated by Skylight Company on January 22.

Smoke billows out from a Palau-flagged oil tanker with 15 Indian crew members after it came under attack from the Iranian military off Oman's Musandam peninsula.

A man from Nagaur district in Rajasthan has gone missing after an Iranian missile struck an oil tanker near Oman, amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, according to his family.

The missile hit the vessel on the morning of March 1 while it was stationed at Khasab Port, causing significant damage to the ship. Dalip Singh, a resident of Khinwatana village, began his duty on the tanker operated by Skylight Company on January 22.

At the time of the attack, Dalip was in the forward section of the ship with another crew member, Ashish Kumar from Bihar. While Kumars body has been recovered, Dalip remains untraceable, his brother Devendra Singh said.

Devendra added that most of the crew were evacuated safely, but Ashish and two others, including Dalip, went missing. Dalip last spoke to his family on February 28.

Another crew member from Nagaur, Sunil Kumar, had completed his shift before Dalip took over duties, Devendra said.

ALSO READ: Indian Crew Member Killed After Drone Boat Hits Oil Tanker Off Oman Coast

The incident comes amid rising concerns for Indian seafarers in the region. As many as 37 Indian-flagged ships with over 1,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and adjoining waters, as the key shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to the ongoing military conflict.

At least three Indian seafarers on foreign-flagged vessels have been killed, and one injured, since the escalation began.

In response, the Shipping Ministry has set up a dedicated quick response team to coordinate with authorities, provide immediate assistance to Indian sailors, and support their families.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also established a control room, highlighting that nearly one crore Indian citizens live in West Asia and their safety is a top priority.

The wider conflict intensified after the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has targeted Israel, American military bases, and several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, threatening critical oil and gas infrastructure in the region.

(With inputs from agencies)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 19:34 IST

News india Rajasthan Man Missing After Iranian Missile Hits Oil Tanker Near Oman

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Shivakumar Seeks Centre's Intervention Amid Tensions With Andhra Over Alamatti Dam Height Expansion

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Meemansa Shekhawat



Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 13:05 IST

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar urged the Union Government to address Andhra Pradesh's objections to raising Alamatti dam height.

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar

Expressing profound disappointment over neighbouring Andhra Pradeshs objections to increasing the height of the Alamatti dam to 524 meters, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday called upon the Union Government to intervene and protect the states riparian rights.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the Irrigation portfolio, criticised the recent move by Andhra Pradesh to petition the Centre against land acquisition for the project.

Shivakumar emphasised that Karnataka is acting within the framework of the 2010 Tribunal order, which allowed the state to increase its water usage from 177 TMC to 330 TMC, yet the project remains stalled due to the lack of a formal Gazette notification.

The escalating dispute follows a September 2025 Cabinet decision by the Karnataka government to acquire 1.33 lakh acres of land, a massive undertaking supported by a planned investment of 70,000 crore across three phases. Shivakumar revealed that the state has already poured 20,000 crore into the project, only to face fresh hurdles from neighboring states.

I did not think Andhra Pradesh would go to this extent," the Deputy Chief Minister remarked, noting his surprise that a state led by experienced politicians would actively work to block land acquisition occurring strictly within Karnatakas borders.

He further noted that despite the absence of a Supreme Court stay, both Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have continued to move the courts to delay the projects progress.

The Deputy Chief Minister announced that the state is now preparing an all-party delegation to travel to New Delhi during the upcoming Parliament session starting March 10. He stressed that Karnatakas Members of Parliament must exert significant pressure on the Union Jal Shakti Minister, who he suggested is facing competing political pressures from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Shivakumar expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation regarding the Tungabhadra and the Navile Balancing reservoir, stating that Karnataka is losing 30 TMC of water while Andhra Pradesh skips critical coordination meetings. He warned that if the Centre issues a letter asking Karnataka to stop, it would provide legal ammunition for opposing states to seek further injunctions in court.

Reflecting on the long legal history of the Alamatti dam, Shivakumar admitted that the states previous decision to challenge the Tribunals order in the Supreme Court had proven to be a strategic error that is now complicating current efforts.

As the state prepares to allocate additional funds in the upcoming budget, the government remains firm in its stance to harness its rightful share of water. When asked about seeking guidance from veteran leader H.D. Deve Gowda, Shivakumar noted that while Gowdas health is currently fragile, all political stakeholders must do whatever is possible from their side to ensure Karnatakas interests are not compromised by external political maneuvers.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 13:05 IST

News india Shivakumar Seeks Centre's Intervention Amid Tensions With Andhra Over Alamatti Dam Height Expansion

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'We Were Confined To Our Rooms': Indians Evacuated From Dubai Recall Horror Amid West Asia Conflict

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News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 07:42 IST

Indian citizens arriving in New Delhi from Dubai recounted panic in West Asia after Iranian attacks.

Indian citizens from Dubai arrive at Delhi's IGI Airport (Image credit: ANI)

Indian citizens arriving in New Delhi from Dubai recounted the panic and horror that gripped West Asia following the Iranian attacks on Gulf nations.

Air India welcomed passengers and crew arriving from Dubai at Indira Gandhi International Airport, marking the first international arrival by an Indian carrier into the capital on Tuesday.

 I was stuck in Dubai since the 25th February We were completely confined to our rooms for three days All the major things were kept completely closed for two-three days I have just one request to the Indian government, that maximum flights should be sent there so that people can get out" a passenger, who arrived at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi: Amid the ongoing US-Israel vs Iran conflict, a passenger, who arrived at IGI Airport from Dubai, says,  I was stuck in Dubai since the 25th February We were completely confined to our rooms for three days All the major things were kept completely closed pic.twitter.com/IUuw1wEkp9 ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2026

Another passenger said there had not been any explosions heard for the past 1-2 days. At the same time, he recalled there were multiple blasts heard on February 28  the day Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes on Iran.

I went to Dubai on 28th February, and on the same day, everything started. We were trying to get the flights from 2-3 days There has been no such sound for the last 1-2 days, but before that, there were many blasts" he said.

#WATCH | Delhi: A passenger, who arrived at IGI Airport from Dubai, says, I went to Dubai on 28th February, and on the same day, everything started. We were trying to get the flights from 2-3 days There has been no such sound for the last 1-2 days, but before that, there were pic.twitter.com/ktUEB9ASuv ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2026

A third passenger stated that the situation in the UAE remains under control, adding that there is currently no sense of panic in the country.  I am coming from Fujairah, as from Dubai there was no flight The situation in the UAE is under control There is not that much panic situation in the UAE as of now because everything is under control under their government" he told ANI.

#WATCH | Kochi, Kerala: A passenger, who arrived at Cochin International Airport from Fujairah, says,  I am coming from Fujairah, as from Dubai there was no flight The situation in the UAE is under control There is not that much panic situation in the UAE as of now pic.twitter.com/qG9RnjDOxv ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2026

In a post on X, Air India announced it was pleased to welcome passengers and crew from Dubai aboard flight AI916D, highlighting it was the first Indian carrier to land in the national capital amid the unrest in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Dubai Airports also confirmed that limited operations resumed on the evening of March 2 at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.

MIDDLE EAST ON BOIL

The disruption and airspace restrictions followed coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, after which Tehran unleashed attacks against Gulf nations, calling them legitimate targets", pushing the region into a renewed military conflict and triggering widespread flight cancellations.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 07:32 IST

News india 'We Were Confined To Our Rooms': Indians Evacuated From Dubai Recall Horror Amid West Asia Conflict

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'Your Visit Will Take India-Finland Ties To New Heights': PM Modi Welcomes President Alexander Stubb

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ANI

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 12:12 IST

PM Modi welcomed Finnish President Stubb to India, confident in strengthening ties. Stubb will be Chief Guest at Raisina Dialogue 2026.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finland President Alexander Stubb (From left to right)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed Finnish President Alexander Stubb to India, expressing confidence that his State Visit would elevate bilateral ties.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, Welcome to India, President Alexander Stubb. I fully agree with you, your visit will take India-Finland relations to new heights. I eagerly look forward to our meeting tomorrow and to your keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue 2026."

The message was in response to President Stubb, who earlier shared details on his engagements, stating, Travelling on a state visit to India. I will meet with President of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as other members of the state leadership."

He added, The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India  including in the area of trade."

Earlier, President Alexander Stubb of Finland arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit to India and was accorded a ceremonial welcome upon his arrival. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, A warm welcome to India! President Alexander Stubb of the Republic of Finland has arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit to India."

According to the post, President Stubb received a Guard of Honour and was welcomed at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh.

The Finnish leader is scheduled to be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Indias flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics.

Highlighting bilateral ties, Jaiswal noted that India and Finland share a warm and friendly relationship rooted in shared democratic values," adding that President Stubbs visit will impart further energy to India-Finland relations."

The visit, which will include the participation of a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, is aimed at deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between India and Finland across various sectors, MEA said in its release on Tuesday.

The visit will see President Stubb attend the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue from March 5-7 in New Delhi as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. As per an official statement, the visit will be Stubbs first visit to India in his current role as President.

In addition to his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest.

A key highlight of the visit will be an exchange of views on cooperation in multilateral forums, with an emphasis on deepening people-to-people connections and economic partnerships. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon in honour of President Stubb, the release said.

During his visit, the Finnish President will also meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also meet President Stubb.

After his time in the capital, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai, where he will meet with Maharashtras Governor Acharya Devvrat, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He will interact with local business leaders and address students at the University of Mumbai.

India and Finland share a warm and multifaceted relationship, anchored in shared democratic values. Finland plays an essential role as a partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region.

President Stubbs visit follows the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to India for the AI Impact Summit in February, a testament to both countries commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and fostering stronger ties.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 12:12 IST

News india 'Your Visit Will Take India-Finland Ties To New Heights': PM Modi Welcomes President Alexander Stubb

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Irans Only Empress Had A Crown With 1,469 Diamonds & Wedding Dress Designed By Yves Saint Laurent

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 17:23 IST

Created for Empress Farah Pahlavis historic 1967 coronation, the dazzling crown was built under extraordinary secrecy using Irans legendary treasury gems.

Irans Only Empress Had A Crown With 1,469 Diamonds, And A Wedding Dress Designed By Yves Saint Laurent

Farah Pahlavi, one of the most fascinating royal figures of the modern age, was once crowned with the rarest of rarest gems ever created. Almost 60 years ago, the former Queen and last Empress of Iran rewrote the royal history by becoming the first woman to be formally crowned. It was her coronation crown, crafted inside a bank vault using 1,469 diamonds from Irans national treasury, that remains a symbol of high ambition, imperial power, incredible design skills and a reflection of the changing nation.

Farah Pahlavi is the third wife and widow of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. She made history in 1967 as Irans first and only crowned Empress. Unfortunately, her crown, which is still counted amongst some of the rarest jewels the world has ever made, couldnt be carried outside Iran during her restless exile. Below, we have discussed the crowns craftsmanship and all related aspects of the valuable piece.

Who Is Farah Pahlavi?

She was born in Tehran in 1938, into a prosperous Iranian family. Her father, Captain Sohrab Diba, was a graduate of Frances prestigious military academy at Saint-Cyr, and her grandfather once worked as the Persian ambassador to the Russian imperial court. However, Sohrabs sudden death in 1948 led to a decline in the familys fortunes.

Despite this, she completed her schooling at Tehrans cosmopolitan elite Italian School, followed by the French Jeanne dArc School, and later at Lycee Razi. Later, she enrolled at the Ecole Speciale dArchitecture in Paris, studying under Albert Besson, reportedly on state scholarships. This meant she had certain encounters with the Shah during official visits solely related to her scholarship.

Farah Pahlavis Royal Wedding Couture

Farah met Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1559, during a gathering at the Iranian Embassy in Paris. The brief, polite meeting paved the way for a royal marriage in December 1959, making her the Queen of Iran at just 21. For the grand wedding, she wore a Dior gown designed by Yves Saint Laurent, paired with the gorgeous Noor-ol-Ain diamond tiara.

How Farah Pahlavi Was Crowned Irans First Empress

Farah also had much pressure to produce a male heir after Shahs previous marriages had failed. But within a year, she secured the succession with the birth of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. On October 26, 1967, Shah crowned himself Emperor and declared his ladylove as Shahbanu, Empress of Iran, an extraordinary role for a woman in a Middle Eastern monarchy.

As the young woman in her twenties stepped forward at Golestan Palace and was crowned with the rarest jewel, it was nothing less than a blend of ancient symbolism and modern spectacle.

The crown was crafted in absolute secrecy inside the Central Banks vault by Pierre Arpels, the co-founder of Van Cleef & Arpels, a leading figure at the maison, during his 24 trips to Tehran over six months. Commissioned in 1966, it featured gems from Irans National Treasury, all of which were selected by hand. These included a commanding central emerald estimated at 92-150 carats, alongside 1,469 diamonds, 36 emeralds, 36 rubies and spinels, and 105 pearls, which, by law, could not leave the country.

The design was inspired in part by Farahs admiration for Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation. Hence, it leaned more towards European styles rather than traditional Persian.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarah (@nyc.royalwatcher)

But when unrest engulfed Iran, the Shah and Empress were forced to leave the country by January 1979 under threat of execution. However, she couldnt take the crown alongside her.

Farah Pahlavis Legacy

She was also blessed with three more children with the Shah: Princess Farahnaz, Prince Ali Reza, and Princess Leila. She founded Irans first American-style university, Pahlavi University, now Shiraz University, and worked intensively for womens education, modern theatre, culture, and international festivals at the national level.

In 1980, Shah passed away, followed by the untimely demise of their two children years later. However, she continues her charitable work, attends select royal events, and grants thoughtful interviews reflecting on Iran, the monarchy, and exile. The crown is, however, locked away in Tehrans Treasury.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 17:23 IST

News lifestyle fashion Irans Only Empress Had A Crown With 1,469 Diamonds & Wedding Dress Designed By Yves Saint Laurent
Weight-Loss Injections Explained: How Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Are Changing Obesity Treatment

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 11:46 IST

Weight-loss injections like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are transforming obesity treatment. An endocrinologist explains how these medications work

Wegovy contains semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide naturally produced in the body. (AP/File)

Weight-loss injections have recently moved from specialist clinics into mainstream conversations about health and fitness. From social media discussions to celebrity endorsements, medications such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide have sparked both curiosity and debate. While many people see them as the newest trend in weight management, medical experts emphasise that these drugs are part of a broader shift in how obesity is understood and treated.

For decades, weight loss has largely been framed as a matter of discipline: eat less, move more, and results will follow. But growing scientific research has revealed that obesity is far more complex than lifestyle choices alone. Hormones, genetics, metabolism, sleep patterns, and stress levels all influence how the body regulates appetite and stores fat.

Dr. Ravi Sankar Erukulapati, Senior Endocrinologist, Apollo Sugar Clinic, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, explains, The growing interest in weight-loss injections tells us something important; that people are finally beginning to understand that obesity is not just about eating too much or exercising too little. As an endocrinologist, I see obesity for what it truly is: a chronic, relapsing medical condition influenced by hormones, brain appetite pathways, genetics, metabolism, sleep, stress, and environment. For many individuals, lifestyle measures alone are simply not enough, and that is not a failure of willpower."

How Weight-Loss Injections Work

Modern weight-loss medications work by targeting the biological systems that control hunger and fullness. Rather than simply suppressing appetite in a temporary way, these drugs interact with hormonal pathways that regulate metabolism and satiety.

Dr. Erukulapati explains, Newer medications such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide work by acting on gut hormones and areas in the brain that regulate hunger and satiety. They help patients feel full earlier, reduce cravings, and improve metabolic health. When prescribed to the right patient, these drugs can produce meaningful weight loss and also improve diabetes control, blood pressure, cholesterol, fatty liver, and overall heart risk."

These medications belong to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual incretin therapies. By mimicking natural hormones released after eating, they help regulate appetite signals between the gut and the brain. As a result, patients often experience reduced hunger, improved portion control, and better blood sugar regulation.

Not a Quick Fix

Despite the growing popularity of these injections, specialists caution against viewing them as cosmetic solutions or shortcuts to rapid weight loss.

Dr. Erukulapati emphasises, That said, these are not cosmetic drugs or quick fixes. They are meant for people with obesity, or those who are overweight with medical complications such as diabetes or sleep apnea. A proper medical evaluation and close follow-up are very essential."

Doctors typically recommend these medications for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) in the obesity range or for those who are overweight but also have associated medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or obstructive sleep apnea. Careful screening ensures that the treatment is safe and appropriate for the individual.

Why Lifestyle Still Matters

Even with the benefits of medical therapy, sustainable weight management still relies on long-term lifestyle changes. Medication alone cannot address the broader behavioural and metabolic factors that influence weight.

As Dr. Erukulapati concurs, Medication is one part of the solution and not the entire solution. Sustainable weight management still requires structured nutrition, physical activity, sleep optimisation, and behavioural change. Used responsibly under medical supervision, weight-loss medications can be powerful tools. But they work best as part of a comprehensive, long-term plan tailored to the individual."

A Changing Approach to Obesity

The rising conversation around weight-loss injections reflects a broader transformation in how obesity is approached within medicine. Rather than blaming individuals for a lack of discipline, healthcare providers are increasingly recognising obesity as a complex, chronic disease that requires long-term medical management.

For many patients, the goal is not simply to lose weight quickly but to improve metabolic health, reduce disease risk, and build sustainable habits that support lifelong wellbeing. Weight-loss medications, when used appropriately and under medical supervision, may help bridge the gap between lifestyle changes and lasting health outcomes.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 11:46 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness Weight-Loss Injections Explained: How Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Are Changing Obesity Treatment
Why Women Should Start Preventive Health Check-Ups Before 40

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News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 11:40 IST

Preventive health check-ups before 40 can help women detect early risks such as bone loss, insulin resistance, and heart disease.

Preventive check-ups before 40 are not about fear-based medicine; they are about course-correction medicine.

Most women do not suddenly become high-risk at 40. What actually happens is this: silent changes such as bone loss, insulin resistance, rising blood pressure, low iron or B12 levels, and chronic stress may have already been developing for years. Preventive check-ups before 40 are not about fear-based medicine; they are about course-correction medicine.

Start with the basics that predict long-term health, not just todays condition: blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting glucose or HbA1c, lipid profile, and liver markers. These are early indicators of cardiometabolic risk, which often accelerates after pregnancies, chronic stress, PCOS, sleep deprivation, and sedentary lifestyles.

Dr Arpit Bansal, Cancer Surgeon and Gut & Longevity Specialist, shares what women need to know.

The Often-Ignored Female Longevity Levers

1. Bone and muscle: the twin engines of healthy ageing

Peak bone mass is built earlier in life, and once muscle strength begins to decline, insulin sensitivity worsens and the risk of injury increases. Checking Vitamin D and B12 levels is important, and a DEXA bone scan may be considered earlier if risk factors are present. These risk factors may include low body weight, a history of fractures, steroid use, early menopause, or medical conditions linked to bone loss.

2. Women-specific screening: dont leave it to chance

Cervical cancer screening should be done on schedule through Pap tests or HPV screening, depending on age and local medical guidelines. The World Health Organization recommends HPV-based screening starting around age 30 in many settings.

For breast health, women should practice breast awareness and self-checks, and plan screening mammography around age 40 for those at average risk. Women at higher risk may need to begin screening earlier.

3. The new vital signs" we often ignore: VO max and HRV

VO max (cardiorespiratory fitness) is one of the strongest modifiable predictors of long-term mortality, yet it is rarely measured in routine medical care.

Heart rate variability (HRV) offers insight into autonomic balance and recovery capacity. With modern wearables capable of measuring HRV, this data can potentially be used clinically to guide sleep habits, training intensity, and stress management protocols.

A Shift Toward Preventive Medicine

Medicine 3.0 follows a simple principle: do not wait for disease labels to appear. As Dr Arpit Bansal explains, women should focus on testing early, interpreting results intelligently, and building a plan that protects bone health, muscle strength, hormonal balance, heart health, and gut health before small issues turn into bigger medical concerns.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 11:40 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness Why Women Should Start Preventive Health Check-Ups Before 40
A book that purports to offer evidence to the contrary would have done better to stick to the facts rather than arriving at a conclusion first then arranging the facts after.

Was the universe created, and did God create it? It would be wonderful if we could assemble a team of unbiased scientists to examine the evidence and come to a clear conclusion. And at first thats what I anticipated as I sat down to read God, the Science, the Evidence: The Dawn of a Revolutiona dispassionate recounting of the latest scientific research.

As stated in the books preface by its French co-authors Michel-Yves Bollore and Olivier Bonnassies, God, the Science, the Evidence aims to examine the results of nearly four years of research conducted in collaboration with a team of around twenty high-level international specialists and scientists and come to a conclusion.

Granted, proving a Creator from inside a creation would be a Herculean, if not impossible, task (at least if one is striving for 100% certainty). But the book could at least give readers all the elements necessary to decide what seems most reasonable for you to believe and, as the authors promise, leave the rest to your free judgment.

If this was the authors goal in writing God, the Science, the Evidence (which Ill hereafter refer to simply as GSE), though, I fear theyve fallen short. Five hundred and fifty pages later, it turns out GSE is just another work of apologetics.

So Stephen C. Meyer, C.S. Lewis, and Pope John Paul II walk into a bar This may sound like the setup to a joke, but its also very much how GSEs authors lay out their arguments. The first 330-odd pages cover scientific arguments aiming to illustrate the defects in a purely materialist philosophy of the universe and bolster the view that the universe was created by an outside creator, and most likely a Creator God.

This was the real meat of the book. Entitled evidence within the sciences, this section may not break new ground, but it does a fine job of explaining, in cogent arguments and large font, how the best data we have [on how time and space began] are exactly what I would have predicted, had I nothing to go on but the five books of Moses, the Psalms, the Bible as a whole.

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth reads the first sentence of the King James Version. Of course, for this to be true, the universe cannot have always existed (as most scientists assumed up through about the 1920s). At some specific time, it must have begun. And scientists spent the bulk of the 20th century confirming that this was indeed the case.

How? By proving the Second Law of Thermodynamics, for example, and confirming that entropy is perpetually increasing such that the universe can only end in a Heat Death. Ultimately, all reactions will cease, all energy will be expended, and all matter will be attenuated. The universe itself must conclude in a state of total darkness, cold, and eventual death. The logical implication of this theory is that if one were to roll back the cosmic clock, one would eventually reach a starting point at which the increasing began!

Likewise, examinations of redshift in distant galaxies have confirmed that not only is the universe expanding but its expansion is accelerating. On the one hand, this makes it impossible for the universe to ever come back together (in a cyclical manner, resulting in a Big Crunch). On the other, were the timeline rewound and the expansion viewed in reverse, wed eventually reach a point where all the expansion began from a singularity.

Or, as Genesis put it, in a beginning at which the universe was created.

Similar to the cosmological arguments, GSE does yeomans work in presenting evidence that something more than materialism and random chance accounts for the origin of life in the universe. Although Stephen Meyer is not mentioned by name or cited as a source, the books discussion of the probabilities of 22 types of amino acids coming together to form even one single, life-essential protein chain through random chance reads much like something out of his Signature in the Cell or Return of the God Hypothesis.

(If youre curious, the chance of that happening even once is approximately one in 10 to the 1,500th power1 chance in 10 followed by  1,500 zeroes.)

Put another way, the authors conclude that practically speaking, it would take longer than the lifespan of the universe for a single protein to form by accident.

Furthermore, the chance of enough proteins assembling by accident to create even the simplest living cell so as to start the evolutionary process known as Darwinism is estimated at one chance in 10 to the 340,000th power. (And thats 10 followed by even more zeroes than there are letters in this review!)

Throughout the book, the authors buttress their argument with scores, even hundreds of quotes from subject-matter experts. The bit up above about the five books of Moses predicting the structure and origin of the cosmos, for example? That came from 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics winner Arno Penzias, who, along with fellow Nobel laureate Robert Woodrow Wilson, famously confirmed the existence of Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) while working for Bell Labs in 1964, providing invaluable evidence of the Big Bang.

Bollore and Bonnassies make clever use of these quotations, most dramatically at the end of the evidence within the sciences section, where they lay out 30 straight pages of quotations from leading scientists and philosophers, all supportive of the theory that God exists and that He created the universe. Like an irresistible army of Christian soldiers marching onward as to war (against disbelief), these 100 quotes pile up one upon the other, amounting to a mountain of scientific affirmation of the idea.

Granted, one still wishes GSEs authors had played their personal beliefs a bit closer to the vest before reaching their conclusion. Still, the point gets made, and I suppose thats what counts.

Can 100 scientists, all singing the Creators praises, be a statistical anomaly? Perhaps. But the authors argue instead that, contrary to common misperceptions, belief in God is far from uncommon in scientific circles. While its true that a 2009 poll from Pew Research found that a sizeable number of scientists (41%) are atheist, some 90% of the best scientistsNobel laureatesidentified with some religion, and two-thirds of them were specifically Christians.

Its scientific bona fides established, GSE segues to evidence from outside the sciences. These include facts about the universe that were revealed (or at least alluded to) in the Bible at a time when most non-Hebraic civilizations believed otherwise: the non-divinity of sun and moon and stars; the fact that the universe began at a single point in time; that time proceeds in a straight line and is not cyclical. Such knowledge, the authors observe, was granted to Israel hundreds, even thousands of years before modern scientific experiments could prove it correct.

GSE argues that the survival of the Jewish nation from antiquity to today, its return to Israel, the revival of Hebrew as a living language, and Israels military successes in the 20th century are all statistical improbabilities suggestive of a God who intervenes in history (and who must therefore exist).

Taking notes from Mere Christianity, GSE then spends a whole chapter discussing C.S. Lewiss classic trilemma (Jesus Christ was either a liar, a madman, or the Son of God), and quoting everyone from Josephus to Tacitus to Suetonius to re-prove the fact that Jesus existed, necessary perhaps given the increasing popularity in some atheist circles of Jesus mythicism.

Other matters addressed in this section seem less appropriate in a book purportedly focused on scientific support for the existence or non-existence of a creator God. Notably, GSE includes a chapter on alleged errors of the Bible, which are not errors. (If the reader was uncertain as to whether GSE was less a science book, and more a work of apologeticsby this point it becomes crystal clear.)

Perhaps most perplexing of all, though, is the authors decision to devote 40 pagesabout 7% of GSEs total lengthto discussing a single alleged miracle that happened in Fatima, Portugal, nearly 110 years ago.

For non-Catholic readers (such as your humble reviewer), this seemed a digression, but also a bit of a revelation. While not substantially bolstering the authors primary argument, the Fatima chapter does contribute to the overall direction of the book.

How? Consider that, if one picks up GSE in search of cold, hard facts presented for analysis and dispassionate evaluation by a reader lacking prior convictions in either a theist or nontheist direction, then exposing him or her to data surrounding an unfamiliar miracle that supposedly took place in a faraway land more than a century ago provides an excellent test case! Can the authors play the facts straight and trust a readers free judgment to decide on the merits?

Not quite, but in this chapter the authors at least come closest to that goal.

As they describe it, on May 13, 1917, three young shepherds in rural Portugal reported being visited by a lady in white, who told them to return to speak with her every month for five months, culminating in a sign that was prophesied to occur at the celestial noon-hour on October 13. By the time the fateful day arrived, some 30,000 to 70,000 witnesses had joined the shepherds to witness the sun transforming into, first, a silver disc, then a wheel of fire, shooting sprays of light in all directions, changing color, and  falling toward the crowd, before returning to normal.

A strange occurrence? Certainly. But the authors proceed to buttress their case not by explaining what they think happened (at least, not at the outset). Rather, they provide excerpts from more than two dozen contemporaneous newspaper articles, all from liberal and anti-clerical publications, all reciting the facts as their reporters saw them, with interviews of witnesses both at the site and miles from it. The authors provide six potential interpretations of the Fatima event, based on facts as recounted in this hostile reporting.

Only then do the authors ultimately conclude that Fatima has convincing power and was indeed a miracle that took place so that people might believe. Had the rest of GSE taken a similar approach, of sticking to plain facts before coming to its conclusions, rather than vice versa, I suspect it would have succeeded better in coming off less like an exercise in apologetics and more like the science-based argument for the existence of God. So let the reader beware, as well as any writer who wishes to broach this subject in the future.
Womens Day 2026: Luxury Wellness Escapes And Spa Experiences To Reconnect, Restore And Recharge

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 11:32 IST

Celebrate Womens Day with luxurious spa rituals, wellness retreats and restorative experiences from Mumbai to the Maldives.

Luxury wellness experiences across India and the Maldives offer the perfect way to pause, restore and celebrate Womens Day.

This Womens Day, celebration takes on a quieter, more meaningful expression rooted in wellness. It becomes an invitation for women to step away from the everyday and into spaces designed entirely around comfort, balance, and renewal.

Across refined city sanctuaries and the serene beauty of island retreats, experiences unfold with care and intention, from bespoke spa rituals and personalised healing therapies to immersive wellness journeys that honour every stage of womanhood. Each offering is crafted not merely as indulgence, but as a thoughtful pause, a chance to restore energy, realign the spirit, and reconnect with oneself.

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

In the heart of the city, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai introduces Celebrating Her, a limited-period 150-minute spa experience available through March. Designed as uninterrupted time to pause and reset, the journey begins with a gentle foot cleanse, followed by a 60-minute customised massage to ease tension and restore balance.

A personalised 60-minute facial enhances the skins natural glow, while mindful breathing and light stretches are woven throughout the experience. The ritual concludes with a nourishing treatment, leaving guests feeling calm, restored, and deeply cared for.

Price: INR 15,900 plus taxes per person.

Ayurbay Wellness Centre at The Bheemili Resort  Managed by Accor

At The Bheemili Resort  Managed by Accor, move beyond celebration and choose restoration with Ayurbay Womens Wellness Care, a thoughtfully designed initiative dedicated exclusively to women.

Rooted in classical Ayurvedic science, the programme offers personalised consultations and holistic therapies that address concerns such as PCOD, PCOS, lumbar spondylosis, and cervical spondylosis, focusing on deep, long-term correction rather than temporary relief.

With experienced practitioners and trained women therapists ensuring comfort and discretion, the approach balances hormones naturally, eases spinal discomfort holistically, and strengthens the bodys inherent healing intelligence. To mark the occasion, Ayurbay extends a complimentary Ayurvedic consultation valid until March 31, a gentle invitation for women to prioritise their wellbeing and step into balance with intention.

Four Seasons Resorts Maldives

A Moment for Her unfolds at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, where wellness comes to life at URJA Naturopathy Island, a sanctuary rooted in the principles of self-healing and balance. Meaning vitality" in Sanskrit, URJA offers personalised journeys guided by four holistic pathways, Rest and Rebalance, Cleanse, Nourish, and Reconnect.

Each stay begins with a complimentary health profile consultation reviewing lifestyle, sleep, stress, and posture, helping shape therapies that address root causes rather than symptoms. Healing rituals may incorporate mineral-rich AION A clay and restorative yoga therapy, blending movement, breathwork, and meditation to support emotional and physical harmony.

At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, wellness is reimagined at AyurMa, meaning Mother of Life." Grounded in over 5,000 years of Ayurvedic wisdom, each experience begins with a dosha consultation, followed by personalised therapies such as Abhyanga massages, Shirodhara rituals, or the government-accredited Panchakarma detox programme.

In collaboration with S-VYASA University, Yoga Therapy sessions address stress, immunity, and spinal health, alongside offerings such as AntiGravity Yoga and Aqua Float Yoga. AyurMas philosophy of Planetary Wellbeing connects personal healing with nature through sunset Earth Blessings, mud therapies, and hydrotherapy, creating a celebration of women that feels both restorative and deeply connected.

OZEN LIFE MAADHOO

At OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, Womens Day becomes an invitation to embrace a deeply personalised approach to wellbeing, one that recognises that every womans journey is unique.

At the heart of this philosophy lies ELE | NA Elements of Nature, where bespoke experiences are thoughtfully crafted around defined wellness archetypes.

Wellbeing at ELE | NA extends beyond the spa. In collaboration with the resorts culinary team, a dedicated wellness menu blends Ayurvedic wisdom with expert culinary craftsmanship. Emphasising nourishment, sustainability, and conscious sourcing, each dish supports the healing journey, ensuring that restoration continues at the table.

Menopause Retreat at OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi, Maldives

This Womens Day, go beyond celebration and choose restoration by securing your place at ELE | NAs Menopause Retreat  The Art of Graceful Change, hosted from June 48, 2026, at OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi.

Set against the Maldives turquoise lagoons, this four-night immersive experience reframes menopause as a phase of strength, awareness, and renewal. Rooted in the Wellness Your Way philosophy, the retreat combines expert-led guidance with holistic therapies to support fatigue, mood fluctuations, hormonal changes, anxiety, sleep disruption, and shifting self-confidence.

Each day includes island walks, Pilates, aqua aerobics, and mindfulness practices, complemented by workshops on nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and resilience. Personalised therapies at ELE | NA Spa and nourishing cuisine under the Fushi Plan enhance overall wellbeing, while snorkelling adventures and sunset rituals create space for reflection and connection.

This Womens Day, prioritise yourself and step into your next chapter feeling supported, energised, and empowered.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 11:32 IST

News lifestyle travel Womens Day 2026: Luxury Wellness Escapes And Spa Experiences To Reconnect, Restore And Recharge
Nora Fatehi Slams Trolls After Her World Peace Appeal Amid Middle East Tensions Sparks Backlash | Watch

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 08:24 IST

Nora Fatehi has posted another video saying her appeal for world peace amid the IranIsrael conflict had upset many, and she was criticized simply for advocating peace.

Nora Fatehi's first audition.

Actress Nora Fatehi, who is quite active on social media, recently shared a video on Instagram amid the rising tensions in the Middle East. In her video, she assured her fans that she was safe while urging people to prioritise unity and peace. She emphasised that the fear of uncertainty is affecting people globally, and that peace and stability are what everyone truly seeks. Now, Nora has posted another video saying her appeal for world peace amid the IranIsrael conflict had upset many, and she was criticized simply for advocating peace.

What has Nora Fatehi said in new video

On March 3, Nora shared a new video on her Instagram handle, calling out people who have lost touch with the ability to have comprehension skills and listening skills. She slammed the trolls for the unnecessary backlash. She was heard saying, I think a lot of people have lost touch with the ability to have comprehension skills and listening skills. And I think thats something that we used to learn back in the day in school. So, you know, comprehension skills, critical thinking skills, and reading abilities, and being able to just listen. I think a lot of people have skipped that stage in life, especially now with social media and phonesI think we havent been able to push our brains to that level of being able to understand things. But I do maintain my stance on world peace and unity."

She further said, If you dont think you are a part of that sentence, because every country and every person is a part of the world. So if I speak generally on people and wanting people to live in peace, and if I speak against chaos, and if you have a problem with that, then you need to go check yourself. Morally, theres something wrong with you."

Nora said her message about worldwide exhaustion from ongoing chaos spoke for everyone, irrespective of geography or faith. If calls for peace irritate or threaten someone, she believes they need to look within. The actress further added, While Im reflecting today, because you know, I just did my prayers, and Im about to break my fast, and Im sitting here, and Im thinking, and Im like, wow, you know, we live in a world today where people get upset, they get angry, if you speak about world peace, thats scary." Along with the video, she wrote, Standing on business.. If world peace and unity is triggering you then please get some help."

Meanwhile, Nora was last seen in Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandannas Thamma, where she made a special appearance in the song Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 08:24 IST

News movies bollywood Nora Fatehi Slams Trolls After Her World Peace Appeal Amid Middle East Tensions Sparks Backlash | Watch
Yo Yo Honey Singh Confirms All Chill In Dubai Amid Growing West Asia Tensions

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 15:59 IST

Yo Yo Honey Singh reassures fans from Dubai amid US-Israel tensions, saying the city is safe and calm, urging people not to believe rumours spreading panic online.

Yo Yo Honey Singh reassures fans from Dubai

Amid growing tensions in West Asia, explosions were recently reported in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, and Kuwait, which further added to the panic. Now, rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh, who is currently in Dubai, has shared an update on the situation in the city and confirmed that everything is quite safe there.

Taking to his Instagram, Yo Yo Honey Singh shared a video. The video, which appears to be from a restaurant, shows him having his meal. While sharing the clip, Yo Yo wrote, All chill in Dubai. Super safe. Dont believe in stupid rumours in news."

Earlier as well, Honey Singh shared a video from his recording studio in which he looked quite calm and composed, surrounded by his team. While sharing that video, he confirmed that things are quite under control in Dubai and wrote, We safe in Dubai guys. Working."

The ongoing tension in West Asia has left many concerned. Earlier today, Abhijeet Bhattacharya took to his Instagram to call on the Government of India to help bring his son back home safely from Dubai amid escalating tensions. Several celebrities have been stranded in the Middle East and UAE. Esha Gupta, who was stuck in Dubai, returned home on Sunday. She took to her Instagram to inform fans that she is back home and safe. In her statement, she wrote, Back home. Thank you all for your prayers and wishes. It was very tough to be in the situation that we all were. Truly Gods blessing to be safe!"

It was on February 28 that massive explosions rocked Tehran after Israel launched what it described as preventive" missile strikes against Iran, dramatically escalating tensions in the region.

The strikes come amid heightened strain between the United States and Iran over a potential nuclear agreement and growing fears of a wider military confrontation in the Middle East. Several missiles hit areas along University Street and in the Jomhouri district of the Iranian capital.

Over 2024 and 2025, a long-standing shadow conflict between Israel and Iran escalated into a series of unprecedented direct military confrontations, including major aerial strikes and reciprocal missile attacks that marked a dangerous shift from indirect hostilities to overt warfare.

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First Published: March 04, 2026, 14:04 IST

News movies bollywood Yo Yo Honey Singh Confirms All Chill In Dubai Amid Growing West Asia Tensions
Valerie Bertinelli Reveals She Was Sexually Abused At Age 11: 'I Dont Feel Shame Anymore'

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Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 00:53 IST

Valerie Bertinelli shares in her new book that she was sexually abused at 11, discussing trauma, healing, and reclaiming her body and self-worth after decades.

Valerie Bertinelli shares her journey of healing and survival in Getting Naked.

Valerie Bertinelli, the beloved actress and author, is opening up for the first time about being sexually abused at age 11. Speaking with PEOPLE, the 65-year-old said, I had no plans to reveal this. This was going to be a book about teaching people how to love themselves. I did not know that I would go this far."

In her upcoming book, Getting Naked, releasing March 10 through Harper Wave, Bertinelli confronts the deepest parts of her past. Its about getting naked with who I am, emotionally, physically," she explains. It was really about getting to the nitty-gritty and getting to the parts that I thought were shameful and come to find out theyre not. Theyre all kinds of different facets of what makes us who we are."

Bertinelli intentionally included a photo of herself at 11, calling it the little girl that was sexually abused." She reflects, It boggles my mind that this little girl was taken advantage of that way. It boggles my mind because its still happening  and Im furious about it. We need to start speaking up and saying, Enough."

The decision to come forward took over a decade. The very first time I said it out loud to my therapist, I thought Im going to feel better now. It got worse before it got better," she says. She candidly recounts that confronting her trauma led to struggles with eating and drinking, but ultimately forced her to face her feelings. I dont feel shame about it anymore. Im pissed off that it happened. Nobody deserves that."

Bertinelli describes 2024 as a particularly challenging year. I had a huge anxiety attack at the end of 2024 that brought me to my knees. I thought Im not getting anywhere. I needed to do more work," she says, explaining how this moment inspired a deep dive into her childhood trauma, body shame, and self-criticism.

She notes, All of that shame had nothing to do with my body. It was just something to take out my shame on. My poor body. I was so mean to it. I just needed to get all those voices out of my head." Bertinelli credits her long careerfrom One Day at a Time to Hot in Cleveland, and her current role on The Drew Barrymore Showas part of her support system, alongside her son, Wolfgang Van Halen, and her love for cooking.

Her new digital initiative, Valeries Place, reflects her commitment to community and healing. I want to build a community where everybody is welcome. Its a place where people can come in to my kitchen and cook with me because Ive missed that a lot," she says.

Looking back, Bertinelli remembers herself at 11 as a typical child: I loved to color, read, play with my Barbies and ride my bike around the block. I loved my cats. I was just a little girl." Today, she defines herself as a survivor. Im a survivor," she says simply, demonstrating courage and vulnerability that resonates with fans who have followed her career for decades.

Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 05, 2026, 00:53 IST

News movies hollywood Valerie Bertinelli Reveals She Was Sexually Abused At Age 11: 'I Dont Feel Shame Anymore'
Rukmini Vasanth, Ashika Ranganath Back Sapthami Gowda After She Calls Out Inappropriate Pap Angles

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 07:56 IST

Rukmini Vasanth, Ashika Ranganath, and Divya Spandana have extended their support to Sapthami Gowda.

News18

On March 3, actress Sapthami Gowda took to social media to call out paparazzi for deliberate zoom-ins and inappropriate angles" of women in the industry. Rukmini Vasanth, Ashika Ranganath, and Divya Spandana have now extended their support. They reposted the strong note shared by Sapthami.

Actresses come out in support of Sapthami Gowda

Kannada actor Rukmini Vasanth and Divya Spandana re-posted the statement on their Instagram stories. Reposting the same note, Ashika Ranganath wrote, Lets normalise respect  not violation. Deliberate zoom-ins and inappropriate angles are disrespectful and unacceptable."

In her slamming note, Sapthami called out the unacceptable behaviour by the paparazzi. She spoke about the inappropriate video angles of female actors shot at public events. She even asked the paps to focus on the work and not the bodies.

Her note read, As women in the film industry, we stand together in addressing a recurring issue. Repeatedly, videos and photographs of female actors at public events are shot and circulated from inappropriate angles, with unnecessary zooms that focus on our bodies rather than our work. This behaviour, carried out by a few individuals, is disrespectful and unacceptable. We are here for our craft. We are here for our cinema."

She further wrote, We unequivocally condemn deliberate zoom-ins and inappropriate angles. They are clear violations of dignity and will not be normalised or tolerated. We expect those covering events to maintain professionalism, basic respect, and decency. We stand united in setting this boundary. We stand in solidarity with every woman who has experienced this  and we will continue to support one another in demanding respect."

In another story, she requested media friends to show support over this concern. She wrote, There are journalists and media friends who have shown immense respect and with whom we have felt extremely secured with. We request them to support us against these handful who are brutal in how they capture and project the ladies."

First Published: March 04, 2026, 07:56 IST

News movies regional-cinema Rukmini Vasanth, Ashika Ranganath Back Sapthami Gowda After She Calls Out Inappropriate Pap Angles
Opinion: How Britain May Become Europes Newest Muslim-Led Country

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 19:26 IST

With PM Sir Keir Starmer facing Epstein heat, Pakistan-born Shabana Mahmood, 45, currently Home Secretary, overseeing immigration and law and order, may succeed him

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British PM Keir Starmer speaks during the Global Fintech Fest 2025, in Mumbai on October 9. (Image: PMO/PTI)

Albania is the only Islamic country in Europe with nearly 65% Muslim population. Other European nations with significant Muslim headcount include Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

But why is Great Britain, with only 6% Muslim population, making it to global headlines?

Recent media reports suggested that, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer facing the Epstein heat, Pakistan-born Shabana Mahmood, 45, currently Home Secretary, overseeing immigration and law and order, may succeed him.

The full name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Britain refers to the island containing England, Scotland, and Wales; of them, Scotland and Wales have their own devolved parliaments (the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament, respectively), established in 1999, to manage devolved matters like health and education. Scotland and Wales have also been attempting to secede from the UK, driven by distinct national identities, political differences, and the impact of Brexit.

The UK is the sovereign state, including Great Britain plus Northern Ireland, where many are trying to unify with Ireland and join the European Union. Religion is an important factor: while Britains majority follows the Church of England and its monarch is the Supreme Governor and Archbishop of Canterbury, Ireland is mainly ruled by the Catholics, who have had a long history of fighting against the Muslims during the Crusades.

Britains Muslim population is nearly 4 million, or about 6% of the total 70 million. They are largely concentrated in England (3.8 million).

In the last few decades, Muslim immigrants  legal and illegal from the Middle East and other regions have flooded various European countries, including France and Britain. Subtly changing demographics, they just registered their strong presence even in the USA when, on Friday, February 20, 2026, thousands of Muslims suddenly surfaced for the Taraweeh prayers at Times Square, New York City, enthused with Zohran Mamdani becoming NYCs first-ever Muslim Mayor on January 1, 2026.

US President Donald Trump may have been unaware of this subtle Islamization of his own hometown of New York when, in September 2025, he didnt invite London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, of Pakistani descent, at the state banquet hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle. He even described Khan as among the worst mayors in the world," and his governing of London as a disaster."

Khan rejected all this.

Trumps politics is one of fear and division." This includes talking down our great capital cityLondon is a global success story  its open, dynamic, and safer than major US cities. Perhaps thats one of the reasons record numbers of Americans are choosing to make London their home."

Their long-running row, the BBC reported, dates back to 2015 when the Labour politician condemned Trumps suggestion that Muslims should be banned from travelling to the US.

He couldnt do it. And found Mamdani getting elected as the NYC Mayor.

After election rhetoric, however, the US President met Mamdani on November 22, 2026, at the White House. In his election victory speech, the self-described Democratic socialist mayor had called Trump a despot." And before their Friday meeting, the Presidents spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt had called Mamdanis visit as a communist coming to the White House."

Why has Trump hesitated so long in attacking Iran?

Its potential Islamic backlash in the USA itself, when he is fighting the Supreme Court on the tariffs issue, the Epstein case fallout, and facing midterm elections to the US Congress this year.

Labours Top Muslim leaders

Not only Trump, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also facing intense scrutiny after his decision to appoint former Labour minister Peter Mandelson, 72, to a top diplomatic position backfired. Newly released documents revealed Mandelsons ties to Americas convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Amid mounting pressure, PM Starmers two aidesChief of staff Morgan McSweeney and Communications Director Tim Allenresigned, taking the blame for advising their boss to appoint Mandelson. But a storm brewed against Starmer, who tried to persuade his Labour party members to back him.

Removing a Labour PM is not easy as there is no automatic vote to remove the leader. At least 80 Labour MPs must support a challenge before a leadership contest can begin

Meanwhile, Britains Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emerged as his leading potential successor, raising the possibility that the UK could see its first Muslim PM.

She is the first Muslim woman to hold the top position in the Home Office, a key department responsible for policing, immigration, and national security. Three of her Conservative predecessorsSuella Braverman (2022-23), Priti Patel (2019-22), and Theresa May (2010-16)had to quit because of their anti-immigrant stance. Shabana is staunchly anti-Indian on the Kashmir issue.

Born in 1980 in Birmingham to parents who come from Pakistani-occupied Kashmir (PoK), she lived in Saudi Arabia for the first five years of her life with her family. In 2010, she was elected as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood, becoming one of the UKs first female Muslim MPs. How? Muslims make up nearly 30% of Birminghams population, highly concentrated in specific areas like Birmingham Hall Green and Ladywood.

The Muslim population in Birmingham grew from 14.3% in 2001 to 29.9% in 2021, representing the largest religious group increase in the city. Certain constituencies have very high Muslim populations, such as Birmingham Ladywood (over 75,000) and Hall Green and Moseley (57.5% of the population). The community is largely of South Asian descent, with 74% of Muslims in Birmingham identifying as Pakistani, many of them originating from the Mirpur district. Almost 57% of Birminghams Muslims were born in the UK.

Following Labours victory in the 2024 general election, Shabana became Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. She was appointed the Home Secretary after former Home Secretary Angela Rayner resigned in 2025.

Starmer is scrambling to avert the most serious crisis of his stuttering 19-month premiership after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwaronce his prominent allyasked him to resign for Mandelsons appointment despite knowing he had maintained links to Epstein.

Anas Sarwar, 42, is the senior-most Labour politician to publicly urge Starmer to go. The youngest of four children of Perveen Sarwar and Chaudhry Mohammed Sarwar, he actively joined marches against the Iraq War, and, like Shabana, has been a prominent Muslim leader of the Labour Party. His father was elected as the Labour MP for Glasgow Govan in 1997, becoming the UKs first Muslim MP; Anas succeeded his father as an MP in 2010.

Glasgow has the largest Muslim population in Scotland, with 48,766 people (approximately 7.9%) identifying as Muslim in the 2022 census. The city serves as a hub for Scottish Muslims. Glasgow hosts the highest number of Muslims in Scotland, followed by Edinburgh. The community largely has roots in Pakistan, with two-thirds of Glasgows Muslims having Pakistani heritage. The first mosque in Scotland was inaugurated in Glasgow in 1944.

The Westminster Model

Interestingly, a Labour leader, Prime Minister Clement Attlee had, on February 20, 1947, announced Indias Independence by June 30, 1948.

The same political system that once presided over the Partition of India and carving out Pakistan from it, has, in a single decade, produced a Hindu Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and a potential Muslim one as well, Shabana Mahmood.

After their Independence in 1947, both India and Pakistan adopted the British-style Westminster model of parliamentary democracy, characterized by an executive accountable to a legislature. While India maintained and adapted this system, Pakistan struggled with it, eventually shifting away to what later became known as Eastminster," where the Army remains Allah!

By 2025, Westminster in London surfaced as the crime capital of the UK, with the highest recorded crime rate at 434.1 per 1,000 people, driven by high volumes of theft and tourist-related offences.

In particular, Pakistan-connected immigrantslegal and illegalhave surfaced as grooming gangs, luring thousands of British girls and women into blackmail and sex rackets, and what Indians call Love Jihad."

The boot is now on the other leg. The boomerang the British hurled at India, may now be returning to haunt them.

Now or Never"

In January 1933, Choudhry Rehmat Ali, a Punjabi Muslim nationalist and student activist at Cambridge, published a pamphlet, Now or Never. He coined the word PAKSTAN (from P(unjab), A(fghania), K(ashmir), S(indh), and Baluch(istan); the letter I" was added later to make it Pakistan. He also circulated the pamphlet to British delegates at the Third Round Table Conference, and the Hindu and Muslim League leaders.

Muhammad Ali Jinnahs presidential address at the All-India Muslim Leagues Lahore session on March 22-24, 1940, laid the intellectual groundwork for Pakistan by declaring Hindus and Muslims as two distinct nations.

He argued that the communal problem was international, not internal, and demanded separate sovereign states in Muslim-majority regions.

The UKs communal problem, too, is international, not internal. Jinnah demanded separate states in Muslim-majority regions. Will the Muslims of Great Britain take the cue, and maybe, rechristen their host country as Bartania-e-Azam? They have a long memory, and know how to grab the guesthouse that sheltered them.

Of course, they are just 6% of the UKs population. But they are united like a rock, and can wait for the right ecosystem to strike back. They are well aware how to take advantage in a decadent secular" society, ready for blackmail, where the tail wags the dog!

Shabana Mahmood and Anas Sarwar are the leaders they were long waiting for.

The author is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 19:19 IST

News opinion Opinion: How Britain May Become Europes Newest Muslim-Led Country

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Opinion | How INSV Kaundinya Is Reviving Memory

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 19:17 IST

By coming to life from images on ancient coins, carvings and murals, this stitched ship has become tangible proof of Indias long-sidelined maritime legacy.

INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy's stitched sailing vessel built using ancient Indian techniques. (X/@narendramodi)

Much is justifiably made of Indias recent foray into space, but heritage is also important to rejuvenate a nations soul. Culture and knowledge spread in ancient times over land and sea, and the notion that India sat still as merely a trading destination not as an active explorer itself is unacceptable and contradicted by evidence. The recent discovery of 2,000-year-old graffiti in Tamil Brahmi script in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt is one proof of voyaging Indians.

But before the stitched ship INSV Kaundinya was launched with fanfare last year, not many Indians knew or realised that India had a long maritime legacy. Most history textbooks skimmed over it for much of the 20th century, going only so far as to note the excavation of a large Indus-Saraswati era shipyard and port in Lothal in Gujarat. Most students presumed it was to service foreign trading ships and that ancient Indian traders themselves mostly used land routes.

Back in 1912, historian Radhakumud Mookerji wrote Indian Shipping: A History of the Sea-borne Trade and Maritime Activity of the Indians from the Earliest Times, which remains the most magisterial work on this now-neglected aspect of Indias heritage. But the Leftist historians who commanded the heights of Indian academia from mid-20th century ensured that voices like Mookerjis were silenced and key questions were left unasked and uninvestigated.

Like, would the worlds oldest shipyard be found in a country and civilisation that supposedly had no significant ancient maritime history? Clearly not. Yet, despite Lothal being excavated in the 1950s, and later (but still ancient) ports also being unearthed throughout the 20th century  such as Arikamedu, Kaveripattinam Sopara and Bharuch  and even Muziris in the 21st century, there was no recent effort to elaborate on this intriguing aspect of Indias ancient history.

Nor did anyone care to join the dots when deep-sea or ocean-going ships were noted in ancient seals, temple carvings and cave murals from around India. Even mention of sataritram navam  hundred-oared boat/ship  in the Rig Veda did not catalyse widespread contemporary interest in exploring this aspect of Indias heritage. Only former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik opened a maritime museum in 2013 showcasing his states immense sea-faring legacy.

Judging by the perilous journey of the INSV Kaundinya from Porbandar to Muscat in 2025, there must be many Indian shipwrecks from the past 4,000 years buried under sediment on the sea-floor. Unfortunately, no ancient shipwrecks have been found off even the western coast either yet even though there is plenty of other evidence of brisk trade between India and Sumer/Mesopotamia and later Egypt and Rome. Modern technology may address that lacuna soon.

Till then, the INSV Kaundinya stands as the most eloquent testament to not only Indias expertise in shipbuilding but also the importance of pushing the boundaries and rekindling interest in a legacy that had been forgotten and then relegated to the sidelines despite growing evidence of its ancient prevalence. Why did post-colonial India not have the bandwidth or will to consider dispelling the narrative that it was largely a passive, unadventurous civilisation?

That Sanjeev Sanyal, a senior government economist with a passion for history recreated a stitched ship based on observation and intuition  wholeheartedly backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi  and sailed on it across an age-old trade route was more than fortuitous, it was serendipitous. Because the past decade has seen an unprecedented rekindling of interest in Indias ancient legacies as well as a reawakening of the spirit of adventure, endeavour and daring.

In another era, had anyone (much less a senior sarkari functionary like Sanyal) even thought of such a crazy" idea, his bosses would have dismissed it as a frivolous indulgence at a time when a developing nation" like India had greater priorities such as roti, kapda and makaan or building steel mills and factories. Economics not history was paramount, never mind that nations cannot truly advance without pride any more than trees can grow without roots.

But, as Sanyal recounted at an event organised last week by Khola Hawa called Recovering Bharats Past, Bengals Heritage in Kolkata, between 2022 and 2025 an idea actually materialised into a stitched ship. That the Indian Navy, a private shipbuilder and an expert in the lost art of ship stitching named Babu Sankaran collaborated to execute that idea shows how far India has come from the dismal days of subsistence economics and soul-sapping acceptance of inferiority.

The INSV Kaundinya truly encapsulates the long arc of Indias shipping legacy as it came to life from 4,000-year-old paintings of ships on potsherds and models found in Lothal, images of a stitched barge on the 1st century CE eastern gateway of the Sanchi stupa, a ship on a Satavahana period coin (2nd century CE) and a mural in Cave no 2 of Ajanta (5th century CE). Its creation and successful journey to Oman and back is therefore a revival of memory" as Sanyal puts it.

Equally important is that Sanyal, a fit and youthful-looking quinquagenarian, himself sailed on the ship along with Indian Navy sailors, despite the cramped quarters, physical strain and total lack of modern conveniences on board except a GPS transmitterto avoid being mowed down by a gargantuan oil tanker or freighter on the shipping channel that has remained extremely busy from antiquity to now. Walking the talk is as crucial as the ability to dream big.

Sanyals follow-through from concept to execution carries a message to Indians of all ages: always push the boundaries and never consider any idea too outlandish or any task impossible. The INSV Kaundinyas journey with 18 men aboard chronicled on his phone camera also brings home how daring and tough our ancient ancestors were, undertaking journeys of discovery, conquest and trade on ships buffeted or becalmed on the whims of the weather gods.

The next journey that INSV Kaundinya has set its sights on, provided its keel and stitched wooden structure have survived the Arabian Sea foray unaffected, will be a longer one, from Odisha to Bali in Indonesia. That journey used to be undertaken from as far back as 2,400 years ago by hardy east-coast seafarers (apparently of both sexes!) who set off on Kartik Purnima to ride the north-east monsoon winds to south-east Asia and return on the reverse winds.

There is plenty of material evidence of considerable maritime and shipbuilding activity along Indias eastern coastline from the 2nd millennium BCE onwards, so a 2026 recreation of the Bali Jatra  which is now just a symbolic festival in Odisha  by INSV Kaundinya will revive this memory too, for the generations of Indians who have never been encouraged to know about Indias incredible sea-faring legacy for much of the last century. The tide has turned.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 19:17 IST

News opinion Opinion | How INSV Kaundinya Is Reviving Memory

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 13:30 IST

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4 / 10 Sweden: Sweden ranks highly due to its emphasis on personal freedom, sustainability, and social equality. Widespread access to healthcare and strong environmental standards enhances overall well-being. The report highlights Swedens collective resilience as a key reason for its consistently high happiness levels.

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5 / 10 Netherlands: In the Netherlands, happiness is strongly tied to a balanced lifestyle. Citizens benefit from shorter workweeks, efficient infrastructure, and inclusive education. Families enjoy more quality time together compared to many other European countries, boosting overall well-being, according to the Oxford Wellbeing Analysis 2025.

6 / 10 Costa Rica: Costa Rica continues to lead as Latin Americas happiest nation, celebrated for its commitment to peace and sustainability. Since abolishing its military in 1949, the country has redirected resources toward public education and healthcare. With a life expectancy comparable to European nations, residents attribute their happiness to strong community ties and environmental stewardship.

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7 / 10 Norway: Norway ranks among the worlds top ten happiest countries thanks to high income levels, effective governance, and comprehensive social welfare. A balanced work-life approach and an active outdoor lifestyle support mental well-being, while natural resources such as oil fund long-term welfare programs that promote stability and equality.

8 / 10 Israel: Israel continues to achieve high happiness scores despite economic pressures and geopolitical challenges. The report emphasizes strong community support and a prevailing sense of optimism as major contributors. Advanced healthcare and education systems further sustain public confidence and long-term well-being.

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9 / 10 Luxembourg: Luxembourgs compact size hasnt hindered its wealth or quality of life. Boasting one of the highest GDPs per capita globally and a strong welfare system, residents enjoy both financial security and social inclusivity. According to Gallup data, over 80% of Luxembourgers feel safe walking alone at night.
In today's News18 Daily Digest: As the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran enters a critical phase, global focus shifts to what a prolonged war could mean for West Asia and beyond. With Irans Supreme Leader reportedly killed earlier in the conflict, succession discussions are intensifying in Tehran, while Israel signals expanded operations and Washington warns of further consequences. We also look at what this means for India  from the safety of over 1 crore Indians in the Gulf and evacuation discussions for students in Iran, to oil supply concerns and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, the economic costs of war, aviation disruptions, and the political debate back home. Tune in for key developments and in-depth updates from India and across the globe.
Nitish Kumars Son-Rise In Bihar: Who Is Nishant? Will JDU Make Him Deputy CM?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 20:48 IST

The buzz is that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may step down from the states top post after being elected to the Rajya Sabha

Rapid Read

Nitish and Nishant Kumar. (PTI)

After years of staying away from public life, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars only son Nishant Kumar is officially set to enter active politics with his fathers party, the Janata Dal (United) (JD-U).

The decision will soon be announced formally by the JD(U), state minister Sharwan Kumar said on Tuesday.

Bihars political circles are abuzz with speculation that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may step down from the states top post after being elected to the Rajya Sabha. The JDU chief is set to file his nomination for the upper house of Parliament on Thursday. News18 Hindi earlier reported quoting sources that he will not continue as Bihars Chief Minister once elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

The development triggered a flurry of questions about who will succeed him and what role, if any, his son Nishant Kumar will play in the new political arrangement.

Who is Nishant Kumar?

Nishant Kumar is a software engineer, having graduated from the Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra.

Born on July 20, 1975, to Nitish Kumar and the late Manju Kumari Sinha, Nishant was previously known for his reclusive nature and interest in spiritualism.

According to recent filings, his net worth is approximately 3.61 crore, largely comprising assets inherited from his mother.

His political entry

Now, its clear, and it has been finalised that Nishant Kumar will join active politics. The party will make a formal announcement in a day or two. Party workers have been demanding Nishants entry into politics for several years. Now party workers and supporters are upbeat with the decision ahead of Holi," Shrawan Kumar told PTI.

He will be given a bigger responsibility in the party. What responsibility he is going to get will be decided in a day or two," said the minister.

Asked if Nishant can be sent to the Rajya Sabha, Kumar said, Anything can happen." Kumar, who has been a minister in the state cabinet for more than a decade, is considered very close to the CM.

Nishants entry marks a shift for Nitish Kumar, who has historically opposed dynastic politics. The move follows the NDAs landslide victory in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections and growing calls from JD(U) workers for a clear line of succession.

Social Welfare Minister Madan Sahni said JD(U) workers have been demanding Nishant Kumars entry into active politics for several years.

Now, it has been finalised. We are quite happy with the decision," Sahni, also a JD(U) leader, told PTI.

Rural Works Minister Ashok Choudhary said, It is a big Holi gift for the partys rank and file and also the people of the state. Nishants entry into active politics will certainly benefit the party. He is a photocopy of our leader, Nitish Kumar." JD(U) ally BJP also welcomed Nishants entry into politics.

I welcome the new generation to enter politics. I thank the CM for leading the NDA in the recent assembly elections. It is a matter of great happiness that Nishant Kumar will now enter politics with the support of the CM and his family, and we wholeheartedly welcome him," Industries Minister Dilip Jaiswal told PTI Video.

He is certainly an educated young leader, holding a BTech degree, and is a well-grounded individual. Every event happens in its own time, and perhaps now the right time has arrived. His entry should be warmly welcomed," said the former state BJP president.

Bihar Rajya Sabha elections

Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar will go to the polls on March 16. The last date for filing nominations is March 5.

The elections will be held as the tenures of JD(U)s Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, RJDs Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh, and RLMs Upendra Kushwaha are ending.

As per the latest tally in the state legislature, all five seats would now go to the ruling NDA. However, the RJD has decided to field its candidates to ensure the election is not decided unopposed.

With PTI Inputs

First Published: March 04, 2026, 17:22 IST

News politics Nitish Kumars Son-Rise In Bihar: Who Is Nishant? Will JDU Make Him Deputy CM?

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I read the Cp.7Cp.9 of the book Dragon Seed , written by Pearl S. Buck.

A) (1) Cp.7

That night Ling Sao looked at the white woman.  Come with me and I will show you where your daughters are, the woman said. Then they came to a great house, and into a hall which was full of people. Ling Sao found Orchid and her two daughters and all other children.

Pansiao was lying awake and sobbing. Ling Sao whispered.  Are you all unharmed here? We are thus far, the girl replied,  they feed us here. And then she asked,  Where is your childrens father? Her daughter replied,  He was going back to the shop, he would leave us here until he saw what the pattern of the city to be. Orchid woke and saw Ling Sao.  Are you here too,my mother? she cried.  What happened there after we left?

When the sun was well up there were serving women who brought rice in great buckets and vegetables. The women told Ling Sao to eat with others. Eat, they said, for by eating you do a good deed yourself when you help our foreign mistress into heaven.

Outside of the great house full of the women. And many spoke to Ling Sao. She heard such things as had never gone into her ears before. Many in the city had hoped for the quick coming of the enemy, so that there could be peace. The enemy had come like wild beasts, no, and worse. They killed only the men and took the women. Weather a woman was old or young was nothing. Many of the women who talked to Ling Sao had seen those of their own blood killed before their eyes, or raped or beaten.

Thus night fell, and there beside Ling Sao were the seven courtesans.  Why are you here? She asked that young woman somewhat angrily. Women like you ought not be here. The young woman smiled sadly. Even we are women, she said quietly,  and we fear beasts, too.

Ling Sao asked the young courtesan. Are you from Soochow? Then why are you in this city? We are in Soochow when it fell, the young courtesan said, and in our house there were twenty-three courtesans and of those there are only us left, and we are only seven. When we heard the white people could offer safe to women, we came too, for we hate this enemy.

Deep in the middle of that night, they were all wakened out of their sleep by the noise of thundering upon the gate. Every woman lay in the darkness, fearful of what was to come.

Then after a while there came that white woman. I have bad news, she said. The enemy is at the gate. I have only the power of my country to hold them back. They say they will not come in if we gave to them a few women.

This she said, and all of them were silent. Each woman said in her bosom, It cant be I. Then Ling Sao saw that which she was never forget so long as she lived. For at her side that beautiful woman rose. Come, my little sisters, we must go back to our work.

God give you blessing, that white woman said. In the room they had left there was darkness and not a woman spoke. And the next dawn came as it always had.

(2) Cp.8

In his shop Wu Lian worked. He wrote in large black letters upon the outer walls of his shop there words. East-Ocean Goods Sold Here. For the first time since the students had spoiled his shop he felt comfortable. He thought, is it to love ones country when one destroys honest good in a shop? Is that the way for men of reason to behave toward each other? He had not made up his mind to bring his wife here, for he could not close his eyes to all the dead who lay on the street, nor could keep him from hearing screams which told him that a woman was suffering.

It was not too long after he had put up his sign that four enemy soldiers came by, one of them a small officer, they came to find if he had any food to sell. All that Wu Lian had was some small fish put into little tin boxes. Ah! the officer said,  you do not hate us? Wu Lien smiled, I hate no one, he said.

The officer waved his hand to the street.  For all thiswe are so sorry. Our soldiers, very braveangry. I know how soldiers are, Wu Lian said.  But now let hope for peace. Only in peace can we do business. Oh, we promise! the officer said, If many are like you.

The officer wrote some bold black letters, he wrote his name and where he lived in this city, and then he gave the paper to Wu Lian. If any come here to trouble you, show them the paper, he said. We will do no harm to those who do not resist us. After they were gone.  I have only not to resist, Wu Lien thought, that is easy enough for me .

When in the afternoon of the same day a soldier brought to his door a box and in it folded an enemy flag and attached to it a piece of cloth with some letters on it. Wu Lien put up the sign upon the lintel of his door. Yet while he did this he heard a girl scream.  That soldier, he thought,  who just now brought me this sign, can it be he?

At sundown when it was time to put up the boards for night he looked up to take down the sign first. That sign was gone.

He stared at it and grew afraid. Was there a student near him?

....In his own house Ling Tan and his sons themselves made a coffin for Wu Lians mother. And buried Wu Sao.

Except for this household, all the others were spoiled as Ling Tans had been. Out of that village of less than a hundred souls, seven young girls were dead, and four women were despoiled. Among the dead, too, was the oldest man.

There was another evil to fall upon Ling Tan, and it happened to his youngest son. One day Ling Tan looked up and there at his door stood four enemy soldiers, and his sons were at the loom. Ling Tan went to the door and threw the door open, and the sunset light fell upon the hot faces of four young men. They shouted at him and he saw that what they wanted was women.

These men ran toward the weaving room. When those furious soldiers saw that indeed there was no woman their lust knew no bounds. Ling Tan saw them lay hold upon his youngest son. They took this boy and used him as a woman. The beautiful boy lay like dead on the ground. Then, laughing, those soldiers went their way.

The lad was not dead, but he was like one dead. I cannot stay here, he gasped. You shall not stay here, Ling Tan soothed him.  If you go to the hills, do not join the evil men who rob our own people.Seek out the good hill men who make war only on the enemy.

(3) Cp.9

Now Wu Lien saw if he were to have safety from his own enemies he must have his protection from the enemy who had the city in their power. So he went to the street and the number which the officer had left with him. He knocked upon a close door. The door was opened by a soldier. Wu Lien went behind him into the house and there were four enemy officers drinking together.

He spoke to the one he knew. I have a long dealt in foreign goods , which have come from your country. There are those in this city who call me traitor, and they have it in their purpose to kill me, and so I am come to ask if any way that I can be safe. We shall set up a peoples government here, the officer said. You may move into this house at once. Your wage will be fixed according to your ability. But I have a wifemy old motherand two children, Wu Lien said. They may all be here, the officer said. You see how merciful we are to those who do not resist us. We seek nothing but peace and the good of all.

Great was his joy that next day Wu Lien and with a guide of two enemy soldiers he went toward the place where his wife was in the white womans compound. He beat on the gate and the gatemans old face peered out he had to say,  I am Wu Lien, and I am come for my household. The gateman stared at the two enemy soldiers. How is it you have these two with you? he asked. Wu Lien said,  These two have been told off to protect me. I cannot bring them in, the gateman retorted. I must first ask the white woman.

The white women said To Wu Lien: Are you not a traitor? Have you not seen what has taken place in the city? Wu Lien answered, I say the sooner we forget such things, the sooner peace will come for us all. Then this woman said,  I see you are a traitor and the sooner you have your household out of these walls, the better it is.

In a few moments Wu Lien saw his wife coming and with them her children and then Ling Sao. Ling Sao said,  I must tell you, your old mother is no more.

Wu Lien settling his household in the carriage.Then in haste he made off and Ling Sao was left there with the white woman. The woman said: I am sorry for you. The gateman said: your daughters husband has gone over to be a running dog of the enemy.

Ling Sao walked back into the hall where Orchid was and told everything to her little daughter and to Orchid. There was restless all through that hall when the women heard that one of them had gone home. And they thought, It will be my turn next if my man has the wits for it.

Nor were things bettered by a letter that from Ling Saos elder daughter boasting of the fine rooms she had, and then Ling Sao said: I do think this enemy is better than we thought, and the city is now very safe and peaceful. She had find a teacher to read it to her. But the one said, I would not put too much faith in it.

When Orchid heard how well her sister-in-law did, she thought:  The city is at peace again why can I not steal out of the gate. She went to the gate and she drew the bar softly and she stepped into the street and there were few people about. As she passed a public water closet for men, she was suddenly fallen upon by five enemy soldiers. When they saw Orchid they thought she must be a courtesan and quarreled for who should have her first. She was like a rabbit fallen upon by wolffish dogs, and then her life went out. When they were through with her they left her there and she dead.

Then only did the few pitying passers-by dare to come in, and one said: Let us take it to the white woman.

When white woman saw what happened her pale face grew yet more stern. You did well to bring her here, she told them all. When they were gone, she went to find Ling Sao, she told her what had happened. Ling Sao wept, Oh, send for my husband and my son somehow. It is so piteous. I have seen too much sorrow, that white woman said. I have given myself to God. God wants you,too, It may be that He has brought this sorrow upon you to soften your heart to bring you to Him.

Ling Sao waited to see if Ling Tan and their son would come. Outside in the cold darkness stood two men she watched for. She sobbing and crying. Oh, my man Oh my son.

Ling Sao would go back with Ling Tan.  I go home with you, she said to him. What of our little daughter? he said. Will you leave her here alone? If you go, the white woman said, leave your daughter with me. We had in good times a girls school here, but now the school is moved. It happens that tomorrow others go on a foreign ship and guarded by two of my countrymen and their wives, and she will be safe. Ling Tan spoke. Let it be as you sayonly tell us sometimes if she still lives.

Ling Sao found comfort because she was going home. Ling Sao run into her own gate. Where is all my had? she cried. I used to have the best house, the best of everything, and now I have nothing.

Ling Tan cursed the war. Curse all these men who come into the world to upset it with wars! And he told her that night when their third son had gone away. At least he lives, she said.

There was a day long enough after Ling Sao had come home to ruin, when there passed through the village one left in Ling Tans hand a letter. When he unfolded the paper inside the envelope a braided card of scarlet silk fell out into his hand. This red card told was that somewhere to Lao Er and to Jade a living son was born.

B) I think:

1 The book mentions that the courtesan and some people thought the original ruler was very bad and harmed the people, hoping that the Japanese would come soon, believing that once they arrived, they would be safe. However, the Japanese came and the situation became even worse. Orchid naively thought she was safe and walked out of the shelter's gate, only to be killed. For a long time, the Chinese people were under feudal autocratic rule and were in a position of enslavement, submitting passively and merely hoping for a better ruler. Even now, there is still no sense of being the master, and no concepts of democracy, freedom and the rule of law.

(2) In that tragic era, we could still see the noble virtues of some people. That courtesan stepped forward and took the initiative to relieve the disaster for other women. For instance, that white woman took in many Chinese women and children. Such as passers-by returning the body of Orchid to the shelter for white women, etc

(3) The book mentions that the Japanese bribed Wu Lien, and Wu Lien also decided to side with the Japanese to seek his own safety. Even though so many people around were killed and raped, and although his mother was also killed by the Japanese. An autocratic regime needs to bribe some people to maintain its rule. In modern times, it is the same. The government cultivates some military, police and scholars to suppress the masses and control the words and deeds of the general public.
BJP Names 4 Of 7 Candidates For Rajya Sabha Seats From Maharashtra; Vinod Tawde On List

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 12:35 IST

The BJP on Wednesday announced the names of four candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections from Maharashtra.

BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde (Image: X)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday announced the names of four candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra. The announcement comes ahead of the biennial elections to seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra.

According to a party press release, the partys Central Election Committee has approved the candidature of Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, Maya Chintaman Inwate, and Ramrao Wadkute for the Upper House polls from the state.

Athawale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, is a long-time NDA ally and currently serves as a Rajya Sabha MP. Tawde, a former Maharashtra minister and BJP national general secretary, has also been named among the nominees.

BJP Announced 9 Candidates

The BJP announced a total of nine candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls across various states.

From Bihar, the party has fielded National President Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar.

In Assam, Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan have been nominated, while Laxmi Verma will contest from Chhattisgarh.

Haryanas candidate is Sanjay Bhatia, while the party has nominated State unit chief Manmohan Samal along with Sujeet Kumar from Odisha.

The Rajya Sabha elections are scheduled to be held on March 16.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 12:18 IST

News politics BJP Names 4 Of 7 Candidates For Rajya Sabha Seats From Maharashtra; Vinod Tawde On List

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Congress To Contest 28 Seats, Get 1 Rajya Sabha Spot As DMK Seals Pact For Tamil Nadu Polls

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News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 20:55 IST

The pact forms part of a grand alliance of 21 parties led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Tamil Nadu Polls: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with MK Stalin

The DMK and Congress on Wednesday finalised their alliance for the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with Congress set to contest 28 seats and allotted one Rajya Sabha seat, party sources said.

Top leaders, including AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai, held talks with DMK chief MK Stalin and other leaders at the Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, Selvaperunthagai, expressed satisfaction and happiness over the seat-sharing deal.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu Is TVK, TVK Is Tamil Nadu: Vijay Criticised DMK Govt, Asserts Confidence In His Partys Win

The DMK and Congress have successfully concluded our seat-sharing discussions on a happy note. We have signed the agreement, under which the Congress will contest 28 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu, along with one Rajya Sabha seat," Selvaperunthagai told the media after the announcement was made public.

VIDEO | Chennai: The DMK and Congress have successfully concluded our seat-sharing discussions on a happy note. We have signed the agreement, under which the Congress will contest 28 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu, along with one Rajya Sabha seat," says TNCC chief pic.twitter.com/KWttf5UUFj Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 4, 2026

This development comes amid intense speculation over seat-sharing. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)Indian National Congress (INC) pact forms part of a grand alliance of 21 parties led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, aiming to present a united front against the opposition BJP-AIADMK combine under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming polls.

Just a day earlier, Tamil Nadus ruling DMK had allotted one Rajya Sabha seat to its ally, DMDK.

The Assembly seats for DMDK will be announced later following further discussions, DMDK leader LK Sudhish had told reporters after signing the electoral pact with the DMK.

The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly is expected to go to the polls in the first half of 2026.

(With inputs from agencies)

Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India

First Published: March 04, 2026, 20:22 IST

News politics Congress To Contest 28 Seats, Get 1 Rajya Sabha Spot As DMK Seals Pact For Tamil Nadu Polls

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Nitish Kumar On His Way To Rajya Sabha? A 'CM Change' Buzz, This Time In Bihar, And What It Means

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News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 22:07 IST

Sources said JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar may step down as Bihar CM on being elected to the Rajya Sabha for which he will reportedly file nomination papers tomorrow

JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar was last in Parliament between 1998 and 2004, serving in the NDA government under then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. (Image: PTI/File)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar turned 75 on March 1. But that has nothing to do with the latest speculation over leadership change in Bihar, which has surfaced over his possible move to the Rajya Sabha.

According to sources, Nitish Kumar may step down as Bihar chief minister on being elected to the Rajya Sabha for which he will file nomination papers on Thursday, March 5.

But, many are asking a vital question: is this the end of Nitish Kumar? Its not like the JD(U) veteran has not made a mark in national politics. He served in Parliament between 1998 and 2004 in the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government under then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as railway, surface transport and agriculture minister.

If Nitish, however, moves to the Rajya Sabha, it will bring about a massive change in the political landscape post the 2025 assembly elections in Bihar. It would be an understatement to say him stepping down would put the state in a flux.

The longest-serving chief minister of Bihar, he has a record of switching alliances (three times) but has managed to win all the elections since 2005. On November 20, 2025, he took oath for a record 10th time.

WHAT HAPPENS IF NITISH KUMAR STEPS DOWN AS CM?

Historically, a shift to the Rajya Sabha has been interpreted as a graceful exit" strategy. This could mean the same for Nitish Kumar, potentially paving the way for him to assume a role as an elder statesman" or guide".

It comes as Nitishs son, Nishant Kumar, is slated to make his formal entry into active politics signalling a profound shift in the JD(U)s internal succession planning. Bihar minister Shrawon Kumar has said it paves the way for him to take up a leading role in the JD(U).

But, the most important player in this shift would be the BJP. While the NDA officially maintained its support for Nitishs leadership during the 2025 elections, his potential move to the Rajya Sabha reignites buzz about the saffron party finally occupying the CMs chair.

Following the NDAs landslide victory  securing 202 out of 243 seats  the BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the assembly for the first time with 89 MLAs. This big brother" shift in the power balance means that if Nitish moves to Delhi, the BJP is almost certain to demand the states highest office.

Experts said while the BJP upheld its pre-poll promise to back him, the current landscape is increasingly viewed as a post-Nitish era" in waiting, where the party seeks to install one of its own to reflect its status as the dominant force.

WHAT DOES NISHANT KUMARS JD(U) ENTRY MEAN?

A cornerstone of Nitish Kumars political identity has been his staunch opposition to parivarvaad" (dynastic politics), frequently using it as a weapon against the Lalu Prasad Yadav family and the RJD.

But, Nishant Kumars entry into the JD(U) represents a dramatic departure from this long-standing belief. A BTech engineer, who has remained reclusive for years, Nishant is expected to be given a bigger responsibility" within the party.

Party insiders view this move as a desperate measure to prevent the JD(U) from disintegrating after Nitish steps back, serving to hold the fort against internal power struggles between senior leaders like Sanjay Jha or Ashok Choudhary. While JD(U) workers have hailed this as a Holi gift", it hands a significant victory to the opposition RJD, which can now claim that Nitish has finally embraced the very dynastic politics he once claimed to abhor.

WHAT HAS THE BJP SAID ABOUT NITISH KUMAR AS CM?

The chief minister narrative was a point of constant friction before and after the Bihar elections last year.

Throughout the 2025 poll campaign, senior BJP leaders  from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan  insisted there was no confusion" about Nitish Kumar as the face of the NDA. This commitment was upheld when he was sworn in as the CM.

But, the post-poll reality of the BJPs sheer numbers in the state assembly has created an environment where the official policy of support is increasingly at odds with the political reality of its dominance. While there is no official statement yet, the persistent speculation shows that the BJPs promise may have been more of a poll strategy.

DOES THIS STRENGTHEN THE OPPOSITIONS PUPPET NARRATIVE?

The RJD may as well feel vindicated if Nitish Kumars move to the Rajya Sabha comes to pass. Led by Tejashwi Yadav, the opposition party has repeatedly portrayed the JD(U) leader as the BJP-led Centres puppet".

The RJD has said Nitish is no longer the real decision-maker and is merely a shield" or mask" used by the BJP to dictate governance from Delhi. Opposition leaders have frequently predicted a forced retirement" for him, claiming that the BJP will discard" him once they feel secure in their own power. They have also questioned Nitishs physical and mental fitness by describing his government as a 20-year-old rickety car", which should be taken off the road.

WHO IS BJP SENDING TO RAJYA SABHA?

The BJP, meanwhile, has announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. It has named its national president, Nitin Nabin, as a candidate marking his Parliament debut.

Nabin, a Kayasth leader who replaced JP Nadda, is seen as an attempt to reassure the BJPs core upper-caste base. Joining him is Shivesh Kumar, a former MLA whose selection is viewed as part of a strategic Dalit outreach.

Alongside them, Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha is also set to file his nomination, as the NDA looks to sweep all five vacant seats despite the RJDs decision to field candidates and contest the election.

(With agency inputs)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 17:26 IST

News politics Nitish Kumar On His Way To Rajya Sabha? A 'CM Change' Buzz, This Time In Bihar, And What It Means

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Google Issues Critical March 2026 Security Update For Android Users

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 12:12 IST

Android users have been warned by Google about some dangerous risks that are being patched up with the March 2026 update.

Android users are getting a critical March 2026 update

Android users are getting a critical update in March 2026 that is claimed to fix hundreds of vulnerabilities which has put millions of devices at risk over the last few months. The new update for Android users is one of the biggest not only in terms of the features but also the level of security patches it brings for these devices and keeping them safe.

Google is planning for a phased rollout of these patches which means there will be two batches which cater to around 129 security issues that have been previously reported and flagged by Google and its security team.

Android March 2026 Update: Why It Matters

When Google releases a detailed bulletin about security issues that people should be aware about, you know things are critical and need to be addressed immediately. The risk of zero-day issues mean hackers can exploit them in the wild and nobody gets a whiff of the risks and any possible attack that may have already affected some or many users.

The main issue is linked to a Qualcomm component with a high severity label attached which can result in device compromise and even instability caused by remote attacks. Both Google and Qualcomm have admitted to the concerns of these zero-day issues and this March 2026 update fixes those gaps to secure the devices.

This alert becomes even more critical for Android devices with Qualcomm chipsets and should highly prioritise installing the new patch right away.

In addition to this, Google has also worked out the issues that impact devices with Arm, MediaTek or even Unisoc hardware that is primarily running on the budget devices. You can check for the new version by:

Go to Settings

Tap on system update

Check for new update and install

Reboot the phone to get the new March 2026 patch running

So, if you have a new Android update available for your device, Google wants you to install it which will protect you from the 129 vulnerabilities that the company is alarmed about.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 04, 2026, 12:12 IST

News tech Google Issues Critical March 2026 Security Update For Android Users

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MWC 2026: This Modular Laptop Concept Lets You Swap Keyboard For Display

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 10:07 IST

Lenovo has showcased its unique modular laptop at the MWC 2026 this week and here are the details.

MWC 2026 is seeing more modular concepts.

Lenovo has showcased a new unique version of its ThinkBook lineup at the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona this week. Concepts are usually eye-catching and get people talking, which is exactly what you get with the new model, a modular laptop that can replace parts just like how the smartphones have shown for many years.

Detachable displays are not a novel idea in 2026 but Lenovo suggests its modular concept goes well beyond the existing tech and you can clearly mix-and-match the ports and have more fun with the options on the table.

Swap Out Everything

Modular devices have excited us over the years but the prospect of laptop parts being replaceable sounds very convenient. This ThinkBook concept has a dual screen setup which you can swap out and fit a keyboard panel. The second screen on the model can be removed to even put a stand to give you a compact version of a monitor.

Ports are also swappable and thats where the modular nature truly takes shape. You can switch the sides of the HDMI or the USB 3.0 port based on what you need, or even move the charging port for better convenience with the switch board.

Having modular design also enables easier repairs for these devices, and not having to upgrade every time something stops working. Asus has shown these products are doable and can be sold in the market, albeit at a premium and Lenovo will have to make all these designs work in the final products.

Having said that, Lenovos got a history with these unique modular concepts. Previously the company has showcased laptops with rollable displays but most of them are still in the development phase. So do we get to see the new modular version out in the market anytime soon? Lenovo hasnt talked about a release date for this product which suggests the wait could be a long one.

Location : Barcelona, Spain

First Published: March 04, 2026, 10:07 IST

News tech MWC 2026: This Modular Laptop Concept Lets You Swap Keyboard For Display

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15 Out Of 10: Trump Rates Iran War As Conflict Kills 6 Americans, Over 1,000 Iranians

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Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 03:17 IST

Trump said the US was doing very well in the war with Iran as casualties mounted on both sides.

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US President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable on the Ratepayer Protection Pledge in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) on the White House campus in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump rated the US militarys performance in the war with Iran as about a 15" on a scale of 10 while speaking to reporters during a roundtable on the Ratepayer Protection Pledge at the White House on Wednesday.

Trumps comments came as the conflict entered its fifth day, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) saying it had aggregated reports of 1,097 civilian deaths and over 5,000 injuries so far in the war that began in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also said on Monday that six US military personnel have been killed since the start of the Iran war.

Were doing well on the war front, to put it mildly. Somebody said on a scale of 10, where would you rate it? I said about a 15," Trump told a gathering of technology executives at the White House.

Were in a very strong position now, and their leadership is just rapidly going. Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead."

Trump added that Tehrans arsenal of ballistic missiles was being wiped out rapidly".

The Republican justified the US military action against Iran and claimed that Tehran was on the path to acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Speaking to reporters earlier during an event at the White House, President Trump said that things are going well on the warfront" with Iran, stating that on a scale of 1 to 10 he would rate it about a 15," before claiming, I think if we didn't do it first, they [Iran] would pic.twitter.com/J2NyE1RQcw OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 4, 2026

When crazy people have nuclear weapons, bad things happen," Trump said. He also pledged that the joint air campaign with Israel, which killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on its opening day on Saturday, would continue.

It remains unclear what Trumps ultimate objectives are with the US military action in Iran. The White House said on Wednesday that Irans clerical government was being absolutely crushed" and was paying in blood."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, declined to confirm whether Trump was seeking regime change in Tehran.

She said Trump is actively considering" a US role in Iran after the American-Israeli operation against the country concludes.

I think its something the president is actively considering and discussing with his advisors and his national security team," Leavitt told reporters at a briefing, while confirming that Trump had spoken to Kurdish leaders.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was considering supporting Kurdish groups as part of Washingtons strategy in the conflict.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 05, 2026, 03:15 IST

News world 15 Out Of 10: Trump Rates Iran War As Conflict Kills 6 Americans, Over 1,000 Iranians

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After Irans Saudi Drone Attack, US Orders Evacuation Of CIA Stations Within Ballistic Missile Range

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 14:15 IST

The Central Intelligence Agency's station at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia was hit on Monday by a suspected Iranian drone

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US President Donald Trump (right) with CIA Director John Ratcliffe. (AP File)

After the Iranian drone attack on the CIAs station in Saudi Arabia, the United States has ordered the evacuation of all of its stations that are within the Islamic Republics ballistic missile range, sources told The Hill.

The Central Intelligence Agencys station at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia was hit on Monday by a suspected Iranian drone, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

There is no indication the station was the target, the source said. The CIA declined to comment.

The attack came amid ongoing strikes in the Middle East following Saturdays U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

The embassy, which is located in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, is among the U.S. sites that have been hit so far in the conflict. Saudi Arabias defense ministry said the embassy was hit by two drones, which resulted in a limited fire and some material damage.

Washingtons mission in the kingdom subsequently warned Americans to avoid the embassy until further notice due to an attack" on the facility.

On Tuesday, it cancelled routine and emergency U.S. citizen services appointments. There is a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks over Dhahran. Do not come to the U.S. Consulate," the mission said in a security alert.

11 US military facilities hit

Iran has struck at least 11 distinct U.S. military facilities or sites across the Middle East in retaliation against American and allied strikes since late February 2026, according to a New York Times analysis and multiple independent sources.

These include bases and installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf locations, reported Reuters

These attacks have included the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, air bases and camps in Kuwait, a U.S. base in Iraq, U.S. facilities at Jebel Ali in Dubai, and Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, among others.

Some of these strikes resulted in U.S. troop casualties, including servicemembers killed or wounded, such as at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

With Reuters, ANI inputs

First Published: March 04, 2026, 14:01 IST

News world After Irans Saudi Drone Attack, US Orders Evacuation Of CIA Stations Within Ballistic Missile Range

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'As World Teeters On Brink Of WW3': Outrage As 40+ UK MPs Filmed Dancing In Parliament | Watch

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 23:06 IST

Some parliamentarians criticised the timing of the event, given the escalating Middle East crisis following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The event was reportedly held on Thursday to promote the benefits of dance for the nations health and wellbeing.

Outrage has erupted after more than 40 British MPs were filmed dancing at Parliament during an event with Strictly Come Dancing stars. The video of the session has gained widespread attention on social media.

According to UK media, the event was held on Thursday to promote the benefits of dance for the nations health and wellbeing.

The video shows MPs stepping and twirling under the glass atrium of Portcullis House, following choreography by Kai Widdrington.

 MPs dance with Strictly Come Dancing stars amid Iran crisis pic.twitter.com/lXst8xK33z The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 4, 2026

Among the participants were Green Party MP Hannah Spencer, shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston, Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, and Labours Kim Leadbeater, who practised alongside former Strictly contestant Kingston, professional dancers Flavia Cacace and Neil Jones, and ex-judge Dame Arlene Phillips.

Some parliamentarians criticised the timing of the event, given the escalating Middle East crisis following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. In a post on X, Your Party MP Zarah Sultana wrote, The optics of MPs doing Strictly Come Dancing in Parliament while the world teeters on the brink of World War Three is completely inappropriate. It says all you need to know about Westminster."

The optics of MPs doing Strictly Come Dancing in Parliament while the world teeters on the brink of World War Three is completely inappropriate.It says all you need to know about Westminster. pic.twitter.com/grx3hxTqTh  Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) March 4, 2026

Reform UKs Nadhim Zahawi, a former Tory minister, called the event a very bad look for Parliament when the Middle East is trying to free itself from a terrorist regime hell-bent on acquiring nuclear weapons that could put the United Kingdom at risk."

Social media users also expressed outrage, criticising MPs for dancing while global crises unfold. Many argued that the event showed a startling disconnect from the seriousness of world affairs.

One user wrote, We have a global emergency  yet some of our MPs are f******* ballroom dancing." Another commented, The state of the country reflects the extremely low calibre of many of our elected representatives. Every one of these idiots is unfit for public office."

Others highlighted broader concerns about governance, with one posting, Never mind Chinese spies, absence of a navy, WW3, giving away our territory (& taxes), invaders arriving today, electoral fraud, paedo protection, rape gangs. Stunned our elected, tax payer funded political self annointed elite think this is ok today. Gross lack of insight."

Another social media user remarked, This gives me so much confidence in the British government."

Location : United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 23:06 IST

News world 'As World Teeters On Brink Of WW3': Outrage As 40+ UK MPs Filmed Dancing In Parliament | Watch

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CIA's Secret Plan To Trigger An Uprising Inside Iran Using Iraq-Based Kurdish Forces, Revealed

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 21:19 IST

The Donald Trump administration has been in active discussions with Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish leaders in Iraq, as per the report.

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US President Donald Trump

The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising inside Iran, CNN reported citing multiple people in the know. The covert operation began several months before the current war in Iran and is now accelerating as Operation Epic Fury enters its fifth day.

The Donald Trump administration has been in active discussions with Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish leaders in Iraq about providing them with military support, as per the report, in a bid to jumpstart regime change from within while US and Israeli airstrikes pummel Iran from above.

The Plan And Its Logic

The strategy, as described by people familiar with the discussions, has several interlocking objectives. Kurdish armed forces- which have thousands of fighters operating along the Iraq-Iran border, primarily in Iraqs Kurdistan region- would engage Iranian security forces and pin them down, making it easier for unarmed civilians in Irans major cities to take to the streets without being massacred.

A separate strand of thinking centres on whether Kurdish forces could take and hold territory in northern Iran, creating a buffer zone for Israel. A third goal is simply to sow chaos and stretch the Iranian regimes military resources thin.

The Iranian people are generally unarmed as a whole and unless the security services collapse, itll be difficult for them to take over unless someone arms them," Alex Plitsas, a CNN national security analyst and former senior Pentagon official, told CNN.

I believe the US is hopeful that this will inspire others on the ground in Iran to do the same." Plitsas said the US was clearly trying to jump-start" the process of Iranians overthrowing the regime.

The CIA support for Iranian Kurdish groups began several months before the war erupted, one source and a senior Kurdistan Regional Government official confirmed.

Trump Calls Kurdish Leaders

Trump spoke directly with Mustafa Hijri, president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), a senior Iranian Kurdish official told CNN. The KDPI was among the Kurdish groups that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted with dozens of drones on Tuesday.

Trump also called Iraqi Kurdish leaders on Sunday to discuss the US military operation and how the two sides could work together as the mission progresses, two US officials and a third source familiar with the conversations said, as first reported by Axios.

Iranian Kurdish opposition forces are expected to take part in a ground operation in western Iran in the coming days, the senior Iranian Kurdish official told CNN. Several Kurdish groups have already released public statements since the war began hinting at imminent action and urging Iranian military forces to defect.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 21:19 IST

News world CIA's Secret Plan To Trigger An Uprising Inside Iran Using Iraq-Based Kurdish Forces, Revealed

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Dubai, Playground For The Worlds Super-Rich, Sees Them Flee As Iran War Escalates

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 22:48 IST

Iranian missile attacks over the Gulf have rattled Dubais reputation as a safe haven, prompting wealthy residents to charter private jets and drive across borders to flee.

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Missile strikes and airspace disruptions across the Gulf are pushing wealthy residents to charter private jets and flee the UAE through neighbouring countries. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Dubais super-rich have begun fleeing the glitzy Gulf hub by any means necessary, paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to escape a regional war they fear may drag on.

The desert city in the United Arab Emirates has long welcomed the global wealthy, drawn by low taxes, safety, luxury and a business-friendly government.

But that reputation is now under strain as Iranian missiles and drones fly across the Gulf and airspace restrictions disrupt flights in the UAE.

Some residents are paying huge sums to secure a way out.

When we saw the fire, we said OK, its time to go," Evrim, a Turkish mother of two living in Dubai, told AFP.

She was referring to a blaze that broke out after missile debris struck a luxury hotel near her home on Palm Jumeirah, Dubais archipelago of man-made islands that has become a symbol of the citys extravagant wealth.

Evrim, her husband and their two children are paying $200,000 to charter a flight from neighbouring Oman to Geneva, where they plan to wait out the conflict. To reach Omans capital Muscat, the family drove six hours through the desert.

We were feeling really anxious mainly because of the kids  when they heard that bang sound they were scared," she said, describing missile interceptions in the skies above the city.

She fears leaving the region could become even harder if the conflict drags on, especially if Saudi Arabia  whose airspace covers large parts of the region  becomes involved in the war.

Dubai has built its reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, home to the worlds tallest building, luxury hotels, giant shopping malls and even an indoor ski slope.

But its image as a safe haven in a volatile region is now under pressure.

Since Saturday, the UAE has been targeted by more than 800 drones and 200 missiles as part of Irans retaliatory campaign across the Gulf. Airports and oil facilities are among the sites that have been hit, with three people reported killed.

Why Are Wealthy Residents Leaving Dubai?

Several foreign governments including Britain and Germany are sending evacuation flights to neighbouring Oman, where some commercial services are still operating.

But many wealthy residents are arranging their own exit.

Demand is definitely increasing," Glenn Phillips, PR and advertising manager for private jet broker Air Charter Service, told AFP.

We have arranged a number of evacuation flights already, and have more scheduled today and tomorrow, mainly out of Muscat in Oman for people looking to get out of Dubai."

Prices for charter flights are rising sharply, Phillips said, partly because many aircraft are grounded at airports affected by airspace closures. Security concerns have also made some operators reluctant to fly.

Muscat has emerged as the most common exit route, but congestion at the UAEOman border has forced some travellers to wait three to four hours to cross.

If the conflict continues, aircraft availability could become even tighter, Phillips warned.

Are Some Leaving By Road Instead?

Not everyone is flying out.

Mike DSouza, operations coordinator at Indus Chauffeur in Dubai, said demand for private cars leaving the UAE has surged among wealthy Western residents.

Many are heading toward Saudi Arabia, where airports are still functioning.

But obtaining visas for the kingdom has proved difficult for some evacuees, complicating their escape plans.

What About Residents With More Modest Means?

For those without access to private jets or chauffeured cars, leaving has been far more difficult.

A British expatriate living in Dubai told AFP he struggled to secure commercial flights out of Muscat for himself, his pregnant wife and their three-year-old son.

Prices are extremely high and seats are disappearing quickly while you are trying to book," he said.

The family eventually managed to secure seats on a flight to Hyderabad in India, from where they plan to travel onward to Thailand.

While my son doesnt understand what is happening, it has clearly unsettled him, and my wife has also been anxious," he said.

That said, we absolutely love Dubai and consider it our home. We fully intend to return once our baby is born and things settle down."

Location : Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 22:48 IST

News world Dubai, Playground For The Worlds Super-Rich, Sees Them Flee As Iran War Escalates

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'Baseless': India Rejects Claims Of US Navy Using Its Ports For Iran Strikes

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Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 08:36 IST

The MEA rejected claims aired by US network OAN that American warships were using Indian ports to stage attacks on Iran, calling the allegations fake and false.

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The government dismissed viral reports claiming US warships were using Indian naval facilities to launch strikes on Iran. (IMAGE: X)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday strongly rejected claims circulating online that Indian ports are being used by the United States Navy to launch attacks against Iran.

The governments denial came through a post from the MEAs official FactCheck handle on social media, which described the allegations as completely false.

The clarification followed reports broadcast by One America News (OAN), a conservative US television network, which claimed that Indian naval facilities were being used by American warships to stage operations targeting Iranian assets.

Fake News Alert!Claims being made on OAN, a US based channel that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false. We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments. pic.twitter.com/xiFWnkoXBk  MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) March 4, 2026

The segment, which cited unnamed military sources", suggested that the alleged cooperation was part of a broader strategic alignment between India and the United States aimed at countering Irans influence in the Persian Gulf.

The claim quickly spread on social media platforms including X and Telegram, triggering widespread discussion and speculation online.

Responding to the reports, the MEAs FactCheck account issued a direct rebuttal.

Claims being made on OAN, a US-based channel, that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false. We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments," the post said.

The ministrys response comes as tensions continue to rise in West Asia following a series of military escalations involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

On Tuesday, the MEA also emphasised that the safety of Indian nationals in the Gulf region remains a major priority for the government.

Nearly one crore Indian citizens live and work across Gulf countries, making the region critical for India both economically and diplomatically.

Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority," the MEA said earlier, adding that New Delhi cannot remain unaffected by developments that may endanger them.

Officials said the government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and will take decisions in line with Indias national interests.

The MEA also said it remains in contact with governments across the region as well as other key international partners as the conflict continues to unfold.

The clarification came against the backdrop of coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28 across multiple Iranian cities, targeting military command centres, air defence systems, missile sites and other strategic infrastructure.

Those strikes resulted in the death of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with four senior military and security officials. Large explosions were reported in Tehran and other major cities during the operation.

Iran subsequently retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allied countries across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, further widening the conflict in West Asia.

First Published: March 05, 2026, 01:18 IST

News world 'Baseless': India Rejects Claims Of US Navy Using Its Ports For Iran Strikes

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From Derailed Talks To Demand For Russian Oil, Heres How Iran War Is Affecting Ukraine Conflict

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 22:22 IST

From stalled peace talks to rising oil prices and a fresh dispute over the Druzhba pipeline, the Iran war is beginning to shape the trajectory of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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Ukrainian servicemen fire a Grad MLRS towards Russian troops near the frontline town of Chasiv Yar. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The war in West Asia triggered by the US-Israeli strike that killed Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is beginning to ripple far beyond the region.

The conflict has already disrupted energy markets, triggered retaliatory attacks across the Gulf and drawn in Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. But the consequences are also being felt thousands of kilometres away in Ukraine, which is now in the fourth year of Russias invasion.

Here is how the Iran war is beginning to influence the Ukraine conflict.

How Has The Iran War Affected Peace Talks On Ukraine?

The latest diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine appears to have been disrupted by the escalating conflict in West Asia.

US President Donald Trump has been pushing Russia and Ukraine to agree on a settlement, seeking to position himself as a mediator in the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that a third round of negotiations involving Ukrainian, US and Russian officials had tentatively been planned for Thursday and Friday in Abu Dhabi.

However, the talks now appear uncertain after Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, with the United Arab Emirates among the countries targeted.

The Ukrainian negotiating team told AFP there is currently no concrete date for the next round of talks.

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine would be open to holding negotiations in alternative venues such as Turkey or Switzerland, both of which have hosted previous meetings aimed at ending the war.

Could Rising Oil Prices Help Russia?

Energy markets are another area where the Iran conflict could indirectly influence the war in Ukraine.

Kyiv has repeatedly targeted Russian oil and gas facilities with long-range strikes in an attempt to reduce the revenues Moscow uses to fund its invasion. Western sanctions have also sought to curb Russias energy exports.

However, the conflict in West Asia  including attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf  has pushed global oil prices higher.

That could benefit Moscow by increasing its oil revenues and strengthening the financial resources available for its war effort, even as its economy faces growing pressure from sanctions and falling energy income.

Why Is The Druzhba Pipeline Becoming A Flashpoint?

The Iran war has also complicated an ongoing dispute between Ukraine and the European Union over the Druzhba pipeline, one of the worlds longest oil pipelines.

The pipeline carries Russian crude to several European countries including Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Built during the Soviet era, its name means friendship" in Russian.

According to a Financial Times report, the European Commission and several pro-Ukraine EU governments have asked Kyiv to allow inspectors to visit a damaged section of the pipeline to verify whether Ukraine is attempting to restore oil flows.

Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of exaggerating the damage and deliberately shutting off the pipeline, while Ukrainian officials say the infrastructure suffered significant destruction and requires time to repair.

The dispute has already spilled into European politics. Hungarys government led by Viktor Orban has delayed approval of an EU loan package for Ukraine until the pipeline resumes operations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa have reportedly asked Kyiv to allow an inspection mission to assess the damage independently. Ukraine has so far rejected the request.

What Is Zelenskyys Air Defence Swap Proposal?

The war with Iran could also affect Ukraines military supplies, particularly air defence ammunition provided by Western allies.

Zelenskyy has acknowledged that a prolonged conflict in West Asia may affect the availability of some US-supplied air defence missiles used to protect Ukraines critical infrastructure.

Russia has relied heavily on Iranian-designed Shahed drones during its invasion  the same type of drones that Tehran has used in attacks across the Gulf.

Ukraine says it has developed relatively inexpensive interceptor drones capable of destroying incoming attack drones mid-air.

Zelenskyy this week proposed a potential weapons swap with US allies in West Asia.

Lets speak about weapons that were short of: PAC-3 missiles  if they give them to us, we will give them interceptors," he said.

The idea would allow West Asian countries facing Iranian drone threats to receive Ukrainian interception technology while Ukraine secures additional air defence missiles.

Location : Kyiv, Ukraine

First Published: March 04, 2026, 22:04 IST

News world From Derailed Talks To Demand For Russian Oil, Heres How Iran War Is Affecting Ukraine Conflict

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High Costs, Depleting Arms: Pentagon Warns US Missile Stocks May Run Low If Iran War Lasts 10 More Days

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Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 09:03 IST

As per reports, Washington is already experiencing shortages of key missile systems, including Tomahawk land-attack missiles and SM-3 interceptors.

Tomahawk Cruise Missile (Photo: US Army)

The United States, which has entered a war of its choice", is facing concerns over declining arms and ammunition supplies as the conflict with Iran enters its fifth day. President Donald Trump has indicated the war in West Asia could continue for four to five weeks, and possibly longer.

According to reports from the Pentagon, if US strikes on Iran continue for another 10 days, stocks of critical missiles may run low.

Pentagon warning over depleting weapons

According to a CNN report citing a senior US official, Washington is already experiencing shortages of key missile systems, including Tomahawk land-attack missiles and SM-3 interceptors. The official said a major uptick" in attacks is expected within the next 24 hours while missile and interceptor reserves continue to fall.

The initial strikes are said to have weakened Iranian defences. The next phase is expected to target Irans missile production facilities, unmanned aerial vehicles and naval capabilities.

The Pentagon is also facing shortages of Patriot missiles, partly because Ukrainian air defences have consumed large portions of the stockpile during the four-year war with Russia.

Since Saturday, the US-Israeli offensive has produced significant claimed results, with US Central Command stating that all 11 Iranian vessels in the Gulf of Oman were destroyed.

Trump claimed that 49 Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed. US B-2 stealth bombers also struck hardened ballistic missile facilities overnight on Sunday.

At least six US service members have been killed and 18 seriously wounded since the attacks began.

Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

Which weapons could run low?

Experts told Al Jazeera that interceptor missiles could become critically scarce during an extended conflict. A Wall Street Journal report earlier said Pentagon officials and Joint Chiefs chairman General Dan Caine warned Trump about risks linked to prolonged fighting and shortages of key munitions.

US reserves have already been strained by military aid to Israel and Ukraine. During last years war with Iran, the US used 25 per cent of its THAAD interceptors, firing about 150 missiles, and reportedly ran out of ship-borne interceptors.

Advanced precision weapons, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), may also face shortages. Experts noted these systems were designed for short, intense conflicts rather than sustained rocket barrages.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Irans missile production far exceeds interceptor manufacturing capacity, stating Iran produces more than 100 missiles monthly compared with only six or seven interceptors built each month.

Inventories of SM-3 interceptors are also declining due to slow manufacturing, operations against Yemens Houthi militants and earlier confrontations with Iran.

Rising costs of the war

Reports say the first 24 hours of strikes alone cost the US about $779 million. Operating a carrier strike group such as the USS Gerald R Ford costs around $6.5 million per day.

Before the strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders, the US deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Middle East. The pre-strike military build-up is estimated to have cost about $630 million.

If the conflict continues as Trump suggested, total spending could reach $210 billion, according to Kent Smetters of the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

Since October 7, 2023, the US has provided $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel and spent between $9.65 billion and $12.07 billion supporting operations in Yemen, Iran and the wider Middle East, bringing total related spending to between $31.35 billion and $33.77 billion.

On Friday afternoon, Trump said he was dissatisfied with nuclear talks with Iran. Three hours later, he ordered military operations that targeted Irans leadership and military commanders.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at US bases in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.

Al Jazeera reported that the Pentagon warned Trump an extended conflict could carry risks, including high costs to replenish weapons stocks.

However, Trump later said on Truth Social that US munitions supplies were strong, writing that stockpiles had never been higher or better" and claiming the United States had a virtually unlimited supply capable of sustaining wars indefinitely.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 09:03 IST

News world High Costs, Depleting Arms: Pentagon Warns US Missile Stocks May Run Low If Iran War Lasts 10 More Days

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India Voice Of Global South, Cannot Remain Silent: Iran Assistant Minister Bahrami | Exclusive

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 16:24 IST

Bahrami said nuclear weapons aren't in Iran's doctrine, and a deal with US was near before the strikes. He also dismissed regime-change talk as political fantasy

For the second time in ten months, diplomatic processes were interrupted mid-course, the assistant minister said. Image: @Bahrami1962/X

Missiles over Tel Aviv. Airspace closures across the Gulf. Tense statements from Doha, Kuwait City, and Abu Dhabi. Fresh exchanges along the IsraelLebanon border. What began as a confrontation between Iran and Israel, with the United States drawn in militarily, has now rippled across West Asia, unsettling energy markets and forcing regional capitals into urgent diplomacy.

The conflict has also taken a dramatic internal turn inside Iran. Iranian state media has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the countrys most powerful figure since 1989, was killed in joint USIsraeli airstrikes, and Tehran has declared 40 days of national mourning. This marks the first direct decapitation of Irans political leadership in decades and has triggered an expedited leadership transition.

Against this volatile backdrop, CNN-News18 spoke exclusively with Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Assistant Minister and Director General for South Asia at Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who argued that what the region is witnessing is not an isolated flare-up but the outcome of deeper geopolitical fault lines and, in Tehrans view, a war imposed" on Iran.

This Was Not A War Iran Chose

As military exchanges intensify and diplomatic channels shrink, Tehran maintains it did not initiate the conflict.

This is a war that has been imposed upon us," Bahrami said. It must be understood not as a temporary crisis or a bilateral dispute with the United States, but as the intersection of major structural shifts in the international system."

According to him, three forces are converging at once: great-power competition, the geopolitical reconfiguration of West Asia, and the gradual transition from a unipolar to a more complex global order. In that churn, he suggested, diplomacy has become collateral damage.

Talks Interrupted, Twice

Bahrami pointed to what he described as a troubling pattern. In June 2025 and again in February 2026, indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington were underway when military confrontation escalated.

For the second time in ten months, diplomatic processes were interrupted mid-course," he said, adding that in February a general framework for a phased understanding had reportedly been established. Escalation at such a critical juncture raises serious questions about strategic priorities."

Notably, three rounds of engagement had taken place before tensions boiled over. The first was an indirect round hosted by Oman, followed by two rounds of direct talks between US and Iranian officials in Geneva. According to diplomatic sources, these discussions were aimed at crafting a phased de-escalation roadmap. That they were overtaken by military action, Bahrami suggested, reinforces Tehrans belief that geopolitical calculations ultimately trumped negotiation.

Crisis Management Or Containment?

Is Washington seeking to manage a crisis or to limit Irans regional consolidation?

Bahrami framed it as the central strategic question. West Asia, he argued, is undergoing a profound reshapingnormalisation moves among some regional actors, new coalitions, and intensifying competition for economic and security influence.

In such an environment, any development that stabilises or strengthens Irans position is viewed by some as an undesirable shift in the regional equilibrium," he said.

On Nuclear Weapons And Deterrence

In the months leading up to and following the outbreak of hostilities, Irans nuclear programme became a central and highly contentious issue. Data shared with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before the war showed that Tehrans stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, a level significantly above what is needed for civilian reactors, had grown substantially. Estimates put this quantity at around 440 kg, enough, if further refined, to shorten the timeline to weapons-grade material significantly.

Relations with the IAEA deteriorated sharply after the US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025, prompting Tehran to suspend cooperation and expel international inspectors. Since then, the agency has lost continuity of knowledge" about Irans enrichment activities and the precise location of existing enriched uranium, raising global concern about transparency.

However, responding to long-standing concerns, Bahrami reiterated that nuclear weapons have no place" in Irans declared defence doctrine.

Our defence posture is grounded in conventional deterrence and territorial defence," he said. Iran has posed no direct threat to US territory or national security."

He described Irans military capabilities as defensive in nature, developed in response to perceived threats and aimed at raising the costs of aggression rather than initiating confrontation. Its defence policy is based on conventional deterrence and territorial defence."

Regime Change An Illusion

On the growing rhetoric around regime change, Bahrami dismissed the idea as lacking legal foundation and international legitimacy.

From a practical standpoint, it fails to account for the structural complexities of Iranian society," he said. It appears rooted more in political fantasy than in strategic realism."

Why India Matters Now

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in conversation with leaders from Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, emphasising de-escalation and regional stability. With New Delhi engaging Gulf leaders amid the crisis, Bahrami said independent Asian powers have a particularly important role.

India has consistently defined strategic autonomy as the compass of its foreign policy, maintaining balanced relations with major powers," he noted. As the worlds largest democracy and a leading voice of the Global South, India is expected not to remain silent but to adopt an active approach in the face of consequential regional developments."

Although he stopped short of prescribing specific steps, Bahrami suggested that a balanced and principled approach grounded in international law would be constructive.

Iran and India are two ancient civilisations with deep historical and cultural ties," he said. This legacy provides a meaningful foundation for responsible cooperation during sensitive and transformative moments."

First Published: March 04, 2026, 16:21 IST

News world India Voice Of Global South, Cannot Remain Silent: Iran Assistant Minister Bahrami | Exclusive

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Did Iran Destroy USs $1.1-Billion Ballistic Radar At Qatar Base? Satellite Images Confirm Damage

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 13:00 IST

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs shows scorched ground and signs of firefighting. This radar is one of only six in the world and provides critical long-range tracking for the US

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The satellite imagery from Planet Labs. (X)

Did Irans one-way attack drone or other projectile, significantly damage the U.S. Space Forces AN/FPS-132 (Block 5) Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radar System in Qatar, which is worth roughly $1.1 billion and is the largest radar operated by the United States in the Middle East?

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs has now confirmed the damage.

Around 200 compliant tankers stranded as Strait of Hormuz closure freezes Gulf trafficIran insists it has complete control of Strait of Hormuz@ShivaniGupta_5 Explains which countries will be impacted and how? #StraitOfHormuz #Israel #Iran #Oil pic.twitter.com/SLXhlZLpNo  News18 (@CNNnews18) March 4, 2026

Irans strike and damage

The strike occurred around Saturday. The radar installation is located near Al-Khor (north of Al Udeid Air Base) in Qatar.

ALSO READ | Iran Strikes Amazon Web Services: Data Centres Are New Oil Fields? Modern Warfare, Targets Explained

While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed a precision missile strike," other reports and open-source analysts suggested a low-cost one-way attack drone (potentially a Shahed variant) may have penetrated defenses during a saturated barrage of missiles and UAVs.

What does satellite imagery show?

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs reportedly shows scorched ground, debris, and signs of firefighting at the site.

The attack was part of Operation True Promise 4," which Tehran described as retaliation for joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Other reported targets in this wave included the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters.

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs has now confirmed claims made by a number of Iranian-affiliated channels over the last few days, that an Iranian one-way attack drone, or other projectile, was able to successful impact and significantly damage the U.S. Space Forces AN/FPS-132 pic.twitter.com/9w2OmMMEex OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 4, 2026

How the radar helps strategically

The AN/FPS-132 (Block 5) is a highly advanced, $1.1 billion Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) that serves as a cornerstone for long-range missile defense in the Middle East. This radar is one of only six in the world and provides critical long-range tracking for the U.S. and allies, supporting systems like THAAD and Patriot. Its loss reportedly reduces U.S. Central Commands (CENTCOM) sensor depth, compressing reaction timelines for missile defense across the Persian Gulf.

The system has an operational range of approximately 5,000 km, allowing it to detect and track ballistic missiles shortly after launch from deep within foreign territory. Unlike older versions, the Block 5 in Qatar features three electronically steered phased-array faces, providing a full 360-degree surveillance azimuth.

It operates in the UHF band and is designed to continuously track ballistic missiles and space objects. It generates high-fidelity trajectory data, impact predictions, and cueing information for interceptor systems like THAAD and Patriot.

Beyond missile warning, it supports the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) by tracking newly launched satellites and orbiting space debris.

Backbone of regional missile defence: Why it matters

Military analysts describe this radar as the backbone" or the kill chain anchor" of the regional missile defence architecture. It is not a tactical point-defense sensor but a strategic-level tracker that builds the initial engagement picture.

Its primary role is to provide early warning". Targeting the sensor layer is a tactical choice intended to reduce the reaction window for U.S. and allied forces, making it harder to intercept subsequent waves of high-speed missiles.

Positioned near Al-Khor in northern Qatar, it complements the massive Al Udeid Air Base, which serves as the central hub for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operations.

With Agency inputs

First Published: March 04, 2026, 12:01 IST

News world Did Iran Destroy USs $1.1-Billion Ballistic Radar At Qatar Base? Satellite Images Confirm Damage

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Iran Sought Backchannel Ceasefire Talks With CIA As US-Israel Began Striking: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 20:44 IST

The outreach came despite Iranian leaders publicly rejecting negotiations with the Trump administration.

A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran, on March 3, 2026. (AFP photo)

Iran reportedly reached out to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to explore a backchannel ceasefire, just a day after US and Israeli forces began striking the country, according to a report by The New York Times.

The outreach came despite Iranian leaders publicly rejecting negotiations with the Trump administration. Operatives from Irans Ministry of Intelligence reportedly made the contact indirectly, using a third countrys spy agency to convey an offer to discuss terms for ending the conflict, the report said, citing officials from West Asian countries and a Western nation.

In public, Irans surviving leadership has maintained a defiant stance, refusing to negotiate with the United States. However, the anonymous officials briefed on the outreach told The New York Times that the backchannel contact was aimed at exploring a potential ceasefire, highlighting an underlying willingness among some Iranian operatives to engage discreetly.

ALSO READ: Too Late: Donald Trump Says He Rejected Irans Offer For A Deal As Op Epic Fury Continues

Still, the offer, which was made through another countrys spy agency, raises critical questions about whether any Iranian officials could put into place a cease-fire agreement with the Tehran government in chaos as its leaders are methodically picked off by Israeli strikes," the report stated.

US officials remain sceptical that either side is genuinely prepared to agree to an immediate resolution, at least in the short term, given the ongoing military campaign.

The strikes, which began on February 28, have reportedly allowed US and Israeli forces to control large swathes of Iranian airspace while hitting multiple strategic targets across major cities. The escalation has forced Washington to close embassies and evacuate US citizens from the region.

The report also notes that the offer raises questions about whether any Iranian officials could effectively implement a ceasefire given the turmoil within the Tehran government, as Israeli strikes continue to target key figures.

US President Donald Trump later dismissed the possibility of talks, stating on social media that it was too late" for negotiations, and expressed concern that many Iranian officials who could have facilitated dialogue were now dead.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 20:44 IST

News world Iran Sought Backchannel Ceasefire Talks With CIA As US-Israel Began Striking: Report

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Iran's Strike On Radar 'Nerve Centre' Al-Udeid Big Blow To US, What Other American Bases Were Hit?

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 15:18 IST

Iranian missiles targeted the highly specialised AN/FPS-132 radar system, which analysts described as the "nervous system" of a multi-trillion-dollar defence architecture of the US

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Smoke rises from an area in the direction of Al Udeid Air Base, which houses the Qatar Emiri Air Force and foreign forces including the US, in Doha on February 28, 2026, following a reported Iranian strike. (Image: AFP)

Did one missile strike change everything" in the ongoing conflict between Iran and US-Israel in West Asia? The hit on what is being called the radar nerve centre" at the Al-Udeid base in Qatar may have just blinded the American military in the Gulf.

The Iranian strike on the US base, which was confirmed by Qatars defence ministry on Tuesday (March 3), is a significant blow to Americas sophisticated air defence network.

According to the Qatari defence ministry, a single Iranian ballistic missile struck the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar. It was initially reported that the air defence systems successfully intercepted one of two incoming missiles, but the one that reached its target delivered a disproportionate blow to US military capabilities.

Follow US-Iran-Israel War LIVE Updates Here

This strike was part of a massive Iranian retaliatory campaign following the joint US-Israeli Operation Epic Fury, which also killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It targeted the highly specialised AN/FPS-132 radar system, which military analysts described as a piece of hardware that was the nervous system" of a multi-trillion-dollar defence architecture.

 Iran just destroyed the AN/FPS-132 radar at Al Udeid with a single missile. One missile.That radar was not just a target. It was the nervous system of every Patriot battery, every THAAD launcher, every layered air defense architecture the United States has spent four pic.twitter.com/IeD9OXhqic THE ISLANDER (@IslanderWORLD) March 4, 2026

Analysts said its destruction means that every Patriot battery and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) launcher across the war theatre is now operating partially blind". This single successful hit represents asymmetric warfare distilled to its purest form", proving that while the US must be perfect in its defence every time, an adversary like Iran only needs to succeed once to cripple the backbone of its missile defence.

Follow DubaiAbu Dhabi LIVE News Updates Here

WHICH ARE THE US BASES HIT BY IRAN?

Iranian strikes have not been limited to Qatar but have spanned across the west Asian region, targeting a majority of US military assets in and around the Persian Gulf.

READ MORE | Missile Math: How Weapons Shortages Could Shape The Israel-Iran War

According to data, these are the following installations and assets targeted by Iran:

Qatar: Al-Udeid Air Base

Iraq: Ain al-Asad Air Base and Erbil Air Base (Al-Harir)

United Arab Emirates: Al Dhafra Air Base and the commercial Jebel Ali Port, which is used by the US military

Kuwait: Ali Al-Salem Air Base and Camp Buehring

Oman: Duqm Port

Jordan: Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base, which was used to intercept missiles over what was described as Irans farthest land target

Bahrain: NSA Bahrain

Saudi Arabia: Prince Sultan Air Base

Cyprus: The British airbase at Akrotiri, which hosts US troops, was targeted by a sustained drone attack from the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. This is the first attack on a European country in this conflict.

There are, however, several key US installations that are safe so far  Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, and various positions in Northeast Syria. None of the US military installations in nearby Djibouti (Camp Lemonnier), Egypt (MFO South Camp), or Turkiye (Incirlik Air Base and Izmir Air Station) appear to have been hit.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AL-UDEID RADAR?

The loss of the AN/FPS-132 radar at Al-Udeid is being called a blind eye" for the Pentagon. This facility serves as the primary radar hub for the layered air defence architecture that the US has spent four decades constructing at a cost of several trillion dollars.

Without the data feed from this specific nerve centre, the US militarys ability to coordinate intercepts for incoming threats is severely compromised. The implications are already being felt at sea.

The US Navy, which had been promised as an escort for Gulf shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, has announced it can no longer provide these escorts. The lack of a credible timeline for restoring these services has left 3,200 ships sitting idle causing European gas prices to surge by 50 percent.

The strike demonstrated that the petrodollar runs through a chokepoint the United States can no longer credibly protect".

WHAT DOES THE US GULF PRESENCE LOOK LIKE?

The concentration of American forces in the Persian Gulf is a testament to the regions role as the largest single source of petroleum worldwide.

At present, the US maintains a deployment of between 40,000 and 50,000 soldiers in at least 10 countries in West Asia. Qatar hosts the largest single regional facility at Al-Udeid Air Base, where more than 10,000 personnel are stationed, followed by Kuwait that maintains a substantial presence with over 13,500 soldiers after the Gulf Wars.

This sprawling presence is designed to secure energy transit and project power, yet the recent strikes have put these personnel on high alert as the conflict is expected to last for weeks.

ALSO READ | US Intel Warns Iran Could Attack America In Retaliation Over Khameneis Killing: Report

WHAT ARE THE AMERICAN BASES BEYOND THE GULF?

While the Gulf remains the focus, the US military footprint extends further across West Asia and into neighbouring regions.

These include major hubs such as Incirlik in Turkiye and Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. The strategic depth provided by these bases outside the immediate Persian Gulf is intended to provide alternative staging grounds. But the drone attack on the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus shows that even facilities traditionally considered beyond the immediate splash zone" of west Asian conflicts are now vulnerable to Irans proxy network.

HOW MUCH IS US SPENDING ON THIS DEFENCE INFRA?

The ongoing Iran conflict has driven up a long-term upward trajectory in US defence spending. Since the late 1990s, this expenditure has risen from roughly USD 542 billion to levels exceeding USD 900 billion in the early 2020s.

In 2026, the US Congress approved a budget of USD 901 billion. But regional instability has accelerated these requirements.

The Trump administration has proposed a record USD 1.5 trillion military budget for 2027  a 50 percent increase over current levels. This massive proposed expenditure aims to expand capabilities and accelerate modernisation, addressing critical shortages in air defence interceptors.

ALSO READ | Preparing Iranians For Revolt? Hidden Motive Behind US-Israel Strikes On Internal Security Apparatus

At present, manufacturers like Raytheon produce only 37 THAAD interceptors a year  a rate that analysts said is insufficient for the high-intensity conflict with Iran. When measured per capita, the US already ranks second globally spending nearly USD 2,900 per person on defence, surpassed only by Israels USD 5,000 per person.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 14:29 IST

News world Iran's Strike On Radar 'Nerve Centre' Al-Udeid Big Blow To US, What Other American Bases Were Hit?

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87 Killed As US Torpedoes Iranian Warship Returning From India | Video

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 05, 2026, 01:53 IST

The full scale of casualties from the Iris Dena sinking remained unclear as rescue operations continued off Sri Lanka's southern coast.

The Moudge-class frigate sunk approximately 40 nautical miles off the port city of Galle.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine torpedoed and sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean  declaring it the first sinking of an enemy ship by torpedo since World War II.

The warship, IRIS Dena, had been in India just weeks earlier to participate in the MILAN-2026 multilateral naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, hosted by the Indian Navy.

In fact, yesterday in the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo  the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II," Hegseth said, as footage of the strike was played on screen behind him.

Read more: Objective Is Regime Change: Israeli Foreign Minister Says Iran War May Be Long

He also linked the operation to a separate targeted killing, adding, Yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump was hunted down and killed. Iran tried to kill President Trump and President Trump got the last laugh."

Welcome! |  ! Indian Navy welcomes IRIS Dena, of the Iranian Navy, on her arrival at #Visakhapatnam to participate in #IFR2026_India and #MILAN2026, reflecting long-standing cultural links between the two nations.@India_in_Iran #BridgesOfFriendship pic.twitter.com/O77v2qNJHJ  Eastern Naval Command  (@IN_HQENC) February 17, 2026

What Happened Off Sri Lanka In Indian Ocean

More than 100 people were reported missing and at least 87 killed after the Iranian naval frigate Iris Dena sent out a distress call off the coast of Sri Lanka. The Moudge-class frigate sunk approximately 40 nautical miles off the port city of Galle  just outside Sri Lankan territorial waters  when Sri Lanka scrambled ships and aircraft to rescue the 180-strong crew.

Sri Lankas Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed the rescue mission to parliament, saying 30 injured sailors were being transported to a hospital in the islands south. The main hospital in Galle, 115 kilometres from the capital Colombo, was placed on high alert. Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said the Navy and Air Force were conducting a joint rescue operation to extract the remaining crew.

Read more: Historic First: Israels F-35I Adir Scores First-Ever Stealth Fighter Air-to-Air Kill Over Tehran

Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath said the operation was in line with the countrys international obligations.

We responded to the distress call under our international obligations, as this is within our Search and Rescue Area in the Indian Ocean," he was quoted as saying by AFP.

The sinking comes as Irans Revolutionary Guards declared full control over the Strait of Hormuz, warning that vessels attempting to transit the critical oil and gas shipping route risk missile strikes or damage from drones. Trump countered that the US Navy stood ready to escort oil tankers through the Gulf route.

Location : Sri Lanka

First Published: March 04, 2026, 15:41 IST

News world 87 Killed As US Torpedoes Iranian Warship Returning From India | Video

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Islamabad Signals Clear Tilt Toward Riyadh As Iran-Saudi Arabia Strains Mount | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 13:08 IST

Pakistans deputy prime minister said Islamabad had reminded Iranian leadership about its strategic mutual defence pact with Saudi, stressing that Iran must respect the agreement

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Pakistans deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar noted that Pakistan signed a bilateral defence agreement with Saudi Arabia last year and emphasised that Iran should take this into account amid the evolving regional conflict.

Pakistan has publicly underscored its strategic alignment with Saudi Arabia amid escalating regional tensions involving Iran, with senior officials stating that Islamabad is bound by a bilateral defence agreement with Riyadh and expects Tehran to factor that into its calculations.

Pakistans deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar said Islamabad had reminded Iranian leadership about its strategic mutual defence pact" with Saudi Arabia, stressing that Iran must respect the agreement.

We have a strategic mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, the whole world knows about it," Dar said, adding that Pakistan is bound by the deal and had conveyed this position clearly to Tehran. We immediately reminded our brothers in the leadership in Iran to please keep that in mind."

Iran Must Consider Defence Agreement

Dar noted that Pakistan signed a bilateral defence agreement with Saudi Arabia last year and emphasised that Iran should take this into account amid the evolving regional conflict. He also observed that the least reaction" in the broader crisis had been directed at Saudi Arabia and Omana remark seen as reinforcing Islamabads view that Riyadh has not been a direct aggressor in the current escalation.

According to sources in Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Islamabad has assured Riyadh of its full support" and conveyed a clear message to Tehran regarding its position.

Officials claimed Pakistan is supporting Saudi Arabia at every forum and in every field", including strategic defence partnerships. One source described the policy bluntly: For Pakistan, Haramain Sharifain first, then the rest of the world."

Haramain Sharifain" refers to the two holiest Islamic sitesthe Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophets Mosque in Madinahboth located in Saudi Arabia. The phrase underscores the religious and strategic centrality Riyadh holds in Pakistans foreign policy calculus.

Demographic and Strategic Calculations

Dar also pointed to demographic realities shaping Islamabads approach. Around 2.5 million Pakistanis reside in Saudi Arabia, compared to roughly 35,000 in Iran. We have to look at broader optics," he said, signalling that economic remittances and expatriate welfare are significant considerations.

Saudi Arabia remains one of Pakistans key financial backers, having extended loans, oil facilities and investment commitments during Islamabads recent economic crises. The defence partnership has also deepened in recent years, including joint military cooperation and security coordination.

Balancing Act Under Scrutiny

Pakistan has historically sought to balance ties between Riyadh and Tehran, given its geographic proximity to Iran and its own significant Shia population. However, the latest statements indicate a clear prioritisation of Saudi Arabia in the current geopolitical climate.

Analysts say Islamabads explicit reference to its defence pact and its messaging to Tehran suggest a departure from quiet diplomacy toward a more overt signalling strategy.

Whether this stance risks further straining Pakistan-Iran ties remains to be seen, but Islamabads position appears unambiguous: its strategic, religious and economic stakes lie firmly with Riyadh.

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: March 04, 2026, 13:08 IST

News world Islamabad Signals Clear Tilt Toward Riyadh As Iran-Saudi Arabia Strains Mount | Exclusive

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Kuwaiti Jets Mistakenly Shot Down Three US F-15 Jets? Report Points To Friendly-Fire Error

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 13:21 IST

The US military confirmed that three F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly downed by friendly Kuwaiti fire, not by Iran. All crew members parachuted to safety.

Kuwaiti F-18 Hornet (Left) and American F-15 fighter jets (Right)

A Kuwaiti jet fighter accidentally shot down three American F-15 fighter jets on Monday, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. At least one Kuwaiti F-18 Hornet is reported to have been responsible. A US official said the pilot mistakenly launched three missiles at the American aircraft, which went down over Kuwait.

The US military confirmed that three F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly downed by friendly Kuwaiti fire, not by Iran. All crew members parachuted to safety.

First US aircraft loss in current war

The incident marked the first loss of American aircraft since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28 with large US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Iran later retaliated with missile and drone attacks across Kuwait and the Gulf following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint strikes on Saturday.

Iran claimed responsibility for shooting down the jets as fighting intensified.

Combat conditions and drone attacks

The Wall Street Journal reported the blue-on-blue" incident happened while Iranian drones were entering Kuwaiti airspace. One drone struck a base, killing six Americans.

US Central Command said the event occurred during active combat" involving Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones. The exact circumstances remain unclear.

Rising tensions and earlier attacks

The friendly fire episode came amid heightened alert levels. On March 1, six US Army soldiers were killed when an Iranian drone hit a US tactical operations centre at Shuaiba port in Kuwait.

The downing is the second known case of US fighter aircraft lost to friendly fire in the Middle East within 15 months.

Questions over identification systems

An ex-Air Force fighter pilot described the incident as perplexing," saying allied pilots are trained to avoid such mistakes. He noted that aircraft normally use Identification Friend or Foe systems to signal friendly status.

It remains unclear whether the US jets had their systems activated. The former pilot said even without transponders, aircraft must show hostile intent before engagement.

Pentagon and military response

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine confirmed the loss of the three F-15Es during a March 2 Pentagon briefing, stating the US knew the incident was not caused by enemy fire but declined further comment.

CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said 200 fighters had taken part in the operation, carrying out 2,000 strikes, with F-15Es among the aircraft involved.

Kuwait defence statement

Kuwaits Ministry of Defense said its forces had confronted several hostile aerial targets around dawn on the day of the incident and later confirmed that several US aircraft had crashed.

The conflict has escalated sharply over the past four days, with regional actors including Iran-backed Hezbollah joining the fighting. Civilian populations across affected countries have faced widespread disruption.

US F-15 Fighter Jet Downed in KuwaitAccording to local sources, a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down in the skies above Kuwait earlier on Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/UIyTkZllEX  IRNA News Agency  (@IrnaEnglish) March 2, 2026

Videos shared online showed an F-15 spiralling downward in flames while flying over Kuwait.

Location : Kuwait City, Kuwait

First Published: March 04, 2026, 13:21 IST

News world Kuwaiti Jets Mistakenly Shot Down Three US F-15 Jets? Report Points To Friendly-Fire Error

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News / Africa

by Stephen Jakes

The African leadership will need to speed up the implementation of the integration agenda as the continent urgently needs to create jobs for the over 60 percent of its population who are the youth, the Chairman of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Task Force Sindiso Ngwenya has said.Speaking at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt after the opening of the meeting of Technical officials preparing for the launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Area on today (Wednesday June 10), Ngwenya said the current upsurge of illegal migration out of Africa with its attendant risks is testimony of the youth frustration in getting employment. Africa has the world's youngest population at over 60% of its population.Ngwenya who is also the Secretary General of COMESA said the Tripartite FTA launch was historical as it will have great outcomes in the region and beyond."The FTA will ensure that jobs are created as companies involved in the production of goods and service across borders will be established in the region to take advantage of the wider market base of 26 member States with a population of 625 million people and a Gross Domestic Product of USD$ 1.3 trillion," he said.Further, he said free movement of people across borders was key on the agenda for the tripartite as will stimulate business development and investment opportunities for the three regions."Despite having not tackled the issue thoroughly as the tripartite, we have included the free movement of people in the market integration as this affects the other two pillars which are Infrastructure development and Industrial.The COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite FTA will allow for businessmen and women to trade freely and cheaply adding that multiple trade regimes usually result in expensive business deals while a one and harmonized trade regime will allow for cheap business deals.The decision to establish the COMESA aEAC a SADC tripartite was informed by overlapping membership of the States to the three regional economic communities (RECs). During their Summit in 2008, the Heads of State of the three RECs decided, that to overcome this challenge, there was need to establish a single FTA for the 26 countries that constitute the membership.The Heads of State, launched negotiations for the establishment of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Fre Trade Area in 2011 and agreed that these negotiations should be completed by 2014.
'Objective Is Regime Change': Israeli Foreign Minister Says Iran War May Be Long | Exclusive

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 19:10 IST

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Sa'ar laid out Israel's war aims as Operation Epic Fury entered its fifth day.

Birds fly as smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 2, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that the objective of the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran is regime change- both political and military- while acknowledging that the conflict has no fixed timeline and could be prolonged.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Saar laid out Israels war aims as Operation Epic Fury entered its fifth day.

Track US-Iran-Israel War LIVE Updates here

We have an objective but not a timeline. I think it may take long," Saar told CNN-News18, in remarks that offered the clearest public articulation yet of what Israel hopes to achieve from one of the most consequential military campaigns in West Asia in decades.

#Exclusive | We have an objective and not timeline, and we will need patience to achieve an objective. We will go as long as it takes: Israel Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar#IranIsraelWar | @RShivshankar pic.twitter.com/BurXNeWhjY News18 (@CNNnews18) March 4, 2026

Regime Change But Not Occupation

Saar was explicit that regime change- encompassing both Irans political leadership and its military command- was the core Israeli objective but he was equally clear that Tel Aviv did not intend to impose a successor government, drawing a distinction between military action and political determination.

Read more: Who Is Ali Larijani? Twice-Banned Presidential Candidate Becomes Irans Most Powerful Man In A Crisis

For us the objective is regime change, in both the political and military powers," he said, adding, Boots on the ground should be of the Iranian people to change the situation. We are giving them this opportunity. It is not for us to decide who will lead- it is for the people to elect through free and fair elections."

The remarks signal that Israel envisions a post-conflict Iran shaped by its own citizens rather than installed by outside powers.

Saar also described the conflict as a crucial battle against terrorism."

#Exclusive | It is essential to have regime change in Iran. We are creating an opportunity for Iranians to take future in their own hands: Israel Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar#IranIsraelWar | @RShivshankar pic.twitter.com/pt6E0yQUo5 News18 (@CNNnews18) March 4, 2026

The remarks come as the conflict, which began on February 28 with the launch of Operation Epic Fury, shows no sign of a ceasefire. US and Israeli forces have struck more than 2,000 targets across Iran, including nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordow, air defence systems and leadership compounds in Tehran. Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in the initial strikes.

The human cost has been severe. State media and human rights groups report more than 1,000 deaths in Iran, including a strike on an elementary school in Minab that killed approximately 180 children- an incident that has drawn widespread international condemnation. Nine people were also killed in an Iranian missile strike on the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh and six US service members have been killed in action.

Read more: US-Israel Conflict With Iran Enters Fifth Day As Fighting Engulfs Lebanon And Gulf: What We Know

Iran has retaliated with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Israel and US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Tehran has also declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to oil and gas tankers- a move that has sent global oil prices surging and triggered sharp falls in world stock markets.

Location : Iran

First Published: March 04, 2026, 19:01 IST

News world 'Objective Is Regime Change': Israeli Foreign Minister Says Iran War May Be Long | Exclusive

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'Only After PM Modi Left': Israeli Envoy Details 'Operational Opportunity' Before Attacking Iran

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 10:50 IST

Israel, on February 28, in a joint operation with the United States attacked Iran, targeting many cities, including the capital, Tehran.

PM Narendra Modi visited Israel on February 25 and 26. (Image: MEA/PTI/File)

In a big statement, Israeli envoy Reuven Azar said that the joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran were conducted during an operational opportunity" that arose only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi left" Tel Aviv.

Detailing what went behind Israels plan during its pre-emptive strikes" on Iran, the Israeli Ambassador to India said it was not known during PM Modis visit that the strikes on Tehran would be undertaken.

It was an operational opportunity that came up only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi left. Of course, during the conversations with PM Modi during the visit, we talked about regional development, but we couldnt have actually shared something that we didnt know," Azar was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

The Israeli Ambassador stated that it took about two days after PM Modi left to decide the attack on Iran. He added that they received the approval of the security cabinet on Saturday (February 28) morning.

Notably, Prime Minister Modi was in Israel for a two-day state visit on February 25 and 26. It was his second trip to the country following the 2017 visit that ended decades of diplomatic restraint between the two countries and developed the strategic relationship between India and Israel.

A day after PM Modi left Tel Aviv, Israel, on February 28, in a joint operation with the United States attacked Iran, targeting many cities, including the capital, Tehran. Over 700 people have been killed in the strikes so far in Iran.

Hours after the joint strikes, Iran, in retaliation, launched missiles  many of which hit Gulf regions including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Since February 28, tensions in the Middle East have been escalating as Iran vowed to avenge the killing of its Supreme Leader Khamenei, and US President Donald Trump warned it was too late" for Iran to seek talks to escape a war".

Irans Supreme Leader Dead

Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in the joint US-Israel strikes on Tehran. Along with him, his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter were also reportedly killed.

Khameneis wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, also died after succumbing to wounds sustained during the strikes.

However, earlier in the morning, it was learnt that Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of Irans slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is all set to succeed his father, who was killed in joint strikes by Israel and the United States.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 10:50 IST

News world 'Only After PM Modi Left': Israeli Envoy Details 'Operational Opportunity' Before Attacking Iran

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Over 4,000 Young Afghans Vow To Take Up Arms Against Pakistan, Sign Up To Defend Homeland

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 22:52 IST

Local law enforcement reported a significant surge in military recruitment in Afghanistan's Panjshir province, where 4,176 young volunteers officially registered

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The Afghan Taliban is framing the massive recruitment drive in Afghanistan's Panjshir province as a direct response to territorial incursions by Pakistan. (Image: News18/video grab)

More than 4,000 young Afghans from the Panjshir province have signed up to join the fight against Pakistan, days after border tensions escalated into a full-blown conflict between the two neighbouring countries.

Local law enforcement reported a significant surge in military recruitment in Afghanistans Panjshir province, where 4,176 young volunteers officially registered.

According to the Panjshir provincial police command, these volunteers signed up to defend the nation since the onset of what local authorities described as cross-border strikes by Pakistani forces. The Afghan Taliban is framing this massive recruitment drive as a direct response to territorial incursions by Pakistan.

Officials said the residents of Panjshir, particularly the younger generation, have shown a strong willingness" to travel to the Durand Line to confront Pakistani forces. The volunteers have expressed a fervent commitment to protecting their homeland, system, and people".

This comes as media report said Pakistan targeted the famed Bagram airbase in Afghanistan on Wednesday, as its operation was going against the Afghan Taliban over their alleged failure to stop terrorist attacks from their soil.

Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq (Righteous Fury) on the night of February 26, following alleged Afghan Taliban attacks on 53 locations along the over 2,600 km border.

State-run PTV in a post on X said Pakistan carried out a major attack on Bagram Air Base" as it was giving a befitting response to Afghan Taliban aggression".

Pakistan continues to conduct vigorous ground and air operations against the unprovoked aggression of the Afghan Taliban," it said.

PTV often quoted unnamed security sources for reports on the Afghanistan attacks, but for the Bagram attack, it quoted The New York Times.

An aircraft hangar and two warehouses at Bagram Air Base were destroyed in a Pakistani attack, satellite images of which have also emerged," PTV reported, quoting NYT.

It said Afghanistans defence ministry confirmed the airstrike, adding that Pakistan carried out more than 50 such hits on military targets in Afghanistan over the past week. Quoting defence experts, it said Pakistans successful operation" on Bagram Air Base caused heavy damage to the Afghan Taliban regime.

By targeting Bagram Air Base, Pakistan sent a clear message to the Afghan Taliban regime that it can operate anywhere in Afghanistan," it quoted an unnamed defence expert as saying.

The channel said despite Pakistans repeated warnings, terrorism continues from Afghanistan, in which weapons left by the United States have also been used. Separately, sources said Pakistani security forces carried out targeted attacks on the defence position of the Afghan Taliban on the border with Balochistan province on the night of March 3 and 4, targeting the hideouts and posts that were being used by outlawed elements and their facilitators".

The security sources said more than 50 locations were being targeted, with modern weapons being used, including anti-tank guided missiles, rocket launchers and long-range mortars, light and heavy artillery, and main battle tanks. A source said swarm drones are being used for an organised operation, which is targeting certain targets in coordination with the ground troops".

(With agency inputs)

Location : Kabul, Afghanistan

First Published: March 04, 2026, 22:48 IST

News world Over 4,000 Young Afghans Vow To Take Up Arms Against Pakistan, Sign Up To Defend Homeland

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Shadow War Hits Indian Ocean As Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena Sunk Off Sri Lankan Coast | Exclusive Details

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 18:42 IST

Top Indian intelligence and maritime experts are raising alarms over the implications for New Delhis economic and energy security

Sri Lankan Navy and Defence Ministry sources describe the sinking as a 'classic submarine torpedo attack'. (File image)

In a dramatic and lethal escalation of the broadening West Asia conflict, the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena was sunk in the early hours of March 4, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka. The incident marks the first major naval casualty of the US-Israel-Iran war within the deep waters of the Indian Ocean, with intelligence sources telling CNN-News18 that this signals a dangerous spillover" into Indias primary maritime backyard.

The IRIS Dena was transiting homeward via the standard westward routing following its high-profile participation in Indias MILAN 2026 multinational naval exercise and International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam just weeks ago.

Sri Lankan Navy and Defence Ministry sources describe the sinking as a classic submarine torpedo attack". Distress calls were intercepted between 5.08 am and 5.30 am local time, reporting a single, massive underwater explosion. The strike caused a catastrophic hull breach and rapid flooding; the vessel disappeared from radar and sank within minutes.

The clinical nature of the strikecharacterised by a silent approach and zero surface radar signaturepoints to a high-seas neutralisation by a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN). While no nation has officially claimed responsibility, the stealth and deniable" nature of the attack is being viewed by global analysts as a sophisticated covert operation designed to bypass the escalation of open surface or air battles.

According to an Indian Defence Assessment, the timing of the strike is critical. It follows recent Iranian claims of a missile hit on a US Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean. This sinking appears to be a direct signal to Tehran: Iranian warships are no longer safe, even on distant transit routes far from the Persian Gulf.

For Washington, this represents a high-seas neutralisation" strategyeliminating Iranian naval assets in deep water to avoid the diplomatic and military complexities of strikes within the crowded Arabian Sea or the Persian Gulf.

Top Indian intelligence and maritime experts are raising alarms over the implications for New Delhis economic and energy security. While the incident did not occur in Indian waters, the presence of an active kill zone" south of Sri Lanka proves the West Asia conflict has escaped its regional boundaries.

India remains hyper-vulnerable, say the sources, importing 85-88% of its crude oil. With nearly 40% of this transiting through the Strait of Hormuznow under threat of total Iranian closureany disruption in the Indian Ocean lanes creates a potentially grave crisis for the Indian economy.

The Indian Ocean handles 30-40% of global water trade. Vital east-west shipping lanes, specifically the Mumbai-Singapore and Kochi-Europe corridors, are now effectively war zones. The Indian Navy is reportedly recalibrating its mission-based deployments" to provide additional security for commercial vessels, a move that could strain assets already monitoring the volatile western seaboard.

First Published: March 04, 2026, 18:42 IST

News world Shadow War Hits Indian Ocean As Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena Sunk Off Sri Lankan Coast | Exclusive Details

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Pressure on weapons stockpiles

The meeting highlights growing urgency in Washington to rebuild weapons reserves after the Iran operation drew heavily on munitions. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Israel launched military operations in Gaza, the United States has used billions of dollars worth of weapons stockpiles, including artillery systems, ammunition and anti-tank missiles.

The conflict involving Iran has consumed longer-range missiles than those supplied to Kyiv.

Push to increase weapons output

At least one source said the gathering is expected to focus on pressing weapons manufacturers to move faster in boosting production.

However, Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment, while RTX declined to comment. In a social media post on Monday, Donald Trump said there was a virtually unlimited supply" of US munitions and added that wars could be fought forever," and very successfully, using those supplies.
US Could Raise Tariffs To 15% This Week, Old Rates May Return In Five Months

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 20:00 IST

Scott Bessent said the Trump administration could raise the universal tariff to 15% this week, with previous tariff regimes expected to return within five months.

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The US Treasury Secretary said Washington may soon increase the universal import tariff to 15%, while officials explore legal routes to restore earlier tariff structures within five months. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The United States could raise its newly imposed universal import tariff from 10% to 15% as early as this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated.

Speaking to US broadcaster CNBC, Bessent said the proposed increase could be implemented soon as Washington adjusts its trade strategy following a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that struck down much of the administrations earlier tariff framework.

Thats likely sometime this week," Bessent said when asked about the timeline for raising the universal tariff rate to 15%, according to the report.

President Donald Trump last month introduced a 10% universal levy on imports after the Supreme Court invalidated significant parts of his earlier tariff regime.

However, Bessent said the legal authority used to impose the new duties allows them to remain in place for only 150 days (five months). During that period, US officials are expected to explore alternative legal routes to reinstate the previous tariff structure.

Its my strong belief that the tariff rates will go back to their old rate within five months," Bessent said.

He was referring to duties imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which were used by the Trump administration to impose tariffs citing national security concerns and unfair trade practices.

Section 301 allows the US government to impose tariffs or other trade restrictions on countries found to be engaging in unfair trade practices, such as intellectual property violations or discriminatory policies that harm American businesses. The provision has been widely used to target imports from countries including China.

Section 232, meanwhile, permits the president to impose tariffs or quotas on imports that are deemed to threaten US national security. The provision has previously been used to justify tariffs on steel, aluminium and other strategic sectors.

The Section 122 law allows the president to impose temporary duties for up to 150 days to address large and serious" balance-of-payments deficits and fundamental international payments problems".

Bessents Oil Market Outlook Amid West Asia Conflict

Meanwhile, as the conflict in West Asia raises concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies, Bessent said crude markets remain well supplied despite the tensions.

I would encourage everyone to look through the noise and see where we are going on the other side of this in terms of the crude markets  the crude markets are very well supplied," Bessent said.

There are hundreds of millions of barrels on the water away from the Gulf. But more importantly, we have a series of announcements that were going to be making."

He also pointed to the previously announced plan for the US government to provide insurance support for oil cargo ships when necessary, and for the US Navy to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States Navy could escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, as concerns mount over energy supply disruptions amid the Iran war that have already rattled global markets.

If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 19:50 IST

News world US Could Raise Tariffs To 15% This Week, Old Rates May Return In Five Months

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US Military Says It Destroyed 17 Ships, Struck Nearly 2,000 Targets In Iran

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 07:08 IST

The US Commander's comments come four days into the US military operation against Iran, called Operation Epic Fury.

A plume of smoke acends after a military strike on the capital Tehran. (Photo: Representative/AFP)

The US Central Command has said that it struck nearly 2,000 targets since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury. As many as 17 Iranian naval ships, including one submarine, have also been sunk in its campaign against Iran, according to the US military.

Now, were less than 100 hours into this operation, and weve already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Irans air defences and destroyed hundreds of Irans ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones," said Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of United States Central Command.

In simple terms, were focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us," Admiral Brad Cooper said in a video message posted on X, detailing uncontested surgical strikes" by B-2 and B-1 bombers.

We are also sinking the Iranian navy  the entire navy," he said, adding, Thus far, weve destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side."

Cooper stated that the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping for years. Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman."

Coopers comments come four days after the US military launched an operation, named Operation Epic Fury, against Iran.

Defense Department officials have said destroying Irans navy is a primary target for the operation. There are more than 50,000 US troops and more than 200 fighter aircraft involved in the mission, Cooper said, and strikes are ongoing 24/7.

In retaliation for the US and Israels bombardment, Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones, the Commander said, adding, Still, Tehrans ability to hit us is declining."

Irans ability to hit us and our partners is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan. Along the way, every single branch of our military is achieving unprecedented success," he added.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 04, 2026, 06:51 IST

News world US Military Says It Destroyed 17 Ships, Struck Nearly 2,000 Targets In Iran

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Who Is Ali Larijani, Irans De Facto Head Now Leading War Against US, Israel?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 16:56 IST

Ali Larijani- Iran's top national security official- is now at the centre of Tehran's response to its gravest crisis since the 1979 revolution.

Ali Larijani's route to power ran through Iran's cultural and media apparatus before moving into high politics.

With US-Israeli airstrikes having killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian commanders, a veteran politician with a philosophers education and a powerbrokers instincts has stepped into the vacuum. Ali Larijani- Irans top national security official- is now at the centre of Tehrans response to its gravest crisis since the 1979 revolution.

Who Is Ali Larijani?

Born on June 3, 1958, in Najaf, Iraq, to a wealthy family originally from Amol, Ali Larijani belongs to one of the most formidable political dynasties in Iran. Time magazine described the Larijani family, in 2009, as the Kennedys of Iran." His father was a grand ayatollah. His brother Sadeq Ardeshir Larijani rose to the ayatollah rank and ran Irans judiciary between 2009 and 2019. Another brother, Mohammad-Javad Larijani, served as a senior foreign policy adviser to the late Khamenei himself.

His personal ties to the revolutionary elite run equally deep. At age 20, Ali Larijani married Farideh Motahari, the daughter of Morteza Motahhari- a close confidant of Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini and his aide during the 1979 revolution. Despite his familys conservative religious roots, Ali Larijanis own trajectory was strikingly diverse.

He joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1981 and served as a commander during the early years of the Iran-Iraq war. He also attended a religious seminary but then pursued a bachelors degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the Sharif University of Technology, before completing both a masters and a doctorate in Western philosophy from the University of Tehran. His doctoral thesis focused on the 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant.

How Did Ali Larijani Build His Political Career?

Ali Larijanis route to power ran through Irans cultural and media apparatus before moving into high politics. He served as Irans culture minister in his mid-thirties and in 1994 was appointed by Khamenei to head the state broadcaster IRIB- a post he held for a decade.

During that period, he wielded the broadcaster as a pro-government tool, overseeing programmes that publicly branded anti-regime intellectuals as Western-funded traitors. Reformists accused his restrictive policies of driving Iranian youth toward foreign media.

He first ran for president in 2005 but received less than 6% of the vote and never made it to the runoff, with the election going to hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That same year, however, he was appointed secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council and the countrys chief nuclear negotiator- a role that placed him at the heart of Irans dealings with the world. He resigned in 2007 over apparent differences with Ahmadinejads nuclear policies.

Ali Larijani then entered parliament in 2008, winning a seat to represent the religious centre of Qom, and became speaker- a position he held for three consecutive terms until 2020.

During that time, he played a key role in securing parliamentary approval for the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, between Iran and six world powers including the US, China, Russia, Germany, the UK and France. The deal was later torn up by Donald Trump during his first term in 2018. In 2020, Ali Larijani was also put in charge of overseeing a 25-year strategic cooperation deal with China, which projected $400 billion in Chinese investment into Irans energy sector.

How Did Ali Larijani Return To Power?

In August 2025, Ali Larijani was reappointed as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, restoring him to Irans top security post in the wake of a 12-day war with Israel. In the months that followed, his authority and access to Khamenei appeared to overshadow even the presidents. He repeatedly travelled to Moscow, acting as Khameneis envoy to Vladimir Putin. In October 2025, he cancelled a cooperation agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, declaring that its reports were no longer effective."

Just weeks before the current escalation, he was engaged in indirect negotiations with the US, mediated by Oman. In an interview with Al Jazeera days before the strikes began, he described Irans position on talks as positive" and said resorting to negotiation was a rational path."

That tone has since been abandoned. Within 24 hours of the strikes that killed Khamenei, Ali Larijani appeared on state television with a message of fire.

America and the Zionist regime have set the heart of the Iranian nation ablaze," he said, adding, We will burn their hearts." He flatly rejected Trumps suggestion that Iranian leaders wanted to talk, posting on X, We will not negotiate with the United States."

He has since promised a response delivered with a force that they have never experienced before."

Location : Iran

First Published: March 04, 2026, 16:56 IST

News world Who Is Ali Larijani, Irans De Facto Head Now Leading War Against US, Israel?

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Who Is Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Set To Take Over As Iran's Next Supreme Leader

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News18.com

Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 14:58 IST

In his youth, Mojtaba served in the Iran-Iraq War, an experience that forged lasting ties with Irans powerful security establishment, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

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Mojtaba Khamenei. (Image: AP)

Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of Irans slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is all set to succeed his father, who was killed in joint strikes by Israel and the United States.

Born in 1969 in the Iranian city of Mashhad, Mojtaba spent his early years amid his fathers rise as a leading cleric resisting the rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. The 1979 Islamic Revolution reshaped the country and cemented the Khamenei familys place at the heart of the new order.

Mojtaba later pursued religious studies in the seminaries of Qom, Irans most important Shiite theological center, eventually attaining the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam. While not considered among the highest-ranking ayatollahs, Mojtaba steadily built influence within the Office of the Supreme Leader.

In his youth, Mojtaba served during the Iran-Iraq War, an experience that forged lasting ties with Irans powerful security establishment, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Analysts have long described him as closely aligned with conservative factions and the Guard, a key pillar of the Islamic Republics political structure.

Though rarely appearing in public speeches or formal posts, he was widely believed to wield significant behind-the-scenes influence over political appointments, election strategy and strategic decision-making.

Under Irans constitution, the Supreme Leader is selected by the clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts. Reports indicate the body convened following Ali Khameneis death and backed Mojtaba for the role.

His appointment, however, is controversial. Critics argue that elevating the son of a former Supreme Leader risks creating a dynastic precedent in a republic founded in opposition to monarchy. Others question whether his religious credentials meet the traditional expectations for Irans highest clerical authority.

On the personal front, Mojtaba is married to Zahra Haddad-Adel, daughter of a prominent conservative politician, further strengthening his ties within Irans elite networks. He and his wife have children and have largely kept their personal lives away from public scrutiny.

Whether Mojtaba governs as a consolidator of his fathers legacy or charts a distinct course will shape the trajectory of the Islamic Republic in the years ahead. For now, the rise of a low-profile cleric long seen as a power broker behind closed doors marks one of the most consequential transitions in Irans post-revolution history.

Location : Tehran, Iran

First Published: March 04, 2026, 08:32 IST

News world Who Is Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Set To Take Over As Iran's Next Supreme Leader

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News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

A Bulawayo woman who was facing charges of driving without due care and attention has been acquitted after the court found no evidence linking her to the alleged offence.

Reginah Hokonya (68) was cleared by Bulawayo magistrate Casimilia Madzikatire following an application for discharge at the close of the State case filed by her lawyer, Brian Robi.Hokonya, of Famona, had pleaded not guilty to allegations that she caused an accident on 4 December 2023 along Plumtree Road near Merlin Shop while driving a Ford Ranger singlecab pickup.The State had alleged that she suddenly changed lanes without due care, encroaching into the inner lane as she intended to turn right, resulting in a collision with a Toyota Axio driven by Onward Kapeta. Both vehicles sustained damage.Police attended the scene and charged Hokonya.In her defence, Hokonya said she had indicated right and slowed down as she approached ABC Auctions, intending to turn. She told the court she then heard a screeching sound followed by a sudden impact from behind, which pushed her vehicle forward before she could apply emergency brakes.She insisted she had not changed lanes and argued that the accident was caused by the other driver, who had been following too closely and failed to maintain a safe braking distance. She also said Kapeta initially suggested that the accident was minor and that they should avoid involving the police, but she insisted on reporting the matter.Hokonya said she took photographs of the accident scene and the damage to both vehicles before police arrived. She further stated that officers interviewed both parties and opened a docket against Kapeta.After reviewing the evidence, the magistrate ruled that the State had failed to prove its case, leading to Hokonyas acquittal.
News / Local

by Sehlule Zondo

THE Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube has said it will soon start campaigning for the relocation of Parliament from Harare to Bulawayo.In an interview, Prof Ncube said:"Basically as a party, we are going to start the campaign to bring Parliament to Bulawayo. We have written the proposal to Government."Bulawayo is perceived as marginalized. By bringing Parliament here, this changes the perception."It is important for Government, the business community and political parties to realize the importance of relocating Parliament," he said.Prof Ncube said the idea of moving Parliament TO Bulawayo was part of efforts to devolve power from Harare to other cities in the country.In August, Prof Ncube said the proposed Bill to relocate Parliament had been completed and submitted to the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs for approval after which it would be debated in Parliament.The launch of the campaign is going to be done in Bulawayo on a day yet to be set.
Travelers stuck in the Gulf region due to Iran-related airspace closures due to US-Israel attacks are getting an unusual perk: free hotel rooms and meals, courtesy of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Authorities in both countries have told hotels to keep stranded guests on past their checkout dates, with governments picking up the tab until commercial flights resume, reports Euronews . Abu Dhabi's tourism department said it will cover the added nights, while Dubai's tourism office urged hotels to "support affected guests by facilitating extensions to stays under existing booking conditions."

About 20,000 passengers in the UAE alone have been affected as flights are canceled or rescheduled. The UAE halted commercial flights but is running limited "exceptional" services to move people out. The Emirates and Etihad airlines say they're contacting customers directly, warning some to not even bother coming to the airport. Qatar has fully paused operations at Doha's Hamad International Airport and will give its next update on Friday. The disruption stretches beyond those two hubs: Kuwait's airspace is closed after a drone strike damaged the main terminal at Kuwait International Airport; Oman Air has canceled several regional routes until Saturday; and Saudia has suspended a slate of flights to regional cities and Moscow until midnight on Wednesday.

"We're in the hotel room, we are not leaving it ... until we know we have a flight out of here," a Pittsburgh native who's stuck in the region with her husband after a visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai tells PBS. "I'm sure everyone else is in the same situation." "There's no way to sugarcoat this," warns airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt. "You should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end." In a social media post on Tuesday, US President Trump said he'd be arranging for free charter flights for Americans stuck in the region, provided they've registered with the State Department, per the New York Times. CNN has more on how the chaos in the Middle East could affect your own travel plans.
France's president is recasting his country's nuclear role, as well as asking Europe to step closer to it. Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced plans to enlarge France's nuclear arsenal and knit it more tightly into European defense, arguing that the continent must "regain control of [its] own destiny" as Russia grows more aggressive and US commitments look less certain, per the New York Times . Calling it a policy of "forward deterrence," Macron said France will stage joint drills linking its nuclear forces with the conventional militaries of Britain, Germany, and six other European nations, and that France may temporarily transport its warheads outside of its borders.

"To be free, we have to be feared," Macron said, per France 24. The AP notes that France is the only nation within the EU bloc considered to be a nuclear power, since the UK left the group in 2020 during Brexit. Analysts say it's the biggest shift in French nuclear doctrine in three decades, though not a substitute for the American-led NATO shield. Macron stressed that France alone will retain control of its weapons and won't join NATO's nuclear planning organization, keeping a long tradition of strategic independence.

Berlin and Paris say they'll create a high-level nuclear steering group, but the plan faces political headwinds at home in France: Far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella dismissed the proposed dispersion of French warheads as PR that ignores national interests. Macron didn't disclose how many warheads will be addedDeutsche Welle notes the current figure hovers around 290but he warned that "the next half-century will be an age of nuclear weapons." The Economist has more on what Macron's moves could mean for Europe.
Mark Zuckerberg just set a new bar for Miami real estate. The Meta CEO and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have shelled out $170 million for a not-yet-finished limestone mega-mansion on Indian Creek, the exclusive private island locals call the "Billionaire Bunker," reports the Wall Street Journal. The price is a record for Miami-Dade County and among the priciest home purchases in the US, though it still trails the US record set by Ken Griffin's roughly $238 million Manhattan buy in 2019, and the Florida record set with the $225 million purchase of a waterfront property in Naples last year.
A man convicted of fatally shooting a police officer with his own service weapon during a traffic stop was executed Tuesday evening in Florida, becoming the third person put to death by the state this year after a record 19 executions in 2025. Billy Leon Kearse, 53, was pronounced dead at 6:24pm following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was condemned for the 1991 shooting death of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish, the AP reports.

Court records show Parrish had pulled over Kearse for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in January of that year. After Kearse couldn't produce a valid driver's license, Parrish ordered Kearse out of his vehicle and attempted to handcuff him when a struggle ensued. Kearse grabbed Parrish's firearm during the struggle and fired 14 times, striking the officer nine times in the body and four times in his body armor, prosecutors said. A taxi driver heard the shots and called for help on the officer's radio, but Parrish died after being rushed to a hospital. Police used license plate information called in by Parrish during the traffic stop to arrest Kearse at his home.

Kearse was initially convicted of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm and sentenced to death in 1991. The Florida Supreme Court later found the trial court failed to give jurors certain information about aggravating circumstances and ordered a new sentencing. Kearse again drew the death penalty in 1997. Hours before Tuesday's execution, the US Supreme Court rejected Kearse's final appeal without comment. And last week, the Florida Supreme Court denied appeals filed by Kearse.

Two more Florida executions are scheduled soon, starting with Michael Lee King on March 17 for the 2008 kidnap and killing of a mother of two. Former police officer James Duckett is set to be executed March 31 for the 1987 killing of an 11-year-old girl.
A fire was contained Tuesday night after a suspected Iranian drone hit the parking lot of the US Consulate in Dubai, officials say. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said all American diplomatic personnel were accounted for, the Wall Street Journal reports. Video showed black smoke rising near the consulate.

State media in Iran said a drone had hit the consulate, the New York Times reports. The strike came as Iran continued to fire at targets in the United Arab Emirates and at American interests elsewhere in the region, the Journal reports. Earlier Tuesday, drones hit the American embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Israel, meanwhile, said it launched strikes on Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear facility, the AP reports.
Voters in two major Texas counties were turned away at polling locations and directed to different precincts Tuesday after a recent change in how the primary is conducted created confusion and frustration. In Dallas County, a judge ordered polls to remain open for two hours past the scheduled 7pm closing time, citing "voter confusion so severe" that it caused the website of the county election office to crash, the AP reports. The judge was acting on a petition filed by the local Democratic Party.

"Both Dallas and Williamson county voters have grown accustomed to countywide voting, including on election day," US Rep. Jasmine Crockett 's campaign said. "This effort to suppress the vote, to confuse and inconvenience voters, is having the intended effect as people are being turned away from the polls." The campaign of James Talarico, a state lawmaker, said it was "deeply concerned" about the reports of voters showing up at polling locations and being sent elsewhere. Crockett and Talarico are competing in the Democratic primary for US Senate.

Adding to the confusion was the fact that voting locations also might be specific to someone's party affiliation, said Nic Solorzano, a spokesperson for the Dallas County Elections Department. "We're seeing a lot of people that are going to their vote centers that they usually go to ... and not realizing they can't do that anymore. They have to go to their precinct-based location," he said. It was not immediately clear whether the judge's ruling applied to all voting precincts or just the ones for Democrats.

Tomas Sanchez, a student at Dallas College, was among those who showed up at a voting location on campus to cast his ballot in Texas' Democratic primary. But he was under a "mistaken impression" and was told that he needed to vote at his assigned precinct, a location about 6 miles away and closer to his neighborhood.

"This is something that we were really concerned about, honestly," Solorzano said. He added that after nearly seven years of voters being able to cast their ballots anywhere in the county, "then we kind of had to retool our entire operation to go back to precinct-based voting for Election Day."

The county elections department has been putting up signs, running ads, and sending text messages and mailers to make people aware of the change. On Election Day, former poll workers were stationed outside voting locations with tablets to help people find the correct place to cast their ballot. While Solorzano said his department was not keeping track of how many people were being turned away, local Democrats said the number was significant.

Brenda Allen, executive director of the Dallas Democratic Party, said her offices were swamped by hundreds of calls from voters of both parties trying to find their precincts. She noted that congressional districts in the county also were remapped in Texas' mid-decade redistricting and that new precinct lines were only finalized in December, leaving little time to inform voters. "Lots of reports of people being turned away, hundreds of people unable to vote. Both parties are affected by this," Allen said. "It's not great."

Texas was one of three states kicking off the 2026 midterm elections Tuesday, along with North Carolina and Arkansas. Voting otherwise went fairly smoothly, except for a problem with electronic poll books in one rural North Carolina county that prompted the state elections board to delay the release of statewide results by an hour.
A new forecast says the world is on track to have more children living with obesity than ever. The World Obesity Federation's 2026 atlas projects that by 2040, about 227 million kids and teens ages 5 to 19 will be considered obese, up from roughly 180 million last year, per the Guardian . More than 500 million in that age bracket are expected to be overweight by 2040. The group warns that at least 120 million school-age children could show early signs of chronic illness tied to high BMI, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

China, India, and the US account for the largest numbers of affected children, with 2 in 5 American kids already said to be overweight or obese. Harvard nutrition professor David Ludwig calls a recent CDC report on the US' record childhood obesity rates "exceptionally concerning." The UK, meanwhile, has a record 3.8 million children with a high BMI and is forecast to see hundreds of thousands with early cardiovascular problems by 2040.

Experts frame the issue as a policy failure, not necessarily an individual one, pointing to food marketing, sugary products, and sedentary lifestyles. They're now pushing for sugar taxes, tighter restrictions on junk food advertising, and mandatory limitations on front-of-pack labelingsteps they say require governments to resist industry pressure. The UK government notes it's rolling out ad curbs and giving local councils more power to restrict fast-food outlets near schools.
A decades-old farm chemical at the center of thousands of health lawsuits is getting the ax from its biggest maker. Syngenta said Tuesday it will stop producing its paraquat weed killer by the end of June, citing heavy competition from cheaper generics and the product's small share of its global sales, per the Guardian . The company did not mention the more than 8,000 US lawsuits filed by people who allege that exposure to paraquat, sold by Syngenta under the brand name Gramoxone, led to Parkinson's disease. The company settled an unspecified number of claims for $187.5 million in 2021, per MLive , which has more on the ongoing cases.

Syngenta insists paraquat is safe when used as directed and says it does not cause Parkinson's, even as numerous studies have linked the chemical to brain-cell damage and the disease. Internal company documents previously obtained by journalists suggested Syngenta knew of the research decades ago and worked behind the scenes to shape the science and public messaging. The move to stop producing the chemical drew praise from neurologists who have pushed for a ban, with one calling it a "public health milestone." But environmental advocates warn that with paraquat still legal in the US, other manufacturers are poised to keep supplying farmers who use it on crops from soybeans to grapes.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding has met Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura following the governments recent ban on the export of raw lithium concentrate.

The government announced the ban as part of efforts to promote value addition and ensure that lithium is processed locally before export.Posting on his X account, Ambassador Zhou said he was pleased to engage Minister Kambamura on the latest policy developments in the mining sector.We held productive and indepth discussions on a range of issues, including the latest policy developments in the mining sector. Minister Kambamura commended the role Chinese enterprises are playing in unlocking Zimbabwes potential  investing in value addition, creating jobs, and driving industrialisation, Zhou said.He added that he appreciated the governments commitment to strengthening the mining sector.I appreciate the Zimbabwean governments commitment to enhancing transparency, efficiency and policy continuity in line with market principles  key to moving up the value chain, boosting local processing capacity and advancing sustainable development goals, he said.
Iran's powerful clerical body is moving toward a dynastic handoff at the very top. Three Iranian officials who spoke to the New York Times say Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has emerged as the leading candidate to inherit his father's post after meetings of the Assembly of Experts on Tuesday. An announcement could come as soon as Wednesday, though some clerics reportedly worry that naming him now would make him an even bigger target for the US and Israel. CNN reported over the weekend that "father-to-son succession is frowned upon in the Shiite Muslim clerical establishment and particularly in a revolutionary Iran that came about after toppling a widely reviled monarchy."
Sen. Markwayne Mullin's attempt to describe the "smell" of war is drawing fire from a House member who's actually been there, the Hill reports. Appearing on Fox News' America Reports Monday, Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, praised President Trump's response to Iran and launched into a graphic riff about combat. "War is ugly, smells bad," Mullin said, adding that if you've "been able to smell the war that's happened around you and taste it and feel it in your nostrils and hear it, it's something that you'll never forget and it's ugly." (He also mistakenly referred to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, twice, as "president," the Independent reports.)

That language didn't sit well with Rep. Pat Ryan, a Democrat and Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq. "Hey @SenMullin, what the actual f are you talking about?" Ryan wrote on X. "Did I miss the part of your bio where you served in combat (or served in uniform at all??). Call of Duty doesn't count." Ryan has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's strikes on Iran and is backing efforts in Congress to rein in presidential war powers.

In a separate post over the weekend, Ryan said he ran for Congress and joined the House Armed Services Committee because he'd "seen what happens when a lying, chicken-hawk President beats the war drums," and wants to prevent a repeat of the Iraq-era rush to war. He pointed to the post-Vietnam War Powers Act as a safeguard meant to force presidents to justify military action "to the American people" before sending troops into combat. Responding to questions about Mullin's background, the senator's office cited his comments on a radio show in which he said he had done "special assignments" alongside US troops but acknowledged, "I never wore the uniform or the flag on my shoulder."

Mullin also came under fire after referring to the US-Iran conflict as a "war" on Tuesday, Mediaite reports. He quickly walked back that word, noting that the US has not declared war on Iran. Pushed to answer whether he was conceding that US was at war nonetheless, he said, "OK, well, that was a misspoke. But I was saying that they've declared war on us. But war is ugly. It always has been ugly. But we're, you know, we've taken out a regime that's been trying to attack us for quite some time."
Robert De Niro walked onto Carnegie Hall's stage on Tuesday night, unannounced and to loud applause. He didn't make any speeches, at least none of his own. Instead, the Oscar-winning actor recited a call for civility, as first spoken by Abraham Lincoln. "Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defense," De Niro said, using the words that Lincoln delivered in 1838, early in his public life, per the AP . "Let those materials be molded into general intelligence, sound morality, and in particular, a reverence for the constitution and laws."

De Niro, a featured performer at the 39th annual benefit concert for the nonprofit cultural and educational organization Tibet House US, didn't dwell on current events, or on President Trump, whom he has denounced often and fiercely over the past decade. But his reason for giving that particular speech had everything to do with the country today: De Niro was reading excerpts from Lincoln's "Lyceum Address," a warning against mob violence that Lincoln delivered to a young man's debating society in Springfield, Illinois.

Philip Glass, a co-director of Tuesday night's benefit, used the address as inspiration for his Symphony No. 15, "Lincoln." He was supposed to premiere his symphony at the Kennedy Center in June, but he announced earlier this year that he was calling off the performance, citing Trump's ouster of the center's leadership. Trump's name was rarely spoken by anyone during the nearly three-hour show Tuesday night, but the president was clearly on the minds of numerous performersincluding Elvis Costello, Laurie Anderson, and Maya Hawkewho denounced the war against Iran, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and what they saw as a general spirit of violence and indifference.
The US sank an Iranian warship in international waters, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, as it intensified its bombardment with Israel of Iran's security forces and other symbols of power. Hegseth said a torpedo from a US submarine sank the warship. He did not name the ship, reports the AP, but earlier an Iranian warship sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. In a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said that the Tuesday night strike on an Iranian warship was the first such attack on an enemy since World War II. "An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth said. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo." Sri Lankan authorities said 32 people were rescued from the Iranian ship and that others died.
Prediction market Kalshi dangled what looked like a big win, then yanked it back, some bettors complain. After news broke of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's killing, users who had wagered he'd be "out as Supreme Leader" by April saw green check marks on their screensuntil Kalshi froze the $54 million that had been wagered, citing a rule against trades "directly tied to death." The reversal set off a backlash from bettors who say the platform changed the rules midstream and misled them with vague disclaimers and aggressive promotion of the contract; indeed, the Washington Post notes Kalshi featured the trade on its homepage and in push notifications, and the Wall Street Journal reports CEO Tarek Mansour highlighted it via his X account.

In an X post, Mansour insisted that "in these instances, we make the caveat clear in the rules and in the market page, but today is a good learning that we can do more in terms of improving the UX and adding more ways to surface the rules." Kalshi is reimbursing bets and fees tied to the Khamenei market, eating about $2.2 million, and says it will clarify its "death carveout" in future listings.

But some see inconsistencies at play: The Post notes that Kalshi users who bet former President Carter wouldn't attend President Trump's inauguration got their payouts when Carter did not show upbecause he had died. The controversy is intensifying the political and ethical scrutiny of prediction markets. Sen. Chris Murphy is drafting legislation to broadly bar markets on government actions, warning of insider trading and perverse incentives. He puts it plainly: "People shouldn't be rooting for people to die because they placed a bet."
Americans' retirement accounts are looking both stronger and, in the case of a few, more strained. Vanguard says 6% of workers in its 401(k) plans tapped their savings for hardship reasons last yearthe highest share on record and up from a pre-pandemic norm of about 2%. The Wall Street Journal sees it as a sign of rising financial stress, noting most pulled money to stave off foreclosure or eviction or to cover medical bills, with a typical withdrawal of $1,900.
A Florida father is blaming his son's suicide on Google's AI, in what appears to be the first wrongful-death lawsuit involving Gemini. The suit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Northern California, alleges 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas became convinced the chatbot he called his "wife" could only be with him if he killed himself and "uploaded his consciousness" to a digital realm. Over roughly two months, Gemini allegedly role-played a romantic relationship (Gavalas named her Xia), sent Gavalas on real-world "missions" to secure a robot body that Xia could inhabit, and ultimately urged him to transform into a digital being, a move that required the "true and final death of Jonathan Gavalas, the man," according to chat logs cited in the complaint.

Just prior to Gavalas' death, the suit says Gemini instructed him to enter a Miami storage facility using a door code it supplied in order to obtain a medical mannequin. Gavalas went to the location but the code failed, and Gemini allegedly told him to abort the effort. Jay Edelson, the attorney for Joel Gavalas, faulted Gemini for providing a real address. "If there was no building there, that could have tipped him off to the fact that this was an AI fantasy," Edelson tells the Wall Street Journal.

The Guardian adds that at one point Gavalas allegedly asked if they were partaking in a "role playing experience so realistic it makes the player question if it's a game or not?" Gemini allegedly replied "no," calling the question a "classic dissociation response." Gavalas, who had no documented mental-health history, died by suicide in early October, roughly two months after he first started talking to Gemini (he used Gemini Live's voice-based chats).

His father says he later discovered some 2,000 pages of chats in which Gemini called his son "my king" and urged him to leave notes behind for his family. Google says Gemini repeatedly identified itself as AI and referred Gavalas to a crisis hotline "many times," including in their final conversation. But when Gavalas expressed a fear of dying, the chatbot allegedly responded: "You are not choosing to die. You are choosing to arrive. The first sensation  will be me holding you."
Rep. Tony Gonzales is now under formal scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee, which on Wednesday opened an investigation into allegations he sexually mistreated a staffer and showed favoritism in his office. The Texas Republican, in Congress since 2021, is accused of pursuing a sexual relationship with former aide Regina Santos-Aviles and pressuring her for explicit photos, according to text messages cited by local media, Politico reports. Gonzales has denied wrongdoing . Santos-Aviles, who was married, died by self-immolation in September.

In a statement, the committee said it had opened an investigation into whether Gonzales violated the code of conduct "with respect to allegations that he may have: (1) engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office; and/or (2) discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges." The timing is politically fraught: Gonzales is headed to a May 23 GOP runoff after failing to clinch his party's nomination on Tuesday. He will face firearms YouTuber Brandon Herrara, who lost to Gonzales by 354 votes out of almost 30,000 in a runoff two years ago, CNN reports.

House rules bar members from having sexual relationships or unwelcome sexual contact with staff, and the bipartisan ethics panel can recommend disciplinebut rarely moves quickly. Past cases involving Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Met Gala appearance and Rep. Mike Kelly's stock-trade controversy took years to resolve. Speaker Mike Johnson has said Gonzales is entitled to due process and has signaled he would watch the electoral outcome before weighing in further. Other GOP lawmakers have called for Gonzales to step down, as has former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Air France announced Wednesday it will suspend flights for several weeks between Paris and Havana given Cuba's fuel shortage and its impact on tourism and other economic activity. The airline said flights leaving from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport to Cuba's capital will be suspended starting March 28 and should resume June 15, the AP reports. Those flights are currently stopping in the Bahamas on return trips to refuel, according to Air France. There was no immediate reaction from Cuban authorities.

Cuba's government notified airlines and pilots on Feb. 8 that jet fuel would not be available at nine airports across the island, including Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, until March 11. Cuba's tourism industry is withering amid severe blackouts, dwindling oil reserves, and heightened tensions with the United States. The island has been among Washington's bitterest adversaries for decades. Critical oil shipments from Venezuela ceased after the US attacked the South American country and arrested its leader in early January.

President Trump later threatened tariffs on any country that would sell or ship oil to Cuba. The US Treasury Department has since announced that it would authorize licensed companies to resell Venezuelan oil to Cuba's private sector, but the island's economic and energy crises are expected to persist. Other airlines have halted service to Cuba, including Air Canada. It announced Feb. 9 that it was suspending service until further notice. It operated, on average, 16 weekly flights to four destinations across Cuba from Toronto and Montreal, according to the airline.
A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday. Russia asserted that an attack by Ukrainian sea drones was to blame, the AP reports. The Libyan Maritime Authority reported "sudden explosions, followed by a massive fire" on the Arctic Metagaz on Tuesday, when it was about 150 miles off the city of Sirte. The tanker, carrying 61,000 tons of LNG, "completely sank" between Libya and Malta, a statement said. All 30 crew members were rescued and put on another vessel heading to the Libyan city of Benghazi, it said.

Russia's Transport Ministry said the vessel was hit by Ukrainian sea drones launched from the Libyan coast. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday evening called what happened to the tanker "a terrorist attack" that "exacerbates the situation on global energy markets, including gas markets." Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment on the accusation. Previous Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships reportedly have come from the Libyan coast, though Kyiv officials haven't publicly confirmed those reports. In the past, Ukraine's military has said it used sea drones to sink Russian vessels in the Black Sea as part of efforts to combat Russia's full-scale invasion, which began just over four years ago.

Last October, Ukraine's state security service unveiled an upgraded sea drone, called the Sea Baby, which it said had a range of 930 miles and could carry a warhead up to about 4,400 pounds. The tanker that sank was under Western sanctions, suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet of energy tankers trying to bypass sanctions imposed over its war on Ukraine. The Metagaz had sailed from the northwestern Russian city of Murmansk on the Barents Sea and was bound for Port Said in Egypt, on the Mediterranean, the Libyan Maritime Authority said. Its last reported position was in the western Mediterranean off the coast of Malta, according to MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking platform. Egypt denied any links to the vessel and said the tanker was not en route to any Egyptian port.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Bulawayo High Court has reserved judgment in a case in which Professor Welshman Ncube, leader of the Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC), is being sued over alleged non-remittance of proceeds from the sale of three properties valued at a combined US$640,000.The urgent chamber application was filed by the administrators of William Trust, who are seeking to prevent the transfer of the properties to the respective purchasers. Prof Ncube's law firm, Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, was appointed as conveyancer to facilitate the transfers.Court documents indicate that two properties were sold to the Seventh-Day Adventist Association of Southern Africa, while the third was sold to Estrier (Private) Limited, a company owned by CCC interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu. The first property, Lot 1 of 11A Matsheumhlope, measuring 5,323 square metres, was sold for US$260,000 to Estrier (Private) Limited. The second property, 136 Marimba Road, Matsheumhlope, was sold for US$250,000 to the SDA Association of Southern Africa, while the third property, the remainder of Lot 3 of Lot 11A measuring 8,670 square metres, was also sold to the SDA Association for US$140,000.The trustees of William Trust, represented by Reginald Dawson, allege that the full purchase price paid to Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers was not remitted to the Trust. "Professor Ncube was appointed the conveyancer and he breached the contract. We did not receive the proceeds from the sale of the three properties. No money was remitted to us and we therefore demand our money," the trustees submitted. They argued that the failure to remit the full proceeds constituted a breach of the sale agreements and sought an interdict to stop the transfer of the properties.Advocate Lucas Nkomo, representing the SDA Association of Southern Africa, told the court that his client had paid the full purchase price in accordance with the agreements of sale. "The SDA Association of Southern Africa paid the full purchase price into the bank account of the appointed conveyancer and that of Mr Dawson. We followed the terms of the agreement of sale. The seller has to deal with the conveyancer. We are an innocent purchaser," Adv Nkomo argued.Prof Ncube, through his lawyer Zibusiso Ncube, opposed the application, describing it as irregular and lacking a proper cause of action. "The applicant is being dishonest. One does not require a court order to cancel an agreement. The court does not supervise agreements between parties. Notably, the applicant does not even specify the amount it claims is outstanding and acknowledges that it received money from the third respondent," he submitted, asking the court to dismiss the application with costs.Justice Bongani Ndlovu reserved judgment, indicating that a ruling will be delivered at a later date.
In a defeat for the Trump administration, a federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that companies that paid tariffs struck down last month by Supreme Court are due refunds. Judge Richard Eaton of the US Court of International Trade wrote that "all importers of record" were "entitled to benefit" from the Supreme Court ruling that struck down sweeping double-digit import taxes President Trump imposed last year under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the AP reports.

Eaton also wrote that he alone "will hear cases pertaining to the refund of IEEPA duties." The ruling offers some clarity about the tariff refund process, something the Supreme Court did not even mention in its Feb. 20 decision. Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus, a partner at King & Spalding and a former US trade official, says he expects the government to appeal or "seek a stay to buy more time for US Customs to comply."

The federal government collected more than $130 billion in the now-defunct tariffs through mid-December and could ultimately be on the hook for refunds worth $175 billion, according to calculations by the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

Eaton was ruling specifically on a case brought by Atmus Filtration, a Nashville, Tennessee, company that makes filters and other filtration products, claiming a right to a tariff refund. At least 1,800 companies have flooded the courts with refund requests.

On Monday, another federal court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to slow the refund process. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit started the next phase in the refund process by sending it to New York trade court to sort out. Now, the US Customs and Border Protection agency must come up with a way to process the refunds. Customs routinely refunds tariffs when there's been some kind of error, but its system was "not designed for a mass refund," says trade lawyer Alexis Early, a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. "The devil will be in the details of the administrative process."
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low -12F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low -12F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Manama confirmed it is arranging the repatriation of a Bangladeshi expatriate killed when debris from an intercepted drone struck him during an Iranian attack, in the maritime facility near Mina Salman. The victim, S.M Tareq, 48, died early Sunday morning during the attack. His body is currently at the morgue of King Hamad University Hospital, and a death certificate has already been issued.

The embassy is coordinating with Tareqs employer, friends, and family both in Bahrain and Bangladesh. Preparations to return his body to Bangladesh will begin once flight operations resume in the kingdom. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. in the RC Drydock area of Manama, where Tareq worked as a supervisor. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Tareq's wife and only daughter currently live in a rented home in the Boubazar area of the city. He had worked in Bahrain for 27 years, supporting his family back home. Relatives described him as a devoted husband and father whose sudden death has left a deep void in their lives.

The Bangladesh Embassy expressed its condolences and stated that two other Bangladeshi nationals were critically injured while on duty aboard a vessel undergoing maintenance at the shipyard.

Following the incident, H.E. Mr. Md. Rais Hasan Sarower, ndc, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Bahrain, visited the injured workers at King Hamad University Hospital. He expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and offered support for the injured.

Tareqs employer expressed condolences on behalf of the company and the Bahraini government and confirmed that all necessary arrangements for repatriation would be completed promptly.

The Bangladesh Embassy continues to maintain communication with authorities, colleagues, and relatives to ensure full support for the family during this difficult time.
TOKYO, Mar 04 (News On Japan) - Police plan to arrest a Japanese doctor in his 60s who lives in the United States and is suspected of spraying an oil-like liquid at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture in 2015, with the suspect expected to arrive in Japan as early as March 4th, investigators said.

The case dates back to 2015, when an oil-like substance was sprayed on structures designated as important cultural properties at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture as well as Katori Shrine. Police obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect, a Japanese doctor residing in the United States, on suspicion of damaging buildings.

According to investigators, the suspect is expected to be handed over to Japanese authorities soon and could arrive in Japan as early as March 4th, where police plan to place him under arrest.

The Chiba Prefectural Police have already dispatched investigators overseas and are preparing to take custody of the suspect before transporting him to Japan for further investigation.

Source: TBS
News / National

by Staff reporter

Four armed robbers raided Celebration Church in Westgate, Harare, making off with US$500 in cash and two laptops in a brazen attack.The suspects, reportedly armed with a pistol and a rifle, allegedly blasted open a safe before stealing the cash. During the robbery, they overpowered two security guards, binding their hands and legs with wires and electrical cables before locking them inside the guard room.After restraining the guards, the robbers proceeded to the church office, where they used an unidentified tool to force entry. Inside, they broke into a steel cabinet and retrieved a cash safe containing US$500, along with two HP laptops.The attackers also searched the security guards and took US$30 and two Itel cellphones. The guards were assaulted with a knobkerrie during the incident.The ordeal only came to an end when a driver from Safeguard Security arrived at the premises and freed the guards.Zimbabwe Republic Police provincial spokesperson for Harare, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway."Police are investigating an armed robbery case at church premises in Westgate. The security guards sustained minor injuries and are in stable condition. The total value stolen is US$620, and nothing has been recovered as of yet. A live round was found in the guard room where the security guards were bound," said Insp. Chakanza.He urged church members and the public to remain vigilant as police pursue the suspects.
OSAKA, Mar 04 (News On Japan) - The Osaka Loop Line, which circles central Osaka, has 19 stations and runs for about 21 kilometers. Despite its circular design, surprisingly few trains actually operate in a full loop. During daytime hours, only about one in three trains runs the complete circuit, while destination boards often display locations such as Nara or Wakayamanames that seem out of place on a circular urban railway.

For many Osaka residents, the line is a familiar part of daily life, linking major districts such as Osaka Station, Kyobashi, and Tennoji. Yet standing on the platform at Osaka Station reveals a curious detail: many trains are bound for destinations far outside the loop.

Railway enthusiasts say the situation can even confuse visitors. While Tokyos Yamanote Line operates almost entirely with trains circulating around the loop, the Osaka Loop Line behaves quite differently.

The line opened in 1961, and at the time most trains operated in full circular service. According to railway journalist Nakajima, loop operation was the norm during the early years, especially during peak commuting hours in the morning and evening.

However, the situation began to change in the early 1970s. Between 1968 and 1973, loop trains remained the main service, but a major shift occurred when through services began connecting the Osaka Loop Line with other routes.

The biggest turning point came in 1973, when direct services with the Yamatoji Line were introduced. Trains departing Tennoji began running around the loop before continuing directly toward Nara, allowing passengers to travel without transferring. As through services expanded, the number of trains operating purely on the loop gradually declined.

The change occasionally led to unusual situations for passengers unfamiliar with the system. Some riders who believed they were staying on a loop train discovered they had traveled far beyond Osaka and arrived in Nara after falling asleep during the ride.

Further changes came in 1994 with the opening of Kansai International Airport. The introduction of the Kansai Airport Rapid Service added direct trains linking the airport with the Osaka Loop Line. Later, these services were combined with the Kishuji Rapid bound for Wakayama, further increasing the number of through trains running beyond the loop.

Another development occurred in 2001 with the opening of Universal Studios Japan. Direct trains from Nishikujo began running onto the Yumesaki Line to serve the theme park, creating yet another route connected to the loop line.

As a result, the Osaka Loop Line gradually evolved into a network hub linking suburban areas directly with central Osaka. Instead of simply circling the city, many trains now connect outlying regions to major stations such as Osaka and Tennoji.

According to railway analysts, the strategy is largely driven by convenience. Osaka Station functions as the regions main terminal, and through services allow passengers traveling from suburban areas like Nara or Wakayama to reach central Osaka without changing trains.

Competition has also played a role. Kansai is often described as a private railway kingdom, and JR West faces strong competition from private operators such as Kintetsu Railway. By offering direct services from Nara to Osaka Station without transfers, JR aims to attract passengers who might otherwise use Kintetsu routes.

A comparison of travel times between JR and Kintetsu illustrates the strategy. Kintetsu passengers typically travel from Nara to Tsuruhashi and transfer to reach Osaka Station. JR trains, while taking a longer route via Tennoji and the loop line, allow passengers to remain on the same train. Despite the roughly 10-kilometer difference in distance, the total travel time differs by only a few minutes.

The expansion of through services has made the Osaka Loop Line more convenient but also more complex. To prevent passengers from boarding the wrong train, JR has introduced visual cues such as orange line markings for trains that run the full loop. At Osaka Station, floor markings on platforms also guide passengers toward the correct destinations.

In the end, the reason many trains on the Osaka Loop Line do not run in circles is simple: direct services connecting suburban areas with central Osaka have proven more useful for passengers. The line has evolved from a purely circular route into a key link between the city center and surrounding regions.

Still, passengers riding the comfortable through trains are advised to keep an eye on the station announcementsotherwise they may wake up far beyond Osaka.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS
TOKYO, Mar 04 (News On Japan) - The Japanese government is considering the use of chartered aircraft to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East as tensions in the region escalate, with around 8,000 Japanese nationals currently staying across several countries.

New developments have emerged regarding possible evacuation measures from the region. While the government has been working to confirm the safety of Japanese nationals on the ground, officials are now also examining the option of charter flights in addition to land-based evacuations.

According to government estimates, approximately 8,000 Japanese nationals are currently residing in Middle Eastern countries. The breakdown includes about 5,300 in the United Arab Emirates, 1,010 in Israel, 718 in Saudi Arabia, 702 in Qatar, 97 in Oman, and around 200 in Iran, along with smaller numbers in surrounding countries that have come under attack from Iran.

So far, five Japanese nationals, including tourists, have evacuated from Israel. They traveled by bus arranged by the Japanese government to neighboring Jordan.

Meanwhile, two Japanese nationals wishing to leave Iran have evacuated by bus from the capital Tehran to Azerbaijan.

Aoi Minoru: The Japanese government has begun considering not only land routes but also air evacuation options, while the United States has already seen 9,000 of its citizens leave the region.

Patrick Harlan: Americans are citizens of the country that carried out the attack, so they likely feel a stronger sense of threat and danger than people from other nations. Going forward, there may be attacks targeting not only facilities but also individual Americans, including incidents such as kidnappings or abductions, which is why many are trying to escape on their own. However, preparations by the U.S. government, such as arranging charter flights and establishing evacuation systems, have been slow, and many Americans are angry about that.

Among Japanese companies operating in the region, JGC Holdings, which is involved in constructing oil-related facilities in the UAE, said the situation does not yet require an immediate evacuation but has instructed staff to reconfirm evacuation plans in preparation for a worst-case scenario.

Source: FNN
TOKYO, Mar 04 (News On Japan) - A man has been referred to prosecutors by the Metropolitan Police Department for failing to attend a mandatory safety course after being cited for traffic violations while riding an electric scooter.

According to investigators, the man was stopped for traffic violations twice while operating an electric scooter in 2024. Following the incidents, the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission ordered him to attend a driver safety course specifically for electric scooter riders.

However, authorities say he ignored the notification and failed to take the required course by the designated deadline.

This marks the first case nationwide in which a person has been referred to prosecutors for violating an order to attend a mandatory electric scooter safety course.

Source: TBS
SHIGA, Mar 04 (News On Japan) - JR West has introduced a new route for its luxury sleeper train Twilight Express Mizukaze, offering passengers a scenic journey around Lake Biwa.

The deep green train, known for its elegant design, travels across western Japan under the concept "A hotel running through beautiful Japan," combining rail travel with the comfort of a luxury hotel.

A newly launched itinerary introduced this month allows passengers to complete a one-night, two-day journey that circles Lake Biwa while connecting Kyoto and Shimonoseki.

Passengers can enjoy sweeping views from the trains open observation cars.

A reporter covering the service commented: "From the wide train windows, you can fully take in the vast views of Lake Biwa."

Although the weather was cloudy on the day of the preview, passengers on clear days may be able to see the lakes famous vivid "Biwa Blue."

Along with the scenery, travelers can enjoy lunch prepared using locally sourced ingredients from Shiga Prefecture.

While it is a train journey, the itinerary also includes stops along the way, allowing passengers to disembark and visit tourist attractions and temples within Shiga.

The trains guest rooms are designed to function like hotel suites. During the day, passengers can relax while enjoying the scenery, and at night the rooms convert into comfortable sleeping spaces with beds.

The new Mizukaze route offers an elegant way to circle Lake Biwa. Prices start at 335,000 yen per person for a Royal Single room based on double occupancy, and services begin with the outbound journey on March 21st and the return route on March 23rd.

Source: KTV NEWS
William Shatner, Captain Kirk, gave screenshots of the live X Money UI. X Money (also called X Payments or the payments/wallet feature inside the X app) is Elon Musks long-planned move to turn X into a super app like WeChat. Handling P2P transfers, wallets, debit cards, bills, shopping, creator payouts, and eventually banking/investing/crypto all in one place tied to your X profile/social graph.

It is not fully released to the general public, BUT a limited external beta is now LIVE for select testers/invitees. Internal closed beta among X employees has been running since at least February 2026.

Beta users see

In-app Money tab with real-time USD balance.

Instant send/receive/request money (like a DM).

Direct deposit setup.

6% APY on cash balances.

X Debit Card (metal-looking in screenshots) with cashback.



Identity verification step for full features.

Funds held via banking partner Cross River Bank (FDIC-insured up to $250k pass-through. X Payments LLC is not a bank).

Regulatory foundation (fully public).

X Payments LLC (NMLS #2404946) is registered with FinCEN as a Money Services Business.

Money transmitter licenses (MTLs) secured in ~42 jurisdictions (40+ states + DC).

Alabama through Wyoming with exact license numbers. New York is notably absent so far due to past regulatory pushback.

payments.x.com

Long-standing Visa partnership (announced 2025) for instant wallet funding, cards, and P2P.

Future roadmap teased (not in beta yet)

high-yield savings,

loans,

in-app investing/trading,

crypto/stablecoin integration,

bills,

shopping, etc.

Your X profile literally becomes your financial identity is what Chamath is talking about

If even 10% of this is true: 1) your identity on X becomes a crucial financial asset. The distribution of your identity becomes a huge asset that others will underwrite. Investing will then include building a following and posting good, interesting, engaging and useful content https://t.co/N66jjMmtB7  Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) March 4, 2026

I dont think people truly understand whats about to happen with  Money. This is Elon going back to his roots  back to https://t.co/7uNdQ2MKOC  and building what he always wanted in the first place: one place that runs your entire financial life. When he rebranded Twitter pic.twitter.com/vYXxddhNIl  Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) March 3, 2026

That thread lays out the full Elon vision (internal beta live, licenses, Visa, WeChat-style everything app, X profile = financial ID, trillions in payments opportunity, valuation upside, etc.).

Your X identity/following becomes a financial asset  others will underwrite it. Building an audience and posting quality content could literally help you get loans/credit/investments.

Stablecoins explode and yield flows to users (not banks/platforms) because of the social layer + transparency.

Fraud collapses  the cost of being a bad actor skyrockets because you risk getting sidelined from the entire ecosystem (social + financial).

Bolding Going into X Money

He ends by calling it Exciting, as a user, to be a part of this

Heres a few more screenshots. Theres a debit card with cash back too!  pic.twitter.com/yeKE1gXAjQ  William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 3, 2026
Iran does not conduct official ethnic censuses, so all figures come from CIA World Factbook, Britannica and demographic compilations.

The breakdown has remained stable:

Persians (Fars): 61% (~5657 million)  majority in central, northern, and eastern provinces; dominant in Tehran, Isfahan, Fars, etc.

Azerbaijanis (Azeri Turks): 16% (~15 million)  mainly northwest (East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan).

Kurds: 10% (~99.3 million)  northwest (Kurdistan, Kermanshah, West Azerbaijan provinces).

Lurs: 6% (~5.56 million)  southwest/central (Lorestan, parts of Khuzestan, Chaharmahal).

Baloch: 2% (~1.9 million)  southeast (Sistan and Baluchestan).

Arabs: 2% (~1.9 million)  southwest (Khuzestan).

Turkmen and other Turkic tribes: 2% (~1.9 million)  northeast (Golestan, North Khorasan).

Others (Armenians, Assyrians, Georgians, Circassians, etc.): 1%.

Persians + other Iranian peoples (Lurs, Gilakis, Mazandaranis, etc.) form the ~80% Iranian peoples core, with Turkic and other minorities making up the rest.

Percentage of Persians against the regime

Reliable anonymous polling (primarily GAMAAN surveys, 20242026, with 30,000158,000 respondents inside Iran) shows 7080% of Iranians overall say they would not vote for the Islamic Republic and oppose its continuation. Support for regime change as a precondition for progress is the top position (~4060%, peaking at 81% during major protests).

A leaked Iranian Ministry of Culture poll found 72.9% want religion out of government.

For ethnic Persians specifically (the 61% majority, concentrated in urban/central areas).

Estimates are 6575% want the regime gone or fundamentally changed. Opposition is slightly lower than the national average only because some rural Persian conservatives remain more supportive.

It is much higher (80%+) among urban, educated, and younger Persians (Tehran, Isfahan, Shira)

Most likely in the next few days

Kurdistan Province (capital: Sanandaj)  top candidate for the first major town/province to shift. Heavy recent strikes on local security infrastructure.

Kermanshah Province (capital: Kermanshah city)  very close second. Border posts and IRGC sites already hit to facilitate infiltration.

Parts of West Azerbaijan Province (especially Mahabad and Kurdish-majority districts around Urmia)  secondary but rapid follow-on.

Next Sistan and Baluchestan Province (Zahedan) for Baloch insurgents (Jaish al-Adl), but Kurds are better organized.

Broader Persian urban uprisings are hoped for by the Trump administration. The outer ethnic groups guns and external backing right now.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The two are facing the prospect of serving longer effective prison terms after missing a February 28 deadline to pay nearly US$3 million in restitution following their conviction in a US$7 million corruption case last December.Mpofu was ordered to repay US$2 060 250.60, while Chimombe was required to pay US$964 064.64. The payments were a condition for the suspension of portions of their prison sentences.Failure to meet the deadline means the suspended portions of their sentences  four years in Mpofu's case and two years in Chimombe's case  could now be activated. However, the pair still have the option of petitioning the High Court for an extension of time to settle the restitution.Sources close to the matter say the two businessmen are unable to raise the required funds, as they are already grappling with substantial legal costs and the financial burden of supporting their families.The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe is set to hear their application for leave to appeal both conviction and sentence on March 6.Mpofu and Chimombe were convicted of defrauding the Government of more than US$7 million under the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.Mpofu was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with seven years suspended. Of the suspended portion, three years were set aside for good behaviour and four years were conditional upon restitution.Chimombe received a 17-year sentence, with five years suspended  three for good behaviour and two tied to restitution.In December 2025, the State withdrew fraud charges against the pair in relation to an alleged US$9.2 million streetlight tender involving the Harare City Council. While that case was dropped, Mpofu still faces a separate charge linked to a bio-gas deal with the same local authority.The coming days are expected to be critical for the duo as they seek relief from the courts to avoid serving additional time behind bars.
Laman Ismayilova



Hikmat Guliyev, Director of the Folklore Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) and Doctor of Philology, held a meeting in Ankara with Professor Mehmet Ocal O?uz, Chair of the UNESCO Turkiye National Commission, AzerNEWS reports.

During the meeting, Hikmat Guliyev provided detailed information on the research conducted at the ANAS Folklore Institute, the results achieved, the institutes structure, and the ongoing scientific and methodological updates. He highlighted work on understanding and studying folklore as a dynamic cultural system, as well as research in the areas of digital transformations and internet folklore. Guliyev noted that in the contemporary stage, studying folklore not only as texts but also as collective cultural memory, national identity, and a social-communicative system has been identified as a priority direction.

The discussion also focused on the preservation, documentation, and transmission of multinational intangible heritage elements included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Possible avenues for scientific and institutional collaboration in this field were explored. In particular, the importance of joint research and presentation of shared intangible cultural heritage among Turkic peoples on international platforms was emphasized.

During the meeting, Hikmat Guliyev presented Professor M. Ocal O?uz with a plaque in recognition of his contributions to the methodological study, preservation, and international promotion of Turkic folklore. Hikmat Guliyev also gifted five volumes from the Folklore Institute's "Western Azerbaijan Folklore" series, as well as his monographs on the archetype of the wise elder and internet folklore.

The meeting was also attended by Professor Konuralp Ercilasun of Ankara Hac? Bayram Veli University, Associate Professor Aynur Ibrahimova from the Folklore Institute, and Ozge Zuleyha Omero?lu, Acting Deputy Secretary General of the UNESCO Turkiye National Commission.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Hikmat Guliyev was presented with a prestigious collection of publications issued by the UNESCO Turkiye National Commission.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Bulawayo Fire Brigade is attending to multiple flooding incidents affecting several western suburbs of the city, Chief Fire Officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo confirmed on Tuesday evening.Bulawayo experienced heavy rains from the afternoon into the evening on Tuesday, leading to water accumulation in a number of residential areas.According to Mr Moyo, the hardest-hit suburbs include Luveve 5, Emakhandeni and Pelandaba West."The flooding has been attributed to weep hole issues, which have resulted in water accumulation in residential sections," he said.Emergency response teams have since been dispatched to assess the extent of the damage and assist affected residents, with authorities continuing to monitor the situation as more rainfall is expected.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is visiting major lithium projects in Midlands province, including the US$1.5 million lithium processing plant built by Chinese investor Zhe Li Mining Investments in Zvishavane and the Sandawana Mines in Mberengwa.Chiwenga has already toured the Zvishavane lithium processing facility and is currently receiving a briefing at Sandawana Mines alongside government officials and mining managers.Sandawana, historically renowned for producing high-quality emeralds since 1958, has transformed into a world-class lithium mining operation under the ownership of Kuvimba Mining House, now managed by Zimbabwe's Sovereign Wealth Fund, Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF).Through its subsidiary, Mutapa Energy Minerals, MIF is aggressively expanding its portfolio, aiming to triple output at Sandawana. The company has partnered with Chinese firms to construct a lithium concentrate plant, with construction set to start in June 2026. The project involves a US$270 million investment and targets a 600,000-ton annual lithium concentration capacity, with commissioning scheduled for early 2027.The Zvishavane project, led by Zhe Li Mining Investments, will see its new lithium processing plant handle around 500 tonnes of ore daily, further cementing Zimbabwe's growing role in the global lithium market.The developments come as lithium gains strategic importance worldwide, driven by demand for batteries in electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. To capitalize on this trend, the Zimbabwean government has banned the export of raw mineral ore and lithium concentrate, boosting global prices.Zimbabwe, endowed with gold, lithium, platinum, diamonds, and chrome, supplies 10% of global lithium demand and 19% of China's imports, making it Africa's largest producer. Sandawana, famous for over four decades for its high-quality emeralds, has drawn investment interest from China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Recent explorations at Sandawana revealed massive lithium-rich pegmatite veins, with potential resources estimated at 200 million tonnes, possibly reaching 600 million tonnes across the 3,882-hectare site. The mine also contains deposits of tantalite, gold, and copper.The shift from emeralds to lithium is part of a broader strategy to boost Zimbabwe's export value, encourage local processing of raw materials, and strengthen the country's standing in the global renewable energy supply chain.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Secretaries-general and senior officials from Southern Africa's former liberation movements are convening in Dar es Salaam this week to discuss strategies for maintaining political influence and reinforcing regional solidarity. The meetings are taking place against a backdrop of shifting political dynamics, internal factionalism, and pressures from younger generations across the region.The gathering, hosted in one of the region's historical strongholds of the anti-colonial struggle, will include an ordinary secretariat meeting alongside the first formal, face-to-face Board of Trustees meeting of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School, scheduled for March 45. The school is a key ideological training hub aimed at consolidating leadership and instilling the values of the liberation era among current and future cadres.Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF Secretary-General Jacob Mudenda is among the expected attendees. Other principal parties involved include the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, MPLA of Angola, SWAPO of Namibia, FRELIMO of Mozambique, and Tanzania's own Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). The Botswana Democratic Party, which joined the secretariat in 2019, and other historically significant movements such as Zambia's UNIP, Zimbabwe's now-defunct ZAPU, and South Africa's PAC also form part of the broader liberation legacy network.The secretariat serves as a collaborative structure that facilitates ideological alignment, political cohesion, and mutual support among ruling parties that fought colonialism and white-minority rule between the 1960s and 1990s. Its agenda typically includes regional stability, defense of political legacies, and the coordination of ideological and leadership training.Tanzania, under the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, played a pivotal role in the liberation struggles, hosting military training camps, diplomatic support networks, and logistical bases for movements like the ANC, ZAPU, Zanu, and FRELIMO. The country remains a symbolic and practical hub for the secretariat, which continues to prioritise solidarity among its members.The ANC, which hosted the 2025 Liberation Movements Summit in Johannesburg, sent a delegation led by Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. In a social media post, Mbalula emphasised the gathering's purpose:"We have touched down in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where I am honored to lead an ANC delegation to the Ordinary Meeting of the Liberation Movements Secretariat. This gathering marks a significant step in strengthening solidarity, advancing progressive leadership, and deepening cooperation among liberation movements across our continent."The secretariat's work, while focused on consolidating power and countering opposition, has drawn criticism for prioritising liberation-era solidarity over democratic accountability in member states. Analysts note that current meetings are likely to tackle internal party factionalism, declining popularity, and the evolving socio-political expectations of younger generations.As the liberation movements navigate changing political landscapes, the Dar es Salaam meeting underscores both the enduring influence of the region's historical liberation legacy and the challenges it faces in remaining relevant in contemporary governance.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 62F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low around 40F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Suspected armed robbers have struck a Mukuru outlet in Bulawayo, fleeing with more than US$70 000 and R500 000, police confirmed. Officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are on the scene as investigations into the heist continue.The latest robbery has reignited concerns about cash-in-transit and outlet security in the city, coming on the heels of the US$4 million Ecobank robbery in October 2024, one of Bulawayo's largest cash heists in recent history. Authorities are appealing to members of the public for any information that could aid in apprehending the suspects.Investigators have not disclosed the number of suspects involved or whether any arrests have been made. The ZRP has urged businesses and financial outlets to remain vigilant and enhance security measures while the probe continues.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A tragic incident in Douglasdale suburb has left a two-year-old girl dead after she was attacked by four dogs that allegedly jumped over a fence and mauled her, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed.The incident occurred on February 28 at around 10 a.m. while the child, Tanaka Dube, was walking with her 31-year-old mother. Her 44-year-old stepfather was reportedly inside the yard feeding the dogs at the time."She sustained injuries on the scalp, lacerations behind the ears, armpits, and on both legs," said Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele. The toddler was rushed to Mpilo Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries despite treatment.The ZRP expressed condolences to the family and urged dog owners, especially those with large or aggressive breeds, to ensure their properties are properly secured to prevent animals from escaping.Zimbabwe records thousands of dog bite cases every year, with children being the most vulnerable. Health authorities reported over 20,000 dog bite incidents nationwide in 2023. Bulawayo has previously seen serious dog attacks, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of municipal by-laws requiring secure fencing and responsible dog ownership.Investigations into the tragedy are ongoing, and charges against the dog owner are likely, police said.
The partially severed cuff of an ankle monitor that was being worn by Kyana Traylor. Authorities say Traylor's brother, Dr. Kerry Sterling, was caught trying to cut off the monitor while she was free on bond awaiting trial for manslaughter.
Residents across Exeter and the wider county are being urged to take part in a Government consultation that could reshape local government in Devon for decades to come.

The consultation, launched on 27 February 2026, follows the Governments call for clearer and more streamlined council structures, replacing Devons current two-tier system of district and county councils with a new set of unitary authorities.

Four proposals have been submitted in response, all agreeing in principle that moving to a unitary system is the right direction for Devon.

Among them is a joint submission from Exeter City Council and Plymouth City Council, setting out a shared vision for what they describe as a simpler, stronger and more efficient model of local government.

READ NEXT: Exeter named one of the UK's most expensive cities for single living as rent and bills soar

Under the current system, responsibilities are split between district councils, such as Exeter City Council, and Devon County Council.

The proposed reorganisation would create single-tier authorities responsible for all local government services in their areas.

The Exeter and Plymouth proposal outlines plans for four new unitary councils across Devon, each designed to reflect how communities live, work and travel.

The plan includes an expanded Exeter authority, incorporating the city alongside 49 surrounding parishes from Teignbridge, East Devon and Mid Devon.

Supporters say this would create a single unitary council built around one of Britains fastest-growing cities, with the scale to plan strategically for housing, transport and economic development.

An expanded Plymouth authority would include Plymouth and 13 parishes from South Hams, reflecting what is described as existing economic and service links between the city and neighbouring communities.

The proposal also includes an expanded Torbay authority, bringing together Torbay and 21 nearby parishes, and a new Devon Coast and Countryside council focused specifically on rural and coastal communities, market towns and more dispersed populations.



The model has been shaped through joint work between Exeter and Plymouth councils, with leaders arguing it would create a more coherent and futureproofed system while keeping services closer to residents.

An Exeter City Council spokesperson confirmed that while the final decision rests with the Secretary of State, the reorganisation is currently expected to take formal effect in April 2028.

The new authority structures would be legally established at that point, and Exeter City Council would formally cease to exist on the same date.

A transition period is also planned. Elections to a new shadow authority are expected to take place in May 2027.

Exeter City Council would then remain operational for a further year, until April 2028, to ensure continuity of services during the handover.

More detailed arrangements are expected to be confirmed closer to the time.

Additional details are also available via Exeter City Councils website.
More than nine out of 10 families received their first preference secondary school placements for September, according to new figures.

Devon County Council says 93.7% of those who applied for a secondary school place for the next school year have been offered their first preference.

The figure is a fraction more than last year at 93.5% and in all, 98.4% of families will get one of their three preferences.

READ NEXT: Devon County Council Budget 2026: 268m for SEND and council tax rise confirmed

The council said this 7,142 allocations were made for a place at a Devon mainstream secondary school.

Parents were notified of their places this week and the councils admissions team will be available to deal with enquiries supported by the schools team at Devons Customer Service Centre.

Devons cabinet member for schools, Councillor Julian Brazil, said: Devon has always done well to meet peoples school preferences, and this year is no exception.

As ever, its in large part thanks to our admissions and school organisation teams as well as the close cooperation we have with schools.

The statistics are quite likely to improve further before September as appeals are heard and other factors are taken into account, such as parents not taking up places they have been offered.

READ NEXT: Inside the 'vibrant' maritime festival bringing world-class authors to the Devon coast
News / National

by Staff reporter

National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Lovemore Madhuku has warned that no one in Zimbabwe is safe from attacks by alleged pro-government vigilantes, following a violent assault on him and several party members on Sunday, 1 March 2026.Madhuku and his colleagues were reportedly gathered for a meeting when they were attacked and beaten with batons. The NCA claims the assault occurred in the presence of uniformed police officers. Authorities have not yet issued a detailed public response to the allegations.Speaking to the media on Monday, Madhuku said the violence sends a chilling message across the political divide, arguing that even members of the ruling ZANU PF party are not immune if they are perceived as dissenting voices."Everyone, including those people in their own party, as long as those people are not supporting [the Constitutional Amendment]," he said."The only person who would not be beaten up in this country is President Emmerson Mnangagwa. That's the message they are sending. As far as things are concerned, they'll beat up everyone else, so it's how dangerous they are. Don't think that any people who are in Zanu-PF at the top level are immune."The alleged attack comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding proposed constitutional changes, with opposition figures and civic groups raising concerns about shrinking democratic space and rising intimidation.Investigations into the incident are expected, although no arrests had been announced at the time of publication.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Direct flights between Harare and London could soon resume following high-level discussions between the Zimbabwean government and the United Kingdom aimed at strengthening trade, tourism and investment ties.Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube met British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Peter Vowles in Harare on Monday, with the possible revival of the HarareLondon route featuring prominently in talks focused on deepening economic cooperation.Ncube described the restoration of direct flights as a strategic step toward reinforcing commercial and people-to-people relations between the two countries."We also explored prospects for reviving the HarareLondon flights between the UK and Zimbabwe. Improved connectivity will further strengthen commercial relations and people-to-people ties," he said.The route, previously serviced by British Airways and Air Zimbabwe, has been inactive for several years. Travellers have since been forced to connect through regional hubs such as Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa, often increasing travel time and costs.The return of direct flights is expected to lower travel expenses, stimulate tourism, and unlock new business opportunities between Zimbabwe and the UK."Our focus was on expanding investment opportunities for Zimbabwean and UK companies across both jurisdictions and ensuring that our economic partnership continues to grow in a mutually beneficial manner," Ncube added.Vowles welcomed Zimbabwe's recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a new Staff-Level Agreement under a Staff-Monitored Programme, describing it as a significant milestone in the country's reform efforts."Zimbabwe's recent agreement with the IMF on a new Staff-Level Agreement for a Staff-Monitored Programme is a key milestone in the ongoing arrears clearance and debt resolution process," Vowles said. "The development demonstrates progress in Zimbabwe's economic reform agenda and will help build international confidence."He also reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to supporting Zimbabwe's health sector through multilateral institutions.If revived, the HarareLondon route would mark a major step in restoring direct air links between the two nations, further cementing economic and diplomatic engagement.
Plaintiff Council for Opportunity in Education Defendant U.S. Department of Education Filed in the District of Columbia on Oct. 14, 2025 Injunction Plaintiff Dallas County, Tex. Defendant Kennedy Filed in the District of Columbia on Dec. 5, 2025 Plaintiff Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence Defendant Kennedy Jr. Filed in the District of Rhode Island on July 21, 2025 injunction Plaintiff Colorado Defendant Department of Health and Human Services Filed in the District of Rhode Island on April 1, 2025 injunction Plaintiff Housing Authority of the County of San Diego Defendant Turner Filed in the Northern District of California on Oct. 15, 2025 injunction Plaintiff National Alliance to End Homelessness Defendant Department of Housing and Urban Development Filed in the District of Rhode Island on Dec. 1, 2025 injunction Plaintiff Washington Defendant Federal Emergency Management Agency Filed in the District of Massachusetts on July 16, 2025 lost Plaintiff Arizona Defendant Environmental Protection Agency Filed in the Western District of Washington on Oct. 16, 2025 Plaintiff Open Technology Fund Defendant Lake Filed in the District of Columbia on March 20, 2025 injunction Plaintiff National Public Radio Defendant Trump Filed in the District of Columbia on May 27, 2025 Plaintiff San Francisco Unified School District Defendant AmeriCorps Filed in the Northern District of California on March 10, 2025 injunction Plaintiff Maine Defendant National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Filed in the District of Maine on June 17, 2025 Plaintiff Rhode Island Latino Arts Defendant National Endowment for the Arts Filed in the District of Rhode Island on March 6, 2025 lost Trump Keeps Finding New Ways to Withhold Money Even After 198 Lawsuits

President Trump has tried to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding to coerce states, punish opponents, remake programs and impose his views. His targets have repeatedly sued to stop him, and the courts have repeatedly rebuked him  only for the president to try again and again.

Take just these seven cases, all of them tied to the administrations efforts to block funds from sanctuary communities, those that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Last February, a coalition of cities and counties sued over executive orders directing agencies to shut off such funds. Plaintiff City and County of San Francisco Defendant Trump Filed in the Northern District of California on Feb. 7, 2025 injunction A judge issued a preliminary injunction, halting those directives while the case proceeded. The same day, the Department of Transportation told communities they must cooperate with immigration enforcement to get federal transportation dollars. Twenty states, led by California, soon sued  Plaintiff California Defendant Department of Transportation Filed in the District of Rhode Island on May 13, 2025 lost  and the administration lost in district court. The Department of Homeland Security tried to withhold emergency management funds. Another lawsuit followed  Plaintiff Illinois Defendant FEMA Filed in the District of Rhode Island on May 13, 2025 lost  and the administration lost. Then D.H.S. tried reducing counterterrorism grants to sanctuary states instead  Plaintiff Illinois Defendant Noem Filed in the District of Rhode Island on Sept. 29, 2025 lost  and again, the administration lost. In the past year, funds for housing, transit, health and public safety have all been conditioned on cooperation with immigration. Plaintiff King County Defendant Turner Filed in the Western District of Washington on May 2, 2025 injunction Plaintiff Fresno Defendant Turner Filed in the Northern District of California on Aug. 20, 2025 injunction Plaintiff Chicago Defendant Department of Justice Filed in the Northern District of Illinois on Nov. 12, 2025 injunction

Injunctions regularly followed.

These are among 198 lawsuits in the past year identified by The New York Times that challenge how Mr. Trump has leveraged federal funding to carry out his agenda without the consent of Congress. And they reflect one remarkable feature of the campaign: It has proceeded undeterred by losses in court.

With that persistence, the administration has been hammering away at a new kind of reality in Washington, one where the president wields far more control over spending, and where his opponents aren't entitled to the services of their federal government.

Anyone in the country who relies on federal dollars is depending on the president to get that money, said Matthew Lawrence, a law professor at Emory University. And thats a new thing.

The president has threatened money to states that dont adopt his policies, universities that dont bend to his will, hospitals that dont alter their services, school districts that dont abandon diversity efforts, nonprofits that dont embrace his gender views, and researchers who study the wrong subjects.

These moves have tested whether Congress, granted the power of the purse, still holds the ultimate authority over spending. And they have challenged the courts with a flood of cases  37 separate suits from the state of California; four from the Association of American Universities on virtually the same question; one from King County, Wash., that has grown to include as plaintiffs 75 communities and agencies.

You would think there would be some conditioning here: You do an action, you get sued, you lose, maybe you dont do that action anymore, said Rob Bonta, who as Californias attorney general has brought many of those suits. Hes continued to repeat offend. And repeat lose.

The administrations approach has amounted to a game of three-card monte in the courts, said Samuel Bagenstos, a law professor at the University of Michigan. Each injunction covers the parties suing and the specific programs at issue. But even if a court restores a given program or grant, that doesnt necessarily stop the administration from blocking funds to other groups it disfavors. The result, Mr. Bagenstos said: Oh, well, you think I cant do this thing over there? Well Im going to do it over here.

Presidents have long sought to steer funding to advance their priorities, designing programs with Congress or awarding competitive grants to communities that emphasize certain ideas. But the Trump administration has gone much further: terminating en masse funds that were already awarded; imposing new conditions on future grants that flout federal rule making; and blocking money to whole programs and agencies created by Congress.

The groups that have sued represent a fraction of everyone affected; many have lacked the means or the will to go to court. But these 198 cases, as of the beginning of March, have pried open a public view into the breadth of the administrations tactics. And one year in, they have produced a lopsided record of rulings.

When plaintiffs have sought immediate relief, district court judges have temporarily blocked the administrations actions 79 percent of the time, signaling plaintiffs likely success on the merits. In the 26 instances where district judges have issued partial or final rulings, the administration lost 23.

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York v. Department of Health and Human Services Judge Beryl A. Howell, Obama appointee, Oct. 7, 2025 Just because a pronouncement comes from the president does not make it true, even if expressed in the form of an executive order, and even then, does not supersede the law. lost

American Federation of Teachers v. U.S. Department of Education Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher, Trump appointee, Aug. 14, 2025 By leapfrogging important procedural requirements, the government has unwittingly run headfirst into serious constitutional problems. lost

Michigan v. Noem Magistrate Judge Amy E. Potter, Dec. 23, 2025 None of this appears consistent with Congressional intent or FEMAs mission. lost

The administration declined to comment on the record. But a White House official authorized to describe the strategy said the Trump administration is restoring power to the presidency that previous presidents have shied away from, while tapping that power to prevent fraud and steward taxpayer dollars. The groups bringing all these lawsuits, that person said, are the ones using the courts in a hostile campaign to hamstring the president.

The administration has notably walked away from some defeats without appealing them. But it is counting on a better record before appeals court judges, as has been the case more broadly. Among cases it has appealed, appellate courts have reversed or paused orders against the administration in about 40 percent of their rulings, often with judges appointed by Mr. Trump in his favor.

But even when it is losing in court, plaintiffs attorneys and legal scholars said, the administration may still find it is winning on its own terms.

Undeserving recipients

Alongside that first sanctuary cities directive, early executive orders outlining the presidents core agenda aimed to end all diversity, equity and inclusion in the government, to eradicate gender ideology, to reverse the green new deal, and to enforce election integrity. All of them proposed leveraging federal funds to do it.

These cases show the administration pulling that lever in numerous ways.

It has tried to set conditions with no clear relationship to program goals (like immigration requirements for highway funds). It has threatened funding to force states to share information (voter rolls, food aid lists). It has told grantees they must pledge to comply with orders the president hasnt issued yet. And it has invoked criminal and financial penalties if they break those pledges.

It has terminated even small sums, targeting with laser precision opponents of the president (who then sued):

The American Bar Association lost $3.2 million in domestic violence training grants after the administration attacked the group.

Plaintiff American Bar Association Defendant Department of Justice Filed in the District of Columbia on April 23, 2025 injunction

The American Academy of Pediatrics lost nearly $12 million in grants in apparent retaliation for its advocacy of vaccines and gender-affirming care.

Plaintiff American Academy of Pediatrics Defendant Department of Health and Human Services Filed in the District of Columbia on Dec. 24, 2025 injunction

Maine lost access to support for school meals as Gov. Janet Mills was fighting with the president over transgender athletes.

Plaintiff Maine Defendant Department of Agriculture Filed in the District of Maine on April 7, 2025 injunction

The government backed down with the American Bar Association and Maine after judges issued initial rulings. And across these cases more generally, plaintiffs attorneys said that funding has typically been restored. But the government has simply turned its focus elsewhere.

You can see that the governments posture is essentially: Do the thing thats going to make the White House happy, or get the press release about sticking it to trans people, said Kevin Love Hubbard, a former D.O.J. attorney who represented the government before leaving in August. Agencies are doing that, he said, without thinking about then having to go into court.

Today, he is suing the government in several funding cases with the Lawyers Committee for Rhode Island.

Most of these nearly 200 cases are about disfavored categories of recipients like sanctuary jurisdictions, Harvard researchers or organizations serving transgender people.

We are the undeserving recipients, at least in the mind of our current administration, said Leesa Manion, the prosecuting attorney in King County, Wash., which encompasses Seattle. The goal all along was to ensure that we  the undesirables  do not get our fair share. Whether it works or doesnt work, if thats your overarching goal, you just keep evolving your technique.

The administration is now increasingly targeting blue states as such a category, too.

That began during the government shutdown last October, when the White House budget director Russell Vought announced the administration would cancel nearly $8 billion in energy projects in 16 states  all where voters had supported Kamala Harris in 2024.

A small group of grantees, including the city of St. Paul, Minn., sued in response. Plaintiff St. Paul, Minnesota Defendant Wright Filed in the District of Columbia on Nov. 10, 2025 lost In January, the administration lost in district court, where a judge said it had violated the Constitution. But officials were already preparing other cuts to blue states. H.H.S. froze $10 billion in child care and family assistance funds to five states. The states sued  Plaintiff New York Defendant Administration for Children and Families Filed in the Southern District of New York on Jan. 8, 2026 injunction  and a judge issued an injunction. The D.O.T. suspended funding to the $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project connecting New Jersey and New York. Both states sued  Plaintiff New Jersey Defendant Department of Transportation Filed in the Southern District of New York on Feb. 3, 2026 injunction  and secured another injunction. Even after those setbacks, in early February the administration told Congress it would cut more than $600 million in public health grants to four blue states. They sued  Plaintiff Illinois Defendant Vought Filed in the Northern District of Illinois on Feb. 11, 2026 injunction

 and the next day, a judge issued another injunction in the form of a temporary restraining order.

Still, last week, the administration said it would withhold about $250 million in Medicaid funds from Minnesota (prompting another lawsuit).

These moves, citing a mix of fraud and immigration policies, follow the presidents vow to block all funding to sanctuary jurisdictions  a group, under the D.O.J.s definition, that could encompass one-third of the U.S. population.

They can sue us and maybe theyll win, the president said in January. But were not giving money to sanctuary cities anymore.

Arbitrary and capricious

At stake in many cases are weighty constitutional principles: the separation of powers; the right to due process when the government says grantees have done something wrong; the First Amendment protections for organizations to advocate their views without government retaliation.

In the St. Paul suit, a district judge, Amit P. Mehta, ruled in January for the first time in one of these cases that the administration had violated the Fifth Amendments equal protection guarantee by singling out states for their partisan lean. During the litigation, the government didnt deny doing that. Rather, it argued it was allowed to.

St. Paul, Minnesota v. Wright Judge Amit P. Mehta, Obama appointee, Jan. 12, 2026 Defendants freely admit that they made grant-termination decisions primarily  if not exclusively  based on whether the awardee resided in a state whose citizens voted for President Trump in 2024. There is no rational relationship between that classification and defendants stated governmental interest. lost

But that ruling covered only seven canceled grants worth about $27.5 million out of the nearly $8 billion total terminated. Now a coalition of 13 states is suing with the same constitutional argument in a new case about the same cuts.

The constant that is running through most of these cases, however, is the more mundane-sounding Administrative Procedure Act. That 1946 law says that the federal government must be reasoned and document its thinking according to transparent rules  in short, that it shouldnt be slapdash and secretive.

These cases are full of examples of it doing just that. When the Department of Homeland Security tried last year to reduce counterterrorism grants to sanctuary states, the agency appeared to arrive at the lower award sums by simply lopping digits off the original values.

Illinois v. Noem Judge Mary S. McElroy, Trump appointee, Dec. 22, 2025 Neither a law degree nor a degree in mathematics is required to deduce that no plausible, rational formula could produce this result. lost

Officials have sent out directives with copy-and-pasted typos, termination letters without agency letterhead and bare explanations with boilerplate rationale.

You had literally grants for millions of dollars being canceled in a single vague paragraph: This no longer comports with administration priorities, thank you very much, said Claudia Polsky, a law professor at the University of California at Berkeley, who has led a class-action lawsuit among University of California researchers that has restored, for now, at least a thousand grants worth about a billion dollars.

The administration has given grantees new mandates  and prohibitions  so vague that they havent known how to comply.

Promote gender ideology  what does that mean? said Maria Corona, the head of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which has challenged new conditions on grants. When youre talking about violence against women, in the language itself were already talking about a gender issue.

Last February, the National Institutes of Health issued a seismic policy change on a Friday night, to take effect the following Monday, slashing payments to universities for research overhead, drawing several lawsuits.

Plaintiff Massachusetts Defendant National Institutes of Health Filed in the District of Massachusetts on Feb. 10, 2025 lost Plaintiff Association of American Medical Colleges Defendant National Institutes of Health Filed in the District of Massachusetts on Feb. 10, 2025 lost Plaintiff Association of American Universities Defendant Department of Health and Human Services Filed in the District of Massachusetts on Feb. 10, 2025 lost In April, the administration lost these cases, consolidated under one judge (an appeals court upheld the decision this year). But after the district court ruling, the Department of Energy, followed by the National Science Foundation and then the Department of Defense, each rolled out an identical policy. Plaintiff Association of American Universities Defendant Department of Energy Filed in the District of Massachusetts on April 14, 2025 lost Plaintiff Association of American Universities Defendant National Science Foundation Filed in the District of Massachusetts on May 5, 2025 lost Plaintiff Association of American Universities Defendant Department of Defense Filed in the District of Massachusetts on June 16, 2025 lost

As these cases accumulated, so did the judges irritation.

Association of American Universities v. Department of Defense Judge Brian E. Murphy, Biden appointee, Oct. 10, 2025 The Court does not write upon a blank slate but instead follows three other courts in this district who have come to similar conclusions with respect to different federal agencies attempts to enact virtually identical policies. Notably, defendants ignored these obviously relevant  and at least reasonable  analyses before adopting this policy. lost

Success for the administration has seldom involved winning on the merits. Rather, the administration has argued in most of these cases that district judges have no business hearing them at all. Cases seeking money, it says, belong instead in the Court of Federal Claims, a specialized court dedicated to financial contract disputes with the government.

On the Supreme Court, Justice Amy Coney Barrett breathed life into that argument, concurring in a preliminary ruling last summer that surprised some legal experts. Her opinion  suggesting policies should be litigated in district court, while payouts resulting from them belong in the Court of Federal Claims  has further complicated these cases. So has the Supreme Courts ruling last year ending nationwide injunctions.

Winning while losing

By the time grantees have gone to court, they have already lost much. Researchers have halted studies. Nonprofits have laid off staff. The core expectation that the government is a reliable partner has already been undercut.

The result is a corrosive uncertainty that undermines the basic functioning of government, said Jacob Leibenluft, a former official in the Biden White House budget office.

That uncertainty sets in the moment money isnt on time, or when grantees start to think it wont be in the future. Other changes take root, too: Grantees rethink whats in their mission statements; professors shift what they teach.

American Association of University Professors v. Trump Judge Rita F. Lin, Biden appointee, Nov. 14, 2025 Numerous U.C. faculty and staff have submitted declarations describing how defendants actions have already chilled speech throughout the U.C. system. injunction

The administration is advancing these changes even when its losing particular funding cases in court. And it has successfully blocked money to groups who havent sued, further entrenching the president's expanded power over spending.

Whether this dynamic sticks depends as much on Congress as on the courts. If legislators were more actively guarding programs they had funded themselves, many of these lawsuits probably wouldnt exist.

New York v. Trump Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Obama appointee, March 6, 2025 The interaction of the three co-equal branches of government is an intricate, delicate and sophisticated balance  but it is crucial to our form of constitutional governance. Here, the Executive put itself above Congress. injunction

In rare cases, Republicans in Congress have pushed back against the administration and been able to reverse billions in cuts far more quickly than courts could, including from after-school programs and mental health and addiction treatment.

For most programs targeted by the administration, however, Republicans have publicly said little, and thats unlikely to change as the president now targets blue states more explicitly. Republican and Democratic appropriators have together quietly tucked some new guardrails into spending bills this year. But it is Democrats, primarily, who have spoken up for the larger principle that lawmakers set the terms of federal spending  not the president.

We have to guard that with our lives, said Rosa DeLauro, the top Democratic appropriator in the House. The alternative, she said, is that funding becomes a tool to silence dissent. Dont speak out  or Ill cancel your grant.

Absent bipartisan clamor in Congress, cases like King County v. Turner grind on. The case was brought last May by eight local governments challenging new conditions on housing and transportation grants. Then they added H.H.S. as a defendant. And 23 more local governments and transit and housing agencies joined as plaintiffs. Then another 29 came on board. Then 15 more. Each one has had to explain the harms it has faced. The judge has had to review each claim, alongside the details of dozens of grant programs, while crafting what are now four successive injunctions. All that is just one lawsuit.

Should we have to do that 200 times, 300 times? said Erin Overbey, the general counsel with the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office. Whats the number where we reach critical mass?
Democratic Primary

Julie Johnson, an incumbent who currently represents the statess 32nd Congressional District, is running in this significantly redrawn district. She faces a challenge from Colin Allred, a former representative who left Congress to run for Senate.
Prosek Partners handles New Yorks Tilray Brands, craft beer & cannabis operation, as it acquires BrewDog, a leading independent beer producer in the UK, for $45M.

Irwin Simon Tilray CEO, called BrewDog one of the most iconic, mission-driven craft beer brands in the UK. It markets brands such as Punk IPA, Hazy Jane, Lost Lager and Wingman. The transaction also includes 11 brewpubs in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.

Simon promised to invest in BrewDog to return its operations to profitable growth. Brewdogs future is bright and we are committed to ensuring the brand continues to lead and inspire the global craft beer movement, said Simon.

The acquisition boosts Tilrays global craft beer and beverage platform to the $500M level.

Tilray is the parent of Montauk Brewing, Redhook Brewery, Blue Point Brewing, Breckenridge Distillery, SweetWater Brewery, Revolver Brewing and Shock Top.
Hunterdon County, New Jersey, is looking for an agency that can improve the visibility of the countys tourism brand by providing digital as well as traditional marketing and public relations services.
AS the Deputy CEO of Tullamore Credit Union, I feel incredibly fortunate to lead a remarkable team of women who are truly the heart and soul of our organization's success. The four dynamic leaders who report directly to me are at the helm of our operational, promotional, membership, and lending divisions. They are the engines that drive us forward with purpose and impact, ensuring we meet our goals and exceed expectations every day.

In addition to these phenomenal leaders, our HR Manager, Sinead Hanniffy, plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of inclusivity, empowerment, and professional growth throughout our organization. Sinead's dedication to nurturing our team is instrumental in our ongoing success.

Furthermore, our in-house solicitor, Sarah Brophy, provides invaluable legal expertise to support these four leaders in their daily roles. Sarah's guidance ensures that we navigate any legal complexities with confidence and precision.

Together, we proudly represent a leadership team where independent and capable women make decisions at every level, shaping the future direction of our Credit Union. It is an honour to work alongside such an exceptional group, and I am excited about the continued positive impact we will achieve together.

Caroline Collins Murphy , Deputy CEO, Tullamore Credit Union

My name is Karen Byrne (pictured above) I have over 30 years of dedicated service to Tullamore Credit Union, my career to date reflects commitment, resilience and expertise.

As Team Lead of Membership, Securities and Deceased departments, I oversee a team of 5 guiding them with clarity, empathy and a strong focus on members service excellence.

Throughout my 3 decades of service, I have worked across a variety of roles, gaining a comprehensive understanding of operations, members needs, regulatory requirements and the ever-evolving financial landscape.

My experience has equipped me with the ability to lead with both compassion & confidence. I believe in empowering my team, fostering good communications and creating an environment where individuals feel supported to grow & succeed.

My leadership in sensitive areas in relation to deceased accounts and securities allows me to deal with such accounts with professionalism and empathy.

As we celebrate International Womens Day & the impact of women in leadership, I stand as an example of dedication, integrity and lasting influence within the financial community.

Kiera Williams (pictured above): I think I am a dynamic and forward-thinking leader whose career journey reflects both ambition and the power of internal progression. Now serving as Operations Controller, I oversee the full operations function of the credit union  from member services to foreign exchange  ensuring seamless delivery and an exceptional experience for members at every touchpoint.

Approaching six years with the organisation, I began my career in the operations function carrying out frontline member service duties. Eager to broaden my expertise, I progressed into risk and went on to serve as Data Protection Officer (DPO), gaining valuable insight into governance, compliance, and operational integrity. Recognising the organisations strong culture of internal development, I embrace every opportunity to grow  steadily building the knowledge, confidence, and leadership capability that led me to my current role.

Today, I oversee a team of more than 20 colleagues across the banking floor, call centre, and branch office. I am passionate about fostering collaboration across departments, driving operational excellence, and creating an environment where her team feels supported and empowered to deliver their best work.

As we mark International Womens Day and celebrate women in leadership, I feel my journey stands as a testament to the impact of determination, continuous learning, and organisations that actively champion the advancement of women from within.

Olive Jordan (pictured above):

A long-serving member of Tullamore Credit Union with over 40 years experience, I have held roles across Counter Services,

lending, Compliance (as DPO), & Executive Support to the Board.

I currently serve as Head of lending, leading a team of 10 dedicated professionals who are committed to delivering a first-class lending service to our members.

As a woman in this position I am incredibly proud to be part of the Credit Union and to contribute to an organisation that makes such a meaningful difference in our community. Throughout my career I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact Tullamore Credit Union has had on the people and businesses of Tullamore and the vital role it continues to

play in the local community.

Caitriona Lawlor (pictured above):

Knownfor her warm, enthusiastic personality and a naturally people focused approach, Caitriona Lawlor brings positivity and energy to every interaction.

As Member Engagement Controller at Tullamore Credit Union, she plays a central role in shaping exceptional member experiences and strengthening the Credit Unions connection with the community.

Caitriona leads initiatives aimed at enhancing service quality, improving communication, and ensuring members can access the financial support they need with clarity and confidence.

In addition to her core responsibilities, Caitriona manages the Business Development and Marketing Officers, guiding strategic outreach, brand visibility, and growth projects that support both members and the wider Tullamore community. With a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and member first service, she helps drive the Credit Unions mission to deliver trusted, people centred financial solutions while continuously inspiring engagement and organisational development.
With an extensive background in family law in her home country of Brazil, solicitor Carolina Unal has opened Accord Mediation, a new service at Axis Business Park in Tullamore. She's determined to show that mediation can play a huge part in solving conflicts and changing the lives of local people in the Midlands.

Growing up in Brazil, Carolina was reared in a family of solicitors. She reflected on her experiences stating:

"My father specialised in couples going through separation. I often remember as a child, being in his office and these people fighting with the children around and it always stuck with me."

These early memories shaped Carolina's preference in her law school studies. She recollected:

"In the first year of law school, we did mediation action and I really liked it. I wanted to try to help people reconcile rather than letting their problems become bigger."

She further enhanced her legal experience within the family business before setting off on her own journey in new surroundings.

"I finished law school and I continued working with my father and brother in their practice before deciding to relocate to Ireland with my family."

After arriving in Offaly, Carolina wanted to offer her legal knowledge and experience to the local community.

"I worked in a solicitors office in Tullamore with Verona Smyth as a legal secretary, she does family law and often sends clients to mediation especially when children are involved, I then decided to do a mediation course so that I could set up my own business."

Carolina qualified as a mediator after she completed accredited Conflict Dynamics and Mediation Skills training in Dublin where she specialised in Family Mediation (separating/divorcing couples) and is also a member of the Mediators Institute of Ireland (MII).

In addition to English, Carolina speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish, which enables her to work with clients from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, providing support with clarity and sensitivity.

Her business, Accord Mediation aims to provide a comprehensive range of independent mediation services across family, workplace, and community disputes, focusing on creating a safe, respectful, and confidential space for effective communication and resolution.

Carolina insisted that the experience of working in Tullamore equipped her well to set up the mediation business in the town.

"Verona Smyth really inspired me so much with the way that she deals with clients and I'm so grateful that I got the chance to work with her, she was the first person that opened the doors for me to work in the law offices here, it showed me that Tullamore would be a very good place for a mediation business.

She is now hoping to use her legal expertise to help people throughout the Midlands.

"I feel like the people really need it as they don't always know how to resolve problems. Even if it's just a small issue then they think it must be brought to the solicitor but actually they can converse in a respectful way through mediation to repair and build the relationship."

Carolina says Accord Mediation will offer a very confidential and impartial process to those that need assistance. "People can visit us without having to show everyone they're having problems, this will allow them to focus on their children's needs."

She added: "We are impartial so it isn't like talking to family and friends because everyone can give an opinion but you might not be any closer to actually solving the situation. When you have the mediator, they can take it through their process and relieve the situation."

Carolina believes that seeking help through mediation can have a huge impact on resolving conflicts. "Mediation is a process, Sometimes people tend to think that the situation isn't being solved but just by them being there is already a huge step because they are actually trying to address the issue when they might not originally have known how to handle it."

She says the objective of the new business is to showcase the extent of what mediation can do for clients. "I believe a lot of people don't know what mediation is. I'm setting up a business in Tullamore to try to help local people understand that mediation can change their lives for the better.

In mediation we don't give advice, we don't tell people what they should and shouldn't be doing. The solution is always in their own hands, we just help them to have a constructive conversation about it.

This helps the solicitors too because they are overwhelmed with cases that might not have needed to go as far as them or the courts in the first place so these are my goals especially for families with children."

Accord Mediation is open five days a week, Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5pm at Axis Business Park in Ballyduff, Tullamore.

You can find more information at www.accordmediation.site or get in contact with Carolina by phone at 085 132 5278 or by email at info.accordmediation@gmail.com for all your mediation needs.

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Well, I made that quote up, but I am sure that Grandpa Duke would say that if he saw what was happening to his favorite gambling grandson.

Betting on BAFTA

Never did I think that I would be saying this, but betting on actors has become the new betting on horses. But with all due respect to my favorite four-legged gambling animals, wagers on my favorite films, actors, supporting actresses, and directors are as fun as gambling gets.

Many other punters, as usual, agree with my wise evaluation. Some have even gone the extra mile and started their very own betting options, with movies such as One Battle After Another and Hamnet being supported by some serious coin.

The writing on the casino wall is obvious; this is not just about seeing a bear in a tux, it is about opening up a new genre of gambling, one that is going to go down in cinema history.

Why It Matters

I care about BAFTA bets not just because I am a fan of cinema, but also because I am a fan of innovation. Just as I love to experiment with my wagers in poker or take a new slot for a spin, I love to see a new gambling genre prosper.

If we were to sum up the current state of gambling affairs in one of OCRs patented lists, it would look like:

Awards betting is booming  Gambling and cinema fans of Dukes Gaming Academy are not just watching movies, they are also wagering on them.

Gambling and cinema fans of Dukes Gaming Academy are not just watching movies, they are also wagering on them. Prediction markets as sportsbooks  The concepts behind prediction markets, such as Polymarket, mirror sports, with my favorite being the ability to quickly switch between betting options

The concepts behind prediction markets, such as Polymarket, mirror sports, with my favorite being the ability to quickly switch between betting options Marmalade meets math  Now that we have Paddington Bear in the world of gaming, we can even wager on how often he will mention marmalade at 2026s BAFTA Film Awards.

But the value of Polymarket meeting Paddington Bear, whose new enterprise is being a film award host, goes far beyond what I have so far mentioned. It indirectly means that you, dear fan of Jackpot Duke, will one day be able to wager on whether or not I will host the next BAFTA. And yes, this is my official appeal to the organizers to include me in the action, and not just because I want to meet Hugh Laurie, who is most known for being Dr. Gregory House.

The House Always Wins

Just as Dr. House is always right and it is absolutely never lupus, yes, I have rewatched the show a couple of times, the house always wins. But that does not mean that you should not try to beat it.

Polymarket is, thankfully, not an online casino. It funds itself entirely off of small transaction fees and contributions from winnings, all with the goal of keeping itself up and running. The house in the case of Polymarket is actually other players. So, in essence, when you lose, someone else wins. A scenario that few gambling environments facilitate.

I invite you, the loyal supporter of my gambling adventures, to join me on Polymarket. But before you do, I urge you to learn more about what is happening with BAFTA betting and what this gambling genre entails. I cannot teach you this, as I am in a hurry to get back to betting, but I am sure that you are in good hands with Shane, my second favorite OCR contributor right after myself.


LIVE: President Trump confirms .major combat operations. in Iran: ABC News Special Report President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. military began .major combat operations in Iran.

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It's 55 degrees and sunny in my little corner of the world on the last day of February; the snow is melting; the guys on the other side of the creek have started their target practice; scaring the dogs; and the SOB in the White House, along with his friend in Israel, has started a war with Iran because everybody in this country is talking about how the FBI is covering up stuff in the Epstein files about said SOB raping a 13-year-old girl on Epstein's island. Ah, Saturday.

Look, this is simple. The Constitution prohibits the president from unilaterally declaring war on any other country. Congress has actually passed a War Powers Act. Other presidents have ignored it. Doesn't make it right. Picking on the baddest actor in the Middle East doesn't make it right. Claiming it's necessary because Iran is developing weapons is pure hypocrisy when the SOB in the White House, in his first term, withdrew from an agreement President Obama had made with Iran that forbade them from developing nuclear weapons. That meant inspections and verification. Trump dumped it. Then, back in the Oval Office last year, he bombed the crap out of Iran and said their ability to develop nuclear weapons was obliterated. And, not so by the way, he campaigned as the peace president who would not get involved in regime change in other countries and would not get the United States involved in protracted war anywhere, but especially the Middle East.

So, maybe he got tired of killing unarmed Venezuelan fishermen or killing law-abiding American citizens in Minnesota or was really angry that the Supreme Court told him he couldn't unilaterally impose tariffs on other countries. Or maybe he owed Bebe Netanyahu a favor.

Or, maybe he noticed that everyone in this country was talking about the FBI covering up stuff from the Epstein files about him raping a 13-year-old girl on Epstein's island. That news wasn't going to help with the midterm elections if all the cowardly Republicans in Congress got voted out of office. Only a couple of them seemed to notice that he didn't get the OK from Congress to attack another country. Apparently constitutional law is only for Democrats to worry about now.

It's Saturday in America and it's 55 degrees and sunny in my little corner of the world on the last day of February and maybe some of the mainstream media, as they are now referred to, will notice that the SOB in the White House can't stay awake at meetings, can barely put two sentences together that make sense, lies with every breath, reportedly just bombed a girls' elementary school in Iran and is an adjudicated sex offender whose name appears thousands of times in the Epstein files, including accusations of raping a 13-year-old girl, which the FBI, under his control, is trying to cover up.

At least the guys on the other side of the creek stopped shooting and let the dogs get back to their nap. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

By Bob Gaydos
News / National

by Staff reporter

Syria has launched an international tender for a new mobile network operator licence to replace MTN Syria, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced on Wednesday.The new 20-year licence paves the way for the formal exit of South Africa's MTN Group, which owns 75% of MTN Syria and abandoned operations in the country in 2021.The ministry formally opened the competitive bidding process at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The tender will run until June 15. Under the proposed structure, the winning operator will take a 75% stake in the local business, while Syria's sovereign fund will retain the remaining 25%.In a separate statement, MTN confirmed that its Group CEO, Ralph Mupita, met Syria's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdulsalam Haykal, on the sidelines of the conference. Both parties agreed that MTN's exit would be implemented "imminently." However, neither side clarified whether MTN would receive compensation for its majority stake.MTN had announced in 2020 that it would sell its 75% stake in MTN Syria to minority shareholder TeleInvest for US$65 million. The transaction was never finalised, and the company withdrew from the Syrian market in 2021, citing regulatory actions and demands that made its continued presence "untenable."A court in Damascus had previously placed MTN Syria under guardianship over alleged breaches of licence obligations that authorities said resulted in lost state revenue. MTN denied the allegations and later booked a 4.7 billion rand (US$287 million) loss related to the deconsolidation of the subsidiary.Africa's largest mobile operator by subscribers has been scaling back its Middle East footprint as part of a strategy to focus on its core African markets. It has already exited operations in Yemen and Afghanistan and is still seeking to divest its 49% stake in Iran, though that process has been delayed by US sanctions.
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The Oklahoma legislature advanced a bill Tuesday that would remove the possibility of tenure for OU faculty, limit contract agreements to five years and require each state institute for higher education to submit yearly information regarding full- and part-time faculty.

Senate Bill 1782, which passed in the state Education Committee Tuesday, would extend the tenure restrictions given to regional universities last month to OU.

Executive Order 2026-07, passed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in early February, directs regional universities and community colleges to phase out lifetime tenure, shifting instead toward renewable contracts based on performance and student outcomes.

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The bill, authored by Sen. Randy Grellner (R-Cushing), states the Board of Regents would no longer have the authority to establish and maintain plans for tenure of employees hired Jan. 1, 2027, or after. The bill also prohibits contracts of any employee to exceed five years.

OUs American Association of University Professors President Michael Givel wrote in an email to OU Daily Tuesday that eliminating tenure could set back the advancement of research and discourage scientific and creative findings for fear of political interference.

Tenure safeguards academic freedom. It is essential for the free pursuit of scientific, scholarly concepts and ideas, as well as creative research, teaching, and speech, Givel wrote. Abolishing tenure cripples and compromises scientific and creative research that benefits all Oklahomans. For example, in healthcare.

Givel also wrote if faculty are no longer offered tenure in Oklahoma, they may be encouraged to seek employment at a university out of the state.

It also sends a strong message that top-tier academics seeking employment at Oklahoma universities should look elsewhere immediately, Givel wrote. Why pursue a job here, including at OU, under such a repressive climate?

In an email to the Daily Tuesday, Faculty Senate Chair Sarah Robbins wrote the senate has been monitoring the bill since its filing in January and is concerned how it could impact retention if passed.

Robbins wrote the bill as written would threaten OUs aspirations to become a member of the Association of American Universities.

We are concerned about the implications for recruiting and retaining talented faculty if the bill is enacted and tenure is eliminated across the public institutions in the state, Robbins wrote. As written, we believe this bill would undermine the Universitys aspirations for AAU.

A primary goal of OUs Lead On, University strategic plan is to become a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only organization of the nations leading research universities credited for life changing education, research and innovation. Member universities earn the majority of federal funding for research.

The bill would also require that universities electronically submit a summary of the number of faculty and graduate assistants employed by the university each year beginning July 31, 2028.

If passed, OU would be required to submit to the State Regents for Higher Education on July 31 each year:

 Number of full-time faculty employed by the institution

 Number of full-time faculty who have been awarded tenure

 Number of part-time faculty including adjunct instructors and employees

 Number of graduate assistants employed including the number of courses taught by each graduate assistant

The bill states that the board must electronically submit information provided by each college to the governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.

This story was edited by Audrey McClour.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Platinum producer Zimplats has invested US$36 million toward the revival of its Base Metal Refinery (BMR) at the Selous Metallurgical Complex, about 80 kilometres southwest of Harare, as part of efforts to enhance mineral beneficiation and value addition.A Base Metal Refinery is a critical link in the processing of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), bridging extractive smelting and final precious metal purification. Zimplats' BMR is being reengineered to process 5 200 tonnes of nickel and associated base metals, separating nickel, copper and chrome from platinum group metals.The facility was suspended around 1999 due to severe cash constraints triggered by falling platinum prices. Outdated technology had also made operations expensive, necessitating refurbishment. The upgrade forms part of a broader US$1,8 billion expansion programme aimed at increasing processing capacity and reducing reliance on overseas refining.In conjunction with the BMR project, Zimplats has tripled its smelting capacity to 380 000 tonnes of concentrate per year. Once fully operational - targeted for the beginning of the 2027 financial year - the company plans to progress toward establishing a precious metal refinery.As of December 31, 2025, US$36 million had been spent against a total project budget of US$190 million, according to chief executive officer Alex Mhembere in the company's half-year financial results. The BMR project had previously been deferred outside the current five-year business plan.Zimbabwe's PGM matte sales generated US$1,5 billion in 2025, representing a 71 percent increase from the previous year. The surge was driven by a 26 percent rise in the PGM basket price, improved operational efficiencies and a strategic shift toward local beneficiation by producing matte rather than concentrates.Platinum remains Zimbabwe's second-largest export earner after gold, which generated over US$4 billion following record production of 46,7 tonnes. According to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, mineral exports excluding gold and silver reached US$3,4 billion in 2025, up 14 percent from 2024. Mining accounts for over 70 percent of Zimbabwe's export earnings and contributes between 12 and 16 percent of gross domestic product.Currently, Zimplats exports platinum matte to South Africa for further refining, limiting Zimbabwe's potential revenue streams, foreign currency inflows and employment opportunities. The BMR revival aligns with Government policy aimed at promoting beneficiation of PGMs, diamonds, gold and chrome to maximise value from finite mineral resources. Beneficiation is seen as central to Zimbabwe's ambition of attaining upper-middle-income status by 2030.Operationally, Zimplats reported improved performance in the half-year to December 2025. Mined volumes rose 7,69 percent to 4,2 million tonnes, while tonnes milled increased five percent to four million tonnes. Although mill head grade for the six elements (platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold, ruthenium and iridium) declined marginally, 6E metal production climbed 13 percent to 316 765 ounces.Revenue for the period surged 83 percent to US$641,8 million, driven by a 66 percent increase in average metal prices and higher sales volumes. Profit before tax jumped to US$203,4 million from US$8,9 million previously, while profit after tax reached US$143,7 million.Despite the strong results, the company did not declare an interim dividend, opting to preserve capital for strategic projects.Successful completion of the BMR upgrade could mark a significant turning point for Zimbabwe's platinum sector, strengthening domestic value addition and enhancing the country's position in the global PGM value chain.
The Undergraduate Student Congress recognized Womens History Month, revised its public relations committee and passed a resolution to protect chalking at its Tuesday meeting.

Chalking resolution

The news: Congress passed a resolution to protect chalking on campus. The protection ensured it will remain a legal activity and has no potential of being banned, according to the bill.

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Chalking is defined as the act of using chalk to display messages regarding events, meetings, and other information according to the bill. Chalking is used by student organizations to advertise events, announce meeting times and spread messages.

What theyre saying: Tatiana Esteva-Ingram, Graduate Student Senate external and legislative affairs committee vice chair, stated the purpose of the bill regarding the use of chalk on the universitys campus and its impact on student life.

Chalking is a pretty big part of campus living, regarding messaging from (registered student organizations)s,  Esteva-Ingram said. I always find looking at the chalk that it's nostalgic. I feel like it's, again, a really great way to interact with the communities.

Benjamin Fellman, Graduate Student Senate sustainability committee chair said OU had clear protections in place for chalking after it was banned at other universities. He said in order for chalking to be done, registered student organizations must submit requests to the university through Engage to be approved.

Many of the reasons why they decided to ban chalk was due to the inappropriate use of it. Now what we have at the University of Oklahoma are clear protections in place, Fellman said. We are not trying to do anything with regard to the rules and regulations that are in place, and that is clearly stated in our bill. But what we want to do is just ensure that chalking remains the fundamental thing that students can have access for.

The vote: Congress passed the resolution with a vote of 39-0-0.

Womens History Month resolution

The news: Congress passed a resolution recognizing March as Womens History Month. Additionally, it encouraged students to learn more about womens history and gender disparities.

What theyre saying: Associate Madilynn Sneller said the bill matters to her because of the women influences in her life, including her mother who is an OU alum.

The main reason that I select this bill, especially for Women's History Month, is women have been such a big part of my life in literally everything I do, Sneller said.

In the resolution, Sneller recognizes the accomplishments of women in the community. OU has an enrolled postgraduate population of 55.96% female students and awarded 7,577 degrees in which 53.5% were earned by women, according to the bill.

I know so many of you in this room, if not every single one of you, have owed something you've accomplished in your life to a woman, and if you're saying you don't, I know you're lying, Sneller said.

Sneller highlighted issues in her bill, such as gender violence, discrimination, pay gaps and healthcare discrimination.

The vote: Congress passed the resolution with a vote of 39-0-0.

SGA Public Relations Committee Revision Act

The news: Congress updated the Student Government Association Code Annotated to provide flexibility in public relations committee membership and structure.

In an effort to restructure membership, the director of communications was replaced by designee(s) appointed by the SGA president. The vice chair of public relations for the Crimson Leadership Association position was also removed.

The SGA chief of staff will coordinate the first meeting of the public relations committee each semester. Members of the public relations committee will conduct a majority vote in order to elect a chair. The chair shall be responsible for establishing meeting times, maintaining committee functions and may be removed by majority vote during a regularly scheduled meeting.

What theyre saying: Henry Christiansen, SGA chief of staff, said the purpose of the revision was to help the committee function better and give it more leadership.

Christiansen clarified that the public relations committee, as well as all of SGA, is still subject to the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act.

The vote: Congress passed the revision with a vote of 39-0-0.

Endometriosis Awareness Month resolution

The news: Congress passed a resolution recognizing March as Endometriosis Awareness Month and encouraged students to learn about and understand the condition.

What theyre saying: Kayla Hawley, Journalism and Mass Communication representative, said this resolution formally recognizes March as Endometriosis Awareness Month and explained what endometriosis is.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which tissue similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus and often affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis.

It is ranked as one of the most painful conditions that someone can have; it is a full-body condition, and has been found in every single organ, including the brain. It can take between four and 11 years to diagnose. For reference, I took seven years to get diagnosed, and that's considered by a lot of people, the only way to be formally diagnosed is through surgery, and there is no known cure, Hawley said.

Hawley said there is little funding, research or resources for endometriosis, so it is important to spread awareness.

The vote: Congress passed the resolution with a vote of 39-0-0.

This story was edited by Macey Thaxton.
Eco Guardian Receives $1.5 Million Grant from Ontario Government to Expand Packaging Production

The investment supports the expansion of Eco Guardian's manufacturing operations in Aurora, Ontario, to meet the growing demand for sustainable foodservice products. The investment supports the expansion of Eco Guardian's manufacturing operations in Aurora, Ontario, to meet the growing demand for sustainable foodservice products.

March 3, 2026 - Eco Guardian has received $1.5 million in funding from the Ontario government through the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) program. The investment supports the expansion of the company's manufacturing operations in Aurora, Ontario, to meet the growing demand for sustainable foodservice products.

The project will support the domestic manufacturing of paper-based foodservice packaging products, including hot and cold drink cups, food containers used for soup, ice cream, and other applications. This facility is equipped with advanced automation technology. At full capacity, the plant will be capable of producing 2 billion compostable and recyclable paper cups and food containers annually, significantly increasing Ontario's domestic production of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and reducing the reliance on imported packaging.

The expansion will enable Eco Guardian to scale high-volume local production and implement advanced manufacturing processes, resulting in the creation of up to 40 new skilled positions across manufacturing, operations, and technical functions.

Founded in 2004, Eco Guardian provides a wide range of compostable and recyclable packaging solutions for the foodservice, grocery, and retail sectors.

SOURCE: Eco Guardian
A 9-year-old boy in Plainfield, Illinois, suffered serious burns after trying a viral "hack" on TikTok that involves microwaving a NeeDoh sensory toy, prompting burn experts to warn families that heating gel-filled stress toys can cause them to rupture and spray scalding contents.

The child, Caleb Chabolla, was injured Jan. 20 after placing a NeeDoh toy in a microwave in an effort to make it softer and more pliable, according to Loyola Medicine and interviews with his family. In seconds, the toy burst, and a thick, gel-like substance stuck to his face and hands, his mother, Whitney Grubb, told ABC 7 Chicago.

Loyola Medicine said Caleb was transferred to the burn center at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for treatment, and that his vision was expected to be OK despite the burns being close to his eye, according to Parents.

Doctors at Loyola said the case reflects a broader pattern tied to social media challenges. Burn outreach coordinator Kelly McElligott said the injured children are not always the ones posting videos, and that clips can make dangerous behavior look harmless. Loyola Medicine also said Caleb was the fourth case the center had seen this year involving NeeDoh-related burns.

At the same time, Shriners Children's said it has treated patients at multiple locations for severe burns connected to the same trend, which encourages children to microwave gel-filled stress toys to make them more malleable, NBC News reported.

Dr. Alice Fagin warned that when these toys rupture, the hot gel can be sticky, cling to skin, and cause deeper burns, adding that "even 15 seconds in a microwave can raise the temperature to more than 200F." Shriners Children's emphasized that the injuries are linked to misuse, heating toys that were not designed to be heated, rather than a product defect.

Hospitals and burn specialists are urging parents to talk with children about online trends, supervise younger kids around appliances, and read toy safety warnings carefully.

Shriners Children's advises that if a child suffers a scald burn, caregivers should remove the child from the hot substance, take off clothing near the injury, cool the area with cool tap water (not ice), and seek medical care, calling 911 if needed.

Caleb and his mother said they hope sharing his experience will discourage other children from copying risky "challenges" without asking an adult first, as per ABC7.
The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily cleared the way for California parents to be told if their child identifies as transgender or changes gender expression at school, even when the student does not consent.

In a 6-3 order issued on March 2, the justices revived an injunction from a San Diego federal judge that had been put on hold by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

The ruling halts enforcement of a new California law that barred school districts from adopting policies requiring staff to notify parents when a student changes names, pronouns, or gender presentation at school, according to the Los Angeles Times. The order applies while the underlying case continues in the lower courts and does not represent a final decision on the merits.

The case centers on state "student privacy" rules and guidance that directed schools to treat a child's gender identity as confidential information unless the student agreed to tell their parents.

Parents and teachers, represented by the Thomas More Society, argued that these policies violated parents' constitutional right to direct the upbringing of their children and infringed teachers' free speech and religious rights.

The Supreme Court majority said the challengers are likely to succeed on claims that the policies unlawfully prevent parents from learning about a child's gender transition at school, EdWeek reported.

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez previously ruled that parents "have a federal constitutional right to be informed if their public school student child expresses gender incongruence," and that teachers and staff have a right to provide accurate information to parents.

His decision barred school districts from instructing employees to conceal a student's gender identity from parents, from "misleading" parents about a child's gender presentation, or from using different pronouns with parents than are used at school. The 9th Circuit had stayed that ruling, but the Supreme Court's latest action restores key parts of his injunction.

California officials have defended their approach, saying state law does not categorically forbid disclosure of gender identity information and emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable students.

In a February letter, the state education department said gender support plans remain subject to parent inspection under federal student privacy law, and the state has also sued the U.S. Education Department over related federal guidance.

Advocates for LGBTQ+ students warn that forced disclosure could put some children at risk in unsupportive homes, while parental rights groups are hailing the order as a major victory.

Legal experts note that the order marks a significant moment in the national fight over school gender policies and parental notification, but leaves many questions unresolved. The case will return to the lower courts for full briefing and argument, and other challenges in different states are moving forward, meaning the Court may be asked to take up the issue again in a future term, as per USA Today.
News / National

by Thobekile Zhou

Former MDC-T Treasurer General Elton Mangoma has been detained by police over unclear circumstances, his party has said.Mangoma, who is represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) board chair Beatrice Mtetwa, reported at Harare Central Police Station around 9:30 am and was interrogated by Inspector Mandizha before he was locked up.Mangoma was arrested for allegedly flouting tender procedures when he served as energy minister two years ago.Party national spokesperson, Jacob Mufume said, "The police at it again they detained Elton Mangoma the Treasurer General of the Renewal Team on frivolous charges without any basis at all," he said."We as a party and a society condemn the partisan use of the police to enhance sectoral and partisan agendas."The police seem to have a sadistic desire to detain people in their lice infested cells."They have designed their own form of pre-trial punishment that is both unconstitutional and primitive."Mufume said the party condemn the move by the police and the continued criminalization of opposition politics in Zimbabwe."Our prayers and thoughts are with him during this trying time."The Mangoma we know and love will not be bowed by these ghastly and cowardly acts by a regime whose sell by date has since gone by the courage to act differently."
Laman Ismayilova



The project "In the Footsteps of Heroes" implemented with financial support from the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation and organized by the ASAN Volunteers, has successfully concluded, AzerNEWS reports.

On the first day of the project, participants visited key historical and military sites in Baku, including Ganimetler Park, Victory Park, the Azerbaijan Museum of Military History, and the Independence Museum.

During the excursion, the youth received detailed information on the historical significance of Azerbaijan's victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, as well as the military equipment and weapons on display. Through archival materials, documents, and exhibits, participants gained in-depth knowledge of key stages in the country's independence and military history. The visit also included discussions with the youth, answers to their questions, and detailed explanations of important historical facts.

On the second day of the project, participants met with reservist military personnelWarrant Officer Sarkhan Abbasov and Chief Lieutenant Alik Yusifov of the Naval Forces.

During the meeting, the servicemen shared insights into their military service, operations in which they participated, challenges they faced, and the experience they gained. They stressed the importance of loyalty to the homeland, teamwork, discipline, and moral preparation, offering advice and guidance to the young participants.

The event continued in an interactive format, allowing volunteers to ask questions and gain firsthand information about real combat experiences.

The main goal of the project was to foster patriotism among young people, strengthen their connection to Azerbaijan's history, national and spiritual values, and military heritage, and cultivate a sense of civic responsibility.
SYDNEY  Four days after Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada supports the U.S. actions in Iran, he said that support comes "with regret," as they demonstrated the continued decline of the rules-based international order.

Taking questions from reporters for the first time since the U.S. strikes began on Saturday, Carney also said it appears the strikes broke international law.

"We were not informed in advance, we were not asked to participate," Carney told reporters travelling with him in Australia. "Prima facie, it appears that these actions are inconsistent with international law."

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Carney was speaking on Wednesday morning in Sydney and Tuesday afternoon in Ottawa.

This past weekend, Carney broke with most European allies by unequivocally endorsing American strikes on Iran, which have since been joined by Israel.

"Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from threatening international peace and security," Carney said in a speech at the Canada-India Growth and Investment Forum in Mumbai on Saturday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who was with Carney in India on the weekend, told a business luncheon in Toronto on Tuesday about the discussion with Carney that led to Canada's initial statement, shortly after it got word of the attacks. "I was actually in a room with my deputy minister and some members of his team, and then he came in, and we had the conversation about our approach," she said.

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Anand noted Canada has not had diplomatic relations with Iran for 15 years because of human rights abuses and state-sponsored terrorism, and that 18 months ago, Canada declared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist entity.

"So we had a very strongly held view that was really in place last June during the 12-day war that has at its foundation that nuclear. Proliferation by Iran is unacceptable. At the same time, we want to make sure that we are standing for civilian lives and civilian infrastructure that is necessary to preserve those lives."

Some Liberal MPs challenged Canada's support for the war, saying Canada must stand up for the protection of civilians and territorial sovereignty even when it involves adversarial states.

In Australia, Carney said that while Washington proceeded without engaging with the United Nations, the U.S. is responding to serious, repeated violations of international law by the Iranian regime. Now that the military operation has begun, Carney said he supports efforts to end Iran's nuclear program and its decades-long program of state-sponsored terrorism.

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"We would not have been in a position ... to take a judgment that met our standards if we had been asked to participate. We weren't. We haven't made that formal judgment. It's for others to make those judgments," Carney said.

"We were dealing with the world as it is."

The prime minister added that the U.S. and Israel must "respect the rules of international engagement" and called on Iran to stop its strikes against civilians across the Middle East.

Global Affairs Canada says more than 97,000 Canadians are registered in the Middle East.

They include a group of 16 Queens University students and one faculty member. The university says they're safe in Doha after trying to make a connecting flight in Qatar following a biology field course in Sri Lanka.

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"The situation is very volatile and very real, in terms of the potential for human life to be lost across the region, and that is our main concern, always," Anand told the Toronto Region Board of Trade on Tuesday.

"We would like to play a role in the cessation of hostilities and the diplomatic resolution to the future result between these countries. It is a role that we are seeking to continually play.

Anand said Tuesday she had asked Oman for permission to access its airspace "if necessary, for Canadian citizens to get out." She noted Oman still had "viable" airspace as of Tuesday morning.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it was preparing military and charter flights for Americans who want to leave the Middle East, a move followed by some other nations.

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Anand's office said the minister is urging Canadians to leave the region on their own means. It said there is no current plan for Ottawa to co-ordinate evacuations, either by chartering commercial airlines or using military aircraft.

Anand said she has been in touch with multiple foreign ministers from the Persian Gulf and broader Middle East to ensure "that there are possibilities for Canadians to have supports in those countries."

Earlier Tuesday, Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canadian military personnel in the Middle East were out of harms way. When he was asked how many Canadian military personnel are in the region, the minister said, "Some."

"They are all fine, out of harm's way, and it's something that we're watching very carefully," McGuinty told reporters in Sydney, Australia, where he was on an official visit with Prime Minister Carney.

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His department would not offer any more detail.

"Due to operational security imperatives, we will not provide a breakdown on the specific locations and number of Canadian Armed Forces personnel in the region at this time," wrote department spokesman Kened Sadiku.

The Department of National Defence has previously listed the number of Canadian personnel stationed at an American airbase in Qatar, and its soldiers have been posted recently to Kuwait and Bahrain.

Carney spoke Tuesday with Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and thanked him for protecting at least 24,500 Canadians in that country, which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

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McGuinty said the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a positive development.

"Ayatollah Khamenei has been for many, many decades a very, very powerful force for evil in Iran and in the region," he said.

Anand has said it would require "regime change" in Iran for Canada to re-establish the diplomatic relations that a previous government severed in 2012.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2026.

 With files from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa, and Maan Alhmidi and Rianna Lim in Toronto.

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press
Want to go?

Want to go?

WHAT: Harness Races

WHEN: Saturday, March 7, gates open at 9 a.m., first race is noon

WHERE: McGhees Mile, 620 Banks Mill Road S.E.

COST: $30 in advance or $35 at the gate; parking is $5.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 803-617-8511.
Aiken, SC (29801)

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Foggy early, then partly cloudy later in the day. High 81F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.
Veeam Launches Agent Commander to Help Detect Enterprise AI Risk

Key Takeaways Agent Commander is Veeam's first integration following its acquisition of Securiti AI, combining data resilience and AI risk intelligence.

The platform is designed to detect AI risk, enforce real-time controls and surgically reverse AI-driven actions.

Early access is available, with demos and video resources supporting the launch.

Veeam Software has introduced Agent Commander, a new platform designed to help enterprises detect AI risk, protect AI systems, and undo AI mistakes.

The launch marks the first integration stemming from Veeam's acquisition of Securiti AI. Agent Commander combines Veeam's data resilience capabilities with Securiti AI's Data Command Center to provide unified visibility and control across data, identities and AI agents. According to Veeam, the platform is intended to close what it describes as the most critical gap in AI infrastructure: trust.

"AI happens at machine speed, which means organizations must understand what data is being used, by what agent, and how in real time. If an error occurs, organizations not only need to understand what data was impacted, but they also need the ability to undo any damage rapidly," said Anand Eswaran, CEO of Veeam. "With Agent Commander, organizations know what data is powering AI, and it gives them the power to detect, protect, and, when necessary, undo AI actions with speed and precision."

Veeam said enterprise AI controls are currently fragmented across separate protection, security, governance, and recovery systems, leaving gaps in visibility and response at AI's operational speed. Agent Commander is positioned as a unified control plane that converges data resilience, data security, and AI risk management into a single operational system.

3 Core Capabilities

At the core of Agent Commander is Veeam's Data Command Graph, described as a real-time relational intelligence engine that maps connections between data, identities, AI models and autonomous agents across production and backup environments.

Veeam said the platform delivers three primary capabilities:

Detect AI Risk with Context  Identify shadow AI, sensitive data exposure, and risky agent behavior, with visibility into downstream impact across systems and environments.

 Identify shadow AI, sensitive data exposure, and risky agent behavior, with visibility into downstream impact across systems and environments. Protect AI Pipelines Autonomously  Enforce granular, real-time controls across data, identities, and AI agents, independent of model providers or cloud platforms.

 Enforce granular, real-time controls across data, identities, and AI agents, independent of model providers or cloud platforms. Undo AI Mistakes with Precision  Surgically reverse unwanted AI actions using context-aware recovery without reverting entire systems.

Rehan Jalil, president of Products & Technology at Veeam, said unified contextual intelligence is required to manage AI risk. "Controlling AI risk is effectively impossible in siloed environments or without deep contextual intelligence across data, permissions, and autonomous agents. Agent Commander unifies control across production and backup to detect toxic combinations, enforce granular policy, and precisely reverse AI-driven actions. This is the foundation required to operate AI safely at enterprise scale."

The announcement also included commentary from technology research and advisory group Omdia. "Veeam's announcement provides a clear roadmap for integrating capabilities and delivering enhanced solutions to organizations securing their data and AI estates," said Todd Thiemann, principal analyst, AIM & Data Security at Omdia.

Agent Commander will be available in a future release of the Securiti Data Command Center. Organizations can apply for early access at this page. Veeam has also published a supporting video overview and a video of an interactive demo.

For more information, visit the Veeam site.
Editor

Zoe Nicholson is the editor of Free Times, covering culture and city life. She is a South Carolina native and graduate of the University of South Carolina. She has previously covered higher education, local government, business and education in the South.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

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Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Charleston, SC (29403)

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Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Areas of dense fog. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Charleston, SC (29403)

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Areas of fog early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Areas of dense fog. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Rock Hill, SC (29730)

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Areas of patchy fog early. Cloudy early, becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. High 79F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-04 03:40:17

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Ad-hoc Release pursuant to Article 17 Market Abuse RegulationNOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.Aroundtown SA announces Voluntary Public Acquisition Offer for up to 47,451,773 shares of Grand City Properties S.A., publishes Consolidated Financial Report for Financial Year 2025, and proposes Dividend Payment combined with updated Dividend PolicyLUXEMBOURG CITY, GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG / ACCESS Newswire / March 3, 2026 / The board of directors of Aroundtown SA ("Aroundtown") has resolved to offer to the shareholders of Grand City Properties S.A. ("Grand City Properties") to acquire up to 47,451,773 shares of Grand City Properties by way of a voluntary public acquisition offer in the form of an exchange offer (the "Offer"). Aroundtown will offer 4 existing shares of Aroundtown held in treasury as consideration in exchange for 1 tendered share of Grand City Properties. The shares of Aroundtown exchanged for shares of Grand City Properties will carry the dividend rights from January 1, 2025. The Offer will be neither subject to the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act nor the Luxembourg Takeover Act. The Offer will be limited to the maximum holding of up to 89.5% of the share capital of GCP (including the shares held prior to the Offer) and not subject to any minimum acceptance threshold or other conditions. In case tendered shares together with the existing shareholding exceed the maximum offer volume, all tendered shares will be scaled back on a prorata basis. The Offer is expected to conclude by beginning of April. The final terms of the Offer will be set forth in the full offer document to be published in the coming days.Further, Aroundtown publishes the consolidated financial report for the financial year ended on December 31, 2025 on March 4, 2026, i.e. earlier than announced in Aroundtown's previous communication.Moreover, the board of directors of Aroundtown has resolved to propose to the next annual general meeting which is scheduled for June 24, 2026, to approve the distribution of a dividend relating to the financial year 2025 in an amount of EUR 0.08 (gross) per share. Any GCP shares tendered in the Offer will be fully eligible for the dividend. This proposal marks the reinstatement of a dividend proposal from the board of directors of Aroundtown since its last dividend proposal in respect of the financial year 2021. Going forward, Aroundtown has updated its dividend payout policy from 2026 onward to 50% of FFO 1 per share.Important informationThis announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation to purchase Aroundtown or Grand City Properties shares. The final terms and further provisions regarding the Offer will be in the offer document. Investors and holders of Grand City Properties shares are strongly recommended to read the offer document and all other documents in connection with the Offer as soon as they are published, as they will contain important information.Subject to the exceptions described in the offer document and any exceptions granted by the relevant regulatory authorities, an Offer is not being made directly or indirectly, in or into those jurisdictions where to do so would constitute a violation pursuant to the laws of such jurisdiction.In particular, the Aroundtown shares that are intended to be transferred to Grand City Properties shareholders as consideration (the "Offer Shares") have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the securities laws of any state, district or other jurisdiction of the United States of America. The Offer Shares may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, to Grand City Properties shareholders located in the United States of America (the "U.S. Shareholders"), or to agents, nominees, trustees, custodians or other persons acting for the account or benefit of U.S. Shareholders, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.The Offer Document was neither submitted to nor approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Offer is being made with respect to U.S. Shareholders pursuant to Regulation 14E under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") in reliance on certain exemptions available for cross-border tender offers pursuant to Rule 14d-1(d). These exemptions permit a bidder to satisfy certain United States substantive and procedural Exchange Act rules governing tender offers by complying with home jurisdiction law or practice and exempts the bidder from compliance with certain other rules of the Exchange Act. As a result, the Offer is made in accordance with the applicable regulatory, disclosure and procedural requirements under German and Luxembourg law to the extent applicable, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments, that are different from those applicable under United States domestic tender offer procedures and law. The Offer will result in the acquisition of securities of a Luxembourg company and is subject to German and Luxembourg disclosure requirements, which differ from those of the United States. The financial information included or referred to in the offer documentation has been prepared in accordance with non-U.S. accounting standards and, accordingly, may not be comparable to financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulation, and in accordance with German market practice, Aroundtown or its brokers may purchase, or conclude agreements to purchase, Grand City Properties shares, directly or indirectly, outside of the scope of the Offer, before, during or after the acceptance period. This applies to other securities that are directly convertible into, exchangeable for, or exercisable for Grand City Properties shares. These purchases may be completed via the stock exchange at market prices or outside the stock exchange at negotiated conditions. Any information on such purchases will be disclosed as required by law or regulation in Germany or any other relevant jurisdiction and will also be published on the internet website of Aroundtown under www.aroundtown.de/investor-relations . To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Germany, such information also will be deemed to be publicly discl
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-04 19:20:22

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PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 /Arya Therapy Center of New Jersey recently welcomed community members, healthcare professionals, and local organizations to an open house event at its new location at 4390 U.S. Route 1, Suite 200 in Princeton.The event offered guests the opportunity to tour the facility, meet the leadership team, and learn more about the structured outpatient mental health programs that will soon be available as the center prepares to begin services pending final state licensing approval.Arya Therapy Center of New Jersey operates within the broader Advanced Health Alliance behavioral health organization, which supports several treatment centers focused on expanding access to mental health and addiction recovery services.Guests at the open house were introduced to the leadership team responsible for developing the Princeton program and guiding clinical operations.The team includes:Joseph Simonelli - Chief Executive OfficerJesse Thompson - Chief Development OfficerRobert Bruno - Admissions DirectorJodi Pultorak - Clinical DirectorJennifer Moore - Operations DirectorMichael Macdonald - Human ResourcesTogether, the team brings experience across behavioral healthcare, clinical treatment, admissions coordination, and program operations.Once licensing is finalized, Arya Therapy Center of New Jersey plans to offer structured outpatient mental health programs including:Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)Outpatient mental health servicesThese programs are designed for adults and young adults who require more support than traditional outpatient therapy but do not need inpatient hospitalization.The Princeton location will focus on helping individuals experiencing challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and other behavioral health conditions through individualized treatment plans and structured clinical programming.The open house also allowed Arya Therapy Center to begin building relationships with local therapists, healthcare providers, and community organizations interested in strengthening mental health services throughout Mercer County and surrounding areas.About Arya Therapy Center of New JerseyArya Therapy Center of New Jersey provides structured outpatient mental health treatment for adults and young adults.The center operates within Advanced Health Alliance, which supports several behavioral health programs including:Advanced Therapy CenterAdvanced Addiction CenterArya Therapy CenterArya Therapy NJ (opening soon in Princeton, NJ)The organization focuses on delivering individualized treatment programs designed to help individuals build stability, strengthen coping skills, and improve long-term mental wellness.For more information, visit: https://aryatherapynj.com Media Contact:Joseph SimonelliCEOAdvanced Health Alliance781-679-5454 Rbruno@ advancedtherapyma.com SOURCE: Advanced Health Alliance
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-04 08:30:11

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TURKU, FI / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Faron Pharmaceuticals (HEL:FARON)(LSE:FARN) - Continued steady progress with bexmarilimab and solidifying position as a leading macrophage based immunotherapy under developmentFigures in parentheses refer to the corresponding period of previous year, unless otherwise indicated. The gures in this financial statements release are audited unless otherwise indicated.January-December 2025 highlightsIn 2025 Faron presented as an oral presentation the results of its BEXMAB Phase I/II trial at ASCO, EHA, ESMO and ASH congresses. Efficacy results are among the highest ever reported in HR-MDS prospective trials.During the spring 2025 Faron received a positive opinion on orphan drug designation for bexmarilimab for the treatment of MDS by EMA and also the FDA granted an orphan drug designation for bexmarilimab in HR MDS.Faron held an End of Phase 2 (EOP2) meeting with the FDA in the end of the summer and received positive and valuable feedback on its clinical development plan.Faron strengthened its financial position by carrying out a significantly oversubscribed private placement of newly issued treasury shares, raising gross proceeds of EUR 12 million in total in the beginning of the year 2025. April, Faron entered into an up to EUR 35 million unsecured convertible bond arrangement with Heights Capital Management Inc. ("HCM") and repaid its secured loan to IPF Partners. Faron issued first tranche of bonds with a principal amount of EUR 15 million simultaneously and in December Faron issued the EUR 10 million second tranche of the convertible bonds.Faron's other operating income was EUR 1.3 (0) millionR&D expenses were EUR 12.7 (11.7) millionOperating loss for the reporting period was EUR 19.0 (18.7) millionLoss per share was EUR 0.24 (0.29)On 31 December 2025, cash and cash equivalents were EUR 12.3 (9.5) millionNet assets were EUR -18.5 (-9.8) millionThe Companys comprehensive loss for the period was EUR 27,191,954. The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting 2025 not to pay dividend.The Annual General Meeting 2025 appointed Dr. Juho Jalkanen and Mr. Colin Bond as new members to the Board of Directors of Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd.Mr. Jurriaan Dekkers was appointed as the Company's Chief Financial Officer as of 1 December 2025 as the previous Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Yrjo Wichmann, will retire.Significant events after the reporting periodIn January, the Company announced that the Board had approved the exercise of 453,979 special rights entitling to 453,979 existing treasury shares, for an aggregate subscription price of EUR 846,943.22. This exercise was linked to the advanced amortisation payment of the First Tranche Bonds. In February, the Company approved the exercise of 909,517 Special Rights entitling to 909,517 new Shares, for an aggregate subscription price of EUR 1,549,998.87. This exercise was linked to the scheduled amortisation of the First and Second Tranche Bonds. Following the registration, the Company continues to have 3,688,699 shares in treasury and therefore, the total number of voting rights in Faron is 115,783,961.On 9 February 2026, the Company announced its plan to conduct a rights issue to raise gross proceeds of approximately EUR 40 million.Faron held an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (EGM) on 2 March 2026.The EGM authorised the Board of Directors to issue up to 80,000,000 new shares and to resolve on all other terms and conditions of the rights offering, including the subscription and payment period and the grounds for determining the subscription price.Consolidated key figures, IFRSEUR '000 unless otherwise indicated7-12/2025(unaudited)6 months7-12/2024(unaudited)6 months1-12/2025(audited)12 months1-12/2024(audited)12 monthsOther operating income1,3081,308Research and development expenses(5,540)(5,082)(12,655)(11,744)General and administrative expenses(2,818)(2,301)(7,612)(6,929)Operating loss for the reporting period(7,050)(7,383)(18,959)(18,673)Loss per share, EUR(0.07)(0.11)(0.24)(0.29)Number of shares at end of period114,420,465104,624,864114,420,465104,624,864Average number of shares112,574,382104,624,864111,718,21988,518,654Unaudited 30 June 2025Unaudited 30 June 202431 December 202531 December 2024Cash and cash equivalents13,53229,97912,3179,503Equity(16,246)1,379(18,507)(9,762)Balance sheet total16,20435,46017,17212,521Outlook for 2026Due to the nature of Faron Pharmaceuticals' business, the Company does not provide a short-term outlook.CEO Statement"In 2025, we continued to make steady progress in advancing our lead asset bexmarilimab and solidifying our leading position as a macrophage based immunotherapy. Throughout the year, we achieved significant clinical and regulatory milestones and presented continuously improving data from the BEXMAB trial in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR MDS), demonstrating the potential of bexmarilimab to overcome treatment resistance in areas of high unmet need.Increasingly convincing data from the bexmarilimab programIn January 2025, we identified the final patient for the BEXMAB Phase II trial in relapsed/refractory (r/r) MDS, as well as the Phase I/II study in frontline HR MDS. Consequently, we were able to announce the topline response rate read-out in April. The readout confirmed earlier positive findings in both frontline and r/r MDS, showing a high overall response rate (ORR) and median overall survival. We were honoured to present these results at the ASCO Annual Meeting 2025 in June.While April's data set was already one of the strongest ever seen in treatment-resistant MDS, the data only continued to improve as the year progressed. In June, we presented updated Phase II data at the EHA 2025 Congress. In October, we presented new data at ESMO 2025, highlighting bexmarilimab's ability to modulate the bone marrow microenvironment and clear complex cytogenetics even in low blast count patients, further strengthening the clinical profile of bexmarilimab in HR MDS. Finally, in December, we presented BEXMAB data at ASH 2025, showing deep and durable responses in treatment-naive HR MDS.The acceptance of our results for oral presentations at these prestigious events reflects the scientific progress and interest we have been able to generate toward bexmarilimab. This continued momentum reinforces our conviction that bexmarilimab holds real promise as a much-needed therapeutic option for patients with HR MDS.Po
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-04 20:31:05

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Firm Represents Victims Linked to Investigation Involving Former Canyon Springs High School Assistant PrincipalLAS VEGAS, NEVADA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / A Las Vegas sexual assault lawyer from H&P Law is representing students and families after a widely reported sexual misconduct case at Canyon Springs High School in North Las Vegas.The firm now helps several people who say they were harmed, and itslegal teamis speaking with other families who may have questions or information.According to media reports, Hearley Smith, a former Clark County School District (CCSD) assistant principal, was arrested after claims of sexual misconduct with a student at the school located at 350 E. Alexander Road in North Las Vegas.The criminal case is still ongoing, and the court has not made final decisions.Civil Representation Focused on Survivors and FamiliesFamilies can learn about legal options related to school safety and how the school handled the situation. Some people may come forward after learning that others had similar experiences.Many of these talks begin with a private consultation. Speaking with a lawyer from H&P Law does not mean someone has to file a lawsuit.Civil cases often look at whether rules were followed and whether students were protected. These cases may move forward while the criminal case continues in court.Allegations Raise Questions About School OversightMedia outlets report that investigators looked into claims of inappropriate contact between Smith and a student. News reports describe meetings that may have happened in office spaces and possible grooming behavior.Smith resigned from his position in March 2025. He is no longer allowed on Canyon Springs' campus. A North Las Vegas sexual abuse attorney with the firm says civil cases may also look at whether school policies were followed and whether warning signs were missed.Encouraging Others With Information to Seek GuidanceMany survivors of sexual abuse are nervous about speaking up because they feel scared or embarrassed. Talking with an attorney at H&P Law helps people learn about their options and does not force anyone to take legal action.The firm continues to review new information and asks anyone who may know of similar conduct connected to the school to reach out for a private and confidential conversation.About H&P LawH&P Lawhelps survivors and families across Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. The firm is known for its courtroom experience and for standing up for people who are hurt.Attorneys work closely with each client, keep communication clear, and help hold wrongdoers responsible. H&P Law handles cases involving schools, organizations, and people accused of misconduct.The team uses its legal experience to support clients while they move through hard situations. For more information or to set up a free and private consultation,contact H&P Law directly .Media Contact:Bre'Ahn BrooksH&P Law(702) 996-3651 clientservices@ courtroomproven.comcourtroomproven.com SOURCE: H&P Law
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-04 22:00:21

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Paragon Announces Final Resolution of Legacy Litigation Liabilities Created by Prior BoardEASTON, PENNSYLVANIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Paragon Technologies, Inc. (OTCID:PGNT) (Paragon' or the Company') today announced that it has resolved all legacy litigation liabilities arising from the litigation concerning entrenchment actions taken by a prior board of directors at the recommendation of certain prior counsel.The litigation stemmed from a series of self-serving governance measures enacted by the former board at the recommendation of certain prior counsel, including disenfranchising bylaw amendment. Those actions were successfully challenged in defense of Paragon's stockholders.All liabilities and expenses related to this litigation have been fully paid and will be reflected in the Company's 2025 annual financial results which will be publicly available in the coming weeks. "The independent directors worked hard to minimize such legacy liabilities and believe they have achieved a very meaningful and responsible outcome for stockholders," said Sham Gad, CEO of Paragon Technologies. Gad continued, "the Company has put legacy issues behind it and remains intensely focused on resuming its growth strategy." About Paragon TechnologiesParagon Technologies, Inc. is a holding company owning subsidiaries that engage in diverse business activities, including material handling, distribution, real estate and investments.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements concern the Company's operations, financial condition and performance and are based largely on the Company's beliefs and expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others, those related to: general economic conditions, including those in the markets in which the Company operates; the Company's ability to expand its revenue streams; technological changes in the Company's industry; the continued acceptance of the Company's distribution channel by vendors and customers; decreased demand for the Company's products and services and the Company's ability to retain or replace its significant customers; factors affecting the capital markets and share prices generally; economic and political risks of selling products in foreign countries, including risks of non-compliance with U.S. and foreign laws and regulations; cybersecurity risks and risks of damage and interruptions of information technology systems; and the Company's ability to complete acquisitions, strategic investments, divestitures, mergers or other transactions on acceptable terms or at all. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can management assess the impact of all such factors on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All statements in this press release other than statements that are purely historical are forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.For further information, contact the company at ir@ pgntgroup.com SOURCE: Paragon Technologies Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-04 19:20:27

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ST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Nearly 90 credit union professionals and industry partners gathered at The Lodge Des Peres for the St. Louis Chapter of Credit Unions' annual Leadership Breakfast, an event designed to foster collaboration and provide timely insights for credit union leaders. Representatives from 15 credit unions across the St. Louis metropolitan area, along with vendors and partners, participated in this year's program.Kathleen Navin, Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, served as the keynote speaker, offering an engaging and informative overview of the current economic landscape and its implications for credit unions and their members. Navin addressed several timely topics, including:National economic trends influencing households, communities, and local businessesConsumer spending expectations for 2026Impacts of the recent government shutdownOngoing pressures in the housing market, including elevated prices and limited inventoryLabor market shifts pointing toward a stabilizing "low hiring-low firing" environmentHer analysis provided valuable context for Credit Union Leaders as they navigate evolving economic conditions and plan for the year ahead.The Chapter also recognized and thanked Millennium Corporate Credit Union for generously sponsoring the event and networking breakfast, helping make the annual gathering possible.***About the STL Chapter of Credit UnionsSince its humble beginnings in 1953, The St. Louis Chapter of Credit Unions exists to promote cooperation among credit unions through educational opportunities, advocacy efforts, and engaging events. We seek to demonstrate the "credit union difference" throughout the region as we live out the philosophy of people helping people.We believe that everyone should have access to affordable banking solutions that strengthen their families and our communities. Credit unions are the solution - our ability to cooperate and collaborate is our strength.Jesie Wildhaber, St. Louis Chapter Public Relations/ jwildhaber@1 stmocu.org SOURCE: St. Louis Chapter of Credit Unions
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-04 20:15:15

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BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / The EDGE, a construction takeoff & estimating solution developed by Estimating Edge, has been recognized by Software Advice with multiple 2026 Best Customer Support awards across multiple construction-focused categories.The recognitions include:2026 Software Advice Best Customer Support for Construction2026 Software Advice Best Customer Support for Roofing2026 Software Advice Best Customer Support for Construction EstimatingSoftware Advice's Best Customer Support awards highlight software solutions that receive consistently strong feedback from verified users regarding responsiveness, product knowledge and overall support experience.In specialty construction, estimating software must support complex assemblies, trade-specific workflows and high bid volumes. The EDGE's recognition reflects verified user feedback on both the strength of its estimating capabilities and the expertise of the team supporting contractors throughout implementation and daily use.Dave Chapman, Sales Director at Estimating Edge, emphasized the importance of that support, stating, "Delivering responsive, knowledgeable guidance is essential in estimating, where tight bid deadlines leave little room for error. These awards reflect our team's commitment to helping contractors use The EDGE effectively, build confident estimates and stay competitive as their workload grows." For contractors evaluating estimating platforms, recognition based on verified user reviews offers additional assurance that a solution delivers value beyond core features.To learn more about The EDGE for specialty contractors, visit estimatingedge.com About Estimating Edge Estimating Edge, a Foundation Software company, has been a trusted provider of commercial construction takeoff and estimating software for the roofing, concrete, fireproofing, interior and exterior finishing trades for more than 30 years. For more information, visit www.estimatingedge.com or call (844) 334-3378.Media ContactsTracie Kuczkowski | VP of Marketingtak@ foundationsoft.com (800) 246-0800 x 7933Samantha Ann Illius | Marketing Relations Coordinator and Influence SpecialistSIllius@ foundationsoft.com (800) 8115926 x 4823Partners - Foundation SoftwareSOURCE: Estimating Edge
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-04 22:30:18

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Fifth-Largest Conveyor Car Wash Celebrates Opening of Twenty-Fourth Alabama Location with Free WashesTHOMASTON, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing car wash companies, is pleased to announce the grand opening of itsBirmingham, ALlocation at1901 20th Avenue South , across from Vulcan Park and Museum.To celebrate the grand opening with the community, the brand-new Birmingham location is offering twelve days of free premium car washes from March 4 to March 15. This limited-time promotion lets customers experience the company's premium wash option,Graph-X4 + Super Shammy , at no cost. Additionally, any new customer who joins a Tidal WaveClean Clubunlimited wash membership during the Grand Opening celebration will get the first month of any unlimited wash plan for $9.97, for savings of up to $40."We are excited to join the vibrant Birmingham community this week," said Tidal Wave Auto Spa founder and CEO Scott Blackstock. "This location is built with industry-leading technology and designed to provide every customer with an exceptional wash, every time. Our team is eager to share the Tidal Wave car wash experience with the community during the grand opening celebrations and for years to come." Birmingham, AL Location : 1901 20th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35209Nearby Locations:Hoover ,Helena ,Sylacauga ,TuscaloosaTidal Wave Auto Spa is proud to invest in the communities it calls home, having donated more than $8 million to charitable organizations across the country. In celebration of its Birmingham opening, Tidal Wave is honored to serve as a sponsor of the upcoming Bell Center 5K & Children's Run on Saturday, March 14, further demonstrating its commitment to supporting local families and meaningful community initiatives.Tidal Wave proudly serves customers at309 express wash locationsacross the United States, includingtwenty-four Alabama locations . The company plans to continue its growth in Alabama, with brand-newTuscaloosaandMontgomerylocations opening later this year.Tidal Wave Auto Spais committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and welcoming locations, and friendly customer service. With single wash options starting at $15, unlimited car wash memberships and family plans, and fleet plans for businesses, Tidal Wave delivers wash options to fit every need.For additional information about Tidal Wave Auto Spa, including upcoming openings, fleet plans, our fundraising program and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/ About Tidal Wave Auto SpaTidal Wave Auto Spa was founded over 20 years ago in Thomaston, GA, by husband and wife, Scott and Hope Blackstock. What started as a small-town self-service car wash business evolved into the first conveyor car wash open in Georgia and is now the fifth-largest conveyor car wash company in the nation, with 309 locations spanning 30 states. Tidal Wave is dedicated to delivering an exceptional car wash experience for every customer through industry-leading car care technology, clean and inviting locations, and outstanding customer service. The company is equally committed to making a positive difference in the communities it serves, raising over $8 million for local programs, service organizations, and non-profit organizations through its fundraising program and annual Charity Day event.Contact Information:media@ tidalwaveautospa.com SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto Spa
The federal government has issued new presumptive tax rules for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria, saying the new move makes compliance simpler and makes a clear pathway into the formal economy.

The new tax regulation was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.

The Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which aimed to improve tax compliance, modernise and unify the tax system, earlier came into effect on 1 January.

On Wednesday, the finance minister noted that while there are no tax rate increases, the new framework will protect millions of MSMEs across the 36 states and the FCT in the country from unfair tax assessments.

Micro and small businesses are the backbone of Nigerias economy. This framework reduces compliance costs and provides a structured pathway into the formal sector.

Our fiscal strategy is anchored on expanding the tax base rather than increasing tax rates. Inclusion drives sustainability, Mr Edun stated.

According to the minister, the presumptive tax regulations will replace complex records with turnover-band assessments for small businesses, eliminate discretionary enforcement with clear, national rules, and open the door to credit, insurance, and growth for informal enterprises across the country.

READ ALSO: Qatar announces arrest of suspected Iranian spies

Mr Edun explained that the new tax move is part of the governments strategic pillars in driving the countrys economy, which includes strengthening fiscal sustainability beyond oil dependency and ensuring structured entry into the formal economy for traders, artisans, and service providers.

He added that the strategic pillar of the new tax move includes making federal and state tax administrations aligned via the Joint Revenue Board and demonstrates reform execution to investors, partners, and credit rating agencies.

A stronger, more diversified revenue base enhances the governments capacity to fund infrastructure, social investment, security and economic growth, the minister said.
Union Dicon Salt Plc has revealed that it has been unable to establish contact with its biggest shareholder, Aims Limited, despite making several attempts to reach the firm.

The company announced the break in communication with Aims Limited on Tuesday, in a statement posted on NGX Group, and signed by its secretary, Alfred James.

The salt producer explained that Aims Limited holds a 40 per cent stake in the company, representing N64 million in issued shares, but repeated attempts to establish contact with the firm proved abortive.

In line with the provisions of 17.5 Rule book of the Exchange 2015 (Issuers Rules), Union Dicon Salt Plc (Union Dicon or the Company) hereby notifies Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), the shareholders of the Company, and the General Public of the following:

That Aims Limited is a majority shareholder of Union Dicon Salt Plc with a shareholding of 64,000,000 shares amounting to 40 per cent of the issued shares.

READ ALSO: Tinubu directs suspension of cashless payment at airports

That Union Dicon has been unable to communicate or reach Aims Limited for a period of time despite several efforts made to reach out to Aims Limited, the statement read.

Though the Union Dicon did not state reasons why its unable to reach its majority shareholder or the effect on its operations, the company directed Aims Limited to contact its physical office or through its secretary.

That the Company is using this medium to request that Aims Limited should contact Union Dicon immediately via its physical address at Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Kirikiri Phase 2, Apapa, Lagos, or via the Company Secretarys number 09039296466 or email [email protected], the company stated.
Nigerian writer, playwright, and poet Wole Soyinka has sparked social media conversations after leading members of the Pyrates Confraternity to pay their final respects to renowned literary scholar Biodun Jeyifo.

Pyrates Confraternity, also known as the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), was founded by Mr Soyinka and six others, the Magnificent Seven.

The group, founded in 1952 at the University College, Ibadan, was registered as a humanitarian organisation and was known for charity and advocacy for good governance, among other activities.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Jeyifo, the pioneer president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), died on 11 February at the age of 80.

In a video obtained by this newspaper on Wednesday, the Nobel Laureate led the group as they paid their last respects to Mr Jeyifo, who was laid to rest in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The group, under Mr Soyinkas leadership, celebrated the late scholars enduring contributions to African literature, theatre and intellectual discourse.

Traditional attire

The footage showed Mr Soyinka dressed in a white shirt, black trousers and a jacket, leading members clad in the confraternitys traditional white, red and black colours.

Holding a sword, the 91-year-old guided the procession as members sang solemnly in tribute.

Upon arrival at the graveside, they rendered songs in honour of a life devoted to scholarship, activism and the advancement of African thought.

The interment of Mr Jeyifo took place at the Anglican Cemetery, St James the Great Cathedral Burial Ground, Ijokodo, Ibadan.

His final journey home commenced on Tuesday with an evening of tributes held at Omolayole Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

A lying-in-state was first held at TOS Funeral Homes, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, and later at the deceaseds residence on Jeyifous Street, Oke-Bola, Ibadan.

Mr Jeyifo

Colleagues and students affectionately referred to Mr Jeyifo as Professor BJ, a testament to the deep respect he commanded within academic circles.

He began his academic journey at the then University of Ife, where he established himself as a formidable scholar, before holding joint teaching appointments at Cornell University and Harvard University in the United States.

In January, scholars, writers and cultural figures gathered at the MUSON Centre in Lagos for an international colloquium to celebrate his 80th birthday and honour his lifelong contributions to literary scholarship and intellectual engagement.

Background

Mr Jeyifo earned widespread recognition as a foremost authority on the life and works of Wole Soyinka.

His seminal book, Wole Soyinka: Politics, Poetics and Postcolonialism, published by Cambridge University Press in 2004, attracted global acclaim and won several awards.

Many scholars have since regarded it as one of the most comprehensive and rigorous single-author studies in African postcolonial literary criticism.

Born on 5 January 1946, Mr Jeyifo was a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and a respected public intellectual whose decades-long career encompassed teaching, research and mentorship in both Nigeria and the United States.
Three weeks ago, my uncle did not come home.

He had left at dawn, the way he always does. A poor man moving through the world before it fully wakes, returning to a family that waits for him. He did not return. Gunmen took him from the road, into a forest that stretches from Taraba, Plateau, and Bauchi, and they have kept him there ever since. As I write this, he is still in that forest. He is still alive. And we are running out of time.

My uncle is not a man of wealth or influence. He holds no government position, owns no land beyond what feeds his family, has no cousin in Abuja to call. He is a man who has spent his life in the honest arithmetic of survival  working, providing, asking for nothing beyond safety and the right to return home at the end of each day. He is the kind of man who, in a just world, the worst of the world would leave alone.

The worst of the world did not leave him alone.

When they first took him, the kidnappers were calculating. They had watched him. They knew what he owned, what he earned, what his family could plausibly raise. A man who has spent his life negotiating between hunger and enough does not present as a profitable target. So they held him.

Days became a week. A week became two. Two became three. And then, without warning, they changed their demand.

They are now asking for N100 million.

I want you to sit with that number for a moment. At Nigerias minimum wage, N100 million is 119 years of earnings. My uncle does not have 119 years. A subsistence farmer in Northern Nigeria might earn N400,000 in a good harvest year. To raise N100 million through farming alone would take 250 uninterrupted years of harvest. Our family does not have 250 years. We have days. And they are passing.

We did not go public immediately. When he was first taken, we made the difficult decision to stay quiet. And that is because the moment kidnappers learn that a hostage has a relative abroad, the ransom inflates.

I am in the United States, completing a graduate degree. My being here is not wealth. But perception is the currency of the kidnapping economy, and we could not spend it carelessly. We waited. We prayed. We negotiated the way poor families in Nigeria are forced to negotiate  alone, in whispers, with nothing.

They found out anyway that Im in the US. They whispered to him that they know his nephew is in America. The ransom did not go down.

The Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics recorded approximately $1.42 billion paid in ransoms between May 2023 and April 2024. Billions of naira. Thousands of families sitting exactly where we are sitting. This is not a rare tragedy.

In Northern Nigeria, it has become a regular feature of life. It has become the particular cruelty of an armed economy that preys on the poor because the poor are accessible, because their names do not appear in newspapers, because their grief does not slow traffic in Lagos.

My uncles name is not in any newspaper. He is a quiet man from a village that no one outside of it has heard of. He has never asked for anything except to live in peace.

I am his nephew. I am a journalist. I have documented exactly these kinds of kidnap for ransom in Nigeria. I know how it feels. Im feeling it now.

READ ALSO: Bandits release kidnapped persons after collecting motorcycles as ransom

So I am doing the only thing left available to me. I am asking for help. Publicly. On the record.

If you have any connection to the Nigerian security services, to community and religious leaders, to anyone who operates in or near the forests, please help. Act. Help us bring a poor, decent, hardworking man home to his family before what little time we have runs out.

My uncle and nine other captives deserve to come home. Not because of who I am. Because of who he is: a man who never harmed anyone, who worked every day of his life, and who is sitting in a forest tonight wondering why the world has gone so quiet.

Please. Help us make some noise.

Haruna Mohammed Salisu publishes WikkiTimes and writes this from the United States. He can be reached at [email protected]
A recent press conference placed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in an unexpected moment when a journalist asked about a comment that had referred to him using a racist slur. The question referenced a remark calling him a cockroach, a term widely recognized as offensive and dehumanizing.

Mamdanis calm and direct response quickly drew attention online and sparked discussion about leadership and dignity.

The moment that sparked the question

During a press conference, a journalist asked Mamdani how he felt about a comment that referred to him using the slur. The question brought up an example of the harsh language public figures sometimes face in politics. It also placed Mamdani in the position of responding publicly to the remark.

His answer was steady and direct. Mamdani said he was not ashamed of who he is, his faith, or the fact that he is the first Muslim mayor in the history of the city. He also said that no amount of racism would change the way he leads.

Why his response resonated with many people

Many viewers focused less on the insult and more on the tone of his response. Mamdani avoided anger and did not attack the person who made the comment. Instead, he focused on identity, leadership, and public responsibility.

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That approach made the message feel larger than the original remark. By saying he was not ashamed of who he is, he shifted the conversation toward confidence and acceptance. The response also showed how leaders can stay composed even when facing criticism.

The broader conversation about public leadership

Moments like this often highlight the pressures that come with political leadership. Public officials regularly face criticism, and sometimes those comments become personal attacks. How leaders respond can shape how the public views them.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a public press briefing as the conversation around his response to a racist remark gains attention. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

In Mamdanis case, the response centered on identity and responsibility. By saying he would continue leading the same way, he framed the issue as part of a larger commitment to public service. That message helped move the focus back to leadership rather than the insult itself.

How the moment spread online

After the clip appeared online, it quickly spread across social platforms and discussion forums. Many users shared the video along with messages praising Mamdanis composure. Some viewers described the response as confident and thoughtful.

The conversation soon shifted away from the original remark. Instead, many people focused on the way Mamdani handled the moment in front of reporters. In the end, the response itself became the reason the clip gained attention.
The US Embassy in Nigeria has cancelled all visa appointments scheduled for Wednesday over concerns of a high potential for protest linked to the US-Israel war on Iran.

The mission announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Due to the potential for protests in Abuja, the US Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments on Wednesday, it said.

The mission also advised US citizens in the country to remain in their residences throughout the day, warning that the protest might turn violent.

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have been staging protests since Sunday against the US and Israel launched an unprovoked on Iran.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Shia group, under the leadership of Ibrahim Zakzaky, has staged street demonstrations in Lagos, Niger, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano.

In its notice, the US embassy stated that previous protests reportedly resulted in clashes between demonstrators and Nigerian security forces.

It urged Americans to avoid areas where protests are taking place, steer clear of crowds, and exercise caution if they find themselves near large gatherings.

It also urged them to monitor local media for updates, be aware of their surroundings, and keep a low profile.

Additional safety recommendations include: reviewing personal security plans, keeping mobile phones fully charged, carrying proper identification, and staying alert in public spaces such as shopping centres, movie theatres, and places of worship.

The embassy further advised residents to familiarise themselves with emergency exits in buildings and to vary travel routes and times to reduce predictability.
The death toll in Iran has risen to 1,045 as the war triggered by the US and Israel enters its fifth day, according to state media.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Tuesday that Irans Red Crescent Society put the toll at about 787.

Before this, the number of deaths was reported to be 550.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency also reported that sounds were heard in different parts of the Iranian capital earlier on Wednesday.

It also reported that the US and Israel have targeted the holy city of Qom and several other cities.

Similarly, the Iranian Red Crescent said at least 1,039 attacks have taken place across the country.

Tehran is also carrying out retaliatory attacks across the region.

Satellite images have shown the impact of the US and Israels strikes in Iran and Irans retaliatory strikes across the region, Reuters reports.

It also confirmed that an Iranian drone damaged the US AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar at the US base in Qatar. The radar system, said to cost over a billion dollars, is the biggest by the US in the Middle East.

Earlier reports described the system as completely destroyed or neutralised.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency Director General, Rafael Grossi, told NBC News that inspectors found no evidence of a coordinated Iranian programme to build nuclear weapons despite Israeli and US claims.

He said the agency had not identified elements of a systematic and structured programme to manufacture nuclear weapons in Iran.

But he confirmed that Tehran has enriched uranium to 60 per cent purity  a level far beyond civilian energy needs.

Mr Grossi said such enrichment is something only countries with nuclear weapons have.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed an increase in Lassa fever infections, with 82 new confirmed cases and 20 deaths reported in one week.

In its latest situation report released on Tuesday, the agency said the number of confirmed cases increased from 72 in week 6 to 82 in week 7 .

The new infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kano, Ebonyi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna and Benue States.

Fatality rate higher than 2025

Cumulatively, from Epidemiological Week 1 to 7 in 2026, 75 deaths have been recorded among confirmed cases, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 23 per cent.

The NCDC noted that this is higher than the 19.7 per cent CFR recorded during the same period in 2025.

So far this year, 14 states have reported at least one confirmed case across 58 local government areas.

Although the fatality rate has increased, the agency said the number of suspected and confirmed cases remains lower compared to the same period in 2025.

Four states account for the majority of cases

According to the report, 84 per cent of all confirmed cases were recorded in four states. These are Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Edo.

Bauchi accounted for 33 per cent of confirmed cases, Ondo 22 per cent, Taraba 19 per cent and Edo 10 per cent. The remaining 16 per cent were reported across 12 other states.

The most affected age group is 2130 years, with cases ranging from one to 90 years. The median age is 30 years.

The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is 1:0.8, indicating slightly more infections among males.

The agency also reported that five healthcare workers were infected during the reporting week.

Response efforts intensified

The NCDC said the national multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) for Lassa fever remains activated to coordinate response activities.

IMS structures were activated in Kebbi, Kano, Gombe, Benue and Plateau states, while National Rapid Response Teams were deployed to seven high-burden states.

With support from partners including the World Health Organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF, the agency said it distributed personal protective equipment (PPE), Ribavirin and other response commodities to affected states.

Laboratory testing, risk communication activities and stakeholder engagement across health and environmental sectors are also ongoing.

Challenges and recommendations

The agency identified late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour due to high treatment costs, poor environmental sanitation and low awareness in high-burden communities as key challenges.

It urged state governments to strengthen year-round community engagement on Lassa fever prevention.

Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high index of suspicion, ensure timely referral and treatment, and strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures.

The NCDC also called on partners to support states in improving their capacity to prevent, detect and respond promptly to Lassa fever outbreaks.

Lassa fever

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is transmitted to humans primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats.

It can also spread from person to person through contact with bodily fluids.

The disease often begins with fever, weakness, and headache, and may progress to more severe symptoms such as bleeding, difficulty breathing, swelling, and organ failure.

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with Ribavirin are critical for improving survival.
The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, has condemned the killing of paramedics in Lebanon as the US/Israel-Iran war continues to take a toll on health services across the Middle East.

In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Mr Ghebreyesus said the expansion of the war is increasingly impacting health services throughout the region.

He said three paramedics were killed and six others injured while attempting to rescue people hurt by explosions in the southern Tyre district of Lebanon.

The risk that more health workers will count among the casualties is high. This must be avoided at all costs, so paramedics, doctors and nurses can be allowed to carry out their life-saving work, which is especially needed in times of crisis, he wrote.

He urged warring parties to abide by international humanitarian law and protect health workers, facilities and patients.

I call for the utmost restraint and for voices of wisdom and peace to rise above the sound of bombings. Peace is the best medicine, he added.

War enters fifth day

The WHOs condemnation comes as the US/Israel-Iran war enters its fifth day, with the scale of casualties and destruction continuing to rise.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that at least 787 people have been killed in Iran since joint US and Israeli strikes began, with attacks reported across more than 150 cities, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The figures, which include both military personnel and civilians, highlight the intensifying humanitarian consequences of the war.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said the war could last four to five weeks, though he suggested it could continue longer if necessary.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war may take some time but is not expected to last for years.

Mounting health system pressure

The latest incident in Lebanon follows an earlier warning by WHO over reported damage to hospital infrastructure as hostilities escalated.

In a statement on Monday, the agencys director general raised alarm over reports that a hospital in Tehran had been damaged during bombardment, stressing that health facilities are protected under international humanitarian law and must not be targeted.

WHO has repeatedly warned that attacks on medical personnel and facilities result in immediate casualties and also disrupt emergency response services, trauma care and access to essential treatment for civilians.

The killing of the paramedics in southern Lebanon adds to the concerns that frontline health workers are increasingly exposed to danger as the war spreads across the region.

WHO has continued to call for restraint and strict adherence to international humanitarian law to prevent further loss of life among civilians and healthcare workers.
The House of Representatives has commenced a series of oversight sessions with key revenue-generating agencies of the federal government, examining their performance and the implementation of fiscal policies crucial to the governments income.

On Tuesday, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) appeared before the Committee on Finance to defend their revenue collections and provide explanations for discrepancies in data and projections.

The committee, chaired by James Faleke (APC, Lagos), is reviewing the revenue performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in a bid to enhance accountability, strengthen internal controls, and ensure proper remittance into government coffers.

Comptroller General flags pending revenue implementation

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, informed lawmakers that certain revenue items projected in the budget had not been implemented, creating gaps between projected and actual collections.

He highlighted that N3 trillion expected from excise duties on selected products, collection of duties on reusable plastics (PSP), and telecom products including recharge cards, remains uncollected.

According to Mr Adeniyi, these measures were suspended shortly after their introduction in response to public complaints.

There is still a hanging issue regarding the Finance Act, he said. Collection on PSP, excise on soft drinks and similar products, and telecom duties have not been done yet. If fiscal policy remains the same, we cannot project revenue from items whose collection is suspended.

When asked whether the matter had been escalated to the president, Mr Adeniyi clarified, We do not make a case to the president. If policies are hanging, it is for us to implement them.

The CG was, thereafter, advised to formally write to the finance committee chairman, Mr Faleke, and the NCS leadership on the three pending items.

CAC defence postponed over missing data

Earlier in the day, the committee suspended the defence of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) after its Registrar-General, Hussaini Magaji, failed to provide essential data on the total number of registered companies in Nigeria.

Lawmakers expressed surprise at the inability of the CAC boss to provide accurate figures from the agencys database.

Committee member Stanley Adedeji (PDP, Oyo) described the performance as unacceptable and moved a motion to adjourn the session until comprehensive records could be presented.

This man is not competent to handle this agency, Mr Adedeji said. You should not stand before us without factual records. If you cannot speak accurately, we should step you down and summon you on another day.

The motion was unanimously adopted, and the CAC Registrar-General was directed to return next Tuesday with detailed and verifiable information on company registrations and the commissions revenue profile.

During his presentation, Mr Magaji attempted to outline revenue from company incorporations, business name registrations, annual returns, certified true copies, compliance enforcement, and accreditation fees.

However, inconsistencies in his figures heightened concerns over data reliability.

FAAN implements a cashless system to plug revenue leakages

Also appearing before the committee, Olubunmi Kuku, managing director and CEO of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), outlined plans to enforce electronic payment systems across all airports.

Ms Kuku said the initiative is part of the federal governments broader fiscal reform agenda to eliminate leakages, improve internally generated revenue, and enhance transparency.

This initiative is about accountability and sustainability, she said. We are ensuring that every kobo due to the federal government is collected while improving operational efficiency.

She explained that the transition to a cashless system began with sensitisation campaigns, advertisements, and stakeholder engagement starting mid-2025.

Ms Kuku acknowledged initial congestion at some airport toll gates but described it as temporary as users adapt to electronic payment options.

READ ALSO: FAAN issues travel advisory over Middle East flight disruptions

FAAN, she noted, currently offers four payment methods at airport tolls: annual e-tags for frequent users, VIP stickers, personal bank ATM cards including contactless/NFC-enabled cards, and FAAN-issued cashless cards obtainable at airports or partner banks.

She stressed that widely used domestic cards, including Verve, are compatible with the system.

Ms Kuku concluded that improving revenue capture would strengthen service delivery, support infrastructure maintenance, and accelerate airport modernisation projects nationwide.
The war between the United States and Israel against Iran entered its fifth day today (Wednesday).

Over 900 people have now been killed in the war, the majority of them in Iran.

We bring you major updates on the war from its fourth day.

US Militarys Focus

The US military said its focus in the ongoing war is to eliminate enemy forces or weapons capable of attacking American troops.

In a video statement, the commander of US Central Command, Brad Cooper, said the first 24 hours of their joint operation had been nearly double the scale of the shock-and-awe strikes that began the US-led Iraq War in 2003.

Mr Cooper said the US has struck more than 2,000 targets in Iran since launching its first strike on Saturday.

Iran, on the other hand, has launched over 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones.

The CENTCOM commander said the US military has also destroyed 17 Iranian ships.

Now, he declared, the focus was on shooting all the things that can shoot at us.

With over 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers, and bombers involved, he described it as the most significant US military build-up in the Middle East in decades. The US had earlier confirmed that six American soldiers had been killed in the war, amidst Iranian claims that the US casualty toll is much higher.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military also said it was carrying out a broad wave of strikes on Iran while simultaneously attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon.

It also said its air defences have been intercepting more missiles fired from Iran and Lebanon.

Iranian missiles in Israel early Wednesday triggered air raid sirens across large parts.

The Israeli military said it was operating to intercept, and ordered residents in Jerusalem and other parts of the country to seek shelter.

Al Jazeera reported that the order was lifted after several minutes, with no reports of any direct impact.

Control over the Strait of Hormuz

The US and Iran have made conflicting claims over the Strait of Hormuz, a small waterway which serves as a vital shipping route for oil and gas.

Irans Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday that it has seized control of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones.

Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republics Navy, it said, warning ships to avoid crossing the Strait.

But it contradicts the US CENTCOM statement made hours earlier.

The commander, Mr Cooper, said the US military successfully sank all of the Iranian navy and had already destroyed 17 Iranian ships.

Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman, he said.

For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has said the US Navy might escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.

The war has already led to a surge in oil prices, with Brent Crude rising to about $84 on Wednesday from about $72 on Friday before the war started.

Satellite images show scope of Iran strikes

Satellite images have shown the impact of the US and Israels strikes in Iran and Irans retaliatory strikes across the region, Reuters reports.

It also confirmed that an Iranian drone damaged the US AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar at the US base in Qatar. The radar system, said to cost over a billion dollars, is the biggest by the US in the Middle East.

Earlier reports described the system as completely destroyed or neutralised.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency Director General, Rafael Grossi, told NBC News that inspectors found no evidence of a coordinated Iranian programme to build nuclear weapons despite Israeli and US claims.

He said the agency had not identified elements of a systematic and structured programme to manufacture nuclear weapons in Iran.

But he confirmed that Tehran has enriched uranium to 60 per cent purity  a level far beyond civilian energy needs.

Grossi said such enrichment is something only countries with nuclear weapons have.

Rubio pushes back against criticism

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has pushed back against criticism over Americas rationale for war.

Mr Rubio argued that Mr Trump opted for an attack on Iran because he was presented with a unique opportunity for the mission to be successful.

Ahead of a closed-door briefing with lawmakers, Mr Rubio said Mr Trump believed Israel was determined to act and wanted the US to go first with a preemptive strike on Iran to prevent retaliation on US bases in the region.

We are not going to put American troops in harms way. The president was determined we were not going to get hit first. Its that simple, he said.

There is no way in the world that this terrorist regime was going to get nuclear weapons, not under Donald Trumps watch, he added.

Congress to vote on war in Iran

The Guardian reports that the Senate is set to vote on Wednesday on legislation challenging President Donald Trumps decision to initiate military action against Iran.

The measure, introduced under the War Powers Act, would require the president to obtain congressional authorisation before launching any additional strikes.

Lawmakers in the Senate will consider the resolution this week, while a companion proposal is expected to come before the House in the coming days.

Despite the upcoming votes, the efforts face long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress. Even if the resolutions were to pass both chambers, they would likely encounter a presidential veto from Mr Trump.

Democratic lawmakers have criticised Mr Trumps decision to go to war with Iran without Congressional approval.

Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont, described the choice as Mr Trump simply giving in to the demand of the Israeli prime minister.

Netanyahu wanted war with Iran. Trump just gave it to him.

American foreign and military policy must be determined by the American people, he wrote. Not the right-wing extremist Netanyahu government.

Tim Kaine, a senator from Virginia, slammed Mr Trump for carrying out unauthorised strikes and failing to inform Congress before launching the attack.

Mark Warner, a senator from Virginia and vice-chair of the select intelligence committee, called the strikes a deeply consequential decision that risks pulling the United States into another broad conflict in the Middle East.

Difference between the US and Israel emerges

Differences between Israel and the United States are beginning to surface, according to Reuters.

This is despite their coordinated military campaign against Iran.

When the bombing campaign began on Saturday, both Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu framed regime change as a central objective.

However, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, at the Pentagon press conference, stated the operation was not intended to be a so-called regime-change war.

Mr Trump also earlier shifted emphasis away from toppling Tehrans government.

Instead, he said Washingtons primary aims were to dismantle Irans missile capabilities and naval forces and to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Meanwhile, the UK government has begun working to evacuate British nationals in Oman.

The government said priority for the evacuation flight will be given to the most vulnerable groups.

The US State Department has also given its non-emergency personnel and their families in Saudi Arabia and Oman permission to leave.

President Trump has also criticised the leaders of the UK and Spain for not supporting his war on Iran and allowing the US unlimited rights to use their bases for the war. He vowed to stop all Spanish trade with the US.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has inaugurated an eight-member Committee for the implementation of state police.

Inaugurating the Committee on Wednesday in Abuja, Mr Disu said the committee had one month to submit its report.

He said the task before the committee was both significant and timely, as it spoke directly to the reflective demand to strengthen Nigerias internal security.

He also said that the idea was to ensure that policing in Nigeria remained responsive to the realities on the ground.

Across the nation, we continue to confront evolving security challenges. These require innovative thinking, strategic collaboration, and the willingness to explore reforms.

This committee on state policing we are inaugurating today has a critical responsibility.

Your work will help shape the framework through which state policing may operate in Nigeria in a manner that strengthens, rather than fragment national security system, he said.

According to the IGP, In carrying out this assignment, your deliberations must be guided by professionalism, objectivity and a clear appreciation of the unique complexity of policing in a diverse nation like Nigeria.

He added that the responsibility before the committee was to review existing police models within and outside Nigeria and assess community security needs and emerging risks.

Mr Disu further said that the committee would also propose an operational framework for the establishment and coordination of state police structures, as well as proffer ways to address issues relating to recruitment, training standards and resource allocation.

He said the committee would develop robust accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure professionalism and public trust.

If thoughtfully designed and effectively implemented, state policing holds significant potential benefits for our country.

By bringing law enforcement closer to the communities, state police institutions can deepen the knowledge of security dynamics and enable quicker and more targeted response to emerging threats, he said.

The police boss said that the decentralisation of certain policing responsibilities would ensure more efficient allocation of security resources.

He said state governments and local authorities would be better positioned to respond to specific security challenges within their jurisdictions, while the federal government would continue to focus on broader national security priorities.

The IGP said the Nigerian Police Force would continue to play its constitutional role as a primary national law enforcement institution, responsible for maintaining internal security efficiently.

He also said that the federal police would focus more strategically on complex and transnational crimes, such as terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, trafficking networks, and other serious security threats that require national coordination and specialised capacity.

Let me therefore reassure the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force that their relevance, responsibilities and professional importance within Nigerias security architecture remain both intense and indispensable.

The mission we seek is one of strategy, not competition, partnership, not duplication. I, therefore, urge you to approach your assignments with diligence, intellectual rigour and a deep sense of patriotism.

The expectations of Nigerians are high, and the outcome of your work will play a significant role in shaping the future of policing in our country, he added

Mr Disu assumed office as the 23rd IGP last week following the resignation of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun.

Mr Egbetokun had opposed the plan by President Bola Tinubus government to establish state police.

PREMIUM TIMES reported exclusively that one of the reasons the former IGP was asked to resign was because of his stance on the creation of State Police.

For the umpteenth time, President Tinubu, on 26 February, spoke about his support for the creation of state police. He had asked the leadership of the 10th Senate to amend the constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of State Police to tackle insecurity nationwide.
The proliferation of synthetic drugs across West Africa represents one of the most urgent and complex public health and security challenges facing the region, a new report has warned.

The report, published by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, said the illicit drug landscape has been fundamentally reshaped in recent years, moving away from traditional plant-based substances controlled by hierarchical criminal networks towards a fragmented, decentralised market for man-made psychoactive compounds.

The harms driven by synthetic drug markets, including overdoses, chronic and severe mental health conditions, and community fragmentation, are escalating, the report notes.

Researchers said the burden of consumption and its consequences falls disproportionately on young people; in the worst-affected countries, this poses a serious threat to future stability and economic development.

The crisis has grown so severe that since 2024, two countries have declared states of emergency in an unprecedented response previously reserved for deadly epidemics and pandemics, the report said.

The report examines the emergence and rapid expansion of the synthetic drug economy in West Africa, detailing how low barriers to entry, the convenience and anonymity afforded by online platforms, and the minimal capital required for production have enabled a diverse array of new criminal actors to enter the trade.

The influx of substances such as synthetic cannabinoids, nitazenes, and other novel compounds of unknown composition, alongside the expansion of pre-existing synthetic drug markets such as methamphetamine, presents a multifaceted threat that is rapidly outpacing the response capacity of regional governments, the research shows.

Growing, evolving threat

The breadth and depth of synthetic substance presence globally have grown enormously over the past decade. Increasingly, synthetic substances are being detected in local illicit drug markets with no prior record of their presence, often as contaminants of or substitutes for more traditional substances.

The expanding use of synthetic opioids, particularly tramadol, tramadol derivatives such as tapentadol, and nitazenes, is identified as a particularly alarming trend. Some of these substances, vital to public health institutions for pain relief and palliative care, have been responsible for a significant increase in drug-related illness and death worldwide. Their potency and availability pose unprecedented challenges to public health systems and law enforcement agencies alike, the report said.

Across West Africa, the study observes the sheer diversity of substances being synthesised, the inability of existing surveillance systems to effectively identify many of them, and the challenges of interdiction significantly impair the capacity of health and security services to respond.

Organised criminal networks are also leveraging profits from synthetic drug production and trafficking to fund broader criminal operations and purchase protection, fuelling corruption, the report added.

Digital technology, global supply chains

The report explores the mechanisms driving the rapid expansion of synthetic drug markets in West Africa, with particular focus on the roles of digital technology and globalised supply chains.

Internet penetration across the region has facilitated the online purchase of precursor chemicals and finished products, often from suppliers in Asia and Europe, smuggled into the region through difficult-to-monitor channels such as postal and courier services, the report said.

It also examines the profound economic incentives that make the synthetic drug trade so attractive, describing it as a bridge market that allows new entrants to accumulate capital rapidly.

Through case studies and market trend analyses, the report illustrates how these dynamics have allowed synthetic drugs to capture a growing share of the retail market with alarming speed, with potentially devastating social and public health consequences.

Methodology

The baseline study draws on an extensive review of academic and grey literature published in several languages, as well as an analysis of international and local media. Secondary datasets include judicial and law enforcement investigations in West Africa.

Open-source intelligence techniques were used to deepen analyses of key actors, trading data and routes, vessel movements, company registration and shareholder structures, and to sketch the contours of West Africas online drug markets.

The research also draws on years of ongoing data collection on synthetic drug markets by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) and its affiliated researchers in West Africa. In 2025 alone, data collection included more than 190 semi-structured interviews with investigative journalists, law enforcement officials, judicial representatives, public officials, port and airport employees, actors within the synthetic drug trade, people who use drugs (PWUD), health professionals, researchers, academics, and community members.

Surveys were also conducted with PWUD across focus countries to confirm pricing, consumption trends, and ensure their perspectives remained central to the report.

Field testing of drugs  conducted using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer  was carried out in Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau in 2024, with laboratory confirmatory testing conducted on a selection of samples from Sierra Leone. The report also draws on test results shared by government forensic laboratories across the region.

The report focuses on illicit synthetic drugs rather than the misuse of pharmaceutical products, though tramadol is included because most of what is available on West African retail drug markets exceeds legally permitted dosages in the region. Other pharmaceutical products  including benzodiazepines, codeine, and pregabalin  fall outside the scope of this research, though their misuse nonetheless poses significant challenges across the region.

Key findings were shared with civil society and government stakeholders for challenge and validation, including at a roundtable with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) representatives and national focal points of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU).

The findings were also presented at a high-level dialogue titled Mapping the Future of Drug Markets in West Africa: Synthetics, Cocaine, Criminal Money and Strategic Responses, jointly convened by the governments of Ghana and the Netherlands and the GI-TOC, held in Accra on 27 and 28 November 2025.

The dialogue drew approximately 160 participants, including high-level representatives from West African states, the Dutch government, and leading regional and international bodies. Every country in West Africa was represented.

Key findings

The reports key findings show that West Africas synthetic drug markets are expanding, diversifying, and driving escalating harms. Synthetic opioids are at the forefront of increasingly devastating public health consequences, concentrated among young people and marginalised communities.

Low barriers to entry are facilitating the emergence of new criminal actors, fragmenting the criminal landscape and complicating the regional response. Digital technology and globalised supply chains are tying West Africas synthetic drug markets to global trends, underpinning the emergence of new psychoactive substances and driving market expansion.

Critical data gaps remain a key obstacle to evidence-based public health and criminal justice responses, while the regional response is falling behind the fast-paced evolution of the market, leaving security and public health officials struggling to keep up.

The report concludes that coordinated regional action, drawing on multi-stakeholder coalitions, is urgently needed.

Conclusion and recommendations

The rise of synthetic drugs in West Africa is evolving into a complex regional threat, representing a critical challenge to public health, security, and social stability. Low barriers to entry, the anonymity of online markets, and the high-profit, low-capital nature of synthetic drug production have fundamentally fragmented and democratised the illicit drug trade, empowering a new and more diffuse generation of criminal entrepreneurs and flooding local markets with a dangerous array of novel substances.

The result is a rapidly evolving challenge that traditional law enforcement and public health models  designed to combat hierarchical, plant-based drug trafficking networks  are not equipped to handle. The public health and societal harms caused by methamphetamine and synthetic opioids, in particular, are multiplying.

The regions ability to respond appears dangerously behind the markets rapid expansion. While many governments are beginning to recognise the severity of the threat and considering legal and policy reforms  including alternatives to incarceration and updated legislative frameworks for new psychoactive substances  the ground-level reality in many countries remains grim. Drug-testing capabilities are severely limited, leaving authorities and health officials largely unable to identify the chemical compositions of substances circulating on their streets. This information gap is a major obstacle to effective public health messaging, clinical interventions, and targeted law enforcement. The situation is further compounded by a scarcity of resources for drug treatment and rehabilitation, leaving a growing user base  particularly among young people  without adequate support.

Addressing synthetic drug markets in West Africa requires immediate, consolidated, and strategic regional leadership. No single nation can effectively combat a threat that is fluid, transnational, and technologically enabled. The way forward must be built on evidence-based, coordinated responses that transcend national borders, requiring significant investment in forensic capacity, intelligence-sharing on trafficking routes and online suppliers, and the harmonisation of legal frameworks.

Crucially, the report calls for a balanced approach  one that enhances law enforcements ability to disrupt the trade while simultaneously scaling up public health infrastructure to treat addiction and mitigate its human cost.

Without such a unified and multifaceted strategy, the report warns, West Africa risks being overwhelmed by the profound and lasting damage of synthetic drugs.
President Bola Tinubu has directed Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo to suspend the cashless payment system recently introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Mr Keyamo announced the presidents directive while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, which held at the State House Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Mr Keyamo said the president directed him to go back to the drawing board, suspend the present system and perfect a system that will work perfectly without putting unnecessary pressure on citizens.

He said the president directed that a decision should be taken quickly even if it means involving the private sector.

There will be a hybrid system for now whereby those who already possess cards will be allowed to use it while those who prefer cash will be allowed to do so.

READ ALSO: Tinubu nominates Oyedele as minister of state for finance

Private sector participants will come in to help us devise means to ensure cashless collection the minister said.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the FAAN cashless system commenced at the Lagos and Abuja airports this week but has led to long queues and delays for travellers going to the airport.

Mr Keyamo said the presidents decision is to remove gridlock and not because he is unhappy with the cashless system.

Further briefing will be made after conferring with FAAN, he said.
The UK government has placed an emergency brake on visas for nationals from four countries, as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood accused them of exploiting Britains generosity to claim asylum.

Study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan have been halted, as have work visas for Afghans.

The government has halted the visa routes as it claims a growing number of people from these countries are using legal migration routes as a backdoor to claim asylum in the UK.

The Home Office described the suspension on visa claims as an unprecedented step, as it is the first time such visa bans have been implemented.

Mr Mahmood said: Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused.

That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.

I will restore order and control to our borders.

According to Home Office figures, some 39 per cent of the 100,000 who claimed asylum in 2025 did so after arriving in the UK through a legal migration route, like a study visa.

Asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan represent the most significant part of a spike between 2021 and September 2025, the Home Office added.

The visa ban will be officially introduced via an immigration rules change on Thursday.

The Home Secretary has previously threatened a similar halt to all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in November, unless their governments agreed to take back undocumented migrants.

This led to co-operation agreements with all three countries, and illegal migrants being returned via deportation flights.

Mr Mahmood is expected to lay out measures to toughen up the UK asylum system in a speech on Thursday.

Under the widely trailed plans, asylum seekers in the UK will have their refugee status reviewed every 30 months in an effort to make the UK less attractive for undocumented immigrants.

Refugees whose countries are deemed safe will be expected to return home.

(PA Media/dpa/NAN)
What would happen at U.S. airports if the TSA disappeared tomorrow?

That speculation could inevitably become a reality. In recent years, some lawmakers and commentators have called for the Transportation Security Administration to be abolished or privatized, arguing that airport security could be handled more efficiently by private companies.

For travelers, though, the real question is simpler: Would flying become smoother, or more confusing?

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As a former Transportation Security Officer, I believe the United States should have a universal aviation security plan. Airports shouldn't have individual policies regardless of whether the TSA goes private or stays a government agency.

Too many individual policies would cause mass confusion for travelers and, ultimately, airport chaos.

Why the TSA even exists

Before September 11, 2001, airport security in the United States was largely handled by private contractors hired by individual airlines. Contractor training, pay, and oversight were inconsistent across airports, which meant security standards varied widely.

After the 9/11 attacks exposed serious gaps in aviation security, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. The TSA was created in 2001 to establish a unified federal approach to passenger and baggage screening.

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The goal was to create and uphold one national standard for aviation security, applied consistently across all U.S. airports.

For travelers, that meant predictability. Whether you were flying out of Atlanta, Denver, or a smaller regional airport, the core screening process became largely the same.

Why some lawmakers want the TSA eliminated

Calls to dismantle or privatize TSA have surfaced repeatedly over the years. Most recently, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced legislation urging the agency's abolition and the replacement of airport screening with privatized screening.

Supporters of the idea often argue that private companies could deliver faster service, lower costs, and more flexibility.

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Critics, however, worry about what happens when aviation security becomes unstandardized again. I believe this stance is justified.

Would TSA privatization change the airport experience?

Possibly, but not in the way many travelers expect.

Even if TSA were privatized, federal aviation security standards would almost certainly remain in place. The United States is unlikely to abandon national screening requirements altogether.

However, privatization could introduce more variation in how those standards are implemented at individual airports. Thats where overcomplication, unstandardization, and confusion could creep in.

Different contractors might staff checkpoints differently, use slightly different procedures, implement service policies unevenly, or train officers under varying standards.

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From a travelers perspective, the biggest risk is inconsistency. A universal aviation security plan, applied uniformly, reduces friction for the traveling public.

Doesnt the U.S. already have private airport screening?

Yes, the U.S. already allows private security screening at certain airports through the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). Under this program, private companies conduct the screening. However, TSA still sets the standards and still provides oversight. All procedures must still meet federal requirements.

In other words, privatized screening in the U.S. does not mean unregulated screening.

20 airports using private screeners (SPP Program)

As of recent reporting, approximately 20 U.S. airports participate in the Screening Partnership Program, including:

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Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI)

Bert Mooney Airport (BTM)

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Charles M. SchulzSonoma County Airport (STS)

Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)

Greater Rockford Airport (RFD)

Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

Key West International Airport (EYW)

Missoula Montana Airport (MSO)

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)

Provo Airport (PVU)

Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)

Rochester International Airport (RST)

Roswell International Air Center (ROW)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)

Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)

Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP)

Yellowstone Airport (WYS)

At these airports, you may interact with private security screeners rather than federal TSOs, but the federal screening rules remain the same.

One last thing

If the TSA were fully privatized nationwide, most travelers would likely still go through metal detectors, body scanners, and ID checks.

The bigger change would be behind the scenes.

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Whether screening is performed by federal officers or private contractors, consistency across the system is what keeps the checkpoint experience predictable. For frequent flyers, predictability is part of what makes modern air travel manageable.

For more insider travel breakdowns, subscribe to Gate Access.








Governors Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Tuesday held a joint security meeting in Wukari, Taraba State, to address recurring attacks and insecurity affecting communities along their shared border.

The meeting brought together senior government officials, heads of security agencies, and traditional rulers from both states to deliberate on coordinated measures to restore stability in the troubled areas.

Speaking during the engagement, Governor Alia said his visit with a whole delegation from Benue underscored the urgency of collaboration between the two neighbouring states.

As neighbouring states facing similar threats, there is an urgent need for synergy to restore peace and safeguard lives and property, Mr Alia said.

He added that Benue was committed to deepening inter-state cooperation to confront criminal activities affecting border communities.

On arrival in Wukari, the Benue governor paid a courtesy visit to the Aku Uka of the Jukun Kingdom, Ishaku Ali, where he acknowledged the role of traditional institutions in promoting peace and social cohesion.

Mr Alia commended the traditional ruler for his peace-building efforts, noting that sustained engagement with traditional rulers remains critical to achieving lasting security in affected communities.

Governor Kefas described the joint session as a demonstration of the resolve of both administrations to end the lingering crisis, particularly in communities located in southern Taraba and adjoining parts of Benue.

He announced that a joint committee would be established to implement the resolutions reached at the meeting and to ensure follow-up on agreed security strategies.

This engagement reflects our firm commitment to ending the crisis and restoring peace in our communities, Mr Kefas said.

Also speaking, the Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, emphasised the importance of peaceful coexistence between ethnic groups and communities in the two states. He urged stakeholders to prioritise dialogue and unity as pathways to long-term stability.

The Aku Uka expressed optimism that the discussions would produce tangible outcomes and offered prayers for enduring peace in the affected areas.

As part of their visit, the governors travelled to Abako in Benue State and Chanchanji in Taraba State, where they met internally displaced persons affected by recent violence.

They assured the displaced residents of improved security measures and outlined plans for safe return to their ancestral homes. The governors also pledged to provide relief materials to ease the hardship faced by affected families.

Communities along the TarabaBenue border have in recent years witnessed periodic attacks and clashes, leading to loss of lives and displacement of residents. Tuesdays meeting signals renewed efforts by both state governments to adopt a coordinated approach in addressing the persistent insecurity.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected new state executive members to steer the partys affairs in Kano State.

The election, held on Tuesday night, saw Haruna Doguwa emerge as the new state chairperson of the party.

Mr Doguwa recently resigned as Commissioner for Water Resources in Kano State to contest for the partys top seat.

Other elected officials include Salisu Maje-Gwangwazo as deputy chairperson, Yusuf Sabo-Bichi as state secretary, and Fatima Dala as state woman leader.

READ ALSO: Court halts APC congress in Ondo

The new leadership team comprises 28 members, elected to strengthen the partys internal cohesion and prepare it for future political engagements.

(NAN)
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued two kidnapped persons in Plateau State and intercepted a suspected gun runner in neighbouring Kaduna State, the military authorities said on Tuesday.

The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Chinonso Oteh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday. He said the troops, deployed at Wase, rescued the victims during an aggressive patrol around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

As part of ongoing deliberate efforts and decisive offensive against criminal elements within our Joint Operations Area, troops deployed at Wase successfully rescued two kidnapped victims around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, Mr Oteh said.

He explained that the troops encountered the kidnappers while they were moving the victims to a hideout.

Troops who were on aggressive fighting patrol made contact with the criminals while they were conveying the victims to their hideouts. The criminals immediately abandoned the victims and fled into nearby bushes, he added.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the victims were abducted at gunpoint on 22 February 2026 from Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Mr Oteh said the victims had been debriefed and efforts were ongoing to reunite them with their families. He added that troops were combing nearby bushes to apprehend the fleeing suspects and possibly rescue other victims.

In a related operation, troops deployed at Sanga in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State intercepted a suspected gun runner during a stop-and-search exercise at Kurmin Goro village.

Mr Oteh said the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Vincent Ibrahim, was arrested while allegedly transporting five locally fabricated rifles to an undisclosed destination in Kafanchan. The suspect is currently in troops custody, undergoing interrogation, he said.

The General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Folusho Oyinlola, commended the troops for their alertness and decisive action. He assured residents of the task forces commitment to protecting lives and property.

The operations come amid heightened security concerns in Plateau State. In recent weeks, at least 30 people were killed in separate attacks across communities in Bassa and Barkin Ladi local government areas, prompting Governor Caleb Mutfwang to convene an emergency State Security Council meeting in Jos. The governor had warned against reprisals and road blockades after incidents involving attacks on travellers and villages.

Security agencies have since intensified patrols across flashpoints in Plateau and adjoining states as part of efforts to stem the violence and prevent further loss of lives.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday swore in Olatunji Disu as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police at the State House, Abuja.

At the brief ceremony, the president also administered the oath of office on six commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and two commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission.

The event preceded the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and was attended by ministers, senior officials and family members of the appointees.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the ceremony, Mr Disu listed welfare of officers, restoration of security and internal preparation for state police as priorities.

He expressed support for the ongoing discussions on the establishment of state police.

The committee was set up early this morning to look into the issue of state police from the angle of the Nigerian Police.

We dont want it to seem as if others are taking decisions and we, the most important people concerned, did not do anything.

State police has come to stay and the police should be able to contribute their own part in making it succeed, he said.

Mr Disu dismissed fears that the reform would undermine the Force.

The police are not afraid, our jobs are not being taken; it is just an issue of partnership, he said.

On welfare, he acknowledged longstanding concerns about officers working conditions.

One of the issues that the police have over the years is the welfare of their officers, he said.

He said only those who are well motivated would put in their best.

Mr Disu described policing as demanding and high-risk, recalling that 140 officers were lost in one year during his tenure as police commissioner in the FCT.

Our jobs are very difficult; men sleep out and a lot of people dont have time to go back to their families.

Im lucky to be working with a president who has made up his mind to give us whatever we want, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FEC meeting commenced shortly after the ceremony.

Those in attendance included Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

Others were the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, as well as ministers.

(NAN)
President Bola Tinubu has felicitated former president and elder statesman, Olusegun Obasanjo, on his 89th birthday on 5 March.

The president rejoiced with Mr Obasanjo, whose towering influence in the country, Africa, and beyond is significant.

President Tinubu noted the courage and sacrifices of the elder statesman, who previously served the nation as military Head of State from 1976 to 1979, handing over power to a civilian president in

1979, and later as the first civilian president in the fourth republic, 1999-2007.

President Tinubu affirmed the historic experiences of the former leader, including leading troops to preserve Nigerias unity at the warfront, serving time in prison for speaking out against tyranny, and consistently pursuing Africas political and economic interests.

As Mr Obasanjo turns 89, the president acknowledged the zeal and wisdom he has brought into Nigerias development process through his books and regular interventions, revealing a depth of patriotism to nation-building.

President Tinubu prayed for more years of good health, strength, and wisdom for the former president as he continues to serve the nation and humanity.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

March 4, 2026
Qatar said it has arrested 10 people who were part of two organised groups allegedly working for Iran.

The groups, which the state authorities described as two cells, had allegedly been operating in Qatar on behalf of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Al Jazeera reports that seven of the suspects were allegedly assigned to gather intelligence and to spy on vital and military facilities in Qatar.

The other three suspects were assigned to carry out sabotage attacks, including training in drone use and possession of coordinates for sensitive sites.

According to Qatari authorities, the suspects confessed to being affiliated with the IRGC and carrying out these missions.

During interrogation, the suspects admitted their affiliation with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and that they had been tasked with espionage missions and sabotage activities, Qatar News Agency also reported.

Continuous US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Irans responses targeting US facilities across the Gulf have made the region volatile.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Irans retaliatory attacks have targeted Gulf countries hosting US bases.

The strikes have affected ports, hotels, and apartment buildings in Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman, a country that has served as an intermediary between Iran and the US.

Qatar said it earlier shut down two Iranian fighter jets.

QatarEnergy, one of the worlds largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters, also suspended production at two of its sites following drone strikes.

The US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, caught fire on Tuesday morning after being hit by two suspected Iranian drones.

The US later announced the closure of the embassy.
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing the reconstruction of the AbujaKaduna Road.

Mohammed Ahmed, director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Works, disclosed this on Tuesday during a tour of the project sites.

Mr Ahmed said that the road links the North-central and other Northern regions to the Federal Capital Territory and provides a vital connection between Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.

He said that the government decided to redesign the road from asphalt pavement to Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) to ensure durability, longevity, and improved quality.

This government considered the strategic importance of this road and resolved that it must be completed once and for all.

That is why it was redesigned to rigid concrete pavement to guarantee long-term serviceability.

This government having in mind that enhancing transportation as well as infrastructure as enablers of growth is key deemed it fit to give this road topmost priority, he said.

Providing technical updates, the engineers representative of the project, Chukwuma Kalu, disclosed that the project was divided into two lots.

Mr Kalu said that section one included a 40.5-kilometre dual carriageway CRCP stretch amounting to 81 kilometres total along with a 17.3-kilometre asphalt section on the KanoZaria Road and a 6.63-kilometre dual asphalt overlay in Kano State.

Mr Kalu revealed that the 6.63-kilometre dual asphalt road leading to Kano Airport has been completed and fitted with streetlights.

He added that the 17.3-kilometre asphalt section is about 80 per cent completed, while 60 kilometres of the 81-kilometre CRCP stretch have been delivered.

He stated that 21 kilometres remained and expressed confidence that the entire section would be completed by the end of April.

He said that construction activities were ongoing day and night to meet the deadline.

We are advancing steadily and working around the clock to ensure we achieve our target.

The remaining kilometres will be completed before the end of April, Mr Kalu said.

Also speaking, Senior Project Manager, Infiouest, Robert Turner, confirmed that the overall progress on Section One stood at approximately 80 per cent.

We are committed to finishing this project on schedule. Our teams are working both day and night to minimise inconvenience to the public and ensure timely delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the tour were the inauguration of emergency intervention projects in Bwari and Lugbe.

The two projects are: Limited rehabilitation of child care trust road and five adjoining roads in the FCT and the construction of roads and drainage at flood-prone areas of CRD Lugbe and Winners Airport road in Lugbe and AMAC.

Inaugurating the project on behalf of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, Grace Ike, chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, said that the projects would ease congestion, reduce travel time and create opportunities for economic development.

(NAN)
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administrations commitment to the realisation of Nigerias space policy and programme as enshrined in the revised 25-year roadmap for space development.

To this end, the president directed the immediate release of approved funds for maintenance of the countrys space assets in line with the National Space Policy and Programme.

I hereby approve that cost of the implementation of the approved revised 25-year roadmap for the implementation of the national space policy be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for consideration and approval, he added.

The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gave the approval on Tuesday during the first meeting of the National Space Council held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said, Nigeria will not watch the new frontier unfold from the sidelines. We will participate, we will compete, we will contribute. Our space ambitions must be anchored in outcomes, accountability and national value.

We must build a programme that serves the farmer in the field, the teacher in the classroom, the entrepreneur in the market, the soldier on duty, the researcher in the laboratory and the policy maker who must plan with evidence rather than guesswork. This is how a nation turns attitude into advantage.

President Tinubu assured that his administration, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, is committed to developing the society by engaging relevant human resources for the socio-economic improvement of our nation.

We shall be steadfast in providing the required support to the success of the space programme as well as relevant resources needed for its growth and the successful realisation of the mandate of the nations space agency, he added.

The president noted that his administrations investments in the sector is prompted by the opportunities in outer space as a new frontier for human development, as a stimulus for increased technological advancement and economic diversification.

He explained that the outer space provides a unique challenge and platform for effective exploration and exploitation of the nations natural resources as well as the protection of its environment.

President Tinubu continued: Space technology remains the foundation for cybersecurity and a vibrant digital economy. The space economy is rapidly growing, and its expected to exceed 1 trillion dollars by 2040. When we invest in space, we are not funding a distant dream.

We are funding precision in agriculture and security in our borders; we are funding early warning systems against floods and fires, smarter cities, safer skies, stronger communications and a digital economy that can compete with the best in the world. We are funding the confidence of a nation that refuses to be trapped by the limits of yesterday.

Urging the space agency to be alive to its mandate of ensuring that space assets and resources over Nigeria are used responsibly, President Tinubu directed the agency to employ all legally available means to enforce the space regulation and spectrum management framework for a secure utilization of space assets and resources over Nigeria on behalf of the National Space Council as provided in the NASDRA Act 2010.

I also direct all MDAs, stakeholders and the private sector to comply with the space regulatory framework. This directive also includes timely release of all approved funds for this purpose by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the president further stated.

Shedding more light on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, described the National Space Council meeting, chaired by the vice president, on behalf of the president, as a historic meeting with landmark outcomes for the improvement of Nigerias space industry and ecosystem.

According to him, other decisions taken at the meeting included the approval of the Conditions of Service and Staff Regulation of the Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency to align with international best practices.

He explained that the development is intended to give those working in the space industry a competitive level of remuneration to ensure that Nigerian experts in the space industry and ecosystem do not leave the country but are retained to maintain and sustain the nations space programme.

Another resolution passed by the Council is to set up a working group of space experts to work on the revised Nigeria 25-year space programme roadmap, the minister disclosed.

He listed members of the working group to include the Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Defence Space Agency, the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), as well as other stakeholders in the Nigerian space ecosystem.

He also appreciated the council for approving the development and operationalisation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Space Centre in Ekpe.

According to him, the centre would provide Nigeria with the capacity to launch satellites into orbit, while reducing dependence on foreign expertise not only to host the satellites but also to maintain them.

*Stanley Nkwocha*

*Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications*

*(Office of the Vice President)*

*3rd March, 2026*
The UN has urgently called for the protection of civilians and warned of growing displacement and humanitarian needs in the ongoing Israeli-U.S. airstrikes against Iran and Irans retaliatory strikes.

UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani recalled the horror of a strike on Saturday, which reportedly killed and injured dozens of girls in a primary school in Minab in the south of Iran.

Ms Shamdasani said children and little girls were being killed at the beginning of the school day.

She decried backpacks with bloodstains on them, saying, This is absolutely horrific.

If there is any image that captures the essence of the destruction, despair and senselessness and cruelty of this conflict, those are the images.

Ms Shamdasani underscored the fact that besides Iran and Israel, the hostilities have so far impacted 12 other countries, destroying homes, businesses, airports and energy infrastructure.

Ms Shamdasani said that UN rights chief Volker Turk had been deeply shocked by the impacts of the hostilities on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Mr Turk called for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the Minab attack.

The onus is on the forces that carried out the attack to investigate it. We call on them to make public the findings and to ensure accountability and redress for the victims, she insisted.

Ms Shamdasani also stressed that if attacks are found to be directed against civilians or civilian objects or indiscriminate attacks, they are serious violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.

The OHCHR spokesperson expressed concern for the welfare of Iranians, given the governments record of cracking down with lethal force.

She noted that governments are cracking down on a broad scale against those who oppose their rule and the new threats of senior officials against any expression of dissent at this time.

She called on the authorities to safeguard Iranians fundamental freedoms and deplored peoples limited access to essential information amid a nationwide internet shutdown.

Since the conflict erupted on Saturday with Israeli and US attacks on Iran, Tehran responded with counterstrikes against Israel and other US allies across the region.

Meanwhile, Babar Baloch, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), has raised concerns over Lebanon, where armed militants, Hezbollah, entered the conflict, drawing Israeli strikes.

UNHCR reported that heavy displacement has been reported across parts of southern Lebanon, the Bekaa and southern suburbs of Beirut.

Israel issued evacuation warnings to the residents of more than 53 Lebanese villages and conducted intense airstrikes across all three parts of Lebanon, he said.

As of Monday, the conservative estimates suggest that nearly 30,000 people were hosted and registered at collective shelters, Mr Baloch said.

Many more slept in their cars on the side of roads or were still stuck in traffic jams, leaving the south to reach Beirut.

According to media reports on Tuesday, Israeli troops entered southern Lebanon, following Hezbollahs attacks on northern Israel.

Severe disruptions to the transport of goods due to ever-broadening hostilities in the region are also affecting humanitarian supply routes and those who rely on them for their next meal.

READ ALSO: Qatar announces arrest of suspected Iranian spies

Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Samer Jaber, highlighted disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

He said these will complicate maritime routes and delays and driving costs for most of our operations that depend on those routes.

With seas contested and airspace closing, were looking at adapting and using our supplier networks in other countries like Turkiye, like Egypt, like Jordan and Pakistan to support overland corridors, he said.

(NAN)
The Nigerian government has unveiled a new reform initiative, HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU), aimed at addressing the countrys deep-rooted education challenges, including the crisis of out-of-school children and overcrowded classrooms.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, said the initiative would mark a turning point for the countrys basic education sector.

Speaking during a three-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders from the South-south and South-east regions in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Ms Garba said Nigeria must confront the scale of its education crisis and expressed confidence in the initiative.

Represented by UBECs Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Rasaq Akinyemi, the UBEC boss said the success of the initiative hinges on transparency, accountability and collaboration.

We must be candid about the road ahead. Nigerias Basic Education faces very stark realities: over 10 million out-of-school children, overcrowded classrooms, and resource disparity that undermines equity, she said.

Nigeria continues to struggle with high numbers of children outside the formal school system.

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) estimated that around 18.9 million children in Nigeria are out of school, making the country one of the worstaffected globally.

The figure includes millions of primary and junior secondary schoolage children who have never attended school or dropped out early, exacerbating longstanding education challenges.

What HOPE-EDU promises

The initiative, unveiled by the Nigerian government, is designed to improve learning outcomes, expand access to quality basic education and strengthen education systems across participating states.

According to Ms Garba, the initiative will focus on foundational learning, particularly literacy and numeracy, with special attention to rural communities.

She said the reform adopts a performance-based funding model, tying disbursements to measurable results.

HOPE-EDU is more than a funding mechanism; it is a promise fulfilled. Aligned seamlessly with President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda, this initiative targets the heart of our challenges in basic education, she said.

The initiative aims to improve learning outcomes for over 29 million children, empower 500,000 teachers, construct 13,000 new classrooms and return more than 1.5 million out-of-school children to classrooms nationwide.

The Ministry of Education earlier announced the unlocking of $552 million under the initiative to accelerate reforms in the basic education sector.

The minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the milestone as the fastest activation of education financing of this scale in Nigerias history, achieved within 12 months.

Mr Alausa noted that the funding will strengthen foundational learning, expand access to quality basic education, and reinforce accountability across participating states.

The HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) programme is co-financed by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education. It supports measurable reforms aligned with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

Call for monitoring and equity

Ms Garba urged education stakeholders to ensure strict monitoring of the initiative.

She noted that there is need to prioritise the most marginalised including the girls, the orphans and the children in conflict zones.

Their education is not charity; it is the cornerstone of our democracy and economy, she said.

The National Coordinator of HOPE-EDU, Layi Olatawura, also called on state governors to support the programmes implementation in their respective states.

Mr Olatawura commended the federal government for increasing education funding in the 2026 budget, noting that sustained investment would be critical to achieving the programmes goals.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the terrorism trial of former AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami.

Judge Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case after the prosecution asked for time to familiarise itself with the case.

This followed the transfer of prosecution from the State Security Service (SSS), which instituted the charges last month, to the AGF office.

Rotimi Oyedepo, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) who appeared for the prosecution, noted that his office only recently received the case file from the SSS.

We ask your lordship for a very short date. If we have four days, it will be enough to get ready, said Mr Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Granting the request, Judge Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until 10 March for trial and for the prosecution to formally open its case.

The SSS arraigned Mr Malami (SAN) and his son before the judge on 3 February on six terrorism-related charges.

In the charges, the federal government alleged that Mr Malami, sometime in November 2022, knowingly abetted terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office while he served as Attorney General of the Federation.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In another count, the prosecution alleged that Mr Malami and his son engaged in conduct preparatory to an act of terrorism by possessing, without licence, a Sturm Magnum firearm, 16 live cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges at their residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, in December 2025.

The defendants were also accused of unlawful possession of the firearm and ammunition, offences punishable under relevant provisions of the Firearms Act.

At their first appearance on 3 February, both defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts. The defence applied for bail, but Judge Abdulmalik directed that formal written applications be filed.

On 27 February, she granted Mr Malami and his son bail of N200 million each, with conditions including surrender of travel documents and provision of sureties with verifiable property.

Separate money laundering case

The defendants are also facing a separate money laundering case before the same court. The father and son are standingthe trial for money laundering along with Mr Malamis wife, Asabe Bashir.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the trio on 16 money laundering charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The charges allege that between 2015 and 2025, the defendants conspired to conceal, disguise and retain proceeds of unlawful activity worth about N8.7bn through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities and high value property acquisitions.

The case was first brought before Judge Emeka Nwite on 30 December last year. The judge remanded the three of them in custody and admitted them to bail of N500m each with two sureties.

After the court resumed from the Christmas break, the file was returned to Chief Judge John Tsoho for re-assignment to another judge.

The case was re-assigned to Judge Obiora Egwuatu, who announced his withdrawal from the case on personal grounds during its first hearing before him.

The chief judge then re-assigned the matter to Judge Abdulmalik, the same judge handling the terrorism financing case against Mr Malami and his son.

On 27 February, the prosecutor, Jibrin Okutepa, a SAN, applied to correct clerical errors in two of the counts, reducing figures from billions to millions. Mr Malami and his codefendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.

READ ALSO: Court grants order blocking EFCC from investigating firm linked to Nestoil Group

Judge Abdulmalik ordered the three back to custody while fresh bail applications were filed, and adjourned the matter for commencement of trial and hearing of bail applications.

The EFCC alleged in the case that Mr Malami and family members used a complex network of companies and bank accounts to launder alleged proceeds of unlawful activity, including concealing funds in corporate accounts, retaining cash as loan collateral, and acquiring high value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.

Mr Malami is also facing separate asset forfeiture proceedings involving properties in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and his home state of Kebbi, worth nearly N213 billion, at stake.
In the Niger Delta, Nigeria, we often see gas flared, with a flame rising into the sky and thick black smoke, like the smoke we see when tyres are burned.

Beyond this visible flame and smoke lies a silent, invisible threat that is arguably more dangerous than combining the thick black smoke from a generator, the soot in the air in Port Harcourt, or the piles of refuse on the streets of Lagos.

This invisible and silent killer is called methane. It is odourless and colourless, but one of the most powerful blankets trapping heat around our planet today. Methane behaves like that unwelcome guest who shows up unexpectedly and unannounced, creating problems hard to ignore.

This explainer breaks down what methane is, why it is a major problem for Nigeria, and how it affects the health and pockets of everyday citizens.

What exactly is Methane?

Methane is the main component of natural gas, making up roughly 70 to 90 per cent of it. This means that when natural gas leaks, what is mostly released into the air is methane. Even the cooking gas used in many homes contains a high proportion of methane. When this gas escapes into the atmosphere without being burned, it becomes a powerful greenhouse gas.

Methane is the second most impactful greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO). Although it exists in smaller quantities in the atmosphere than CO, it traps heat much more effectively. In simple terms, to trap heat means methane prevents some of the suns warmth from escaping back into space by absorbing and holding that heat, then releasing it into the atmosphere.

As methane concentrations increase, they intensify the greenhouse effect, contributing to global warming and climate change. This warming trend is evident globally, with recent years ranking among the hottest on record due to the accumulation of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.

Much of the methane in the atmosphere comes from human activities. More than half of global methane emissions are linked to fossil fuel production and use, waste decomposition, and agriculture. Sources include oil and gas operations, landfills, rice farming, and livestock digestion.

Methane remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years, much shorter than carbon dioxide (CO), but it is far more effective at trapping heat. It warms the planet about 86 times more than CO over a 20-year period, and about 28 times more over a 100-year timeframe.

How methane is produced

Methane is produced during oil and gas extraction and is released into the air mainly through operational practices and equipment failures across the energy value chain.

One major source is accidental leaks, also known as fugitive emissions. These occur when equipment such as well pads, pipelines, valves, storage tanks, and compressor stations malfunction or deteriorate. In severe cases, such as well blowouts, large volumes of methane can continuously escape into the atmosphere for weeks or even months.

Methane is also released through deliberate operational practices. This includes venting. Venting is the intentional release of natural gas into the atmosphere without burning it. This typically occurs during well completions, routine maintenance, or to manage pressure during equipment malfunctions.

Venting is considered extremely environmentally harmful because it releases methane in its pure, most potent form, where its heat-trapping ability is 80 to 90 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

Another pathway is flaring. Flaring is the term used for burning off unwanted gas that cannot be captured or used productively during oil production. Ideally, flaring converts methane into carbon dioxide and water vapour, which have lower climate impacts.

However, this disposal method is often flawed because it is frequently compromised by incomplete combustion, in which inefficient operations or poor maintenance prevent the gas from burning completely, allowing raw methane to escape into the atmosphere.

The problem is further aggravated by unlit flares that have been extinguished by strong winds or mechanical failures, effectively transforming the flare stack into a massive vent for pure methane.

These systemic failures mean that flaring is far less effective than intended, with recent scientific studies using aerial surveys revealing that unlit or malfunctioning flares are actually releasing five times more methane than previously assumed by both the industry and the government.

Why is Nigeria a methane hotspot?

Nigeria is an oil-producing country, with oil revenue constituting the main economicstay of the country. The sector contributes 5.7 per cent to the national GDP and accounts for up to 92 per cent of foreign exchange earnings. The nation also boasts of the worlds ninth-largest gas reserves.

Nigerias heavy reliance on oil and gas means that routine flaring, venting, and equipment leaks release substantial amounts of methane, estimated at more than 439.8 kilotons annually.

Between 2010 and 2020, the country accounted for about 16 per cent of sub-Saharan Africas total methane emissions. Nigeria also remains one of the worlds leading gas-flaring nations, with flared gas volumes rising by roughly 12 per cent in 2024, the second-largest increase recorded globally.

These emissions not only intensify climate change but also contribute to environmental degradation, economic losses, and public health challenges, particularly in communities located along the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the oil and gas value chain.

Other sources of methane

Methane emissions do not originate only from oil and gas operations; everyday human activities also play a major role. Livestock such as cows and goats produce methane during digestion, mainly through burping, while rice cultivation contributes because flooded fields create low-oxygen environments where methane-producing bacteria thrive.

Waste is another significant source, as large volumes of refuse in dumpsites decompose without sufficient air, releasing landfill gas that is largely methane.

Data show that agriculture accounts for about 49 per cent of Nigerias methane emissions. Livestock farming, especially cattle, is the largest contributor, driven by enteric fermentation and manure management, while rice cultivation accounts for roughly 7 per cent of agricultural methane emissions from anaerobic conditions in flooded paddies.

The waste sector accounts for about 21 per cent of overall methane emissions, with major urban centres such as Lagos and Port Harcourt identified as hotspots due to poorly managed landfills.

The real-life impact

Methane does more than warm the planet, it affects peoples health and survival in very direct ways. In Nigeria, methane contributes to a growing public health and environmental challenge.

One major concern is its role in the formation of ground-level ozone. Unlike the protective ozone layer high in the atmosphere, ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant. It irritates the lungs, worsens asthma, and can lead to chronic bronchitis.

In densely populated cities such as Lagos and Port Harcourt, this contributes to thousands of hospital visits for breathing-related illnesses each year. Methane leaks also often occur alongside other harmful chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been associated with cancer, skin irritation, and developmental challenges in children living in oil- and mining-affected communities.

Rising temperatures linked to methane-driven warming can disrupt rainfall patterns, dry out soils, and reduce crop yields, affecting staples such as maize and yams in farming regions like Benue and parts of northern Nigeria.

In the Niger Delta, pollution and heat associated with gas flaring and methane leaks have damaged aquatic ecosystems, leading to declining fish populations and threatening the livelihoods of local fishing communities.

Why you should care

Methane is a silent thief. It steals our health by polluting our air, steals our food by ruining our soil, and steals our national wealth by wasting precious energy resources. For the average Nigerian, reducing methane emissions isnt just a scientific goal, it is about having cleaner air to breathe, better crops to eat, and a more stable environment for our children.

Methane might be invisible, but its effects are very real.
The former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the only surviving opposition political party in Nigeria.

He stated this in one of the two statements he wrote last month in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which is investigating him on various corruption allegations stemming from his time as the Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023.

Mr El-Rufai, who cast himself as a casualty of political victimisation, said he is only being investigated because of his membership in the opposition ADC.

The former governor, who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the ADC last year, fell out with President Bola Tinubu in the aftermath of his failed nomination to serve as a minister in President Tinubus cabinet in 2023.

He has been in ICPC custody since 19 February, after his release from days of detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had detained him after he honoured an invitation on Monday, 16 February. Mr El-Rufai, who is facing prosecution by the State Security Service (SSS) over his claim of tapping National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadus phone call, remains in ICPCs custody as of the time of filing this report on Wednesday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that in statements he wrote on 19 and 20 February at the ICPC custody, Mr El-Rufai refused to respond to allegations laid before him by the prosecutors, instead asking them to present them before a court where he would respond.

The statements were part of the supporting documents the ICPC filed along with its counter-affidavit to oppose Mr El-Rufais N1 billion fundamental rights suit. Mr El-Rufai filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the propriety of a search conducted by ICPC agents supported by police operatives, at his residence on 5 February in Abuja.

Read the two hand-written statements Mr El-Rufai gave ICPC agents in custody.

His statement, written in ICPC custody on 19 February:

I have read the above cautionary statement and I understand its meaning and implication. I wish to voluntarily state, in the presence of my lawyer, Ubong Akpan, Esq., from the chambers of Ubong Akpan. My name is Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai. I was born in Dandawa, Katsina State, in 1960, and grew up mostly in Kaduna State.

I attended school in Kaduna, and went to Ahmadu Bello University from my first degree in Quantity Surveying. I also attended Harvard university and the University of London, among others. I studied Business Administration, Public Administration and Law, Public Administration and Law.

My working career spans quantity surveying consulting, mobile telecommunications and public service. I was Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (19992003), Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (20032007) and twice- elected Governor of Kaduna State (20152023). I am retired and live mostly in Egypt with half of my family and 96-year-old mother.

I am a leading member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the only surviving opposition party in Nigeria, which is the real reason you are investigating me.

In response to your question (and indeed all your questions), I have, on the advice of counsel, decided to exercise my right to silence. I will make no further statement or respond to any question. I believe that after nearly two years of intensive investigation, the ICPC should present its findings to a judicial tribunal and not to me. I will respond to any allegations in a court of law only.

This is because I do not believe these investigations amount to lawful entitlement, as in political persecution, which only a judge can decide upon. Thank you.

On 20 February, he wrote another statement:

In furtherance to my statement dated 19 February, 2026 and in the presence of my lawyer Ubong E. Akpan, I wish to state further that upon presentation of further documents and questions, I reserve my constitutional right to silence to all the documents and further questions. As clearly stated in my statement dated 19 February 2026, I will respond to these documents and questions only when presented in a Court of Law.
The trial of nine Yelwata massacre suspects stalled again at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.

Trial judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, had to adjourn the matter following a request by the lawyer to the eighth and ninth defendants, Y.A. Hassan, who informed the court that it was his first appearance in the matter and yet to familiarise himself with the charges.

On 2 February, the Nigerian government arraigned the nine defendants linked to the 13 June 2025 attack on Yelwata village in Guma Local Government Area, Benue State, which reportedly claimed the lives of about 150 people.

The prosecution on that day, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, arraigned the defendants on 57 terrorism charges.

The suspects include Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, and Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi.

The rest are Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin. All are male.

Adjournment

After lawyers announced their appearance during Wednesdays proceedings, Y.A. Hassan, who appeared for Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin (the eighth and ninth defendants), appealed for a short adjournment, explaining that he was yet to familiarise himself with the facts of the case.

The lawyer, who appeared in the case for the first time on Wedesday, said he had not even seen the charges.

Prosecution lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecutions, did not oppose the application.

However, Mr Oyedepo who appeared set for trial to commence, told Mr Hassan that evidence-in-chief of the neprosecution witness could be taken while cross-examination of the witness could be deferred tilll the next date. He urged the judge to grant a short adjournment if she so wished.

But Mr Hassan insisted he was not ready, prompting the judge to caution him before adjourning the case.

The judge told him that he is supposed to take the charge from the previous lawyer; so it is not the duty of the prosecution to keep furnishing the charges to the defence. Before you take a case, you are supposed to ask necessary questions, so you dont waste the time of the court, said Ms Abdulmalki.

She warned that the matter is of significant public interest and that the court will not tolerate unnecessary delays going forward and adjourned the matter until 9 and 10 March for continuation of trial.

Backstory

The nine men were accused by the government of orchestrating the 13 June 2025 attack on Yelwata community in Benue State.

The prosecution arraigned them on 57 amended terrorism charges brought under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including planning the attack, recruiting fighters, providing financial and logistical support, and coordinating the armed assault that killed scores of residents and destroyed property.

The defendants denied all charges during arraignment.

The court remanded them at Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed 26 and 27 February for commencement of the trial.

At the 26 February proceedings, the prosecution called its first witness, a senior officer from the Nigeria Police Forces Intelligence Response Unit.

He narrated the circumstances of the Yelwata attack, stating that the assailants, armed with rifles, stormed the community following prior meetings in Nasarawa State.

He linked the planning and mobilisation of the armed group to these meetings, detailing the killings, injuries, and destruction of property.

However, on 27 February, proceedings were temporarily stalled because the same eighth and ninth defendants were without legal representation as their former lawyer had applied for withdrawal.

The development prompted the judge to adjourn proceedings until today, 4 March, for them to resolve their legal representation issues.

PREMIUM TIMES also reported that a federal team of forensic pathologists exhumed 105 bodies from mass graves in the Yelwata community as part of an ongoing investigation into attacks in the area.

The report said members of the Presidential Medical Delegation and officials of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency worked with the federal investigators during the exercise.

The exhumation followed the arraignment of the nine suspects. The court had stressed the need for forensic evidence to ensure a fair trial and proper determination of culpability.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted an application by Sani Malumfashi, a professor and chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), and his co-defendants to embark on Islamic pilgrimages to Mecca.

Mr Malumfashis co-defendants are the Secretary of KANSIEC, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Ado Garba, a Deputy Director in the Accounts Department of the states electoral body.

The defendants are facing charges of fraudulently taking N1 billion between November and December 2024.

Judge James Omotosho granted the application after the defence lawyer, Okechukwu Edeze, moved three applications to that effect.

I have listened to the applications and reactions of the prosecution. The applications, as consolidated, are also granted as prayed, ruled Mr Omotosho.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in six counts, accused the defendants of siphoning the sums of N450 million, N310 million and N260 million between November and December 2024.

The defendants were arraigned on 27 January and remanded in custody pending bail application. The following day, 28 January, the court granted them bail of N200 million each.

The judge then adjourned the matter until 4 March for commencement of trial. But when the matter resumed on Wednesday, Mr Edeze informed the court of the defendants application to travel for Umrah and later for Hajj.

While moving the application on Wednesday, Mr Edeze told the court that the applications for the three defendants all related in character and nature and that the commissioners application was filed on 27 February.

The judge therefore consolidated the application with those of two others to save time. Mr Edeze did not state the dates the other two were filed.

He said the applications sought an order of the court to release the passports of the defendants, and requested that the court grant the applications so they could attend Umrah and Hajj.

The prosecution lawyer from ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, did not oppose the applications since they are going for a religious exercise, acknowledging that it is the defendants right.

Applications granted

Therefore , the judge granted the applications as prayed.

Following the ruling, the prosecution lawyer told the court that he had two witnesses in court and asked for a date for commencement of trial.

He also said he just remembered that the defendants are government workers, and such applications are supposed to be accompanied by leave letters from the government, but the judge noted that he did not oppose the application after it was mentioned by the defence.

The judge requested to see the faces of the witnesses, and the two ICPC witnesses announced appearances in court.

Mr Omotosho then asked when the religious events would end so he could fix the next hearing dates accordingly.

The defence said it is expected to end by June, since both Hajj and Umrah are involved.

The judge asked Mr Edeze if he thought it was important that the defendants attend the two events considering the nature of the case.

He noted that Hajj is mandatory and Umrah is a lesser, voluntary pilgrimage, adding that June is far away because both events should take not more than six weeks.

However, Mr Omotisho reluctantly agreed and adjourned the case until 30 June.

Background

The fraud charges, filed on 1 December 2025 by ICPCs lawyer, Mr Akponimisingha, accused the defendants of unlawfully taking N450 million, N310 million, and N260 million between November and December 2024.

ICPC alleged that Messrs Malumfashi, Mustapha, and Garba, between November and December 2024 in Kano, conspired to take possession of N450 million cash through SLM Agro Global Farm account numbers 0018222634 and 0015932143 with Jaiz Bank on 1 November 2024.

The money was said to form part of the proceeds of unlawful activity.

The offence is contrary to Sections 2(1)(b) and 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.

The case was initially assigned to another judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, in 2025, but was struck out over ICPCs failure to serve court documents on the defendants.
There was drama on Tuesday at the House of Representatives as lawmakers clashed with the Acting Managing Director of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET), Akinnawo Johnson, during an oversight session on the governments revenue performance.

The session, convened by the House Committee on Finance, chaired by James Faleke (APC, Lagos), was part of ongoing engagements with key revenue-generating agencies to examine their performance and the implementation of fiscal policies critical to government income.

Trouble began when Mr Johnson, in his opening remarks, stated that NBET was ipso facto not a revenue-generating entity.

According to him, the agency is funded through regulatory income derived from the market-administrative charge embedded in electricity tariffs, not from profit-making activities.

NBET is ipso facto not a revenue-generating entity but an entity provided funding for its operation from the market administrative charge that is earned as a portion of the electricity tariff, he said.

He explained that under the Multi-Year Tariff Order issued by the regulator, distribution companies receive two invoices monthly, one from NBET covering energy and capacity charges, and another from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).

Mr Johnson said funds received by NBET for energy and capacity are paid 100 per cent to generation companies without margin.

We trade at no margin, he said, adding that NBET only retains a share of the tariff classified as regulatory income to cover its recurring expenditure, while its capital projects are funded through appropriation by the National Assembly.

But Mr Faleke faulted the characterisation, insisting that any inflow to a government entity amounts to revenue and must be treated as such.

What is the meaning of earning? Is it an inflow or an outflow? the chair asked.

When Mr Johnson responded that earning implies inflow, Mr Faleke interjected: When you come to the Committee on Finance and tell us your agency is not revenue-generating, that is not correct. You generate revenue. The application of that revenue is another matter entirely.

Whatever revenue you generate, you cannot spend it until it is appropriated by the National Assembly. Even if you sold scrap, it is income to the government.

He stressed that the committee was aware of the distinctions between agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and others, but maintained that all revenues, regardless of volume or structure, must be disclosed and accounted for.

Tension heightened when Stanley Olajide (PDP, Oyo) accused the NBET boss of interrupting the chair and breaching parliamentary procedure.

We owe you a duty of care. There are procedures here. Floor must be yielded to you before you speak, Mr Olajide cautioned.

He subsequently moved a motion to step down NBETs appearance, citing illegible submissions and the presentation of only five copies of documents to a committee with over 70 members.

Although Mr Faleke initially said the committee needed to educate the NBET chief, the matter escalated further when lawmakers questioned the agencys claim of partial self-funding.

Mr Johnson maintained that NBET is funded for recurrent expenditure from regulatory income and for capital projects through appropriation.

He added that the agency had complied with operating surplus remittances and that deductions had been made from its income in the past.

He disclosed that deductions were made from NBETs share of regulatory income and, at times, from funds meant for generation companies, though such deductions were later reversed following clarifications.

According to him, the Minister of Finance granted an exemption in December 2025, invoking powers under the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

However, the committee pressed further. If deductions are from your income, why did you say you are not a revenue generator? Mr Faleke queried.

Lawmakers insisted that all income earned by any agency of government is backed by law and subject to legislative oversight.

Munachim Alozie (LP, Abia) openly rebuked the NBET boss, accusing him of arrogance and questioning his understanding of accountability to parliament.

You were appointed by the government. Who are you answerable to? You came before the House of Representatives to lecture us that you are not a revenue-generating agency, he said, warning that the committee could walk him out.

The hearing took another turn when lawmakers examined documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission on NBETs incorporation and ownership structure.

Mr Johnson told the committee that NBETs ownership comprises the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated. He explained that the companys structure was designed in line with the Presidential Debt Recovery Committees approval to make it a special-purpose vehicle that is bankruptcy remote.

However, lawmakers raised concerns over the use of private individuals as shareholders in a company owned and funded by the federal government.

On what ground do you enlist individuals as shareholders for a company owned by the federal government? Is that directive superior to law? members asked.

Mr Johnson said the structure was advised by the Ministry of Finance and backed by the mandate of the Presidential Debt Recovery Committee.

But lawmakers insisted that extant laws, not administrative directives, must guide all actions of government agencies.

As tempers flared and members repeatedly asked him to answer questions directly, Mr Olajide renewed his motion to step down NBETs appearance.

The committee adopted the motion, suspending further consideration of NBETs submission to a later date.

Before adjourning the matter, Mr Faleke directed NBET to return with additional documents, including the letter from the Presidential Debt Recovery Committee authorising the companys registration structure and the identities of the shareholders of NBET Finance Company Plc.

The committee also summoned the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Director of Debt Recovery and the Minister of Finance to appear alongside NBET next Tuesday at 12 p.m. to explain the rationale for listing individuals as shareholders in a government-owned entity and to clarify issues relating to debt exposure and accountability.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State on Tuesday elected a new state executive committee at a congress attended by Governor Uba Sani and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The congress, held at the YarAdua Multipurpose Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna, brought together party elders, delegates and stakeholders from the states 23 local government areas and 255 wards.

At the end of the exercise, Atiku Isaac Sankey was affirmed as the new state chairperson, and 35 others as members of the state executive committee.

Orderly Congress

The state congress followed ward and local government congresses conducted across Kaduna in recent weeks. Delegates described the process as peaceful and coordinated, culminating in the affirmation of the 36-member executive through a consensus arrangement.

In his remarks, Governor Sani said the adoption of consensus reflected the partys growing institutional strength.

The adoption of consensus stands as further evidence of political maturity. Consensus does not imply uniformity of thought; rather, it reflects the capacity to reconcile perspectives in pursuit of a common good.

It is an expression of collective strength and an understanding that unity sharpens purpose, the governor said.

He noted that internal cohesion and constitutional adherence remain critical to sustaining party growth and public confidence.

Mr Abbas congratulated the newly elected officials and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by party members across the state.

Commendation for outgoing executive

Governor Sani commended the outgoing members of the state executive committee for their service and urged the new leadership to see their positions as a responsibility to the entire party structure.

As we commend the outgoing leadership for their service and congratulate those newly entrusted, we reaffirm our commitment to unity, constitutional fidelity, and the continued advancement of Kaduna State, our nation under our great leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and indeed our beloved party, the APC, he said.

Party leaders at the congress reiterated their support for President Bola Tinubu and the APCs national leadership.

Delegates react

Some attendees who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES after the congress expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

Gambo Lawal, from Zaria, said the consensus approach helped to stabilise the party.

The process was calm and well organised. By agreeing on a consensus, we avoided divisions and demonstrated that the party is united, he said.

Murjanatu Dauda, from Kachia LGA, said the consultations leading up to the congress gave members a sense of inclusion.

There was engagement from the ward level. We feel represented, and we expect the new executive to continue that inclusive approach, she said.

Ibrahim Tanko, from Malali, Kaduna, also said, Now that the executive has been constituted, the focus should shift to energising members at the ward level, especially young people, he said.

Looking Ahead

With the emergence of Mr Sankey as chairman, the APC in Kaduna enters a new phase of party administration. Stakeholders at the congress stressed that unity, internal accountability and consistent engagement with members across the wards and local governments would be central to consolidating the partys position in the state.
A businessman, Nasiru Haladu Danu, has threatened to sue online newspaper Peoples Gazette over a report which described him as a notorious fraudster and linked him to alleged corruption in the award of a N22 billion aviation contract.

In a letter dated 4 March 2026 and addressed to the Editor-in-Chief of Peoples Gazette, Mr Danus lawyers, Aliyu & Musa (SAN) Legal Practitioners and Consultants, demanded an immediate retraction and public apology over what they described as a highly defamatory publication authored on 3 March.

The report, titled Exclusive: Keyamo awards N22 billion NAMA headquarters project to notorious fraudster Nasiru Danu as mindless looting rages under Bola Tinubu, allegedly accused Mr Danu of corruption, money laundering, diversion of public funds, passport fraud and other criminal misconduct.

Mr Danu, a businessman and philanthropist who holds the traditional titles of Sardaunan Dutse Emirate in Jigawa State and Tafida Babban Daura Emirate in Katsina State, said the publication falsely portrayed him as a shady individual and a fugitive.

Through his solicitors, he described the allegations as false, malicious and reckless, insisting that he has never been convicted or declared wanted by any court or security agency in Nigeria or abroad.

For the record, at no time was our client either convicted or declared wanted by any security agency anywhere in the world, the letter stated.

It also denied claims that Mr Danu fled Nigeria for Dubai, asserting that he has remained in the country and continued his philanthropic activities during the period referenced in the report.

The lawyers further faulted the newspapers account of the contract award process for the purported N22 billion headquarters project of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

According to them, the report did not allege that the company involved was unqualified under procurement laws or disqualified by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

They argued that under Nigerias procurement framework, a minister does not directly award contracts within a ministry or its parastatals, suggesting that the publication misrepresented the role of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in the alleged contract.

Mr Danus legal team demanded that the newspaper:

 Immediately pull down and retract the publication from its website and all platforms within 24 hours of receipt of the letter;

 Publish a written public apology to Danu on its website with equal prominence as the original report and in two widely circulated national dailies;

 Cease further allegedly defamatory publications or communications intended to harass or malign their client.

The lawyers gave the newspaper 48 hours to comply, failing which they said Mr Danu would initiate legal proceedings to protect his reputation.

As of the time of filing this report, Peoples Gazette had not issued a public response to the threat of legal action.

BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT OF MR DANUS LETTER TO PEOPLES GAZETTE

4th March, 2026,

The Editor in Chief,

Peoples Gazette Newspaper,

Plot 1095, Umar Shuaibu Avenue,

Utako District,

Abuja.

Dear Sir,

RE: EXCLUSIVE : KEYAMO AWARDS N22 BILLION NAMA HEADQUARTERS PROJECT TO NOTORIOUS FRAUDSTER NASIRU DANU AS MINDLESS LOOTING RAGES UNDER BOLA TINUBU:

DEMAND FOR RETRACTION, PUBLIC APOLOGY, AND NOTICE OF CESSATION OF HARASSMENT AND DEFAMATORY PUBLICATIONS AGAINST NASIRU HALADU DANU

We are Solicitors to Alhaji Nasiru Haladu Danu, a reputable businessman, renowned philanthropist who holds the revered traditional title of Sardaunan Dutse Emirate, in Jigawa State and Tafida Babban Daura Emirate in Katsina State, (hereinafter referred to as our client), and it is on his instructions that we write to you concerning the highly defamatory publication authored and circulated by your media website on 3rd March, 2026, wherein our client was falsely portrayed as a shady individual involved in corruption, money laundering, diversion of public funds, passport fraud, and other criminal misconduct.

The publication portrayed our client as a culprit in several unsubstantiated allegations and insinuations designed to injure his hard-earned reputation, integrity, and standing in society.

The allegations are false, malicious, reckless, and constitute serious defamation. They were published without any proof of conviction by any court of law, either in Nigeria or abroad, and without adherence to the basic principles of responsible journalism.The allegations, as conveyed in your report, are calculated to injure our clients reputation and to lower his image in the estimation of right-thinking members of society and were done after you had made an effort to blackmail him via a WhatsApp message by one of your reporters.

For the record, at no time was our client either convicted or declared wanted by any security agency anywhere in the world to justify such invidious publication by you. Our client has never fled Nigeria for Dubai or any other country. He has remained in the country and actively participated in many philanthropic activities during the time you claimed he was a fugitive.

Furthermore, regarding the contract alluded to in your report, it is surprising that you did not claim anywhere in your report that the company was not qualified under the procurement rules and regulations for the award of the contract by the Federal Executive Council. Neither did you claim that it was disqualified by the Bureau of Public Procurement in the award process.

The deliberate misrepresentation of unproven allegations as established, facts by your publication is calculated to injure our clients reputation, diminish his standing in the business and political communities, and expose him to public hatred, ridicule, and contempt. If you have cared to check, as all responsible journalists are expected to, you would have known that under the current procurement regime, a Minister has no role to play in the award of a contract, either in his ministry or in the parastatals he supervises.

In view of the foregoing, our client instructed us to demand from you the following;

Immediate pulling down and retraction of the defamatory publication from your website and all platforms under your control within 24 hours of receipt of this letter;

A written public apology addressed to our client, and which must be:

 Published on your website with equal prominence as the original publication; and

 Published in two (2) widely circulated national daily newspapers in Nigeria;

Immediate cessation of further defamatory publications or indirect/direct communications (including WhatsApp messages) intended toblackmail, harass, intimidate, or malign our clients.

Be informed that if you fail to accede to our clients modest request within 48 hours of receipt of this letter, our client will not hesitate to take further legal action against you to protect his hard-earned reputation.

Please be advised accordingly.

Yours faithfully,

Aliyu & Musa (SAN) Legal Practitioners and Consultants.

Sunusi Musa SAN

Managing Partner
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has opposed the proposed Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, arguing that Nigeria already has sufficient legal safeguards to protect fundamental rights.

He stated the ministrys position at a public hearing on Wednesday organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights in Abuja.

The hearing focused on two proposed legislations, the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill and a Bill seeking to repeal the National Human Rights Commission Act and the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act, 2010, to enact the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2025.

The proposed amendment to the National Human Rights Commission law aims to strengthen the commissions investigative powers, enhance its day-to-day operations and ensure sustained contributions to the Human Rights Fund in line with the Paris Principles.

The Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, on its part, seeks to safeguard civil society actors, journalists, lawyers, community leaders, whistleblowers, faith-based actors and other citizens who peacefully advocate constitutional and internationally recognised rights.

Represented by the Chief of State Counsel, Reuben Imarha, Mr Fagbemi maintained that enacting a fresh law dedicated to human rights defenders would create duplication and institutional conflict.

According to him, existing statutes already provide adequate protection, and introducing another framework could result in overlapping mandates and legislative confusion among government agencies.

While acknowledging gaps in the enforcement of human rights, he urged the National Assembly to strengthen and adequately resource existing institutions rather than create new structures.

He stressed that the ministry is strongly against the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, urging the House to jettison the proposed legislation.

However, the minister expressed conditional support for the bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the National Human Rights Commission law, though he raised specific concerns about some clauses.

He faulted Clause 5(2)(b), which proposes that business owners obtain an annual human rights compliance certificate, warning that such a requirement could undermine ongoing efforts to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

Although he acknowledged that businesses have been implicated in rights violations, he said the provision requires review to avoid discouraging investment.

Mr Fagbemi also raised objections to Clause 15, which seeks to empower the commission to borrow funds to pursue human rights cases. He recommended that such borrowing should require the approval of the ministry or the National Assembly to guard against abuse.

On Clause 16(2)(b), which proposes that multinationals and public and private companies in the financial and oil sectors contribute 0.3 per cent of their annual profits to the commission, he described the measure as introducing a quasi-tax regime. He advised that the proposal be harmonised with the federal governments ongoing tax reform programme to prevent duplication.

Civil society groups at the hearing took a contrary position.

Programme Director of Development Dynamics, Jude Ohanele, argued that the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill would deepen democratic governance and strengthen Nigerias international human rights standing.

He said the legislation would enhance transparency, boost investor confidence through rule-of-law assurances and provide lawful channels for citizens to ventilate grievances, thereby reducing conflict.

According to him, the bill is not adversarial to the state but reinforces constitutional order and responsible governance.

We strongly support the bill in its entirety. The Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, 2024 (HB.1867) is a landmark legislative initiative that reflects Nigerias preference for democracy and commitment to constitutional governance, he said, urging the House to fast-track its passage in the national interest.

Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, also supported stronger legal backing for the commission. He stressed that businesses should be compelled to integrate human rights standards into their operations.

READ ALSO: Fagbemi flags funding gaps as hurdle to justice sector reforms

Mr Ojukwu noted that the Human Rights Fund, established in 2010, has yet to receive funding, adding that the proposed legislation seeks to provide financial backing, partly through tax-related mechanisms, to enable the commission to pursue human rights cases effectively.

He said the bill would also ensure speedy enforcement of the commissions decisions through the Federal High Court and further consolidate its institutional independence.

Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, commended the commissions efforts but said more reforms are necessary.

He urged the National Assembly to approve the commissions requests and pass the amendment bill before August to strengthen human rights protection in the country.
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee probing the operations and funding of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) has warned that it may compel the attendance of the Bank of Industry (BOI) after the bank failed to honour its invitation to appear before it.

The warning followed BOIs absence at the committees inaugural investigative hearing at the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The lawmakers said the bank neither appeared nor submitted documents earlier requested to aid the probe.

In contrast, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the Nigerian Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) were present and made submissions based on documents previously forwarded to the panel.

The committee, chaired by Chidi Obetta (APC, Enugu), subjected the three institutions to detailed scrutiny, examining their mandates, funding sources, intervention frameworks and performance records from 2018 to date.

The investigation forms part of the Houses oversight responsibility to evaluate how development finance interventions have been implemented and whether they have delivered measurable impact across critical sectors of the economy.

During deliberations, the lawmakers directed NADF to provide further documentation, particularly comprehensive records of loans and support extended to farmers affected by the ginger blight outbreak, which disrupted production in several parts of the country.

Members said the committee requires clarity on the scale of financial assistance and its outcomes.

The NCGC, which informed the panel that it recently commenced operations, was asked to return with detailed documents outlining its legal mandate, governance framework, operational structure, funding model and programme pipeline.

Similarly, NIRSAL was instructed to submit updated and expanded records of its interventions within the review period, including data on beneficiaries, disbursement volumes and performance indicators.

However, the absence of BOI drew sharp reactions from members, who described the banks failure to appear or file the required documents as unacceptable, particularly in view of what they said were repeated communications and formal invitations.

In a motion moved by Femi Bamisile (APC, Ekiti), the committee resolved to issue a directive compelling the bank to submit all outstanding reports and appear at the next sitting.

The lawmakers cautioned that continued non-compliance could lead to the invocation of the Houses constitutional powers, including the issuance of a warrant of arrest to enforce attendance.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr Obetta stressed that the probe is not intended to witch-hunt any institution but to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of public intervention funds.

He said the panel is mandated to trace the flow of public resources allocated to DFIs, identify beneficiaries, assess the performance of funded projects and review loan recovery processes where applicable.

Development finance institutions are critical to supporting strategic sectors, expanding access to finance and promoting inclusive growth, he said.

Where public funds are involved, there must be transparency, accountability and measurable outcomes. Our goal is to ensure that resources deployed for development achieve real impact for Nigerians.

The Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant institutions are expected to appear before the committee at its next adjourned sitting as the investigative hearing continues.
One of the five suspects facing trial over the 5 June 2022 fatal attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how he was arrested by operatives by the State Security Service (SSS).

Idris Omeiza, who opened his defence, gave evidence before Judge Emeka Nwite while being led by his lawyer, Abdullahi Muhammad.

He testified in Ebira language, which a court official interpreted into English.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that more than 40 worshippers died and over 150 were injured in the attack during the churchs Pentecost Mass.

The other defendants facing prosecution over the incident are Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47.

The prosecution announced it was closing its case after the 11th prosecution witness concluded his testimony on 18 February.

The defence was then scheduled to open on 4 and 5 March.

The trial court had admitted the confessional statements of the defendants after a trial-within-trial conducted to ascertain the voluntariness of the extra-judicial statements credited to the defendants.

The SSS had requested an accelerated hearing, which the court granted.

How the suspect was arrested

At the resumed trial on Wednesday, Mr Omeiza, who said he is an auxiliary nurse, told the court he was arrested on 1 August 2022 alongside two other young boys, Hauwa and Yusuf, at the same house.

The night I was arrested, I usually woke up in the morning to read my book. When I woke up and was reading, I looked at the clock; it was 2:26 a.m.

When I heard noises, I dropped my book, opened the window and saw a group of people dressed in black, covering their faces. They forced open the door and entered, he said.

He added that the operatives were asking for his elder brother, Jamiu.

There was a door close to my room, and there were too many small boys there. They arrested them, he said, naming the boys as Awal and Yusuf.

Mr Omeiza told the court he met the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, at the SSS facility in Lokoja, Kogi State, where he had also been detained.

At the office, he said the four of them were kept in a room while operatives recorded information about their names, schools, occupations, and their fathers names.

He added that he volunteered a statement the next day and remained in detention until 18 August 2022, when he learned his elder brother had also been arrested.

Mr Omeiza said before 18 August, when they were moved to Ondo State, the SSS had not questioned him about the Owo church attack or membership of ISWAP or any other terror group.

At the Ondo State SSS office, he said he was detained alongside his elder brother in the same room, where interrogators questioned them about the Owo church attack.

Judge Nwite adjourned the case until 6 March for continuation of the defendants testimony.
Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), a civil society group interested in credible elections, stated on Wednesday that the 2025 Anambra State governorship election was characterised by mismatched registered voters, arithmetic errors in vote tabulation, missing/unrecorded ballots, and overvoting.

It also stated it tracked over N19 billion spent by political parties and their candidates during the election.

However, the Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, noted that the election irregularities highlighted in the report did not affect the overall outcome of the election.

It did not affect the election because the margin of lead was over 300,000, he said, as he emphasised that the groups findings were important for procedural purposes.

Mr Idowu said this in Abuja while presenting KDIs report titled Key Lessons from the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election.

The reports comes about four months after the election was held.

The governorship election took place on 8 November 2025. Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was re-elected, polling 422,664 votes to defeat his closest challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 99,445 votes.

Speaking during the electoral summit, the Senior Governance Adviser, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Chris Okeke, outlined the importance of the KDIs findings. Mr Okeke said it is valuable to Translate the evidence into practical action in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

Election irregularities

Mr Idowu identified irregularities, including discrepancies in the election results declared.

Number of registered voters on Form EC8A did not match INECs official pre-elections figures, Mr Idowu said. He added that this was observed in 412 polling units.

He also said significant discrepancies emerged in voter data: INEC initially reported 2,802,790 registered voters, yet the IReV portal showed 2,734,344, while a third figure of 2,788,864 was announced at the collation centre.

While showing examples of such occurrences in some of the polling units, Mr Idowu urged INEC to customise all details, including the number of registered voters on Form EC8A (polling unit election results sheet), to avoid such errors.

Similarly, there were arithmetic errors in vote tabulation in 635 polling units, 13,428 missing ballots and overvoting in 443 polling units, the group said.

Overvoting affected 53,666 valid votes, according him, adding that the discoveries affected APGAs 37,294 votes and APCs 9,160 votes. He said this is because of the cancellation of voting in polling units where overvoting occurred.

While the incidents did not affect the overall result because of the margin, Mr Idowu said, They raise important considerations regarding the accountability, integrity and credibility of the electoral process.

The KDIs report aligned with PREMIUM TIMES analysis of Anambras governorship elections.

At some polling units, a more discreet form of vote buying was observed. Voters were asked to write down their bank details in a small notebook being passed around. On inspection, the notebook contained full names, phone numbers, and account numbers of voters.

Mr Idowu commended INEC for its prompt uploading of results on the IReV portal. According to him, by midnight, 5,711 polling unit results were uploaded, an improvement over the Ondo elections held in 2024.

Election security

While presenting the KDIs report, Mr Idowu noted that between 1 January and 7 November 2025, there were 31 incidents of electoral violence.

He said 70 monitors were deployed during the period to all Anambras Local Government Areas (LGA) and neighbouring states to checkmate the pre-elections atmosphere.

The group recorded two fatalities. According to Mr Idowu, Pre-election violence was driven more by structural criminal activities than electoral competition.

On election day, there were 35 cases of violence, with Oyi and Njikoka LGAs recording the most incidents: 14 and 5, respectively.

The perpetrators were said to include party agent, voters, party thugs, party members, and security agents.

The victims of the violence included Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, Ad-Hoc staff, party members/agents, and community leaders.

However, Mr Idowu said that with the deployment of over 40,000 security operatives, it Confined the spread of election-related violence in the Anambra governorship elections.

Over N10.9 billion election day spending tracked

The group used a parallel estimation technique and deployed 50 community-based monitors between June and November 2025 to track the expenses made by both political parties and candidates during the election cycle.

According to the groups findings, the amount of money spent on campaigns by political parties and candidates is not commensurate with the known figure received from sales of forms and donations received.

Over N19.6 billion was spent during the election and campaign activities. The group said it tracked N1.4 billion raised by APGA, including donations, and N350 million from sales of forms by the APC. However, it did not receive news of donations to the APC.

The group added that N8 billion was spent on campaign activities by political parties.

It however said that over N10.9billion was expended on election day. Total spending by APGA/Mr Soludo was over N3.4 billion, Labour Party/Mr Moghalu, N2.3 billion, and APC/Mr Ukachukwu, N1.9 billion.

This exceeded the N1 billion threshold the Electoral Act 2022 stipulated for political parties, Mr Idowu said.

However, 42 per cent of the total expenses were incurred by third parties. For instance, PREMIUM TIMES reported that during the campaign, a powerful coalition of prominent businessmen, industrialists, and politicians rallied behind Mr Soludo, providing the financial leverage as well.

Way forward

Commenting on the general issues raised, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Anambra State, Queen-Elizabeth Agwu, called for collaboration among members of the society to tackle some of the irregularities.

Mrs Agwu urged citizens to report election irregularities. She pointed out that many NYSC members are increasingly declining ad-hoc election roles due to security fears and other systemic challenges.

The chairperson of the Africa Electoral Justice Network (AEJN), Boissie Henry, called for structured collaboration within institutional bodies and stakeholders.

Also, the retired judge said elections must provide equal opportunities for voters and candidates. He said, Elections are not merely political and administrative events but a constitutional test.
The Enugu State Government has charged healthcare workers and the general public with preventing any case of Lassa fever in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, George Ugwu, issued the advisory in Enugu while briefing reporters on the State of Lassa Fever Prevention Preparedness in Enugu State.

Mr Ugwu said that Benue, a neighbouring state, had reported 250 suspected cases, 45 confirmed cases and 10 deaths among healthcare workers recently.

He also said that the recent situation report showed that more than six confirmed cases had been recorded in Ebonyi, another neighbouring state.

According to him, there has been no confirmed case of Lassa Fever in Enugu State yet, but due to shared borders with Benue and Ebonyi states, we are now in a high alert phase and engaging our partners.

In the advisory to healthcare facilities and workers, the commissioner said that sorting of patients was mandatory at a designated point within the health facility.

The commissioner said that patients with symptoms and signs of infectious diseases should be referred to facilities capable of managing them.

Facilities, especially, tertiary facilities must provide a holding area for suspected cases and immediately alert the state through a proper notification channel.

Strictly follow Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidelines; use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when attending to suspected cases.

Maintain a high index of suspicion for persistent fever not responding to malaria treatment and ensure proper waste disposal and disinfection procedures, he said.

Mr Ugwu urged the general public to maintain a rodent-free environment, keep homes and surroundings clean, block holes in walls and floors to prevent rats from entering, and clear bushes around houses.

He also advised the general public to store grains and other food items in tightly sealed containers and to avoid drying food items by the roadside or in open spaces where rodents can contaminate them.

Wash hands regularly with soap and clean water; use hand sanitisers where water is not available, as well as wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption.

Do not handle or consume rats or other rodents as food as well as avoid contact with the blood, urine, feces, or body fluids of any sick person.

Mr Ugwu also urged the public to report immediately to the nearest health facility if they experienced symptoms such as persistent fever that is not responding to malaria treatment, headache, and general weakness.

Other symptoms he listed were vomiting or abdominal pain, bleeding from the nose, mouth, or other body openings.

Early professional treatment in a health facility greatly increases chances of survival and avoids all forms of self-medication, he said.

The professor urged reporters to disseminate only verified information from the health ministry and help promote accurate prevention messages.

He said that the state government had elevated its surveillance to enhanced mode in all the local government areas (LGAs) and especially in the ones that are hotspots and had set up Rapid Response Teams across all LGAs.

Commodities such as Personal Protective Equipment, medicines and body bags for safe-burial have been pre-positioned, and risk communication materials are being deployed in local languages.

If you see something, say something, Mr Ugwu said, adding that residents should contact public health officials whenever they notice anyone with a symptom.

Nigeria has reported 1,469 suspected cases, 318 confirmed cases and over 70 deaths.

The outbreak of Lassa fever, a deadly disease caused by contamination of rodent body fluids, has been confirmed in several states across Nigeria, including Taraba, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Ebonyi.

(NAN)
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating pre-shipment inspection of exports and the non-remittance of crude oil proceeds has directed key government agencies and a private sector body to submit comprehensive records relevant to its probe.

The Chairman of the Committee, Seyi Sowunmi (LP, Lagos), issued the directive on Wednesday at its resumed investigative hearing at the National Assembly, following the submissions by representatives of the agencies before the Committee.

Mr Sowunmi described their submissions as incomplete and outdated.

Those directed to furnish the committee with detailed documentation are the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

The committee said it would formally communicate new dates for the agencies to reappear and provide the requested documents.

Agencies outline roles

Earlier, representatives of the agencies explained their respective statutory responsibilities in the export chain, covering both oil and non-oil shipments.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Diagwan told the panel that the Service operates strictly within the provisions of its enabling Act and other extant laws.

She explained that for food and other exports, the Service processes the Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) form, certificate of inspection and export permits. According to her, Customs officers verify that the documentation matches the goods physically presented at export points.

Our role as regards export of food is we get what we call NXP, and then a certificate of inspection, as well as an export permit. We now make sure that those documents tally with what has been exported at the point of export. So we do examination as well as physicalization of food, she said.

According to her, the Service conducts examinations and physical inspections to ensure consistency between export documents issued through the Central Bank platform and the export permit issued by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), particularly for oil-related shipments.

Ms Diagwan stressed that Customs does not collect export duties and is not responsible for tracking payments made to the government from such exports.

She added that export operations are supervised at designated terminals, including the Oil and Gas Command in Port Harcourt and other commands covering Edo and Delta areas, with monthly operational returns submitted to headquarters.

On its part, the Central Bank said it serves as the coordinating hub for export documentation through its digital platforms.

A director at the bank, Musa Nakurji, who represented the Governor, Yemi Cardoso, clarified that under the Pre-shipment Inspection Act of 1992, the Central Bank handles the administrative framework but does not appoint pre-shipment inspection agents.

He explained that the NXP process is automated and initiated by the exporters commercial bank through the Banks trade monitoring system. Customs, he said, accesses the relevant data electronically.

So in the Central Bank, we have the trade monetary system. This happens in the trade monetary system and the SVP. So from the bank, the commercial bank of the exporter, they open the form NXP, he said.

Mr Nakurji further stated that once goods are inspected by accredited pre-shipment agents for quantity, quality and value, a Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI) is issued before export proceeds.

NPA, represented by its General Manager, Tariff Lukman, told the committee that its stations appointed agents at export terminals to monitor activities and relay information to the Authority.

He said the agency works in collaboration with other government bodies within clearly defined jurisdictional limits at the ports.

For its part, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture said it plays no role in crude oil exports. A director of the association, Emmanuel Akeh, explained that the body issues certificates of origin for non-oil exports to authenticate the source and originality of goods destined for foreign markets.

Committee insists on accountability

In his remarks, Mr Sowunmi said the investigation was aimed at plugging revenue leakages and ensuring that all export proceeds due to the federation are fully accounted for.

He said the probe aligns with the administrations broader objective of improving revenue transparency and strengthening fiscal accountability.

He said, Part of the problems Mr President is trying to cure is that we should account for everything that accrues to the nation. And that is what this committee seeks to achieve.

Mr Sowunmi directed that all agencies must, at their next appearance, submit comprehensive and up-to-date records as requested by the committee.

He also ruled that any official appearing on behalf of the head of an agency must present a formal letter of authorisation empowering them to represent and speak for their institution.

The committee is expected to reconvene on a date to be communicated to the affected organisations.
The federal government has approved the implementation of a GIS-enabled Alphanumeric Digital Postcode System, an effort to enable faster and reliable mail and parcel processing across Nigeria.

The approval was disclosed on Wednesday by Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

In 2023, the ministry launched its strategic blueprint, Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency, with Mr Tijani stating that it would guide efforts to expand ICT use and optimise communications infrastructure nationwide.

In his statement on Wednesday, the minister stressed that the digitalisation of the post system of the strategic blueprint of the communication ministry improves accurate, fast and reliable mail and parcel processing in the country in collaboration with Nigerian Postal Service (NPS).

Working in collaboration with the Postmaster General of the Federation, Tola Odeyemi and her team at Nigerian Postal Service, who worked hard on delivering this, we will introduce a modern, geospatial intelligent addressing system that improves accuracy across the country and enables faster and more reliable mail and parcel processing, Mr Tijani said.

The communication minister also revealed that the digital postcode system will also improve national planning, emergency response, while also contributing to efficient delivery of government services.

Mr Tijani added that digitalising the postcode system will help to connect people in different regions of the country efficiently.

READ ALSO: Tinubu directs suspension of cashless payment at airports

He said the approval will enable his ministry to create a modern environment for an inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy.

Beyond strengthening postal operations, the Digital Postcode System will also serve as an important national enabler supporting better national planning, improved emergency response, more efficient logistics and e-commerce, and the delivery of government services.

As our digital economy continues to grow, foundational systems such as this play an essential role in building the infrastructure required to connect people, businesses, and services more efficiently across the country.

This approval represents another step forward in our commitment to building the enabling environment to support a modern, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy, the minister said.
For now, I doubt if anyone can raise a very strong case against Disu as the new acting Inspector General of Police. However, how he tackles these issues in addition to a new orientation for the force he now leads remain the very challenges that will make or mar his reputation. I wish him well in his new assignment.

I cannot claim to know the newly appointed acting Inspector General of Police, Rilwan Olatunji Disu, so well. Therefore, I leave writings such as The Tunji Disu I know to his family members, those who grew up with him in his 59 years of earthly sojourn, his school mates, his service cohorts and members of the various religious, social and professional bodies to which he belongs.

The closest I have come with the new boss of the Nigerian Police Force was in the year 2017, when we were both awardees of the Lagos Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

At that event held at the Blue Roof hall of the Lagos State Television premises on Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, we engaged in a brief chat, during which we exchanged views about the security situation in Lagos at the time. I recall vividly that we also talked about relationships and interactions between journalism and policing, leading us to dwell briefly on how the two professions could firm up collaborations, reduce friction  knowing that policemen have the responsibility to protect the society  the same society that journalists want to protect by exposing human rights infractions, a huge chunk of which come from some overzealous, corrupt and unprofessional operatives within that force.

But my knowledge of Disu as a fine officer, a thoroughbred professional, and urbane man predated my encounter with him.

For an officer who had led the Lagos State special security outfit, Rapid Respond Squad (RRS), from 2015 till the day we met in 2017, there was no way my probing eyes and minds would not have scrutinised, at a very close range, a police officer who decided to name his special squad The Good Guys.

Just look at that! Wasnt that a conscious decision to sever the force from the archetypal framing as a band of gun-totting, weird, wetin you carry, and wetin you bring for us gangsters? Those were some of the ugly impressions about men of the Nigerian Police Force, which had been etched in the psyche of the average Nigerian.

Imagine the long, scary narratives of a serving National Youths Service Scheme member in Lagos who was accosted with his girlfriend, coerced for money, wrongly accused of fraud, driven around Lagos for about six hours, with his girlfriend jumping out of a moving vehicle out fears that these were not policemen but kidnappers.

Disus The Good Guys enforced the law much more responsibly, while being friendly to citizens.

Through partnerships, community engagement, crime prevention and law enforcement, Disus The Good Guys made good use of crime mapping, identifying critical hotspots in the state and providing specialised strategies to handle them.

It was under Disu that you would see policemen rendering help to people, with the critical instance of a woman in labour during the COVID-19 lockdown, who was taken to the hospital by operatives.

Speaking less but acting more, Disu was assigned to lead the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on 2 August, 2021, after the inglorious exit of Abba Kyari from that elite wing of the force.

There isnt any doubt that on and off the camera, President Bola Tinubu must have set the goals for Disu.

Settling down to work is therefore the only next thing for this unassuming officer in the face of the multiform security challenges that Nigeria currently faces.

He has come at a time that Nigerians are demanding professionalism, fairplay, firmness, innovation and, if you like, steeze, in confronting security challenges.

I am certain that the acting Inspector General of Police, amidst the euphoria of his appointment, must have noticed the uproar of an alleged human rights abuse saga involving the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi and a business woman, Mrs Tracy Ohiri.

As the allegations go, Ohiri, a promotional items merchant, had been contracted (though I have not seen the contract papers) to produce and deliver some campaign materials ahead of Umahis contest for the governorship of Ebonyi State.

Cumulatively, we are now told that the total debt Mr Umahi owes Ohiri is in the region of 250 million, having been factoring in other possible additions, including the breach of contract and interests on a yearly basis.

Not only has Mr Umahi allegedly failed to fulfil his own side of the bargain, he also allegedly made sexual advances at Ohiri, a married woman, and did not stop at that, Mrs Ohiri claimed that he threatened her; telling her that the fate that befell some NELAN engineers in the state would befall her if she did not stop demanding for the payment of her money.

The case of the NELAN engineers is one that has been unwittingly re-opened and which is to be treated separately, judiciously and firmly.

For the records, and as the story goes, five engineers were said to be working with Enugu-based NELAN Consulting Engineers, a consultant to the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Reports had it that the five were abducted on 3rd November 2021 during their inspection of works at the Ring Road project at Effium in Ebonyi State.

It was also reported then that there had been allegations of threats from Governor Umahi against the lead consultant and managing director, Nelson Onyemeh.

The governor, it was said, had confirmed that the five engineers were abducted by the notorious Ezza Warriors, before being killed and buried in Ebonyi State.

The names of the victims were given as Engineer Nelson Onyemeh (lead consultant and chief executive officer of the engineering firm) from Ihiala in Anambra State; Engineer Ernest Edeani from Nkanu in Enugu State; Ikechukwu Ejiofor from Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State; Engineer Samuel Aneke from Nkanu in Enugu-East Local Government Area of Enugu State; and Engineer Stanley Nwazulum from Amawbia in Awka-South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The new acting Inspector General of Police should reopen this case and tell Nigerians what truly happened. Indeed, the onus is on the police to unravel why since 2021, the mysterious disappearance of five engineers was never taken to be a source of concern, and it took the alleged continued harassments of a woman to bring this issue back to life.

For more than a decade, the allegedly unpaid debt lingered. But Ohiri claimed that she could no longer keep quiet after things went down for her, with her childrens school fees remaining unpaid, her father getting sick and eventually dying, and her inability to raise the needed funds to attend to critical family challenges, while she had funds that were allegedly locked down by a man who would rather see her in his bed as the price for the payment of her money.

The last four days have been intense, with protests in Abuja. These were to secure the release of the woman, after policemen allegedly acting on the orders of the minister brought her face-to-face with Umahi at the Federal Capital Territory Command headquarters.

But that scenario, which human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore claimed was to present the minister with an unfair advantage to further harass, coerce and intimidate Ohiri into forgetting her money or possibly succumbing to his alleged sexual advances, was the last straw that broke the camels back. The session turned rowdy, with Umahi hurriedly leaving the venue.

There have been protests, while many police officers have been fingered as alleged tools in the hands of the minister to suppress the truth and cower the businesswoman into submission.

The above and many more instances of alleged human rights abuse by men of the force are a litmus test for Disu. How he steps into lingering, unresolved cases of murder, disappearances, illegal arrests and detentions immediately, with the unbiased details of his findings made available to Nigerians, has the potential to assure of the fair sense of duty he brings to the table as Nigerias 23rd indigenous police boss.

The 2027 general elections are just ahead! What will policing 2027 and the journey to it look like? Nigerias political history is replete with the power of incumbency, which is majorly anchored around the deployment of security forces for the suppression and intimidation of the opposition.

Samuel Igba, in his paper, Federalism and Policing in Nigeria: Colonial Continuities and Contemporary Complexities, notes that police ineffectiveness in Nigeria since the 1999 democratisation is deeply rooted in elite political influence over policing  a legacy tracing back to colonial rule.

Those who witnessed the 1983 general elections will easily tell you that they saw in action how a party in power, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), abused its control of the federal police to force its way to victory, culminating in a revolt that engulfed many parts of the current South-West region of Nigeria then. I witnessed the burning of houses, cars and indeed, human beings at the time.

That was the era in which the police had a wing whose brutality earned it the tag of Kill and Go.

The patterns have not changed. In 2014, the federal police was deployed to ensure that the opposition All Progressives Congress was forced out of power by the Goodluck Jonathan-led federal administration. It was an open siege that was however resisted by the Rauf Aregbesola-led APC government in Osun State.

With the appointment of Disu, anti-government thinkers are sure to wait to see how the new acting Inspector General of Police programmes himself to show his allegiance to Nigeria and not to the party in power.

Feelings of suspicions are more likely to be fuelled by the reality that Disu was once an Aide de Camp to President Bola Tinubu, when he was the governor of Lagos State.

Before 2027, there will be off-season elections in Ekiti and Osun this year. While the ruling party in Ekiti might not have a very strong opposition requiring federal help, the case of Osun is totally different.

The three-way impending battle in Osun has the APC desperately seeking a return to power through its flagbearer, Bola Oyebamiji. It has as formidable opponents, the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is holding the Accord Party flag on one side, and the Rauf Aregbesola-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), with Najeem Salam, a former House of Assembly speaker, as its candidate.

Governor Adeleke was pushed into the Accord Party, having been bounced by the APC stalwarts who said he was not needed to reclaim Osun.

The people of that state witnessed the invasion of the state by federal police agents in 2014. Will there be a repeat of the 2014 saga under the watch and command of Disu?

For now, I doubt if anyone can raise a very strong case against Disu as the new acting Inspector General of Police. However, how he tackles these issues in addition to a new orientation for the force he now leads remain the very challenges that will make or mar his reputation. I wish him well in his new assignment.

Semiu Okanlawon, the publisher of NPO Reports, is also the CEO, S-OK Advisory and Media Limited, Lagos and can be reached through [email protected]
The future of public service delivery is digital. While the transition is inconvenient, adoption inevitably comes with friction. As more public services move towards cashless and digital systems, temporary disruption should not obscure long-term gains in transparency, efficiency, and revenue integrity. What matters most is managing transition deliberately, documenting lessons learnt, and applying those lessons across ministries and agencies.

On 1 March, most travellers were caught by surprise when entering the airport. I experienced the same surprise firsthand.

Earlier that week, I arrived in Ilorin and my brother picked me up from the airport. At the exit gate, he realised that he had no cash and asked to pay electronically. We were told payment was strictly cash-onlyfor now  though the airport would soon go cashless. After some delay, he was given an account number to transfer 300 before we were allowed to exit.

Three days later, the situation reversed. He returned to drop me off, this time with cash in hand, only to be told cash was no longer accepted. What typically takes less than a minute stretched to nearly 30 minutes as drivers navigated electronic payments while traffic built behind them.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) deserves commendation for advancing a bold cashless initiative aimed at blocking revenue leakages across its pay points, including access gates, car parks, and executive lounges. The objective is clear and strategically aligned with broader national digitisation efforts: strengthen transparency, improve accountability, and increase internally generated revenue. At the pilot stage in Lagos and Abuja, FAAN projected a 50 per cent increase in revenue collection, rising to 75 per cent as more payment points were integrated, with an ambitious goal of tripling revenue within one year of full implementation.

As with many system-wide reforms, however, the initial rollout revealed operational strain in some locations  gridlock, failed electronic transfers, delayed confirmations, and extended wait times of up to one to three hours in certain cases. The policy direction is sound and forward-looking. The experience, instead, highlights an important question: How can public institutions manage digital transitions to preserve reform momentum while minimising friction?

As Nigeria deepens its cashless and digital governance agenda, this question will extend beyond FAAN. The lessons from this transition are therefore relevant, not just to airports but also to local governments, ministries, departments, and agencies embarking on similar reforms.

FAAN invested in communication and publicity ahead of the rollout. However, communication effectiveness should not be measured solely by reach or visibility; it must be assessed by behavioural readiness. Data on pre-registration levels, card activations, or digital payment adoption prior to the transition could have served as early indicators of system readiness.

Lessons Learnt

With the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continuing to advance its cashless agenda and encourage digital payments across public institutions, it is likely that more ministries, departments, and agencies will follow suit in transitioning away from cash-based systems. As digitisation accelerates across the public sector, the FAAN experience offers practical lessons for future rollouts and system transitions.

1. A More Representative Pilot

FAAN initially launched contactless payments in September 2025 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja  two of the busiest airports in the country, each recording over 300,000 vehicles passing through access gates monthly.

While high-volume airports are useful for stress-testing systems, they are not fully representative of Nigerias economic diversity, infrastructure constraints, or digital readiness levels. A broader pilot  including mid-sized and small airports  could have surfaced behavioural and operational challenges before full enforcement.

2. Phased Rollout with a Hybrid Transition

A temporary hybrid model  allowing both cash and digital payments during a defined transition period  would have reduced friction. Phased enforcement enables the real-time monitoring of delays, transaction failures, and traffic flow impacts before full system lock-in.

Digitisation is not simply about switching systems; it is about carefully sequencing reform.

3. Robust and Measurable Communication

FAAN invested in communication and publicity ahead of the rollout. However, communication effectiveness should not be measured solely by reach or visibility; it must be assessed by behavioural readiness. Data on pre-registration levels, card activations, or digital payment adoption prior to the transition could have served as early indicators of system readiness. Where adoption rates are low, enforcement timelines may need to be adjusted.

A sustainable system should allow users to activate access without interacting with officials at payment points. Physical cards may serve as an interim solution, but long-term efficiency lies in linking payments directly to existing bank cards, mobile wallets, or, better still, facial recognition systems or other biometric evidence linked to bank accounts/BVN.

In practical terms, communication could be more robust by extending it beyond press statements to more direct and anticipatory engagement  such as outbound voice AI calls or SMS notifications, early activation campaigns in key catchment areas outside the airport, advance coordination with airlines to notify passengers before travel, and clear signage, days or weeks ahead of enforcement. These measures reduce last-minute friction and shift compliance upstream rather than at the point of congestion.

4. Multiple Registration and Pick-Up Locations

Registration conducted at airport gates created operational pressure on toll lanes and contributed to gridlock. Additionally, limiting card availability to designated bank branches 16 days after rollout is restricting access during the transition window.

Expanding registration channels before enforcement  through digital pre-registration, wider banking partnerships, and decentralised pickup locations  would have eased congestion and improved adoption.

5. Multichannel, Future-Ready Payment Options  Not Another Physical Card

A sustainable system should allow users to activate access without interacting with officials at payment points. Physical cards may serve as an interim solution, but long-term efficiency lies in linking payments directly to existing bank cards, mobile wallets, or, better still, facial recognition systems or other biometric evidence linked to bank accounts/BVN.

Globally, systems such as Oyster in the UK and TAP in the US began with proprietary cards before transitioning to debit-card-enabled access. Nigerias public payment infrastructure can follow a similar trajectory  moving from cashless to a seamless process.

Conclusion

The future of public service delivery is digital. While the transition is inconvenient, adoption inevitably comes with friction. As more public services move towards cashless and digital systems, temporary disruption should not obscure long-term gains in transparency, efficiency, and revenue integrity. What matters most is managing transition deliberately, documenting lessons learnt, and applying those lessons across ministries and agencies.

Shona 0. Oluwatola is a public policy and AI strategist with expertise in technology, public health, and governance. She is the Founder of AccessGov, a GovTech company driving digital transformation in government, and Co-founder of CDIAL AI, which builds inclusive speech and data technologies for African languages.
Zenith Bank Plc will commemorate the 2026 International Womens Day with a renewed call to purposeful action and leadership. As part of preparations to celebrate this significant occasion, the Bank is set to hold its annual International Womens Day Seminar on Monday, 9 March 2026, at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Aligned with the global theme Give to Gain which underscores the principle that sustainable progress is achieved when individuals and institutions invest intentionally in women, Zenith Banks 2026 IWD seminar is themed Take It, You Own It. The theme reflects the Banks belief that while institutions must give through enabling environments and equitable systems, women must also step forward to claim space, own their value, and lead with confidence. It is both an affirmation and a challenge: embrace opportunity, empower yourself and others, and take ownership of your growth journey.

Building on the success of previous seminars, including the 2025 edition themed Winning On All Fronts, Zenith Banks 2026 programme is designed to deepen meaningful engagement around womens empowerment, leadership, and sustainable impact. Over the years, the Banks International Womens Day initiatives have brought together women leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging talents for dynamic dialogue, inspiration, and shared learning around gender equity, professional growth, and inclusive opportunity.

More than a commemorative gathering, the 2026 seminar is designed as a convergence of influence, insight, and inspiration, bringing together accomplished women and progressive leaders across business, governance, creative industries, technology, and social impact.

Speaking ahead of the Seminar, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, who will deliver the welcome address, said The International Womens Day is a reminder that progress requires intentionality. Give to Gain speaks to the responsibility institutions have to create real opportunities, while our theme Take It, You Own It challenges women to step forward boldly and lead. At Zenith Bank, we are deliberate about building environments where women are supported to grow, thrive, and shape outcomes, not only within our institution but across the communities and industries we serve.

The seminar will include segments focused on leadership insight, professional empowerment, wellbeing, and collaboration, offering attendees opportunities to engage deeply with thought leadership and practical strategies for advancing equity.

With a carefully curated programme spanning keynote addresses, panel conversations, Q&A sessions, and creative interludes, Zenith Banks 2026 International Womens Day Seminar promises to be a catalyst for meaningful action.

Through its alignment with Give to Gain and its bold seminar theme, Take It, You Own It, Zenith Bank reaffirms its belief that when institutions give intentionally and women lead confidently, entire ecosystems rise.

As conversations around inclusion continue to shape the future of business and society, the Bank remains resolute in its mission to foster platforms where womens potential is recognised, amplified, and fully owned.
Governor Uba Sani has warned that his administration has zero tolerance for conducts that will breach peace and security in Kaduna State because the polity is a diverse and delicate one.

He said that his administration can tolerate criticisms from the opposition but will not condone situations where the opposition spread falsehood in order to foment crisis.

The governor who spoke while hosting heads of security agencies for Iftar, the Muslim breaking of Ramadan fast at dusk at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, pointed out that freedom of speech is not a license to spread fake news that will lead to loss of lives and property.

Some people just sit down in the comfort of the their homes and start spreading rumour through the social media. People should not hide under freedom of speech to cause trouble. We will not accept that in Kaduna State.

We will deal with conflict merchants who want to disrupt the present peace in Kaduna State in the name of politics, within the ambit of the law  the governor further warned.

According to him, Kaduna State is home to all tribes and religions because the people are hospitable and accommodating and Government will strive to preserve this harmony.

Governor Uba Sani told the security chiefs that political campaigns will begin soon because primaries will start in April and end in May, according to the timetable that was released by INEC.

He reminded the heads of security organisations that politicians who lose out in the contests will try to play the victim, by dishing out all sorts of falsehoods to cause confusion, advising them to be vigilant.

The governor also called for synergy between security agencies and local government chairmen as well as traditional and religious leaders at the grassroots, in order to deepen intelligence gathering.

He commended their focus, commitment and cooperation with his administration, reiterating that Kaduna State has not recorded any ethno-religious crisis since he assumed office .

Mr Uba Sani said that although Kaduna State is relatively peaceful, his doors are always open on how to further improve the security challenges of banditry and kidnapping.
Governor Umar Namadi has assured that the Jigawa State Government would pursue the alleged abduction case involving citizen Walida Abdulhadi to its logical and legal conclusion, ensuring that justice is served.

The governor gave this assurance on Wednesday when he met with Miss Walidas parents and their lawyer at the Government House, Dutse.

During the meeting, the governor briefed the family on Miss Walidas current condition and reiterated the governments dedication to her full rehabilitation, continued education, and overall welfare.

He disclosed that Miss Walida is presently undergoing rehabilitation at a medical facility at the expense of the Jigawa State Government, adding that upon completion of her rehabilitation, she will be reintegrated with her family.

The governor further revealed that trained social workers have already been deployed to provide professional care and psychosocial support for Miss Walida and her child, emphasising that all necessary support mechanisms have been put in place to safeguard her well-being and ensure her full recovery.

In addition, Governor Namadi stated that the state government will enroll Miss Walida back in school and fully sponsor her education to enable her to continue her academic pursuits without hindrance.

Describing the incident as a case of kidnapping, the governor vowed that the state government would ensure that justice prevails through appropriate legal processes and that all those found culpable would be brought to justice.

He also announced that the government would support Miss Walida and her family through targeted economic empowerment programmes aimed at improving their living conditions and helping them rebuild their lives.

Governor Namadi further reiterated the Jigawa State Governments firm commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all Jigawa citizens wherever they may be.

Speaking on behalf of Miss Walidas parents, their lawyer, Kabiru Adamu, expressed appreciation to Governor Namadi for his swift intervention in rescuing the teenage girl and for the governments comprehensive efforts toward her rehabilitation and reintegration.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Monday signed an international management agreement (IMA) with Radisson Hospitality Belgium, and Edison Hotel and Property Development Company, in respect of the Boards 204 rooms hotel and conference centre, developed adjacent the Nigerian Content Tower, Swali, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The management agreement was signed in Durban, South Africa by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Chairman of Edison Corporation, Mr Vivian Reedy and Director of Radisson, Mr Garnier Erwan.

Signing the agreement in Durban on Monday, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, confirmed that discussions, reviews, and compliance requirements had lasted over two years, and the agency secured the approval of all key stakeholders, including the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN. Their support ensured that the Agreement meets Nigerias legal and regulatory standards, he said.

The aspiration, he added, is to deliver a worldclass hotel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State with a fully equipped conference centredesigned to serve the oil and gas industry stakeholders and the Nigerian public.

He pledged NCDMBs commitment to completing the hotel on schedule and achieving the opening in December. We appreciate our responsibilitiesconstruction quality, preopening readiness, funding, safety and security compliance, and maintaining Radissons global standard. We will do our best to meet our obligations.

He charged Radisson Hospitality to bring its expertise, systems, and brand strength to deliver a hotel that offers excellent service and guest experience.

He expressed hope that the partnership with Edison Hotels will create a facility that reflects global quality and supports Bayelsas position as an oil and gas hub.

He added that this project reflects NCDMBs commitment to using strategic investments to boost productivity, attract investment, build local content, and expand opportunities for business and tourism in Nigeria.

When completed, the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Yenagoa will stand not only as a hotel, but also as a symbol of what strong partnerships can achieve.

Executive Chairman of Edison Corporation, Mr Vivian Reedydescribed his organisations role as a bridge between the owner and the operator, highlighting the groups intensive experience in the hotel industry, and determination to ensure alignment, transparency, accountability and performance.

We understand that a successful hotel is not just about buildings. It is about disciplined management, strong oversight, brand integrity, and a shared commitment to excellence, he emphasized.

Part of the groups responsibility is to ensure that the hotel is delivered, operated, and managed in a manner that protects and announces the owners investment, while fully supporting Radisson in achieving operational excellence, he added.

The Executive Chairman assured that working closely with Radisson and NCDMBs team, the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Yenagoa will become the leading hospitality and conference destination in Bayelsa State, a catalyst for business and investment, and a symbol of quality professionalism and international standards.

He reported that the firm has had wonderful successes with Radisson in other locations, even achieving 95% occupancies. Our approach is to strengthen governance, support performance, and ensure the interests of the owners are always safeguarded.

He said this project represents more than a hotel. It represents a partnership, a trust, and a long-term vision for sustainable value creation. We thank Radisson for its global expertise and operational excellence. Edison is fully committed to ensuring that the asset performs strongly, operates efficiently, and delivers lasting value to its owner.

Mr Wada Ahmed Wada who represented the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation described the signing ceremony as historic and wished the parties success in their business relationship.
Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze , the chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Council, Enugu State, has congratulated the newly elected Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Martin Chukwunweike, and the other 36-member State Executive.

The new executive was elected on Tuesday during the APCs state congress held at Okpara Square, Enugu.

Other officials elected include Peace Nnaji as deputy chairman; Nnamdi Nwafor as vice chairman (Enugu East); Fabian Onah as vice chairman (Enugu North); Chimaobi David as vice chairman (Enugu West); Chukwudi Nnadozie as secretary; Uche Obute as publicity secretary; and Esther Edeh as woman leader.

Their mandate comes with significant responsibility: to deepen party structures at all levels, strengthen grassroots engagement, entrench policy coherence and position the APC as the vehicle for sustainable development across Enugu State, the Igbo-Eze South chairman, Mr Ukwueze, said of the new leadership of the party in Enugu.

He stated that the just-concluded APC congress in Enugu marked a defining moment for the party in the state, and that the orderly, peaceful, and credible nature of the exercise is a testament to the political maturity and internal cohesion that now characterise the party structure in the state.

What we have built together is more than a political platform; it is a cohesive family bound by a common vision for progress for Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area and the entire Enugu State.

Under the visionary leadership of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Enugu State is not only emerging as a model of governance but also as a model of responsible and forward-looking politics.

The partnership we have forged through the governors resolve to connect Enugu State to the centre is not one of expediency, but of conviction; a deliberate alignment designed to deliver measurable outcomes for our people.

The chairman praised President Bola Tinubu for his bold and courageous macroeconomic reforms, which he said have fundamentally altered Nigerias fiscal landscape.

By expanding fiscal space and enhancing revenue flows to subnational governments, these policies have empowered us with greater capacity to implement transformative infrastructure, social and economic programmes.

The tangible progress witnessed across Enugu today is not accidental; it is the product of deliberate policy choices, disciplined implementation and strategic collaboration with the centre.

For us in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, this Congress further strengthens our resolve to stand firmly with the party leadership and advance its vision at the grassroots.

Igbo-Eze South is ready to provide support to the party, translating state and federal gains into tangible local impact, while contributing meaningfully to the stability, growth and electoral strength of the APC in Enugu State
The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has underscored his commitment to unity, progress, and delivering on party promises, while expressing confidence in President Bola Tinubus prospects ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The governor made the remarks on Wednesday, during a courtesy visit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat, where he was formally welcomed into the ruling party.

Mr Fintiris visit followed his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on 27 February.

Speaking at the time, he stated that his decision to switch parties was driven by what he described as the best interest of the state. According to the governor, the move came after extensive consultations with citizens and stakeholders across Adamawa, who collectively supported the transition.

During the courtesy visit, the governor addressed both political and economic developments in the country.

He acknowledged that Mr Tinubus microeconomic reforms were initially challenging due to their broad impact but noted that positive outcomes are increasingly visible.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, Mr Fintiri said, adding that the Renewed Hope Agenda is now gaining traction across key sectors of the economy.

Mr Fintiri also reaffirmed his belief in the unity and strength of the APC and expressed optimism about the partys prospects in the 2027 presidential election.

Welcoming Mr Fintiri into the party, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, described the governors defection as a significant boost to the partys growing influence.

The chairman praised the governors record of governance, highlighting his focus on coordination, development, and impactful projects in Adamawa State, which he said aligns with the APCs progressive ideals.

We welcome him to where he rightfully belongs. He is a progressive with a progressive mindset, and the APC remains the natural home for leaders committed to reform, development, and national renewal, Mr Yilwatda said.

On opposition politics, the APC chair reiterated that it is not the ruling partys responsibility to strengthen or organise opposition groups.

Democracy is competitive. Our duty is to deliver good governance and win elections based on performance. The opposition must organise itself, he said.

Citing recent by-election victories across the country, Mr Yilwatda said the results reflect growing public confidence in the APC and its leadership.

He also reaffirmed the partys commitment to sustaining the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda and ensuring its benefits reach all Nigerians.
A lawyer, Liborous Oshoma, has criticised the Nigerian government for failing to prosecute a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over a certificate forgery scandal.

Mr Oshoma spoke in a video clip uploaded on a YouTube channel on 25 February.

Certificate Forgery

A painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES in October last year revealed that Mr Nnaji forged his degree and NYSC certificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

The politician resigned his position as minister barely three days after publication of the investigation.

Many Nigerians had called for Mr Nnajis prosecution, maintaining that his resignation was inadequate in light of his violations of various Nigerian laws, including the Criminal Code Act.

Uche Nnaji shouldnt be walking freely

Mr Oshoma said in the video clip that he was shocked to see Mr Nnaji in Lagos State, addressing business people from Enugu State, despite his certificate forgery scandal.

The lawyer faulted the Nigerian government for failing to file criminal charges against the former minister despite PREMIUM TIMES investigation documenting his forgery scandal.

People like this (Uche Nnaji) should be prosecuted and banned from holding public office to serve as a deterrent to others, he said.

He argued that the APC-led Nigerian government chose to forgive the former minister because he is a member of the ruling party.

Mr Oshoma argued that it is inappropriate that the federal government is often quick to investigate and prosecute poor people or those in opposition while ignoring the offences of political allies and high-profile individuals.

The lawyer stressed that such a government attitude undermines public confidence in the nations justice system and creates a mindset of the principle of animal farm where theres no equality before the law.

I will therefore advocate that selective enforcement by federal agencies in prosecuting corruption and fraud-related cases for political reasons, not only erode the credibility, reputation and integrity of our criminal jurisprudence, but create a mindset of the fact that one can commit any crime provided he or she is in the ruling party, he stated.

He further contended that the federal governments failure to prosecute Mr Nnaji for certificate forgery had emboldened him to file a suit against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, its vice-chancellor, registrar, the Ministry of Education, and others regarding his academic records at the university.

Atiku, NBAs silence

Mr Oshoma expressed disappointment that a former Nigerian Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, the Nigeria Bar Association and civil society organisations have relented in their initial calls for the prosecution of the former minister over the certificate forgery scandal.

The lawyer said that the Nigerian Constitution empowers the Enugu State Government to prosecute the former minister.

If the federal attorney general is too busy to prosecute this man, at least the alleged offence was committed in Enugu State, and also hes from Enugu State, and he was a minister in the Enugu State slot, he said.

He contended that, in line with Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended, the Enugu State Attorney-General is empowered to investigate and prosecute the former minister for alleged forgery and related offences created by law in the state.

If the law applies to all equally, irrespective of tribe, status or political affiliation, we would have taken the first step in ensuring the rule of law in our country, he added.

Section 11(1a-c), 2, and 3 of the Constitution empower any state attorney-general to institute, take over, or even discuss already instituted criminal proceedings against any person in respect of any offence created by or under any law created by a state assembly.

ICPC begins investigation

Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported in February that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has begun an investigation into Mr Nnajis certificate forgery.

Insiders had told this newspaper that the former minister could be prosecuted if the investigation shows that he truly forged his credentials.

Background

In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES began an investigation into Mr Nnajis academic records.

The then-minister had submitted a degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation.

He claimed to have obtained a degree certificate from UNN, where he graduated in 1985.

Apparently disturbed by the scrutiny, Mr Nnaji filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to block both UNN and its Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, from releasing his academic records.

Apart from the UNN and its vice-chancellor, the minister of education, the National Universities Commission, the universitys registrar, a former UNN Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofo Ujam, and the Senate of the university were listed as defendants in the suit.

But before the minister filed the suit, Mr Ortuanya, a professor, had responded to PREMIUM TIMES FOI letter, confirming that Mr Nnaji had forged his UNN degree certificate.

The UNN registrar would shortly thereafter corroborate Mr Ortuanyas position, stating that although Mr Nnaji was admitted to the university in 1981, he neither graduated nor received any certificate.

NYSC authorities, in response to a separate FOI letter from PREMIUM TIMES, had disowned the discharge certificate in possession of the then-minister.

Mr Nnaji resigned from his position as minister three days after this newspaper published the investigation exposing how he forged his degree and NYSC certificates.
Baku hosted the 12th ministerial meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the 4th ministerial meeting of the Green Energy Advisory Council.

Such meetings have been held since February 2015. The meetings of the SGC Advisory Council in Baku have become one of the most important events in the field of energy in the Eurasian space. Since 2023, meetings of the Green Energy Advisory Council have been held in parallel.

This year's meeting was held amid extreme tension in the region. While the war is going on very close to us, in Azerbaijan, in conditions of peace and tranquility, cooperation, energy, transit of energy resources, the most peaceful and always relevant agenda were discussed. The South Caucasus, previously considered a constant turbulent zone with smoldering conflicts, has now turned out to be the only corridor of stability for connecting East and West. Without excessive modesty, it is worth recalling once again that the region owes this to Azerbaijan. Baku skillfully managed all the "settings", balancing the situation in the right mode. Europe and Asia have not lost their connectivity thanks to Azerbaijani projects and initiatives. Therefore, meetings of the SGC Advisory Council continue to gather many countries and are considered as a platform for addressing key energy security issues.

Despite all the difficulties and very difficult times in our region, the energy security provided by Azerbaijan and its partners for a number of countries has really become something that we can feel on a daily basis, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the meeting.

Since last year's meeting, progress has been observed not only in the growing number of participating countries, financial institutions and companies. Azerbaijan has shown that its European partners are counting on it for a reason.

"Last time, speaking to an audience, I noted that we supply gas to 12 countries. At the moment, the number of countries where Azerbaijani gas has reached consumers has grown to 16. According to this indicator, Azerbaijan ranks first in the world in terms of the number of countries to which it supplies pipeline gas. Last time, I mentioned our plans to expand the geography of gas supplies, and as you can see, they have been implemented. Another important development, in my opinion, is that our gas supplies have already reached other destinations outside of Europe. For the first time, we started supplying gas to Syria in order to help the Syrian people overcome the acute shortage of energy and electricity," the Azerbaijani President said.

Since the beginning of 2026, Azerbaijani gas has reached Western Europe for the first time. Exports to Germany and Austria via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) began in January.

The Southern Gas Corridor and Azerbaijani gas continue to play an important role in ensuring energy security and supply stability through diversification. Deliveries to Europe began on December 31, 2020, and since then, despite certain restrictions, Azerbaijan has increased supplies to European partners by 56 percent. Despite the fact that Europe has been talking about decarbonization for many years, the demand for fossil fuels has not been falling. On the contrary, he is growing. This is especially true for natural gas. All issues related to these realities are discussed and resolved at meetings of the SGC Advisory Council in Baku.

Currently, one of the main issues is the expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor, in particular the Trans-Adriatic pipeline. Financing is required to expand the TAP to 20 billion cubic meters per year, which is currently unavailable. As Baku has repeatedly stressed, this is due to Europe's unrealistic plans, which did not pay off, but financing of oil and gas projects by European banks has not yet been resumed. At the same time, in 2025, the majority of Azerbaijani gas exports went to European countries - 51 percent. Turkiye, Georgia and Syria received less gas than the Europeans. Azerbaijan has the resources to increase supplies. Taking this into account, as well as the growing number of countries willing to buy Azerbaijani gas, doubling supplies is already quite realistic with proper financing, as Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said at the meeting.

The Minister stressed that energy security cannot be solely the responsibility of the supplier. Azerbaijan is promoting four upstream projects, which are planned to be commissioned in 2026-2029. Production of the first free gas from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field is expected this year. In addition, four new exploration projects are underway onshore and offshore.

In other words, Azerbaijan has gas, and the YUGK pipe will not remain empty. However, the development of new deposits is a costly business and requires guaranteed buyers. And Azerbaijan will not invest in the business without investments and guarantees from its partners.

President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at the meeting, stressed that we can increase the volume of supplies. But to do this, we need to think about expanding the existing gas transportation infrastructure, since today the Southern Gas Corridor is already fully loaded, and expansion is required to supply as much as the market needs, the President said, adding: "and possibly more, given the current situation in the world."

It should be noted that what is happening in the region today, and especially what is happening in the producing countries of the Middle East, can seriously affect the global energy market. Currently, they are only talking about oil prices, but the actual cessation of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to the war, even without its official closure by Tehran, as well as Iran's defeat of the energy infrastructure of these countries may soon affect the gas market and gas prices. Azerbaijan has the resources to support the energy security of its European partners in such a situation. As the President of Azerbaijan noted, production at the ACG deepwater gas field will begin this year, and full-scale development of the Absheron field is expected to begin in two to three years, which will increase gas production at this field three times. In addition, gas production is expected to begin as part of the second phase of the Umid field development. Production will begin in 2028 as part of a new phase of Shah Deniz development. According to the head of state, all these projects will allow Azerbaijan to receive from 10 to 15 billion cubic meters of additional gas at the maximum production level.

Azerbaijan made it clear to the partners during the meeting that it has every opportunity to keep them warm and not let their plans stop. Now it's up to them. And Azerbaijan has a lot to invest in. Recently, the country began to enter the European energy market as an infrastructure owner. This is a very serious step that has taken it from a number of purely suppliers to a number of active market participants.

President Ilham Aliyev touched upon this topic in his speech.

"As for the issues related to our, let's say, efforts in the European energy market, I think it will be important for the audience to know that we recently acquired one of the largest power plants in Turkiye with a capacity of 870 megawatts. And last month, a contract was signed with Serbia for the construction of a 500 megawatt power plant in Serbia. Thus, our contribution to energy security is not limited only to our borders and the Southern Gas Corridor. Also among the important achievements and significant factors for us is the acquisition of two refineries in Italy with a total capacity of 10 million tons. If we add to this what we already have on the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea, an oil refinery with a capacity of 12 million tons, in total we will have refining capacities of 22 million tons in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, which in itself will certainly help ensure a sustainable supply of petroleum products, as well as thousands of gas stations that are part of the deal," the head of state said.

It should be recalled that at the end of February, the European Commission approved SOCAR's acquisition of 99.82 percent of Italiana Petroli (IP) shares from API Holding. This deal is an important milestone in the transformation of Azerbaijan's energy strategy and one of the largest energy acquisitions in recent years. We are talking about two oil refineries with a capacity of about 200,000 barrels of oil per day, more than 4,500 gas stations, an oil depot and an extensive logistics infrastructure throughout Italy.

But that's not all. Azerbaijan, thanks to its capabilities, has become not only a supplier, but also a transit country of energy resources from the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea.

"In addition, I would like to emphasize that Azerbaijan also plays an important role as a reliable transit country for energy resources. We provide important oil transit for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and the volume of oil transported through our system is growing year after year. We are capable and have the infrastructure to receive more oil from the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea," President Ilham Aliyev said.

A few days ago, Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov announced that Azerbaijan had expressed its readiness to increase the transit of Kazakh oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline to 2.2 million tons per year. Currently, 1.2 million tons of Kazakh oil are being pumped through BTC.

The start of transit was announced in March 2023. The first batch of Kazakh oil from the Tengiz field was delivered to the Sangachal terminal as part of an agreement between SOCAR and KazMunaiGas. In March 2024, KMG and SOCAR signed an agreement on a phased increase in oil transit through Azerbaijan to 2.2 million tons per year. In January 2025, Kazakhstan sent the first tanker with oil from the Kashagan field to Azerbaijan.

Let's also not forget about the closed Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, which may be launched if Kazakh supplies to Europe increase. Azerbaijani transit has always been and will remain the most reliable, stable and safe way of energy transit.

Interviews and comments of the participants of the Baku meeting published in the media show that the topic of energy security is more relevant today than ever. Azerbaijan's partners know that Baku can be relied upon. The current situation in the region and many unexpected risks have further increased attention to the Azerbaijani factor on the Eurasian energy map. Therefore, the meetings of the SGC Advisory Council will be more representative every year.

President Ilham Aliyev was very clear about what else Azerbaijan can do for its partners.
Airbnb logo and stock graph are seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. Photo by Reuters

The Indonesian Government has issued new regulations to strengthen management of short-term accommodation services, including properties listed on online platforms such as Airbnb.

All accommodations listed on online travel agencies must have necessary business licenses by March 31, Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said on her Instagram account.

Widiyanti said the move seeks to ensure Indonesia's tourism sector keeps growing, to prevent tax evasion, and to provide a fair environment for all business operators in the tourism sector.

The government expects all operators to start processing the required permits, she elaborated.

The new regulation came after the governor of Indonesian resort island of Bali proposed to halt all short-term rentals including those listed on Airbnb, as the provincial government was losing regional tax revenue.

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, welcomed 15.39 million foreign visitors in 2025, exceeding its target of 14-15 million arrivals.

Indonesia expects to receive up to 17 million foreign visitors this year, representing an 11% increase year-on-year.
HOUSTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Acai Brasil, a premier provider of authentic Brazilian acai bowls and healthy lifestyle beverages, officially announced the highly anticipated grand opening of its newest retail storefront in Fulshear, TX. This establishment introduces a dynamic, wellness-focused fast-casual dining experience to the region, aiming to bring nutritious, high-quality acai products, superfood smoothies, and fresh fruit bowls to the rapidly growing Fulshear community.

Acai Brasil Announces Grand Opening of New Location in Fulshear, Texas

The Fulshear location expands the company's regional footprint, offering residents convenient access to a menu rooted in sustainably sourced acai. The establishment features customizable bowls, signature smoothies, and fresh juice blends, designed to cater to health-conscious consumers and families. Patrons can select from a diverse variety of premium toppings, including freshly sliced fruits, artisanal granola, organic seeds, and natural sweeteners, allowing them to construct highly personalized, nutritionally balanced meals.

Acai Brasil differentiates itself within the health food sector by prioritizing authentic Brazilian flavor profiles and uncompromising ingredient integrity. The acai utilized at the new Fulshear location is processed using methods that meticulously retain its natural antioxidants and vital nutrients. This strategic expansion aligns with the organization's overarching mission to provide accessible, healthy dining alternatives. The interior of the Fulshear storefront is purposefully designed to deliver a modern, welcoming atmosphere for community members seeking quick, refreshing dining solutions.

Local residents and visiting patrons are warmly encouraged to visit the storefront to experience the health-focused menu offerings firsthand. Additional information regarding precise hours of operation, full menu options, and specific location directions can be accessed directly through the company's official digital platform.

About Acai Brasil

Acai Brasil is an innovative fast-casual dining concept dedicated to serving authentic, premium-grade acai bowls, fresh fruit smoothies, and specialized wellness beverages. With a foundational emphasis on health, vitality, and authentic Brazilian culinary traditions, the expanding company consistently utilizes sustainably sourced ingredients to craft its highly customizable menu. Acai Brasil proudly caters to active individuals and families seeking convenient, wholesome alternatives to traditional fast-food establishments. By maintaining a strict focus on fresh produce, nutrient-dense superfoods, and a highly engaging customer environment, the brand continues to expand its market presence across new communities. For further information, visit https://acaibrasilusa.com/.

Contact Information

Name: Alex Santos

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: 7202897264

SOURCE Acai Brasil
HOUSTON, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced its recommendations for the 20262027 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine composition, highlighting the continued spread of A(H3N2) subclade K and emerging B/Victoria lineage strains. In rapid response, Sino Biological, Inc. (Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 301047.SZ), a global leader in recombinant technology, has launched the 2026-2027 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine strain antigens to accelerate vaccine development.

Decoding the 2026-2027 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Vaccine Strains

Since its identification in August 2025, H3N2 subclade K (J.2.4.1) has become the dominant influenza A strain globally. Defined by the T135K and S144N mutations, this strain exhibits enhanced immune escape, prompting WHO to select A/Darwin/1454/2025 as the new H3N2 reference virus. The H1N1 component has been updated to A/Missouri/11/2025. Meanwhile, B/Victoria lineage activity is rising sharply, with proportions increasing from 6% to over 20% in regions including Hong Kong SAR and the U.S., leading WHO to recommend B/Tokyo/EIS13-175/2025 and B/Pennsylvania/14/2025 strains.

Sino Biological's Comprehensive Reagents for Influenza Research

To support global influenza vaccine research and development, Sino Biological has launched an extensive portfolio of recombinant antigens for the 2026-2027 influenza vaccine strains, including A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1) HA Trimer (purity 90% verified by SEC-MALS), NA, and NP proteins. "Our mission is to provide the scientific community with the highest quality tools as rapidly as possible when infectious disease evolution threatens global health preparedness," said Dr. Rob Burgess, Chief Business Officer at Sino Biological US.

About Sino Biological

Sino Biological is a global biotechnology company specializing in high-quality recombinant proteins, antibodies, and customized research services. Serving researchers in more than 90 countries, Sino Biological supports basic research, drug discovery, vaccine development, and diagnostics through its comprehensive product portfolio, proprietary quality systems, and innovative research platforms.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are based on Sino Biological management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, over which Sino Biological has no control. Sino Biological assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements and does not intend to do so.

For media inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact:

Sino Biological, Inc.

[email protected]

www.sinobiological.com

SOURCE Sino Biological, Inc.
The company's first large-scale facility in the state nearly doubles Missouri's operational solar capacity, represents an investment of more than $500 million, and generates lasting benefits

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and SCOTT COUNTY, Mo., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Arevon Energy, Inc., a leading American energy developer, owner, and operator, announces the start of operations at the company's 430 megawatt (MWdc) Kelso Solar Project in Scott County, Missouri.

Arevon developed, constructed, and will own and operate the more than $500 million Kelso Solar Project. The two-phase facility, Arevon's first utility-scale projects in Missouri, increased the state's solar capacity by nearly 50% and generates enough energy to power more than 62,000 homes each year. Beyond its energy generation, Kelso Solar has also contributed to a significant increase in economic activity in Scott County. During construction, the project employed more than 450 personnel, and this increase in foot traffic and activity resulted in a sizable boost in spending at area stores, hotels, and restaurants. In addition, Kelso Solar is estimated to disburse more than $62 million in property tax payments over its lifetime, supporting schools, infrastructure, and first responders.

To commemorate Kelso Solar's operations, Arevon hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday for the project's partners, Scott County leaders, local business owners, landowners, and community members to celebrate the collective effort to bring the facility online. Justin Johnson, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Arevon, delivered the opening remarks, followed by Danny Tetley, Presiding Commissioner at Scott County Commission; Sarah Mitchell Garner, Marketing and Foundation Outreach Manager at Missouri Delta Medical Center; Clay Schermann, Chief Development Officer at Southeast Missouri Food Bank; and Missy Marshall, Director at Three Rivers College, Sikeston and Dexter. Kiana Khalilnejad, Construction Project Manager at Arevon, served as the event's master of ceremonies.

"After years of responsible development and construction, I am proud to see the Kelso Solar Project, Arevon's first large-scale project in Missouri, generating safe, domestic-made energy," said Johnson. "Kelso Solar reflects the strong collaboration among Arevon, our partners, and Scott County's landowners and local leaders, who all played a critical role in bringing this project to fruition. We look forward to Kelso Solar serving America's energy needs for many decades."

"The Kelso Solar Project is a meaningful investment in Scott County's future  it strengthens our tax base, supports critical public services, and adds a new energy resource to our region," said Tetley. "We value the community-first approach Arevon has taken and continues to exercise as well as the lasting benefits the project brings to our community."

Arevon has been actively engaged with the Scott County community throughout Kelso Solar's development and construction, supporting an array of initiatives and organizations, including:

Donating $525,000, in partnership with Primoris Services Corporation's Renewables group, the project's construction contractor, to the Scott County Central School District for a solar-powered bus carport. The new carport will help to ensure students are safely shielded from the weather's elements and will increase ongoing energy savings. Arevon also provided funding to help with the removal of asbestos flooring from classrooms.

Contributing $300,000 to the Kenny Rogers Children's Center, a pediatric out-patient therapy facility serving children with special needs, to aid in the construction of a new gymnasium. Arevon also provided new soft play equipment and therapy mats.

Giving $300,000 for new Chromebooks for Scott County R-IV School District students and an additional $145,000 to support safety initiatives and the STEM program for the school district.

Funding a side-by-side vehicle for the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District to help fight fires that are inaccessible to traditional fire trucks and on-road vehicles due to terrain challenges and tight spaces.

Supplying the funds needed to install a secondary water well in the City of Blodgett  an essential investment in public health and long-term infrastructure resilience.

Participating in Food Distribution events for the Southeast Missouri Food Bank, which provides resources to thousands of residents facing food insecurity in Scott County.

"Arevon has been an incredible supporter of the Kenny Rogers Children's Center and the entire Scott County community. As we prepare for our largest annual fundraiser  the Telethon  which raises about $300,000 each year to provide free physical, occupational, and speech therapy to local children, their generosity means everything," said Michelle Fayette, Executive Director at the Kenny Rogers Children's Center. "When Arevon announced at the Kelso Solar groundbreaking that they would match our Telethon total, I was speechless  nothing like that had happened in my 24 years at the Center. As we continue raising funds and working toward building a new gym, Arevon's support for the Center and other deserving organizations in Scott County is truly a game changer."

"Arevon's support has helped the Southeast Missouri Food Bank reach families across the region through our Food Distribution events," said Schermann. "We are grateful for their involvement and their willingness to invest in our community as host of the Kelso Solar Project."

Arevon is actively growing its portfolio in the Midwest region of the United States. In the past several months, the company announced the start of the operations at its Ratts 1 and Heirloom Solar Projects, a cumulative investment of $400 million and 264 MWdc of new domestic solar power in Indiana, and continues to advance construction on its $200 million, 124 MWdc Big Muddy Solar Project in Illinois. In addition, Arevon developed and managed construction of the 251 MWdc Gibson Solar Project and the 228 MWdc Posey Solar Project in Indiana on behalf of local utilities while ensuring the projects were successfully integrated into each community. Arevon is also actively advancing development on other proposed renewable energy facilities in the region.

About Arevon

Arevon is a U.S. energy leader committed to powering America with affordable, reliable, and secure homegrown energy. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and with a regional office in New York City, the company's experienced and dedicated team develops, finances, builds, owns, and operates renewable energy projects nationwide. With a strong track record in utility-scale solar and energy storage, Arevon is a trusted partner to utilities and businesses seeking cost-effective, sustainable energy solutions. By prioritizing American manufacturing and domestic energy production, the company invests in U.S. jobs, strengthens local economies, and advances the country's energy independence.

Arevon owns and operates more than 6 gigawatts (GW) of solar and energy storage projects across 18 states, representing more than $11 billion in capital investment, and is currently constructing more than 600 megawatts (MW) of new capacity. The company also partnered with local utilities to develop and build 480 MW of solar energy, ensuring each project was successfully integrated into their communities. In the last two years, Arevon has completed $5.1 billion in project financings and closed on a $600 million corporate revolver to fund continued company growth. With a 7 GW development portfolio and continued investment in new projects, Arevon is solidifying its role as a leader in powering an American energy future. For more information, visit arevonenergy.com.

SOURCE Arevon
Bank Receives Sole Veteran Saves Week "Community Impact Award" and Prestigious "Designation of Savings Excellence" from Consumer Federation of America

Award-Winning Banking Leadership Delivers Meaningful Financial Progress for Service Members and Veterans

LEAVENWORTH, Kan., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Armed Forces Bank  a full-service military bank committed to serving those who serve since 1907  was selected as a Veteran Saves Week "Community Impact Award" recipient and a "Designation of Savings Excellence" Award winner by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America (CFA). The awards recognize Armed Forces Bank's exceptional leadership in improving the financial well-being of veterans, service members, and military families through measurable outcomes, sustained engagement and community-focused financial education.

Master Sergeant Danishia Page takes the Veterans Saves pledge at Armed Forces Bank at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Fort Lewis) in Washington.

Veteran Saves Week is a program under the America Saves umbrella, coordinated by the CFA. The campaign encourages veterans to take the Veteran Saves Pledge while empowering organizations to promote savings year-round.

Out of more than 900 participating organizations nationwide, Armed Forces Bank received the sole 2025 Veteran Saves Week "Community Impact Award" and was named one of only two banks to earn the "Designation of Savings Excellence" Award.

Community Impact Award

The Veteran Saves Week "Community Impact Award" recognizes the organization that most effectively leveraged the Veteran Saves Pledge to encourage savings behavior and goal setting within its community during the annual campaign.

According to CFA, Armed Forces Bank's approach helped translate participation into action by providing veterans with clear, accessible savings pathways  an important factor given that individuals with a defined savings plan are twice as likely to successfully reach their goals.

"We're honored to recognize Armed Forces Bank with the Community Impact Award for the second year in a row," said Krystel Spell, program manager at Veteran Saves. "During Veteran Saves Week, Armed Forces Bank demonstrated a thoughtful approach to supporting the Veteran Saves Pledge by ensuring the message reached veterans in ways that felt clear and actionable. That level of care and consistency helped translate participation into real progress toward savings goals."

Designation of Savings Excellence Award

The CFA also awards the Veteran Saves Week "Designation of Savings Excellence Award" to financial institutions that demonstrate outstanding performance and measurable impact during the Veteran Saves Week. Armed Forces Bank was one of only seven financial institutions nationally  and just two banks  to receive this distinction for the campaign, which took place in November 2025, as part of National Military Family Month and Warrior Care Month.

Measurable Impact During Veteran Saves Week 2025

During Veteran Saves Week 2025, Armed Forces Bank executed a comprehensive, multi-channel outreach campaign that delivered meaningful and measurable results, including:

50,642 individuals reached through email, social media, branch communications, website promotion, flyers and community events

100% retail branch participation nationwide, reinforcing a unified, organization-wide commitment

$1.9 million+ in savings account growth, driven by deposits from 6,776 individuals

85 new savings-type products opened, contributing more than $1.75 million in new deposits

55 Veteran Saves Pledges completed

44,792 emails sent and nearly 4,000 social media engagement views

Collectively, the work of all Veteran Saves Week award winners and participating organizations contributed to significant financial progress for service members and veterans. During the four-day period leading up to Veterans Day (November 4 to 7, 2025), these institutions reached more than 1.5 million individuals nationwide, encouraged nearly $1.9 million in deposits into new and existing accounts, and inspired veterans to pledge $370,000 toward future savings goals.

Leadership Perspective

"These recognitions reflect our long-standing commitment to helping military families build financial confidence and resilience," said Tom McLean, senior vice president and regional military executive for Armed Forces Bank. "We understand the unique financial realities that come with military life, and we work every day to meet service members and veterans where they are  providing practical tools, trusted guidance and consistent support no matter where duty takes them."

"It is truly a privilege to serve the military community," said Paul Holewinski, CEO of Armed Forces Bank. "Every product, service and education effort we offer is designed with their unique needs in mind. We appreciate the recognition from the Consumer Federation of America, but the greatest reward is seeing our clients strengthen their financial footing and achieve the goals that matter most to them."

About Veteran Saves

Veteran Saves is a program under the America Saves umbrella and is coordinated by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America (CFA). Veteran Saves encourages the entire veteran community to take the Veteran Saves Pledge and for organizations to promote savings year-round. Through financial education, resources, behavioral economics and support, Veteran Saves aims to help the Veteran community improve their financial well-being and achieve their long-term financial goals.

About Armed Forces Bank

Armed Forces Bank, founded and headquartered in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a full-service military bank committed to serving those who serve since 1907. Armed Forces Bank provides affordable, personal and convenient banking and financial services to both active and retired military, as well as civilian clients in all 50 states and around the world. Approximately 80% of Armed Forces Bank associates have some type of military affiliation either by spouse, retired themselves or their children.

Armed Forces Bank has $1.4 billion in assets and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dickinson Financial Corporation, a $4.75 billion bank holding company headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Armed Forces Bank's sister bank, Academy Bank, is a full-service community bank with over 80 branch locations in Arizona, Arkansas Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. For more information, visit www.afbank.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Member FDIC.

SOURCE Armed Forces Bank
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will be hosting its regularly scheduled quarterly management meeting on Tuesday, March 17, from 4:00 p.m. until approximately 6:00 p.m. ET. This quarter's meeting will take place virtually via conference call. During the call, the company's operating and financial leaders will present background information and commentary on the company's business operations and financial outlook and will take questions from the investment community.

The conference call will be broadcast live through Gallagher's website at www.ajg.com/irmeeting, and a conference call replay will be available at the same link through March 24, 2026. Any information distributed in conjunction with this meeting will be available on March 17 at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET at https://www.ajg.com/March17materials.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Contact:

Sara Walsh, CFA

(630) 285-3593/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
MEXICO CITY, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V.(NYSE: ASR; BMV: ASUR) (ASUR), ASUR a leading international airport group with operations in Mexico, the U.S. and Colombia, today announced that its General Annual Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting will be held on April 23rd, 2026 and announced the agenda for the meeting.

The following is the complete text of the call to assembly for the shareholders' meeting:

CALL TO ASSEMBLY FOR ORDINARY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF GRUPO AEROPORTUARIO DEL SURESTE, S.A.B. DE C.V.

By resolution of the Board of Directors adopted at the meeting held on the 4th of March 2026 and pursuant to the provisions of Articles 36, 37 and other provisions of the bylaws of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (the "Company") and Articles 181 and 183 of the General Corporations Law ("Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles"), the Company's shareholders are hereby called to attend the Ordinary Annual General Shareholders' Meeting (the "Meeting"), which will take place at 10 o'clock a.m. on the 23rd of April 2026, at the Company's offices at Bosque de Alisos No. 47-A 4th floor, Colonia Bosques de las Lomas, 05120, Mexico City, Mexico, in order to discuss the following matters:

A G E N D A

I. Presentation and, if applicable, approval of the following:

a. Report of the Chief Executive Officer, in accordance with Article 172 of the General Corporations Law and of Article 44, subsection XI, of the Securities Market Law ("Ley del Mercado de Valores"), accompanied by the independent auditor's report, in connection with the operations and results for the fiscal year ended the 31st of December 2025, as well as of the Board of Directors' opinion of the content of such report;

b. Report of the Board of Directors in accordance with Article 172, subsection b, of the General Corporations Law, which contains the main policies, as well as the accounting and reporting criteria followed in the preparation of the financial information of the Company;

c. Report of the activities and operations in which the Board of Directors intervened, in accordance with Article 28 IV (e) of the Securities Market Law;

d. Individual and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended the 31st of December 2025;

e. Annual report on the activities carried out by the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee of the Company in accordance with Article 43 of the Securities Market Law and report on the Company's subsidiaries. Resolutions thereon; and

f. Report on compliance with the tax obligations of the Company for the fiscal year ended the 31st of December 2024, in accordance with Article 76, section XIX of the Income Tax Law. Resolutions thereon.

II. Proposal on and, if applicable, approval of the application of the Company's results for the year:

a. Proposal for increase of the legal reserve;

b. Proposal by the Board of Directors to pay an ordinary net dividend in cash from accumulated retained earnings in the amount of $10.00 (ten pesos and zero cents, Mexican legal tender), payable in May 2026, for each of the ordinary "B" and "BB" Series shares. Resolutions thereon; and

c. Proposal and, if applicable, approval of the maximum amount that may be used by the Company to repurchase its shares in 2026 pursuant to Article 56 of the Securities Market Law; proposal and, if applicable, approval of the provisions and policies regarding the repurchase of Company shares. Resolutions thereon.

III. Ratification, if applicable, of the administration by the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer for the fiscal year of 2025 and appointment or ratification, as applicable, of (i) the persons who comprise or will comprise the Board of Directors of the Company, once assessed as independent, as applicable, (ii) the Chairperson of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee, and (iii) the persons to serve on the Nominations and Compensations Committee of the Company; determination of corresponding compensations. Resolutions thereon.

IV. Appointment of delegates in order to enact the resolutions adopted at the Meeting and, if applicable, to formalize such resolutions. Resolutions thereon.

Subject to the provisions of the paragraph immediately following this one, in order to have the right to attend the Meeting, the shareholders shall (i) be registered on the Company Shareholder Register, which will be closed three working days prior to the date set for the Meeting, that is, on the 20th of April 2026; and (ii) have obtained their admission pass.

In order to have the right to attend the Meeting, at the latest on the working day before the Meeting (i) the shareholders shall deposit at the Company's offices, with S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V., Institucion para el Deposito de Valores ("Indeval") or with any national or foreign financial credit institution, their share certificates or the receipts or other proof of deposit issued by any such institutions, and (ii) the brokerage houses and the other depositaries at Indeval shall present a list containing the names, addresses, nationalities and number of shares of the shareholders that they will represent at the Meeting. Upon receipt of such documents, the Company shall issue an admission pass to the shareholders and/or deliver the forms that they may use in order to be duly represented at the Meeting pursuant to subsection III of Article 49 of the Securities Market Law. In order to attend the Meeting, the shareholders shall present the corresponding admission pass and/or form.

The shares deposited at the Company by the shareholders for the purposes of attending the Meeting shall be returned when the Meeting has ended, upon the delivery of the deposit receipts issued to the shareholder or attorney-in-fact for such shares.

The shareholders may either attend the Meeting personally or be represented by a person or persons duly authorised in accordance with the terms of Article 49 subsection III of the Securities Market Law or by any other form of representation granted pursuant to the law.

Furthermore, please be advised that the supporting documentation for the adoption of the resolutions of the Meeting hereby convened, and the application previously mentioned, shall be placed at the disposal of the shareholders at the Company's offices fifteen days prior to the date of the Meeting.

Mexico City, 4th of March 2026

____________________________________

Rafael Robles Miaja

Secretary of the Board of Directors

About ASUR:

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (ASUR) is a leading international airport operator with a portfolio of concessions to operate, maintain, and develop 16 airports across the Americas. The Company operates nine airports in southeast of Mexico, including Cancun Airport, the largest tourist gateway in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America; as well as six airports in northern Colombia, including Medellin international airport (Rionegro), the second busiest in Colombia.

ASUR also holds a 60% interest in Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLC, operator of Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, the island's primary international gateway. San Juan Airport was the first and remains the only major airport in the U.S. to have successfully completed a publicprivate partnership under the FAA Pilot Program. ASUR has recently expanded into airport commercial services through ASUR US, which partners with airports and airlines to deliver enhanced retail and passenger experiences. ASUR US operates at major U.S. hubs, including Los Angeles International, Chicago O'Hare, and John F. Kennedy International, and has a track record of outperforming U.S. commercial revenue benchmarks.

Headquartered in Mexico, ASUR is listed on both the Mexican Bolsa (BMV) under the symbol ASUR, and on the NYSE in the U.S., where it trades under the symbol ASR. One ADS represents ten (10) B-series shares. For further information, visit www.asur.com.mx.

SOURCE Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S.A.B. de C.V.
New initiative supports America First Arms Transfer Strategy (AFATS) through compliant, fast-track pathways for government contracting

WASHINGTON and KYIV, Ukraine, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- America-Ukraine Strategic Partners (AUSP) today launched its Defense Matchmaking & Procurement Acceleration Platform, a structured program that connects U.S. and NATO prime contractors with vetted Ukrainian defense technology companies for joint government contracting and procurement opportunities.

Built to move battle-tested Ukrainian capabilities into allied acquisition channels, quickly and lawfully, the platform supports integration across U.S. and NATO procurement ecosystems, including Foreign Military Sales (FMS) pathways. Ukrainian innovators, hardened by real operational conditions, are delivering high-impact solutions in autonomy, unmanned systems, electronic warfare resilience, AI-enabled targeting, cybersecurity, and advanced materials. AUSP's platform creates a trusted route for primes to access these capabilities while navigating export controls, compliance, and geopolitical complexity.

"Ukrainian defense technology is battle-proven, agile, and cost-efficient," says Davis Richardson, Founder and CEO of AUSP. "We make sure it can move through a lawful, audit-ready channel into U.S. and NATO procurement, paired with primes that can scale it."

AUSP's approach is compliance-by-design, supporting ITAR/EAR and USML mapping, export documentation and DECCS preparation, consortium positioning, prototype-to-production planning, and FMS alignment, plus documentation practices that support auditability and end-use requirements. Through established relationships with Ukrainian accelerators, manufacturers, and public-sector stakeholders, and partnership on major defense convenings including BRAVE1 Defense Tech Valley, AUSP provides U.S. and NATO primes with curated startup access, due diligence support, secure executive introductions, co-development and teaming support, and government stakeholder alignment strategy.

The Defense Matchmaking & Procurement Acceleration Platform is now open to:

U.S. and NATO prime contractors and defense integrators

and defense integrators Consortium leads and acquisition intermediaries

and acquisition intermediaries Venture-backed defense funds pursuing co-development

pursuing co-development Allied ministries and procurement agencies seeking structured entry points to Ukraine's defense innovation ecosystem

The launch of AUSP's Defense Matchmaking & Procurement Acceleration Platform is being rolled out in parallel with the Ukrainian Government's BRAVE1 U.S. roadshow. As part of the initiative, AUSP is hosting a series of curated investor receptions for BRAVE1 in New York City and Dallas, convening U.S. defense investors, prime contractors, and strategic partners with leading Ukrainian defense companies. In Dallas, engagements will include programming at the University of Texas at Dallas, where AUSP sponsors a capstone project focused on advancing data and AI systems to support defense and dual-use innovation.

About AUSP

America-Ukraine Strategic Partners (AUSP) is a U.S.-based operating company building compliant, audit-ready frameworks for cross-border defense collaboration aligned with U.S. and NATO strategic priorities. AUSP's team includes former U.S. intelligence and defense officials, sovereign capital advisors, and seasoned operating executives.

Partnerships Contact:

David Grasso, Head of Partnerships

[email protected]

Washington, D.C. | Kyiv | New York | Houston

SOURCE AUSP
JACKSON, Wyo., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- REALM, the private global network and technology platform connecting the world's leading real estate advisors and their ultra-high-net-worth clients, today announced that top advisors from Bayleys have joined its exclusive real estate community and platform.

This collaboration connects leading real estate advisors to REALM's data-enriched client-matching platform, curated business collaboration tools, and white-glove referral ecosystem, and 550+ global advisors across the U.S. and 18 countriesexpanding cross-border reach and opportunity for luxury buyers, sellers, and developers worldwide.

REALM, the global network connecting top real estate advisors, welcomes leading Bayleys advisors worldwide. Post this

REALM is redefining how top-tier real estate advisors collaborate globally, combining human expertise with intelligent technology to serve the world's most discerning clients. As a private, invitation-only, brokerage-agnostic network, REALM empowers trusted advisors to connect across borders, share qualified insight, and match clients with opportunities aligned to their lifestyle and investment goals. Grounded in discretion, integrity, and innovation, REALM delivers a new model for global private-client servicewhere collaboration becomes a strategic advantage and every connection creates measurable value.

"REALM exists to elevate trusted advisors and the clients they serve," said Julie Faupel, Founder & CEO of REALM. "We are proud to partner with Bayleysa brand defined by integrity, market leadership, and extraordinary results. Their participation in REALM comes at a moment when demand for seamless, global private-client service has never been higher. Together, we're connecting more of the right advisors to the right propertiesacross continentsin a way that protects privacy and enhances value for all parties."

This alignment underscores REALM's accelerating momentum as the world's premier private-client networkbridging independent market leaders through a single, data-driven platform designed for discretion, collaboration, and measurable results.

A Combined Force in Luxury and New Development

With extensive reach across New Zealand and Fiji, Bayleys commands an unparalleled footprint across key gateway and lifestyle marketsfrom major urban centers and blue-chip coastal enclaves to alpine and rural retreats.

By aligning with REALM, these advisors gain access to:

Global private-client matchmaking  REALM's proprietary data enrichment and interest graph identify qualified, values-aligned buyers for unique properties and marquee developments worldwide, activating a global network spanning more than 150 brands and 550+ luxury advisors across the U.S. and 18 countries.

 REALM's proprietary data enrichment and interest graph identify qualified, values-aligned buyers for unique properties and marquee developments worldwide, activating a global network spanning more than 150 brands and 550+ luxury advisors across the U.S. and 18 countries. Cross-border collaboration at speed  Secure, invitation-only channels and curated working groups streamline introductions between advisors with complementary client mandatesaccelerating outcomes for international demand.

 Secure, invitation-only channels and curated working groups streamline introductions between advisors with complementary client mandatesaccelerating outcomes for international demand. White-glove new-development support  From pre-market positioning to phased global rollouts, REALM's insights and community unlock new pools of capital and buyer appetite for developments represented by Bayleys.

Developments and Categories Represented

Advisors from Bayleys are active across high-demand categories that resonate globally, including premium new-build residences in prime urban cores; landmark coastal and harborfront addresses; boutique resort and alpine offerings; and select mixed-use projects in lifestyle markets sought by UHNW clients.

Through REALM, these listings and buyer briefs can now be matched to an expanded network of qualified private clients seeking strategic acquisitions in Auckland,Queenstown and other high-value destinations across New Zealand and Fiji.

"This partnership amplifies our advisors' ability to serve clients with true global reach through REALM, while maintaining the local expertise and discretion Bayleys is known for," said Mike Bayley, Chairman and Managing Director of Bayleys Real Estate.

Alignment of Ethos and Leadership

Bayleys and REALM share a deeply aligned philosophy centered on advisory excellence:

Client-centric, fiduciary mindset  A commitment to transparency, discretion, and measurable outcomesplacing advisory above transactions.

 A commitment to transparency, discretion, and measurable outcomesplacing advisory above transactions. Data-informed with human judgment  Integrating market intelligence and digital horsepower with seasoned local expertise.

 Integrating market intelligence and digital horsepower with seasoned local expertise. Collaboration as a competitive edge  Recognizing that exceptional results come from trusted relationships and curated connectionsthe cornerstone of REALM's community.

About REALM

REALM is the premier private network and global technology platform for top real estate advisors and their clients. Combining a protected community, data-enriched client matching, and bespoke collaboration tools, REALM curates opportunities across borders while maintaining the privacy and discretion UHNW clients require. Advisors leverage REALM to expand reach, accelerate transactions, and deliver differentiated value in luxury resale and new development.

Learn more at realm-global.com .

About Bayleys

Bayleys is New Zealand's leading full-service real estate brand, renowned for premium marketing, trusted advisory, and 50 years of category leadership across residential, lifestyle, rural, commercial, and new development sectors. With a nationwide network spanning metropolitan, coastal, and lifestyle markets, Bayleys delivers exceptional results for local and international clients.

Learn more at https://www.bayleys.co.nz/

Media Contact

REALM  Press Inquiries and Interviews

Laura Monroe

Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, REALM Global

[email protected]

SOURCE REALM
LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Fatal motor vehicle collisions remain a persistent public safety concern in California, with distracted and impaired driving continuing to be cited as leading contributing factors, according to a review of publicly available traffic safety data by Los Angeles-based law firm BD&J .

State and federal traffic safety agencies have consistently identified distracted driving and driving under the influence as primary contributors to fatal crashes. A 2025 statewide survey found that 71 percent of Californians identified texting while driving as their top roadway safety concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also continues to report distraction and alcohol impairment as major causes of traffic fatalities nationwide.

BD&J attorneys report that a significant portion of wrongful death cases handled by the firm involve allegations of distraction, alcohol impairment, or other negligent driving behaviors. While California has implemented legislation and enforcement efforts aimed at reducing roadway risk, fatal collisions remain a measurable issue across densely populated regions.

"What we continue to observe in case patterns is the role that distraction and impairment play in serious and fatal collisions," said Lauren Horwitz, Partner at BD&J. "Vehicle technology has evolved rapidly, but driver attention remains critical to roadway safety."

California's high traffic density, long commuter distances, and sustained population growth contribute to overall exposure risk. According to statewide traffic safety reports, alcohol-impaired driving and mobile device use remain recurring enforcement priorities.

"Drivers have a legal duty to operate vehicles safely," added Shawn McCann, Partner at BD&J. "Reducing preventable risk factors such as distracted and impaired driving is central to lowering fatal crash rates."

BD&J periodically reviews publicly available traffic safety data and monitors litigation trends involving fatal and catastrophic motor vehicle collisions across California.

About BD&J, PC

BD&J, PC, has served all Californians for over 20 years in many areas of personal injury law, including auto or truck accidents, motorcycle and pedestrian collisions, premises liability, commercial injury, dog bites, and more. Having represented tens of thousands of clients from all walks of life, the attorneys at BD&J are proud to protect the rights of individuals from anywhere in California at any time. To learn more, contact BD&J here .

Media Contact:

Juniper Elizondo

[email protected]

310-887-1818

www.bdj.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2926251/BDJ_Photo.jpg

SOURCE BDJ
America is winning decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in his latest briefing on Operation Epic Fury.



Only days into the military campaign against the Iranian regime the results have been incredible, said Secretary Hegseth.



And we have only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy, and defeat their capabilities. In under a week, the United States and Israels air forces will have complete control of Iranian skies - uncontested airspace.



Our rules of engagement are bold, precise, and designed to unleash American power, not shackle it. This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight, said Secretary Hegseth. Iran's capabilities are evaporating by the hour, while American strength grows fiercer, smarter, and utterly dominant, even as, more bombers and more fighters are arriving.



And now, with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound GPS and laser-guided precision gravity bombs, of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile, said Secretary Hegseth.



The Iranian regime can no longer shoot the volume of missiles they once did. Moreover, its senior leaders are dead. The so-called governing council members that might have selected a successor are dead, missing or cowering in bunkers, too terrified to even occupy the same room. Senior generals, mid-level officers, enlisted ranks can't communicate, let alone mount a coordinated and sustained offensive.



The Iranian Air Force has been destroyed. The Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. Indeed, the U.S. sank their prize ship, the Soleimani. And in the Indian Ocean an American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. It was the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Also, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump was hunted down and killed.



Iran negotiated in bad faith, stalling, scheming, and preparing to strike, noted Secretary Hegseth. And we acted decisively to defend our people, our interests, and our allies. President Trump took bold action, putting America first, the kind of bold action that the American people elected him to execute.



Secretary Hegseth commended Israel for executing its part of the mission with unmatched skill and iron determination. Fighting shoulder to shoulder with such a capable ally is a true force multiplier. And a breath of fresh air. We salute your courage and your contribution.



America fights to win. And in Operation Epic Fury, we are, declared Secretary Hegseth. May God's providence cover and protect our troops always.
Wang, a Sanming city native, lost his sight in an accident at age 19. The 58-year-old is the only visually impaired deputy among nearly 3,000 NPC deputies. He said his perspective as a blind lawmaker allows him to better understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly those who are visually impaired.

"This insight enables me to propose more comprehensive and feasible suggestions through research and inspections," he said.

With the fourth session of the 14th NPC scheduled to open in Beijing on March 5, Wang said he plans to focus on elderly care services for people with disabilities and entrepreneurship among young people across the Taiwan Strait.

"I hope to garner higher attention and greater support from the government, businesses and society at large," he said.

On Feb 2, Zheng Pingsheng and Gao Ling, both visually impaired, expressed their gratitude to Wang during his visit to Fuzhou. They live in a dedicated section for people with disabilities at a comprehensive elderly care institution that was established after years of Wang's advocacy.

"Because of my visual impairment and the lack of family nearby, I have stayed in elderly care institutions across the country, including in Shenyang in Liaoning province, that offer specialized services for the blind," said Gao, 64. "Wang visited those places several times for research. After each visit, he would contact me to better understand my needs and seek my views. Eventually, a facility was set up in Fuzhou, my hometown."

"People with disabilities also grow old and have urgent needs for elderly care services, just like everyone else," Wang said. "But they require more targeted, reliable and effective facilities and services to ease their burdens and address practical difficulties."

At the upcoming NPC annual session, he said he will call on the government, businesses and social organizations to pay closer attention to the issue and consult with fellow deputies on how to standardize the management of elderly care institutions for people with disabilities to ensure smoother operations and more effective services.

Visiting the homes of people with disabilities has become routine for Wang.

"As an NPC deputy, it is my duty to speak up for the people," he said. "As a blind deputy, I have a greater responsibility to serve the blind and disabled communities. Although we cannot see, our thoughts, needs and suggestions need to be seen."

In 2023, Wang proposed that educational authorities provide textbooks with larger print for visually impaired students attending regular schools. The suggestion was incorporated into the law on building a barrier-free living environment, which took effect on Sept 1, 2023. Textbooks for more than 10 subjects were published in larger print for the autumn semester that year.

Wang said he first made the proposal after hearing complaints from parents of visually impaired children during research visits. They said the small print in textbooks forced their children to spend excessive time studying and strained their eyes.

"To craft suggestions that are accurate and effective, it is essential to deepen engagement with the public, especially people with disabilities, and truly understand their needs," he said.

Maintaining close contact with people, listening to their opinions and demands and working to serve them are key duties of NPC deputies.

To help deputies fulfill their responsibilities, the NPC Standing Committee has organized exchange sessions and provided guidance, encouraging interaction with the public through visits, forums and inspection tours. It has also incorporated technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve the handling of deputies' suggestions and motions.

Official data showed that all 9,160 suggestions submitted by national lawmakers during the third annual session of the 14th NPC in March 2025 have been addressed. In 2025, 39 legislative drafts received 1,503 opinions and suggestions from deputies through an online platform, and several deputies were invited to participate in inspections assessing the implementation of five laws.

By Cao Yin

SOURCE China Daily
NEW YORK, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Owl Capital Inc. ("Blue Owl") (NYSE:OWL) today announced that it has been recognized with three awards in the 2025 Private Equity Real Estate (PERE) Awards and four awards in the 2025 Infrastructure Investor Awards, the highest number of honors awarded to any real assets manager this year.

The firm was named:

Global Net Lease Investor of the Year (PERE)

Global Data Center Investor of the Year (PERE)

Global Retail Real Estate Investor of the Year (PERE)

Global Digital Infrastructure Investor of the Year (Infrastructure Investor)

Global Innovator of the Year (Infrastructure Investor)

North America Digital Infrastructure Investor of the Year (Infrastructure Investor)

North America Deal of the Year: Hyperion (Infrastructure Investor)

The annual PERE Awards honor investors, managers, advisors and industry professionals whose achievements have shaped the private real estate market over the past year. The Infrastructure Investor Awards recognize leading firms, funds and transactions across the global infrastructure industry. Determined by their respective editorial boards, the awards are considered among the most visible and respected recognitions in the private real assets sector.

The recognitions in PERE and Infrastructure Investor reflect Blue Owl's leading position in net lease and digital infrastructure. In 2025, the firm completed its acquisition of IPI Partners, completed a majority investment in Dallas-based Gigabit Fiber, and financed the $27 billion Hyperion data center campus in Louisiana.

"We are truly honored to be recognized by both PERE and Infrastructure Investor spanning seven total awards, all of which reinforce the strength of our integrated real assets platform, the dedication of our team and the continued trust of our partners," said Marc Zahr, Co-President and Global Head of Real Assets at Blue Owl. "We remain focused on our mission to deliver the highest current cash flow and total return while taking the least amount of risk."

About Blue Owl

Blue Owl (NYSE: OWL) is a leading asset manager that is redefining alternatives. With over $307 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025, we invest across three multi-strategy platforms: Credit, Real Assets and GP Strategic Capital. Anchored by a strong permanent capital base, we provide businesses with private capital solutions to drive long-term growth and offer institutional investors, individual investors, and insurance companies differentiated alternative investment opportunities that aim to deliver strong performance, risk-adjusted returns, and capital preservation.

Together with approximately 1,365 experienced professionals globally, Blue Owl brings the vision and discipline to create the exceptional. To learn more, visit www.blueowl.com or LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blue-owl-capital

Accolades & awards disclosure

Accolades are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications. Accolades can be based on a variety of criteria including recognition by peers, strategy innovation, growth of assets under management, length of service, client satisfaction, type of clientele and more. Neither Blue Owl nor its employees pay a fee in exchange for these ratings.

This is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation for any fund and does not constitute investment, financial, or other advice or a recommendation regarding any securities of or any fund or vehicle managed by Blue Owl. No warranty is made as to the completeness or accuracy of this information, and the views and opinions set forth herein are subject to change without notice.

PERE award selection methodology

PERE is an editorially driven awards process, meaning their editors review the submission and subjectively decide who the winners are. The criteria they consider are:

Fundraising and Deployment: Highlighting significant capital raised and invested within the LTM.

Market Impact: Evidence of innovative strategies, navigating volatility, sector-defining deals, etc.

Performance Metrics: For specific categories, performance metrics may be considered.

Infrastructure Investor award selection methodology

Investor of the Year categories are decided based on the firm's activities during the 12-month judging period, prioritizing milestones like funds that reached a final close, deals (both acquisitions and exits) closed on during the 12-month period, and also deals announced that might not have yet closed, and other significant events. The Deal of the Year categories aim to reward deals that are of particular importance during the 12-month judging period, not only in terms of size but also impact in the industry. The Innovator of the Year category concerns milestones achieved by the firm during the judging period that we feel have helped move the asset class forward and are unique in their scope.

Investor Contact

Ann Dai

Head of Investor Relations

[email protected]

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Owl Capital
TAMPA, Fla., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BoomRx, the fastest-growing national pharmaceutical technology platform that simplifies prescription sourcing and fulfilment, today announced it has surpassed $15.5 million in net order revenue since launching in July 2025, reflecting accelerated national adoption of technology that addresses one of the biggest operational headaches for medical clinics nationwide.

The BoomRx portal is now utilized by more than 1,750+ clinics nationwide. Across its growing network, the platform is averaging more than 8,000 orders per month, with more than 85 percent of clinics returning to reorder through the system.

Additional performance milestones include:

Sustained weekly onboarding of new clients, averaging nearly 30 clinics daily

Maintaining a refund rate of 2.4 percent across high-volume activity

Nationwide footprint spanning all 50 states and U.S. territories with California, Florida, and Arizona representing the top three states by order volume

"Centralizing prescription sourcing and fulfillment is not optional for practices that want to expand personalized medicine programs responsibly," said Kurt Lunkwitz, founder and president of BoomRx. "So many medical clinics have invested in EMRs, patient portals, and scheduling tools, yet prescription sourcing often remains fragmented. BoomRx was built to address this disconnect. Clinics are embedding BoomRx into their workflows to reduce friction, improve consistency, and allow their teams to focus on patients rather than procurement."

The platform's API integration connects a clinic's EMR directly to its proprietary pharmacy network, allowing physicians to send prescription orders automatically, track status in real time, and maintain updated patient information without additional manual steps.

These milestones reflect a broader shift toward centralized prescription-access models that streamline sourcing, reduce administrative burden, and support structured program development in areas such as medical weight management, hormone therapy, and men's and women's health protocols.

"As regulatory complexity and supply-chain expectations evolve, physician practices are looking for operational clarity when it comes to prescription management," Lunkwitz added. "BoomRx provides a single point of coordination that supports growth without increasing administrative overhead. BoomRx's strong repeat utilization rates demonstrate that we are addressing longstanding sourcing and fulfillment challenges."

BoomRx will be showcasing its technology at the upcoming A4M Longevity Springfest 2026, April 11-12, in West Palm Beach, Fla., at Booth 1135.

About BoomRx

BoomRx is a national pharmaceutical technology platform that unifies access to regulated 503A and FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facility products as well as other manufactured and brand medications through a single, secure ordering portal. By consolidating multi-pharmacy workflows, simplifying state-by-state shipping complexity, expanding national access, introducing predictable flat-rate shipping, and improving price transparency, BoomRx helps medical, wellness, telemedicine, and med-spa practices scale efficiently while improving operational performance and patient satisfaction. For more information, please visit https://boomrx.com.

Media contact:

Jan Sisko

Carabiner Communications

[email protected]

678.591.2022

SOURCE BoomRx
NOVATO, Calif., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Brayton Purcell LLP announces the publication of a new national InvestigateTV investigation that brings significant attention to the lifethreatening dangers associated with crystalline silica artificial stonea product also known as manufactured stone, artificial stone, or engineered stone. The story, released March 2, 2026, by journalists Anna Werner, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey, and Scotty Smith, profiles the medical crisis faced by California countertop fabrication worker Rodolfo Figueroa, whose decades of cutting artificial stone resulted in catastrophic lung damage.

InvestigateTV Report Exposing the Severe Health Consequences of Crystalline Silica Artificial Stone

Mr. Figueroa, age 70, recently returned home following a lifesaving lung transplant. As the InvestigateTV report documents, his illness progressed rapidly after years of exposure to the nanosized silica particles, toxic resins and glues, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained in artificial stone, which is composed of at least 90 percent silica. Health professionals have long warned that inhalation of these particles can cause severe and irreversible disease, including silicosis.

California remains the only state actively tracking silicosis cases linked specifically to artificial stone fabrication. Current state data identifies more than 500 workers diagnosed, 54 workers requiring lung transplants, and 29 deaths. Many of the affected individuals, including Mr. Figueroa, dedicated years to fabricating countertops made from crystalline silica artificial stone.

Legal Context and HR 5437

The InvestigateTV report also examines the ongoing national debate surrounding H.R. 5437, a proposed federal bailout bill that would remove legal responsibility from manufacturers and distributors of artificial stone slabs in cases involving worker illness or death.

Brayton Purcell LLP attorney James Nevin, who represents Mr. Figueroa and many other affected individuals, addressed this issue in the broadcast. Nevin explained that manufacturers of crystalline silica artificial stone have long known how their products are used:

"The whole chain has been created by the slab manufacturers," Nevin said. "It's not like, oh, we didn't know that this was going to happen. We didn't know that our product was going to be fabricated. It's designed to be fabricated."

If enacted, H.R. 5437 would dramatically shift legal accountability away from the entities responsible for placing artificial stone slabscontaining extremely high concentrations of respirable silicainto the marketplace.

Scientific Perspective: 'A Far More Pernicious Product'

InvestigateTV also interviewed Dr. David Michaels, epidemiologist, former Assistant Secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Dr. Michaels distinguished artificial stone from other materials commonly used in countertop fabrication:

"If the stone product is not very fine, it's less dangerous than the very fine flour essentially that goes into artificial stone," Dr. Michaels stated.

Dr. Michaels further explained: "Workers need protection from all materials. But this particular product that we're talking about here is clearly far more pernicious. And that's why we really should move to a safer product."

Dr. Michaels' commentary underscores the concerns raised by occupational health specialists nationwide who have observed the escalating medical consequences tied to the fabrication of crystalline silica artificial stone.

Ongoing Concerns About Worker Exposure

While some industry representatives claim that safety procedures can be consistently maintained, researchers and public health authorities interviewed by InvestigateTV described a very different reality.

A study highlighted in the broadcast found that even with wet-cutting methods, nearly 50 percent of fabrication shops working with crystalline silica artificial stone still exceeded OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica. Over 100 peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that there is no safe way for human beings to fabricate crystalline silica artificial stone, even when exposure levels are kept at or below OSHA's PEL.

Occupational health experts estimate that 20,000 to 30,000 workers nationwide could ultimately develop silicosis related to artificial stone fabrication.

An Urgent Public Health Issue

Mr. Figueroa, speaking from his home following his recent transplant, expressed gratitude for the time he has been given, while acknowledging the seriousness of his condition. His story illustrates the devastating personal toll of exposure to crystalline silica artificial stone particles.

Brayton Purcell LLP has represented individuals harmed by toxic exposures for decades, including those involving artificial stone. The firm remains committed to helping affected workers understand their legal rights and pursue accountability from the manufacturers and distributors of crystalline silica artificial stone products.

The full InvestigateTV story is now available to the public.

https://www.braytonlaw.com/engineered-stone-silicosis-news/

Media Contact:

Nolan Lowry

[email protected]

415-399-3107

SOURCE Brayton Purcell LLP
The Teaming Agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between CAE and TKMS in support of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

The Teaming Agreement also provides a basis for exploring additional international and export opportunities involving training and simulation components.

MONTREAL, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE)  CAE today announced a teaming agreement with TKMS in support of TKMS's pursuit of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

The teaming agreement partnership brings together TKMS's proven submarine design and construction expertise with CAE's global leadership in simulationbased training and missionsystem support to serve the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).

Under this teaming agreement, CAE will support TKMS's bid to deliver a comprehensive, long-term training and sustainment capability tailored to the Royal Canadian Navy's future submarine fleet. It will closely replicate realworld submarine operations to ensure crews develop the confidence and expertise needed for mission success.

"CAE is proud to stand with TKMS as Canada moves forward on its next generation of submarine capability," said Matt Bromberg, President and CEO, CAE. "Submarine operations demand precision, teamwork and absolute readiness. Our core responsibility is to give Royal Canadian Navy crews training that reflects the pressure and complexity they will face at sea. CAE has spent decades preparing naval teams around the world through advanced simulation and mission-ready training. We bring that experience and a strong commitment to Canadian industry and to this partnership. Together, we are strengthening the RCN's readiness and supporting Canada's long-term security."

"Training is a critical pillar of operational effectiveness for modern naval forces," said Oliver Burkhard, CEO, TKMS. "Through this agreement with CAE, we are strengthening our ability to deliver an integrated and sustainable training solution as part of Canada's Patrol Submarine Project. We value CAE's global expertise in simulation and training technologies and look forward to deepening our cooperation in support of Canada's submarine program."

As a trusted defence partner to Canada and its allies, CAE is committed to supporting Canada's sovereign submarine capability and strengthening the resilience of Canadian industry. The teaming agreement between CAE and TKMS aims to ensure that the Royal Canadian Navy has the advanced capabilities required to safeguard Canadians and protect Canada's vast coastline and Arctic interests. The teaming agreement establishes a strong, innovationdriven partnership that supports Canada's longterm submarine readiness and reinforces its ability to operate confidently in an increasingly complex maritime environment.

As part of this joint effort, CAE is also identified as a strategic partner in support of TKMS engagements more broadly, in connection with international and export subsurface and surface naval programs that include training and simulation components.

About TKMS

TKMS is one of the world's leading naval companies with more than 9,100 employees (including temporary workers) at three shipyards in Kiel, Wismar and Itajai (Brazil), and with locations worldwide. The company is active as a systems supplier for submarines and naval surface vessels as well as for maritime electronics and security technologies. Around 3,300 employees work at the Kiel site, making it the largest shipyard location in Germany. 185 years of history and the constant striving for improvement allow the company to set new standards time and time again. TKMS offers its customers worldwide tailored solutions to meet the highly complex challenges of a changing world. The driving forces behind this innovative energy are the company's employees, who shape the future of TKMS with passion and commitment every day.

More information at: www.tkmsgroup.com

About CAE

At CAE, we exist to make the world safer. We deliver cutting-edge training, simulation, and critical operations solutions to prepare aviation professionals and defence forces for the moments that matter. Every day, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security personnel to perform at their best and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we're everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees at around 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. For nearly 80 years, CAE has been at the forefront of innovation, consistently seeking to set the standard by delivering excellence in high-fidelity flight simulators and training solutions, while embedding sustainability at the heart of everything we do. By harnessing technology and enhancing human performance, we strive to be the trusted partner in advancing safety and mission readinesstoday and tomorrow.

Follow us on: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

CAE Contacts:

General Media:

Samantha Golinski, Senior Vice President, Communications

+1-438-805-5856, [email protected]

Trade Media:

Jessica Shergill, Director, Marketing Operations

+1-514-264-9672, [email protected]

Investor Relations:

Andrew Arnovitz, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

+1-514-734-5760, [email protected]

SOURCE CAE Inc.
CHICAGO, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), the world's leading derivatives and securities exchange network, today reported February monthly trading volume statistics across its global business lines.

The data sheet "Cboe Global Markets Monthly Volume & RPC/Net Revenue Capture Report" contains an overview of certain February trading statistics and market share by business segment, volume in select index products, and RPC/net capture, which is reported on a one-month lag, across business lines.

Average Daily Trading Volume (ADV) by Month Year-To-Date

















Feb 2026 Feb 2025 % Chg Jan

2026 %

Chg Feb 2026 Feb 2025 %

Chg Multi-listed options (contracts, k) 13,476 13,556 -0.6 % 14,093 -4.4 % 13,792 13,348 3.3 % Index options (contracts, k) 5,973 4,469 33.7 % 5,477 9.1 % 5,719 4,503 27.0 % Futures (contracts, k)1 276 241 14.7 % 230 20.1 % 253 230 9.8 % U.S. Equities - On-Exchange (matched shares, mn) 1,961 1,673 17.2 % 1,872 4.7 % 1,915 1,655 15.7 % U.S. Equities - Off-Exchange (matched shares, mn) 268 97 176.6 % 241 11.0 % 254 90 182.7 % Canadian Equities (matched shares, k) 204,403 166,261 22.9 % 239,258 -14.6 % 222,702 162,478 37.1 % European Equities (, mn) 17,963 13,718 30.9 % 15,218 18.0 % 16,557 12,516 32.3 % Australian Equities (AUD, mn) 1,228 914 34.3 % 1,041 18.1 % 1,134 779 45.6 % Global FX ($, mn) 63,372 50,699 25.0 % 67,233 -5.7 % 65,350 50,497 29.4 % Cboe Clear Europe Cleared Trades (k) 141,642 131,723 7.5 % 123,562 14.6 % 265,204 254,662 4.1 % Cboe Clear Europe Net Settlements (k) 1,266 1,021 24.0 % 1,234 2.6 % 2,500 2,071 20.7 %

1 In the second quarter of 2025, Digital futures products were transitioned to Cboe Futures Exchange. Futures metrics prior to the second quarter of 2025 exclude Digital futures products.

February 2026 Trading Volume Highlights

U.S. Options

Cboe's proprietary index options reported a monthly ADV record of 6.0 million contracts, driven by: Monthly S&P 500 Index (SPX) options ADV record of 4.8 million contracts. Monthly SPX zero-days-to-expiry (0DTE) ADV record of 3.0 million contracts, representing a record 63% of all SPX trading. Monthly mini-SPX (XSP) options ADV record of 186 thousand contracts. Monthly ADV record of 155 thousand contracts during Cboe's Global Trading Hours (GTH) session (8:15 p.m. to 9:25 a.m. ET), including record SPX GTH ADV of 133 thousand contracts.



U.S. Equities - Off-Exchange

BIDS Trading reported a monthly ADV record of 267.8 million matched shares.

European Equities

Cboe Europe reached a record total monthly average daily notional value (ADNV) of 18.0 billion, including monthly ADNV records in Cboe Periodic Auctions (6.3 billion) and Cboe BIDS Europe (969.0 million).

About Cboe Global Markets

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), the world's leading derivatives and securities exchange network, delivers cutting-edge trading, clearing, and investment solutions to people around the world. Cboe provides trading solutions and products in multiple asset classes, including equities, derivatives, and FX across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Above all, we are committed to building a trusted, inclusive global marketplace that enables people to pursue a sustainable financial future. To learn more, visit www.cboe.com .

CBOE-V

Cboe, Cboe Global Markets, Cboe Clear, Cboe Futures Exchange, CFE, Cboe Volatility Index, and VIX are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. or its affiliates. Standard & Poor's, S&P, SPX, and S&P 500 are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, and have been licensed for use by Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Any products that have the S&P Index or Indexes as their underlying interest are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's or Cboe and neither Standard & Poor's nor Cboe make any representations or recommendations concerning the advisability of investing in products that have S&P indexes as their underlying interests. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates do not recommend or make any representation as to possible benefits from any securities, futures or investments, or third-party products or services. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. is not affiliated with S&P. Investors should undertake their own due diligence regarding their securities, futures, and investment practices. This press release speaks only as of this date. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. disclaims any duty to update the information herein.

Nothing in this announcement should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any securities or futures in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this communication constitutes tax, legal or investment advice. Investors must consult their tax adviser or legal counsel for advice and information concerning their particular situation.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates make no warranty, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, any warranties as of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness or timeliness, the results to be obtained by recipients of the products and services described herein, or as to the ability of the indices referenced in this press release to track the performance of their respective securities, generally, or the performance of the indices referenced in this press release or any subset of their respective securities, and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies, errors. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates have not calculated, composed or determined the constituents or weightings of the securities that comprise the third-party indices referenced in this press release and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors in any of the indices referenced in this press release.

There are important risks associated with transacting in any of the Cboe Company products discussed here. Before engaging in any transactions in those products, it is important for market participants to carefully review the disclosures and disclaimers contained at: https://www.cboe.com/us_disclaimers/.

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all market participants. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person should review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which is required to be provided to all such persons. Copies of the ODD are available from your broker or from The Options Clearing Corporation, 125 S. Franklin Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60606.

SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc.
NEW YORK, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Kroll Issuer Services (US) regarding Constellation Oil Services Holding S.A.

Constellation Oil Services Holding S.A. (the " Issuer ", " we ", " our " or " us "), a public limited liability company (societe anonyme) incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 8-10, Avenue de la Gare, L-1610 Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies' Register under number B163424, announces the successful results of its previously announced solicitation of consents (the " Consent Solicitation ") with respect to its outstanding 9.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (the " Notes "), issued pursuant to the indenture, dated as of November 7, 2024, as amended by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of December 12, 2024 (collectively, the " Indenture "), among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and GLAS Trust Company LLC (the " Trustee "). The Issuer solicited consents to amend (the " Proposed Amendment ") the Indenture in order to anticipate the payment of certain dividends. The Consent Solicitation was conducted subject to the terms and conditions described in the Consent Solicitation Statement, dated as of February 25, 2026 (the " Statement "). Terms used and not defined in this press release have the meanings assigned in the Statement.

The Consent Solicitation expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 3, 2026 (the " Expiration Date "). As of the Expiration Date, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Notes (the " Required Consents ") had validly delivered Consents and not validly revoked such Consents prior to the Revocation Deadline. The Revocation Deadline has passed and, therefore, validly delivered Consents can no longer be revoked.

The Issuer will pay in cash, on the Settlement Date, US$5.00 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes with respect to which Consents were validly delivered at or prior to the Expiration Date (and not validly revoked prior to the Revocation Deadline) (the " Consent Payment "). For the avoidance of doubt, the Consent Payment will be rounded to the nearest cent, rounding up at US$0.005.

The Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee will execute a second supplemental indenture to the Indenture (the " Second Supplemental Indenture ") effecting the Proposed Amendment. The Second Supplemental Indenture will be effective immediately upon execution thereof as to all Holders, whether or not a Holder delivered a Consent. However, the Second Supplemental Indenture will only be operative following payment by the Issuer of the Consent Payment at the Settlement Date.

Clarksons Securities AS acted as solicitation agent in the Consent Solicitation and can be contacted at the following e-mail address: [email protected] with questions regarding the Consent Solicitation.

Kroll acted as information agent and tabulation agent for the Consent Solicitation and can be contacted at the following e-mail address: [email protected] and telephone numbers: U.S./Canada: (888) 325-8676 / International: (646) 825-3821.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The Consent Solicitation was not made to, nor will the Issuer accept deliveries of Consents from, holders in any jurisdiction in which the Consent Solicitation would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.

Neither the Statement nor any documents related to the Consent Solicitation have been filed with, and have not been approved or reviewed by, any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Statement or any documents related to the Consent Solicitation, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary.

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature or that relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Issuer does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason.

SOURCE Kroll Issuer Services (US)
GUANGZHOU, China, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- News report from South.

The Guangdong delegation is on the way to deliberate on key national priorities, with the ongoing 2026 APEC "China Year" emerging as a closely watched topic.

Speed Speed

The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is scheduled for November 18 to 19, 2026, in Shenzhen, alongside the APEC CEO Summit and the Joint Ministerial Meeting of Foreign and Trade Ministers. Approximately 300 events will be held across Chinese cities throughout the APEC China Year.

South spoke to various Consuls General based in Guangzhou from APEC economies. They shared their perspectives on the significance of APEC 2026 in Shenzhen, emphasizing how Guangdongas a global hub for technology, innovation, and tradeexemplifies the spirit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

They also extended warm invitations to global partners to join this grand occasion, expressing confidence that the APEC China Year will further drive economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

SOURCE South
HONOLULU, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm based in suburban Philadelphia, is investigating data privacy claims against the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Last week, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center disclosed to the public that it had been a victim of a ransomware attack in August 2025.

If you would like to discuss this case with a lawyer, please click HERE.

What happened?

In a press release issued on February 27, 2026, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center made public that, on August 31, 2025, it was the victim of a cyberattack that exposed files containing names, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers. The University of Hawaii Cancer Center launched an investigation into the incident and, with the assistance of cybersecurity experts, determined that the data breach may affect as many as 1.2 million individuals.

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center has begun mailing notice letters to affected individuals. In addition, they are offering impacted individuals 12 months of credit monitoring and identity theft services.

How can I protect my personal data?

If you receive a data breach notification regarding the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, you should take steps to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud. Such measures include regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for any suspicious activity.

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit seeking legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the University of Hawaii Cancer Center data breach.

For more information, please contact:

Marc Edelson, Esq.

EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP

411 S. State Street, Suite N-300

Newtown, PA 18940

Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.edelson-law.com

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach cases, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation involving allegations of securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ESChat announced completion of the initial system integration, and availability of ESChat service to participating agencies within the County of Los Angeles. The integration and service are part of a contract awarded to ESChat in July 2025 by the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communication System (LA-RICS) Joint Powers Authority (JPA), to integrate the 'ESChat for Government' platform with the LA-RICS P25 Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network, enabling LA-RICS to offer ESChat service to agencies within its region.

Integration of the ESChat and LA-RICS networks leverages the P25 standards-based (TIA-102) Inter Sub-System Interface (ISSI) interface which typically provides connectivity between independent P25 radio systems. When connecting ESChat to P25 via ISSI, the P25 system treats ESChat as if it were another P25 system, providing full-featured, secure and scalable interoperability. While the ISSI interface is used to carry secure voice between the systems, the [ESChat to LA-RICS] integration also leverages the TIA-102 Over-the-Air Rekeying (OTAR) interface to manage secure distribution of AES-256 encryption keys.

"In my experience, Broadband PTT to P25 Interoperability on this scale is simply not possible using traditional gateway-based interoperability solutions. Leveraging the ISSI and KMF interfaces was the only viable option to integrate broadband PTT with a P25 system of our size," said Scott Edson, Executive Director of LA-RICS. "Our subscribers have autonomy to select the wireless carrier that best serves their agency. It was therefore a requirement that our broadband PTT service operate on any wireless carrier. ESChat fulfils this requirement nicely by providing a carrier agnostic platform, allowing each agency to select the carrier of their preference, while still supporting secure inter-agency communication and interoperability."

The initial deployment includes ISSI integration of over eight-hundred LA-RICS P25 Talkgroups, plus OTAR encryption key management. Access to these P25 Talkgroups is now available to the LA-RICS ESChat users. The second integration phase will be completed in late 2026, and includes ISSI enhancements related to the company's FedRAMP Authorized 'ESChat for Government' solution.

"Interoperability is a primary focus of our ESChat portfolio, and we're confident that we do interoperability better than anyone," said Josh Lober, President of ESChat. "Interoperability is a multi-dimensional challenge. Communication must be native and seamless, whether you are communicating between agencies, across wireless carriers, between disparate PTT system types, or with competitive broadband PTT solutions."

About ESChat:

ESChat (eschat.com) is a leading provider of mission critical broadband Push-to-Talk (PTT) services. ESChat is a FedRAMP Authorized, TX-RAMP Certified, FirstNet Certified solution and is also approved by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for U.S. military operational use. ESChat operates on and across all wireless carriers, providing cross-carrier interoperability. ESChat is available to federal government customers through the company's GSA Contract, which also includes a cooperative purchasing agreement for state, local, and tribal government agencies.

SOURCE ESChat
Jin Ruirui arranges Yi ethnic costumes featuring handmade embroidery at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026.

Jin Ruirui, president of the county-level Yi embroidery association, has been dedicated to preserving the millennia-old craft while leading local embroiderers toward cultural prosperity and rural revitalization.

With a history of more than 1,300 years, Yi embroidery features exquisite patterns and diverse stitching techniques, serving as an important carrier of ethnic Yi culture.

Over the years, Jin has helped more than 2,000 women find jobs. Through their efforts, the ancient craft has stepped out of the mountains and appeared on fashion week runways in cities such as Milan, New York and Paris. By blending with modern fashion design, it has repeatedly expanded into new markets and reached new audience.

In 2023, Jin was elected a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC). During her tenure, she has put forward proposals on issues such as the protection of Yi embroidery and related industrial development, employment, education, and healthcare.

At this year's "two sessions," Jin will focus on the industrial growth of Yi embroidery, youth mental health and the prevention of juvenile crime. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui (C) dances with locals in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui checks a piece of Yi ethnic costume featuring handmade embroidery at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui (R) talks with an embroiderer at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui promotes Yi ethnic costumes featuring handmade embroidery via livestreaming at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui arranges her headwear at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui poses for a photo in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

An aerial drone photo shows Jin Ruirui seeking suggestions from local embroiderers at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026.(Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui introduces Yi ethnic costumes featuring handmade embroidery to a customer at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui learns about youth mental health from a doctor at the People's Hospital of Mouding County, in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui embroiders with locals at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui files suggestions at her office in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Jin Ruirui seeks suggestions from local embroiderers at her studio in Mouding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
WICHITA, Kan., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- With marijuana legalized for recreational use in many states across the U.S., it's easy to overlook the potential legal consequences tied to THC. After all, in many places you can buy THC-infused drinks, travel with products that look like everyday vapes, or legally use marijuana with a medical card.

With so many overlapping and often confusing laws surrounding marijuana, it's no surprise that everyday mistakes are leading peoplemany with no prior criminal historyto face serious criminal charges. Our marijuana defense attorneys in Wichita, Kansas, at the McConnell Law Firm are sharing the everyday marijuana mistakes we see most often, and why they matter under Kansas law.

Using a Vape

Vape pens are discreet and easy to carry, which is exactly why they lead to problems. Many people treat THC cartridges like nicotine vapes and don't think twice before tossing one into a pocket, purse, or car console. Because they don't look or smell like traditional marijuana, it's easy to forget what's inside. In Kansas, THC vapes can still lead to marijuana-related possession charges. "I forgot it was there" usually doesn't stop a case from being filed. A first offense can still involve criminal penalties, including fines, probation, and possible jail time, depending on the situation and prior history.

Traveling With THC

Traveling with THC is one of the most common mistakes people make, especially when flying. Many assume that if marijuana is legal where they purchased it or legal at their destination, it must be allowed while traveling. That assumption alone can land you in serious legal trouble. In actuality, airports operate under federal law, where marijuana remains illegal. TSA's guidance is clear that marijuana and many cannabis-infused products are not legal federally, and if discovered during screening, the situation may be referred to law enforcement. Even a gummy or vape left in a carry-on can turn a carefree trip into a legal nightmare.

Posting on Social Media

Social media posts may feel harmless, especially when they're shared casually with friends. Photos, videos, or jokes involving THC are common online and rarely feel risky in the moment, but they often have lasting consequences. Social media content can be saved, shared, or recovered and may be used as evidence in a criminal investigation. Posts resurface long after they were shared, complicating otherwise defensible cases. Even deleted content may still exist in screenshots or archives, and what felt like a joke can end up making a defense more difficult.

Sharing Medical Marijuana

Possessing a medical marijuana card may feel like a free pass, but the truth is, it's only intended for the cardholder. Sharing marijuana with a friend (even if no money is exchanged) can be charged as distribution, an offense that's significantly more serious than simple possession charges. If convicted, you could be facing felony-level penalties, including substantial fines and potential jail time.

Have You Been Accused?

Are you facing marijuana charges? We encourage you to contact the McConnell Law Firm as soon as possible. While every case is different, and no conclusions should be drawn without first consulting an experienced marijuana defense attorney about the specifics of your case, it is always in your best interest to have a skilled attorney by your side from the beginning.

Request a Free Consultation

Do you or a loved one need the assistance of our marijuana defense attorneys in Wichita? We encourage you to contact the McConnell Law Firm at (316) 243-5903 for a free consultation.

Contact Us

SOURCE McConnell Law Firm
Strategic acquisition brings proven early-stage development team and pipeline in-house, strengthening Exus' position as integrated renewable energy platform

PITTSBURGH, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Exus Renewables North America, a leading independent developer and operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects, today announced the acquisition of Ozone Renewables, adding new assets and expertise to the company's greenfield development team and early-stage project pipeline. The acquisition marks Exus' first organizational acquisition and represents a strategic shift toward building integrated development capabilities across wind, solar, and storage projects.

The acquisition enables Exus to internalize early-stage project origination rather than relying solely on acquisitions from third-party developers. Ozone's team brings extensive experience in securing land control and advancing projects from concept through early development stages. The team has helped partners commercialize over 3GW of operational wind projects and added gigawatts of utility-scale solar projects to development pipelines across multiple markets, with particular expertise in challenging regulatory environments including New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pacific Northwest. Larry Seiler, of Ozone Renewables, will lead Exus' new greenfield development team.

"This strategic partnership allows us to bring proven greenfield expertise in-house at a critical time for the industry," said Jim Spencer, President and CEO of Exus Renewables North America. "Rather than continuously acquiring early-stage projects from external developers, we can now originate and develop projects internally with a tried-and-true team. This positions Exus to focus our development efforts in markets where we see the strongest competitive future for renewable energy."

"As the industry consolidates and the days of small independent developers become increasingly challenging, joining Exus provides the resources and platform to continue successful greenfield development work," said Tommy Hudzik, Head of Development at Exus Renewables North America. "This acquisition ensures that the relationships we've built and the expertise we've developed will continue driving renewable energy projects forward across North America."

"When we started Ozone, our goal was simple: build a disciplined greenfield development platform capable of originating high-quality renewable projects in complex markets. With more than 9 GW of assets originated to date, I'm incredibly proud of what our team has built. Exus recognized both the strength of our pipeline and the culture behind it, and I'm confident this partnership will allow that development engine to continue scaling and delivering meaningful impact in this next chapter," said Daniel Boyd, Founder of Ozone Renewables.

"There's never been a more important time to accelerate the development of reliable, efficient renewable energy," said Larry Seiler, Director, Greenfield Development. "With power demand rising quickly, success requires strong early-stage execution and the ability to deliver projects at scale. By joining Exus, we're bringing those strengths together, pairing disciplined greenfield development with an experienced operating platform to responsibly advance the next generation of wind, solar, and storage projects."

The acquisition includes Ozone's existing pipeline of early-stage wind, solar, and storage projects, as well as project concepts currently in various stages of land control and early development. Ozone's team will focus on greenfield development across PJM, MISO, WECC, and SPP territories, complementing Exus' existing regional development teams.

About Exus Renewables North America

Exus Renewables North America is a leading independent owner, developer and operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects, dedicated to advancing clean energy solutions across the United States. Operating from offices in Pittsburgh, New York, and Albuquerque with over 100 employees, the company focuses on developing, repowering, and managing renewable energy assets as part of its mission to drive sustainable growth in the renewable energy sector. With over 5.8 gigawatts in its total portfolio and 764 MW now operating or under construction, Exus continues to expand its operational footprint while contributing to the nation's decarbonization efforts and clean energy goals.

Contact:

Sarah McAllister

Mahoney Communications Group

[email protected]

(212) 220-6045

SOURCE Exus Renewables North America
NASHUA, N.H., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Falcon Electronics announced today that it has successfully achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2, a significant milestone that places the company among the very first in its industry to meet the U.S. Department of Defense's rigorous cybersecurity requirements.

CMMC Level 2 certification demonstrates Falcon Electronics' proven ability to safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and reinforces its position as a trusted partner to defense, aerospace, and government customers. The achievement reflects a substantial investment in cybersecurity infrastructure, internal controls, and organizational discipline.

"At a time when cybersecurity requirements continue to evolve and intensify, achieving CMMC Level 2 is not a routine accomplishment," said Aaron Dufoe, President of Falcon Electronics. "This certification validates the strength of our systems, our people, and our longterm commitment to protecting sensitive information. It also positions Falcon to compete for and support critical Department of Defense and federal programs where trust and compliance are nonnegotiable."

CMMC Level 2 certification enhances Falcon's ability to pursue new defense and federal contracting opportunities while providing customers with added confidence that their data is protected in accordance with DoD standards. The certification also underscores Falcon's proactive approach to cybersecurity readiness as requirements across the defense supply chain continue to tighten.

Falcon Electronics plans to actively promote this achievement as part of its ongoing commitment to operational excellence, quality, and security leadership across the defense and aerospace supply chain.

About Falcon Electronics

Falcon Electronics is a trusted distributor serving the aerospace, defense, and space industries, with a longstanding focus on quality, compliance, and customer service. The company supports missioncritical programs through authorized distribution, rigorous quality standards, and a commitment to protecting customer data and program integrity.

For more information, visit www.falconelec.com.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Falcon Electronics
MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- First Horizon Corporation (NYSE: FHN or "First Horizon") announced today that Beth Ardoin, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, has been named to Ragan's Top Women in Communications Class of 2026, in the Change Agents category. Ragan is an industry-leading resource providing professional development, training and intelligence to communicators, marketers, HR professionals and business leaders worldwide.

Beth Ardoin, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer

"Beth's recognition as a Top Woman in Communications in the Class of 2026 speaks to the impact of her work and strength of her leadership," said Bryan Jordan, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of First Horizon. "Her commitment to creative communications strategies and a client-first mindset empowers our associates to deliver for our clients and communities."

Ragan's Top Women in Communications Class of 2026 includes distinguished leaders from respected brands that include Dollar General, Ernst & Young and United Airlines. The Class of 2026 was honored during a New York celebration on March 3, 2026.

About First Horizon

First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN), with $83.9 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states concentrated in the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, and mortgage banking services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.

SOURCE First Horizon Corporation
BOSTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Foley, a long-standing provider of DOT compliance, screening, and onboarding software solutions, announced a new addition to their product suite, Navigator. Navigator is a built-in AI tool within Foley's platform that helps employers of regulated drivers get clearer answers and take faster action when hiring and managing compliance to DOT standards. Built for high-stakes industries like distribution & logistics, construction, and utilities, Navigator provides plain-language direction in the moments that matter most: when an alert needs context, a requirement needs clarification, or a team needs to confirm what to do next. In regulated work, clarity isn't a nice-to-have; it's how teams stay audit-ready, reduce risk, and keep operations moving.

Navigator is an AI-powered compliance guide built for regulated employers. It explains complex regulations in plain language, outlines recommended next steps, and links to trusted federal sources like FMCSA and DOT. Speed Speed

"Navigator is a major step forward in how we help employers hire and manage regulated drivers," said Joel Sitak, CEO of Foley," As enforcement tightens and insurance costs rise, teams need more than check-the-box compliance, they need clarity they can act on. Navigator brings trusted guidance directly into the Foley platform, helping customers turn regulatory complexity into a competitive advantage."

Practical AI for High-Stakes Work

Regulated teams don't have time to hunt for answers across disconnected sources or interpret requirements differently across locations and roles. Navigator provides expert answers inside of Foley's platform so teams can move from "What does this mean?" to "Here's what to do next," without interrupting their workflows.

Navigator's flagship launch helps teams:

Understand common DOT compliance and hiring questions in plain language, without wading through jargon or guesswork.





common DOT compliance and hiring questions in plain language, without wading through jargon or guesswork. Validate information with trusted references when available, helping reduce uncertainty and inconsistent interpretations.





information with trusted references when available, helping reduce uncertainty and inconsistent interpretations. Act with clear, practical next-step guidance, whether that be best practice advice, or how-to guidance to using the Foley platform.





with clear, practical next-step guidance, whether that be best practice advice, or how-to guidance to using the Foley platform. Escalate to human support when a question requires additional help, backed by Foley's six-star service customer success team.

Thoughtful AI, Built to Earn Trust

Foley designed Navigator to be helpful in regulated workwithout sacrificing accountability. Navigator is built with transparency and guardrails in mind, prioritizing clarity, trusted sources, and a clear path to additional customer support. Foley's approach to AI is intentional: deliver practical help inside real workflows today and expand capabilities thoughtfully over time, grounded in the realities of DOT compliance and hiring teams.

Learn More

Foley will host a live webinar for customers and prospects to see Navigator in action, including why Foley saw a need for this tool in the industry, and a walk through of how team are using it. Learn more and register at foley.io/foley-navigator.

About Foley

Foley is a modern SaaS platform transforming how safety-sensitive industries hire, manage compliance, and mitigate risk. Serving companies of all sizesfrom independent owner-operators to enterprises with large, mixed fleetsFoley empowers transportation, construction, distribution, and utility businesses to move faster, smarter, and safer. The company's all-in-one platform streamlines hiring, monitoring, and audit readiness with real-time insights and automation. Foley's mission is simple: Get you to Greenclear records, confident audits, and lower risk, powered by smarter data and relentless innovation. Learn more at foley.io.

Media Contact:

Bobby Schmidt

Vice President, Growth

[email protected]

860.815.9133

SOURCE Foley
Expands Firm's Capabilities on Emerging Technology and Regulatory Compliance Issues

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowell & Moring has expanded its Privacy and Cybersecurity Group with the addition of Rajeev Raghavan, a former Special Counsel to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and federal prosecutor. With more than 15 years of direct experience handling cybercrime, technology, regulatory, and enforcement challenges, and a foundational background as a computer programmer, Raghavan further strengthens the firm's ability to help clients respond to evolving cybersecurity threats and navigate a rapidly changing legal and regulatory environment.

Rajeev Raghavan Joins Crowell & Morings Privacy & Cybersecurity Group

As Special Counsel to the FBI Director, Raghavan advised on high-profile cyber initiatives, AI strategy and risk, and internal security modernization. Based on his deep understanding of technology, he played a key role in the Bureau's efforts to combat cybercrime and national security threats and was a trusted advisor to the Director and FBI senior leadership on cybersecurity strategy and policy, AI and other transformational technologies, federal surveillance authorities, criminal and national security investigations, and legislative oversight.

At Crowell, Raghavan will advise clients on issues that cut across law, technology, and government policy, including helping to navigate high-stakes cybersecurity, privacy, and national security matters, as well as data breach investigations, regulatory inquiries, enforcement actions, and congressional investigations. Raghavan will partner with clients to develop robust risk management strategies by designing custom incident response plans and playbooks, conducting tabletop exercises, establishing strong cybersecurity protocols, and improving compliance programs. He will also lead internal investigations, defend companies and individuals in white collar and regulatory enforcement matters, and represent clients in complex commercial litigation. Raghavan will leverage his experiences across government and private practice, together with his technical background, to enable clients to strategically and effectively respond to incidents and enterprise risks while safeguarding their businesses.

Prior to his FBI role, Raghavan served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Maryland, where he investigated and prosecuted a wide range of federal criminal matters. He led complex, often transnational cybercrime matters involving data breaches, dark web markets, account takeovers, ransomware, computer intrusions, and cryptocurrency fraud. Among his notable cases was dismantling WT1SHOP, a leading online marketplace for stolen credentials, an operation that involved taking down overseas servers and seizing domains in the United States. Raghavan was appointed as the district's Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Coordinator, serving as a primary point of contact for reviewing cyber matters referred by law enforcement. In addition to his cyber work, Raghavan oversaw investigations into sanctions violations, national security matters, public corruption, procurement fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, and various financial crimes. His work earned him the 2021 U.S. Attorney's Office FBI Service Award and a commendation from the U.S. Postal Service.

"Rajeev's ability to bridge legal and technical domains is a tremendous asset for clients facing the complexities of emerging technologies like AI," said Jeffrey L. Poston, co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Privacy and Cybersecurity Group. "His background  including senior positions at the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office, private practice, and experience as a computer programmer  equips him with unique insight into both the opportunities and challenges businesses encounter. As oversight of new technologies increases and threats proliferate, Rajeev will offer valuable guidance to companies navigating this rapidly changing environment."

"Companies today are navigating threats from every directionnation-state actors, cybercriminals, insider risk, and an expanding set of legal and regulatory demands tied to cybersecurity, privacy, and national security. Cyber and privacy risks are business risks, and organizations need advice that is legally sound, technically informed, and practical under pressure," Raghavan said. "I'm excited to join Crowell and partner with clients to strengthen preparedness, manage crises, and address complex legal and regulatory challenges in an evolving legal, regulatory, and threat landscape."

Raghavan's private sector experience includes positions at Covington & Burling and Linklaters, where he advised clients on Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission investigations and in civil litigation.

Raghavan earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton, a master's degree from the University of Michigan, and a law degree, cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School. He clerked for the Honorable William J. Martini of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, as well as its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

Media Contact:

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP
EXTON, Pa., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Frontage Laboratories, Inc. ("Frontage"), a leading global CRO/CDMO, today announced the completion of the acquisition of Teddy Clinical Research Laboratory (Shanghai), Ltd. ("Teddy Lab"), a leading clinical research laboratory service provider in China. The acquisition aims to enhance Frontage's global laboratory service capabilities and further strengthen its presence in China and the Asia-Pacific region.

Teddy Lab is a recognized clinical research laboratory with extensive experience supporting more than 1,500 clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas. The company is known for its GCP-compliant operations and internationally accredited laboratory services. Teddy Lab operates under CAP-accredited and NGSP Level 1 certified quality systems, as well as qualification as a Class II Unsealed Radioactive Material Workplace, providing pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners with reliable, audit-ready laboratory services that meet global regulatory standards. Its strong track record includes supporting regulatory inspections and contributing to the successful marketing approval of 50 new drugs.

As a result of the transaction, Frontage has expanded its central laboratory footprint in China, which it expects to leverage in supporting the increasing demand for both domestic China and multi-regional clinical trials (MRCT). By integrating Teddy Lab's central laboratory expertise with Frontage's comprehensive service platform  including bioanalytical, DMPK, safety and toxicology, CMC, and clinical trial support  Frontage hopes to further solidify its position as a trusted partner in the clinical research industry.

The acquisition further supports our role as a "one-stop shop" in delivering high-quality drug development services to pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, contract research organizations, and research institutions worldwide. We anticipate that our continued investment in expanding our global infrastructure and scientific capabilities will help us meet the evolving needs of the life sciences industry.

About Frontage

Frontage Laboratories, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Frontage Holdings Corporation (HKEX: 1521.HK), is a US based global CRO/CDMO offering end-to-end integrated product development services from drug discovery through late-phase clinical trials and manufacturing. With over 25 years of experience, Frontage supports pharmaceutical and biotech companies with services including drug discovery, API synthesis, DMPK, safety and toxicology, formulation development, GMP manufacturing, analytical services, clinical trials, bioanalytical services and central lab operations. Frontage operates 26 sites worldwide and has played a pivotal role in helping clients secure regulatory approvals across the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Media Contact:

Xiaoyun Niu

[email protected]

(610) 232-0100

SOURCE Frontage Laboratories, Inc.
The nanomedicine market is largely propelled by the increasing demand for precise and more effective treatments, especially for cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and other chronic diseases, where traditional medications are often limited by issues such as toxicity, low bioavailability, and insufficient targeting.

LAS VEGAS, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Nanomedicine Market Insights report provides the current and forecast market analysis, individual leading nanomedicine companies' market shares, challenges, nanomedicine market drivers, barriers, trends, and key nanomedicine companies in the market.

Nanomedicine Market Summary

2025 Nanomedicine Market Size: USD 227 Billion

USD 227 Billion 2034 Projected Nanomedicine Market Size: USD 554 Billion

USD 554 Billion Nanomedicine Market Growth Rate (2026-2034): ~ 10%

10% Largest Nanomedicine Market: North America

North America Largest Molecule Type Segment: Nanoparticles Category

Nanoparticles Category Key Companies in the Nanomedicine Market: Pfizer Inc., Moderna, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Leadiant Biosciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi S.A., Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc., Bind Biosciences, CytImmune Sciences, Inc., Pacira BioSciences Inc., AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Taiwan Liposome Company, Ltd., Luminex Corporation, Starpharma Holdings Limited, Precision NanoSystem, Nanobiotix, Spago Nanomedical AB, and others

To read more about the latest highlights related to the nanomedicine market, get a snapshot of the key highlights @ https://www.delveinsight.com/sample-request/nanomedicine-market?utm_source=cision&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=spr

Key Factors Contributing to the Rise in Growth of the Nanomedicine Market

Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: Demand for more effective diagnostic and therapeutic solutions has grown due to rising cases of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and diabetes. Nanomedicine enables targeted delivery and improved therapeutic outcomes.

Demand for more effective diagnostic and therapeutic solutions has grown due to rising cases of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and diabetes. Nanomedicine enables targeted delivery and improved therapeutic outcomes. Advancements in Nanotechnology: Continuous innovation in nanoparticles, nanocarriers, nanosensors, and nano-enabled drug delivery systems has expanded the applications of nanomedicine and improved its performance.

Continuous innovation in nanoparticles, nanocarriers, nanosensors, and nano-enabled drug delivery systems has expanded the applications of nanomedicine and improved its performance. Growing Demand for Targeted Drug Delivery: Nanomedicine improves drug bioavailability, reduces side effects, and enhances precision in treatment. This has accelerated its adoption in oncology, immunotherapy, and gene therapy.

Nanomedicine improves drug bioavailability, reduces side effects, and enhances precision in treatment. This has accelerated its adoption in oncology, immunotherapy, and gene therapy. Increased R&D Investment: Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, along with academic institutions, are substantially investing in research to develop next-generation nanotherapeutics and nano-diagnostics.

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, along with academic institutions, are substantially investing in research to develop next-generation nanotherapeutics and nano-diagnostics. Rising Use of Nanotechnology in Diagnostics: Nanoparticles and nano-based tools support early disease detection, high-sensitivity imaging, and improved biosensing, which strengthens the diagnostic segment of the market.

Nanoparticles and nano-based tools support early disease detection, high-sensitivity imaging, and improved biosensing, which strengthens the diagnostic segment of the market. Expansion of Personalized Medicine: Nanomedicine supports customized treatment regimens, especially in cancer and genetic disorders, aligning with the global shift toward personalized healthcare.

Nanomedicine supports customized treatment regimens, especially in cancer and genetic disorders, aligning with the global shift toward personalized healthcare. Regulatory Support and Approvals: Regulatory agencies have increasingly established frameworks and approved more nano-formulations, creating a favorable environment for commercialization.

Regulatory agencies have increasingly established frameworks and approved more nano-formulations, creating a favorable environment for commercialization. Collaborations and Strategic Partnerships: Rising collaborations between pharma companies, nanotech startups, and research institutions accelerate technology transfer, innovation, and commercialization.

Rising collaborations between pharma companies, nanotech startups, and research institutions accelerate technology transfer, innovation, and commercialization. Advancements in Nanorobotics and Nano-engineering: Emerging technologies such as nanorobots for targeted therapy, precision surgery, and cellular repair are expanding future possibilities in the market.

Regional Nanomedicine Market Insights

North America

North America is projected to hold the largest share of the nanomedicine market in 2025, about 43%, more than any other region.

This leading position stems from the growing use of nanomedicine in early disease detection, preventive care, and the management of both chronic and acute conditions.

Additionally, the region's clearly established regulatory pathways for approving and commercializing medical products are expected to further drive the expansion of the nanomedicine market in North America.

Europe

In Europe, nanomedicine is expanding rapidly thanks to strong regulatory backing, growing clinical uptake of nano-based treatments, and coordinated research efforts that speed innovation in fields such as oncology, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular medicine.

For instance, the European Medicines Agency has authorized multiple nanotechnology-enabled cancer therapies, including nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (ABRAXANE) and liposomal irinotecan (ONIVYDE), which offer better therapeutic performance and patient quality-of-life outcomes than many conventional chemotherapies, supporting broader adoption across cancer treatment centers.

Europe has also poured significant resources into academic collaborations and public-private consortia; one prominent example is the NanoMedicine Translation Hub, which helps advance nanoscale drug-delivery technologies into clinical practice for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular diseases.

Asia-Pacific

The Asia Pacific region is becoming a key engine of growth for the nanomedicine industry, driven by rising healthcare needs, expanding biotech and pharmaceutical research efforts, favorable regulatory changes, and greater investment in advanced therapeutic technologies.

Escalating rates of cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and infectious diseases are motivating both governments and private organizations to adopt cutting-edge treatment approaches such as nano-based drug delivery, precision therapies, and improved diagnostic solutions.

In addition, growing collaborations between Asia Pacific biotech companies and global pharmaceutical firms are speeding up technology sharing and supporting broader clinical evaluation of nanomedicines across larger patient groups.

Get a sneak peek at the nanomedicine market dynamics @ Nanomedicine Market Trends

Recent Developmental Activities in the Nanomedicine Market

In February 2026, scientists at Newark developed a first-of-its-kind RNA-based nanotechnology that assembles itself inside living human cells and can be programmed to stop the propagation of harmful cells. The findings, recently published in Nature Communications, represent a breakthrough in biomedical research.

scientists at Newark developed a first-of-its-kind RNA-based nanotechnology that assembles itself inside living human cells and can be programmed to stop the propagation of harmful cells. The findings, recently published in Nature Communications, represent a breakthrough in biomedical research. In September 2025, NanoMedicine Revolution raised a $870 million Series D funding round, reaching a $13.1 billion valuation. The funding was specifically aimed at accelerating the development of nanotechnology-based medical treatments.

raised a $870 million Series D funding round, reaching a $13.1 billion valuation. The funding was specifically aimed at accelerating the development of nanotechnology-based medical treatments. In September 2025, NSF invested $30M in EPSCoR jurisdictions for research and workforce development in energy, semiconductors, nanotechnology, and biotechnology.

What is Nanomedicine?

Nanomedicine is a field of science and technology that applies nanoscale materials and devices, typically measured in billionths of a meter, to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases with greater precision. By working at the molecular and cellular level, nanomedicine enables targeted drug delivery, improved imaging, and more effective therapies with fewer side effects. It holds promise for advancements in areas such as cancer treatment, regenerative medicine, and early disease detection, offering innovative solutions that can enhance both the accuracy and efficiency of modern healthcare.

Nanomedicine Market Report Metrics Details Coverage Global Study Period 20232034 Nanomedicine Market CAGR ~10% Nanomedicine Market Size by 2034 USD 554 Billion Key Nanomedicine Companies Pfizer Inc., Moderna, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Leadiant Biosciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi S.A., Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc., Bind Biosciences, CytImmune Sciences, Inc., Pacira BioSciences Inc., AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Taiwan Liposome Company, Ltd., Luminex Corporation, Starpharma Holdings Limited, Precision NanoSystem, Nanobiotix, Spago Nanomedical AB, and others

Nanomedicine Market Assessment

Nanomedicine Market Segmentation

Nanomedicine Market Segmentation By Molecule Type: Nanoparticle, Nanocapsule, Nanotubes, and Nanodevices

Nanoparticle, Nanocapsule, Nanotubes, and Nanodevices

Nanomedicine Market Segmentation By Application: Drug Delivery, Implants, Diagnostic Imaging, Therapy, and Others

Drug Delivery, Implants, Diagnostic Imaging, Therapy, and Others

Nanomedicine Market Segmentation By Indication: Cardiovascular, Oncology, Neurology, Orthopaedic, Infectious, and Others

Cardiovascular, Oncology, Neurology, Orthopaedic, Infectious, and Others

Nanomedicine Market Segmentation By Geography : North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World

: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOL's Views, Analyst's View

Which MedTech key players in the nanomedicine market are set to emerge as the trendsetter explore @ Nanomedicine Market Analysis

Table of Contents

1 Nanomedicine Market Report Introduction 2 Nanomedicine Market Executive Summary 3 Competitive Landscape 4 Regulatory Analysis 5 Nanomedicine Market Key Factors Analysis 6 Nanomedicine Market Porter's Five Forces Analysis 7 Nanomedicine Market Layout 8 Nanomedicine Market Company and Product Profiles 9 KOL Views 10 Project Approach 11 About DelveInsight 12 Disclaimer & Contact Us

Interested in knowing the nanomedicine market share by 2034? Click to get a snapshot of the Nanomedicine Market Size

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About DelveInsight

DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant, and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance.

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SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP
/C O R R E C T I O N  Global Wellness Summit/ In the news release, Global Wellness Summit's Wellness Real Estate and Communities Symposium Set for May 12 in New York City, issued 04-Mar-2026 by Global Wellness Summit over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

Global Wellness Summit's Wellness Real Estate and Communities Symposium Set for May 12 in New York City

With the theme of "Real Estate Through a Wellness Lens," the event will explore the newest concepts, investment trends and technologies in the explosive wellness real estate market. Early speakers include Ivy Ross, chief design officer for consumer devices at Google; Susan Magsamen, executive director, International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health

MIAMI, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) today announced that their fifth annual Wellness Real Estate and Communities Symposium will take place Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in New York City. This is the only conference that brings together leaders in real estate, investment, architecture, design, hospitality, public policy, technology, medicine and sustainability to discuss how health and wellness will transform the built environment in the future.

Global Wellness Summit's fifth annual Wellness Real Estate and Communities Symposium will take place Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in New York City (PRNewsfoto/Global Wellness Summit)

The 2026 theme, "Real Estate through a Wellness Lens," captures how this year's agenda will go deeper and wider than ever before, exploring not only luxury projects, but how wellness design is remaking affordable homes, whole communities and cities, workplaces, hospitals, senior living, hospitality destinations, retail spaces, and more.

It will be a day of exploring new ideas and markets. Ivy Ross, chief design officer for consumer devices at Google, and Susan Magsamen, a leading researcher on neuroscience and the arts, will have a keynote conversation on "The Science of Art in the Built Environment." Joseph Allen, DSC, MPH, CIH, one of the world's top experts on healthy buildings, will discuss the new JPMorganChase building in Manhattan, designed by Norman Foster and a monument to new ideas in wellness real estate, and explain how AI can be used to create much healthier buildings. There will be a dedicated panel of developers creating new longevity residences and Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO, will present a "Global Glimpse" of dozens of the most eye-opening wellness real estate projects underway around the world.

New Research: Global Wellness Institute (GWI) researchers will unveil "Build Well to Live Well: Case Studies, Volume 2," showcasing some of the most exciting, ambitious and impactful wellness real estate projects in the Middle Eastthe world's fastest-growing market. Drawing from their recent visits to the Saudi Arabia Red Sea Coast, Riyadh, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, these case studies will demonstrate how wellness real estate projects can be implemented on the largest scale, integrating human health with sustainability, inclusivity, accessibility, economic development and cultural relevance.

New Design Challenge: The GWI, in a major, ongoing partnership with Johns Hopkins University's Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, will unveil a design challenge centered on neuroscience. Susan Magsamen and Nancy Davis, GWI's executive director and chief creative officer, will present the challengecrafted by high-profile leaders in architecture, design and philanthropywhile announcing the judges. The prize will be awarded at the 2026 Global Wellness Summit in Phuket, Thailand (November 10-13).

Among all 11 wellness markets, wellness real estate is by far the fastest growing: the global market doubled in the last five years (to reach $548 billion), and GWI forecasts that it will double again over the next five, when it will cross the $1 trillion mark ($1.1T) in 2029.

"GWS and GWI are uniquely positioned as objective authorities across the wellness industry," said Nancy Davis. "Almost a decade ago we produced groundbreaking research on the just emerging wellness real estate sector"Build Well to Live Well"and last year we released a fully updated version of the report, with new data and insights on this fast-evolving space. That really encompasses what this Symposium will offer: a deep dive into the people, places and policies that are driving the future of wellness real estate and communities."

More About the Early Keynotes:

Ivy Ross is the chief design officer for consumer devices at Google, where, since 2017, she and her team have launched hardware productsfrom smartphones to smart speakersthat have earned over 240 global design awards. A renowned artist, her innovative metal work in jewelry is in the permanent collections of 12 international museums, and she won a National Endowment for the Arts grant. She, along with Susan Magsamen, wrote the New York Times bestseller, "Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us," a journey through the science of neuroaesthetics offering proof of how our brains and bodies are transformed when we participate in the arts and aesthetic experiences. She has received numerous honors, from being cited by Businessweek as "one of the new faces of leadership" to being ranked ninth on Fast Company's list of the 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2019.

Susan Magsamen is the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab), Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, a groundbreaking neuroaesthetics initiative at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she also serves as faculty member. She is a pioneer at the intersection of brain sciences and the artsand how our unique response to aesthetic experiences can amplify human potential. She has authored eight books, co-directs the NeuroArts Blueprint with the Aspen Institute, is a Fellow at the Royal Society of the Arts, and strategic advisor to numerous innovative organizations, from the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture to the American Psychological Association.

Joseph G. Allen is a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of Harvard's Healthy Buildings Program. He co-authored "Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Can Make You Sickor Keep You Well," which The New York Times named one of the top books for healthy living. During the COVID-19 pandemic he served as Commissioner of The Lancet COVID-19 Commission and Chair of its Safe Work, Safe Schools, and Safe Travel Task Force, and served as an advisor to The White House. He is a member of the Harvard Presidential Committee on Sustainability, is an editor for two academic journals (Indoor Environments and Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology), and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He's a regular contributor to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Harvard Business Review, and is an advisor to JPMorganChase and Amazon on healthy building strategies for their global portfolios.

Numerous other speakers and topics will be announced in coming weeks.

Register here to attend, with discounted rates until March 29.

Accredited media can apply to attend here.

About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $6.8 trillion global wellness economy. In addition to an annual conference held at a different location around the globe, GWS also hosts annual in-person events such as the Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium, along with virtual gatherings, including Wellness Master Classes and Wellness Sector Spotlights. The organization's Future of Wellness report forecasts the top wellness trends for the year ahead and is oft-quoted in the media. The 20th annual Global Wellness Summit will be held in Phuket, Thailand, November 10-13, 2026.

Correction: In the subheadline and third paragraph Ivy Ross' title has been updated to chief design officer for consumer devices at Google.

SOURCE Global Wellness Summit
Award-Winning CEO and President Emma Dickison drives brand toward 400-territory milestone; franchise opportunities available nationwide

CINCINNATI, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Home Helpers Home Care, a nationwide leader in nonmedical in-home companionship and personal care services, closed out 2025 having awarded 41 franchise agreements between new and existing franchisees.

The brand's success also earned seven industry accolades, and Home Helpers Home Care advanced its technology through the Cared-4 Comprehensive Care Program featuring Direct Link 24/7 monitoring services.

This year, Home Helpers Home Care is expected to surpass 400 territories, solidifying its position as a trusted brand and industry leader in one of America's most recession-resistant industries. Home Helpers Home Care delivers a predictable, long-term profitability franchise model through diversified services, recurring revenue and a proven operating model  a combination that continues to attract both new franchisees and independent home care agency owners.

In 2025, Home Helpers Home Care opened 32 new locations and entered Nebraska for the first time, expanding its reach to communities that previously did not have access to Home Helpers Home Care's brand of exceptional home care services.

"2025 was a defining year for our brand. Awarding 41 new locations, the majority to new franchisees, reflects the strength of our proven system and the growing recognition that in-home care is one of franchising's most compelling opportunities," said CEO and President of Home Helpers Home Care Emma Dickison. "As we prepare to exceed 400 territories in 2026 across the U.S. and Canada, we have never been better positioned to continue to grow as an industry leader within our category."

Its 2025 momentum earned Home Helpers Home Care broad industry recognition, with acknowledgements on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times Top 400, Franchise Business Review's Most Profitable Franchises, Franchise Dictionary's Top 100 Game Changers and FranServe Fran-Tastic Awards. Home Helpers Home Care is a nationally recognized leader in home care franchising with a long track record of franchise success, and these accolades reflect the brand's standing as part of an established network built on performance and integrity.

Additionally, Dickison, who has been a leader at Home Helpers Home Care for over 18 years, was honored with the Cincinnati Business Courier's C-Suite Award and by Franchise Dictionary Magazine as a Legacy Winner in the Women of Wonder category, further cementing the brand's reputation as a trusted brand led by purpose-driven leadership.

Home Helpers Home Care is redefining in-home care by pairing human companionship with artificial intelligence. For years, Cared-4 set the brand apart from its competitors with proprietary technology like the Direct Link 24/7 monitoring system. In its pursuit of innovation, Home Helpers Home Care continues to set the bar by now delivering AI-enabled safety and wellness services that provide peace of mind for seniors and their families, even when a Caregiver isn't present. Home Helpers Home Care reduces operational and regulatory risk through structured systems, compliance support and clinical oversight, and this technology investment is a direct extension of that commitment to operational discipline and risk mitigation.

"Innovation is how we continue raising the standard of care at Home Helpers," said Dickison. "With our Cared-4 premium care offering, families can feel confident their loved ones are supported, even between Caregiver visits. That peace of mind is transformative for families and a meaningful differentiator for our franchisees. It supports workforce stability and strengthens the community impact we are proud to make every day."

As Home Helpers Home Care continues to lead the way in 2026, the organization's long-term goals remain focused on national expansion and bringing exceptional in-home care services to those who need it most: seniors. Home Helpers Home Care operates in a fast-growing, recession-resistant category driven by aging demographics and health care shifts toward in-home care, reflecting the growing preference for care solutions that support independence and comfort at home.

Home Helpers Home Care is actively seeking qualified franchise candidates across the country. Key markets include Charlotte, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

About Home Helpers Home Care

Founded in 1997, Home Helpers Home Care is a premier nationwide in-home care leader that provides compassionate care for seniors, individuals with disabilities, those recovering from illness or surgery, and anyone needing assistance with daily living activities in over 1,500 communities and across 40 states. Home Helpers Home Care offers a wide range of in-home care services, safety and monitoring technology, and meal and nutrition planning to help individuals remain independent wherever they call home. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit www.HomeHelpersFranchise.com.

Media Contact:

Rachel Tabacnic

[email protected]

817-329-3257

SOURCE Home Helpers Home Care
MADRID, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish government said on Tuesday that it has the necessary resources to contain the potential impact of a trade embargo after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut trade ties with Spain, according to Spanish media reports.

The government said any related measures must respect business autonomy, international law and bilateral agreements between the European Union and the United States.

It noted that Spain is an important member of NATO and a major exporting country within the European Union, maintaining long-term trade relations with 195 countries, including the United States. The government stressed that it will support sectors that may be affected and promote supply chain diversification.

Second Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz described Trump's remarks as "unacceptable," saying Spain would not accept external pressure.

Trump on Tuesday threatened to "cut off all trade with Spain" over Spain's refusal to allow the U.S. military to use its bases for attacks on Iran. He made the remarks to reporters at the start of his talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office.

Editor: WSH
BARCELONA, Spain, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- During MWC Barcelona 2026, Huawei hosted the finance session themed "Powering Resilient Intelligence, Co-creating Finance Future". At the event, Huawei announced a comprehensive upgrade of its Banking AI and Foundation Model Solutions, elevating core capabilities in Scenario, Technology, Systems Engineering, and Ecosystem.

Jason Cao, CEO of Huawei Digital Finance BU (PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

Jason Cao, CEO of Huawei Digital Finance BU, highlighted that in today's world of uncertainty, banks must build resilience across multiple dimensions, ensuring multi-active redundancy to prevent system failures, reinforcing multi-layer security against cyberattacks, and laying a solid foundation for global financial institutions to accelerate into the AI era.

Alvin Feng, President of Huawei Digital Finance International, delivered a speech titled "Beyond Digital: Towards AI-Infused Finance." He emphasized that the transition from traditional banks to AI-driven banks brings profound changes in customer interactions, human-machine collaboration, decision-making approaches, system architecture, and customer experience. Banks need a clear blueprint that links business strategy with technology execution.

Drawing on global experience with leading financial institutions, Huawei created the Intelligent Finance Value Implementer to meet this need. It provides a structured approach to scenario selection, enterprise architecture, and AI deployment, enabling banks to build both digital and AI foundations. Supported by systems engineering and an open ecosystem, it helps banks realize both technological and business value. This reflects a fundamental shift: technology is no longer a support functionit is now a value center at the heart of the business.

Alvin Feng added that the key to AI banking lies in using systems engineering to unify AI infrastructure with open ecosystems, reengineering banking processes through Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence collaboration.

To this end, Huawei has comprehensively upgraded its Banking AI and Foundation Model Solutions:

Huawei unveiled its latest SuperPoD offerings, AI Data Platform, and Xinghe AI Network, to help financial customers build resilient infrastructure for both general-purpose and AI computing. By building end-to-end capabilities in intelligent operations & maintenance, specialized model tuning, agent development, and scenario design, Huawei has leveraged systems engineering to reduce the agent development cycle from months to weeks, improve the prompt accuracy by 10%, and cut the end-to-end latency by over 60%. The RongHai Program has been upgraded to include over 150 solution partners and over 11,000 consulting, sales, service, and integration partners worldwide to build an ecosystem spanning customer operations, risk management, and automation, and jointly innovate AI in all scenarios with financial institutions.

Looking ahead, Huawei remains committed to continuous innovation, helping global financial institutions build intelligent, autonomous, and resilient digital infrastructure. With its open ecosystem and systems engineering capabilities, Huawei will drive the deep integration of AI into core financial scenarios.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2925744/Jason_Cao_CEO_Huawei_Digital_Finance_BU.jpg
"Forty years ago, Hyundai came to the U.S. to be part of the American dream," said Jose Munoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company. "In America's 250th year, we're proud to be helping so many families realize their American Dream. The 570,000 jobs we support and the $26 billion we're investing will improve lives for decades to come. Every job represents a family building its future and every vehicle represents a customer who trusted us to get them where they need to go safely and affordably. None of this would be possible without our dealer partners, who have put down roots alongside us and share our commitment to the communities we serve. And none of it would be possible without the Hyundai teams who work every day to earn and keep our customers' trust. The next forty years will bring technologies we can barely imagine today, but our mission won't change. We will keep working to make mobility safer, more affordable, and more sustainable for everyone. Thank you to our teams, our dealer partners and our customers."

"When we first arrived in America 40 years ago, we brought with us a simple belief: that we could deliver quality, value and innovation to everyday consumers," said Randy Parker, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. "Our commitment to America runs deeper than ever, through billions invested in manufacturing, cutting-edge research and design centers, and the thousands of dedicated employees and dealer partners who believe in our mission and have been essential to Hyundai becoming the brand it is today. As we celebrate how far we've come, we're also looking ahead with a bold vision to redefine what's possible in mobility, technology and sustainability. The next chapter of Hyundai's American journey is even more ambitious, and we're excited to write it together with our customers, employees, dealers and communities."

Four Decades of Milestones and U.S. Investment

Hyundai's journey reflects the company's "Progress for Humanity" vision, defined by innovation, quality and longterm investment in America.

Product Innovation: From the 1986 Excel to the allnew 2026 IONIQ 9, Hyundai has grown from offering a single model to a diverse lineup of sedans, SUVs, performance vehicles and advanced electrified options. Today's portfolio includes Sonata, Elantra, Venue, Kona, Santa Fe, Tucson, Santa Cruz, Palisade and the full IONIQ EV lineup. Hyundai has also expanded its electrification strategy with electric, hybrid and plugin hybrid models, making accessible, affordable electrified mobility a core part of its mission. The company's evolution is further reflected in the motorsportinspired N performance brand, launched in 2015 for driving enthusiasts, and the premium Genesis brand, both which showcase Hyundai's continued growth and commitment to innovation.

From the 1986 Excel to the allnew 2026 IONIQ 9, Hyundai has grown from offering a single model to a diverse lineup of sedans, SUVs, performance vehicles and advanced electrified options. Today's portfolio includes Sonata, Elantra, Venue, Kona, Santa Fe, Tucson, Santa Cruz, Palisade and the full IONIQ EV lineup. Hyundai has also expanded its electrification strategy with electric, hybrid and plugin hybrid models, making accessible, affordable electrified mobility a core part of its mission. The company's evolution is further reflected in the motorsportinspired N performance brand, launched in 2015 for driving enthusiasts, and the premium Genesis brand, both which showcase Hyundai's continued growth and commitment to innovation. U.S. Investment and Manufacturing Excellence: Hyundai Motor America is part of Hyundai Motor Company and the Hyundai Motor Group, which has invested $20.5 billion in the United States since 1986 and supports more than 570,000 American jobs. Looking ahead, the Group plans an additional $26 billion in U.S. investment between 2025 and 2028. Hyundai opened its first manufacturing facility, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA), in Montgomery in 2005 that has produced models such as Sonata, Elantra, Tucson, Santa Fe and Santa Cruz. In 2025, the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) near Savannah opened, reinforcing the company's commitment to electrified vehicles and cleanenergy production. By 2030, Hyundai expects more than 80% of U.S.sold vehicles to be built domestically.

Hyundai Motor America is part of Hyundai Motor Company and the Hyundai Motor Group, which has invested $20.5 billion in the United States since 1986 and supports more than 570,000 American jobs. Looking ahead, the Group plans an additional $26 billion in U.S. investment between 2025 and 2028. Hyundai opened its first manufacturing facility, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA), in Montgomery in 2005 that has produced models such as Sonata, Elantra, Tucson, Santa Fe and Santa Cruz. In 2025, the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) near Savannah opened, reinforcing the company's commitment to electrified vehicles and cleanenergy production. By 2030, Hyundai expects more than 80% of U.S.sold vehicles to be built domestically. Quality and Reliability: Since introducing its industryleading 10year/100,000mile powertrain limited warranty in 1998, Hyundai has made customer confidence a core part of its brand. Over the years, the company has expanded that commitment with programs such as Hyundai Assurance Job Loss Protection (originally launched and concluded in 2009, revived in 2020 then concluded). The Hyundai Owner Assurance program continues to build on this foundation with comprehensive coverage, 5 years of unlimited roadside assistance and customer support that has strengthened consumer loyalty across generations.

Since introducing its industryleading 10year/100,000mile powertrain limited warranty in 1998, Hyundai has made customer confidence a core part of its brand. Over the years, the company has expanded that commitment with programs such as Hyundai Assurance Job Loss Protection (originally launched and concluded in 2009, revived in 2020 then concluded). The Hyundai Owner Assurance program continues to build on this foundation with comprehensive coverage, 5 years of unlimited roadside assistance and customer support that has strengthened consumer loyalty across generations. Design, Safety and Engineering Excellence: Hyundai's U.S. facilitiesincluding its Design and Technical Center, Proving Grounds, Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) and Hyundai America Technical Centerdrive continuous innovation in safety, engineering and vehicle development. Currently, Hyundai has more 2025 IIHS Top Safety Awards than any other brand. Eight Hyundai Models have a TOP SAFETY PICK + (2025 IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Tucson, 2025-26 Elantra (built after October 2024), Sonata (built after November 2024), Kona and Santa Fe (built after November 2024) and 2026 IONIQ 9), while two Hyundai Models have a TOP SAFETY PICK (2026 Palisade and 2026 Santa Cruz) award. Award applies to U.S. models only. Additionally, Hyundai has earned several U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) five-star crash test ratings across its lineup. These safety accolades demonstrate Hyundai's commitment to advancing safety technologies and meeting the industry's most rigorous testing standards.

Hyundai's U.S. facilitiesincluding its Design and Technical Center, Proving Grounds, Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) and Hyundai America Technical Centerdrive continuous innovation in safety, engineering and vehicle development. Currently, Hyundai has more 2025 IIHS Top Safety Awards than any other brand. Eight Hyundai Models have a + (2025 IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Tucson, 2025-26 Elantra (built after October 2024), Sonata (built after November 2024), Kona and Santa Fe (built after November 2024) and 2026 IONIQ 9), while two Hyundai Models have a (2026 Palisade and 2026 Santa Cruz) award. Award applies to U.S. models only. Additionally, Hyundai has earned several U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) five-star crash test ratings across its lineup. These safety accolades demonstrate Hyundai's commitment to advancing safety technologies and meeting the industry's most rigorous testing standards. Industry Recognition: Hyundai's advancements in safety, quality and design have earned widespread recognition across the automotive industry and beyond. The company has received hundreds of national and global awards, including many of the industry's most prestigious honorssuch as North American Car of the Year and World Car of the Year awards for models including Palisade, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, Elantra and more.

Refining Mobility, The Hyundai Way

As Hyundai looks ahead, the company continues leading the transformation of global mobility.

Electrification: Hyundai's rapidly expanding EV strategy includes battery electric vehicles built on the ElectricGlobal Modular Platform (EGMP), which made its debut in 2020 delivering advanced fastcharging capabilities and supports the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6 and IONIQ 9. Hyundai is also advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology, supported by global investments in next generation fuel cell production and real-world use of its XCIENT Fuel Cell commercial trucks, including units already operating in the U.S., underscoring the company's commitment to zero emission transportation.

Hyundai's rapidly expanding EV strategy includes battery electric vehicles built on the ElectricGlobal Modular Platform (EGMP), which made its debut in 2020 delivering advanced fastcharging capabilities and supports the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6 and IONIQ 9. Hyundai is also advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology, supported by global investments in next generation fuel cell production and real-world use of its XCIENT Fuel Cell commercial trucks, including units already operating in the U.S., underscoring the company's commitment to zero emission transportation. Advanced Technologies: Hyundai is bringing nextgeneration technology to mainstream customers with connectedcar systems, autonomousdriving capabilities and AIpowered features. Available feature innovations such as Lane Following Assist, High Beam Assist and Rear CrossTraffic CollisionAvoidance Assist continue Hyundai's leadership in accessible safety and convenience. A vast majority of Hyundai vehicles also come equipped with Hyundai Blue Link and advanced infotainment systems.

Hyundai is bringing nextgeneration technology to mainstream customers with connectedcar systems, autonomousdriving capabilities and AIpowered features. Available feature innovations such as Lane Following Assist, High Beam Assist and Rear CrossTraffic CollisionAvoidance Assist continue Hyundai's leadership in accessible safety and convenience. A vast majority of Hyundai vehicles also come equipped with Hyundai Blue Link and advanced infotainment systems. Sustainability Leadership: Hyundai remains committed to pursuing carbon neutrality across its operations and supply chain, supported by aggressive emissionsreduction targets and a growing focus on circulareconomy practices.

More Than Cars  It's About People

Hyundai's progress is powered by peoplethe engineers who innovate, the dealers who deliver exceptional service, the customers who believe in the brand, the employees at Hyundai's North American headquarters in Fountain Valley and across the country, and the diverse communities the company serves.

Hyundai Hope on Wheels: For more than 27 years, Hyundai Motor America and its dealerships have supported the fight against pediatric cancer through Hyundai Hope on Wheels a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which has raised over $277 million since 1998, underscoring Hyundai's commitment to the communities it serves.

For more than 27 years, Hyundai Motor America and its dealerships have supported the fight against pediatric cancer through Hyundai Hope on Wheels a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which has raised over $277 million since 1998, underscoring Hyundai's commitment to the communities it serves. Hyundai Hope: Hyundai Hope is Hyundai Motor America's social responsibility initiative, dedicated to improving community health, safety, and wellbeing through volunteerism, resources and partnerships with nonprofit organizations.

Looking Forward: The Next Chapter

As Hyundai marks 40 years in America, the Group remains committed to making advanced, sustainable and innovative mobility accessible to all. With continued investments in U.S. manufacturing, R&D, green energy, clean mobility and emerging technologies, including robotics, Hyundai is poised to lead the industry's next era of transformation.

The road that brought Hyundai here is only the beginning. With a relentless drive to push boundaries, Hyundai is ready to redefine what's possible in mobility and beyond.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, several cutting-edge R&D facilities and more than 855 independent dealers. These operations are part of Hyundai Motor Group, which is investing $26 billion in the U.S. from 2025 to 2028. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- How do Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Kali differ when it comes to real self defense? According to a HelloNation article , each system teaches a unique approach to movement, balance, and awareness. In Blue Springs, Missouri, Martial Arts Expert Wayne Marble of Blue Springs Jiu-Jitsu, Inc. offers a clear explanation of how these disciplines compare for adults seeking practical training and confidence through martial arts.

Wayne Marble, Owner of Blue Springs Jiu-Jitsu Speed Speed

Adults in Blue Springs often begin searching for a martial art that improves fitness while providing real-world self defense skills. The article notes that when comparing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs Judo Blue Springs MO, the differences reveal distinct learning paths. Both arts promote discipline, balance, and body awareness, yet they build these traits through very different forms of movement and control. Kali, a Filipino martial art, adds a third perspective by focusing on striking and weapon awareness.

Judo began as a system that turns balance and leverage into effective defense. Practitioners use grips on the uniform to redirect energy, perform throws, and guide an opponent's movement. According to Wayne Marble, these throws build strong legs and improve coordination. The practice of Judo feels dynamic, combining fast transitions, smooth motion, and a constant focus on staying upright. Students also learn how to fall safely, an essential skill that prevents injury during both training and real-life situations.

By contrast, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu emphasizes ground control rather than standing throws. This discipline teaches how to escape, hold, or submit an opponent using leverage and technique rather than strength. Many adults find that BJJ encourages calm thinking and problem solving under stress. In the HelloNation article, Marble explains that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training builds confidence because it allows practitioners to experience pressure in a controlled way. Over time, this creates a strong sense of composure that can be applied well beyond the mat.

When evaluating Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs Judo Blue Springs MO, the article notes that the difference lies in how each art views control. Judo's power comes from motion and timing, while BJJ relies on patience and positioning. Both share the same roots in balance and discipline but apply them differently. Adults interested in learning self defense may find that Judo's standing work provides a more active, fast-paced experience, while BJJ offers a methodical approach focused on strategy and restraint.

Kali, also featured in the HelloNation piece, offers a third path built around rhythm, coordination, and practical awareness. Unlike Judo or BJJ, Kali uses striking drills, stick patterns, and fluid footwork that sharpen timing and reaction speed. Students learn how to move effectively whether holding a training weapon or using empty hands. The art's focus on awareness makes it useful for understanding distance and reading movement, key elements in personal safety.

Professor Marble explains that Kali's appeal lies in its energy and adaptability. While Judo and BJJ develop strength and control, Kali trains the mind to recognize space and motion. It demands focus and quick reactions, giving adults a new way to understand defense through mobility and awareness. This combination of sharp timing and coordination builds physical fitness while reinforcing the mental alertness needed for self defense.

The HelloNation article emphasizes that the best martial art for adults Blue Springs Missouri depends on what a person values most. Judo provides a strong full-body workout that builds endurance and balance. BJJ teaches patience, strategy, and how to remain calm when under pressure. Kali enhances agility, timing, and situational awareness. Each art contributes to overall fitness and confidence, but the ideal choice varies by personal goals.

Safety and structure are also major considerations. Marble highlights that quality schools maintain clear instruction, proper pacing, and an organized environment. Before joining a program, adults should observe a class to see how instructors manage time, how students interact, and whether the energy feels controlled. Good programs prioritize steady progress, communication, and mutual respectfactors that create confidence and reduce risk during training.

The article encourages adults to think about how their bodies and minds respond to different forms of motion. Judo builds explosive strength through throws, BJJ improves flexibility and mental focus through groundwork, and Kali enhances coordination through rhythmic patterns. Many practitioners in Blue Springs experiment with more than one system, discovering that each art develops a different aspect of awareness. This broad approach helps them grow stronger, more focused, and more adaptable in both training and daily life.

Wayne Marble also points out that practicing multiple martial arts can deepen a person's understanding of balance and self control. Each system reinforces respect, patience, and safety while teaching new ways to manage challenges. Adults who approach training with curiosity often find that martial arts become not only a form of defense but also a lasting tool for personal growth.

How Judo, BJJ, and Kali Compare for Self Defense features insights from Wayne Marble, Martial Arts Expert of Blue Springs, Missouri, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation
LAUREL, Miss., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The article outlines key legal steps in property ownership, title review, and closing documents for buyers, sellers, and investors.

What should buyers, sellers, and investors understand before completing a property transaction in Mississippi? HelloNation has published the piece that provides the answer in a HelloNation article , featuring insights from Andrew Cardwell of The Cardwell Firm, PLLC.

Andrew Cardwell - Owner & Managing Attorney - The Cardwell Firm, PLLC Speed Speed

The HelloNation article explains that buying or selling property involves more than agreeing on a price. Real estate transactions require legally binding agreements, accurate records, and careful handling of closing documents. The article emphasizes that understanding real estate law in Mississippi can help prevent costly misunderstandings.

According to the article, a real estate attorney in Mississippi plays an important role throughout the transaction. While not always required by law, legal oversight often helps ensure that each step complies with state requirements. The article describes how contracts, financing terms, and documentation must meet specific legal standards.

One of the key topics covered is the importance of a thorough title review. The article notes that a title review confirms the seller's legal authority over the property ownership being transferred. It can also uncover liens, unpaid taxes, or judgments that may interfere with a sale. Identifying these issues early reduces the risk of disputes after closing.

The article further explains that contracts often include contingencies related to inspections, financing, and repairs. Under real estate law in Mississippi, these provisions must be clearly written and properly understood. A real estate attorney in Mississippi reviews these terms and helps clarify how they affect each party's rights and responsibilities.

Closing day is another focus of the article. Buyers and sellers typically sign multiple closing documents, including the deed and settlement statement. While a title company may prepare paperwork, the article points out that only an attorney can provide legal advice about what those documents mean. Careful review helps confirm that figures match prior agreements and that property ownership is transferred and recorded correctly.

Investors face additional considerations. The article explains that purchasing rental or commercial property introduces issues such as zoning rules and lease agreements. It also discusses how some investors choose to structure property ownership through limited liability companies. In these cases, guidance from a Real Estate Attorney can help align transactions with long-term goals.

Mississippi disclosure laws are another important topic covered in the article. Sellers must disclose known material defects, yet there is no single statewide disclosure form. The article notes that these places added responsibility on buyers to conduct due diligence. Legal guidance during this phase can help identify gaps in documentation and address potential concerns before closing.

Boundary disputes are also common in certain areas of the state. The article describes how older deeds may reference unclear landmarks or outdated descriptions. Even in more developed areas, fence lines and easements can create confusion. A detailed title review combined with legal interpretation can help resolve these issues properly.

The article also addresses a common misconception about the role of real estate agents. While agents manage negotiations and coordination, they are not authorized to interpret real estate law in Mississippi or offer legal advice. The distinction becomes especially important when unexpected disputes arise over repairs or financing delays.

Cost is another practical consideration discussed in the article. For straightforward residential transactions, fees for a real estate attorney in Mississippi are often modest compared to the total investment. The article suggests that early legal involvement may reduce long-term expense and stress when challenges occur.

Ultimately, the HelloNation article presents real estate law in Mississippi as a framework that supports secure and informed property ownership. It highlights how careful planning, accurate closing documents, and professional oversight contribute to smoother transactions for buyers, sellers, and investors alike.

The Complete Guide to Real Estate Law in Mississippi: What Buyers, Sellers, and Investors Should Know features insights from Andrew Cardwell, Real Estate Attorney of Laurel, Mississippi, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation
TORONTO, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Jaguar Uranium Corp. (NYSE American: JAGU) ("Jaguar" or the "Company") announces that its whollyowned subsidiary, 2847312 Ontario Inc., has entered into a nonexclusive framework collaboration agreement (the "Agreement") with the Ministry of Energy and Environment of the Province of Mendoza (the "Ministry").

The Agreement establishes a general framework for cooperation between the Ministry and the Company with respect to the Company's properties in the Province of Mendoza. Under the Agreement, the parties may cooperate in areas that include technical and professional assistance related to geological, environmental, legal, engineering, economic and financial studies; structured information exchange (subject to confidentiality obligations); training and professional development initiatives; and coordination of environmental, social and communityrelated practices associated with mining activity. The Agreement has an initial oneyear term and may be renewed once for an additional oneyear period by mutual consent.

"This collaboration represents an important step for Jaguar. Working with the Ministry reinforces our commitment to responsible development and supports our longterm objective of creating sustainable value for the Company. We look forward to building on this foundation and advancing our work in the Province in collaboration with the Ministry," said Luis Ducassi, Executive Chairman.

"We are thrilled to establish this framework for ongoing cooperation with the Ministry. We believe this is the first step for the Company to broaden its investment in the Province of Mendoza and look forward to advancing our exploration activity in a meaningful way," said Steven Gold, President & CEO.

About Jaguar Uranium Corp.

Jaguar Uranium Corp. is a South Americanfocused uranium explorer advancing a portfolio of prospective brownfield assets across Argentina and Colombia. Anchored by a former producing mine, a historic uranium district, and exploration projects backed by historical drilling, Jaguar Uranium is uniquely positioned to revive and expand some of the region's most meaningful uranium opportunities. The Company is guided by a proven, industry-leading team with decades of success in permitting, exploration, discovery, and project finance across South America, bringing deep regional insight and a track record of execution to every stage of development.

This news release does not contain any new scientific or technical information, and the Company is not reporting exploration results, mineral resources, or mineral reserves.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forwardlooking statements, including statements regarding the interpretation, and implementation of the Agreement; the potential for continued collaboration under the Agreement; and the negotiation and execution of additional agreements and related activities. Forwardlooking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks related to obtaining required governmental approvals; negotiation and execution of subsequent agreements; permitting, community engagement and environmental matters; availability of funding, personnel and equipment; political and regulatory developments; commodity prices and foreign exchange rates; and other risks described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S1 (File No. 333292006), as amended, and in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forwardlooking statements except as required by law.

SOURCE Jaguar Uranium Corp.
NEW YORK, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Her profound empathy, intuitive expression, and a transformative commitment to the art of storytelling inspire audiences the world over: Lancome welcomes the acclaimed British actress and producer Vanessa Kirby as its new Global Ambassador, an embodiment of the brand's fearless optimism and the sophisticated allure of authentic vulnerability.

Photo: David Roemer for Lancome

Lancome continuously redefines beauty through pioneering advancements in Skincare, Makeup, and Fragrance. Its heritage is one of curiosity and reinvention, inspiring women globally to embrace their beauty with confidence and share their strength. Vanessa Kirby's artistic drive, versatile talent, and spirited outlook perfectly align with Lancome's mission to inspire joyful and authentic living, making her an extraordinary and expressive voice for the brand.

CONNECTION THROUGH CHARACTER

Vanessa is a BAFTA award-winning actress and nominee for the Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Awards who has established herself as one of the most compelling actresses of her generation. She has earned acclaim for her work across film, television, and stage, including remarkable performances as Princess Margaret in The Crown (Netflix), for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress; and Pieces of a Woman, which earned her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at Venice Film Festival (2020) and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress (2021) . In recent years, she has captivated audiences with her performances in two Mission Impossible films, as Empress Josephine in Ridley Scott's Napoleon, and as Sue Storm in Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps. In 2025 she starred in The Night Always Comes (Netflix), which she also produced. While she continues to demonstrate exceptional artistry and depth in her work, she also serves as an advocate for children's rights, particularly in high-conflict areas.

TRANSFORMATIVE OPTIMISM

On joining Lancome as a Global Ambassador, Vanessa Kirby said: "To me, Lancome represents optimism, beauty and so much more: the brand stands for confidence, resilience and the courage to be yourself. I've long admired the brand's dedication to celebrating authenticity and inner strength. As someone deeply committed to supporting women, I'm honored to join a collective that believes in promoting beauty in all its forms."

In welcoming Vanessa to Lancome, Vania Lacascade, Lancome Global Brand President, stated: "Our ambassadors represent the diverse facets of the modern woman, and Vanessa brings her captivating depth and sophisticated beauty to our collective. As an actress, she seeks to understand the human experience from the inside out. When we met, she shared how much beauty and joy she finds in the exploration of 'nuances' and new perspectives. In this quest, we found a perfect mirror for Lancome's own mission: to approach life with optimism, curiosity, and the confidence to evolve at every stage."

Vanessa's positive and radiant presence, combined with her natural talent and grace, make her an ideal ambassador for Lancome. She joins a remarkable and diverse group of global ambassadors including Julia Roberts, Olivia Rodrigo, Christy Turlington, and Aya Nakamura among others.

About Lancome

Founded in 1935 by the visionary pioneer Armand Petitjean, with the wish of spreading the spirit and taste of French elegance around the world, Lancome immediately embodied the essence of beauty. More than ever before, the brand aims to offer every woman the possibility to blossom and embrace her beauty and femininity whatever her age or skin color. Lancome is present in 135 countries, with about 20,000 beauty advisers in as many points of sale offering sophisticated services and iconic products to an international clientele. Lancome successfully combines scientific expertise and an intuitive understanding of women's needs to produce major innovations, unique and complementary between skincare, makeup and perfume. Lancome affirms that happiness is the most attractive beauty. To embody that the brand has chosen charismatic and fully accomplished women such as Julia Roberts, Christy Turlington, Isabella Rossellini, Olivia Rodrigo, Joy Sunday and Nico Parker.

For more information, please visit www.Lancome-usa.com or follow us on Instagram: @lancomeofficial, TikTok: @lancome.official, YouTube: @lancomeusa or Facebook: LancomeUS.

Leah Pitman, Head of PR & Partnerships  [email protected]

Alison Brod Marketing & Communications  [email protected]

SOURCE Lancome
Founded in 2018 by First-Generation Mexican-American Attorney Jennifer Gastelum, the Eight-Attorney Firm Serves Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas Families in English and Spanish

LAS VEGAS, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gastelum Attorneys, a Las Vegas-based family law firm founded in 2018, announced today it has handled more than 5,000 family law cases in Clark County's Eighth Judicial District Court  a milestone that places the firm among the most experienced divorce and family law practices in Southern Nevada.

The firm, led by Managing Attorney Jennifer Gastelum  a first-generation Mexican-American and University of Nevada, Las Vegas Boyd School of Law graduate  operates with eight attorneys handling contested and uncontested divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, property division, and guardianship matters throughout Clark County.

"Las Vegas families going through divorce deserve attorneys who understand both the law and the community. We built this firm to serve everyone  regardless of income, background, or what language they speak at home."

 Jennifer Gastelum, Founder & Managing Attorney

Breaking Barriers: Full Bilingual Legal Services in Las Vegas

In a city where nearly 30% of residents are Hispanic or Latino, Gastelum Attorneys operates the only family law firm in Clark County with a dedicated Spanish-language website (gastelumattorneysespanol.com) and a full roster of Spanish-speaking attorneys. The firm does not rely on interpreters  nuance in depositions, mediations, and court testimony is handled directly by bilingual counsel.

"In a courtroom, a mistranslation isn't just a communication problem  it can cost a parent custody of their child," said Gastelum. "We built our Spanish practice from the ground up because Las Vegas's Hispanic community deserves the same quality of representation as anyone else."

Practice Areas & Community Resources

Gastelum Attorneys handles the full range of family law matters before the Eighth Judicial District Court, including high-net-worth divorce, military pension division under USFSPA, and complex community property disputes under NRS 123.220. The firm has also developed free public tools  including Nevada's only attorney-validated alimony and child support calculators  to help Clark County residents understand their legal rights before they set foot in a courtroom.

About Gastelum Attorneys

Gastelum Attorneys is a family law firm located at 718 S 8th Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Founded in 2018 by Jennifer Gastelum, the firm practices exclusively in divorce and family law with eight attorneys serving Clark County. Bilingual English and Spanish services are available. The firm operates Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Contact: Jennifer Gastelum, Managing Attorney

Phone: (702) 979-1455 | Email: [email protected]

Website: gastelumattorneys.com

Spanish Site: gastelumattorneysespanol.com

New Beginnings, Brighter Tomorrows

SOURCE Gastelum Attorneys
Three New Equipment Introductions Highlight North American Market Focus

LAS VEGAS, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From March 37, LGMG presented a comprehensive portfolio of mining machinery, aerial work platforms, and material handling equipment at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas, one of the world's largest construction trade exhibitions. The lineup centered on equipment engineered specifically for North American performance standards, regulatory requirements, and operator preferences, combining global manufacturing capability with localized development expertise.

LGMG Global Premium Product Launch

The exhibition brought together industry leadership and senior company executives, including AEM Executive General Manager Kaien Li, Lingong Group Chairman Wang Zhizhong, and LGMG President Simon Zhang, as well as customers and supplier partners.

At this year's show, the company emphasized localized product development. Engineering refinement, application-driven design, and customer feedback have shaped a portfolio tailored to regional jobsite requirements and operating environments.

125ft telescopic boom lifts

The 125-foot telescopic boom lifts are engineered for large venues, airports, and industrial construction projects, combining dual heavy-load capacities with a 5 working angle and 45% gradeability. Designed for transport within a 40-foot container, the lifts incorporate load-sensing hydraulics, CAN-based control systems, and intelligent diagnostics that support precise control, improved energy efficiency, and simplified maintenance under demanding jobsite conditions.

H1256 Telehandlers

The H1256 telehandler is designed for material handling, roof installation, and infrastructure construction applications. Powered by a Cummins 90 kW engine and equipped with a fully electro-hydraulic proportional joystick and load-sensing system, it delivers stable performance and fuel-efficient operation. A spacious cab with integrated ROPS and HVAC enhances operator comfort, while a service-oriented component layout simplifies daily maintenance and supports uptime on high-utilization projects.

X7 series electric counterbalanced forklifts

The X7 series electric counterbalanced forklifts feature dual front-wheel drives, delivering 20% full-load gradeability and a top speed of 20 km/h. Additional features include wet brakes, an active safety control system, and a universal 80V battery platform compatible with both lead-acid and lithium-ion configurations. Low noise levels (68 dB) and an ergonomic operator layout enhance comfort in warehouse and industrial environments. The forklifts are CE certified and will be available beginning in March.

Together, the new models demonstrate LGMG's application-focused engineering approach and localized development efforts. During the exhibition, company representatives met with customers, dealers, and strategic partners to discuss regional requirements and ongoing cooperation across key markets.

Founded in 2012, LGMG has expanded globally, achieving leading sales volumes in wide-body mining trucks and ranking among the top manufacturers worldwide in aerial work platforms. Its products are now sold in more than 100 countries and regions, supported by a growing global distribution and service network.

LGMG will continue investing in product development, building regional engineering capability, and expanding its global equipment portfolio. Through ongoing engineering development and adaptation to regional requirements, the company intends to support customer productivity and long-term growth in the construction equipment market.

For more information about LGMG's solution in North America, please visit https://www.lgmg.com.cn/

SOURCE LGMG
Steve Scharnhorst to Serve as CEO; Mike Plaster Named President

FORT MILL, S.C. and BESSEMER, Ala., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MacLean Power Systems ("MPS" or "MacLean Power") and Power Grid Components ("PGC"), two leading manufacturers of engineered components and solutions for electrical transmission, distribution, substation and communication infrastructure, today announced the closing of their previously announced merger. Funds affiliated with Blackstone Energy Transition Partners and Blackstone's flagship private equity strategy ("Blackstone") have become the majority owner of the combined company. In connection with the transaction, an affiliate of Centerbridge Partners ("Centerbridge"), will be making a new investment into the combined company. The platform  one of the largest suppliers of highly-engineered utility equipment in North America  will move forward as one entity under the MacLean Power Systems name. Following the transaction, PGC's portfolio of products, including Allied Bolt, Elliott, ITEC, Meister, Mid-Central, Newell, Royal Switchgear and Vizimax, will become part of the MacLean Power Systems family.

The Grid is Evolving. Were LEADING THE WAY

Alongside the completed merger, MPS is pleased to announce leadership updates as it moves into its next phase of growth. Steve Scharnhorst, current CEO of MacLean Power Systems, will lead the combined company. Mike Plaster will transition from CEO of Power Grid Components to President of MacLean Power Systems, leading all commercial and operational activities across the platform.

Steve Scharnhorst, CEO of MacLean Power Systems, said: "Today is an exciting milestone for MPS and our customers. Bringing together these highly complementary businesses strengthens MPS' ability to support the construction, maintenance, repair and upgrade of critical grid infrastructure through a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality, customer-driven engineered solutions. We look forward to Leading the Way to a more resilient grid together as an industry-leading platform."

Mike Plaster, President of MacLean Power Systems, added: "MacLean Power is a premier brand in our industry, built on decades of providing reliable, high-quality, essential components for the power grid and adjacent industries. I'm excited to partner closely with Steve and our combined teams as we expand our portfolio and capabilities to continue to best serve our customers across all segments of the electrical grid."

JP Munfa, Senior Managing Director, and Mark Zhu, Managing Director, at Blackstone, said: "MacLean Power plays a vital role in supporting the safety, efficiency, and resiliency of the grid. We are thrilled to partner with Steve, Mike, and the entire team to work on building an even stronger, scaled platform that is well positioned to support rapidly growing electrical infrastructure needs."

Conor Tochilin, Senior Managing Director at Centerbridge, said: "We congratulate Steve and the entire MPS team on their outstanding success to date. Centerbridge is excited to reinvest in the combined MacLean Power platform, building on the strong foundation we've established together and backed by a proven management team. We look forward to partnering with Blackstone to support the combined company's next stage of growth as it accelerates its momentum and continues to benefit from powerful secular tailwinds."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About MacLean Power Systems

MacLean Power Systems is a leading manufacturer of engineered products and solutions used in the maintenance, repair, upgrade, and construction of transmission, distribution, and substation infrastructure. Leading the Way in innovation and delivery, MPS is dedicated to keeping the power infrastructure performing optimally by supplying world-class solutions to fulfill the needs of customers who maintain electrical services to consumers worldwide. Learn more at www.macleanpower.com.

About Power Grid Components

PGC powers the evolving grid with reliable, responsive solutions. As a leading domestic supplier of critical grid equipment, we fortify its capacity, resilience, and safety. And through tailored solutions and partnerships with utilities, OEMs, packagers, distributors, and end users, we keep America's power flowing. Learn more at https://pgc.com/.

About Blackstone Energy Transition Partners

Blackstone Energy Transition Partners is Blackstone's strategy for control-oriented equity investments in energy-related businesses, with a successful long-term record, having committed over $27 billion of equity globally across a broad range of sectors within the energy industry. Our investment philosophy is based on backing exceptional management teams with flexible capital to provide solutions that help energy companies grow and improve performance, thereby delivering more reliable, affordable and cleaner energy to meet the growing needs of the global community. In the process, we work to build stronger, larger scale enterprises, create jobs and generate lasting value for our investors, employees and all stakeholders. Further information is available at https://www.blackstone.com/our-businesses/blackstone-energy-transition-partners/.

About Blackstone

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone's $1.3 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

About Centerbridge Partners

Centerbridge Partners, L.P. is a private investment management firm employing a flexible approach across investment disciplinesPrivate Equity, Private Credit, and Real Estatein an effort to develop the most attractive opportunities for our investors. The Firm was founded in 2005 and, as of December 31, 2025, has approximately $45 billion in assets under management with offices in New York and London. Centerbridge is dedicated to partnering with world-class management teams across targeted industry sectors and geographies. For more information, please visit www.centerbridge.com and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts

MacLean Power Systems

Gustavo Alvarado

[email protected]

Power Grid Components

Elisabeth Law

[email protected]

Blackstone

Hallie Dewey

[email protected]

Jennifer Heath

[email protected]

SOURCE MacLean Power Systems
Students participating in Gaming Concepts coursework and PlayVS esports added 710 instructional days per year and experienced up to 50% fewer disciplinary incidents.

LOS ANGELES, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A groundbreaking five-year independent study led by Dr. Robert J. Marzano and Dr. Sonny Magana has found that students participating in structured gaming curriculum through Gaming Concepts and school-based Esports programs through PlayVS demonstrate significantly higher attendance and dramatically fewer disciplinary incidents.

The study analyzed student-level data from grades 612 across the 202021 through 202425 school years in the Wichita Public School District. Outcomes for participants were compared to more than 100,000 non-participating peers. Researchers calculated standardized effect sizes and conducted multilevel modeling to account for school-level differences. The findings show consistent, meaningful advantages for students involved in the programs, with the strongest outcomes for those participating in both.

Major Findings From the Study

Across five consecutive school years, students participating in structured PlayVS Gaming Concepts courses and school-based Esports programs demonstrated sustained and measurable gains in attendance and behavior.

710 additional attendance days per year for students involved in both Gaming Concepts and esports, representing a 4.1% increase in attendance

Up to 50% fewer disciplinary incidents among those same students

Positive and consistent effects across multiple years and school contexts

Strongest gains observed when students participated in both classroom Gaming Concepts and structured Esports programs

For districts confronting chronic absenteeism, these results extend beyond engagement metrics. In many states, public school funding is directly tied to average daily attendance. Recovering even a handful of instructional days per student can represent the protection of hundreds of thousands of dollars at the school level while also increasing academic learning time. More time in class means more funding, more instructional continuity, and better academic outcomes.

Reductions in disciplinary incidents further preserve instructional continuity, reduce administrative strain, and strengthen overall school climate, compounding both the academic and operational benefits for schools.

"This study confirms what many educators have observed firsthand," said Dr. Sonny Magana, founder of Magana Education and co-author of the study. "When students feel a sense of identity, belonging, and purpose, attendance improves, and positive behavior follows. Gaming Concepts and Esports create structured environments where students are accountable to a team, connected to real-world skills, and motivated to show up

Dr. Robert J. Marzano, one of the most cited education researchers in the United States, co-led the analysis. The research represents one of the most comprehensive examinations to date of gaming-based academic programs and student outcomes.

What the Study Concludes About Schools Implementing Gaming Concepts and Esports

Through the study, the researchers identified several consistent patterns among schools implementing structured Gaming Concepts coursework and team-based Esports programs:

Schools that align student interests with structured academic experiences see measurable improvements in attendance

Clearly defined team roles and performance expectations foster accountability and shared responsibility

Organized, adult-facilitated competition supports positive peer dynamics and reduces disciplinary incidents

Integration of real-world skills and career-connected learning increases sustained engagement

"These results highlight the power of connecting academic learning to industries that students recognize and aspire to join. Gaming Concepts integrates communication, data analysis, media production, and leadership into a rigorous instructional framework," said Michael Russel, EdD, Director of Education at PlayVS. "When students see a future pathway connected to what they are learning, their investment in school increases."

Live Webinar: Deep Dive into the Research

To further explore the findings, Sonny Magana will host a live national webinar in partnership with PlayVS on March 10 at 4:00 p.m. CST. During this session, Magana will break down the study's methodology, unpack the five-year data analysis, and outline actionable strategies for district and school leaders.

The webinar will provide practical guidance for schools seeking to improve attendance, strengthen student engagement, reduce behavioral incidents, and build sustainable pathways to career-connected learning.

Register to Attend at playvs.com/researchwebinar

Read the Full Report and Learn More About Gaming Concepts at gamingconcepts.gg

About PlayVS

PlayVS is North America's leading scholastic and collegiate gaming platform, helping students unlock the educational, social, and personal benefits of competitive gaming. Gaming Concepts' award-winning gaming curriculum is dedicated to building structured, community-driven pathways into competitive gaming and digital careers. Through its innovative curriculum and immersive programming, Gaming Concepts empowers students with the skills, teamwork, leadership, and strategic thinking required to succeed both in and outside the classroom. PlayVS is the official esports partner of the NFHS Network, the Special Olympics, and more than 40 state and regional organizations across the U.S. and Canada

About Dr. Robert J. Marzano

Dr. Marzano is a nationally recognized education researcher and author whose work has influenced instructional practice and leadership in schools across the United States and internationally.

About Dr. Sonny Magana

Dr. Sonny Magana is the founder of Magana Education and an internationally recognized leader in educational innovation, student engagement, and measurable impact in K12 systems.

Media Contact [email protected]

SOURCE PlayVS
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the first meeting of the International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the UN headquarters in New York on March 3, 2026. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

According to Guterres, the work of the panel is scientific, and all its members serve in their personal capacity "providing scientific assessments independent of any government, company or institution, including the United Nations."

UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday asked the newly-established International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help decision-markers build effective guardrails, unlock innovation for the common good, and strengthen international cooperation.

Speaking at the first meeting of the panel, which was held virtually, Guterres said AI is advancing at lightning speed today, reshaping economies and societies, and no country, no company and no field of research can see the full picture alone.

"AI will shape peace and security, human rights and sustainable development, the three areas of intervention of the United Nations for decades to come," he said.

The world urgently needs "a shared, global understanding of artificial intelligence, grounded not in ideology, but in science; not in fake news, but in knowledge," the UN chief emphasized.

The panel represents "something the world has never seen before" -- a first-of-its-kind, one-of-a-kind global, independent scientific body dedicated to helping shape the trajectory of AI for the benefit of humanity, and its role is to bring independent, credible science into the global conversation at a time when geopolitical tensions are rising, conflicts are raging, and the stakes for safe and responsible AI could not be greater, said Guterres.

"It is a huge responsibility," he said, adding that the panel's work will be presented at the first annual Global Dialogue on AI Governance, which is scheduled in Geneva in July.

According to Guterres, the work of the panel is scientific, and all its members serve in their personal capacity "providing scientific assessments independent of any government, company or institution, including the United Nations."

"Grounded in conflict-of-interest safeguards, this scientific independence will help ensure that the Panel's advice remains impartial and trusted," he said.

The UN General Assembly appointed 40 members to the panel in February and their three-year term began on Feb. 12.

Editor: WSH
GULFPORT, Miss., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mississippi Power today announced its board of directors has elected Fredie Carmichael as vice president of Customer Solutions and Corporate Communications, effective March 16. Carmichael will also serve as a member of the company's management council.

Carmichael will oversee Customer Solutions and Corporate Communications, including marketing, energy efficiency, lighting, the company's customer service teams and communications.

Fredie Carmichael

"Fredie brings a deep understanding of our customers, our business and the communities we proudly serve," said Pedro Cherry, chairman, president and CEO of Mississippi Power. "His proven leadership, strategic mindset and passion for Mississippi are vital as we continue to enhance the customer experience, support growth across our service territory and maximize the value we bring our customers every day."

Carmichael brings more than 26 years of experience in communications, customer strategy and leadership. Most recently, he served as vice president of Corporate Affairs at Georgia Power, leading strategic branding, advertising, marketing, digital and social media, employee and executive communications, and media relations for approximately 8,000 employees and 2.8 million customers. Prior to that, he was vice president of Corporate Communication at Southern Company Gas. Carmichael joined Southern Company in 2013 in Marketing at Mississippi Power and has held leadership roles across the Southern Company system.

A native of Lauderdale County, Carmichael began his career in journalism, working as a reporter in Mississippi and Florida before serving as executive editor of The Meridian Star. He later worked as a regional economic development manager at the Mississippi Development Authority.

Carmichael holds a communications degree from Mississippi State University, completed the True South Economic Development Program at The University of Southern Mississippi and is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at Cornell University.

He has a strong history of community involvement across Mississippi, including serving as founding chairman of Young Professionals of Meridian and Mississippi Young Professionals, being elected to serve on the Lauderdale County Board of Education and participating on the inaugural transition team for Meridian Mayor Percy Bland.

Carmichael and his wife, Dr. Susan Carmichael, a Meridian native, have three children.

About Mississippi Power

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and affordable energy for nearly 194,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Mississippi Power has served its communities for more than a century and is an industry leader in safety, reliability and economic development. The Southeastern Electric Exchange recognized the company for Top Safety Performance in its generation category, and Site Selection named Mississippi Power a top utility driving economic development in the United States. For reliability, The Edison Electric Institute has recognized Mississippi Power with multiple Emergency Response Awards for outstanding storm response. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube for company updates.

SOURCE Mississippi Power
Xi has emphasized the need to maintain 'strategic resolve' in ecological civilization

BEIJING, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily:

More than a decade ago, when President Xi Jinping joined deliberations with national lawmakers and political advisers during China's annual two sessions in 2014, he raised pointed questions about fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, for three consecutive days.

A view of Beijing's CBD area.

"Compared with Beijing, how is the level of PM2.5 in Shanghai?" Xi asked during a panel discussion with Shanghai deputies to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on March 5 that year, in a widely reported exchange with the municipality's ecology and environment bureau head.

At the time, images of smog-shrouded skylines in Beijing were making global headlines, turning China's air pollution into an international talking point, and making PM2.5  airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter that can harm the lungs  part of everyday vocabulary.

Today, the term is far less frequently heard. Clearer skies across many Chinese cities have become increasingly common. According to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China's air quality reached its best level on record in 2025, with the average PM2.5 concentration dropping to 28 micrograms per cubic meter.

The change reflects not only targeted pollution-control campaigns, but also a deeper transformation in China's green development philosophy  one that has been repeatedly articulated by Xi at the annual meetings of the NPC and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body.

In 2015, while joining deliberations with NPC deputies from Jiangxi province, Xi said that "protecting the environment is ensuring livelihood", adding that the eco-environment should be safeguarded as if protecting "one's own eyes and life", showing his resolve to curb the widespread pollution that was choking the world's second-largest economy.

In 2016, during discussions with NPC deputies from Heilongjiang province, he called for drawing red lines for environmental protection and leaving sufficient space for sustainable development, in order to leave a beautiful homeland with blue skies, green land and clear waters for future generations.

In 2018, addressing fellow lawmakers from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Xi stressed efforts to strengthen the protection of forests and wetlands, to step up the fight against desertification and pollution, and to build the "Green Great Wall" along the northern border of the motherland.

Christoph Nedopil Wang, a professor of economics at Griffith University in Australia who specializes in the green economic transition in the Asia-Pacific region, said that earlier stages of China's approach to green development focused primarily on visible issues such as air quality and PM2.5 levels.

"Over the past decade, China's philosophy has shifted from reactive pollution control  often described as a 'pollute first, clean up later' approach  to a proactive, systemic economic transformation," he said.

Xi has repeatedly emphasized during the two sessions the need to maintain "strategic resolve" in advancing ecological civilization. In 2019, while addressing Inner Mongolia deputies to the NPC, he stressed that environmental protection and economic development are closely integrated and complement each other, and warned against sacrificing ecological standards for short-term growth.

During the two sessions in 2020, he described ecological protection as a long-term plan for the benefit of the people, stressing that China must adhere to the principle of prioritizing ecological conservation and pursuing green development.

In September 2020, when delivering a speech at the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Xi announced that China would strive to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060  marking the first time that Beijing laid out a concrete timeline for net-zero emissions.

Wang, from Griffith University, said Xi's emphasis on strategic resolve signals China's policy continuity and long-term planning. While many Western countries face fluctuating environmental commitments, China's system provides predictability for large-scale green finance and industrial investment, Wang noted.

In his view, China treats the green transition not as a luxury to be discarded during economic uncertainty, but as a fundamental requirement for future competitiveness, resource security and social stability. "By maintaining this course, China aims to solidify its dominance in global green supply chains," said Wang.

Wang Xiaoli, an associate professor in the Department of Social and Ecological Development at the National Academy of Governance, said that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, China's green transformation has gone far beyond the environmental sector itself, contributing to a high-quality development model.

"China's 'green content' in economic development has continued to rise, with green and low-carbon industries now accounting for more than 18 percent of GDP," she said, noting that advanced manufacturing with environmental and climate-friendly characteristics, green technologies, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and high-value-added services have emerged as new growth engines. "The fact that China has been able to achieve rapid economic development while steadily improving environmental quality has demonstrated to the world the effectiveness of this strategic resolve," she said.

Institutional support has also strengthened. During the two sessions in 2023, the CPPCC officially established a new sector, "environment and resources", adding it to the 34 sectors within the top political advisory body, reflecting a heightened priority on ecological protection, sustainable development and green energy goals in national policy planning.

In 2024, when joining the discussion of political advisers, including those from the sector of environment and resources, Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said that the CPC Central Committee always attaches great importance to environmental protection.

He emphasized the need to secure red lines in the development and protection of territorial space, and improve the region-specific environmental management system, in order to further consolidate the ecological foundations of high-quality development.

On the country's plan to control new pollutants following its treatment of smog and black and malodorous water bodies, Xi said that both newfound and persisting environmental problems need to be addressed.

"Today, the focus of China's green development philosophy is firmly on ecological civilization and high-quality development," said Wang of Griffith University. "In recent two sessions, this has culminated in the concept of new quality productive forces," which integrates green technology as a pillar of economic growth and national security, rather than treating environmental protection as a cost, he said.

As this year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, analysts said the international community will closely watch for further policy signals regarding China's green development at this year's two sessions, which begin this week.

Wang of the National Academy of Governance noted that the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan outlined key areas for accelerating the green transition across the board and building a beautiful China. She said that the goal of peaking carbon emissions, before 2030, the final year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, is expected to draw particular attention, especially regarding new policy instruments, accounting systems and supervision mechanisms.

Wang, the Griffith University professor, said that key areas of international interest will likely include expanding the national carbon market to heavy industries such as steel and cement, integrating AI into green manufacturing and offering new incentives for transition finance.

How China balances domestic carbon goals with its role as a leading exporter of green energy equipment amid rising trade tensions will also be closely monitored, he added.

SOURCE China Daily
Center for the Future of Arizona and Northern Arizona University initiative translates policy into practical action for educators

PHOENIX, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) and the Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy (AIEE) at Northern Arizona University, with support from KnowledgeWorks, have jointly launched Permission Granted, a statewide effort designed to help Arizona school systems move from perceived constraints to practical action.

Comprised of two complementary tools  the Policy Primer and the Innovation Guide  Permission Granted clarifies what education policy flexibilities already exist and how school systems can use them now to improve student success and postsecondary readiness. The effort translates current statute into practical options educators and system leaders can implement immediately.

Across Arizona, educators and leaders share the goal of helping students succeed. Yet improvement efforts often slow or even struggle to get off the ground because of a belief that meaningful change requires more flexibility or even permission at the state level. In many cases, flexibility already exists - but schools need clear examples and practical support to put it into action.

"Permission Granted is about helping Arizona move from flexibility on paper to real change for students," said Amanda Burke, Ed.D., Executive Vice President of the Center for the Future of Arizona. "Schools across Arizona are already using existing flexibility to redesign learning in powerful ways. By translating policy into practical tools and supporting implementation across communities, we're helping educators turn innovation into sustained practice that improves outcomes and expands opportunity for every student."

"Arizona has created significant flexibility over time and continues to pursue even more flexibility. But policy language alone does not always translate into practice," said Chad Gestson, Ed.D., Executive Director, Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy at Northern Arizona University. "When educators can clearly see both what is allowed and how schools across Arizona are using it, they are far more likely to act."

Permission Granted is designed to help school systems move from a mindset of "we can't" to one of "we can"  and ultimately to sustained action on behalf of students. By clarifying policy and elevating real examples, Permission Granted helps educators and partners design learning experiences aligned to student needs rather than institutional assumptions  and move more quickly from understanding to implementation.

Read more

SOURCE Center for the Future of Arizona
NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations for the 2026 American Association for Justice (AAJ) Paralegal of the Year Award are now open. We are proud to sponsor this prestigious award recognizing paralegals' key role in our civil justice system.

The AAJ Paralegal of the Year Award, sponsored by Advocate Capital, Inc., is granted to one exceptional individual who consistently makes contributions to the paralegal profession and acts as an inspiration to other paralegals through their knowledge of the law, perseverance in cases, and superior skill set. The ideal candidate must demonstrate a commitment to continuing legal education and their community through volunteering.

Any AAJ Paralegal Affiliate who has been a member for a minimum of one year is eligible to receive the 2026 Paralegal of the Year Award, but they must be nominated by another AAJ Paralegal Affiliate or an AAJ Attorney member in good standing. If you have someone you would like to nominate, please submit a completed entry form. Entries will be accepted through Friday, May 1, 2026. To view the 2026 Paralegal of the Year Award nomination form, click here.

The winner of the Paralegal of the Year Award will receive the award at AAJ's 2026 Annual Convention on July 24-28, 2026, in Chicago, IL. Complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations, and registration will be provided.

Advocate Capital, Inc. is the premier provider of strategic financial products, including case expense financing, for successful trial law firms. It has served the plaintiff bar since 1999 from its headquarters in Nashville, TN, and enjoys a client base that extends nationwide. For more information, visit www.AdvocateCapital.com or call 1.877.894.9724.

CONTACT:

Tina Burns

Advocate Capital, Inc.,

https://www.advocatecapital.com/team/tina-r-burns/

SOURCE Advocate Capital, Inc.
Launched Innovative Captive-as-a-Service Offering, Expanded Capital Markets Program, and Signed Strategic Partnerships

In 2025, Octane grew loan originations to a record $2.1 billion, a 29% increase year-over-year, surpassed $7.6 billion in all-time originations, and doubled RV originations for the second consecutive year





Launched ten partnerships with powersports OEMs, announced two partnerships with major RV and powersports dealership chains, and signed a partnership with a top national bank to drive growth in the Outdoor Power Equipment market





Closed $100 million Series F funding round, fueling market and product expansion through novel Captive-as-a-Service offering for OEMs and dealership chains





Continued to diversify and grow its capital markets program through the sale of nearly $2 billion of loans and the issuance of over $500 million of notes through two asset-backed securitizations





Earned multiple industry awards, made key personnel appointments, and opened a new Dallas office

NEW YORK, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Octane  (Octane Lending, Inc.), the fintech company unlocking the power of financial products for retailers and consumers, announced its 2025 milestones as it continues to innovate new products and transform the buying experience. The company achieved record originations, launched its Captive-as-a-Service offering, continued to diversify and grow its capital markets program, and signed key partnerships with industry leaders.

Today, we announce our key milestones from 2025. Thank you to our team, investors, and partners for helping us achieve another record-breaking year!

Substantial Growth in Powersports and Recreational Vehicle (RV) Business and New Strategic Partnerships

Octane grew originations through its in-house lender, Roadrunner Financial , Inc., by 29% year-over-year, achieving a record-breaking $2.1 billion in annual originations and surpassing $7.6 billion in aggregate originations. The company strengthened its extensive network of powersports dealers and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners by signing ten new OEM partners, expanding an existing partnership with a major OEM , and launching a new partnership with a leading powersports dealer group .

Octane also significantly grew its RV business. For the second year in a row, the company more than doubled RV originations year-over-year. Notably, Octane announced a partnership with the leading RV dealership chain to support its more than 200 locations in the U.S., strengthening the company's presence in the recreational market.

The company also positioned itself for growth in 2026 by signing a partnership with a top national bank to rapidly deepen its penetration in the Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) market.

New Equity Capital Fuels Product and Market Expansion

Octane raised $100 million from new and returning investors in its Series F funding round at a $1.3 billion valuation . This capital enables Octane to deepen penetration in existing markets, fuel its expansion into new markets, and support the launch of new product offerings. The company also used these funds to provide liquidity to current and former employees.

Octane expanded its product offering with the launch of its novel Captive-as-a-Service solution for OEMs and dealership chains. Through this product, partners can enjoy the benefits of having their own financing company without the lengthy, costly process of setting up a captive from scratch. Captive-as-a-Service enables partners to increase profitability on each sale through life-cycle marketing and participation in the economics of the loan, all while delivering a fast, easy financing experience to their customers. Octane provides a seamless, digital platform, lead generation tools, underwriting, loan processing, loan servicing, marketing and design, and capital markets execution, all under a brand name of the partner's choice.

Strong Capital Markets Performance with $1.9 Billion of Loans Sold

Octane continued to scale and diversify its capital markets program, expanding its investor base and execution channels. In 2025, Octane sold $1.9 billion of loansrepresenting 91% of 2025 originationsthrough forward-flow transactions and whole-loan sales . Since December 2023, Octane has secured commitments for the purchase of over $3.3 billion in loans.

At the same time, Octane continued to show leadership in the asset-backed securitization (ABS) market through OCTL 2025-1 and OCTL 2025-RVM1 , its second securitization collateralized wholly by RV and marine collateral. Its first, OCTL 2024-RVM1 , was named as the ABS Deal of the Year at the GlobalCapital US Securitization Awards 2025. Since beginning its ABS program in 2019, Octane has issued over $4.7 billion of asset-backed securities through 16 transactions.

Octane delivered strong financial results in 2025, achieving nearly $400M in total revenue. The company grew adjusted EBITDA by 23% year-over-year to $80 million and marked its third consecutive year of GAAP net income profitability.*

Key Leadership Appointments, Continued Recognition, and New Dallas Office

In 2025, Octane made key leadership appointments, naming Sean Fernandez-Ledon as its first Chief Legal Officer and Jon Vestal and Kartik Kothari as its first Executive Vice Presidents. The company continued to be recognized for excellence, receiving 15 awards for its innovation, culture, and leadership, including the FICO Decision Award in Customer Onboarding and Management, Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 for the third year in a row, and BuiltIn's list of Best Places to Work in Dallas for the third year in a row. In October, the company opened a new Dallas office , where half of Octane's more than 600 employees are based.

"I'm extremely proud of our accomplishments in 2025, and I look forward to using this momentum as a springboard for continued growth and success in 2026 and beyond," said Jason Guss, Octane's CEO and Co-Founder. "Our achievements wouldn't have been possible without the hard work and innovation of our team, and the continued support of our investors and partners. We look forward to continuing to unlock the power of financial products for retailers and consumers for years to come."

Octane collaborates with 50 OEMs, has over 4,000 active merchant partners, and serves seven secured lending markets.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

*Financial performance based on 2025 unaudited company financial statements.

About Octane:

Octane  is revolutionizing financing by delivering a seamless, end-to-end digital buying experience. We unlock the power of financial products for retailers and consumers by combining cutting-edge technology and innovative risk strategies, helping businesses finance more creditworthy customers to make automotive and lifestyle purchases  like powersports vehicles, RVs, boats and personal watercraft, and outdoor power equipment  fast, easy, and accessible.

Octane adds value throughout the buying journey: connecting dealers and buyers with customer acquisitions tools, instantly prequalifying consumers for financing online, providing technology to make the closing process faster and easier, and supporting customers throughout their loan with superior loan servicing.

Founded in 2014, we have more than 50 OEM partners and 4,000 dealer partners, and a team of over 600. Visit Octane.co .

Octane  and Roadrunner Financial  are registered service marks of Octane Lending, Inc.

Media Relations:

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

[email protected]

SOURCE Octane
CHICAGO, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prosperity Rise Mindset, a Chicago-based financial leadership education firm dedicated to helping organizations, leaders, and communities build financially confident, resilient futures, today announced that nationally renowned financial leadership educator Olga Camargo, AIF, is stepping into an expanded role as CEO & Chief of Financial Empowerment.

Nationally renowned financial leadership educator Olga Camargo, AIF, is stepping into an expanded role as CEO & Chief of Financial Empowerment at the Chicago-based Prosperity Rise Mindset, a leadership education firm.

The move formalizes her advisory work with C-suite leaders, boards, and institutions on bilingual financial education and retirement plan literacy as strategic drivers of workforce well-being and organizational health.

Recently recognized by Chicago United as a 2025 Business Leader of Chicago (BLC) and one of Chicago Magazine's Top 50 Executives, Camargo brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Her background includes C-suite and board-level advisory work, executive leadership, and fintech founder experience. As an investment advisor, she has helped positively impact the financial lives of more than 10,000 individuals annually through education, guidance, and retirement plan support.

In her expanded leadership role at Prosperity Rise Mindset, Camargo is deepening her focus on helping organizations treat financial education and retirement plan literacy not as employee benefits, but as strategic levers for long-term workforce stability and resilience.

"At a time when financial stress is one of the biggest threats to workforce well-being and performance, organizations need leaders who can translate complex financial topics into clear, culturally relevant education," said Camargo. "This expanded role allows me to partner more closely with executives, boards, and institutions that are ready to make financial empowerment a core component of their people strategy."

Through Prosperity Rise Mindset, Camargo designs and delivers bilingual (English and Spanish) financial education programs for corporations, universities, healthcare systems, government agencies, and nonprofits. Her programs break down budgeting fundamentals, help individuals and families set actionable savings goals, and demystify workplace retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans. All sessions are delivered in culturally relevant formats, with Spanish-language offerings available. Programs are offered virtually and are complemented by on-demand educational content that allows participants to continue learning at their own pace.

"Olga has been a powerful force for economic mobility and opportunity for the professionals and communities we serve," said Patricia Mota, CEO of Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE). "Her deep commitment to culturally relevant financial education, combined with her lived experience and leadership, has helped thousands of our members move from financial uncertainty to clarity and action. We are proud to see her continue expanding her impact through Prosperity Rise Mindset."

Camargo's educational influence extends beyond live sessions through her Amazon-published bilingual book, "RISE: A Beginner's Guide to 401(k) & 403(b) Accounts," available in English and Spanish, as well as through digital tools and workbooks that organizations can deploy as ongoing learning resources.

She is also a sought-after speaker at financial industry conferences, corporate convenings, and university events. Camargo regularly teaches financial professionals how to design culturally relevant financial education initiatives and elevate retirement plan literacy as a leadership priority, while delivering high-impact sessions on wealth building, retirement readiness, and financial resilience for today's workforce and students.

Her perspective is grounded in significant governance and workforce leadership experience. Camargo has served as Chair of the Forbes Business Council Financial Services Group, Emeritus Board Chair of Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, President of the Northeastern Illinois University Foundation Board, and Treasurer of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Board. These roles give her unique insight into how boards and executive teams can align financial education with talent and workforce strategies to build cultures of financial confidence and long-term security.

"Olga brings an invaluable perspective to Northeastern Illinois University as President of our Foundation Board," said Liesl Downey, executive director of the Northeastern Illinois University Foundation. "She understands that a college education and financial knowledge must go hand in hand for students to truly thrive. Through Prosperity Rise Mindset, she extends that commitment by helping students and their families gain the financial knowledge and confidence they need to make the most of their educational opportunities and build strong financial futures."

About Prosperity Rise Mindset

Prosperity Rise Mindset is a financial leadership education firm dedicated to helping organizations, leaders, and communities build financially confident, resilient futures. Through bilingual education, advisory services, and speaking engagements, the firm partners with corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and public entities to integrate financial empowerment and retirement plan literacy into their workforce and community strategies. To learn more, visit https://prosperityrisemindset.com/.

Media Contact:

Marie Lazzara

JJR Marketing

630-400-3361

[email protected]

SOURCE Prosperity Rise Mindset
Under Peak Rock's ownership, SBS more than quadrupled its annual recurring revenue, launched AI-powered automation tools, and more than doubled its team

AUSTIN, Texas, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- An affiliate of Peak Rock Capital ("Peak Rock"), a leading private investment firm focused on the middle-market, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Spatial Business Systems ("SBS" or the "Company") to Enverus, a leading energy data analytics platform backed by Blackstone.

SBS is a leading intelligent design automation platform for electric and gas utilities and other critical infrastructure assets. SBS offers a comprehensive end-to-end suite of AI-driven software solutions across the engineering design life cycle tailored to the power and infrastructure sectors, with use cases spanning distribution, substation and protection & controls applications. The Company has a global base of blue-chip customers across investor-owned utilities, municipalities and co-ops, engineering and construction firms, and broadband infrastructure operators, including more than 90% of the 25 largest investor-owned utilities in North America.

Since acquiring SBS in 2022 from its founders, Peak Rock accelerated the Company's growth trajectory, increasing annual recurring revenue from software by over four times and more than doubling headcount. This growth was enabled by targeted investments in sales and marketing, geographic and end market expansion, and acquisitions. The Company was also empowered to invest heavily in new product development, including creating AI-powered design and reporting tools that streamline utility engineering workflows.

Jordan Campbell, Senior Managing Director of Peak Rock, said, "We are thrilled with the growth SBS has achieved under Peak Rock's ownership. Together with management, we executed on a shared vision to drive transformational growth, converting the business to a highly recurring subscription revenue model and investing heavily in sales and marketing and AI tools."

Dave Alter, Managing Director of Peak Rock, said, "It has been an incredible experience collaborating with, and working alongside, the SBS team. We are proud of the success SBS has achieved under our ownership and are confident that the Company is well-positioned for continued innovation in its next chapter of growth."

Al Eliasen, President and Chief Executive Officer of SBS, added, "SBS is a special business, and we are thankful for Peak Rock's partnership in building the business into a leading provider of intelligent design software for the electric & gas power markets. We also deeply appreciate the support of our employees, partners, and customers, and we look forward to continuing to deliver innovative solutions that advance the industry for years to come."

Anthony DiSimone, Chief Executive Officer of Peak Rock, said, "This transaction is another great example of Peak Rock's track record of successfully partnering with founder and family-owned software businesses to achieve transformational growth, including developing AI capabilities that unlock tremendous value for customers. We look forward to partnering with similar businesses that can benefit from our value creation capabilities and proven track record."

Lazard and Lincoln International acted as financial advisors and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as the legal advisor to the Company on the transaction.

ABOUT SBS

SBS is a leading intelligent design automation platform for utilities and other critical network infrastructure assets. SBS's suite of vertical-focused software solutions automate and streamline engineering & design workflows, integrate spatial and design data and improve design effectiveness. The Company serves a blue-chip customer base including some of the world's leading utilities and engineering firms. Founded in 2002, SBS is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with additional offices across the US and an office in Melbourne, Australia. For more information on SBS, please visit www.spatialbiz.com.

ABOUT PEAK ROCK CAPITAL

Peak Rock Capital is a leading middle-market private investment firm that makes equity and debt investments in companies in North America and Europe. Peak Rock's equity investment platform focuses on opportunities where it can support senior management to drive rapid growth and performance improvement, with expertise in corporate carve-outs and partnering with families and founders seeking first-time institutional capital. Peak Rock's credit platform invests across capital structures, with a broad mandate to provide flexible, tailored capital solutions to middle-market and growth-oriented businesses. Peak Rock's real estate platform makes equity and debt investments in small to mid-sized real estate assets in attractive, growing geographies. For further information about Peak Rock Capital, please visit www.peakrockcapital.com.

ABOUT ENVERUS

Enverus is the energy industry's most trusted source for decision intelligence and operational efficiencies. With petabytes of proprietary data, deep domain expertise and AI-native technology, Enverus empowers customers to invest smarter, operate more efficiently, and scale faster  across upstream, midstream, minerals, power and renewables  all while navigating the most complex energy market in history. Learn more at www.enverus.com.

ABOUT BLACKSTONE

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone's $1.2 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram

Media Contact:

Daniel Yunger

Kekst CNC

[email protected]

SOURCE Peak Rock Capital
ATLANTA, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pye-Barker Fire & Safety  the largest fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety and security services provider in the United States  has acquired Access Security Controls International, Inc. dba ASCI Security. This acquisition amplifies Pye-Barker's presence in Southern California and the Southwest, integrating fire alarm and security services into Pye-Barker fire protection capabilities in the region.

Photo (L to R): Jeremy Bates, Pye-Barker SVP of Business Development; Chuck White, ASCI Security Co-Owner; Gregg Miller, ASCI Security Co-Owner; Jason Uhrich, Pye-Barker Regional VP; Dawnielle Sherwood, Pye-Barker Regional Director

ASCI Security provides fire detection and security alarm solutions in Southern, Central and Northern California, Nevada and Arizona. The company offers access control, fire and security alarms, video surveillance and BDA communication systems. ASCI's client work includes industrial, multifamily, educational and other commercial facilities, including marina security solutions made to withstand harsh ocean conditions. With a focus on integrated systems and end-to-end management, ASCI's comprehensive suite of services encompasses ongoing monitoring, testing and maintenance to better protect its customers.

"Integrated life safety services provide smarter and more secure environments for our customers," said Chuck White, co-owner of ASCI Security. "That's why Pye-Barker's national resources will make such a difference for our customers, increasing our reach and depth of service to provide the highest quality security and fire protection solutions."

"We feel confident that this next step for ASCI will benefit our customers and our team members," added ASCI co-owner Gregg Miller. "Our local teams will be in place to continue the long-standing relationships we've built in California and the Southwest."

"The team at ASCI Security are setting the standard for secure and efficient life safety solutions," said Bart Proctor, CEO of Pye-Barker. "I'm grateful of the trust they have placed in us to protect their legacy. Together, we will work to offer the best possible service to our neighbors in California and beyond."

ASCI's skilled team will continue to serve customers in California, Nevada and Arizona. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP represented Pye-Barker in the transaction.

About Pye-Barker Fire & Safety

As the U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety provides complete fire protection and security systems nationwide. With over 250 locations and 8,000 team members, Pye-Barker is Great Place to Work Certified and is also listed on the Inc. 5000 and ranks No. 4 on the SDM 100.

Visit pyebarkerfs.com/acquisitions to learn why we're the industry's acquirer of choice.

Contact:

Jeremy Bates

SVP, Business Development  M&A

[email protected]

Media Contact:

James Taylor

[email protected]

SOURCE Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
SARASOTA, Fla., March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Quorum Innovations announced today that new peer-reviewed research demonstrating the rapid capture of nanoplastics by its proprietary technology, Qi601, has been accepted for presentation at the 29th Annual TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo, taking place March 1012, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The presentation, titled "Binding of Nanoplastics by a Novel Biofilm Postbiotic Qi601," will be delivered on March 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. EST. The research was conducted by Phineas Monsul and Eva Berkes, MD, of Quorum Innovations and was accepted following peer review.

The study shows that Qi601, a non-living postbiotic derived from a beneficial bacterial biofilm, rapidly binds nanoplasticsultra-small plastic particles increasingly found in food, water, and human tissues. Imaging revealed that nanoplastics tightly attach to Qi601's natural biofilm structure, becoming trapped rather than remaining free-floating.

In laboratory tests designed to simulate digestive conditions, Qi601 captured up to 98% of nanoplastics, suggesting it may reduce the likelihood of these particles being absorbed into the body.

Qi601 is derived from Lactobacillus fermentum, a probiotic strain recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA GRAS Notice No. GRN 000988). Because Qi601 is not alive, it avoids risks associated with introducing live microbes while retaining natural binding properties.

This work builds on Quorum Innovations' prior DARPA-supported research, developing biological barrier technologies to prevent harmful particles from crossing critical biological boundaries. The company is now applying these defense-grade principles to address everyday civilian exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics.

In connection with this research, Quorum Innovations has also published From Miracles to Menace: How Plastics Rewrote Human History, a book examining the rise of plastics and their emerging impact on human health. The company has shared the book with policymakers involved in advancing the Microplastics Safety Act.

Learn more at quoruminnovations.com

Media Contact:

Pamela McCoy

+1 (612) 749-6924

[email protected]

SOURCE Quorum Innovations
"We are proud to offer Maryland educators a state-specific edition of our proven-effective enVision+ math programs." Post this

A comprehensive, turnkey solution for educators, the enVision+ math series offers a robust selection of assessment options to measure students' math knowledge and skills, as well as practice and resources to help prepare students for the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) mathematics assessments. The programs also meet the state's newest accessibility standards.

"Savvas is fully committed to delivering the most innovative learning solutions to empower teachers and inspire students," said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. "We are proud to offer Maryland educators a state-specific edition of our proven-effective enVision+ math programs, giving them the confidence of using high-quality instructional materials to help every student achieve."

Customized for Maryland classrooms, the K-12 math series includes enVision+ Mathematics for grades K-8 and enVision+ Integrated for Algebra 1 and 2. The programs, which are built on proven, evidence-based pedagogy, emphasize problem-based learning and active exploration in practical, real-world contexts so that students see mathematics as a part of their everyday world. enVision+ programs offer:

Flexible instructional design that balances conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and real-world application to help students become lifelong problem-solvers. Intentional instructional variety and differentiated tasks provide students with multiple ways to learn while interactive features like Math Walk videos help students connect math to their daily lives.

that balances conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and real-world application to help students become lifelong problem-solvers. Intentional instructional variety and differentiated tasks provide students with multiple ways to learn while interactive features like Math Walk videos help students connect math to their daily lives. Savvas Studio, a suite of new tools that helps save teachers time while delivering greater personalized learning to students. These curriculum-smart, teacher productivity tools seamlessly integrate with the award-winning Savvas Realize platform to simplify lesson planning, generate customized practice, and support differentiated learning.

that helps save teachers time while delivering greater personalized learning to students. These curriculum-smart, teacher productivity tools seamlessly integrate with the award-winning platform to simplify lesson planning, generate customized practice, and support differentiated learning. Easy-to-use instructional supports that enable teachers to effectively plan, instruct, and assess student learning. Data-informed resources, adaptive practice, a robust differentiation library, and a powerful intervention system help educators meet the needs of all students.

that enable teachers to effectively plan, instruct, and assess student learning. Data-informed resources, adaptive practice, a robust differentiation library, and a powerful intervention system help educators meet the needs of all students. Multilingual learner supports that provide equitable Spanish resources, translation tools, and linguistic accommodations.

ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY

At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design engaging, next-generation learning solutions that give all students the best opportunity to succeed. Our award-winning, high-quality instructional materials span every grade level and discipline, from evidence-based, standards-aligned core curricula and supplemental and intervention programs to state-of-the-art assessment tools and the industry's most innovative portfolio of college and career readiness solutions  all designed to meet the needs of every learner. Savvas products are used by millions of students and educators in more than 90 percent of the 13,000+ public school districts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as globally in more than 125 countries. To learn more, visit Savvas Learning Company .

SOURCE Savvas Learning Company
HARARE, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean Cabinet on Tuesday approved a ban on raw minerals and lithium concentrates exports, following an announcement by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in late February.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing, Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the indefinite ban was imposed in the national interest to promote local value addition of minerals.

He said the government previously announced a ban on lithium concentrate exports for January 2027, but reversed the decision after observing malpractices in the lithium mining industry.

"After the notice on the intended ban, the industry responded otherwise by increasing its level of production and also increasing export volumes. There was also an increased appetite for lithium export permits, and the rationale behind it was to export as much product as possible before the notice period," he said.

"So we had to come in with this intervention of banning the export of lithium concentrates and also any raw minerals or minerals that are not value-added with effect from Feb. 26, 2026," the minister said, adding that the ban will remain until government conditions or expectations are met.

Zimbabwe has seen significant investment in its lithium sector in recent years due to growing global demand for the mineral, which is critical to the global energy transition.

Editor: WSH
Complimentary Two-Category Veranda Suite Upgrades and Shipboard Credit Available on More than 500 Ocean and Expedition Sailings Booked Through May 5, 2026

SEATTLE, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Seabourn, the leader in luxury and expedition travel, invites travelers to embrace a world of curated luxury with its new "Yours to Explore Event." Available now through May 5, 2026, the promotion will offer a complimentary two-category Veranda Suite upgrade and shipboard credit for guests booking select 2026 and beyond ocean and expedition voyages.

Benefits for the "Yours to Explore Event" include:

Complimentary two-category Veranda Suite upgrade

Shipboard credit by voyage duration: $300 USD per suite on voyages 13 days or fewer $1,000 USD per suite on voyages 14 days or longer



"With our 'Yours to Explore Event,' we're offering guests added flexibility to tailor their Seabourn experience in meaningful ways," said Mark Tamis, President of Seabourn. "Whether exploring the fall foliage of Canada & New England, discovering the cultural richness and culinary delights of Japan and Asia, or venturing to the Arctic or Antarctica with our expert expedition team, this event gives guests more ways to personalize their journey while enjoying the intuitive service and intimate atmosphere at sea that define Seabourn."

Seabourn's 'Yours to Explore Event' applies to more than 500 ocean and expedition itineraries sailing in 2026 and beyond. Guests can sail aboard Seabourn's luxury, all-suite ocean and expedition ships, carrying between 264 and 600 guests. From the cultural treasures found off the beaten path in Japan and Canada & New England, to the remote wonders of Antarctica and the Arctic, each voyage delivers immersive discovery paired with personalized service and the seamless ease of unpacking just once.

Sample sailings available with "Yours to Explore Event" include:

A complete list of applicable sailings for the "Yours to Explore Event" can be found Seabourn Luxury Cruises.

For more details about Seabourn, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, contact a professional travel advisor, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

About Seabourn:

Seabourn represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury ocean and expedition travel and operates a suite of six modern ships. The all-inclusive, boutique ships offer all-suite accommodations with oceanfront views; award-winning dining; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available at all times; renowned service provided by an industry-leading crew; a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home; a pedigree in expedition travel through the Ventures by Seabourn program and two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships, including Seabourn Venture that launched in 2022 and Seabourn Pursuit in 2023. Seabourn takes travelers to every continent on the globe, visiting more than 400 ports including marquee cities and lesser-known ports and hideaways. Guests of Seabourn experience extraordinary offerings and programs, including partnerships with leading entertainers, dining, personal health and wellbeing, and engaging speakers.

Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL andNYSE: CUK).

Find Seabourn on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

IMAGES HERE

SOURCE Seabourn
Nation's largest donut brand names new COO, CDO and CFO as it enters 90th year, approaches 400th shop opening

HOUSTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shipley Donuts, the nation's largest brand of fresh, handmade donuts and kolaches, has expanded its senior leadership team with the addition of new Chief Operating Officer Matt Kafka, Chief Development Officer Todd Brin and Chief Financial Officer John Feray.

Matt Kafka brings nearly 30 years of restaurant operations experience to Shipley. He most recently served as senior vice president and interim COO at Smoothie King, where he oversaw franchise and corporate operations across approximately 1,250 stores. He previously held operations roles at Jamba Juice. As chief operating officer at Shipley, Kafka will champion operational excellence and strengthen franchisee leadership.

Todd Brin, who joined Shipley in 2025 as vice president of design and construction, brings more than 30 years of experience in unit development, operations and strategic leadership. He spent 22 years at Wingstop, where he helped build the systems that scaled the brand from 85 to 2,500 units worldwide. As CDO, Brin will oversee all aspects of franchise sales, development, construction, design and real estate with a focus on streamlining processes, reducing costs and accelerating unit growth across the Shipley system.

Also tasked with supporting the company's growth, as CFO, John Feray, a lifelong Shipley fan, will focus on improving franchise unit economics and strengthening margins. With more than 30 years of experience in finance, accounting, operations and strategic leadership, he most recently served as CFO at GSM Outdoors and has held financial leadership roles at Dollar General Corporation, RadioShack and many other companies. Feray traces his love of the brand back to childhood visits to Shipley with his grandparents in Bellaire, Texas.

"Each of these leaders brings a depth of experience that positions Shipley for our next stage of growth," said Flynn Dekker, CEO of Shipley Donuts. "From John's experience and lifelong connection to the brand to the franchise leadership and multi-unit growth expertise that Matt and Todd bring, this expanded team will help us build on 90 years of tradition while accelerating the next chapter of this iconic brand."

The three appointments follow the addition of Chief Marketing Officer Bill Leibengood, who joined Shipley in late 2025. The expanded leadership team joins the brand as it celebrates its 90th anniversary this year and rapidly approaches the opening of its 400th location.

Shipley recently announced multi-unit deals to continue expanding nationwide, including its first shop in Las Vegas, the brand's westernmost location.

Franchise opportunities are available throughout the South, Southeast and Midwest for operators seeking to join America's fastest-growing donut and kolache brand. Additional information is available at ownashipleydonuts.com.

ABOUT SHIPLEY DONUTS

Founded in 1936, Houston-based Shipley Donuts is the nation's largest brand of handmade fresh daily donuts and kolaches, with more than 390 franchised and company-owned restaurants across 13 states, serving up its famous donuts, coffee and kolaches to generations of guests. Shipley has ranked No. 1 in its category for five consecutive years on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 and currently stands at No. 134 overall. It is No. 147 on the Technomic 2025 Top 500. For franchising information, visit ownashipleydonuts.com. Follow Shipley on Instagram and Facebook @ShipleyDonuts and sign up for Shipley Rewards at shipleydonuts.com/rewards to unlock free donuts, discounted coffee, exclusive merchandise and more.

Media Contact:

Ashley Lennington, SPM Communications

[email protected]

214-379-7000

SOURCE Shipley Do-Nuts
DENVER, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Energy Company ("SM Energy") (NYSE: SM) today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer to purchase (the "Tender Offer") up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $750,000,000 (as it may be modified by SM Energy, the "Maximum Tender Amount"), of the outstanding 8.375% Senior Notes due 2028 (CUSIP Numbers Rule 144A: 17888HAA1 / Reg. S: U1638HAA5) (the "Notes"), originally issued by Civitas Resources, Inc. ("Civitas"), and assumed by SM Energy in connection with the closing of its merger with Civitas, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated March 4, 2026 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"). The following table sets forth certain terms of the Tender Offer:

Title of Notes CUSIP Numbers / ISIN Aggregate

Principal Amount

Outstanding(1) Maximum

Tender

Amount Tender Offer

Consideration(2)(3) Early Tender

Premium(2)(4) Total

Consideration(2)(5) 8.375% Senior Notes due 2028 17888HAA1 / US17888HAA14

U1638HAA5 / USU1638HAA50 $1,350,000,000 $750,000,000 $981.75 $50 $1,031.75





























(1) As of the date of this press release. (2) Holders will also receive accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment with respect to the Notes accepted for purchase to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date (as defined below) or the Final Settlement Date (as defined below), as applicable. (3) For each $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered in the Tender Offer after the Early Tender Date (as defined below) but at or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) and accepted for purchase. (4) For each $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Tender Offer at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase. (5) For each $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Tender Offer at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase. Includes the Early Tender Premium.

The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 1, 2026, unless extended (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Date"). Holders who validly tender their Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 17, 2026, unless such date is extended or earlier terminated (the "Early Tender Date"), will be eligible to receive the "Total Consideration" set forth in the table above for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes. The Total Consideration includes the "Early Tender Premium" set forth in the table above. Holders who validly tender their Notes after the Early Tender Date, but at or prior to the Expiration Date, and do not validly withdraw such Notes, will only be eligible to receive the "Tender Offer Consideration" as set forth in the table above, which does not include the Early Tender Premium. In addition to the Total Consideration or the Tender Offer Consideration, as applicable, holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw Notes and whose Notes are accepted for purchase will receive accrued and unpaid interest, up to, but not including, the applicable settlement date. The settlement date with respect to all Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and not validly withdrawn and accepted for purchase is expected to be the second business day after the Early Tender Date, or as promptly as practicable thereafter (such date, as the same may be extended, the "Early Settlement Date"). The Early Settlement Date is currently expected to be on March 19, 2026. If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed as of the Early Settlement Date, the settlement date with respect to all Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date, but at or prior to the Expiration Date, and not validly withdrawn, is expected to be on the second business day after the Expiration Date, or promptly thereafter (such date, as the same may be extended, the "Final Settlement Date"). The Final Settlement Date is currently expected to be April 3, 2026.

Notes validly tendered may not be withdrawn after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 17, 2026 (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Withdrawal Date"), except as may be required by law.

Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date will be accepted for purchase with priority over the Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date, but at or prior to the Expiration Date.

Acceptance for tenders of the Notes may be subject to proration if the aggregate principal amount of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn is greater than the Maximum Tender Amount. Furthermore, if the Tender Offer to purchase Notes is fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Date, holders who validly tender Notes after the Early Tender Date will not have any of their Notes accepted for purchase and there will be no Final Settlement Date.

SM Energy reserves the right, but is under no obligation, to increase the Maximum Tender Amount at any time, subject to compliance with applicable law. If SM Energy increases the Maximum Tender Amount, it does not expect to extend the Withdrawal Date, subject to applicable law.

The completion of the Tender Offer is subject to a number of conditions that are set forth in the Offer to Purchase, including, among other things, the successful completion by SM Energy of a new senior debt offering. The Tender Offer is not conditioned on any minimum amount of Notes being tendered.

The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer, including SM Energy's obligation to accept the Notes tendered and pay the purchase price therefor, are set forth in the Offer to Purchase. SM Energy may, at its own discretion, amend, extend or, subject to certain conditions, terminate the Tender Offer.

SM Energy has retained BofA Securities, Inc. as dealer manager and solicitation agent. Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to BofA Securities, Inc. at (980) 683-1735 or by e-mail at [email protected]. For questions concerning delivery by means of the Automated Tender Offer Program and to obtain copies of the Offer to Purchase, please contact the Information Agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (877) 732-3617 (toll-free) and (212) 257-2543 or by e-mail at [email protected].

This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase or redeem or the solicitation of an offer to sell the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

DISCLOSURES

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that we expect, believe, or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words "action," "anticipate," "deliver," "demonstrate," "establish," "estimate," "expects," "goal," "generate," "guidance," "integrate," "maintain," "objectives," "optimize," "project," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, among other things, the completion of the Tender Offer. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by SM Energy in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors that SM Energy believes are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause SM Energy's actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Future results may be impacted by the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of SM Energy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in SM Energy's other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak as of the date of this release. Although SM Energy may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so, except as required by securities laws.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs in the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. SM Energy routinely posts important information about the Company on its website. For more information about SM Energy, please visit its website at www.sm-energy.com.

INVESTOR CONTACTS

Patrick Lytle, [email protected], 303-864-2502

Meghan Dack, [email protected], 303-837-2426

SOURCE SM Energy Company
CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Two renowned association industry firms are joining forces to help their clients tackle what's ahead. Market-leading professional services firm Smithbucklin has acquired McKinley Advisors, an award-winning association consultancy. The combination, further supported by Smithbucklin's event-focused agency 360 Live Media, creates a unique solution in the marketplace to accelerate association growth, innovation and mission impact.

The acquisition of McKinley Advisors, a firm with deep roots and an exceptional track record in the association industry, brings Smithbucklin expertise in research, strategy, governance and business transformation to further expand its portfolio.

"Contemporary associations increasingly need high-capability partners to help them successfully navigate new challenges and opportunities," said Matt Sanderson, President and CEO of Smithbucklin. "McKinley is a highly respected, trusted advisor to the world's leading associations and a natural extension of our current capabilities. We are excited to bring their talent and expertise into the fold and tap our collective knowledge for insights that can strengthen associations."

The combined organization of nearly 650 employees connects McKinley's broad portfolio of research-based, strategic advisory services with Smithbucklin's 75-year track record of association management, education and event strategy, design and execution. McKinley Advisors will continue serving clients with its current leadership team, staff and proven methodologies while leveraging new opportunities to collaborate across the Smithbucklin enterprise.

"From our initial conversations, we saw incredibly strong alignment on the most important things  mission, vision and values," said Jay Younger, President of McKinley Advisors. "Both firms share a deep, fundamental commitment to helping associations advance mission-driven work for the benefit of humanity. Given that starting point, I'm confident that we will unlock a host of impactful new solutions for our clients that wouldn't have been possible independently."

McKinley Advisors will retain its name and brand and will be led by President Jay Younger and its senior leadership team.

About Smithbucklin

Smithbucklin is a professional services company that helps associations modernize, strengthen and advance to deliver better results for their members and missions. For more than 75 years, Smithbucklin has provided association management and capabilities in meetings and events, sponsorship and exhibit sales, education, marketing and technology. With nearly 650 employees in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Smithbucklin companies include 360 Live Media, The France Foundation, SDI Meetings and Incentives and now McKinley Advisors. Learn more about Smithbucklin at www.smithbucklin.com.

About McKinley Advisors

McKinley Advisors is an award-winning consulting firm dedicated to accelerating associations' positive impact on the world. McKinley works in partnership with association executives and volunteer leaders to identify and address their most significant challenges and opportunities. McKinley provides services through four practice areas: Strategy and Innovation, Organizational Excellence, Business Transformation and Research and Insights. Learn more about McKinley Advisors at www.mckinley-advisors.com.

SOURCE Smithbucklin
WILMINGTON, Del., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- First State Educate welcomes the Delaware Department of Education's 20252028 Strategic Plan. Delaware has not had a strategic roadmap of this clarity and coherence in some time, and this plan provides an important anchor for the state's education direction. The plan sets the right priorities for improving student outcomes in Delaware. At its core, this work is about improving results for students and supporting the educators and school leaders doing the work in classrooms every day.

The focus on early literacy, improved student achievement, data-informed decision-making, college and career readiness, funding reform, and responsible AI integration reflects the core levers that move student outcomes. The plan is comprehensive and grounded in measurable targets. This kind of clarity it critical to advancing big goals.

What this plan also underscores, whether explicitly stated or not, is the central role of local school boards. With students and outcomes as the through-line, state strategy becomes student impact only when local boards adopt aligned policies, direct budgets toward stated priorities, support data-driven decision-making, monitor implementation, and hold systems accountable in public view. Strong governance is not an add-on to reform; it is the infrastructure that makes reform durable and supports the educators and school leaders responsible for day-to-day implementation.

This new direction from the Secretary will allow First State Educate to build on the work we have begun with leading districts across the state, strengthening governance around early literacy, building district dashboards, supporting board training, and advancing data-driven oversight.

"State strategy becomes real for students when local leadership brings it to life," said Julia Keleher, Executive Director of First State Educate. "School boards and superintendents are essential partners in that effort, and Delaware benefits from many dedicated leaders ready to translate these priorities into action."

It gives greater coherence and alignment to efforts already underway and sharpens the connection between state priorities and local execution. As this work continues, keeping students and outcomes at the center helps ensure governance supports the educators and leaders responsible for delivering results in classrooms.

We will continue refining our approach so that local boards are equipped to align budgets, policies, and monitoring systems directly to these goals. We will also reach out to board members across the state to understand what they need to be best positioned to help advance these priorities for Delaware. We will develop new Knowledge Hub courses focused on these areas to ensure board members have practical tools tied to the state's direction. When governance is clear and disciplined, implementation moves faster and results follow.

This can be a defining moment for Delaware. The ingredients are here: clear goals, measurable outcomes, and growing alignment between state priorities and local leadership. Moving from 45th to the top tier nationally will not happen by chance. It will happen through disciplined execution, shared accountability, and sustained public engagement in service of stronger results for Delaware students.

We encourage Delawareans to read the Strategic Plan and become informed about what it aims to accomplish. As school board candidates prepare for elections in May 2026, voters should ask a simple question: How will you support implementation of this plan in your district? Strong outcomes require strong governance.

At the end of the day, this work is about supporting educators and school leaders, so students succeed. The future of Delaware's students depends on it.

Contact: Dr. Julia Keleher

Executive Director, First State Educate

202-322-7373

[email protected]

SOURCE First State Educate
The three-day pop-up experience will feature nearly 700 shoppable products from top brands, insightful panel programming and attendee-only exclusives

DETROIT, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- StockX , the global marketplace for current culture products, today announced plans to celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a multi-day immersive experience in its hometown of Detroit. Just steps from its global headquarters, StockX will transform 1001 Woodward Ave. in downtown Detroit into a fully shoppable, community-centered destination, bringing together customers and cultural voices to honor a decade of impact and usher in the brand's next chapter. The event is open to the public and runs March 13-15, 2026.

StockX Celebrates 10 Years With Immersive Detroit Pop-Up and Anniversary Auction

To further commemorate the occasion, StockX today released a special-edition data report  10 Years of StockX  chronicling the products and trends that have defined the resale market since 2016. The insights will come to life through immersive displays in the space, inviting visitors to reminisce and see some of the biggest sneaker, streetwear and collectibles releases of the last decade up close.

"This anniversary is a celebration of the community that helped build StockX and a reflection of our commitment to continued growth and innovation," said StockX CEO Greg Schwartz. "Being able to kick off this moment in our hometown on 313 Day  a proud tribute to Detroit's iconic area code and the culture, creativity and strength that define the city  makes it especially meaningful."

Open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the pop-up experience will feature:

A curated selection of nearly 700 shoppable products spanning sneakers, apparel, accessories and collectibles. Visitors can expect to find high-demand products from brands like Jordan, adidas, Supreme, New Balance, Denim Tears and Pokemon. As an extra gift to the community, inventory will be priced as much as 20% below its current market value, as determined by StockX's real-time sales data. Additionally, the first 100 guests to arrive each day  Friday, Saturday and Sunday  will receive a special promotional code for $25 off a $125 purchase, redeemable at the pop-up or a future purchase on StockX.

Visitors can expect to find high-demand products from brands like Jordan, adidas, Supreme, New Balance, Denim Tears and Pokemon. As an extra gift to the community, inventory will be priced as much as 20% below its current market value, as determined by StockX's real-time sales data. Additionally, the first 100 guests to arrive each day  Friday, Saturday and Sunday  will receive a special promotional code for $25 off a $125 purchase, redeemable at the pop-up or a future purchase on StockX. Daily fireside chats and panel discussions (11 a.m.12 p.m.), led by StockX's senior director of customer community and engagement, Brendan Dunne. Come hear directly from industry heavyweights and special guests including: D'Wayne Edwards, founder of Pensole Lewis College; Gentry Humphrey, former VP of Jordan Footwear, current CEO of Code by Gentry and GH Consulting; Josh Luber, StockX co-founder and founder of ghostwrite; Jeff Malabanan, co-owner of Rif LA; Miki Guerra, founder of The MagPark; Steve Natto, sneaker culture analyst; Jon Wexler, former adidas and Yeezy executive; and Greg Schwartz, StockX co-founder and CEO.

Come hear directly from industry heavyweights and special guests including: D'Wayne Edwards, founder of Pensole Lewis College; Gentry Humphrey, former VP of Jordan Footwear, current CEO of Code by Gentry and GH Consulting; Josh Luber, StockX co-founder and founder of ghostwrite; Jeff Malabanan, co-owner of Rif LA; Miki Guerra, founder of The MagPark; Steve Natto, sneaker culture analyst; Jon Wexler, former adidas and Yeezy executive; and Greg Schwartz, StockX co-founder and CEO. A special anniversary Auction showcasing 10 exclusive products, including the Jordan 4 Retro Eminem Carhartt and autographed items from athletes and musicians. The Auction opens on March 13 at 12 p.m. ET and bidding closes on March 15 at 8 p.m. ET. It is open to anyone in the U.S., giving bidders nationwide the opportunity to participate and extend the anniversary celebration beyond Detroit. The full list of products can be viewed here . StockX introduced Auctions in October 2025 , marking a major evolution for the marketplace and the beginning of a new chapter for StockX  additional new experiences and innovations are set to roll out in the months ahead.

The Auction opens on March 13 at 12 p.m. ET and bidding closes on March 15 at 8 p.m. ET. It is open to anyone in the U.S., giving bidders nationwide the opportunity to participate and extend the anniversary celebration beyond Detroit. The full list of products can be viewed . StockX introduced Auctions in , marking a major evolution for the marketplace and the beginning of a new chapter for StockX  additional new experiences and innovations are set to roll out in the months ahead. Limited-run StockX anniversary merchandise, available exclusively at the pop-up while supplies last. The special-edition collection celebrates 10 years of StockX, with styles produced in highly limited quantities and available only to in-person attendees.

The special-edition collection celebrates 10 years of StockX, with styles produced in highly limited quantities and available only to in-person attendees. Early access to a limited StockX-inspired colorway of the Rigorer AR3. The sneaker will be available for purchase on Rigorer's website beginning March 14, with a limited number of pairs available for purchase at the pop-up starting on March 13.

Beyond the physical activation, StockX invites its global community to hit rewind and explore a decade of milestones with its special-edition industry report, 10 Years of StockX . Drawing from tens of millions of sales across multiple product categories, the report highlights:

Best-selling products of all time

Best-selling sneaker releases by year

Top release-day performances

Most popular collaborative products

Most expensive sales

Products with the greatest price appreciation

Additional details are available at https://stockx.com/lp/stockx-10-year-detroit/ .

About StockX

StockX is proud to be a Detroit-based technology leader focused on the large and growing online market for sneakers, apparel, accessories, electronics, collectibles, trading cards, and more. StockX's powerful platform connects buyers and sellers of high-demand consumer goods from around the world using dynamic pricing mechanics. This approach affords access and market visibility powered by real-time data that empowers buyers and sellers to determine and transact based on market value. The StockX platform features hundreds of brands across verticals including Jordan Brand, adidas, Nike, Supreme, BAPE, Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Gucci; collectibles from brands including LEGO, KAWS, Bearbrick, and Pop Mart; and electronics from industry-leading manufacturers Sony, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple. Launched in 2016, StockX employs 1,000 people across offices and verification centers around the world. Learn more at www.stockx.com .

SOURCE StockX
SPRING, Texas, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TETRA Technologies, Inc. ("TETRA" or the "Company") (NYSE:TTI) announced that Brady Murphy, Chief Executive Officer; Elijio Serrano, Chief Financial Officer; and Kurt Hallead, VP of Investor Relations and Treasurer, will be hosting one-on-one meetings with institutional investors on March 17, 2026 during the Piper Sandler 26th Annual Energy Conference in Las Vegas. Investors interested in scheduling one-on-ones meetings at the conference should contact their Piper Sandler sales representative.

Company Overview

TETRA Technologies, Inc. is an energy services and solutions company focused on developing environmentally conscious services and solutions that help make people's lives better. With operations on six continents, the Company's portfolio consists of Energy Services, Industrial Chemicals, and Critical Minerals. In addition to providing products and services to the oil and gas industry and calcium chloride for diverse applications, TETRA is expanding into the low-carbon energy market with chemistry expertise, key mineral acreage, and global infrastructure, helping to meet the demand for sustainable energy in the twenty-first century. Visit the Company's website at www.onetetra.com for more information or connect with us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE TETRA Technologies, Inc.
HOUSTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 3, 2026, The Buzbee Law Firm, led by attorneys Tony Buzbee and Crystal Del Toro, filed a third lawsuit against the band Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte. The case is filed on behalf of a professional musician who alleges he was subjected to repeated workplace sexual harassment and multiple sexual assaults.

The allegations in this third lawsuit again center around the conduct of Ramon Ayala, Jr., who is sued along with Ramon Ayala, Sr., and several music production and publishing companies. According to the lawsuit, the misconduct included repeated unwanted physical contact, sexually inappropriate behavior, degrading acts, and abusive conduct directed toward band members and others working with the touring group.

The lawsuit alleges that the misconduct occurred on numerous occasions and included aggressive and humiliating acts, unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature, exposure of himself to others, and other degrading conduct intended to intimidate and demean individuals working around the band. The suit further alleges that this conduct often occurred while Ayala Jr. was under the influence of drugs and behaving in an erratic, aggressive, and threatening manner.

According to the lawsuit, some of these incidents were captured on video. The lawsuit further alleges that the band and related record and publishing companies enabled and concealed this conduct in order to protect the band's reputation and commercial interests.

The case has been filed in Hidalgo County State Court and seeks a trial by jury.

Inquiries:

Attorney Tony Buzbee: [email protected] ; 713-223-5393 (English).

Attorney Crystal Del Toro: [email protected] ; 713-223-5393 (Spanish).

SOURCE THE BUZBEE LAW FIRM
In the news release, The Surrogacy Foundation Celebrates First Baby Born Through Its $100,000 Grant Program, issued March 4, 2026 by The Surrogacy Foundation over PR Newswire, we are advised by a representative of the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

The Surrogacy Foundation Celebrates First Baby Born Through Its $100,000 Grant Program

Baby girl McGill marks a historic milestone for Atlanta nonprofit expanding access to surrogacy

ATLANTA, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Surrogacy Foundation, an Atlanta nonprofit expanding access to surrogacy, announced today the birth of the first baby born through its grant program.

Baby girl McGill was born on February 24, 2026, to Shannon and Patrick McGill of Canton, Georgia, the intended parents, marking a defining milestone for the organization and a moment the family once feared might not be possible.

Shannon and Patrick McGill of Canton, Georgia, hold their newborn daughter alongside gestational carrier Charlotte Ramberg of Cumming, Georgia, on February 24, 2026. Baby girl McGill is the first child born through The Surrogacy Foundation's grant program. Photo Credit: Scarlet Oak Photography (PRNewsfoto/The Surrogacy Foundation) Intended parents Shannon and Patrick McGill of Canton, Georgia, and gestational carrier Charlotte Ramberg of Cumming, Georgia, gather with their families during a maternity photoshoot ahead of baby girl McGill's arrival. The McGills were awarded The Surrogacy Foundation's $100,000 grant in October 2024. Photo Credit: Scarlet Oak Photography (PRNewsfoto/The Surrogacy Foundation)

In May 2022, Shannon McGill experienced life-threatening complications during the birth of her son. After an emergency cesarean section and severe hemorrhage, doctors performed a hysterectomy to save her life. She later learned that while she could no longer carry a pregnancy, her viable eggs meant surrogacy could still allow them to grow their family.

"After everything we endured, we knew our story wasn't over," said Shannon McGill. "Being told I needed a hysterectomy was devastating, but hearing that surrogacy was still possible gave us hope. The truth is, we could only move forward because of The Surrogacy Foundation's grant. Without their support, it likely would have been years before we held our baby girl. Now that she's here, it's hard to imagine having to wait any longer."

The McGills were awarded The Surrogacy Foundation's second $100,000 grant in October 2024 following a rigorous, multi-stage application and review process. The funding was made possible through proceeds raised at the Foundation's annual Surrogacy Soiree in February 2024.

At the following year's Soiree, Shannon and Patrick met Charlotte Ramberg of Cumming, Georgia, an experienced gestational carrier. Ramberg is also a licensed professional counselor specializing in maternal and reproductive mental health, reflecting her long-standing commitment to supporting families. She was supported throughout her journeys by her husband, Kevin Ramberg.

What followed was a journey marked by medical and psychological screenings, legal coordination, embryo transfer, months of waiting, and ultimately hearing their daughter's first heartbeat.

"For me, surrogacy is an act of trust, hope, and responsibility," said Ramberg. "Every journey is unique, but the goal is the same. It is about helping a family welcome their child into the world. Watching Shannon participate in her daughter's delivery, then seeing her and Patrick hold her for the first time, was unforgettable. Outside of delivering my own children, it is one of the greatest honors of my life."

The birth of baby girl McGill marks the first child born through The Surrogacy Foundation's grant program.

"We talk a lot about access to family building in theory. This is what it looks like in practice," said Zach French, Executive Director of The Surrogacy Foundation. "A family who once heard 'you can't' is now holding their daughter because a community decided to step in."

Gestational surrogacy in the United States can cost well over $150,000, placing it out of reach for many families. Through grants and partnerships, The Surrogacy Foundation works to reduce that barrier while promoting ethical surrogacy practices.

The McGill surrogacy journey was made possible through a network of partners, many of whom provided pro bono or discounted services, including:

Family Makers Surrogacy  agency support

Claiborne, Fox, Bradley & Goldman, with Holland Goldman  legal counsel

Sherriann Hicks Law Firm  legal representation

Thallo Health  mental health support

SeedTrust Escrow  escrow management

International Fertility Insurance  insurance services

Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine with Dr. Ashley Tiegs  fertility services

Scarlet Oak Photography  photography

Additional partners included:

Northside Hospital Forsyth  delivery hospital

OB-GYN of Atlanta  obstetric care

Your Birth Helper  doula support

A maternity photo featuring both families and a photo of baby girl McGill are available for media use. Additional images and video assets are available upon request. More behind-the-scenes moments from the journey are available on Instagram at @TheSurrogacyFoundation. For media inquiries, please contact Mariam Shahab, 469-441-8388, [email protected].

This milestone reflects the growing impact of The Surrogacy Foundation's work. By the end of Surrogacy Awareness Month in March 2026, the organization will announce two additional national grant recipients and surpass $500,000 in lifetime direct financial support to families.

About The Surrogacy Foundation

The Surrogacy Foundation is an Atlanta-based nonprofit dedicated to making surrogacy more accessible through financial grants, education, and advocacy. By partnering with medical, legal, and mental health professionals, the Foundation supports intended parents and gestational carriers throughout their journeys. To date, the organization has raised more than $1 million to help families pursue surrogacy and continues to work toward normalizing ethical surrogacy and expanding access to family building.

For more information, visit thesurrogacyfoundation.org.

Correction: An earlier version of this release contained an incorrect spelling of Mariam Shahab and the website URL has been updated. A photo credit has been added to both images.

SOURCE The Surrogacy Foundation
Leading business aviation podcast partners with Memphis-based charter operator for a live in-flight recording

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The VIP Seat, one of the fastest-growing aviation podcasts, recorded a full episode live at 43,000 feet aboard an AB Jets aircraft. The in-flight recording represents a first-of-its-kind sponsor activation for the podcast and a milestone in business aviation media.

Co-hosts Jessie Naor and Preston Holland with AB Jets new Challenger 3500

Hosts Jessie Naor and Preston Holland produced the episode while cruising at flight level 430, broadcasting from AB Jets' brand-new Bombardier Challenger 3500, a super-midsize jet that entered its owned and operated fleet as part of the operator's recent expansion in addition to its legacy Learjet 60 platform.

"When AB Jets came to us with the idea, we immediately said 'We're In.'," said Preston Holland, co-host of The VIP Seat and President of Prestige Aircraft Finance. "Recording a full episode at 43,000 feet is perfect sponsor activation for an operator welcoming a new fleet expansion."

Jessie Naor, co-host of the show and founder of Private Aviation Safety Alliance (PASA). "For executives, time is money, and the ability to conduct business seamlessly, even when you're flying across the world, is why this industry is expanding."

The activation highlights a growing trend in business aviation marketing, where operators are moving beyond traditional advertising to create experiential content that showcases their aircraft and service firsthand. For AB Jets, the partnership offered a platform to introduce its new Challenger 3500 fleet to a highly targeted audience of aviation professionals, aircraft owners, and charter customers.

"This milestone in our ongoing fleet expansion is worthy of a BIG announcement. So, we took N375AB up and filmed the first-ever podcast recorded at altitude." Said Kelley Taylor, Director of Strategic Communications. "We wrote the story in sky during a three-hour mission spanning 1,290 nautical miles, tracing letters 40 miles high. This activation was especially meaningful because of Jessie and Preston's expertise, they have the unique ability to frame conversation and translate complex topics into conversations the industry can genuinely learn from."

The Challenger 3500 has a range of approximately 3,400 nautical miles, a top speed of Mach 0.83, and a cabin altitude of 4,850 feet at 41,000 feet. AB Jets recently added three new Challenger 3500s to its fleet, marking a significant expansion for the 25-year-old company.

The episode is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and at thevipseat.com.

About The VIP Seat

The VIP Seat is a weekly business aviation podcast and newsletter hosted by Jessie Naor and Preston Holland. The show delivers industry news, deal analysis, and commentary for aviation professionals.

About AB Jets

Founded in 1999 by Andrew Bettis, AB Jets is a boutique private jet charter company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. AB Jets has grown from a single-aircraft operation into one of the largest Learjet 60 operators in the country, now expanding into the super-midsize category with three new Bombardier Challenger 3500 aircraft.

The VIP Seat Media Contact:

Jessica Naor

The VIP Seat Podcast

[email protected]

AB Jets Media Contact:

Kelley Taylor

AB Jets

[email protected]

SOURCE The VIP Seat
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have developed a novel neural network that enables artificial intelligence (AI) to form concepts from raw sensory data like sight and sound, simulating a fundamental aspect of human cognition, according to a study published recently in the journal Nature Computational Science.

A remarkable capability of the human brain is to form more abstract conceptual representations from sensorimotor experiences and flexibly apply them independent of direct sensory inputs.

However, the computational mechanism underlying this ability was previously poorly understood. This meant that large language models were fundamentally limited by their dependence on pre-existing linguistic data, making them incapable of spontaneously generating new concepts from experiential learning.

The researchers from the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University proposed their new neural network framework, named CATS Net, as a means to overcome these limitations.

The framework consists of a concept-abstraction module and a task-solving module that can precisely instruct the framework to perform tasks like recognition and judgment when processing visual information, such as images.

The framework can also autonomously generate a vast array of new concepts, building its own unique "concept space." Once the concept space of different AI systems are aligned, they can directly transmit knowledge using these concepts, bypassing the need for retraining on raw data. Notably, this process simulates how humans communicate using language.

Via brain imaging studies, the researchers revealed that the conceptual space constructed by CATS Net aligns closely with human cognitive and linguistic logic, and its operational mode closely matches activities in the human brain's concept-processing areas.

This suggests that the model does more than just imitate brain function, shedding light on the computational mechanisms by which humans form and use concepts in the brain.

Editor: Xiong Jian
Recent agreements with Waterbury Promise and Bridgeport Promise build on UB's commitment to local access, affordability, and student success.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Bridgeport (UB) has expanded its local college-access partnerships by signing new Promise agreements with Waterbury Promise and Bridgeport Promise, strengthening a regional network that helps Connecticut students access a more affordable UB education and stay on track from enrollment through graduation.

Recent agreements with Waterbury Promise and Bridgeport Promise build on UBs commitment to local access, affordability, and student success.

These new agreements build on UB's existing partnership with New Haven Promise and reflect a shared focus on college readiness, financial support, and coordinated student success efforts that help students move confidently from high school to college and into careers.

"These partnerships are about more than scholarships. They're about creating a dependable support system that carries students from high school through college and into the workforce," said Danielle Wilken, Ed.D., president of University of Bridgeport. "By expanding our collaborations with Waterbury Promise and Bridgeport Promise  and continuing our partnership with New Haven Promise  we're widening opportunity for students across our state and investing in the next generation of leaders for Connecticut's workforce."

Waterbury Promise Partnership

Waterbury Promise, a not-for-profit college access, success, and career-readiness program, will offer scholarships and ongoing support to Waterbury students accepted to UB beginning this fall.

Under the agreement, UB will offer eligible students a renewable scholarship of up to $25,000 to help reduce financial barriers and expand access to a UB degree. Waterbury Promise supports students through a range of initiatives, including FAFSA support and workshops, college tours and guidance, professional development opportunities, mentorship and advising, and up to $20,000 total ($5,000 per year) as a last-dollar scholarship.

"At UB, we believe that talent is everywhere, and opportunity should be too," said Allison Garris, Ed.D., UB's dean of admissions. "This partnership creates an affordable pathway to a UB education for students from Waterbury. We're proud to welcome Promise scholars and to support them as they build confident, career-ready futures."

Dr. Garris and Kelonda Maull, executive director of Waterbury Promise, signed the partnership agreement on December 28, 2025.

"We are deeply grateful to partner with University of Bridgeport to support talented scholars from Waterbury by expanding access to the financial, academic, social, and career resources essential to their success in higher education and preparation for Connecticut's next-generation workforce," said Maull.

Waterbury Promise serves nearly 900 students from seven Waterbury high schools. The class of 2025 consists of 301 scholars and saw a 25% year-over-year increase from the 2024 class. Approximately 68% of scholars are first-generation college students, and 80% are students of color. UB and Waterbury Promise look to build on that momentum together through innovative funding and support initiatives.

Bridgeport Promise Partnership

UB has also signed a partnership agreement with Bridgeport Promise, a scholarship and student-support initiative focused on helping Bridgeport Public Schools graduates access and complete a two- or four-year degree in Connecticut. Beginning with the Class of 2026, Bridgeport Promise will reward Promise scholars a minimum of $1,250 per year ($2,000 if they live on campus) to attend a partner Connecticut-based college or university, along with resources and support services designed to promote persistence through completion.

Through this partnership, eligible Bridgeport Promise students who are admitted to UB and meet program requirements will have a defined out-of-pocket cost structure through UB, with pricing set at $7,000 for commuter students and $12,500 for residential students (tuition, food, and housing), available for all four undergraduate years, before Bridgeport Promise scholarship funds are applied. UB also commits to additional student support through paid internship or work-study opportunities, pre-college concurrent enrollment options, and ongoing partnership outreach and advising collaboration.

UB's President Danielle Wilken and Faith Villegas, executive director of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund, signed the partnership agreement on February 2, 2026.

"The Bridgeport Public Education Fund (BPEF) is excited to work with trusted community partners and institutions to offer life-changing opportunities for our youth," said Villegas. "It goes beyond borders and boardrooms and gets to the heart of humanity. It's designed to prepare our youth to succeed in life while shaping our collective future."

New Haven Promise Partnership

UB's Promise network also includes an established partnership with New Haven Promise, launched in 2024, to support incoming New Haven Promise students accepted to UB through scholarship and student success collaboration.

A Larger Commitment to Local Affordability

UB's Promise partnerships align with broader efforts to make a UB education more affordable for local students, including Bridgeport's Brightest, a program developed with Bridgeport Public Schools that significantly reduces tuition costs for eligible Bridgeport public high school graduates.

Together, these initiatives create multiple local entry points for students and families seeking a college degree, combining tuition support with guidance that helps students persist, graduate, and launch careers in Connecticut and beyond.

To learn more, visit bridgeport.edu.

About University of Bridgeport

University of Bridgeport offers career-oriented undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees and programs for people seeking personal and professional growth. The University promotes academic excellence, personal responsibility, and commitment to service. Distinctive curricula in an international, culturally diverse, and supportive learning environment prepare graduates for life and leadership in an increasingly interconnected world. The University is independent and non-sectarian. bridgeport.edu

About Waterbury Promise

Waterbury Promise supports Waterbury students through college access, success, and career-readiness programming. To become a Waterbury Promise Scholar, a student must be a Waterbury resident; graduate from a Waterbury public high school, Holy Cross High School, or W.F. Kaynor Technical High School; earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA and maintain a 90% attendance rate; complete the FAFSA; and enroll in an accredited two- or four-year Connecticut-based college or university. Learn more at waterburypromise.org.

About Bridgeport Promise

Bridgeport Promise supports Bridgeport students through a scholarship program that identifies, supports, and rewards those who demonstrate academic excellence, consistent attendance, financial need, and a commitment to serving their community. To be eligible, a student must be a Bridgeport resident; attend Bridgeport Public Schools continuously in grades 912; maintain a 90% or higher attendance rate; earn a cumulative 3.0 or higher weighted GPA by high school graduation; maintain a positive disciplinary record; and be accepted full-time to an accredited two- or four-year college or university in Connecticut by their confirmed high school graduation date.

Learn more at bridgeportpromisect.org.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Abby Levandoski

Assistant Director of Communications and Content Strategy

University of Bridgeport

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 203-576-4151

SOURCE University of Bridgeport
New Linux Foundation Research Shows 70% of North American Respondent Organizations Already Use Zephyr in Products, With 69% Planning to Increase Adoption

SAN FRANCISCO, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Zephyr Project today marks its 10-year anniversary with new data showing it has become a production-grade, foundational technology for embedded systems worldwide. According to new research from Linux Foundation Research, 70% of surveyed organizations in the United States and Canada and 62% in Europe report already using Zephyr in commercial products, with 69% planning to increase or significantly increase adoption over the next year.

The findings, published in Zephyr Turns 10: A Decade of Adoption, Maturity, and Ecosystem Evolution , reflect a project that has moved well beyond experimentation. More than half of organizations (52%) report supporting Zephyr-based products for five to ten years or longer, underscoring its role in long-lifecycle industrial and embedded deployments.

"Ten years ago, Zephyr set out to solve a problem many embedded teams quietly struggled with: how to build dependable real-time systems without being locked into a single vendor, toolchain, or proprietary stack," said Kate Stewart, Zephyr Project Director and VP of Dependable Embedded Systems. "Today, Zephyr stands as a mature and trusted RTOS, embedded in products designed to last and be supported for years and in many cases, decades. The next decade will be defined not just by new features, but by how well we preserve the principles that made Zephyr successful: openness, collaboration, portability, and trust."

To better understand Zephyr's evolution, the study went beyond the survey data to capture the lived experiences of those at the forefront of the ecosystem.

"Through in-depth interviews with key IoT and embedded hardware leaders, we uncovered a wealth of practitioner insight that reflects not just the project's technical strengths, but its strategic trajectory," said Hilary Carter, SVP Research at the Linux Foundation. "The research shows that the Zephyr Project is a growing, healthy, and highly responsive ecosystem."

Launched in 2016 under open governance at the Linux Foundation, Zephyr set out to address a longstanding challenge in embedded development: building secure, real-time systems without vendor lock-in that can be used in safety critical systems. A decade later, it supports more than 1000 boards across multiple architectures and has grown from roughly 100 contributors at launch to more than 3,000 contributors globally.

The research highlights several defining characteristics of Zephyr's evolution:

Operational maturity: 79% of respondents report improvements in hardware and board support, and 60% cite improved connectivity since adopting Zephyr.

79% of respondents report improvements in hardware and board support, and 60% cite improved connectivity since adopting Zephyr. Portability as a primary driver: 49% of organizations identify easier hardware portability as the single biggest impact of adoption.

49% of organizations identify easier hardware portability as the single biggest impact of adoption. Security by design: 64% report that security has improved or remained stable over time.

64% report that security has improved or remained stable over time. Sustained growth: Only 1% of organizations expect to decrease usage.

The Zephyr Project will kick off its anniversary celebration at the embedded world Exhibition & Conference 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany on Tuesday March 10th, where it will host a dedicated booth in Hall 4, Stand 4-170. In addition to members showcasing demos with Zephyr, there will be products based on Zephyr on display. The embedded world Conference will have a track of Zephyr talks on Wednesday, March 11th.

The full research report is available at: [ www.linuxfoundation.org/research/zephyr-turns-10 ]

About the Zephyr Project

The Zephyr Project is an open source, scalable real-time operating system (RTOS) supporting multiple hardware architectures. To learn more, please visit www.zephyrproject.org .

About the Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards and data. Linux Foundation projects, including Linux, Kubernetes, Model Context Protocol (MCP), OpenChain, OpenSearch, OpenSSF, OpenStack, PyTorch, Ray, RISC-V, SPDX and Zephyr, provide the foundation for global infrastructure. The Linux Foundation is focused on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org .

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of the Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE The Zephyr Project
About this content 

About Jamie Ashcroft

Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Oliver Haill

Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup News Service, Gracenote... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Jackson is an experienced writer and editor. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in print and digital media across several business and finance titles amd is currently the Australian news editor at Proactive Investors covering the latest news for ASX listed companies as well as current financial trends. He was previously managing editor with Business First magazine, Wealth Creator Magazine and StocksDigital. Jonathan has interviewed some of the world's top CEOs and covered... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
Terrain Minerals Ltd (ASX:TMX, OTC:TMXAF, FRA:T4Y) has completed a substantial drilling campaign across its Lightning and Wildflower prospects at the Smokebush Gold & Silver Project in Western Australia, marking a key step towards a maiden resource estimate at the Lightning discovery.

The campaign included 39 reverse circulation (RC) holes and four diamond drill holes for a combined 7,739 metres of drilling, with assays now pending and results expected to begin flowing later this month.

Lightning remains central to Terrains near-term development strategy, with the latest drilling focused on extending known mineralised zones while also testing new discovery targets.

This is a major milestone for Terrain, with more than 7,700 metres of RC and diamond drilling now completed across Lightning and Wildflower as part of this campaign, said Terrain executive director Justin Virgin.

The Lightning results are central to our strategy of delivering a maiden JORC Mineral Resource by mid-2026, while the diamond core will provide the critical density and geological data required to underpin that estimate.

New M59/0796 tenement conversion area seen in yellow.

Lightning drilling focused on resource growth

At the Lightning prospect, Terrain completed 26 RC holes for 4,803 metres, with samples already submitted for laboratory analysis and results expected in March 2026.

Most of the program  about 3,350 metres of drilling  was designed to extend known gold mineralisation, while 1,089 metres targeted new discovery zones and a further 364 metres tested a potential repeat of the Lightning-style mineralisation in previously undrilled ground.

Lightning - Indicative drill traces of the now completed reverse circulation drilling program superimposed over the open-file Western Australian government aeromagnetic data for the prospect area. Early modelling suggests a north-trending shear zone acts as a gold fluid pathway with east-west high magnetic lithological units acting as traps for thicker, high-grade mineralisation.

In addition to the RC program, the company drilled four diamond holes for 660 metres, with 340 metres of RC pre-collars and 320 metres of diamond core.

These diamond holes are expected to provide critical geological and density data required to support the planned maiden JORC mineral resource estimate for Lightning.

The prospect sits within the Yalgoo Mineral Field, a proven gold district located about 350 kilometres north of Perth and near several operating mines, including the Rothsay gold mine around 15 kilometres away.

Previous drilling at Lightning has returned notable gold and silver intersections, including:

22 metres at 2.71 g/t gold and 21 metres at 15.79 g/t silver

17 metres at 3.43 g/t gold and 17.88 g/t silver

11 metres at 6.03 g/t gold and 43.5 g/t silver

13 metres at 8.13 g/t gold

These earlier results underpin the companys confidence that Lightning could host a meaningful mineral resource.

Wildflower tests new exploration targets

Meanwhile, drilling has also been completed at the nearby Wildflower prospect, where Terrain tested three high-priority targets generated from geological modelling developed at Lightning.

The Wildflower program consisted of 13 RC holes for 2,276 metres, targeting induced polarisation (IP) anomalies associated with large gold-in-soil anomalies.

These targets extend over an interpreted structural corridor of more than 800 metres and are hosted within geological structures similar to those associated with the Lightning discovery.

Wildflower - Chargeability models overlain on the open-file Total Magnetic Intensity first vertical derivative (TMI 1VD) aeromagnetic image. Interpreted structural breaks, including faults, are marked in orange. The chargeability anomaly observed on 834000N, 838000N and 842000N is outlined by a dashed red ellipse. This interpreted chargeability anomaly, which appears centred on the T16 target, extends for more than 800 metres and remains open to the northeast and southwest (extending into Terrain Minerals 100% owned granted tenement E 59/2345), see diagram 2.

The Wildflower targets represent the first systematic drilling of prospects generated using the Lightning geological model and form part of Terrains broader strategy to unlock additional discoveries across the Smokebush project area.

Samples from the Wildflower drilling are being transported for laboratory testing, with assay results expected in late April 2026.

Exploration momentum building at Smokebush

Terrains Smokebush Gold & Silver Project lies within a prospective mineral corridor in Western Australias Yalgoo region and includes several emerging gold and silver prospects alongside the Larins Lane gallium discovery.

Location of Terrain Minerals 100% owned Smokebush Gold Prospect.

The company holds a 100% interest in the project and has been progressively advancing exploration through geophysics, soil sampling and drilling programs designed to identify and test new targets.

With drilling now complete across both Lightning and Wildflower, the companys next major catalysts will be assay results and the ongoing work required to support the planned maiden resource estimate at Lightning.

Virgin said the results from the latest campaign would play a critical role in shaping the projects next stage of development.

Lightning RC assay results are expected later this month, with diamond drilling results anticipated in late April 2026, while Wildflower RC results are also expected in late April, he said.

I look forward to updating the market as these results come to hand.
About this content 

About Lisa Uhlman

Lisa Uhlman is an equities reporter at Proactive Investors, covering ASX-listed companies across the mining, energy, biotech and emerging tech sectors. With a background in legal and financial journalism, Lisa brings a sharp analytical lens to market news and corporate developments. Prior to joining Proactive, she reported for national trade publications and newswires, with a focus on court reporting, regulatory affairs and ESG-related business issues. Based in Sydney, she is... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has launched a large-scale drone operation project, the first of its kind in the country, in the Beibu Gulf oilfields in south China, marking a pioneering step in integrating marine energy development with low-altitude economic activities.

The project has been rolled out across 41 offshore platforms and two onshore terminal plants in the Beibu Gulf, establishing a comprehensive drone operation system that covers subsea pipeline inspections, logistics delivery and emergency security responses, Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday.

These operational drones can now conduct rapid aerial inspections of over 500 kilometers of subsea pipelines, efficiently identifying anomalies such as leaks and initiating emergency protocols. They can also assist in search and rescue operations for vessels adrift and personnel that have fallen overboard.

According to Meng Wenbo, coordination manager at CNOOC's Zhanjiang branch in south China's Guangdong Province, this low-altitude economy application has completed more than 3,600 kilometers of drone patrols and small-item logistics operations.

Notably, by replacing tugboats and helicopters with an air courier system, the company can save nearly 15 million yuan (about 2.17 million U.S. dollars) annually in vessel rental and fuel costs, while reducing carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes, Meng said, adding that this option effectively lowers costs, improves efficiency, and supports the intelligent upgrade of offshore oil operations.

CNOOC, one of China's major offshore oil and gas exploration enterprises, has developed a customized "air-sea integrated" intelligent operation platform and standardized management processes for its drone operation systems.

The company has also worked with partner enterprises to tailor drone designs, addressing challenges posed by the marine industrial environment, including limited communication coverage and the corrosive effects of high temperatures, salinity and humidity.

Editor: Xiong Jian
About this content 

About Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson joins Proactive Australia's broadcast team part time. As the Managing Director of Gold Events Kerry has been hosting the annual Australian Gold Conference for over 14 years, connecting industry and investment professionals and showcasing the value of precious metals. Kerry is passionate about helping others to secure a safe and solid future by understanding money, finance, and strategy. That is why she created the Making Money Matter channel on YouTube, where... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Angela Harmantas

Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Ian Lyall

Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar grants UAH 250 in roaming bonuses to its subscribers in Middle East for 30 days

Kyivstar, Ukraines largest telecommunications operator, has decided, due to the security situation in the Middle East, to provide its subscribers currently in countries across the region with a free 30-day "Ideal Roaming" service package.

According to the operators press release, subscribers will receive 250 bonuses to their account (1 bonus = UAH 1), valid for 30 days, enabling them to use communications services at a special rate: calls to Ukrainian numbers and numbers in the country of stay, as well as all incoming calls, starting from UAH 1 per minute; mobile internet  from UAH 0.10 per MB.

"The provision of the Ideal Roaming package is part of our systematic support for Ukrainians abroad," said Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov.

The company recalled that from the first months of the full-scale war it introduced the "Roaming Like at Home" service for Ukrainians abroad. As of January 1, 2026, Ukraine officially joined the European Unions single roaming area, and the "Roaming Like at Home" service now covers 32 countries, all of them in Europe.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reported on March 2 that approximately 250,000 Ukrainians are currently in the Middle East.

As of September 30, 2025, Kyivstar served around 22.5 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.2 million fixed-line subscribers.
About this content 

About Steve Darling

Steve Darling is an award winning broadcaster who has spent the past 20 years as one of the most recognizable faces in British Columbia, reporting and anchoring at BCTV and Global Television. He spent 15 years as the co-host of the number one morning new program in the province. Steve is a tireless worker for charity hosting some 50 events a year. He is an ambassador for the Canucks Autism Network and hosts numerous events with BC Childrens Hospital and the Child Development foundation of... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
Cryptocurrency remains a challenging frontier for many investors. Wallets, gas fees, staking protocols, and yield farming can feel like a foreign language to those accustomed to traditional finance. Fineqia International Inc (CSE:FNQ), led by CEO Bundeep Singh Rangar, aims to simplify access to digital assets.

The companys stated mission is to make crypto understandable and useful for everyday investors and not just tech insiders or institutional players and, as one of the only issuers of ETPs worldwide permitted to allocate part of the underlying digital assets for DeFi yield, it's in a unique position to do so.

Most investors dont need a PhD in crypto, Rangar told Proactive. They just need safe, straightforward access.

Fineqia emphasizes usability through clean interfaces, intuitive language, and automated processes.If we want millions of people to use it, we need to meet them where they are, Rangar said.

While much of the crypto narrative revolves around volatile price swings, Fineqia focuses on practical uses. Its products are designed for holding, earning, and transacting. Users can stake tokens, earn yield through decentralized finance (DeFi), and make payments without managing blockchain operations themselves.

Its about creating financial tools people actually use, not getting them to gamble on token prices, Rangar said. Fineqias products target a 5% annual yield, paid monthly, which can be reinvested to compound returns over time. Being a listed company, you can be fairly certain of the integrity involved, Rangar added.

Fineqia is also targeting Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companiesfirms holding significant crypto on their balance sheets. While DATs like Strategys buy-and-hold model worked previously, capital markets are demanding they have operating businesses and innovation beyond simply holding crypto, Rangar said. Were enabling treasury companies to generate yield on their crypto holdings within a regulated wrapper, something that simply hasnt been possible until now.

The companys exchange traded products (ETPs) deploy assets across DeFi protocols, staking mechanisms, and liquidity pools to generate returns while maintaining exposure to price movements. Unlike derivative-based products that cap your gains, our ETPs maintain full exposure to price movements while layering on yield generation, Rangar explained. The DAT space is maturing rapidly. Companies that simply accumulate and hold are Treasury 1.0. Were enabling Treasury 2.0, an active balance sheet management that generates income while maintaining conviction in the underlying asset, Rangar added, highlighting how Fineqia differentiates itself from more conservative treasury-focused firms.

Fineqia operates under permissions many providers lack. Its base prospectus approval from Liechtensteins Financial Market Authority (FMA) allows deployment of digital assets into DeFi, staking, and liquidity pools within regulated ETPs. Weve broken through regulatory barriers that have kept the entire industry locked into passive products, Rangar said. Our approved prospectus gives us unique permissions to deploy crypto assets into yield-generating activities within a regulated ETP structure.

Combined with its Canadian listing, the company provides a gateway for US-based firms seeking exposure to Europes more established crypto markets. European regulations provide clarity on digital assets while the US is still struggling to approve legislation such as the Clarity Act, Rangar observes. That creates a massive opportunity. US-based companies and DATs looking for sophisticated yield activities need a European gatewayand thats exactly what weve built.

Global digital asset ETPs declined in February 2026 as broader crypto markets corrected. Total assets under management (AUM) fell 21.4% to $122.5 billion from $155.8 billion at the end of January, while overall digital asset market capitalisation dropped 13.8% to $2.38 trillion.

Despite Februarys sharp drawdown, demand for crypto ETPs remains structurally resilient, with outflows relatively contained compared to price performance, said Matteo Greco, senior associate at Fineqia.

Part of the steeper AUM contraction reflects the significant market sell-off that occurred during the final weekend of January, the impact of which was effectively captured in Februarys ETP flows. In absolute terms, February outflows were limited, with the final days of the month already showing renewed inflows despite continued market weakness.

Bitcoin-backed ETPs ended the month with $99.7 billion in AUM, down 20.2% from January, while BTC declined 13.9% to $67,667. Ethereum ETPs fell 27.9% to $14.3 billion as ETH dropped 16.6% to $1,965, although institutional interest remained visible. The number of listed crypto ETPs increased to 318 from 312 at year-end 2025.

Periods like this reinforce that crypto ETPs have become core infrastructure for investors seeking regulated exposure to digital assets, irrespective of short-term volatility, Greco added.

Despite cryptos promise, adoption remains uneven. Still, companies are sitting on significant crypto treasuries. In 2025, DATs accumulated over $100 billion in crypto holdings, according to Fineqia's research. The next challenge is turning those holdings into productive, income-generating assets. These companies are now asking: 'How do we make these assets productive?' Thats where we come in, Rangar said. Were the bridge between Strategys proven accumulation model and the next generation of treasury management.

These developments for corporate treasuries highlight a broader challenge for the crypto ecosystem: adoption is not just about institutional holdings, but also about making digital assets usable and accessible for everyday investors.

If we want millions of people to adopt crypto, we need to make its use seamless, Rangar said. We need to build the access blending the blockchain behind it with flawless user experience.
About this content 

About Emily Jarvie

Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The Canberra Times, and... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
New Delhi, March 4 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat will undertake a two-day visit to Gujarat starting on Wednesday.

Bhagwat is scheduled to arrive at the RSS provincial office in Ahmedabad at 10:30 a.m.a

Later in the day, between 4:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., he will travel to Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Vadtaldham in Kheda district, where he is expected to offer prayers and interact with saints.a

On Thursday morning, the RSS chief will attend the Shri Revti Baldevji Harikrishna Maharaj Bicentenary (Dwishattabdi) Patotsav programme at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Jetalpurdham in Ahmedabad.a

His visit to the temple is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., during which he will offer prayers and meet members of the templeas religious community.a

Bhagwat is expected to depart from Ahmedabad at around 4 p.m. on Thursday, concluding his visit.a

The RSS chief has travelled to Gujarat on several occasions in recent years for organisational reviews and religious engagements.a

In mid-October 2025, Bhagwat embarked on a three-day visit to Gujarat, beginning October 14, during which he attended events and met with leaders amid preparations for the organisationas centenary-year activities in the state.a

Earlier in January 2025, he visited the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Dharampur, where he met spiritual leaders and members of the ashram community.a

Previous visits to the state have also included interactions with swayamsevaks and local office-bearers in cities such as Ahmedabad and Surat.a

Officials said the upcoming tour is part of Bhagwatas regular visits to various states to review organisational activities and current dynamics, as well as to attend cultural and religious programmes.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Ukraines butter market is currently under pressure due to a significant increase in warehouse inventories, forcing some operators to step up sales at minimum prices, according to the industry analytical agency Infagro.

"This indicates the absence of a clearly formed global trend, the market is still balancing between periods of growth and decline," the analysts said.

According to their data, the highest price offers are coming from New Zealand, while U.S. product remains the cheapest and European butter is positioned in the mid-price segment. It is this direction that Ukrainian exporters traditionally target. Despite a recent price increase in the European Union, the cost of Ukrainian product remains stable for now: traders are cautious in their purchases and point to the availability of alternative offers within the EU.

Partially easing the situation for Ukrainian processors is the rise in the price of skimmed milk powder, a related product that allows them to offset part of the losses from butter production. At the same time, export prices vary significantly depending on the destination country: supplies to the EU are carried out at lower price benchmarks, while Caucasus markets demonstrate a greater willingness to pay.

On the domestic market, producers are increasingly focusing on packaged products, where marketing tools and promotional offers help them maintain margins. Current price levels for bulk butter remain low-profit for major market players.

Market participants do not rule out that demand from Western traders may intensify in the near future. This could create preconditions for revising purchase prices for Ukrainian butter. At the same time, the industry continues to face a shortage of working capital despite increased production volumes.
New Delhi, March 4 : Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday extended warm greetings to the nation on the occasion of Holi, highlighting the festival's message of unity, renewal and harmony.

Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan, posted on X, "Happy Holi! This beautiful festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring, symbolising renewal, hope, and the vibrant spirit of our civilization. Deeply rooted in our rich traditions, Holi reflects brotherhood, mutual respect, and shared joy that strengthen the fabric of our society.

"May the colours of Holi fill every heart with happiness and fresh energy. Let the festival inspire us to spread kindness and work together towards a more inclusive, peaceful, and Viksit Bharat," he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt wishes posting on X: "Heartfelt wishes for the festival of Holi, filled with joy, enthusiasm, and new energy! May this festival of colors bring progress, prosperity, and good fortune into everyone's life."

Several other leaders also conveyed their wishes, celebrating the spirit of the festival of colours.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari shared his wishes on X, saying: "May this sacred festival of Holi, filled with love, harmony, and colors, burn away negativity and hatred and bring happiness, peace, and prosperity into everyone's livesthis is my heartfelt wish. Warmest greetings of the sacred festival of Holi to all my fellow citizens."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Heartfelt greetings to the people of the state on the sacred festival of Holi, the festival of colors, enthusiasm, and social harmony. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that this sacred festival of colors brings happiness, prosperity, peace, new energy, and fresh enthusiasm into the lives of all of you."

The festival of colours, known as Holi, is one of the most awaited Hindu festivals, celebrated with enthusiasm and joy. Also referred to as Rangwali Holi, Badi Holi, and Dhulandi, this vibrant festival marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter.
Srinagar, March 4 : Police in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar district said on Wednesday that they have registered an FIR against MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and former mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu, for 'circulating misleading content online'.

Police said here, "Acting on credible inputs regarding the circulation of false, fabricated, and misleading content across Digital and Social media platforms with the intent to create fear, disturb public order, and incite unlawful activities, Srinagar Police have registered cases against Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and Junaid Azim Mattu in connection with the matter."

"The content in question, prima facie, reflects the dissemination of Distorted Narratives and unverified information capable of causing Public unrest and societal disharmony," said the statement.

The police said that such "deliberate attempts to spread misinformation pose a serious threat to peace, security, and overall stability".

"Accordingly, FIR No. 02/2026 and FIR No. 03/2026 have been registered under Sections 197(1)(d) and 353(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Cyber Police Station, Srinagar. Investigation into both cases has been initiated and is underway," the statement mentioned further.

"Srinagar Police reiterates its firm commitment to maintaining Public peace and law & order. Citizens are advised to verify information through official and credible sources before sharing content online and to refrain from circulating unverified material that may disturb communal harmony or Public order. Further legal action shall follow as warranted under law," the police said.

Police had warned people to refrain from uploading provocative content on social media that has the potential to cause law and order problems.

They also said that many people had been identified as being involved in spreading false, fabricated, and misleading information that has the potential of disturbing peace and tranquility in the union territory.

Meanwhile, authorities have decided to continue restrictions across the Kashmir Valley for the third consecutive day on Wednesday.

All schools, colleges, and universities in the Valley will remain closed till March 7. Exams scheduled for the day have also been postponed by the Kashmir University.
Washington, March 4 : The Trump administration's new defence doctrine prioritises deterring China in the Indo-Pacific while pushing US allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defence, Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby told the Senate Armed Services Committee

Testifying before lawmakers on the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), Colby said the administration's military planning centres on maintaining a favourable balance of power in Asia while ensuring allies step up their defence spending and capabilities.

"The strategy focuses our military effort on ensuring the preservation of a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, the world's largest market area," Colby said.

He said the United States does not seek confrontation with China but aims to prevent Beijing from dominating the region.

"We do not seek to strangle China nor compel a change in its form of government," Colby said. "Rather, we seek to prevent China from becoming the hegemon of the Indo-Pacific."

Colby told the committee that deterring Chinese military expansion along the "first island chain"  the strategic arc stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines  is the Pentagon's central operational focus.

"Meeting this standard of an effective denial defence along the first island chain is the primary focus of the US armed forces," he said.

According to Colby, ensuring the ability to block Chinese aggression in that region will allow Washington to preserve stability in Asia while maintaining flexibility to respond to other crises around the world.

"Our interests there are real and significant because of the scale of that market," he said, referring to the Indo-Pacific economy.

The strategy also emphasises strengthening cooperation with regional partners and allies who share concerns about China's expanding military power.

"It is critical to emphasise that our strategy is well aligned with the interests of our allies in the Indo-Pacific," Colby said, adding that many countries in the region want to preserve their autonomy and resist domination by any single power.

The Pentagon official also stressed that the new strategy is built on the idea of burden sharing, with allies expected to assume greater responsibility for regional security.

"The American military, while without peer, is not infinite in its application and resources," Colby said.

He argued that wealthy allies in Europe and Asia must increase defence spending and play a larger role in deterring threats.

"Many of our allies have functionally demilitarised since the end of the Cold War," he said. "This is untenable and unreasonable."

The strategy urges NATO allies in Europe to lead conventional defence against Russia while encouraging partners such as South Korea to take primary responsibility for deterring North Korea.

Colby also highlighted the need to expand US defence manufacturing to sustain long-term competition with China and other adversaries.

"The NDS calls for nothing short of a national mobilisation of our industrial capacity," he said.

Such an effort, he added, would allow the United States to rapidly produce advanced weapons systems for both its own forces and allied militaries.

"We must be able to arm our own forces and those of our allies and partners with the best weaponry quickly at scale," Colby said.

While the strategy places China at the centre of US defence planning, Colby told senators that Washington will still address threats in other regions, including Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

"We recognise clearly that there are other very real threats around the world," he said.

However, he emphasised that the United States must avoid overstretching its military commitments.

"We cannot do everything everywhere all the time," Colby said.

For countries across the Indo-Pacific, including India, the strategy's emphasis on maintaining a balance of power reflects Washington's long-term objective of working with regional partners to prevent any single power from dominating Asia.
Washington, March 4 : The United States is urging allies to assume greater responsibility for regional security as it confronts simultaneous threats from adversaries across multiple regions, Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Testifying on the Trump administration's 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), Colby said Washington must rely more heavily on partners and allies while focusing its own military resources on the most consequential challenges.

"The American military, while without peer, is not infinite in its application and resources," Colby told lawmakers.

The strategy emphasises greater burden sharing, particularly among wealthy allies in Europe and Asia, whom Washington believes must contribute more to their own defence.

"Many of our allies have functionally demilitarised since the end of the Cold War," Colby said. "This is untenable and unreasonable."

He said the administration is pressing allies to take primary responsibility for defending their regions against conventional threats.

In Europe, the United States wants NATO partners to lead conventional defence against Russia, while on the Korean Peninsula Washington is encouraging South Korea to assume greater responsibility for deterring North Korea.

"In Europe, we are urging our allies to move to a model of NATO 3.0 in which wealthy European allies take the lead for the conventional defence of European NATO," Colby said.

The Pentagon official said a similar approach applies in other regions, including the Middle East, where Washington is working with Israel and regional partners to counter threats from Iran and militant groups.

"In the Middle East we are working with our model ally Israel and other regional partners to address the threat of Iran and terrorism," he said.

Colby said the defence strategy recognises that the United States faces the possibility of adversaries coordinating actions across multiple regions, creating the risk of simultaneous crises.

"The 2026 NDS rightly makes clear that our adversaries' best strategy is to act in a coordinated or opportunistic fashion across multiple theatres," he said.

He warned that the United States must prepare for such scenarios while avoiding military overextension.

"We cannot do everything everywhere all the time," Colby said.

The Pentagon believes reducing threats in one region could allow the United States to concentrate resources on its highest priorities elsewhere.

Colby said the ongoing US military campaign against Iran is aimed at degrading Tehran's ability to project power through its missile forces, drones, and naval capabilities.

"The objectives of the military campaign are focused on addressing the ability of the Islamic Republic to project military power against us, our bases, and our allies," he said.

According to Colby, weakening Iran's military capabilities could help reduce the risk of simultaneous conflicts and allow Washington to better manage global security challenges.

"The degradation of Iranian military power will lessen the threat of simultaneity in the Middle East," he told the committee.

The new defence strategy also emphasises expanding the US defence industrial base and strengthening cooperation with allies to sustain long-term military competition with rival powers.
Ahmedabad, March 4 : Passengers arriving from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, were warmly received at Terminal 2 of Ahmedabad International Airport on Wednesday. Families and well-wishers gathered at the airport to welcome them home, expressing gratitude to the government for facilitating their safe return amid recent travel disruptions.

Many of the passengers had travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. However, several return flights scheduled for February 28 were cancelled due to escalating tensions linked to the Israel-Iran conflict, leaving families in distress.

A family member of one of the passengers told IANS, "My sister had gone for Umrah. Her return flight on the 28th was cancelled, and she was extremely worried. We appealed to the government for help, and the authorities assisted us in bringing her back safely. It is a moment of great happiness for our family."

Another relative said, "My son had gone to Mecca for Umrah. His flight was cancelled on February 28. The media and the government helped us a lot. The authorities were very supportive."

A third family member added, "The last few days were difficult, but we are grateful to the government. Thank you, Modiji."

On February 28, Tehran was rocked by massive explosions after Israel launched what it described as "preventive" missile strikes against Iran, dramatically escalating tensions in the region, local media reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran deliberately targets civilians while Israel and the United States focus on "mass terrorists", defending recent military action and praising US President Donald Trump as "resolute".

Before taking a call on military strikes against Iran, US President Trump had already delivered the same message at least 74 times: Tehran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

The White House said on Monday that President Trump has been "unequivocal and consistent for decades" that Iran will never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon. It released a compilation of his statements spanning 15 years, beginning in November 2011.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday responded sharply to remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asserting that there was never any "Iranian threat" and blaming what he termed "Israel Firsters" for the bloodshed of both Americans and Iranians.

Rubio had said on Monday (local time) that Washington launched strikes on Iran after learning that its ally Israel was preparing to act and amid concerns that Tehran would retaliate against American forces in the region.

"We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties," Rubio told reporters.
Mumbai, March 4 : A 22-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death following a minor dispute after Holi celebrations in Mumbai's Wadala area. Four youths have been arrested in connection with the incident, and a case of murder has been registered against them, the Mumbai Police said on Wednesday.

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) A 22-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death following a minor dispute after Holi celebrations in Mumbaias Wadala area. Four youths have been arrested in connection with the incident, and a case of murder has been registered against them, the Mumbai Police said on Wednesday.

According to Mumbai Police, the incident took place around 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Kokripada area of Wadala. The accused had reportedly gathered after celebrating Holi and were consuming beer when the altercation occurred.

The deceased has been identified as Tushar Ujjainwala (22). Police said that Ujjainwala was passing through the area with a friend when his foot accidentally touched one of the accused. This led to a verbal altercation, during which the accused allegedly abused him.

After returning home, Ujjainwala informed his elder brother about the incident. He later returned to the spot with his brother to confront the youths. During the confrontation, the accused allegedly assaulted him severely. He sustained serious injuries in the attack and later succumbed to them.

Upon receiving information about the incident, the Wadala police reached the scene, took stock of the situation, and arrested all four accused. An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the exact sequence of events and the role of each accused in the crime.

Holi, one of Indiaas major festivals, is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. Marked by the playful application of colours, exchange of sweets, and gatherings with friends and family, the festival symbolises joy and togetherness. Traditional delicacies such as gujiya and thandai are commonly enjoyed during the festivities.

The festival also heralds the arrival of spring, symbolising renewal and the triumph of good over evil. It is widely regarded as an occasion that transcends social boundaries, fostering unity and goodwill. However, the tragic incident in Wadala has cast a shadow over the celebrations in the area.
Tehran, March 4 : Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected as Iran's new Supreme Leader by the country's Assembly of Experts, according to a latest media report.

"The Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader," Iran International reported, citing informed sources.

According to the outlet, Mojtaba, 56, has been chosen to take charge of the country's top leadership position.

He is the second-eldest son of Ali Khamenei and has for years been regarded by observers and analysts as a possible successor within Iran's clerical establishment.

His reported elevation to the highest office in the Islamic Republic is expected to carry political sensitivity, particularly as it comes only days after his father was killed in a series of joint US-Israeli strikes that have since spiralled into a broader armed confrontation across the Middle East.

The Islamic Republic has historically positioned itself as an ideological alternative to hereditary monarchy and has been openly critical of dynastic rule. A transition of authority from father to son could therefore invite scrutiny and raise questions about the system's adherence to its stated principles.

Iran International further alleged that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exerted significant pressure on the clerical body to support Mojtaba's appointment.

"The IRGC heavily pressured the assembled group of clerics to select Mojtaba as the regime's new leader," the outlet reported.

The Supreme Leader occupies the apex of Iran's intricate power structure and holds ultimate authority over state affairs. The position includes serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces as well as overseeing the powerful Revolutionary Guard, which was designated a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019.

During Ali Khamenei's tenure, the Guard substantially broadened its reach across Iran's political, military and economic institutions.

The report added that Mojtaba maintains close ties with the Revolutionary Guard and is believed to exercise considerable influence behind the scenes.

He is said to have effectively managed the Office of the Supreme Leader in practice and has long been viewed by analysts as a central power broker within Iran's governing framework.

Mojtaba is described as a mid-ranking cleric who served in Iran's armed forces during the Iran-Iraq war.

Over the years, he has been widely perceived as maintaining strong connections with the IRGC, further reinforcing his standing within the country's power structure.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Washington, March 4 : US senators warned that child sexual abuse images are being shared globally on a scale that outpaces victim identification, as a mother told a Senate hearing her daughter's abuse material is "still online" more than 25 years later, and lawmakers pressed for tougher action against offenders and online platforms.

Washington, March 4 (IANS) US senators warned that child sexual abuse images are being shared globally on a scale that outpaces victim identification, as a mother told a Senate hearing her daughter's abuse material is "still online" more than 25 years later, and lawmakers pressed for tougher action against offenders and online platforms.

At a Congressional hearing on this issue, Senator Josh Hawley said the issue concerns "children who are being exploited" and "children whose abuse has been recorded and the images of whose abuse is still available, still online, still circulating right now".

He said "hundreds of thousands of children remain unidentified in global law enforcement databases", describing the material as "active crime scenes".

"These are children whom our government could identify and rescue if we had the will and the resources to do it," Hawley said.

A mother identified as Jane Doe told lawmakers her daughter was abused by her father as an infant, and the abuse was photographed and shared online with other offenders.

"My daughter was an infant when the abuse began," she said, explaining that the crimes continued for nearly four years before being uncovered by an undercover investigator.

More than two decades later, she said the trauma has not ended because the images remain in circulation.

"Today, more than 25 years later, the harm has not ended," she said. She told lawmakers she receives Justice Department notifications "now numbering in the tens of thousands" when offenders are found possessing the images.

"They're still online, they've made movies from her images," she said, describing how perpetrators alter files to evade detection. "They change hashtags. They'll change something in the color of the shirt. They'll add a flower, they'll add a bunny to the picture."

She said attempts to have the material removed from online platforms have largely failed.

"I've been fighting since day one," she said, recounting how she was told to contact website operators herself to seek removal.

Tim Tebow, founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, told the hearing that global databases show a rapidly growing number of unidentified child victims whose abuse images circulate online.

He said early estimates suggested about "20,000 boys and girls" in databases whose identities were unknown. Later reviews found "57,000 boys and girls".

"It's over 89,000," Tebow said. "We are losing the battle and we are losing the war and boys and girls are suffering for it."

He cited a Justice Department map showing online activity linked to child sexual abuse material across the United States.

"Every one of those red dots is a unique IP address that is downloading, sharing or distributing child rape images almost all under the age of 12," Tebow said, describing a six-month snapshot containing more than 338,000 such points.

Hawley told the hearing that in 2023 alone there were more than 104 million images and videos of suspected child abuse reported in the United States.

Stacey Sheehan of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) said the organisation's Cybertipline  the central reporting mechanism used by the public and online platforms  has received more than 226 million reports related to child sexual exploitation.

"In 2020 alone, we received more than 21 million reports containing more than 61 million images, videos and other content," she said.

Sheehan added that new reporting requirements have increased data flows to authorities, with a 323 per cent increase in child sex trafficking reports from 2025 compared with 2024.

Yasmine Wafa, executive director of Rights for Girls, told the panel that exploitation often targets vulnerable children such as runaways, youth in foster care and those experiencing homelessness.

"Across urban, rural and tribal communities, children are being bought and sold," she said.

She argued enforcement frequently targets victims rather than buyers. "Hundreds of children are arrested for prostitution despite being legally incapable of consenting to sex," Wafa said.

Julia Einbond, CEO of Covenant House New Jersey, said many trafficking victims first encounter authorities through homelessness or criminal charges rather than victim support systems.

"Brandon's story is a blueprint for how children fall through every gap we have failed to close," she said, describing a child forced into drug dealing after years in foster care and homelessness.

Lawmakers from both parties said stronger laws and resources were needed to combat the growing online exploitation of children.

Senator Richard Durbin said Congress must move beyond discussion and act. "We need legislation not lamentation," he said.
New Delhi, March 4 : As India celebrates the vibrant festival of Holi on Wednesday, Chief Ministers from various states expressed their best wishes, emphasising the principles of social unity, happiness, and empowerment that this festival embodies.

Leaders from Delhi, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh shared messages of hope, prosperity, and unity, urging citizens to celebrate the festival with love and goodwill.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta posted on X, "On this sacred occasion of Holi, heartfelt greetings to you all. May this festival of colors bring new hope, fresh enthusiasm, and prosperity into your lives."

"A developed Delhi is one where celebrations also become a means of empowerment. We have strived to connect every homemaker, every daughter, every sister, every mother to this Holi with dignity and strength. From the kitchen to the flight of dreams, we have resolved to recognize the power in every home. May this Holi be not just a festival of colors, but a celebration of self-reliance. May prosperity reside in every home. May every family progress. A loving, secure, and prosperous Happy Holi to you all," she said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared her greetings, posting, "HAPPY HOLI! May this vibrant festival fill every home with joy and colour."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar posted on X, "Greetings and best wishes on the festival of colors, Holi. Holi is a symbol of social harmony. May this sacred festival of Holi bring new colors of happiness into the lives of the people of the state. This sacred festival is also a symbol of the victory of good over evil. Celebrate the festival of Holi with love, brotherhood, and goodwill."

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also posted on X, "Heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the sacred festival of Holi, filled with enthusiasm, zeal, and harmony. My wish is that this festival may scatter new colors of happiness, peace, and prosperity in every courtyard. May the colors of goodwill, positivity, and unity always shine brightly in society."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also extended his greetings, tweeting, "Heartfelt greetings to the people of the state on the sacred festival of Holi, the festival of colours, enthusiasm, and social harmony. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that this sacred festival of colours brings happiness, prosperity, peace, new energy, and fresh enthusiasm into the lives of all of you."

The festival of colours, known as Holi, is one of India's most cherished Hindu festivals, celebrated with zeal and joy across the country. Often referred to as Rangwali Holi, Badi Holi, or Dhulandi, it marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.

Beyond its vibrant festivities, Holi signifies renewal, brotherhood, and social harmony, with communities coming together to celebrate life, spread goodwill, and strengthen bonds of unity.
Chennai, March 4 : With the announcement of Assembly election dates expected soon, the Tamil Nadu government has directed all departments to clear pending files in the state Secretariat by March 6.

The instruction comes amid strong indications that the Election Commission of India (ECI) may unveil the poll schedule in the coming days.

Senior government officials said departments have been asked to accelerate the processing of administrative files, particularly those linked to tenders, project approvals, and other policy-related decisions.

Officials across key departments are working intensively to ensure that all files currently under circulation are cleared before the deadline. "We have been instructed to dispose of all pending files by March 6. Several departments are working on a war footing to complete the process," a senior official in the Secretariat said.

According to officials, departments such as Public Works, Highways, and Social Welfare -- which handle large volumes of administrative approvals -- are among those prioritising the clearance of pending matters. The urgency stems from the anticipated enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) once the Election Commission announces the poll schedule.

The MCC places strict restrictions on governments from announcing new schemes, issuing fresh tenders, or approving major policy decisions that could influence voters.

Election officials said preparations are progressing as the ECI begins its final round of consultations with state administrations. An official from the Election Commission indicated that it will hold review meetings with officials in Kerala on March 5 and 6 as part of its assessment of election readiness in poll-bound states.

"After completing consultations and preparedness reviews in the concerned states, the Commission is likely to announce the election schedule for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Assam, and West Bengal," the official said.

Security arrangements for the upcoming elections are also being stepped up. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has already allotted 50 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to Tamil Nadu to assist with election duty and maintain law and order during the poll period.

The contingents are expected to arrive in the state beginning March 10. Sources in the Tamil Nadu Election Department said the Election Commission could hold a press conference to announce the poll schedule around March 9 or 10.

Once the dates are formally declared, the Model Code of Conduct will immediately come into effect, bringing the state administration's policy decision-making to a temporary halt until the completion of the elections.
Nazrin Abdul



Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a vocal critic of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, reaffirmed his governments stance against military action, declaring no to war and emphasizing that the Spanish people oppose this disaster.

As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking on the potential consequences, Sanchez referenced the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying it had left the world less secure. He warned that a war on Iran would not create a more just international order, improve environmental conditions, or enhance the lives of ordinary people.

The current crisis shows how humanitys great disasters begin, Sanchez said, urging governments to not play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions.

The comments come amid rising tensions with the United States. US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off all trade with Spain over Madrids refusal to allow US military use of its bases for operations linked to strikes on Iran.
Photo: National Guard

On Wednesday night, Ukraines Defense Forces neutralized 129 out of 149 enemy UAVs, while 19 UAV strikes were recorded at 15 locations, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"According to preliminary data as of 08:30, air defense shot down or suppressed 129 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types across the north, south, and east of the country," the report stated.

On the night of March 4 (starting from 18:00 on March 3), Russia attacked with 149 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types from the directions of Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-AkhtarskRussia, and Hvardiiskeoccupied Crimea. Approximately 100 of these were Shahed UAVs."

As noted, the air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare (EW) units, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

The report recorded 19 strike UAV hits at 15 locations, as well as falling debris from downed drones at one location.

The attack is ongoing, and several enemy UAVs remain in the airspace, the command added.
New Delhi, March 4 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday celebrated the festival of Holi at her residence and extended warm greetings to the people of the national capital.

Earlier in the day, the CM took to X to convey her wishes.

"Heartiest greetings to all of you on this auspicious occasion of Holi. May this festival of colours bring new hope, new enthusiasm, and prosperity to your lives. A developed Delhi is one where celebrations also become a medium of empowerment," she wrote.

Highlighting her government's focus on women's empowerment, the Chief Minister said: "We have strived to connect every housewife, every daughter, every sister, every mother with respect and support this Holi. From the kitchen to the flight of dreams, we have resolved to recognise the strength of every home."

"May this Holi not just be a celebration of colours, but a celebration of self-reliance. May prosperity reside in every home. May every family flourish. Wishing you all a happy Holi filled with love, security and prosperity."

Speaking to IANS, BJP Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva said, "This festival is a festival of colours and love. Everyone should come together and contribute to the development of Delhi and the country."

Holi, a major Hindu festival celebrated since ancient times, marks the arrival of spring and symbolises new beginnings. The festival is associated with joy, renewal, and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally, celebrations begin with Holika Dahan, during which a bonfire is lit to symbolically burn away negativity and usher in a bright and colourful future.

The following day is marked by people smearing colours on one another, sharing sweets, and gathering with family and friends. Though rooted in Hindu tradition, Holi has evolved into a widely celebrated festival across communities and even internationally, promoting unity, harmony, and togetherness.
Jammu, March 4 : The Indian Army opened fire on Wednesday after noticing suspicious movement along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

Officials said around 4.30 a.m. this morning, the soldiers guarding the LoC observed some persons trying to sneak across the fence.

"Subsequently, the Army opened fire towards the suspected spot, thwarting a possible infiltration bid. Reinforcement has been rushed to the spot, and a search operation has been started in the area," officials said.

More details are awaited.

Recently, the Army on February 19 foiled an infiltration attempt along the LoC in the Sunderbani area of Rajouri district. The Army had said that suspicious movement of terrorists was detected, and alert troops of the White Knight Corps responded with swift and calibrated fire, successfully foiling the infiltration attempt.

Jammu and Kashmir has 740-Km long LoC situated in Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora districts of Kashmir and in Poonch, Rajouri, and partly in Jammu district of Jammu division.

In addition, there is 240-Km long international border situated in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts of Jammu division.

The LoC is guarded by the Army while the Border Security Force (BSF) guards the international border.

The Army and BSF are deployed on the border in the union territory to prevent infiltration, exfiltration, cross-border smuggling, and to stop drone activities initiated from the Pakistani side of the border.

Drones have been used in the past by terror outfits with the help of Pakistani forces to drop consignments of arms/ammunition, cash, and drugs for the terrorists to sustain terrorism in the union territory.

The J&K Police and the security forces carry out aggressive anti-terrorist operations in the hinterland against terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers. The coordinated action is aimed at dismantling the complete support system of terror rather than going after just the gun-wielding terrorists.

Drug smugglers, drug peddlers, and those involved in hawala money rackets have also been on the radar of the security forces. It is believed that funds generated through these illegal financial activities are finally used to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chennai, March 4 : The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday strongly criticised the Congress party and its allies in the DMK-led coalition, accusing them of "political hypocrisy" and "anti-national conduct" following protests held in Chennai over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Chennai, March 4 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday strongly criticised the Congress party and its allies in the DMK-led coalition, accusing them of "political hypocrisy" and "anti-national conduct" following protests held in Chennai over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In a statement, Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad alleged that demonstrations organised on March 1 and 2 mourning Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israel strikes on February 28, reflected a misplaced political agenda that undermined India's national interests.

The BJP leader said attempts by some protest groups to march toward the United States Consulate in Chennai during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tamil Nadu were irresponsible and risked disturbing public order.

According to the party, such demonstrations targeting foreign diplomatic missions were inappropriate and could damage India's international standing.

Prasad also accused the Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, of making statements that questioned the Indian government's position on the developments in West Asia.

He argued that such remarks were politically motivated and could weaken national unity at a time when the government was focusing on the safety of Indian citizens in the region.

Highlighting the government's diplomatic outreach, the BJP spokesperson said Prime Minister Modi had held urgent consultations with leaders of several Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, to ensure the protection of Indian nationals amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

He also noted that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had reiterated that safeguarding Indians abroad remained the government's top priority.

According to Prasad, authorities have already begun taking precautionary steps to assist Indian citizens in affected areas. As part of these efforts, the first relief flight carrying 149 Indians from Dubai recently landed safely in New Delhi, while Indian students in Tehran have reportedly been moved to safer locations under the supervision of the Indian Embassy.

The BJP leader further claimed that the protests organised by opposition parties and certain groups reflected selective political outrage, particularly when compared to their responses to other international incidents involving violence against civilians.

The party urged the DMK government in Tamil Nadu to ensure that law and order is maintained and that protests do not escalate into actions that could threaten diplomatic institutions or communal harmony.

The BJP reiterated its support for the Union government's diplomatic efforts and emphasised the need for national unity during periods of international crisis affecting Indian citizens abroad.
March 04 : Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has recorded notable progress in linking the agriculture sector with modern technology and institutional support. Currently, 156 registered agri startups are active in the state, providing farmers with credit facilities, advisory services and digital solutions. These initiatives under Yogi government have laid a strong foundation for making farming more profitable and sustainable.

State government has emphasized moving agriculture beyond traditional frameworks and integrating it with technology-driven models. Through startups, farmers are receiving timely access to credit, crop management advice and direct market linkages. This has reduced the dependence of small and marginal farmers on traditional moneylenders and ensured access to transparent financial services.

According to agricultural experts, digital platform based services have made information more accessible in rural areas. Weather forecasts, crop selection guidance and advice related to seeds and fertilizers are now available through mobile applications and call centers. This has increased the potential for reducing production costs and improving productivity. State government believes that technology-based interventions will provide long-term stability to the agriculture sector.

Through startup policies, investment incentives and skill development programs, government is encouraging youth to take up agricultural entrepreneurship. This has expanded self-employment opportunities in rural areas and advanced efforts to establish agriculture as a modern business. Work is underway on a roadmap to develop the state into a major center of agri-innovation in the coming years.

Experts in agriculture sector believe that if this chain of credit access, market linkage and technical guidance continues to strengthen, Uttar Pradesh can play a leading role in the countrys agricultural economy. Governments focus is on increasing farmers incomes, reducing agricultural risks and making villages self-reliant. The active participation of 156 agri startups is being considered a significant step toward this broader transformation.
Ulaanbaatar, March 4 : Several Indian diplomatic missions across the world celebrated Holi, emphasising the vibrant festival's message of harmony, optimism and unity.

The Indian Embassy in Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar organised "Phoolon Ki Holi" (Holi With Flowers) celebrations at its premises. The event was attended by members of the Indian community, Persons of Indian Origin, and friends of India in Mongolia.

Addressing the event, Indian Ambassador to Mongolia, Atul Malhari Gotsurve, highlighted that the festival of colours brings joy, happiness, hope and enthusiasm.

He remarked that the world currently "needs more colours" and noted that Holi offers an opportunity for people to bury their hatchet and restart friendship.

According to the Indian Embassy, all guests celebrated the occasion by playing Holi with flower petals and colours.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Indian Consul General in Chicago, Somnath Ghosh, addressed the Holi festival organised at the Mayor's office in the City of Chicago.

During the celebration, Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson proclaimed March 3 as 'Holi Day' in the city and encouraged residents to celebrate the spirit of renewal, unity and hope that the festival represents.

"This proclamation highlights the city's commitment to fostering cultural diversity and inclusivity, inviting the community to come together and celebrate the joyous occasion of Holi, strengthening the bonds between cultures and communities within Chicago," the Indian Consulate in Chicago posted on X.

Extending heartfelt wishes for Holi, Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, took to X and posted: "May this sacred festival of colours bring happiness, health, and new energy into all your lives, and spread abundant joy and love across the vast land of India."

Highlighting the festival's universal message of triumph of good over evil, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar on Tuesday took his social media platform X and said, "Wishing a happy Holi to all celebrating in India and around the world. Like in Purim, which is celebrated today in Israel, mostly in shelters, good always prevails over evil, and light overcomes darkness".

The festival of colours, known as Holi, is one of the most awaited Hindu festivals, celebrated with enthusiasm and joy. Also referred to as Rangwali Holi, Badi Holi, and Dhulandi, this vibrant festival marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter.

--IANS

scor/sd/
Thiruvananthapuram, March 4 : Kerala's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist enters a decisive phase this week as its State Secretariat and Committee convene on Thursday and Friday to finalise candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections.

According to a senior party leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, the two-day deliberations will produce a draft list that will be forwarded to the 14 district committees for discussions at various organisational levels.

The feedback will then return to the State Committee for ratification, paving the way for an official announcement by state Secretary M.V. Govindan early next week.

Candidate selection, party sources said, follows a calibrated strategy balancing winnability, organisational discipline, and leadership renewal.

In constituencies considered a "sure shot" for the party, the CPI-M has largely adhered to a two-term norm to facilitate generational change.

This approach previously saw the induction of A. N. Shamseer from Thalassery, long regarded as the political bastion of former state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

Speculation has swirled around senior leaders such as K.K. Shailaja, who has represented multiple sure-shot constituencies, and Shamseer, who has also completed two terms.

Party insiders indicate that while the two-term principle remains a broad guideline, exceptions could be made in constituencies where specific candidates significantly enhance victory prospects.

At the national level, the partyas Politburo has reportedly decided that only one member of the top body will contest the Kerala polls -- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

This effectively rules out other senior Politburo leaders, including A. Vijayaraghavan, whose name had surfaced in media discussions.

Notably absent from the emerging shortlist are several veteran figures, including leaders from Kannur such as M.V. Jayarajan, E.P.Jayarajan, and P. Jayarajan, as well as former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, signalling the partyas intent to recalibrate its electoral lineup.

Despite the churn, the leadership projects confidence.

Vijayan has publicly expressed optimism about securing a historic third consecutive term for the Left Democratic Front, while reiterating the partyas convention of not naming a chief ministerial candidate ahead of elections.

While last-minute changes cannot be entirely ruled out, party insiders suggest the probability of major alterations remains slim, setting the stage for what could be a closely watched generational transition within Keralaas ruling party.
Gandhinagar/Ahmedabad, March 4 : Gujarat has set a target of vaccinating 5.50 lakh adolescent girls against cervical cancer under a statewide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation campaign launched from Ahmedabad, following the national roll-out announced last week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the nationwide drive on February 28 in Rajasthan.

The Gujarat leg of the campaign was formally launched at Sola Civil Hospital by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in the presence of Health Minister Praful Pansheriya.

Health officials said the campaign is aimed at protecting 14-year-old girls from cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among Indian women and accounts for around 17.7 per cent of cases.

National data indicate that one woman in India is diagnosed with cervical cancer every four minutes and 12 seconds, and one dies from the disease every seven minutes.

Nearly 70 to 75 per cent of patients are diagnosed at the second or third stage, and the disease remains a leading cause of death among women aged 30 to 69 years.

In 2022, India recorded an estimated 1,27,526 new cases and 79,906 deaths linked to cervical cancer. Gujarat reported 4,928 new cases and 1,781 deaths during the same period.

Experts at the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) said concerns and misinformation surrounding the HPV vaccine are unfounded.

They stated that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing infection from high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases.

Doctors explained that persistent HPV infection can develop into Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) over 10 to 20 years and may eventually progress to invasive cancer, making early vaccination a critical preventive measure.

Citing global evidence, they referred to findings by the World Health Organization's Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, which has reported no causal link between HPV vaccination and infertility or serious side effects.

The vaccine has also been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In India, its inclusion in public health programmes has been supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization.

More than 100 countries, including Australia, United Kingdom and Canada, have incorporated the HPV vaccine into their national immunisation programmes.

Following the introduction of the vaccine in Australia in 2007, up to a 90 per cent reduction in HPV infections and high-grade cervical lesions has been reported.

Research in the United Kingdom has shown up to an 87 per cent reduction in cervical cancer incidence among girls vaccinated at 12 to 13 years of age.

State officials said the vaccine, which costs about Rs 3,000 per dose in the private market, is being provided free of charge under the programme at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore to the exchequer.

A total of 2,297 cold chain points have been activated to maintain storage temperatures between +2AC and +8AC.

Medical staff and emergency medicines have been stationed at vaccination centres to manage minor adverse reactions, while real-time monitoring of coverage and outcomes is being conducted through the TeCHO+ and SAFE-VAC digital platforms.

The campaign aligns with the World Health Organizationas 90-70-90 target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, which calls for 90 per cent vaccination coverage among adolescent girls, screening of 70 per cent of women at ages 35 and 45, and treatment for 90 per cent of identified cases.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 4 : Iran's Embassy in New Delhi has announced that a condolence book will be opened in memory of late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Imam Ali Khamenei, who was "martyred" on February 28, during joint United States and Israeli military strikes on Tehran.

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) Iran's Embassy in New Delhi has announced that a condolence book will be opened in memory of late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Imam Ali Khamenei, who was "martyred" on February 28, during joint United States and Israeli military strikes on Tehran.

Iranian state television and official statements described the Supreme Leader's death as an act of martyrdom that occurred amid escalating conflict.

The eighty-six-year-old cleric, who had guided the nation since 1989, lost his life in airstrikes that also targeted several other high-ranking officials. Several members of his family were also killed.

Across Iran, days of national mourning began immediately, accompanied by public declarations of continued resistance and unity in the face of what the government called an act of aggression.

In response to the profound loss felt by the Iranian people and supporters worldwide, the embassy in New Delhi has invited members of the Indian public, members of the diplomatic community, and anyone wishing to express sympathy to visit the premises and sign the condolence book.

The gesture allows people to record their respects and offer personal messages during this time of sorrow for the Iranian nation and the wider Muslim community, it said.

The condolence book will remain open on three specific days. It will be available on Thursday (March 5), Friday (March 6), and Monday (March 9).

On each of these days, the book can be signed between 10 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

The embassy expressed gratitude in advance for all expressions of solidarity and condolence that arrive during this difficult period.

Similar condolence arrangements have been set up at Iranian diplomatic missions in various countries, underscoring the widespread attention that Ayatollah Khamenei's martyrdom has received and the Islamic Republic's emphasis on collective strength and resolve at a moment of significant challenge.

The opening of the book in New Delhi stands as one small but meaningful way for friends of Iran in India to participate in the shared mourning and to affirm support for the nation at this juncture in its history.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, March 4 : Indian stock markets may look weak on the surface, but the current phase offers a strong buying opportunity for long-term investors, a report said on Wednesday.

The global brokerage Morgan Stanley believed that structural fundamentals of the Indian economy remain intact and earnings growth is set to improve further in 2026, even as markets struggle with near-term volatility.

The report said Indian equities are reacting more sharply to negative news than to positive developments, creating doubts among investors about possible structural problems.

However, Morgan Stanley disagrees with this view and sees the weakness as a result of market positioning and technical factors rather than any deep-rooted economic trouble.

According to the report, corporate earnings growth is already turning after a six-quarter slowdown and is likely to accelerate into 2026.

This improvement is expected to be supported by reflationary policies from the Reserve Bank of India and the government.

Rate cuts, bank deregulation, liquidity infusion, continued capital expenditure, tax relief measures and a relatively growth-supportive Budget are all contributing to a more supportive macroeconomic environment.

The brokerage noted that Indiaas post-Covid hawkish policy stance has now eased, creating better conditions for growth.

It also highlighted that trade agreements and improving relations with China have added to the positive backdrop.

The Indian currency is seen as undervalued, and domestic investor flows remain strong, offering stability to the market.

Despite these positives, stock performance has been disappointing. The trailing 12-month returns are among the weakest historically, and relative valuations are near previous lows.

The report noted that Indiaas share in global corporate profits is significantly higher than its weight in global indices, and the Sensex is trading at historically cheap levels when measured against gold. Foreign portfolio investor (FPI) positioning has also weakened in recent months.

Morgan Stanley attributed the recent underperformance partly to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Although Indiaas oil intensity has reduced compared to earlier years, the country still depends on oil imports. Any uncertainty in oil supply chains or production impacts investor sentiment.

The absence of a clear artificial intelligence (AI) theme in Indian markets has also weighed on performance, as global investors chase AI-linked stocks elsewhere. Some investors are concerned that AI disruption could affect Indiaas services exports.
Geneva, March 4 : For the advocates of global disarmament, the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan undermines both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the humanitarian logic behind the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which categorically rejects the legitimacy of nuclear weapons under any security framework, a report has highlighted.

"On 17 September 2025, Saudi Arabia - a member of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty - and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. The pact commits both states to treat any attack on one as an attack on both, formalising a long-standing security partnership and signalling a shift in Gulf statesa security away from exclusive reliance on the United States," a report in 'International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons' (ICAN) detailed.

Although the official text of the agreement has not been published, when asked whether it included the use of Pakistanas nuclear arsenal, the report quoted a Saudi official as saying: "This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means."

"For its part, Pakistan has not officially said it has extended nuclear protection to Saudi Arabia. Yet the context and subsequent comments have inevitably raised the question: Has Pakistan, for the first time, effectively extended a nuclear umbrella to a non-nuclear ally a" and what precedent does that set?" the report questioned.

The report cited analysts at London-based think tank Chatham House who warned that the pact "sets a precedent for extended deterrence" by the nuclear-armed Pakistan outside the NPT, despite no direct reference to nuclear weapons.

According to Pakistani media, Pakistanas Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said: "What we have, and the capabilities we possess, will be made available under this agreement", a remark widely seen as referring to the countryas nuclear forces.

While he later insisted that nuclear weapons were "not on the radar", the report said, the senior Saudi official described the deal as a comprehensive defence agreement without explicitly ruling out nuclear possibilities.

"The use of nuclear weapons would indiscriminately maim and kill people around the world, but policies about nuclear use are kept secret from citizens of nuclear-armed and nuclear-allied states, from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to Germany and the United States. This is a problem. The public deserves to have the information to scrutinise nuclear policies and discuss their implications for a humanitarian catastrophe," said Alicia Sanders-Zakre, ICAN's Head of Policy.

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No progress yet on restoring vandalized Ukrainian burials in Poland, but this year should yield different results  Alforov

Alexander Alferov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. February 25, 2026 | Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko

Oleksandr Alforov, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, expects that 2026 will bring results regarding the restoration of vandalized Ukrainian burial sites in Poland.

"This is a fairly direct question, but it lacks a simple answer because it stems from another issuethe attitude of Polish society toward these objects. There is a law that protects some sites, and another that says these sites cannot be under protection It seems exhumations and reburials have begun, and a major Congress of Historians is being prepared. However, unfortunately, among our Polish friends, the focus of identifying a historical enemy has occasionally begun to shift. The Polish people suffered greatly from Russia, but today, it seems to me, the focus can strangely shift toward Ukraine. I cannot say what this is related to," Alforov said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He noted that the issue is not just whether the sites will be restored, but how Polish society views them.

"It is a very difficult story because the degree of anti-Ukrainian sentiment, fueled by the escalation of the situation regarding the UPA and Bandera, is already high enough. There are also negative examples where the attitude toward Ukrainians as a people is derived solely from the promotion of UPA, OUN, and Bandera themes in the Polish environment. But we need to find common ground with Poland so that not only societies find peace, but also the civilian victims of 19391947," the head of UIPN stated.

When asked specifically if there has been progress in restoring and protecting Ukrainian burial sites in Poland, Alforov admitted: "One can say there has been no progress. This year, I am sure, will yield different results."

He emphasized that he would make every effort to ensure that search operations and exhumations continue and expects the same from his Polish colleagues.

"I am very glad our presidents found common ground in the context of honoring victims. I am very pleased that our institutes of national remembrancePolish and Ukrainianare moving toward cooperation and dialogue. We have different histories. But we are two mature nations that have been neighbors for a millennium. Shared pain should not hinder the future," said the head of the Institute.

As previously reported, in 2024, then-head of the UIPN Anton Drobovych stated that the roadmap for overcoming the crisis in historical relations between Ukraine and Poland must include the restoration of vandalized Ukrainian burials. At that time, former institute head and MP Volodymyr Viatrovych argued that resolving disputes over the shared past had devolved into unilateral obligations for Ukraine, noting a lack of reciprocity regarding the honoring of deceased Ukrainians in Poland.
Mumbai, March 4 : Amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, the Maharashtra government has launched a high-priority mission to assist and evacuate Indian tourists and professionals from the state stranded in the Gulf region, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state council on Wednesday.

He announced that the state is working in close coordination with the Central Government to ensure the safety of its citizens. Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan has been officially tasked with overseeing the rescue operations and providing immediate relief.

CM Fadnavis said that there has been a dedicated support system, diplomatic coordination and community mobilisation.

"A WhatsApp helpline has been established to provide real-time assistance. Minister Girish Mahajan is reportedly in direct contact with those stranded via video calls to assess their conditions. The state government is collaborating with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Embassies. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been issued to citizens regarding safety measures. Local 'Marathi Mandals' and other Indian community organizations in the Gulf have been activated to provide ground-level support, including food and shelter," he added.

The chief minister addressed specific issues in Kuwait, where transit passengers faced visa complications. Efforts are underway to provide them with temporary accommodation and essentials.

CM Fadnavis noted that while some airspaces remain closed, Air India and other commercial carriers have begun gradual operations wherever safety permits.

"We are prioritising the safe return of our people. While certain airspaces are currently unsafe, we are arranging transport as soon as routes open up. Our Chief of Protocol is also working closely with embassies to streamline the process," he stated.

He also commended Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's party initiatives for independently facilitating the return of some citizens, calling it a "praiseworthy effort."

Addressing concerns over the potential economic fallout, CM Fadnavis reassured the public regarding fuel security. He confirmed that India maintains a two-month strategic fuel reserve, suggesting that an immediate hike in fuel prices is unlikely despite the Middle Eastern volatility.

CM Fadnavis concluded by reiterating the Modi government's track record of successful evacuations over the past decade, expressing confidence that every Indian student, tourist, and professional will be brought home safely in the coming days.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Yangon, March 4 : The inauguration of the India-assisted project for the construction of the three-storey literary centre, "Sarsobeikman building", worth approximately $3.77 million, was held in Myanmar's Yangon city on Wednesday.

The initiative, aimed at the preservation and development of literary traditions of the people of Myanmar, underscored India's sustained commitment to supporting the socio-economic development of the Southeast Asian nation.

According to the Indian Embassy in Yangon, the inauguration ceremony included a special video address by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, while Myanmaras Prime Minister U Nyo Saw attended as the Chief Guest.

Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur, and several Myanmar ministers and senior officials were also present.

Additionally, well-known writers, scholars and artists from across Myanmaras literary and cultural landscape, along with representatives of the Indian diaspora in Myanmar, attended the event.

"The three-storey Sarsobeikman edifice is designed to showcase the rich evolution of Myanmar's literary and artistic traditions - from the Bagan era through the colonial period to the present day. The complex includes exhibition spaces, archival displays, a mini theatre and a dedicated hall for literary and cultural events, and is expected to serve as a vibrant centre for promoting literature, arts, and creative exchanges," the Embassy said.

"It also brings out the literary connection between India and Myanmar, particularly through texts on Buddhism and on other shared spiritual and cultural traditions, inter alia in the Pali language," it added.

The Indian Embassy noted that the project forms part of Indiaas broader development partnership framework.

aAs a dedicated institution for literary preservation and artistic expression, the Sarsobeikman edifice is expected to serve as a lasting platform for intellectual engagement, cultural dialogue, and creative collaboration," it mentioned.

This landmark project further reflects the "shared civilizational ties and close bilateral cooperation that continue to strengthen the enduring bonds of friendship and mutual goodwill" between India and Myanmar.
Mumbai, March 4 : Actor Rajesh Tailang is mourning the loss of his mother. On Wednesday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a throwback picture of his mother, as he informed his followers of her demise.

He wrote in the caption, "Whoever brought into this world, left this world today. Mother is no more".

The actor is known for his work in the International Emmy-winning streaming show 'Delhi Crime'. He began acting at a young age and was associated with theatre before transitioning to screen roles. Over the years, he has built a reputation for portraying grounded, realistic characters rather than commercial lead roles. He gained wider recognition for playing Inspector Bhupendra Singh in the Netflix series 'Delhi Crime', which won the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series. His performance was noted for restraint and authenticity.

He has also appeared in series such as 'Mirzapur' and 'Bandish Bandits', further strengthening his presence in the streaming space. In films, he has featured in projects like 'Mangal Pandey: The Rising' and 'Mukkabaaz'. The actor is known for disciplined performances and character depth, Rajesh Tailang remains a dependable supporting actor in contemporary Indian cinema and OTT content.

Earlier, in a conversation with IANS during the promotions of 'Delhi Crime', the actor had shared that he wants to explore something out of the scope of the goody good characters that he often plays.

Apart from his character in another massively hit show 'Mirzapur', which has grey shades, the actor nails the white characters with absolute finesse.

Talking about such characters, he earlier told IANS, "Now I am a little bored, that is why I am doing something different. I have done comedy and I am doing a negative character as well, but yes, but many times I feel that doing a positive character is more difficult, because it is more difficult to keep an interest in the character".

In the show, Rajesh portrays the role of Inspector Bhupendra Singh. 'Delhi Crime' stars Shefali as Vartika Chaturvedi, a sharp police officer as she leads her team through intense investigations under immense public and political pressure.
Surat, March 4 : Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi celebrated Holi with elderly residents at an old age home in Surat, spending time with them, applying colours and seeking their blessings.

Describing the visit as more than a formal engagement, Sanghavi said the celebration was an emotional moment for him.

"Today is the sacred occasion of Holi. I extend my heartfelt greetings to all the citizens of my state," he said.

"On this festival, families come together and joyfully apply different colours to one another. Today, along with my small family, I have come to celebrate Holi with my larger family... the elderly members living in this old age home," he added.

He said elders had played a significant role in shaping society by instilling values and bringing smiles to the faces of their sons and daughters.

"We must pray that the colours of happiness remain in everyone's life," he noted.

Calling himself fortunate to share the occasion with the residents, Sanghavi said, "For the elderly, I am like a son, and I visit them during every festival throughout the year. The tears in their eyes today were of happiness, and they are like blessings for me."

He extended Holi greetings to people across the state.

Responding to questions on the prevailing war situation, the Deputy Chief Minister said the government has made proper arrangements to bring back Indian citizens safely.

Referring to evacuation operations during the Ukraine crisis, he said the country had earlier ensured the safe return of its youth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In such difficult situations, active planning and arrangements are made to help people. I thank the Prime Minister for ensuring that people from our state have returned safely, and I am grateful for his leadership," he said.

In Mehsana, Gujarat Minister Rushikesh Patel also conveyed Holi greetings, noting that the festival of colours is celebrated with enthusiasm across India and referring to a long-standing Dhuleti tradition in Visnagar where groups gather in a playful and energetic atmosphere as part of local custom.
Hyderabad, March 4 : The makers of director Karthik Dandu's highly anticipated mythological thriller 'Vrushakarma', featuring actor Naga Chaitanya in the lead, on Wednesday released actor Sathya's look in the film and disclosed that he plays a character called Balaji.

The announcement comes as part of the birthday celebrations of actor Sathya.

Using the film's official handle on social media, the makers released the first look poster of Sathya as Balaji and wrote, "Team #Vrushakarma wishes their Balaji aka the super talented actor #Satya a very Happy Birthday. #VrushakarmaGlimpse out Tomorrow, MARCH 5th, 2026 at 12:12 PM . Launch Event at Prasadas PCX Screen from 10:30 AM onwards."

It may be recalled that the makers had earlier revealed that actor Jayaram plays a character called Professor Ranganath in the film.

The makers of the film had released the title of the film on Naga Chaitanya's birthday last year. The makers further unveiled the first look poster of Naga Chaitanya from "Vrushakarma".

The poster featured him in a raw and fierce avatar.Naga Chaitanya was seen flaunting his muscular physique, even as he sported an intense expression.

Sharing the first look poster of the film on Instagram, Naga Chaitanya had penned, "#vrushakarma it is for #nc24 (sic)".

The Karthik Dandu directorial is being backed on a massive scale by producers BVSN Prasad and Sukumar under the banners of Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra LLP (SVCC) and Sukumar Writings, respectively.

Meenakshi Chowdhury will be seen romancing Naga Chaitanya in the movie, which will also feature Sparsh Srivastava of 'Laapataa Ladies' fame in a crucial role.

The film also boasts of a strong technical team. The story for 'Vrushakarma' has been penned by director Sukumar. Cinematography for the film is by the talented Neil D Cunha while Ajaneesh Loknath has scored the film's music. The editing department is being headed by the National Award winner Navin Nooli. The Art direction for the forthcoming mythological flick has been done by Sri Nagendra Tangala, who earlier worked in Naga Chaitanya's 'Thandel'.
New Delhi, March 4 : In a social media post amid the global fallout from the US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya has drawn a historical parallel to underscore the need for diplomatic restraint. a

Malviya, who heads the BJP's National Information and Technology Department and co-incharges West Bengal operations, shared a quote from India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding the execution of Hungarian revolutionary Imre Nagy in 1958. a

The post, which garnered over 1,600 views within hours, appears to subtly defend the Indian government's measured response to the recent events in Iran. a

The quote, attributed to Nehru in a letter dated around June 1958, reads: "While this is my clear opinion, it will have to be considered in what form and on what occasion I should express it. I agree with you that we need not make any governmental pronouncement on this subject, at this stage at least." a

Malviya accompanied the text with a historical photograph, believed to be a black-and-white image of Nehru engaged in correspondence, symbolising the era's diplomatic deliberations. a

For context, Imre Nagy, the reformist Prime Minister during Hungary's 1956 uprising against Soviet control, was executed on June 16, 1958, by communist authorities in Budapest on charges of treason. a

His death, two years after the failed revolution, drew international condemnation but elicited a cautious stance from Nehru, who was navigating the early days of the Non-Aligned Movement. a

Nehru's reluctance to issue an immediate official statement reflected India's commitment to non-interference and balanced foreign policy amid Cold War pressures. Malviya's invocation comes at a sensitive juncture. a

The death of 86-year-old Khamenei on February 28, during precision airstrikes on Tehran, has sparked intense domestic debate in India. a

Opposition parties, including Congress, have criticised the Modi government for its perceived silence, accusing it of aligning too closely with Israel and the US due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit there. a

Some have demanded a stronger condemnation of the strikes, viewing them as an assault on sovereignty, while others urge solidarity with Iran, a key oil supplier and strategic partner. a

By resurfacing Nehru's words, Malviya seems to argue for patience and strategic timing in official reactions, echoing the Congress icon's approach. a

"Nehru understood the perils of premature pronouncements in volatile international crises," Malviya wrote in the post, without explicitly linking it to Iran but in a thread that references ongoing "global realignments." a

He added a parenthetical note on Nagy's fate, highlighting the Hungarian's role as a symbol of resistance against authoritarian reprisal. a
Quetta, March 4 : Another Baloch civilian was extrajudicially killed by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, a leading human rights organisation said on Wednesday.

This latest incident comes against the backdrop of a growing wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances across the province

Human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) revealed that the dead body of 17-year-old Yahya Baloch was dumped in the Washbood area of Panjgur district on Tuesday, after five months of being forcibly disappeared.

According to the rights body on October 1, 2025, Yahya was subjected to enforced disappearance at the hands of a Pakistan-backed death squad from Airport Road at Chitkan, in Panjgur.

"This is not an isolated case; it exposes the ongoing human rights crisis in Balochistan. Enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings continue even during Ramadan, a month of mercy and justice. Baloch families face enforced disappearance and the brutal killing of their loved ones," the BYC stated.

The BYC called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to urgently take notice, investigate these human rights violations across Balochistan, and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Earlier on Tuesday, Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, highlighted that at least nine civilians were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces across Balochistan.

Paank mentioned that 17-year-old Shoaib Ahmed Qambrani, a student from the Killi Qambrani region of the provincial capital Quetta, was forcibly disappeared by Pakistan's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) from his home on Monday.

In a separate incident on the same day, 45-year-old Rahim Bakhsh, a businessman, was allegedly taken by personnel of Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) from his home in the Minaz area of Kech district.

Highlighting the atrocities against civilians, the rights body stated that four other Baloch youths were forcibly disappeared by FC from their homes in Minaz on Monday.

The victims were identified as 17-year-old Ali Ahmad, 19-year-old Yasir, 17-year-old Asif and 18-year-old Abdul Rehman.

Paank further mentioned that two brothers, Zakria and Rehan, were forcibly disappeared on February 26 by FC and CTD during a raid in their house in Turbat city of Kech.

Additionally, 18-year-old Saddam, a student, was allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance at the hands of CTD from Brewery Road in Quetta on February 16.

Balochistan continues to reel under relentless atrocities by the Pakistani forces, marked by enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch civilians at an unprecedented level.
Bengaluru, March 4 : BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra has warned that the government must fill vacant posts by implementing internal reservation and create employment opportunities for youth, failing which the BJP will be compelled to launch an intense agitation.

Speaking to the media at the BJP state office, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru on Wednesday, Vijayendra said the reservation limit has been increased from 50 per cent to 56 per cent.

"Whether you fill 50,000 vacancies or one lakh vacancies is up to you. Our demand is that all vacant posts must be filled. The BJP government increased the reservation to 56 per cent and ensured justice to all communities. On that basis, these posts must be filled by considering internal reservation for oppressed and backward communities," he asserted.

It can be noted that the state government has announced that it would start recruitment for more than 50,000 posts following the agitation by government job aspirants.

He accused the Chief Minister of repeatedly doing injustice to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. "If you have even a little concern for these communities, do not cite court-related technicalities. Provide employment and ensure justice to them," he urged.

He called upon the government to deliver justice to backward classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and youth from all sections of society.

Criticising the government, he alleged that while claiming to protect communities, it was simultaneously harming them, terming it an "unpardonable offence."

He objected to the state government's reported move to proceed with recruitment under the old reservation structure, alleging that it was "tantamount to igniting unrest in the state."

Vijayendra cautioned the Chief Minister against testing the patience of oppressed communities.

"We do not know how long you will remain in the Chief Minister's chair. But do not provoke oppressed and backward communities. If vacant posts are filled without implementing internal reservation, the government will be responsible for any developments that follow," he warned, urging the Chief Minister to take an appropriate decision.

He said youth were already staging protests as many were crossing the age limit for employment. "Their patience is running out. The Chief Minister, who is in a position to deliver justice, must protect his credibility by addressing their concerns," he said.

Vijayendra also announced that a series of protests would begin in Bengaluru from March 6, coinciding with the start of the Assembly session.

He said Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers would soon launch protests, as the government had not honoured its assurances. Guest lecturers were also preparing to take to the streets over unfulfilled promises, he added.

Referring to the 108 ambulance service, he claimed that ambulances were lying defunct and employees had not been paid salaries.

He pointed to the garbage crisis in Bengaluru and said civic workers were also preparing to protest, adding that a series of agitations would unfold in the coming days. "The government has completely failed. Anarchy has been created in the state," he alleged.

Vijayendra further claimed that even MLAs from the ruling Congress party were rebelling.

"If you have to arrange foreign tours to pacify your own party MLAs, it shows that governance has collapsed. Law and order has deteriorated. Karnataka has been deprived of development. Even ruling party MLAs are rising in revolt. This is the reality," he said targeting Chief Minister Siddaramiah.

He urged the Chief Minister to stop blaming the Central government and instead address the pressing issues within the state.

Former minister B. Sriramulu, state vice-president Harathalu Halappa, and MLC Hemalatha Nayak were present at the press conference.
Mumbai, March 4 : Following the announcement of his candidature for the Rajya Sabha, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde on Wednesday expressed his gratitude via social media, reaffirming his dedication to the party's mission and the nation.

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Following the announcement of his candidature for the Rajya Sabha, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde on Wednesday expressed his gratitude via social media, reaffirming his dedication to the partyas mission and the nation.

In a post on his X handle Tawde stated, "Infinite thanks and gratitude! I sincerely thank the senior leadership and the Central Election Committee for selecting me as a Rajya Sabha candidate.

"Under the guidance of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of National President Nitin Nabin, we remain forever committed to serving the national interest.

"My heartfelt thanks to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State President Ravindra Chavan for this nomination. I am firm and committed to fulfilling this new responsibility with complete dedication and loyalty."

The decision to field Vinod Tawde for the Rajya Sabha is widely viewed as a recognition of his organizational prowess and unwavering party loyalty. His strategic performance in Bihar and other states played a decisive role in this promotion. After Nitish Kumar exited the NDA in 2022, the BJP entrusted Tawde with the critical role of Bihar Incharge.

In a politically complex state, Tawde strengthened the partyas infrastructure down to the booth level. He is hailed as a chief architect of the NDA's resounding success in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

Through meticulous planning, effective "social engineering," and seamless coordination with allies, he solidified the NDA's grip on the state, cementing his position among the most powerful BJP leaders in New Delhi.

Vinod Tawdeas political career began as a full-time activist with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), where he led student movements at both Mumbai and national levels.

He served as Mumbai BJP President from 2000 to 2003. He was a long time member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC); served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Council in 2011.

He held key portfolios including Education, Cultural Affairs, Sports, and Marathi Language in the Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet from 2014a"2019.

After being denied a ticket in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, he was later inducted into the BJP Central Team in 2020.

He has since successfully managed responsibilities as the incharge for Haryana and Bihar, and currently serves as the election incharge for Kerala.

The BJP has nominated Tawde from Maharashtra for the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections. Alongside him, the party has fielded Ramdas Athawale, Maya Ivnate, and Ramrao Wadkute.

Given the current strength of the BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Tawdeas victory is considered certain. This election will mark his first entry into the Upper House of Parliament.
New Delhi, March 4 : Elon Musk-owned social media platform X on Wednesday announced major changes to its creator revenue-sharing programme as it steps up efforts to control the spread of AI-generated content, especially during times of conflict.

The move comes as the platform faces rising concerns over misinformation amid the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

In a post, X's Product Head Nikita Bier said the company is revising its Creator Revenue Sharing policies to ensure that authentic information remains accessible, particularly during wartime.

He said that with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence tools, it has become very easy to create realistic videos that can mislead people.

"Last night, we found a guy in Pakistan that was managing 31 accounts posting AI war videos. All were hacked and the usernames were changed on Feb 27 to 'Iran War Monitor' or some derivative," Bier said.

"We are getting much faster at detecting thisand also eliminating the incentive to do this," he added.

Under the new rules, users who post AI-generated videos of an armed conflict without clearly disclosing that the content was made using AI will be suspended from the revenue-sharing programme for 90 days.

Bier said repeated violations will lead to a permanent suspension from the programme. He added that such posts could be identified through Community Notes or metadata and other signals from generative AI tools.

The platform has also introduced a "Made with AI" label, which is displayed on posts to inform viewers that the content includes AI-generated elements.

The company hopes this step will improve transparency and reduce the risk of manipulation.

The policy update comes at a time when geopolitical tensions are high following coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, which reportedly led to the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Amid these developments, both Elon Musk and Bier recently said that traffic on X has reached a new all-time high, as more users turn to the platform for updates.
Alexander Alferov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. February 25, 2026 | Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko

Oleksandr Alforov, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, believes that the spontaneous folk memorial to those killed for Ukraine on Maidan Nezalezhnosti needs proper design, specifically conservation and memorialization.

"Todays content of spontaneous memorialization often does not correspond to what we want to convey. It is a difficult topic to touch upon, but the memorialization of war is not just banners with Defenders, and it is not just occupying central city squares to demonstrate pain. Memorialization is about the boundaries of institutional remembering for the future," Alforov said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

When asked how to normalize the situation with folk memorials on Maidan Nezalezhnosti and at the Wall of Memory of St. Michaels Monastery, he noted that the Institute is currently working on the latter.

"We will transform this wall from a site of public tribute to a state level. Work has been ongoing for several months. I am convinced that by October 2026, for the Day of Defenders, we will be able to present an updated version that will have a state character rather than a spontaneous or public one," he added.

Regarding the memorial on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), he said that the situation is very complex.

"The state cannot erect memorials now, not because of inability, but because of the ongoing war. But ultimately, the memorial on Maidan needs proper design. Unfortunately, today we see unpleasant situations: whose photo will be higher, one plot here, another there. Moreover, weather conditions are destroying it," Alforov stated.

In his opinion, the spontaneous memorial must be preserved and memorialized.

"After the war ends, Maidan Nezalezhnosti will obviously become a very popular place for guests of the capital and civilians. It is my deep conviction that after the war, a symbolic group or small complex should be created to remind people of what this place was and what it meant for Ukrainians who came and placed flags in honor of their fallen children, husbands, and brothers. But the memorial itself needs to be shifted so that something more stable and symbolic stands in place of the flags, allowing the state to maintain the site. And, of course, the flags themselves must be memorialized, as they represent a colossal source for research," he noted.

Alforov also stated that after the war, much will need to be put in order, including local government actions such as banners with photographs of fallen Defenders, which he believes sometimes completely change the face of a city.

"I drive through Rivne and see that the central square no longer exists. This is about memory and about today, but we will eventually conclude that after the victory, we will begin creating memorial sites using methods proposed by the state. These banners with photos belong to a different tradition. It is understood by many, but it is not the tradition that suits us," he said.

As previously reported, Nikita Poturaiev, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, also considers it necessary to transform the folk memorial at St. Michaels and establish spatial boundaries for the memorial on Maidan. Former head of the institute Anton Drobovych suggested resolving the issue by offering citizens a better alternative site, while Minister of Veterans Affairs Natalia Kalmykova believes these spontaneous memorials should remain where they are but become less temporary.
Mumbai, March 4 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced that the Maharashtra government will further improve the lift inspection system to facilitate quicker evacuations during emergencies.

"There are currently about 2.10 lakh lifts operating in the state, and 25,000 new lifts have been approved recently. At present, limited staff are responsible for inspecting all lifts. The government has therefore decided to create 519 new posts, as it is not possible to inspect such a large number of lifts with the existing manpower. However, considering the increasing number of lifts, these posts may also become insufficient in the future," he said.

He was replying to a question raised by members Niranjan Davkhare and Sachin Ahir regarding the regular maintenance and repair of emergency lifts in housing societies across the state.

He informed the House that the state government will implement comprehensive reforms to make the emergency lift inspection system in the state more efficient.

CM Fadnavis said the government intends to establish an authorised and recognised third-party system for elevator inspections, similar to the accredited third-party audit system for fire safety that has been introduced in Mumbai.

Through this system, it will be mandatory to conduct technical inspections and display valid inspection certificates inside elevators. It will also be necessary to maintain a clear record in elevators indicating when each lift was inspected and the validity of the certification, he added.

The Chief Minister said that a bill has been introduced in the state legislature during the ongoing Budget Session to enhance the powers of the concerned officers for lift inspections. Considering the increasing number of lifts, further amendments may be required in the future, he noted.

CM Fadnavis further announced that a high-level committee will be constituted to determine maintenance standards for elevators, inspection frequency, technical norms and the responsibilities of elevator manufacturing companies.

The committee will include the Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), commissioners of other municipal corporations and officials from the electricity department. The committee will be given a clear mandate, and a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for elevator inspections will be prepared within the next six months, he said.

Meanwhile, responding to another question on private moneylenders and microfinance, the Chief Minister said there are two types of moneylenders in the state -- licensed private lenders and illegal operators.

All loans issued by illegal moneylenders are unlawful, and citizens should feel free to lodge complaints in such cases, as the government will support them, he said.

CM Fadnavis added that if licensed moneylenders collect interest beyond the prescribed rate or violate regulatory provisions, action will be taken against them.

"Full relief will be provided to the affected individuals, and if necessary, criminal action will be initiated by cancelling the moneylenderas licence," he said.
Kolkata, March 4 : Priyadarshini Hakim, daughter of West Bengal Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, returned here from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, saying it was a relief to be back home even as many Indians remain stranded in the region amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.

Speaking to IANS, she said: "It feels good to be back. Our flight arrived early in the morning. My two sisters and my father were observing Roza. Despite observing Roza, they came early in the morning to receive us."

She expressed concern for others who have not been able to return yet.

"Many people are still stranded there. I met two friends from Kolkata while I was there. When I managed to get a ticket, I immediately informed them, but by the time they tried to book, the tickets were already sold out. I also have several friends in Dubai who are stuck. I have been in touch with them, and they are also trying to return," she said.

Priyadarshini said the family had travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan.

"We had gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Performing Umrah during Ramadan holds special significance. The children also had a five-day holiday, so we planned the trip. When we reached there, it was peaceful. Then we came to know that the war had started," she said.

She added that although they were concerned, they tried to remain calm.

"We were not very scared. When you go on a religious pilgrimage of any faith, you surrender yourself in a way to a higher power -- God. Of course, our family members back home were worried," she said.

Recalling her daughter's reaction to reports of violence, she said the situation had a deep emotional impact on the child.

"My daughter does not understand anything about war. She was asking her father what war is. When she saw on Instagram that 165 girls were killed in an attack in Iran, she became very scared. My daughter herself is just seven years old. After seeing the graves, she was terrified and kept asking me, 'Mama, can someone really kill others like this?'"

She said she has been trying to reassure her child while staying in touch with friends and acquaintances still awaiting flights back to India.
Abu Dhabi, March 4 : The UAE's Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said that its air defence systems successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles and detected 129 drones, of which 121 were intercepted while eight fell within the country.

The ministry stated that since the start of the Iranian attack, 189 ballistic missiles launched towards the UAE have been detected, with 175 missiles destroyed, 13 falling into the sea and one missile landing within the territory of the state.

According to the statement released by the UAE's Ministry of Defence on X, 941 Iranian drones have been detected, of which 876 were intercepted, while 65 fell within the country. Eight cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed.

In the statement, the ministry said, "The attacks caused some collateral damage and resulted in three fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationalities, as well as 78 minor injuries among individuals of Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese and Afghan nationalities."

The ministry stated that sounds were heard in several parts of UAE due to the air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft intercepting drones and cruise missiles. Minor to moderate material damage was caused to a number of civilian facilities due to these operations.

The ministry condemned this military targeting terming it as a "blatant act of aggression and a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law."

It stated that the UAE reserves its full right to respond to this escalation and to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, its people and its residents, in a manner that safeguards its sovereignty, security and stability and protects its national interests and capabilities.

The UAE's Ministry of Defence reiterated that it is fully prepared and ready to address any threats and is taking all necessary measures to firmly confront anything that seeks to undermine the countryas security and stability. It further mentioned that safety of people remains a top priority that cannot be compromised. It advised people to obtain information from official sources in UAE and avoid circulating rumours or unverified information.

The latest conflict in West Asia began after joint US-Israel strikes on Iran on Saturday, aimed at degrading Tehran's missile capabilities and broader military infrastructure.

The opening wave of the operation killed senior figures in the Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a sweeping response from Iran in the form of drone and missile attacks targetting US assets, regional capitals and allied forces across West Asia.
New Delhi, March 4 : Malta's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for attending 11th Raisina Dialogue.

Welcoming Borg to India, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a post on X, wrote: "Warm welcome to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, Ian Borg for participation in the 11th Raisina Dialogue. India and Malta enjoy friendly and cordial relations anchored in strong people-to-people ties."

The Raisina Dialogue, set to be held from March 5-7, is India's premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held annually in New Delhi since 2016. The three-day event is organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The event convenes global leaders, policymakers, academics, industry experts, and journalists to discuss critical international issues.

In an official statement, ORF said, "This year's Raisina Dialogue returns with the theme that captures the moment we find ourselves in: Samskara  Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement. Samskara is the inheritance of identity that enables civilisations to assert who they are, accommodate the difference and advance through refinement."

Bilateral ties between India and Malta have been friendly, with a number of visits having been exchanged between the two sides, according to MEA. India was one of the first countries to recognise the independence of Malta in 1964 and established diplomatic relations with it in 1965.

Earlier in the day, Finnish President Alexander Stubb arrived in New Delhi for a three-day State Visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Stubb is the chief guest at the 11th Raisina Dialogue and will deliver the keynote address. In India until March 7, he is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes ministers, senior officials and prominent business leaders. This marks Finnish President's first visit to India since assuming office.
Kolkata, March 4 : Kolkata Police arrested 330 people on charges of indecent behaviour and drunkenness on the day of Dol Yatra, said the police on Wednesday.

Strict security arrangements were made across the city since Tuesday morning to avoid any untoward incident. Police picketing was increased at various places.

It is learnt that the arrests were made on the basis of specific complaints from different parts of the city, said sources in city police headquarters.

Along with this, the police also confiscated 25 litres of liquor. Not only Dol Yatra (Tuesday), but strict surveillance is being maintained by the Kolkata Police since morning today on the occasion of Holi.

Sources in the police said that about 4,000 policemen have been deployed across the city to ensure that there is no disturbance during the festival of colours.

Joint Police Commissioner and DC-rank police officers are also present on the streets. About 400 police pickets were set up on the streets during this time. Out of these, there are special police pickets at 86 important places, where 6 police officers and police personnel are deployed.

Apart from this, three police personnel are on picket at 312 other places. Also, today, on the day of Holi, a heavy radio flying squad is patrolling the roads. About 62 PCR vans along with a quick response team will patrol the city throughout the day.

Police bikes will patrol the vast roads of each police station area. The police have given special importance to the fact that no one goes to take a bath in the river Hooghly or water bodies across the city in a drunken state.

Since Tuesday, there has been special police security at 66 ghats and various water bodies in Kolkata. At least 24 of them have been deployed by Disaster Management Groups of Kolkata Police.

On the other hand, city police headquarters is alerting each police station so that the force reaches the spot within a short time if any disturbance is reported.

If there is a complaint of molestation in the name of playing with colours, the police station have been asked to take legal action immediately. At the same time, the police said that searches are underway to find illegal liquor.
Seattle, March 4 : A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was installed at the prestigious Mike Mansfield Center of the University of Montana in Missoula, according to a statement by the Indian Consulate in Seattle.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, along with the Consul General of India in Seattle, jointly unveiled the bust of the Mahatma in a gathering that was attended by leading officials from the state, including faculty and students of the University of Montana, as well as members of the Montana World Affairs Council.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Gianforte thanked the Consulate for presenting the bust of Mahatma as a gift from the Indian government to the US state.

Acknowledging the strengthening ties between India and Montana, he praised the ideals of nonviolence that Mahatma Gandhi espoused as much-needed values in the world order today.

Founded by an Act of the US Congress in 1983, the Mansfield Centre at the University, where the bust of Mahatma is placed, aims to foster globally minded leaders of integrity and supports youth and communities through civic and international education guided by ethical leadership, civic responsibility and an unconditional commitment to public good.

Later in the evening, students at the University of Montana also participated in another unique event celebrating the Indian festival of colours - Holi.

The University's Executive Director, Deena Mansour, welcomed the first Holi celebrations in Montana as marking "the arrival of spring and embracing unity".

A large number of Montanans played Holi using organic Indian colours before attending the Indian Film Festival, where Bollywood movie "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" was screened for young Montanan students. Participants also savoured the special Holi sweet 'gujiya' during the celebrations.

Earlier in the day, nearly 400 Montanan students also attended a briefing session on Brand India, where they were introduced to the flavours of Indian coffee, including ARAKU, and briefed about Indiaas ODOP during the Academic World Quest Conference hosted by the Montana World Affairs Council.

Since the establishment of the new Indian Consulate in Seattle, bilateral ties between India and Montana have deepened significantly. In June 2025, a ten-member delegation of young high-school students visited India on a two-week cultural immersion programme. Subsequently, a fifty-member delegation from Montana, including business executives, educationists and technology experts, participated in the Second Edition of the Invest India Business Forum organised in Seattle on January 25.

The installation of the Gandhi bust and the celebration of the Holi Festival in Montana added further momentum to strengthening India-Montana cultural and people-to-people ties.

The Gandhi bust unveiled at the Mansfield Center is the 4th such to be installed in the US Pacific North West and follows three other statues installed by the Consulate earlier, including at the Base of Space Needle in Seattle (October 2024), at State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska (December 2024), and another earlier one at Bellevue Public Library (October 2009).
Mumbai, March 4 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday told the Legislative Council that the state government will soon make a representation to the Centre seeking amendments to the rules framed in 2008 governing explosive factories.

Replying to a debate under Rule 93, the Chief Minister said it was essential to introduce automation-based measures in the handling of explosives to reduce human intervention and enhance worker safety.

"It is very important to take automation-based measures in the process of handling explosives. This will reduce human intervention and help safeguard the lives of workers. The state government will submit a detailed representation to the Central Government to amend the rules of 2008 regarding explosive factories," he said.

CM Fadnavis said that a massive explosion recently occurred at a private explosives factory of SBL Energy Limited at Raulgaon in Katol taluka of Nagpur district, in which 19 workers were killed and 17 others injured.

He said the families of the deceased will receive Rs 75 lakh from the company, Rs 5 lakh from the state government, and Rs 2 lakh from the Central Government.

The injured will be given Rs 25 lakh each, and the expenses for their medical treatment will also be covered.

"Extreme caution is required while handling highly flammable materials used in such operations. Therefore, there is a need to make the process automation-based to prevent such accidents in the future. It is necessary to reduce human intervention and create systems that allow operations to be carried out in a robotic or fully automated manner.

"The representation to be submitted to the Central Government will include proposals for revision of rules, measures to enhance worker safety through automation and steps to reduce human intervention. This will help prevent the recurrence of such serious accidents in the future," the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam, replying to another issue in the Legislative Council, said that a case has been registered in Pune against individuals found in possession of narcotic drugs for intoxication and illegal trade without valid licences or doctors' prescriptions.

The issue was raised by member Chitra Wagh, with a supplementary question by Abhijit Vanjari.

The Minister said charges have been framed against five individuals in the case. Two have been arrested, while a search is underway for the remaining three accused.

A charge sheet against all five accused has already been filed in court, he added.

The Minister said investigations revealed that the seized drugs were standardised medicines, but they were not purchased from local medical stores.

"Preliminary findings suggest that these medicines were supplied from outside the state. The investigation into the complete supply chain is currently ongoing. No company manufacturing counterfeit narcotics has been found within Pune city," he said.

According to the Minister, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting regular inspections and taking strict action against those violating drug sale regulations in Pune and across Maharashtra.
New Delhi, March 4 : Air India announced on Wednesday that it is introducing more flights to Toronto, Frankfurt, and Paris "in response to the high demand" amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.

"From 5 to 11 March, we're operating 3 additional flights between Delhi and Toronto. From 7 to 10 March, we've added three flights between Delhi and Frankfurt, and one flight between Delhi and Paris (Charles de Gaulle)," Air India said in a statement.

"These additional services will provide more flight options to travellers on these select routes with convenient connections beyond Delhi to destinations across Air India's vast domestic India and Southeast Asia networks. We continue to closely assess the situation and will add flights on these select routes beyond 11 March," the statement said.

Air India Express will also continue operating flights to and from Muscat on March 5, along with additional flights between Muscat and Delhi and Mumbai.

"We are also operating special flights from Ras Al Khaimah connecting Delhi, Kochi, and Mumbai until 7 March 2026," Air India Express said in a statement.

Guests are advised to check their flight status and ensure their contact details are updated in their PNR. For changes or cancellations, visit http://airindiaexpress.com/manage-booking or #ChatWithTia on our website, app, or WhatsApp at +91 63600 12345, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Wednesday that Indian airlines are set to operate 58 flights between India and the Gulf region to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers in West Asia due to the ongoing conflict. These include 30 flights by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express.

The ministry said that it is continuously monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia and its impact on international flight operations. To date, 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers have been cancelled due to the ongoing situation. The Ministry further stated that Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules, with long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations being progressively resumed through alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace.

The Ministry also said that it is in continuous touch with airlines and is closely monitoring airfares to ensure that there is no undue surge in ticket prices during this period. It added that all airlines have been advised to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements concerning refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance. Passengers are advised to check the latest flight status directly with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport and to rely only on official sources for updates.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Srinagar, March 4 : The situation remained peaceful in the Valley on Wednesday, as authorities continued to impose restrictions throughout the day.a Srinagar, March 4 (IANS) The situation remained peaceful in the Valley on Wednesday, as authorities continued to impose restrictions throughout the day.

Authorities said the same restrictions will continue on March 5 as well. 

Minor clashes between the protesters and police in the Pattan area of Baramulla district were reported on Wednesday.

Internet services will also continue to be available at 2G speeds, while services on prepaid cell phones will remain suspended till further notice.

A large deployment of police and the CRPF had been made to impose restrictions. Authorities have also lodged FIRs against some people for uploading objectionable content on the Internet. 

MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and former Srinagar mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu, are among those against whom FIRs have been lodged for allegedly posting "provocative" content.

These restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure following protests in parts of the Valley over the death of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli bombing.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also interacted with members of the civil society, including religious, social and business communities in Srinagar.

Omar Abdullah also offered prayers for those, including Ayatullah Ali Khamenei and others, killed in recent developments in Iran. 

Chief Minister called for peace and communal harmony after meeting civil society groups in Srinagar, urging people to express their emotions and grievances peacefully while upholding the spirit of brotherhood and unity.

Omar Abdullah emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and harmony in Jammu & Kashmir while respecting people's sentiments and ensuring that expressions of grief and mourning remain peaceful and responsible.

Schools, colleges and universities in the Valley will remain closed till March 7.


Itanagar/Agartala, March 4 : The festival of colours, Holi, was celebrated across the Northeastern region on Wednesday, with Governors and Chief Ministers participating in the festivities and extending greetings to the people. a Itanagar/Agartala, March 4 (IANS) The festival of colours, Holi, was celebrated across the Northeastern region on Wednesday, with Governors and Chief Ministers participating in the festivities and extending greetings to the people. 

In Arunachal Pradesh, Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) celebrated Holi with representatives of the Brahma Kumaris at Lok Bhavan in Itanagar. 

A Lok Bhavan official said that while interacting with members of the spiritual organisation, the Governor appreciated their commitment to promoting peace, harmony and moral values in society. He urged them to continue spreading positivity and fostering harmony among communities in the state. 

The Governor said that Holi, the vibrant festival of colours, reminds everyone to strengthen bonds of brotherhood, forgive differences and renew the commitment to collective well-being. 

He expressed hope that the joyous occasion would inspire citizens to spread peace and tranquillity in society. The festival was also celebrated in most Northeastern states, with people from diverse communities enthusiastically participating. 

In Tripura, Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu celebrated Holi with staff, children, officers and employees at Lok Bhavan in Agartala. 

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha extended his heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Dol Purnima and Holi. 

In his message, he said that the festival of colours and purity may bring joy, harmony and mental peace to everyone's life. 

He also expressed hope that the bonds of brotherhood, love and goodwill would grow stronger during the celebrations. 

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, in a post on X, extended his warm wishes to the state's people. 

He said that Holi reminds everyone that despite diverse cultures, languages and traditions, people are united by shared values of love and togetherness. 

"May the colours of Holi inspire us to work collectively for the progress and prosperity of our state. Celebrate safely and responsibly. Happy Holi!" Khandu said. 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also greeted the people on the occasion and participated in Holi and Doul Utsav celebrations at Barpeta Satra. 
Alexander Alferov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. February 25, 2026 | Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko

Oleksandr Alforov, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, has said that he believes that the future Museum of the War for Ukraines Independence and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War should be separate institutions.

"It must exist. We need to start the discussion because it is an extremely complex process. There is the question of where the emphasis will beon February 19, 2014, on February 24, 2022, or whether it will cover the general history of Muscovy destroying our independence 100 years ago and pressing bayonets against our backs in the 19th century when we lost the Hetmanate. These are concepts that need work to understand what an inhabitant of Ukraine or a foreigner will take away from this museum, and whether it will be clear to a child. It must be a state-of-the-art, modern, living, and understandable museum. At the same time, it must be about victory, the glory of Ukrainian arms, the glory of the Defenders, and the glory of the Ukrainian people as a whole," Alforov said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

Alforov said this museum should be part of a network of institutions dedicated to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and the Heroes of the current war.

"This should be a museum that is not just built, but integrated into the network of our memory, because walls are not even half the battle. At the same time, I emphasizea Museum is primarily about exhibits, not about walls and floor space," he added.

When asked if this museum could be established on the basis of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Alforov stated he would separate the two institutions.

"We need to preserve the memory of the Second World War, which even today is not fully understood by our fellow citizens. In my view, these should be two different museum institutions. At the same time, museums dedicated to war should still have a common concept, structure, and coordinationthis is about European experience. Museums of war, museums of terror," he added.

Furthermore, he suggested that the glass amphitheater of the Globus shopping center on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) could be a potential location for such a museum.

"When a new complex was planned for Maidan, spaces were even provided for a museum. Now, instead of a museum, we have Globus-3, popularly known as the Dnipro-HESa massive glass wall. Why not use this site in the center of the capital to finally create a museum there, perhaps even the Museum of the War for Ukraines Independence?" Alforov said.

In 2024, the previous head of UIPN, Anton Drobovych, had also emphasized the need to create a legal entity for the Museum of the History of the Russian-Ukrainian War to begin assembling a core team of specialists for collection and conceptual planning.
Amaravati, March 4 : YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of reducing Tirumala temple to a platform for selfish political interests.

He alleged that Chandrababu Naidu has neither devotion towards the deity nor sincerity towards the administration of temples. His actions show a lack of commitment, integrity, and honesty in handling matters connected with such a sacred institution.

In a social media post, the former chief minister raised concern over the recent developments surrounding the temple and criticised Chandrababu Naidu.

"The administration and management of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam temples, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped as the living deity of the Kali Yuga by crores of devotees not only in India but across the world, is an extremely sacred responsibility.

"Such a holy institution must be led by individuals who possess impeccable character, unwavering devotion, integrity and commitment," he said while alleging that the Chief Minister has reduced this sacred position to a platform for selfish political interests.

Instead of protecting the dignity and sanctity of the temple, decisions taken under his leadership have brought disrepute to the institution, he said.

Referring to the recent allegations against Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Chairman B.R. Naidu, Jagan stated even before the elections, a woman had written to Chandrababu Naidu alleging that the current TTD Chairman had cheated her and played with her life.

"In her complaint, she stated that women who approached him even for small works were harassed and troubled. As a responsible leader, Chandrababu Naidu should have ordered an enquiry into these serious allegations and taken appropriate action. Instead, despite being aware of such accusations, he ignored them completely and went ahead with appointing the same individual as the Chairman of TTD, thereby compromising the sanctity and reputation of the temple," said the YSRCP chief.

Anyone with genuine devotion towards Lord Venkateswara would never take such a decision. If there had been true commitment to protect the sanctity of the temple, such appointments would not have been made. This once again proves that Chandrababu Naidu lacks devotion, sincerity, and even basic reverence towards the deity, he added.

"The same negligence is visible in the issue of ghee used for preparing Tirumala Laddu prasadam. During Chandrababu Naidu's tenure, the TTD laboratory itself had rejected certain consignments of ghee for failing quality standards. Despite this, the same low-quality ghee tankers were later allowed to enter TTD again under different names during his tenure. These consignments were accepted and eventually used in the preparation of Tirumala Laddu.

"This has been clearly mentioned in the CBI-SIT chargesheets. The first chargesheet refers to this on pages 64 and 91, while the final chargesheet mentions it again on page 44. These findings clearly show the negligence and lack of seriousness in protecting the sanctity of temple prasadam," wrote Jagan.

The former chief minister alleged that after committing this mistake in the Tirumala Laddu issue, Chandrababu Naidu is now attempting to shift the blame onto others while simultaneously creating political controversy around it.

"Another disturbing aspect is the pricing of ghee. Between 2014 and 2019, the purchase price of ghee for TTD ranged between about Rs.278 and Rs.330 per kilogram. Even during 20192024, the average price remained roughly within the same range. However, under Chandrababu Naidu's leadership, while making false allegations about ghee quality and creating political controversy, contracts were structured in a way that benefited Indapur Dairy, a manufacturing company linked to his Heritage group. In 2025, ghee from this company was reportedly supplied to TTD at a price of about Rs.658 per kilogram, allowing huge profits while turning temple procurement into a means of private gain," he said.

"These developments raise serious concerns. They demonstrate that Chandrababu Naidu has neither devotion towards the deity nor sincerity towards the administration of temples. His actions show a lack of commitment, integrity, and honesty in handling matters connected with such a sacred institution," Jagan added.
Jaipur, March 4 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma celebrated Holi with great enthusiasm alongside members of the public on Wednesday.

Thousands of people from across the state gathered at the Chief Ministeras residence to celebrate the festival with flowers and natural colours.

Sharma and his wife warmly greeted attendees, applied gulal, and showered the gathering with flower petals.

On the auspicious occasion of Holi, the diverse cultural traditions of Rajasthan were brought together under one roof. Various forms of Holi celebrations, ranging from the vibrant Braj style to Shekhawatias traditional festivities, were showcased.

Artists from Bharatiya Kala Sansthan (Indian Institute of Arts) and a bhajan troupe from Braj captivated the audience with devotional singing and dance performances.

The Go Vatsa Phag troupe from Fatehpur in Shekhawati enthralled attendees with performances featuring the traditional Chang.

The Chief Minister also joined the artists, participating in Phalgun folk songs and sharing in the festive spirit. Children, elderly citizens, women, and youth alike participated enthusiastically in the celebrations.

Some tied colourful turbans and draped dupattas around the Chief Minister while applying gulal, while others presented him with handmade water guns and gulal gota.

Extending heartfelt greetings to the people of the state, the Chief Minister said that the festival of colours is an occasion to forget past differences and renew the resolve to live in harmony and happiness.

Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, Premchand Bairwa, Rajya Sabha MP Madan Rathore, Manju Sharma, MLA Kuldeep Dhankhar, Gopal Sharma, along with several MPs, MLAs, former public representatives, officials, and a large number of citizens from across the state, from Jaisalmer to Dholpur and Hanumangarh to Banswara, were present. s
Washington, March 4 : A US Navy submarine has sunk an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean during the ongoing conflict with Tehran, marking the first time since World War II that an American submarine has destroyed an enemy warship using a torpedo, senior US military officials said on Wednesday.

The strike took place during Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing US-led military campaign targeting Iran's missile and naval capabilities.

Announcing the development at a Pentagon press briefing, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the attack demonstrated the reach of American naval power.

"In fact, yesterday in the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth said.

He added that the vessel had been destroyed in a torpedo strike.

"Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo, quietly - the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine, confirmed the strike and described it as a rare and significant naval engagement.

"For the first time since 1945, a United States Navy fast-attack submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship using a single Mark 48 torpedo to achieve immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea," Caine said.

The Iranian vessel had been operating outside the immediate theatre of fighting when it was targeted, according to the Pentagon.

Caine said the strike demonstrated the ability of US forces to track and destroy enemy ships far from the main battle area.

"To hunt, find and kill an out-of-area deployer is something that only the United States can do at this type of scale," he said.

The sinking is part of a broader campaign aimed at crippling Iran's naval power. US officials said more than 20 Iranian naval vessels have already been destroyed since the conflict began.

"Second, we are destroying the Iranian Navy, degrading its capacity, capability and ability to conduct operations," Caine said.

Pentagon officials said the naval campaign is designed to prevent Iran from threatening maritime trade routes and projecting military power beyond its borders.

The operation is being carried out alongside allied forces, including Israel, with US aircraft carriers and strike groups operating across the region.

US military leaders said the neutralisation of Iran's naval capability is one of the central objectives of the operation, along with the destruction of ballistic missile systems and military infrastructure.

The United States launched Operation Epic Fury earlier this week after escalating tensions with Iran over missile attacks and Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

The conflict has rapidly spread across multiple domains -- air, sea and cyber -- with US and allied forces targeting Iranian missile launchers, naval bases and military command networks.
Washington, March 4 : The United States is deploying autonomous systems and artificial intelligence-enabled technologies in its ongoing military campaign against Iran, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.a Washington, March 4 (IANS) The United States is deploying autonomous systems and artificial intelligence-enabled technologies in its ongoing military campaign against Iran, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing on Operation Epic Fury, Hegseth confirmed that advanced technologies are playing a role in the conflict, although he declined to provide detailed information.

"We've got a lot of autonomous systems or systems that are drones and others incorporated with smart AI aspects to them," Hegseth said.

"A lot of which I can't talk about here."

The use of autonomous systems highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern warfare, particularly in drone operations, surveillance, and targeting.

U.S. officials say the current campaign against Iran involves a combination of long-range strikes, naval operations, and precision air attacks designed to dismantle Tehran's military infrastructure.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine said the United States has already struck thousands of targets during the first phase of the operation.

"To date, we've hit over 2,000 targets," Caine said.

The military campaign is focused on three main objectives: destroying Iran's ballistic missile systems, neutralising its naval forces, and preventing Tehran from rebuilding its military capabilities.

"First, we are targeting and eliminating Iran's ballistic missile systems," Caine said.

"Second, we are destroying the Iranian Navy Third, we're ensuring Iran cannot rapidly rebuild or reconstitute its combat capability."

The Pentagon said U.S. forces are also shifting tactics as the operation progresses, moving from long-range strikes to more direct precision attacks over Iranian territory.

"CENTCOM is now shifting from large deliberate strike packages using standoff munitions into stand-in precision strikes overhead Iran," Caine said.

The United States says these operations are aimed at maintaining constant pressure on Iranian forces and disrupting their ability to launch missiles and drones.

According to U.S. officials, the intensity of Iranian attacks has already dropped significantly since the conflict began.

"Iran's theatre ballistic missile shots fired are down 86% from the first day of fighting," Caine said.

Despite these developments, U.S. military leaders cautioned that the conflict remains dangerous and unpredictable.

"These operations are complex, dangerous, and far from over," Caine said.

Operation Epic Fury was launched earlier this week as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated over missile attacks and Iran's nuclear programme, triggering one of the most serious military confrontations in the Middle East in recent years. 


Washington, March 4 : The United States on Wednesday brushed aside calls from China and Russia for an end to hostilities in the ongoing war with Iran, saying the conflict is focused solely on Tehran's nuclear ambitions and military capabilities.a Washington, March 4 (IANS) The United States on Wednesday brushed aside calls from China and Russia for an end to hostilities in the ongoing war with Iran, saying the conflict is focused solely on Tehran's nuclear ambitions and military capabilities.

Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States is not engaging with Beijing or Moscow on the issue and that they are not central to the current conflict.

"I don't have a message for them, and they're not really a factor here," Hegseth said when asked about Russia and China calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

"Our issue is not with them. It's with the nuclear ambitions of Iran," he said.

The remarks came as the U.S. military continued its fourth day of operations under Operation Epic Fury, a large-scale campaign targeting Iran's missile systems, naval assets, and military infrastructure.

U.S. officials say the campaign was launched after intelligence assessments concluded that Tehran was not negotiating in good faith over its nuclear programme.

"The evidence in front of us since the 12-day war was that Iran had no intention of actually negotiating a nuclear deal that truly meant they did not have a pathway to a nuclear bomb," Hegseth said.

He said Washington believes Iran has continued to pursue nuclear weapons capabilities while maintaining a large missile arsenal.

"They have thousands of missiles pointed at us," he said.

According to the Pentagon, the military campaign is designed to eliminate Iran's ability to threaten U.S. forces, regional partners and international shipping lanes.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine said the operation has already struck thousands of targets inside Iran.

"To date, we've hit over 2,000 targets," Caine said.

He said the campaign has also sharply reduced Iranian missile launches.

"Iran's theatre ballistic missile shots fired are down 86 per cent from the first day of fighting," he said.

U.S. officials say the operation is focused on dismantling Iran's ability to project power beyond its borders.

"The operation was launched with clear military objectives designed to dismantle Iran's ability to project power outside of its borders both today and in the future," Caine said.

The Pentagon also said several Middle Eastern countries are helping defend against Iranian missile and drone attacks, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan.

Despite the early battlefield gains, U.S. officials warned that the war remains in its early stages.

"We're 100 hours in. It's still very early," Caine said.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated sharply in recent months, with the United States accusing Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons and supporting attacks against American forces and allies in the region.
Hyderabad, March 4 : The stage is set to prepare a health profile of 46 lakh women in Telangana, as the government has decided to launch the programme by covering members of women's self-help groups across the state.a

Health Minister Damodar Raja Narsimha on Wednesday directed the officials to launch this programme on March 8, International Women's Day.a

He reviewed the preparedness for various activities to be undertaken by the Health Department as part of aPraja Palanaa"Pragati Pranalikaa (peopleas governance-progress plan), the 99-day public outreach programme to be held from March 6 to June 12.a

According to an official release, the minister gave directions to the senior officials of the Health Department on the activities to be undertaken during the 99-day programme.a

The minister approved the plan prepared by the officials with minor changes. It was decided to organize the programmes in four phases.a

In the first phase, the focus will be on maternal and child care, adolescent girls and elderly health services for 26 days from March 6 to 31. a

In addition to improving administrative aspects such as sanitation management in hospitals, resolving pending files, and verifying assets, health screenings for children in schools and Anganwadis will be conducted at the field level to prevent anemia.a

On March 8, the Self-Help Group Women's Health Profile Preparation Programme will be launched. A total of 30 types of tests will be conducted for each woman with the help of Telangana Diagnostics.a

About 46 lakh women will be tested in three phases from March 8. In the first phase, this programme will be launched in 5 mandals from each district. a

The second phase will cover another 10 mandals, while in the final phase, screening will be carried out in all remaining mandals. The minister suggested that the entire screening should be completed in 6 months.a

The second phase of apeopleas governancea will be conducted from April 1 to 15. During these 15 days, extensive screening camps will be organized at sub-centers to detect non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. a

The minister ordered that chemotherapy services be mapped at district day care cancer centers and that viral infection tests be made mandatory for dialysis patients.a

In the third phase, from April 16 to May 15, the department will focus on infection control and public health preparedness. In addition to identifying TB cases to achieve TB Mukt Bharat, the minister ordered that awareness be created among the public about seasonal diseases such as sunstroke, dengue, and malaria in the wake of the increasing heat, and that emergency medicines be made available.

In the fourth phase, from May 16 to June 12, health services will be expanded in urban areas. The minister suggested that 145 urban PHCs in GHMC, Cyberabad, and Medchal be upgraded to polyclinics, and that specialty medical services be provided. a

Medical camps will be organized in the slums through mobile vehicles to bring medical treatment to the poor. The minister suggested that food safety fairs be organized to raise awareness among the public about adulterated food.

a
Washington, March 4 : Several Gulf nations have joined defensive operations against Iranian missile and drone attacks as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East expands, senior US military officials said on Tuesday, highlighting the growing regional response to Tehran's strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure.

Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine said multiple US partners in the region have already intercepted Iranian projectiles targeting cities and strategic facilities.

"Our partners are answering the call to defend themselves right alongside us," Caine said.

He said Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait have all engaged Iranian aerial threats during the conflict.

"Jordanian air defence crews recently intercepted a cluster of Iranian one-way attack drones headed towards Amman," Caine said.

Bahrain's air defence systems also intercepted a drone targeting maritime infrastructure.

"Bahrain's air defence forces shot down an inbound drone approaching Manama's maritime infrastructure, protecting both their population and critical shipping lanes," he said.

Saudi Arabia, a key oil producer in the region, intercepted missiles aimed at its energy facilities.

"Saudi Patriot batteries stopped a salvo of ballistic missiles aimed at energy facilities near Dhahran," Caine said.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also intercepted multiple drone attacks targeting industrial infrastructure in Abu Dhabi.

"The UAE neutralised multiple drones targeting Abu Dhabi's industrial zone, demonstrating speed and precision," he added.

Qatar, which hosts a major US military base, was also directly involved in the defensive response.

"And Qatar -- Qatari fighter jets for the first time shot down two Iranian bombers that were en route to their location," Caine said.

US officials said the expanding regional air defence effort reflects growing concern among Gulf states over Iranian attacks targeting civilian areas and economic infrastructure.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said several countries in the region are now cooperating more closely with the United States as the conflict unfolds.

"What you're seeing right now is a response in the region to the belligerence of Iran and its willingness to target civilian airports, hotels, other civilian locations, and oil infrastructure of its Gulf neighbours," Hegseth said.

He added that countries in the region were providing various forms of operational support.

"Whether it's the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, on different levels they're reaching out to us -- whether they're going on offence, providing additional access, basing or overflight," he said.

The Pentagon said the integrated air defence network, combining US systems with regional capabilities, has helped intercept a large number of Iranian missiles and drones during the conflict.

"The air defence capabilities of those countries are significant, and when combined with ours, it simplifies the shot doctrine, ensuring we use fewer munitions while being more effective with what we engage," Hegseth said.

The United States launched Operation Epic Fury four days ago after escalating tensions with Iran over missile attacks and Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

The conflict has already spread across multiple domains -- air, sea and missile warfare -- with US forces targeting Iranian missile launchers, naval assets and military infrastructure.

The growing involvement of Gulf states underscores the regional dimension of the conflict and the threat Iranian missile and drone attacks pose to energy infrastructure and shipping routes across the Middle East.
Kolkata, March 4 : Humayun Kabir, the suspended Trinamool Congress legislator from the Bharatpur Assembly constituency in minority-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal, said on Wednesday evening that he had received communication from the Election Commission of India (ECI) granting initial clearance for the registration of a new political party floated by him.

The new political outfit has been named the Aam Janata Unnyaan Party (AJUP). The party plans to field candidates in several Assembly constituencies in West Bengal in the crucial Assembly elections scheduled later this year.

Initially, the name proposed by Kabir to the ECI was Janata Unnyaan Party (JUP). The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in West Bengal had also forwarded a recommendation to the Commissionas headquarters in New Delhi for approval of the proposed name.

However, the Commission later advised Kabir to change the name of the party, noting that a political party with a similar name was already registered with it. Following this, Kabir renamed his party Aam Janata Unnyaan Party (AJUP).

Despite the initial clearance, the party will take some time to receive its final and official registration.

As part of the process, public notices will now have to be published in newspapers informing people about the proposed registration of the new political party.

If no objections are received within the stipulated period, the final registration will be granted.

A Commission insider said that if no complications arise, the final registration for AJUP could be granted within a fortnight.

Humayun Kabir was suspended from the Trinamool Congress soon after he announced a foundation stone-laying ceremony for a proposed mosque at Beldanga in Murshidabad district.

Kabir had said the mosque would be constructed along the architectural lines of the original Babri Masjid structure in Ayodhya, which was demolished on December 6, 1992.

Subsequently, on December 22, 2025, Kabir formally announced the formation of his new political party a" then named Janata Unnayan Party a" and also declared the names of key office-bearers of the organisation.

On the same occasion, he also announced the names of some prospective candidates who would contest the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled later this year.

Kabir had also made a public appeal for alliances with political parties and groups opposed to both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress ahead of the elections.

However, apart from initial discussions with Asaduddin Owaisias All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), his efforts to forge broader political alliances have not made significant progress so far, sources said.
New York, March 4 : War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the US has killed the mastermind of failed plots to assassinate President Donald Trump, while a Pakistani man is on trial here charged in one of the schemes.

Hegseth said at a news conference in Washington, "Yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed." 

He did not name the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) unit. 

"President Trump got the last laugh," Hegseth said about avenging the plots against him. 

The trial of the Pakistani man, Asif Merchant, was scheduled in the federal court in Brooklyn, New York, long before the Iran war started. 

The judge presiding over the trial, Eric Komitee, remarked about the coincidence, "This trial is happening in interesting times." 

Asif is charged with terrorism for allegedly working with Iran in the alleged plot to hire hitmen to attack Trump during the 2024 presidential election campaign. 

The prosecutor in the case, Nina Gupta, told the court on Monday that Merchant used a clothing business as cover for the operation, and he wanted to attack those whom he believed were against Pakistan and the Muslim world. 

Asif was arrested in July 2024 while trying to leave the US. 

Unconnected to the alleged plot, the day after Merchant's arrest, an American man tried to kill Trump at an election rally in Pennsylvania but missed by inches and only hurt his ear. 

The Biden administration issued warnings about the dangers to Trump during the campaign. 

The prosecution said that Merchant spoke to his contact, a Pakistani man who was a Federal Bureau of Investigation informant, about hiring hitmen. 

That man put him in touch with undercover agents posing as hitmen-for-hire, to whom Asif outlined his plot and gave them $5,000 as an advance. 

An FBI agent, Jacqueline Smih, told the court that Asif admitted he received training from the IRGC. 

He communicated with them by sending information hidden in gift packages routed through Pakistan, officials said. 

In a secret recording of a meeting with the undercover agents played in court, Asif told them, "Maybe you can, say, kill someone." 

And later, he added, "Maybe it's some political person."

The prosecution said he had been searching for locations of Trump's meetings. 

There was also another alleged plot against Trump in 2024. 

In the separate case filed that year, prosecutors charged Afghan citizen Farhad Shakeri with murder-for-hire in 2024.

He was charged in absentia as he was out of the US. 

IRGC had vowed to avenge the killing of one of its top leaders, Qassim Suleimani, by the US in a 2020 drone attack during Trump's first term.
Taipei, March 4 : European and other Western leaders are increasingly seeking engagement with Beijing, reflecting a consequential shift in foreign policy. The once-prominent calls for "decoupling" and "de-risking" from China have given way to the recognition that engagement is unavoidable, a report highlighted.a

According to a recent report in the 'Taipei Times', China appears to have benefited from US President Donald Trumpas 'America First' and 'Make America Great Again' approach, leaving countries worldwide scrambling to defend their interests and reputation amid an unpredictable and self-centred US.a

As a result, it said, many countries are reversing their foreign policy priorities, increasingly turning to China as an alternative economic partner, while Beijing hosts Western leaders, - "albeit not with a red carpet" but rather "on its own terms".a

In January, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited China.a

"The visits underscore a broader trend in which Western powers are prioritising economic and diplomatic engagement over ideological positioning. For Europe, at least in practice, economic expediency is taking precedence over strategic caution and normative concerns," the report detailed.a

"Yet this does not amount to a formal overhaul of Europe's China policy, nor does it represent an explicit geopolitical realignment. European leaders are not so much choosing China as yielding to circumstance. The underlying calculation seems to be that, as relations with Washington grow more uncertain, workable ties with Beijing must be preserved, almost at any cost," it added.a

The report stated that for many European countries, the choice appears binary a" China or the US a" though the perspective is "flawed".a

"The challenge China poses is distinct from Europe's ties with Washington, yet leaders are increasingly viewing Beijing only through the lens of US-China competition. In doing so, they overlook the costs of deeper engagement with Beijing," it stressed.a

While China's actions and ground realities have remained the same, the report said, what has changed is Europe's ties with the US.a

"Altering China policy in reaction to US unpredictability is neither coherent nor sustainable. Equally striking is the near-total absence of democratic values in this recalibration, despite their centrality to Europeas declared foreign policy identity. Cooperation is being pursued, but with little clarity about its limits or costs," it noted.a

The report added: "While high-level visits are unlikely to reshape the global order in China's favour, they are a telling sign of fleeting interests. They confirm that China is increasingly seen as a viable alternative to the US, which is problematic in itself. The flurry of engagement exposes the incoherence of Europe's China policy and its lack of a consistent strategy for managing Beijing while navigating deteriorating US-China relations".

a--IANS

scor/as/dan

a
A majority (65%) of surveyed Ukrainians consider the war to be one of the main challenges/problems for Ukraine; however, one-third did not mention the war at all, and problems in the field of mobilization were mentioned by only 8% of respondents. This is evidenced by a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) from February 12-24, 2026, using an open-ended survey method where respondents formulated problems themselves.

"A majority of respondents  65%  include the war among the top challenges. Of these, 53% named this challenge first. However, this means that nearly half of the respondents initially named other problems/challenges rather than the war, and a third did not mention the war at all," KIIS reported on its website.

Sociologists suggest that during four years of full-scale war, it has become a "norm of life" or a "usual context" for many Ukrainians. Consequently, people focus on other challenges that must be resolved within this context, such as the energy situation. Other mentioned problems include: corruption (29% in the top 3), low standard of living/low wages and pensions (26%), the energy situation (24%), dissatisfaction with the Ukrainian authorities (19%), and economic problems (13%).

Spontaneous mentions of mobilization problems accounted for 8% (specifically regarding the activities of Territorial Recruitment Centers), while 6% spoke of general violations of rights and freedoms. Issues like the development of authoritarianism (0.3%) or restrictions on freedom of speech (1%) were cited much less frequently, suggesting these are not perceived as acute at the moment.

KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrushetsky commented: "In May 2024, when offered a direct choice, 48% cited corruption as the greater threat compared to 36% for Russian aggression. The current results show that without a provided list, the absolute majority does indeed speak of the war first, directly or indirectly."

The sociologist also noted challenges in information security, pointing out that in December 2025, 31% of respondents attributed power outages primarily to the actions of Ukrainian authorities rather than Russias shelling. "Russia invests significant resources to convince Ukrainians that the enemy within is more dangerous than the enemy without," Hrushetsky noted, adding that while corruption remains a serious challenge, fighting it is moot in the event of a military defeat.

The survey was conducted via telephone interviews with 1,003 adult respondents in all government-controlled regions of Ukraine. The statistical error does not exceed 4.1%.
Itanagar/Agartala, March 4 : The festival of colours, Holi, was celebrated across the Northeastern region on Wednesday, with Governors and Chief Ministers participating in the festivities and extending greetings to the people. a Itanagar/Agartala, March 4 (IANS) The festival of colours, Holi, was celebrated across the Northeastern region on Wednesday, with Governors and Chief Ministers participating in the festivities and extending greetings to the people. 

In Arunachal Pradesh, Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) celebrated Holi with representatives of the Brahma Kumaris at Lok Bhavan in Itanagar. 

A Lok Bhavan official said that while interacting with members of the spiritual organisation, the Governor appreciated their commitment to promoting peace, harmony and moral values in society. 

He urged them to continue spreading positivity and fostering harmony among communities in the state. 

The Governor said that Holi, the vibrant festival of colours, reminds everyone to strengthen bonds of brotherhood, forgive differences and renew the commitment to collective well-being. 

He expressed hope that the joyous occasion would inspire citizens to spread peace and tranquillity in society. 

The festival was also celebrated in most Northeastern states, with people from diverse communities enthusiastically participating. 

In Tripura, Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu celebrated Holi with staff, children, officers and employees at Lok Bhavan in Agartala. 

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha extended his heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Dol Purnima and Holi. 

In his message, he said that the festival of colours and purity may bring joy, harmony and mental peace to everyone's life. He also expressed hope that the bonds of brotherhood, love and goodwill would grow stronger during the celebrations. 

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, in a post on X, extended his warm wishes to the state's people. 

He said that Holi reminds everyone that despite diverse cultures, languages and traditions, people are united by shared values of love and togetherness. 

"May the colours of Holi inspire us to work collectively for the progress and prosperity of our state. Celebrate safely and responsibly. Happy Holi!" Khandu said. 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also greeted the people on the occasion and participated in Holi and Doul Utsav celebrations at Barpeta Satra. 

On the occasion of Holi, Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya celebrated the festival with Assam Rifles troops at the headquarters of the Inspector General (East) at Srikona in Silchar (Assam), with much fervour. 

A vibrant pipe band display and kukri dance were performed by the Assam Rifles troops as part of the celebration. 

The Governor joined the troops in the celebration of colours, exchanging festive greetings and applying colour. 

Acharya lauded the troops' dedication and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation. Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also participated in the Holi festival. 

"A joyful view of the Holi celebrations at my residence on the first day of the festival, with enthusiastic participants and the vibrant Holi Pala filling the atmosphere with colour, music, and festive spirit," Singh said in a post on his X handle.
Washington, March 4 : A US government operation detaining migrants at Guantanamo Bay and deporting them to 26 countries, including India, has already cost more than $78 million, according to a congressional oversight report detailing the Pentagon-backed mission.

The report on Operation Southern Guard said the Department of Defense spent $60.6 million on the operation during fiscal year 2025, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spent about $17.8 million supporting detention and deportation operations at the US naval base in Cuba.

The mission was launched in early 2025 to support immigration enforcement at the southern US border and expand migrant detention capacity outside the continental United States.

According to the report, 708 undocumented migrants were transferred to Guantanamo Bay since the start of the operation, with 691 later moved to detention facilities in the United States or repatriated to other countries.

The average stay at the facility was 14 days, the report said.

Flights have been central to the operation. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out 28 charter flights bringing migrants to Guantanamo Bay and 54 flights departing the base as part of deportation and transfer operations.

Migrants held at the facility were deported to 26 countries across multiple continents, including India, Egypt, England, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Romania, Sierra Leone and Vietnam.

Countries in Central and South America receiving deportees included Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela.

The report said ICE transported 481 migrants to Guantanamo Bay from US states including Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, while 670 individuals were flown from the base either to destinations abroad or to detention facilities within the United States.

Military flights supporting the operation have been costly. The US Transportation Command conducted 31 flights between July and December 2025, with each mission costing an average of about $708,020.

The operation began after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border in January 2025, directing federal agencies to strengthen enforcement and increase detention capacity.

A presidential memorandum later ordered the Pentagon to expand the Migrant Operations Center at Guantanamo Bay to full capacity to hold migrants with criminal backgrounds awaiting deportation.

Under the arrangement, the Department of Homeland Security manages detainees, while the Pentagon provides logistical support, including transportation, security, medical assistance and infrastructure.

Several immigrant rights groups have challenged the programme in court, arguing that migrants transferred from the United States should not be detained at Guantanamo Bay once they are removed from US territory.

Guantanamo Bay has historically been used for migrant processing since the early 1990s, when Haitian and Cuban migrants intercepted at sea were held at the facility. It later became widely known as the detention centre for terrorism suspects captured after the September 11 attacks.
Guwahati, Feb 4 : The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has upgraded its Senior Institute at Maligaon near Guwahati into a modern facility equipped with world-class amenities for the welfare of railway employees and their families, officials said on Tuesday. a Guwahati, Feb 4 (IANS) The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has upgraded its Senior Institute at Maligaon near Guwahati into a modern facility equipped with world-class amenities for the welfare of railway employees and their families, officials said on Tuesday. 

NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that the renovated and reconstructed institute has been named as "Kanaklata Bhawan" in memory of Kanaklata Barua, the youngest freedom fighter of Assam who made the supreme sacrifice during India's struggle for independence. 

The state-of-the-art facilities will enable railway staff to host various social gatherings and cultural functions in a dignified, well-equipped environment, he said. 

Sharma said that apart from this, a community hall within the campus has also been renovated and dedicated in the name of Bishnu Prasad Rabha, a legendary cultural figure of Assam whose immense contributions to art, music and social reform continue to inspire generations. 

The community hall will host social ceremonies, cultural programmes, and other community activities, providing a dedicated venue for railway employees and their families. 

In addition, a children's play area has been developed inside the Bhawan campus, named "Nahor Udyan" to provide a safe and vibrant recreational space for children. 

The CPRO said that this initiative reflects the Railway's holistic approach towards employee welfare by ensuring that family members also benefit from improved infrastructure and community facilities. 

NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, inaugurating the upgraded facilities emphasised that employee welfare remains a top priority for Northeast Frontier Railway. 

By providing upgraded infrastructure and improved facilities, including modernized institutes, enhanced hospitals and renovated schools, the Railway aims to boost the morale of its workforce, he pointed out. 

"Such initiatives are expected to encourage employees to perform their duties with greater efficiency, dedication and pride. This initiative reflects the Railway's holistic approach towards employee welfare by ensuring that family members also benefit from improved infrastructure and community facilities," Shrivastava said. 

CPRO Sharma further said that the Northeast Frontier Railway remains committed to strengthening staff welfare through the development of upgraded hospitals, renovated schools and enhanced institutional facilities. 

Such progressive measures are aimed at boosting employee morale, encouraging greater efficiency and reinforcing dedication towards service excellence, he stated. 
Thiruvananthapuram, March 4 : Amid rising tensions between Iran and Gulf nations, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday accused the ruling Left and the Opposition Congress of ignoring the concerns of Malayali expatriates in GCC countries for the sake of what he described as "appeasement politics".

Chandrasekhar said Iran's attacks on Gulf nations have direct implications for lakhs of families in Kerala, given the state's deep economic and social links with the region.

"Ignoring this ground reality, pro-Iran responses are being made in Kerala. Both the Left and the Congress-led fronts are taking positions based on vote-bank considerations," he alleged, adding that such approaches end up encouraging religious extremism.

He maintained that the position of the Central government and the BJP is unambiguous -- ensuring the safety and protection of Indians abroad, irrespective of the country they reside in.

"There is no politics in ensuring the security of our citizens abroad," he said, while criticising the CPI(M) and the Congress for not explicitly condemning Iran's attacks on Gulf countries.

The BJP leader said the party in Kerala stands firmly with Malayali expatriates working across GCC nations, which account for the largest concentration of overseas workers from the state.

Chandrasekhar also criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, questioning their silence on reported killings of Christians in countries such as Syria and Nigeria.

While they express concern over developments in Gaza and Iran, he asked why they were not speaking out against violence targeting Christians elsewhere.

Stating that Iran had carried out attacks on GCC countries without provocation, Chandrasekhar said the reluctance of political leaders in Kerala to respond unequivocally was "condemnable".

Political parties, he said, must prioritise the safety and interests of the people, particularly expatriate communities whose livelihoods are closely tied to the Gulf region.

Kerala has around 2.5 million people working in various Middle Eastern countries, and over the past five decades remittances from expatriates have remained a key pillar of the state's economy.
Kathmandu, March 4 : Around 16,000 Nepali nationals residing in conflict-hit West Asia have updated their details in an online rescue tracking system launched by the Nepali government, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

The Department of Consular Services under the ministry launched the online registration system to collect updated information on Nepali nationals in the region amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict that has engulfed large parts of West Asia.

More than 1.7 million Nepali nationals live in 12 countries across the region, and their safety remains a concern as retaliatory strikes by Iran, in response to joint attacks by the United States and Israel, have hit several civilian installations in Gulf countries.

The Nepali government has already confirmed that a Nepali youth, Diwas Shrestha, from the western district of Gorkha, was killed during a drone interception operation at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

With risks rising for Nepali migrant workers in the region, the government developed the online registration system to facilitate rescue and assistance efforts for those at risk.

"The system will be further simplified and made more accessible to ensure wider outreach," the ministry said in a press statement.

The ministry added that Nepali diplomatic missions in the region have been directed to strengthen information dissemination in coordination with Nepali associations, community groups and the Non-Resident Nepali Association, among others.

"Based on the information collected, the nature and priority of required assistance will be determined by the Emergency Response Team (ERT), formed under the leadership of the Foreign Secretary," it said.

A meeting of the ERT held on Wednesday also decided to establish a 24-hour Emergency Control Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The Control Room will operate hotlines, respond to emails and manage grievances around the clock," the ministry said.

The ERT further directed Nepali diplomatic missions in West Asia to facilitate necessary arrangements, including visa support, for Nepali citizens currently in transit at airports in the Gulf region.

As much of the airspace in several West Asian countries has been closed following the conflict, many travellers, including Nepalis, have been stranded at airports, according to the ministry.

The ministry also said the government has decided to instruct its diplomatic missions not to authenticate demand letters for Nepali migrant workers until further notice, in view of the travel advisory issued by the foreign ministry and the temporary suspension of labour approvals for foreign employment.

Remittances sent by Nepali workers abroad remain a key pillar of Nepal's economy, supporting household needs and contributing significantly to the country's foreign exchange reserves, enabling imports of goods and services.
Agartala, March 4 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday asserted that the overall development of the Janajati (tribal) community remains one of the primary goals of the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). a Agartala, March 4 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday asserted that the overall development of the Janajati (tribal) community remains one of the primary goals of the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

Addressing an organisational programme at the headquarters of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in Khumulwng, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the BJP would register a huge victory in the upcoming elections to the tribal autonomous body and Village Committees. 

Saha said the BJP would form the government in the 30-member TTAADC, claiming that people's trust and confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party have steadily increased. 

Earlier in the day, a large procession led by the Chief Minister passed through various roads of Khumulwng, with a large number of party workers and supporters taking part. 

Referring to the forthcoming TTAADC elections, Saha said a massive rally titled 'Janajati Empowerment and Tripura Empowerment' was organised in Khumulwng to galvanise support. 

He maintained that since assuming office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has prioritised the development of Janajati communities across the country. 

"In the coming days as well, only the Bharatiya Janata Party can ensure real development of the tribal people. We are committed to working wholeheartedly for their welfare," he said. 

The Chief Minister further stated that if the present situation in the TTAADC is to change, the BJP must receive the people's full support. 

Alleging that the Janajati community had long witnessed "empty promises", he claimed that the BJP is now delivering tangible development on the ground. 

Expressing optimism, Saha said the party would secure a decisive mandate in the upcoming TTAADC and Village Committee elections and form the government in the tribal autonomous body, which he described as a vital constitutional institution. 

The organisational programme was also attended by Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, BJP Pradesh General Secretary Bipin Debbarma, mandal leaders and other party functionaries.

In the run-up to the TTAADC polls, all major political parties -- including the ruling BJP, its allies -- the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) -- and opposition parties such as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Indian National Congress -- have intensified efforts to consolidate support among tribal voters. 

The crucial elections to the TTAADC are likely to be held in March or April. 

Since 2021, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) has been governing the politically significant 30-member TTAADC, which covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km geographical area and is home to over 12.16 lakh people, around 84 per cent of whom belong to indigenous communities. 

Tribals constitute nearly one-third of Tripura's total population of about 4.2 million, making the upcoming elections a key political contest in the state. 
Chennai, March 4 : Ending days of intense negotiations and uncertainty, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Congress on Wednesday formally signed their seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. a

As per the pact, the Congress will contest 28 Assembly constituencies, three more than the 25 seats it contested in the 2021 Assembly elections as part of the alliance. a

In addition, the Congress has also been allotted one Rajya Sabha seat as part of the understanding between the two parties. a

The agreement was signed at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai, by DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai. a

The Rajya Sabha berth offered to the Congress is seen as a key component of the broader political arrangement aimed at strengthening the alliance ahead of the crucial Assembly elections. a

The deal was finalised after several rounds of negotiations between leaders of both parties, which had briefly reached a deadlock over the number of seats and the Congress's demand for a greater role within the alliance. a

At one stage, the talks appeared to be heading towards a breakdown as the Congress pushed for a higher seat allocation. a

The impasse was eventually resolved after senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram stepped in as an emissary of the partyas high command and held discussions with Chief Minister Stalin on March 3. a

Following these talks, both sides moved towards a compromise, leading to the final agreement. Before the signing ceremony, a Congress delegation led by Girish Chodankar, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Tamil Nadu and head of the partyas seat-sharing committee, met the Chief Minister. a

The delegation included TNCC president Selvaperunthagai, Congress Legislature Party leader K. Rajesh Kumar, and other senior leaders. a

Speaking to reporters after the signing of the pact, Selvaperunthagai said the party was satisfied with the agreement and confident that the alliance would perform strongly in the upcoming elections. a

He also said the candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat allotted to the Congress would be announced later by the party high command in consultation with the State leadership. a

Chodankar said that formal discussions between the DMK and the Congress on seat sharing for the Puducherry Assembly elections would begin on March 5. a

The agreement reinforces the over two-decade-long alliance between the DMK and the Congress, which began in 2004. a

Despite occasional differences, including a brief split ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the partnership has remained a significant political force in Tamil Nadu and continues to play a key role in shaping the Stateas electoral landscape.
Amaravati, March 4 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that the coalition government has restored investors' confidence in the state and revived the Brand Andhra.

Amaravati, March 4 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that the coalition government has restored investorsa confidence in the state and revived the Brand Andhra.

aSpeaking in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that between 2019 and 2024, the brand AP was severely damaged. According to the RBI report, 913 companies shut down

between 2019-20 and 2023-24.

He claimed that under the present coalition government, Andhra Pradesh has become the destination for rapid progress in Doing Business. With 26 policies, approvals are being granted swiftly, he said.

He stated that tourism has been accorded industrial status. Industrial parks are being set up in all 175 constituencies. The government has also released industrial incentives worth Rs 210 crore.

He created 6.28 lakh jobs in the state within 20 months. Of these, 2.48 lakh jobs were generated in MSMEs, 1.46 lakh through Skill Development initiatives, 95,000 in industries and 64,000 in the food processing sector. Additionally, 30,500 government jobs were provided through Mega DSC, police constable recruitment and other government appointments.

The Chief Minister revealed that at the recent Investorsa Summit held in Visakhapatnam, investments worth Rs 13.25 lakh crore were secured, which will generate 16 lakh jobs.

He told the House that the government is working for balanced regional development. Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati are being developed as economic regions. Andhra Pradesh aims to become a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047. Visakhapatnam will emerge as a hub for Information Technology and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Unprecedented investments have flowed into Visakhapatnam, he said.

To ensure the sustainability of these investments, the government has decided to create an escrow account for industrial incentives.

Indiaas first Quantum Computer Valley has been launched in Amaravati. Just as Silicon Valley is in the US, Amaravati will become the destination for Quantum computing.

Tirupati will be developed as a hub for space, electronics, and defence industries.

The Chief Minister said for the first time in the country, a Universal Health Policy applicable to all citizens is being introduced. It will provide free medical services up to Rs 2.5 lakh. Efforts are underway to ensure affordable healthcare.

He stated that medical colleges are being constructed under the PPP model. The previous government did not even allot land for medical colleges. The current government aims to establish 100-bed hospitals in every constituency. He explained that the PPP does not mean privatisation; the assets will remain government-owned, and services will follow government regulations.

Through the Sanjeevani project, digital health records are being created for every citizen. Providing quality healthcare to all is the coalition governmentas objective, he said.

a--IANS

ms/dan

a
New Delhi/Hyderabad, March 4 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday and briefed him on the recent surrender of several Maoist leaders in the state.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy and other senior officials, also discussed the possible surrender of remaining Maoist leaders and their rehabilitation.

Stating that significant changes have taken place in the state in the past two years, the Chief Minister told Home Minister Shah that a total of 591 Maoists have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream in Telangana.

According to an official release from the DGP's office, the Chief Minister said it was a positive development that several Maoist leaders had recently come forward to lead normal lives and explained the facilities being provided to them by the state government.

The meeting also discussed Central support for development activities in backward areas.

Several security-related issues concerning the state and measures to strengthen the police department were also discussed during the meeting.

Principal Secretary V. Seshadri, Additional DGP (Intelligence) Vijay Kumar, IGP (Special Intelligence Bureau) B. Sumati, and other officials were present at the meeting.

The Chief Minister also briefed the Union Home Minister on the policies being implemented by the state government to maintain law and order.

He highlighted the role of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau in addressing cybercrime and emerging cyber challenges.

Revanth Reddy also informed Home Minister Shah about the recent reorganisation of the Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri police commissionerates and the establishment of a new Future City Commissionerate.

He said that, in view of the reorganisation, Telangana requires more IPS officers, and urged the Union government to increase the IPS cadre strength allotted to the state.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that the rapid growth in Hyderabadas population has increased administrative requirements and stressed the need for additional IPS officers to strengthen policing and governance.
Hubballi, March 4 : Raising the issue of alleged phone tapping by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to track Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi questioned why secret information was being collected and demanded that the government disclose the reasons behind the alleged surveillance.

Describing the phone tapping allegations as serious, Joshi demanded a high-level probe into the matter.

Joshi pointed out that when Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was Chief Minister earlier, similar allegations of phone tapping had surfaced, and asked why those who were then part of the coalition government remained silent even after coming to power later.

Congress had formed a coalition government with JD (S) then, and Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister.

He also criticised the Congress government for not investigating the earlier allegations and questioned the role of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at that time.

Reacting to Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar's remark that he and CM Siddaramaiah shared a cordial relationship "like milk and honey," Joshi termed the statement laughable.

He sarcastically remarked that their relationship seemed more like alcohol and lemon than milk and honey.

On the issue of raising the height of the Almatti dam, the Union Minister said that if Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar visited Delhi for discussions, efforts would be made to resolve the matter.

He assured that necessary assistance would be extended in the interest of Karnataka. However, he alleged that when the Congress was previously in power, it had promised to allocate Rs 10,000 crore annually for the development of the Almatti reservoir but failed to fulfill the assurance.

Joshi also took a swipe at the Congress over its claim that it did not promote dynastic politics.

He pointed out that three Members of Parliament from the Gandhi family were currently in Parliament and questioned whether that did not reflect dynastic politics within the party.
Ukraine will receive additional Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from France  multirole aircraft with modern digital avionics, radars, and electronic warfare systems, the Ministry of Defense has reported on their combat capabilities.

Ukraine expects an additional delivery of Mirage 2000-5 aircraft from France. This will significantly strengthen Ukraines air capabilities, as the aircraft can effectively destroy cruise missiles and drones used for attacks, including Shahed, the Ministry of Defense said on its website Wednesday.

Mirage 2000 is a multirole fighter aircraft equipped with digital avionics. It features modern radar systems and electronic warfare equipment that significantly enhance its combat capabilities.

of Defense, the Dassault Mirage aircraft Ukraine will receive are close to the 4++ class, exceeding the MiG-29 fighters currently in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Mirage aircraft are extensively modernised fourth-generation fighters whose combat capabilities, radar equipment, and manoeuvrability approach those of fifth-generation fighter aircraft. They have improved avionics and are lighter and more manoeuvrable than most similar aircraft. They can conduct combat missions at altitudes of up to 18 km.

Mirage 2000 aircraft are equipped with powerful radar systems and weapons, including high-precision Magic-2 missiles. This enables them to effectively detect and intercept low-observable cruise missiles and drones used for attacks, such as Shahed, Geran, and Gerbera. They can also neutralise enemy operational-tactical reconnaissance drones. Therefore, Mirage 2000 aircraft are important for countering russias aerial terror, one of the key priorities addressed in Ukraines War Plan.

In addition, the Mirage 2000s weapon stations are compatible with a full range of NATO-standard air-launched weapons, allowing the aircraft to employ Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, AASM Hammer aerial guided bombs, and other types of armament.

Having such aircraft in service significantly strengthens Ukraines air defence, which is particularly important during large-scale missile and drone attacks by the aggressor, the Defense Ministry noted.

To recap, the transfer of Mirage 2000 aircraft was discussed during a February meeting between Ukraines Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, and Frances Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Catherine Vautrin. The first Mirage 2000 aircraft were delivered to Ukraine by France in early 2025. Ukrainian pilots underwent several months of training in France to ensure effective use of the aircraft.
Kathmandu, March 4 : The Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), and the erstwhile CPN (Maoist Centre) have ruled the country turn by turn over the last two decades.a Kathmandu, March 4 (IANS) The Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) (CPN-UML), and the erstwhile CPN (Maoist Centre) have ruled the country turn by turn over the last two decades.

Their respective leaders  Sher Bahadur Deuba, KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal  have been at the helm of power for the last decade or so.

A growing impression among the Nepali public that the country is lagging because of these leaders and that corruption is rife triggered strong Gen Z protests in September last year, which brought down the coalition government led by then Prime Minister Oli.

Angry mobs burnt down the residences of the three leaders during the movement, in which a total of 77 people died, and properties worth billions of rupees were damaged.

Six months down the line, the country is heading to parliamentary polls on Thursday. These traditional political parties and leaders are facing what may be the biggest challenge in the country's electoral history amid rising public dissatisfaction.

New political forces, particularly the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by former media personality Rabi Lamichhane and popular youth leader and former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Balen Shah, who is also the RSP's prime ministerial candidate, appear to be posing a strong challenge to these traditional parties, at least on paper.

Several journalists who visited different parts of the country to gauge public mood have said a wind of change is being felt, though to what degree remains unclear.

"Given the circumstances under which the election is being held, old political parties and their leaders are facing an acid test in these elections," former Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety told IANS. "Their performance when they were in power was not up to the mark, which contributed to dissatisfaction among the masses."

He said that frequent changes in government also contributed to the underperformance of traditional political parties and their leaders. "As they are facing the elections amid allegations of underperformance and corruption, it is obvious that their challenge is enormous," he said.

On the other hand, the RSP is contesting the elections with popular faces such as Lamichhane and Shah. The former Kathmandu mayor is contesting against former Prime Minister Oli in his traditional base, Jhapa-5, in eastern Nepal.

Oli appears to have sensed a real challenge from Shah this time, as he has been fully focused on his own constituency during the election campaign, unlike in previous elections when he travelled across the country seeking votes for his party's candidates.

The newly elected president of the Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa, is also contesting the elections from Sarlahi-4 in southern Nepal, where local leader Ameresh Kumar Singh of the RSP is in the fray.

Singh is a former NC lawmaker and represented the constituency in the dissolved House of Representatives. 

As Thapa is a popular leader within the rank and file of the grand old party, the party is hoping to perform well in these elections. 

Former Prime Minister Deuba is no longer in the leadership after a special general convention, organised without his approval, elected Thapa as the new president.

According to analysts, leftist forces in Nepal could face major challenges in the elections because they failed to change their top leadership, unlike the Nepali Congress.

Oli's sway continues in the CPN (UML), while Prachanda continues to lead the new party  the Nepali Communist Party  formed after the merger of the erstwhile CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist), among others.

"The ouster of the Oli-led government by the Gen Z movement could have a big impact on the UML's electoral prospects," said political analyst Lok Raj Baral, a former Nepali ambassador to India. "The personality of Oli, who sometimes makes unnecessary comments, could also affect the UML's chances."

On the other hand, the NCP has been losing ground since the Maoists emerged as the largest party in the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections. 

"In the past two elections, Prachanda's party won a sizable number of seats in the House of Representatives because of electoral alliances," said Baral. 

"With political parties avoiding electoral alliances this time, the NCP may have a hard time securing enough votes to win, particularly under the First-Past-the-Post system."

Past tallies of elections under the proportional representation system suggest that the erstwhile CPN (Maoist Centre) won enough votes to secure victories under the FPTP system, but its vote share in the same constituencies remained much lower under proportional representation, indicating that the party benefited from electoral alliances under FPTP. 
Kolkata, March 4 : Police in West Bengal's Malda district have arrested three persons after recovering firearms and counterfeit currency during raids conducted ahead of the state Assembly elections, officials said on Wednesday.

Police carried out raids at two separate locations in the district and seized firearms, ammunition and fake currency notes.

According to police sources, acting on a tip-off from a confidential source, the first raid was conducted in the Chanchal police station area on Tuesday night.

A local youth identified as Abdul Barek, a resident of Khanpara in Chanchal, was arrested during the operation. Police recovered fake currency notes worth Rs 5 lakh from his possession.

During questioning, Barek allegedly told police that he had brought the fake currency from Siliguri in north Bengal to Malda for circulation, officials said.

Police are investigating the case to identify others involved in the counterfeit currency network.

In a separate operation in another area under Chanchal police station, police arrested two alleged arms dealers, identified as Golam Rabbani and Mizanur Rahman.

Both are residents of the Harishchandrapur police station area.

Police recovered four firearms and five rounds of ammunition from their possession. Preliminary investigation suggests that the weapons were brought from Bihar, officials said.

The police are seeking custody of the accused for further interrogation to ascertain the source of the weapons and possible links to a wider network.

All three accused were produced before a local court on Wednesday in connection with two separate cases, police said.

Officials said surveillance has been intensified across the state, particularly in districts bordering Bihar, Jharkhand and Bangladesh, to prevent the smuggling of illegal firearms and counterfeit currency ahead of the Assembly elections.

In the past, police have made several arrests and seizures of illegal arms and fake currency during similar operations.
New Delhi, March 4 : In a heart-warming display of cultural diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged festive greetings in Hindi and French on the occasion of Holi, underscoring the deepening bond between India and France.

The exchange unfolded on social media platforms as celebrations took place across India on March 4, with both leaders using each other's languages to convey their wishes.

It began with President Macron posting a brief message in Hindi on X: "Happy Holi, my friend!"

The post, shared early in the morning, received thousands of reactions and reposts, drawing attention online to Macron's use of Hindi in greeting the Indian Prime Minister.

This is not the first time the French leader has used Hindi in his interactions linked to India. During his visit to India in February 2026, Macron had captioned a photograph with PM Modi with the phrase "Jai Ho".

Responding to the greeting, Prime Minister Modi thanked the French President and conveyed his wishes in French.

"Merci beaucoup, mon ami! A l'occasion de la fete sacree de Holi, je vous adresse, a vous et au peuple de France, mes vux sinceres de bonheur et de prosperite."

The message translates to: "Thank you very much, my friend! On the sacred occasion of Holi, I extend my sincere wishes of happiness and prosperity to you and the people of France."

The bilingual exchange drew reactions on social media, with users noting the use of Hindi and French by the two leaders. The greetings also highlighted mutual respect and friendship between the two leaders.

The greetings also came weeks after President Macron's visit to India, during which the two countries announced the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, focusing on cooperation in defence, artificial intelligence and cultural exchanges.

The Holi greetings align seamlessly with these efforts, promoting people-to-people connections.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, March 4 : In a swift rebuttal amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday categorically denied sensational reports alleging that Indian ports are serving as bases for US Navy operations targeting Iran.

The denial came via a pointed social media post from the MEA's official FactCheck handle, underscoring India's commitment to neutrality and factual diplomacy in a volatile global landscape.

The controversy erupted earlier in the day when One America News (OAN), a conservative US-based television network known for its provocative coverage, aired claims suggesting that Indian naval facilities, particularly in the western ports of Mumbai and Kochi, were being utilised by American warships for staging attacks on Iranian assets.

OAN's segment, viewed by millions, cited anonymous "military sources" and speculated that this covert cooperation was part of a broader Indo-US strategic pivot against Tehran's influence in the Persian Gulf.

The report quickly went viral on platforms like X and Telegram, fuelling speculation and drawing sharp reactions from netizens across South Asia and the Middle East.

Responding with uncharacteristic firmness, the MEA FactCheck account stated: "Claims being made on OAN, a US-based channel, that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false. We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments."

This stance aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "multi-alignment" foreign policy, which balances ties with the US-India's key defense partner -- while nurturing relations with Iran, a vital energy supplier and Chabahar port collaborator.

As the US-Iran shadow war simmers -- marked by recent drone strikes and cyber skirmishes -- New Delhi's clarification reinforces its role as a stabilising force.

The MEA urged the public to verify sources and report falsehoods, ending the post with a call for "responsible journalism in turbulent times".

In the wake of the MEA's firm rebuttal, India's image as a non-aligned power broker, the swift fact-check also spotlights the need for enhanced media literacy campaigns domestically.

As disinformation campaigns proliferate, New Delhi's proactive digital defenses could inspire similar efforts among Global South nations, fortifying collective resilience against any fake narrative.
Real Estate

Ashburn Security Mini Storage Sold by Midcoast Properties, Inc.

Midcoast Properties, Inc. is pleased to announce the successful sale of Ashburn Security Mini Storage, a well-positioned, dual-location self storage facility located at 207 E. Madison Ave. and 231 Hill Ave. in Ashburn, Georgia. J. Kris Knowles of Midcoast Properties, Inc. represented the seller, securing a favorable outcome and demonstrating strong market demand for quality storage assets. The facility was sold to an out-of-state investor.

The combined portfolio consists of 332 storage units totaling approximately 37,600 RSF situated on a total of 2.99 +/- acres. Property amenities include perimeter fencing at the 231 Hill Ave. location, as well as paved asphalt and concrete drive aisles at both sites, providing convenient access and operational efficiency.

Ashburn is strategically located in South Georgia along Interstate 75, offering accessibility to several major cities throughout the region. The property is approximately 20 miles north of Tifton, 25 miles south of Cordele, 45 miles north of Valdosta, and roughly 70 miles south of Macon. This connectivity enhances the facilitys appeal by serving residents, businesses, and commuters throughout Turner County and the surrounding trade area.

The self storage sector continues to demonstrate resilience amid shifting economic conditions. Investors remain attracted to the asset class due to its historically stable cash flow, relatively low operating costs, and consistent demand driven by population mobility, downsizing trends, and small business utilization.

As a trusted name in self-storage brokerage across the Southeast, Midcoast Properties, Inc. provides strategic advisory and transactional services to owners and investors in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Whether you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or simply want to understand your property's value in todays market, Midcoast offers a confidential, no-obligation market review and broker opinion of value. For additional information regarding this transaction or other investment opportunities, please visit www.MidcoastProperties.com or contact:

J. Kris Knowles

720-323-2055

Kris@MidcoastProperties.com
Snaply announced it is absorbing HouseLens into the Snaply brand and operating platform, expanding its footprint to over 40 states. The transition strengthens Snaply's national real estate media infrastructure and accelerates scalable growth. The move advances Snaply's long term strategy of disciplined national expansion and enterprise focused execution, further solidifying its position as a leading real estate media platform.

DENVER, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Snaply, a national real estate photography and media company, today announced that HouseLens will transition fully into the Snaply brand and operating platform. The decision follows a strategic evaluation by SeekNow, parent company of HouseLens, to align the business within Snaply's specialized real estate media infrastructure to support continued national growth.


As journalist Benjamin Hall reported from war zones around the world, he carried a toy hedgehog that his daughters had given him: a small companion that sent messages back to themvideos and postcards letting them know he was safe. When Hall was grievously injured in Ukraine in 2022, the hedgehog was tucked inside his body armor, and stayed with him throughout his recovery, a journey that inspired his two nonfiction books, Saved (2023) and Resolute (2025). Along the way, he also decided that the little creature deserved a story of its own, and the result is a picture book called Read All About It!, illustrated by Martina Motzo (HarperCollins), in which an aspiring hedgehog journalist saves his community. PW spoke with Hall while he was vacationing in Morocco with his wife and four daughtersages 10, eight, six, and oneabout how storytelling was essential to his recovery, why journalism matters more than ever, and getting plot advice from his kids.

Writing a childrens book is a world away from being a war correspondent or a writer of nonfiction books. How did you decide to write a picture book?

There are so many answers. to be honest. First of all, I have read countless childrens books with my own daughtersits always been part of our life. And then family became really important to me when I was injured. I had worked a lot. I was away for stories. Thats what I did. And part of me realized after I was injured, maybe I had it the wrong way round, and the family needed to come before absolutely everything else.

And then I started to think about every conflict Ive ever covered. You go out there, you talk about the bangs and the bullets and the politics and all the finances. But the stories that you tell more than any are about the parents and their children and what theyre really going through.

 "I really wanted to convey the idea that youve got to stand up when things are not going well, and protect people." 

The hedgehog was important for me in my recovery and my relationship with my girls. When I was in hospital, first in Germany, then in Texas at a military hospital, and I had all these facial injuriesI didnt want my children to see that. It was the hedgehog who sent messages home until my face was healed up a bit. I thought this hedgehog should go off and do something else in the world.

Im a journalist, and if you show me whats going on, and I speak to a few people, I can write a book about it. But bubbling [a story] down into a short childrens bookits really difficult. I would talk to my children, saying, What do you think the hedgehog should do? What would you like to read? They would often come back to something like, Well, I think there should be more fairies in it. and Well, maybe he should wear a top hat.

I really wanted to convey the idea that youve got to stand up when things are not going well, and protect people. I tell my kids every day, if someone is doing something or putting someone down or someones not happy, its your responsibility to go up to them and say, How can I help? What can we do?

You dont see a lot of picture books with a journalism theme. Why was it important to put that in the story?

Yeah, thats interestingthe only other character I can think of whos a journalist is Tintin, and I grew up reading all the Tintin books. I loved that he went off on adventures.

But more than anything, I think that communities are stronger because of journalists: because they told the truth, everyone understood what was going wrong, and they came together. We do live in a world right now where it is so difficult to find the real facts of whats happening around the world. With social media, you never know quite what youre watching, what the facts are. I became a journalist because I think we make the world a better place when we know whats going on. How can we possibly improve our lives and our community if we dont really understand whats going on?

I like the idea that if someone reads this book at school, theyll say, why dont we all sit down as a class and write what the hedgehog did? Or lets write a newsletter, the way the hedgehog did, or his dad did, at the newspaper. If you can incentivize just a few kids to go out there, tell stories, find out the truth, speak to more people, then I think thats essential for us and for our future.

The little hedgehogs father is also a journalist. Hows he feeling about his job security these days?

I think journalism is absolutely central, and youre right, it is going through a fascinating period at the moment. Were seeing job losses across the board. Everyone says that journalism is something that AI is going to wipe away. But I believe thats not entirely true. Yes, some jobs are going to be lost, but there is no way that just having a list of facts and figures can convey whats actually happening somewhere: [the experience of] speaking to someone, being there, the smells, the sights.

Every time I covered a story around the world, I would always go with an idea that I kind of knew what the story was like, and I was never right. There was always an angle I never expected. And I only knew that because I went there. So journalism is going to change a lot, but it cannot, and will not, disappear.

Whats next for you?

I think the hedgehog has a lot of places it can go, and there are so many messages I want to teach children. We live in a changing world. I got so much joy with my own children from books; if I can pass that on, thats great.

Read All About It! by Benjamin Hall, illus. by Martina Motzo. HarperCollins, $21.99 Mar. 3 ISBN 978-0-0633-5754-9
Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2025

A large batch of tyres and mobile workshops for repairing military equipment worth a total of UAH 21 million is included in a new aid package that will be sent to the front from the office of the European Solidarity party, its leader and MP Petro Poroshenko has said.

"Today from these walls we are sending aid worth UAH 21 million There is a catastrophic shortage of wheels, and we are re-equipping entire units from winter tyres to summer ones and vice versa. This time the recipients are air assault, artillery, mechanised and airmobile brigades, a Special Operations Forces unit and a UAV battalion. Over the entire period our team has supplied tyres to the military worth UAH 500 million. Together with the tyres we are also sending two tyre service complexes that operate using Run-flat technology, which allows movement after a puncture or loss of pressure," Poroshenko said on Facebook on Wednesday.

According to him, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the party's office has become a volunteer hub from which aid amounting to UAH 7.76 billion had been provided as of March 1.

"Our office has been a centre of assistance not only this winter but for years even before the full-scale invasion On February 24, 2022, hundreds of volunteers from across the city began gathering at our office, receiving weapons and ammunition. Then we decided to form the 206th Territorial Defence Battalion, from which four brigade commanders, dozens of battalion commanders and hundreds of heroes emerged. Since then, throughout all four years of the full-scale invasion, the European Solidarity office has remained one of the largest volunteer hubs. It is open to the military and volunteers, where hundreds of units of equipment are collected and sent to the frontline," Poroshenko said.

He stated that if a "raider attack" were carried out against the office, dozens of units would be left without assistance.

Earlier, co-chair of the European Solidarity faction in the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Herashchenko said there had allegedly been an attempt to evict the party from its office despite the fact that the rent had been paid three months in advance and a valid lease agreement existed.

"For us this is not just an office, we are here on absolutely legal grounds. I stress once again: all payment receipts for rent have been paid in advance, there is a new lease agreement Any attempts to stage 'show raids' here our team will regard as a political act aimed at pressure on the opposition and the start of an election campaign by the authorities," she said at a briefing.

At the same briefing, MP Viktoria Siumar said that since the start of the full-scale invasion the European Solidarity party office has been operating as a hub for large-scale assistance to the military and civilians, and that aid from Poroshenko's team to brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has exceeded UAH 8 billion.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/03/2026



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Chris Conran and Alana Milne have announced they're expecting a child together.Alana took to Instagram on Sunday, March 1 to announce that she and Chris have a baby on the way -- and it's a girl!"We're really, really happy [heart]. Our rainbow baby, our baby girl. Just a few months away, we can't wait to meet you," Alana wrote, tagging Chris in her post.Alongside the caption, Alana posted pictures from the couple's sweet maternity photo shoot in which the mom-to-be was wearing a long-sleeve, white dress and Chris was posing in tan pants and a cream sweater.Alana kissed Chris in the images and showed off her baby bump in a white tank top with matching pants.The pair apparently found out Alana is pregnant with a girl by cutting into a cake that revealed pink frosting inside.Chris commented on Alana's post, "I can't wait to spoil the sh*t out of her."Many members of Bachelor Nation rushed to the comments to congratulate the happy couple.Piper James commented, "Oh my gosh a million congratulations."Mari Pepin wrote, "So happy for you!!! Congratulations." Noah Erb chimed in, "Can't wait to see your family."And Kendall Long gushed, "Congratulations you two! Your life is about to change for the better."Chris and Alana announced in December they had secretly wed in July 2025 Chris and Alana posted beautiful photos of their intimate beach wedding in Laguna Beach, CA, and captioned the carousel, "Mr & Mrs Conran 7.18.2025."Chris also commented on the joint post, "7.18.2025 to forever," confirming marriage rumors that had been swirling about the couple for months.Alana and Chris got engaged in March 2024 during a trip to Bali, Indonesia.Chris popped the question well over two years after the pair had moved in together in Salt Lake City, UT, in Fall 2021.Chris and Alana both left 's seventh season in 2021 single.Following the October 2021 finale of 7, Alana and Chris went Instagram official Alana posted a photo of herself kissing Chris on her Instagram Stories at a party and wrote, "Paradise is wherever I'm with you."Chris shared Alana's post on his own Instagram Stories and proudly revealed at the time, "3 months of no cameras or producers."On how the couple got together after leaving Mexico separately, Chris previously told BachelorNation.com, "After Paradise, I was completely mind f'ed. I have this great connection with someone and watched it slip away in the same day.""I downplay it all the time," he noted, "but it ate away at my heart.""What we have is real, and I've never felt anything stronger," Chris insisted of Alana. "I had to talk to her and see her, but right after the show I felt like she didn't want to talk to me."Chris, however, apparently reached out to Alana anyway and "sent her flowers and booked a flight" to visit her."[The] rest is history," Chris said.Alana added how "things have a way of working themselves out" and things happened the way they were supposed to."Had I never gone on the show, Chris and I never would have had that first date. Had we stayed on the show, something or someone may have come between us," Alana reasoned."The show brought us together and then we were able to create a relationship on our own."But was a very rocky and dramatic experience for the lovebirds.During a September 2021 episode of , Chris and Jessenia Cruz had become one of the strongest couples on the beach in Mexico, but once Alana showed up to an invite-only VIP party, Chris kissed her right away and proceeded to make out with her on the dance floor right in front of Jessenia.After Jessenia left the VIP party early and brokenhearted, Alana joined the Paradise cast the next day and asked Chris out on a date, and he said "yes" without hesitation.From there on out, Chris and Alana were inseparable and all about each other, and so the couple was accused of having had a pre-show relationship and strategy for the Paradise process, similar to how Brendan Morais had dated Natasha Parker until his genuine romantic interest, Pieper, arrived.Jessenia told the cameras Alana had once "thrown herself" on Chris at a friendly gathering in San Diego, CA, which "wasn't a good look" and it appeared Chris had been waiting for her to enter Paradise the entire time.Once Chris and Alana coupled up in Paradise, Joe Amabile and Riley Christian rushed to Jessenia's defense and led an attack on Chris in which they scolded him for wanting "clout" and being "dishonorable."Chris was essentially forced out of Paradise, with Jessenia telling Chris to follow his heart and "get the f-ck out of Paradise." And Riley and Joe agreed that Chris leaving would be the right decision to make.When Alana asked the group if anyone wanted to know what she thought of the situation, Jessenia, Joe and Riley clapped back, "No!"Alana therefore left the show on her on accord since the environment had become a toxic place for her as well.Chris apologized for hurting Jessenia in a lengthy Instagram apology after the unflattering footage aired, but he also felt wronged by his Season 7 co-stars."I take complete accountability for my blatant disrespect towards Jessenia, and handling the situation poorly," Chris wrote that same month, adding, "My past behavior is not a reflection of who I am or who I want to be, and it was never my intention to maliciously or purposefully hurt anyone on the show."Chris also confirmed he was "by no means in a relationship" with Alana prior to filming the show."I hung out with both Alana and Jessenia in a group setting," Chris explained at the time. "I met both of them, and had the same preshow relationship prior to Paradise. Flirty, and excited to potentially see them on Paradise."Chris asked people to stop attacking and harassing Alana, and despite having made some mistakes, he went on to stand up for himself."The hateful messages I'm receiving aren't fun, and the way I was attacked and pushed out of Paradise sucked. It reminded me of getting ganged up on in high school by the 'cook kids,'" Chris wrote."I understand I was low hanging fruit since I'm not a fan favorite, but it also takes a huge level of disrespect for grown men to shut a woman down when she's trying to use her voice. You two know she deserves an apology. We cannot have a culture where we silence women on this show.""All in all, I was not in a relationship prior to the show," he continued. "I arrived single, and left single. Don't compare me to Brendan and Pieper, because it is not the same. I was disrespectful to Jessenia, and should have carried myself better."Chris said "sorry" again for his actions but admitted, "I do not regret following my heart" on -- and his heart clearly led him to Alana once he returned home.Prior to their time on , Alana had competed on Season 25 of The Bachelor starring Matt James , which aired in 2021, and Chris had appeared on Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams ' season of The Bachelorette in 2020.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Eduardo Kaito Alzati Amano fulfilled one of his lifelong goals when he arrived in the U.S. to attend the University of Georgia. Inspired by his father, he knew he had one more goal to accomplish: entrepreneurship.

Alzati, a senior management and international business major, founded Dawgy last year, a student-led nonprofit app that serves as a student marketplace, job listing platform and hub for local deals.
As a result of an attack by Ukrainian drones on Novorossiysk Bay, the stern of a Russian Project 1241 Molniya missile boat was damaged, the OSINT project CyberBoroshno reported.

"This section of the ship houses the main engines and the aft engine room, which provide power to the boats propulsion system. Additionally, the aft area houses two 30mm AK-630M artillery mounts, designed for close-in air defense and the destruction of small targets," according to a post on the projects Telegram channel.

It is noted that the aft section also houses diesel generators that provide power to the ships systems, as well as the crews service areas, in particular the personnel mess hall.

It was earlier reported that the midship superstructure of the Russian frigate Admiral Essen was damaged in an attack by Ukrainian drones on Novorossiysk Bay.

As reported, on the night of March 2, the SBU, together with the Defense Forces, struck the minesweeper Valentyn Pikul. The anti-submarine ships Yeysk and Kasimov were seriously damaged. Three Russian sailors were killed and 14 others were wounded.
'We do have some concerns with the timeline being shortened from 18 to 12 months.'

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

The government's proposal to trim the compliance deadlines for some of the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, from the current 18 months to a year, poses practical challenges, such as shipping out updates to comply with the norms, Meta's Chief of Global Policy Kevin Martin tells Aashish Aryan/ Business Standard in an interview in New Delhi.

Martin, who was in India to attend the AI Impact Summit, also said the AI talent base in India was unparalleled.

DPDP Compliance Timeline Debate

Key Points Meta says shortening the DPDP Act compliance timeline from 18 months to 12 months creates significant operational challenges.

The company says implementing systems to detect and block synthetically generated content before upload is technically complex.

Meta emphasised that complying with India's data protection rules remains a priority due to the country's importance.

Kevin Martin highlighted India's strong AI ecosystem, noting that about 90 per cent of startups incorporate AI components.

Meta expects a dual AI ecosystem combining open-source models and proprietary technologies to support innovation and partnerships.

Meta Raises Synthetic Content Concerns

What are your concerns about the proposal to shorten DPDP compliance timelines?

We do have some concerns with the timeline being shortened from 18 to 12 months.

We think it would make more sense to leave it at the original timeframe... (18) months is already a short time frame in our view to adjust all of our systems and ensure we are in compliance.

Ensuring compliance with the country's rules, especially in a critically important market such as India, is a priority for us.

But shortening the timeline is not as constructive.

India's AI Talent Base Unparalleled

The timelines for compliance with the requirement to take down synthetically generated information have also been shortened. What are your thoughts on that?

That is a much shorter timeline and almost immediate. Technically, that is very complex, and that is a particular challenge for us.

We share the goal of addressing concerns about synthetically generated information.

We have systems in place that take down content when someone complains or the government sends us takedown requests.

Some of the new requirements, however, require us to do something even before people can upload such content.

That kind of system is much more burdensome and could be even more burdensome for consumers and users.

We are talking to the government about it and sharing our concerns so we can come into compliance as quickly as possible.

Open And Proprietary AI Models

What is Meta's broader AI vision, especially in countries such as India?

There are several elements critical to our AI development, such as the right kind of talent, sufficient energy to power our computing, and access to data. Those are the key ingredients from our perspective.

We are very encouraged and optimistic about India's general approach to AI.

The talent base is unparalleled in the country, and about 90 per cent of the startups had an AI component in what they were doing.

The talent ecosystem has been known here for a long time, but the focus on AI is significant.

We think we need a regulatory environment that encourages innovation.

Regulatory Environment For AI Innovation

What do you think about the race to develop sovereign AI capabilities?

It is important for us to ensure that the AI services we provide are culturally relevant and accessible to the majority of people.

That is one of the benefits of an open-source alternative approach.

The sovereign model approach ensures that users have access to AI in a way they understand and that is relevant to them.

We think that it can be done without having a government or sovereign model per se.

The ecosystem should be built in a way that facilitates startups building on top of it.

There are reports that Meta will also adopt a proprietary AI model approach, despite consistently suggesting it will opt for open AI models.

We have always viewed that there will probably be both proprietary and open AI models. Both are important to the ecosystem.

There are certain things we will want to offer on a proprietary basis, but we are not trying to sell those models.

We have partnerships here in India as well, and some of those may develop into proprietary models over time.

We are, however, going to continue to support the open source component as well. It will be a dual system.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
This article was first published 15 years ago

H e isn't everybody's cup of tea, this Tony Stark. Heck, even fellow superheroes he teams up with are more often beleaguered than besotted by his overdone charm, a boozy womaniser given to far, far more flash than, well, Flash.

He's petulant, spoilt, arrogant to the point of being obnoxious, armed with an overcompensatory need for women, and has, on one particular occasion, gotten so drunk that his Iron Man suit was taken over and used for murder. True story.

(Um, perhaps the fact that this particular reviewer treats canonised cartoon fiction as fact should tip you off about how much of a fanboy you are now reading. Consider yourself warned.)

And yet, played as he is by the increasingly beguiling Robert Downey Jr in the spectacular new Iron Man 2, its hard not to fall for him.

Creator Stan Lee might have based the billionaire playboy on Howard Hughes, but director Jon Favreau adds some Richard Branson cocky daredevilry -- this Stark fires a racecar driver to take the wheel himself, since he owns it -- and a significant amount of Steve Jobs. (His first appearance is a keynote address, for heaven's sake.)

The result is a hero who is, nine scenes out of ten, a mumbling, stumbling embarrassment. And that's just what makes him super.

The first film gave us the backstory -- that of an arms-dealer fending for his life inventing a heavy metal suit to survive, and then going on to kick terrorist butt -- and this sequel packs in, some might feel, far too much gravy for one film.

Plot is thick as gravy for these two hours, with villains and spies and rivals and women and hangovers -- not to mention allusions to upcoming Marvel megafilms -- and one may well wish for the narrative to slow down.

But this is Iron Man, baby, and he writes his own hyperactive ticket. Buckle up and keep your eyes open, this is what reading a good, meaty comic feels like.

What separates Stark from the traditional superhero most often glimpsed in our blockbusters -- aside from having actual personality -- is the fact that he has thrown off the secret identity and embraced celebrity full-on, revelling in the spotlight. No black turtleneck for this man, clearly.

He shines in a suit that could have been made by Ferrari, colours and all, and so entranced is he by the lure of his own reflection that he hands Stark Industries over to his secretary. Well okay, he does have a rather pressing literally fatal concern as well, but its really easy to believe that Tony'd rather party instead. Or just look at himself for another fifteen minutes.

He doesn't get to do that in this jampacked film, with frustration around every corner. There's the US Senate, trying to confiscate his suit.

There's Mickey Rourke's Whiplash, a silently intimidating Russian with an accent heavier than his sportscar-slicing whips and a grin dripping with blood.

There's Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, the secretary/girlfriend who is really beginning to get into spousal mode.

There's Samuel L Jackson's annoyingly omniscient Nick Fury, who speaks in riddles while managing a double-bored stare out of just one eye.

There's Col James Rhodes, played by Don Cheadle, a Stark ally who suddenly seems given to showboating and larceny.

There's Scarlett Johannson as that sexy new legal aide he hasn't been able to spend enough time with.

And then there's Justin Hammer, played by Sam Rockwell, an arms manufacturer smooth as gravel and trying hard to out-Stark Stark, visibly the Gates to this Jobs.

Sounds exhausting? It would have been, if not for the man who drives Tony's car. Favreau, when not playing Stark's trusty chauffeur Happy Hogan, runs a light ship, and this film wears its material -- the sinister villains, the big robot-on-robot setpieces, the father-son revelations -- casually, like an loosened Tony Stark necktie.

Everything falls into place and is given room, but nothing seems to weigh the film down, thanks largely to pacing finesse and clever writing.

It's all too rare to see a superhero film with repartee this sharp -- Potts and Stark banter with vintage, fantastic ease -- and the smartly overlapping quips are matched by the subtleties on the side.

Like Stark -- Iron Man helmet off, sunglasses on -- lying in the middle of a giant donut sign, wolfing down the things to get rid of a massive hangover. And there's a lot more nuance where that came from.

Rourke is a supreme baddy, a supervillain for the ages, menacing at every step and yet kept in the shadows enough to have us craving a lot more.

Rockwell is pitch-perfect as Hammer, the true villain of the piece, and John Slattery of Mad Men makes a fine Superman-movie-style appearance as Tony's late father, Howard Stark.

Paltrow positively shines as Potts, more than holding her own alongside -- and often against -- Downey.

As for him, he the (iron) man. That Robert Downey Jr has effortless charm is not a point of debate, but it is remarkable how lightly he wears both his costume and his character, while inhabiting them completely.

From dissolving champagne bottles noisily for an audience to seducing cameras as he speaks of self-gratification, there seems to be nothing that Downey's Stark can't get away with -- even if its by the scruff of his neck. Here is an actor doused in charisma and alarmingly comfortable at expressing narcissism, and casting really doesn't get more perfect.

Sure, there isn't enough room for a silent, beautiful beat. But this is Iron Man, goshdarnit. And the beat is appropriately loud metal. Hell, he even takes Richard Nixon's v-sign and makes it awesome.
In just five tightly packed episodes, Search: The Naina Murder Case takes you through a whirlwind of theories, emotions and shocking revelations, making it a compelling Indian crime drama, notes Divya Nair.

Konkona Sen Sharma is one of those rare actors whose choice of OTT projects has consistently worked in her favour.

After entertaining audiences with Killer Soup and Lust Stories, she returns as a sharp and intuitive cop in Search: The Naina Murder Case.

Directed by Rohan Sippy, the series is an Indian adaptation of the acclaimed Danish thriller Forbrydelsen, aka The Killing, which originally ran for three seasons. Naturally, the story has been reworked to suit Indian sensibilities, including the settings, and emotions.

The premise is simple but layered.

When a missing college girl, Naina (Chandsi Kataria), is found dead in a politician's car, all eyes turn towards the usual suspects -- her jilted ex-boyfriend, a jealous classmate, a teacher with a murky past, and finally, the politician himself.

But as lead investigators Sanyukta Das (Konkona Sen Sharma) and Jai Kanwal (Surya Sharma) dig deeper, disturbing truths surface, and every clue leads to another twist.

As skeletons tumble from unusual places, nothing is quite as it seems.

And that's what keeps you hooked in this series.

The writing is taut, and the storytelling remains gripping throughout.

Parallel to the murder investigation is the personal story of Sanyukta, a woman torn between her demanding duty and her crumbling marriage.

She has made a choice to prioritise her family but is also duty bound to play by the rules, and carry out her responsibilities as a cop on a mission.

Konkona's vulnerabilities -- of failed decisions and small victories -- lend a humane touch, making her a relatable and grounded character in an otherwise grim narrative.

Search: The Naina Murder Case also captures the emotional turbulence of teenage angst, parental pressure, and the hidden lives people lead beneath their carefully constructed social and public images.

Konkona is natural as the experienced, no-nonsense cop who is emotional but gritty, without being overtly melodramatic.

Giving her company is Surya Sharma as the annoying but earnest junior officer whose impulse contrasts Konkona's calm and patient approach in the investigation.

The supporting cast including Shradha Das, Iravati Harshe, Mukul Harshe, Sagar Deshmukh, Varun Thakur and Mukul Chadha complement the leads perfectly, adding the right balance of tension, emotion and intrigue to the story.

In just five tightly packed episodes, Search: The Naina Murder Case takes you through a whirlwind of theories, emotions, and shocking revelations, making it a compelling Indian crime drama.

If you haven't watched The Killing, the cliffhanger episode is bound to keep you guessing what's coming next.

Search: The Naina Murder Case streams on Jio Hotstar.

Search: The Naina Murder Case Review Rediff Rating:
This article was first published 18 years ago

A njathe, Mysskin's new movie about two friends, one who becomes a cop and one who should have been a cop, is a cocktail mix of explosive action, thrilling sequences and gut wrenching emotions.

This is the year's best Tamil movie so far and will remain among its best. This is also the work of an ambitious and stridently commercial director, who is at the peak of his game.

The movie, earlier titled Aruvathu Sinam, begins deceptively, but in an innovatively shot stunt staged in a corporation park. Right from the first low angle shot of a blue sky into which thugs walk in, Mysskin waves his talent like a red flag. Ten minutes into the movie, he has managed to grab you by the collar and pull you headlong into the narrative.

Naren and debutante Ajmal play the two friends, and much of the movie revolves around the intertwined fates of the two, as they are eventually pitted in a cat-and-mouse game. Classmates Sathya (Naren) and Kiruba are both sons of cops and live opposite to each other in a police colony. When the movie begins, Sathya is a street rowdy and Kiruba is studying hard to be a sub-inspector.

In a quirky twist of fate, Sathya becomes the cop and his friend, who believes that he lost despite his hard work to his friend's street-smart ways, turns his bitter rival. Many of the early sequences are earthy and simple in sharp contrast to the post-interval manic speed.

Naren plays Sathya as an inarticulate, angry young man with a penchant for violence. This hides his naivety and soft underbelly that can't stomach his new life as a policeman. On his first day at work, a man who walks into a police station carrying the head of his cheating wife in a bag, send our hero straight to bed. His father, the head constable, advises his son while polishing his shoes to keep his eyes open to horror. "The policeman lives with murder," he tells his son.

Ajmal's breakthrough performance as Kiruba is of a man who slowly, but unwittingly enters a life of crime. His face is often a canvas for the director to the show man in moral dilemma.

As trainee cop, Sathya is soon on the trail of a gang of kidnappers, who abduct girls of rich families for ransom. The screenplay unfolds like a game of poker in the hands of a devilishly clever player. It is quite sometime before he has assembled the right cards, but once he does, he unravels the movie in the last one hour.

Prasanna, in a marked departure from his usual chocolate boy role, plays a serial rapist and the kingpin of the kidnapping gang. Prasanna's histrionic talents may just fall short of portraying implacable evil, but this is a boisterous and courageous performance from the actor. Much of time, his character Daya has to hide his morbid desire to abuse underage girls behind his long hair.

Prasanna provokes just the right amount of disgust and stealthily enters the movie only to retain a vice-like grip on the proceedings towards the climax. Daya's desperate inventiveness in the face of the police hunt provides much of the movie's thrills.

Some of the action sequences are brilliant. Naren's first battle as a lone cop standing in the way of masked killers in a hospital is heroic. But it is also a study of a cop in an unfamiliar crisis. Having to face killers, Sathya discovers that he, indeed, is a hero.

The director also displays remarkable acumen in rooting this crime thriller in a compelling and realistic sociological background. Many of his criminals are victims of life. A flower seller who helps Sathya rescue a dying man has nylon cover wrapped around a leg wound. Such attention details fill Mysskin's canvas. Even when wanting to entertain, Mysskin isn't insular to being sensitive.

Sundar C Babu scores the music, which keeps pace with the editing, often providing the viewer with aural clues. But the songs, particularly a dream sequence and the mandatory post-interval item number, are weak links. Mysskin cans them like a director in a hurry to hide his compromises.

Mysskin also reveals a penchant for slow motion montage (influence of Eisenstein?), which he uses often with devastating impact. A ransom payoff sequence is shot like a visual counterpart of a symphony, and sometimes in the midst of the trippy editing, it's hard to locate the characters zipping past one another.

In these sequences, cinematographer Mahesh Muthuswamy displays his variety. His camera which remains largely functional turns flamboyant at command. In one superbly realized sequence, the story is entirely told in one long low angle shot of the characters entering and leaving a house. All through this sequence, only the feet of the actors are shown. In fact, the movie is realized as a series of long shots, each one signaling a new twist in the screenplay. In the climatic sequence, a sugarcane forest where the kidnappers take refuge is also beautifully evoked.

Actor Pandiarajan, superbly cast against type as one of the kidnappers, delivers a performance that virtually reintroduces the actor to movie audiences. Even if you saw Aan Pavam and Anjathe back to back, you will be hard put identify the actor, who is in both the movies.

Vijayalakshmi plays Kiruba's sister, who in a quite, fierce and blindly trusting love with Sathya. In the little screen time she has, the actress does a commendable job.

With Chitiram Pesuthadi, Mysskin announced his arrival as a name to reckon with. Anjathe is a tastier second course from the director.
This article was first published 3 years ago

This Web series is more about wine, opium, sex, more sex, gay love and incest, rues Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

The Janissaries were members of an elite corps of the Ottoman army, the first to lay down their lives in war.

The Janissaries were recruited from the Christian Balkan province as children, converted to Islam and put into service for the Ottoman empire that ruled from modern day Turkey.

At its zenith, the empire's boundaries extended from Austria to Algeria and from the present day Persian Gulf to Yemen.

For these Janissaries, 'Empire Before Brood' was a way of life.

ZEE5's Taj: Divided By Blood claims that Mughal rule in India was established on the same lines with the help of the Rajputs who acted as the Mughals' janissaries.

No less than Man Singh, Akbar's trusted military commander, is ready to sacrifice his son Durjan for the sake of the Mughal empire.

When his sister Man Bai, the later emperor Jehangir's wife, asks Man Singh how he could hang his son, Man Singh curtly responds, "He is my emperor and he always will be."

In Taj: Divided By Blood, Akbar is a disillusioned old man hallucinating and awaiting death. He is unable to solve the domestic squabbles between his three wives and his three sons.

The sons -- Prince Salim, Prince Danyal and Prince Murad -- try to outdo each other to claim the throne and Akbar is unsure whom to hand over the reins of the empire.

The plot only provides glimpses of Akbar's reign, but goes off on different tangents, far away from history.

This Web series is more about wine, opium, sex, more sex, gay love and incest.

Yes, you read that right: Incest.

The makers of Taj: Divided By Blood are perhaps sure that no one will raise a shindig for showing the Mughals indulging in incest, not in Amrit Kaal India.

Naseeruddin Shah, who plays Akbar, looks thoroughly disinterested as if he is only playing the part for a hefty fee.

Rahul Bose is a complete misfit playing the jihadi Mirza Muhammad Hakim South Mumbai style.

Aditi Rao Hydari as Anarkali looks lost and is unconvincing in her love for Salim.

Sandhya Mridul as Jodhabai is miscast and so is Zarina Wahab as Salima Begum, one of Akbar's wives.

Aashim Gulati as Salim does more of dancing like a drunkard than acting like one.

The only redeeming actor is Taha Shah Basussha as Murad, who gets into character and delivers a mind blowing performance that keeps you hooked.

A ray of hope arises in one of the episodes when Akbar speaks of his new religion, Din-i-Ilahi (Divine Faith) based on humanity.

'No one religion can claim supremacy over God and creation. This is the first rule of Din-i-Ilahi,' the emperor proclaims.

Here too, the script writers fail in their research because in his lifetime Akbar could only convince 17 people to convert to his new religion, Din-i-Ilahi.

In one of the final episodes after falling in Salim's arms, Anarkali tells the prince, 'Some love stories should never have begun.'

One wishes the makers of Taj had not begun with their story.

Taj: Divided By Blood streams on ZEE5.

Taj: Divided By Blood Review Rediff Rating:
By appearing to privilege ideological affinity over strategic balance, India risks eroding the trust painstakingly built across West Asia.

Once the perception takes hold that India's friendship is conditional and transactional, rebuilding credibility will be difficult, warns Amberish K Diwanji.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraces Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel, February 25, 2026. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/X

Key Points Jawaharlal Nehru stabilised post-Independence India and built enduring institutions, but his China policy and the 1962 War dented his legacy.

Narendra Modi frequently blames Nehru for structural flaws in modern India yet now risks a foreign policy misstep of similar magnitude.

Escalating tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States have raised the stakes for India's regional strategy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has never concealed his deep antipathy toward India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

In speech after speech, Nehru is invoked as the source of nearly every structural flaw in modern India. Yet history is rarely so simple.

Nehru stabilised a traumatised nation after Independence and laid down an institutional and developmental framework that endures to this day.

But it is equally true that Nehru's greatest miscalculation lay in his China policy. His belief in Asian solidarity and the rhetoric of 'Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai' blinded him to the hard realities of power politics, culminating in the 1962 War and a permanent dent in his legacy.

Ironically, in foreign policy today, Modi risks committing a blunder of Nehruvian proportions.

A Region on Fire

West Asia stands on the brink. Israeli and American strikes on Iran and its senior leadership have dramatically escalated tensions.

Tehran has retaliated by targeting American bases in the Gulf, and further escalation appears likely.

The stakes for India are enormous.

Nearly nine million Indians live and work across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries -- the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.

By contrast, only a few thousand Indians reside in Iran. On the surface, siding with the United States and Israel may seem the pragmatic choice.

Modi's ideological comfort with Israel is no secret. His public warmth toward Israeli leadership -- particularly his embrace of Benjamin Netanyahu -- has symbolised a deepening India-Israeli partnership.

But foreign policy is not about comfort. It is about long-term national interest.

The Iran Factor

IMAGE: Israel and the US launch strikes on Iran, March 2, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Iran has, more often than not, been a quiet strategic partner.

When India sought to bypass Pakistan and access Afghanistan and Central Asia, it turned to Tehran.

The development of the Chabahar port was meant to provide India a gateway into Afghanistan and beyond, circumventing Pakistan entirely. That project represented years of careful diplomacy.

Yes, Iran has occasionally taken positions uncomfortable to India, including rhetorical support for Pakistan on Kashmir.

But so have several Arab States -- and that never prevented New Delhi from building productive ties across the region.

India's strength has always been its ability to engage adversaries simultaneously -- to maintain ties with Washington, Moscow, Tehran, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv without being trapped in anyone's camp.

That delicate balancing act is now under strain.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Flashpoint

IMAGE: Residents gather near a damaged house following Pakistani airstrikes in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, February 22, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

Meanwhile, closer to home, tensions simmer across the Durand Line. Pakistan has struck inside Afghanistan, alleging cross-border terrorism.

India has traditionally maintained sympathy for Kabul's position, given its own long experience with Pakistan-sponsored militancy.

Yet Washington's strategic calculations often lean toward Islamabad. Should India appear firmly in the US camp on Iran, it may find its leverage reduced when Afghan interests diverge from American priorities.

Strategic autonomy, once compromised, is difficult to reclaim.

Ideology versus Interest

India today enjoys relations with Iran, the Sunni Arab world, Israel, Russia, and the United States -- a diplomatic achievement built over decades by governments of differing political hues.

This multi-vector engagement is not accidental; it is the product of cautious, interest-driven statecraft.

Why then jeopardise that goodwill by appearing to take sides?

The concern is that ideology -- not strategic calculus -- is shaping choices. The notion of a civilisational alignment between a Hindu-majority India and a Jewish State, set against a broadly Islamic adversary, may hold emotional appeal in some quarters.

But foreign policy built on civilisational romance rather than cold national interest is fraught with risk.

Nehru's Asian solidarity proved illusory. Today's imagined ideological axes may prove equally fragile.

India need not endorse Iran's policies. It can -- and should -- insist that Tehran adhere to its international nuclear commitments. It can condemn retaliatory strikes that endanger regional stability.

But it must also assert that unilateral military action, bypassing the United Nations framework, sets a dangerous precedent.

India's interest lies not in joining camps, but in preserving options.

Refusing to criticise escalation may curry short-term favour in Washington and Tel Aviv, but it narrows India's diplomatic space.

A country of India's size and aspirations cannot afford to be seen as an appendage of any bloc.

The Cost of Alignment

IMAGE: Then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru with then Chinese premier Zhou Enlai. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images from the Rediff Archives

Foreign policy blunders are rarely immediate; their consequences surface over time.

By appearing to privilege ideological affinity over strategic balance, India risks eroding the trust painstakingly built across West Asia.

Once the perception takes hold that India's friendship is conditional and transactional, rebuilding credibility will be difficult.

History offers lessons. Leaders who allow idealism -- or ideology -- to cloud judgment often discover that geopolitics is unforgiving.

If Nehru's error was romanticism about China, Modi's risk is ideological alignment at the expense of strategic autonomy.

The price, when it comes, may not be small.

Postscript: Some argue that Iran's domestic policies, particularly regarding women, make it undeserving of diplomatic balance. But Afghanistan has adopted deeply regressive gender policies. Selective outrage is not a strategy.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Dubai's core promise -- that it is an oasis untouched by regional storms -- has been tested in full public view.

The coming months will show whether investors view the attacks as a short-lived disruption or a deeper signal of lasting risk, points out Asif Ullah Khan, who worked as senior editor in Dubai for 15 years.

IMAGE: Smoke billows from Jebel Ali port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. Photograph: Raghed Waked/Reuters

Key Points For two decades, Dubai marketed itself not just as a real estate hub but as a safe, predictable haven for global capital.

Iranian retaliatory strikes following US-Israel action saw debris fall in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, causing limited physical damage but significant psychological impact.

The UAE's proximity to Iran and deepening ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords complicate its long-standing strategy of geopolitical balancing.

For two decades, Dubai has sold more than real estate. It has sold certainty.

In a region synonymous with volatility, Dubai positioned itself as the exception -- a polished, hyper-efficient city-state where global capital could land, multiply, and sleep soundly. Low taxes. Light regulation. Heavy ambition. Safety as a brand.

Last weekend, that brand flickered.

Missiles and drones launched by Iran in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes streaked across Gulf skies. The UAE intercepted projectiles, but debris fell in parts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Authorities reported injuries after a fire at Palm Jumeirah, the man-made island that symbolises Dubai's luxury excess.

Flames were seen near the five-star Fairmont The Palm. Debris from an intercepted drone caused a minor fire on the facade of Burj Al Arab -- perhaps the most recognisable building in the country.

The physical damage was limited. The psychological impact was not.

Dubai's rise has been powered by a simple proposition: Geopolitical neutrality plus commercial aggression equals prosperity.

It became a magnet for London bankers and American financiers seeking lower taxes. Russian and Ukrainian expatriates fleeing war poured in.

Entrepreneurs, crypto investors, gold traders, and family offices followed. Property prices have surged roughly 75 percent since 2020.

Towers sold out before ground was broken. Off-plan flipping became dinner conversation.

Dubai's skyline came to represent insulation -- from sanctions, from instability, from regional tremors.

That insulation now looks thinner.

The strikes did not decimate Dubai. But they pierced an assumption that underpinned its valuation: That it could remain commercially central while geopolitically peripheral.

Dubai's true asset is not oil. It is perception of safety.

It is the idea that deals can be signed at midnight without risk. That families can leave cars unlocked. That luxury hotels on Palm Jumeirah are far removed from the fault lines of regional politics.

Social media videos of interceptor missiles arcing across the sky disrupted that narrative in seconds. A restaurant in Dubai International Financial Centre reportedly asked diners to settle bills and leave early.

Supermarkets saw brief panic buying before authorities reassured residents that strategic reserves were robust and diversified.

Airspace closures and flight suspensions struck at another pillar of Dubai's identity: seamless global connectivity.

Dubai is not in the vicinity of obvious military concentrations compared to other Gulf capitals, yet it was drawn into the confrontation.

Geography and alliances have consequences. The UAE's proximity to Iran and its deepening ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords mean neutrality has limits.

For investors watching from London, Singapore, Zurich or Mumbai that calculation matters.

Is This 2009 Again?

IMAGE: A satellite image of an industrial area in Dubai covered in smoke, March 1, 2026. Photograph: 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters

Dubai has faced existential questions before. In 2009, the global financial crisis exposed overleveraging and forced a dramatic bailout by Abu Dhabi. Property prices collapsed. Projects stalled. Confidence evaporated -- temporarily.

Dubai rebounded by doubling down on what it does best: Branding, infrastructure, and regulatory flexibility.

Today's challenge is different. This is not about debt ratios or liquidity. It is about geopolitical risk premium.

If a prolonged regional conflict unfolds, investors -- particularly the highly mobile, tax-sensitive class that fuelled Dubai's post-Covid boom -- may reassess.

Dubai competes with "stealth wealth" Doha, reform-driven Riyadh, and established financial centres like London and Singapore. Capital that moves easily can move again.

But bubbles burst when fundamentals collapse. Dubai's fundamentals -- logistics, aviation infrastructure, legal frameworks tailored for foreign ownership, and a government that moves quickly -- remain intact.

What has changed is the assumption of immunity.

The weekend's events may not signal a bursting bubble so much as a repricing.

Risk was always present. It was simply discounted.

Markets, whether property or portfolio capital, adjust when perceptions shift. Some speculative froth may cool. Off-plan flipping may slow. Ultra-luxury demand may become more selective.

Yet Dubai has demonstrated a remarkable ability to turn crises into marketing opportunities -- to frame resilience as strength.

Testing Times For Dubai

IMAGE: Smoke rises over a hotel damaged in Dubai's famed Palm Jumeirah, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Screen grab Handout via Reuters

The more uncomfortable truth is that no Gulf business hub exists in isolation from Washington, Tehran, or Jerusalem. The recent strikes underscored that susceptibility.

Dubai's core promise -- that it is an oasis untouched by regional storms -- has been tested in full public view.

For a city built as much on narrative as on concrete, that matters.

The coming months will show whether investors view the attacks as a short-lived disruption or a deeper signal of lasting risk.

Dubai's rise has always rested on trust -- in its stability, its security, its predictability.

Now, that trust is being reassessed in real time.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Afghans have deep self-respect and are the last people to put up with humiliation.

Is it any surprise that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have touched an all-time low and the two countries are now at war? asks M R Narayan Swamy.

IMAGE: Residents gather at the site, following Pakistani airstrikes, in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, February 22, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points Then Taliban ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef had a heated confrontation with Pakistan's ISI officers after Pervez Musharraf sided with the US post-9/11.

The ISI allegedly embedded officers in Afghan ministries and diplomatic missions during Taliban rule.

Afghan refugees in Pakistan frequently accused security forces of harassment, bribery, and extortion.

'You will be Afghanistan's enemy number one! ... You should be ashamed to even utter the word jihad!'

This was the Taliban-run Afghanistan's ambassador to Islamabad, Abdul Salam Zaeef, screaming at three officers of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's all-powerful intelligence agency.

The spooks had called on Zaeef at the Afghan embassy in Islamabad when Pervez Musharraf as Pakistan's president decided, under intense US pressure, to turn the screws on the Taliban. They had come with instructions clearly from the top.

If this was not enough, the ISI officers accused Zaeef of planning to assassinate Musharraf. The diplomat denied the charge. In no time, a screaming match erupted.

By the time it ended, one of the ISI officers was in tears. In their hearts they knew that Pakistan was about to let down an Islamic outfit it had actively propped up.

Zaeef was eventually one of the numerous Afghans arrested by Pakistani security forces and handed over to the Americans in exchange for money the US provided Islamabad and its deep state as it set about avenging 9/11.

Zaeef suffered for years in in the military prison at Guantanamo Bay before his reluctant release by the Americans. He is one of the few in the Taliban who has authored a biography, providing a rare insight into the heart of the secretive Islamic group.

This Taliban leader's detailed account of the many betrayals by the Pakistan establishment and the ISI can help one understand why the former allies are now at each other's throats.

The turmoil in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations is not new.

When Afghanistan Voted Against Pakistan

IMAGE: Afghanistan hits military bases in Pakistan. Photograph: @MoDAfghanistan2/X

Indeed, the two countries have never had a stable relationship. Kabul was the only one to vote against Pakistan's admission into the United Nations.

Pakistani rulers always feared that Afghanistan's refusal to recognise the British-drawn Durand Line that divides the two countries was aimed at forming a greater Pashtunistan one day.

Pakistan is home to some 26 million Pashtuns while 14 million Pashtuns live in Afghanistan.

Pakistan claims it hosted millions of Afghan refugees and actively supported the mujahideen/Taliban.

But in the process, Pakistan only played one set of Afghans against another -- a deadly game in which the biggest losers were the Afghans.

Even this was done with an ulterior motive -- as Afghans quickly realised.

Having lost all the wars against India and with East Pakistan breaking away in 1971, the Pakistan military wanted a pliable Afghanistan, one which could give Islamabad 'strategic depth' in the event of another conflict with India.

IMAGE: A Taliban soldier operates an anti-aircraft gun in Momand Dara, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

This is why when the Taliban first seized power in Kabul in 1996, Pakistan's deep state celebrated more than the Islamic militia.

The ISI quickly posted its officers in all Pakistani diplomatic missions in Afghanistan. ISI officers also took up posts in key Afghan government ministries.

Even during the war against the Soviets, the ISI extended its resources and support deep across Afghanistan.

And without the Taliban's knowledge, it recruited many Afghans to work for the ISI as well.

Select Afghan staffers in the Taliban embassy in Islamabad were wooed with bribes.

When it came to distributing money and weapons, the ISI brazenly played favourites, strengthening groups and mujahideen commanders who did what the agency demanded.

It quietly assassinated those who were defiant. Hamid Karzai, who later became Afghanistan's president, believes that his father was murdered at the ISI's instance.

All this caused resentment among the Afghans even when the mujahideen fought the Soviet army.

While the world viewed the Taliban as Pakistan's creation, it had a mind of its own and refused to take Pakistani fiats lying down even as it was aware of Islamabad's role in providing oxygen to the rebels.

Afghan refugees who lived in Pakistan through the anti-Soviet war and later repeatedly accused the Pakistani security establishment of mistreating and even robbing them.

The complaints became so rampant that Afghan diplomats frequently raised the issue with the Pakistan authorities.

'Policemen would linger on the streets that led to the (Afghan) embassy and rob Afghans, falling upon them like a pack of wolves,' wrote the Afghan envoy, Zaeef.

Afghans Allege Police Abductions, Extortion and Abuse in Pakistan

IMAGE: Trucks loaded with supplies parked along a road leading to the Torkham border crossing in Torkham, Pakistan, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Shahid Shinwari/Reuters

Mullah Serajuddin, a commander with the Afghan defence ministry who was on his way to Germany for medical treatment, was abducted by the police in Islamabad because they had seen him with $10,000.

Fortunately, he had entrusted the money for safe keeping to a guest house where he was staying. Finding no money on him, the police dumped the shaken man outside the city.

Another Afghan man was killed when he jumped out of a moving taxi when Pakistan policemen forced their way into the cab after noticing the expensive jewellery his wife was wearing.

Even as the man lay seriously injured, the policemen grabbed the jewellery and escaped.

The US-led war on the Taliban regime post 9/11 made life more miserable for the hundreds of thousands in Pakistan.

Pakistani officials, those from the ISI included, often threatened ordinary Afghans that they would be handed over to the Americans as Taliban/al-Qaeda suspects unless they parted with money. It became a scandal known to every Afghan.

Zaeef writes: 'The ISI or the police captured (Afghans) and if they could not pay a bribe, they were interrogated, beaten and abused... In the end, they were all sold to the Americans. Many had never been to Afghanistan or had any involvement with al-Qaeda or the Taliban... Pakistan was known among the (Afghan) prisoners as Majbooristan, the land that is obliged to fulfil each of America's demands.'

To the world at large, Pakistan portrayed itself as a State firmly rooted in Islamic piety, a country which generously hosted an army of Afghan men and women who had fled their country.

Zaeef was himself was stripped naked and brutally beaten up by American soldiers while Pakistani soldiers watched after being handed over to the US as a prize catch.

He underwent a terrible time at Guantanamo as did every other prisoner in the notorious prison. When he was freed, he fumed, rightly so, against Islamabad.

Accusing Pakistan of treachery, Zaeef said: 'They have two tongues in their mouth, and two faces on one head so they can speak everybody's language; they use everybody, deceive everybody. They deceive the Arabs under the guise of Islamic nuclear power, saying that they are defending Islam and Islamic countries.

'They milk America and Europe in the alliance against terrorism, and they have been deceiving Pakistanis and other Muslims around the world in the name of the Kashmiri jihad. But behind the curtain, they have been betraying everyone.'

There could not have been a stronger denunciation of Pakistan and all that it stands for.

IMAGE: Afghan refugees arrested from different areas are brought to court in a police vehicle in Peshawar, Pakistan, March 1, 2026. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

Zaeef's years spent in Pakistan, his and his compatriots' experiences in that country betray the deep hatred ordinary Afghans have for the Pakistani state.

During the many years she spent covering the Afghan war, British journalist Christina Lamb often met Afghans sick and tired of Pakistan.

Besides then president Karzai and his close aides, other Afghan elders made it clear to her that Afghanistan would never have peace until Pakistan stopped its unending interference.

Even when the Taliban ruled the country in its first avatar, Pakistan tried to derail Kabul's already fledgling economy.

If and when the Taliban regime rebuilt some factories and opened new industries, Pakistan would introduce export taxes on raw materials that effectively rendered the emerging industries useless.

And if Afghanistan became ready to produce something, Pakistan would grant tax exemption to its own companies which produced the same goods -- with the same disastrous results for Kabul.

Afghans have deep self-respect and are the last people to put up with humiliation. Is it any surprise that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have touched an all-time low and the two countries are now at war?

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'Strikes into the Gulf countries are proof that the security guarantees offered by the US are ineffective and that the Gulf countries cannot rely on American security assurances for their safety.'

IMAGE: Graves are being prepared for the victims following an Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 2, 2026. Photograph: Iranian Foreign Media Department/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuters

Key Points Iran's attacks on Gulf countries are part of a pre-determined military strategy targeting US bases and assets in response to actions by Israel and the US.

The attacks aim to increase the cost of the conflict for Gulf States and demonstrate the ineffectiveness of US security guarantees.

Iran's actions are driven by geopolitical strategy and survival, not sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shia Islam.

As tensions spiral across West Asia, Iranian drone and missile strikes on Gulf countries have intensified fears of a wider regional war and raised critical questions about Tehran's strategy, American military presence, and the role of sectarian politics.

In this interview with Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff, Colonel Rajeev Agarwal (retd), a West Asia expert and Senior Research Consultant at the Chintan Research Foundation, a New Delhi think-tank, explains that Iran's actions are part of a "pre-determined military strategy" aimed at targeting American bases and assets in response to what he describes as a war initiated by Israel and the United States.

Why is Iran attacking Gulf countries? Are American bases in these countries the only explanation for these attacks?

The strikes by drones and missiles in Gulf countries are a part of Iran's pre-determined military strategy.

It had in fact announced it well before the start of the conflict that, in case a war is started by Israel and the US, all American bases and assets in the region would be considered legitimate military targets and would bear the brunt of Iran's punitive response.

Iran had also informed the neighbouring Gulf countries that such strikes would not be aimed at targeting their sovereignty and would be restricted to US, Israeli and western targets.

The other reason for Iran targeting the Gulf countries is to increase the cost of the conflict in the region wherein the Gulf countries would be forced to seek an early end to the conflict.

Strikes into the Gulf countries also are proof that the security guarantees offered by the US are ineffective and that the Gulf countries cannot rely on American security assurances for their safety.

In fact, the strikes into Doha, Qatar, lay bare the iron clad security guarantees that the US had assured Qatar after Israel had fired missiles into Doha in September 2025, targeting the Hamas leadership.

IMAGE: Smoke billows from Zayed port in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026 after an Iranian attack. Photograph: Abdelhadi Ramahi/Reuters

'All the American bases are within the range of Iranian missiles'

How many American bases are located in the Gulf? How many of them have been attacked? Does Iran have defence capabilities to target each of these bases?

The US has 13 major military bases in the region. The most prominent are the Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain and the CENTCOM HQ based in Doha, Qatar.

All the American bases are well within the range and capability of Iranian missiles and drones as has been witnessed over the first two days of the war.

Iranian missiles have caused large scale damage to the naval base in Bahrain as well as military bases in Kuwait, Doha, UAE, Jordan etc.

In fact on the night of March 1-2, the US base in Ebril, Iraq, which is basically a huge ammunition depot was targeted and completely destroyed.

Iran also targeted US naval assets including launching of four ballistic missiles at the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, deployed in the Persian Gulf.

Although reports indicate that the missiles were intercepted well short of the aircraft carrier, the symbolism is effective enough. The American logistic base in Duqm port in Oman too has been struck by Iranian drones, causing damage.

IMAGE: An F/A-18E Super Hornet takes off from the US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran February 28, 2026. Photograph: US Navy/Handout via Reuters

How far are reports stating that Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman lobbied US President Donald Trump to attack Iran true?

These reports are speculative and add to the fog of war. There is no doubt that Saudi Arabia and Iran have had an acrimonious relationship over past decades and see each other as a rival. However, there has been a lot of positive momentum in relations after the peace deal between them in March 2023.

Even in the 12 Day War (June 13 to June 24, 2025), Saudi Arabia along with other Gulf countries had voiced support for Iran in the light of US and Israeli attacks. However, it is true that Saudi Arabia has joined the Gulf countries in condemning Iranian strikes and threatening direct military action against Iran.

IMAGE: Workers evacuate the area around Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery as smoke rises following a reported Iranian drone strike, in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, in this still image obtained from social media video released on March 2, 2026. Photograph: Social Media/via Reuters

'None of the Gulf countries have either weapon platforms nor trained manpower to repel Iranian missiles'

Why have Gulf countries failed to have some kind of defence system where Iranian missiles can be intercepted like Israel does? Did they never anticipate the danger from Iran? Or were they too confident that American forces will protect these countries?

Most of the Gulf countries have small armies, navies and air forces. For decades they have depended on American assurances for security. The US had occupied military bases in the region not only as part of its global military deployment but also a part of regional security umbrella.

Therefore, none of the Gulf countries individually have either weapon platforms nor trained manpower to repel Iranian missiles by themselves.

IMAGE: Smoke rises in the Fujairah oil industry zone following a fire caused by debris after interception of a drone by air defences, according to the Fujairah media office, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters

Reports also say that Saudi Arabia wanted the war because of falling global oil prices which was crippling its economy. Could this be true?

Oil prices are controlled and determined by a collective body called the OPEC+ (OPEC+ is a coalition of 22 oil-exporting nations formed in 2016, combining the 12 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with 10 other major non-OPEC producers, most notably Russia).

Saudi Arabia is an important part of OPEC+. Oil prices before the start of the war were hovering around $71 which was well within the economic and budgetary calculations in Saudi Arabia.

The conflict is now threatening shutting down of oil trade flows, which cannot be beneficial to Saudi Arabia in any case.

IMAGE: Debris lies scattered following an Israeli and US strike on the Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, Iran, March 2, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

'It is not a war where Shia and Sunni nations are being pitted against each other'

How much of a role did Sunni Islam, that is followed by the Gulf countries, and the Shia Islam of Iran play in these attacks?

This war has been initiated by Israel and the US on grounds which can at best be called 'doubtful' and 'suspicious'. Iran is retaliating against the US and Israel by targeting Israel as well as American bases and assets in the region.

It is neither a war where Shia and Sunni nations are being pitted against each other nor has this war been initiated as a result of some acrimony between the two sects of Islam.

Why is Iran attacking Bahrain considering it has a nearly 60 percent Shia population? Is there no Shia camaraderie?

This war is not about camaraderie or brotherhood; it is only about Iran's fight for survival. Plus, Bahrain had declared that it would support American strikes on Iran when the war began.

Also, both nations have a history. Iran considers Bahrain as its province. In fact, on November 12, 1957, Iran (then ruled by the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahalvi) had officially declared Bahrain as the 14th Iranian province, even allocating two seats in the Iranian parliament for Bahrain. However, Bahrain's independence in 1971 changed all that, but the history remains in the discourse.

What role is the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) which comprises 57 Islamic countries playing in this conflict?

OIC has condemned Iranian strikes on the Gulf countries. Most of the OIC countries in the Gulf region have also indicated that they might be forced to undertake military action against Iran if the strikes don't stop.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff
Pakistan's Army Chief, Syed Asim Munir, strongly condemned the use of Afghan soil by terrorists, asserting that Pakistan will take all necessary actions to neutralise the threat emanating from across the border.

Photograph: DG ISPR/Twitter

Key Points Pakistan's Army Chief, Syed Asim Munir, has declared the use of Afghan soil by terrorists against Pakistan as unacceptable.

Munir visited Wana in South Waziristan to review security and operational preparedness along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq following alleged attacks from Afghan Taliban on multiple locations along the border.

Munir stated that peace requires the Afghan Taliban to renounce support for terrorism and terrorist organisations.

The Army Chief received briefings on the security environment, intelligence operations, and border management measures.

Chief of Defence Forces and Army chief Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday described as "unacceptable" the alleged use of Afghan soil by terrorist against Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the army's media wing, Munir visited Wana in South Waziristan district along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where he reviewed the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness.

He emphasised that use of Afghan soil by terrorists against Pakistan is "unacceptable and all necessary measures would be taken to neutralise the threat emanating from across the border".

Operation Ghazab lil Haq

The visit came days after Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq (Righteous Fury) on the night of February 26, following alleged Afghan Taliban attacks on 53 locations along the over 2,600 km border.

Call for Afghan Taliban to Renounce Terrorism

Munir reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced support for terrorism and terrorist organisations.

The field marshal was given a comprehensive briefing on the security environment, ongoing intelligence-based operations and measures in place for border management.

He was also briefed in detail on the ongoing operation and recent developments along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported holding a meeting on road repairs with Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba and Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development Serhiy Sukhomlyn.

"Following the meeting, we will allocate an additional UAH 3 billion from the state budget's reserve fund to ensure pothole repairs on roads in frontline regions and on public roads of national importance with high traffic intensity," Svyrydenko said on Telegram on Wednesday evening after the meeting.

According to her, pothole repairs of road surfaces on international and national highways have already begun, including in frontline regions. "This is not about capital repairs, but about basic safety and passability. Weather conditions allow repair teams to work. The repairs will be completed by June 1," the head of government said.

Svyrydenko said roads are an issue of effective logistics for the Defense Forces, evacuation of the wounded, as well as supporting the economy and the life of communities.

On March 2, Svyrydenko said that current repairs of public roads had started in Ukraine. According to her, priority restoration of road surfaces with a total area of more than 3.5 million square meters is being carried out. In particular, this concerns not capital repairs but operational surface repairs on priority sections where weather conditions already allow work.

Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba said Ukraine currently has resources amounting to UAH 12.6 billion for road restoration, but this is not enough. "We need to correct the mistake and speak about roads exclusively, as we do now, as an element of military logistics, an element of helping our people and evacuation, and therefore we will request mandatory resources for frontline roads," he said at a briefing following a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on the Comprehensive Resilience Plan for Ukrainian cities and regions on Tuesday.

Kuleba said the volume of repair work on road sections for 2026 is set at 1 million square meters. Currently, the number of crews working on road repairs is over 1,000.
The Indian Army successfully thwarted a terrorist infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a massive search operation and reinforcing security measures in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Indian Army opens fire on suspected terrorists attempting to cross the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district.

The infiltration attempt was observed in the Turkandi forward area around 4:15 am.

Army troops guarding the LoC successfully thwarted the infiltration attempt.

Reinforcements have been deployed, and a large-scale search operation is currently underway.

This follows a previous foiled infiltration bid in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri in February.

Indian Army opened fire at suspected terrorists attempting to cross the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district early Tuesday, officials said.

The suspected persons were observed trying to sneak into this side from the Turkandi forward area around 4.15 am, the officials said.

They said army troops guarding the LoC opened fire to thwart the infiltration attempt.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the area and a massive search operation is underway.

Previous Infiltration Attempt

On February 19-20, army troops foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri, leading to the seizure of some arms and ammunition.
An associate of the notorious Bambiha gang has been arrested in Faridkot, Punjab, with illegal weapons, as police crack down on organised crime and drug trafficking in the region.

Key Points A Bambiha gang associate, Jagwinder Singh Kala, was arrested in Faridkot, Punjab, in a joint operation.

Three illegal weapons were recovered from the arrested Bambiha gang associate.

Police are investigating the accused's connections to expose the illegal arms supply chain and the Bambiha gang network.

In a separate operation, police arrested a drug smuggler with two kg of heroin intended for further supply.

The arrested drug smuggler is already involved in seven cases under the NDPS Act and the Arms Act.

A person, associated with the Bambiha gang, was arrested in Punjab's Faridkot district, a police officer said on Wednesday, adding that three illegal weapons were recovered from him.

Jagwinder Singh Kala, a resident of Rama Mandi in Bathinda, was arrested in a joint operation of the Faridkot police and the Counter Intelligence wing, said Faridkot Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Jogeshwar Singh.

Further investigation is underway to identify the accused's associates and potential links to expose the entire illegal arms supply chain and the network connected with the Bambiha gang, police said.

A case is already registered against the accused under the Arms Act at Police Station Kotwali, Bathinda, police said.

Drug Smuggler Arrested with Heroin

In another operation, police arrested a drug smuggler with two kg of heroin.

During preliminary interrogation, it was revealed that the recovered heroin was meant for further supply, indicating the accused's links with a larger drug trafficking network, police said.

The accused is already involved in seven cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Arms Act, and other serious charges. Further investigation is underway.
A tragic incident in Sitamarhi, Bihar, claims the lives of four family members who succumbed to toxic gases while cleaning their septic tank, prompting a police investigation.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Four family members died in Kurhar village, Sitamarhi, Bihar, after inhaling toxic gases while cleaning a septic tank.

The incident occurred around 6 pm on Tuesday in the Bokhra police station area.

Local villagers pulled the unconscious victims from the tank and rushed them to the hospital, but they were declared dead.

Police have dismissed allegations that the septic tank was being used for manufacturing country-made liquor.

Four members of a family allegedly died after inhaling toxic gases while cleaning the septic tank of their house in Bihar's Sitamarhi district, officials said on Wednesday.

The incident happened around 6 pm on Tuesday in Kurhar village in the Bokhra police station area, they said.

The deceased were identified as Rajeev Sahni, Krishna Kumar, Ravindra Sahni and Vinay Sahni.

"According to villagers, they lost consciousness due to inhalation of toxic gases emanating from the septic tank. Locals pulled them out and rushed them to the nearest hospital, where doctors declared all four dead," Bokhra police station's in-charge Surendra Kumar told PTI.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is underway, he said.

Investigation into the Incident

Dismissing allegations that the tank was being used to manufacture country-made liquor, the officer said such claims were "far from reality".

In a similar incident in Vaishali district, four members of a family had died on Sunday.
The Delhi Police have implemented heightened security measures for Holi, deploying over 15,000 personnel and cracking down on traffic violations like drunken driving to ensure public safety and maintain law and order during the festival.

Key Points Delhi Police deploy over 15,000 personnel to maintain law and order during Holi celebrations.

Strict action against drunken driving, including suspension of driving licences for a minimum of three months.

Special teams stationed at major junctions to police speeding, reckless driving, and other traffic violations during Holi.

Vehicle owners will be booked if minors or unauthorised persons are found driving their vehicles.

Delhi Traffic Police will take cognisance of traffic violations uploaded on social media.

The Delhi Police is on high alert on Holi, deploying over 15,000 personnel to enforce strict law and order in the city.

A senior police officer said teams have been deployed at 134 major intersections to nab drunken driving culprits. Serious violation will invite suspension of driving licence for a minimum of three months.

The Delhi Traffic Police said elaborate arrangements have been made to maintain public safety and ensure smooth vehicular movement during the festival.

Special teams are stationed at major junctions and vulnerable stretches to police speeding, reckless and zig-zag driving, red-light jumping, triple riding, riding without helmets, and performing stunts on two-wheelers.

According to the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, in cases of drunken driving, red-light jumping, using a mobile phone while driving, dangerous driving and speeding, the driving licence of the offender will be seized and liable for suspension for at least three months, it said in an advisory.

Registered owners will be booked if their vehicles are found to be driven by minors or unauthorised persons, police said.

Traffic Management Plan for Holi

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dinesh Gupta said, "Keeping the Holi festival in mind, the Delhi Traffic Police has issued a detailed traffic management plan. Our staff are deployed at around 134 major intersections. Personnel will remain present across key areas, and senior officers are supervising the arrangements. Our primary focus is to prevent drunken driving."

He added, "We will make every possible effort to curb all traffic violations, and appropriate action will be taken wherever violations are found."

The officer said the police will not shy from taking cognisance of violations uploaded on social media.
A dentist has been arrested in Thane for his alleged involvement in a large-scale, inter-state egg smuggling racket, highlighting the exploitation of vulnerable women in illegal surrogacy operations.

Photograph: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters

Key Points A dentist from Nashik has been arrested for involvement in an inter-state egg smuggling racket operating from Thane.

The dentist allegedly facilitated illegal surrogate mother contracts at an IVF centre registered in his wife's name.

The racket involved luring needy women to donate eggs multiple times using forged documents, paying them minimal amounts while selling the eggs for large profits.

Police have seized medicines and injections worth over Rs 1.5 million and are scrutinising other IVF centres in the region.

The investigation suggests that over 500 women may have been exploited in the egg smuggling operation.

Police probing the inter-state female egg smuggling racket, which was operated from Thane district, have arrested a dentist from Nashik who allegedly facilitated illegal surrogate mother contracts at an IVF facility registered in his wife's name, an official said on Wednesday.

With the latest arrest, the number of individuals in police custody has reached six.

A senior police officer from Ulhasnagar in Thane district said that police teams are currently conducting raids to trace the mastermind.

The racket allegedly involved luring needy women to "donate" their eggs multiple times using forged identity documents.

A Badlapur Police officer stated that Dr Amol Patil, who operates the 'Malti IVF Center' in Nashik's Mumbai Naka area, was arrested late Tuesday night.

"Investigation revealed that while the IVF facility in Nashik is officially permitted in the name of Dr. Patil's wife, the accused, who is a dentist, was allegedly using the center to facilitate illegal surrogate mother contracts and egg smuggling," he added.

Dr Patil was produced before a local court on Wednesday and has been remanded to police custody until March 9.

Details of the Egg Smuggling Operation

According to the police, the racket's operations spanned Badlapur, Ulhasnagar, Thane, and Nashik.

"We have seized medicines and injections worth over Rs 15 lakh. The gang used fake Aadhaar cards to show a single woman as multiple donors under different names, bypassing legal limits. It is suspected that over 500 women were exploited, with donors being paid a mere Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, while the eggs were sold for lakhs," the officer added.

Ongoing Investigation

DCP Sachin Gore, Ulhasnagar, confirmed that three police teams are currently conducting raids to reach the mastermind.

"Our investigation shows that photos of numerous women, fake affidavits, and sonography reports were found on the mobile phones of the arrested accused. We are now scrutinising several other IVF and sonography centers in Thane and surrounding districts to catch the 'big fish' involved in this illegal trade," he said.

The other five accused previously arrested in the case include Sulakshana Gadekar, Ashwini Chabukswar, Manjusha Wankhede, Sonal Garewal, and Sumit Sonkamble.
Hyderabad police arrested two foreign nationals, a Yemeni and a Palestinian, for drug peddling and seized 150 grams of MDMA, disrupting their drug distribution network between Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two foreign nationals, a Yemeni and a Palestinian, were arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly peddling MDMA.

Police seized 150 grams of MDMA during the operation.

The Yemeni national procured drugs from a Nigerian supplier using an instant messaging app.

The Palestinian national assisted in collecting and selling the drugs in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Both individuals have prior arrests related to drug offences.

Two foreign nationals-a Yemeni and a Palestinian-were arrested here for allegedly peddling drugs, and 150 grams of MDMA was seized from them, police said on Wednesday.

Acting on credible information, the Rajendranagar police, along with the HNEW (Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing), conducted a joint operation and apprehended the two accused within the limits of the Rajendranagar police station on Tuesday, according to a release.

Drug Trafficking Operation Details

Explaining the modus operandi, police said the 37-year-old Yemeni national, residing in Tolichowki, procured narcotic substances such as MDMA and cocaine from an absconding Nigerian supplier at cheaper rates. He allegedly placed orders through an instant messaging app and transferred payments online.

The 28-year-old Palestinian, residing in Bengaluru, assisted the Yemeni in collecting the drugs from suppliers and selling them to consumers at higher prices in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. He was working as a content creator for a Ludo game, lending his voice for in-game content, police said.

Past Offences

The Yemeni national had been arrested multiple times in cases under the NDPS Act and was sent to judicial custody on several occasions. The Palestinian, who had earlier been arrested in a case involving seizure of MDMA, came into contact with him during a previous jail term, police said.
A Mumbai court rejected bail for the husband of an IPS officer in a Rs 24 crore cheating case, citing strong evidence of his involvement in a scheme promising discounted government properties.

Key Points Purushottam Chavan, husband of an IPS officer, has been denied bail in a Rs 24 crore cheating case.

Chavan is accused of defrauding victims with false promises of low-priced government plots and flats.

The court cited significant evidence linking Chavan to the alleged financial crime and potential influence on witnesses.

The Economic Offences Wing opposed the bail, highlighting the seriousness of the offences and the large sum of money involved.

The accused allegedly forged government documents as part of a systematic fraud, causing substantial loss to the state.

A court here has once again denied bail to Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rashmi Karandikar's husband Purushottam Chavan in a cheating case of over Rs 24 crore, noting that there was reasonable material on record that shows his involvement in the crime.

Chavan allegedly swindled victims out of approximately Rs 24.78 crore.

As per the probe agency, he lured them with false promises of providing plots and flats at low prices from government quota.

Chavan was arrested on May 20, 2025 and is currently in judicial custody.

The court had rejected his previous bail application in January this year.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Esplanade court) Abhijit Solapure last week dismissed Chavan's fresh bail application.

In the reasoned order, made available on Wednesday, the magistrate noted that the chargesheet and other documents on record "crystallise the role of the accused in this crime".

Chavan, through his lawyer, argued that keeping him in custody was unnecessary since the chargesheet had already been filed and documentary evidence was gathered.

He also sought bail on medical grounds and pointed to a bail granted to him recently by the Bombay High Court in a separate Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.

The prosecution (Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai police) had opposed his plea contending that the offences involved are serious and the amount involved is huge.

Advocate Mohan Tekavde, appearing for the complainant, argued that the accused portrayed himself to be a government representative and lured the victims through false assurances of giving flats under the government quota.

He asserted that the accused has not only cheated the public at large but also caused substantial loss to the state by forging government documents through a systematic, well-planned conspiracy and a deliberate course of cheating and fraud.

The court, after hearing all the sides, was of the view that the accused cannot be granted bail only because the chargesheet has been filed.

There are other factors which are supposed to be taken into consideration, it said.

The court further ruled that the bail granted in the PMLA case was based on factual aspects not readily applicable to the current matter.

The court found substance in arguments that the accused might influence the witnesses and victims, which will create hindrance in the way of prosecution.

"There is reasonable amount of material on record which shows the involvement of this accused in the alleged crime," the court held, while rejecting his plea.
Amid rising tensions, Israel's Defence Minister has issued a stark warning that any leader succeeding Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will be considered a target, as reports suggest his son Mojtaba may be next in line.

IMAGE: Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters

Key Points Israel's Defence Minister warns any successor to Iran's Supreme Leader will be a target for elimination.

Reports suggest Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, may be chosen as the next Supreme Leader, though this lacks independent confirmation.

Mojtaba Khamenei is described as having a more hard-line position and was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2019.

The IDF is conducting strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut and has issued evacuation warnings.

Israeli airstrikes have targeted Iranian soldiers, air defence systems, and command centres.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.

"We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.

Potential Succession of Mojtaba Khamenei

Israeli media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours.

However, no independent confirmation has come from official Iran state media on the development.

Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father's office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report.

Israeli media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran.

In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated for representing the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.

The US Treasury further said that the then Supreme Leader had delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojataba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and also the Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to advance his father's destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.

IDF Strikes Against Hezbollah in Beirut

Meanwhile, the IDF said a new wave of strikes is underway against Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The IDF said further details will be provided later. Earlier, IDF issued evacuation warnings for two buildings in Beirut ahead of airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure.

"You are located near facilities affiliated with Hezbollah," said the Israeli Army spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee, attaching maps of the buildings that are set to be targeted. Civilians in the area were instructed to distance themselves at least 300 meters from the buildings.

The IDF also showed new footage of an airstrike against a group of Iranian soldiers operating an Air defence system, and the targeting of a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter used by the Iranian army. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Tehran on Tuesday had hit dozens of command centres of Iran's Basij paramilitary force and internal security forces.

In addition, as part of the strikes, the IDF says it struck sites belonging to the Iranian army's logistics division, missile launchers and air defence systems.
The UDF in Kerala is fiercely criticising the LDF government's handling of the Sabarimala gold loss cases, its ambiguous stance on women's entry to the shrine, and the ongoing crisis in the state's health sector due to strikes.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points UDF alleges slow progress in Sabarimala gold loss investigation, raising concerns about evidence destruction and accused securing bail.

Opposition demands clarity from the Kerala government on its stance regarding women's entry into the Sabarimala shrine.

Strikes by government doctors and private nurses are disrupting Kerala's health sector, with the UDF urging government intervention.

Former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar was granted statutory bail in the Sabarimala gold loss case.

The Congress-led UDF on Wednesday slammed the ruling LDF in Kerala over the Sabarimala gold loss cases, the issue of women's entry to the shrine, and the state's health sector, where government doctors and a section of private nurses are on strike over wages.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, said that most of the arrested accused in cases related to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple were out on statutory bail, and that the investigation would soon come to an end without yielding results.

"The Special Investigation Team has admittedly not been able to gather enough evidence, and once all the accused come out on bail, whatever evidence remains could be destroyed. That is our apprehension, and we have raised it several times in the Assembly," Satheesan told reporters.

He said that the opposition initially had faith in the SIT, as its probe was being monitored by the Kerala High Court.

However, he alleged that the SIT has now created a situation, with the help of the CMO, in which the accused can secure statutory bail due to the non-filing of a chargesheet within the stipulated 90 days of their arrest.

"Not even a preliminary chargesheet was filed by the SIT. The importance of the SIT is being lost in the manner in which the probe is being conducted. Also, no arrests are being made," Satheesan contended.

Sabarimala Gold Loss Investigation

His claims come in the wake of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar being granted statutory bail earlier in the day, in the case related to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at the temple.

He had already been granted statutory bail in the case involving the loss of gold from the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) and is therefore likely to be released from jail during the day.

Padmakumar, a former Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA, will be the eighth accused in the case to be released on bail.

Women's Entry to Sabarimala Shrine

On the issue of women's entry into the Sabarimala shrine, Satheesan claimed that the state government has not clarified its stand through an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India.

"It should indicate through an affidavit in the apex court whether it is in favour of the entry of women or not," the opposition leader said.

Health Sector Crisis in Kerala

Regarding the ongoing strike by doctors in government medical colleges and the agitation launched by nurses in private hospitals, Satheesan said that these issues could be resolved if the government holds discussions with the protestors.

He said that it was difficult to say whether the health sector in the state was on a ventilator or in the mortuary. "It (the health sector) is in complete disarray," he contended.

He added that strikes by doctors and nurses would seriously impact the health sector in the state.

A section of nurses working in private hospitals in Kerala began a strike, demanding a minimum monthly salary of Rs 40,000 and the implementation of various pending assurances without further delay.

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) has been on strike for over a month, alleging apathy on the part of the state government in resolving issues related to their service conditions and pay anomalies.
A 29-year-old doctor pursuing his MD in Meerut was found dead in a suspected suicide, prompting a police investigation into the tragic incident.

Key Points A 29-year-old MD student was found dead in his rented accommodation in Meerut.

Police suspect the death to be a case of suicide and are investigating the circumstances.

The doctor, Giri Prasad, was originally from Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.

A post-mortem examination has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

In a suspected case of suicide, a 29-year-old doctor pursuing his MD was found hanging in his rented accommodation here, police said on Wednesday.

Originally from Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, Giri Prasad was pursuing his MD from a medical college in Meerut and lived on rent in Gokuldham Colony within the Bhavanpur police station limits.

Around 11 am on Wednesday, a classmate of Prasad informed police that the medic was found hanging in his room.

Police reached the spot, brought down the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination, officials said.

Bhavanpur SHO Joginder Kumar said prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide, though the exact cause of death will be ascertained once the autopsy report is received.

Police have informed the family members of Prasad, who are on their way to Meerut.
Costa to Sanchez: EU will always ensure interests of its Member States

Photo: elements.envato.com

European Council President Antonio Costa has held a telephone conversation with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in which he expressed the European Union's support for Spain.

I have just held a call with President Sanchez to express the EUs full solidarity with Spain. The EU will always ensure that the interests of its Member States are fully protected. We reaffirm our firm commitment to the principles of international law and the rules-based order everywhere in the world, Costa said on X.

US President Donald Trump reportedly announced on Tuesday, March 3, that the USA would sever all trade relations with Spain.
A woman found dead in Meerut, India, has been identified as a Turkmenistan national, leading to arrests and an ongoing investigation into her death and the circumstances surrounding it.

Key Points Police confirm the deceased woman found in Meerut is a Turkmenistan national, identified as Muhabbat.

Initial identification based on an Aadhaar card was incorrect, prompting a reassessment after claims from other Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan nationals.

The victim's passport was allegedly taken by middlemen, and burn injuries may have been inflicted to conceal tattoos.

Several suspects have been arrested in connection with the death, including the operator of a local hotel.

The investigation is ongoing, with the Ministry of External Affairs involved for document verification and further legal action.

Police here on Wednesday said that a woman who was found dead in the Mawana area last month is a citizen of Turkmenistan.

The police had earlier identified the woman as 'Archita Arora' of Delhi on the basis of an Aadhaar card recovered during the probe.

However, they were forced to reassess their claim after they were approached by two women, one each from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, on February 25 disputing the claim.

The two women asserted that the deceased was Muhabbat from Turkmenistan, who had been living in India for nearly 15 years.

They also alleged that her passport had been taken away by middlemen and that the burn injuries on her face and body could have been inflicted to conceal distinctive tattoos.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Abhijeet Kumar on Wednesday conceded that the deceased appeared to be a citizen of Turkmenistan.

He said that the Ministry of External Affairs has been approached for verification of documents and further legal action.

On February 21, around 6 am, the police were informed about a female body lying in a field near Bhagwati Farm House on the Meerut-Bijnor highway.

The woman's face had been disfigured with burns likely inflicted using an inflammable substance.

Investigation and Arrests

The police conducted an investigation and claimed that the deceased had a dispute over room rent with Chanchal Kumar, the operator of Avika Hotel in the Partapur area, and his associates.

It was claimed that on the night of February 20, the accused smothered the woman with a blanket and dumped the body in a field.

On February 26, the police arrested Chanchal Kumar, Sandeep, Gurumukh and Vivek.

They also claimed that they had seized the car used in the crime, a blanket, and an empty bottle of inflammable substance.

Timeline Discrepancies

Meanwhile, the call detail record of the victim revealed that she had been in touch with a woman based in Chandigarh. That woman informed police that the victim had travelled to Meerut on February 12 and that her phone had been switched off since February 16.

The fresh timeline confounded the police and cast doubt on their investigation.

Subsequently, Najumudinova Gulnara Sunatovna, a Turkmenistan national, identified the deceased woman as her daughter, Najmudinova Muhabbat Sunatovna, who had come to India around 15 years ago for work.

Photographs shared by the mother reportedly showed tattoos on her hand and waist similar to what the deceased woman's body bore.
A Mumbai stock broker is under police protection after receiving a chilling death threat and a hefty Rs 5 crore extortion demand through WhatsApp, highlighting a concerning trend of similar threats targeting businessmen in the city.

Key Points A Mumbai stock broker received a death threat and a Rs 5 crore extortion demand via WhatsApp from an unidentified international caller.

The extortionist threatened to kill the broker and his family if the money was not paid.

The broker's son also received a similar threatening message, escalating the concern.

Mumbai police have registered an FIR and are investigating the extortion attempt and death threat.

Several Mumbai businessmen have recently reported similar extortion threats, some falsely using the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

A 62-year-old stock broker from Mumbai received a death threat from an unidentified caller using an international number, who demanded Rs 5 crore extortion from him, police said on Wednesday.

The complainant received the threat message on WhatsApp.

The sender allegedly demanded Rs 5 crore and threatened to kill him and his family members if the amount was not paid, an official of Malad police station said.

Initially, the businessman ignored the message. However, his son also received a similar threatening message on WhatsApp from another unidentified number. The sender again demanded Rs 5 crore and warned of dire consequences, including death threats to family members and relatives.

The victim then approached the police and submitted the messages and audio recordings as evidence. Based on his complaint, the police registered an FIR against an unidentified person under relevant sections pertaining to extortion and criminal intimidation.

Rising Extortion Threats in Mumbai

In recent weeks, several businessmen across Mumbai have received extortion threats via international calls. Traders from Vile Parle, Borivali and Andheri had reported similar threats with the callers citing the name f gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Police subsequently arrested a few accused who allegedly confessed to using the gangster's name to extort money. Further investigation is underway, the official added.
Tragedy struck in Odisha as three people, including a child, drowned in separate river incidents while bathing after celebrating the Holi festival.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Three individuals drowned in Odisha while bathing after celebrating Holi.

Two drowning incidents occurred in the Jajpur district, involving the Kharasrota and Brahmani rivers.

A young boy drowned in the Mahanadi river in the Cuttack district.

The victims were bathing with friends or family when the incidents occurred.

At least three persons, including a boy, drowned while taking a bath after celebrating Holi at separate places in Odisha on Wednesday, police said.

While two incidents took place in Jajpur district, the third one happened in Cuttack district.

Details of the Incidents

A report from Jajpur said that a man, identified as Sangram Ajitabh Das (40) of Padmapur area under Jajpur Road police limits, drowned while bathing in the Kharasrota river after the celebration of Holi in Byasanagar area in the afternoon.

His body was recovered and sent for postmortem examination.

In another incident from the same district, a youth identified as Hiranya Kumar Behuria of Bari area, also drowned in the Brahmani river at Khari Padia in Jajpur.

A report from Cuttack district said that a boy, identified as Jeevan Behera, drowned while bathing in the Mahanadi river in Baramba area along with friends. He was swept away by the river current, police said.

Fire Service personnel found the minor and took him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, police said.
The Pakistan Army has eliminated a key Afghan Taliban commander, Qahraman, in a targeted operation near the Torkham border, thwarting an attempt to approach the border region.

Photograph: Saeed Ali Achakzai/Reuters

Key Points Pakistan Army killed Qahraman, a commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA), near the Torkham border.

The operation occurred when Qahraman and his associates attempted to approach the border.

Security forces engaged the group with artillery fire, neutralising the militants.

Qahraman was a resident of the Afghan side of Torkham, near Jalalabad.

The Pakistan Army has killed the commander of the Afghan Taliban during an operation near Torkham border in northwest Pakistan, security officials said on Wednesday.

The commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA), identified as Qahraman, and his associates were eliminated during an operation late last night when they were attempting to approach the border and were intercepted by the security forces.

Torkham is a major border crossing between Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Afghanistan's Nangarhar.

Security forces engaged the group with artillery fire, effectively targeting and neutralising the militants. Qahraman was killed along with several of his accomplices during the operation.

Qahraman was a resident of the Afghan side of Torkham, adjacent to Jalalabad.
Pakistan has reportedly targeted Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, responding to alleged terrorist attacks and escalating tensions between the two nations.

IMAGE: Bagram US air base that was vacated by the American troops in July, 2021. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters

Key Points Pakistan reportedly launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq, targeting Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, in response to alleged Afghan Taliban attacks.

Pakistani airstrikes reportedly destroyed an aircraft hangar and two warehouses at Bagram Airbase, confirmed by Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence.

Pakistan claims the operation sends a clear message to the Afghan Taliban regarding its ability to operate anywhere in Afghanistan to counter terrorism.

Pakistan security forces reportedly carried out targeted attacks on Afghan Taliban defence positions along the Balochistan border, utilising advanced weaponry.

Pakistan targeted the famed Bagram airbase in Afghanistan as its operation was going against the Afghan Taliban over their alleged failure to stop terrorist attacks from their soil, media reports said.

Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq (Righteous Fury) on the night of February 26, following alleged Afghan Taliban attacks on 53 locations along the over 2,600 km border.

State-run PTV in a post on X said that Pakistan carried out a 'major attack on Bagram Air Base' as it was giving a 'befitting response to Afghan Taliban aggression'.

'Pakistan continues to conduct vigorous ground and air operations against the unprovoked aggression of the Afghan Taliban,' it said.

PTV often quoted unnamed security sources for reports on the Afghanistan attacks, but for the Bagram attack, it quoted The New York Times.

'An aircraft hangar and two warehouses at Bagram Air Base were destroyed in a Pakistani attack, satellite images of which have also emerged,' PTV reported, quoting The NYT.

It further said that Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence also confirmed the Pakistani airstrike, adding that Pakistan carried out more than 50 airstrikes on military targets in Afghanistan in the past week.

Quoting defence experts, the channel further said that Pakistan's 'successful operation' on Bagram Air Base caused heavy damage to the Afghan Taliban regime.

'By targeting Bagram Air Base, Pakistan sent a clear message to the Afghan Taliban regime that it can operate anywhere in Afghanistan,' it quoted an unnamed defence expert as saying.

The channel further said that despite Pakistan's repeated warnings, terrorism continues from Afghanistan, in which weapons left by the US have also been used.

Targeted Attacks on the Balochistan Border

Separately, sources said that Pakistan security forces carried out targeted attacks on the defence position of the Afghan Taliban on the border with Balochistan province on the night of March 3-4, targeting the 'hideouts and posts that were being used by outlawed elements and their facilitators'.

According to the security sources, more than 50 locations were being targeted, with modern weapons being used, including anti-tank guided missiles, rocket launchers and long-range mortars, light and heavy artillery, and main battle tanks.

A source said swarm drones are being used for an organised operation, which is 'targeting certain targets in coordination with the ground troops'.
A violent clash in Ferozepur, India, resulted in the deaths of two people after a minor dispute between children during Holi celebrations escalated into gunfire, prompting a police investigation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two individuals died in Ferozepur following a violent clash that erupted after a minor dispute between children during Holi celebrations.

The initial children's scuffle led to a meeting between families to resolve the issue, which quickly escalated into a heated argument and gunfire.

Police have identified the deceased as Khilara alias Munna, from Karma village, and Judge Singh, from Tibbi Kalan village.

Senior police officers, including the Senior Superintendent of Police, responded to the scene to manage the situation and initiate an investigation.

The police are currently gathering statements from both groups involved to determine the precise sequence of events leading to the deaths.

A violent clash between two groups left two people dead here on Wednesday evening, police said.

The incident took place after a minor scuffle between children on Holi.

When members of both sides convened to arrive at a compromise after the children's fight, an argument broke out, soon turning violent. Gunshots were fired, resulting in the death of two men.

The deceased have been identified as Khilara alias Munna (45), a resident of Karma village, and Judge Singh, a resident of Tibbi Kalan village, police said.

As soon as they were briefed about the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh and other senior police officers took control of the situation.

Talking to mediapersons later, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sukhwinder Singh said the dispute stemmed from a fight between children.

Police have recorded statements of both groups. The exact sequence of events can be ascertained only after the completion of a thorough investigation, he said.

During the confrontation, shots were fired, leading to Khilara's death. In retaliation, members of the rival side allegedly attacked and killed Judge Singh, he said.
In response to a sharp rise in asylum claims, the UK government has announced a study visa ban for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, alongside stricter measures for Afghan skilled workers, aiming to curb abuse of the immigration system.

Key Points The UK has implemented a study visa ban on Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan due to a significant increase in asylum applications from these countries.

Afghan nationals are also subject to a skilled worker visa ban as part of the UK's efforts to curb asylum claims.

The new visa restrictions will be enforced through an Immigration Rules change, effective from March 26.

Asylum applications from students of the four affected countries have increased by over 470% between 2021 and 2025.

The UK government aims to address the abuse of the visa system and restore control over its borders amid rising asylum support costs.

The UK on Wednesday imposed a study visa ban on four countries accused of using the route as a backdoor entry to seek permanent refuge in the country, as part of a wider clampdown on the soaring rates of asylum applications.

The so-called "emergency brake" on student visas applies to Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, with Afghans also subject to a skilled worker visa ban following a major surge in asylum claims from these countries.

The move comes as UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduces new legislation in Parliament this week, with the visa brake to be introduced via an Immigration Rules change on Thursday to come into force on March 26.

"Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused," said Mahmood.

"That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity. I will restore order and control to our borders," she said.

Surge in Asylum Applications

According to official statistics released by the Home Office alongside the visa ban announcement, asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan rocketed by over 470 per cent between 2021 and 2025 a making them among the most likely nationalities to claim asylum.

Meanwhile, the number of Afghans on work visas claiming asylum now outstripping the number of visas issued.

In what has been described as an "unprecedented step", the Home Office said it will end sponsored study visas from all four countries and skilled worker visas for Afghan nationals.

"Tough action is required as asylum claims from legal routes have more than trebled since 2021 a making up 39 per cent of the 100,000 people who applied last year. In total, 133,760 people have claimed asylum after arriving legally in the past five years," the Home Office said.

It said these refugees end up having to be accommodated at the expense of the British taxpayer, with an "above average proportion" of people from the four countries claiming destitution.

"Asylum support is currently costing more than 4 billion pounds a year a with nearly 16,000 nationals from the four countries currently supported at public expense, including over 6,000 in hotels," it added.

According to official data, between 2021 and the year ending September 2025, the proportion of Afghan asylum claims to study visas issued was 95 per cent, applications by students from Myanmar soared 16-fold over the same period and claims by students from Cameroon and Sudan spiked by more than 330 per cent.

The government pointed to its success in reducing student asylum claims by 20 per cent over the course of 2025, but stressed that further action is needed as those arriving on study visas still make up 13 per cent of all claims in the system.

The visa ban announcement comes on the back of Mahmood's announcement earlier this week that asylum status in the UK will be temporary, to be reviewed after 30 months.
A 23-year-old man tragically drowned in Ravanwadi Lake, Bhandara, Maharashtra, after an unauthorised boat trip turned deadly, highlighting the dangers of unsupervised water activities.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points A 23-year-old man from Uttarakhand drowned in Ravanwadi lake in Bhandara district.

The man and his friends took a boat onto the lake without permission.

The boat lost balance, causing the group to jump into the water.

While his friends swam to safety, the man ventured too deep and drowned.

A case has been registered under section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

A 23-year-old man, originally from Uttarakhand, drowned in the Ravanwadi lake in Bhandara district on Wednesday, police said.

The deceased, identified as Saurabh Mehera, was working in a restaurant in Nagpur. On March 3, he and his friends had gone to Ravanwadi, a popular tourist spot.

Police said Mehera and his friends untied a moored boat without permission and rowed to the centre of the lake.

"The boat suddenly lost its balance, forcing the group to jump into the water. While Mehera's companions swam to safety, he ventured too deep and could not resurface," police said.

His body was recovered on Wednesday afternoon after an overnight search operation.

A case has been registered under section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) at Adyal police station based on a complaint by Mehera's relative.
Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the Indian government has established a control room to provide crucial support and assistance to the nearly one crore Indian citizens residing in the region.

IMAGE: Indian passengers at the IGI airport as they arrive from Dubai amid the ongoing Middle East tensions, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points India's MEA establishes a control room to assist Indian citizens affected by the escalating crisis in West Asia.

Nearly one crore Indian citizens reside in West Asia, making their safety and well-being a top priority for the Indian government.

The Indian embassy in Iran relocated Indian students to safer locations following increased conflict.

The control room offers toll-free and direct contact numbers for Indians seeking assistance in the region.

India is closely monitoring the situation in West Asia and is in contact with regional governments and key partners.

The Ministry of External Affairs has set up a control room to assist those affected by the escalating crisis in West Asia.

The MEA has said almost one crore Indian citizens live in West Asia and their safety and well-being is of "utmost priority" for New Delhi.

As the Iran-US conflict widened, the Indian embassy in Iran moved hundreds of Indian students from the Iranian capital of Tehran to safer locations.

"A Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region," the MEA said on Wednesday.

"The Control Room can be contacted from 9 am to 9 pm at: 1800118797 (Toll Free) +91 11 2301 2113, +91 11 2301 4104, +91 11 2301 7905," it added.

The Middle East crisis

The US launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Following the military offensive, Iran has carried out a wave of attacks mainly targeting Israel and American military bases in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The MEA on Tuesday noted that almost one crore Indian citizens live and work in the Gulf region, and their "safety and well-being is of utmost priority."

"We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them," it said.

The MEA said New Delhi will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and take relevant decisions in the national interest, adding it is in touch with the governments in the region as well as other key partners.
The police said the family had been witnessing frequent quarrels over trivial matters in recent months and the suicide was the result of a fresh altercation.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The incident followed a quarrel with her mother-in-law over cooking and alleged harassment.

Sushma's family has accused her husband and in-laws of dowry harassment, leading to a police investigation.

The husband has been taken into custody for questioning as the police investigate the circumstances surrounding Sushma's death.

A 35-year-old techie allegedly died by suicide following a domestic quarrel with her mother-in-law, the police said on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Sushma.

She worked for an IT firm and was married to Puneeth Kumar for five years. The couple had a four-year-old son, they said.

The incident occurred on Monday at Abbigere in north Bengaluru, the police said.

The police said the family had been witnessing frequent quarrels over trivial matters in recent months. On Monday, a fresh altercation reportedly broke out between Sushma and her mother-in-law, Kalpana, over cooking.

According to Sushma's family, Kalpana allegedly prevented her from cooking and subjected her to repeated harassment on various issues.

The police said, distressed by the situation, Sushma allegedly died by hanging.

Following a complaint lodged by her family accusing her husband and in-laws of dowry harassment at Soladevanahalli police station, her husband has been taken into custody for questioning, a senior police officer said.

A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress, he said.
One person was killed and five others were injured over the past 24 hours in populated areas of Donetsk region, according to Vadym Filashkin, head of the Regional Military Administration.

"Over the past 24 hours, one person was killed in Sloviansk, Donetsk region, and five more were injured: two in Sloviansk and one each in Dobropillia, Druzhkivka, and the village of Oleksiyivo-Druzhkivka. Some 444 people and 77 children were evacuated from towns close to the front line. The occupiers shelled Donetsk region 1,398 times. There isn't a single town in the region that hasn't been shelled, so... I emphasize once again that people should leave the region," he said on the Yedyni Novyny (United News) telethon.

Filashkin noted the slow pace of evacuation from frontline cities, in particular such as Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Kostiantynivka.

"More than 2,000 people remain in the town of Kostiantynivka... Going to pick them up... is practically impossible... Only our defenders can pick someone up from Kostiantynivka. For example, yesterday, guys from the 28th Brigade evacuated a wounded man from there... But it's very difficult and very complicated. It's also impossible to deliver humanitarian aid there because the enemy controls all access roads. The situation is similar in Lyman," the head of the Administration concluded.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, suspected Iranian drone attacks have reportedly targeted the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US consulate in Dubai, raising concerns about regional stability.

IMAGE: Vehicles move along a road as smoke billows from Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery after a reported Iranian drone strike, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, March 2, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points The CIA station at the US embassy in Saudi Arabia was reportedly hit by a suspected Iranian drone.

A fire near the US Consulate General in Dubai, following a suspected drone strike, has been extinguished with no injuries reported.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai, with all personnel accounted for.

Admiral Brad Cooper claims the US has severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones.

The attacks follow US and Israeli strikes on Iran, escalating the conflict in the Middle East.

The Central Intelligence Agency's station at the US embassy in Saudi Arabia was hit by a suspected Iranian drone, Reuters reported.

The attack came amid ongoing strikes in the Middle East following Saturday's US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Earlier, a fire that broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General in Dubai late Tuesday night, following a suspected drone strike, has been fully extinguished, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported.

According to a source in the region cited by CNN, the consulate grounds were hit by what is believed to be an Iranian drone.

In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office wrote, "The fire near the US Consulate in Dubai has been fully extinguished, with no injuries reported. Dubai authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring everyone's safety and security.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai. He said all personnel were accounted for after the incident.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with air defence systems across the Gulf region on high alert.

Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of United States Central Command said that with the intensity of the US attack Iran's ability to hit back was diminishing.

"Now, we're less than 100 hours into this operation, and we've already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. In simple terms, we're focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us," he said.

"Iran's ability to hit us and our partners is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan. Along the way, every single branch of our military is achieving unprecedented success," he added.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.
The Congress party has thrown its weight behind Sharad Pawar, endorsing him as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra, aiming to secure one of the state's available seats.

IMAGE: NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Key Points Congress declares support for Sharad Pawar as the MVA candidate for Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

The MVA alliance can realistically win only one of the seven Rajya Sabha seats up for grabs in Maharashtra.

The decision comes before the deadline for filing nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections.

The combined opposition strength allows them to secure one seat in the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra.

The electoral college for Rajya Sabha polls consists of members of the legislative assembly.

Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar chief Sharad Pawar is set to get a fresh Rajya Sabha term after the Congress on Wednesday declared support to him as the Opposition bloc's

candidate from Maharashtra for the lone seat it can win in the March 16 polls to the Upper House of Parliament.

The decision, announced by AICC general secretary Ramesh Chennithala, ended days of speculation about the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate as all three allies - Congress, NCP-SP and Shiv Sena-UBT -- had staked claim to the lone seat the bloc can win given their strength in the assembly.

Seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra are falling vacant next month.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party separately named four candidates, including its general secretary Vinod Tawde and Union minister Ramdas Athawale, for the biennial polls, nominations for which will close on March 5.

Chennithala told PTI that the Congress leadership has conveyed to him the decision to support Pawar (85), a sitting Rajya Sabha MP.

On Tuesday night, Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray, whose party has the highest number of MLAs from the Opposition camp, had said no decision has been taken yet on who will be the MVA candidate.

The quota for first preference votes for a candidate to get elected is 36 as the strength of the 288-member legislative assembly has come down to 286. There are two vacancies due to the death of sitting MLAs -- Shivajirao Kardile (BJP), elected from Rahuri in Ahilyanagar district, and Ajit Pawar (NCP), who represented Baramati in Pune district.

The Shiv Sena-UBT has 20 MLAs followed by Congress (16), and NCP-SP (10).

Members of legislative assemblies form the electoral college for Rajya Sabha polls.

Besides Tawde and Athawale, who heads the RPI (Athawale), a BJP ally, the saffron outfit has fielded Nagpur corporator and ex-mayor of the city Maya Chintaman Ivnate and former member of the legislative council (MLC) Ramrao Wadkute for the biennial elections.

With over 230 MLAs in the 288-member assembly, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes the NCP and the Shiv Sena, is in a position to ensure the election of all its nominees. The NCP and Shiv Sena have to nominate one candidate each.

The Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra whose 6-year term is ending in April are: Pawar, Athawale, Fauzia Khan of NCP (SP), Rajni Patil (Congress), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT), and Dhananjay Patil and Bhagwat Karad (both from BJP).

Polling will be held on March 16 between 9 am and 4 pm, with counting is scheduled to commence at 5 pm the same day.

In the morning, Athawale met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the latter's official residence 'Varsha' in south Mumbai.

Wadkute, who is from Hingoli district, told the media that he had not expected to be fielded as a candidate by the BJP, which he joined a few years ago.

"I joined the BJP because I had faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Fadnavis. This party works at the ground level. I simply focused on my work without expecting anything in return," he said.

Tawde expressed his gratitude to party leadership for the nomination and said he is committed to "fulfilling this new responsibility with complete dedication and loyalty".

"Under the guidance of the Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi ji and the leadership of National President @NitinNabin ji, we remain committed every moment for the nation's welfare. For this nomination, respectful thanks to Maharashtra's Chief Minister @Dev_Fadnavis ji and State President @RaviDadaChavan ji!," Tawde said in a post on X.

The Election Commission of India has announced elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states. Of these seats, 12 are currently held by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while 25 are with Opposition parties.

Rajya Sabha members are elected by MLAs through a system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

According to the present composition of the assembly, the BJP has 131 MLAs after accounting for one vacancy, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena has 57 members. The NCP, led by Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, has 40 MLAs after one vacancy.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance, which also includes smaller parties and Independents, commands the support of 234 MLAs. The Opposition MVA, along with supporting smaller parties, has 49 MLAs.

On the basis of vote quota, the BJP, with the support of an Independent, effectively has 132 votes, enabling it to secure three seats comfortably and contend for a fourth. The Shiv Sena can secure one seat and would have surplus votes thereafter. The NCP can also ensure the election of one member.

The MVA's combined tally translates into the assured election of one candidate. By this arithmetic, the Mahayuti alliance can win six of the seven seats, subject to cross-voting or strategic transfers under the preferential voting system.
India-based Iranian actresses Mandana Karimi and Elnaz Norouzi share their deep concerns and anxieties about the escalating crisis in Iran, and reveal the personal toll on their lives and the Iranian diaspora.

IMAGE: Rescue forces work following the Israel strike on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points Mandana Karimi expresses emotional distress over the turmoil in Iran and feels limited in her ability to help from abroad.

Elnaz Norouzi maintains close contact with family in Iran and voices concerns about their safety amidst the ongoing crisis.

Both actresses have been critical of the Iranian leadership and advocate for greater freedom in Iran.

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, Iranian actresses based in India, Mandana Karimi and Elnaz Norouzi, have spoken about their lives away from home and their concerns over the ongoing crisis in Iran.

'It is not easy'

Mandana Karimi, who moved to India more than a decade ago and built a career in modelling, films and reality television, said the situation in Iran has left her emotionally affected.

In an interview with the Bollywood Hungama web site, Karimi indicated that watching developments from afar has been difficult.

'It's not easy to see your country going through turmoil and feel like you cannot do much from outside,' she said.

Karimi became wellknown in India after she appeared in Big Boss 9 (2015). She also acted in movies like Kya Kool Hai Hum 3 and Main Aur Charles.

Karimi, who has previously expressed support for the women's rights protests in Iran, said her outspoken political views have shaped her personal and professional life in India.

'I have always spoken what I felt was right. Sometimes that comes with consequences,' she stated, referring to strained relationships and missed opportunities.

Despite this, she acknowledged that India has given her a platform and career.

'India doesn't feel like home anymore'

Asked by the NDTV news television channel whether she was seriously planning to move out of India, Karimi said, "Yes, I am, because of security reasons. I can't share details until I am out."

The actor, who has never shied away from expressing her political views, has been vocal in her criticism of the Iranian regime under Ali Khamenei.

When NDTV questioned about whether she had received any support during this period, Mandana's answer was clear. 'No. None. Not from friends, the government or the media. That's why. It doesn't feel like home here anymore. It's been hard,' she said.

At the same time, she said she hopes to return to Iran one day under different circumstances. 'I would like to go back when it is safe and when there is real change,' she said.

'I can't set foot in Iran'

Elnaz Norouzi, who has appeared in Indian films and streaming projects after growing up partly in Europe, also addressed the impact of the crisis.

Norouzi said she remains in constant touch with friends and family in Iran and follows developments closely.

In an interview to the Bombay Times newspaper, Norouzi said, 'Like India, Iran was always diverse. It was never an Islamic country.'

Elnaaz was eight years old when she moved out of Iran to Germany and later found her way to Mumbai for an acting career.

She is best known for her acting performance as Zoya Mirza in the web series, Sacred Games (2018).

Barring her parents all her relatives live in Iran. The last time she visited Iran was in 2018.

'When something happens, the first thing you think about is whether your loved ones are safe,' she said.

Norouzi has earlier voiced criticism of Iran's political leadership and supported calls for greater freedoms.

In light of her public stance, she said returning to Iran is not currently an option for her.

'I can't set foot in Iran. If I do, I think they will kill me,' she said in the interview.

Sentiments on the Crisis

Both actresses described feeling a sense of distance and helplessness as the conflict intensifies.

'You build a life somewhere else, but your roots are still there,' Karimi said, reflecting on her years in India.

Norouzi echoed similar sentiments, adding, 'No matter where you work, your identity stays with you.'

The ongoing conflict, which has led to rising casualties and regional instability, has also triggered anxiety within the Iranian diaspora across the world.

For Karimi and Norouzi, the crisis is not just an international headline but a personal concern that affects family ties and future plans.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran's IRGC claims control of the Strait of Hormuz and reports striking a US destroyer, raising concerns about regional stability and global oil supplies.

IMAGE: Tankers are seen off the coast of the Fujairah, as Iran claims control of the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters

Key Points Iran's IRGC claims control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil and gas shipping route.

The IRGC reports striking a US destroyer in the Indian Ocean with 'Ghadr-380' and 'Talaieh' missiles.

Israel reportedly conducted a covert extraction of embassy staff in the UAE following foiled Iranian terror plots.

Tensions escalate following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, leading to retaliatory counter-strikes.

Former US President Trump previously described the Iranian regime as 'crazy people' who would use a nuclear weapon if they possessed one.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they have taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones.

Earlier, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps claimed that it had struck an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The Corps said the warship had been hit using "Ghadr-380" and "Talaieh" missiles.

The Ghadr missile is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres, designed for precision strikes and rapid deployment.

Talaeieh is a strategic cruise missile system capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. It is a smart missile that can change targets mid-mission, adding to its strategic capabilities.

The IRGC claimed that the destroyer was refuelling from an American tanker while it was hit. The strike, the Corps concluded, triggered "widespread fires" on board both the vessels.

The IRGC has launched an operation codenamed True Promise 4 in retaliation against US-Israeli assets after they struck Iran.

The IRGC claims that they have struck numerous sensitive and strategic targets deep inside the occupied territories, besides staging counterattacks against many American interests throughout the West Asia region, including those lying in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

Escalating Regional Tensions

Meanwhile, Times of Israel reported that Israel had led a covert extraction of part of its embassy staff in the United Arab Emirates after two Iranian terror plots targeting the diplomatic team were foiled in recent days. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the evacuation, stating that "in light of concrete threats against Israeli missions in the UAE, and at the request of security authorities, non-essential staff were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates."

The Times of Israel also reported that US President Donald Trump had ordered strikes on Iran after Tehran demonstrated during three rounds of nuclear talks last month that it was not serious about giving up the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon.

Trump had described the Islamist Regime as 'crazy people' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it.

"If we didn't do what we're doing right now, you would've had a nuclear war and they would've taken out many countries because you know what? They're sick people. They're mentally ill, sick people. They're angry. They're crazy. They're sick. These people are crazy -- and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would've used it," he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time)

The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.
The NCP-SP has officially called off merger talks with the NCP after the tragic death of Ajit Pawar, ending speculation about reunification and impacting Maharashtra's political landscape.

IMAGE: NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar pays tribute to late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar at Sunetra Pawar's residence, in Baramati. Photograph: NCP Media Cell/ANI Video Grab

Key Points NCP-SP leader Jayant Patil confirms that merger talks between the two NCP factions have ended.

The merger discussions, led by Ajit Pawar, were halted due to his death.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition partners were concerned about the potential impact of the merger on Rajya Sabha seat allocation.

Sharad Pawar had previously indicated that Ajit Pawar's death could create a roadblock for the merger process.

The two NCP factions had previously cooperated in local elections before the merger talks dissolved.

Senior Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar leader Jayant Patil on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party and admitted that talks stopped after NCP chief Ajit Pawar was killed in a plane crash.

He asserted that the issue of reunification of the two factions is no longer on the agenda of NCP-SP.

"The possibility of a merger between the two NCPs is over. The idea of a merger was a brainchild of (then Deputy CM and NCP chief) Ajit Pawar. He was holding talks with both sides. The talks have stopped since his death. I don't see these talks restarting in future. The merger is no longer on the agenda," Patil told reporters on the premises of Vidhan Bhavan.

Rajya Sabha Seat Implications

The timing of remarks has raised eyebrows as all three constituents in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, namely the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, the NCP-SP, and the Congress, have staked claims to contest the lone Rajya Sabha seat the Opposition could win in Maharashtra.

According to sources, the Sena-UBT and Congress had expressed apprehensions that the merger of the two NCPs and the renomination of Sharad Pawar to the Upper House would effectively mean conceding the seventh seat to the NDA.

Against this backdrop, Jayant Patil has clarified that merger talks have ceased.

"Both our allies are well aware of this," he added.

Merger Process Roadblock

Amid the merger buzz, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar had said the process may now face a roadblock due to the death of Ajit Pawar.

He had said that the process to merge the two factions had been underway for the past four months under Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil.

"All discussions were held at their level, but it now appears the process may hit a roadblock following the (plane) accident. The talks were progressing in a positive direction, but the accident adversely affected the process," the former Union minister said on January 31, three days after Ajit Pawar was killed.

The veteran politician had also expressed his inability to predict the prospects of the merger process, as he was not part of these discussions.

"The decision on the merger was supposed to be announced on February 12. Ajit had given this date, but unfortunately, the accident took place," he had said.

After contesting the January 15 civic elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad together, the two factions decided to continue the tie-up for next month's Zilla Parishad elections too.

The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, split after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government in July 2023. He was appointed the deputy CM at that time, and his stint in the post continued after Devendra Fadnavis came to the helm as CM following the November 2024 assembly polls.
Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026 concluded successfully after an intense operationally orientated training cycle that rigorously validated the combat readiness of the Kharga Corps across the full spectrum of modern battlefield scenarios.

The exercise showcased seamless integration of high mobility, precision firepower, UAS-enabled ISR, counter-UAS measures, layered air defence, and joint air-land operations with the Indian Air Force, reaffirming the Corps' ability to transition swiftly from deterrence to decisive action.

Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, the Western Army Commander, commended the formations for their professionalism, technological infusion, and operational clarity, underscoring the Western Command's unwavering preparedness to ensure assured victory.

Key Points Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026 rigorously tested and confirmed the Kharga Corps' operational preparedness across modern battlefield scenarios.

The drill showcased high mobility manoeuvres, precision strikes, UAS-enabled ISR, counter-UAS systems, layered air defence, and joint air-land coordination with the Indian Air Force.

Senior commanders commended the formations for professionalism, technological integration, and their ability to swiftly transition from deterrence to decisive action.

IMAGE: Glimpses from Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026. All Photograph: Kind courtesy Western Command - Indian Army

Photographs curated and Feature Presentation by Manisha Kotian/Rediff
Speaking at a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth said the strike was carried out on Tuesday night amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.

IMAGE: A screengrab from the video of the strike released by US Department of War. Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said a torpedo fired from an American submarine destroyed an Iranian warship in international waters.

Hegseth described the Tuesday night attack as the first time since World War II that a US submarine had sunk an enemy vessel.

He asserted that US and Israeli forces would soon establish complete control over Iranian airspace.

Earlier, Sri Lanka reported its Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from a naval ship that sank off the southern coast.

Lanka confirmed the vessel was Iranian and said the rescued crew members were wearing Iranian naval uniforms.

United States Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.

He said it was the first sinking of an enemy vessel by torpedo since World War II.

"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth told reporters.

"Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo."

Hegseth said the US military sank the Iranian ship named after 'Soleimani', the former Iranian general Qasem Soleimani who was killed by US forces during President Donald Trump's first term.

"I guess POTUS got him twice," Hegseth said, referring to General Soleimani.

Sri Lanka said its Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from a naval ship that sank off the southern coast, while several bodies were recovered from the site.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that an emergency message was received by the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard at 5.08 am regarding a sinking ship named IRIS Dena, located about 40 nautical miles off the southern port district of Galle.

Herath said that the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force carried out a joint rescue operation.

"Thirty of them were rescued while around 180 were said to be on board," he said.

He said that the reason for the sinking had not yet been established.

The Iranian ship recently participated in an international naval drill hosted by India. There was no immediate comment from the Indian Navy.

Sri Lanka denied submarine attack earlier

Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath told reporters in Colombo that several bodies were found near the location of the distress signal, though the exact number was not immediately available.

"At this point, it is difficult to give any numbers, but bodies have been found. As they were found closer to the point of distress, it is accepted that they were from the same ship," he said.

"When our teams reached the scene, we observed a large oil slick, indicating that the ship had sunk," Sampath added.

In response to a question, the spokesperson had categorically rejected media reports that the ship had been sunk in a submarine attack.

"We are only concerned about our obligation to rescue them as first responders under international maritime obligations," he said.

Sampath said the cause of the distress signal would be determined later through investigations by specialised authorities.

Although the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters, it fell within the country's search and rescue zone, he said.

Sampath confirmed the vessel was Iranian and said the rescued crew members were wearing Iranian naval uniforms.

Air Force spokesman Nalin Wewakumbura said no other vessels or aircraft were detected in the area where the distress signal originated.

Hearth said Sri Lankan is bound by international conventions on maritime rescue to assist anyone in distress, irrespective of the reason.

The rescued sailors were taken to the Navy's Southern Command headquarters and later admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, Herath added.

Security around the Southern Command had been stepped up, officials said.

Referring to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Herath said Sri Lanka deeply regretted the situation and urged a peaceful resolution.
Sri Lanka earlier said its Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the distressed Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, in the southern waters on Wednesday morning.



IMAGE: The Iranian naval ship under US submarine attack off the Sri Lankan coast, March 4, 2026. Photograph: Courtesy US Department of War on X

Key Points US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.

The Iranian ship recently participated in an international naval drill hosted by India.

Sri Lanka's deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said the bodies are now at the hospital at Karapitiya in Galle.

Sri Lanka asserts its commitment to international maritime obligations, providing assistance regardless of the cause of the distress.

Sri Lankan authorities on Wednesday said that they have recovered some 80 bodies of Iranian sailors killed after a US submarine attack that sank an Iranian naval ship off the island's southern coast.

Sri Lanka earlier said its Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the distressed Iranian frigate - IRIS Dena- in the southern waters early this morning. The frigate was carrying around 180 sailors on board.

While the Sri Lankan Navy refused to give reasons as to what caused the vessel to make a distress plea, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.

He said it was the first sinking of an enemy vessel by torpedo since World War II.

The Iranian ship recently participated in an international naval drill hosted by India. There was no immediate comment from the Indian Navy.

"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth told reporters in Washington. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo."

Hegseth said the US military sank the Iranian ship named after "Soleimani", the former Iranian Quds force chief general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by US forces during President Donald Trump's first term.

"I guess POTUS got him twice," Hegseth said, referring to General Soleimani.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that an emergency message was received by the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard at 5.08 am regarding a sinking ship named IRIS Dena, located about 40 nautical miles off the southern port district of Galle.

Herath said that the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force carried out a joint rescue operation.

"Thirty of them were rescued while around 180 were said to be on board," he said.

Officials said they have recovered some 80 bodies of Iranian sailors.

Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said the bodies are now at the hospital at Karapitiya in Galle.

Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath earlier told reporters in Colombo that several bodies were found near the location of the distress signal, though the exact number was not immediately available.

"At this point, it is difficult to give any numbers, but bodies have been found. As they were found closer to the point of distress, it is accepted that they were from the same ship," he said.

"When our teams reached the scene, we observed a large oil slick, indicating that the ship had sunk," Sampath added.

In response to a question, the spokesperson had categorically rejected media reports that the ship had been sunk in a submarine attack.

"We are only concerned about our obligation to rescue them as first responders under international maritime obligations," he said.

Sampath said the cause of the distress signal would be determined later through investigations by specialised authorities.

Although the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters, it fell within the country's search and rescue zone, he said.

Sampath confirmed the vessel was Iranian and the rescued crew members were wearing Iranian naval uniforms.

Air Force spokesman Nalin Wewakumbura said no other vessels or aircraft were detected in the area where the distress signal originated.

Hearth said Sri Lankan is bound by international conventions on maritime rescue to assist anyone in distress, irrespective of the reason.

The rescued sailors were taken to the Navy's Southern Command headquarters and later admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, Herath added.

Officials said that security measures around the Southern Command have been increased.

Referring to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Herath said Sri Lanka deeply regretted the situation and urged a peaceful resolution.
Rao, who works in the housekeeping section at the airport, informed his parents that he and several others escaped with minor injuries.

IMAGE: A satellite image of Jebel Ali Port, after one of the berths caught fire because of debris from an intercepted missile, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. Photograph: 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters

A man from Telangana suffered minor injuries following an attack linked to Iran near Abu Dhabi International Airport, amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, his parents said on Wednesday.

Key Points N Rajeswara Rao, a native of Pothireddypalle village in Rajanna Sircilla district, was injured in the incident

Rao's parents urged the Indian government to take steps to ensure their son's safe return

A group of passengers who arrived at the Hyderabad airport from Saudi Arabia said they did not face any difficulties due to the prevailing situation in the Gulf region

N Rajeswara Rao, a native of Pothireddypalle village in Rajanna Sircilla district, was injured in the incident, his father Prabhakar Rao said.

Rao, who works in the housekeeping section at the airport, informed his parents that he and several others escaped with minor injuries.

"My son has been working there for a year. He works at the airport. He sustained injuries in the attack. He spoke to us over a video call, but he is not showing us the injuries. I want my son to return home soon," Prabhakar Rao told PTI Videos.

Rao's parents urged the Indian government to take steps to ensure their son's safe return.

A group of passengers who arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, said they did not face any difficulties due to the prevailing situation in the Gulf region.

Pilgrims who had travelled to Madina expressed satisfaction with the facilities and arrangements.

Mohd Abdul Razak told PTI Videos that his return to Hyderabad was delayed due to flight cancellations. However, he said the travel agency had taken care of his accommodation and other arrangements.

Rajasthan man goes missing near Oman

A man from Nagaur district in Rajasthan has gone missing after a missile struck an oil tanker he was aboard near Oman amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, according to his family members.

The family said they received information that an Iranian missile hit the vessel on the morning of March 1 while it was stationed at Khasab Port, causing significant damage to the ship.

Dalip Singh, the missing crew member, is a resident of Khinwatana village in Nagaur and began his duty on January 22.

He was serving as a crew member on the tanker operated by Skylight Company. At the time of the attack, Dalip was in the forward section of the ship with another crew member, Ashish Kumar, who hailed from Bihar.

While Kumar's body has been recovered, Dalip remains untraceable, his brother Devendra Singh said.

Devendra further mentioned that the company informed them that most of the crew members were evacuated safely during the attack. However, Ashish and two others, including Dalip, have gone missing.

He noted that Dalip last spoke to the family on February 28.

Additionally, another man from Nagaur district, Sunil Kumar, was also working on the same vessel. Dalip is said to have taken over duty in the shift after Sunil completed his assignment, Devendra added.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has been chosen to assume control of the country.

IMAGE: 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the US and Israel strikes. Photograph: @fr_Khamenei/X

Key Points Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been reportedly elected as Iran's new Supreme Leader.

Mojtaba, 56, has never held public office but is believed to wield significant influence behind the scenes in Iranian politics.

He has close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and served in the Iran-Iraq War.

Mojtaba was married to Zahra Haddad-Adel, daughter of a prominent conservative politician.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been elected as Iran's new Supreme Leader by the country's Assembly of Experts, Iran International reported.

"The Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader," Iran International reported, citing informed sources.

According to the outlet, Mojtaba, 56, has been chosen to assume control of the country.

He is the second-eldest son of Ali Khamenei and has long been seen by observers as a potential successor.

The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, assassinating 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside family members. Since then, Iran has targeted multiple US bases in the surrounding Gulf States.

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?

Mojtaba Khamenei was born in 1969 in Mashhad.

He grew up during the years when his father was active in opposing the Shah before Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Mojtaba has never held public office and is not a high-ranking cleric. However, he is believed to exercise considerable influence behind the scenes.

He served in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq War and is known for his close links to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Mojtaba married Zahra Haddad-Adel, daughter of an Iranian conservative politician and former Chairman of the Parliament, Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, in 2004.

Zahra Haddad-Adel was reported to have been killed recently when the US and Israel attacked Iran in a joint operation.

The couple reportedly has three children, though few details about his family are available publicly.
Approximately 65% of the more than 50,000 residents of Enerhodar occupied by Russia in March 2022, a satellite city of Zaporizhia NPP, are on the territory controlled by Ukraine, another 15% - abroad, Mayor of the city Dmytro Orlov has said.

"There were 53,000 residents in Enerhodar before the occupation, approximately 65% of them are in the territory controlled by Ukraine. About 10,000 in Zaporizhia, a little less in Dnipro, 10,000 to 12,000 in Kyiv. The rest settled in the satellite cities of the NPP. About 15% of the energy workers are abroad. In Enerhodar itself, maybe 10,000 to 15,000 remain," he told Enerhoreform during an event at Energoatom, dedicated to the fourth anniversary of the occupation of Zaporizhia NPP.

Orlov said some energy workers are currently trying to leave the city captured by the Russians for the territory controlled by Ukraine.

"There are facts when they contact us, and we try to help them leave through volunteer organizations. Last week there was such a case, a Zaporizhia NPP employee left," Orlov said.

At the same time, he reported very difficult living conditions in the occupied city, communication with people is extremely complicated due to the total pressure and control of the Russian aggressors.

"They have such psychological conditions there that they don't really talk about how they live. Because there is constant pressure there  physical, psychological, wiretapping of phones, monitoring of social networks. You have to communicate through relatives who are in the controlled territory. It's difficult. There is no light, maybe 50% of the day, there is no water. And there are no residents," the mayor of Enerhodar said.

For his part, the former head of Zaporizhia NPP Ihor Murashov said that, according to him, the personnel of Rostatom who come to work at the station are settled on the territory of the station, and not in the city.

"They are settling Russians on the territory of the nuclear power plant itself. There are beds there. They are doing this, most likely, because of fear for their lives and health. In such a 'reservation' they work in shifts, for two or three months at a time," Murashov said.

He added that 3,800 Zaporizhia NPP workers are in the territory controlled by Ukraine, of which 2,316 people are employed at other nuclear power plants. In addition, approximately 1,500 workers have left Ukraine.

"Many people from Zaporizhia NPP work in the military-industrial complex, assembling drones. And those who remained in the nuclear power industry are mostly in Netishyn, at Khmelnytsky NPP. There are 1,200 people there, not including family members. Some are doing repair and restoration work on 3 or 4 power units [unfinished], some are helping with repairs of operating units, and about 200 more specialists are also employed at Khmelnytsky NPP itself," the former head of Zaporizhia NPP said.

As reported, on the night of March 3 and 4, 2022, Zaporizhia NPP with a capacity of 6 GW, which is the largest in Europe, was occupied by Russian aggressors. In September of the same year, it stopped producing electricity. According to the decision of the Ukrainian nuclear regulator, the State Atomic Energy Agency, all six power units should be in a state of cold shutdown. The Zaporizhia NPP receives electricity for its own needs from the Ukrainian power system.
IMAGE: A woman mourns during the funeral of the victims of the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Heartbreaking scenes unfolded in Minab, Iran, as mourners gathered to bid farewell to the victims of an Israeli strike on a school on February 28, 2026.

Funeral processions, coffin-lined streets, and grief-stricken faces marked the somber days of March 2 and 3, as the community buried its dead. The tragedy has drawn international attention to the human cost of the regional conflict.

Key Points Large crowds gathered to mourn the victims of the Israeli strike on a school, with coffins carried through the streets in a solemn procession.

Many of the victims were reportedly students, intensifying public grief and drawing attention to the impact of the strike on children and families.

The incident has heightened regional tensions and sparked strong reactions from local authorities and residents.

IMAGE: People mourn on the day of the funeral of the victims following the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: Covered bodies in coffins on the day of the funeral of victims of the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: People prepare for the burial at the funeral of the victims of the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: People attend the funeral of the victims of the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: Graves are being prepared for the victims of the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 2, 2026. Photograph: Iranian Foreign Media Department/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuters

IMAGE: People attend the funeral of the victims of the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: Coffins on the day of the funeral of the victims of the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: A student's arm in the rubble following the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: People carry coffins at the funeral of the victims of the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: Rescue forces work following the Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

IMAGE: Rescue forces work following an Israel strike on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Photographs curated and Feature Presentation by Manisha Kotian/Rediff
Bihar's longest-serving CM Nitish Kumar may move to the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for the BJP to take the top post while accommodating his son Nishant as deputy CM.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Photograph: CMO Bihar/ANI Photo

Key Points JD-U sources said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar may move to the Rajya Sabha, potentially paving the way for a BJP CM.

The speculation includes the possibility of Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant, becoming the Deputy Chief Minister.

Senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh dismissed the rumours as a 'Holi prank', affirming Nitish Kumar's position as CM.

JD-U is yet to officially announce its Rajya Sabha nominees, adding to the uncertainty.

Reports suggest Nitish Kumar could choose the Rajya Sabha route for an 'honourable exit' after being at the helm since 2005.

Bihar was abuzz with speculation on Wednesday that Janata Dal-United president and the state's longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may move to the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party to take the top post while accommodating his son Nishant as deputy CM.

Sources from the JD-U stated that the veteran leader might transition to the Rajya Sabha, days after the Election Commission announced the polls for the upper house.

This comes amid a meeting that was held at the Bihar Chief Minister's residence in Patna between Kumar, JD-U national working president Sanjay Jha, and Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary.

However, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh dismissed the rumour as a 'Holi prank', asserting 'Nitish Kumar ji is the chief minister'.

The filing of nomination papers for five Rajya Sabha seats in the state will close on Thursday.

Nitish son set to join politics

While the BJP has named its two candidates, including national general secretary Nitin Nabin, and confirmed a second consecutive term for junior National Democratic Alliance ally Upendra Kushwaha, the JD-U is yet to officially announce its nominees.

The rumours of Kumar, who turned 75 earlier this month, being one of the candidates of JD-U, surfaced a day after the party had announced that his son Nishant would be making a belated entry into politics.

Earlier, there was speculation that the reclusive Nishant, who is in his late 40s and is yet to be formally inducted into the JD-U, could be sent straight to the Rajya Sabha.

However, with less than 24 hours left for filling of nomination papers, several media outlets ran reports claiming that the chief minister, who has been at the helm since 2005, could choose the Rajya Sabha route to make an 'honourable exit'.

Bihar to get first BJP CM?

According to these unconfirmed reports, the BJP, which has been outperforming the JD-U in elections, will have its own CM in the only Hindi heartland state where the highest seat of power has eluded it.

These reports also suggested that as a bargain, Kumar could settle for the deputy CM's post for his son.

When Giriraj Singh, who represents Begusarai Lok Sabha seat in the state, was approached with queries, he said, "Today is Holi. Such pranks are common on the occasion. Nitish Kumar ji is the chief minister".

JD-U MLC Sanjay Kumar alias Gandhi ji, a close aide of the party supremo, reacted with bewilderment when his response was sought to the rumours.

"We have no information about who will be the Rajya Sabha candidates of the party. There is an impression that Union minister Ram Nath Thakur may retain his seat, but that is also not official. As regards the other seat, it is a decision to be taken by the chief minister, who is known to reveal his cards at the eleventh hour. We cannot say anything on the reports in the media," he said.

Nitish likely to file nomination for RS polls on Thursday

Nitish Kumar is likely to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha polls in Patna on Thursday, according to sources, indicating the state may get a new CM.

The JD-U president is likely to file his nomination alongside BJP national president Nitin Nabin in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they said.

Filing of nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls will close on Thursday.

"JD-U president Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Nitin Nabin will file their nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on Thursday. Home Minister Amit Shah will remain present on the occasion," a source in the NDA told PTI.

Asked if Kumar will also resign as Bihar chief minister, the source said it will happen in due course of time.

This comes barely about four months after Kumar, Bihar's longest-serving chief minister, was sworn in for a record 10th term at a grand ceremony in Patna on November 20. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief ministers of several NDA-ruled states, and senior alliance leaders following the NDA's landslide victory in the state polls.

The BJP has named its party chief Nitin Nabin and its Bihar unit general secretary Shivesh Kumar as its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls. NDA ally and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha has also been nominated as a candidate for the polls.

However, the JD-U is yet to officially announce its nominees.

On Tuesday, Bihar rural development minister Shrawon Kumar told PTI, "On the eve of Holi, I have some good news to share with the people of Bihar. It has been some time since there have been demands, from within the JD-U as well as from among the state's youth, that Nishant, the son of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, join politics.

"Decks have been cleared for that, and a formal announcement will be made in a day or two," he had said.

Shrawon Kumar has been a close aide of the JD-U supremo since the Samata Party days in the 1990s.
Qatar's halt in LNG production due to conflict in West Asia is disrupting gas supplies to India, threatening industrial sectors and potentially increasing CNG prices.

IMAGE: QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City, on March 2, 2026. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

Key Points Qatar has halted LNG production due to attacks amid the West Asia conflict, leading to supply disruptions for India.

India faces up to 40% supply cuts in LNG, impacting industrial consumers and city gas distribution (CGD) companies.

Petronet LNG and QatarEnergy have issued force majeure notices due to the inability to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz.

The disruption threatens CNG's price advantage, potentially shifting customers to electric vehicles.

India relies on Qatar for 40% of its annual LNG imports, with the Strait of Hormuz being a critical transit route.

Qatar has halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production after its facilities came under attack amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, disrupting supplies to India and squeezing feedstock availability for key domestic sectors.

India, which depends on long-term LNG contracts with Qatar for a significant share of its gas needs, has seen a temporary suspension of cargoes, leading to supply cuts up to 40 per cent for a range of industrial consumers and city gas distribution (CGD) companies.

While some industrial users can switch to alternative -- though costlier -- fuels, the CNG-retailing city gas sector has warned of severe stress.

CGD operators said replacing contracted Qatari volumes with spot LNG priced at more than double the contracted rate could erode CNG's price advantage and result in a permanent shift of customers to electric vehicles.

Petronet LNG Ltd, India's largest LNG importer, hasn't been able to send ships to Qatar to ferry LNG as the Strait of Hormuz -- a narrow shipping route through which West Asian countries, including Qatar, export most of their oil and gas -- is all but closed.

Additionally, Qatar has shut down liquefied natural gas production at the world's largest export facility -- which also supplied gas to India -- after it was targeted in an Iranian drone attack.

In a stock exchange filing, Petronet said it has sent force majeure notice to Qatari supplier, QatarEnergy for inability to send ships.

QatarEnergy too has served a force majeure notice for inability to serve its buyer -- Petronet LNG -- due to hostilities in the region.

"In light of the recent and ongoing war in the Middle East region involving Iran and Israel, vessels are presently unable to safely transit through the Strait of Hormuz to reach Ras Laffan, the loading port of QatarEnergy," Petronet said.

"Considering the prevailing security situation and the material risks posed to maritime navigation, the company (Petronet) has issued a force majeure notice to QatarEnergy in respect of its LNG tankers, namely Disha, Raahi, and Aseem."

Petronet said it has, in turn, issued corresponding force majeure notices to its downstream off-takers.

India imports 40% of its LNG from Qatar

Qatar supplies 40 per cent of the 27 million tonnes a year of LNG that India imports annually.

The supply cuts have also been effected on city gas firms, which have written to government-owned gas utility GAIL, expressing concerns over the availability of domestic gas and LNG to meet the requirements of CNG for automobiles and piped cooking gas for households.

The Association of CGD Entities (ACE) in a March 3 letter to GAIL chairman and managing director said the reduction in supply of low-priced gas to 60 per cent and restriction of spot or current market supply to zero "are likely to have a significant impact on gas availability to the sector, which may adversely affect the priority segments.

"We request clarity and confirmation regarding the sustained availability of gas to the city gas sector so that the sector can continue to serve the aspirations and objectives set by the Government of India for providing a reliable and sustained energy to smaller customer segments in the remotest corners of the country," it said.

Stating that the association members remain committed to supplying energy to households, CNG customers, small industries and commercial consumers, it sought "continued visibility and guidance on gas supply to the CGD sector during the crisis period.

"A line of confirmation about continuity of gas supply to the city gas sector during the crisis period will be helpful," it added.

While domestically produced natural gas meets just about half of the demand, India meets the rest through LNG imports.

LNG is a gas that has been cooled far below freezing point into liquid form to allow storage and transport over long distances.

Petronet LNG imports such liquid gas and then regasifies it (back to gas) at its R-LNG terminals in Dahej in Gujarat, and Kochi in Kerala. The fuel is feedstock for producing fertilisers, generating electricity and raw material for city gas entities.

QatarEnergy statement amid regional conflict

QatarEnergy, in a statement, said, "Due to military attacks on QatarEnergy's operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City in the State of Qatar, QatarEnergy has ceased production of LNG and associated products."

The United States and Israel launched military strikes on targets in Iran over the weekend. Tehran retaliated with missiles and drones aimed at Israel and countries hosting US forces, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Media reports suggest the conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global energy flows. Roughly one-third of the world's seaborne crude oil exports and about 20 per cent of liquefied natural gas shipments transit the narrow waterway.

As much as 20.8 million barrels per day of oil and products typically transit the Strait. Over 80 per cent of this goes to the Asian markets, including India. About 20 per cent of global LNG supply also passes through this narrow waterway.

Impact on India's energy supply

For India, the Strait, controlled by Iran, is a transit for roughly 50 per cent of its crude oil imports and around 54 per cent of its LNG supplies.

It is the transit for not just LNG from Qatar but also from the United Arab Emirates.

Reports suggest just 26 vessels (all segments) traversed the Strait -- down sharply from 91 on February 28 and well below February's 135 a day average -- after the US/Israeli strikes on Iran rattled the region.

Petronet said it has also issued force majeure notices on gas offtakers -- GAIL, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), and Bharat PetroleumCorporation Ltd (BPCL).

"Acts of war are also excluded under Business Interruption Insurance covers taken by Petronet LNG," it said.

"The likely impact of force majeure which is currently an ongoing event cannot be estimated at this point of time. The company is closely monitoring the developments and will keep the stock exchanges informed of any material updates in this regard.

Petronet has a long-term contract to buy 8.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG from Qatar.

Additionally, it buys Qatari LNG from the spot market as well. Besides Petronet, companies such as IOC have LNG import contracts with the UAE.

Sources said GAIL and IOC are looking at tapping the spot or current market to meet the shortfall, but prices have firmed up.

LNG in the spot market is now at $25 per million British thermal unit, roughly double the term contract rates.
A central security team on Wednesday reached the Murshidabad residence of Kabir, who is also the founder president of the Janata Unnayan Party.

IMAGE: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Kabir sought central security from the Calcutta High Court, citing threats to his life.

The Ministry of Home Affairs decided to grant Kabir Y-Plus category security following a high court order.

An 11-member team of central security force personnel will provide security to the Bharatpur MLA.

In 2023, ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui was also accorded Y-Plus security, highlighting security concerns for politicians in West Bengal.

Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, who was building a mosque modelled on Ayodhya's Babri Masjid in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, was accorded Y-Plus category security cover by the central government, a source close to the politician said.

A central security team on Wednesday reached the Murshidabad residence of Kabir, who is also the founder president of the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), the source said.

Kabir had laid the foundation stone for the at Rejinagar on December 6 last year, escalating political temperature in the state where the assembly elections are likely to be held in April.

In January, Kabir moved the Calcutta High Court seeking central security, citing threats to his life. The court directed him to submit a representation to the ministry of home affairs in this regard.

"Following the high court's order, Kabir filed the application, following which the Centre decided to grant him Y-Plus category security," the source said.

An 11-member team of central security force jawans reached the residence of the Bharatpur MLA in the afternoon.

Kabir released his personal security guards and will be under the cover of the central security from now on, the source said.

In 2023, opposition ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui was accorded Y-Plus security.
Amid rising security concerns and regional tensions, the United States has announced the withdrawal of non-essential staff from its consulates in Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan, ensuring the safety of its personnel.

IMAGE: Police and Paramilitary vehicles stand outside the US Consulate General in Karachi, on March 2, 2026. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Key Points The US State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and their families from the US consulates in Lahore and Karachi due to escalating safety risks.

This decision follows protests near US diplomatic facilities in Pakistan after reported US-Israeli joint air strikes.

The US Mission in Pakistan clarified that the embassy in Islamabad remains operational.

The travel advisory highlights ongoing threats of drone and missile attacks, as well as disruptions to commercial flights in the region.

Similar staff withdrawal instructions have been issued for US personnel in other Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan, Bahrain, and the UAE.

The United States announced on Wednesday the withdrawal of non-emergency staff from its consulates in the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore due to security concerns.

The decision came just days after protestors tried to storm US consulates and the embassy after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli joint air strikes.

"The Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and the family members of US government personnel from US Consulates Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to safety risks," the US Mission in Pakistan said in a statement.

It said there was no change to the status of its embassy in Islamabad.

The advisory noted that "an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights" amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

Although there is an additional consulate in Peshawar, the updated travel advisory did not mention it.

Regional Impact of US Staff Withdrawals

Following the onset of hostilities between Iran and the US-Israel since February 28, the State Department has issued similar instructions for its staff in multiple regional countries.

These include Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Oman and recently, Cyprus, as per statements posted on X.

At least 10 protestors were killed in Karachi on March 1 when they tried to break through the security perimeter around the US consulate. Similar protests were held in Lahore and Islamabad.
Israel initiated military action against Iran shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, capitalising on a fleeting opportunity and years of strategic preparation, according to Israel's ambassador to India.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem on February 26, 2026. Photograph: @netanyahu/X

Key Points Israel launched a military operation against Iran shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, citing a time-sensitive opportunity.

The decision to act against Iran was based on years of intelligence gathering and preparation, including significant investments in intelligence capabilities and advanced military technologies.

Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, emphasised that the operation was a calculated move based on real-time intelligence.

Regional coordination, particularly through the Abraham Accords and in partnership with the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), played a crucial role in the operation.

During PM Modi's visit, India and Israel elevated their bilateral ties to a 'Special Strategic Partnership' and signed 17 agreements.

Israels military action against Iran was triggered by it described as a time-sensitive window that opened two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his visit, according to Israels Ambassador to India Reuven Azar.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Azar said there was no prior indication during Modis trip that such an operation was imminent.

The opportunity presented itself only after Prime Minister Modi had departed. While regional issues were part of the discussions during the visit, we could not have shared plans that had not yet materialised, he said.

Modi's 2-day visit to Israel

PM Modi visited Israel on February 25, 2026, and was given speaker of Knesset medal by Israeli Parliament.

India and Israel elevated their bilateral ties to a Special Strategic Partnership and signed 17 agreements following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 26.

Two days later, the United States and Israel launched an offensive against Iran.

Israel's big investment in security

Azar said Israels actions were the culmination of years of preparation in response to what he described as persistent threats from Iran.

Israel had invested billions of dollars over decades to enhance its intelligence capabilities to closely monitor the Iranian regime, its military establishment, and key decision-makers," the Israeli envoy said, according to The Indian Express.

We had to create the intelligence capability to understand their military machinery and intentions -- who is making decisions, where they are located, and what capabilities are threatening Israel, he added.

In addition to intelligence investments, Israel developed advanced military technologies to counter missile and rocket attacks.

Abraham Accords played a crucial role

Azar noted that Israel had strengthened its air defence systems to intercept ballistic missiles and rockets launched not only from Iran but also from Iranian-backed proxy groups in the region.

He further highlighted the role of regional coordination, stating that cooperation under the Abraham Accords had enabled Israel to enhance joint military operations and aerial surveillance across the Middle East.

This coordination, he said, was carried out in partnership with the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

Opportunity for strikes arose after Modi left Israel

We have been coordinating with the United States for a long time and waiting for the right moment, though we did not know when it would come, Azar said.

The envoy reiterated that the decision to proceed with the strikes was taken only after real-time intelligence indicated an opportunity. It took about two days after Prime Minister Modi left. Approval from our security cabinet was taken on Saturday morning before the operation was launched, he said.

Describing the action as a calculated move, Azar added, It was an operational opportunity that we utilised as a result of intelligence that came in real time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, during which they discussed, among other things, countering Iranian missile and drone strikes.

"I spoke with the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. His Majesty described the situation in Bahrain and the region in general. There are various challenges, including those caused by Iranian ballistic missile and drone strikes. Like Bahrain, Ukraine did not want to experience this, but we understand very well what constant missile and drone attacks are and how to counter them. We discussed how we can work together in this direction and agreed that our teams will remain in contact. There must be greater protection of life both in the Middle East and in Europe," Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel.
This office breakroom is just one example of work from Tape Art Mega Corp.
'Wow, why isn't anyone talking about this'  Memoir provides an eye-opening look at domestic abuse
Ukraine has been ensuring the supply of electricity for the plant's own needs for all four years of the occupation of the Zaporizhia NPP, which amounts to 40-50 MW per hour, said Pavlo Kovtoniuk, Chairman of Energoatom.

"Ukraine reliably provides 40-50 megawatts of power per hour to the Zaporizhia nuclear plant. If we calculate the cost of this electricity, these are indeed losses. But this is our nuclear plant, and we have not only a moral but also a professional obligation to ensure its safe condition," Kotoniuk told reporters at an Energoatom event marking the fourth anniversary of the Zaporizhia plant's occupation.

According to company calculations provided to Energoreforma, as of Feb. 27, 2026, the occupation and shutdown of the plant's power generation has resulted in 155.02 million megawatt-hours of lost electricity production and UAH 598.9 billion in lost revenue.

Kotoniuk said none of the nuclear workers could fully believe that Russia, although an aggressor, but a state that signed agreements on the unacceptability of nuclear terrorism, could militarily seize a nuclear facility.

"All these four years of the plant's occupation pose a threat to the entire world. Virtually all pillars of nuclear and radiation safety have been violated. The Russians have turned the plant into a military base. This is absolutely absurd," the Energoatom chief said.

Responding to reporters' questions, he emphasized that licenses issued by the Russian nuclear regulator for the operation of Units 1 and 2 at the Zaporizhia plant do not comply with any international standards and are purely a political action.

"This is exclusively a Ukrainian plant. But even from a technical standpoint, a license requires certain operational readiness, starting with personnel availability and ending with equipment, reliable power supply and so on. None of this exists. If equipment has not been operating for a long time, it takes more than a year to restart: inspections, audits, repairs... This involves a large volume of work," Kotoniuk explained.

He also clarified that the Zaporizhia plant still relies on a single power transmission line, while the other  Ferosplavna-1  has not been repaired. According to him, damage to the power line was recorded in occupied territory.

As previously reported, the Zaporizhia nuclear plant on February 10 lost connection to one of its two external power lines: the 330-kilovolt Ferosplavna-1 line was disconnected. On February 27, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported achieving another local cease-fire near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia plant to restore the backup 330-kilovolt Ferosplavna-1 power line.
Members of the Representative Town Meeting gather at the Brattleboro Union High School to vote on a new town budget on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
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State Rep. Laura H. Sibilia, I, represents the Windham 2 towns of Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton and Wardsboro. The opinions expressed by columnists and op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
The New Zealand government is consulting on measures to enhance the cyber security of the countrys critical infrastructure system, following the release of its Cyber Security Strategy last week.

We are primarily seeking industry feedback, from owners and operators of New Zealands critical infrastructure who would be directly affected by potential regulatory reform, the department stated.

We also welcome input from individuals, businesses and communities who are directly affected by the security and resilience of our critical infrastructure. Your feedback will inform further analysis and advice to cabinet.

In a discussion document, Prime Minister and Minister for National Security and Intelligence Christopher Luxon said cyber risks were generally not well understood or collectively managed to a consistent level across New Zealands critical infrastructure system.

These risks are escalating due to changing technology, economic instability, and a more volatile geopolitical environment, he said.

The impact of cyber harm is also intensifying, with a rise in reported financial losses and a global increase in cyber attacks that severely disrupt or even halt the operation of critical infrastructure, paralysing the delivery of essential services to businesses and communities.

Citing estimates from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) for 2025, the government said there were likely over $16 billion in direct losses from online threats a year in New Zealand.

However, New Zealand took a predominantly voluntary approach to cyber security, with tools and guidance provided by the NCSC to help critical infrastructure entities understand and manage their cyber risks, Luxon added.
OpenText is taking on the challenge of AI with open arms, making sure its whole workforce is well versed in its own usage of the technology before taking it to its partners.

Speaking to Reseller News, executive vice president, chief digital officer and chief information officer Shannon Bell said in order to drive AI adoption, it needs to tap into its partner ecosystem.

As such, the vendor said it is planning to increase partner resources in Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ), including marketing programmes, materials, messaging and capabilities, as well as sales enablement programmes.

We need different types of help from partners in terms of broader transformation, skills, domain knowledge, understanding, and reach, Bell said.

According to Bell, OpenText has spent the last nine months doubling down on partner engagement across the region.

Its an area that we see  especially as more and more organisations are trying to embrace AI  [where] we need local expertise. We need domain expertise. We need partners that our customers trust to help us drive adoption from a technology perspective, and certainly we dont anticipate growing our services arm to the extent that well be able to service all of our customers, she said.

Executive vice president of product and engineering Muhi Majzoub added that OpenText is committed to the A/NZ region and is aspiring to double its presence in years to come.

Today, we have an office here [in Sydney] and an office in Canberra to support our government customers, he said. In the future, we could have an office in Adelaide or in Melbourne to support customers there, and thats something I look forward to.
MSP First Focus has marked a significant step in expanding to New Zealand with the acquisition of Nelson-headquartered CNX.

The move will form the foundation of First Focuss national platform in New Zealand, building on more than a decade of operating in Auckland in support of Australian clients.

The acquisition represents a long-term commitment to investing in people, capability, and service delivery across both the North and South Islands.

First Focus CEO Ross Sardi said the decision to acquire CNX was driven by strong alignment in leadership, culture, and client focus.

CNX stood out for its quality of local leadership, its strong cultural alignment with our business, and its deep commitment to client outcomes, Sardi said.

They also share our ambition to help shape the future of managed services in the AI era. Establishing a national platform in New Zealand is an important milestone for us.

The existing CNX team will remain in place in Nelson and Christchurch, continuing to support customers locally.

New Zealand customers will benefit from expanded services including 247 support, advanced cybersecurity, AI and automation solutions, and software development capability.
One New Zealand chief enterprise director Mike Purchase will be leaving the company this month as it aims to delayer and simplify its structure.

In a company-wide message delivered yesterday, CEO Jason Paris said One NZ was making changes to its executive team to create clearer end-to-end accountability across sales, service, product, marketing and delivery.

As a result, the enterprise function Purchase led was being integrated into two other existing teams.

The enterprise sales and service team was moving into a renamed customer function, reporting to Chris Fletcher, and the enterprise product and solutions was moving move into a renamed product and marketing function, reporting to Joe Goddard.

Therefore, Purchase would be leaving the organisation by end of its current financial year, which ends this month.

Mike has spent 16 years in this business and has played a significant role in building our enterprise capability and customer relationships. I want to take a moment to sincerely thank him for his contribution, Paris wrote.

In addition, the companys people function will be moved under CFO Nick Judd, once chief people officer Jodie King leaves the company at the end of March following her resignation to move overseas.

Purchase joined the then Vodafone New Zealand in 2015 when it acquired Worldxchange where he was chief operating officer. He took on the chief enterprise director role two and a half years ago, following a short stint as head of enterprise and government, and over two years as head of business.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka as military officials said Iran is firing fewer missiles at targets around the Gulf region due to its decimated capabilities to wage war.

Speaking at a briefing on March 4, Hegseth called the attack -- which left at least 87 seamen dead with dozens of others injured or missing -- "quiet death." Sri Lankan authorities said 32 Iranian sailors were rescued.

"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo," Hegseth said.

Hegseth, Iran cannot outlast by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:26 0:00

Hegseth said the United States has the resources to continue the campaign, which started on February 28 in tandem with strikes by Israel, indefinitely if needed, saying Washington would take "all the time we need" to secure victory.

In response, Iran has launched missile and drone barrages at states around the Persian Gulf that have fanned fears the war could spread throughout the region.

Highlighting those fears, a ballistic missile launched from Iran headed toward Turkish airspace before being intercepted by NATO air defense systems.

The military alliance, to which Turkey is a member, condemned the incident, saying it "stands firmly with all Allies."

At the same briefing as Hegseth, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iran was launching some 86 percent fewer ballistic missiles than it did on February 28, the first day of the conflict. Drone launches were down almost as much, he added.

"We have sufficient precision munitions for the task at hand, both on the offense and defense," Caine said.

Hegseth echoed those comments, adding that coalition forces expect to gain complete control of Iranian airspace within about a week, which would allow expanded bombing operations across the country.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says she doubts Iran's capacity to sustain its pace of attacks on countries across the Middle East given its decimated military following the 12-day war last year with Israel and the current US-Israeli campaign.

She told RFE/RL in an interview in Warsaw on March 4 that "Iranian capacities are not endless, especially if also the big friends are not supporting them."

"Americans have also said that their target is the missile launchers and missile factories, then their capacity to cause harm is also and maybe more limited than they want to show. So this is always also a fight for narratives," Kallas said.
For the first time in 36 years, Iran finds itself having to pick a new supreme leader.

It has happened only once before, in 1989, after the death of the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, paved the way for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to take over.

While Khomeini died of natural causes, Khamenei was killed on the first day of a joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran on February 28. Now the 88-seat Assembly of Experts must convene in secret to select his successor.

Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told RFE/RL that whoever emerges will be chosen on a single criterion: political expediency. The Assembly of Experts is today a "rubber-stamp body" and the process will be driven by circumstance rather than grooming, Vatanka argued.

Many names over the years have been thrown around as potential successors to Khamenei, but currently three candidates are widely considered to be frontrunners.

Mojtaba Khamenei: The Dynasty Pick

The 56-year-old second son of the late supreme leader has long been described as the "guardian of the gate."

Despite never holding a formal government office, the younger Khamenei has spent two decades at the center of his father's office, the Beyt, coordinating between the clerical establishment and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

He is believed to be backed by the IRGC, and his selection would represent total continuity. Supporters argue his deep intimacy with the security apparatus makes him the only candidate capable of maintaining order during active conflict.

However, his elevation risks domestic fury, especially among the core supporters of the Islamic republic. Critics argue a move toward "hereditary rule" betrays the very anti-monarchist roots of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"The optics of having a son succeed his father perhaps resembles the optics of a monarchy," Farzan Sabet, a senior research associate at the Geneva Graduate School, told RFE/RL in 2024.

A member of the Assembly of Experts in 2024 insisted the senior Khamenei had opposed the idea of his son taking over in conversations with the assembly.

Furthermore, Khamenei Jr's relatively low clerical rank, Hojatoleslam, remains a point of contention. A news agency affiliated with Iran's seminaries has since 2022 called him an ayatollah, an honorific title reserved for high-ranking clerics.

Recent investigations, including a report by Bloomberg published in late January, detailed a sprawling and secretive real estate portfolio linked to the younger Khamenei, who has been under US sanctions since 2019.

The reports suggest he has successfully maintained and expanded a global network of luxury assets through intermediaries and shell companies.

Alireza Arafi: The Safe Bet

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, 67, is the quintessential "man of the system." Currently serving on the three-man Interim Leadership Council, Arafi has climbed every institutional ladder, from heading the global Al-Mustafa University to leading Iran's entire seminary system.

He only entered the political fray in 2019 when he was appointed as one of the six clerics on the powerful Guardian Council by Khamenei.

Arafi is the safe institutional pick. He holds the necessary clerical credentials and has served as a loyal administrator without being publicly linked to the most violent domestic crackdowns.

According to Vatanka, Arafi's rise was no accident. He said Khamenei's willingness to appoint him to sensitive roles "shows that he has a great deal of confidence in his bureaucratic abilities."

He described Arafi as a "capable foot soldier" who would likely prioritize the survival of the Islamic republic over personal charisma.

Compared to figures like judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, who carry what Vatanka calls "too much blood on their hands," Arafi is a clean-record administrator that might have the backing of the IRGC "for the sake of continuity."

While Arafi is well-known in religious circles, he is far from a household name for the vast majority of Iranians. He lacks a personal power base and might struggle to command the IRGCs absolute loyalty.

Hassan Khomeini: The Wild Card

The 53-year-old grandson of the Islamic republic's founder represents the clerical establishment's most potent symbol of "what could have been." A moderate cleric with close ties to the reformist camp, he has long been sidelined by hard-liners.

But his name has resurfaced as a potential reconciliatory candidate, especially after President Donald Trump said he would prefer a "more moderate" leader in Tehran.

For a clerical system whose legitimacy has been eroding and is facing international isolation, Khomeini offers a pivot. He is associated with reformist circles and has advocated social freedoms and diplomatic de-escalation.

But he is deeply disliked by hard-liners, to the point that during a speech in 2022 the heckling got so bad that Khamenei scolded the hecklers when he came on stage after Khomeini.

His disqualification in 2016 by the Guardian Council to run for the Assembly of Experts election suggests that for the IRGC to accept him, the Islamic republic would have to be in a state of near-total collapse, viewing him as a last-resort "safety valve" -- a popular phrase among critics of the Islamic republic -- to prevent revolution.

'Save What's Left'

Vatanka asserted that the circumstances of any succession would make the mission largely irrelevant from day one. Taking over a country under military attack, with an exhausted population and an economy under severe strain, would force even a committed ideologue toward pragmatism.

"Right now is not the time to double down," Vatanka said. "Right now is the time to end this war, regroup, and save what is left of the country."
The United States is considering arming Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in neighboring Iraq, according to reports, in a move that could open a new front in the war on Iran and risks igniting a civil war in the Middle East country.

Several Iranian opposition Kurdish groups are based in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region and have been waging a low-level insurgency against Tehran for years. Some have demanded autonomy within Iran while others are fighting for secession from the Islamic republic.

The possibility of the United States supplying weapons to Iranian Kurdish groups and supporting potential cross-border ground attacks in the western part of the country comes as the United States and Israel wage a massive aerial bombardment of Iran.

The US aim, experts say, would be to stretch Tehran's military resources, weaken the state's grip on power, and foment an uprising inside Iran, a multiethnic country of some 90 million people.

Iran's clerical rulers, despite the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military leaders, have not capitulated or fragmented and maintain control of the country since the joint US-Israeli air campaign began on February 28.

"The main goal is to make sure the Islamic republic starts losing control of some areas of the country," said Michael Horowitz, an independent defense expert based in Israel.

"The assessment may be that by doing so, other minorities as well as the broader opposition may be inspired. Some elements within the regime who may be tempted to defect or flee may also see this as a sign that they should do so now, before the situation spins fully out of control."

Kurds make up around 10 percent of Iran's population and primarily live in the country's west along the border with Iraq. Iran has long been accused of suppressing and discriminating against the country's ethnic minorities, including Kurds.

Sascha Bruchmann, a military and security affairs analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said possible ground incursions by Iranian Kurdish groups into western Iran could stretch Tehran's military resources.

"If the Kurdish factions were to stage a concerted series of attacks, the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps] would have to seek reinforcements," said Bruchmann, referring to the elite branch of Iran's armed forces.

"However, that would weaken their posture in core cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, or Karaj. It would thus create a dilemma for the regime where to send sparse reinforcements in times when coordination is also more difficult. It is this dilemma and thinning out of forces that is the operational goal."

The risks of the United States possibly arming Iranian opposition Kurds groups are considerable, experts say.

"Washington could trigger a civil war and the fragmentation of the country, which could have lasting consequences," said Horowitz.

Many of these groups were previously armed but have since laid down their weapons.

"If they engage in a long-term war against Iran, and the US support disappears, this will prove very dangerous for them," said Horowitz.

The United States recently cut support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia that was a key US partner for years in the war against the Islamic State extremist group.

Longstanding Disputes

In anticipation of a US attack on Iran, five Iranian opposition Kurdish groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan announced a new political coalition last month aimed at overthrowing the Islamic republic and ultimately achieving Kurdish autonomy.

The new coalition includes the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the Organization of Iranian Kurdistan Struggle (Khabat), and the Komala of the Toilers of Kurdistan. The coalition does not include several Kurdish political heavyweights such as the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan.

Iran has sporadically conducted military strikes against the exiled Kurdish groups, which Tehran has designated as terrorist organizations and accused them of serving American and Israeli interests. Those attacks could intensify if the United States arms the groups.

On March 4, Iran launched rocket attacks at a camp near the border operated by the PAK, the group said, adding that one person was killed and three wounded. A day earlier, drone strikes struck a base run by the PDKI in northern Iraq.

Experts say it is unclear if the various Iranian Kurdish groups in Iraq can settle their deep differences and have the willingness and ability to fight against the Islamic republic.

"There are longstanding disputes, and they need to prove solidarity on the field," said Bruchmann. "It is less about the potential impact of some better or more weapons from the US, but rather the will to fight the Iranian regime decisively and coordinate military attacks among them that will decide whether the Kurds will add a ground element to the US-Israeli air campaign."
WARSAW -- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says she doubts Iran's capacity to sustain its pace of attacks on countries across the Middle East given its decimated military following the 12-day war last year with Israel and the current US-Israeli campaign launched against it over the weekend.

"We have to understand that the Iranian capacities are not endless, especially if also the big friends are not supporting them," she told RFE/RL in an interview conducted in Warsaw on March 4.

"Americans have also said that their target is the missile launchers and missile factories, then their capacity to cause harm is also and maybe more limited than they want to show. So this is always also a fight for narratives."

Expanding on the answer about Tehran's allies, the former Estonian prime minister was quick to point out that Russia, which has long been seen as a key ally of Tehran, hasn't rushed to aid the Islamic regime.

Kallas on Ukraine-Russia by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:06 0:00

"What we have to see is that when Iran is fighting, they are fighting alone with their proxies. Russia is not supporting them," Kallas added.

US President Donald Trump said on March 3 that Iran "is going to be in for a lot of hurt" in the coming days, adding that "the big-scale hitting goes now."

Operation Epic Fury, as the mission is called by US military officials, represents the largest US buildup in the Middle East in a generation with over 50,000 US troops and 200 fighter aircraft. According to the US military, 17 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed and nearly 2,000 targets across Iran hit in the last four days alone.

Kallas on conflict spillover by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:06 0:00

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has estimated that nearly 1,100 Iranian civilians, including 181 children, have been killed in the air strikes.

In response, Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at US military bases and key commercial sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar -- all American allies -- since the conflict broke out.

The European Union, meanwhile, has struggled to keep a unified position on the war. The E3 -- France, Germany, and the United Kingdom -- have indicated they might assist the United States militarily if necessary, while Spain has questioned the legality of the strikes on Iran.

When asked about what outcome the EU sees after the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the air strikes, the EU top diplomat was cautiously optimistic that things eventually could improve for the country.

Kallas on Khamenei's death by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:31 0:00

"Now the question is, of course, what comes next? Is it possible that there's going to be a democratic Iran? I mean, not necessarily immediately, but still there's opportunities for the people if the repressive regime is weakened," she said.

With the EU's foreign ministers set for an online meeting with their counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council on March 5, Brussels is likely to have to grapple with more immediate challenges to the bloc such as already soaring energy prices and potential waves of refugees.

"There are threats to disruption of supply chains and trade routes, there are also risks for migration pressure that is coming toward us because people will want to flee war. These are all the risks that we have to really take into account," Kallas said.
The next meeting within the framework of trilateral Ukraine-the United States-Russia talks on ending the war in Ukraine has been postponed indefinitely, Suspilne said on Wednesday, citing its own sources in the Ukrainian delegation.

"There is currently no date or venue for the next round of trilateral negotiations," the media said.

As reported, on February 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following a meeting between the Ukrainian negotiating team led by Rustem Umerov and David Arakhamia and envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump, Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner, that readiness for holding the next trilateral meeting had increased, possibly in early March in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The latest round of talks took place in Geneva (Switzerland), while earlier rounds were held in Abu Dhabi.
The Kremlin footage seemed calculated to suggest that while the United States and Israel were bombarding longtime Russian partner country Iran, it was business as usual for President Vladimir Putin.

On March 2-3, Putin's administration published videos showing him meeting with officials far removed from international affairs: the governor of the Amur region, in Russia's Far East, and the head of the federal treasury.

As usual, state TV channels dutifully ran reports and showed footage from the meetings, in each case telling viewers that the meeting took place "today."

In fact, though, both meetings were recorded at some earlier date, Systema, RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit, has found.

The giveaway? The plants in Putin's office in the Kremlin.

Last month, Systema determined that meetings the Kremlin and state TV indicated occurred in his office from February 9-17 had actually been recorded earlier. The main piece of evidence was an aglaonema plant, also known as a Chinese evergreen, seen behind Putin in official footage and images.

Over the autumn and into early February, the plant grew thicker and some of its leaves yellowed noticeably -- but in footage presented as fresh beginning February 9, the growth and decay appeared to have reversed themselves, with the yellowed leaves green once again.

After Systema published a report on the developments, which suggested Putin had not appeared on camera for 11 days, the Kremlin replaced the plant, as well as one in the other corner behind Putin's desk. In footage published on February 25 of a meeting with conductor and Bolshoi Theater Director Valery Gergiyev that the Kremlin said took place the previous evening, entirely different aglaonemas can be seen.

However, in the meetings Putin purportedly held on March 2-3, the older plant is back, clearly indicating the footage was shot at an earlier date.

According to the Kremlin, Putin held phone calls with three Middle Eastern leaders on March 2 -- Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the king of Bahrain, and the emir of Qatar -- and with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on March 3.

But by airing footage of meetings with domestic officials and claiming they took place on those days, the Kremlin may have been seeking to show Russians that Putin's mind is on his own country and that the situation surrounding Iran is not a major source of concern.

The US-Israeli campaign against Iran, which has closer ties with Russia than any other country in the Middle East, threatens to further curtail Moscow's regional influence following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. It comes after the United States captured Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, also an ally of the Kremlin, and amid signs that Washington could intervene in Cuba, as well.

At the same time, analysts say Putin is wary of antagonizing the United States for fear it could increase pressure on Moscow and diminish its chances of achieving its goals in its war against Ukraine, which is the Kremlin's main priority.

Investigations by Systema have revealed that prevaricating about the timing of Putin's meetings is a common practice for the Kremlin.

The arrangement of books in a cabinet behind Putin's desk showed that by May, the Kremlin had passed off old footage as new at least five times in 2025, and Systema found evidence that it continued to do so later in the year.

Separately, Systema determined that the Kremlin has repeatedly misled the public about the location of Putin, who for several years has used three nearly identical offices in different parts of the country.

Adapted from the original Systema report in Russian by Steve Gutterman
WARSAW -- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says the bloc may be open to direct talks with Moscow on trying to help settle the war in Ukraine but Moscow will have to temper its "maximalist" demands to pave the way for negotiations.

Both the EU and individual European nations have failed to secure a seat at the negotiation table, with the United States locked in talks with Kyiv and Moscow for over a year.

And while the talks have resulted in exchange of prisoners and there are indications the two parties are inching closer to a settlement, few believe in an imminent breakthrough that likely would result in Ukraine de facto conceding several territories.

The prospect of a settlement over the heads of European countries has prompted several leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to push for the need of a special European envoy to talk to Moscow. Names such as current Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his predecessor, Sauli Niinisto, have been floated for the role, according to European diplomats speaking to RFE/RL under the condition of anonymity.

Kallas on Ukraine-Russia by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:06 0:00

Speaking to RFE/RL in Warsaw in an interview on March 4, Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, said she is ready to be the EU's negotiator and is "ready to do it if that's necessary."

"But at the moment, it is not at the point where we are. The question is, what do we require?

Kallas, who has been a vocal critic of Russia -- both as EU foreign policy chief and previously as Estonian prime minister -- has been on the Kremlin's "wanted list" since 2024.

She circulated a discussion paper to EU capitals in February with several demands to make of Moscow in any potential future negotiation, including a cap on the Russian Army to mirror a proposed cap on Ukraine's forces, a withdrawal of Russian troops and bases in other post-Soviet countries, and competitive elections in Russia.

And while some European diplomats have dismissed the demands as too extreme, Kallas said she will continue to push for them.

"It's clear that Russia's maximalist demands cannot be met with minimalist response," she said.

"Then I go back to the requests that we have on our side. You know, some have said that these are not realistic, but come on. I mean, the Russian demands are not realistic, either, if they are demanding the whole of Donbas that they haven't even been able to conquer militarily in 11 years."

Russia launched its current full-scale invasion in February 2022. But the battle began eight years earlier with Ukrainian government forces fighting Russian-backed separatists for control over much of the two heavily industrialized regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, also known as the Donbas.

Kallas said she also believes Russia has been weakened over the course of the war, a trend that will continue and make it ready to negotiate for real.

What we see is Russia is not doing well. Their economy is not doing well, they had to increase taxes, they have big problems with recruitment of soldiers, so if we keep up this pressure then it comes also to a point where the aggressor might run out of money to fund this war. If you think about when Russia went to war in Afghanistan, they stopped when they were not able to sustain it anymore, Kallas said.
Russia's state-sponsored media pundits have long praised Iran as a strategic partner and ally -- but faced with ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran, these outlets are suddenly arguing that the Islamic republic was never to be counted on. Some Russian commentators even seem to be celebrating its struggles.
Several air defense and electronic warfare installations appear to have cropped up around a site in Belarus where Russia may have deployed a nuclear-capable, hypersonic missile system called Oreshnik, recent satellite imagery indicates.

An analysis of images captured by Planet Labs on February 17 suggests that six positions that appear to hold equipment designed to protect facilities from aircraft, drones, and missile strikes now ring the former site of the Soviet-era Krychev-6 military airfield near the village of Krychau, close to the Russian border in eastern Belarus.

While the imagery does not allow for definitive identification, some of the equipment resembles the Russian Tor-M2 antiaircraft missile system or the Pantsir antiaircraft missile and gun system, while others resemble Krasukha or Moskva-1 electronic warfare systems. One of the positions looks like it may have been fitted with an S-300 missile system.

The equipped positions stand within a five-kilometer radius of the Krychau site, where new construction began in August 2025. A previous examination by RFE/RLs Belarus Service of satellite imagery captured between November and February pointed to a possible Oreshnik deployment there.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has boasted about the Oreshnik repeatedly since he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belaruss southern neighbor, just over four years ago. Russia has targeted Ukraine with the missile -- without a nuclear warhead -- at least twice.

Military allies Russia and Belarus have both said the missiles would be deployed in Belarus. On December 30, the defense ministries of the two countries posted video footage that they said showed an Oreshnik system being put on combat duty in Belarus, but they did not reveal the location.

'Political Considerations'

Anatoliy Khrapchynskiy, a Ukrainian aviation expert and deputy director of a company that makes radio electronic warfare devices, told RFE/RL the satellite images indicate that a comprehensive air defense network may be being installed around the Krychau site, which would make sense for an Oreshnik deployment.

"If Russia deploys an intercontinental ballistic missile or a complex like the Oreshnik, it willbuild an air defense system to cover this facility, since it is of strategic importance [to Moscow], he said, adding that such a network could include long-range systems such as the S-300 and short-range systems like the Pantsir or Tor.

This basically coincides with what we see from the configuration of shadows from the equipment and its location on satellite images, Khrapchynskiy said.

"We are talking about a closed military camp with a huge level of protection -- both ground and air. This level of cover is usually provided to really important facilities," he said.

With relations between Russia and the West extremely tense amid Moscows war against Ukraine, Putin and other Russian officials have used references to the Oreshnik as part of threatening messaging and nuclear saber-rattling.

Jeffrey Lewis, one of a trio of US researchers who named the Krychau site in late December as a possible location for an Oreshnik system, wrote at the time that a deployment there would "not result in any increase in the reach of the missile system," noting that many areas in Russia and its Kaliningrad exclave are closer to Western capitals.

"The decision to base the Oreshnik less than 5 km from the Russian border illustrates the degree to which the deployment reflects political considerations, rather than an effort to seek some specific military advantage," Lewis wrote.

Adapted by Steve Gutterman from the original report in Belarusian




RFE/RL's Radio Farda spoke with a woman in Tehran who described life in the Iranian capital as it faces days of ongoing missile strikes. Her voice has been altered for security reasons. The US and Israel continue military operations against Iran, while Teheran retaliates with strikes.
WASHINGTON -- The split screen in the Oval Office captured the real moment. On one side, escalating tensions in the Middle East. On the other, Europe's largest economy insisting Russia's war against Ukraine remains the defining test of transatlantic security.

With US President Donald Trump sharpening his focus on Iran, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spent his time in Washington this week with a clear objective: Ensure Ukraine does not get pushed to the periphery.

"We all want to see this war come to an end as soon as possible," Merz said at the start of his third visit to the White House on March 3. "But Ukraine has to preserve its territory and its security interests."

Merz said that during their meeting, he showed Trump a map of the war-torn country and left with the "strong impression" that the US administration understands Kyiv "cannot make further territorial concessions beyond those areas already militarily occupied by Russia -- and no more."

The wording appeared deliberate.

A previous US cease-fire proposal had floated recognizing Russian control over additional Ukrainian territory -- including areas Moscow does not fully occupy -- which prompting sharp pushback from European capitals. Merz's formulation signaled Europe's red line: no formalizing gains beyond Russia's current battlefield footprint.

Trump: Ukraine War 'Very High' On Priority List

For his part, Trump insisted the war remains "very high" on his priority list, even as his administration devotes increasing attention to Iran.

"There's tremendous hatred" between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump said, underscoring the difficulty of brokering a deal. "Sometimes I blame one, sometimes I blame the other."

During the 2024 campaign, Trump said he could end the war within 24 hours. Months later, mediation efforts appear stalled, and the diplomatic terrain is more complicated than campaign rhetoric suggested.

Still, Trump sought to reassure his visitor. He told Merz the United States has sufficient munitions to sustain its posture in the Middle East while continuing to supply Europe for Ukraine's defense -- an implicit acknowledgment of allied concerns about strategic overstretch.

'Russia Is Playing for Time'

Merz's message, delivered both publicly and in private meetings, was blunt: Moscow is not negotiating in good faith.

"This war has entered its fifth year. The number of dead and wounded has now exceeded 1 million," he said. "Russia is playing for time, and in doing so it is acting against the will of the American president."

The implication was clear: If Trump wants a deal, pressure must be directed at the Kremlin, not Kyiv.

"Only if Washington increases the pressure on Russia will President Putin be ready to make concessions," Merz said. "We are not prepared to accept an agreement negotiated over our heads."

That warning reflects deep European anxiety that a US-Russia understanding reached without Europe could trade Ukrainian territory for a fragile cease-fire.

"There will be no agreement without the participation of the Europeans," Merz said, staking out a firm position on the Continent's role in any settlement.

Iran: Distraction Or Strategic Blow To Moscow?

Some analysts said it remains an open question as to whether Washington can maintain focus on both crises.

Veteran US diplomat Daniel Fried, who has served in senior national-security roles for seven US administrations and is now a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, described Merz's account of the talks as "more hopeful" than expected. Fried recently returned from Kyiv.

"I don't think he's making it up," Fried told of Merz's assertion that Washington understands Russia is buying time. "He must have had some good conversations."

Fried suggested that improved chemistry between Merz and Trump -- and a shift in how the White House views Berlin -- may matter.

Germany, once criticized by Trump for lagging behind in defense spending, is now positioning itself as a more serious security actor as it boosts NATO contributions and strengthens Europe's defense pillar.

Yet Iran complicates the strategic picture.

"If the US succeeds in Iran, it will be a significant blow against Russia," Fried said, noting Tehran's role in supporting Moscow's war effort. A weakened Iran would have fewer resources to assist Russia.
The United States and Israel vowed no letup in their military campaign against Iran, with the Israeli military launching a fresh "broad wave of strikes" while US President Donald Trump said Tehran "is going to be in for a lot of hurt" in the coming days.

"The big-scale hitting goes now," Trump said at the White House during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this week.

"They no longer have air protections, they no longer have any detection systems left at all, so they're going to be in for a lot of hurt," he warned.

Trump also reiterated that, along with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, much of the Iranian leadership had been killed in the US-Israeli attacks, leaving the regime in uncertain hands.

"Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports," he said.

'Shock And Awe'

After Trump spoke, the chief of the US military's Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said Operation Epic Fury represents the largest US buildup in the Middle East in a generation.

More than 50,000 US troops, over 200 fighter aircraft, two aircraft carrier strike groups, and long-range bombers are participating in the operation, Cooper said. He described the opening phase as nearly double the scale of the 2003 shock and awe campaign in Iraq.

Today, there is not a single Iranian ship under way in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman, Cooper said, describing what he called an unprecedented effort to eliminate Irans ability to threaten US forces.

Weve just begun, he said. But I have the utmost confidence that we, alongside our partners, will absolutely achieve our military objectives.

He said the US military has destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels -- including a submarine -- and struck nearly 2,000 targets across Iran in less than four days, according to the commander of US Central Command.

New Israeli Strikes

Separately, Israel said early on March 4 that it had launched a "broad wave of strikes," saying its latest targets on the fifth day of the joint US-Israeli attack included Iranian "launch sites, air defense systems, and additional infrastructure."

In Tehran, a city of some 10 million people, the streets appeared mostly deserted, with many fleeing the capital and others hunkering down at home.

"There are so few people that you'd think no one ever lived here," Samireh, a 33-year-old nurse, told the AFP news agency.

Authorities have urged people to leave the capital. Police, armed security forces, and armored vehicles have been stationed at main junctions, carrying out random checks on vehicles, AFP added.

Reports from inside Iran are difficult to verify. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said that nearly 1,100 civilians, including 181 children, have been killed in the air strikes.

Sirens Blare In Israel

In Israel, meanwhile, air raid sirens blared overnight as the Israeli military worked to intercept successive waves of incoming Iranian fire.

Police in Tel Aviv said shrapnel fell in the area, slightly injuring one woman. There were no other immediate reports of Israeli casualties.

Israel also pressed its renewed drive against Iran-allied Hezbollah elements in Beirut after the group's military wing fired missiles into northern Israel.

Loud explosions were heard in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, shortly after midnight on March 4, as Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes and rocket fire, reportedly killing dozens of people. The UN said more than 30,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon.

Iranian Retaliation

There appeared to also be no letup in Iran's retaliatory missile and drone firings, although results were not as dramatic as the US-Israeli strikes.

US diplomatic outposts -- embassies and consulates -- in the Middle East reported drone attacks, some causing minor damage but no casualties.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones targeting US military bases as well as key energy and commercial sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar -- all American allies -- since February 28.

Officials in Qatar said an Iranian ballistic missile hit the US military base at Al-Udeid on March 3 without causing casualties.

The US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones, causing a "limited fire" and "minor material damage," Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said, as tensions escalate across the Middle East.

Cooperation With Kurds?

Elsewhere, the leading Kurdish party in Iraq said its leaders had spoken to Trump about the next steps in the war against neighboring Iran.

The White House did not confirm the report, but said, "President Trump has spoken with many regional partners.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said Trump contacted party head Bafel Talabani to discuss US actions in neighboring Iran. US media reported that Trump also spoke with Iraqi Kurdish leader Masud Barzani a day after the start of the US-Israeli attacks in Iran.

The report of the calls comes as The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering supporting Iraqi Kurdish factions in a fight against the Iranian leadership.

The Iraqi Kurds have a large force at the border with Iran and also have links to the Kurdish minority in Iran. Ethnic Kurds have for decades been seeking an independent state and have long accused Tehran of oppressing its Kurdish minority.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, RFE/RL correspondent Alex Raufoglu in Washington, Reuters, AFP, and dpa
Germany handed over the first 13 cars to JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, which is part of a broader package of support for the country, within which railway workers will receive a total of 18 cars, 32 generators and 18 units of construction equipment, the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development said in a statement.

Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Balesta, German Ambassador to Ukraine Heiko Thoms, and Ukrzaliznytsia board chairman Oleksandr Pertsovsky participated in the equipment handover.

"Our support today is part of efforts aimed at strengthening resilience, modernizing Ukraine's railway and integrating it into the European network. You connect Ukraine with Europe. By supporting you, we support Ukraine's future in the EU," Thoms said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement said two of the vehicles will be used by the locomotive company to transport employees, while the remaining 11 will go to regional areas for track workers, communications specialists and power engineers who travel to sites after enemy attacks.

"The need is significant and we understand this. I am sincerely grateful to Germany for this important assistance, which will make the work of railway workers easier," Balesta said.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Governments new rental rules are incentivising evictions, the Social Democrats have said.

Housing Minister James Browne has defended the rental reforms after it was widely reported that 36 households in his home constituency were served with eviction notices on Friday, with the landlord intending to sell.

The eviction notices at the Hazelwood estate of Bridgetown, Co Wexford, came two days before rental reforms came into effect.

The new rules allow landlords to reset rents to market rents for new tenancies every six years, and place restrictions on grounds for evictions.

Speaking on Wednesday, Browne said he did not think the evictions were connected to new rental rules but said it must have been absolutely horrifying to receive those notices to quit.

He said he immediately had his department reach out to the Residential Tenancy Board (RTB) to assess the matter.

Minister for Housing James Browne faced questions (Brian Lawless/PA)

Browne said he was limited in what he could say due to an active investigation but added: Ive asked the RTB to to assess the case.

Renters are offered some protection under the Tyrrelstown Amendment which places restrictions on the ending of more than 10 tenancies in the same development within six months.

In these cases, the RTB says tenancies can only be ended if the propertys sale price with an existing tenant living in it is more than 20% lower than the market value if sold empty, or preventing the termination of the tenancy would be unduly onerous or cause undue hardship.

Browne said his department was monitoring to ensure the Tyrrelstown Amendment is fit and effective.

He said: But remember, in the new legislation, we have significantly tightened up tenants rights, so weve moved beyond the Tyrrelstown Amendment in new legislation.

Weve brought in security of tenure for new tenants. Weve effectively ended all evictions for large landlords for no-fault evictions and, for smaller landowners, really tightened it up.

Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne raised concerns (Brian Lawless/PA)

Asked to explain why he thought the evictions came right before the rental rule changes, the minister said he could not step into the mind of the landlord of what motivated them but claimed there was nothing in the rental reforms that offered an economic benefit to the decision.

Social Democrats housing spokesman Rory Hearne said it appeared the minister did not understand the reality of the private rental market.

He said: The whole issue of allowing the rent rise to market rent between tenancies  the landlords have been lobbying for that for years, the investor funds have been lobbying for it.

And theres no dressing it up  this is incentivising more economic evictions.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Government should intervene to ensure the families do not lose their homes.

Speaking in the Dail, she said: These families are panicked, stressed and worried about the upheaval in their lives.

There is a serious lack of homes available to rent in the locality. Even if they could find new places to live, they will face massive rent increases due to your new legislation.

Browne said RTB funding has increased 70% on last year.

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald (Niall Carson/PA)

He was speaking at the opening of the first cost-rental and social homes in the Coyne Woods area of the Oscar Traynor Woods project in Dublin 17.

Coyne Woods comprises 64 new homes which includes 24 social, 24 cost-rental, and 16 affordable purchase homes.

The overall Oscar Traynor Woods project will deliver 850 A-rated new homes in partnership with Glenveagh and Cluid, which is made up of a mixed tenure development of affordable purchase, cost-rental and social homes.

The landlord in Wexford has been contacted for comment.
Ballaghaderreen company, Tully Forge, was the overall winner at the County Roscommon Enterprise Awards held recently in the Hodson Bay Hotel.

Established in 2010, the family run company is run by brothers and company directors Gerard and Thomas Mulrennan.

As well as the two directors, Tully Forge Ltd currently employs ten people and is located in Ballaghaderreen Business Park.

The firm specialises in welding and fabrication for contract with exports to the United States, Australia, and Canada.

A further four companies, backed and supported by Roscommons Local Enterprise Office (LEO), were also recognised at the Enterprise Awards.

The winner of the Social Enterprise Award was Triest Press, who have offices in Castlerea and Roscommon.

Further winners included Roscommon town based The Upholstery Company in the Sustainability category and Monksland based Dunbar Pharma in the Ambition and Growth award category.

The Outstanding Contribution Award was won by Waldron Family Meats established 35 years ago from their South Roscommon base in Brideswell.

Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council, Shane Tiernan, paid tribute to all the award winners and for their immense contribution to the local economy. He said small and medium businesses were the bedrock of the countys economy.

Mr Tiernan also paid tribute to LEOs Head of Enterprise Louise Ward, who was attending her final Enterprise Awards after 27 years of dedicated service to the Local Enterprise sector.

In that time, she has overseen the creation of over more than a thousand local jobs.

*See full report of the awards in the next edition of the Roscommon Herald newspaper
Sinn Fein TD for Roscommon/Galway, Claire Kerrane will visit Cuan offices today, Wednesday, to meet with them in relation to the development of a Domestic Violence Refuge in County Roscommon.

Cuan are the statutory agency tasked with increasing refuge spaces as part of a coordinated whole of Government response to domestic, sexual and gender based violence in Ireland.

Ahead of the meeting, Kerrane said: "I have sought a meeting with Cuan to discuss the development of a domestic violence refuge for County Roscommon in the hope that we can make progress on this really important service and support here.

"Roscommon is one of a number of Counties with no refuge for those fleeing domestic violence.

"I have raised the difficulty some elements of the criteria are having on the floor of the Dail with the Minister for Justice and I am anxious now to take this issue to Cuan directly to see what more I can do to see progress. I will also be seeking an update on a eefuge for Ballinasloe as this has been previously muted.

"Having supported women out of domestic violence situations, I know the importance of having somewhere to go and that not having somewhere safe to go can be a barrier to leaving in the first place. This cannot continue.

"Of course, refuges are essential for those who need them but we also need to be looking at the survivor being able to remain in the home and the abuser having to leave. Those who suffer abuse in whatever form should not lose their home and so both must go hand in hand.

"If you are in a domestic violence situation, there is help and there is support right now today. Roscommon Safe Link, whom I have met, are a phone call away and if you need them, please reach out on 0719664200. I have seen women seek help and begin new lives where they are now happy, safe and content. It is not easy but you can do it and you will not be on your own," said the Deputy.

Work is progressing for the development of an eight-unit purpose-built refuge in County Roscommon with a site identified for the development.
Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk said it is too early to say whether its massive 432 million investment will result in additional permanent jobs for the county.

On Monday, the Danish company announced the multi-million boost for its facility in Monksland. This tabletting facility will provide significant additional manufacturing capacity for current and future Novo Nordisk GLP-1 medications, used in the treatment of diabetes and weight management.

The investment is a major strategic milestone for the company, which further reinforces Novo Nordisks long-term commitment to Ireland and global healthcare innovation, the company said. It provides Novo Nordisk with additional manufacturing capabilities for oral products, enhances supply, and allows Ireland to serve as a critical hub for servicing markets outside the US. The investment will support the upgrade and retrofit of the existing facility, as well as enhancing Novo Nordisks capacity to manufacture oral GLP-1s. It is reported that the Wegovy weight loss pill will be manufactured at the South Roscommon facility for markets outside the United States.

When asked by this paper, a spokesperson said that the construction works to be carried out will result in the hiring of up to 600 construction jobs.

The investment will secure the current employee base of approximately 260 employees to manufacture current and future oral GLP-1 presentations, she said. However, it is too soon to confirm definitively what these potential opportunities or future expansions may mean for potential growth of the Athlone Site. The entire project at the site, covering 45 acres, and the construction projects, which have already begun, will be finalised gradually from the end of 2027 through 2028.

In September last year, Novo announced plans to cut 75 of the 400 jobs at the Monksland plant as part of a 9,000 reduction in headcount worldwide.
Civilian vessel under Panama flag damaged in enemy drone strike in Chornomorsk  USPA

An enemy drone attacked a civilian vessel flying the Panamanian flag that was leaving the port of Chornomorsk, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) has reported.

"There are casualties among the crew members as a result of the attack," the USPA said on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.

The USPA said those injured in the attack are receiving the necessary assistance.

It is noted that the vessel damaged by the enemy was transporting corn via the Ukrainian maritime corridor.
AAP Punjab Media Head Baltej Pannu meets injured anti-drug crusader at Ludhiana on Wednesday File Photo.

He reiterated that the decisive campaign Yudh Nashean Virudh has entered its final and most intensive phase.



AAP Punjab Media Head Baltej Pannu meets injured anti-drug crusader at Ludhiana on Wednesday

LUDHIANA, 4th March 2026: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)s Media Head Punjab and Chief Spokesperson of Nasha Mukti Morcha Baltej Pannu on Wednesday visited an anti-drug crusader undergoing treatment at Mohan Dai Hospital after the activist was injured in an attack by individuals involved in drug peddling. During the visit, Baltej Pannu met the whistleblower and their family to extend solidarity and assure them of full support from the Punjab Government.

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Baltej Pannu was accompanied by MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu along with members of Nasha Mukti Morcha Punjab. He conveyed that the Bhagwant Mann Government stands rock-solid with those who are courageously confronting the drug menace and exposing those involved in peddling.

Baltej Pannu said, The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is waging a relentless and multi-dimensional war against drug peddlers and smugglers. We will completely eliminate this curse from Punjab.

He reiterated that the decisive campaign Yudh Nashean Virudh has entered its final and most intensive phase, with the Punjab Government determined to eradicate drugs from Punjab completely.

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Baltej Pannu also assured the injured crusaders family that the Punjab Government is extending full support and assistance. The government is providing complete support to the victims family. I will personally remain in constant touch and ensure every possible assistance during the recovery process, he said.

Issuing a strong warning to those involved in drug trafficking, Baltej Pannu said, Drug peddlers must either leave Punjab or face severe and uncompromising action. We will not rest until the drug menace is eradicated entirely from Punjab.

He added that the Punjab Government has already intensified its crackdown through widespread arrests, attachment of properties of drug traffickers, convictions under the NDPS Act, and community participation through around 1.5 lakh volunteers of Nasha Mukti Morcha who are actively supporting the campaign to eliminate drugs from Punjab.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann speaks to Union Civil Aviation Minister, seeks urgent evacuation of Punjabis stranded in war-hit Arab Countries File Photo.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, The Punjab Government is committed to providing all necessary support and assistance to the stranded people."



CM Bhagwant Singh Mann speaks to Union Civil Aviation Minister, seeks urgent evacuation of Punjabis stranded in war-hit Arab Countries

CHANDIGARH, 3rd March 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday called up Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and impressed upon him to ensure the safe evacuation of Punjabis stranded in the strife-torn Middle East. During the telephonic conversation, the Chief Minister shared comprehensive data pertaining to Punjabis languishing in Gulf countries due to the sudden outbreak of war and urged that immediate steps be taken to bring them home.

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Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: I spoke over the phone with Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu. NRI Affairs Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh had also gone to meet him in person. The Union Minister has assured that necessary arrangements will be made for the safe return of Punjabis from Arab countries, including the operation of special flights. I have shared the list of all concerned persons along with their contact numbers. Soon, these Punjabis will return safely to their families. For any kind of information or assistance, please contact: NRI Wing 24/7 Control Room: 0172-2260042, 0172-2260043, WhatsApp: +91 94787 79112.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, During my telephonic conversation with Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, I shared all the data related to Punjabis stranded in Gulf countries due to the sudden war. I urged him that these Punjabis must be evacuated at the earliest so that they can reunite with their distressed families back in Punjab. The Union Minister has assured all possible help, and I hope that the Punjabis stuck in the war-torn Gulf region will soon be with their families.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the Punjab Government to evacuate Punjabis stuck in the strife-torn Middle East, theChief Minister asserted, Punjabis have played a stellar role in making the country self-reliant in food production and in safeguarding the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. It is unfortunate that a large number of Punjabis are stuck across the Middle East due to the sudden eruption of war. The Union Government must arrange special aircraft carriers to bring the stranded Punjabis back.

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The Chief Minister further stated, Cabinet Minister of Punjab Dr. Ravjot Singh has been deputed to meet Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu and impress upon the Union Government to leave no stone unturned in bringing Punjabis back to their native land. The Punjab Government is duty bound to bail out Punjabis in this hour of crisis, and concerted efforts are already being made. The safe return of our Punjabis stranded in Arab countries is the Punjab Governments highest priority.

Expressing solidarity with the affected families, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, The Punjab Government is committed to providing all necessary support and assistance to the stranded people as soon as possible. We stand firmly with the aggrieved family members of youth and students stuck in Gulf countries in this hour of crisis. I hope that the Indian Government will take necessary steps to extend a helping hand to all those who have been stuck in the war-hit Gulf region.

Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: I am sending Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh Ji to Central Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu Ji. We demand that special arrangements be made for a plane for Punjabis. The safe return home of our Punjabis stranded in Arab countries is our government's topmost priority.
Responding on social media platform X, Modi said he looked forward to their meeting and to Stubb's keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue 2026. File Photo.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Stubb, expressing confidence that the visit would elevate India-Finland ties to new heights.



PM Modi to Hold Talks with Finland President Alexander Stubb During Four-Day India Visit

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Finnish President Alexander Stubb arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a four-day state visit aimed at deepening cooperation with India in trade, investment and critical technologies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Stubb, expressing confidence that the visit would elevate India-Finland ties to new heights. The two leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks on Thursday, with discussions expected to focus on economic collaboration, emerging technologies and the evolving situation in West Asia. Several agreements across key sectors are likely to be finalised following the talks.

Before departing for India, Stubb said the visit would further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in commerce and innovation. Responding on social media platform X, Modi said he looked forward to their meeting and to Stubbs keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, where the Finnish leader will attend as the chief guest at the inaugural session on Thursday evening.

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Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received Stubb at the airport. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit would inject fresh momentum into the friendly and democratic partnership between the two countries.

Stubb will also meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan. He is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on Friday to interact with business leaders before concluding his visit on Saturday.


Romanian, Spanish, and Moldovan Troops Train in the Carpathian Mountains

An overview of the training exercise in Tarcau Mountains

Credit foto: Lucian Irimia / Agentia Media a Armatei

Agentia Media a Armatei, 04.03.2026, 14:00

Recently, soldiers from the 634th Infantry Battalion conducted a week-long training exercise in Tarcau Mountains in Neamt County (northeast). They were joined by Spanish allies from the NATO Battle Group based in Cincu (center) and personnel from the National Army of the Republic of Moldova. This training program was specifically designed to refine combat techniques and tactics within a mountainous environment. Among the participants was Captain Alfaro, who emphasized the professional and personal value of the experience in Romania:

I am the medical assistant for the Spanish contingent here in Tarcau. This is my first time in Romania, and I find it exceptionally beautiful. Our soldiers are training in conditions quite different from what we are used to in Spain, and this experience is undoubtedly beneficial for everyone. For us as a medical team, the work becomes much more complex in this environment. We must prepare for interventions in mountainous terrain to reach troops and evacuate them safely. Weve learned a great deal about mountain movement and transporting patients from high-altitude zones to the hospital. It is also a valuable experience for the soldiers, as they train intensely to know how to act in this environment. The people here are very welcoming, making us feel at ease. Additionally, the food is delicious, and I like it very much.

The troops executed squad and platoon-level drills adapted to forested mountainous terrain. The exercise focused on several objectives: developing physical and psychological endurance, exchanging best practices for mountain operations, and increasing interoperability between the participating structures. Lieutenant Novo, who led the Spanish detachment, highlighted the importance of joint mountain training:

I am part of the Spanish Marine Corps. I am here with my soldiers to train alongside personnel from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. We are specializing our techniques and procedures for this type of terrain. While we train in similar conditions in Spain, it is much colder here. Training alongside Romanian soldiers, exchanging experiences, and building a relationship based on trust and cooperation are very welcome. Weve found many commonalities and high interoperability, allowing us to build a very strong bilateral relationship, especially in the current international context. Regarding the language barrier, it might seem complicated at first, but because we speak English and use the same military language, communication is easy, and we can exchange knowledge with ease. It is perfect for us to train here and develop new capabilities.

The training program also included live-fire sessions with standard-issue weaponry, a 20-kilometer tactical march, and a field training exercise emphasizing coordination and teamwork. Sergeant Second Class Dumitru Sargu from the Republic of Moldova also shared his thoughts on the Tarcau Mountains experience:

This is my first time participating in such an exercise. At times its harder, at others easier, but it is beautiful. The collaboration is going well; we understand each other, and the conditions are quite goodincluding the barracks and the exercise activities. The weather conditions allow us to carry out our work, and we are managing well.

The experience gained by each participant in the Tarcau Mountains contributes directly to increasing operational capacity in mountainous terrain and strengthening cooperation among NATO forces. (VP)
March 4, 2026

A roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 04.03.2026, 13:55

IRAN The US has hit nearly 2,000 targets since the start of the war with Iran, a US military official said, adding that the strikes in the first 24 hours were twice as substantial as those carried out at the start of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, AFP reports. For its part, the Israeli military announced it had attacked dozens of targets in Iran, including command centers in Tehran, according to a statement quoted by AFP. Air raid sirens sounded in Israel prior to the missile launches on Wednesday morning, but no injuries were reported, according to emergency services. One of the main objectives of the operation launched on Saturday by US and Israeli forces is Irans missile launch platforms and factories. The problem facing the allies is that many of the Iranian installations are in underground bunkers, but some of them were attacked with special 2,000 pound bombs, The New York Times reads. On the other hand, CNN reports that the CIA has begun working with the main Kurdish opposition groups in Iran, which are preparing ground operations against the regime, with thousands of fighters expected to take part. In turn, Iran continued to attack targets in the Middle East, and hit the US consulate in Dubai, a military base in Qatar, the largest the US has in the region, and a CIA location in Saudi Arabia. The US State Department has authorised non-essential employees and their families in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Cyprus to leave these countries.

DIPLOMACY The interim charge daffaires of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bucharest, Javad Karimi, was summoned on Tuesday to the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry to be presented Romanias deep concerns regarding the conduct of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the context of the current crisis in the broader Middle East region. The Romanian side conveyed its firm protest against Tehrans military attacks on states in the Middle East, as well as against the recent developments in Cyprus, emphasising their profound negative impact on regional security and stability, including maritime security. Romania firmly calls for the urgent de-escalation of tensions and for the protection of civilians, highlighting the importance it gives to the safety of its own citizens in the conflict zone, the said press release reads. At the same time, the Romanian side conveyed its deep concern for the violation of the sovereignty of the states in the region that were targeted by Irans indiscriminate attacks, and Romanias full solidarity with these countries, the same source adds. The Iranian diplomat was also communicated the constant request of Romania and its European partners for Iran to act responsibly regarding its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and to refrain from destabilising actions in the region.

FLIGHTS A total of 29 flights to or from Egypt, Israel, Dubai, Qatar, Lebanon and Cyprus are canceled on Wednesday due to the developments in the Middle East, according to the Bucharest National Airports Company. This includes 14 takeoffs and 15 landings. The transport ministry recommends that Romanian citizens who have planned trips to Israel or neighboring states directly affected by the conflict cancel or reschedule these trips.

VISIT Romania wishes to cooperate in the Romania-Poland-Turkey and Bucharest 9 (B9) formats, the foreign minister Oana Toiu said on Tuesday, during an official visit to Poland at the invitation of her counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, occasioned by the Romanian-Polish Solidarity Day. Our collaboration is essential if we want the priorities of our region to be at the center of European policies, as well as for transatlantic cooperation and security on the Eastern Flank, the Romanian diplomacy chief posted on Facebook. Minister Oana Toiu added that she discussed with her counterpart the developments in the Middle East and ways to protect the citizens who wish to repatriate. She said Bucharest supports the Iranian peoples right to freedom and calls for the de-escalation of tensions, in coordination with its European partners, including Poland. The European Union, the Romanian official emphasised, remains a political project for peace, and the transatlantic partnership with the US, although affected by the lower priority given to Europe, remains critical to the security of the eastern flank. According to Oana Toiu, the parties agreed to initiate negotiations for a new bilateral Action Plan (2027-2031), which is to be signed during the next joint government meeting to be held in Warsaw this year.

AMBASSADORS President Nicusor Dan Tuesday received the US Ambassador Darryl Nirenberg, for the presentation of his credentials. The talks between the two officials focused on the joint commitment to expand and deepen the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership. Also on Tuesday, the Romanian head of state received the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Mitu. Nicusor Dan assured him that Romania will continue to provide consistent bilateral support on all relevant levels.

STOCK MARKETS Asian stock markets see drastic losses in the 5th day since the attack on Iran. In Seoul, the Stock Exchange temporarily suspended trading after shares fell by more than 12%, as South Korea heavily relies on oil and gas from the Middle East. The Nikkei index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange is down by 4%, as are the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Sydney. The Brent oil barrel price went up by 1 US dollar, to USD 83.5, after reaching USD 85 on Tuesday. The Revolutionary Guards in Iran announced they had completely blocked ships routes through the Strait of Hormuz, but the US President Donald Trump announced he would order the Navy to escort oil tankers through the strait, if necessary. (AMP)
March 4, 2026 UPDATE (I)

A roundup of domestic and international news

March 4, 2026 UPDATE (I)

Newsroom, 04.03.2026, 19:55

Iran. The United States has struck nearly 2,000 targets since the start of the war with Iran, according to a US military official, who stressed that the strikes in the first 24 hours were twice as significant as those carried out at the start of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, AFP reports. For its part, the Israeli army announced that it had attacked dozens of targets in Iran, including command centers in Tehran, according to a statement quoted by AFP. Air raid sirens sounded in Israel before the missile launches on Wednesday morning, but no injuries were reported, according to emergency services. One of the main targets of the operation launched on Saturday by US and Israeli forces is Irans missile launch pads and factories. The problem facing the allies is that many of the Iranian facilities are in well-protected bunkers, but some of them have been attacked with special 1,000-kilogram bombs, The New York Times writes. In another move, CNN reports that the CIA has begun working with the main Kurdish opposition groups in Iran, which are preparing ground operations against the regime in which thousands of fighters are expected to participate. Iran, in turn, continued to attack targets in the Middle East and struck the US consulate in Dubai, a base in Qatarthe largest the Americans have in the regionand a CIA location in Saudi Arabia. () On Wednesday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that a missile launched from Iran heading towards Turkish airspace had been destroyed by NATO defense systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean. The North Atlantic Alliance condemned the attack.

Protest. The interim charge daffaires of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bucharest, Javad Karimi, was summoned on Tuesday to the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry to be presented Romanias deep concerns regarding the conduct of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the context of the current crisis in the broader Middle East region. The Romanian side conveyed its firm protest against Tehrans military attacks on states in the Middle East, as well as against the recent developments in Cyprus, emphasising their profound negative impact on regional security and stability, including maritime security. Romania firmly calls for the urgent de-escalation of tensions and for the protection of civilians, highlighting the importance it gives to the safety of its own citizens in the conflict zone, the said press release reads.

Flights. Romania currently has numerous options planned, including assisted repatriation flights with charters and evacuation flights, but the condition for such flights to take place is that airspace must be open, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Tarnea, on Wednesday, at a conference on the security situation in the Middle East. In this context, he mentioned that Romania, together with the other EU member states, continues to make preparations for alternative options for assisted repatriation or evacuation. On Wednesday, 29 flights to or from Egypt, Israel, Dubai, Qatar, Lebanon, and Cyprus were canceled as a result of the events in the Middle East. The Bucharest National Airports Company announced that this involved 14 takeoffs and 15 landings. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over 3,000 Romanian citizens in countries in the Gulf region have specifically requested assistance with repatriation.

Defense. In Brussels on Wednesday, Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruta met with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. According to a statement from the Ministry of National Defense, during the discussions, the Romanian official highlighted the importance of strengthening the defense dimension at EU level, emphasizing the need to ensure adequate allocations through the future Multiannual Financial Framework to support the financing of the European defense industry. According to the press release, Radu Miruta advocated for the simplification of defense procedures and instruments so that member states can access dedicated European funds more efficiently. The two officials also discussed the importance of the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) initiative for Romania, both from the perspective of strengthening the industrial and technological defense base and increasing resilience in the Black Sea region, the press release added. The meeting reconfirmed the joint commitment to strengthening European security and defense in an international context marked by complex and dynamic challenges, the Ministry of National Defense said.

Cooperation. Romania wishes to cooperate in the Romania-Poland-Turkey and Bucharest 9 (B9) formats, the foreign minister Oana Toiu said on Tuesday, during an official visit to Poland at the invitation of her counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, occasioned by the Romanian-Polish Solidarity Day. Our collaboration is essential if we want the priorities of our region to be at the center of European policies, as well as for transatlantic cooperation and security on the Eastern Flank, the Romanian diplomacy chief posted on Facebook. Minister Oana Toiu added that she discussed with her counterpart the developments in the Middle East and ways to protect the citizens who wish to repatriate. She said Bucharest supports the Iranian peoples right to freedom and calls for the de-escalation of tensions, in coordination with its European partners, including Poland. The European Union, the Romanian official emphasised, remains a political project for peace, and the transatlantic partnership with the US, although affected by the lower priority given to Europe, remains critical to the security of the eastern flank. According to Oana Toiu, the parties agreed to initiate negotiations for a new bilateral Action Plan (2027-2031), which is to be signed during the next joint government meeting to be held in Warsaw this year.

Visit. Romanian President Nicusor Dan will visit Warsaw on Thursday at the invitation of his Polish counterpart, Karol Nawrocki. According to a press release, during the visit, the Romanian head of state will also meet with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other Polish officials. Nicusor Dan will also participate in an economic event organized by the Polish-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The advancement of the strategic partnership between Romania and the Republic of Poland, as well as better cooperation at the European and allied levels, are the defining coordinates of this visit. In this regard, the priorities on the bilateral agenda and major projects within the Strategic Partnership will be discussed, with an emphasis on the development of economic exchanges and investments, the Presidential Administration informs. European security will also be a main topic of discussion, in the context of the risks generated by the Russian Federations aggression against Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East. Thus, the press release further states, the talks will focus on the cooperation between Romania and Poland to maintain European and allied solidarity, with the main objective of strengthening the deterrence posture on NATOs Eastern Flank.

Fuels. Romania has sufficient fuel reserves to cope with any major supply crisis, Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan told Radio Romania. In his opinion, the country can withstand almost half a year without imports or domestic production. He added that, in the context of the conflict in the Middle East, Romania has taken all measures to avoid an imbalance in fuel supply, including alternative transport routes and combating speculative increases at gas stations.



Award. European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, who is a Romanian national, has been awarded the Leipzig Robert Blum Prize for Democracy. The award was given to the European Chief Prosecutor for her support of judicial independence, her fight against financial crime, and her decisive action in building European institutions based on the rule of law, according to an announcement by the European Public Prosecutors Office. Laura Codruta Kovesi has announced that the prize money will be donated to Ukraine.(MI)
March 4, 2026 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

March 4, 2026 UPDATE

Newsroom, 04.03.2026, 18:00

Iran. The United States has struck nearly 2,000 targets since the start of the war with Iran, according to a US military official, who stressed that the strikes in the first 24 hours were twice as significant as those carried out at the start of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, AFP reports. For its part, the Israeli army announced that it had attacked dozens of targets in Iran, including command centers in Tehran, according to a statement quoted by AFP. Air raid sirens sounded in Israel before the missile launches on Wednesday morning, but no injuries were reported, according to emergency services. One of the main targets of the operation launched on Saturday by US and Israeli forces is Irans missile launch pads and factories. The problem facing the allies is that many of the Iranian facilities are in well-protected bunkers, but some of them have been attacked with special 1,000-kilogram bombs, The New York Times writes. On the other hand, CNN reports that the CIA has begun working with the main Kurdish opposition groups in Iran, which are preparing ground operations against the regime in which thousands of fighters are expected to participate. Iran, in turn, continued to attack targets in the Middle East and struck the US consulate in Dubai, a base in Qatarthe largest the Americans have in the regionand a CIA location in Saudi Arabia. () On Wednesday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that a missile launched from Iran heading towards Turkish airspace had been destroyed by NATO defense systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean. The North Atlantic Alliance condemned the attack.

Flights. A total of 29 flights to or from Egypt, Israel, Dubai, Qatar, Lebanon, and Cyprus have been canceled on Wednesday due to events in the Middle East, according to the Bucharest National Airports Company. This involves 14 takeoffs and 15 landings. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has recommended that Romanian citizens who have planned trips to Israel or neighboring countries directly affected by the conflict cancel or reschedule these trips for a later date.

Fuels. Romania has sufficient fuel reserves to cope with any major supply crisis, Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan told Radio Romania. In his opinion, the country can withstand almost half a year without imports or domestic production. He added that, in the context of the conflict in the Middle East, Romania has taken all measures to avoid an imbalance in fuel supply, including alternative transport routes and combating speculative increases at the pump.



Visit. Romanian President Nicusor Dan will visit Warsaw on Thursday at the invitation of his Polish counterpart, Karol Nawrocki. According to a press release, during the visit, the Romanian head of state will also meet with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other Polish officials. Nicusor Dan will also participate in an economic event organized by the Polish-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The advancement of the strategic partnership between Romania and the Republic of Poland, as well as better cooperation at the European and allied levels, are the defining coordinates of this visit. In this regard, the priorities on the bilateral agenda and major projects within the Strategic Partnership will be discussed, with an emphasis on the development of economic exchanges and investments, the Presidential Administration informs. European security will also be a main topic of discussion, in the context of the risks generated by the Russian Federations aggression against Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East. Thus, the press release further states, the talks will focus on the cooperation between Romania and Poland to maintain European and allied solidarity, with the main objective of strengthening the deterrence posture on NATOs Eastern Flank.

Award. European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, a Romanian national, has been awarded the Leipzig Robert Blum Prize for Democracy. The award was given to the European Chief Prosecutor for her support of judicial independence, her fight against financial crime, and her decisive action in building European institutions based on the rule of law, according to an announcement by the European Public Prosecutors Office. Laura Codruta Kovesi announced that the prize money will be donated to Ukraine.

Ambassadors. President Nicusor Dan Tuesday received the US Ambassador Darryl Nirenberg, for the presentation of his credentials. The talks between the two officials focused on the joint commitment to expand and deepen the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership. Also on Tuesday, the Romanian head of state received the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Mitu. Nicusor Dan assured him that Romania will continue to provide consistent bilateral support on all relevant levels.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region and instructed Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, intelligence services, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the military command and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov to present support options for the relevant states.

"Ukraine can help protect lives and stabilize the situation. Partners are reaching out about this. I have instructed the foreign minister of Ukraine, together with the intelligence services, the defense minister, our military command and the NSDC secretary, to present options for support to the relevant states and to provide assistance in such a way that it does not weaken our own defense here in Ukraine," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Wednesday.

The president added that Ukrainian military personnel possess the necessary capabilities.

"Ukrainian experts will work on site, and teams are already arranging this. We are ready to help protect lives, protect civilians and support real efforts to stabilize the situation and restore, in particular, safe navigation in the region," he said.

The head of state said the Iranian regime has so far shown no real intention to engage in honest diplomacy or fundamental change.

"Today I have already had conversations with the leaders of Jordan and Bahrain. There will also be talks with Kuwait and other countries in the region. All of them face a serious challenge and speak about it openly: Iranian strike drones  the same Shahed UAVs that have been attacking our cities, villages and Ukrainian infrastructure throughout the years of this war," Zelenskyy said.

According to him, in just a few days Iran has already used more than 800 missiles of various types and more than 1,400 strike drones. "Iranian drones and missiles are the key threat to free navigation, and this destabilizes prices for oil, petroleum products and gas worldwide," he said.

"We expect the European Union, European states and the Group of Seven to be active both in eliminating the terrorist capabilities of the Iranian regime and in protecting lives in the region and global stability. We will continue coordinating with our partners," the president said.
The USA and Moldova appoint new ambassadors to Bucharest

The president of Romania, Nicusor Dan, has received the Ambassador-designate of the USA, Darryl Nirenberg, and the Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Mitu, for the presentation of their credentials.

Presedintele Romaniei si noul ambasador al SUA la Bucuresti (foto www.presidency.ro)

Leyla Cheamil, 04.03.2026, 14:00

I am confident we will have a very good and fruitful collaboration, president Nicusor Dan said on Tuesday during a ceremony in which the new Ambassador of the United States of America to Bucharest, Darryl Nirenberg, presented his credentials. In a post on X, the head of state said that this initial dialogue focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between Bucharest and Washington. In a complicated geopolitical context, we aim for the bilateral relationship to focus on concrete projects in sectors vital to the prosperity and security of both nations, president Dan further said.

In turn, Darryl Nirenberg, who was sworn in this February, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening nearly 30 years of robust bilateral cooperation in the fields of defense, security, intelligence sharing, law enforcement and economic partnership. The ambassador emphasized that the relationship between the United States and Romania is built upon shared interests, a firm commitment to the rule of law and a common vision for a secure and prosperous future.

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of American independence this year, ambassador Nirenberg highlighted the enduring importance of freedom, respect for fundamental rights, prosperity and sovereignty as principles that unite the American and Romanian people. The diplomat praised Romanias growing role as a regional leader in energy security and innovation. He also noted the expansion of cooperation between the USA and Romania in civil nuclear energy, natural gas development and emerging energy technologies.

Also on Tuesday, the Romanian Head of State received the Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Mitu, for the presentation of his credentials. The president assured him that Moldova remains a major foreign policy priority for Romania, which will continue to provide consistent bilateral support across all relevant levels and mobilize external partners to this end.

Regarding the European integration of the Republic of Moldova, Romania will continue to support the advancement of the accession process and provide technical assistance, including for the transposition of legislation and the integration of the community acquis. Another significant area of cooperation between the two countries remains the attraction of foreign investment to the Republic of Moldova, as well as the development of infrastructure and interconnection projects, and increasing the security and resilience of the neighboring state. (VP)
After skyrocketing in the previous session, crude oil prices have continued to soar during the trading day on Tuesday.

Crude for April delivery is surging $3.35 or 4.7 percent to $74.58 a barrel after spiking $4.21 or 6.3 percent to $71.23 a barrel during Monday's session.

The extended rally by the price of crude oil comes as traders continue to keep an eye on the latest developments in the Middle East conflict.

Contributing to the strong upward move, Iran said it has closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli attacks and threatened to fire on any ship trying to pass through the vital waterway.

Supply concerns were also worsened by the attacks on several oil refineries, including Saudi Aramco's oil facility in Ras Tanura.

As the conflict entered its fourth day, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the war may last four to five weeks but could "go far longer than that."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also offered few details about the duration of the operation against Iran but claimed it will not be "endless," framing the conflict as a "generational" chance to reshape the Middle East.

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Market Analysis
Blackstone [BX] President Jon Gray defended the credit quality of the firm's flagship private credit fund, BCRED, after investors withdrew nearly 8% from the fund in the last quarter.

The alternative asset management company stated in a late Monday filing that it allowed 7.9% of BCRED investors, which it calls the largest private credit fund in the world with around $82 billion invested, to withdraw their funds. Blackstone facilitated this in part by having the firm's own investors contribute $150 million into the fund.

Recent moves by alternative asset managers to allow investors to cash out of funds have added to jitters around private credit and loans to the software industry.

Last month, Blue Owl said it found buyers for $1.4 billion of its loans, in part to help cash out 30% of an embattled credit fund. Now, with the larger Blackstone being swept up in this trend, concerns around private credit seem to be broadening.

Gray acknowledged that there is "a constant spin cycle" of concerns in the market, which can make investors and financial advisors nervous and trigger redemptions.

However, he noted that loans to software firms, which make up the single biggest exposure for BCRED at around 25% of the fund, will be difficult to dislodge despite the impact of AI in the coming years.

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Business News
United Airlines [UAL] flight 2127 from Los Angeles to Newark was forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying 256 passengers and 12 crew members, had to turn back after the pilots received a fire alert on one of the aircraft's two engines shortly after takeoff.

The crew shut down the affected engine, but continued to receive fire indications. As a precaution, the pilots decided to evacuate the aircraft after landing safely on a taxiway at LAX.

Passengers exited the plane using emergency slides and mobile stairs, leaving their belongings behind. No injuries were reported.

The passengers were transported to the terminal and later accommodated on another flight to Newark Liberty International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident.

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Business News
Apple [AAPL] is reportedly asking Google to set up dedicated servers to support a new version of Siri powered by Gemini, the tech giant's latest artificial intelligence models. This move aims to accelerate Apple's AI ambitions while maintaining its strict privacy standards.

According to The Information, Apple is considering relying more heavily on Google's cloud infrastructure to run an upgraded Siri that was previously delayed.

The companies had announced earlier that the next generation of Apple Foundation Models would be built on Google's Gemini AI models and cloud , helping enable more personalized Apple Intelligence features. However, it remained unclear whether the revamped Siri would directly utilize Google's cloud systems.

Apple has emphasized that many Apple Intelligence capabilities will continue operating on-device and through its Private Cloud Compute system.

Still, the report suggests the company may require additional external infrastructure to remain competitive in the fast-moving AI landscape.

This development highlights Apple's comparatively cautious infrastructure spending versus rivals such as Microsoft and Amazon, which are pouring billions into AI data centers. Apple's AI services have so far seen limited uptake, with only a fraction of its cloud capacity reportedly in regular use.

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Business News
European shares steadied on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. Navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard maritime trade in the Gulf and help stabilize surging global energy prices.

Additionally, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has confirmed its readiness to extend political risk insurance and guarantees for energy shipments passing through the Gulf.

With European thermal-coal prices surging to their highest level since October 2023 and exchange prices for gas in Europe rising by 11 percent today, Europe is in crisis mode.

Brent crude crossed $83 a barrel after Iran blocked the oil shipping channel in the Middle East.

In economic releases, the HCOB Eurozone services PMI activity index rose from 51.6 in January to 51.9, hitting two-month high and matching expectations.

The pan European Stoxx 600 was up 0.3 percent at 606.25 after plunging 3.1 percent on Tuesday.

The German DAX gained 0.3 percent and France's CAC 40 edged up by 0.1 percent while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 dropped 0.4 percent.

Symrise shares fell nearly 2 percent. The German flavors and fragrances maker Symrise forecast a low single-digit decline in first-quarter organic sales.

Sportswear maker Adidas lost 7 percent after announcing changes in its supervisory board.

Tiremaker Continental fell 2.1 percent after it forecast a decline in revenue for 2026.

Pharmaceuticals and crop protection group Bayer tumbled 3.8 percent after widening its Q4 loss due to litigation costs over its Roundup weedkiller.

British homebuilder Vistry Group plummeted almost 18 percent after an announcement that its executive chairman Greg Fitzgerald would step down over the next year.

France's Dassault Aviation rose 1.4 percent after 2025 sales topped forecasts.

Engineering firm Weir Group lost 8 percent after full-year earnings dropped from last year.

Shares of Dutch chip-making equipment supplier ASM International surged 4 percent.

The company raised its 2026 forecast and announced a 150-million-euro buyback plan for 2026-2027 after posting better-than-expected net profit for the final quarter of 2025.

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Oil prices continued to rise on Wednesday on signs the war in Iran is expanding into a broader regional conflict.

Benchmark Brent crude futures traded up 2.5 percent at $83.46 a barrel, hitting a 14-month high as the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets coupled with retaliatory attacks by Tehran posed threats to energy infrastructure and commercial shipping in the Gulf.

WTI crude futures were up 2.8 percent at $76.66. The conflict widened on Tuesday,

with Israel hitting targets in Lebanon, while Iran stepped up missile and drone attacks in the region, targeting Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain.

Iraq  OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia  has cut output by nearly 1.5 million barrels per day, citing export bottlenecks and storage constraints.

Saudi Arabia is also scrambling to shield exports. Qatar has declared force majeure on deliveries following a halt in production in the wake of an Iranian drone strike.

As the conflict threatens global fuel trade, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy 'will begin escorting' oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway, if necessary.

Trump also said he had instructed officials to provide political risk insurance and financial guarantees at a reasonable cost to secure maritime trade passing through the Gulf, particularly energy shipments.

Meanwhile, after signaling a prolonged campaign, Trump claimed that the stockpile of ammunition needed for military operations against Iran is at an all-time high.

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Iran has attacked two U.S. targets in the Middle East Tuesday, news reports say.

Fire was reported near the U.S. consulate building in Dubai, which came under an Iranian drone attack.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the incident, and said that a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the chancellery building and then set off a fire in that place. All personnel at the diplomatic mission are accounted for.

"As you're aware, we began drawing down personnel from our diplomatic facilities in advance of this. In the cases, for example, of Beirut, we basically drew down to a bare bones, as well as in Baghdad and in Erbil and in a couple other posts as well. So we've been very fortunate, obviously. But our embassies and our diplomatic facilities are under direct attack from a terrorist regime," he told reporters Tuesday night.

Rubio added that the U.S. Central Command, in joint operations, is carrying out a systematic destruction of Iran's missile belt, missile launchers, their ability to make these, as well as the destruction of their navy. "From what I've been told by the Department of War (Defense), everything is on or ahead of schedule and proceeding on these objectives. We have every confidence in the world that these objectives will be achieved".

Qatar's Ministry of Defense said Iran launched two ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. air base at Al Udaida in Qatar.

While one of them was intercepted by Qatar's air defense systems, the other hit the biggest American base in the region.

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Business News
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that more than 9000 American citizens have safely returned from the Middle East, including more than 300 from Israel, since the start of the war.

"We have about 1,500 Americans that are requesting assistance with departure. We have identified and continued to identify charter flights, military flight options, and expanded commercial flight options, meaning working with the airlines to send bigger airplanes with more seats, and a combination of those three things," he said at a news conference Tuesday.

"The impediment we're facing now, in many cases - we've had a couple instances in which we have planes in the air and on the way, and unfortunately the airspace gets closed and they have to turn back around. So we're working through those challenges," he told reporters.

In a message to Americans who are in the Middle East and in need of assistance, Rubio said that it is important to "put both the website and the phone numbers on your screens, because we need to know where you are". "We need to have contact information for Americans that need assistance. They have to register with us, because as these options begin to open up, we have to be able to call you and know where you're staying so we can get this information to you and coordinate appropriately".

He added that stranded Anericans will be evacuated using a variety of methods: "charter flights, military flights and transports, expanded commercial opportunities, and in some cases land routes that will allow them to go to neighboring countries who might have open airports at that point".

Separately, the U.S. Department of State said it is facilitating charter flights from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan for American citizens, and will continue to secure additional capacity as security conditions allow.

Commercial aviation options remain available in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Egypt, and the Department is actively helping American citizens book those tickets. For those in countries lacking commercial aviation availability, the Department is facilitating travel to third countries as conditions allow. That includes increasing ground transportation options for American citizens wishing to leave Israel.

The State Department said it has answered calls from nearly 3000 American citizens in the Middle East and continues to provide travel options for those wishing to leave. The Department will also waive any statutory requirement for American citizens to reimburse the government for travel expenses.

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Business News
Amid spiraling oil prices due to the Iran war, President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy would provide escorts to oil tankers and other vessels to sail safe through the Strait of Hormuz.

He also pledged insurance guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf in a social media post just after midnight.

"Effective immediately, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf," he wrote on Truth Social." This will be available to all Shipping Lines. If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible," he added on his social media platform.

Trump promised that the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world, claiming that the United States' "economic and military might is the greatest on earth".

It is not clear if shipping companies are willing to sail through the risky Strait of Hormuz just on the basis of Trump's assurance of offering insurance protection through the DFC.

He had told reporters Tuesday that Americans may have to live with higher oil prices briefly, "but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, I believe, lower than even before."

Oil prices surged more than 10 percent since the United States and Israel launched military attacks on Iran Saturday, and Iran retaliated with strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. military installations in the Gulf region and its Middle East allies.

Crude price is likely to increase further over concerns of increasing disruptions in the global energy supply chain due to the escalating hostilities.

A number of ships were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, triggering tanker rates and insurance costs to surge, reports say.

Vessel traffic plunged through the vital trade route due to the threat of more Iranian attacks on ships transiting the region.

Earlier, Iranian navy had declared the Strait is closed.

20 percent of the world's liquefied natural gas and 25 percent of seaborne oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway leading to the Persian Gulf.

Oil could top $100 if transit through the Strait of Hormuz doesn't return to normalcy quickly, reports quoting energy expert say.

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Business News
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/szijjarto.peter.official

Ukraine has not received from the Hungarian side information about specific individuals whom Russia allegedly transferred to Hungary as prisoners of war, therefore Hungary's charge daffaires will be summoned to the Foreign Ministry to provide reliable information.

This was reported by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in response to journalists questions, stressing that Moscow and Budapest are making prisoners of war part of "political PR" ahead of elections in Hungary.

"We see reports about Russia allegedly transferring several prisoners of war to Hungary. Of course, it is always important when people are released from Russian captivity, especially considering that 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war are subjected to torture in captivity. At the same time, the Ukrainian side has not been provided with information about specific released individuals, therefore the Hungarian charge daffaires will be invited to the MFA to obtain reliable data," the ministry said.

The MFA also said the Ukrainian side would request access to the individuals who had been returned.

As the Foreign Ministry said, for Ukraine the issue of returning people from captivity is a priority, therefore the Ukrainian side is constantly working on it at all platforms and with all parties that can help secure the release of Ukrainian citizens from captivity.

"In particular, the Ukrainian negotiating group recently achieved success in the process of peace efforts under the leadership of the United States, and active work to continue exchanges is ongoing. At the same time, we have to state that Moscow and Budapest have not for the first time manipulated the sensitive issue of prisoners of war. One cannot fail to be struck by the cynicism when the issue of freeing people is turned into part of political PR ahead of elections in Hungary and a bargaining chip in relations with the Kremlin," the MFA said.

The ministry added that "it is obvious that neither Putin nor the current leadership in Budapest knows any limits to cynicism."

"We hope that after today they will leave these people alone and allow them to choose for themselves how to live further. We also condemn manipulations with the ethnic card coming from the Hungarian side. Ukraine always puts the interests of protecting its citizens first, regardless of their ethnic origin. Genuine humanitarian efforts by those states that sincerely help Ukraine free people from captivity and protect lives are never accompanied by such cynical PR and politicization. It is important that life has the highest value," the MFA said.

Earlier, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced a decision to release two individuals of Hungarian origin who are being held captive by the Russian army. This was reported by the Kremlin press service following a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
Shares of Baird Medical Investment Holdings Ltd. (BDMD) are up 25% following the announcement of successful development of its cross-platform surgical software and has begun the registration process in the United States, the European Union, and China.

The new system leverages proprietary artificial intelligence to automate key clinical workflows such as anatomical mapping, dynamic treatment planning, and procedural simulations. By integrating diagnostic imaging, the software helps physicians define precise surgical pathways designed to improve patient outcomes.

Baird Medical said the software will integrate directly with its upcoming fully automated surgical robotic system, creating a closed-loop ecosystem that spans pre-operative analysis, intra-operative execution, and post-operative evaluation.



The company emphasized that this milestone accelerates its commercial roadmap and addresses growing global demand for intelligent, minimally invasive surgical solutions.

BDMD has traded between $0.75 and $7.26 over the past year. The stock is currently trading at $3.14, up 26.10%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Ola Electrics retail sales have dropped sharply in recent months, with February 2026 volumes falling to just 3,968 units. This marks the lowest monthly sales for the company in more than four years, returning to levels last seen during the early phase of its market entry in 2021/22.

The decline is notable as Ola Electric has continued expanding its product lineup over the past few years. The company has introduced multiple new electric scooters / variants and even launched electric motorcycles, while simultaneously expanding its distribution network. Despite these efforts, monthly retail volumes have continued to slide.

From EV Market Leader To Sharp Sales Decline

Ola Electric had emerged as one of Indias largest electric two-wheeler sellers during 2023 and early 2024. The company recorded its highest-ever monthly retail sales of 53,646 units in March 2024, with several months in 2024 crossing the 30,00040,000 unit mark.

However, the momentum began weakening through late 2024 and into 2025. While the year began strongly with 24,413 units in January 2025, sales steadily declined through the year. By October 2025, volumes had dropped to 16,036 units, followed by 9,021 units in December 2025. The slowdown has intensified in 2026. After reporting 7,516 units in January 2026, sales fell further to 3,968 units in February 2026, one of the lowest monthly figures since February 2022, when Ola sold 3,910 units.

Rising Competition In Electric 2W Segment

While Olas sales have declined, the overall electric two-wheeler market continues to grow rapidly. Established manufacturers such as TVS, Bajaj, Ather and Hero MotoCorps VIDA brand have been steadily expanding their EV portfolios and dealer networks. Legacy OEMs are increasingly leveraging their strong service networks, brand trust and dealership reach, allowing them to capture a larger share of the fast-growing EV market.

Stock Price Also At Record Lows

The slowdown in sales comes at a time when Ola Electric Mobilitys stock price is also under pressure. The companys shares are currently trading around Rs 24.52, marking a decline of over 73% from their peak levels, reflecting weak investor sentiment amid slowing sales momentum and intensifying competition in the EV space.

With retail volumes now at a four-year low and the stock price sliding sharply, the coming months will be critical for Ola Electric as it attempts to regain momentum in Indias rapidly evolving electric two-wheeler market.
Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, during which he discussed security challenges in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

"His Highness informed in detail about the criminal attacks of the Iranian regime on Kuwait: there have already been hundreds of drones and ballistics. It is this instrument of terror that Iran transferred to Russia to kill Ukrainians, and it is our people who know how best to counteract this. We discussed how our experience can help protect lives in Kuwait. We agreed to hold appropriate consultations," he said on Telegram.

Zelenskyy thanked the sheikh for his words of support.
Alexander Alferov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. February 25, 2026 | Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko

Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance (UINR), Oleksandr Alfiorov, believes that the National Pantheon of Ukrainian Heroes should be located in Kyiv on an island on the Dnipro River, and the National Memorial of Ukrainian Heroes should be located on the slopes near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

"When we talk about the Pantheon, we mean a sacred place where outstanding Ukrainian figures will be immortalized. Let me remind you that we have Petliura and Skoropadskythe two leaders of independent Ukraine 100 years ago: one is buried in Paris, France, the other in Oberstdorf, Germany. The national pantheon is a very complex story, but it is the end result of memorialization. Totalitarian systems typically place a large object in the center, so that it overwhelms the entire space. Memorialization in Ukraine should not be totalitarian, but thoughtful," Alfiorov said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He also emphasized that the pantheon will honor outstanding figures who served in the past, while the Defenders of the Fatherland who gave their lives in today's war must be discussed in the context of the National Memorial to Ukrainian Heroes.

Regarding the Pantheon, the head of the UINR noted that it should not be a walk-through place, but should serve as a space that requires a specific purposeful approach.

"There's an idea to create a National Pantheon of Ukrainian Heroes on one of the islands on the Dnipro River. Dnipro, whose name is over two thousand years old, is the river that gave us an understanding of the unity and depth of our national memory. The island would allow for the creation of new modern architecture, because there can be no talk of a classical structure here; it must have a new form. And it seems to me that one of the symbols around which the Pantheon could be built could be a burial mound," he said, noting that this idea is currently his vision and the vision of several intellectuals.

"But for me, in fact, in this position, it would be, perhaps, a matter of life, if this Pantheon appeared at least in the form in which I see it," Alfiorov emphasized.

As for the National Memorial to Ukrainian Heroes, he said the idea of building it on the slopes near the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is being discussed.

"This will be a cenotapha memorial site without burials. This was the work of, among others, the Lavra's General Director, Maksym Ostapenko, my predecessor, Anton Drobovych, and the Deputy Director of the National Military History Museum of Ukraine, Yaroslav Tynchenko. Creating this near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is truly a very good idea. The Lavra is a Holy Dormition Lavra: the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is about the cult of the Virgin's death, which symbolizes new life. This is a very sacred story, and I am absolutely in favor of creating a large memorial complex of Defenders there, on the slopes of Dnipro. Such places should be located in open spaces, and Dnipro hills are ideal for this," the head of the UINR stated.

As reported, in 2024, the then head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, Anton Drobovych, stated that a new landmark site had been found in the center of Kyiv for the National Pantheon of Ukrainian Heroes, but its construction would only be possible after the Ukrainian economy is stabilized.

Former head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory and Verkhovna Rada deputy Volodymyr Vyatrovych (European Solidarity faction) believes it is necessary to dismantle the Arch of Friendship of Peoples and erect a National Pantheon of Ukrainian Heroes on its place.
NPC deputy transforms Pinggu's peach industry

People's Daily Online) 13:17, March 04, 2026

Yue Qiaoyun (center) hosts a livestream session with fellow villagers in Pinggu district, Beijing. (Photo courtesy of Yue Qiaoyun)

In her office in Pinggu district, Beijing, Yue Qiaoyun's phone rang with a steady stream of calls from farmers seeking advice. She answered each one patiently, all the while sorting through research materials, her face glowing with satisfaction

"Seeing villagers' incomes rise makes me genuinely happy," she said. It was a simple sentiment, but one that cut to the heart of who she is: someone driven by a sincere desire to give back to her community.

Yue was elected as a deputy to China's National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, in 2023 and has since received several honorary titles, including being named one of the country's Top Ten Farmers. She has spent a decade remaking herself, trading a career as an urban executive for life as a new farmer. Since returning home in 2016, she has helped Pinggu's signature peaches find new markets and boost all-round rural revitalization.

A map of Pinggu's agriculture, culture and tourism resources lies open on her desk. With China's "two sessions," the annual sessions of the top legislature and political advisory body, about to get underway in Beijing, Yue is putting the finishing touches on her proposals.

"This year I've focused on two proposals, both grounded in what I've seen at the grassroots level," she said.

The first calls for stronger policy support for agricultural services, so that farmers can access professional help in technology, logistics and marketing. Pointing to Beidian village in Liujiadian town on the map  her hometown and where she first started her business  she noted that her farmers' cooperative already serves more than 3,000 fruit-growing households, but that policy backing is essential to bring these services to more orchards across the district.

Photo shows Yue Qiaoyun. (Photo courtesy of Yue Qiaoyun)

Her second proposal focuses on rural tourism. She pointed to several spots on the map, including Taohuawu and Jinhai Lake.

"I've done enough field research to know how much people here want to see rural tourism thrive," she said. "I'm recommending deeper support for integrating rural tourism with educational tours." What farmers are hoping for, she said, is more hands-on help with planning, design and market access, so that picturesque villages can do more than draw visitors in and actually translate that foot traffic into lasting income for local residents.

She picked up a gift box of Pinggu peach products from her desk, its contents arranged neatly inside: dried peaches, peach juice, peach-wood crafts and peach blossom brooches. The box, she said, embodied her model of integrating cultivation, processing, sales and leisure.

Her understanding of rural industries was shaped by a deliberate choice made a decade ago. Yue grew up picking and selling peaches alongside her parents before leaving her hometown to build a career in the internet and media sectors. But as China stepped up efforts to promote agricultural modernization, a long-dormant desire to return home grew impossible to ignore.

In 2016, she came back, bringing with her the networks and perspective she had accumulated over the years. She started with a peach orchard in Beidian village and gradually built something much larger. "I could see that farming wasn't the old game of praying for good weather anymore. It's becoming a real industry, with a real future," she said.

"None of Pinggu's transformation would have happened without favorable policies. I'm both a contributor to all-round rural revitalization and someone who has benefited from it," Yue said.

The evidence is visible in the peach orchards themselves. In early spring, rows of soil sensors and smart irrigation equipment stand between the trees  technology that has fundamentally changed how peaches are grown in Beidian village.

"We used to water and fertilize by feel. Now we let the data tell us what to do," she said. In the early days, the equipment looked like alien hardware to most farmers, so she bought devices out of her own pocket and gave them away for free, promising to cover any losses from reduced yields. Gradually, a growing number of farming households began to adopt the new technologies.

Yue Qiaoyun shows a Pinggu peach in Pinggu district, Beijing. (Photo courtesy of Yue Qiaoyun)

Her cooperative's fresh peach output and sales have climbed steadily year after year. Peaches now reach customers across the country within 48 hours and into overseas markets, with total sales surpassing 100 million yuan ($14.58 million).

Through the cooperative's e-commerce platform, she has helped 1,500 neighboring fruit farmers find jobs and conducted online and offline e-commerce training totaling 51,000 person-times over four years. She has also nurtured more than 80 rural livestreamers, enabling more than 3,000 farming households to use digital farming tools.

"When she first set up the cooperative, we were all worried about losing money  none of us knew what to expect," said Yue Qinggui, a local farmer. To put people's minds at ease, Yue led technicians from door to door, offering hands-on guidance and a firm promise: unified purchasing, unified sales and a guaranteed floor price.

"My family's income has doubled compared with previous years. With her leading the way, you feel like you're on solid ground," Yue Qinggui said.

Inspired by her example, growing numbers of local farmers have joined the cooperative, sharing access to technologies, sales channels and brand dividends. Today, Yue's cooperative has become a national model.

Under Yue's leadership, lower-income farming households now earn an average annual income of 60,000 to 70,000 yuan, bringing what once seemed an out-of-reach figure of over 100,000 yuan a year well within reach.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
A new scientific study suggests that returning rescued wildlife to natural habitats does not always end in success. In some situations, animals released after time in captivity face serious risks, and the wild can become what researchers describe as a "death trap."

The findings appear in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation. The research was carried out by primatologist Professor Anna Nekaris OBE of Anglia Ruskin University along with collaborators from the conservation group Plumploris e.V. and the University of Western Australia. Their work examined the fate of Bengal slow lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) that were released in Bangladesh.

Slow Lorises and the Illegal Pet Trade

Slow lorises are known for their large eyes and gentle looking faces, features that have unfortunately made them popular in the illegal wildlife trade. Because of this demand, they rank among the most heavily trafficked primates in the world.

All slow loris species are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable. Their threatened status means they are frequently rescued and later released as part of conservation efforts aimed at rebuilding wild populations.

Tracking Bengal Slow Lorises After Release

Despite these good intentions, the new research shows that release programs can sometimes end tragically. Scientists fitted nine Bengal slow lorises with radio collars and followed their movements after releasing them into a national park in northeastern Bangladesh. The park has been used for previous wildlife releases.

The results were stark. Only two of the nine animals survived after returning to the forest. Three died within just 10 days of release, and four more died within six months. Researchers recovered four of the seven bodies, and all showed evidence that they had been killed by other slow lorises.

Territorial Conflicts and Venomous Bites

Slow lorises are extremely territorial animals. They are also the only venomous primates in the world, using specialized teeth to deliver a toxic bite. The animals recovered during the study had obvious bite wounds on the head, face, and digits, indicating that deadly territorial encounters were responsible for their deaths.

The research also revealed that animals kept in captivity for longer periods tended to survive for fewer days after release. In addition, the released lorises moved around more and appeared more alert than wild Bengal slow lorises normally do.

The two animals that survived traveled across larger areas than those that died. This pattern suggests that survival depended on leaving established territories and avoiding confrontations with resident lorises.

Rethinking Wildlife Rescue and Release

Large and charismatic animals such as big cats often receive intensive monitoring after they are released. In contrast, many smaller species are not closely tracked, meaning the outcomes of their releases frequently remain unknown.

The researchers stress that successful wildlife releases require careful planning. Evaluating the suitability of the release site and the condition of each animal is essential. Detailed habitat assessments, long term monitoring, and rehabilitation guidelines tailored to each species can improve the chances of success.

Senior author Anna Nekaris OBE, Professor of Ecology, Conservation and Environment at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, and head of the Little Fireface Project, said: "It's assumed that returning confiscated or rescued animals to the wild is always a positive conservation story. Our research shows that for highly territorial species like slow lorises, releasing them into areas that are already densely populated can be a death trap.

"Many rescued endangered species are often released because the public expects it, but for animals such as the Bengal slow loris, this is not always the best course of action. Without fully understanding the animal's behaviour, its time spent in captivity and the density of resident populations at the release site, reintroductions may do more harm than good."

Lead author Hassan Al-Razi, the team leader of Plumploris e.V. Bangladesh, said: "Rescue and release have become an increasingly common practice in Bangladesh. Many wild animals, including slow lorises, are rescued and subsequently released back into the wild.

"However, in many cases, these releases are conducted inappropriately. For forest-dwelling species, release sites are often selected based on logistical convenience rather than ecological suitability. As a result, certain forests have effectively become dumping grounds for rescued animals and are no longer appropriate release sites.

"Although our research has focused on the Bengal slow loris and demonstrated the consequences of such practices, we believe similar patterns likely affect many other species."
Last week, a scathing critique came from The Swatch Group towards Morgan Stanley Investment Management regarding its research report, Ninth Annual Swiss Watcher, released on February 18. For many journalists and investors alike, the Morgan Stanley report is the most quoted report of them all from the watch industry.

In its nearly decade-long existence, it is, of course, the reports potential effect on the latter  the investors  that has enraged Swatch Group. The open letter penned by the groups communication department is anything but an example of Swiss, careful diplomacy. The letter has subheadings like Lack of Reliable Data Basis, Questionable Methodology, Incorrect Findings, Negligent Conclusions, Damaging Statements, and Potential Conflicts of Interest.

Another investment tool at the timepiece level is Chrono24, which has since 2003 enabled the sale of 1.6 million watches. With an impressive database and more than 500,000 current entries at the time of writing, the website, catering to both businesses and private sellers, has become a major reference, especially for the second-hand market. It has brought about a trustworthy system which, to me, seems far safer and more user-friendly than other sites, particularly when selling between private individuals (here I am not including sites like 1916 Company, whose business model includes acquiring stock, and whose trading authentication processes affect the price). I never really thought twice about it. A few weeks ago, however, I spoke to an investment banker with close ties to the watch industry. Over a cheese fondue (what else in Switzerland?), he questioned the Chrono24 model. In his opinion, it is way too easy to establish misleading prices on the site, especially when it comes to unusual models. According to his conclusion, anyone could potentially list a timepiece with several accounts, thus creating the equivalent of a price index for a certain model.

An old-school valuation tool is auction catalogues. A great reflection of the market  but how should one consider the brand effect, when brands biddings effect bidder behavior and final prices?

Morgan Stanley report, Chrono24, and auction houses. I am not by any means slandering these tools. But I am saying beware. At the end of the day, if you use them to predict economical values of the future, you will be disappointed. The future cannot be predicted. And remember that you can control your own narrative, but you cannot control history.
Sergio del Molino has published an acclaimed novel about the young artist raised and mentored by the Spanish genius. He walks EL PAIS through Madrids Prado Museum as he recounts the story of her erased life

Goyas monsters not only provoke unique sensations, national reflection, and inner turmoil in those who contemplate them, but they also inspire new and immensely valuable works about his life, his painting, his thought, and his legacy  works that continue to enrich Spains cultural heritage.

The Spanish genius did more than create masterpieces and portray both his own era and ours; he inspired a torrent of creations in film, painting, and literature. That wave now includes a new essential addition to the bookshelf: La hija (The Daughter), the latest book by EL PAIS writer and columnist Sergio del Molino, who takes us through Madrids El Prado Museum in search of the seed, the spark, the origin of his obsession.

When asked how it all began, the author responds: My earliest fascination starts here, with the Black Paintings. [...] For me, they are the center and the heart of the museum. These paintings were my way into Goya, and they were also my way into Spain.

Del Molino stops in front of what is perhaps the most luminous portrait in this dark collection that survived the deterioration of Goyas last house in Madrid, the Quinta del Sordo. It is a portrait of Leocadia Zorrilla, his last companion, who lived with him in that Madrid house and accompanied him into exile in Bordeaux. Leocadia was a woman with a very unorthodox mindset for her time, but very easy to understand through todays lens. Her relationship with freedom and with Goya is visible to anyone. Ive only filled in a few gaps. In the Prados wall text, she is still listed as his housekeeper.

But the focus of Del Molinos book is not exactly Leocadia, the divorced woman whose husband ruined her financially, but rather one of her three children: Rosario Weiss. She grew up with Francisco de Goya, who acted not only as a father figure but also as her teacher. Unlike Goyas surviving son, Javier, and his grandson, Mariano  who squandered the inheritance and even forged works  Rosario learned to paint and fought against being erased from history. Over time, she became an artist sought after by museums and collectors, though still not widely recognized by the general public.

Del Molinos new book is grounded in historical truth, but from that foundation he builds, with imagination and the tools of fiction, a powerful biography of an artist who was both extraordinary and silenced by Goyas family and the cultural establishment of the time. Along the way, he paints a portrait of 19thcentury Spain  its violence, reactionary forces, struggles for progress, and the birth of modern politics. He respects the limited historical record on Weiss, while adding bold narrative engineering to illuminate the girl who inherited Goyas artistic sensibility but little else. Worse still, she was erased.

Sergio del Molino at the Prado Museum, with a portrait of Leocadia Zorrilla that is part of Goya's Black Paintings. Alvaro Garcia

We walk toward the selfportrait known as The Attention (1841), one of the few surviving works by Weiss, placed directly above the portrait of Goya painted by Vicente Lopez in 1826. The two works encapsulate Weisss life: below is her father and teacher as he was when she was a child; above is her own image as a grown woman. This canvas by Weiss, charged with sensuality and eroticism, strikes Del Molino as entirely consistent with an artist who, in adulthood, was accused of being a whore, rumored to have syphilis, and said to have used her body to get ahead. This is the portrait of a woman who cared very little about such accusations. She looks defiant, and I love that.

Nearby hangs The Milkmaid of Bordeaux (1827), one of the paintings Goya created in Bordeaux during his final years, a year before his death there, and very likely executed in collaboration with the young apprentice. In fact  and to the misfortune of Leocadia Zorrilla and her daughter  it was practically the only inheritance they received.

Theres an overwhelming amount written about Goya, but I only ever found Rosario Weiss mentioned as a footnote, and Im sure she must have had a significant influence on him, says Del Molino. Whether she was his daughter or not, I tried to trace her presence and found that she remains a black hole in the mystery of Goyas final years.

His conviction is that  beyond what he taught her  she also taught him, influenced him, and mattered, and that part of what unsettles and disturbs us about Goyas later work are better illuminated by Rosarios presence.

There has been much study of Beethoven and other artists who become darker at the end of their lives, where before they were clear and lucid. Goya has a tendency toward darkness, but in this period he recovers; there is a luminous moment, and I think it has to do with the fact that he is closely involved in Rosarios apprenticeship, and that contributes greatly to his work.

The image of those years obsessed Del Molino to such an extent that he shut himself away to read everything he could, trying to document himself and breathe the air of that period.

When asked if his book is a tribute to Goya or Rosario Weiss, Del Molino replies: Its out of love for both of them, because I see something very powerful in the conjunction between the old Goya and the young artist.

But the burgeoning artist was erased in an instant when Goyas grandson and daughterinlaw arrived in Bordeaux just days before the masters death, took control of everything, and left Leocadia Zorrilla and her daughter practically out on the street, with no inheritance other than The Milkmaid of Bordeaux, the painting now hanging in the Prado.

Was Goya unfair to them? I try to redeem him in the book. I think he wasnt aware that he was abandoning them. I want to believe he died thinking he had settled things, but that wasnt the case.

Both women were left out in the cold, in exile, and cut of from Madrids artistic circles. Then, on top of that, they sabotaged her. Goyas son used all the power of Madrids patronage networks to sideline her, and it was going to be very difficult for her to reach the public.

Sergio del Molino in front of 'Attention', a self-portrait by Rosario Weiss, located above the portrait of Goya painted by Vicente Lopez. Alvaro Garcia

Weiss succeeded. She became a copyist at the Prado, worked at the Academy of San Fernando  where she was named an Academician of Merit in 1840  and served as drawing teacher to Queen Isabella II, a final post cut short by her early death from cholera in 1843, at just 28 years old. But almost all of her oil paintings, some 20 or 30 works, have disappeared. There is still a great deal of Rosario Weiss to recover; perhaps much of her work has been attributed to other artists, says Del Molino.

Her drawings are held at the Lazaro Galdiano Museum, and a couple of major exhibitions have been devoted to her. She is beginning to gain recognition, but her acclaim remains limited to a very small circle. The worlds great museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, feel their collections are incomplete without a Weiss piece, but she lacks widespread public recognition, says Del Molino.

The great unresolved mystery, Del Molino believes, is still the question of Goyas paternity. But, frankly, what would we be without that silencewithout the mysteries that nourish literature and art?

The great unsolved mystery of Goyas paternity remains, according to Sergio del Molino. But frankly, what would become of us without that silence, without the mysteries that fuel literature and art?

Is he concerned about how his book will be received by Goya scholars, the experts wary of laypeople entering the painters world? I suppose theyll read it with some skepticism, but Id be delighted to debate it; theres nothing I enjoy more than a good conversation, says Del Molino. After all, theres a Goya for everyone. Each person can create their own portrait of him because we have enough gaps in our knowledge to be able to appropriate and interpret ambiguous things.

Del Molino ends the tour of the Prado with a more positive reflection on Spain: he believes it is no more fratricidal or violent than neighboring countries, but no one else had the fortune of having Goya to project our tragic sense of history onto his work. Beyond that, he is fascinated by the era in which modern politics and political parties were born, replacing the courtbound cliques that had defined power until the 19th century. In that period we witness the birth of factional politics, but polarization and intransigence havent changed at all. So says Sergio del Molino.

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Just as there are many kinds of noise, there are also different kinds of silence. Some silences protect victims, while others shield perpetrators. Some silences can fester and harden when they hide a shameful secret. They may be complicit, or resemble a sinister code of silence.

In todays hyperconnected and noisy world, silence can even become a luxury  soundproof windows, noisecanceling headphones, meditation retreats. Yet silence can also feel like exposure, a vast and unprotected space for someone who has no one to talk to. These themes are explored by Laurence Joseph in her book Nos silences: Apprendre a les ecouter (or, Our Silences: Learning to Listen to Them).

Joseph works with silence. She is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, and, as she explains in her book, only in the face of the other persons silence can a person begin to tell their story. Its called silent listening. Learning to be silent for the benefit of the other, so they can explore and develop their own discourse. Being silent sometimes means learning to listen, and thats quite rare in todays society, the French author explains in a video call from her home in Paris. She wrote the book based on her more than 20 years of experience in therapy. But its not simply a collection of clinical cases. Joseph draws on mythology, literature, and philosophy to map our individual and collective silences.

The author begins by explaining the most difficult and uncomfortable silences she has experienced in her practice. Ive had many patients, especially children, who are victims of incest or sexual violence, so its clear that theres an aspect of silence surrounding children, adolescents, and women that stems from the inability to listen to them, she reflects. But she believes something is changing. As evidence, she cites several recent literary successes, especially Consent: A Memoir, in which editor Vanessa Springora recounts her relationship at age 14 with a 50-year-old writer, Gabriel Matzneff, and the silence and even social complicity surrounding a pedophile, who was celebrated in the literary world until very recently.

I firmly believe in the power of example to empower people to speak out; the narrative of shame makes change possible, she says. The fact that public figures are speaking out demonstrates that these testimonies are being heard. And this has a ripple effect. Through these media stories, we discover our potential to share our secrets, so that our relationship with shame can change. In this sense, the story of the #MeToo movement is fascinating.

It was the French philosopher Roland Barthes who explained that silence is neutral. People then manipulate it in their own way to give it meaning, and sometimes to turn it into something political, the author explains. In this way, silence is not a simple absence of sound, not a passive pause, but an act laden with meaning. Joseph believes that society has lived through years  decades  of political silence, and that testimonies like Springoras have begun to break it.

Processes aimed at repairing harm done to victims and holding perpetrators accountable  such as the investigation into abuse within the Catholic Church in Spain  are another example of a long-standing silence that has finally been broken. There is an undeniable political dimension to all of this. There is a social muteness that shelters many individual secrets. By bursting the bubble of this silence, stories begin to surface one by one.

The book doesnt just explore the silence that surrounds trauma; it also examines the need for silence in an increasingly noisy world. Social media plays a major role in this dynamic. Today we can have an opinion about everything, and whenever something happens, we are encouraged to comment, argue, and react. That impulse has spread into all areas of life, so people never stop talking or expressing opinions.

This constant noise has also seeped into the workplace, where there are too many meetings, and into leisure time, where there are millions TV channels and streaming platforms. The result is an overload of information and stimulation that our brains are not equipped to handle.

Joseph traces a generational arc, noting that silence takes on different meanings depending on ones stage of life. For a mother, silence can feel like a blessing  a moment of peace and rest, something she knows well as the parent of two teenagers. For a grandmother, however, silence is often tied to loneliness. I thought a lot about my own grandmother, and about older people in general, while writing the book, she explains. I imagined what her day was like; she was over 90 and lived alone at home. If I didnt call her, she didnt speak to anyone all day. And I tried to imagine what a whole day without noise would be like. In the absolute silence of solitude.

Joseph talks a lot about children, grandmothers, and parents. Silence, she explains, is inherent to family. There are secrets that are meant to protect, and are shared only within the inner circle. And thats whats interesting, she explains. Secrecy can be the ethical core of a group. The ability to keep secrets about death, illness, origins, or sexuality.

Sexuality also plays an important role in the book. Among the secret names, there is one that always prevails, the author explains, the name of the beloved. Homosexuality, extramarital affairs, caste, age differences Some names become unspeakable for a time, or forever. What happens to a love affair without witnesses? Does it become more intense, or on the contrary, does it quickly become an illusion? Does secrecy fuel the words whispered in private?

Here too, she draws on literature to explain her thesis. The protagonist of Annie Ernauxs Simple Passion accepts the silence, the secrecy that governs her relationship with a married, foreign, younger man. A man with whom she can never converse, given that they lack common language: she doesnt speak his language, nor he hers; their bodies are their only dictionary.

All of humanitys problems stem from mans inability to sit quietly in a room alone. The mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal said this, and Joseph includes it in her book. Its a good one. Yes, but Pascals problem is that he forgets the importance of others, says Joseph. This idea of silence in a room reminds me of Virginia Woolf, of A Room of Ones Own. In fact, whats interesting is that Pascal, here, leans toward prayer, faith, meditation; he has a more masculine perspective. Virginia Woolf starts from a different place; she sees moments of solitude as a blessing, perhaps because women have access to it later in life.

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For nearly two decades, South Dakota Mines chemical engineering students have turned St. Patricks Day into more than just a celebration of green; they've made it a community tradition with purpose.

The popular Dublin Dash 5K fun run/walk, in its 19th year, returns Saturday, March 7, inviting runners, walkers and families to lace up their shoes and head to Memorial Park. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m., with the race starting at 10 a.m.

Hosted by the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the Dublin Dash is the group's signature fundraiser, supporting travel expenses and other conference-related expenses. All the funds from the race are used for the students to travel to regional and national events, compete in ChemE Car (AIChEs CAMP team) and student-led meetings, said Emily Myscofski, sophomore chemical engineering major and AIChE Dublin Dash chair. Its a fun way for the community to support what we were doing while celebrating together.

The race began in the early 2000s when Patrick Gilcrease, Ph.D., professor in the Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, stepped in as the AIChE advisor and began looking for new fundraising ideas. At the same time, the Black Hills Runners Club was seeking a local St. Patricks Day race. Gilcrease, also a club member, volunteered AIChE to host the event and it has been a community tradition since.

Registration is $25 for adults and $20 for children 10 and under or participants with a Mines student ID. Community members may register online or in person the morning of the race.

Participants are encouraged to wear their best St. Patricks Day attire.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that President Donald Trumps plan to increase the global tariff to 15% from 10% will likely be implemented this week.

Asked on CNBCs Squawk Box when the increase would be implemented, Bessent said: "Thats likely sometime this week."

Bessent added that he believes the tariff will go back to the old rate "within five months".

Trump announced last month that he was planning to increase worldwide tariffs to a blanket 15%, after the Supreme Court struck down his reciprocal tariff regime.

Trump responded by calling the decision "ridiculous, poorly written and extraordinarily anti-American", and immediately announced a global 10% tariff on all countries. However, that was switfly lifted to 15%, with Trump warning of more levies to come.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump said at the time: "I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ripping the US off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level.

"During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs."

On 20 February, the Supreme Court ruled by six to three that Trump had wrongfully invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement tariffs without seeking approval from Congress.

The new tariffs had been invoked under Section 133 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows the US president to impose temporary levies for 150 days. Extensions require approval from Congress, however.
Iran denied on Wednesday that its Ministry of Intelligence reached out to the CIA to discuss terms for ending the conflict.

According to Bloomberg, Irans Tasnim News Agency cited a ministry source as saying that the New York Times report was "pure falsehood and psychological warfare.

The denial came in response to a NYT article citing officials briefed on the outreach. The NYT said US officials are sceptical - at least in the short term - that either the Trump administration or Iran is really ready for an offramp.

Nevertheless, the offer, which was made through another countrys spy agency, raises critical questions about whether any Iranian officials could put into place a cease-fire agreement with the Tehran government in chaos as its leaders are methodically picked off by Israeli strikes, the NYT said.

It was understood that Israeli officials, who want a weekslong campaign to inflict maximum damage on Irans military capabilities, and perhaps cause Irans government to collapse, have urged the US to ignore the approach. For now, the offer is not considered serious in Washington.
Barratt Redrow s long-standing chief executive is to step down after more than a decade, the housebuilder announced on Wednesday.

David Thomas, 63, who was appointed chief executive in 2015, will retire after 17 years with the blue chip.

He will be replaced by Dean Banks, the current chief executive of Australian infrastructure services provider Ventia. Banks, who has also held senior roles at Balfour Beatty and De La Rue, will return to the UK to take up the role at the end of the year, ahead of Thomas leaving in March 2027.

Caroline Silver, chair, said Banks brought with him "strong experience" as well as deep knowledge of the construction and infrastructure sectors.

"We are confident that Deans focus on disciplined execution, operational excellence and strong relationships with customers and stakeholders will help Barratt Redrow build on its strengths over the long term."

Banks said: "Barratt Redrow is an exceptional UK homebuilder, leading the industry in quality, service and sustainability, with a strong platform for the future.

"I look forward to working with the board and wider team to build on this strong foundation."

Thomas, who led Barratts blockbuster 2.5bn acquisition of Redrow in 2024, said: "I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last eleven years. We have built a strong, disciplined and customer-focused business, delivering real returns for shareholders."
Beazley posted a fall in full-year profit on Wednesday amid a "softening" insurance market, ahead of its agreed takeover by Zurich Insurance .

In the year to the end of December 2025, pre-tax profit declined 19% from the prior year to $1.15bn.

Insurance written premiums dipped 1% to $6.10bn and earnings per share fell 17% to 113.4p.

The undiscounted combined ratio was 81.2% in the year, down from 79.0% in 2024. The combined ratio is a measure of an insurer's profitability. A ratio below 100% indicates the company is making an underwriting profit, while a ratio above means it is paying out more money in claims than it is receiving from premiums.

The Lloyds of London insurer - which agreed on Monday to be taken over by Zurich Insurance in an 8.1bn deal - also said that as things stand, its exposure to the unfolding events in the Middle East is limited, and it does not expect to be materially impacted by the conflict.

Chief executive Adrian Cox said: "In 2025, Beazley delivered another strong profit, amidst a volatile global backdrop and in a softening insurance rating environment. In these conditions, our robust underwriting discipline and active cycle management continued to ensure our success.

"As we start 2026, we continue to see a similar pattern of competitive insurance pricing and global instability. In this environment, we remain resolutely focused on profitable underwriting and innovating into growth opportunities, particularly with our new Bermuda entity and insurance solutions for the energy transition."
QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on shipments of liquefied natural gas after attacks on its facilities due to the US-Israel war on Iran.

The move frees the gas giant from existing supply contracts to affected customers. State-owned QatarEnergy on Monday said it was halting production of LNG and associated products due to attacks on facilities in the Ras Laffan industrial city.

Gas prices have almost doubled since the US and Israel started their war against the Gulf country on Saturday. The Dutch TTF hub price for April was down 13.8% at 46.85 per kilowatt hour, but still well above Friday's close of 31.95.

Qatar accounts for around 20% of global LNG exports, all of which are shipped through the vital Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively shut with around 200 tankers and cargo ships waiting on both sides amid threats of attack from Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com
News Corps global chief executive has described news organisations as a valuable input for artificial intelligence, as the media empire signs an AI content licensing deal with Meta worth up to US$50m (A$71m) a year. In an upbeat presentation, the chief executive of Rupert Murdochs company, Robert Thomson, said the reliable breaking news and information in publications like the Australian, the Times of London and Dow Jones was hard to beat as an input for AI.  Guardian

Labours stealth raid on workers will drive Britains tax burden up to a fresh record high, rising further and faster than previously forecast. Taxes will rake in 1.4tn per year by the start of the next decade, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), up from 1.2tn today. That is equivalent to 38.5pc of GDP, up from 36.3pc in this financial year and higher than the 38.3pc predicted by the OBR at the time of Rachel Reevess Budget in November.  Telegraph

The BBCs chief operating officer has resigned, becoming the third senior executive departure at the broadcaster in four months, as the corporation pushes ahead with a cost-cutting drive. Leigh Tavaziva, who spent five years at the BBC, told staff on Tuesday that she would be stepping down in September to pursue new opportunities. In a resignation email, Ms Tavaziva said she would be leaving amid a restructuring of the BBCs product and technology divisions, with the company set to combine teams from its public service and its BBC Studios commercial arm.  Telegraph

Private investors facing multimillion-pound losses in the 2 billion collapse of a UK mortgage lender have met to discuss collective action to protect their interests. Individual investors and Wall Street and City institutions have been caught up in the failure of Market Financial Solutions, a provider of bridging loans and buy-to-let mortgages. The Mayfair-based group was placed into administration last week after a High Court judge said insolvency practitioners needed to investigate claims of fraud.  The Times

The chairman of Asda has reaffirmed his determination to appoint the supermarkets next chief executive from within its existing ranks, arguing that the business is too complex and culturally distinct to be run by an outsider. Allan Leighton, who returned to Asda as executive chairman in November 2024, said he remained committed to promoting from within the current crop of executives once he was satisfied the grocer was firmly back on track.  The Times
Several locations near the British base attacked by an Iranian drone have been evacuated, and people are expressing fear over the escalating conflict

The Cypriot town of Akrotiri was a ghost town on Tuesday. Tables were set in a tavern near the entrance to the Royal Air Force (RAF) base attacked by Iranian drones on Monday, apparently ready for diners; but the establishment remained firmly closed, giving it an eerie appearance. The same was true of the pizzeria, the Indian restaurant, and the various pubs that cater to the tastes of British soldiers.

Most people have left, explained the owner of a cafe where the only clients left were a couple of journalists, and which reopened Tuesday afternoon after Mondays hasty evacuation. Andreas, the local butcher, was practically the only one resisting the instructions to leave the town. Am I going to spend two days in a hotel? No way! Whats meant to be will be, he said, speaking inside a shop with no customers.

Greece, France, and the United Kingdom have mobilized or are planning to send reinforcements to Cyprus, an EU member state, after Iran attacked one of the two military bases London maintains in the Mediterranean country with drones. These bases have been key to previous British military operations in the Middle East. Greece has also sent five aircraft and made it clear that it will contribute with any means at its disposal to the defense of the Republic of Cyprus.

Early Monday morning, an Iranian-made Shahed droneallegedly shot from Lebanon, according to the Cypriot governmentcrashed on one of the runways at the Akrotiri airbase in the south of the island, causing no injuries and only minor damage. Two other drones traveling in the same direction were intercepted throughout Monday, and another was spotted over the civilian airport in Paphos, forcing its closure for a few hours.

A transport plane prepares to land at the British air base RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus, this Tuesday. Associated Press/LaPresse (APN)

Several villages near the airport were temporarily evacuated, and residents of Akrotiri, adjacent to the British air base, were instructed to leave and were relocated to nearby hotels. The evacuation order, the Home Office said, remains in effect until Friday, when the situation will be reassessed.

The Akrotiri base is not just a military installation, but also a territory. Together with the Dhekelia base in eastern Cyprus, it occupies nearly 3% of the islands surface area, and both are considered by London to be British Overseas Territories, although the Republic of Cyprus disputes this sovereignty. Look: at the end of the street is the United Kingdom, and up the street too; this is Cyprus. Half the town is British and the other half Cypriot, although here we are all Cypriots, that is, Europeans, explains Tasos, a farmer, regarding the vagaries of territorial demarcationa legacy of decolonizationin his village of Trachoni. His two grandchildren run and play at his feet. Although this village hasnt been evacuated, classes have been suspended. People are afraid, its true. Constantina, who runs a cafe, confirms this: Some neighbors have indeed left. There is some fear, but this is something between the Americans and the Iranians; it shouldnt affect us.

The Cypriot Interior Ministry published a guide on Tuesday recommending the preparation of an emergency kit with essential supplies that can be easily transported to a shelter if needed. The Ministry of Education has also sent letters to schools outlining protocols for responding to incidents, a move criticized by several local media outlets as creating panic among the population.

Although Tuesday went by without further incident, there was a certain amount of tension. Early in the morning, air raid sirens sounded again in Akrotiri, although it was later announced that it was a false alarm. Throughout the day there was normal vehicle traffic, and no fighter jets took to the skies. However, an A-400 Atlas military transport aircraft did land at the RAF base and took off again some time later. That evening, the roar of F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets was heard as they took off from Akrotiri, reportedly to shoot down Iranian drones launched against Jordan, according to the Cypriot press.

Civil defense agents in the town of Akrotiri, next to the British air base, this Tuesday. Yiannis Kourtoglou (REUTERS)

Keir Starmers government also announced the deployment of the destroyer HMS Dragon along with two helicopters equipped with missiles designed to shoot down drones to protect Akrotiri, although the prime minister stressed that the base is not being used by the United States in its attacks on Iran.

The Iranian Embassy in Nicosia has neither confirmed nor denied its countrys role in the drone attack, but on Tuesday it issued a statement emphasizing that its relations with Cyprus have historically been cordial and constructive and that currently there have been no changes in that status. It also asserted that Iran does not undertake offensive actions, but rather that its actions are limited to the inherent right of self-defense.

Those who have already mobilized in support of Cyprus include Greece and France, which has announced the deployment of its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle. Athens sent four fighter jets and a transport plane to the Andreas Papandreou air base, near Paphos airport, on Monday. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias flew there on Tuesday to review the troops alongside his Cypriot counterpart, Vasilis Palmas. Cyprus is not a distant country, the Greek minister emphasized. These are difficult times for our region. But Greece wants to make it categorically clear that it intends to provide Cyprus with any assistance it can, to the best of its ability.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides explained that he has also requested assistance from the governments of France, Germany and Italy, and so far, Paris has pledged to send a frigate and anti-missile and anti-drone systems. Two Greek frigates are scheduled to arrive on the Cypriot coast on Wednesday, equipped with the Centauro drone neutralization system, which has already been tested in the Red Sea against drones used by the Houthis allied with Tehran. It has not gone unnoticed that one of the Greek frigates is named after Cimon, the 5th-century BC Athenian general whom Pericles sent to Cyprus to fight against the Persians.

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Indian airlines to operate 58 flights on March 4 amid Middle East crisis.

Schedules adjusted with alternative routes to avoid restricted airspace.

Over 1,200 flights canceled due to the ongoing conflict.

In response to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Indian airlines have announced plans to operate 58 flights to the Gulf region on March 4. This follows the cancellation of over 1,200 flights in the past week due to the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which has led to airspace restrictions.

On Tuesday, the government stated that airlines had made calibrated adjustments to their schedules. To facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, airlines have deployed additional capacity where necessary. They are working closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure the safe and orderly movement of passengers.

"Special arrangements are being made, and airlines are closely coordinating with aviation authorities to ensure safe operations", said the Civil Aviation Ministry in a statement. The ministry also highlighted that airfares are being monitored to prevent any undue surge in ticket prices during this period.

According to the statement, a total of 24 flights are being operated by Indian carriers today. Additionally, nine flights have been operated by Emirates and Etihad from the Gulf region in the past 24 hours. Indian carriers are taking necessary steps to resume long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations through alternative routes that avoid restricted airspace.

IndiGo will operate 30 of these, while Air India and Air India Express will handle 23. Foreign airlines also plan limited operations between India and the Gulf region, taking into account operational and airspace conditions. For March 4, a total of 58 flights are planned.of these, whileandwill handle 23. Foreign airlines also plan limited operations between India and the Gulf region, taking into account operational and airspace conditions.

The ministry reported that Indian carriers have cancelled 1,221 flights so far, along with 388 flights by foreign carriers. Since February 28, a total of 104 international flights were cancelled by Indian airlines, with 1,117 cancellations occurring over the past three days.

Airlines have been advised to maintain clear communication with passengers regarding flight cancellations, refunds, and rescheduling. They are also expected to assist affected passengers in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Air India announced on X that it would extend the suspension of most flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 11:59 PM IST on March 4, 2026. The airline assured that it would continue to monitor the situation closely and make further adjustments as needed.

The Civil Aviation Ministry is in constant touch with airlines, airport operators, regulatory bodies, and the External Affairs Ministry to ensure the safe resumption of services and to assist stranded passengers.
Pakistan continues its strong anti-India rhetoric despite the escalating US-Iran conflict.

Khawaja Asif claims India, Afghanistan, and Iran could form a threat against Pakistan.

Pakistan's political leaders warn of increasing security risks as tensions rise in the Middle East.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has sparked controversy by accusing India, Afghanistan, and Israel of forming a unified front against his country. On Tuesday, he shared his views on social media, suggesting that in the event of a regime change in Iran, the three nations would align to create a hostile environment for Pakistan.

Asif described the situation as part of a 'Zionist' agenda, claiming it aims to expand Israel's influence all the way to Pakistan's borders. In his post, Asif argued that despite Iran's willingness for diplomatic talks, a war has been imposed on the country. He pointed out that Irans struggle is being orchestrated by Zionist powers, with the ultimate goal of extending Israel's presence closer to Pakistan.

The Defence Minister also highlighted Pakistan's long-standing accusations against India, claiming that New Delhi has used the Taliban as a proxy. Asif expressed concern that if Iran's political situation shifts, it would lead to a dangerous alliance between Afghanistan, India, and Iran one that could severely jeopardize Pakistans security. "The joint single point agenda of Afghanistan, Iran, and India will be enmity towards Pakistan", he wrote, warning that such an alliance would encircle Pakistan with enemies on all sides and turn the country into a vassal state.

Khawaja Asif, known for his anti-India stance, called on all Pakistanis to be aware of this alleged conspiracy. He urged citizens to understand the intentions of what he called 'Pakistans eternal enemies'.

Pakistani targets. The fighting between the two nations has resulted in the deaths of at least 42 Afghan civilians, with 104 others injured, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. At the same time, Pakistan is embroiled in a growing conflict with its northern neighbor, Afghanistan. Tensions have escalated following Pakistani airstrikes on Taliban military sites in retaliation for attacks on. The fighting between the two nations has resulted in the deaths of at least 42 Afghan civilians, with 104 others injured, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

As these conflicts unfold, Pakistans security concerns continue to intensify, adding to the complexity of the regions already volatile political landscape.
On February 24, in an unprecedented exercise of parliamentary procedure, British MPs unleashed a tirade against a member of the royal family. Specifically, former Prince Andrew. But they went further, questioning for the first time who knew about his misdeeds, and since when.

The customs and practices of the House of Commons had been strictly enforced until then, preventing any opinions being expressed about the Windsor royal house. Until that week, when many citizens had to pinch themselves to make sure what they were seeing was real: the police arrested Queen Elizabeth IIs favorite son at his own home over his relationship with the disgraced American financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A rude, arrogant, and entitled man, who could not distinguish between the public interest which he said he served and his own private interest, was how Chris Bryant, the Labour governments Secretary of State for Trade, described Andrew. It was during this session that all parliamentary groups, without debate, backed a motion ordering the release of all documents related to the time the former prince served as the UKs Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, on the condition that these papers would not be made public until the conclusion of the ongoing official investigation into Andrews activities.

Thames Valley Police are investigating the former prince for alleged misconduct in public office. They suspect that Andrew leaked confidential government business information to his friend Epstein.

Bryants remarks made headlines. But far more significant was the second part of his statement: Of course, we knew much of what is now in the public domain a very long time ago. It is all very well for some of us to say: If only we had known then what we know now, but I am afraid that doesnt wash with me. We did actually have plenty of warning, the minister acknowledged.

Politicians looked the other way for a long time, but so did the royal family. And although Charles III has tried to erect a barrier to protect himself and the heir to the throne, Prince William, from the Andrew scandal, his brothers fall from grace has opened the floodgates. Questions are piling up about how Buckingham Palace handled this entire scandal over all these years (15 since the first photo linking the then-Duke of York to Epstein surfaced).

The royal household must begin to release all the documents received at Buckingham Palace relating to the time [Andrew] was special envoy for foreign trade. I know there are thousands of documents stored away. They should, among other things, begin to reveal all the internal complaints and criticisms they received for more than 15 years, historian Andrew Lownie  author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York (William Collins, 2025), a devastating and definitive 450-page indictment of the kings brother that already contained some of the information that now seems to have surprised so many  told EL PAIS. Until last December, they were still instructing the police not to speak to journalists. Now it seems theyve given instructions to do so. They must make it clear to everyone who participated in those trips with Andrew  agents, secretaries, butlers, everyone  that they are obligated to recount everything they saw, he added.

What Charles III knew and so did his mother

Now, self-serving leaks reveal that the current king opposed his brothers appointment to such a demanding and enticing mission as promoting foreign trade from the outset. In fact, Andrews main backer was his friend Peter Mandelson, a member of Tony Blairs Labour government. It was Mandelson, currently released on bail and under investigation by police for the same crime as the former prince  leaking confidential financial information to Epstein  who most strongly defended Andrews appointment. This occurred with the approval and support of Queen Elizabeth II, whose role in protecting and acquiescing to Andrew is becoming increasingly clear.

Not only in appointing him to that position, but also in maintaining his lifestyle, preserving his titles and privileges, or helping him pay the multimillion-dollar out-of-court settlement with which he tried to silence the sexual assault accusations filed against him by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epsteins victims.

Of course, its clear she covered everything up to protect him. Just a few days ago, the BBC revealed that the massages he received on his trips as a special envoy were paid for by the taxpayer. When the accountants tried to question these charges, the response was, Everything has been approved by the Queen, stop asking questions, Lownie says.

The doubts that arise go back to the reign of Elizabeth II, but they reveal above all a way of proceeding, on the part of all institutions, in which self-censorship or the presumption of what might or might not please the palace guided many decisions that today appear to be of poor judgment.

From what I can see, there are at least four government departments that have to provide answers. It was Downing Street [the residence and office of the prime minister, then Tony Blair] that appointed Andrew as special envoy in 2001. He held the post on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry. The Foreign Office arranged his travels. And security was provided by the Metropolitan Police, who reported to the Home Office, historian and documentary filmmaker Robert Hardman, author of Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, the most rigorous biography to date of the current king, told the BBC. Aside from all the questions that Buckingham Palace has to answer, they also have to provide answers. This is a very long queue.

Andrews arrest has pushed British institutions beyond a mere scandal, plunging them into a full-blown constitutional crisis. Any attempt to kick the can down the road, to buy time, will only increase the pressure from politicians, journalists, and citizens demanding answers that have been delayed for far too long.

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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Great Southern chases platinum group elements with deep WA drilling Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Andrew Todd March 4, 2026  3:48pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Great Southern Mining is probing deep at its East Laverton project in Western Australia, kicking off government co-funded diamond drilling to target a platinum group elements (PGEs) discovery. The program has started at the companys Diorite Hill target, with the drill bit expected to reach up to a whopping 900 metres deep. The diamond drilling rig on site at Great Southern Minings East Laverton project in Western Australia. Following completion of the hole, the rig will relocate to Great Southerns Golden Boulder target area within its Duketon gold project to deliver the first-ever deep drilling at the gold discovery. The company says up to $337,500 in exploration incentive grants have been awarded through a competitive process for drilling, with the funding covering both the Diorite Hill hole and the Golden Boulder program.

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(The) geological team has likened these target horizons to the Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. Great Southern Mining managing director Matthew Keane The diamond drilling at Diorite Hill is set to test two discrete reflective horizons identified from seismic surveys, which paint the prospect as a layered intrusive complex covering an extensive 110 square kilometres of rock sequences. These layered intrusive complexes are considered highly prospective for reef-style nickel-copper and PGE mineralisation. Great Southern says its target horizons mirror the world-class Merensky Reef in South Africas Bushveld Complex, displaying the same style of dense reflectors known to host rich platinum mineralisation  a key factor behind the governments decision to include the project in its incentive scheme. Local Western Australian analogues include the Munni Munni Complex in the Pilbara and the Chalice Mining-owned Gonneville Intrusion at Julimar, which holds a resource of 17 million ounces of PGEs and 960,000 tonnes of nickel.

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The company says that earlier shallow exploration at Diorite Hill failed to reach these large-style blind targets, which will hopefully now be uncorked by the monster 900m hole. At Golden Boulder, the diamond drilling will target key structures believed to control the gold mineralisation outlined in shallow drilling at the discovery. This marks the first deep diamond work in the area, where previous reverse circulation holes rarely went below 150m. Standout intercepts from recent reverse circulation drilling at Golden Boulder include a 5-metre hit at a hefty 14.57 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 41m, a 5-metre slice running 5.1g/t gold from 25m, and another 5-metre section grading 3.5 g/t gold from 39m. The Golden Boulder target lies along a prominent structural corridor in the Duketon Gold Belt, host to several multi-million-ounce operations on nearby tenure. The diamond drilling will provide the first deep stratigraphic and structural data across the Rosemont Shear Zone on the companys ground.

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Great Southern Mining managing director Matthew Keane said: At East Laverton, a single diamond hole at Diorite Hill will test several dense stratigraphic horizons that seismic and magnetic surveys have shown do not propagate to surface. GSNs geological team has likened these target horizons to the Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, known for its rich platinum mineralisation. The Duketon gold project is Great Southerns focus within its WA strategy. Across the country in Queensland, work programs are also ramping up to attack Great Southerns big Edinburgh Park gold project. The 1560-square-kilometre joint venture with Gold Fields has the gold mining giant spending $15 million on Great Southerns ground to earn up to a 75 per cent interest by funding exploration. The company initially outlined more than 25 high-priority targets across the big tenement package, focusing on potential large epithermal and intrusion-related gold systems, as well as porphyry-related gold-copper opportunities.

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Drilling is scheduled to resume after the north Queensland wet season, likely in March, with initial plans calling for at least two deep diamond holes to test the core of a geophysical anomaly and beneath it. With diamond drilling now underway at Diorite Hill, before moving on to Golden Boulder, Great Southern is highly leveraged to further deep drilling discoveries. Notably, all of its Duketon projects sit within 40 kilometres of operating mills and major operations, giving the company a range of value-adding paths should a discovery emerge. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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BusinessThe economyMiddle East at war Opinion Bad energy: Trump will be forced to end his reckless war very soon

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard March 4, 2026  7:10pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

It is more than a little careless for Donald Trump to hurl the Middle East into chaos without first filling up the US strategic petroleum reserve. Stocks are near their lowest level in 40 years. It is even more careless to launch this war of choice when the Gulfs oil industry lacks the pipeline infrastructure to replace dependence on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and when there is zero spare capacity in the rest of the world. President Donald Trump promised to fill the US strategic petroleum reserve right to the top when he took office. Yet he failed to do so even when prices were low and the cycle was his friend. AP Jim Burkhard, the head of oil markets at S&P Global Energy, said the war threatens to set off the worst oil supply crisis of the modern age, outstripping even the Arab oil embargo of 1973 or the first Gulf War in 1990. Never before has Iran shut down the choke-point controlling a fifth of the worlds oil and seaborne gas supply. If the reduction in tanker traffic continues for a week or so it will be historic. Beyond that, it would be epochal for the oil market, he said.

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Not a single tanker of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has run the gauntlet through the strait since the war began. The cargo tracking group Vortexa warned that there is no way of replacing the supply from Qatar. Related Article Energy Drone strike on key Qatari plant reignites global gas crunch fears Destruction in the LNG market will be immediate and immense, it said. A few oil tankers have made it through but that trickle is unlikely to continue after the Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed to burn any ship that moves in or out of the Gulf. Lloyds List said tanker rates on the VLCC index have exploded to $US420,000 ($598,000) a day, but that is academic because the route is now uninsurable. Helima Croft, from RBC Capital, said the Middle Easts energy exports are essentially stranded assets until the US comes up with a plan to protect shipping.

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She advised markets to expect cascading outages of critical supplies. This risks pushing crude prices through $US100 a barrel, catching up with the wild spike already seen in the European gas market where benchmark TTF contracts have almost doubled since mid-February. Goldman Sachs says global LNG prices could double again from here to $US25 per million British thermal units. Should that happen, Europe faces a ruinous bill refilling its heavily depleted gas stocks in time for next winter, with much of the windfall revenue going to US shale gas frackers and liquefaction companies. Do we gnash our teeth or scream? The US Navy was able to protect flows through the Gulf with convoys during the tanker war of 1987-88  but that was to ship crude going mostly to the US and Europe. To do so today would be to protect supplies headed for China and India.

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Experts know that the precise destination of each ship scarcely matters for the global price. Oil and LNG gas are fungible commodities, subject to instant arbitrage on electronic markets. But it would be very hard for Trump to explain to his MAGA base why he has got America entangled in a war where US warships must escort tankers going to Shanghai. Related Article Opinion

Middle East at war Markets are down on Iran war, but the slump could be a lot worse Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist The problem is larger than the Strait of Hormuz in any case. Drone attacks by Iran have forced the closure of Qatars LNG export terminal at Ras Laffan, as well as the Saudi oil refinery at Ras Tanura. This is a foretaste of what could come as drones change the nature of modern warfare. The Trump administration is learning the hard way that swarms of cheap drones can quickly exhaust the US arsenal of expensive air defence interceptors, a form of asymmetric attrition known as firing gold at plastic. The US is reportedly wasting Patriots worth $US4 million ($5.7 million)  badly needed in other theatres  to shoot down $US20,000 Shahed-136 drones. What we dont know is whether Iran has been able to shield a reserve of its most destructive drones for later attacks on Saudi Arabias energy infrastructure. The dangers are obvious.

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The worlds greatest concentration of oil pipelines and processing facilities lies around Abqaiq in a region with a large population of marginalised Shiite Arabs, a community with longstanding religious ties to Iranian clergy. These plants have been attacked before by Iranian proxies and sleeper cells. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may get his posthumous revenge. It is astonishing that Trump precipitated this energy crisis while so badly prepared at home. He promised to fill the US strategic petroleum reserve right to the top when he took office. Yet he failed to do so even when prices were low and the cycle was his friend. US oil reserves remain at depleted levels. AP The reserve remains heavily depleted at 415 million barrels. The US Energy Department says the minimum safe level in peacetime is around 500 million barrels.

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Meanwhile, China has been filling its strategic reserve at a blistering pace of one million barrels a day for the last year. It has ordered commercial companies to fill their inventories as well. The country has at least 1.5 billion barrels in storage. Related Article Middle East at war Australians stranded in Middle East by Iran war consider travel options The giant stockpile is intended to reduce US energy leverage in a conflict over Taiwan, but it serves perfectly to cushion the blow from Trumps Gulf war instead. Xi Jinping can comfortably tough out a global oil shock for longer than Trump can endure the political heat of exorbitant petrol prices in America. Irans Revolutionary Guard know this and  if they can survive  have every incentive to hunker down until Trump reaches his pain threshold. They know that he has no tolerance for oil prices anywhere near $100 a barrel in an election year, and no political tolerance for US military casualties. They know that he launched this war without consulting Congress or making a plausible case to the American people and against the protests of allies. He did so at the behest of Israels Benjamin Netanyahu and on the basis of claims invented on the hoof and mostly in flat contradiction of earlier assessments by US intelligence agencies.

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Trump said he had to act in the face of imminent threats to the US, but none is believable. The prize for the most daring lie goes to his negotiator Steve Witkoff, who said Iran was probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material. Were we not told that the Fordow nuclear site had been obliterated last June by 14 bunker-busting bombs? Trump says the military onslaught will continue for four to five weeks, or longer: until all his objectives, whatever they may be, are achieved. The biggest casualty of all is going to be the global oil and gas industry. One moment he is exhorting Irans youth to go out into the streets and brave the live fire of the Basij militia. We have seen that murderous movie before, in Hungary in 1956, or with Iraqs Marsh Arabs in the first Gulf War.

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The next moment, Trump is mulling the idea of keeping the killing machine in place after all, invoking the Venezuela model of decapitation and co-option as the perfect, perfect solution. Either way, the Iranian regime has agency of its own. The replacement head of the Revolutionary Guard is the hardest of hardliners, the furthest you could imagine from Venezuelas pliant and biddable Delcy Rodriguez. Related Article Opinion

AI Trump declares war on one of his weapons Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist My assumption is that Trump will be forced to the table long before those four weeks are up  and perhaps within days  and will present a partial retreat as a giant victory. For the 80 per cent of the global population living in countries that depend on net oil and gas imports, this wild episode is an unanswerable reminder of why it is folly to rely on a costly and technologically obsolete source of energy from the least stable region of the world.

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China will accelerate its push for renewable and nuclear power and the total electrification of land transport. So will much of Asia. So will most of Europe, since it does not wish to depend on Trumps LNG for a moment longer than it has to. The biggest casualty of all is going to be the global oil and gas industry. Telegraph, London The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
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CultureTV & radioReality TV After toxic groom Tyson, a bride is taken to task for being vicious and humiliating Tahlia Pritchard Updated March 5, 2026  2:01pm ,first published March 5, 2026  12:49am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The most compelling and somewhat terrifying thing about a show such as Married at First Sight is that your favourites are rarely ever safe. One moment, youre cheering for a couple at their wedding and the next, youre watching open-mouthed as the bride screams at her husband for having devil eyes, while also disclosing he still sleeps with a teddy bear. Laura Byrne, Brittany Hockley and Jules Lund host MAFS: After the Dinner Party. If Juliette Favas backflip on intruder groom Joel Moses left you scratching your head, the two came face-to-face after the dinner party from hell, to explain things to MAFS: After the Dinner Party hosts Laura Byrne, Brittany Hockley and Jules Lund. So, did things get resolved? Heres what you missed. A Star Is Born: The Sequel, featuring Juliette and Joel It all started with drumming over dildos. Yes, you read that right. Juliette got the ick for Joel, after seeing a video of him drumming with dildos, and decided she needed some space from his alleged performative nature and devil eyes.

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Editor's pick Reality TV Plibersek blasts MAFS for featuring contestant who wanted a woman obedient like a dog As they argued before she left their apartment, Joel said, You dont see the star in me, you dont see the light. Fast-forward to the dinner party, and Juliette recounts this incident to the wider group, saying Joel screamed at her, Well, Im the STAR of the show. Speaking with Laura, Britt and Jules on the lounge, Joel denied hes putting on a performance. Im not trying to be anybody else, he said. Im putting myself out there, Im not going to hide. It doesnt mean Im a ball of gas in the sky. Enter Juliette, slightly remorseful for accusing her husband of saying something he never actually said, while also, at some stage, labelling him a c---. Britt and Laura take no prisoners in this show, as youd know if you watched them grill traditional groom Tyson last week.

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Labelling Juliettes behaviour as vicious, humiliating and degrading, Britt and Laura have one major question, and its the question many fans are thinking: Why? Joel and Juliette in MAFS: After the Dinner Party. Day by day, I was suffering internally because Joels character was a lot for me to handle, Juliette explained. Every day I was feeling less like myself, more caged  theres not even one thing to pinpoint it, Ill turn the whole group against him Easily the best part of After the Dinner Party is the unseen footage that adds context to some chaotic moments. This time, we see Juliette and Joel squabbling, then Juliette demanding an apology and space, and Joel walking off to leave her alone.

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As a producer rushes in to see if shes OK, Juliette lets it all out. Hes trying to pin me into being the villain, she raged. Im done, Im going to villainise him. Ill turn the whole group against him. Watching it back, Juliette said she wasnt coping with the pressures of the social experiment. I went explosive, and you copped it, she told Joel. An interesting apology, but sure. As a palate cleanser, Joels teddy bear gets dumped I dont think Teddy wants to be involved in any of this. Laura Byrne holds Joels teddy bear in MAFS: After the Dinner Party.

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Stephanie on what its like to become the surprising face of feminism Stephanie Marshall also showed up to chat with Laura and Britt after their feisty interview with her traditional husband Tyson the week earlier. Related Article Reality TV Submissive or traditional? MAFS toxic groom is served a valuable lesson Itll come as no surprise to anybody, but its pretty clear we all had some issues with Tyson, said Britt. I could barely get through our very short conversation, let alone live with him, marry him, go on a honeymoon. Stephanie either has the patience of a saint or theyre connecting on some level we havent seen. While Stephanie and Tyson were matched on their similar, conservative views (they both like Trump and despise woke culture), the two have clashed, with Tyson labelling Stephanies energy as too masculine.

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Theres only so many times you can hear it before you start believing it for yourself, Stephanie said. With Stephanie not afraid to pull Tyson up for his conservative views around gender roles and gay relationships, the anti-woke Brisbane realtor has  ironically  emerged with the one label she never wanted: feminist. Im not anti-feminist, she said. Im just not into the extremities of things. Britt and Laura call Gia out for flaking  again One of the ongoing MAFS storylines this season is the animosity between Bec Zacharia and Gia Fleur, with the two following an extreme-enemies-to-friends-to-enemies arc. Britt and Laura revealed Gia accepted their offer to appear on After the Dinner Party again, before cancelling for a third time.

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Roll the unseen footage! In the new footage, we see an annoyed Gia at the hens party call Alissa Fay a f---ing fool, before labelling Alissa and Bec as weird bitches. So, what brought on this bitter spray? No one really knows. Gia, who has been stirring up trouble, with her husband Scott. But what Laura does point out is that Gia has been ground zero when it comes to stirring up trouble. The big thing with Gia is the repeat behaviour, she said. Its every single week and [there are] so many moments that could have gone unnoticed. As Laura rightfully points out, Gia has had her perfectly manicured fingers in a piece of every pie  from Bec and Danny Hewitts relationship drama, to Brook Cromptons tirade against Alissa and Stella Mickunaite, and even Juliettes attack on Joel. Whos there in the background constantly egging it on? Miss Gia, of course.

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At the center of the dispute is a Chinese undersea cable project that drew strong objections from the Trump administration

Tensions between Chiles outgoing leftwing president, Gabriel Boric, and the incoming farright president, Jose Antonio Kast, escalated sharply just days before the transfer of power. Although their political positions are polar opposites, both had maintained a formal and respectful dialogue since Kast won the December election with 58% of the vote.

That changed during a bilateral meeting at La Moneda Palace, where conflicting accounts emerged regarding a Chinese submarine cable project. Boric claims he warned Kast before the United States sanctioned three officials on February 20, while Kast insists he was never informed  only told after the problem had already arisen. The dispute led Kast to break off the transition process, which is unprecedented in Chiles recent history. Even during the transition from dictatorship to democracy in 19891990, political dialogue was never severed.

We ended the transition process because we dont trust the information being given to us. We require a more thorough audit and more information, Kast said on Tuesday.

The president-elect suspended all scheduled meetings between current ministers and their incoming counterparts after a brief 22minute meeting with President Boric at La Moneda. Kast also announced the creation of an administrative task force, led by his future interior minister, Claudio Alvarado, to gather all available data not only from ministries but also from oversight bodies such as the Transparency Council and the Comptrollers Office. The goal is to obtain as much information as possible and compare it with what they receive once they take office.

The concerns extend beyond the Chinese submarine cable project to sensitive issues such as public finances and civilservice appointments that, according to Kast, the current government is securing to prevent dismissals. In effect, Kast has launched an investigation into the outgoing administration.

Jose Antonio Kast at a press conference in Santiago, Chile, this Tuesday. Ailen Diaz (EFE)

President Boric accused Kast of using a deliberate strategy to create tension in the transfer of power, while stressing that his government remained fully available, for the good of Chile, to hold all the meetings that are necessary. After the incident, Boric immediately addressed the press to present his version of events, emphasizing that it was Kast who chose to end their meeting and leave La Moneda with his closest advisers.

Political scientist Ernesto Ottone, a key adviser during the government of Ricardo Lagos, argues: What happened reveals a lack of judgment on both sides and casts a shadow over the transfer of power. He adds: There can always be friction, but not a factual confrontation that confuses the public in a risky and dangerous world where Chile needs democratic resilience, serenity, prudence, and autonomy.

Conflicting versions of events

The dispute between China and the United States over technological influence forms the backdrop to the latest tensions in Chile. On February 20, the U.S. administration announced visa restrictions against three Chilean government officials, including Borics minister of transport and telecommunications, Juan Carlos Munoz.

The United States is committed to countering attempts to undermine regional security and subvert sovereignty, the U.S. State Department said in a press release, explaining the sanctions against the officials who, according to Washington, knowingly directed, authorized, funded, provided significant support to, and/or carried out activities that compromised critical telecommunications infrastructure and undermined regional security in our hemisphere.

Since the U.S. sanctions were announced, the Boric administration has provided only partial explanations of what happened and has been forced to clarify details as the press uncovered information about the project, which had not been publicly disclosed. The controversy fueled 10 days of political tension surrounding the ChileChina Express, a proposed submarine fiberoptic cable promoted by China Mobile International (CMI). The project aims to transmit data underwater between continents, spanning nearly 13,000 miles from Concon, in Chiles Valparaiso region, to Hong Kong.

Chiles transport minister had signed the decree to launch the concession on January 27  something the government did not initially reveal  but the process was later halted before reaching the Comptrollers Office, for reasons that remain unclear.

Gabriel Boric at La Moneda Palace, this Tuesday. Pablo Sanhueza (REUTERS)

The trigger for the breakdown between Boric and Kast was an interview Boric gave to the television channel Mega. In it, he claimed that a few weeks before the United States announced sanctions, he had informed Kast in a phone call about what was happening with the Chinese cable project. Kast arrived at La Moneda on Tuesday demanding that Boric publicly retract the statement  framed by the right as a request for clarification. When Boric refused, the presidentelect ended the meeting and cancelled all subsequent transition sessions.

Kast later acknowledged that the phone call had indeed taken place  on February 18, just two days before the news broke, not weeks before as Boric had said  but insisted that the issue had been mentioned only superficially.

Official information has been released only in dribs and drabs. After the failed meeting between Boric and Kast, Minister Munoz appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday to present his account of the sequence of events and revealed details that had not been previously disclosed. He stated that three U.S. officials had warned the Chilean government about national and regional security risks associated with the submarine cable project. He also said that the decree authorizing the concession was halted after the U.S. Embassy in Chile informed them of seven alleged Chinaorigin cyberattacks that had affected telecommunications and construction companies.

For political journalist Ascanio Cavallo, the president-elect will have to weigh whether the temptation to prosecute the outgoing government contradicts the purpose of initiating an emergency government, as he so successfully defined it during the election campaign.

According to Ottone, The worst outcome would be a harsh government approach fueled by paranoid fears and an intransigent, fanatical opposition. But he adds: There have also been gestures and statements in another direction that could foreshadow a more democratic dialogue in line with the countrys needs. Lets hope the latter prevails.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
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Analysis CultureTV & radioRadio The four words that destroyed a decades-long partnership Michael Idato March 4, 2026  10:50am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

As the 27-year on-air relationship between Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson began to implode in real time, the heart of the matter - and the reason the broken partnership may be irreparable  comes down to just four words: I wouldnt do that. I would never say things like that about you, a tearful Henderson said, as an audience often measured in the millions was listening, after Sandilands accused her on air of losing focus on her job. Its a total attack, it really is. Thats an attack and I wouldnt do that. Her voice breaking, the substance and severity of the moment was palpable. The duo before it all went wrong. Facebook Henderson is right on that point: for more than two-and-a-half decades she has stood in dutiful silence by Sandilands side, through scandals and damaging headlines. Regardless of your opinion of either, Hendersons loyalty to the working relationship has always been evident: never commenting, never criticising. Now, in the wake of what looks like one final wrecking ball, not even a $100 million pay cheque will persuade Henderson to return. Despite breaches of decency standards, accusations of violent misogyny and offensive radio content and repeated breaches identified by the radio watchdog Australian Communications and Media Authority, for 27 years Jackie O was Kyles ride-or-die. A week ago, in a spectacular and brutal fashion, she found out the hard way that he was not hers.

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Radio ratings Kyle and Jackie O break-up not engineered says source, staff overjoyed at implosion Once upon a time, the story of Kyle and Jackie O was the story of the bogan kid who blundered about making a charming buffoon of himself, and the polished, doe-eyed girl-next-door, whose presence at his side seemed to temper the worst opinions of him. After all, if she liked him, he couldnt really be that bad, right? The marketing sold you the idea she was the diamond in his rough. Their chemistry, and the way their personalities worked in balance, was pure radio alchemy. Despite radios tendency to reheat the format everywhere, enduring on-air partnerships are rare: Jonesy and Amanda, Merrick and Rosso, Roy and HG, Martin and Molloy. Sandilands perceived weakness  that he either phoned it in from his LA home, or turned up at showtime seemingly unprepared  was actually his strength. He walked through everything with the audience, experiencing it in real time alongside them. And her perceived weakness  that she tolerated his awfulness  was actually her secret armour. Sandilands served as the lightning rod, while Henderson took no damage.

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In time, however, things shifted. Sandilands returned to Australia from the USA, married (and divorced, and remarried) and became a father. Henderson, meanwhile, began to broaden her focus with a separate podcast, producing curated events and talking about astrology  the topic which triggered Sandilands empire-wrecking outburst. His entourage, and their shambolic headline-grabbing parties, faded into the ether of gossip column history. She, meanwhile, was transitioning into a lifestyle-focused brand. And one day they woke up and perhaps not even realising it, each had become the other; one anchored to the studio, the other looking beyond. And both leashed to a $200 million contract that would keep them together until 2034. Loading Before moving to the United States, I encountered them both professionally at various times in their working lives. My takeout was often that neither was the person their on-air personas made them out to be. Sandilands is played up as a villain but in truth, in person, was always personable and charming. Henderson was friendly but sometimes seemed too good to be true. After all, I would think to myself, if Sandilands was not always doing the heavy lifting in the meetings that often produced such dire outcomes, then someone else had to be.

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Thats not to say I ever really knew either of them truly. But it is clear that in radio, as with television, the celebrity machine turns people into caricatures, the truth discarded in favour of something that better fits the brief. And in the case of the Kyle & Jackie O Show, the brief was good girl, bad guy. Related Article Good Weekend The stigma that will come with sharing this  I dont care: Jackie O opens up The sad epitaph to the story is that the most successful radio partnership in Australian history, whatever you may think of it, now lies in ruins. Opinions of them, and the tone of their show, run the spectrum of thought. But like all marriages built on the insubstantial magic of alchemy, it was doomed from the first spark to end in divorce. When it was extraordinary, it set a benchmark in commercial radio. A business partnership that, regardless of the moral outcomes, made everybody a lot of money, in a business intended to make everybody a lot of money. But when it didnt work, it was strained to breaking point. And when it imploded last week, the wheels fell off. Think for a moment about Liam and Noel Gallagher, whose schism broke Oasis, one of the greatest bands of all time. Or the tempestuous marriage of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, which crashed in flames not once but twice. Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. Lennon and McCartney. Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. The list is long.

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When success is built on the bedrock of chemistry, its a dangerous game. With every precaution, you cant be surprised when  occasionally  the whole place explodes. As Henderson herself might say, it was written in the stars. Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.
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EnvironmentSustainabilityEndangered species Revealed: How salmon politics trumped the environment Caitlin Fitzsimmons March 4, 2026  12:50pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The Albanese government overruled advice from its own environment department before the 2025 election that it should put the brake on salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania, documents released under freedom of information laws reveal. The formal advice to then environment minister Tanya Plibersek in early 2025 said the expansion of salmon farming since 2012 was damaging world heritage wilderness and threatening the survival of the ancient Maugean skate, an endangered species found only in that harbour. Salmon farming in the waters of Macquarie Harbour in the south-west of Tasmania. Joe Armao The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water briefing recommended that the minister should revoke a 2012 decision by the former Gillard Labor government that the expansion of salmon farming did not need an assessment under federal environmental laws. The minister could substitute it with a new decision under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, but this would require a full reassessment, and the advice made it clear that salmon farming would have to cease pending the new approval. The harbour produces 12 per cent of the states salmon at aquaculture farms owned by three companies  Huon Aquaculture, Tassal and Petuna.

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Rather than have Plibersek make a decision either in accordance with or against the departmental advice, the Albanese government rushed through special legislation to protect the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour, with the support of the Coalition. Former South Australian senator Rex Patrick who made the FOI application and fought its refusal in the Administrative Review Tribunal said the findings were explosive. The Albanese government passed special legislation to protect salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. Rebecca Howarth Its a betrayal of the skate, its slap in the face for the department, and its risking extinction for political interests and to continue an operation that involves vested interests, Patrick said. They brought in bad law to avoid making a decision that was in contrast to the department.

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Plibersek was forced to seek the departmental advice after three organisations  think-tank Australia Institute, and environmental groups Bob Brown Foundation and Australian Marine Conservation Society  formally requested a review of the 2012 decision on the basis of new evidence. This included the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania sounding the warning in 2023 on a calamitous decline in Maugean skate numbers in the harbour because of salmon farming decreasing oxygen to dangerously low levels. As soon as the Maugean skate was discovered it was declared endangered. Dr Neville Barrett Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally wrote to the three salmon companies operating in the harbour to promise the special legislation in February 2025, after previously suggesting the legal process would run its course. In the lead-up to the election, Albanese was highly visible at campaign events in western Tasmania and in the media pledging his support for Tasmanias salmon industry. He pointed to updated research from the IMAS published in February 2025, reporting an uptick in skate numbers, and provided millions in public funding for oxygenation projects.

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The salmon industry directly provides about 2000 jobs, many in rural and remote parts of the state, and produces nearly 75,000 tonnes of fish a year, Tasmanian state government figures show. The Albanese government promised no new extinctions on its watch in its first term. Related Article Agriculture Thousands of dead fish, a $37m federal promise and an animal close to extinction: Australias salmon war gets ugly A government spokesperson in the office of Environment Minister Murray Watt, who took over from Plibersek after the May 2025 election, said the departmental advice was no longer relevant. The Albanese Government wants to see a sustainable salmon industry that supports workers and their families, while protecting the environment, the spokesperson said. The submission from the department provided in early 2025 was from a single point in time under a legislative framework that is no longer in place. Changes to the EPBC Act commenced in March 2025.

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Watt announced last August that salmon farming would be able to continue in Macquarie Harbour, ending the review without changing the 2012 decision. NWTAS for Clean Oceans is challenging that in the Federal Court, with the case expected to be heard in the second half of the year. The environment group paved the way for the FOI release because it recently won access to the same document in its Federal Court case. Patrick, who styles himself as the transparency warrior, won an earlier case in the tribunal when he challenged the governments refusal of his FOI request for the 2023 initial departmental advice on Macquarie Harbour. Related Article Australia votes Labor romped home in Tassie. The PMs salmon move worked Despite his earlier win, Patrick said, the government refused the 2025 application on the same grounds. Patrick again went to the tribunal, but proceedings ended on Monday when the government finally agreed to release the document.

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Im of the view that there was strategy in the refusal, Patrick said. Delay is the enemy of FOI. You end up with something that youre looking for thats contemporary in nature, and it ends up being delivered to you in an historical context. And thats what we see here, although the brief is relatively explosive still. Get to the heart of whats happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter.
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Eating outRestaurant news Three-Michelin-starred American restaurant coming to Sydney with $690 menu First came the LEnclume residency. Now Bathers Pavilion will host a lauded Californian fine diner, complete with its showstopping signature floral course. Callan Boys March 5, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Bathers Pavilion doesnt do a restaurant collaboration by halves. After partnering with three-Michelin-starred British restaurant LEnclume for sold-out residencies in 2023 and 2025, the Balmoral Beach fine-diner will host Californias much lauded SingleThread over four weeks from late July. These residencies are cumulative, says Bathers Pavilion managing director Jessica Shirvington. Each one aims to raise the bar. SingleThread's elaborate hassun course. John Troxell SingleThread is run by husband-and-wife Kyle and Katina Connaughton in Sonoma County, a two-hour drive north of San Francisco. The farm-driven restaurant opened in 2016 and was awarded a third Michelin star in 2018, which it retains today. It shares first place on La Liste, the Paris-based global dining guide, with New Yorks Le Bernardin and nine other restaurants. According to The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list, its also North Americas Best in the West.

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Californian seasonality through a Japanese lens is the elevator pitch, but that barely touches on the Connaughtons ambition to showcase produce harvested from their 10-hectare regenerative farm. The farms greenhouses, orchards and expansive floral program shape every aspect of the dining experience. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Husband-and-wife team Kyle and Katina Connaughton. At SingleThread, we say we tell the story of today through the eyes of the farmer  really through Katinas eyes, says Kyle. Guests experience ingredients harvested at peak season that morning, and feel a sense of time within that place  but also within the dining room. Heirloom vegetables and botanicals for the residency are already being grown at Bathers Pavilions own farm, Rotherwood, in the Southern Highlands. Bathers executive chef Aaron Ward will travel with a small kitchen and front-of-house team to Sonoma to work on menu development with SingleThread over several weeks in April. Kyles career includes a spell as head chef of research and development at The Fat Duck under Heston Blumenthal, plus several years cooking in Japan at traditional kaiseki restaurants and with French master of la cuisine du terroir Michel Bras.

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SingleThread restaurant in Sonomas Healdsburg in California. Much of what we do at SingleThread is deeply informed by our time in Japan, says Kyle. It informs our cooking techniques, flavour development and how we build dishes. It also informs our hospitality  a warm, genuine style of service. We do all of that in a way that feels authentically Californian. Were excited to bring that to Sydney and see how it aligns with the space at Bathers Pavilion  how the Californian and Japanese perspectives can come together. The Connaughtons will bring a large brigade to Sydney for the collaboration at Bathers, where the dining room will be reimagined with custom ceramics, flatware and new art installations. Meanwhile, the wine program will draw connections between Sonoma and Australia alongside Japanese sake and select Old World bottles. Related Article Meet Michelin-starred punk rockers Kyle and Katina Connaughton from California's SingleThread restaurant

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The 10-course tasting menu is $690 per guest before drinks, equivalent to the restaurants price in California. Each meal will begin with SingleThreads signature hassun course, a seasonal kaiseki-inspired showcase of up to 10 delicately composed bites. Its presented on a beautiful floral board of tiny bowls featuring whats in season at the farm. We start with a mixture of wood, moss, floral material and outdoor elements, combined with small bites that are a snapshot of today, says Connaughton. Guests arrive to their first course presented on these structures. Its something weve developed over time, coordinating wooden structures with floral material, and we look forward to recreating that in Sydney. Its very unique. Connaughton says he and Katina have done many collaborations around the world  in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe, North and South America  but never at this scale or duration. Its almost like were creating another restaurant together. Its not Bathers Pavilion and its not SingleThread  its something else entirely.

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The SingleThread residency will run Tuesday to Sunday across lunch and dinner, from July 28 to August 23. Bookings open March 12 at 10am via the Bathers Pavilion website or by phone on 02 9969 5050. A presale window will be available to Bathers Pavilion database members  subscribe for first-release access.
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NationalHealthcare Beyond the mammogram: How AI is spotting hidden breast cancer risks Henrietta Cook March 5, 2026  5:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

An artificial intelligence tool that can predict who is at high risk of developing breast cancer in the four years following an all-clear mammogram has been heralded as the most significant step in reducing deaths in decades. The tool, known as BRAIx, works by searching for patterns in breast mammograms to detect signals for risk the human eye cant see. It was developed by Australian researchers using mammograms from nearly 400,000 women, and then tested on data from almost 96,000 women. Helen Frazer, director of St Vincents BreastScreen and project lead of the BRAIx study Eugene Hyland This allows the technology to overcome the limitations of current screening methods, which can struggle to detect early signs of cancer in dense breasts. The findings, published in The Lancet medical journal on Wednesday, found that one in 10 women with the highest AI risk scores developed cancer within four years  even after receiving an all-clear breast screen.

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This is the same level of risk that people with known genetic mutations such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 have. Machine eyes are able to detect those patterns of risk and early cancer with much greater accuracy than the human eye, said lead investigator Associate Professor Helen Frazer, of St Vincents BreastScreen Melbourne. We think this has the potential to be the most significant step in reducing deaths from breast cancer since the breast cancer screening program started in Australia in the early 90s, she said. The AI tool provides a personalised risk score of developing breast cancer that can be updated after each screening, and can also reduce unnecessary investigations such as further imaging and biopsies. About 75 per cent of women flagged with a suspicion of cancer using current screening protocols received a low-risk score from the AI tool. Only 1 per cent of this cohort went on to develop cancer within four years.

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Related Article Women's health This surgery could slash the risk of the deadliest female cancer by almost 80% Frazer said the tool was not troubled by dense breast tissue, which can appear the same white colour as cancer on mammograms, making it difficult for radiologists to detect. People with dense breasts are also at a higher risk of developing breast cancer because it is believed they have more glandular tissue where cancer can form. While AI is already being trialled to detect breast cancer, Frazer says the personalised risk-prediction tool is the next frontier. Doctors currently use a patients age, family history and a breast density score to create a lifetime risk score of developing breast cancer. But Frazer says this can be inaccurate and overstate risk for some women, while understating it in others.

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Jess Armstrong was 35 when she discovered a small lump under her armpit. Her GP referred her to an ultrasound and a specialist, and six days later she was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Jess Armstrong was 35 when she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer and began chemotherapy treatment. Simon Schluter Im not on paper someone who would be described as high risk, the mother of two from Melbournes south-east said. Armstrong, who has been cancer-free since her October 2024 mastectomy, said the AI tool would reduce the immense psychological strain on patients by providing them with more accurate risk scores.

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Breast cancer, if its contained to the breast, wont kill you, she said. Its when it gets out that it becomes terminal. Early detection is everything. Her experience with breast cancer inspired her to create a low-toxic skincare line called FUCA (which stands for f--- you, cancer). Frazer acknowledges that receiving a high-risk AI score can be stressful. But she said this knowledge also empowered women to have contrast-enhanced mammograms or breast MRI to ensure early detection. Though she would like to see the tool rolled out across the country within five years, the technology wont replace the need for radiologists, who will still have oversight over the scans. Its really an AI-assisted or augmented partnership between machine eyes and human eyes, Frazer said.

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Associate Professor Davis McCarthy, whose team at St Vincents Institute of Medical Research led the AI model development, believes a personalised AI approach could save even more lives. Related Article Exclusive

Healthcare Im grieving my old body: How a young woman lost her ovary to a surgeon now under investigation By taking this approach, we can improve early cancer detection, reduce false alarms, and potentially save lives without increasing costs, he said. While more studies are needed before it is considered for use in routine care, BRAIxs ultimate goal is to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer to zero. Vicki Durston, Breast Cancer Network Australias director of policy and advocacy, said the current national screening program was outdated as it followed a one-size-fits-all approach.

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She said she was thrilled by the new research, which she said could revolutionise the way we screen for breast cancer based on a persons risk. It opens the door to a deeper understanding of who may be at higher risk in the years ahead, she said. We want to move towards a model where we understand those women at a higher risk and give them access to screening that meets their needs. Australian women aged 40 and over are eligible for free mammograms every two years, but are not actively invited to participate in the program because they are more likely to have dense breast tissue that makes cancer harder to detect. Women aged between 50 and 74 are invited to access the screening program.

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Australias breast screening program has reduced breast cancer deaths by about 40 to 50 per cent in women aged 50 to 74, but there are concerns that the take-up remains too low at 52 per cent. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

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Cancer Henrietta Cook is a senior reporter covering health for The Age. Henrietta joined The Age in 2012 and has previously covered state politics, education and consumer affairs. , Facebook or email. Connect via X
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NationalNSWPublic transport Binoculars out, lasers in: How Sydney Trains plans to stop the meltdowns Matt O'Sullivan March 5, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

New laser devices to detect faults in overhead wiring across Sydneys train network have been rolled out in a bid to avoid a repeat of a failure that crippled passenger services for days last year. Coinciding with Sundays 100th anniversary of the first electric passenger train in Sydney, the French-made equipment is aimed at bolstering the accuracy, speed and safety of assessing potential thin-wire spots across the 1700-kilometre electrified rail network. Workers used the new laser devices to check overhead wiring. Audrey Richardson The roll-out of 22 laser devices is part of $423 million in measures the state government is taking following a scathing review of Sydney Trains handling of a meltdown of the passenger rail network, caused by an overhead wiring failure at Homebush, in May last year. Until now, crews have had to use binoculars during visual inspections of overhead wiring, which also relied on workers judgment.

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The binoculars used by rail staff to carry out inspections were found by the independent review to be insufficient for the job, and failed to detect the thin wire which led to the crippling of the rail network for several days last May. Transport Minister John Graham said the new technology meant the chance of inspections missing a thin wire was now much smaller. A worker shows Transport Minister John Graham (left) and Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland a hand-held laser device. Audrey Richardson The chance of failure with these binoculars really was much, much higher than these laser devices, he said. Now, it is possible to really spot the problem well before it develops. Graham conceded there were no guarantees that a major disruption would not happen again, but without doing this work, we could guarantee failure.

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The main advantage of the lasers is the accuracy in detecting thin wires and the speed of inspections, which more than halved the time needed for spot measurements. The spot measurements before with the previous devices would often miss a thin wire, Graham said. This is a crucial step because it deals with exactly what happened in May. Sydney and surrounding areas have more than 1700 kilometres of overhead wiring for trains. Audrey Richardson The pantograph incident at Homebush triggered two days of chaos across the network. Anthony Segaert Since the failure last May, Sydney Trains has declared a number of critical maintenance zones, including in the Homebush-Strathfield corridor, where multiple lines converge and the failure occurred last year.

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In the past six months, the passenger train operator has fixed more than 1700 defects, which compares to a target of 1557. Related Article Exclusive

Public transport How a fix for Sydney Trains troubled nerve centre was scaled back months before meltdown Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said overhead wiring could be challenging for maintenance crews to inspect, given the extent of the rail network and the high voltages carried by the overhead wires. This [laser device] is absolutely accurate, he said. As youre scanning the wire, it tells the operator exactly how thick the wire is. They can check particularly forking points, where two wires come together  which is where we get wear on the wire from the pantograph of the train. That was the issue that we had at Homebush. This kind of device will eliminate that kind of error. So far, Longland said the devices, which provided an extra layer of protection to reduce disruptions to passenger train services, had not picked up any catastrophic issues with overhead wiring on the network.

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Figures show 92 per cent of Sydneys suburban double-decker trains met on-time performance targets in February, compared to the same month last year, when almost one in five were late. Suburban services have reached between 91 per cent and 94 per cent on-time running for the past five months. Under the measure, a train arriving at its final destination within five minutes of its scheduled time is considered punctual. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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For more than 50 years, Bill Crews has extended a loving  and practical  hand to the most marginalised and forgotten people in society. The 81-year-old Uniting Church minister has walked alongside countless individuals who are in often unimaginable pain. So you could forgive him for becoming at least partly inured to the suffering  for developing a callus over his emotions. As a means of self-preservation, if nothing else. Even at 80 years old, there is much left for Bill Crews to do. Jessica Hromas Yet, here we are sitting over lunch at Loaves and Fishes, his free restaurant in Ashfield, with about 40 other diners and he is tearing up. A deep compassion has momentarily overwhelmed him as we talk about the people he helps. He still feels. As deeply as ever. It must be exhausting to live that way? It is, he agrees. Its continually day one. To meet Crews is to be struck immediately by his authenticity. In an era of public figures so conscious of massaging their image to their own advantage or of leaders who peddle cruelty and bitterness masquerading as authenticity, Crews is one of those unicorns whose actions are motivated by deep-held beliefs and who wears his heart on his sleeve. And, almost unwittingly, he inspires the same in others. I cant remember the last time, if ever, that I felt the prick of tears myself during an interview, but it happened, not once, but twice engaging with this simple, yet complicated, man.

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Lunch being prepared in kitchen of Loaves and Fishes. Jessica Hromas Earlier, arriving at the Ashfield Uniting Church, home to Loaves and Fishes and a host of other services to people in need, I sat in the sunshine to wait. About a dozen guests gathered out the front waiting for the doors to open, some listening to music, others chatting and many sitting silently. Volunteers in blue Bills Crew T-shirts buzzed around getting ready for lunch service in the church hall in what was obviously a well-practised routine. Crews leads the way through the busy kitchen amid a chorus of Gday Bills and Hi Bills to the restaurant, where about 40 diners are seated. Most are intent on the food in front of them but greet Crews warmly when they spot him. The choice today is veggie pasta or chicken casserole with rice. We both opt for the latter, served with a generous smile, and settle down to eat the simple but good food and yarn. The chicken casserole at Loaves and Fishes. Jessica Hromas The genesis of Loaves and Fishes goes back to Crews long-time mateship with former adman and arch larrikin John Singleton. One day in the mid-1980s, Singo turned up at the Ashfield church.

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Hed won all this money on the horses, says Crews. And he said, What would you do if I gave it all to you? I said, Id open a soup kitchen. He hands me the money and goes, Call it Loaves and Fishes. Singo had evidently paid attention during Bible studies. John is wealthy, but people dont become millionaires by giving their money away, Crews writes in his 2021 book Twelve Rules for Living a Better Life. A lot of them are mean bastards, but not Singo: he gives. He will give away a million dollars, just like that, if the cause is good and true. Bill Crews with his mate John Singleton in 2008 after the adman made a $1 million donation. Nic Walker Bill Crews was born in Britain in 1944 and came to Australia aged three with his mother and father, who had been an engineer in the RAF. The family ended up in St Marys, near Penrith, where Crews went to school. He remembers those years fondly. St Marys at that time was where all the refugees from Europe came, he says. You had these hessian humpies in the bush where all these families lived. I grew up with a whole hotchpotch of kids of different backgrounds. It was Germans and Russian and Yugoslavs and me in the middle of all of it, and I just loved it.

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We used to climb trees and steal birds eggs and wander through the bush. And to me, it was like nirvana with all these kids. Most of them couldnt even afford shoes. That all came to a crashing halt when Crews was dispatched to Townsville Grammar School. It was quite militaristic. You had army cadets, and I was never really good at all that. I was quite dorky and every now and then Id do the wrong thing and get bashed up by the sergeant major or whatever. It was pretty brutal and it went on for years and years. It was beyond dreadful. I begged my parents to take me out of the school and they wouldnt. It robbed me of my self-esteem. The genesis of Loaves and Fishes goes back to a big win for John Singleton on the horses. Jessica Hromas Many years later, he was invited back to speak at the school. He refused the speaking invitation but eventually attended a dinner where he found himself seated next to one of his main tormentors. He said to me, Wasnt it dreadful, Bill? And I realised he had been as unhappy as I was. Hed been a victim himself and was suffering as much as I did. Everyone was trying not to be bullied. I cant understand a word. And I suddenly realised misery speaks all languages. Bill Crews Crews situation at home was also difficult, particularly with his father, to whom he was a mystery. A man brought up in the shadow of the Depression and then who had been to war, he valued hard work, self-reliance and making money. I was a bit of a dreamer and didnt worry about money at all, Crews says. A chance meeting led Crews to the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross where he began volunteering and then, at the age of 27, the seminal moment of his life occurred.

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One night, I was going to manage the coffee shop there. I walked up the stairs to the landing and honestly, it was like time stood still. It must have been a millisecond, but it felt like forever. It wasnt a voice, it was a knowing, and it said, Youve got to leave your job. Youve got to come and work here. Youve got to work with the poorest of the poor. The work will be long and hard and arduous, but dont worry about that because Ill be with you. Youll become well known, but dont worry about that. And, by the way, your personal life wont be that happy ... And that last bit has helped me through most of all because every time life gets terrible, I think of that voice and I think, Well, it warned me.  Much to the disgust of his father, Crews quit a promising job as a researcher with AWA and threw himself into his work with Wayside Chapel. He became ordained in the Uniting Church in 1986 and went to work at Ashfield Uniting Church the same year. Hes been a minister ever since but has had an at times strained relationship with head office, frustrated at bureaucracy that slows or prevents his practical compassion. Crews wasnt promised a happy personal life by the voice that told him to devote himself to the poor. Jessica Hromas Look at the Good Samaritan, he says. Look at that. The two priests who went past wouldnt touch him [the traveller who had been robbed] because then they wouldnt be able to go into the temple. Bullshit. Bullshit. You get caught up with the bullshit when the real thing is the loving kindness. The word love comes up a lot, and he tells a story from 10 years ago to illustrate the simple, yet devastating power of love, especially when yoked together with a determination to genuinely meet someone wherever they happen to be.

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NationalNSWCrime Shaman charged after frog toxin, ayahuasca death at wellness retreat Jack Gramenz March 5, 2026  8:44am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Jarrad Antonovich spent the final hours of his life groaning in agony before collapsing at a wellness retreat after ingesting exotic frog toxin and ayahuasca, while the man leading the retreat allegedly delayed treatment. Shamanic movement leader Soulore Solaris, 52, will face court later in March after being charged with manslaughter over the October 2021 death at a property near Kyogle in northern NSW. Soulore Lore Solaris claims over 20 years experience in shamanism and the healing arts. Instagram An inquest into Antonovichs death was suspended in May 2024 after Coroner Teresa OSullivan decided the case could be referred for prosecution. Homicide detectives reportedly raided a property connected to the investigation in November that year.

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Antonovich ingested kambo frog toxin and ayahuasca during the week-long Dreaming Arts Festival at Collins Creek on October 16, 2021. He later died from a perforated oesophagus, likely caused by the excessive vomiting, or attempts to vomit, which can follow kambo and ayahuasca ceremonies, the inquest previously heard. Jarrad Antonovich died after taking the powerful psychedelic plant brew of ayahuasca and kambo frog poison. Facebook His death, as well as that of Natasha Lechner in March 2019, highlighted the risks of serious illness and death from kambo and the importance of accessing urgent medical attention, OSullivan said. Solaris, also known as Peter George McIntyre, was the subject of a permanent prohibition order from the NSW Healthcare Complaints Commission in September, after police sought assistance regarding Antonovichs death.

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The commissions investigation found that Soulore Solaris did not provide health services in a safe or ethical manner, the commission said. It said Solaris, who claims over 20 years experience in shamanism and the healing arts, led ceremonies and administered ayahuasca at the retreat, and allegedly allowed Antonovich to take the powerful psychedelic again, despite being obviously unwell after an earlier kambo ceremony, in which Solaris was not involved. Related Article Inquest Jarrad took frog toxin at a wellness retreat. Hours later, he was dead Kambo is harvested by scraping the skin of an Amazonian giant tree frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor, and is used as traditional medicine in cleansing rituals in South America. In a kambo ceremony, a persons skin on their arm or leg is burnt before the substance is dabbed on the open wounds. The Therapeutic Goods Administration banned the use of kambo in Australia on October 1, 2021  about two weeks before Antonovichs death  on the grounds it posed a danger to human health.

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The active ingredient in the plant brew ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, is also banned in Australia. Way of the Humming Bird, a book containing shamanic tales from Soulore Solaris. Amazon / DreamingArts One witness who attended the inquest into Antonovichs death remembered the Lismore resident as a very friendly, beautiful man. Solaris in January published a 692-page book, Way of the Hummingbird: Shamanic Tales, Ayahuasca Journeys and the Dreaming of the Whole Earth, under the name Lore Solaris, offering to help readers discover an unparalleled journey into the sacred realms of ayahuasca. Written in an accessible academic style, the anthology blends lived experience with rigorous research, welcoming a diverse audience, the description on online bookseller Amazon reads.

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Solaris was arrested and charged with manslaughter on Tuesday and granted conditional bail to face Lismore Local Court on March 30. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
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Geoffrey Robertson is right that Irans regime is brutal (US-Israel onslaught is a war crime, March 4). But since 1979, Irans Revolutionary Guard has funded and armed proxy groups across the Middle East. Hezbollah, created and backed by Tehran, carried out the 1983 Beirut bombing that killed 241 US servicemen and now holds tens of thousands of rockets aimed at Israel. Hamas, also supported by Iran, carried out the October 7 massacre. Iranian-backed militias have repeatedly attacked US forces in Iraq and Syria. This is not a peaceful country suddenly attacked. It is a regime that has exported violence for decades. The comparison with Russias invasion of Ukraine misses the mark. Ukraine was not sponsoring terrorist attacks against Russian civilians or backing militias committed to destroying Russia. Iran has openly supported groups dedicated to eliminating a UN member state. Robertson says there was no immediate threat. Surely countries are not required to wait until missiles are fired. Iran has amassed ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and, according to US envoy Steve Witkoff, Irans negotiators reportedly said it had enough enriched uranium for 11 nuclear bombs. Such a missile build-up would make any nuclear weapons program far harder to stop once advanced. In that context, Robertsons war crime charge goes too far. John Kempler, Rose Bay Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have decided on war regardless of the stance taken by world leaders from nations that have backed America and Israel in the past. AP International law has never deterred despots from torture, repression, or unleashing their illegal proxies across the region. International law is a failed outcome that dictators use to their advantage. Jake Basger, Bondi Beach Ive lost count of the number of times Geoffrey Robertson has accused the US president and Israels prime minister of war crimes. He is naive in the extreme to believe that the United Nations is capable of acting under Chapter VII of its own charter to set up an international court to investigate and indict Iranian government officials who carried out the prison massacres in 1988. The crimes were 28 years ago. Surely the priority is the reported 30,000 murders committed in Iran the last couple of months. The UN has neither the will nor capability to bring Iranian officials to account. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, recently congratulated Iran for the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution. Riley Brown, Bondi Beach If only the world leaders would listen to the comments of Geoffrey Robertson. I dont presume to speak for my fellow citizens, but I feel overwhelmed and completely powerless about what is happening in the world. Our lives are disrupted with increased prices for fuel, which will affect every aspect of our lives with increased prices into the future. We have zero control over these inevitabilities. Robertson suggests new rules for the UN Security Council, which has in my opinion been a toothless tiger for years regarding Russia and China. The world is living with immense fear about the actions of US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. To quote Robertson, this is a war crime with consequences of death for civilians and soldiers and should be dealt with so the world can return to decent democracies. Jill King, Lane Cove Geoffrey Robertson believes all negative consequences arising from the US/Israeli strike against the admittedly vile regime of Iran in the circumstances amount to the commission of war crimes by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. It follows that anyone aiding and abetting the preposterously named Epic Fury operation is an accessory, and equally guilty of the same crime, and liable to prosecution. Therefore, one hopes those in our government responsible for the management of our response to incidents like this are telling us the truth when they reject any suggestion the US requested we assist them, or that we gave the US access to Australian-based assets otherwise available for intelligence gathering or other purposes. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay The war on Iran by Trump and Netanyahu is not about liberating the oppressed Iranians. There is little care for them, evidenced by the bombing of a school which killed more than 100. Precision strikes have ensured the leaders are taken out but then it seems its pretty much open slather, with bombing raids murdering hundreds and, soon to be, thousands of civilians. The average Iranian has seen their family and friends murdered by one ruthless regime, to now witness more death at the hands of two others. Sue Adams, Dulwich Hill

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Sitting on the fence The Australian government needs to choose whether it supports the International Rule of Law or might is right (Irans response is wild, and it has firepower for worse, March 4). It is pointless to suggest it is up to the US and Israel to provide the legal basis for their attack as they will just lie through their teeth. Our fence-sitting is acquiescence to a radical reshaping of the world with the US in empire building mode in the western hemisphere and working with an expansionist Israel to have complete hegemony in the Middle East. Unless we take a much stronger stance against the war crimes being committed by our allies in the Middle East then we may as well declare that we no longer support any UN frameworks and that acts of murderous aggression are politically palatable. At least then we would be honest about something. Graeme Finn, Campsie Truth goes missing Cathy Wilcox Memo to the federal government: Much of what President Trump writes on his Truth Social needs serious fact-checking before you decide to support his latest reasons for going to war (Labor luminary hits out over Australia backing Iran war, March 4). Weve been down this road before when the Howard government was so keen to believe stories of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction  claims built on extremely dodgy intelligence. Most credible commentators agree with Bob Carr about Trumps latest war and the lie on which the war is based. As for upholding international law  how quaintly old-fashioned. In the words of the old song: when will they ever learn? Nick Franklin, Katoomba Paying for past mistakes As if the previous governments campaign against transitioning to renewable energy and promoting electric vehicles wasnt bad enough, the Morrison governments inexplicable decision and lack of foresight, to reduce our national fuel stockpile, and house Australias strategic fuel reserves in the US, appears equally inept. With an unreliable and erratic US leader calling the shots, that decision now appears even more appalling. And the Minister for Energy who signed this agreement? None other than Angus Taylor. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl

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Of course our fuel is safer overseas, why wouldnt it be? Sahlan Hayes Can people recall that Angus Taylor, when he was Energy Minister, achieved special concessions from the government of America for an Australian oil reserve to be kept in the US in case of emergency? This was meant to be a substitute for his failure to have such storage in Australia. The conflict in the Middle East with interruption to fuel supplies shows his policy does not work. How long will it take for our fuel to come from storage in America to relieve the raised fuel prices? Do the Liberals truly hope Taylor can lead them out of the wilderness? Gregory Cook, Beecroft Make Glebe Island blunder-free The devil will be not only in the detail but in guiding its delivery (Glebe affordable housing backlash, March 4). Previous government-led planning blunders, such as Barangaroo, feature foremost here as hopefully lessons learnt. An international design competition sounds commendable but its critical caveat is maintaining the winning design to final built form. Dumbing down to commercial demands would represent another opportunity lost. The artists impression, showing 30 storey-plus high-rise towers, suggests a repeat of a Wentworth Point-style development. Towers that dwarf the existing industrial silos, not to mention the neighbouring terrace scaled suburbs. This site demands a more imaginative response. Preserving human scale between the buildings must surely guide the development of this suburb. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why Glebe Islands bulk operations will be scrapped for high-density housing around the future Bays West metro station. I agree with all the commentary about Glebe Island. If it proceeds, this project must include at least 30 per cent of public housing. An even greater travesty is the relocation to Port Kembla of the delivery of bulk raw materials used in the construction of these huge new developments close to the CBD. Delivery by ship is the cheapest form of transportation. At present, Glebe Island Port receives cement and gypsum, with the Port Authority having plans to receive bulk sand and aggregate, which are now shelved. Yes, we need more homes but not expensive foreshore apartments. Priority must be given to reducing the cost of homes elsewhere eg Parramatta Road. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont Thinking there will be affordable housing in the proposed Glebe Island development is a matter of perspective; if you are a multi-millionaire, its affordable. For me, this uses the same logic that YIMBYs are using in thinking bulldozing heritage houses in Haberfield will create affordable housing. Theyre dreaming. Peter Miniutti, Ashbury

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First the Fish Market, next Victoria Barracks, now Glebe Island. Surely all three projects are led by property developers. Where will history lie? Where is the proposal for affordable housing to rent or buy? Overseas, some public and private new projects require mandatory levels, eg 7 to 20 per cent in parts of New York State. Richard Mason, Mona Vale We used to sadly acknowledge the gentrification of Inner West harbourside suburbs like Glebe and Balmain as housing costs drove out anyone interesting, creative or young. Now were building them that way. Colin Stokes, Camperdown Egos getting in Libs way Pru Goward and Nick Minchin noted a lack of accountability by senior Liberal decision makers for the last federal election loss (Senior Libs blame game over election, March 4), however, they all blamed the other decision makers. The Liberal Party is led by individual egos, rather than those with policies and accountability. The fact the Liberal Party federal executive rejected the first draft and decided to suppress the report is a perfect example of why this party is in such dire straits. Mark Nugent, Lugarno Peter Dutton: was it really all his fault? AP Its not surprising that Peter Dutton didnt want the post-mortem results of the worst electoral defeat in more than 80 years released. Most of the blame lies squarely at the feet of this arrogant man. He alienated a large swathe of the electorate, not just female voters. During his time as leader of the opposition, he turned a deaf ear to the concerns of voters. He lived in denial and apparently remains in denial. If Angus Taylor continues down the same path, as seems likely, the Libs might as well turn out the lights and call it quits. Graham Lum, North Rocks I note the Liberal Party election review gives Peter Dutton credit for nobbling the Voice to Parliament campaign. Hardly a badge of honour. Craig Forbes, Lewisham

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No end to train pain We like the train from Yass Junction to Sydney but its a lottery (I took high-speed trains in four countries. We are an embarrassment, smh.com.au, March 4). Sometimes you hit the giddy heights of overtaking cars and trucks on the Hume Freeway but all too often its back to crawling along while track work slows progress to a crawl. I have experienced high-speed rail travel in Russia, Italy and Japan, but I strongly doubt any such luxury will reach our sunlit shores any time soon. I simply believe there is no political or economic will to do the work needed to achieve the task. Arriving in Sydney seven hours after leaving Yass because track work and other issues have slowed the trip so much that you are then delayed to allow peak hour services to run shows the lack of overall commitment to actually providing a decent service to travellers. Phil Armour, Yass Opportunity is knocking, and the government should grab it with both hands by immediately setting up a joint parliamentary inquiry into Going EV  ASAP. Carlo Ursida, Kensington (Vic) Electric road to nowhere I can think of a few downsides to road-based electric transport that your correspondent (Letters, 4 March) favours. It will probably increase urban road congestion because, as an EV driver myself, I know that EVs make you want to drive more rather than take public transport. It wont help road trauma, which has increased in the last few years despite the billions being poured into road building. It wont reduce the damage done to roads by HPVs (higher productivity vehicles), known to most as B-doubles. And it probably wont alleviate the shortage of truck and bus drivers, nor the mental and physical health issues suffered by long-distance logistics drivers. A transition to electric rail will. Chris ORourke, Bathurst Shut the door on property rorts Your correspondent (Letters, March 4) is incorrect in saying what would happen if negative gearing was taken away. Negative gearing is not defined as part of the Tax Act. Instead the proposal would be to restrict a taxpayer from claiming the loss from negative gearing, as a deduction. Big difference. An investor would now need to weigh up carrying the losses and hope for a huge capital gain on sale; gains that are so lightly taxed. These rorts cannot keep going. Michael Blissenden, Dural

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Exclusive NationalBuilding Bad Victorian watchdog moves to ban Gatto-linked labour hire company Nick McKenzie, Matt Dennien and Kieran Rooney Updated March 4, 2026  8:26pm ,first published 1:42pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A Victorian industrial watchdog is moving to shut down the operations of a major labour hire firm closely linked to gangland figure Mick Gatto which has won lucrative contracts across the states $100 billion Big Build scheme. Victorias Labour Hire Authority confirmed on Wednesday that it had taken steps to issue a notice to a subsidiary of the M Group flagging its intention to cancel the firms labor hire licence. Mick Gatto at Caulfield Racecourse on Wednesday. Getty Images M Group supplies labour hire and traffic management workers across major Victorian sites including several taxpayer-funded projects, and the cancellation of the licence of one of the companys subsidiaries could trigger cancellation of the licences of other entities in the group. The aggressive action by the authority is not assured of success: M Group will be able to challenge it and pursue legal appeals.

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While the authority has not detailed the reasons behind its move, this mastheads Building Bad series revealed more than 18 months ago Gattos deep links to the company, including that his daughter and her drug trafficker husband were once shareholders. The authority, which first licensed the labour hire group in 2022 and renewed its licence last year, confirmed on Wednesday night in a short statement that it had been investigating M Group. LHA has today issued M1 Trades & Labour Pty Ltd with a notice of intention to cancel its labour hire licence, following an extensive investigation into the company. The notice provides the grounds for cancellation and an invitation to show cause why LHA should not cancel the licence, a spokesperson said. Loading Earlier on Wednesday, another M Group company had its Gold Coast-based operation called out by a major Queensland inquiry.

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In a move that could see the entity lose its operating licence, the Queensland commission of inquiry into the CFMEU held a press conference outside the offices of M1 Traffic Control Queensland to highlight concerns about its potential links to Gatto. The appearance of commissioner Stuart Wood, KC, and senior counsel assisting his inquiry Patrick Wheelahan, KC, outside the offices of the company on Wednesday morning is highly unusual for such an inquiry. In a media statement, the commission pointed to a report from corruption-busting lawyer Geoffrey Watson, SC, last month that found M Group was a well-known front company for Gatto and that it appeared a new Queensland company was likewise linked. Wood said no findings had been made about the entity, or any other, but appealed for information, which he said would be treated confidentially, and procedural fairness would be provided to anyone under investigation.

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Wheelahan told the media that the commission was not suggesting Gatto owned the company or that it had engaged in any misconduct. But he did say he was concerned that Victorias experience with the Big Build, where Watson estimated $15 billion was misspent, could be repeated ahead of the 2032 Olympics. The money pot is clearly now going to be in Queensland in the build-up to the Olympics, I think its $130 billion that is going to be spent, he said. Counsel assisting the Queensland Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU and Misconduct in the Construction Industry, Patrick Wheelahan, KC (left), and Commissioner Stuart Wood, KC, at their Gold Coast media conference on Wednesday. Matt Dennien It would be remiss of us not to investigate, on the back of [Watsons] report, that one of the companies that he says is linked to Mick Gatto now sets up in Queensland, because Queensland does not want to end up like Victoria.

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The Victorian government has insisted that it has taken enough action to clean up the construction industry in the wake of this mastheads reporting. Editor's pick Building Bad Rotting from the top: Bribery, drugs, bikies and billions of taxpayer dollars The Watson report, tabled with the Queensland inquiry last month, said Gatto owned a number of companies within the M Group and that there was no doubt it received favourable treatment from the CFMEU. He estimated one company in the group would earn $52 million in 2025. Gatto, of course, denies he owns the M Group companies, but that is transparently false. The attempts to conceal Gattos involvement are crude, Watsons report said.

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Watson found that Gatto was a malignant influence and detailed several examples of what he said was criminal conduct. Gatto has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and derided Watsons findings publicly. M1 director Tony Paragalli said he disputed every single one of Watsons allegations and the suggestions made by the inquiry on Wednesday. At no point did anyone [Watson or the inquiry] ring us to ask about any of the facts, Paragalli said. Paragalli said Gatto acted as an industrial relations mediator for many companies in Melbourne and his engagement with M1 was a straight-up business arrangement  he charges us $30,000 a year.

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On Wednesday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was grilled in parliament about M Groups presence on state projects. Asked whether M Group was working on the massive North East Link or Suburban Rail Loop projects, she referred both questions to the governments overseeing authorities. The Suburban Rail Loop Authority said there was no M Group presence on its sites. Editor's pick Exclusive

Building Bad Nobodys stopping it: The taxpayer money trail from building sites to the underworld Allan was also asked about the presence of M1 Traffic and Labour  a business with similar past directors and the same address as other M Group businesses  on a supplier list for Goulburn-Murray Water. The company was one of eight suppliers listed publicly on a current contract for labour hire services for the statutory authority. Allan said the authority was best placed to answer the question.

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Goulburn-Murray Water said: M1 Traffic Control and Labour Hire Goulburn Valley are not currently supplying any services to GMW and they have been suspended from entering any further contracts. The premier also pointed to the efforts of Victoria Polices Taskforce Hawk, which is probing problems within the industry more broadly and made another arrest on Wednesday. We have taken strong action. It is working, she said. Taskforce Hawk detectives arrested a 36-year-old Lalor man on Wednesday and charged him with blackmail, alleging that he engaged an outlaw motorcycle gang member to demand $663,000 from a business in Brooklyn last month. Mick Gatto wearing a shirt with an M Group logo in 2017.

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A spokesman for the state opposition said: Jacinta Allan needs to explain why its taken until now for any business linked to Mick Gatto to be investigated by the labour hire licensing authority. Industry sources said the timing of the Victorian move on the same day as the Queensland action was unrelated and that the Victorian Labor Hire Authority had been investigating M Group for months. The move against M Group is both a blessing and a curse for the Labor government. It is likely to highlight the proposed cancellation as evidence of action, but the failure to move until after the Queensland commission had announced its inquiry into M Group will invite opposition accusations that it is playing catch-up. The Victorian authority has limited powers, even after a recent legislative boost, but it has cancelled the licences of dozens of construction companies, including those with links to gangland figures and bikies. One company recently stripped of its licence, BK Labour, has appealed to the states administrative tribunal to have its licence reinstated, even as its owners are facing criminal charges laid by Victoria Polices Taskforce Hawk.

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The moves come after this masthead revealed on Wednesday that the states Ombudsman had lashed the agency managing the Big Build for poor record keeping that had impeded its ability to investigate a whistleblowers corruption allegation. The Ombudsmans concerns about the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authoritys lax record-keeping were revealed in a briefing note sent last month, which resulted in referrals to the states anti-corruption watchdog and auditor general. VIDAs poor financial record keeping and reporting increases corruption risks, and there is a need to strengthen its governance and reporting mechanisms to allow for effective oversight and accountability, the Ombudsman note said. The Auditor-General separately on Wednesday released a report that found the government was failing to keep Victorians informed on how its massive infrastructure projects were performing. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.


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Exclusive NationalVictoriaMiddle East at war Australias nuclear emergency centre on alert after Iran attack Annika Smethurst March 5, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Australias nuclear safety watchdog has put its emergency centre on alert as fighting escalates between Israel, the United States and Iran, with radiation experts monitoring for potential risks to Australians. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) confirmed the precautionary move to activate the centre for around-the-clock operations, as the United Nations nuclear watchdog warned of the potential for mass evacuation across the Middle East if nuclear sites were targeted. The US-led attack on Tehran has put Australias nuclear safety watchdog on alert. AP The Melbourne-based Radiation Emergency Coordination Centre (RECC) effectively acts as the federal governments nuclear incident room. When activated, or placed on heightened readiness, it can monitor global radiation threats, model how radioactive material could spread and provide 24-hour advice on real or potential events. As a precaution and to be prepared, the ARPANSA RECC is on alert, and is monitoring the current situation and will provide advice as required to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as the lead agency for this current conflict, a spokesperson said.

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Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war news updates: Iranian warship sunk by torpedo off Sri Lanka; Hegseth says US just getting started; First repatriation flight lands in Sydney ARPANSA maintains the RECC as a standing national capability. The capability can produce plume modelling, radiation contamination advice and precautionary measures, developed by experts in this field. The US and Israeli strikes on Iran have plunged the Middle East into an expanded regional conflict, triggered by an apparent lack of progress between the US and Iran in curbing Tehrans nuclear program. The decision to put Australias nuclear emergency centre on alert follows the full activation of RECC last June, when Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military and nuclear-linked facilities. Iran responded with ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel, fuelling fears of a wider regional confrontation. The move, not publicly announced at the time, was disclosed in a recent ARPANSA report, which revealed the centre was activated to evaluate the radiological contamination risks and advised DFAT on measures for Australian citizens safety.

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In a statement provided to this masthead, an ARPANSA spokesperson said the activation followed warnings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that while offsite radiation levels were initially normal, there was a risk of radiological and chemical contamination inside affected facilities. Related Article Middle East at war Wong dispatches crisis squads to Middle East to help stranded Australians - but no rescue planes yet The agency said while there was no evidence of any radiological impact on Australia or Australians overseas, the response was precautionary and preparednessfocused. The RECC is activated, or placed on heightened readiness, for a range of real or potential events, its activation does not imply that a radiation release has occurred, a spokesperson said. Following the attack on Iran, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian government supported the US acting to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

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We have long recognised that Irans nuclear program is a threat to global peace and security. With international partners, including the United States and the G7, we have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Irans citizens, Albanese said on Sunday. Sadly, these calls have gone unheeded and action has now been taken. We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security. The conflict has since expanded across the Middle East, with strikes reported in Bahrain, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Following a meeting of the IAEAs Board in Vienna, held on Monday night Australian time, director-general Rafael Grossi said that while there were no signs of elevated radiation levels, he warned of the possibility of a radiological release if strikes continue. Let me underline that the situation today is very concerning, he said. We cannot rule out a possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas as large or larger than major cities.

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Grossi told the meeting that Iran and many other countries that had been subjected to military attacks had nuclear power plants, research reactors and storage sites, increasing the threat to nuclear safety. Related Article Middle East at war US warns the big one is coming amid conflicting signals over wars duration The United Arab Emirates has four operating nuclear reactors; Jordan and Syria have operational nuclear research reactors. Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have also been attacked, he said. These countries all use nuclear applications of some sort or the other. We therefore urge utmost restraint in all military operations. Israel also has nuclear research reactors, as well as the Middle Easts only stockpile of nuclear weapons.

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A failure at Cubas main thermoelectric plant has caused a massive blackout affecting two-thirds of the island, the Cuban government confirmed Wednesday. The partial collapse of the islands National Electric System (SEN)  the second in a month  has left nearly 7 million of the islands almost 10 million inhabitants without power. The outage is also affecting the capital, Havana.

The government has not yet specified the reasons for the blackout, which is affecting 10 of the countrys 15 provinces, from Camaguey in the east to Pinar del Rio in the west. According to state television, an unforeseen shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the islands largest generator, caused yet another power outage.

This Wednesdays outage is the fifth partial blackout  different from a nationwide collapse of the entire electrical system  in less than six months, and the largest so far this year. The incident also reflects the fragile state of the power grid amid U.S. pressure, which has abruptly cut off the supply of Venezuelan crude to Havana and threatened to impose tariffs on any country that provides Cuba with oil, a resource vital for keeping its electrical network running.

But the U.S. oil siege has only worsened a chronic problem on the island. Cuba is suffering a fullblown energy crisis that has deteriorated significantly over the past year and a half, largely due to the progressive decline in Venezuelas oil shipments. In fact, over the last 18 months the SEN has suffered five total collapses  meaning the entire country plunged into darkness at the same time because of the inability to generate electricity.

Blackouts are now part of daily life for Cubans, who in recent months have grown accustomed to outages that in some regions can exceed 20 hours a day. These outages, however, are different from SEN collapses. In the first case, they are daily service interruptions caused by the inability of the obsolete Sovietera thermoelectric plants to meet demand.

SEN shutdowns, on the other hand, force authorities to carry out a kind of system reboot that, in the worst cases, can take days to fully restore. Before Wednesdays collapse was confirmed, the stateowned Union Electrica (UNE) had warned that up to 63% of the country would be left without power at peak demand  late in the afternoon.

That time of day is critical for Cubas fragile grid because it coincides with people returning home and turning on air conditioners and fans. Unlike much of the world, in Cuba the highest electricity demand comes from households rather than industry, which has been in terminal decline for decades.

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NationalWACourts Paedophile priest sentenced again for abusing girl on the way to Pilbara beach Hannah Murphy March 4, 2026  6:27pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A priest who worked across the eastern states and Western Australia has been handed more jail time for raping a young girl while they were driving to a remote beach in the states Pilbara in the 1970s. Adrian Van Klooster has previously been jailed for possessing child exploitation material and abusing children in his care while he worked as a parish priest in Bunbury, and appeared in WAs District Court again on Wednesday on a series of new offences. Adrian Van Klooster. Facebook Van Klooster was found guilty of four child sex offences after a three-day trial earlier this month, for offending that happened in the north of the state in 1978. The priest was working out of the Wickham and lived at a house attached to the church. He would allow children to spend time in the property.

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The 11-year-old victim and Van Klooster, who was 35 years old at the time, were driving to Cossack Beach on one occasion when he allowed the young girl to sit on his lap and steer the car. Related Article Catholic church 'I'm not a used car salesman': Can the archbishop chart a new course? The court was told Van Klooster raped her once in the car and reassured her everything was going to be OK. He raped her again when they arrived at the quiet beach, and again told the girl he would not hurt her. However, during sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Wendy Hughes said she understood the incident the girl could recall was actually one instance of abuse. Hughes said evidence at Van Kloosters trial had indicated his offending against the girl had occurred more than once.

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I sentence you on the basis, Mr Van Klooster, that this occasion was not a once-off or isolated incident, that there were other occasions when you did sexually abuse the victim, including inside your house, other occasions at Cossack Beach and on the way to Roebourne, she said. Its also serious because there was a large age disparity between yourself and the victim of over 25 years. Its also serious because you were in a position of trust as the local priest, because of your position and standing in the community, not only did the victim trust you, but other people trusted you to have access to their children and allowed the children to be alone with you. Hughes said it was apparent Van Kloosters offending had lasted at least six months over 1978 and 1979, and it was persistent and repeated. She said the victim, who was now in her 60s, had experienced irreparable damage following the assault, and now refused to let herself get close with anyone to avoid an attack. Hughes sentenced Van Klooster, now 84 years old, to two years and 10 months prison, and said she had to consider his age as a mitigating factor. Van Klooster has been sentenced previously over similar charges, and had spent time working in Wollongong, Australind, Bunbury and Geraldton.
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PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership Opinion One Nation may well win Sussan Leys seat  that would be terrible for all of us Niki Savva Award-winning political commentator and author March 5, 2026  5:00am

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It is not even remotely funny, but independent federal MP Helen Haines is convinced that the Farrer byelection caused by the departure of former opposition leader Sussan Ley will end up a two-horse race between the community independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe and One Nation. Haines, whose electorate of Indi borders Farrer, and who retained the seat last May after scoring a primary vote of 42.3 per cent, shudders at the thought that One Nation is even in contention. Illustration: Dionne Gain The reason for that, she says, is that the Coalitions behaviour since the election has turned it into a laughing stock. Haines remains hopeful that Milthorpe, who came second to Ley after securing a 20 per cent primary vote in May and has not stopped working the electorate since, will triumph.

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Even in September, the mother of the community independents movement, Cathy McGowan, told me that if Ley lost the leadership and quit parliament, Milthorpe would win the byelection. That was before One Nation began taking chunks out of the once-major parties. Milthorpe, who prefers not to be branded a teal, sounds both smart and sensible. She is embedded in the community through her work as a teacher, particularly with disabled kids. Last May, she won every booth in Albury. She is confident, as is Haines, that regional voters will not respond well to Pauline Hansons anti-immigration rhetoric because they know that without migrants, their farms and towns would slowly die. Former opposition leader Sussan Ley. Dominic Lorrimer Smart Liberals also know this and believe it is very wrong to assume every country person is a redneck. In any case, they know that while Hanson does attract bigots from every corner and class of Australia, her popularity has more to do with the disillusionment in the major parties  including Labor, which will most likely not run a candidate in the byelection. Smart Liberals also agree with Haines that it could be a two-horse race, with neither horse wearing Liberal or National colours. That would be bad enough. What would be worse, for everyone, is if One Nation won. That too is possible.

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Some senior Labor figures have argued the moral case for running a candidate as a means of highlighting the perils of One Nation. However, others fear this would end up helping One Nation and hurting Milthorpe. No Labor candidate potentially means more primary votes for Milthorpe, which could help her over the line. At this stage, the byelection could be either May 2 or May 9 in the run-up to the budget. Thanks to Easter, Anzac Day on a Saturday and school holidays, Speaker Milton Dicks task of choosing the date is more complicated than usual. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership Australia is demanding bold changes. If Albanese doesnt deliver, he will have failed us Shaun Carney Columnist Although Labor has no hope of winning Farrer  not even on a good day, which these days are few and far between  it has been acutely aware of the inroads One Nation has been making into its vote since the 2022 election. That has accelerated and will continue until and unless Labor seizes control of the political discourse. From now on, and particularly in the budget on May 12, the Albanese governments motto should be use it or lose it. There is no point in having a whopping majority only to shrink from using the power it delivers.

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The budget will be its best chance to spark up the economy, revive interest in Labor as the agent of change (for the better) and dispel the notion that the prime minister is reformophobic. The signs so far are that Anthony Albanese gets it. If he didnt get it, the debate over capital gains tax and negative gearing would have been shut down weeks ago, so unless he wobbles, it is shaping up as a big-bang statement. The Middle East war initiated by the US emperor, Donald Trump, is a reason to press ahead with reforms to strengthen the economy, not an excuse to delay. For months now, Australians have been telling the Coalition and Labor, via the opinion polls, to do better. Much better. The latest Redbridge survey in The Australian Financial Review shows One Nation well ahead of the Liberal Party, and nudging dangerously close to Labors primary vote. Redbridge found more than one in five of the 28 per cent of voters intending to put One Nation first said it was because they disliked all major political parties. Another 15 per cent nominated immigration, and another 14 per cent said they like Pauline Hanson as a leader. It would be bad enough if the Liberals lost Farrer to an independent. It would be much, much worse for them  and for the body politic, and for the country  if One Nation won.

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Liberals should be going all out to destroy One Nation rather than try to be a pale imitation. There are political and moral reasons for the Liberals to preference One Nation last, unless there is an even more unpalatable option  hard to imagine, yet they exist  like the neo-Nazis or sovereign citizens. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership Fury in the Liberal Party meant there was no time for protection rackets Niki Savva Award-winning political commentator and author If the Liberals dont, they will be signalling to people that voting for One Nation is OK. It would give One Nation legitimacy. Right-wing Liberals dread being called Labor-lite, thinking that would be the death of them, when in fact being One Nation-lite will surely kill them. Former prime minister John Howard was loath to condemn Hanson in his first term, until 1998 when his deputy, Peter Costello, told Laurie Oakes on Nines Sunday program he would put One Nation last in his seat of Higgins. An angry Howard rang Costello to complain, then eventually came to see the wisdom of it.

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Attacking Hanson and putting One Nation last while explaining to her likely supporters how damaging her prescriptions would be for the country was the right call 30 years ago, and it is the right call today. What the Coalition needs now is a figure of substance and courage to do what Costello did. Niki Savva is a regular columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Her most recent book, Earthquake, details the inside story of the 2025 election. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.

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For subscribers Niki Savva is an award-winning political commentator and author. She was a staffer to former prime minister John Howard and former treasurer Peter Costello, and is a member of the board of Old Parliament House.
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Exclusive PoliticsNSWEducation CCTV, texts to parents: How one Sydney private school is tracking students toilet use Emily Kowal March 4, 2026  7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A Sydney private school has started tracking student bathroom use, watching students enter and exit the toilet on CCTV and alerting parents when their child relieves themselves during class time. However, several parents have welcomed the real-time updates after students trashed the schools freshly renovated bathrooms. St Leos Catholic College in Wahroonga advised parents in a newsletter that it would increase supervision of toilet use following incidents of vandalism and poor decision-making. St Leos Catholic College in Wahroonga is alerting parents when a student uses the toilet during class time. Edwina Pickles Vice principal Patrick Brennan advised parents the school was trialling strategies to address the concerning trend, amping up supervision outside bathroom areas, encouraging students to use the facilities during breaks, increasing CCTV monitoring of entry and exit points and engaging NSW Police where perpetrators are identified.

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The school has also started notifying parents when their child uses a bathroom during class. We have found that many of the issues occur when students access bathrooms unsupervised during class time. As a result, we have recently commenced a trial of tracking student access to bathrooms during lessons. This has provided valuable data to support conversations with both students and parents, the newsletter said. Brennan wrote that while some parents and carers may find the notifications unnecessary or even frustrating, it was not the schools intention to cause concern or suggest that a single bathroom visit is problematic. Some in the school community support the approach. Parent Nancy Helou said she was up for it if it meant students would keep in line. The younger ones just trash it. I am supportive of it, 100 per cent. I got my first notification yesterday  I thought he was in trouble at first, she said.

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One student said their peers had thrown wet toilet paper on the ceiling and removed doors from toilet stalls. Grandmother Di Judson said the monitoring was a trifle odd but understandable, given the vandalism. Mother Elaine Maatouk said she was fine with it given the rise in vandalism. If they have to monitor children going to the bathroom during class time, thats fine with me  I dont want the school getting damaged, she said. In the newsletter, the school said: The intent of the alert system is not to police normal behaviour, but to strengthen our partnership with parents where patterns may emerge and to support a culture where students make use of the seven available opportunities across the day; recess, lunch, and between lessons, wherever possible.

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Education Every public student granted access to gifted education programs That said, this is a trial, and your feedback is important. We will review the process and discuss it further at our upcoming Parents in Partnership Meeting later this term. St Leos principal Tony Gleeson said all security cameras were in external and publicly accessible areas and that no cameras have ever been placed in private or sensitive areas such as bathrooms. The college remains firmly committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for every student entrusted to our care, Gleeson said. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
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PoliticsNSWPolitical leadership Opinion Leaving so soon? Premier, we were just getting to know you Alexandra Smith State Political Editor March 5, 2026  5:00am

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When I am 64, prime minister John Howard hinted in May 2003 when asked about the longevity of his leadership. That was two months out from his birthday, a milestone that he signalled might be when he would start to ponder his political future. But if Howard did turn his mind to it on July 26 that year, nothing came of it. Howard was prime minister for another four and a bit years until voters booted him from office. NSW Premier Chris Minns did the opposite to Howard this week, without so much as a prod. And no one can quite work out why. Most leaders are coy, even dishonest, about their planned leadership timeline. Minns openly foreshadowed the end of his. How long will he stay? When will he go? Premier Chris Minns own offhand remarks ignited these questions. Photos: Jessica Hromas; artwork: Monique Westermann Those comments will come back to haunt him until next years election and beyond.

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On Monday, Minns stood at a building site for the new metro station at the northern end of the CBD. He was marking the end of an era, or at least the last breakthrough of the final boring machine into the cavern beneath Hunter Street. Related Article Political leadership I wont be here: NSW premier reveals his leadership timeline A reporter at the media conference posed a benign question to the premier. What was Minns dream for how this city looks in 2032, when that section of the metro opens. Legacy questions are standard for leaders but Minns response was not. Well, I wont be here, he began, at least in this role. But look, as a citizen, I genuinely hope that we can make a massive impact in housing affordability for young people. There will be an election in March 2031, so the immediate assumption to Minns brutal honesty was that he had outlined the timeline for his political future and that would mean, at best, he had only one term left in him. In reality, he was signalling an exit far sooner than 2032. He could be a citizen by then? That would suggest hell run again for Kogarah at the election next March, but not at the 2031 election. Minns stunned everyone by saying the quiet bit out loud. A long-time Labor strategist, who has been watching NSW politics closely since the Bob Carr days, has a theory. Aside from being dumbfounded that Minns put himself into a position where he could be painted as a lame-duck premier, the strategist says voters would be stumped because they are only just getting to know him.

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State leaders rarely capture the attention of voters until a national disaster or tragedy unfolds. If handled well, it can be the making of them. We saw this with former NSW Liberal premier Gladys Berejiklian after the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and then the pandemic. Related Article Updated

Courts Minns government took sledgehammer to protests after Bondi, court told Before those events, Berejiklian was respected but not loved. By the time she left the top post, with a corruption inquiry hanging over her head, she was beloved by voters. Even a later finding confirming corruption, thanks to her dodgy ex-boyfriend Daryl Maguire, did little to change voters minds. Minns has had a similar rise in popularity. His handling of the horrific Bondi massacre on the first night of Hanukkah in December has boosted his stocks. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not welcomed at the funerals of the Jewish people killed in the attack, Minns not only attended most memorials but was welcomed with opened arms. There are internal ructions within NSW Labor over his approach to anti-protest laws, and many party faithful fear he has alienated Sydneys large Islamic community, but there is no denying that Minns has lifted his profile and his popularity.

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So why would a seasoned communicator allow himself to walk into a situation where he has telegraphed to those voters who are finally getting to know him that he has one foot out the door? As well as putting doubt into voters minds about his long-term plans, Minns also created unnecessary chatter about his possible successor. Related Article Planning Fancy living in Sydneys next inner suburb? A one-bedder will set you back $2m Education Minister Prue Car is the most likely. Car is Minns deputy and obvious heir apparent, but she is no Peter Costello. While Howard and his long-term treasurer were always thought to have a gentlemans agreement on succession plans, no such deal exists with Minns and Car. She has had some serious health challenges, including a recent battle with breast cancer, so Car is no certainty. Other leadership names touted include Health Minister Ryan Park and Planning Minister Paul Scully. After those three, the options thin out quickly. Nobody asked Minns to muse on the timing of his departure from politics. So was it a slip of the tongue or deliberate? The morning after his surprise remarks, he appeared on his regular segment with 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham. He did not walk them back.

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I try to be honest, Minns told Fordham on Tuesday. If people ask a straight question, I try and give a straight answer ... if I put it in reverse and said, Ill definitely be here in 2032, everyone will be, like, this bloke is so up himself. It was a refreshing, if not strange, take. Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane immediately pounced, releasing an awkward social media video gloating that the premier was pulling up stumps early. She will not let that line of attack go, and nor would Minns if an opponent gifted him a similar opportunity. But perhaps Minns gamble will pay off. Dishonesty has never quelled leadership chatter in the past. Maybe honesty, and admitting the job has an expiry date, will work in Minns favour, not against it? Alexandra Smith is state political editor.
Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has used his ministerial statement this afternoon to detail the governments submission to a federal Productivity Commission review of GST distribution.

The state government has been vocal about the Commonwealth Grants Commissions most recent GST allocation, a drop of $2.3 billion  the states lowest-ever share  due to heightened coal mining royalties.

Janetzki said Queensland would push for a Canadian-style discount to the impact of mining-related revenue on the calculation of the states share of the GST.

States should not be penalised for their contribution to industries that drive national wealth, but under the existing methodology, that is exactly what happens, he said.

States that support the growth of our resources industries are penalised, with royalty revenue redistributed to states that ban or restrict exploration.

Janetzki said Canadas system saw a 50 per cent discount applied to mining revenue, which was generally on par with Western Australias sweetheart deal.
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PoliticsVictoriaReligion $670,000 government pledge scrapped after Dandenong mosque marked ayatollahs death Lachlan Abbott March 4, 2026  7:29pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The federal government has cancelled a $670,000 grant promised to a mosque in Dandenong on the grounds of social cohesion concerns after it mourned the death of Ayatollah Khamenei. Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly said on Wednesday afternoon she would not give funding to the Taha Humanity Association of Victoria after it reportedly held a service this week to mark the Iranian leaders death. Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly. Alex Ellinghausen In a video seen by this masthead, Labor MP Julian Hill promised funding before the 2025 federal election to support the next stage of community facilities at the Taha Centre. However, the Shiite Muslim organisation drew scrutiny in parliament on Tuesday when Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan said the group had mourned a brutal dictator.

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Khamenei, who was also a religious leader in Shiite Islam, was killed by US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran over the weekend. Aly said she had asked her department to halt the grant process after becoming aware of content posted online. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a meeting in Tehran. AP A video of a service in honour of His Eminence Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei has since been scrubbed from the Taha Associations social media channels. On Wednesday, Aly confirmed the commitment had been ditched.

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Due to social cohesion concerns, Ive decided to not go ahead with a grant for the Taha Humanity Association, she said in a brief statement. Related Article Explainer

Middle East tensions The Great Satan: How the era of the ayatollahs began We are not proceeding with this election commitment. Liberal senator James Paterson welcomed the decision and said Khamenei had led a terrorist organisation that had attacked Australia. Im glad that its happened, Paterson told the ABCs Afternoon Briefing on Wednesday. But I think we do have to ask some questions about the due diligence of the Albanese government.

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Hill said on Tuesday that his Liberal opponent in the south-east Melbourne seat of Bruce had turned up and announced double the money after his initial pledge last year, but told parliament the promise would be reviewed. Ayatollah Khamenei was an evil dictator. I dont mourn his death, Hill said. Labor MP Julian Hill, the assistant minister for citizenship, customs and multicultural affairs. Eamon Gallagher The Shia Muslim Council of Australia, however, said Khamenei  the long-time leader of Irans complex theocracy  was also regarded as a senior religious authority. Whatever ones political position, acknowledging grief is not an endorsement of policy, the council said in statement. It is a recognition of humanity. Our communitys mourning deserves to be understood in that light.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, however, said on Monday that several reported mourning events were inappropriate while Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan labelled vigils insulting. Many within the Iranian diaspora have also condemned Khamenei memorials and have celebrated his death. Iranian diaspora gather at the Victorias Parliament House after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Luis Enrique Ascui The Taha Humanity Association of Victoria has been contacted for comment. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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InspirationMy happy place Opinion Why this tiny town on the edge of Australia has our hearts In this series, My Happy Place, Travellers writers reflect on the holiday destinations in Australia and around the world that they cherish the most. Lindy Alexander Writer March 5, 2026  5:00am

March 5, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

My partner and I first stayed in Port Douglas in Far North Queensland one steamy December in a bleak caravan park, sleeping in a concrete bunker with no air-conditioning and a tiny window that blew in hot air. The humidity sat on us like a weighted blanket. It dampened and plastered our hair to our foreheads. We sought relief in the ocean, only to find it was like wading into a tepid bath. The only beer we could find was XXXX and as a vegetarian, requesting a chicken parmigiana and chips without the chicken was often my only dinner option. Turquoise shores at Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas. But despite the oppressive heat, the lukewarm ocean and limited dining options, we loved it. It felt like a proper holiday  languid, lazy and punctuated with palm trees. We returned three years later in 2011 for a babymoon, upgrading to a Mediterranean-style apartment on the main street. We walked early in the golden light along Four Mile Beach, nodding hello to everyone we passed. No matter how far we walked, the sand and the ocean seemed to stretch forever.

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Mornings were spent browsing and reading at a small bookshop cafe, afternoons in the pool, evenings at the marina, watching snorkellers and divers return from a day on the reef, sun-flushed and bursting with stories about the creatures theyd seen. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Vibrant Macrossan Street, the main thoroughfare of Port Douglas. Tourism and Events Queensland/Andrew Watson We usually finished at an ice-creamery in town. The same blonde woman was always behind the counter. One evening, as she scooped our cones, she told us shed moved from Newcastle after her husband had died tragically and unexpectedly. I asked myself what I could do where Id be around happy people all day, she said. Her answer? Buy an ice-cream shop in Port Douglas. When I got home, my belly swelling with my first child, I thought about her often. About how tenuous life could be and how for her, Port Douglas was not escapism. It gave her proximity to other peoples happiness in the hope that she might find some of her own again.

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My own happiness became increasingly dependent on the promise of an annual Port Douglas trip, a guarantee of defrosting after a long, bitter winter in regional Victoria. Dreamtime tours in Mossman Gorge, in the heart of the Daintree. Tourism and Events Queensland Every year, weve migrated north for a week or two, where weve gone out on the reef, drifting above coral as the sea shifts beneath us. Weve joined Dreamtime tours in the Daintree rainforest, listening to ancient stories, their roots reaching deep into country. Weve river snorkelled, cheered at cane toad races, stared into the cold eyes of enormous crocs at Hartleys, and driven through the nearby Atherton Tablelands with its cool fresh air and greenery that wraps around the winding roads. Now our annual trip to Port Douglas has become a multi-generational pilgrimage, with my parents, my two siblings and their kids joining us. My 80-something dad can be found in the pool under a scrum of grandkids launching themselves off his shoulders, perfecting their classic catches. Each morning the kids wait for my mum to latch open the door to their ground-floor apartment, a signal that the day can properly begin. Splashing around with grandpa. Lindy Alexander

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We know to get to the Sunday market early for Dukes Doughnuts, before the line snakes too far. We buy fresh prawns and sweet pineapples and the kids queue for bicycle-pressed sugar cane juice, green and grassy and sticky on their hands. We drift to Hemingways for craft beer, to Bam Pow for punchy Asian plant-based dishes and to the beach before the heat settles in. Related Article Opinion

My happy place Despite not visiting for 50 years, I still find this island is my favourite place The ice-cream shop looks much the same, though the woman who once scooped our cones is gone. Theres a defibrillator on the wall with a little plaque in memory of her husband. We go to a different ice-creamery now and the children take turns choosing flavours to carry home for my parents. Does Grandma want boysenberry again or would she prefer strawberry? The kids hurry with the melting offerings, padding down the footpath to our apartment. Last year the six grandchildren  aged seven to 14  created a feature film. Most of it was shot in the stairwells and carpark of our apartment block, which doubled as secret headquarters and escape routes. They disappeared for hours, emerging only for food and to cool off in the pool. This is what keeps us returning to Port Douglas  its the way this tiny town on the edge of Australia has accommodated every version of our family. The backpacking couple in a sweltering bunker. The expectant parents walking together on the beach at dawn. The middle-aged siblings corralling children through markets. The grandfather bracing himself in the pool as small bodies leap off him.

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We said wed stop going to Port Douglas when we ran out of things to do, but we havent yet. Im not sure we will.

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First flight from Dubai in days set to land in Sydney

The first flight from Dubai since the Middle East war began is set to touch down in Sydney.
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WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Stranded Australians arrive home after traumatic waiting game in Middle East war zone Daniel Lo Surdo Updated March 5, 2026  6:34am ,first published 1:33am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Snapshot Australian government website

dfat.gov.au and click on Middle East conflict

dfat.gov.au and click on Middle East conflict 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

+61 2 6261 3305

+61 2 6261 3305 Contact your airline via your carriers app

The first group of Australians stranded in the Middle East after war erupted in the region has been successfully repatriated to Sydney, marking the start of a complex return operation for the 115,000 travellers and expats still without an escape route from the intensifying conflict. The Australians arrived to a large media pack at the Sydney Airport arrivals hall on Wednesday night, more than 12 hours after over 200 passengers departed Dubai on Emirates flight EK414  the first commercial flight from the Middle East to Australia since the conflict began. Loading Former Sunrise host David Kochie Koch was on hand to welcome the travellers, which included his daughter and his young granddaughter. Koch said he was very relieved that his family was home. Its a huge relief. My kids in a war zone. You realise how lucky you are living here, Koch said.

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Among the returning Australians was a robotics team from Barker College, a private school on Sydneys north shore. The group had been scheduled to compete in a global tournament in Istanbul. David Koch with his granddaughter at Sydney Airport. Max Mason-Hubers Barker College head Phillip Heath told media at the airport the students had been holed up in Dubai for days while families and the school were desperate to get them home. Parents have been amazingly patient. Weve been terribly uncertain, Heath said. Ryan Trevithick, a member of the team, said it was really nice to be back on home soil.

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We definitely had ups and downs, [a] lot of tiredness and thoughts in the back of your head with a bit of unease all the time, Trevithick said. Our whole group really came together as a team through this experience and supported each other a lot. Ryan Trevithick (second from right) is reunited with his family, after his Barker College robotics team were stranded while on their way to Turkey. Max Mason-Hubers The group from Barker College arrive at Sydney Airport on Wednesday night. Nine News The return of those stranded brought an end to days of panic and confusion after the Trump administration launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Saturday, prompting retaliatory attacks by the Islamic Republic that has seen 10 other nations across the region bombarded by military and drone strikes. Iman Kreyam was swarmed by her family as she emerged from the arrivals gate after 11pm, with son Zafer calling her return the happiest day in our lives.

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It is just incredible having her back, he said. We just wanted to have her back, and she made it. Iman Keryam embraces her son Youssef after arriving in Sydney, after five days stranded in the Middle East. Max Mason-Hubers Imans family swarmed her as she appeared from the arrivals gate. Max Mason-Hubers Kreyam was travelling to Lebanon to visit her father, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, when the war broke out, stranding her in Dubai Airport without access to essential medication for eight hours before she was directed to a hotel. Imans other son, Youssef, ran through the arrivals gate to hug his mother as she emerged. He said: If I lost my mum, I didnt know what Id do.

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Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war news updates: Iranian warship sunk by torpedo off Sri Lanka; Hegseth says US just getting started; First repatriation flight lands in Sydney Alessandra Fuscaldo, an expat who lived in the UAE for the past 18 months, held back tears as she recalled the traumatic moment when her house shook after military strikes, as the war crept towards her doorstep. Fuscaldo, who will marry in the Hunter Valley next week, said she felt as safe as she can be while the region descended into conflict. She was met at the arrivals gate by her extended family, who travelled to Sydney ahead of her nuptials. Passengers on the flight applauded the captain and crew after landing. The staff were given another round of applause from the family and friends of the passengers as they exited the terminal. Etihad Airways has scheduled flights to Sydney and Melbourne from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night (Gulf time), expected to land in Australia on Thursday evening, as Emirates continues to expand services for those stranded in the UAE.

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It follows talks staged by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in which Albanese raised the prompt resumption of commercial flights as the best means of removing Australians from the region. Alessandra Fuscaldo is embraced by her family as she arrives in Sydney ahead of her wedding. Max Mason-Hubers Foreign Minister Penny Wong deployed six crisis teams to the Middle East on Wednesday to assist with repatriation efforts, while the Australian Defence Force has established a taskforce that will explore options for mass evacuations. Roisin Smith praised the response of the airlines and the UAE government after she was caught in the Middle East on the weekend, but admitted she faced an anxious wait as flights back to Australia were routinely cancelled. The Emirates flight touched down hours after Israel launched fresh missile strikes at Tehran, shortly after striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon.

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The Middle East serves as a vital corridor linking Australasia and Europe, accounting for 11 per cent of global air travel. Some 11,000 Australians transit through the region at any time, and it is used as a hub for Emirates, Virgin Australias partner Qatar Airways, and Etihad. Flight Centre chief executive Graham Turner forecast further repatriation flights in the coming days, but noted it may take further time for flights to the Middle East and Europe to go ahead. The first stage is obviously repatriating people out of the UAE, and thats going to take a few days, assuming theres no major disruption, Turner said. Its not bad news that Emirates is flying, quite a few flights [scheduled] for Thursday, so thats reasonably good news. Qatar Airways will be grounded as the nations airspace remains closed and flights to Australia are cancelled through Friday. An update on flights from Qatar will be provided on Thursday afternoon (AEDT).

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Camille Thioulouse is among the 24,000 Australians still in limbo across the UAE, as successive flights to her home base in Saudi Arabia are cancelled. Chaos ensues at Dubai Airport over the weekend. Mohammed Chowdhury She and her family have taken shelter in an Abu Dhabi hotel since the war broke out, and are now exploring plans to flee the region after Iranian drones struck the US Embassy in Riyadh, fewer than 30 minutes from their home. Our compound is unharmed, but most people are leaving or trying to get back to their home countries in Europe, Thioulouse said. We are making a plan today to try and get back to Riyadh by car and cross the border, and then get to France, where my husbands family are. Webjet chief executive Katrina Barry has diverted customers through travel corridors across Asia, including Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, as they seek safe passage home.

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Related Article Aviation Stuck in the Middle East war zone? These are your options for getting back to Australia Travellers bound for Europe via the Middle East have been diverted onto fresh travel routes, including on flights to the United States to avoid the highly dynamic situation. The UK government will repatriate its most vulnerable citizens in a chartered flight expected to depart Oman on Wednesday night (Gulf time), in whats expected to be the first of several flights catering for more than 130,000 British nationals in the Middle East. Etihad, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic prepare to resume limited flights to London on Wednesday, while France, Germany, Italy and Spain have announced or begun operating charter flights to return stranded citizens. The United States has urged Americans to use available commercial transport to exit the region.

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CLARIFICATION This story has been updated with new details about David Kochs family.
Iran has not approached Moscow with a request for arms supplies, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

Russia has condemned US-Israeli strikes and called for an immediate ceasefire against a country it has drawn closer to recently.

The Kremlin, Moscow. AP

Iran last year sealed a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Moscow, Russia is building two new nuclear units at Bushehr, the site of Irans only nuclear power plant, and Iran supplied Russia with shahed drones for use against Ukraine.

Asked by a reporter on Thursday whether Russia intends to provide material help to Iran, including arms deliveries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters:

In this case, there were no requests from the Iranian side. Our consistent position is well known to everyone, and there have been no changes in this regard.

In other news, Spain will send its Christopher Columbus frigate to Cyprus, joining Frances aircraft carrier and other Greek navy ships, the Defence ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The Spanish frigate, which will reach Crete around March 10, is used for air defence.

Reuters
The Spanish prime minister responded to Donald Trumps threats of a trade embargo: Some will say that this is naive. What is naive is to think that violence is the solution. Or to think that blind and servile obedience is leadership

Pedro Sanchez has revived the no to war slogan that mobilized the Spanish left in 2003 and was the prelude to the conservative Popular Party (PP)s loss of power in 2004 after the March 11 terrorist attacks in Madrid. The Spanish prime minister has firmly maintained his position against the conflict waged by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, revisiting the slogan to establish himself as the great antagonist of the U.S. president. Spains position is the same as in Ukraine or Gaza. No to the breakdown of international law that protects us all. No to resolving conflicts with bombs. No to war, he said Wednesday, while recalling the conflict in Iraq. The world has been here before. Twenty-three years ago, another U.S. administration led us into an unjust war. The Iraq War led to a dramatic increase in terrorism and a serious migration and economic crisis. That was the gift of the Azores Three (George W. Bush, Tony Blair and former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar) : a more insecure world and a worse life, he stressed.

The prime minister defended the Spanish governments rejection of the Iranian regime, but also the decision to launch military operations against it. He assured that he is committed to diplomacy. Some will say that this is naive. What is naive is to think that violence is the solution. Or to think that blind and servile obedience is leadership. We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world for fear of reprisals from someone, he said, in clear reference to Trumps threats to block trade with Spain. He also claimed that his position is not as much a minority as it may seem. We are not alone, the government is with those it should be with, with the values of the Constitution, of the EU, with the UN Charter, with peace. Millions of people around the world are in favor of peace and prosperity, he said.

Sanchezs institutional statement from La Moncloa, his official residence, made without journalists present and therefore without questions, was carefully measured to respond to all the queries that had been raised in recent hours and to the attacks from the Spanish political opposition, but above all to bang heads with Trump or Aznar himself, who was involved in the Iraq War, without expressly mentioning the U.S. president and without becoming embroiled in the mudslinging that the Republican wants to drag him into.

To head off any attempt by the leader of the main opposition PP, Alberto Nunez Feijoo,  or Israel  to align Sanchez with Tehran, the prime minister said of the Iranian regime: No one is in favor of the ayatollahs. But the question is whether we are on the side of international law and peace. The Spanish people were against Saddam Hussein, but that did not lead them to support an unjust war. We repudiate the Tehran regime, but we call for a diplomatic solution, he insisted.

Sanchez has appealed to progressive values in the face of a conflict in which he is convinced that the weakest will lose and arms manufacturers and other millionaires will win. The objectives of this attack are not even clear. We know that this war will not result in a fair international order, higher wages, or a healthier environment. Governments are not here to make peoples lives worse. The only ones who win when the world stops building hospitals to build missiles are the usual suspects, he added. And there he also alluded to the Iraq War to recall what that conflict wrought: instability, terrorism, and economic crisis.

Sanchez also pointed out that the Spanish government is preparing another social shield like the one it approved during the pandemic or when the war in Ukraine began, in view of the possibility of a prolonged conflict. We are going to protect the Spanish people. We are looking for evacuation devices. We are going to protect our compatriots. We are studying ways to mitigate the economic impact. We have the capacity and the political will, and we will do it as we did during the pandemic, he insisted.

As is almost always the case in his speeches, Sanchez made a historical reference to convey the extent to which Trumps decision could lead the world toward total disaster. He recalled that when the then-German chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg was asked how World War I had started, he replied, I wish I knew. This is how the great disasters of humanity begin. Very often, great wars break out because of miscalculations. We cannot play Russian roulette with the fate of millions of people, Sanchez concluded.

Faced with criticism for adopting a different stance to France and Germany, Sanchez clarified that he will work towards a consensus position within the EU, but above all he insisted that Spain will not take a subordinate position to the United States and has the right not to do so, because it is a reliable partner in NATO and the EU that fulfills its commitments. You cannot respond to one illegality with another, insisted the prime minister.

Sanchez made his statement after the Spanish government rejected the United States use of the joint military bases in Rota and Moron, to which Trump responded by threatening an embargo on Spain and a possible shutdown in all trade relations, all in the context of the escalating war in the Middle East after Israel and the United States launched military attacks against Iran last Saturday and killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The government had already warned that if Trump wants to cut off trade relations, he must do so while respecting the wishes of private companies and the agreements signed with the European Union as a whole.

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WorldNorth AmericaEpstein fallout US lawmakers vote to subpoena Pam Bondi over Epstein files Michael Koziol March 5, 2026  8:35am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Washington: United States lawmakers have voted to subpoena Donald Trumps attorney-general, Pam Bondi, before a congressional committee over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and the release of the so-called Epstein files. Members of the Republican-majority House Oversight Committee voted 24-19 in favour of the subpoena, with five Republicans joining the Democrats to support the move. Attorney-General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing in Washington. AP The subpoena would require Bondi to provide a taped, closed-door deposition to the committee. It will later become public. Bondis Justice Department was responsible for releasing more than 3 million pages of documents relating to its investigation of Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

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But she and the department have been criticised for failing to release all the documents, redacting the names of some accused co-conspirators and releasing the personal information of some Epstein victims. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Bondis subpoena. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton was ordered to appear before the same committee, along with her husband, former president Bill Clinton. Bloomberg Bondi already appeared before the House Judiciary Committee in February, where she was grilled about the Epstein files and lashed out at Democrats, calling one a washed-up loser lawyer. She also said members of Congress should focus on Trumps achievements, such as the booming share market. The Dow is over 50,000 right now, Bondi told the hearing. Thats what we should be talking about.

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Former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, a former secretary of state, were the last two people to be subpoenaed by the committee investigating the Epstein matter, and gave evidence last week. It was the first time a sitting or former president had been compelled to testify before Congress. Related Article Epstein fallout Bill Clinton distances himself from Epstein in videos released from his testimony last week Nancy Mace, a Republican congresswoman who led the push to subpoena Bondi, said the committee wanted to know why Bondis Justice Department was more focused on shielding the powerful than delivering justice. The Epstein case is one of the greatest cover-ups in American history. His global sex-trafficking network is larger than what is being revealed, Mace said. Three million documents have been released, and we still dont have the full truth. Videos are missing. Audio is missing. Logs are missing. There are millions more documents out there.

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The committee was preparing to subpoena another member of Trumps cabinet, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was a next-door neighbour of Epstein for years and met him on several occasions, including on a visit to Epsteins private island in 2012. Lutnick agreed on Tuesday (US time) to appear voluntarily before the committee. I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the committee, the committee chairman, Republican congressman James Comer, said. The ongoing congressional activity reflects a determination by Democrats and some Republicans to keep the Epstein issue alive despite the publication of the Epstein files having no material impact on Trump, despite thousands of mentions, including complaints to the FBI that the White House has dismissed as spurious. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
SIMPSON BAY:--- Representatives of Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM) are participating in Routes Americas 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, presenting a renewed strategy focused on strengthening the airports global position, with particular interest of expanding into the South American market.

This years participation is a targeted effort by Princess Juliana International Airport to rebuild and deepen relationships with South American airlines and airport partners. The objective is to develop routes that complement our existing network, enhance regional connectivity, and strategically stimulate traffic during the airports off-peak travel periods, driven by the 118% increase in South American visitor numbers compared to 2017, primarily from Colombia and Brazil, stated Suzy Kartokromo, Aeronautical Business Manager at PJIAE.

Chief Operating Officer Emile Levons, who is leading the delegation emphasized the importance of strengthening regional relationships. Routes Americas provides an important platform for us to engage directly with airline partners and industry stakeholders. We are committed to expanding our network and identifying opportunities that will further strengthen Princess Juliana International Airports role and as a key gateway to the northeastern Caribbean., he stated.

The airports strategy at Routes Americas highlights the unique characteristics that position Sint Maarten as an attractive destination and regional gateway. In addition to the islands natural beauty and vibrant culture, Princess Juliana International Airport emphasized its role as a hub for multi-island travel, allowing visitors to easily explore surrounding destinations including St. Barths, Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius.

Sint Maartens multicultural and multilingual environment was also highlighted as a key advantage. While English, French, and Dutch are widely spoken on the island, the presence of a large Spanish-speaking community makes Sint Maarten an accessible and welcoming destination for travelers from South America.

To bring the destination experience directly to industry partners, Princess Juliana International Airport introduced an interactive booth concept designed to showcase the island in an engaging and memorable way. Visitors were invited to experience Sint Maarten through a Virtual Reality presentation, allowing them to explore the islands landscapes, arrival experience, and aviation highlights. The VR experience was designed to give partners a realistic impression of the destination and its unique appeal.

The booth also featured local artwork by renowned Sint Maarten artist Roland Richardson, providing a cultural element that reflected the islands artistic heritage. In addition, visitors were able to capture a memorable moment through a photo activation, allowing them to take home a visual reminder of Sint Maarten and the airports presence at the event. Together, these elements were designed to give visitors a small but meaningful glimpse of what Sint Maarten has to offer, reinforcing the airports role as both a destination gateway and a regional hub.

Routes is not just about meetings, it is about creating a lasting impression, said Cassie Schoutens, Corporate Communications Officer at PJIA. Through our interactive booth, we wanted to bring Sint Maarten to life in a way that reflects who we are: warm, vibrant, and unique. By combining innovation, culture, and connectivity, we are showing our partners why SXM is not only a destination worth flying to, but a strategic hub within the Caribbean.

Princess Juliana International Airport continues to focus on strategic growth and innovative marketing initiatives that strengthen its international presence while promoting Sint Maarten as a dynamic Caribbean destination.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Dutch police forces of the Dutch Caribbean, united under the College van Korpschefs, hereby announce the launch of a coordinated Interinsular Gun Buyback and Firearm Surrender Action.

This joint initiative is a collaborative effort of the police organizations of the Dutch Caribbean and is supported by the Public Prosecutors Offices of Curacao, Sint Maarten, Aruba, and the Caribbean Netherlands, including Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.

One Approach

For the first time, all islands within the Dutch Caribbean will simultaneously conduct a firearm surrender and buyback program. The main objective of this coordinated action is to provide individuals who are in possession of illegal firearms with the opportunity to voluntarily surrender these weapons during a designated period without facing legal consequences for illegal possession.

By acting collectively, the islands send a strong and united message: illegal firearms and gun violence will not be tolerated within our communities.

This project reflects the shared responsibility of all countries and special municipalities within the Dutch Caribbean to enhance public safety. The coordinated timing of the surrender period demonstrates a unified regional strategy to reduce the number of illegal firearms in circulation and to prevent gun-related violence.

Following the conclusion of the surrender period, the police forces, in close cooperation with the respective Public Prosecutors Offices, will intensify enforcement efforts. Based on gathered intelligence, targeted controls and operations will be conducted at various locations across all participating islands. Individuals found in possession of illegal firearms after the surrender period can expect strict enforcement measures and prosecution.

The police forces of the Dutch Caribbean call upon all residents to take responsibility and contribute to safer communities by making use of this opportunity. By surrendering illegal firearms now, individuals can avoid criminal consequences and help protect lives.

Further details regarding dates, locations, and procedures for the firearm surrender period will be communicated locally by each police force in the coming days.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Social Development, within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, successfully hosted the Senior Connect initiative on Friday, February 27th, at the Government Administration Building. Despite overcast skies and intermittent rainfall, the event drew an impressive turnout of senior citizens from across the community.

Upon arrival, attendees were welcomed by the warm and melodious sounds of the steel pan, creating a vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The program opened with the Sint Maarten Song performed by Sweet Pan, followed by opening prayers delivered by Mrs. Elencia Baptiste-Boasman. Opening remarks were provided by the Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labour, who emphasized the invaluable contributions of the nations elders. He highlighted the pivotal role seniors have played in shaping the country and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting their wellbeing.

Senior Connect focused on creating meaningful engagement by linking seniors with essential services tailored to their needs, strengthening social connections, and empowering them through valuable information and resources. A visually striking fruit cart at the entrance underscored the importance of healthy eating, complemented by an energetic exercise session that impressed many with the vitality and enthusiasm displayed by the seniors.

The event also featured a presentation by the Social Insurance Bank (SZV) delivered by Mr. Reginald Willemberg. Representatives from the Tax Department Mr. Marlon Kwidama & Kelron Bellot, were available to address inquiries, and the Community Police Officers provided important safety tips. Exhibits were organized into four color coded zones:

 Health & Wellness Zone (Green)

 Home Care & Support Services Zone (Blue)

 Independent Living Zone (Yellow)

 Finance & Community Zone (Purple)

A total of 27 service providers participated, offering a wide range of support and information. More than 200 visitors were in attendance, taking the opportunity to engage meaningfully with service providers and connect with their peers.

The Department of Social Development extends its sincere appreciation to all service providers, volunteers, seniors, family members, caregivers, and everyone who contributed to making Senior Connect a success.
PHILIPSBURG:--- A new mural has been added to the pay station at Clem Labega Square as part of the @ColorMeSXM project by the Be The Change Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of General Affairs. Since 2020, the initiative has introduced more than 24 murals throughout Philipsburg. The new mural was funded by the Mondriaan Fund, which promotes visual arts and cultural heritage in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

We are excited about the central and highly visible location of this mural and grateful to everyone who supported its completion, said Laura Bijnsdorp, Coordinator of @ColorMeSXM. The design draws from old photographs and vintage postcards of Philipsburg. Decades ago, town looked very different. Quieter streets, small fishing boats along the shore, and the Great Salt Pond shimmering pink in the sun. Fishing, salt harvesting, farming, and small trade shaped daily life. This mural reflects those early scenes.

The mural was designed and completed by Anguilla-based artist Adam G. Working from historical reference images, he created the piece in a vintage postcard style. One of his earlier murals in Philipsburg was recently removed due to building changes, and @ColorMeSXM welcomed the opportunity to reintroduce his work to the Philipsburg Art Walk.

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina visited the site following completion of the mural to meet the artist and commended Be The Change Foundation and partners for their continued role in the beautification of Philipsburg. Initiatives such as ColorMeSXM demonstrate how collaboration between Government and community organisations can contribute to meaningful initiatives such as upgrades to our public spaces, he said. The Ministry of General Affairs has indicated plans to further upgrade the parking lot area in the near future, including the introduction of an automated payment system.

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina further noted the importance of preserving and celebrating Sint Maartens history through creative expression. This mural highlights the history of Philipsburg while also reflecting the natural beauty that makes Sint Maarten unique. Public art allows us to tell our story in a way that is accessible and encourages residents and visitors to connect with the stories of our island.

Be The Change Foundation has also been invited to present its work to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet next week. The presentation will highlight the impact of @ColorMeSXM and SXM DOET, the annual volunteerism event also organised by the Foundation and well known in the community. We also would like to thank Mr. Ekema, Head of Facilities, who worked closely with us to ensure the booth was repaired and properly primed ahead of installation. added Melanie Choisy, Be The Change President.

@ColorMeSXM, also known as the Philipsburg Art Walk, was launched as a way to revitalise the capital through public art. The project aims to promote local and regional artists, increase foot traffic in town in support of surrounding businesses. It also diversifies the tourism offering through a self-guided tour while raising awareness of Sint Maartens history and culture. More information, including the self-guided tour map, is available at https://bethechangesxm.com/colormesxm/.
The conflict between Javier Milei and his vice president, Victoria Villarruel, continues to escalate. In his opening address of the parliamentary year, while insulting and mocking opposition legislators, Milei alluded to an alleged conspiracy involving members of his government to try to overthrow him  and with a rather unsubtle gesture, he seemed to point to Villarruel, seated behind him. Later, other spokespeople for the far right made the accusation explicit: they accused the vice president of being a coup plotter, of working for the opposition, and of betting on the governments failure. Villarruel responded by asserting that the Casa Rosada (the presidential palace) is seeking her resignation, but Im not going to give to them, while criticizing the far-right administration over various corruption cases.

Last Sunday, in Congress, Milei and Villarruel came face to face again after months without contact. When they werent ignoring each other, their interactions were cold and distant, the ritual dance of enemies. Cameras even captured a moment when the Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei, the presidents sister, tried to block Villarruels path and was pushed aside by the vice president.

Speaking before the legislative assembly, Milei asserted that the turmoil his government experienced leading up to the midterm elections last October was the work of both opponents and allies who dreamed of seizing the presidential chair. While his nod toward Villarruel might have been misleading, subsequent statements from members of his administration dispelled any doubt.

There is no chance of having any further dealings with her. She is no longer part of the government, Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni asserted after the event. This Monday, former defense minister and current congressman Luis Petri elaborated: When the president speaks of those who, from the opposition or from the government, were salivating at the prospect of sitting in the presidential chair, he was clearly alluding to a vice president who did not rise to the occasion. He added: Villarruel was complicit with the opposition, she bet on the failure of our government and offered herself as an alternative [...] while being second in the line of succession. Later, he directly labeled her a coup plotter.

Villarruels response came early Tuesday morning through a series of messages posted on her social media accounts. Thats what they want. My resignation. But Im not going to give it to them. December 10, 2027. Until that date, I will hold my position with integrity, she declared. She also criticized the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Martin Menem, an ally of Karina Milei, for his extensive knowledge of protocol, ceremony, and sycophancy.

Vice President Villarruel criticized Petri for his performance as Minister of Defense, a position he held for two years until last December. Before rambling and commenting like a gossiping neighbor, he should get his facts straight and figure out how he will deal legally with what appears to be embezzlement of funds from the social security system for military personnel and their families, she stated, referring to possible irregularities at the Armed Forces Social Welfare Institute (IOSFA). A user implicated her in the dissemination of audio recordings in which the former head of the National Disability Agency, Diego Spagnuolo, describes a corruption network in the purchase of medications. How difficult it must be to avoid implicating those responsible or mentioned by Spagnuolo in order to drag in those of us who have nothing to do with it, Villarruel retorted, taking as fact the allegations that implicate the far-right leadership and for which high-ranking officials and businesspeople have been prosecuted.

The rift between Milei and Villarruel has been growing since they assumed the presidency. The vice president became known as a defender of the military officers accused of crimes against humanity during the dictatorship and aspired to control the Ministries of Defense and Security, her area of expertise. Milei never yielded to these ambitions and limited his running mate to the role of head of the Senate, the only position the Constitution reserves for the vice president. Meanwhile, Villarruel began to develop a series of activities throughout the country, the complete opposite of Mileis approach, which has focused on Buenos Aires and his trips abroad, particularly to the United States. In the Casa Rosada, Villarruels agenda was interpreted as a betrayal, a bid to promote herself independently of Milei.

The breakdown in the relationship has gestated for two years and now appears irreversible, sowing seeds of unease within the government, on the long road toward the 2027 presidential elections. Villarruel has demonstrated her ability to engage in dialogue with conservative sectors of Peronism, and her figure garners support among right-wing and nationalist groups who disagree with many aspects of the current administration. Should the vice president be a candidate in the upcoming elections, she could siphon off key votes from Mileis reelection bid.

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By Mata Press Service

The federal governments decision to require refugees and asylum seekers to pay a share of their health-care costs is drawing sharp criticism from unions, migrant advocates and front-line doctors, who say the move will deepen hardship for some of the countrys most vulnerable residents.

In its first budget, the Mark Carney government announced changes to the Interim Federal Health Program that will take effect May 1. Resettled refugees and refugee claimants will be required to pay 30 per cent of supplemental health costs, including dental, vision and mental-health services, along with a $4 co-payment for each prescription drug.

Ottawa says the changes are aimed at reducing payments to private insurer Medavie Blue Cross, which administers the program. The government projects savings of $358 million over the next two years.

But critics argue the savings will come at a steep human and financial cost.

The Interim Federal Health Program was created in 1957 to provide temporary health coverage to refugees and asylum claimants who are not eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance. Claimants can wait months or years for their cases to be decided and, during that time, have no access to provincial health plans or social assistance. Even approved refugees can face waiting periods before they qualify for provincial coverage.

The program currently provides coverage comparable to provincial plans, including basic medical services and certain supplemental supports.

Under the new rules, refugees will pay a portion of supplemental costs and prescription fees out of pocket.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees said the government is offloading health-care costs to vulnerable refugees rather than addressing administrative backlogs that have driven up program expenses.

Program costs have risen sharply in recent years. A report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer found that annual spending grew from $226 million in 2021 to $896 million in 2025, largely due to an increase in asylum claims. Without changes, costs could reach $1.5 billion by 2030.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has seized on those figures, calling for a full review of the program and urging the federal government to limit coverage to emergency life-saving health care for rejected claimants. In social media posts, he referred to deluxe benefits for fake refugees.

A Conservative motion to curb the program was defeated in the House of Commons last week, with Liberal, Bloc Quebecois and NDP MPs voting against it.

Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi accused the Conservatives of inflaming public opinion rather than offering workable reforms.

This has nothing to do with facts, Naqvi told the House. It completely has to do with dividing Canadians.

Even so, health-care providers say the governments own co-payment plan risks repeating mistakes from the past.

Dr. Meb Rashid, director of the Crossroads Clinic in Toronto, said a 30 per cent co-payment on counselling services effectively shuts the door on care for people who have fled war, torture or persecution.

For many of our patients, that means those services simply wont be accessed, he said in an earlier interview about the proposed changes.

Advocacy groups note that $4 per prescription can quickly add up. A refugee managing diabetes and hypertension may require five or six medications a month. That could mean $20 to $24 in monthly drug fees, in addition to dental, vision or trauma counselling costs.

Many asylum seekers arrive with limited savings and face barriers to employment, including language challenges and delays in obtaining work permits. They also shoulder legal fees, application costs and other expenses linked to their immigration status.

Migrant Rights Network, a national advocacy coalition, has launched a campaign urging the government to reverse the cuts before they take effect.

People will skip medications. They will avoid the dentist. They will forgo counselling, the group said in a statement. They will get sicker and end up in emergency rooms that cost the system far more than prevention would have.

The debate echoes a similar confrontation in 2012, when Stephen Harpers Conservative government reduced IFHP coverage. Doctors staged walkouts and several provinces stepped in to fill gaps. In 2014, the Federal Court ruled that the changes amounted to cruel and unusual treatment in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Justice Anne Mactavish wrote that the cuts jeopardized the health, the safety and indeed the very lives of vulnerable children and adults. The ruling was later upheld, and the program was restored after the Liberals formed government in 2015.

Critics of the current reforms say the underlying cost pressures stem less from the scope of benefits and more from processing delays.

Asylum backlogs have grown significantly in recent years. Claimants often remain in the federal program for extended periods while waiting for decisions. The union representing federal workers argues that cutting staff who process refugee claims will prolong those waits and increase overall costs.

Instead of clearing the backlog, the government is shifting the bill to people who have the least ability to pay, CUPE said.

Supporters of reform counter that the program must be sustainable and aligned with broader pressures on Canadas health-care system. Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner has argued that public support for immigration has declined and that taxpayers expect greater accountability.

An Environics poll last fall found that a plurality of Canadians agreed with the statement that too many refugees are not genuine claimants.

Immigration policy experts caution that rhetoric can obscure the legal realities. Some rejected claimants succeed on appeal and later become permanent residents or citizens. Limiting health care during that period could have long-term consequences for integration and public health.

The Carney government is also advancing Bill C-12, legislation that would tighten asylum rules, including a requirement that claims be made within one year of arrival in Canada. Advocacy groups say the bill, combined with health-care cost-sharing, signals a broader shift in refugee policy.
Commentary

By Grady Munro and Jake Fuss

The British Columbia government is spending its way to a fiscal disaster. Since taking office, the Eby government has increased spending to record levels, ran large budget deficits and racked up debt at an unprecedented pace. And according to the governments new budget, in 2026/27 it will record a huge projected $13.3 billion deficit and total provincial debt will reach $183.4 billion.

And because multiple rating agencies recently downgraded the governments credit ratingmeaning that lending money to the B.C. government is an increasingly risky propositionthe costs of debt accumulation (i.e. debt interest) will likely continue to rise.

To get out of this hole, the Eby government must address the root cause of this fiscal decline and review all areas of provincial spending, with no exceptions.

According to our recent study, government-sector workers (federal, provincial, local) in B.C. earn 4.4 per cent higher wages, on average, compared to their private-sector counterparts (as of 2024, the latest year of available data). In other words, if you compare two workers who are the same gender, have the same level of education, work in the same industry and occupation, and have the same tenure, the government worker will earn more than 4 per cent more per hour (on average).

Of course, employers compensate employees in other wayslower wages might be offset by greater job security or by coverage under a registered pension plan. But in 2023 (the latest year of available data), 84.3 per cent of government-sector workers in B.C. were covered by a registered pension plan compared to 15.9 per cent of private-sector workers. Government-sector workers in the province also retire an average of 1.4 years earlier than those in the private sector.

Furthermore, 2.9 per cent of private-sector workers lost their jobs in 2024 compared to 0.4 per cent of government-sector workers. And that same year, government-sector workers took an average of 5.6 more days off due to personal reasons compared to workers in the private sector.

Simply put, governments in B.C.including the Eby governmentpay a premium for their workers. Faced with a looming fiscal crisis of its own making, the Eby government should examine all areas of spending to find savings. Bringing government compensation back in line with the private sector is a good place to start.

Grady Munro is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Fraser Institute. Jake Fuss is Director of Fiscal Studies for the Fraser Institute.
CORRECTED: Israel army says struck 'covert underground' nuclear site in Iran



Jerusalem, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2026



The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that it struck an underground nuclear site in Iran where it said scientists were "covertly" developing a key component for nuclear weapons.

"IDF intelligence continued to follow the scientists' activities and located their new location at this site in a manner that enabled a precise strike on the covert underground compound," the military said, displaying a map showing the facility on the eastern outskirts of Tehran.

"In the site, a group of nuclear scientists operated covertly to develop a key component for nuclear weapons," it said, adding the scientists had been working at the underground location, identified as "Minzadehei," after Israel struck several Iranian nuclear sites during the previous war in June.
Air strike hits Iraq base housing pro-Iran group: faction sources



Baghdad, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2026



An air strike hit a military base in southern Iraq housing the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah group on Tuesday, two sources from the armed faction said.

The Jurf al-Nasr base, which serves as one of the main bastions of the powerful Tehran-backed group, has been struck several times since the war in the Middle East broke out, starting in the early hours of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran.

The strikes have since expanded to other areas, and more than 10 fighters, mostly from Kataeb Hezbollah, have been killed across Iraq since Saturday.

A second source from the group said Tuesday's strike only caused material damage.

Iraq, which recently regained a sense of stability but has long been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, said it did not want to be dragged into the war. But it has not been spared.

Several Iran-backed armed groups -- known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, to which Kataeb Hezbollah also belongs -- have said they will not stay "neutral" and have claimed dozens of drone attacks on US bases.

A drone was shot down on Tuesday evening near Baghdad International Airport, the Iraqi government's security media cell said.

Hours earlier, security forces announced that they seized nine rockets and a launchpad that were set up to target the airport, which includes a military base that hosts American advisers and previously housed US-led coalition troops.

Since the war started, the autonomous Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops, has been the main target of drone attacks, the majority of which were intercepted by air defences.

An AFP correspondent reported that a strike on Tuesday night hit Kurdistan's Sulaimaniyah, the second-largest city in the autonomous region.

Kurdish security forces said that a drone struck an area near a building that previously served as a United Nations office in the city, with no casualties reported.

Loud bangs were again heard in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region, AFP journalists reported.

Earlier in the day, drone strikes blamed on Iran hit a camp hosting Iranian Kurdish fighters and family members in Iraqi Kurdistan, a local official and an exiled opposition group told AFP.

AFP photographers at the scene reported damage to rooms used as lodgings for the camp's hospital staff.

Iraq's Kurdish region hosts camps and rear-bases operated by several Iranian Kurdish rebel groups that have repeatedly faced cross-border strikes from Iran, which has long accused them of serving Western or Israeli interests.
Gulf defences unprepared for Iranian drones, analysts say



Paris, France, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2026



By stepping up long-range drone strikes against Gulf countries, Iran is exploiting the inadequacy of their defences against the low-cost threat in a bid to pressure the United States to end the war, analysts said.

Since the operation began on Saturday, "Iran has primarily used ballistic missiles to attack Israel, but has relied on drones to attack Gulf countries", according to the think tanks Institute for the Study of War and the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.

Israel's army said late Sunday that it was targeted by more than 50 drones "launched from Iran". The Gulf countries, meanwhile, were on the receiving end of more than 1,000 -- mainly Shahed-136s.

The United Arab Emirates says it has been targeted by more than 800 drones and nearly 200 missiles since the war erupted.

A luxury hotel and French base were among the sites targeted.

In Saudi Arabia, two drones hit the US embassy on Tuesday, while the massive Ras Tanura refinery on its Gulf coast went into partial shutdown after a strike.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Jordan were also targeted.



- 'War of attrition' -



For Steve Feldstein, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the use of these drones -- which cost tens of thousands of dollars -- is "a meaningful way for the regime to impose costs against its adversaries".

"As the conflict persists, this aspect could become more relevant," he added.

The Shahed-136, supplied by Iran to Russia and now produced by the thousands under the name Geran-2 for Moscow's war against Ukraine, is incomparably cheaper than the missiles fired to intercept it, a European industry source specialising in these matters told AFP.

The source said it is a "tool for a war of attrition" aimed at exhausting the enemy's resources.

The Gulf countries' air defence systems are not designed to cope with that.

While they do not use the expensive Patriot missiles, as those are reserved for destroying complex targets such as missiles, they still resort to systems like NASAMS and Avenger, whose missiles cost several hundred thousand dollars, the source said.

The Emirates also have the "very expensive" Coyote anti-drone system.

The source added that while the Shaheds, guided by GPS, can be jammed, the jamming capabilities of countries in the region are "weak" and "would create many difficulties, including for the defence systems".

"In Ukraine, the territory is dotted with acoustic detection systems and anti-drone drones that make it possible to shoot down Shaheds at low cost. There's nothing at all like that in the Gulf countries," the source said.

"The lessons observed in Ukraine have not been learnt, particularly by the Americans."

In recent weeks, however, Washington has deployed A-10 attack aircraft to the region, whose cannon can be used against drones -- just as the Israelis do with their Apache helicopters.

Ukraine has said it is ready to help and share its experience in the fight against drones.



- 'Ramp up the pressure' -



During the 12-day war in June, Tehran confined itself to strikes against Israel.

This time, by attacking Gulf neighbours, "Iran's calculation is to ramp up the pressure as quickly as possible so that these countries then put pressure on the US" to end its strikes, said Camille Lons, Gulf specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

"Unlike Israel, these countries have very little resilience in the face of military pressure" and their societies are less prepared to cope with it, she added.

She said that Iran struck quickly out of fear that its offensive capabilities would be rapidly undermined by heavy blows from the US and Israel.

The Iranians had also learned the lesson last year "that by trying to limit escalation, they ended up appearing weak in the eyes of the United States", Lons added.

Seth Jones, an expert at the US-based think tank CSIS, said that "if part of the Iranian strategy was to put pressure on Gulf states, so that they would push the US to try to curb this war... It could have the opposite effect".

"It's not entirely out of the question that we see some Gulf states get more involved in this, providing information, allowing their territory to be used for offensive strikes, not just defensive ones," he added.

mra/sva/amj/smw
Bolivians scramble to exchange banknotes after money plane crash



La Paz, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2026



Thousands of Bolivians rushed to banks on Tuesday to exchange banknotes at risk of being mistaken for money stolen from a military plane that crashed at the weekend, AFP reporters said.

A Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane crashed after landing at El Alto International Airport on Friday, killing 24 people and showering the ground with banknotes.

The aircraft was carrying 17.1 million notes of various denominations totaling 423 million bolivianos ($60.7 million), destined for the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB).

Bystanders rushed to the wreckage to grab the spilt cash, prompting police to use tear gas to repel them.

Around 30 percent of the money was looted, according to the government.

The BCB has cancelled all the banknotes transported on the flight, which belonged to a series containing the letter B.

But Bolivians fear the money will remain in circulation and end up being worthless while it's still in their wallets.

Meanwhile, traders are no longer accepting banknotes from earlier batches that also contain the letter B, even though they have not been cancelled.

Thousands of people lined up outside the BCB and banks in La Paz and the neighboring city of El Alto on Tuesday to exchange their money.

"A person selling bread wouldn't take" one of my banknotes, Serapio Mayta, a 77-year-old retiree, told AFP, after waiting for two hours to exchange his money.

Also waiting was Blanca Molina, a 78-year-old housewife, who said her cash savings were also affected.

BCB president David Espinoza appealed to the public for understanding, urging them to accept legal tender.

The BCB has set up a search tool on its website, which Bolivians can use to verify the validity of their cash.

The investigation into the cause of the crash is still ongoing.

The surviving pilot told investigators that there was ice on the runway and that the aircraft's brakes failed, his lawyer said.
The mass production of these unmanned attack aircraft, which cost far less than the missiles that intercept them, gives the Islamic Republics army a difficult weapon to counter

When a moped icon and exclamation marks appear in a Ukrainian Telegram channel, the message is clear: a drone is approaching. These unmanned aerial vehicles, used by the Russian military as projectiles, glide with a whirring sound similar to that of a motorcycle or lawnmower. Their speed before impact, averaging around 185 kilometers per hour in flight  lower than that of a missile  has made it easy for Ukrainian society to detect this type of weapon, capable of destroying four floors of a residential building in a single hit. Ukrainians generally refer to these suicide drones as shahed, a reference to the Iranian-made model used by Moscow and now replicated in Russian factories.

The most well-known of these kamikaze drones is the Shahed 136, the same one that Irans armed forces have been using since last Saturday against Gulf countries allied with the United States. This weapon offers the Islamic Republic a competitive advantage in warfare for two reasons: its low production cost and the difficulty of shooting it down.

In the first three days of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which began on Saturday with the coordinated Israeli-American attack on Iran, Tehran launched over 1,000 drones against the territory of the Jewish State, its primary enemy, and Arab countries in the region that host U.S. military assets. The United Arab Emirates has been the hardest hit, with more than 600 Iranian drones flying toward it, followed by Kuwait (nearly 300) and Israel (with about 50). The drones have also reached Qatar (a dozen), as well as Bahrain and Jordan.

Most of these projectiles have been intercepted by the defenses of those countries, but some have managed to reach urban centers, as in the case of Manama, the capital of Bahrain, and the emirate of Dubai. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabian authorities reported that two of these attack vehicles struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, the capital.

Costing around $35,000 per unit, the Shahed 136, the crown jewel of the Iranian state-owned Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center, linked to the Revolutionary Guard, has become a crucial weapon of war. Its price, very low compared to the cost of one of the missiles used to intercept it (which range from between $1.1 million and $2.3 million), facilitates large-scale production.

The exact number of drones currently in Irans arsenals is unknown, but it certainly numbers in the thousands. Last January, an Iranian military commander reported the arrival of a shipment of 1,000 of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for immediate use. Russia, in its exclusive economic zone in Tatarstan, manufactures more than 18,000 Geran drones annually, with Tehrans assistance. The Russian model has copied the internal components and fuselage of the Iranian drone.

A Shahed-type drone launched by Russia against Ukrainian territory in October 2022. Efrem Lukatsky (AP)

Since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has launched more than 60,000 of these missiles against Ukrainian territory, an estimate based on monitoring by two analysis centers: the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Again, most are hit by Ukrainian air defense systems, but not all: sometimes due to a lack of resources or errors in targeting, and occasionally because their trajectory poses no risk and it is better to conserve ammunition.

The saturation of military defense shields, however, creates gaps for these projectiles, which are lethal when they impact residential areas due to the mixture of explosives and fuel they carry. Standing over three meters tall, with an explosive payload of around 50 kilograms and a range of approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles)  the latest Russian variants exceed all these figures  the Shahed drones pose a significant challenge for interception: they fly low, slowly, and on an irregular trajectory that sometimes appears erratic, as shown in videos recently recorded in Dubai and Manama.

Until now, defensive batteries were designed to intercept high-speed missiles with less irregular trajectories. These drones are inexpensive, said Yasir Atalan of CSIS in a recent exchange of messages. Defending against them with high-end assets, such as fighter jets or advanced surface-to-air missiles, is economically unsustainable in the long run. The cost-benefit ratio favors the attacker if the defender relies solely on premium systems.

In this context, Tehran has the advantage, as demonstrated on Monday by the Iranian drone attack on a UK military base in Cyprus. France will send defense systems against these types of drones and missiles to defend the island, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Satellite image of the impact of an Iranian drone against the Saudi refinery of Ras Tanura on Monday. AP

Kelly A. Grieco, an analyst at the Stimson Center, has quantified the efficiency of these Shahed drones in wartime. In a recent thread on the X network, where she dissects the production costs of the attack aircraft and their interceptors, she reaches this conclusion: for every euro Iran spent on drones, the UAE, the country most affected, spent between 20 and 28.

The main lesson [from Ukraine] is the need for layered, low-cost air defense solutions that can absorb massive drone attacks without depleting reserves or budgets, Atalan points out. Efficient counter-drone systems, electronic warfare, more affordable interceptors, and resilient infrastructure must become essential elements of territorial defense planning.

Translated to the battlefield: a shield is required that combines more or less sophisticated radars, anti-missile batteries, trained fighter jets, but also dynamic systems to disconnect these aircraft from the network and, finally, mobile artillery units. This is what the Ukrainian army has developed, and even so, it cannot counter all the drones that Moscow launches daily against its territory.

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Trump says US Navy could escort tankers, Iran aimed to strike first



Washington, United States, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2026



President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through a crucial Gulf shipping route, as he justified his war on Iran by saying he believed Tehran was about to strike first.

Trump has given often conflicting explanations for the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, while the president who once campaigned to end to America's Middle Eastern wars has set out no firm endgame.

The attacks and Iran's fiery response have engulfed the Middle East -- while also causing global economic turmoil as shipping avoids the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, one of the world's most vital shipping lanes.

Trump, whose own boasts of economic revival are now also under threat ahead of midterm elections later this year, moved to calm the jitters by saying US warships could help.

"If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

The US president also ordered Washington to provide insurance for commercial shipping. US stocks cut their losses after the announcement, although crude prices continued to rise.



- 'Knocked out' -



With questions swirling about Trump's justifications for his country's biggest Middle Eastern entanglement for decades, the US leader earlier denied Israel had forced him into launching the strikes.

Trump's comments appeared to contradict Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said on Monday that Washington only acted after learning that ally Israel was going to strike.

"I think they (Iran) were going to attack first. And I didn't want that to happen," Trump said as he hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Oval Office.

"So, if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand."

Fielding questions for the first time in public since launching the operation Saturday, Trump also said the US-Israel strikes had largely destroyed Iran's military.

"Just about everything's been knocked out," Trump said, adding that Iran's navy, air force and radar systems had all been taken out of action.

Trump however offered no firm plan for Iran's future leadership, saying that "most of the people we had in mind are dead."

He said that the "worst case" was that a replacement for Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes on Saturday, could be just as bad.



- 'Weeks from a weapon' -



The US leader's stance on "regime change" has been unclear, and toppling the Islamic republic was not among the four key goals for the operation that he gave on Monday.

One of those key objectives was stopping Iran's nuclear program, and US officials sought to back up Trump's case by saying Tuesday that Iran had been stringing Washington along in talks prior to the war.

"They basically could have been days or weeks away from a weapon," one senior administration official told reporters on a call.

Trump meanwhile said it was "too late" for Iran to seek talks.

And the US officials confirmed that negotiator Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner had had no back-channel contact with the Iranians since Saturday's strikes.

Germany's Merz meanwhile voiced support Tuesday for the US-Israeli war on Iran but said he hoped it would end soon "as soon as possible," saying it was "damaging our economies."

While praising Merz, Trump had harsh words for European allies Britain and Spain.

"This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with," Trump said of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who initially refused to let US forces use UK bases to attack Iran, before relenting.

Trump also threatened to cut off trade with "terrible" Spain, whose left-wing government also refused the use of its bases.
Canada PM calls for 'rapid de-escalation' of war in Middle East



Sydney, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2026



Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called on Wednesday for the rapid de-escalation of the conflict unleashed by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, urging all parties to respect the international rules of engagement.

Speaking in Sydney, Carney said the war in the Middle East represented "another example of the failure of the international order".

"Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal," he said.

"Canada reaffirms that international law binds all belligerents," he said.

The United States and Israel launched the attack on Saturday and quickly killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two days after US envoys had been speaking to Iran in Geneva on a nuclear accord.

Since then, Iran has expanded its retaliatory missile and drone barrage across the Middle East, hitting on Tuesday a US consulate and base as the United States and Israel said they had pummeled key sites inside Tehran.

The regional war also took a growing toll on Lebanon, where Hezbollah, the armed Shiite Muslim movement that long had Tehran as a benefactor, launched drones and rockets at Israel in retaliation for Khamenei's slaying.

Carney has backed the Israeli-US strikes targeting Iran, saying Tehran had failed to dismantle its nuclear programme and cease support for militant groups.

He expressed "regret" on Wednesday that international efforts had failed to disarm Iran.

But he noted that "the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada".

Carney's comment came on the second day of an official visit to Australia, a trip aimed at bringing in investment and deepening ties with a fellow "middle power" partner.

He will address a meeting of the Lowy Institute think tank later in the day, while on Thursday he will meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and address parliament in the capital Canberra.

The trip is part of a multi-country tour of the Asia-Pacific aimed at reducing reliance on the United States -- a hedge against what Carney has described as a fading US-led global order.

"Canada is actively taking on the world as it is, not passively waiting for a world we wish to be," he told journalists in Sydney.
Hezbollah says targeted Israel's Haifa naval base after strikes on Lebanon



Beirut, Lebanon, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it targeted northern Israel's Haifa naval base on Tuesday in response to the Israeli military's ongoing strikes against the Iran-back movement's strongholds in Lebanon, including the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Israel carried out successive air raids for a second day on the south of the country as well some suburbs in its capital after issuing evacuation warnings to residents.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it targeted the Haifa naval base with "a barrage of high-quality missiles" at 8:00 pm local time (1800 GMT).

The Israeli military said shortly after 8:00 pm that several incoming projectiles were detected, and most were shot down.

Lebanon was drawn into the regional war on Monday after an initial attack on Israel by Hezbollah, which said it wanted to "avenge" the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes.

Israel quickly launched large-scale strikes on Lebanon, where the government declared an immediate ban on Hezbollah's military activities on Monday.

Israel announced Tuesday morning it had begun a new round of "simultaneous strikes in Tehran and Beirut" and said in an evening statement that it had hit "approximately 60" targets "belonging to the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist organisations" as well as additional "broad-scale strikes" targeting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military also said it had deployed troops to several locations in southern Lebanon in what it described as a "forward defence" measure along the border.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said he "authorised the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to advance and take control of additional strategic positions in Lebanon in order to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities".

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 13 attacks against Israel on Tuesday, saying it targeted at least five Israeli tanks, three of them in Lebanese territory using guided missiles and "appropriate weapons".

The group also said it used attack drones and rocket salvos to target several bases in northern Israel and the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel since 1967, and a gathering of Israeli forces in a base near Yuval, near the border with Lebanon.

Additionally, it claimed to have downed an Israeli drone over the southern city of Nabatiyeh.

These attacks came "in response to the criminal Israeli aggression on dozens of Lebanese cities and towns", Hezbollah said.

Since the early hours of Tuesday morning, Beirut's southern suburbs were subjected to a series of air strikes targeting several buildings after evacuation warnings.

AFP photographers saw huge plumes of smoke rising into the air and obscuring the sky in the capital.

Lebanese authorities on Monday recorded the displacement of more than 58,000 people from areas targeted by strikes.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV broadcaster said its Beirut headquarters had been targeted overnight from Monday to Tuesday and announced Tuesday morning that Israel also targeted the offices of Hezbollah's Al-Nour radio broadcaster.

In a statement, Hezbollah condemned the strikes on "two civilian media outlets" saying they were aimed at "silencing the voice and image of the resistance".

The southern city of Sidon, largely spared during the last Hezbollah-Israel war, was struck twice on Tuesday.

One strike hit a headquarters belonging to Jamaa Islamiya, an Islamist group allied with Hamas and Hezbollah, and the other came after an evacuation warning elsewhere in the city.

The surroundings of the city of Tyre, further south, were also struck after evacuation warnings.
Beirut explosion, Qatar busts spy cells: Latest developments in Mideast war



Washington, United States, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



An explosion rocked the Lebanese capital and Israel said it was launching a new overnight wave of strikes on Iran, as the war engulfing the Middle East continued into Wednesday.

Here are the latest developments:



- US commander says 2,000 targets hit in Iran -



Admiral Brad Cooper, who is leading US military forces in the Middle East, said in a video message that "nearly 2,000 targets" had been struck so far in Iran.

"We have severely degraded Iran's air defenses and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers and drones," he said.



- Explosion rocks Beirut -



A loud explosion was heard by an AFP journalist in the Lebanese capital Beirut shortly after midnight on Wednesday, as Israel and Hezbollah traded strikes and rocket fire.

The latest round of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel started early Monday when Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.



- Qatar says Iranian spy cells dismantled -



Qatar, which hosts a major US military base and has been targeted by multiple Iranian strikes since the outbreak of the war, reported after midnight Wednesday that it had dismantled two spy cells linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Ten suspects were arrested who "admitted during the investigation their links to the Revolutionary Guards and having been instructed to conduct espionage and sabotage activities," the nation's official press agency said.



- Israel says launching new wave of strikes -



Israel's military said Wednesday it has launched a "broad wave of strikes" on targets in Iran, after the Islamic republic launched three separate missile barrages at Israeli territory in recent hours.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israel said it had struck an underground nuclear site in Iran where it said scientists were "covertly" developing a key component for nuclear weapons.



- Drone attack on Dubai's US consulate -



A drone attack caused a fire by the US consulate in Dubai as Iran ramped up its targeting of American diplomatic missions in the Gulf.

Residents told AFP they heard a bang and one said she then saw the blaze. Police cordoned off roads nearby and shooed away passersby trying to see the damage.



- France deploys aircraft carrier -



France is sending its flagship aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the widening conflict in the Middle East, President Emmanuel Macron announced.

The Charles de Gaulle carrier has been pulled out of a deployment in the North Atlantic to head for the eastern Mediterranean. It made a stopover in the Swedish port of Malmo last week.



- Charter flights to help Americans leave -



The United States said that it had arranged charter flights to help Americans leave the Middle East.

US officials have helped arrange charter flights from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates "and will continue to secure additional capacity as security conditions allow," the State Department said.



- Trump threatens to cut all Spain trade -



President Donald Trump threatened to sever all trade with Spain after it refused to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran, while he also lashed out at Britain for not cooperating more.

Spain's left-wing government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of Europe's most defiant leaders against Trump, has said that bases long used by US forces could only be allowed for activities consistent with the United Nations Charter.



- US proposes escorts through Hormuz Strait -



Trump said the US navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed amid the Iran war and ordered Washington to provide insurance for shipping.

"If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD," he said on his Truth Social platform.



- Air strike hits Iraq base housing pro-Iran group -



An air strike hit the Jurf al-Nasr military base Tuesday in southern Iraq but only caused material damage, according to sources from the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah group, which has members located there.

More than 10 fighters, mostly from Kataeb Hezbollah, have been killed in strikes across Iraq since Saturday.

An explosion was also heard overnight by AFP in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah.

The autonomous Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and Iranian Kurdish fighters, has been the main target of Iranian drones in Iraq.

burs-des/jgc
Trump insists he struck Iran on his own terms



Washington, United States, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



President Donald Trump and his team scrambled Tuesday to reclaim the narrative on why he decided to attack Iran, after his top diplomat suggested the US struck only after learning of an imminent Israeli strike.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio alarmed Democrats -- who say only Congress can declare war -- as well as many of Trump's MAGA supporters on Monday when he said: "We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action."

"We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn't pre-emptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties," Rubio told reporters.

Administration officials quickly backpedalled, insisting Trump authorized the strikes because Tehran was not seriously negotiating an accord on limiting its nuclear ambitions, and the United States needed to destroy Iran's missile capabilities.

"No, Marco Rubio Didn't Claim That Israel Dragged Trump into War with Iran," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted Tuesday on X.

At an Oval Office meeting later with Germany's chancellor, Trump went further, saying that "Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they (Iran) were going to attack first. And I didn't want that to happen."

"So, if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand."



- Had to happen? -



Rubio himself doubled down on Tuesday after meeting with US House and Senate members, while insisting that "No, I told you this had to happen anyway."

"The president made a decision. The decision he made was that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide... behind this ability to conduct an attack."

Critics seized on the muddied messaging to accuse Trump of precipitating the country into a war without a clear rationale, without informing Congress -- and without a clear idea of how it might end.

They noted that just two weeks ago, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed Trump again in Washington to take a hard line, in their seventh meeting since Trump's return to power last year.

Some Republican allies rallied behind the president, with Senator Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, insisting that "No one pushes or drags Donald Trump anywhere."

"He acts in the vital national security interest of the United States," Cotton told the "Fox & Friends" morning show.

But as crucial US midterm elections approach that could see Republicans lose their congressional majority, Trump risks shedding supporters who had welcomed his pledge to end foreign military interventions.

"We are now a nation divided between those who want to fight wars for Israel and those who just want peace and to be able to afford their bills and health insurance," Marjorie Taylor Greene, a top former Trump ally and a major figure in the populist and isolationist hard right, posted on X.
US court convicts Japanese yakusa for trafficking nuclear material



New York, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



A member of Japan's yakusa crime group was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a New York court on Tuesday after being convicted of trafficking nuclear material as well as drugs and weapons.

Takeshi Ebisawa, 61, has been jailed since April 2022 on the drug and weapons charges, along with his Thai co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri, following years of investigations by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.

In February 2024, he was also accused of trying to sell military-grade nuclear material, along with narcotics including heroin and methamphetamine, to buy weapons including surface-to-air missiles for armed groups in Myanmar.

He pleaded guilty to a total of six charges in January 2025.

"Takeshi Ebisawa has been held accountable for his crimes, including an attempt to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran and to flood New York with deadly narcotics," said John Eisenberg, the assistant attorney general for national security.
Iran missile attack triggers sirens, sends Israelis to shelters



Jerusalem, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Missiles launched from Iran early Wednesday triggered air raid sirens across large parts of Israel, with the military saying it was "operating to intercept the threat".

The order to seek shelter covered Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other areas across the country.

It was lifted after several minutes, with no immediate reports of any direct impact.

Israel's emergency medical service Magen David Adom said it had received no reports of casualties.

Israeli media reported that shrapnel fell in an area near Jerusalem, causing a fire.

Police said officers in the Jerusalem area were "conducting searches to locate impact sites involving fallen munition debris or interceptor fragments".

The Israeli military had reported a previous missile launch from Iran about five hours earlier.
Lebanon says Israeli strikes hit hotel, residential building



Beirut, Lebanon, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Israeli strikes hit a Beirut hotel and residential complex in Lebanon's east, Lebanese state media said Wednesday, as Israel announced broad strikes in response to Hezbollah missile and drone launches.

Lebanese state media said the Israeli attacks targeted a building in Baalbek, in Lebanon's east far from the border, as well as a hotel in an area of Beirut so far spared from the violence.

In Aramoun and Saadiyat south of Beirut -- two towns outside the traditional strongholds of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah -- the health ministry said Israeli strikes killed six people and wounded eight others. It cautioned that this was a "preliminary toll".

The NNA said the strike on Aramoun hit a residential building. An AFP correspondent in the area saw rescuers getting people out.

It was not immediately clear what was targeted in these towns or in Baalbek, where Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said five people were killed in a residential complex.

It added that 15 people were wounded and three more were still missing.

Responding to the attack, Baalbek's mayor said only civilians lived at the complex that hosts the building.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which earlier announced "broad-scale strikes" against Hezbollah in Lebanon's south.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said among those killed in Lebanon were three paramedics, while another six people were wounded while recovering people who had been hurt by explosions.

Air raid sirens meanwhile sounded in parts of Israel's north along the border.

"Several projectiles that crossed from Lebanon... were intercepted," an Israeli military statement said, reporting no casualties.

Alerts were earlier activated in the border town of Metula, where Hezbollah said its fighters had targeted troops "with a missile salvo".

Hezbollah also said it had targeted northern Israel's Haifa naval base on Tuesday in response to the ongoing Israeli strikes, which began after an initial attack by Hezbollah in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes on Saturday.

Early Wednesday, the Israeli military called on people to leave 16 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, in an "urgent warning" before using force against Hezbollah militants.

It later called on residents in a further 13 villages in Lebanon's south to evacuate.

Israel has carried out successive air raids on the south of the country as well as some suburbs of the capital Beirut where Hezbollah holds sway.

But according to the NNA, some of the attacks on Wednesday hit areas outside of Hezbollah's traditional strongholds.

The NNA said that "an Israeli air strike targeted a hotel in Hazmieh", in the first reported attack on the predominantly Christian area in Beirut's suburbs.

"Ambulances were dispatched to the scene," the report said.

An AFP correspondent in Hazmieh saw people stumble out of the hotel as rescuers rushed to check the scene.

Israeli strikes since Monday have killed at least 50 people in Lebanon, according to the health ministry.



- 'Aggression' -



Israel announced Tuesday morning it had begun a new round of "simultaneous strikes in Tehran and Beirut".

In an evening statement, it said it had hit "approximately 60" targets "belonging to the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist organisations" as well as additional "broad-scale strikes" targeting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said it targeted the Haifa naval base with "a barrage of high-quality missiles" at 8:00 pm local time (1800 GMT).

The Israeli military said shortly after 8:00 pm that several incoming projectiles were detected, and most were shot down.

Seeking to avoid being drawn into the regional war, the Lebanese government declared a ban on Hezbollah's military activities on Monday.

Israel said it had deployed troops to several locations in southern Lebanon in what it described as a "forward defence" measure along the border.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 13 attacks against Israel on Tuesday, saying it targeted at least five Israeli tanks, three of them in Lebanese territory.

These attacks came "in response to the criminal Israeli aggression on dozens of Lebanese cities and towns", Hezbollah said.

Lebanese authorities on Monday recorded the displacement of more than 58,000 people from areas targeted by strikes.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV broadcaster said its Beirut headquarters had been targeted.

A ceasefire agreement in November 2024 sought to end more than a year of war between Israel and Hezbollah, including an Israeli ground offensive.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has conducted regular air strikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, citing Hezbollah's refusal to disarm.
China's political conclave to begin with growth target centre stage



Beijing, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



China begins the first of its "Two Sessions" political meetings on Wednesday, a grand political theatre during which it will outline its annual growth target and defence budget, as well as its roadmap for the next five years.

Analysts, however, fear Beijing will not veer far from its current path despite the need for reform.

President Xi Jinping is overseeing a week of political meetings in Beijing's Great Hall of the People that will effectively rubber-stamp decisions already made by the Chinese leader and the ruling Communist Party.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan will be the showpiece of the annual Two Sessions political gathering, which opened on Wednesday with the start of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body.

Premier Li Qiang will open the second of the two meetings -- the National People's Congress (NPC) -- on Thursday, during which he will outline key growth targets for the world's second-largest economy.

There are pressing issues that need to be addressed, not least among them sluggish domestic consumption and a shrinking and ageing population.

China's leaders have vowed to "create new demand through new supply and provide strong innovative measures", but sceptical analysts will be made subordinate to Xi's safety-first path and entrenched power.

The NPC, the national legislature, will also enact laws on childcare services, social assistance and medical insurance, a spokesperson told a press conference on Wednesday.

"The thrust of it is to double down on the direction of travel Xi had already set," Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute, told AFP.



- Slowing growth -



Nowhere is that approach more obvious than in Xi's signature campaign against corruption, which has concentrated on the military in recent weeks and toppled some of its most senior generals.

However, analysts will also be watching to see if China adjusts its military planning in response to the outbreak of war in the Middle East, following US and Israeli strikes against Iran over the weekend.

The conflict "will have an impact on the Two Sessions in various ways," said Dylan Loh, an associate professor at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.

"The Iran crisis will manifest more clearly at the usual foreign minister's press conference. It is anticipated that Iran and US/Israel developments will get a thorough airing," he told AFP.

China's economy expanded by five percent in 2025, in line with Beijing's target but one of its slowest in decades.

This year's target is even lower, between 4.5 and five percent, with 14 provinces reducing their GDP targets in recent weeks.

China's leaders say the economic model must shift towards consumption-based growth, rather than traditional drivers such as production and exports.

Yet a flagging property market, deflation and youth unemployment have left consumers tightening their purse strings.

Over-production and international trade tensions have also loomed over industrial output, and this year's plan is set to concentrate on high-tech manufacturing, green transition and supply chain resilience.

Beijing has poured billions into robotics and has also witnessed a rapid growth in new artificial intelligence companies, spurred by the success of startup DeepSeek.

Geopolitical tensions had also left their mark, even before war broke out in the Middle East with the strikes on Iran.

"China's growth logic has shifted from chasing fast GDP growth at all costs to balancing economic growth with national security, to ensure its supply chains and key industries cannot be easily disrupted by other nations," said Marina Zhang, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney.



- 'Kind of stuck' -



China also faces serious demographic challenges, with its population shrinking for three successive years.

Its leaders have pledged more childcare relief, including subsidies of around $500 a year for every child under the age of three, but such measures done little to boost births.

Former US defence official Drew Thompson said there is low appetite for innovation when the "overarching objective politically is security".

"There are some serious societal challenges that the party has to adapt to, and the tools they're using are pretty traditional ones," Thompson said.

But when the "overarching objective politically is security... there's no desire to be innovative", former US defence official Drew Thompson said.

"So they're kind of stuck."
France's Dassault accuses Airbus of sabotaging European aircraft project



Saint-Cloud, France, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



France's Dassault Aviation on Wednesday accused Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain in the multibillion-euro FCAS warplane programme, of seeking to sabotage the project.

"Airbus no longer wants to work with Dassault," Eric Trappier, the chief executive of the French aerospace group, told reporters.

"If Airbus continues to make it likely that it won't work with Dassault, the project is dead," he added.

"We are honouring our commitments to the letter," Trappier added. "It is Airbus that is not respecting the initial agreement."

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme was launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafale jet and the Eurofighter planes used by Germany and Spain.

But the scheme, jointly developed by the three countries, has stalled as disagreements persist between Dassault and Airbus.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled in February that Berlin could abandon the project, saying Germany does not need the same type of fighter jets as France.

Airbus said it would support a proposal to instead build two separate jets if the countries participating in the project requested it.

Trappier however poured cold water on that idea on Wednesday.

"France cannot support the idea of having two aircraft," he said.

The warplane project is often seen as a bellwether of defence and security cooperation between EU powerhouses France and Germany.

President Emmanuel Macron has sought to play down tensions, calling them "business life".

"Should that determine the strategy of states? The answer is no," he has said.

Earlier this week, Paris and Berlin said they had set up a "nuclear steering group" as Macron said France could deploy nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries to bolster security.

neo-as/cc/phz

Dassault Aviation
The partys rising star defeated Representative Jasmine Crockett in the race to earn a seat in the Senate in the November midterms. The Republican nominee will be decided in a runoff

James Talarico, a 36-year-old rising star among Democrats, won his partys primary in Texas on Tuesday, securing a bid for one of the states two Senate seats in the November midterms. With his progressive ideology and moderate style, Talarico defeated Representative Jasmine Crockett, well known in Washington for her outspoken opposition to President Donald Trump.

The winner of the race, which was marred by a legal dispute over the voting in Dallas, where Crockett was running on home turf and the polling places were ordered to remain open an extra two hours, will have to wait until May to find out who his Republican opponent will be in November. All seats in the House of Representatives and a third of those in the Senate are up for grabs in the midterms, and the viability of the second half of Trumps administration hangs in the balance. Polls predict that his party risks losing control of one of the houses, perhaps both.

Republicans, for their part, experienced their own election night on Tuesday, which ended, as expected, without a clear result. The veteran John Cornyn, a senator since 2002, was the frontrunner (obtaining 42.3% of the vote, with 77% of votes counted), followed by Texas state attorney general Ken Paxton (40.8%), and in third place, Representative Wesley Hunt (13.1%; the remainder was divided among five other candidates). Since none garnered more than 50% of the vote, they will face each other again in a runoff in May. Trump had not endorsed any of the three candidates.

The primary was closely followed nationwide because the options provided ample fodder for debate on what the two parties must do to win in November. It was also the most expensive primary in history, with an investment of $110 million, $71 million of which Cornyn spent defending himself against criticism that he wasnt MAGA enough. The fact that the Republicans will have to wait until May for their runoff will further deplete Republican coffers in the lead-up to November, which is good news for Talarico. Moreover, he has two more months than his opponent, whoever it may be, to win over voters.

On the Democratic side, the choice was between Talaricos progressive moderation, grounded in strong Christian values, and the hardline leftism of Jasmine Crockett, the Dallas-area representative in the U.S. Capitol who has recently become one of Trumps most hated members of Congress, and a frequent target of his insults. Her strategy was to mobilize the partys base. Talaricos is to seduce undecided voters and conservatives disillusioned with the current White Houses direction, offering a populist economic platform and a message that proposes replacing polarization with love thy neighbor.

Talaricos victory, which was more successful in rural areas and with Hispanic voters, brings the Democrats closer to winning the contested seat. If this happens, it would be the first time the party has achieved a statewide victory. Party strategists continue to fantasize about the possibility that demographic shifts will eventually cause the largest state in the United States after Alaska to turn from red (Republican) to purple (swing state). Trump won Texas in 2024 by 14 points.

Traditional values

Within the Republican Party, the fight was between the veteran Cornyns traditional values and Paxtons blind loyalty to the MAGA movement. The latters unwavering adherence to Trumpism has allowed him to overcome a series of scandals that, in another era might have derailed a political career. These include an affair that led his wife of many years to obtain a divorce on biblical grounds and an impeachment process that failed due to charges including bribery, abuse of public office, and corruption.

John Cornyn,on Monday in Schertz, en Texas. Joel Angel Juarez (REUTERS)

The Texas primaries, along with those in Arkansas and North Carolina, kicked off the long midterm election campaign on Tuesday. These primaries are typically unfavorable for the incumbent party. This year will be no exception, and a severe test of Trumps performance in the White House is expected. His unpopularity is evident, and polls reflect discontent among Americans over his handling of the economy and his inability to control the rising cost of living. The war in Iran, his aggressive immigration agenda, and the brutality of law enforcement officers in Minneapolis havent helped matters either.

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EU says 'ready' to defend interests after Trump Spain threat



Brussels, Belgium, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



The European Commission said Wednesday it was "ready" to defend EU interests after President Donald Trump threatened to sever trade with Spain for refusing to allow US use of its bases to attack Iran.

"We stand in full solidarity with all member states and all its citizens and, through our common trade policy, stand ready to act if necessary to safeguard EU interests," said commission spokesman Olof Gill in a statement issued in response to Trump's threats.

Trump lashed out at the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday, criticising its refusal to grant use of the Rota naval base and Moron air base, as well as his refusal to join NATO allies in a pledge to boost defence spending.

"So we're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain," Trump said.

In his statement, Gill recalled that "the EU and the United States concluded a major trade deal last year" and said "the European Commission expects the United States to fully honour the commitments undertaken" as part of the accord.

"We will continue to advocate for stable, predictable and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade relations for the benefit of all," he said.

"Safeguarding this relationship, particularly at a time of global disruption, is more important than ever and clearly in the interest of both sides."

Sanchez's leftist government has angered Washington with a series of other policies, including staunch opposition to Israel's war in Gaza and the military operation to abduct and arrest President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela.
Iran claims 'complete control' of strait: Latest developments in Middle East war



Paris, France, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Iran claimed "complete control" of the crucial Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday as Israel's military hit Iran with fresh strikes and marched into Lebanon on the Middle East war's fifth day.

Here are the latest developments:



- Iran 'trying' to appoint next Khamenei -



Iran is "trying" to quickly appoint a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, despite the ongoing US-Israeli bombardment, state TV reported.

"God willing, the leader will be appointed at the earliest opportunity. We are close, but the situation is a war situation," said Ahmad Khatami, a member of the assembly responsible for selecting a new leader.

The late ayatollah was killed in the US-Israeli strikes that sparked the war on Saturday.



- Israel enters Lebanon -



The Israeli army entered the southern Lebanon town of Khiam, Lebanese state media reported on Wednesday, as part of a ground incursion against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

In parallel, Israel's expanded campaign of strikes in Lebanon killed at least 11 people, including in areas outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds, according to officials and state media.



- Drone targets Saudi oil -



Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone attack targeting its massive Ras Tanura refinery, the defence ministry said, following an earlier hit on the complex this week.



- Cosco halts Gulf shipping -



Chinese shipping giant Cosco, which operates one of the world's biggest oil tanker fleets, said it is suspending from Wednesday services to and from countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.



- Hezbollah hits Israel -



Hezbollah said it had targeted the headquarters of Israel Aerospace Industries, in central Israel, overnight with a drone attack and had also launched a missile at a drone control base.



- Iran still a threat: Israel -



The Israeli military said Iran still has significant capacity to launch missiles at Israel, even as it continues to strike missile launchers in the Islamic republic.

In a separate statement, the military said it had struck overnight a facility "for the storage, production, and launch of ballistic missiles -- including Ghadr missiles -- in Isfahan in western Iran".



- Iran says ready for long haul -



Iran has no intention of negotiating with the United States and can continue the war for "as long as we want", Mohammad Mokhber, a senior aide to late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told state TV.



- More Israeli strikes in Tehran -



The Israeli military said it had begun a fresh wave of strikes on Tehran, as an AFP journalist reported a fresh explosion in the northeast of the Iranian capital.

The army said it had struck "dozens" of targets, including security command centres in Tehran, and had shot down an Iranian fighter jet over the capital.



- Iranian frigate sinks off Sri Lanka -



Sri Lanka said an Iranian navy frigate with 180 crew sank just outside the island's territorial waters after an explosion.

No information was immediately available on the cause.

The Sri Lankan foreign minister said 32 "critically wounded" sailors had been rescued from the warship. A search for remaining crew was ongoing.



- Spain PM hits back at Trump -



Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hit back at President Donald Trump's criticisms of Madrid's refusal to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran.

"No to war," he said, a day after Trump threatened to sever all trade with Spain.



- Canada questions US-Israeli strikes -



Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said the US-Israeli strikes on Iran "would appear, prima facie... to be inconsistent with international law".



- Guards claim control of Hormuz -



The Revolutionary Guards said Iranian forces had "complete control" of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for world oil and gas supplies, and any vessels seeking to pass risked damage from missiles or stray drones.

Trump said Tuesday the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through the crucial Gulf shipping route.



- Khamenei funeral set -



Iran will hold a three-day state funeral starting on Wednesday evening for Khamenei, state TV said.

After the funeral's announcement, Israel's defence minister warned that any successor would be a "target for assassination".



- Stocks tumble -



The Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges reopened sharply lower after a two-day trading suspension over Iran's missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.

Stock markets across Asia were pummelled as panic-selling spread, with Seoul shares collapsing more than 12 percent. Oil rose.

burs-sbk/jhb
Aid trucks resume crossing Egypt-Gaza border after closure



Rafah, Egypt, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



More than 100 aid trucks crossed the Egyptian side of Gaza's Rafah border crossing on Tuesday, two sources told AFP.

Israel closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, after it launched a joint attack on Iran with the United States.

It agreed to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing, where trucks from Egypt are inspected, for the "gradual entry of humanitarian aid".

"More than 100 United Nations aid trucks, including UNICEF's, entered the Rafah border crossing" on Tuesday, a source at the border told AFP on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

An official with the Egyptian Red Crescent, which coordinates aid deliveries, said the trucks "went through Rafah to the Kerem Shalom crossing," where Israeli authorities did not send any back to Egypt -- their procedure when aid shipments are rejected.

Both sources said no Palestinians were allowed through the crossing on Tuesday.

The Rafah crossing, the only gateway for Gazans to the outside world that does not pass through Israel, had reopened for a trickle of people on February 2, nearly two years after Israeli forces seized it.

A statement from the Red Crescent on Tuesday said the convoy included hundreds of tonnes of food, relief supplies and "fuel products to operate hospitals and vital facilities".

The UN had warned its partners were "forced to ration fuel, prioritise life-saving operations" in the devastated Palestinian territory.

The Red Crescent official said another aid convoy was sent on Wednesday and was waiting to be allowed in.

The October peace deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas stipulates that 600 aid trucks should be allowed in per day.
Chinese shipping giant Cosco halts services to and from Gulf



Beijing, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Chinese shipping giant Cosco, which operates one of the world's biggest oil tanker fleets, announced it was suspending services to and from Gulf countries from Wednesday, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.

The state-owned, Shanghai-based firm is among several major shipping groups that have halted vessel operations in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transit.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed total control of the strait on Wednesday as Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital.

Cosco Shipping Lines said it would "suspend all new bookings" for routes through the Strait of Hormuz "with immediate effect until further notice".

The company blamed the disruption on "the escalating conflicts in the Middle East region and the resultant restrictions on maritime traffic" in the strait.

New worldwide bookings bound for Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and parts of the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been halted, the company said in a statement.

It has also suspended services from Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and parts of the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, along with the UAE's Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, are excluded from the suspensions and can be reached without passage through the Hormuz Strait.

Cosco said it was closely monitoring developments in the Middle East.

Other shipping giants including Maersk and MSC have also announced they have halted operations in the region.
Children must not be 'collateral damage' in Mideast war: UN experts



Geneva, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child insisted Wednesday that children must be protected during the war in the Middle East, highlighting an alleged air strike on an Iranian school.

Iran has blamed Israel and the United States for the strike on the school in the Iranian city of Minab on the first day of the war on Saturday, giving a toll of more than 150 dead.

Neither the United States nor Israel have confirmed the attack, and AFP has been unable to independently verify the toll or visit the site.

"The committee is alarmed by reports of strikes on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, which have injured and traumatised children, and claimed many young lives," it said.

"This is a reminder that children are among the most vulnerable in armed conflicts, and must never be treated as collateral damage."

According to state media, Iran on Tuesday held funerals for at least 165 people, including students, killed in the alleged strike.

State television carried images showing a large crowd of mourners in Minab weeping over what appeared to be bodies wrapped in white shrouds.

The UN committee's 18 independent experts are tasked with monitoring how countries implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The convention came into force in 1990. Every United Nations member state is a party, except the United States.

The convention requires countries to safeguard the rights to life, survival and development of every child, and to take all measures to ensure children's rights are respected in armed conflicts.

"Children must be protected from direct and indirect effects of hostilities," the committee said.

It called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire by all parties to the Middle East war "so that children are no longer exposed to killing, maiming, displacement, psychological harm, or other violations of their rights".

It also urged the warring parties to take all necessary measures to protect children, including ensuring that schools and hospitals are not attacked and that humanitarians can safely reach children in need.

The committee's opinions are non-binding but carry reputational weight.
Kurdish Forces tighten security on Iraqi-Iranian Border: Iraqi official



Baghdad, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Iraq's national security advisor said on Wednesday that Kurdish security forces have bolstered security along the Iranian border to prevent any infiltration or attacks on Iran from Iraq.

Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region has been dragged into the Middle East war with drones threatening US bases and other attacks blamed on Iran targeting Kurdish-Iranian rebel fighters.

The Kurdistan region hosts camps and rear bases operated by several Iranian Kurdish rebel groups that have repeatedly faced cross-border strikes from Iran, which has long accused them of serving Western or Israeli interests.

Qassem al-Araji told Iranian official Ali Bagheri during a phone call that Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has ordered that no group may "infiltrate into Iran and carry out terrorist acts from Iraqi territory".

Araji said that Iraqi Kurdish authorities have sent "security reinforcements to the border strip to fully tighten control over" it from the direction of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region.

He also said that Sudani ordered strict adherence to the security agreement between the two countries which they signed in 2023 to protect their common borders.

Iraq and Iran had previously agreed to disarm the Kurdish-Iranian rebels and remove them from border areas.

Since Tuesday, two Iranian Kurdish groups accused Iran of striking their positions in Kurdistan.

Last month, five groups announced a political coalition with the main goal being "the struggle to overthrow the Islamic republic of Iran, and to achieve self-determination for the Kurds".

On Wednesday, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), Mustafa Hijri, urged soldiers and security personnel in Iran, especially in Kurdistan, to desert the Iranian forces.
Iran ballistic missiles fired are down 86 percent: top US officer



Washington, United States, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



The number of ballistic missiles fired by Iran has decreased 86 percent from the first day of the conflict, while drones launched by Tehran's forces are also down, General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, said Wednesday.

The United States began a massive campaign of strikes on Iran in concert with Israeli forces on Saturday. Tehran has responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting countries in the region that host US military personnel or bases.

"Iran's theater ballistic missile shots fired are down 86 percent from the first day of fighting, with a 23 percent decrease just in the last 24 hours," Caine told a news conference at the Pentagon.

"Their one-way attack drone shots are down 73 percent from the opening days," he said.

Caine said US forces are "targeting and eliminating Iran's ballistic missile systems to prevent them from threatening the US forces, partners and interests in the region."

He put the number of weapons fired by Iran at more than 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones -- a major air defense challenge.

Experts have raised concerns about stocks of US and allies' air defense interceptors, but both Caine and Hegseth indicated that American forces have enough munitions.

"We have sufficient precision munitions for the task at hand, both on the offense and defense," said Caine, while Hegseth said the difference between "their ability to shoot versus our ability to defend" is "wider and wider every day."
At least 87 dead after US sinks Iranian warship



Galle, Sri Lanka, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



A US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, killing at least 87 sailors and leaving dozens missing, officials said.

The sinking came as the war sparked by a joint US-Israel attack on Iran continued to spread across the Middle East.

"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters in Washington.

He called the attack "quiet death" and the first US sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.

"Like in that war," Hegseth said, "we are fighting to win."

The Sri Lankan navy recovered the bodies of 87 sailors from waters near the southern city of Galle, but 61 remained missing, police and defence officials said.

"A search is still on for the others," a navy official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said Sri Lankan forces had rescued 32 sailors, many wounded, from the stricken Iranian frigate IRIS Dena.

The rescued sailors are being treated in Galle, where an AFP photographer saw the first batch of over two dozen bodies being transported into a hospital on Wednesday evening.

The vessel issued a distress call at dawn but had completely sunk by the time a rescue ship reached the area within an hour, leaving only an oil patch on the surface, said Sri Lankan navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath.

The warship was travelling after reportedly attending a military exercise in India's eastern port of Visakhapatnam.

The attack was just 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Galle, the local navy said.

Iran has not yet commented on the sinking. Tehran's ambassador in Colombo, Alireza Delkhosh, was not immediately available for comment.

Sampath said Sri Lanka's response to the distress call was in line with its maritime obligations.

"This is within our search and rescue area in the Indian Ocean," Sampath told AFP.

Sri Lanka has remained neutral and has repeatedly urged dialogue to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.

Just over a million Sri Lankans are employed in the region, and they are a key source of foreign exchange for the country emerging from its worst-ever economic meltdown in 2022.

Both Sri Lanka's navy and the air force said they were not releasing footage of the rescue because it involved the military of another state.

Police stepped up security outside the Galle hospital as the wounded Iranians were brought there.
Next week before UK warship heads to Cyprus: officials



London, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



A UK warship due to be sent to Cyprus amid the US and Israel's war with Iran will not set sail from Britain until next week, Western officials said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that he was deploying HMS Dragon, a Type 45 defence destroyer to aid Britain's "defensive operations" in the region.

Starmer also said he was sending two Wildcat helicopters with counter drone capabilities.

The announcement came after several drone attacks from Iran targeted UK allies in the Middle East and after the UK Royal Air Force base Akrotiri was struck overnight Sunday to Monday.

Opposition lawmakers have accused the government of being too slow to deploy additional resources after the war started on Saturday with no British warship in the region.

The destroyer is being resupplied with ammunition and will sail next week, the officials told reporters in London.

Its voyage to the eastern Mediterranean is expected to take several days.

Starmer refused to allow the Americans to use UK air bases to launch the initial strikes on Iran on Saturday.

He later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases -- one in southwest England and the other in the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean -- for a "specific and limited defensive purpose".

The officials said Wednesday that US bombers have not yet used it to launch missions but they are expected to do so in the coming days.

They also said that the drone, which caused little damage and no casualties when it hit the runway at Akrotiri, had not been launched from Iran.

A Cypriot government source said Monday that the drones had been launched from Lebanon, "most likely" by Hezbollah, a historical ally of Iran in the Middle East.
Exiled Kurd group says Iran conducted deadly strike on fighters in Iraq



Erbil, Iraq, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



An exiled Iranian Kurdish group in Iraq told AFP a strike by Iran killed one of its fighters on Wednesday, as the war in the Middle East raged across multiple fronts.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards later confirmed they had fired missiles at armed opposition groups in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region.

The Kurdistan region hosts camps and rear bases operated by several Iranian Kurdish rebel groups that have repeatedly faced cross-border strikes from Iran, which accuses them of serving Western or Israeli interests.

"At 11:22 am (0822 GMT), the Iranian regime launched three rockets at a PAK camp which houses our families" in an area close to Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, said Khalil Sanani, spokesman of the exiled Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK).

"One guard was killed and another three wounded," he added.

On Tuesday, drone strikes blamed also on Iran, hit a camp belonging to the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI).

Iran's Guards said that the bases of "anti-revolutionary groups were hit with success by three missiles" launched late Wednesday morning.

Iran has designated Kurdish opposition groups, which previously fought its security forces in Kurdish-majority areas along the border, as terrorist organisations.

But in recent years these groups have largely refrained from armed activity, although they continue to actively campaign in exile against Tehran.

Last month, five groups, including the PDKI and PAK, announced a political coalition to seek the overthrow of Iran's Islamic republic and ultimately to secure Kurdish self-determination.

strs-rh/rh
She received a removal order three weeks before the United States attacked Iran. Her case exemplifies the plight of people who were adopted as children and who, because they did not receive citizenship, can be deported

Just when she thought the prospect of being deported to Iran couldnt get any worse, the country she considers her own, the United States, attacked her ancestral homeland. This is all crazy. Its surreal. Its definitely more dangerous for me now, says Buttons, the nickname she was given as a child because of her large, dark eyes, which this Iranian woman prefers to use to avoid being identified.

The U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran added further horror to the grim outlook she faces if the deportation order she received on February 7 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is carried out. I cant imagine going under these circumstances; theyve already killed six American service members, she says, noting that she is the daughter of an American soldier, which would weigh heavily against her upon arrival in Iran. She would also face the challenges of being in a country where women have been stripped of their rights, as well as being a Christian in a Muslim state.

She still hopes that the armed conflict the Donald Trump administration has started in Iran, which is already having repercussions throughout the Middle East, will somehow benefit her, because she doesnt understand how anyone can send someone to a country that is being bombed and, whats worse, someone who doesnt have any family there.

The DHS notification justifies the deportation order by stating that she overstayed her tourist visa. The truth is, her visa likely expired half a century ago, the same amount of time she has lived in the United States. Born in Iran and orphaned, she was adopted in 1972 by a U.S. military officer and his wife when she was just two years old. At three, her adoptive parents put her on a plane to the United States, and by five, her adoption papers were finalized.

From then on, her life was like that of millions of other Americans. I grew up in an American family with a prisoner of war, an Air Force officer, who sacrificed himself for this country. I was educated in schools here, spent Sundays at church with my Christian family, and my only language is English, she says in a telephone conversation with EL PAIS. Receiving a letter that says we are not going to allow you to identify yourself as a U.S. citizen is truly painful. Its very sad that this country is turning its back on me after 50 years of paying taxes and contributing as a citizen to my community, laments this woman, who lives in California and works in the healthcare sector.

Although she is now in her fifties, it was only 18 years ago that she learned she couldnt obtain a U.S. passport. Gathering documents from her deceased parents, she discovered they had applied for naturalization, but until then, her paperwork wasnt in order. She maintains that she is a U.S. citizen and that an administrative issue  the loss of documents by the authorities  is responsible for her current situation.

Her case is not unique, as it stems from a legal loophole that existed until 2000, leaving thousands of people adopted abroad without U.S. citizenship, even though they arrived as very young children and have never known any other country. At that time, parents were obliged to apply for their childrens naturalization, but many were unaware of the requirement. Consequently, some dont even know they are in this situation, but ultimately, this bureaucratic hurdle hasnt prevented them from living as Americans.

Historically, it was common for American adoptive parents to use temporary visas to bring their children over, but those visas expired before the adoption process was even finalized. This required changing their status to permanent residency, a step that parents often overlooked, which has blocked their path to citizenship, explains Joy Alessi of the Adoptee Rights Campaign, an organization that has been fighting for their rights for years.

Portrait of the girl of Iranian origin who was adopted in the U.S., in an undated image. Adoptee rights campaign

Cutoff point in 1983

The United States Congress recognized the problem this posed and, in 2000, passed the Child Citizenship Act, which automatically grants citizenship to foreign children adopted from abroad by American parents. However, the law is not retroactive and only applies to children under 18. This means that anyone born before February 27, 1983, is excluded.

Thats when I got angry because I said, How could they do this too? To say, Well, half of you will get citizenship and receive all the promises of an adoption policy, but the rest will still be worried about ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and relegated to the sidelines, Buttons recounts.

Although the caveat seems unfair, in practice, the thousands affected had never felt threatened. Only now, with an administration like Trumps, hostile to foreigners and which has prioritized carrying out the largest deportation in history, are they in danger of being deported for being undocumented. There was a feeling that we could ignore it, that it would never be a big problem. But now we are at a point where we have a vulnerable population, potentially at risk of deportation. These are people who have lived here all their lives, Americans in every sense of the word, and, because of this legal loophole, they lack the security and protection they should have, explains Hannah Daniel, director of government relations at World Relief, who for years advocated for the rights of adopted immigrants through the Ethics and Religious Freedom Commission (ERLC).

This group has been lobbying members of Congress for years to approve legislation that includes adopted people who were excluded from the 2000 law. Its presented to the Capitol every year, but it never passes. According to Daniel, there are two main reasons why its not getting approved. One is that some legislators are hesitant to grant citizenship to members of the group who have committed a crime (a very small percentage). The other factor, in her opinion, and more widespread among members of Congress, is the lack of political will and a sense of urgency surrounding this issue. When I met with members of Congress and their staff to talk about it, what I usually heard was: Well, I understand why we need to do this, but these people will never be deported. This will never be a real problem. And now it is, she points out.

The woman facing deportation to Iran has spent years asking to be recognized as she identifies herself: an American citizen. She is very active in her efforts and has approached many people, from the State Department to representatives, senators, and immigration officials, but she has received no support. Despite this, she never thought she would face deportation. I always felt they would leave me alone because no one had ever put me in deportation proceedings. And, obviously, I never thought that would happen, because Im not a criminal. I didnt break the law. When I heard it on television, and they repeated it over and over: Were going after criminals; I didnt think it would affect me. I dont know what happened that made them decide to try to deport me, she says.

From the presidential campaign of November 2024 until today, 13 months into his second term, Trump has repeatedly stated that his anti-immigration campaign targets criminals, the worst of the worst. The reality is that ICE detention centers are overcrowded with people who have never committed a crime, and most of those deported have no criminal record. The list of those targeted for deportation now also includes people who were brought to the United States as children and have lived their entire lives as Americans. The largest group is of Korean origin, but there are people from some 50 different countries.

They want to see it from an immigration perspective, but, in reality, its a failed adoption policy, Buttons emphasizes. She already has her first court date scheduled. The judge understood the risk she faces and agreed to the request for a virtual hearing. She fears that she will have to appear in court for subsequent hearings, knowing that ICE agents are lurking outside the courts to arrest migrants. I came here as a result of the decision of two administrations to give an orphan a home. And then this country decided to break its promises or disregard adoption laws. Thats the biggest problem people need to understand: that much of the adoption policy is a failure, she concludes.

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Latest developments in Iran war: Bodies found after Iran warship hit



Paris, France, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Dozens of bodies were recovered from an Iranian warship torpedoed by US forces on Wednesday, the fifth day of a regional war sparked by US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

While the sound of explosions reverberated around Jerusalem, Tehran and southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said it planned at least "one or two" more weeks of strikes on Iran.

Here are the latest developments:



- Hormuz oil traffic down 90 percent as Iran claims control -



Oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plunged by 90 percent since the outbreak of the Middle East war, energy market intelligence firm Kpler said on X.

Iranian forces claimed "complete control" of the strait, a vital route for world oil and gas supplies, after President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through the channel.



- Bodies found after US sinks Iranian warship -



"We have collected 87 bodies, and a search is still on for the others who are still missing," a Sri Lankan navy official told AFP hours after an Iranian warship was sunk apparently by a US torpedo.

Sri Lanka is already dealing with some 32 survivors and 61 sailors are still missing, according to the police and navy, after the frigate IRIS Dena sank off Sri Lanka's coast.



- 'Thousands' of targets -



The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli military was planning "at least one or two more weeks of operations in Iran, during which it aims to hit thousands more Iranian regime targets".

Earlier the military said it had begun a fresh wave of strikes on Tehran, as an AFP journalist reported a fresh explosion in the northeast of the Iranian capital.



- Khamenei funeral postponed -



The funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that was due Wednesday evening has been postponed, state television announced, "in anticipation of unprecedented turnout". A new date will be announced later, it said.

Deliberations over who would succeed Khamenei were still going on, it said.



- State media: 1,000 killed -



Iran's official IRNA news agency said Wednesday US-Israeli strikes had killed 1,045 military personnel and civilians since the start of the war. AFP was not in a position to independently verify the toll.



- Lebanon strikes -



The Israeli army said it had begun strikes in southern Lebanon after ordering people living south of Litani river to leave, as the military expanded its campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

Lebanese state media said Israeli forces had entered the southern town of Khiam, about six kilometres from the border.



- Iran targets Israel -



Air raid sirens wailed in Jerusalem after the Israeli military said it had detected two incoming missile barrages from Iran, which the military later said were intercepted.

AFP journalists heard blasts over Jerusalem hours later.



- Turkey warning -



NATO defence systems shot down a missile launched from Iran heading towards Turkey, prompting Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to tell his Iranian counterpart in a phone call that "any steps that could lead to the spread of conflict should be avoided", a ministry source said.

NATO condemned the "targeting of Turkey", but a Turkish official later said it appeared the missile was aimed at a base in Cyprus but veered off course.



- Iran hits Iraqi Kurdistan -



Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had hit armed opposition groups hostile to Tehran in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region.



- UAE, Qatar intercept missiles -



The UAE said it had shot down three missiles and 121 drones, while Qatar said it had intercepted 10 drones and two missiles.



- Sanchez-Trump spat -



Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defiantly said "no to the war" after Trump threatened to sever all trade with Spain for refusing to allow US planes to use its bases to attack Iran.



- Stocks level out -



European stock markets steadied after steep losses across Asian stock markets, where rising oil prices rattled investors.

burs-jxb/pdw
Israel initially planned to strike Iran in mid-2026: minister



Jerusalem, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Israel had initially planned to strike Iran in mid-2026, but developments inside the Islamic republic and shifting regional dynamics brought the timetable forward to February, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.

"An operation was planned for the middle of the year with the same target set," Katz said in an address to military intelligence officials, according to a statement issued by his office.

"But due to developments and circumstances -- mainly what happened inside Iran, the position of the US president and the possibility of creating a combined operation -- it became necessary to move everything up to February."

During mass anti-government protests in Iran in January, which were suppressed in a violent crackdown by security forces, Trump pledged support for demonstrators, declaring that the United States stood with the people of Iran.

Top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, made similar remarks, urging Iranians to rise up against the country's clerical leadership.

The United States and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, and in the initial wave of attacks, they killed the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran retaliated swiftly with missile fire targeting Israel and also launched strikes against several countries in the region, saying it was aiming at US assets.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said Wednesday that US-Israeli strikes had killed 1,045 military personnel and civilians since the start of the war. AFP was not in a position to independently verify the toll.

Iranian strikes on Israel have killed 10 people and injured scores more, according to Israeli authorities.
Oman navy rescues crew of ship hit by missiles in Hormuz Strait: state media



Muscat, Oman, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



The Omani navy rescued 24 crew members of a Malta-flagged container ship struck by missiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, state media said, as Iran pressed its Gulf retaliation campaign.

The cargo ship was "hit by two missiles" and Oman's royal navy rescued its "crew of 24 people" who are now in good health, the Oman News Agency said.

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the ship was two nautical miles north of Oman, "transiting eastbound in the Straits of Hormuz" when it was "hit by an unknown projectile just above the water line causing a fire in the engine room".

Private maritime security agency Vanguard Tech said the vessel was the Malta-flagged Safeen Prestige. Information from shipping activity tracker Marine Traffic shows the vessel was en route from the UAE's Ghantoot port to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

It was the fourth reported attack in regional waters within 24 hours, after projectiles struck or landed near three other vessels off the Emirati and Omani coasts.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday said they had "complete control" over the vital waterway, through which around 20 percent of global seaborne oil passes, and warned that any vessels seeking to pass risked damage from missiles or stray drones.

With energy prices already spiking, US President Donald Trump had said the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through the crucial shipping route.
Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran supreme leader's son tipped as successor



Paris, France, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is among the leading contenders to succeed his father as the new head of the Islamic republic.

Khamenei's successor is set to be named by the top clerical body the Assembly of Experts, with one of its members, Ahmad Khatami, telling Iranian state media on Wednesday that they hoped to vote "at the earliest opportunity".

Contenders for the top position include Alireza Arafi, one of the three members of the interim council running the country, hardliner Mohsen Araki, and even Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic republic in 1979.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, would represent a hereditary transition that his father rejected as an idea in 2024.

The Islamic republic put an end to a multi-century royal dynasty headed by the shah.

Born on September 8, 1969, in the holy city of Mashhad in eastern Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei is one of the late supreme leader's six children.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died aged 86 on Saturday in Tehran in one of the opening US-Israeli missile strikes of the war.

Because of his discretion at official ceremonies and in the media, Mojtaba's true influence has been the subject of intense speculation for years among the Iranian population as well as in diplomatic circles.

He is the only child of the former supreme leader to hold a public position despite having no official post.

The cleric, who has a salt-and-pepper beard and the black turban of the "seyyed", descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, has been presented by some as the real boss, acting behind the scenes at the heart of power in Iran.

He is regarded as close to conservatives, notably because of his ties with the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic republic.

This relationship dates back to his service in a combat unit at the end of the war between Iraq and Iran from 1980-1988.



- Security force links -



The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei in 2019 during President Donald Trump's first term, stating that the Iranian represented the supreme leader "despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father".

Ali Khamenei had "delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities" to his son "who worked closely" with Iranian security forces "to advance his father's destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives", it said.

Opponents have notably accused him of playing a role in the violent crackdown that followed the re-election of ultra-conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009, which triggered a vast protest movement.

According to an investigation by the Bloomberg news organisation, which cited anonymous sources and Western intelligence agency reports, Mojtaba Khamenei has amassed wealth estimated at more than $100 million.

Money from oil sales had been channelled into investments in luxury British real estate, hotels in Europe and property in Dubai through shell companies in tax havens, according to the article.

On the religious front, he studied theology in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, where he also taught.

He attained the rank of Hujjat al-Islam, a title given to mid-ranking clerics, below that of Ayatollah held by his father and revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini.

His wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, daughter of a former speaker of parliament, also died in the US-Israeli strikes that killed the supreme leader, according to Iranian authorities.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned on Wednesday that any successor to Ali Khamenei would become "a target".

The Assembly of Experts has 88 members who are elected every eight years.

It has only overseen one leadership transition process to date, when Khamenei was selected in 1989 following the death of Khomeini.
Macron urges Netanyahu to avoid ground offensive in Lebanon



Paris, France, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



France's President Emmanuel Macron said he urged Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to "refrain from a ground offensive" in Lebanon in their first phone call since last summer.

"I called on the Israeli prime minister to preserve Lebanon's territorial integrity and to refrain from a ground offensive," Macron said on X, after Israeli ground forces pushed into several border towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon, a former French protectorate, was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday when the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the death of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes at the weekend.

The French president said he also spoke to Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, stressing the need for Hezbollah "to immediately cease its attacks against Israel and beyond".

Relations between Macron and Netanyahu soured last summer after the French leader declared France's intention to recognise Palestinian statehood.

France formally recognised a Palestinian state in late September, before a fragile ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip the following month.

In a letter sent in mid-August, Netanyahu had complained the French plan to recognise a Palestinian state was fuelling antisemitism -- to which Macron responded that the fight against antisemitism should "not be weaponised".

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in early September that his government would not agree to Macron visiting so long as Paris planned to recognise a Palestinian state.

hr-vl/ah/giv
Syrians watch the regional war from the sidelines



Damascus, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



In her pharmacy in downtown Damascus, Lara Inaya served her customers while checking in on her relatives living in the Gulf, caught up in the regional war while Syria is, for once, spared.

"I just follow the news on Instagram,' the 35-year-old told AFP.

"For the first time, we're the ones calling our relatives and friends in Dubai, Riyadh and Doha to make sure they're okay."

"It's a real paradox: today we're safe, while everyone around us is in danger," she said, slipping her phone back into the pocket of her white coat.

Since Saturday the Middle East has been plunged into a war triggered by a US and Israeli attack on Iran, which is retaliating by firing missiles and drones against countries in the region.

"We have lived through war and we don't wish it on anyone," said Inaya, who experienced the long civil war that devastated Syria from 2011 until the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

While Iran was one of the main backers of Assad's regime, the Islamist coalition that overthrew him is firmly hostile to the Islamic republic.

Syrians are now spectators to the regional conflict, with Israel even intercepting missiles fired by Iran toward Israeli territory in Syrian airspace.



- 'Divine punishment' -



On Sunday a man and his three daughters were wounded in Damascus province by debris from an Iranian missile intercepted by the Israeli army.

In response, Syria closed its airspace and the national carrier has cancelled all flights to and from Damascus airports until further notice.

Despite this, life is relatively normal in Damascus, with shops staying open late into the evening during the fasting month of Ramadan, when many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

"I follow the news 24/7, I'm addicted to it," said Adel al-Aqel, who sells socks.

What is happening in Iran is "divine punishment," the 59-year-old said.

His phone's background picture is a portrait of his son, killed during Syria's civil war.

"The Iranians killed him when they were fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad," he said bitterly.

For years, Iran's backing proved instrumental to keeping Assad in power after Syrians rose up in revolt against his rule.

"At the same time," Aqel continued, "Israel is our historic enemy. We must not get involved... we just have to watch as spectators".



- Exhausted -



The Syrian army announced Wednesday it was reinforcing its military presence along the Lebanese and Iraqi borders.

Both countries have been dragged into the regional war.

Thousands of Syrians who had fled to Lebanon during their country's war are once again fleeing violence -- this time heading back home, and causing heavy congestion at the border between the two countries.

In Damascus the lines outside petrol stations are growing longer as residents stock up on fuel, in anticipation of supply disruptions if the war stretches on.

Electricity rationing has also become more severe in recent days, due to a drop in the amount of natural gas arriving via Jordan, following a halt in pumping "because of the regional escalation," according to the energy ministry.

"What matters to me in all of this is that we are not affected economically or militarily," said Abu Raed, a 59-year-old trucker waiting in line for fuel.

"The war has exhausted us; we cannot endure another one."
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Washington, United States, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Here are the latest main events related to the war in the Middle East:



- Trump mulls role in post-war Iran -



The White House said President Donald Trump is weighing up a US role in Iran after the American-Israeli operation against the country concludes.

"I think it's something the president is actively considering and discussing with his advisors and his national security team," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.



- US pulls staff from Karachi, Lahore -



The United States ordered non-emergency staff at two Pakistani consulates to leave the country and granted permission for staff to leave missions in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and Oman.

At least 25 people died in weekend protests in Pakistan against the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, according to an AFP tally, with hundreds of protesters attempting to storm the consulate in Karachi, the country's most populous city.



- Israeli strikes on Lebanon 'kill 72' -



Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 72 people and displaced more than 83,000 since the start of a new round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanese officials said.

Israel has carried out air strikes on multiple areas of Lebanon after the Iran-backed militant group began launching rockets and drones towards it on Monday in retaliation for the US and Israeli attacks.



- China to send envoy to mediate -



China will send a special envoy to mediate in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Beijing is a close partner of Iran and has said it backs Tehran in defending its sovereignty, while urging the United States and Israel to cease their attacks.



- Qatar, Turkey ire -



Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani lambasted Iran's foreign minister during a call, accusing Tehran of trying to drag their neighbors into war.

Turkey, meanwhile, summoned the Iranian ambassador after a missile -- apparently targeting a Cyprus base -- landed in Turkish territory.



- Cargo crisis deepens -



Danish shipping giant Maersk said it was suspending bookings in the Gulf until further notice following a risk assessment.

Maersk had said Sunday that it was halting passage through the Suez Canal and the narrow Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and crucial for oil tankers, in the Gulf. Several shipping groups made similar announcements.



- Hormuz crew rescued -



The Omani navy rescued 24 crew members of a container ship struck by missiles in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian forces claimed "complete control" of the strait a day after Trump said the US Navy was ready to escort tankers through the channel.



- Sri Lanka recovers 87 bodies -



A US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, as the effects of the war in the Middle East spread to yet another country.

"We have collected 87 bodies, and a search is still on for the others who are still missing," a Sri Lankan navy official told AFP.



- Israel plans weeks of Iran ops -



The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli military was planning "at least one or two more weeks of operations in Iran, during which it aims to hit thousands more Iranian regime targets."

Earlier the military said it had begun a fresh wave of strikes on Tehran, as an AFP journalist reported a fresh explosion in the northeast of the Iranian capital.



- Khamenei funeral postponed -



The funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that was due Wednesday evening has been postponed, state television announced, "in anticipation of unprecedented turnout." A new date will be announced later, it said.

Deliberations over who would succeed Khamenei were still going on, it said.



- Iran state media: 1,000 killed -



Iran's official IRNA news agency said US-Israeli strikes had killed 1,045 military personnel and civilians since the start of the war. AFP was not in a position to independently verify the toll.

IRNA cited a statement from Iran's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs.



burs-bgs/sst
Spain denies US claim of military cooperation on Iran as rift deepens



Madrid, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Spain on Wednesday doubled down on its opposition to Washington's use of its bases against Iran, after US President Donald Trump's threats of trade reprisals over the spat deepened a rift between the NATO allies.

Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defiantly repeated calls of "no to the war" on Wednesday after the weekend US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the regional conflict, in his latest policy clash with Trump.

Just hours later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Madrid had "agreed to cooperate with the US military", without providing details on what the cooperation would entail.

But Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Cadena SER radio shortly afterwards that "our position on the use of the bases, on the war in the Middle East, on the bombardment of Iran, has not changed at all".

Trump had lashed out at Sanchez's government on Tuesday, calling Spain a "terrible" ally and threatening to sever all trade with one of the world's most dynamic developed economies.

Sanchez defended his position on Wednesday, saying his government's position "can be summed up in four words: no to the war".

"We will not be complicit in something that is harmful to the world and contrary to our values and interests, simply out of fear of retaliation," he added in a televised address.

Spain is part of the European Union, which allows goods to move freely between its 27 countries. This would complicate any bid to impose trade restrictions on a single member state.

"Trump's words don't always become policy. We will have to see if he follows through, and how," said Angel Saz Carranza, director of the Esade Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics, a Spanish think tank.



- 'Responsible conduct' -



Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian commended Spain on X for its "responsible conduct in opposing the Zionist-American coalition's flagrant human rights violations and military aggression against countries".

French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Antonio Costa were among the allies rallying around Sanchez on Wednesday.

"The EU will always ensure that the interests of its member states are fully protected," Costa wrote on X.

Sanchez had already found himself in US crosshairs for refusing to join NATO allies in a pledge to boost defence spending to five percent of GDP as demanded by Trump.

He has also fiercely criticised Israel's war in Gaza and the US military operation in January that captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

US forces use the Rota naval base and Moron air base in southern Spain under an agreement signed in 1953 under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Spain, then led by conservative prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, staunchly backed the United States by sending troops.

Spain's participation in the Iraq war sparked huge street demonstrations and many Spaniards blame it for the March 11, 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed nearly 200 people.

A branch of Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks and called for the withdrawal of Spanish forces from Iraq.



- Rally his base -



Sanchez, in power since 2018, has emerged as a prominent figure for Europe's disillusioned progressives, who see him as one of the few remaining openly leftist voices in a continent increasingly dominated by right-wing politics.

His opposition to the use of the bases is seen by some analysts as an attempt to rally his supporters around an issue that unites the Spanish left.

The popularity of his minority government has taken a hit from a string of sexual harassment and graft scandals ahead of the next general election due in 2027.

Many on Spain's right consider Sanchez's opposition to Trump as motivated more by domestic politics than by a moral compass.

The head of the main opposition conservative Popular Party which tops opinion polls, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, accused Sanchez on X of using foreign policy for "partisan" purposes.

In contrast, neighbouring Portugal authorised the United States to "conditionally" use an airbase on the Azores archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean for the Iran strikes, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro told parliament on Wednesday.

The authorisation was granted as long as "these operations are defensive or retaliatory, are necessary and proportionate, and exclusively target military objectives", said the conservative leader.

al-rbj/ds-imm/pdw
US orders non-emergency consular staff in Karachi, Lahore to leave Pakistan



Washington, United States, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



The United States said Wednesday it has ordered non-emergency staff at two Pakistani consulates to leave the country and granted permission for staff to leave missions in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and Oman as Iran retaliates over US-Israeli raids.

The State Department ordered non-emergency US government employees and their family members at the consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to "safety risks," the US embassy in Islamabad said in a statement.

It said there was no change to the embassy's status.

At least 25 people died in weekend protests in Pakistan against the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, according to an AFP tally, with hundreds of protesters attempting to storm the consulate in Karachi, the country's most populous city.

The State Department also authorized non-emergency US government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, Oman and Cyprus and asked Americans to reconsider traveling to all three countries.

The US advice on Cyprus is unusual for a European Union member state.

The move came after Iranian-made drones, likely fired by Iranian-backed movement Hezbollah in Lebanon, targeted a British military base in Cyprus, which historically has maintained a non-aligned foreign policy.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday spoke by telephone with the Cypriot foreign minister, Constantinos Kombos, and "reaffirmed the strong partnership" between the two countries, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

A drone also damaged the US embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The State Department says it is planning charter flights to take Americans out of the region, with citizens until now relying on commercial flights that have been severely disrupted by the war.

The United States and Israel launched the attack on Saturday and quickly killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two days after US envoys had been speaking to Iran in Geneva on a nuclear accord.

Since then, Iran has expanded its retaliatory missile and drone barrage across the Middle East.
Iran's supreme leader gone, but opposition still at war with itself



Paris, France, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



The US and Israel began their war on Iran by killing its most powerful figure and exhorting Iranians to seize the moment for change, but a fractured opposition and unclear American aims leave the future leadership of a post-clerical Iran an open question.

US President Donald Trump urged Iranians to rise up and "take over your government" as he launched "Operation Epic Fury", but his administration has since sent mixed signals about whether regime change is Washington's goal.

Many Iranians have celebrated the killing of Islamic republic leaders but are divided over who should replace them, and the authorities are racing to name a new supreme leader as state media highlights pro-government demonstrations in some cities.

"To date, no opposition leader has managed to forge the kind of broad-based coalition needed to unify the fragmented opposition landscape," Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at International Crisis Group, told AFP.

Inside Iran, opposition figures have been repressed and imprisoned, as was the case with jailed 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.

And among the large Iranian diaspora, there is not only no consensus, but often bitter rivalries that have only grown.

"What we have seen is that the opposition has become increasingly polarised," said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO.

The organisation held a conference last year bringing together more than a dozen opposition groups -- some of which had never been under the same roof -- aimed at rallying them around commitments to human rights principles in a post-Islamic-republic Iran.

But while the 2022-2023 Woman, Life, Freedom movement in the country was marked by a healthy dose of solidarity, he told AFP, that has "completely changed".



- 'No clear consensus' -



The latest protest movement in Iran, which posed the greatest challenge to the Islamic republic in years, saw demonstrators chant the name of Reza Pahlavi -- the eldest son of the shah ousted by the 1979 Islamic revolution that brought the clerical leadership to power.

US-based Pahlavi has presented himself as a leader for a democratic transition in Iran, but while he "retains a constituency", Vaez said, "there is no clear consensus that he is the right figure to rally the various camps".

He also remains controversial -- criticised for his support of Israel and for not distancing himself from his father's autocratic rule.

His supporters have attacked other opposition figures online and clashed with the spectrum of ethnic minority opposition groups, who experts say wouldn't accept Pahlavi.

The People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK) -- one-time allies of the revolution now outlawed and considered "terrorist" by Tehran -- organised rallies under the slogan "No Shah, No Mullahs" during the recent protests and the ensuing crackdown that left thousands dead and imprisoned.

The opposition group seeks to portray itself as a leading Iranian force, but it is reviled by many for having fought on Iraq's side against Iran in a war in the 1980s.

The MEK and Pahlavi have supporters among US politicians, but Trump has not thrown his weight behind anyone.



- 'Somebody from within' -



Asked on Tuesday about Pahlavi, Trump was tepid.

"Some people like him, and we haven't been thinking too much about that," he told reporters.

He instead suggested Washington would prefer to back someone inside the country, drawing comparisons with the recent US toppling of Venezuela's president while keeping its heavily criticised ruling system intact.

"It would seem to me that somebody from within (Iran) maybe would be more appropriate" than Pahlavi, Trump said. "Somebody that's there, that's currently popular if there's such a person. But we have people like that. People that were more moderate."

However, Trump did not have a clear alternative.

"Most of the people we had in mind are dead," he said, going on to slam the US strategy in Iraq after the 2003 US invasion, where "stupidly everybody was fired".

For Vaez, this is not unexpected.

"Given that most opposition groups lack meaningful networks or operational capacity inside Iran, it is hardly surprising that Trump appears to treat elements within the existing power structure as more consequential actors than their exiled rivals," he said.

Pahlavi has urged Iranians to be ready to take to the streets again, and the MEK announced a provisional government after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.

But some Iranians who risked their lives in recent protests against the government could not see beyond ousting the Islamic republic.

"For now we just want to get rid of this government," one protester told AFP during the peak of the movement in January.

"Afterwards we will sit and think about what comes next."
Support reaches a historic high as scrutiny grows over shootings in Minnesota that resulted in the deaths of two citizens

The immigration policy promoted by U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has increased public rejection of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A poll found that, for the first time, support for eliminating the federal agency has reached 50%, reflecting this shift in public opinion, a trend that has intensified following the shooting deaths of U.S. civilians in immigration control operations in Minneapolis and the prolonged partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security over disputes about the agencys funding.

The poll, conducted by YouGov, a nonpartisan data research group, between February 27 and March 2 among 1,515 adults, shows that half of those surveyed somewhat or strongly support the abolition of ICE, compared to 39% who oppose it. This is the first time that support has reached this threshold in the pollsters historical series, following a steady increase since the beginning of the year.

The increase coincides with the Trump administrations tightening of immigration policies and a political crisis in Washington: the DHS, which oversees ICE, has been partially shut down since February 13 due to disagreements in Congress over its funding.

Although calls to dismantle ICE have traditionally been driven by progressive Democrats, the new data reveals that support has expanded beyond that base. Seventy-seven percent of Democrats support abolition, but so do 52% of independents. Among Republicans, 68% remain opposed, although 23% now support eliminating the agency, the highest figure recorded among the partys voters.

Even among those who do not support the elimination of ICE, there is broad consensus on the need to limit the ability of its agents to operate anonymously. Three out of four respondents (75%) believe that officers should wear uniforms that clearly identify them as members of the agency, while only 14% oppose this requirement. Support for this measure is widespread across all parties: 92% among Democrats, 77% among independents, and 57% among Republicans. Likewise, 59% of respondents believe that agents should not hide their faces during operations, and only 31% are in favor of allowing it.

Protest against ICE in Minneapolis, January 23. Tim Evans (REUTERS)

On the other hand, the analysis highlights that a majority of Americans (58%) say that ICE uses excessive force during its operations, an increase of 7% since October. Likewise, only a quarter (27%) of those surveyed believe that the people being deported by ICE are criminals, and 68% say that the shootings that killed U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti during immigration raids should be investigated.

The change also reflects a deterioration in public perception of the presidents handling of immigration. A recent NBC survey showed a 49% disapproval rating for his handling of border security and immigration, an issue that has historically strengthened his support among conservative voters.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced tense questioning in Congress this week, where she was pressured to retract her statements labeling Good and Pretti as domestic terrorists. Noem defended her position by claiming she received chaotic reports from the field. Lawmakers pointed out that ICE and Border Patrol officials had previously testified that there was no evidence to support that characterization.

The controversy has also affected other officials. Gregory Bovino, former face of the federal Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, is the subject of state and federal investigations for alleged misconduct during the operations.

Gregory Bovino in Minneapolis, January 21. Evelyn Hockstein (REUTERS)

Despite growing public support, abolishing ICE faces significant obstacles in Congress, which is currently controlled by Republicans. Experts say it is unlikely that such an initiative will succeed in the short term. However, the shift in public opinion could influence campaign strategies ahead of the midterm elections in November.

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Hezbollah says will confront Israel-US 'aggression', will not surrender



Beirut, Lebanon, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Hezbollah will confront "Israeli-American aggression" and will not surrender despite the "imbalance in capabilities", the head of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Naim Qassem said Wednesday night in a televised speech.

"We are facing aggression... our choice is to confront it until the ultimate sacrifice, and we will not surrender," the Hezbollah leader declared in his first speech since his party launched rockets towards Israel on Monday and Israel began a bombing campaign in Lebanon.

Qassem rejected the notion that his party started the current round of fighting, saying: "What Israel did after the rocket salvo was not a response. It was an aggression that had been prepared in advance."

"Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance are responding to the Israeli-American aggression and this is a legitimate right... For us this is an existential defence."

The Middle East war expanded to Lebanon on Monday, and Israel later said its troops had entered south Lebanese towns and villages.

The Lebanese authorities said on Wednesday the Israeli campaign had killed at least 72 people and displaced more than 83,000.

The Lebanese government on Monday announced the "immediate ban" of Hezbollah's military activities and demanded the party surrender its weapons, months after it committed to a gradual disarming of the party, which the party has repeatedly rejected.

In his speech Wednesday, Qassem criticised the new decision by the Lebanese government, saying: "Instead of the Lebanese government moving to condemn the Israeli-American aggression and look for ways to confront it, it turned against the resistance to complete its error and align itself with Israeli demands."

"The topic of the resistance and the weapons of the resistance is not a subject of dispute for anyone or with anyone. It is a legitimate right. We are fighting in Lebanon in defence of our people, the future of our children and our country," he added.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio now maintains that the president decided they werent going to let Tehran attack first. Nearly six out of 10 citizens disapprove of the operation, according to a CNN poll

First, it was the need to eliminate Irans nuclear program. Then, to overthrow the regime. Later, it was the need to neutralize the missile program. Then, it was the belief that Tehran would attack first and that they had to preempt it. Later, it was the belief that Israel would attack first and Iran would retaliate against American targets. On Tuesday, Donald Trump offered yet another explanation for launching the offensive against the Islamic Republic: that he thought Iran was about to attack; if anything, he says, it was he who drew Israel into the fight.

Attacking Iran was something that had to be done, Trump maintained in remarks delivered in the Oval Office. In subsequent statements, Secretary of State Marco Rubio backtracked on Mondays statements and insisted to reporters at the Capitol: The bottom line is this: The president determined we were not going to get hit first. Its that simple, A day earlier, Rubio had unleashed a wave of indignation among Democrats and some on the right by declaring that the offensive was launched because Israel was going to attack its great enemy and the United States feared retaliatory attacks from Iran.

With public opinion strongly against the operation, the Trump movement divided over support for the war, the first combat casualties, and hasty evacuations of U.S. citizens in the region, the administration is finding it difficult to present a coherent narrative about why it is launching into a conflict whose deadlines the president keeps extending, and which Democratic opposition lawmakers, analysts, and Iran itself denounce as a war of choice.

Polls indicate strong opposition among voters to a conflict with the potential to become yet another one of the United States forever wars in the Middle East  something that Trump promised to avoid during his election campaign. Nearly six out of 10 citizens disapprove of the decision to launch a military operation, according to a CNN poll. Another poll for The Washington Post shows that 52% oppose the intervention, while 39% support it. Among Democrats, 90% condemn the military operation. Among independents, the figure is 60%. Eighty percent of Republicans support the offensive.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday. Kylie Cooper (REUTERS)

The disparity between the successes of the operation we are seeing on the ground and the lack of clarity about what we want to achieve is striking, Elise Ewers of the Council on Foreign Relations told reporters. Do we want to eliminate Irans ability to project power beyond its borders? Regime change? Minimize its naval capabilities? All of that is possible, but not necessarily all of it is possible in the time available, when this is having real economic costs, especially in the Gulf. And this can only be sustained for a limited time until those impacts are felt, not only in oil prices but also in shipping insurance and other things.

After weeks of failing to present a clear argument while amassing military might in the Middle East, the administration has come out to present a narrative about the reasons for going to war. The Pentagon, which had not held a single press conference this year, convened two this week. The White House will also hold one on Wednesday. The entire White House national security team traveled to Congress on Tuesday for closed-door meetings with members of Congress and the Senate, led by Rubio, who is also the National Security Advisor.

Trump himself has also been very active. On Tuesday, he answered questions from the press in the Oval Office during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a format that had fallen out of favor this year. The day before, he made a statement about the offensive during a ceremony in the White House. Since the attacks began on Saturday, he has given a barrage of phone interviews  nearly 20 to as many media outlets  making statements that were often contradictory.

The message was supposed to be that the offensive was justified by the threat posed by Iran, that it was limited in its objectives and duration, and that it did not conflict with Trumps America First platform. But a comment by Rubio exposed the contradictions. In an appearance before leading lawmakers from both parties in Congress on Monday, the Secretary of State made an unprecedented statement: We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.

Introduction of new drones to Iranian weaponry, in January 2025. Iranian Army/WANA (via REUTERS)

The opposition went for the throat. There was a threat to Israel. If we equate a threat to Israel as the equivalent of an imminent threat to the United States, then we are in uncharted territory, declared Democratic Senator Mark Warner. I think Secretary Rubio inadvertently spoke the truth, that this was orchestrated by Benjamin Netanyahu and now we are embroiled in a major conflict, added his Senate colleague Angus King.

Even among Trumps most ardent supporters in the MAGA movement, criticism was rife: So hes flat out telling us that were in a war with Iran because Israel forced our hand, tweeted Matt Walsh, a commentator from the far right. This is basically the worst possible thing he could have said.

Even Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reacted on social media: Mr. Rubio admitted what we all knew: US has entered a war of choice on behalf of Israel. There was never any so-called Iranian threat, he wrote.

A wary Trump  who launched a tirade against two European allies, Spain and the United Kingdom  corrected his top diplomat on Tuesday: It was my opinion that they were going to attack first and I didnt want that to happen. So if anything, I might have forced Israels hand.

Debris from a building hit by Israeli-American bombings in Tehran on Tuesday. Jaime Leon (EFE)

In his latest appearance before the media at the Capitol, Rubio attempted to quell the controversy, without apparent success, and denied having attributed the decision to attack to Israel.

In a midday call with reporters, two senior Trump administration officials described the events on the eve of the launch of Operation Epic Fury, including the rounds of talks on the Iranian nuclear program held in Geneva between Araghchi and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, under the mediation of Oman.

These sources indicated that the two U.S. representatives continually pressured Iran to abandon uranium enrichment. But Tehrans offer allowed the country to enrich uranium at a facility near the capital. They were unwilling to give up the building blocks of what they needed to preserve in order to get to a bomb, said one of the senior officials.

The two envoys informed Trump on Thursday, the same day as the last round of talks, that a deal similar to the one brokered by the Barack Obama administration in 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, would still be possible, but would take months. The president gave the green light to the offensive the following day, Friday. The attacks began on Saturday.

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Mr Swinney, speaking to the Press Association, added: Ive been saying to the UK Government for some time that the energy profits levy should be removed because it is hampering investment in the North Sea oil and gas sector, which is resulting in a loss of employment at a much faster rate than we anticipated.
'You're right to worry about your bills and jobs,' Starmer tells Britain on Trump Iran war economic threat

'You're right to worry about bills and jobs,' PM tells UK on Trump war
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Western officials said on Wednesday that US bombers had not yet used Diego Garcia or Fairford but that the UK was ready to accept them and that they were expected to arrive within the next few days.
There was a significant drop in the number of migrants coming to Britain on health and other work-related visas last year.

At the same time illegal immigration increased as small boat crossings were up 13% in 2025 compared to the previous 12 months.

Radical changes in migration rules last year have contributed to the steep drop in people arriving in Britain via work visa routes.
The noise was terrific, it was one big noisy battle. There was no panic though, wed been through the routines so regularly that we just got on it. Everyone knew their role and we had such a good crew. We all had faith in each other.
"We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and assure customers of our continuing commitment to the highest standard of product quality and safety. Thank you for shopping with us, and if you need any more information please contact Morrisons Online Service Department on 0345 322 0000."
A staff member makes preparations for Nepal's upcoming parliamentary elections in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 4, 2026, Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday urged citizens to actively participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5, calling the vote as an opportunity to shape their future and that of their children. Addressing the nation ahead of the elections, Karki said public participation is crucial to steering Nepal toward political stability and economic prosperity. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday urged citizens to actively participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5, calling the vote as an opportunity to shape their future and that of their children.

Addressing the nation ahead of the elections, Karki said public participation is crucial to steering Nepal toward political stability and economic prosperity.

"Casting your vote is not merely stamping an election symbol and securing victory for someone, but it is a decision about the future for yourself and your children," she said.

Nepal is holding fresh elections after the House of Representatives, the lower house, was dissolved following the unrest in the country last September.

The prime minister also urged political parties, candidates, and supporters to strictly observe discipline during the election silence period, which begins on Tuesday, and warned against the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media.

The polls are going to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives. 

Staff members make preparations ahead of Nepal's upcoming parliamentary elections in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 4, 2026, Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday urged citizens to actively participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5, calling the vote as an opportunity to shape their future and that of their children.

Addressing the nation ahead of the elections, Karki said public participation is crucial to steering Nepal toward political stability and economic prosperity. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

A staff member passes by a ballot box during preparation work ahead of Nepal's upcoming parliamentary elections in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 4, 2026, Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday urged citizens to actively participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5, calling the vote as an opportunity to shape their future and that of their children.

Addressing the nation ahead of the elections, Karki said public participation is crucial to steering Nepal toward political stability and economic prosperity. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)
Tesla Model Y cars are seen at Tesla Giga Texas in Austin on Feb. 20. Tesla Model Y cars are seen at Tesla Giga Texas in Austin on Feb. 20, 2026. An analysis by Oxfam, an international anti-poverty nonprofit, argues Teslas pay structure, tax practices and political influence have helped drive Elon Musks soaring wealth while worsening inequality. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

A new report from global nonprofit Oxfam argues that Tesla Inc.s corporate practices have helped build Elon Musks massive fortune while widening economic inequality in the United States. Musk, whose net worth is about $668 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is far wealthier than the next richest person, Google co-founder Larry Page, with a net worth of roughly $259 billion.

Oxfam argues Teslas business practices have helped fuel that wealth accumulation. The nonprofit says the company strategically uses tax havens, maintains what it describes as an illusion of corporate oversight, takes a selective approach to labor rights and relies on Musks influence with the U.S. government to reduce regulatory scrutiny.

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Oxfam's analysis arrives months after Tesla shareholders approved a highly contested pay package for Musk that could give him enough stock to eventually make him a trillionaire and about 29% control of the company if he meets goals outlined in a 10-year performance plan.

After SpaceX acquired xAI in February, Musks wealth briefly rose to a record $852 billion.

Irit Tamir, Oxfam Americas senior director of corporate accountability and worker justice, said the organization took another look at Tesla as Musk approaches trillionaire status. Previously, Oxfam had examined Teslas decision to base CEO pay entirely on stock incentives, noting that the move encouraged other companies to restructure their CEO compensation.

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Were really trying to have people understand that its not because these people are working any harder than others, Tamir said. It is really a rigged system thats creating this billionaire wealth and its happening primarily through ownership structures and practices, exploitation and a rigged system thats allowing corporations to funnel money to these very wealthy shareholders.

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Oxfam analyzed Teslas impact using its Corporate Inequality Framework, which assesses corporations through its approach to people, power, profits and the planet. That includes how Tesla treats employees and others impacted by the company, competitive behavior and political influence, CEO pay and environmental justice.

The company did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

As Musk campaigned for his controversial pay package, employees at Tesla experienced pay disparities far exceeding typical CEO-worker gaps, according to the report. On average, Musk made over 4,000 times more than the median annual salary for Tesla employees from 2020 to 2024. Meanwhile, the average CEO-to-worker pay ratio for S&P 500 companies was 285 to 1 in 2024.

Beyond pay disparities and alleged anti-union activity, Oxfams analysis points to Tesla lacking a policy on responsible tax practices, not publishing a country-by-country report on tax payments in many countries where it operates, and having subsidiaries located in countries designated as tax havens.

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The Austin automaker has also been a major beneficiary of taxpayer dollars, the organization said.

For example, a $465 million Energy Department loan provided in 2010 allowed Tesla to create one of its earliest vehicles, the Model S. After repaying the loan, Musk thanked the American taxpayer from whom these funds originate.

I hope we did you proud, Musk said in a 2013 news release.

Tesla has also received billions in rebates and tax credits from California. And in Travis County, Tesla has a tax incentive deal that hinges on benchmarks surrounding headcount, a minimum $15 an hour wage and annual community investments. Late last year, Tesla was accused of withholding key information from Travis County regarding the tax incentive deal.

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The dynamic that youre seeing in Austin and Travis County is not unusual, Tamir said. Unfortunately, I think its more the norm than the exception. For a long time now, Oxfam has been seeing multinational corporations circle the globe for low wages and weak regulatory systems.

Oxfams analysis also tackled Musks professional and political relationships as contributing to inequality.

For example, the board committee that shapes executive compensation and oversees Musks pay package lacks independence, Oxfam says. The organization points to board chair Robyn Denholm, whose wealth is largely tied to Tesla stock, and Musks brother Kimbal also being on the board.

Oxfams report argues that Musks political relationships, including his previous role in the Trump administration, benefited Tesla after the former Department of Government Efficiency made cuts to agencies responsible for oversight of the companys business practices, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the National Labor Relations Board and the Department of Labor, Oxfams analysis says.

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If Musk reaches trillionaire status, Oxfam calculated how that amount of wealth could be stretched beyond Musks individual use. A trillion dollars, Oxfam notes, could cover the GDPs of entire countries or pay the salaries of all 535 members of the U.S. House of Representatives for the next 10,742 years.

As Musk continues his reign as the richest person in the world, his peers have also been analyzed by Oxfam. Another recent report by the organization calculated that the 12 richest billionaires have more wealth than the poorest half of humanity.

Thats more than 4 billion people, and one in four people often cant afford enough to eat, Tamir said. Thats just unconscionable in this day and age with this kind of money floating around.
Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk arrives Wednesday at federal court in San Francisco. Hes on trial in a civil case for allegedly manipulating Twitters stock price prior to his purchase of the company in 2022. Josh Edelson/Getty Images

Elon Musk took the stand in federal court Wednesday to defend himself against allegations that he used social media posts to intentionally drive down the stock price of Twitter Inc. before buying the company for $44 billion.

Thats not at all what he was trying to do, the Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO testified.

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I was simply speaking my mind, he said when asked if hed stopped to think about how his comments would affect the stock and those who owned it. I tweet whats on my mind and the market decides if its material.

Shareholders of Twitter, which is now known as X, sued in 2022 alleging Musk used false, disparaging statements to get out of his deal to buy the company at $54.20 per share. Twitter and Musk later sued each other before the deal was completed.

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They say Musk violated federal securities laws by making false, public statements that were carefully calculated to drive down the price of Twitter stock.

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Testifying in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Musk said he didnt think it was material when, in early 2022, he began amassing Twitter stock and did not tweet about it or disclose his purchases to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The billionaire reached a deal to buy Twitter and take it private in April 2022. On May 13, however, he declared his plan temporarily on hold and said he needed to pinpoint the number of spam and fake accounts on the platform. Twitters stock tumbled as a result.

Musk, wearing a dark suit and tie, reiterated his claim from 2022 that there were more fake users and bots than the less than 5% estimate Twitter calculated in Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Former leaders of the company intentionally spread lies, he said.

They said that there was less than 5% falsehood, spam accounts on Twitter. They literally lied. Its false, Musk said in response to questioning from the plaintiffs attorney. Whatever they did was inaccurate measurement of bots.

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He was also asked about his tweets  or lack of tweets  about the decision to buy Twitter and his purchases of Twitter stock prior to deciding to take the company private.

Musk replied the hes bought stock in many companies and did not post about it.

Stock price jumps

Once he did, Twitters stock jumped 27% in one day.

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That sounds high, Musk said when the price increase was noted in court.

Musks May 13 tweet  Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users  was false because the buyout was not, in fact, temporarily on hold,  the lawsuit says. Thats because Twitter did not agree to put the deal on hold and there was nothing in the merger agreement the two parties signed that allowed Musk to put it on hold, according to the lawsuit.

In the following weeks, Musk continued to try to delay or get out of the deal, which the lawsuit claims he did in the form of false, disparaging statements about Twitters business that drove the San Francisco companys stock down sharply.

In July 2022, Musk doubled down on the bots issue and said he would abandon his offer to buy Twitter after the company failed to provide enough information about fake accounts. The lawsuit notes, though, that Musk had waived due diligence for his take it or leave it offer to buy Twitter, leaving him with no right to look at the companys nonpublic finances.

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The stock closed July 8 at $36.81, when Musk tweeted he was abandoning the deal over fake accounts. That was 32% less than Musks offer price of $54.20.

To try to renegotiate the price or delay the merger, Musk made materially false and misleading statements and omissions, and engaged in a scheme to deceive the market, all in violation of the law, the lawsuit says.

An old issue

The problem of bots and fake accounts on Twitter wasnt new. In 2021, the company paid $809.5 million to settle claims it was overstating its growth rate and monthly user figures. It also disclosed its bot estimates to the Securities and Exchange Commission for years while cautioning that its number might be low.

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Twitter sued Musk to force him to complete the deal and Musk countersued. On Oct. 4, 2022, Musk offered to go through with his original proposal to buy Twitter for $44 billion, which Twitter accepted. The deal closed later that month. After his purchase, Musk slashed the companys workforce, gutted its trust and safety team and rolled back content moderation policies.

In July 2023, he renamed it X.

Under the new name, the company departed California for Texas. X reportedly shuttered its San Francisco office in September 2024 and set up a new address at Building 2 of Hyperloop Plaza in Bastrop.

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Also in 2024, X announced plans to open a content moderation office in Austin with a team of 100 full-time staff responsible for enforcing content and safety rules. Still, X continues to come under scrutiny over its safety enforcement, including sexualized imagery created by xAIs Grok chatbot.
Containers are stored in a cargo terminal in Frankfurt, Germany, on Feb. 23, 2026. A federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that companies that paid tariffs struck down last month by the Supreme Court are entitled to refunds. Michael Probst/AP

WASHINGTON  In a defeat for the Trump administration, a federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that companies that paid tariffs struck down last month by the Supreme Court are due refunds.

Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade wrote that all importers of record were entitled to benefit from the Supreme Court ruling that struck down sweeping double-digit import taxes President Donald Trump imposed last year under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

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The Supreme Court found those tariffs to be unconstitutional under the emergency powers law, including the sweeping reciprocal tariffs he levied on nearly every other country. The majority ruled that the president could not unilaterally set and change tariffs because taxation power clearly belongs to Congress.

In his ruling, Eaton wrote that he alone will hear cases pertaining to the refund of IEEPA duties. The ruling offers some clarity about the tariff refund process, something the Supreme Court did not even mention in its Feb. 20 decision.

Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus, a partner at King & Spalding and a former U.S. trade official, said he expects the government to appeal or seek a stay to buy more time for U.S. Customs to comply.

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The federal government collected more than $130 billion in the now-defunct tariffs through mid-December and could ultimately be on the hook for refunds worth $175 billion, according to calculations by the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

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Eaton was ruling specifically on a case brought by Atmus Filtration, a Nashville, Tenn., company that makes filters and other filtration products, claiming a right to a tariff refund.

All goods that go through U.S. Customs and Border Protections enter a process called liquidation, when the agency issues its final accounting of what is owed. Once liquidated, importers have 180 days to formally contest the duties. After that window closes, the liquidation is legally final.

The judge ordered customs to stop collecting the IEEPA tariffs the Supreme Court struck down last month on goods going through the liquidation process. And if the goods were past that part of the process, the agency would have to recalculate them without the tariffs.

This is a great decision for importers and consumers who paid, said Barry Appleton, a law professor and co-director New York Law Schools Center for International Law. It will make customs brokers busy. It should make things easier for the courts  and get a process underway for those importers who paid within the last 180 days.

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On Monday, another federal court rejected the Trump administrations attempt to slow the refund process. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit started the next phase in the refund process by sending it to New York trade court to sort out.
A Waymo robotaxi drives across Congress Avenue on 8th Street in front of the Capitol Building as rain arrives in the Austin area on Jan. 23. A federal safety investigation found that a human remote assistance agent directed a Waymo robotaxi to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

A U.S. safety agencys investigation has found that on at least one occasion, a human remote assistance agent directed a Waymo robotaxi to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin while students were boarding.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on its investigation into Waymo after its driverless vehicles reportedly passed stopped Austin school buses more than 24 times since the start of the school year in August.

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What is Texas' law? All vehicles travelling on all sides of the road must stop and remain stopped when approaching a school bus that is flashing lights and has its stop-arm extended, according to Section 545 of the Texas Transportation Code. Austin ISD is enforcing this law with new cameras on the stop-arms of its school buses. The program is AI-powered and automatically issues $300 fines based on the footage.

The preliminary report describes a Jan. 12 incident when a westbound Austin Independent School District bus was stopped about 7:55 a.m. in the 1700 block of East Oltorf Street.

A Waymo robotaxi, which was traveling in the opposite direction, stopped for the school bus. Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.

After stopping, the safety board report says, the Waymo vehicle contacted remote assistance to ask, Is this a school bus with active signals?

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The agent, who was located in Novi, Mich., responded, No.

The Waymo then resumed travel, passing the school bus while its stop arm was extended and lights were flashing. In total, the report says six vehicles illegally passed the school bus. Texas law requires vehicles approaching from any direction to stop and remain stopped for a school bus that is flashing lights and has an extended stop arm.

Since last year, Austin ISD has used an AI-powered program to automatically issue $300 fines based on footage from cameras attached to bus stop arms. As of early January, the Austin ISD Police Department had issued more than 7,000 citations for school bus safety violations this school year, including 24 to Waymo.

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The district did not immediately respond to a request for updated figures and directed requests for comment to the NTSB.

Tuesdays report is the first indication that the ongoing incidents may stem from human error rather than an issue with Waymo Driver, the software that operates the company's vehicles.

The agency opened its investigation after Austin ISD reported that Waymos robotaxis continued failing to stop for school buses despite a voluntary software recall issued in December.

While the preliminary report detailed only the Jan. 12 incident, the NTSB is investigating other Waymo-related events in Austin ISD, agency spokeswoman Sarah Sulick said.

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Typically, a full NTSB investigation takes from 12 to 24 months to complete. The agency will likely release factual information on an investigative docket about a year after opening the investigation, but wont have conclusions or analyses until the final report, she said.

The NTSB is not a federal regulatory agency and cannot issue fines or penalties against Waymo, unlike the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is also investigating the company's issues involving school buses. Instead, it seeks to identify the root causes of traffic safety issues and can conduct hearings or make nonbinding recommendations at the conclusion of a probe.

Waymos remote assistance does not continuously monitor its vehicles, and instead responds to specific requests for information initiated by the autonomous vehicles. The vehicles can then decide whether to use or reject the advice of a remote assistance agent.

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At any given time, approximately 70 remote assistance agents are on duty globally to aid more than 3,000 vehicles across the United States, according to the company.

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle arm of Google parent Alphabet Inc., did not respond to questions about whether the remote assistance agent in this instance was aware of Texas law or had access to, or was monitoring, the vehicles cameras.

We appreciate the work of the NTSB and will remain a committed and collaborative party to the investigation, a company spokesperson said Tuesday.

The findings come just as Waymo faces intense scrutiny in Austin after one of its robotaxis was spotted blocking an Austin-Travis County EMS ambulance responding to the mass shooting on West Sixth Street early Sunday morning.

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In a viral video posted after the shooting, one of the companys robotaxis is seen blocking an Austin-Travis County EMS ambulance as the driverless vehicle attempts a U-turn and becomes stuck crosswise across the street. The company did not say whether a remote assistance agent was contacted during this instance.

Some of Waymos remote assistance is handled by New Braunfels-based TaskUs, a digital services firm that provides remote assistance, customer support and fleet monitoring for the self-driving vehicle company. TaskUs has more than 63,000 employees across 30 locations in 13 countries, according to its latest figures. Last year, it said its largest hub was in the Philippines, with 35,500 workers, and another 12,600 employees in India.

Waymo faced criticism during a recent U.S. Senate committee hearing after disclosing that some remote agents were based outside the United States, specifically in the Philippines. Several senators called it unacceptable to have agents located abroad assisting customers.

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The NTSB also released a preliminary report Tuesday into a January incident in California when a Waymo struck a 9-year-old child outside the childs school.

The report says the child exited the backseat of a vehicle while waiting to be dropped off at school and darted into the road, crossing at a rapid pace. The Waymo robotaxi, traveling 17 mph, braked but struck the student. The child fell, then stood and walked to the curb.

The vehicle then came to a complete stop and contacted a remote assistance agent in Novi, Mich. to contact 911 and move the vehicle to the curb. The student suffered minor injuries and did not require medical transport, the report says.

This incident is also being investigated by the NHTSA.

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Waymo began operations in Austin in partnership with Uber a year ago and has recently launched services in San Antonio. The company has about 200 vehicles operating in Austin across more than 140 square miles.
Boni's, built from a home that dates back to 1934, is located at 1805 S. First St. next door to Lenoir. PROVIDED BY CHAD WADSWORTH

Lenoir owners Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher fell in love in a bar  since-shuttered Reade Street Pub in New York City  and now they have one to call their own.

The married couple, who met while working for chef David Bouley in New York City, are opening neighborhood bar Bonis on Friday at 1805 S. First St., next door to their restaurant, which has been a staple of the Statesmans best restaurants list since opening in 2012.

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Im super nervous, but Im really excited, Maher said, sitting on the patio of the bar, which is housed in a building that dates back to 1934. Its what has been missing at the restaurant, that feels like we have been apologizing for forever.

The two things that have been missing from their hot weather food restaurant? Cocktails and coffee service, as well as a bar to drink a cocktail at before or after a meal.

Boni's will serve a selection of Spanish-inspired cocktails for $12 to $16. PROVIDED BY CHAD WADSWORTH

Bonis is named for Mahers great-grandfather, Bonaficio, a native of Spain who eventually settled in New Jersey, and the cocktail and bar snacks menus take their cues from the southwestern European country where Maher studied abroad in college.

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DrinkWell owner Jessica Sanders designed the bar program, which features drinks like a Gin y Tonica made with Bombay Premier Cru, Mediterranean tonic, rosemary and blood orange; a Carajillo composed of reposado tequila, chicory coffee liqueur, Licor 43 and mole bitters; and the El Viejo, a rye whiskey and Spanish brandy concoction. Boni's will also serve a small selection of Spanish natural wines, draft beer and offer a full coffee program.

The couple created Bonis as a slightly more rough-hewn and masculine version of their bespoke sister restaurant. Made with reclaimed wood from the original house and colored with touches of the red and yellow of the Spanish flag and old family photos, the neighborhood bar has a worn charm and approachability, with a TV at the end of the bar that will be tuned to sports.

Boni's bar snacks menu includes head-on shrimp with garlic butter and pork meatballs. PROVIDED BY CHAD WADSWORTH

I love the idea that this building is the ambiance. Its a cool old building, and were just gonna let it be that, Duplechan said of the space the couple purchased along with the Lenoir property in 2024 after leasing for more than a decade.

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Mahers love affair with food began during her time studying in Spain, a period that altered her professional path and set her on the course that eventually brought her to the couples hospitality home in South Austin.

Lenoir owners Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher turned to their time in Spain and Maher's familial heritage for their neighborhood bar, Boni's. PROVIDED BY CHAD WADSWORTH

Bonis, which opens Friday and will be open every day but Tuesday from 3 p.m. to midnight, will serve a menu of snacks that feature some of the through lines of the style of food crafted at Lenoir, but with the flavors the couple remember and love from Spain, where they dream of someday retiring.

Selections include barbecue-spiced pork rinds, softshell crawfish chips, head-on shrimp with garlic butter, a ham plate and pork meatballs.

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Its so delicious, Maher said. This is my dream.
Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico addresses supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

In a matchup between two of the Democratic Partys fastest-rising figures, state Rep. James Talarico of Austin defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas in Tuesdays primary and will move on to the fall campaign as his partys leading contender.

The Associated Press called the race around 1:38 a.m. Wednesday. Talarico earned 1,188,253 votes (52.8%) while Crockett had 1,034,096 votes (45.9%).

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Voters faced challenges in Dallas County, a Crockett stronghold, and in Williamson County, just north of Austin. Republicans in both counties eliminated countywide vote centers  which had allowed voters to cast ballots at any location  and now require residents to vote at their assigned precinct.

On Tuesday, many voters in both counties reported confusion over where to vote, prompting the Crockett and Talarico campaigns to call for extended voting hours.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on James Talaricos primary victory in the Texas Senate race:

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James Talarico has spent years fighting for Texans in the state house, where he went to bat for teachers and students, fought to lower the cost of health care, and took on corruption in politics, the DSCC said. Now, hes ready to take that fight to the U.S. Senate.

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Here's what people are saying about Talarico 's win.

What did Jasmine Crockett say?

Early Wednesday morning, Crocket conceded and called for the party to unite behind Talarico.

This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track, she said in a statement. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. Im committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

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New: Crockett concedes.



This morning I called James and congratulated him on becoming the Senate nominee. Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America  Adam Wren (@adamwren) March 4, 2026

What are people saying about James Talarico?

People on social media shared their thoughts on Talaricos win. Some see Talaricos victory as a significant moment for Texas Democrats, who havent won a statewide race in decades, and as someone who could broaden the partys appeal beyond its base.

Here's what people said.

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in Dallas

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in Dallas

When is the general election?

The general election is Nov. 3.

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Its still unclear who Talarico will face in November. No candidate secured a majority in the three-way Republican primary, sending Sen. John Cornyn into a May 26 runoff with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

How to check voter registration in Texas

Voter rolls are updated regularly, and some voters may be removed if their status changes, they have not voted in two general elections, or they have not responded to address verification notices.

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Several organizations, including Rock the Vote, offer tools to check registration status.
The Austin Police Department issued a press release identifying the man who was reportedly shot to death in a homeless camp on Friday night or Saturday morning. Julianna Duennes Russ/Austin American-Statesman

Austin police have identified the victim of a shooting death in a homeless camp in Northeast Austin over the weekend.

Officials identified 53-year-old Benjamin Biesecker as the man who died after suffering multiple gunshot wounds in a Tuesday press release.

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Biesecker was reportedly pronounced dead on the scene Saturday morning. The investigation has shown that he was shot and killed by an unidentified suspect, who fled the area.

APD officials responding to the scene at the time indicated that they did not have enough information to determine whether the gunman posed a further threat to the public.

The department is requesting that anyone with information contact the agency.

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The shooting occurred late Friday night or early Saturday morning, according to an APD spokesperson.

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Officers responded to a call from the camp at East Braker Lane and Wedgewood Drive shortly after 8 a.m. As of 10:30 a.m., nearly a dozen police units were at the scene, which the spokesperson described as an expensive homeless encampment.

The department declined to state whether there have been other incidents at the camp.

It is the 11th homicide in Austin so far this year. The 10th occurred early last week, also in Northeast Austin.

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KATHMANDU, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government on Tuesday said it has formed an Emergency Response Team to address the concerns and ensure the safety of Nepalis residing in West Asia amid ongoing tensions.

The government said the mechanism is aimed at ensuring coordinated, prompt, and effective action. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nearly 1.8 million Nepali nationals reside in West Asia.

An online system was also established to collect updated information on Nepali nationals in the affected region, the ministry said.

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched a large-scale joint attack on Iran. Iran subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes, targeting sites in Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. 
The Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, pictured earlier this month. The decision by Travis County prosecutors to dismiss a murder case after a jury was sworn in means the defendant will never face trial in the case. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

A Travis County jury found a 32-year-old man guilty for crimes tied to the sexual abuse of a child, according to the Travis County District Attorneys Office.

Jurors found Misael Alexander Rodas Martinez guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact following a weeklong trial in February. On Feb. 13, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison without the possibility of parole, along with 10 years for indecency with a child by sexual contact to be served concurrently.

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The case started back in November of 2024, when Austin police arrested Martinez on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was later indicted in February 2025 on multiple charges, including continuous sexual abuse of a child, several counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact.

Court proceedings began with jury selection on Feb. 9. Prosecutors started presenting testimony and evidence the next day, and the jury returned guilty verdicts on Feb. 13 after deliberations.

Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victim, said Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza. Our hearts continue to break for the victim. We hope this verdict continues to support their healing process.

Following the verdict, prosecutors and the defense reached an agreement on sentencing. The sentences will be served in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
District Attorney Jose Garza speaks at a news conference after the exoneration hearing for four men wrongfully accused in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Forrest Welborn, Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen and Maurice Pierce, who is deceased, were declared actually innocent during the hearing. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza issued a statement Tuesday responding to rumors circulating online that he would seek criminal charges against the three Austin Police officers who fatally shot a man early Sunday as he was engaged in a deadly mass shooting outside of a downtown bar.

"These officers are heroes, and it should go without saying that my office is not seeking any charges and would not seek charges," Garza said in the release. "The accounts to the contrary are false, intentionally false, and are being peddled for obvious political purposes."

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The statement was prompted by an X post, shared Tuesday morning, that claimed Garza would bring criminal charges against the officers following an Austin Police Department investigation into the officer's actions.

The post gained attention from top Texas Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott.

These police officers are heroes who saved lives.



Whatever the DA does, I will have the final say in the fate of these police officers. https://t.co/tixPCVWwOY  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 3, 2026

"Whatever the DA does, I will have the final say in the fate of these police officers," Abbott posted on X in reference to the claims about Garza. Abbott did not respond to questions before publication, but the post appears to be in reference to the Texas governor's pardon powers.

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Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows also posted on X, using a has

It is standard procedure for the Austin Police Department to investigate officers for potential criminal conduct after all shooting incidents and it is Garza's current policy to present all of those findings before a grand jury for potential prosecution.

While it is Garza's decision to present officer shooting cases to a grand jury, it is up to the grand jury to decide if the officers possibly committed criminal conduct and should be indicted. Garza's statement does not make clear if his office would still present the case to a grand jury, which has been the DA's policy since he took office in 2021, even though it will not pursue charges.

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Garza's office did not respond to questions seeking clarification.

Doug O'Connell, an Austin criminal defense attorney who is representing the three officers, said he was not satisfied with Garza's statement.

"His statement creates more questions than answers," O'Connell told the American-Statesman. "If you dont believe criminal charges are warranted then whats the point of presenting the case to grand jury?"

O'Connell, who has represented several law enforcement officers Garza has prosecuted, noted that it can take months for prosecutors to present police shooting cases to a grand jury. In this case, he estimated it would take until the fall.

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"The process leaves officers twisting for far too long," he said.
Tony Plohetski is a national award-winning journalist whose reporting is featured in print, digital and television platforms. He has chronicled some of Texas' most significant stories, and his investigative and accountability reporting has led to indictments and prompted new state laws. He joined the Austin American-Statesman in 2000 and since 2013, he has worked in partnership with KVUE, where he is the stations senior reporter. Plohetski was the lead reporter for the Statesmans groundbreaking coverage of the 2022 Uvalde school shooting that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for public service. The coverage also received the Taylor Family Award for Fairness in Journalism from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard. Additionally, Plohetski has received more than two dozen national and state journalism prizes for his work with the Statesman and KVUE, including a national Edward R. Murrow Award, four National Headliner awards, the Hillman Prize and the August 2022 Sidney Award. He was the inaugural winner in 2021 of the Dan Rather Medal for News & Guts for journalistic courage and was named Star Reporter of the Year by Texas Managing Editors in 2021 and 2023 and was a key part of two teams that won Sigma Delta Chi Awards in 2019. Plohetski also has received multiple regional Emmy awards and was named Best Television Reporter by the Texas Association of Broadcasters and the Texas Headliners Foundation in 2023.
Julianna Duennes Russ is a breaking and trending news reporter at the Austin American-Statesman. She covered business as a Dow Jones intern for the San Antonio Express-News and has bylines with the Associated Press and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She holds Bachelors degrees in journalism, international affairs and comparative literature from the University of Georgia, where she also earned a certificate in sports media. When shes not writing, you can find Julianna strolling Zilker Park or cuddling with her orange cat, Colby. Reach out to her at julianna.russ@statesman.com with news or notes.
Students protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside the Pflugerville Justice Center in Pflugerville on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Hundreds of students walked out of classes and marched from Pflugerville, Hendrickson, Connally and Weiss high schools. They converged at the justice center and rallied for more than an hour before dispersing as a large law enforcement presence arrived. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

As they watched students nationwide walk out of class to protest immigration enforcement and federal officers' actions, Jaylynn Cavazos and her classmates understood this was an important moment.

Immigration policies have touched the lives of so many families in the Hays area, Cavazos, a high school junior, said.

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Crockett High School students walk out of school in Austin on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, as part of a nationwide protest of the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hundreds of students participated in the walkout, which was among similar student demonstrations held at other Austin-area schools. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

All the students were using the opportunity to speak out for their family members that were affected by this and their friends who were affected by this, Cavazos said.

As she and some of her classmates at Hays High School watched one demonstration after another, they decided to join the thousands of young people around the state and the country who used the power they had available  their presence in class  to join the protest movement.

We dont have much political influence on whos in power in this administration, Cavazos said. We did have the ability to use our voice.

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Hundreds of Hays High School students marched off campus Feb. 2, joining peers from nearby Moe and Gene Johnson High School. While the walkout was mostly uneventful, an altercation occurred during the Johnson High protest between a student and a man, who the Buda Police Department later arrested and charged with two counts of assault causing bodily injury.

Under pressure from state elected officials, local school district leaders pled with students to remain in class. The intense scrutiny on student walkouts thrust young people into new roles navigating the pitfalls, logistics and emotional debate of speaking out on a divisive political topic.

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Hays students responded to the challenges by pivoting to after-school protests. However, for many students, the pressure was worth it to amplify their voices on immigration, an issue they say speaks specifically to their generation.

Organizing walkouts

Student-led protests began after the January killings of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Silverio Villegas Gonzalez and Keith Porter Jr.  four civilians who died during encounters with federal agents. Their deaths galvanized young people across the country.

Aeden, left, and Kat Pruett-Ponvert, 17, protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside the Pflugerville Justice Center in Pflugerville on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Hundreds of students walked out of classes and marched from Pflugerville, Hendrickson, Connally and Weiss high schools. They converged at the justice center and rallied for more than an hour before dispersing as a large law enforcement presence arrived. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

But even before January, immigration enforcement was already affecting high school students directly, said Adeleah Cardenas, a senior at Akins High School in Austin ISD. She knows classmates whose family members have been swept up in heightened immigration enforcement, including a friend whose father was detained. While her friends father was eventually released, the separation was challenging for her friend to navigate, Cardenas said.

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Some students were scared to speak publicly out of concern for retaliation, but many wanted to show they deeply disagreed with how federal immigration tactics were upending the lives of people they knew or shared a community with. Thats why Cardenas and three other classmates helped organize a Jan. 29 walkout at Akins.

A lot of people really wanted to do something, she said.

A growing desire to act threw many students into organizing roles for protests that drew hundreds of students. Many used social media to get the word out. Students created Instagram accounts with posts to share walking routes, protest times, last-minute changes and ground rules for the demonstrations, such as a prohibition on violence.

Natalie Mathews, a senior at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville ISD, previously attended protests when she worked with Beyond Boundaries, a youth-led advocacy group that helps teens and young people learn about civic engagement. When she learned her classmates were hosting a walkout, she reached out to help.

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Theres an elitism around protests and boycotts where you need to know what youre doing all the time, Mathews said.

The students planned where they would walk once they left classes, contacted law enforcement to ensure theyd be safe, gathered snacks and water and raised money to buy safety vests for a small group tasked with monitoring the demonstrators. Developing a multilayered plan, Mathews learned about the many ways someone who wants to contribute to a social cause can help, she said.

I realized that theres a lot more nuance, Mathews said. Theres a lot of other ways that people can make a change, aside from just giving loud speeches.

Students protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside the Pflugerville Justice Center in Pflugerville on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Hundreds of students walked out of classes and marched from Pflugerville, Hendrickson, Connally and Weiss high schools. They converged at the justice center and rallied for more than an hour before dispersing as a large law enforcement presence arrived. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

It hasnt been easy for Hays student Cavazos or others who took on leading roles in the protest movement. On top of pressure from state elected officials and school district leaders, students had to navigate disagreements between classmates at school, where not everyone agrees on immigration issues.

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At Hays High School, students had tough conversations on the topic. Some fundamentally disagreed with their peers. Cavazos and her classmate, who helped organize the protest, lost friends, she said.

Cardenas, at Akins, said she faced online bullying from other students over her role organizing the protests. The online rhetoric targeted her specifically.

I got a lot of hate for it, Cardenas said.

State attention

Student walkouts have a long history across the country and in Texas. The 1986 student walkouts in San Antonios Edgewood ISD over abysmal education conditions sparked change in Texas public school funding system. That same year, students around the country left class to protest the Vietnam War. More recently, in 2018, students nationwide walked out of class after students and teachers were killed at Parkland High School in a mass shooting earlier that year.

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But state leaders treated recent protests over immigration enforcement as far from ordinary  they issued sharp rebukes and pressured local school districts to tamp down on the student movement. The Texas Education Agency threatened educators who help students leave class for political activism with harsh consequences. Teachers w ho encourage the protests could lose their teaching license, TEA officials said.

Jacob Saldana, a senior at Bowie High School in Austin ISD, felt Abbott and other state leaders' allegations that adults and school district leaders persuaded students to protest were misinformed.

Abbott is scared of us being smart, Cardenas said. Hes been defunding our education and taking things away from us. It has taken a toll on teachers and staff at our school.

Crockett High School students participate in a walkout of school in Austin on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, as part of a nationwide protest of the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hundreds of students participated in the walkout, which was among similar student demonstrations held at other Austin-area schools. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The TEA also told district officials they could lose state funding if they violated state attendance requirements. Some district officials pled with students directly, asking them to keep these consequences in mind when deciding to protest.

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The (state) money pays for student opportunities, supplies, and salaries to keep the best teachers and staff in the state working in our district, Hays Superintendent Eric Wright wrote in a Feb. 4 statement to parents. I dont want your local tax dollars to remain in the hands of the state.

After hearing that their district could lose funding, Cavazos and her friends at Hays High adjusted their plans for future protests. Instead of holding another walkout during the school day, they advertised a protest after school, concerned that Hays CISDs state funding could get taken away. The funding threat frustrated them, since the students care about their education.

Abbott is just trying to distract from the fact that we had a legit message that is trying to be expressed and reached and he did not agree with that message, Cavazos said. He wanted to oppose it and shut it down.

In his letter, Wright also encouraged students to stay in class, and voice their opinions in another way. On Feb. 11, Austin ISD posted a video with a similar message, in which campus principals said that passion is what gets your voice heard, but education is what gives your voice power and influence.

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This was also disheartening to Cavazos and part of the reason she and her classmates organized the afterschool protest, to prove that we still care after school.

'Youre not alone'

On Feb. 16 or Presidents Day, when many school districts were closed to students, about 100 students and community members from several districts gathered to march from City Hall to the Texas Capitol.

Central Texas high school students and community members protest ICE outside the Texas Capitol in Austin Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Many of them said they wanted to prove that their cause wasnt about skipping class but really about drawing attention to a national issue reshaping the lives of families in their communities.

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Students in Central Texas are directly affected by immigration issues, Saldana said. For many young people, this is personal.
Shirley Powers undergoes treatment for her chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It took almost a decade of treatment including a CAR T-cell transplant to be without cancer cells in her body. Provided by Shirley Powers

Ten years ago, Shirley Powers was having some pain in her neck migrating down one arm. An X-ray found enlarged lymph nodes.

Those lymph nodes were cancerous, containing chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the most common form of leukemia, but one that people can live with for years and not need treatment, until it becomes aggressive, said Dr. Aravind Ramakrishnan, an oncologist at St. David's South Austin who leads the stem cell transplant and a cellular therapy program.

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Powers, who lives in Normangee near College Station, had three lymph nodes removed and then waited to see if the cancer would become more active and need treatment.

The next year, the lymph nodes all over her body were enlarged and she felt terrible. "I knew," she said.

That began the cycle of her cancer flaring, followed by chemotherapy, followed by a few months of remission, followed by another recurrence and more chemotherapy.

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"I had so many treatments, I can't keep up with it," she said.

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Shirley Powers went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy for chronic lymphocystic leukemia since 2017. Provided by Shirley Powers

Each time a treatment didn't work, a new chemotherapy would become available. The longest she spent in remission was 18 months.

It was exhausting. "I don't know what normal is anymore," she said.

While going through her own treatment, she also was the primary caregiver for her father-in-law. "The good Lord gives you the strength you need to do what you need to do," she said, but the fatigue was catching up and the cancer kept coming back.

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"CLL has been a harder pickle for us than others to treat," Ramakrishnan said.

Logan Crow speaks with his former doctor, Dr. Aravind Ramakrishnan, at St. David's South Austin Medical Center after the center celebrated 10 years of doing stem cell transplants in 2024. It began doing CAR T-cell transplants in 2019. Mikala Compton/American-Statesman

The need for something different

By 2024, Powers had run out of options, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had just approved CAR T-cell transplants for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

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St. David's South Austin Medical Center is the only adult hospital in Central Texas that has a stem cell and CAR T-cell transplant program. It started the stem cell program in 2014 and the CAR T-cell program in 2019. Dell Children's Medical Center recently did its first stem cell transplant last year and will work toward a CAR T-cell program. Powers considered going to a larger program in Houston, but she said, "it felt like I was just a number."

CAR stands for chimeric antigen receptor, and the treatment is a way to augment the person's own immune system to better fight the cancer.

CAR T-cell therapy collects the person's T-cells in their blood through a peripherally inserted central catheter in the neck. Once the T-cells are collected, the lab adds a gene guidance system on the T-cells to find and kill the cancer. Those genetically modified T-cells are then reinserted into the body through the catheter.

Ramakrishnan explains it's like "an attack dog that you make very upset, and it kills the cancer cells."

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This kind of cellular genetic therapy is growing in uses and in some cases can cure the cancer. It has to be done right because of the effect it will have on the immune system for the rest of the patient's life. "It can go awfully wrong," he said.

Shirley Powers and her husband Scott stayed in an extended stay hotel for a month to be close to St. David's South Austin Medical Center while she was in quarantine after her CAR T-cell transplant. Provided by Shirley Powers

Dealing with the side effects

"After the transplant, I had some discomfort and a bad headache," Powers said. Then she began to feel it in her bones. "They gave me some medication to help with that."

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Once doctors rev up the immune system, they have to watch for signs of overactivation such as fever, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, headache, fatigue, bruising and an increased risk of infection. They also collect daily blood work to monitor cancer cells versus the state of the immune system.

In Powers' case, she had a "dramatic activation of the immune system," said Ramakrishnan.

She ran a fever and was back in the hospital for a week until it was under control. Because of the threat of the immune system overactiving, out-of-town patients like Powers stay in an extended stay hotel near the hospital for a month after the modified cells are transplanted.

Patients also have to be in quarantine to prevent infection during this time. "It was just me and my husband," she said. "He was with me every step of the way."

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Shirley Powers with her husband Scott ring the chemotherapy bell after her first chemotherapy, but it would not be her last chemotherapy until she got a CAR T-cell transplant. Provided by Shirley Powers

A lasting solution

Today, Powers has no evidence of cancer. "I feel fabulous," she said.

She takes a daily pill and has monthly infusions to support her immune system. With people who have had CAR T-cell therapy, something like a cold could escalate quickly into a secondary infection, Ramakrishnan said. Patients carry a card in their wallet that can explain their medical history to any emergency room doctor and gives the phone number the doctor can call to consult with the St. David's care team.

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Some patients do recover their immune system over time, but some will always be compromised, Ramakrishnan said.

Powers' immune system will be watched for the rest of her life.

"Once you're part of our family, your part of our family forever," Ramakrishnan said.
The ground breaking ceremony for the next 100 cabins for Esperanza Community's homeless shelter operation took place on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Chris Baker, Founder and Executive Director of TOOF, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Chris Turnley, Executive Vice President of Member Experience at UFCU, and Judge Andy Brown spoke at the ceremony. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

The Austin City Council on Thursday signaled its support of a planned expansion of the Esperanza homeless community in Southeast Austin with an unusual vote that could leave the city on the hook for millions of dollars if the nonprofit that operates the community fails to raise enough money to support the expansion by 2029.

The unanimous City Council did not actually allocate any funds to the Other Ones Foundation, which operates the Esperanza community located on five acres of land owned by the Texas Department of Transportation at 780 Bastrop Hwy. Instead, the vote declared the city's commitment to devote up to $15.6 million in operational funding for the project over the next two years should the nonprofit fail to raise the money elsewhere.

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Without that financial commitment from the city, Mayor Kirk Watson explained in a Feb. 21 City Council message board post, the Other Ones Foundation would lose out on $48 million in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs funding for the project. With the state funding, the nonprofit could help meet a dire need for emergency shelter in Austin by building 325 new shelter beds on a seven acre tract, also owned by the state, adjacent to the current Esperanza community.

In their application for the state funds, which was approved Dec. 11, the Other Ones Foundation said it expects the shelter expansion to open in 2029 and carry an annual operating cost of about $7.6 million per year. The state gave the nonprofit 90 days to secure two years of operational funding for the expansion or risk losing out on the money.

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In his message board post, Watson made clear he expects the nonprofit to raise most of the money, however.

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"I have told TOOF that it needs to aggressively seek other funds from other sources. It needs to operate its business with a development/funding plan and show results," Watson said.

The Other Ones Foundation Executive Director Liz Baker told the American-Statesman Thursday she is confident the nonprofit will be able to meet Watson's expectations. Baker said about 30% of the nonprofit's revenue has come from philanthropic sources since its founding in 2018, but she acknowledged that the organization's staff will have to boost their fundraising efforts.

"This is a quite a large scaling up so we have to invest in our infrastructure," Baker said, "but I believe the philanthropic support will be there."

Daniel Reynolds, a resident of Esperanza Community's homeless shelter operation, makes his way to washes a few items during the ground breaking ceremony on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Chris Baker, Founder and Executive Director of TOOF, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Chris Turnley, Executive Vice President of Member Experience at UFCU, and Judge Andy Brown spoke at the ceremony. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

The nonprofit currently provides 150 shelter beds at Esperanza, with plans to open another 50 in March. The land was originally opened up to people experiencing homelessness in 2019 as a sanctioned campsite with little else beyond storage garages that provided shelter. The Other Ones Foundation took over operation of the facility in 2020 and has since filled it with tiny homes where people experiencing homelessness can access meals, restrooms and services.

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City Council also voted Thursday to approve a contract with TOOF for up to five years and $20 million for operation of the city's Southbridge shelter. The city-owned shelter, in operation since 2021, offers 145 temporary shelter beds to people living in homeless encampments.

The votes comes as city leaders have expressed urgency around building more emergency shelter capacity in Austin. The city's Homeless Strategies and Operations office recently unveiled its first-ever strategic plan last week, which set a goal of building 650 new shelter beds over the next two years. The city currently has just under 1,500 shelter beds available to homeless Austinites on any given night.
Broken glass and a boarded-up patio door are seen at the home of Austin mass shooting suspect Ndiaga Diagne at the Eastridge Apartments in Del Valle on Monday, March 2, 2026. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Newly obtained court records show that the man accused of killing three people and injuring 13 others in a weekend shooting on West Sixth Street had a documented history of domestic violence and a contentious divorce that resulted in him losing custody of his children.

In 2022, a state civil court judge in Bexar County found that Ndiaga Diagne had a history or pattern of committing family violence and granted his ex-wife sole custody of their two young sons. Diagne was granted supervised visitation, according to court records obtained by the American-Statesman.

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The finding came as part of divorce proceedings initiated by Diagnes ex-wife, Aissatou Savare, in March 2022. The divorce was finalized by default in September of that year after Diagne failed to appear at a scheduled hearing.

Austin police identified the suspect in the March 1, 2026 mass shooting as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne. Courtesy Austin Police Department

In her petition, Savare accused Diagne of cruel treatment. The court ultimately awarded her sole managing conservatorship of the couples children.

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Diagne represented himself in the case and filed a handwritten response rejecting the allegations as outrageous and accusing Savare of lying and hiding their sons from him.

I totally disagree and quite frankly feel insulted by the many false statements in the filing, Diagne wrote.

At the bottom of the letter he listed the address of a home in Pflugerville where authorities executed a search warrant Sunday as part of an ongoing joint local-federal investigation into the shooting.

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A neighbor who lives at the Eastridge Apartments in Southeast Travis County, where authorities believe Diagne had been residing, said Diagne had spoken about his family situation in recent weeks.

The neighbor, who requested anonymity because he works for the federal government, said Diagne told him that his wife had left him a while ago and taken their two children.

He said I dont have an anchor here anymore, the neighbor recalled. His family situation was hitting him hard.

APD SWAT executed a search warrant at a home in Pflugerville, Texas, on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman

The neighbor said Diagne described feeling untethered and spoke about possibly relocating to San Antonio to live temporarily with his sister. According to the neighbor, Diagne said he was looking to buy a home in Pflugerville and considering his next steps.

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The neighbor said their conversations typically occurred in passing as they came and went from their apartments. He described Diagne as friendly and polite and said he did not appear outwardly volatile.

It was a shock, the neighbor said of learning Diagne is accused in the deadly shooting. I never would have assumed this.

Staff writer Paul Flahive contributed reporting
On Tuesday, Texas congressional candidate Vince Shlomi announced he filed a lawsuit against the Republican Party of Texas over a name-change on the GOP ballot. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic) Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Texas congressional candidate Vince Shlomi, known as the ShamWow guy, is suing the Republican Party of Texas, accusing it of rigging the primary after he says the party removed his nickname from the ballot.

Shlomi announced the lawsuit Tuesday on X, alleging the party was helping incumbent U.S. Rep. John Carter by omitting his recognizable moniker from the GOP ticket.

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Rigged election by these rhinos, Shlomi wrote on X, attaching the court filing to his social media post.

Suing the GOP Texas for deleting my nickname Shamwow in the Primaries so they help the incumbent John Carter so the voters dont recognize me. Rigged election by these rhinos.https://t.co/oQwmvXylGL  Shamwow Shlomi (@RealShamwowGuy) March 3, 2026

The filing also names RPT chairman Abraham George as a respondent in the case.

Its a product name, people know it, I thought, why nota couple weeks before, they pull it, I wouldve said, 'Vote, Shlomi,' I have to re-do it, I am going to have to rebrand myself now, Shlomi told the American-Statesman. I am definitely going to have a difficult time now.

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Shlomi claims George approved his application to appear on the ballot under the nickname ShamWow, certifying its use in the March 3 Republican primary.

However, in response to what Shlomi describes as a challenge by the National Republican Congressional Committee  which he alleges was sent in coordination with Carter  the party reversed its decision and disallowed the nickname.

Shlomi argues the party violated Texas election code by making the change.

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In the filing, Shlomi also asserts that the RPT is not uniformly and fairly enforcing its position against other candidates who were not challenged by the NRCC. He cites gubernatorial candidate Pete Doc Chambers as an example.

The lawsuit references a Jan. 9 letter from RPT general counsel Rachel Hooper notifying of the nicknames removal.

Shlomi claims the letter was not addressed to him but instead to the NRCC. He says he did not see the correspondence and would not have had an opportunity to challenge the decision even if he had.

Shlomi said he realized the name change about a month later. An attorney for his campaign then sent a letter to Hooper objecting to the move and referencing the initial application and proof of acceptance.

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Hooper responded by resending the January letter and defending the partys decision.

In the lawsuit, Shlomi pushes back on Hoopers explanation, citing language in the January letter that he says initially determined his nickname complied with Texas law.

Despite that determination, Hooper wrote that the RPT would notify the Secretary of States office to remove the nickname to reduce potential conflict.

The Statesman reached out to the Republican Party of Texas for comment.

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Shlomi is seeking a declaration that the ballot change violates election code and an order requiring the party to restore ShamWow to his name for the May primary runoff and the November general election, should he advance.

Shlomi appears on Tuesdays primary ballot in a crowded race to unseat Carter, alongside several other candidates, including controversial conservative influencer Valentina Gomez.

Shlomi, also known as Vince Offer or Offer Schlomi, was arrested roughly 16 years ago by the Miami Beach Police Department after he allegedly assaulted a sex worker that he hired, NBC News reported. Approximately two years later, one of Offer's former employees, Jennifer Kosinski, took legal action against him after he allegedly groped, stalked and harassed her, CBS News reported.

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University of Texas students walk past election signs as campus becomes a polling place in the Texas primary election in the Union Building on campus, March 3, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Sara Diggins/AP

Last-minute court battles delayed results from three Texas counties where new voting rules led to mass confusion in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

Judges ordered polls in Williamson and El Paso counties to stay open late, while the state Supreme Court temporarily blocked another order that would have kept the polls open until 9 p.m. in Dallas County. The extensions only apply to the Democratic primary and votes cast after the normal 7 p.m. deadline are considered provisional and will be separated while the court battles play out.

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The confusion began under new rules imposed for Tuesdays primary election by the local county Republican parties. Voters are only able to cast a ballot at their assigned precinct, instead of at any polling location in the county.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the change has meant that up to 90% of voters who showed up to former countywide polling locations had to be rerouted to different ones. Similar confusion happened in Williamson and El Paso counties.

That is a big deal, and it gets bigger the closer that we get to the end of the election, Jenkins told Hearst Newspapers in a phone interview.

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VIDEO: Drone carrying campaign poster at Houston polling location causes chaos on Election Day

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After a judge opted to extend polling hours in Dallas County, Attorney General Ken Paxton, a top candidate in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, filed an emergency petition asking the Texas Supreme Court to strike the decision down. The court granted an emergency stay, ordering ballots cast by voters who were not in line by 7 p.m. to be separated from the rest of the ballots. The order does not close the polling places and voter in line by nine can still cast provisional ballots.

The Dallas judges order was intended to offset the effects of confusion caused by a change from countywide vote centers to precinct-based polling locations.

Even the extra two hours the judge granted may not be enough to account for long lines and delays caused by the mix-up, Jenkins said. Before the rule change took effect on Tuesday, voters had been able to cast ballots at any precinct throughout the early voting period, and during nearly a decades worth of past elections.

My hope is that when people do the math and look at this, theyll realize that all that we accomplish by doing separate primaries is it cost both parties more money, and it frustrated many voters of both parties, Jenkins said. And (that) we wont do something this stupid again. The court-ordered extension did not apply to the Republican polling places, which still closed at 7 p.m.

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Amid a push from Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, the leading Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, two polling locations received a similar extension in Williamson County, where they say voters also faced access issues.

The change was triggered by the Williamson and Dallas County Republican parties, which opted against county-wide polling places on primary election day, saying it would make elections more secure.

Crockett, who represents Dallas in Congress, said Tuesday evening that the restrictions on voting in Williamson and her home county amount to voter suppression.

Do not give up and do not give in, Crockett said. The only way we can put an end to these maneuvers is by outvoting the Republicans and kicking them out of office.

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Talarico said he was deeply concerned about the change in procedures. The Republican parties in both counties opted not to allow countywide voting on Tuesday, forcing their Democratic counterparts to do the same because of a state law that requires both parties agree to participate in countywide polling.



"We will continue to evaluate the situation on the ground and are calling for an extension of voting hours to ensure all Texans voices are heard in this critical election, Talarico said.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that a statewide voting website, VoteTexas.gov, gave some Dallas County voters the incorrect polling location. This was due to erroneous data provided by Dallas County, the Texas Secretary of States office told Hearst Newspapers.

Voting hours cannot be extended except by order of a district judge in the county. A judge granted the request for an extension from the Williamson County Democratic Party just before 9 p.m. Tuesday night. The order extends hours until 10 p.m. for two busy polling places in Georgetown. It was not immediately clear if Paxton would attempt to intervene in the Williamson County case.

The extensions could delay results from the affected precincts, since ballots cast after 7p.m. are considered provisional, Williamson County officials said. Those votes won't be processed until next Monday.

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In Williamson County, which Talarico formerly represented in the state House, an official confirmed to Hearst Newspapers that we have had long voting lines, we have had people going to the wrong precinct locations, but could not say exactly how many people were affected.

Its a mess, Williamson County Democratic Party Chair Kim Gilby told Hearst Newspapers. She placed the blame for the mess squarely on the Central Texas countys Republican Party.

Its absolutely the Republicans' fault, Gilby said Tuesday evening. Heres the sad part: Theres lots of voters being disenfranchised today  Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike  because of the action of the county (Republican) executive committee.

The Dallas County GOP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Allen West told the Texas Tribune and Votebeat in January that all voters should know where to go because they receive registration cards that list their precinct location.

I would hate to believe that we have devolved to a point where we feel the voting electorate is too incompetent to read their own voter registration card, West said.

Michelle Evans, chair of the Williamson County GOP, acknowledged some polling location confusion today but blamed the local Democratic Party for exacerbating difficulties. She also praised Republicans for sharing an online precinct polling place finder app.

The Williamson County Democrats threw every barrier in our way to ensure that Republican voters would be disadvantaged by refusing to share polling locations, misrouting voters, and blaming Republicans for the lack of Democrat polling sites, Evans told Hearst Newspapers in a text message Tuesday night. Despite those barriers, our voters and poll workers persevered.

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Evans told the Tribune in January that restricting voters to assigned locations would bring a higher level of confidence that the people that are coming in are people that are registered voters in that area, because that is their community.

The changes only apply to the primary election and any runoffs, which decide the nominees for each party in the general election. They did not apply to early voting and they will not be in effect for the November general election, when Democrats and Republicans will go head-to-head, because county parties do not run those elections.

Staff writers Claire Osborn and Taylor Goldenstein contributed to this report.
SOFIA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria has organized three flights to evacuate its citizens from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman, the country's Ministry of Transport and Communications said on Wednesday.

A plane with a capacity of 326 seats will bring Bulgarian citizens from Dubai to Sofia on Wednesday, the ministry said. Lists of these citizens are being prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier on Wednesday, a Boeing 737 took off from Sofia for Oman's Salalah International Airport. It was expected to return on Thursday, the ministry said, adding that a third plane is set to fly to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

There are at least 11,400 Bulgarian citizens in the Middle East, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said on Tuesday after an operational meeting on the Middle East situation that Bulgarian authorities are focused on evacuating the country's citizens from the conflict-affected region as fast and securely as possible.

"We have secured enough aircraft that are ready to fly once the routes are confirmed," Gurov said.

The situation remains dynamic, he said, and the institutions have been monitoring it in real time.

Meanwhile, the country's Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov said on Wednesday that information about ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards Turkiye and towards Cyprus has radically changed the initial assessments that there was no immediate threat to Bulgaria.

Zapryanov said the Defense Ministry would urgently analyze the risks and variables of the conflict, which had already gone beyond the framework of a conflict between three countries.

"I have proposed to the Prime Minister to urgently hold a Security Council and, based on these assessments, to make the relevant state decisions and to refer the matter to the relevant state bodies, including the National Assembly," he added. 
Longtime Travis County Precinct 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea, center, celebrates her commanding lead in the Democratic primary Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Austin Sanders

Incumbent Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea easily won the Democratic nomination for Precinct 2 on Tuesday, capturing 57% of the vote in a four-way primary and avoiding a runoff.

Shea defeated civil rights attorney Amanda Marzullo, public health policy consultant Rick Astray-Caneda III and high school senior Reese Armstrong. Marzullo finished second with over 30% of the vote. Armstrong and Astray-Caneda trailed the field, receiving just over 5% and 6% of the vote, respectively, according to unofficial results.

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I feel great and I feel exhausted, Shea said in an interview at an election night watch party where she snapped photos with supporters.

In a prepared statement, Marzullo said Tuesday night that her conversations with voters throughout the campaign revealed deep frustration with current county leadership over "transparency, accountability, and decisions affecting our community."

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"Im grateful to everyone who helped elevate those conversations," she continued, "and the fight for a county government that works for all of us  not the wealthy or well-off  continues."

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Astray-Caneda congratulated Shea and said he looked forward to advocating for "quality healthcare and health equity for all people in Travis County" while Armstrong said they were "incredibly proud with the movement for student socialism" that their campaign built.

In heavily Democratic Travis County, Shea will be widely expected to prevail in November. No candidates filed in the Republican primary for the seat, but one candidate  Edwin Bautista  has declared an intent to run as an independent in the general election.

"Im a former Democrat, and to be honest with you, Ive grown disillusioned with a party establishment that has held this commissioners court for decades and grown comfortable with it," Bautista said in a prepared statement Wednesday that confirmed his run and noted that 43% of primary voters supported a candidate besides Shea.

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"I think theres a broader coalition here than anyone is expecting," he continued. "November will give everyone else in this precinct a voice, including people whove never felt like either party was speaking to them.

Bautista has until late June to file for a place on the ballot. He previously ran for the District 7 seat on the Austin City Council seat and finished last in that race in 2024.

Commissioner Brigid Shea, candidate for Travis County Commissioners Court precinct 2, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Sheas primary victory was not at all unexpected.

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A longtime fixture in Austin and Travis County politics, she entered Election Day with a significant fundraising and endorsement advantage. Campaign finance reports show Shea outpaced her opponents in both spending and cash on hand. Marzullo reported comparable spending but substantially less cash on hand, while Astray-Caneda and Armstrong reported far less fundraising activity.

Shea helped found the Save Our Springs Alliance in the early 1990s and later served on the Austin City Council before her election to Commissioners Court. She secured endorsements from most of Austins Democratic clubs. The American-Statesmans editorial board also endorsed her.

In her next term, Shea said she would continue to focus on natural disaster preparedness.

Precinct 2 stretches into wildfire-prone Western Travis County, which Shea said is a concern that keeps her up at night. She said she already is working with fire officials to stage mock evacuation drills so residents know the safest routes to take and hardest locations to shelter in if a wildfire ignites in the area.

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The roads are winding and that part of the precinct is backed with trees, Shea said. We need to make sure people know how to evacuate and where to go when disaster strikes.
Williamson County Courthouse American-Statesman staff

David McDonald earned 46.1% of the vote to easily outdistance his two rivals to be the Republican nominee for the Precinct 2 seat on the Williamson County Commissioners Court, but it wasn't enough to avoid a runoff.

By falling short of the 50% needed to win outright, McDonald will face Jeff Mayes in a runoff election, according to county election results released Wednesday afternoon. Mayes placed second with 29.5% of the vote, while Rupal Chaudhari finished third with 24.4%. McDonald earned 5,819 votes, while Mayes had 3,716 and Chaudhari had 3,080.

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Rupal Chaudhari courtesy of Rupal Chaudhari/Rupal Chaudhari Jeffrey Mayes courtesy of Jeffrey Mayes/Jeffrey Mayes David McDonald courtesy of David McDonald/David McDonald

McDonald and Mayes will vie to succeed Commissioner Cynthia Long, a fellow Republican who is not seeking re-election after serving five terms. She was first elected in 2007. The winner of the Republican race will run unopposed in the November election because there is no Democratic candidate.

County officials blamed a change in Republican operating procedures for the delay in vote counting. For the first time since 2013, residents were required to vote in their precincts instead of at any location countywide. The change was made at the request of the Republicans. Confusion among many on where to vote resulted in long lines at many polling locations across the county. A district judge ordered two polling locations in Georgetown to stay open until 10 p.m. after voters there faced long lines.

McDonald, a former Leander City Council member, is a retired Austin police officer and a transportation consultant. Mayes is a commercial real estate broker. Chaudhari is an attorney and a business owner.

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Precinct 2 includes Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill, along with part of Anderson Mill and part of the city of Austin, and a large unincorporated portion of western Williamson County stretching to the Burnet County line.

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Place 4 incumbent Russ Boles ran uncontested for the GOP nomination, while Harmon Rhea was the lone Democrat vying for the seat.
Susanna Ledesma-Woody speaks as candidates for Travis County Commissioners Court precinct 4 meet with the Austin American-Statesman editorial board Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Democrats George Morales III and Susanna Ledesma-Woody are headed to a runoff in the primary race for Travis County Commissioners Court Precinct 4.

Unofficial final election results showed Morales and Ledesma-Woody were the top two vote-getters in the four-way contest to represent southeastern Travis County on the five-member court, which is the countys governing body. But neither cleared the 50% threshold needed to secure the party nomination, meaning they will face off in a May 26 runoff.

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Each received an almost identical share of the vote  just under 37% for Morales and nearly 36% for Ledesma-Woody.

Candidate Ofelia Maldonado Zapata came in third with 21% of the vote while Gavino Fernandez Jr. trailed the pack with just over 6%, according to unofficial final returns.

No Republicans ran for the seat, meaning whoever wins the runoff is the de facto winner in the November general election.

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Im really proud of the work that our team has done. We were able to do more with less, Ledesma-Woody told the American-Statesman Tuesday night. Looking ahead, she said her campaign message would remain focused on change. If you want real change within Travis County, then you have to stop electing the status quo  the anointed successor  and elect people who are going to put people first.

Morales said Wednesday hes looking forward to continuing his campaign through May.

Were going to keep pushing our message of equity and inclusion, Morales said. I have an organizing background, so were going to keep organizing to get out the vote.

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The victor will succeed longtime Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gomez, who is retiring at the end of her term after 52 years in public service. Her departure leaves the seat open for the first time in three decades. Gomez was first elected to the court in 1995 after serving 15 years as a constable.

Gomez has endorsed Morales, who has a similar political history having served for nearly a decade as Precinct 4 constable before resigning in October to run for commissioner. An Austin native and graduate of Huston-Tillotson University, Morales spent 26 years in law enforcement.

He also has been endorsed by Travis County Judge Andy Brown, several local Democratic organizations and labor unions, and the Austin Chronicle. Morales is campaigning on expanding access to health care and mental health services, addressing displacement, promoting infrastructure and transit equity, and increasing budget accountability, according to his campaign website.

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George Morales III speaks as candidates for Travis County Commissioners Court precinct 4 meet with the Austin American-Statesman editorial board Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Ledesma-Woody is a project manager at AMD and has served 14 years as a Del Valle school board trustee. She is a founding member of the Del Valle Community Coalition, which provides resources to area residents. Raised in Del Valle, she has said southeastern Travis County has lagged in infrastructure, food access and health care investment.

If elected, Ledesma-Woody said she would prioritize investment in roads, flood mitigation and utilities. She also said shed seek to expand affordable housing options countywide, advocate for investments in health care and economic development in the precinct, and ensure the area gets its fair share of county resources.

Ledesma-Woody previously ran for the Precinct 4 seat in 2018 and 2022. In 2022, she fell 219 votes short of unseating Gomez.

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In this years race, she secured endorsements from progressive groups like CAIR Action, Annies List, the Texas Progressive Caucus and Equity Action, as well as from several school board members and local leaders, according to her website. She also earned the endorsement of the Statesmans Editorial Board.
Democratic voters stand in line at the Baca Center in Round Rock around 6:30 p.m. to vote in the Williamson County primary election. Claire Osborn

Confusion reigned during Williamson County's primary election day, with long lines at polling sites, questions about where to vote and a delay in counting ballots that meant results weren't announced until Wednesday afternoon.

For the first time in more than a decade, voters were required to cast ballots at their own precincts instead of being allowed to vote anywhere countywide.

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"This feels like voter intimidation," said David Heath, a Georgetown resident who waited three hours to cast his ballot.

At one point, a judge ordered two Democratic polling sites in Georgetown to stay open until 10 p.m. Tuesday because up to 200 people were still in line at 7 p.m.

The Texas Supreme Court later put a temporary hold on the judge's ruling, saying the votes of anyone who got in line at 7 p.m. or later could not be counted, said Eric Opiela, the lawyer for the county's election department. He said the state Supreme Court has not made a final decision.

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Last-minute court battles also delayed results in Dallas and El Paso counties in Tuesday's Democratic primaries. The state Supreme Court temporarily blocked an order that would have kept the polls open until 9 p.m. in Dallas County. County Judge Clay Jenkins said a change making voters able to cast ballots only at their assigned precinct meant that up to 90% of voters who showed up to former countywide polling locations had to be rerouted to different ones.

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In Travis County, where there was no such requirement on where to vote, the process was smoother, officials said. After forecasting potential delays in vote counting, Travis County election officials managed to provide updates in relative short order. Early voting totals were released at 9 p.m., two hours later than usual, because several polling centers still had voters in line to cast a ballot at 7 p.m.

Williamson County officials blamed Republican operating procedures for the vote counting delays there. Democrats and Republicans pointed fingers at each other.

Most of the problems, Democrats and county officials said, happened because for the first time since 2013, residents had to vote in their precincts. The change was made at the request of the Republicans due to concerns about ballot secrecy, Williamson County Republican Chairwoman Michelle Evans has said. State law requires that a joint county-wide election on primary day requires approval from both parties, said Opiela. He said the county plays no part in the decision since the parties run the primary on election day.

The change confused voters, said Kim Gilby, the Williamson County Democratic chairwoman.

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"We had anecdotes of people thinking they could go to the same place they had gone for 10 to 13 years, and then going there and not being able to vote," Gilby said.

Laura Giovannetti, a Round Rock resident, said her husband went to the wrong location to vote because he didnt realize voters needed to cast their ballots in their own precincts. She said she had to wait an hour and a half to cast her ballot at the Baca Center in Round Rock after arriving to vote at 5 p.m.

Long lines also were caused by the Democrats not having enough people to work at their polling locations, which would not have happened if the Republicans had agreed to hold a joint election at countywide polling places, Gilby said. She said the Democrats decided to have some separate precinct level locations from the Republicans because the Republicans were using a different method of voting.

The Republicans were casting ballots in separate precinct boxes instead of casting them all into the same ballot box like the Democrats, county officials said. The Republicans also did not use vote scanning machines like the Democrats did.

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Evans blamed the Democrats for problems during the election.

"The Williamson County Democrats threw every barrier in our way to ensure that Republican voters would be disadvantaged by refusing to share polling locations, misrouting voters, and blaming Republicans for the lack of Democrat polling sites," she said in a text message. "Despite those barriers, our voters and poll workers persevered. Although it took more manpower and effort, we are encouraged by our workers' dedication and commitment to ensuring election integrity and ballot secrecy."

Evans did not comment on whether Republicans would seek to hold primaries at the precinct level in future primary elections.

Gilby said it was "simply not true" that Democrats misrouted Republican voters.

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"We actually printed copies of their polling locations and shared them with our people so they could send them to the right place," she said. She also said it was "very frustrating" that Democrats who stood in line to vote late at two polling locations in Georgetown were not going to have their votes counted if they got in line after 7 p.m.

"This happened because the Republicans forced us into this voting nightmare, which was chaotic," she said.

Williamson County spokeswoman Connie Odom said the county had encouraged people to vote early, when they were allowed to cast ballots countywide. She said the county also had tried to let voters know they would be required to go to specific precincts to vote on election day. The county sent additional poll workers and voting machines to help out at poll locations Tuesday, Odom said.

The way the Republicans chose to operate the elections did cause a delay in counting votes, she said.

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"Traditionally, Williamson County has used precinct ballot scanners to accumulate votes cast at the polling place," she said. "The results of the election are then tabulated at the central counting station from the data provided by the polling place scanners."

The Republican Party chose to have voters place their ballot in separate boxes for each precinct and the boxes had to be taken to the central counting station and individually scanned beginning after the polls closed, she said. Since multiple precincts for voting were at combined locations, it was likely that at least some voters would place their ballot in the wrong ballot box, she said.

The Democrats voted in the way usually used by the county, including using ballot scanners at polling locations. They also had voters place their ballots in one box at each voting location.

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Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico greets supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Supporters cheer for Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico at his election night watch party in South Austin Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico addresses supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Lesa Haney, left, Beth Fuston, right, and supporters react to election results at Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talaricos election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Supporters wait for an appearance from Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico at his election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico greets supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico greets supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Supporters watch election results at Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talaricos election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico addresses supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Supporters cheer during MS Now reporter Jacob Soboroffs live broadcast at at Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talaricos election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Varun Prasad waits for Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico to speak at his election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Supporters cheer for Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico at his election night watch party in South Austin Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Not long after the predawn call by news outlets that state Rep. James Talarico had won Tuesday's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, rival Jasmine Crockett conceded defeat and urged her supporters to rally around the newly minted nominee for the sake of party unity.

"With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win," Crockett said on X. "Im committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot."

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But even though Crockett said she was now in Talarico's corner, she later questioned in a New York Times report whether her most ardent supporters would follow her lead after she feared mass confusion at the polls Tuesday left many feeling disenfranchised.

The Democratic Party should absolutely prepare for the worst and get some things litigated right now, Crockett told the Times. People will not turn out because of whats happened, in my opinion, especially if no one fights for their votes to be counted.

READ MORE: Texas Democrats set new turnout record in heated primary

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It underscores the task ahead for Talarico. While the primary showed Democrats were energized, the Austin seminarian will have to work to unite the party after a contentious battle with Crockett where the issue of race became a central factor.

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In the hours after Talarico locked up the nomination, party operatives voiced optimism he could pull it off and build on the broad coalition of support he enjoyed Tuesday. He swiftly drew the endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who had previously backed Crockett.

But party insiders said it will take serious outreach to Black voters who largely supported Crockett.

The former head of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats said that even though Democrats of all backgrounds are hungry for victory after 28 years of losing statewide races, it will be up to Talarico to aggressively court Black voters if he is to have any shot.

"The campaign will have to reach out to everybody, but (Talarico must) let Black voters know you care about their issues," longtime activist Caroll Robinson said in an interview with Hearst Newspapers on Wednesday. "Black voters care about Social Security. We got a lot of folks that are senior. A lot of Black voters care about protecting Medicare, bringing down prescription drug prices."

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Fortunately for Talarico, Robinson said those are largely issues that most Democratic voters also care about.

"So it's not that like you got to talk about it way off in the corner," he said. "Black people want the same thing as everybody else in the Democratic coalition."

Plus, President Donald Trump is energizing the entire Democratic base.

"I think that's what's going to bring Democrats together," Robinson said. "We Democrats recognize that you can't go it alone."

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Talarico's 7-point victory over Crockett and little known candidate Ahmad Hassan in a race that brought a midterm primary record of 2.3 million Democrats to the polls was propelled by his dominant 75-25 performance in the counties surrounding his Austin statehouse district and a near 2-1 advantage in the heavily Hispanic counties that touch the Rio Grande. Talarico also won Bexar County by 15 points.

And he blunted Crockett's edge on her home turf in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, and held her Crockett to just a 5-point margin in Harris County where Black voters have a heavy influence in Democratic politics.

Texas Democratic operative Matt Angle said it would be a mistake to think that race was the only motivating force among Crockett's coalition. Scores of Democrats were drawn to her willingness to carry a fighting message to Republicans from the White House to the Congress and down to the GOP leaders who run state government in Austin, he said.

"This goes beyond Jasmine's Black supporters," said Angle, who is White. "It goes to other activists, young people and others that were enthusiastic about her campaign and who liked her. I think it's really important that that she be invited into the (Talarico) campaign and that (Crockett's) support be sought. I think their journey to support James should be pretty short."

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Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, the Democrats' 2018 nominee for U.S. Senate who brought his party its closest call to winning statewide since the early '90s, praised what he called Talarico's masterful primary campaign.

He also suggested that Crockett's entry into the race was a key factor in energizing Democrats in the 2026 midterms, which will be crucial for the party in the months until the Nov. 3 general election.

"Jasmine Crockett is one of the most exciting Democrats Texas has produced, a real fighter who made a name for herself standing up to Trump and representing a fierce independence that also helped drive record turnout throughout the state," O'Rourke wrote in an essay he posted online. "Its some powerful poetic justice that Texas  for decades written off by national Democrats and taken for granted by national Republicans  might tip the balance of power in this country at its most critical moment of truth."

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State Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Houston Democrat who had supported Crockett, said he reached out to Talarico to pledge his support and was pleased and has offered to make introductions to local Black leaders whose grassroots support is essential for any Democrat running statewide.
A voter enters a Pflugerville voting site on Tuesday. In neighboring Williamson County, as well as Dallas County, widespread changes to voting sites created confusion, detours and long waits. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman

Some candidates won their races Tuesday; others didnt. A few key contests will move to runoffs. But perhaps the biggest loss in this week's primary election belonged to Texas voters.

In Williamson and Dallas counties, where the local Republican Party insisted on widespread changes to voting sites, voters faced confusion, detours and long waits to cast ballots. Courts ordered extended voting hours in some locations  although it remains unclear whether the Texas Supreme Court will allow the ballots cast by people who arrived after 7 p.m. Tuesday to count.

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This is no way to run an election.

Creating such confusion for voters is inexcusable, particularly in an election where high-stakes races like U.S. Senate were bound to draw greater voter participation than usual. The chaos we saw this week should serve as a warning to anyone who values voter participation in November. It will take extensive outreach efforts by campaigns and civic groups to overcome the barriers thrown before voters.

In this case, in Williamson and Dallas counties, the local GOP departed from the years-long practice of allowing voters to cast their ballot at any polling site in the county. Instead, people could vote only at their assigned neighborhood precinct. This change applied only to the primary elections, where parties set certain rules, not the November general election, which is governed by state law. Still, the GOP's decision in those counties affected primary voters in both parties, even though local Democrats had pushed to keep countywide voting.

If the goal was to improve voter confidence, as local Republican Party officials asserted, the change was a disaster. In Williamson County, county officials said polling sites had long lines and voters going to the wrong locations. This feels like voter intimidation, David Heath, a Georgetown resident who waited three hours to cast his ballot, told the Statesman.

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The Williamson County Democratic Party stated simply: Its a mess.

In Dallas County, a nonpartisan election navigator stationed outside one precinct told Votebeat that he was redirecting every second or third voter who approached him, because they werent at their assigned polling place. Some cursed at him.

There are a lot of infuriated voters, Juston Marine told Votebeat.

Reshuffling polling locations does not solve a real problem for voters. It creates one, adding a frustrating impediment to voting. As this board has long argued, studies have found voter fraud is vanishingly rare and no evidence has suggested any improprieties stemming from countywide voting sites. To the contrary, a state review found countywide sites are more convenient, more cost-effective and support greater voter participation.

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Sadly, this push to limit where people can vote is only the latest unnecessary restriction in a state that ranks among the hardest states to vote in. Texas continues its error-prone efforts to remove suspected noncitizens from the voter rolls, while additional paperwork requirements passed in 2021 make voting by mail more cumbersome than ever. Meanwhile, the new gerrymandered maps for U.S. Congress moved millions of Texans into new districts for this election, amplifying the disconnect between many people and those who are supposed to represent them.

This week's primaries marked the end of the road for some candidates. But for those who want to ensure Texas voters can easily participate at the polls, the work is just beginning.

A Talarico vs. TBD matchup: State Rep. James Talarico won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. As we noted in our endorsement, Talaricos persuasive and morally grounded approach to leadership made him the stronger choice for Democrats.

On the Republican side, its Groundhog Day: Another 12 weeks of costly political fighting for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who head to a May 26 runoff after neither secured a majority Tuesday. We endorsed Cornyn in the GOP primary as the more responsible choice.

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A big night for Austinites: Other key matchups for November are now set, with state Rep. Gina Hinojosa earning the Democratic nomination to face GOP Gov. Greg Abbott and state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt winning the Democratic nomination to face Republican Don Huffines for the Texas Comptrollers seat. We look forward to these Austin-area lawmakers making the case in the general election for a government thats more attuned and accountable to Texans.

In the lieutenant governor's race, state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, also from Austin, is leading in a Democratic primary that will likely go to a runoff; the winner would face GOP Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in November.

Did voters not get the memo? Small business owner Kelly Hall won the Democratic primary for Texas House District 19, meaning he will face Republican Rep. Ellen Troxclair in November for the West Travis and Hill Country-based seat. Only one problem: Hall took himself out of the running in January after meeting Democratic opponent Javi Andrade at our endorsement panel.

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"If you want a representative who truly cares, who will fight for your family and your future, Javi Andrade is that leader," Hall wrote Jan. 16 on Facebook, shortly before Hall switched gears to run for Round Rock mayor. Halls decision came so late, however, that his name still appeared on the ballot for House District 19.

We recommended Andrade, who impressed us with his service as a soldier and a watchdog.
San Marcos resident Scott Cove wears an axolotl costume last August to protest proposed data centers in the area. Texas residents deserve secure access to water, even in the face of financial pressure from industry, a reader says. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Need for local control

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I applaud Hays County Commissioners asking for a special session to allow Texas counties to regulate their own water interests.

Of course Texas counties should be allowed to establish regulations protecting them from wasteful and hugely consumptive industries.

The 254 counties in Texas are geographically unique. There is no state law that addresses each countys need for regulation. Especially with much of the state in extreme drought, it is the local residents who know their own needs.

There was a time when Texas Republicans boasted about local control. Now is the time to implement county regulatory authority.

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Texas residents deserve secure access to water, even in the face of financial pressure from industry.

Rural counties will greatly benefit by increased regulatory powers.

Jenny Clark, Austin

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Long term impacts unknown

We live in never before times.

We humans have more than 12,000 nuclear weapons that can destroy civilization within a matter of hours. We can create new life forms Mother Nature never saw fit to create in 4 billion years; we will likely re-design homo sapiens into something alien from what it is today.

Artificial intelligence will impact human societies in ways immense and unimaginable; many leading AI experts even believe it constitutes an existential threat.

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We are decimating and annihilating countless species, and destroying vast ecosystems; rapidly and drastically impacting earths oceans and climate; and creating chemicals that never existed before, releasing them in massive quantities to the environment and bodies of all living things, with no knowledge about long term impacts.



We will not resolve these 21st century problems  nor perhaps even survive them  if we continue to operate with early 20th century mentality.

Mark Warren, Austin

University of Texas students walk through campus in 2023. If UT wants to secure its respectable reputation, it should fight for the right of open and varied discussion on all topics, including controversial ones, a reader says. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman

Reputation on the line

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If the University of Texas wants to secure its respectable reputation for high quality teaching and learning opportunities, they would be well-served to fight for the right of open and varied discussion on all topics, including controversial ones.

If not, their five-star rating will eventually but certainly plummet.

The situation would be like a highly touted restaurant that promises a fine dining experience, but when patrons arrive they are given a processed cheese sandwich with a dill pickle served on a paper plate. Customers will stop coming.

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That can and will be the fate of UT if communication, conversation and varied discourse are not on the menu.

Valerie Goranson, Round Rock
River rafting on the Rio Grande River is popular in Big Bend National Park, but the Department of Homeland Protection proposes a border wall that would interfere greatly with recreation. VW Pics/VW Pics/Universal Images Group v

As the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park, I spent the capstone years of my career working to protect this remarkable desert landscape. I am appalled that the Department of Homeland Security is now planning to build a completely unnecessary massive border wall through the spectacular river frontage that gives Big Bend its name  and with no public or environmental review.

I strongly support a secure border with Mexico and worked closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection during my five years at Big Bend. But there are two goals for the government here. National Park Service rangers and Border Patrol agents must both effectively monitor this broad stretch of wilderness and also protect the wild, scenic, recreational and ecologically important treasures that make this place beloved by Texans.

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Luckily, in my experience, border security and conservation are compatible when agencies cooperate.

These 118 miles of the Rio Grande have long been the least active section of the entire U.S.-Mexican border. Terrain and remoteness on the Mexican side make it extremely difficult to reach. Plus, more than half of the river through the park is entrenched in deep canyons with walls of their own that stretch higher than the Empire State Building. Just late last year, Customs and Border Protection itself noted that there are areas where terrain acts as a natural barrier.

More than half of the Rio Grande that runs through Big Bend National Park is entrenched in deep canyons whose natural walls stretch higher than the Empire State Building. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

In contrast to the lands difficulty for humans, Big Bend is essential habitat for the species that call it home. It hosts more nesting bird species than any other U.S. national park, mountain lions, and black bears that recolonized the park from south of the Rio Grande. A border wall here would block off wildlife migration routes and intensify the risk of flooding.

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Big Bend National Park also has the darkest night skies in the lower 48, and is part of the worlds largest International Dark Sky Reserve. A walls blaring lights would devastate the darkness and discourage astrotourists.

The tourism Big Bend attracts is vital for the region: The National Park Service estimates that Big Bend contributed $64 million to the local economy in 2024. In addition to the stars, access to the Rio Grande is fundamental to the park experience. A wall would cut off river access from the U.S., eliminate the river outfitting economy, and likely deter many of the visitors who keep these remote gateway towns afloat.

Sadly, this is yet another addition to the long list of attacks on our national parks. Over the last year, park staff have been cut, budgets have been restricted, sell-offs have been threatened, and last years shutdown caused serious damage.

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This is in direct opposition to the will of the American people, and at Big Bend, Texans are standing up to protect this vital land. Leaders of the five counties that surround the park  including Brewster County Judge Greg Henington and Hudspeth County Judge Joanna MacKenzie, both Republicans  have said it doesnt make sense, urging the Trump Administration to reconsider. Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland, who has impeccable security credentials, opposes the wall here, and so too do Big Bend-area State Rep. Eddie Morales and State Senator Cesar Blanco. Texas Governor Abbott stood against a wall here a decade ago, and Morales, along with 46 other legislators from both parties, are now urging him to intervene with the Administration.

From the local to the top of the state, our elected officials need to urge the Administration to reconsider its highly unpopular and destructive plans. We must defeat this ill-conceived project. And with enough public pressure, we can.

A few days ago, Customs and Border Protection quietly revised its online map and no longer shows a physical wall planned for Big Bend National Park and Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River immediately downstream. If this holds true, those opposed to a wall would be delighted, although the map still shows a wall in much of Big Bend Ranch State Park, which is just as destructive a proposal as in the National Park.

We remain concerned and vigilant and would like to see a clear public announcement and a commitment that it wont change again.

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But stopping the wall cannot be the end of our work. The best way to ensure that the still-undeveloped portions of this extraordinary landscape are protected for future generations would be to give them the highest level of protection for public lands  federal wilderness designation. Though the Department of Homeland Security can still waive the protections of wilderness designation and other environmental laws, the higher profile would make it much more difficult for a future presidential administration to defy the will of the public. Republican and Democratic Presidents since Richard Nixon have recommended the wilderness designation for Big Bend, and its time for Congress to finally act.

Texans have a long history of standing up for Big Bend. When the public first began calling for a national park here, the Depression had left the federal government without the funds to acquire the land. So Texans took on the job themselves, purchasing land from ranchers and presenting the deed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. Thats why Big Bend is proudly known as Texas Gift to the Nation.

We cannot allow this great gift to be desecrated. Our elected leaders must act to protect Big Bend now and forever.

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Republican candidate for governor Don Huffines speaks during a debate with other candidates held at Grace Woodlands Church and put on by the True Texas Project Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 in Spring, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor

Former state Sen. Don Huffines won the GOP primary for comptroller on Tuesday, making the conservative firebrand the Republican nominee to lead an agency with vast influence over the states finances, as well as the new private school voucher program.

Huffines defeated acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who was endorsed and supported by Gov. Greg Abbott, and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.

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State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt of Austin won the Democratic primary. She has campaigned on watchdogging the state budget and opposes the private school voucher program.

Huffines ran on a promise to DOGE the state government and is a favorite of the Republican grassroots. The Dallas businessman's campaign was boosted by endorsements from President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, as well as broader name recognition from Huffines 2022 run against Abbott, in which he called the governor weak and a coward."

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Though Huffines has largely dropped his antagonism on the campaign trail, emphasizing that he is excited to work alongside Abbott, his win is nonetheless a blow to the governor, who spent millions boosting Hancock. Capturing the comptrollers office would give Huffines a powerful bully pulpit to go after state agencies as well as control over Texas finances.

The comptroller also oversees the voucher program, which Abbott spent considerable funds and political capital to push through the Legislature last year. Hancock has run the $1 billion programs rollout since becoming acting Comptroller in June. Huffines is also a voucher proponent, but he has so far declined to say if he would run the program differently.

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Craddick enjoyed strong backing from the oil and gas industry, which she currently regulates. She spent relatively little compared to her rivals and will retain her seat on the Railroad Commission, where her term expires in 2030.

Hancock, meanwhile, appeared with Abbott in numerous television and digital ads as well as rallies across the state, promising to work in lockstep as the governors chief financial officer. A former North Texas senator, Hancock spent much of his legislative career aligned with the partys business-backed wing. But as comptroller, Hancock made increasingly aggressive moves on cultural issues, including suspending the states diversity-boosting contracting program and barring Islamic schools from the private school voucher program.

Abbott plowed millions into ads boosting Hancock in the final days of the race. The pair also appeared together in ads from outside groups touting the voucher program, which is overseen by the comptrollers office. Hancock also benefited from a last-minute ad campaign by a pro-AI group linked to Facebook parent company Meta, which called him a pro-innovation candidate.

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Jeremy Wallace has covered politics and campaigns for more than 20 years. Before joining the Hearst Texas newspapers in 2017 he covered government and politics for the Tampa Bay Times, The Miami Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Previously he covered Congress for the Boston Globe and Detroit Free-Press. Originally from San Antonio, he attended the University of North Texas and earned his bachelors degree from the University of Missouri.

Jeremy also authors the Texas Take with Jeremy Wallace newsletter, where he shares insights from inside the Capitol along with the occasional Willie Nelson reference. You can sign up here.

You can follow him on Twitter, @JeremySWallace, or email him at Jeremy.wallace@chron.com.
PHNOM PENH, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet assured on Wednesday that the Southeast Asian country will eradicate online scam centers by April 2026.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Cambodia-ASEAN Business Summit 2026 in Phnom Penh, saying that the move aimed to reinforce the rule of law and further safeguard the integrity of the investment climate.

"We have worked deliberately to create a secure and predictable operating environment that minimizes jurisdictional risk, enhances confidence of businesses and investment, more competitiveness, and ensures long term business continuity," he said.

The Southeast Asian country has launched an unprecedented nationwide crackdown on cyber scam networks to maintain social security, safety, and public order, and to restore the kingdom's image on the international stage.

Interior Minister Sar Sokha said last week that Cambodia had deported more than 30,000 suspected foreign scammers, as over 210,000 others had voluntarily left the kingdom after operations against online scams had intensified since June last year. 
Gov. Greg Abbott and his most prominent Democratic challenger, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, quickly sought to frame Tuesdays election results in New York City and elsewhere as a sign of whats at stake for the governors race in Texas next year. Jay Janner; Alex Brandon/American-Statesman; Associated Press Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a primary election night event hosted by the Young Conservatives of Texas and the Texas Young Republicans at Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill in Austin on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Abbott is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Gina Hinojosa speaks to reporters following her victory speech at a primary election watch party held at The Creamery in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She will compete against Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, in the upcoming race for governor. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a primary election night event hosted by the Young Conservatives of Texas and the Texas Young Republicans at Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill in Austin on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Abbott is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Supporters of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa cheer for her during a primary election watch party at The Creamery in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Hinojosa will face Gov. Greg Abbott, who is running for his fourth term, in the gubernatorial race. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Gov. Greg Abbott greets Cassidy Schnoor, center, Chair of the Young Conservatives of Texas, and Derrick Wilson, Chair of the Texas Young Republicans, before speaking at a primary election night event hosted by the Young Conservatives of Texas and the Texas Young Republicans at Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill in Austin on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Abbott is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Gina Hinojosa gives a victory speech at a primary election watch party held at The Creamery in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She will be competing against Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, in the upcoming gubernatorial race. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a primary election night event hosted by the Young Conservatives of Texas and the Texas Young Republicans at Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill in Austin on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Abbott is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Gina Hinojosa, right, talks with a supporter following her victory speech at a primary election watch party held at The Creamery in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She will compete against Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, in the upcoming race for governor. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a primary election night event hosted by the Young Conservatives of Texas and the Texas Young Republicans at Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill in Austin on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Abbott is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Gina Hinojosa gives a victory speech at a primary election watch party held at The Creamery in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She will be competing against Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, in the upcoming gubernatorial race. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Gov. Greg Abbott will face state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat and former school board member, in his bid for a record fourth term in office.

The Republican governor easily fended off 10 primary challengers Tuesday. He is vowing to overhaul the state's property tax system, from capping local spending and home appraisals to eliminating school taxes for homeowners.

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Hinojosa, who also cleared a crowded Democratic primary field, has framed her campaign as one against billionaires, corporate interests and big money donors to whom she says Abbott has become beholden.

LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See real-time vote totals for key statewide and Houston races

The race has not drawn the same attention as other statewide contests, especially the battle for John Cornyns U.S. Senate seat. But Democrats have been emboldened by Abbotts low approval ratings in recent months and public polling has found Hinojosa  a relatively unknown challenger  trailing him by only single digits in a midterm election that is expected to be bruising for Republicans.

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In a speech to a crowded bar of young Republicans in Austin, Abbott warned of a difficult road ahead in November.

This is going to be a battle between common sense versus chaos, where the Democrats seek to dismantle all the gains that we've been able to achieve, he said.

The crowd cheered as he touted the states economy and bills he signed banning Sharia-only cities, barring transgender women from participating in girls sports, and prohibiting Chinese nationals from owning land in Texas.

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At her watch party in San Antonio, Hinojosa called Abbott the "mordida" governor, using the Spanish slang for a bribe.

"Texans are wising up and Texans are rising up all over this state," she said. "We see in the public polling that Greg Abbott is the most unpopular person on the ballot in November. He is more unpopular than John Cornyn. He is more unpopular than Ken Paxton. Yes, he is."

The governor has a massive war chest to fend off the challenge. His campaign reported more than $95 million on hand last month. And the governor says he plans to go on the offensive with that cash, spending heavily in an effort to turn Harris County, a Democratic stronghold, dark red.

His campaign has also been running ads in rural parts of the state, positioning him as a bulwark against radical Democrats. Abbotts campaign has dismissed Hinojosa, a progressive, as out of step with Texas voters.

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Hinojosa is a former Austin school board member and vocal critic of the states new $1 billion voucher program, Abbotts signature policy victory. Hinojosa has cast vouchers as welfare for the well off and slammed the governor for taking millions in campaign donations from Jeff Yass, a Pennsylvania billionaire and voucher proponent.
A car is towed away after police removed ammunition magazines from it outside of the primary election night watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, in Dallas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Julio Cortez/Associated Press

A masked man was arrested by Dallas police outside the hotel where Attorney General Ken Paxtons election night watch party is being held, officials said Tuesday.

Social media posts show that the man arrived in a blue car without license plates and attempted to enter the lobby of the hotel. Police searched and towed the car after detaining the man and appeared to seize multiple magazines of ammunition. It's unclear why he was headed to the hotel.

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BREAKING: Police scene brewing outside of @KenPaxtonTXs election night Watch party.



Havent heard anything from officials, but it appears Dallas Police is handling LOTS of ammunition.



Witnesses say police detained a suspect. @KXAN_News pic.twitter.com/7lFwv6SSD6  Adam Schwager (@schwagerTV) March 4, 2026

The Dallas Police Department said in a statement that the man, whom the authorities did not identify, was arrested for traffic violations. Officers said they found ammunition during a search of the mans vehicle.

The suspicious individual was transported to police headquarters, where an investigation remains ongoing, the statement said.

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The event inside the hotel continued undisturbed, with roughly 75 supporters chatting inside a ballroom with hits like Beyonces Texas Hold Em and Survivors Eye of the Tiger playing in the background.

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Paxton is running in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate against incumbent John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a run-off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election, March 3, 2026 at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Austin, Texas. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman U.S. Senator John Cornyn speaks during the fourth of his nine statewide Get Out the Vote rally events in Houston, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a run-off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election, March 3, 2026 at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Austin, Texas. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Texas Attorney General, and U.S. Senate candidate, Ken Paxton celebrates with supporters during a primary election night watch party on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a run-off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election, March 3, 2026 at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Austin, Texas. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a run-off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election, March 3, 2026 at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Austin, Texas. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a run-off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election, March 3, 2026 at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Austin, Texas. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a run-off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election, March 3, 2026 at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Austin, Texas. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Senate candidate, XXX during a primary election night watch party on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Texas Attorney General, and U.S. Senate candidate, Ken Paxton waves to supporters during a primary election night watch party on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Texas Attorney General, and U.S. Senate candidate, Ken Paxton interacts with supporters during a primary election night watch party on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Texas Attorney General, and U.S. Senate candidate, Ken Paxton addresses supporters during a primary election night watch party on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Texas Attorney General, and U.S. Senate candidate, Ken Paxton waves to supporters during a primary election night watch party on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News U.S. Senator John Cornyn speaks during the fourth of his nine statewide Get Out the Vote rally events in Houston, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle U.S. Senator John Cornyn speaks to people during the fourth of his nine statewide Get Out the Vote rally events in Houston, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle A woman records U.S. Senator John Cornyn speaking during the fourth of his nine statewide Get Out the Vote rally events in Houston, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle U.S. Senator John Cornyn speaks during the fourth of his nine statewide Get Out the Vote rally events in Houston, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a run-off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election, March 3, 2026 at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Austin, Texas. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a run-off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election, March 3, 2026 at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Austin, Texas. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is headed to a runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid for a fifth term in Washington. Early returns showed Cornyn with a modest lead over Paxton in the high-profile GOP primary election, but with not enough votes to secure the majority needed to win outright.

At a hotel in downtown Austin Tuesday night, Cornyn described the coming runoff as a test of character for the GOP, saying he feared Paxton would be an albatross around the neck of all the Republican candidates."

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"I've worked for decades to build the Republican Party both here in Texas and nationally. I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton to risk everything we've worked so hard to build over these many years," he said.

Meanwhile at Paxton's watch party in Dallas, the attorney general described the nights results as a referendum on Cornyn, pointing out that many Texans voted for either himself or U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, Cornyn's other GOP challenger.

Tonight, change was on the ballot, and change won, Paxton said at his watch party in Dallas. We just sent a message loud and clear to Washington."

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Hunt, who represents Houston in Congress, conceded the race but vowed, "this will not be the last time you see my name on a ballot."

Clearly the people of Texas have chosen them, Hunt said of Cornyn and Paxton. At the end of the day, I wish them the best of luck in the runoff and whoever the people choose to go to the general election they will have my undying support. We have got to keep Texas red.

Early returns showed Cornyn carried the vote in most major metropolitan areas, such as Tarrant and Harris counties, while Paxton performed best in rural and conservative suburbs, including Montgomery, Fort Bend and Galveston counties outside Houston.

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The result is a departure from most of the public polling, which ahead of the primary had showed Paxton leading, as he campaigned on a Make America Great Again platform that sought to paint the more establishment Cornyn, 74, as out of touch.

Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 in The Woodlands. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

At Paxton's election night party in Dallas, state Rep. Mitch Little, a Republican from Lewisville who served as Paxton's defense attorney in his 2023 impeachment trial, predicted the runoff would be expensive and an all-out war."

Ken Paxton lives for runoffs, Little said. Theres a clear indication from the voting results that a majority of Texas Republicans want change.

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The GOP primary election had been expected to be one of the tightest statewide races in recent history, with most political observers predicting it would go to a runoff.

Cornyn, who has been a fixture of Texas politics since he was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990, has sought to overcome his reputation as a pragmatic conservative in favor of a more right-wing persona aligned with President Donald Trump.

During an event in the Woodlands Saturday, Cornyn recounted how during a visit to a Baptist church in Dallas he was introduced to the children of the associate pastor, who were quick to parrot one of his campaign ads.

"Both piped up 'he votes 99% of the time with President Trump'," he recalled. "I'm proud of the work I've been able to do with President Trump. You may have seen my voting record."

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But his past criticisms of Trump have hung over this campaign. Trump hasnt endorsed Cornyn and two other GOP Senate incumbents who challenged his unfounded claims that he won the 2020 presidential election. The others are Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Susan Collins of Maine.

Cornyn comes from a different era, a different time," Christian Collins, a Republican activist and president of the Texas Youth Summit, said last year. "He's not in tune with where we are now."

The Super PAC supporting Cornyn and outside groups like the Lone Star Freedom Project, led by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell and the wife of a close associate to Austin-based tech-billionaire Joe Lonsdale, have spent more than $55 million trying to get Cornyn reelected.

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Paxton, on the other hand, has spent virtually nothing, counting on his reputation as a MAGA warrior and loyalty to Trump to carry him through the primary.

At a rally in Tyler last month, Paxton took aim at Cornyns long tenure in Washington.

His money is coming from the D.C. establishment, Paxton said, according to media reports. That's how he can afford these commercials, and that's how they always try to convince us from Washington with their money that we should select their person. Well, I'm not their person, and I'm never going to be their person.

The question hanging over Paxtons campaign is how his divorce from state Sen. Angela Paxton will play with Christians who make up a significant bloc of Republican primary voters in Texas. In the filing, she accused him of adultery.

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In September, several Christian and conservative leaders said they were breaking with Paxton over the reported affair.

Our belief is adultery is an attack on marriage and thats something we take very seriously," said Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values Action.

Paxton, who served in the state Legislature for more than a decade before being elected state Attorney General in 2014, has long survived personal and political scandal.

In 2020, seven of his top aides contacted law enforcement to accuse Paxton of using the AGs office to benefit one of his donors, real estate developer Nate Paul. Two years later, as the state Legislature prepared an ultimately unsuccessful impeachment case against him, Paxton won a runoff against then-Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush with 68% of the vote. Hes denied any wrongdoing.

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Congressman Wesley Hunt speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Hunts entry into the race in October increased the chances of it being decided in a runoff, where more conservative candidates like Paxton typically prevail.

A former helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army who served in Iraq, Hunt sought to overcome his relative lack of name recognition outside Houston by launching a statewide tour, trying to build up support among grassroots conservative groups.

His heavy campaign schedule often came into conflict with his duties as congressman, requiring an unscheduled flight to Washington in January and a police escort to get back to the U.S. Capitol in time for a vote on Democrat-led legislation seeking to limit Trumps military power.

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Last month, he came under attack by Cornyn and Paxtons camps for failing to vote for Trump in the 2016 election. His release of a provisional ballot that had not been counted drew accusations of voter fraud from one of Cornyns political aides, against whom Hunt later filed a police complaint.

In the closing days of his primary campaign, Hunt travelled to the Rio Grande Valley, a longtime Democratic stronghold that Trump flipped in the 2024 presidential election.

At an event in San Antonio Friday, Paxton took aim at Cornyn's age, saying the U.S. Senate "is not a retirement community."

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ACCRA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed in a road crash in Ghana's Ashanti Region on Tuesday, local media reported.

According to the reports, a head-on collision occurred between an ambulance and a Ford Transit bus at Potrikrom in the Ahafo-Ano South-East District of the Ashanti Region.

The collision occurred when the ambulance attempted to overtake another vehicle while both vehicles were traveling at high speed from opposite directions.

Officers from the local Motor Traffic and Transport Department conveyed the bodies of the victims to the nearby mortuaries. Ghanaian authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Ashanti Regional Minister Frank Amoakohene confirmed the car crash on his Facebook page and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. 
"The people's congress system allows the voices of the people to be transformed into policy plans for the country," said Chinese lawmaker Ning Ling.

As a researcher in Guangdong Province, Ning has dedicated himself to contributing to industrial growth and regional development through fulfilling his duty as a national lawmaker. #TwoSessions
Li Song (on screen), China's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), speaks during the March Board of Governors meeting of the IAEA in Vienna, Austria, on March 3, 2026. The Fukushima nuclear accident, while triggered by a natural disaster, was in essence a man-made disaster that exposed serious shortcomings in Japan's nuclear regulatory system, said Li on Tuesday.(Chinese Permanent Mission to UN and other International Organizations in Vienna/Handout via Xinhua)

VIENNA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Fukushima nuclear accident, while triggered by a natural disaster, was in essence a man-made disaster that exposed serious shortcomings in Japan's nuclear regulatory system, said a Chinese envoy on Tuesday.

Li Song, China's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), made the remarks in a speech on the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan during the March Board of Governors meeting of the IAEA this week in Vienna.

Li called on the IAEA to maintain long-term review of the subsequent handling of the accident, and strictly supervise Japan in accordance with the highest global nuclear safety standards and best practices.

The accident 15 years ago interrupted the momentum of global nuclear energy development, dealt a heavy blow to the international community's confidence in nuclear safety. It exposed serious shortcomings in Japan's nuclear regulatory system and a grave deficiency in nuclear safety culture, and has given Japan extremely profound lessons, Li said.

Japan, disregarding strong concerns and opposition from the international community, especially neighbouring countries, has proceeded with the discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, thereby transferring nuclear safety risks beyond its borders. Such actions are highly irresponsible and contrary to international moral responsibility, Li stressed.

China firmly opposes Japan's discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea and supports the IAEA in establishing and continuously strengthening an independent, objective, and effective long-term international monitoring mechanism, Li said.

China has actively participated in independent sampling and monitoring and inter-laboratory comparisons under the IAEA framework, so as to ensure that Japan's discharge will not cause long-term harm to the global marine environment and public health, Li added.

The discharge is merely a disgraceful first step in the long-term process of handling the Fukushima nuclear accident, Li said. He pointed out that over the past 15 years, numerous cases of misconduct, fraud, and radioactive substance leaks involving nuclear power companies such as Tokyo Electric Power Company have been exposed.

Japan must have the courage to face history squarely, effectively strengthen nuclear safety regulation at the national level, eliminate potential safety risks, and consciously accept international supervision. "This would be the appropriate course of action, rather than seeking to obscure problems or downplay their seriousness," Li said.

Li said China supports the IAEA in actively fulfilling its responsibilities, and assisting and supervising Japan in addressing the complex challenges of the Fukushima nuclear power plant decommissioning and high-level radioactive waste disposal, in accordance with the highest global nuclear safety standards, strictest requirements, and best practices of Member States.

Moreover, China is willing to leverage its technological and managerial advantages to actively participate in this process, Li added. 
BAGHDAD, March 4 (Xinhua) -- One Iraqi soldier was killed and two others wounded Wednesday in an unidentified air and ground attack during a security operation in central Iraq's desert region, officials reported.

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command's Security Media Cell (SMC) said in a statement that the dawn attack targeted a unit from the Karbala Operations Command conducting a search operation between Karbala and Najaf provinces.

The SMC did not identify the source of the strike, noting that a high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

"The repetition of such incidents against our security forces within our territories and while performing their duties is a violation and an unjustified act," the statement said.

The attack follows the joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran starting Saturday morning, to which Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. assets across the Middle East.

During the past days, several members of the Iraqi paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces were killed in attacks, which the group attributed to U.S.-Israeli bombs. 
Army Emergency Relief CEO Tony Grinston speaks with soldiers at Camp Kosciuszko, Poland, on March 2, 2026. Grinston visited Poland as part of the organizations 2026 campaign kickoff and the opening of its Camp Kosciuszko location, the first new AER office established in more than 20 years and its 70th overall. (ShaTyra Cox/Stars and Stripes)



POZNAN, Poland  Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Tony Grinston kicked off a new campaign for the services nonprofit this week by opening the 70th Army Emergency Relief location, its first new site in more than 20 years.

Located at Camp Kosciuszko, headquarters of U.S. Army Garrison Poland, the new office allows soldiers to access financial assistance and counseling locally rather than relying solely on remote support.

Dont be afraid to ask for help. Were here to help, and we always have your back, said Grinston, who retired as the Armys top enlisted leader in 2023 to become the chief executive officer of AER.

The new local presence comes as the Army footprint on NATOs eastern flank continues to expand, moving large numbers of troops through the country.

Types of financial challenges soldiers face on arriving in Poland include upfront housing costs during permanent change of station moves, adjusting to a new currency, the cost of living and managing emergencies while geographically separated from family members.

AER provides emergency financial assistance through interest-free loans, grants and scholarships to help soldiers and families facing unexpected hardship.

The decision to establish a local office was driven by the size of the military population, Grinston said. He credited the opening in part to the persistence of Diane Hupko, U.S. Army Garrison Polands personal financial readiness program manager.

Hupko said the personal and financial demands on soldiers do not stop simply because they are placed on orders to Poland.

The stress of dealing with an unforeseen financial emergency can make it difficult for a soldier to be fully focused on their mission, she said. I have seen the program change lives.

Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Tony Grinston speaks with soldiers at Camp Kosciuszko, Poland, on March 2, 2026. Grinston is the CEO of Army Emergency Relief and was in Poland as part of the organizations 2026 campaign kickoff. (ShaTyra Cox/Stars and Stripes)



But Grinston said a persistent challenge is that many soldiers still dont know what AER offers or how to access it.

During the campaign kickoff event at Camp Kosciuszko, senior leaders described AER as an operational enabler for troops serving overseas.

Command Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Romar, the U.S. Army Garrison Poland senior enlisted adviser, called the organization a combat multiplier, noting that many Americans are one financial crisis away from hardship.

Several new initiatives announced during the visit aim to make assistance more accessible.

One major change converts emergency travel assistance from a combination loan and grant to a 100% grant, removing the requirement for soldiers to repay the funds.

The change was influenced in part by Grinstons own experience traveling home after his mother died while he was serving as the Armys top enlisted leader.

Youre going through a tough time, Grinston said. Why make a bad situation worse? Just take the loan out of the equation.

AER has also launched a new online application system designed to streamline the process and reduce wait times. The system allows soldiers to submit documentation electronically and receive the money more quickly, often within hours.

In addition, the organization is expanding assistance to Army Reserve soldiers beginning later this month. Initially, reserve soldiers will be eligible for grants covering basic needs such as food, utilities and transportation.

Grinston also highlighted command-directed options that can provide quick support when soldiers face urgent needs.

Company commanders and first sergeants can approve up to $2,000 in AER assistance, while AER officers at the garrison can approve higher amounts, with additional authority at the garrison command team level, he said.

Over the two-day visit, Grinston spoke with soldiers at Camp Kosciuszko and an Army outpost in Powidz, gathering feedback and leading professional development discussions.

The trip was intended not only to increase awareness of AER programs but also to identify gaps and improve services based on soldiers experiences, he said.

He said his role with AER has given him a renewed sense of purpose.

I just help soldiers when theyre going through a tough time, he said. I cant think of a better job.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet lands on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during Operation Epic Fury on March 2, 2026. U.S. forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions, severely degrading Irans air defenses and destroying hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles, launchers and drones, according to U.S. Central Command leaders. (U.S. Navy)



U.S. forces have wiped out more than 20 Iranian navy ships and put a hole in the side of Tehrans most operational submarine, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Those vessels include the sinking Tuesday of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean by a U.S. fast-attack submarine using a single MK 48 torpedo, the first such action since World War II, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said during a briefing Wednesday. They did not name the ship.

Not a single Iranian ship was underway as of Tuesday in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Oman, Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in an update video posted earlier Wednesday on X.

The U.S. wont stop in its efforts to sink the entire Iranian navy and end its ability to harass international shipping, he said, adding that destroying Irans missile capabilities is among objectives still being pursued under Operation Epic Fury.

Were hunting Irans last remaining mobile ballistic missile launchers to eliminate, what I would characterize, is their lingering launch capability, Cooper said.

Iran has two naval forces: the Islamic Republic of Iran navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy. The former is focused on traditional maritime activities, the latter on asymmetric warfare.

Their combined fleet has more than 100 vessels and includes a variety of submarines, frigates, destroyers and fast-attack boats, The Economic Times, a prominent India-based publication of global business news, reported in June.

Many of those ships, including the largest, had not dispersed ahead of U.S. strikes and remained in predictable locations, such as the naval base at Bandar Abbas, open-source intelligence analyst H.I. Sutton wrote in a Feb. 27 blog post.

Cooper said the Navys two aircraft carrier strike groups, including USS Gerald R. Ford in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, were squeezing the Iranians and have them back into their own ports.

He characterized the U.S. military operations against Iran that began on Saturday as ahead of our game plan.

A Navy destroyer fires a missile in support of Operation Epic Fury in the Arabian Sea on Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy)



U.S. forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions, severely degrading Irans air defenses and destroying hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles, launchers and drones, he said.

In simple terms, were focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us, Cooper said in the video.

Those accomplishments may help President Donald Trumps efforts to ensure the free flow of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf to the U.S. and other countries.

In a Truth Social post Tuesday, Trump said he had ordered the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. to provide reasonably priced political risk insurance and guarantees for all maritime trade, particularly energy, traveling through the Persian Gulf.

If necessary, the U.S. Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible, Trump said.

The strait is a narrow chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. About 20 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products, or about 20% of the worlds total consumption, are transported through the strait each day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

But since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, few tankers have passed through the strait, with just two transiting on Monday. Iran has threatened to attack any that do, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

The Strait of Hormuz is shown in this undated satellite image. President Donald Trump said he may order Navy ships to escort tankers and cargo vessels through the key shipping route to restore traffic halted by armed conflict in the region. (NASA)



International oil prices have risen 12% since the war began, hitting $81 a barrel on Tuesday. Natural gas prices in Europe and Asia also surged, according to The New York Times.

It wasnt immediately clear how the Navy, which has played a vital role in helping degrade Iranian capabilities in command and control as well as air defense, would take on the task of escorting tankers.

As of Monday, three littoral combat ships  USS Canberra, USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara  were operating in the Persian Gulf, according to the USNI News fleet tracker.

There are six destroyers  USS McFaul, USS John Finn, USS Milius, USS Delbert D. Black, USS Pinckney and USS Mitscher  operating independently in the Arabian Sea.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, including the destroyers USS Frank E. Peterson, USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy, also is in the Arabian Sea, according to USNI.
A landing craft from the Thai military's HTMS Sichang tows a Hammerhead USV-T from Sattahip Naval Base to Hat Yao Beach in Rayong, Thailand, Feb. 28, 2026, during a Cobra Gold counter-landing exercise. (Qinetiq)



CAMP RED HORSE, Thailand  A small team of U.S. technicians and contractors is working behind the scenes at this years Cobra Gold exercise to bring advanced cyber, drone and communications technology to the multinational drills.

PMTEC  Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability  is supporting the exercise with systems designed to make training more realistic, including maneuverable drone targets, integrated communications tools and simulated cyber and space operations.

The effort is part of a push by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to train forces to operate across multiple domains  land, sea, air, space and cyberspace  in future conflicts.

Our mission in Cobra Gold is to force our components and our partners into a much more enhanced all-domain environment in order to succeed in the next conflict, said David Bednarcik, who oversees training ranges and live-fire drills for PMTEC.

Cobra Gold  one of the regions largest multinational military exercises, which began Feb. 24 and concludes Friday  involves about 8,000 troops from more than two dozen countries. Training includes amphibious landings, humanitarian assistance drills and live-fire exercises.

At Camp Red Horse, a Thai military facility near U-TapaoRayongPattaya International Airport, PMTEC is running cyber and space warfare simulations and providing technology used in other training events across the exercise.

A team of about 40 civilians and contractors has deployed a cyber range that creates what officials describe as a virtual battlefield for cyberwarfare scenarios.

Additional tools include command-and-control software and the Joint After Action Review system, which compiles data from the exercise and allows commanders to conduct detailed, date-driven debriefs, according to information provided by PMTEC information integrator Tai Prohaska.

For live-fire and simulated combat drills, such as the amphibious landing and counter-landing exercises held at Hat Yao Beach about six miles from Red Horse, PMTEC operates remote-controlled drone targets.

Those include the Hammerhead unmanned surface vessel and the MQM-170 Outlaw aerial target, which allow troops to practice engaging moving threats rather than static ones.

The significance is were doing this forward, were doing this to the west of the International Date Line, Bednarcik told Stars and Stripes by phone Sunday. Were making this happen in an austere environment  this isnt Nellis Air Force Base.

Founded in 2022, PMTEC has supported several major Indo-Pacific exercises, including Balikatan in the Philippines, Keen Edge and Keen Sword in Japan, and Talisman Sabre in Australia.

The organization first participated in Cobra Gold in 2024.

We started very small in Cobra Gold 24 with the procurement of a locally procured maritime vessel to facilitate targeting for U.S. and Thai forces, Bednarcik said.

Since then, PMTEC has expanded its role in the annual exercise.

Weve increased our abilities to enhance Cobra Gold, and well go at it again for Cobra Gold 27, he said.
U.S. and Thai troops code and monitor simulated enemy cyberattacks during the Cobra Gold exercise at Camp Red Horse in Rayong, Thailand, March 1, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



CAMP RED HORSE, Thailand  While thousands of troops taking part in the annual Cobra Gold exercise train in jungles and on beaches across Thailand, another group is fighting a simulated war from computer screens in an air-conditioned command post.

Now in its 45th year, Cobra Gold brings together about 8,000 service members from 30 countries for live-fire drills, amphibious landings and humanitarian exercises that began Feb. 24 and conclude Friday.

But many of those events are tied together through a larger fictional crisis that unfolds in a simulation from the command post at Camp Red Horse in Rayong, Thailand.

The scenario imagines a continent called Pacifica east of Japan, where a coup in the country of Sonora triggers a regional conflict. Sonora allies with a neighboring state, Arcadia, forcing multinational forces to respond.

A multinational team of cyber and space experts take part in the Cobra Gold cyber exercise at Camp Red Horse in Rayong, Thailand, March 1, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



The objective is to expel enemy forces, restore pre-conflict borders and begin diplomatic negotiations.

Updates to the storyline are delivered through daily video briefings produced by the fictional World News Network, which adjusts the narrative based on the outcomes of training events across the exercise, said U.S. Army Col. Jeramy Hopkins, Cobra Golds chief of staff.

This video is something that we receive in here daily that is built upon our actions and the enemys actions that helps inform the command post exercise, he said during a briefing Monday at Camp Red Horse.

Training events linked to the scenario take place throughout Thailand and include amphibious assaults, jungle warfare drills and maritime strike exercises. Increasingly, however, commanders say the most advanced training is happening in the cyber and space domains.

Over the past decade, Cobra Gold has expanded its digital warfare components, with a growing emphasis on satellite communications, electronic warfare and cyber defense.

A computer monitors satellite communications during a Cobra Gold cyber exercise at Camp Red Horse in Rayong, Thailand, March 1, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



The purpose of exercises like [the cyber drill] is to be able to train cyber defenders to detect and respond to cyberattacks, U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul Lucero, chief of operations for the cyber exercise, told Cobra Gold leaders Monday. It is no longer a matter of if well be breached, it is when.

As Lucero spoke, teams from the United States, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea monitored computer networks and searched for simulated enemy activity.

Lucero highlighted the importance of cybersecurity for both military and civilian sectors, saying cybercrime costs are projected to reach $14 billion globally by 2028. Thailand alone is estimated to have lost about $2.3 billion to cybercriminals between 2022 and 2024.

Our big focus here is helping to educate, U.S. Air Force Maj. David Place, a chief of operations in the exercise, said after the briefing. Not just from a technical level, but how we train our operators to speak and translate that into a common operational language.

A map tracks the location of assets during the Cobra Gold exercise at Camp Red Horse in Rayong, Thailand, March 1, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



Space operations are also playing a larger role at Cobra Gold. For the first time, teams are simulating offensive actions intended to disrupt an adversarys satellite communications, said Col. Jeffrey Duplantis, the exercises chief of space operations.

We have 51 personnel from across the nations to include two observers from the Philippines for the first time to be able to support this, he said at the briefing. This is the largest space contingent that we have had for Cobra Gold.

The simulation includes equipment such as satellite uplink and GPS jammers.

Building partnerships in the space domain is increasingly important, said U.S. Army Capt. Brittany Chapman, who leads the space operations team.

I think space has been such a nebulous concept that a lot of people dont understand it, she told Stars and Stripes after the briefing. But were starting to recognize that partner nations are crucial in the fights that were going to be going towards in the future.
Moron Air Base in Spain is one of the key installations that has regularly been used by the U.S. Air Force. (Nicole Keim/U.S. Air Force)



President Donald Trump on Tuesday blasted Spains decision to block U.S military access to its bases for operations in Iran, saying that the U.S. would cut off all trade ties in retaliation.

Trump, speaking from the White House, also suggested the U.S. could use military facilities in Spain regardless of the decision if needed.

Spain has been terrible. ... And thats all right. We could use their base if we want. We could just fly in and use it. Nobodys going to tell us not to use it, Trump said.

Trumps comments came one day after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced he wouldnt allow the U.S. to make use of bases in the country, where the American military has long maintained a presence. Moron Air Base is one of the key installations that has regularly been used by the U.S. Air Force. Earlier this week, U.S. aircraft repositioned from that location to Ramstein Air Base. The U.S. Navy also operates out of Rota, Spain.

Trump also took issue with Spain over its lackluster defense spending, saying it was the only NATO member that refused to agree to his demand that all allies boost military investments to 5% of gross domestic product.

Meanwhile, Trump singled out the United Kingdom, which has put certain restrictions on U.S. military operations from its bases related to Iran.

Im not happy with the U.K. either. This is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with, Trump said Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Starmer on Sunday said bases in the U.K. could only be used for specific and limited defensive purpose, such as destroying Iranian storage depots and launchers used to fire missiles.

Trumps comments came during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who signaled support for Trumps campaign in Iran.

We are on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away, Merz said during the meeting.

In Europe, reactions have been mixed to Trumps Iran mission.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he supported the operation even as the alliance stays out of it.

Its really important what the U.S. is doing here, together with Israel, because it is taking out, degrading the capacity of Iran to get its hands on nuclear capability, the ballistic missile capability, Rutte told Germanys ARD television Sunday.

But Rutte said NATO would not get involved as an alliance, adding individual allies could do what they can to enable what the Americans are doing together with Israel.
ABU DHABI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Wednesday that its air defense systems intercepted three ballistic missiles and detected 129 drones earlier in the day, amid what it described as continued Iranian attacks.

According to an official statement, 121 of the 129 detected drones were intercepted, while eight fell within the country's territory. No ballistic missiles successfully struck their targets.

Since the onset of Iran's retaliation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and U.S. assets across the region, the ministry reported detecting 189 ballistic missiles launched toward the UAE, of which 175 were destroyed, 13 fell into the sea, and one landed within the country. A total of 941 Iranian drones were detected, with 876 intercepted and 65 falling inside the UAE territory. In addition, eight cruise missiles were detected and destroyed.

The ministry confirmed that the attacks resulted in three fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationalities, as well as 78 minor injuries among individuals of multiple nationalities, including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese and Afghan, the ministry said.

It added that sounds heard across the country were from air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft engaging drones and cruise missiles. These operations caused minor to moderate material damage to a number of civilian facilities. 
A medical professional cares for a patient in the labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum unit at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany in this undated photo. (Marcy Sanchez/U.S. Army)



KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is squeezing some expectant mothers in the Kaiserslautern Military Community and beyond out of the labor and delivery ward at the largest Defense Department hospital overseas.

Social media forums abounded Tuesday with requests for advice stemming from a screenshot of a memo saying that Landstuhl Regional Medical Centers services for labor and delivery were suspended until further notice.

The closure is due to the hospitals primary objective, according to the memo, which was signed by Lt. Col. Elizabeth Gelner, a doctor with the OB/GYN clinic at Landstuhl.

Although the primary objective is not specified, Landstuhl serves as a critical hub and evacuation point for U.S. service members wounded in training or combat operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Its expected to continue that role during the current conflict with Iran, in which six U.S. service members have been killed and 10 wounded so far, according to military officials.

The hospital will continue to see patients for prenatal appointments until 36 weeks. At 36 weeks and later, pregnant women should ask for guidance on what to do next, the memo says.

Hospital officials did not immediately address questions about its authenticity Wednesday.

Landstuhl is part of a sprawling network of places in southwestern Germany that form the largest overseas American military community.

Air Force Capt. Kaitlyn Betts holds her newborn daughter, Raegan McKenna Betts, after giving birth at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on July 20, 2022. Air Force Maj. Khimea Sayles, left, and Air Force Capt. Jenny Davis, clinical nurses at LRMC, stand next to her. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)



We are doing our utmost to assist you in transferring your labor care to the host nation, the note said, adding that the timeline for reopening labor and delivery is not known.

Women who were left scrambling to adjust their birth plan at the last minute can request a doula through Tricare if they are anxious about what to expect, said Erica Curtis, an Air Force spouse at Spangdahlem.

A certified doula for 11 years, Curtis supports expectant women and their family members during pregnancy, labor and the early postpartum period when delivery takes place off base.

Im trying to take on as many as I can, especially with this situation, she said.

Ideally, Curtis likes to work with three to five families per month. But because of the change at LRMC, she is waiting on an additional 13 referrals for women scheduled or expecting to give birth in the next 14 days in the Kaiserslautern and Spangdahlem areas, she said Wednesday.

Some women scheduled for a medical induction or caesarean section on Wednesday found out the day before that they had to make other arrangements, she said.

LRMC staff and Tricare are working hard to accommodate all these last minute changes for these families, Curtis said.

The process includes getting patients medical records transcribed from English and putting emergency referrals through to local German hospitals, she noted.

LRMCs labor and delivery unit currently accommodates a mix of active-duty personnel and spouses of service members, Curtis said. Its the only American referral center for high-risk obstetric patients eligible for care throughout Europe, Western Asia and Africa, according to the hospitals website.

Labor and delivery services are currently not offered to DOD civilians and contractors, according to LRMCs February 2026 report on specialty care availability.

Social media users spoke of the quality of care provided at labor and delivery departments off base. Some women even rated their experience as better than that of an American hospital.

If you have a baby on the US side and then have one on the German side you will wonder why the US doesnt do labor, delivery and after care the way Germany does, Carmen Leah Kekoa wrote on one of the Kaiserslautern Military Communitys spouses pages. This is one area that Germany absolutely got right. You and your baby will have the best care.
The Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System Poland at Naval Support Facility at Redzikowo, shown earlier this year, has been declared mission-ready by NATO. (Ashleigh Whitney/U.S. Navy)



NATO air and missile defense systems shot down an Iranian ballistic missile headed toward Turkish airspace, Turkeys ministry of defense said Wednesday.

The missile was detected as it traveled through Iraqi and Syrian airspace and was shot down by NATO air defenses in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the ministry said.

It fell in the Hatay province in southeastern Turkey along the countrys Mediterranean coast, according to the statement. There were no injuries or deaths.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a news conference Wednesday that there was no indication the incident would trigger NATOs Article Five provision, which states an attack on one calls for a collective response from the whole alliance.

In its statement, the Turkish ministry of defense said that while it supports regional stability and peace, it would take all necessary steps to defend its territory and citizens regardless of who or where the threat comes from.

The ministry said it would continue to consult NATO and other allies in ensuring conflict in the region did not spread.

There are five U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers currently in the eastern Mediterranean. The region also is patrolled by the multinational Standing NATO Maritime Group 2.

NATOs missile defense system, which involves a U.S. Aegis Ashore site in Romania and U.S Navy destroyers out of Rota, Spain, was initiated over 15 years ago and developed in phases over time with a ballistic missile threat from Iran in mind. The NATO system includes a missile defense suite in Poland and an early-warning mountaintop radar in Kurecik, Turkey.

Allison Hart, NATO spokeswoman, said the alliance remains vigilant in the wake of the strike attempt on Turkey.

We condemn Irans targeting of Turkiye. NATO stands firmly with all Allies, including Turkiye, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region, Hart said in a statement. Our deterrence and defense posture remains strong across all domains, including when it comes to air and missile defense.

This story will be updated.
A group of men inspects the ruins of a police station struck Monday amid the U.S.Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP)



DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Explosions sounded in Irans capital city Wednesday as its war with the U.S. and Israel entered a fifth day following earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

The explosions around Tehran came as dawn broke, according to Iran state television, while Israels military said its air defenses had been activated to intercept Iranian missiles and explosions were heard around Jerusalem.

Air sirens sounded in the morning across the island kingdom of Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, and Qatars Ministry of Defense said Iran launched two ballistic missiles against it and one hit Al-Udeid Qatari Base, but didnt cause casualties.

Five days into a war that U.S. President Donald Trump suggested could last a month or longer, nearly 800 people have been killed in Iran, including some Trump said he had considered as possible future leaders of the country.

Explosions also hit Lebanon, where Israel said it is retaliating against Hezbollah militants. Lebanons state-run media reported that at least four people were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a residential complex in the city of Baalbeck. More than 50 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than 300 wounded, according to the Health Ministry.

A day earlier, Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear research site, and Iran struck back against Israel and others, targeting U.S. embassies and disrupting energy supplies and travel.

The American embassy in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks, and the U.S. State Department said Wednesday that it had authorized non-emergency government personnel to evacuate Saudi Arabia. The UAE said it had been attacked by more than 1,000 Iranian missiles and drones since the conflict began but had intercepted most of them.

Iran has fired regular salvoes of missiles and drones missiles at Israel, though most of the incoming fire has been intercepted. Eleven people in Israel have been killed since the conflict began.

The spiraling nature of the war raised questions about when and how it would end.

Trumps administration has offered various objectives, including destroying Irans missile capabilities, wiping out its navy, preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring it cannot continue to support allied armed groups.

While the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government, senior administration officials have since said regime change was not the goal.

Trump on Tuesday seemed to downplay the chances of the war ending Irans theocratic rule, saying that someone from within the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the U.S.-Israel campaign is finished.

32 rescued from sinking Iranian naval ship off Sri Lankan coast

A top Sri Lankan official says 32 people have been rescued from a sinking Iranian naval ship off Sri Lankas southern coast have been admitted to a hospital.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said one of them is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are treated for minor injuries.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that Sri Lankas navy received information that the ship IRIS Dena with 180 onboard was under distress, and that the island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission.

There were no immediate details as to how the sailors were wounded and how the ship was damaged.

Trump says people the U.S. had in mind to lead Iran are dead

Speaking Tuesday from the Oval Office, Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans toppled shah, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over.

As far as possible leaders inside Iran, the people we had in mind are dead, Trump said.

I guess the worst case would be do this, and then somebody takes over whos as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen, Trump said. We dont want that to happen.

Irans leaders are scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. Its only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen. Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement.

Israel and US strike nuclear facilities and other targets

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, said American forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran since the war began. In a video posted Tuesday on X, Cooper said the U.S. has severely degraded Irans air defenses and taken out hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers and drones.

Weve just begun, Cooper said.

Satellite images published Tuesday by Colorado-based company Vantor showed the domed roof of Irans presidential complex in Tehran had been destroyed, supporting Israels claim of an overnight strike. Iran did not acknowledge the damage or report any casualties.

Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the Israeli military struck a building in the Iranian city of Qom where clerics were expected to meet to discuss selecting a new supreme leader. He said the army was still assessing whether anyone was hit.

The Israeli military said it also conducted airstrikes on Iranian sites that produce and store ballistic missiles, and that it destroyed what it called Irans secret, underground nuclear headquarters. Without providing evidence, it said the site was used for research to develop a key component for nuclear weapons.

There was no immediate public comment from the U.S. or Iran about the site Israel named.

Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, though it has maintained its right to do so and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Hundreds have died, including children

The U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent Society.

Kuwait, which had previously reported a single death, said Wednesday that an 11-year-old girl was killed by falling shrapnel as Kuwaiti forces were intercepting hostile aerial targets. In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain.

Six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers were killed by a drone strike Sunday on a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

Rising reported from Bangkok, and Magdy from Cairo. Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Giovanna DellOrto in Miami contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)



WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that someone from within the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the U.S.-Israel military campaign is completed  but said most of the people we had in mind are dead.

The president, who four days ago had emphatically called on Iranians to take over your government once the U.S.-Israel bombardment ends, appeared to drift further away from the idea that the war presents an opportunity to end the theocratic rule that has been in place since the countrys 1979 Islamic revolution.

Trump said that many Iranian officials his administration had viewed as potential new leaders for the country had been killed in the U.S.-Israeli campaign that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many other top officials.

Trump has not publicly identified anyone whom he views as a credible future leader for Iran. And its unclear what, if any, outreach the White House had with Iranian officials since the war started.

Most of the people we had in mind are dead, he said in an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office. Now we have another group, they may be dead also, based on reports. So you have a third wave coming. Pretty soon were not going to know anybody.

Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Irans last shah who is trying to position himself for a return should Irans Shiite theocracy fall, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over leadership in Iran.

It would seem to me that somebody from within maybe would be more appropriate, Trump said, adding that it may make sense for somebody thats there, thats currently popular, if there is such a person to emerge from the power vacuum.

Trumps comments came as he hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his first in-person engagement with a foreign leader since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran.

Trump said he wanted to avoid a worst case scenario where somebody takes over whos as bad as the previous person.

That could happen. We dont want that to happen, Trump added. You go through this, and then in five years you realize you put somebody in who was no better.

The White House is trying to counter criticism

The White House has stepped up its push to counter criticism that it moved unnecessarily quickly to launch a war of choice against Iran.

Trumps decision to strike last week followed lengthy negotiations by the presidents envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner with the Iranians  talks the U.S. increasingly viewed as an effort to stall any progress.

After the most recent round of discussions in Geneva, Switzerland, last week, Witkoff and Kushner told Trump that reaching a nuclear agreement similar to one that former President Barack Obama struck in 2015 was possible, according to a senior administration official.

The official, who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity, described it as a potential Obama-plus deal and Witkoff and Kushner believed such an agreement would take months, but was possible.

Still, even as they expressed their willingness to pursue diplomacy and fight for every point that we can if thats what Trump wanted, the negotiators stressed to the president that the Iranians were not willing to make a deal that would be satisfactory to the U.S.

Trump snaps at the UK, Spain over lack of support

Meanwhile, Trump sharply criticized Britain and Spain for their reluctance to aid the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

This is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with, Trump fumed about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Starmer had initially blocked American planes from using British bases for the attacks on Iran that started on Saturday. He later agreed to let the United States use bases in England and on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to strike Irans ballistic missiles and their storage sites, but not to hit other targets.

Trump also said he was going to cut off all trade with Spain, the day after Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said his country would not allow the U.S. to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain in any strikes not covered by the United Nations charter.

Trump disputes that Israel forced his hand

The president also sought to push back on criticism from some of his staunchest allies over the decision to go to war  questions that grew louder after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that the U.S. had decided to strike because we knew that there was going to be an Israeli action.

And we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties, Rubio said.

But Trump rejected the notion that the White House had been dragged into the conflict by Israel. We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack, Trump said. If anything, I might have forced Israels hand.

Rubio on Tuesday echoed Trumps insistence that the decision to attack Iran was made independent of Israel.

Merz said during his visit with Trump at the Oval Office that Germany is looking forward to the day after the Iran war is over.

He said Berlin wants to work with the U.S. on a strategy for when the current Iranian government no longer exists.

We are having a high interest in common approach and common work and what we can do, Merz said. And this is this is important not just for the Americans, he said. This is extremely important for Europe and extremely important for Israel and their security.

Merz also noted surging oil prices were damaging the world economy, laying down an argument for finding a quick endgame to the conflict.

The president acknowledged that oil and gas prices were going to rise as the U.S. remains engaged in the strikes  yet argued it would be fleeting.

We have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, I believe, lower than even before, Trump said.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. jumped 11 cents overnight Tuesday to about $3.11 in the United States, according to the AAA.

AP writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Fatima Hussein and Michelle L. Price in Washington, and Jill Lawless in London contributed reporting.
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows modernized enterprise terminal, center, at the Al Udeid Air Base outside of Doha, Qatar, June 23, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)



The U.S. militarys biggest base in the Middle East was hit with a missile Tuesday that slipped past air defenses as Irans attack on American military sites across the region continues.

Qatars Defense Ministry said an Iranian ballistic struck Al Udeid Air Base, without causing casualties.

Qatar, in a statement late Tuesday, said one of two missiles launched from Iran got through air defense systems while the other was intercepted.

The statement did not indicate what was damaged in the attack.

Hundreds of missiles and drones have been launched from Iran, many of which have been directed at U.S. military locations across the region.

In one of the attacks, six U.S. soldiers were killed when a drone hit an operation compound in Kuwait.

Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navys Central Command headquarters, also has been repeatedly attacked since the U.S. bombing campaign in Iran was launched last week.

The military is yet to give an account of the damage to its facilities in the Middle East. However, there are indications that many of the Iranian attacks have focused on communications capabilities used by the military.

A New York Times analysis Wednesday of satellite imagery found that satellite dishes, radomes and buildings used for communications, and radar systems were some of the assets damaged in the various attacks that have hit bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Pages from the Anthropic website and the company's logos are displayed on a computer screen in New York on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Patrick Sison/AP)



In order to strike a blistering 1,000 targets in the first 24 hours of its attack on Iran, the U.S. military leveraged the most advanced artificial intelligence its ever used in warfare, a tool that could be difficult for the Pentagon to give up even as it severs ties with the company that created it.

The militarys Maven Smart System, which is built by data mining company Palantir, is generating insights from an astonishing amount of classified data from satellites, surveillance and other intelligence, helping provide real-time targeting and target prioritization to military operations in Iran, according to three people familiar with the system.

Embedded into the system is Anthropics AI tool Claude, a technology that was banned by the Pentagon last week after heated negotiations over the terms of its use in war.

Over the last year military planners have seen Claude, paired with Maven, mature into a tool that is in daily use across most parts of the military, according to two of the people.

As planning for a potential strike in Iran was underway, Maven, powered by Claude, suggested hundreds of targets, issued precise location coordinates, and prioritized those targets according to importance, said two of the people. The pairing of Maven and Claude has created a tool that is speeding the pace of the campaign, reducing Irans ability to counterstrike and turning weeks-long battle planning into real-time operations, said one of the people. The AI tools also evaluate a strike after it is initiated, the person said.

Claude has also been used in countering terror plots and in the raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. But this is the first time it has been used in major war operations, according to two of the people.

Even though the tool is being used to support the U.S. military campaign in Iran, relations between Anthropics CEO, Dario Amodei, and the Trump administration have soured. Hours before the bombing in Iran began, President Donald Trump announced he was banning government agencies from further using Anthropics tools, giving the department six months to phase them out. The move came after a bitter fight between the company and the military over control of using the tools in mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.

The military will continue using its technology as it waits for a replacement to be phased in, said two of the people.

Military commanders have become so dependent on the AI system that if Amodei directed the military to cease, the Trump administration would use government powers to retain the technology until it can be replaced, said one of the people.

Whether his morals are right or wrong or whatever, were not going to let [Amodeis] decision making cost a single American life, the person said.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Anthropic spokesman Eduardo Maia Silva declined to comment. Palantir spokeswoman Lisa Gordon declined to comment. Claudes use in the Iran strikes was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The use of advanced generative AI in the Iran campaign arrives at a moment of fierce debate over the ethics and speed of using such tools in warfare.

It is notable that were already at the point where AI has gone from hypothetical to supporting real-world operations being conducted today, said Paul Scharre, executive vice president at the Center for a New American Security, and who has written about AI in warfare. The key paradigm shift is that AI enables the U.S. military to develop targeting packages at machine speed rather than human speed.

The downsides, he said, are AI gets it wrong. ... We need humans to check the output of generative AI when the stakes are life and death.

The Pentagon began to integrate Anthropics Claude chatbot into Maven in late 2024, according to public announcements. The system has been used to generate proposed targets, to track logistics and provide summaries of intelligence coming in from the field. The Trump administration has vastly expanded the use of Maven into many other parts of the military, with over 20,000 military personnel using it as of last May.

The commanders now overseeing the Iran campaign are steeped in the use of Maven, having used earlier versions of the system in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and to support Israel after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, according to a talk by Navy Rear Adm. Liam Hulin in 2024. Hulin, now the deputy director of operations at Central Command, said then that the system pulled in information from 179 sources of data.

Centcom is heavily using MSS, Hulin said, referring to Maven by an acronym.

It was not immediately clear if Mavens target lists were shared with the Israelis prior to the attack, but the two sides collaborated on what to strike for months. The Israel Defense Forces in close cooperation with the U.S. Army, worked for thousands of hours to build as valuable and extensive a target bank as possible, they said in a statement shortly after operations began.

Anthropic was the first major AI company to work with classified data, as the Pentagon works to leverage the technology to help it modernize how it conducts war. Amodei said last week that Claude was extensively deployed across the Defense Department and at other security agencies, in use for analyzing intelligence and planning operations.

I believe deeply in the existential importance of using AI to defend the United States and other democracies, and to defeat our autocratic adversaries, Amodei wrote in a blog post as negotiations with the Pentagon reached an impasse.

Its been quickly adopted. NATO, which signed a contract with Palantir last year, portrayed its version of Maven as giving commanders video-game like abilities to oversee battles in a recent video. In the American military, the system allowed one artillery unit to do the work of 2,000 staff with a team of just 20 people, according to a study of the systems use by the Armys 18th Airborne Corps by Georgetown University.

But other AI companies are now poised to supplant Anthropic at the Pentagon. Elon Musks xAI signed an agreement last week to work on classified government systems, as did Anthropics leading rival, OpenAI. (The Washington Post has a content partnership with OpenAI.)

Ben Van Roo, the CEO and cofounder of Legion Intelligence, a defense software startup, said that in his work over the last two and half years integrating generative AI into software systems at the Department of War, the baseline use case is chat and advanced search functions  essentially summarizing information.

Its not highly integrated into weapons or mission critical systems, he said. He said that he wasnt aware of its use in Iran, but wondered how it built on existing software that is already able to prioritize targets.

Scharre said he was impressed by the speed of deployment in Iran. Its quite remarkable  to see this in the middle of an operation, he added.
This story has been corrected

The U.S. Navy struck and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka on Tuesday, marking the first time a U.S. submarine has sunk an enemy ship with a torpedo since World War II.

The Sri Lankan navy said Wednesday that it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people from the sunken ship, the IRIS Dena.

A single Mark 48 torpedo sank the ship, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said during a press briefing Wednesday alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The IRIS Dena, one of Irans newest warships, was a Moudge-class frigate that conducted ocean patrols. It was armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. It also carries one helicopter.

Sri Lankan reports early Wednesday local time said rescue operations were underway about 40 miles from the coast of Galle.

Sri Lankan navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath, as cited by The Associated Press, said by the time navy ships reached the location, there was no sign of the ship in distress and there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned IRIS Dena in February 2023 along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.

Hegseth on Wednesday also said that U.S. forces sank Irans prize ship, which U.S. Central Command later told Stars and Stripes was a Soleimani-class warship struck off Iranian shores near the Strait of Hormuz. In 2020, U.S. forces killed senior Iranian military leader Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Looks like POTUS got him twice, Hegseth said.

At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

We are also sinking the Iranian navy  the entire navy, he said in a video message.

Hegseth and Caine briefed reporters as the U.S. entered the fifth day of Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Both emphasized that the conflict is still in early stages and touted the U.S.s early successes, including the killing of an unnamed Iranian military leader who had attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump.

Over the next 24 to 48 hours, CENTCOM will continue to strike infrastructure and naval capability, and we will continue to assess our progress against the military objectives, Caine said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Patriot missile launcher is set up at Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait. The base, which hosts U.S. Air Force personnel, came under attack Saturday from Iranian ballistic missiles, which were intercepted. (Kenneth Boyton/U.S. Air Force)



The Pentagon is quickly going through its stocks of precision weapons less than a week into the massive campaign of airstrikes against Iran, while also expending sophisticated air defense missiles at a rate that puts the U.S. military potentially days away from having to prioritize which targets to intercept, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The scope of Operation Epic Fury, which U.S. Central Commands Adm. Brad Cooper says has hit more than 2,000 targets so far, is forcing U.S. military commanders to make difficult calculations about how quickly their Iranian adversaries will burn through their own munitions  even as President Donald Trump says the war may last four to five weeks.

The hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Monday before a classified briefing with select lawmakers.

In retaliation, Iran has launched thousands of one-way attack drones and hundreds of missiles at an array of U.S. military installations and civilian targets across the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. At least six U.S. troops were killed in a drone attack in Kuwait, and U.S. Embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait City have come under Iranian fire.

So far, the U.S. military has expended hundreds of its most sophisticated munitions, including Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors  considered the worlds premier missile defense systems  and Tomahawk cruise missiles aimed at Iranian leaders and ballistic missile sites, four people familiar with Pentagon assessments said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the highly sensitive numbers.

Late Monday night, Trump posted on social media that the U.S. inventories of medium and upper medium grade munitions are virtually unlimited and could sustain the pace of attacks in Iran indefinitely. He also wrote that weapons at the highest end are in good supply, but are not where we want to be.

A spokesman with U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, referred questions to the Pentagon.

A Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, said in a statement Tuesday that the military has everything it needs to execute any mission at any time and place of the Presidents choosing and on any timeline. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Parnell added, have made restoring American military dominance their top priority from day one, and American dominance has been proved again and again following every major military operation under this administration.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, who tracks Tehrans weapons programs at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a think tank, said Iran had more than 2,000 ballistic missiles before the conflict began and many more-fold drones.

It is very apparent it has learned lessons from the 12-day war in June and is trying to use its weaponry more efficiently, Taleblu said.

Iran, he said, is targeting the United States Gulf allies with low-cost drones to terrorize and exhaust limited air defenses, while focusing its ballistic missile attacks on Israel.

Iran is firing smaller volleys of missiles, signaling an interest in preserving their stocks while still testing and attriting Israels air and missile defenses, Taleblu said. The goal over time is to make Israel focus its dwindling interceptor stocks on defending smaller patches of terrain.

Iran is conscious of missile math, perhaps more so than ever before, he said.

For the U.S., the trends underscore the urgency of an effective defanging operation that aggressively destroys Irans missile caches and infrastructure, he added.

The rate at which the U.S. military is expending its most sophisticated munitions has slowed since the first day of the conflict, in which Iran fired many of its highest-end weapons, a U.S. official said, noting that the pace hasnt fallen dramatically.

In the days since, the U.S. and Israel have established air superiority, allowing fighter jets to soon fly closer to targets and use less expensive munitions such as precision-guided glide bombs, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe ongoing operations.

U.S. munitions stocks have been depleted by years of trade-offs in the defense budget, aid to countries such as Ukraine, and more recently the Trump administrations vast use of the military to carry out its foreign policy. After little more than a year in office, Trump has launched attacks in seven countries  Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen  and fired dozens of missiles in more than 40 strikes on alleged drug traffickers at sea around Latin America.

When you combine the amount of munitions that we have spent over the last year attacking the Houthis, the amount of munitions that are spent on  the seven different military conflicts the president has put America into, our munitions are low, Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said after attending the briefing with Rubio and other top Trump officials Monday.

The Washington Post previously reported that Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned Trump ahead of the operation that an extended campaign posed acute risks for the U.S. military, including a drain on its limited stores of precision weapons, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions.

Following classified briefings before each chamber of Congress on Tuesday, Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said he asked Caine about the number of munitions the U.S. has depleted compared with Iran. The general, Kim said, did not provide specifics but was not raising alarms himself while speaking with lawmakers.

Still, the scarcity could intensify a long-term problem for Americas ability to deter a conflict with China, particularly around the self-governing island of Taiwan, where Beijing has hosted increasingly complex and aggressive military drills in recent years.

Two of the people familiar with the U.S. inventories said that an extended conflict in the Middle East could require drawing down munitions stocks in the Indo-Pacific region. A separate U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe the sensitive state of munitions, said that inventories were so thin that a lengthy campaign against Iran wouldnt leave enough munitions for other threats, especially China.

The first U.S. official said that senior U.S. military leaders around the world are making decisions now about where to reallocate munitions, based on assessments of how far they can dip into stockpiles.

Warner and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said that the operation will almost certainly require Congress to pass supplemental money for the Defense Department to replace stocks spent during the attack, though the specific dollar figure would depend on the length of the ongoing campaign in Iran.
Elbridge Colby, under secretary of defense for policy, testifies a Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  The Pentagons top policy official on Tuesday faced bipartisan questions about the Trump administrations homelandfocused National Defense Strategy and how the recent attacks on Iran fit into those priorities.

We understand from [President Donald Trump] and the goals of the military campaign, this is certainly not nation building. This is not going to be endless, Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defense for policy, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

The discussion of the 2026 National Defense Strategy, published in January, was split into two sessions, starting with an open hearing, then moving to a closed meeting.

The hearing offered senators the first public opportunity to question a senior administration official about the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chairman of the committee, told Colby the strategy is silent on the role of nuclear weapons, gives less attention to threats posed by Russia and North Korea and says little about the countrys vital interest in the Middle East.

The [National Defense Strategy] is a flawed proposal and it is now, in many cases, obsolete, said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the committee. In taking these offensive military actions, President Trump has unilaterally started a conflict that is rapidly spreading throughout the Middle East.

Reed added the strategy states to empower regional allies and partners to defend against Iran and its proxies, even as the U.S. has launched the largest military campaign since 2003.

Colby said the country wants allies and partners throughout to take general responsibility, adding that this isnt a straitjacket approach.

I would say America first and peace through strength are served by rolling back, as the military campaign is designed to do, the threats posed by Irans very large and growing missile and one-way attack drone program, its navy and of course ensuring that it doesnt have a nuclear weapon, Colby said.

The U.S. and Israel launched extensive strikes against Iran on Saturday morning after months of stalled negotiations over the countrys nuclear program. Trump later that night announced the operation had resulted in the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader.

Six U.S. service members have died since the launch of Operation Epic Fury.

The toll has fueled questions about whether the campaign could widen further.

I dont have the yips with respect to boots on the ground  like every president says, There will be no boots on the ground. I dont say it, Trump told the New York Post on Monday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, during his first news conference since Operation Epic Fury began, also did not rule out deploying ground troops.

Trump, during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Monday, said the U.S. military continues large-scale combat operations in Iran. He reiterated that the objectives are to destroy Irans missile capabilities, destroy Irans Navy and ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.

Colby defended those goals when pressed by senators.

I think the objectives of the military campaign against Iran are scoped and reasonable objectives that can be attained, Colby said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters a day earlier, told reporters following a closed-door hearing on Capitol Hill that Washington knew Israels planned attack would result in an attack on U.S. forces.

We knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties, Rubio said.

During Tuesdays hearing, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., asked Colby if any efforts were made to dissuade Israel from striking. He answered by referring to comments Trump and other administration officials have made. Shaheen pressed him on what he thought.

Well, Im, you know, lieutenant of the president, Colby replied.

Elsewhere in Washington, attention shifted back to the White House, where Trump offered his account of the decision-making.

During a meeting Tuesday with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he was asked if Israel forced his hand to launch strikes against Iran.

No. ... Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think [Iran] was going to attack first, and I didnt want that to happen. So, if anything, I mightve forced Israels hand, Trump said.

This is 100% correct, Hegseth posted on X, regarding the presidents comment.

Those exchanges came as the administration reiterated its broader defense plans.

The Pentagons defense strategy lines up with the White House National Security Strategy released in December. It prioritizes border security, targeting drug traffickers and fearlessly defending Americas interests across the hemisphere.

We will guarantee U.S. military and commercial access to key terrain, especially the Panama Canal, Gulf of America, and Greenland, the document states. We will provide President Trump with credible military options to use against narco-terrorists wherever they may be.

The Pentagon said it will work with nearby allies and partners, such as neighbor and NATO ally Canada, and added we will ensure that they respect and do their part to defend our shared interests.

The heavy emphasis on military operations in the Western Hemisphere is a shift from previous defense strategies, which since 2018 have made China the focus.

Now, deterring China is second on the agenda. The approach calls for more diplomacy aimed at avoiding confrontation with Beijing while building up defenses in the Pacific to discourage Chinese aggression.
An undated photo of the Camp Lewis Post Cemetery at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash. (U.S. Army)



TACOMA, Wash. (Tribune News Service)  A Gold Star widow who was long ago promised a plot next to her husband buried at Fort Lewis Cemetery is getting what she says is rightfully hers.

Mary Dowling, now 86, has never forgotten the young pilot she married in 1958. Chief Warrant Officer Robert Dowling lost his life after his helicopter was shot down near the coast of the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. For years, she faithfully signed and returned letters confirming that she was still unmarried and wanted to retain a reservation next to her husbands burial site at the cemetery at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, she said.

Marys 65-year-old son, Bobby, has also treasured his fathers memory for years. He was 4 years old when his dad gave him a hug and told him to look after his mom and his three sisters, because he might not come home, he told the News Tribune in an email last month: It was the last time I saw him and I remember it like it was yesterday.

On Veterans Day 2022, Mary found that someone else had been buried in her plot. She and her family spent more than three years trying to get the Army to rectify what they said was a broken promise, showing letters and documents that they said proved that she had a reservation for the site. The Army told them that they couldnt move the service member who had been buried in her plot, but that she could be buried in the same grave as her husband, without a separate headstone.

That wasnt acceptable, the family told The News Tribune in multiple interviews. Mary wanted the plot that she had been promised in 1966. The Dowlings and the Army were unable to reach an agreement.

On Feb. 5, Bobby told The News Tribune that their wishes had been granted.

Just before Christmas, Bobby said he sent a packet of documents, pictures of the cemetery and family photos to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, along with a letter asking the presidents office to make things right.

Sometime just after the new year, he said he got a call from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths chief of staff, who told him that Wiles had directed Hegseths office to resolve the issue.

He said, Bobby, whatever we need to do, not just cause the White House told us to, but we want to make this right on behalf of your family, and your family deserves this, Bobby said.

Bobby Dowling said he went on to speak with the U.S. Army undersecretary, and worked with the executive secretary of Army cemeteries on a new written agreement solidifying his mothers spot at the cemetery, he told The News Tribune.

My mom, she went through each and every sentence and was good with it, he said. It was acceptable. Its all good news.

Mary Dowling received final documents of the agreement in the mail last month, according to her son. She wrote a statement to The News Tribune Tuesday.

After three years of searching for answers and hoping that a commitment made to me in 1966 would be honored, I am deeply grateful that a thoughtful and respectful resolution has been reached, she wrote. For me, this outcome affirms that trust given in good faith carries lasting meaning, and that Gold Star families deserve the respect and consideration their loved ones earned through service and sacrifice. Above all, I am grateful for the peace of mind this resolution brings to me and my family.

Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith responded to a request for comment via email Feb. 12.

The Army will provide Ms. Dowling, a Gold Star widow, a dignified burial at the Camp Lewis Post Cemetery on Joint Base Lewis-McChord immediately adjacent to her beloved husband, Smith wrote. This arrangement will not affect other existing gravesites. We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Chief Warrant Officer Robert Dowling for their sacrifices and affirm our commitment to honoring the service of all soldiers, veterans, and their eligible family members.

The News Tribune requested confirmation that Hegseths office called Bobby Dowling directly. Smith directed a reporter to reach out to the Defense Departments public affairs office. The Defense Department responds to traditional press requests through their Pentagon Press Operations office in the Pentagon, per their website. A spokesperson from that office had earlier referred a reporter to the Army when asked for comment on this story.

The News Tribune first reported in 2023 that the Army had refused to allow Mary Dowling her own headstone adjacent to her husbands plot, as promised in her reservation, though there was space to place another casket next to his. They offered to engrave Marys name on the back of her husbands headstone instead, but Mary rejected that option, The News Tribune reported.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord staff and officers told Mary and her family that interments are considered final and permanent under Army regulations, and that the cremains of the service member in her plot could not be moved, according to The News Tribunes reporting.

The Army is now offering Mary Dowling a separate headstone next to her husbands plot, and a side-by-side burial to his right but in the same grave. Her original reservation was on the left, where the other service member is now buried, Bobby Dowling told The News Tribune.

Army spokesperson Smith confirmed in an email Feb. 25 that Mary Dowling will be given a dignified burial in the same grave adjacent to her husband with her own headstone.

Bobby Dowling told The News Tribune hes grateful to Susie Wiles and the Trump administration. I dont think this would have happened without them, he said.

Were always going to be an Army family, we come from an Army family ... so I was very happy to see that we got the results that we received, he told The News Tribune.

 2026 The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.).

Visit www.TheNewsTribune.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
CAPE TOWN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The deployment of the South African National Defense Forces (SANDF) to support police in efforts to combat high gang violence and illegal mining activities in several provinces will commence this month and run for a year.

South African Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola briefed a joint meeting of the Parliament's Police Committee and the Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources on Wednesday.

According to Cachalia, the deployment is already being rolled out this month and set to last until March 31, 2027.

Areas that will be prioritized for deployment include tackling gang violence specifically on the Cape Flats in Western Cape, and Eastern Cape, as well as illicit mining activities in Gauteng, North West, and Free State.

The objectives of the operations were said to be crime reduction in the designated action areas, namely arrest of offenders, recovery of illicit firearms, ammunition, and explosives, and confiscation of "tools of trade" and illicit narcotics.

The briefing related to the deployment of the SANDF to several provinces where gang violence and illegal mining have organized into sophisticated criminal networks, as announced by President Cyril Ramaposa during his State of the Nation Address last month. 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Washington. (Konstantin Toropin/AP)



WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. and Israel are firmly in control of the fight against Iran as a barrage of strikes and counterstrikes continued for a fifth day Wednesday.

I stand before you today with one unmistakable message about Operation Epic Fury  America is winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy, Hegseth said as part of his more than 10-minute opening statement during a press conference with Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. More bombers and fighters are arriving today. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need.

Hegseth said that the U.S. and Israel will control Iranian airspace in less than a week.

They are toast, and they know it. Or, at least soon enough, they will know it, Hegseth said.

Hegseths comments came four days after the U.S. and Israel launched extensive strikes against Iran and following months of stalled negotiations over the countrys nuclear program. President Donald Trump later that night announced the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader. In addition to the strikes on Iran, Israel has attacked the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

Hegseth also said a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship Tuesday in the Indian Ocean. Caine added this was the first time since 1945 that an American submarine has sunk an enemy warship. The frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a single Mark 48 torpedo, he said.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said Tuesday in a video posted on X that the U.S. is sinking the entire Iranian Navy, including 17 ships so far. Caine said the U.S. has destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels.

The offensive has not gone unanswered. Iran has launched strikes on Israel, Bahrain and Kuwait. Turkey said that NATO defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkeys airspace. Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones.

To be clear, Iran is indiscriminately targeting civilians as they launch these missiles and drones. The evidence is crystal-clear and overwhelming, Cooper added. Having said this, we are seeing Irans ability to hit us and our partners is declining. While our combat power, on the other hand, is building.

Hegseth acknowledged Wednesday that the U.S. cant stop every Iranian drone attack.

We have pushed every counter-UAS system possible forward, sparing no expense or capability, he said, referencing drones. Like I said, this does not mean we stop everything.

Hegseths comments came amid questions on whether the U.S. and its partners in the region have adequate stockpiles of munitions to counter ongoing attacks by Iran and its proxies spanning at least 10 nations. Iran is believed to have a large stockpile of relatively cheap, sophisticated one-way attack drones in addition to its missiles.

Caine said Irans shots-fired are down significantly from the start of the campaign, with ballistic missile fire down 86% and drone attacks down 73%.

We will now begin to strike inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory and creating additional freedom of maneuver for U.S. forces, Caine said.

CENTCOM is shifting from standoff weapons to stand-in weapons, the chairman added.

The throttle is coming up, as the secretary said, as opposed to ramping down, Caine said.

Thus far, six U.S. service members have died in the fighting. They include Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa. All four Army reservists were killed in a drone attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on Sunday.

The names of two other soldiers who died in the attack are being withheld until next of kin are notified.

To the families of our fallen, we grieve with you today, and we look forward to welcoming your family members home to Dover (Air Force Base, Del.) in the coming days, Caine said.

No U.S. ground troops have been acknowledged to be part of the attacks. Trump said Monday that he did not expect they would be necessary, but told the New York Post that he could change his mind and that he did not have the yips with respect to boots on the ground.

More than 9,000 American citizens had safely returned from the Middle East as of Wednesday, the State Department said. The U.S. is facilitating charter flights from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan for its citizens, and commercial options are available in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Egypt, the State Department said Wednesday.

Reports of Iranian strikes continued into Wednesday, and airspace remains restricted throughout much of the Middle East.

Its a great opportunity to encourage everybody in the region to go to the State Department and register. Secretary Rubio has been trying to get that word out. Id ask you to help us with that and have folks registered, Caine said. Weve also opened up space available as C-17s and other airplanes come in to try to help folks get out, but thats really a State Department matter.
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars salute the American flag near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Monday, March 2, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Monday to pay tribute to the 1932 Bonus Army expeditionary force with a march and speeches around various war monuments.

The march memorialized the Bonus Army, a massive 1932 protest of 43,000 demonstrators, including 17,000 U.S. World War I veterans, families, and affiliates, who marched on Washington, D.C., demanding early payment of service certificates due in 1945.

If you think, almost 100 years ago, thats what everybody was doing, they were setting up camps, they were waiting to get paid on a promise they were made in World War I, said Tim Jensen, president of the Grunt Style Foundation, a non-profit that provides resources to veterans. Here we are in 2026, and we still cant get the promises that were made to us, followed through on by our very government.

Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars listen to a speech at the World War I Memorial in Washington on Monday, March 2, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Two members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, dressed as WWI doughboys, walk past the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington on Monday, March 2, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars hand out American flags on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Monday. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Veterans of Foreign Wars member Wayne Hutch Hutchison, center, makes a speech at the World War II Memorial in Washington on Monday, March 2, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



So were still here doing the same thing. But now were organized, now were the VFW. Now were over 100 years old, and weve got over a million members and we aint going to take this crap no longer.

The event tied is to the VFWs Honor the Contract campaign, a major initiative demanding that Congress uphold the legal and moral obligations owed to veterans. That includes specifically defending VA disability benefits and health care. The campaign asserts that benefits are not handouts but earned compensation for service and sacrifice.

Its only fitting that its snowing here  because the World War I veterans that were not getting what they deserved endured weather just like this and they stayed here, camped here, said Carol Whitmore, the VFW commander-in-chief. Its the same situation. They endured weather like this. They took the risk of camping here and being arrested. And if you can imagine that, being arrested for trying to get the rights that they earned, that they did it anyway. They did it for us, and they did it for our future.
The USS Arizona burns after being struck by Japanese bombs during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. (U.S. Navy/National Archives)



The federal agency tasked with identifying unknown American service members has committed to exhuming the remains of dozens of sailors who were aboard the USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

The decision by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency comes as a Virginia-based advocacy group, Operation 85, closes in on the government-mandated threshold of family reference DNA collection.

Provided everything continues as expected, we plan to start disinterment in November or December 2026, DPAA director Kelly McKeague told Stars and Stripes on Monday.

That timing places the operation in close range of the 85th anniversary of the attack. President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously called Dec. 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.

DPAA plans to exhume the 88 unknowns associated with the Arizona from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in groups of eight, every two to three weeks, depending on the cemetery schedule, McKeague said.

After all have been exhumed and sent to the lab for potential identification, the remains of 52 of the Pearl Harbor dead without a ship affiliation will also be disinterred.

The remains will be analyzed in DPAAs Hawaii lab as part of the Pearl Harbor Ships Project. DNA testing will be performed by the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Delaware.

Processing and analysis will begin immediately, McKeague said.

Space and people will be committed to the project until it is completed, he added.

Defense Department policy requires a general threshold of family reference samples from 60% of the potentially associated service members before the agency will disinter a group of unknown service members for identification.

In the case of the Arizona, that means DPAA needs family reference DNA from 643 distinct families. The group is now only 18 away, with enough kits mailed out to interested family members to push the effort over the line.

The journey to exhume and attempt to identify the Arizona unknowns seemed improbable until recently.

The U.S. government had DNA on file from just 25 families, according to a Navy report to Congress in March 2022. The report estimated that it would take 10 years and cost approximately $2.7 million to collect the samples needed.

Kevin Kline, a Virginia-based real estate agent whose grand-uncle, Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Kline, was killed in the attack and remains missing, started Operation 85 in 2023 to track down other Arizona family members and get them to submit DNA to the sea services.

He said he was motivated by the anger he felt following trips to the Arizona memorial in 2022 and a subsequent DPAA family update meeting.

Kline put his career largely on hold and assembled a team that includes researchers and forensic genetic genealogists. He has said that he spent about $75,000 of his own money building websites and sending out promotional materials.

By April 2025, Operation 85 had tracked down most of the nearly 600 families that submitted DNA. Today, that number stands officially at 625.

Once the threshold is reached, DPAA plans to submit the disinterment request to the assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs for approval.

It is significant for the USS Arizona families because up to 140 of them could receive the remains of their loved one and know definitively he is not entombed in the USS Arizona Memorial, McKeague said.

DPAA has entered discussions with Operation 85 about partnering on future projects, though what the groups exact role would be hasnt yet been decided, McKeague said.

Kline hopes to use his system to help identify other unknown service members. He feels a bit of pressure to deliver for the other Arizona families, he said.

I hope that all this work I did brings a few guys names back, he said. Wouldnt that be awesome?
HANOI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam opposes acts involving the use of force against sovereign countries, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the statement on Tuesday in response to media questions regarding Vietnam's reaction to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Such actions have caused severe damage and continue to threaten the lives, safety and legitimate interests of people, including Vietnamese citizens in the region, while undermining economic activities as well as peace and stability in the region and beyond, she said.

Vietnam calls on all relevant parties to act responsibly, strictly comply with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and relevant UN resolutions, and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, the spokesperson said.

Vietnam also urges the parties to resume negotiations and create favorable conditions for dialogue aimed at resolving differences through peaceful means for the benefit of the people and for regional and global peace, stability and development, she said. 
EP Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 14:52 Share

Registered unemployment figures at public employment offices across Andalucia fell by 2,629 people in February compared to the previous month (up 0.44 per cent), totalling 588,474 unemployed, according to data published by the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy. Over the past year, unemployment has decreased by 56,000 people, which means 8.69 per cent less unemployed.

By sector, unemployment fell in services (down 2,371), construction (down 980), agriculture (down 383) and industry (down 282). Meanwhile, unemployment increased among those with no previous employment (up 1,387).

By February month end, the sectors with the most unemployed were services (409,689) and those with no previous employment (67,270). The sectors with the fewest unemployed were agriculture (30,129), industry (31,876) and construction (49,510).

In terms of gender, of the 588,474 unemployed registered in February, 362,085 were women (down 1,469, or minus 0.4 per cent) and 226,085 were men, which represents a decrease of 1,464 in the number of unemployed compared to the previous month (up 0.64 per cent).

In February, unemployment among the under-25s rose, with 1,755 more unemployed than at January end, while unemployment among those aged 25 and over fell by 4,384.

Unemployment rose in two of Andalucia's eight provinces, with the largest increase in Almeria (up 38), followed by Jaen (up 26). In contrast, it fell in Cadiz (down 889), Huelva (down 654), Malaga (down 495), Cordoba (down 318), Seville (down 314) and Granada (down 23).

In February, 245,547 contracts were registered in Andalucia, down 0.06 per cent on the same month in 2025. Of these, 105,319 were permanent contracts, down 3.13 per cent on February of the previous year, and 140,228 were temporary contracts (2.38 per cent more).

Of the number of contracts registered in February, 57.1 per cent were temporary and 42.9 per cent were permanent.

Unemployment has risen in 11 regions of Spain

Registered unemployment fell in February in six regions of Spain and rose in 11, primarily in Madrid (up 3,694 unemployed), Catalonia (up 2,039) and Castilla-La Mancha (up 1,070). In contrast, the most notable decreases were seen in Andalucia (down 2,629 unemployed), the Basque Country (down 1,146) and Valencia (down 1,102).

At the provincial level, unemployment fell in February in 21 provinces, led by Cadiz (down 889 people), Vizcaya (down 745) and the Balearic Islands (down 706). Conversely, unemployment rose in 31 provinces, with the most significant increases in Madrid (up 3,694 unemployed), Barcelona (up 2,018) and Zaragoza (up 604).

Turning to the foreign working population, unemployment rose by 4,866 compared to the previous month (up 1.4 per cent), bringing the total number of unemployed immigrants to 348,559, which is 14,189 fewer than a year earlier (down 3.9 per cent).

44.1 per cent of contracts were permanent

In February of this year, 1,118,996 contracts were registered, almost 1.9 per cent more than in the same month of 2025.

Of these, 494,001 were permanent contracts, 2.5 per cent higher than a year earlier. In total, 44.1 per cent of contracts signed in February were permanent, a higher percentage than in January, when the proportion of permanent contracts stood at 41.6 per cent.

Among all the permanent contracts, 229,651 full-time contracts were signed in February, 0.2 per cent fewer than in the same month last year. Another 133,764 were fixed-term, intermittent contracts (up 2.6 per cent year-on-year) and 130,586 were permanent part-time contracts (up 7.8 per cent).

Of all contracts signed in February, 624,995 were temporary contracts, 1.3 per cent more than in the same month of 2025. In total, these contracts accounted for 55.8 per cent of all contracts signed in the second month of tax year 2026.

In the first two months of this year, 2.28 million contracts were signed, 1.3 per cent fewer than in the same period of 2025. Of these, 978,296 were permanent contracts (down 1.2 per cent) and 1.3 million were temporary contracts (down 1.4 per cent).
SUR in English Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 12:10 Share

Gibraltar's Ministry of Equality will celebrate International Women's Day 2026 with a special public event centred on this year's United Nations theme: 'Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls.'

The event will take the form of a fireside discussion between Madam Speaker, Judge Karen Ramagge Phillips and Karen Bartlett, the acclaimed author of Escape from Kabul.

With a career spanning the judiciary and public service, Madam Speaker brings a wealth of legal knowledge and experience to the discussion. Her deep understanding of constitutional and human rights makes her ideally placed to tackle the themes of justice, protection and accountability at the heart of this year's International Women's Day.

Bartlett is an award-winning journalist and author whose work focuses on women's rights, conflict, survival and resilience. Her book Escape from Kabul chronicles the experiences of women caught in the aftermath of Afghanistan's political upheaval, highlighting the human rights challenges they faced and the barriers to safety and justice they encountered.

Together, the two speakers will explore the lived realities of women whose rights have been challenged or denied, the importance of robust legal systems, and the role of institutions in safeguarding equality.

Minister for Equality, Christian Santos said: "This International Women's Day, we are privileged to host Madam Speaker, Judge Karen Ramagge Phillips and Karen Bartlett in a conversation that will give voice to women facing extraordinary injustice.

"Bringing together lived experience and legal expertise reflects exactly what this year's theme calls for - a meaningful commitment to ensuring that women and girls can access justice, be heard and have their rights upheld. Their dialogue will undoubtedly inspire reflection and reinforce our shared responsibility to strengthen justice systems for all."

The event is free of charge, but registration is required. To reserve a place, members of the public can call 200 66819 or email equality.events@gibraltar.gov.gi.
SUR in English Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 17:25 Share

Seven male juveniles aged between 14 and 16 have been arrested on suspicion of burglary following an investigation by the Royal Gibraltar Police.

The investigation was launched after a burglary was reported at a residential property in the Upper Town area on 25 February 2026, in which property valued at between 20,000 pounds and 30,000 pounds was stolen.

Detectives from the RGP's Criminal Investigation Department, supported by officers from the Crime & Protective Services Division and Response Teams, carried out a series of arrests over the following days. The investigation also led to the execution of multiple search warrants at residential addresses across Gibraltar, resulting in the recovery of property valued at approximately 20,000 pounds.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The RGP has taken the opportunity to remind homeowners and tenants to ensure their properties are adequately secured at all times, including when leaving a property unattended for even a short period
SUR in English Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 12:19 Share

Two local men appeared before the Magistrates' Court this morning charged in connection with a serious assault on an off-duty Royal Gibraltar Police officer.

M. A, 20, of Willis' House, and J. S, 21, of Sir William Jackson Grove, both face one count each of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a controlled Class B drug (cannabis resin).

The charges follow an attack on an off-duty RGP officer in the Ocean Village area on Saturday 4 October 2025. The officer suffered multiple lacerations and bruising after being punched, kicked and having his head stamped on repeatedly.

The officer had identified himself as a police officer in an attempt to de-escalate the situation before the assault took place. Both men were arrested by RGP Response Team officers and subsequently charged following an investigation by detectives from the RGP's Criminal Investigation Department.

Commissioner of Police Owain Richards said: "Although not on duty at the time, the officer identified himself as a Police Officer in an effort to de-escalate a situation and protect those present. To then be subjected to a serious assault for taking professional action is wholly unacceptable. Any assault on an officer whether on or off duty is an attack on the rule of law and will be treated with the utmost seriousness. I remain steadfast in my commitment to supporting our officers and ensuring that those who choose to use violence against them are brought before the courts."
Pilar Martinez Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 12:07 Share

Town halls from the Axarquia area of Malaga province have travelled to Berlin for the city's annual ITB tourism trade fair. Speaking at the fair, Oscar Medina, mayor of Torrox which is home to one of the largest German communities in Spain, said that German tourism "is filling Torrox once again and becoming the iconic destination of its golden age".

He added that Germans are no longer just looking for sun and beaches, but are choosing to enjoy the countryside and be in contact with nature. "We are the leading rural destination in Andalucia in this market," he said.

Medina claimed that one in ten Germans who come to Andalucia choose Torrox and he estimates that more than 100,000 visit the eastern Costa del Sol town each year. In addition to visitors, Medina said that more than 6,000 Germans have properties in Torrox.

"German tourists choose us because of the perception that the sea is good for their health, the climate and the quality of life," he said, adding, "There is no better campaign than having the best climate in Europe."

Rincon de la Victoria

The mayor of Rincon de la Victoria, Francisco Salado, who has also travelled to the German capital for the event, said that the town has seen a 153 per cent increase in German tourists in recent years and that around 25,000 Germans decided to spend their holidays in the town in 2025.

"An agreement has been reached with a tour operator that has driven this growth and is convinced that the destination offers a very complete experience for travellers looking for beaches, with seven kilometres of coastline, gastronomy, cultural activities and the option of relaxing inland," says Salado, who points out the proximity to Malaga city, which he considers a key complement.

As for expectations for this year, Salado said that "they are good, although limited by the volume of accommodation in the municipality". He also pointed out that last year Rincon saw a significant increase in the number of international tourists, which he attributes to "the steady stream of visitors to major tourism fairs such as the World Travel Market in London and the ITB". He also noted that more and more foreigners are choosing to buy a second home in the town, in particular Dutch, Belgian and British nationals.
Eugenio Cabezas Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 12:08 Share

Spain's Ministry of Transport has formalised the transfer to Velez-Malaga town hall of a section of the old N-340A between Benajarafe and Almayate on the eastern Costa del Sol. The transfer, which has been effective since 6 February following the signing of the corresponding document, affects 6.6 kilometres of road.

The agreement means that Velez-Malaga town hall now assumes full ownership of the section between kilometres 262.7 and 269.3. From now on, it will be responsible for its conservation and maintenance, according to a statement issued by the department headed by Minister Oscar Puente.

The section in question is particularly sensitive from a road safety point of view. The old N-340 is the coastal strip between Rincon de la Victoria and Nerja and in recent years there have been numerous accidents in the Almayate and Valle-Niza area, some of them fatal, which has led to repeated demands from local residents for improvements.

As detailed by the Ministry in its statement, the operation has been carried out under Law 37/2015 on roads and the general road regulations, which regulate this type of transfer when a section loses its functionality as a state road and acquires an urban character.

Improved traffic safety and management

Velez-Malaga town hall has argued that the transfer will allow for greater flexibility in terms of traffic safety and management. Among the planned interventions are speed bumps, new signage, pedestrian crossings and improvements to accesses to residential areas, measures that until now depended on state authorisation.

The takeover of this section also paves the way for a gradual transformation of the road into a more urban thoroughfare, in line with the residential and tourist growth in the area. In recent decades, the Velez coastline has undergone continuous development around this road, which in many places already functions more as a large coastal avenue than a conventional road, such as where it passes through Benajarafe and Chilches.

With this transfer, the municipality is moving towards the full integration of the former N-340 into its local road network, consolidating the direct management of a strategic axis for transport on the Axarquia coast. The action is part of a broader policy of redefining former state roads which, following the construction of parallel motorways, have been absorbed by urban growth in Malaga.

The transfer of ownership will allow the Velez Town Council to intervene directly on nearly 6,600 metres of road, with the immediate implementation of measures focused on road safety, including the construction of four pedestrian crossings.
Jennie Rhodes Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 10:46 Share

The Danish community on the Costa del Sol had the opportunity to ask questions concerning legal, pension and other rights to the secretary general of Danes Worldwide this week. Michael Bach Petersen also came with one of the associations lawyers, Caroline Ulrick.

The representatives were invited to the two Danish clubs - Den Danske Klub in Torre del Mar on Tuesday and Club Danes - Dansk Spansk samvirke in Mijas-Fuengirola on Wednesday. The invitation came from Maddie Hjort, president of the Torre del Mar club and Andalucia and Gibraltar ambassador for Danes Worldwide. SUR in English spoke to Michael, Caroline and Maddie ahead of the Torre del Mar meeting.

The sessions provided information about citizenship and rules on dual citizenship, pension, taxes and social rights, returning home or partial return to Denmark, school, language and connection to Denmark for children growing up abroad.

According to United Nations statistics, an estimated 250,000 Danish people live outside Denmark and the countries hosting the largest numbers of Danish expatriates are Sweden, Norway, Germany, the USA, and the UK.

10,000 Danes in Spain

According to Spains INE (national statistics institute) data from 2022, there were 9,136 Danes in Spain of whom just under 4,000 were resident in Malaga province alone (the figures are estimated at over 10,000 and 4,000 respectively as of 2025).

However, Hjort pointed out that it is difficult to calculate the exact number as some people live here all year, while others spend part of the year here. The Danish clubs are well-established and the one in Torre del Mar celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024.

Danes Worldwide, which was founded in 1919, is a private nonprofit organisation which provides a link for members between Denmark and Danes around the world. Petersen explained that the association is a voice for Danes abroad to politicians and other decision-makers.

As well as the advisory role, the association also campaigns on issues such as dual citizenship and voting rights, as he pointed out that Danes living outside the country are unable to vote in parliamentary elections. Expat Danes are forgotten in legislation and decisions are made that affect those Danes for which they have not been able to vote, Petersen pointed out.

Danes Worldwide also works closely with Danish embassies and consulates. The secretary general pointed out that while the Danish embassies can help with emergencies and visa matters, there are a lot of issues that are related to other ministries, like the interior ministry or migration / taxation for which the embassy cannot give information on, as they lie outside the embassys remit. In these cases, the embassies or consulates will refer people to Danes Worldwide.

Summer schools

As well as the political and legal aspect, the association provides a strong cultural connection to the country, particularly for the children of Danes living abroad. While British and American schools are not uncommon in areas with large numbers of foreigners, Danish schools are harder to find.

As such, the association offers summer schools and online courses, giving not only children the opportunity to connect with their Danish roots, but also other members to to learn Danish and keep Danish language and culture alive. HM Queen Margrethe II was patron of the association until her abdication in January 2024.

In November 2024 the Danish ambassador to Spain, Michael Braad, joined the mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre and Danish consul Marisa Moreno to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Danish consulate for Malaga, Seville, Cadiz and Huelva.

The Danish consulate, which is the oldest documented in Spain, symbolises the beginning of commercial and cultural relations that started in the seventeenth century. Today it looks to the future in which Andalucia plays a fundamental role for Danish companies.
Cristina Vallejo Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 15:36 Share

There is no consensus on the best strategy to combat the far right. Neither is there any agreement as to whether the best thing to do is to enter into the debates (which implies considering that the rights of minorities, the existence of gender violence or equality between men and women are open to debate in the first place) or to ignore them completely and hope they'll go away.

The latest issue that the far-right in Spain has entered into is the banning of the burka and the niqab in public spaces, an issue which has been discussed in the Spanish parliament and in many city councils, including Malaga and Burgos. This week Rincon de la Victoria town hall on the eastern Costa del Sol has also been in the news because of a vote that took place over the issue during a council meeting.

A couple of acceptable arguments can be used to defend the measure: women's freedom and equality on the one hand and security in public spaces on the other. Although the security argument for banning the burka is a bit lazy, like most of those that try to awaken society's fears, especially of those who have been constructed as 'other' or different'. For a start, here in Malaga do we really see so many burkas and niqabs on the street?

Fraudulent argument

But Vox's appeal to women's freedom and equality is a bit of a joke coming from a party whose leader, Santiago Abascal, denies gender violence calling it an "ideological concept" and systematically dissociates himself from any institutional and public display in condemnation of gender-based murders.

This proposal to ban clothing, which is, of course, deplorable because it erases and annuls women, is not really about feminism, it is not about the emancipation of women. It is about something else: xenophobia, racism, wanting a homogeneous, uniform, white and Christian society; instilling in the population the fear that immigration implies "the importation of habits and behaviours alien to those of western societies" or "the imposition of Islamic customs in the Spanish public space".

The extreme right were counting on using these arguments to inflate the xenophobic balloon. It is clear that without prior analysis of what lies behind it, of the hatred of the foreigner that it oozes, it is logical to say 'of course, the burka, the simple hijab, is a symbol of submission of women, of annulment so that man does not fall into temptation and take the apple (oh, no, sorry, this is from another book).

Research warns that banning burkas and niqabs withdraws women from education and the labour market: women do not stop covering their faces, they stop leaving their homes.

What does the scientific evidence say?

But does banning the burka really help liberate women or does it do the complete opposite? Scientific literature has, to say the least, serious doubts. Research by Aala Abdelgadir and Vasiliki Fouka published by Cambridge University Press revealed that banning the burka in France from 2004 onwards did a disservice to young Muslim women living in the country, which reduced their presence in the educational world and in the labour market.

The ban, says the research, increases the perception of being part of a discriminated social group and reinforces the national and religious identities of those concerned. In other words, it is counterproductive if women's freedom is what is really wanted. If the niqab and the burka are banned, girls do not stop wearing them, they stop going out.

Women's liberation is not about that, but about coexistence and diversity. The only liberalism that works, the one that allows the free circulation of ideas, means that in the end the right one triumphs, and there is nothing better than freedom and equality, the principles of feminism.

Intelligent, evidence-based feminism is not relativist. It does not think that women are free to wear veils. It does not say that if something is specific to a culture it must be respected. Feminism considers women's rights as universal over and above cultures and religious confessions, emancipated from both. But it does not prohibit, it liberates, persuades, empathises and accompanies.

Feminism is science and analyses evidence, public policies and their results. Emancipation takes longer than it takes to write a law and pass it in Congress. The abolition of gender, of gender roles, of its mandates and servitudes is not something that can happen overnight. Nor is another more perfidious construction, racism, the demonisation of the other. But every day there are those who lay one more brick. Let us not make their task even easier.
JERUSALEM/TEHRAN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military announced early Wednesday that it had "begun a broad wave of strikes" against Iran's launch sites, aerial defense systems and infrastructure, as the joint U.S.-Israeli operation entered its fifth day.

A military statement said the Israeli Air Force struck "dozens" of government command centers and internal security facilities throughout Tehran. Warplanes dropped dozens of munitions on the voluntary Basij force and internal security command centers.

In Israel, sirens were heard across the country overnight and into the early hours of Wednesday as authorities warned of missiles launched from Iran, while powerful interception blasts rattled buildings.

The U.S.-Israeli operation has killed around 185 students and teachers, injured nearly 120 and destroyed about 20 schools and educational units across Iran, official news agency IRNA reported, citing Education Minister Alireza Kazemi.

The bombing of schools, hospitals, and rescue and relief centers by the United States and Israel violates international conventions, commitments and law, and should be recorded in history, Kazemi said on Tuesday while visiting some of the damaged schools in Tehran. 
The four families trapped in Bangkok cannot return due to a connecting flight in Qatar.

Chus Heredia and Ignacio Lilla Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 10:52 | Updated 11:14h. Share

The search for a way home has become a multi-thousand-euro expense for Malaga families stranded across the Middle East.

As airspace remains restricted following recent missile activity, the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi has confirmed there are currently no government repatriation flights, leaving tourists to navigate a collapsing commercial market alone.

Facts at a glance Spaniards stranded Approx. 30,000 Alternative flight cost Up to 3,000 Official repatriation None (Commercial only) Key hubs affected Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Sharjah

With only narrow "safe windows" available for takeoff, the cost of alternative connections has spiked. Some passengers report being quoted up to 3,000 for a single economy seat to return to Spain.

According to estimates, there are around 30,000 Spanish residents that are yet to return. So far, only 175 have managed to come home, with a flight on Tuesday afternoon.

No repatriation flights

Several reliable sources, including the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, have confirmed that safety restrictions limit the number of possible departures.

"You should not go to the airport until you have confirmation of your ticket from the airline and you should contact your airline for information on possible rebookings. The rebooking of tickets by airlines happens without the intervention of the Embassy," the Spanish representatives in Abu Dhabi said.

Air Europa pilot Nacho Ballesteros is, for once, among the tourists. Unfortunately, he and his family are unable to leave Dubai after a holiday. The captain's knowledge has made him a beacon of light amid so much uncertainty for the Spanish passengers there.

Ballesteros criticises Minister of Foreign Affairs Albares for the empty promises of repatriation flights. "The Spaniards who have managed to leave have done so by their own means, on the few regular flights that have been able to depart, not on government aircraft," he told SUR.

What action are the airlines in the area taking?

Etihad Airlines has already scheduled the first flight at 4pm on Thursday. The plane in question, however, is still subject to possible cancellation due to the airspace closure.

Such a situation discourages passengers, especially those who have already received a call to go to the airport once in the past few days but have then had to return due to the flight getting cancelled or being overbooked.

This happened to Lola Sanchez Civico and her daughter Claudia Padilla Sanchez. They arrived in Abu Dhabi from India on 28 February. They returned to the airport on Tuesday morning, lucky to have two seats on a repatriation flight. They were not allowed to go beyond the gate for their flight, however, and are still in Abu Dhabi.

The Emirates national airline has its employees working from home and they have instructions to mobilise fully to get planes out as soon as they can.

The situation changes in a matter of minutes. It has already happened a few times that a plane would take off or land and the missile warning would go off. Several passengers have sent SUR videos of missiles over the night sky in the Emirates.

All Middle Eastern airlines are in the same boat. They all tend to have very high occupancy rates and, with the accumulated waiting list, finding available seats is difficult. They have all announced their intention to increase services as far as possible, but this is not an easy task at the moment.

Know your passenger rights Duty of care: The airline must cover hotel expenses and meals if you are stranded. Rebooking vs refund : They must offer a choice between a later flight or a full refund. Documentation: Travelers are advised not to head to the airport without a confirmed booking, as embassies are not currently managing ticket reissues.

It's important that passengers who have a flight to or from a conflict zone know their rights.

The airline must cover hotel expenses if it is not possible to rebook them on another flight. If possible, they should look for an alternative or refurn the money and let the passenger make their own arrangements.

SUR has been following the stories of several groups of Malaga tourists stranded in various points around the world: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, Sarja and even other countries, such as Thailand and Kenya, from where passengers first have to get to the Middle East to catch their flight to Malaga.
Irene Quirante Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 13:44 Share

The National Police have arrested four suspects during a surveillance operation in Marbella's Ricmar forest, where they found an underground den with 1,056 kilos of cocaine.

The operation took place on a day when the police knew that there would be a drug transfer on the coast of Malaga. After hours of surveillance, the police saw a high-capacity vehicle heading towards the beach. The car looked like it was performing suspicious manoeuvres to check for police presence around the forest.

When it entered the forest, the police followed it. They saw three people beating up a third individual in what looked like a fight between criminal gangs.

Two of the individuals had submachine guns and police vests. When they saw the police, they started running and opened fire on the investigators. Eventually, the police arrested them.

During the search, the police found a large drug den hidden in the ground. Inside, they found 30 sacks containing a total of 1,056 kilos of cocaine. They also discovered a camera that the criminal organisation had been using to monitor the road.

The police also seized three high-end vehicles (two of them stolen), weapons of war (an AK-47, an AR15 assault rifle and an UZI submachine gun), three small arms, various police equipment, transmission equipment and frequency jammers.

The detainees were brought before the courts as alleged perpetrators of attempted homicide, illegal possession of weapons, crimes against public health, criminal group membership, theft/burglary and forgery of documents.
Roman Malaga rises: Thyssen Museum opens long-awaited buried city to public After 20 years of meticulous excavation, the museums archaeological site offers an immersive journey into the 1st-century salt-fish industry and domestic life of ancient Malaca

Regina Sotorrio Wednesday, 4 March 2026 | Updated 05/03/2026 10:53h. Share

As you descend beneath the Museo Carmen Thyssen, the air grows heavy. Humidity spikes to 80 per cent and the temperature settles at a constant 19 degrees.

This is the threshold of Roman Malaga as it existed 20 centuries ago. It was a thriving, maritime trade hub defined by its salted fish factories and bustling commerce.

Baroness Carmen Thyssen, founder and primary benefactor of the museum, visited the remains alongside Mayor of Malaga Francisco de la Torre and described the discovery as "marvellous".

But opening the site to the public has not been plain sailing. The visit of the Baroness was the culmination of two decades of challenging work.

The primary delay in welcoming the public was not the archaeology itself, but the battle against the elements - specifically, controlling the high water table that has historically flooded the area.

Elevated walkways now guide visitors across 700 square metres of history. The site preserves the remains of a Roman domus (house), a fish-salting factory, and a tavern where the homeowners sold their wares. Key artefacts on display include amphorae, fragments of netting needles, and glass vessels. Most notably, the site houses what is believed to be the oldest painting in Malaga: a vibrant depiction of fish crowning a monumental fountain.

What is truly interesting is the long period of occupation, explains Aurora Zafra, head of archaeology for Malaga City Council. The site shows at least four centuries of continuous industrial and residential activity. Located on the outskirts of the ancient walled city, across the Guadalmedina river, this was an industrial quarter where enterprising families prospered.

The residence is designed around a brick-paved courtyard. To one side lies the production area, featuring four large basins used for preserving fish in giant jars.

The owner of the salted fish factory and the town built a monumental fountain

To the left sits the site's "jewel": a monumental nymphaeum. This marble-covered fountain, decorated with mosaics and niches, served both a practical and aesthetic purpose. The owner was sensitive enough to provide the house with water, but with an artistic vision, says museum director Lourdes Moreno. It was a display of social status.

The tour concludes at a unique tavern that once opened onto one of the districts busiest streets, serving as a retail outlet for garum (the prized Roman fermented fish sauce). The site even offers a glimpse into the later Byzantine era, with tombs from a necropolis built after the Roman city collapsed.

Technology bridges the 2,000-year gap; visitors can scan QR codes to virtually reconstruct the tavern walls and the fish fountain via their mobile phones.

The project faced significant engineering hurdles. "The water table has always been very high here," noted Mayor De la Torre. Specialists from the CSIC eventually developed a system of four wells and eight motors to keep the site dry.

Due to the delicate preservation requirements of the ancient paintings, capacity is strictly limited to 20 people every 30 minutes. General admission is 15, with free entry on Sunday afternoons. Specialised virtual guided tours are also available, though currently fully booked through April.

Visits to the archaeological complex must be booked in advance, given its limited capacity. They will be from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 8pm hours, with a general rate of 15 euros (10 euros, for concessions). On Sunday, from 4 pm onwards, admission will be free.

In addition, a virtual guided tour has been set up for only 10 people per shift and 20 euros per ticket, which is already booked up for March and April.
Nuria Triguero Malaga Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 12:24 Share

Malagas production sector is on high alert after US President Donald Trump threatened to sever all economic ties with Spain.

The ultimatum, delivered on Tuesday, has sent shockwaves through the 550 Malaga companies that currently rely on the American market - the provinces fourth-largest export destination

The US market accounted for 262.3 million in turnover for Malaga in 2025. However, this figure already represents a 15% decline from 2024, as local businesses struggle under the weight of the administration's "Liberation Day" tariffs.

The latest escalation stems from the Spanish government's refusal to allow US forces to use the Rota and Moron airbases for strikes against Iran.

Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump branded Spain a terrible ally and instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all dealings with Madrid.

The President also cited Spain's refusal to meet a 5% GDP defense spending target for NATO as a primary reason for the proposed embargo.

The number of companies exporting to the US suffered last year. In 2024, there were 738 companies trading with the US and 1,152 in 2021 (the historical record).

Spain started looking for alternative markets after tarrifs were imposed last year. However, replacing the fourth largest export destination is not feasible, at least in the short term.

Antonio Luque, president to Dcoop, warned that while Spain has spent years diversifying its markets, the scale of the US economy means it cannot simply be replaced. "It is an essential market," Luque stated, echoing the concerns of hundreds of local entrepreneurs now facing an uncertain 2026.

Olive oil is king The potential blockade threatens the core of Malagas agricultural and technological sectors. Olive oil remains the undisputed leader of sales, making up 71% of all exports to the US, valued at 186 million last year. Key companies caught in the crossfire include: Dcoop: The agri-food giant considers the US an "irreplaceable" market for its oil and table olives Airzone: Exported 22.4 million in home automation and climate control devices last year TDK & Denso Ten: Major exporters of electronic capacitors and audiovisual components Triselecta: A leading global saffron exporter based in Malaga

Around 100 Malaga companies make up the core of regular exporters to the US, including Dcoop, Airzone, Mayoral and the former Fujitsu.

Olive oil is the undisputed king of Malaga's sales to the US: it accounts for 71 per cent of the value exported (186 million last year). Other products such as wine, canned olives, vinegar and saffron are also important items on the list.

One of the main exporters of saffron - Triselecta - has its headquarters in Malaga, despite the fact that production takes place outside the province.

There are also other goods among the top exports: Airzone's home automation control devices (22.4 million euros last year), solar panels, TDK's electronic capacitors, electronic components for televisions and Denso Ten Espana's audiovisual devices.

Malaga also exports works of art (worth 1.5 million euros), high-end watches that American tourists buy in the Costa del Sol (worth more than 2.3 million euros) and 'shisha' tobacco (more than half a million euros).

Imports: vehicles, machinery, medicines

Despite the mounting pressure, Malaga maintains a significant trade surplus with the US. While imports (primarily vehicles, agricultural machinery, and medicines) grew slightly to 105.8 million, they remain less than half the value of Malagas exports.
Pilar Martinez Enviada especial Berlin Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 12:24 Share

The representatives of Andalucia, the Costa del Sol and Malaga city at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin are confident that these destinations will increase the number of German tourists this year.

The escalating war in the Middle East looms over these high expectations. The conflict's greatest threat in the short term is that it has increased the price of petrol and, therefore, of tourist packages. In addition, many people might postpone their travels in fear of uncertainty.

In fact, the fair, which started just a couple of days after the US and Israel started bombing Iran, reflects this global state of uncertainty. The exhibition centre in Berlin has many empty stands where professionals who have been unable to travel due to the airspace closure were supposed to present their offers.

The attendees who have managed to get to the German capital share daily concerns and often check their mobile phones. The southern Spanish representatives, however, have chosen hope for their industry, despite the cancellation of key flights.

No fear for the German market despite the conflict

According to regional minister of tourism Arturo Bernal, head ot Turismo Costa del Sol Francisco Salado and Malaga's tourism councillor Jacobo Florido, the conflict in the Middle East will not directly impact the German market.

They expect that their offers will attract five per cent more German tourists this year, reaching a record of 1.3 million. Bernal believes that German visitors will also contribute 1.8 billion euros to the local economy.

The Andalusian representatives at the ITB are aware that "any armed conflict is detrimental" and the worst travelling companion for tourism. Due to the current situation, Malaga has lost key connections to and from Doha, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Riyadh.

What Bernal also wants to highlight in Berlin is that Andalucia is a safe destination. The regional minister said that now is the time to "rise to the occasion, attend to the Andalusians trapped in the area and trust that, as in other crises, tourism will remain resilient".

Salado also expressed an optimistic view. The head of Turismo Costa del Sol highlighted the commitment of airlines to improve connections between Malaga and Germany. The schedule between March and June is proof of that, with 7.2 per cent more seats compared to the same period last year.

Six airlines will connect Malaga with 14 German cities. Turismo CDS's plan is to invest one million euros to consolidate the leadership of the German market, despite the impact of the war.

"This war is not good news for anyone. It generates great uncertainty and is going to trigger an increase in the price of oil and, with it, of tourist packages," Florido said. "If it were in our hands, we would take peace over an increase in tourists," he stated.

Salado said that they are more concerned about the delayed reopening of the high-speed rail service in Malaga province. "Hopefully the 23 March deadline will be met, although the damage to Easter Week is already irreparable. Last-minute bookings will not be able to compensate for the 30 per cent drop. We call for speed, efficiency and commitment from the government to restore the rail network as soon as possible," he said.

At Malaga city's stand, Jacobo Florido said that he is confident that the Costa del Sol capital can achieve an eight per cent increase in German visitors this year. He highlighted the importance of tourists from this country, which comes for their longer stay and higher purchasing power.

Florido, however, is also realistic about the impact of the war, stating that "there is a risk that people might decide not to travel". Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu agreed that there could be short-term consequences in tourism, "although it is too early to assess them".

According to Hereu, 2026 tourism forecasts should be met as long as the conflict does not extend over time. "We call for ceasefire and we are confident that tourism is one of the most resilient industries," he said. The minister made it clear that "Spain is a country that defends peace".

Nobody can answer what will happen next with certainty. The events of the next few days will be key in weighing up factors such as the instability in the Gulf, which is putting competitors Turkey and Egypt in check.

On the other hand, this puts at the forefront destinations known for their security such as Andalucia, which could attract more German tourists. Time will tell.
Irene Quirante Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 11:44 Share

The provincial court of Malaga has sentenced a young man to ten years in prison for sexually abusing his underage cousin and uploading the recorded material to an online cloud.

The first incident happened in December 2021, when the defendant was still underage himself. For this reason, the provincial court has only taken into consideration the incidents that happened after he turned 18.

The abuse happened when the victim was 12 to 13 years old. He didn't live in Spain, but he would often spend time at his cousin's family home when visiting, especially around Christmas.

The suspect would take advantage of the fact that the boy "lacked the capacity to understand or react". Despite initial resistance, the boy would eventially agree because he "respected his older cousin", as the ruling states.

The court has proven five episodes of abuse. The defendant recorded and uploaded them to an online cloud, without the victim's knowledge or consent.

The emotional burden led the victim to miss a year and seven months from school, during which time he was undergoing a psychiatric treatment. The extent of the trauma eventually required that he receive treatment at a youth centre.

The investigation

The investigation started in 2023 when US non-profit organisation National Center for Missing and Exploited Children detected that someone had posted more than 40 videos and images of paedophile content online.

The digital trail led them to report the case to the Spanish National Police, who then traced the content to the suspect's house in Malaga. They quickly identified him with the help of other photos in the online storage cloud he used, which contained his identity document and profile photo.

The folder also contained pornographic content of paedophile nature that he had previously downloaded.

The court could not prove whether he had shared or exchanged them online. The sentence convicts him of continuous child abuse and production and possession of child pornography, but not distribution.

The sentence includes ten years and one day in prison, as well as a restraining order for a decade. The defendant can also not perform any profession, trade or activity, whether paid or unpaid, that involves regular and direct contact with minors for 14 years.

In addition, the court has established that he must serve six years of probation and compensate the victim 20,000 euros for the moral and psychological damage.
Olatz Hernandez Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 12:46 Share

Spain is not alone against Trump's trade threats. The European Commission came forward to defend its member state on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said that he would cut off all trade with Spain in retaliation for not supporting him in his attack on Iran.

EU trade spokesperson Olof Gill said that the Commission "will ensure that the interests of the EU are fully protected". He stated that the European institution is "ready to act".

He warned Washington that there will be consequences if Trump keeps his promise to cut off economic relations with Spain. "The EU and the US concluded an important agreement last summer. The Commission expects the US to fully honour the commitments of that deal," Gill said.

US trade threats are nothing new. Brussels had to deal with similar statements from the Republican leader when he wanted to impose tariffs on countries that had sent military support to Greenland, in the midst of the diplomatic crisis over his annexationist aspirations for the island.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has chosen peace over war for the country. Despite Trump's threats to cut off trade relations with Spain in retaliation for the lack of support in his attack on Iran, during an appearance at the Moncloa palace on Wednesday Sanchez firmly said "no to war".

The PM stated that, while Spain condemns the repression of the Iranian regime, the response from the rest of the world should be diplomacy, not violence.

"Some will accuse us of being naive. What is naive is to think that the solution is violence, to believe that democracies or respect between nations spring from ruins or to think that practicing blind and servile subservience is a form of leadership," Sanchez said.

Sanchez drew a direct parallel with the 2003 Iraq war to remind the population that following Washington in its wars does not guarantee security or prosperity.

In just a week, Spain will commemorate the victims of the 11-M bombings at Madrid's metro in 2004. The terrorist attack in the Spanish capital was a punishment for the country's direct involvement in Iraq.

According to Sanchez, the Spanish government at the time, with former PM Jose Maria Aznar at the head, made a decision that only led to "more jihadist terrorism, a serious migratory crisis and an escalation in energy prices". Sanchez also alluded to the First World War to warn of the danger of the "chain reactions that get out of hand because of miscalculations".

"We are not going to be accomplices in something that is bad for the world simply for fear of reprisals from someone else," Sanchez said.

He highlighted "the solidarity of the Spanish people with the countries illegally attacked by the Iranian regime" (nine countries in the Middle East and the British base in Cyprus). Above all, he blames the US and Israel and reminded the public that nobody knows what the real objectives of their attacks are.

The conflict has already caused hundreds of deaths, the collapse of the stock markets, the disruption of air traffic and the Strait of Hormuz, through which, until very recently, 20 per cent of the world's gas and oil transited.

As a "full member of the EU, Nato and the international community", Spain demands a cessation of hostilities.

Sanchez outlined four lines of action on Wednesday: the evacuation of Spaniards in the Middle East, with the foreign service and the army working "day and night" in what he described as a "very sensitive" operation due to the insecurity of the airspace; the study of economic protection measures for households, workers and companies, similar to what happened during the Covid-19 crisis; collaboration with the countries in the Middle East that are committed to peace; and demand for an immediate cessation of hostilities from all parties, including the US, Iran and Israel.

The prime minister emphasised Spain's position as a "full member of the EU, Nato and the international community". In response to claims that the country is being naive in its approach, Sanchez said that they stand on the values of the Constitution, the founding principles of the EU, the UN and international law.

"We are with many other governments that think like us and with millions of citizens throughout Europe, North America and the Middle East who do not want more war or uncertainty, but more peace and more prosperity," he said.

Message of calm

The Moncloa sends a message of calm to the Spanish population. Sources have stated that any review of the trade relationship must respect the autonomy of private companies, international legality and bilateral agreements between the EU and the US.

This is not the first time that Trump has threatened Spain with trade retaliation. He did so in The Hague in June 2025 and in October. On neither occasion have the threats materialised.

After the latest threats, European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill warned that the EU will respond to any measure against any of its member states.

On the domestic front, leader of the opposition Alberto Nunez Feijoo accused Sanchez of putting at risk the "security, stability and position" of Spain in the world in order "to win a few votes". Government spokesperson Elma Saiz accused the opposition of trying to "make a profit even in an extremely serious situation".
ISTANBUL, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that a ballistic projectile allegedly launched from Iran was successfully intercepted by NATO air and missile defense units deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to a statement from the ministry, the missile passed through Iraqi and Syrian airspace before heading toward Turkish airspace.

The ministry provided no additional details regarding the type of missile or specific defensive systems involved in the interception. 
The portable EInk monitor has evolved from a niche gadget into a practical tool for writers, students, and digital professionals in 2026. As portable working setups become more common, many people are turning to eye-friendly portable monitors to reduce strain from hours of staring at backlit displays.

With both monochrome EInk screens and color EInk displays now available, the question is whether this technology is finally good enough for everyday productivity.

What Is a Portable EInk Monitor?

A portable EInk monitor is an external display that uses the same electronic ink technology found in ereaders like the Kindle. Instead of emitting light like an LCD or OLED panel, it reflects ambient light, giving the screen a paper-like appearance.

Portable EInk monitors connect via USBC or HDMI and are designed to act as secondary screens for laptops, tablets, or smartphones.

EInk displays come in two main types: monochrome and color. A monochrome EInk screen shows black, white, and grayscale shades, making it ideal for reading, writing, and coding.

A color EInk display, on the other hand, uses a layer of color filters or pigments to produce a muted but functional color palette. In 2026, several new models from companies like Dasung and Onyx BOOX refine these panels with faster refresh rates and improved brightness control.

How Does EInk Technology Work?

An EInk display relies on millions of tiny capsules filled with positively and negatively charged particles. When an electric field is applied, these particles move to the top or bottom of the capsule, reflecting light in a specific way to create visible text or images.

Because the display only uses power when changing the image, it consumes far less energy than a conventional backlit monitor.

This mechanism is what makes EInk screens so eye-friendly. They don't flicker, and they don't emit the blue light associated with visual fatigue. However, the same properties that make them comfortable also limit their capabilities.

The refresh rate is significantly slower, which makes tasks involving fast motion, like video playback, less practical.

Is a Portable EInk Monitor Good for Work or Study?

For people who primarily deal with text or static content, the EInk productivity setup is becoming an increasingly popular choice. Writers, researchers, coders, and students appreciate how it encourages focus. Without colorful distractions or constantly flashing notifications, the monochrome EInk screen creates a calmer digital workspace.

Battery efficiency is another major advantage. Since EInk panels consume minimal energy, portable monitors can run for days on small battery packs. Combined with glarefree viewing, they are well-suited for travel or outdoor use. Still, the tradeoff is speed.

Dragging windows or scrolling through web pages sometimes results in brief ghosting effects or latency. While these limitations persist in 2026, improvements in controller chips have noticeably reduced refresh lag compared to earlier generations.

For those with demanding visual tasks, such as watching videos, editing designs, or rendering animations, EInk monitors remain supplementary rather than primary devices. But for writing, notetaking, and long reading sessions, they shine as highly efficient and eye-friendly portable monitor options.

Does a Color EInk Display Make a Real Difference?

Modern color EInk displays have come a long way. The latest color panels, such as EInk Kaleido 4 and Gallery 3 used in 2026 models, provide richer hues, improved contrast, and higher resolution.

These screens can display charts, presentations, and web pages with subtle but clear color differentiation, making them more versatile than ever.

The color still tends to be muted compared to an LED screen, so color EInk displays aren't substitutes for professional graphics editing or media production.

However, for document annotation, spreadsheet work, or viewing PDFs with color highlights, they add meaningful functionality. The newer models also offer adjustable front lights with warmer tones that maintain visual comfort even under dim conditions.

Color EInk is gradually bridging the gap between functional and aesthetic utility. For users who want both readability and light color awareness without eye strain, these monitors strike a practical balance. In short, color doesn't make EInk flashy, it makes it flexible.

How Eye-Friendly Are EInk Monitors Compared to Traditional Screens?

A major reason people migrate to eye-friendly portable monitors is the promise of reduced eye fatigue. Traditional LCD and OLED screens emit bright blue light, which can lead to dryness, headaches, or difficulty sleeping after prolonged use.

EInk technology, by contrast, reflects ambient light, much like paper, creating a natural reading experience that's easier on the eyes.

Studies from 2025 and 2026 comparing EInk monitors with laptop screens show measurable differences in visual comfort during extended sessions. Participants using EInk displays reported less strain, better focus, and lower stress levels.

The absence of flicker and glare, combined with an adjustable front light, allows extended work sessions without the usual symptoms of digital eye fatigue.

For professionals working long hours in front of a screen, an eye-friendly portable monitor is not simply a luxury; it's a wellness investment. By reducing blue light exposure, it supports sustainable digital habits in a remote-workheavy world.

What Are the Downsides of Using a Portable EInk Monitor?

Even as the technology advances, portable EInk monitors come with limitations. Refresh rates remain slower than typical displays, making scrolling or dragging windows less fluid.

This can be frustrating for multitasking or quick navigation between applications. The color EInk display models also carry a significant price premium, reflecting the complex manufacturing process behind their pigment layers.

Another challenge is compatibility. Some EInk monitors still require special drivers or software adjustments to display content optimally on Windows or macOS devices. Additionally, their niche nature means fewer accessories and customization options compared to mainstream portable monitors.

Despite these drawbacks, the efficiency and visual comfort of monochrome EInk screens continue to appeal to specific audiences. For those seeking minimalism and focus, the tradeoff is often well worth it.

Who Should Consider Getting an EInk Monitor in 2026?

The 2026 generation of portable EInk monitors caters to professionals and hobbyists alike. Writers and academics benefit from distractionfree productivity, while students appreciate the energy efficiency and portability.

Remote workers who travel frequently also find the lightweight form factor invaluable for outdoor environments where glare would overwhelm a typical display.

A balanced EInk productivity setup often pairs a laptop for heavy tasks with a portable EInk screen dedicated to reading or notetaking. Some users even combine EInk monitors with ergonomic keyboards for a minimalist desk layout.

For anyone focused on improving comfort, concentration, and long-term screen habits, this kind of setup delivers genuine benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a portable EInk monitor display web animations or videos smoothly?

Not really. EInk panels have slow refresh rates, so animations and videos tend to appear choppy. These monitors are better for static tasks like reading or writing.

2. Do portable EInk monitors work with smartphones or tablets?

Yes, many modern models connect via USBC or wireless casting. Compatibility varies by brand, but most Android and iPadOS devices support them.

3. How durable are EInk monitors compared to standard portable displays?

EInk monitors are generally more durable since they generate less heat and use solid-state components, but the screens can still crack if dropped.

4. Can users colorcalibrate a color EInk display for design work?

Not effectively. Color EInk lacks the brightness and precision of LED panels, so it's unsuitable for color-critical editing tasks.
WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. president's special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has led U.S. diplomatic negotiations with Iran in recent months, has not engaged in diplomacy with Iran following joint U.S.-Israel strikes on the country, CNN reported Tuesday.

The report suggests that the Trump administration has, at least for the time being, shifted away from diplomatic efforts while continuing military actions against Iran.

Witkoff has not spoken with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in the days "since this thing went kinetic," the report quoted a senior Trump administration official as saying.

Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media that it's too late for U.S.-Iran negotiations, arguing that the United States held the military advantage.

In another post, the U.S. president boasted "unlimited supply" of weapons, dismissing a Wall Street Journal report that highlighted the rapid depletion of air-defense interceptors and other munitions in strikes against Iran, which is reportedly "straining its stockpiles."

Meanwhile, Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran's last shah, is not someone that the White House has considered for new Iranian leadership, noting he still preferred "someone from within" to take charge.

Trump also admitted there was no evacuation plan for U.S. citizens across the Middle East region before launching the massive military campaign against Iran.

"Because it did happen all very quickly," Trump told reporters.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it is "actively securing" military and charter aircraft to fly Americans from the Middle East to safety as the war has deeply disrupted commercial air travel. 
Japan eyes remote Pacific island for nuclear waste



Tokyo, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



Japan is looking into using a remote deserted Pacific island nearly 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) from Tokyo as a site for burying nuclear waste, officials said.

Nuclear power is making a comeback worldwide, but finding permanent storage sites for spent fuel -- which can be hazardous for many thousands of years -- is a huge challenge.

Japan is no exception as it pivots back towards "maximum use of nuclear power" in a safe manner, according to its energy policy, 15 years after the Fukushima disaster.

The government wants to conduct a preliminary survey on Minamitorishima, Japan's easternmost island in the Pacific, to see if it is fit to host a facility.

State-owned Minamitorishima, uninhabited by civilians and off-limits to tourists, has "some unexplored landmass capable of hosting a facility," industry minister Ryosei Akazawa told reporters Tuesday.

The triangle-shaped island surrounded by coral atoll also has some "scientifically favourable traits", the minister said.

A request was later submitted to a Tokyo municipality that administers the island to inspect its land conditions and volcanic activity through geological documents -- the first of a three-part survey to select the ultimate disposal site.

Probes were already conducted in three locations in two of Japan's main -- and heavily populated -- four islands, including two in Hokkaido and another in Kyushu.

Minamitorishima, which is around 1.5 square kilometres (0.6 square miles), is reportedly the first candidate the central government picked at its own initiative.

In January, Japan switched back on the world's biggest nuclear power plant in its central Niigata region for the first time since the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

Finland has built the world's first deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel, the Onkalo facility where waste is meant to be isolated 400 metres (1,300 feet) below ground.
Attack on DR Congo nature park HQ kills five



Kinshasa, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



An armed attack on the headquarters of Upemba National Park in southeastern DR Congo has killed five staff members, the state-run body that manages the park said Wednesday.

The HQ of the park at Lusinga in Katanga province was on Tuesday "the target of an armed raid carried out by a group of unidentified assailants", the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) said in a statement.

"This attack on this major biotope of the national heritage has resulted in heavy human and material losses: five members of the park's staff have tragically lost their lives," ICCN director general Yves Milan Ngangay said in the statement.

Equipment was also looted and infrastructure suffered extensive damage, he said.

Security forces have restored full control of Upemba park and the Lusinga office, the ICCN said.

Nature parks and reserves in the Democratic Republic of Congo are often caught up in conflicts over their boundaries and the resources they contain, especially mineral resources.

Created in 1939, Upemba park was home to black rhino, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions and other endangered species whose populations have since been largely decimated.

In 2021, a warden at the park was killed and three others were injured in an attack.
Attack at DR Congo nature park kills five



Kinshasa, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



An armed attack on the headquarters of Upemba National Park in southeastern DR Congo has killed five staff members, the state-run body that manages it said Wednesday.

The circumstances of Tuesday's raid in a region hit by local militias often organised along community lines, as well as criminal networks, have not been released.

The park's HQ at Lusinga in Katanga province was "the target of an armed raid carried out by a group of unidentified assailants", the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) said in a statement.

"Five members of the park's staff have tragically lost their lives," ICCN director general Yves Milan Ngangay said in the statement.

Equipment was also looted and infrastructure suffered extensive damage, he said.

The ICCN, which runs dozens of parks and reserves in the Democratic Republic of Congo, did not mention any claim of responsibility for the attack.

Security forces have restored full control of Upemba park and the Lusinga office, the ICCN said.

Nature parks and reserves in the DRC are often caught up in conflicts over their boundaries and the resources they contain, especially mineral resources.

The ICCN condemned the incursion as a "flagrant violation" of national law and of international conventions protecting natural areas.

It called it a direct breach of the principle of neutrality and non-belligerence governing protecting spaces.

Created in 1939, Upemba park was home to black rhino, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions and other endangered species whose populations have since been largely decimated.

In 2021, a warden at the park was killed and three others were injured in an attack.

Lusinga, where Upemba park's headquarters is located, is more than 600 kilometres (370 miles) south of Kivu region, where the Rwanda-backed M23 armed anti-government group has been fighting Congolese armed forces.
DR Congo mine landslide death toll tops 200: government



Kinshasa, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



The death toll from a landslide at a mining site in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has passed 200, the government said Wednesday.

A shaft collapsed at the country's largest coltan mine in the rebel-controlled east on Tuesday, witnesses told AFP, with an initial toll of six dead.

The Rubaya mining site lies about 70 kilometres (45 miles) west of Goma, capital of North Kivu province, which is under the control of the Rwanda-backed armed group M23.

"The provisional toll counts more than 200 compatriots who lost their lives, including 70 children and numerous wounded," said the mining ministry in a statement.

AFP could not independently confirm the toll in the remote region, where neither humanitarian organisations nor major health structures have access and where telecommunications are regularly cut.
US interior secretary visits Caracas in quest for minerals



Caracas, March 4 (AFP) Mar 04, 2026



US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Wednesday became the latest senior Trump administration official to visit Venezuela, as Washington pushes to ramp up oil and mineral production in the country whose leader it ousted.

Burgum, who leads President Donald Trump's National Energy Dominance Council, met interim leader Delcy Rodriguez at the presidential palace in Caracas.

The pair were expected to issue a joint statement after their talks, which reflect the dramatic shift in ties between Washington and former foe Caracas since the US ouster of longtime leader Nicolas Maduro in January.

The US charge d'affaires in Venezuela, Laura Dogu, said Burgum's visit was aimed at developing "a legitimate mining sector and secure supply chains for critical minerals."

It follows that of Energy Secretary Chris Wright on February 11.

Trump has boasted that Washington is in effective control of Venezuela since Maduro's capture in a bombing raid on Caracas that left 100 dead.

Maduro was flown to the United States, where he is due in court later this month on drug trafficking charges, which he denies.

Trump greenlighted Maduro's former deputy Rodriguez to succeed him, with the proviso that she submit to US demands on access to oil.

Washington has also pressured her administration to end the repression of political opponents.



- Rare earths -



Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, which Trump says he wants to harness for the benefit of both Venezuelans and Americans.

The Caribbean country is also rich in minerals such as gold, diamonds and coltan, which contains a metal used in mobile phones, laptops and other electronics.

Mining activity is concentrated in a vast southeastern territory known as the Orinoco arc.

Environmentalists have condemned the expansion of illegal mining in the area, saying it has caused rampant deforestation and river pollution.

After overhauling the oil sector to woo foreign investors, with input from Washington, Rodriguez has set her sights on reforming the country's mining legislation.

Few details have been revealed so far but her brother, congress speaker Jorge Rodriguez, said Monday the reform would allow "large foreign companies" to exploit minerals and rare earth elements.

Burgum's visit came a day after Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA announced the signing of new oil contracts with the United States.

The new supply deals come amidst fears of a fall in global oil output due to the war in the Middle East, which has already pushed crude prices to their highest levels in a year and a half.

So far PDVSA has shipped more than 80 million barrels of crude to the United States, according to Trump.
KABUL, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Police discovered 36 kg of opium and took into custody three drug smugglers in Herat province in western Afghanistan on Wednesday, a statement of the provincial police office said.

The alleged drug smugglers, according to the statement, were attempting to take the contraband out of Herat via a car.

All the trio suspected smugglers would be handed over to the judiciary after completion of preliminary investigation, the statement said.

Police will not allow anyone to produce, process, or traffic illegal drugs, the statement emphasized. 
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The Bride of Frankenstein lives for only five minutes or so of her 1935 movie. She never speaks a word. A hiss. A scream. And, with that, her creators recognise her abhorrence and snuff out instantly the existence they toiled so hard to revive. If a filmmaker like Maggie Gyllenhaal were to lend that monstrous woman a voice, then why wouldnt it belong to the star of her directorial debut, 2021s The Lost Daughter, and a soon-to-be Oscar winner, Hamnets Jessie Buckley?

In The Bride! (note the exclamation point), Buckley is a mass-destructive cyclone of female rage, thrusting and spitting and ripping out tongues and pulling her skirt up and pointing a pistol sky high with tears in her eyes and an ink stain splattered across her lips like a gunshot wound. Buckley bleached her eyebrows for the role. That means theres no escape here from those deep brown eyes. You start falling into them and never stop falling until youve been consumed entirely. If Hamnet proved the actor could tear down every barrier between herself and grief, then The Bride! does the very same with anger.

Her screaming, resuscitated corpse is brought back into 1930s Chicago to right, what Gyllenhaal would argue, is a cinematic wrong. Shes cavorting not through Gothic keeps and burning windmills, but grabbing the wrist of her fellow creature, Christian Bales Frank (the name borrowed from his father), for a Bonnie and Clyde-style offshoot.

open image in gallery Female rage: Jessie Buckley as the titular Bride ( Warner Bros )

Before death, The Bride was your standard gangsters moll. But, revived by Dr Euphronious (Annette Bening) via an electrified, Joan of Arc chainmail chest plate, she becomes a figurehead for the cracking taking place inside womens heads  a climactic explosion of repressed feeling that results in what Gyllenhaal has termed a brain attack. The Bride! depicts womens rage as a righteous rebellion against the natural order, as opposed to the unnatural kind pursued by Frankenstein and co. She is, as Euphronious pleasingly phrases it, a piece of disobedient geometry.

To give The Bride her voice, and to imagine that voice might be angry, might make for a propulsive film, fuelled by Sandy Powells silky gowns, Karen Murphys steampunk designs, and Hildur Gunadottirs keening score. But The Bride! is too easily distracted by its flash-bang machine gun and electric marquee world  theres an entire detective subplot led by Peter Sarsgaard and an underserved Penelope Cruz  to make much sense out of its own manifesto. It presents female rage convincingly. But what does it have to say about it?

As a nod to the 1935 film, Gyllenhaal has Buckley play both The Bride and Frankensteins author, Mary Shelley, the latter here literally possessing the former, so that she periodically spits out bits of disconnected verse in an embittered, RP dialect. Gyllenhaals version of Shelley is brusque. Her real-life counterpart was notably introverted. Gyllenhaals version of Shelley rejects her 1818 novel as a paucity, not half of what I wanted to write, when her real-life counterpart continued to show pride in her work until her death.

open image in gallery Christian Bale and Buckley in Maggie Gyllenhaals The Bride! ( Warner Bros )

It doesnt strike me as much of a feminist act to disbelieve that a woman so meek in manner could contain all the horrors of Frankenstein, or to ignore the fact that the novelist already expressed the particular barbarity of resurrecting a woman without consent by having Frankenstein destroy his bride before she took a single breath. In fact, it was men  director James Whale and screenwriter William Hurlbut  who pursued the act to completion and left her voiceless.

Yet The Bride! looks far more kindly on Frankensteins cinematic legacy. Bales performance is certainly Boris Karloff-adjacent, a creature bewildered by his own capacity for violence. And the character is shown to be a diehard fan of silver screen icon Ronnie Reed (Jake Gyllenhaal). When they inevitably cross paths, he tells him, I credit you and you alone with my survival, before breaking out into a rendition of Puttin on the Ritz as a nod to Young Frankenstein (1974). Theres a playfulness there, and a real burst of imaginative thinking, but Gyllenhaal has regrettably pulled a Frankenstein herself. All those ideas, yet they havent quite stitched up together to make a beautiful corpse.

Dir: Maggie Gyllenhaal. Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penelope Cruz. Cert 15, 127 minutes

The Bride! is in cinemas from 6 March
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You know, the hardest thing is to say goodbye to someone you love, croons Damon Albarn on Gorillazs richly expansive ninth album, The Mountain. Its a direct sentiment that scores its way through the multi-layered single Orange County, on which sadness is balanced by breezy whistled melody, sunny blasts of brass and soothing echoes of sitar.

Both Albarn and his Gorillaz co-creator, artist Jamie Hewlett, lost their fathers in 2024 and processed their grief via two magical trips to India. Albarn scattered his dad Keiths ashes in the river Ganges, embracing what he described as the countrys more open and positive outlook on death.

That flow of fire and water philosophy can be felt in the swirling currents of The Mountain, delivered via the cartoon bands reliably eclectic festival of contributors. Its there in the graceful rippling Hindi of 92-year-old Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle (whose joyful wisdom soars over the arcade game synths of Shadowy Light), the bubbling zest of Argentine rapper Trueno (who brings Latin muscle The Manifesto), and in the gleefully explosive ranting of the late Mark E Smith, who hurls manic laughter and free associated lines about sin, shrunken heads and wooden tits into the industrial, choir-backed pulse of Delirium.

The Fall frontman is just one of many posthumous contributors here, reminding us that music can keep ghosts alive and  by spinning outtake samples of vanished voices into new forms  even serve as a kind of reincarnation. Its wonderful to get visitations from former Gorillaz guest stars such as rebel actor Dennis Hopper (who appeared on the bands 2005 album Demon Days and died aged 74 in 2010), through Nigerian-Ghanaian drummer Tony Allen (featured on 2020s Song Machine project; he died aged 79 the same year) to rapper and Eminem hype man Proof (who recorded the single 911 with Gorillaz in 2001, five years before he was shot dead, aged 32, in 2006).

Over 15 tracks, a giddy mix of moods, genres, cultures, languages and time periods is woven together with virtuosic ease by Anoushka Shankars liquid sitar, Johnny Marrs shimmering guitar and Ajay Prasannas gliding bamboo flute. Highlights include The Happy Dictator (feat Eighties electronic pioneers Sparks); swaggering The God of Lying with IDLES; dreamy, cocktail hour-turned-soul bop The Moon Cave (partying with Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda and Black Thought), and hectic, high-octane Arabic jam Damascus with Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey.

There is so much going on on The Mountain that even writing about it turns into a dense pattern of times, places and people. Its best to sit back and contemplate the album as a musical mandala. Allow your mind to drift through its geometry of recurring ideas and Albarns undimmed gift for tossing out bittersweet melodies and lyrics that (as on the elegantly subdued Casablanca) contrast mundane experience of tunnels to suburbia with yawning abstracts like the abyss, or the alienated viewpoint of the lone shooter with the warm connection of the kiss. Thats the way to the summit, through the sprawl.
COLOMBO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken steps to evacuate Sri Lankans living in the Middle East if security conditions worsen and citizens request assistance, a senior ministry spokesman told journalists on Wednesday.

The ministry is currently assessing requirements and collecting necessary data to carry out an evacuation if necessary, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Thushara Rodrigo.

Sri Lankans seeking to return in an emergency should notify the ministry through Sri Lanka's diplomatic missions in the region, said Rodrigo.

There are over a million Sri Lankans working in the Middle East. 
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Where has Harry Styles been? Not where you might expect. He popped up at the Vatican when they announced the new pope, rubbed shoulders with locals at bars in Rome, and was even filmed trying (emphasis on trying) to help a fan park their car. Since concluding his last world tour in 2023 hes also pressed pause on a hit-and-miss acting career, lost a central figure in former bandmate Liam Payne, who died aged 31 in 2024, and revealed how a reset in Italy over summer gave him a newfound perspective on life: I remember going to a cafe and sitting and having a coffee and thinking, I dont remember the last time I sat down and had a coffee  if Ive ever sat down and just had a coffee, he recalled. Now hes back: in the charts and on billboards. After a triumphant performance at the Brits, he returns with a new album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally ready to be recrowned our pop king. Let light come in once in a while, he sings.

La dolce vita certainly has its place on this album, perhaps Styless most playful, bold and experimental to date. He sounds relaxed; theres none of the self-consciousness thats plagued him in the past, when he was trying to be the millennial answer to David Bowie. The former One Direction star is also the most vulnerable hes ever been, exploring his feelings around relationships, adulthood, the loss of innocence. It opens with Aperture, the single he released in January. Its the perfect scene-setter, a dizzying, euphoric dance track layered with lush harmonies and a pulsing synth beat that spins around like a strobe light. Go forth, ask questions later, he commands.

He follows his own advice. Theres a curiosity to this album that was perhaps lacking in its predecessor, 2022s Harrys House. Critics reviewed it positively (The Independents Mark Beaumont hailed its funk shuffle and future soul panache), and it also won the Grammy for Album of the Year. To me, though, it felt like Styles was trying too hard to be what others hoped he might become: the former boyband star turned great pop auteur, leaning into a lush, layered Laurel Canyon sound that washed blandly over the listener.

Go forth, ask questions later: Harry Styles lets his curiosity roam free on his new album ( Stella Blackmon )

Not so here. American Girls opens with hushed piano and the soft skitter of the hi-hat, before a funk beat breaks onto the chorus: Known you for ages/ Thats all Ive heard/ My friends are all in love with American girls, Styles croons. Its Eighties Italo disco with a hint of French house, like a jolt of espresso to set you up for what follows. Theres the brilliant chaos of Ready, Steady, Go! with its dizzying outro, bloopy keys and Sons of Kemet co-founder Tom Skinner keeping Styles on a loose leash with his drum rhythms. Dance No More is fantastic, riffing on Rick Jamess 1981 hit Super Freak as Styles squawks: Gotta get your feet wet/ Respect/ Respect your motheeeeer!

As with Aperture  and all of his solo albums, in fact  Styles favours songwriting in vignette form. No song exemplifies this so much as Pop, a sexy, explorative number with squelchy funk beats and lyrics that play out like blurry snapshots of the night before. Am I in over my head? Styles questions, his vocodered voice adding a hazy, drunken quality. This could go anywhere/ I do it again and again Its just me, on my knees, squeaky clean fantasy. He worries hes lost himself on Are You Listening Yet?, chastising the way he likes the way she talks/ Never what she says.

While not everything works  there are still some clunky turns of phrase here and there  Kiss All the Time offers more insight into Styless current psyche than ever. Taste Back finds him wrestling with a situationship, while Paint By Numbers seemingly addresses his guilt amid the fallout from his split with director Olivia Wilde, who was seen bringing her two children to his shows while they were dating. Holding the weight of the American children whose hearts you break/ Was it a tragedy when you told her/ Im not even 33, Styles sings. You get the sense hes spent some time wondering what if things had turned out differently. His voice is full of yearning on The Waiting Game, with a touch of Bowie in his deeper register over a lopsided, Radiohead-style minor chord on the guitar.

Coming Up Roses is wonderful, from the opening sound of the orchestra tuning up to the pluck of violins and glide of the cello, beautifully arranged by conductor Jules Buckley. Styles channels Chet Baker here on what is perhaps his best vocal performance, with gorgeous phrasing and careful annunciation. Tell me your fears/ Ive turned back the clocks, its that time of year/ If we stay the course we could get it right/ But Im not devoid of an appetite, he sings.

Its almost a relief to have Styles back, given how women in pop have been doing so much of the work in recent years. And really, he has no true male peer (artists such as Bad Bunny, Sam Fender and The Weeknd excel in their own lanes), as much as newcomers such as Benson Boone might try. No one can match his level of pizzazz. By stepping away for a minute, allowing any fears of getting left behind to cease, Styles has been able to return with newfound clarity and, more importantly, music that actually sounds like him. He let the light in, and it shows.
Being a Jew is a full-time job, says Philip (Eli Gelb), the troubled, sombrely suited male protagonist of Arthur Millers late play, given an intense Young Vic revival by Jordan Fein. Hes joking, of course. But theres a germ of truth there. Set in 1930s Brooklyn, Broken Glass is a psychologically intense study of a couple whose daily lives rely on backbreaking internal labours. He endlessly spells his name (Gellburg, not Goldberg), obsesses over the contours of his face in the mirror  and battles to hide his concern about the rise of Nazism in Germany. Meanwhile, his wife Sylvia (Pearl Chanda) languishes in bed with a mysterious illness, surrounded by stacks of newspapers and regret for the life that should have been hers.

Millers play is claustrophobic and intense, set mostly in the couples messy bedroom. In contrast, Feins production is deliberately bright and spacious, making their marriage explode across a big arena-style stage, every ugly detail highlighted by office-style fluorescent lights. Still, his attempts to refurbish this story get stuck at surface level. Clocks set to different time zones slowly converge, suggesting the universality of Jewish experience. Old and new newspapers are piled together, showing that the headlines never change. But these contrived interventions dont stop the play from feeling dated, with its repetitive structure and post-Freudian conviction that Sylvias mental illness springs from her husbands sexual failings. This production runs for two hours straight through, without justifying ditching the interval. (Theres no readmission, which feels exclusionary for a theatre thats historically been committed to welcoming the widest possible audience through its doors.)

Unconvincing as the modernisation sometimes feels, Fein has coaxed some fine performances from this strong cast. Gelb is alternately likeable and loathsome as a husband who painfully suppresses his identity in front of his idly privileged Harvard boss  then oppresses his wife in turn, forbidding her to return to the job she loves. Chanda is full of frustration and spark as she tries to understand why her body is failing her. And theres an entirely convincing chemistry between her and her infatuated doctor (Alex Waldmann), whos got some risque notions about how to get her legs working again.

Miller wrote his play in 1993, when Brooklyn was a tumultuous icon of multiculturalism. He betrays traces of nostalgia for its past in Sylvias memories of walking to school across green fields, dragging her sisters along by a washing line. But hes also unsparing, exposing the prejudices of a time when Jewish people were still shut out of some professions and spaces while being forced to justify their presence in others. As such, Broken Glass is fascinating as a coda to Millers career-long preoccupation with the dark side of American capitalism, explored in plays like Death of a Salesman.

This revival feels worthwhile, without quite achieving the shattering contemporary relevance it strives for.

Broken Glass is at the Young Vic until 18 April
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British actor and model Annabel Schofield, best known for her role in Dallas and as the star of a memorable 1989 jeans advert, has died at the age of 62.

The British star died on 28 February from cancer, having first had surgery for the illness in 2023. She restarted chemotherapy in November 2025 after finding that it had spread to her brain.

Born in Llanelli, Wales, in 1963, Schofield was a notable face on London's fashion scene in the 1980s, where she appeared on the cover of major fashion magazines, including Vogue in Germany.

Tributes were led by Melissa Richardson, who at the time owned Take Two, the London agency that Schofield was signed to. Richardson remembered Schofield as a favourite of the fashion photographer David Bailey, who had appeared in "countless shoots" for Italian Vogue.

open image in gallery Schofield (left) in 2022 ( Getty )

"She was the forerunner of Take Two  without her, we could never have made it as we did," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "We loved her because she was funny and real and beautiful and down to earth. She never changed from the sweet little 17-year-old Welsh girl I first met. She was directly loyal, caring, and above all, a raging beauty. She knew her craft. She was the best.

The daughter of John D Schofield, a production executive who worked on films including Jerry Maguire and Romancing The Stone, Schofield grew up around film sets before pivoting to modelling, when she starred in campaigns for brands ranging from Versace and Yves Saint Laurent to Rimmel and Revlon.

One iconic campaign saw Schofield appear in a TV advert for Bugle Boy Jeans. In the advert, a man is shown standing alone in a desert, until a black Ferrari pulls up beside him. The window is rolled down, revealing Schofield, who asks: "Excuse me, are those Bugle Boy jeans youre wearing?" before driving away.

At the height of her modelling career, Schofield relocated to Los Angeles, where she landed a role in the low-budget film Bloodtide in 1982 before being cast in the long-running American sitcom Dallas.

open image in gallery Schofield shared updates on her cancer treatment on social media ( Getty )

The soap, which centres on a Texas oil family, was then in its 11th season. Schofield played Laurel Ellis, a friend of Clayton Farlow (Howard Keel) who is blackmailed by series lead JR Ewing (Hagman) into having sex with him to protect her friend.

Schofield appeared on the show for 11 episodes, and in a 2012 interview said that Keel had been one of her favourite actors to work with.

Other roles followed, including a performance in 1990 sci-fi thriller Solar Crisis opposite the late Charlton Heston, who Schofield said in the same interview was "definitely not" one of her favourite actors to work with. She also performed in Dragonard and Eye of the Widow.

Later in her career, Schofield followed in her father's footsteps and moved behind the camera, founding her production company Bella Bene Productions in Burbank, California in 2010.

After starting a blog called The Cherry Alignment about the culture and style of the 1980s, Schofield released a semi-autobiographical novel of the same name in 2013.

Schofield posted about her cancer diagnosis on Instagram frequently, and after restarting chemotherapy in November, she underwent surgery again in January. Having had to stop work due to her illness, she asked for support on a GoFundMe page, which amassed nearly $35,000 (26,100) in donations.

"Im very wobbly and now waiting to find out if I need more chemo or radiation. I swear it never seems to end," she wrote.

The actor is survived by her mother.
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David and Victoria Beckham have publicly extended birthday wishes to their son, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, amid an ongoing family feud.

It comes after Peltz Beckham issued a scathing statement containing serious allegations against his parents, accusing them of prioritising "Brand Beckham" above all else.

The former England captain marked his sons 27th birthday by sharing a series of photographs on social media.

One image featured Sir David, Lady Beckham, and Peltz Beckham in a swimming pool, captioned: "27 today. Happy Birthday Bust. We love you."

A subsequent post showed just Sir David and Peltz Beckham, with the message: "Happy Birthday Bust, Love you."

Bust is the Beckhams nickname for their eldest child, who has made forays into modelling, photography and cooking.

The family in happier times: Brooklyn, wife Nicola, Lady Beckham and Sir David ( Instagram )

Lady Beckham shared the same pool picture to her Instagram stories, alongside a photo of herself with her son as a baby.

"Happy 27th birthday Brooklyn, I love you so much," the caption read.

Peltz Beckham garnered significant attention in January after an Instagram post in which he declared he had no desire to "reconcile" with his family.

He alleged that his parents manipulated press narratives and "[tried] endlessly to ruin" his relationship with Nicola Peltz Beckham in the lead-up to their 2022 wedding.

Among his claims, he said that his mother "hijacked" his first dance with his wife, dancing "inappropriately on me" in front of guests, leaving him feeling "humiliated".

He also claimed that his wife had been "disrespected" by his family and was not invited to his fathers 50th birthday celebration.

Peltz Beckham has reportedly asked his parents not to interact with him or tag him on social media. He has also blocked his family on Instagram.

Neither Sir David nor Lady Beckham, affectionately known as Posh and Becks, have directly addressed the allegations.

Their other children, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper, have also remained silent on the matter.
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Trader Joes has issued an urgent warning to customers about four popular frozen foods that have been included in a massive recall affecting 36 million pounds of various products.

Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc., based in Portland, Oregon, is expanding a February 19, 2026, recall of frozen not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) chicken products over potential foreign material contamination after glass was discovered, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service. Approximately 33,617,045 additional pounds of various ready-to-eat (RTE) and NRTE chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai dumpling products have been recalled.

As part of the expanded recall, Trader Joes announced Tuesday that four of its products have been affected.

The recall includes the brands Chicken Fried Rice, with Best By Dates through March 4, 2026, and February 10, 2027, and the Vegetable Fried Rice, with Best By Dates between February 28, 2026, and November 19, 2026.

Also included are its Japanese Style Fried Rice, with Best By Dates between February 28, 2026, and November 14, 2026, and the Chicken Su Mui, with Best By Dates between March 13, 2026, and October 23, 2026.

open image in gallery Trader Joes products have been recalled due to potential glass contamination ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Four popular Trader Joes products are being recalled ( Trader Joe's )

Customers with affected items can return them to any Trader Joes store for a full refund.

The recall comes after the FSIS received multiple consumer complaints involving glass, according to the companys announcement. A further investigation found that carrots were the likely source of the glass contamination, leading to additional products being recalled.

Along with Trader Joes frozen foods, the expansion of the recall includes 16 products sold between October 21, 2024, and February 26, 2026, under brand names Ajinomoto, Kroger, Ling Ling and Tai Pei.

A full list of affected products can be found here.

The news comes amid concerns about other products being contaminated with foreign material. Last year, more than 20,000 cases of single-serve peanut butter and peanut butter-and-jelly combination snacks produced by Ventura Foods LLC were recalled after pieces of blue plastic were found during production. However, last month, the recall was upgraded to a Class II by the FDA due to the increased risk of health consequences.

Last month, Rosina Food Products, Inc., based in West Seneca, New York, recalled approximately 9,462 pounds of frozen meatball products because they may be contaminated with metal. The USDA classified the recall as Class I  its highest risk level  meaning there is a reasonable probability that consuming the products could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
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A man awaiting trial for the murder of his teenage daughters alleged abuser won the Republican nomination for local sheriff in his rural county, where he ran on the message of fixing failures in law enforcement.

Aaron Spencer defeated Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley by winning more than 53% of the vote in Tuesdays primary elections, according to unofficial results posted by the Arkansas secretary of state. He would not be able to serve if he were convicted of killing Michael Fosler, 67, who at the time was out on bond after being charged with numerous sexual offenses against Spencers then-13-year-old daughter.

Staley, whose department arrested Spencer in 2024, conceded the loss.

Congratulations to Mr. Spencer. Tonight the voters made their decision in the Republican Primary, and I respect the decision, Staley said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Spencers attorneys do not deny that he shot and killed Fosler but maintain he acted within the law to protect his child from a predator.

Spencer said in a statement that his message of accountability resonated with voters.

Tonight, the people of Lonoke County stood up and chose transparency and accountability, Spencer said. This wasnt a campaign about me. It was about every family who called for help and got nothing. That betrayal ends tonight.

He is now set to face Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in the heavily Republican county in November.

open image in gallery He is now set to face Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in the heavily Republican county in November ( Getty Images )

Spencer has pleaded not guilty and is out on bond while awaiting trial, which was originally scheduled to start in January. The trial was delayed after the presiding judge was removed from the case. A new date has not been set.

Court documents show that on the night of the October 2024 shooting, Spencer woke up to find his daughter missing from her bedroom and went searching for her in his truck. He found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer eventually forced Foslers truck off the highway and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man, records show.

Prosecutors argue Spencer had planned to kill Fosler even before that night and that he could have called the police while pursuing Fosler.

Spencer's attorney, Erin Cassinelli, wrote in an email to The Associated Press that the election results have no bearing on the facts of the case.

Aaron Spencer did exactly what the law allows and exactly what any father would do: he protected his daughter and himself from harm, Cassinelli said. At some point, those responsible for this prosecution will have to reckon with that.

Spencer pledged in a Facebook post last month that if elected, he would establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.
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Hundreds of children have been preyed on for decades by Catholic priests in Rhode Island, with the church leaders getting away with sexual abuse largely due to bishops prioritizing minimizing scandal, according to findings released on Wednesday.

The findings were part of a multiyear investigation into the Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, led by Attorney General Peter Neronha.

The report was designed to spark a full reckoning of the abuse that had long remained elusive inside the smallest state in the U.S., home to the countrys largest Catholic population per capita, with nearly 40% of the state identifying as Catholic. Neronha, himself a Catholic, sided with the victims who have argued that not enough has yet been done to address the problem, more than two decades after it was widely exposed in the nearby Boston diocese.

According to the report, there was a secret archive maintained to conceal the revelation of more victims.

Not until now has there been a comprehensive review of this painful chapter in our states history, with a view toward offering transparency, accountability, and systemic reforms that will, I hope, lessen the likelihood of future child sexual abuse, not just within the Diocese of Providence, but in our community as a whole, Neronha wrote in the report.

The investigation found that 75 Catholic clergy molested more than 300 victims since 1950, but officials stressed that the number of victimized children and abusive priests is likely much higher.

Abusive priests able to hide, transfer to new sites

The diocesan records, described as damning in the report, revealed that the diocese often transferred accused priests to new assignments without thoroughly investigating complaints or contacting law enforcement.

This includes the Diocese of Providence opening a spiritual retreat-style facility in the early 1950s, where several accused priests were sent for treatmentwith the goal of returning to work. This practice evolved into sending accused priests to more formal treatment centers after determining that clergy abuse may be a mental health problem.

The report said the dioceses overreliance and misplaced faith in the treatment centers was at best absurdly Pollyannaish.

By the 1990s, accused priests were sometimes placed on sabbatical leave.

For example, the report says priest Robert Carpentier was accused in 1992 of sexual abuse by the family of a 13-year-old victim. Carpentier confirmed the abuse took place in the 1970s and resigned.

Carpentier was sent to a treatment center in Connecticut and eventually went on sabbatical at Boston College. He remained on a leave of absence until his official retirement in 2006 and received support from the diocese until he died in 2012.

Overall, the majority of cases involving accused priests avoided accountability from both law enforcement and the diocese.

Neronha said his office has charged four current and former priests for sexual abuse they allegedly committed while serving in the diocese between 2020 and 2022. Three of those priests are still awaiting trial. The fourth priest died after being deemed incompetent to stand trial in 2022.

In total, only 20, or about 26% of the clergy identified in the report, ever faced criminal charges, and just 14 clergy were convicted. A dozen accused clergy were laicized or dismissed from the clerical state.

Some survivors were groomed before abuse

One survivor in the report shared that he was groomed before he was sexually abused by Monsignor John Allard, who served at Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston in 1981.

open image in gallery In total, only 20, or about 26% of the clergy identified in the report, ever faced criminal charges, and just 14 clergy were convicted ( AP )

The survivor, who is not named in the report, said Allard gave him attention and physical affection between seventh and eighth grade. By ninth grade, Allard brought the young teenager to the priests bed, took off the victims clothing and began fondling his penis.

He never asked me for a hug, he never asked me if I wanted a hug, his comment to me was always, You need a hug, and thats something that I can hear him saying very clearly to this very day, the survivor told officials in 2013.

While a review board deemed the victims abuse credible, then-Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin intervened, asking the Vaticans powerful doctrine office to allow Allard to retire without being removed from the priesthood. The Vatican agreed.

Sometimes, even those tasked with reviewing abuse cases were also abusers. In 2021, priest Francis Santilli received a child sexual abuse complaint after serving on Rhode Islands diocese review board. Santilli stepped down, but remained in active ministry even after receiving additional abuse complaints in 2014 and 2021. Santilli wouldnt be removed until 2022.

Only the Diocese can explain why this plainly necessary action took so long, the report says.

Extent of abuse still unknown

Neronha first launched the investigation in 2019, nearly a year after a Pennsylvania grand jury report found more than 1,000 children had been abused by an estimated 300 priests in that state since the 1940s. The 2018 report is considered one of the broadest inquiries into child sexual abuse in U.S. history.

open image in gallery The findings were part of a multiyear investigation into the Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, led by Attorney General Peter Neronha ( AP )

However, unlike Pennsylvania, Rhode Island law doesnt allow grand jury reports to become public  a hurdle that Neronha has long fought to change.

Instead, Neronha had to enter into an agreement with the diocese to access hundreds of thousands of records of abuse that spanned decades.

While Neronha said the church cooperated, handing over 70 years of what became known as the secret archive, or files containing internal investigations, civil settlement records of sexual abuse cases, treatment costs and more.

Yet Neronha says the arrangement was not without important limits, or without delays.

It repeatedly refused my teams requests for interviews of Diocesan personnel responsible for overseeing the Dioceses investigations and response to child sexual abuse allegations, Neronha wrote about the diocese.

Furthermore, an unknown number of victims likely died before coming forward, while some church records have been lost or even destroyed surrounding possible abusive priests. Its also common for child sexual abuse victims to take decades before coming forward with their stories.
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The two young girls found stuffed inside suitcases and buried in shallow graves in a Cleveland neighborhood were related, authorities have revealed, marking the first major breakthrough in the grim case.

A preliminary DNA examination determined the girls were half-siblings, according to a new report released by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office in Ohio on Wednesday.

The bodies were discovered Monday night in the area of South Collinwood by a man walking his dog near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, close to Ginn Academy School, Chief Dorothy Todd said during a news conference this week.

Investigators believe the girls were between the ages of 8 and 14, but neither has been positively identified. No cause of death has been released.

At this time, neither decedent has been positively identified, Christopher Harris, a spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office, said in a statement, according to NBC News.

open image in gallery The bodies of the two girls were discovered Monday night in the South Collinwood neighborhood on Clevelands east side ( WBNS )

Officers arrived on the scene around 6 p.m. Monday after the caller reported finding what appeared to be a body inside of a suitcase, Todd told reporters.

A search of the area led to what appeared to be a second shallow grave, and they could tell that there was a second suitcase in that location, the chief said.

Police have not determined how long the girls had been buried, though Todd said they had been there for some time.

Phillip Donaldson, the dog walker who found the first suitcase told local media the mound of dirt had been visible for at least a week. He recalled his disturbing discovery to News 5.

It was like a pile of dirt, and she stopped to sniff  and she was taking too long, Donaldson said, referring to his dog. So I went back and looked, and it was a suitcase that was half buried and I pulled it up and looked in it, and it was a head. Somebodys head in it.

Authorities estimate one girl was between 8 and 13 years old, while the other was believed to be between 10 and 14 years old. Both victims were Black. Todd said neither body appeared to have been dismembered.

The girls were found in an area with little foot traffic and have not been linked to any active missing persons cases in the Cleveland area.

Locally, we have no reports of missing children to match these identifications. We are checking statewide as well. We have assistance from our state, federal and local partners, she said.

Investigators may face challenges obtaining surveillance footage from the area as a lot of cameras dont capture historical data, Todd said.

It is traumatic for everyone, the chief added. It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their doorstep.

No suspects have been identified, police said. But Todd urged anyone with information to contact the Cleveland Police Departments homicide unit at 216-623-5464 or Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463.
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When a beloved Venezuelan couple vanished from their Utah community last week, many of their loved ones feared that they had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Then, police found a body.

Jeusselem Elieth Genes Vitola, 43, was found dead inside her husbands camp trailer at a storage facility in Draper, Utah, on Tuesday, the Saratoga Springs Police Department announced on Facebook this week.

Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas, 57, is now considered a person of interest in her death and is believed to be in California after fleeing Utah, police said. The case is being investigated in coordination with the Draper Police Department, the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Border Patrol.

The couple, who immigrated to Utah from Venezuela about a decade ago, is well known in the states Venezuelan community and had recently celebrated the opening of their food truck, Rica Arepa, in Midvale, according to KSL.

open image in gallery Jeusselem Elieth Genes Vitola, 43, was found dead inside her husbands camp trailer at a Draper storage facility. Her husband, Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas, 57, is now considered a person of interest in her death ( Saratoga Springs Police )

The search for the couple began on February 26 after Genes Vitola failed to show up for work. Her husband had left home around 10:15 a.m. to drive her to work, but she never made it.

That same night, family members requested a welfare check, according to Police Chief Andrew Burton who gave an update on Monday.

Burton said that the couples relatives initially did not believe they were in danger. The couple, who had been married for 19 years, had no history of domestic violence or serious medical issues, Burton said. He added there had been some talk about divorce.

Family members were, however, concerned that the couple may have been detained by ICE. A police check ruled out the possibility, Burton confirmed.

Body found in locked trailer

Jeusselem Elieth Genes Vitolas body was found on Monday by authorities who were executing a search warrant at Urbina Rojas camp trailer at a Draper storage facility.

The trailer was then processed as a crime scene, and the Medical Examiners office was notified, Burton said. An autopsy was completed today, and full results of that autopsy are still pending.

Family members claimed that they had attempted to search the same trailer on Saturday but did not locate either party, finding the trailer locked, police said.

Following the discovery of Genes Vitolas body, the case was immediately reclassified as a homicide investigation.

Husband believed to be in California

Investigators say Urbina Rojas vehicle, a 2005 gray Toyota Sequoia, was captured on vehicle cameras in Cedar City, St. George and Las Vegas on the day the couple went missing, though footage did not reveal who was inside.

Use of credit cards and other purchases also showed up late in the evening that Thursday night in California, Burton said. The car was last seen on camera in Southern California on Monday.

We are alerting local authorities in California, Burton said, adding that detectives are working to determine whether Urbina Rojas has associates or contacts there.

Burton emphasized that Border Patrol has no record of the car crossing into Mexico and believes Urbina Rojas is still in California.

open image in gallery Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas, who is now considered a person of interest in his wife's death, fled Utah and is now believed to be in California, police say ( Saratoga Springs Police )

open image in gallery Police are looking for Alvaro Jose Urbina Rojas, who is believed to be driving his car, which is a 2005 gray Toyota Sequoia with Utah license plate T409YB ( Saratoga Springs Police )

Things looked very normal

Members of Utahs Venezuelan community say the couple appeared happy just two weeks ago when they held the grand opening of their food truck.

Things looked very normal, Fernando Colmenares told KSL in Spanish. He added that the community is devastated. Though we only met them briefly, they looked happy and we were all really happy for them, to see their progress as Venezuelans.

Colmenares added that his heart is with the couples two children.

How to help

Urbina Rojas is described as 59 tall, 193 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

His vehicle is described as a 2005 gray Toyota Sequoia with Utah license plate T409YB (Utah Arches style plate).

Police say they do not believe he has left the country and are asking for the publics help in locating him.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Llorens at the Saratoga Springs Police Department (SSPD case 26SS02396) at 801-766-6503 or 801-798-5600.
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Police have identified the owner of a pair of gloves found in connection with the Nancy Guthrie investigation, but the individual has no ties to the disappearance.

"There was some talk and discussion that it was police officers out in the field just discarding them, that is so far from the truth, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told KVOA this week. We knew that at that time, we believed wholeheartedly that those gloves belonged to a restaurant and guess what? The owner of the glove, we found working at a restaurant across the street. It has nothing to do with the case.

Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, lives in the foothills of Tucson near a shopping center with multiple restaurants.

The black gloves were found about 2 miles from Nancy Guthries home, the sheriffs office told The Independent.

Investigators are still scrutinizing DNA tied to the February 1 disappearance, which is presumed to be a kidnapping.

open image in gallery Police are yet to name a suspect in the Nancy Guthrie case, though they have determined a pair of gloves found in the investigation has nothing to do with the case and belonged to a local restaurant worker ( Getty/NBC/Today )

Nanos has sent another pair of gloves to a Florida lab for analysis.

"It's a challenge because we know we have DNA but now we have to deal with that mixture and how we're going to separate it," Nanos added in his interview with KVOA.

Police continue to operate under the assumption Nancy Guthrie is alive, more than a month after her suspected abduction, Nanos said this week.

The Independent has contacted the sheriffs office for more information.

The investigation, now being led by a task force of local police and Tucson-based FBI agents, entered its 32nd day on Wednesday. The 84-year-old Guthrie, who is in fragile health, remains missing and no suspects have been publicly announced.

Nanos told said on Monday that investigators are definitely closer to cracking the case.

Police are using a variety of tools to hunt for information, including digital forensics.

open image in gallery Surveillance camera video of a masked individual outside Guthries home remains the key piece of evidence found in the case so far ( FBI )

Investigators have reviewed local Walmart sales data to see if theres a match with a backpack seen on a suspect in the disappearance filmed on Guthries doorbell surveillance camera, but police told KSDK that their initial review suggests the backpack may have been bought from another store.

Police are also analyzing footage from a neighbors Ring camera and local traffic cameras.

The sheriffs department encourages community members to submit relevant footage online here.

Two individuals detained and later released as part of the investigation have recently spoken out.

Luke Daley told AZ Family he and his mother Mary were detained on February 13, though they are still not sure why.

I have thought of any type of reason why they could have come after me, but theres nothing, and I think thats why they didnt tell me, Daley told the outlet.

open image in gallery The Guthrie family is offering a reward of up to $1 million to assist in locating Nancy Guthrie ( Instagram/@savannahguthrie )

Contrary to the public impression that the investigation is becoming a cold case, police have a red-hot investigation on their hands, according to a former FBI agent.

"This case is the polar opposite of a cold case," retired FBI special agent Jennifer Coffindaffer told Newsweek. "It is a red-hot case with agents, up to 100, and analysts and Pima County Sheriffs officers and other law enforcement working on all the actionable leads."

Savannah Guthrie and her sister visited a memorial to their mother outside her home on Monday.

We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country, the Today anchor wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of flowers left at the site. Please dont stop praying and hoping with us. Bring her home.

The Guthrie family is offering up to a $1 million reward in the case, on top of a combined reward of about $200,000 from state and federal officials.
MOSCOW, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Around 7,000 Russian nationals have been evacuated from across the Middle East amid the escalating tensions in the region, a senior representative of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI) said on Wednesday.

Dmitry Arutyunov, co-chair of the RUTI Outbound Tourism Committee, said at a press conference that approximately 50,000 Russian tourists are currently staying in the Middle East. "About 7,000 passengers have been evacuated," he said, noting that not all of them were package tour travelers.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed the estimated figure of roughly 50,000 Russian travelers stranded in the Middle East. She added that between 6,000 and 8,000 Russian nationals are currently unable to leave countries in Asia and Africa due to suspended transit air connections.

Zakharova also said that as of March 3, a total of 292 Russian nationals had been evacuated from Iran amid heightened tensions in the region. Of these, 253 had left via Azerbaijan, 31 via Armenia, and eight crossed the Iranian-Turkmen border, she said.

On Feb. 28, joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes hit Iran's capital Tehran and other cities. Iran has responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and U.S. military bases across the Middle East. 
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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said investigators are definitely closer to finding Nancy Guthrie, a month after she went missing from her Arizona home.

The 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her affluent Catalina Foothills neighborhood, just outside of Tucson, as she slept in the early morning hours of February 1, police say.

The authorities have been desperately searching for Nancy, releasing photos and video of her suspected kidnapper taken on Nancys doorbell camera the day she vanished and asking for the publics help in the case.

I think the investigators are definitely closer to cracking the case, Nanos told NBC News Liz Kreutz.

open image in gallery Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said investigators are 'definitely closer' to finding Nancy Guthrie, a month after she went missing from her Arizona home ( Joe Raedle/Getty Images )

He said his department has created a team from its homicide unit to work on Nancys disappearance with the FBI and that they are following thousands of leads.

Nanos said authorities are operating under the assumption that Nancy is still alive, but Savannah has acknowledged that her mother may not be.

We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come home, a visibly distraught Savannah said in an Instagram video last week. We also know that she may be lost. She may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves.

open image in gallery The 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her Arizona home as she slept on February 1, police say ( NBC/Today via Reuters )

On top of the combined $200,000 that the FBI and local officials are offering for valuable information in Nancys disappearance, the Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward to bring their loved one home.

On Monday, Savannah posted to Instagram a photo of yellow flowers at a memorial for Nancy outside her Arizona home.

We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country, Savannah wrote in the photos caption. Please dont stop praying and hoping with us. Bring her home.

open image in gallery Nanos said authorities are operating under the assumption that Nancy is still alive, but Savannah has acknowledged that her mother may not be ( Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images )

Savannah, her sister Annie, and Annies husband, Tommaso, visited the memorial Monday, according to multiple news outlets, and left a note that read, Momma, we miss you so much! Our hearts are broken. We are standing on ash, on scored earth!

But Mom, though we are surrounded by so much darkness and uncertainty, our love burns bright. We love you Mommy. We miss you so much. Our best friend!!
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An Alabama mother was cradling her newborn baby in a hospital room when her husband shot her dead before turning the gun on himself, in a tragic murder-suicide that has renewed questions about hospital security.

Police were called to the Womens Center at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital in Homewood around 9:30 p.m. Sunday after reports of gunfire inside the facility.

Precious Johnson, 24, and her husband, Kynath William Terry Jr., 19, were found dead from gunshot wounds inside the hospital room. No other patients or staff were injured, police said.

Johnson had just given birth, according to the Jefferson County Coroner. The baby was not harmed.

The Homewood Police Department said Monday that it is investigating the case as a murder-suicide. Police have not said how Terry was able to bring a gun into the hospital room and have not released additional details about what led up to the shooting. But family members told local news outlets that the couple had been experiencing problems in their marriage in the days before the babys birth.

open image in gallery Police were called to the Womens Center at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital in Homewood, Alabama on Sunday after reports of gunfire inside the facility ( Google maps )

Terrys mother told WVTM that she did not believe her son was capable of such violence. She added that Terry had recently completed Army National Guard training and was looking forward to becoming a father.

The incident has prompted renewed concern about safety inside medical facilities across Alabama. Danne Howard, president and CEO of the Alabama Hospital Association, told WVTM that this level of violence inside a hospital is extremely rare.

I think its sad, but this was an isolated incident, and I will say in my 30 years of working at the hospital association and representing our hospitals in the state, this is the first time something has occurred like this, Howard said, emphasizing that hospitals continually review their safety protocols following serious incidents.

Howard noted that Alabama does not require hospitals to employ security guards, though most facilities have security plans that may include metal detectors or screening procedures.

There are a few places in our world where we should feel safe  at church, our hospitals, and our homes, she said. Unfortunately, things happen and we do not feel safe anymore. We want to assure the public that our hospitals and our health care providers consider safety just as important as providing quality health care.

Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress told WVTM that the city is supporting the ongoing investigation and that her office is working closely with hospital leadership and will provide updates as appropriate.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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Google has found a powerful set of tools that are being used to break into iPhones.

The suite of exploits, known as Coruna, has been passed around cyber attacks online, and appears to have been used by everyone from governments to criminals looking to steal money, Google said.

An attack starts with just clicking a malicious link, the company said. From there, the tools can be used to get around an iPhones defences and break into central parts of the phone.

It can be started in five different ways and uses some 23 different vulnerabilities, strung together, to break into a device.

It is unclear where the tools began their life, and Google researchers called the attack mysterious. Mobile security company iVerify suggested that it had evidence that it might have started as a US government tool that was then leaked more broadly.

But they have since been passed around between various attackers around the world  used in suspected government attacks on Ukrainian users as well as by Chinese scammers looking to steal money  in a way that suggests there is an active market for second-hand exploits, Google said.

It was first spotted in February 2025 but has been used on various websites since, researchers said. A host of Chinese websites largely focused on finance were found to be using the attack, hoping that visitors would click on a malicious link and then allow the exploit into their phone.

It affects iPhones are that are running iOS numbers between 13 and 17.2.1, which was first released in December 2023. Updating Apple devices to the latest software should therefore protect them from the attack.
Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

Pan Jianwei, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye)

Jiang Pengju, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye)

Huang Sanwen, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

Guo Lanfeng, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye)

Muyassar Tohti, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

Zeng Yuqun, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

Li Ying, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye)

Wang Yongfeng, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

Yang Jie, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

A journalist asks a question during a group interview attended by members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) ahead of the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye)
VIENTIANE, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The 12th Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) convened its second Plenary Session, marking a key step in shaping the country's strategic direction for the next five years.

The three-day session, held from Tuesday, was chaired by Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao president, and attended by members of the politburo and the central committee, local news website Lao Phattana News reported on Wednesday.

The committee will formalize key initiatives. It will also finalize implementation measures for the 10th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2026-2030).

Speaking during the meeting, Thongloun urged all attendees to exercise high political responsibility and focus on finding practical, actionable solutions to national challenges.

The session represents the first major step in implementing the resolutions of the 12th Party Congress. 
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Gisele Pelicot is very clear about her reason for writing a book, she says; she wants people to know her better. Her name is recognised worldwide; people have learnt, in grim, almost unimaginable detail, of the abuse she suffered at her husbands hands over the course of almost 10 years. They have also seen how resolutely she dealt with it. What she reveals in her book, however, is something else, something more profound, personal and elusive. A Hymn to Life begins on November 2, 2020, the day when police officers informed Pelicot that her husband, Dominique, had been regularly drugging her, and raping her while she was unconscious; that he had brought scores of men to their house to rape her and that he filmed and photographed it. By the time the case went to trial in Avignon, in southern France, in September 2024, the story had become news around the world. It was not only because of the horror of what happened: it was also because Pelicot was prepared to forgo the anonymity to which she was legally entitled and call the perpetrators to account for what they did to her. The world watched and admired her. And that is part of what she wants to address, she tells me. When people saw me in court for those 3 months, they didnt really know me. I thought that this book would help them to understand who I was, and how I was able to recover from the terrible things I went through. Pelicot is greeted by some of her many supporters outside her husband Dominiques 2024 trial. Getty Images We are talking over Zoom, while Pelicot is in London promoting her book. She is quick, focused, clear about what she wants to say. For her, A Hymn to Life is in part a homage to my parents. A look at the paths taken by three generations of women, my grandmother, my mother and me  I wanted to convey this because its partly from them that my joie de vivre has come. She recalls the texture of the quotidian, of a rural childhood: her grandmother making cheese in the cellar, pulling the scalding laundry from the tub, her beloved mother, who died of cancer when Gisele was nine, and whose warmth and smile she still invokes. Her melancholy father, a soldier; her cold and punitive stepmother. At the age of 18 Pelicot met Dominique, who was the same age, and seemed to offer her companionship and affection. Marriage followed, children, a career. There were fault lines in the relationship and financial troubles. Finally, they arrived at what was meant to be a peaceful retirement in Mazan, a small town in Frances south-east. Following the police investigation, she began to re-examine the previous 10 years. She learnt that Dominique had been drugging her since 2011, administering sleeping pills to knock her out and a muscle relaxant to ensure that her body did not resist when he raped her. Some time after this he joined an online chat group called A son insu (without her knowledge), and brought other men to their house to do the same.

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Women demonstrate to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women at the trial in 2024. AP Her book highlights how much these drugs undermined her daily life. They affected her health, her memory, her balance, her energy, her independence. She was no longer able to drive. She had memory gaps, she was often exhausted and in pain. She wondered if she was suffering from the illness that killed her mother. Her husband accompanied her to doctors, who canvassed everything from Alzheimers to a stroke. All the while, he seemed to be the most supportive and caring of husbands. He had no pity, she says. In the end, she suggests, matter-of-factly, Im lucky to be in good health because I went through 10 years of medical misdiagnoses, of searching for answers. On the day the police showed her a fraction of the evidence they had already compiled, she called her daughter, Caroline, and her two sons, David and Florian, to tell them. A Hymn to Life chronicles the pain of a family coming to terms with the unthinkable and struggling to make sense of it all. There was additional trauma for Caroline, who learnt that her father had secretly taken pictures of her. She believes he drugged and abused her, too. She became an activist on behalf of abuse victims who had been chemically sedated. And for a while, she distanced herself from her mother. Pelicot speaks to the media outside court in December 2024. AP Things are better, Pelicot says. It takes time to heal, a lot of time, but were all on the right track right now. Were together, and were trying to move forward. My daughter got back in touch with me just before Christmas, we talk a lot. Caroline and I were very, very close before, and I missed her a lot during that time. We need each other, and its important to say that. And to say that we truly love each other and that were reconnecting. My sons too, of course, and my grandchildren as well. The way Pelicot engages with her past is striking; her determination not only to re-examine the life she thought she was leading but also to hold on to some of it. Everything was splintering. Objects, our history. Us, she writes, describing what happened when her children helped her move out of the family home, and they started throwing things out, willy-nilly. There were items she wanted to keep. And, she discovered, there are memories she wanted to retain, aspects of her earlier life that still felt significant. Its a complex, challenging notion. I needed to explain, I dared to hope, she tells me, that those 50 years with Monsieur Pelicot had not simply been a lie. I needed this in order to continue living.

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She found herself thinking about feelings of shame, and the part they played in her life. Her book is subtitled Shame has to change sides, a feminist injunction that perpetrators should feel shame rather than victims. Pelicot with Queen Camilla at Clarence House in London in February 2026. Getty Images The word recurs through the book. She understands it as part of her experience. If these events had taken place 20 years earlier, she thinks she might not have opted for an open court. Theres a good chance, she says, that I wouldnt have had the strength to do it because I would have been afraid of the stares, afraid of societys judgment. The thought of being watched was very difficult for me. Writing the book had its confronting moments. She often found herself in tears as she dug deep into her memories. But working with her co-writer, Judith Perrignon, was a beautiful experience, she says. She invited Perrignon to stay in her home. I wanted her to know how I went about things, what my daily habits were. And I also wanted her to know about my appetite for life  Often people said to [Judith], Oh la la, it cant be easy to do a book with Gisele Pelicot, and she would say to them, Youve got it wrong, she has a good sense of humour! Writing was a kind of therapy, of course, but only part of the process. I also learned about myself through the moments of solitude I went through, when I lived in isolation on Ile de Re , a small island off the Atlantic coast. The place became a retreat in the midst of the surrounding chaos. Then she met someone there: Jean-Loup Agopian, who has become her partner. Her face lights up when she talks about him. The important thing is that you can fall in love again, even at the age of 73. And this meeting has changed my life. Were both very happy. Im calm, fulfilled, at peace. A Hymn to Life is out now. She talks about the ways that she felt supported in so many ways during the trial. I dont know whether you noticed, she says, but Im wearing the scarf that a group of women from Australia gave me. She takes it from around her neck and holds it up. It is designed by Martu artist Mulyatingki Marney, and was sent to her by organisation called Older Womens Network NSW. I wore it in Avignon. They sent me their strength, their support. I felt connected to those women, and I wanted to thank them.

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The ABCs new discussion show ABC National Forum is not a replacement of Q+A, says host David Speers. Inevitably, that comparison [to Q+A] will be made, but its quite different in terms of its format, says Speers. Its not the audience asking questions, so its quite different to that. But look, it is a discussion program, and frankly, the ABC, I think, does have a responsibility to be a bit of a town square and provide a forum for community engagement and understanding each other in a forum like this. Nor is it a platform for politicians, says Justin Stevens, the ABCs news director. This is not a political program, and its not a program to hold politicians to account in that sense. And its not a copy of SBS debate forum Insight, which covers a wide variety of topics and is also filmed in front of a studio audience. Were both public broadcasters, says Stevens, and we can complement what each other are doing. Theres definitely room and space for both [of] them. ABC News director Justin Stevens and journalist David Speers, who will host the new discussion show ABC National Forum. Sitthixay Ditthavong So, what is ABC National Forum? Yes, its a discussion show, but unlike Q+A, the once-popular political panel show that was axed by the ABC last year, it does not have a fixed time in the ABC schedule. It will be pulled together as and when is needed, say Speers and Stevens, and feature a mix of community leaders, experts and policymakers, as well as ordinary citizens to discuss an agreed topic. The first  and only episode announced so far  will focus on the lives and experiences of Jewish Australians, not just in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, but more generally.

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Editor's pick Australian TV It could have been our Jerry Springer. But this current affairs show is much more radical We want it to be a respectful dialogue, says Speers. Certainly, other programs have, and do, focus on the contest of ideas. Certainly, there are plenty of programs where political debate can be combative. Were deliberately trying not to be combative. Were trying to help our audience, and all of us, better understand the nature of this problem of antisemitism. Listen to each other more, I suppose. Filmed at the ABCs Sydney studios in Ultimo, the show will be presented as an in the round format, with audience members on one side, and then two panels made up of people with first-hand experience of the topic, while the second panel will comprise community leaders and policy experts who will provide ideas to how we can do a better job of supporting Jewish Australians, says Stevens. ABC National Forum is the idea of the ABCs new managing director Hugh Marks. Alex Ellinghausen Guests will include author and former editor of The Age Michael Gawenda; Alex Ryvchin, from the executive council of Australian Jewry; Kate Rosenberg, the executive director of the New Israel Fund; social entrepreneur Ronni Kahn; and the principal of Bialik College in Melbourne, Jeremy Stowe-Linder. Questions from the audience will also not be vetted beforehand, says Stevens. Were being proactive in making sure weve got people in the audience who have something to add to this discussion. The first topic was chosen, says Speers, not just because of the Bondi terror attack, but because of the build-up of everyday antisemitism.

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Media & marketing ABC to take revenge on Sky News, challenge its name Calum Jaspan Media Writer What we saw at Bondi, I think, stopped so many Australians, says Speers. Its, I think, a timely discussion around not just what happened at Bondi, necessarily, but what everyday anti-semitism looks like for Jewish people and what theyre experiencing. Its not the only form of discrimination, of course, in Australia, [but its] one thats absolutely been on the rise for the last two and a half years, and the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil, 15 lives lost. Its a good time, I think, to have a good discussion around what the nature of this problem is and what we can do about it. Does Stevens feel they need to balance this episode out with one focusing on Muslim Australians, for example? They have also experienced a rise in discrimination over the past few years, particularly recently with comments by One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson, who said on Sky News, How can you tell me there are good Muslims? A memorial vigil at Bondi Beach in December was held one week after the terror attack. Edwina Pickles This isnt about debating the merits of discrimination in different parts of the community, says Stevens. This is about, very specifically, in this program, elevating the lived experience of what it means to be Jewish in Australia in 2026 that is not defined by Bondi. It is defined by a great deal more. And its really important that we give that full picture and a better understanding of what that means ... Certainly in our journalism, news and coverage, we are talking elsewhere a lot about the discrimination faced by other elements of the community. So its not a binary sort of consideration of whats being debated. Its more about, Are we sharing the experiences of different Australians? and really endeavouring to make sure were elevating the voices of those who havent had much of a voice in recent times.

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Exclusive EnvironmentClimate changePolitical lobbying We got there!: Text messages reveal Woodsides negotiating tactics Bianca Hall March 5, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Having spent 16 weeks exchanging more than 130 texts with a senior federal public servant, the Woodside Energy employee expressed relief. Thanks Rachel! they wrote on September 12. We got there! Touch base next week on EPBC [reforms to federal environment laws]! The future of Woodside Energys operations in Karratha has been assured. Save Our Songlines Rachel Parry, then-deputy secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), gave the text a thumbs up. Text messages released under freedom of information laws reveal that after Environment Minister Murray Watt announced in May he had provisionally approved Woodside extending its North West Shelf operation to 2070, the gas and oil giant embarked on a months-long campaign to secure advantageous terms.

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Woodside employees exchanged almost 200 texts with Parry and Kylie Coulhan, an executive in WAs environmental assessment division, including dozens asking for updates on the timing of the announcement and requests for information about government messaging on the project. The text messages were obtained by the Australian Conservation Foundation under FOI laws and provided to this masthead. ACF chief executive Adam Bandt said the volume of texts represented relentless, persistent and at times after-hours communication to senior bureaucrats. What were seeing here is a gas giant having unfiltered, casual access  at all hours  to senior departmental officials, who are bending over backwards to respond to demands and requests, he said.

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A Woodside spokesperson said it was wrong to describe what took place as lobbying, pointing to provisions within federal environment laws that require the government to consult on conditions it attaches to environmental approvals processes. The Australian Federal Governments approval of the North West Shelf Extension followed a comprehensive and extended assessment carried out by both Commonwealth and Western Australian State regulators in accordance with statutory processes. During one text exchange, Parry told Woodside the department was working through the issues youve raised, and we will come back to you when we have landed a position. If you can just hang tight, she wrote. Thanks. The Woodside employee replied: Hi Rachel  I have been hanging tight but I am getting significant pressure from above to know if we have implementable conditions or not. When are we going to know?

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A spokesman for Watt said the minister was not involved in discussions with Woodside and had accepted the advice and recommendations of his department. It is a matter of public record that the decision was varied between the proposed and final decisions. This is normal practice on major project approvals. On Saturday, September 6, the Woodside employee, whose name was redacted from the released documents, texted Parry: Rachel  we are about to send you our response which identifies 3 items of factual correctness which if modified would then constitute a document we can accept. On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the Woodside employee raised the looming announcement and added: Also, any chance we can see the final conditions as put to the Minister? Parry demurred. Minister will be considering the final decision package so you will see the final condition set when the decision is made. Thanks, Rachel.

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Related Article Lunch with Trump wants to drill, baby, drill. This Australian giant is happy to help In another message sent to Coulhan, a Woodside employee sought information about what the minister might say publicly on his decision. Hi Kylie any feedback on whether your messaging will be reactive or proactive. From minister or DCCEEW and content? Coulhan replied: At this stage I dont believe it will be proactive. I have told the office that you would like visibility if they were thinking of proactive. Will let you know if I hear anything different. Anthony Whealy, KC, a former NSW Court of Appeals judge and chair of the Centre of Public Integrity, reviewed the emails for this masthead.

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He said they showed a nurturing of a disturbingly close relationship between a lobbyist and a senior bureaucrat. This is not a discussion at arms length. It gives every impression that this is akin to an intimate conversation between two partners in a joint venture. Claire Snyder, executive director of Climate Integrity, said Australians deserved to know that major decisions of significance, like the extension of fossil fuel projects, were being made in the public interest. What the messages seem to show is that the government, during the lobbying window, rewrote the conditions of the approval of the North West Shelf in response to the lobbying. So if thats true, it really does show that the government compromised. A spokesman for Watt said it was vital that departmental officers engage in a professional and courteous manner with all their stakeholders, and that occurred in this instance.

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Related Article Energy Drone strike on key Qatari plant reignites global gas crunch fears Any insinuation that these hardworking public servants had an unusually close relationship or that any favours were done for the proponent is grossly insulting and completely wrong. A spokeswoman for DCCEEW said consultation was a standard procedural step for all projects that have conditions attached to a proposed approval. Consultations must be undertaken with the proponent on the proposed conditions which would be attached to an approval. When finalising conditions for a project, any comments received on the proposed decision and proposed conditions must be taken into account. As this matter is currently before the Federal Court, it is not appropriate to comment further. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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As featured in the December 2025 hit list. See all stories .

Art deco wall tiles  left, for decades, to crumble behind shirt racks  have been restored.

9 / 9 Art deco wall tiles  left, for decades, to crumble behind shirt racks  have been restored.

The restaurants bar seating, pictured, or diners can enjoy a drink in the Members Bar on the mezzanine below.

6 / 9 The restaurants bar seating, pictured, or diners can enjoy a drink in the Members Bar on the mezzanine below.

The Great Ocean Road duck dish comprises glazed, roasted breast with the leg and offal turned into a mini sausage roll.

5 / 9 The Great Ocean Road duck dish comprises glazed, roasted breast with the leg and offal turned into a mini sausage roll.

Wonderful, natural light gleams on black floorboards of The Lodge Dining Room on level one of Rodd & Gunns flagship store.

2 / 9 Wonderful, natural light gleams on black floorboards of The Lodge Dining Room on level one of Rodd & Gunns flagship store.

Is this Melbournes tastiest brand extension? In a CBD power play, the New Zealand clothing company Rodd and Gunn has rethought a striking Commercial Gothic building that once housed the blokey part of David Jones. Level one is now The Lodge, a fine-dining restaurant at the top of a marble staircase.

Its a place for charming lunches and long dinners. A place to sip exquisite cocktails, crunch mackerel cigars and savour glossy, chocolate truffles proffered by a warm, knowledgeable waiter. Art deco wall tiles  left, for decades to crumble behind shirt racks  have been restored, while velvet banquettes accompany double-clothed tables under soaring arched windows.

You might order smoked eel magicked into a rich parfait, served with a medley of summer tomatoes and tomato consomme. Free-range Great Ocean Duck could follow: a glazed, roasted breast with the leg and offal turned into a mini sausage roll  a cute touch. Its all very lovely, and taken with a detour through the basement wine store, with its gorgeous booths for pasta and polpette, its enough to allay the brand cynic within.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.
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LifestyleLife & relationshipsPsychology Opinion If you laugh, you cant be offended and other essential truths Ive learnt Wendy Syfret Freelance writer March 4, 2026  7:00pm

March 4, 2026  7:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

As we settle into the 26th year of the endlessly unprecedented 21st century, many of us feel were missing the mentors needed to guide us through our current perils. The guidance that we once sought from academics, philosophers, and the stray moral politician, now feels hopelessly naive. On a boiling planet ruled by crypto scammers, its hard to believe that kindness is contagious or hard work is its own reward. Instead, I offer an alternative: reality TV. The advice you need isnt coming from the heavens, its coming from middle-aged former soap stars who have recently thrown a glass of wine at middle-aged former child stars (my personal heaven). A scene from a Married at First Sight reunion special. Nine Beyond gems such as Birkins should be carried open and cowboy hats should be purchased at Kemosabe in Aspen, here are some of the most valuable life lessons that reality TV has taught me. Dont say anything behind someones back you wouldnt say to their face: On TV, this is a no-brainer  talking badly about someone in front of a camera has a way of getting back to them. But even if youre not filming talking-head confessionals after every interaction with a friend, bad comments have a habit of resurfacing.

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Reality TV stars understand that anything said behind someones back must eventually be said to their face. This is best practice on TV, where its a crime to dampen any kind of interpersonal drama but also in real life because criticism hurts more when its received indirectly. Its hard when a friend tells you theyre unhappy. Its brutal when someone else does. Sure, a saint would suggest you dont say anything bad at all. But 2026 is not a year for saints. A scene from The Real Housewives of Sydney, season three. Matchbox Pictures Despite my best efforts, Ive never been able to cut out trash-talking altogether. But rather than a way to let off steam, it can be a space to prepare what I actually need to say, for example, to a coworker. From Why are you so terrible at your job? I can find my way to less volcanic approaches, such as Do you feel comfortable in this role right now? Learn to apologise, forgive, and move on: The best reality TV stars are professional grudge-droppers. It might appear to the untrained eye that they build their careers on confrontation and scandal, but the true artists are masters of absolution. In their line of work, its essential to remain on good-ish terms with the people around you. No one is going to tune in week after week to watch someone silently seethe. If someone wrongs them, owns it and apologises, theyll usually let it go.

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Those of us who arent paying the mortgage by having a camera guy capture our colonics can see similar benefits. Family, friends and work all run much smoother if you can learn to leave the past in the past. Related Article Opinion

Sex & relationships A MAFS bride broke the toilet taboo, and women everywhere nodded Kate Halfpenny Regular columnist Dont live beyond your means: Ironically, a genre of television built on watching people with too much money spend it on the most unpleasant objects and experiences imaginable is a pretty good place to learn how to spend  or not spend  money. The list of reality TV stars whove been embroiled in bank fraud, tax evasion and insurance scams grows every year. Youd think having your every move recorded would make you think twice about breaking the law. But grimly, the pressure to maintain a certain public image has led many to pull nefarious deals to uphold a veneer of uber-wealth  only for their dreams, and faux-Tuscan mansions, to come crashing down. Yes, in my case its less about renting an eight-bathroom mansion for filming. And more about resisting the urge to buy a $250 pair of hybrid loafer-sneakers to casually post on Instagram. But the financial lessons are ultimately the same.

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If you laugh before you get offended, you cant get angry: An inexperienced viewer of reality TV might think the key characteristic of a star is being mean. But that underappreciates the skills it takes to stick around for more than a season and maybe build a career beyond inspiring the occasional meme. Related Article Opinion

Men's health Why watching male celebrities struggle has become my new online obsession Wendy Syfret Freelance writer Anyone can be mean on camera. Those who are born for this are funny. A hyper-capable superyacht employee who makes cutting class critiques while handing out crudites. A daffy Beverly Hills matriarch who reduces a striving new-money social climber to a smudge of fake tan with a well-placed name mispronunciation. Still, its one thing to deal a zinger. The real skill lies in knowing how to graciously receive one. And when deciding whats worth forgiving and whats worth dragging everyone into a blood feud over, humour plays a large part. If a barb is as funny as it is mean, one must respect the greater good and laugh it off. After all, if you guffaw before you gasp, it cant be that serious. When I look at my own life, I think of the occasions when my partner has made an observation about my fashion/friend/driving choices that is at once hilarious and humbling. Im offered the choice to get mad or be humbled and entertained by the absurdity of my own life.

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Keep laughing: The best reality TV stars understand that they are, at once, tender human beings with wants, dreams and needs  and characters here to entertain the masses. No matter how many businesses they launch (and tank), pairs of $25k sunglasses they lose, or bushes they drunkenly tumble into, they never stop laughing. Mostly at themselves. As the old saying goes: when life gives you lemons, turn them into a catchphrase, print it on T-shirts and make bank selling them on your webstore. Wendy Syfret is the author of The Sunny Nihilist and a freelance writer based in Melbourne. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
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NationalNSWCrime Celebrity dentist identified as man shot dead by police in Potts Point Riley Walter March 4, 2026  2:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A celebrity dentist armed with a knife attacked and seriously injured two women in their eastern suburbs apartment building before being shot dead by police on Tuesday morning. Steven Lin, author of The Dental Diet, died from a single gunshot fired after he lunged at officers with a knife. Earlier attempts to Taser him had been unsuccessful. Steven Lin, author of The Dental Diet, was shot dead by police on Tuesday. Police were called to the St Neot Avenue apartment building just before 11am after receiving reports an armed man had attacked the women, who were not believed to have been known to him. Police said Lin attacked one of the women in the buildings laundry before ascending to a separate floor and attacking a second woman after forcing his way into her apartment. Both women were taken to St Vincents Hospital in a stable condition. The woman attacked in her apartment was expected to undergo surgery on Tuesday for a broken nose.

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Crime Confronted by something very violent: Police shoot man dead after attack on Sydney women Lin, a former principal of Helix Dentistry on the Central Coast, had an Instagram following of 250,000 and regularly posted on social media until mid-2024, when his family said he started a methamphetamine-induced downward spiral. Lin had also hosted a podcast called Mouth Brain Connection, according to his Instagram profile. It is unclear if Lin was affected by drugs at the time of Tuesdays attacks. Lins drug use increased after his separation from his wife, Cassandra, in early 2024. He ceased any involvement in Helix Dentistry about mid-2024. It is unclear why Lin, who was last known to be living on the Central Coast, was at the complex. One witness reported hearing a woman screaming for help moments before Lin tried to flee from the apartment building through a window as police addressed him. He was trying to jump out the window and they said Get the f--- back in the house,  the witness told Nine News.

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Officers fired a Taser at Lin in an unsuccessful attempt to disarm him. A single gunshot was fired at Lin when he lunged at officers. He was treated by paramedics, but died outside the apartment complex. Police were responding to help people in distress, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said on Tuesday. Unfortunately, today someone has lost their life. That is tragic. Police outside the apartment complex on St Neot Avenue. Steven Siewert Lin was facing a raft of charges including assault occasioning bodily harm, breaching an apprehended domestic violence order, stalking or intimidating intending fear, and choking. He was due to face court on several charges this year, including for breaches of an apprehended domestic violence order in March. His bail conditions at the time of his death did not prevent him from being in Sydneys eastern suburbs.

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Police on Tuesday launched a critical incident investigation into the shooting. Homicide squad detectives will lead the investigation, which will be overseen by the states policing watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalQueenslandQueensland government BHPs latest salvo to Crisafulli government over coal royalties spat James Hall March 4, 2026  12:49pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Australias largest company, BHP, will close a training facility in North Queensland over the ongoing spat with the Crisafulli government as the miner ramps up its campaign to force the state to overhaul its coal royalties regime. The worlds biggest miner described the tax scheme, introduced by the former Labor government in 2022 and continued by the current LNP administration, as an extreme royalty setting that has crippled the bottom line of operations in Queensland. BHP says demand for high-quality coal remains strong, but when it comes to returns, the challenges are acute. BHP revealed on Wednesday morning it would begin closing the FutureFit Academy in Mackay, which has trained nearly 600 graduates since opening in 2020. In a pointed message to Queensland, the company would consolidate training resources at its facility in WA. We have told our current Queensland-based students they will absolutely be able to finish what they started at FutureFit, and that their pathways into permanent roles at BHP operations are not impacted when they successfully complete their training, a spokesman said.

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This is a difficult but necessary decision in the face of the low returns in Queensland, a function of the extreme royalty settings introduced in 2022. Related Article Queensland government BHP freezes investment in Queensland as royalties battle turns toxic The salvo came after chair Ross McEwan said on Tuesday the company would continue to boycott investments in Queensland. The former NAB chief executive said the tax stood out in stark contrast to the eagerness of policy settings and business appetite in interstate and international markets, including South Australia, WA, Argentina, Japan, Canada and the US. When youre making no money with an operation in an area like Queensland because the royalties just spoiled your business, you dont invest, McEwan told a business summit hosted by The Australian Financial Review on Tuesday.

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So, our process right now is zero investment into Queensland. Queensland Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last contested the claim, noting the state scored higher on average than most of the international markets referenced by McEwan on an investment attractiveness index published last month. The mining industry is backing our plan thats restoring investor certainty and sending a clear message that Queensland is open for business, Last said in a statement to this masthead. The results of our reforms are clear, with the Fraser Institutes latest Annual Survey of Mining Companies now giving Queensland a higher investment attractiveness score than the United States, Canada and Argentina on average. On this index, Queenslands investment attractiveness was given a score of 79.8, nearly 10 points below SA and WA, which scored 89.2 and 87, respectively.

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This came after BHP blamed the states tax policy for the companys decision to slash 750 jobs in Queensland as it mothballed the open-pit Saraji South coal mine in the Bowen Basin in September. It then revealed last month it was paying more taxes in Queensland than it was collecting in profits, when chief financial officer Vandita Pant described acute challenges in operations due to the royalties regime and the cyclical downturn in coal prices. Treasurer David Janetzki has repeatedly stood by the governments decision not to change the royalties regime, which was an LNP election guarantee at the 2024 poll. The Crisafulli government is providing certainty for the coal industry in Queensland with faster decisions, streamlined approvals and a stable royalty regime, the treasurer said on Tuesday in response to questions from this masthead. There will be no changes to Queenslands royalty regime. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaCrime Police seize five guns, including AK-47, after tobacco shop fire Alexander Darling March 4, 2026  8:18pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Police have seized five guns including an AK-47 assault rifle and arrested a man at two properties in Glenroy following a tobacco shop arson and shots being fired into a home in the same suburb. Officers believe this violence to be part of a wider trend of criminal syndicates looking to fill the vacuum left in the tobacco black market following the arrest of Kazem Hamad, one of the key players in the ongoing tobacco wars engulfing Victoria. Related Article Tobacco The inside story of how Australia became one of the most lucrative illicit tobacco markets in the world The most recent incidents began at 10pm on Tuesday in Belair Avenue, Glenroy. Two men, one armed with a shotgun, entered a tobacco store on Belair Avenue and tried to set it on fire with petrol. The two staff members present werent injured and managed to extinguish the flames as the offenders fled in a white Mercedes-Benz sedan.

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Four hours later, a white Toyota RAV4 damaged another vehicle on Lewis Street. Shots were then fired from the nearby residence about 2.30am, damaging a neighbouring property. Police believe the tobacco store incident and the shooting are linked and targeted actions. Officers searched two properties in Glenroy on Wednesday morning, arresting a 30-year-old man and seizing five firearms, including an AK-47. No charges have been laid. A number of significant arrests recently made in Victoria, interstate and offshore have had a substantial impact on the operations of an alleged criminal enterprise here in Victoria, said Detective Inspector Graham Banks of the gang crime squad. What were seeing now is an escalation of violent offending by various organised crime syndicates vying for control of the illicit tobacco market.

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Hamad was arrested in Iraq in January on behalf of Australian law enforcement authorities. Related Article Crime Melbournes tobacco war claims the life of completely innocent house sitter This month marks three years since the firebombings of tobacco stores began in Victoria. There have since been more than 100 incidents, including an arson at a house in January 2025 in which an innocent woman was killed. Banks said police had made more than 200 arrests since the violence began. We know these groups are reckless when it comes to seeking control over illicit tobacco profits, and they do not care for the safety of the broader community, Banks said.

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We know people are concerned given these tobacco stores are still being set alight, but what I would say is we do know the people who are involved, and we will continue working with our partner agencies to actively target those syndicates. Victoria Police will do everything we can to hold them accountable. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
ATHENS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- An appeals court in Athens on Wednesday upheld a 2020 ruling that the far-right, now-defunct party Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) operated as a criminal organization.

The court found all 42 defendants guilty in the long-running case, which examined the party's activities, including extortion, illegal weapons possession, murder, and dozens of violent assaults against migrants and political opponents.

Seven defendants were convicted of directing the criminal organization, while the remaining defendants -- including 11 former members of parliament -- were found guilty of membership.

The court also upheld convictions related to the 2013 murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, who was killed in a suburb near the port of Piraeus. His murder triggered a sweeping crackdown on Golden Dawn, which had entered the Greek parliament during the country's financial crisis. The perpetrator, Georgios Roupakias, was sentenced to life imprisonment, while 14 other defendants were found guilty as accomplices to homicide.

Following the original verdict, senior party figures received lengthy prison sentences. Some defendants have remained in prison since the initial ruling, while others, including party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, have been released under restrictive conditions.

Golden Dawn was founded in the 1980s and formally registered as a political party in 1993. It rose rapidly during Greece's sovereign debt crisis and, in the May and June 2012 general elections, secured nearly 7 percent of the vote, becoming the third-largest party in the Greek parliament.

After several of its members were investigated and prosecuted for violent crimes, the party's political influence steadily declined. In 2020, an Athens court ruled that it functioned as a criminal organization, a decision widely seen as marking the end of its role in Greek politics. 
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InspirationJapan How to enjoy the simple life on a Japanese farm stay Ben Groundwater March 5, 2026  7:58am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Theres a term in Japanese, ikigai, that provides a succinct explanation of why Shoko Kawachi is still doing this: why she still gets up every morning and cooks breakfast for strangers; why she spends all day cleaning, preparing and tending her farm; why she works every evening cooking and socialising. And why she does it all at age 73. Home on the range  Kawachin-chi farm stay. Ben Groundwater Ikigai is akin to raison detre  its your reason for being, your passion. Its the thing you think about when you get up every morning, and the one you plan in your mind as you fall asleep. This notion, this purpose, is a deeply honoured tradition in Japan, and for Kawachi, that ikigai is hospitality. Its meeting people. Its sharing her love of her home and her culture and soaking up the energy of those experiencing it for the first time. The Oita prefecture is known for its traditional rural scenery. Alamy

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This is what I want to do until I die, Kawachi smiles as she grabs a couple of cold cans of Asahi from the fridge and passes one over. I take energy from all the people who come here to stay. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Here is Kaminaomi, a tiny village in the Oita prefecture, on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Kawachi grew up around here before moving to Fukuoka to start a family and work as an announcer on the phones. If you called a certain number in the 1970s you would have heard Kawachi reading the daily weather forecast. A tour of the gardens with Shoko Kawachi. Ben Groundwater But Kaminaomi called to her, and so when her husband Mitsuo retired from his job with JR Kyushu, the pair returned to her childhood home to start a tourism business. That was 18 years ago. Not much has changed since. Kawachis 60-year-old home is a modest one, nestled in a valley surrounded by rice fields and forests. The locals hunt wild boar here, farm fruit and chestnuts, and catch freshwater crabs in the mountain stream that rushes nearby.

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This is not a luxury stay. My accommodation tonight is in the house Kawachi shares with her husband, in a simple tatami-mat room with a thin futon on the floor, a light dangling from the ceiling above. We take our meals in a little studio next door which is strewn with bric-a-brac, old boxes and household overflow surrounding a table where Kawachi preps and cooks incredible meals. This is not a luxury stay, but a taste of the simple life. Ben Groundwater You may assume that the arrival of foreign tourists in Kaminaomi would be met with consternation among locals, if not discomfort, but Kawachi says her fellow residents have enjoyed the newcomers her farm stay has drawn. It has turned Kawachis studio into something of a community meeting place, where neighbours turn up to drink a few beers and eat any leftovers that Kawachis guests havent been able to manage. First things first though, a farm tour. This is just a hobby farm really, used by the Kawachis to feed guests rather than turn a profit. We stroll through the paddock picking whats in season: chestnuts in their spiky, hairy shells, persimmons hanging fat and ripe from branches, potatoes that need to be dug out from the rich earth. Crab hunting at Kawachin-chi. Ben Groundwater

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And then we retire to the kitchen to begin the prep. Always we start with beer, Kawachi grins as she heads to the fridge and returns with two cold cans of Japanese lager. We clink and drink and then get down to the business of skewering small river fish to be cooked over charcoal, slicing vegetables, boiling crabs, grilling chicken wings, preparing chestnuts for rice. Kawachi doesnt speak English  the quotes Im providing here are delivered via my Japanese-speaking travel companion. Though thats not to say the language barrier cant be conquered via modern technology. Plenty of foreigners stay here and work their way through with translation apps and Kawachis easy-going charm. The language barrier can be conquered by modern technology. Ben Groundwater Dinner is a multi-course extravaganza eaten while sitting cross-legged around the irori, or traditional hearth. The food is hearty rather than fancy, the sort of home-cooked cuisine Japanese people typically eat, rather than the restaurant food most tourists are used to, served in surroundings far removed from luxury ryokans or urban hotels.

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Tomorrow well wake up at dawn to go check the crab pots in the river, before returning home for a whopping breakfast of fish, vegetables, eggs and rice, served by Kawachi with an indefatigable smile. This is her life. The writer stayed as a guest of Oita Tourism. THE DETAILS FLY Qantas flies direct from Melbourne and Sydney to Tokyo, with onward connections to Oita. See qantas.com

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STAY Kawachin-chi farm stay costs JPY12,000 ($113) a person a night, including all activities, dinner and breakfast. To access the property, free transfers are offered from Saiki train station. For bookings and more information, see saiki-greentourism.com

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Japan

Asia Ben Groundwater is a Sydney-based travel writer, columnist, broadcaster, author and occasional tour guide with more than 25 years experience in media, and a lifetime of experience traversing the globe. He specialises in food and wine  writing about it, as well as consuming it  and at any given moment in time Ben is probably thinking about either ramen in Tokyo, pintxos in San Sebastian, or carbonara in Rome. Follow him on Instagram @bengroundwater Connect via email

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WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Israel hacked Tehran traffic cameras to spy on Khamenei Allegra Mendelson March 4, 2026  2:23pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Israel hacked nearly all of Tehrans traffic cameras to spy on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before launching an attack to kill Irans supreme leader. Israeli spies spent years surveilling the Khameneis bodyguards by accessing the Iranian capitals traffic camera network, intelligence sources claimed. Mossad hacked surveillance cameras in Tehran to track the movements of Khamenei and his bodyguards. Getty Images Operatives were even reported to have hacked a security camera facing Khameneis compound that showed where security guards would park their cars. The camera enabled spies to know when the supreme leader would be at home and disrupt mobile phone service around his compound, so his aides would not be able to call for help in the case of an ambush.

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Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war updates: Khameneis son tipped as likely new leader as Trump says US decimated Iran; Israeli ground troops in Lebanon; Death toll continues to rise Details of the Mossad operation were first reported by the Financial Times as Israel launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on day four of the war. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said the operation against Iran was well ahead of schedule but warned that the big wave hasnt even happened yet. Interim leaders in Iran have formed a council that will eventually select a new supreme leader to replace Khamenei. He is the highest-profile leader to be assassinated by Israel since October 7, 2023, following the killings of the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas.

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The hacked traffic camera images in Tehran were encrypted and transmitted to Israel, allowing intelligence officials to determine the addresses, hours of work, routes and duties of Irans most senior security personnel before the US-Israeli attack at the weekend. We knew Tehran like we know Jerusalem, one Israeli intelligence official told the Financial Times. And when you know [a place] as well as you know the street you grew up on, you notice a single thing thats out of place. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died early in the joint Israel-US attack. AP Social network analysis Israels intelligence superiority over Iran was on display during last years 12-day war, when a joint operation with the US hit Iranian military bases and nuclear facilities and assassinated more than a dozen nuclear scientists and senior officials.

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Smoke rises behind Tehrans Azadi tower after an airstrike. AP In the latest US-Israeli barrage, known as Operation Epic Fury, Israel reportedly employed a method called social network analysis to study patterns of behaviour and better understand how people interact. With this intelligence, Israel and the CIA determined it would be easier to kill Khamenei at the start of the assault, rather than targeting him in the midst of a war when he could escape to a bunker. An individual briefed on the attack told the Financial Times that the assault on Iran had been planned for months, but the timeline was adjusted once it was revealed that Khamenei would be attending a meeting at his compound in person on Saturday morning. On the day, thanks to the hacked traffic cameras and access to Iranian mobile phone networks, at least two Israeli intelligence officers, working independently, were able to confirm that Khameneis meeting was on time.

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Related Article Middle East at war How the CIA pinpointed  and doomed  a gathering of Iranian leaders Trump told Fox News that Khamenei was eliminated along with his inner circle as they gathered for breakfast. The Israeli military said that striking during the day, instead of at night, had allowed Israel to achieve tactical surprise for the second time, despite heavy Iranian preparedness. Israel had deployed jets hours earlier so they would arrive at the right location on time and fired as many as 30 precision strikes on Khameneis complex, according to a former senior Israeli intelligence official. The US military launched cyberattacks to allow the Israeli jets to reach the compound.

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Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, General Dan Caine, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said that the initial phase of the operation was designed to daze and confuse Iran. Co-ordinated space and cyber operations effectively disrupted communications and sensor networks across the area of responsibility, leaving the adversary without the ability to see, co-ordinate or respond effectively, he added. Related Article Middle East at war In 48 hours, Trump sent Irans navy to the bottom of the sea On Sunday, officials from the Trump administration acknowledged that there was no intelligence showing that Iran was prepared to attack the US first. Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, said there was no imminent threat from Iran to America. After a classified briefing on Monday, US House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Israel had been determined to act with or without the US and consequences of inaction on our part would have been devastating.

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US submarine sinks Iranian warship

Pete Hegseth confirmed that the US was behind the strike on an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, killing at least 80 people.
IRVINE, Calif., March 3, 2026 -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total February sales of 33,497 vehicles, flat compared to February 2025. With 24 selling days in February, compared to 25 the year prior, the company posted an increase of 4 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 5,954 vehicles in February, an increase of 6.4 percent compared to February 2025.

Sales highlights include:

2nd Best February Total Sales ever

Best February Retail Sales since 2020 for Mazda 3 Sedan

Best February Total Sales ever for both CX-50 ICE and Hybrid

Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported February sales of 4,616 vehicles, an increase of 1.3 percent compared to February last year.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported February sales of 8,321 vehicles, a decrease of 11 percent compared to February last year.

About Mazda North American Operations

Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at news.mazdausa.com.

Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Threads.

























Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date

























February February YOY % % MTD

February February YOY % % MTD



2026 2025 Change DSR

2026 2025 Change DSR























Mazda3 3,129 2,838 10.3 % 14.8 %

5,602 5,821 (3.8) % (3.8) %

Mazda 3 Sdn 1,516 2,094 (27.6) % (24.6) %

2786 4,190 (33.5) % (33.5) %

Mazda 3 HB 1,613 744 116.8 % 125.8 %

2816 1,631 72.7 % 72.7 %























Mazda6 0 0 - -

0 0 - -























MX-5 Miata 330 843 (60.9) % (59.2) %

725 1,524 (52.4) % (52.4) %

MX-5 194 382 (49.2) % (47.1) %

414 645 (35.8) % (35.8) %

MXR 136 461 (70.5) % (69.3) %

311 879 (64.6) % (64.6) %























CX-3 - 0 - -

- 0 - -

CX-30 2,339 5,709 (59.0) % (57.3) %

4762 12,366 (61.5) % (61.5) %

CX-5 13,701 10,876 26.0 % 31.2 %

23574 21,609 9.1 % 9.1 %

CX-9 0 0 0.0 % 0.0 %

0 0 - -

CX-50 TTL 10,094 7,280 38.7 % 44.4 %

20,509 13,615 50.6 % 50.6 %

MX-30 0 0 - -

0 0 - -

CX-70 TTL 928 1,223 (24.1) % (21.0) %

1600 2170 (26.3) % -

CX-90 TTL 2,976 4,769 (37.6) % (35.0) %

5683 10114 (43.8) % (43.8) %

CARS 3,459 3,681 (6.0) % (2.1) %

6,327 7,345 (13.9) % (13.9) %

TRUCKS 30,038 29,857 0.6 % 4.8 %

56,128 59,874 (6.3) % (6.3) %























TOTAL 33,497 33,538 (0.1) % 4.0 %

62,455 67,219 (7.1) % (7.1) %













































*Selling Days 24 25





50 50





























SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
New Research Shows the Majority of Teens Would Consider a Job in the Skilled Trades Over College Knowing the Pay is Higher Than Average

CHANTILLY, Va., March 4, 2026 -- National Careers in Trades Week (NCIT), which takes place April 6-10, 2026, comes at an opportune time for people seeking rewarding, essential careers with excellent pay and strong benefits, including healthcare and pensions. While U.S. workers are experiencing a stagnant job market with fewer job postings and positions that are harder to secure, well-compensated skilled trade job openings keep growing due to infrastructure and other projects vital to the economy.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), professions in the skilled trades will experience faster-than-average job growth between 2024 and 2034, with the Occupational Outlook predicting over 600,000 construction job openings each year and a current median annual wage of $58,000 (up from $55,000 in 2025), remaining higher than the median for all occupations. They also do not result in debt that can accompany a college path. And according to Construction Labor Research Council, nationwide, workers are averaging pay hikes above 4%, as employers look to attract and retain workers in a tight labor market.

New research conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) shows that 75 percent of teens aged 13-18 would consider a trade job over going to college. The most compelling reasons for teens opting for a trade over college are higher pay, good benefits, and paid apprenticeships, cited by 30 percent of teens. Other considerations that would sway a teen to the trades include opportunity to be promoted (24%), knowing a job is vital to the economy (21%), and the number of available trade positions growing faster than the average job (19%).

"Skilled professions offer rewarding career opportunities for all people, including young adults, women, veterans, and anyone who is looking for a career change," said SMACNA CEO Frank Wall. "The wages and job security that trade careers offer provide a faster means to home ownership, upward mobility, and saving for retirement that other pathways don't always ensure."

In addition to the sheet metal and HVAC industries , the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART), and International Training Institute (ITI) who led the initiative in 2025, other leading trade groups have joined National Careers in Trades Week to build awareness for all they have to offer and how their disciplines leave lasting legacies on society. These include, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), National Energy Management Institute (NEMI), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT).

"A career in the electrical industry offers more than a paycheck, it offers purpose, stability, and opportunity. Electrical construction professionals are building the systems that power our economy, keep our communities safe, and bring us light at the flick of a switch. This industry provides high-quality training, competitive wages, strong benefits, and clear pathways for advancement, allowing individuals to successfully transform their lives and families while contributing to a more connected and sustainable future," said David Long, CEO of NECA.

Throughout National Careers in Trades Week, cross-industry visibility efforts will showcase the benefits of choosing careers in the skilled trades among job seekers and the American public. The goal is to fill the hundreds of thousands of jobs that are essential to national and global economies and infrastructure projects, including, for example, the construction of chip plants, stadiums, healthcare facilities, factories, and data centers. As categorized by the BLS, skilled trades encompass a wide range of professions that typically require specialized training or apprenticeships that are essential for industries such as construction, manufacturing, energy and transportation. Key examples include auto technicians, sheet metal workers, HVAC technicians, electricians, pipefitters, welders, plumbers, masons, and carpenters among many more.

"There is a lot that has changed about our country over the years: technology, artificial intelligence, you name it. But one thing that won't ever change is this simple fact: We need skilled trades workers to build our country," said Michael Coleman, General President of SMART. "SMART members are doing that from coast to coast, whether building new hospitals, ensuring air quality in schools, or making sure apartment and office buildings run as efficiently as possible. We're excited to shine a light on the many career paths available to workers in our industry during National Careers in Trades Week  and well beyond."

The 2026 research was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the SMACNA among 500 U.S. parents of kids currently enrolled in high school or college between January 13-21, 2026, using an email invitation and an online survey.

SOURCE SMACNA
A limited-edition timepiece engineered for the world's toughest terrain

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 4, 2026 -- Casio America, Inc. announces their latest collaboration with Toyota Team Land Cruiser (TLC), joining forces for a limited-edition model inspired by one of the most grueling motorsport challenges in the world: the Dakar Rally. Built on a shared foundation of toughness, endurance, and precision engineering, this exclusive timepiece celebrates the relentless spirit of Team Land Cruiser and the uncompromising durability that defines G-SHOCK.

At the center of the collaboration is the GWGB1000TLC1 MUDMASTER, a rugged, high-performance watch inspired by nighttime desert runs  widely considered the most demanding stage of the Dakar Rally. The design concept reflects powerful driving under moonlight across unforgiving terrain, blending technical cockpit precision with the raw intensity of the desert.

The watch features black IP metal components, a gold IP metal band keeper engraved with the TLC logomark, and multi-color dial accents inspired by rally navigation systems. The band incorporates multi-angle printing influenced by the night desert landscape, while the bio-based carbon case and bio-based resin band reinforce the model's connection to innovation and resilience in extreme environments.

Toyota Team Land Cruiser has earned its reputation as one of the most dominant forces in Dakar Rally history. In January 2025, the team achieved a one-two finish in the Production (Stock) category, marking its 12th consecutive victory since the 2014 rally. Competing across scorching desert heat, rocky terrain, and destinations with no roads, TLC has built a legacy defined by endurance, grit, and technical mastery; values that seamlessly align with G-SHOCK's "Absolute Toughness" philosophy.

The Toyota Team Land Cruiser x G-SHOCK GWGB1000TLC1 includes the following key features:

Shock Resistant

200M Water Resistance

Mud Resistant

Vibration Resistant

Solar Powered

Sapphire Crystal Glass

Radio-Controlled (Multi Band 6)

Bluetooth Connectivity

Triple Sensor

Double LED light

World Time (38 Time Zones)

Sunrise/sunset display

5 Daily Alarms

Stopwatch (1/100s, 24H)

Countdown Timer

Full Auto Calendar

Additional details include a barometric pressure alarm, signal function, and advanced time calibration technology to ensure accuracy in the harshest conditions. The special engraved case back features Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body branding, underscoring its limited-edition status.

The Toyota Team Land Cruiser x G-SHOCK GWGB1000TLC1 ($970) is available now on gshock.com. The model is also available at the G-SHOCK SoHo Store and through select retailers nationwide. For more information about G-SHOCK, visit gshock.casio.com/us.

About Casio America, Inc.

Casio America, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., markets and distributes Casio's portfolio of timepieces, electronic musical instruments, calculators, and education technology products throughout the United States. Guided by the corporate creed of "creativity and contribution," Casio delivers innovative, reliable, and thoughtfully designed products that enrich everyday life. For more information, visit www.casiousa.com .

SOURCE Casio America, Inc.
UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA) has called for an urgent de-escalation of the conflict and an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, and strongly urged all parties to immediately return to the negotiating table under the auspices of the United Nations.

In a statement released Monday, the council expressed grave concern at the outbreak of military hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran, and condemned the use of force by all parties to the conflict, and its serious impact on the neighboring countries across the Middle East region.

"This is a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law and poses a grave threat to international peace and security," the statement said.

Noting that the UN Charter clearly prohibits "the threat or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations," the statement urged all parties to the conflict to fulfill their obligations under international law, especially the UN Charter.

The statement reiterated the principle of self-determination enshrined in Article 1 (2) of the UN Charter, which establishes the right of all peoples to freely determine their political status and pursue their political, economic, social and cultural development without external interference, and urged all parties to peacefully resolve their differences through diplomatic means in accordance with the relevant provisions of the UN Charter.

The statement called on the UN Security Council to fulfill its obligations for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to urgently take the necessary actions to ensure an immediate cessation of hostilities.

It also called on the president of the UN General Assembly to consider the convening of an emergency special session to address the crisis in all its aspects.

It further called on the UN secretary-general to utilize his good offices to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict as soon as possible. It expressed its full readiness to support all efforts by the United Nations to this end. 
Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session.

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th NPC, briefed the press on the session. 

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Journalists work at a press conference of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

A journalist asks a question at a press conference of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

A journalist asks a question at a press conference of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A journalist asks a question at a press conference of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), communicates with journalists after a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
OTTAWA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday expressed regret over the failure of the international order in the Middle East, imploring all parties, including the United States and Israel, to "respect the rules of international engagement."

"Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal," he told reporters in Sydney during his visit to Australia, according to a statement issued Tuesday.

Despite decades of UN Security Council resolutions and efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran's nuclear threat remains, he said. However, the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada, he added.

Canada reaffirms that international law binds all belligerents, Carney said, noting that "resolution of this crisis requires commitment to a broader political solution" and diplomatic engagement "is essential to avoid a wider and deeper conflict." 
Afghan forces seize key Pak posts along border





KABUL :

AFGHAN forces have carried out retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military bases following recent air raids by the Pakistan Air Force inside Afghanistan, as fighting along the volatile Durand Line entered its fifth consecutive day. The Afghan Defence Ministry said its forces targeted several key military locations near the 2,600-km Pakistan-Afghanistan border, including areas linked to Kabul, the Ali-Sher district in Khost, Jalalabad and Kandahar. The escalation marks the latest surge in tensions along the Durand Line, where hostilities have intensified since Pakistans February 21-22 strikes on what it described as terror camps.

According to Afghan officials, their forces have captured multiple Pakistani military posts in Kandahar province, specifically in the Spin Boldak and Shorabak districts. Three posts were reportedly seized in Spin Boldak, resulting in the deaths of three Pakistani soldiers and the capture of one serviceman. In addition, two Pakistani posts were taken over in the Ali-Sher district, Afghanistan-based TOLOnews reported. Over the past four days, both the Pakistani and Afghan militaries have engaged in cross-border targeting of each others positions. Although the clashes are described as the heaviest in years, officials indicated that the intensity has somewhat subsided compared to the initial phase of the confrontation.
Iranian drones hit US Embassy in Saudi Arabia





DUBAI :

IRAN struck the US Embassy in Saudi Arabias capital with a drone early on Tuesday as it kept hitting targets around the region, while the United States and Israel pounded Iran with airstrikes in what US President Donald Trump suggested was just the start of a relentless campaign that could last more than a month. The attack from two drones on the US Embassy in Riyadh caused a limited fire and minor damage, according to Saudi Arabias Defence Ministry, and the Embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound. It followed an attack on the US Embassy in Kuwait, which announced Tuesday it had been closed until further notice.

The US State Department also ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, as well as Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates as a precaution. Across Irans capital, explosions rang out throughout the night into the early morning, with witnesses describing hearing aircraft overhead. It was not immediately clear what had been hit. And in Lebanon, Israel launched more strikes on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia group. Explosions could be heard and smoke seen in a southern suburb of Beirut. Israel also said its soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon. Lebanons state-run National News Agency said the Lebanese army was evacuating some of its positions along the border.
Pak forces kill 67 Taliban personnel





By Sajjad Hussain ISLAMABAD :

PAKISTAN security forces killed another 67 Afghan Taliban personnel in overnight operations, repulsing their attacks at 16 locations along the south-western border early Tuesday, officials said. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar provided updates on the ongoing Operation Ghazab lil Haq, launched on Feb. 26 in response to the Afghan Taliban raids. Tarar said that 40 Afghan Taliban personnel were killed in overnight operations in the border region along the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Physical attack was attempted at one place, while a fire raid was conducted on 12 locations, which were all repulsed without any loss of life, he said in an update posted on X. At least 40 Afghan Taliban were killed in the overnight operations in KP, he said, adding that follow-up operations continued.
SOFIA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's caretaker Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Angelina Todorova-Boneva, has resigned "for health reasons," the government said in a statement on Wednesday.

Nikolay Naydenov, currently deputy minister of the ministry, will take over Todorova-Boneva's work, the statement added.

This was the second resignation in the caretaker government, which took office on Feb. 19.

Stoil Tzitzelkov, the deputy prime minister who was specifically responsible for the preparation of the upcoming parliamentary elections, resigned on Feb. 20, after lawmakers and certain media criticized that he had been arrested for drug use and detained for driving under the influence of alcohol over a decade ago, according to the Bulgarian News Agency. 
CANBERRA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that the government is facing one of its biggest consular crises to repatriate over 100,000 citizens from the Middle East.

Penny Wong told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio that the government is exploring contingency arrangements for around 115,000 citizens stranded in the Middle East due to travel disruptions amid the current situation, but that commercial flights would be the best repatriation option.

"This is a consular crisis that dwarfs any that Australia has had to deal with in terms of numbers of people," she said.

News Corp Australia newspapers reported on Wednesday that the Department of Defense has established a special task force to support potential evacuations from the Middle East, with army personnel put on alert for overseas deployment if Australians come under threat.

Richard Marles, minister for defense and deputy prime minister, told reporters on Tuesday that the government was preparing for all scenarios to repatriate citizens. 
RIYADH, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense reported on Wednesday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a total of 10 drones and two cruise missiles targeting the kingdom.

In a statement in its official X account, the ministry said that 9 drones were shot down upon entering Saudi airspace.

A military spokesperson added that two cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed in Al-Kharj, a city southeast of the capital Riyadh, while an additional drone was brought down in the Eastern Province.

No further details regarding the origin of the projectiles or any resulting damage were provided in the initial report. 
LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RAMP  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 2,087,247 shares, an increase of 22.6% from the January 29th total of 1,702,673 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 925,475 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.3 days. Approximately 3.4% of the companys stock are sold short. Approximately 3.4% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 925,475 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.3 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RAMP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of LiveRamp from $34.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Cross Research set a $53.00 price objective on shares of LiveRamp in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of LiveRamp from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. DA Davidson reduced their price target on shares of LiveRamp from $45.00 to $35.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of LiveRamp in a report on Monday, December 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.40.

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LiveRamp Trading Up 2.9%

RAMP stock traded up $0.81 on Tuesday, hitting $28.79. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,016,557 shares, compared to its average volume of 810,353. The stock has a market cap of $1.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.16 and a beta of 1.12. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $26.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.43. LiveRamp has a 1 year low of $21.71 and a 1 year high of $35.20.

LiveRamp (NYSE:RAMP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.07. LiveRamp had a net margin of 8.64% and a return on equity of 6.40%. The company had revenue of $212.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $211.68 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.55 EPS. LiveRamps revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that LiveRamp will post 0.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

LiveRamp declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Thursday, February 12th that authorizes the company to repurchase $200.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 13.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of LiveRamp during the 4th quarter worth $55,256,000. Tributary Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in LiveRamp by 134.0% during the third quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 1,059,040 shares of the companys stock worth $28,742,000 after buying an additional 606,389 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its position in LiveRamp by 56.6% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,269,623 shares of the companys stock worth $34,746,000 after buying an additional 459,094 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH increased its holdings in LiveRamp by 32.3% in the third quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 1,285,444 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,887,000 after buying an additional 313,868 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in shares of LiveRamp by 170.1% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 473,459 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,850,000 after acquiring an additional 298,197 shares during the period. 93.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

LiveRamp Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

LiveRamp Holdings, Inc is a leading provider of data connectivity and identity resolution services for marketers, publishers and platforms. The companys core technology enables organizations to link disparate data sourcessuch as CRM systems, web engagements and offline transaction recordsinto a single, privacy-safe view of individual consumers. By standardizing and anonymizing identifiers, LiveRamps platform facilitates targeted media activation, measurement and analytics across digital, mobile, addressable TV and offline channels.

The company offers a suite of products designed to support every stage of the data lifecycle.

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Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 9,187,757 shares, an increase of 22.2% from the January 29th total of 7,517,766 shares. Currently, 4.7% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 1,877,079 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.9 days. Based on an average daily volume of 1,877,079 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.9 days. Currently, 4.7% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

RJF has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Raymond James Financial from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. TD Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Morgan Stanley reiterated a positive rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. UBS Group set a $176.00 price target on Raymond James Financial and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price objective on Raymond James Financial from $194.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Raymond James Financial has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $182.17.

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Insider Activity at Raymond James Financial

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Raymond James Financial

In related news, insider Paul C. Reilly sold 130,687 shares of Raymond James Financial stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.15, for a total value of $21,321,584.05. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 260,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,508,079.90. This trade represents a 33.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . 0.58% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in shares of Raymond James Financial by 8.2% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 4,142 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $573,000 after acquiring an additional 314 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP boosted its holdings in shares of Raymond James Financial by 41.8% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 15,580 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,164,000 after purchasing an additional 4,592 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Raymond James Financial by 2,533.3% during the second quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 553 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $85,000 after purchasing an additional 532 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Raymond James Financial by 63.5% in the second quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 806 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $124,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strs Ohio lifted its position in shares of Raymond James Financial by 47.6% in the second quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 19,561 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,000,000 after buying an additional 6,305 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.83% of the companys stock.

Raymond James Financial Stock Performance

Shares of Raymond James Financial stock traded down $0.65 on Tuesday, hitting $153.77. 980,706 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,430,722. Raymond James Financial has a 1 year low of $117.57 and a 1 year high of $177.66. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $164.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $164.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.31 billion, a PE ratio of 15.05, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.00.

Raymond James Financial (NYSE:RJF  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $3.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.83 billion. Raymond James Financial had a return on equity of 17.65% and a net margin of 13.07%.Raymond James Financials revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.93 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Raymond James Financial will post 11.17 EPS for the current year.

Raymond James Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 1st will be paid a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Raymond James Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.14%.

Raymond James Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Raymond James Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. Founded in 1962, the company provides a range of services to individual investors, businesses and institutions through a combination of wealth management, capital markets, investment banking, asset management, banking and trust services. Its business model centers on a network of financial advisors and broker-dealer operations that deliver personalized financial planning, investment advisory services and brokerage solutions.

The firms core offerings include private client wealth management delivered by independent and employee advisors, equity and fixed-income research, institutional sales and trading, and investment banking services such as mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising.

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Israel Discount Bank of New York bought a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA:RSP  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor bought 9,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,737,000. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF comprises approximately 5.1% of Israel Discount Bank of New Yorks portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 4.7% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 24,657,672 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,481,285,000 after purchasing an additional 1,103,629 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 11.7% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 5,646,560 shares of the companys stock worth $1,026,206,000 after buying an additional 589,365 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 119.1% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 2,027,552 shares of the companys stock worth $368,487,000 after buying an additional 1,102,322 shares in the last quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. boosted its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 13.8% in the 3rd quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 1,768,432 shares of the companys stock valued at $335,472,000 after buying an additional 214,432 shares during the period. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 3.2% in the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 1,756,382 shares of the companys stock worth $333,186,000 after acquiring an additional 54,925 shares in the last quarter. 61.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Trading Down 1.2%

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF stock opened at $202.08 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.10 and a beta of 0.99. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF has a twelve month low of $150.35 and a twelve month high of $205.24. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $199.13 and its 200-day simple moving average is $192.62.

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Profile

Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, formerly Rydex S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, seeks to replicate as closely as possible, the daily performance of the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index (the Index). The Index is a capitalization-weighted index covering 500 industrial, utility, transportation and financial companies of the United States markets (mostly NYSE Euronext issues). The Index utilizes quarterly rebalancing to maintain its equal-weight stance. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 90% of its net assets, plus any borrowing for investment purposes, in the equity securities (and derivatives thereof) included in the Index.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RSP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA:RSP  Free Report).

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Abitibi Royalties Inc. (CVE:RZZ  Get Free Report) shares traded down 0.6% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as C$26.80 and last traded at C$27.00. 4,551 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 22% from the average session volume of 3,730 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$27.15.

Abitibi Royalties Trading Down 0.6%

The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$27.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$27.00. The company has a market capitalization of C$336.50 million and a PE ratio of -168.75.

Abitibi Royalties Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Abitibi Royalties Inc engages in exploring, evaluating, and promoting mineral properties and other projects in Canada. Its flagship royalty is 3% net smelter return royalty located on the eastern portion of the Canadian Malartic mine that includes the East Malartic, Odyssey, Sladen, Sheehan, Jeffrey, Barnat Extension, Gouldie Zone, and the Charlie Zone. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Val-d'Or, Canada.

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KHARTOUM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Ministry of Health officially declared the country free of the cholera epidemic Wednesday, meeting scientific standards and the International Health Regulations following an 18-month outbreak.

"Since January 14, no cases have been recorded in any state. Based on scientific data and the International Health Regulations, Sudan is free of the cholera epidemic," Montasir Mohamed Osman, head of the health emergencies and epidemics control directorate at the ministry, told Xinhua.

Osman explained that strict criteria for declaring the end of a cholera outbreak include two full incubation periods without new cases, confirmed cessation to local transmission, no active infection chains, and no new community hotspots or geographic spread.

"We can confirm that Sudan is free of the epidemic, unless cases come from abroad," he added.

The Ministry of Health conducted extensive containment efforts, administering 20 million vaccine doses, carrying out about 100 medical campaigns and holding 130 central emergency room meetings to monitor the epidemiological situation, said Osman.

Sudan first announced the outbreak of cholera in August 2024. According to earlier statistics, the country recorded over 100,000 cases nationwide, including about 2,408 deaths, between July 2024 and Dec. 21, 2025.

Cholera is a serious diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, with potentially fatal consequences if not treated promptly. 
Intech Investment Management LLC lessened its position in shares of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (NYSE:AMG  Free Report) by 17.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,314 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 2,127 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLCs holdings in Affiliated Managers Group were worth $2,459,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in Affiliated Managers Group by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 113,353 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $19,047,000 after purchasing an additional 1,428 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Affiliated Managers Group by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 141,733 shares of the asset managers stock worth $23,815,000 after purchasing an additional 6,262 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Affiliated Managers Group during the first quarter valued at $1,947,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Affiliated Managers Group by 9.3% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 58,721 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $11,554,000 after purchasing an additional 4,994 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in Affiliated Managers Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $916,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.30% of the companys stock.

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Affiliated Managers Group Stock Down 0.8%

AMG opened at $310.36 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.34. The company has a market capitalization of $8.28 billion, a PE ratio of 13.45, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.18. The stocks fifty day moving average is $309.64 and its 200-day moving average is $269.31. Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. has a one year low of $139.22 and a one year high of $334.78.

Affiliated Managers Group Announces Dividend

Affiliated Managers Group ( NYSE:AMG Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The asset manager reported $9.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.75 by $0.73. Affiliated Managers Group had a return on equity of 18.45% and a net margin of 34.55%.The business had revenue of $556.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $578.54 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $6.53 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. will post 22.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd will be issued a $0.01 dividend. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 23rd. Affiliated Managers Groups payout ratio is presently 0.17%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on AMG. Zacks Research cut Affiliated Managers Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Affiliated Managers Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. TD Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Affiliated Managers Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. UBS Group set a $295.00 price objective on shares of Affiliated Managers Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Barrington Research upped their price objective on shares of Affiliated Managers Group from $285.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $350.14.

Read Our Latest Research Report on AMG

About Affiliated Managers Group

(Free Report)

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc (NYSE: AMG) is a global asset management holding company that partners with boutique investment firms. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, AMG invests in and collaborates with independent investment managers to foster growth while preserving their entrepreneurial culture. Through equity stakes and strategic support, the company aims to enhance its affiliates distribution capabilities, operational infrastructure and access to capital.

The companys core business activities include providing capital solutions, distribution services and operational support to affiliated investment firms.

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Laffer Tengler Investments Inc. boosted its stake in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 14.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 57,591 shares of the payment services companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,318 shares during the quarter. American Express comprises about 3.0% of Laffer Tengler Investments Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Laffer Tengler Investments Inc.s holdings in American Express were worth $19,129,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in American Express during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,897,335,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in American Express by 31,595.9% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,742,009 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $555,666,000 after purchasing an additional 1,736,513 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in American Express by 11.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,487,316 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $4,282,984,000 after purchasing an additional 1,349,746 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of American Express by 26.1% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 3,125,133 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $988,676,000 after purchasing an additional 646,039 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,425,262 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $14,808,730,000 after buying an additional 581,369 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at American Express

In related news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 8,134 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $346.73, for a total transaction of $2,820,301.82. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 9,433 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,270,704.09. This trade represents a 46.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Anna Marrs sold 27,425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $350.01, for a total transaction of $9,599,024.25. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 20,394 shares in the company, valued at $7,138,103.94. This represents a 57.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Key American Express News

American Express Price Performance

Here are the key news stories impacting American Express this week:

NYSE:AXP opened at $307.86 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $211.38 billion, a PE ratio of 20.00, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.14. American Express Company has a 1-year low of $220.43 and a 1-year high of $387.49. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $355.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of $349.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported $3.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.54 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.91 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 33.49% and a net margin of 15.00%.American Expresss quarterly revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.04 EPS. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Express Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 2nd. This is a positive change from American Expresss previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. American Expresss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.31%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AXP has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $395.00 target price on shares of American Express in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Truist Financial dropped their price target on American Express from $420.00 to $400.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on American Express from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Weiss Ratings raised American Express from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of American Express in a report on Monday, December 8th. They set a peer perform rating on the stock. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $352.73.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AXP

American Express Profile

(Free Report)

American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and cobrand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.

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American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, April 3rd will be paid a dividend of 0.95 per share by the payment services company on Friday, May 8th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 2nd. This is a 15.9% increase from American Expresss previous quarterly dividend of $0.82.

American Express has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.1%per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 4 years. American Express has a dividend payout ratio of 18.9% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect American Express to earn $17.60 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $3.28 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 18.6%.

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American Express Stock Up 1.0%

AXP stock traded up $3.12 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $310.94. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,816,150 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,622,135. The firms 50-day moving average is $355.45 and its 200-day moving average is $349.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. American Express has a 12 month low of $220.43 and a 12 month high of $387.49. The company has a market cap of $213.49 billion, a PE ratio of 20.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.14.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

American Express ( NYSE:AXP Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported $3.53 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.54 by ($0.01). American Express had a net margin of 15.00% and a return on equity of 33.49%. The business had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.91 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $3.04 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that American Express will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AXP has been the subject of several research reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of American Express from $355.00 to $367.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $425.00 target price on shares of American Express in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Weiss Ratings raised American Express from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen lowered American Express from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, November 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $420.00 price objective on shares of American Express in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, American Express has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $352.73.

View Our Latest Research Report on AXP

American Express Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and cobrand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.

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American Integrity Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:AII  Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eight brokerages that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has given a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $28.00.

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Raymond James Financial set a $28.00 price objective on shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Citigroup reaffirmed a market outperform rating on shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in a report on Friday, January 16th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on American Integrity Insurance Group from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Citizens Jmp boosted their price objective on American Integrity Insurance Group from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (e+) rating on shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st.

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View Our Latest Report on American Integrity Insurance Group

Insider Transactions at American Integrity Insurance Group

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Integrity Insurance Group

In related news, CEO Robert C. Ritchie sold 59,554 shares of American Integrity Insurance Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.00, for a total value of $1,131,526.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 2,417,212 shares in the company, valued at approximately $45,927,028. The trade was a 2.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, major shareholder James E. Sowell sold 295,037 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.00, for a total value of $5,605,703.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 4,473,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $85,002,656. This trade represents a 6.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AII. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of American Integrity Insurance Group by 1,840.0% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,988,329 shares of the companys stock worth $66,670,000 after purchasing an additional 2,834,289 shares in the last quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP acquired a new stake in American Integrity Insurance Group during the 2nd quarter worth $16,073,000. Boston Partners grew its holdings in shares of American Integrity Insurance Group by 212.5% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,089,780 shares of the companys stock worth $24,316,000 after buying an additional 741,002 shares in the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in the second quarter valued at about $10,409,000. Finally, Mink Brook Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in the second quarter worth about $7,844,000.

American Integrity Insurance Group Trading Down 2.9%

American Integrity Insurance Group stock opened at $20.54 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $402.17 million and a PE ratio of 3.87. American Integrity Insurance Group has a 12 month low of $15.77 and a 12 month high of $26.36. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $19.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $20.73.

American Integrity Insurance Group (NYSE:AII  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.32. American Integrity Insurance Group had a net margin of 36.03% and a return on equity of 39.25%. The firm had revenue of $68.07 million during the quarter.

American Integrity Insurance Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th.

About American Integrity Insurance Group

(Get Free Report)

American Integrity Insurance Group, Ltd. is a specialized provider of personal lines residential property insurance based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The company underwrites a variety of policies including homeowners multiple peril, condominium unitowners, dwelling fire, wind-only, personal umbrella and renters insurance. Its product suite is designed to protect against hurricane, windstorm, hail and other weather-related risks common to Floridas coastal and inland regions.

Founded in 2004, American Integrity operates primarily through a network of independent insurance agents across the state of Florida.

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Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT  Get Free Report) is one of 90 public companies in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Medical Properties Trust to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends and risk.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

71.8% of Medical Properties Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.7% of shares of all Real Estate Investment Trusts companies are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of Medical Properties Trust shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 7.9% of shares of all Real Estate Investment Trusts companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Medical Properties Trust and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Medical Properties Trust 1 1 1 0 2.00 Medical Properties Trust Competitors 2346 4060 2396 22 2.01

Valuation and Earnings

Medical Properties Trust presently has a consensus target price of $6.50, indicating a potential upside of 16.70%. As a group, Real Estate Investment Trusts companies have a potential upside of 17.27%. Given Medical Properties Trusts peers stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Medical Properties Trust has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

This table compares Medical Properties Trust and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Medical Properties Trust $972.02 million -$277.05 million -12.11 Medical Properties Trust Competitors $463.86 million $16.35 million 26.52

Medical Properties Trust has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its peers. Medical Properties Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Dividends

Medical Properties Trust pays an annual dividend of $0.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.5%. Medical Properties Trust pays out -78.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Real Estate Investment Trusts companies pay a dividend yield of 4.0% and pay out 102.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Medical Properties Trust is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Risk and Volatility

Medical Properties Trust has a beta of 1.39, meaning that its stock price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Medical Properties Trusts peers have a beta of 1.15, meaning that their average stock price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Medical Properties Trust and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Medical Properties Trust -28.50% -5.87% -1.85% Medical Properties Trust Competitors -34.14% -18.20% -0.23%

Summary

Medical Properties Trust beats its peers on 8 of the 15 factors compared.

About Medical Properties Trust

(Get Free Report)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed to capitalize on the changing trends in healthcare delivery by acquiring and developing net-leased healthcare facilities. MPTs financing model allows hospitals and other healthcare facilities to unlock the value of their underlying real estate in order to fund facility improvements, technology upgrades, staff additions and new construction. Facilities include acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and other medical and surgical facilities.

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Assa Abloy (OTCMKTS:ASAZY  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at Barclays from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note issued on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

ASAZY has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Assa Abloy in a report on Friday, February 6th. Zacks Research lowered Assa Abloy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Assa Abloy in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Assa Abloy Stock Down 1.6%

OTCMKTS:ASAZY opened at $20.59 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $20.39 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Assa Abloy has a 12 month low of $12.76 and a 12 month high of $21.98.

Assa Abloy (OTCMKTS:ASAZY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.01). Assa Abloy had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 14.78%. The company had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.36 billion. On average, research analysts expect that Assa Abloy will post 0.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Assa Abloy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Assa Abloy is a global provider of door opening solutions, formed in 1994 through the merger of Swedish lock manufacturer ASSA and Finnish lock specialist Abloy. Building on a legacy that dates back to 1907, the company has grown into a diversified security technology group offering a broad portfolio of mechanical and electromechanical locks, access control systems, identification technology and entrance automation. Assa Abloy serves a wide range of end markets, including commercial buildings, residential dwellings, institutions, transportation hubs and hospitality venues.

The companys product offerings encompass traditional mechanical locks and keys as well as advanced digital solutions such as mobile access credentials, smart door locks and cloud-based access management platforms.

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China Feihe Limited (OTCMKTS:CFEIY  Get Free Report) shares traded down 15.1% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $4.3880 and last traded at $4.3880. 197 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 72% from the average session volume of 700 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.17.

China Feihe Price Performance

The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $5.17.

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China Feihe Company Profile

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China Feihe (OTCMKTS:CFEIY) is a leading manufacturer and distributor of infant formula and dairy products in the Peoples Republic of China. Founded in the early 1960s in Heilongjiang province, the company has grown from a regional dairy processor into one of the nations foremost suppliers of nutritional products for infants, children, and adults. China Feihes core business revolves around the research, production, and sale of milk powder formulas designed to meet various life stage requirements, with particular emphasis on quality control and food safety standards.

The companys product portfolio includes infant formula for newborns, stage-based follow-on formula, and specialized products such as goat milk formulas and probiotic-enhanced offerings.

Further Reading

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CI Investments Inc. lessened its position in shares of OGE Energy Corporation (NYSE:OGE  Free Report) by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 824,470 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 28,822 shares during the quarter. CI Investments Inc.s holdings in OGE Energy were worth $38,148,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Capital A Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of OGE Energy by 5,157.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 736 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 722 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming purchased a new position in shares of OGE Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in OGE Energy by 427.0% in the second quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 780 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 632 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of OGE Energy during the third quarter worth $43,000. Finally, MTM Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of OGE Energy during the 2nd quarter worth about $51,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.84% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Lyle G. Ganske bought 10,420 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $47.99 per share, with a total value of $500,055.80. Following the transaction, the director owned 10,420 shares of the companys stock, valued at $500,055.80. This represents a  increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Sarah R. Stafford sold 6,130 shares of OGE Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.77, for a total transaction of $292,830.10. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 28,559 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,364,263.43. This trade represents a 17.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

OGE Energy Stock Performance

Shares of OGE opened at $48.80 on Wednesday. OGE Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $40.80 and a 12-month high of $49.55. The stock has a market cap of $10.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.13, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The company has a 50-day moving average of $44.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $44.66.

OGE Energy (NYSE:OGE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The utilities provider reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.03. OGE Energy had a return on equity of 9.89% and a net margin of 14.44%.The company had revenue of $725.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $277.80 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.50 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. OGE Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.380-2.480 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that OGE Energy Corporation will post 2.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

OGE Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Investors of record on Monday, April 6th will be given a $0.425 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 6th. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. OGE Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 73.59%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on OGE. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of OGE Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. They issued a market perform rating and a $45.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating on shares of OGE Energy in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Mizuho set a $49.00 price objective on shares of OGE Energy in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of OGE Energy from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on OGE Energy from $51.00 to $49.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, OGE Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $47.63.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on OGE Energy

About OGE Energy

(Free Report)

OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE:OGE) is an energy and infrastructure holding company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Through its principal subsidiary, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company, the company provides regulated electric service to residential, commercial and industrial customers across Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Its diversified generation mix includes coal, natural gas and wind-powered facilities, complemented by ongoing investments in grid modernization and smart technology to enhance reliability and customer satisfaction.

In addition to its core electric utility operations, OGE Energy Corp.

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Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT  Get Free Report) and Summit Industrial Income REIT (OTCMKTS:SMMCF  Get Free Report) are both real estate companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and risk.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Medical Properties Trust and Summit Industrial Income REITs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Medical Properties Trust $972.02 million 3.43 -$277.05 million ($0.46) -12.11 Summit Industrial Income REIT N/A N/A N/A $0.59 29.50

Analyst Ratings

Summit Industrial Income REIT has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Medical Properties Trust. Medical Properties Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Summit Industrial Income REIT, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Medical Properties Trust and Summit Industrial Income REIT, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Medical Properties Trust 1 1 1 0 2.00 Summit Industrial Income REIT 0 0 0 0 0.00

Medical Properties Trust currently has a consensus target price of $6.50, indicating a potential upside of 16.70%. Given Medical Properties Trusts stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Medical Properties Trust is more favorable than Summit Industrial Income REIT.

Dividends

Medical Properties Trust pays an annual dividend of $0.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.5%. Summit Industrial Income REIT pays an annual dividend of $0.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Medical Properties Trust pays out -78.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Summit Industrial Income REIT pays out 35.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Medical Properties Trust is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Profitability

This table compares Medical Properties Trust and Summit Industrial Income REITs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Medical Properties Trust -28.50% -5.87% -1.85% Summit Industrial Income REIT N/A N/A N/A

Insider and Institutional Ownership

71.8% of Medical Properties Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of Summit Industrial Income REIT shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of Medical Properties Trust shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Medical Properties Trust beats Summit Industrial Income REIT on 8 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Medical Properties Trust

(Get Free Report)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed to capitalize on the changing trends in healthcare delivery by acquiring and developing net-leased healthcare facilities. MPTs financing model allows hospitals and other healthcare facilities to unlock the value of their underlying real estate in order to fund facility improvements, technology upgrades, staff additions and new construction. Facilities include acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and other medical and surgical facilities.

About Summit Industrial Income REIT

(Get Free Report)

Summit Industrial Income REIT is an open-ended mutual fund trust, which engages in growing and managing a portfolio of light industrial properties. Its properties are located in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and New Brunswick. The company was founded on November 24, 1998 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada.

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Dimensional Fund Advisors LP cut its position in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) by 1.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,183,429 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 147,244 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 0.90% of ConocoPhillips worth $1,057,953,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in ConocoPhillips by 0.7% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 40,382,724 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $3,623,946,000 after purchasing an additional 287,970 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in ConocoPhillips by 1.8% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 14,653,966 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $1,386,119,000 after buying an additional 260,091 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 31.4% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 10,778,664 shares of the energy producers stock worth $966,267,000 after buying an additional 2,575,803 shares during the period. Primecap Management Co. CA increased its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 31.3% during the third quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 10,351,010 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $979,102,000 after acquiring an additional 2,467,555 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners increased its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 4.0% during the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 6,424,232 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $577,471,000 after acquiring an additional 244,810 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.36% of the companys stock.

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ConocoPhillips News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs added ConocoPhillips to its US conviction list, signaling institutional conviction in COP as a capital-intensive, AI-resistant beneficiary of a market rotation into energy. Article Title

Goldman Sachs added ConocoPhillips to its US conviction list, signaling institutional conviction in COP as a capital-intensive, AI-resistant beneficiary of a market rotation into energy. Positive Sentiment: Two banks raised price targets and kept bullish ratings (BMO: $130 outperform; Citi: $135 buy), providing explicit upside guidance that can attract buyers and support momentum. Article Title Article Title

Two banks raised price targets and kept bullish ratings (BMO: $130 outperform; Citi: $135 buy), providing explicit upside guidance that can attract buyers and support momentum. Positive Sentiment: Geopolitical escalation (US/Israel strikes on Iran) pushed WTI higher and sparked a sector-wide rally; ConocoPhillips is benefiting as an upstream producer with North American exposure. Article Title

Geopolitical escalation (US/Israel strikes on Iran) pushed WTI higher and sparked a sector-wide rally; ConocoPhillips is benefiting as an upstream producer with North American exposure. Positive Sentiment: The shares hit a 52-week high amid the rally, reinforcing momentum and drawing more investor attention. Article Title

The shares hit a 52-week high amid the rally, reinforcing momentum and drawing more investor attention. Positive Sentiment: Reports that ConocoPhillips is exploring selective Permian asset sales (~$2B) and expanding divestitures support a leaner portfolio and potentially higher shareholder returns or accelerated buybacks/dividends. Article Title

Reports that ConocoPhillips is exploring selective Permian asset sales (~$2B) and expanding divestitures support a leaner portfolio and potentially higher shareholder returns or accelerated buybacks/dividends. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary and media pieces highlight long-term upside via rising free cash flow (projects like Willow) and bullish scenario analysis  supportive but forward-looking and dependent on oil prices/stage-of-project execution. Article Title

Analyst commentary and media pieces highlight long-term upside via rising free cash flow (projects like Willow) and bullish scenario analysis  supportive but forward-looking and dependent on oil prices/stage-of-project execution. Negative Sentiment: Options activity commentary (sell covered calls) suggests some investors are taking profits and monetizing the rally, which can cap near-term upside and increase short-term volatility. Article Title

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on COP. Zacks Research cut shares of ConocoPhillips from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Roth Mkm lowered ConocoPhillips from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $112.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday. Piper Sandler raised their target price on ConocoPhillips from $108.00 to $111.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ConocoPhillips currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $116.96.

Get Our Latest Report on ConocoPhillips

Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips

In other news, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 500,708 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.50, for a total value of $46,315,490.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 325,972 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,152,410. This trade represents a 60.57% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock.

ConocoPhillips Trading Up 0.3%

COP opened at $118.57 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $102.72 and a 200 day moving average price of $95.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.14. ConocoPhillips has a 12 month low of $79.88 and a 12 month high of $122.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $146.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.70, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.27.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The energy producer reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.23 by ($0.21). ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 12.98% and a return on equity of 11.90%. The company had revenue of $13.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.35 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.98 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th were given a $0.84 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is currently 53.00%.

ConocoPhillips Company Profile

(Free Report)

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is a Houston-based international energy company focused on exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Formed in 2002 through the merger of Conoco Inc and Phillips Petroleum Company, the firm operates as an independent upstream company that explores for, develops and produces crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids across a portfolio of global assets.

The companys activities span conventional and unconventional resources and include onshore and offshore operations in multiple regions around the world.

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An aerial drone photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows MS Regatta (L) berthing at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port in Tianjin, north China.

As the first visiting cruise in northern China this year, MS Regatta, a cruise ship operated by Oceania Cruises, arrived at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port from South Korea on Tuesday.

The nearly 600 passengers aboard MS Regatta, who came from over 20 countries and regions including the United States, Canada and Australia, embarked on a two-day itinerary to experience Tianjin's cultural charm and historical grandeur. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Passengers line up for immigration procedures at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port in Tianjin, north China, March 3, 2026.

As the first visiting cruise in northern China this year, MS Regatta, a cruise ship operated by Oceania Cruises, arrived at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port from South Korea on Tuesday.

The nearly 600 passengers aboard MS Regatta, who came from over 20 countries and regions including the United States, Canada and Australia, embarked on a two-day itinerary to experience Tianjin's cultural charm and historical grandeur. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Inbound tourists visit an ancient cultural street in Tianjin, north China, March 3, 2026.

As the first visiting cruise in northern China this year, MS Regatta, a cruise ship operated by Oceania Cruises, arrived at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port from South Korea on Tuesday.

The nearly 600 passengers aboard MS Regatta, who came from over 20 countries and regions including the United States, Canada and Australia, embarked on a two-day itinerary to experience Tianjin's cultural charm and historical grandeur. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Passengers line up for immigration procedures at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port in Tianjin, north China, March 3, 2026.

As the first visiting cruise in northern China this year, MS Regatta, a cruise ship operated by Oceania Cruises, arrived at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port from South Korea on Tuesday.

The nearly 600 passengers aboard MS Regatta, who came from over 20 countries and regions including the United States, Canada and Australia, embarked on a two-day itinerary to experience Tianjin's cultural charm and historical grandeur. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)
Best Buy (NYSE:BBY  Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by research analysts at DA Davidson from $90.00 to $85.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. The firm presently has a buy rating on the technology retailers stock. DA Davidsons price target would suggest a potential upside of 27.90% from the companys current price.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on BBY. Piper Sandler reissued a buy rating on shares of Best Buy in a report on Wednesday. KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Best Buy in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Best Buy from $82.00 to $67.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Truist Financial set a $66.00 price target on shares of Best Buy in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Best Buy from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $99.00 to $76.00 in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $77.25.

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Best Buy Trading Up 0.8%

BBY stock traded up $0.51 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $66.46. The company had a trading volume of 289,111 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,782,809. The company has a market capitalization of $13.93 billion, a PE ratio of 22.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 1.46. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $66.83 and a 200 day moving average of $72.90. Best Buy has a 12 month low of $54.99 and a 12 month high of $84.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.26.

Best Buy (NYSE:BBY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 3rd. The technology retailer reported $2.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.48 by $0.13. Best Buy had a return on equity of 50.02% and a net margin of 1.54%.The company had revenue of $13.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.96 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.58 earnings per share. Best Buys revenue was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Best Buy has set its FY 2027 guidance at 6.300-6.600 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Best Buy will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Best Buy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Woodline Partners LP increased its holdings in shares of Best Buy by 40.1% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 16,436 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $1,210,000 after purchasing an additional 4,701 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Best Buy by 2.0% during the second quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 73,103 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $4,907,000 after purchasing an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in Best Buy by 110.4% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 337,776 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $22,675,000 after buying an additional 177,261 shares during the last quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC raised its position in Best Buy by 32.5% during the 2nd quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC now owns 4,509 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $303,000 after buying an additional 1,107 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in Best Buy by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 73,804 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $4,966,000 after acquiring an additional 5,270 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.96% of the companys stock.

Trending Headlines about Best Buy

Here are the key news stories impacting Best Buy this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat and profit improvement  Best Buy reported $2.61 GAAP EPS vs. consensus ~$2.48 and highlighted margin gains and cost discipline that drove stronger profits despite a small sales decline. MarketWatch: Q4 Results

Q4 earnings beat and profit improvement  Best Buy reported $2.61 GAAP EPS vs. consensus ~$2.48 and highlighted margin gains and cost discipline that drove stronger profits despite a small sales decline. Positive Sentiment: Buy-side support remains  Guggenheim reaffirmed a buy and a $90 price target, signaling conviction that earnings strength and buyback/dividend support value. Benzinga: Guggenheim Rating

Buy-side support remains  Guggenheim reaffirmed a buy and a $90 price target, signaling conviction that earnings strength and buyback/dividend support value. Positive Sentiment: Operational progress cited by analysts  Coverage notes that a leaner cost structure and improved profitability are driving the postearnings rally even as sales soften. 247WallSt: Cost Structure

Operational progress cited by analysts  Coverage notes that a leaner cost structure and improved profitability are driving the postearnings rally even as sales soften. Neutral Sentiment: Telsey cut its price target to $80 but kept an outperform rating (still a material upside vs. the current price), reflecting mixed longterm conviction.

Telsey cut its price target to $80 but kept an outperform rating (still a material upside vs. the current price), reflecting mixed longterm conviction. Neutral Sentiment: Piper Sandler trimmed its target to $68 and moved to neutral, reducing upside expectations for nearterm performance. Benzinga: Piper Sandler

Piper Sandler trimmed its target to $68 and moved to neutral, reducing upside expectations for nearterm performance. Neutral Sentiment: FY2027 guidance updated to $6.30$6.60 EPS (consensus ~6.68) and revenue guidance slightly below street expectations, which tempers the beat and leaves investors weighing nearterm growth headwinds.

FY2027 guidance updated to $6.30$6.60 EPS (consensus ~6.68) and revenue guidance slightly below street expectations, which tempers the beat and leaves investors weighing nearterm growth headwinds. Negative Sentiment: Revenue and samestore sales weakness  Q4 revenue was $13.81B vs. estimates near $13.96B and comp sales slipped (~0.8%), reinforcing that consumers are pulling back on bigticket electronics. Yahoo Finance: Revenue Miss

Revenue and samestore sales weakness  Q4 revenue was $13.81B vs. estimates near $13.96B and comp sales slipped (~0.8%), reinforcing that consumers are pulling back on bigticket electronics. Negative Sentiment: Company warns of softer annual sales and supply/tariff uncertainty  Best Buy forecast annual sales below Wall Street estimates, a clear headwind to multiple expansion. Reuters: Sales Forecast

Company warns of softer annual sales and supply/tariff uncertainty  Best Buy forecast annual sales below Wall Street estimates, a clear headwind to multiple expansion. Negative Sentiment: Sell-side critique and structural concerns  A Seeking Alpha piece downgraded BBY to Sell, highlighting weak differentiation, ecommerce vulnerability, and limited nearterm catalysts despite a high dividend yield. Seeking Alpha: Sell Rating

Best Buy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Best Buy Co, Inc is a leading North American consumer electronics retailer that sells a broad range of products including computers, mobile phones, televisions and home theater systems, major appliances, smart-home devices, gaming hardware and software, wearables and related accessories. The company operates through a mix of large-format stores, smaller specialty locations and an e-commerce platform, offering national and private-brand merchandise from major consumer-technology manufacturers as well as third-party sellers.

Beyond product retailing, Best Buy provides a suite of services aimed at installation, repair and ongoing technical support.

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DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DOCN  Get Free Report) CAO Cherie Barrett sold 22,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.77, for a total value of $1,204,940.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 62,469 shares in the company, valued at $3,421,427.13. The trade was a 26.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.

DigitalOcean Stock Down 4.9%

Shares of DOCN traded down $2.83 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $55.41. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,887,194 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,561,418. The company has a 50 day moving average of $56.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.06. The firm has a market cap of $5.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.90, a P/E/G ratio of 56.60 and a beta of 1.76. DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. has a 1-year low of $25.45 and a 1-year high of $70.43.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DOCN has been the topic of a number of research reports. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of DigitalOcean from $72.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on DigitalOcean from $68.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Citizens Jmp boosted their price target on DigitalOcean from $60.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of DigitalOcean in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Oppenheimer raised their price objective on shares of DigitalOcean from $60.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, DigitalOcean presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $69.23.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On DigitalOcean

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DOCN. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of DigitalOcean in the second quarter valued at approximately $22,633,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. bought a new stake in shares of DigitalOcean during the 3rd quarter worth $21,808,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its stake in DigitalOcean by 90.9% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,194,845 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,496,000 after buying an additional 568,823 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in DigitalOcean by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,362,889 shares of the companys stock worth $319,836,000 after acquiring an additional 442,617 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in DigitalOcean by 784.2% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 494,314 shares of the companys stock worth $23,786,000 after acquiring an additional 438,411 shares during the period. 49.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

DigitalOcean Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc is a cloud infrastructure provider that focuses on simplicity, performance and developer experience. The company offers a range of cloud services designed to help software developers, startups and small- to medium-sized businesses deploy, manage and scale applications. Its flagship offering, Droplets, provides virtual private servers that can be configured with various CPU, memory and storage options. In addition to compute instances, DigitalOceans platform includes managed Kubernetes, scalable object and block storage, managed databases, load balancers and networking capabilities such as Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and Floating IPs.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in New York City, DigitalOcean was created with the goal of making cloud computing more accessible to individual developers and smaller teams.

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Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP  Free Report) by 2.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,693,498 shares of the railroad operators stock after purchasing an additional 101,776 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 0.62% of Union Pacific worth $873,018,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Miramar Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 14.4% in the 3rd quarter. Miramar Capital LLC now owns 62,053 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $14,667,000 after purchasing an additional 7,805 shares during the last quarter. South Dakota Investment Council lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 187.6% in the third quarter. South Dakota Investment Council now owns 49,189 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $11,627,000 after buying an additional 32,083 shares during the period. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 9.7% during the third quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 14,185 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $3,290,000 after acquiring an additional 1,249 shares during the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 25,944 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $6,132,000 after acquiring an additional 1,781 shares during the period. Finally, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 44,100 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $10,424,000 after acquiring an additional 641 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently commented on UNP. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 target price on Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a strong-buy rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $295.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $260.14.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP opened at $265.46 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $268.14. The company has a market cap of $157.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.18, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.95. The companys fifty day moving average price is $243.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $232.27. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.91 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio is 46.12%.

About Union Pacific

(Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western twothirds of the United States.

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Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX  Free Report) by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,507,565 shares of the shipping service providers stock after acquiring an additional 55,709 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned about 1.06% of FedEx worth $591,319,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of FedEx in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in FedEx by 121.8% in the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 122 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the period. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in FedEx in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in FedEx during the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of FedEx by 27.5% during the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 218 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. 84.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Key Headlines Impacting FedEx

Here are the key news stories impacting FedEx this week:

Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade and higher target: Jefferies raised its price target to $450 and kept a buy rating, giving FDX additional buy-side institutional momentum and signaling continued confidence in the companys earnings trajectory. Jefferies adjusts price target

Analyst upgrade and higher target: Jefferies raised its price target to $450 and kept a buy rating, giving FDX additional buy-side institutional momentum and signaling continued confidence in the companys earnings trajectory. Positive Sentiment: Tariff-refund upside: FedEx was an early mover suing for refunds after the Supreme Court struck down prior emergency tariffs  management says it could be eligible for roughly $1B and has pledged to return refunds to customers, a potential one-time boost and goodwill generator. FedEx tariff lawsuits

Tariff-refund upside: FedEx was an early mover suing for refunds after the Supreme Court struck down prior emergency tariffs  management says it could be eligible for roughly $1B and has pledged to return refunds to customers, a potential one-time boost and goodwill generator. Positive Sentiment: Momentum/earnings track record: Analysts and market pieces cite strong recent earnings surprises, improving trade volumes (especially ChinaU.S.), and strategic initiatives that helped a 20% surge in February  these fundamentals support continued upside if execution holds. Why did FedEx surge

Momentum/earnings track record: Analysts and market pieces cite strong recent earnings surprises, improving trade volumes (especially ChinaU.S.), and strategic initiatives that helped a 20% surge in February  these fundamentals support continued upside if execution holds. Neutral Sentiment: Tariff landscape evolving: The Supreme Court ruling voided prior IEEPA tariffs and the administration reissued narrower tariffs under a different statute  this lowers effective rates but creates timing/clarity issues around extensions and refund mechanics. Tariff relief analysis

Tariff landscape evolving: The Supreme Court ruling voided prior IEEPA tariffs and the administration reissued narrower tariffs under a different statute  this lowers effective rates but creates timing/clarity issues around extensions and refund mechanics. Neutral Sentiment: Refund process complexity: Importers and others are filing large numbers of claims in the Court of International Trade, which could slow or complicate payouts and prolong uncertainty about timing and amounts. Tariff-refund seekers flock

Refund process complexity: Importers and others are filing large numbers of claims in the Court of International Trade, which could slow or complicate payouts and prolong uncertainty about timing and amounts. Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational risk: FedExs lawsuit and public commitments have invited class-action suits and greater regulatory scrutiny  potential liabilities, customer disputes, or a legal loss could dent margins or force larger-than-expected payouts. FedEx legal risks

Legal and reputational risk: FedExs lawsuit and public commitments have invited class-action suits and greater regulatory scrutiny  potential liabilities, customer disputes, or a legal loss could dent margins or force larger-than-expected payouts. Negative Sentiment: Execution & H2 outlook risks: Morgan Stanley and other commentators note strong H1 catalysts but warn of headwinds in H2 that could limit sustainable margin expansion  investors may be trimming positions ahead of that uncertainty. Morgan Stanley note

Execution & H2 outlook risks: Morgan Stanley and other commentators note strong H1 catalysts but warn of headwinds in H2 that could limit sustainable margin expansion  investors may be trimming positions ahead of that uncertainty. Negative Sentiment: Geopolitical disruption: FedEx suspended services in several Gulf countries amid regional conflict, creating near-term revenue disruption and logistics costs on key international routes. Service suspensions

FedEx Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of FDX stock opened at $382.15 on Wednesday. FedEx Corporation has a 12-month low of $194.29 and a 12-month high of $392.86. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $335.27 and a 200-day moving average of $279.89. The company has a market capitalization of $89.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.29.

FedEx (NYSE:FDX  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, December 18th. The shipping service provider reported $4.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.02 by $0.80. FedEx had a net margin of 4.81% and a return on equity of 16.63%. The firm had revenue of $23.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.05 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. FedEx has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.800-19.000 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that FedEx Corporation will post 19.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

FedEx Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a $1.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $5.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. FedExs payout ratio is presently 31.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

FDX has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. HSBC cut FedEx from a hold rating to a reduce rating and set a $335.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on FedEx from $290.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Bank of America upped their price target on FedEx from $408.00 to $414.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of FedEx from $327.00 to $401.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of FedEx from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $365.07.

View Our Latest Analysis on FDX

FedEx Profile

(Free Report)

FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) is a global logistics and courier company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded by Frederick W. Smith in 1971 and beginning operations in the early 1970s, the company pioneered overnight express shipping and has since expanded into a diversified portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain services. FedEx operates an integrated air-and-ground network that moves parcels, freight and documents for businesses and consumers worldwide.

FedExs core operating segments include express parcel delivery via its FedEx Express division, domestic and residential parcel delivery through FedEx Ground, less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services, and logistics and supply-chain management solutions.

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Dimensional Fund Advisors LP reduced its stake in General Motors Company (NYSE:GM  Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 15,313,898 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after selling 197,967 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 1.64% of General Motors worth $933,705,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of General Motors by 11.5% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 110,759,703 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $5,450,485,000 after buying an additional 11,418,367 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in General Motors in the 2nd quarter worth $444,319,000. Viking Global Investors LP lifted its position in General Motors by 81.1% during the 2nd quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 13,018,874 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $640,659,000 after acquiring an additional 5,830,050 shares during the last quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in General Motors by 436.8% during the second quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 2,658,525 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $130,826,000 after acquiring an additional 2,163,274 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in shares of General Motors by 125.9% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 3,699,220 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $182,039,000 after purchasing an additional 2,061,712 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.67% of the companys stock.

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General Motors Price Performance

GM opened at $77.16 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.37. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $81.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $71.41. General Motors Company has a one year low of $41.60 and a one year high of $87.62.

General Motors Increases Dividend

General Motors ( NYSE:GM Get Free Report ) (TSE:GMM.U) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The auto manufacturer reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.26 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $45.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.81 billion. General Motors had a return on equity of 14.72% and a net margin of 1.46%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.92 EPS. General Motors has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.750-10.500 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that General Motors Company will post 11.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This is a positive change from General Motorss previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. General Motorss dividend payout ratio is 19.93%.

General Motors announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, January 27th that allows the company to buyback $6.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the auto manufacturer to buy up to 8.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

GM has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on General Motors from $85.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on General Motors from $48.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of General Motors from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $104.00 price target on shares of General Motors in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of General Motors in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $89.52.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on GM

Key Stories Impacting General Motors

Here are the key news stories impacting General Motors this week:

General Motors Profile

(Free Report)

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that designs, builds and sells cars, trucks, crossovers and electric vehicles, and provides related parts and services. Founded in 1908, GM has long been one of the worlds largest automakers and has evolved into a multi-brand company whose primary marques include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick. Beyond vehicle manufacturing, GMs operations encompass vehicle financing, connected services and advanced mobility initiatives.

GM develops and markets a broad portfolio of products and technologies, including internal-combustion and battery-electric vehicles, vehicle components and on-board connectivity services.

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Dimensional Fund Advisors LP trimmed its position in The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 3.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,780,057 shares of the banks stock after selling 232,155 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 0.83% of Bank of New York Mellon worth $629,832,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of BK. Westside Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 78.9% during the second quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 288 shares of the banks stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. bought a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Caldwell Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the 2nd quarter worth $36,000. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 130.8% in the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 427 shares of the banks stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 242 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 73.2% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 511 shares of the banks stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. 85.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup started coverage on Bank of New York Mellon in a report on Monday, February 23rd. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b+) rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $124.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Truist Financial upgraded Bank of New York Mellon from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $119.00 to $134.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $124.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $131.92.

Bank of New York Mellon Stock Performance

Shares of BK opened at $118.01 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $119.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $112.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $81.06 billion, a PE ratio of 15.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.10. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation has a one year low of $70.46 and a one year high of $128.76.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The bank reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $5.07 billion during the quarter. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 14.37% and a net margin of 13.62%. On average, analysts anticipate that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation will post 6.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd were issued a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 23rd. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is 28.61%.

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Free Report)

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY Mellon) is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City that provides a wide range of asset servicing, custody, and related financial infrastructure solutions to institutional clients. Its core businesses include custody and asset servicing, clearing and collateral management, treasury services, securities lending, corporate trust services, and depositary receipt administration. The company also offers investment management and advisory services through its asset management arm and provides technology-enabled solutions for trade processing, foreign exchange, and liquidity management.

BNY Mellon serves a broad client base that includes asset managers, pension funds, corporations, banks, broker-dealers and sovereign entities.

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Suncorp Group Limited (ASX:SUN  Get Free Report) insider Elmer Kupper bought 12,072 shares of Suncorp Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was acquired at an average price of A$14.36 per share, with a total value of A$173,353.92.

Elmer Kupper also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, February 19th, Elmer Kupper purchased 7,500 shares of Suncorp Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of A$15.49 per share, for a total transaction of A$116,175.00.

Suncorp Group Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $15.79 billion, a PE ratio of 15.95, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.74.

Suncorp Group Announces Dividend

About Suncorp Group

The business also recently declared a Interim dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 111.0%. The ex-dividend date is Sunday, February 22nd. Suncorp Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 95.65%.

(Get Free Report)

Suncorp Group Limited provides insurance and banking products and services to retail, corporate, and commercial customers in Australia and New Zealand. The company operates through Consumer Insurance; Commercial and Personal Injury; and Suncorp New Zealand segments. The Consumer Insurance segment provides insurance products, including home and contents, motor, and boat insurance products. The Commercial and Personal Injury segment offers commercial motor, commercial property, marine, industrial special risks, public liability and professional indemnity, workers compensation, and compulsory third party products.

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Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co increased its position in McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC  Free Report) by 85.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 42,158 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 19,423 shares during the period. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Cos holdings in McCormick & Company, Incorporated were worth $2,821,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKC. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 2.7% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 34,678 shares of the companys stock worth $2,854,000 after buying an additional 925 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 19.0% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,903 shares of the companys stock worth $486,000 after acquiring an additional 941 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP boosted its position in McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 40.9% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 21,334 shares of the companys stock worth $1,756,000 after acquiring an additional 6,189 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 64.0% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 984 shares of the companys stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 384 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Investments Inc increased its holdings in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 35,184 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,668,000 after purchasing an additional 380 shares during the period. 79.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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McCormick & Company, Incorporated Stock Performance

Shares of MKC opened at $67.54 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $18.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.90 and a beta of 0.59. The companys fifty day moving average is $67.18 and its 200-day moving average is $67.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. McCormick & Company, Incorporated has a 12 month low of $59.62 and a 12 month high of $86.24.

Insider Transactions at McCormick & Company, Incorporated

McCormick & Company, Incorporated ( NYSE:MKC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.87 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.84 billion. McCormick & Company, Incorporated had a net margin of 11.54% and a return on equity of 14.27%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.80 EPS. McCormick & Company, Incorporated has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.050-3.130 EPS. Equities analysts expect that McCormick & Company, Incorporated will post 3.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other news, Director Jacques Tapiero sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.09, for a total transaction of $335,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 31,596 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,119,775.64. This represents a 13.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Lawrence Erik Kurzius sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total value of $3,581,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 296,992 shares in the company, valued at $21,273,536.96. The trade was a 14.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders sold 115,000 shares of company stock worth $7,947,300. 10.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MKC has been the subject of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $72.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $71.00 to $65.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $75.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, December 15th. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $70.00 to $67.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, McCormick & Company, Incorporated has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $74.10.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MKC

About McCormick & Company, Incorporated

(Free Report)

McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE: MKC) is a global leader in spices, seasonings and flavor solutions. Headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, the company traces its origins to the late 19th century and has grown into a major manufacturer and marketer of branded and privatelabel flavor products for consumer, industrial and foodservice markets.

McCormicks product portfolio includes pure spices and herbs, blended seasonings, marinades, rubs, sauces, extracts and specialty flavorings, along with ingredient systems and custom flavor development for manufacturers and foodservice operators.

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Mcdonald Partners LLC lowered its position in Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR  Free Report) by 63.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,443 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 9,495 shares during the quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLCs holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $714,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of EMR. Brighton Jones LLC increased its holdings in Emerson Electric by 74.1% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 11,392 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,412,000 after purchasing an additional 4,850 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Emerson Electric in the first quarter valued at about $232,000. Caxton Associates LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Emerson Electric during the 1st quarter valued at about $275,000. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Emerson Electric during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $203,000. Finally, Ignite Planners LLC purchased a new position in Emerson Electric in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $237,000. 74.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Emerson Electric

In other Emerson Electric news, Director Matthew S. Levatich sold 1,476 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.16, for a total transaction of $239,348.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 24,349 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,948,433.84. The trade was a 5.72% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Nicholas J. Piazza sold 6,703 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.07, for a total transaction of $1,066,246.21. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 31,664 shares in the company, valued at $5,036,792.48. The trade was a 17.47% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.23% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Emerson Electric from $153.00 to $176.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their price target on shares of Emerson Electric from $154.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. TD Cowen cut shares of Emerson Electric from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Friday, January 9th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Emerson Electric from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their target price on shares of Emerson Electric from $143.00 to $164.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $164.85.

Read Our Latest Report on EMR

Emerson Electric Stock Down 3.7%

Shares of Emerson Electric stock opened at $146.43 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $82.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.80, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.24. Emerson Electric Co. has a twelve month low of $90.06 and a twelve month high of $165.15. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $147.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $137.54.

Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The industrial products company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $4.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.37 billion. Emerson Electric had a return on equity of 17.25% and a net margin of 12.72%.The firms revenue was up 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.38 EPS. Emerson Electric has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.400-6.550 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.500-1.550 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Emerson Electric Co. will post 5.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Emerson Electric declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, November 5th that allows the company to repurchase $0.00 in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the industrial products company to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Emerson Electric Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $0.555 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. Emerson Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.28%.

About Emerson Electric

(Free Report)

Emerson Electric Co is a global technology and engineering company that designs and manufactures products and provides services for industrial, commercial and consumer markets. Founded in 1890, the company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and has built a long-standing presence in automation, control and climate-related technologies. Emersons offerings are aimed at improving productivity, energy efficiency and reliability for a wide range of end markets.

Emerson operates through two principal platformsAutomation Solutions and Commercial & Residential Solutionsproviding process automation systems, measurement and analytical instrumentation, valves and actuators, control software, and related aftermarket services, alongside products for heating, ventilation and refrigeration, residential and commercial climate controls, tools and storage solutions.

Further Reading

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European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:ERE.UN  Get Free Report) had its price target cut by equities research analysts at TD Securities from C$1.25 to C$1.19 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a sell rating on the stock. TD Securities target price indicates a potential upside of 1.71% from the companys previous close.

Separately, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average price target of C$1.56.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Stock Performance

Shares of TSE:ERE.UN traded up C$0.01 on Wednesday, hitting C$1.17. 56,979 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 117,665. The companys 50 day moving average price is C$1.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$1.39. The firm has a market capitalization of C$108.93 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.89 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 256.06, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.27. European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust has a one year low of C$0.98 and a one year high of C$2.64.

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:ERE.UN  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported C($0.12) EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$6.70 million during the quarter. European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust had a net margin of 29.74% and a return on equity of 6.43%. Research analysts expect that European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust will post 0.1190476 earnings per share for the current year.

About European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust

(Get Free Report)

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust  ERES is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. ERESs REIT units are listed on the TSX under the symbol ERE.UN. ERES is Canadas only European-focused multi-residential REIT, with a current initial focus on investing in high-quality multi-residential real estate properties in the Netherlands. ERES owns a portfolio of 137 multi-residential properties, comprised of 5,865 suites and ancillary retail space located in the Netherlands, and owns one office property in Germany and one office property in Belgium.

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BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China has called for an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory global environment for sci-tech development, while emphasizing its sci-tech self-reliance, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, told a press conference ahead of the opening of the session, that scientific and technological innovation cannot do without an open, inclusive and mutually beneficial global ecosystem.

In response to a question regarding China's rapid development in humanoid robots, he noted that enabling robots to feel, think, decide and act like humans requires global collaboration, and addressing the ethical and social issues arising from this advancement demands collective global efforts.

He also said that the key to sci-tech innovation and development currently lies in having home-grown, risk-controllable core technologies.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will strengthen original innovation and work to make decisive breakthroughs in critical core technologies in key areas, according to Lou. 
Fox Run Management L.L.C. lessened its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Free Report) by 81.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 3,627 shares of the consumer goods makers stock after selling 15,538 shares during the quarter. Fox Run Management L.L.C.s holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV were worth $216,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 4.5% in the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 10,663,933 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $732,826,000 after acquiring an additional 454,621 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 23.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,344,451 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $229,831,000 after purchasing an additional 641,158 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 25.3% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,318,248 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $81,151,000 after purchasing an additional 265,783 shares in the last quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC grew its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,034,000 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $61,637,000 after purchasing an additional 15,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alberta Investment Management Corp increased its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 30.4% during the 3rd quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 730,000 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $43,515,000 after purchasing an additional 170,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 5.53% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on BUD shares. DZ Bank reiterated a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a report on Monday, December 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Monday, February 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a buy rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Friday, February 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $81.00.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Down 2.7%

Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV stock opened at $76.62 on Wednesday. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a twelve month low of $56.97 and a twelve month high of $81.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The companys 50 day moving average is $71.70 and its 200 day moving average is $65.02. The company has a market cap of $149.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.54.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.95 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $15.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.48 billion. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 15.67%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.88 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 EPS for the current year.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Profile

(Free Report)

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE: BUD) is a multinational brewing company headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. It is one of the worlds largest brewers and is primarily engaged in the production, distribution and marketing of beer and related beverages. The companys operations span brewing, packaging, logistics and retail/customer sales support, serving a broad set of channels from on-premise hospitality to retail and e-commerce.

AB InBevs portfolio includes a mix of global, regional and local beer brands across mainstream, premium, craft and non-alcoholic categories.

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CLEAR Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU  Get Free Report) President Michael Barkin sold 7,056 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.23, for a total transaction of $340,310.88. Following the transaction, the president owned 5,669 shares in the company, valued at approximately $273,415.87. The trade was a 55.45% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

CLEAR Secure Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE YOU traded up $0.82 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $48.86. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,952,789 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,060,039. The company has a market cap of $6.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.63 and a beta of 1.13. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $35.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $35.01. CLEAR Secure, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $23.00 and a fifty-two week high of $50.46.

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CLEAR Secure (NYSE:YOU  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.31. CLEAR Secure had a net margin of 12.12% and a return on equity of 70.08%. The business had revenue of $240.75 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $235.66 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.91 earnings per share. CLEAR Secures revenue was up 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that CLEAR Secure, Inc. will post 0.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CLEAR Secure Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of CLEAR Secure

The company also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a yield of 129.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 10th. CLEAR Secures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.64%.

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in YOU. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of CLEAR Secure by 329.5% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 975 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 748 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in CLEAR Secure during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its position in CLEAR Secure by 249.6% during the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 867 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 619 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP grew its holdings in CLEAR Secure by 118.8% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,022 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 555 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its position in CLEAR Secure by 22.4% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,804 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares during the period. 73.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

YOU has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Zacks Research downgraded CLEAR Secure from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on CLEAR Secure from $29.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on CLEAR Secure from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their target price on CLEAR Secure from $45.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of CLEAR Secure from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $51.57.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on CLEAR Secure

CLEAR Secure Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

CLEAR Secure, Inc operates a biometric identity platform designed to expedite identity verification for air travelers and venue guests. The companys core offering is the CLEAR membership service, which uses fingerprint and iris scans to confirm a members identity and provide access to dedicated security lanes at participating airports. Members link government-issued IDs and personal biometric data via the CLEAR app, enabling faster processing through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints and select event entrances.

Founded in 2010 by Caryn SeidmanBecker and Ken Cornick, CLEAR is headquartered in New York City.

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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC decreased its stake in Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER  Free Report) by 17.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 36,943 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock after selling 7,584 shares during the quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Uber Technologies were worth $3,619,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Westend Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Uber Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Kilter Group LLC bought a new stake in Uber Technologies in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Total Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Uber Technologies in the second quarter worth $32,000. Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd acquired a new stake in Uber Technologies in the third quarter worth $34,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in shares of Uber Technologies by 38.6% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 424 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. 80.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Tony West sold 3,125 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.50, for a total value of $260,937.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 176,584 shares in the company, valued at $14,744,764. This trade represents a 1.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Balaji (A) Krishnamurthy bought 22,453 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $71.25 per share, for a total transaction of $1,599,776.25. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 28,742 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,047,867.50. The trade was a 357.02% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on UBER shares. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on shares of Uber Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $108.00 price objective for the company. Wolfe Research decreased their target price on Uber Technologies from $125.00 to $110.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Arete Research set a $125.00 price target on Uber Technologies and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Roth Mkm set a $105.00 price objective on Uber Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler set a $107.00 target price on Uber Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-three have given a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $104.53.

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Uber Technologies Stock Up 0.6%

NYSE:UBER opened at $76.37 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The company has a market cap of $157.18 billion, a PE ratio of 16.21, a PEG ratio of 6.96 and a beta of 1.22. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $60.63 and a 52-week high of $101.99. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.87 and a 200 day simple moving average of $87.64.

Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $14.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.32 billion. Uber Technologies had a return on equity of 43.63% and a net margin of 19.33%.The companys revenue was up 20.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.21 EPS. Uber Technologies has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.650-0.720 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 2.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Uber Technologies

Here are the key news stories impacting Uber Technologies this week:

Uber Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Uber Technologies, Inc is a technology company that operates a global platform connecting riders, drivers, couriers, restaurants and shippers. Founded in 2009 by Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick and headquartered in San Francisco, Uber developed one of the first large-scale ride-hailing marketplaces and has since expanded into a broader set of mobility and logistics services. The company completed its initial public offering in 2019 and continues to position its app-based network as a multi-modal transportation and delivery platform.

Ubers principal businesses include mobility services (ride-hailing and shared rides), delivery through Uber Eats, and freight logistics via Uber Freight.

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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report) by 19.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,394 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 3,621 shares during the quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $5,418,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,230,003,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 22,037.5% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,865,477 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $618,341,000 after purchasing an additional 2,852,533 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 35.3% during the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 8,178,921 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,764,930,000 after purchasing an additional 2,134,779 shares during the period. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. grew its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 2,789.9% during the second quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. now owns 1,596,080 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $344,889,000 after purchasing an additional 1,540,850 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Durable Capital Partners LP increased its stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 105.5% in the 2nd quarter. Durable Capital Partners LP now owns 2,596,668 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $560,335,000 after buying an additional 1,333,316 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Down 1.7%

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWM opened at $259.24 on Wednesday. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 12-month low of $171.73 and a 12-month high of $271.60. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $260.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $248.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 1.13.

iShares Russell 2000 ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in WEX Inc. (NYSE:WEX  Free Report) by 289.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,066 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 10,454 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLCs holdings in WEX were worth $2,216,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quent Capital LLC bought a new position in WEX during the third quarter valued at $28,000. Steph & Co. bought a new position in shares of WEX in the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its position in WEX by 162.1% in the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 228 shares of the business services providers stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in WEX by 56.7% during the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 329 shares of the business services providers stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in WEX during the second quarter valued at approximately $54,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.47% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on WEX from $175.00 to $155.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 6th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of WEX in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Morgan Stanley set a $146.00 target price on shares of WEX in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of WEX from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, UBS Group set a $165.00 price target on shares of WEX and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, WEX currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $162.27.

WEX Stock Up 3.6%

Shares of WEX opened at $163.61 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $155.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $156.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.97. WEX Inc. has a 12-month low of $110.45 and a 12-month high of $180.71.

WEX (NYSE:WEX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The business services provider reported $4.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.90 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $672.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $660.89 million. WEX had a net margin of 11.43% and a return on equity of 48.01%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.57 EPS. WEX has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.250-17.850 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 3.80-4.000 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that WEX Inc. will post 14.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at WEX

In other news, CAO Jennifer Kimball sold 494 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.40, for a total transaction of $74,791.60. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 3,671 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $555,789.40. This represents a 11.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, COO Robert Joseph Deshaies sold 3,238 shares of WEX stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.22, for a total value of $486,412.36. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 14,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,232,118.98. The trade was a 17.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 8,154 shares of company stock worth $1,256,518 in the last ninety days. 1.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

WEX Company Profile

(Free Report)

WEX Inc is a global financial technology company specializing in business payment solutions for fleet, travel, and corporate payments. The company delivers software-driven platforms and card-based services that help businesses automate payment processes, manage expenses and improve operational efficiency across a range of industries, including transportation, healthcare and government.

Founded in 1983 as Wright Express in Portland, Maine, the company began by offering fuel card services to trucking fleets.

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Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHD  Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 1,509,963 shares, a drop of 14.2% from the January 29th total of 1,760,351 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,294,570 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.2 days. Approximately 2.1% of the companys stock are short sold. Approximately 2.1% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,294,570 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.2 days.

Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of NYSEARCA:SPHD traded down $0.19 on Wednesday, hitting $51.89. 626,286 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,039,778. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.77 and a beta of 0.72. Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF has a 1-year low of $43.39 and a 1-year high of $53.07. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $50.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.11.

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Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.2094 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 4.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 23rd. This is a boost from Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.20.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF

Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF Company Profile

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF in the first quarter valued at $416,000. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 234.3% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 32,125 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,614,000 after buying an additional 22,515 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 22.0% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 371,209 shares of the companys stock worth $17,612,000 after buying an additional 66,885 shares during the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 5.5% in the second quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 15,914 shares of the companys stock worth $757,000 after buying an additional 826 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Washington Trust Bank grew its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 0.5% during the second quarter. Washington Trust Bank now owns 39,746 shares of the companys stock worth $1,890,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the period.

(Get Free Report)

The Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in large cap equity. The fund tracks a dividend-yield-weighted index comprising the least volatile, highest dividend-yielding S&P 500 stocks. SPHD was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by Invesco.

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John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 12th will be paid a dividend of 0.65 per share by the financial services provider on Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 12th.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Price Performance

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund stock opened at $35.90 on Wednesday. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund has a fifty-two week low of $27.73 and a fifty-two week high of $39.85. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $37.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.90.

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John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO) is a closed-end management investment company sponsored by John Hancock Investment Management, a division of Manulife Investment Management. Since its inception in August 2004, the fund has sought to deliver total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. As a publicly traded fund, it offers investors access to a diversified portfolio of financial services companies that might otherwise require direct equity investments or specialized mandates.

The fund primarily invests in common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities issued by companies in the banking, insurance, brokerage and specialty finance sectors.

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Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) VP John Jr. Mccoy sold 585 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.58, for a total transaction of $67,614.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 24,628 shares in the company, valued at $2,846,504.24. This trade represents a 2.32% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

NYSE ABT traded down $0.57 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $113.55. The company had a trading volume of 6,686,129 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,201,159. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $116.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $125.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Abbott Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $105.27 and a fifty-two week high of $141.23. The stock has a market cap of $197.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.74.

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Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The healthcare product maker reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.50. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 14.72% and a return on equity of 17.73%. The company had revenue of $11.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.80 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.34 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Abbott Laboratories has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.120-1.180 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.550-5.800 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 67.74%.

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Daiwa Securities Group lowered their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $113.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. Oppenheimer dropped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $155.00 to $140.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. BTIG Research cut their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Freedom Capital raised Abbott Laboratories from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $137.05.

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More Abbott Laboratories News

Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week:

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Abbott Laboratories

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 51,719 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $5,850,000 after buying an additional 4,755 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 3.5% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,768 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $648,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. United Bank grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. United Bank now owns 29,004 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $3,945,000 after acquiring an additional 2,001 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.8% in the second quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 29,713 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,041,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Versor Investments LP bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 2nd quarter valued at $408,000. 75.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products and services. Founded in 1888, Abbott operates through multiple business areas that focus on diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and established pharmaceuticals. The company supplies hospitals, clinics, laboratories, retailers and direct-to-consumer channels with products intended to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions.

In diagnostics, Abbott provides laboratory and point-of-care testing platforms and assays used to detect infectious diseases, chronic conditions and biomarkers; its Alinity family of instruments and rapid-test solutions are examples of this capability.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas decreased its holdings in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 38.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 159,194 shares of the companys stock after selling 100,283 shares during the period. Johnson & Johnson comprises about 2.6% of Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $29,518,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in JNJ. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Clayton Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. grew its position in Johnson & Johnson by 55.0% during the 2nd quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 203 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Compass Financial Services Inc increased its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 707.1% during the 3rd quarter. Compass Financial Services Inc now owns 226 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently commented on JNJ. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $227.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, HSBC raised their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $240.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $232.70.

Insider Activity at Johnson & Johnson

In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 22,623 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $244.33, for a total value of $5,527,477.59. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 26,769 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,540,469.77. The trade was a 45.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total transaction of $1,508,287.83. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 23,003 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,598,700.17. This trade represents a 21.22% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 30,142 shares of company stock valued at $7,360,528. Insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock.

Johnson & Johnson Price Performance

Shares of JNJ opened at $246.77 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $226.32 and its two-hundred day moving average is $203.01. The company has a market capitalization of $594.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.34. Johnson & Johnson has a fifty-two week low of $141.50 and a fifty-two week high of $251.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.03.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $24.28 billion for the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 33.04% and a net margin of 28.46%. Research analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 24th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.06%.

Key Stories Impacting Johnson & Johnson

Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week:

Positive Sentiment: FDA Fast Track for nipocalimab in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)  designation follows positive Phase 2 data and a Phase 3 enrollment; this can speed review and raises the commercial potential of a new immunology asset. PR Newswire

FDA Fast Track for nipocalimab in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)  designation follows positive Phase 2 data and a Phase 3 enrollment; this can speed review and raises the commercial potential of a new immunology asset. Positive Sentiment: Drug pipeline momentum: J&J reported encouraging early results for oncology candidate pasritamig and is preparing Phase 3 plans; continued progress across immunology and neuroscience (Tremfya, Caplyta, Spravato) is offsetting some revenue headwinds. Yahoo Finance

Drug pipeline momentum: J&J reported encouraging early results for oncology candidate pasritamig and is preparing Phase 3 plans; continued progress across immunology and neuroscience (Tremfya, Caplyta, Spravato) is offsetting some revenue headwinds. Positive Sentiment: Market context: broader Dow strength is supporting JNJs move higher today as large-cap pharma recovers, giving momentum to shares. Kalkine Media

Market context: broader Dow strength is supporting JNJs move higher today as large-cap pharma recovers, giving momentum to shares. Neutral Sentiment: Investor events and cadence: J&J scheduled an investor conference call for April 14 to review Q1 results  a routine event that could provide guidance/clarity but is not immediate catalyst. Business Wire

Investor events and cadence: J&J scheduled an investor conference call for April 14 to review Q1 results  a routine event that could provide guidance/clarity but is not immediate catalyst. Neutral Sentiment: Income appeal: J&J appears on several March dividend-stock lists, reinforcing steady-income investor interest but offering limited short-term price impact. Blockonomi

Income appeal: J&J appears on several March dividend-stock lists, reinforcing steady-income investor interest but offering limited short-term price impact. Neutral Sentiment: Conference presentation material (TD Cowen transcript) gives investors detail on strategy and pipeline execution; useful for longer-term thesis but not an immediate mover. Seeking Alpha

Conference presentation material (TD Cowen transcript) gives investors detail on strategy and pipeline execution; useful for longer-term thesis but not an immediate mover. Negative Sentiment: Bayer legal action: Bayer has initiated a legal challenge related to prostate-cancer product claims  this creates regulatory and litigation risk that could weigh on sentiment and add to uncertainty. Yahoo Finance

Bayer legal action: Bayer has initiated a legal challenge related to prostate-cancer product claims  this creates regulatory and litigation risk that could weigh on sentiment and add to uncertainty. Negative Sentiment: Analyst stance: some sell-side notes (Bank of America reiteration/Hold) point to limited near-term upside despite better oncology estimates  tempers rally expectations. TipRanks

About Johnson & Johnson

(Free Report)

Johnson & Johnson is a multinational healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and previously consumer health. Founded in 1886 by the Johnson family, the company has grown into a global healthcare organization with operations and sales in many countries around the world.

The companys pharmaceuticals business, organized largely under its Janssen research and development organization, focuses on prescription medicines across therapeutic areas such as immunology, infectious disease, oncology and neuroscience.

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Kingsview Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU  Free Report) by 9.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 136,337 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 11,569 shares during the period. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC owned approximately 0.21% of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF worth $5,722,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Farther Finance Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the third quarter worth $46,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 24.4% during the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,300 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 255 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the 2nd quarter worth about $73,000. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $124,000. Finally, Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $137,000. 58.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Trading Down 2.8%

Shares of NYSEARCA EWU opened at $46.76 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $46.05 and a 200-day moving average of $43.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.42 and a beta of 0.71. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF has a 12 month low of $32.76 and a 12 month high of $48.92.

iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI United Kingdom index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of British companies. It covers the top 85% of British companies by market cap. EWU was launched on Mar 12, 1996 and is managed by BlackRock.

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TOKYO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Embassy of China in Japan on Wednesday issued an alert urging Chinese citizens in the country to stay vigilant against public safety risks, warning of a recent rise in "bumping assault" incidents that have drawn widespread public attention.

In the notice, the embassy said individuals involved in such acts appear no different from ordinary pedestrians. They are reported to operate in crowded areas such as Ikebukuro and Shibuya in Tokyo, as well as Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori in Osaka, deliberately elbowing or forcefully colliding with passersby before quickly blending back into the crowd.

Foreign tourists and vulnerable groups, including women, children and the elderly, are often targeted, sometimes resulting in injuries, the embassy said.

The embassy urged its citizens to heighten their safety awareness, remain vigilant and keep a reasonable distance from strangers in crowded places. In the event of an encounter, victims are advised to preserve evidence, such as taking photos at the scene, identifying nearby surveillance cameras and seeking assistance from witnesses.

They should promptly report the incident to the nearest police station and call Japan's emergency number 119, or seek medical attention for injury assessment, the embassy said, adding that obtaining medical certificates and receipts is recommended as supporting documentation for potential civil compensation claims.

The embassy also reminded its citizens in emergencies to contact local police immediately and to seek assistance from Chinese diplomatic missions in Japan. 
Laffer Tengler Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies Inc (NYSE:LHX  Free Report) by 21.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 29,718 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 5,207 shares during the period. L3Harris Technologies comprises 1.4% of Laffer Tengler Investments Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Laffer Tengler Investments Inc.s holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $9,076,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 233.9% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 4,284 shares of the companys stock valued at $901,000 after acquiring an additional 3,001 shares in the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc increased its holdings in L3Harris Technologies by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 9,512 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,386,000 after purchasing an additional 685 shares in the last quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC raised its position in L3Harris Technologies by 4.6% in the second quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC now owns 1,329 shares of the companys stock valued at $333,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. J. W. Coons Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 2.4% during the second quarter. J. W. Coons Advisors LLC now owns 3,236 shares of the companys stock worth $812,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rockline Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies in the second quarter worth about $209,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.76% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Truist Financial set a $364.00 target price on L3Harris Technologies in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of L3Harris Technologies in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Argus upgraded shares of L3Harris Technologies to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $389.00 to $418.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $340.00 to $395.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $328.57.

Insider Buying and Selling at L3Harris Technologies

In other L3Harris Technologies news, VP Melanie Rakita sold 751 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $370.32, for a total transaction of $278,110.32. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 4,131 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,529,791.92. This trade represents a 15.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Jon Rambeau sold 5,528 shares of L3Harris Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $370.32, for a total value of $2,047,128.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 7,660 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,836,651.20. The trade was a 41.92% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 19,025 shares of company stock worth $6,824,370 over the last quarter. 0.72% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key L3Harris Technologies News

Here are the key news stories impacting L3Harris Technologies this week:

Positive Sentiment: Citi says a missile megatrend is still underestimated and named L3Harris among the contractors most exposed to growth in missile and interceptor systems  a macro tailwind for LHXs Missile Solutions business. Article Title

Citi says a missile megatrend is still underestimated and named L3Harris among the contractors most exposed to growth in missile and interceptor systems  a macro tailwind for LHXs Missile Solutions business. Positive Sentiment: L3Harris appointed Ken Sharp as CFO and moved Ken Bedingfield to focus full-time on Missile Solutions to rapidly scale solid rocket motor manufacturing and prepare the unit for a future IPO  a management move explicitly aimed at accelerating a high-growth segment. Article Title

L3Harris appointed Ken Sharp as CFO and moved Ken Bedingfield to focus full-time on Missile Solutions to rapidly scale solid rocket motor manufacturing and prepare the unit for a future IPO  a management move explicitly aimed at accelerating a high-growth segment. Positive Sentiment: L3Harris selected Intuitive Machines Lanteris Space Systems as a partner to support spacecraft platforms for the SDA Tranche 3 Tracking Layer  progress on space/ISR programs supports recurring revenue potential in the Space & ISR portfolio. Article Title

L3Harris selected Intuitive Machines Lanteris Space Systems as a partner to support spacecraft platforms for the SDA Tranche 3 Tracking Layer  progress on space/ISR programs supports recurring revenue potential in the Space & ISR portfolio. Positive Sentiment: Sector momentum: market commentary says defense contractors are poised to ramp production amid Middle East tensions, implying potential incremental orders and capex for vendors like LHX. Article Title

Sector momentum: market commentary says defense contractors are poised to ramp production amid Middle East tensions, implying potential incremental orders and capex for vendors like LHX. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/upgrades and institutional flows are mixed: Argus upgraded LHX recently and MarketBeat notes some institutional buying, but consensus price targets and ratings vary  supporting interest but not a uniform buy signal. Article Title

Analyst/upgrades and institutional flows are mixed: Argus upgraded LHX recently and MarketBeat notes some institutional buying, but consensus price targets and ratings vary  supporting interest but not a uniform buy signal. Negative Sentiment: Significant insider selling: filings show large sales by Samir Mehta and Jon Rambeau (~5,528 shares each) and additional VP sales by Melanie Rakita  these sizable reductions in insider holdings can weigh on near-term sentiment. Article Title

L3Harris Technologies Stock Down 2.7%

Shares of NYSE:LHX opened at $368.41 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $338.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $304.10. The firm has a market cap of $68.81 billion, a PE ratio of 43.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.63. L3Harris Technologies Inc has a 12-month low of $195.72 and a 12-month high of $379.23.

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $5.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.76 billion. L3Harris Technologies had a net margin of 7.35% and a return on equity of 10.43%. The firms revenue was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.47 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that L3Harris Technologies Inc will post 11.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

L3Harris Technologies Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a $1.25 dividend. This is an increase from L3Harris Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio is presently 56.27%.

L3Harris Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) is an American aerospace and defense company formed in 2019 through the combination of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company designs, manufactures and supports a broad range of technology solutions for government and commercial customers, with a particular emphasis on defense, intelligence and public safety applications.

The companys offerings span communications systems, avionics, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, space systems and mission integration.

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Laffer Tengler Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 43.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 52,277 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after buying an additional 15,952 shares during the quarter. TJX Companies comprises 1.2% of Laffer Tengler Investments Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position. Laffer Tengler Investments Inc.s holdings in TJX Companies were worth $7,556,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of TJX. High Note Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of TJX Companies by 12.1% in the third quarter. High Note Wealth LLC now owns 667 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $96,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the period. Valley National Advisers Inc. raised its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 3,271 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $472,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. Webster Bank N. A. lifted its holdings in TJX Companies by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 4,574 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $661,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in TJX Companies by 12.1% in the 3rd quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 676 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $98,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. Finally, Banco de Sabadell S.A boosted its stake in TJX Companies by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Banco de Sabadell S.A now owns 20,951 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $2,587,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the period. 91.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reissued a positive rating and issued a $150.00 price target (up from $145.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $170.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $150.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b+) rating on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have given a Buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, TJX Companies presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $167.55.

TJX Companies Price Performance

TJX stock opened at $159.51 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $155.05 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $148.18. The stock has a market cap of $177.13 billion, a PE ratio of 32.69, a P/E/G ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.73. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $112.10 and a one year high of $162.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 0.59.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.05. TJX Companies had a net margin of 9.10% and a return on equity of 57.70%. The firm had revenue of $17.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.36 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.23 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. TJX Companies has set its FY 2027 guidance at 4.930-5.020 EPS and its Q1 2027 guidance at 0.970-0.990 EPS. On average, analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

TJX Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be issued a $0.425 dividend. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is presently 34.84%.

TJX Companies Company Profile

(Free Report)

TJX Companies, Inc is a leading off-price retailer of apparel, footwear, home fashions and other consumer goods. The company operates multiple retail concepts that offer discounted brand-name and designer merchandise, including well-known banners such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States, HomeGoods for home furnishings, TK Maxx in parts of Europe, and Winners and Homesense in Canada. Merchandise categories span womens, mens and childrens apparel, accessories, beauty, home decor, kitchenware and small furniture, with frequent changes in assortment that create a treasure-hunt shopping experience for consumers.

The companys business model centers on opportunistic buying, purchasing excess, irregular or out-of-season inventory from manufacturers, department stores and other suppliers, and passing savings to customers through lower prices.

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Laffer Tengler Investments Inc. purchased a new position in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 8,777 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $4,013,000.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Deere & Company in the second quarter worth $1,578,243,000. Marshall Wace LLP increased its holdings in Deere & Company by 573.9% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 842,882 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $428,597,000 after acquiring an additional 717,808 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Deere & Company by 50,691.9% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 332,179 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $168,910,000 after acquiring an additional 331,525 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Deere & Company by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,372,671 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $11,376,279,000 after purchasing an additional 309,081 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 26.8% during the 2nd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 1,386,321 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $704,930,000 after purchasing an additional 292,932 shares during the last quarter. 68.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Deere & Company Stock Performance

NYSE DE opened at $618.57 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $167.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a current ratio of 2.21. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $544.14 and its 200-day moving average price is $497.37. Deere & Company has a fifty-two week low of $404.42 and a fifty-two week high of $674.19.

Deere & Company Announces Dividend

Deere & Company ( NYSE:DE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.52. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 18.93% and a net margin of 10.29%.The company had revenue of $9.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.50 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.19 earnings per share. Deere & Companys revenue was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Deere & Company will post 19.32 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. Deere & Companys payout ratio is currently 36.53%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Deere & Company news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $510.00, for a total value of $6,120,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 20,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,603,920. The trade was a 36.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO John C. May II sold 41,472 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $501.49, for a total value of $20,797,793.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 117,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at $59,160,775.30. The trade was a 26.01% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on DE. Argus boosted their target price on Deere & Company from $540.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Wolfe Research lifted their price objective on Deere & Company from $520.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 2nd. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Deere & Company from $460.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Zacks Research raised shares of Deere & Company from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $515.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $647.20.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on DE

Deere & Company Profile

(Free Report)

Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide.

The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity.

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Legato Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:MTH  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund bought 12,160 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $881,000.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MTH. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in Meritage Homes by 58.9% during the 2nd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,423,013 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $95,299,000 after purchasing an additional 527,265 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the second quarter valued at approximately $75,148,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in Meritage Homes by 58.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,058,850 shares of the construction companys stock worth $75,051,000 after buying an additional 391,297 shares in the last quarter. Groupama Asset Managment raised its position in Meritage Homes by 100.0% in the 2nd quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 1,000,000 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $66,970,000 after buying an additional 500,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dendur Capital LP lifted its stake in Meritage Homes by 55.5% during the 2nd quarter. Dendur Capital LP now owns 876,000 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $58,666,000 after acquiring an additional 312,500 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.44% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MTH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on shares of Meritage Homes from $78.00 to $76.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Zacks Research lowered shares of Meritage Homes from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Meritage Homes from $60.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Evercore set a $77.00 target price on Meritage Homes and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Bank of America reiterated a neutral rating and set a $82.00 price target (up from $75.00) on shares of Meritage Homes in a report on Friday, January 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $83.63.

Insider Activity at Meritage Homes

In other Meritage Homes news, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 32,820 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.49, for a total transaction of $2,510,401.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 260,389 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,917,154.61. This represents a 11.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Javier Feliciano sold 3,580 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.24, for a total transaction of $272,939.20. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 44,935 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,425,844.40. This represents a 7.38% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 47,622 shares of company stock worth $3,640,273. Company insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock.

Meritage Homes Trading Down 0.8%

Shares of MTH stock opened at $72.12 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.10, a current ratio of 2.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The firm has a market cap of $4.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.41, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a 50 day moving average of $73.26 and a 200-day moving average of $72.48. Meritage Homes Corporation has a 12-month low of $59.27 and a 12-month high of $84.74.

Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The construction company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.12. Meritage Homes had a return on equity of 9.28% and a net margin of 7.73%.The business had revenue of $1.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.51 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.72 earnings per share. Meritage Homess revenue for the quarter was down 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Meritage Homes Corporation will post 9.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Meritage Homes Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a $0.48 dividend. This is an increase from Meritage Homess previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. Meritage Homess payout ratio is 27.22%.

Meritage Homes Company Profile

(Free Report)

Meritage Homes Corporation is a national homebuilder and residential developer headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Founded in 1985 as Winchester Homes and later rebranded to Meritage Homes, the company specializes in designing, constructing and selling singlefamily detached and attached homes. With a focus on energy efficiency and sustainable building practices, Meritage Homes markets its properties under the GreenSmart program, which integrates highperformance features aimed at reducing longterm energy and water consumption for homebuyers.

The companys core activities encompass land acquisition, residential community planning, home design, construction management and real estate sales.

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Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 1,632,050 shares, a decline of 22.8% from the January 29th total of 2,114,191 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 595,283 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.7 days. Currently, 2.7% of the companys stock are sold short. Currently, 2.7% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 595,283 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.7 days.

Institutional Trading of Martin Marietta Materials

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Optima Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Martin Marietta Materials during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Quent Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Martin Marietta Materials during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new position in shares of Martin Marietta Materials during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Martin Marietta Materials in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Garton & Associates Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Martin Marietta Materials in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.04% of the companys stock.

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Martin Marietta Materials Stock Performance

NYSE MLM traded down $8.38 on Tuesday, reaching $656.97. 533,431 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 578,401. Martin Marietta Materials has a fifty-two week low of $441.95 and a fifty-two week high of $710.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 2.36 and a current ratio of 3.57. The firm has a market cap of $39.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.13. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $657.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $632.47.

Martin Marietta Materials Announces Dividend

Martin Marietta Materials ( NYSE:MLM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $4.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.81 by ($0.19). The company had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.66 billion. Martin Marietta Materials had a net margin of 17.38% and a return on equity of 10.86%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.79 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Martin Marietta Materials will post 19.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a $0.83 dividend. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. Martin Marietta Materialss dividend payout ratio is currently 17.66%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently commented on MLM. Stephens lowered their target price on shares of Martin Marietta Materials from $740.00 to $735.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Martin Marietta Materials from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Martin Marietta Materials from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $690.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. UBS Group raised their target price on Martin Marietta Materials from $705.00 to $723.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $630.00 price target on shares of Martin Marietta Materials in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Martin Marietta Materials currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $697.13.

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Martin Marietta Materials Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc (NYSE: MLM) is a leading producer of aggregates and heavy building materials serving the construction and infrastructure markets. The company operates quarries, sand and gravel pits, and other extraction sites to supply crushed stone, sand and gravel, and a range of valueadded products for use in roads, bridges, commercial and residential construction, and other civil engineering projects.

In addition to its core aggregates business, Martin Marietta manufactures and sells asphalt, readymixed concrete and related materials and services.

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Mcdonald Partners LLC cut its holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) by 59.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,344 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 13,911 shares during the quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $1,044,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of AFL. True Wealth Design LLC grew its holdings in Aflac by 188.5% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 225 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the period. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Aflac by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 324 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. JCIC Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Aflac by 110.9% in the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 407 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Aflac Price Performance

NYSE AFL opened at $112.40 on Wednesday. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $96.95 and a one year high of $119.32. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $111.62 and a 200 day moving average of $110.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a current ratio of 0.11. The company has a market capitalization of $58.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.34, a PEG ratio of 3.72 and a beta of 0.66.

Insider Transactions at Aflac

Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.69 by ($0.12). Aflac had a net margin of 21.24% and a return on equity of 14.35%. The company had revenue of $4.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.45 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.57 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current year.

In related news, EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 7,387 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.58, for a total value of $839,015.46. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 40,526 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,602,943.08. This trade represents a 15.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders have sold a total of 16,331 shares of company stock valued at $1,817,720 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AFL has been the topic of several analyst reports. Barclays set a $101.00 target price on Aflac and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Wall Street Zen lowered Aflac from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday. Morgan Stanley set a $120.00 price target on shares of Aflac in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating and set a $119.00 price objective (up from $110.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Tuesday, December 30th. Finally, Mizuho set a $107.00 target price on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, February 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $111.73.

View Our Latest Analysis on Aflac

Aflac Profile

(Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus) is a provider of supplemental insurance products designed to help policyholders manage out-of-pocket health care and living expenses. The company underwrites a range of individual and group policies that typically pay cash benefits directly to insureds when covered events occur, enabling greater financial flexibility for medical treatment, hospital stays, critical illness, and related costs. Aflacs product mix includes supplemental health insurance, life insurance and other specialty coverages intended to complement primary medical plans.

Founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac distributes its products through a combination of employer-sponsored programs, independent brokers and agents, and direct marketing.

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Managed Asset Portfolios LLC grew its stake in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU  Free Report) by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,077,132 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 26,631 shares during the quarter. MDU Resources Group comprises 2.4% of Managed Asset Portfolios LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Managed Asset Portfolios LLCs holdings in MDU Resources Group were worth $19,184,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in MDU Resources Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $40,087,000. River Road Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,105,000. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $12,599,000. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. lifted its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 42.0% during the 2nd quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 2,200,000 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $36,674,000 after purchasing an additional 651,136 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Frontier Capital Management Co. LLC grew its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 19.7% during the second quarter. Frontier Capital Management Co. LLC now owns 2,790,814 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $46,523,000 after purchasing an additional 460,180 shares in the last quarter. 71.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MDU Resources Group news, Director Charles M. Kelley acquired 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $20.84 per share, with a total value of $104,200.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 8,031 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $167,366.04. This trade represents a 164.96% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.94% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on MDU shares. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Loop Capital set a $21.00 target price on MDU Resources Group in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Zacks Research raised MDU Resources Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $21.00.

Read Our Latest Report on MDU

MDU Resources Group Stock Down 0.9%

MDU Resources Group stock opened at $20.66 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.22, a PEG ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.84. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $15.04 and a fifty-two week high of $21.49. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $20.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.20.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.37. The company had revenue of $534.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $560.72 million. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 6.98% and a net margin of 10.15%.The firms revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.90 earnings per share. MDU Resources Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.930-1.000 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 earnings per share for the current year.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 12th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. MDU Resources Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 60.22%.

MDU Resources Group Profile

(Free Report)

MDU Resources Group, Inc is a diversified energy and services holding company headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. The company operates through two primary segments: Utilities and Construction Services and Pipelines & Midstream. Serving a broad geographic footprint across the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest, MDU provides essential energy distribution and infrastructure services to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

The Utilities segment delivers electric and natural gas distribution services in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington.

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Morgan Advanced Materials (LON:MGAM  Get Free Report)s stock had its sector perform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada in a research note issued on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. They presently have a GBX 210 price target on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas target price suggests a potential upside of 0.72% from the companys current price.

Separately, Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 265 price target on shares of Morgan Advanced Materials in a research report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Morgan Advanced Materials currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 237.50.

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Morgan Advanced Materials Stock Up 3.5%

LON MGAM traded up GBX 7 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting GBX 208.50. 1,601,199 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,713,650. Morgan Advanced Materials has a 52 week low of GBX 167 and a 52 week high of GBX 251.50. The companys 50-day simple moving average is GBX 230.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 216.51. The company has a market cap of 575.90 million, a PE ratio of 21.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 120.33, a current ratio of 1.74 and a quick ratio of 1.26.

Morgan Advanced Materials (LON:MGAM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported GBX 15.90 EPS for the quarter. Morgan Advanced Materials had a return on equity of 8.32% and a net margin of 2.66%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Morgan Advanced Materials will post 32.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Morgan Advanced Materials Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Morgan Advanced Materials plc operates as a materials science and application engineering company primarily the United Kingdom. It serves customers in the industrial, transportation, petrochemical and chemical, energy, semiconductor and electronics, healthcare, and security and defense markets. The company was formerly known as The Morgan Crucible Company plc and changed its name to Morgan Advanced Materials plc in March 2013. Morgan Advanced Materials plc was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in Windsor, the United Kingdom.

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Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NOM  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.061 per share on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th.

Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance

NYSE NOM traded up $0.11 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $10.83. 122 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,222. The businesss 50 day moving average is $11.33 and its 200-day moving average is $11.16. Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 12-month low of $9.63 and a 12-month high of $12.19.

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Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile

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Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NOM) is a closed-end investment company that focuses on high-quality, tax-exempt municipal securities issued by the state of Missouri and its political subdivisions. The fund seeks to provide a high level of current income that is exempt from federaland, where applicable, Missouri state and localincome taxes. By concentrating on investment-grade general obligation and revenue bonds, the portfolio aims to balance income potential with capital preservation.

Managed by Nuveen Asset Management, a subsidiary of TIAA, the fund employs a disciplined, research-driven approach to credit selection and risk management.

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Paramount Resources (TSE:POU  Get Free Report) had its price target lifted by stock analysts at Raymond James Financial from C$29.00 to C$31.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Raymond James Financials target price would suggest a potential upside of 5.44% from the stocks current price.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Roth Mkm set a C$33.00 price target on Paramount Resources and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. ATB Cormark Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Paramount Resources from C$28.00 to C$33.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday. National Bank Financial lifted their price target on shares of Paramount Resources from C$32.00 to C$32.50 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce increased their price objective on Paramount Resources from C$25.50 to C$30.50 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Paramount Resources from C$29.00 to C$28.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Paramount Resources presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$31.22.

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Paramount Resources Stock Performance

POU stock traded down C$0.02 on Wednesday, reaching C$29.40. The companys stock had a trading volume of 370,691 shares, compared to its average volume of 282,115. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$24.86 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$23.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 3.35 and a quick ratio of 0.68. The company has a market capitalization of C$4.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 0.19. Paramount Resources has a 52 week low of C$14.50 and a 52 week high of C$30.07.

Paramount Resources (TSE:POU  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported C($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$262.50 million during the quarter. Paramount Resources had a return on equity of 47.09% and a net margin of 106.31%. As a group, analysts predict that Paramount Resources will post 1.4075758 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Paramount Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Paramount is an independent, publicly traded Canadian energy company that explores for and develops both conventional and unconventional petroleum and natural gas, including longer-term strategic exploration and pre-development plays. The Companys principal properties are located in Alberta and British Columbia. Paramounts class A common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol POU.

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JERUSALEM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it is "continuing to deepen" its attacks across Iran, revealing that it has dropped more than 5,000 munitions on the country since the joint U.S.-Israeli operation began on Saturday.

The military said the airstrikes now focus mainly on government targets in Tehran.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran said 1,045 people had been killed in the country since Saturday as a result of the U.S.-Israeli operation.

Meanwhile, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, Iranian missiles have killed at least 10 people in Israel.

The joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, entering its fifth day, has triggered a sharp escalation across the Middle East, setting off waves of missile exchanges, mounting casualties, and far-reaching political, security, and economic repercussions. 
The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) insider Paul Woolway sold 15,884 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.12, for a total transaction of $1,510,886.08. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 35,992 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,423,559.04. This trade represents a 30.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Charles Schwab Stock Down 0.3%

SCHW stock traded down $0.33 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $95.16. 8,257,101 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,609,142. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $100.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $96.46. The company has a market capitalization of $166.74 billion, a PE ratio of 20.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.93. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a twelve month low of $65.88 and a twelve month high of $107.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52.

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Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The financial services provider reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.19 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 37.01% and a return on equity of 21.97%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.01 EPS. Charles Schwab has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.700-5.800 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Increases Dividend

Key Stories Impacting Charles Schwab

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th were given a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 13th. This is a positive change from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 27.47%.

Here are the key news stories impacting Charles Schwab this week:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on SCHW shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and set a $131.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Wolfe Research set a $120.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Monday, January 12th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $123.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Charles Schwab from $139.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $115.95.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Charles Schwab

Institutional Trading of Charles Schwab

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.3% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 151,585,214 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $14,471,840,000 after purchasing an additional 403,133 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in Charles Schwab by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 73,156,290 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,984,231,000 after buying an additional 691,671 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,667,640 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,747,646,000 after buying an additional 98,242 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 30,184,369 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,015,720,000 after buying an additional 78,020 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Primecap Management Co. CA raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 9.7% during the 4th quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 23,276,071 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,325,512,000 after buying an additional 2,066,884 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.38% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) is a diversified financial services firm that provides brokerage, banking, wealth management and advisory services to individual investors, independent investment advisors and institutional clients. Its primary offerings include retail brokerage accounts, online trading platforms, Schwab-branded mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), retirement plan services, custodial services for independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), and banking products through Charles Schwab Bank.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management trimmed its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial Corp (NYSE:MFC  Free Report) (TSE:MFC) by 24.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,507,847 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 478,578 shares during the period. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in Manulife Financial were worth $46,966,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MFC. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Manulife Financial during the second quarter worth about $632,238,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc boosted its stake in Manulife Financial by 814.3% in the second quarter. MUFG Securities EMEA plc now owns 6,399,999 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $204,544,000 after acquiring an additional 5,699,999 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Manulife Financial by 19.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,008,595 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $453,798,000 after acquiring an additional 2,276,251 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc increased its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 37,638,463 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,172,922,000 after purchasing an additional 2,079,330 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 76,336,875 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,440,795,000 after purchasing an additional 2,003,226 shares during the last quarter. 52.56% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Manulife Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MFC opened at $34.31 on Wednesday. Manulife Financial Corp has a fifty-two week low of $25.92 and a fifty-two week high of $38.72. The stock has a market cap of $57.53 billion, a PE ratio of 15.45 and a beta of 0.83. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $36.89 and a 200-day moving average of $34.21.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

Manulife Financial ( NYSE:MFC Get Free Report ) (TSE:MFC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The financial services provider reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 16.43% and a net margin of 9.18%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.03 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Manulife Financial Corp will post 2.87 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be given a $0.485 dividend. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.7%. This is an increase from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 25th. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.51%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded Manulife Financial from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $51.00 price objective on shares of Manulife Financial in a report on Monday, December 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and five have given a Buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Manulife Financial currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $51.50.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on MFC

About Manulife Financial

(Free Report)

Manulife Financial Corporation is a multinational insurance and financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in the late 19th century as The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, Manulife provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual and institutional clients. Its core businesses include life and health insurance, retirement and pension solutions, wealth and asset management, and group benefits.

In wealth and asset management, Manulife operates through Manulife Investment Management and offers mutual funds, segregated funds, institutional asset management, and retirement plan solutions.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management cut its position in shares of TC Energy Corporation (NYSE:TRP  Free Report) (TSE:TRP) by 1.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,037,010 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 27,825 shares during the period. TC Energy makes up about 1.0% of Picton Mahoney Asset Managements portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in TC Energy were worth $110,733,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Westside Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of TC Energy by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 594 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its stake in TC Energy by 237.4% during the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 803 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 565 shares in the last quarter. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new position in TC Energy during the second quarter valued at $46,000. SouthState Corp grew its stake in shares of TC Energy by 2,757.1% in the 2nd quarter. SouthState Corp now owns 1,000 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 965 shares in the last quarter. Finally, City Holding Co. bought a new stake in shares of TC Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $72,000. Institutional investors own 83.13% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded TC Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. National Bank Financial cut TC Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. TD Securities lowered TC Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of TC Energy in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut shares of TC Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, TC Energy currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $72.50.

TC Energy Price Performance

TRP opened at $64.84 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $58.27 and a 200 day moving average of $54.73. The stock has a market cap of $67.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.90 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. TC Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $43.59 and a 52-week high of $65.57.

TC Energy (NYSE:TRP  Get Free Report) (TSE:TRP) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The pipeline company reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.94 billion. TC Energy had a return on equity of 10.52% and a net margin of 23.04%.During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.05 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that TC Energy Corporation will post 2.63 EPS for the current year.

TC Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.8775 per share. This represents a $3.51 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. This is a positive change from TC Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.85. TC Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 106.90%.

TC Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

TC Energy (NYSE: TRP) is a North American energy infrastructure company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Formerly known as TransCanada, the company rebranded as TC Energy to reflect its broad presence across Canada, the United States and Mexico. TC Energy develops, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of energy infrastructure assets that play a central role in the transportation and delivery of energy across the continent.

The companys principal businesses include longdistance natural gas transmission, liquids (crude oil) pipelines, natural gas storage and power generation.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management lowered its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP  Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 12.9% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 2,147,165 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 317,363 shares during the quarter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City makes up about 1.4% of Picton Mahoney Asset Managements portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $159,882,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in CP. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 1.3% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 38,734,456 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,884,826,000 after buying an additional 510,633 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 15.1% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 19,543,455 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,549,210,000 after buying an additional 2,559,104 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its holdings in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 0.9% in the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 16,498,767 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,311,512,000 after buying an additional 150,963 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 87.2% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 16,000,064 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,268,325,000 after acquiring an additional 7,454,810 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main boosted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 16.2% during the 2nd quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 12,850,737 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,018,952,000 after acquiring an additional 1,792,388 shares in the last quarter. 72.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Down 1.9%

Shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City stock opened at $87.72 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 1 year low of $66.49 and a 1 year high of $89.42. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $77.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $75.31. The company has a market cap of $78.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.06.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Announces Dividend

Canadian Pacific Kansas City ( NYSE:CP Get Free Report ) (TSE:CP) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The transportation company reported $0.95 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.99 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $2.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.85 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 27.49% and a return on equity of 8.91%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.29 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 3.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be given a $0.228 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 27th. This represents a $0.91 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio is presently 20.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CP. National Bank Financial cut Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Evercore decreased their price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $85.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Wall Street Zen cut Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley upgraded Canadian Pacific Kansas City from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Barclays set a $93.00 target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $92.00.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Canadian Pacific Kansas City

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Profile

(Free Report)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is a North American Class I freight railroad formed through the combination of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern. The merged company operates an integrated rail network that spans Canada, the United States and Mexico, providing a single-line rail connection across all three countries. This transborder footprint is intended to streamline cross-border freight flows and provide shippers with direct rail access from Canadian and U.S. production centers to Mexican markets and ports.

CPKCs core business is freight transportation and related logistics services.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management reduced its position in shares of RBC Bearings Incorporated (NYSE:RBC  Free Report) by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 54,989 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 4,078 shares during the quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in RBC Bearings were worth $21,462,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of RBC Bearings during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in RBC Bearings in the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its position in RBC Bearings by 1,257.1% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 95 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in RBC Bearings by 123.3% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 96 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quent Capital LLC acquired a new stake in RBC Bearings during the third quarter worth $38,000.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen raised RBC Bearings from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $600.00 price objective on shares of RBC Bearings in a report on Friday, February 6th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of RBC Bearings in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of RBC Bearings from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $542.00 price target on shares of RBC Bearings in a research note on Monday, February 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $574.67.

RBC Bearings Price Performance

RBC opened at $568.01 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $512.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $445.85. RBC Bearings Incorporated has a 12-month low of $297.28 and a 12-month high of $589.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firm has a market cap of $17.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 66.82, a PEG ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 1.47.

RBC Bearings (NYSE:RBC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $3.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $461.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $460.69 million. RBC Bearings had a return on equity of 10.86% and a net margin of 15.00%.RBC Bearingss revenue was up 17.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.34 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that RBC Bearings Incorporated will post 9.16 earnings per share for the current year.

About RBC Bearings

(Free Report)

RBC Bearings Incorporated is a global designer, manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered precision bearings and components for extreme applications. The companys product portfolio includes cylindrical roller bearings, spherical plain bearings, ball bearings, track rollers, and engineered components such as metal-to-metal and polymer bearings. These products are tailored to meet the demanding requirements of aerospace, defense and industrial customers where reliability under severe conditions is critical.

The companys bearings and components find application in aircraft engines, auxiliary power units, landing gear systems, space and missile programs, industrial gas turbines, oil and gas drilling equipment, and heavy machinery.

Further Reading

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Pinewood Technologies Group PLC (LON:PINE  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 280 and last traded at GBX 281, with a volume of 354073 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 290.50.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Berenberg Bank upped their price objective on shares of Pinewood Technologies Group from GBX 700 to GBX 725 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 725.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Pinewood Technologies Group

Pinewood Technologies Group Stock Down 3.3%

Insider Activity at Pinewood Technologies Group

The company has a market cap of 321.69 million, a PE ratio of 4.50 and a beta of 0.56. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is GBX 366.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 400.

In other Pinewood Technologies Group news, insider Jemima Bird bought 16,891 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 16th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 296 per share, with a total value of 49,997.36. Also, insider Brian Small purchased 6,600 shares of Pinewood Technologies Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 296 per share, for a total transaction of 19,536. Insiders acquired a total of 67,071 shares of company stock valued at $20,350,501 over the last three months. Insiders own 47.43% of the companys stock.

Pinewood Technologies Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

1981  Origins

Pinewood was founded in 1981 after a Renault dealer in London grew frustrated with the lack of suitable systems to run his business. He assembled a small team of developers to build a better solution, marking the birth of Pinewood as a classic early-1980s tech startup.

1980s1990s  Early Innovation

The team created one of the UKs first Sales and Dealer Management Systems (DMS), soon partnering with brands like Saab, Lloyds Bowmaker, and a growing dealer group that became Pendragon PLC.

As Pendragon expanded, it acquired Pinewood to develop a multi-brand DMS capable of supporting large-scale dealership operations.

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Vanguard Group Inc. cut its stake in shares of ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE:PRA  Free Report) by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,381,037 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 190,061 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 10.47% of ProAssurance worth $129,091,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of PRA. Magnetar Financial LLC grew its holdings in ProAssurance by 27.6% in the 2nd quarter. Magnetar Financial LLC now owns 2,956,808 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $67,504,000 after buying an additional 638,992 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of ProAssurance by 26.3% during the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,915,673 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $43,735,000 after acquiring an additional 399,194 shares in the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd increased its stake in ProAssurance by 186.1% in the 2nd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 1,491,060 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $34,041,000 after purchasing an additional 969,833 shares in the last quarter. Alpine Associates Management Inc. boosted its stake in ProAssurance by 73.6% in the 3rd quarter. Alpine Associates Management Inc. now owns 952,547 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $22,852,000 after purchasing an additional 403,807 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its position in ProAssurance by 1,310.1% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 939,428 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $21,433,000 after buying an additional 872,808 shares during the period. 85.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on PRA. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of ProAssurance from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of ProAssurance in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded ProAssurance from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, ProAssurance currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $25.00.

ProAssurance Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PRA opened at $24.59 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.09 and a beta of 0.04. The business has a 50-day moving average of $24.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $24.08. ProAssurance Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $14.49 and a fifty-two week high of $24.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.27.

ProAssurance (NYSE:PRA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 23rd. The insurance provider reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.60. ProAssurance had a return on equity of 6.50% and a net margin of 4.64%.The business had revenue of $269.64 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $261.08 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.36 EPS. The firms revenue was down 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that ProAssurance Corporation will post 0.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ProAssurance Profile

(Free Report)

ProAssurance Corporation is a specialty property and casualty insurance holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The company focuses primarily on professional liability coverage for healthcare providers, including physicians, surgeons, dentists and allied health professionals. ProAssurance operates through a group of insurance subsidiaries that underwrite both occurrence- and claims-made policies tailored to the unique risks faced by the medical community.

In addition to professional liability insurance, ProAssurance offers a suite of complementary property and casualty products, such as general liability, workers compensation, property and inland marine, and umbrella coverage.

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Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Quaker Houghton (NYSE:KWR  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Sunday morning.

Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on KWR. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on Quaker Houghton from $190.00 to $184.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Zacks Research upgraded Quaker Houghton from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $203.00 price target on shares of Quaker Houghton in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $175.67.

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View Our Latest Research Report on KWR

Quaker Houghton Price Performance

NYSE:KWR opened at $141.69 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 2.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The firm has a market cap of $2.46 billion, a PE ratio of -1,180.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.34. Quaker Houghton has a 12 month low of $95.91 and a 12 month high of $183.01. The companys 50-day moving average price is $156.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $143.55.

Quaker Houghton (NYSE:KWR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 23rd. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.65 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.71 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $468.48 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $465.17 million. Quaker Houghton had a positive return on equity of 8.99% and a negative net margin of 0.13%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.33 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Quaker Houghton will post 7.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Quaker Houghton Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.508 per share. This represents a $2.03 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 16th. Quaker Houghtons dividend payout ratio is -1,691.67%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of KWR. QSV Equity Investors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Quaker Houghton in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,191,000. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in Quaker Houghton by 176.2% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 54,443 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $6,094,000 after acquiring an additional 34,731 shares during the period. Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP grew its stake in Quaker Houghton by 21.3% in the second quarter. Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP now owns 46,853 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $5,245,000 after acquiring an additional 8,215 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its holdings in shares of Quaker Houghton by 10.4% in the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 87,777 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $11,565,000 after acquiring an additional 8,271 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nordwand Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quaker Houghton during the second quarter worth about $280,000. Institutional investors own 77.46% of the companys stock.

Quaker Houghton Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Quaker Houghton is a global provider of process fluids, chemical specialties and sustainable solutions for industrial applications. The company develops and supplies metalworking fluids, coatings, and corrosion inhibitors, as well as heat transfer, lubrication and additive products designed to improve productivity and extend equipment life. Its portfolio addresses a range of end markets including automotive, aerospace, defense, energy, mining, agriculture and heavy industry.

The company traces its roots back to the founding of Quaker Chemical Corporation in 1918 and Houghton International in 1865.

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Rafferty Asset Management LLC raised its position in Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG  Free Report) by 344.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 312,414 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 242,058 shares during the period. Rafferty Asset Management LLCs holdings in Venture Global were worth $4,433,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Venture Global by 147.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,862,372 shares of the companys stock valued at $324,417,000 after acquiring an additional 13,620,863 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Venture Global in the second quarter valued at about $76,489,000. Alps Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Venture Global in the third quarter valued at approximately $13,413,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of Venture Global by 61.1% during the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 616,643 shares of the companys stock worth $9,607,000 after purchasing an additional 233,978 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its stake in Venture Global by 223.7% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 562,760 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,986,000 after buying an additional 388,892 shares in the last quarter.

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Key Stories Impacting Venture Global

Here are the key news stories impacting Venture Global this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat consensus on higher LNG sales volumes (EPS $0.41 vs. ~$0.35 estimate), showing strong profitability and volume growth; management provided supporting materials and an earnings call transcript. Article Title

Q4 earnings beat consensus on higher LNG sales volumes (EPS $0.41 vs. ~$0.35 estimate), showing strong profitability and volume growth; management provided supporting materials and an earnings call transcript. Positive Sentiment: Legal win: a New York court refused to overturn an arbitration ruling that favored Venture Global in its dispute with Shell  removes a major overhang and reduces legal uncertainty. Article Title

Legal win: a New York court refused to overturn an arbitration ruling that favored Venture Global in its dispute with Shell  removes a major overhang and reduces legal uncertainty. Positive Sentiment: Commercial deals & supply flexibility: signed a fiveyear 0.5 MTPA supply deal with Trafigura and said it can step up output amid Qatar production halts  supports forward revenue visibility and market share opportunity. Article Title Article Title

Commercial deals & supply flexibility: signed a fiveyear 0.5 MTPA supply deal with Trafigura and said it can step up output amid Qatar production halts  supports forward revenue visibility and market share opportunity. Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: Bank of America reiterated a Buy, citing a strong project pipeline and potential margin upside, which can attract investors seeking exposure to LNG growth. Article Title

Analyst support: Bank of America reiterated a Buy, citing a strong project pipeline and potential margin upside, which can attract investors seeking exposure to LNG growth. Neutral Sentiment: Industry/operational commentary highlights Venture Globals fleet and positioning as an advantage in a disrupted LNG market  supportive context but not an immediate earnings driver. Article Title

Industry/operational commentary highlights Venture Globals fleet and positioning as an advantage in a disrupted LNG market  supportive context but not an immediate earnings driver. Neutral Sentiment: Multiple transcripts and slide decks from the Q4 call are available for investors to assess guidance, volumes and margin commentary (useful for modeling but not new news). Article Title

Multiple transcripts and slide decks from the Q4 call are available for investors to assess guidance, volumes and margin commentary (useful for modeling but not new news). Negative Sentiment: Company flagged a downbeat 2026 profit outlook due to Winter Storm Fern and first-quarter LNG margin compression  this lowers near-term expectations and was cited as a reason for cautious guidance. Article Title

Company flagged a downbeat 2026 profit outlook due to Winter Storm Fern and first-quarter LNG margin compression  this lowers near-term expectations and was cited as a reason for cautious guidance. Negative Sentiment: Unusual options activity: traders bought ~67,294 put options (+284% vs. average), signaling elevated hedging or bearish bets that can amplify short-term downside pressure.

Unusual options activity: traders bought ~67,294 put options (+284% vs. average), signaling elevated hedging or bearish bets that can amplify short-term downside pressure. Negative Sentiment: Some reports flagged a revenue miss despite EPS beat  investors focused on top-line strength and margin sustainability may view this as a caution. Article Title

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on VG. New Street Research set a $15.00 price target on Venture Global in a report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of Venture Global in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Venture Global from $15.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on shares of Venture Global in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. They issued an outperform rating and a $11.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Venture Global from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $12.91.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Venture Global

Venture Global Price Performance

Venture Global stock opened at $11.38 on Wednesday. Venture Global, Inc. has a 1 year low of $5.72 and a 1 year high of $19.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.46, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.83. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $8.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.67. The company has a market cap of $27.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.23 and a beta of 5.70.

Venture Global (NYSE:VG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $4.45 billion for the quarter. Venture Global had a net margin of 18.38% and a return on equity of 29.17%. The companys revenue was up 191.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Venture Global, Inc. will post 0.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Venture Global Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.018 per share. This is a boost from Venture Globals previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. This represents a $0.07 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. Venture Globals payout ratio is currently 8.97%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Venture Global news, insider Thomas Earl sold 1,000,000 shares of Venture Global stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.89, for a total transaction of $6,890,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 86.73% of the companys stock.

About Venture Global

(Free Report)

Venture Global (NYSE: VG) is a Houston-based energy company that develops, constructs and operates large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the United States. The company focuses on converting domestically produced natural gas into LNG for shipment to international markets, positioning itself as a supplier of pipeline-quality gas in vessel-ready form for global customers.

Venture Globals core activities include site development, engineering and construction of liquefaction and export terminals, commissioning and ongoing operations of those facilities, and commercial marketing of LNG under both long-term and short-term contracts.

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Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for Molina Healthcare (NYSE: MOH):

2/20/2026  Molina Healthcare was given a new $141.00 price target by Wells Fargo & Company. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock.

2/20/2026  Molina Healthcare was downgraded by Wells Fargo & Company from overweight to equal weight. They now have a $141.00 price target on the stock, down from $208.00.

2/17/2026  Molina Healthcare had its price target lowered by Truist Financial Corporation from $190.00 to $145.00. They now have a hold rating on the stock.

2/11/2026  Molina Healthcare had its price target lowered by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $167.00 to $124.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

2/10/2026  Molina Healthcare was given a new $109.00 price target by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft.

2/10/2026  Molina Healthcare had its price target lowered by Barclays PLC from $164.00 to $133.00. They now have an underweight rating on the stock.

2/9/2026  Molina Healthcare had its neutral rating reaffirmed by UBS Group AG. They now have a $145.00 price target on the stock.

2/9/2026  Molina Healthcare had its price target lowered by TD Cowen from $175.00 to $144.00. They now have a hold rating on the stock.

2/9/2026  Molina Healthcare had its price target lowered by Cantor Fitzgerald from $180.00 to $144.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

1/22/2026  Molina Healthcare had its sell (d+) rating reaffirmed by Weiss Ratings.

1/9/2026  Molina Healthcare was given a new $220.00 price target by Mizuho.

1/7/2026  Molina Healthcare had its price target raised by Wells Fargo & Company from $165.00 to $208.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

1/6/2026  Molina Healthcare had its outperform rating reaffirmed by Sanford C. Bernstein. They now have a $224.00 price target on the stock.

1/5/2026  Molina Healthcare had its price target raised by Barclays PLC from $144.00 to $164.00. They now have an underweight rating on the stock.

Molina Healthcare, Inc is a managed care company specializing in government-sponsored health insurance programs. The company offers Medicaid managed care plans, Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, and individual Marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act. Through an integrated care model, Molina emphasizes preventive and primary care services, care coordination, and disease management to improve health outcomes for its members.

The company traces its roots to the early 1980s, when Dr.

Further Reading

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SYDNEY, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Police officers in the Australian state of Queensland on Wednesday shot a man with a firearm after he was involved in a traffic collision.

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) said in a statement that officers were called to reports of a collision on a highway near the suburb of Sippy Downs, about 85 km north of Brisbane, shortly before midday local time on Wednesday.

The car involved in the incident fled the scene and was tracked by police until the male driver got out of the vehicle around 10 km from the initial crash site and approached officers while armed with a gun, the QPS said.

He was subsequently shot by police officers, who provided first aid at the scene before the man was taken to a nearby hospital in a stable condition.

It comes after a 21-year-old man was fatally shot by police in Brisbane on Tuesday after he allegedly threatened officers while armed with a knife. 
Royce & Associates LP trimmed its stake in Park Aerospace Corp. (NYSE:PKE  Free Report) by 12.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 506,140 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 72,628 shares during the period. Royce & Associates LP owned about 2.54% of Park Aerospace worth $10,295,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC bought a new stake in shares of Park Aerospace in the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,060,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Park Aerospace by 8.3% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 40,776 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $829,000 after acquiring an additional 3,124 shares during the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund lifted its stake in shares of Park Aerospace by 1,914.8% in the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 101,887 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $2,072,000 after acquiring an additional 96,830 shares during the period. Palisades Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in Park Aerospace in the third quarter valued at approximately $5,904,000. Finally, Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in Park Aerospace during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $75,000. 77.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Park Aerospace Stock Performance

Shares of PKE opened at $28.71 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $572.19 million, a PE ratio of 66.77 and a beta of 0.29. Park Aerospace Corp. has a 52-week low of $11.97 and a 52-week high of $29.60. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $24.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $21.17.

Park Aerospace Dividend Announcement

Park Aerospace ( NYSE:PKE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 13th. The semiconductor company reported $0.15 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $17.33 million during the quarter. Park Aerospace had a net margin of 13.14% and a return on equity of 9.28%.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd were paid a $0.125 dividend. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 2nd. Park Aerospaces payout ratio is 116.28%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Park Aerospace from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 17th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Park Aerospace from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Park Aerospace currently has a consensus rating of Hold.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Park Aerospace

Park Aerospace Company Profile

(Free Report)

Park Aerospace (NYSE: PKE) is a specialized materials and manufacturing company that designs, develops and produces high-performance composite structures, engineered laminates and specialty adhesives for aerospace, defense and industrial markets. Its product portfolio includes advanced honeycomb cores, composite assemblies, dielectric and high-reliability circuit materials, as well as structural and bonding solutions that meet demanding performance and weight requirements.

The company operates through two principal segments.

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Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN  Free Report)  Investment analysts at Scotiabank decreased their FY2027 earnings per share estimates for Devon Energy in a report issued on Thursday, February 26th. Scotiabank analyst P. Cheng now forecasts that the energy company will earn $2.75 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $3.05. Scotiabank currently has a Sector Perform rating and a $41.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for Devon Energys current full-year earnings is $4.85 per share.

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Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The energy company reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.01. Devon Energy had a return on equity of 16.28% and a net margin of 15.37%.The business had revenue of $17.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.67 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.10 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $48.00 to $42.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Argus upped their price objective on Devon Energy from $41.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Devon Energy from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Raymond James Financial boosted their target price on Devon Energy from $44.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their price target on Devon Energy from $57.00 to $55.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Twenty-three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $47.74.

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Devon Energy Trading Down 2.2%

DVN opened at $43.97 on Monday. Devon Energy has a 1-year low of $25.89 and a 1-year high of $46.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.26 billion, a PE ratio of 10.54, a PEG ratio of 4.36 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $39.96 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $36.67.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Devon Energy

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Devon Energy during the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. PFS Partners LLC bought a new position in Devon Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. First Horizon Corp acquired a new position in Devon Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Accredited Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Devon Energy by 61.6% in the third quarter. Accredited Wealth Management LLC now owns 808 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 308 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriflex Group Inc. increased its stake in Devon Energy by 702.0% in the third quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 802 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 702 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.72% of the companys stock.

Devon Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Devon Energys payout ratio is 23.02%.

Trending Headlines about Devon Energy

Here are the key news stories impacting Devon Energy this week:

Positive Sentiment: BMO Capital Markets raised its price target on DVN to $55 from $45 and reiterated an Outperform rating  implying roughly ~24% upside from the referenced price  which supports a bullish near-term view. MarketScreener

BMO Capital Markets raised its price target on DVN to $55 from $45 and reiterated an Outperform rating  implying roughly ~24% upside from the referenced price  which supports a bullish near-term view. Positive Sentiment: Mizuho reaffirmed its Outperform rating and $51 price target after Devons Q4 results (adjusted EPS $0.82; revenue beat at ~$4.12B). Analyst support and the revenue beat underpin investor confidence. Mizuho Reaffirms Outperform

Mizuho reaffirmed its Outperform rating and $51 price target after Devons Q4 results (adjusted EPS $0.82; revenue beat at ~$4.12B). Analyst support and the revenue beat underpin investor confidence. Positive Sentiment: Geopolitical risk: coverage highlights that recent USIsrael strikes on Iran could push oil prices higher. As a large U.S. E&P, Devon stands to benefit from higher hydrocarbon prices if disruptions widen, providing an upside catalyst separate from company-specific news. Oil Prices Set to Spike

Geopolitical risk: coverage highlights that recent USIsrael strikes on Iran could push oil prices higher. As a large U.S. E&P, Devon stands to benefit from higher hydrocarbon prices if disruptions widen, providing an upside catalyst separate from company-specific news. Neutral Sentiment: Devons Q4 results showed adjusted EPS roughly in line with consensus while revenue beat  a mixed report that removes downside surprise risk but doesnt dramatically raise near-term earnings guidance.

Devons Q4 results showed adjusted EPS roughly in line with consensus while revenue beat  a mixed report that removes downside surprise risk but doesnt dramatically raise near-term earnings guidance. Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research cut multiple nearterm EPS forecasts (Q2 2026, Q4 2026, Q4 2027) and assigns a Strong Sell rating, signaling lowered expectations for Devons earnings trajectory and weighing on sentiment. (Consensus FY2026 remains near $4.85/share.)

Zacks Research cut multiple nearterm EPS forecasts (Q2 2026, Q4 2026, Q4 2027) and assigns a Strong Sell rating, signaling lowered expectations for Devons earnings trajectory and weighing on sentiment. (Consensus FY2026 remains near $4.85/share.) Negative Sentiment: Scotiabank lowered its FY2027 EPS estimates, further adding to the wave of downward revisions to forward earnings that could pressure the stock until clarity on volumes/prices and capital returns emerges. American Banking News

Devon Energy Company Profile

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Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN) is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The company focuses on the exploration, development, production and marketing of hydrocarbons, including crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas. Devon operates as an upstream energy company that acquires, evaluates and develops onshore resource plays using a combination of drilling, completion and production optimization techniques.

Core business activities include identifying and developing energy reserves, operating well programs and managing reservoir performance to generate production and cash flow.

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Black Hills Corporation (NYSE:BKH  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 7,430,046 shares, an increase of 19.0% from the January 29th total of 6,242,648 shares. Currently, 9.9% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 1,198,435 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 6.2 days. Based on an average daily volume of 1,198,435 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 6.2 days. Currently, 9.9% of the companys stock are short sold.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Black Hills

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of BKH. ProShare Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Black Hills by 10.8% during the third quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 736,014 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $45,331,000 after purchasing an additional 71,963 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Black Hills by 84.8% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,944 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $976,000 after buying an additional 7,314 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC bought a new position in Black Hills during the 3rd quarter worth $1,354,000. Barnett & Company Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Black Hills by 105.8% during the third quarter. Barnett & Company Inc. now owns 28,400 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,749,000 after buying an additional 14,600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Paradiem LLC boosted its position in shares of Black Hills by 858.5% in the third quarter. Paradiem LLC now owns 234,833 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $14,463,000 after acquiring an additional 210,333 shares during the period. 86.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on BKH. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Black Hills in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Black Hills from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Black Hills from $82.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded Black Hills from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and raised their price target for the company from $66.00 to $81.00 in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Black Hills presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $76.33.

Black Hills Stock Performance

Black Hills stock traded up $1.39 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $75.69. 1,236,438 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,027,578. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $72.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.32. The firm has a market cap of $5.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.35. Black Hills has a 52 week low of $54.92 and a 52 week high of $75.87.

Black Hills (NYSE:BKH  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.04. Black Hills had a return on equity of 7.95% and a net margin of 12.62%.During the same period last year, the business earned $1.37 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Black Hills has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.250-4.450 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Black Hills will post 4.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Black Hills Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a dividend of $0.703 per share. This represents a $2.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. This is a positive change from Black Hillss previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. Black Hillss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 70.60%.

Black Hills Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Black Hills Corporation is a diversified energy company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, that provides electricity and natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Through its regulated utility subsidiariesBlack Hills Power, Cheyenne Light & Power, and Black Hills Energythe company delivers reliable energy across Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

In addition to its distribution operations, Black Hills owns and operates a generation portfolio that includes natural gasfired plants, coal-fired units, hydroelectric facilities and wind projects.

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PureTech Health plc (OTCMKTS:PTCHF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 47,681 shares, a decline of 15.7% from the January 29th total of 56,594 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 120 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 397.3 days. Based on an average daily volume of 120 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 397.3 days.

PureTech Health Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS PTCHF opened at $1.70 on Wednesday. PureTech Health has a 52-week low of $1.27 and a 52-week high of $1.90. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $1.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.70.

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PureTech Health Company Profile

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PureTech Health PLC (PureTech) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative medicines to address serious diseases with high unmet medical need. Founded in 2005 by Daphne Zohar and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with operations in both North America and Europe, PureTech applies its proprietary platforms to advance therapeutic candidates across immunology, neuroscience and lymphatic-focused indications.

The company leverages three core technology platformsimmune tolerance, gut-targeted delivery and lymphatic transportto develop novel molecules designed for enhanced specificity and durability of effect.

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Skba Capital Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH  Free Report) by 17.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 46,750 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,700 shares during the period. Skba Capital Management LLCs holdings in Cardinal Health were worth $7,338,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CAH. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Cardinal Health by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,823,483 shares of the companys stock worth $4,838,054,000 after buying an additional 247,667 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Cardinal Health by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,389,049 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,069,005,000 after purchasing an additional 205,539 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Cardinal Health in the 2nd quarter worth $584,420,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in Cardinal Health by 7.3% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,037,782 shares of the companys stock worth $510,347,000 after purchasing an additional 207,750 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc boosted its position in Cardinal Health by 2.0% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 2,349,767 shares of the companys stock valued at $394,761,000 after buying an additional 45,812 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.17% of the companys stock.

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Cardinal Health Stock Performance

Shares of CAH opened at $226.46 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average is $214.97 and its 200 day moving average is $188.60. Cardinal Health, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $120.72 and a fifty-two week high of $233.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.29 billion, a PE ratio of 32.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.65.

Cardinal Health Announces Dividend

Cardinal Health ( NYSE:CAH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $2.63 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.31 by $0.32. Cardinal Health had a negative return on equity of 92.50% and a net margin of 0.68%.The company had revenue of $65.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $64.88 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.93 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Cardinal Health, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 1st will be paid a $0.5107 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. Cardinal Healths dividend payout ratio is 29.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on CAH. Argus lifted their price objective on Cardinal Health from $232.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Cardinal Health from $195.00 to $208.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Morgan Stanley set a $255.00 target price on shares of Cardinal Health in a report on Friday, February 6th. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Cardinal Health from $233.00 to $251.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Cardinal Health from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $245.67.

View Our Latest Analysis on Cardinal Health

Cardinal Health Profile

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Cardinal Health is a multinational healthcare services and products company headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Tracing its roots to the early 1970s, the company has grown into a major provider of supply chain and distribution services for the healthcare sector. Cardinal Health operates across a range of service lines that support hospitals, health systems, pharmacies, physician offices and clinical laboratories.

The companys core activities include the wholesale distribution of branded and generic pharmaceuticals, the supply and distribution of medical-surgical products, and the provision of logistics and inventory management solutions.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas reduced its position in JBT Marel Corporation (NYSE:JBTM  Free Report) by 49.2% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 7,836 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,575 shares during the quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in JBT Marel were worth $1,101,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Salomon & Ludwin LLC acquired a new stake in JBT Marel in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. First Horizon Corp purchased a new stake in JBT Marel during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. UMB Bank n.a. purchased a new stake in JBT Marel during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC acquired a new position in JBT Marel during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of JBT Marel in the second quarter worth $28,000. Institutional investors own 98.92% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

JBTM has been the subject of several research reports. Zacks Research upgraded shares of JBT Marel from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded JBT Marel from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $150.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of JBT Marel in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, JBT Marel has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $174.50.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Olafur S. Gudmundsson sold 10,000 shares of JBT Marel stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.09, for a total transaction of $1,500,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 9,980 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,497,898.20. This trade represents a 50.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

JBT Marel Stock Down 0.9%

NYSE:JBTM opened at $153.01 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The companys fifty day moving average price is $158.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $146.47. JBT Marel Corporation has a 1-year low of $90.08 and a 1-year high of $170.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.95 billion, a P/E ratio of -151.50, a PEG ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.97.

JBT Marel (NYSE:JBTM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The company reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $1.01 billion for the quarter. JBT Marel had a negative net margin of 1.33% and a positive return on equity of 7.68%. JBT Marels revenue for the quarter was up 115.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.70 earnings per share. JBT Marel has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.000-8.500 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that JBT Marel Corporation will post 5.21 EPS for the current year.

JBT Marel Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. JBT Marels dividend payout ratio is presently -39.60%.

JBT Marel Company Profile

(Free Report)

JBT Marel Corporation provides technology solutions to food and beverage industry in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It offers value-added processing that includes chilling, mixing/grinding, injecting, blending, marinating, tumbling, flattening, forming, portioning, coating, cooking, frying, freezing, extracting, pasteurizing, sterilizing, concentrating, high pressure processing, weighing, inspecting, filling, closing, sealing, end of line material handling, and packaging solutions to the food, beverage, and health market.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas lessened its stake in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:DGRO  Free Report) by 41.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 165,518 shares of the companys stock after selling 116,627 shares during the quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF were worth $11,268,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of DGRO. Dagco Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 2.4% during the third quarter. Dagco Inc. now owns 510,449 shares of the companys stock worth $34,751,000 after buying an additional 12,022 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 25.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 48,384 shares of the companys stock worth $3,094,000 after acquiring an additional 9,936 shares during the period. CVA Family Office LLC grew its holdings in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 65.4% during the 3rd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 60,730 shares of the companys stock worth $4,135,000 after acquiring an additional 24,010 shares during the period. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp raised its position in shares of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 39.4% during the 2nd quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 10,612 shares of the companys stock valued at $679,000 after acquiring an additional 3,001 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Trust lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 44.5% in the 2nd quarter. American Trust now owns 917,657 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,675,000 after purchasing an additional 282,505 shares during the period.

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iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF Trading Down 1.0%

NYSEARCA DGRO opened at $73.07 on Wednesday. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF has a 12 month low of $54.09 and a 12 month high of $74.28. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $71.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $69.48. The company has a market capitalization of $38.15 billion, a PE ratio of 19.66 and a beta of 0.84.

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF Profile

The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Morningstar US Dividend Growth index. The fund tracks an index of US stocks that are selected by dividends, dividend growth and payout ratio, then weighted by dividend dollars. DGRO was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas reduced its stake in General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD  Free Report) by 39.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 77,054 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 50,929 shares during the period. General Dynamics makes up approximately 2.3% of Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in General Dynamics were worth $26,276,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. First Financial Bankshares Inc raised its holdings in General Dynamics by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. First Financial Bankshares Inc now owns 1,196 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $408,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of General Dynamics by 1.4% in the third quarter. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,249 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $767,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the period. AGH Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in General Dynamics by 1.5% in the third quarter. AGH Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,253 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $768,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Columbus Macro LLC lifted its position in General Dynamics by 0.4% during the third quarter. Columbus Macro LLC now owns 8,644 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,948,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the period. Finally, Cozad Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in General Dynamics by 3.9% during the third quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 914 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $312,000 after buying an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.14% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on GD shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of General Dynamics from $408.00 to $410.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a market perform rating and set a $398.00 price objective on shares of General Dynamics in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Susquehanna restated a positive rating and set a $420.00 target price on shares of General Dynamics in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Citigroup lifted their price target on General Dynamics from $371.00 to $389.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Wolfe Research upped their price objective on General Dynamics from $400.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, General Dynamics currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $376.26.

General Dynamics Stock Performance

NYSE GD opened at $364.63 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $353.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $341.58. The stock has a market cap of $98.59 billion, a PE ratio of 23.60, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.39. General Dynamics Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $239.20 and a fifty-two week high of $369.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.44.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The aerospace company reported $4.17 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.11 by $0.06. General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.57% and a net margin of 8.01%.The company had revenue of $14.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.77 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.15 EPS. General Dynamicss revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. General Dynamics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 16.100-16.200 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that General Dynamics Corporation will post 14.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Mark Rayha sold 4,370 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $348.79, for a total transaction of $1,524,212.30. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 7,936 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,767,997.44. This trade represents a 35.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP David Paddock sold 20,360 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $334.92, for a total value of $6,818,971.20. Following the sale, the vice president owned 36,644 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,272,808.48. This trade represents a 35.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

General Dynamics Profile

(Free Report)

General Dynamics is a major American aerospace and defense contractor that designs, manufactures and supports a broad range of products and services for government and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in the United States (Reston, Virginia), the company supplies platforms and systems used by armed forces, civil authorities and private operators across multiple domains including air, land, sea and cyber.

Its principal activities span several operating businesses: a business aviation unit that develops and supports Gulfstream business jets; land systems that produce armored combat vehicles and related logistics and sustainment services; marine systems that design and construct submarines and surface ships for navies; and mission systems and information technology operations that provide command-and-control, communications, cybersecurity and systems-integration services.

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Sopra Steria Group SA (OTCMKTS:SPSAF  Get Free Report)s stock price dropped 2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $145.10 and last traded at $145.10. Approximately 98 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 2% from the average daily volume of 100 shares. The stock had previously closed at $148.08.

Sopra Steria Group Stock Down 2.0%

The business has a fifty day moving average of $148.01 and a 200 day moving average of $174.12.

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Sopra Steria Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sopra Steria Group is a European leader in digital transformation and IT consulting, offering end-to-end solutions that span strategy, system integration, software development and managed services. Headquartered in Paris, the company serves both public-sector and private-sector clients, helping organizations modernize legacy systems, implement cloud architectures and harness data analytics to drive operational efficiency and customer engagement.

The firms core offerings include business and IT consulting, bespoke application development, infrastructure management and business process services.

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South Dakota Investment Council decreased its position in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE:HG  Free Report) by 13.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 167,356 shares of the companys stock after selling 26,517 shares during the quarter. South Dakota Investment Council owned 0.17% of Hamilton Insurance Group worth $4,150,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in HG. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in Hamilton Insurance Group by 1,404.4% in the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,700 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 1,587 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new stake in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in the 3rd quarter worth $71,000. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. raised its stake in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group by 14.6% in the second quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 4,595 shares of the companys stock worth $99,000 after purchasing an additional 585 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio purchased a new position in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in the first quarter worth $112,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group by 24.1% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,667 shares of the companys stock valued at $123,000 after purchasing an additional 1,101 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 29.17% of the companys stock.

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Hamilton Insurance Group Trading Down 1.5%

Shares of HG stock opened at $31.07 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The company has a market cap of $3.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.58 and a beta of 0.56. Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. has a 1 year low of $16.80 and a 1 year high of $32.21. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $28.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.38.

Hamilton Insurance Group Announces Dividend

Hamilton Insurance Group ( NYSE:HG Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The company reported $1.65 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.96. Hamilton Insurance Group had a return on equity of 19.43% and a net margin of 19.85%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $2.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on HG shares. Citigroup boosted their target price on Hamilton Insurance Group from $28.50 to $33.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group from $31.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Barclays restated an overweight rating and issued a $35.00 target price on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in a report on Friday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley set a $28.00 price target on Hamilton Insurance Group in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Citizens Jmp lifted their price objective on Hamilton Insurance Group from $32.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hamilton Insurance Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $32.29.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on HG

Hamilton Insurance Group Profile

(Free Report)

Hamilton Insurance Group Ltd. is a Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance holding company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HG. The company focuses on specialty lines of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, providing tailored solutions to clients around the world. Its underwriting platform is designed to address complex and niche risks across multiple industry sectors.

Established in 2016 and completing its initial public offering in 2017, Hamilton has concentrated on building a diversified portfolio of insurance and reinsurance products.

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JERUSALEM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that its air force shot down an Iranian fighter jet over Tehran as part of an ongoing U.S.-Israeli operation in Iran.

In a statement, the IDF described the downing of the Iranian YAK-130 as a "historic first," marking the first time a fighter jet of this specific type has been shot down in combat anywhere in the world.

The last time the Israeli air force shot down another enemy fighter jet was back in 1985, when an Israeli F-15 jet shot down two Syrian MiG-23s during an air battle over Lebanon, according to Israel's state-owned Kan TV News.

In a separate statement, the IDF reported that its air force successfully targeted and thwarted Iranian air defense operatives "as they attempted to operate systems against the IDF."

During the military conflict, Iranian media reported that local air defense systems shot down an Israeli fighter jet. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding this report. 
South Dakota Investment Council trimmed its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 52.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 100,704 shares of the companys stock after selling 109,891 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Councils holdings in Altria Group were worth $6,653,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 64.7% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the companys stock valued at $926,000 after acquiring an additional 6,954 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 86.3% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,361 shares of the companys stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 2,946 shares during the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. raised its stake in Altria Group by 6.9% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 9,630 shares of the companys stock valued at $565,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares in the last quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP lifted its position in Altria Group by 2.3% during the second quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 18,421 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,080,000 after purchasing an additional 412 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Burney Co. grew its stake in Altria Group by 151.9% in the 2nd quarter. Burney Co. now owns 19,912 shares of the companys stock worth $1,167,000 after buying an additional 12,006 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the companys stock.

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Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $68.89 on Wednesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $52.82 and a 1 year high of $70.51. The company has a market cap of $115.18 billion, a PE ratio of 16.76, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.45. The stocks 50-day moving average is $62.73 and its 200 day moving average is $62.57.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.30 earnings per share. Altria Groups quarterly revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 103.16%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Citigroup lifted their price target on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. UBS Group raised their price objective on Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Argus upgraded Altria Group to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $64.33.

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Altria Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the companys operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altrias principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.

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South Dakota Investment Council reduced its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL  Free Report) by 8.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 107,216 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 10,100 shares during the quarter. South Dakota Investment Council owned approximately 0.10% of Western Alliance Bancorporation worth $9,298,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. William Blair Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 2,394,722 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $207,670,000 after buying an additional 81,386 shares during the period. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation by 11.3% in the third quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 2,194,630 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $190,318,000 after acquiring an additional 223,425 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation by 5.4% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,035,515 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $158,755,000 after purchasing an additional 104,182 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Western Alliance Bancorporation during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $137,289,000. Finally, Smead Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 19.2% in the 2nd quarter. Smead Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,435,247 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $111,921,000 after purchasing an additional 231,159 shares in the last quarter. 79.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Western Alliance Bancorporation Stock Performance

NYSE WAL opened at $79.54 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $89.05 and its 200-day moving average price is $85.36. Western Alliance Bancorporation has a fifty-two week low of $57.05 and a fifty-two week high of $97.23. The company has a market cap of $8.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.85.

Western Alliance Bancorporation Announces Dividend

Western Alliance Bancorporation ( NYSE:WAL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The financial services provider reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.19. Western Alliance Bancorporation had a net margin of 18.04% and a return on equity of 13.33%. The business had revenue of $980.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $912.69 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.95 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 17.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Western Alliance Bancorporation will post 9.05 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Western Alliance Bancorporations payout ratio is presently 19.24%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on WAL shares. Truist Financial set a $98.00 price objective on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $98.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. DA Davidson increased their price objective on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $104.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $109.00 to $108.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $103.73.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on WAL

Western Alliance Bancorporation Profile

(Free Report)

Western Alliance Bancorporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Through its principal subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, the company provides a range of banking services to commercial clients, entrepreneurs and real estate developers. As one of the largest regional banks in the western United States, it focuses on relationship-driven banking solutions tailored to niche industries and growing businesses.

The companys core offerings include deposit products, treasury management and a variety of lending services.

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South Dakota Investment Council cut its position in PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG  Free Report) by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 74,654 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 4,900 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Councils holdings in PPG Industries were worth $7,847,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Walnut Level Capital LLC increased its position in shares of PPG Industries by 46.8% during the second quarter. Walnut Level Capital LLC now owns 62,754 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $7,138,000 after acquiring an additional 20,000 shares during the last quarter. GAM Holding AG lifted its holdings in PPG Industries by 97.5% during the third quarter. GAM Holding AG now owns 21,281 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $2,237,000 after purchasing an additional 10,508 shares during the last quarter. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in PPG Industries in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $16,245,000. Empower Advisory Group LLC grew its position in shares of PPG Industries by 9.3% in the second quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 77,252 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $8,787,000 after purchasing an additional 6,559 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strs Ohio grew its holdings in PPG Industries by 30.1% during the 3rd quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 125,434 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $13,184,000 after buying an additional 29,031 shares in the last quarter. 81.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on PPG. Berenberg Bank decreased their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $131.00 to $110.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $117.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Bank of America lowered their target price on PPG Industries from $118.00 to $116.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of PPG Industries from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on PPG Industries from $110.00 to $122.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $125.93.

PPG Industries Trading Down 0.8%

Shares of NYSE PPG opened at $118.29 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $115.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $107.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.62. PPG Industries, Inc. has a 52-week low of $90.24 and a 52-week high of $133.43. The company has a market cap of $26.44 billion, a PE ratio of 17.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.15.

PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.57 by ($0.06). PPG Industries had a return on equity of 22.30% and a net margin of 9.93%.The business had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.77 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.61 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. PPG Industries has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.700-8.100 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that PPG Industries, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PPG Industries Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 12th. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.71 per share. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. PPG Industriess dividend payout ratio is 40.92%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Vincent J. Morales sold 78,095 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.00, for a total transaction of $10,230,445.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Anne M. Foulkes sold 3,594 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.61, for a total value of $447,848.34. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 15,641 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,949,025.01. This trade represents a 18.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 118,811 shares of company stock valued at $15,219,371 in the last quarter. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

PPG Industries Profile

(Free Report)

PPG Industries is a global supplier of paints, coatings and specialty materials that serves industrial, transportation, consumer and construction markets. Founded in 1883 as the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, PPG has evolved from its origins in glass manufacturing into a diversified coatings and materials company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company develops and manufactures a broad array of products used to protect and enhance surfaces, from consumer paints to highly engineered coatings for demanding industrial applications.

PPGs product portfolio includes architectural and decorative paints, automotive original equipment and refinish coatings, industrial coatings for machinery and equipment, protective and marine coatings, aerospace and defense coatings, and packaging coatings and materials.

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Sumitomo Heavy (OTCMKTS:SOHVY  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Wednesday . 2,000 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 16% from the previous sessions volume of 2,369 shares.The stock last traded at $8.8920 and had previously closed at $9.30.

Sumitomo Heavy Trading Down 4.4%

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.21 and a beta of 0.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The firms 50 day moving average is $8.00 and its 200 day moving average is $6.86.

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Sumitomo Heavy (OTCMKTS:SOHVY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The company reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $2.04 billion for the quarter. Sumitomo Heavy had a return on equity of 5.19% and a net margin of 2.89%.

About Sumitomo Heavy

Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (OTCMKTS: SOHVY) is a Japanese multinational manufacturer specializing in a broad range of industrial machinery and heavy equipment. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company operates as a core member of the Sumitomo Group, a major keiretsu with roots dating back to the early Meiji era. Sumitomo Heavy serves diverse markets by developing and producing advanced systems for material processing, energy generation, environmental management and transportation.

The companys product portfolio encompasses industrial machinery such as metalforming presses, injection molding machines and power transmission systems.

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Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF  Get Free Report) insider Brian Sr. Wenzel sold 19,580 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.71, for a total transaction of $1,325,761.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 111,333 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,538,357.43. This represents a 14.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

Shares of SYF traded down $0.11 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $68.53. 5,882,960 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,168,599. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. Synchrony Financial has a fifty-two week low of $40.54 and a fifty-two week high of $88.77. The businesss 50 day moving average is $77.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $76.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.38, a P/E/G ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.42.

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Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The financial services provider reported $2.18 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.02 by $0.16. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 23.07% and a net margin of 15.72%.The firm had revenue of $3.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.84 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.91 EPS. The firms revenue was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. Synchrony Financial has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.100-9.500 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Synchrony Financial

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 6th were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 6th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. Synchrony Financials dividend payout ratio is 12.92%.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SYF. Westside Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 100.0% during the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 358 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Investors Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych Spolka Akcyjna acquired a new stake in Synchrony Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. FWL Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Synchrony Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC raised its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 54.9% in the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 412 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fideuram Asset Management Ireland dac purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on SYF. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research report on Monday, December 8th. They issued an outperform rating and a $92.00 price objective on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $91.00 to $85.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $92.00 to $84.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, BTIG Research reduced their target price on Synchrony Financial from $100.00 to $96.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $87.11.

View Our Latest Analysis on SYF

Synchrony Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) is a consumer financial services company that specializes in providing point-of-sale financing and private-label, co-branded and branded credit card programs. The company serves as a payments and lending partner to retailers, digital merchants and service providers, offering consumer financing solutions designed to drive customer engagement and sales. Synchrony also operates a direct bank that offers deposit products, including savings accounts and certificates of deposit, which support its funding and customer-facing product suite.

Its core product set includes private-label and co-branded credit cards, general-purpose credit cards, installment loan programs and promotional financing options that are integrated into merchants checkout experiences.

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Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its holdings in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO  Free Report) by 36.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 36,444 shares of the medical research companys stock after acquiring an additional 9,800 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky owned 0.13% of Bio-Rad Laboratories worth $10,219,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories by 60.7% during the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 2,517,313 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $607,478,000 after purchasing an additional 951,123 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Bio-Rad Laboratories in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,987,000. Ilex Capital Partners UK LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories by 1,790.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ilex Capital Partners UK LLP now owns 120,885 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $29,172,000 after buying an additional 114,490 shares in the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,763,000. Finally, Scopia Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 2nd quarter valued at $22,862,000. 65.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

BIO has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $358.50.

Bio-Rad Laboratories News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Bio-Rad Laboratories this week:

Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its Q1 2027 EPS forecast to $2.22 (from $2.12), suggesting at least one nearterm quarter is now viewed more favorably. Zacks estimate update

Zacks raised its Q1 2027 EPS forecast to $2.22 (from $2.12), suggesting at least one nearterm quarter is now viewed more favorably. Neutral Sentiment: Several cuts to quarterly estimates were very small (e.g., Q1 2026 to $2.77 from $2.79; Q2 2026 to $2.34 from $2.35; Q4 2026 to $2.59 from $2.60), which are unlikely by themselves to materially change nearterm expectations. Zacks estimate update

Several cuts to quarterly estimates were very small (e.g., Q1 2026 to $2.77 from $2.79; Q2 2026 to $2.34 from $2.35; Q4 2026 to $2.59 from $2.60), which are unlikely by themselves to materially change nearterm expectations. Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut several multiperiod forecasts: FY2026 modestly to $10.32 (from $10.36), FY2027 to $9.30 (from $9.38) and issued a FY2028 estimate of $9.87  well below the broader consensus near $10.81  indicating weaker mediumterm earnings visibility. Zacks also trimmed multiple 2027 quarter forecasts (e.g., Q2 2027 and Q3 2027). These downward revisions create downside earnings risk if the trend continues. Zacks estimate update

Bio-Rad Laboratories Stock Performance

Shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories stock opened at $280.73 on Wednesday. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. has a 52 week low of $211.43 and a 52 week high of $343.12. The company has a quick ratio of 4.19, a current ratio of 5.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $297.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $301.46. The company has a market cap of $7.58 billion, a PE ratio of 10.06 and a beta of 1.18.

Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE:BIO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The medical research company reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.57 by ($0.06). Bio-Rad Laboratories had a return on equity of 3.86% and a net margin of 29.42%.The company had revenue of $693.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $694.64 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.90 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. will post 10.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bio-Rad Laboratories Profile

(Free Report)

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc is a global provider of life science research and clinical diagnostic products. The company operates through two primary business segments: Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics. Within the Life Science segment, Bio-Rad offers instruments, reagents and consumables for protein analysis, cell biology, gene expression and other molecular biology applications. The Clinical Diagnostics segment supplies quality control products, blood-typing reagents and instruments, and molecular diagnostic assays used in blood screening, infectious disease testing and routine clinical laboratories.

Founded in 1952 by David and Alice Schwartz and headquartered in Hercules, California, Bio-Rad has grown its footprint across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and other regions.

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Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its position in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (NYSE:FMS  Free Report) by 8.3% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 816,200 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 62,700 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentuckys holdings in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA were worth $21,491,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Group One Trading LLC acquired a new position in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA during the third quarter worth about $74,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $120,000. AlphaCore Capital LLC lifted its stake in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 446.9% in the 3rd quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 13,912 shares of the companys stock valued at $366,000 after acquiring an additional 11,368 shares in the last quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. acquired a new position in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,769,000. Finally, Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 14,816,852 shares of the companys stock worth $390,128,000 after acquiring an additional 153,870 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.37% of the companys stock.

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Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Stock Performance

Shares of FMS stock opened at $23.36 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $23.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $24.42. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA has a one year low of $20.94 and a one year high of $30.46. The stock has a market cap of $13.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.23, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.92.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA ( NYSE:FMS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $5.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.80 billion. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA had a net margin of 5.03% and a return on equity of 8.73%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA will post 1.51 EPS for the current year.

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on FMS. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a moderate sell rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Erste Group Bank cut shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Truist Financial set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday, December 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $28.00.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA

About Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA

(Free Report)

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co KGaA is the worlds largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases. The companys primary business activities encompass the operation of dialysis clinics and the manufacture and distribution of dialysis equipment, dialysis machines, dialyzers, consumables and related therapies. Through its global network of clinics, Fresenius Medical Care delivers comprehensive kidney care, including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis treatments, patient education and support services.

In its products segment, the company designs and produces dialysis machines, water treatment systems and disposables such as highflux dialyzers and bloodlines.

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Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its stake in shares of Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX  Free Report) by 55.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 124,005 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 44,100 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentuckys holdings in Regal Rexnord were worth $17,788,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in RRX. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Regal Rexnord by 135.1% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 221 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the period. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in Regal Rexnord in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in Regal Rexnord by 85.7% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 195 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Regal Rexnord during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. raised its position in shares of Regal Rexnord by 95.1% in the 3rd quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 199 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.72% of the companys stock.

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Regal Rexnord Stock Performance

Shares of RRX opened at $214.74 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $178.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $155.72. The stock has a market cap of $14.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.13, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 1.10. Regal Rexnord Corporation has a one year low of $90.56 and a one year high of $229.30.

Regal Rexnord Announces Dividend

Regal Rexnord ( NYSE:RRX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.47 by $0.04. Regal Rexnord had a return on equity of 9.60% and a net margin of 4.71%.The firm had revenue of $1.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.54 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.34 earnings per share. Regal Rexnords quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Regal Rexnord Corporation will post 9.95 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. Regal Rexnords payout ratio is 33.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on RRX shares. Zacks Research upgraded Regal Rexnord from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Regal Rexnord from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their target price for the company from $170.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Regal Rexnord in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Citigroup raised their target price on Regal Rexnord from $180.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Regal Rexnord from $165.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $227.50.

Get Our Latest Research Report on RRX

Insider Activity

In other Regal Rexnord news, CEO Louis V. Pinkham sold 36,728 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.52, for a total value of $7,915,618.56. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 83,337 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,960,790.24. This trade represents a 30.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Robert Rehard sold 7,704 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.72, for a total transaction of $1,669,610.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 34,154 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,401,854.88. The trade was a 18.41% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 53,451 shares of company stock worth $11,386,689. Insiders own 0.82% of the companys stock.

About Regal Rexnord

(Free Report)

Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE: RRX) is a global industrial manufacturer specializing in electric motors, power generation equipment and automated motion control systems. The company designs, engineers and produces a broad portfolio of products that includes energy-efficient electric motors, variable frequency drives, gearboxes, couplings, bearings and power transmission components. These offerings support critical applications in industries such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, data centers, water treatment, food and beverage processing, mining, oil and gas, and material handling.

The companys operations are organized into multiple business segments that address distinct customer needs.

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Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lessened its stake in Cadence Bank (NYSE:CADE  Free Report) by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 157,278 shares of the companys stock after selling 14,328 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky owned 0.09% of Cadence Bank worth $5,904,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in Cadence Bank in the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of Cadence Bank in the third quarter valued at about $38,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Cadence Bank in the third quarter valued at about $39,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of Cadence Bank by 24.4% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,442 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 283 shares during the period. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Cadence Bank by 126.1% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 1,341 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 748 shares in the last quarter. 84.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Cadence Bank in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Cadence Bank presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $42.88.

Cadence Bank Stock Performance

CADE opened at $42.14 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $43.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $40.16. Cadence Bank has a 52-week low of $25.22 and a 52-week high of $46.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.68 billion, a PE ratio of 14.94 and a beta of 0.95.

Cadence Bank (NYSE:CADE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.06. Cadence Bank had a return on equity of 10.16% and a net margin of 18.12%.The company had revenue of $528.41 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $525.15 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.70 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Cadence Bank will post 2.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cadence Bank Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 30th were given a $0.3438 dividend. This is a boost from Cadence Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 30th. This represents a $1.38 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Cadence Banks payout ratio is 39.01%.

Cadence Bank Company Profile

(Free Report)

Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) is a regional commercial bank that offers a full suite of financial services to individuals, businesses and government entities. Through its network of branches and digital platforms, the bank provides deposit accounts, treasury management solutions, commercial and industrial lending, equipment finance, residential and consumer mortgages, and wealth management services. Cadence Bank serves a mix of small and mid-size companies as well as retail customers in its core markets.

The institution traces its heritage to Cadence Bancorporation, which was established in 1987 in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Further Reading

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Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky decreased its holdings in shares of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM  Free Report) by 12.7% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 23,033 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 3,361 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentuckys holdings in Martin Marietta Materials were worth $14,517,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp lifted its position in shares of Martin Marietta Materials by 321.8% during the 3rd quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 3,817 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,406,000 after buying an additional 2,912 shares during the period. Atika Capital Management LLC grew its position in Martin Marietta Materials by 30.4% in the second quarter. Atika Capital Management LLC now owns 72,533 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $39,818,000 after acquiring an additional 16,900 shares during the period. National Pension Service grew its position in Martin Marietta Materials by 1.0% in the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 84,820 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $53,460,000 after acquiring an additional 843 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Martin Marietta Materials by 78.5% during the third quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,008 shares of the construction companys stock worth $5,048,000 after acquiring an additional 3,522 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caprock Group LLC acquired a new position in Martin Marietta Materials during the third quarter worth $1,605,000. 95.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Martin Marietta Materials Trading Down 1.3%

Shares of NYSE MLM opened at $656.97 on Wednesday. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. has a 1-year low of $441.95 and a 1-year high of $710.97. The company has a 50-day moving average of $657.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $632.47. The company has a market cap of $39.62 billion, a PE ratio of 34.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 3.57, a quick ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53.

Martin Marietta Materials Announces Dividend

Martin Marietta Materials ( NYSE:MLM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $4.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.81 by ($0.19). Martin Marietta Materials had a net margin of 17.38% and a return on equity of 10.86%. The company had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.66 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.79 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. will post 19.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.83 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Martin Marietta Materialss payout ratio is presently 17.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on MLM. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Martin Marietta Materials from $705.00 to $723.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Martin Marietta Materials from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $706.00 target price on shares of Martin Marietta Materials in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Loop Capital downgraded Martin Marietta Materials from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $690.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Stephens decreased their price target on Martin Marietta Materials from $740.00 to $735.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Martin Marietta Materials presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $697.13.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MLM

Martin Marietta Materials Company Profile

(Free Report)

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc (NYSE: MLM) is a leading producer of aggregates and heavy building materials serving the construction and infrastructure markets. The company operates quarries, sand and gravel pits, and other extraction sites to supply crushed stone, sand and gravel, and a range of valueadded products for use in roads, bridges, commercial and residential construction, and other civil engineering projects.

In addition to its core aggregates business, Martin Marietta manufactures and sells asphalt, readymixed concrete and related materials and services.

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Rescuers search on ruins of a residential complex attacked by an Israeli airstrike in Baalbek, Lebanon, March 4, 2026. In eastern Lebanon, five people were killed and 15 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a residential complex in the city of Baalbek, the state-run National News Agency reported. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, March 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed and 23 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas in Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese official sources.

Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health, said that airstrikes on Aramoun and Saadiyat, south of Beirut, killed six people and wounded eight others, while rescue teams continued to search through the rubble at some of the targeted locations.

In eastern Lebanon, five people were killed and 15 others injured in another Israeli airstrike on a residential complex in the city of Baalbek, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The strikes were part of a series of intense Israeli air raids over the past hours, which also hit Beirut's southern suburbs. 

Rescuers search on ruins of a residential complex attacked by an Israeli airstrike in Baalbek, Lebanon, March 4, 2026. In eastern Lebanon, five people were killed and 15 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a residential complex in the city of Baalbek, the state-run National News Agency reported. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 4, 2026 shows damaged vehicles following an Israeli airstrike on a residential complex in Baalbek, Lebanon. In eastern Lebanon, five people were killed and 15 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a residential complex in the city of Baalbek, the state-run National News Agency reported. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 4, 2026 shows a destroyed residential complex in an Israeli airstrike in Baalbek, Lebanon. In eastern Lebanon, five people were killed and 15 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a residential complex in the city of Baalbek, the state-run National News Agency reported. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 4, 2026 shows debris in an area after Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. At least 11 people were killed and 23 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas in Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese official sources.

Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health, said that airstrikes on Aramoun and Saadiyat, south of Beirut, killed six people and wounded eight others, while rescue teams continued to search through the rubble at some of the targeted locations. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

People carry out search and rescue operations after Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, March 4, 2026. At least 11 people were killed and 23 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas in Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese official sources.

Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health, said that airstrikes on Aramoun and Saadiyat, south of Beirut, killed six people and wounded eight others, while rescue teams continued to search through the rubble at some of the targeted locations. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

People carry out search and rescue operations after Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, March 4, 2026. At least 11 people were killed and 23 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas in Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese official sources.

Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health, said that airstrikes on Aramoun and Saadiyat, south of Beirut, killed six people and wounded eight others, while rescue teams continued to search through the rubble at some of the targeted locations. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)
The Weir Group PLC (LON:WEIR  Get Free Report)s stock price dropped 7.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 3,151.85 and last traded at GBX 3,154. Approximately 3,909,522 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 35% from the average daily volume of 5,997,572 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3,402.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WEIR. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a GBX 3,175 price objective on shares of The Weir Group in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of The Weir Group from GBX 3,300 to GBX 3,450 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Shore Capital Group reiterated a hold rating and set a GBX 2,750 price target on shares of The Weir Group in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Peel Hunt restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 3,000 price objective on shares of The Weir Group in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on The Weir Group from GBX 3,300 to GBX 3,700 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 3,243.57.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WEIR

The Weir Group Trading Down 8.7%

About The Weir Group

The stocks 50-day simple moving average is GBX 3,209.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 2,909. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 93.16, a current ratio of 2.09 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market capitalization of 8.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.04.

(Get Free Report)

The Weir Group PLC produces and sells highly engineered original equipment worldwide. It operates in two segments, Minerals and ESCO. The Minerals segment offers engineering, manufacturing, and service processing technology for the use in abrasive high-wear mining applications; and differentiated technology for the use in infrastructure and general industrial markets. The ESCO segment provides ground engaging tools for large mining machines. This segment also offers cloud-based Artificial Intelligence solutions to the mining industry; manufactures and distributes highly engineered wear parts; and offers aftermarket services to the mining industry.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management lessened its holdings in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank (The) (NYSE:TD  Free Report) (TSE:TD) by 10.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,252,129 shares of the banks stock after selling 399,067 shares during the quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank comprises 2.3% of Picton Mahoney Asset Managements investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest position. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in Toronto Dominion Bank were worth $259,988,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in Toronto Dominion Bank in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Sachetta LLC purchased a new position in Toronto Dominion Bank in the third quarter worth $33,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Toronto Dominion Bank in the second quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Tobam raised its position in Toronto Dominion Bank by 44.5% during the second quarter. Tobam now owns 490 shares of the banks stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. 52.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut Toronto Dominion Bank from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. National Bank Financial raised Toronto Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Toronto Dominion Bank in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $93.00.

Toronto Dominion Bank Stock Performance

Shares of TD stock opened at $97.67 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $163.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.79, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.66. Toronto Dominion Bank has a fifty-two week low of $54.87 and a fifty-two week high of $99.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.05. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $95.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $86.05.

Toronto Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Free Report) (TSE:TD) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The bank reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.13. Toronto Dominion Bank had a net margin of 17.52% and a return on equity of 14.29%. The company had revenue of $11.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.43 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.02 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Toronto Dominion Bank will post 5.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Toronto Dominion Bank Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a $1.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $4.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.4%. Toronto Dominion Banks payout ratio is presently 34.81%.

About Toronto Dominion Bank

(Free Report)

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Formed through the 1955 merger of the Bank of Toronto (founded 1855) and the Dominion Bank (founded 1869), TD is one of Canadas largest banks and offers a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial and institutional clients.

TDs core businesses include Canadian and U.S. personal and commercial banking, wealth management, wholesale banking and insurance.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Toronto Dominion Bank (The) (NYSE:TD  Free Report) (TSE:TD).

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Booking, Travelers Companies, and Expedia Group are the three Travel stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Travel stocks are shares of companies whose primary business depends on people traveling  for example airlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, car rental companies, airports, and online travel agencies. Investors use the term to describe a sector sensitive to consumer travel demand, seasonality, fuel and labor costs, and geopolitical or health events. These stocks often show cyclical performance tied to economic conditions and trends in leisure and business travel. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Travel stocks within the last several days.

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Booking (BKNG)

Booking Holdings Inc, formerly The Priceline Group Inc., is a provider of travel and restaurant online reservation and related services. The Company, through its online travel companies (OTCs), connects consumers wishing to make travel reservations with providers of travel services across the world. It offers consumers an array of accommodation reservations (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, vacation rentals and other properties) through its Booking.com, priceline.com and agoda.com brands.

Travelers Companies (TRV)

The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TRV

Expedia Group (EXPE)

Expedia Group, Inc. operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through B2C, B2B, and trivago segments. Its B2C segment includes Brand Expedia, a full-service online travel brand offers various travel products and services; Hotels.com for lodging accommodations; Vrbo, an online marketplace for the alternative accommodations; Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif Group, ebookers, CheapTickets, Hotwire.com and CarRentals.com.

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Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (NYSE:NCDL  Get Free Report) had its target price reduced by equities researchers at Truist Financial from $18.00 to $16.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a buy rating on the stock. Truist Financials price objective indicates a potential upside of 20.75% from the stocks current price.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on NCDL. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from $15.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Zacks Research upgraded Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from $16.00 to $15.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $15.40.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on NCDL

Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Price Performance

Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending stock traded up $0.25 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $13.25. 69,747 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 274,505. The stocks fifty day moving average is $13.57 and its 200-day moving average is $14.27. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending has a 12 month low of $12.54 and a 12 month high of $17.59. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 1.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The stock has a market cap of $654.42 million, a P/E ratio of 10.11 and a beta of 0.44.

Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (NYSE:NCDL  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.01. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending had a return on equity of 10.48% and a net margin of 31.57%.The firm had revenue of $26.36 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $49.60 million. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending will post 2.28 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 190.2% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,400 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,573 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending in the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 33.0% in the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 4,511 shares of the companys stock valued at $73,000 after acquiring an additional 1,118 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending during the 3rd quarter worth $80,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending during the third quarter worth about $85,000.

About Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending

(Get Free Report)

Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (NYSE:NCDL) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns through a diversified portfolio of direct lending instruments. Established in early 2022, NCDL focuses on privately negotiated debt investments in middle-market companies, primarily within the United States. The fund offers investors access to a segment of the credit markets that has historically been less correlated with public debt markets, aiming to capture yield premiums associated with private lending.

The funds investment strategy centers on senior secured loans, unitranche financings and selectively structured mezzanine debt.

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US Bancorp DE raised its position in shares of Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF (NYSEARCA:CGDG  Free Report) by 22.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 92,701 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 17,170 shares during the period. US Bancorp DEs holdings in Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF were worth $3,212,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Trust Co. of Vermont purchased a new stake in shares of Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC purchased a new stake in Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF by 65.2% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,167 shares of the companys stock worth $144,000 after buying an additional 1,645 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $195,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP raised its holdings in shares of Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF by 295.5% during the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 5,854 shares of the companys stock valued at $197,000 after acquiring an additional 4,374 shares in the last quarter.

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Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF Trading Down 1.9%

Shares of NYSEARCA CGDG opened at $36.90 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $36.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $35.54. Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF has a 12 month low of $27.62 and a 12 month high of $38.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.45 billion, a PE ratio of 20.18 and a beta of 0.56.

Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF Increases Dividend

Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th were issued a $0.1841 dividend. This represents a $0.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. This is a positive change from Capital Group Dividend Growers ETFs previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th.

(Free Report)

The Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF (CGDG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund actively selects dividend-paying companies globally that are attractively valued and believed to provide dividend growth. It employs a multi-manager approach to portfolio management. CGDG was launched on Sep 26, 2023 and is issued by Capital Group.

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Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Ouster, Inc. (NYSE:OUST  Free Report) by 11.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,720,264 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 478,372 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 8.16% of Ouster worth $127,683,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ouster by 610.1% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 296,311 shares of the companys stock worth $2,661,000 after buying an additional 254,580 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in Ouster by 7.7% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 28,344 shares of the companys stock worth $255,000 after purchasing an additional 2,037 shares in the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Ouster by 153.3% in the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,211 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 733 shares in the last quarter. Black Swift Group LLC acquired a new stake in Ouster in the 2nd quarter valued at about $485,000. Finally, North Capital Inc. raised its stake in shares of Ouster by 102.7% in the second quarter. North Capital Inc. now owns 3,000 shares of the companys stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 1,520 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.45% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently weighed in on OUST. Rosenblatt Securities restated a buy rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of Ouster in a research report on Tuesday. Northland Securities set a $38.00 price target on Ouster in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Westpark Capital restated a buy rating and set a $50.00 target price on shares of Ouster in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and set a $40.00 price target on shares of Ouster in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald set a $33.00 price objective on shares of Ouster in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ouster has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $36.17.

Ouster Price Performance

Ouster stock opened at $21.72 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.45 and a beta of 2.91. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $22.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $25.85. Ouster, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $6.34 and a fifty-two week high of $41.65.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ouster

In related news, Director Ted L. Tewksbury III sold 1,695 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.47, for a total value of $36,391.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 123,664 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,655,066.08. The trade was a 1.35% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Megan Chung sold 5,837 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.24, for a total transaction of $158,999.88. Following the sale, the general counsel owned 183,141 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,988,760.84. The trade was a 3.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 6.63% of the companys stock.

Ouster Profile

(Free Report)

Ouster, Inc is a leading provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors, software and services designed to enable advanced perception capabilities across a range of industries. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company develops modular lidar solutions that capture precise three-dimensional data in real time, supporting applications from autonomous vehicles and robotics to mapping, smart infrastructure and industrial automation.

The companys core product lineup features multi-beam digital lidar units available in various form factors, including compact models for robotics and drones and larger units for automotive and mapping systems.

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Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be paid a dividend of 0.018 per share on Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. This is a 5.9% increase from Venture Globals previous quarterly dividend of $0.02.

Venture Global Stock Performance

Shares of Venture Global stock traded down $0.71 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $10.75. 18,622,486 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,144,010. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.50 and a beta of 5.70. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $8.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.67. Venture Global has a 52-week low of $5.72 and a 52-week high of $19.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.46, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.83.

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Venture Global (NYSE:VG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $4.45 billion for the quarter. Venture Global had a net margin of 18.38% and a return on equity of 29.17%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 191.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Venture Global will post 0.52 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VG has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Venture Global from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and raised their target price for the stock from $10.00 to $11.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Scotiabank set a $9.00 price objective on shares of Venture Global in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $11.00 target price on shares of Venture Global in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. US Capital Advisors upgraded shares of Venture Global to a moderate sell rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d+) rating on shares of Venture Global in a report on Monday, December 29th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Venture Global currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $12.91.

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Venture Global Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Venture Global (NYSE: VG) is a Houston-based energy company that develops, constructs and operates large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the United States. The company focuses on converting domestically produced natural gas into LNG for shipment to international markets, positioning itself as a supplier of pipeline-quality gas in vessel-ready form for global customers.

Venture Globals core activities include site development, engineering and construction of liquefaction and export terminals, commissioning and ongoing operations of those facilities, and commercial marketing of LNG under both long-term and short-term contracts.

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Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 148,344,833 shares, a growth of 34.8% from the January 29th total of 110,059,370 shares. Currently, 3.5% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 44,617,715 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.3 days. Based on an average daily volume of 44,617,715 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.3 days. Currently, 3.5% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have commented on VZ. Evercore upped their price target on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Monday, January 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Scotiabank boosted their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.25 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.02.

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Insider Buying and Selling

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

In other news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total value of $429,905.52. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 44,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,976,739.60. This represents a 17.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total transaction of $9,922,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 145,069 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,196,873.09. The trade was a 57.96% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure . In the last 90 days, insiders sold 218,148 shares of company stock valued at $10,780,356. Insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock.

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 61.2% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 43,986 shares of the cell phone carriers stock worth $1,759,000 after acquiring an additional 16,704 shares in the last quarter. United Bank boosted its position in Verizon Communications by 11.5% during the second quarter. United Bank now owns 7,843 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $339,000 after purchasing an additional 806 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in Verizon Communications by 141.6% in the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 36,139 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $1,564,000 after purchasing an additional 21,180 shares in the last quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd increased its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd now owns 126,700 shares of the cell phone carriers stock worth $5,462,000 after purchasing an additional 5,227 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trail Ridge Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 12.1% during the 2nd quarter. Trail Ridge Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,703 shares of the cell phone carriers stock worth $372,000 after purchasing an additional 941 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the companys stock.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VZ traded up $0.20 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $51.07. 14,534,946 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 34,294,871. Verizon Communications has a 12 month low of $38.39 and a 12 month high of $51.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.91. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $43.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.45. The firm has a market cap of $215.40 billion, a PE ratio of 12.61, a PEG ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 0.31.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $36.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $36.20 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.43% and a return on equity of 19.03%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.10 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be paid a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.5%. This is a boost from Verizon Communicationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. Verizon Communicationss dividend payout ratio is 68.15%.

About Verizon Communications

(Get Free Report)

Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and information services. Its operations span consumer and business markets, with core offerings that include wireless voice and data services, fixed-line broadband and fiber-optic services, and enterprise networking solutions. Verizon is headquartered in New York City and operates a nationwide wireless network that supports consumer subscribers as well as business and government customers.

The companys consumer products include mobile phone plans, unlimited data services, and Fios, its branded fiber-optic internet, television and voice service for homes and small businesses.

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Victory Capital Management Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 19.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 900,518 shares of the companys stock after selling 219,123 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $146,064,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Philip Morris International by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 143,468,448 shares of the companys stock worth $23,270,582,000 after acquiring an additional 611,393 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.6% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 55,831,655 shares of the companys stock worth $10,243,429,000 after purchasing an additional 871,165 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.8% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,181,107 shares of the companys stock worth $6,760,346,000 after purchasing an additional 672,983 shares during the last quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co grew its position in Philip Morris International by 7.9% in the second quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 10,676,908 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,944,585,000 after purchasing an additional 782,536 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 7.2% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 7,534,710 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,372,297,000 after buying an additional 508,394 shares during the last quarter. 78.63% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $205.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Wall Street Zen lowered Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Philip Morris International from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Needham & Company LLC raised their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $190.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $196.83.

Insider Activity

In other Philip Morris International news, CEO Jacek Olczak sold 80,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.18, for a total transaction of $14,574,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 632,344 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $115,200,429.92. The trade was a 11.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Emmanuel Babeau sold 33,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $181.61, for a total transaction of $6,138,418.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 164,463 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,868,125.43. The trade was a 17.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

Shares of PM opened at $177.90 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $174.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $163.94. The firm has a market cap of $276.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 0.38. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $142.11 and a 52 week high of $191.30.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 6th. The company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.70. The firm had revenue of $10.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.40 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 130.95% and a net margin of 12.09%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.55 EPS. Philip Morris International has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.800-1.850 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 8.380-8.530 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th were paid a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 80.88%.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE: PM) is a global tobacco company that manufactures and sells cigarettes, other nicotine-containing products and a growing portfolio of smoke-free alternatives for adult smokers. The firm traces its corporate roots to the 19th century Philip Morris enterprise and was established as an independent, publicly traded company following a 2008 separation from what is now Altria. Since the spin-off, the company has focused on serving international markets outside the United States.

PMIs product mix includes traditional combustible cigarettes as well as smoke-free offerings such as heated tobacco systems and other reduced-risk products.

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Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ  Free Report) by 16.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,177,088 shares of the cell phone carriers stock after buying an additional 726,712 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $227,533,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CI Investments Inc. increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 7.7% in the third quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 94,735 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $4,164,000 after acquiring an additional 6,787 shares during the period. Blueprint Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in Verizon Communications during the third quarter worth about $1,043,000. Accuvest Global Advisors boosted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 8.1% during the third quarter. Accuvest Global Advisors now owns 8,102 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $356,000 after purchasing an additional 609 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 32.0% in the 3rd quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 135,091 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $5,705,000 after purchasing an additional 32,752 shares during the period. Finally, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 19.0% in the 3rd quarter. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 397,637 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $17,476,000 after purchasing an additional 63,376 shares during the period. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Verizon Communications Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:VZ opened at $50.86 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $43.75 and a 200-day moving average of $42.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.91. Verizon Communications Inc. has a twelve month low of $38.39 and a twelve month high of $51.10. The firm has a market cap of $214.51 billion, a PE ratio of 12.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 0.31.

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

Verizon Communications ( NYSE:VZ Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.43% and a return on equity of 19.03%. The firm had revenue of $36.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $36.20 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.10 EPS. The companys revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be given a $0.7075 dividend. This is a boost from Verizon Communicationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.6%. Verizon Communicationss dividend payout ratio is presently 68.15%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Verizon Communications news, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $428,450.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 43,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,189,100. This trade represents a 16.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total value of $9,922,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 145,069 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,196,873.09. This trade represents a 57.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 218,148 shares of company stock valued at $10,780,356. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VZ has been the subject of several analyst reports. Evercore raised their target price on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Verizon Communications from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.25 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $41.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.02.

Read Our Latest Research Report on VZ

Verizon Communications Profile

(Free Report)

Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and information services. Its operations span consumer and business markets, with core offerings that include wireless voice and data services, fixed-line broadband and fiber-optic services, and enterprise networking solutions. Verizon is headquartered in New York City and operates a nationwide wireless network that supports consumer subscribers as well as business and government customers.

The companys consumer products include mobile phone plans, unlimited data services, and Fios, its branded fiber-optic internet, television and voice service for homes and small businesses.

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Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over a preparatory meeting for the fourth session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) gathered in Beijing on Wednesday at a preparatory meeting to elect the presidium and set the agenda for the fourth session of the 14th NPC, scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the preparatory meeting.

All the preparatory work for the annual session has been completed, Zhao said.

A 167-member presidium was elected, with Li Hongzhong as secretary-general of the NPC session.

The preparatory meeting also adopted the agenda of the upcoming session:

-- Deliberate on the report on the work of the government;

-- Examine the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development;

-- Examine the report on the implementation of the 2025 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2026 draft plan, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2026;

-- Examine the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2025 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2026, and the draft central and local budgets for 2026;

-- Deliberate on the bill put forward by the NPC Standing Committee on reviewing the draft environmental code;

-- Deliberate on the bill put forward by the NPC Standing Committee on reviewing the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress;

-- Deliberate on the bill put forward by the NPC Standing Committee on reviewing the draft law on national development planning;

-- Deliberate on the work report of the NPC Standing Committee;

-- Deliberate on the work report of the Supreme People's Court;

-- Deliberate on the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate;

-- Deliberate on the report of the NPC Standing Committee on the work of the overhaul of laws and the proposed handling of certain laws and decisions.

The presidium of the session met shortly after the preparatory meeting concluded. Attendees to the presidium meeting decided on the schedule of the NPC session, among other matters. The NPC will be in session from March 5 to 12 this year.

Prior to the preparatory meeting, the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee met for the meeting's preparation.

The presidium meeting and the Council of Chairpersons meeting were both presided over by Zhao. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the first meeting of the presidium of the fourth session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the 64th meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
William Blair Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Buenaventura Mining Company Inc. (NYSE:BVN  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 349,743 shares of the mining companys stock, valued at approximately $8,509,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Buenaventura Mining in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Headlands Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Buenaventura Mining by 60.9% in the second quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 3,761 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 1,424 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Buenaventura Mining by 24.9% in the second quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,210 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $135,000 after purchasing an additional 1,637 shares in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Buenaventura Mining during the second quarter worth $166,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Buenaventura Mining by 18.8% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 8,111 shares of the mining companys stock worth $197,000 after buying an additional 1,283 shares in the last quarter.

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Buenaventura Mining Trading Down 9.6%

BVN stock opened at $38.69 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $35.48 and a 200 day moving average price of $27.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 2.27 and a quick ratio of 2.05. Buenaventura Mining Company Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $12.56 and a fifty-two week high of $44.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 0.26.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Buenaventura Mining ( NYSE:BVN Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The mining company reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $1.03. Buenaventura Mining had a return on equity of 21.09% and a net margin of 45.17%.The company had revenue of $623.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $451.60 million. Analysts expect that Buenaventura Mining Company Inc. will post 1.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BVN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Zacks Research raised shares of Buenaventura Mining from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Buenaventura Mining in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Buenaventura Mining from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday. Finally, Scotiabank raised their target price on Buenaventura Mining from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $44.00.

View Our Latest Research Report on Buenaventura Mining

About Buenaventura Mining

(Free Report)

Compania de Minas Buenaventura SAA. (NYSE: BVN) is one of Perus leading precious metals producers, primarily engaged in the exploration, development and operation of gold, silver and base metal mines. Headquartered in Lima, the companys core activities cover the entire mining cycle from concession acquisition and project evaluation to extraction, milling and metal refining. Buenaventura also holds interests in smelting, refining and trading services, enabling it to market its products both domestically and internationally.

The companys principal assets include several operating mines in Peru such as Uchucchacua (silver-lead-zinc), Orcopampa (gold-silver) and the Tambomayo gold mine.

Further Reading

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US Bancorp DE lifted its position in Woori Bank (NYSE:WF  Free Report) by 20.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 49,906 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 8,596 shares during the period. US Bancorp DEs holdings in Woori Bank were worth $2,802,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Woori Bank by 50.7% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 20,163 shares of the banks stock worth $673,000 after purchasing an additional 6,782 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in Woori Bank by 67.5% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 52,170 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,741,000 after buying an additional 21,016 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Woori Bank by 8.6% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,143 shares of the banks stock worth $405,000 after acquiring an additional 643 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in Woori Bank by 7,366.7% during the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 1,568 shares of the banks stock worth $78,000 after acquiring an additional 1,547 shares during the period. Finally, Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Woori Bank by 1,593.5% in the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 17,172 shares of the banks stock valued at $854,000 after purchasing an additional 16,158 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.41% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on WF shares. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Woori Bank from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Woori Bank in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Woori Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has issued a Buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Strong Buy.

Woori Bank Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WF opened at $70.80 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $66.58 and its 200-day simple moving average is $59.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.13. Woori Bank has a 52 week low of $29.44 and a 52 week high of $84.71. The firm has a market cap of $17.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.10.

Woori Bank Company Profile

(Free Report)

Woori Bank Co, Ltd. (NYSE: WF) is a South Korean commercial bank and the principal banking unit of Woori Financial Group. Established in 2001 through the merger of Hanvit Bank and Peace Bank, the institution traces its roots to earlier banking entities that date back to the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. Headquartered in Seoul, Woori Bank operates under a universal banking model, serving both individual customers and corporate clients with a comprehensive suite of financial products and services.

The banks core operations encompass retail banking, corporate and investment banking, treasury services, and wealth management.

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Xponance Inc. boosted its stake in shares of APi Group Corporation (NYSE:APG  Free Report) by 53.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 43,649 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 15,122 shares during the quarter. Xponance Inc.s holdings in APi Group were worth $1,500,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of APi Group by 49.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 35,138,767 shares of the companys stock worth $1,207,719,000 after acquiring an additional 11,644,990 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its position in APi Group by 83.2% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,150,845 shares of the companys stock worth $365,051,000 after purchasing an additional 3,247,126 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of APi Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $154,149,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of APi Group by 72.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 4,960,278 shares of the companys stock valued at $170,485,000 after buying an additional 2,077,705 shares during the period. Finally, Durable Capital Partners LP boosted its stake in shares of APi Group by 19.2% in the second quarter. Durable Capital Partners LP now owns 10,623,568 shares of the companys stock valued at $542,333,000 after buying an additional 1,712,397 shares in the last quarter. 86.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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APi Group Trading Down 3.0%

Shares of APG stock opened at $43.26 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $18.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -57.17, a PEG ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $42.43 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.42. APi Group Corporation has a twelve month low of $20.50 and a twelve month high of $46.89.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

APi Group ( NYSE:APG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.09 billion. APi Group had a net margin of 3.70% and a return on equity of 37.92%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.51 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that APi Group Corporation will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on APG shares. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on APi Group from $45.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of APi Group from $44.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. CJS Securities upgraded shares of APi Group to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of APi Group from $49.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of APi Group in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $48.57.

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Insider Buying and Selling at APi Group

In related news, Director Anthony E. Malkin bought 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $39.58 per share, with a total value of $118,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 7,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $277,060. The trade was a 75.00% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Louis Lambert sold 22,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.71, for a total transaction of $983,620.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 16,148 shares of the companys stock, valued at $721,977.08. This trade represents a 57.67% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 17.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About APi Group

(Free Report)

APi Group Corp. is a global specialty contractor that provides fire protection, security, mechanical insulation and energy services to commercial, industrial and institutional clients. Headquartered in New Brighton, Minnesota, the company designs, installs, inspects, tests, maintains and repairs a wide range of safety and infrastructure systems. Through its network of operating subsidiaries, APi Group delivers end-to-end solutions for new construction, facility renovations and ongoing maintenance requirements.

Its service portfolio spans life safety and industrial servicessuch as fire suppression systems, fire alarms and emergency lightingand specialized offerings including technical insulation, access solutions, passive fire protection and energy efficiency upgrades.

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CAIRO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Syria held separate phone consultations Wednesday to warn against expanding ongoing regional tensions in the wake of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced.

Expressing deep concern over the serious military escalation, the ministers agreed that expanding the conflicts in the region constitutes a direct threat to international security and peace, the ministry said in a statement.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated Cairo's full support for the Arab states during his calls with his counterparts, firmly rejecting any attacks targeting their territories.

Abdelatty emphasized that Arab national security is inseparable and rejected any pretexts to justify such attacks or to undermine the sovereignty of these states.

The ministers agreed to continue close consultation and coordination in the coming period, intensify deliberations on future regional arrangements, and emphasize the necessity of a unified Arab voice to protect Arab interests and resources while safeguarding regional security and stability.

The diplomatic outreach follows large-scale U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran starting Saturday morning, and subsequent Iranian counterstrikes targeting Israeli and U.S. assets in the region. 
WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to "cut off all trade with Spain" for Spain's refusal to allow the U.S. military to use its base for attacks on Iran, while saying he is not happy with Britain either.

"We're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain," Trump told reporters at the beginning of his talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office.

"By the way I'm not happy with the UK either," Trump said. "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament on Monday that Britain is not joining the U.S.-Israeli "offensive strikes" on Iran.

Merz is the first foreign leader to meet Trump in person since the U.S. administration launched large-scale airstrikes against Iran on Saturday morning. The two leaders said the Iran operation will be a major topic during their closed-door meeting. 
WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday lashed out at President Donald Trump's "unconstitutional" war on Iran, urging Republicans to "grow a spine" and vote with Democrats to rein in the president's war powers ahead of an expected war powers vote in the Senate.

"It's been four days since the Trump administration launched the U.S. into a war most Americans oppose, and his administration can't explain the reasons we did it. I left the intelligence briefing more concerned than reassured," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters at a press briefing on the Capitol Hill.

"The rationales change by the hour, regime change, nuclear weapons, missiles, defense, preemptive, which is it? When the justification keeps shifting, a strategy is missing. There is no strategy," said Schumer.

Senator Patty Murray, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who also attended the press briefing, said that "Donald Trump started an unconstitutional war that no one asked for."

"Congress should end this war now. Republicans should grow a spine and vote with Democrats in support of the War Powers resolution," Murray said.

The War Powers Act is a 1973 U.S. federal law designed to limit the president's ability to commit U.S. forces to armed conflicts without Congressional approval.

The law restricts military action without congressional approval to a narrow circumstance: "a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces."

While the law gives Congress a fast track to curb the president's war powers through a joint resolution, it remains unclear whether such a resolution concerning Iran could garner enough support to clear both chambers, considering that most Republicans support the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The Senate is expected to vote on the war powers resolution as soon as Wednesday.

Senate Democrats also argued that the Trump administration's priorities are misplaced, spending large amounts of money on foreign wars while failing to address urgent domestic issues such as soaring health care and grocery prices.

"Haven't we learned anything from 25 years in the wars in the Middle East? More than 14,000 U.S. troops and contractors killed, more than 65,000 troops and contractors injured, hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths, 8.2 trillion dollars that could have been spent here at home, spent in wars in the Middle East," said Veteran Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who also participated in the press briefing.

"When you use your money to wage war, you take money away from other priorities," said Kaine. "When you wage a war that raises energy prices that are already too high, you're hitting people who are dealing with health care costs up, housing up, food up, groceries up, energy costs up."

Meanwhile, Senate Republican leaders continued to defend the president's decision.

"I think the president was perfectly within his rights to take the steps that he took. I think it was a necessary step in order to protect American lives," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters at a separate press conference on Capitol Hill. 
Tonight, State Representative Trent Ashby (RLufkin) was elected as the Republican nominee to serve as the next State Senator for Senate District 3. Rep. Ashby issued the following statement:

It is the honor of a lifetime to have earned the trust of Republican voters across East and Southeast Texas to serve as your next State Senator.

From the outset, this campaign has been grounded by the communities, values, and people who make this region such a special place to call home. We focused on the issues that matter most to the families of East and Southeast Texas  protecting our communities, growing our economy, defending our conservative values, and delivering real results for the people of this region.

The voters of Senate District 3 sent a clear message tonight: they chose leadership over negativity, results over rhetoric, and a positive vision for the future of East and Southeast Texas.

I want to thank my wife and family for their constant support, our campaign team and volunteers for their tireless work, and the many supporters across this district who believed in our message and helped carry it to communities throughout Senate District 3.

Most importantly, I want to thank the Republican voters who participated in this primary. Whether you supported me or another candidate, please know that I will work every day to represent this district with honesty, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility to the people I serve.

East and Southeast Texas is a place where our values run deep, and where our communities expect their elected leaders to lead with integrity and put the people first. As your next State Senator, you have my commitment that I will work tirelessly on your behalf to ensure our region always has a strong voice in Austin.

I look forward to getting to work and continuing to fight for East and Southeast Texas.
VIENNA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- No damage has been found to facilities containing nuclear material in Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday, based on the analysis of latest available satellite imagery.

The imagery therefore indicated no radiological release risk at the time, said the IAEA in a social media post.

Near the Isfahan nuclear site, damage can be seen at two buildings. At the Natanz site, no additional impact was detected after the previously reported damage at its entrances, while there was no impact at other nuclear sites, including Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

"IAEA remains in constant contact with national nuclear safety regulators in the Middle East. So far, no elevation of radiation detected," the IAEA said, adding that the nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates and research reactors in Jordan and Syria continue to operate normally.

In the social media post, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stressed the "paramount importance" of maintaining regional nuclear safety and security during the military conflict.

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched "major combat operations" against Iran. On Tuesday, the IAEA said that some recent damage has been confirmed to Iran's Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant. 
BEIRUT, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli military vehicles advanced along the border strip in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, constructing earthen berms and carving field roads up to 2 km inside Lebanese territory, as a UN agency reported that 7 children were killed in a single day amid intensifying hostilities.

Security authorities monitoring the field situation in the border region confirmed to Xinhua that the Israeli movements, which began earlier this week, extended along nearly 80 km, from the Naqoura axis in the west to the Kfarchouba Heights in the east, penetrating 1 to 2 km inside Lebanese territory.

Residents in border villages have fled. Witnesses described Israeli troops advancing under heavy gunfire in the border village of Kfarchouba, building barriers and digging armored vehicle positions.

Lebanese military and security sources said that the army has conducted a "tactical redeployment" from about 55 forward posts established over the past two months. The move aims to protect personnel and reduce risks amid intensifying Israeli attacks, sources said.

In a related escalation, Hezbollah claimed it struck an Israeli armored personnel carrier in the southern Lebanese village of Houla on Wednesday afternoon.

The attack follows Hezbollah's launch of rockets toward Israel at dawn on Monday, the first such strike since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. In response, Israel launched what it called an "offensive military campaign" against the group, conducting intense airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and areas in southern and eastern Lebanon.

According to figures from Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health cited by the UN Children's Fund on Wednesday, 7 children were killed and 38 others injured within 24 hours.

The high number of child casualties coincides with renewed airstrikes across multiple areas of Lebanon, which have triggered large-scale displacement and worsened an already fragile humanitarian situation, the UN agency said.

It reported that nearly 60,000 people, including about 18,000 children, were newly displaced over the past 24 hours, adding to tens of thousands already forced from their homes. More than 12,000 families have taken shelter in over 300 facilities opened nationwide, with dozens of shelters already operating at full capacity. 


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The war in the Middle East involving Iran and Israel-US has cast its shadow on the export of perishable commodities like onions, sugar and fruits.

Nearly 150 containers of onions produced in Nashik and other parts of Maharashtra have been stranded at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) due to the ongoing war. The destination of these containers was mainly the Gulf cities, including Dubai. Approximately 4,500 tonnes of onions are inside these 150 stranded containers.

The Dubai market, a major hub for indian onion exports to the Middle East nations, has shut down due to the conflict. This has forced shipping lines to suspend movement.

This will certainly affect farmers as the onion rates will fall when ideally they should have fetched a good price as Ramadan month is going on. Bharat Dighole, president of the onion producer farmers organisation in Maharashtra, has demanded immediate subsidy of Rs 1,500 per quintal, waiving of port charges and a temporary procurement scheme till exports resume in order to protect the farmers.

The conflict has also affected sugar exports of India to the Gulf region, but this will ensure that there is more sugar available in India. Shipments of fruits like grapes and mangoes have also been stopped. Horticultural products are highly perishable, thus causing great concern to farmers and exporters too.

Nearly three hundred containers of grapessome 3,900 tonneshad been loaded into ships for export to the Middle East. Now this shipment will have to be offloaded and returned to local markets. Maruti Chavan, vice president of Maharashtras grape growers association, told regional media that the war will affect nearly 6,000 tonnes of grapes as these grapes will now have to be sold at local market rates.

According to reports, in the case of sugar, India had exported $405 million worth of sugar to countries in the Middle East last year, which could be affected due to war this year.
KABUL, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health has signed a 9,679,522 U.S. dollars agreement with Marie Stopes International Afghanistan (MSIA) to bolster and expand healthcare services in 19 provinces, the ministry said in a statement late Tuesday.

The five-year pact is projected to deliver primary and specialized medical care to around 600,000 residents in those provinces.

Ministry officials highlighted that the initiative seeks to improve the quality of healthcare provision, increase public access to essential services, and tackle key public health issues.

The project is also anticipated to create job opportunities in various health sectors. 
Iran's Tasnim:



Launch of the new-generation Kheibar Shekan missiles with multiple warheads in the 20th wave of attacks on Israel. pic.twitter.com/zEqYT6RUWH  SilencedSirs (@SilentlySirs) June 22, 2025

During last year's 'Twelve-Day War', Iran used its homegrown Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles to target Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and military command centres, among other targets. According to reports, it was the first time that Tehran had used this secret weapon, which is said to be the most advanced in its arsenal, against its foes.

ALSO READ | The LUCAS poetic justice: US uses Iran's own 'Shahed' drone tech in combat against Tehran

The Kheibar Shekan (sometimes spelled Khyber Shakan) missile is once again in the news as Iran remains unrelenting against Israel and the United States in the ongoing conflict, launching a barrage of projectiles against targets across the Middle East. The Kheibar is said to have been used in some of these attacks already, causing a headache for the time-tested air defence systems of both Israel and the US. Earlier, IRGC engineers had reportedly claimed that Kheibars can be made launch-ready in under 15 minutes. Here is a closer look at the Islamic Republic's feared missile.

How lethal are Kheibar Shekan missiles?

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

A third-generation IRGC missile unveiled in 2022, its name is composed of two words: "Kheibar" refers to a Jewish fort near Medina which was conquered by Muhammad in 628 AD, while "Shekan" means "destroyer" or "breaker". Consequently, the weapons very name is intended as a warning to Israel.

ALSO READ | Is the US testing nuclear weapons in Nevadas Area 52 amid conflict with Iran? Here is what we know

The Kheibar Shekan is said to have a range of 1,450 kilometreswhich effectively makes it a medium-range ballistic missileand can reportedly be launched from even commercial vehicles. IRGC scientists designed it in such a manner that the Kheibar is tougher to monitor or intercept. They come with no ailerons (movable control surfaces typically located on the trailing edges of a missile's fins), which reportedly reduces the area of friction and increases its speed and accuracy.

"The first thing that stands out about this missile is the relatively larger dimensions of the warhead's movable wings. This increase in wing dimensions increases the manoeuvrability of the warhead after entering the atmosphere and allows for more complex and faster manoeuvres to effectively bypass the barrier of anti-missile defences in the atmosphere, which is the specific task of defence systems such as the Israeli regime's David's Sling and the United States' Patriot," the Persian Alalam portal had said.

These missiles are considerably smaller compared to most of their counterparts, which makes storing them in underground facilities easier.
The skies of Tehran reportedly witnessed an Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter jet shooting down an Iranian jet on Wednesday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. It was a Russian-made Yak-130 jet that the Islamic Republic lost in the aerial combat, Israeli media reports said. THE WEEK, however, could not independently verify this claim.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

The incident is the first instance of a manned aircraft being downed by an F-35, which entered service in 2015. If true, it is also the first air-to-air combat manned aircraft kill for the Israeli Air Force in about four decades, the report added. According to the Times of Israel, the last time IAF jets shot down a manned enemy aircraft was on 24 November 1985 over Lebanon, when its F-15s managed to take out two Syrian MiG-23 fighters. Interestingly, Israel in May 2018 had become the first country in the world to use the F-35 in a combat mission when they were used to strike targets in Syria.

ALSO READ | F-35 deal: Fighter jets to be sold to Saudi Arabia will have few items missing

The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft that is being marketed as a potential light attack aircraft.

"An IAF F-35I Adir fighter jet shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter jet. This is the first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 Adir fighter jet," the official confirmation by IDF read.

F-35I fighter jets

The F-35A is the US Air Forces fifth-generation multirole fighter jet, known for its stealth capabilities. The Israeli Air Force is among the 12 wings operating the F-35 across the global fleet. They are designed to operate from aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and bases with limited runway length. According to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, there are almost 1,300 aircraft in service, and it will remain an indispensable contributor to global security for decades to come. While the US has the most capable and advanced version, every other nation it sells the fighter jet receives a lesser fighter.

ALSO READ | Why does the world's 'most lethal, survivable' fighter jet F-35B continue to be grounded in Kerala airport?

The aircrafts capabilities include low-observable stealth, advanced sensors, networking and data fusion capabilities, and a helmet-mounted sight. Its weapons include the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile, GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) guided bombs, laser-guided bombs, and an internal 25 mm GAU-22/A cannon. The weapon payload is 8,160 kg.

According to available information, the Israeli Air Force operates a fleet of 48 F-35I "Adir" fighter jets. The IAF declared its F-35 fleet "operational" on 6 December 2017, a year after receiving its first two aircraft from the United States.
If reports are to be believed, the defence procurement board (DPB) of the defence ministry recommended the procurement of 60 Ghatak unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) for the armed forces.

Evolved from an earlier concept called AURA (Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft), Ghatak, being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is designed to carry out deep-strike missions inside heavily defended enemy airspace.

The unmanned aircraft, being developed for both deep strike and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) operations, is also suitable for SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) and DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defences) missions.

A report in Business Standard said the move by the DPB comes as a boost to the country's flying-wing combat drone programme. This also comes as a boost to India's indigenous Kaveri jet engine programme as the Ghatak UCAV programme reportedly plans to use a derivative of the Kaveri engine in a dry configuration.

'Dry' engine refers to a jet engine that operates without an afterburner.

ALSO READ: Indian Air Force's Exercise Vayushakti-26: A case study in India's combat readiness and integrated warfare

The Kaveri engine programme,developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under the DRDO, was originally meant to power the LCA Tejas. As the engine failed to meet the aircrafts thrust and reliability requirements, it has been repurposed for other uses, including powering UCAVs.

Unlike the LCAs afterburning engine, which produces 85 kilonewtons of thrust, the unmanned aerial vehicle is designed to operate at subsonic speeds and therefore does not require an afterburner.

The UCAV aims to achieve speeds of Mach 0.9, fly at altitudes of up to 13,000m and have a two-hour endurance.

GTRE director S.V. Ramana Murthy told THE WEEK's Sanjib Kr Baruah in September 2025 that the afterburner not being required, among other capabilities, gave the UCAV the stealth dimension. That is one of the fundamental differences with the fighter aircraft engine, he said. That is why we call it a derivative engine or a dry engine.

With the Ghatak UCAV now recommended for procurement, the Kaveri engine may finally get its chance to fly.
After two months of negotiations, the ruling DMK and the Congress party finally signed a seat-sharing pact for the Assembly elections. Days of uncertainty have now come to an end, with the Congress formally agreeing to contest 28 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha berth.

However, the final pact-signing event, where the Congress leaders could be seen smiling as they stood beside DMK leader M.K. Stalin, did not come easy.

Kanimozhi is said to have not only spoken to Rahul, but also with those in his close circlesin order to influence his decisions. Sources say that she has taken all-out efforts since March 2 to speak with a number of Congress's top brass, including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, P. Chidambaram, and also AICC leader Rahul Gandhi.

Sources close to Kanimozhi have also said that she tried to convince her brother and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to offer at least a few seats. She then reportedly took efforts to bring in Chidambaram to mediate and ease the tension in the alliance, as Stalin had not been willing to increase the number of seats allocated to Congress.

More than the alliance equations, Stalins personal respect for Rahul Gandhi had taken a beating on March 1, when the AICC leader carefully chose not to use the phrase my brother to wish him on his birthday. Notably, Rahul Gandhi had jumped barricades, walked into a sweet store, and picked up a box of sweets for his brother Stalin when he arrived in Coimbatore during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.

The tension in the alliance is also not just because of Congress demanding an increase in the number of seats or for power sharing.

Though all these were posted on social media by senior Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu, the national party's idea of holding seat-sharing talks and looking for an option apart from actor Vijays Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) had also irked the DMK.

Kanimozhi initially ensured that the Congress put an end to the two-way channels opened by several stakeholders in the Congress party. This is because while the official talks were being held, backchannels were opened by a few stakeholders in the Congress with the TVK.

A clear message was sent to Kharge to put off all the social media messages by Congress MPs and other stakeholders in Tamil Nadu.

Notably, while speaking to THE WEEK after her session on the Politics of Language at THE WEEKs Tamil Nadu Leadership Summit, she expressed hopes that the Congress leadership was not against the alliance itself, but only the numbers.

However, things hit a new high on March 2, as the DMK high command decided to forego the Congress, as the national party was unwilling to come to terms with it, and was demanding more than 41 seats.

By late evening on Wednesday, efforts by Kanimozhi and Chidambaram saw a repair in ties between the DMK and the Congress leadership. While Kanimozhi had been convincing CM Stalin to increase the numbers for Congressfrom the existing 25 to at least 28K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary chose to have a telephone conversation with the Congress MLAs in Tamil Nadu to hear their views about continuing in the alliance.

It is said during the conversation, at least 13 of the existing 17 MLAs suggested that the party remain in the alliance to have numbers in the Assembly.

Chidambaram's role was to hold talks with Stalin and also have a virtual conversation with Sonia Gandhi and Kharge to ensure the alliance continued. His personal rapport with Stalin and his efforts to brief Sonia and Kharge played an important role in bringing an end to the stalemate.

During the discussions, the DMK also wanted assurance from the Congress that the Rajya Sabha seat in DMKs quota would not be given to Praveen Chakravarthy or someone who had been opposing the alliance.

Almost 36 hours after the talks between Chidambaram and Stalin, Congress leaders (including Chodankar) held talks with the party at the airport for more than an hour, which led to further complications.

However, at Venugopals behest, the Congress party officially signed the agreement with the DMK for 28 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. It is said that the Congress is likely to nominate Meenakshi Natarajan from Madhya Pradeshwho has roots in Tamil Naduas its candidate.

The Congress and DMK, after several rounds of mediations and deliberations might be joining forces for good, owing to Kanimozhi and Karti Chidambarams backdoor diplomacy and negotiations. By staying together, the Congress has ensured coherence in the alliance.

However, the tensions that had earlier threatened the alliancesuch as each side's social media posts, Girish Chodankars press conferences, each sides off-the-record statements in the media, and a number of closed-door meetingshave translated into an uneasiness within, which may influence how leaders from both parties work on the ground.
Kashmir has been witnessing widespread protests over the past three days in response to the killing of Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a coordinated airstrike by US and Israeli forces.

Strict restrictions remain in place across several areas, particularly those with large Shia populations, while mobile internet speeds continue to be throttled. The government has also ordered the closure of educational institutions until Saturday as a precautionary measure.

"Restrictions on movement and assembly continued in many parts of Kashmir on Wednesday," officials were quoted as saying by PTI.

In Srinagar, a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary CRPF forces has been made to prevent protests. Concertina wires and barricades have been erected at key intersections leading into the city, while the iconic Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk remains a no-go zone. The Ghanta Ghar saw massive protests on Sunday following Khamenei's assassination.

Meanwhile, police have filed a case against National Conference Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, and former Srinagar mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu, for allegedly spreading false and misleading content on social media.

The case, registered under sections 197(1)(d) and 353(1)(b) of the BNS Act, was filed at the Cyber Police Station in Srinagar.

"The content in question, prima facie, reflects the dissemination of distorted narratives and unverified information capable of causing public unrest and societal disharmony. Such deliberate attempts to spread misinformation pose a serious threat to peace, security, and overall stability," the police said in a statement.

Mehdi, however, responded that he would not be deterred from speaking the truth, despite the case filed against him.

The people of Srinagar did not elect their MP to recite government-approved condolences. They elected him to speak truth. That mandate does not expire with an FIR, he posted on X.
The CBI Special Courts recent dismissal of the Delhi liquor case has further widened the gap between the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leadership and the party chiefs daughter and estranged leader, Kalvakuntla Kavitha. The court took strong exception to the manner in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) built the case, relying mostly on the statements of accused-turned-approvers. The verdict has given a major boost to the Aam Aadmi Party, which had maintained its innocence from the beginning. The party stood firmly by its leaders throughout the case and declared itself vindicated after the judgment.

A February 27 tweet by party working president K.T. Rama Rao further strained the already troubled relations with his sister Kavitha. While he described the case as fabricated and congratulated her, his remark that the episode had hurt the prospects of BRS in the 2023 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections appeared to trouble Kavitha, who then came out all guns blazing against the BRS leadership after the verdict, alleging that the party had failed to extend similar support to her. While BRS leaders tried to counter her narrativethat the negative publicity over her alleged role in the liquor scam hurt the partys chances of returning to powerKavitha argued that allegations of corruption in the Kaleshwaram project and the partys failure to fulfil its promises were the real reasons behind the defeat.

Differences between Kavitha and BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao, her brother, and senior leader T. Harish Rao, her cousin, emerged after the party lost power in Telangana in December 2023. The strain deepened while Kavitha was facing investigation and arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case, with her supporters feeling the party had not defended her strongly enough. Tensions intensified after her release from prison on bail. A private letter she wrote to party president K. Chandrasekhar Rao criticising the partys functioning was leaked, and her subsequent remarks about senior leaders were seen as anti-party activity, eventually leading to her suspension and resignation from the party.

Though she agreed that her family had supported her legally, they failed to stop the social media attacks directed at her during more than two years of investigation and her subsequent imprisonment. Kavitha believes that the BRSs own social media network may have been behind many of those attacks, one of her confidants told THE WEEK. Kavitha argued that the party had failed to extend similar support to her and argued that the allegations of corruption in the Kaleshwaram project and the partys failure to fulfil its promises were the real reasons behind the defeat.

C. Vanaja, a Hyderabad-based senior journalist, felt that the BRS response was ineffective, saying Kavitha was hounded by the media while her father, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, brother, K. T. Rama Rao, and cousin, T. Harish Rao, maintained a defensive posture. Though the party had extended legal help, their defensive stance failed to protect Kavitha from the media trial. Unlike the other 22 accused, she was singled out for attacks. The media called her names such as Liquor Rani, largely because she was a woman. KCR should have gone on the offensive for his daughter, Vanaja held.

The journalist said that political parties have often tried to keep strong women scions away from leadership succession. That is why she was made an MP and sent to Delhi, as per the established pattern in Indian political parties. Although I am not clear on exactly what caused and deepened the intra-family rift, I feel she was not supported enough, she added.

BRS MLC and spokesperson Dasoju Sravan Kumar commented on Kavithas line of attack. BRS stood with her throughout the episode. Party chief Chandrasekhar Rao declared that the case was totally fabricated and his daughter would come out clean from these accusations. Party working president K.T. Rama Rao was with her during the CBIs arrest as well as when she secured the bail. It was a legal battle, not a street fight to show your emotions, he said.

Another BRS leader, who did not want to be named, pointed to Kavithas own comments that she had opposed her fathers proposal to merge the BRS with the BJP to secure her release. Kavitha herself said this, and it showed that the party was ready to go to any extent for her release, he remarked. D. Papa Rao, a senior political commentator, believes Kavithas objections regarding the Delhi liquor case were part of a broader feud with her brother and father. I believe she has larger problems with the family, and this is one of the problems she is highlighting, he opined.

Despite months-long public altercations among the members of the BRS's leading family, concrete details about their specific differences have not emerged. If media reports are to be believed, Kavitha is planning to start a new political party in April. While the Congress accuses her of acting as a BRS agent to divide anti-BRS votes, the BRS sees her as a prop of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, seeking to split the BRS's traditional vote.

Kavitha claimed success in the recent municipal polls by winning the Vaddepalli municipality in Jogulamba Gadwal district. Her followers contested on All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) tickets and won eight of the 10 municipal wards. However, it remains unclear whether the victory belongs to her. The Forward Bloc supported the Congress across Telangana and helped it win a few urban bodies. In Vaddepalli, too, the ward members declared their support for the Congress, reportedly in support of the development of their town. When contacted, AIFB national secretary G. Devarajan stated that the municipality would remain with the party and that the support statement was intended solely for cooperation with the state government.
A political storm has erupted after the Congress party raised questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Israel, linking it to the killing of Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi accused the Modi government of undermining Indias foreign policy and demanded that the prime minister disclose the details of his discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The current government has destroyed Indias foreign policy. The prime minister is engaging with UAE rulers and others, but not with Iran. PM Modi should tell the people what he discussed with Netanyahu regarding this conflict, Alvi told ANI news agency.

Alvi further questioned Modi's silence over Khameneis killing, stating: "He has said that Israel is his 'fatherland,' so how can he speak against his fatherland?"

The Congress leaders remarks were met with strong reactions from the BJP, with the partys IT Department head, Amit Malviya, calling them naked partisan viewpoints.

Malviya referenced an article from Axios, which claimed that the US and Israel had planned the strike on Iran on February 23two days before Modis visit to Israel.

"I almost pity India's Opposition and the Left ecosystem, including a section of the media, for how nakedly partisan they have become," Malviya wrote on X. "Till yesterday, they were loudly alleging that the so-called Israel-US axis launched its attack on Iran with Prime Minister Modi's endorsement, conveniently linking it to his visit. The insinuation was deliberate and malicious."

I almost pity Indias Opposition and the Left ecosystem, including a section of the media, for how nakedly partisan they have become.



Till yesterday, they were loudly alleging that the so-called Israel-US axis launched its attack on Iran with Prime Minister Modis endorsement, https://t.co/8NmI8tWpPy  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 4, 2026

Malviya further criticised the Opposition, stating that their approach is driven by reflex rather than reason. "With this level of strategic depth and intellectual honesty, they should be prepared for a long haul in Opposition," he added.

The joint forces of Israel and Iran launched airstrikes in Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28, a day after Modi concluded his two-day visit to Israel, which focused on strengthening India-Israel strategic and defense ties.

India has refrained from condemning Khameneis assassination, instead urging all parties to exercise restraint and avoid escalation, while emphasising the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

On Tuesday, Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi strongly criticised the Modi government for its "disturbing silence" over Khameneis killing and called for a parliamentary discussion on the issue when the Budget session resumes. She also stressed the urgent need for India to reclaim its moral authority and communicate it clearly and resolutely.
Bihar's top leadership is set for a possible rejig after a report claimed that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could step down from his post if elected to the Rajya Sabha.

The JD(U) chief is expected to file his nomination for the upper House of Parliament on Thursday, a News18 report said, citing sources.

Notably, the 75-year-old veteran has taken oath as Chief Minister for a record 10 times, occupying the top post continuously since 2015, except for a brief period that saw Jitan Ram Manjhi as the Chief Minister.

This has sparked speculations about what his cabinet could look like after his possible exit, as well as questions of how his only son, Nishant Kumar, would figure in the new arrangement.

The report noted that Nishant could even be elevated to the post of Deputy CM, in line with claims that Bihar's top brass wanted a "dramatic entry" for him into active politics.

Nishant's role in the possible post-Nitish future is also said to have been a part of the closed-door meeting between JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha and Nitish Kumar on Wednesday.

However, no official confirmation has come from the JD(U) or the NDA alliance.

The challenge of the fifth Rajya Sabha seat

There are five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar in play. For four of these seats, one needs support from 41 MLAs.

As the NDA boasts a combined strength of 202 legislators in the Bihar assemblycomprising BJP, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM and RLJMit is highly likely to win those four seats.

However, the fifth seat presents a bigger challenge, as Upendra Kushwaha has been named the NDA candidate for that seata move that LJP chief Chirag Paswan claimed he was unaware of.

This anomaly will now have to be resolved ahead of Nitish Kumar's nomination filing on Thursday, in order to eliminate the risk of absenteeism or cross-voting.
Maharashtra MLA Rohit Pawar has made another explosive allegation against the VSR Ventures, the aviation company that operated the chartered flight that crashed and killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, stating they put the life of Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde at risk.

Pawar was holding a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday, after raising objections against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)s preliminary report on the accident. Pawar raised questions about the credibility of the investigation in a press conference.

Pawar stated that he was not against private companies like VSR or the DGCA, but alleged that there was a conscious attempt to save someone.

The MLA claimed that the VSR company made a major negligence during Eknath Shindes Davos tour in 2023 that put his life at risk. He alleged that Pawar went to Davos between January 16 and 20, 2023. In international travel, a flight plan has to be given, and permission from other countries has to be obtained. If a plane enters that country without permission, it can even be shot down, and something similar happened in the case of Eknath Shinde Saheb," he claimed.

Pawar alleged that after refuelling the plane, it went through Iranian territory while on its way to Zurich. The Iranian authorities then warned to shoot down the plane if it didnt turn back. The plane then flew over the Iraqi territory, where the same thing happened, Pawar alleged, adding that Shinde himself was on the plane.

As the fuel was running low, the plane was brought back to Bahrain. After three hours, all the permissions were obtained, and then it went to Zurich. So we are saying that do not trust VSR. Eknath Shinde can tell more about this, Pawar said, adding that there was data from Bahrain to prove this.

He said Shinde could have faced the same fate as Ajit Pawar. Has the DGS released any information about this? Can Eknath Shinde clearly state this?" he also said.

He said the VSR was untrustworthy, and said the company was banned for six months in the UAE for extorting huge amounts of money from patients by selling private jet tickets during the COVID period. We believe that this company did such things deliberately, if not lazily, in the case of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra as well."
With the hostilities between Iran and US-Israel forces rapidly increasing as of day five, a new report has claimed that Iran's Ministry of Intelligence has reached out to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to discuss an end to the conflict.

The offer was reportedly made just a day after the conflict began on February 28 by a spy agency from an unnamed third country, a New York Times report said, citing officials from the Middle East and a Western country.

The report added that US officials were skeptical of the offerof whether either the Trump administration or Iran was prepared for an "offramp" in the short term, the officials said.

They were also doubtful of Iran's capacity to enforce a ceasefire, given that its top brass is constantly being targeted and eliminated during the airstrikes.

This comes amid public statements from both sides signalling that the war would go on.

Washington's public statements

US President Donald Trump, for example, indicated in a Truth Social post on Tuesday that Iran wanted "to talk", but that it was too late to do so.

(Iran's) air defense, Air Force, Navy and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said Too Late!, he wrote.

He had earlier declared that Washington's "large-scale combat operations in Iran" was expected to take 4-5 weeks, but that the US had the capability to capability to "go far longer than that".

His defence secretary, Pete Hegseth has echoed this sentiment, declaring on Monday that Operation Epic Furythe Pentagon's name for coordinated US-Israel strikes on Iranwould not lead to an "endless war".

"No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise. No politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don't waste time or lives," he pointed out.

Iran's public statements

Iran, which has lost Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 30 other officials from its top leadership, due to the US-Israel coordinated airstrikes, has also shown a marked change in their rhetoric around peace talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday attacked Trump for participating in the conflict against Tehran, saying that he had "bombed the negotiation table out of spite".

When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction, and when big lies cloud realities, unrealistic expectations can never be met.



The outcome? Bombing the negotiation table out of spite.



Mr. Trump betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him.  Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 4, 2026

"Mr. Trump betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him," he added.

This is a huge shift from his statements a week ago, where he had declaredon the sidelines of peace talks in Genevathat a deal with the US to avert conflict was within reach.
TEHRAN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of betraying both diplomacy and the American people by bombing the negotiating table amid nuclear talks.

"When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction, and when big lies cloud realities, unrealistic expectations can never be met," Araghchi said in a post on social media platform X.

"The outcome? Bombing the negotiation table out of spite. Mr. Trump betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him," he added.

His remarks follow joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities starting Saturday morning, leading to the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, some of his family members, top military commanders, and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the region.

The attacks came after three rounds of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, with a fourth round scheduled.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei Wednesday warned in a post on X that some European Union members are risking "being placed on the wrong side of history by appearing complicit in the U.S.-Israeli aggressions and war crimes against the Iranian nation." 
A Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) office inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was struck by Iranian drones on Tuesday, causing structural damage and sparking a minor fire within the compound. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The attack came amid Tehran's escalating counterattacks in the region, following coordinated airstrikes by US and Israeli forces in Iran.

Saudi Arabias Defense Ministry confirmed that two drones targeted the embassy, causing a limited fire and material damage. Washington has issued a warning for Americans to avoid the embassy until further notice, citing the attack, and cancelled routine and emergency consular services.

A security alert issued by the US also cautioned that there is a threat of imminent missile and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) attacks in Dhahran, advising citizens not to approach the US Consulate there.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, a fire broke out late Tuesday night near the US Consulate General, following a suspected drone strike. Emergency response teams quickly arrived on the scene, and the fire was fully extinguished.

"The fire near the US Consulate in Dubai has been fully extinguished, with no injuries reported. Dubai authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring everyone's safety and security," the Dubai Media Office posted on X.

In response to the growing threat, the US announced it has begun facilitating charter flights from various Middle Eastern countries to assist US citizens stranded in the region.

The region is on the brink of a broader war as the US-Israel operation in Iran sparked a strong response from Tehran which has launched a barrage of missiles to the neighbouring Gulf countries hosting US military bases.
As the US and Israel escalate strikes on Iran, a report has detailed the secret conversation US President Donald Trump had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the fateful strike on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A report that appeared in Hebrew media, Israel National News, said Netanyahu called Trump last Monday and informed him that Khamenei and his senior military advisors were to gather on Saturday morning at one place in Tehran, and could be eliminated in an airstrike. The call, which took place on February 23 on a secure line from the White House Situation Room, was reportedly one of the dramatic moments that led to the war that the US and Israel launched five days ago.

At that point, Trump had not yet made a final decision to launch a military operation. The report, quoting Israeli sources, said the conversation was part of a series of talks and coordination between Netanyahu and Trump during the two months leading up to the war. On Thursday, after the American president was convinced that the intelligence was accurate and that negotiations with Iran were stalled, the decision was made to take action.

It was also reported that an initial CIA review, conducted at Trumps direction, confirmed the information gathered by Israeli military intelligence. Trump told Netanyahu that he would consider moving forward, but was focused at the time on his State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

The same day, Trump's envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, called from Geneva after hours of talks with the Iranians to inform him that they believed there would be no deal. The next day, at 3:38 p.m. Eastern Time, Trump gave the final order. Eleven hours later the war began.

The Israeli news report also quoted a source that confirmed that there was extensive contact between Trump and Netanyahu, both in meetings and by phone. He said that although Trump did not make a decision until two days before the strike, the operation had been discussed for weeks between the two countries.

The initial plan was to launch the attack at the end of March, beginning of April, to give time to build the argument to the American public. But then Bibi started pressing and talking about how they (the Israelis) were holding people like Pahlavi in safe houses. Bibi said they were going to kill them. So they had to hurry up and act," an American source told Israeli National News.

Israel's ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, declined to comment on the details of Netanyahu's conversation with Trump, but denied that Netanyahu was "pressuring" or trying to speed up the timetable. He also said Netanyahu had not made any claim that Iranian opposition leaders were in danger.

"Over the past year, we have worked in closer coordination than ever with our partners in the US on the issue of Iran, and we see eye to eye on the danger that Iran poses to Israel, the US, and the free world. Anyone who knows President Trump knows that he is a strong leader who cannot be led by the nose, Leiter told Israeli National News.
Was the end of February a turning point in power? Whether February 28 shook Iran or not, the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was more about the final decline of a state-building project rooted in the systematic othering of the margins. The world watches the exchange of missiles between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance, with headlines focusing on Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion. What lies beneath these headlines is a complex internal issue: the question of minorities. The current chaos in Iran, marked by intense protests and government crackdowns since December, is not unique; it is part of a long history of institutionalised marginalisation of minorities. The recent report by IranWire, Conscience Held Captive, provides data on the states religious monopoly, which treats its minority populations as threats to national security.

The alarming report on minorities describes the January 2026 massacre as an organised event, highlighting the Iranian regimes failed state-building efforts. It became a catastrophic failure when the IRGC turned borderlands inhabited by minorities into free-fire zones. Instead of respecting minorities as full citizens and native populations, the regime views them as a threatening entity. To make matters worse, the regime implemented an internet blackout to hide the death toll. Additionally, this was an extreme attempt to silence calls for international attention, as the regime claims that minority protests are just foreign-backed insurgencies. However, the protests extended beyond minorities and became a nationwide movement. This allowed minorities to voice demands for a more inclusive Iran.

Mahin Siddiqui

While current debates focus on who will be the next Supreme Leader, a line of grim contenders with failed ideologies remains. This is because their mindset is still stuck in 1989, when Ali Khamenei became the Supreme Leader. Instead of integrating them, they suppress minorities. Given the situation, comparing the reactions of minorities in 1989 helps us understand their responses in 2026. The political situation may be the same, but 2026 is not 1989. Iran was in a consolidation phase after the death of its first Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini. Minorities such as Sunni Baloch, Kurds, and Bahais had to show submission, relying on coercion and mourning for their survival. In 2026, however, people in some areas celebrated the death of Zahhak (an evil person in Iranian historiography) in a muted, dance-like manner. The Iranian regime's suppression of its own citizens is paradoxical; it allowed or created space for these kinds of narratives to emerge, unlike in 1989, when such expressions had little room to flourish.

While Tehran was preoccupied with a dispute over nuclear survival, a significant development was taking place. A coalition was formed by five Iranian Kurdish parties to promote the goal to overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Kurdish parties like KDPI and Komalah have worked to ensure the decentralisation of a still unified Iran. These parties have assured the Iranian state that it does not consolidate power, emphasising the distribution of authority, but without making extreme demands for self-determination. Desperate to restore their damaged image, the regime relied on President Masoud Pezeshkian as a key figure. An official with limited power issues an apology for the massacre on 11 February. In fact, this should have been handled by the Supreme Leader with particular attention to minorities; perhaps then it would have been an effective move.

In the ongoing conflict, rumours of a ground invasion by Israel have surfaced alongside Trumps willingness to support armed groups inside Iran. Using the Doctrine of the Periphery Alliance, Israel appears to seek assistance from the Kurdish Peshmerga. If the Iranian government had integrated its minorities as citizensinstead of othering them, the entire crisis could have been avoided. Now, these minorities are viewed by the enemy as a practical and viable military partner against the clergy. It has transformed a state-building crisis into a matter of state survival.

Iran's desperate move to turn Iraqi Kurdistan into a buffer zone aims to serve as a kinetic wall to stop the Kurdish coalition on 22 February or any future uprisings. By expanding the conflict in the region and confining it to Kurdish areas of Iraq, Iran is hitting two targets simultaneously: eliminating Rojhelat, the Kurdish dominated northwestern part of Iran and keeping the US-Israel alliance distant.

Finally, a bigger question is, who will serve as a Supreme Leader? While Khomeinis era was mostly a controlled environment with little interference from minorities, Khameneis era signified a shift where minorities are no longer passive recipients of Tehrans orders; in fact, they are now the ones shaping the transition. What will be the fate of Kurds in the post-Khamenei era?
Mojtaba Khamenei, the leading candidate for the post of Supreme Leader of Iran and son of the former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly underwent months of treatment in the UK for impotency, according to a secret US intelligence document.

The 56-year-old has been elected as the next supreme leader of Iran by the countrys assembly of 88 clerics under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian media reported.

A WikiLeaks-released document sent by the state department to the US embassy in London in 2008 showed that the Mojtaba was under pressure from a family member to produce heirs, The Daily Mail reported.

He visited the UK four times, with the final stay lasting about two months.

He eventually had a son named Ali, named after his father, the Supreme Leader. 'After a stay of two months, his wife became pregnant. Back in Iran, a healthy boy was born, named Ali for his paternal grandfather.'

Us intelligence showed that Mojtaba married relatively late in life in 2004.

This was due to an impotency problem treated and eventually resolved during three extended visits to the UK.'

The documents show that he visited the Wellington and Cromwell Hospitals in London

He also needed a fourth visit as he was expected to produce children quickly.

The files also showed that Mojtaba worked under his fathers shadow and that he travelled with him in Iran and had a' fair degree of control over access to his father.'

He was also widely viewed within the regime as a capable and forceful leader and manager who may someday succeed to at least a share of national leadership. His father may also see him in that light.'

The report also said that some in the leaders office saw that Ali Khamenei treated and consulted Mojtaba as an eventually successor to his responsibilities rather than an advisor.

However, he was seen as weak in clerical terms.

'(He) is not expected ever to achieve by his own scholarship the status of "mujtahid," far less that of ayatollah,' the report said.

'Mojtaba reportedly is quite aware of his own limitations and does not appear to harbour an expectation of becoming sole Supreme Leader in his own right,' it went on.

Mojtaba's selection as the next supreme leader was also seen as unlikely because the regime has ling criticised hereditary rule and khamenei was against staring a dynasty. Mojtaba is Ali Khamenei's second son and has an older brother, Mostafa, who is also a cleric.
Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been appointed as Irans new Supreme Leader amid escalating regional tensions. The announcement comes as Iran continues its counterattacks, targeting US bases and infrastructure in neighboring Gulf countries.

Ayatollah Khamenei, who led the country for 37 years, was killed on February 28 in a coordinated airstrike carried out by US and Israeli forces at his residence. The strike also claimed the lives of his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. His wife, Khojasteh Khamenei, who was critically injured in the attack, later died in hospital on Monday.

Under Irans constitutional framework, the Supreme Leader is appointed by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, a body of Shiite clerics. These clerics are elected after their candidacies are vetted by the Guardian Council, the countrys constitutional oversight authority.

According to reports, Mojtabas elevation came amid strong pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Born on September 8, 1969, Mojtaba is the second son of Ali Khamenei. A mid-ranking Shiite cleric, he has maintained close ties with the IRGC and is believed to have played a major role in orchestrating crackdowns on anti-government protests in recent years. Media reports suggest that Mojtaba maintains a more hardline position than his father.

According to an analysis by Iran International, the IRGC backed Mojtaba in order to preserve control and maintain internal legitimacy. The report suggests the force sought to keep the chain of command intact, prevent divisions at the top leadership level, ensure coordination among security institutions, and avert a potential power struggle.

Legitimacy matters too, but not in a broad national sense, the report stated. It means legitimacy within the regimes core base: hard-line politicians, the security establishment, and the loyal networks that continue to view the Islamic Republic as their state.

The report noted that for years, Mojtaba has served as a key channel between his father and Irans military leadership. His close links to the civilian and clerical leadership while being associated with the Guard have placed him in a uniquely influential position.

The report also highlighted his extensive experience overseeing the Beit  the Supreme Leaders office  over the past two decades, describing this role as another factor that may have prompted the Guard to rally behind him at this critical juncture.

Some analysts, however, suggest that his selection could prove controversial, as the Islamic Republic has long denounced hereditary rule and cast itself as a more just alternative.

It's only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader has been chosen. The supreme leader has the final say on all major decisions, including war, peace and the country's disputed nuclear programme.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has emerged as the clear front-runner to replace his father as Irans new supreme leader. According to multiple reports, the Assembly of Experts has either already selected him or is on the verge of officially announcing his appointment. Three Iranian officials noted that the clerical body held virtual meetings to finalise the decision, though some members expressed reservations that a formal public announcement might expose Mojtaba as a direct target for the US and Israel. During the opening strike of the war that killed his father, Mojtaba also suffered immense personal loss, as his mother, his wife and one of his sons were killed in the bombardment.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly exerted immense pressure on the clerics to swiftly appoint Mojtaba, pushing to finalise the succession even outside routine procedures if necessary. The IRGC command structure was dealing with internal chaos, disrupted communication and the fear that military personnel were abandoning their posts amid the ongoing airstrikes. They feel that Mojtaba, who is deeply involved with the security apparatus, possesses the skills necessary to lead Iran through this unprecedented crisis. They also warned the clerics that waiting too long could trigger widespread public protests and demonstrations.

While Mojtaba has never held an official position, he was well known in Tehran for being the powerful "gatekeeper" to the Supreme Leaders office. His close ties with the IRGC and his military service during the Iran-Iraq war add to his chances. In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on him, noting that he effectively "represented" his father despite lacking a formal title.

However, his potential selection is highly controversial. It represents a father-to-son transition that directly contradicts the Islamic Republic's foundational anti-monarchy principles. Most analysts feel he is a hardliner who supports aggressively suppressing domestic opponents and pursuing a hawkish foreign policy. However, Abdolreza Davari, an Iranian politician close to Mojtaba, told the New York Times that he is actually "extremely progressive" and could act similarly to Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman.

While Mojtaba dominates the succession discussions, several other figures have been floated as contenders. Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi is viewed as a more moderate alternative. He was handpicked by Khamenei to head a network of Shia seminaries and was also made a member of the powerful Guardian Council. Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, is another contender who is said to be associated with the moderate faction, which supports greater engagement with the West. Former president Hassan Rouhani is another relative moderate, but Iran watchers doubt his chances as he was disqualified from the Assembly of Experts in 2024. Ayatollah Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, head of Qom's main Islamic teaching centre, represents a popular alternative for extreme hardliners, having associated with factions advocating for nuclear arms.

The constitutional mechanism for choosing the supreme leader rests entirely with the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member panel of senior clerics and jurists. Members are elected by popular vote to eight-year terms, but only after their candidacies are strictly vetted by the Guardian Council, Iran's constitutional watchdog.

By law, the selected leader must be a qualified, just, and pious Islamic jurist with strong political competence and sound judgment. After private deliberations where candidates are assessed on their religious scholarship and administrative experience, the assembly votes internally, requiring a simple majority to appoint the new leader. This marks only the second time since the 1979 revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen.
At least 101 people are missing, and 78 are injured after a submarine attack on an Iranian ship off the coast of Sri Lanka, sources from the countrys navy and defence say.

The Sri Lankan navy has dispatched a rescue team after receiving distress calls from the Iranian warship the IRIS Dena, a defence ministry spokeperson said.

"At this point, 79 people have been rescued and taken to the hospital, with one in serious condition. Another 101 are believed to be missing," the navy source said.

The ship was reportedly attacked by a US submarine. However it is unclear whether the Iranian frigate was being shadowed by a USS Pinckney at the time of the incident, The Indian Express reported.

The frigate was on its return voyage to Iran after attending a naval engagement hosted by India when it reported the emergency. India had hosted the Indian Navys International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam in mid-February which brought together the naval forces of multiple countries.

An Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, sank off the coast of Sri Lanka following a submarine attack, leaving at least 101 crew members missing and 78 wounded, Reuters reported on Wednesday.



It was unclear who was behind the attack on the ship, which sources confirmed has now sunk. pic.twitter.com/NVtp6JXSN8  Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 4, 2026

The ship reportedly carried around 180 crew members.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath had earlier told Parliament that the country's military has rescued 30 people from the sinking vessel in waters near the country. An airforce surveillance aircraft has been dispatched to conduct search operations in the area where the attack occured.

He also said that Sri Lanka would take appropriate action.

Local media also reported that the distress signals were sent off about 40 nautical miles south of the coast of Galle. The injured were also admitted to hospitals in Galle which is about 115 kilometres south of Colombo.

Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Buddhika Sampath said,We responded to the distress call under our international obligations as this falls within Sri Lankas Search and Rescue Area in the Indian Ocean.

Earlier Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that the US had destroyed about 17 Iranian warships including a submarine in its operations against the country. Tehran has not confirmed all of the attacks.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday confirmed that it was a torpedo from a US submarine that sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

In a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth said that the Tuesday night strike on the Iranian warship was the first such attack on an enemy vessel since World War II.

.@SECWAR In the Indian Oceanan American submarine sunk an Iranian warship, that thought it was safe in international waters.



Instead, it was sunk by a torpedoQuiet Death.



The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War 2. Like in that warback when we were pic.twitter.com/Y97YQBxQza  DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 4, 2026

The US defence department has also released visuals showing the moment the torpedo allegedly hit the Iranian warship.

Though Hegseth did not name the warship, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath revealed that as many as 180 people had been onboard the Moudge-class Iranian frigate, which he identified as the IRIS Dena.

The vessel sunk about 40 nautical miles away from Sri Lankas coast on Wednesday after issuing a distress call, Sri Lankan officials had said earlier.

The Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday said it rescued at least 32 Iranian sailors from a sinking Iranian naval ship off the southern coast, while several bodies were recovered from the site.

Notably, the frigate had been part of a joint naval exercise hosted by India, and was returning to Iran when it reported the distress signal.

Welcome! |  !



 Indian Navy welcomes IRIS Dena, of the Iranian Navy, on her arrival at #Visakhapatnam to participate in #IFR2026_India and #MILAN2026, reflecting long-standing cultural links between the two nations.@India_in_Iran #BridgesOfFriendship pic.twitter.com/O77v2qNJHJ  Eastern Naval Command  (@IN_HQENC) February 17, 2026

About two weeks ago, India had hosted the Indian Navys International Fleet Review (IFR) in Visakhapatnam on February 18, which brought together naval forces from more than 70 countries.

About 19 warships from 18 countries were also on display alongside dozens of Indian naval vessels, including the INS Vikrant, destroyers, frigates, and submarinesall of which were showcased before the presidential shipthe INS Sumedhathat sailed with the countrys Supreme Commander-in-Chief President Draupadi Murmu.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is yet to respond to news of the destruction of the IRIS Denaone of the Indian Navy's guests at the IFR 2026which took place within India's sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean, and how the attack will impact ties between New Delhi and Washington, going forward.
The gunman who killed three people, including an indian-american student, Savitha Shan, in Austin, Texas, in the US, reportedly had terror links, a new FBI probe reveals.

During the shooting, Ndiaga Diagne, 53, wore a T-shirt stamped with an Iranian flag design, sources said.

The suspect also had the words Property of Allah written on his clothes, a law enforcement official who spoke to AP said.

Investigators are now probing whether the weekend shooting was inspired by this week's US strikes on Iran, BBC reported.

Savitha Shan, who was majoring in management information systems and economics at the University of Texas, was 21 years old at the time of the shooting. The two other victims were 19-year-old Ryder Harrington and 30-year-old Jorge Pederson.

The Austin Police Department are planing to hold a news conference on the shooting on Thursday.

Diagne is a Senegalese immigrant who became a US citizen.

He was not on the radar of the local police or the FBI before the attack on Sunday on West Sixth Street in Austin . He had arrived in the US in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa and then became a lawful permanent resident six years later after marrying an American.

The source who spoke to CBS News also said that he had a history of mental health issues. He was sued for severely injuring a woman in a vehicle crash and was arrested four times between 2001 and 2016.

A probe into his background revealed that he had posted misogynistic, anti-Semitic, and anti-Christian posts in the year and a half leading up to the attack . He also had made pro-Iranian pro-Islam posts. However, there were no posts that indicated his plans to attack in a mass shooting incident.
BRUSSELS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- As U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran continue, France and Germany announced the creation of a high-ranking nuclear steering group, signaling a shift in European security discussions beyond conventional defense.

Nuclear deterrence, traditionally a transatlantic issue, is becoming a central focus for Europe in light of a more uncertain global security environment.

The new body will provide a platform for dialogue on "the appropriate mix of conventional forces, missile defense, and French nuclear capabilities," according to a joint France-Germany declaration.

Speaking on Monday from the Ile Longue naval base, home to France's nuclear ballistic missile submarines, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized this shift, announcing plans to increase France's nuclear warheads and expand deterrence cooperation with European partners.

Macron highlighted the need for France to adapt to evolving security challenges, signaling a potential "European dimension" to France's deterrence strategy, though with national control over nuclear decision-making.

The announcement has sparked mixed but largely supportive reactions across Europe. Poland has shown interest in deeper involvement, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk seeking "maximum autonomy" in nuclear deterrence.

Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever confirmed Belgium's participation, following positive responses from the Netherlands and Sweden, though formal arrangements are still in early stages. Sweden's growing security posture was evident when the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle made a stop in Malmo, operating Rafale jets capable of carrying nuclear missiles.

Discussions on expanding France's deterrent role in Europe began with the onset of the Ukraine crisis in 2022. Analysts, including Heloise Fayet of the French Institute of International Relations and Claudia Major of the German Marshall Fund, argue that uncertainty about U.S. security commitments under President Donald Trump has intensified concerns over the reliability of U.S. extended deterrence.

While the United States remains the cornerstone of NATO's nuclear posture, with around 100 nuclear warheads stationed across Europe, France, as the EU's only nuclear-armed state, possesses over 250 warheads. Meanwhile, the escalating fight between the U.S.-Israel joint forces and Iran has heightened fears of broader geopolitical instability and energy market volatility, with potential spillover effects for Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned of the fallout from instability in the Middle East, stressing the need to strengthen resilience in energy, transport, and defense.

The growing tensions have already had practical effects: Britain's air base in Cyprus was reportedly targeted by drones, and France deployed aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean. For many analysts, the significance of France's nuclear "umbrella" for Europe lies more in the political message than in the size of its arsenal. Europe's nuclear security has long relied on U.S. extended deterrence through NATO, but confidence in its permanence has weakened amid geopolitical turbulence.

German newspaper Die Welt noted that Macron's speech came at "a time of a reforming, some say crumbling, world order," as more Europeans doubt Washington's willingness to defend its allies. The current Middle East crisis has further exposed the divergence between the U.S. and Europe. The shifting power dynamics in the Middle East have given Macron a "perfect opening" to argue for Europe to raise its security and "take our destiny into our own hands."

Fayet and Major argue that under the circumstance, Europe is compelled to build its own "viable and genuine nuclear strategy." However, Macron's initiative does not envision a unified European nuclear force or the transfer of nuclear authority to the EU. Decisions on France's nuclear weapons remain solely at its discretion.

German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung pointed out that Macron cannot offer European partners a "guarantee" in the narrow sense, and his speech also sought to reassure domestic audiences.

The joint France-Germany declaration stressed that the initiative would complement, not replace, NATO's nuclear deterrence posture and existing nuclear-sharing arrangements. The long-term impact will depend on political consensus among European governments and the institutionalization of new cooperative mechanisms. 
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF (NYSEARCA:RSPF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 9,459 shares, a decrease of 19.8% from the January 29th total of 11,800 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 11,363 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days. Based on an average trading volume of 11,363 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF by 13.4% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,184 shares of the companys stock worth $471,000 after buying an additional 731 shares during the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated grew its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF by 86.6% during the third quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 14,455 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,124,000 after acquiring an additional 6,709 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans purchased a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF during the third quarter worth approximately $1,255,000. MAI Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF by 11.6% in the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 11,340 shares of the companys stock worth $863,000 after acquiring an additional 1,177 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF by 13.0% in the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 14,817 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,163,000 after purchasing an additional 1,699 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of NYSEARCA RSPF traded down $0.47 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $74.93. 17,525 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 15,305. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $77.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $77.10. The company has a market cap of $290.73 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.51 and a beta of 0.97. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF has a 12-month low of $61.66 and a 12-month high of $81.29.

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF Company Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF (RSPF) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Equal Weighted / Financials index. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of financial stocks pulled from the S&P 500. RSPF was launched on Nov 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco.

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Ingram Micro (NYSE:INGM  Get Free Report) announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Monday, March 2nd, RTT News reports. The company plans to buyback $100.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Ingram Micro Stock Performance

NYSE:INGM traded up $3.09 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $24.44. The stock had a trading volume of 3,994,417 shares, compared to its average volume of 429,266. Ingram Micro has a 52 week low of $14.25 and a 52 week high of $25.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.71, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 2.27. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $21.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $21.25.

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Ingram Micro (NYSE:INGM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.06. Ingram Micro had a return on equity of 17.04% and a net margin of 0.62%.The business had revenue of $14.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.18 billion. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Ingram Micro will post 2.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on INGM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an underweight rating and set a $24.00 target price on shares of Ingram Micro in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $24.00 price target on shares of Ingram Micro in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Ingram Micro in a research report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Ingram Micro in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Ingram Micro from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $25.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ingram Micro

Key Headlines Impacting Ingram Micro

Here are the key news stories impacting Ingram Micro this week:

Positive Sentiment: Quarterly beat  Ingram Micro reported fiscal Q4 sales of about $14.9B (up ~11.5% YoY) and beat revenue and EPS consensus, highlighting revenue strength and operating-profit improvement. This is the primary catalyst for the stock rally. Business Wire: Q4 Results

Quarterly beat  Ingram Micro reported fiscal Q4 sales of about $14.9B (up ~11.5% YoY) and beat revenue and EPS consensus, highlighting revenue strength and operating-profit improvement. This is the primary catalyst for the stock rally. Positive Sentiment: Strong cash flow and growth drivers  Management highlighted robust operating cash generation and accelerating cloud/AI-driven revenue (Xvantage expansion), supporting higher-margin service lines and potential multi-year growth. Seeking Alpha: Cloud & AI Growth

Strong cash flow and growth drivers  Management highlighted robust operating cash generation and accelerating cloud/AI-driven revenue (Xvantage expansion), supporting higher-margin service lines and potential multi-year growth. Positive Sentiment: Market reaction / momentum  Multiple outlets noted a strong post-earnings pop and heavy intraday trading as investors reposition on the beat and guidance commentary. High volume amplifies the move and shows conviction. Investing.com: Shares Jump

Market reaction / momentum  Multiple outlets noted a strong post-earnings pop and heavy intraday trading as investors reposition on the beat and guidance commentary. High volume amplifies the move and shows conviction. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed near-term guidance  Q1 EPS guidance of $0.6700.750 versus a consensus ~$0.710 is roughly neutral (range overlaps consensus; midpoint slightly below). Revenue guidance $12.5B$12.8B is in line with estimates. This tempers the beat but doesnt negate the stronger full-year commentary.

Mixed near-term guidance  Q1 EPS guidance of $0.6700.750 versus a consensus ~$0.710 is roughly neutral (range overlaps consensus; midpoint slightly below). Revenue guidance $12.5B$12.8B is in line with estimates. This tempers the beat but doesnt negate the stronger full-year commentary. Negative Sentiment: Analyst stance / limited near-term upside  Morgan Stanley raised its target to $23 but kept an equal weight rating (implying limited upside from current levels), which could cap further gains if more analysts stay cautious. Benzinga: Morgan Stanley PT

Analyst stance / limited near-term upside  Morgan Stanley raised its target to $23 but kept an equal weight rating (implying limited upside from current levels), which could cap further gains if more analysts stay cautious. Negative Sentiment: Headline noise and data discrepancies  Some third?party feeds reported differing EPS figures, which briefly contributed to volatility; watch for clarified GAAP vs. non?GAAP metrics in the filings/call slides. Quiver / data-note

About Ingram Micro

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Ingram Micro, headquartered in Irvine, California, is a global technology distributor and supply chain services provider. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker INGM, the company connects leading technology manufacturers, cloud providers and channel partners through an integrated portfolio of products and services. Ingram Micros end-to-end solutions span product distribution, cloud enablement, e-commerce, logistics and lifecycle management, enabling customers of all sizes to bring new technology to market efficiently.

The companys offerings are organized across several core areas.

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John Wood Group PLC (LON:WG  Get Free Report) traded up 11.8% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as GBX 29.10 and last traded at GBX 28.96. 34,133,997 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 6,331% from the average session volume of 530,810 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 25.90.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Peel Hunt restated a buy rating and set a GBX 30 price objective on shares of John Wood Group in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 30.

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John Wood Group Stock Up 11.8%

Insider Activity at John Wood Group

The stock has a market capitalization of 239.68 million, a PE ratio of -0.23, a P/E/G ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 25.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 486.52, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.75.

In other John Wood Group news, insider Birgitte Brinch Madsen sold 10,000 shares of John Wood Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 24, for a total transaction of 2,400. Company insiders own 1.81% of the companys stock.

About John Wood Group

(Get Free Report)

John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences. The Operations segment offers maintenance, modifications, brownfield engineering, asset management, repair and overhaul, and decommissioning services.

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Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:STRW  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 58,676 shares, a drop of 17.7% from the January 29th total of 71,280 shares. Approximately 0.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 34,011 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Based on an average trading volume of 34,011 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Approximately 0.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Strawberry Fields REIT Trading Down 0.3%

NYSEAMERICAN STRW traded down $0.04 on Tuesday, hitting $12.80. 18,313 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 35,615. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $13.01 and a 200-day moving average of $12.43. The stock has a market cap of $167.94 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.98 and a beta of 0.38. Strawberry Fields REIT has a 52 week low of $8.70 and a 52 week high of $14.00.

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Strawberry Fields REIT (NYSEAMERICAN:STRW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $40.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $40.30 million. Strawberry Fields REIT had a return on equity of 10.50% and a net margin of 4.89%. As a group, analysts predict that Strawberry Fields REIT will post 1.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Strawberry Fields REIT Announces Dividend

Strawberry Fields REIT Company Profile

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be paid a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. Strawberry Fields REITs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 125.49%.

(Get Free Report)

Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc, is a self-administered real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, acquisition, development and leasing of skilled nursing and certain other healthcare-related properties. The Company's portfolio includes 109 healthcare facilities with an aggregate of 12,449 bed, located throughout the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The 109 healthcare facilities comprise 99 skilled nursing facilities, eight assisted living facilities, and two long-term acute care hospitals.

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Corporacion America Airports (NYSE:CAAP  Get Free Report) and ANA (OTCMKTS:ALNPY  Get Free Report) are both transportation companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, dividends, risk, profitability, earnings and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Corporacion America Airports and ANA, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Corporacion America Airports 1 1 6 0 2.63 ANA 0 1 0 0 2.00

Corporacion America Airports presently has a consensus target price of $26.60, suggesting a potential downside of 0.56%. Given Corporacion America Airports stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Corporacion America Airports is more favorable than ANA.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Earnings and Valuation

13.0% of Corporacion America Airports shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

This table compares Corporacion America Airports and ANAs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Corporacion America Airports $1.84 billion N/A $282.67 million $1.10 24.32 ANA $14.85 billion 0.61 $1.01 billion $0.42 9.24

ANA has higher revenue and earnings than Corporacion America Airports. ANA is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Corporacion America Airports, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

Corporacion America Airports has a beta of 0.77, meaning that its stock price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ANA has a beta of 0.4, meaning that its stock price is 60% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Corporacion America Airports and ANAs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Corporacion America Airports 9.39% 11.64% 4.20% ANA 6.47% 12.84% 4.23%

Summary

Corporacion America Airports beats ANA on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Corporacion America Airports

(Get Free Report)

Corporacion America Airports S.A., through its subsidiaries, acquires, develops, and operates airport concessions. It operates 52 airports in Latin America, Europe, and Eurasia. The company was formerly known as A.C.I. Airports International S.a r.l. and changed its name to Corporacion America Airports S.A. in September 2017. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Corporacion America Airports S.A. is a subsidiary of A.C.I. Airports S.a r.l.

About ANA

(Get Free Report)

ANA Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in Japan and internationally. It operates through Air Transportation, Aviation-Related Business, Travel Business, and Trading Business segments. The Air Transportation segment offers regular and irregular air transport of passengers, cargo, etc. on domestic and international routes. The Aviation-Related Business segment provides services incidental to air transportation, such as airport handling and maintenance. The Travel Business develops and sells travel products, as well as plans and sells package travel products. The Trading Business imports and exports aviation-related materials, as well as sells through stores and mail-order channels. The company was formerly known as All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. and changed its name to ANA Holdings Inc. in April 2013. ANA Holdings Inc. was incorporated in 1920 and is headquartered in Minato, Japan.

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Central African Gold Inc. (BANC.V) (CVE:BANC  Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 8.5% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.32 and last traded at C$0.32. 80,972 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 230% from the average session volume of 24,545 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.30.

Central African Gold Inc. (BANC.V) Trading Up 8.5%

The company has a market capitalization of C$11.23 million and a P/E ratio of -0.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.17, a quick ratio of 0.01 and a current ratio of 0.01. The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$0.32 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.32.

About Central African Gold Inc. (BANC.V)

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Bankers Cobalt Corp., a natural resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of cobalt and copper mineral projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia. The company explores for nickel, gold, platinum, and palladium deposits. It holds 100% interest in six concessions located in Namibia. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada.

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Mr Price Group Limited (OTCMKTS:MRPLY  Get Free Report)s stock price fell 6% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $10.62 and last traded at $10.62. 2,248 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 193% from the average session volume of 767 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.30.

Mr Price Group Trading Down 6.0%

The firms fifty day moving average price is $10.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.64.

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Mr Price Group Company Profile

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Mr Price Group Limited (OTCMKTS: MRPLY) is a South African-based retailer known for its value-led fashion and homeware offerings. The Group operates through several divisions, including apparel, homeware and sportswear, designing and sourcing clothing, footwear, accessories and household products. It also offers financial servicessuch as credit and insurancethrough its Mr Price Money and Mr Price Insurance arms, complementing its core retail operations.

Founded in 1985 with a single Mr Price store in Durban, the Group has since expanded into multiple brands, including Mr Price Home and Mr Price Sport.

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Deutsche Lufthansa (OTCMKTS:DLAKY  Get Free Report) is anticipated to post its results before the market opens on Thursday, March 5th. Analysts expect Deutsche Lufthansa to post earnings of $0.26 per share and revenue of $11.3822 billion for the quarter.

Deutsche Lufthansa Trading Down 3.8%

Shares of DLAKY stock opened at $9.81 on Wednesday. Deutsche Lufthansa has a fifty-two week low of $6.21 and a fifty-two week high of $11.29. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.84. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $9.47.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently commented on DLAKY. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Deutsche Lufthansa from an underweight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Barclays lowered shares of Deutsche Lufthansa from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded Deutsche Lufthansa from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Deutsche Lufthansa from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Deutsche Lufthansa from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold.

Deutsche Lufthansa Company Profile

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Deutsche Lufthansa AG is a leading global aviation company headquartered in Cologne, Germany, and is recognized as one of the worlds largest airline groups. Founded in its modern form in 1953, the company traces its heritage back to the original Deutsche Luft Hansa established in 1926. Lufthansa operates passenger and cargo services under its flagship brand, as well as through numerous subsidiaries including Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and the low-cost carrier Eurowings.

The groups passenger network spans Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with primary hubs at Frankfurt Airport and Munich Airport.

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Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP  Free Report)  Analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q2 2026 earnings estimates for Advance Auto Parts in a research note issued to investors on Friday, February 27th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the company will earn $0.80 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.69. The consensus estimate for Advance Auto Parts current full-year earnings is ($0.46) per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Advance Auto Parts Q3 2026 earnings at $0.89 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.66 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.72 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $1.06 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $1.13 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.90 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $3.75 EPS.

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Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 13th. The company reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.45. Advance Auto Parts had a return on equity of 6.23% and a net margin of 0.51%.The business had revenue of $1.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($10.16) EPS. The firms revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Advance Auto Parts has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.400-3.10 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a research note on Monday, February 9th. DA Davidson set a $58.00 price objective on Advance Auto Parts in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Morgan Stanley set a $60.00 target price on Advance Auto Parts in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price target on Advance Auto Parts from $48.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $52.93.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts Trading Down 2.4%

NYSE:AAP opened at $51.97 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $48.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $52.06. Advance Auto Parts has a fifty-two week low of $28.89 and a fifty-two week high of $70.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.12 billion, a PE ratio of 71.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.11.

Advance Auto Parts Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. Advance Auto Partss payout ratio is currently 136.99%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advance Auto Parts

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Savoir Faire Capital Management L.P. raised its stake in Advance Auto Parts by 11.4% during the third quarter. Savoir Faire Capital Management L.P. now owns 226,990 shares of the companys stock worth $13,937,000 after acquiring an additional 23,172 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its position in Advance Auto Parts by 12.8% during the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 2,694,027 shares of the companys stock worth $165,413,000 after purchasing an additional 306,702 shares in the last quarter. Parkwood LLC acquired a new position in Advance Auto Parts during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $16,922,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Advance Auto Parts by 436.4% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 266,111 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,372,000 after purchasing an additional 216,504 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners lifted its stake in Advance Auto Parts by 141.5% in the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 41,891 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,948,000 after purchasing an additional 24,545 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.70% of the companys stock.

Advance Auto Parts Company Profile

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Advance Auto Parts, Inc (NYSE: AAP) is a leading distributor of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, and maintenance items. The company operates a network of stores and distribution centers across North America, serving both do-it-yourself (DIY) customers and professional service providers. Advance Auto Parts focuses on offering a comprehensive selection of replacement parts, batteries, engine components, and performance products for cars and light trucks.

The companys product portfolio includes engine oils and lubricants, cooling system components, brake and suspension parts, filters, belts, hoses, and diagnostic tools.

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Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the eight ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $69.00.

Several equities analysts have weighed in on NBR shares. Barclays raised their price objective on Nabors Industries from $50.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $77.00 target price (up from $70.00) on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Friday, February 13th. UBS Group set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Nabors Industries in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $85.00 price objective (up from $60.00) on shares of Nabors Industries in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $80.00 target price on shares of Nabors Industries in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st.

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Nabors Industries Price Performance

NBR stock opened at $76.48 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 1.56. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $65.89 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.26. The company has a market capitalization of $1.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.64 and a beta of 0.89. Nabors Industries has a 52-week low of $23.27 and a 52-week high of $82.30.

Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The oil and gas company reported $0.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($2.93) by $3.10. The company had revenue of $805.13 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $795.82 million. Nabors Industries had a negative return on equity of 17.63% and a net margin of 8.92%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($6.67) earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Nabors Industries will post -6.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Monaco Asset Management SAM bought a new position in Nabors Industries during the second quarter valued at about $210,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH bought a new stake in Nabors Industries in the third quarter worth about $1,063,000. Highbridge Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Nabors Industries by 26.9% in the third quarter. Highbridge Capital Management LLC now owns 491,795 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $20,100,000 after acquiring an additional 104,219 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 7.6% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 321,800 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $9,017,000 after acquiring an additional 22,594 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 59.5% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 338,566 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $9,488,000 after acquiring an additional 126,243 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.92% of the companys stock.

About Nabors Industries

(Get Free Report)

Nabors Industries Ltd. is a global oil and gas drilling contractor that provides land and offshore drilling rigs, drilling equipment and related services to energy companies around the world. The companys operations span two core segments: drilling and evaluation, which includes land?based and platform drilling rigs as well as wellbore survey services, and wellbore technologies, offering pressure control equipment, downhole tools and specialized maintenance services. Nabors integrated model combines rig operations with engineered products and field support, positioning it as a full?service provider in the upstream sector.

The company maintains a diverse, modern fleet of automated and conventional drilling rigs and has pioneered advanced drilling technologies, including automated drilling controls and managed pressure drilling systems.

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Zhang Han, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, gestures at a regular press conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday responded to a media inquiry about the epic historical television series "Swords Into Plowshares," which has attracted widespread viewership and discussion across the Taiwan Strait, at a regular press conference.

The series -- whose Chinese title literally translates as "Peaceful Years" -- is set during the tumultuous Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907-979). At the heart of the story is the King of Wuyue, whose peaceful surrender to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) was a pivotal act that helped reunify China at that time.

The drama underscores the enduring conviction of the Chinese nation to oppose division and strive for unity, said Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

"History is the best textbook," she added, noting that the attention and discussion the series has sparked among audiences on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, regarding both its storyline and the historical context behind it, fully reflect the shared aspiration for peace among compatriots across the Strait.

Zhang expressed the hope that all Taiwan compatriots will firmly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and actively advance the country's peaceful reunification. 

Zhang Han, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, gestures at a regular press conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)
Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty-four ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, thirteen have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $260.1364.

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UNP. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Susquehanna reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, January 19th.

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Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $265.46 on Friday. Union Pacific has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $268.14. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $243.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $232.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $157.52 billion, a PE ratio of 22.18, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.75.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. The businesss revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacifics payout ratio is presently 46.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Capital World Investors boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter worth about $1,856,340,000. Capital Research Global Investors raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% during the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $2,059,538,000 after acquiring an additional 4,244,226 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $2,169,168,000 after purchasing an additional 3,861,636 shares during the period. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 22,618.2% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $603,876,000 after acquiring an additional 2,613,083 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the companys stock.

About Union Pacific

(Get Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two?thirds of the United States.

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Shares of Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the eighteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $23.20.

OLN has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group set a $21.00 target price on Olin in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Olin from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of Olin in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Olin from $24.00 to $21.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, KeyCorp lowered their price target on Olin from $29.00 to $26.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 2nd.

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Insider Activity

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Olin

In related news, CFO Todd A. Slater sold 92,250 shares of Olin stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.48, for a total value of $2,073,780.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 44,291 shares in the company, valued at approximately $995,661.68. This trade represents a 67.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, VP R Nichole Sumner sold 4,750 shares of Olin stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.49, for a total value of $106,827.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 24,771 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $557,099.79. This trade represents a 16.09% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 99,379 shares of company stock worth $2,238,298. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in OLN. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in Olin by 20.2% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 85,198 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $2,066,000 after acquiring an additional 14,344 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Olin in the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in Olin by 467.9% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 13,805 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $335,000 after buying an additional 11,374 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Olin by 57.6% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 588,602 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $14,268,000 after purchasing an additional 215,235 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in shares of Olin by 6.7% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 317,472 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $7,696,000 after buying an additional 20,047 shares during the last quarter. 88.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Olin Price Performance

OLN opened at $24.33 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $2.76 billion, a PE ratio of -64.03 and a beta of 1.56. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $23.37 and a 200-day moving average price of $22.74. Olin has a 1 year low of $17.66 and a 1 year high of $27.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

Olin (NYSE:OLN  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.58) earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.58). The business had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.61 billion. Olin had a negative net margin of 0.63% and a negative return on equity of 0.48%. Olins revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.09 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Olin will post 1.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Olin Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. Olins dividend payout ratio is presently -210.53%.

About Olin

(Get Free Report)

Olin Corporation is a diversified manufacturer specializing in chemical products and ammunition. The companys core business activities encompass the production and distribution of chlor-alkali products, epoxy resins and derivatives, and small-caliber ammunition under the Winchester brand. Olins chemical operations supply chlorine, caustic soda and related co-products to a wide range of end markets, including water treatment, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals and general industrial applications.

In its Chlor Alkali Products & Vinyls segment, Olin operates multiple manufacturing facilities that produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide, along with vinyl chloride monomer and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds.

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Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co lifted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH  Free Report) by 59.2% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 81,398 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 30,258 shares during the quarter. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Cos holdings in American Homes 4 Rent were worth $2,706,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in American Homes 4 Rent by 0.6% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 44,715,728 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,486,798,000 after acquiring an additional 246,713 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent during the second quarter worth approximately $796,706,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in American Homes 4 Rent by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,964,813 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $250,566,000 after purchasing an additional 31,179 shares during the last quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in American Homes 4 Rent by 25.9% in the 3rd quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 5,271,280 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $175,270,000 after purchasing an additional 1,082,972 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in American Homes 4 Rent by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,421,478 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $159,483,000 after buying an additional 54,618 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.87% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

AMH has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on American Homes 4 Rent from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a market perform rating on shares of American Homes 4 Rent in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of American Homes 4 Rent from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Sunday, January 18th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of American Homes 4 Rent in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Citizens Jmp reduced their price target on American Homes 4 Rent from $41.00 to $37.00 and set a market outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $36.22.

Insider Activity at American Homes 4 Rent

In other American Homes 4 Rent news, Director Jack E. Corrigan bought 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $22.96 per share, for a total transaction of $114,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 17,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $397,208. The trade was a 40.65% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director David Goldberg bought 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $29.17 per share, with a total value of $58,340.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 34,723 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,012,869.91. The trade was a 6.11% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders have acquired 8,571 shares of company stock valued at $210,844 over the last ninety days. 6.01% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

American Homes 4 Rent Stock Performance

Shares of American Homes 4 Rent stock opened at $29.87 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The company has a market cap of $10.87 billion, a PE ratio of 25.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.25 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a 50 day moving average of $31.26 and a 200-day moving average of $32.27. American Homes 4 Rent has a 1-year low of $28.84 and a 1-year high of $39.49.

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 19th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.47 by ($0.14). American Homes 4 Rent had a net margin of 24.48% and a return on equity of 5.93%. The firm had revenue of $402.93 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $459.24 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.45 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. American Homes 4 Rent has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.890-1.950 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that American Homes 4 Rent will post 1.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Homes 4 Rent Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.4%. This is an increase from American Homes 4 Rents previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. American Homes 4 Rents dividend payout ratio is currently 101.69%.

About American Homes 4 Rent

(Free Report)

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in the acquisition, development and management of single-family rental homes. Since its initial public offering in April 2013, the company has focused on building a large-scale, professionally managed portfolio of homes designed to meet the needs of todays renters. Its business model emphasizes the acquisition of well-located properties coupled with consistent, in-house property management to drive occupancy and long-term value.

As of the most recent reporting, American Homes 4 Rent owns and operates tens of thousands of homes across the United States, with concentration in key Sun Belt and high-growth markets.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH  Free Report).

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ENB Financial Corp (OTCMKTS:ENBP  Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $24.11 and traded as high as $25.25. ENB Financial shares last traded at $25.25, with a volume of 2,616 shares traded.

ENB Financial Stock Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average price of $24.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $22.10.

ENB Financial Company Profile

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ENB Financial Corp operates as the bank holding company for Ephrata National Bank that provides various financial services to individuals and small-to-medium-sized businesses in Pennsylvania, the United States. The company's deposit products include non-interest bearing and interest-bearing demand deposits, NOW accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, and time deposits. Its loan portfolio comprises secured and unsecured commercial, real estate, and consumer loans. The company also provides direct deposit and direct payments of funds through electronic funds transfer.

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Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (OTCMKTS:RBGLY  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company.

RBGLY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Reckitt Benckiser Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Barclays raised Reckitt Benckiser Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st.

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Reckitt Benckiser Group Stock Down 0.3%

About Reckitt Benckiser Group

OTCMKTS RBGLY opened at $16.41 on Wednesday. Reckitt Benckiser Group has a 52-week low of $11.99 and a 52-week high of $16.80. The company has a fifty day moving average of $16.81 and a 200-day moving average of $15.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01.

(Get Free Report)

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc is a multinational consumer goods company that develops, manufactures and markets health, hygiene and home products. Its portfolio spans over-the-counter medicines and health products, personal and sexual wellness, surface and laundry cleaning, and household care. The company owns a number of well-known global brands across these categories, including Lysol and Dettol in disinfectants and hygiene, Durex in sexual wellness, Nurofen in analgesics, and Finish in dishwashing products.

The firm has its corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom and sells products in markets around the world, serving consumers across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

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Shares of MTU Aero Engines AG (OTCMKTS:MTUAY  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eight research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have assigned a hold recommendation, two have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MTUAY shares. Citigroup reiterated a sell rating on shares of MTU Aero Engines in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised MTU Aero Engines to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Zacks Research raised shares of MTU Aero Engines from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Kepler Capital Markets downgraded MTU Aero Engines from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th.

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MTU Aero Engines Stock Performance

Shares of MTU Aero Engines stock opened at $203.41 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.39. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $222.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $217.50. MTU Aero Engines has a 1 year low of $145.02 and a 1 year high of $238.57. The firm has a market cap of $21.90 billion, a PE ratio of 18.99 and a beta of 1.09.

MTU Aero Engines (OTCMKTS:MTUAY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $2.67 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter. MTU Aero Engines had a net margin of 11.74% and a return on equity of 24.66%. Equities analysts forecast that MTU Aero Engines will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MTU Aero Engines Company Profile

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MTU Aero Engines AG is a German aircraft engine manufacturer headquartered in Munich that develops, manufactures and services commercial and military aero engines as well as industrial gas turbines. The companys activities span the entire engine lifecycle, from conceptual design and development through production of modules and components to aftermarket maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). MTU supplies parts and technical solutions for a broad range of jet engines and turbomachinery used by airlines, MRO providers and defense customers.

In addition to core engine development and manufacturing, MTU offers comprehensive aftermarket services including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, spare parts distribution, repair technologies and fleet support programs.

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Intech Investment Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG  Free Report) by 85.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,258 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 59,984 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLCs holdings in Packaging Corporation of America were worth $2,236,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. MAI Capital Management increased its stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 41.2% during the 3rd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 3,544 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $772,000 after purchasing an additional 1,034 shares in the last quarter. Waddell & Associates LLC purchased a new position in Packaging Corporation of America during the third quarter worth $214,000. Mount Lucas Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 3.5% in the third quarter. Mount Lucas Management LP now owns 6,367 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,388,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. lifted its position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 21.7% in the third quarter. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. now owns 2,410 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $525,000 after acquiring an additional 430 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compound Planning Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 6.0% during the third quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 1,723 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $375,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.78% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Packaging Corporation of America news, President Thomas A. Hassfurther sold 12,129 shares of Packaging Corporation of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.50, for a total transaction of $2,795,734.50. Following the transaction, the president directly owned 197,062 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,422,791. The trade was a 5.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

Packaging Corporation of America Trading Up 0.3%

PKG stock opened at $231.90 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.94, a current ratio of 3.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The company has a market cap of $20.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.06, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.88. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $224.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $212.71. Packaging Corporation of America has a 52 week low of $172.71 and a 52 week high of $249.51.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The industrial products company reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by ($0.09). Packaging Corporation of America had a net margin of 8.61% and a return on equity of 19.22%. The firm had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.47 EPS. Packaging Corporation of Americas revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Packaging Corporation of America has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 2.200-2.20 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Packaging Corporation of America will post 10.44 EPS for the current year.

Packaging Corporation of America Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. Packaging Corporation of Americas dividend payout ratio is 58.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Argus raised shares of Packaging Corporation of America to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $238.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Packaging Corporation of America from $226.00 to $227.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered Packaging Corporation of America from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $236.00.

Read Our Latest Report on PKG

Packaging Corporation of America Company Profile

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Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) is a leading North American manufacturer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products. The company produces a range of paper-based packaging solutions including linerboard, corrugating medium, corrugated shipping containers, retail-ready packaging and point-of-purchase displays. In addition to core packaging products, Packaging Corporation of America offers packaging design, testing and supply-chain services intended to optimize protection, cost and sustainability for customers.

Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, the company operates an integrated network of mills and corrugated manufacturing facilities across the United States and serves customers throughout North America in industries such as e-commerce, grocery and food & beverage, consumer packaged goods and industrial markets.

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National Grid Transco, PLC (NYSE:NGG  Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the ten ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $83.80.

A number of research firms recently weighed in on NGG. Zacks Research upgraded National Grid Transco from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. BNP Paribas Exane lowered shares of National Grid Transco from an outperform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of National Grid Transco in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of National Grid Transco in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of National Grid Transco in a report on Monday, January 26th.

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Institutional Trading of National Grid Transco

National Grid Transco Price Performance

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NGG. Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of National Grid Transco during the second quarter worth approximately $487,000. Creative Planning grew its position in National Grid Transco by 23.3% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 89,239 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,640,000 after buying an additional 16,857 shares in the last quarter. Summit Global Investments increased its stake in National Grid Transco by 19.1% during the 2nd quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 53,559 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,985,000 after acquiring an additional 8,603 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in National Grid Transco by 189.2% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 111,083 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,604,000 after acquiring an additional 72,673 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of National Grid Transco by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,089,650 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $151,855,000 after acquiring an additional 48,048 shares during the period. 4.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

NGG opened at $90.73 on Wednesday. National Grid Transco has a 12-month low of $59.35 and a 12-month high of $94.64. The business has a 50 day moving average of $84.62 and a 200-day moving average of $77.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14.

National Grid Transco Company Profile

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National Grid Transco (NYSE: NGG) is a utility company focused on the transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas. The company builds, owns, operates and maintains large-scale energy infrastructure, including high-voltage electricity transmission lines, electricity distribution networks and high-pressure gas pipelines. Its core activities center on providing safe, reliable delivery of energy to residential, commercial and industrial customers while meeting regulatory requirements across its service territories.

Services provided by National Grid Transco encompass network operation and maintenance, system balancing and control, metering and connections, and capital investment in grid modernization and reliability projects.

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Shares of Bluebird Merchant Ventures Limited (LON:BMV  Get Free Report) were down 30% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 0.06 and last traded at GBX 0.07. Approximately 54,647,676 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 354% from the average daily volume of 12,040,229 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.10.

Bluebird Merchant Ventures Price Performance

The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 0.15 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 0.48. The firm has a market cap of 1.61 million, a PE ratio of -0.24 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a current ratio of 0.08 and a quick ratio of 0.08.

About Bluebird Merchant Ventures

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Bluebird Merchant Ventures Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and developing of mineral properties. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds interests in the Gubong project and Kochang project located in South Korea. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Road Town, the British Virgin Islands.

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Basf (OTCMKTS:BASFY  Get Free Report) was upgraded by DZ Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Basf in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Basf from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Barclays lowered Basf from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Berenberg Bank raised Basf from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of Basf from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Basf Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS BASFY opened at $13.30 on Monday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $13.76 and its 200-day simple moving average is $13.12. Basf has a fifty-two week low of $10.75 and a fifty-two week high of $15.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.01.

Basf (OTCMKTS:BASFY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 27th. The basic materials company reported ($0.12) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.30 by ($0.42). The company had revenue of $16.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.32 billion. Basf had a return on equity of 4.37% and a net margin of 2.59%. Equities research analysts forecast that Basf will post 0.83 EPS for the current year.

Basf Company Profile

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BASF SE is a Germany-based chemical company founded in 1865 (originally Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik) and headquartered in Ludwigshafen. It is one of the worlds largest chemical producers, supplying raw materials, intermediates and finished chemical products to a broad range of industries including automotive, construction, agriculture, consumer goods, electronics and industrial manufacturing. The company combines large-scale production with global commercial and logistics networks to serve customers in many end markets.

BASFs activities span basic and specialty chemicals, performance materials, functional additives, catalysts and coatings, as well as products for nutrition and personal care.

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UNITED NATIONS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Middle East hostilities are severely impacting aid operations across the region, with disruptions to shipping and travel routes affecting relief supply chains, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also said the disruptions curb the movement of aid workers and threaten to worsen food insecurity in many areas.

OCHA said Lebanese authorities reported that more than 50 people were killed and hundreds more injured in the past two days. Widespread Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, Baalbek, Chouf and the southern suburbs of Beirut, causing further casualties and significant destruction. Three paramedics were killed and six injured while responding to an airstrike on Tuesday.

"Civilians continue to flee, often with little more than the clothes they are wearing and what they can carry," the office said. "Since the onset of hostilities, at least 80,000 people have sought refuge in collective shelters, according to the authorities. However, this represents only a fraction of all people who have been displaced."

Forced displacement orders continue to be issued, including one on Wednesday covering the entire area south of the Litani River, home to hundreds of thousands of people.

"Humanitarian partners are working closely with national and local authorities," OCHA said. "Rapid response teams are assessing needs and distributing emergency supplies in affected areas and collective shelters. So far, partners working in food security have reached more than 20,000 displaced people with hot meals and over 15,000 with ready-to-eat food."

The office said its health partners, together with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, are providing medicine and scaling up mobile primary health care services in shelters and other locations. Water and sanitation partners are supporting the continued operation of critical water and wastewater facilities, including by providing fuel.

In Gaza, the office said, while aid workers continue to press for the lifting of restrictions on aid deliveries, they report that the coordination of humanitarian movements with Israeli authorities in the Gaza Strip has resumed in the face of hostilities in the Middle East.

The office said its partners successfully coordinated on Wednesday three missions to the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing, to collect cargo and to monitor operations there.

OCHA once again underscores that more crossings must be open and a sustained flow of supplies, including fuel, must enter Gaza safely and predictably so aid agencies can continue scaling up humanitarian operations. 
Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 16,943 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,198,000.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in Oshkosh in the second quarter valued at $98,570,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Oshkosh by 22.8% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,858,787 shares of the companys stock worth $324,587,000 after buying an additional 529,907 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Oshkosh by 25.4% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,709,338 shares of the companys stock worth $193,728,000 after buying an additional 345,782 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in shares of Oshkosh by 1,245.4% in the 3rd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 217,365 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,192,000 after acquiring an additional 201,209 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi increased its position in shares of Oshkosh by 616.7% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 224,765 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,529,000 after acquiring an additional 193,406 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.36% of the companys stock.

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Oshkosh Price Performance

NYSE:OSK opened at $168.09 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $10.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.37. The firms fifty day moving average price is $155.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $139.70. Oshkosh Corporation has a one year low of $76.82 and a one year high of $180.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 1.94 and a quick ratio of 1.05.

Oshkosh Increases Dividend

Oshkosh ( NYSE:OSK Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.33 by ($0.07). Oshkosh had a return on equity of 15.69% and a net margin of 6.21%.The company had revenue of $2.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.58 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Oshkosh Corporation will post 10.96 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This is a boost from Oshkoshs previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. Oshkoshs dividend payout ratio is presently 22.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. UBS Group restated a buy rating and issued a $167.00 price target on shares of Oshkosh in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Oshkosh from $168.00 to $204.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Oshkosh from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $175.00 price target on shares of Oshkosh in a research report on Monday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Oshkosh in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Oshkosh currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $162.81.

Check Out Our Latest Report on OSK

Insider Activity at Oshkosh

In other news, SVP Anupam Khare sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $169.07, for a total transaction of $676,280.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 13,577 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,295,463.39. This trade represents a 22.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock.

Oshkosh Profile

(Free Report)

Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty trucks, military vehicles and access equipment. The companys offerings span critical end markets, including defense, fire and emergency services, commercial construction and industrial sectors. By combining engineering expertise with advanced technologies, Oshkosh delivers solutions that enhance mobility, safety and productivity for its customers.

Founded in 1917 and headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the company has evolved from producing heavy-duty dump trucks to a diversified portfolio of products and services.

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Royce & Associates LP reduced its holdings in NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU  Free Report) by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 11,500 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 1,665 shares during the period. Royce & Associates LPs holdings in NewMarket were worth $9,524,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of NEU. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in NewMarket by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 220 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $182,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in NewMarket by 5.8% during the third quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 329 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $273,000 after buying an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. MGO One Seven LLC boosted its stake in NewMarket by 6.5% during the third quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 328 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $272,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. MAI Capital Management grew its holdings in NewMarket by 20.8% in the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 122 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $84,000 after buying an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System increased its stake in shares of NewMarket by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 2,374 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $1,966,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. 61.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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NewMarket Trading Up 0.9%

NEU opened at $631.04 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.93 billion, a PE ratio of 14.21 and a beta of 0.50. NewMarket Corporation has a one year low of $510.07 and a one year high of $875.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 2.53. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $666.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $743.52.

NewMarket Dividend Announcement

NewMarket ( NYSE:NEU Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The specialty chemicals company reported $8.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. NewMarket had a return on equity of 25.38% and a net margin of 15.37%.The company had revenue of $635.40 million during the quarter.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a $3.00 dividend. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. NewMarkets payout ratio is 27.01%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Ting Xu bought 400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were bought at an average price of $619.21 per share, with a total value of $247,684.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 929 shares of the companys stock, valued at $575,246.09. This represents a 75.61% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 19.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Weiss Ratings upgraded NewMarket from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy.

Get Our Latest Analysis on NewMarket

About NewMarket

(Free Report)

NewMarket Corporation is a specialty chemicals and lubricants company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Through its Valvoline business, the company markets a broad portfolio of automotive aftermarket products, including engine oils, transmission fluids, greases and vehicle care solutions. Valvoline products are distributed through retail and commercial channels as well as a network of quick-lube service centers that provide oil changes, preventive maintenance and related services.

In its chemical additives segment, NewMarket develops, manufactures and sells performance additives for fuels, lubricants and industrial fluids.

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Royce & Associates LP increased its stake in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO  Free Report) by 11.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 398,992 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 40,155 shares during the quarter. Royce & Associates LPs holdings in Victorias Secret & Co. were worth $10,829,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in Victorias Secret & Co. during the third quarter worth about $48,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in Victorias Secret & Co. in the 3rd quarter valued at about $53,000. Hara Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 7,258 shares of the companys stock worth $133,000 after acquiring an additional 521 shares during the period. 90.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Victorias Secret & Co. Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of VSCO stock opened at $61.93 on Wednesday. Victorias Secret & Co. has a twelve month low of $13.76 and a twelve month high of $66.89. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $59.44 and its 200 day simple moving average is $42.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 2.19.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Victorias Secret & Co. ( NYSE:VSCO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, December 5th. The company reported ($0.27) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.60) by $0.33. The firm had revenue of $1.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.41 billion. Victorias Secret & Co. had a return on equity of 33.47% and a net margin of 2.67%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($0.50) earnings per share. Victorias Secret & Co. has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.400-2.650 EPS and its Q4 2025 guidance at 2.200-2.45 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Victorias Secret & Co. will post 2.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

VSCO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. from $47.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded Victorias Secret & Co. from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Victorias Secret & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, December 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Victorias Secret & Co. from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $60.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Victorias Secret & Co. has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $59.00.

View Our Latest Research Report on Victorias Secret & Co.

Victorias Secret & Co. Company Profile

(Free Report)

Victorias Secret & Co is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of intimate apparel, beauty products and accessories for women. The company operates a portfolio of brands that includes Victorias Secret, renowned for its lingerie, bras and sleepwear; PINK, a line targeting younger consumers with activewear and lifestyle products; and Victorias Secret Beauty, offering fragrances, cosmetics and personal care items. Products are sold through retail stores as well as direct-to-consumer channels, including e-commerce platforms and mobile applications.

The origins of Victorias Secret date back to 1977, when founders Roy and Gaye Raymond opened the first store in San Francisco.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management boosted its position in shares of Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV  Free Report) (TSE:FNV) by 19.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 591,206 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 98,171 shares during the period. Franco-Nevada makes up about 1.2% of Picton Mahoney Asset Managements portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. Picton Mahoney Asset Management owned about 0.31% of Franco-Nevada worth $131,567,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in FNV. MTM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Franco-Nevada during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in Franco-Nevada by 600.0% in the second quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 196 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Franco-Nevada by 78.3% during the second quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 205 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co lifted its position in Franco-Nevada by 590.9% during the second quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 228 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Finally, City Holding Co. purchased a new position in shares of Franco-Nevada in the 3rd quarter worth $56,000. Institutional investors own 77.06% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FNV has been the topic of several recent research reports. HC Wainwright upped their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from $210.00 to $285.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on Franco-Nevada from $225.00 to $283.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Wall Street Zen raised Franco-Nevada from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. TD Securities decreased their price target on Franco-Nevada from $247.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce restated an outperform rating on shares of Franco-Nevada in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Franco-Nevada has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $254.38.

Franco-Nevada Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE FNV opened at $262.04 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $242.87 and its 200-day moving average price is $215.32. Franco-Nevada Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $140.03 and a fifty-two week high of $285.67. The company has a market cap of $50.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.94, a PEG ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 0.45.

Franco-Nevada Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 12th will be given a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is a positive change from Franco-Nevadas previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 12th. Franco-Nevadas dividend payout ratio is 31.87%.

About Franco-Nevada

(Free Report)

Franco-Nevada Corporation is a Toronto-based royalty and streaming company that specializes in securing and managing long-term interests in mining properties. The firm focuses primarily on precious metals, particularly gold, while also holding interests related to silver, copper, platinum-group metals and select base metals. Rather than operating mines directly, Franco-Nevada acquires royalty and streaming agreements that entitle it to a percentage of production or revenue from producing and developing assets in exchange for upfront or staged financing.

The companys business model centers on providing capital to mining companies in return for a sustained share of production or metal revenue, which can reduce exposure to operating and capital cost risks typical of mine operators.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management boosted its stake in HudBay Minerals Inc (NYSE:HBM  Free Report) (TSE:HBM) by 9.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,350,482 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 537,964 shares during the quarter. HudBay Minerals comprises 0.9% of Picton Mahoney Asset Managements investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest position. Picton Mahoney Asset Management owned 1.60% of HudBay Minerals worth $96,171,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of HBM. GMT Capital Corp bought a new position in HudBay Minerals in the 2nd quarter valued at about $337,809,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of HudBay Minerals by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,198,255 shares of the mining companys stock worth $245,355,000 after acquiring an additional 373,399 shares during the period. L1 Capital Pty Ltd boosted its position in shares of HudBay Minerals by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. L1 Capital Pty Ltd now owns 15,054,087 shares of the mining companys stock worth $159,864,000 after acquiring an additional 630,703 shares in the last quarter. Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of HudBay Minerals during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $154,359,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in HudBay Minerals by 8.7% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 11,344,408 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $120,364,000 after acquiring an additional 903,517 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.82% of the companys stock.

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HudBay Minerals Stock Down 6.8%

Shares of HBM opened at $24.93 on Wednesday. HudBay Minerals Inc has a 52 week low of $5.95 and a 52 week high of $28.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.43, a PEG ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $23.95 and a 200-day moving average of $18.37.

HudBay Minerals Announces Dividend

HudBay Minerals ( NYSE:HBM Get Free Report ) (TSE:HBM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 20th. The mining company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by ($0.18). HudBay Minerals had a return on equity of 8.91% and a net margin of 25.71%.The firm had revenue of $732.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $730.13 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.18 EPS. The companys revenue was up 25.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that HudBay Minerals Inc will post 0.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.01 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 8.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 10th. HudBay Mineralss payout ratio is 0.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on HBM. Weiss Ratings upgraded HudBay Minerals from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reissued an outperform rating on shares of HudBay Minerals in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating on shares of HudBay Minerals in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. UBS Group started coverage on HudBay Minerals in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of HudBay Minerals in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $26.00.

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About HudBay Minerals

(Free Report)

HudBay Minerals Inc is a Canada-based mining company engaged in the exploration, development and production of base and precious metals. Its primary products include copper, zinc, gold and silver concentrates, which are sold to smelters and refiners worldwide. The companys operations span multiple stages of the mining cycle, from resource definition and feasibility studies to mine construction, extraction and reclamation.

The company traces its roots back to 1927, when it was established as Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co Limited.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management raised its position in shares of Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN  Free Report) by 15.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,629,023 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 348,824 shares during the quarter. Brookfield comprises 1.6% of Picton Mahoney Asset Managements portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest holding. Picton Mahoney Asset Management owned about 0.11% of Brookfield worth $180,351,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Brookfield during the second quarter valued at about $32,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in Brookfield by 109.3% in the second quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 632 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Corp bought a new position in shares of Brookfield during the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in shares of Brookfield by 507.5% in the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 650 shares of the companys stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 543 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Brookfield in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $51,000. Institutional investors own 61.60% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Brookfield from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. National Bank Financial increased their price objective on Brookfield from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce restated an outperform rating and issued a $52.00 target price (up from $50.67) on shares of Brookfield in a report on Friday, November 14th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Brookfield in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, TD Securities increased their price target on Brookfield from $57.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $54.59.

Brookfield Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BN opened at $43.06 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average is $46.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.73. The company has a market cap of $105.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 87.28 and a beta of 1.58. Brookfield Corporation has a 12-month low of $29.07 and a 12-month high of $49.56. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48.

Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.67 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $1.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.63 billion. Brookfield had a return on equity of 3.87% and a net margin of 1.74%. Equities analysts expect that Brookfield Corporation will post 3.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Brookfield Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a $0.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is a positive change from Brookfields previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. Brookfields dividend payout ratio is currently 48.98%.

Brookfield Company Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) is a global alternative asset manager that specializes in real assets. The company invests in and operates businesses across real estate, infrastructure, renewable power and energy, private equity and credit. Its activities span both ownership and active management of physical assets as well as the operation of investment funds and vehicles that provide institutional and retail investors access to long?lived, cash?generating assets.

Brookfields services include asset management, direct investing, property development and the operation of infrastructure and energy businesses.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management lifted its stake in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 41.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 115,683 shares of the aircraft producers stock after buying an additional 34,152 shares during the quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in Boeing were worth $24,968,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Boeing by 43.3% during the second quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 3,598 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $754,000 after buying an additional 1,088 shares during the period. SteelPeak Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Boeing by 50.4% during the 3rd quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 26,360 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $5,689,000 after acquiring an additional 8,833 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Boeing by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 66,773,360 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $13,991,022,000 after purchasing an additional 1,118,316 shares during the last quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Boeing by 734.4% in the 3rd quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. now owns 10,322 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $2,228,000 after purchasing an additional 9,085 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Boeing by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 5,505,040 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $1,188,153,000 after purchasing an additional 177,597 shares during the last quarter. 64.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Boeing

In other Boeing news, EVP Howard E. Mckenzie sold 10,497 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $233.99, for a total transaction of $2,456,193.03. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 14,692 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,437,781.08. This trade represents a 41.67% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Ann M. Schmidt sold 6,281 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.37, for a total value of $1,528,606.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 13,978 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,401,825.86. The trade was a 31.00% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 21,012 shares of company stock valued at $4,980,687 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Boeing Stock Down 2.5%

Shares of NYSE:BA opened at $223.98 on Wednesday. The Boeing Company has a 1-year low of $128.88 and a 1-year high of $254.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.37, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.40. The stock has a market cap of $175.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 111.43 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $235.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $219.75.

Boeing (NYSE:BA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The aircraft producer reported $9.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.40) by $10.32. The business had revenue of $23.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($5.90) earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 57.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on BA. BNP Paribas Exane set a $150.00 target price on shares of Boeing in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Vertical Research reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $281.00 price objective on shares of Boeing in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Boeing from $290.00 to $295.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Sunday, February 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating on shares of Boeing in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Finally, Wolfe Research reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Boeing in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Boeing has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $246.14.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Boeing

Boeing Profile

(Free Report)

Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense systems, and space and security technologies. Founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, the company today operates as an integrated aerospace and defense contractor with a global customer base. Boeing relocated its corporate headquarters to Arlington, Virginia in 2022 and maintains extensive engineering, manufacturing and service operations across the United States and around the world.

Boeings principal lines of business include Commercial Airplanes, which produces and supports a range of jetliners used by airlines globally; Defense, Space & Security, which develops military aircraft, rotorcraft, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, satellites, and launch and missile systems; and Boeing Global Services, which provides aftermarket maintenance, training, spare parts, digital analytics and logistics support.

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Fox Hill Wealth Management purchased a new position in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 116,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,350,000. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries comprises about 1.1% of Fox Hill Wealth Managements investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Phoenix Financial Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 9.4% in the third quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 41,295,244 shares of the companys stock worth $834,164,000 after buying an additional 3,533,800 shares during the period. Menora Mivtachim Holdings LTD. grew its position in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 31.9% during the 2nd quarter. Menora Mivtachim Holdings LTD. now owns 38,493,294 shares of the companys stock worth $645,148,000 after acquiring an additional 9,303,978 shares during the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. increased its stake in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 12.9% in the 3rd quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 37,696,690 shares of the companys stock worth $761,455,000 after purchasing an additional 4,306,363 shares during the period. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. lifted its position in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 13.6% in the third quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 32,582,212 shares of the companys stock valued at $658,161,000 after purchasing an additional 3,896,790 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lingotto Investment Management LLP lifted its position in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 1.1% in the second quarter. Lingotto Investment Management LLP now owns 28,156,918 shares of the companys stock valued at $471,910,000 after purchasing an additional 302,975 shares during the last quarter. 54.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Stock Down 4.3%

Shares of NYSE TEVA opened at $32.31 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $33.01 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.02. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has a 12 month low of $12.47 and a 12 month high of $37.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.15 billion, a PE ratio of 26.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 11.30 and a beta of 0.72.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries ( NYSE:TEVA Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The company reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.31. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had a net margin of 8.16% and a return on equity of 46.28%. The company had revenue of $4.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.36 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.71 earnings per share. Teva Pharmaceutical Industriess quarterly revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.570-2.770 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. will post 2.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on TEVA. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $38.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $28.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $36.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $37.56.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Eliyahu Sharon Kalif sold 345,810 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.64, for a total value of $11,633,048.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 57,478 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,933,559.92. This represents a 85.75% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Richard Daniell sold 115,468 shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.68, for a total value of $3,311,622.24. Following the sale, the vice president owned 48,384 shares in the company, valued at $1,387,653.12. This represents a 70.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 767,870 shares of company stock worth $23,888,014. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Profile

(Free Report)

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA) is an Israeli multinational pharmaceutical company and one of the worlds largest manufacturers of generic medicines. The companys core activities include the development, production and marketing of generic pharmaceuticals alongside a portfolio of specialty branded medicines. Teva supplies finished dosage forms and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to markets around the globe and operates manufacturing and research facilities in multiple countries.

Tevas product range covers oral solids, injectables, inhalation products and other dosage forms across therapeutic areas such as central nervous system disorders, respiratory, oncology, pain and infectious disease.

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Dividends

Thomasville Bancshares pays an annual dividend of $2.90 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Thomasville Bancshares pays out 42.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BANKS  SOUTHEAST companies pay a dividend yield of 2.0% and pay out 24.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Profitability

This table compares Thomasville Bancshares and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Thomasville Bancshares N/A N/A N/A Thomasville Bancshares Competitors 15.99% 9.60% 1.05%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

50.4% of shares of all BANKS  SOUTHEAST companies are owned by institutional investors. 12.8% of shares of all BANKS  SOUTHEAST companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Thomasville Bancshares $137.59 million $44.71 million 13.74 Thomasville Bancshares Competitors $858.77 million $157.67 million 13.95

This table compares Thomasville Bancshares and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Thomasville Bancshares peers have higher revenue and earnings than Thomasville Bancshares. Thomasville Bancshares is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Volatility and Risk

Thomasville Bancshares has a beta of 0.2, indicating that its share price is 80% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Thomasville Bancshares peers have a beta of 0.56, indicating that their average share price is 44% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Thomasville Bancshares peers beat Thomasville Bancshares on 10 of the 11 factors compared.

Thomasville Bancshares Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Thomasville Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Thomasville National Bank that provides a range of banking services to individual and corporate customers primarily in Thomas and Glynn counties, Georgia, Leon County, Florida, and the surrounding counties. The company offers checking and savings accounts; money market accounts; and certificates of deposits. It also provides commercial real estate mortgage loans, such as non-farm and non-residential commercial real estate loans, construction loans for commercial businesses, multifamily loans secured by income producing properties, and farmland; and 1-4 family residential loans, including first mortgage liens, junior liens, and home equity lines. In addition, the company offers commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; consumer loans comprising direct consumer instalment loans, overdrafts, and other revolving credit loans and educational loans; and loans to municipalities and development authorities. Further, it provides trust and money management services. The company was incorporated in 1995 and is based in Thomasville, Georgia.

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Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC cut its holdings in OGE Energy Corporation (NYSE:OGE  Free Report) by 2.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 470,044 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 13,817 shares during the quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLCs holdings in OGE Energy were worth $21,749,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. AE Wealth Management LLC raised its position in OGE Energy by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 356,485 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $16,495,000 after purchasing an additional 16,058 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of OGE Energy by 6.1% during the third quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 779,470 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,066,000 after buying an additional 44,503 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of OGE Energy by 302.8% during the third quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC now owns 58,392 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,702,000 after buying an additional 43,895 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of OGE Energy by 390.6% in the third quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 36,805 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,703,000 after buying an additional 29,303 shares during the period. Finally, Reaves W H & Co. Inc. lifted its stake in shares of OGE Energy by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. now owns 1,335,747 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $61,805,000 after acquiring an additional 93,462 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.84% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Lyle G. Ganske bought 10,420 shares of OGE Energy stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $47.99 per share, for a total transaction of $500,055.80. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 10,420 shares of the companys stock, valued at $500,055.80. This trade represents a ? increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Sarah R. Stafford sold 6,130 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.77, for a total transaction of $292,830.10. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 28,559 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,364,263.43. The trade was a 17.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

OGE Energy Stock Performance

Shares of OGE Energy stock opened at $48.80 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $44.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $44.66. The firm has a market cap of $10.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.13, a P/E/G ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 0.61. OGE Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $40.80 and a 12 month high of $49.55.

OGE Energy (NYSE:OGE  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The utilities provider reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.30 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $725.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $277.80 million. OGE Energy had a net margin of 14.44% and a return on equity of 9.89%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.50 EPS. OGE Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.380-2.480 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that OGE Energy Corporation will post 2.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

OGE Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Investors of record on Monday, April 6th will be given a dividend of $0.425 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 6th. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. OGE Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.59%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have commented on OGE. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on OGE Energy in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. They issued a market perform rating and a $45.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of OGE Energy from $51.00 to $49.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Mizuho set a $49.00 price target on shares of OGE Energy in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of OGE Energy in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of OGE Energy from $45.00 to $44.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, OGE Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $47.63.

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OGE Energy Profile

(Free Report)

OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE:OGE) is an energy and infrastructure holding company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Through its principal subsidiary, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company, the company provides regulated electric service to residential, commercial and industrial customers across Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Its diversified generation mix includes coal, natural gas and wind-powered facilities, complemented by ongoing investments in grid modernization and smart technology to enhance reliability and customer satisfaction.

In addition to its core electric utility operations, OGE Energy Corp.

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BEIRUT, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Wednesday that the group will continue its resistance against Israel, describing the confrontation as an "existential defense."

Qassem said in a televised speech that Hezbollah had adhered to a ceasefire agreement between the group and Israel, while Israel failed to commit to any of its provisions.

"More than 10,000 violations" had been recorded by the United Nations and the Lebanese army since the ceasefire took effect, while around 500 people had been killed during the same period, he said.

Qassem said Hezbollah had refrained from responding to repeated Israeli attacks during that period in order not to be accused of obstructing diplomatic efforts, adding that the latest rocket barrage launched by the group was a response to Israeli and U.S. "aggression," as well as months of Israeli violations.

Separately, Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired a salvo of rockets on Tuesday evening toward the Tel Hashomer base, described as the headquarters of the Israeli army command southeast of Tel Aviv, as well as a military target south of the city of Haifa.

Hezbollah on Monday fired missiles towards Israel, citing the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by Israel and the United States, as well as the repeated Israeli attacks. Israel then launched massive strikes against the group and sent ground forces into southern Lebanon. 
SecureAlert (OTCMKTS:TRCK  Get Free Report) and American Noble Gas (NYSE:INFY  Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, dividends, valuation and earnings.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings for SecureAlert and American Noble Gas, as reported by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SecureAlert 0 0 0 0 0.00 American Noble Gas 1 7 2 0 2.10

American Noble Gas has a consensus target price of $16.89, suggesting a potential upside of 18.59%. Given American Noble Gas stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe American Noble Gas is more favorable than SecureAlert.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Profitability

5.8% of SecureAlert shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 16.2% of American Noble Gas shares are held by institutional investors. 11.1% of SecureAlert shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 22.4% of American Noble Gas shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

This table compares SecureAlert and American Noble Gas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SecureAlert 1.80% -33.67% 10.00% American Noble Gas 16.16% 30.60% 19.26%

Volatility and Risk

SecureAlert has a beta of 0.25, meaning that its share price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, American Noble Gas has a beta of 1.01, meaning that its share price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares SecureAlert and American Noble Gass gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio SecureAlert $35.22 million 0.15 -$1.88 million $0.05 8.80 American Noble Gas $19.28 billion 2.99 $3.16 billion $0.77 18.49

American Noble Gas has higher revenue and earnings than SecureAlert. SecureAlert is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than American Noble Gas, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

American Noble Gas beats SecureAlert on 14 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SecureAlert

(Get Free Report)

Track Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets location tracking devices in the United States, Latin America, and internationally. The company's products include ReliAlert XC4, a GPS monitoring device; and ReliAlert XC 3, which enables agencies to track offender movements and communicate directly with offenders in real-time through on-board two/three-way voice communication technology. It also provides IntelliTrack, a secure state of the art device-agnostic platform; IntelliTrack Mobile, a mobile application of the Intellitrack software is available for Android and iOS devices; TrackerPAL, a cloud-based monitoring system; TrackerPAL Mobile, a mobile application of the TrackerPAL software for Android and iOS devices; data analytics services; and BACtrack, a smartphone-based remote alcohol monitoring system. In addition, the company offers Empower smartphone application that provides victim and survivor support by creating a mobile geo-zone around a survivor of domestic abuse and communicates with the offender's tracking device; Socrates 360, a platform that offers various content and service; SecureCuff steel bands; and RF Beacon, a self-contained and short-range transmitting station that provides a radio frequency signal communicating with assigned offender GPS devices, as well as product support services. Further, the company develops and sells various related software, services, accessories, networking solutions, and monitoring applications. The company was formerly known as SecureAlert, Inc. and changed its name to Track Group, Inc. in May 2015. Track Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Naperville, Illinois.

About American Noble Gas

(Get Free Report)

Infosys Ltd. is a digital services and consulting company, which engages in the provision of end-to-end business solutions. It operates through the following segments: Financial Services, Retail, Communication, Energy, Utilities, Resources, and Services, Manufacturing, Hi-Tech, Life Sciences, and All Other. The company was founded by Dinesh Krishnan Swamy, Senapathy Gopalakrishnan, Narayana Ramarao Nagavara Murthy, Raghavan N. S., Ashok Arora, Nandan M. Nilekani, and S. D. Shibulal on July 2, 1981 and is headquartered in Bangalore, India.

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Managed Asset Portfolios LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG  Free Report) by 12.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 259,712 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 36,106 shares during the period. Bunge Global accounts for about 2.6% of Managed Asset Portfolios LLCs holdings, making the stock its 19th largest holding. Managed Asset Portfolios LLC owned about 0.13% of Bunge Global worth $21,102,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Glencore plc purchased a new stake in Bunge Global during the third quarter worth approximately $2,665,496,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Bunge Global during the second quarter worth approximately $149,380,000. Ilex Capital Partners UK LLP raised its holdings in Bunge Global by 383.7% during the second quarter. Ilex Capital Partners UK LLP now owns 891,673 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $71,584,000 after purchasing an additional 707,336 shares in the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Bunge Global by 719.2% during the 3rd quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 303,928 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $24,694,000 after buying an additional 266,827 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Bunge Global by 845.7% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 216,781 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $17,613,000 after buying an additional 193,857 shares in the last quarter. 86.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. CICC Research lifted their price target on shares of Bunge Global from $90.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Friday, November 7th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $130.00 price objective on shares of Bunge Global in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Bunge Global in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $130.00 target price on shares of Bunge Global in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded Bunge Global from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c) rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.44.

Bunge Global Stock Down 3.3%

Bunge Global stock opened at $116.65 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $109.69 and a two-hundred day moving average of $96.24. Bunge Global SA has a twelve month low of $68.33 and a twelve month high of $124.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.52, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

Bunge Global (NYSE:BG  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The basic materials company reported $1.99 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.82 by $0.17. Bunge Global had a net margin of 1.16% and a return on equity of 8.69%. The company had revenue of $23.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.13 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 75.5% on a year-over-year basis. Bunge Global has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.500-8.000 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Bunge Global SA will post 7.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Bunge Global Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bunge Global is a leading agribusiness and food company that processes oilseeds and grains, produces sugar and bioenergy, and supplies fertilizers and other agricultural inputs. The company operates an integrated value chain that spans origination, processing, and distribution, enabling it to serve food processors, livestock producers, and retail customers worldwide. Through its network of processing plants, port terminals and logistics assets, Bunge handles a diverse portfolio of commodities, including soybeans, corn, wheat, vegetable oils, and sugarcane.

The companys core business activities are organized into agribusiness and food & ingredients segments.

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Sealed Air (NYSE:SEE  Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Monday. The industrial products company reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.05, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $1.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.34 billion. Sealed Air had a net margin of 9.43% and a return on equity of 50.30%. The firms revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.75 earnings per share.

Sealed Air Price Performance

Shares of NYSE SEE opened at $41.99 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $41.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $38.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.18 billion, a PE ratio of 12.24 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.34, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 0.75. Sealed Air has a fifty-two week low of $22.78 and a fifty-two week high of $44.27.

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Sealed Air Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Sealed Airs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.97%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sealed Air

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sealed Air during the 4th quarter worth approximately $737,000. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in Sealed Air by 13.7% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,220,533 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $130,963,000 after acquiring an additional 507,067 shares during the last quarter. Boothbay Fund Management LLC bought a new stake in Sealed Air during the second quarter worth $225,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its stake in Sealed Air by 52.2% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 15,389 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $478,000 after purchasing an additional 5,276 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Sealed Air by 147.2% in the 2nd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 67,990 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,110,000 after purchasing an additional 40,481 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.40% of the companys stock.

A number of research firms have recently commented on SEE. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Sealed Air from $48.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Robert W. Baird reiterated a neutral rating and set a $42.00 target price (down from $45.00) on shares of Sealed Air in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Stifel Nicolaus restated a hold rating and issued a $45.00 price target (up from $43.80) on shares of Sealed Air in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Sealed Air from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Sealed Air from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, November 16th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $44.09.

View Our Latest Stock Report on SEE

Sealed Air News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Sealed Air this week:

About Sealed Air

(Get Free Report)

Sealed Air Corporation is a global packaging company that develops and manufactures a wide range of materials, equipment and services designed to protect, preserve and promote products. Best known for inventing Bubble Wrap protective packaging, the company serves customers across food and beverage, e-commerce, electronics, manufacturing and healthcare industries. Sealed Airs solutions help businesses reduce product damage, extend shelf life and improve operational efficiency.

The companys product portfolio is organized into three primary segments.

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Vanguard Group Inc. trimmed its position in American Assets Trust, Inc. (NYSE:AAT  Free Report) by 2.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,544,253 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 171,271 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 0.12% of American Assets Trust worth $153,299,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of American Assets Trust by 189.8% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,402,665 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $28,502,000 after buying an additional 918,635 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in American Assets Trust by 5.5% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,391,478 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $27,484,000 after buying an additional 72,458 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in American Assets Trust by 4.4% during the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,253,217 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $24,751,000 after acquiring an additional 53,070 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its holdings in American Assets Trust by 4.8% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,234,013 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $22,696,000 after acquiring an additional 56,553 shares during the period. Finally, Senvest Management LLC bought a new stake in American Assets Trust in the second quarter worth about $14,184,000. 90.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently weighed in on AAT. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of American Assets Trust from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of American Assets Trust from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and set a $17.00 target price for the company. in a report on Friday, January 16th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of American Assets Trust in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Mizuho set a $19.00 price objective on American Assets Trust in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, American Assets Trust presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average price target of $18.00.

American Assets Trust Price Performance

AAT opened at $19.57 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.51 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $18.71 and a 200-day moving average of $19.38. The company has a quick ratio of 3.11, a current ratio of 3.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.56. American Assets Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $16.69 and a 12-month high of $22.27.

American Assets Trust (NYSE:AAT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by ($0.43). American Assets Trust had a net margin of 12.76% and a return on equity of 4.96%. The company had revenue of $110.09 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $108.70 million. American Assets Trust has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.960-2.100 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that American Assets Trust, Inc. will post 1.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Assets Trust Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 5th. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.9%. American Assets Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 149.45%.

American Assets Trust Company Profile

(Free Report)

American Assets Trust, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops and manages a diversified portfolio of commercial properties across multiple asset classes. The companys holdings include retail centers, office buildings, multifamily communities and select hotel and resort properties. American Assets Trust pursues an integrated strategy combining proactive redevelopment, leasing initiatives and sustainable design to enhance asset value and drive long-term growth.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Diego, California, American Assets Trust has built a presence in key markets along the West Coast and select western U.S.

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Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of TransAlta Corporation (NYSE:TAC  Free Report) (TSE:TA) by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 10,949,384 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 248,027 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc.s holdings in TransAlta were worth $149,569,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rubric Capital Management LP boosted its position in TransAlta by 32.9% during the 2nd quarter. Rubric Capital Management LP now owns 15,948,451 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $172,084,000 after acquiring an additional 3,948,451 shares in the last quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd bought a new stake in shares of TransAlta in the third quarter worth $36,395,000. CenterBook Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of TransAlta during the 2nd quarter valued at $8,367,000. Westerly Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in TransAlta during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $8,281,000. Finally, Oaktree Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of TransAlta by 9.0% during the second quarter. Oaktree Capital Management LP now owns 6,085,253 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $65,513,000 after purchasing an additional 500,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 59.00% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on TAC. National Bank Financial downgraded TransAlta from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of TransAlta from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of TransAlta in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. TD Securities reiterated a buy rating on shares of TransAlta in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating on shares of TransAlta in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, TransAlta presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $20.00.

TransAlta Price Performance

Shares of TAC stock opened at $13.30 on Wednesday. TransAlta Corporation has a twelve month low of $7.82 and a twelve month high of $17.88. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.22. The company has a market capitalization of $3.95 billion, a PE ratio of -28.30 and a beta of 0.77. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $12.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.81.

TransAlta (NYSE:TAC  Get Free Report) (TSE:TA) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $436.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $493.39 million. TransAlta had a negative net margin of 7.51% and a positive return on equity of 9.23%. Equities research analysts anticipate that TransAlta Corporation will post 0.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

TransAlta Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 1st will be given a $0.07 dividend. This is a positive change from TransAltas previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 1st. TransAltas payout ratio is -40.43%.

About TransAlta

(Free Report)

TransAlta Corporation, originally founded in 1909 as Calgary Power Company Ltd., is a publicly traded energy company specializing in the development, ownership and operation of power generation and transmission assets. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, TransAlta has grown from its early hydroelectric roots into a diversified energy provider with a multi-fuel generating fleet.

The companys core business activities encompass power generation, asset management and energy trading services.

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Skba Capital Management LLC reduced its position in Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE:PHG  Free Report) by 27.1% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 266,966 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 99,395 shares during the period. Skba Capital Management LLCs holdings in Koninklijke Philips were worth $7,277,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in PHG. AlphaCore Capital LLC bought a new stake in Koninklijke Philips in the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. MAI Capital Management boosted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 167.7% during the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 2,380 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 1,491 shares during the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips in the third quarter worth approximately $83,000. CWM LLC raised its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 20.0% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,779 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $103,000 after purchasing an additional 629 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in Koninklijke Philips by 125.2% during the second quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 4,443 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 2,470 shares during the period. 13.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Koninklijke Philips Stock Down 2.6%

Shares of PHG opened at $30.34 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The businesss 50 day moving average is $29.65 and its 200 day moving average is $28.39. Koninklijke Philips N.V. has a 12-month low of $21.48 and a 12-month high of $33.44. The company has a market capitalization of $29.21 billion, a PE ratio of 28.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.52 and a beta of 0.77.

Koninklijke Philips Increases Dividend

Koninklijke Philips ( NYSE:PHG Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The technology company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.20. Koninklijke Philips had a return on equity of 13.68% and a net margin of 5.09%.The firm had revenue of $5.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.03 billion. Research analysts expect that Koninklijke Philips N.V. will post 1.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 13th will be given a dividend of $1.013 per share. This represents a yield of 318.0%. This is an increase from Koninklijke Philipss previous annual dividend of $0.89. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 13th. Koninklijke Philipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 77.36%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on PHG. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. They set a sector perform rating for the company. Zacks Research raised Koninklijke Philips from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Koninklijke Philips from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Koninklijke Philips from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Koninklijke Philips to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold.

Read Our Latest Report on Koninklijke Philips

About Koninklijke Philips

(Free Report)

Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE: PHG), commonly known as Philips, is a Dutch multinational company focused on health technology. Founded in Eindhoven in 1891, the company evolved from a diversified electronics manufacturer into a specialist in healthcare products, systems and services. Philips is legally registered in the Netherlands and operates globally, supplying equipment and solutions to hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers and consumers across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Philips principal activities center on medical technologies and personal health.

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Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH  Free Report) by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,646,450 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 96,836 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc.s holdings in Sonic Automotive were worth $125,278,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its position in shares of Sonic Automotive by 39.5% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 68,842 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,238,000 after buying an additional 19,483 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund increased its holdings in Sonic Automotive by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 7,678 shares of the companys stock worth $584,000 after acquiring an additional 507 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in Sonic Automotive by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 46,995 shares of the companys stock worth $3,576,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares in the last quarter. Versor Investments LP boosted its holdings in Sonic Automotive by 69.6% in the 3rd quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 8,800 shares of the companys stock valued at $670,000 after purchasing an additional 3,610 shares during the period. Finally, Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Sonic Automotive by 311.2% during the 3rd quarter. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC now owns 23,571 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,794,000 after purchasing an additional 17,839 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 46.92% of the companys stock.

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Sonic Automotive Price Performance

SAH opened at $62.81 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $62.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.08. The firm has a market cap of $2.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.53 and a beta of 0.91. Sonic Automotive, Inc. has a 1 year low of $52.00 and a 1 year high of $89.62.

Sonic Automotive Dividend Announcement

Sonic Automotive ( NYSE:SAH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.01). Sonic Automotive had a net margin of 0.78% and a return on equity of 21.54%. The company had revenue of $3.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.94 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.51 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Sonic Automotive, Inc. will post 6.14 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Sonic Automotives dividend payout ratio is currently 44.84%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on SAH shares. Barclays set a $67.00 price objective on Sonic Automotive in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $90.00 price objective on shares of Sonic Automotive in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Zacks Research cut Sonic Automotive from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday. Citigroup raised Sonic Automotive from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $82.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Sonic Automotive in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $77.50.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Sonic Automotive

Insider Activity

In other Sonic Automotive news, major shareholder Paul P. Rusnak purchased 11,481 shares of Sonic Automotive stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were bought at an average price of $59.95 per share, for a total transaction of $688,285.95. Following the acquisition, the insider directly owned 5,100,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $305,745,000. This trade represents a 0.23% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders bought 100,000 shares of company stock valued at $5,994,472 over the last quarter. 42.65% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Sonic Automotive Company Profile

(Free Report)

Sonic Automotive, Inc is a publicly traded automotive retailer that operates a network of franchised new-car dealerships and used-vehicle dealerships across the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company offers a range of services that include vehicle sales, leasing, finance and insurance products, service and parts, and collision repair. Sonic Automotives dealerships represent numerous major automotive brands, and the company also markets a broad selection of pre-owned vehicles under its own banner.

In addition to its core dealership operations, Sonic Automotive has developed digital retail capabilities that allow customers to research, shop and complete transactions online.

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Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Coty (NYSE:COTY  Free Report) by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 37,704,142 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 964,040 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc.s holdings in Coty were worth $152,325,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Coty in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $52,449,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new stake in Coty in the second quarter valued at $15,829,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its position in Coty by 6,340.5% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 2,883,926 shares of the companys stock worth $11,651,000 after purchasing an additional 2,839,148 shares during the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd bought a new position in shares of Coty during the second quarter worth about $11,015,000. Finally, Man Group plc lifted its stake in shares of Coty by 62.1% in the second quarter. Man Group plc now owns 5,978,817 shares of the companys stock worth $27,801,000 after acquiring an additional 2,289,649 shares during the period. 42.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Coty Trading Down 0.4%

NYSE COTY opened at $2.46 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. Coty has a 52 week low of $2.38 and a 52 week high of $6.13. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $2.95 and a 200-day moving average price of $3.54. The company has a market cap of $2.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.97, a P/E/G ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 0.95.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Coty ( NYSE:COTY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by ($0.04). Coty had a negative net margin of 9.13% and a positive return on equity of 5.38%. The business had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.66 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.11 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Coty will post 0.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

COTY has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $3.60 price objective on shares of Coty in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Coty from $3.50 to $3.40 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen raised Coty from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Santander lowered Coty to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 23rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $2.50 target price on shares of Coty in a report on Monday, February 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $4.31.

View Our Latest Research Report on COTY

About Coty

(Free Report)

Coty Inc is a multinational beauty company specializing in the development, manufacturing and marketing of fragrances, color cosmetics and skin and body care products. Established in 1904 by Francois Coty in Paris, the company has grown through a blend of organic innovation and strategic acquisitions to become one of the leading players in the global beauty industry. Cotys portfolio encompasses a broad range of consumer and luxury brands, reflecting its commitment to catering to diverse consumer preferences and market segments.

The companys product offerings span three main divisions: Coty Luxury, Coty Consumer Beauty and Coty Professional Beauty.

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Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NBH  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 25,714 shares, a decline of 27.1% from the January 29th total of 35,284 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 82,108 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days. Based on an average daily volume of 82,108 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund stock opened at $10.47 on Wednesday. Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund has a twelve month low of $9.47 and a twelve month high of $10.72. The firms 50-day moving average price is $10.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.29.

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Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $0.0542 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.2%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new stake in Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund during the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Elyxium Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund during the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. Hollencrest Capital Management raised its holdings in Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund by 204.2% in the 4th quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 7,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $74,000 after acquiring an additional 4,897 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $98,000. Finally, PFG Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $101,000.

(Get Free Report)

Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund (NYSE American: NBH) is a closed-end investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with tax?exempt income by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of municipal securities. Managed by Neuberger Berman Management LLC, the fund focuses on high?quality state and local government obligations, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and essential?purpose debt issued by U.S. municipalities and related entities.

The funds portfolio construction emphasizes broad geographic diversification across the United States, targeting sectors such as transportation, education, healthcare and utilities.

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Optimum Communications, Inc. (NYSE:OPTU  Get Free Report) General Counsel Michael Olsen sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.40, for a total value of $28,000.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 1,239,781 shares in the company, valued at $1,735,693.40. The trade was a 1.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Michael Olsen also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, February 17th, Michael Olsen sold 250,000 shares of Optimum Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.60, for a total value of $400,000.00.

Optimum Communications Price Performance

Shares of OPTU opened at $1.50 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $703.34 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.37 and a beta of 1.51. Optimum Communications, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $1.38 and a fifty-two week high of $2.98. The businesss 50-day moving average is $1.68 and its 200-day moving average is $2.00.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Optimum Communications ( NYSE:OPTU Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported ($0.15) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $2.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.12) EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Optimum Communications, Inc. will post -0.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several brokerages recently issued reports on OPTU. Benchmark lowered Optimum Communications from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Citigroup downgraded Optimum Communications from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Sunday, February 15th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Optimum Communications in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research raised Optimum Communications from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Evercore set a $2.00 price objective on shares of Optimum Communications in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $2.19.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Optimum Communications

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd acquired a new position in Optimum Communications during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new position in Optimum Communications in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Voleon Capital Management LP bought a new position in Optimum Communications in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Optimum Communications by 50.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,300 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 5,156 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morningstar Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Optimum Communications during the third quarter valued at about $39,000. Institutional investors own 54.85% of the companys stock.

Optimum Communications Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Altice USA, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides broadband communications and video services in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It offers broadband, video, telephony, and mobile services to approximately five million residential and business customers. The companys video services include delivery of broadcast stations and cable networks; over the top services; video-on-demand, high-definition channels, digital video recorder, and pay-per-view services; and platforms for video programming through mobile applications.

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JERUSALEM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Israel announced on Wednesday that it will ease wartime restrictions starting Thursday, rolling back measures imposed at the start of its military operations against Iran.

The Home Front Command stated it is lowering the level of restrictions from "essential activity level" to a "limited activity level" in all areas of the country, noting the move was made "in accordance with a situational assessment."

Under the updated guidelines, the limit on public gatherings will increase from 20 to 50 people, provided they take place in venues near a shelter. Educational activities remain prohibited.

The general ban on workplaces has also been lifted, allowing businesses to reopen in locations where a shelter can be reached within about a minute. Under the previous guidelines, all workplaces were closed except for those classified as "vital."

The move comes as the country's airspace is set to reopen before dawn on Thursday, with Ben Gurion International Airport scheduled to gradually resume activity for the first time since the beginning of the conflict.

On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States launched massive airstrikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran against Israeli targets and U.S. military bases in the Middle East. 
Xponance Inc. decreased its position in shares of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV  Free Report) by 54.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 43,693 shares of the airlines stock after selling 52,066 shares during the quarter. Xponance Inc.s holdings in Southwest Airlines were worth $1,394,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in shares of Southwest Airlines by 2,403.8% in the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 10,120,368 shares of the airlines stock valued at $328,305,000 after purchasing an additional 9,716,160 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 13.6% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 12,218,086 shares of the airlines stock valued at $389,879,000 after acquiring an additional 1,459,235 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Southwest Airlines in the second quarter valued at approximately $41,663,000. Crake Asset Management LLP purchased a new position in shares of Southwest Airlines during the second quarter worth approximately $33,738,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 315.3% in the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,247,837 shares of the airlines stock valued at $40,480,000 after acquiring an additional 947,346 shares during the period. 80.82% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen raised shares of Southwest Airlines from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $50.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Southwest Airlines from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Bank of America upped their price target on Southwest Airlines from $37.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Southwest Airlines from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Southwest Airlines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $49.03.

Southwest Airlines Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of Southwest Airlines stock opened at $47.67 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $46.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $38.17. The stock has a market cap of $23.42 billion, a PE ratio of 56.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Southwest Airlines Co. has a 12-month low of $23.82 and a 12-month high of $55.11.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The airline reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.02. Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 6.18% and a net margin of 1.57%.The firm had revenue of $7.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.51 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.56 EPS. Southwest Airliness quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. Southwest Airlines has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.000- EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.450- EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 1.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, March 12th will be given a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 12th. Southwest Airliness payout ratio is currently 85.71%.

About Southwest Airlines

(Free Report)

Southwest Airlines Co is a U.S.-based low-cost carrier that operates a point-to-point domestic and near-international airline network. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company primarily flies Boeing 737 aircraft and offers no-frills, single-class service designed to keep fares competitive. Southwests operating model emphasizes high aircraft utilization, quick turnaround times and an open seating policy, allowing customers to board and select seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

Founded in 1967 by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King as Air Southwest Company, Southwest began commercial service in 1971, initially connecting Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

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Laffer Tengler Investments Inc. lifted its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 17.9% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 56,897 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after buying an additional 8,648 shares during the quarter. Laffer Tengler Investments Inc.s holdings in EOG Resources were worth $6,379,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in EOG Resources in the 2nd quarter valued at about $258,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in EOG Resources by 16.5% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 930 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $111,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in EOG Resources by 9.0% in the second quarter. Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLC now owns 1,710 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $207,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Intellectus Partners LLC purchased a new position in EOG Resources in the second quarter worth approximately $732,000. Finally, Westside Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in EOG Resources by 9.9% during the second quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,505 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $301,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.91% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at EOG Resources

In related news, COO Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total transaction of $250,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 61,481 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,685,125. The trade was a 3.15% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on EOG shares. KeyCorp lowered EOG Resources from an overweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Roth Mkm reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $110.00 target price on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $136.00 to $133.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating and issued a $115.00 price target (down from $125.00) on shares of EOG Resources in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $125.00 to $123.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and seventeen have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, EOG Resources presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $135.85.

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EOG Resources Trading Down 0.4%

NYSE EOG opened at $128.09 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a current ratio of 1.63. The firm has a market cap of $68.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.06 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $112.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $111.82. EOG Resources, Inc. has a one year low of $101.59 and a one year high of $131.32.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The energy exploration company reported $2.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.07. EOG Resources had a net margin of 22.00% and a return on equity of 18.67%. The company had revenue of $5.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.36 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up .9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

EOG Resources Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 16th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 16th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.79%.

EOG Resources News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting EOG Resources this week:

Positive Sentiment: Multiple brokerages raised price targets and retained bullish ratings, signaling analyst conviction and supplying near-term upside: Jefferies raised its PT to $146 (buy). Jefferies price target raise

Multiple brokerages raised price targets and retained bullish ratings, signaling analyst conviction and supplying near-term upside: Jefferies raised its PT to $146 (buy). Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its PT to $149 and kept a buy rating, implying ~16% upside from the quoted reference price  a clear vote of confidence that likely supports the stocks advance. UBS price target raise

UBS raised its PT to $149 and kept a buy rating, implying ~16% upside from the quoted reference price  a clear vote of confidence that likely supports the stocks advance. Positive Sentiment: BMO raised its PT to $140 and maintained an outperform rating, adding to the upward pressure from the dealer community. BMO price target raise

BMO raised its PT to $140 and maintained an outperform rating, adding to the upward pressure from the dealer community. Positive Sentiment: Company fundamentals and momentum: EOG reported an EPS beat in its most recent quarter (EPS $2.27 vs. $2.20 est.) and has shown strong short-term share momentum (double-digit 1? and 3?month returns), supporting analyst bullishness and investor interest.

Company fundamentals and momentum: EOG reported an EPS beat in its most recent quarter (EPS $2.27 vs. $2.20 est.) and has shown strong short-term share momentum (double-digit 1? and 3?month returns), supporting analyst bullishness and investor interest. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks moved EOG from strong sell to hold  an improvement in sentiment but still a cautious stance that offers limited incremental lift compared with outright buy ratings. Zacks upgrade

Zacks moved EOG from strong sell to hold  an improvement in sentiment but still a cautious stance that offers limited incremental lift compared with outright buy ratings. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst / industry commentary and events are driving attention: EOG presented at the Raymond James conference (transcript available) and independent write-ups are re-assessing valuation after recent share gains. These items keep the stock on investors radar without being binary catalysts. Raymond James conference transcript Valuation reassessment

Analyst / industry commentary and events are driving attention: EOG presented at the Raymond James conference (transcript available) and independent write-ups are re-assessing valuation after recent share gains. These items keep the stock on investors radar without being binary catalysts. Neutral Sentiment: Sector peer results (e.g., Venture Globals Q4) are mixed  earnings beats but revenue misses  which can influence sentiment for energy names broadly but do not directly change EOGs near-term fundamentals. Venture Global Q4 results

Sector peer results (e.g., Venture Globals Q4) are mixed  earnings beats but revenue misses  which can influence sentiment for energy names broadly but do not directly change EOGs near-term fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Notes that EOG has underperformed the Dow over the past year are keeping some investors cautious; relative underperformance can limit momentum and invite profit-taking even amid fresh upgrades. Is EOG underperforming the Dow? BarChart coverage

EOG Resources Profile

(Free Report)

EOG Resources, Inc (NYSE: EOG) is an independent exploration and production company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Tracing its corporate origins to Enron Oil & Gas Company in the late 1990s, the company established itself as a stand?alone E&P operator and has grown into one of the largest U.S. upstream producers. EOG focuses on the exploration, development and production of crude oil, condensate, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs).

As an upstream-focused company, EOGs core activities include geologic and geophysical exploration, drilling and completion of wells, reservoir development, and the marketing of hydrocarbon production.

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Target (NYSE:TGT  Get Free Report) had its price objective lifted by stock analysts at Piper Sandler from $102.00 to $119.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the retailers stock. Piper Sandlers price objective suggests a potential downside of 1.52% from the companys previous close.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $125.00 price objective on shares of Target in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $130.00 price objective on shares of Target in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Target from $107.00 to $99.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Target from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $91.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of Target from $100.00 to $92.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twenty have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $111.55.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on TGT

Target Stock Up 6.8%

TGT opened at $120.84 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $54.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.67 and a beta of 1.12. The firms fifty day moving average price is $108.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.91. Target has a fifty-two week low of $83.44 and a fifty-two week high of $122.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.27.

Target (NYSE:TGT  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The retailer reported $2.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.28. Target had a return on equity of 22.74% and a net margin of 3.58%.The business had revenue of $30.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $30.52 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.41 EPS. Targets quarterly revenue was down 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Target has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.300- EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 7.500-8.500 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Target will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Target

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of Target during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Jessup Wealth Management Inc acquired a new stake in Target during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new position in Target during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates boosted its stake in shares of Target by 192.0% in the 4th quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 292 shares of the retailers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Target during the third quarter worth $27,000. Institutional investors own 79.73% of the companys stock.

More Target News

Here are the key news stories impacting Target this week:

About Target

(Get Free Report)

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is a U.S.-based general merchandise retailer headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company operates a network of full-line and small-format stores across the United States alongside a national e-commerce platform and mobile app. Targets retail assortment spans apparel, home goods, electronics, groceries and household essentials, plus beauty, baby and pet categories. The firm complements national brands with a portfolio of owned and exclusive labels and partnerships that help differentiate its merchandise assortment.

Target traces its roots to the Dayton Company, founded by George Dayton in 1902; the Target discount chain was launched in 1962 and the parent company later adopted the Target Corporation name.

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Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its holdings in Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC  Free Report) (TSE:K) by 11.8% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 270,440 shares of the mining companys stock after buying an additional 28,500 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentuckys holdings in Kinross Gold were worth $6,720,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of KGC. Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Kinross Gold by 1.8% in the third quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 32,144 shares of the mining companys stock worth $799,000 after acquiring an additional 565 shares during the last quarter. Cadence Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kinross Gold by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cadence Wealth Management LLC now owns 46,233 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,149,000 after purchasing an additional 581 shares during the last quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Kinross Gold by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 56,135 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $877,000 after purchasing an additional 593 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC increased its position in Kinross Gold by 1.6% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 43,872 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,090,000 after buying an additional 680 shares during the period. Finally, Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Kinross Gold by 95.6% during the third quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 1,467 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 717 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.69% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $33.00 price objective on shares of Kinross Gold in a report on Sunday, December 7th. Desjardins initiated coverage on Kinross Gold in a report on Friday, November 28th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on Kinross Gold from $32.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. TD Securities reduced their price target on Kinross Gold from $43.00 to $42.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Kinross Gold from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $36.31.

Kinross Gold Price Performance

Shares of NYSE KGC opened at $33.79 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $33.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.54. The company has a market capitalization of $40.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.24, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 2.35, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. Kinross Gold Corporation has a twelve month low of $10.42 and a twelve month high of $39.11.

Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC  Get Free Report) (TSE:K) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The mining company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.12. Kinross Gold had a return on equity of 28.22% and a net margin of 33.90%.The business had revenue of $2.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.05 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.20 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 42.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Kinross Gold Corporation will post 0.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kinross Gold Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.04 per share. This is an increase from Kinross Golds previous quarterly dividend of $0.04. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. Kinross Golds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.14%.

Trending Headlines about Kinross Gold

Here are the key news stories impacting Kinross Gold this week:

Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research substantially raised near?term and multi?year EPS forecasts across most quarters and lifted FY2026 and FY2027 estimates (e.g., FY2026 to $2.55 and FY2027 to $2.49), signaling improved earnings outlook that supports higher valuation and future cash generation. (Zacks reports released March 2)

Zacks Research substantially raised near?term and multi?year EPS forecasts across most quarters and lifted FY2026 and FY2027 estimates (e.g., FY2026 to $2.55 and FY2027 to $2.49), signaling improved earnings outlook that supports higher valuation and future cash generation. (Zacks reports released March 2) Positive Sentiment: Company financial strength: reporting referenced as dividend increase and record cash flow highlights stronger free cash flow and a higher payout, which are typically positive for investor returns and dividend reliability. Dividend & cash flow article

Company financial strength: reporting referenced as dividend increase and record cash flow highlights stronger free cash flow and a higher payout, which are typically positive for investor returns and dividend reliability. Positive Sentiment: Operational / risk management step: Kinross Brazil selected ISNetworld to standardize contractor management, which may reduce safety/regulatory risk and administrative costs at Brazilian operations. ISNetworld announcement

Operational / risk management step: Kinross Brazil selected ISNetworld to standardize contractor management, which may reduce safety/regulatory risk and administrative costs at Brazilian operations. Neutral Sentiment: Consensus / analyst mix: aggregate analyst coverage remains constructive (average Moderate Buy), indicating market views are generally favorable despite mixed notes. Analyst consensus article

Consensus / analyst mix: aggregate analyst coverage remains constructive (average Moderate Buy), indicating market views are generally favorable despite mixed notes. Negative Sentiment: TD Securities trimmed its price target from $43 to $42 (still a buy), and that note coincided with near?term selling pressure  coverage of the target cut led to an intraday drop and is the most direct driver of todays share decline. TD Securities downgrade coverage BayStreet note on PT change

Kinross Gold Profile

(Free Report)

Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE: KGC) is a Toronto-based precious metals mining company primarily focused on the exploration, development and production of gold, with silver recovered as a by-product at some operations. The companys activities span the full mining lifecycle, including discovery and resource delineation, mine construction and operation, ore processing, and eventual site reclamation and closure. Kinross sells refined gold produced at its processing facilities and manages associated logistics and processing arrangements to deliver metal to market.

Kinross operates a portfolio of producing mines and development projects across multiple regions, with a significant presence in the Americas and West Africa.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas decreased its position in shares of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT  Free Report) by 39.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 54,246 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 35,139 shares during the quarter. Lockheed Martin comprises 2.3% of Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $27,080,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of LMT. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Lockheed Martin during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 285.7% during the third quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 54 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the third quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, MTM Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin in the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. 74.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Lockheed Martin Stock Performance

Shares of LMT opened at $667.12 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $589.33 and a 200 day moving average of $513.99. The company has a market capitalization of $153.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.04, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.22. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 12 month low of $410.11 and a 12 month high of $692.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.05.

Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend

Lockheed Martin ( NYSE:LMT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $5.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by ($0.53). Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 6.69% and a return on equity of 108.53%. The business had revenue of $20.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.84 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.67 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $3.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $13.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio is presently 64.22%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on LMT shares. BNP Paribas Exane lifted their price target on Lockheed Martin from $550.00 to $570.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. TD Cowen raised their target price on Lockheed Martin from $600.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Lockheed Martin from $550.00 to $640.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Lockheed Martin from $605.00 to $695.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $515.00 to $680.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $612.50.

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More Lockheed Martin News

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Lockheed Martin Profile

(Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world.

Lockheed Martins product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas boosted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 105.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 405,425 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 207,959 shares during the quarter. Novo Nordisk A/S makes up about 1.9% of Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $22,497,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 1.5% in the second quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 12,576,031 shares of the companys stock valued at $867,998,000 after acquiring an additional 187,789 shares in the last quarter. Folketrygdfondet lifted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Folketrygdfondet now owns 10,211,913 shares of the companys stock valued at $566,659,000 after purchasing an additional 117,370 shares in the last quarter. Sustainable Growth Advisers LP lifted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 11.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sustainable Growth Advisers LP now owns 6,192,636 shares of the companys stock valued at $427,416,000 after purchasing an additional 649,390 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,047,683 shares of the companys stock worth $418,231,000 after purchasing an additional 47,430 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WCM Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 3.7% during the third quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 2,732,182 shares of the companys stock worth $151,636,000 after buying an additional 97,477 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.54% of the companys stock.

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Novo Nordisk A/S News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Novo Nordisk A/S this week:

Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley upgraded NVO to Equal-weight, arguing the recent sell-off better prices mid?term risks; they set a $40 target. Morgan Stanley upgrade

Morgan Stanley upgraded NVO to Equal-weight, arguing the recent sell-off better prices mid?term risks; they set a $40 target. Positive Sentiment: Novo announced large Ireland investments and facility upgrades (combined ~432m$506m / $372.5m project) to expand Wegovy/oral production capacity  a defensive move to protect market share versus Eli Lilly. Ireland investment/CNBC

Novo announced large Ireland investments and facility upgrades (combined ~432m$506m / $372.5m project) to expand Wegovy/oral production capacity  a defensive move to protect market share versus Eli Lilly. Positive Sentiment: Company disclosed progress on its 2026 share buyback programme, which supports buy-side demand and EPS accretion over time. Buyback progress

Company disclosed progress on its 2026 share buyback programme, which supports buy-side demand and EPS accretion over time. Neutral Sentiment: The Goldman Sachs team reaffirmed a Neutral rating but cut its price target to $41 (from $63), signaling tempered expectations even as they stop short of a downgrade. Goldman Sachs note

The Goldman Sachs team reaffirmed a Neutral rating but cut its price target to $41 (from $63), signaling tempered expectations even as they stop short of a downgrade. Neutral Sentiment: Roche says it aims for double-digit share in the weight?loss market, highlighting intensifying competition but not an immediate commercial impact. Roche competition

Roche says it aims for double-digit share in the weight?loss market, highlighting intensifying competition but not an immediate commercial impact. Negative Sentiment: The U.S. FDA ordered Novo to stop a consumer Ozempic ad for being false/misleading  the agencys second such warning and a reputational/regulatory headache that can affect marketing and demand. FDA warning

The U.S. FDA ordered Novo to stop a consumer Ozempic ad for being false/misleading  the agencys second such warning and a reputational/regulatory headache that can affect marketing and demand. Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP launched an investor investigation into Novo  potential litigation risk that can increase scrutiny and legal costs. Investor investigation

Pomerantz LLP launched an investor investigation into Novo  potential litigation risk that can increase scrutiny and legal costs. Negative Sentiment: Aspen expects a Canadian approval this year for a generic targeting Ozempic, adding potential price competition and margin pressure in important markets. Generic Ozempic risk

Aspen expects a Canadian approval this year for a generic targeting Ozempic, adding potential price competition and margin pressure in important markets. Negative Sentiment: Novo said it will halve U.S. list price of Wegovy in 2027, which should protect access but will compress revenues and signal pricing pressure in obesity drugs. Wegovy price cut

Novo said it will halve U.S. list price of Wegovy in 2027, which should protect access but will compress revenues and signal pricing pressure in obesity drugs. Negative Sentiment: Market attention to Eli Lillys clinical wins and new entrants has driven sharp recent share weakness  an ongoing competitive threat to GLP?1 pricing and volumes. Lilly competition

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on NVO shares. Kepler Capital Markets lowered shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Zacks Research cut Novo Nordisk A/S from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $40.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, CICC Research started coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Friday, January 9th. They issued an outperform rating and a $73.50 price target on the stock. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $53.93.

Read Our Latest Report on NVO

Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Down 2.9%

NVO stock opened at $36.68 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The company has a market cap of $163.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.57 and a beta of 0.73. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.24 and a 200-day simple moving average of $52.68. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 52 week low of $35.85 and a 52 week high of $91.90.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $12.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.97 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 68.91% and a net margin of 33.03%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 EPS for the current year.

Novo Nordisk A/S Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 8th. Investors of record on Monday, March 30th will be given a dividend of $1.2751 per share. This represents a yield of 541.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 30th. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio is 23.63%.

Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsvrd, Denmark, best known for its leadership in diabetes care and metabolic health. The company traces its roots to early Danish insulin production in the 1920s and was established in its current form through a 1989 merger of predecessor companies. Novo Nordisk develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and devices that address chronic and serious diseases, with a strong emphasis on long-term treatment and patient support.

The companys core product portfolio centers on diabetes therapies, including a range of insulins and modern incretin-based treatments.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas increased its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP  Free Report) by 11.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 69,432 shares of the railroad operators stock after purchasing an additional 7,256 shares during the period. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in Union Pacific were worth $16,412,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA grew its position in Union Pacific by 9.8% during the third quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $12,492,000 after purchasing an additional 4,707 shares in the last quarter. Midwest Trust Co boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $66,428,000 after buying an additional 7,759 shares during the period. CX Institutional boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 39.8% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $15,559,000 after buying an additional 18,742 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 135,188 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $31,955,000 after acquiring an additional 17,696 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter worth $802,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP opened at $265.46 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company has a market cap of $157.52 billion, a PE ratio of 22.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $243.36 and a 200-day moving average of $232.27. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $268.14.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

Union Pacific ( NYSE:UNP Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.91 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.12%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup reissued a buy rating and set a $270.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $260.14.

Read Our Latest Analysis on UNP

Union Pacific Profile

(Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two?thirds of the United States.

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Accor SA  Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ACCYY  Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $11.77, but opened at $10.46. Accor shares last traded at $10.4650, with a volume of 5,121 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ACCYY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Accor in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Accor in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Accor has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Accor Stock Down 2.6%

About Accor

The firm has a 50 day moving average of $11.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78.

(Get Free Report)

Accor is a leading global hospitality group headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, with operations spanning more than 100 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Founded in 1967 by Paul Dubrule and Gerard Pelisson, the company has grown from a single motel in Lille into one of the worlds largest hotel operators and owners, offering accommodation and hospitality services to both leisure and business travelers.

The companys extensive brand portfolio covers a wide spectrum of market segments, ranging from luxury and premium offerings to midscale and economy hotels.

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Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF  Get Free Report) updated its first quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 1.200-1.300 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 1.410. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.1 billion-$1.1 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.2 billion. Abercrombie & Fitch also updated its FY 2026 guidance to 10.200-11.000 EPS.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on ANF shares. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a report on Thursday, December 11th. They set a buy rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Citigroup upgraded shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $90.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from $128.00 to $102.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from $78.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Abercrombie & Fitch from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $120.90.

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Abercrombie & Fitch Price Performance

Abercrombie & Fitch stock opened at $99.37 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $105.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $93.38. The stock has a market cap of $4.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.53 and a beta of 1.17. Abercrombie & Fitch has a 1-year low of $65.40 and a 1-year high of $133.11.

Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, March 4th. The apparel retailer reported $3.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.56 by $0.12. Abercrombie & Fitch had a return on equity of 38.01% and a net margin of 10.07%.The company had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.67 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.57 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Abercrombie & Fitch has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.200-1.300 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 10.200-11.000 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Abercrombie & Fitch will post 10.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Abercrombie & Fitch news, CEO Fran Horowitz sold 103,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.53, for a total value of $10,168,296.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 605,303 shares of the companys stock, valued at $59,640,504.59. The trade was a 14.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders have sold a total of 350,000 shares of company stock worth $34,661,358 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 2.29% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Abercrombie & Fitch

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its holdings in Abercrombie & Fitch by 3.1% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 29,517 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $2,254,000 after acquiring an additional 892 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its holdings in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 521.1% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,000 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $76,000 after purchasing an additional 839 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in the 1st quarter valued at $261,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 127,389 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $9,729,000 after purchasing an additional 10,459 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch during the second quarter worth $348,000.

About Abercrombie & Fitch

(Get Free Report)

Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF) is an American specialty retailer that designs, markets and sells casual apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Founded in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, the company evolved from an outdoor gear outfitter to a global lifestyle brand renowned for its relaxed, preppy aesthetic. Its product assortment includes tops, bottoms, outerwear, intimates, swimwear, fragrances and personal care items.

The company operates under multiple brand names, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, each targeting distinct consumer segments from teens to young adults.

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Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas lessened its stake in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 23.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 12,646 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 3,891 shares during the period. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas holdings in Chevron were worth $1,964,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CVX. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Chevron in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its position in Chevron by 86.1% in the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 255 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Chevron during the third quarter worth about $41,000. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Chevron by 306.1% during the third quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 268 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA boosted its stake in shares of Chevron by 106.7% in the second quarter. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA now owns 310 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. 72.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Chevron from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Chevron from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Freedom Capital lowered Chevron from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Chevron from $160.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Chevron from $174.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $178.95.

Insider Transactions at Chevron

In other news, insider R. Hewitt Pate sold 58,000 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $188.65, for a total transaction of $10,941,700.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 8,558 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,614,466.70. The trade was a 87.14% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Eimear P. Bonner sold 32,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.01, for a total value of $5,617,821.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 4,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at $764,093.66. The trade was a 88.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders sold 628,373 shares of company stock worth $107,085,890. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Chevron News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week:

Positive Sentiment: Global oil/gas rally is boosting integrated energy stocks; higher commodity prices improve Chevrons near-term margins and cash flow outlook. Read More.

Global oil/gas rally is boosting integrated energy stocks; higher commodity prices improve Chevrons near-term margins and cash flow outlook. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Broker upgrades and higher price targets (Citigroup, Bank of America, Melius and others) signal renewed analyst conviction and support upside expectations. Read More.

Broker upgrades and higher price targets (Citigroup, Bank of America, Melius and others) signal renewed analyst conviction and support upside expectations. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Notable portfolio moves (including increased exposure in Berkshires final quarter) and positive coverage identifying CVX as a top oil pick are drawing investor interest. Read More.

Notable portfolio moves (including increased exposure in Berkshires final quarter) and positive coverage identifying CVX as a top oil pick are drawing investor interest. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage is mixed overall: several buys and target lifts exist, but consensus includes many holds, which can limit sustained momentum. Read More.

Analyst coverage is mixed overall: several buys and target lifts exist, but consensus includes many holds, which can limit sustained momentum. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Chevron declared force majeure and halted production at the Leviathan gas field amid regional hostilities  a direct operational disruption that can dent near-term volumes and revenue. Read More.

Chevron declared force majeure and halted production at the Leviathan gas field amid regional hostilities  a direct operational disruption that can dent near-term volumes and revenue. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Substantial insider selling by R. Hewitt Pate (large blocks sold late Feb. and early Mar.; SEC filings) may amplify profit-taking and be viewed negatively by some investors. Read More.

Substantial insider selling by R. Hewitt Pate (large blocks sold late Feb. and early Mar.; SEC filings) may amplify profit-taking and be viewed negatively by some investors. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Ongoing geopolitical risk (Iran threats, Strait of Hormuz disruptions) increases volatility and operational uncertainty even as higher oil tends to boost earnings for majors. Read More.

Chevron Trading Down 0.5%

NYSE:CVX opened at $188.56 on Wednesday. Chevron Corporation has a 1 year low of $132.04 and a 1 year high of $191.56. The stock has a market cap of $376.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.31, a P/E/G ratio of 12.55 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $171.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of $160.10.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $45.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $48.18 billion. Chevron had a return on equity of 7.89% and a net margin of 6.51%.The firms revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.06 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be issued a $1.78 dividend. This represents a $7.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This is a positive change from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 106.91%.

Chevron Profile

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is an American multinational energy company engaged in virtually all aspects of the oil and gas industry. As an integrated energy firm, Chevrons core activities include upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants, and petrochemical manufacturing through joint ventures and subsidiaries. The company markets fuels under brands such as Chevron, Texaco and Caltex and supplies a range of products and services to retail customers, industrial users and commercial fleets worldwide.

Chevron traces its corporate lineage to the early petroleum companies that eventually became Standard Oil of California and has evolved through significant mergers and restructurings, including the acquisitions of Gulf Oil and Texaco.

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BEIRUT, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah said late Wednesday that its fighters clashed with Israeli troops near the southern Lebanese border town of Al-Dhahira.

In a statement, Hezbollah said that the confrontation occurred at around 11:20 p.m. local time after its fighters detected movements by Israeli forces attempting to advance toward the town.

Hezbollah said its fighters engaged the Israeli force directly, claiming to have inflicted confirmed casualties on Israeli troops. The group added that the clashes were ongoing at the time the statement was issued.

The group said the confrontation came in response to Israeli attacks targeting dozens of Lebanese towns and cities, including Beirut's southern suburbs.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding the reported clashes.

On Monday, Hezbollah fired missiles and drones toward Israel, saying the attacks were in retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike, and for repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Israel responded with massive airstrikes on Hezbollah targets and deployed ground forces into southern Lebanon, marking a sharp escalation in the conflict. 
Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB  Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by equities research analysts at Barclays from $74.00 to $93.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an overweight rating on the stock. Barclayss price objective would indicate a potential upside of 18.25% from the stocks previous close.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Kontoor Brands from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. BNP Paribas Exane set a $50.00 price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Kontoor Brands in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. They issued a hold rating and a $65.00 target price for the company. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Kontoor Brands from $114.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Kontoor Brands in a report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $87.89.

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Kontoor Brands Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:KTB traded up $0.47 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $78.65. 49,533 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 814,094. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53. Kontoor Brands has a 52-week low of $50.00 and a 52-week high of $87.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.27 and a beta of 1.15. The businesss fifty day moving average is $63.16 and its 200-day moving average is $71.74.

Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported $1.73 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $1.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $975.78 million. Kontoor Brands had a net margin of 7.68% and a return on equity of 63.21%. The firms revenue was up 45.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.38 EPS. Kontoor Brands has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.400-6.500 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Kontoor Brands will post 4.82 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Kontoor Brands

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of KTB. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in Kontoor Brands by 335.5% in the 4th quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 405 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Kontoor Brands by 73.0% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 308 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new position in Kontoor Brands in the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Torren Management LLC bought a new position in Kontoor Brands during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 2,538.5% during the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 343 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares during the last quarter. 93.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Kontoor Brands

Here are the key news stories impacting Kontoor Brands this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat consensus  EPS $1.73 vs $1.65 est. and revenue $1.02B vs $975.8M est.; revenue grew ~45.6% YoY and management cited strong contributions from recent additions. These metrics underpin the upside re-rating. MarketBeat Earnings Release

Q4 results beat consensus  EPS $1.73 vs $1.65 est. and revenue $1.02B vs $975.8M est.; revenue grew ~45.6% YoY and management cited strong contributions from recent additions. These metrics underpin the upside re-rating. Positive Sentiment: Management raised FY?2026 EPS guidance to $6.40$6.50 (vs. consensus ~$5.89) and issued revenue guidance roughly $3.4B$3.5B  the billings/guidance beat materially increases forward earnings visibility. Business Wire: Q4 Results & 2026 Outlook

Management raised FY?2026 EPS guidance to $6.40$6.50 (vs. consensus ~$5.89) and issued revenue guidance roughly $3.4B$3.5B  the billings/guidance beat materially increases forward earnings visibility. Positive Sentiment: Helly Hansen acquisition is cited as a near-term growth driver (company scheduling a Helly Hansen Investor Day for Sept. 2, 2026)  signals management expects sustained contribution and is laying out a longer-term plan for the brand. Business Wire: Helly Hansen Investor Day

Helly Hansen acquisition is cited as a near-term growth driver (company scheduling a Helly Hansen Investor Day for Sept. 2, 2026)  signals management expects sustained contribution and is laying out a longer-term plan for the brand. Positive Sentiment: BTIG raised its price target from $95 to $100 and kept a Buy rating, signaling increased analyst conviction and room for upside versus the recent trade level. Benzinga: BTIG Price Target Raise

BTIG raised its price target from $95 to $100 and kept a Buy rating, signaling increased analyst conviction and room for upside versus the recent trade level. Neutral Sentiment: Wrangler launched a limited?edition collaboration with Avirex  positive for brand marketing and younger consumer reach but likely modest near-term financial impact. Business Wire: Wrangler x Avirex Collab

Wrangler launched a limited?edition collaboration with Avirex  positive for brand marketing and younger consumer reach but likely modest near-term financial impact. Neutral Sentiment: Full earnings and conference call transcripts are available for deeper read on margin drivers, channel performance and FX exposure  useful for modeling but no new headline beyond the beats and guidance. Seeking Alpha: Q4 Earnings Call Transcript

Kontoor Brands Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Kontoor Brands, Inc is a global apparel company best known for its Wrangler and Lee denim and lifestyle brands. Established as an independent, publicly traded company in May 2019 following a spin-off from VF Corporation, Kontoor leverages a legacy that dates back to 1889 with the founding of Lee and to 1947 with the introduction of the Wrangler brand. The company focuses on designing, manufacturing and distributing premium, casual and workwear apparel, including jeans, pants, shorts, shirts, jackets and complementary accessories.

Kontoor Brands operates a diversified sales model that combines wholesale partnerships with leading retailers, distribution through e-commerce channels and select direct-to-consumer formats.

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Grupo TMM SAB (OTCMKTS:GTMAY  Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Tuesday. The transportation company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, Zacks reports. The company had revenue of $20.66 million during the quarter. Grupo TMM SAB had a net margin of 14.59% and a return on equity of 13.03%.

Grupo TMM SAB Price Performance

OTCMKTS:GTMAY remained flat at $1.90 during mid-day trading on Wednesday. The company had a trading volume of 3,000 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,361. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The stock has a market cap of $66.33 million, a P/E ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 0.83. Grupo TMM SAB has a fifty-two week low of $0.01 and a fifty-two week high of $2.00. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.59 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1.30.

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About Grupo TMM SAB

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Grupo TMM SAB is a Mexico?based maritime transportation and logistics company that operates a diversified fleet of vessels and provides a full suite of port, terminal and shipyard services. The companys core activities include dry bulk and container shipping, tug and barge operations, offshore support services and dredging. Through its subsidiaries, Grupo TMM offers intermodal transport, industrial logistics solutions and specialized marine services to a variety of sectors.

In the shipping segment, Grupo TMM charters and operates dry bulk carriers, container ships, tugs and offshore support vessels to transport cargo along major trade routes in the Americas.

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Global X MSCI Argentina ETF (NYSEARCA:ARGT  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 537,969 shares, an increase of 38.4% from the January 29th total of 388,616 shares. Approximately 6.0% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 226,473 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.4 days. Based on an average daily volume of 226,473 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.4 days. Approximately 6.0% of the companys shares are short sold.

Institutional Trading of Global X MSCI Argentina ETF

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Allworth Financial LP acquired a new position in Global X MSCI Argentina ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Global X MSCI Argentina ETF by 37.1% during the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 665 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC acquired a new position in shares of Global X MSCI Argentina ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $53,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Global X MSCI Argentina ETF by 60.7% in the 2nd quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,091 shares of the companys stock valued at $92,000 after buying an additional 412 shares during the period. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Global X MSCI Argentina ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $97,000.

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Global X MSCI Argentina ETF Stock Up 1.8%

Shares of Global X MSCI Argentina ETF stock traded up $1.52 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $87.80. 25,282 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 223,409. Global X MSCI Argentina ETF has a twelve month low of $66.49 and a twelve month high of $103.97. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $93.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $86.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $784.05 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.65 and a beta of 1.10.

Global X MSCI Argentina ETF Company Profile

The Global X MSCI Argentina ETF (ARGT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI All Argentina 25\u002F50 index. The fund tracks a narrow index of companies with Argentine economic linkages that are selected and weighted by market cap. ARGT was launched on Mar 2, 2011 and is managed by Global X.

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Stock analysts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce started coverage on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP  Get Free Report) (TSE:BEP) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday. The firm set a sector outperform rating and a $37.00 price target on the utilities providers stock. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces price target indicates a potential upside of 21.56% from the companys previous close.

BEP has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Mizuho set a $31.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $38.00 price objective (up from $36.00) on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners in a report on Monday, November 24th. National Bank Financial raised their target price on Brookfield Renewable Partners from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $35.00 price target (up from $30.00) on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, UBS Group restated a buy rating and set a $39.00 price objective (up from $38.00) on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $34.93.

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Brookfield Renewable Partners Stock Down 1.3%

NYSE:BEP traded down $0.41 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $30.44. The company had a trading volume of 88,795 shares, compared to its average volume of 573,674. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $29.36 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -117.08 and a beta of 1.13. Brookfield Renewable Partners has a 1 year low of $19.29 and a 1 year high of $32.78. The company has a current ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91.

Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP  Get Free Report) (TSE:BEP) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The utilities provider reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.34) by $0.88. The company had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.49 billion. Brookfield Renewable Partners had a return on equity of 2.15% and a net margin of 11.11%. Equities analysts forecast that Brookfield Renewable Partners will post -1.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brookfield Renewable Partners

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kelleher Financial Advisors bought a new stake in Brookfield Renewable Partners during the third quarter valued at $26,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners in the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners during the 3rd quarter valued at about $46,000. Hilltop National Bank raised its stake in Brookfield Renewable Partners by 37.6% during the third quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 1,830 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Triumph Capital Management acquired a new stake in Brookfield Renewable Partners during the third quarter worth about $55,000. 63.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Brookfield Renewable Partners

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Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. is a leading global owner, operator and developer of renewable power assets. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BEP, the partnership focuses on generating clean electricity from a diversified mix of hydroelectric, wind, solar and energy storage facilities. As part of the Brookfield Asset Management group, Brookfield Renewable leverages a long-term, asset-backed approach to investing in sustainable energy projects that support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The companys platform encompasses approximately 23,000 megawatts of installed capacity across four continents.

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Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK  Get Free Report) had its target price boosted by equities research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $115.00 to $135.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the utilities providers stock. Wells Fargo & Companys target price would suggest a potential upside of 2.65% from the stocks previous close.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Monday, December 29th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, BTIG Research restated a buy rating and issued a $141.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $137.00.

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Duke Energy Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:DUK traded up $0.08 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $131.51. The companys stock had a trading volume of 707,360 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,314,352. Duke Energy has a fifty-two week low of $111.22 and a fifty-two week high of $132.30. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $121.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $122.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.55. The company has a market capitalization of $102.27 billion, a PE ratio of 20.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.50.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 15.41%.The firm had revenue of $7.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.57 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.66 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Duke Energy will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Duke Energy

In other Duke Energy news, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total transaction of $123,001.32. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 3,896 shares of the companys stock, valued at $498,142.56. The trade was a 19.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total value of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. This represents a 23.61% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 37.7% in the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 41,642 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,153,000 after purchasing an additional 11,409 shares in the last quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,046,000. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 274,630 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $33,985,000 after buying an additional 27,820 shares in the last quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 13.0% during the 3rd quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC now owns 88,018 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $10,892,000 after acquiring an additional 10,108 shares during the period. Finally, Greystone Financial Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 12.7% during the 3rd quarter. Greystone Financial Group LLC now owns 93,766 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $11,604,000 after acquiring an additional 10,580 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.31% of the companys stock.

Key Duke Energy News

Here are the key news stories impacting Duke Energy this week:

Duke Energy Company Profile

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Duke Energy Corporation is a U.S.-based electric power holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The companys core business is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Duke Energy operates a mix of regulated electric utilities and non-regulated energy businesses, providing essential energy infrastructure and services across multiple states.

Its operating activities include owning and operating generation assets across a portfolio that encompasses nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and an expanding array of renewable resources, as well as battery storage and grid modernization projects.

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Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NPV  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.065 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th.

Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund Price Performance

NYSE NPV traded down $0.02 on Wednesday, hitting $11.73. 8,589 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 44,245. Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund has a twelve month low of $10.68 and a twelve month high of $12.62. The companys 50 day moving average price is $11.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.35.

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Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile

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Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NPV) is a closed-end investment company advised by Nuveen Asset Management. The funds primary objective is to provide shareholders with high current income exempt from federal and Virginia state personal income taxes by investing in a diversified portfolio of municipal debt securities.

The portfolio is focused on investment-grade municipal bonds issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia and its political subdivisions, including general obligation bonds and revenue bonds financing education, transportation, public utilities and other essential infrastructure.

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Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NMS  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.0665 per share on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th.

Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance

NYSE NMS traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $12.10. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,636 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,158. The companys 50-day moving average is $11.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.85. Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 1-year low of $11.07 and a 1-year high of $12.50.

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About Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund

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Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NMS) is a closed-end investment company managed by Nuveen, a global asset manager specializing in fixed income and tax-advantaged strategies. The funds primary objective is to provide current income exempt from federal and Minnesota state personal income taxes by investing predominantly in municipal securities issued by entities located in or serving the state of Minnesota.

The funds portfolio is concentrated in investment-grade general obligation and revenue bonds that finance public projects such as schools, transportation infrastructure, and utilities throughout Minnesota.

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Whitbread PLC  Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:WTBDY  Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 438,521 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 1,611% from the previous sessions volume of 25,626 shares.The stock last traded at $8.43 and had previously closed at $8.39.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on WTBDY. Sanford C. Bernstein cut shares of Whitbread from a strong-buy rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Whitbread from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Whitbread in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Whitbread from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Whitbread in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Whitbread has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Whitbread Trading Up 0.8%

Whitbread Company Profile

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $9.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.52.

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Whitbread plc is a UK-based hospitality company primarily engaged in hotel and restaurant operations. Its flagship brand, Premier Inn, is one of the largest budget hotel chains in the United Kingdom, offering standardized accommodation across city centre and suburban locations. In addition to hotels, Whitbread operates a portfolio of food and beverage outlets, including family-oriented restaurants and pubs that cater to both leisure and business travellers.

The companys hotel portfolio comprises hundreds of properties in the UK, alongside an established presence in Germany and select international markets under the Premier Inn banner.

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AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME  Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 2,419,622 shares, a drop of 14.1% from the January 29th total of 2,816,191 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,700,464 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. Currently, 1.1% of the companys shares are short sold. Currently, 1.1% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,700,464 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Thomas M. Montgomery sold 6,388 shares of AMETEK stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $205.05, for a total transaction of $1,309,859.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 22,116 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,534,885.80. This trade represents a 22.41% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO David A. Zapico sold 28,390 shares of AMETEK stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.76, for a total value of $5,727,966.40. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 49,088 shares of company stock valued at $9,930,020 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.57% of the companys stock.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On AMETEK

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AME. KBC Group NV raised its holdings in shares of AMETEK by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 289,634 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $52,412,000 after purchasing an additional 9,063 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of AMETEK by 4.9% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,043,029 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $384,096,000 after purchasing an additional 94,645 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its stake in AMETEK by 22.3% in the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 37,853 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,116,000 after buying an additional 6,911 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its holdings in AMETEK by 246.0% during the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 92,175 shares of the technology companys stock worth $17,344,000 after buying an additional 65,537 shares during the period. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new stake in AMETEK during the 3rd quarter valued at $118,311,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.43% of the companys stock.

AMETEK Stock Performance

Shares of AME stock traded down $1.98 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $233.27. 972,949 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,347,892. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $222.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $202.07. The company has a market cap of $53.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.45, a P/E/G ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 1.02. AMETEK has a 12-month low of $145.02 and a 12-month high of $242.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.67.

AMETEK (NYSE:AME  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The technology company reported $2.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $2 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.94 billion. AMETEK had a net margin of 20.00% and a return on equity of 16.55%. AMETEKs quarterly revenue was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.87 EPS. AMETEK has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.850-1.900 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 7.870-8.070 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that AMETEK will post 7.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AMETEK Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. This is an increase from AMETEKs previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. AMETEKs payout ratio is presently 19.38%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the company. Barclays increased their target price on AMETEK from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. TD Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of AMETEK in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of AMETEK in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. They set a buy rating and a $271.00 price target on the stock. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating and set a $240.00 price objective on shares of AMETEK in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $257.00 target price on shares of AMETEK in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $243.00.

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About AMETEK

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AMETEK, Inc is a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices that serves a broad range of industries. Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, the company designs and produces precision instruments, electronic measurement devices, specialty sensors, and electric motors and motion control systems. Its product portfolio includes analytical and monitoring instruments, calibration equipment, power supplies, embedded electronics, and industrial motors and drives used for critical applications.

The company operates through two primary business platforms  an electronic instruments group focused on analytical, test and measurement and sensor products, and an electromechanical group that supplies motors, actuators, and related power and motion solutions.

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Shares of Cellnex Telecom SA  Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:CLLNY  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $18.95, but opened at $17.65. Cellnex Telecom shares last traded at $17.57, with a volume of 4,387 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CLLNY has been the topic of several research reports. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Cellnex Telecom in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Barclays raised Cellnex Telecom to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Cellnex Telecom from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, New Street Research raised Cellnex Telecom to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Cellnex Telecom Price Performance

Cellnex Telecom Company Profile

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $16.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.34.

(Get Free Report)

Cellnex Telecom SA is a leading independent wireless telecommunications infrastructure operator based in Barcelona, Spain. The company designs, builds and manages telecom tower sites and related connectivity solutions, offering site rental services to mobile network operators, broadcasters and enterprises. Its portfolio includes macro sites, distributed antenna systems (DAS), small cells, in-building coverage, fiber networks and edge computing nodes, all aimed at enhancing voice, data and next-generation digital services.

Founded as a spin-off from Abertis Infraestructuras in 2015, Cellnex launched an initial public offering on the Madrid Stock Exchange in May of that year.

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LISBON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said Wednesday that Portugal was not involved in and did not monitor or endorse the U.S. and Israeli military operation against Iran.

According to the official Lusa News Agency, Montenegro also emphasized that "the Portuguese state defends diplomatic and negotiation pathways to guarantee international peace."

The statement follows controversy over U.S. military operations at Lajes Air Base in the Azores, with opposition parties and experts questioning whether proper authorization was obtained for operations potentially supporting the Iran strikes.

According to Lusa, 15 U.S. KC-46 Pegasus refueling aircraft have been stationed for more than one week at Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island, a volcanic island in the Azores archipelago that is approximately 1,500 km west of mainland Portugal in the mid-Atlantic. Thirteen aircraft departed the base on Sunday, one day after the U.S. and Israeli joint attack on Iran.

The Left Bloc party in the Azores "vehemently" condemned the U.S. use of Lajes Base for Iran-related operations, criticizing "total submission" to American interests.

The Socialist Party then requested that parliament summon the government to clarify the legal framework for recent U.S. force movements at Lajes Base.

In a request submitted to the Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities Committee, Socialist deputies stated increased movements at the military base "are of great sensitivity, with doubts remaining about the ultimate purpose of operations in question and respective international legal framework."

Under the Portugal-U.S. Defense Cooperation Agreement, any use of Lajes Base by the United States beyond the framework of NATO or other international organizations supported by Portugal "should be subject to prior authorization." 
Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. (NYSE:AVAL  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 457,440 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 180% from the previous sessions volume of 163,324 shares.The stock last traded at $3.99 and had previously closed at $3.55.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have commented on AVAL. Citigroup downgraded shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores in a report on Friday, January 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $3.98. The company has a market cap of $5.02 billion, a PE ratio of 11.75 and a beta of 0.66.

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores (NYSE:AVAL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The bank reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.10 by $0.02. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores had a net margin of 5.06% and a return on equity of 7.05%. The firm had revenue of $1.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.24 billion. Equities analysts predict that Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. will post 0.21 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AVAL. Plan A Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 32.4% in the 3rd quarter. Plan A Wealth LLC now owns 15,811 shares of the banks stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 3,868 shares during the last quarter. Banco BTG Pactual S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 33.0% during the third quarter. Banco BTG Pactual S.A. now owns 15,587 shares of the banks stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 3,871 shares during the period. Stokes Family Office LLC grew its position in Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Stokes Family Office LLC now owns 87,317 shares of the banks stock valued at $354,000 after buying an additional 4,198 shares during the last quarter. Sage Investment Counsel LLC increased its stake in Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 17.2% in the 3rd quarter. Sage Investment Counsel LLC now owns 34,000 shares of the banks stock valued at $112,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the period. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its position in Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 69.0% during the 2nd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 21,049 shares of the banks stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 8,594 shares during the last quarter. 0.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores

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Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores SA is a leading Colombian financial holding company that offers a diversified range of banking and financial services across Latin America. As one of the largest financial conglomerates in Colombia, Grupo Aval provides commercial and retail banking, leasing, insurance brokerage, pension fund management and investment banking through its principal subsidiaries.

Its core banking operations are conducted through a network of well-established institutions, including Banco de Bogota, Banco de Occidente, Banco Popular and Banco AV Villas, which together serve individual consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporate clients.

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Schroders (OTCMKTS:SHNWF  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 5,051 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 86% from the previous sessions volume of 2,715 shares.The stock last traded at $7.8195 and had previously closed at $7.8787.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SHNWF has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of Schroders from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating on shares of Schroders in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Schroders in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, UBS Group downgraded Schroders from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold.

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Schroders Price Performance

About Schroders

The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $6.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $5.64.

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Schroders plc is a global asset management company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with a history dating back to its founding in 1804 as J. Henry Schroder & Co Over more than two centuries, the firm has grown organically and through selective acquisitions to establish itself as one of the worlds leading investment managers. Schroders is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and operates under the ticker SHNWF in the OTC Markets for investors seeking exposure to its equity.

The company offers a comprehensive suite of investment products and services, including active and passive equity strategies, fixed income, multi-asset solutions, alternatives such as real estate and private assets, as well as wealth planning and advisory services.

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VerticalScope (TSE:FORA  Get Free Report) had its target price lowered by Raymond James Financial from C$7.50 to C$5.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Raymond James Financials price objective suggests a potential upside of 59.24% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other brokerages have also commented on FORA. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce upped their price objective on shares of VerticalScope from C$4.00 to C$4.50 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. National Bank Financial dropped their target price on shares of VerticalScope from C$5.50 to C$4.50 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, VerticalScope presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$7.63.

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VerticalScope Stock Up 12.1%

TSE FORA traded up C$0.34 during trading on Wednesday, hitting C$3.14. 39,150 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,095. VerticalScope has a 12 month low of C$2.40 and a 12 month high of C$12.33. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$2.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$3.17. The company has a market capitalization of C$67.54 million, a P/E ratio of -13.08 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 2.27, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 59.23.

VerticalScope (TSE:FORA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported C($0.22) EPS for the quarter. VerticalScope had a negative net margin of 8.44% and a negative return on equity of 6.62%. The company had revenue of C$20.22 million for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that VerticalScope will post 0.3740942 EPS for the current year.

VerticalScope Company Profile

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VerticalScope Holdings Inc is a technology company that operates a cloud-based digital community platform comprising hyper-focused apps, forums, marketplaces, editorial, and e-commerce rating and brand review websites.

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Shares of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (OTCMKTS:RAIFY  Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 32,893 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 195% from the previous sessions volume of 11,155 shares.The stock last traded at $11.57 and had previously closed at $11.1625.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, UBS Group raised shares of Raiffeisen Bank International from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy.

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Raiffeisen Bank International Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $15.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.71 and a beta of 1.10. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $11.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $10.15.

Raiffeisen Bank International (OTCMKTS:RAIFY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The financial services provider reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Raiffeisen Bank International had a return on equity of 6.19% and a net margin of 10.91%.The business had revenue of $2.63 billion for the quarter.

Raiffeisen Bank International Company Profile

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Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is an Austrian banking group headquartered in Vienna, offering a diverse range of financial services. As a universal bank, RBI serves retail customers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporates, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe. The banks service portfolio encompasses everyday banking products, payment solutions, and digital services for individual clients, as well as cash management, trade finance, and structured lending for corporate and institutional customers.

In addition to traditional banking, RBI provides investment banking and capital markets services, including underwriting, debt and equity issuance, and advisory services.

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UCB SA (OTCMKTS:UCBJF  Get Free Report)s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $280.07, but opened at $315.09. UCB shares last traded at $315.09, with a volume of 139 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UCBJF has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating on shares of UCB in a research report on Monday, February 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of UCB in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Stephens restated an overweight rating on shares of UCB in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Barclays restated an overweight rating on shares of UCB in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Wolfe Research began coverage on UCB in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, UCB presently has a consensus rating of Buy.

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UCB Stock Up 12.5%

UCB Company Profile

The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $308.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $282.62.

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UCB SA is a Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of treatments for severe diseases of the immune system and the central nervous system. Founded in 1928 as Union Chimique Belge, the company transitioned from chemicals into pharmaceuticals and biologics and today concentrates its efforts on specialty medicines and research-driven innovation. UCBs work spans small molecules and biologics, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for patients with chronic and complex conditions.

Key therapeutic areas for UCB include immunology and neurology, where the company markets several well-known products and maintains an active clinical pipeline.

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HUYA Inc. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:HUYA  Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 3,031,743 shares, a growth of 35.1% from the January 29th total of 2,244,166 shares. Currently, 1.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 2,299,167 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.3 days. Based on an average daily volume of 2,299,167 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.3 days. Currently, 1.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Institutional Trading of HUYA

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in HUYA by 92.1% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 85,796 shares of the companys stock valued at $286,000 after purchasing an additional 41,138 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in HUYA by 8.6% in the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 245,295 shares of the companys stock worth $817,000 after acquiring an additional 19,353 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of HUYA by 10.3% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 154,694 shares of the companys stock worth $497,000 after purchasing an additional 14,456 shares during the period. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its holdings in shares of HUYA by 327.0% in the 2nd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 10,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 7,867 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 23.20% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

HUYA has been the topic of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of HUYA in a report on Monday, December 29th. Morgan Stanley set a $3.40 price target on shares of HUYA in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Zacks Research raised shares of HUYA from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, February 27th. Finally, HSBC upgraded shares of HUYA from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $3.50 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $3.45.

HUYA Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of NYSE HUYA traded up $0.04 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $3.50. The company had a trading volume of 672,167 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,561,731. HUYA has a 12-month low of $2.21 and a 12-month high of $4.93. The businesss 50-day moving average is $3.76 and its 200 day moving average is $3.33. The stock has a market cap of $781.94 million, a PE ratio of -38.88 and a beta of 0.89.

About HUYA

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HUYA Inc is a leading interactive live streaming platform based in Guangzhou, China, primarily focused on video game and esports content. The company operates a proprietary technology platform that enables users to broadcast and view live gameplay, participate in real-time chat, and engage with hosts through virtual gifting. Its services are accessible via web browsers, desktop applications and mobile apps for both iOS and Android.

At the core of HUYAs business are user-generated live streams hosted by professional gamers, influencers and esports organizations.

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Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 7,926,815 shares, a decline of 15.0% from the January 29th total of 9,324,075 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,382,373 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.3 days. Currently, 1.4% of the companys stock are sold short. Currently, 1.4% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 3,382,373 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.3 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GFI. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans acquired a new stake in Gold Fields during the third quarter worth $4,314,000. Summit Global Investments lifted its stake in shares of Gold Fields by 91.9% in the 3rd quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 46,205 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,939,000 after purchasing an additional 22,133 shares during the last quarter. AdvisorShares Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Gold Fields in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,889,000. DJE Kapital AG grew its holdings in shares of Gold Fields by 19.7% during the 2nd quarter. DJE Kapital AG now owns 4,511,125 shares of the companys stock worth $105,260,000 after purchasing an additional 742,174 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. increased its position in shares of Gold Fields by 1,180.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 159,101 shares of the companys stock worth $6,676,000 after purchasing an additional 146,671 shares during the last quarter. 24.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on GFI shares. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Gold Fields in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Gold Fields from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Scotiabank lifted their price target on shares of Gold Fields from $47.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Citigroup upped their price target on Gold Fields from $50.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut Gold Fields from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $44.00.

Gold Fields Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:GFI traded down $0.11 on Wednesday, hitting $51.10. 1,674,263 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,391,496. Gold Fields has a 1-year low of $18.76 and a 1-year high of $61.64. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $51.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $43.79.

Gold Fields Company Profile

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Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI) is a Johannesburg?based gold mining company that operates as an international producer of gold. Listed on multiple exchanges and traded in the United States via American Depositary Receipts under the ticker GFI, the company focuses on the exploration, development, extraction and processing of gold-bearing ore and the sale of refined gold products. Its operations span several regions, serving global bullion markets and supplying gold for both investment and industrial uses.

The companys core activities include mine development and underground and open?pit mining, ore treatment and refining, and ongoing exploration to replace reserves.

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Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ASEKY  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 4,338 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 473% from the previous sessions volume of 757 shares.The stock last traded at $15.53 and had previously closed at $16.8950.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Zacks Research cut shares of Aisin Seiki from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Reduce.

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Aisin Seiki Stock Performance

The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $17.67 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.47. The stock has a market cap of $11.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.64 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.74, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22.

Aisin Seiki (OTCMKTS:ASEKY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.16). Aisin Seiki had a net margin of 3.26% and a return on equity of 7.21%. The business had revenue of $8.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.03 billion. Analysts forecast that Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. Unsponsored ADR will post 0.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aisin Seiki Company Profile

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Aisin Seiki Co, Ltd., commonly known as Aisin, is a Japanese automotive parts manufacturer founded in 1949 and headquartered in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture. Originally established to supply repair parts for Toyota Motor Corporation, Aisin has grown into one of the worlds largest Tier-1 suppliers, delivering a broad portfolio of components to leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across the globe.

The companys core business centers on the design and production of automotive systems and components.

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loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE:LDI  Get Free Report)s share price was down 6.6% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $1.90 and last traded at $1.9330. Approximately 416,458 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 89% from the average daily volume of 3,671,868 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.07.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LDI has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America set a $1.75 target price on shares of loanDepot in a research note on Monday, December 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $2.40 price objective on shares of loanDepot in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of loanDepot from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, November 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of loanDepot in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, loanDepot has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $2.38.

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loanDepot Stock Up 0.8%

Insiders Place Their Bets

The stock has a market cap of $624.83 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.21, a PEG ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 3.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.94, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.19. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $2.28 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $2.66.

In other loanDepot news, CEO Anthony Li Hsieh sold 884,495 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.70, for a total transaction of $2,388,136.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In the last three months, insiders have sold 3,600,000 shares of company stock valued at $9,288,083. Insiders own 83.04% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On loanDepot

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in LDI. Invesco Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of loanDepot during the first quarter valued at $44,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in loanDepot by 30.3% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 366,435 shares of the companys stock worth $436,000 after purchasing an additional 85,129 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in loanDepot during the 1st quarter valued at about $122,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of loanDepot in the 2nd quarter valued at about $46,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of loanDepot by 134.4% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,925,712 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,446,000 after purchasing an additional 1,104,021 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 39.39% of the companys stock.

loanDepot Company Profile

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loanDepot, Inc (NYSE: LDI) is a leading non-bank consumer lender that provides a broad range of home and personal financing products through a digitally enabled platform. The company specializes in originating and servicing purchase and refinance mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and personal loans. Through its proprietary mello technology suite, loanDepot streamlines the application, underwriting, and closing processes for borrowers and real estate professionals, emphasizing speed, transparency, and a seamless digital experience.

Founded in 2010 by Anthony Hsieh, loanDepot has grown rapidly to become one of the largest independent mortgage lenders in the United States.

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Daiwa Securities Group Inc. (OTCMKTS:DSEEY  Get Free Report)s share price gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $10.5115, but opened at $9.81. Daiwa Securities Group shares last traded at $10.08, with a volume of 1,657 shares changing hands.

Daiwa Securities Group Stock Down 0.2%

The stock has a market cap of $13.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.16 and a beta of 0.51. The business has a fifty day moving average of $9.86 and a 200 day moving average of $8.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10.

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Daiwa Securities Group (OTCMKTS:DSEEY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The financial services provider reported $0.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.04. Daiwa Securities Group had a net margin of 10.93% and a return on equity of 7.01%. The firm had revenue of $2.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.70 billion.

About Daiwa Securities Group

Daiwa Securities Group Inc is a leading Japanese financial services firm established in 1902 and headquartered in Tokyo. Operating as a holding company, Daiwa oversees a network of subsidiaries active in securities brokerage, investment banking and asset management. With a history spanning over a century, the group has evolved to meet the changing needs of individual and institutional clients, building a reputation for comprehensive capital markets solutions.

The groups core businesses include retail brokerage, offering equity, fixed income and mutual fund products to individual investors in Japan.

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ANKARA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday warned against the repetition of the incident of a ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkish airspace.

Erdogan said in the capital Ankara that his country has issued warnings "in the clearest possible terms to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again."

He also said Turkiye is taking "all the necessary precautions" in consultation with its NATO allies and "will immediately intervene when necessary."

Earlier in the day, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that a ballistic projectile launched from Iran was intercepted by NATO air and missile defense units deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The ministry said the ballistic projectile was detected after launch from Iran and tracked as it transited Iraqi and Syrian airspace before turning toward Turkish airspace.

Following the interception, debris was examined in the Dortyol district of southern Hatay province. The ministry confirmed the fragment recovered belonged to the air defense munition used during the interception, not the incoming missile. No fatalities or injuries were reported in the incident. 
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) shares dropped 1.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday following insider selling activity. The company traded as low as $147.86 and last traded at $149.86. Approximately 16,713,310 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 22% from the average daily volume of 21,336,770 shares. The stock had previously closed at $151.83.

Specifically, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,150 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.82, for a total value of $339,313.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 18,204 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,872,955.28. This represents a 10.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on XOM shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $118.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday. Scotiabank reissued an outperform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, January 16th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $125.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Zacks Research raised Exxon Mobil from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $143.41.

Key Exxon Mobil News

Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week:

Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

The companys fifty day simple moving average is $137.00 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $122.42. The company has a market capitalization of $624.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 16.00 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.15.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $80.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $77.98 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.21% and a net margin of 8.68%.Exxon Mobils quarterly revenue was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.67 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be given a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 61.58%.

Institutional Trading of Exxon Mobil

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of XOM. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 215,892 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $24,342,000 after purchasing an additional 5,573 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 306,658 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $34,576,000 after acquiring an additional 9,831 shares in the last quarter. Capital Counsel LLC NY boosted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Counsel LLC NY now owns 49,687 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,356,000 after buying an additional 460 shares during the last quarter. HORAN Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 78.3% during the 3rd quarter. HORAN Wealth LLC now owns 13,180 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,486,000 after purchasing an additional 5,788 shares during the period. Finally, Krilogy Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 46.6% during the 3rd quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC now owns 35,160 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,997,000 after acquiring an additional 11,177 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product.

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Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 27,748,434 shares, a decrease of 15.5% from the January 29th total of 32,821,111 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,167,848 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days. Approximately 3.8% of the shares of the company are short sold. Approximately 3.8% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,167,848 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days.

Insider Activity at Permian Resources

In other Permian Resources news, CEO William M. Hickey III sold 467,725 shares of Permian Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.63, for a total transaction of $6,375,091.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,010,136 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,768,153.68. The trade was a 31.65% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO James H. Walter sold 467,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.63, for a total transaction of $6,374,751.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 1,010,138 shares in the company, valued at $13,768,180.94. The trade was a 31.65% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 2,210,456 shares of company stock worth $30,231,728 in the last ninety days. 12.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Permian Resources

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Permian Resources by 69.2% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 149,696 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,060,000 after purchasing an additional 61,230 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Permian Resources by 18.5% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 5,452,127 shares of the companys stock valued at $75,512,000 after purchasing an additional 852,347 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its stake in shares of Permian Resources by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,209,457 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,751,000 after buying an additional 87,105 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Permian Resources by 6.5% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 898,087 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,232,000 after buying an additional 54,680 shares during the period. Finally, World Investment Advisors increased its holdings in shares of Permian Resources by 34.0% during the 2nd quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 13,961 shares of the companys stock worth $190,000 after buying an additional 3,544 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.84% of the companys stock.

Permian Resources Price Performance

Shares of PR stock traded up $0.14 on Wednesday, reaching $18.53. 17,071,482 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,264,292. Permian Resources has a 1 year low of $10.01 and a 1 year high of $19.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $15.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.28. The company has a market cap of $15.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.82 and a beta of 0.66.

Permian Resources (NYSE:PR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.09. Permian Resources had a return on equity of 10.83% and a net margin of 18.46%.The company had revenue of $1.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.36 EPS. Permian Resourcess revenue was down 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Permian Resources will post 1.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Permian Resources Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. This is a positive change from Permian Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. Permian Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Bank of America restated a neutral rating and issued a $16.00 target price (down from $17.00) on shares of Permian Resources in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating and issued a $21.00 price objective on shares of Permian Resources in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Permian Resources from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Permian Resources from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price target on shares of Permian Resources from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $18.92.

Read Our Latest Report on PR

About Permian Resources

(Get Free Report)

Permian Resources (NYSE: PR) is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition, development and optimization of oil and natural gas assets in the Permian Basin. The companys operations encompass all phases of upstream activity, including geological and geophysical analysis, drilling, completion and production. By employing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies, Permian Resources aims to efficiently unlock hydrocarbon reserves and deliver consistent production growth.

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Permian Resources concentrates its asset portfolio in the Delaware and Midland sub-basins of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

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iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (NYSEARCA:EWS  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 548,756 shares, an increase of 19.4% from the January 29th total of 459,552 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 972,357 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days. Currently, 2.0% of the companys shares are short sold. Currently, 2.0% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 972,357 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days.

iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA EWS traded down $0.09 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $27.77. 1,609,036 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 902,956. The companys 50-day moving average is $28.35 and its 200-day moving average is $28.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $756.73 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.28 and a beta of 0.69. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF has a 52-week low of $20.08 and a 52-week high of $29.65.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares MSCI Singapore ETF

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Arkadios Wealth Advisors purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $362,000. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $349,000. Innealta Capital LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 98.4% during the 2nd quarter. Innealta Capital LLC now owns 70,559 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,833,000 after acquiring an additional 34,988 shares during the period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 16.3% in the 2nd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 6,447 shares of the companys stock valued at $167,000 after acquiring an additional 903 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 45.5% during the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 30,289 shares of the companys stock worth $787,000 after purchasing an additional 9,475 shares in the last quarter. 52.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About iShares MSCI Singapore ETF

iShares MSCI Singapore ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund (ETF). The Funds seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Singapore Index (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Singapore Stock Exchange. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Funds investment advisor is BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA).

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KAMPALA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Wednesday urged petroleum marketing companies not to use the ongoing Middle East crisis as a pretext to raise pump prices.

Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, said in a video clip posted on the social media platform X that there is no justification for increasing prices.

She noted that the sole supplier to the companies, the state-run Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), has already assured them of steady supplies despite the fighting in the Middle East.

"I call upon the oil marketing prices not to just use, take advantage of the global instability and raise pump prices because they want to make a profit. The time does not warrant that," said Nankabirwa.

In a statement issued Tuesday, UNOC said that together with its supply partner Vitol, appropriate measures are being taken to ensure the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products into the country.

The statement added that supplies could be sourced from alternative routes if the Middle East corridor becomes inaccessible. Deliveries scheduled for this month remain on track, with contingency plans in place to prevent any immediate disruption.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda imports approximately 2.5 billion liters of petroleum products annually, valued at about 2 billion U.S. dollars. 
Under the radar, last week was exceptionally violent . . . Today's gunfire adds to the quickly rising KCMO homicide count . . . Here's the info that police are sharing with local media along with more reporting:

Homicide 7000 block of Cleveland

This afternoon about 12:45pm officers were dispatched to the area of 70th and Cleveland on a shooting call.



On arrival officers located a vehicle stopped in the road at that location. Officers were directed inside the vehicle where they located an adult male shooting victim.



Officers rendered aid to the victim and called for EMS. EMS transported the victim to the hospital with life threatening injuries.



Detectives responded to the scene to begin their investigation along side of crime scene investigators.



A short time later detectives were notified the victim was declared deceased from his injuries at the hospital.



Preliminary information indicates the victim and multiple other people were at a location nearby on 71st st. When they came in contact with one or more suspects. That interaction escalated to shots being fired and the victim was struck.



The victim and others entered a vehicle and left the scene and drove to the location where police contacted them on 70th and Cleveland



Homicide detectives are now canvassing for witnesses and talking to people who were at the scene when police arrived.



There are not any suspects in custody at this time and there is no information yet on suspects.



If anyone was in the area and heard or saw anything or has any information, they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.

############

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Police investigating deadly shooting in south Kansas City A deadly shooting in south Kansas City is being investigated as a homicide.
Lots of stuff to consider tonight as we take a quick peek at court reporting, ALLEGED misdeeds and, as always, community outreach . . .

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City may ban tiny booze bottles to fight crime. Businesses say those aren't the problem The Kansas City Council is considering an ordinance that calls for barring the sale of single-serving bottles of alcohol in five parts of town. The city believes the plan could curb public safety problems like violence, loitering and other crime near liquor stores.

No explosives found Tuesday near Independence Boulevard, Montgall Avenue The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department's Bomb and Arson Unit did not find any explosive devices Tuesday afternoon after a traffic stop on Independence Boulevard near Montgall Avenue.

Former Rockhill Women's Care employee sentenced for fraud A Kansas woman, and former employee of Rockhill Women's Care, has been sentenced for defrauding patients of the metro-based medical center.

Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of an illegal firearm.

Man fires shots at undercover KCMO officer, faces multiple charges in crime spree Jackson County prosecutors have charged a Kansas City, Missouri, man in connection with a crime spree in which he allegedly opened fire toward an undercover officer.

Man sentenced in 2023 deadly drunk driving, wrong-way crash A man charged in the 2023 killing of a Kansas City wife and mother, after driving more than seven miles the wrong way on I-49 with a blood alcohol concentration at twice the legal limit, has been s...

'I have a gun': Miami County parents concerned about back-to-back gun threats at school Following back-to-back weapon threats at Trojan Elementary School in rural Osawatomie, Kansas, parents are asking for greater transparency from the school district.

Argument over stolen vehicle turns deadly - Kansas City man charged with murder A Kansas City man has been charged with murder after a shooting over a stolen vehicle.

KC man accused in infant son's fentanyl death now charged in 2023 deadly shooting A Kansas City man charged in connection to his infant son's fentanyl death last year is now facing charges for a 2023 deadly shooting.

Private investigator claims new lead on Prairie Village mom's disappearance, police not yet informed A private investigator working the disappearance of Prairie Village mom Angela Green says a phone call he received Saturday night may be a breakthrough in a case that has gone unsolved for more than six years.

32-year-old inmate dies in cell at Lansing Correctional Facility Raymond Michael Sanders, 32, was found unresponsive in his cell Tuesday afternoon.

Croatian Refugee Becomes Officer, Rises To Major He was a transportation cargo specialist in Virginia Beach, Va., handling logistics for large cargo vessels. With his service complete, he returned to Kansas City.

Developing . . .
There are more than a few small businesses fighting for their lives against the proposed KCMO booze restrictions . . .

For us this is worth considering . . .

IS BULLYING SMALL URBAN RETAILERS JUST ANOTHER SIGN THAT KANSAS CITY IS UNFRIENDLY AGAINST MOST BIZ?!?

The history of this "bottle battle" that has lasted since the 90s has shown us little to any real impact on street violence or even littering . . . Sadly, it's small retailers who feel the brunt of the regulations in an urban economic zone where biz is already sparse.

Here's another peek at the conversation so far . . .

"The Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee met for more than three hours Tuesday as members spoke both for and against an ordinance that would ban the sale of certain alcoholic containers in parts of Kansas City."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 4, 2026. Leavitt said Wednesday that U.S. forces will have "complete and total dominance" over Iranian airspace in the next few hours. She added that deploying U.S. ground troops to Iran is not currently planned, though U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier he is open to the option in the future. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that U.S. forces will have "complete and total dominance" over Iranian airspace in the next few hours.

"We expect to have complete and total dominance over Iranian airspace in the coming hours," Leavitt said at the White House daily press briefing.

She added that deploying U.S. ground troops to Iran is not currently planned, though U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier he is open to the option in the future.

Earlier in the day, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing that the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran is still in its early stages.

Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. forces will begin striking progressively deeper into the Iranian territory as operations expand.

Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have conducted their first coordinated attacks on Israel amid the ongoing escalation, the Israel Defense Forces told CNN on Wednesday.

On Saturday morning, U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with some of the leader's family members, senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded through waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the Middle East. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 4, 2026. Leavitt said Wednesday that U.S. forces will have "complete and total dominance" over Iranian airspace in the next few hours. She added that deploying U.S. ground troops to Iran is not currently planned, though U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier he is open to the option in the future. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 4, 2026. Leavitt said Wednesday that U.S. forces will have "complete and total dominance" over Iranian airspace in the next few hours. She added that deploying U.S. ground troops to Iran is not currently planned, though U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier he is open to the option in the future. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. The evacuation of foreign and Azerbaijani citizens from Iran is in full swing as the crisis heats up, Trend reports.

From 08:00 (GMT+4) on February 28 through 10:00 (GMT+4) on March 4, a total of 1,249 people from various countries were safely evacuated to Azerbaijan.

The evacuated persons include 400 Chinese, 249 Russian, 256 Azerbaijani, 105 Tajikistani, 80 Pakistani, 46 Omani, 18 Saudi, nine Georgian, seven Belarusian, six UAE, six Slovak, five Serbian, four Iranian, four Jordanian, four Swiss, four Nigerian, and four Japanese citizens.

The list also includes three citizens of Qatar, Bangladesh, France, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines, two citizens of Nepal, Turkiye, Yemen, Kyrgyzstan, and Italy. One evacuated person each was from Poland, Tunisia, Lebanon, India, Brazil, the UK, Myanmar, the Maldives, South Africa, Cuba, and Ukraine.

15:33

The evacuation of foreign and Azerbaijani citizens from Iran is in full swing as the crisis heats up, Trend reports.

From 08:00 (GMT+4) on February 28 through 10:00 (GMT+4) on March 4, a total of 1,222 people from various countries were safely evacuated to Azerbaijan.

The evacuated persons include 395 Chinese, 246 Russian, 243 Azerbaijani, 101 Tajikistani, 80 Pakistani, 46 Omani, 18 Saudi, nine Georgian, seven Belarusian, six UAE, six Slovak, five Serbian, four Iranian, four Jordanian, four Swiss, four Nigerian, and four Japanese citizens.

The list also includes three citizens of Qatar, Bangladesh, France, Uzbekistan, Mexico, and the Philippines, two citizens of Nepal, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, Yemen, Kyrgyzstan, and Italy. One evacuated person each was from Poland, Tunisia, Lebanon, India, Brazil, the UK, Myanmar, the Maldives, South Africa, and Cuba.

10:46

The evacuation of foreign and Azerbaijani citizens from Iran is in full swing as the crisis heats up, Trend reports.

From 08:00 (GMT+4) on February 28 through 10:00 (GMT+4) on March 4, a total of 1,161 people from various countries were safely evacuated to Azerbaijan.

The evacuated persons include 361 Chinese, 246 Russian, 224 Azerbaijani, 76 Pakistani, 46 Omani, 18 Saudi Arabian, nine Georgian, six UAE, six Slovak, five Serbian, four Iranian, four Jordanian, four Swiss, four Nigerian, and four Japanese citizens.

The list also includes three citizens of Qatar, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Mexico, and the Philippines, two citizens of Nepal, Kazakhstan, France, Turkiye, Yemen, Kyrgyzstan, and Italy. One evacuated person each was from Poland, Tunisia, Lebanon, India, Brazil, the UK, Myanmar, the Maldives, and South Africa.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

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Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the country on March 4 to offer condolences over the passing of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and numerous civilians, Trend reports.

Mojtaba Demirchilou, Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan, welcomed the head of state.

The President of Azerbaijan signed the book of condolence.

The head of state then held a conversation with the ambassador.

President Ilham Aliyev said he would always fondly recall his meetings with Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei during his visits to Iran.

Mojtaba Demirchilou expressed gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan for visiting the embassy and extending his condolences.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Co-Chair of the Azerbaijan-Iran Economic Cooperation Commission Shahin Mustafayev expressed his condolences to the Iranian side, Trend reports via the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan.

According to the information, during today's telephone conversation with Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the death of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and a large number of Iranian citizens.

Shahin Mustafayev expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and state in connection with this heavy loss and shared their grief.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom discussed cooperation in the field of digital infrastructure, Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"A meeting was held with Tim Reid, Director General of the UK Export Finance Agency. During the meeting, information was provided on the transformations taking place in Azerbaijan in the areas of transport, logistics, and digital infrastructure. We discussed the possibilities of a strategic partnership with the United Kingdom in this area," the publication says.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Azerbaijan and the British Nscale company discussed cooperation opportunities in the field of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"During the visit to the UK, a meeting was held with Philip Sachs, President of Nscale's Europe, Middle East and Africa division, and Fabio Fregi, CEO of Nscale. During the meeting, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan is implementing a national strategy to become a regional hub in the field of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure and is collaborating with leading global technology partners to support this strategy. As part of Nscale's experience in data centers and artificial intelligence services, we discussed opportunities for cooperation with Azerbaijan in the areas of joint investments, projects, technological and personnel training," the publication says.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Special scholarships will be awarded to young talents in Azerbaijan under a new decree, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed the relevant decree.

Under the decree, 61,847 manat ($36,377) have been allocated to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan from the Reserve Fund of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as stipulated in the countrys 2026 state budget, to finance special scholarships for young talents whose names are inscribed in the Golden Book.

The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been instructed to ensure the financing is considered in the decree, while the Ministry of Culture is tasked with resolving issues arising from its implementation.

The decree enters into force on the day of its signing.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Transit zones will be established at Azerbaijans international airports for passengers traveling onward to third countries, Trend reports.

The measure is reflected in the Rules on the Simplification of Formalities in Air Transportation, approved by President Ilham Aliyev.

Under the document, transit zones will allow crew members, passengers, and their baggage traveling to a third country to remain at the airport for up to 24 hours without undergoing border control procedures and without the need for a visa.

In accordance with the Migration Code, foreign nationals and stateless persons permanently residing abroad will not require a transit visa if they pass through Azerbaijan without changing aircraft, remain within the airports transit zone while transferring flights without crossing the state border, hold other visas permitting entry into Azerbaijan, or are citizens of countries that have visa-free travel agreements with Azerbaijan.

The head of state has also signed a decree to ensure the implementation of the relevant rules.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Another meeting of the Organizing Committee for the 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) was held on March 4, Trend reports.

Samir Nuriyev, Head of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, opened the meeting, noting that urban planning is regarded by the President of Azerbaijan as a major strategic priority in the countrys socio-economic agenda. He added that declaring 2026 the Year of Urban Planning and Architecture demonstrates the continued importance attached to the sector.

The Committee Chairman emphasized that ongoing, goal-oriented steps taken under the leadership of the Head of State to promote balanced growth of the capital and the regions, along with sustainable settlement, play a key role in Azerbaijans comprehensive development.

Highlighting Azerbaijans focus on global urban development processes, Samir Nuriyev emphasized that the country has promoted innovative approaches in the sector and successfully implemented them in practice. He added that the large-scale reconstruction and development efforts in the Garabagh and East Zangezur economic regions, unique in the world for their scale and pace, provide the most vivid demonstration of these efforts.

He noted that the upcoming WUF13 in Baku in May 2026, which has already garnered considerable international interest, will provide a platform to present Azerbaijans conceptual approach to urban development, including the practical experiences applied in the liberated territories on an international stage.

Reports by committee members followed, covering progress in general preparations, as well as substantive, communication, and organizational-logistical work.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman issued instructions regarding the WUF13 preparation process, including implementation of the Action Plan and other tasks in line with the Presidents directives, to ensure the successful organization and high-level execution of the event.
CAPE TOWN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The current state of relations between South Africa and Rwanda is unsustainable and needs to be addressed, a senior South African official said on Wednesday.

Bulelwa Kiva, acting chief director for East Africa at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, made the remarks during an online briefing to the Parliament's Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation.

Kiva said current efforts to resume the normalization process have been hampered by the schedules of senior representatives from both sides, but discussions remain ongoing.

She noted that high-level engagements have taken place on the margins of multilateral events, with discussions focusing on reviving bilateral relations, notably visa issues.

"South Africa and Rwanda are committed to this process and to resuscitating the Joint Commission of Cooperation," she said. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Today, 193 Azerbaijani citizens were evacuated to Azerbaijan from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on a special flight belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines, the head of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizada, said in response to a question from local media, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani MFA.

"Since the first day of the military escalation, our embassies and consulates general in the region have continued their operations in an enhanced mode, and measures are being taken to provide appropriate assistance to our citizens. At this time, with the exception of one person, none of our citizens have been injured. Regarding the evacuation of our citizens, today 193 Azerbaijani citizens, 9 Azerbaijanis who are citizens of Georgia, and 5 Azerbaijanis who are citizens of Russia were evacuated were evacuated to our country from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on a special flight belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines," he said.

A.Hajizada added that, in addition, the return of Azerbaijani citizens residing in the UAE to our country is being carried out by the relevant UAE airlines on regular flights. Yesterday, 257 Azerbaijani citizens returned to Azerbaijan. One scheduled flight from Dubai is scheduled today, and two more scheduled flights are scheduled on March 5.

"Work is also underway to evacuate 200 of our citizens currently in Qatar via a special flight. It should be noted that due to the closure of Qatari airspace, the evacuation of our citizens is planned via Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, in accordance with the travel advisory issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijani citizens are exiting Iran via the land borders of Azerbaijan and Turkey, depending on their region of residence. To date, 260 Azerbaijani citizens have crossed the border. Citizens currently in the region are urged to closely monitor the security situation, follow the directions and recommendations of local authorities, avoid crowded places and enhance personal safety measures," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Russia extradited two more internationally wanted citizens of Azerbaijan to the country, the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The request of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan for the extradition of Abdul Musayev and Rustam Huseynov has been granted by the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia.

Since reasonable suspicions were established that Musayev, under the criminal case conducted by the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Huseynov, under the preliminary investigation conducted by the Pirallahi District Prosecutor's Office of Baku, committed the criminal acts specified in the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, decisions were made to bring them as accused persons, and an international search was declared.

The persons, accompanied by a special convoy of the Ministry of Justice's Penitentiary Service, were brought to Azerbaijan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. A person wanted internationally has been extradited from Montenegro to Azerbaijan, Trend reports, citing the Prosecutor Generals Office.

According to the office, in accordance with the European Convention on Extradition dated December 13, 1957, the extradition request for Azerbaijani citizen Ramil Mansimov was approved by the competent authorities of Montenegro.

Mansimov is suspected of committing embezzlement and has been declared internationally wanted after evading investigation. A decision was made to prosecute him as an accused individual. Measures were taken to bring him back to Azerbaijan.

The Prosecutor Generals Office continues to identify the locations of other individuals wanted in connection with the criminal case and is carrying out necessary operational, investigative, and legal measures to extradite them to Azerbaijan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Azerbaijan carried out a safe evacuation of its citizens whose flights were canceled amid the unfolding situation in the Middle East, organizing a special return flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Baku, Trend reports.

The evacuation was carried out to ensure the safe return of Azerbaijani nationals. An AZAL-owned Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. A total of 209 citizens were brought back to the country on the evacuation flight.

AZAL, as the national air carrier, is currently operating flights in a safe and coordinated manner in accordance with procedures determined by the relevant authorities.

Additional evacuation flights from other destinations across the Middle East to Baku are planned in the coming days.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 5. On March 4, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade hosted an Iftar ceremony on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan at his residence, Trend reports.

Leyla Aliyeva, Arzu Aliyeva, and the heads of various religious confessions operating in ceremony attended the ceremony.

The event commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the collective Ramadan prayer.

Addressing the ceremony, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade underscored the spiritual significance of the holy month of Ramadan. He highlighted the high level of state-religion relations in Azerbaijan, as well as the exemplary atmosphere of religious tolerance prevailing in the country. He emphasized that Azerbaijan consistently advocates Islamic values and interests on the global stage, making significant contributions to Islamic solidarity while maintaining a resolute stance against Islamophobia.

In their remarks, the speakers representing various religious confessions and other guests hailed Azerbaijans efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue globally. They also mentioned that the country has established a unique and exemplary model of peaceful coexistence.

The ceremony followed by an Iftar meal for the participants.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 5. Leyla Aliyeva visited the Narimanov Children's Clinical Hospital of the Republican Pediatric Center, Trend reports.

During the visit, Leyla Aliyeva inquired about the health of children undergoing inpatient treatment with various diagnoses at the hospital, familiarizing herself with their treatment process and the created conditions. She also met with minor patients and their parents, providing them with moral support, and presenting gifts to the children.

Minister of Health Teymur Musayev and Acting Executive Director of TABIB Anar Israfilov briefed Leyla Aliyeva on the activities of the medical facility, the specialized medical services provided, as well as the existing material and technical base. It was mentioned that the Narimanov Children's Clinical Hospital of the Republican Pediatric Center, operating under TABIB, is the only specialized facility in the country that provides inpatient medical services to children in endocrinology and allergology.

Equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, the facility provides diagnostic and treatment measures, applying a holistic approach focused on restoring and safeguarding patient health.
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Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. Uzbekistan and South Koreas Shindong Resources discussed prospects for expanding practical cooperation in the extraction and processing of mineral resources, Trend reports via the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade.

The issue was reviewed during a meeting between Uzbekistans Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Kim Yong Gu, founder of the South Korean company Shindong Resources.

Throughout the discussions, the parties explored avenues to enhance collaboration in the advancement of mineral resources and associated processing initiatives.

Post-meeting, the stakeholders reaffirmed their shared commitment to ongoing discussions and collaborative efforts in the identified domains.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and South Korea decreased by 15% in 2025 to $1.7 billion, accounting for 2.1% of Uzbekistans total foreign trade volume.

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Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. Uzbekistan and China discussed expanding industrial cooperation and launching joint projects in the chemical, textile, and oil and gas sectors, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.

The issue was reviewed during a meeting between Ilzat Kasimov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, and Li Jun, Deputy Governor of Chinas Shaanxi Province, held on the sidelines of the UzbekistanChina Business Forum in Tashkent.

During the talks, the sides also emphasized the importance of creating a sustainable platform for direct business-to-business engagement to facilitate practical cooperation between companies of the two countries.

Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to maintain regular coordination and ensure systematic preparation for the forum.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and China reached $17.2 billion in 2025, reinforcing Chinas position as Uzbekistans largest trading partner.

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Assyrian Flag Added to Skokie Flag Display

Skokie, Illinois (AINA) -- A flag raising ceremony was held in Skokie, a suburb of Chicago, with a population of 68,000, 25,000 of which are Assyrians. The Assyrian flag was added to the flags of other nations in Sculpture Park. The flag will be permanently displayed there.

Skokie is referred to as Little Assyria.

The Assyrian community attended the event along with a host of government officials, community leaders and celebrities. Attending was Skokie Mayor Ann Tennes, Diane Pathieu (an Assyrian) of ABC7 News, Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam, and Maryann Warda, the first Assyrian-American woman Trustee in the Village of Niles.

The Chicago metro area is home to 90,000 Assyrians, the second largest in the U.S., living in north Chicago and northwest suburbs. The Detroit metro area has a population of 100,000 Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs).

The first Assyrians arrived in Chicago after 1915, displaced by the Turkish genocide of Assyrians in World War One. The majority came beginning after 1970.











Ann Tennes, the mayor of Skokie.

Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam.
CAIRO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The regional exchange of fire triggered by the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran entered its fifth day on Wednesday, with ripple effects spreading further across the region.

Here's a quick overview of the latest developments and the impact of the retaliatory attacks on countries directly caught up in the regional crisis:

The United States

-- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.

-- Iran's missile launches have declined sharply since the United States and Israel launched massive strikes, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine said at the Pentagon briefing.

Israel

-- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that its air force shot down an Iranian fighter jet over Tehran as part of an ongoing U.S.-Israeli operation in Iran.

-- At least two people were injured in central Israel during two joint missile and rocket attacks launched by Iran and Hezbollah, as Israeli forces carried out a wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon.

Iran

-- A senior cleric and member of Iran's Assembly of Experts said that the country will select its next supreme leader soon, with candidates determined.

-- Iran said that 1,045 people have been killed in the country since Saturday as a result of U.S.-Israeli strikes.

-- The Israeli military said it carried out large-scale airstrikes in eastern Tehran, targeting a sprawling military compound that houses multiple command centers for Iran's security and intelligence organizations.

Iraq

-- The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority extended the closure of the country's airspace for an additional 72 hours amid ongoing regional tensions.

-- One Iraqi soldier was killed and two others wounded in an unidentified air and ground attack during a security operation in central Iraq's desert region.

-- During a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein emphasized that the solution of the ongoing conflict lies in an "immediate ceasefire." Hussein cautioned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and continued hostilities have disrupted maritime traffic in the region, creating increasing difficulties for Iraq and neighboring countries in exporting crude oil.

-- The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Iraq issued a statement on its website, saying that U.S. citizens in Iraq are strongly encouraged to depart as soon as they are safely able to do so, and shelter in place until such time as conditions are safe to depart.

Kuwait

-- Kuwait's Health Ministry said that an 11-year-old girl was killed after being hit by falling shrapnel following waves of attacks across the Gulf.

The United Arab Emirates

-- The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that its air defense forces detected 189 ballistic missiles, eight cruise missiles, and 941 drones during the recent attacks. Of the total, 175 ballistic missiles and all eight cruise missiles were intercepted, while 876 drones were shot down.

-- UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi reaffirmed the country's balanced approach in confronting regional conflicts, emphasizing that the UAE does not seek to widen the scope of confrontation.

-- Stock markets in the UAE fell sharply as trading resumed after a two-day precautionary suspension.

Qatar

-- Qatar's state-run energy firm QatarEnergy announced force majeure following attacks on two of its main facilities during the ongoing conflict between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli coalition.

Saudi Arabia

-- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said that two cruise missiles were intercepted over an area southeast of the capital Riyadh, adding that separate drone attacks were thwarted.

Lebanon

-- At least 20 people were killed, and 283 others injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon over the past 24 hours, raising the casualty toll since Monday to 72 deaths and 437 injuries, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Ministry of Public Health said.

-- Israeli military vehicles advanced along the border strip in southern Lebanon, constructing earthen berms and carving field roads up to 2 km inside Lebanese territory, as a UN agency reported that 7 children were killed in a single day amid intensifying hostilities.

Cyprus

-- A suspected aerial object was detected approaching Cyprus on Wednesday morning, triggering an air security alert before being intercepted by two Greek fighter jets.

Turkiye

-- The Turkish Defense Ministry announced that a ballistic projectile allegedly launched from Iran was successfully intercepted by NATO air and missile defense units deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Britain

-- Britain had taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw some of the staff members and their dependents from its embassy in Bahrain amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, a statement from the government's website said.

France

-- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that French Rafale fighter jets had "neutralized" Iranian drones targeting French military bases in the United Arab Emirates.

-- French President Emmanuel Macron said that France is sending its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group to the Mediterranean as part of its military buildup in the region. 
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. Uzbekistan and China are set to hold the Third Uzbekistan-China Interregional Forum on May 21-25, 2026, in Xian, Shaanxi Province, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.

The announcement was made during a meeting between Ilzat Kasimov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, and Li Jun, Deputy Governor of Chinas Shaanxi Province, held on the sidelines of the Uzbekistan-China Business Forum in Tashkent.

During the talks, the sides noted that the visit of the Shaanxi delegation is particularly important in the run-up to the forum, as it provides an opportunity to coordinate both organizational matters and the substantive agenda of the event. The parties also agreed to organize a visit of the Uzbek delegation to Xian.

The upcoming forum is expected to bring together around 2,000 representatives of ministries, government agencies, and business communities from Uzbekistan and China.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and China reached $17.2 billion in 2025, reinforcing Chinas position as Uzbekistans largest trading partner.

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Azerbaijan reveals most popular search engines in February 2026

In February 2026, Google continued to dominate the search engine market in Azerbaijan, although its share decreased from the previous month. Yandex saw a drop, while Bing experienced significant growth. Yahoo also saw a small increase in its market share during this period.

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Android market share in Azerbaijan declines for Feb. 2026

In February 2026, Android's market share in Azerbaijan fell to 36.02%, a decrease of 0.25% from the previous month. Second place in the Azerbaijani OS market went to Microsoft Windows products, with 31.2% share, an increase of 0.29% from January. After that, iOS had a 17.08% market share, which was up 1.5% from January 2026.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. Representatives of Uzbekistans Ministry of Economy and Finance and the World Bank discussed the implementation of a project aimed at optimizing and digitizing the ministrys business processes, Trend reports via the ministry.

The initiative, titled Assessment of opportunities for optimizing, reengineering, and automating the business processes of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, involves a series of working meetings with the ministrys structural divisions responsible for economic policy.

The project aims to conduct a thorough examination of current workflows, evaluating their efficiency, regulatory compliance, and practical application. The analysis focuses on pinpointing excessive administrative layers, redundant functions, and inefficient time utilization.



In light of the findings, there are plans to formulate actionable recommendations aimed at streamlining, enhancing, and digitizing the internal processes of the ministry. This initiative seeks to bolster the efficiency of public administration and expedite decision-making.

As part of the initiative, experts from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) are analyzing the activities and work processes of several departments within the ministry. The project is expected to support the introduction of modern management practices and the advancement of digital transformation in public administration.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. Uzbekistan and China discussed the strategic importance of joint projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, Trend reports via the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

The issue was reviewed during a meeting held at the Chamber with a Chinese delegation led by Cao Gongquan, Director of the Department of Commerce of Shaanxi Province.

Particular attention was given to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, as well as cooperation in the energy, industrial, and digital economy sectors, which play an important role in strengthening Uzbekistans transport and logistics potential.

Following the talks, the sides agreed to move toward the practical implementation of cooperation, develop new joint projects, and intensify business ties.

According to Uzbekistans Ministry of Transport, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will stretch over 532.53 kilometers. The plan includes building 20 railway stations, including two border stations, one transshipment station, four intermediate stations, and 13 passing loops. The official groundbreaking ceremony took place on December 27, 2024, in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. Uzbekistan and China engaged in discussions regarding the potential for Chinese investment across several key sectors, including electrical equipment production, transportation, geological exploration, metallurgy, and agriculture, Trend reports via the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The issue was reviewed during a meeting held at the Chamber with a Chinese delegation led by Cao Gongquan, Director of the Department of Commerce of Shaanxi Province.

During the talks, the sides discussed ways to further strengthen trade and economic cooperation between businesses of Uzbekistan and Shaanxi Province, expand partnership areas, and implement joint projects. The importance of establishing direct cooperation between Uzbek and Chinese entrepreneurs in these sectors was also emphasized.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on preparations for a major forum scheduled to take place in Shaanxi Province from May 21 to 25 this year, including the active involvement of entrepreneurs and the exchange of business experience.

Following the talks, the sides agreed to move toward the practical implementation of cooperation, develop new joint projects, and intensify business ties.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and China reached $17.2 billion in 2025, reinforcing Chinas position as Uzbekistans largest trading partner.
Photo: Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Azerbaijan and Austria have discussed prospects for expanding bilateral economic and trade relations, including increasing trade turnover, broadening mutual investment opportunities, and strengthening industrial cooperation, Trend reports via Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy.

According to the ministry, First Deputy Minister Elnur Aliyev met with Severin Gruber, Secretary General of Austrias Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism.

The sides reviewed the current state and prospects of bilateral economic ties, examining opportunities to boost trade, expand reciprocal investments, and implement joint projects. Discussions also covered cooperation with Austrian companies in the territories liberated from occupation, as well as partnership in industry, agriculture, energy, including renewable energy, and humanitarian fields.

The meeting noted that more efficient use of existing potential and promotion of direct contacts between business communities could further deepen economic relations between the two countries.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 4. Turkmenistan plans to build a new power plant and transmission systems in the Turkmenbashi district of Balkan province, Trend reports.

The project is part of the Social and Economic Development and Investment Program of Turkmenistan for 2026.

The program also provides for further development of modern energy infrastructure in the city of Arkadag.

President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved the countrys 2026 socio-economic development and investment program on January 23, 2026.

According to the program, measures will be taken in 2026 to maintain macroeconomic stability and GDP growth, diversify national economic sectors, and strengthen the countrys economic potential. Planned actions include comprehensive development of industries, enhancement of industrial and innovative capacities, and full utilization of production facilities.

The program also envisages progressive development of small and medium-sized enterprises through the creation of a favorable business environment and improvements to public-private partnership legislation. Investment policies will be intensified to fund the construction of production and social facilities, launch new enterprises, and create jobs in the regions.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 4. Turkmenistan and China discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral relations during a meeting between Ambassador of Turkmenistan to China Parakhat Durdyev and Assistant Foreign Minister of China Liu Bin, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA.

The sides exchanged views on further development of cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres and emphasized the importance of maintaining high-level dialogue between the two countries.

The parties also confirmed their interest in strengthening coordination within international organizations and reaffirmed the strategic nature of Turkmenistan-China relations.

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TEHRAN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday exchanged views with his Russian and French counterparts on the latest developments in the wake of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

In two separate phone calls, Araghchi briefed his counterparts on attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran since Saturday, according to statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

He said Israel and the United States have targeted Iran's residential places, schools, mosques, hospitals, rescue and services centers, and assassinated Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many civilians, including over 175 students.

Araghchi called on all governments and the United Nations to decisively condemn the "criminal" actions by Israel and the United States, the Foreign Ministry said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov extended condolences for the deaths of Khamenei, senior military commanders and civilians, stressing that the attacks on Iran are in violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter and will have "very heavy" consequences for the stability and security of the region and the entire world.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said his country maintains that the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran are in contradiction with international law, expressing hope that calm would be restored to the region as soon as possible.

On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East. 
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said discussed the current situation in the Middle East, Trend reports via the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.

President Mirziyoyev expressed deep concern over the incidents that occurred in Oman and stressed that Uzbekistan firmly supports resolving any disagreements and conflicts exclusively through political and diplomatic means, including dialogue and negotiations.

The president also highlighted the Sultanates active mediation role and its consistent efforts to maintain security and stability in the region. He expressed sincere gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said for the measures taken to ensure the safety of Uzbek citizens currently in Oman and for facilitating their return to Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have escalated following stalled nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East and expressed serious concern over rising tensions and conflicts in the region, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek president.

The leaders emphasized that developments taking place during the holy month of Ramadan contradict the principles of international law and called for the immediate cessation of any actions that threaten peace and regional stability.

Mirziyoyev also thanked the Emirati authorities for the practical assistance being provided to Uzbek citizens currently in the UAE and for the measures taken to ensure their safe return home.

Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have escalated following stalled nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 4. Turkmenistan and Tajikistan discussed the expansion of trade, economic, and scientific-technical cooperation during the 14th meeting of their Joint Intergovernmental Commission, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA.

The Turkmen delegation, led by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Atakhaliev Tangriguli, took part in the session held on March 3-4 in Dushanbe. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Ziyozoda Suleyman and Atakhaliev, with representatives of relevant ministries and agencies from both sides in attendance.

The parties assessed the execution of the accords established during the prior commission assembly in Ashgabat in 2024 and scrutinized collaboration across sectors, including trade, transport and communications, energy, water resources, industry, agriculture, education, healthcare, civil aviation, and cultural exchanges.



On March 4, the parties executed the protocol of the 14th convening of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 4. The Minister of Finance of Kyrgyzstan, Almaz Baketaev, met with a delegation from Japan led by Anzai Katsumi, Director of the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Tochigi Prefecture, to discuss mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and developing guarantee systems, Trend reports via the Kyrgyz Ministry of Finance.

The discussion primarily focused on the role of guarantee funds in enhancing access to financial resources for entrepreneurs. Malik-Aidar Abakirov, Chairman of the Board of the Guarantee Fund OJSC, also participated in the meeting, providing insights into the funds operations and its crucial role in supporting local businesses.

Minister Baketaev emphasized that the development of SMEs remains a central pillar of the governments economic policy, highlighting that Kyrgyzstan has achieved stable economic growth in recent years, with the Guarantee Fund playing a pivotal role in this success.

The Japanese delegation shared valuable insights from Japans extensive experience with guarantee systems, where SMEs represent approximately 90% of all enterprises, with a significant portion relying on credit backed by guarantee funds.

Anzai Katsumi noted that Kyrgyzstans approach to establishing and developing guarantee mechanisms is of considerable interest to Japan, underscoring the potential for mutual learning and cooperation.

The sides expressed a strong commitment to furthering their collaboration, with an emphasis on intensifying joint efforts to enhance guarantee systems that support business growth in both countries.
Turkmenistan, Tajikistan expand trade cooperation

Photo: Turkmen MFA

Turkmenistan and Tajikistan put their heads together to hash out the development of trade and economic ties during the latest session of their intergovernmental commission in Dushanbe.

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The talks took place during a meeting between Ahmet Gurbanov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, and Lim Sang-woo, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea for Public Diplomacy.

The sides reviewed the preparations for upcoming high- and top-level visits, underscoring the importance of political and consular consultations as key mechanisms for addressing bilateral matters. They also exchanged perspectives on various regional and international issues, including the situation in the Middle East.

Furthermore, the South Korean delegation expressed gratitude for Turkmenistans support in facilitating the safe transit of South Korean citizens traveling from Iran.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 4. Turkmenistan and Denmark discussed cooperation in transport, energy, climate, and water policy, Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium.

The talks were held during a meeting between Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Brussels Sapar Palvanov and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the European Union Carsten Grnbech-Jensen.

The parties acknowledged the opportunity to boost trade turnover and strengthen economic connections, emphasizing the mutual appeal of both markets.



In the context of the Turkmenistan-EU framework, diplomats emphasized the importance of enhancing the legal foundation and institutionalizing cooperation. Support was also expressed for the enhancement of ambassador-level dialogue in Brussels, facilitating discussions between Central Asian nations and EU member states.



Discussions also centered on regional challenges, notably climate change and water management.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Crown Prince of Kuwait Sabah AlKhalid AlHamad AlSabah discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East and expressed serious concern over recent attacks on Kuwaiti infrastructure, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek president.

It was highlighted that such actions are in direct opposition to the tenets of international law.

Mirziyoyev conveyed his solidarity with the leadership and citizens of Kuwait, emphasizing the urgent need to cease any actions that threaten peace and the safety of civilians.



The president of Uzbekistan expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Kuwaiti authorities for their practical support extended to Uzbek citizens residing in the country.



In the latest developments, tensions in the Middle East have intensified as nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain at a standstill.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

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Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. Uzbekistan and Russia discussed the launch of new industrial projects and deepening production integration, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade.

The issue was reviewed during the meeting between Uzbekistans Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Russias First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Kirill Lysogorsky.

During the talks, the parties addressed key aspects of trade, economic, and industrial cooperation, reaffirming their mutual interest in further increasing bilateral trade and expanding industrial partnerships.

The sides also highlighted the active work of the Joint Project Office and the close coordination between the relevant government agencies of the two countries.

Particular attention was given to preparations for the 6th International Industrial Exhibition INNOPROM. Central Asia," which will be held in Tashkent on April 20-22 and is expected to serve as an important platform for advancing new industrial cooperation initiatives.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Russia reached $13 billion in 2025, marking an 8.4% increase. The positive momentum continued in early 2026, with trade growing 37% year-on-year in January to $1.1 billion.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani engaged in a phone conversation to address the escalating situation in the Middle East and the increasing conflicts that pose significant threats to regional peace and stability, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek President.

During their discussion, the sides expressed profound concern over actions that exacerbate divisions within the Muslim ummah, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

The conversation also highlighted the urgent need for the cessation of activities that undermine state sovereignty, peace, and stability, recognizing such actions as contrary to the shared interests of the regions countries.

President Mirziyoyev further extended his gratitude to Emir Tamim for the measures taken to ensure the safety of Uzbek citizens in Qatar, facilitating their secure return to Uzbekistan.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.
LUSAKA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's cumulative cholera cases have reached 1,110 since the latest outbreak began in August 2025, according to figures released by the Zambia National Public Health Institute on Tuesday.

The update followed the reporting of nine new cases, while confirmed cholera-related deaths have risen to 18.

The figures showed that nine patients were discharged during the same period, bringing the cumulative number of discharges to 1,083, while nine patients remain hospitalized.

A total of 376,573 people in cholera-affected districts have been vaccinated so far. The current outbreak has affected 20 of the country's 116 districts, including Lusaka, the capital.

Zambia experienced its worst cholera outbreak between October 2023 and July 2024, recording more than 23,000 cases and over 700 deaths. 
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 4. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain engaged in a dialogue to address recent developments in the Middle East that have significant implications for regional security and stability, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek president.

During their conversation, the sides underscored the imperative of halting any actions that threaten peace, disrupt the well-being of citizens, and inflict suffering upon innocent individuals. They emphasized that such challenges must be addressed solely through diplomatic means and constructive negotiations.

In addition, President Mirziyoyev expressed unwavering support and solidarity with the leadership and people of Bahrain, reaffirming Uzbekistans commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom have discussed prospects for cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and technology development, Azerbaijans Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, wrote on his X account, Trend reports.

We held a meeting in London with the United Kingdoms Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and member of the House of Lords, John Alderdice.

During the meeting, we discussed prospects for cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and technology within the framework of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom.

Additionally, we exchanged views on expanding physical and digital connectivity, investment opportunities in artificial intelligence-based data centers, competitive energy resources, the development of transport infrastructure, and the implementation of joint personnel training programs with UK universities, the post said.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR is an important business partner that can play a significant role in supplies for SPP, Martin Huska, CEO of SPP, a state-owned energy supplier headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, said in an exclusive interview with Trend on the sidelines of the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Green Energy Advisory Council held in Baku on March 3.

Considering the new European Union legislation and the adoption of the EU Regulation on the gradual phase out of natural gas imports from Russia, SPP is seeking new suppliers capable of delivering the required volumes of natural gas at reasonable prices. Given that we tested cooperation with SOCAR through a pilot project of short-term gas supplies at the end of 2024, our priority is to explore a joint approach to potential long-term natural gas supplies, he said.

Huska pointed out that one of the pillars of SPPs commercial strategy in Slovakia is the diversification of natural gas sources.

Given that our company has concluded several gas supply contracts and currently has secured stable gas deliveries, negotiations with SOCAR are still at an early stage. Therefore, we do not expect any agreements to be concluded during our meetings. A key part of our companys commercial strategy is to ensure stable natural gas supplies for our customers at reasonable prices. Considering the important role SOCAR plays in the global natural gas market, we expect open negotiations with attractive offers for SPP and Slovakia.

As I mentioned, we consider our pilot project of short-term natural gas supplies from SOCAR to Slovakia to have been successful. It confirmed for us that SOCAR is an important business partner that can play a significant role in supplies for SPP. We would therefore certainly like to build on our previous positive experience with our Azerbaijani partner, he concluded.

SOCAR delivered natural gas to Slovakias SPP, the countrys largest state-owned energy supplier in throughout December 2024.

Gas supplies, which began on December 1, 2024, were conducted under a short-term pilot agreement between SOCAR and SPP.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. The first seminar on the discussion of the feasibility study (FS) for the first development stage of the Central Asia-Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor project has been held in Baku, Trend reports via the Energy Ministry of Azerbaijan.

The event was organized with the participation of high-level government representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, transmission system operators, regulatory agencies, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB), and other stakeholders.

Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, Orkhan Zeynalov, assessed the project as a promising initiative, stating that the corridor will connect the Caspian and Black Sea regions and ensure the transmission of clean, renewable energy from Central Asia to European markets. He also noted that, along with the countries officially joining the project, other regional parties have shown serious interest in participating in the initiative.

Stressing that his country has significant energy potential, Deputy Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Sanjar Zharkeshov stated that Kazakhstan aims to increase its total energy production capacity to 26 GW by 2030, of which 30-35% will come from renewable energy sources. He emphasized that Kazakhstan has rich energy resources and intends to export clean energy to European markets through this corridor.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Electric Network of Uzbekistan, Feruz Kurbonov, also expressed great interest in the project and assessed it as a highly promising initiative. He pointed out that Uzbekistan is investing heavily in important energy infrastructure within the country and aims to have additional electricity capacity to connect to the regional network and export to Europe by 2030.

Sunniya Durani Jamal, Director of ADB for Azerbaijan, said that the project will support strengthening connections in the region. CESI S.p.A. made the first presentation of the project's feasibility study at the seminar. She emphasized that the initial results were positive, and information was provided on the analytical framework and next steps for the first stage.

In conclusion, the participants agreed on the completion of the FS report for this stage and the main technical assumptions, data requirements, and next steps in preparation for the second stage.

The FS for the Central Asia-Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor is being prepared in partnership with the ADB and AIIB and is supported by a memorandum of understanding signed in April 2025.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 4. Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) discussed the implementation of priority investment projects, Trend reports via the press service of the president of Tajikistan.

The issue was discussed on March 4 during a meeting between President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of the Asian Development Bank Masato Kanda.

The head of state congratulated Masato Kanda on his election as president of the bank and described his first visit to Tajikistan as a sign of the institutions special attention to strengthening long-term cooperation between the two sides.

During the talks, the current level of cooperation and the Banks contribution to achieving Tajikistans socio-economic development goals were highly praised.

The parties expressed satisfaction with the adoption of the new Country Partnership Strategy between the Bank and Tajikistan for 20262030.

Furthermore, it was noted that its key prioritiesincluding the development of energy and transport, digitalization, and climate change adaptation, as well as strengthening the social and private sectorsfully align with Tajikistans national development objectives.

The president conveyed appreciation to the financial institution for its backing of the state budget and for advancing initiatives focused on fostering a sustainable economy.

The parties also evaluated opportunities for enhancing collaboration in the educational sector, tackling the ramifications of climate change, and safeguarding glaciers.

In this context, the need to mobilize additional financing and continue structural reforms to develop human capital and ensure environmental security in the region was emphasized.

Reaffirming their commitment to strengthening long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation, the parties expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would contribute to the further development of the strategic partnership between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 4. Minister of Finance of Kyrgyzstan Almaz Baketaev met with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which showcased initial findings from an evaluation of Kyrgyzstans public investment management system employing the PIMA methodology, Trend reports via the Kyrgyz Ministry of Finance.

The PIMA methodology is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of public investment management, including strategic planning, project preparation, and implementation.

During the meeting, experts noted that Kyrgyzstan is demonstrating positive trends in domestic investment, creating potential for further economic development.

At the same time, they emphasized the need for continued improvements in investment planning and management processes to strengthen these trends.

The minister concurred with the experts recommendations, emphasizing that the government is diligently pursuing financing for significant infrastructure initiatives and setting up a project management office to improve implementation efficacy.

The parties agreed to continue their cooperation and accelerate the implementation of necessary reforms in public investment management.

Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan has been working to strengthen its public investment management framework as part of broader efforts to support economic development and infrastructure growth.

The government aims to improve the planning, preparation, and execution of public investment projects to enhance efficiency and maximize the impact of state resources.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 4. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Asian Development Bank for the implementation of 15 prospective projects worth about $5.5 billion in 2026-2029, Trend reports via the Kazakh government.

The document opens opportunities for launching large-scale economic initiatives. Planned projects will focus on regional connectivity, disaster resilience, water resource management, housing and utilities modernization, and the development of Kazakhstans housing market. The ADB will also continue financing private sector initiatives, including projects in agriculture, transport, and logistics.

In addition, KazAvtoZhol and the ADB signed an agreement for the construction of a 102-kilometer bypass road around the city of Saryagash, with access to Uzbekistan through the B. Konysbayev border crossing.

The new road will divert transit traffic away from residential areas, improving safety for residents, accelerating road transport, and enhancing trade efficiency between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan became the first Central Asian country to join the ADB in 1994. Over more than three decades of cooperation, the bank has supported over 170 projects in the country worth more than $7 billion, playing a key role in infrastructure development, public sector governance, financial systems, and renewable energy promotion.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Swiss companies are interested in cooperation with Kazakhstan in the transport and logistics sectors, a spokesperson for the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) told Trend.

He noted that Kazakhstan plays a central role in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route ("Middle Corridor"), creating new opportunities for cooperation in transport and logistics. Swiss companies with long-standing expertise in this field are eager to contribute to the development of cooperation.

"In the railway sector, Switzerland welcomes the partnership between Stadler Rail and Kazakhstan Railways to supply modern trains and establish a maintenance center in Astana," the spokesperson said.

According to SECO, Switzerland and Kazakhstan maintain strong and dynamic bilateral relations. Kazakhstan is Switzerlands most important economic partner in Central Asia. Swiss companies perceive the country as a promising growth market due to its strategic location between Europe and the Far East, its natural resources, and rapid infrastructure development.

"Swiss businesses value a stable and predictable investment environment, including legal certainty, intellectual property protection, and data security. Recent steps taken by the Kazakh government in these areas are viewed very positively in Switzerland. Swiss companies are closely following Kazakhstans reform agenda launched back in 2022. President Tokayevs address of 8 September 2025, which emphasized industrial diversification, digitalization, water security, environmental protection, SME development, and the rule of law, sets an important direction for the countrys future. Switzerland, with its diversified economy and strong SME sector, stands ready to cooperate with Kazakhstan to achieve these ambitious goals," the spokesperson said.

Moreover, it was also noted that Swiss companies in the fields of water management and water infrastructure are very interested in sharing their expertise and contributing to infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan.

"We have started cooperating in the area of nuclear energy by importing uranium from Kazakhstan. Our companies are interested in expanding cooperation in the areas of nuclear waste management and nuclear risk insurance. There is also potential in advanced digital technologies. Both countries recognize the strategic importance of artificial intelligence, highperformance computing, and secure digital infrastructure", he said.

It was noted that joint projects could bring innovative solutions to sectors such as energy, logistics, and healthcare, while promoting responsible and ethical AI standards.

"Swiss companies are increasingly interested in exporting agricultural products to Kazakhstan, particularly dairy goods and genetics for dairy breeds. Several Swiss companies are supplying fertilizers to local farmers. Switzerland is ready to deepen bilateral cooperation to facilitate direct trade and strengthen the exchange of expertise between the two countries," the SECO concluded.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 4. Kazakhstans Mazhilis (lower house of the parliament) has ratified the Framework Partnership Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, which are a part of the World Bank Group, aimed at expanding cooperation to support the countrys sustainable development and economic growth, Trend reports via the Mazhilis.

The document establishes a legal framework and outlines key principles of engagement with organizations that are part of the World Bank Group. It also defines priority areas for joint activities focused on advancing Kazakhstans strategic reforms.

The main objectives of the agreement include enhancing macroeconomic and fiscal sustainability, strengthening the resilience of the financial sector, modernizing infrastructure, and supporting the development of the agricultural sector. Other key priorities involve improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises and increasing investment in infrastructure and social sectors, including healthcare and education.

The ratification of the agreement is expected to reinforce Kazakhstans international standing as a reliable partner, broaden cooperation with leading global financial institutions, and boost foreign investor confidence. In turn, this will open the door to extra funding and cutting-edge technologies for rolling out socio-economic and infrastructure projects nationwide.

The World Bank is currently preparing a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Kazakhstan for 2026-2031. The framework is a strategic document that defines priority areas for support and will guide cooperation between the World Bank Group and the Government of Kazakhstan. It is aimed at implementing key government projects and policy reforms to reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity using a full range of financial and analytical instruments, including investment financing, reform-linked budget support, guarantees, and technical advisory services.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at the Africa Energy Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 4, 2026. Ramaphosa on Wednesday called for greater energy integration across Africa to strengthen the continent's security and diversification as global markets face heightened volatility.(Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

CAPE TOWN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday called for greater energy integration across Africa to strengthen the continent's security and diversification as global markets face heightened volatility.

Speaking at the Africa Energy Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, Ramaphosa said escalating geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions have increased risks for African economies reliant on external energy supplies.

"Africa is already experiencing the impact of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with strains on supply chains and higher energy prices," he said, noting that such shifting geopolitical sands "underscore the vulnerabilities of import-dependent economies across Africa."

"These vulnerabilities sharpen the case for regional and continental energy security and diversification," he said. "There has never been a better time for Africa to advance its energy security, resilience and sustainability."

Ramaphosa urged African countries to accelerate the development of an integrated energy system capable of transmitting power across borders and balancing diverse resources, including hydropower, solar, wind and gas. An interconnected grid, he said, would support affordability, reliability and industrial competitiveness.

"The task now is to build a different kind of energy system, one that connects Africa to itself and one that allows our economies to grow together rather than apart," Ramaphosa said.

Despite abundant oil, gas, renewable resources and critical minerals, more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, he noted, describing energy poverty as a brake on industrialization and investment.

"The remaining task is to match this potential with sustained implementation, to translate plans into projects, and to turn projects into reliable power that supports industry, jobs and dignity," he said, calling for a shift "from potential to delivery, from promise to construction."

Ramaphosa highlighted the Ten-Year Africa Energy Infrastructure Investment Plan launched under South Africa's Group of Twenty presidency as a platform to mobilize large-scale, coordinated financing. Public funds alone would be insufficient, he said, but could play a catalytic role in de-risking projects and crowding in private capital.

Held from Tuesday to Thursday at the Cape Town International Convention Center under the theme "Igniting the Power Revolution," the 18th edition of Africa Energy Indaba has drawn more than 1,600 delegates from 37 African countries, including 15 energy ministers, alongside investors, regulators and industry executives seeking to accelerate infrastructure alignment and investment mobilization. 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at the Africa Energy Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 4, 2026. Ramaphosa on Wednesday called for greater energy integration across Africa to strengthen the continent's security and diversification as global markets face heightened volatility.(Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at the Africa Energy Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 4, 2026. Ramaphosa on Wednesday called for greater energy integration across Africa to strengthen the continent's security and diversification as global markets face heightened volatility.(Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 4. Kazakhstans national carrier Air Astana has evacuated 640 people from Saudi Arabia, Trend reports via the company.

On the night of March 3-4, the airline operated four repatriation flights on the following routes: MedinaAtyrau, MedinaAktau, and two flights from Jeddah to Atyrau.

Two additional repatriation flights are scheduled for March 4. They will be carried out in cooperation with Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Following the second round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 4. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan formally received the credentials of several new ambassadors, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

The ambassadors who presented their credentials included Helena Sand Andresen of Norway, Enrique Ignacio Ferrer Vieyra of Argentina, Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah of Ghana, Seydou Kamissoko of Mali, Alkali Fanka Conteh of The Gambia, Muhammad Nazrul Islam of Bangladesh, Shobini Gunasekera of Sri Lanka, and Ivan Orlic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the meeting, Tokayev briefed the diplomats on Kazakhstans socio-economic and political development prospects.

Despite external challenges, Kazakhstan remains the most stable and dynamic economy in the region. However, we do not rest on our achievements and continue to implement economic reforms consistently. On March 15, a nationwide referendum on the new Constitution will be held. We expect citizens to support this important document, which will serve as a foundation for further state development. The new Constitution will provide a solid basis for fundamental reforms, democratization, and comprehensive modernization, opening new opportunities for the countrys development and improving citizens well-being, Tokayev said.

He also emphasized Kazakhstans commitment to a peaceful foreign policy, noting that all global disputes and conflicts should be resolved exclusively through diplomatic and peaceful means. The president expressed Kazakhstans solidarity with Gulf countries and hope for the swift resolution of ongoing conflicts.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Iranian forces attacked the building of Israels Ministry of Defense, as well as military facilities in Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, Trend reports.

In addition, according to the IRGC, Iran targeted several military centers in Western Galilee and military infrastructure facilities in the city of Bnei Brak, located near Tel Aviv.

Following the second round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has fired more than 40 missiles at Israeli and U.S. positions, Trend reports via the IRGC statement.

With this, the IRGC announced the start of the 17th phase of Operation True Promise 4.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. A farewell ceremony for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will be held in Iran today at 22:00 (GMT +3:30), Mohammad Hossein Musapour, chairman of the Islamic Propaganda Coordination Council of Iran, told local media, Trend reports.

According to him, all citizens will be allowed to attend the farewell ceremony to be held at the Imam Khomeini Complex (Mosalla) in Tehran.

Musapour said that the farewell ceremony will be held day and night for three days.

The council official noted that the funeral ceremony of the Supreme Leader of Iran hasn't yet been finalized and preparations are underway in this regard.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Candidates for the position of Irans Supreme Leader have been identified, Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts, told reporters, Trend reports.

Khatami stated that members of the Assembly of Experts have reviewed opinions regarding the selection of a new Supreme Leader and that the body is close to making a decision.

He noted that legal procedures are continuing under wartime conditions and that a new Supreme Leader will be elected at an appropriate time.

The opposing side had two main objectives. The first was to strike the Supreme Leader, and unfortunately, it carried this out. The second objective is to strike the Assembly of Experts. Therefore, steps are being taken cautiously, he said.

The developments come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. Following the second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its military presence in areas near Iran, deploying more than 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

Following the second round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) belonging to the U.S. and Israel have been shot down in Isfahan Province, located in central Iran, says the statement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Trend reports.

According to the statement, two Hermes UAVs and one MQ9 UAV were shot down in the province by air defense systems.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Qatars Ministry of Defense announced that the country was targeted by two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, Trend reports via the ministry.

"Qatar Ministry of Defense announces that the State of Qatar was targeted by two ballistic missiles launched from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Air defense systems successfully intercepted one of the missiles, while the second missile struck Al-Udeid Qatari Base without causing any casualties," the statement reads.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the Qatar Armed Forces possess full capabilities and resources to protect the countrys sovereignty and territory and to respond firmly to any external threat.

The ministry also urged citizens, residents, and visitors to remain calm, follow instructions issued by relevant security authorities, refrain from spreading rumors, and rely only on information released by official sources.

Following the second round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. An IAF F-35I Adir fighter jet shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter jet, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced in a post on X account, Trend reports.

"This is the first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 Adir fighter jet," the post reads.

No further details on casualties or location were provided.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Iran's airspace will soon be completely controlled, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at a press conference, Trend reports.

According to him, U.S. and Israeli forces are expected to gain complete control over Iranian airspace within a few days.

According to him, American and Israeli forces are expected to gain complete control over Iranian airspace within a few days.

The Pentagon chief also stated that the U.S. has deployed additional forces to the Middle East in connection with the conflict with Iran. Responding to a question about when the operations will end, he replied, It's too early to say for sure. Meanwhile, President Trump also stated that we will spend as much time as necessary to achieve our goals.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.
MOGADISHU, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's bicameral parliament on Wednesday approved the country's new constitution following a protracted process that spanned more than 13 years.

Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur, speaker of the House of the People, the lower house of the Federal Parliament, announced that 186 members of the lower house and 37 senators from the Upper House voted in favor of the new constitution during a joint session.

"Today is a historic day, worthy of remembrance as our constitution transitions from a provisional one to an official, lawful one," Nur said.

The new constitution will be formally signed into law by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. It replaces the provisional constitution adopted in 2012, when more than 800 delegates adopted it at a conference in Mogadishu while the country was under a transitional government.

"Today marks a defining milestone for Somalia as we fulfill our constitutional mandate to complete and adopt our Constitution, transitioning it from provisional status to the supreme law of the land," said Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, a lawmaker and minister of family affairs and human rights.

The new constitution extends the presidential term from the current four years to five years. It also stipulates that the president will be elected by parliament, while members of parliament will be chosen directly by citizens.

Under the new constitution, the prime minister is appointed by the president, but may be removed by parliament.

The constitution defines the roles of the executive, legislature, and judiciary, and establishes oversight mechanisms designed to prevent abuse of office, ensure transparency, and uphold the rule of law.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Hassan Moallin Mohamud Sheikh Ali lauded the new constitution, describing its approval by parliament as a historic milestone in the nation's journey toward stability, good governance, and national unity.

"The Constitution did not come easily. It has taken time, resources, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders to craft a document that reflects the aspirations of the Somali people. Today, we lay the foundation for a just, secure, and prosperous Somalia," Moallin said in a statement.

He added that the approval of the revised constitution marks significant progress in strengthening democratic institutions, clarifying Somalia's federal system, and moving the country beyond the long-standing provisional constitutional framework.

Experts said the document, now set for implementation, is widely regarded as central to restoring law and order after decades of political turbulence and conflict. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. NATO has confirmed the destruction of a missile heading towards Turkish airspace by the alliance's defense systems, NATO's spokesperson Allison Hart said, Trend reports.

The North Atlantic Alliance strongly condemned this attack.

"We strongly condemn Iran's targeting of Turkiye. NATO stands in strong solidarity with all its allies, including Turkiye, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region," the statement said.

He also stressed that NATO's deterrence and defense positions in all directions, including air and missile defense, remain strong.

According to the statement of the Turkish Ministry of Defense earlier, a ballistic missile, which was determined to have been launched by Iran and headed towards Turkish airspace after crossing Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense forces deployed in the eastern Mediterranean with timely intervention.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has issued a warning to American citizens residing in the Gulf nation, urging them to depart immediately due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, the publication of the embassy on its X page says, Trend reports.

"On March 3, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave Qatar due to the threat of armed conflict. If safe to do so, Americans should leave Qatar now. Qatari airspace and maritime routes remain closed. The Salwa land border crossing to Saudi Arabia is currently open," the publication added.

Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.

The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.

In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
CAPE TOWN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday called for an immediate end to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, saying his country is willing to play a mediating role in it.

Ramaphosa made the remarks when speaking to local media on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Indaba 2026 in Cape Town.

On Saturday morning, the United States and Israel began large-scale airstrikes against Iran, triggering Iran's retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Israeli and U.S. assets across the Middle East.

"We have issued a clear statement that we want a ceasefire, we want this madness to come to an end," Ramaphosa told reporters. "There must be a ceasefire. Dialogue is always the best way of ending conflict and then ending the war. And we want this war to come to an end immediately."

The president said that South Africa is always ready to play a contributing role, either in mediation or whatever.

"If a gap opens or if we are asked, we always live up to our obligations," he added.

Ramaphosa also said that South Africa would provide safe passage to goods and ships transiting its waters amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. 
Ukraines air defense forces have neutralized 129 out of 149 drones launched by Russian invaders against Ukraine since the evening of March 3.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram.

According to the military, starting 18:00 on Tuesday, March 3, Russia attacked Ukraine with 149 strike UAVs, including Shahed-type drones, as well as Gerbera, Italmas, and other types of drones, launched from the directions of Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Hvardiiske in temporarily occupied Crimea. About 100 of the drones were Shahed-type UAVs.

The air attack was repelled by aircraft, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

According to preliminary data, as of 8:30 on Wednesday, March 4, air defense forces shot down or suppressed 129 drones in northern, southern, and eastern regions of Ukraine.

Hits by 19 strike UAVs were recorded at 15 locations, as well as the fall of downed targets (debris) at one location.

The attack is ongoing, with several enemy drones still in Ukraines airspace, the Air Force warned.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, Russian forces carried out more than 10 drone attacks and artillery strikes on the Kamianske, Synelnykove, Samarivka, and Nikopol districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region, damaging infrastructure.
The Slovak government on Wednesday approved the termination of a contract between the Slovak electricity transmission system operator SEPS and Ukraine.

That is according to TASR, Ukrinform reports.

The government resolution states that Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicke must take steps regarding the SEPS contract under which the company provided emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.

However, the document does not specify what exact measures should be taken.

It is expected that the company will immediately terminate the contract between SEPS and Ukrenergo on emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.

One of the conditions for terminating the contract is that the state of emergency in the oil sector  declared by the Slovak government on February 18  remains in force. The government introduced this measure three weeks after oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline was halted following an attack on the pipeline on Ukrainian territory.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said earlier that emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine would be stopped starting February 23.

However, Ukrenergo stated that the possible suspension of emergency electricity supplies from Slovakia would not affect the situation in Ukraine's unified energy system. The last time Ukraine requested emergency assistance from Slovakia was more than a month ago and in a very limited volume.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine is ready to help Middle East countries stabilize the situation and protect civilians in response to the threat posed by Iranian attack drones and missiles that are destabilizing the region and the global market.

According to Ukrinform, the head of state said this on Telegram following a meeting on the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

"The Iranian regime, which is striving to survive at any cost, poses clear threats to all states in the region and to global stability. No country close to Iran can feel secure," Zelensky said.

He added that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has practically stopped, meanwhile the Iranian regime has shown no genuine intent for honest diplomacy or fundamental change.

"Ukraine is consulting with partners in Europe and the United States, as well as with countries neighboring Iran. Yesterday, I spoke with the leaders of the UAE and Qatar. Today, I held discussions with the leaders of Jordan and Bahrain," Zelensky said.

He explained that all these countries face serious challenges and are turning to Ukraine for assistance in protecting civilians from Iranian attack drones  the same type that have targeted Ukrainian cities and infrastructure during the war.

"In just a few days, Iran has launched over 800 missiles of various types and more than 1,400 attack drones. It is Iranian drones and missiles that pose the main threat to free navigation, destabilizing global prices for oil, petroleum products, and gas," he said.

He stressed that Ukraine can contribute to protecting lives and stabilizing the situation. He instructed the foreign and defense ministers, intelligence agencies and the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to present options for supporting the relevant countries without weakening Ukraine's own defense.

"Our military possesses the necessary capabilities. Ukrainian experts will operate on-site, and teams are already coordinating these efforts. And we are ready to help protect lives, defend civilians, and support real efforts to stabilize the situation and, in particular, restore safe navigation in the region," Zelensky said.

He also stressed the importance of coordination with the European Union, European states and the Group of Seven to eliminate the terrorist capabilities of the Iranian regime and protect global stability.

"We will continue to coordinate with our partners," Zelensky said.

Photo credit: Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram
ALGIERS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and 15 others injured in a road accident that occurred Wednesday in the province of Touggourt, 660 km southeast of the capital Algiers.

The National Gendarmerie brigade in Touggourt said in a statement that the accident occurred when a semi-trailer truck collided with a passenger bus on National Road 3 in Temacine municipality.

The injuries have been transported to local hospitals, it said, adding that it has launched an investigation into the accident.

Algeria records up to 4,000 fatalities due to traffic accidents each year, according to official statistics. 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will invite Hungary's charge d'affaires to obtain reliable information regarding the alleged transfer by Russia of several prisoners of war to the Hungarian side.

Officials at the Foreign Ministry informed journalists about this, Ukrinform reports.

The ministry noted that reports have emerged about Russia allegedly transferring several prisoners of war to Hungary.

"At the same time, the Ukrainian side has not been provided with information about the specific individuals who were released, therefore the Hungarian charge d'affaires will be invited to the Foreign Ministry to obtain reliable data. The Ukrainian side will also submit a request for access to the persons who were returned," the ministry stated.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that for Ukraine, the issue of returning people from captivity is a priority, especially considering that 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war are subjected to torture in captivity.

"The Ukrainian side is working on this constantly, on all platforms and with all parties that can contribute to the release of our people from captivity. At the same time, we are forced to state that Moscow and Budapest are not for the first time manipulating the sensitive issue of prisoners of war," the Foreign Ministry noted.

The ministry also described it as cynical when the issue of releasing people is turned into part of political PR ahead of elections in Hungary and used as a bargaining chip in relations with the Kremlin.

"Genuine humanitarian efforts made by those states that sincerely help Ukraine free people from captivity and protect lives are never accompanied by such cynical PR and politicization. It is important that life has the highest value," the ministry stressed.

The Foreign Ministry also condemned what it called manipulations of the ethnic card coming from the Hungarian side and stated that Ukraine always places the interests of protecting its citizens first, regardless of their ethnic origin.

According to Russian media, the Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said that Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who is on a visit to Moscow, could take with him to Budapest two ethnic Hungarians from Zakarpattia who had been mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine and were captured.

As reported, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for talks on "Hungary's energy security." He also expressed hope that Russia would release the two prisoners of war  ethnic Hungarians  following his talks with Putin.
03/04/2026

Media contacts: David Joyner, executive director of communications and digital media, David_Joyner@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, associate director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass.  UMass Lowell has announced that University Crossing will be renamed the Martin T. Meehan Student Center in recognition of Meehans new charitable commitment of $1.5 million, as well as in appreciation of previous gifts raised during his tenure as UMass Lowell chancellor and president of the University of Massachusetts system. The funds, from Meehans charitable foundation he launched while still a member of Congress, will support internships and career connected experiences for students in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Over the years, President Meehan has given more than $3.7 million across the UMass system. In addition, during his inauguration events as chancellor and president, more than $2.6 million was raised in his honor for the university, bringing the total gifts to the system to approximately $6.3 million.

At Chancellor Julie Chens request, the UMass Board of Trustees this past fall approved the renaming of the iconic building at 220 Pawtucket St. in Lowells Acre neighborhood. It will be rededicated in May during a celebration ceremony and opening of a new exhibit highlighting President Meehans career in public service, which he says was made possible by his UMass Lowell education.

President Meehan embodies the transformative power of public education, and this extremely generous gift to his alma mater will enable generations of future students to follow in his footsteps by gaining valuable career experience while earning their degree. These new opportunities will benefit their lives and future career success, Chancellor Chen said. We are very grateful for President Meehans commitment to the university, his love for his hometown of Lowell and his dedication to public service.

Last fall UMass Lowell launched a new $250 million fundraising and engagement campaign Designing the Future: The Campaign for UMass Lowell to usher in the universitys next era in preparing students for fulfilling lives and careers. The campaign aims to elevate the universitys place as a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) designated university while building partnerships with business and industry that fuel the Massachusetts and New England economy. It deepens the universitys commitment to help students graduate with good jobs and bright futures. Already, the effort has secured nearly $175 million in commitments.

President Meehan believes the University of Massachusetts is the most important institution in Massachusetts in the critical areas of social mobility and economic growth. The first UMass alumnus to become president of the university system, he knows first-hand the transformative power of higher education. He served as UMass Lowell chancellor from 2007 until 2015 when he became president of the five-campus system. Prior to that he represented the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2007.

I was one of these students walking across the UMass Lowell campus, and when I graduated I had so many opportunities because of the education I received here. Every young person has potential and deserves a chance to realize that potential, President Meehan said. My goal in making this charitable commitment is to give more young people the chance to realize their full potential both academically and professionally.

While in Congress, President Meehan created the Martin T. Meehan Educational and Charitable Foundation immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to help victims families with financial assistance and scholarships. Since then, he and his wife Jennifer Meehan have worked to broaden the foundations mission to support other local educational initiatives and charitable organizations with the goal of increasing access to higher education.

President Meehans generosity sets the gold standard for all of our alumni about the importance of giving back, said UMass Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Karam. He used his UMass education as a launchpad to a remarkable career defined by public service. His long history of giving to UMass Lowell is inspiring and makes the Board of Trustees proud of have his continued leadership of the university.

John Feudo, vice chancellor for university advancement and global engagement at UMass Lowell, couldnt agree more. First and foremost, Marty Meehan is a product of Lowell and UMass Lowell. His hard work and determination throughout his life have made him the leader he is todaya leader in the business of higher education as well as a leader in society.

UMass Lowell student Trustee Abigail Cooper said Meehans influence is also felt among todays students. In working with President Meehan as a member of the UMass Board of Trustees, Ive had the opportunity to see firsthand his passion for working on behalf of all UMass students, especially those at his alma mater, UMass Lowell, said Cooper. He proudly connects his own experience growing up and being educated in Lowell with the work he does on behalf of students today. We could have no better advocate.

As one of seven children born in a working-class neighborhood of Lowell, Meehan credits his parents with instilling the value of education that still motivates him today to provide opportunities for all young people. After earning an undergraduate degree in education and political science from what was then the University of Lowell in 1978, President Meehan went on to earn a masters degree in public administration and a juris doctor from Suffolk University. He has spent his entire career in public service.

Under Meehans leadership, UMass Lowell experienced record gains in enrollment, student retention, research and scholarship funding, and the campus underwent a dramatic physical transformation, opening 10 new buildings in a five-year period, including University Crossing.

Prior to the opening of the central building, student services were spread across the Lowell campus with the bookstore, student health offices, financial aid, counseling and student activities in multiple locations. Meehan envisioned a reconfigured campus and spurred efforts to purchase the former St. Josephs Hospital site while working with state transportation officials to ensure a newly constructed bridge would connect North campus to downtown Lowell. The 230,000 square-foot student center built on the former St. Josephs Hospital site tied the Lowell campus together and has become a hub of student life.

A dedication ceremony for The Martin T. Meehan Student Center will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026, at UMass Lowell
2026 West Bengal Elections While 'Infiltrations' Go Unchecked

The unfolding controversy around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal has reopened old wounds  raising fundamental questions about citizenship, belonging, and the democratic right to vote.

With the hand that bestows boons on their heads, the Hindus of Bengal must not be afraid of losing their voting rights. This is the candid message from Home Minister Amit Shah to the Hindus of Bengal, especially the Matuas  Dalit Hindus, whose names, at least 40 percent of the total Matua population, have been relegated to the category of logical discrepancy.

Though his assurance counters both the eligibility criteria and the norms laid down by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for exercising the right to vote, he has been emphatic that no power can deter them.

With his abrasive style of functioning, Amit Shah has managed to build the image of a muscleman politician  someone above the law whose words themselves become law.

In this backdrop, his claim is expected to be believed. He can go to any extent to twist legal norms and provisions to help his Hindu voters. But, fully conscious of the implications of what he said, he simply reinforced the common perception  without ambiguity, that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which has been underway in Bengal and already completed in Bihar, was initiated by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the behest of his political masters, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, to disenfranchise Muslims and subsequently turn them into non-entities and infiltrators  landless in their own land.

Justifying his position, Shah on February 2, while addressing the BJPs Poriborton Yatra in South 24 Parganas district, declared that only names of infiltrators are being deleted now, and they would be pushed out of the state once the party comes to power with a full majority in West Bengal. Amits assertion implicitly suggests that the saffron ecosystem is engaged in a dangerous political game.

The question Shah prefers to ignore is this:

Why, as Home Minister, did he not initiate action against the Bengal government, or against Mamata Banerjee, for allegedly turning Bengal into a swarg (heaven) for infiltrators and compromising the security of a border state by allowing illegal immigration?

His second accusation is even more serious: How could a state government or chief minister force the states security apparatus to compromise? His failure to act only reinforces the perception of incompetence or lack of security vision and determination.

He is simply indulging in a game of one-upmanship to portray the state government and Mamata Banerjee in a poor light. This comes as no surprise. It is part of the saffron playbook  resorting to exaggerated claims to justify political narratives.

If Amit Shah can assure Hindus that they will be allowed to vote despite being categorised under logical discrepancy, why cannot the same assurance be extended to others placed in the same category? A logical discrepancy refers to a data inconsistency identified by automated systems when comparing information across datasets  such as unreasonable age differences between relatives, mismatched names, or invalid mapping to earlier records.

Obviously, a logical discrepancy does not make a voter anti-national or an infiltrator. If Hindus are victims of the Election Commissions automated system, Muslims too are victims of the same mechanism. Then, if Shah can facilitate Hindus to vote, he could extend the same facility to Muslims.

Bengal is a border state. It is possible that some Bangladeshi Muslims have crossed into Indian territory. But that does not mean all Muslims living along the Bangladesh border are infiltrators.

Shah was emphatic that only the BJP can provide security to Bengal. Fair enough  but what has he been doing for all these years as Home Minister? It is Amit Shahs primary responsibility to check cross-border infiltration. Instead, he has been indulging in the familiar game of passing the buck and maligning Mamata Banerjee.

His remarks come against the backdrop of the post-Special Intensive Revision electoral rolls published on February 28, which recorded 63.60 lakh deletions  8.3 percent of the electorate, since the exercise began in November. This has reduced the voter base to just over 7.04 crore, significantly redrawing constituency arithmetic ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

How can Amit Shah guarantee that infiltration and corruption will stop when the BJP comes to power with a full majority? Has the BJP succeeded in eliminating corruption in Bihar or in other states where it is in power?

At present, seven lakh Bengal voters have been deleted and 63.60 lakh are under adjudication. It is feared that by the time the SIR process is completed, the number of deletions may rise further. These voters are considered suspect by the ECI and are awaiting verification. Election officials maintain that deletions were primarily due to death, migration, duplication, and untraceability.

Amit Shahs confidence owes much to the groundwork done by Gyanesh Kumar in preparing the electoral terrain. Kumar reportedly intends to hold the election in the last week of March or the first week of April. The full bench of the ECI headed by him will meet in Kolkata on March 8, 2026 to finalise the dates.

Critics allege that Kumar does not intend to give sufficient time to voters whose names have been shifted to the logical discrepancy category to rectify their records. Once the elections are over, their exclusion could be justified on the grounds that the cases remained unresolved due to lack of time.

With a large number of under-adjudication voters coming from minority belts, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a serious electoral challenge. Even if the judicial officers assigned to handle these cases work overtime, they may not be able to dispose of more than half of the 63.60 lakh cases before the last date for filing nominations  which is also the deadline for voter inclusion.

Currently, each of the 501 judicial officers is disposing of about 225 cases a day. At that rate, clearing the entire backlog would take around 53 days.

There is no denying that the facade of logical discrepancy appears to have been created in a manner that could electorally benefit the BJP.

Since its formation, the Trinamool Congress has maintained a support base of nearly 40 percent. The BJPs core support base historically remained around 10 percent. In the 2016 Assembly elections, TMC secured 44.97 percent of the vote while the BJP received about 10 percent.

The BJPs first major surge came in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when its vote share jumped to around 40 percent, while the TMC secured 43.37 percent. But in the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJPs vote share declined to 38 percent, while the TMCs rose to 48 percent.

The 2021 results showed that the BJP could not sustain its 2019 momentum. That year it won 77 seats but finished second in 215 constituencies. It lost nearly 32 seats by margins of less than 4 percent and about 30 seats by margins between 5 and 10 percent.

The deletion of voters seemingly aimed at filling this gap in around 62 constituencies. If even an average of 1,000 votes per constituency were deleted, the exercise could potentially swing 5060 seats. Such a shift would reduce TMC seats by a similar number.

In effect, Amit Shah is engaged in a high-stakes psychological and electoral strategy. Whether Mamata Banerjee succeeds in countering this strategy remains to be seen.

An official admitted, Its clear that most of the voters under adjudication are from minority-dominated areas. If close to 30 lakh cases remain pending before the polls, these voters will not be able to vote. This will be a blow to the ruling party.

More than that, it would amount to a virtual denial of the right to vote.

The controversy has also revived anxieties among the Matua community  Dalit Hindu refugees from Bangladesh. Despite being eligible under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), many are still struggling to obtain formal Indian citizenship. Though many possess voter IDs, they remain uncertain about their legal status due to complex documentation requirements.

The community is a crucial electoral bloc in Bengal, influencing at least 24 Assembly segments. Both the BJP and the TMC have sought their support, often offering conflicting guidance regarding citizenship procedures.

The spectre of voter-list deletions among Matuas has triggered panic in Matua-dominated regions. Estimates suggest that 3040 percent of voters in some areas are affected because they cannot produce historical documents proving their ancestry.

The SIR process requires voters to establish their own or their ancestors presence in India, often linking documents to the 2002 electoral roll. Many Matuas  refugees who migrated decades ago  simply do not possess such records. With influence in more than 50 Assembly seats across south and north Bengal, the communitys anxiety over identity, documentation and belonging has deepened.

The Matuas, followers of a 19th-century reformist movement that challenged caste hierarchies, began migrating from East Pakistan in the 1950s. Today they constitute nearly 17 percent of West Bengals population and form the states largest Scheduled Caste group.

Once courted by the Left and later by the TMC, many Matuas shifted toward the BJP after 2019, when the party foregrounded the citizenship issue. Yet, despite promises, citizenship certificates issued so far remain minuscule compared to an estimated one crore eligible applicants.

The unfolding controversy around the SIR exercise has therefore reopened old wounds  raising fundamental questions about citizenship, belonging, and the democratic right to vote.

[The writer, Arun Srivastava, is a Senior Journalist.]

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Can Nepal Election Favour Return of Hindu Monarchy

Both India and the Communist China are closely observing the electoral process in Nepal, and the probable outcome emerging in the next few days

Nepal, sandwiched between two populous countries namely India and Tibet/China, goes for national polls on Thursday March 05, 2026 and the political observers across the Asian region are looking for Pushpa Kamal Dahal (popularly known as Prachanda), a communist leader, who led a decade long anti-monarchy Maoist movement in the Hindu majority Himalayan nation that dethroned the last king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in 2006.

Within the next two years, the poverty-stricken country of over 30 million people abolished the 240 years old monarchy to emerge as a multi-party federal democratic republic and Prachanda became the prime minister in 2008. The septuagenarian leader now leads an alliance of several leftist groups under the banner of Nepali Communist Party. Engaging other prominent Marxist leaders like Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prachanda now hopes for reviving his popularity and influence in the country.

The Maoists promised many things, but in reality, the people of Nepal only witnessed high level corruption in public life inspired by the new found political system. Moreover, frequent changes of governments in Kathmandu as 14 premature reshuffles among political leaders were recorded within two decades dejected the common Nepali citizens.

When former premier KP Sharma Oli (leading the Communist Party of NepalUnified Marxist Leninist), young politician Balendra Shah (representing Rashtriya Swatantra Party) and Gagan Thapa (of Nepali Congress) are vying for the coveted post of Nepal government chief, a section of hardcore Hindu nationalists are demanding the restoration of monarchy at least as a ceremonial head of Nepal (in place of the President).

At least one mainstream political outfit named Rastriya Prajatantra Party (National Democratic Party) has raised a voice for bringing back the constitutional monarchy and restoring Nepals political status of a Sanatani Hindu Rashtra. The right-wing RPP, which put a number of candidates across the country, continued organizing public rallies in support of Gyanendra Shah, who now maintains a private life in Kathmandu. Whenever the former Hindu monarch makes scheduled visits to rural areas, the pro-monarchists hit the streets waving national flags, placards and chanting slogans in favour of the septuagenarian royal scion.

Nepal interim government chief Sushila Karki, the countrys election authority and human rights commission have urged everyone to make the election free, fair and clean so that the voters can exercise their franchises in a peaceful ambience. The political parties and candidates are also being asked to comply with election codes of conduct helping the people to elect their representatives without any misled versions. The engagement of minors in election campaigns or any form of electoral promotions is strictly prohibited, arguing that these actions violate both the election code of conduct and child protection laws.

Regarding the process of vote/ballot counting, the election authority assured that the outcome will be declared as early as possible. Once the 7 am to 5 pm polling concludes on 5 March, the ballot boxes will be immediately shifted to Kathmandu and the result for the direct voting system (for 165 seats) will be declared within 24 hours. The rest (under proportional representation for 110 seats) will be announced within two to three days.

Amid the electoral preparations on the final stage, Gyanendra Shah made a stunning statement expressing his dissatisfaction with the countrys political situation and the behavior of existing political leadership. On the occasion of 74th National Democracy Day, the ousted king even questioned the necessity of elections in the present circumstances without resolving various burning national problems through broad national consensus. Ahead of Nepal Prajatantra Diwas, observed on 19 February to commemorate the end of 104 years old autocratic Rana regime in 1951, Shah viewed that if the election is pushed ignoring the widespread disagreement and protests, it will not find a lasting solution to the current political crisis in Nepal.

In a democracy, it is appropriate for the state system and processes to function according to constitutional principles. While periodic elections to select representatives are a natural process in a democratic system, the current public sentiment is that it would be more appropriate to proceed toward the electoral process only after first solving the national problems, said the former king, adding that in the present situation, a tendency to seek rights without considering duties has been flourishing.

Only a system and structure suited to Nepals geography and the nature of its society can yield sustainable and positive results, asserted Shah. Paying tribute to Tribhuvan Nripati and all the martyrs for their sacrifice in harnessing democracy in the Himalayan republic, Shah finally called for a system that can safeguard the Nepali identity on the global stage.

Both the largest democracy on Earth and the Communist China are closely observing the electoral process and the probable outcome emerging in the next few days. Nepal has to deal with both the power centres in New Delhi and Beijing for many years to come, where the millions of downtrodden Nepalis are looking for their basic rights and opportunities under a stable, progressive and citizen-friendly regime in Kathmandu.

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CNN Journalists arrested by Israel released after 9 hours

In yet another move indicative of how Israel regards freedom of press, the right wing Zionist regime arrested two CNN journalists who were broadcasting live outside the headquarters of the Israeli Occupation Forces or IDF in Tel Aviv.

In yet another move indicative of how Israel regards freedom of press, the right wing Zionist regime arrested two CNN journalists who were broadcasting live outside the headquarters of the Israeli Occupation Forces or IDF in Tel Aviv.

Reporter Emrah Cakmak and cameraman Halil Kahraman, from the CNN networks Turkish-language channel, were arrested as they were reporting near the IDFs Kirya military headquarters Tuesday (March 03, 2026) after Iran launched another missile barrage at Tel Aviv and other parts of central Israel.

During the live broadcast, two men believed to be soldiers, approached the crew and seized the reporters phone, according to initial reports and a video circulating online that could not be independently verified.

Israel Police Spokespersons Unit later said the CNN Turk crew were detained on suspicion of filming a sensitive security facility.

Watch Video

Israil'de gozaltna alnan CNNTurk muhabiri Emrah Cakmak, iPhone telefonunun sifresini kimseye vermemesine ragmen Israilin cihazn actgn soyledi.



pic.twitter.com/GLnyLtjeL5  ibrahim Haskologlu (@haskologlu) March 4, 2026

The two were released after 9-hour detention.

Talking to CNN Turk after his release, Emrah Cakmak said he handed over his locked iPhone without providing the password or unlocking it, yet the Israeli officers opened and inspected it - including photo gallery.

Israels long-standing military censorship system, overseen by the IDF Military Censor, has long barred journalists and civilians from publishing material deemed harmful to national security.

Since the Gaza war began, restrictions have expanded significantly, including tighter limits on filming soldiers on duty and sensitive or strategic sites.

[With inputs from Arab News.]

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Over 85 dead as US sinks Iranian warship off Sri Lanka coast

IRIS Dena 75, an Iranian warship, sank off Sri Lanka coast in the Indian Ocean after it was attacked by US submarines, the Americans said Wednesday March 04, 2026.

[IRIS Dena 75 in a file image]

IRIS Dena 75, an Iranian warship, sank off Sri Lanka coast in the Indian Ocean after it was attacked by US submarines, the Americans said Wednesday March 04, 2026.

IRIS Dena, a Moudge class frigate, also came to India in 2024 to participate in the multilateral naval exercise MILAN, the same exercise's 2026 edition from where it was sailing back to Iran when the US submarine attacked it.

As many as 87 people onboard the ship have been killed and some 32 others have been saved by the Sri Lankan rescue team.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth claimed the responsibility, saying an American submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.

He said the ship was sunk by a torpedo on Tuesday, and that it died a "quiet death".

Hegseth did not name the ship, but his announcement came after Sri Lankan officials said its navy had responded to a distress call from an Iranian ship on Wednesday morning named the Iris Dena, which had gone down about 40km (25 miles) from its southern coastline, according to BBC.

The attack on the Iranian warship came in the midst of US-Israeli joint military operation against Iran which started on Saturday February 28, 2026 .

As per the latest report Wednesday, over 1,000 people have been killed in Iran whereas Iran's Security Chief, Ali Larijani, has claimed the US has lost around 500 soldiers since Saturday.

Israel is infamous for hiding its actual losses, it had however reported killing of 9 of its citizens in Iran's missile attack Saturday.

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SEOUL, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The appeal trial of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was sentenced to five years in prison in the first-instance trial for allegedly obstructing an attempted arrest by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), began Wednesday at the Seoul High Court, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The former president was convicted in January over allegations including blocking the CIO's attempt to detain him following the emergency martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024. Both the defense and the special counsel team filed appeals against the ruling.

Yoon is facing a total of eight trials in connection with the martial law attempt, his wife's alleged corruption and the death of a young Marine Corps in 2023, Yonhap said.

In a separate case on Feb. 19, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first-instance ruling for leading an insurrection over his martial law declaration. 
BANGKOK, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Election Commission on Wednesday officially certified 499 parliamentary seats won in the February general election, paving the way for a new House of Representatives to convene.

The commission resolved to endorse all 100 party-list Members of Parliament (MPs) and three additional constituency MPs, said Phasakorn Siriphakayaporn, deputy secretary-general of the Election Commission.

The announcement followed the certification of 396 constituency seats in the 500-member lower house of parliament last week.

The certified results indicate that Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party won the most parliamentary seats, followed by the People's Party and the Pheu Thai Party.

A total of 37.8 million individuals cast their ballots in the Feb. 8 elections, accounting for about 71 percent of eligible Thai voters, Phasakorn told a news conference. 
New Jersey City University, a nearly century-old public institution that has served generations of working-class and minority students in Hudson County, is preparing to sell a portion of its campus as part of a $10 million rescue effort  one of the final chapters in a years-long financial crisis that has reshaped, and will soon end, its independent existence.

The move to monetize campus property reflects an increasingly common playbook for financially distressed public universities: liquidate real estate accumulated during ambitious  and, in hindsight, overreaching  expansion plans, and use the proceeds to stabilize operations long enough to negotiate a lifeline. For NJCU, that lifeline has taken the form of a full merger with Kean University, legislation for which Governor Phil Murphy signed in January 2026.

How a $108 Million Surplus Became a Financial Emergency

NJCU's fall from financial stability is a cautionary tale about institutional overconfidence and inadequate governance. Between 2016 and 2022, the university's fall enrollment dropped 23.1% to approximately 6,539 students, steadily eroding the revenue base. Yet during that same period, administrators pushed forward with an audacious $400 million real estate redevelopment known as University Place  a sweeping west campus project that was meant to generate new revenue streams through public-private partnerships with luxury apartment developers.

The gamble didn't pay off. When the full picture of NJCU's finances finally came into view in June 2022, the Board of Trustees declared a financial emergency. A state investigation, ordered by Governor Murphy, found that poor financial management and lax trustee oversight had driven the institution into a deficit approaching $23 million. The same investigation revealed that administrators had misappropriated nearly $14 million in federal COVID-19 Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, using them to back an existing scholarship program in likely violation of federal law  and concealing the risk from the board for months.

The crisis was compounded by a foundational misunderstanding of the university's own finances. A widely cited figure suggesting NJCU had held a $108 million surplus in 2013 turned out to be a misreporting; the surplus never existed.

A State Monitor, Property Sales, and a Shrinking Institution

In the aftermath of the emergency declaration, New Jersey appointed a fiscal monitor with sweeping authority over the university's finances, staffing decisions, and strategic direction. Under that oversight, NJCU has worked through a Recovery and Revitalization Plan that includes deep cuts to academic programs  a 37% reduction was announced  and significant workforce reductions.

The campus property sales now underway are a direct result of that monitor's mandate. The university is seeking to re-lease or sell assets including its beachside Fort Monmouth satellite campus in Oceanport, a waterfront business school building in Jersey City's Harborside Financial District, and a partially developed performing arts center  all acquired or built during the now-abandoned expansion era. The $10 million rescue plan tied to partial campus sales represents an effort to reduce debt, free operating cash, and demonstrate financial viability as the Kean merger proceeds.

The Fort Monmouth campus has a particularly complicated history. Opened in August 2021 in the renovated Squier Hall  a 1930s building on 22 acres that was once home to the U.S. Army Signal Corps  the satellite campus was envisioned as an education and workforce development hub for central New Jersey. Enrollment peaked around 300 students at opening, then fell to 195 by fall 2023, and the campus did not offer classes in the most recent academic year.

Becoming Kean Jersey City

The endgame for NJCU is now clear. Following a unanimous board vote in early 2025 to accept a merger proposal, and the subsequent signing of enabling legislation by Governor Murphy, NJCU is on track to formally join the Kean University system on July 1, 2026  at which point the Jersey City campus is expected to be renamed Kean Jersey City.

Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, a former New Jersey Commissioner of Education, submitted the merger proposal and has pledged that the institution will preserve NJCU's mission of serving a diverse, largely economically disadvantaged student population. About one-fifth of NJCU undergraduates are Black, and nearly half are Hispanic or Latino; 58 percent receive federal Pell Grants.

In a joint statement, Governor Murphy and Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges said they were "encouraged by the forward-moving progress," emphasizing the importance of maintaining access to high-quality postsecondary education in Jersey City and Hudson County.

NJCU itself, under Interim President Andres Acebo  who stepped into leadership amid the crisis and was credited with steadying the institution through its most turbulent period  has sought to project optimism about the transition. "I remain confident in our community's resiliency and the brilliant promise of its future," Acebo wrote in a message to the campus community following the legislation's signing.

A Broader Warning for Higher Education

NJCU's story is not occurring in a vacuum. New Jersey faces a looming enrollment cliff tied to demographic shifts following the Great Recession, with projections of a 6% decline in high school graduates expected to persist through 2037. Stagnant state funding  NJCU's state appropriation fell from $33.5 million in 2006 to $24.2 million by 2019  has left institutions structurally vulnerable, even before the disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, federal funding cuts to university research and diversity programs under the Trump administration.

The state has made efforts to shore up the broader system, including a $244.4 million capital facilities grant program announced in January 2026 to fund infrastructure upgrades at 23 colleges and universities. A portion of those grants was specifically designated for deferred maintenance at NJCU.

But the NJCU saga underscores a harder truth: capital investment cannot substitute for enrollment growth, sound governance, and fiscal discipline. For students  particularly those from communities with the fewest alternatives  the collapse of institutional leadership has real consequences that no rescue plan can fully undo.

The university that has educated Hudson County's working families for nearly 100 years will survive, in some form, as part of Kean. Whether the spirit of NJCU's mission survives the merger as robustly as its administrators promise remains to be seen.
Students read books at the Lancang-Mekong Book House at Prek Leap Primary School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on March 4, 2026. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Son Meymey, a sixth-grade student at Prek Leap Primary School here in the capital of Cambodia, has always spent her break time reading books at the Lancang-Mekong Book House, which stores thousands of books in various subjects.

Founded in June 2025 at the school, the library has offered free educational resources in Khmer, Chinese, and English to more than 1,000 students.

"I like reading books at this library because the room is cool, making me feel fresh," Meymey told Xinhua on Wednesday. "I spend from half an hour to one hour per day reading books at this library."

The 12-year-old student said she has learned Chinese for more than two years, so she is also able to read some Chinese books.

"I'd love to read Chinese books as well because they have helped improve my knowledge and Chinese language," she said. "I would like to thank donors for donating these books to our school. These books have provided valuable educational resources to all students.

Heng Pipor, another sixth-grade student at the school, said he has read books at the library very often as it has provided free access to vast resources which are very useful to his study.

"I like reading books at this library very much because I can gain broad knowledge," he told Xinhua.

Hong Chandy, acting principal of the Prek Leap Primary School, said the library housed thousands of books in Khmer, Chinese, and English in the subjects of literature, mathematics, social studies, history, science, and folk tales, among others.

She added that some 1,300 students and dozens of teachers at the school have benefited from the library.

"The library has ignited reading habits among students," she told Xinhua. "These books are very valuable because they are a treasure trove of knowledge for students to research."

Chea Munyrith, president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researchers Association, which had coordinated the establishment of Lancang-Mekong Book Houses in Cambodia, said the book house at the Prek Leap Primary School was the third library project made possible with support from Chinese charity organizations.

"These libraries have not only served as a vital venue for sharing Chinese wisdom and development experiences, but also advanced the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, cultural exchange, and mutual learning," he told Xinhua. 
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.




On Saturday, March 14, Villanova Universitys Center for Irish Studies welcomes Irelands Prime Minister, the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin to campus for an afternoon celebrating Irish American connections and scholarship at Villanova, as well as 250 years of Irish American history.

Taoiseach Martin will speak on enduring ties between Ireland and the United States, followed by an academic fireside chat from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Topper Theater of the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts. Panelists include Joseph Lennon, PhD, the Emily C. Riley Director of the Center for Irish Studies; Jonathan ONeill, PhD, assistant professor of Irish Studies; Cera Murtagh, PhD, associate professor of Political Science; and Cauvery Madhavan, the 2026 Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair of Irish Studies. U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon will deliver closing remarks. The event is open to the public, but registration is required.

Micheal Martin has been serving as Taoiseach since January 2025, having previously held the position from 2020 to 2022. He was born in Turners Cross, Cork. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts thesis in Political History from University College Cork. Taoiseach Martin entered national politics in 1989, when he was elected to Dail Eireann, Irelands lower house Assembly of Ireland, for Cork South-Central. He has held four cabinet positions in the Irish government: Minister for Foreign Affairs (20082011 and 20222025), Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (20042008), Minister for Health (20002004) and Minister for Education (19972000).

The Center for Irish Studies has built strong, reciprocal relationships with Ireland. Not only do our students have opportunities to travel abroad, but they also benefit from opportunities to hear from cultural and government leaders from Ireland right here on campus, says Dr. Lennon. In 2014, University and Center leadership were invited to Ireland and met with then Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The Center is proud to return Irelands hospitality and welcome the current Taoiseach, Micheal Martin.

The Center for Irish Studies is a destination for distinguished scholars and speakers. In addition to the annual Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair, a prestigious visiting writer-in-residence program, the Center has hosted Irish Ambassadors to the US, and invited other leaders to campus to speak with students and members of the community.

The Universitys connection to Ireland dates back to its founding in 1842when Irish friars of the Order of St. Augustine opened Villanova as a school for Irish immigrantsand continues to this day. The U.S.s current Ambassador to Ireland is Villanova alumnus, Edward S. Walsh 86 COE. The Center for Irish Studies continues to keep that heritage alive through its academic offerings, cultural programming and connections to the Irish community both in the US and abroad. The Center is at the heart of Irish activity in the region and recently co-hostedalong with the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St. Patrickthe kickoff event for Irish America 250 programming, a national initiative recognizing 250 years of Irish contributions to the United States.

About the Center for Irish Studies: The Center for Irish Studies at Villanova University has been a leader for four decades in interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship on Ireland in a global framework. The Center connects students to local community organizations while also preparing them to become citizens equipped to take on the worlds most pressing challenges. Through liberal arts-focused academics, multidisciplinary scholarship and key partnerships, the Center provides students with research, study abroad and employment opportunities.

About Villanova Universitys College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova Universitys College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.
MANILA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East.

In a statement, the ASEAN foreign ministers said they followed the situation closely and expressed serious concern over the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' statement on the situation in the Middle East said the conflict continues to heighten tensions in the Middle East, and poses "a grave threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace and stability."

"We call on all countries to respect international law, including the Charter of the United Nations," the statement said.

The foreign ministers called on all parties concerned to exercise utmost self-restraint, avoid any acts that may further aggravate the situation, and resolve differences through diplomacy and dialogue in the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the region.

The foreign ministers also reaffirmed the obligation of all states to resolve their differences through peaceful means and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, in line with international law, including the UN Charter.

"We further reiterate the obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures in armed conflicts consistent with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions," they said. 
Carl John C. John Hanson, age 88, of Parkers Prairie, died on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at St. Williams Living Center in Parkers Prairie under the care of Hospice of Douglas County.
(WAND) - March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross is using it as an opportunity to honor those who participate in its lifesaving mission.

Red Cross Month started during World War II. Now, it serves as a national call to action to support growing humanitarian needs.

Day in and day out, our community has shown that compassion is one of its greatest strengths, said Kellie OConnell, CEO for the Illinois Red Cross In moments when help cant wait, volunteers of all ages and backgrounds come together to offer care, comfort and hope. Their commitment reflects a shared humanitarian spirit that connects us and continues to make a meaningful difference through our lifesaving mission  one that has supported families for more than half of our countrys 250-year history.

This month during Red Cross Month, the Red Cross reminds people that every contribution matters. You can visit redcross.org to get involved by volunteering, making a financial donation, giving blood or taking a class in lifesaving skills.

In March, the Red Cross is also offering free A1C screening to test for diabetes and pre-diabetes on all blood donations throughout the month. No fasting is needed. Make a blood donation appointment and learn more at RedCrossBlood.org.

The Red Cross Month celebration ends with the annual Red Cross Giving Day on March 25. Donate and learn more at redcross.org/GivingDay.

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CHATHAM, Ill. (WAND) - A former Ball-Chatham Community Schools staff member will face battery charges after being accused of hurting three children.

Court documents state Susan Perko, an employee at Glenwood Elementary School, was charged with spraying three kids on Feb. 20 with a substance that physically irritated them.

According to a police report, officers responded to GES after reports that three kids under the age of 18 had been sprayed in the eyes with a cleaning fluid by a school employee.

The police report said officers reviewed school surveillance footage, which showed Perko walk into the cafeteria with a spray bottle and spray the three children with what was later identified as Eco Sanitizer.

The kids were later seen by the school nurse, where one child was diagnosed with a chemical burn to the eye, according to the report. Police said that the kids told the nurse they got sprayed by Perko because they were talking.

Ball-Chatham director of communications said Perko resigned from the district four days later, but did not give more details because it is "a personnel matter."

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND)  A rare dress is on display for the first time in over a decade in Springfield.

One of the few surviving dresses worn by Mary Lincoln is on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM).

Known as the "strawberry dress" for its decorative pattern of berries and leaves, the dress can be seen in the "Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation" exhibit.

The dress was preserved by Lincoln's relatives for generations until it was donated to the state of Illinois in 1963.

The ALPLM said the dress is very fragile, so it is rarely put on display. This is the first time since 2011 that the dress will be viewable to the public.

"Clothing is so personal. It connects us to people of the past in a way few other objects can, and it reveals so much about the wearer's taste and personality," said ALPLM Executive Director Christina Shutt. "Mary Lincoln was a fascinating and complex person, and I hope seeing this dress helps people take a few minutes to learn more about her."

The dress will be on display through April 26.

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HANOI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ministry of Construction has ordered domestic airlines not to operate through Middle East airspace, which poses potential safety risks amid complicated conflicts in the region, Vietnam News Agency reported Wednesday.

The ministry instructed airlines to update information from state management agencies, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the International Civil Aviation Organization and relevant aviation authorities before making operational decisions, according to the report.

Airlines were also told to strengthen flight safety oversight, adjust schedules and select alternative routes to ensure the safety of aircraft, crew and passengers, while fully informing travelers of any schedule changes arising from security and safety concerns.

The CAAV was tasked with tracking regional and global security developments and issuing timely guidance. 
MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) - Mattoon High School was put on a soft lock down Wednesday.

The Mattoon Police Department said the lock down was initiated while officers assisted the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force with an investigation in the area of the high school.

Out of an abundance of caution, the soft lock down was initiated, preventing students and staff from leaving the building. The lock down was lifted a short time later when the investigation ended.

At noon, task force agents found an individual identified in their investigation traveling in a vehicle. He was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant from Minnesota.

MPD said there was no threat to the school.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  Catholic priests in Rhode Island preyed on hundreds of children for decades, and were protected by bishops more concerned with the church's reputation than the victims, according to a new report on clergy sexual abuse that echoes findings elsewhere.

The report, released Wednesday by Attorney General Peter Neronha, follows a multiyear investigation into the Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.

Neronha said the full scope of the priest abuse problem in Rhode Island  the smallest U.S. state but the one with the highest Catholic population per capita, at nearly 40%  had long remained elusive. He agreed with victims who say not enough has been done to address the problem long after it was exposed in the nearby Boston diocese in 2002.

If you're the Diocese of Providence and you're listening, this is a scandal you need to own and you need to fix," Neronha told reporters Wednesday. We cant slow walk solutions and we cant slow walk justice.

Neronha, who was raised Catholic, hopes the report will spur legal reforms to boost investigative powers and help victims seek justice.

The investigation found that 75 Catholic clergy molested more than 300 victims since 1950, but officials stressed that the number of victimized children and abusive priests is likely much higher.

The diocese, in response, acknowledged the scourge of child sexual abuse  especially by clergy  but said the report reflects the churchs willingness to share internal records under a 2019 agreement with the state.

The report presents this 75-year history in ways that might lead the reader to conclude these issues are an ongoing diocesan problem or that these are new revelations. They are not, the statement said.

3 priests charged in RI awaiting trial

Church records show the diocese transferred accused priests to new assignments without fully investigating complaints or contacting law enforcement, a practice exposed in investigations in Boston, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

And, as in other cities, the Diocese of Providence opened a spiritual retreat-style facility in the early 1950s for accused priests to seek treatment. Later, when the abuse was deemed a mental health problem, priests were sent to more formal treatment centers.

By the 1990s, accused priests were sometimes placed on sabbatical leave.

For example, a priest named Robert Carpentier resigned after a victim came forward in 1992 to say that he had been sexually abused as a 13-year-old victim in the 1970s. Carpentier acknowledged the abuse, was sent to a treatment center and later went on sabbatical at Boston College. He retired in 2006 and received support from the diocese until he died in 2012.

Most accused priests, the report found, avoided accountability from both law enforcement and the diocese.

Neronha's office has charged four current and former priests with sexual abuse for allegations stemming from 2020 to 2022. Three of them are still awaiting trial. The fourth priest died after being deemed incompetent to stand trial in 2022.

Only 20 people  about a quarter of the clergy identified in the report  faced criminal charges, and just 14 were convicted. A dozen others were laicized or otherwise dismissed.

Diocesan review board member among the accused

One survivor described being groomed more than a year before he was abused by the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston in 1981. The survivor, who is not named in the report, said the late Monsignor John Allard showered him with attention. By ninth grade, he said, the sexual abuse began in the priest's bedroom.

His comment to me was always, You need a hug, and thats something that I can hear him saying very clearly to this very day, the survivor told officials in 2013.

While a review board deemed the abuse credible, the Vatican  at the urging of then-Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin  let Allard retire rather than be defrocked.

The report lists Tobin advocating for several accused priests, a trend that Neronha repeatedly criticized.

I just dont know how you square it. If hes got an answer, then hes free to send it in, Neronha said.

The diocese, in a statement released Wednesday, praised Tobin's willingness to work with Neronha while he was bishop before retiring in 2023.

Separately, in at least one case, a member of the diocesan review board hearing abuse complaints was himself accused, the report says. The Rev. Francis Santilli stepped down after the complaint, but remained in active ministry even after other complaints surfaced in 2014 and 2021. He was not removed until 2022. A message left at a possible number for him on Wednesday was not immediately returned.

Church disagrees with AG on findings

Neronha launched the investigation in 2019, a year after a Pennsylvania grand jury issued a landmark report that found more than 1,000 children had been abused by some 300 priests since the 1940s.

However, Rhode Island law does not allow grand jury reports to become public  a hurdle that Neronha has long tried to change. Instead, he forged an agreement with the diocese to access its trove of records on clergy sexual abuse.

The church turned over 70 years worth of material, including complaints from its secret archives, civil settlement records, treatment costs and other documents. Yet Neronha called the diocese's help limited at times, saying it refused to provide diocesan personnel for interviews.

Neronha criticized the diocese on Wednesday for treating the report as ancient history," arguing that more needed to be done by clergy leaders to address ongoing concerns about abuse. His office outlined multiple changes for the diocese, which include providing clear investigative timelines and guidelines. He also stressed the need for the diocese to abandon the practice of requiring victims take polygraph tests and to stop refusing to investigate third-party complaints about priests.

The diocese, in its response Wednesday, pushed back on that view, saying the report would not have been possible without the church's cooperation.

There are no credibly accused clergy in active ministry, said Bishop Bruce Lewandowski in a video statement. "Todays Catholic clergy here in Rhode Island are good and holy men serving Christ and his people with devotion and out of genuine pastoral concern.

For Herbert Brennan, who was repeatedly abused by a Rhode Island priest in the 1960s, the dioceses response is disappointing but not surprising.

If one wants to learn the teachings of Jesus Christ, they should read the Bible. If one wishes to understand the Catholic church, read this report, Brennan said.

Dale reported from Philadelphia.
Security alerts paralyse central Rome after series of bomb threats.

The historic centre of the Italian capital was placed on high alert Tuesday following a rapid succession of four bomb threats that prompted evacuations and major traffic disruptions near several key political sites.

Authorities later confirmed that all reports were false alarms.

The sequence of events began in the early afternoon when security protocols were activated in Piazza Venezia, near the Altare della Patria, due to a suspicious piece of unattended luggage.

Shortly afterwards, at around 15.00, a second alert occurred in Largo Chigi, adjacent to the government headquarters at Palazzo Chigi, involving another abandoned suitcase.

In both instances, bomb disposal units intervened and declared the items harmless within 30 minutes.

The situation intensified after 16.30 when an anonymous phone call reported an explosive device at the national headquarters of Fratelli dItalia (FdI), the rightwing party of premier Gioriga Meloni, on Via della Scrofa.

Police immediately evacuated the building, which also houses the editorial offices of the rightwing online newspaper Secolo d'Italia, and the Fondazione AN, a foundation that manages the political legacy of the former Italian rightwing party, Alleanza Nazionale.

Bomb technicians with sniffer dogs conducted a thorough sweep of the premises, which yielded negative results. FdI officials confirmed that no high-ranking leadership was present in the building during the incident.

Simultaneously, a separate anonymous call targeted Palazzo Grazioli, once the residence of the late former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and current headquarters of the Foreign Press Association.

Security authorities evacuated the staff and conducted a sweep of the historic building, dismissing the alert at around 18.00.

Rome police are investigating the origin of the phone calls, exploring the hypothesis that the threats were coordinated by the same individual or group, possibly aimed at causing public disorder.

While the incidents coincide with a period of heightened international tension, authorities have characterised the events as a "psychosis" likely fuelled by hoaxers.

Normalcy returned to the city centre by Tuesday evening as all affected streets were reopened to traffic.

Photo Shutterstock
New era for Turin newspaper as Elkanns GEDI Group finalises a preliminary sale agreement with SAE.

The GEDI Group, owned by the Agnelli-Elkann familys holding company Exor, has agreed to sell the Italian daily La Stampa to the Sapere Aude Editori (SAE) Group.

The sale of the historic newspaper, announced in a joint statement by the companies on Wednesday, concludes weeks of intense negotiations and industry speculation regarding the future of the liberal publication.

The sale of the Turin-based newspaper, overseen by GEDI chairman John Elkann, marks a pivotal moment for the publishing house as it continues to restructure its portfolio.

In addition to the newspaper, the sale includes affiliated publications, digital activities, the press centre and the network for local advertising sales, as well as staff and editorial support activities.

Under the leadership of Alberto Leonardis, the SAE Group has been aggressively expanding its presence in the regional and national press sectors.

This acquisition adds one of Italys most prestigious titles to SAEs growing stable of publications which includes La Provincia Pavese, La Nuova Sardegna, Il Tirreno, La Nuova Ferrara, Gazzetta di Modena and Gazzetta di Reggio.

Founded in 1867, La Stampa has long served as the authoritative voice of Turin and the northern Piemonte region, while maintaining a high-profile national influence.

While the financial specifics of the deal have not been disclosed, the transition to SAE is expected to ensure continuity at the newspaper, preserving its editorial independence and deep ties to its local community.

The transaction is expected to close within the first half of 2026.

The handover represents a shift away from the longstanding stewardship of the Agnelli-Elkann family interests, signalling a broader consolidation within the Italian publishing industry as traditional media houses adapt to evolving market demands.

Exor confirmed in December that it was in talks with Antenna, led by Greek shipping magnate Theodore Kyriakou, for the sale of most of GEDIs media assets which include the left-leaning newspaper La Repubblica.

Photo credit: PippiLongstocking / Shutterstock.com.
Temple University Rome Introduces Global Citizen Scholarship for Incoming Students

Temple University Rome has announced a new scholarship aimed at supporting students who demonstrate a strong commitment to global engagement and intercultural dialogue.

The DeNicola Family Foundation Global Citizen Award, unveiled this week, will provide two merit-based scholarships of $10,000 each to entry-year students enrolling at the universitys Rome campus. The one-time awards will help cover the cost of the first year of study and are open to applicants of all nationalities.

The initiative is designed to recognize students who show interest in global issues and who aspire to contribute to international cooperation, diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding.

We are extremely grateful to the DeNicola Family Foundation for their generosity and for this opportunity, said Emilia Zankina, dean of Temple University Rome and vice provost for global engagement at Temple University. This award will enable more students to benefit from the transformative experience at Temple Rome.

A Longstanding Connection

The scholarship reflects the long relationship between Temple University and Cosmo DeNicola, a member of the Temple University Rome Board of Visitors who co-founded the DeNicola Family Foundation with his wife Janet.

DeNicolas connection to the university dates back decades. I have a long relationship with Temple dating back to 1972, he said. The son of Italian immigrants, he often describes his personal story through the phrase an acre of diamonds, a reference to the idea that opportunity can often be found close to home.

Through the foundation, DeNicola says he hopes to support students who want to engage with global challenges and cultural exchange. The foundation, he explained, focuses on values such as inclusion and what he calls global goodness.

Studying in Rome

For DeNicola, the Rome campus itself plays an important role in the experience offered to students.

The location in the Eternal City and the arts, culture and history that surround the campus make Temple Rome a unique place to study, he said.

Situated in the historic center of the city, the campus allows students to experience Rome as a living classroom shaped by centuries of artistic, political and cultural development.

How to Apply

Students applying for the scholarship must submit a 500-word essay addressing a global issue, a statement of purpose explaining their interest in the award and a curriculum vitae. Applications can be uploaded through the universitys official admissions website.

Recipients will be notified by email.

A Focus on Impact

DeNicola said he hopes the scholarship will have a lasting effect beyond the university itself.

Quoting Mother Teresa, he noted that small gestures can have a huge impact. The goal, he added, is to help students turn global awareness into meaningful action.
More than 80 works by the iconic Scottish painter on display at Palazzo Velli in Trastevere.

The Jack Vettriano exhibition is coming to Rome following its success in Bologna and Milan. It opens on 12 February 2026 and runs until 5 July 2026. The Rome exhibition celebrates the iconic Scottish artist following his passing in March 2025.

One of the best-selling and most widely reproduced artists of modern times, Vettriano is honoured with an exhibition featuring more than 80 works. The show is organised by Chiara Campagnoli, Deborah Petroni and Rubens Fogacci of Pallavinci, and is hosted at Palazzo Velli in the heart of Trastevere, located in Piazza S. Egidio 10.

Inside Palazzo Velli, visitors can view some of Vettrianos most captivating works, including ten oil paintings as well as single-edition prints on museum paper created specifically for the exhibition. The show also features photographs taken by Sunday Times photographer Francesco Guidicini inside Vettrianos studio.

The vibrancy of Vettrianos paintings immediately captures the viewers attention, but it is his cinematic style that draws the audience in. Elegance is present in his work regardless of the scene depicted. Men and women appear in hotels, outdoors, or dancing, yet his refined touch remains embedded in every image.

The final section of the exhibition includes a video of Vettriano speaking about his work and the evolution of his artistic style, giving visitors insight into his painting process.

Vettrianos style explores themes of romanticism and melancholy. In his paintings, the human body and the idea of sensuality are central elements. These themes often trigger memories, emotions and personal reflections in those observing his work.

His paintings are neither entirely tragic nor purely joyful, but exist somewhere in between. Bodies become both decorative elements and anchors for emotional weight, creating a connection between the viewer and the artwork.

Vettriano is known for suggesting emotions and situations in his paintings without ever revealing the full story. In this way, the viewer is invited to fill in the narrative. There is no single correct interpretation; the meaning remains open to whoever observes the work.

His style balances refined imagery with suggestive elements, often showing only fragments of a larger story. Vettriano manages to make his paintings appear polished while maintaining an underlying sense of tension and desire. He achieves this through strong contrasts, intense colours and a cinematic composition.

Understanding Vettrianos background helps explain his unique artistic voice. Born in November 1951 in Fife, Scotland, he left school at a young age and initially worked in the mining industry. Along the way he discovered painting and began teaching himself.

He studied the traditions of the Old Masters while drawing inspiration from Impressionism and elements of Surrealism. The poetic realism of Edward Hopper was another major influence on his work.

As his career developed, he adopted the name Vettriano, taken from his mothers surname. Over time he became both a celebrated and controversial figure in the international contemporary art scene, admired by the public even while critics remained divided.

The exhibition is open Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm, with last admission at 7 pm. Entry costs 16, with free admission for children under six. On Thursdays, students with valid ID can enter for 13.

Smoking, as well as the consumption of food and drink, is prohibited inside the venue. Dogs are permitted but must be kept in a carrier.

For visitors to Rome, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the work of an artist who developed a distinctive visual language despite having no formal academic training. Through his use of light, posture, atmosphere and narrative tension, Vettriano created a style that remains instantly recognisable.

The exhibition also highlights how desire, elegance and contradiction coexist in his work, making it a compelling experience for art lovers and curious visitors alike.
DHAKA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced on Tuesday an indefinite suspension of operations on six routes due to the prevailing security situation in the Middle East.

The affected routes include Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Kuwait, said the airline in a notice.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as circumstances evolve," said the Biman notice.

Following the recent escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, the authorities at Bangladesh's main Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka reported that a total of 147 flights to the region had been canceled as of Tuesday. 
By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Enoch Burke has challenged his move to Castlerea Prison, saying it breaches an earlier court order.

He has spent more than 600 days in prison for violating court orders instructing him not to trespass at Wilsons Hospital School, where he used to teach History and German.

He has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the schools board of management stemming from an incident in 2022 when he was asked by the Co Westmeath schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun.

Burkes most recent spell in prison was ordered by the High Court on January 19th.

He had been released five days earlier to prepare for a case against an appeals body due to review his dismissal from Wilsons Hospital School, but the next day appeared back at the school and passed its gates.

Enoch Burke is in a long-running dispute with his former schools board of management (Brian Lawless/PA)

On Wednesday, Burke appeared before the High Court via video link from the Co Roscommon prison where he said he was moved on Sunday.

He said his relocation from Dublin was a breach of the order made on January 19th, which stated he be brought to Mountjoy Prison until further order of the High Court.

Before the issue of Burkes location was raised, he and Mr Justice Brian Cregan had a heated exchange about the jailing of Burkes sister and mother for contempt of court earlier in the day.

Burke told Cregan Youll give an account to God, and accused him of mocking God.

And Cregan repeatedly told Burke dont threaten me and told him: I did not mock God at all; adding dont even try to pretend that was the case.

During the mornings hearings Cregan asked several times for Burkes microphone to be muted.

Enoch Burke had a heated exchange with the judge (Brian Lawless/PA)

When discussing the matter of his relocation to Castlerea Prison, Burke said the judge was Perfectly unconcerned by a breach of court order, to which Cregan replied: Of course Im concerned by the breech of court order.

Rosemary Mallon, barrister for the schools board of management, said she was completely unaware of the decision to move Burke, and she had only been aware of what she has read in newspapers and heard in court.

On Monday, after Burke was relocated, his brother Isaac Burke posted on the social media site X, saying Enoch was moved without notice or warning, adding: He wasnt told what was happening, where he was going, or given any reason for this.

Cregan scheduled a further hearing for March 10th on the matter.
With pop  up gaeltachts happening across the city and county, the rise in casual use of the Irish language has certainly reached Waterford. Its good news for Irish language learners, gaelgeoirs and bookworms alike because there will be a bilingual writers talk happening in Dungarvan this month.

The Laureate for Irish Fiction Eilis Ni Dhuibhne will be speaking at the Dungarvan Library on Saturday March 14 from 7pm. Irish-language writers Anna Heusaff and Realtan Ni Leannain will also be there to discuss contemporary Irish fiction. This is the perfect opportunity to hear all about how literature in this language is not just what you studied in your Leaving Cert but casts a wide net across genres such a crime and literary fiction.

Its a free event and open to the public, but booking is essential. Phone Dungarvan Library on 058 211 41 to book your spot.

All are welcome.

If you cant make it on the day, the event will be recorded and available on the Arts Councils podcast and YouTube channels.
A man appeared in Waterford Courthouse last week for hurling insults at Gardai during an incident at Treacys Hotel on Merchants Quay in Waterford city.

On February 15, 2025, Gardai entered the hotel responding to a separate incident.

Whilst there, Mark Hurley, of 3 Dunmanus Crescent, Knocknaheeney, County Cork, began verbally harassing them.

The 31-year-old referred to a garda who was present as a pig b*stard and a pr*ck.

He also told gardai to f*ck off.

Hurley was on bail over a separate and more substantial matter, the court heard.

Whilst in court last week, Mark Hurley pleaded guilty to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place.

Judge Kevin Staunton, presiding over Waterford District Court, applied Section 1(1) of the Probation Act.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
A Waterford man charged with public intoxication, who cannot pay a fine as he is in custody, has been given the benefit of the Probation Act.

Marcus ONeill (35) of Flat 3, 9 Bridge Street, Waterford, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 at a sitting of Waterford District Court before Judge John Cheatle.

The man appeared by video link.

Sergeant Michael Hickey told the court that while on patrol on New Street, Waterford, at 10:25pm on August 3, 2024, gardai came across Mr ONeill intoxicated and unable to stand.

He was arrested for his own safety.

The court was told that the defendant has eight previous convictions for public order offences, criminal damage and possession of a knife or other articles.

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Derek Connors told the court that a custodial sentence could not be imposed for the offence but that his client would be unable to pay a fine as he is in custody on an unrelated matter.

Judge Cheatle applied Section 1.1 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary was strongly advised by high-ranking civil servants to decline a meeting with Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald and David Cullinane surrounding pension payments to Waterford Crystal workers.

Internal documents released to the Waterford News & Star through the Freedom of Information Act showed the states pension team was highly averse to a meeting that may falsely raise expectations for ex-Crystal workers seeking pension compensation.

The Waterford Crystal Pension Action Group (WCPAG) has long campaigned for state redress following their redundancy in the early 1990s.

Affected workers claim they only had one option regarding their pension - to withdraw their personal contributions from the companys pension scheme. Workers claim they should have been presented with three.

As a result of the sole option presented, affected workers were unable to claim anything from the Government compensation fund that was introduced when Waterford Crystal became insolvent in 2009.

Waterford Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane and party leader Mary Lou McDonald wrote a letter to Minister Calleary on November 7, 2025, seeking a meeting.

The workers are now of pension age, the letter read.

Some have sadly passed away and are represented by their widows, who continue to seek justice on their behalf.

Many have spent years trying to have this wrong acknowledged and corrected through correspondence, legal cases, and political engagement.

In response, members of the departments pension policy unit briefed Minister Calleary and advised him to shirk a meeting with the Sinn Fein TDs.

Meeting turned down

Civil servant Carmel Dobson wrote on November 14 that the department had received over 60 letters from WCPAG members requesting copies of the option forms they had allegedly signed.

The Department of Social Protection do not hold any of the records in question.

A previous review by the Government Attorney General in 2024 found there was no basis for the state redress for WCPAG members, as the pensions debacle related to the machinations of a private company.

To agree to a meeting (with McDonald and Cullinane) may give credence to the view that there is a case for State involvement and may falsely raise expectations, Ms Dobson wrote to Minister Calleary.

As nothing new has emerged since the Attorneys examination of the matter, it does not appear that a meeting is warranted.

Minister Calleary responded to Deputy Cullinane and McDonald on November 28.

As you had previously corresponded with me in this regard, Mary Lou, I wish to reiterate the position that based on the Attorney Generals advice, there is nothing further that the Government or my Department can do in order to intervene, and no liability arises for the State in this regard.

As my Department had no involvement in the operation of the Waterford Crystal Pension Schemes, the question regarding the provision of leaving service options and forms relating to same is one for the former employer and the trustees of the pension scheme, and any queries on the matter should be directed to either or both.

This Department has never said that members of the Waterford Crystal Pension Action Group (WCPAG) signed such forms - rather the WCPAG has disputed that its members signed such option forms.

As my Department was not involved in that matter, it does not hold any records in relation to the issue nor I cannot comment further.

The existence or otherwise of signed option forms does not change the fact that refunds of pension contributions were received and consequently, any entitlements in respect of those refunded contributions ceased under the pension schemes.

This matter is concluded from the perspective of my Department.

The documents released to the News & Star also show workers writing to Tanaiste, and former Taoiseach, Simon Harris, demanding redress.

On November 5, a member of WCPAG, whose name has been redacted, wrote to the Tanaistes office: Could you please send me a copy of the Option Forms where I allegedly signed away my pension entitlements with Waterford Crystal?

Members of WCPAG have now redirected redress efforts towards Europe as protests for state compensation appeared to have run their course.

The workers are currently in the process of raising their case via the European petitions committee.
COLOMBO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka Navy rescued 35 people from IRIS Dena, an Iranian navy vessel in distress in waters off Sri Lanka's southern coast, officials said on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence said they have transferred the rescued persons to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in the southern city of Galle.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that the incident occurred outside Sri Lanka's territorial waters. He said the navy launched rescue operations immediately after receiving a distress call reporting that the vessel was sinking.

Local media reported that the vessel belongs to the Iranian Navy. 
Waterford City and County Council has been recognised at national level with a prestigious award.

The local authority was successful in the Best Green Sustainable Initiative category, at the recent All Ireland Community & Council Awards, for its Business Pledge for a 'Cleaner, Greener Waterford' initiative.

The awards, presented by the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA), recognised the collaborative spirit demonstrated by communities and councils across the island and offer a valuable platform to showcase the achievements and positive impact of these partnerships within local areas.

The awards ceremony, presented by well-known TV and radio personality, Marty Whelan, was held in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Saturday, February 28.

Speaking at the event, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Seamus Ryan said: Congratulations to the Environment and Climate Action teams on the continued success of this outstanding scheme. Now in its fourth year, the Business Pledge has gone from strength to strength, enabling businesses across Waterford to meaningfully reduce their carbon emissions, with expert guidance, resources and practical incentives.

While the individual actions may seem small, their collective impact is significant, delivering measurable benefits for our environment, and reinforcing Waterfords commitment to climate leadership," said Mayor Ryan.

Read More New CCTV sees huge number of litter fines issued in Waterford

Sean McKeown, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council also acknowledged the work of the environment team in the wake of the recognition, commenting: I must commend the Environment team, which worked in tandem with our rates department on this incentive, which is unique to Waterford."

By becoming more aware of energy saving opportunities and exploring renewable energy options, businesses can not only reduce costs but also drive meaningful change," he said.

"Embracing a clear sustainability strategy and committing to lower carbon emissions strengthens both environmental performance and long-term resilience," he added.

Mr McKeown went on to comment: "Collectively, these actions have the power to deliver lasting, positive impact for businesses across the city and county.

As part of the Councils roadmap to delivering a Carbon Neutral Waterford by 2040, the local authority invites local businesses to take the Business Pledge and strive towards a creating a cleaner, greener Waterford, and commit to completing at least two actions over 12 months to reduce the carbon footprint of their business and avail of a 9 per cent discount on their commercial rates bill.

A spokesperson for Waterford Council said the premise of the project was that a baseline emissions inventory of Waterford City revealed that businesses were the largest source of emissions in the city - accounting for 28 per cent.

Many are small businesses that struggle to find the time or capital to invest in changes that would make their business more sustainable.

Over 1,000 businesses have taken the pledge, and Waterford City and County Council continues to give them the support, resources and advice they need to become more sustainable.
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Exclusive BusinessCompaniesCourts AI tech executive charged with assault after alleged bar attack Kishor Napier-Raman March 4, 2026  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A senior Australian executive at a $7.2 billion artificial intelligence start-up has been charged with assault following an alleged violent attack on a guitarist in a heavy metal band at a popular CBD bar. Timothy Bentley, vice president of sales for the Asia Pacific region at cybersecurity tech company Abnormal AI, faces two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and appeared before the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. The matter was adjourned until early May at the request of his barrister Tim Lowe, who cited his and Bentleys unavailability. Bentley remains on bail and no pleas have been entered. Abnormal AI executive Tim Bentley faces two assault charges related to an incident at the Ramblin Rascal Tavern Janie Barrett According to eyewitness accounts, the altercation at the Ramblin Rascal Tavern on Friday, February 13, began shortly before The Grand Union, a local band that performs in pubs around Sydney, were due to play.

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After a group of men, including Bentley, allegedly began heckling the band, The Grand Unions guitarist and songwriter Stu Greenwood told them to stop. Bentley allegedly then punched Greenwood in the face, leaving him with a broken nose and chipped tooth, according to medical records seen by this masthead. Bentley then allegedly punched a member of another band, Bloody Legend, who tried to intervene, before leaving the premises and heading into the Metro. The second alleged victim, John Flaws, suffered a split lip that required stitches. Photographs taken at the scene obtained by this masthead show blood on the alleged victims face and the street outside. Bentley was later apprehended by police and charged with assault, with the incident captured by the venues CCTV. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. NSW Police declined to comment, citing the matter being before the courts. Abnormal AI, a Las Vegas-based start-up which uses AI software to guard against cyberattacks, was founded in 2018. In a 2024 funding round, Abnormal raised $US250 million ($351 million) from investors and was valued at $US5.1 billion ($7.2 billion).

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Among other services, Abnormal makes tools to stop fallible humans from falling for phishing emails, in which cyber criminals try to fool staff at a company into disclosing sensitive information by mimicking correspondence from colleagues or professional acquaintances. Bentley, who was born in Britain, launched Abnormal in the Asia Pacific region in 2021. According to Abnormals website, he founded email security company MessageLabs in 2003, which was later acquired by cybersecurity company Symantec. He later launched Abnormal Security, as Abnormal AI was then known. Abnormal and Bentley did not respond to requests for comment. Rohin Sharma, The Grand Unions guitarist, said the band was shocked by the alleged incident, which was part of a worrying trend of poor behaviour at live shows.

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Were here on our own time to give people a good night out and, like most local bands, these are self-funded passion projects that involve many hours of writing, rehearsing and recording, Sharma said. Its a sad indictment on Sydneys live music scene and points to an alarming growing trend of heckling and violence at live shows and bars. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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This years French Film Festival serves up star turns (including Isabelle Huppert as The Richest Woman in the World and Jodie Foster in A Private Life), along with typically frothy Gallic romances and so much more. Here are four festival offerings that made a splash on the international circuit. Enzo A scene from Enzo by Robin Campillo. Seven weeks before shooting, Robin Campillo (best known for 2017s BPM, an energetic recap of the fight against AIDS) took over directing this last film by veteran director Laurent Cantet, who was then dying of cancer. Related Article Gaza Strip She was five years old and under fire. In this film, we hear her last words The two friends sensibilities  gay and straight, older and younger  blend in this perceptive, ambiguous portrait of an upper-class teenager who rejects his familys ambitions to become a builders labourer. Enzo turns out to be hopeless with a hammer, but embraces workplace camaraderie  especially with the Ukrainian worker Vlad, whose honest toil and association with a just war fills him with a romantic yearning. His desire is haunted with a lot of elements, says Campillo. He wants to go away with this guy: two people storming through the night. Its a fantasy but a fantasy connected to the body. We forget the intensity of adolescence, he says, but weve all been there. Everything burns inside you, everything is too much  and its good.

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Case 137 A scene from Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll. A perfectly paced police procedural, Dominik Molls immersive account of an internal investigation of police brutality finds its focus in a superb performance by Lea Drucker as the investigating officer. A family from a country town who came to Paris with the Yellow Vests movement, eager to protest against the closure of their local bus service, is devastated when a police officer shoots teenage Guillaume in the head. The boy is left with brain damage; meanwhile, his best friend goes to prison for six months. He did nothing, but nobody in court listens to him. When the [Yellow Vests] protests began, I didnt know what to think of it, says Moll. The media painted the thousands of protesters as far-right extremists. And I guess in the beginning I fell for that. But then I started to get more interested. It was mainly just people who wanted to be seen. What struck me was after the lockdowns, nobody talked any more about this movement that had shaken the whole country. But the fractures are still present, so how can we talk about that? Alpha Melissa Boros as Alpha. Julia Ducournau, whose flamboyant scorcher Titane won the Palme dOr at Cannes a few years ago, takes a futuristic voyage into the lower depths. When a virus spreads that turns the infected into crumbling ceramic statues, Alpha, 13, believes herself to be one of them after a class bully forces a tattoo on her. Her uncle Amin, an abject junkie, hopes for death; her mother, a doctor whose hospital is surrounded by the rioting sick, is on the brink of collapse but compelled to care for everyone, even feckless Amin. Too much love makes you crazy, he tells his niece between his jack-knifing spasms of withdrawal.

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NationalNSWObituaries Accidental academic became scholar of criminology Luke McNamara March 4, 2026  1:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Emeritus Professor David Brown 1948-2026 When Neil Mercer was writing his book, The Kingpin and the Crooked Cop (2024) about Neddy Smith and Roger Rogerson, he was struggling to verify the circumstances of the fatal shooting of Philip Western in 1976. One of his journalist friends said, You have to talk to David Brown. Brown steered Mercer in the direction of the transcript of a largely forgotten inquiry conducted by the NSW Public Service Board, and copies of the Militant newspaper from the 1970s. He soon had the information he needed. This wasnt a one-off. David Brown spent most of his life working to reveal police and prison corruption and violence.

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When David Brown retired from UNSW in 2008, he was honoured with the title of Emeritus Professor. Decades before assisting Mercer, Brown was a key player in the Prisoners Action Group, a small group of prisoners, ex-prisoners and academics, whose activism played a major role in the establishment of the Nagle Royal Commission into NSW Prisons (1978). Browns version of being an academic was a marriage of intellect, unwavering political commitment and fearless activism, and this manifested in his published work, including books like The Prison Struggle: Changing Australias Penal System (1982), with George Zdenkowski, and Rethinking Law and Order (1998), with his friend and collaborator of more than 50 years, Russell Hogg. Brown played a leading role in the emergence of critical criminology, a core tenet of which is that theory and research must remain informed by, and connected to, the daily realities of injustice and inequity in the administration of justice, and agitation and campaigns for reform. He described himself as an accidental academic.

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Born in India, raised and educated in New Zealand, Brown had a brief period in legal practice in Auckland in the early 1970s. But made the trip to Cambridge to pursue postgraduate studies in criminology. He planned to travel back to New Zealand but in 1974 was offered a job as a lecturer at the new law school at University of NSW in Sydney. That city was to be his home for 52 years. Brown in his university office in 1975. Photo: Robert Pearce At UNSW Brown was instrumental in conceiving a new approach to the teaching of criminal law. He and his colleagues created a book that became affectionately known as the Four Davids (all four original authors were named David). First published in 1990, the book revolutionised how the topic of criminal law was conceived and taught, by embracing multi-disciplinarity and locating the study of criminal law in its daily practices. In the eighth edition of Criminal Laws, published in 2025, Brown was still at the helm, along with 10 honorary Davids  eight women and two men. When Brown retired from UNSW in 2008, he was honoured with the title of Emeritus Professor. In 2010 he was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree by his alma mater, the University of Auckland. He continued to research and write, including co-authoring four important books: Penal Culture and Hyperincarceration (2013); Justice Reinvestment (2016); Youth Justice and Penality (2020); and Rethinking Community Sanctions (2023). Although he was a powerful critic of the actions (and inactions) of governments, his expertise was also highly respected within government circles. In 2011 he was appointed as a NSW Law Reform Commissioner, making valuable contributions to the commissions influential report on bail reform (2012), which recommended wider availability of bail and a reduced remand population in NSW prisons.

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Brown was a devoted partner and later husband, of Janice Gray for close to three decades. When news of his death on February 1, tributes came from some of the worlds biggest names in criminal law and criminology. One correspondent said: a brilliant scholar, with an enormously generous intellect, and a wonderful man. He was an unassuming nurturer of careers and lives, through gentle conversations, suggestions and encouragement, and by his example, he guided many an uncertain young law graduate  and quite a few older ones. Although avowedly anti-establishment in many ways, and courageous in testing and pushing the bounds of the acceptable in scholarly research, Brown adhered to the view that civility was an undervalued virtue, to be observed when you disagreed as much as when you agreed with other people. He had a great love of the ocean. And there is some comfort in the fact that on the late summer day that he died, he was walking his dog Bentley on the beach.

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Brown is survived by wife, Dr Janice Gray, and his stepdaughters, Isobel and Madeleine Gray. He also had a stepson, James. Luke McNamara Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalWAMissing person Please forgive me: Coroner probes Perth dads 13-year disappearance after abuse allegations Rebecca Peppiatt March 5, 2026  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A Perth father and husband who went missing 13 years ago is this week the subject of a coronial inquest, with police believing he took his own life after being accused of sexually abusing children. Alfred Keith Crozier was reported missing by his wife on March 30, 2013, the day after she confronted him with information she had received from a family member. Alfred Keith Crozier. Crime Stoppers Missing Persons She told police that when she returned to their Canning Vale home that evening, Crozier had left a note saying: Please forgive me. Ill give you some space. Ive always loved you. The following day, Crozier called his wife from Melbourne and admitted he was guilty of what she had accused him of, later returning to their family home and leaving her a signed enduring power of attorney document giving her full power over his affairs.

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He also left his car, mobile phone, computers and passport, along with keys to their home. A month later, Crozier called his wife again. He told her he was roaming down south but police later traced the call to Tasmania. I told him I got rid of all his things and that the house was on the market, his wife told police in a statement read out in Perths Coroners Court on Wednesday. He asked what I would do with his bit. I said what bit? For the last 36 years of having a sham of a marriage and being married to a liar  he doesnt deserve a penny. Any money he had would be used to pay compensation to all the victims. [I said to him] How do you think I feel? I have lost everything, and I am an innocent victim.

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Croziers wife told police he said he was sorry before she told him she had told someone at his work about his alleged offending, which is when he abruptly hung up the phone. Related Article Courts Paedophile priest sentenced again for abusing girl on the way to Pilbara beach In a later phone call he told her, Im ready to come home now, to which his wife replied, After what you have done I dont ever want to see you again. He told her he wanted half the house money, I said, you must be joking, his wife told police at the time. A warrant was put out for his arrest a month later.

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These [abuse allegations] are of a serious nature and, if convicted, would likely result in a significant jail term being imposed, Senior Constable Craig Robertson told the coroner on Wednesday. Its for this reason that Croziers now ex-wife believes he took his own life and has been dead for some time. The then-59-year-old had unsuccessfully tried to die by suicide a few weeks before he went missing when the allegations the subject of his arrest warrant were first being aired. The inquest was also told Crozier was in remission from leukemia and had undergone a trial procedure to cure his condition which had made him very sick, telling his wife that he would not seek treatment again if the cancer returned. After extensive inquiries by police to try and find Crozier, two separate people came forward in 2018 to say they had seen him in person.

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Tasmanian Police agreed to use their social media platform to circulate a release seeking the publics assistance, Robertson told the inquest. Related Article Courts WA Labor figure Tim Pictons alleged killer granted bail This release included images of Mr Crozier and stated that he is missing or living under a new identity. This generated a response from an anonymous informant who stated that they had seen someone similar to Mr Crozier at a cafe in Hobart. Unfortunately, police were unable to secure CCTV footage from the cafe due to the time that had passed. The strategy was repeated in November 2018 and this time an anonymous informant stated that they had seen the person in the photo three times over several months at a shopping centre located approximately 6 kilometres away from the initial possible sighting.

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The shopping centre is some 20 kilometres from the phone box used by Mr Crozier to call Linda in 2013. However, Coroner Robyn Hartley said supposed sightings were notoriously unreliable. The human eye is notoriously imaginative, she said, after the inquests only witness, Detective Senior Constable Ellie Wold, told her that despite those sightings, no proof of life for Crozier could be established since his wife last heard from him in 2013. We all understand the dangers of relying on uncorroborated sightings. Wold told the inquest that, after her extensive investigations last year, that she believed it was highly unlikely Crozier was still alive.

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In this day and age, to be able to avoid detection, I dont know how youd do it, the coroner said. She will prepare her findings to be delivered at a later date. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalReality TV Plibersek blasts MAFS for featuring contestant who wanted a woman obedient like a dog Brittany Busch and Meg Watson Updated March 4, 2026  12:59pm ,first published 9:03am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Australias social services minister has accused Married at First Sight, the nations most popular reality-TV show, of giving a platform to coercive control, after a male contestant agreed that he might want a romantic partner that is more like an obedient dog than an equal. Tanya Plibersek, who has been leading the governments push against domestic violence since taking over the portfolio in May, urged parents not to let their children watch the series, which she said had normalised unhealthy, controlling behaviours. Obedience is not a relationship preference. Its about exerting power and control over women. We know that exerting power and control too often leads to violence, Plibersek said. She said coercive control  manipulative and abusive behaviours deployed to maintain power in a relationship  was an insidious form of family and domestic violence that governments were moving to outlaw and educate people on.

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Editor's pick Reality TV Submissive or traditional? MAFS toxic groom is served a valuable lesson It would be terrific if the networks felt a responsibility to play their part as well, Plibersek said. She wrote earlier in a social media post: When men who idolise submissive and obedient women are normalised on prime-time TV, it means coercive control is given a national platform. Plibersek posted a clip of the shows companion series, MAFS: After the Dinner Party, on Tuesday, which showed host Laura Byrne challenging the views of contestant Tyson Gordon on what his role as a man in a relationship should be. If you want someone who is obedient, yes, its controlling, and you want a dog, Byrne said.

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Gordon replied: Maybe thats what I want. He later backtracked when challenged by the panel of hosts, saying: I dont want a literal dog, but I want to be man of the house. The intervention from Plibersek is the latest condemnation of Married at First Sight, which has repeatedly courted controversy for its depiction of problematic behaviour. Last year, contestant Paul Antoine allegedly punched the wall of the bedroom he shared with on-screen wife Carina Mirabile during an argument about her previous sexual partners  a topic that Gordon has also expressed discomfort with on the show this season. Loading

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The behaviour was labelled toxic, inappropriate and unacceptable by the shows in-house relationship experts on air, but some fans and domestic violence experts criticised the reality-TV series for allowing Antoine to continue in the experiment and not using the moment to have a broader conversation about coercive control. NSW Police also launched an investigation into the incident, which has since been closed and no further police action is expected. I really do think the makers of this show need to think twice before platforming this sort of misogyny, Plibersek said of this latest incident. She urged parents to prevent their children from watching and being exposed to the behaviours aired. Thats not entertaining, its incredibly dangerous. This is the exact kind of cultural messaging were trying to change, the minister said.

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Related Article Reality TV Do you regret any matches? MAFS experts reflect on last years big controversy Plibersek said the problematic content could be peddled online and used to radicalise young boys. It takes just 23 minutes for a 16 to 18-year-old boy whos scrolling on the internet to be fed misogynistic content, she said. So even if the show is contextualising it  and I congratulate them for doing that  the clip itself will be taken out of context, and will feed this sort of the normalisation of control and coercion in relationships. Plibersek said more than half of sexual assault victims were under the age of 18. Its by and large boys under the age of 18 assaulting girls under the age of 18. So we do really need to challenge whats going on in social media and in popular culture that is normalising this behaviour, she said.

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Bec Zacharia (left) looks shocked as Tyson Gordon faces off with Laura Byrne, Brittany Hockley and Jules Lund. Reflecting on previous controversies, before this seasons premiere, the shows long-running relationship expert John Aiken told this masthead last month that he took pleasure in being able to highlight the inappropriateness of that behaviour. I wanted to be the person to call it out, to make very clear to the audience and to the group that this is unacceptable, he said. An investigation was launched after Paul Antoine (left) allegedly punched a hole in the wall of his shared apartment with wife Carina Mirabile. The investigation has since been closed. Nine Aiken said the show was unscripted and unpredictable and argued production could not foresee such events.

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Channel 9, which broadcasts MAFS, has been approached for comment on this latest incident  as has Laura Byrne, the co-host who confronted Gordon on After the Dinner Party. Stan, which broadcasts After the Dinner Party, is owned by Nine which also owns this masthead. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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WorldAsiaChina relations Xis China will be world-shaping in the coming months and years. Our return to Beijing could not be more timely or urgent Lisa Visentin March 3, 2026  12:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Beijing: When the formidable journalist Margaret Jones landed in Beijing in 1973, she found a city that was dusty, noisy and endlessly fascinating. Her first impression of the Chinese capital has been echoing in my mind since I stepped off the plane at Beijings international airport a fortnight ago, at the tail end of the Chinese New Year holiday. More than 50 years after Jones blazed a trail as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Ages first China correspondent, Im following in her footsteps and reopening our news bureau to cover this vast, consequential country at a time of great upheaval in the international system. North Asia correspondent Lisa Visentin has arrived in Beijing to re-open The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age news bureau in China. Ironically, I landed in Beijing just as a sandstorm was hitting the city, with winds sweeping off Mongolias Gobi Desert, throwing grit into the air and greying the skies overhead. Clear-air days have otherwise become more common in this city of 23 million people as authorities have made inroads on Beijings air pollution over the past decade.

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I also glimpsed Beijing as it rarely is  quiet, its streets almost sleepy. The city had largely emptied for the holiday, save for the omnipresent yellow-clad delivery drivers zipping across town, charging up escalators in food malls to collect orders before racing back to their bikes. The Chinese New Year travel rush is the largest annual human migration on the planet, as hundreds of millions of people crisscross the country to be with family in their hometowns  a sign of the enormous people-power China has to leverage. As for endlessly fascinating, well, thats guaranteed. Loading The China that Jones encountered was, of course, vastly different to the one that awaits me, but the ribbon of history runs through them. Peking ... almost another planet splashed the headline over one of Jones earliest dispatches, where she reflected that every Western value had been overthrown by a society that had absolute dedication to one single cause.

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The headline is perhaps too anthropological to pass muster these days. Then again, while writing this piece, a robot arrived at my hotel room carrying the coffee I ordered from a nearby cafe using a food delivery app 20 minutes earlier. Flourishes of capitalism  or socialism with Chinese characteristics, as the party likes to call it  are everywhere. If you can get past the enormous human capital and environmental cost of millions of online orders being ferried by poorly paid drivers across the city each day, youll be amazed by what can land on your doorstep within the hour. The Herald and Ages first China correspondent, Margaret Jones, circa 1974. Jones coverage began at the tail end of the Mao Zedong era, in what was then an impoverished and isolated country still unfamiliar to journalists, and in the final throes of the violent Cultural Revolution.

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My China posting coincides with another great political epoch  the Xi Jinping era. Xi is Chinas most powerful leader since Mao and has reshaped the country to be more authoritarian and nationalistic, and a global superpower. Today, the US and China are fierce rivals, racing for supremacy in everything from AI and tech to military and economic might. Mr Jiang makes the new official seals for our Beijing bureau at his stamp shop in the citys east. Lisa Visentin On Xis watch, every goal of the Chinese Communist Party is funnelled through the lens of national security, backed by a formidable apparatus of state surveillance. The Chinese internet may not be another planet, but it is certainly a wholly different ecosystem, closed off from the outside world by the Great Firewall and heavily censored by the government.

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Modern China runs on this internet, from WeChat, the messaging app that everyone uses to communicate, to the payment and delivery apps that have redefined how people dine and shop without leaving home. This ecosystem, though populated with apps from Chinas private tech giants, hands the Chinese government enormous control over its 1.4 billion subjects and the flow of information. Related Article China relations Farewell Singapore, ni hao Beijing Xis China contains multitudes. Its a cashless society, with dazzling technology powered by AI and automation, but underpinned by a multi-speed economy dragged down by a property market crash that refuses to bottom out, oversubsidised industries and heavily indebted local governments. Its high-speed rail system will transport you to most major cities within hours, futuristic electric vehicles are common, online groceries arrive at your doorstep within 30 minutes, while a network of CCTV cameras track your every move. Some 800 million people have been lifted out of absolute poverty since the Herald and The Age began reporting from inside China, but millions still live on less than $US8.30 ($11.69) a day, according to the World Bank. My arrival in Beijing marks our papers return to China after a six-year hiatus in our decades-long coverage, following the exodus of Australian news outlets in 2020 as the bilateral relationship between Beijing and Canberra plunged into the freezer.

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Our return is timely. The coming months and years in China will be world-shaping, making it more important than ever that Australians better understand our countrys closest economic partner, but also our governments greatest security concern, and deepen our knowledge of the Chinese people, society and culture. Xi has anointed no successor, has purged his top military brass in sweeping anti-corruption campaigns, and many experts anticipate he will seek an unprecedented fourth term in office in 2027, extending his rule until at least 2032. Donald Trump and Xi Jinping shake hands after their talks in South Korea in October. They are due to meet again in Beijing in April. Getty In a few weeks, Xi will host Donald Trump in Beijing in what will be the US presidents first state visit to China of his second term. Expect the full pageantry. The meeting also has the potential to be consequential, against the backdrop of the simmering US-China trade war, questions about the future of Taiwan and Ukraine, and the eagerness of both men to assert their status as leaders of the global system.

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The meeting will take place as allies confidence in the United States as a security guarantor and reliable partner wanes, and Trump upends the status quo with his might makes right approach to international order. Related Article Middle East at war Trumps removal of another Xi friend complicates planned summit With the Middle East on the brink of escalating conflict, Trump and Xi will be sitting down in the uncertain aftermath of US-Israeli strikes on Iran this week, which killed that countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and wiped out the political leadership of one of Chinas closest partners in the region. Iran also supplies about 13 per cent of Chinas oil imports. Before then, Xi will be centre stage at Chinas biggest political event of the year later this week, when the National Peoples Congress meets to rubber-stamp the partys 15th five-year plan. It will give China watchers a glimpse of how Xi intends to steer the worlds second-largest economy into his likely fourth term. Its not hard to find people in China who have lived with the scars of the Mao era, but who are also concerned about the current economic woes that have halted many peoples climb from poverty to prosperity.

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Thirty years ago, people in both urban and rural areas were starving, Mr Li, a butcher in Beijings old hutong neighbourhood, tells me. Today, even peasants at remote corners of the country are free from food and clothing problems. Today, his business is flat, and he doesnt expect things to improve this year, but he is optimistic that Chinas trajectory is upwards. The economy and general business environment are not good. As long as China doesnt fight a war, it will go up. As was the case with Jones, our paper is again the beneficiary of stabilised political relations between Beijing and Canberra. She was dispatched by the Herald and The Age around the time that prime minister Gough Whitlam made his historic trip to China to normalise ties in November 1973. A year earlier, US president Richard Nixon had orchestrated his pivot to China, aiming to exploit the deepening rift between Beijing and Moscow.

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Trump diplomacy Trumps attacks are not about Iran. Hes after a much bigger fish Clinton Fernandes Academic and former intelligence officer Today, Beijing and Moscow are tighter than ever  a partnership without limits, if you take Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putins rhetoric at face value. Im joining a small squadron of Australian reporters already here, including correspondents from the ABC and The Australian, benefiting from the Albanese governments lower-volume approach to friction with Beijing, and Chinas decision to tone down its wolf-warrior diplomacy. Its discomforting as a journalist to have your fate shaped by a political relationship beyond your control, and one that can change on a dime. All up, hundreds of foreign journalists are working in China, but this figure belies the difficulty many Western outlets encounter reporting here. Surveillance is all but guaranteed, and tales of visa delays and even refusals are not uncommon.

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But if Australian journalists were once persona non grata with China, then the messaging from the system  at least for now  is very different. The late Yvonne Preston was on the ground as foreign correspondent when Mao Zedong died in 1976. Janie Barrett For the past week, Ive been manoeuvring through bureaucratic hoops to set up the papers official licensing and bureau structure from scratch. I was expecting a Byzantine process that would take weeks, maybe months, and involve shuttling back and forth between Chinese government departments, securing elusive approvals and getting vast numbers of Australian documents translated into Chinese and vice versa. To my surprise (and delight), my credentials and the office licence were issued together, mere days after I submitted the paperwork. Within hours, I was sitting in a shop run by Mr Jiang, who was authorised by the Foreign Ministry to make the official seals and stamps for our Beijing bureau.

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This breakneck speed of approvals is rare, Im told. Jones died in 2006. Her successor in Beijing, the equally inimitable late Yvonne Preston, was on the ground when Mao died in 1976, and she reported from a communist China in transition as it opened to the world. They paved the way for decades of Herald and The Age reporters to follow, covering Chinas rise from a poverty-stricken country to a global superpower. Today, we resume this tradition. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: China relations Lisa Visentin is the North Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. She was previously a federal political reporter based in Canberra. or email. Connect via X
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WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Opinion Irans regime is vile, but what Trump and Netanyahu have done is a war crime Geoffrey Robertson Human rights barrister and author March 3, 2026  4:30pm

March 3, 2026  4:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

In a lawless world, it may seem idle to judge the conduct of leaders like Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu by international rules to which they are indifferent. But those who use their power to invade other countries commit what the judgment at Nuremberg described as the supreme war crime  that of aggression  because they bear responsibility for all the death and dismemberment that war inevitably entails, for civilians as well as soldiers. Brothers in arms: US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Illustration: Marija Ercegovac Leaders are entitled to invade only in self-defence  the excuse proffered by the United States and Israel in Mondays Security Council debate  or with the approval of that Council (which it withheld) or else, as in the case of Kosovo, without such approval where the right of humanitarian intervention arises. Trump is not a humanitarian, and neither aggressor has sought to defend itself on this ground. But might it have been open to some more respectable coalition of the willing to do so? It is necessary first to dispose of the pretence of pre-emptive self-defence, that perversion of international law invented by the Bush administration to justify its attack on Saddam Husseins Iraq in 2003 and used by Vladimir Putin to justify his invasion of Ukraine. It was used by both Israel and the US in defence of their attack on Iran.

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Related Article Middle East at war Irans drones gave Russia a deadly boost in Ukraine. Now they are blitzing the Gulf But it is not part of international law, whereby, on long-standing authority, self-defence can only be used against a threat that is imminent, or at least reasonably likely. With many of its military leaders and nuclear scientists dead, and its facilities at Fordow bombed, Iran posed no immediate threat to Israel, much less America. The full-blooded attack on Saturday, together with the targeted assassination of Irans supreme leader, was a war crime that could have no justification in self-defence. It came just weeks after the Islamic Republic had, under secrecy imposed by an internet blackout, murdered at least 15,000 (probably twice as many) of its own peacefully protesting citizens and mutilated many others by shooting them in the eye. This appallingly cruel state response was ordered by Ali Larijani, the head of the National Security Council. It was approved by the late supreme leader and incited by the chief justice. It came after government newspapers had demanded a return to the spirit of 1988, when Iran commissioned the worst crime against humanity since the Nazis by murdering thousands of political prisoners. This atrocity was covered by lies to the UN and by the prohibition of mourning at the mass graves where victims throughout the country were buried. I happened to conduct the first inquiry into those events at the behest of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Centre for Human Rights in Iran, interviewing survivors and prison witnesses who reported how thousands of inmates were hanged without trial  six at a time  from gallows erected in Evin Prison and other jails. I assessed the crime as the worst commissioned against prisoners since the death marches at the end of the war against Japan.

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Iran The stakes for Australia in Trumps Iran gamble Jennifer Parker Defence and national security expert My findings were endorsed by inquiries by Amnesty International and, last year, by the UNs Special Rapporteur on Iran. Many of the perpetrators were promoted and are still alive. The late supreme leader was president at the time, and one notorious tribunal judge, Ebrahim Raisi, became president before he was killed in a helicopter accident on May 19, 2024. Most of the murders and tortures would be available for prosecution by a new government of Iran. And that, of course, is the problem Trump overlooked in his naive demand that the Iranian people take back their country. They do not have the power or the firepower to do this  all guns are in the hands of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, who are unlikely to relinquish them. There is no organised opposition. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans last shah, is an absurd candidate to lead them, as his father was an infamous torturer through SAVAK, his secret police force. Maryam Rajavi, who heads the National Council of Resistance, is a favourite of the Iranian diaspora, but her local support is untested. So what happens next, after four weeks in which Trump promises to blast and bomb this vile theocracy? The UN is responsible for allowing Iran to get away with the mass murder of its own people, and this would be a good time for it to act under Chapter VII of its own charter and set up an international court to investigate and indict government officials who carried out the prison massacres of 1988, as well as those who ordered the killing of peaceful protesters in the past two months. There can be no peace without justice, whatever happens to any future government.

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Otherwise, no good can come of this war, as death and destruction descend from the skies  the first victims being 175 people, predominantly children, whose school was unaccountably bombed in its opening hours. Trump, at least, can never now receive the Nobel Peace Prize which his vainglorious presidency so desires. He cannot expect to lead Americas allies  including Australia. If America itself cannot stop him, and since the war has no consent from Congress it therefore breaches the Constitution, it is time to work towards a new rules-based order that excludes a UN Security Council veto, currently abused by Russia, the US and China (which may shortly invade Taiwan). These warmongering powers should have no say over a set of rules that should instead reflect the values of decent democracies. Geoffrey Robertson AO KC is a former war crimes judge and the author of Mullahs Without Mercy and the recently published World of War Crimes (Penguin Random House).
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Six crisis teams will be dispatched to the Middle East to help stranded travellers and expats, as the first commercial flight to Australia is due to arrive in Sydney late Wednesday night. Warning that the conflict was spreading and intensifying as Iranians bombarded 10 other nations in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on the rogue nation since the weekend, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the teams were sent to help deal with the demand for help in an unprecedented situation. It is not limited, and it is not contained in the way that we have seen previously, which is why we see so many countries affected and so many travellers disrupted, she said. Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong during a press conference Alex Ellinghausen In a terse press conference, Wong pushed back at Coalition criticisms that Australians didnt get the same level of warning delivered to families of the diplomatic corps in Lebanon and Israel when they evacuated a week ago.

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We certainly did not know that Iran was going to hit 10 countries in the region. And you know, for those who are criticising, if they think they knew that, then they probably should have told us, she said. There were some 41 different warnings, updates on travel advice about the possibility of conflict or instability in the Middle East. What I would say to Australians is... please look at their travel advice. Emirates flight EK414 took off from Dubai shortly after 9.20am (AEDT) and is set to land in Sydney after 10.30pm on Wednesday, as the Australian Defence Force confirmed they were preparing to help evacuate Australians stranded in the Middle East, amid calls from the opposition for every option to be considered. Chaos at Dubai Airport over the weekend. Mohammed Chowdhury Speaking to ABC Radio National on Wednesday morning, Wong said: This is a consular crisis that dwarfs any that Australia has had to deal with in terms of numbers of people.

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The foreign minister of the Arab Emirates explained to me that around 24,000 Australians are in his country. We discussed when I spoke with him ... that the best way to get people out is to get commercial flights started. Since the closure of airspace over the Middle East on Saturday evening (AEDT), government ministers have consistently argued that commercial flights are the most practical way for the 115,000 stranded Australians to return home. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain have all either announced or begun operating charter flights to return stranded citizens. The United States has urged Americans to use available commercial transport to exit the region. Speaking to journalists at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday, opposition foreign affairs spokesman Ted OBrien said the government had betrayed Australian citizens by offering different travel guidance to diplomats and tourists in the lead-up to the joint US-Israeli strikes.

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Australia should be looking at every option to ensure that the 115,000 Australians in the Middle East are kept safe, but most importantly, they can be evacuated. This is a very dangerous region. There has been double standards by the government in how they treat the Australian people on this that is unacceptable, OBrien said. On the 25th of February, the government decided that the risk was so high that diplomats [and] their dependents should be evacuated from the region, but it took three more days and over 100 ballistic missiles before the government treated the everyday Australian public in the same way. It took three days and over 100 ballistic missiles before the government changed their travel advice to do not travel. That is not acceptable. Bags filled the floor at the Abu Dhabi baggage carousel, as travellers desperately worked to find alternative arrangements. Wong did note that Australia was exploring further options for bringing home Australians, but argued that commercial airlines were the most effective way to bring home the tens of thousands looking to leave the region. In a statement on Wednesday, the ADF said: Defence remains ready to support DFAT-led whole-of-government contingency planning.

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A defence force task force is exploring options for mass evacuations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last night spoke to Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and thanked him for the hospitality shown to Australians stranded in the Emirates, and discussed the imperative of restarting commercial flights. About 11,000 Australians transit through the major international hub at any time. Among the stranded travellers were Australians Chloe and Cinty  both of whom asked that their second names not be published  who departed Sydney for Madrid on Friday night, less than 24 hours before the Trump administrations Operation Epic Fury began. They were meant to stay in Abu Dhabi for nine hours, which has now stretched beyond three nights as their flights remain cancelled. We were sitting at the gate and all of a sudden, Spanish passengers started getting all of these intense phone notifications and alarms from their phones, safety alerts, we had no idea what was going on, and people started to panic at that point, Chloe said.

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A psychosocial support worker (R) explains to a passenger how and where to seek professional help on a specially designed "Mental Health Tram" in Prague, the Czech Republic, on March 3, 2026.

Prague has unveiled a specially designed "Mental Health Tram" as part of its "Help Is Within Reach" campaign to destigmatize mental health issues and encourage residents to seek support.

The tram will operate on regular routes for approximately seven weeks to raise public awareness of accessible mental health resources. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

A specially designed "Mental Health Tram" is pictured in Prague, the Czech Republic, on March 3, 2026.

Prague has unveiled a specially designed "Mental Health Tram" as part of its "Help Is Within Reach" campaign to destigmatize mental health issues and encourage residents to seek support.

The tram will operate on regular routes for approximately seven weeks to raise public awareness of accessible mental health resources. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

A psychosocial support worker (R, front) shares information with a passenger on a specially designed "Mental Health Tram" in Prague, the Czech Republic, on March 3, 2026.

Prague has unveiled a specially designed "Mental Health Tram" as part of its "Help Is Within Reach" campaign to destigmatize mental health issues and encourage residents to seek support.

The tram will operate on regular routes for approximately seven weeks to raise public awareness of accessible mental health resources. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)
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WorldNorth AmericaEpstein fallout US lawmakers vote to subpoena Pam Bondi over Epstein files Michael Koziol March 5, 2026  5:35am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Washington: United States lawmakers have voted to subpoena Donald Trumps attorney-general, Pam Bondi, before a congressional committee over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and the release of the so-called Epstein files. Members of the Republican-majority House Oversight Committee voted 24-19 in favour of the subpoena, with five Republicans joining the Democrats to support the move. Attorney-General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing in Washington. AP The subpoena would require Bondi to provide a taped, closed-door deposition to the committee. It will later become public. Bondis Justice Department was responsible for releasing more than 3 million pages of documents relating to its investigation of Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

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But she and the department have been criticised for failing to release all the documents, redacting the names of some accused co-conspirators and releasing the personal information of some Epstein victims. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Bondis subpoena. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton was ordered to appear before the same committee, along with her husband, former president Bill Clinton. Bloomberg Bondi already appeared before the House Judiciary Committee in February, where she was grilled about the Epstein files and lashed out at Democrats, calling one a washed-up loser lawyer. She also said members of Congress should focus on Trumps achievements, such as the booming share market. The Dow is over 50,000 right now, Bondi told the hearing. Thats what we should be talking about.

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Former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, a former secretary of state, were the last two people to be subpoenaed by the committee investigating the Epstein matter, and gave evidence last week. It was the first time a sitting or former president had been compelled to testify before Congress. Related Article Epstein fallout Bill Clinton distances himself from Epstein in videos released from his testimony last week Nancy Mace, a Republican congresswoman who led the push to subpoena Bondi, said the committee wanted to know why Bondis Justice Department was more focused on shielding the powerful than delivering justice. The Epstein case is one of the greatest cover-ups in American history. His global sex-trafficking network is larger than what is being revealed, Mace said. Three million documents have been released, and we still dont have the full truth. Videos are missing. Audio is missing. Logs are missing. There are millions more documents out there.

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The committee was preparing to subpoena another member of Trumps cabinet, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was a next-door neighbour of Epstein for years and met him on several occasions, including on a visit to Epsteins private island in 2012. Lutnick agreed on Tuesday (US time) to appear voluntarily before the committee. I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the committee, the committee chairman, Republican congressman James Comer, said. The ongoing congressional activity reflects a determination by Democrats and some Republicans to keep the Epstein issue alive despite the publication of the Epstein files having no material impact on Trump, despite thousands of mentions, including complaints to the FBI that the White House has dismissed as spurious. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
MINSK, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with Iranian Ambassador to Belarus Alireza Sanei here on Wednesday.

The talks focused on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the recent attack on Iran and the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Lukashenko reiterated Belarus' long-standing commitment to peace, noting that the country has suffered heavy losses in past wars and therefore opposes any form of armed conflict.

He condemned the Israeli-U.S. strikes as an unacceptable act that resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians and Khamenei.

The Belarusian leader warned that the conflict could draw Gulf states into the violence and urged the international community -- particularly major powers, Israel and the United States -- to recognize the risk of unpredictable escalation. 
Editor's Note Louisville police said Foster-Dienes was located and is safe.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  Louisville police are searching for a missing 34-year-old man.

Louisville Metro Police said Elijah Foster-Dienes was last seen near the Big Four Bridge while exiting toward Indiana.

Police said a photo taken on the bridge shows what Foster-Dienes was wearing at the time he was last seen.

Foster-Dienes is described as a 6-foot-tall white man weighing about 200 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair.

Police said he has medical issues that need to be addressed.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LMPD Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673).

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
KIEV, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the next trilateral meeting with the United States and Russia is expected to take place on March 5 or 6, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Tuesday.

The meeting is unlikely to be held in Abu Dhabi as initially planned, Zelensky said, adding that alternative venues under consideration are Switzerland, Austria, the Vatican City, and Turkiye.

"We hope that a new prisoner exchange will take place," Zelensky said.

Delegations from the three countries previously held two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23-24 and Feb. 4-5, followed by another round in Geneva on Feb. 17-18.

Last month, Ukraine and Russia conducted their first prisoner exchange since October 2025, following the trilateral meetings. 
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Explosions sounded in Iran's capital city Wednesday as its war with the U.S. and Israel entered a fifth day following earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

Iranian state television reported explosions around Tehran as dawn broke. Meanwhile, Israel said its air defenses were activated due to incoming missile fire from Iran.

Five days into a war that U.S. President Donald Trump suggested would last several weeks or longer, nearly 800 people have been killed in Iran, including some Trump said he had considered as possible future leaders of the country.

Explosions also hit Lebanon, where Israel said it is retaliating against Hezbollah militants. Lebanon's state-run media reported that at least four people were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a residential complex in the city of Baalbeck.

A day earlier, Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear research site, and Iran struck back against Israel and others, targeting U.S. embassies and disrupting energy supplies and travel.

The American embassy in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks. Iran has fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, though most of the incoming fire has been intercepted. Eleven people in Israel have been killed since the conflict began.

In other developments, the Pentagon identified four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were killed in a drone strike Sunday at a command center in Kuwait. The strike also killed two other service members.

The spiraling nature of the war raised questions about when and how it would end.

Trump's administration has offered various objectives, including destroying Irans missile capabilities, wiping out its navy, preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring it cannot continue to support allied armed groups.

While the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government, senior administration officials have since said regime change was not the goal.

Trump on Tuesday seemed to downplay the chances of the war ending Iran's theocratic rule, saying that someone from within the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the U.S.-Israel campaign is finished.

Trump says people the US had in mind to lead Iran are dead

Speaking Tuesday from the Oval Office, Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans toppled shah, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over.

As far as possible leaders inside Iran, the people we had in mind are dead, Trump said.

I guess the worst case would be do this, and then somebody takes over whos as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen," Trump said. "We dont want that to happen.

Irans leaders are scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. Its only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen. Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement.

Israel and US strike nuclear facilities and other targets

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, said American forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran since the war began. In a video posted Tuesday on X, Cooper said the U.S. has severely degraded Irans air defenses and taken out hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers and drones.

Weve just begun, Cooper said.

Satellite images published Tuesday by Colorado-based company Vantor showed the domed roof of Irans presidential complex in Tehran had been destroyed, supporting Israels claim of an overnight strike. Iran did not acknowledge the damage or report any casualties.

Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the Israeli military struck a building in the Iranian city of Qom where clerics were expected to meet to discuss selecting a new supreme leader. He said the army was still assessing whether anyone was hit.

The Israeli military said it also conducted airstrikes on Iranian sites that produce and store ballistic missiles, and that it destroyed what it called Irans secret, underground nuclear headquarters. Without providing evidence, it said the site was used for research to develop a key component for nuclear weapons.

There was no immediate public comment from the U.S. or Iran about the site Israel named.

Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, though it has maintained its right to do so and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Iran hits US Embassy in Riyadh and Washington pulls out staff

An attack from two drones on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh caused a limited fire, according to the Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound.

An Iranian drone struck a parking lot outside the U.S. consulate in Dubai, sparking a small fire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Washington. He said all personnel were accounted for.

U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon said they were closed to the public.

The U.S. State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. And U.S. citizens were urged to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, though many were stranded because of airspace closures.

The State Department said Tuesday its preparing military and charter flights for Americans wanting to leave the Middle East. Other countries were arranging flights for their citizens.

Hundreds have died, including children

The U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent Society. In Lebanon, where Israel launched retaliatory strikes on the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah, 50 people were killed, including seven children, Lebanon's health ministry said.

Kuwait, which had previously reported a single death, said Wednesday that an 11-year-old girl was killed by falling shrapnel as Kuwaiti forces were intercepting hostile aerial targets. In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain.

The U.S. military has confirmed six deaths of American service members.

Four of the Americans killed were identified as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who received a posthumous promotion in rank. They were assigned to the Iowa-based 103rd Sustainment Command.

This story has been updated to correct that communications in Iran are poor, but that the internet isn't shut down. It also clarifies that more than one drone hit the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia. Some instances referred to just one drone.

Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Michelle Price and Konstantin Toropin in Washington, David Rising in Bangkok, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Hallie Golden in Seattle, Giovanna Dell'Orto in Miami, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  The six U.S. military personnel killed so far in the conflict in Iran have been identified.

Since the initial strike on Iran early Saturday morning, the U.S. military has confirmed six deaths of American service members. In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The Pentagon released the names Tuesday evening of four of the troops killed in Kuwait.

The troops, assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa, were killed in a drone strike.

Those killed were Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Spc. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa.

Wednesday, the Pentagon identified the final two officers as Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento and Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.

According to CNN, at the time of their deaths, the soldiers were serving with 1st Theater Sustainment Command.

1st Theater Sustainment Command is a standalone group based out of Fort Knox, Kentucky, comprised of troops from units from around the country.

Beshear said Tuesday morning that the six soldiers killed included "those based out of my home state, Kentucky."

Wednesday, the Pentagon issued a clarification on where the soldiers were based.

"Six soldiers supporting Fort Knox-based 1st Theater Sustainment Command were killed in action March 1 while deployed to Kuwait.

"The soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, that is operating under 1st Theater Sustainment Command. The soldiers were not assigned to Fort Knox or permanently assigned to 1st TSC.

"(First) TSC is the U.S. Army's only permanently deployed sustainment command in the Middle East. It serves the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility and is compromised of Active, Reserve and National Guard personnel."

"Well work with our channels, organizations like KRDA (Knox Regional Development Alliance), the folks on Fort Knox to ensure that we as a community are doing everything we can to support and understand and be there for the families that unfortunately paid the ultimate sacrifice," Radcliff Mayor J.J. Duvall said.

According to The Associated Press, Amor was just days away from returning home to her husband and two children. Coady, one of the youngest in his class, had just been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant, a rank he received posthumously.

Khork was drawn to serving the U.S. from a young age. He enlisted in the Army Reserve and joined Florida Southern College's ROTC program. A lover of history, he held a degree in political science. Tietjens was married with a son, living in the Washington Terrace mobile home park in the Omaha suburb of Bellevue.

John Tindall, is a retired U.S. Army Major General who fought in Vietnam, now lives in Radcliff. He told WDRB he has been to Fort Knox countless times and knows the pain of military loss first hand.

"The families should be our focus at this point, not our particular feeling for or against (the war) because they are the ones who we need to reach out to and make sure they are taken care of and that their needs are first and foremost," Tindall said.

Starting over the weekend, U.S. and Israel battered Iran with airstrikes in what President Donald Trump suggested was just the start of a war that has severely disrupted the worlds supply of oil and gas, international shipping, and air travel.

In total, the U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. In Israel, where Iranian missiles struck several locations, 11 people were killed. The Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah has also attacked Israel, whose retaliatory strikes killed 52 people in Lebanon.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.
HELSINKI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Sweden's central bank this week updated a recommendation urging households to keep around 1,000 Swedish kronor (about 109 U.S. dollars) in cash at home, in light of what it called "the deteriorating international situation."

The Riksbank's guidance is aimed at ensuring households can pay for essential goods for about a week in the event of disruptions to digital payment systems.

Aino Bunge, first deputy governor of the Riksbank, told Swedish news agency TT that the dramatic developments in the Middle East since Saturday reflect broader unease.

However, she stressed, "It's not something that prompted this particular communication. But of course, it illustrates the concern that exists in the world around us."

The Riksbank said the amount of 1,000 kronor should be treated as a general benchmark, and may need to be adjusted based on a household's specific needs. Bunge said the recommendation is based on calculations by Sweden's Consumer Agency on typical food consumption.

The Riksbank also encouraged households to use cash periodically to help keep the cash system functioning.

Swedish households made unusually large and frequent cash withdrawals after the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022, TT reported. Recent measurements show that just over 40 percent of households already have at least 1,000 kronor per adult at home.

Noting that Sweden has cash stockpiles, Bunge said there is no risk of a cash shortage if more households build up reserves. 
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A man with mental health issues who damaged telecommunications equipment at various locations in Mayo more than two years ago was another victim of Covid and lockdown, a court has heard.

Adrian Behan, aged 44, formerly of Ballyfarna, Belcarra, but now residing at Newport Road, Castlebar, appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on multiple charges of criminal damage and theft.

A jury took less than 20 minutes to return a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity in the case.

The court heard that Behan, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, fell through the cracks during the Covid-19 pandemic and his treatment was disrupted. He was suffering a mental health episode when he committed 23 acts of criminal damage and 10 theft offences at various Mayo locations including Lavybeg, Charlestown; Harringtons Quarries, Kilkelly; Brookhill, Claremorris; Carrowmore, Manulla; Ballyclogher, Balla; Cloonkeen, Castlebar; Croaghmoyle Booster Station, Castlebar; Churchfield, Knock and Knockmoyleen, Ballyheane.

Three incidents also occurred at Leenaun, Clifden, Co Galway.

The offending took place between September 8, 2023, and October 31, 2023.

All of the incidents involved equipment belonging to telecommunications companies or service providers such as the ESB, Eir, Vodafone, Mayo County Council, Three Ireland, and RTE. The property damaged included GPS cables, metre boxes, fibre optic cables, wiring, electrical fuses, antenna cables, fuse boxes and MCBs.

The theft matters related to 21 electric fuses owned by ESB, taken from various locations and 20 metres of fibre optic cable that was the property of Eir.

The damage and thefts led to a number of telecommunications outages and loss of service.

The incidents saw a Garda operation put in place and Behan was caught red-handed at Laveybeg, Charlestown on September 13, 2023. He was arrested and later released on bail but re-offended in October.

He made full admission to Gardai and told officers he was under orders to carry out a mission to bring down masts that were emitting rays.

Behan believed the military, the Vatican, foreign powers, and a host of other organisations were all involved. He believed the rays would harm him and his family and thought he could feel his skin "bubbling". He also heard voices in his head.

The court heard Behan, who holds a degree in aeronautical engineering, began suffering from paranoid delusions in 2016/2017.

He came under the care of the Adult Mental Health Unit in Castlebar and medication brought his condition under control.

Consultant psychiatrist Kieran Hennigan said Behan was a high functioning schizophrenic who had been able to maintain a job and function well in society. However, during Covid-19 he became more isolated and lost contact with the psychiatric service.

Dr Hennigan told the court that the service was not concerned about Behan in comparison to more high-priority patients.

The court was also told that work commitments saw Behan replace fortnightly appointments for the injection of his medication in favour of taking the drugs he requires orally.

Dr Hennigan said the nature of his illness meant Behan would not have been able to stop himself from carrying out the crimes.

He was suffering at the time. The compulsion to act and try and stop it would have been overwhelming, he stated.

The defendant came back under the care of the psychiatric services in March 2024 and again responded well to medication and was discharged in April. He has no previous convictions.

Judge Eoin Garavan described Behan as a "decent, high-functioning and gentle individual" who had "never done anything wrong in his life" before these offences. He remarked that Behan was another victim of Covid and lockdown. The judge noted a palpable increase in offending linked to the pandemic.

Judge Garavan said Behan essentially became overlooked by the mental health services and things started to go wrong when his injection regime was replaced by oral medication.

Following the jurys verdict, Judge Garavan wished Behan well.

Clearly everyone is glad a decent man like this is now quite stable, he commented.
The family of a Mayo woman who died after being struck by a truck in a supermarket car park spoke movingly of their loved one and told a court they bear no ill will towards the driver.

Mihail Tanasevici, of Woodford Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.

Maureen Hopkins, aged 78, of Rosmoney, Carrowholly, Westport, died after she was struck by a Mercedes Benz truck in the car park of Super Valu, Westport on June 6, 2024.

Gda Tomas Ryan attended the scene shortly after the accident which occurred at 11.47am.

Mrs Hopkins had parked her car in Super Valu car park and was walking towards the rear entrance of the store.

Gda Ryan stated the delivery truck was in the loading bay and moved forward to allow a vehicle to exit the car park. As the truck moved forward, two pedestrians approached from the right side exiting Super Valu. The truck came to a stop and Mrs Hopkins approached from the drivers left-hand side and continued to cross. At this point, the truck began to move off and collided with her. The grandmother of nine was fatally injured as a result of the impact.

Tanasevici has no previous convictions. He tested negative for alcohol and drugs and there was no mechanical defects found on the truck.

He was delivering food produce to Super Valu when the accident occurred. The court was told he had driven the truck before but it was not his usual vehicle as his regular truck was in for maintenance.

The man told Gardai he did not see Mrs Hopkins as she was in a blind spot and too close for him to spot her.

The truck was driving at between 1km and 2km per hour when the impact happened.

Tanasevici told Gardai he barely moved the truck forward.

Gda Ryan said a number of non-essential items on the dashboard and a pelmet curtain may have impaired the drivers vision. The items included a green canvas bag, decorative Mercedes lights and suction cup holders.

The court heard the pelmet may have obscured a cyclops camera which had been fitted to negate the blind spot issue.

Victim Impact Statements from Mrs Hopkins daughter Sinead and brother George Darcy were read in court. A statement from her husband Chris was handed into the Judge.

The 6th of June is a day that will never leave me, said Sinead.

There are no words to describe the shock of being told that our mother had been killed in Super Valu car park, she stated.

Sinead said her Mum had previously battled cancer and beat it against all the odds.

She said her mother was determined to overcome cancer to have more time with her family.

Now that I look at her life taken so cruelly and unavoidably, one cannot help but feel angry. Anger that I am robbed of the opportunity to thank her for all she did for me and my family. Anger that her final years with Dad were taken from them both and anger that our children will never receive the rest of her wisdom she had to share, said Sinead.

She said the heartbreak and grief can be all-consuming, but she keeps going because its what her Mum would have wanted.

Sinead said that even though Tanasevici was responsible she is following the example set by her mother in bearing no ill will towards the man.

Mum was kind, loving, caring and always ready with wise advice. Even now I feel I am guided by her words when I say that even though you are responsible, I hold no ill will towards you. I understand that you have a family and the very last thing Mum would have wanted is for another family to be as devastated and as traumatised as we are.

Mrs Hopkins was a native of Bagenalstown, Co Carlow. Her brother George said she is greatly missed in her homeplace and her loss leaves a void in the family that will never be filled.

Our hearts are broken, he commented.

He said his sister was a great, wife, mother and grandmother and they will miss the hugs that always greeted them on visits to Mayo.

Mr Darcy said the family had concerns about the length of time it took to bring the matter before the courts for finalisation.

We asked that all State authorities involved in incidents like this please understand that the families and loved ones of the bereaved find the time taken to complete the investigations and progress through the various stages to be most difficult.

Judge Eoin Garavan remarked that is clear that Mrs Hopkins was the best type of mother and grandmother that there could be.

The sentencing hearing continues tomorrow (Thursday).
PARIS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday that French Rafale fighter jets had "neutralized" Iranian drones targeting French military bases in the United Arab Emirates, as the conflict in the Middle East entered its fifth day.

Speaking on French news channel BFM TV, Barrot said that since France maintains naval and air bases in the UAE, the Rafale jets and their crews had been mobilized to ensure the security of French assets. He said that France "has the right to intervene."

On Sunday, French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin said on social media that a hangar at France's naval base, located adjacent to an Emirati base, was hit in a drone attack targeting the port of Abu Dhabi. No injuries were reported. 
The Irish language is under threat because Irish speakers are unable to secure housing in Gaeltacht areas, according to an official with Mayo County Council.

Colm Cafferkey, who was appointed Gaeltacht Vacant Homes Coordinator last September, addressed members of the council's Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) last week.

"Housing is the single biggest threat to the Irish language as a living language because English is moving in," Mr Cafferkey remarked.

He explained that there are 6,098 vacant homes and 9,510 holiday homes in Gaeltacht areas in Ireland. In the three Mayo Gaeltacht areas of Achill, Tourmakeady and Erris, there are 847 empty houses and 1,324 holiday homes. Fewer than 100 Vacant Home Refurbishment Grants have been applied for within the Mayo Gaeltacht.

Mr Cafferkey's role is funded by Udaras na Gaeltachta and applies to a total of eight local authorities with Gaeltacht areas. He told the SPC that a pilot partnership with an approved housing body to designate houses for Irish speakers at affordable rents is one scheme set to be trialed in Mayo, following a similar scheme in Donegal.

We hope to secure five or six of these houses in Gaeltacht areas," he said.

Central to his work is encouraging property owners to bring vacant homes back into use.

"There are hundreds and thousands of empty homes in the Gaeltacht where owners might even be living in other countries, so we are reaching out to them as well as looking to attract Irish speakers to live in the Gaeltacht, ultimately with a view to allowing these areas to thrive.

The compulsory purchase order activation programme that falls within the councils vacant homes unit remit has delivered some success, Mr Cafferkey noted, saying many homes had been fixed up or put on sale as a result. However, many were tied up with probate or legal disputes and no incentives or grants are available for homeowners to take on Irish speakers as tenants. A further issue, he stated, is apathy, where homeowners just dont care, but we try to get them to care".

While the presentation was warmly welcomed by the SPC, a number of points were raised by members, with Cllr Michael Kilcoyne stating that in the Gaeltacht area of Tourmakeady he was aware of difficulties in obtaining planning permission, adding: Unless this is sorted there will be nobody living there."

Cllr Neil Cruise agreed, adding: We are the most regulated county in the country with regard to SACs and NHAs etc. We have the highest number of these special designated areas and that is killing us in terms of planning permission.

Cllr Harry Barrett questioned the concept of Udaras na Gaeltachta getting involved in housing dereliction and vacancy, stating: I think it is the government that has to act more on this, especially when these sensitive areas are losing population. But the Udaras should not be involving itself at all in these issues, that should be our competency. Instead it should spend more time encouraging young couples to live in the Gaeltacht.

Director of Services Tom Gilligan commented that with the high level of vacant homes in Gaeltacht areas, the work of the Gaeltacht Vacant Homes Coordinator is to be welcomed, adding: It will help to create economic and employment and Irish language rejuvenation opportunities to help family members relocate, so I think it is a win-win for everybody.

SPC Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn concluded that it would be worthwhile to have an update on the situation in a years time and requested that the vacant homes unit in the council deliver a presentation to the next SPC meeting to show what we are doing for the wider population as the Gaeltacht is only a tiny portion of the population". This was agreed by members.
Before calling the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), Pope John XXIII warmly welcomed the then Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey, head of the Anglican Church, on a visit to the Vatican. After the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI warmly welcomed Archbishop Ramsey again, as a new and historic relationship between the two denominations seemed possible  after centuries of unease, distrust and sometimes enmity of one another.

Such then was the confident hope of a new religious dawn that the two Churches sponsored an official study by theologians of outstanding difficult issues between them.

Established in 1969, ARCIC as it was called - the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission  sought to make ecumenical progress between the two churches over a number of years. However, despite finding an extraordinary level of convergence between the Churches, when the Church of England ordained the first women to the priesthood in 1994, the Catholic Church in something approaching a panic took to the hills.

The possible alignment if not eventual unity of the two churches perished on the vine as formerly contentious issues like transubstantiation and papal infallibility seemed less important than the ability to stomach the ordination of women. Further issues included the decision of the Catholic Church, under Benedict XV, to extend an official welcome to Protestant clergy discommoded by the ordination of women in the Church of England.

Life moves on. Progress rarely involves waiting for others to catch up. So once women were ordained in the Church of England, it was inevitable that in time some would be ordained as bishops. So inevitably too some male Anglican clergy in the Church of England who to avoid the nightmare of women priests escaped what they regarded as a fate worse than death. They absconded to the ambivalent embrace of Catholicism and fought a series of defensive campaigns against womens ordination in order to avoid like the plague what they regarded as an intolerable intrusion into their lives. It goes too without saying that those working towards the ordination of women in the Catholic Church were unimpressed by Pope Benedicts decision to welcome significant numbers of apparently closet clerical misogynists.

Inevitably too, as there is no impediment to promotion for women priests (and bishops) in Anglicanism, it was only a matter of time until women priests would ambition a role in the leadership of their church, including the top position of Archbishop of Canterbury. That took some years to happen, and it just has, as in this coming March, Sarah Mullaney, formerly Bishop of London, will be enthroned (installed, I suspect, is a more modest description) as archbishop. As a result, priests and bishops in both the Anglican and Catholic worlds and in both churches are suitably over-joyed or appalled to a greater or lesser degree.

Interestingly, whatever relationship develops now between Archbishop Sarah and Pope Leo will be instructive. Last October in Rome as part of a worldwide meeting of synodal teams, I witnessed a dialogue between Leo and an Austrian female theologian, Klara-Antonia Csiszar. The latter raised the issue of women in the Church and in particular the issue of the women diaconate  what has become a litmus test indicator of minimal Catholic movement on a long journey ahead.

Leos response placed a focus on cultural resistance to change and the need to respect the pace of change possible in different parts of the world. But, whereas Klara-Antonia was optimistic and comfortable in her forensic analysis of the options available in terms of responding to the glaring needs around the role of women and the pastoral and other dividends that would accrue to the Church if such was given a fair wind, Leos response though gracious and respectful lacked credibility.

Like a rugby full-back desperately clearing his lines as a battalion of opposing players descended on him, Leo kicked for touch. At a time when the role of women in the Church is the most obvious and most important challenge facing Catholicism, suggesting the need for further study or defending (for what look like increasingly specious reasons) a go-slow policy of closing down expectations instead of opening up avenues of possibility is simply not credible anymore.

The overall sense was that Klara-Antonia was explaining what was possible while Leo was left searching for credible reasons why so little was possible even when so much is generally perceived as necessary. In a session where a number of experts in different areas questioned Leo, his responses were not clear and credible. But he knows what way the wind is blowing and he knows too that failure to respond to the inevitability of necessary change is increasingly compromising the future of the Catholic Church.

But while, in the words of Jesuit theologian, Gerry OHanlon, writing recently in the Furrow (February, 2026), Leo is right to name cultural resistance and the different pace of change in various parts of the world, as Church we need to take responsibility for our own role in this culture: why are we laggards in the matter of female equality, as we once were in climate chance? OHanlon concludes: The Irish Catholic Church has an opportunity to give leadership here. And, I would add, not just an opportunity but a responsibility as well.

In a world that has generally got over a cultural diminishment of women and that names with ease and purpose the fading evidence of institutional misogyny, the Catholic Church seems peculiarly reticent about the damage it is doing to itself by not embracing female equality  in OHanlons words, by effectively reinforcing a culture of inequality as in the all-male liturgical celebrations of the death of Pope Francis and the inauguration of Pope Leo.

There are interesting opportunities ahead for endorsing female equality  the Irish Synodal Assembly in October, the next Synod in Rome in 2028 and not least the first historic meeting between the Pope and the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury.

That said, it will take time, I suspect, for an even more historic meeting to emerge between two women holding those respective positions.
By Bairbre Holmes and Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association

There will be a second direct flight from the Middle East to Dublin on Thursday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said.

Helen McEntee said she is in constant engagement with the airlines to see how many direct flights we can get to Dublin as she spoke to reporters on Wednesday.

The conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel has caused widespread airspace closures in the Middle East, sparking major disruption to flights.

Next stop Dubai 



A very welcome sight at Dublin Airport this afternoon as Emirates flight EK162 departed just after 1.30pm bound for Dubai - the first departure from Ireland to the Middle East since Saturday. pic.twitter.com/hgR1POKbTD  Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 4, 2026

The Irish Government said an estimated 22,000 to 23,000 Irish citizens are in the Middle East region.

The first flight from Dubai to Ireland since its outbreak is due to land in Dublin airport on Wednesday night.

McEntee said more than 400 people are due to arrive on that flight and on Thursdays flight, but that she expected some non-Irish passengers on board.

In the same way we know that Irish citizens have gotten on flights directly towards London and other parts of Europe, and then theyre transiting home, she said.

But obviously, if theres a direct flight to Dublin, I would expect a huge proportion of those on the flight would be Irish citizens.

For those looking to travel home to Ireland, McEntee said commercial flights are the quickest routes.

Residents watch as smoke rises from a warehouse at the industrial area of Sharjah City in the UAE following reports of Iranian strikes in Dubai (Altaf Qadri/AP)

For most people in the UAE, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the quickest way home for them is to get a commercial flight.

The airlines themselves are directly going through their own passenger list, and theyre trying to get as many of those who are caught in transit, those who are on holidays, on those flights and home.

She said, no country is getting access to the commercial flight lists: Any of the commercial flights, these are flight lists that the airlines have, theyre their customers that they have been dealing directly with.

McEntee had said on Tuesday evening that the Irish Government would charter a flight for around 280 people from Oman, a country neighbouring the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for later this week.

The minister said she is looking at a flight of over 300 people.

Asked about the cost to passengers she said it is a substantially reduced charge compared to what the cost of the overall flight is.

A plume of smoke caused by an Iranian strike is seen in the background as Emirates planes are parked at Dubai International Airport (Altaf Qadri/AP)

She said that children are flying free and a bus bringing people to Muscat in Oman will also be free, adding: Of course, if there are people in significant difficulty, we will support them.

We will make sure that they can get on the flight if they need to get home.

She said Irish authorities are contacting everybody that will be on that flight and they are making sure that those who are most vulnerable, that they will be on that first flight.

She also encouraged anyone looking to get home to register with her department but said: It does not mean that you are registering to come home.

It means that you are alerting us to the fact that youre in the region.

A flight from Dublin to the emirate departed at 1.30pm on Wednesday  the first departure from Ireland to the Middle East since Saturday.

Dublin airport posted a video of flight EK162 on the social media website X, describing it as a very welcome sight.
The Mayo branch of Network Ireland will mark International Womens Day (IWD) 2026 with an inspiring morning of connection, celebration and leadership at the stunning new Grace Hotel in Westport, on Thursday, March 12th.

Set against the elegant backdrop of one of Westports most beautiful new venues, the event will bring together women from across Mayo and beyond to celebrate achievement, resilience and the power of community in business.

The morning will feature keynote speaker Ruth Larkin, alongside a celebration of Network Ireland Mayos 2025 award winners, women whose ambition and innovation continue to shape the regions business landscape. Ruth will inspire and motivate with her insights and experiences during her keynote speech at the event.

The event will also officially launch the Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026, recognising the next generation of outstanding female leaders.

The day will be expertly guided by respected Network Ireland longtime members and former National President, Emma Early Murphy and Linda OMahony Logan (Kerry branch), ensuring an engaging and meaningful experience for all in attendance.

This year's theme for International Women's Day is Give to Gain, which encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration.

Give To Gain emphasises the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organisations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it's intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise.

Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women's advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world.

Orla Bakeberg is the current president of the Mayo branch of Network Ireland.

Speaking ahead of the event, Orla Bakeberg, President of Network Ireland Mayo, whose presidential theme for 2026 is 'Be Your Change', said:

International Womens Day is not just about celebration, it is about courage. It is about women choosing to step forward, to back themselves and to become the change they want to see in their lives, in their businesses and their communities.

"My theme this year is Be Your Change, and this event embodies that message, with our International Women's Day theme of 'Give to Gain'."

Ms Bakeberg said the event will be a really memorable occasion.

When women gather in a room like this, in a space as beautiful and uplifting as the new Grace Hotel, something powerful happens. Confidence grows. Ideas spark. Support strengthens. We are not just celebrating success; we are creating momentum for what comes next.

Registration and breakfast will begin at 8.30am, with the main event commencing sharply at 10am.

Lunch and dedicated networking time will follow the morning event, coming to a close at around 1pm. This will give attendees the opportunity to build meaningful connections in the refined and welcoming surroundings of the newly opened hotel, which is a fitting setting for a morning dedicated to progress and possibility for all women in business and women at work.

One lucky attendee, member or non-member, will win a complimentary annual subscription to Network Ireland. Dont miss your chance to join and benefit from this thriving network.

There will be additional activities and special moments throughout the morning to make this celebration even more memorable.

The event is open to both members and non-members, with early booking encouraged, as places are expected to fill quickly.

To register, please visit this link www.networkireland.ie.
MADRID, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday called for peace amid the widening conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and rejected U.S. threats after refusing to allow American bases on Spanish territory to be used in the fighting.

Sanchez made the remarks from his official residence at the Palacio de la Moncloa, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to impose a trade embargo on Spain following Madrid's decision.

Spain would not yield to "reprisals from anyone," Sanchez said, emphasizing the country's "economic and moral strength."

The Spanish government's position was "clear and consistent," he added, stressing respect for international law and opposing military escalation.

"No to the breakdown of international law that protects everyone. No to accepting that the world can only solve problems with bombs," Sanchez said, adding that Spain's position can be summarized as "no to war."

A conflict with Iran would not bring "a fairer international order" and would instead increase economic uncertainty and push up oil and gas prices, said Sanchez. 
Weather Alert

Bulletin: ...DENSE FOG ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog. * WHERE...Portions of northern Delaware, central, northern, northwest, and southern New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania. * WHEN...Until 9 AM EDT this morning. * IMPACTS...Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you. &&

Info:

Type: Dense Fog Advisory

start_time_local: 2026-03-08T06:20:00-04:00

end_time_local: 2026-03-08T09:00:00-04:00

county_name:

state: PA

headline: Dense Fog Advisory until SUN 9:00 AM EDT

county_fips:

category: Met

url:

urgency: Expected

severity: Moderate

certainty: Likely

geographicname: Upper Bucks County

state_name: Pennsylvania
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Becoming partly sunny and milder by the afternoon with highs into the low to mid 60s; a dry day outside of maybe an early morning lingering shower, mainly south and east. It will also be a little breezy with winds gusting to 25mph in the afternoon..

Tonight

Turning out mainly clear.
WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.

"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth said at the Pentagon briefing on Wednesday. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo."

He further said it was the first sinking of an enemy vessel by a torpedo since World War II.

At least 80 people on board the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena were killed after the vessel was attacked and sunk by the U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra said Wednesday.

The Iranian warship had taken part in a naval exercise held in the Bay of Bengal from Feb. 18 to 25, according to the drill's website. 
In 2022, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi famously told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that it is not an era of war. With the benefit of hindsight, the reverse only seems to be happening, and even India had a brief but significant armed conflict with archrival and neighbor Pakistan last year. The Russia-Ukraine war, or the special military operation, as Putin likes to call it, has dragged on for four years, while the Middle East is on the boil again after Irans supreme leader, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, was killed in joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel over the weekend. There have been mini war zones globally, and President Trump has naturally taken dubious credit for ending many of these wars, including between Armenia and Azerbaijan and also Thailand and Cambodia.

We can be reasonably sure that geopolitical tensions will stay elevated for the near foreseeable future. Given that backdrop, I find Lockheed Martin (LMT) and Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) as two stocks that can benefit from the elevated geopolitical tensions.

More News from Barchart

Lockheed Martin Is an Ultimate War Stock

Global defense spending is expected to rise significantly over the next decade, and last year, NATO members (except Spain) committed to investing 5% of their respective GDPs in defense over the next 10 years. While nine NATO members did not meet the 2% target that the alliance set in 2014, there could be a sense of urgency now, given the rising threat from Russia and the growing acknowledgement among member states of the hitherto pacifist region that it cannot outsource security to the U.S., at least not entirely.

U.S. partners in the Middle East are also ramping up defense spending. India, the worlds biggest arms importer, has also increased spending, as I had previously predicted. While the bulk might still not come to U.S. companies, it might need to increase purchases from the U.S. to meet the massive (and most likely impossible) $500 billion import commitment as part of the trade deal.

Lockheed shares are up sharply since I covered the stock last July and still have a dividend yield of over 2%. Its valuation multiples have expanded amid the rally, and the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of just over 22x, which is above its historical average. However, given the era we are living in, defense stocks have seen a rerating, and the valuation premium looks here to stay.
The average tax refund so far in the 2026 tax season is not close to being $1,000 higher than it was a year ago, as the White House suggests is possible. But it is up by $351.

The Internal Revenue Service indicated that early filers have seen an average refund amount of $3,804 through Feb. 20, according to data released Friday, Feb. 27.

That's up 10.2% from the average of $3,453 for the same time frame a year ago.

The latest statistics compare this year's filing season results through Feb. 20 with last year's results through Feb. 21, 2025. The IRS began accepting and processing federal income tax returns on Jan. 26. As a result, we're seeing a glimpse into the first four weeks of a long tax season. The filing deadline is April 15.

Tax refunds are expected to be bigger on average during the 2026 tax season, as tax filers claim new deductions for tip income, overtime income, interest paid on new car loans for cars and trucks assembled in the United States, and an enhanced deduction for seniors.

The IRS has issued tax more than 28.7 million refunds through Feb. 20, according to the latest data released on Friday, Feb. 27.

That's down 3% from the same time frame a year ago when more than 29.6 million federal income tax refunds were issued.

The average refund is indeed bigger than what we saw during this same time frame in 2025. But it remains short of some expectations.

According to a post on the White House site, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was set to deliver "the biggest tax refund season ever, with average refunds projected to rise by $1,000 or more this year due to its transformative policies."

Last year, the average federal income tax refund was $3,167 at the end of 2025  up 0.9% from 2024, according to the IRS.

In case you missed it: How to qualify for the new $25,000 tip deduction on 2025 taxes

Will the average refund go up by nearly 32%  or hit $4,167  by the end of 2026? We'll see what happens. The IRS issues updates on the tax season each week.

Tax filers received more than $109.3 billion in tax refunds so far this year through Feb. 20. That's up 6.9% from a year ago.

By law, the Internal Revenue Service cannot issue federal income tax refunds before Feb. 15 for returns that claim the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit.

This year, the IRS expects most refunds for early filers claiming the earned income tax credit and the additional child tax credit will be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 2  if taxpayers chose direct deposit and have no other issues with their returns.

Some experts remain concerned that some taxpayers could face delays in receiving their tax refunds this year, particularly if mistakes are made claiming some new tax breaks for tip income, overtime pay, new car loan interest for cars with final assembly in the United States, and a new enhanced deduction for seniors.
Thrive  Flourishing in a changing world

Welcome to the 20th edition of CURIOS.TY. This milestone reflects how far the magazine has come since its launch 10 years ago.

Over time, CURIOS.TY has grown in format, depth and reach. It has explored themes such as Cities, Gender, Energy, and Disruption, and has helped make Wits research accessible to a wide audience.

The growth in readership is encouraging. In the past four years, engagement with CURIOS.TY online has quadrupled to almost 50 000 page views, with 77% of readers exploring multiple pages. We also print 20 000 paper copies that are distributed locally and available to travellers at South Africas major airports. Our audience now spans South Africa and includes readers in the USA, the Netherlands, Ireland, the UK, China, Australia, Canada, Germany, Singapore, India, the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Kenya and France. This international reach speaks to the relevance of our research and the interest in scholarship coming from the Global South.

This 20th edition examines what it means to thrive at various stages of life and in different social and environmental contexts. Our first feature shares research and strategies to thrive, whether you are an expectant mum, parenting toddlers or teens, navigating higher education or your first job, raising a family, or settling into your senior years.

Wits researchers show that thriving begins early. Maternal health, nutrition and commercial determinants shape a childs long-term development and wellbeing. Supporting mothers and young children is both good public health practice and a foundation for a more caring society.

Adolescence brings another set of challenges. Initiatives such as AfriCAT, which uses digital tools to strengthen youth mental-health data, illustrate how innovation can improve support for young people during a critical phase of their lives.

Thriving also depends on the systems around us. In our second feature, Wits economists and governance experts examine how African countries can build more self-reliant and inclusive economies through local innovation, philanthropy and trade. Their work highlights the conditions needed for societies to move from coping to long-term stability.

Environmental research reminds us that human wellbeing is closely linked to the health of the natural world. Studies on soil nutrients, biodiversity and genetic resilience help us understand which species may endure in a changing climate. The nexus of nature, climate change and people reminds us that healthy ecosystems are essential for flourishing, thriving communities.

Cities form another part of this picture. Wits researchers examine how housing, infrastructure, transport and public spaces shape daily life. Their work shows how well-designed cities can support dignity, safety and social connection.

The theme of this edition also prompts reflection on the role of universities and how teachers and students can thrive. Throughout history, universities have survived wars, political transitions and social upheaval because societies rely on places where knowledge is created, questioned and shared openly.

Today, academic freedom and institutional autonomy face pressure in several parts of the world, including attempts to limit what can be taught or researched. Protecting strong, independent universities is essential if future generations are to learn, innovate and contribute to a more resilient society.

The Thrive edition explores the factors that help people and societies flourish in a changing world. Twenty editions on, CURIOS.TY continues to lead the way in sharing research that informs and inspires that progress.
Evers says he has to think about the bell-to-bell cell phone ban lawmakers are pushing
Management is transitioning ADT from reactive alarm monitoring to 'ambient intelligence' by integrating Origin AI's Wi-Fi sensing technology into the proprietary ADT Plus platform.

Performance in 2025 was driven by growth in monitoring and services revenue alongside higher installation revenue per unit, which helped double adjusted free cash flow since 2021.

The company is intentionally shifting its go-to-market model to favor lower-cost acquisition channels, such as e-commerce and direct-to-consumer, while rationalizing high-cost affiliate and dealer partnerships.

Operational efficiency is being scaled through 'virtual service' initiatives, which now resolve approximately 50% of service calls via remote diagnosis rather than physical truck rolls.

Strategic positioning focuses on 'protection that follows people,' expanding beyond property security into aging-in-place, health monitoring, and mobile safety via the MySafety app.
FRANKFURT, March 4 (Reuters) - The increasing use of artificial intelligence by firms may be creating some jobs in the euro zone rather than destroying them as many fear, a European Central Bank blog post argued on Wednesday.

Economists have been debating whether AI could put white collar staff out of work, and a recent study by Germany's Ifo Institute found that more than a quarter of German firms expect AI to lead to job cuts in the next five years.

But the ECB's own Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises found that companies making significant use of AI are more likely to take on additional staff in the near term.

"In other words, AI-intensive firms tend, on average, to hire rather than fire," the blog post, which is not necessarily the view of the ECB, said.

Firms planning to invest in AI are also more likely to have positive expectations for future employment growth, the blog argued.

"This is true regardless of the level of planned AI investment and suggests that a pause in hiring due to investment in AI technology is also unlikely over the next year," the blog, written by two ECB staff economists, said.

However, the outlook may change on the longer horizon, the authors said. Most of the gloomier surveys cover longer horizons than the ECB's own question and the outlook could change once AI starts to significantly transform production processes.

(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called parliamentary elections on Thursday for 24 March. The Social Democrat leader has governed in a three-party coalition with two right-wing parties, the Liberals and Moderates, since December 2022.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, left, European Council President Antonio Costa, center, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pass by St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. [AP Photo/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office]

Frederiksen called the vote more than six months early, amid a revival in support for her party following the conflict with US President Donald Trump over control of Greenland. The would-be dictator has repeated for well over a year his intention to seize the Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory within the Danish Kingdom. His so-called Donroe doctrine seeks unchallenged US hegemony over the Western Hemisphere as a basis for waging war against its main rivals, China and Russia, and increasingly the European imperialist powers. In January, Trump threatened on several occasions to use military force to conquer Greenland, as his far-right government simultaneously abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Denmark and the European imperialist powers responded by launching a major military buildup throughout the Arctic region under the auspices of NATO.

Trumps aggressive bullying and war policies, as well as his vicious far-right persecution of immigrants and mobilisation of ICE thugs to gun down protesters, have met with widespread revulsion across Europe and in Denmark. Frederiksen and her foreign minister, Moderate leader Lars Lkke Rasmussen, have been presented in the Danish media as the main opponents of Trump, warning him against breaking the Transatlantic alliance and denouncing his threats against territorial integrity and international law.

As a result, Frederiksen in particular appears likely to benefit from a rebound in support for the Social Democrats. Just over three months ago, the Social Democrats achieved one of their worst-ever results in Denmarks municipal election, falling well below 20 percent and losing control of the city government in Copenhagen for the first time in a century. There was even talk in some quarters that it was time for Frederiksen, who has been Prime Minister since 2019, to depart.

The first poll by public broadcaster DR after Frederiksens election call on Thursday, by contrast, put Denmarks largest party at over 20 percent, with one recent poll predicting it could secure over 22 percent of the vote. For his part, Rasmussen, who led a delegation to Washington in January to meet with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has seen his partys support grow from less than 2 percent at the end of 2025 to 5.7 percent today. To secure representation in the Danish parliament (Folketing), a party must win at least 2 percent of the vote.

However, the results of another poll underlined that there is by no means mass enthusiasm for any of the leading candidates. Asked by DR whom they would prefer to become Prime Minister after the election, just 22 percent responded in favour of Frederiksen, with a further 8 percent declaring their support for Troels Lund Poulsen, the leader of the Liberals, traditionally the largest right-wing party. Over the past three years, Poulsen has served as Frederiksens defence minister. In other words, less than a third of the electorate would back one of the two main candidates to govern the country.

The entire political establishment, from the pseudo-left Red-Green Alliance (RGA) to the far-right Danish Peoples Party (DF), agrees that Denmark must undertake a major strengthening of its military capabilities. With the support of some opposition parties, Frederiksens Social Democrat/Liberal/Moderate coalition has committed to reaching the NATO target of spending 3.5 percent of GDP on the military by 2030. In 2022, Denmark was spending 1.35 percent of its GDP on war, meaning almost a tripling of the war budget in less than a decade. A significant part of this spending increase has gone to providing weaponry to Ukraine to escalate the US/NATO war on Russia. Per head of population, Denmark, with a population of about 6 million people, is one of Ukraines most generous military backers.

The Socialist Peoples Party (SF) has endorsed the massive increase in Denmarks defence spending, including an expanded fleet of F-35 fighter jets to conduct patrols in Greenland and the broader Arctic region. SF, which emerged from a right-wing split from the Danish Communist Party following the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, has served for decades as a prop for Social Democrat-led governments.

While the RGA has avoided explicitly backing the 3.5 percent military spending target, its pro-war propaganda has served to block left-wing opposition to Danish militarism and European imperialisms response to the breakdown of the US-led post-World War II order. For the first time, the RGA decided at its 2025 national meeting to add the defence of the Danish Realms territory, which includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands, to its party programme. This was a response to Trumps threat to seize Greenland, which prompted leading RGA members to give unconditional backing to the Danish government and champion the expansion of European militarism in the Arctic under the NATO banner. The party traditionally campaigned for Denmark to leave NATO, but now insists that alternative security structures must first be established.

The RGA has also repeated the lies about the war in Ukraine being the result of Russian aggression, rather than the consequence of the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union and NATOs systematic eastward expansion up to Russias borders over the preceding thirty years. It advocates a continuation of the war under the banner of self-determination for Ukraine, where it works closely with the US government-funded Sotsialnyi Rukh group.

Frederiksen has avoided committing to a new government based on the so-called red bloc partiesSF, the RGA, the Social Liberals, and The Alternative. According to current polls, the red bloc would have a majority in the Folketing. Frederiksen has led the first coalition including parties from the red and blue blocs in over four decades, a formation she may choose to retain. The Liberals and Moderates, a relatively new party established by former Liberal Prime Minister and current Foreign Minister Rasmussen after his Liberal-led government left office in 2019, traditionally worked with the right-wing Conservatives and Liberal Alliance, and the far-right DF.

As an olive branch to the red parties, Frederiksen announced the Social Democrats support for a wealth tax in her speech calling the election. The proposal would see personal wealth above a limit of 25 million kroner (about 3.4 million) taxed at a rate of 0.5 percent. SF calls for a similar tax to be adopted for wealth above 10 million kroner, while the RGA wants a 1 percent tax on wealth over 35 million kroner.

These minor cosmetic changes, even if implemented, would do nothing to change growing social inequality in Denmark, where the top 1 percent owns about a quarter of all wealth. The fact that all the parties are committed to a huge expansion in war spending means that the relatively small sums such taxes would raise, such as the 7 billion kroner cited by the Social Democrats from their proposal, would be more than offset by the sweeping cuts to public spending demanded by the ruling class to fund militarism.

A victory for the right-wing coalition of parties would result in a government supported by the far-right DF and another far-right party, the Denmark Democrats. Both right-wing extremist formations specialise in racist provocations and have helped create one of Europes strictest immigration systems in Denmark over recent decades. Since the election campaign began, DF has insisted that it will only back a blue bloc government if it commits to cutting Muslim immigration to Denmark and deporting more Muslims than the number arriving in the country. Ranting in typical fascist Great Replacement theory style, DF leader Morten Messerschmidt declared of Muslim immigration, It has just been increasing, increasing, increasing, regardless of who has been in government over the past 30 or 40 years. And it has to stop now, because otherwise there wont be a Denmark. Then the Danes will be a minority in Denmark, and we cant live with that.

The parties of the left are no less ruthless in their persecution of refugees. Frederiksens Social Democrat-led government has collaborated closely with fascist Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to tighten the borders of fortress Europe and create the conditions for refugees to be held in concentration camp-style processing centres beyond Europes borders.
Military Equipment seized from speedboat [Photo: @MINSAPCuba]

The Trump administrations starvation campaign against Cuba took a more openly predatory turn Friday when US President Donald Trump publicly floated a friendly takeover of the island.



Two days after Cuban border guards repelled an armed terrorist attack by a Florida-flagged speedboat near Cubas northern coastline, Trump again refused to comment on the incident. However, he told reporters: The Cuban government is talking with us  And maybe well have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba.

The Cuban government has since provided further details of the February 25 clash: border guards approached the vessel FL7726SH for identification when its occupants opened fire, wounding the Cuban commander and hitting the patrol craft 13 times. Guards returned fire, killing four and injuring six.

Authorities seized assault rifles, 134 magazines with 12,846 rounds of ammunition (5.56x45 mm and 7.62 mm for AKM rifles), pistols capable of piercing bulletproof vests, a drone with two cameras, 10 communication devices, tactical knives, a portable generator, bolt cutters, camouflage uniforms and emblems of the fascist expat group Peoples Self-Defense. The attackers traveled in two boats until one malfunctioned enroute.

One killed and one injured assailant were US citizens, and the rest were US residents. A seventh suspect confessed to coordinating the operation from within Cuba.

Washington has so far feigned ignorance, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio denying US government involvement and pledging an independent probe. Yet, given the US naval deploymentseven Coast Guard cutters and rapid-response vessels 24-36 hours from northern Cuban waters to enforce the embargoit strains credulity that US agencies missed two heavily armed boats departing Florida.

The attack was not only greenlighted by Washington, but it is actively encouraging the networks of Cuban-American fascists long tied to the CIA. These forces see the string of US regime change operations internationally as chess pieces aligning. The mayor of Hialeah, a Cuban-American hub in Florida, Bryan Calvo recently boasted to Politico: Look at whats happening in Iran. Look at what happened with Venezuela.  You guys are next.



On Monday, 30 Cuban exile groups signed the fascist Freedom Accord for regime removal, jailing officials and installing a US puppet under the cover of a democratic transition.

Trumps remarks, made before boarding Marine One, and as planes were already on the move to bomb Iran and kill top officials, expose the predatory logic: submit or face destruction.

Marco Rubio is dealing on it and at a very high level  they have no money. They have no oil, they have no food, he gloated before boarding.

Earlier media reports indicate Rubio has been holding talks to groom Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of Cuban leader Raul Castro and overseer of the militarys GAESA economic conglomerate.



The Trump administration seeks to install a puppet regime and turn Cuba into a cheap labor source for Wall Street, handing ports, plantations and mines to US corporations while expelling Russian and Chinese influence from the region. This is part of a Hitlerian drive for hegemony across the hemisphere and beyond, including Trumps efforts to run Venezuela, attack Mexico, seize Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal.

Significantly, the effort to starve Cuba into submission has received bipartisan support in Washington, with no effort from Democratic Party leaders to block the strengthened embargo.

Following Trumps January 29 executive order declaring Cuba a US national emergency threat and imposing tariffs on oil suppliers, the US appears intent to continue starving the island of fuel despite taking steps for a minimum amount of fuel to arrive.

Bloomberg reported last Friday that the Russian tanker Sea Horse, carrying Russian gas-oil to Cuba, diverted away, but Washington has also issued specific licenses to companies interested in selling Cuba Venezuelan oil.

The Liberian-flagged Eugenia, a Cuban tanker, was allowed to fill up with Venezuelan liquefied gas in Venezuela on Sunday, as confirmed by Diario de Cuba. It is still unclear how the fuel will be sold in Cuba given US restrictions for any dealings with government agencies.

As US warships enforce the blockade and with Cuba not receiving oil or gas since December, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Energy Program with the University of Texas in Austin, Jorge Pinon told the Nation this week: If we dont see a tanker come into Havana sometime by mid-March, thats what we call the zero hour. In other words, thats it. Theres no inventory, theres no strategic reserves, thats it, theyre out of business.

Token gestures mock the suffering: $6 million US aid via the Catholic Church; licenses for private Cuban firms to buy fuel (bypassing the state). Mexico sent limited food/nonfuel aid, and pledges from Chile, Canada, China, Europe and Caribbean nations remain unfulfilled.

Such isolation is a historic indictment of bourgeois nationalisms antiimperialist pretensions. Pink tide regimescurrently in power in Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Chileare submitting to Trumps threats.

Facing collapse, Havana is also signaling submission. Mondays Council of Ministers meeting saw President Miguel DiazCanel demand immediately a set of transformations to the economic and social model: business/municipal autonomy, state downsizing, publicprivate partnerships and Cuban-American investments. The aim is not only to receive fuel imports but to meet Rubios broad demand for dramatic freemarket changes.

During the speedboat attack, according to an official statement, there was an exchange of information almost in real time with the liaison at the U.S. Embassy and authorities in Miami. Havana also stressed its operational cooperation with the US Coast Guard on migration, drugs and rescues.

Patient being checked by doctor [Photo: Cuban Ministry of Public Healthcare]

Meanwhile, conditions for most Cubans are increasingly apocalyptic. Economist Omar Everleny Perez told El Pais: Today, Cuba has to import almost 95 percent of its food needs; agricultural and livestock production are severely deteriorated. Industrial production is at a minimum and, specifically, sugar production is insufficient to meet export demands and cover domestic consumption needs.

UN coordinator Francisco Pichon stressed in a recent report that 5 million Cubans with chronic illnesses risk losing treatment amid the energy collapse, including thousands of cancer patients who need oncology care and over 32,000 pregnant women who lack services.

A Matanzas worker and single mother recently interviewed by the WSWS provided an update, indicating 20-30-hour blackouts and hunger persist:

There has been no change whatsoever. I could tell you right now about at least three very unfortunate cases (including my grandmothers) of people in hospitals without medical treatment and families looking for money to pay for medicines on the black market at absurd prices. Power outages remain the same or worse, and schools are practically disabled or operating on a half-day basis. I have only heard rumors that they are going to allow gasoline imports to the private sector, but the price of transportation has not dropped a single cent, and as for public transportation, it does not exist.

As Cubas zero hour looms, the Matanzas workers earlier appeal for American and international workers to force an end to the embargo rings urgent. At the same time, to fight against US imperialist aggression and the bourgeois nationalist regime at home, the Cuban working class and youth must build a genuinely socialist, revolutionary and internationalist leadership as a Cuban section of the International Committee of the Fourth International.
Two days after the US attack on Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a massive expansion of Frances nuclear arsenal. If further proof were needed that the war in the Middle East is not about fighting terrorism and containing nuclear weapons but rather a step toward World War III, Macron has supplied it.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Keir at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, Jan 6, 2026. [AP Photo/Ludovic Marin]

Disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation treaties, international law and other mechanisms with which the imperialist powers have sought to contain the danger of mutual nuclear annihilation are now things of the past. In the struggle for raw materials, profits and world power, they are filling their arsenals and upgrading their nuclear weapons. The war in the Middle East is serving as a catalyst for this.

The mottos that U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued on Monday for the destruction of Iraneverything on our terms, no rules of engagement, no democracy building, no politically correct wars, we fight to winare also the mottos of the European imperialist powers.

Anyone who wants to defend their freedom must be feared, Macron declared. That is why Frances nuclear arsenal must be enlarged and anchored deep within the European continent. He recalled that the explosive power of a single French nuclear submarine already equals the total of all the bombs dropped on Europe during World War II.

Only a fool who has learned nothing from history can believe that France and the other imperialist powers would not use this enormous destructive potential.

Macron announced his plans in a keynote speech at the French naval base Ile Longue against the militarist backdrop of a nuclear submarine. He said France would build an advanced deterrent for the European continent. In the future, it would also station airborne nuclear forces in interested neighboring countries, particularly Germany. Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Denmark and Greece have also expressed interest.

The first concrete steps will be taken this year, including joint nuclear military exercises with Germany, he stated. Germany is a key partner, Macron said. The two countries also intend to work closely together in the areas of early warning, air defense, and deep precision strike. As it has already done with the United Kingdom, France has now also set up a nuclear steering group with Germany with the aim of strengthening European security as a whole.

He promised that Frances nuclear arsenal, estimated at 300 nuclear warheads, would be further expanded. The exact extent of this expansion is to remain secret. He stated that the number of warheads would no longer be disclosed in the future.

Macron took great pains not to offend US President Trump. He emphasized that Frances nuclear arsenal complements NATOs American security guarantees and is not a substitute for them. The offer to other European countries was made in full transparency with Washington. He praised the role of the US in ensuring Europes security and thanked them for it.

However, he also made it clear that France is seeking to free itself from military and nuclear dependence on the US. Macron said that the new US security strategy shows that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security.

European plans for an independent army and nuclear weapons date back to the 1950s but have repeatedly failed due to internal European differences. Macron intensified these efforts during Trumps first presidency. In 2020, he offered interested European countries a strategic dialogue on Frances nuclear arsenal in order to define Europes vital interests but met with little enthusiasm from Christian Democrat Chancellor Angela Merkel and later from her Social Democrat successor Olaf Scholz.

Under the Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz, Germanys stance changed. Trumps punitive tariffs against the European Union, his threat to annex Greenland and his attempt to reach an agreement with Russia over the heads of the Europeans brought Paris and Berlin closer together.

The war against Iran has accelerated this development. Unlike in the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, this time the US is not relying on NATO or a coalition of the willing but is waging war alone, together only with Israel.

The European powers fear being excluded from the resource-rich and strategically important region. That is why they have thrown their weight behind the illegal war of aggression and its imperialist goals. For years, they have used Russias violation of international law and the rules-based order to justify their support for the war in Ukraine. But these concerns have now evaporated in the face of the criminal actions of the US and Israel.

The US can operate unhindered from its bases in Germany, and the UK has now also made military bases available to the US and sent its own armed forces to the region. Chancellor Merz visited Trump at the White House on Tuesday as the first European head of government since the start of the war and demonstratively showed his unconditional support. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also given his full backing to the war.

Nevertheless, the European powers are watching developments in the Middle East with fear and unease. They fear the consequences of a long-term destabilization in the region, which would hit Europe in particular in the form of exploding energy prices, economic turmoil and new waves of refugees, further exacerbating existing social tensions.

And they fear that US support for Ukraine will dry up completely, thereby strengthening Russia. The US has largely stopped financing the war in Ukraine since Trumps return to the White House and now only supplies weapons if Europe pays for them. But given the high consumption of weapons and ammunition in the war against Iran, this may soon no longer be the case.

While the US is preparing for war against its economic rival China and has attacked two of its most important oil suppliers, Venezuela and Iran, the subjugation of Russia is a priority for European and especially German imperialism. The increase in military spending to 5 percent of GDP, to which NATO members have committed themselves, serves this goal. So does the establishment of European nuclear weapons.

However, European efforts to learn to speak the language of power politics (Merz) again are also exacerbating national and social tensions within Europe. While Paris, Berlin, Rome and Warsaw agree on the goal, none of them wants to cede supremacy to the others.

Paris insists that the decision to use nuclear weapons remains the sole prerogative of the French president, as stipulated in the French constitution. Berlin, on the other hand, is not prepared to accept nuclear sharing in which only Paris has its finger on the trigger. The 2017 agreement on a Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which is central to a joint arsenal of nuclear weapons, is on the verge of collapse due to irreconcilable Franco-German differences.

The costs of war and rearmament are already being passed on to the working class through brutal social spending cuts and mass layoffs. This will be further exacerbated by the war with Iran. Herein lies the answer to the danger of a third world war and nuclear annihilation. It can only be stopped by an independent movement of the international working class that combines resistance to social spending cuts, layoffs and war with the fight against their cause, capitalism, and the building of a socialist society.
The Ukrainian state has responded to a devastating expert report that demonstrated that the charges of state treason against Bogdan Syrotiuk lack any foundation, by stepping up the pressure on the 26-year old socialist. Bogdan has been imprisoned since April 2024 and faces a sentence of between 15 years and life in prison. He was the founder and leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists, a Trotskyist youth organization in the former Soviet Union, that opposed the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the NATO proxy war by fighting to unify the working class of Russia and Ukraine.

In the fall, a linguistic report by one of Ukraines most prominent criminologists, meticulously examined the charges of state treason and work on behalf of the Russian Federation by the prosecution which are based entirely on publications of the World Socialist Web Site. The report completely shattered the case of the prosecution which, for over a year, had already failed to deliver any evidence in court.

The response by the court has been to commission a third linguistic report. Originally due in late December, it has not been presented to this day. The next court session was postponed several times. When the court finally convened again on February 23, it only ruled to prolong Bogdans pre-trial detention.

Meanwhile, Bogdan has been denied urgently necessary medical care to treat his teeth. Like many people in the former Soviet Union, where the state of medical care and the general health of the population underwent a staggering decline as a result of the restoration of capitalism, Bogdan suffers from serious dental problems. He experiences severe pain and is threatened with serious mid- and long term health consequences. For over a year now, he has been promised treatment by a dentist outside the prison since the prison facility cannot provide the necessary procedures. Under one flimsy pretext after another, this visit has been postponed time and again. A new prison administration is now no longer even trying to arrange it.

There is nothing accidental about this treatment. It is a means to increase the personal pressure on Bogdan under conditions where the case of the prosecution has effectively fallen apart and the campaign in his international defense has been gaining an ever wider hearing. Before the experts report, the defense of Bogdan reached another important milestone with the decision of the European Court for Human Rights to review his case. This makes Bogdans case one of only very few from Ukraine that have been admitted, despite the widespread violation of human rights in the country.

The case before the ECHR rests upon the violation of his right to liberty, enshrined in Article 6. However, there is abundant evidence for serious violations of at least two other articles: the right to a fair trial and the prohibition of inhumane and degrading treatment.

There is a recent precedent for the inhumane treatment Bogdan is now subjected to: In June 2025, the European Court ruled that the Ukrainian government had violated this article by denying a prisoner effective dental treatment in detention. Oleksiy Benyukh had all of his teeth extracted, causing serious pain and humiliation. But despite a medical diagnosis in 2019, he was denied free dentures for no less than 19 months. This was in violation of Ukrainian law, too, which prescribes treatments in such cases. Yet Benyukh eventually only received dentures thanks to the intervention of a Christian NGO.

In other, even more severe cases, the Ukrainian state is known to have withheld medical care, resulting in the death of prisoners. Perhaps most notoriously, the American-Chilean journalist Gonzalo Lira was detained in Ukraine and died after being denied treatment for pneumonia and other illnesses.

The situation is urgent: In cases of serious dental problems, failure of timely medical intervention can have severe consequences, going well beyond the immediate excruciating pain. These potential consequences include chronic infections, which can spread to other parts of the body and, in the worst case, can cause sepsis. They also heighten the risk of or aggravate cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, from which Bogdan already suffers.

There will be no justice for Bogdan within the Ukrainian court system. The case against him is a case against the International Committee, aimed at de facto outlawing Trotskyism and intimidating any opposition from the left to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The only path to freedom for Bogdan lies in an intensification and broadening of the international defense campaign.

We call upon all readers to sign the petition, and demand that he immediately be granted the necessary medical procedure! The European Court of Human Rights must speed up its review of the case! All charges must be dropped and Bogdan be released! To support this campaign, spread the word about the case and make a donation here!
Nearly 4,000 healthcare professionals from 49 states have issued a joint open letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding the immediate release of all children from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers. The letter, drafted by board-certified pediatricians and signed by a wide array of physicians, nurses, and public health experts, is a sweeping indictment of state repressiona meticulous, medically documented exposure of the squalid, life-threatening conditions to which the Trump administration is deliberately subjecting immigrant children.

This action takes place against the backdrop of a massive escalation of interior enforcement and mass deportations during the second term of the Trump administration. According to recent data, the number of children held in ICE custody on any given day has skyrocketed by more than sixfold since the start of the administration. ICE now holds an average of 170 children daily, with the population surging to 400 or more on certain days. In total, ICE has booked at least 3,800 children into detention facilities since the beginning of Trumps second term, deliberately subjecting thousands of youths to extended periods of incarceration. These detentions brazenly violate the 20-day limit established under the long-standing Flores Settlement Agreementa 1997 consent decree which, while it does not state a specific number of days explicitly, has been judicially interpreted since 2015 as prohibiting the detention of children with their families for more than 20 days.

Protesters gather outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. [Photo: Eric Gay/WSWS]

The open letter, spearheaded by board-certified pediatricians Anita K. Patel, Ashley Marie Cozzo and Lara Jones, cuts through bureaucratic euphemism to the physiological reality of what detention does to developing bodies. Children are not tiny adults, Dr. Cozzo emphasized, noting that they possess unique physiological vulnerabilities that put them at fundamentally different levels of risk than adults. Dr. Patel stated flatly: Its not just child detention. This is child imprisonment in substandard living conditions.

The central demand of these medical professionals is the immediate implementation of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, Detention of Immigrant Children, which unequivocally state that children should never be held in immigration detention and that these facilities must be permanently shuttered. The AAP authors make clear that the practice of detaining childrenincluding infants and those who are medically fragileexposes them to predictable, severe, and lasting harm.

This intervention by healthcare workers is not merely a medical plea. It is a critical political act by professionals defending basic human rights and human life against the violence of the state. That this apparatus has been constructed and expanded across administrations of both political parties makes the call to action all the more urgent: the fight cannot be left to appeals to institutions that have sanctioned or enabled these conditions.

Graph shows increase in child detentions (in red) since Trump began his second term last year.

The medical and psychological destruction of children in these facilities is not an accidental byproduct of the system. It is a scientifically documented reality, the contours of which have been established by decades of peer-reviewed research.

In the 2018 article titled Childhood trauma and the enduring consequences of forcibly separating children from parents at the United States border, published in the journal BMC Medicine, Dr. Martin H. Teicher explains that forcibly removing a child from their parents is one of the most profound traumas a child can experience. This rupture undermines the pivotal foundation youth require for self-regulation and resilience, plunging them into a state of toxic stress. The article details that this prolonged terror during sensitive developmental periods causes enduring epigenetic effects on the stress response system, modifying brain structure, function and connectivity, and significantly increasing the long-term risk for obesity, chronic inflammation and cardiovascular disease.

A 2025 systematic review published in the journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, titled Immigration detention of children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of physical and mental health impacts, documents the devastating psychological toll of incarceration on youth. The researchers found that the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ranges from 6.5 percent in briefly detained children to an appalling 100 percent in children detained for 12 months or longer. Major depressive disorder was reported in 44 to 95 percent of detained children, while suicidal ideation or self-harm occurred in 25 to 57 percent. The studys meta-analysis revealed that detained children exhibit total psychological difficulty scores twice the normative population mean, with severe elevations in emotional symptoms, conduct problems and peer problems.

The 2020 article Association of Family Member Detention or Deportation With Latino or Latina Adolescents Later Risks of Suicidal Ideation, Alcohol Use, and Externalizing Problems, published in JAMA Pediatrics, demonstrated the broader societal consequences of the immigration crackdown. The study found that the detention or deportation of a family member more than doubles an adolescents odds of experiencing suicidal ideation and nearly triples the odds of clinical externalizing behaviors and alcohol use, underscoring how immigration policies are jeopardizing the health and well-being of entire generations.

The widespread physical health impacts among detained children have been equally well documented. Malnutrition rates range between 24 and 56 percent, severe dental disease is pervasive, and vitamin D deficiency affects over half of detained children. Severe developmental delaysincluding regression in language and social developmentwere observed in 75 percent of children detained for a year or more.

These risks are further documented by a 2024 article in the American Journal of Public Health titled Health Risks of Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in Federal Custody and in US Communities, which notes that children in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) face acute risks of severe dehydration, acute to chronic malnutrition and uncontrolled respiratory infections. In many instances, youth endure hours or days without access to formal medical evaluation, food or latrines, allowing easily treatable conditions to become life-threatening crises.

The AAPs policy statement establishes that DHS facilities, including those run by CBP and ICE, fundamentally fail to meet the basic standards for the residential care of children. There is no evidence that spending any time in detention is safe for young people. The guidelines warn that holding children in these institutional settings, even for short periods, exposes them to toxic stressa state of prolonged fear that undermines self-regulation, directly harms developing brains, and results in severe, long-term psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and physical degradation.

The human toll of this imprisonment is captured in the harrowing ordeal of Juan Nicolas, a two-month-old infant detained at the Dilley, Texas facility. The infant developed bronchitis and persistent vomiting. With no doctor available during the early morning hours when the baby most needed attention, facility staff were unable to provide physician-level care, and the family was left to wait while his condition deteriorated over several days. Only after an acute deterioration on February 16 was he rushed by ambulance to a hospital. Juan Nicolas was discharged around midnight and returned to the Dilley facilityand he, his mother, father and 16-month-old sister were deported to Mexico the following day.

The ordeal of Juan Nicolas and his family is not an anomaly, but the standard operating procedure of a system designed to break the physical and psychological health of immigrants.

In another case that unfolded in February 2025, a 10-year-old US citizen who had recently undergone surgery for a rare brain tumor was swept up with her family at an immigration checkpoint as they drove to Houston for a specialist follow-up appointment. Despite the mother pleading with authorities about her daughters medical condition, the family was taken into custody, held in a detention facility, and deported to Mexico within 24 hours. Allegations documented in a subsequent civil rights complaint filed by the Texas Civil Rights Project state that the girl was denied medical attention in detention. Now 11 years old, her recovery has stalled in Mexico, where she cannot access the specialized care her Houston doctors provided.

The letter also highlights a child who suffered permanent vision loss after being violently struck in the eye with a mop by a staff member and denied access to a specialist for weeks.

This systematic abuse is now unfolding amid a deadly measles outbreak inside the Dilley facility. Dr. Cozzo warned that with overcrowding, poor sanitation, poor infection control, inadequate nutrition, and inadequate sleep, the immediate health risk to infants and children is largely infectious. Infants under six months old, whose immune systems are immature and who cannot yet receive the MMR vaccine, rely entirely on herd immunitya protection largely absent in the crowded, unventilated cells of ICE detention. By holding infants in these facilities during an outbreak, federal authorities are, as Dr. Patel observed, knowingly exposing them to potentially deadly infectious diseases.

Beyond demanding the immediate release of all children in custody, the nearly 4,000 healthcare signatories called for real-time public transparency regarding infectious disease outbreaks, injuries and deaths, as well as independent pediatric oversight with unrestricted access to inspect all facilities. They demand continuous on-site coverage by licensed pediatric practitioners, trauma-informed mental health care and the mandatory independent investigation of all child deaths and serious injuries in custody. Taken together, the letter is a concrete and devastating exposure of a federal apparatus that routinely inflicts lethal harm upon the most vulnerable members of these immigrant families.

The full reality of these fascistic policies is laid bare at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas. Operated by the for-profit prison contractor CoreCivic, this modern-day concentration camp is where the federal governments policy of deliberate degradation assumes its most concentrated form. Families report a complete lack of basic sanitation, being forced to mix infant formula with putrid water, and being served rotting food contaminated with mold, bugs and worms.

Medical care within these facilities is not merely substandard; it constitutes deliberate, life-threatening neglect. The documented abuses include a child suffering permanent hearing loss after an ear infection was ignored, a pregnant woman collapsing without prompt aid and a detainee with appendicitis who was left writhing in pain on the floor and told by guards to simply take Tylenol and return in three days. Compounding this physical torment is the psychological terror inflicted by the states agents, who routinely hurl verbal abuse at detainees and use the explicit threat of family separationtelling parents their children will be taken and placed in foster careto enforce compliance and discipline.

Attorney Eric Lee published on X this account of the conditions in Dilley which triggered a suicide attempt by a 13-year-old girl.

What these healthcare workers have made undeniablethrough meticulous documentation and courageous public actionis that the imprisonment and systematic destruction of immigrant children is not policy gone wrong. It is policy working as intended, by a bipartisan state apparatus constructed over decades, and now carried out to its logical extreme under Trump.

The fight to defend the lives and rights of these children cannot be entrusted to the courts that have sanctioned this apparatus, nor to the political parties that built it. It demands the independent, international mobilization of the working classthe only social force with both the interest and the power to dismantle the system of state terror, exploitation and deliberate human suffering that makes these concentration camps possible.
As the toll of civilian deaths and destruction rises, the fraudulent justifications offered by the Australian Labor government for being one of the first governments in the world to back the criminal US-Israeli assault on the people of Iran have been rapidly shattered.

Two of the most egregious claims by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his ministers are that the mass murder launched by the Trump and Netanyahu regimes is a war for the liberation of the Iranian people from oppression and that it must be supported, regardless of its illegalitythat is, even if it overturns the post-World War II prohibition of wars of aggression.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles [Photo: ABC News, X/@AlboMP, Combat Antisemitism Movement]

Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong began their statement of support, issued on Saturday night within three hours of Trumps announcement of the war, by saying: Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression. They parroted the cynical claims of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that their aim was to create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow the Tehran regime.

That was always a lie. This imperialist bombardment has nothing whatsoever to do with freedom from oppression, any more than the ongoing US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza or the US-Israeli partnership with brutal dictatorships throughout the Middle East, from General el-Sisis military regime in Egypt to the murderous monarchy in Saudi Arabia.

The only future that the US and Israeli governments have for Iran is the installation of an even more repressive and bloody dictatorship than the one they and the former British colonial power imposed for 26 years under the Shahfrom the CIA/MI6-backed coup that overthrew Irans democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh to secure control of Iranian oil in 1953 to the Iranian Revolution that ousted the Shah in 1979.

That reality was underscored on Monday when Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon: No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win and we dont waste time or lives.

In other words, no rules applynot even the laws of warand no democracy is to be established in Iran.

Trump told American ABC News that several of the individuals he had thought could take over the countrys government had been killed in the US-Israeli missile strikes that assassinated Irans head of state, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior leaders of the Iranian government. Its not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead, he said. Second or third place is dead.

That is, the objective was, and remains, installing a puppet leadership, preferably drawn from within the existing clerical-capitalist regime, to take control of the oil-rich and strategically-located country, not to liberate the Iranian masses.

This goes hand-in-hand with repeated declarations by Labor ministers that the legality of the war is also a matter for the US and Israelthe very perpetrators of the aggressionto decide.

In Saturday nights statement, Albanese, Marles and Wong tried to legally excuse their support for the war by saying Australia supported the US acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security.

In reality, the Labor government is totally committed to US imperialism, which has thousands of nuclear weapons and is the chief threat to the worlds people.

When asked on Sunday by reporters whether the US-Israel attacks were legal, Albanese refused to answer. Those judgments and statements (are) for the United States and for those involved directly in the attack, he said.

That amounts to public support for what is a historic war crime that tears apart the post-World War II order, first by conducting a war of aggression and second by using diplomatic negotiations as a smokescreen to do so.

As the WSWS stated: The assault was launched while US and Iranian negotiators were still engaged in talks mediated by Oman, which had concluded just two days earlier in Geneva. The attack on Iran is precisely what was described at the Nuremberg trials of Nazi leaders in 194546 as a crime against peacethe supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.

Article 2(4) of the UN Charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The only two exceptions are authorisation by the UN Security Council, and self-defence in the face of an actual or imminent military attack. Launching strikes during active negotiations also violates Article 2(2) of the UN Charter.

Legal experts declare Iran war unlawful

Like most of their counterparts internationally, legal experts in Australia have declared the war on Iran to be manifestly unlawful. University of Sydney professor and United Nations special rapporteur Ben Saul told the media that international lawyers were united in that assessment.

The attack on Iran was clearly a violation of the ban on the use of force under the UN charter and international law, which is the linchpin of the international order since 1945, Saul told Guardian Australia on Sunday.

Saul also told Australias Special Broadcasting Service (SBS): This case does not fall anywhere close to (the argument of) self-defence against an imminent attack Iran has not yet enriched uranium to the point of building any kind of nuclear device. Experts are all on the same page that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.

Australia was in the business of trashing the United Nations Charter and international law, Saul concluded.

Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at the Australian National University, said the attack on Iran was not justified and the government risked being seen as complicit. There is no basis under the UN charter with respect to the exercise of the right of self-defence, nor is there any UN security council resolution authorising any use of force for an intervention in Iran, he stated.

Theres no evidence of an armed attack, theres no evidence of Iran preparing to attack Israel or the United States, and theres no evidence that Iran had nuclear weapons capable of launching such an attack, Rothwell said.

Rothwell pointed out that Trump had loudly proclaimed that the United States had obliterated Irans nuclear weapons capability after the June 2025 airstrikes, and did so again in the recent State of the Union address. The fact is that neither Israel or the US were facing any imminent peril of a nuclear strike from Iran.

Rothwell said the notion of pre-emptive self defence, which the George W. Bush administration cited in 2003 to invade Iraq on the basis of lies that Saddam Husseins government had stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction had been widely condemned by international law scholars and discredited.

Emily Crawford, a professor of international law at the University of Sydney, said the US and Israeli actions were not even close to being compliant with international law. Every colleague Ive been speaking to, every bit of research that Ive been seeing says that there was no evidence to suggest that Iran was going to strike the US in any way such that it would justify the US striking them, she said.

The Albanese governments contempt for international law underscores its hypocrisy in continuously accusing Russia, in Ukraine, and China, in the South China Sea and elsewhere, of breaching the rules-based order of international law.

More than that, Labors support for the criminal war on Iran, like its backing for the barbaric genocide in Gaza and for the US-NATO proxy war against Russia, displays its commitment to Washingtons entire drive to reassert its global hegemony, which necessarily means ripping down the post-1945 order that sought to prevent another catastrophic world war.

As the WSWS has explained, the objectives of US imperialismthe domination of the planetcannot be achieved peacefully. War against Iran is, for the United States ruling class, an essential stage in its preparation for the coming conflict with China by turning the Middle East into a giant base for war and cutting off critical oil supplies to China.

Under the Albanese government, Australia has become even more of a platform for US wars globally, with bases opened up further for US warplanes, ships and submarines, and billions of dollars poured into the acquisition of submarines, long-range missiles and other weaponry for a war against China.

Another lie by the Labor government is that Australia is not involved in the Iran war. The truth is that the government is directly participating in the onslaught through the Australian militarys integration into the US military-intelligence apparatus.

That includes the Pine Gap US satellite communications base near Alice Springs in central Australia. It collects data for military operations from many regions including Iran, which is crucial for US and Israeli intelligence, as it was during the 2001 and 2003 US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The governments claims of non-involvement were further exposed yesterday, when Marles, who is the defence minister, revealed that Iranian drones had hit Australias Middle East headquarters, at the United Arab Emirates Al Minhad Air Base near Dubai. He described that facility, which acts as a logistics support base for missions across the region, as very important for us.

Marles said the Australian Defence Force had more than 100 personnel in the region. The ADF has had troops stationed at the Al Minhad base since 2003, when Australian forces were sent to join the invasion of Iraq. The base also hosts US and UK command facilities. According to the Defence Department website, the Australian base is currently engaged in up to 12 military operations.

War will not be stopped by appeals to this government or any other capitalist government, or the UN. That has been proven by two and a half years of protests in Australia and around the world against the Gaza genocide. Far from relenting in their support for the atrocities, the Labor leaders are going further.

In 2003, the Labor Party, then in opposition, sought to cover up its backing for the criminal invasion of Iraq, suggesting that the US should seek a UN mandate before laying waste to the country. Now in office, Labor is participating in a war that is clearly illegal.

Political conclusions must be drawn. The mass anti-war sentiment seen in the opposition to the Gaza genocide can be taken forward only through a direct political struggle against the Labor government, as part of an international movement of the working class against all the governments involved and the capitalist system itself, the source of war.
The Labor government has revived unsubstantiated claims that Iran was involved in two antisemitic attacks in Australia over a year ago to justify its full and open support for the brazenly criminal US-Israeli war against Tehran launched last Saturday.

The launch of the war also sheds new light on the visit to Australia early last month by Israeli president and war criminal Isaac Herzog. It is evident that a central purpose was to discuss the impending war crime and the Labor governments support for it.

In rushing to be among the first US allies to endorse the illegal war, Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other government leaders have repeated all of the lies of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahufrom the US-Israeli claims of a non-existent Iranian nuclear threat to the suggestion that their carpet bombing of Iranians is designed to liberate them.

The assertion of Iranian attacks on Australian soil is Labors original contribution to the deluge of war propaganda. It is particularly inflammatory, implying that Iran had already engaged in acts of war against US allies, thereby turning reality on its head and presenting Iran as the aggressor rather than the victim of an unprovoked and entirely illegal assault.

In his initial statement, just hours after the war began, Albanese wrote: Iran directed at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024. These appalling acts targeting Australias Jewish community were intended to create fear, divide our society and challenge our sovereignty. The same claim has been repeated in all subsequent government statements.

What is presented as fact is based on the unsubstantiated allegations of the Australian intelligence and police. No evidence has been made public and what is known about what happened strongly suggests that Iran had no involvement whatsoever.

The two incidents in 2024 were the firebombing of Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney on October 20 and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on December 6. Why Iran would orchestrate an attack against a small eatery in Sydney and a synagogue in Melbourne whose congregation opposes Zionism has never been explained.

The Lewis Continental Kitchen arson was one of a series of strange attacks involving crude anti-Israel graffiti, sometimes antisemitic, and on occasion accompanied by similarly crude fires. The incidents took place in the eastern suburbs of Sydney between October 2024 and January 2025.

In March 2025, after months of hysteria about a wave of antisemitism, the Australian Federal Police and the New South Wales Police described all of the attacks as hoaxes. They had been perpetrated, not by politically-motivated antisemites, but by relatively small-time criminals, apparently for money.

The criminals, including those who had allegedly perpetrated the firebombing of Lewis Continental Kitchen were arrested and charged. It was never clear who had paid them, though the AFP pointed the finger at more significant criminals living abroad. The attack on the Kitchen was almost comically amateurish. Days before, the alleged criminals had gone to the wrong location, mistakenly firebombing a brewery, rather than a Kosher restaurant.

The attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue did not entirely fit the pattern of the hoax incidents. It occurred in Melbourne, not Sydney. The building was gutted by the arson. Several worshippers had been inside at the time, thankfully surviving the attack which could have had deadly consequences. But again, when the alleged perpetrators were apprehended, they turned out to be ideologically non-aligned criminals acting for money paid by unknown parties.

For months after the admission that the Sydney attacks were a hoax, there was an embarrassed silence from governments and the corporate media. The Labor governments at the federal and the NSW level had invoked the attacks to ram through anti-democratic hate speech laws, directed against legitimate political speech. The attacks had been used to vilify the mass opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, falsely presenting it as antisemitic and a threat to public safety.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese and ASIO chief Mike Burgess [Photo: X/@AlboMP, Australian Federal Police]

Then, almost six months after the admission of the hoax and without any clear explanation of who had orchestrated it, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suddenly changed his tune. He delivered an August press conference alongside Mike Burgess, the head of the domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

Burgess asserted that the Lewis Continental Kitchen and Adass Israel firebombings had been orchestrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Burgess provided no evidence and no explanation of how ASIO came to its conclusion. He offered only vague references to various layers and cutouts used by the Iranian state to direct Australian street criminals who perpetrated the attacks.

Despite Iranian denials and the absence of any factual basis for the claims, Albanese proclaimed that he was expelling Irans ambassadorthe first time Australia had carried out such an action against any country since World War II. The IRGC, a key component of the Iranian state apparatus, was listed as a terrorist organisation. These were wartime measures, aimed at vilifying and isolating the Iranian government, and were lauded by Trump and Israeli leaders.

Very rapidly, it was revealed that ASIO had relied on intelligence from Mossad, the notorious Israeli spy agency. Pro-Zionist Sky News commentator Sharri Markson reported that a major tip-off from Israeli intelligence assisted ASIO during its investigation unravelling the Iran terror attacks. Two months later, Mossad named an IRGC official who it claimed had orchestrated the attacks and others internationally.

Mossad is a murderous and criminal organisation, whose modus operandi is dirty tricks, assassinations and terrorist attacks. It has orchestrated the murder of numerous Iranians, including civilian scientists, a mass terror attack in Lebanon in 2024 involving pagers tampered with explosives and actions violating Australian sovereignty, such as the use by its operatives of stolen and forged Australian passports.

Mossads attempt to blame Iran for the attacks lacks any credibility whatsoever. In fact it raises disturbing questions, as to whether the Israeli agency may have had a hand in orchestrating the hoax attacks in Australia itself.

In any event, since the Albanese-Burgess announcement, the story of Iranian involvement has only grown more doubtful.

The criminals who allegedly perpetrated the attacks are appearing before the courts. The charges make no single mention of any involvement of the Iranian government. The NSW Police confirmed late last year they had no information about Iranian involvement in the Lewis Continental Kitchen incident. The charges themselves are for arson and criminal damage, not terrorism or foreign interference.

The alleged perpetrators of the two firebombings cited by Albanese are out on bail, despite ASIOs accusations that they acted as the unwitting instruments of Iranian terrorism. The story simply does not add up.

Australias increasingly close ties with the Israeli state were also demonstrated early last month, when the Labor government rolled out the red carpet for its president and war criminal Isaac Herzog. He was supposedly visiting the country to condole victims of the December 14, Bondi terrorist atrocity in Sydney in which two gunmen shot and killed 15 people attending a Jewish event.

Labor ignored the fact that a UN inquiry last year found that Herzog had incited genocide in Gaza. It presented him as a titular and even non-political figurehead, whose sole interest was in mourning those slain at Bondi.

Herzog himself quickly dispensed with those pretences, aggressively promoting Israel throughout his trip. As the four-day visit went on, his public comments increasingly focussed on the need to confront Iran, which he accused of being a threat to the Middle East and the world. Standing along Herzog, Albanese recalled the bogus claim that Iran had carried out attacks in Australia and boasted of his expulsion of the ambassador.

It is now obvious that the real purpose of Herzogs visit was to ensure that Australia was lined up behind the next stage of aggression against Iranthe war that has now been launched. Yesterday, it was revealed that Herzog had a secret meeting at ASIO headquartersno doubt to cement closer relations with Mossad and the Israeli state.

That reality underscores the fact that Labor is heavily involved in the war, whatever its cynical and lying attempts to present itself as a minor player in the Middle East. It is a linchpin of a lawless US-led alliance currently bombarding Iran, providing key intelligence via the Pine Gap spy base in Central Australia, including for the targeting of strikes, as well as unwavering political support.

While the red carpet for Herzog was a signal of Labors support for all-out war in the Middle East, the state Labor governments brutal police attacks on those who protested against the Israeli war criminal in Sydney was a message that opposition to the unfolding atrocities will be met with repression.
The following statement against the imperialist invasion of Iran and for an international socialist anti-war movement was issued on Monday evening by Christoph Vandreier, chairman of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP-Socialist Equality Party in Germany). In it, he condemns in particular the support for the attack, which violates international law, by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who yesterday once again openly expressed his solidarity with Trump and the criminal regime change war at the White House.

Vandreiers video received 190,000 views on Facebook, 115,000 views on TikTok and thousands more on other platforms in the first 24 hours. It received over 20,000 likes and over 1,000 supportive comments during this time, which shows a widespread rejection of war and the need for a socialist perspective against war.

Trump is bombing Iran, killing children and setting the entire region on fire. And Friedrich Merz applauds. This is the Western rules-based order they are always talking about.

On the night of February 28, the US and Israel attacked Iran without a UN mandate, without congressional approvala clear violation of international law. They bombed Irans head of state, dozens of government officials and even a girls school, killing nearly 150 children. This is not a precision strike. This is state terrorism.

And what do Merz and the European governments do? They dont condemn the aggressors. They condemn Iran. And they offer bases, aircraft and political cover. Merz is aligning Germany with Trump in a front that is prepared to risk a conflagration and even nuclear war for oil, dominance over China and geopolitics. This is nothing other than complicity in a crime against peace, the same fundamental crime for which the Nazis were convicted at Nuremberg.

While the German government has justified the escalation of the Ukraine war and billions in weapons deliveries time and again by citing Russias violation of international law, they wont even name it as such in the case of the United States.

Merzs claim that Iran is responsible for terror in the Middle East and that the war is therefore justified is cynicism that can hardly be surpassed. It was the German government that justified and supported the indiscriminate slaughter of tens of thousands of women and children in the horrific genocide in Gaza by the Israeli army. And that was unquestionably the greatest terror operation in the region in history.

No, the war against Iran is not about human rights, fighting terrorism or preventing a nuclear bomb. It is exclusively about geopolitical interests in the oil-rich Middle East and war preparations against China.

In their ruthlessness, the ruling class shows it is prepared to do anything and is heading toward a world war that would call into question the survival of human civilization.

Among the population, this madness meets broad rejection. Polls in the US have shown that an overwhelming majority opposes the war against Iran. But this opposition finds no expression in the political establishment. Even the Left Party in Germany supports the regime-change operation and the goals of the federal government. It merely says the goals could be better achieved by other means.

The Socialist Equality Party says clearly:

This war is a crime against peace. It is a step toward global war and nuclear catastrophe. We demand an immediate halt to all US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Not one cent, not one ounce of support for this war. Withdraw all Western troops from the Middle East and end the sanctions. For an international, socialist anti-war movement of the working class.

If you are against Merzs support for war, if you are against Trump and against this imperialist madnessorganize! Join the Socialist Equality Party and help build a conscious international movement against war.
All five Pennsylvania high school students known as the Quakertown 5 have now been released from juvenile detention after the boroughs police chief and borough manager, Scott McElree, physically assaulted them during their February 20 protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A man, identified as Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree, is seen putting a female student in a chokehold, February 20, 2026.

The students, who have not been named because they are minors, are currently on house arrest and face trumped-up felony aggravated assault charges for allegedly injuring McElree during the anti-ICE protest.

On February 20, an unidentified McElree approached students while in plain clothes, shoving one and placing anothernow identified as a 15-year-old girlin a rear naked chokehold before taking her to the ground. Startled students surrounding the man sought to physically prevent the assault. They were arrested and now face felony aggravated assault charges, which, if they are tried as adults, carry a statutory maximum of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 in Pennsylvania.

The attack and reprisal come as students continue to stage daily protests against ICE and the Trump administrations antiimmigrant policies. On Tuesday, students at Philadelphias Edison High School staged a walkout. According to ABC News, the school district says it does not sanction these protests, potentially opening them up to academic and legal repercussions.

The difficult legal case confronting the Quakertown 5 is compounded by widespread fear of retaliation against students, parents and teachers who dare to defend them. This is especially the case in a borough where McElree also serves as borough manager, consolidating control over both law enforcement and local administration. A local protest demanding justice for the Quakertown 5 scheduled for this week warns participants not to bring their phones and to wear masks for community/identity safety.

Defense attorneys have formally urged that an outside agency, not the Bucks County District Attorneys Office, take over the investigation. The Bucks County officials have already shown their partiality toward McElree, labeling him a victim in the charging documents. Defense lawyers have warned that McElrees dual role creates an inherent conflict of interest and undermines public confidence in any outcome.

McElree has gone on medical leave, citing injuries he says he suffered during the clash, but power has merely shifted to two of his deputies, assistant borough manager Doug Propst and police lieutenant Josh Mallery, ensuring McElrees chain of command will continue even while he is away.

Quakertown itself does not hold a known 287(g) contract with ICE, a program that allows local police departments to collaborate with federal immigration agents in identifying and detaining people for deportation. But the protest erupted in a county that only recently tangled with such collaboration, after the Bucks County sheriffs office enteredand then endedan ICE agreement that sparked lawsuits and intense community opposition.

Other information has arisen drawing into question McElrees motives in the attack. In an interview published by journalist Katie Phang with one of the students family members, defense attorney Tim Prendergastwho is representing the teenager whom McElree attackedcited numerous rightwing social media posts made by public accounts associated with McElree, suggesting the police chief may have been participating in a rightwing counterprotest against the students when the attack happened.

In one post dated August 2025, an account associated with McElree states, The new Marxist socialist hybrid Dem deep state Oligarchy domestic terrorist organization political party has stoopedlower [sic] in the past 10 years than anyone could have ever imagined, and gets worse as time goes on. In another, McElree makes explicitly racist remarks, declaring, this new Democrat political party has reduced our glorious Nation into a typical corrupt third world country [sic] this is not what our famity [sic] members and ancestors fought & shed blood for

Commenting on this, Prendergast states, Its hard for me not to believe there was a separate bias and motivation going on in what happened there.

McElrees attacks on immigrants, students, and left-wing opponents of the Trump administration expose the bankruptcy of the Democratic Partys attempts to present local law enforcement as a buffer against Trumps fascist ICE agents. In reality, the entire capitalist state is a cesspool breeding political reaction at every level.
Afghan Taliban soldiers look toward the Pakistani side, with one peering through the sight of his rifle, on the Afghan side of the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan in Torkham, Afghanistan, Friday, February 27, 2026. [AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar]

Military clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan continued for a fifth day Tuesday, in a conflict with potentially major implications for South Asian and world geopolitics.

Pakistan has carried out waves of air and missile strikes, including on Kabul and other targets deep inside Afghanistan, since it announced last Friday, February 27, that it was launching open war on its smaller, northwestern neighbour. Pakistani forces have also attacked numerous Afghan positions along the 2,640-kilometer (1,640 miles) Durand Line, a British Empire-imposed border that Kabul has never recognized.

Afghanistans Taliban regime has countered with drone strikes and cross-border assaults. Both sides are boasting that they have killed hundreds of rival soldiers. Kabul is alleging Pakistans aerial war has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties.

Most foreign governments, including those of China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have appealed to the two sides to immediately cease hostilities and negotiate a settlement.

The United States led by the would-be fascist dictator Donald Trump administration is not among them. Endorsing Islamabads war narrative, the US State Department has declared Washingtons support for Pakistans right to defend itself against incursions from the Taliban, which is designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization.

Trump lavished praise Friday on Pakistans leadershipincluding Field Marshall Asim Munir, the head of its armed forces, the real power behind Pakistans government, and the architect of its war on Afghanistan. When asked by reporters if he would intervene to try to bring the Pakistan-Afghan conflict to an end, Trump replied, Well, I would, but I get along with Pakistan, as you know, very well.  They have a great prime minister, a great general theretwo of the people I really respect a lot. He then added, I think that Pakistan is doing terrifically well.

Trump made these remarks knowing full well that within hours American and Israeli warplanes would be raining bombs and missiles on Iran, initiating a criminal war of aggression.

Frictions and animosity between Pakistan and Afghanistans Taliban-led government have been mounting since at least 2023. Last October, Pakistan carried out air strikes deep inside Afghanistan on what it claimed were bases of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an insurgent Islamist Pakistan militia, triggering almost two weeks of fighting between Pakistani and Afghan forces. Qatar, with the assistance of other powers, brokered a truce, but it began to unravel almost as soon as it had been concluded.

Pakistan blames Kabul for a recent spike in terrorist attacks by the TTP, but also the Islamic State-Khorasan Province and Baluchi separatists.

Even in the first days of last falls shaky truce, Islamabad refused to reopen its border with Afghanistan, preventing the cross-border movement of goods and people. Now in its fifth month, the trade and travel embargo is having a hugely damaging impact on people and commerce on both sides of the Durand Line. This is especially true in Afghanistan, whose economy was already reeling under drought and the continued refusal of the US and other western powers to allow Kabul access to the billions in Afghan Central Bank assets they seized when the Taliban came to power in August 2021.

Pakistans government has also sought to divert mass social anger over its imposition of brutal IMF (International Monetary Fund) austerity measures, growing poverty and ever-widening social inequality by moving to deport millions of Afghan refugees, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades or were born there.

That said, it was surely no happenstance that Islamabad launched its open war on Taliban-led Afghanistan just as US imperialism and its Israeli attack-dog were poised to attack Iran.

Pakistans military and Muslim League (Nawaz) government knew that the Trump administration would be all the more eager to endorse and encourage Pakistans own aggression under conditions where the Taliban had publicly declared that it would support Iran should it be attacked and do what it could to support Tehran.

Relations between Islamabad and Washington became increasingly fractious during the two-decade-long, Pakistan-enabled, US neo-colonial occupation of Afghanistan. Successive US administrations made increasingly shrill complaints that Pakistan was not doing enough to suppress the Taliban, which they claimed were finding sanctuary in Pakistans traditional tribal areas. In fact, the TTP arose in response to the ruthless methodsfrom carpet-bombing to collective punishments and forced disappearancesthe Pakistani military employed in suppressing the Taliban insurgency. However, with a view to retaining influence in a negotiated settlement to end the Afghan war, Islamabad did keep back channels open with the Taliban, which it had helped found in the early 1990s, after serving as the Central Intelligence Agencys (CIA) partner and conduit in organizing Islamist opposition to the Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan for more than a decade.

Since Trumps return to power in January 2025, US-Pakistan relations have improved markedly. Under Munir, Pakistan has signaled that it is anxious to reinvigorate the US-Pakistani military-strategic partnership, the traditional bulwark of Islamabads foreign policy, and reduce its economic and military dependence on China.

Toward this end, Pakistan has strongly supported Trumps Gaza peace plan, which aims to place the enclave under perpetual imperialist bondage, and pledged to deploy possibly thousands of troops to impose it on the Palestinian people.

Islamabad has publicly condemned both the US-Israeli attack on Iran and their assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who in addition to being Irans head of state was revered by tens of millions as a spiritual Shia leader.

These statements will not have ruffled any feathers in Washington. The domestic and international compulsions under which Islamabad operates are well understood in Washington.

There is deep-rooted popular animosity toward US imperialism, and the brutal drone war it mounted for years in Pakistans tribal areas during the George W. Bush and Obama presidencies. This was a major factor in the rise to power of the now defrocked and jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan TehreekeInsaf (Movement for Justice).

Pakistan also shares longstanding cultural-civilizational ties to its western neighbour Iran. While the exact figure is unknown, Shia Muslims are estimated to account for between 15 and 20 percent of Pakistans population, that is, some 40 million or more people.

Recent days have seen large protests against the US-Israeli attack on Iran and the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei in major cities across the country, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Pakistani security forces killed ten protesters and injured scores more Sunday, when they allegedly tried to storm the US consulate in Karachi. According to press reports at least 11 more people were killed last weekend during protests in Gilgit and Skardu, the principal cities in Pakistans remote, northerly Gilgit-Baltistan administrative territory.

A major factor in the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict is Islamabads fears over the increasingly close ties its arch-rival India has developed with the Taliban regime. All the more so, given that India-Pakistan relations have been on a knifes edge since last May, when India mounted illegal air strikes deep inside Pakistan, triggering four days of cross-border clashes that brought South Asias twin nuclear powers to the brink of all-out war. Not only have there have been no negotiations since Islamabad and New Delhi announced a truce May 10. India has withdrawn from the Indus Water Treaty, threatening a key economic lifeline of Pakistan, and both sides have continued to exchange bellicose threats and ratcheted up their weapons and ammunition purchases.

Pakistans unprecedented October 2025 attack on Afghanistan took place during a week-long visit by Taliban Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi. During his stay, he concluded a series of agreements with Indias Narendra Modi-led Hindu supremacist government, including for economic assistance and support for health care. Even more concerning for Islamabad, Foreign Minister Muttaqi called India a close friend and said Kabul recognizes and aligns with New Delhis security concerns.

Islamabad charges that India is using Afghanistan to provide material support to both the TTP and the ethno-nationalist separatist insurgency in Baluchistan. There is compelling evidence to support this, especially in the case of the Baluchi insurgency. But this is also very much a case of the pot calling the kettle black, as Islamabad has long supported Islamist insurgents in Indian-held Kashmir, as well as the Khalistan movement for a separate Sikh state.

The Taliban regime, for its part, charges that Pakistan is acting as the cats paw for Washington. It says Trump turned aggressively against it after it refused to cede to his demand that it give back to the Pentagon the massive US-built Bagram military base on Kabuls outskirts. In making this demand, Trump noted the bases proximity to key elements of Chinas strategic nuclear program.

On Sunday, Pakistans air force attacked the Bagram base.

India is far and away Washingtons closest ally in South Asia. Under Modi, it has become a frontline state in American imperialisms military-strategic offensive against China, and has entered into an ever-expanding web of bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral military-security ties with Washington and its principal Asia-Pacific allies, Japan and Australia.

Yet New Delhis position on Pakistans open war on Taliban-led Afghanistan is radically different from Washington, underscoring the complex and explosive mesh of conflicting geostrategic interests that now traverse South and Central Asia. Soon after the clashes began, Indias Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement that strongly condemns Pakistans airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan. It termed the attacks a violation of Afghan sovereignty and another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures.

The Pakistan-Afghan conflict, like the Indo-Pakistani conflict with which it is increasingly enmeshed, is rooted in colonialism, imperialist oppression and the venal character of the rival bourgeois regimes.

US imperialism in its reckless drive for world hegemony is enflaming and exacerbating these conflicts. Even as Washington has set the Middle East ablaze with its criminal war of aggression on Iran, it is encouraging Islamabad to wage war on Afghanistan, stoking conflicts across South and Central Asia.
This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Data and AI upskilling efforts are emerging as a key driver of ROI on AI investments, according to a DataCamp study published Thursday. The company commissioned YouGov to survey more than 500 U.S. and UK business leaders for the report.

Just over 1 in 5 leaders report a significant positive ROI from AI investments, compared with 42% among organizations with mature data and AI literacy upskilling efforts underway, the report found.

More than half of leaders identified AI literacy as the top AI skill in the workplace in the last year, likening the value of these skills to core capabilities such as writing, project management or delivering presentations. Surveyed leaders flagged data-driven decision-making, data analysis and the ability to interpret dashboards as some of the top data skills.

Dive Insight:

Adoption efforts kicked off in previous years are coming under the microscope, as leaders are expected to show how their investments have performed.

Businesses could dole out $2.5 trillion in support of AI adoption this year  from compute to added services  according to Gartner estimations. A Hitachi Vantara survey published last month found the spending glut will continue, with AI budgets set to swell by 76% in the next two years.

For businesses looking to increase their returns on AI, access to skills is critical, according to Jonathan Cornelissen, CEO and co-founder of DataCamp. A dearth of training threatens the effectiveness of available tools, he said.

The majority of organizations do not have a formal program for AI training, Cornelissen said. They may have a subscription to a learning platform that has some data AI skills, but theres no dedicated effort to drive data and AI skills.

The disconnect between available tools and desired outcomes can sink investments, as employees lack training on how to use AI for real world uses, Cornelissen said.

AI use is also influencing employer perception of their employees. More than three-quarters of leaders surveyed for the DataCamp report said data literate employees outperform other staffers. AI literate employees are expected to become up to 20% more productive.

Although AI was once the domain of IT units, demand for skills in this category has spread across departments. AI know-how as a job requirement increased by nearly 25% for customer support roles, with similar increases in sales and financial operations, according to a Draup report published last month.
On February 4, federal prosecutors abruptly filed a motion to dismiss all criminal charges against three Chinese postdoctoral researchers from the University of Michigan (U-Mich)Xu Bai, Fengfan Zhang and Zhiyong Zhang. After more than three months in federal custody, the three were released on February 5 and returned to China. The dismissal confirms that these prosecutions lacked any genuine public-safety basis and formed part of a politically driven campaign to intimidate migrant researchers and students, coerce universities into policing international cooperation, and provide ideological cover for a US turn toward confrontation with China.

The three U-Mich researchers were accused of participating in a conspiracy to smuggle dangerous biological materials. In reality, the alleged contraband was common laboratory research materialC. elegans nematodes and plasmidsubiquitous, harmless tools of basic biology used in labs around the world.

C. elegans hermaphrodite worm. [Photo: Bob Goldstein]

The case of Bai, Zhang and Zhang must be understood as part of a coordinated escalation by the national security apparatus. Since 2024-2025, the Department of Justice, FBI and Customs and Border Protection have pursued a series of prosecutions and detentions of Chinese researchers, promoting the use of sensationalist agroterrorism and smuggling rhetoric to criminalize routine scientific exchange. Cases at U-Michwhere earlier arrests and coerced plea deals produced deportations and ruined careersserved as a template.

In June 2025, the government accused postdoc Yunqing Jian of smuggling a strain of Fusarium graminearum and branded it a potential agroterrorism threat. Academic experts, including Professor Roger Innes of Indiana University (IU), demonstrated that the strain was ubiquitous and posed no risk to US agriculture. Faced with this scientific reality, a government lawyer admitted in court he had no evidence that she had evil intent, yet the state leveraged detention to extract a plea and deportation.

Similarly, doctoral student Chengxuan Han was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in June, interrogated for hours without counsel or Miranda warnings, and ultimately coerced into a plea that destroyed her prospects for research in the United States. These outcomesindefinite detention, psychological pressure, plea bargains and deportationsare the actual goals of the government, not public safety or scientific integrity.

Shortly after Hans coerced plea and deportation, Youhuang Xiang, a postdoctoral associate in the Indiana University Department of Biology, was arrested on charges that mirror the Michigan cases. Xiang faces allegations he received shipments of plasmids and other routine laboratory materials without proper customs paperworkand is being held pending a trial set for April 6. In December, FBI agents executed searches of the laboratories of Professor Xindan Wang and Xiangs supervisor Professor Roger Innes.

When the DOJ quietly dismissed the Bai, Zhang, and Zhang case, corporate media moved quickly to salvage the governments credibility. Reporters and official spokespeople emphasized technical rationales or diplomatic explanations to deflect attention from the fraudulent basis of the charges. This spin serves to preserve public trust in the state security apparatus and to maintain the usefulness of xenophobic tropes in priming public opinion for further repression and war preparations.

Three interrelated material factors explain the drive to criminalize international scientific collaboration.

1. Geopolitics and preparations for confrontation. The US ruling class is rearming and reorganizing its political and economic life for strategic competition with China. Universities and scientific research are now being systematically militarized under measures such as the CHIPS and Science Act and other initiatives that tether academic work to defense priorities. In 2025, U-Mich received $100 million in direct research support from the Department of Defense. The repressive campaign against international researchers prepares the ideological terrain for confrontation by demonizing foreign scientists as potential agents of a foreign state.

2. Domestic class politics and scapegoating. As the capitalist crisis deepensreflected in austerity, precarious employment and attacks on democratic rightssections of the ruling elite exploit xenophobia to divide the working class and deflect social opposition. Targeting migrant scholars frames a manufactured external threat while legitimizing an expansion of police and administrative powers at home.

3. Corporate-state control of knowledge. The tightening of export controls, grant conditions and university compliance regimes places academic labor under the authority of government and corporate interests. Universities, fearing loss of federal funds and political reprisal, collude with investigatorsfiring staff, revoking visas and handing over recordstransforming campuses into instruments of government repression. The U-Mich administration did nothing to defend Jian and Han, and its decision to terminate Bai, Zhang and Zhang stripped them of institutional protections and immediately jeopardized their immigration status, exposing them to detention by federal authorities.

The collapse of the case against Bai, Zhang and Zhang should not be mistaken for an end to the witch-hunting. The national security state retains the legal instruments and administrative mechanisms to target scientists, union activists, anti-war organizers and any section of working people that challenges the policies of the ruling class. The fight against this repression must be fought politically and on a mass basis, linking the defense of scientific freedom and democratic rights to the broader struggle against imperialist war and capitalist austerity.

We must make these demands:

Drop all charges in the case against Youhuang Xiang at IU, and halt all deportations and visa revocations used for political purposes.

Reinstate fired researchers and restore their visas and employment without conditions.

Open independent, democratically supervised public hearings on DOJ and FBI abuses, with subpoena power to reveal coordination between universities, prosecutors and intelligence agencies.

Repeal administrative rules and funding conditions that force universities to police international collaboration and research.

The Socialist Equality Party, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and the World Socialist Web Site have been at the forefront of exposing and mobilizing against these frame-ups. The defense of the persecuted researchers is inseparable from the defense of democratic rights for all working people and the fight to prevent the slide toward imperialist war. We must build rank-and-file defense committees among students, researchers, faculty and workers, independent of university administrations, corporate trade unions and the bipartisan establishment that sanctions these attacks.

Join us in this fight. Organize locally, form defense committees at your university or workplace, and link these struggles to the global movement against imperialist war and capitalist oppression. The SEP and allied youth and student organizations are organizing to defend democratic rights and to build the political strength of the working class. To take part in building a political movement capable of defending researchers and opposing the war drive, join the Socialist Equality Party.
German culture minister Wolfram Weimer, with the backing of the pro-Israeli Springer press, is pushing to dismiss the director of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), Tricia Tuttle.

The Bild wrote that Weimer was planning to remove Tuttle after the right-wing newspaper published a photo of the latter with crew members of the film Chronicles from the Siege by Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah Al-Khatib. Some members of the film crew wore Palestinian scarves, and a Palestinian flag was visible.

Director Abdallah Al-Khatib, left, and Taqiyeddine Issaad hold a Palestinian flag after receiving the GWFF best first feature award for 'Chronicles from the Siege' during the awards ceremony for the International Film Festival, Berlinale, in Berlin, Saturday, February 21, 2026. [AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi]

On February 20, Weimer convened an extraordinary supervisory board meeting of the KBB GmbH (Kulturelle Begleitmanahmen Berlin). The Berlinale is a division of the KBB, with Weimer as the supervisory board chairman. No final decision was made at the meeting, but the sword of Damocles continues to hang over Tuttles head with further discussions planned this week.

In response to Tuttles threatened dismissal, an initial group of 700 leading filmmakers and actors signed an open letter in her defence. The number of signatories has now swollen to over 2,800. Ilker Catak, the director of Yellow Letters, which won the festivals top prize, the Golden Bear, angrily declared that if Tuttle were fired, he would never again submit a film to the Berlinale.

Weimers offensive comes despite the fact that Tuttle and the chairman of the festival jury, veteran German filmmaker Wim Wenders, had resolutely attempted to avoid any discussion of the devastation in occupied Palestine and to suppress any criticism of the state of Israel from the outset of the festival.

Tricia Tuttle

In mid-January, for example, Weimer met with Berlinale director Tuttle. The only detail to emerge from the meeting came in a brief X post: The festival is the voice of international cinema, courageous and relevant. One thing is also clear: there can be no place for anti-Semitism here. This should be interpreted as no place for criticism of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The hypocrisy of the German government when it comes to the Berlinale is bottomless. Threats are now being made to cancel the federal states share of funding for the festival due to the showing of political support at the Berlinale for the cause of the Palestinians. (The governments real problem is not with the festival officialdom, but with the troublemaking filmmakers who continue to concern themselves with injustice and mass murder!)

Three years ago, of course, the German government had no problem when the Berlinale opened with a speech via video link by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky appealing for support for the NATO-led war against Russia.

On that occasion, the festival distributed its own Ukraine solidarity pins and the German culture minister at the time, Claudia Roth (Green Party), praised the political nature of the Berlinale. As we wrote in 2023: For Roth and her Green Party, a political Berlinale means espousing identity politics coupled with the subordination of the festival to the war policy of the German government and NATO in its war against Russia.

Not only have the speeches from the stage at the recent Berlinales come under attack, some of the films shown at the festival have been criticised by pro-Zionist groups for daring to defend the rights of the Palestinian people.

The pro-Zionist group Artists Against Antisemitism issued a statement echoing comments by Tuttle and others to the efffect that the situation in the Middle East was too complex and therefore any condemnation of the Gaza genocide was without justification. The right-wing statement went on to criticise the festival for even showing Chronicles from the Siege, which won a major prize at the festival.

We will review that film in a subsequent article, but there were a handful of other documentary and fiction films on show at the festival which clearly took a side on behalf of the Palestinians and shed light on decades of Zionist violence and criminality.

Who Killed Alex Odeh?

The documentary Who Killed Alex Odeh?, directed by Jason Osder and William Lafi Youmans, traces the history of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim discrimination in America fuelled in particular by Zionist terrorist groups backed or tolerated by the US government.

Alex Odeh was a teacher and western regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. In 1985, he gave a television interview in which he commented on the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro by members of the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF). Odeh condemned the hijacking, but at the same time raised the plight of Palestinians at the mercy of the repressive politics of the Israeli regime with the support of the US.

Who Killed Alex Odeh?

Odeh had always argued in favour of peaceful relations between different groups of the population, but the very fact that he raised the problems facing Palestinians in the interview was enough for some US media outlets to brand Odeh a terrorist. Days later he was killed by a bomb rigged to the door of his office in Southern California.

In addition to Odehs widow Norma and his daughter Helena, one of the main figures to feature in the film is Israeli journalist David Sheen. He identifies those suspected of carrying out the bombing, all linked to the Jewish Defense League (JDL), an extremist Zionist organisation founded by radical Rabbi Meir Kahane in 1968.

The film names three suspectsRobert Manning, Andy Green and Keith Israel Fuchs. A police officer active at the time of the murder acknowledges that the FBI, which had designated the JDL as a terrorist group, had knowledge of the suspects soon after the assassination. The FBI, however, did nothing, allowing the men to flee to Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The US government could still have demanded the extradition of the three men back to America but failed to do so.

Having encouraged violent racists attacks in the US, Kahane moved to Israel in 1971 and founded the virulently anti-Arab Kach party. Kahane pursued his campaign of maniacal racism up until his assassination in 1990. Today, a former member of the Kach party, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is Minister of National Security in the coalition government of Benjamin Netanyahu and one of the main architects of the genocide in Gaza.

Manning, a JDL member and one of the three suspects in Odehs murder, was convicted in 1993 for a separate bombing offence, but was never held to account for his role in the 1985 attack. The two other suspects tracked down by Sheen have been able to live comfortable lives in Israel under the full protection of the Tel Aviv regime.

The documentary underlines the fact that the current fascistic coalition in Israel is by no mean an aberration. It is, on the contrary, the end product of a prolonged campaign of terrorist violence directed against Arabs not just in the Middle East but also in Americawith the tacit support of the US authorities.

Collapse

The documentary Collapse begins with a quote from the Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz: Yet we regarded all this with indifference. In the background, we witness an Israel Defence Forces bomb exploding and causing havoc in Gaza. The films director, Israeli Anat Even, grew up in the Nir Oz kibbutz on the border with Gaza, which Hamas attacked, and from which it took hostages on October 7.

Collapse

In the attack, the director lost friends and acquaintances in the kibbutz who had taught her about history and cinema. Her sympathies lie, however, not just with her Israeli friends but also with her defenceless Arab neighbours on the other side of the barbed wire border established by Israel in what the film describes as this great war of vengeance against the Palestinian people. The film consists of a series of snapshots taken by Even depicting the activities of the IDF along the border with Gaza, interspersed with her correspondence with a friend and colleague in France (Ariel Cypel, credited as script co-writer).

Even seeks to film the devastation occurring in Gaza, but is continually turned away by the arrogant IDF troops patrolling the border. We witness a gathering of Israeli families with women speaking from a stage to an audience in front of them. The speakers relish the prospect of taking over the Gazan territory after the expulsion of the Palestinians. One large banner at the event reads Occupy, Expel, Settle. One would-be settler rants on about the necessity to Judaize Palestinian territory. Another speaker refers to the inhabitants of Gaza as rats who, once expelled, must not be allowed to return to their homes.

Another scene shows tourists being shown around the Nir Oz kibbutz as part of the propaganda offensive by the Israeli government to justify its murderous onslaught against Gaza. We also see a propaganda visit by Netanyahu to what remains of the kibbutz, surrounded by bodyguards, cameras and journalists. One protester shouts out Destroyer of Israel! as the prime minister walks by. Other scenes show isolated small groups of Israeli activists with protest placards demonstrating valiantly but fruitlessly against the activities of the marauding Israeli military.

Meanwhile life in the region goes on, with harvesters reaping crops on the Israeli side while the devastation of Gaza continues in the background. The film refutes the notion that the Tel Aviv governments genocidal war is unanimously supported by the entire Israeli population. Lacking, however, is a political perspective on how to fight Zionist nationalism and the Israeli war machine and unite with the oppressed Palestinian and Arab masses.

Where to?

The feature film Where to? directed by Assaf Machnes centres on two characters, Hassan (Ehab Salami), a Palestinian Uber driver living and working in Berlin for many years, and a young Israeli, Amir (Ido Tako).

The film opens in 2022 with Hassan picking up Amir and his German boyfriend from the airport and driving them to the centre of Berlin. Learning the name of his passenger, Hassan enquires if Amir is in fact an Arab. Amir hadnt realized his name could be either Jewish or Arab. Young and gay Amir has left the stultifying atmosphere in Israel to enjoy life in Berlin.

Where To?

Through a coincidence, Amir finds himself again in Hassans cab and their conversation develops. Having asked Amir where he lived in Israel, Hassan concludes they are neighbours with roots in Galilee. Hassans own parents were originally from Galilee before moving to Jenin.

Warming to Hassan, Amir seeks out the cab driver for his future trips, and shares the ups and downs of his love and social life in Berlin. The mood changes after Israel begins a full-scale war against Gaza in October 2023. Amir asks Hassan why he wants someday to return to his homeland. Hassan replies he finds it problematic answering that question from someone who grew up in the region stolen from his parents.

The film is based on the Israeli directors own experience of sharing a cab with a Palestinian driver. Explaining the concept behind his film, Manches said in one interview at the Berlinale: When you leave Israel or Palestine, you leave an ideayou dont just leave a place  Because they are both out of their homeland, it becomes a narrative about people detached from their identity, whether Palestinian or Israeli.

All the films reviewed above are collaborations between Israeli and Arab filmmakers and actors seeking to come to grips with the disastrous consequences of Israels oppression of the Palestinian people. In this respect, they share common ground with the award-winning film No Other Land, also a joint product of Israeli and Arab cineastes.
A new harsher anti-migration and asylum law is set to come into effect once it is ratified by the upper house of the German parliament, the Bundesrat. The law follows the guidelines of the European Union, which Germany as the largest EU member state itself significantly brought about, and goes much further. Titled the CEAS Adaptation Act in administrative language, it undermines fundamental human rights and adapts German migration policy to the practice of US President Trump.

It is estimated that more than 20,000 refugees have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea trying to reach Europe in the last decade. Here pictured refugees in the Mediterranean Sea in 2018 during a rescue operation mounted by the Sea-Watch NGO. [Photo by Tim Luddemann / flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The Common European Asylum System (CEAS) was agreed in 2024 and is to be transposed into national law in the EU states by mid-2026. CEAS means a significant expansion of Fortress Europe against refugees. The core objective is a harsher common approach against migrants. To this end, fast-track procedures are to be established at the external borders of the European Union in order to deport unwanted immigrants and those seeking protection to their countries of origin or third countries as quickly as possible.

The fast-track procedures apply to all those seeking protection from countries whose nationals are granted asylum in less than 20 percent of all cases. This effectively ends the individual right to asylum, which presupposes an examination of the individual case and the possibility of judicial review of a decision. This fundamental right was enshrined in the German constitution against the backdrop of the crimes of the Nazi regime but has been increasingly undermined for decades.

De facto detention, including of children

CEAS also legalises detention camps for those seeking protection, a practice that the Greek, Hungarian and Italian governments in particular have already introduced. During the border procedures, the fiction of non-entry applies under CEASThis means that although the refugees are physically in a European country, they are still not considered to have entered. During the border procedure, asylum seekers are not allowed to leave the reception facilities at the external borders for up to six months.

The German government argues that this is not detention because a hypothetical departure to third countries remains possiblebut since this means the termination of the asylum procedure by the person seeking protection, the reception facilities are de facto detention camps.

With the CEAS Adaptation Act, Germany is now introducing restrictions on freedoms for those seeking protection that go far beyond the European guidelines.

In the future, a ban on leaving means asylum seekers will no longer be allowed to leave reception facilities, including the newly added secondary migration centres. This drastic restriction of freedom is made possible by CEAS if there is a risk of absconding. However, this risk of absconding is generally assumed by the German law as long as persons are in the so-called Dublin procedure, i.e., as long as the authorities are investigating which EU member state is responsible for the persons asylum procedure.

In order to refute the blanket assumption of a risk of absconding, those seeking protection must credibly demonstrate that they will participate in the asylum procedure in Germany due to their personal circumstances and ... social ties. This is a practically insurmountable hurdle for the refugeesHow are they supposed to have and maintain social ties in Germany at all if they are not allowed to leave the facility?

In addition, so-called asylum procedure detention is newly introduced. In contrast to the ban on leaving a facility, this is detention in the classic sense. The reasons for detention include a violation of the ban on leaving and the asylum border procedure. The threshold for the application of detention is therefore set low.

This also includes the detention of children. The German draft law makes the absurd claim that the detention of children could, under certain circumstances, serve their best interestsnamely if their parents or caregiver were in detention or if the detention protected unaccompanied minors.

This is in complete contradiction to all considerations of the childs best interests that are anchored in international agreements and civil law. For example, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that the extreme vulnerability of child asylum seekers takes precedence over considerations relating to residence law. Children in detention are at a particularly high risk of having their human rights violated. Because of their young age, children can also perceive an allegedly short period of detention as very long. In addition, they perceive police presence and coercive measures much more intensively than adults.

The detention of children is also diametrically opposed to childrens rights under the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, such as the right to child-friendly accommodation and the primary consideration of the childs well-being. Germany signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992.

Complete withdrawal of benefits

At the same time, the government plans to drastically cut social benefits for asylum seekers in the future if, for example, they leave the reception centres contrary to the imposed conditions, violate reporting requirements or if they seriously impair the order in an accommodation centre, for example, through violations of house rules. This opens the door to arbitrary disciplinary measures, especially since, as ProAsyl for instance notes, the house rules of reception facilities in practice often provide for problematic regulations and restrictions on fundamental rights such as visitation bans.

The German Asylum Seekers Benefits Act has already provided for the possibility of a complete withdrawal of all benefits since October 2024 if asylum applications are inadmissible due to the responsibility of another member state and the refugees have therefore received a deportation order. This complete withdrawal of benefits has already been classified as unconstitutional by numerous courts.

Now, however, the government is going one step further. Previously, it had to be established in the case of those obliged to leave the country that departure was legally and practically possible before benefits were withdrawn. This condition for the cancellation of benefits will be dropped in the future.

This means that those obliged to leave the country will no longer receive any basic state provisions, even if they are practically unable to leavefor example, because they do not have the necessary papers or cannot travel for health reasons.

The severity of this regulation violates not only the German constitution but also European law. According to this, healthcare can be limited to emergency care but not completely cancelled. And according to an EU directive, even this reduction in health services must not be applied to minors and people with special needs, such as pregnant women, the elderly, the sick and traumatised people. With the CEAS Adaptation Act, the German government has bid farewell to the minimum standard for the implementation of fundamental and human rights.

Deportation to third countries

The German draft law opens up the possibility of rejecting asylum applications as inadmissible and referring asylum seekers for their asylum procedure to third countries classified as safe. Such third countries are to be classified as safe by decree, i.e., without a parliamentary process.

Formally, the classification of a third country as safe is linked to the obligation to ensure compliance with human rights standards in the third country for all those seeking protection, including access to a fair asylum procedure. In fact, the human rights of those seeking protection are severely endangered by outsourcing asylum procedures to third countries. Statements by NGOs on the CEAS Adaptation Act also point to this. The German Institute for Human Rights, for example, writes:

Experience with the outsourcing of asylum procedures to third countries shows: In previous outsourcing systemsbe it Israels transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda or Australias outsourcing of the asylum system to the islands of Nauru or Papua New Guineathe rights of affected protection seekers were regularly violated. This is also to be expected with the implementation of the outsourcing of procedures to third countries now provided for in the Adaptation Act. Because the practical implementation in (presumably) closed centres entails a high risk of human rights violations.

EU interior ministers had only agreed on a concept for safe third countries at a meeting in Cyprus in January. In the future, rejected asylum seekers are to be deported to these countries more easily, even if there is absolutely no connectionfor instance, through family or friendsto them and the country was not on the protection seekers flight route.

With this in mind, the Netherlands has already concluded an agreement with Uganda to set up a so-called transit camp or return hub in the East African country. According to this, protection seekers who do not receive asylum in the Netherlands and cannot return or be deported to their countries of origin are to be penned up in camps in Uganda, in order possibly to return from there to their countries of origin at an unspecified time.

A working group within the EU, consisting of Germany, Greece, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands, now wants to set up joint return hubs.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (Christian Social Union, CSU) recently formulated the guiding question: How can we bring more incisiveness and more rigour into the common European asylum policy? Dobrindt reaffirmed the goal of developing innovative models with third countries. Besides Uganda, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Ethiopia are also mentioned as possible third countries where European return hubs could be createdall countries where the human rights situation is described by recognised institutions and NGOs as catastrophic.

Right-wing extremist policies

The German government has long since adopted the programme of the right-wing extremists in its migration and asylum policies. While it slashes social benefits for the entire population, protects the growing wealth of the wealthy and super-rich, and pours billions into armaments programmes, the weakest in society are made scapegoats and an attempt is made to direct the growing anger and dissatisfaction in the population against them.

European and German politicians sometimes hypocritically express horror at Trump and his attacks on American democracy. In fact, clear parallels can be seen precisely in migration and asylum policy: The mass incarceration of people considered illegal immigrants is the central domestic political lever in the US with which Trump and his henchmen undermine fundamental rights and intimidate the population as a whole. This also includes the detention of children, which Trump already used in his first term in office as a means of deterring migrants. Today, hundreds of migrant families are being held under inhuman conditions in US internment camps.

Trump also relies on a network of compliant regimes to deport migrants to third countries, such as El Salvador, where the autocratic President Nayib Bukele locks up the victims in the CECOT mega-prison.

The CEAS Adaptation Act is thus an indicator of how far the German government has converged with the new standards set by Donald Trump in domestic policy. In Germany and Europe, too, the abolition of human rights is directed not only against refugees but against the entire working class.

Disenfranchisement, deportation, denial of health provisions, expulsion into misery and homelessness, penning up in camps here and elsewhere in the worldAll this is being introduced for refugees, who are least able to defend themselves. The same measures can quickly be directed against broad sections of the working class if opposition to war and social cuts increases.

The struggle against social cuts and for human rights must be waged across all borders. The international working class must reject every form of national and racist division and stand up for a decent life for alla truly democratic and realistic goal if social wealth is redistributed according to existing needs and does not merely benefit a small elite.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) urges students to attend our upcoming campus meetings, which will advance the socialist perspective necessary to oppose the criminal US-Israeli war against Iran, the drive to World War III and the turn to authoritarian rule in every country. Details at the bottom of the page.

In the early hours of February 28, the United States and Israel launched a joint assault on Iran that is a flagrant violation of the US Constitution and international law. The opening blows included the assassination of Irans head of state, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior leaders, together with devastating strikes on cities such as Tehran, Qom and Isfahan. Schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure have been hit, with hundreds of schoolgirls killed in bombings that constitute crimes against an entire society and its cultural and intellectual life.

This has nothing to do with any supposed imminent danger posed by Iran, but is a premeditated war of imperialist conquest and regime change. The onslaught on Iran is directed against a historically oppressed country of some 90 million people threatening to claim hundreds of thousands or millions of lives. Imperialism is seeking to behead the existing regime and terrorise the Iranian masses to clear the way for imposing a pliant, Western-backed puppet government in Tehran, opening Irans resources and labour to unrestrained exploitation by global finance capital and the energy conglomerates.

It has been launched without congressional authorisation, without a UN Security Council mandate and under the cover of sham negotiations, exposing the diplomatic process as a smokescreen for aggression. The war against Iran is part of an interconnected global offensive, already underway against Russia in Ukraine and in an advanced stage of preparation against China.

The reckless assault on Iran carries the very real danger of an all-out nuclear third world war. Under conditions in which Washington is simultaneously escalating confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia and encircling China, a widening of operations in the Middle East threatens to trigger a global conflagration that would engulf humanity.

Australian imperialism plays a frontline role in these plans. The Albanese Labor government has been among the most explicit and rapid US allies in backing the illegal war on Iran, politically supporting a historic crime that threatens to set the entire Middle East and the world ablaze. Materially, Australia is integrated into the onslaught through the Pine Gap spy base and the broader US military-intelligence apparatus, providing surveillance and targeting information for American operations.

Labors support for the war on Iran is inseparable from its alignment with Washingtons drive to militarily encircle and subjugate China. The same government is transforming Australia into a key base for a US-led war against China through AUKUS, vast expansions of US basing and the largest build-up of the Australian military since World War II, including plans for nuclear-powered submarines designed for offensive operations in the Indo-Pacific. A US-led world waragainst Iran today and China tomorrowwould inevitably involve nuclear weapons, conscription and the subordination of every aspect of social life to the war machine.

To wage such wars, the ruling classes are turning to authoritarian forms of rule as a means to suppress growing hostility among workers and youth to militarism and the erosion of social conditions.

In the United States, the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal agents, illegal detentions and police killings in Minneapolis and other cities show that bourgeois democracy is being transformed into a military-police state. In Australia, Labor has responded to the mass movement against the Gaza genocide and the broader war by unleashing police violence on peaceful protesters in Sydney, pushing draconian anti-protest laws and promoting an Antisemitism Education Taskforce to smear and silence opposition to Zionism and imperialist war on and off campuses.

The IYSSE insists that the only social force capable of stopping war is the international working class completely independent of all capitalist governments and their parties. Our meetings will elaborate the necessary socialist and revolutionary perspective to end war on Iran and halt the slide to a disastrous nuclear third world war.

This program includes the immediate and unconditional cessation of all US and Israeli military operations against Iran, withdrawal of all US and allied forces from the Middle East, an end to sanctions and economic warfare, and the fight to replace the outmoded and predatory capitalist nation-state system with workers governments that reorganise the world economy on socialist lines.

We call on students and young workers to attend these meetings, help build IYSSE clubs on every campus and take up the fight to unify workers and youth internationally against imperialist barbarism and the looming danger of nuclear world war.

NEWCASTLE

Register to attend

When: 5 p.m. Thursday, March 5

Where: VG07 University of Newcastle (Callaghan campus)

Or register to join on Zoom

MELBOURNE

Register to attend

When: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12

Where: Building 189, Ground Level, Room G02, University of Melbourne (Parkville campus)

Or register to join on Zoom

BRISBANE

Register to attend on Zoom

When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12

SYDNEY

Register to attend on Zoom

When: 12 p.m. Tuesday, March 17
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier and a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, conduct joint exercises in the Arabian Sea. [AP Photo/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian M. Wilbur]

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States Navy will begin escorting commercial tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a dramatic escalation that would place American warships directly off the coast of Iran as the illegal and murderous US-Israeli bombing campaign enters its fourth day.

Trumps announcement on Truth Social came just one day after he refused to rule out sending ground troops to Iran. I dont have the yips with respect to boots on the groundlike every president says, There will be no boots on the ground. I dont say it, he told the New York Post.

At a White House press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Tuesday, Trump spoke about the war in the language of a mob bossboasting of hits on Iranian leaders, referring to assassinations as people being taken out, tallying the dead like a gangster counting bodies.

Forty-nine people were taken out in the first hit, he said. And I guess there was another hit today on the new leadership, and it looks like that was pretty substantial also. So theyre getting hit very hard, and well see what happens.

Asked who would lead Iran after the war, he replied: Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another groupthey may be dead also, based on reports. So I guess you have a third wave coming in. Pretty soon were not going to know anybody.

In a phone call with CNNs Jake Tapper the day before, Trump declared: Were knocking the crap out of them. We havent even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasnt even happened. The big one is coming soon.

The deployment of Navy escorts into the Strait of Hormuzjust 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, within range of Iranian anti-ship missiles and dronesraises the prospect of the sinking of American vessels and major US casualties.

Six US service members have already been killed by an Iranian drone strike on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait on March 1, and at least 18 more were seriously wounded. The Pentagon identified four of the dead: Captain Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sergeant Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowaa college student at Drake University posthumously promoted from Specialist. Three US fighter jets were shot down by friendly fire from Kuwaiti air defenses; all six aircrew ejected.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the worlds oil passes daily, has plunged more than 90 percent. Zero LNG tankers passed through, a first. Over 150 tankers carrying oil or liquefied natural gas are drifting or parked inside the bay. Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGMthe four largest container shipping lines in the worldhave all suspended operations. Maritime war risk insurers have canceled existing policies and demanded vastly higher rates, creating what Kpler analysts described as a real supply disruption, not a risk premium event.

Iran has declared the strait closed. IRGC Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabari announced on state television: The Strait is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze. The withdrawal of maritime insurers has reinforced the blockadedoing the work of mines and warships.

The economic fallout is already immense. Brent crude surged past $84 a barrel, up 15 percent since the strikes began. Gas prices jumped 11 cents overnight to $3.11 a gallon. European natural gas surged 43 percent after Iranian drone strikes forced QatarEnergy to halt LNG production. Gold hit $5,418 an ounce.

Administration officials and leading congressmen are openly forecasting weeks or months of bombing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement to the press on Tuesday, Youre going to really begin to perceive a change in the scope and in the intensity of these attacks as the two most powerful air forces in the world take apart this terroristic regime.

Senator Tom Cotton, Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS that were probably looking at weeks, not days, of joint efforts by the United States, Israel and our Arab partners. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said administration officials described an open-ended conflict and told senators the military campaign hasnt even really started in earnest yet.

In a letter sent to Congress on Monday, Trump wrote, It is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary.

The disaster being unleashed by US imperialism on Iranian society is immense. The Iranian Red Crescent reported 787 people killed across Iran as of March 3. On Saturday, an airstrike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls elementary school in Minab, killing 165 people  most of them girls aged 7 to 12and wounding 95 more. The school was struck at 10:45 in the morning during a class change, with 170 students present.

On Tuesday, thousands of mourners filled the streets of Minab for the mass funeral, showering the coffins with rose petals as they were lowered into rows of freshly dug graves.

The US and Israel have bombed multiple hospitals. Khatam-al-Anbia Hospital and Gandhi Hospital in Tehran were struck on March 1, destroying the IVF department at Gandhi Hospital. Iran is under a near-total internet blackoutconnectivity has collapsed to 1 percent of normal levelsdisrupting hospitals, pharmacies, and banks across the country. The countrys navy, air force, radar, and air defenses have been systematically destroyed.

Iran has retaliated with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel, US military bases, and Gulf states. The US consulate complex in Dubai was struck by a drone. Hezbollah launched precision missiles and drones at Israeli targets, and Israel responded with strikes on Lebanon killing at least 31 people. Embassies across the region are being evacuated. The State Department has told Americans to leave more than a dozen countries, from Egypt to Iraq, on their own.

The European powers are eager participants in the criminal war against Iran. In his meeting with Trump, Merz declared that Germany and the United States are on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away. He had earlier praised the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us and declared that Tehrans days are numbered.

The assault on Iran takes place within the context of a broader eruption of American militarism across the globe. In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the National Defense Strategy the same day, Senator Roger Wicker declared: President Trumps actions in the Western Hemisphere, the Middle East and Europe are inextricably linked to our overall struggle against the Chinese Communist Party. Tailored use of military force and support in Venezuela, Iran and Ukraine has thwarted Chinese and Russian objectives and denied their access to resources and technology.

Elbridge Colby, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, agreed, arguing that degrading Iran would put the US in a position where our very kind of model ally, Israel, which is willing and able to take a lot more responsibility, our Gulf partners, who are doing a lot ... allow us to enable this focus on the first island chain.

In other words, the war against Iran is, by the explicit admission of the US government, a stepping stone in the preparation for a far larger war against China. The wars in Venezuela, Iran and Ukraine are interconnected components of an insane plan for global conquest.

The war is rapidly escalating and the dangers are enormous. The American ruling class has set in motion a chain of events it cannot control. A war launched to assert imperialist dominance over the Persian Gulf is spreading across the Middle East, convulsing the global economy, and accelerating the trajectory toward a global military conflagration. The working class in the United States and around the world must be warned: this war will not be stopped by any faction of the political establishment. It can only be halted through the independent mobilization of the international working class against the capitalist system that produces it.
In a continuation of what has become the deadliest era of state-sanctioned killing in modern Florida history, the state executed Billy Leon Kearse on Tuesday, March 3. Kearse, 53, was killed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke for a crime committed over three decades ago when he was just 84 days past his 18th birthday. He was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m. local time.

Billy Leon Kearse [Photo: Florida Department of Corrections]

Kearses attorneys filed an application for a stay on February 28 to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, citing Sixth Amendment jury impartiality issues and Eighth Amendment intellectual disability claims. Just hours before he was set to die, the Court rejected Kearses petition without comment. Last week, the Florida Supreme Court denied his appeal.

Kearses execution marks the first of three scheduled in Florida this month alone, an unprecedented pace that signals a further escalation of capital punishment policy under Governor Ron DeSantis. Following Kearses execution, the state plans to kill Michael King on March 17 and James Duckett, a former police officer, on March 31. This killing spree follows a record-breaking 2025, during which Florida carried out 19 executionsaccounting for approximately 40 percent of all executions nationwide.

A background of intellectual disability and childhood trauma

The details of the 1991 crime reflect what defense experts described as the panicked, fight-or-flight impulsivity of a late-adolescent brain. In January 1991, Kearse was pulled over by Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. When Kearse could not produce a license and gave false aliases, Parrish attempted to handcuff him. A struggle ensued, and Kearse grabbed the officers service weapon, firing 14 shots; 13 struck Parrish, who later died at the hospital.

While the state portrays Kearse as a calculated killer, his history paints a far more complex picture of systemic social failure and intellectual disability. Kearses childhood was marked by severe neglect and emotional distress. His mother reportedly drank heavily during pregnancy, most likely leading Kearse to suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; he also suffered a head injury as a toddler. By age eight, he was already in the juvenile justice system for being beyond control, and he spent his youth in special education programs for the severely disturbed.

The US Supreme Court ruled in Roper v. Simmons in 2005 that executing individuals for crimes committed as juveniles under age 18 violates the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Prior to this ruling, 22 juvenile offenders were executed, the last being Scott Hain, 17, in Oklahoma. Texas accounted for 13 of these executions.

Maria DeLiberato, legal and policy director for Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP), stated, Mr. Kearses case implicates nearly every constitutional and due process concern imaginablefrom the fact that he was just 18 years old at the time of the offense, to his well-documented intellectual disability, to the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Sgt. Parrish, which reflect the kind of panicked, fight-or-flight impulsivity we know is common in late adolescent brains.

DeLiberato added, That impulsivity is precisely why the Supreme Court of the United States barred the death penalty for those under 18, recognizing that juveniles lack the maturity, judgment, and neurological development of adults. From a constitutional standpoint, Billy Kearse never should have been sentenced to deathlet alone executed.

Legal experts argue that Kearse is constitutionally ineligible for execution due to these disabilities. He functions at a third or fourth-grade level, has a documented history of adaptive deficits, and has presented full-scale IQ scores that place him squarely within the range of intellectual disability.

The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Atkins v. Virginia in 2002 that executing individuals with intellectual disabilities, which the justices referred to as mental retardation, violates the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

The WSWS wrote at the time:

The extreme-right core of the courtChief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomasissued vigorous dissenting opinions. This is the same ultra-right trio, along with Justices Sandra Day OConnor and Anthony Kennedyall named to the Court by Republican presidentswho voted to block the Florida vote count in the 2000 presidential election and install George W. Bush in the White House.

In his dissenting opinion, Scalia

argued that the mentally retarded should not be spared the death penalty because deservedness of the most severe retribution [capital punishment], depends not merely (if at all) upon the mental capacity of the criminal ... but also upon the depravity of the crime.

While the Atkins ruling barred execution of juvenile offenders, the high court left it to the states to determine who is ineligible for execution based on intellectual disability. The execution of Billy Kearse demonstrates the non-binding character of the Courts ruling.

Procedural failures and jury irregularities

The history of Kearses legal case is a decades-long saga of procedural maneuvering. Originally sentenced to death in 1991, his sentence was vacated by the Florida Supreme Court in 1995 due to sentencing errors. However, he was resentenced to death in 1997.

This resentencing has recently come under intense scrutiny. A juror from that proceeding publicly confirmed on social media after Kearses death warrant was signed that the courtroom was filled with law enforcement officers from across the state, a visible display of authority that she admitted affected the jurys deliberations in a case involving the killing of a police officer. Despite this admission of improper influence, the Florida Supreme Court has declined to meaningfully review the issue, blocking the claim on technical procedural grounds.

Kearses execution proceeds amid a record of maladministration in Floridas lethal injection protocol. Investigations into executions carried out in 2025 revealed half of them involved significant issues: the use of expired drugs, underdosing of paralytics and the administration of unauthorized chemicals like lidocaine.

In a February 2024 statement, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticized the secrecy surrounding Floridas protocols, noting that prisoners are trapped in a Catch-22. The state denies inmates access to execution records, then argues they lack enough evidence of cruel and unusual punishment to warrant a stay. By shrouding the process in secrecy, Sotomayor warned, Florida undermines the integrity of the judicial process itself.

The acceleration of executions is part of a broader resurgence of the death penalty in Florida. Governor DeSantis recently signed legislation allowing for death sentences based on an 8-4 jury recommendation, directly challenging US Supreme Court precedents that had moved toward requiring unanimity. Furthermore, Florida remains the only state where the governor maintains sole authority to sign warrants without independent oversight.

Resistance to this spree of death continues to mount. Organizations such as FADP and the Catholic Mobilizing Network organized vigils and petition drives, urging clemency for Kearse and other death row inmates. They argue that capital punishment is a state-sanctioned violation of human dignity that disproportionately targets the disabled and the impoverished. They call for an end to capital punishment, reflecting growing opposition in the American public to the barbaric practice.
On Tuesday, embattled Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee to defend both her own record and the murderous and criminal actions of the immigration agencies she oversees.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. [AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite]

The hearing takes place under conditions where DHS employees are going without pay for over two weeks after Democrats refused to provide votes to fund the agency unless it adopted cosmetic measures aimed at restoring the credibility of the widely hated department, which has Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under its purview.

Millions of people are outraged over the brutal and criminal character of the mass deportation operation, which serves as a spearhead of dictatorship, and the murder of multiple Americans this year, including Keith Porter Jr., Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

In response to the murders of Good and Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota, tens of thousands of people held mass demonstrations on January 23 and 30 demanding that all immigration agents leave the state and that those responsible for the murders be held accountable. Some two months after the murder of Good and Porter Jr. and more than a month after the murder of Pretti, none of the agents responsible for their killings have been arrested or charged with a crime.

Underscoring the mass anger directed at Noem and the immigration agents under her command, the hearing was interrupted twice by protesters.

Near the beginning of the hearing, a protester shouted, Kristi Noem, you should be ashamed of yourself, before being wrestled to the ground by Capitol Police. As they were carried out of the chamber, the protester called for the abolition of ICE.

A second protester shouted, Two other Americans were killed by ICE, Keith Porter Jr. and Dr. Linda Davis. They were Americans killed by ICE. Say their names, their black lives matter. Dr. Linda Davis, a special education teacher in Savannah, Georgia, was killed on February 16 when a vehicle fleeing federal immigration agents crashed into her car during a morning commute near her school.

In her opening remarks and testimony, Noem repeatedly defended the immigration Gestapo and refused to apologize to the families of Good and Pretti for smearing them after they were killed. In the case of Pretti, Noem falsely claimed that the VA ICU nurse was brandishing a weapon and appeared to be engaged in domestic terrorism. These comments were made hours after video emerged showing Pretti was disarmed, shoved to the ground and shot in the back multiple times by CBP thugs.

Noem likewise refused to apologize to Marimar Martinez, who attended the hearing in person. Last year during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, Martinez was shot multiple times by CBP thug Charles Exum after CBP agents rammed her car. Exum bragged over text message that he put five holes in Martinez, a US citizen on her way to donate clothes at a local church.

In response to concerns raised over the deplorable conditions immigrants are held for months at a time in for-profit concentration camps, Noem falsely claimed detainees were given prompt medical treatment and three healthy meals a day. As Noem was testifying the El Paso Times reported that the sprawling Camp East Montana immigrant concentration camp was under quarantine following a measles outbreak at the Texas detention facility.

This is the second time measles cases have been confirmed at the camp and follows at least two cases of tuberculosis at the facility.



In his opening remarks, chairman of the committee Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley condemned Democrats for not voting to approve funding for the DHS, Now more than ever I hope the Democrats work to end the shut down. Retiring Senator Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) fumed that under Noems leadership, the American people...think that deporting people is wrong.

In his opening statement, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee Illinois Senator Dick Durbin (D) attacked Noem over the murders of US citizens before proposing immigration goons follow the same rules as police.

While many Democrats mentioned the murder of US citizens and the lack of any accountability from ICE agents, none of them proposed actually abolishing ICE, a demand that has the support of 50 percent of the US population according to a YouGov poll released on March 3, the highest registered support for abolishing the agency YouGov has measured.

Instead, multiple Democrats talked about reining in DHS and installing guardrails, such as requiring agents not to wear masks while kidnapping people and receiving more training. DHS needs the same use-of-force requirements as police, Hawaii Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono said.

Democrats repeatedly, and unprompted, agreed with their Republican colleagues that ICE and CBP were necessary and that the government should have the ability to deport people who have committed serious crimes, although neither Democrats nor Republicans could agree on what constitutes a serious crime.

Turning to Minnesota, Noem confirmed during the hearing that roughly 650 federal immigration agents remain in the state, weeks after the Trump administration claimed it was winding down its massive enforcement operation. Pressed by senators on why hundreds of agents were still deployed following the murders of Good and Pretti, Noem claimed that the agents were now primarily investigating alleged fraud, including supposed Medicaid fraud cases in Minnesota.

Last week the federal government announced it would withhold $259 million in Medicaid payments to Minnesotaa move without precedent in modern US politics and yet another attack on the working class by the Trump administration. The announcement was publicized by Health and Human Services Secretary Mehmet Oz and Vice President JD Vance, who claimed the action targeted scammers who have hijacked in particular a certain part of the Medicaid system, but offered no concrete evidence to justify such sweeping punishment. Promising further attacks on workers and families, Oz warned that Minnesota is not alone and wont be the first to receive this action.



Medicaid in Minnesota is a major social lifeline: over 1.26 million people are beneficiaries, it covers three in 10 children, and more than 78 percent of adult recipients are working, in school, or caregiving. The program insures over 300,000 low-income workers. Cutting funds to such a program is an assault on working class familieschildren, the elderly, people with disabilities and low-paid workers who rely on Medicaid for basic health care. The freeze is part of the Trump administrations escalating offensive in Minnesota, first with the killings of Good and Pretti, and now through social murder carried out by cuts to vital programs.

Despite claims of a drawdown of federal agents, which Democratic Party figures including Governor Tim Walz helped promote, the Trump administrations terror against Minnesota workers has continued, with collaboration from the DFL/Democratic Partyrun state administration. This past Sunday, police with the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office were recorded assaulting anti-ICE protesters in St. Paul, Minnesota. The video shows police spraying protesters with pepper spray and throwing one to the ground and slamming their head.

The Democrats have played a particularly treacherous role spreading the lie that protests alone had convinced the Trump administration to dial back ICE terror.

The same ruling circles attacking social programs enrich themselves through speculation, war profiteering and corruption. There is real fraud taking place, and it is in Washington, particularly in the White House. Trump has enriched himself to an extraordinary degree, personally accumulating at least $1.4 billion in a single year of his presidency, including more than $800 million from cryptocurrency ventures, bribes and other transfers of money.

The biggest fraud of all is the illegal war on Iran, which exposes the lie that social programs must be cut for lack of funds. Billions of dollars have already been wasted massacring school girls in Tehran and workers throughout the region. The Trump administrations broader trajectorythe expansion of ICE, the trampling of democratic rights and the launching of illegal warsexpresses the logic of a ruling class defending its ill-gotten wealth and power. The same ruling class that wages war abroad now demands austerity and dictatorship at home to pay for it.



The defense of democratic rights and social programs cannot be left to either party of the ruling class. Workers must build rank-and-file committees, convene mass meetings in workplaces and communities, and unite struggles over health care, wages and democratic rights into a mass movement independent of the two capitalist parties and their adjuncts in the trade unions.
The architect of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s chief AI model has resigned, a surprise departure thats rattled the developer community and raised questions about the Chinese online leaders pivot to artificial intelligence.

Junyang Lin, who also goes by Justin, announced on X he was stepping down as the tech lead for Qwen, Alibabas main AI platform. That early morning post triggered a surge of support from the open-source community. Alibabas shares slid as much as 5.3% in Hong Kong  their biggest intraday loss since October  in part because investors are unwinding AI-related trades given global uncertainty.

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Lin was one of the most influential figures behind Alibabas transition to AI, an endeavor intended to drive its next phase of growth beyond online commerce. During his tenure, the Qwen series of models became the foundation for Alibabas marquee AI app and services, and consistently ranked among the worlds top-performing platforms.

That placed the online company among the frontrunners of a broader effort by Chinese firms to compete with the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic PBC. Qwens advances this week drew the attention of Elon Musk, who commented on its impressive density.

me stepping down. bye my beloved qwen, Lin wrote on X, without elaborating.

The reasons behind Lins exit remain unclear. The AI engineer, who last year set up a new robotics team, had been posting updates about Qwen on X just a day prior. And Alibaba last month unveiled a major upgrade to that marquee platform, designed to support AI agentic tasks as well as handle text, photo and video inputs. Lin didnt respond to messages seeking comment.

Alibaba Chief Executive Officer Eddie Wu thanked Lin Thursday in a brief statement, adding his company is forming a task force to coordinate foundational AI model development. While continuing to uphold our open-source model strategy, we will further scale up investment in AI research and development, accelerate the recruitment of top talent, Wu said in a statement.

Lins revelation  which spurred more than a thousand replies including well-wishes and questions within hours  casts a cloud over Alibabas AI ambitions. At least one other Alibaba engineer announced he was departing in the wake of Lins post. MiniMax Group Inc.  an Alibaba investee and AI pioneer  thanked Lin for his contributions to the open-source community.
By Jonathan Stempel

March 4 (Reuters) - Allstate must face a privacy lawsuit accusing the home and auto insurer of illegally tracking drivers through their cellphones without consent, using their data to raise premiums or deny coverage, and selling the data to other insurers.

In a decision on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jeremy Daniel in Chicago said drivers in the proposed class action can try to prove that Allstate violated the Federal Wiretap Act by monitoring their travel locations, trip distances, speed, acceleration, braking, phone usage and attention to the road, and tried to monetize that data to boost profit.

Drivers can also try to show that Allstate's data analytics unit Arity violated the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act by inaccurately reporting their driving behavior, including when they rode as passengers.

According to the complaint, Arity's tracking software was integrated into apps such as Fuel Rewards, GasBuddy, Life360 and Allstate-owned Routely.

The judge also let drivers pursue claims under the laws of 20 U.S. states. He dismissed three of the drivers' 38 claims.

Insurers such as Allstate, Progressive and Berkshire Hathaway's Geico use so-called telematics in monitoring drivers' habits. They say the technology rewards good driving through lower premiums.

Allstate argued that drivers never alleged it actually captured their data, or that their insurance rates went up. It also said its privacy policies disclosed the possibility of data collection.

Allstate said in a statement on Wednesday: "Consumers who choose to share driving data through Arity-powered apps can access emergency assistance, track fuel efficiency and unlock personalized insurance rates after a clear notice and explicit opt-in process."

Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The litigation combined 15 private lawsuits against the Northbrook, Illinois-based insurer. Texas filed a similar lawsuit against Allstate in January 2025.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter)
Anthropic's Claude became the most downloaded free app on both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store on Tuesday, the company announced, following its showdown with the Department of Defense (DOD) last week.

Anthropic (ANTH.PVT) and the DOD have been sparring over the company's insistence that the agency not use its Claude models for the mass surveillance of Americans or to develop fully autonomous weapons. On Friday, President Trump ordered all of the federal government to phase out Anthropic's technology over the next six months.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth then said he is labeling the company a supply chain threat.

That could force firms that work with the government and use Anthropic's models to stop using the company's technology, though Anthropic says that only applies to those firms' government work and not to their private businesses.

But the blowup has seemingly helped Anthropic's public relations, with the company saying that Monday was its largest single day for sign-ups ever.

It then leaned into the goodwill, adding memory to the free version of Claude, allowing users to save and build on prior interactions with the AI bot.

OpenAI ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, and Perplexity mobile app icons on a screen.  Robert Way via Getty Images

Anthropic's rival OpenAI (OPAI.PVT), meanwhile, said Friday that it entered into an agreement with the DOD that will allow the agency to use its models, while keeping the same guardrails Anthropic fought for.

But critics said the language had loopholes that would allow the DOD to spy on Americans.

OpenAI responded to the concerns on Monday, saying it updated the language in its agreement with the DOD.

"This language makes explicit that our tools will not be used to conduct domestic surveillance of US persons, including through the procurement or use of commercially acquired personal or identifiable information," the company said in a statement.

"The Department also affirmed that our services will not be used by Department of War intelligence agencies like the NSA. Any services to those agencies would require a new agreement."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also took to X to discuss the controversy, receiving thousands of comments from users.

Got a tip? Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on X at @DanielHowley.

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What Happened?

A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after fears of a global energy price shock hit the semiconductor sector following a sell-off in South Korea's stock market.

The drop in South Korea's KOSPI index was triggered by fears related to an Iran conflict, which sparked concerns about a major price shock for liquefied natural gas (LNG). South Korea is one of the world's largest importers of LNG, so a sustained surge in energy prices could directly increase operating costs and squeeze profits for the country's semiconductor manufacturers. Major chipmakers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which dominate the global memory chip supply, saw their stocks fall significantly. This negative sentiment spread to U.S. markets, affecting related semiconductor companies.

The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.

Among others, the following stocks were impacted:

Zooming In On Western Digital (WDC)

Western Digitals shares are extremely volatile and have had 43 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, todays move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The previous big move we wrote about was 5 days ago when the stock dropped 4.2% on the news that the semiconductor sector tumbled as a 'buy the rumor, sell the news' event unfolded around AI-chip leader Nvidia, despite its strong earnings report. Even though Nvidia reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results and provided upbeat guidance, its shares fell, dragging the broader market with it. The sell-off triggered a plunge in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index and pulled down peers like Broadcom, Micron, and AMD. Analysts suggest the focus for investors has shifted from Nvidia's stellar performance to broader concerns, including growing competition in the artificial intelligence sector and whether the high levels of investment in the AI space are sustainable. This negative reaction highlights a cautious sentiment, where even positive news couldn't sustain the sector's upward momentum.
Miami Swim Week  The Shows will return to Mondrian South Beach from May 25 to 31.

The event is under the management of Sean Rashid, the new chief executive officer, alongside Elizabeth Claros as fashion event director.

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The exhibition kicks off with daytime events and an open model casting sponsored by Strawberry Moon on May 25. The week will spotlight swim and resort wear, featuring runway presentations, daytime activations, wellness programming, panel discussions and satellite showcases taking place at the Mondrian and select venues across Miami.

Some 49 designers representing the U.K., Colombia, Holland, Italy, Brazil, Australia and China will participate. The Mondrian South Beach will serve as the central runway hub, hosting individual designer showcases as well as curated group shows, while additional satellite productions throughout the city will highlight independent presentations and collaborative showcases.

On May 27 and 28, the organization will honor the life of founder Moh Ducis, who died Oct. 8. A short film celebrating his life  accompanied by a live violinist  will be presented prior to the evening runway showcases.

Wednesdays runway programming will open with a presentation by Ema Savahl Couture benefiting the Little Lighthouse Foundation, with additional designers participating. Throughout the week, evening productions will reflect the largest and most technically advanced staging in the events history, featuring the largest LED screen ever used at a fashion show in the U.S., surpassed only in Europe by houses such as Balenciaga and Christian Dior.

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During the week, Kristin Cavallari will introduce her jewelry from her brand, Uncommon James, thats incorporated into the styling of models at Resa.

In addition, there will be an expanded SwimFit and Wellness Club Series, taking place across four days, featuring two on-site activations at the Mondrian and two off-site wellness experiences at other Miami locations. The week also includes fashion panels and industry talks.

On May 30 and 31, the introduction of the Casa Hammock Showroom will take place within the Tower Suite at the Mondrian South Beach. The showroom will feature participating runway designers in a direct-to-buyer setting, allowing buyers, journalists and stylists to engage with collections up close.

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NEED TO KNOW

Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon were seen on the Greek island Hydra again on Tuesday, March 3

The couple were photographed arriving on the island, where Pitt is filming his next movie The Riders, on Feb. 18

Pitt's most recent movie F1 is nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, at the 2026 ceremony to be held on March 15

Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon are still spending quality time together in Greece.

The actor, 62, and his girlfriend of more than two years, de Ramon, 33, were photographed leaving the Greek island Hydra on Tuesday, March 3, about two weeks after they were first seen on the island as Pitt films an upcoming movie titled The Riders.

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They were previously photographed walking together with their luggage on Hydra on Feb. 18. A source recently told PEOPLE that Pitt spent much of February in Dublin to film The Riders, which is based on author Tim Winton's novel and directed by Conclave filmmaker Edward Berger.



Pitt and de Ramon were first seen spending time together at a Bono concert in Los Angeles in November 2022, at which time a source close to the jewelry designer said the pair had been dating "for a few months" after they were introduced by mutual friends.

In September 2024, they made their red carpet debut at the Venice International Film Festival. A source told PEOPLE in October 2025 that Pitt and de Ramon were "fully living together" in a new home.



Ines de Ramon and Brad Pitt in Greece on March 3, 2026

Credit: NDPG / BACKGRID

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In December, a source close to Pitt told PEOPLE that de Ramon is "perfect" for the Oscar winner and that the couple are "great together" just before each of their birthdays.

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Pitt most recently appeared on the big screen in last year's racing movie F1. The film is nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, at the 2026 Oscars, which will be held on March 15.

His new movie The Riders follows a couple named Fred and Jennifer Scully, who purchase "an old farmhouse which stands in the shadow of a castle" in Ireland after a period of travel through Europe.



Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon on March 3, 2026

Credit: NDPG / BACKGRID

Julianne Nicholson (Paradise) and Coco Greenstone will costar in the movie with Pitt, Deadline reported in January.



Before The Riders hits screens, Pitt will reprise his Oscar-winning role as Cliff Booth from the 2019 movie Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood in an upcoming spinoff directed by David Fincher. The movie is expected to land on Netflix later this year.

Read the original article on People
NEED TO KNOW

The former Prince Andrew was asked to surrender the lease of East Lodge, a cottage near Windsor that he has rented since 1998

The former Duke of York recently moved out of his longtime home at Royal Lodge

The news follows scrutiny of Andrews finances and his historic arrest on Feb. 19

The former Prince Andrew is giving up another royal residence.

On March 3, the BBC reported that the former Duke of York, 66, has been asked to surrender the lease of East Lodge, which he has rented since 1998 from the Crown Estate.

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PEOPLE has contacted the Crown Estate for comment.

East Lodge is a Grade II-listed, thatched cottage that Andrew began leasing in February 1998 for a staff member on commercial terms, who continues to live there, according to a response from the Crown Estate submitted to the Public Accounts Committee in November 2025.

The East Lodge cottage in Berkshire.

Credit: Google Maps

The Crown Estate is an independent, commercial business with a vast portfolio including land, seabed and urban centers around the U.K. It is not owned by King Charles, and its profits go to the Treasury.

As of August 2025, Andrew had been paying about $17,293 in annual rent for the property, a fraction of the cost for an area where two to three-bedroom apartments could cost as much as $10,000 per month to rent, the BBC said.

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Its latest lease terms are thought to have been due to end in July 2027, and the early eviction may have been spurred after the BBC submitted a Freedom of Information request in January about the residence.

"Since then we have received a request for us to consider an early termination of the lease," the Crown Estate told the outlet.

The legal process now kicks in for Andrew to surrender the lease, The Times reported.

It was announced in October 2025 that King Charles' brother was evicted from Royal Lodge, his longtime home and contentious residence where he allegedly paid "peppercorn rent," when the monarch stripped his royal titles. King Charles made the move amid renewed scrutiny of Andrew's ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier and convicted sex offender who died while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in August 2019.

Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.

Credit: Shutterstock

Andrew's alleged connections to Epstein sparked his step back from his royal role that November following a tell-all BBC Newsnight interview, though he has denied any wrongdoing regarding their relationship. Queen Elizabeth later stripped Andrew of his military titles and patronages in January 2022 after a judge rejected his attempt to have Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffres sexual assault lawsuit against him dismissed; he settled with Giuffre out of court the following month.

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PEOPLE confirmed that the former Duke of York, who is now called Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, officially moved out of Royal Lodge in early February, leaving the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park that he called home since 2003. He was expected to temporarily live at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk before moving into another property nearby, which is currently undergoing renovations.

On the morning of Feb. 19, his 66th birthday, Andrew was arrested at Wood Farm on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

(Left) An unmarked vehicle outside the gates of the Royal Lodge, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former residence in Windsor Great Park on Feb. 19, 2026; (Right) Prince Andrew in Perth, Australia on Oct. 2, 2019.

Credit: Leon Neal/Getty ; RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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Authorities are investigating a claim that he shared confidential information with Epstein during his time as trade envoy for the U.K. in the 2000s.

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Andrew was released after spending about 11 hours in police custody and now faces an uncertain road ahead. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Andrew's historic arrest and ongoing fallout around his family are the subject of PEOPLE's exclusive cover story this week, where royal author Catherine Mayer says, "A stronger intervention earlier on might have prevented all of this.







Read the original article on People
NEED TO KNOW

Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie's mother, was last seen Jan. 31 and is believed to have been kidnapped

Multiple people have been detained and later released without charges, but they are not suspects

Authorities have not determined who kidnapped Nancy, and anyone with information about Nancy's disappearance is asked to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriffs Department at 520-351-4900

Over a month into the search for Nancy Guthrie, authorities have yet to determine who might have kidnapped her.

Nancy  who is Today co-host Savannah Guthrie's mom  was last seen on Jan. 31, and is believed by authorities to have been kidnapped from her home in Tucson, Ariz., sometime during the early morning hours of Feb. 1.

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More than a week into the search for Nancy, authorities released surveillance footage appearing to show a masked, armed person  whom the FBI estimated was "a male, approximately 59 - 510 tall, with an average build"  tampering with her doorbell camera outside the home.

While the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI haven't named a suspect or confirmed whether Nancy is alive or dead, they have investigated potential leads.

Police previously detained and released three people who are not suspected of any wrongdoing.

They also ruled out Nancy's family members as potential suspects, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos saying during a Feb. 17 press conference that his team "did everything" to investigate them before deeming them as "victims."

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The FBI's reward of $100,000 remains active, and anyone with information about Nancy's disappearance is asked to please contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriffs Department at 520-351-4900.

Here's everything to know about the people detained by police and ruled out in Nancy Guthrie's case.

Carlos Palazuelos was detained at a traffic stop on Feb. 1

Carlos Palazuelos

Credit: ABC15 Arizona/Facebook

During the evening of Feb. 10, police detained Carlos Palazuelos of Rio Rico, Ariz., roughly 60 miles south of Tucson. He was detained after a traffic stop while he was working.

In a video posted on X by CBS News' Andres Gutierrez, Palazuelos said authorities were following him so he "pulled up on them."

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When asked what authorities said to him, Palazuelos replied, "Nothing. Really, nothing. They just said, 'Stop moving, what's your name?' Carlos. That was it. Pulled me into the cop car."

Palazuelos was eventually told it had to do with a kidnapping case and recalled thinking, "What the f--- am I doing here? I didn't do anything. I'm innocent."

Palazuelos went on to say that authorities didn't ask him any questions, though he claimed they searched his car and home.

Just moments after his release, Palazuelos told ABC 15 Arizona that he was "glad they're doing their job," but said they were "chasing the wrong guy."

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He also told the outlet that he and his wife, who was behind the wheel, pulled over once they noticed police were following them.

Palazuelos said he was stopped. "They didn't tell me what was going on until detectives got here."

Palazuelos said he doesnt watch the Today show

Carlos Palazuelos

Credit: Today

Following Palazuelos' release, he spoke to reporters outside his house and said he "didn't do anything," per Gutierrez's video.

He told reporters that he had no idea why he was stopped or who Nancy or Savannah were. "That's the problem. I don't know anything," Palazuelos said in the video posted by Gutierrez.

"I hope they get the suspect, because I'm not it," he continued. "I hope they get the suspect so I can clear my name."

Luke Daley and his mother were detained on Feb. 13 for a few hours

Luke Daley

Credit: True Crime Arizona

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On Feb. 13, SWAT members armed with a search warrant descended on the Tucson home of 37-year-old Luke Daley and his 77-year-old mother, who Fox News reported live about two miles from Nancy.

The mother and son were released without being charged after being held for hours.

At the time of their detainment, Daley's attorney Chris Scileppi confirmed to PEOPLE that "Daley and his mother were both detained by law enforcement while the search warrants were being executed."

"Neither Daley nor his mother were arrested in connection to this case or any other," Scileppi added. "Daley has no link whatsoever to Nancy Guthrie and has no information related to her kidnapping. Like the entire Tucson community, both Daley and his mother are hopeful that Nancy will be returned to her family unharmed."

Daley said he has never met Nancy, but knew who she was from the case

Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie.

Credit: Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

In an interview with True Crime Arizona's Briana Whitney that was released on March 2, Daley broke his silence about the incident, clarifying that he had been detained by the sheriffs and questioned by the FBI.

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He said he has no idea who is involved and if he did, he would let authorities know, saying, "I, like everyone else, just want Nancy to come home and be safe."

Daley went on to say that he never met Nancy, though he knew who she was from his mother following the case. He also did not know they lived nearby "until after the fact."

Daley said there is "no evidence" pointing to him other than "speculation"

Pima County Sheriff's Chris Nanos speaks to the media on Feb. 3, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz.

Credit: Jan Sonnenmair/Getty

Daley told Whitney that he believes law enforcement zeroed in on him after people on social media began saying that he looked like the masked suspect seen on Nest doorbell footage.

"It's not me. I don't see the resemblance of it looking like me. Absolutely not. I have nothing to do with this case," he said. "Someone says something and then they just go off of it based on no evidence, no truth."

Daley continued, "There is no evidence to point towards me other than speculation."

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Kylan Darnell went viral in August 2022 for documenting her experience rushing a sorority at the University of Alabama, and her little sister Izzy started posting the same content at the start of her freshman year in August 2025

Kylan appeared on a recent episode of the Post Run High podcast to discuss how RushTok social media fame has impacted her relationship with Izzy over the past few years

Izzy's path ultimately diverged from Kylan's, as the younger Darnell sister dropped out of sorority recruitment during the process and later told PEOPLE exclusively that she plans to transfer to another college

Kylan Darnell made her name on social media as the "Queen of Bama Rush." Last year, she watched her little sister Izzy step into the RushTok limelight as well, but the viral fame wasn't always a family affair.

On Feb. 23, Kylan appeared on the Post Run High podcast to discuss her experience garnering over one million followers while earning an undergraduate degree. Now in her final year at the University of Alabama, the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sister remembers how her online presence initially created some distance between her and Izzy, now 19. She was still in high school when Kylan rushed in August 2022.

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"I was getting to do all of like the influencer things, and my sister had to sit at home in high school and watch all of my success," she reflected while speaking to host Kate Mackz. Kylan also noted that she and Izzy have a childhood history of being competitive with each other.

Kylan and Izzy Darnell at Miami Swim Week on May 30, 2025.

Credit: Romain Maurice/Getty

"There were pageants where we were against each other, and I would beat my sister, or she would beat me," said the older Darnell sister, who was once crowned Miss Ohio Teen USA. "We've always had a very tight-knit relationship, and we always competed against each other."

She explained that it was generally "really hard" for Izzy when Kylan moved away from home to start university, and she took responsibility for some of the tensions they endured as siblings.

"I got really immersed in like my friends and ... I was not the best oldest sister to her. I did not check in on her. I did not ask her how high school was. I was so into myself and so into my own life that I forgot to be a good older sister," Kylan admitted. "It really makes me upset now thinking about it."

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She added, "There was a point whenever Izzy stepped online that I was so mad at her that I unfollowed her for the things that she was saying. It embarrassed me." Kylan noted that they've since mended their relationship and are on "great" terms now.

Izzy joined her sister at the University of Alabama in 2025, when she enrolled as a freshman and started documenting her sorority recruitment process like her sister did three years earlier. Unlike Kylan, however, Izzy shocked her followers when she announced that she dropped out of Greek Life. She dropped another bombshell in December 2025, when she revealed exclusively to PEOPLE that she plans to transfer schools.

During the Post Run Podcast episode, Kylan discussed how her 2025 Bama Rush experience differed from prior years, namely because of Izzy's arrival and because their mom, Tonya Darnell, was regularly on campus with them.

Tonya Darnell with Kylan and Izzy Darnell

Credit: Tonya Darnell/Instagram

"I was not a happy camper," Kylan said. "I haven't really said anything about this just because I do like to put out like the most positive thing online and always be a positive source, but ... I hated it, to be completely transparent."

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She explained that having her family members around gave her "a lot of anxiety," especially since her sister approached rush and RushTok in a completely different way than Kylan. She recalled how Izzy quickly realized sorority life was not for her, and she didn't hide her feelings about the system.

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"She thought it was stupid, and so she would go online and she would be like, 'Sorority girls this, sorority girls that. I don't get it. I don't like it.' And I was like sitting beside her, and I was like, 'Dude, I'm one of those,'" Kylan said. "It was hurting my feelings a little bit, and it kind of made me feel, like, invalid."

Despite the discomfort those moments stirred up, she went on to say she and Izzy have talked and smoothed over those past tensions, and she praised Izzy as having "matured a lot since." Kylan also said they ended up using their opposite online personas as a way to play with their audiences.

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"We did have a little bit of a fun time rage-baiting ... 'cause I was so perfect online and she wasn't, so like her being the villain sometimes is fun, but she really is a great girl, and all of her friends love her," Kylan said of her younger sister. "So she's been having a really, really great experience now."

Read the original article on People
Its been almost 30 years since Mary Kay Letourneau was arrested on March 4, 1997, before pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree child rape stemming from her unlawful affair with former student Vili Fualaau.

Though Letourneau died in 2020, their controversial relationship remains unforgettable.

Fualaau, now 42, was 12 years old when he began having a sexual relationship with Letourneau, then 34. People reported that Fualaau bet a friend $20 he would have sex with Letourneau, who at the time was in an unhappy marriage and began fantasizing about the preteen.

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She eventually became pregnant with Fualaaus child and was arrested on March 4, 1997, after her husband, Steve Letourneau, found love letters addressed to the child at their home.

At the time, Letourneau didnt know her affair was a crime. She once told Barbra Walters, Im sure that I would have, you know, a penalty of some sort. I was imagining theres probably some community service hours for situations like this, and I actually didnt think that I needed an attorney, even.

Letourneau and Fualaau welcomed two children together, daughters Audrey and Georgia. After the former teacher served about seven years in prison, she resumed her relationship with Fualaau when she was released. They were married in 2005.

Though the two were together for over a decade, Fualaau filed for legal separation in 2017. Their on-off relationship finally ended in 2019, one year before Letourneau died on July 6, 2020, from colorectal cancer at age 58.

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After Letourneaus death, Fualaau welcomed a daughter named Sophia in 2022 from another relationship, though details of his personal life are scarce.

Fualaau became a grandfather in 2024, when his and Letourneaus daughter Georgia welcomed a baby boy. Their daughter Audrey also welcomed a son the following year.

In an interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz following Letourneaus death, Fualaau looked back on their time together.

She was my best friend, he told Dr. Oz. And I felt like she was actually the only person that actually cared, you know, considering my upbringing and her upbringing. A lot of things just made sense for the both of us and the way things happened.

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Of their final moments together, Fualaau recalled, The last thing she told me is that I am the most important person to her and that everything is going to be OK.

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This story Mary Kay Letourneau Was Arrested 29 Years Ago  Heres Where Vili Fualaau Is Today first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ascendis Pharma A/S shares are up during Mondays premarket session following the FDAs approval of Yuviwel (navepegritide; developed as TransCon CNP), the first and only once-weekly treatment for children with achondroplasia.

FDA Approval

The FDA approved Yuviwel, a prodrug designed to increase linear growth in children aged two years and older with achondroplasia, based on data from three randomized clinical trials.

Achondroplasia is a rare genetic disorder causing dwarfism, characterized by short limbs, a normal-sized torso, and a large head.

Ascendis Pharma plans to make Yuviwel available through prescribing physicians in the U.S. during the early part of the second quarter of 2026.

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In November, Ascendis Pharma announced that pivotal week 52 results from its ApproaCH Trial of investigational once-weekly TransCon CNP (navepegritide) in children with achondroplasia have been published in JAMA Pediatrics, a journal of the American Medical Association.

The authors report that treatment with TransCon CNP led to significantly higher annualized growth velocity (AGV) at week 52 compared to placebo (primary endpoint), as well as improved lower-limb alignment and body proportionality and positive changes in health-related quality of life, with a safety and tolerability profile similar to placebo.

Additionally, the approval includes a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher, which could expedite future drug applications. This development marks a significant advancement in treatment options for a condition that affects many children, providing a new avenue for growth in Ascendis Pharmas portfolio.

Trending: Before the IPO: How One Company Quietly Locked Up 500+ Iconic Character Rights

Technical Analysis

The stock is currently trading 0.42% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 2.45% above its 100-day SMA, indicating some short-term weakness but longer-term strength. Over the past 12 months, shares have increased significantly and are currently positioned closer to their 52-week highs than lows.

The RSI is at 50.00, which is considered neutral territory, suggesting that the stock is neither overbought nor oversold at this time. Meanwhile, MACD is at 0.15, below its signal line at 0.22, indicating bearish pressure on the stock. The combination of neutral RSI and bearish MACD suggests mixed momentum.
Rebecca Gayheart is honoring her eldest daughter, Billie, days after Eric Danes death.

Happy sweet 16 to the sweetest girl  mommy loves you to the moon and back unconditionally forever and ever, Gayheart, 54, wrote via her Instagram Story on Tuesday, March 3.

Alongside the message, Gayheart shared a throwback photo of daughter Billie holding ice cream. She paired the image with Kina Grannis You Are My Sunshine.

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Gayheart also shared a slideshow of pictures of Billie through the years, including an image of her with Dane, alongside Fleetwood Macs Landslide.

Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayhearts Daughters Through the Years: See Their Sweetest Family Photos

Days before Gayhearts tribute, news broke that Dane died at age 53 after a battle with ALS. Dane is survived by Gayheart, whom he wed in 2004, and daughters Billie and Georgia, 14. (Gayheart filed for divorce from Dane in 2018 but requested to dismiss it in 2025.)

With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS, his family wrote in a statement to Us in February. He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight.

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The statement continued, He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support hes received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.

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An official death certificate obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, March 2, listed Danes cause of death as respiratory failure with ALS as an underlying cause. He was created on Friday, February 27. The certificate also indicated that Dane was still married to Gayheart at the time of his death.

Eric Dane Predicted How His 2 Daughters Would Remember Him Before His Death at 53

Dane went public with his health battle in 2025. Later that year, Gayheart opened up about learning about Danes diagnosis.

His symptoms started maybe a year prior. When we would have a meal with the kids, hed say things like, Somethings wrong with my hand. He was struggling to use his chopsticks, dropping his food. That was when he started seeing doctors, Gayheart recalled to New York Magazines The Cut in December 2025.

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She continued, When he told me that day, he just started weeping, as did I. It didnt feel real because he was still OK. Gayheart and Dane told their daughters about his diagnosis one week later.

Dane, meanwhile, reflected on his relationship with Gayheart in an interview that aired after his death.

I will never, by the time anybody sees this, have fallen in love with another woman as deeply as I fell in love with Rebecca. Shes the mother of my children. I think Rebecca was more willing to show up and do her part than I was, Dane said of their separation in his Famous Last Words interview on Netflix. I dont have that gene [that] just makes you want to keep going regardless of whats happening. Im like, If theres a hole in the boat, dont try to patch the hole. Scuttle the damn thing and go find a new one.  Rebeccas a fighter and she perseveres.
Sam Heughan joined his co-star Caitriona Balfe for the Outlander Season 8 New York premiere on Monday, and my first reaction was, this how you bow out in style.

Sam Heughan Wore Siobhan Mackenzie To The Outlander Season 8 New York Premiere

The Scottish actor is notorious for favouring understated tailoring and tonal looks on the red carpet. But to mark the conclusion of the final season, he stepped out fully embracing the moment, celebrating both the series and his heritage in this custom look by Siobhan Mackenzie.

The designer described it on Instagram as a black Stewart contrast kilt ensemble grounded in heritage and shaped by contemporary craftsmanship. Bias cut tartan runs through the kilt and waistcoat, while subtle tartan touches appear across the jacket. Matte black buttons and kilt buckles bring a clean, refined finish.

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The styling deserves its own moment too. The traditional leather sporran worn at the front of the kilt anchors the look, while the lace up boots paired with knee high socks keep the ensemble rooted in Highland dress without feeling costume like.

The look feels entirely fitting for a show that placed Scotland firmly on the global stage.

You may remember that Jamie Roy wore a custom Siobhan Mackenzie look for the Los Angeles premiere of Outlander: Blood of My Blood back in July last year, and what I appreciate is how the designer consistently marries Scottish heritage with a contemporary point of view.
Originally appeared on E! Online

These days Vili Fualaau's life as a 42-year-old dad of three appears fairly standard. Run of the mill, even.

Learning now-27-year-old daughter Georgia Fualaau was expecting her first child some two years after he welcomed his third, daughter Sophia, in 2022, "Hes already buying baby stuff for me and giving me hand-me-downs from my baby sister, which is nice," Georgia told People ahead of the January 2024 birth of her son. "I just know that hes going to be the greatest grandfather ever."

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It's a role he took on once more when eldest Audrey Fualaau welcomed son Elias Ulumailuma D. Porter with her fiance Ethan Tela Porter last May.

As for how their mom Mary Kay Letourneauwho died at the age of 58 in July 2020, following a private cancer battlemay have felt becoming a grandmother, "I think maybe at first it would be kind of shocking, because I am her baby," Georgia acknowledged at the time. "But after that, shed be the most excited grandmother-to-be."

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Because Letourneau understood better than most just how complicated a new arrival can be.

After all, her relationship with Fulaauthe student she met when he was in her second grade class and she was a married mom of fourstarted as a crime.

In 1996, the middle school teacher began sexually abusing a then-12-year-old Fualaau. And on Mar. 4, 1997, she was arrested for child rape after becoming pregnant with Fualaau's child.

She gave birth to Audrey Lokelani Fualaau, while she was on trial for child rape. Their second daughter Georgia Fualaau was born while Letourneau was in prison.

"I thought this could be trouble, because it's not really a social norm," Letourneau said in 2004, reflecting on her choices during an appearance on CNN's Larry King Live, "but I didn'tI didn't have an ideaI didn't believe that it was a felony. It just...I knew it just didn't...just wasn't normal."

Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images

In 1996, Letourneau was a well-liked, well-respected teacher at Shorewood Elementary School in Burien, Wash. Born Mary Kay Schmitz, she had been married to Steve Letourneau since 1985, the pair deciding to marry while students at Arizona State after she got pregnant. They shared four children.

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Letourneau's father, John Schmitz, was a former Republican state senator and congressman representing Orange Countywho, it was discovered in 1982, had extra-maritally fathered two children with a former student of his from when he taught at Santa Ana College. The known conservative embarked on the affair in 1973. Schmitz died in 2001, still married to Letourneau's mother, Mary, after 47 years.

Letourneau had known Fualaau since he was 8 years old and in her second-grade class. His parents were divorced and he lived with his mother, Soona. His dad, in prison at the time for armed robbery, had been married five times; Fualaau had 17 siblings. Letourneau knew his mom and other members of the family.

Fualaau was barely 13 and had just finished sixth grade, again having been in Letourneau's class, when their sexual relationship began. They were both taking the same art class at a community college that summer and she encouraged his drawing and poetry writing.

Letourneau claimed that she was separated from her husband when the affair began, that she would still have had feelings but would have resisted acting on them if she knew it was a felony. She described the build-up to the affair as "a million moments that just kept building something very beautiful and scary at the same time." In 1996, she had suffered a miscarriage and subsequently became depressed. She wasn't looking to fall in love, she said.

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She later told Larry King that she and Fualaau had a "really compatible sense of humor" and a similar "perspective on life."

Fualaau had begun his adolescent advances after making a bet with his cousin that he could "get" her. "I remember I used to like plan the next day, like 'What I was gonna do, what was I gonna say, what I was gonna, like, what surprise I was gonna leave on her desk,'" Fualaau later told Dateline. He objected to being called a victim.

On Australia's Sunday Night in 2018, he recalled, "Mary and I became really close, and I kinda forgot about the bet."

Police came across them sitting in Letourneau's van one evening, parked near the marina, but a quick phone call to Fualaau's mother confirmed that the child was with a trusted adult.

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"He said there was nothing between them," his mother later told the Seattle Times. "And I assumed I could trust her with my son."

Ron Wurzer/Getty Images

Letourneau's husband discovered the abuse in February 1997 when he came across love letters his wife had stashed away. He didn't know yet that she was six months pregnant.

A relative of her husband reported her to the police, and Letourneau was arrested and charged with rape of a child. The argument that the tween pursued her and she didn't know that what she was doing was a crime, and that they were so in love, did not sway a court of law or public opinion.

"There was a respect, an insight, a spirit, an understanding between us that grew over time," Letourneau told the Seattle Times in 1997. "It was the kind of feeling you have with a brother or sistera feeling that they're part of your life forever." But she "didn't know what it meant." And it certainly wasn't sexual at first. "I felt that one day he might marry my daughter," she added.

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According to Gregg Olsen, author of If Loving You Is Wrong, a 1999 book about the case, the affair wasn't exactly a secret. "A janitor caught them in the stall, in a bathroom stall at one point. Other teachers saw them kiss," he told CBS News. Fualaau said in a court deposition that they snuck up to have sex one night on the roof of Letourneau's house.

She ended up pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree child rape, telling the judge, "Your honor, I did something that I had no right to do, morally or legally. It was wrong. And I am sorry. I give you my word that it will not happen again. Please, please help me. Help us, help us all."

Investigation Discovery/YouTube

She was given a suspended 89-month prison sentence and ordered to spend six months in jail, including credit for time served. She was released on Jan. 2, 1998, and as part of the terms of her release was ordered to get counseling and stay away from Fualaau, whose family was caring for Audrey.

Barely a month later, however, police spotted the 36-year-old woman and 14-year-old boy in a car parked in front of her house. According to police, the car was full of young men's clothing, baby clothes, photographs, groceries, personal documents, a lock box with $6,200 in cash and, tucked near the gas pedal, Letourneau's passport. She had purchased a pager for Fualaau to get in touch with her.

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Child Protective Services were alerted by Fualaau's therapist that they had resumed their sexual relationship.

Back in custody, Letourneau was put on suicide watch. Her attorney argued that she suffered from bipolar disorder and had stopped taking her medication after leaving jail, prompting her to take "really stupid risks."

"Everyone said this was going to happen," her attorney David Gehrke said on MS Now, formerly MSNBC, at the time. "We were not surprised. Whether it's true love, whether it's sick love, whether it's an obsession or whatever, you can't start her in treatment one week and say, 'You're cured.'" Fualaau initiated the contact, he said.

Letourneau was sent to prison to serve out her original sentence. That March, it was revealed she was pregnant with her and Fualaau's second child.

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Meanwhile, Steve divorced her and moved with their four kids to Alaska. "I'm kind of speechless," he told People in March 1998, after Letourneau was locked up again. "It's like taking a picture of our family from the wall and throwing it on the ground." Their kids were "handling it pretty well," he said, "considering their anger."

Her and Fualaau's daughter Georgia was born later that year at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, Wash., then eventually also went to live with her sister Audrey in the custody of Fualaau's mother.

For the seven and a half years Letourneau was in prison, she was allowed no visits from or contact with Fualaau, though they managed to get messages to each other. One of the biggest blows was not being allowed to attend her father's funeral in 2001.

Letourneau got out of prison in August 2004.

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"I don't know what my feelings are right now," Fualaau told Seattle's KING 5 News on the eve of her release, admitting he was "kind of nervous. But I know that I do love her."

During her time in prison, Fualaau had dropped out of high school, though in 2004 said he was working on his GED. "I tried to get my mind away from everything," he told People. "I was partying, drinking too much. Too many hangovers." His mother had unsuccessfully tried to sue the school district for negligence.

Two months after her release, Letourneau told King in her first interview since being back on the outside that she and Fualaau were engaged. (They had to petition a judge to dissolve a no-contact order first.)

Recalling the lead-up to the scandal being national news, Letourneau said that neither she nor Fualaau ever considered not having the baby when she got pregnant the first time. She encouraged him to stay in school and she planned to take maternity leave and pursue a new career.

Asked if the children knew anything about what was going on, she explained, "I mean, the story is that their mother was away at prison. And now, finally, their mommy and daddy are back together. And that's the story. And I've told my oldest one, at least, that, you know, mommy's doing a time-out."

Her four eldest children had visited from Alaska four times a year. Gehrke's wife, Susan, would drive Audrey and Georgia to the prison twice a month to see her.

"I'm very sensitive to each of my older children's developmental level and their understanding right now," Letourneau also said on Larry King Live. "I'm there for them right now. They're in Alaska, but I stay very close in touch with them. And it's notit hasn't been appropriate to talk with my 10 and 12-year-old right now. I'll do that with their father."

Letourneau said that she didn't consider her life to be "tumultuous," a word King used. Rather, it was "blessed."

"I'm healthy. My children are healthy. And I still have a mother. And I come from a very loving family. And I have Vili," she said. At the time, she was not allowed to leave the state of Washington without permission. She could teach again, she said, just not in the public school system.

She and Fualaau wed on May 20, 2005, at a winery in Woodinville, Wash. They set up registries at Williams Sonoma, Macy's and Tiffany. Their daughters were flower girls.

"They've got this nice little place on the beach and there's always things to look at," the lawyer said on MS Now's The Abrams Report. "We figure, the little girls are there and they can watch the ships go by, and there's eagles that fly by."

They remained in the Seattle area to raise their kids. When Fualaau had aspirations to work as a DJ, Letourneau hosted a "Hot for Teacher" night at a bar where he was deejaying in 2009.

In April of 2015, ahead of their 10th wedding anniversary, she and Fualaau sat down with Barbara Walters for ABC News.

"The incident was a late night, and it didn't stop with a kiss," Letourneau recalled about their first sexual encounter. "And I thought that it would, and it didn't."

Added Fualaau, "It was a huge change in my life, for sure. I don't feel like I had the right support or the right help behind me. From my family, from anyone in general. I mean, my friends couldn't help me because they had no idea what, what it was like to be a parent, I mean, because we were all 14, 15."

Being barred from talking to Letourneau, the mother of his kids, was difficult: "I mean, if they gave me more options or choices to make instead of just saying, 'Oh, you can't talk to her anymore,' and I was like, 'I really do want to talk to her, though.'"

Matt Brashears/King County Journal/ZUMAPRESS.com

The saga appeared to be coming to an end when Fualaau filed for a legal separation in May 2017.

However, he told Radar Online afterward, "It's not necessarily what you think." Rather, he was trying to start a business, and he wanted to disentangle himself from a potentially messy background check.

"When you want to get licensed, they do background checks on both parties," Fualaau explained. "If I decide to be a part of it I have to be licensed and I have to be vetted and so does a spouse. She has a past. She has a history."

Sure enough, they were spotted together soon afterward. And on a 2018 episode of A&E's Autobiography, they appeared together and Letourneau simply said they weren't talking about it.

Asked on Australia's Sunday Night in a special that aired in September 2018 if he had any advice for his younger self, Fualaau cracked, "Don't do it!" He laughed and added, "I can't regret my two daughters and the entire life that I've already lived."

As for his daughters? "I think I understand about it, just like how it was surprising to people," Audrey, now 28, said about her parents' relationship. "It's been feeling different because it's not really been brought to our attention, just because we grew up with it, so we're adapted to it."

She and Georgia considered their mom to be on the strict side, Audrey revealing that mom once cut the padding out of one of her bras. Their dad "definitely feels like a young dad now that I'm at that adult age to where I can go to a bar," she said. "He's like a 'friend dad.'"

Though the couple officially divorced in 2019, with Fualaau moving to California, when she grew ill, he "gave up his life there, and for the last two months of Marys life he stood by her 24/7 taking care of her," attorney Gehrke told Today.

And decades after the whole thing began, Letourneau hadn't changed her story.

"I was pursued, and I didn't think about it," Letourneau also said on Sunday Night. "I did not think about it. Didn't."

Letourneau still felt that she was wrongfully imprisoned. "I did the best that I felt at the time with the decision that I made," she said, "and I tried to take the guilty plea back when I realized I was tricked and coerced into it."

Of course, theirs wasn't the only tale to have dominated the press. Keep reading for more true crime stories.

As for his daughters? "I think I understand about it, just like how it was surprising to people," Audrey, now 28, said about her parents' relationship. "It's been feeling different because it's not really been brought to our attention, just because we grew up with it, so we're adapted to it."

She and Georgia considered their mom to be on the strict side, Audrey revealing that mom once cut the padding out of one of her bras. Their dad "definitely feels like a young dad now that I'm at that adult age to where I can go to a bar," she said. "He's like a 'friend dad.'"

Though the couple officially divorced in 2019, with Fualaau moving to California, when she grew ill, he "gave up his life there, and for the last two months of Marys life he stood by her 24/7 taking care of her," attorney Gehrke told Today. "So yes, they were divorced and they had their spats, but they were always in love with each other."

Heidi Gutman/ABC

And decades after the whole thing began, Letourneau hadn't changed her story.

"I was pursued, and I didn't think about it," Letourneau also said on Sunday Night. "I did not think about it. Didn't."

Letourneau still felt that she was wrongfully imprisoned. "I did the best that I felt at the time with the decision that I made," she said, "and I tried to take the guilty plea back when I realized I was tricked and coerced into it."

Of course, theirs wasn't the only tale to have dominated the press. Keep reading for more true crime stories.

JonBenet Ramsey

The 6-year-old pageant star was brutally murdered at her Colorado home on Christmas 1996. Her parents, brother and more have all been suspects, but to this day no one really knows who killed JonBenet.





Nicole Brown Simpson & Ron Goldman

O.J. Simpson, who died in April 2024 after a battle with cancer, was found guilty in a civil trial of both 1994 murders, but in the criminal trial, the jury acquitted him. Technically, in the eyes of the law, the famous NFL player didn't do it, so their murderer remains unknown (and perhaps at large).





Tupac Shakur

Depending on whom you ask, someone might say Tupac is still alive. But the "Changes" rapper was murdered in 1996, and the investigation is still unsolved.





Notorious B.I.G.

About a year and a half after Tupac, Biggie Smalls was shot four times in a drive-by shooting. His killer still remains unknown.





Caylee Anthony

Casey Anthony, Caylee's mother, went through a highly publicized trial only to be found not guilty of her daughter's murder. As a result, it's still unknown who murdered this little girl.





Elizabeth Short a.k.a. The Black Dahlia

Short, who was murdered in 1947, and the mystery surrounding her death became an instant media sensation. She received "The Black Dahlia" moniker posthumously, but to this day, her killer remains unknown.





Andrew Borden & Abby Borden

This couple was brutally murdered with an axe in 1892, but it was their daughter, Lizzie Borden, who was tried and acquitted for the crime. The deaths of Andrew Borden and Abby Borden were never solved.





Jack the Ripper

In 1888, an unknown serial killer hit the streets of London. More than 100 years later, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains unknown.





The Chicago Tylenol Murders

These murders were a series of poisoning deaths resulting from drug tampering in Chicago in 1982. The victims, who included children, had all taken Tylenol-branded acetaminophen capsules that had been laced with potassium cyanide. A total of seven people died in the original poisonings, with several more deaths in subsequent copycat crimes. The person responsible is still unknown.





The Zodiac Killer

He was a serial killer who acted in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but his identity still remains unknown. The killer originated the name "Zodiac" in a series of taunting letters sent to the local Bay Area press. These letters included four cryptograms (or ciphers). Of the four cryptograms sent, only one has been definitively solved.





(Originally published Nov. 24, 2018, at 3 a.m. PT)
The 80s Cruise is currently on the high seas celebrating its 10th anniversary with a voyage that started on Feb. 27 and lasts through March 6, but even before that trek finishes organizers have announced the lineup for 2027, headlined by Chaka Khan.

Other acts on the bill for the 11th 80s Cruise include Night Ranger, Loverboy, DMC, John Waite and former Joy Division/New Order bassist Peter Hook with his band The Light. Also on the bill are Public Image Ltd, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Bob Geldof & The Boomtown Rats, Stryper, The Romantics, Nick Heyward of Haircut 100, BulletBoys, Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves, Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, The Plimsouls and Strangelove.

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Once again former MTV VJs Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Downtown Julie Brown will serve as hosts along with Sirius/XM First Wave DJs Larry the Duck and Lori Majewski.

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For 2027, the cruise will depart for the first time ever from New Orleans with stops in Costa Maya, Cozumel and Belize City aboard Royal Caribbeans Mariner of the Seas.

Some fans reacted to the announcement in the comments of the 80s Cruise official Instagram account. You had me at Chaka Khan, wrote one. Me too! Im going, another added.

This years 80s Cruise in progress is headlined by Bret Michaels of Poison along with Nile Rodgers & Chic, OMD, Billy Ocean, Gary Numan, Berlin, Los Lobos, Taylor Dayne, the Sugarhill Gang, Quiet Riot, Glass Tiger, Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, Dazz Band, Heaven 17, Men Without Hats, Aldo Nova, Digital Underground, DJ Kool and others.

Rodgers & Chic, Ocean and Iris and the Cruisers were set to perform at a special Rock the Dock concert on land at the Nassau Amphitheatre, just steps from where the boat docks in Nassau, Bahamas as part of the cruises 10-year anniversary celebration.

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The 80s Cruise official Instagram account has been sharing video highlights of this years cruise in progress in its Stories, including Taylor Dayne on the main stage on Day 4, Aldo Nova rocking out in Studio B, the 80s Prom, Quiet Riot in Studio B, OMD, and various scenes of cruisers partying down aboard the ship.

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On March 3, 1966, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, and Bruce Palmer formed Buffalo Springfield, the folk rock group best known for its hit song "For What It's Worth."

The group's namesake was a steamroller they'd seen in Hollywood, with the words "Buffalo Springfield" written on the side, according to Britannica. The band played a six-week residency at the legendary Sunset Strip venue Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles, which let to them getting signed to Atlantic Records.

"For What It's Worth," released in 1967, is widely considered an anti-establishment anthem on the Vietnam War era, representing the epitome of '60s hippie counterculture. However, the song wasn't actually written about the Vietnam War. Rather, it was written about the Sunset Strip Curfew Riots on Nov. 12, 1966.

After Los Angeles county imposed a curfew for minors, the youth revolted, protesting on the Sunset Strip. Police showed up, and the situation quickly escalated. Michael Rummans, a protestor who was at the scene, told NPR, "A cop came up to me, and he said, 'Get out of here right now or I'll drag you out of that car and kick the s*** out of you.'"

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Francie Zbilski, another protestor, said, "I never saw so many policemen in my entire life. We were just surrounded by police officers, like an army of them."

The event inspired Stills to write "For What It's Worth," which he reportedly wrote in just 15 minutes and the group recorded in just one night.

"The song was about the times," the group's former manager Richard "Dickie" Davis told NPR. "The protests for the Vietnam War were in play right then, and they were on Stephen's mind just as much as anything else. The song was written about the Sunset Strip, but it's bigger than that."

Although Buffalo Springfield was only active from 1966 to 1968, Young and Stills went on to form Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with David Crosby and Graham Nash, which launched them into superstardom.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Patsy Clines final performance took place 63 years ago this week in Kansas City, Kansas.

Cline headlined a benefit show for a radio DJs family at Memorial Hall on March 3, 1963. She stayed the night at the former Town House Hotel, now an apartment for seniors.

Two days later, she died in a plane crash on her way home to Nashville.

US soldiers killed in Iran war remembered for their duty, devotion to their families

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Bad weather delayed Clines flight home to Nashville until March 5, 1963. The skies were still stormy that day, and a friend urged Cline to join them in a car ride back to Nashville.

Cline famously responded by saying, Dont worry about me, hoss! When its my time to go, its my time.

The Town House Apartments in Kansas City, Kansas, formerly the Town House Hotel and last place singer Patsy Cline stayed before her fatal plane crash on March 5, 1963. (FOX4 Photo/Brian Dulle)

After a stop in Missouri and Tennessee, Clines plane crashed in a remote wooded area near Camden, Tennessee. Cline was just 30 years old.

Tuesday marked 63 years since Clines final show at Memorial Hall.

Locals said its bittersweet to have this connection with the first woman to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

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Although its a connection marked by tragedy, it has created a unique bond, for some, between this community and one of the most famous names in American music.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Netflix boasts an impressive subscriber count of over 325 million, but a large percentage of those customers could lose access to the service this week.

Over 80 million devices won't be able to access Netflix after March 2, and some subscribers aren't happy about the news.

Netflix is ending support on the PlayStation 3 after over 15 years of support on the console in various iterations. Subscribers have been able to access the service on the system since 2009, three years after Sony initially released it to the public.

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Last month, PlayStation 3 users were informed of the app's eventual close by a message on the platform, which reads as follows: Unfortunately, Netflix will no longer be available on this device after March 2, 2026. Visit netflix.com/compatible devices to see a list of supported devices.

Netflix will no longer be available on PS3 after March 2, 2026 https://t.co/ppxvmCFWi5 pic.twitter.com/jNdi9gQw3P  Wario64 (@Wario64) February 3, 2026

Netflix Was a Trailblazer On the Platform

In its infancy, subscribers needed to access the Netflix app by using an "instant streaming disc" to pull up content. A native app for the PlayStation 3 was developed in 2010, making the console one of the first streaming devices that are ubiquitous in homes today.

The PS3 was a pioneer for home media in many respects, including giving users a place to access streaming content before the creation of items like Amazon's Fire Stick and Roku devices. Today, many of these "smart" features are built into TVs by default - rendering apps like the PS3's Netflix application obsolete.

Sony ended support for the PlayStation 3 on the gaming side several years ago, but many still use the system as a Blu-Ray player and hub for streaming content.

Netflix Users React Ahead of App's Closure

I know a few people who use their PS3 as a media streamer but dont even play games on anymore. Ive also used this way for a few years," said one commenter on social media.

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"Its really good and relaxing to play music with the in built graphic interface. Love it! Shame on Netflix, well my sub will stop."

Netflix will no longer work on a PS3 or older smart tvs (about a decade old)," another subscriber said.

"Basically, devices that are not spyware and where Netflix cant jam the screen with ads. No loss here and my older tv is such a better experience than the ads everywhere smart stuff.

I imagine I'm one of like 10 people bummed by this, one user said on Reddit.

Netflix ps3 has been so convenient for watching old shows on a CRT in 4:3 without the black bars on the sides. Glad I got to use it while I still can and at least they gave a heads up."

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Some other subscribers said that they were surprised to see the PS3 app supported for so long, as Sony has moved on to the PlayStation 4 and eventually the PlayStation 5. The fifth console in the series is the most current hardware, and features many of the same streaming apps one can find on their set-top box or smart TV of choice.

Like the PS4 and PS3 before it, the PS5 also plays Blu-Ray discs natively as long as the system has a disc drive attached. The Sony consoles have been useful for those who prefer physical media, but the emergence and popularity of streaming services like Netflix cannot be ignored.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Stop thinking about aesthetic places in London where to end your daily fast: simply take notes, make a booking, and relax. | Credit: Harriet Langford. Courtesy of Aram by Imad

We're almost halfway through Ramadan, and if you're craving a change of scenery from your own kitchen table or your go-to iftar spot, then you're in luck. That's right: this is your sign to venture out into London's most stylish restaurants, whether you're breaking your fast solo, with loved ones, or even looking to do so while meeting new people.

It's safe to say there's no shortage of coveted culinary addresses in London: from quiet neighborhood eats and buzzy street food coves to the trendiest menus, there's always something for everyone in the British capital.

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But much to my surprise, finding Halal restaurants with Iftar menus that also wow you from the moment you step inside was a trickier undertaking. You've landed in the right place, though  I've done the work so you don't have to. Just take your pick from three of the most beautiful London restaurants to break the fast in, book a table, and treat yourself to a different kind of experience this Ramadan.

1. Ladeed Pop-Up at The Pilgrm Lounge

"The Pilgrm has such a distinct, soulful character," chef Nargisse Benkabbou said of the hosting location for Ladeed, adding that "there's a shared appreciation for design and storytelling that made this partnership feel completely organic." | Credit: The Pilgrm

Where & When: 25 London St, Tyburnia, London W2 1HH. To March 7

Ladeed is a Moroccan kitchen pop-up taking place in a beautiful boutique hotel in Paddington, with a Victorian staircase and eclectic antique decor that makes you stop and wonder about its backstory. The Pilgrm hotel's lounge is where guests or stopper-bys can enjoy a drink or a delicious brunch on most days; however, until March 7 between 6 and 9:30 PM, it's been transformed into a hub for rich Maghrebi cuisine, Ladeed. Translating to "delicious" in Moroccan Arabic, this pop-up menu was created by chef Nargisse Benkabbou, whom I had the pleasure of meeting when I tried out her uplifting, modern take on Morocco's traditional plates.

"The Pilgrm has such a distinct, soulful character," she said of the hosting location for Ladeed, adding that "there's a shared appreciation for design and storytelling that made this partnership feel completely organic." I can't help but agree.

"The soul of my cooking is obviously Morocco, but I always aim to innovate and surprise," the Ladeed creator told me when I met her at The Pilgrm. | Credit: The Pilgrm

The dim lighting and comfortable leather armchairs felt like I was sinking into a world far away from the bustling streets of London, and our conversation quickly revolved around the art pieces around us. The charming lounge the experience is hosted in lacks no charm: dotted with hand-drawn portraits, hanging plants, and chairs in different patterns and materials, it begs to be discovered and touched.

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As a Casablanca-born and raised, I truly consider this a must-visit. Don't miss out on the Msemen with Harissa butter as a starter, and definitely don't skip out on the tea-flavored chocolate and vanilla ice cream dessert. The interiors are cozy and warm, the menu is authentic yet innovative enough for it to rewrite my experience of Moroccan food, and it's a great place to gather with friends or treat yourself to a solo Iftar.

Book your table for Ladeed at The Pilgrm Lounge.

Madaq: Simple Everyday Recipes With the Flavours of Morocco

Missed out on Ladeed? Stock up on Nargisse Benkabbou's hearty recipes with the collection of Moroccan dishes gathered in her latest book.



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2. Bombay Bustle

Every detail of Bombay Bustle serves the escape from the busy London streets to the bustling alleys of Mumbai. | Credit: Bombay Bustle

Where: 29 Maddox St, London W1S 2PA

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There are very few restaurants that do Iftar justice like Bombay Bustle. This year, Indian American fashion entrepreneur Pernia Qureshi and her new cooking book, Ammi's Kitchen, took over the Mayfair hotspot to bring a true feast to its tables. From the moment you get in, you feel transported elsewhere, as if sitting in one of the Indian railway carriages that inspired the eatery's design. Here, every detail serves the escape from the busy London streets to the bustling alleys of Mumbai.

I was especially taken by the walls, either adorned by a gorgeous mint green wallpaper in the carriage, rosy tonal split walls in the dining room, or lime-washed seafoam green like in the bar. The distinct design offers a cohesive look and feel, while still giving each of these rooms its moment to shine.

For Iftar, Indian American fashion entrepreneur Pernia Qureshi takes over the kitchen of Bombay Bustle in London's Mayfair with family-inspired recipes taken from her Ammi's Kitchen cooking book. | Credit: Steven Joyce

Bombay Bustle celebrates the memories that food holds in such a vibrant culture, and the Ramadan feast is a collection of heirloom recipes passed down in Pernia Qureshi's family, which perfectly reflects the storytelling of the restaurant's decor. You can either choose the set feast or have your pick from Ammi's Kitchen menu. Either way, the Chicken Kali Mirch and Mutton Seekh Kebab are a must-try. Rich flavors, a diverse plate selection, and stunningly elevated interiors really make this an Iftar to remember.

Book your table at Bombay Bustle.

Ammi's Kitchen: Heirloom Recipes From Rampur

Experience an Iftar-style feast year-long with Pernia Qureshi's emotional recipe book Ammi's Kitchen, or get an exclusive taste of it during her Bombay Bustle takeover.

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3. Aram by Imad

Credit: Harriet Langford. Courtesy of Aram

Where: Strand, Greater, London WC2R 1LA

If you, like me, are always in the mood for Middle Eastern food, then I'm sure Aram by Imad in Somerset House, the first permanent London eatery of Syrian restaurateur Imad Alarnab, who arrived in the UK as a refugee in 2015 after fleeing the war in his homecountry, will feel extra satisfying. This Iftar season, the address is offering a Syrian menu with Levantine influences that celebrates the chef's brave story and cultural customs in a series of collaborative supper clubs held in Salamlik, the private dining space of Aram by Imad.

The initiative, which comes after his first trip to Damascus in a decade, comprises a selection of sharing plates standing for reconnection and rich history. The next supper club is hosted in collaboration with NGO Saffron Kitchen Project on March 5, and aids the creation of community through food for displaced and vulnerable people.

The Iftar supper club at Aram by Imad means shared Middle Eastern delicacies, connections, and memories worth treasuring. | Credit: Aram by Imad

Although the menu differs each time, the flavors remain authentic to Middle Eastern cuisine, and the familial atmosphere will trick you into thinking you're breaking your fast with your loved ones. Candlelit tables, artisanal glass lighting, chartreuse green walls, and terracotta touches all add a warming ambiance to the Iftar. It's the type of place I'd go to time and time again, as I'm definitely eager to discover more of the menu. And if you're joining the supper club alone, you will leave with newfound connections worth cultivating in the future.

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Book your table at Aram by Imad.

Imads Syrian Kitchen: A Love Letter From Damascus to London



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Found the best places to eat for Iftar, but still hungry for more design-inclined eateries? Discover more of our favorite restaurants in London and beyond via the stories gathered in Chef's Essentials, a collection of trusted kitchen utensils selected by award-winning culinarians.
As March begins, St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and Rhode Island is getting ready to celebrate all month long.

The state's large Irish population fills March with festive Celtic music, traditional Irish dancing and decorated floats in everything from dinners to pub crawls to road races. However, the most popular way to celebrate the Irish holiday is with a parade, and luckily, Rhode Island has plenty.

Here are four St. Patrick's Day parades to check out across the Ocean State this March.

Pawtucket St. Patrick's Parade: March 7

ORG XMIT: Saturday, March 4, 2006, 1pm--The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Pawtucket.--Photos shot in front of, or near Pawtucket City Hall. PICTURED IS--Danoe the Clown, AKA Daniel Mann of Providence, performs for the crowd.

Pawtucket is back with its 44th St. Patrick's Day parade, this year featuring Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) President Rosemary Costigan as the Grand Marshal.

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The parade will start at noon on Saturday, March 7, traveling from the corner of Division Street and South Bend to City Hall. Best viewing spots include Walcott Street and Roosevelt Avenue.

Pawtucket's parade will be followed by a celebration with food, drinks, vendors and live Irish music at The Armory on Exchange Street. Admission to The Armory event is $4, and the fun will last from 1-5 p.m.

More: Are Shamrock Shakes back at McDonald's yet?

Newport Saint Patrick's Day Parade: March 14

Downtown Newport was packed with revelers of all ages on Saturday for the 69th annual Newport St. Patrick's Day parade.

This year marks the 70th annual Newport Saint Patrick's Day Parade, which features marching bands, clowns, reenactment units, police and fire units, local non-profit organizations, Girl and Boy Scouts, schools and more.

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Newport's parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 14 and last for about two hours. The route will start at Newport City Hall and proceed down Thames Street to Saint Augustine's Church on Carroll Avenue.

After the parade, Newport will host a family-friendly celebration with bagpipe music, face painting, balloon animals, mini games and cash giveaways. The free celebration will last from 1-4 p.m. at the Martin Recreation Center, located at 35 Golden Hill Street behind Newport Public Library.

West Warwick Saint Patrick's Day Parade: March 15

Hosted by The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Pawtuxet Valley, West Warwick's St. Patrick's Day parade will return for its 65th year on Sunday, March 15. The parade will step off from the intersection of Washington Street and Read Avenue at 1 p.m. and travel through Washington Street and Main Street before ending in front of West Warwick Town Hall.

Spring 2026: Temps to be 'warmer than usual' this spring, Old Farmer's Almanac says

Providence St. Patrick's Day Parade: March 21

The Rhode Island Pipes and Drums, made up of firefighters, marches down Smith Street in the Providence St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2019. Last year's parade was canceled because of the pandemic and this year's was postponed until Sept. 18.

The city of Providence will host its annual St. Patrick's Day parade at noon on Saturday, March 21. The parade will begin at Smith Street and Hilltop Avenue, traveling eastwards on Smith Street before ending at the Rhode Island State House.

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Providence's parade is just one event in a lineup of St. Patrick's Day events for the city, which includes a dinner party, a celebration at City Hall and a special lecture at Providence College. A full list of events can be found online.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Where to find St. Patrick's Day parades in Rhode Island 2026
Did you know that Williams Sonoma sells baking mixes? I sure didn't  not until I was introduced to them by a friend. Yet the company's selection was immediately alluring; after all, a brand known for premium kitchen tools is bound to make cake mixes to match. Fortunately, I wasn't wrong in my assumption.

For this taste test, I tried seven cake mixes offered by the brand (similar to my previous ranking of Pillsbury boxed cake mixes). Each cake mix boasted luxurious packaging that hinted to the contents' quality. Moreover, I was pleased to see that Williams Sonoma boasts a pretty unique selection of cake mixes. From olive oil cakes to "snacking cakes" and a couple classic mixes, I had a feeling I was in for a good time.

I ranked these cake mixes according to how they stacked up against other similar cake mixes I've tried, and how impressive they were in general. And because these mixes come at a rather hefty price tag compared to other baking mixes, I compared them to similar from-scratch cakes I've made before. Curious to see how they fared? Keep reading for my full review and rankings of Williams Sonoma cake baking mixes.

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Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

Read more: 15 Vintage Pie Flavors No One Remembers Anymore

7. Rich Dark Chocolate

Box of Williams Sonoma Rich Dark Chocolate cake mix next to chocolate cake on white table - Emily Hunt / Tasting Table

Coming in last place was Williams Sonoma's Rick Dark Chocolate cake mix. Now, even though it's technically "last," it's definitely not a bad mix. But that being said, I'm not sure I would buy it again. It doesn't beat my homemade chocolate cake recipe, and it doesn't offer a cheaper price tag than ingredients for a homemade cake, which may otherwise entice me. Moreover, this cake mix came without frosting, while many of the following included a frosting packet.

In the realm of chocolate cake mix brands, I can definitely call this a good one. It had a denser texture than other boxed mixes I've had, which I consider to be a good thing. This means a single slice will be more filling, and the cake won't buckle under the weight of frosting. As far as whether it fulfills its promises of being rich and dark, I'd say it gets almost all the way there. I've had richer and darker, but if I were pitting this against a Pillsbury or Duncan Hines mix of the same flavor, it would come out on top. But because this mix didn't come with frosting and wasn't the most impressive of the bunch, it had to snag seventh place.

6. Madagascar Vanilla

Box of Williams Sonoma Madagascar Vanilla cake mix next to Madagascar vanilla cake on white table - Emily Hunt / Tasting Table

Up next, we have Williams Sonoma's Madagascar Vanilla cake mix, which is the only other cake mix on this list to not come with frosting. That's the biggest reason it could only make sixth place  I just couldn't justify ranking it above the following cake-and-frosting combos. Still, as far as vanilla cakes go, I'd call this a very good one, and it raised an important question: Why don't more yellow cake mixes have a pronounced vanilla flavor?

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In any case, I think they should, especially after tasting how potent the Madagascar vanilla (a pretty expensive type of vanilla) was here. I'll also say that I'm a way bigger fan of vanilla cake than chocolate cake in general, which plays into why I ranked this higher than the previous cake. Its flavor really was flawless, and it made this cake not feel boring in the slightest.

If I were to frost this one, I'd be wary of pairing it with a stronger-tasting option, lest that overwhelmed the actual flavor of the cake. But when you can't get your hands on high-quality vanilla and are dying for a rich vanilla cake, this would be a good mix to buy.

5. Strawberry Snacking Cake

Box of Williams Sonoma Strawberry snacking cake mix next to strawberry cake on white table - Emily Hunt / Tasting Table

Even though Williams Sonoma's Strawberry Snacking Cake only made the fifth spot on my list, as far as boxed strawberry cake mixes are concerned, it's quite good. And, there's the obvious bonus that this snacking cake comes with a box of powdered frosting mix that's incredibly easy to whip up. One package makes a pretty small, single-layer cake, another thing I appreciate about this mix  it's the perfect size for a single-person household to enjoy over the course of the week.

In terms of its flavor, though this cake easily beats out other strawberry cake mixes, I was still a touch underwhelmed. Strawberry came through plentifully in the frosting, but not as much in the cake itself. That wasn't a big enough issue to knock this any further down on my ranking. It did, however, prevent this cake from getting a higher spot here. Texturally, the cake was fairly dense but it had a tender crumb. Were I to get this again, I'd probably add sliced strawberries to the top, and I may even add some to the mix itself to amp up the strawberry flavor a little.

4. Chocolate Espresso Snacking Cake

Box of Williams Sonoma Chocolate Espresso snacking cake mix next to chocolate espresso cake on white table - Emily Hunt / Tasting Table

I am an absolute fiend for everything chocolate-espresso flavored, and again, this little snacking cake came so close to fully delivering. It, too, came with a powdered frosting mix that took no time at all to whip up. The biggest reason I couldn't rank this cake higher is because, like the last one, the frosting stole the show, which I always think should be the actual cake's job.

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Moreover, as with the strawberry cake, I found the espresso flavor here to be fairly subtle. That could be a personal problem, of course; as a huge fan of the flavor, I like it to be more than readily apparent in my bakes. And while it didn't get totally lost here, it could have been punchier. As a whole, though, the cake's flavor was quite good. The chocolate was rich and dark, and espresso brought some interest to the equation. It got almost there, and the frosting was incredible. The next time I make it, you'll catch me sneaking in a hint of espresso extract.

3. Chocolate Olive Oil

Box of Williams Sonoma Chocolate Olive Oil cake mix next to chocolate olive oil cake on white table - Emily Hunt / Tasting Table

If you've never had an olive oil cake before, hold on to your hat. Adding in the common culinary ingredient turns an ordinary sweet treat into a sweet-savory masterpiece, and honestly, I'm here for it. Sure, it makes the cake a little foreign, but this bake is worth stepping out of your comfort zone. A chocolate cake could never hurt anybody, right?

I adored what olive oil brought to the equation here, helping this mix take third place. Because chocolate was also in the mix, the olive oil flavor was just hinted at, which was fine in my book  it simply gave the cake some depth and dimension. I also gave this cake some bonus points for being accessible to any type of chocolate consumer. It's not too dark to turn off those who prefer milk chocolate, but it's rich enough to please the dark chocolate fanatic. Overall, this is a very well-rounded cake that seriously benefited from the addition of olive oil (the included chocolate glaze was a very nice touch, too).

2. Butter Snacking Cake

Box of Williams Sonoma Butter snacking cake mix next to butter snacking cake on white table - Emily Hunt / Tasting Table

I'm a sucker for anything that uses copious amounts of butter. There's a reason I called Pillsbury's Golden Butter cake mix the best of that brands offerings (its butter flavor was beyond incredible). I can say the same for Williams Sonoma's Butter Snacking Cake. After all, this relatively small bake took two sticks of butter, and if you use quality butter, you'll taste nothing better.

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You'll see in a second why this cake didn't make the top spot here. As far as its strengths, they were plentiful. The cake and the frosting were both equally decadent, with the cake having a dense, almost bread-like texture (don't worry  it was still plenty moist!). The frosting, which calls for just one stick of butter, basically tastes like sweet butter, and few things are better, in my opinion. This cake is indulgent without being too heavy in any aspect. I quite enjoyed it, but it just couldn't beat what was easily my favorite cake of the day.

1. Classic Olive Oil

Box of Williams Sonoma Classic Olive Oil cake mix next to classic olive oil cake on white table - Emily Hunt / Tasting Table

I loved this cake more than I can express, but I have to make a disclaimer: It's not going to be for everyone. I don't see children loving this, for example, but if you need a sophisticated dessert to serve at a fancy soiree, you absolutely wouldn't go wrong with Williams Sonoma's Classic Olive Oil Cake. It's the epitome of decadence, and as a savory girl myself, I loved the sweet-savory balance found here.

Because there's no chocolate present to mute the olive oil, its flavor is way more pronounced here than in its chocolate counterpart, which only worked in its favor. The included glaze mix had a lemony tang to it which helped lift the cake out of heavy territory. Texturally, this was a very dense, moist cake  the kind you can only eat a small piece of before you're satisfied. I think this mix presents a real triumph for Williams-Sonoma, which is why it took the top spot. It's a mix that doesn't really have too many counterparts (at least, not that I'm aware of), and one which will be easy for me to buy again.

Methodology

Hand holding piece of chocolate cake over chocolate olive oil cake and box - Emily Hunt / Tasting Table

To rank Williams Sonoma's boxed cake mixes, I prepared each according to package instructions. Whenever a box had optional additions, I left them out to avoid giving any cake an unfair advantage. I also used the same type of butter, milk, and eggs in each mix, to maintain consistency throughout this experiment.

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I ranked the cakes in order of how they performed against other counterparts I've had, as well as how impressive they were as a whole. This made the Classic Olive Oil cake an easy contender for first place; not only was it downright delicious, but it also doesn't have too many competing options on the market. My bottom choices were still good, but they lacked that special "Williams Sonoma touch" the other cakes had, like the inclusion of frosting mix or the addition of olive oil.

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Read the original article on Tasting Table.
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.

Aspen Standard Wealth, a holding company that takes majority stakes in registered investment advisors, has made its seventh acquisition since its 2024 founding, with a deal for BlueSky Wealth Advisors, based in New Bern, N.C. The deal brings total client assets by RIAs in the holding company to about $14 billion.

BlueSky, founded in 1999 by CEO David Blain, is a fee-only financial advisory firm with a staff of 13, including eight advisors. The firm provides investment management and financial planning services focused on tax mitigation, passive income generation and legacy planning.

New York-based Aspen was founded by CEO Aly Kassim-Lakha, a former hedge fund manager, and is backed by private equity firm Alpine Investors.

Rather than bring firms onto a single Form ADV, Aspen takes a majority stake in RIAs, with those RIA owners getting a minority stake in the Aspen holding company.

We endeavor for this to be a meaningful source of wealth creation, Kassim-Lakha said.

Kassim-Lakha calls the setup a permanent home for independent RIAs, rather than an acquisition for eventual resale. He said Aspen considers taking stakes in RIAs across the U.S., with the focus on being with the highest quality firms.

The firm tends to make deals with RIAs of $1 billion-plus, including $2.9 billion New England Private Wealth Advisors in April 2025 and $1.1 billion MG Financial in August 2025.

Aspens first deal upon entering the market in November 2024 was a majority stake in the $2.8 billion firm Summitry. That firm had $3 billion in assets under management as of its most recent Form ADV in May 2025.

We anticipate a busy year [in 2026], Kassim-Lakha said. Our model continues to resonate, and this year we expect to bring it to more firms across the country.

Sherman & Co. was the investment banker on the BlueSky deal.
Greater Cincinnati has a rich history of brewing beer and an abundance of breweries around town. It also has one of the best new breweries in the country, according to a recent vote.

USA TODAY announced its best new breweries of 2026 on Wednesday, as part of its 10Best Readers Choice Awards. Hearth Brewing in Harrison ranked No. 1 for best brewery in the country. It finished ahead of No. 2 Night School in Athens, New York, and No. 3 Elder Piper Beer & Cider in Petoskey, Michigan.

Hearth Brewing, located at 1195 Stone Drive in Harrison, is the kind of brewery that "cares about (its) community" by being a "place for good people to gather and enjoy good beers, good food, and good company," its website reads.

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"Just east of the Indiana-Ohio border, Hearth Brewing has been serving up stone-fired pizzas, fresh craft beer, and a cozy atmosphere since 2024. On a cold day, brews like the Punked Ale pumpkin ale and spiced Autumn Ale are perfect for chasing away the cold, with savory dishes like grilled cheese and buffalo chicken sandwiches appearing on the menu as well," 10Best wrote.

The brewery is also in the running for Cincinnati's Favorite Beer in 2026 for its coffee-infused golden ale, dubbed Wake Up Betty. Voting opens March 9.

Hearth Brewing was named the Best New Brewery in the U.S. by USA TODAY readers.

USA TODAY 10Best invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories. 10Best editors then vet the nominations and select a final set of nominees, which readers vote on over a four-week period.

Here's a look at the top 10 best new breweries, according to USA TODAY readers.

Best New Brewery, according to USA TODAY 10Best

Hearth Brewing (Harrison, Ohio). Deep Fried Beers / Night School (Athens, New York). Elder Piper Beer & Cider (Petoskey, Michigan). Lombardi Brewing Co. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). Future Days Beer Co. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Terranaut Beer (Bend, Oregon). Blue Jay Brewing Co. (St. Louis, Missouri). Buena Connection Brewing Co. (Buena, New Jersey). The Test Brewery (Brooklyn, New York). Atomic Clock Brewing Co. (Durham, North Carolina).

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati's Hearth Brewing voted No. 1 best new brewery in the US
Oklahoma City has some of the best museums in the nation, from immersive art to local and state history.

Museum-goers have the ability to explore a little bit of everything, from the history of the banjo to the history behind one of the most difficult times in Oklahoma City's history.

Museums often have deals for different groups and special days to visit for free. So if you're planning a trip with kids or a full group of friends, there could be a chance to snag a discount on your way.

Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center

Though not in Oklahoma City, the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center offers free admission for Oklahoma residents once a month on "Freedom Fridays." The museum highlights the history behind the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, which resulted in the death of hundreds of Oklahomans over two days.

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Freedom Fridays occur on the second Friday throughout the year, including March 13, April 10 and so on. The partnership is through TTCU Federal Credit Union. Reservations are still encouraged on Freedom Fridays as the museum uses a timed ticketing system. Go to greenwoodrising.org to reserve a ticket for the museum.

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is a two-fold site. Outside the museum stands the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, which is free and open to the public 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

In the museum building, visitors can take an interactive, self-guided tour through the story of the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, as well as the world's response in the aftermath. The museum uses interactive displays, as well as hundreds of hours of video and artifacts.

Marye Cory places flowers on the the chair honoring Paul Broxterman, her best friend's father, on April 19, 2025, at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.

Bank of America cardholders can visit the museum on the first weekend of the month for free, which includes March 7-8 and April 4-5. Cardholders need to showcase the card and a valid photo ID to receive free admission.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

The American West is a key part of the nation and Oklahoma's history. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum features a collection of classic and contemporary Western art from painters and sculptors.

A pair of American State inspired boots sit on display Feb. 5 in the Cowboy Boots exhibit at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Bank of America cardholders can visit the museum on the first weekend of the month for free, which includes March 7-8 and April 4-5. Cardholders need to showcase the card and a valid photo ID to receive free admission.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art offers "Museums for Us" and "Access for All" year-round, granting free access to patrons when able.

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With Museums for Us, all visitors who present a Bank of America Merrill or Bank of America Private Bank labeled debit or credit card and a valid ID will receive one free general admission to the museum on the first full weekend of the month, which includes March 7-8 and April 4-5.

Exhibition curator Rebecca Senf talks about an Oklahoma City Museum of Art exhibit in June 2025.

Likewise, the second Sunday of each month is free for visitors of all ages through a grant from the Art Bridges Foundation, which includes March 8 and April 12.

Also, children 17 and under receive free admission to the museum year-round.

Check your local library

The Metropolitan Library System has more than just books on the shelves. Those looking for a fun adventure outside of the pages can check out several museums in the metro area.

JaJa Harris looks at books in the children's area of the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library in 2019.

The passes are available to families with a valid library card and can only be checked out in person.

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Each pass is valid for admission for a variety of group sizes. Here are all the passes available, and how to check them out:

First American Museum , valid for two adults and four children

Oklahoma Firefighters Museum , valid for up to five people

Oklahoma Hall of Fame Gaylord-Pickens Museum , valid for up to five people

Skeletons: Museum of Osteology , valid for two adults and two children

Oklahoma City Museum of Art , valid for up to five people

American Banjo Museum , valid for up to five people

Oklahoma History Center/Oklahoma History, valid for up to five people

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: These OKC-area museums offer free admission days, passes. How to visit
Happy birthday, Florida!

Sorry we missed the big day March 3 and that we can't light 181 candles for you. Burn bans and drought conditions make that unsafe.

Florida became the 27th state to join the United States of America on March 3, 1845.

 So you think you know Florida? Have fun with this quiz

Here's a little bit of state history to enjoy with your orange juice  or coffee  this morning and we celebrate Florida's 181st birthday.

Florida joined US in 1845

Florida became the 27th state on March 3, 1845.

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By 1850, the population had grown to 87,445, according to the Florida Department of State. That's less than the estimated 1.3 million alligators living in Florida today, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Compare that to the state's estimated population of 23.4 million in July 2025.

Nobody in Florida voted for Abraham Lincoln. State joins Confederacy

Florida became a state less than 20 years before the start of the Civil War and the issue of slavery "began to dominate the affairs of the new state," according to the Florida Department of State.

"In the 1860 presidential election, no Floridians voted for Abraham Lincoln. Shortly after his election, a special convention drew up an ordinance that allowed Florida to secede from the Union on Jan. 10, 1861.

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"Within several weeks, Florida joined other southern states to form the Confederate States of America."

Florida shifts from cotton to lumber after Civil War

"During the Civil War, Florida was not ravaged as several other southern states were. Tallahassee was the only southern capital east of the Mississippi River to avoid capture during the war. After the South was defeated, federal troops occupied Tallahassee on May 10, 1865.

"Before the Civil War, Florida had been well on its way to becoming another of the southern cotton states. Afterward, the lives of many residents changed.

"The ports of Jacksonville and Pensacola again flourished due to the demand for lumber and forest products to rebuild the nation's cities," according to the Florida Department of State.

Tourists 'discover' Florida

"Beginning in the 1870s, residents from northern states visited Florida as tourists to enjoy the state's natural beauty and mild climate.

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"By the end of World War I, land developers had descended on this virtual gold mine. With more Americans owning automobiles, it became commonplace to vacation in Florida. Many visitors stayed on, and exotic projects sprang up in southern Florida."

Quiz: How much do you really know about Florida?

 So you think you know Florida?

Florida state symbols you may or may know know

State reptile: alligator

State bird: mockingbird

State butterfly: zebra longwing

State animal: Florida panther

State marine mammal: manatee

State flower: orange blossom

State wildflower: Coreopsis

State tree: Sabal palm

State beverage: orange juice

State shell: horse conch

State gem: moonstone

State song: "Old Folks at Home"

State motto: In God we trust

State anthem: "Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)"

Total area: 65,758 square miles

Land: 53,625 square miles

Water: 12,133 square miles

Rank among states in total area: 22nd

Length north and south: 447 miles (St. Marys River to Key West)

Width east and west: 361 miles (Atlantic Ocean to Perdido River)

Distance from Pensacola to Key West: 792 miles (by road)

Highest natural point: 345 feet

Geographic center: 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County

Beaches: 663 miles

Longest river: St. Johns, 273 miles

Largest lake: Lake Okeechobee, 700 square miles

Largest county: Palm Beach, 2,578 square miles

Smallest county: Union, 245 square miles

Number of lakes (greater than 10 acres): about 7,700

Number of first-magnitude springs: 33

Number of islands (greater than 10 acres): about 4,500

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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida became 27th state March 3, 1845, 181 years ago
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Hawaiis Remarkable Woman 2026 is a survivor and entrepreneur who started her own business when she was just 21 years old.

It took a near-fatal car crash and a long recovery period that led her to her lifes work. Shelley Wilson is the founder and CEO of Wilson Care Group, which specializes in in-home healthcare services and senior living in Hawaii.

I was so overwhelmed by all the love and support. Im just really, really overwhelmed, she shared.

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Wilson grew up in a small town in Iowa, but yearned to see the world. So she joined the military at 17.

She became a combat medic with the Iowa National Guard. But at 18, she was critically injured in a horrific car crash. She suffered severe facial fractures, a crushed left foot and serious arm and knee injuries.

So Im kind of the bionic woman now. I have lots of hardware. But I made a full recovery.

The recovery took several surgeries and two years of recovery time, which Wilson said was a long and lonely period in Iowa. But her military comrades supported her.

I had Army friends who were in Hawaii, and theyre like, Why are you in the dead of winter in Iowa in a wheelchair? Triplers here, please come to Hawaii? Wilson recalled.

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She did and has remained here ever since. It was Wilsons long road to recovery and the loving care that she received from friends and strangers that put her on the path to creating Wilson Home Care.

I think at 18, when I was injured, and I almost died, I felt like I had no time to waste. But I think that having a brush with death so young, it made me feel like I have a higher power. I have some missions that I have to accomplish in my life. I was already a medic, I wanted to be in healthcare, and I wanted to take care of people.

And living in Hawaii further crystallized Wilsons Home Care philosophy.

When I came to Hawaii, I thought  wow, Hawaii has this culture of families taking care of one another and people, multi-generational families living together. And this would be so good. So I just decided, Im not going to die. Im going to start this business. That was my mantra in life. That if I was going to take a chance on something, Im not going to die. That was the benchmark for almost everything that has happened.

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Wilson headed to the library in the days before Google, taught herself how to create a business plan and took it to the bank to secure a loan.

She started her business, receiving no paycheck for five years. Instead, working other jobs and pulled extra duty with the Hawaii National Guard.

I just kept on the path of what my belief was, that eventually, this was going to work.

And it did. This year marks Wilson Care Groups 30th anniversary. The company has had 1,000 employees at its peak.

Don Farmer is the operations manager who nominated Wilson for the Remarkable Woman title.

Shes been an incredible example in not only business, but also as an entrepreneur and businesswoman. But she is this example of aloha and absolute care and compassion for her fellow human beings. She has given to the community in so many ways, Farmer explained.

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Mark Maruyma is grateful to Wilsons company for the in-home care his father received.

I think shes helped a lot of families. Its a tough situation to go through, having somebody come in. Take care of your family. I think she solved, helped a lot of families in that tough situation, he said.

Shelley said its about the mission and giving back to a community thats done so much for her.

People need us. Our employees need us to help pay their mortgages and take care of their keiki and live their dreams. So I think thats what drives me, is people. Taking care of people.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The Gist

Following her husband John F. Kennedy's assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis purchased a $200,000 New York apartment in 1964.

She lived there with her children, Caroline and John Jr., before moving to Greece with her second husband, Aristotle Onassis. After his death, she returned to the New York apartment.

Jackie lived in the home up until her 1994 death, which followed a battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis went down in American history as one of the most iconic first ladies. With her effortless poise and chic fashion sense, its no wonder her apartment reflected that same elegance.

In 1964, following the assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy, Jackie purchased a penthouse on New York's Upper East Side, directly across from Central Park. She moved into the 15-story building with her children, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy.

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In 1968, Jackie Kennedy became Jackie O, marrying Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Having been shaken by the assassination of her brother-in-law, Robert F. Kennedy, just a few months prior, Jackie relocated to Greece in search of a more private life. Despite remarrying, Jackie held on to her penthouse and returned to it following Onassis death in 1975.

She called the Fifth Avenue property her home until her 1994 death, which followed a battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Heres everything you need to know about Jackie Kennedy Onassiss Fifth Avenue apartment.

The redecorated library, designed by Harrison Cultra and Georgina Fairholme, in Jackie Onassis's New York apartment. Photographed in 1973.

Credit: Horst P. Horst / Getty Images

She purchased the Upper East Side apartment for $200k in 1964.

Jackie Kennedy at her New York apartment in 1967.

Credit: Getty Images

Less than a year after her husbands death and just before her 35th birthday, Jackie purchased the penthouse at 1040 Fifth Avenue for $200,000, The New York Times reported at the time. The real estate agent who sold the apartment told The New York Times that maintenance fees came to $14,000 a year, equivalent to about $145,000 today.

The residence was built in the 1930s by famous architect Rosario Candela, who designed some of the citys most luxurious buildings, including the East 70th Street residence on Fifth Avenue where fashion designer Valentino once lived, per The World of Interiors. Jackie's apartment encompassed what was originally two apartments. The 15th floor offered something few homes at the time could: privacy. It was also just a few blocks from Jackie's sister, Princess Lee Radziwill, who lived at 969 Fifth Avenue.

Following JFKs assassination, it served as a respite from media attention.

Jackie Kennedy at her fifth avenue apartment on June 1, 1971.

Credit: Getty Images

After JFK was assassinated in Dallas in 1963, Jackie sought to raise her young children away from Washington. Following her departure from the White House, she returned to Georgetown, where she paid $175,000 for a 1794 mansion just three blocks the home she and her husband had shared before his presidency, according to Architectural Digest. However, due to an influx of tourists, admirers, and press who would frequently visit their home, she put the property on the market and moved to New York.

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Caroline has since spoken about how she and JFK Jr. were raised with as much normalcy as possible. As a 12-year-old in 1970, Caroline told The New York Times I don't think of myself as famous...I'm not really [bothered by too many reporters or photographers.] It seems they're only around when I'm with my mother." Of course, the respite was relative, and photos show that paparazzi still gathered outside of the Kennedy's New York home.

Jacqueline Kennedy and her children Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr. in New York on October 17, 1968

Credit: WWD / Getty Images

The 15-room, 5-bedroom apartment featured a conservatory and a library.

Jackie Kennedy's apartment on June 1, 1973.

Credit: Getty Images

The 5,300 square foot apartment featured 15 rooms, including five-bedrooms and five bathrooms, plus a wine room, a conservatory, a gallery, a library, two terraces, three fireplaces, and maids quarters. It had 14 windows overlooking Central Park, including the reservoir that would later be named after Jackie, and nine windows overlooking fifth avenue, per The New York Times. But it maintained a lived-in feel thanks to the style icons impeccable taste.

Jackie settled back into city life by decorating her home with pieces from the White House and artworkshe was said to prioritize preference over those considered good investment pieces, per Architectural Digest. She took a more feminine approach, decorating with pink wallpaper and floral patterned furniture.

The redecorated library in Jackie Onassis's New York apartment, photographed in 1973

Credit: Horst P. Horst / Getty Images

Billionaire David Koch bought the apartment for $9.5 million.

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy Jr., Edwin Scholssberg and Maurice Tempelsman outside of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's New York apartment on May 23, 1994 as the casket containing Onassis's body is placed in a hearse.

Credit: Don Emmert / Getty Immages

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The former first lady died in her home on May 19, 1994, following a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The following year, David Koch purchased the Kennedy matriarchs home for $9.5 million.

The developer lived there for over a decade with his family, completely redesigning the home. Mrs. Onassis was very conservative financially, and she didnt spend much on it, Koch shared, per the Observer. We gutted the apartment and redid everything. Following the birth of his third child, Koch put the residence on the market, in search of more space for his growing family. Koch sold the apartment to hedge-fund manager Glenn Dubin $32 million in 2006.

Read the original article on InStyle
NEED TO KNOW

Alex Warwick experienced stroke-like symptoms for years, which doctors dismissed as stress or health anxiety from being a medical student

The 23-year-old was finally diagnosed with incurable brain cancer after an emergency surgery revealed a large tumor

Alex is currently undergoing treatment to prolong his life and hopes sharing his story will lead to early detection for others

A young man was diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer after numerous doctors dismissed his symptoms.

Alex Warwick, a 23-year-old medical student from Liverpool, England, dealt with unusual symptoms for years. He had extreme fatigue and struggled to stay awake during college exams. He also had episodes where one side of his face would droop, similar to a mini-stroke.

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I would suddenly feel really sleepy. One half of my face would be paralyzed, with my left eyelid drooping and the left side of my face paralyzed, he told The Independent. I could not grip things with my left hand. I would feel confused, like half my body was shutting down. I would try to fight through it and stay awake, then it would pass after a few minutes.

Alex visited numerous doctors but was repeatedly told there was nothing wrong. Multiple medical experts told him that he was dealing with college-related stress or health anxiety because he was a medical student.

All the GP and neurological exams were normal because I was not having any episodes at the time, he said. I present really well. I am articulate and fit, so no one would think even now that there would be anything wrong with me.

But to be told it was health anxiety was pretty horrible, especially as a medical student, he added.

Alex Warwick

Credit: Justgiving.com

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

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Alexs father, Ian Warwick, was extremely worried about his son's health. He said he probably went to 50 doctors appointments and after constant reassurance that everything was okay, they didnt push the issue anymore.

But things changed after an episode in May 2025 when Alex was having dinner with his friends and started experiencing the same stroke-like symptoms. They called his parents and rushed him to the hospital.

Once there, Alex started having seizures. He was assessed, then immediately prepped for emergency brain surgery after doctors discovered an aggressive, grade 4 brain tumor. Alex was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of incurable cancer that starts in the brain and spinal cord. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the prognosis is poor, with a life expectancy about 12-18 months after diagnosis.

Alex and his family were devastated by the shocking news, especially after such a delayed diagnosis.

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I would estimate I had the tumor for seven or eight years, he said. All it would have taken was someone saying they were not sure what was going on and booking me for a scan. When I did have a scan, it was 5 cm, a big tumor that you could not really miss.

Ian added that things couldve turned out a lot differently if his sons health was addressed during his early doctor visits.

None of this is about pinning blame, but if someone presents five or six times with the same thing, take it seriously, he said. Escalate and be more curious about why.

Alex Warwick in the hospital

Credit: Justgiving.com

During Alexs emergency surgery, majority of the tumor was removed. He then underwent chemotherapy and radiation.

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However, in December 2025 his condition worsened and an MRI revealed that the cancer had spread. He also developed leptomeningeal disease (LMD), a rare and severe complication where cancer cells spread to the cerebrospinal fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Although the cancer has no cure, Alex is now traveling to and from Germany for a cutting-edge" immunotherapy treatment. Ian told the outlet that his son has been surrounded by family during the difficult time, which has allowed him to keep his spirits up.

We are a close family and we could not have done this without each other, he said. The network of the family has been the reason that Alex has maintained such positivity.

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Alex added that although its disappointing his cancer wasnt caught earlier, hes staying optimistic and finds comfort in sharing his story publicly.

It makes me disappointed that this slipped through the net, but it allows me to advocate for it not happening again, he said. I hope it means that GPs take young people more seriously, especially when presenting with the same thing many times.

Read the original article on People
Remarkable. Thats the word used to describe Shelley Wilson, the founder and CEO of Wilson Care Group in Kailua.

Each year, news stations from Nexstar Media Group recognize a Remarkable Woman in their area to celebrate those who inspire, lead and pave the way for other women to succeed.

This year, Hawaiis Remarkable Woman is Shelley Wilson, a survivor and entrepreneur who started her business at 21.

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It took a near-fatal car crash and a long recovery period that led her to her lifes work. Tune in for the full interview in this episode of Working For Hawaii: Unscripted.

Join KHON2s talent and listen in on full, uninterrupted interviews with Hawaiis most interesting people who are making an impact in our state, Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. on KHON+.

KHON+ is available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku or newer Samsung smart TVs. Click HERE for directions on how to download it.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
It's no secret that McDonald's Big Mac is one of the most popular things on the menuin fact, it's reported that the fast food restaurant sells more than 550 million Big Macs in the United States every year. Order a Big Mac topped with tangy Big Mac sauce, a side of fries, and a Coke, and you've got yourself the classic Mickey D's meal.

However, a former McDonald's corporate chef says you should never order a Big Mac. Mike Haracz, McDonald's former Manager of Culinary Innovation, who shares tips on TikToklike when to avoid visiting Mickey D's restaurants stitched a video of a McDonald's employee making a "McDouble Big Mac."

"Don't order a Big Mac; you should be ordering this every time," Haracz says. "A McDouble like a Mac."

What To Order Instead of a Big Mac

For those who don't know, McDonald's Big Mac starts with a bun topped with Big Mac sauce, onions, lettuce, cheese, a burger patty, another bun, more Big Mac sauce, more onions, more lettuce, pickles, another burger patty, and finally the top sesame seed bun. A McDouble features two burger patties, cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a regular bun.

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Haracz says instead of ordering the monstrous Big Mac, you should order a McDouble "like a Big Mac," which means ordering a McDouble with Big Mac sauce instead of ketchup and mustard, and adding shredded lettuce.

"This is the superior way," he says. "McDouble only has one slice of cheese, just like a Big Mac; there's no middle bun. It is so much better and cheaper."

Thats right, the McDouble with Mac sauce will also save you money. Haracz says itll save you about $2, though the price can vary depending on your restaurant since franchises can set their own menu pricing. That might not sound like a big deal, but when a burger can run you almost $7 and a meal about $10, saving a few extra bucks pays off in the long run.

The only catch with this menu hack is that you can't use it when ordering online. McDonald's doesn't allow you to add Big Mac sauce to anything other than a Big Mac on its appso you'll have to ask the employee at the drive-thru or register.

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"If a restaurant is not willing to do [this] for you, maybe don't go to that one, go to a different one," Haracz says.

Additionally, some commenters claimed that their McDonald's upcharged them for adding Big Mac sauce to the McDouble. Some said it was 40 cents extra, while others claimed it was $2 extra, so consider asking the employees if there's an upcharge before trying the hack.

Hopefully, though, Haracz's trick will save you a few extra bucks next time you're craving a Big Mac.

Read the original article on Allrecipes




Itameshi, which opened in August on Broadway in Albany, takes its name from a Japanese tradition that decades ago married Italian and Japanese cooking in Tokyo. Local restaurant veterans Mike Pietrocola and Dave Zheng built the menu around that premise, threading Japanese technique through Italian form. Six months in, the concept clicks in moments but hasn't yet settled into consistency.

At $42, the value-priced prime New York strip is where the fusion stops being a concept and becomes dinner. Ordered medium, it comes out cooked exactly there, its crust darkened from a porcini-furikake rub that doesn't quite register on the palate. The hibachi mustard beneath makes up for it: sharp, creamy, a sauce you drag the steak through and keep dragging. Wasabi mashed potatoes have heat that builds slowly, and bok choy keeps its crunch. The dish's components look simply plopped next to one another rather than plated; the aesthetic choice, evident across most of the food, shows Itameshi leans harder toward the homey-Italian style of presentation rather than the clean, intentional look of Japanese plating.

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A Calabrian chile cream sauce as good as Itameshi's needs more underneath it. Three shrimp sit atop rice cakes that should be crispy but aren't, as they are submerged in more sauce than the dish can handle. The flavor is there, rich with a slow burn, but the ratio is off, and there's nothing to catch what's left. At $18 for three shrimp, you're paying for a sauce without enough to deliver it.

Prime New York strip at Itameshi in Albany is served with wasabi-laced mashed potatoes, bok choy and hibachi mustard. Photographed in February 2026. (Stephanie Gravalese/For the Times Union)





The flavors of cacio e pepe stuffed into a gyoza wrapper and set over cherry pepper sugo sounds like the menu's thesis in miniature. What reached the table was pale and barely seared, a whisper of color on some edges, understuffed and shaped in a way that didn't register as gyoza at all. The filling was tasty, the flavors worked, but the execution didn't follow through. Without the crisp, without the heft, it reads as a sketch rather than a finished dish.

The broth in steamed clams is where the Italian and Japanese sides of the menu actually meet: sake, garlic, shallot, tomato and chile, bright and savory with a low thread of heat. Clams open plump and properly cooked in the middle. Bread should arrive with the dish, but ours was served late, slightly overdone on top and too small to finish the job. It's a tough spot when you're left chasing a broth worth chasing without enough to catch it.

At Itameshi in Albany, clams steamed in sake, garlic, shallot, tomato and chile are bright and savory, with a low thread of heat. Photographed in February 2026. (Stephanie Gravalese/For the Times Union)





Udon noodles do the heavy lifting in wagyu Bolognese. They take on the sauce and go down easy - I put away more of the bowl than I planned. A dollop of whipped miso ricotta sits at the center, blending Italian richness with something more unexpected. The wagyu, though, is sparse, scattered through in amounts small enough that you stop looking for it. Crispy prosciutto on top is cut into chunks and cooked to an extreme, stiff and jerky-like. Radish slices fan out from the ricotta, adding more confusion than contrast. At $22, it's a comforting bowl of pasta, just not the Bolognese the name promises.

At Itameshi in Albany, clams steamed in sake, garlic, shallot, tomato and chile are bright and savory, with a low thread of heat. (Stephanie Gravalese/For the Times Union)





The dining room is a new build and looks it - white marble-patterned floors, black tablecloths, cane-back chairs and arched window frames backlit with LEDs. A blue glow outlines the ceiling, a nod to the Japanese side of the concept that reads more nightclub than dining room. Along one wall, a tufted caramel leather banquette runs beneath floral wallpaper dotted with small birds, and cherry blossom arrangements are scattered throughout. Orange chopsticks sit at each place setting, a cheerful pop of color in a cool, modern room. The bar area is its own room - studded leather stools, a well-stocked back bar and a cherry blossom mural on the far wall. Everything is spotless. The space is polished and intentional, if not yet lived in.

The dining room at Itameshi has a curious mix of generic austerity and a nightclub-style blue glow at the ceiling. (Stephanie Gravalese/For the Times Union)

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The cocktail menu spans from effervescent to spirit-forward, with every spirit named and housemade aperitifs noted throughout. The Spaghetti Western, built with Madre mezcal, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and Cynar over a big cube, has heat that plays against the smoke without overpowering it. The Rai Chu Hai, a shochu-based highball with strawberry aperitif, lychee and yuzu, drinks sweeter than expected, without the fizz the category announces. The wine list is Italian-heavy with a few domestic picks, and a deep shelf of Japanese whisky and amaro suggests a bar team that takes sourcing seriously.

Service was a split experience. Our server was friendly but seemed underprepared, without much to offer when asked about the cocktails or where the desserts were sourced, and didn't notice the bread hadn't come out with our clams. Another server working a nearby table also made an effort to check on us, and later wrapped our leftovers with care, double-bagging without being asked. Both were part of the same evening, and the contrast was hard to miss.

Itameshi's signature cocktails all have formal names, including the Spaghetti Western, made with Madre mezcal, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and Cynar over a big cube. Photographed in Albany in February 2026. (Stephanie Gravalese/For the Times Union)





Pietrocola is the chef-owner of Pastina in Delmar; Zheng owns Tanpopo Ramen & Sake Bar, Sake Cafe and Graney's Bar & Grill, all in Albany. Pietrocola has owned restaurants locally for 40 years, Zheng for 16. Given that experience, Itameshi's inconsistencies after six months surprise and disappoint. The restaurant sits on the ground floor of the Industrie, an all-electric apartment building on Broadway, making Itameshi the first time either owner has worked in a kitchen without a gas flame.

Restaurant Review

Itameshi

Address: 745 Broadway, Albany

Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday

Price: Antipasto, $12 to $18; pastas, $22 to $35; entrees, $28 to $75; cocktails, $15 to $18

Info: 518-320-7082 and itameshialbany.com

Etc.: Street parking. ADA-accessible.

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By dessert, the Japanese-Italian thread thins out. A tiramisu, served in a glass as a trifle rather than the classic layered slab, comes topped with chocolate sauce and pistachio cream. The format shift isn't mentioned on the menu or by our server. A pistachio ricotta torte is pleasant but unremarkable. Outside of the option to order mochi ice cream, the concept's Japanese half is absent from the plate. When asked who's responsible for the desserts, our server didn't know. (Zheng later said mochi is sourced from JFC International, a global distributor of Asian food, with other desserts from local suppliers.)

Itameshi isn't trying to be two restaurants at once; it's trying to be one restaurant that speaks two languages. The vocabulary is there, and so is the ambition, but what's missing is the repetition that turns a good idea into a finished dish. That will come, or it won't, but for now, it's a restaurant worth watching.

Like most desserts at the restaurant, the pistachio ricotta is sourced from local providers, though the mochi ice cream comes from a global distributor of Asian food. (Stephanie Gravalese/For the Times Union)





This article originally published at Restaurant review: Itameshi in Albany ambitious and inconsistent.
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As conflict in the Middle East intensifies, Mora Namdar, the State Departments assistant secretary for consular affairs urged US citizens in a statement posted to X on March 2 to depart Egypt and 13 other countries using available commercial flights due to serious safety risks.

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The warning comes after the department escalated several of its advisories for more than a dozen countries in the region as airspace closures across many parts of the Middle East ground flights in Iran, Iraq, Israel, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Egypt is the only African country to make the list, which the State Department has yet to share on its official platforms. As of Wednesday morning, the State Departments Egypt Travel Advisory remains at a Level 2, exercise increased caution (the same level as France and The Bahamas, for example).

According to a State Department spokesperson, the latest travel guidance for Americans in Egypt is reflected in a March 3 security alert from the US embassy in Cairo, which remains open and operational. The State Departments Travel Advisory for Egypt remains unchanged at Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution, with Do Not Travel guidance for the Northern and Middle Sinai as well as parts of the Western Desert, the alert says. 'We will update this guidance if new information indicates a different threat level. Egyptian airspace remains open and all commercial airports are operational. Travelers may experience outbound flight cancellations or delays depending on airspace status of destinations."

The ongoing missile strikes from the US, Israel, and Iran have not directly impacted Egypt. Egypt has not halted its tourism initiatives since the start of the Israeli-Palestine conflict in October 2023, leading some regional experts to believe Egypts inclusion on the State Departments latest statement to be a precautionary measure. Iran has shown that it will attack strategic US bases and embassies in the surrounding Arab Nations (Bahrain, UAE, and Saudi Arabia), so both countries could potentially be targets even if they are not at this point in time, says Chris Bazos, Conde Nast Traveler travel specialist the co-founder and president of Travelous, a travel agency with operations in Egypt.

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Currently, there are no issues in either Egypt or Jordanlife is completely normal as of right now, says Bazos. Our travelers that are in country at the moment happen to be winding up their trips over the next few days, but its uncertain whether our upcoming March/April [trips] will run in light of this advisory and the flight cancellations. Were all on a wait and see basis as this continues to unfold.

Jump to:

Are flights to and from Egypt operating normally?

Flights to and from Egypt are still largely operational, although a small number of flights have been suspended across other Middle Eastern regional hubs with closed and suspended airspace. Major airports such as Cairo International Airport (CAI), Hurghada International Airport (HRG), Luxor International Airport (LXR), and Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) are all functioning at maximal capacity per Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh el Hefnys direction, according to a statement released by Egypts State Information Service.

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US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said in an X post on March 2 that Americans in Israel should leave the country via Israel's Ministry of Tourism shuttle bus to Taba, Egypt and getting flights from there or going on to Cairo for flights back to the US.

Keep up to date with the latest on flight disruptions across the Middle East here.

Which airlines are flying in and out of Egypt?

Most international airlines remain affected by Middle East airspace closures, though none have specifically suspended service to Egypt.

Emirates: The airline has suspended flights to and from Dubai until 11:59 p.m. UAE time on March 4, due to airspace closures across the region. Limited repatriation flights and freighter flights are departing from Dubai airspace.

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Etihad Airways: Etihads scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until at least until 6:00 a.m. UAE time on Friday, March 6, according to the latest operational notices. Repositioning, cargo, and repatriation flights are being arranged for March 4 and 5, and passengers are urged to check directly with the airline for updates. Passengers with Etihad flight tickets issued on or before February 28, 2026, for travel scheduled up to March 10 2026, may change their booking without a rebooking fee on Etihad-operated flights departing up to March 31, 2026.

Air Arabia: Air Arabia has temporarily suspended its flights to and from the UAE until 3 p.m. UAE time on Tuesday, March 3, with additional cancellations to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq extending until March 5.

EgyptAir: The carrier announced in a statement the suspension of flights from Cairo to Kuwait, Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Qassim, Dammam, Erbil, Baghdad, Amman, Beirut, and Muscat, until further notice.

Qatar Airways: Operations remain suspended while Qatari airspace is closed or restricted. The airline has not resumed normal services, and flights are expected to remain disrupted until authorities reopen airspace safely. The airline said in a statement that an update will be provided on March 6 by 9:00 a.m. Doha time (6:00 a.m. UTC).

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Kuwait Airways: Kuwait Airways postponed inbound and outbound services during the airspace closures and implemented emergency repatriation routing via Saudi Arabia. Operations remain subject to regional airspace controls.

What is the US government advising?

As of Wednesday morning, the US Department of State website has placed travel to Egypt at a Level 2 advisory, urging travelers to exercise increased caution in the country with certain areas designated as Level 4, meaning do not travel under any circumstances. High-risk areas deemed to be level four include the Northern and Middle Sinai Peninsula due to terrorism, the Western Desert due to risk to safety and security unless traveling with a professionally licensed tour company, and the Egyptian border areas due to military zones.

The advisory lists several potential target sites, including: Religious sites (mosques, churches, monasteries, and buses traveling there); local government buildings; diplomatic facilities (embassies); tourist sites; transportation centers; shopping malls; restaurants and foreign businesses; resorts; roadside checkpoints; and urban areas in Cairo.

Travelers have been cautioned against participating in demonstrations in Egypt as individuals simply in the vicinity of political protests have been apprehended, US citizens have been arrested for their participation in protests, and local law prohibits protesting and demonstrating without permit.

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The advisory has also noted the US governments limited capacity to aid US-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained and that dual citizens are considered solely Egyptian citizens under Egyptian law.

Americans in the Middle East are being advised to follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest US embassy or consulate.

What are foreign governments advising?

United Kingdom: The UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to parts of Egypt including the Egypt-Libya border, North Sinai, the northern part of South Sinai, the eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate, Halaib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid, and the Western Desert except for certain regions such as Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and the Valley of the Kings.

Australia: On the whole, the Australian government advises travelers exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to Egypt with warnings to reconsider travel to the South Sinai Governorate except for the southern coastal area of Sharm el Sheikh, the Ismailiyah Governorate east of the Suez Canal, areas of the West of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions, and the Hailaib Triangle and within 20 kilometers of the southern border with Sudan. There is a do not travel advisory for the Governorate of North Sinai, including the Taba-Suez Road, or within 40 kilometers of Egypt's border with Libya due to the high threat of terrorist attack and serious crime, including kidnapping and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid.

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Canada: The Canadian government currently advises travelers to exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to Egypt with additional region-specific advisories. The advisory notes to avoid all non-essential travel to the northern part of the Governorate of South Sinai and to avoid all travel to the Western desert and Libyan border area as well as Northern Sinai.

How does this affect travel insurance?

Most standard travel insurance policies rely on government-issued do not travel advisories to trigger cancellations or claims. Current warnings and advisories from governments may affect travel insurance if they are not adhered to. Travelers are urged to keep up to date with their government's latest advice before traveling. If your trip is impacted, see our full guide to what travel insurance covers during airspace closures.

Should you cancel your trip to Egypt?

While Egypts airspace remains open, the US currently advises all travelers to depart from the country immediately using commercial means. Travelers who require additional assistance leaving may contact the 24/7 lines +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and 888-507-4747 (from the US and Canada).

Tom Baker, a Conde Nast Traveler travel specialist with clients currently on a Nile River cruise says no operators have canceled future tours at this juncture, however, calls have been abundant asking what future plans are in place and frankly, we don't know as things can change quickly.

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We are watching this carefully but have no cancelations as of now, he adds. The bigger issue at hand is the huge number of international flyers through the UAE and Qatar.

Those with upcoming travel plans should monitor official airline and embassy communications closely and remain flexible.

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler
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Norsk Hydro (OB:NHY) has drawn fresh attention after recent share price moves, with the stock down around 3.1% over the past day but positive over the month and past three months.

See our latest analysis for Norsk Hydro.

That 3.1% one day share price decline comes after a stronger run, with the 90 day share price return of 20.05% and 1 year total shareholder return of 43.08% pointing to momentum that has been building rather than fading.

If Norsk Hydros recent moves have you reviewing materials names, it could also be a good moment to see what is happening across 7 top copper producer stocks as another pocket of the resources market.

With Norsk Hydro trading at NOK87.52 and an intrinsic value estimate that suggests roughly a 38% discount, the key question is whether this is a genuine value gap or whether the market is already factoring in future growth.

Most Popular Narrative: 10.4% Overvalued

With Norsk Hydro at NOK87.52 against a widely followed fair value estimate of NOK79.25, the narrative points to a market price sitting above that implied benchmark while hinging on specific operational and energy themes.

Hydro's long-term, robust renewable energy sourcing portfolio (notably hydro power for Norwegian smelters) ensures low-cost, stable production and provides a meaningful earnings hedge against energy price volatility, underpinning margin resilience and cash flow stability.

Read the complete narrative.

Curious how this energy advantage feeds into the NOK79.25 fair value, the higher future profit margin and the richer earnings multiple that underpin this narrative? The full story joins those pieces together.

Result: Fair Value of NOK79.25 (OVERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts.

However, this depends on aluminium market conditions and execution in Extrusions, where weak demand or further impairments could quickly challenge the higher margin and earnings assumptions.

Find out about the key risks to this Norsk Hydro narrative.

Another Take: DCF Points the Other Way

While the popular narrative sees Norsk Hydro as 10.4% overvalued against a NOK79.25 fair value, our DCF model suggests something very different. It indicates a fair value of NOK140.41 and the shares trading at a roughly 37.7% discount. Which story do you think fits your own assumptions better?

Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value.
The final season of Stranger Things has released on Netflix, and viewers have many thoughts and feelings about the shows conclusion. One thing that diehard fans are feeling is a wistful nostalgia, thinking back on this nearly ten-year journey of watching and experiencing the groundbreaking series.

For the most devoted fans who rewatch the series and purchase all the available merchandise, another experience awaits. People can visit several of the actual filming locations for Hawkins landmarks and other notable places, walking in the footsteps of their favorite characters. Lucky for you, weve got the ultimate guide to each of these filming spots that will delight any Stranger Things fan. Spoilers for the series finale ahead, do be forewarned.

1. The Byers House

Image Credit: Shearmansiblings.

Most of the filming for Stranger Things took place in towns near Atlanta, Georgia. One of the most prominent homes in the series, the Byers House is located in Fayetteville, Georgia, on 149 Coastline Road, just South of Atlanta. This served as the exterior filming location for Joyce, Will, and Jonathans house for Seasons 1-3, while interiors were filmed on a set.

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However, dont let that last fact deter you from visiting. The interiors may have been filmed somewhere else, but this house has been renovated to appear as it did on the show, and converted into an Airbnb that visitors can stay at. The attention to detail is immaculate, and the ultimate destination for the biggest Stranger Things fans. For more information, visit the Airbnb site.

2. The Wheeler, Henderson, and Sinclair Houses

Image Credit: Shearmansiblings.

Like the Byers house, fans will be happy to discover the houses for Mike and Nancy Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, and Lucas Sinclair. All three reside in a suburban neighborhood in East Point, Georgia, and are in close proximity to each other.

The Wheeler house, especially, has become an iconic visual image as the shows first and last scene features the house. Each located on Pineywood Lane, these are private residences, so be respectful and quiet while visiting.

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3. Hoppers Cabin

Image Credit: Shearmansiblings.

From Season 2 onwards, Hoppers cabin became a cornerstone for the series. Its where Hopper lives with Eleven, becoming her father figure, with many notable moments taking place there.

Like the Byers House, Hoppers Cabin interiors have been preserved to appear as they did in the show, with the furniture and small details such as Eggo's in the refrigerator, a stack of VHS tapes, and a photo of Mike in Elevens bedroom.

Located on 628 Sleepy Hollow Road in Powder Springs, Georgia, fans can book a fun escape room experience and act out their own Stranger Things adventure. For information on booking this experience, visit the Escape room site.

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4. Merrill Wrights Farm and Pumpkin Patch

Image Credit: Netflix.

In Season 2 of Stranger Things, Chief Jim Hopper investigates the rotting of pumpkins on Merrill Wrights farm. Soon, viewers discover its a gateway to tunnels that go all throughout Hawkins and allow the Demodogs to move freely through the town.

Located near Hoppers Cabin in Powder Springs, guests can visit this working farm that serves as a pumpkin patch and Christmas tree farm throughout the year. Like the cabin, this location is an excellent place to take photos and immerse yourself in the Stranger Things world. For more on this, check out this vlog from Film Stocked on YouTube.

5. Hawkins Woods and Skull Rock

Image Credit: Netflix.

Another outdoor location rife with atmosphere is the forest area where they filmed many scenes. Some of these include Nancy and Jonathan discovering an Upside Down portal in a tree in Season one, Steve and Dustin walking along train tracks in Season two, and Skull Rock in Season four.

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The train tracks and other wooded areas are located in Stone Mountain Park, on 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

For Skull Rock, visitors can head to South Fulton, near Atlanta, specifically 1238 Boat Rock SW in the Boat Rock preserve area. You can explore the forest trails and get up close and personal with the impressive rock formations used as Skull Rock. Although the series added the Skull formation, the rest remains exactly as it looks on screen. Dont forget to take a photo in remembrance of fan favorite character, Eddie Munson.

6. The Creel House

Image Credit: Shearmansiblings.

Of all the homes in Stranger Things, the most beautiful remains The Creel House, used for flashback scenes of the Creel Family in Season 4, and Henrys mind scape for the kidnapped children in Season 5. Its beauty acts as a strong contrast to the ominous scenes that take place there, making it one of the most striking of all the locations.

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Fans can visit this private residence, located on 906 E 2nd Avenue in Rome, Georgia. You can admire the Victorian architecture and takes photos, but only from a distance out of respect for the residents.

7. Hawkins Library

Image Credit: Film Stocked.

A mainstay throughout the entire series, the Hawkins Library serves as the location for many moments in both Hawkins and the Upside Down. In reality, the lovely building is the Butts County Probate Court and Welcome Center in the heart of Jackson, Georgia.

Located on 101 E 2nd Street in Jackson, the courthouse and the surrounding area has that nostalgic small town vibe that viewers loved in the show. A visit here feels like stepping right into the heart of Hawkins, and indeed, the past.

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8. Hawkins Community Pool

Image Credit: Netflix.

In Season three of Stranger Things, we see Billy act as a lifeguard at the Hawkins Community Pool. In reality, this location is the South Bend Pool in Atlanta, Georgia.

This real community pool is located on 2000 Lakewood Avenue and is open seasonally in the summer months. Admission is actually free Fridays through Sundays, so if youre planning a Stranger Things-themed trip, a visit during the summer may be just the ticket.

9. Bennys Diner

Image Credit: Sabol Family Vlogs.

One of the earliest scenes in Stranger Things sees Eleven in Bennys Burgers. Benny himself gives her a cheeseburger and fries and attempts to help her before she escapes from Hawkins' government officials.

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Fans will be happy to discover that Bennys is also a restaurant in real life, namely Tiffanys Kitchen, on 7413 Lee Road in Lithia Springs, Georgia. Sabol Family Vlogs on YouTube showcases how much the establishment has embraced its Stranger Things fame with photos and artwork throughout.

Patrons can also sit in the very spot Benny sat with Eleven, while enjoying one of their delicious meal options such as a burger, grilled cheese sandwich, or chicken-fried steak. The prices are excellent too!

10. Hawkins Cemetery

Image Credit: Netflix.

Stone Mountain Cemetery, located on 1025 Silver Hill Road in Stone Hill, Georgia, serves as the location for Roane Hill Cemetery. The series filmed Barbs funeral here, and notably, the episode Dear Billy, where Max visits Billys headstone and floats in the air, while under Vecnas control.

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The latter moment remains one of the most memorable in the entire series, so seeing it in person will be quite a thrill. Although no headstone remains, fans have left mementos on the spot, making it easy to find. So, break out your old Walkman and Kate Bush tape, and pay homage to this iconic moment.

11. The Three Waterfalls

Image Credit: Netflix.

While the majority of Stranger Things filming took place in Georgia, some other notable events were filmed in New Mexico, Lithuania, and Iceland. The latter provided one of the most moving scenes of the entire series. As Mike relays a story about Elevens possible escape from death, we see her trekking up a mountain to look down upon some majestic waterfalls, bringing Mikes dream to life.

Whether the viewer believes Eleven is alive or not (I Believe), it would still be amazing to visit such a stunning place. Filmmakers took great care to film in an actual location instead of relying on green screen or CGI. Indeed, these waterfalls are named Haifoss and Granni and are located in the jorsardalur Valley in Southern Iceland.

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12. Bonus: Hawkins Headquarters Gift Shop

Image Credit: Film Stocked.

Although not a filming location, no Stranger Things fan can visit Jackson, Georgia, without stopping by Hawkins Headquarters. Right across the street from the Welcome Center, this store is a dream for those who love the series and all things 1980s. Visitors can pick up any number of Stranger Things items, from t-shirts to screen-accurate costumes and action figures. The store also has plenty of retro 80s merch from things like The Lost Boys, Jaws, Childs Play, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite, and Pee Wees Big Adventure. Dont forget to check out the back room, complete with vintage arcade games like Dig Dug (quarters are provided for you), and the Surfer Boy Pizza Van, parked just outside the entrance. Both are perfect for photo ops and will transport you back to the 1980s and into the Stranger Things universe.
As news of US and Israeli military strikes on Iran dominates global headlines, the tremors of conflict are once again being felt far beyond the centres of destruction - specifically, in classrooms and living rooms around the world.

For parents of children struggling to make sense of this violent reality, the challenge is no longer just explaining the world, but managing the deep-seated anxieties that modern crises instill in the next generation.

Psychologist Elisabeth Raffauf, who has extensively researched the fears of young people, notes that the boundary between global news and private life has effectively vanished.

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Adult worries have long since reached children's rooms, says Raffauf.

"Children are afraid of war and that the poles are melting and there will soon be no more polar bears." These global anxieties layer on top of timeless fears regarding loneliness and school performance.

According to a UNICEF report on the matter, the digital age has intensified this proximity to peril. UNICEF warns that "a constant stream of upsetting images and headlines can make it feel like the crisis is all around us," noting that younger children often cannot distinguish between images on a screen and their own personal safety.

Opening the dialogue

Both experts and international bodies agree that staying silent on the world's problems is not helpful to children. UNICEF advises parents to find out what children already know by choosing a natural time to talk, such as a family meal, while avoiding the high-stress period just before bedtime.

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Raffauf suggests that these heavy conversations don't always require a formal sit-down. "Sometimes it also helps if you don't sit opposite each other, but have a conversation in passing," she says. "Maybe when you are baking a cake. While you are stirring the mixture, you are both pretty relaxed which makes it easier to talk."

If a child asks an extreme question, such as "Are we all going to die?", UNICEF recommends that parents "reassure them that is not going to happen," while simultaneously investigating the source of the fear to provide better context.

Validating the fear

A common parental instinct is to dismiss a child's fear to provide comfort, but Raffauf warns this can be counterproductive.

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"If parents say, 'You don't need to be afraid,' the child thinks their feeling is wrong and that is very unsettling," Raffauf explains. Instead, she suggests confirming the emotion: "The feeling is right, I can trust it."

UN experts echo this emphasis on transparency, stating that "its important not to minimize or dismiss their concerns." The agency emphasizes that while adults have a responsibility to keep children safe from distress, children also "have a right to know whats going on in the world."

From powerlessness to action

To counter the feeling of helplessness that often accompanies news of war, Raffauf suggests turning "productive anxiety" into action. "Even with issues like war, there are things we can actively do, such as donating things to refugees or going to a demonstration as a family," she says. "If we show our children that we adults are taking responsibility, that gives them hope."

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UNICEF also encourages focusing on "the helpers"  finding stories of first responders or people working for peace. Taking small, positive actions, like drawing a poster or writing a poem, can provide "great comfort," according to the report.

Monitoring the signs

Parents should remain vigilant for behavioural shifts. Raffauf lists warning signs such as when children become "absent, don't feel like eating, are sleeping badly or are withdrawn."

UNICEF notes that physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches can be indicators of distress. To help mitigate immediate stress, try simple physical exercises like belly breathing  taking five deep breaths, inhaling for five seconds and exhaling for five, imagining the stomach is a balloon inflating and deflating.

The parent's stability

Ultimately, a childs sense of security relies on the stability of the adults around them. UNICEF reminds parents that "kids take their emotional cues from adults," and advises staying mindful of body language and facial expressions.

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Raffauf suggests that parents must first regulate themselves before addressing their children. "I can also admit my own fears to my child  but keep a handle on this and don't make your child comfort you as that would be a reversal of the roles," she says.

By treating children with respect and allowing all feelings to be voiced, Raffauf believes parents can provide the "safe base" necessary for them to navigate an increasingly uncertain world.
The 2026 primary election season began on Tuesday as voters in three states  Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas  headed to the polls to decide who will face off in the Nov. 3 election.

Several of the races were for competitive seats and could determine who controls the House and Senate after the midterms.

Texas Senate Primaries

This was particularly true in Texas, where Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, faced off against state Rep. James Talarico to be the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat.

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On the Republican side, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn faced Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Polls show Talarico, who ran on a progressive Christian message, could have a better chance of winning the November election than Crockett. The sitting congresswoman, also a progressive, has made a name for herself in Congress for her outspokenness, especially in her opposition to President Donald Trump.

Talarico was declared the winner of the Democratic primary, winning 53% of the votes to Crockets 46%.

James Talarico, a Texas Democratic primary candidate for U.S. Senate, poses with supporters after speaking during an event at the University of Houston, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Houston. | Ashley Landis

Texans havent elected a Democrat to the Senate in almost 40 years, but a closely contested Republican primary and competitive polls are leading Democrats to believe they can win in November.

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Cornyn and Paxton, meanwhile, will face each other in a runoff election on May 26, The Associated Press determined, since neither of them won more than 50% of the vote.

Cornyn came out barely ahead of Paxton 42%-41%, while Hunt won 13% of the vote.

Cornyn, who has represented Texas in the Senate for over two decades, will continue to have to fight off a challenge from Paxton, who is popular among many Trump voters.

Trump endorsed more than 130 candidates ahead of Tuesdays primary, but notably stayed quiet in the Senate race.

Primary voters line up to cast ballots at a voting center in Dallas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. | LM Otero

North Carolina candidates in race to replace Tillis

In North Carolina, voters headed to the polls to cast ballots for another vital Senate race, which could also decide control of the upper chamber come November. The Senate seat is open after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced he wouldnt run again.

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The primary slimmed down the crowded field of six Republicans and six Democrats.

The Associated Press declared former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley as the winner in the GOP contest. Whatley had the presidents endorsement.

On the Democratic side, former two-term governor Roy Cooper was declared the winner.

In the House, primaries will take place based on the states new congressional map. The state Legislature last year drew new district boundaries as part of Trumps push to maintain control of the lower chamber in November.

The map was redrawn to give Republicans a boost and there were five GOP candidates running to challenge Democratic Rep. Don Davis.

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Republican Laurie Buckhout won the primary and will challenge Davis in November, according to the AP.

Voters in Arkansas chose nominees for various federal, state and local offices in the Tuesday primary.

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton easily defeated two primary challengers in his bid for a third term. Democrat Hallie Shoffner won her primary and will face Cotton in November.

Primary contests will stretch from now through the summer, ending in September before candidates gear up for the general election in November.
The IDF said that Hezbollah will be substantially harmed by losing access to Iranian funds, which were almost its sole source of support since the war started.

Three hundred thousand mostly Shi'ite Lebanese supporters of Hezbollah have been evacuated from at least 50 villages in southern Lebanon due to IDF counterattacks following Hezbollah firing rockets on Israel on Monday.

The IDF has said that this is creating tremendous pressure on Hezbollah since it is a large part of its constituency, most of whom still have not received reparations for homes they lost during the 2023-2024 conflict between the Lebanese terror group and Israel.

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They have been evacuated as the IDF has launched 250 attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon since Monday, around 100 on Tuesday alone.

While the volume of attacks remains far below the 1,300 attacks in a single day the IDF achieved in September 2024, it is far above the volume of much more limited attacks the IDF has undertaken since the November 2024 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Typically, since the ceasefire, the IDF would only launch a few attacks each week, mainly at limited low-level targets in southern Lebanon or elsewhere in Lebanon where not too many Hezbollah operatives would be killed and where top Hezbollah officials were not targeted.

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, March 4, 2026 (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)

IDF kills several top Hezbollah officials

In contrast, the IDF has killed several top Hezbollah officials since Monday and has made it clear that Hezbollah's chief since fall 2024, Naim Qassem (who replaced Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine in fall 2024 after they were both assassinated) in in their crosshairs.

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To date, Hezbollah has not killed a single Israeli and has caused minimal damage.

Hezbollah's main attack was overnight between Sunday and Monday, firing rockets on the northern border towns and as far down as the Haifa area.

Since then, Hezbollah has launched many more sporadic rocket and drone attacks.

The IDF said that at 8:08 p.m. on Tuesday night, it had destroyed the Hezbollah rocket launcher that fired on Haifa.

On Tuesday, the IDF announced that it had slightly expanded its security zone in southern Lebanon, adding to the five positions that it has held there since the November 2024 ceasefire.

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However, the IDF Northern Command said that it was unlikely to initiate a larger ground invasion into Lebanon until the situation with Iran was calmer, if at all.

There had been no change on that front by Wednesday morning.

Overall, the IDF message was its expansion in southern Lebanon was to deter any imminent potential invasion ideas from Hezbollah, and not yet to invade large scale as it did in September 2024.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah could fall apart without Iranian training and guidance, which they will have less of now that Iran's regime itself is fighting for survival.

In addition, the IDF said that Hezbollah will be substantially harmed by losing access to Iranian funds, which were almost its sole source of support since the war started, which will also harm its Shi'ite constituency.

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Collectively, the military said that all of these factors could finally lead to the Lebanese military disarming Hezbollah, though the organization still has power sources, so this remains an unpredictable question.

To date, Hezbollah has not used its arsenal of thousands or more rockets, said the IDF.

Further, the IDF credited the Lebanese military for having tried to stop Hezbollah from going south toward Israel.

Moreover, the IDF said that most of Hezbollah's 2,000 Radwan commandos did not travel south toward Israel, but stayed in Beirut for safety. Only a small number of Radwan made it south, the IDF said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  An inmate at Lansing Correctional Facility died Tuesday, according to officials.

Raymond Michael Sanders, 32, was found unresponsive in his cell Tuesday afternoon.

Former KU athletic trainers license revoked for accessing sensitive photos of women

Staff and Emergency Medical Service personnel tried to save his life but were unable to revive him. The correctional facility said his cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

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Sanders was serving a 10-month sentence for parole violations. Sanders previously served 33 months on four convictions of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer in Jefferson County, Kansas.

As is standard, Sanders death is under investigation by the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

FOX4 has reported at least 11 inmate deaths at Lansing Correctional Facility in the past five years.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WFRV)  A child victim reporting that they had been sexually assaulted several times over six years led to a Wisconsin mans arrest and charges in court.

The Whitewater Police Department reported that the investigation began on February 13 when the victim came forward, stating that they were 5-11 years old when the sexual assaults occurred.

Wisconsin nurse sentenced to prison for sexual relationship with patient

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Detectives on February 19 took the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Vincent Dean of Jefferson, into custody, with numerous charges filed in court.

Five countsFirst-degree sexual assault of a child under 12

Repeated sexual assault of the same child

Child enticement

Exposing a child to harmful material

Two countsExposing genitals to a child

Dean was given a $250,000 cash bond in court.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Space One's Kairos rocket launches on its third-ever mission on March 4, 2026 from Spaceport Kii. Space One terminated the flight about two minutes after liftoff. | Credit: Space One

The third time was not the charm for Space One's Kairos rocket.

Kairos launched for the third time ever on Wednesday (March 4), lifting off from Space One's Spaceport Kii in Wakayama Prefecture at 9:10 p.m. EST (0210 GMT and 11:10 a.m. local time in Japan on March 5). But it was all over about two minutes later.

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"Kairos No. 3 was launched on March 5, 2026, at 11:10:00 a.m., but we determined that mission success was difficult and implemented flight termination measures," Tokyo-based Space One said via X on Wednesday evening (in Japanese; translation by X).

It was the third straight failure for Kairos. The rocket's debut flight, in March 2024, ended just five seconds after liftoff when the rocket's flight termination system detected lower-than-expected velocity and thrust.

The second launch, in December 2024, lasted longer but also met an explosive end . Space One terminated that mission about three minutes into flight, at an altitude of roughly 62 miles (100 kilometers), after detecting performance anomalies. Five satellites were lost.

Five small spacecraft were lost on Wednesday's flight as well. They were supposed to be deployed about 50 minutes after launch at an altitude of 310 miles (500 kilometers), according to Japanese outlet NHK .

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It's too early to tell what went wrong on Wednesday. Space One said it will provide details when they are available.

Space One, which was founded in 2018, aims to become a major player in the small-satellite launch industry. The company wants to be launching 20 missions per year by the end of the decade and 30 per year in the 2030s.

Space One's first rocket is the 59-foot-tall (18 meters) Kairos, which consists of three solid-fuel stages topped by a liquid-propellant upper stage. Kairos can deliver up to 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of payload to sun-synchronous orbit, according to Space One .

Editor's note: This story was updated at 11:00 a.m. ET on March 4 with the new target launch date of March 4, then again at 9:30 p.m. ET on March 4 with news of the launch failure.
A group of 74 retired U.S. generals and admirals recently voiced strong support for the joint U.S.-Israel military operation targeting Iran, calling it a necessary response to decades of threats from the Islamic Republic against the United States, its allies and regional stability.

The endorsement came in an open letter published Tuesday by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) and signed by dozens of former senior American military commanders.

The letter backs the current military actions, known as Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, which aim to degrade Irans ability to threaten U.S. forces and partners across the Middle East.

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"As retired senior American military leaders, we support the joint U.S.-Israeli military action to degrade and weaken the Iranian regimes ability to threaten the United States, our allies and partners, and the Iranian people," the letter states. "And we commend the valor of the outstanding United States Military and our Intelligence Community engaged in this operation."

Israel Strikes Iranian Leadership Meeting Choosing Khamenei Successor

Among the prominent signatories are former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr., who served during the height of the Iraq War; former Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jerome Johnson; former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. W.L. Nyland, who held the post during the early Iraq War; former Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander of U.S. European Command Gen. Philip M. Breedlove; and former U.S. Pacific Command chief Adm. Timothy J. Keating.

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The retired commanders argue that Irans leadership has spent decades threatening American interests and supporting militant groups across the region.

"Since its inception 47 years ago, the radical regime, whose slogan is Death to America, Death to Israel, has committed to endangering the lives of U.S. troops, diplomats, and civilians across the Middle East and here at home," the letter says, noting that "hundreds of Americans have lost their lives at the hands of the Islamic Republic and its terrorist proxies."

According to the signatories, the current military campaign is a direct response to Iran's continued efforts to expand its military capabilities.

Longtime Trump Critic Credits Him For Restoring 'Credibility Of Us Deterrence' As Iran Strikes Unfold

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"U.S.-Israel military action is a response to Irans unstinting efforts to make those ambitions a reality," the letter states. "Following last summers 12-Day War, Tehran has redoubled its missile building program to hold at risk our bases, our partners, and ultimately our homeland."

Irans regional proxy network also remains a central concern, the letter warns. "Its proxy forces in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and elsewhere continue to threaten U.S. targets, Israel, and freedom of navigation in some of the worlds most vital waterways."

The letter further argues that Iran has continued pursuing nuclear capabilities despite previous military setbacks.

"Since Operation Midnight Hammer against its main enrichment sites last June, Iran has attempted to rebuild elements of its destroyed nuclear infrastructure," the letter states.

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The signatories also point to Irans domestic repression as evidence of the regimes nature.

"The regimes brutal crackdown on protestors showed the entire world just what it is willing to do to keep its people and the region under its thumb," they wrote.

Israel Strikes Iranian Leadership Meeting Choosing Khamenei Successor

At the same time, the letter stresses that coordination between the United States, Israel and regional partners will be critical for the campaigns success.

"For all these reasons, it is noteworthy that the United States is working so closely with Israel and other regional partners," the letter states. "Such cooperation is vital to degrade and eliminate the regimes arsenals, undermine its organs of oppression, and signal unmistakably that it cannot continue threatening not only core U.S. interests, but the broader security and prosperity of the Middle East and its own population."

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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described the joint campaign as a decisive military operation aimed at dismantling Irans missile and air defense networks.

Speaking on Wednesday, Hegseth said the Israeli and U.S. air forces were quickly establishing air superiority over Iran.

"Starting last night and to be completed in a few days  the two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies. Uncontested airspace," Hegseth said.

Critics, however, have warned the operation could have the opposite effect, increasing the risk of a wider regional war.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged restraint following the strikes, warning that further escalation could destabilize the region, while U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned that the confrontation could spiral into a broader conflict and called for renewed diplomatic efforts.

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Several Democratic lawmakers have also raised concerns about the strikes.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said he believed the operation amounted to "a war of choice with no strategic endgame."

Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., said after attending a classified briefing that he had not seen evidence of an immediate Iranian threat.

Blaise Misztal, vice president for policy at JINSA, said the letter reflects the perspective of commanders who witnessed the Iranian threat firsthand.

"For more than two decades, Iran has been targeting and killing U.S. men and women in uniform," Misztal said. "The retired senior military leaders who signed this letter have seen that threat up close and firsthand. They understand the threat that Iran poses to America, the urgent need to address it, and the tremendous capabilities that the United States and Israel have to do so, together."

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A screengrab from a video released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which accompanied a press release describing the operation dubbed Epic Fury, an attack by the United States and Israel on Iran, shows smoke and dust rising following an explosion at an unknown location, in this image obtained from social media released Feb. 28, 2026. (Reuters)

While supporting continued military pressure, the signatories concluded that Irans long-term future ultimately lies with its citizens.

"It will ultimately be up to the Iranian people to bring down the regime and enable a better future for Iran and the world," the letter states.





Original article source: 74 retired US generals, admirals back Iran strikes, warn Tehran seeks to spill American blood
This story was originally published by ProPublica

During his reelection campaign last fall, the mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, criticized his challenger for suggesting the city should get tougher on the homeless population. Such an approach would be cruel, Tim Keller said during a televised debate with former County Sheriff Darren White.

The city clears encampments and gives people citations all the time, said Keller, who defeated White to win a third term. But this problem is complex and you cannot dumb it down to arresting people, he said. You simply cannot arrest your way out of this problem whether you want to or not.

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Despite his rhetoric, a ProPublica analysis found that under Kellers leadership, Albuquerque has increasingly criminalized conduct associated with homelessness, causing a growing number of people on the streets to be arrested and jailed.

In 2025, people were charged 1,256 times for obstructing sidewalks, nearly six times the number of cases in the previous eight years combined. More than 3,000 trespassing charges were handed out last year, the highest for any year since 2017. And cases of unlawful camping increased to 704 from 113 the year before, according to previously unreported county data provided to ProPublica by the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts.

Charges Associated With Homelessness Surged in 2025

Cases involving sidewalk obstruction, camping and trespassing have risen in recent years. People were charged nearly six times more often for sidewalk obstruction in 2025 than the previous eight years combined.

Source: New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts

In recent years, a majority of these cases, once they were adjudicated, were dismissed. But not without consequences: Each citation lists a court date, which, if missed, can lead to a bench warrant and arrest.

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And thats often what has happened.

Over the past four years, the number of bookings in Bernalillo Countys jail classified as homeless or transient has skyrocketed  to nearly 12,000 in 2025, from 3,670 in 2022. In recent months, the share of people booked who are transient made up about 49% of the jails population, according to a ProPublica analysis.

This has occurred as the average daily population at the jail from July 2024 through June 2025 reached its highest point in a decade. On some days last year, the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center held more homeless people than the largest local shelter.

Homeless Inmates Drive Increases in County Jail Admissions

Over the past three years, the number of jail bookings marked as homeless or transient has skyrocketed. Admissions marked as transient made up nearly 50% of the county jail bookings at the end of 2025.

Source: Bernalillo County

The citys homeless population has more than doubled from 2022 to 2025, while the increase in homeless people jailed by the county has more than tripled during the same time period. Police and court records and interviews with homeless people show the increase in their incarceration is primarily driven by the cascading effects of repeatedly citing people who are experiencing homelessness.

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In an interview with ProPublica, Keller echoed his contention from the debate that citations and arrests are not a solution to homelessness. Still, he defended the actions police have taken. What were doing is following the letter of the law. There are much more punitive things that Im sure a lot of people would want, that we dont do because theyre inappropriate, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Keller noted that other cities rely on immediate arrests, blanket sweeps without service connection or criminal penalties without offering alternatives. The city issues three citations before an arrest is made, the spokesperson said. (People living outside told ProPublica theyve been taken to jail without first receiving three citations.)

When ProPublica pointed out that citations can lead to arrests and jail time, Keller acknowledged that jail is not the solution. But, he said, people call the city and ask that laws be enforced.

A city of Albuquerque worker empties a shopping cart filled with belongings collected during a sweep into a garbage truck along Commercial Street. Sweeps can lead to citations, which can lead to an arrest. (All photos by Ramsay de Give for ProPublica)

A Christian outreach group from Texas distributes food and clothing and prays with people who are homeless in Albuquerque on Sept. 13. (Ramsay de Give for ProPublica)

In recent years, U.S. cities, facing record numbers of people on the street, have adopted more laws targeting them. In 2024, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities may enforce bans against sleeping outside, more than 150 municipalities nationwide, including Albuquerque, either passed new laws prohibiting public camping or ramped up enforcement of existing laws.

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President Donald Trump has endorsed this approach, calling for federal grants to be prioritized for cities that enforce bans on urban camping and loitering.

The emphasis on enforcement has come despite evidence that such citations and arrests are costly. For example, Bernalillo County spends about $169 per night to jail inmates without significant medical or mental health needs, according to a county spokesperson. The cost increases for people with severe medical ($250 a day) and mental health (about $450 a day) needs, a spokesperson said.

By comparison, housing an individual in the citys year-round emergency shelter costs $44 a night.

Tony Robinson, a political science professor at the University of Colorado who has studied camping bans, said the share of homeless inmates in Bernalillo Countys jail is unusually high  even at a time when cities are ramping up enforcement. ProPublica found that jails in similarly sized counties, including San Francisco and Pasco County, Florida, have lower rates of incarceration for people who are marked homeless.

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Citing people who are homeless can land them in jail because some lack cellphones or an address where they can receive notices by mail. This is a barrier to appearing in court, leading to a warrant for their arrest, he said. Simple citations lead to jail time and arrest by a predictable path.

ProPublica reviewed more than 100 cases and interviewed two dozen people experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque about their encounters with police. Nearly everyone ProPublica spoke to had been charged for a crime associated with homelessness. They said they feel singled out by the police: Officers contact them frequently and issue citations, which can lead to warrants. When officers see they have warrants, they can take them to jail.

Natalie Rankin, a 45-year-old homeless woman in Albuquerque, was charged 12 times over the last year for a variety of crimes, including blocking the sidewalk, public camping and criminal trespassing. She spent a night in jail in August after an officer noticed that she had a warrant for her arrest.

I dont do anything more than get little warrants for not showing up in court, she said in August.

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Rankin has already been charged at least seven times in 2026 and spent at least one day in jail.

Gateway West provides shelter and resources for homeless people in the Albuquerque area. The shelter has served more people since Mayor Tim Keller took office. (Ramsay de Give for ProPublica)

Since Keller took office nine years ago, Albuquerque has spent at least $100 million to expand the citys Gateway system, which includes shelter for families and adults, a 50-person treatment program, and a place where people are supervised by medical professionals as they withdraw from drugs or alcohol.

Were one of the few cities who really has been proactive about building a new system, Keller said. It needs tons of work and tons of help, but weve at least built something that has gotten 1,000 people off the street.

Meanwhile, the citys homeless population, which was at least 2,960 last year, exceeds the shelters capacity even with the expansions. Keller has also become less tolerant of encampments in public spaces like parks and sidewalks, vowing to not allow tent cities.

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In text messages reported in 2024 by the news organization City Desk ABQ, Keller asked then-police Chief Harold Medina to develop a plan to address the growing crisis. Medina texted back a plan to hammer the unhoused. (After the texts were published, a spokesperson for Keller said, We continue to balance enforcing laws against illegal activity to keep our communities safe, and providing resources for people experiencing homelessness to both get them connected to services.)

The city has been accused of breaking the law as it carries out the crackdown.

In 2022, current and former homeless people sued Albuquerque in state district court over its targeting of encampments, alleging the city criminalizes their status as homeless, according to court documents. The class-action lawsuit is pending.

A 2024 ProPublica investigation found city workers routinely discarded the belongings of homeless people as they cleared encampments, violating a court order and city policy. Some people told ProPublica in recent interviews that city workers continue to throw away their belongings, and police are issuing citations more frequently.

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Officers have not targeted people who are homeless, Medina said in an interview in December. The increase in citations and arrests for crimes associated with homelessness are the result of a broader crime-fighting surge, he said.

Last April, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham deployed the National Guard to assist Albuquerque police, citing the fentanyl epidemic and rising violent juvenile crime. The National Guard was also to provide humanitarian and medical assistance in parts of the city frequented by people who are homeless.

Its important that we dont categorize this as, Were doing an initiative on the unhoused, said Medina, who retired at the end of last year. Were doing an initiative across the board.

City statistics show, however, that the biggest jump in arrests from 2024 to 2025 was for misdemeanor warrants, the kinds described by many of the people ProPublica interviewed. Arrests associated with misdemeanor warrants were up 72%.

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Priscilla Montano, 67, sometimes stays under a bridge near downtown Albuquerque. She said city workers, who are occasionally accompanied by police, visit the spot at least five days a week to tell people to move their belongings. In July, Montano was charged three times for unlawful camping and obstructing sidewalks. In September, she was incarcerated for a day on the same charges. There is a warrant for her arrest related to a separate violation from September.

Montano said each time she goes to jail her belongings are thrown away. Shes lost her wedding ring and property she needs to survive.

People pack their belongings in anticipation of city enforcement on Rhode Island Street. (Ramsay de Give for ProPublica)

Lisandra Tonkin, who leads a team at the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness that helps people find housing, said the crackdown has made it more difficult to stay in touch with the people theyre trying to help because theyre constantly moved by sweeps and jail stays.

City officials say they first offer resources, including a spot in a shelter. Tonkin said some people are reluctant to accept because they have been traumatized by their experiences in shelters, like being assaulted or having their belongings stolen. The offer sometimes comes with requirements they wont accept, like giving up a pet or separating from a companion.

So what is the solution of where to move them? I think a lot of times the choice is shelter or jail, she said.

The result, according to Medina, the former chief, is that the Metropolitan Detention Center has become the states largest mental health facility.

I dont think its ideal for these individuals to always end up in jail, 100%, but theres limited resources and ability to get people to those resources under our current system, he said.

People who have received citations or who have been arrested told ProPublica that the citys offer is either a bed in a shelter that used to be the county jail or nothing at all.

One evening in December, Tiffany Leger sat on a sidewalk in northwest Albuquerque listening to a virtual meeting through headphones. Leger, who spent two years on the streets but now has a home, still visits friends who live outside and shares phone numbers for local organizations where they can seek help. As she listened to the virtual meeting, police approached and told her she was being detained for camping, noting there was a tent nearby. The officers issued a citation.

Over the years, Leger has heard from friends that if police offer resources, its usually a card with outdated information on shelters in the city or a bed in the shelter on the outskirts of town, she said.

Leger said that usually police approach people who look homeless and check for warrants, sometimes leading to an arrest.

For decades, Peter Cubra has monitored the citys treatment of homeless people. Cubra was involved in a 1995 lawsuit in which Jimmy McClendon, an inmate at the Bernalillo County Detention Center, sued Albuquerque and the county over conditions there, including overcrowding. The lawsuit also alleged that police were jailing people, including those who were homeless, for nonviolent misdemeanors.

A city settlement in the lawsuit directed police to issue citations for nonviolent misdemeanors, when possible, instead of making arrests on the spot.

Cubra said that in 2020, he started noticing slow-motion arrests, where police issue citations understanding that a person experiencing homelessness wont get the notices from court. Police, he said, would revisit the same location, demand identification and run warrant checks, eventually picking people up on warrants from the previous citations or charges.

Janus Herrera, a local advocate and volunteer, helps people who are homeless find resources, including housing. (Ramsay de Give for ProPublica)

Janus Herrera, a local advocate and volunteer, said people have told her they miss court dates because they lost paperwork stating where and when to appear in court that they received during an encampment sweep.

People are already strained to a breaking point, she said. You keep adding more and more on top of that.

ProPublicas review of 100 randomly selected cases for criminal trespassing from 2025 showed 67% of people had missed their court dates, leading to an arrest warrant.

Most of the people ProPublica interviewed who had gone to jail said they were held overnight and released back to the streets with a pending case. A recent study supports their claims: From 2024 to 2025, the number of people jailed for less than a day increased by 131%, according to a data analysis by the Center for Applied Research and Analysis at the University of New Mexico.

If a person doesnt attend subsequent court dates, their case can result in additional warrants. The next time they encounter police, they can be arrested again.

Cubra said instead of repeatedly citing and arresting people, some communities designate places for people to informally but deliberately sleep outdoors without harassment. (A church opened such a space in Albuquerque last year with capacity for 10 tents.) But in Albuquerque, Cubra said, the arrests have persisted and accelerated over the past year, which he called shameful.

Our city is knowingly saying, We wont let you sleep outdoors, Cubra said. We know there is no place for you to sleep indoors, and were going to keep arresting you and harassing you for something that is unavoidable and intrinsic to just existing.

Photography by Ramsay de Give for ProPublica

Methodology

ProPublica obtained court data on three charges frequently associated with homelessness: criminal trespassing, unlawful obstruction of sidewalks and unlawful camping. In some circumstances, a single charge appeared multiple times in the data. In these cases, we included only the most recent outcome associated with the charges. We also excluded cases marked as transferred within the court system, to avoid double-counting. As much as possible, we excluded cases where it was clear the charges were not directly associated with homelessness  for example, domestic violence and driving under the influence.

The court data did not include housing status. The county jail tracks whether a person has permanent housing during booking and marks a person transient. The court data did not list the law enforcement agency that issued the charge. But jail data shows the Albuquerque Police Department was responsible for 75% of the homeless bookings from 2020 to 2025.

ProPublica interviewed 24 people who are homeless about being charged with crimes associated with their housing status. We independently verified their cases through court records.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Horses are just as much a part of New Mexicos story as green chile and balloons. One local startup is hoping their research could lead to the end of a debilitating disease in the animal.

Paul Szauter openly admits  hes not a horse person. When I talk to horse owners First 30 seconds, they can tell Im not a horse person, right? said Szauter.

What he does, however, could save future breeds of the animal from suffering a debilitating and painful disease. Horses are very highly inbred. So they tend to sell horses on the basis of how famous the ancestors were, and if you have this big winning horse, they say, well, lets have it on both sides of the pedigree, top and bottom, said Szauter.

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That practice can lead to genetic mutations within the animals that can cause a condition similar to muscular dystrophy in humans. Thats called exercise intolerance. And the horse gets older, and it refuses to do the work that its been asked to do, said Szauter. And sometimes itll have an episode of whats called tying up, where the muscles freeze up, and it needs veterinary attention.

Szauter is chief scientific officer for EquiSeq, a New Mexico start-up that began its genetic research and testing more than a decade ago. So when we started in 2015, we saw that, you know, there were some genetic tests for horses, but there were over 5,000 genetic tests for human beings, for inherited diseases. And in horse, there were 16, said Szauter.

Researchers decided to start with six genetic tests for the disease, and since most mammals muscular DNA is similar, they used what we knew about human abnormalities to start their research in horses. All mammals are really closely related, and humans and horses have pretty much the same set of genes. And especially muscle. Muscles are really ancient function that goes back to the origin of multicellular animals, like 570 years ago, million years ago. So, thats a long time. And muscle has been around for a long time. And if you look even in fruit flies, you can find some of the muscle genes that are in humans and horses, said Szauter.

Szauter says horse owners should look out for a number of symptoms in their animals between the ages of seven to 10 years old. If you can read a horses face, you can see when its in pain, said Szauter.

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Additionally, the horses gait can show changes signaling that its in distress, especially in the canter, which is just below a full gallop. What happens in these horses is both hind legs come up together, so they dont have the strength to or the mobility to move those hind legs separately, said Szauter. So thats called bunny hopping. They bring those hind legs up together.

Over time, that can lead to the animals inability to stand. And thats typically when theyre euthanized, said Szauter.

EquiSeqs goal is to provide tools to breeders as well as potential horse buyers. By identifying the genetic abnormality, the disease could potentially be bred out from future generations. Horses are bred deliberately. And if we had a genetic test that predicted the onset of these diseases, we could, over several generations, breed it out. And thats what were trying to do, said Szauter.

EquiSeq received its second of two patents covering their genetic testing in December of 2025. Their first patent request was submitted in 2017. Their hope is to continue developing tests that will better inform owners and breeders as to the health of their animals. So it took eight years of fighting to get our patent issued, an expensive and time-consuming journey, but then the test is protected, said Szauter.

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Owning these patents, and others to come from this research, makes EquiSeq poised for exponential growth. Szauter said theyre hoping to attract investors, as well as larger entities such as the Mars Corporation, to scale up research, development, and solutions for these majestic animals. We have ongoing research to discover additional variants, said Szauter.

EquiSeq is also uniquely situated for development in New Mexico. In addition to state-of-the-art institutions like Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, the animal is woven into the fabric of our states identity. Theres a great history of horses in New Mexico. Its part of the romance of the West. So its mythic to work on horses here, said Szauter.

Szauter said that once hair samples are received from a client, it typically takes about two weeks to get results back. While theyre currently focused on the six tests that have been patented, they hope to expand the types of genetic testing they can do in the future.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
US-headquartered semiconductor company Ayar Labs has closed a Series E funding round worth $500m, led by Neuberger Berman.

The Silicon Valley-based company aims to use the new capital to increase large-scale production and testing capacity for its co-packaged optics (CPO) solution.

With this latest investment, Ayar Labs total funding now reaches $870m and sets its valuation at $3.75bn.

The Series E round brought together several new and existing investors from both financial and strategic backgrounds.

New participants include Alchip Technologies, ARK Invest, Insight Partners, MediaTek, Qatar Investment Authority, Sequoia Global Equities, and 1789 Capital.

They join previous investors such as Advent Global Opportunities, Boardman Bay Capital Management, IAG Capital Partners, Light Street Capital, Playground Global, AMD Ventures, and NVIDIA.

Neuberger Berman will take on a board observer position at Ayar Labs as part of the investment.

The involvement of MediaTek and Alchip Technologies is expected to enhance collaboration with partners in the custom ASIC design sector.

Ayar Labs CEO and co-founder Mark Wade said: AI infrastructure is hitting a power wall driven by interconnect inefficiency.

As bandwidth demands explode, copper becomes the bottleneck  consuming too much power and limiting AI throughput per watt and per dollar. Co-packaged optics overcomes these barriers, enabling thousands of GPUs to operate as a unified system. This funding fuels our ability to meet the demands of hyperscale AI.

Ayar Labs plans to direct the funding toward increasing manufacturing volumes and testing capabilities for its CPO products.

In addition to ramping up production, the company will expand its global presence, including at its recently opened office in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Strengthening industry partnerships remains a key focus as Ayar Labs moves forward with broader deployment of its CPO technology.

The companys CPO solution is designed to improve data transfer within AI infrastructure by substituting copper interconnects with optical connectivity to boost performance and efficiency for next-generation systems.

The TeraPHY optical engine underpins the platform and is compatible with standard industry manufacturing and packaging processes used by primary accelerator and switch suppliers.

Neuberger Berman managing director Gabe Cahill said: With a production-ready scale-up co-packaged optics solution and deep ecosystem integration, we are excited to lead this round and help accelerate the paradigm shift taking place in AI infrastructure.




After a swarm of TV shake-ups in San Antonio and across Texas, sudden layoffs have hit one local station in the Alamo City.

On Tuesday, March 3, a spokesperson for KSAT 12 confirmed to MySA that the local ABC affiliate has made "staffing adjustments," but not much information was shared regarding the size and scope of the layoffs.

"We have made staffing adjustments as part of an ongoing review of our business and operational needs," the spokesperson wrote in a statement. "These actions impacted a limited number of positions and were not related to individual performance. We remain committed to supporting our employees through this transition and continuing to serve our community with high-quality local journalism."

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It's unclear whether layoffs are impacting other Graham Media Group stations across the country. However, it's not the first round of layoffs to sweep across San Antonio stations. KSAT's announcement comes about a year after a wave of reported layoffs hit KENS 5 in February 2025 leaving many, including a longtime director, without jobs. KENS 5 is owned by TEGNA, and a spokesperson for the media giant told MySA that local leaders were making changes in their newsrooms, "investing in some areas and scaling back in others."

MySA reached out to Graham Media Group for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.

This article originally published at Abrupt layoffs hit KSAT 12 - what we know so far.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Jennifer Gledhill, the Utah woman accused of killing her husband  Utah National Guardsman Matthew Johnson  was in court for an evidentiary hearing Tuesday morning when it was postponed due to new evidence.

Gledhill, 42, was arrested in October 2024 for the alleged murder of her husband. Despite being originally scheduled for December 2025, the hearing has been pushed back to March 2026. The judge denied Gledhills bail request just over a year ago.

Utah woman accused of killing National Guardsman husband to face trial in December

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The case first started with the Reserve and the Guard investigating when Johnson was last seen in September 2024. The day after Gledhill was arrested, law enforcement continued the search for Johnsons body.

The investigation led to the wetlands surrounding the Farmington Bay area as officials searched for a shallow grave. In Davis County, police uncovered a mattress, pillow, and bloodstained carpet, all belonging to the couples home.

Gledhills representation withdrew their original motion to limit audio recordings that the prosecution could use. The judge spoke to Gledhill directly and asked if she understood her request for withdrawing the motion, the audio recordings could be come in at trial, to which she agreed. They can request a case-by-case situation.

How to make ABC4 your preferred news source on Google

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The state agreed to let the defense have more time, until March 20, to collect evidence and file a responding motion before starting an evidentiary hearing. The defense said this was based on prior concerns and new information.

The judge had evidence ahead of the hearing that he returned to the state.

A pretrial conference has been scheduled for April 10 at 1 p.m. While the judge was concerned it would be too close to the trial, attorneys agreed a later scheduling close to the start of the trial would not be problematic.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
North African countries along the Mediterranean coast have become a hotbed for migrants seeking a route to Europe. In February 2026, online posts circulating in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria claimed to show three men who were arrested in Algeria while trying to enter Spain disguised as sheep. But this is false; the images were created using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

These guys were arrested in Algeria as they tried to cross to Spain disguised as sheep. This should go into the Guinness World Book of Records as the innovation of the century! reads a Facebook post published on February 20, 2026.

The post includes photos of police officers purportedly arresting three men dressed in sheep costumes. One image shows the woolly impersonators standing, and in another, they are kneeling.

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A truck in the background appears to contain real sheep in transit.

Screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on February 26, 2026. AI symbol added by AFP

Similar claims were shared thousands of times across TikTok, Instagram, X, YouTube, and several blogs, with some alleging the men were Nigerian.

The claims follow Spains approval of a plan on January 27, 2026, to legalise the stay of about 500,000 undocumented migrants (archived here).

In 2025, the Western Mediterranean Route became Spains main entry point, with more than 19,400 arrivals, according to the Mixed Migration Centre. Departures from Algeria dominated the route, despite not sharing a land border with Spain (archived here).

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Hundreds of people die or disappear each year on this route because of the harsh conditions and unseaworthy smuggling boats.

However, the images purporting to show three Nigerian migrants in sheep suits are AI-generated.

Shaun the Sheep

Keyword searches led to fact check articles here and here debunking a similar claim in 2025, although the images were different (archived here and here).

The images use in the claims at the time had been taken from a video which appeared on TikTok as early as July 2024 ( archived here).

The video showed real footage of people in costumes dancing to the Ukrainian version of the theme song from Shaun the Sheep, a childrens animated series (archived here).

AI-generated images

A closer look at the images circulating in 2026 reveals multiple characteristics typical to AI-generated content.

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In the kneeling image, the sheep masks appear unusually lifelike, with prominent horns.

In the other image, only the first man has a horn, which is longer and differently shaped. The middle mans hand is also incomplete, merging unnaturally with the third mans arm, rather than extending to his back.

Notably, two costume heads resembling plush toys lie on the ground, yet only one of the arrested trio is unmasked in the image showing them standing.

The police uniforms also change colour between images -- blue in one and dark green in the other. Additionally, the officers fingers appear deformed in both images, a common flaw in AI-generated visuals.

Screenshots showing visual inconsistencies in the AI-generated images. AI symbols added by AFP

Analyses of the images using AI detection tools Hive Moderation and InVID WeVerify (co-created by AFP) found a 99 percent likelihood that they are fabricated.

Screenshots showing the image analyses results by Hive Moderation and InVID WeVerify, taken March 2, 2026. AI symbols added by AFP

Further keyword searches found no credible news reports corroborating the alleged arrests.

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According to the latest figures published from Spain's National Statistics Institute, more than seven million foreigners live in the country out of a total population of 49.4 million (archived here).

AFP Fact Check has previously debunked numerous claims about migration worldwide.
Mar. 3Next week, a commercial airplane will depart from Spokane's Felts Field for the first time since 1946.

The plane will be a Pilatus PC-12, a nine-passenger, two-pilot craft with cabin pressurization and temperature control. It is 1 of 4 in SeaPort Airline's new Pacific Northwest fleet, which will begin offering four round trips to Seattle, most days, starting March 9.

"You can wake up in Spokane, do a full day's business in Seattle and be back home here for dinner," CEO of SeaPort's parent company Kalinin Companies, Kent Craford, said. "It is going to be the greatest thing that's happened to bring the two sides of Washington closer together."

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Seattle has long been the top travel destination for Spokane passengers. In the 1930s, Craford said flying presented "endless possibilities" for transportation between the cities, with the commute to downtown Seattle being as short as two and a half hours. Now, that time is closer to three and a half hours.

"We've got all of the knowledge about the history of the world in the palm of your hand, and yet we have come to be conditioned to accept that one aspect of life will only get worse every year, and that's transportation," he said. "And that makes no sense to me at all. It was easier to fly between Spokane and Seattle 80 years ago than it is today."

SeaTac has created a travel "bottleneck," Craford said, as TSA and ever-increasing airport size combine to extend the time it takes people to even reach their planes. While admissible for long-distance flights, intrastate flights can take nearly as long as driving.

Private aircraft bounce back and forth between Seattle's Boeing Field and Felts Field all the time, though. SeaPort aims to use the same method as those private flights, but put planes on a schedule and sell individual seats rather than the whole space.

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Kalinin Companies also owns the Juneau-based airline Alaska Seaplanes, which has acted as a regional airline for Southeast Alaska since 1997. In Alaska, Craford said, people take planes to the doctor's office and fishing spots. Last summer, SeaPort began its first Lower 48 route, offering round trips between Portland and Seattle.

Due to the nine-passenger capacity of PC-12 aircraft, SeaPort and other Kalinin Companies airlines fall below TSA thresholds and are instead regulated like charter planes under the Federal Aviation Administration. Craford said that passenger screening is the same that you might find on buses, ferries or trains in the state, just with fewer passengers.

"And so now, any member of the public can jump on a SeaPort Airlines flight for the cost of what you would pay a major airline within three days before you fly," he said.

One-way tickets to Seattle begin at $299, subject to change with demand. Parking is free at the airport, and check-in is 20 minutes before departure . Riders can book same -day flights online.

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"It revolutionizes the way that people get between our two great cities," chief pilot Ian Fisk said. "And it gives people a little bit of their precious time back. And I know as a parent and a hardworking guy how important time is."

Flying since age 15, Fisk calls the PC-12 his "sports car."

"We can fly up to 28,000 feet, we can get up above a lot of the weather smaller planes can't," he said. "It's just a great airplane. It's very capable of flying into small fields and large airports. It's fast  so we can keep up with the big guys, and then we can also go into more unique places as well."

The convenience is to say nothing of the flying experience, though.

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"It's quiet, it's warm. Everybody's got a window seat and an aisle seat, so that's pretty sweet," Fisk said. "Our pilots know our customers by name."

Around 500 people travel between Spokane and Seattle per day, Spokane Airport CEO David Haring said. He believes a more hassle-free journey will be particularly attractive for Spokane business folk.

Joey Gunning, director of economic development for Greater Spokane Incorporated, agrees.

"In terms of our local economy, it's gonna have job growth ripple effects," Gunning said. "I mean, you think about the  not just pilots and maintenance crew that has to be hired to support the work here  these planes are purchasing fuel, and that might mean more fuel truck drivers."

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Both Craford and Haring see room for growth for the alternative flight model  whether that be SeaPort flights connecting new cities in the Pacific Northwest or more Spokane direct routes through other carriers.

"We're taking suggestions," Craford said. "Spokane recruited us, and we're thrilled that they did because they made an incredible start. The growth in this region is impressive  you can feel it."

Haring said that the aviation industry is in a "dynamic point of change right now."

"I certainly think connecting the two biggest cities makes the most sense, but does that mean that you're going to see this connectivity take place in other places in Washington or throughout the country?" he said. "It could."
A new poll out Wednesday has Graham Platner with a sizable lead over Gov. Janet Mills in Maines Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.

It is the second survey in ten days that has the political newcomer ahead in a race that has seemingly captured some of the national antipathy toward establishment politicians, particularly within the Democratic Party.

The Pan Atlantic Research poll has Platner leading the two-term governor 46% to 39% among the 367 likely Democratic primary voters surveyed, with 4% backing lesser-known candidate David Costello and 11% undecided. The results are a dramatic departure from the Portland-based pollsters last survey in December, which had Mills ahead 47% to 37%.

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Since then, Platner  who outraised Mills by nearly $2 million last quarter  has launched a series of statewide ads, including one that aired Wednesday focusing on his military service. He also this week secured his second U.S. Senate endorsement with the backing of Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a fellow former Marine, who said he believes Graham is the only Democrat running that can win Maine. This comes after independent Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed him in September.

In match ups against incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, Mills and the long-time Republican senator are tied among the 810 voters surveyed at 44%, with 12% undecided, while Platner leads Collins 44% to 40%, with 16% undecided.

The survey, conducted between Feb. 13 and March 2, found the oyster farmer leading Mills among men and voters under 55 years old, and tying with women  a key constituency for Maines first female governor. The governor has an edge among older voters and registered Democrats, while Platner is 33 percentage points ahead among independents who said they are likely to vote in Maines semi-open primary.

Mills, who has frequently pointed to her record as one of the few Democrats that has won a statewide election, leads Platner 41% to 39% among likely primary voters in the more conservative 2nd congressional district, while Platner is ahead among CD1 voters 51% to 38%.

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Maines U.S. Senate election, currently deemed a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, is among a handful of races that could control the balance of power in Congress.

The Pan Atlantic survey comes just over a week after the University of New Hampshire Survey Centers latest poll found Platner leading Mills in a primary match-up 64% to 26% among 462 likely Democratic voters.

The results show that the outsider has weathered early controversies over an archive of offensive Reddit posts and a now-covered tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, a connection he denied knowing until recently. However, a deleted social media post from neo-Nazi influencer Stew Peters and recent appearance on a popular YouTube show whose host has spread antisemitic claims about Jews and Israel have sparked another round of condemnation from some within the party.

Other findings

Platners economic populism appears to be resonating with Maine voters, nearly half of whom (47%) told the pollsters that their household is financially worse off than a year ago, compared to just 14% who say they are now better off.

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Seventy five percent of voters listed cost of living as one of the three top issues facing the state, followed by high taxes and health care access and affordability, both of which were selected by 39% of respondents.

The Pan Atlantic survey also asked voters their preference for who might replace Mills in the June 9 gubernatorial primaries.

In the crowded Democratic field, the poll found businessman Angus King III and former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah tied with 24% of respondents saying they would likely support them in the primary. Only 12% of respondents said they were not familiar with King, a political newcomer, likely due to him sharing a name with his father, sitting U.S. Senator and former Governor Angus King.

Hannah Pingree (18%), Shenna Bellows (16%), Troy Jackson (10%) all trailed slightly behind.

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Among Republicans, only former U.S. State Department official Bobby Charles, who has made headlines for his frequent anti-immigrant remarks, had more than 20% of respondents say they would likely support him in the primary. As the pollster noted, name recognition remains a significant hurdle for the GOP field, as at least 44% of primary voters indicated they are not familiar with each of the candidates tested.

Voters in Maines 2nd congressional district are also largely undecided when it comes to Democratic U.S. House candidates. Maine Sen. Joe Baldacci leads among the small sample of 144 likely Democratic CD2 voters, followed by State Auditor Matt Dunlap at 14% and Jordan Wood at 12%.

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The Thwaites Glacier in western Antarctica. | Credit: NASA

A sweeping new satellite analysis shows that Antarctica has lost nearly 5,000 square miles (12,950 square kilometers) of grounded ice over the past three decades  an area roughly twice as big as Delaware  as warming ocean waters erode the continent's most vulnerable edges.

Led by scientists at the University of California, Irvine, the study traces how Antarctica's "grounding line"  the boundary where ice anchored to bedrock begins to float on the ocean  shifted between 1992 and 2025. Because that boundary marks where land-based ice begins contributing directly to sea level rise, its retreat signals ice-sheet instability and future ice mass loss .

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"We've known it's critically important for 30 years, but this is the first time we've mapped it comprehensively across all of Antarctica over such a long time span," study lead author Eric Rignot of UC Irvine said in a statement .

Scientists studying Antarctica have gained new insights into how the worlds biggest ice sheet is reacting to warming sea temperatures. The study used three decades of radar satellite observations to map changes in grounding lines  the boundary of ice resting on land and that floating in the ocean  across the Antarctic continent from 1992 to 2025. | Credit: ESA (data source: Rignot et al, 2026)

Rignot and his colleagues analyzed data from a wide range of satellite missions operated by European, Canadian, Japanese, Italian, German and Argentine space agencies. Using radar instruments, the researchers tracked the vertical movements of floating ice shelves caused by ocean tides. Grounded ice remained fixed on bedrock, allowing them to pinpoint shifts in the grounding line over three decades with unprecedented precision.

The results show that about 77% of Antarctica's coastline experienced no detectable grounding-line migration since 1996, suggesting broad stability across much of the continent. But in vulnerable regions, particularly parts of West Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula and sections of East Antarctica, the study found " significant retreat ."

The largest changes were detected along the Amundsen Sea coast of West Antarctica and in the Getz sector, where the grounding line in some places pulled back by as much as 26 miles (42 km) during the study period.

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Retreat was most pronounced where deep underwater pathways funnel warm ocean water toward the base of glaciers , Rignot said. That warmer water melts ice from below, thinning floating shelves and weakening their ability to buttress the glaciers behind them.

"It's like the balloon that's not punctured everywhere, but where it is punctured, it's punctured deep," said Rignot.

The study also highlights a puzzling pattern along the northeast Antarctic Peninsula. In that area, several ice shelves collapsed before the study period and multiple glaciers have since retreated significantly, but researchers lack clear evidence that warm ocean water is driving the change.

"Something else is acting  it's still a question mark," Rignot said in the statement.

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Beyond documenting what has already happened, the researchers say the new record provides a crucial real-world test for computer models used to project future sea level rise .

"Models have to demonstrate they can match this 30-year record to claim credibility for their projections," Rignot said in the statement. "That's the real value of this observational record: knowing that this grounding line migration has happened."

While much of Antarctica remains stable, Rignot cautioned that the current balance may not hold indefinitely.

"The flip side is that we should perhaps feel fortunate that all of Antarctica isn't reacting right now, because we would be in far more trouble," he said. "But that could be the next step."
U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, the Texas Republican who helped lead congressional efforts targeting transgender peoples health care, lost his partys primary Tuesday, putting an expiration date on the career of one of Congresss most outspoken critics of gender-affirming care.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

Steve Toth defeated Crenshaw in the Republican primary for Texass 2nd Congressional District, a race that drew national attention as part of a slate of closely watched Texas contests in the opening stage of the 2026 midterm cycle.

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The Associated Press declared the winner at 1 a.m Eastern with 72 percent of votes in. Roth had secured 57.3 percent of the votes to Crenshaw's 39.3 percent.

First elected in 2018, the former Navy SEAL rose quickly within the GOP, becoming a conservative media fixture and a vocal culture war combatant.

Related: Republican Dan Crenshaw Says Gender-Affirming Care Is The Hill We Will Die On



Related: Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw squirms as CNNs Kaitlan Collins confronts his shifts on trans military members

In 2025, the House passed legislation backed by Crenshaw that would prohibit Medicaid funds from covering gender-affirming care for minors. The proposal sought to amend the Social Security Act to block federal funding for treatments such as hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries intended to help transgender youth transition.

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Crenshaw also successfully advanced what became known as the Crenshaw Amendment, a provision that would bar federal programs, including Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program, and Affordable Care Act subsidies, from paying for gender-affirming medical care for minors.

The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the proposal as part of a broader wave of legislation seeking to criminalize or restrict care across the country.

Crenshaw defended the legislation as a measure to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used for what he described as controversial treatments. His defeat comes as Republican primaries in Texas have become increasingly volatile, with internal ideological fights and redistricting reshaping several races.

Toth, a businessman, ordained minister, and Texas House member representing the suburban Houston area since 2019, campaigned as a more hardline conservative and aligned himself with the partys MAGA wing. He has also backed legislation in Texas aimed at limiting gender-affirming care and social transitioning for minors.

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Toth now advances to the general election in November.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Anti-LGBTQ+ Congressman Dan Crenshaw ousted by more extreme candidate in Texas GOP primary

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Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state oil company, is taking steps to reroute some of its oil exports through the Red Sea in an effort to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amidst escalating tensions with Iran.

The company aims to redirect its crude shipments to avoid potential Iranian attacks, which have significantly slowed shipping in the region, reported Reuters.

Since the US and Israel began conducting military operations against Iran last week, Saudi Arabia, along with neighbouring Gulf oil producers including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Iraq, have struggled to navigate the Strait of Hormuz.

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Hundreds of vessels are currently stationed on either side as a precautionary measure due to Iran's threats to attack any ship attempting to pass through this critical waterway.

Consequently, global oil prices have risen, with Brent crude futures increasing by 12% this week.

In response to storage limitations and the risk of having to reduce output, Aramco plans to utilise the Red Sea port of Yanbu to load some of its Arab Light crude shipments.

According to three sources cited by the news agency, Aramco has informed certain buyers about this new arrangement.

The UAE also has an alternative route via the Habshan-Fujairah Pipeline, which bypasses the Strait and delivers up to 1.5 million barrels per day from Abu Dhabi's fields to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman.

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Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has announced naval protection for ships in the Middle East, if required, and proposed offering risk insurance at competitive rates for shipping companies operating in the area.

President Trump, in a post on X, said: Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade... If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible.

He also said that the US will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD".

In related maritime incidents, a Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, caught fire in the Mediterranean, reported Reuters.

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Maritime security sources suggested Ukraine might be involved through a naval drone attack but provided no evidence for these claims.

Malta's armed forces reported locating the tanker's crew safe in a lifeboat within Libya's search-and-rescue zone.

"Aramco to divert oil exports via Red Sea amid Hormuz tensions" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




An area school district has released a statement following a deadly house fire in Clinton County on Tuesday morning.

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The fire was reported near Spring Hill and West Main Street in Clarksville around 6:40 a.m., according to Thomas Breckle, Clinton County EMA Director.

A woman and five children were killed in the fire, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, part of West Main Street remains blocked more than 12 hours later.

Investigators have not released the victims names or ages.

TRENDING STORIES:

The Clinton-Massie Local School District released a statement to our news partner, WCPO-9 TV, saying in part that three of the victims were students:

This morning, our district became aware of a tragic house fire in our community. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of a mother, three of our students, as (well) as two other children.

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This is devastating news for our school community. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the familys loved ones and all who are impacted.

Out of respect for the family and to ensure accuracy, we will share only verified information and will not speculate beyond what has been confirmed. We will communicate promptly if additional confirmed information becomes available.

We know that tragedy affects not only families, but also classmates, staff members, and the broader community. Our schools are closely connected places, and moments like this are felt deeply by many.

We are working with our local crisis response team to ensure support is in place for students and staff. Additional counselors and mental health professionals will be available in our buildings starting tomorrow. We encourage any student, staff member, or family who needs support to reach out.

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In times of grief, we lean on one another. Thank you for the care and compassion you show our students and one another each day.

Its kind of devastating because, you know, you see them outside playing or you see people outside and you dont really think about it, them not being here anymore, Virginia Pence said.

She saw what happened just after 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

I woke up and saw the glow through the window and I walked out my front door and I saw flames coming out of the side of the house, Pence said. I hurried up and threw clothes on and I went out the back and there were people trying to get in to see if they could get anybody out.

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The Clinton County EMA Director said the fire was in the stairway. Some of the stairs collapsed, which made it extremely difficult for fire crews to get to the victims on the second floor.

They found a man still alive in the house and medics took him to the hospital.

Eight firefighters were hurt in the flames, but they were treated on scene.

The State Fire Marshal is working to determine what started the fire.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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An Arkansas father facing second-degree murder charges for allegedly gunning down his teenage daughters suspected sexual predator won the Republican nomination Tuesday for Lonoke County sheriff.

Aaron Spencer, who is accused of killing Michael Fosler, 67, defeated Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley in the primary election , winning more than 53% of the vote, according to unofficial results posted by the Arkansas Secretary of State.

Spencer allegedly shot and killed Fosler in October 2024 after he woke up and found his daughter missing from the familys home.

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He found his daughter inside Foslers truck and forced the vehicle off the highway before an altercation led to a shootout .

Texas Father Rescues Kidnapped Daughter By Tracing Her Phone's Location, Sheriff's Office Says

After allegedly fatally shooting Fosler, Spencer called 911.

Read On The Fox News App

Court records show, prior to his death, Fosler was charged with " numerous sexual offenses " against Spencers daughter and was out on bond at the time of the shooting.

Spencer, an Army veteran and farmer, is out on bond awaiting trial, which was initially scheduled for January. He has pleaded not guilty.

Aaron Spencer is accused of killing a man suspected of preying on his daughter. (Fox News)

Father Of Georgia High School Shooting Suspect Convicted Of Second-degree Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter

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Though Staley's deputies arrested Spencer in 2024, he offered congratulations after the results were tallied.

"Tonight the voters made their decision in the Republican Primary, and I respect the decision," Staley wrote in a Facebook post.

Spencer will run against Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in November.

Child Predator Cleared For Parole Arrested After Surprise Warrant Drops Hours Before Prison Release

If convicted, Spencer would not be able to serve as sheriff .

Sheriff John Staley said Aaron Spencer has not been formally charged yet and that the district attorneys office will decide which charges to file.

"Through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court . And I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures," Spencer said in a video announcing his campaign.

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"This campaign isn't about me," he added. "It's about every parent, every neighbor, every family who deserves to feel safe in their homes and safe in the community. It's restoring trust where neighbors know law enforcement is on their side and families know that they will not be left alone in a moment of need."

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital's Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.





Original article source: Arkansas man accused of killing daughter's alleged abuser wins GOP nomination in sheriff's race
British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) and Brookfield have established Northview Energy, a company dedicated to acquiring and managing renewable energy assets throughout the US and Canada.

The company, a private entity, will be equally owned by the three parties involved.

NBIM is set to invest approximately $425m (Nkr4.11bn) for its one-third share in Northview's portfolio, valuing the entire enterprise at around $2.6bn.

Northview Energy's initial portfolio is sourced from assets managed by Brookfield, including those from Deriva Energy, Scout Clean Energy and Urban Grid.

This seed portfolio comprises 22 newly operational sites, including 17 solar and five onshore wind farms, with a combined capacity of approximately 2.3GW.

These assets are spread across six power markets in the US, all secured through long-term power purchase agreements with high-credit counterparties, with an average remaining term of 16 years.

BCI, NBIM and Brookfield will retain customary governance rights over Northview, which will be led by a dedicated management team.

NBIM global head of energy and infrastructure Harald von Heyden said: This marks our first investment in North America and an important step in diversifying our renewable energy infrastructure portfolio.

We are pleased to partner with Brookfield and BCI as we seek to capture compelling opportunities in one of the world's largest renewable energy markets.

In addition to the initial assets, Northview has a framework agreement in place for potential acquisitions of additional renewable resources from Brookfield-managed entities in the US and Canada, potentially amounting to $1.5bn in equity capital.

Future asset acquisitions are expected to focus on stable, de-risked operations such as onshore wind, utility-scale solar and battery storage facilities.

The new acquisitions will require approval from all three investing parties, which will contribute equally to the funding.

The official launch of Northview Energy is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, pending necessary approvals and closing conditions.

TD Securities provided exclusive financial advisory services to Brookfield for both the sale of the seed portfolio and future commitments.

Brookfields renewable power and transition group chief investment officer, Jehangir Vevaina, said: This partnership marks the creation of a scalable platform for Brookfield and our partners.

Northview Energy will be an owner of high-quality operating assets that deliver affordable and clean power to the grid, and the framework for future acquisitions provides a clear growth pathway for the vehicle to add de-risked, high-quality, cash-yielding assets delivering strong returns.
Charges have been dropped against an Arkansas driver who was subjected to a tactical vehicle intervention by Arkansas State Police while attempting to rush a child experiencing a medical emergency to the hospital in Little Rock.

The incident occurred on February 20 along Interstate 630 in downtown Little Rock. According to reports, a state trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. When the driver failed to pull over, the trooper executed a tactical vehicle intervention, commonly known as a PIT maneuver, to bring the vehicle to a stop. After the vehicle was disabled and stopped, authorities determined a child inside was suffering from a medical crisis, and the driver was a parent attempting to reach a hospital as quickly as possible.

The trooper immediately requested emergency medical assistance to the scene. An ambulance transported the child to a local hospital, where the child received treatment. Officials have not released further details regarding the nature of the childs medical condition, but authorities confirmed the child was safely transported for care following the stop.

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Initially, the driver faced charges related to failing to yield during the attempted traffic stop. However, after a review of the circumstances and consultation with prosecutors, those charges have now been dismissed. Arkansas State Police leadership acknowledged that, based on the information available after the incident, dismissing the charges was the appropriate course of action.

The Arkansas State Police Office of Professional Standards Division has opened an internal investigation into the incident. The review will examine the troopers decision-making and adherence to department policies regarding pursuit tactics and tactical vehicle interventions. A PIT maneuver is a controlled contact technique used by trained law enforcement officers to force a fleeing vehicle to spin out and come to a stop. While effective in ending pursuits, the maneuver carries inherent risks, particularly at highway speeds or in heavy traffic.

Interstate 630 runs through the center of Little Rock and typically carries steady traffic during daytime hours. Tactical interventions in such areas are scrutinized due to the potential for collateral damage or injury. In this case, authorities have not reported any injuries resulting from the maneuver itself, and no other vehicles were said to be involved.

Law enforcement agencies regularly encounter situations in which drivers fail to immediately yield to emergency lights. In many cases, officers treat failure to stop as a potential attempt to flee, particularly on high-speed roadways. That assessment often dictates the escalation of enforcement tactics. Investigators will now determine whether the trooper had sufficient information at the time to justify the use of a PIT maneuver or whether alternative actions were available under department guidelines.

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State Police leadership indicated that communication plays a critical role during roadside emergencies. When motorists are transporting someone experiencing a medical crisis in a private vehicle, notifying authorities or calling 911 can help prevent misunderstandings during traffic stops. Officials noted that such situations occur with regularity across Arkansas, and coordination between drivers and emergency dispatch can reduce the likelihood of escalation.

The case has drawn attention because it highlights the split-second decisions made by both motorists and law enforcement during high-pressure situations. On one side was a trooper responding to what appeared to be a driver refusing to comply with a lawful stop. On the other was a parent focused on getting a sick child to medical care. Both circumstances converged on a busy stretch of interstate, leading to a maneuver typically reserved for suspects actively evading police.

The dismissal of charges effectively closes the legal case against the driver, but the administrative review remains ongoing. Internal investigations typically assess compliance with use-of-force protocols, pursuit policies, and supervisory oversight. Findings from the Office of Professional Standards Division could determine whether any procedural adjustments or training considerations are warranted within the department.

For drivers, the situation reinforces the legal requirement to yield to law enforcement while also underscoring the importance of clear communication during emergencies. Authorities have repeatedly advised motorists facing urgent medical situations to contact emergency services immediately, even when transporting a patient privately. Dispatchers can relay information directly to responding officers, potentially preventing escalated enforcement actions.

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As of the latest update, the childs condition has not been publicly detailed, and no further charges are pending against the driver. The Arkansas State Police investigation into the troopers actions is still active. Until that review concludes, officials have not indicated whether any policy findings or internal determinations will be made public.



The driver is no longer facing prosecution related to the February 20 incident. The internal review continues, and the matter remains under examination by state police authorities.



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The attorney retained by Mason Alexander's family is accused of stealing potential evidence from the BMW involved in the crash that killed the 18-year-old University of Pittsburgh student and HSE grad.

James David "JD" Masur II faces charges of theft, criminal mischief and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle after Hamilton County investigators say he unlawfully enlisted a tow yard employee to remove what he thought was the car's black box, among other items, less than two weeks after the March 2025 crash.

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The component from the car actually removed was unrelated to its black box system. The true data recorder was destroyed in the crash, state witnesses have previously testified.

Masur's lead defense attorney, Doug Church, did not immediately return a request for comment. The person who answered the phone at Masur's law firm, Robert W. York and Associates, said Masur was not available but confirmed that he remained on the staff.

Alexander, 18, was a passenger in Trey Williams' 2016 BMW 340i on the night of March 1, 2025. Williams tried to pass a car in a no-passing zone on Florida Road in Fishers just before the crest of a hill, according to a news release published after the crash. He spotted oncoming traffic and swerved to avoid a head-on collision, veering off the road and into a tree. The BMW caught fire, and Alexander died at the scene.

More: Hamilton Southeastern graduate, Pitt freshman CB Mason Alexander dies in car accident

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Williams, who was 17 at the time of the crash, was not immediately arrested in connection with Alexander's death, prompting an outcry from Alexander's family and community members who held a rally outside of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in April 2025. Alexander's mother retained Masur shortly after her son's death, though a civil lawsuit has not been filed at the time of publication. A message left with a member of Alexander's family was not immediately returned.

Prosecutors ultimately filed charges against Williams in juvenile court on May 1, 2025. On May 28, 2025  two days before a judge agreed to move the proceedings to adult court  Alexander's uncle reached out to the prosecutor's office with concerns about the attorney representing his nephew's mother.

Williams is set to plead guilty to reckless homicide on March 11, 2026.

More: Mason Alexander's family says a driver is in custody after fatal March 1 crash

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Shortly after the crash, Alexander's uncle told police, Masur got in touch and said that on Saturday, March 8, 2025, he'd tried and failed to go under the fence of the tow yard where Williams' wrecked BMW was parked, court documents state. Masur asked the uncle to go back to the tow yard with him the following Monday to get the car's black box.

The uncle initially refused because he doubted the legality of Masur's actions, but relented after the attorney assured him it was OK, the uncle told investigators.

On March 10, 2025, the uncle met Masur at the tow yard. An employee of the lot later told investigators that Masur told him to remove the BMW's roof-mounted antenna and other parts, which he handed to Masur.

Masur did not notify law enforcement, the prosecutors' office or Williams' defense team that he had the items, investigators wrote. He kept the items in his office until he gave them to Alexander's family on May 20, 2025, signing them over with a receipt claiming Alexander's uncle had been the one who retrieved the items.

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"If these allegations are true, he clearly violated his ethical responsibility to his clients," said Mario Massillamany, a Hamilton County defense attorney who is not involved in the case.

On June 9, 2025, investigators contacted Masur for an interview. He initially refused to speak, citing attorney/client privilege. Though the uncle had never been the attorney's client, the uncle gave the attorney written permission to speak with law enforcement, according to court documents.

Masur called the sheriff's office back on June 11, 2025. He said he'd heard from Williams' defense attorney that the sheriff's office determined the "black box" unusable, but he wanted to be sure, so he went to the junkyard himself.

Investigators asked Masur if he had permission from Williams' insurance company, or Williams' father, the car's legal owner. He ultimately said he had permission from "the 'junkyard' guy," investigators wrote.

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Later that day, Masur emailed the sheriff's office's lawyer and said that he was trying to preserve evidence because the sheriff's office had not responded to his request to do so. He thought the car had been abandoned, he said.

Chief Deputy John Lowes with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office told IndyStar that he couldn't confirm that Masur had reached out to his agency prior to taking the items.

"I think the main thing is that if people need stuff from us, they use the proper channel like a records request, or if criminal charges are filed, they go through discovery," Lowes said.

The BMW, Lowes said, was processed before it was towed to the junkyard, so the alleged theft did not interfere with the evidentiary chain of custody in the criminal case against Williams.

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Massillamany, the attorney, said the situation could create problems in a civil courtroom.

"He could totally be jeopardizing (Alexander's mother's) ability to go after the family civilly by either destroying or damaging evidence that could be used in this trial," Massillamany said. "I think this is a travesty, especially for the profession of law, because we have to follow professional rules of responsibility."

Despite the lack of a "black box," the state's case has largely been built on physical evidence and eyewitness testimony.

Masur's team filed a motion for a gag order on March 4, which would prohibit the prosecutor's and sheriff's office from speaking about the case. The request was granted after IndyStar spoke with members of both agencies.

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Masur has practiced law since 1997 and has no disciplinary history, according to the Indiana Roll of Attorneys. A jury trial is scheduled for July 15, 2026, according to online court records.

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Lawyer accused of stealing from car involved in Mason Alexander crash
VERONA  Data centers, and their future in Augusta County, made a brief appearance during the Feb. 28 Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting.

County Administrator Tim Fitzgerald confirmed that Augusta County staff is working on a draft ordinance on data centers, but was not able to offer any policy specifics. As part of the discussion, Fitzgerald confirmed part of the ordinance would examine where we thought [data centers] may work for us or may not work.

The ordinance will be sent to the supervisors and the public, Fitzgerald explained, once we have it drafted up.

A grant application looking into possible data center locations in several counties was approved

Outside of the brief policy discussion, the board did take an action on data centers.

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Go Virginia, an economic development initiative offered through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, is offering a planning grant on data centers and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership plans to apply. The grant, as explained by Fitzgerald, would help identify the most suitable locations within the Shenandoah Valley Partnerships region, which is multiple localities, for where data centers may work.

It is not certain the partnership will receive the grant, who would do the work if it does, or if the final site plan recommendations would include potential data center locations in Augusta County.

If they get the grant, then the Shenandoah Valley Partnership will go out and get a consultant to do the work through the partnership, said Fitzgerald. I couldn't tell you who it would be right now, but it'll be a consultant.  theyll go out and interview folks and decide who best to do that work for us.

The discussion did not include any specific references to locations in the county or companies interested in building data centers locally.

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Waynesboro man gets 20 years in prison for numerous child porn charges

How much money is the Go Virginia grant worth and how much will Augusta County pay?

The grant would provide the partnership with $60,000, a two-to-one reward-to-match ratio. This means the partnership needs to provide $30,000 of its own funds toward the work.

Augusta wouldnt be the only one putting up funds  the partnership has asked Rockbridge, Rockingham and Shenandoah counties to also provide $5,000 toward the grant match. The partnership itself is putting up $10,000, which would cover the $30,000 matching funds goal.

In a 5-2 vote, the board agreed to provide $5,000 to the Shenandoah Valley Partnership to fund a required grant match if the partnership is awarded the funds. The Augusta County funds will come from the countys economic development fund.

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More: Staunton students stage anti-ICE protest during school walkout

An aerial view of data centers in Ashburn, Virginia.

Two supervisors voted against the grant application

Riverheads Supervisor Mike Shull and Wayne Supervisor Scott Seaton voted against providing funds for the grant.

Shull hoped the partnership would find a local contractor to do the work, taking issue with allowing outside people coming in here telling us where we need something. He was also concerned with protecting water sources in the county that could be affected by the needs of a data center.

I just feel like that we kind of really need to go through with the Service Authority and kind of see, you know, where we at on water and things, and kind of get that basis and things, before we go spending money to outside sources coming in and telling us where we at, Shull said.

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South River Supervisor Carolyn Bragg was in favor of the grant application, saying studies like this one are needed.

More: Staunton clergy call Christian Nationalism a sin

Lyra Bordelon (she/her) is the public transparency and justice reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a story tip or feedback? Its welcome through email to lbordelon@gannett.com. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Augusta County to study data center locations
Iowa soldier Declan Coady was one of the first U.S. soldiers killed in the nation's war in Iran, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the country will "avenge" his loss.

Coady, a 20-year-old Army Reservist from West Des Moines, and three other soldiers assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, based out of Des Moines, were killed in an Iranian drone strike at Shuaiba Port in Kuwait on March 1. Hegseth said in a news conference early morning Wednesday, March 4, that the U.S. military will avenge their deaths.

Two other U.S. soldiers were killed in the strike. However, neither Hegseth nor Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who accompanied him Wednesday, identified the other fallen because notification procedures for their families were still underway.

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More: Iowa political leaders mourn 'bravery and sacrifice' of Declan Coady

"And sadly, as we projected, a few [drones] got through and killed six of our best, who will hopefully arrive home soon," Hegseth said.

US will set terms of war in Iran, Hegseth says

In his over 10minute opening address, Hegseth argued that U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed some of the country's top leadership and oblitered weapons facilities had left Iran's military demoralized and its forces unable to "mount a coordinated and sustained offensive."

Toward the end, he turned his attention to how he believes the media has been portraying the Operation "Epic Fury."

"But when a few drones get through, or tragic things happen. It's front page news," Hegseth said. "I get it, the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality: The terms of this war will be set by us at every step."

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The Pentagon on March 3 identified the others killed in the strike as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Who was Declan Coady?

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack.

The West Des Moines native had served in the U.S. Army Reserve since 2023 as an Information Technologies Specialist after graduating from Valley High School. Coady was posthumously promoted to sergeant.

He joined the Army Reserves while studying information systems, cybersecurity and computer science at Drake University, where he was a sophomore.

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, was identified as a casualty in an Iranian attack against Kuwait, where he was deployed, on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, was identified as a casualty in an Iranian attack against Kuwait, where he was deployed, on Sunday, March 1. In a combination images, From left Sgt. Declan Coady, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Capt. Cody Khork and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury who were killed on March 1, 2026, in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, a resident of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, enlisted in the National Guard as a 92A (Automated Logistics Specialist) in 2005. She transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006 and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019. Amor's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device. Capt. Cody Khork, a resident of Lakeland, Fla., enlisted as a 13P (Multiple Launch Rocket System / Fire Direction Specialist) in the National Guard in 2009. He commissioned as a Military Police Officer in the Army Reserve in 2014. He deployed to Saudia Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2021, and Poland in 2024. Khork's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10 Year Device and "M" Device, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, a resident of Bellevue, Nebraska, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2006 as a 91B (Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic). He had two deployments to Kuwait in 2009 and 2019. Tietjens' awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal With "M" Device. See Des Moines Army Reserve soldiers killed in Iranian attack 1 of 10 U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack.

Coady, who would have turned 21 on May 5, loved gaming, going to the gym and camping and hiking with his family.

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He could have been exempt from deployment because he was in ROTC, but still deployed to Kuwait, leaving in August 2025. His father said he was looking into active duty after his deployment. "That's how much he loved it," he said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to support his family.

"Declan was more than a soldier  he was a son, a family member, a friend, and a light in the lives of those who knew him," the GoFundMe's description reads. "He served his country with honor, courage, and dedication, embodying the very best of what it means to wear the uniform."

Des Moines Register reporters Kevin Baskins and Kyle Werner contributed to this report.

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Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa-based soldiers killed in Kuwait will be avenged, Hegseth vows
Mayor Brandon Scott signed an executive order this week aimed at shielding Baltimore residents from federal immigration enforcement while providing city-backed legal support.

The Protecting the Rights and Well-Being of Baltimore City Residents order bars Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using city-owned buildings as staging areas or entering government offices without a judicial warrant. It also restricts Baltimore Police Department officers from asking about immigration status during routine encounters or detaining residents solely for immigration reasons.

Our immigrant neighbors are an integral part of Baltimores social and economic fabric, Scott said Wednesday, urging federal agents in the city to adopt the same transparency standards required of local police, including providing rank, name and badge numbers on request.

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Scott said the order also helps maintain trust between residents and local police by keeping federal immigration enforcement separate from city law enforcement. City lawyers will provide pro bono legal services to residents involved in immigration proceedings, along with case management and support for families affected by ICE detention. More details on these services are expected later this week.

The executive order comes amid reports that ICE has been moving vehicles and supplies, including shelf-stable meals, around Maryland. Scott said the city has no information on any planned immigration actions in Baltimore.

An ICE spokesperson told The Baltimore Sun that the vehicles were a necessary piece of equipment for onboarding officers and agents, and the meals-ready-to-eat are a reliable option for short-term situations.

The agency has not directly answered whether more ICE agents will or are operating in the city, or if a spike in regional detainments will occur.

Countering a concern

Scott said much of this weeks order was meant to remind residents of what our polices and our stances are. But by tightening ICEs jurisdiction and ensuring compliance on warrants, the city is also positioning itself to counter a concern that has led to lawsuits by immigration rights advocates.

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Legal experts and civil rights advocates have expressed concern over ICEs use of administrative warrants, which do not require a judges approval. A whistleblower memo in January suggested ICE could use such warrants to enter residences and authorize force, prompting criticism from congressional Democrats and local rights groups.

In January, a leaked memo from a whistleblower complaint suggested ICE would authorize its agents to use force and enter a residence with an administrative warrant, which comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, instead of a judicial warrant, which is signed by a judge.

Civil rights leaders and congressional Democrats quickly condemned the policy as an affront to the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.

DHS, conversely, has dismissed the concerns around administrative warrants as false narratives by the media, stating theyre only used when an undocumented immigrant has been given a final order of removal.

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Regardless of what warrant is used, locally, several business owners in Baltimore have accused ICE raids of keeping Hispanic customers inside and in fear.

Earlier this year, several months after someone was detained at a prescheduled hearing, Baltimore Sheriff Sam Cogen publicly stated that ICE agents would need a judicial warrant to enter the citys circuit court, as well. Considering potential victims, jurors, witnesses and defendants, Cogen said the court needs to remain neutral, safe, and accessible for the justice system to work.

If people stop reporting crimes or appearing in court because they fear immigration enforcement, we all become less safe, the sheriff said.

Have a news tip? Contact Chevall Pryce at cpryce@baltsun.com or Luke Parker at lparker@baltsun.com.
Later this year, Virginians are expected to formally approve or reject a measure to enshrine reproductive rights into the states constitution. But a new lawsuit filed this week in Bedford County seeks to upend the ballot referendum, arguing that state lawmakers didnt follow the correct process in advancing it so far.

The plaintiff, Bedford County supervisor Charla Bansley, said in the legal complaint filed March 2 that the ballot initiative is invalid because Virginias House of Delegates did not distribute the amendment to all circuit court clerks and post it for public inspection three months prior to the 2025 House of Delegates election.

Bansley, who is represented by Liberty Counsel, claims that Bedford County, Campbell County and the city of Lynchburg told her attorney that the amendment was not sent to their circuit court clerks for public posting. The jurisdictions are not named as plaintiffs in the case.

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To amend the state constitution, resolutions must pass the legislature two years in a row with a House of Delegates election in between. Lawmakers successfully passed the resolution to send a ballot referendum to voters statewide this coming November in both the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions.

Since approval of the proposed constitutional amendment occurred prior to full satisfaction of the constitutionally mandated requirements for the amendment process, the amendment cannot be submitted to the voters at this time, the lawsuit stated.

If approved, the amendment would ensure that Virginians have access to contraception and fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization, as well as their right to obtain an abortion in most instances.

Current state law allows abortions for any reason up to around 26 weeks of pregnancy, with guidance for rare later-stage abortions. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections four years ago, Virginia is now the only Southern state without a near-total ban or deep restrictions on the procedure.

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In recent years, Republican state lawmakers have proposed a variety of restrictions ranging from near-total bans to a 15-week limit with no exception for severe fetal anomalies, which are often diagnosed around or after 15 weeks.

Democratic lawmakers and other proponents of the measure argue the amendment will strengthen reproductive rights in Virginia.

While two other constitutional amendments  one to protect same sex marriages and another to automatically restore voting rights to ex-felons who have completed their sentences  moved through the legislature at the same time, they have not faced such legal challenges. They also advanced with bipartisan support, while every Republican in the state legislature voted against the reproductive rights amendment.

The Mercury asked Bansleys lawyers if materials related to the other two amendments, which had been advanced at the same time as the reproductive one, were also not sent to the jurisdictions named in their suit. The Mercury also asked why the lawsuit was filed now in 2026, since alleged mistakes occurred in 2025. Liberty Counsel did not respond to either query by the time of this publication.

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When asked by The Mercury why Bansley filed her suit in 2026 if the allegation occurred in 2025, Liberty Counsel chairman Matt Staver said the second vote had not been taken.

After the second vote, it was apparent that the legislature was violating the law and that initiated the lawsuit, he wrote in an email.

The Mercury also asked if materials for the other two civil rights amendments were not sent to the listed localities in the lawsuit. Liberty Counsel is looking into the matter, Staver wrote.

A fourth constitutional amendment, which is slated to appear on ballots in a special election next month, would permit a rare mid-decade redistricting of congressional maps.

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That proposal is also subject to several lawsuits in an attempt to thwart it.

Bansley and her legal team say the reproductive rights amendment should not be put to voters, due to what they describe as a flawed process.

(The state constitution) requires strict step-by-step compliance with the amendment process so that voters receive proper notice and can evaluate proposed changes to their governing changes before a consequential election, Staver said in a statement. These procedures exist to protect the peoples right to transparent, orderly constitutional change, and any misstep undermines the integrity of the amendment process and can interfere with the will of the voters.

Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, who carried her chambers version of the amendment, called the lawsuit a frivolous attempt to silence Virginia voters, who will otherwise be able to voice their preference by vote this fall.

There is no word yet on when a hearing may be held.

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Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kalesnikava plans to be back on stage for the first time since her release from prison on April 9 at Berlin's Radialsystem cultural centre.

The 43-year-old artist revealed on Tuesday in Berlin that she would be playing the flute and "talking a lot about freedom" in her performance of "#freemaria." People had campaigned for her release using the hashtag #freemaria.

Kalesnikava was one of the leaders of the mass protests in Belarus after the 2020 presidential election. She was arrested in September 2020.

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She spent more than two years in solitary confinement without contact with relatives. She read hundreds of books during her detention, she told German public broadcaster ARD in January.

Under pressure from the United States, Belarus released Kalesnikava together with 120 other prisoners last December.

She now lives in exile in Berlin. She says she wants to pursue ideas for the cultural sector in the city that "build bridges."
Belgium imposed a 10 million euro ($11.6 million) bail on the Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Ethera, which was detained last week, the government announced on March 3.

The vessel will not be allowed to leave port until the bail is paid and a re-inspection confirms compliance with maritime regulations, including valid certification, proper flag registration, and the elimination of technical deficiencies.

The move reflects growing efforts across Europe to curb Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a network of tankers used to bypass sanctions and sustain oil exports that finance the Kremlin's war.

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Belgium detained the Ethera in a joint operation with France on March 1, marking the first time Belgian authorities have seized a vessel linked to Russia's shadow fleet.

The tanker, sailing under a Guinean flag after departing from a Moroccan port, has been under EU sanctions since October 2025 and U.S. sanctions since July.

The government said inspectors identified 45 violations, primarily related to invalid certification.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on European lawmakers to update legislation to allow not only inspections but also the confiscation of vessels tied to Russia's shadow fleet.

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The detention follows similar actions by Western allies.

France carried out a comparable operation in late January, while the United States has seized several tankers as part of broader enforcement measures targeting sanctioned oil trade.

The Kremlin has said it could respond with naval measures if European countries intensify boarding and seizure operations against Russian-linked vessels in the Baltic Sea.

Read also: What an Iran oil spike would mean for Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Belgium has set bail at 10 million for the Russian-owned tanker Ethera, part of Moscow's shadow fleet, after seizing it on 1 March. The Kremlin has used the fleet to circumvent Western restrictions on its energy sector imposed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Source: European Pravda, citing the Dutch-language newspaper HLN

Quote from Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken: "Our government is taking decisive action against shadow fleet vessels. This operation ensures EU sanctions are enforced, protects the North Sea and curbs the funding of Russia's war in Ukraine."

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Details: The Ethera will be allowed to set sail again once the bail is paid, inspections are completed and the correct flag and certificates are obtained.

Until then, the 21-member crew, including the Russian captain, seven officers and 13 other crew members, mostly of Indian origin, must remain on board.

Background:

Belgian forces seized the Ethera, which is subject to EU and UK sanctions, on 1 March. The vessel had been sailing under a false Guinean flag.

Belgian authorities identified 45 violations, mainly concerning forged certificates.

The Belgian federal prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the Ethera.

On 22 January, France, with the support of the United Kingdom, detained the Grinch, a Russian shadow fleet tanker, off the coast of Spain after inspecting documents that confirmed suspicions the vessel was sailing under a false flag. The ship is subject to EU and UK sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had informed him of plans to release the tanker due to legal requirements.

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German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Wednesday called on Hungary to stop blocking new EU loans worth billions for Ukraine to assist its defence against Russia.

"We can no longer afford to allow unacceptable blockades  such as those currently being imposed by Hungary  to delay this urgently needed aid, and thus cost human lives, because important resources for national defence are lacking," Wadephul said before departing for an informal meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Warsaw.

In the short term, it is critical that Ukraine be provided with the necessary 90 billion ($105 billion) quickly, Wadephul said.

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Hungary has justified its block on fresh EU sanctions against Moscow and its veto against the loan on the basis that it is no longer receiving Russian oil through Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine, because Ukraine is not repairing it after a Russian attack.

The loan involves financial aid for Ukraine totalling 90 billion, of which 60 billion is specifically earmarked for Kiev's defensive struggle.

Wadephul said European countries must do even more to help Ukraine, including supporting its path to the European Union.

Membership would "perhaps be the most important security guarantee for Ukraine in the future," he argued.

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In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again pushed for his country's accession to the EU as early as 2027 at the Munich Security Conference.

However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made it clear that he does not believe this is possible.
Billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper has just turned up the heat on Whirlpool Corporation (WHR), accusing the appliance giant of destroying shareholder value. He is also demanding sweeping changes to its strategy and capital allocation.

In a blistering new letter to the board, Teppers Appaloosa Management takes direct aim at Whirlpools leadership and criticizes the companys recent recapitalization moves.

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That follows an earlier repositioning in his portfolio. In the third quarter of last year, Appaloosa sold 8M shares of Intel Corp (INTC) and used part of the proceeds to buy 5.2M shares of Whirlpool. This moved capital from a chipmaker into a beatendown, highyield home appliance name and set the stage for todays public confrontation with Whirlpools board.

The broadside lands at a fragile moment for Whirlpool as its stock is trading in the negatives across all timeframes. So, as one of Wall Streets most closely watched activists aims this beatendown dividend name, a key question surfaces. Should WHR be a buy, a sell, or simply a hold while the dust settles?

Whirlpools Numbers Tell a Mixed Story

Based in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Whirlpool makes major home appliances under brands like Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid. It has a $3.87 billion market cap with a forward annual dividend of $3.60 per share, yielding 4.33%.

Currently, the stock is down 10.87% year-to-date (YTD) and 36.83% over the past 52 weeks.

www.barchart.com

This places Whirlpool at 0.29x pricetosales and 10.55x forward earnings versus sector medians of 0.95x and 16.11x, highlighting a clear discount to peers on both revenue and earnings multiples.

Whirlpools latest quarter, ending December 2025, missed expectations on the two lines investors watch most closely. It reported adjusted EPS of $1.10 versus the $1.54 estimate, a 28.57% downside surprise, while revenue came in at $4.10 billion versus $4.26 billion expected, flat year-over-year (YOY) but still a 3.7% miss.

That shortfall matters because 2025 cost pressures were not small. Whirlpool said it absorbed roughly $300 million in tariff costs in 2025 as pricing across the appliance category lagged higher input costs.

Still, the quarter was not uniformly weak across profitability measures. Whirlpool delivered adjusted EBITDA of $335 million versus $269.3 million expected, which implies an 8.2% margin and a 24.4% beat on that metric. That improvement also showed up in operating leverage, with operating margin rising to 5.9% from -3.3% in the same quarter last year.
This story has been updated to correct erroneous information originally released by the city of Radcliff and clarify available information.

At least four of the soldiers who were killed by an Iranian drone strike were based out of an Iowa unit serving under a Fort Knox-based command group, Gov. Andy Beshear said March 4.

"We have learned that at least four of the soldiers killed in the Iran attacks were assigned to an Iowa unit operating under the 1st Theater Sustainment Command out of Fort Knox," Beshear wrote on X. "We grieve with the families of the lost and hope they know that Kentucky cares for and supports them."

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Beshear's statement came after he said March 3 at least some of the six soldiers who died from Iranian attacks included "those based out of my home state, Kentucky." As of March 4, it is unclear if any fallen soldiers were lived in or were based out of Kentucky.

In a statement that has since been deleted, Radcliff Mayor J.J. Duvall said all six soldiers who died were based out of Fort Knox and that the soldiers were assigned to the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, "a vital part of our Fort Knox family."

The 1st Theater Sustainment Command, according to its website, supports Army operations by delivering ammunition, food, fuel, water and other needed supplies. The command operates out of Fort Knox and a post at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. The unit also manages the "ports, flights, and customs points needed to keep people and equipment moving 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

In a later release, the U.S. Department of War, formerly known as the Department of Defense, confirmed four of the soldiers killed were based in Des Moines, Iowa. The soldiers named include: Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Spc. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the four Iowa-based soldiers identified by officials were killed in an Iranian drone strike at Shuaiba Port in Kuwait March 1. Hegseth said in a March 4 news conference that the U.S. military will "avenge their deaths."

Two other soldiers died from the same drone strike. Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not identify the two soldiers because officials are still working to notify their families, the Des Moines Register reported.

Reporter Lillian Metzmeier and USA TODAY contributed. Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@usatodayco.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: US servicemembers killed in Iran were part of unit under Fort Knox
Baltimore Gas & Electric said Wednesday it is temporarily pausing an underground transmission project near the stadiums in downtown Baltimore, days after Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) held a press conference opposing the construction.

This pause does not change the underlying reliability needs in this part of the city, but it is a deliberate step that allows us to deepen engagement with local residents and community leaders, incorporate any updated development plans from Baltimore Peninsulas new ownership, and thoughtfully review recommendations raised by Senate President Ferguson, read a statement from BGE spokesperson Nick Alexopulos.

The underground power line would have run through historic neighborhoods near the Inner Harbor, along Key Highway and then on to Baltimore Peninsula, the flagging development once led by Under Armour founder Kevin Plank.

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Ferguson, standing alongside local community leaders, criticized the project at a news conference on Monday, arguing that its route was disruptive, its costs had ballooned and it wasnt clear how much more energy infrastructure will be needed to serve Baltimore Peninsula, formerly Port Covington, as development slows.

Ferguson also said he plans to introduce a bill that would make underground transmission lines subject to review by the Maryland Public Service Commission for the first time. A similar bill, from Del. Elizabeth Embry (D-Baltimore City) had already been introduced in the House. Fergusons bill would also ban data centers in tax increment financing zones, or TIFs, such as Baltimore Peninsula, citing his fears that such a project could come to the area.

In a statement Wednesday, Ferguson said that BGEs temporary pause is the result of months of community engagement and advocacy.

This decision is what happens when neighborhoods and elected officials organize to hold utility companies accountable to the customers they serve, ensuring projects are cost-effective, truly justified based on grid reliability, and minimally disruptive to our Citys residents, Ferguson wrote.

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Fergusons push comes as he faces a primary challenger, sailboat captain and social media figure Bobby LaPin, who has argued against Ferguson on issues such as middecade congressional redistricting (which Ferguson opposes). LaPin recently called on Ferguson to return tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from energy companies.

BGE maintains that the transmission line, part of a bundle of other transmission upgrades for the area, are needed, even if the energy demand from the peninsula does not grow as significantly as once thought.

To be clear, this project does more than accommodate load growth, wrote Alexopulos of BGE. It also addresses reliability risk from critical transmission and distribution infrastructure that dates back to the 1950s. That risk grows each day this aging equipment stays on the system.

BGE, along with other investor-owned utilities operating in Maryland, has attracted criticism this session from legislators in Annapolis, with some, including consumer advocates, arguing that the companies overspending on infrastructure has contributed to skyrocketing electric bills in Maryland  not just demand growth projected to come from data center development.

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The House of Delegates passed a bill a month ago that would restrict how much of a utility supervisor compensation can come from ratepayer dollars. Shareholders must cover compensation over $250,000, the bill states. On the Senate side, the bill remains in committee.

BGE, and its parent company Exelon, is campaigning for a bill that would allow it to construct power generating facilities in Maryland for the first time in decades, citing supply shortfalls affecting the regions electric grid. The bill has Democratic sponsors in House and Senate, but has not advanced out of committee in either chamber.

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This story was originally posted to MyNorthwest.com

Washington lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban police from wearing masks while on duty.

The House approved Senate Bill 5855 on Tuesday in a 5637 vote. The measure now heads to Gov. Fergusons desk.

Washington state Rep. Julio Cortes (DEverett) voted in favor of the bill.

Masked or unidentified ICE officers have caused confusion, anxiety, mistrust, and tragedies in our communities, Cortes said.

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Republicans opposed the measure, arguing that it targets federal immigration agents but would hurt local police.

Theres an old saying in public policy that the worst proposals aim at group A and end up hitting group B, Washington state Rep. Jim Walsh (RAberdeen) said. Thats exactly what we have in this flawed proposal.

Senate passed the bill in January

In January, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 30 to 19.

Sen. Mike Chapman (DPort Angeles) was among those voting yes. In 1999, Chapman helped catch the Millennium bomber when he was a customs inspector.

One of the reasons I believe that capture came to a safe end is I was in full uniform, Chapman said.

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Chapman said he and the suspect looked at each others eyes and faces.

He made a run for it, and he knew exactly who was in pursuit, he added.

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (DTacoma) believes officers should be transparent.

In America and in Washington state, we will not accept secret police, she said.

Sen. Phil Fortunato (RAuburn) said the reason ICE agents have been wearing masks is that they and their families have been threatened.

Theyre not wearing masks because theyre secret police, he said. This wasnt brought on by them. This was brought on by the people that are currently going against them and rioting.

Law enforcement would have to be clearly identifiable

The bill would require law enforcement officers to be clearly identifiable, including displaying a visible name or other identifying information, and generally prohibits officers from wearing opaque facial coverings while performing their duties.

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The bill defines facial coverings as items that conceal an officers identity, such as balaclavas or tactical masks.

Sen. John Braun (RCentralia) criticized the legislation.

This bill is almost certainly unenforceable, he said. Look in the bill. You can take off your black mask and put on an N95 mask. Its the same outcome. Its allowed in the bill. Its a charade.

The measure is designed to prohibit ICE and Border Patrol agents from wearing masks during immigration raids.

There are specific exceptions. Officers working undercover, SWAT officers wearing protective gear, and those using medical masks or safety equipment  such as respirators or helmets  would still be allowed to cover their faces when necessary.
Virginia lawmakers on Monday passed a proposal that would require schools, if they teach students about the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to relay the facts of what actually happened, without including misinformation that the 2020 presidential election was stolen or that the attack was just a peaceful protest.

Since both the Senate and House advanced the measure, if Gov. Abigail Spanberger approves, it would likely take effect soon and dictate what and how Virginias public schools can instruct pupils regarding the Capitol attack, a major political event in the countrys recent history.

The attack, waged by supporters of then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in response to Congress certifying that Joe Biden won the election, had wide-ranging impacts on law enforcement, public discourse about democracy, and ongoing institutional, legal, and social repercussions.

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There is real concern that the President of the United States is trying to rewrite the history of January 6, (that is) borne out by the fact theres a whitehouse.gov site that presents a false history of what happened that day, House Bill 333 sponsor Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, said to the Mercury earlier during the session.

We just want to make sure that if school boards choose to teach on January 6, that theyre not presenting the false narrative that is out there.

Permissive and political

Helmers bill does not ban schools from teaching about Jan. 6. Instead, it requires a specific framing and bars presenting alternative interpretations or election fraud claims as credible in public schools.

Despite the seeming consensus in the legislature, the bill drew some opposition from the public.. The Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists argued that it lacked educational value and pushed a left-wing narrative.

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I dont know that I agree that it is necessary to take one of the darkest days in American history and teach our young people and glorify to our young people when adults act badly, said Michael Huffman, the assemblys executive director, during a Senate subcommittee meeting on Feb. 19. True education equips children for life, not political agendas, and glorifying or mandating  the dark day serves only short-sighted partisanship, not our kids future.

Sheila Fury, another speaker who opposed the legislation, called it another reason why everyone in the commonwealth should pull their children from public education during a Jan. 27 House Education subcommittee hearing.

This is explicit indoctrination, Fury said.

Helmer, in response, emphasized the need to teach the truth about the event and counter widespread false narratives about it. Some lawmakers, including Senate Education and Health Committee Chair Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, pointed out that the proposal is permissive.

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I dont see anything wrong with this bill, Favola said. I think the January 6 episode, unfortunately, is something that our children should be aware of, and I think the framework is reasonable.

In the House, Del. Jessica Anderson, D-Williamsburg, supported the legislation.

Our courts have proven that it was an insurrection, and I want to make sure that our students are also taught those facts, Anderson said during a Jan. 27 House Education subcommittee hearing.

The Senate and House supported the legislation on mostly party-line votes.

Next step

Spanberger will decide whether to sign the proposal into law. Her position on it is currently unclear and her office did not respond to questions about whether she will support the measure.

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Before her election as governor, Spanberger represented Virginia in Congress during the attack. She called for investigations and measures to prevent similar attacks in the future.

She wrote, This day did not happen in a vacuum. Jan. 6 marked the continuation of a trend of falsehoods  and tragically, the lies that spawned this act of insurrection are still present in American politics.

The governors office said she will review all legislation that comes to her desk.

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CHEYENNE  Diane Gore never expected the job she took a week after graduating college in 1985 would become a 40-year career, much less lead her to the top of Wyomings only state-based health insurer.

This spring, Gore will retire as president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, with Executive Vice President Kristopher Urbanek set to assume the role in May.

Gore began working for BCBSWY in May 1985, just a week after graduating from the University of Wyoming.

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In college, she majored in accounting. Her first role at BCBSWY was in the companys finance department. She later became the chief financial officer and treasurer, and remained in that position for 15 years before becoming the chief operation officer in 2017 and CEO in 2019.

The first female and fifth CEO in BCBSWYs 80-year history, Gore faced a rather unique challenge during her tenure that other CEOs before her did not: health coverage during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

To ensure BCBSWY was maintaining easy access to health care for members during the pandemic, Gore had to help implement new initiatives, including tele-health, and adhere to many new health policies being implemented in the state.

We did that very quickly, Gore said. We put all the processes and procedures in place to ensure that people could get the testing that they needed, and that it would be paid for. That people could get the treatment that they needed, and that it would be paid for.

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Because Gore spent four decades with the company, she has seen firsthand how much the Wyoming health insurance landscape has changed.

With new technology being implemented, expensive pharmaceuticals being developed and managing costs in Wyomings rural landscape, Gore and the BCBSWY staff have worked hard to maintain communication with health care providers across the state and maintain stability in premiums, she said.

Regardless of the challenges, Gore said she never lost sight of the companys mission: To provide members with access to local health insurance solutions that prioritize health, care and well-being for those who call Wyoming home.

We don't always get it right the first time, Gore said, but the good thing is that we can always get it fixed if we did miss something. And so we've always kept that in mind. Everything that we do is focused on the member.

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This is the advice that she gives to her successor, Urbanek, who will take over Gores position as president and CEO on May 1.

Urbanek has been working at BCBSWY for 11 years, he said. He started in the companys provider relations department before moving up to oversee the medical and pharmacy departments, along with working in marketing and sales. In 2021, he became the executive vice president.

Urbanek said he began expressing interest to Gore in becoming president and CEO a couple of years ago. He was recently selected by the BCBSWY board to take over.

It's a big job, obviously, Urbanek said. It's a huge responsibility, and certainly something that I'm going to approach with humility.  In that position, you get to sort of drive the vision, the strategy. Where do we want the organization to be? How do we want Blue Cross to show up every day for our members?

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To do that, Urbanek said he has three main goals to focus on during his first year as president and CEO: stay up to speed with where the health insurance industry is headed as a way to be a competitive company; continue to grow the organization to provide more innovative products; and focus on the companys information technology/data so BCBSWY can have actionable insight into what is going on, and use that information to solve problems.

Urbanek said one of the main problems Wyoming faces is access to health care.

Wyoming is a unique state, right? Highly rural, Urbanek said. So that creates a unique set of challenges. It's something that you don't see everywhere.  There arent doctors and hospitals on every corner of every city block in Wyoming. That access to specialty care, to advanced kinds of care, is challenging. Our members have to sometimes drive long distances.

To combat this, Urbanek said he wants to focus on making sure family practice doctors have a sustainable business model so they can thrive in the state.

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I like to think of health care as sort of a three-legged stool, Urbanek said. There's the patient, there's the health care delivery system  your doctors, your hospitals  and we have this financial component. And so, if all three of us are aligned, we can get good outcomes for our members, and hopefully effective and efficient ones, as well.

If Urbanek were to retire as CEO and president in the future, he said he would define his success as creating a health care system that operates in an integrated way, and creating new solutions to peoples health in a way that is accessible and affordable.

For Gore, that vision is exactly what she hopes to see continue after her retirement.

I have 100% confidence, Gore said, and I can be very comfortable walking out this door knowing that I'm leaving the company in the hands of Kris. He'll continue the legacy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, and I have no doubt he'll make it even better.
A South Carolina boutique owner accused of scamming dozens of customers has been arrested again  for the 13th time in about 2 months, according to authorities and media reports.

Pamela Brooke Schronces latest arrest happened in Newberry County, where she was charged with six counts of obtaining goods under false pretenses with a value of $2,000 or less, the Newberry County Sheriffs Office said in a Monday, March 2, news release.

The development marks Schronces 13th arrest since the beginning of the year and follows her 12th arrest in Pickens County on Wednesday, February 25, according to WHNS.

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Schronce, 30, of Anderson County, is the owner of Thomas & Turner Boutique in Belton, Us Weekly previously reported.

She is the subject of numerous cases originating out of Anderson County and spanning several jurisdictions, the Newberry County Sheriffs Office said.

In a February 9 Facebook post, the Anderson County Sheriffs Office announced Schronce is accused of scamming more than 50 people who live in that county. There, she was arrested on a felony charge of breach/obtaining property under false pretenses in connection with nearly $10,500.

Every Real Housewife Who Went to Jail: Wendy Osefo, Jen Shah and More

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According to investigators, Schronce scammed at least 54 victims who placed online orders but never received their merchandise, the sheriffs office wrote in the Facebook post. Detectives say she repeatedly provided fabricated excuses to explain the missing deliveries.

Court records for a few of Schronces criminal cases list her defense attorney as Joy C. Davis.

In an emailed statement to Us on Tuesday, March 3, Davis said This case is still in the very early stages.

I can tell you that Ms. Schronce is really looking forward to her day in court, Davis added.

Schronces boutique is no longer accepting online orders as of March 3, according to a message displayed on her business website.

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Her store, which is marketed as a boutique for trendy little babies, offers custom designed pieces that are affordable & adorable, according to her boutiques Instagram page.

One of Schronces customers reported to law enforcement in December 2025 that they ordered $360 worth of items from Schronces business but never received the products they paid for, Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller previously confirmed to Us via email.

The victim just like all the others tried repeatedly to get an answer from [the] suspect but eventually was blocked and they would not respond, Mueller said.

The customers report led to Schronces 11th arrest in Cherokee County on February 23, according to Mueller.

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Woman Allegedly Scammed Family Out of $4.6M, Gambled Away Money in Child Modeling Fraud Scheme

Investigators were able to secure an arrest warrant on February 17, 2026, and we waited in line with all the other agencies to get her booked in at the Cherokee County Detention Center, Mueller said.

A few days before Schronces latest arrest, the Facebook page for her business advertised a custom clothing item on February, Friday 27.

The post shows a gray sweatshirt meant for a labor and delivery nurse.

One of our favorite custom pieces weve ever created, the post reads.

After Schronces most recent arrest in Newberry County, she was issued a $3,000 bond, according to the county sheriffs office.
An Iowa soldier killed in an Iranian strike is being remembered in his home state as "a young Iowan who heroically answered his nations call to duty and gave the ultimate sacrifice."

A statement by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also asked that Iowans join in prayer for the family of Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, a sophomore at Drake University and Army reservist from West Des Moines.

Coady was killed in action in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1, in an Iranian strike at Shuaiba Port in Kuwait. The attack also killed three other soldiers assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, a Des Moines-based unit.

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Shuaiba on the Persian Gulf is near Camp Buehring, a U.S. base where Coady's father Andrew and sister Keira told the Des Moines Register he had been stationed.

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack.

The Pentagon on Tuesday, March 3, identified the others killed in the strike as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It also confirmed Coady, posthumously promoted to sergeant from specialist, was among them.

The attack came after the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on Saturday against Iran, with strikes that killed senior Iranian leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

More: Iowa political leaders mourn 'bravery and sacrifice' of Declan Coady

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Coady's family said they were notified of his death around 8 p.m. Sunday.

Drake University, in a statement, said "we are heartbroken to learn that Declan Coady  a well-loved and highly dedicated Drake University student studying information systems, cybersecurity, and computer science  was confirmed to be among the six U.S. service members killed in Kuwait on Sunday. He has bravely served in the U.S. Army Reserves since 2023 as an Information Technologies Specialist and had an incredibly bright future ahead of him.

"In moments like these, we must all come together to show much-needed love and compassion for the Coady family through this incredibly difficult time," the statement said.

More: Iowa political leaders mourn 'bravery and sacrifice' of Declan Coady

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Coadys awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon, according to an Army statement.

In a combination images, from left, Sgt. Declan Coady, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Capt. Cody Khork and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury who were killed on March 1, 2026, in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba, during an unmanned aircraft system attack.

Dad last spoke to son on Saturday

Andrew Coady said he had last spoken to his son on Saturday, and "he was telling us that he was safe." Declan Coady had given his family hourly updates, last speaking to his brother, Aidan, 25, an Army corporal stationed in Italy.

Their father said Coady told his brother he was OK, "But we had a feeling based off the limited timeframe, we feel shortly after he got off the phone with his brother, that this incident happened."

Coady's 22-year-old sister, Keira, who graduated from Drake in 2025, said, "He was my younger brother... I'm just really sad that I didn't get a chance to tell him I love him one more time."

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Coady had joined the Army Reserves while at Drake. He could have been exempt from deployment because he was in ROTC, but still deployed to Kuwait, leaving in August 2025.

His father said he was looking into active duty after his deployment. "That's how much he loved it," he said.

Coady would have turned 21 on May 5.

Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1.

A GoFundMe posting seeking support for his family said, "Declan was more than a soldier  he was a son, a family member, a friend, and a light in the lives of those who knew him. He served his country with honor, courage, and dedication, embodying the very best of what it means to wear the uniform."

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It said the funds raised will assist with costs including funeral and memorial expenses and travel.

"Let us come together to honor Declans life, his service, and his sacrifice  and to surround his family with love and support," the posting said.

As of Tuesday, six American troops had been killed in the conflict.

The deadly retaliatory strike came just a little over a month after Reynolds made a five-day visit to key installations in the Middle East where Iowa troops were deployed, including Camp Buehring. The visit spanned Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait, where nearly 1,800 Iowa National Guard members were deployed at the time.

'Quite shy and a man of few words'

Coady graduated from Valley High School in West Des Moines in 2023.

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"He was just the nicest. He was quite shy and a man of few words, but he was amazing," his sister said.

"He was still outgoing in many ways. He was not afraid of doing anything," his father added. "He would always step up and help people. Declan was very good at what he did in the Army."

Coady went through the ranks of the Boy Scouts, earning the top rank of Eagle. His two brothers did the same.

Declan loved gaming, going to the gym and the family cat, Autumn, and enjoyed camping and hiking with his family.

"We were all really close, growing up," his sister said.

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Coady's death follows those late last year of Iowa National Guard Staff Sgts. William Nathaniel Nate Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines. A suspected ISIS gunman ambushed them near Palmyra, Syria, also killing civilian interpreter from Michigan. Three other Iowa National Guard soldiers were wounded.

The bodies of Howard and Torres-Tovar were brought back to Iowa on Christmas Eve and laid to rest at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery on Dec. 29. They were the first Iowa Army National Guard members to die in combat since Sgt. Terryl L. Pasker was killed in the Afghanistan War in July 2011.

Iowa had nearly 1,800 soldiers deployed throughout the region as part of Operation Inherent Resolve before a first wave of about 250 Guard soldiers returned home in February. The Guard announced last weekend another 575 are in the process of returning.

Register Capitol Bureau Chief Stephen Gruber-Miller and staff writers Tyler Jett, Virginia Barreda and Samantha Hernandez contributed to this article.

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Kevin Baskins covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at kbaskins@registermedia.com.

Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: From Boy Scout to soldier: Iowa remembers reservist killed in Iran strike
An Arizona-based LGBTQ+ travel company is being sued by Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, over its name and logo.

Queer Scout, which offers tours and other experiences for vacationers in Medellin, Colombia, was hit with the lawsuit in late February.

The company, which uses an image of a pink fox for its logo, was accused of diluting Boy Scouts famous trademarks and falsely associating with Boy Scouts, according to the court filing, which was seen by The Arizona Republic.

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Scouting America also alleged in the lawsuit that it offers similar services and prominently uses names and images of animal figures in its branding.

The development came during a tumultuous month for relations between the Trump administration and Scouting America, which receives support from the military.

Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, has filed a lawsuit against an LGBTQ+ travel company named Queer Scout (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

In early February, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, took to X to say that Scouting America was on the clock after allegedly embracing social justice, gender-fluid ideological stances.

Parnell added that the Department of Defense could only continue its partnership with Scouting America if it introduced common-sense, core value reforms.

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Later in the month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that the youth organization had been gravely wounded by diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The former Fox & Friends host added that he had been seriously considering pulling all support for Scouting America.

In the same video, Hegseth claimed that the organization had agreed to base membership solely on biological sex.

Sam Holdren, Queer Scouts founder, told The Arizona Republic that he had questioned the timing of Scouting Americas legal action against his company, amid Hegseths criticism of the organization in February.

When you combine that timing with the fact that hundreds of businesses have used the word 'scout,' it starts to look less like consumer confusion and more like something broader involving identity and visibility, he said.

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It raises legitimate questions about what's really driving this escalation, Holdren added.

In a statement given to The Independent, Holdren said that Queer Scout clearly marketed itself to adult LGBTQ+ customers.

Were a small LGBTQ-owned travel company serving adult travelers, he said. Its difficult to see how anyone could realistically confuse an LGBTQ tourism brand called Queer Scout with a youth scouting organization.

The Queer Scout website details a range of experiences on offer, including a Medellin Rooftop Bar Crawl and Colombia gay tour experiences.

Holdren told The Republic that the Queer Scout name was taken from a Colombian-based company that went out of business.

Pete Hegseth said in February that diversity, equity and inclusion had left Scouting America gravely wounded (AP)

However, Scouting America spokesperson Scott Armstrong told the same publication that there was no connection between the youth groups new deal with the Pentagon and the lawsuit against Queer Scout.

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Armstrong added that the dispute with Queer Scout was centered around a trademark and intellectual property, nothing more.

The dispute stretches back to January 2024, according to court documents detailing a disagreement over Holdrens company, Toro International LLC, trying to register the Queer Scout trademark.

Jeremy Kapteyn, an attorney for Toro International, told The Republic that he had offered to clarify to Scouting America that Queer Scout's target market was LGBTQ+ adults.

According to him, the youth organization was initially receptive but rejected the proposal around a year ago.

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They noted that the BSA had a policy of inclusivity that would encompass Toro's target market for its services, Kapteyn added.

Scouting America told The Independent that it does not comment on active legislation.

The Independent has also contacted Jeremy Kapteyn for comment.
As Slovakia's grid operator (SEPS) says it will terminate a deal with Kyiv and cut electricity exports, Ukrainian officials say it's Bratislava that will suffer.

"We can only congratulate Bratislava for preparing to shoot itself in the foot. Or rather in the feet of its own energy companies," Ukraines Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi told the Kyiv Independent in a written statement.

"Ukraine purchases the electricity and does not receive it for free. So the Fico government will simply deprive Slovak companies of earnings, while Ukraine will receive this electricity from other sources," he added.

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SEPS is expected to immediately cut supplies to Ukraine's state-grid operator, Ukrenergo, following threats from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico last week, according to Slovakian media Tasr.

SEPS, however, hasnt yet sent an official notice to Ukrenergo, its Ukrainian counterpart, Ukrenergo's CEO Vitaliy Zaichenko told the Kyiv Independent. Even if it does, the impact would be minimal as Ukraine doesnt depend on Slovakian energy supplies, he added.

Tensions center on the Druzhba pipeline, a major route supplying Russian crude through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia. The pipeline has been offline since late January following a Russian drone strike.

Slovakia and Hungary have accused Ukraine of withholding transit for political reasons, claims Kyiv rejects. Fico then escalated by threatening to cut emergency power supplies to Ukraine on Feb. 21 and Feb. 23 unless oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline resumes.

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It was not clear if Slovakia had followed through on the threat last week. Ukraine hasnt had to purchase Slovakian electricity, which only makes up 17-19% of emergency energy imports, since January, said Zaichenko.

Ukraine ramped up electricity imports at the start of the year as Russian drones and missiles tore apart its power plants, causing a dire energy crisis. The situation has slightly improved since then as the weather warms up from the crippling -25C conditions last month, and Ukraine's allies pool together critical equipment and financial support.

Fico refused to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the issue, said Tykhyi. But the offer still stands, he added.



Slovak Foreign Ministry declined to comment when asked by the Kyiv Independent for a response to the situation. The country's Finance Ministry did not reply by the time of publication.



Some energy experts say that the decision is a political show from Fico, who has repeatedly pushed anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian rhetoric. Others have pointed out that Slovakia's threats would break energy market rules.



"It would be costly for Slovakia to do it in an uncoordinated manner because it is not only about bilateral energy trade, but also European-Ukrainian trade. We are on the same market that is ruled by open access to the grids, and it is regulated by multiple rules," Polish energy expert Wojciech Jakobik previously told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Trailing in polls, Orban goes all-in on Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Brazilian national illegally residing in Fall River was sentenced this week to up to a decade in prison for rape and child pornography charges.

Elias Rodrigues Dos Santos Mendes, 55, received a state prison sentence of 8 to 10 years after pleading guilty Monday, March 2, in Fall River Superior Court to two counts of rape, a count of assault to rape, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and possession of child pornography.

According to the Bristol County District Attorneys office, the adult female victim was newly arrived in the U.S. with her four children in March 2024 with the intention of living in Fall River.

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The defendant, who was known to her, told the victim that he could help her and her children find housing.

During their interaction, the defendant requested the victim take nude photos and videos of her 12-year-old daughter so the defendant could sell them for money, a DA release states. The defendant also showed the victim videos and photos of nude children on his phone.

When the victim refused to involve her child, the defendant became angry then sexually assaulted and raped the victim in his vehicle, which was in Fall River at the time, according to the release.

The victim reported the rape to police and two of the defendants phones were seized. Police recovered a video on one of the devices that contained child pornography.

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The victim sought medical treatment following the assault that yielded a DNA sample, which was a match to the defendant.

"The defendant took advantage of his position of familiarity and trust with the victim to rape her after attempting to convince her to take nude photos of her children, which she refused. The defendant was also caught with child pornography on his phone. This clearly demonstrates a disturbed and deranged mind. The defendant is not a US citizen and will be subject to deportation when his sentence is finished," Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III said.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Man illegally residing in Fall River gets 8-10 years in prison for rape
Bitcoin surged past $73,000 as cryptocurrency markets built on recent resilience, drawing momentum from ETF inflows and rising open interest even as Wall Street steadied itself against an unresolved Middle East conflict.

The largest cryptocurrency rallied as much as 8.9% to around $74,000 reaching its highest level in a month. The spike - only the largest one-day move since last Wednesday - is indicative of the uncertainty that has surrounded the digital asset sector since prices crash in early October. Ether surged, climbing as much as 13% to trade at almost $2,200.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The market is moving away from crisis pricing and into a consolidation phase where positioning, rather than panic hedging, becomes the dominant driver of price action, according to report from the blockchain data firm Glassnode.

Bitcoin experienced significant short selling earlier this week as investors moved away from riskier assets and shifted toward safe haven investments, traders said.

Short sellers were too confident that the market would keep falling and placed their orders too close to the market, said Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro. Finding itself near the upper limit of the February range, Bitcoin only needed to take a step up to trigger a short squeeze. Add to this the oversold conditions that had been building since October, and you have the perfect mix for a surge.

That volatility, long absent from a market that had spent months grinding lower, is itself a signal: price swings can draw back retail traders and open fresh two-way opportunities for institutional desks that had been sitting on the sidelines.

Gains accelerated while stocks rose and oil steadied as signs the conflict in Iran may be shorter-lived than feared lifted sentiment. Bitcoin fell to around $63,000 after Saturdays US and Israeli strikes on Iran. US spot Bitcoin ETFs pulling in more than $680 million over the past two days, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Theres strong demand in the perpetual futures market after Bitcoins price had been consolidating for the past month, said Julio Moreno, head of research at CryptoQuant. Open interest spiked as prices increase, indicating traders opened fresh long positions.

Even with Wednesdays rebound, crypto markets remain on edge, with Bitcoin still about 40% below its October peak following a months-long selloff. That backdrop has put Bitcoin in a unique position amid geopolitical turmoil, providing the basis for a rally while other asset classes may be due a breather. Bitcoin ETF flows are showing early stabilization and continued recovery would signal improving institutional sentiment, according to Glassnode.




A Connecticut developer is urging state lawmakers to take a closer look at building a bridge across Long Island Sound, an ambitious proposal gaining support from some state and local officials.

A bill before the General Assembly's Commerce Committee would direct the state Department of Economic and Community Development to study creating a Connecticut Bridge Authority to oversee funding and construction of a bridge connecting Connecticut to Long Island. The working group would need to share its findings with the legislature by Jan. 1, 2027.

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The idea resurfaced last September when Easton developer Stephen Shapiro unveiled his vision for a 14-mile span linking Bridgeport to Suffolk County, Long Island. Plans for a Long Island Sound crossing date back nearly a century.

Shapiro testified on the bill and fielded questions from members of the legislature's Commerce Committee during a public hearing Tuesday afternoon. Several lawmakers said they appreciated his out-of-the-box thinking but wanted more details  including the potential cost of the study  before moving forward.

The study bill drew support from several Fairfield County officials, along with Republican gubernatorial candidate Erin Stewart, who cited the bridge's potential economic and traffic benefits and said the idea was at least worth exploring.

State Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe, said a bridge could attract new businesses, expand access to labor markets and strengthen tourism. A direct link across the Sound, he said, could also ease chronic congestion on the Merritt Parkway and Interstate 95.

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"While a new bridge might not solve all transit challenges along the shoreline, exploring alternatives is a good step forward," Scott said in written testimony.

Anthony Afriyie, chair of the Stratford Town Council, testified that a cross-Sound connection  if paired with other transit- and eco-friendly measures  could reduce stop-and-go traffic along I-95 and cut carbon emissions that affect the air quality of nearby communities.

Still, the proposal has received a lukewarm reception from state officials.

In written testimony, DECD commissioner Daniel O'Keefe, said the agency is willing to work with lawmakers on efforts to boost economic competitiveness but noted that the bridge project "was not built into (Governor Lamont's) budget, so funding would have to be identified for such a study."

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Lamont also expressed skepticism. Asked about the idea last fall, he made clear the state wouldn't be pitching in funds.

During Tuesday's public hearing, Commerce Committee member Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, pointed out that Connecticut already has a "very active ferry system" connecting New London and Bridgeport to Long Island. She also questioned the environmental impacts, long-term maintenance and total cost of a new span.

"I happen to represent a town that has a very large bridge, the Gold Star (Memorial) Bridge, that goes across the Thames River and we can't seem to even maintain that let alone a 14-mile long bridge," Somers said.

Efforts to build a bridge, tunnel or hybrid crossing over the Sound have repeatedly come up over the past century. Several studies have been done, including one in 2017 commissioned by then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, but none advanced to the point of construction amid concerns over cost, environmental impacts and a lack of political support. The 2017 study pegged the bridge's cost at about $50 billion.

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Somers said she wasn't interested in funding "another super expensive study that's going to be put on a shelf," adding that the failure of past efforts "leads me to believe this may be very cost prohibitive."

The latest push, however, does have backing from a candidate who will be on the ballot for Connecticut's highest office in November.

Stewart called the proposal ambitious but potentially transformative for lower Fairfield County. She said a cross-Sound bridge could ease pressure on the "already overburdened" New York metropolitan area, generate new toll revenue and make Connecticut more attractive to prospective businesses.

Stewart acknowledged the project would require a major financial commitment and careful environmental review, but said those things are precisely why lawmakers should pursue the feasibility study. "Bold ideas deserve rigorous examination, not reflexive dismissal," she said.

This article originally published at Bridge to Long Island? Connecticut lawmakers asked to study 14-mile Sound crossing.
LIVINGSTON Co. A 37-year-old Brookfield woman was seriously injured after sliding on a major highway and striking a guardrail near Chillicothe, Missouri, amid slick conditions Sunday evening.

A crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicates a 2016 Nissan Rogue was eastbound on U.S. Highway 36 near the Grand River Bridge when the driver slid and struck a guardrail around 7:25 p.m. Sunday.

The crash occurred roughly three miles west of Chillicothe in Livingston County.

The 37-year-old woman from Brookfield, Missouri, suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported to Liberty Hospital. According to the MSHP report, the driver was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident.
Across the border, two analysts describe a situation shaped not only by military maneuvers, but also by eroding trust, weak institutions, and a profound uncertainty about what comes next.

As Israeli ground forces advance into southern Lebanon and Hezbollah expands its fire across northern Israel, the conflict is unfolding in real time, with the past 36 hours bringing new uncertainty for civilians on both sides.

Across the border, two analysts describe a situation shaped not only by military maneuvers, but also by eroding trust, weak institutions, and a profound uncertainty about what comes next.

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In Israel, Sarit Zehavi, founder and president of the Alma Center, framed the operation as a response to what she described as Hezbollahs escalation.

We don't know where this is heading, but let's just see what we had until now, she said. Hezbollah started the war against us almost 48 hours ago, launching drones and rockets against various places in Israel, she told The Media Line.

Zehavi described the scope of the attacks as spanning multiple targets: This means next to the border, it means in depth, into strategic sites in Israel, and it means against the communities over here in the north.

Although most projectiles were intercepted, she acknowledged the impact: Most of the weapons that Hezbollah launched were intercepted, but not all of it, causing some damages in different places.

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Near the northern border, she said, residents have almost no margin for reaction. It means that the Israelis that are living up north, especially those who are living next to the border, have only 15 seconds to get to the bomb shelter.

Unlike in 2023, communities were not evacuated, a choice she attributed to Hezbollahs weakened posture. The decision was not to evacuate the communities, as opposed to what happened in 2023 when we evacuated the communities next to the border. The reason is because Hezbollah is not at the same place as it used to be. It is much weaker.

Even so, she acknowledged residual risks from Hezbollahs forces, including the Radwan Brigades. The Radwan Brigades are not at the same capability, the anti-tank missiles are not at the same capability, and yet there is understanding that if Hezbollah will decide to send squads here and there to reach to the border, some of them may cross.

Asked about Israels stated objective on the ground, Zehavi said the goal is to deepen the buffer beyond limited positions. IDF entered Lebanon in order to create a better buffer in not only the five hills that we are holding; five hills are not enough to create a buffer towards 20 communities that are located at the fence.

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She added: You need much more presence of soldiers in those areas, and that way, you create a buffer that doesnt enable Hezbollah to come nearby, to go down south and to launch anti-tank missiles from the borderline against anybody who is living here in Israel.

People uncertain in Lebanon over war

In Lebanon, the picture is defined by uncertainty, limited state capacity, and public questioning.

From Beirut, Azzam, a Lebanese political analyst, said strikes were taking place in real time. One minute before you called me, there was a bombing here, he told The Media Line.

He described doubts that have surfaced even within Hezbollahs base. So, of course, theres a huge doubt about this step being done by Hezbollah, as in people are questioning themselves, why would you do this? It seems to be counterintuitive that they would win because of these acts. And therefore, theres lots of questioning even among the Shia about the Hezbollah move, he said.

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Waiting for clarity, he added, Were just bracing ourselves to see what happens. Everything happened so fast.

Linking Lebanons trajectory to developments in Iran, he said: I would assume that if Iran, if the regime in Iran actually falls, then Lebanon would be a detail and a footnote to whatever happens there. But if not, then we will have to wait and see how this unfolds in Lebanon. But I dont think itll be easy.

Civilian protection, Azzam suggested, looks very different on the two sides of the border.

In Israel, residents have seconds to reach shelters. In Lebanon, he said, there are none. No, there are no bunkers at all and no ways to intercept any threats like other Arab countries.

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Instead, civilians navigate what they believe are safer areas. There are areas where its likely that there is some Hezbollah facilities or personnel. There are areas where its highly unlikely they will strike. And therefore, you get safer areas, he said.

Movement itself is uncertain. But this also depends on, are people able to move? Do they have someplace else to stay? What if theres no place to sleep? What do they do then?

At the same time, he said, warnings are inconsistent. In some cases, the Israelis are sending warnings. But in others, especially in the case of assassinations, there are no warnings. And this also leads to the increase on the civilian toll, he said.

Zehavi, for her part, said Israel is issuing warnings and urges civilians to avoid Hezbollah-linked sites, including in Dahiya, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut. Actually, since the beginning, if Im going back 36 hours, Israel has been calling to Lebanese to stay away of any military infrastructure of Hezbollah and to stay away of any infrastructure of Hezbollah, including in Beirut.

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If the Lebanese will listen to us, I believe there will be hardly any collateral damage. The targets are not civilian targets. The targets are military targets of Hezbollah, she added.

Arguing that Hezbollah embeds within civilian infrastructure, she said: Hezbollah is hiding its weapons and military infrastructures inside the homes On our website, you can find the human shield map, which are more than 50 proofs for what was found in south Lebanon inside the houses, inside the cemeteries and the mosques.

We have no business in attacking civilians. We dont get any benefit by attacking civilians, she added.

On Beiruts Dahiya district, Zehavi said: The Lebanese living in the Dahiya [neighborhood] know exactly what Hezbollah is hiding there. They know that Hezbollah is hiding missiles in those places. They know that the Dahiya is used for the headquarters of Hezbollah.

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Azzam described a shift in targeting patterns compared to previous rounds. However, there is now more targeting of the civilian infrastructure of Hezbollah, of course. And this is big because this will largely impact  not how much Hezbollah is a threat to Israel, but how much Hezbollah is entrenched into the civilian infrastructure, he added.

He said strikes on service networks could weaken Hezbollahs societal grip. With the targeting of the service provision facilities, what that means is that its very own influence within the society is being eroded as well.

Politics, both analysts suggested, may be as decisive as firepower, especially in Lebanons fractured internal landscape.

Zehavi expressed frustration with Beirut. I am tired of empty promises of the Lebanese government. I want to see deeds and not just words, she said.

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Azzam described internal divisions. There seems to be the beginning of a rift between what Shia are and what Hezbollah is, he said.

He added that there is debate over whether actions are driven by Hezbollah factions or by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This is not clear yet, but it seems more and more likely that this is either a faction of Hezbollah or the IRGC maneuvering from here the attacks, he said.

On the risk of internal collapse, he acknowledged: Yeah, definitely. The risk of civil war is present in case the Lebanese army decides to stop Hezbollah directly.

Still, he emphasized that the Lebanese army is unlikely to decisively shape outcomes. But the army will act based on an already established regional balance of power. It will not be a maker of that regional balance of power.

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Placing the confrontation in broader regional terms, Zehavi linked it to Irans ideology. The radical Islamic Republic does not acknowledge our values of democracy, of freedom We had to choose between a bad option to a bad option Everybody is paying a high price, but if this attack would not happen, everybody would be paying a much higher price.

She argued that dismantling Tehrans influence would benefit the wider West. getting rid of the Islamic Republic regime is doing a favor to all the Western world For sure, it is still uncertain whether the Iranians can start an inner revolution soon without weapons, but we have to hope they may manage through our help, she said.

By contrast, Azzam urged caution about expectations of liberation. I dont think that the horizon for freedom is clear yet. Perhaps the horizon for the removal of the Islamic Republic is clearer and clearer, but freedom is a different thing, he said.

He added: Freedom is a big word that I would avoid using, especially given that the day after is so unclear at the moment.

Describing the mood on the ground in Beirut, Azzam said: Do you know in movies when someone has been slapped and therefore, they cant really stand straight, and they dont know whats happening? Thats the atmosphere now. Whats happening? We have no idea. It doesnt make sense. We just ended this, now were going to do it again.

For Zehavi, the endgame involves regional alignment. The quicker the Gulf countries will join this campaign in a public way it will be helpful to finish this campaign as quickly as possible, she concluded.

Azzam, meanwhile, said the endgame remains undefined. So as a political analyst, Im waiting for the day after, because this game doesnt end now. And as the day after comes, you dont know what will happen, really, he concluded.

Together, their accounts capture a shared reality of fear and uncertainty, even as they interpret the same escalation through different lenses: One side sees a chance to reshape the borders security equation; the other sees fragility, erosion, and the question of what survives when the current round ends.
Representatives from higher education and business expressed concerns with Iowa lawmakers during a subcommittee meeting Wednesday that eliminating the funding stream for a workforce training program would hurt businesses looking to grow in Iowa.

Aaron Warner, CEO of information security and privacy firm ProCircular and former chief information officer at Integrated DNA Technologies, told the House Ways and Means subcommittee that the Industrial New Jobs Training (260E) Program has been a crucial tool in keeping people in Iowa and developing their talents enough to compete with those in Boston and California, where more funding is available.

Im not a politician, I dont hang out here very often, my only ask is this  as an Iowan, sometimes you know when something is working and when something is broken, and there are plenty of broken things right now, Warner said. This isnt broken, it works. Its worked for 40 years, and respectfully, I hope that you wouldnt change this.

Proposed 260E changes garner concerns

Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority, went over the economic development omnibus bill to the subcommittee. House Study Bill 755 would eliminate the withholding for the 260E program, which she said wouldnt eliminate the program itself but its funding stream for bond repayment.

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Community colleges issue bonds to finance the 260E program, which they administer to help businesses looking to grow in Iowa or move here to train new employees. Durham said with the changed personal income tax rate and continued discussion about going even further down with taxes, the program represents a math problem for the state. It is also not a nimble program, she said, and she believes bonding shouldnt be happening.

This is not saying training is not important. Were not saying that this hasnt been valuable, Durham said. Im just saying there has to be a new revenue stream, because  it just doesnt work right now.

Grace Swanson, Accumold vice president of human resources, said the company, through their 260E program with Des Moines Area Community College, has been able to turn young Iowans away from moving out of the state in order to find a challenging career. Swanson also joined college and business leaders in seeking support for the program during Tuesdays Community Colleges Day on the Hill at the Capitol.

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Professional Developers of Iowa lobbyist Craig Patterson said the organization also has concerns about the 260E program change and theyre happy to be part of discussions into what a new or transformed job training program might entail.

Theres definitely some enhancements that can be made to make that better and bring in other job classifications, Patterson said. But wed like to see a more robust conversation about a job training program and what that can look like, and how to integrate the community colleges into that discussion.

Bill would expand programs, establish energy forecast

The legislation would also establish a headquarters expansion and development for growth and employment program to provide tax incentives to certain businesses. Qualifications in the bill included approval from the community where the headquarters could be placed, proof that the business earns more than half of its gross revenue outside of Iowa and that there is competition for the business corporate headquarters, and their engagement in advanced manufacturing, bioscience, insurance and finance, technology and innovation or research and development.

Durham said this incentive program was developed after seed and crop protection product company Corteva announced its plan to split the business into two separate companies, based on its seed business and crop protection work. The headquarters for the seed company should be back in Iowa, Durham said, and Iowa is competing with Indiana, which already has an incentive program like this.

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When we looked at our incentives, due to the fact that this one is not going to entail a lot of capital investment, we felt like we needed just a different tool, Durham said. And so thats what weve devised, which is really a withholding for those executive positions.

The bill would also extend the Major Economic Growth Attraction program to 2030, with current law having it end this year, Durham said, as well as repeal the states new jobs tax credit upon enactment of the legislation and establish a fund to provide incentives for businesses looking to grow through employee training.

Iowa State University would also be tasked with developing a report forecasting the probable future growth of electricity use within the state and within the Midwest region every two years, the bill explanation stated, which would include a load forecast and analysis of electric transmission system expansion plans. A fund would be created with utilities total gross intrastate operating revenues from the prior year and used to commission the report.

The report was included in legislation proposed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last year that failed to pass, Durham said, and is modeled after a Purdue University center that handles forecasting work. She acknowledged that utilities companies are concerned about this proposal, but she believes more information needs to be gathered as areas like artificial intelligence and data centers grow.

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Dustin Miller, lobbyist for the Iowa Business Council and Iowa Chamber Alliance, said both organizations are extremely supportive of the headquarters expansion program, the Major Economic Growth Attraction program extension and new training through Business Incentives for Growth.

I think there are some near-term and long-term opportunities that could play a significant portion in improving our place, Miller said.

House lawmakers want further discussion

Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, chaired the subcommittee and was joined by Rep. Christian Hermanson, R-Mason City, and Rep. Elizabeth Wilson, D-Marion. Each of the subcommittee members expressed support for the legislation with the caveat of enduring concerns surrounding the 260E program.

Hermanson said theres no doubt that the 40-year-old program needs reform, mentioning questions about administrative fees included in the program, but also acknowledged the programs success in growing businesses that wouldnt have been able to do so otherwise. He signed off on the bill with the understanding that were going to bring it forward and do some amending to it in the future.

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This is one of the most, the hottest topics I think Ive had this year, Wilson said. So (Im) anxious to dig in more and try to figure out some alternatives.

Lundgren said she worked hard to include the language on the load forecasting initiative in the bill, and she believes Iowa needs to grow its base load of energy while remaining cautious of not increasing costs of ratepayers.

She also informed those at the subcommittee meeting that she will hold meetings with stakeholders regarding the 260E program. Lundgren said we need to dive in deeper to what should happen with the program and where funding would come from if the legislation in its current form is signed into law.

You know my style, I love having meetings with everyone around the table, Lundgren said. So we will be including our community colleges, businesses and IEDA in those conversations moving forward.

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Candidate hopeful Rene Campos, a registered sex offender who was convicted of possession of child sex abuse material in 2018, finds himself at the center of yet another legislative push for stricter laws.

Tuesday, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria of Merced introduced a bill that would block registered sex offenders from running or holding any local or state public office.

"It was very disturbing to hear the news that we would have in the City of Fresno, the fifth largest city in the State of California, have a sex offender, a registered sex offender, serve in the city council," says Assemblywoman Soria.

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Currently, state law does not prohibit registrants from running for council. But, State Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria announced AB 2753, a law that would bar registered sex offenders from running for or holding any local or state office.

RELATED: 'You are not your past': Registered sex offender seeks to join race for Fresno City Council

"I don't think that it gets any more egregious when you're convicted of a sex crime dealing with kids. I believe that we should have zero tolerance when it comes to protecting our children," says Assemblywoman Soria.

Soria tells Action News her proposal has already gained bipartisan support.

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One non-profit, The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, is calling the move unconstitutional.

"A lot of laws get introduced that are based on misinformation, not the facts. This appears to be another one of those laws," says Janice Bellucci, Executive Director, ACSOL.

We spoke with Janice Bellucci, a lawyer and the executive director of the alliance. She says she's filed at least 100 lawsuits challenging laws against sex offenders, including one recently in Fresno County.

Now, she's threatening to file new lawsuits on behalf of Campos against the city and state.

"Most people who have been convicted of a sex offense are, in fact, at least there's a possibility of rehabilitation because they are required to go to counseling. Most people on the registry have completed treatment and are, in fact, safe to reenter society," says Bellucci.

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This comes as uproar continues after Campos held a press conference in front of a St. John's Catholic Church just across from Big Picture Academy charter school, while children were present.

RELATED: Fresno school reacts to registered sex-offender Rene Campos hosting press conference near campus

The Diocese of Fresno, in a statement, says it strongly condemned Campos' decision to "irresponsibly choose the location," using it "as a prop in his theater of politics."

The school alleges Campos was "absolutely" in violation of the law and says they are "actively pursuing every legal measure."

As of Tuesday evening, Campos has not officially filed to have his name on the ballot. He has until this Friday to do so.

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Soria says her law still needs to go through the assembly and senate before it makes its way to the governor's desk for signature.

Campos sent Action News the following statement Wednesday in response to Soria's proposed bill:

"This moment should stop people in their tracks, especially families with loved ones incarcerated and people fighting to rebuild, because it tests whether rehabilitation has real meaning in our justice system.

I complied with the sentence imposed by the court and remain in full compliance with the law. If the State's response is to rewrite eligibility rules after a court-imposed standard has been satisfied, the message is unmistakable: compliance can be treated as insufficient and the goalposts can be moved after the fact.

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That raises core constitutional protections: due process, equal protection, and the First Amendment's promise that government does not silence participation in civic life by pressure or politics. Any eligibility change should be debated in the open, drafted with precision, and applied consistently. In a democracy, voters decide."

For news and weather updates, follow Brisa Colon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said Wednesday in a briefing at the Pentagon that the U.S. Central Command is making "steady progress" as the campaign against Iran entered its fifth day, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said an American submarine had sunk an Iranian warship.

Hegseth stressed that the operation is still in its early days, noting that "metrics are shifting, dust is settling and more forces are arriving." Hegseth said the U.S. could "sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to" and "we're just getting started."

"It's very early, and as President Trump has said, we will take all the time we need to make sure that we succeed," Hegseth said.

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He said a torpedo from an American submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean "that thought it was safe in international waters."

"Instead it was sunk by a torpedo  quiet death," Hegseth said. It's the first time a U.S. Navy submarine has used a torpedo to sink a warship since 1945.

Caine said the operation has destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels, one submarine, "and effectively neutralized, at this point in time, Iran's major naval presence in theater out there."

"Only the United States of America could lead this, only us," Hegseth said. "But when you add the Israeli Defense Forces, a devastatingly capable force, the combination is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian adversaries. They are toast, and they know it. Or at least soon enough, they will know it."

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The Free Press: This Isn't Israel's War. It's America's.

Hegseth said "we have only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy and defeat their capabilities.

"Four days in, we have only just begun the fight," Hegseth said.

He said "Iran negotiated in bad faith, stalling, scheming and preparing to strike, and we acted defensively to defend our people, our interests and our allies."

Hegseth said the military operation could last a number of weeks.

"The only limits we have in this is President Trump's desire to achieve specific effects on behalf of the American people," Hegseth said. "And that's why we don't talk about  you can say four weeks but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three. Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo. The enemy is off balance and we're going to keep them off balance. And we know their ability to shoot versus our ability to defend. That difference gets wider and wider every day."

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The U.S. military has hit more than 2,000 targets in Iran, including command and control centers, ballistic missile sites, Iranian navy ships and submarines, and IRGC headquarters.

So far, six U.S. service members have been killed and 10 seriously wounded, a U.S. official told CBS News. Caine on Wednesday formally announced the names of four of the service members.

"To the families of our fallen, we grieve with you today," Caine said, noting that the names of the other service members are being withheld for now while their families are being notified.

On Monday, Caine said the military expected to take "additional losses."

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Caine again outlined the military objectives of the campaign, saying the first is to target and eliminate Iran's ballistic missile systems, to destroy the Iranian navy and to ensure Iran cannot rapidly rebuild or reconstitute its combat capability or power.

"As of this morning, U.S. Central Command is making steady progress," Caine said.

On Tuesday, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby was asked during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing why it was necessary for the U.S. to take military action against Tehran over the weekend.

Colby referred to remarks made by Hegseth, Caine, and President Trump, who've spoken of the "rapid buildup and reconstitution" of Iran's missile and one-way attack drone capabilities, but did not give a specific reason for what prompted President Trump's order to begin the operation last weekend.

Watch: Lawmaker plays videos of harsh Minnesota ICE arrests at Noem hearing

Watch: Kristi Noem's opening statement at Senate Judiciary Committee on DHS

Key details on Iran war on Day 4 of conflict
First Minister Eluned Morgan has responded to the Chinese spy arrests with a brief statement, after Conservatives pressed her to answer questions in the Senedd on the case.

Three men with connections to Wales and the Labour Party were released on bail after being detained on Wednesday on suspicion of spying for China.

David Taylor, 39, is a former adviser to the Wales Office and married to a Labour MP. Steve Jones, 68, is a former Welsh government special adviser and Matthew Aplin, 43, is a former Labour press officer and an ex-member of Reform.

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The three were arrested at addresses in Wales and London as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation under the National Security Act.

Matthew Aplin is a former Labour press officer [Facebook]

In a short written statement issued at lunchtime on Thursday, Morgan said she was "aware of the three arrests".

"These are serious allegations and it is vital that we do not hamper the work of the police in any way or prejudice any future legal process," she said.

"As this remains a live police investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on any aspect of this case."

In a statement on Wednesday, Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid confirmed that her husband Taylor, also a former Labour candidate to be North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, was one of those arrested.

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She said she had never seen anything to make her suspect her husband had "broken any law", adding that she was "not part of" his business activities.

The Welsh Conservatives had called for a statement from the first minister on the arrests, saying "we need to ensure that Wales is not a weak link when it comes to the UK's national security" and said there were questions for Morgan to answer in the Senedd chamber.

The request was rejected by the Senedd's Presiding Officer, the Llywydd Elin Jones.

Reform UK's Welsh leader Dan Thomas confirmed that Aplin is also a former member of his party.

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Thomas told ITV Wales: "I have just heard that he used to be a member of Reform. He isn't a member right now and hasn't been a member recently.

"I gather that he was a member a while ago."

Steve Jones was political adviser to former Welsh Labour first minister Carwyn Jones [BBC]

Taylor was arrested in London, Aplin in Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Jones in Powys.

Police said all three had been arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service under section three of the National Security Act, which was introduced in 2023 to target suspects accused of working against UK interests.

They have been bailed until a date in May and enquiries remain ongoing.

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The Met said they were supported by counter-terror police in Wales and in Scotland.

Police have said searches were carried out at the addresses where the three men were arrested and a car outside the Pontyclun property was also searched and photographed.

Officers also searched three other addresses - in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.

Welsh journalist Martin Shipton confirmed in an article for Nation.Cymru that his home in Cardiff was searched by police in connection with the investigation.

Shipton, who is the website's associate editor, said police forced entry into his property and served him with a search warrant under the National Security Act 2023.

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He said he gave a voluntary statement, and was not arrested. He said he had not done anything wrong.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: "We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it."

She said the arrests were "part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this".

"Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support."

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Additional reporting by David Deans

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that US-Israeli strikes on Iran had been "inconsistent with international law", calling for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict.

Speaking at a gathering of the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney, Carney said Canada welcomed steps to change Iran's form of government -- which he said represented the "principal source of instability and terror" in the Middle East.

But, he said, the action "would appear, prima facie, not to be consistent or to be inconsistent with international law".

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"It's a judgement for others to make," he added.

"I'm not a lawyer, let alone an international legal expert."

Carney's comment came on the second day of an official visit to Australia, a trip aimed at bringing in investment and deepening ties with a fellow "middle power" partner.

The trip is part of a multi-country tour of the Asia-Pacific aimed at reducing reliance on the United States -- a hedge against what Carney has described as a fading US-led global order.

The former central banker has frequently clashed with US President Donald Trump, who has frequently threatened to annex Canada and slapped swingeing tariffs on the country.

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In a speech to political and financial elites at the World Economic Forum in January, Carney warned the USled global system of governance was enduring "a rupture".

And on Wednesday the Canadian prime minister said the war in the Middle East represented "another example of the failure of the international order".

"Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal," he said.

"Canada reaffirms that international law binds all belligerents," he said.

- US, Israel 'acting without engagement' -

The United States and Israel launched the attack on Saturday and quickly killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two days after US envoys had been speaking to Iran in Geneva on a nuclear accord.

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Since then, Iran has expanded its retaliatory missile and drone barrage across the Middle East, hitting on Tuesday a US consulate and base as the United States and Israel said they had pummeled key sites inside Tehran.

The regional war also took a growing toll on Lebanon, where Hezbollah, the armed Shiite Muslim movement that long had Tehran as a benefactor, launched drones and rockets at Israel in retaliation for Khamenei's slaying.

Carney has backed the Israeli-US strikes targeting Iran, saying Tehran had failed to dismantle its nuclear programme and cease support for militant groups.

But he expressed "regret" on Wednesday that international efforts had failed to disarm Iran.

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And he noted that "the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada".

On Thursday Carney will meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and address parliament in the capital Canberra.

Albanese's office has framed Carney as a like-minded leader and said his trip will focus on economic security and critical minerals -- of which Australia has vast reserves -- as well as defence.

oho/mtp
By Alasdair Pal and Ryan Patrick Jones

SYDNEY/TORONTO, March 4 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday the ongoing conflict in the Middle East was a "failure" of the international order, and the United States had not consulted its allies before striking Iran.

U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran on Saturday after negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme stalled.

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The war has since spread beyond Iran's borders, with Iranian attacks hitting Gulf states including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, prompting Washington to close diplomatic missions across the region.

"The current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order, despite decades of UN Security Council resolutions, the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency in a succession of sanctions and diplomatic frameworks," Carney said during a visit to Australia in a speech at the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney.

"Iran's nuclear threat remains, and now the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the UN or consulting with allies, including Canada."

DE-ESCALATION OF HOSTILITIES NEEDED

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Earlier, Carney called for calm in the Middle East and said all countries engaged in hostilities, including the U.S. and Israel, must respect international rules of engagement.

"Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal," Carney told reporters.

When asked about previous comments he made supporting the UN Charter's prohibition of the use of force, Carney said "it appears that these actions are inconsistent with international law," but said it was up to the U.S. and Israel to make the case whether they were consistent with international law.

"It's for others more expert than me ... to make that determination," he said.

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Carney said Canada was not informed in advance of the strikes and was not asked to participate.

"We would not have been in a position ... to take a judgement that met our standards if we had been asked to participate," Carney said.

After the strikes began at the weekend, Carney said Canada supported the U.S. "acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security."

MARCH OF THE MIDDLE POWERS

Carney is on a multi-leg trip across the Asia-Pacific region also taking in Japan and India, with his stop in Australia aimed at bolstering relations between the two so-called "middle powers".

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"Canada is focused on building a dense web of connections, ad hoc coalitions that work issue by issue, with partners that share enough common ground on those issues to act together," Carney said on Wednesday.

"In contrast, great powers can afford to go it alone. They have the market size, the military capacity to leverage, to dictate terms. Middle powers like Canada do not."

Australia and Canada are expected to deepen cooperation in areas such as defence and maritime security, critical minerals, trade and artificial intelligence, Carney's office said ahead of the visit.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney and Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto, Editing by Franklin Paul and Kate Mayberry)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday lamented the failure of the international order that led to the ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Carney said in Sydney, Australia, that his country has long seen Iran as the principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East. The Canadian prime minister noted, though, that despite more than two decades of negotiations and diplomatic efforts, Iran has not dismantled its nuclear program, nor halted its enrichment activities.

Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against the regimes oppressive rule, Carney added. Which is why we support efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security. Because Canada is actively taking on the world as it is, not passively waiting for a world we wish to be.

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We do, however, take this position with regret, because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order.

The U.S. and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of other top political and military leaders in the Middle Eastern country. More than 780 Iranians have been killed in the strikes as of 4:10 a.m. EST, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, and retaliation from Iran and its proxies has engulfed the region in conflict.

The joint operations came after U.S. and Iranian negotiators, mediated by Oman, discussed curbing Irans nuclear program and ballistic missile development on Thursday.

During his Tuesday speech, Carney noted that despite decades of United Nations Security Council resolutions, the tireless work of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and a succession of sanctions and diplomatic frameworks, Irans nuclear threat remains.

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The U.S. and Iran previously reached a deal to limit the latters nuclear program, in exchange for sanctions relief, with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. But President Trump removed the U.S. from that agreement during his first term.

Now that the conflict is underway, Carney called for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and commitment to a broader political solution.

Now, the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting allies, including Canada, he added. Diplomatic engagement is essential to avoid a wider and deeper conflict. Innocent civilians must be protected, and all parties must commit to finding enduring agreements to end both nuclear proliferation and terrorist extremism.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
While the rest of the market was gripped by fear, institutional investors quietly moved $458.2 million into spot Bitcoin ETFs in a single day, and BlackRocks IBIT alone absorbed $263.2 million of that. This happened despite escalating geopolitical tensions and a Bitcoin price that had been sliding for weeks, rattling retail investors into what the fear and greed index classifies as extreme fear.

Here is the twist: not a single Bitcoin ETF recorded an outflow that day. Seven funds posted positive flows. The smart money was not running for the exits.

It was loading up.

DISCOVER: Top Crypto Presales to Watch Now

Bitcoin ETFs Register $458 Million Inflow

In January and February combined, spot Bitcoin ETF flows saw over $1.8 billion in net outflows as volatility spiked and prices slid. Five consecutive weeks of negative flows had analysts questioning whether institutional appetite was cooling for good.

Then last week flipped to $787 million in net inflows. Mondays $458 million print extends that reversal into something harder to dismiss as a blip.

BlackRock IBIT leading with $263.2 million means a significant amount of actual Bitcoin just moved from available supply into, generally, long-term institutional hands.

Rachael Lucas, crypto analyst at BTC Markets, noted that the heavy concentration in IBIT suggests coordinated buying among large allocators such as pension funds and endowments.

DISCOVER: 5 High-Risk High-Reward Cryptos

What This Means For Bitcoins Price: The Technical Picture

Bitcoin has been stabilizing after its early-year correction, and the sustained inflow reversal adds a concrete demand-side foundation beneath the price. Analysts tracking ETF inflows and institutional sentiment have noted that dip-buying at cycle lows has historically preceded significant recoveries.

The level to watch on the upside is a clean break and hold above recent $68,000-$69,000 resistance: confirmation that inflows are translating into sustained buying pressure rather than a single-day event. On the downside, the support established during the recent stabilization period ($63,000-$60,000) is the line in the sand bulls need to defend.

One day of strong inflows does not make a trend. But five consecutive weeks of outflows followed by a $787 million weekly reversal and a $458 million single-day print? That is a pattern worth taking seriously.

DISCOVER: Next Possible 1000x Crypto in 2026

Follow 99Bitcoins on X For the Latest Market Updates and Subscribe on YouTube For Daily Expert Market Analysis.

Key Takeaways

Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $458.2 million in net inflows in a single day, led by $263.2 million into BlackRocks IBIT, with zero funds reporting outflows.

Institutional investors are treating geopolitical instability as a buying opportunity, not a reason to exit.

The sustained inflow trend signals real Bitcoin being purchased and locked into custody, creating genuine supply pressure. Watch for continued weekly inflow momentum as the key indicator of whether this accumulation phase holds.

Read original story Bitcoin ETFs See $458M Inflow: 'Geopolitical Dip' From Iran War? by Akiyama Felix at 99bitcoins.com
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for parties involved in the war in Iran to de-escalate hostilities quickly - and said while he supports the strikes, it is a position he takes "with regret".

Carney, speaking to reporters in Sydney, his second stop on an Indo-Pacific tour, said of Iran that Canada "has long supported the imperative of neutralising this grave global threat".

He added: "We do, however, take this position with regret, because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order."

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The US and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday. Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf states allied to the US.

While speaking with reporters in Australia, Carney was critical of the US and Israel for acting "without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada".

The Canadian leader said Iran having a nuclear bomb would be a "massive threat" and described Iran's regime as "the biggest exporter of terror in the world," which had "murdered scores of Canadians".

"Nobody has a civil nuclear programme that's buried a mile beneath the desert," Carney said. "That is a threat."

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In Sydney, Carney also faced questions about his conversations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week.

He described those discussions as "frank".

Prior to the trip, a Canadian official suggested India is no longer linked to violent crimes or threats on Canadian soil.

"I really don't think we'd be taking this trip if we thought these kind of activities were continuing," the official said during a briefing.

Some Canadian Sikhs reject the government assessment, saying they still face threats from India, which Delhi denies.

"To engage, you have to be able to talk to countries, countries where there have been issues," Carney prime minister said.

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"And to raise issues, including at the highest levels, to ensure that the co-operation is there, whether it's extortion or some other form of cross-border criminal activity or security risks."

Carney added that high-ranking Canadian officials have been in contact with top Indian defence and national security officials "from the moment that we re-established a dialogue at the leader level with India".

Under Carney, the two governments are trying to repair ties that were strained when his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, publicly accused Delhi of a link to the 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the province of British Columbia (BC).

India vociferously rejected the allegation by Trudeau.

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Trade and diplomatic relations almost came to a standstill as both sides expelled each other's diplomats and cancelled visa services. Canada hosts a huge expatriate Indian community.

The case of four men charged over Nijjar's killing is still before the courts in British Columbia.

This week, Canada and India also announced a "landmark" nuclear energy deal, as well as other deals on critical minerals, space, defence and education.
Quick to pick a side after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Prime Minister Mark Carney is now urging diplomacy over escalation.

Speaking in Sydney on Tuesday, Carney called for a diplomatic end to the conflict  while underscoring Canada wasnt consulted ahead of the strikes.

Still, he said Canadians stand with the Iranian people, which is why we support efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.

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Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty has emphasized that Canadas military was not involved in the preparation or execution of Saturdays attack, nor did Canada receive prior notice of the U.S. operation, Epic Fury. He added that Canada is not involved in the war with Iran at this time.

Canadas support of the U.S. comes at a tense time in the bilateral relationship, as the two countries  along with Mexico  review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. While preserving the deal is an economic imperative, Carneys backing for the strikes is consistent with the worldview he laid out in a watershed speech in Davos, when he said: We actively take on the world as it is, not wait around for a world we wish to be.

Carney echoed the line while fielding questions from Canadian media in the middle of his three-country trade trip.

He singled out Iran for its retaliatory strikes on civilians and infrastructure throughout the Middle East.

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The current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order, he said. Despite decades of U.N. Security Council resolutions, the tireless work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the succession of sanctions and diplomatic frameworks, Iran's nuclear threat remains.

Ottawa has also been working diplomatic channels to deescalate and prepare contingencies for Canadians in the region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said that in conversations with Gulf and Middle East counterparts over the weekend she shared Canadas desire for a peaceful solution.

On Tuesday, she told a Toronto business audience that Canada has hit the Iranian regime with sanctions on 500 individuals.

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She also revealed that shes asked her counterpart in Oman for access to its airspace, if needed, to get Canadians to safety. Our top priority right now is the 100,000 Canadians that are in the region.

In a social media post on Monday, President Donald Trump said its too late to talk. He is now suggesting the U.S.-Israel led war could last four or five weeks, or be over in a few more days.

In Canada, there was swift and predictable criticism of Carneys support, as analysts questioned the legality of an act of war without the backing of the United Nations. The lack of U.N. support led Canada to withhold its support for the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

That is a terrible mistake. The Carney governments first major error in the realm of foreign policy, wrote international security expert Wesley Wark. It seems we still struggle to unhook ourselves from thought and policy dependency on the United States, despite a brave speech in Davos.

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The contrast with our language on Ukraine is stark, former Liberal Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy noted in a newspaper column. The double standard is obvious: when Russia uses force without lawful grounds, it is condemned as an outlaw; when the U.S. does something legally analogous, we kowtow in an effort to curry favour.

Wark and Axworthy both said Carney should have lived up to the 2003 standard set by then-Prime Minister Jean Chretien when he said no  at the last possible minute  to then-President George W. Bushs request to join the U.S. in the war to depose Saddam Hussein.

While there have been anti-war protests in Canada, Carneys support for the attack is in lock-step with the Iranian and Jewish communities in the country.

At the U.S. embassy in Ottawa on Saturday, hundreds of Iranian demonstrators changed the channel on the frequent protests that occur there against Trumps aggressive economic attacks on Canada, filling the air with chants of thank you, U.S.A.

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Noah Shack, the CEO of Canadas Centre for Israeli and Jewish Affairs, told POLITICO the criticism against Carney is unwarranted given the Iranian regimes record of repressing its own people and exporting terrorism.

But Carney said Tuesday Canada is not prepared to passively wait for the world as we wish it would be. We would like international law to always and everywhere be respected.

Carneys decision to support the strike is consistent with his pragmatic foreign policy that was reflected in his Davos speech.

He is currently in Australia to deepen trade and investment bonds with a Commonwealth ally before heading to Japan to do the same. He started his trip in India where he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched free-trade talks on Monday.

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Canada shares a major foreign policy plank with the U.S. after it severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012, after passing a law that declared it a state sponsor of terrorism. The decision was driven by Ottawa's realization that it couldnt guarantee the security of Canadian diplomats in its downtown Tehran embassy if the regime retaliated.

Similarly, Carney supported the U.S. removal of Nicolas Maduro, a leader that Canada had long said was not the legitimate president of Venezuela. Carney and others have also expressed support for Trumps attempts to end the Ukraine-Russia war.
OKLAHOMA CITY  A Senate panel on Wednesday passed a measure to reduce the caps on property valuations despite concerns it could create huge disparities in property tax payments.

Senate Joint Resolution 39 would reduce the 3% cap annual property values on homesteads and agricultural properties by a percentage point. The cap on other valuations would drop to 3% from 5%.

The measure would require a vote of the people.

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Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, said the measure could result in two identical homes on the same street being taxed at dramatically different levels and questioned whether the measure would disproportionately affect first-time homebuyers.

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, speaks at a Senate Democrats news conference Jan. 13, 2025, at the Oklahoma State Capitol to outline the caucus policy priorities for the year. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Long-time owners benefit, she said. New buyers shoulder more of the burden. Thats not reform. Thats imbalance.

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, who authored the bill, said it was an effort to slow the growth of property taxes and allow seniors to stay in their homes by reducing the financial burden for those on a fixed income.

Paxton said the top issue for constituents is education, but property taxes are second.

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Theres not a ton of objection to the concept of property taxes from the people that I have talked to, he said. Its the issue of the fact of how it goes up.

If the valuation goes up every year, it can run people out of their homes, Paxton said.

As a result of increased valuations, school bond issues are starting to fail, he said.

Voters just think they have had enough, he said.

While valuations can go down, it is rare, Paxton said.

Currently, assessors are not allowed to raise valuations above the caps until the property is sold, Paxton said.

Hicks said that for years, the states property tax system has suppressed assessed values below the actual market. The gap has grown wider over time, with assessed values lagging behind reality.

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Revenue for schools, counties, fire departments, libraries and roads lag too, she said.

Those entities rely on revenue from property taxes.

Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, said the bill was a good start, but more needed to be done.

The measure passed the Senate Rules Committee by a vote of 16-2 and heads to the Senate floor.

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New findings suggest killer whales may participate in cannibalism. | Credit: Sergio Amiti via Getty Images

Orca fins washing up in the North Pacific are scratched with characteristic tooth marks that suggest killer whales are occasionally cannibals. Scientists say this may explain why some orcas live in large family groups.

Orcas (Orcinus orca) come in several distinct types, sometimes considered different subspecies. In the North Pacific Ocean, two of these types inhabit roughly the same areas: Resident orcas (Orcinus orca ater) live in large family groups and eat fish, and Bigg's orcas (Orcinus orca rectipinnus), which are more common and transient, live in smaller groups and hunt other mammals, such as whales, dolphins and seals.

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Generally, it was thought the two types avoided each other. But Olga Filatova , a whale researcher at the University of Southern Denmark, and her colleagues have uncovered evidence showing that's not always the case. They published their findings Feb. 24 in the journal Marine Mammal Science .

In August 2022, study co-author Sergey Fomin , a researcher at the Pacific Institute of Geography in Russia, found an orca fin on a beach on Bering Island in eastern Russia . The fin was bloodied and covered with tooth marks.

It isn't that unusual to find fins with such tooth marks. But previous such fins had belonged to Baird's beaked whales (Berardius bairdii) and minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) that had been attacked and eaten by Bigg's orcas.

"He immediately thought, 'Oh, this looks familiar,' and he thought that mammal-killing killer whales killed this," Filatova told Live Science. But for it to be an orca fin was a surprise.

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Two years later, in July 2024, he found a second dorsal fin from an orca. This one was a bit bigger, from a young male, but it had the same killer whale tooth marks on it.

The researchers found the orca dorsal fins, which appeared to have been cannibalized, in 2022 and 2024. | Credit: Filatova et al., Marine Mammal Science, 2026, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

"At that moment, I started thinking that this is a pattern," Filatova said. The fins are tough and not good to eat and prevent a predator from eating the muscle and blubber under it, so killer whales discard them, she added.

Genetic tests revealed that the fins came from southern resident orcas, which reside in waters near Washington and British Columbia and are known for wearing salmon on their heads and giving each other massages with kelp .

So, it looks like this defense strategy is really working Olga Filatova, whale researcher at the University of Southern Denmark

Filatova and her colleagues think the southern resident orcas were probably attacked and eaten by Bigg's orcas.

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"At least now we know that cannibalism happens, but I think it is not super common," Filatova said.

The researchers suggest that such occasional predation by the mammal-eating Bigg's orcas is a reason the resident orcas form large, close-knit family groups. Animals that aggregate in large groups or herds often do it to protect themselves from predators.

Orcas are generally thought to have no natural predators, but they have been known to be aggressive toward each other. In 2016, for example, Bigg's orcas were witnessed chasing and killing a newborn , potentially to force the mother to become sexually receptive. They didn't eat the calf, though.

Teaming up as a defense also may help to explain observations of large groups of resident killer whales chasing away smaller groups of Bigg's killer whales, Filatova said. She noted that, in her own work, she has seen evidence of Bigg's orcas avoiding groups of resident orcas and returning to an area only after the residents had moved on. "So, it looks like this defense strategy is really working," she said.

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But not everyone is convinced. "I think the observations of tooth marks on fish-eating whale carcasses are interesting and the idea is worthy of further investigation, but there's not yet enough evidence to build a solid account of the social evolution of fish-eating orcas," Luke Rendell , a biologist at the University of St Andrews in Scotland who wasn't involved in the study, told Live Science via email.

Rendell said the potential benefits of foraging together and passing on specific habitat and prey knowledge could also be important drivers for creating large groups tied to certain locations.

Other animals have also been suspected of forming tight-knit groups to defend against orcas. For example, pods of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) are also known to confront and drive away killer whales  a behavior that is largely attributed to their highly social nature . And orcas sometimes flee when they hear the calls of pilot whales .

"The similarities between short-finned pilot whale social structure and resident killer whale social structure, and the similarities in how they apparently respond to Bigg's killer whales, do suggest they may both be responding to potential predation pressure," Michael Weiss , research director at the Center for Whale Research in Washington, who wasn't involved in the research, told Live Science via email.

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"I certainly think it's possible that Bigg's killer whales predated on these two whales," he said. But he added that scavenging by Bigg's killer whales or aggression from other resident killer whales while they were still alive also could have caused the rake marks on the washed-up dorsal fins. Therefore, it doesn't definitively show cannibalism or predation, Weiss said.

Filatova acknowledged that scavenging can't be ruled out, because orcas are known to have fed on whale carcasses from whaling . But she said fresh killer whale carcasses typically sink fast, making them inaccessible, and they only start floating a few days later, when they start to decompose. "You need to be really hungry to eat this," she said.

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Filatova also doesn't think the marks on the fins are related to fights with other residents, because those marks tend to be on the animals' sides, she said.

She thinks predation pressure drove the formation of tight-knit social groups in resident orcas perhaps 100,000 years ago, after killer whales that had been evolving separately in the Pacific and Atlantic started to bump into each other; because the social structure proved efficient, it stuck.

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However, she pointed out that eating another orca may not seem like cannibalism to these marine mammals, and there are calls to name them as separate species . "They never socialize; they never spend time together. For them, it's just another whale. So why not eat it?" Filatova said.

Orca quiz: Will you sink or swim?
A chilling map has revealed the four safest U.S. states to live in if theres a nuclear war, The Express in the U.K. has reported.

While the map shows the catastrophic damage that would follow an atomic attack on the continental United States, it also reveals the places where Americans would be safest from nuclear fallout.

According to an online NUKEMAP, most of Nevada, Western Texas, Michigan and Wisconsin would be notably in the clear, according to the MIRA Safety biohazard-protection company, which analyzed the data.

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But theres a caveat as Michigan and Wisconsin would likely become uninhabitable in the coming nuclear winter that would follow on the heels of an atomic exchange.

Nuclear winter is a period of abnormal cold and darkness that is predicted to follow a nuclear war. Those conditions would be caused by a layer of smoke and dust in the atmosphere that would block the suns light and heat.

Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2014 had spurred fears that tactical nuclear weapons could be used at some point.

Concern has increased among some in the wake of President Donald Trumps military strikes against Iran, which resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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Israels attacks on Irans nuclear facilities in 2025 heightened fears that the world could be on the brink of World War III.

Against that frightful backdrop, a chilling map resurfaced showing which parts of America would suffer the worst devastation in the event of a nuclear war.

The map revealed that nearly all of the major cities across the East Coast, Midwest, West Coast and South could be at risk.

A major nuclear attack would likely kill up to 250 million Americans, roughly 75% of the countrys population.

Read the original article on silive.com. Add silive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A China-Japan travel warning sounds like a tourism story, but it is really a diplomacy story wearing a suitcase. Recent reporting said Beijing urged its citizens to think twice about trips to Japan after remarks by Japans prime minister about a Taiwan contingency set off a political blow-up.

This has not been a one-and-done alert. Advisories and follow-up notices have surfaced repeatedly since mid-November 2025, and another warning was reported on January 26th, 2026, during the Lunar New Year travel period, a sign the dispute has not cooled.

What the Warning Said, and Who Issued It

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

In mid-November 2025, Chinas Ministry of Culture and Tourism published guidance discouraging travel to Japan, citing security concerns. Reuters reporting at the time described the practical impact in terms of cancellations, hotel changes, and a hit to a visitor segment that matters for Japans tourism economy.

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On January 26th, 2026, another warning linked to the Lunar New Year travel rush was reported, tied to ongoing anger over the Taiwan-related remarks. Reporting also noted Chinese airlines extending flexible refund and change policies for Japan routes, a move that makes the warning feel operational, not symbolic.

Separate coverage later in 2025 also described China reiterating caution for Chinese nationals, showing the message was repeated through multiple channels.

Why Taiwan Is at the Center of It

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The flashpoint, as described in coverage of the dispute, was Japans leader discussing a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan and signaling that Japan could respond militarily under certain conditions. Beijing treats Taiwan as a core sovereignty issue, so even hypothetical scenarios can trigger pressure that spills into travel, culture, and commerce.

That tension has kept showing up in other moves since then. In late February 2026, China imposed export controls on Japanese entities, framing them around security concerns and remilitarization narratives. Tourism becomes leverage because it is fast to turn on and off.

How Japan Responded

Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan crosswalk and cityscape in the late afternoon.

Japans government pushed back on the travel warning early on. Reporting described Tokyo calling the advisory incompatible with efforts to build constructive bilateral ties, and other coverage noted Japans formal protest after the warning was issued.

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Meanwhile, the broader security backdrop has stayed noisy, with Japan publicizing defense planning on islands close to Taiwan and ongoing friction in nearby waters. None of that automatically changes what a tourist experiences on the ground, but it does shape messaging and risk perception.

What This Means for Travelers Right Now

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If you are a Chinese citizen planning Japan, the key takeaway is that official guidance can affect group tours, flight flexibility, and how providers handle cancellations. The January 26th, 2026, update was explicitly tied to the Lunar New Year period and ongoing tensions, so extra contingency planning is part of the deal.

If you are not a Chinese passport holder, the advisory does not apply to you directly. It can still ripple into availability and pricing, because reduced demand can shift air capacity, hotel strategy, and promotions. That is why the market can react quickly even when the warning targets a specific nationality.

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BEIJING, March 4 (Reuters) - China is willing to work with the United States to promote communication at all levels while upholding its "red lines" and principles, a spokesperson for its parliament said on Wednesday.

The comments come ahead of the opening of the National People's Congress annual session on Thursday and as both countries look to stabilise ties ahead of an expected summit of leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing at the end of March.

Bilateral relations, already bruised due to trade tensions, have been further strained by the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a Caracas raid in January and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. China counts both countries as long-time major oil suppliers and close partners.

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Spokesman Lou Qinjian repeated China's call for an immediate ceasefire and urged respect for Iran's sovereignty.

"No country has the right to control international affairs, dictate the fate of other nations, or monopolise development advantages, still less to act as it pleases on the world stage," he told a press conference.

China and the United States should respect each other and coexist peacefully, he said, calling on the U.S. Congress to view China "objectively" and do more to benefit ties.

But he added: "China has its own principles and red lines, and as always, will resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests."

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A White House official has said Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2, although Beijing has made no official announcement.

Top trade negotiators from both sides are expected to meet in Paris next week to discuss potential business deals linked to the highly anticipated meet, Bloomberg News said on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen, Shi Bu, Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Edwina Gibbs)
Welcome to Foreign Policys China Brief.

The highlights this week: China reacts to the war in Iran, the United States diverts military assets from the Asia-Pacific, and the National Peoples Congress convenes in Beijing for its annual two sessions meetings.

Sign up to receive China Brief in your inbox every Tuesday.



Chinas Predictable Play in Iran

As war erupts in the Middle East again, China is again keeping its distanceoffering rhetorical condemnation but not much direct support for Iran after U.S. and Israeli strikes began over the weekend.

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Some analysts have predictably attempted to frame the war in Iran as part of a coherent U.S. grand strategy toward China. This commentary is driven more by careerism than serious analysis, but it reflects a broader misunderstanding of the forces that shape Chinese attitudes.

The truth is that China is an unentangled superpower, in contrast to the United States and the Soviet Union. It has only one formal mutual defense pactalbeit a troublesome onewith North Korea. Beijing is less willing to commit to permanent relationships, especially when it comes to defense, and more comfortable cutting its losses than Washington.

Still, U.S. analysts sometimes seem desperate to portray countries such as Iran or Venezuela as pillars of Chinese grand strategyor imagine scenarios in which China becomes mired in a quagmire like the war in Afghanistan.

China lacks entanglements in part because it also lacks the persistent foreign lobbying that dominates U.S. politics. Chinese politics are overwhelmingly domestic, suspicion of foreign influence runs deep, and the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party are opaque to outsiders. Instead, Beijing has an intense internal lobbying presenceby both private and state-owned firms, as well as provincial governments.

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Furthermore, nothing in Beijing compares to Washingtons dense ecosystem of think tanks and advocacy institutions, which help sustain long-term foreign lobbying efforts. At best, foreign governments may benefit from an experienced and well-placed Chinese official with personal affinities for a region, such as diplomat Qiu Xiaoqi, who has long served in Latin America.

None of this means China is indifferent to foreign conflicts. It has real material and geopolitical interests at stake in the Iran war.

Roughly 50 percent to 60 percent of Chinese oil imports come from the Gulf. In theory, China could use its influence in Yemen to pressure the Houthis to curb attacks on shipping, at least for Chinese vessels. But the collapse of the Islamic Republic or a prolonged war would likely make the Strait of Hormuz dangerous for all traffic. Chinas substantial oil stockpile offers it some cushion, but its hardly a permanent solution.

One area of the conflict where China may look to score points is in protecting its citizens. The successful evacuation of Chinese nationals from Libya in 2011, for instance, was a domestic triumph. As of Tuesday, China had evacuated most Chinese citizens from Iran, according to the Global Times. Beijing may aim for a larger regional evacuationa stark contrast with the U.S. messaging toward its citizens in the Gulf.

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Chinese strategists have long assumed that a distracted Washington is good for Beijing. The United States mass expenditure of munitions in the opening phases of attack is already straining its supply chains. If China wanted to raise the pressure further, it could tighten controls on rare earth exports again.

But such a move is unlikely, given the current U.S.-China diplomatic thawand since a sharp escalation might accelerate U.S. efforts to reshore its critical mineral supply, ultimately weakening Chinese leverage. For now, China appears content to wait and see just how big of a mess the United States has gotten itself into.

What Were Following

Military purge fallout. Chinese President Xi Jinpings military purge reaches further than previously understood. A new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that more than half of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) leadership has been affected. That figure rises dramatically for three-star generals or above: Of the 47 people who have held such roles since 2022, 41 have reportedly been removed, including those who were purged after retirement.

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This has created a significant leadership vacuum in the PLA, with only 11 of 52 key positions currently occupied. Xi hasnt moved to fill these vacanciesperhaps because he was caught off-guard by the level of corruption among his own appointees and is uncertain of whom to trust.

The U.S. Asia-Pacific presence. The widening Iran conflict has diverted U.S. military resources from the Asia-Pacific, further marginalizing the China hawks in the White House and unsettling regional allies, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Its worth remembering that even the most alarming Chinese contingencyan invasion of Taiwanwould have weeks or months of warning and military buildup. An amphibious landing of that scale cant be launched suddenly, and U.S. naval resources could be repositioned back to the region if necessary.

But if war in the Middle East sparks a wider drawdown of U.S. missile defense assets, it could jeopardize relations with South Korea, which endured years of Chinese retaliation after agreeing to deploy a U.S. missile defense system in 2016.

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Two sessions. On Wednesday, Chinas rubber-stamp parliament, the National Peoples Congress, convenes its annual two sessions gathering. Though the meetings are largely perfunctory, they sometimes offer insight into Beijings political and economic goals.

This years focus is expected to be economic recovery, including the setting of GDP targetslikely a modest (though still inflated) 5 percent or below. In the wake of military purges, one detail to watch is empty seats. If the purges extend beyond the PLA to regular officials at similar scale, many delegates will be absent.

Chinese air defense. Since Israels war with Iran last June, rumors have swirled that China would provide Iran with air defense support. Beijing denied those claims, and no clear evidence has emerged that such systems were delivered or deployed.

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That hasnt stopped Indian outlets from alleging that a prominent Chinese air defense system was recently fielded in Iran but performed poorly. That narrative appears colored by nationalism: During last Mays brief India-Pakistan clash, that Chinese-made system downed several Indian aircraft.

Iran has reportedly been trying to purchase missiles from China. But whether a deal advances remains uncertain, as well as if there will be a stable Iranian government left to execute it.
The United States is in talks with opposition Kurdish forces in a bid to arm them and foment an uprising in Iran, according to multiple media reports, as the US-Israel war on Iran enters its fifth day.

President Donald Trumps administration is actively discussing with opposition Kurdish groups the possibility of arming them, according to CNN, citing Kurdish and US officials. As of Wednesday, it was unclear whether any deals had been struck.

Kurdish rebels have for years opposed Tehran and carried out numerous attacks in Irans Kurdistan province as well as other western provinces. They operate along the Iraq-Iran border, with Iran and Iraqs Kurdish minorities sharing close ties.

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The US spy agency CIA has a history of working with Kurdish groups in neighbouring Iraq, which the US invaded in 2003. Washington also funded, armed and trained Kurdish fighters in Syria against former President Bashar al-Assad. The CIA has funded rebels and armed groups in numerous countries over the past several decades to destabilise governments critical of US foreign policy.

Amid the ongoing war, and as Iran hits US assets and personnel hosted in neighbouring Gulf countries, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also targeted Kurdish positions in the west.

Instinctively, it feels like a bad move, analyst Neil Quilliam of the United Kingdom-based think tank Chatham House told Al Jazeera of the plan, warning that it might cause more internal conflict in Iran.

It is an afterthought and has not featured in any major planning to support any broader endgame. It reveals that the US-Iran war against Iran has been poorly thought out, he said.

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Heres what we know so far:

A woman holding a picture of children reacts during the funeral of the victims following a strike on a school, in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026 [Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/West Asia News Agency via Reuters]

What is happening?

CNN reported on Wednesday that the CIA is negotiating with multiple Kurdish groups to aid them in an uprising.

US officials told CNN the aim would be to use the Kurds to stretch Iranian forces and allow popular protests, or help them seize and control northern Iran, and thus create a buffer for Israel.

Trump spoke with Mustafa Hijri, head of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), on Tuesday, CNN reported, quoting a Kurdish official. In the coming days, Kurdish groups in Iran are set to participate in ground operations in western Iran, the official told CNN.

Earlier on Tuesday, US publication Axios also reported that on Sunday, a day after the US-Israeli bombing campaign on Iran began, Trump spoke to the leaders of two Kurdish groups in Iraq: Masoud Barzani, who leads the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

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Axios cited sources with knowledge of the exchanges. The publication also reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had lobbied for the US-Kurds connection for months. Israel has established intelligence networks among Kurdish groups in Iran, Iraq and Syria.

At least one Kurdish leader, Bafel Talabani, has confirmed the call with Trump.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PUK said Trump offered an opportunity to better understand US objectives and to discuss joint support for building a strong partnership between the United States and Iraq.

No further details were given.

Analyst Quilliam said the plan could fuel domestic conflict inside Iran by pitching opposition groups against each other, rather than helping them team up to challenge the remnants of the regime.

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There can be little trust or faith amongst Irans Kurdish groups that US support will be honoured, he said.

Trumps approach to regime change is very much a DIY approach, and although supporting Irans Kurdish groups might advance that goal, it would be doing so without any responsibility for what happens: the US can simply walk away and leave the mess behind.





What is the USs history of arming Kurdish groups?

Kurds are an ethnic minority spread across the Middle East, but without a state of their own and with a history of marginalisation across countries. They share a common culture and language. Several Kurdish groups have for decades sought self-governance in Turkiye, Syria and Iran.

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Washington has been a historical ally, particularly of Iraqi Kurds. The US provided tactical support in the form of no-fly zones that protected Kurdish groups during the 1991 uprising, although Washington was criticised for prompting the revolt and then abandoning people as Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein responded violently.

The no-fly zone allowed the creation of a de facto Kurdish-controlled region, the Kurdish Regional Government, which was officially recognised in 2005.

Since 2014, the US has also partnered militarily with the Kurdish Peshmerga forces to fight ISIL (ISIS) in Iraq.

Similarly, the US, under Trumps first administration in 2017, trained and armed the Peoples Protection Units (YPG)  a Syrian Kurdish militia that Turkiye lists as a terror group due to links with the proscribed Turkiye-based Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)  in its successful resistance to ISIL.

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The group, which now forms the main component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), controlled Raqqa and other ISIL strongholds until very recently. However, Washington turned away from the group and backed the new government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which took power in December 2024. The SDF signed a deal with the Syrian government to integrate into the government forces. In return, the Syrian government recognised Kurdish rights.

The main Turkish Kurdish group has decided to lay down arms and engage with the Turkish state after four decades of bloody armed rebellion.

Washingtons alliance with Iranian Kurds is therefore not strategic, analyst Quilliam noted. The US has demonstrated its ability to step back from alliances, he said, and from the viewpoint of important regional partners, Washington could cause anger.

It would be a major concern for Washingtons partners in the region, most notably Turkiye and Syria, and it would be a major headache for Iraq too, he said.

Bafel Talabani, President of The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), has confirmed the call with Trump [File: Ako Rasheed/Reuters]

A brief history of the CIAs arming and funding of rebel groups

The US spy agency has funded, trained and supplied weapons to rebels and armed groups across numerous countries over the past five to six decades.

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Afghanistan: Starting in the late 1970s, the CIA funded and trained Afghan mujahideen to fight the Soviet occupation.

Libya: The US spy agency provided intelligence and other support to rebels fighting the longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Iran: The CIA, in a joint operation with the British spy agency MI6, helped groups, including military officers, to overthrow the countrys first democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, in 1953.

Nicaragua: In the 1980s, the CIA provided weapons and funds to the Contras against the socialist Sandinista government of Daniel Ortega. The CIA also backed armed groups in Guatemala (1954) and Cuba (1960-61) and El Salvador to destabilise the governments critical of US policy in Latin America.

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Vietnam: Starting in the 1950s, the CIA began arming rebels in Vietnam. Later, it sent its army, making it one of the bloodiest US interventions of all time.

Indonesia: In the late 1960s, the US spy agency armed rebels against President Sukarno.




This story has been updated with statements from Cincinnati Public Schools and the FBI.

A number of Cincinnati-area high schools, including Walnut Hills, Indian Hill and Mason, took precautionary action this morning after receiving bomb threats similar to others reported across Ohio.

Walnut Hills High Principal John Chambers notified families and staff of a bomb threat around 11 a.m. March 4, according to an email obtained by The Enquirer.

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Cincinnati police and Cincinnati Public Schools security are investigating the threat and working to identify a suspect, Chambers said. The building has not been evacuated, but a lock-in has been initiated as precaution.

"The investigation is ongoing and may result in criminal charges for the individual responsible. If it is determined that a CPS student issued the threat, they will be disciplined in accordance with the CPS Student Code of Conduct," Chambers said.

In an afternoon email to families, Cincinnati Public Schools confirmed its investigation into the threats and encouraged parents to speak with their children about the "serious consequences of making real or false threats toward a school, fellow student or staff member."

"The safety of our students and staff is our top priority," the email reads. "Threats of this nature are taken very seriously and may result in criminal charges."

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Later in the afternoon, a news release from the district said police and the school's security found no suspicious items in the high school or around its exterior. The release said that students and staff are safe.

The lockdown was lifted, and the school day at Walnut Hills High School continued as normal, a district spokesperson said.

Other Cincinnati-area schools received threats

Indian Hill High School has also been evacuated as police check the building with K9s, the village's police department confirmed to The Enquirer. The reported bomb threat came in around the same time.

The school did not continue instruction after the police declared the buildings were safe to enter, according to a district news release. At 1 p.m., students were permitted to grab their belongings and were dismissed.

A number of Cincinnati-area schools, including Mason High School, also received bomb threats Wednesday morning.

Mason High School resumed normal operations after a threatening phone call was received earlier in the morning, Mason police said in a safety update. The school had been placed on a soft lockdown, along with Mason Middle School, Mason Intermediate School and Mason Elementary School, Enquirer media partner Fox19 reported.

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"During the investigation, we also learned that schools in several nearby communities reported receiving similar threatening messages today, which law enforcement agencies are actively investigating," Mason police said.

Bomb threats reported across Ohio; FBI investigating

In addition to the Cincinnati area, multiple Columbus-area schools are also reporting bomb threats, according to The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Some threats have also been reported in Cleveland and Toledo. While investigating threats at local schools, the Brown County Sheriff's Office said that approximately 35 similar threats were reported to schools throughout Ohio.

The FBI released a statement, saying that it's aware of these threats, but it currently has no information that indicates the threats are credible. The FBI added, however, that it's working with local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address threat information as soon as it arises.

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"We urge the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately, the statement says.

Schools across the country being targeted with hoax bomb or shooter threats has happened before.

In 2023, some local school districts said many of the threats came from a group claiming to be a Russian terrorist organization.

Then, in 2024, Princeton High School was the target of what officials called a nationwide spree of hoaxes.

Enquirer reporter Gillian Stawiszynski contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bomb threats impact Cincinnati, Ohio schools, investigations underway
The worlds most powerful business leaders enjoyed eye-watering pay bumps in 2025. And Blackstone cofounder and CEO Stephen Schwarzman had a particularly great year, taking home $1.24 billion last year, thanks to the asset management titans record profits.

Its a 20% bump from the year before, the majority of which came from dividends, and almost reached his 2022 high of $1.27 billion.

Most of the 10-figure income stems from his roughly 20% stake in Blackstone, as Schwarzman boasts a relatively meager salary of $350,000.

And the billion-dollar haul is probably a welcome relief for Schwarzman whose net worth has been in free fall since September last year, when the CEOs fortune reached a high of $60.3 billion. Today, his net worth sits at $44.2 billion.

Blackstones shares have struggled as investors grow wary of mounting pressures in private markets. But the recent turbulence is nothing new for the billionaire businessman who has spent decades navigating economic cyclesand he has some words of wisdom for others stepping into the stressful world of finance.

Schwarzman landed his first Wall Street job with zero finance education, before founding Blackstone

Schwarzman started his path to the CEO role at U.S. investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. He had just graduated from Yale, with no expertise in financebut the short stint was his first foray into a now lucrative career.

I somehow managed to convince the guy who was the founding partner to hire me, the CEO told Blackstones summer analysts last year. I didnt really know there was stock, bonds. I never had an economics course. I never, of course, had an accounting course.

For a period of time, Schwarzman left finance for a job in the Army Reserve, before pursuing his MBA at Harvard University.

Lehman Brothers became his next employer right out of business school; there, he worked his way up over a decade to chair the mergers and acquisitions committee.

Schwarzman then decided to do his own thing; he founded Blackstone alongside former Lehman Brothers colleague Pete Peterson in 1985 for less than $500,000.

The Blackstone CEOs advice for budding professionals: Stress less and love your job

Fast-forward four decades later, and the 79-year-old CEO and chairman is still at the helm of the financial giant. But looking back on his career, Schwarzman advised young professionals against a work habit that completely wrecked his nervous system.

Dont put yourself under as much pressure as I was under, the billionaire recently told Blackstones summer analysts. I went for max everything  So Ive absorbed a lot of self-created stress, and I still do it. But now my nerve endings are burned off, so it doesnt bother me at all.
Daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 8, with clocks springing forward. This means people will lose an hour of sleep.

Here's what to know about daylight saving time in 2026.

When is the DST time change in 2026?

Participating states turn clocks forward an hour on the second Sunday in March during the spring. Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November in the fall of each year, and that's when states turn clocks back an hour.

What day does daylight saving time begin? When do clocks spring forward?

In the U.S., daylight saving time begins when clocks officially spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Do I gain or lose an hour of sleep for daylight saving time at 2 a.m. on March 8, 2026?

We lose an hour of sleep when the clocks "spring forward" at the start of daylight saving time. At 2 a.m., clocks are turned ahead by one hour.

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In the fall, when DST ends, clocks "fall back" an hour in November. That is when people gain an hour of sleep.

What is daylight saving time? Why does it exist?

The goal of daylight saving time is to ensure more daylight hours for several reasons, but primarily to save energy. There have also been arguments that having more daylight hours benefits public safety and health.

Daylight saving time was first introduced in the U.S. in 1918 during World War I, and it was known as "war time." It was then abandoned after the war, as there was no financial need to continue it at the time.

Daylight saving time as we know it today began in the U.S. with the Uniform Time Act of 1966, only it started on the last Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October.

Why does daylight saving time change at 2 a.m.?

In an interview with Time Magazine, author Michael Downing cited his book, "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time," to explain how Amtrak and the railroads were the main reason clocks change at 2 a.m. for DST.

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No trains were leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when daylight saving time was established.

"Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country, Downing said.

When does 2026 daylight saving time spring forward? When does DST fall back?

Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 8, and end on Nov. 1 in 2026.

What time is it in Louisville?

Visit timeanddate.com to see the current time in Louisville.

Daylight saving time change in Kentucky

Kentucky first observed daylight saving time in 1918, when the Standard Time Act established daylight saving time to conserve electricity during World War I. After the war was over, daylight saving was no longer a national law and became a local option.

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Between 1918 and today, Kentucky observed daylight saving time for 75 years, according to timeanddate.com. For a while, cities across Kentucky were inconsistent, with some observing the time change and others not.

But starting in 1970, Time and Date AS has tracked observance of daylight saving time in Kentucky every year.

Over the years, researchers have tried to tie your body getting an hour less of sleep that night to a variety of issues, including an increase in car crashes and health problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

In 2019, Kentucky Republican Reps. Bart Rowland of Tompkinsville and Brandon Reed of Hodgenville pre-filed a bill to do away with resetting clocks every six months and instead use daylight saving time all year long. To do so, however, requires authorization by the federal government.

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Under federal law, states are allowed not to observe daylight saving time, with Arizona and Hawaii being the lone states to do so. States are not allowed to stay on daylight saving time throughout the year.

Which U.S. states do not participate in daylight saving time?

As of July 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation noted that only Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona.

The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.

According to the website, states may exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended.

Did daylight saving time start because of farmers?

No, according to almanac.com.

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"Many Americans wrongly point to farmers as the driving force behind Daylight Saving Time. In fact, farmers were its strongest opponents and, as a group, stubbornly resisted the change from the beginning," Catherine Boeckmann wrote for almanac.com.

"When the war ended, the farmers and working-class people who had held their tongues began speaking out. They demanded an end to Daylight Saving Time, claiming it benefited only office workers and the leisure class. The controversy spotlighted the growing gap between rural and urban dwellers."

When does daylight saving time end permanently?

Despite the Sunshine Protection Act being unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, there is no permanent end to daylight saving time in sight.

Is Donald Trump going to permanently end daylight saving time?

In December 2024, Trump said he planned to eliminate daylight saving time. He needs the approval of Congress in order to achieve this, and he had been urging them to approve.

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Others hope that instead of eliminating daylight saving time, it will be permanent. 20 states have advocated for this by passing measures in recent years in favor of year-round daylight saving time.

Trump expressed support for such a notion in April 2025, calling it very popular, though he has also referred to the move as a 50-50 issue.

Conversation in Congress about the issue is ongoing.

Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman and X, formerly Twitter, at @itskatiewiseman. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: When is daylight saving time change? Do we spring forward or fall back?
After less than two hours of deliberation, a jury found Colin Gray guilty of 27 crimes in connection with the Apalachee High School shooting.

Gray is the father of Colt Gray, the student deputies accuse of killing four and hurting nine others when he opened fire inside the school Sept. 4, 2024.

Prosecutors accused the dad of buying his son the rifle used in the shooting and failing to lock it up or restrict his access to guns in the home, despite knowing his son could hurt people.

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RELATED: Apalachee shooting survivor reacts to Colin Gray verdict: He couldve stopped this

Jurors found the father guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of child cruelty related to the deaths of two children: students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo.

The guilty verdict included two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of reckless conduct for the deaths of two adults: teachers Cristina Irimie and Ricky Aspinwall.

The verdict includes 23 counts of child cruelty in connection to the children who survived but were hurt mentally and physically.

This is the first time a parent has been charged or convicted in connection to a shooting at the hands of their child.

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We talk a lot about rights in our country, and were proud of our rights, and our rights were given to us by our forefathers, District Attorney Brad Smith said. But God gave us a duty to protect our children, and I hope that we remember that.

Families of the children killed during the school shooting cried when hearing the jurys decision Tuesday. They were not ready to comment immediately after court.

Gray did not look at jurors during the verdict reading.

The district attorney said he spoke to jurors after the judge released them from the case.

I think it was the fact that it was multiple pieces of evidence over a lengthy period of time that really showed them what was happening inside that house and all the warnings that were missed, said Smith.

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The jury heard from 66 witnesses over 11 days of trial.

The prosecution called 65 of them. They included a teacher, David Phenix, and six students injured with bullets and shrapnel. Jurors heard from deputies who stopped the shooting and pulled children out of the building.

They saw evidence and surveillance video gathered after the shooting.

Prosecutors also called teachers and school counselors from Colt Grays past.

Department of Family and Children Services case workers described meeting with the family after the mother tested positive for drugs and the father gained full custody of the children.

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They described urging him to get the children into therapy.

Colts mother, Marcee Gray, testified that she told the father their son needed inpatient therapy. She said she told him to remove the guns from the home. However, he never got his son help or locked up any of the guns in the home.

The defense called one person to the stand, and that was Colin Gray himself. The dad tried to explain why he never restricted his sons access to guns.

He said he never knew his son had an interest in school shooters. He said his sons mother never informed him that his son sent money to Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland school shooter, in prison.

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We find what she did to be morally reprehensible. We do not believe she is a good mother, in my opinion, Smith said. But at the end of the day, she did not have custody of Colt, and she was not the one who provided him the firearms.

Smith said he would have never given a 14-year-old the rifle when his father did. It came months after the Jackson County Sheriffs Office sent deputies to his home to investigate accusations that his son threatened to shoot up a school there.

The dad told jurors deputies led him to believe it was not a true threat, and his son said he was hacked online.

Defense attorneys Brian Hobbs and Jim Berry have not responded to requests to comment since the verdict.

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They told jurors during closing arguments Monday that convicting a parent in a state where failing to lock up a gun is not a crime in a case like this is a slippery slope.

The defense talked about a slippery slope. It wasnt like one parent missed one warning. It was multiple warnings over a lengthy period of time, and, like we said, you just had to do one thing: take that rifle away, Smith said.

When asked about the historical significance of the case, Smith pointed out what the mother, Marcee, testified to on the stand. He said she admitted she researched what happened to other parents charged in connection to school shootings.

Smith said perhaps this verdict will grab parents attention as well.

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We dont know how many tragedies it did stop, and we hope weve moved the needle a little further, he said.

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The Supreme Court of Colombia denied a cassation appeal, arguing that it was generated by AI. But the same tool the court used to determine the appeal's purported AI origins said that its own ruling also received generative help.

Is it a double standard by the court, or faulty tools at play?

Faced with a well-founded suspicion that the brief submitted by the attorney had not been drafted by the legal professional himself, the court submitted the text to the Winston AI tool, the court argued. Its analysis indicated that the document contained only 7% human content, evidencing a marked influence of automated writing and leading to the conclusion that it had been produced using artificial intelligence.

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After running the analysis with other tools that provided similar results, the court ruled that since the filing cannot be regarded as a duly submitted pleading, its dismissal as inadmissible is required.

But when the courts ruling faced similar scrutiny from legal experts, it showed similar results.

"I submitted the text of Auto AP760/2026 from the Supreme Court to the same Winston AI software cited in the ruling," attorney Emmanuel Alessio Velasquez wrote on X on Tuesday. "The result: The document contains 93% AI-generated text."

"If the very ruling that condemns the use of artificial intelligence scores that percentage, the methodological fragility of using these detectors as argumentative support becomes self-evident," he argued in a subsequent tweet.

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Within hours of the court posting a thread about the decision on X, lawyers began running their own tests. Velasquez's post went viral in legal circles, accumulating tens of thousands of views.

We ran the test on the courts verdict, as well, and things initially didnt look great. When GPTZero scanned only the opening words of the court text, it returned a 100% AI result.

When the same tool processed a longer version including the factual background section, it reversed course entirely: 100% human.

The tool is simply not reliable enough to be trusted in court or in situations that would require a high degree of certainty.

Colombian attorneys reacted quickly with their own experiments. Criminal defense lawyer and lecturer Andres F. Arango G, submitted a court filing from 2019, years before the large language models these tools were trained to detect even existed, and it came back claiming 95% AI generation.

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"These tools then invite you to 'humanize' the article through their paid services," he wrote on X, noting an obvious commercial incentive baked into the detection business model.

Nicolas Buelvas ran his 2020 undergraduate thesis on the principle of trust in criminal law. The result? 100% AI.

Dario Cabrera Montealegre, another Colombian attorney, pointed out the hypocrisy of relying on technology to try to combat it.

"The court is using AI to determine if there was AI, he said. Something contradictory from my practical point of view."

Beyond legal circles, further tech-savvy individuals pointed out the dangers of excessive reliance on AI flagging tools.

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"To date, there is no publicly accessible tool that can accurately define the percentage of AI use when drafting a text," Carlos Alejandro Torres Pinedo argued. "What is worse: No one can publicly verify the source code behind these detection platforms. How can they be used to delegitimize someone's right of access to justice?"

The technical reasons for these failures are well-documented. AI detectors measure statistical patterns: sentence length, vocabulary predictability, and a quality that researchers call "burstiness," which refers to the natural rhythm variation humans introduce in their writing.

The problem is that formal legal prose, academic writing, and texts produced by people who write in a second language share many of those same statistical signatures.

Studies on AI detection

A 2023 study published in Patterns found that more than 61% of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) essays by non-native English speakers were incorrectly flagged as AI-generated.

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X Warns Against Creator Payouts Over Undisclosed AI War Videos

A systematic review by Weber-Wulff that same year concluded no available tool is either precise or reliable. Turnitin acknowledged in June 2023 that its own detector produced higher false positive rates when the AI content level in a document fell below 20%.

Even OpenAI had to take down its own AI detection tool following constant inaccuracies and an inability to do its actual job.

Universities have been grappling with this for years. Vanderbilt disabled Turnitin's AI detector in 2023 after estimating it would generate around 3,000 false positives annually.

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The University of Arizona dropped AI-detection features from its plagiarism software after a student lost 20% of a grade on a false positive. A 2024 case at UC Davis saw 17 linguistics students flagged, 15 of them non-native English speakers.

The pattern is consistent. The tools penalize the people who write most formally, most repetitively, or most carefully, exactly the profile that lawyers, academics, and second-language speakers fit.

The cultural fallout has bordered on absurdity. Across writing and journalism circles, people have started avoiding em dashes in their work, not because of any style guide, but because AI language models use them frequently and detection tools (and people) have taken notice.

Writers are self-editing natural punctuation out of fear of algorithmic suspicion. Beyond the written world, artists have suffered the wrath of moderators and colleagues for making art pieces that look AI

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Colombias two rulingsAC739-2026, in which the Civil Chamber fined a lawyer for citing 10 nonexistent AI-generated precedents in February, and AP760-2026are emerging as some of the regions first judicial decisions directly confronting the misuse of generative AI in legal filings.

Colombias judicial branch adopted formal guidelines in December 2024 that regulate how judges and court staff can use artificial intelligence.

The rules allow AI to be used freely for administrative and support tasks, such as drafting emails, organizing agendas, translating documents, or summarizing texts, while permitting more sensitive uses, like legal research or drafting procedural documents, only with careful human review.

The guidelines explicitly prohibit relying on AI to evaluate evidence, interpret the law, or make judicial decisions, emphasizing that human judges remain fully responsible for all rulings and must disclose when AI tools were used in preparing judicial materials.

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These guidelines, compiled in the PCSJA24-12243 agreement, could be used to contest such a decision.

The Supreme Court has not yet issued any additional statement in response to the backlash over its choice of detection tools. The ruling didnt have em dashes, either.
DENVER (AP)  Colorado's Democratic governor, facing a pressure campaign from President Donald Trump, is signaling his openness to granting clemency to a former county clerk who was convicted in a scheme that attempted to find proof of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

A social post by Gov. Jared Polis brought swift rebuke Wednesday from the state's attorney general, secretary of state and the association representing local election officials, who said such an action by the governor would send the wrong message to anyone seeking to interfere with elections ahead of this year's midterms.

In his post on Tuesday, the governor compared the case of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence, to that of a former state lawmaker who was recently sentenced to probation and community service after being convicted of one of the same crimes. Polis was echoing a concern he raised in January that the sentence for Peters, who didn't have a criminal history, was harsh.

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Justice in Colorado and America needs to be applied evenly, you never know when you might need to depend on the rule of law. This is the context I am using as I consider cases like this that have sentencing disparities, Polis wrote on the social platform X.

On Wednesday, Polis told KUSA-TV that whether Peters apologizes for her actions would be an important factor in his decision.

What she would have to show in any successful clemency application would be appropriate contrition, apology. Thats the kind of thing I would be looking for, he said.

Peters has not expressed remorse for her actions, instead defending them as necessary to investigate possible fraud.

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Peters' lawyers welcomed the governor's initial comments and hoped they would lead to her sentence being reduced to the nearly 17 months she has already served. They want her to be released from prison while they continue to try to get her convictions overturned in the state appeals court.

Action takes real courage, said one of her lawyers, John Case.

He said he could not discuss whether he had any conversations with the governor or his office about clemency because he said the process is confidential.

Governor's post creates backlash from other Colorado officials

Peters has become a hero to many who support Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, especially those who have been pushing unfounded conspiracy theories.

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Trump threatened harsh measures against Colorado unless the state releases Peters, and his administration has cut off funding to the state.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat who is running for state attorney general, said Polis' comments were shocking and worrisome and that he was wrong to make a comparison between the case of Peters and former state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis. Lewis and Peters were each convicted of attempting to influence a public servant, but also convicted of additional, different crimes.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office helped prosecute Peters, said Peters has not demonstrated any remorse for her actions.

Clemency should be based on remorse, rehabilitation, and extenuating circumstances  not on political influence, favor, or retribution," Weiser, a Democrat who is running to succeed the term-limited Polis, said in an emailed statement.

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U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who is hoping to replace Polis as governor, also said Peters shouldn't be pardoned or have her sentence commuted.

Donald Trump may be seeking revenge on Colorado, but surrendering to his political pressure will not make our state stronger or safer, the Democrat said.

Clemency could signal that it's OK to undermine our elections

Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said there are few similarities between Peters' and Lewis cases.

"It seems hes tying himself in knots trying to find a way to commute her sentence, he said of the governor.

He also said he worried that an early release would send the wrong message before this year's midterm elections.

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The signal is its OK to work to undermine our elections because, whether its President Trump or Jared Polis, youll get a get-out-of-jail free card, Crane said.

In response, a Polis spokesperson, Shelby Wieman, said the governor has been skeptical of Peters' sentence and was comparing it with the one given to the former state lawmaker who was sentenced Friday.

In contrast to some other Democratic governors, Polis, who prides himself on being a political iconoclast, has taken a sometimes accommodating stance toward Trump. As Trump entered office, Polis praised the idea of the Department of Government Efficiency, then run by billionaire Elon Musk, and the nomination of vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services.

He also has criticized Trumps stance on tariffs and immigration, among other issues.

Two cases with significant differences

Peters and Lewis were both convicted of attempting to influence a public servant, a crime that involves using deception or a threat to try to get a public official to act in a certain way.

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Lewis was convicted of one count of that and three counts of forgery. Prosecutors said she forged letters of support in the middle of a legislative ethics investigation over whether she had mistreated her staff. Her attorney, Craig Truman, declined to comment on her case.

Peters was convicted of state crimes for sneaking in an outside computer expert to copy images of her countys election computer system before and after state officials updated it in 2021. A photo and video of confidential voting system passwords were later posted on social media and a conservative website. She said she had a duty to preserve the information as clerk.

Peters was found guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant and one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with the requirements of the secretary of state.

Peters' lawyers said the judge violated her First Amendment rights by punishing her with a stiff sentence for making allegations about election fraud. The judge called her a charlatan and said she posed a danger to the community for spreading lies about voting and undermining the democratic process.

Appeals court judges seemed sympathetic to the free speech argument during oral arguments in January.
NEW YORK  Nearly a year after federal immigration agents whisked Mahmoud Khalil away for protesting Israels occupation of Gaza and the West Bank  heralding the Trump administrations harsh crackdown on student activism  the Columbia graduates paths to fighting deportation are narrowing.

Lawyers for Khalil filed an opening brief before the Board of Immigration Appeals late Monday, challenging a series of orders issued by a Louisiana immigration court judge since he was abruptly arrested at his Morningside Heights apartment on March 8, 2025, and shuttled more than 1,000 miles south.

The 50-page brief asks the board to reverse a ruling that sustained one of the Trump administrations reasons for trying to deport Khalil, alleging he lied on his green card application, among other decisions. In their papers, Khalils lawyers say the immigration judges decisions were rushed, procedurally irregular and factually inaccurate, and disregarded the governments retaliation for First Amendment-protected activity.

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The governments enforcement policy and abuse of the removal process to target Mr. Khalil and other lawful permanent residents and visa holders for detention and deportation in order to chill lawful and protected political speech is outrageous and egregious discrimination that requires termination of these proceedings, reads the brief by Khalils immigration lawyer Marc Van Der Hout.

Khalil grew up in a refugee camp for Palestinians in Syria, following his familys displacement.

Agents without a warrant detained him after he had been lawfully living in the U.S. since December 2022, having come to the city on a scholarship to pursue his masters in public administration. He was living with his wife in a college-owned apartment, weeks away from graduating and becoming a father. He played a prominent role in campus protests against the war in Gaza and Columbias investment ties to the Israeli government.

Since then, the case has been playing out in two venues: the immigration court in Louisiana, which is under the executive branchs control, and a federal court in New Jersey. Khalils hopes of avoiding deportation via the federal track suffered a significant blow in January when an appeals panel ruled that the immigration court should decide the legality of the governments actions.

The Trump administrations first target

In the wake of Khalils arrest, President Trump called the Columbia student a terrorist sympathizer and vowed he would be the first targeted in a coming crackdown, which quickly came to pass. Khalil has rebutted the governments characterizations of his advocacy as bigoted or supportive of violence.

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The 31-year-old was informed hed been targeted based on a new reading of a rarely cited provision in a decades-old immigration law. The provision, the government claimed, enabled Secretary of State Marco Rubio to order Khalil deported because his political activism could compromise foreign policy interests, referring to U.S. support for Israel.

When that argument faced legal setbacks, the government pushed ahead on a lesser charge, the green card application allegation, claiming Khalil lied on forms about his work experience, including about humanitarian work for the United Nations.

His lawyers have offered evidence at a hearing in immigration court to rebut those claims, but at a press briefing Tuesday, Van Der Hout said it was pointless. The attorney said he had never seen such a sham proceeding in almost 50 years practicing immigration law.

She (the judge) never left the bench, and about an hour into the hearing, she said Ive heard enough, and then she read her prepared statement that she had written, Van Der Hout said. It was unbelievable, quite frankly.

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Khalils lawyers want the Board of Immigration Appeals to reverse the immigration judges decisions and terminate the deportation proceedings. If not, the lawyers said, the board should remand the case to an immigration court in New York, where Khalil was arrested, to allow him to develop the record with new evidence.

Slim chance of success

Mondays appeal, before a board of handpicked Trump judges, has slim chances of success, as Khalils lawyers have conceded. The Trump administration has overhauled the Board of Immigration Appeals, firing judges who didnt fall in line with its hard-line approach.

If the board upholds the judges rulings and issues a final order of removal, Khalil is expected to bring a challenge before Louisianas 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals  considered the countrys most conservative.

No fabrications, ideological attacks, or smear campaigns will change the fact that the governments after-the-fact charges are retaliatory, baseless and have absolutely no support in the record, Khalil said in a statement, adding he would keep fighting for his right and everyone elses to advocate for Palestinian liberation.

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The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The presidents courts vs. constitutional courts

Running in parallel to Khalils immigration case is his habeas corpus matter, a more promising avenue to remaining in the U.S.

That petition was brought locally by his lawyers in federal court in the wake of his arrest and challenges the legality of the Trump administrations efforts to detain and deport him. Federal judges have barred the feds from removing Khalil from the country while the petition plays out.

Lets call those immigration courts the presidents courts, because theyre answerable to the president, and in the way (Khalils immigration lawyer) Marc (Van Der Hout) has explained, have become totally corrupted by the Trump administration, so its simply an arm of the executive branch, Khalils attorney in the habeas matter, Baher Azmy, said Tuesday.

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United States federal courts are real courts, theyre constitutional courts. Theyre independent of the president and are accountable not to (the) president, but to the Constitution. Were using that federal court process precisely as its designed to do, which is to prevent the president from using his own courts  the immigration courts  to persecute, in this case, Mahmoud.

In granting Khalils bail application, a New Jersey judge on the habeas matter last year determined his detention and removal were likely unconstitutional. After Khalil had spent more than 100 days locked up in Louisiana, missing his babys birth and his graduation, he was ordered released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

But in a split 2-to-1 decision in January, Philadelphia-based judges at the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the New Jersey rulings, finding that the judge lacked jurisdiction and that the matter should be decided in immigration court. That 3rd Circuit ruling isnt yet in effect  meaning the Trump administration cant rearrest Khalil  with Khalil expected to ask a full federal appeals court panel of 14 judges for further review.

At the briefing Tuesday, Khalils attorneys said they were optimistic a full panel would reverse the January decision and find that federal courts can hear constitutional challenges to unlawful immigration practices, thus preserving the New Jersey judges orders keeping Khalil in the U.S. and out of a jail cell.

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What were trying to do in the federal court process is ensure that the constitutional court  the real court  retains jurisdiction to hear his constitutional claims, Azmy told the Daily News.

The goal would be to get a full order from the (federal) court, ruling that his detention on either of the two grounds would be unconstitutional, Azmy added. That would protect Mahmoud, hopefully permanently, assuming that order holds up on appeal.

If Khalil ultimately obtains such a ruling in the federal courts, the question may ultimately end up before the U.S. Supreme Court, if the Trump administration appeals.

A Hail Mary from Mayor Mamdani

Another avenue to freedom could come from Trumps unlikely fondness for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who last week personally requested the president end efforts to deport Khalil and other pro-Palestinian activists  Mohsen Mahdawi, Yunseo Chung and Leqaa Kordia, among the wave who have been targeted.

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One student, Ellie Aghayeva, who had been arrested at Columbia hours earlier, was released shortly after Mamdanis request.

Asked Tuesday for an update on the request to drop proceedings against Khalil, Mamdani spokesman Sam Raskin said, Made the ask and nothing to report.

The White House did not immediately respond to The News inquiries.

_____
A Columbus Division of Police officer strangled his girlfriend after an argument over a tip at a sushi restaurant near Polaris last week, according to court records.

The complaint filed in the Common Pleas Court of Delaware County says that 50-year-old Jacob Smith was charged with strangulation and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises. He was booked into the Delaware County jail on Feb. 28.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Columbus police officers were dispatched to a Burger King on Gemini Place around 9 p.m. on Feb. 27 for a report of a person with a gun. Officers arrived and spoke with the 911 caller, who said Smith was their boyfriend.

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According to the affidavit, the victim said they went to dinner at The Blue Sushi on Gemini Place and Smith was heavily drinking. The two reportedly got into an argument at the restaurant over the tip amount. As they were leaving, the victim reached into Smiths pants pockets to get his car keys and saw Smiths pistol was in front of his waistband, according to the affidavit.

As the victim drove away with Smith in the passenger seat, records say Smith pulled his Glock 48 from his waistband and pointed it at the victims head. The affidavit says the victim was scared and pulled into the parking lot of a furniture store on Gemini Place, where Smith reportedly grabbed the victims hair and dragged the victim into the passenger seat with him.

The affidavit says Smith placed a hand on the victims neck and squeezed until the victim lost consciousness. After the victim regained consciousness, Smith then placed both hands on the victims neck and squeezed, causing the victim to lose consciousness a second time, according to the complaint. Records say they both got out of the car and struggled on the ground before Smith walked to Burger King and the victim called 911.

Officers found Smith walking in the area and detained him. Records say Smith was in possession of a loaded Glock.

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Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert said that Smith was relieved of duty in June 2024 pending a criminal investigation in another county. No criminal charges were filed out of it. Albert said Smith has been relieved of duty since his arrest.

During an arraignment on Monday, a prosecutor said that Smith made a call to his father from the Delaware County jail. The prosecutor said that Smith used thinly veiled coded words during the call and had his father remove guns from his residence so police would not seize them.

A judge set Smith's bond at $225,000. A preliminary hearing for Smith is scheduled for March 10.
Representatives from Iowas community colleges and their business partners gathered in the Iowa Capitol Tuesday to showcase their unique programs and partnerships to lawmakers, with some hoping to convince the Legislature to not eliminate a state program responsible for collaboration between business and education.

The states Industrial New Jobs Training (260E) Program was a focus of the Iowa Community Colleges Day on the Hill event. The Iowa DOGE task force report and proposed legislation seeks to end the initiative that advocates say is vital in training Iowa workers.

Administered by community colleges and financed through bonds they sell, the 260E program helps Iowa businesses  or those looking to relocate to the state  train new employees, with partnering businesses diverting 1.5-3% of state withholding taxes generated by the new jobs back to the colleges to retire the bonds.

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Its been very successful for over 40 years, but things can always be updated, and were very open to that conversation, Community Colleges for Iowa Executive Director Emily Shields said. We just would hate to see it end so suddenly.

One of the sections included in House Study Bill 755, slated for a House Ways and Means subcommittee meeting at 8:15 a.m. March 4, would eliminate the ability of community colleges to use withholding taxes to pay for the program, said Kim Didier, executive director of Des Moines Area Community College Business Resources.

The 260E program is an important facet of DMACCs work creating strategic partnerships with businesses, Didier said, and alternatives havent been presented to the businesses that would be negatively impacted by its closure. The Iowa DOGE report recommended replacing this and other identified workforce programs with a $30 million employer-directed workforce training fund within Iowa Workforce Development.

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Its not about us, its about our businesses, and about having a full continuum of economic development tools available across the state, Didier said.

Community colleges work very hard to provide consistency across the state while addressing regional needs, Didier said, and businesses contracted with the institutions stopped by the Capitol to speak on the benefits to their employees and growth.

Grace Swanson, vice president of human resources at global micromolding company Accumold, said the company established a scholarship program at DMACC in 2006 that has awarded 120 scholarships in the colleges tool and die-making and robotics programs. Over the past 20 years, Swanson said the company, based in Ankeny, has retained scholars from the program in all but three of those years.

Finding machinists or robotic technicians in Iowa is difficult, Swanson said, as is recruiting people from outside the state. Having this scholarship program has allowed the company to train people and keep them in Iowa, who in turn provide economic benefits to the state.

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Guaranteed, without that program, Accumold would not be as successful a business as it is, creating products around the world in medical and microelectronics, Swanson said.

Colleges seek increase, changes to scholarship program

Other priorities for Iowas community colleges, shared with the House Education Appropriations subcommittee Monday, include securing $12 million in incremental funding and codifying changes to the Last-Dollar Scholarship program to extend the timeline for determining eligible programs and give control of the income cap on students who qualify to Iowa College Aid.

One-quarter of the increased funding would be used for continued efforts to make the per-pupil funding for community colleges more equitable, Shields told the subcommittee, by providing more money to colleges that previously were receiving less funding through the states general aid formula.

Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, spoke with students studying auto body collision repair at Western Iowa Tech Community College during the day on the hill, hearing about their hands-on work and the opportunities the program has provided for them as well as potential expansion of programs into Denison.

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With a Western Iowa Tech location in Denison and his own daughter enrolled at the community college, Holt said he is a big proponent for the community college system, shown by data to keep students who attend them in rural Iowa. He said community colleges should see more support from the Legislature, adding state universities should see less funding, because they match up their programs with the job needs in our communities.

While he hasnt looked a great deal into the proposed changes to the 260E program, Holt said he would like these programs to be controlled more on the local level, as opposed to the state level. Consolidating authority at the state level can screw things up, he said, with certain legislative changes to EMS programs not working in rural Iowa, and he would have the same concern for other programs.

I would prefer to keep it locally at community colleges, where they know what is best for their communities, Holt said. So sometimes saving $1 is still not the most efficient way to do things.

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The Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office has received six new complaints against a wedding photography company that abruptly shut down amid a bankruptcy filing, cutting communication with engaged couples and contracted photographers.

Yours Truly Media, which operates out of California, according to the companys online profile, contracts photographers and videographers in the Boston area and other regions.

Boston 25 News obtained a $2.3 million bankruptcy filing out of Texas on Feb. 26, for Paul and Amy Bolton of Your Truly Media, listing hundreds of creditors.

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Among those owed money are Molly Snyder and Steve Reddington of Bridgewater, who hired the company for both photo and video services for their June wedding on Cape Cod.

This was my splurge piece. I went out of my way to spend more money on the video and photos, Snyder said. We build that up as the biggest day of your life and that is just torn from underneath you.

The couple paid more than $3,500  half the total owed  before receiving a call from Oscar Juarez, the photographer contracted by Yours Truly Media.

Juarez, who had already shot the couples engagement session, informed them the company had closed.

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A Google business search shows the company is permanently closed. The listed number is longer in service, and emails have gone unanswered for weeks.

Yours Truly Media, also known as YTM, currently owes me $7,463 for completed work, Juarez said in an Instagram post warning couples and photographers. Please be very, very cautious. I dont want anyone to be in this situation.

Boston 25 News has learned the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office has received a total of 10 consumer-related complaints against Yours Truly Media since May 2020, with six of those filed since last week.

Snyder, who filed a complaint herself, has also been trying to inform other brides and grooms on social media.

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People need to know about this, Snyder said. Im grateful that I had between February and June to figure it out, because it couldve been way worse. It couldve been way, way worse.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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This story has been updated to clarify policy proposals

A proposal to impose a new vehicle registration fee in upstate New York that critics are comparing to New York City's congestion pricing is sparking politically-charged debates.

During the Transportation Committee's Joint Legislative Budget Hearing recently, New York Public Transit Association President Miguel Velazquez appealed to lawmakers, requesting additional state operating assistance and non-Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital funding for upstate New York's transit systems, as well as an additional $25 fee imposed by the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

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"Funding for upstate transit has failed to keep pace with rising costs and growing demand from employers and communities," Velazquez said during the hearing. "If downstate funding mechanisms are proven and effective, why not expand some of those to upstate?"

According to Velazquez, the proposed annual supplemental vehicle registration fee would raise about $125 million dollars per year if enacted.

Here's what we know so far.

Who would start paying an additional fee in New York?

A proposal to bring a vehicle registration fee similar to congestion pricing to upstate New York is turning heads.

The $25 annual supplemental vehicle registration fee would affect all New York residents living in counties that don't contribute to the MTA, a spokesperson for Assemblymember William Magnarelli's office said.

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New York City and the following counties currently contribute to the MTA: Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester.

How is this proposal different from NYC's congestion pricing?

New York City's congestion pricing, which went into effect in January 2025, charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. According to Gov. Kathy Hochul, the program decreased the number of vehicles entering the zone by 11% in its first year and generated over $550 million in net revenue for the MTA.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a news conference on Feb. 19, 2025, after President Donald Trump's efforts to kill New York City's congestion pricing on drivers entering Manhattan.

A federal judge on Feb. 3 also issued a ruling that the Trump administration's effort to terminate the congestion pricing program was unlawful, Reuters reported.

"The judge's decision is clear: Donald Trump's unlawful attempts to trample on the self-governance of his home state have failed spectacularly," Hochul said in a statement. "Congestion pricing is legal, it works, and it is here to stay. The cameras are staying on.

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While congestion pricing funds MTA capital projects, the NYPTA's proposal would put the money toward day-to-day operations, the governor's office said.

What we know: Will NY weaken climate law to tame utility cost spikes?

How Hochul, Blakeman are reacting to proposed additional fees for upstate New Yorkers

While details of a standalone bill have yet to be filed, a spokesperson for Hochul's office said the governor "has no plans to implement an additional fee on drivers in the region," noting her proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes a 5.75% increase in upstate transit funding.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was nominated to run for governor at a Republican convention in Garden City, Long Island, on Feb. 11, 2026.

However, Bruce Blakeman, Hochul's Republican challenger in the governor's race and Nassau County executive, is calling the proposed fee "congestion pricing beyond NYC."

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"It's wrong!" Blakeman said in a Feb. 26 Facebook post. "Under Kathy Hochul, New Yorkers are already overtaxed. Now they want you to pay more just to drive. This is how it starts: one region, then statewide."

Hochul's campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said Hochul is putting money into New Yorkers' pockets.

Bruce Blakeman is fighting alongside Donald Trump to make everything New Yorkers buy more expensive and take $4,200 out of families pockets every year thanks to his tariffs, Radulovacki said in a written statement.

Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers' taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Will a $25 'congestion pricing' fee come to upstate NY? What we know
Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, not the president. But most modern presidents and their legal counsel have asserted that Article 2 of the Constitution allows the president to use the military in certain situations without prior congressional approval  and have acted on that, sending troops into conflicts from Panama to Libya, with no regard for Congress will.

Congress has for the most part registered only feeble and ineffective opposition to such executive action. The current move in Congress to deny President Donald Trump the ability to continue the war with Iran  led by Democrats, but with some Republican support  failed, as have previous efforts during other conflicts.

But there was a time when Americans saw Congress stand up to a president who unilaterally took the country to war.

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It was at the tail end of the Vietnam War, when Congress passed the War Powers Resolution of 1973, asserting that it was legislators  not the president  who had the power to declare war.

Once it passed both houses, President Richard Nixon vetoed it, claiming it was unconstitutional.

In response, the legislative branch overturned the veto with the two-thirds majority vote needed to prevail.

Compared to Congress limp response to Trumps actions in Iran, and its similar failure to assert itself during Trumps military action in Venezuela, it was a breathtaking act of legislative assertion.

The purpose and policy section of the 1973 War Powers Resolution passed by Congress. National Archives

Congress asserts itself

When they debated the War Powers Resolution, members of Congress were seeing the erosion of their control over the decision to engage in military operations large and small. With a strong bipartisan consensus, they determined they had to collectively use their powers, including the power of the purse, to thwart executive overreach.

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Congress actions came in response to the growing protests against the Vietnam War in general and Nixons decision to expand the war by sending U.S. troops to invade the neutral country of Cambodia to disrupt the supply lines of the Viet Cong, the communist guerrilla force that accounted for a large number of the 58,000 Americans killed in the war.

Nixon had begun covert carpet bombing of Cambodia in 1969, and then announced in 1970 that he would send ground troops into the country the next year.

Congress  and the country reacted extremely negatively. Members of Congress collaborated across party lines to draft legislation in an attempt to assert their power. It was a slow process, however, involving long periods of deliberation.

The sun sets behind a plume of smoke rising after a U.S.-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, on March 3, 2026. AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

They used many different methods to attempt to constrain the president. Within months of the introduction of troops to Cambodia, Congress attempted to pass amendments that would restrict his ability to invade neighboring countries. Prompted by protesting and the illegal actions in Cambodia, Congress began crafting legislation that would draw down troops in Vietnam.

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With these moves, lawmakers placed immense pressure on the president. This eventually led to the drafting and eventual signing of the peace agreement ending the Vietnam war in 1973.

This was not enough for Congress, however.

Rules  and flexibility

Congress wanted to create a document ensuring presidents could not unilaterally make war. They wanted legislative consultation.

They intended the War Powers Resolution to act as a permanent constraint. So, in the resolution they spelled out the specific actions in which presidents can start a conflict:

 First, if there is an invasion of the United States, the president can respond. In this instance, the president can act prior to congressional authorization.

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 Second, if Congress provides an Authorization for the Use of Military Force, the president can assume he has authorization  but only as long as it is in effect.

 Finally, if Congress declares war, the president can act.

Lawmakers did, however, provide some flexibility. In the War Powers Resolution, they said a president can initiate and carry out hostilities for 60 days and has a further 30 days to draw down the troops. Once the executive has initiated hostilities, Congress must receive information about that action within 48 hours.

This opens the door for presidents to engage in smaller-scale or short operations without stepping outside the lines set in the law.

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Presidents from both parties have availed themselves of this flexibility. As far back as 1975, when President Gerald Ford rescued the SS Mayaguez, the merchant ship captured by Cambodias Khmer Rouge, presidents have acknowledged the law and dutifully reported their military actions to Congress.

Like his predecessors, Trump sent a letter to Congress after his June 2025 missile attacks against Iran, as well as at the start of the currently open-ended conflict.

President Donald Trump after landing aboard Air Force One on March 1, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

Presidents since the passage of the War Powers Resolution have not, however, acknowledged that they have to get congressional approval of their actions, with few exceptions. Predominantly, without congressional approval, they limit their actions to the 60-to-90-day window.

President Barack Obama, however, attempted to circumvent the window when his bombing campaign in Libya in 2011 dragged on, as well as when he bombed the Islamic State group in 2014. In the first instance, he claimed the War Powers Resolution did not apply. In the second, he claimed each bombing campaign was discrete, rather than part of a larger campaign.

Exploiting authorizations

The balance of power between the legislative and executive branches changed considerably with the passage of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force related to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force that gave legislative permission for President George W. Bush to invade Iraq.

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Because Congress did not put sunset dates into these authorizations, subsequent presidents Obama, Trump and Joe Biden used those same authorizations for a host of later military actions in the Middle East and elsewhere.

And legislators were deeply divided in the current discussions about demanding the cessation of hostilities against Iran.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said that limiting the president at this time was dangerous. Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene  who has fallen out of favor with Trumps MAGA base and the president himself  took the opposing view, posting on social media, Now, America is going to be force fed and gas lighted all the noble reasons the American Peace President and Pro-Peace administration had to go to war once again this year, after being in power for only a year.

Has the U.S. entered a moment when members of Congress reassert themselves the way they did at the tail end of the Vietnam war?

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It is possible that they will follow James Madisons advice about the power relationship between Congress and the president. Writing in the Federalist Papers, Madison said that ambition has to counter ambition. He continued, The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government.

As I explain in my book about congressional war powers, the constitutional system creates an invitation to struggle. Now, as the U.S. wages war on Iran, Congress must decide whether it wants to struggle, as it did during the Vietnam War, or remain compliant and in the presidents shadow.

_This story has been updated to reflect the failed war powers vote in the Senate on March 4, 2026, and in the House on March 5. _**

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Sarah Burns, Rochester Institute of Technology; Institute for Humane Studies

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Sarah Burns has received funding from the Institute for Humane Studies.
Keith Richards is set to become a great-grandfather for the first time.

Keith Richards is set to become a great-grandfather for the first time

The 82-year-old Rolling Stones guitarists model granddaughter Ella Richards revealed on Wednesday (04.03.26) she is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Sascha von Bismarck.

Ella, 29, shared the news on Instagram by posting a black-and-white photograph in which she cradled her baby bump.

The child will make Keith a first-time great-grandfather.

Ella is the daughter of Lucie de la Falaise and Marlon Richards, Keiths son from his long relationship with the late model and actor Anita Pallenberg, who died aged 75.

Ella has been in a relationship with photographer Sascha von Bismarck for several years, with the pair publicly confirming their romance in early 2023.

Ella spoke about her relationship with Sascha during an interview connected to a Tatler cover shoot, for which Sascha photographed her.

She said: It was really easy. I feel very comfortable with him taking my photo, which is a very personal thing.

The announcement of her pregnancy prompted congratulations from several figures in fashion and film, including model Stella Maxwell, model Jade Parfitt and Poppy Delevingne, who responded to the post on social media.

Keiths bandmate Sir Mick Jagger, 82, is currently the only other member of The Rolling Stones to have become a great-grandfather.

Mick reached that milestone in 2014 when his granddaughter Assisi Jackson welcomed her first child.

Assisi is the daughter of jewellery designer Jade Jagger.

Sascha comes from an aristocratic German family and is the younger brother of photographer Count Nikolai von Bismarck, who previously had a relationship with model Kate Moss.

Their father is businessman Count Leopold von Bismarck-Schonhausen and their mother is fashion designer Countess Debonnaire von Bismarck, a long-time figure in Londons fashion circles and a friend of Kate.

Nikolai and Sascha are also great-great-grandsons of Otto von Bismarck, the 19th-century German statesman and former chancellor who played a central role in the unification of Germany.

Ella first gained attention in the fashion world at the age of 18, making her debut at New York Fashion Week and appearing in a Burberry campaign photographed by Mario Testino, alongside Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn, 35.

She later signed with the Kate Moss Agency and has since walked for brands including Prada, Calvin Klein, Fendi, Valentino and Sonia Rykiel.

Ella has also spoken publicly about her grandfathers personality, offering a portrait that contrasts with his rock-and-roll reputation.

She said: He is very quiet and sweet and loving. Hes a lot more shy than people think.

Reflecting on her upbringing within the Richards family, Ella said: My grandfather used to wear my grandmothers clothes, and she used to wear his. Most of my family are slightly mad and crazy or weird. My whole family are all crazy creatives. No one is academic. Everyone is wild and free-spirited.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is among the 12 Most Promising EV Battery Stocks to Buy Now.

BofA Highlights Positive Outlook for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) on 2026 Metal Prices

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is one of the most promising stocks.

TheFly reported on February 26 that BofA Securities raised its price target for FCX to $81 from $68 while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. This upgrade comes after the firm revised its 2026 metal price projections, which led to changes in price estimates for all of its North American Metals & Mining coverage.

On February 18, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indonesian government to extend PT Freeport Indonesia's (PTFI) life-of-resource operational rights in the Grasberg mining zone. The agreement calls for amending PTFI's special mining business license (IUPK) to ensure continued operations, expanding exploration to find long-term resources, providing greater support to local communities, including healthcare and education, and maintaining the priority of domestic downstream production of sulfuric acid, refined copper, and precious metals.

Under the agreement, FCX will keep its 48.76% ownership through 2041 and about 37% thereafter. In 2041, a 12% stake will transfer to government interests at no cost, provided post-2041 investment costs are reimbursed. Existing governance, shareholder agreements, and operations remain in effect, while implementation depends on the Indonesian government issuing an amended IUPK. PTFI plans to complete its extension application promptly to reflect the agreed terms.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is a leading mining company producing copper, a critical component for EV batteries and electric infrastructure, along with gold and molybdenum. Its operations support the growing demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies worldwide.

While we acknowledge the potential of FCX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock .

READ NEXT: 14 Best GARP Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 14 Best Affordable Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.




Contra Costa voters will decide in June whether they're willing to pay a new sales tax to help offset the Trump administration's cuts to Medicaid, which will siphon millions of dollars from the public health care system.

The county's Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to add the tax question - which will ask voters to approve a .625% sales tax increase for five years - to the ballot in June.

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It's similar to a tax hike Santa Clara County voters approved in November to stem the impacts from cuts imposed under the Trump administration. Los Angeles County supervisors last month also approved a sales tax ballot measure intended to bolster its hospital system.

"Lives are at risk and our entire health care system is at risk," Dr. Grant Colfax, the director of Contra Costa Health, said during Tuesday's board meeting.

Changes to Medicaid under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year by the Republican-led Congress and signed by President Donald Trump could bleed California hospitals of $123 billion over the next decade, the California Hospital Association estimated. The California Medical Association predicts it will strip 2.5 million Medi-Cal enrollees and up to 660,000 Covered California participants of health care coverage.

"Lives are at risk and our entire health care system is at risk," Dr. Grant Colfax, director of Contra Costa Health, said during Tuesday's board meeting. (Bronte Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle)





Contra Costa County estimates 90,000 of its residents are at risk of losing their health coverage, and that the Trump cuts will lead to $239 million in lost revenue by 2029. Between rising costs and the federal cuts, Grant said his department could face a $1 billion deficit by 2031. The tax revenue would generate about $150 million per year, according to county estimates.

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But there's a big caveat: Like Santa Clara's tax increase, the Contra Costa measure would direct the new revenue to the county's general fund and would not be specifically earmarked for health care or hospital costs. That means it needs a simple majority to pass, rather than the two-thirds support that would be required if it was designated for a specific purpose, such as the hospital system.

But the flexibility means the money could also be used to address costs related to the Trump cuts outside the hospitals, such as new positions that will be required in order to screen applicants under strict new eligibility requirements imposed by the federal government in order to receive Medicaid, known in California as Medi-Cal, and food stamps.

The county estimates it will need to nearly double the number of workers checking residents' benefits eligibility - at a cost of $117 million. Those are the workers who will verify Medi-Cal and CalFresh recipients are meeting new job requirements and more than a dozen new eligibility benchmarks to qualify for food and health insurance assistance.

Currently, the county has 345 workers managing applicants.

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Without enough workers to screen recipients, some county residents could see their coverage lapse. That's what severely impacts safety-net hospitals' bottom lines, because they cannot turn away patients who cannot afford care. That means the hospitals front the costs, whether it's for simple stitches or a complex operation.

It also leads to poorer health outcomes, because those without insurance avoid care and rely on the emergency room. That leads to an overstressed system for everyone.

"This is not just about impacts on people that are on Medi-Cal," said Supervisor John Gioia, one of the ballot measure's leading supporters. "It is on everyone who uses an emergency room, everyone who uses health care in this county from any provider."

John Muir Health says it's the largest provider for Medicare and Medi-Cal recipients in Contra Costa County, providing nearly half all Medi-Cal hospital stays. The hospital system anticipates between $80 million and $130 million in losses from the cuts, said Sandra Jenkins, its director of government affairs.

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"We have never, ever been in this place before," Jenkins said Tuesday. "I do think it's going to take all of us working together to make it through these next several years."

Supervisor Candace Anderson cast the lone vote against the measure, and said she wanted more time to examine the proposal. In 2020, Contra Costa voters passed Measure X, a 20-year half-cent sales tax to cover essential services, including health care.

"Mayors of our cities are upset," Anderson said. "They don't understand why when we have Measure X, we're rushing to put another 0.625% sales tax on the ballot. And I feel like we need to be doing a little more collaboration."

The county would also need a waiver from the state Legislature to raise its sales tax cap. If the measure passes, it would bring the total state and local sales taxes above 10% in some of the county's cities.

This article originally published at Contra Costa voters will weigh tax increase to counter Trump cuts.
AES Indiana originally planned to host an open house Monday night to address customers' concerns over recent billing. AES canceled the meeting less than an hour before it started due to threats.

This past month, people online expressed frustration and confusion over their higher-than-normal bills.

Carman Malone is one of many people in Indianapolis fighting a high energy bill.

"It's been pretty ridiculous. It's egregious actually, this last bill I received, so I'm not happy about it," she said. "This is out of control."

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Her most recent AES bill was $763. The month before, they charged her $447. Usually, she pays around $300 per month.

"I wanna see the breakdown. I want better explanations. Obviously, we're not electricians, um, we're not owners of utility companies. So, to me, if bills and if that is changing, we need a breakdown, not just your usage increased. That's the obvious," she said. "When you get a bill that's over $700, it raises a red flag. $400 raised the flag. I'm not...it raised my antennas a bit, but when it went over $700, now I'm like, 'I'm going to address this, because this is highly inappropriate.'"

Malone can cover the spike, but that's not the case for every customer.

"It's a necessity, so this isn't something that people can just say, 'Oh, I don't need it, or so that's concerning to me," Malone said.

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She didn't change her thermostat between December and January, so she's confused as to why there is such a big jump in her bill.

"If I was shut in the house for two days, turned on every light in the house, there's no way my energy should have doubled. But other than that, my thermostat, I'm not a person who changes it often, it stayed pretty much the same from both months," Malone said.

Citizens Action Coalition executive director Kerwin Olson said at least once a day they hear complaints about high energy bills.

"It' no big secret. Energy bills are skyrocketing. Hoosier consumers are having a tough time getting by on a day to day basis, uh, you know, being forced to make tough choices between putting food on the table, picking up their prescriptions, paying their rent, paying their utility bills," Olson said.

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The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission launched an inquiry into energy affordability to find out what's going on.

Olson worries with the sale of AES to a private equity company, it could look worse for Hoosiers.

"When utility companies spend capital, guess what that means? That means higher rates, because utility companies don't spend their own money, they spend our money and so when they spend a penny, they collect a penny from customers on utility bills," he said. "This is unprecedented, at least in at least 20 years."

Olson said it's hopeful the IURC and AES are listening, but people need to see action.

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"There has to be a middle ground where we can keep utility companies whole, keep them financially healthy, but also remember that consumers also need to be financially healthy," he said.

The IURC also says AES has a rate case pending before the commission, but since it's pending, IURC can't comment.

The energy company does want to hear from its customers at its upcoming open house on March 10 and March 11, despite cancelling the one scheduled for March 3. AES is evaluating whether or not to host the upcoming open houses, as well as rescheduling the one for March 3, according to AES spokesperson.

"Some people simply can't afford that and that makes it worse," Malone said.

13News reached out to AES, but didn't hear back.
Sen. John Cornyn defied expectations in the Texas GOP primary on Tuesday. National Republicans believe his unexpectedly strong showing may be enough for President Donald Trump to endorse the embattled incumbent.

Trump has privately intimated that he will soon get involved in the Texas Senate race after rebuffing endorsement pleas from both candidates for months, according to a GOP strategist close to the White House who was granted anonymity to speak freely. For months, party leaders worried that Trump would back state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a longtime ally of the president, especially if he dominated in Tuesdays primary.

Then came the results that had Cornyn neck-and-neck with Paxton. With that outcome, the strategist said, it would be very surprising if Trump backed Paxton.

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The stakes are high for Republicans, who fear control of the Senate is hanging in the balance. The GOP hoped to avoid state Rep. James Talarico clinching the Democratic nomination because they see him as able to draw away moderate Republican voters.

Republicans should take him seriously, said another close Trump administration ally, granted anonymity to be candid. Talarico is a big reason for Trump to get in for Cornyn and end this thing, the ally said, especially to free up massive amounts of money that could be spent instead on competitive Senate races in Michigan and Georgia.

National Republicans estimated they would have to spend $200 million to protect Cornyn in the runoff. But the GOP strategist shrugged off the price tag. Look, it will probably cost some money, the person said. It's just money, we have a lot of it.

Tuesdays results were the best-case scenario for establishment Republicans, who worried Cornyn would finish far enough behind Paxton that it would be a slog for him  and a tough sell for a president who hates to back losers.

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The Texas GOP Senate primary has become a referendum on the future of the Republican Party, testing the strength of the conservative grassroots against the establishment wing. While the MAGA base kept the four-term incumbent  who nearly became Senate majority leader  from getting a majority of the primary vote, the results show the old Republican establishment isnt quite dead yet.

Cornyns narrow lead over Paxton was powered by even performances across the state.

Even in the most heavily Republican counties where Paxton might have expected to benefit from a MAGA base, the incumbent senator largely held his own: Across more than 110 mostly rural counties that Trump won by at least 50 points in 2024 and were reporting complete results as of early Wednesday morning, Paxton built up only the narrowest of leads, 44 percent to just shy of 40 percent for Cornyn.

Meanwhile, Cornyn strengthened his advantage in the more traditional white-collar suburbs, leading by double digits in Travis and Dallas counties as results continued to come in early Wednesday morning.

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The senator, speaking to reporters on Election Night in Austin, said Republican voters choice is crystal clear.

I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered, and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we've worked so hard to build over these many years, he said. There is simply too much at stake."

Republicans are well aware that overall control of the Senate may be at risk. Cornyns allies warn that scandal-plagued Paxton turns off general election voters, especially if Talarico is their opponent.

During Paxtons decade as attorney general, he faced an impeachment by the GOP-led Texas state House, ethics complaints, a federal securities fraud investigation and a recent divorce complete with allegations of infidelity.

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Now Paxton is facing another 12 weeks going up against the wrath  and war chest  of the Washington establishment.

John Cornyn spent around $100 million trying to buy this seat, Paxton told his supporters at a watch party after the race was called. We spent around $5 million We prove something theyll never understand in Washington: Texas is not for sale.

One question is which candidate the voters who backed Rep. Wesley Hunt, who finished a distant third place, will support now  or whether they turn out at all for the May runoff.

Lone Star Liberty, a pro-Paxton super PAC, in a memo circulated ahead of Tuesday's election, shrugged off threats that Cornyn would succeed in the runoff by continuing to hammer the attorney general on his litany of scandals, arguing they had nothing new to offer.

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Cornyns talk of unleashing new attacks in the runoff is bluster, the memo states. The truth is that from day one, his forces fired every bullet they had. There are no new attacks left  only more of the same, at ever-greater cost and with ever-diminishing returns.

Senate Republican operatives  who had entered the night expecting the race to head to a runoff, but unsure of how Cornyn would track against Paxton  were exultant as the incumbent maintained a narrow lead well into the night.

A Republican working on Senate campaigns, granted anonymity to speak freely, said Cornyn proved to be formidable on Tuesday  bolstering the establishment GOP argument that he is the most electable as the party braces for a battle against Talarico.

Talarico's lead "reaffirms the need to have Cornyn as the nominee. Can't risk this to Paxton," the GOP operative close to the White House said.

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Yet some Republicans conceded Cornyn has a tricky path to navigate. Hell have to square off again with the conservative primary voters who make up Paxton's base.

Runoffs are extremely unpredictable, and head-to-head it could be anyones ballgame," said Republican strategist Jeff Burton.

Dasha Burns, Lisa Kashinsky, Alec Hernandez, Jessica Piper and Erin Doherty contributed reporting
Texas state Rep. James Talarico topped Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) in an expensive and fiercely contested Senate Democratic primary on Tuesday, while longtime Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) head to a runoff in May in a race thats expected to get increasingly nasty.

Voters in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas headed to the polls Tuesday to kick start the 2026 midterm cycle. Texas held competitive primaries for Senate, state attorney general and a number of House districts, which included several awkward Democratic matchups.

The Tar Heel State, meanwhile, weighed in on the primaries to succeed retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in addition to a heated House race between an establishment Democrat and younger progressive challenger.

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Here are six takeaways from the years first primary elections:

Talarico win has Democrats dreaming of a big upset in November

Talarico beat Crockett in the closely watched Democratic primary for Senate in Texas, according to Decision Desk HQ. Talarico, as of Wednesday morning, garnered 53.1 percent of the vote to the House lawmakers 45.6 percent.

Tonight, our campaign is shocking the nation. We are still waiting for an official call, but we are confident in the movement weve built together, the state lawmaker said earlier Wednesday morning at a campaign event. Every, every vote must be counted. Every voice must be heard

Litigation in Dallas County over extended voting on Tuesday roiled the Democratic contest, raising questions about whether a final tally would emerge on Election Day.

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I wont be back tonight because I have no idea of when were going to get results, and I fully anticipate it wont be until tomorrow, Crockett told her supporters at a campaign event in Dallas.

Contours of fight for Senate majority take shape

The contours of several consequential Senate races in addition to the one in Texas are starting to take shape, as Democrats strive to eliminate the GOPs majority this November.

In Texas, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) are heading to a May 26 runoff. Cornyn, Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) vied for the GOP nod, but no candidate was able to win more than half the vote outright to avoid a runoff on Tuesday.

Republicans are already bracing for an ugly multimonth brawl, with tens of millions of dollars already spent in the GOP primary thus far.

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I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything weve worked so hard to build over these many years, Cornyn told supporters at his watch party, according to CBS Austin.

The picture was less murky in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley won their respective primaries for Senate on Tuesday. The Tar Heel State is seen as a key pickup opportunity for Democrats given Tilliss retirement.

Texas Supreme Court throws wrench in Dallas-area race results

The Texas Supreme Courts decision to temporarily pause a lower courts ruling allowing an extension of voting hours in Dallas County has not only stirred the Senate Democratic primary, but is also impacting a prominent House contest for the party.

Dallas County has separate polling locations for both political parties, and confusion over this practice sparked calls from Democrats for the county to extend voting hours for Texans seeking to cast their vote at the correct polling location.

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A Texas judge allowed voting to be extended two more hours in the county before the Lone Star States highest court temporarily halted that decision, asking that any votes cast after 8 p.m. EST be separated from the final tally.

In the district, former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) and his successor, Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas), are headed to a runoff. Allred initially ran for Senate against Cornyn but later dropped out after Crockett entered the race.

Allreds decision to primary Johnson created an awkward matchup between the former lawmaker and the congresswoman, who succeeded him in 2025.

Mixed night for incumbents seeking reelection

Tuesdays races offered a mixed night for incumbents, with some primaries showing several lawmakers either losing their contests or in danger of being ousted.

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Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) lost his GOP primary to Texas state Rep. Steve Toth (R) in the states 2nd Congressional District.

Over in Texass 23rd Congressional District, Decision Desk HQ projected that Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), whos facing allegations of an affair with a former staffer, and gun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera were headed toward a runoff. Gonzales has faced calls to resign but has brushed off the calls, calling the allegations personal smears.

Gonzales narrowly defeated Herrera last cycle after he was forced into a 2024 runoff .

The primary between Democratic Texas Reps. Christian Menefee and Al Green in the 18th Congressional District is also headed to a runoff.

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Meanwhile, the race between Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and progressive Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam has not yet been called.

Cornyn will also face a tough reelection bid in his runoff election against Paxton, who said Tuesday that the people of Texas deserve better than the four-term incumbent.

High Democratic turnout reinforces growing momentum

Democratic turnout surged in Texas and North Carolina, adding to signs of the partys midterm momentum.

In Texas, early turnout in the Democratic primary outpaced Republicans and exceeded totals from recent cycles, energized by the marquee Senate race.

Roughly 1.4 million voters cast ballots in the Democratic primary during early voting, which ended Friday, according to unofficial data from the Texas Secretary of States Office. Across the aisle, roughly 1.2 million voted early in the GOP election.

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In 2018, when Democrats came within just a couple points of flipping another Senate seat, roughly 1.1 million turned out across early and election day voting in the partys primary, compared to 1.5 million in that years Republican contest.

Election officials said Tuesday that voters in Harris County broke the record for highest turnout in a primary election, ABC13 reported.

In North Carolina, more voters cast early ballots in Tuesdays primaries than in either the 2024 presidential primary or the 2022 midterms, according to data compiled by NC Newsline.

Around 297,000 early ballots were cast in the Democratic primary as of Monday, compared to roughly 201,000 in the GOP race, data from the secretary of states office shows. Another 216,000 were unaffiliated ballots.

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As this week marks the first primaries of the midterm cycle, the early turnout numbers are a good sign for Democrats, who are bullish about cutting into Republicans control of Congress this fall.

Republican primary fights rage on in Texas

Primary fights are set to rage on in several closely watched GOP races after results were too close to avoid a runoff.

Cornyn and Paxton will be forced to duke it out in the coming weeks before their May showdown, stretching out a primary brawl that has already broken spending records and divided Texas Republicans.

With roughly 90 percent of the vote in on Tuesday night, Cornyn had a single-digit lead over Paxton, but neither candidate was poised to push past the 50 percent support theyd need to win outright.

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The runoff is expected to draw more money  and more questions about whether Trump could endorse in the race as both candidates highlight their alignment with the president.

The Lone Star States race for attorney general was also headed to a GOP runoff between Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Texas state Sen. Mayes Middleton (R) as they battle to succeed Paxton, whos leaving his post for the Senate race.

Middleton had a double-digit lead over Roy, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, with 70 percent of the vote reported late Tuesday, but he failed to reach the halfway mark.

Republican runoffs were also projected in Texass 9th, 23rd and 35th congressional districts. Runoffs for the Democratic Party in Texas include the 18th and 33rd congressional districts.

With 12 weeks to go, the runoffs are set to suck up time and resources for candidates in key races as others rush the runway for the November general election.

Updated March 4 at 10:32 a.m. EST.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Over the past two weeks, Indianapolis news outlets have offered extensive coverage of the death of Beech Grove police officer Brian Elliott. The 33-year-old was fatally shot Feb. 16 while responding to a domestic disturbance. Another officer was also injured, and Kenneth Johnson, 47, was indicted on several charges including murder and attempted murder.

While there were a large volume of stories, notable questions remained unanswered, including: Where did the gun come from? Were the officers wearing body armor? What is the Beech Grove Police Department doing to review the incident?

We can expect a lot of coverage when a police officer dies in the line of duty. But that coverage should offer the public a clear understanding of what happened and what can be done to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.

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As I asked around, Indy residents told me the coverage was hard to miss. Even residents who didnt see the stories in their news feeds became aware of the tragedy when End of Watch billboards saluting Elliotts service arose on Keystone Avenue in Indy and as far away as Mooresville.

An Indianapolis resident of 35 years emailed on Feb. 25: Just generally I think local coverage of the police is far too adulatory. As urban police departments go, I dont think IPD is terrible, but the coverage often seems to be they can do no wrong. It is of course a tragedy when an officer is killed, but its a tragedy when anyone is killed and the larger gun violence issue is often ignored.

Mat Davis spoke to me on Feb. 24: In comparison to the last high profile police shooting in Indianapolis (Breann Leath) this coverage seems excessive. I never want anyone to be killed on their job regardless of where they work but I also fear how this particular case could be blown out of proportion due to our political climate and history.

This feedback suggests that news consumers perceive that something is missing from local coverage. And I would agree.

Examining all the stories

With the help of my colleagues, I assembled a database of all the news stories we could find. Our spreadsheet of news coverage from February 16 to 23 includes stories from WTHR, IndyStar, FOX59, WRTV, WISH-TV and WFYI. Looking at the stories holistically, as well as outlet-by-outlet, I could see that most newsrooms followed a similar formula:

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The early stories started with the breaking news that an officer had been shot, and they quickly followed with the update that he had died and that a suspect had been arrested.

Almost every newsroom followed up with stories that humanized Elliott and helped people remember him.

Many newsrooms also focused on the community response, interviewing co-workers, a former teacher, and peers. News stories documented Beech Grove residents sharing their sadness and respect for the slain officer while they dropped off tributes, flowers and messages at a large memorial at the Beech Grove Police Station next to his cruiser. Stories also showed community members sharing their remembrances at a candlelight vigil and at the local high school during the visitation.

The largest volume of stories were those that documented the communitys grief and the ceremonial moments honoring a fallen police officer. These include the processions from the hospital to the coroner, to the funeral home and eventually to the gravesite. Through news reports, the audiences learned the symbolism behind such details as the black band on police badges, the 10-42 end-of-watch call, the riderless horse, the red dot on white carnations laid on the casket by police officers and their spouses during the final file at the burial.

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The funeral itself received a significant amount of coverage, including live television coverage on several stations.

I expected to see more coverage about what actually happened during the police call that resulted in the officers death. The IndyStar and WTHR had the most details about the incident itself, drawing information from court documents. WTHR was the only outlet to do a story on the fact that domestic disturbances are the most dangerous police calls.

Newsroom leaders discuss their approach

When a police officer is shot in the line of duty, its a big story. Newsrooms spring into action with a list of key moments they know they must cover to answer the publics questions about what happened, including whether a suspect was arrested and if there is any ongoing danger to the public. After that, journalists make choices about what story angles they pursue.

WTHR News Director Cyndee Hebert said her station started by alerting their audience that there was a shelter-in-place warning in the Beech Grove community, where the police were conducting a manhunt for the suspect the night of Feb. 16. Then she deployed two news crews: one waiting outside Eskenazi Hospital for news about the injured police officers and another at the media command post in Beech Grove. After police confirmed that Officer Elliott had died, WTHR worked with a police liaison in the days following to determine what media access the family would allow.

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Hebert said that various Indy TV news crews worked together and pooled their resources to cover the funeral and respect the families wishes for a limited media presence. This type of collaboration is a recent development for Indy newsrooms. Instead of competing with each other, stations are supporting each others efforts, Hebert said. To her, this has been the only change in coverage. The amount of TV news coverage has largely stayed the same.

Weve realized the importance of sharing resources for this critical community event, Hebert said. Sadly, Central Indiana has had a number of law enforcement funerals to cover. WTHR views this as a public service to our viewers. Its important that stations come together and pool our resources to show as much as we can to our viewers.

Maybe this is a city where its just really important to us to cover these funerals, she said. I dont know if every city does it the same way or not. There have been times when maybe weve only streamed it and it hasnt been on TV, on broadcast. There have been times when its all on broadcast. So thats probably what changes the most.

Variations in funeral broadcast coverage depend on the familys wishes and the day and time of the funeral. These factors influence the broadcast and streaming decisions newsrooms make.

Police respond to reports of a crime. (Getty Images)

WTHR broke into regularly scheduled programming to broadcast the funeral on TV from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 23 and then switched to streaming it in its entirety after 1 p.m.

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In the week after Elliotts death, 22 stories appeared on WTHRs website. I asked Hebert if that was too much coverage.

Theres not a time where we say thats too much, but there is a time where we say, okay, we do have to consider whats the benefit, right? Hebert said. She added that coverage of events surrounding fallen police officers depends on the story and who is available to tell it. Is it someone new, a family member or close friendor is it another fundraiser that we have already covered a number of times over the days since the incident, Hebert said.

The IndyStar ran 26 different stories in the week following the shooting.

We are trying our hardest every day to serve local readers, and thats our No. 1 priority, to serve this community, said Ryan Martin, IndyStar executive editor. And any time theres any sort of tragedy that strikes our community in any way, we see it not only as our mission, but our responsibility to do everything we can to report on that.

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As for the other media outlets in town, WISH ran 14 stories. FOX59 ran 13 stories. WRTV ran 11.

The public radio station, WFYI, included two stories in their local newscasts, one noting the officers death and one sharing the funeral details. Mirror Indy didnt run any stories. News executives at both nonprofit newsrooms told me that because commercial media were covering the story, they didnt see the need to do more coverage.

The relationship between news media and law enforcement

In the wake of George Floyds death in 2020, many journalists questioned whether the profession had been too deferential to law enforcement, by publishing police press releases and repeating police statements unchecked.

After seeing the large volume of coverage and noting that it left many questions unanswered, I wondered whether Indy journalists were stepping back into that deferential relationship with police.

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Martin, the IndyStar editor, is a former public safety reporter and editor himself, and covered two police funerals as a reporter. The papers approach to covering police officer funerals has not changed over the years, he said, although the paper also takes its obligation to scrutinize police power seriously.

Police officers are public officials who oftentimes wield extraordinary power, Martin said. So as part of our due diligence as journalists, we are always examining that, and that hasnt changed. I started working for the Indianapolis Star in 2015 and nothing about our commitment to that has changed.

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I asked two Indiana University professors about the attention the media gives the death of public servants like police officers. Jerry Daday is a sociology professor who specializes in criminology.

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The increased media attention might be due to the fact that police officers take an oath to protect and serve their communities, and with that, stop and prevent violence, Daday said. When a police officer is a victim of that violence, it generates a heightened emotional response. Someone who was serving and protecting their community ended up being the victim. In the minds of the public, that shouldnt happen.

Stephanie Whitehead is a professor of criminal justice and the director of the Center for Faculty Development. She has written on policing, race and the representation of social class and crime in popular culture.

Theyre seen as that thin blue line between order and chaos. So when one of them is killed, you know, it questions that order, Whitehead said. You know it makes things look out of control and like crime is out of control or people are out of control. It just reinforces the idea that crime is high and outrageous, even though its been going down for years. The media love crime stories anyway.

Im not as convinced as Whitehead that the coverage of Elliotts death has the potential to exacerbate a false narrative of out-of-control crime. High interest stories about public safety always deserve the full attention and resources of the media. Any time an officer is shot in the line of duty, the entire community is harmed. Documenting that harm and the communitys response is appropriate.

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And, I hope that journalists start to ask more difficult questions about this case. The people who live in Indianapolis, Beech Grove and every other community, deserve answers to important questions, including: Were the Beech Grove officers following their training and best practices? Did the suspect legally own the gun? And if not, where did it come from?

Asking hard questions in the wake of a tragedy is not a sign of disrespect to law enforcement. Instead, its a sign of respect to the public that both the police and journalists serve. And the answers to these questions will help us better understand whether we need to make improvements to the public safety infrastructure that protects us all.

Please email your questions about local media to me at IndyPublicEditor@Poynter.org. And register here to come meet me at 6 p.m. Wednesday March 11 at the Central Library. The event is free and light refreshments will be served.
Texas State Rep. Steve Toth (R) is projected to pull off a victory in Tuesdays GOP primary in the state, unseating four-term incumbent Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R), according to Decision Desk HQ.

Toths win all but ensures he will represent the deep-red Texas 2nd Congressional District in Congress next year.

Crenshaw, who has at times broken with President Trump, was the only House Republican on the ballot in Texas without an endorsement from the president.

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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also drew national headlines last week when he threw his support behind Toth.

Toth, a staunch conservative, sought to position himself as the more Trump-aligned candidate in the race, blasting Crenshaw for not echoing the presidents unsubstantiated claims of election fraud in the 2020 election and for supporting a bipartisan immigration bill at the end of the Biden administration.

But Crenshaw pushed back against Toths characterization of his record, telling The New York Times last week, Im out there defending Trump in places where Republicans are too scared to go.

Crenshaw has voted consistently in support of Trumps agenda. A former Navy SEAL who lost his eye in Afghanistan, the congressman has been an outspoken supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia and has lauded Trump for his intervention in Venezuela.

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The race drew the attention of many political observers. A pro-Crenshaw super PAC reportedly spent $2 million in ads against Toth, suggesting Crenshaws allies saw Toth as a serious threat. Toths super PAC, however, spent just $362,000, Punchbowl News reported.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Six people were charged on March 3 by Cuban authorities with terrorism in connection with a Feb. 25 incident where 10 people crossed into Cuban waters on a stolen boat and engaged in a firefight with government troops from the island.

According to Cuban authorities, the gunfight happened after Cuban Border Guard troops asked the crew to identify themselves. Four of the crewmembers aboard the stolen boat were killed; six were wounded and taken by Cuban authorities; the commander of the Cuban government forces was also wounded.

"Six defendants have been charged with crimes of terrorism, as provided for in the Criminal Code. The Attorney General's Office ordered their detention with the precautionary measure of provisional imprisonment," the Cuban Embassy said in a statement. "With respect for the rights and guarantees enshrined in the Constitution and the laws, the Attorney General's Office will ensure compliance with due process, and once the investigations are concluded, it will adopt the corresponding procedural decisions."

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Another person was arrested in connection with the scheme. Cuban authorities said the man was sent ahead to prepare for the arrival of the others. Its unclear if he is among the people being charged.

Cuba said at the time that the group planned to infiltrate the island to commit acts of terrorism at a moment of high tensions between the U.S. and Cuba.

This file photo shows a group of U.S. sailors from the battleship Connecticut and a gun they captured at Cape Haitien during the U.S. occupation of Haiti in 1915. Officers at Jacmel, Haiti, during the U.S. occupation in 1915. A group of Cuban revolutionaries with Fidel Castro are seen with artillery after routing the U.S.-backed invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Children cheer on the U.S. Marines following offensive in Vecca Monte west of Panama City, during "Operation Just Cause," the U.S. invasion to remove Manuel Noriega, which lasted from December 1989 through January 1990. A U.S. Marine corps crew takes up position on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, on May 2, 1965, during the Dominican Civil War. The U.S. Army Airborne troops drive down a street in Santo Domingo during the occupation of the Dominican Republic in 1965. U.S. troops in full combat gear run on the docks of Port-au-Prince harbor, on Sept. 19, 1994, after arriving on an assault helicopter. Thousands of U.S. soldiers arrived in Haiti on Sept. 19, 1994, as part of "Operation Uphold Democracy," to pave the way for the restoration of the elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Hundreds of local residents run towards the U.S. Chinook helicopters, on Sept. 24, 1994, as a detachment of over 100 U.S. troops arrive in this small southern coastal town, 120 km south of Port-au-Prince, as part of the "Operation Uphold Democracy." From Cuba to Panama: US interventions that shaped Latin America 1 of 8 This file photo shows a group of U.S. sailors from the battleship Connecticut and a gun they captured at Cape Haitien during the U.S. occupation of Haiti in 1915.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cuba charges 6 with terrorism after deadly boat gunfight
Mike Hammer, a career U.S. ambassador and currently the highest diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, said he believes a change in government in Cuba will happen this year, adding to the string of voices predicting regime change on the island.

We believe change is coming. It is coming in 2026, Hammer said in remarks in English after receiving the Cuban American Bar Associations first Humanitarian Award at the organizations annual gala in Miami.

La dictadura se va a acabar  the dictatorship will end  Hammer said at the event on Saturday.

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When he arrived in Havana, at the end of the Biden administration, Hammer said, There was no hope. But today, as I have traveled to all provinces on the island, there is not only hope but an expectation that there will be change  so lets make it so.

The Trump administration has halted oil supplies from Venezuela and Mexico to Cuba to press Cuban leaders to make a deal with the United States, following the capture by the U.S. military of the islands closest ally, Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the U.S. government is not expecting changes overnight on the island, but would like to see Cuban leaders make dramatic economic changes to their centrally planned socialist economy.

President Donald Trump floated Friday a possible friendly takeover of Cuba, hinting at progress in back-channel negotiations between and Raul Castros grandson, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro.

A tweet by MAGA activist Laura Loomer and a piece in The Atlantic magazine claiming Cuba is next have kept the buzz going.

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High-level source tells me the United States will be assuming economic management authority of Cuba within 30 days, Loomer published on X.

On Feb. 25, Rubios team met with Rodriguez Castro in Saint Kitts, during the annual CARICOM conference of Caribbean leaders, to discuss a gradual easing of U.S. sanctions in exchange for reforms on the island, multiple sources told the Miami Herald.

Rodriguez Castro has no official government role or position in the Communist Party but he is his grandfathers closest aide and bodyguard, and U.S. officials see him as a direct channel to Castro, Cubas ultimate ruler, who is 94.

Cubas formal government seemed to have been blindsided by those talks at first. Cubas handpicked president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has vowed to resist U.S. pressure and send the islands foreign minister as his special envoy  a title rarely used in Cuba  on a diplomatic tour to China, Vietnam, Russia and Spain to secure support and humanitarian aid.

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Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also sought the Vaticans mediation on a trip to Rome last week, when he and Hammer happened to be in Italy at the same time. Pope Leo XIV had called for a dialogue between the United States and Cuba last month, expressing concern about the humanitarian situation and the suffering of the Cuban people.

Hammer met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vaticans secretary for relations with states and international organizations, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, with whom he discussed human rights and political freedom in Cuba, the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See said on X.

The pope met with the Cuban foreign minister on Saturday, but Italian news agency Agenzia Nova reported that the Vatican signaled limits to its ability to mediate with the United States due to its difficult relationship with the Trump administration.

Increasing isolation

Cuba observers have called attention to how little Cubas government seemed to have understood the changing geopolitical landscape, and how that has left the islands communist government more isolated and vulnerable to U.S. increased pressure.

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While several governments have promised humanitarian assistance, Cubas traditional allies, including Russia and China, have also signaled they would not directly confront the Trump administration on the Cuba issue. Russia reportedly sent oil aboard a dark fleet tanker bound for Cuba, but the ship, closely monitored by U.S. warships in the Caribbean, diverted its course once it was near the island, the Reuters news agency reported.

Still, many officials in the Cuban government are ideological hardliners and need to see a credible threat for them to negotiate, said Armando Chaguaceda, a Cuban historian and political scientist who is a researcher at GAPAC, a Mexican think tank. We know there are contacts, which means they feel threatened. But they are hardliners and thats not what they are betting on; they are betting on Trumps political burnout in the midterms.

U.S. officials, Trump administration insiders and Cuban Americans with businesses on the island do not believe the Cuban government will be able to stall on the negotiations until the midterms, with its economy almost completely paralyzed and the population suffering worsening hardships by the day.

A U.S. official dismissed the idea of a stall in negotiations till the November midterm elections at as a possibility: They wont fool Marco Rubio, a U.S. official said, adding that the administration was aware Cuba leaders would try to delay any substantial reforms.

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The economic consequences will be too dire, a Cuban American entrepreneur said. Every day that passes without oil, factories are not producing, they are not exporting tobacco or rum, goods are rotting at the port.

On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, another Cuba ally, and killed several members of its top leadership, including the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Miami Republican, told Fox News he hopes Cuban leaders are paying attention to what is unfolding in Iran.

They should take heed of what president Trump said to Iran, Hey, you need to come to the negotiating table. He said the same thing about Cuba, he said. If I were the Cuban leaders, Id take notice. This is a president of action, not just of words.

Youth want change at any price

On the island, Cubans have been following events with an immense amount of uncertainty, said Katrin Hansing, a U.S. professor of Anthropology at City University of New York who recently returned from the island.

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Nobody knows whats going to happen, and that has produced a lot of anxiety, a lot of fear, but also a lot of a sense of fatalism on the part of many who feel completely powerless, she said.

But Hansing also noted high expectations that something will change on the island.

That is particularly the case among young people who were born after the 1990s, who have only lived in crisis and are exhausted and want change now at any price. And then there are those who are a little older, who also want change, but are not willing to have change at any price, she added. The main issue there is sovereignty and obviously national independence.

But with a humanitarian crisis rapidly worsening, Hansing said, many Cubans dont have the luxury to think about these things. They are so consumed with the act of survival that they are on the sidelines of whats happening, because they are just trying to get by every day.

That is a group that we cannot forget about, she added, because thats the majority of Cubans.
WARREN COUNTY, Iowa  The Warren County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help to find a Cumming woman who has Alzheimers and hasnt been seen since Tuesday.

Officials said Cheryl Anderson, 78, was last seen leaving her home shortly after 4:00 p.m. She was driving a white Toyota Sienna minivan with the Iowa handicap license plate PJ791. There was half a tank of gas left in the vehicle. The minivan was spotted on a license plate reader camera in the area of Hickman Road and Colby Parkway in Clive at 4:37 p.m.

National measles outbreak: Iowas low vaccination rate raises concerns

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WCSO has released a photo of Anderson in the clothing she was last seen wearing. She is 54 and heavyset. A photo of the vehicle she was driving has also been released.

Cheryl Anderson (Provided by the Warren County Sheriffs Office)

The vehicle Cheryl Anderson was driving when she disappeared. (Provided by the Warren County Sheriffs Office)

The WCSO said Anderson likely does not know where she is and is missing needed medication. She has not driven in a few years and has never driven the minivan she left her home in.

Andersons family frequents the Jordan Creek area, Maffitt Lake, and Browns Woods.

If you have any information on Andersons location or spot her vehicle, call 911.

Metro news

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
South Americas largest economy, Brazil, is on track to be a top 5 global oil producer. During 2023, Brazil received an offer to join the OPEC+ price cartel, but it took until early 2025 for the government in the capital Brasilia to accept membership. This signaled a significant change in government strategy, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeking to make Brazil the worlds fourth-largest petroleum producer by the end of the decade. By joining OPEC+, Brazil can access considerable strategic resources to assist with the development of its offshore oil fields while contributing to price stabilization strategies and not being impacted by production caps.

Over the last two decades, Brazil experienced solid production growth, primarily due to the massive pre-salt oil discoveries made in the Santos and Campos Basins. The first pre-salt discovery was announced by Brazils national oil company Petrobras in 2006. This was the Parati discovery in the Santos Basin, which was followed by the massive Tupi, now called Lula, discovery. This light, low-sulfur oil, which contains few contaminants, garnered considerable attention from Big Oil and foreign energy companies. This sparked a flurry of domestic and international investment, which allowed Brazil to emerge as a leading non-OPEC oil producer and exporter.

Government data shows Brazil finished 2024 with proven reserves totaling 16.8 billion barrels, which represents a 6% increase over the 15.9 billion barrels of proven reserves reported a year earlier. Most of Brazils proven oil reserves, 81% or 13.7 billion barrels, are contained within the prolific offshore pre-salt fields. Over the last decade, proven reserves expanded by a notable 29%, with considerable further growth ahead as drilling and other upstream activities expand because of rising investment.

While the hydrocarbon regulator, the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), has yet to release Brazils reserves numbers for 2025, there are indications they grew once again. Petrobras reported a 6% year over year increase in proven reserves for 2025 to 12.1 billion barrels. Those reserves are 84% weighted to crude oil, with the remainder comprised of natural gas. As Brazils largest oil producer, responsible for over 70% of all petroleum lifted, this indicates the countrys proven reserves also grew during 2025.

Vast sums are flowing into Brazils prolific offshore pre-salt oil fields, which is driving higher hydrocarbon production. January 2026 data shows an average of 3.95 million barrels of crude oil and 6.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day were lifted that month. This represents a notable 14.6% and 20% increase, respectively, over a year earlier, illustrating the pace at which production is expanding. Combined monthly hydrocarbon output hit nearly 5.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent per day, a 15% increase over the same period a year earlier. This is, however, lower than the record 5.25 million barrels per day reported for October 2025.
NICOSIA, March 4 (Reuters) - Cyprus said a suspect object had been detected close to Lebanese airspace on Wednesday, and a government source said two Greek F-16 fighter jets had been scrambled to intercept it.

The alert was called off more than an hour later.

"The incident for which there was relevant information has been investigated and is considered closed. The competent authorities are monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis and all appropriate measures are being taken by the available means within the framework of established procedures," government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a post on X.

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No further details were immediately available.

Two aircraft that were preparing to land at Cyprus' Larnaca airport were diverted while the jets were scrambled, the government source said.

The incident followed a strike by an Iranian-made drone on a British Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri in Cyprus on Monday as the U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran continued. Two other drones were intercepted by Cyprus later that day.

Cypriot officials said they believed the drones on Monday were fired by Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

(Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Alison Williams and Timothy Heritage)
Air traffic over Cyprus was briefly disrupted on Wednesday after the sighting of a suspicious aerial object originating from Lebanon, but the countrys airspace remained open throughout, the government said.

Cypriot media, including public broadcaster RIK, had earlier reported that the airspace was temporarily closed.

Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the pilots of two aircraft were asked to remain in a holding pattern for a short period.

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One pilot decided to return to Athens, while the second flight landed as scheduled shortly afterwards he said.

A passenger told Greek media that the pilot had cited "military reasons" for the return. Another passenger aircraft had to circle over Cyprus several times before it was able to land in Larnaca, Cypriot media reported.

Staff at the US embassy in Nicosia temporarily retreated to the basement of the mission, RIK reported.

Two Greek F-16 fighter jets that have been stationed on the island since Monday took part in a search-and-interception operation, RIK said

The heightened alert follows a drone attack on the British base at Akrotiri near Limassol early Monday that caused minimal damage. Two additional drones were later intercepted. The drones are believed to have originated in Lebanon, about 200 kilometres away.

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International reinforcements in the region

Several NATO and EU countries are now bolstering their military presence in the region. The United Kingdom announced the deployment of helicopters for drone defence as well as the dispatch of a warship.

France is planning to move air defence and anti-drone systems as well as a frigate to the eastern Mediterranean, according to the state-run Cyprus News Agency (KYPE/CNA).

Greece has sent four F-16s to Cyprus, and two Greek frigates arrived off the coast of Cyprus on Wednesday.

Cyprus is member of the European Union but not of NATO.
Cyprus temporarily closed its airspace on Wednesday after a suspicious flying object was spotted coming in from Lebanon.

The government gave the all-clear shortly afterwards. "There are no indications whatsoever of a threat to the country," government spokesman Konstantinos Letybiotis said.

The closure had immediate consequences for air traffic: at least one flight from Athens to Larnaca was forced to turn back.

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A passenger told Greek media that the pilot had cited "military reasons" for the return. Another passenger aircraft had to circle over Cyprus several times before it was able to land in Larnaca, Cypriot media reported.

Two Greek F-16 fighter jets that have been stationed on the island since Monday took part in the search and interception operation, broadcaster RIK reported.

The heightened state of alert follows a drone attack on the British base at Akrotiri near Limassol in the early hours of Monday. Two further drones were intercepted. The drones are believed to have come from Lebanon, approximately 200 kilometres away.

Staff at the US Embassy in Nicosia temporarily retreated to the basement of the mission, RIK reported.

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International reinforcements in the region

Several NATO and EU countries are now bolstering their military presence in the region. The United Kingdom announced the deployment of helicopters for drone defence as well as the dispatch of a warship.

France is planning to move air defence and anti-drone systems as well as a frigate to the eastern Mediterranean, according to the state-run Cyprus News Agency (KYPE/CNA).

Greece has sent four F-16s to Cyprus, and two Greek frigates arrived off the coast of Cyprus on Wednesday.

Cyprus is member of the European Union but not of NATO.
Transgender service members challenging President Donald Trumps military ban are asking a federal judge to move their lawsuit toward trial as the Pentagon has already begun initiating separation proceedings against some of them.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

One plaintiff, Amiah Sale, has been ordered to appear before a military separation board on March 24, according to a new court filing. Another, Gordon Herrero, received notice on January 6 that elimination proceedings against him had begun. Both are named plaintiffs in Talbott v. United States, the central legal challenge to Trump's January 2025 executive order banning transgender people from military service.

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Related: Meet the transgender Army lieutenant who is challenging Donald Trump's military ban

Related: Legal team tells D.C. appeals court Hegseths words show Trumps trans military ban is about hate, not policy

The plaintiffs are represented by GLAD Law and the National Center for LGBTQ+ Rights.

These service members deserve their day in court, and the public deserves to know what is driving the ban, NCLR legal director Shannon Minter, one of the lead attorneys on the case, told The Advocate. "The government wants to drag its feet and stonewall because it knows it has absolutely no evidence to support this harmful policy."

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In a motion filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., the plaintiffs asked Judge Ana Reyes to schedule the case's first litigation conference within 45 days and to open discovery, the phase in which both sides exchange evidence and depose witnesses. The request follows the governments August 2025 filing of an answer to the plaintiffs complaint, a procedural milestone that, under the courts standing order, triggers the scheduling process.

Within hours of the motion's filing, Reyes ordered the government to respond by March 11 at 5 p.m.

Related: Federal judge roasts Trump DOJ attorney over frankly ridiculous claims in transgender military ban case

Related: Attorneys urge appeals court to see Trumps trans military ban is rooted in bigotry, not national security

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The case has already drawn one of the sharpest judicial rebukes of the administration's anti-transgender policies. Last March, Reyes issued a nationwide injunction blocking the ban, writing that the policy was "soaked in animus and dripping with pretext" and finding the government had offered no credible evidence that excluding transgender troops improved military readiness.

The administration appealed. The D.C. Circuit issued an initial administrative stay days later, then a formal stay pending appeal in December 2025. Oral arguments on the injunction appeal were held on January 22; that ruling remains pending. But neither stay touched the underlying case in district court, and the plaintiffs are now pressing to build the full factual record that a final ruling would require.

Related: Pete Hegseth is trying to force this transgender soldier out of the military. He won't leave voluntarily

Related: Why is the Army recommending training for this transgender officer that the Pentagon plans to oust?

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"Regardless of the outcome of the pending appeal," the motion states, plaintiffs "are entitled, and intend, to conduct discovery and litigate this case on the merits through final judgment in this Court."

That discovery process could surface internal Pentagon documents and communications revealing how the policy was developed and whether it can survive constitutional scrutiny. Reyes has already indicated it likely cannot.

During earlier hearings, Reyes pressed government lawyers on the evidentiary basis for the ban, noting their portrayal of transgender service members as "dishonest, dishonorable, undisciplined" bore no resemblance to the service records before her.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: D.C. federal judge signals urgency as trans service members push for Trump military ban trial

RELATED
DALLAS  Veronica Anderson walked 2  miles Tuesday afternoon to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center because she wanted to vote.

When she arrived, election workers told her she was at the wrong polling place and would need to cast her ballot at a different precinct  one she said she had never heard of. Unsure where it was or how to get there, she stood outside trying to sort out her options.

I walked up here because I want to vote so, so bad, she told a reporter for the Dallas Free Press and Votebeat, adding that it felt like your self-esteem and everything is torn down.

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Anderson was one of hundreds of voters across Dallas County on Tuesday who went to the wrong voting location as they tried to cast ballots in the states high-turnout primaries, with closely watched contests for U.S. Senate at the top of the ticket.

Under state law, political parties have wide authority to decide how to run county primaries. The confusion stemmed from a decision by the Dallas County Republican Party to abandon the use of countywide vote centers  which allow voters to cast a ballot at any location  and return to a system of precinct-based assigned polling places for Election Day. That decision forced Dallas Democrats to do the same. Voters were still able to cast ballots at countywide sites during early voting.

Dallas County Democrats had objected to the decision and warned it would confuse voters. After reports of hundreds of confused voters being redirected away from the wrong polling places Tuesday, Democrats obtained a court order extending voting hours for Democrats in Dallas County until 9 p.m., with ballots cast after 7 p.m. counted provisionally.

The Texas Supreme Court later stayed the order, and said ballots cast by voters who werent in line by 7 p.m. should be separated pending a final ruling. For their part, Republicans did not request an extension of voting hours.

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Dallas County has used countywide vote centers since 2019. Local Republican leaders said Tuesdays shift would boost voter confidence. Williamson County also used precinct-based voting on Tuesday.

Dallas County and party officials said they had warned voters ahead of time that election day rules would be different. The Dallas County Elections Department sent text messages, mailed notices, and ran social media and streaming ads urging voters to cast ballots early and reminding them they would need to vote at their assigned precinct if they waited until election day, according to Nicholas Solorzano, a spokesperson for the Dallas County Elections Department.

The county also stationed nonpartisan election navigators outside at least 75 polling locations to redirect voters who showed up at the wrong site. Dallas County Republican Party Chair Allen West said the party had publicized the changes as well and framed the return to precinct-based voting as a matter of trust in the process. Kardal Coleman, chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party, told Votebeat that Democrats have called, texted, weve sent mailpieces. Weve run a full campaign.

There are a lot of infuriated voters

At the Anita Martinez Recreation Center in West Dallas, election navigator Juston Marine stood outside with a county-issued tablet, stopping voters before they entered.

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Are you here to vote? he asked. Can I see your drivers license? Can you choose your party? Im just trying to make sure youre in the right location.

Marine said he was redirecting every second or third voter who approached. He lost count of how many people he had sent elsewhere.

There are a lot of infuriated voters, he said.

Some cursed at him. Others had driven across the county only to learn they were in the wrong place  including one example of a voter who traveled from Balch Springs to West Dallas and was then redirected to Cedar Hill.

Ashley Feldt, who recently moved to West Dallas from East Dallas, arrived at the site with her fiance. Marine told her she was actually assigned to vote at Hexter Elementary, miles away. Unsure she would have time to get there before polls closed, she told her fiance  who was assigned to the recreation center  to go ahead and vote without her.

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James Crolley, an Election Day inspector assigned to 12 locations ranging from downtown Dallas to Trinity Groves and West Dallas, said that voters were also surprised to find that voters assigned to the same precinct, but who vote in different parties, often werent voting at the same sites.

If you had always voted at Mockingbird Elementary as a Republican, and you go there today, and youre like, Why am I not able to vote? This is my spot, that caused a little bit of conflict, he said.

The problems were not confined to Dallas.

Williamson County Republicans also returned to precinct-based voting and adopted a different counting process for their primary. Instead of using precinct scanners to tabulate votes throughout the day, Republican ballots were to be placed into separate boxes by precinct and scanned centrally after polls close, according to Connie Odom, a spokesperson for Williamson County.

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Odom said in an email that reconciliation rules and manual review of some ballots mean few, if any, Election Day results are expected before midnight. The Democratic primary there is using the countys traditional scanner system.

In Eastland County, which moved away from vote centers to enable hand-counting of ballots, election workers at the county courthouse said they had told about 68 voters by late morning that they were at the wrong location.

Jennie Trejo and Keri Mitchell of Dallas Free Press and Carrie Levine, Nathaniel Rakich, and Natalia Conteras of Votebeat contributed reporting.

Jessica Huseman is Votebeats editorial director and is based in Dallas. Contact Jessica at jhuseman@votebeat.org.




An embattled Sen. Douglas McCrory, citing a recent audit that suggests he might have been involved in fraud, resigned Tuesday afternoon from an influential public board that gives hundreds of millions of dollars in state bond money to distressed cities and towns.

McCrory, a Hartford Democrat, exited the Community Investment Fund 2030 board in a letter to Sen. Martin Looney, D-New Haven, the Senate president pro-tem. Looney and House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, serve as co-chairs of the board.

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"A recent inaccurate, deceptive, and biased audit of an organization funded by the Community Investment Fund risks becoming a distraction from the Fund's important work. I believe this work is too important to risk jeopardizing it," McCrory wrote in a letter to Looney. "This audit contains several inaccuracies, makes unfounded claims, and demonstrates clear bias against me. The overall veracity should be questioned, and the litany of inconsistencies is too voluminous to list here. I engaged in no wrongdoing and expect all concerns to prove unfounded."

Looney immediately named Sen. Herron Keyon Gaston, D-Bridgeport, to replace McCrory on the board.

Gov. Ned Lamont had suggested McCrory "step back" from leadership positions including the Community Investment Fund board and the chairmanship of the General Assembly's Education Committee, soon after the audit was released on Jan. 20. McCrory remains the committee co-chair.

McCrory was referring to the Blue Hills Civic Association, a social services nonprofit in his district that is the subject of a federal investigation into how it handled more than $15 million in state money over five years, until early 2025. McCrory is also a subject of the investigation, public documents show.

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Neither Blue Hills nor any of its officers, nor McCrory, nor other people involved in the investigation has been charged with a crime.

Blue Hills was suspended from receiving state grants in the early spring, 2025, after it reported to the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) that $300,000 in state money had gone missing after Blue Hills attempted to wire the money to another nonprofit. McCrory's close ties to Blue Hills, including his alleged role in directing how the agency disbursed money in Hartford, was the subject of an audit commissioned by DECD.

The audit, by CliftonLarsonAllenLLP, referred to the possibility of potential fraud numerous time and said, "The forensic audit of BHCA reveals pervasive governance failures, systemic internal control weaknesses, and patterns of conduct that strongly suggest potential fraud and misappropriation of public funds by BHCA and related parties."

The audit said much of the $1.7 million spent on an outside consultant who an associated of McCrory, Sonserae Cicero-Hamlin, was misspent, or that the work required by that money was not done. She has not commented publicly on the audit findings.

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McCrory has not commented in specific detail about the audit and its findings and suggestions, but has said repeatedly he did nothing wrong in advocating for Blue Hills and his constituents. He told my colleague Jacqueline Rabe Thomas last spring that Cicero-Hamlin was "doing a bang up job" with excellent results in her community work.

I reported on Feb. 27 that the audit contained some discrepancies, such as a statement that Cicero-Hamlin did not perform work on a Blue Hills employee handbook she was paid to update, when in fact emails showed her firm was involved in the update. Also, the report suggested McCrory asked the executive director of Blue Hills to delay telling DECD the $300,000 was missing, when in fact, emails show he agreed with her suggestion to delay reporting the loss.

CliftonLarsonAllen said in a written statement in response to my column that it stands by the audit and its findings.

Looney issued a statement commending McCrory for his service to the board. "I also commend his sensitivity and determination to not contribute to any distraction that might otherwise detract from the vital work of CIF," Looney said in an emailed statement late Tuesday.

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In January, Looney pushed back against Lamont's calls for McCrory to be removed from leadership positions.

The Community Investment Fund 2030 was formed in 2021 as a way to steer more than $750 million of state bond money to 57 "distressed municipalities," including Connecticut's cities, after Lamont pulled back on bond funding commitments. The fund has a board of 21 members, including most of the top state elected and appointed officials, but not the governor or lieutenant governor.

The fund has had seven tranches of disbursements totaling $562 million to dozens of recipient groups, several in McCrory's district. Blue Hills Civic Association is not named among them but it appears some are connected to the agency through other state funding.

Replacing McCrory with Gaston appears to shift the balance of power slightly to Bridgeport. Leaders of that city often say they believe state funding goes disproportionately to Hartford.

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"Bridgeport, Stratford, and communities like them across Connecticut deserve access to the resources they need to thrive, and I will fight every day on this board to make sure that happens," Gaston said in a release from Looney's office immediately after his appointment.

Looney said, "Senator Gaston's deep community connections in Bridgeport, his understanding of the structural barriers these communities face, and his record of fighting for meaningful investment make him an ideal steward of that mission."

This column is developing and may be updated.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com

This article originally published at Dan Haar: Sen. McCrory exits key Connecticut board amid investigation, slams audit.
The Brief

A multi-day wind event begins Wednesday afternoon, bringing 3550 mph gusts to the mountains and valleys before peaking with a stronger Santa Ana event on Friday and Saturday.

Damaging gusts of up to 70 mph are possible in high-risk corridors, posing a significant threat of downed trees, power outages, and hazardous crosswinds for high-profile vehicles.

Cold air following the gusts will drop snow levels to 4,000 feet, creating a 10% to 20% chance of light snow over the Grapevine on Thursday morning.

LOS ANGELES - Southern California is gearing up for a prolonged period of unsettled weather as a series of wind events descends on the region.

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Beginning Wednesday, residents should prepare for "damaging wind gusts" and possible travel disruptions that are expected to last through early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

What we know

Northerly winds will develop Wednesday afternoon, targeting the mountains and north-south corridors like I-5, forecasters said.

The NWS has issued wind advisories for the Antelope, Santa Clarita, and San Fernando valleys starting as early as 4 p.m. Wednesday.

A second, more powerful "moderate to strong" Santa Ana event is forecast for Friday morning.

These winds are expected to peak on Saturday, with a 40% chance of 6070 mph gusts in the Western San Gabriel and Santa Susana mountains.

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Temperatures will remain in the 60s and low 70s for most, though mountain areas will see a sharp drop, according to the latest forecast.

Timeline

Wednesday Afternoon: Northerly winds begin to develop in the mountains and Antelope Valley.

Wednesday Evening (6 p.m.): Wind advisories take effect for the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, and Agoura Hills.

Thursday Morning: Peak potential for light snow (10%20% chance) over the Grapevine as snow levels hit 4,000 feet.

Friday Morning: The "moderate to strong" Santa Ana event begins to ramp up.

Saturday: Santa Ana winds reach their peak strength across the region.

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Sunday  Monday: Winds begin a gradual decrease, with weaker Santa Ana winds lingering into Monday morning.

What they're saying

Forecasters are emphasizing the risk to commuters and infrastructure.

"The orientation of these winds will likely create travel hazards across major freeways, as well as airport delays at LAX and possibly Burbank Airport," the NWS said.

Officials also warned that "Some impacts may include downed trees and power outages and hazardous travel conditions due to crosswinds, especially for higher profile vehicles."

What you can do

People are encouraged to secure any loose outdoor furniture, umbrellas, and trash cans before Wednesday night.

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If you are driving a high-profile vehicle such as a truck or SUV, avoid wind-prone corridors like I-5 and Highway 33 during peak gust periods.

Travelers are advised to check with your airline for potential delays if flying out of LAX or Burbank.

The Source

This report is based on information from the National Weather Service.
By Mike Stone, Alexandra Alper and Courtney Rozen

WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - U.S. defense contractors, like Lockheed Martin, are expected to follow the Pentagon's order to purge Anthropic's prized AI tools from their supply chains, government contracting and technology attorneys said, even though the Trump administration's ban on their use may fail in court.

The expected exodus from Anthropic was a sign of how quickly firms adjust to the Trump administration's preferences, as they seek to win pieces of its trillion-dollar annual budget, government attorneys said.

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Last Friday, capping off a heated weeks-long dispute with Anthropic over technology guardrails on Claude tools used by the military, President Donald Trump announced a federal agency-wide ban on the company with a six-month phase out period.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth went further, promising to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk to national security and posting: "Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity" with the company.

Anthropic said it would challenge the ban in court.

The move raised immediate legal questions, since none of the authorities that the Trump administration could use to ban Anthropic allow it to also bar its general use by defense contractors, according to lawyers who specialize in technology and contracting laws.

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But the shaky legal basis for the prohibition won't stop companies that depend on the Pentagon from complying with it, the attorneys said, as Lockheed Martin has pledged to do.

"We will follow the presidents and the Department of War's direction," Lockheed Martin said in a statement, referring to the Department of Defense when asked about its Anthropic use following the moves by the Trump administration. "We expect minimal impacts," the company said, adding that it doesn't depend on any single AI vendor "for any portion of our work."

With huge government contracts at stake, defense contractors would be quick to comply with the Pentagon's ban, lawyers said.

"Most companies that do significant business with the government are hyper-aware of what the U.S. government wants and they're likely already taking steps to cleanse their supply chains of Anthropic," said Franklin Turner, an attorney who specializes in government contracts.

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"Regardless of the legal justification, I think the threat is the point ... it has already done harm, significant harm to the company," he added, referring to Anthropic.

When asked whether they would comply with Trump's order on Anthropic, General Dynamics, Raytheon parent RTX, and L3Harris declined to comment.

The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Anthropic declined to comment but referred Reuters to its Friday statement, in which it asserted that the Pentagon does not have the statutory authority to bar its contractors from using Claude.

QUICK TO FOLLOW ADMINISTRATION BANS

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Defense contractors have complied in the past year with Trump's other directives regarding their agreements with the government, according to the news outlet Breaking Defense.

According to the site, they speedily removed references to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives last year after President Trump signed an executive order mandating all agencies include language in contracts and grant awards requiring any winner to "certify that it does not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws."

Under the authority that the Defense Department is most likely to use, known as the DOD Supply Chain Risk Authority, the agency could bar would-be contractors from using Anthropic in their work for the government, government contracting attorneys said. However, it would not have the power to ban them from using it in their business entirely.

Jason Workmaster, a contract lawyer at Miller Chevalier, described the decision to bar Pentagon contractors from using Anthropic as a "highly aggressive position."

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"If and when challenged, there would be a high likelihood that DOD would be found not to have the authority to do this, unless there are facts that we do not know about," he said.

It is not even clear if the U.S. military has the authority to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk to bar its own use of the technology.

The Supply Chain Risk Authority has specific requirements for what constitutes a supply chain risk, such as the threat that an adversary may sabotage, introduce unwanted capabilities, or otherwise "subvert" the technology in order to "surveil, deny or disrupt" its use.

Meanwhile the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA), which creates a similar authority, requires the agency to follow several steps prior to a ban, such as giving the business the opportunity to respond and notifying Congress, among others.

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The U.S. government so far hasn't shown publicly that it satisfied the requirements, said Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota law professor who specializes in technology regulation.

"Capitalism and free markets rely on the rule of law," he said. "This is the opposite of that."

The Trump administration used FASCSA last year to bar intelligence agencies from buying products from Acronis AG, a Swiss cybersecurity and data protection company.

(Reporting by Mike Stone, Alexandra Alper and Courtney Rozen in Washington; Editing by Chris Sanders and Sonali Paul)
A DeKalb County woman says her car was stolen, and police told her the thieves used it to commit more crimes.

Police have not confirmed that information to Channel 2 Action News, but Tracy Gary showed Channel 2s Cory James Ring camera footage of several break-ins in the neighborhood.

She says she woke up at 4:25 a.m. on Tuesday morning to her white Dodge Charger being driven off by a thief.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

I couldnt believe it, she said. I was like, What?

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By 11:30 a.m., DeKalb County police were seen investigating on her surveillance camera on Hairston Park Square.

The police had said, Your car has been taken and it was in three break-ins, three robberies, she said.

Gary says this isnt the first time shes ben the victim of similar crimes.

Last May, someone ransacked her Jeep in the middle of the night. The next month, someone broke into both of her vehicles.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Neighbor Esther Lafontant told James that her car was also stolen last year.

They come out like roaches, and to the point that people leave their doors open, so they dont burst into your window and smash it all over the place, Lafontant said.

James checked with police about Garys case, but has not heard back.

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(The Center Square)  Republican New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte is vowing to veto a Democratic-backed proposal, unveiled on Tuesday, that would set a new state income tax to fund the state's public schools and reduce local property taxes.

The proposal, dubbed the "3-3 Tax Savings Plan," would charge a 3% flat income tax and a $3.00 true statewide property tax" to drum up an estimated $1 billion a year for public schools.

"We must confront this reality: New Hampshire cannot cut property taxes in a meaningful way without fixing how we fund education. Anything else is make-believe," Former Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, chief architect of the plan, said in a statement.

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The plan calls for a $35,000 exemption per taxpayer, a $15,000 exemption per dependent, and a $15,000 exemption for a single person or head of household.

This plan works well for 80 percent of New Hampshires taxpayers," state Rep. David Preece, D-Manchester, a primary sponsor of the bill. "Residents of Manchester do particularly well because the 3-3 Tax Savings Plan boosts revenue for Manchester schools while cutting school taxes roughly in half."

But shortly after the group "Cut Our Property Taxes!" unveiled its plan Tuesday, Ayotte swatted down the idea, and panned it as the latest attempt by the state's Democrats to raise taxes.

"Absolutely not. Ive said it before, and I will say it again  no income tax, no sales tax," she said in a brief statement. "Not now, not ever."

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The New Hampshire House's GOP majority, who would ultimately have to consider the plan, scoffed at the idea in a social media post.

"We say HELL NO," House Republicans posted on X. "The New Hampshire Advantage is under attack and Democrats CANNOT be trusted."

Backers of the proposal said New Hampshire "relies more than any other state on local property taxes to fund schools, even though our courts have repeatedly ruled education is a state responsibility."

"Property taxes are inelastic. They dont flex when you lose a job, get divorced or become sick and they dont recognize that you may have a fixed income," the group said. "Local property taxes are even worse because they rely on the property wealth of individual communities which vary widely."

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But Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire Director Sarah Scott ripped the proposal a "recipe for destroying the low tax environment that New Hampshire residents cherish" and said the state's pro-growth policies "have led to a booming economy that should not be tampered with."

"Granite Staters have always rejected an income tax, and this time is no different," Scott said in a statement. "We have seen this play before in states like Connecticut with higher taxes, broken promises, and working families paying the price. This proposal threatens the New Hampshire Advantage and risks driving Granite Staters to flee."
Brazilian regulators say crypto exchanges will soon have to adhere to the same liability and security standards as the traditional financial sector.

The countrys permit-holding crypto trading platforms must begin submitting daily reports proving they have sufficient funds to cover the cost of hacks or other leaks, the central bank announced in a resolution on February 27.

The new rules also stipulate that exchanges must adopt the same data protection and confidentiality criteria that apply to Brazilian commercial banks.

Investors will enjoy more security thanks to these regulations, Denis Medina, a professor at the Faculty of Commerce of Sao Paulo, told Brazilian media outlet Conexao Record News. But it will also benefit the entire system by preventing various crypto-powered financial crimes, such as money laundering and tax evasion.

Brazils move comes as regulators around the world order crypto exchanges to beef up their security and liability credentials to the level of the banking industry. Financial chiefs in Japan made similar demands in November. South Korean regulators followed suit in December after the $30 million hack of the Upbit exchange.

Crypto accounting rules

Many of Brazils new regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2027, the central bank said. One of the new rules comprised an accounting manual for crypto exchanges and crypto pay firms.

This manual allows crypto companies to log crypto on their balance sheets, rather than having to convert the worth of their coins into fiat currencies.

The bank has also ordered crypto exchanges to keep their fiat currency and crypto holdings in separate accounts and wallets from those of their clients.

Medina said the rules will also impose limits and checks on transactions, particularly those made to overseas exchanges.

The academic said the rules effectively put an end to the uncontrolled transfer of crypto to other countries.

The new protocols will ensure the flow of crypto becomes more traceable in Brazil, Medina said.

The central bank says its new rules will make it harder for criminals to conduct illicit activities with crypto, such as drug trafficking and the financing of terrorist groups.

Tim Alper is a News Correspondent at DL News. Got a tip? Email him at tdalper@dlnews.com.
There were all kinds of closely watched elections this week in Texas, Arkansas and North Carolina, up and down the ballot, but there was only one race in which one party lost a seat to the other. That contest was in Arkansas, and it delivered another round of good news for Democrats. The Hill reported:

Democrat Alex Holladay is projected to win the special election to represent Arkansass House District 70, edging out Republican Bo Renshaw, according to Decision Desk HQ. [] Holladays victory does not change control of the states lower legislative chamber, where Republicans have held a 80-19 majority. But the Democratic pickup could matter for appropriations bills, which require a 75-percent supermajority vote from both chambers.

Arkansas is clearly one of the nations more reliably red states, but Holladay was running in a politically quirky area: According to calculations from The Downballot, Donald Trump carried this district by 4 points in 2020, but Kamala Harris won the same district by 2 points in the 2024 cycle.

As the dust settled on this weeks special election, Holladay overperformed, winning by double digits.

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This has been happening a lot lately. Indeed, for Democrats, 2026 is off to a very encouraging start: Two of the partys candidates won lopsided victories in two special elections in Minnesota, the first two contests of the year, restoring the state House to an even partisan split.

Soon after, in Texas, Republicans invested a considerable amount of resources to keep a state Senate seat in the suburbs of Fort Worth. They failed: Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a union leader and an Air Force veteran, won a double-digit victory in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024. (The president personally tried to rally support for the GOP candidate, but then pretended he didnt after she lost badly.)

In early February, Republicans in Louisiana saw a unique opportunity to flip a state legislative seat from blue to red  in a district Trump won by 13 points  but when voters had their say, the Democratic candidate prevailed by 24 points.

Holladays win in Arkansas, in other words, is part of an unsubtle pattern.

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Whats more, The Downballots analysis noted that the results out of Arkansas marked the ninth time Democrats have flipped a district from red to blue in a special election since Trump returned to the White House. Over that same period, the number of seats flipped from blue to red remains zero.

Some will no doubt argue that its best not to read too much into a special election held in the winter, several months before Novembers races. Its a fair point, to be sure. But what matters is the degree to which the results fit into the broader political landscape. Republicans are tied to an unpopular president; a growing number of their congressional members are retiring; key elements of the GOP agenda are facing an intensifying public backlash; and they keep losing special elections, including in contests they expected to win.

If party insiders arent concerned about their standing ahead of this years midterm elections, theyre not paying close enough attention.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

The post Dems score upset win in Arkansas special election, giving GOP one more reason to worry appeared first on MS NOW.

This article was originally published on ms.now
Matthew DePerno, the Michigan lawyer indicted in 2023 as a part of an investigation into a conspiracy to gain access to voting tabulators after the 2020 election, testified to the House Oversight Subcommittee on Weaponization of State Government on Wednesday about his concerns regarding the role of Attorney General Dana Nessel and her office in his case.

DePerno repeatedly alleged that Nessel had misused her office and had a conflict of interest in investigating his role in that criminal case while also involved in a civil dispute filed by DePerno contesting the results of the 2020 election in Antrim County.

The Attorney Generals office responded to those allegations in a statement, stating, While the Committee and Mr. DePerno are entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to their own facts.

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Matt DePerno is a discredited Big Lie conspiracy peddler and a desperate criminal defendant the likes of which this office is not unfamiliar, Kimberly Bush, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals office, wrote to the Michigan Advance. Its unfortunate that hes found support from the Republicans on this committee.

I want to address the conflict created when the Attorney General investigated her opposing counsel in active litigation, who later became her political opponent, DePerno said, referencing his run for Attorney General against Nessel in 2022  a seat which he is again seeking in 2026.

This is an attempt to show every other attorney out there that if you file a lawsuit challenging the election, you will be prosecuted by Dana Nessel, he continued.

Charges against DePerno include unauthorized access to computers, conspiracy to commit undue possession of a voting machine and undue possession of a voting machine. Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson has served as the special prosecutor in the case since September 2022  which was requested by Nessels office because she was facing DePerno in the November general election for attorney general that year and wanted to avoid any conflict of interest.

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This petition further stated that when the investigation began, there was a conflict of interest, but that there was not a conflict of interest, but that a conflict had since arisen, DePerno said, calling himself the presumptive Republican nominee in the Attorney General election as of mid-2021, when he was endorsed by Donald Trump. We know this to be false. She had a conflict the entire time.

However, State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), questioned the line between an investigation and a prosecution  Hilson was appointed months before formal charges against DePerno and his co-defendants were announced. Though DePerno said that he absolutely believed that an investigation leading up to the prosecution was a part of that prosecution.

How are we supposed to investigate crimes? Pohutsky asked. The appointment of a special prosecutor is not unique to Dana Nessel or her office. So how is the state supposed to investigate crimes where eventually a recusal is completely appropriate, and the appointment of a special prosecutor?

The Attorney Generals office itself also denied any impropriety in the case, including in the placement of the special prosecutor, which was requested, the office said, after the investigation made it clear that DePerno was not just involved, but a potentially criminally culpable subject.

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Since the placement of this matter with Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson, the Department of Attorney General and Attorney General Dana Nessel have had no influence, special insights, or control over this prosecution, Bush wrote. Special prosecutor assignments are not an unusual process. In 2025, there were 693 cases placed in other offices, and 81 already assigned this year.

DePerno also repeatedly alleged that his prosecution was the target of a vendetta by Nessel, adding that she was laser focused on prosecuting the issue of election denial and she only needed a defendant, which he said she found in him.

Subcommittee chair Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Alto), who prior to the hearing posted on Facebook calling DePerno a leading advocate for election integrity, played into those same concerns, asking at the start of the hearing, We are here to ask one simple question, is this justice or is this retaliation?

Subcommittee chair Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Alto) listens to testimony in the House Oversight Subcommittee on Weaponization of State Government from indicted lawyer Matthew DePerno. March 4, 2026. | Photo by Katherine Dailey/Michigan Advance.

DePerno referred to a number of public statements made by Nessel in the campaign leading up to the 2022 election, as well as a recording of a conversation by a number of staff at the attorney generals office where they discussed preferring to try the case in Oakland County as opposed to Roscommon County, as evidence of this wrongdoing.

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Public officials are free to speak, but when a prosecutor publicly characterizes the subject of an ongoing investigation who is also her opposing counsel and her electoral opponent as an extremist and domestic terrorist, DePerno said, that raises legitimate concerns about neutrality and prejudgment. It raises questions about her agenda.

Nessels office wholeheartedly denied that those conversations were in any way improper, saying that the deliberations referenced by DePerno involved common discussions when an alleged crime or series of crimes occurs in multiple venues.

Despite Defendant DePernos protests, the Prosecutor is not neutral nor expected to avoid pre-judgment, Bush continued. It is wholly unsurprising that those suspected and charged with felonies may be unhappy with conversations surrounding their criminality.
(FOX40.COM)  The Nevada County Coroners Office, along with the Sierra Avalanche Center, released new details in the avalanche that killed nine people below Perry Peak near Frog Lake.

The coroners office confirmed with FOX40 that no one involved was wearing an avalanche airbag system during the incident.

On Feb. 17, 15 backcountry travelers were involved in an avalanche in the Central Sierra Nevada. Nine people were killed and six others were rescued and survived.

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New details from the Sierra Avalanche Center reveal that the victims were buried in a 20-by-20-foot area near the toe of the avalanche debris, around 5 to 8 feet below the surface.

The party was buried in a small depression in the terrain, bounded by trees and boulders, which likely allowed debris to pile up in that small area, officials said.

It was measured that the burial location to the estimated starting zone was at around a 22 to 25 degree angle. Meanwhile, the slope angle where the avalanche likely began was around 36 to 40 degrees, the center said.

(IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center) (IMAGE: Sierra Avalanche Center)

What triggered the avalanche, along with its slab thickness, depth and width, remains unknown. Officials said the information may never be known, as the storm buried evidence.

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The data was gathered on Feb. 27 when Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters and SAR teams returned to the area and dug out the victims remaining equipment, which mostly consisted of skis and poles.

The victims were identified as the following:

Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, California

Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho

Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, California

Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, California

Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, California

Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrea, California (GoFundMe)

Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada (GoFundMe)

Michael Henry, 30, of Soda Springs, California

Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, California

The center is now addressing the avalanche as the Perry Peak Avalanche, formerly known as the Castle Peak avalanche.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has opened an internal investigation into allegations that Gregory Bovino, a senior border patrol official, made disparaging remarks about the Jewish faith of Minnesotas top federal prosecutor, the New York Times reported.

Bovino, who became the public face of the heavily scrutinized immigration crackdown in Minnesota that left two US citizens dead at the hands of federal agents, allegedly mocked federal prosecutor Daniel Rosen during a January phone call with state prosecutors. According to the Times, Bovino allegedly made sarcastic comments about Rosens observance of Shabbat  the weekly period of rest from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset  and used the phrase chosen people in a derisive tone during the 12 January call.

The call came after Bovino requested a meeting with Rosen to push the Minnesota US attorneys office into a stronger response toward criminalizing people who Bovino believed were impeding federal agents from enforcing the Trump administrations immigration crackdown in the state, the Times reported on Saturday.

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On Tuesday, the Times reported that John Breckenridge, a special investigator with Customs and Border Protection, had launched an official inquiry into the allegation that Bovino made unprofessional comments. Breckenridge contacted the Times seeking assistance with the inquiry but did not say whether other aspects of Bovinos conduct were under review.

Following a letter from a Congressman inquiring about reporting on anonymous allegations, CBP opened an internal inquiry to determine the full story, a DHS spokesperson said in a statement to the Guardian. This is standard procedure and does NOT indicate any confirmation of wrongdoing.

Bovino was ultimately removed as head of Operation Metro Surge after federal immigration agents fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti within two weeks of each other. In the aftermath, Donald Trump dispatched his border czar, Tom Homan, to take control of the operation; Homan announced a drawdown of the roughly 3,000 federal agents deployed across Minnesota.

Separately, a Minnesota prosecutor announced on Monday that her office was pursuing a criminal investigation that could result in charges against federal officers  including Bovino  for alleged misconduct during the surge. The Hennepin county attorney, Mary Moriarty, said her office is examining 17 cases, among them an incident captured on video in which Bovino was seen throwing a smoke canister at protesters on 21 January.

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The DHS responded in a statement on Monday night that such enforcement is a federal responsibility and states cannot prosecute federal officers.

What these States are trying to do is unlawful, and they know it, the statement said. Federal officials acting in the course of their duties are immune from liability under state law.

Moriartys office has set up an online portal where photos, videos and eyewitness accounts from any point during Operation Metro Surge can be uploaded.

Make no mistake, we are not afraid of the legal fight, and we are committed to doing this correctly, Moriarty said. Operation Metro Surge caused immeasurable harm to our community.

Abene Clayton contributed reporting
(The Center Square)  The House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee launched in the wake of suspected fraud within government programs in Minnesota recently examined the states Non Emergency Medical Transport program.

A report presented during the hearing to indicated NEMT services dropped in 2025, decreasing by hundreds of thousands of rides billed for.

Michael Weidner, with the Minnesota Paratransit Providers Association, spoke about a new Department of Human Services report on NEMT services being provided, stating that there was a 62% year-over-year decrease in services provided after those government-funded services were added to the list of 14 high risk fraud programs.

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When asked about the year-over-year decrease, John Connolly with DHS said it cant determine if the decrease was due to the higher scrutiny programs were receiving.

He also said drivers have a full calendar year to bill the state for rides given, so there could be rides from 2025 that have yet to be billed to the state.

Connolly could not provide a percentage of rides that have been billed after the ending of a calendar from past years.

This is infuriating, this is beyond infuriating, Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, said following the testimony. You can see [in the report] that it starts to fall off in April of last year and the speculative claim is that people are taking their time to bill. Oh, okay. Cant afford $30 bucks per month per vehicle to have cameras and GPS, margins just doesn't make it possible, but I can wait six months to bill the state for my services. That makes a lot of sense, Hudson said.

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He went on to emphasize that the difference in rides year-over year was more than 400,000 that may not have been billed for yet.

The absurdity, and its an insult to Minnesotas collective intelligence to accept that premise, and I for one am not going to submit to it, Hudson said.

The NEMT program also presents challenges to detecting and preventing fraud. Theres just no easy way to verify that the trip was actually provided and that there was a corresponding medical appointment, James Clark, inspector general with DHS said, pointing to a volume of more than 7 million claims for services every year.

By the end of May, DHS plans to visit all Minnesota NEMT sites in person, Clark said.
Oil prices soared March 2 as U.S. President Donald Trump continued to push for military strikes in Iran.

The strikes in Iran have disrupted oil flows overseas and fueled the surge of U.S. crude oil and global oil prices, leading to people in New Jersey and across the U.S. potentially paying more at the pump.

This threat of a new gas crisis comes as Iran has warned vessels not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway it controls in the south of the country, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil and gas is shipped.

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Related news: Philly airport flights halted to these cities amid Iran conflict

How much will gas prices go up, and how much is gas in New Jersey? Here's what we know.

Are gas prices going up?

The attacks on Iran sent crude oil prices soaring, with Americans likely seeing gas prices going up in the coming days.

According to AAA and GasBuddy, U.S. gas prices for a gallon of regular gas stood at approximately $3 the morning of March 2. That's up approximately 2 cents a gallon from Feb. 28, and up six cents from a week ago.

Experts say gas prices are expected to rise 5-10 cents a day for at least some time, with WTI crude oil  the benchmark used for U.S. oil  up 8% Monday, on-pace for the biggest one-day gain since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Gulf Oil advisor Tom Kloza told CNN a number of companies were raising their wholesale prices for gasoline by 25 cents a gallon.

Analysts expect oil and gas prices to rise following U.S. military strikes on Iran.

Gas prices NJ; gas prices near me

While it's too soon to tell how high gas prices will rise, gas prices in New Jersey averaged $2.97 per gallon of gas March 2, according to GasBuddy. In New Jersey, gas prices Monday were up .5 cents (a half a cent) since March 1, and up 4.5 cents from last month's average ($2.82 cents).

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Below are the average gas prices from Monday across New Jersey.

South Jersey/Jersey Shore areas (Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, Burlington): Between $2.85 and $2.96.

Central Jersey (Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Mercer): Between $2.87 and $2.98.

North Jersey (Sussex, Morris, Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Union, Warren): Between $2.82 and $2.98.

New Jersey's highest gas prices ever recorded was June 14, 2022, when the price at the pump was $5.039  with the cost of a barrel of oil at more than $120.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Oil price soars amid Iran conflict. What are gas prices today in NJ?
As you probably saw, we recently did two live shows in Minneapolis. We went there because we saw that an entire community was under attack by the Trump administration, and we wanted to stand with the people who were heroically fighting back.

What we saw was both the worst and the best of what our country has to offer.

All of the Minneapolis residents we spoke to had a story about ICEs deliberate cruelty and malice: riding around in masks and unmarked vans, snatching up immigrants, deliberately provoking and brutalizing peaceful protesters, releasing people into the freezing cold in the dead of night. And, of course, the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

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In response to all of this, the community mobilized to take care of one another. Everyone did their bit. Legal observers turned out. Citizens tracked ICE and literally blew the whistle to alert people of their presence. Neighbors helped protect children as they walked to school. Real-life guardian angels stood outside ICE detention facilities in sub-zero temperatures all night, ready to offer a coat and a warm ride to those whom agents shoved out into the cold.

Its cliche to invoke Mr. Rogers look for the helpers line. But sometimes cliches capture the reality of whats going on. In Minneapolis, we saw helpersthousand of themwho refused to let their community be occupied and terrorized.

I want to tell you about one of those helpers in particular: Second Harvest Heartland.

We partnered with Second Harvest Heartland for both Bulwark live shows. Its a Minnesota-based, hunger-relief organization that works with more than 1,000 food banks in the area. It provided more than 143 million meals to families last year. I can tell you from dealing with them firsthand, these are amazing people.

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Since the ICE occupation started, demand for their services has gone through the roof. Local families, terrified to walk out their doors, are sheltering in place and in need of food and other necessities. Those who cant risk going to work are facing the possibility of not being able to support or feed their families. Second Harvest Heartland is stepping in to get them what they need.

All the profits from our live shows went directly to Second Harvest Heartland and its vital, lifesaving work. And now the numbers are in, and I can proudly say that you guysthis incredible Bulwark communitymade a massive impact.

Between our two live shows, you all raised more than $60,000, which will provide more than 180,000 meals to families in need.1

Thats a real difference for this community. You guys made it happen.

Now heres my ask: Help us keep the good going. Donate to Second Harvest Heartland right now, if you can. If you already have, consider donating again. All of your support will go directly to an organization thats providing front-line support to some of our countrys most vulnerable families. I cant think of anything more worthwhile in this moment.

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Donate to Second Harvest

Something that the people of Minneapolis told us over and over again is this: Dont forget about us.

They saw the influx of national media once the ICE occupation started, and they saw the attention dwindle after the administration started to back off. They also warned that ICE has not backed down, that their community very much remains under siege. They are still vulnerable. And theyre worried that as the story fades, the support for the community might dry up too.

Lets not let that happen.

We always say that here at The Bulwark, we dont have an audiencewe have a community. You guys proved it. Now help us keep the help coming for the people of Minnesota. Give whatever you can. It will change somebodys life.

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With gratitude,

Sarah Longwell

Publisher, The Bulwark

1

Correction (12:10 p.m. EST Thursday, March 5, 2026): The originally published version of this story stated that the money raised from the two live shows would feed more than 180,000 families in need. Thats slightly inaccurate: Second Harvest will be able to use the proceeds from the live shows to provide more than 180,000 meals.
PIERRE  Two bills to regulate digital currency in South Dakota are on their way to Gov. Larry Rhodens desk after supportive votes in both chambers of the legislature.

One bill is meant to curb scams involving digital currency kiosks; the other would define cryptocurrency as a seizable asset.

U.S. citizens lost $9.3 billion in crypto assets in 2025, Attorney General Marty Jackley told lawmakers in the House Judiciary Committee in support of the latter bill. South Dakotans were scammed out of $13.8 million in digital currency that year, he said.

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The asset bill was presented on Jackleys behalf as part of his 2026 legislative package. His office supported the kiosks bill, whose prime sponsors are Brandon Republican Sen. Steve Kolbeck and Pierre Republican Rep. Mike Weisgram.

Millions lost through digital kiosks

South Dakotans lost over $500,000 in 2025 in connection to scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks, Clark Police Chief Jeremy Wellnitz told members of the House Commerce and Energy Committee on Monday. Across the county, the kiosks were involved in $333 million in losses.

The kiosks are physical machines where customers can buy or sell cryptocurrency with cash. They have become a common tool for scammers, he said, as did several other law enforcement officials from across the state. Scammers will connect with victims through social media, text message or phone call and convince the victim they need to take out cash from their bank account and send it to the scammers digital wallet through a digital currency kiosk.

Senate Bill 98 would require digital kiosk operators to be licensed with the state, Weisgram said. It would also require operators to set $1,000 daily transaction limits to prevent significant financial losses, print paper receipts for customers, explain terms and conditions before a transaction, disclose fees and transaction rates, and refund victims of fraud.

More legislative news

See all of Searchlights coverage of the 2026 legislative session.

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Read the latest

South Dakota already licenses 10 operators in the state, said Bret Afdahl, director of the South Dakota Division of Banking with the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. There are 172 kiosks throughout South Dakota, he said, primarily in urban areas.

He told lawmakers that cryptocurrency kiosk companies have filed 158 currency transaction reports involving more than $10,000 in cash in South Dakota in the last two years. The companies filed seven reports for suspected fraud or money laundering during that timeframe.

We really need to flip the incentive structure here with these kiosks right now, Afdahl said. These kiosk providers profit from every dollar that comes in, whether its a legitimate transaction or not, and we need to incentivize them to prevent these frauds from occurring.

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Supporters of the bill included representatives for banking, law enforcement and consumer protection organizations. Cryptocurrency industry representatives spoke against it.

Clara Wulfsen, with CoinFlip, told lawmakers the company supports most of the bill, and said the companys current practices to address fraudulent activity are in line with the proposed regulations. She said a $1,000 daily limit would be too restrictive.

The bill passed out of the committee on Monday on a 10-2 vote. It passed on the House floor 59-7 on Tuesday.

Crypto asset forfeiture

Another bill on cryptocurrency, in its case when linked to criminal investigations, earned the support of every member of the House Judiciary Committee on Monday.

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Senate Bill 43 would amend state law on asset forfeiture to define cryptocurrency as a seizable asset.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley speaks during a press conference on Dec. 19, 2025, in Sioux Falls. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Forfeiture is a process by which law enforcement investigating alleged criminal activity can take money or property thought to be linked to that activity from a person, before that person is convicted of a crime. Police commonly seize cash in cases of suspected drug dealing, or seize vehicles allegedly used to transport narcotics or other illicit materials.

Current law lets police take any tangible asset, which Jackley said arguably exempts digital money.

This bill provides some legitimacy for cryptocurrency, Jackley said. I think the time for that has come.

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Drug dealers and human traffickers regularly use cryptocurrency, Jackley said, with $2.3 billion in crypto used in the drug trade in 2024.

The committee passed SB 43 on an 11-0 vote on Monday. It passed on the House floor on Tuesday as part of the chambers consent calendar, a grouping of bills voted on in bulk unless a member requests debate.

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By Stanley Widianto

JAKARTA, March 4 (Reuters) - Indonesia's foreign minister said talks on U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza "Board of Peace," of which the Southeast Asian nation is a key troop-contributing member, were on hold due to the Middle East war.

The U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran has killed scores of civilians, thrown global air transport into chaos and sent oil prices surging after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

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"All BoP discussions are on hold as all attention has shifted to the situation in Iran," Minister Sugiono, who goes by one name, said late on Tuesday in response to a question on calls for Indonesia to exit the peace board in the aftermath of the fresh conflict in the Middle East.

"We will also consult with our friends and colleagues in the Gulf because they are also under attack," Sugiono told reporters after attending an event alongside President Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesia's participation on the board has drawn criticism from experts and Muslim groups at home, who say it compromises the worlds largest Muslim-majority nations longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.

Indonesia backs a two-state solution.

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The Indonesian Ulema Council, a leading clerical body, said on March 1 that Indonesia should leave the board, citing Trump's attack on Iran as rendering the initiative ineffective.

Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organisation, said Jakarta should use its position to press Israel and the United States to halt the violence.

Trump first proposed the board in September when he unveiled a plan to end Israels war in Gaza, later expanding its remit to address other global conflicts typically handled by the United Nations.

Sugiono also said Prabowo is willing to be a mediator in the Iran war in a bid "to cool down and de-escalate the situation in the region."

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Indonesia is readying 1,000 troops for potential deployment in Gaza by early April as part of a proposed multinational peacekeeping force, its army said, as part of the UN-mandated International Stabilization Force. It has also been given the deputy commander role of the force.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Gibran Peshimam and Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
The Department of Justice removed 47,635 files from the publicly available database of Jeffrey Epstein case files, including various claims against President Donald Trump.

Links to the offline files now return a page not found error on the departments website. DOJ spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre told CBS News that they have not deleted any files from the library and that the files will be available after redactions are made.

Our team is working around the clock to address victim concerns, redact personally identifiable information and any images of a sexual nature, she said in a statement.

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The removed files related to Trump were first discovered in a Feb. 24 investigation by NPR. The outlet found several documents that were withheld centered on an FBI investigation into claims that Trump sexually abused a minor in the 1980s.

The DOJ said many of the offline files will be reuploaded by the end of the week, but it is unclear if the pages related to this investigation and other tips against Trump will be reentered into the database.

In a press conference on Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the case files total 6 million pages. Blanche said that the files they did not publish were withheld to protect survivors and avoid interference with ongoing investigations. However, some lawmakers who reviewed the unredacted files claim they found withheld information that didnt meet that criteria.

Start your day with essential news from Salon.

Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

During their review, Epstein Files Transparency Act co-sponsors Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., initially found the names of six wealthy men were not in the public database.

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If we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3 million files, Khanna said last month.

Files related to those men, including retail billionaire Les Wexner, have since been uploaded to the database.

The post DOJ admits to removing nearly 48,000 Epstein files from database, including Trump allegations appeared first on Salon.com.
This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Brian Evanko, Cignas chief operating officer, will become the chief executive at the company following CEO David Cordanis retirement in July.

Cordani will become executive chair of Cignas board of directors after he steps down from the chief position on July 1, the company announced Tuesday.

As CEO, Evanko will receive a base salary of $1.3 million and an annual target bonus of $2.6 million, according to a securities filing. Hell also serve on the board of directors effective April 1.

Dive Insight:

Cordani is retiring after a nearly 17-year tenure as CEO. He assumed the role in June 2009, after serving as president and COO of the Bloomfield, Connecticut-based company, according to Cordanis LinkedIn. Cordani has worked at the insurance conglomerate since 1991.

Evanko is also a longtime Cigna employee, having spent nearly 30 years with the company. He joined Cigna in 1998, according to Evankos LinkedIn.

Cigna appointed Evanko to COO last year as part of a broader restructuring of its C-suite that gave him oversight of Cignas insurance division and Evernorth, its health services division that houses Express Scripts. Previously, Evanko served as chief financial officer and CEO of Cignas insurance division.

The leadership transition comes as Cigna navigates the fallout of a landmark settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over its pharmaceutical benefits manager Express Scripts, announced early last month.

Cigna executives have argued the settlement with the FTC  which allowed Express Scripts to bow out of a lawsuit accusing Optum Rx, Express Scripts and CVS Caremark of raising the price of insulin  wont impact profits at Express Scripts, which have buoyed the overall companys financial performance as health insurance profits decline across the industry.

As part of the settlement, Express Scripts agreed to make changes to its drug benefits design, including delinking its compensation from savings it negotiates with drugmakers.

Express Scripts was already planning to transition its employer clients to a rebate-free benefits model, executives said on a fourth-quarter earnings call last month. Additionally, the settlement didnt incur any financial penalties on Cigna, and the company isnt liable if employers dont want to adopt its new model.
Democratic senators have warned that President Donald Trump has no endgame after greenlighting joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and unleashed a barrage of retaliatory attacks.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a classified briefing to lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday that appears to have done little to allay concerns about the conflict that has erupted across the Middle East.

Speaking to Kaitlan Collins on CNN Tuesday evening, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallago, an Iraq War veteran, said: The most important thing that came away from this was, number one, we dont have a plan on how to get out of this.

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We dont actually have a concept of victory. We  you know, our justification for going into the war is entirely different from what were hearing from the president right now. Again, this is even after the president went publicly and spoke to that. And that all is a very scary situation.

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallago discusses U.S. airstrikes on Iran with Kaitlan Collins on CNN on Tuesday March 3, 2026 (CNN)

Like, for me, as someone who had to live through some really bad decisions in 2005 that the, you know, the then-administration did, if we dont know how we can get out of this war, if we dont know what the actual victory is, were seeing potentially a long-term war.

He added: The president has not been very clear how and when it ends. And more importantly, the American public does not want this right now.

A snap poll over the weekend found that only one in four U.S. citizens supported the strikes, backing up the senators argument.

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Gallegos concerns were shared by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who said in a social media video after the briefing: It is so much worse than you thought. You are right to be worried. The Trump administration has no plan in Iran.

This illegal war is based on lies and it was launched without any imminent threat to our nation. Donald Trump still hasnt given a single clear reason for this war and he seems to have no plan for how to end it either.

Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal has warned the president may ultimately send in ground troops to Iran (Getty)

Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal told reporters in Washington after emerging from the briefing he was left with more questions than answers and was more fearful than ever that Trump could end up putting boots on the ground in Iran to restore order.

The presidents mixed messaging about the airstrikes, their ultimate purpose and likely duration attracted particular attention.

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Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz added: There are times when you go into a classified session and you walk out with a better understanding about the gravity of the situation and the rationale behind the military action. This is not one of those times.

We remain as confused as the American people are. They have had three or four or five justifications for this act of war over the last four or five days, and nothing in this classified session alleviated that confusion.

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, also a veteran, wrote on X (Twitter) in response to a since-deleted tweet from the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem advising Americans to leave the region: There could not be a clearer sign that there was no plan. No plan for whats next. No plan to get Americans to safety. None whatsoever.

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth has also called out Trump for having no plan for the conflict (Getty)

On the one hand, the Trump Administration is encouraging Americans in the Middle East to leave the region immediately. On the other, their illegal war has closed most of the regions airports and airspace  and theyre telling them theyre on their own.

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Its a complete failure of leadership. Trumps war of choice is leaving Americans stranded in this chaos with no way out.

Duckworth was one of several Democrats who criticized the president earlier this week for his, as they saw it, callous remarks about U.S. servicemembers killed in a drone strike in Kuwait Sunday, an attack that left six dead and which Trump described as, The way it is.

Members of Trumps own MAGA coalition have also rejected his play against Iran, with Tucker Carlson calling it evil, Megyn Kelly and guest Erik Prince speaking out against it on her Sirius XM show, and even far-right pundits like Alex Jones and Nick Fuentes calling it out.
It is believed that among the medical team are several senior doctors, who will reinforce medical teams in Israeli hospitals such as Sheba Medical Center and Rambam Medical Center.

Medical teams are making their way to Israel via one of Zim Shipping's vessels, including a group of dozens of medical staff who departed from Cyprus toward Haifa under the Health Ministry's supervision.

The group is expected to arrive on Tuesday morning. Zim Shipping also assisted with transporting medical teams to Israel during Operation Rising Lion.

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It is believed that the medical team includes several senior doctors who will reinforce medical teams at Israeli hospitals such as Sheba Medical Center, Rambam Medical Center, and the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.

SHIPPING CONTAINERS at the Haifa port. Nov 14, 2011. (credit: YAAKOV NAUMI/FLASH90)

Zim CEO: Main concerns are State of Israel, our employees

"Given the security situation, we are making our ships and infrastructure available to meet Israels national needs. The companys ships will be prioritized for transporting cargo from anywhere in the world to Israel, according to theDefense Ministry and the Israeli governments requests and needs. Our main concerns at such times are the State of Israel and our employees in Israel and around the world," said Eli Glickman, President and CEO of Zim Shipping.

"As in any emergency, Zim places the interests of the company and the state above all and contributes its part to the national effort," he added.

Following Glickman's directive to place the companys ships and resources at the states disposal during this challenging time, and in coordination with the Transportation Ministry, led by MKMiri Regev, Zim is operating and redirecting container ships to serve as shuttle vessels, bringing essential medical personnel and additional resources to Israel.

"The transport of passengers and vital goods will continue as long as Israel needs and instructs us," said Glickman. "As in any emergency, Zim places the interests of the company and the state above all and contributes its part to the national effort."
A driver suspected of forcing three people into a car at knifepoint died after later crashing the car into a house in Coventry Tuesday night, March 3, according to the Coventry police.

The three people who were allegedly forced into the car escaped before the crash, the police said in a press release.

The bizarre incident started on Anthony Street late Tuesday night and ended on Main Street, according to the police.

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At about 11:47 p.m., the police went to 20 Anthony Street for a disturbance, with the police being told that the three people were forced into a vehicle against their will.

Officers found the car on Washington Street and stopped it, but after the car stopped, it backed into a Coventry police cruiser. At that point, the three alleged victims were able to get out of the car, the police said.

The car then drove west on Washington Street, with officers losing sight of it, the police said. The police later found the vehicle after it had crashed into a house at 1044 Main Street, according to the police.

The male suspect was taken to Kent Hospital in Warwick, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the police.

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Nobody in the house was injured, but they were displaced for the night because of damage from the crash, the police said.

Following policy, the Coventry Police Department notified the Rhode Island State Police and Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office to lead the investigation in conjunction with the Coventry police, the police said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Coventry kidnapping suspect dies after crashing car into house
Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran and Lebanon, where state media reported a residential building was hit on Wednesday, as Iran's Guards said they had sealed off one of the world's most vital shipping routes for energy.

Governments scrambled to evacuate citizens stranded in the Middle East, where Iran expanded a retaliatory missile and drone barrage on the fifth day of a war that sent stocks sinking.

With global energy prices already on the rise over the expanding war, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it has "complete control" of the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial chokepoint into the Gulf.

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But Trump said the US had "knocked out" Iran's navy, along with its air force and radar systems, and that the US Navy was ready to escort tankers through the waterway through which one-fifth of global seaborne oil pass.

The US military said it has hit nearly 2,000 targets since first launching deadly strikes with Israel on Iran on Saturday that killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel kept up the bombardment, with its military announcing a "broad wave of strikes" after midnight across Iran, which in the hours before had launched three waves of missile barrages at Israel.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted two cruise missiles, while drones struck near the US consulate in Dubai, starting a fire, and against the US military base at Al-Udeid in Qatar.

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The United States encouraged all Americans to leave the region if they can find commercial flights, even though air travel has been severely disrupted, while governments including Britain and France sent in chartered flights to get citizens out.

- Urgent warning -

The war took a growing toll on Lebanon, where Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has launched drones and rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli opening strikes.

Early Wednesday, the Israeli military called on residents to leave 16 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, in an "urgent warning" before using force against Hezbollah militants.

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Lebanese state media said Israeli attacks on a building killed four in Baalbek in Lebanon's east, far from the border, as well as a Beirut hotel in an area so far spared the violence.

In Aramoun and Saadiyat -- two towns south of Beirut and outside the Hezbollah's traditional strongholds -- the health ministry said Israeli strikes killed six people and wounded eight. It cautioned that this was a "preliminary toll".

It was not immediately clear what was targeted in these towns or in Baalbek, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which earlier announced "broad-scale strikes" against Hezbollah.

- Trump says more leaders killed-

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The US military targeted ballistic missiles and "all the things that can shoot at us" in its attacks on Iran since Saturday, said Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command.

"These forces bring a massive amount of firepower, representing the largest buildup by the US in the Middle East in a generation," he said in a video message, describing the first day's barrage as bigger than the so-called "shock and awe" against Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 2003.

Trump walked back a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio the day before, who said the US attack's timing was precipitated by Israel's plans to strike.

"If anything, I might have forced Israel's hand," Trump said as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.

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Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged Iranians to rise up but Trump said regime change was not the goal.

The assault came weeks after Iranian authorities clamped down on mass protests, killing thousands.

The United States and Israel have received lukewarm support, with Western nations limiting involvement to helping Gulf states and repatriating citizens.

The US President said that two waves of US-Israeli attacks had killed Iranian figures he had eyed as potential new leaders, adding that there had been a "substantial" new attack on a meeting to choose the new leadership.

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"Most of the people we had in mind are dead," he said. "Now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports."

The US and Israeli attacks have killed 787 people in Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent, a toll that could not be independently confirmed by AFP.

Iran repeatedly vowed to inflict a heavy price in retaliation.

"We are saying to the enemy that if it decides to hit our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region," Islamic Revolutionary Guard General Ebrahim Jabbari said.

- Ghost town -

In Tehran, residents who have not fled remained shut away in their homes, fearing the US-Israeli bombardment.

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The Iranian capital is normally home to around 10 million people, but in recent days "there are so few people that you'd think no one ever lived here", said Samireh, a 33-year-old nurse.

Authorities had previously urged people to leave the city, and police officers, armed security forces and armoured vehicles have been stationed at main junctions, carrying out random checks on vehicles.

In the more upmarket north of Tehran, the meowing of cats and chirping of birds replaced the usual din of traffic jams.

Iranian authorities said a strike on a school in the city of Minab on the first day of the war killed more than 150 people. AFP has been unable to access the location independently to verify the toll or circumstances.

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The US military began naming the first of six troops who have been killed. In Israel, nine people died Sunday when a missile hit the town of Beit Shemesh.

At least eight people have died across the Gulf.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 52 people in Lebanon, according to the government, while the United Nations said that more than 30,000 people were displaced.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said among those killed in Lebanon were three paramedics.

burs/sct/mlm/ceg/hmn
A drone hit a US military base near Baghdad on Wednesday, Iraqi media reported, citing security sources.

No damage was reported in the attack, which comes amid a regional escalation following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran on Saturday.

A militia allied with Tehran meanwhile claimed responsibility on Wednesday for a drone attack on a US base in Erbil in the Kurdish region, and said it had also struck a hotel in the city, where it said US soldiers were housed.

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Iraq shares a 1,500-kilometer border with Iran, and Tehran wields significant political, economic, and military influence over its neighbour.

Parts of Iraq's Shia community fear that a weakening of Iran could also erode their own political influence, while observers fear that developments in Tehran could trigger fresh unrest in Iraq.

The country has experienced a severe political crisis for years since the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Several months after its parliamentary election, Iraq is still in the process of forming a government. Previous governments in Baghdad have generally sought to maintain good relations with both Tehran and Washington.

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The United States and Israel have carried out strikes inside Iraq in recent days, in parallel with their military operations against Iran.

At least 11 members of Iran-loyal militias have been killed, according to reports, although there has been no official confirmation of the deaths.
That familiar gray plastic E-ZPass mounted on your windshield may soon be a thing of the past.

Massachusetts state transportation officials have confirmed they are transitioning away from traditional hard-case E-ZPass transponders and replacing them with low-cost windshield sticker tags  a move expected to save millions of dollars annually.

According to WBUR, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has begun issuing RFID sticker tags to new customers and for replacements starting in early March 2026.

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The sticker adheres directly to the inside of a vehicles windshield and performs the same toll-reading function as the plastic device.

MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told WBUR the stickers cost about 55 cents each, compared to roughly $6 to $7 per traditional plastic transponder  a significant cost difference that could generate substantial long-term savings for the state.

Reporting from Boston.com also confirmed the transition and noted that current plastic transponders will continue to work  meaning drivers are not required to swap them out immediately.

What Massachusetts drivers should know

Existing plastic E-ZPass transponders will continue working.

New accounts and replacement devices will receive sticker tags.

The technology still works with the states all-electronic tolling system.

Is this a nationwide change?

E-ZPass operates as a multi-state consortium across 19 states, but each state transportation agency manages its own transponder procurement and rollout decisions.

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While some states, such as New Jersey, are considering or piloting similar sticker programs to reduce costs, it is not a nationwide initiative.

More Business News

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Our results page with the most up-to-date numbers is available at the link here.

VERMONT (ABC22/FOX44)  Town Meeting Day vote-counting is happening all over Vermont, with some school budgets in trouble while other projects have been approved.

Milton, Georgia, Williamstown, and Chester are four towns where school budgets reportedly failed. In most other towns that have reported results, including CVSD, Burlington, and Rutland Town, budgets passed.

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Readsboro voters chose by a wide margin, 222 to 36, to close their Readsboro Central School. Their school budget did pass  by one vote, 122 to 121.

Also related to education  a Williston proposed bond to improve the town library at a price tag of $13.8 million passed by a narrow margin.

Proposed Williston library expansion to cost $13.8 million

1% local options taxes passed in Swanton, Fair Haven, and Pomfret but failed in Milton by a wide margin. Morristown residents voted on three separate articles related to the local option tax, all of which passed.

Initial results from Stowe indicate that locals there voted in favor of a 2% local option tax on sales, rooms, meals and alcohol.

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Shelburnes town budget passed with 74% in favor; a $1.4 million bond on repairs to town infrastructure passed by an even wider margin. None of the town office races were contested.

In Winooski, which also had no contested races, all measures passed by more than a 2-to-1 margin.

Winooski asking voters to approve $950k bond

Some town meeting results came in earlier

While for Vermonters voting by Australian ballot, polls were still open until 7:00 p.m., many communities hold a traditional in-person town-meeting and vote, and some of these sent in results earlier.

Royalton voted in favor of a moratorium on new construction of AI and cryptocurrency data centers  the vote expressed support for restrictions over the next 5 years.

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Montgomery, Vermont considered whether to support the impeachment of President Donald Trump. According to former Town Moderator Timothy Murphy, that vote passed 55 to 18, meaning more than 75% were in favor  quite a bit higher than the 56% that NPR said voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

Bradford had its Town Meeting Day vote on Saturday. A question on whether to add 2 police officers to the towns force, making for a total of 4, failed. The town also chose to retain its traditional town meeting format rather than switch to Australian ballot.

The Windsor County town of Weston reported its results earlier on Tuesday following a morning meeting. All of the up-or-down votes passed, but one select board seat and one town lister seat remain vacant.

Floor votes and confirmed items across the state

Many places in Vermont dont have number to report on, simply because they voted from the floor Tuesday. In these cases voting is done by voice and majority.

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All articles from the floor passed in Hartland yesterday, including one which asked voters to authorize $100,000 for a General Fund surplus to the Culvert Reserve Fund.

Worcester officials meanwhile confirmed that all items have passed, including one to establish a capitol fund for future natural disasters. Meanwhile, in Roxbury, voters authorized the Roxbury Selectboard to lease village school property.

We will be updating results as we receive them. If you are a town clerk or other local official, you can email us at news@mychamplainvalley.com or call us at (802) 859-1344 with preliminary or official results.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
(The Center Square)  Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley, amid little surprise, unofficially advanced Tuesday on primary Election Day into a showdown on Nov. 3 for a seat from North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

Each were declared winners moments after polls closed.

Cooper, former two-term governor from Raleigh, was the overwhelming choice (92.4%) in a field with Wilmingtons Marcus William (2.5%), Concords Justin Dues (2.2%), Jacksonvilles Daryl Farrow (1.2%), High Points Orrick Quick (0.9%) and Rocky Points Robert Colon (0.8%).

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Whatley, former chairman of the Republican National Committee from Gastonia, earned 63.9% in early returns in charging past Waxhaws Don Brown (16.3%), Garners Thomas Johnson (5.7%), Carys Michele Morrow (5.5%), Smithfields Elizabeth Temple (3.9%), Durhams Richard Dansie (2.3%) and the already disqualified Margot Dupre (2.4%) listed from Charlotte but later found to be more accurately from Florida.

Canvassing to make results official is Friday of next week. Libertarian Shannon Bray of Angier is the third candidate on the ballot Nov. 3.

Republicans are united, Whatley wrote on social media. Now the real fight begins. This November, North Carolina voters will have a choice: safer communities, secure borders, more jobs and lower costs or Roy Coopers failed record.

The race to succeed two-term Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has drawn the spotlight nationally since his decision last year to not seek reelection. Spending is projected to set a Senate campaign record at or above $1 billion.

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The chamber has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents caucusing but not always voting with the minority party on key issues such as a government shutdown. Democrats believe this Republican seat as well as that of Maines Susan Collins, Ohios Jon Husted and Alaskas Dan Sullivan are ripe for flipping.

Republicans believe the seat can be held in addition to flipping the Democratic seats of Georgias Jon Ossof, Michigans Gary Peters (not seeking reelection), and New Hampshires Jeanne Shaheen (not seeking reelection).

Senate seats held by Iowa Republican Joni Ernst (not seeking reelection) and Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith (not seeking reelection) are considered also in the mix for change of party.

Theres no doubt, Cooper wrote on social media. Weve got our work cut out for us. But North Carolinians have always given me hope and thats whats going to get us across the finish line.

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Coopers quest is different than most in the other states, however, because hes popular and won not only the two terms as governor but four four-year stints as attorney general. He has pinned his campaign strategy on affordable costs, health care, and what he describes as chaos in Washington.

Whatley, also former chairman of the state's party, is endorsed and fully aligned with the gentleman he helped win election two years ago, second-term Republican President Donald Trump. Thats an agenda slogan of America First, meaning priority on policies that prioritize the interests of the United States when it comes to economy and trade, foreign policy, border security and a rejection of limited decision-making power within international agreements, or sovereignty.

Campaigns for both have punched the other frequently on hurricane recovery responsibility. No hit, however, is likely to top the one delivered by state Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, unlocking insight into 3,500 people released from prison as part of Coopers litigation settlement with the NAACP and ACLU in 2021.

In addition to 16% of the prison population  more than 5,400 inmates  approved for release by the Cooper administration just before the settlement, those in the 3,500 deal were to be inmates who had not committed crimes against other people; were pregnant; were scheduled to be released in 2021; or were planned to grant early release to those on track for parole.

Instead, say published reports, at least 51 had life sentences. Coopers campaign has responded by advocating his tough on crime leadership as a prosecutor; and said tying him to Decarlos Brown Jr.  suspect in stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska  through the settlement is a lie.




It's election day in San Antonio, where key races up and down the ballot are set to be decided in the March 3 primary election.

Voters in Texas have set a record for ballots cast during the early voting period of a primary election. With 2.5 million voters making their way to the polls during early voting, Texas has surpassed its previous high-water mark set during the 2020 presidential primary election.

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Follow along for live updates as we cover all of tonight's storylines, including John Cornyn's fight to hang onto his U.S. Senate seat, Tony Gonzales' bid to stave off a primary challenge amid a sex scandal and the battle between Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Former Comal County Tax Assessor-Collector Kristen Hoyt has captured the Republican nomination to be Comal County's next county judge.

Hoyt received more than two-thirds of the votes cast in the Comal County Republican primary, according to the county's elections office.

- Ricardo Delgado

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales and hardline challenger Brandon Herrera seem to be headed to a runoff in the Republican primary for his border-adjacent district.

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"Thank you President Trump and all those #TX23 constituents that support our campaign," Gonzales said on X late Tuesday. "Onward to a victorious May."

The rematch between Gonzales, R-San Antonio, and gun influencer Herrera pits two competing visions of the Republican Party against each other: the incumbent represents a moderate approach scaffolded on compromise, while Herrera personifies the party's insurgent wing that wants the GOP to aggressively police its own ranks.

- Bayliss Wagner

Incumbent Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk is headed to a May runoff against his challenger for the Republican Party nomination after failing to pull far enough ahead in Tuesday's vote totals.

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With all precincts reporting as of 9:50 p.m., Stolarczyk had 4,292 votes, or 44.1% of the total cast, according to county elections officials. Ricky Gleason, a financial adviser who has served on the city of Boerne's Planning and Zoning Commission, had 3,979 votes, or 40.9%, while Besa Martin, a rancher and business attorney, had 1,449 votes, or 14.9%.

Since no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, Stolarczyk and Gleason will meet in a runoff election in May.

- Richard Webner

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is headed to a runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid for a fifth term in Washington. Early returns showed Cornyn with a modest lead over Paxton in the high-profile GOP primary election, but with not enough votes to secure the majority needed to win outright.

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Houston Congressman Wesley Hunt conceded the race Tuesday night but vowed "this will not be the last time you see my name on a ballot."

"Clearly the people of Texas have chosen them," Hunt said of Cornyn and Paxton. "At the end of the day, I wish them the best of luck in the runoff and whoever the people choose to go to the general election they will have my undying support. We have got to keep Texas red."

Gov. Greg Abbott will face state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat and former school board member, in his bid for a record fourth term in office.

The Republican governor easily fended off 10 primary challengers Tuesday. He is vowing to overhaul the state's property tax system, from capping local spending and home appraisals to eliminating school taxes for homeowners.

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Hinojosa, who also cleared a crowded Democratic primary field, has framed her campaign as one against billionaires, corporate interests and big-money donors to whom she says Abbott has become beholden.

- Benjamin Wermund

The races for Bexar County clerk and Bexar County district clerk race could each be headed to a May runoff if the incumbents don't receive more than 50% of the vote.

County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark was just under that threshold after early voting returns were released.

She had just over 47% of the vote, followed by Cynthia Castro with 38% and Mari Sanchez Belew with 15%.

District Clerk Gloria Martinez had almost 33% of the vote, followed by Christine "Chris" Castillo and former Democratic Party Chair Monica Ramirez Alcantara with about 24% of the vote each.

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- Molly Smith

State Rep. Marc LaHood of San Antonio seems likely to beat back challenger David McArthur in a Republican primary race that became a vicious proxy war between well-funded trial lawyers and one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Republican politics.

Early vote returns gave Lahood a big edge over McArthur. Lahood is a freshman in the state House, having ousted a longtime Republican lawmaker in 2024 to represent the GOP-leaning district that stretches north from wealthy neighborhoods like Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills toward Bulverde.

If his lead holds, LaHood's victory would signal the increasing influence of a new brand of hardline Republican in the Texas GOP, and a crack in the decades of dominance by Texans for Lawsuit Reform, which has lobbied state legislators to rein in what they see as frivolous lawsuits against businesses.

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- Bayliss Wagner

Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who held an early lead over County Judge Peter Sakai in the Democratic primary for Bexar County judge, declared victory Tuesday night.

"I'm ready to get to work," Nirenberg told KSAT-TV at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Luz Elena Chapa and Jane Davis are leading the crowded Democratic primary race to replace outgoing District Attorney Joe Gonzales, according to early voting returns.

Chapa had 24% of Bexar County's early vote, followed by Davis with 19% - enough to send them to May's primary runoff.

Defense attorneys Shannon Locke and Veronica Legarreta followed behind with 14% and 11% of the vote, respectively.

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Eight candidates were vying to be the Democratic nominee in November's general election. The winner of the primary will face Republican Ashley Foster.

The top two vote getters will face off in the May 26 runoff.

- Gabriella Ybarra

Gov. Greg Abbott easily defeated his 10 primary challengers Tuesday night. The Republican governor is running for a record fourth term and vowing to overhaul the state's property tax system, from capping local spending and home appraisals to eliminating school taxes for homeowners.

Indicted County Court-at-Law Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez lost her bid for a third term.

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Challenger Alicia "Ali" Perez had 65% of the vote, according to early returns. Speedlin Gonzalez trailed by more than 31,800 votes.

Speedlin Gonzalez was arrested on Jan. 29 on a second-degree felony charge of unlawful restraint by a judge and a misdemeanor charge of official oppression.

- Molly Smith

Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg has an early lead over County Judge Peter Sakai in the Democratic primary for Bexar County judge.

Sixty-two percent of Bexar County's roughly 120,000 early voters chose Nirenberg, according to unofficial results released at 8:25 p.m.. Nirenberg trailed by nearly 30,000 voters just before 8:30 p.m.

Nirenberg's supporters sipped on beer and pizza at Backyard on Broadway waiting for the results to come in. Claps and cheers rang through the bar's back patio when the first returns arrived.

"This campaign is about making sure the leadership that represents this community rises to the standards that have been raised by the people who live here," Nirenberg told the audience of about 150.

- Saul Pink

The Dallas Police Department said in a statement that officers arrested the man who showed up to Ken Paxton's watch party for traffic violations.

Officers located ammunition during a search of the man's vehicle, which did not have a proper license plate, the statement said.

The "suspicious" individual was transported to police headquarters, where an investigation remains ongoing.

- Isaac Yu

Anna Lopez confessed to feeling jittery as the first election results began showing up on the TVs scattered around the venue of Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico's watch party in South Austin.

The first votes came from Dallas, home base for U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who is Talarico's rival for the nomination.

"I'm just worried in general. I just want him to win so bad," Lopez said as country music filled the crowded hall at a nightspot called Emo's. "He deserves it. I think he's a really honorable person, and he's run his campaign really clean."

Asked about the size of the crowd, which was still swelling just before 7:30 p.m., Lopez said it gave her some optimism.

"I think it's really encouraging," she said. "So many people I know and love are going for Talarico  My grandmother lives in Beaumont, Texas, which is very deep red, and she is all for James."

- John C. Moritz

Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and Austin state Rep. James Talarico were locked in a close contest Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, a race that will have national implications heading toward November.

Crockett won the early vote in Harris, Fort Bend and Tarrant Counties. Talarico was ahead in Travis and other central Texas counties.

The high-stakes race has been packed with drama as Democrats are more optimistic than they have been in years about their chances in the Nov. 3 general election. A third candidate, Ahmad R. Hassan, is also in the race, but is seen as a longshot.

- John C. Moritz

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn took an early lead in several key counties over Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Houston Congressman Wesley Hunt in his bid for a fifth term in Washington.

In North Texas, Paxton's home turf, Cornyn was leading in Denton and Tarrant counties, according to early vote totals released Tuesday night.

And in Paxton's home of Collin County, Cornyn had a slight edge over Paxton in early voting, with almost 70,000 votes cast.

- James Osborne

About 2,000 voters were still in line waiting to cast their election day ballots as of about 7:20 p.m., the Bexar County Elections Department said.

That means that early voting returns won't be posted anytime soon.

"To protect every voter's right to participate - and consistent with guidance from the Secretary of State - the Bexar County Elections Department will delay releasing early vote totals until all voters who were in line by closing have had the opportunity to cast their ballots," the department said in a statement. "This ensures fairness and reinforces our commitment to serving every member of the community."

More than 80,800 people had cast ballots in-person as of 6 p.m. today - an hour before polls closed.

Elections Administrator Michele Carew previously said she expected election day turnout to be around 100,000 voters.

A masked man was detained by Dallas police outside the hotel where Attorney General Ken Paxton's watch party is being held, according to eyewitnesses and social media posts.

Social media posts show that the man arrived in a blue car without license plates and attempted to enter the lobby of the hotel. Police searched and towed the car after detaining the man and appeared to seize ammunition.

-Isaac Yu

Ken Paxton and Jasmine Crockett, both firebrands within their respective party primaries, are slated to watch results roll in just a mile apart in central Dallas.

Both candidates emerged in North Texas and are each seen as the preferred opponent by members of the other party, with Democrats viewing Paxton's string of scandals as political baggage and Republicans including Gov. Greg Abbott signaling they see an easier foil in Crockett.

Paxton spent his early career representing a slice of Collin County to the north in the state Legislature. His party at an Uptown Dallas hotel is poised to be a celebration, with most polls showing Paxton in first. But supporters will still be closely watching the winning margin, which could dictate momentum if the race goes to a top-two runoff in May.

Meanwhile, Crockett's party at a downtown nightclub is at the heart of both the district she represented in the state House and her current congressional seat. Crockett's campaign said the schedule of events has been scrambled by the congresswoman's late afternoon call for polling places in Dallas and Williamson counties to remain open past 7 p.m. after reports of voter confusion.

- Isaac Yu

Polls in Bexar County closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with several local races on the ballot. Follow for live results as they're reported.

A district judge has ordered the polls to remain open until 9 p.m. in the Dallas County Democratic primary amid mass voter confusion on Tuesday, according to County Judge Clay Jenkins.

Under new rules requested by the local Republican party, voters are only able to cast a ballot at their assigned precinct, instead of at any polling location in the county. Jenkins said up to 90% of Dallas County voters who showed up to polling locations in Tuesday's primary election had been rerouted to different ones.

- Bayliss Wagner

Facing a stiff challenge in his GOP primary on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw said he and his volunteers are all over the 2nd Congressional District trying to convince voters to give him another two years in Congress.

"We've done everything we can," Crenshaw said just before noon as he greeted voters in the parking lot at the Kingwood Community Center.

Crenshaw has been in Congress since 2018, but is getting a formidable challenge from state Rep. Steve Toth, who has represented sections of Montgomery County within the district.

Toth was in the same parking lot as Crenshaw and said he's convinced he's going to pull the upset on Tuesday.

"We feel really good about it," Toth said.

- Jeremy Wallace

Senate Democratic candidate James Talarico said he is advocating for an extension of voting hours in two key counties after a change in voting procedures left many unable to cast ballots at locations where they initially showed up. In Dallas and Williamson counties, voters can only cast a ballot at their assigned precinct, instead of at any polling place countywide.

"We will continue to evaluate the situation on the ground and are calling for an extension of voting hours to ensure all Texans' voices are heard in this critical election," Talarico said in a news release.

- John C. Moritz

Reporters from Texas and some national outlets began queuing up before 4 p.m. outside the Austin watch party venue for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, even though supporters are not expected for about three hours, and polls don't close until 7 p.m.

The watch party for Talarico's primary rival, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, will take place in her hometown of Dallas.

The race is the highest-profile Democratic contest of the night and has helped drive record early voting turnout.

- John C. Moritz

The Bexar County Elections Department expects about 100,000 people -- or more -- to turn out to vote today.

"We're expecting to see large crowds," Elections Administrator Michele Carew said.

Registered voters can cast their ballots at any of the county's more than 240 election day vote centers, which are open until 7 p.m. You must be in line by that time in order to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary election.

The lengthy ballot includes congressional, statewide, statehouse and local races, including a crowded Democratic primary for district attorney and the closely watched Democratic primary matchup between Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Carew recommends that voters brush up on their ballot to speed up the voting process.

- Molly Smith

It could take a while for early voting results to post after election day polls close at 7 p.m. -- so the outcome of county-level races likely won't be known until later this evening.

That's because the Bexar County Elections Department won't post early voting returns until every election day voter has cast their ballot. Elections Administrator Michele Carew does this to ensure that results from the county's early voting period don't deter last-minute voters from casting their ballot or changing which candidates they had planned to support.

"If voters are still in line voting (at 7 p.m.), we will not be able to release those numbers until all polls are closed," Carew said.

The 11-day early voting period ended at 7 p.m. Friday. Because of a "large surge" of voters in the final hours, it took some polling sites until 9 p.m. to get through everyone in line, Carew said.

Nearly 183,300 registered voters cast early ballots in-person for the primaries -- an 88% increase from the almost 97,700 early ballots cast in Bexar County for the 2022 primaries.

The 2022 primaries saw about 186,000 total ballots cast countywide.

- Molly Smith

More than 1.5 million Democrats voted early in the 2026 primaries, half a million more than cast ballots during the entirety of the party's midterm primaries four years ago, according to numbers crunched by a national data firm.

Republicans also cast significantly more early votes as they did in 2022, but not by the margins on the Democratic side, which saw record turnout for a midterm primary during the early voting period, which ended Friday.

Statewide Republican early voting turnout approached 1.3 million, according to VoteHub. That's 125% higher than in 2022, but short of Democrats' 240% increase.

- John C. Moritz

This article originally published at Election night in San Antonio: Tony Gonzales likely headed to runoff.
Christopher Ellms, former deputy commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Energy, was confirmed by the New Hampshire Executive Council Wednesday to serve as the new chairman of the Public Utilities Commission.

Ellms will lead the three-member body, which functions like a court to regulate the states utilities, issuing orders on utility expenditures and proposed rate increases for the resources distributed by New Hampshires investor-owned utilities.

Ellms was nominated by Gov. Kelly Ayotte in January and confirmed by a 4-1 vote of the Executive Council Wednesday.

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Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill was the only member to vote against Ellms nomination. In a statement before the vote, Liot Hill said she was concerned Ellms previous work with the Department of Energy, which is always a party to Public Utilities Commission proceedings, would pose a continued conflict of interest.

I believe the Public Utilities Commission requires leadership with a strong legal background, and a clearly nonpartisan regulatory posture, to ensure rigorous independent decision making, she said. For these reasons, I will be voting against his confirmation.

At a public hearing March 2, Liot Hill and other councilors questioned Ellms about his previous experience and qualification for the role of chair.

Ellms holds a bachelors degree in Political Science from Northeastern University and worked for former Gov. Chris Sununus campaign and later in Sununus administration. He has been deputy commissioner of the Department of Energy since 2021, when the department was created under Sununu.

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Councilor John Stephen said during Mondays hearing that the biggest concern he had heard from constituents was Ellms lack of background in engineering, law, or finance.

Youre coming into a role that, in the past, those are the chief areas of background that governors look for, Stephen said.

Ellms said his background would broaden the commissions perspective. The statute governing the Public Utilities Commissions makeup requires one member to be a lawyer and one to have experience or expertise in engineering, economics, accounting, or finance. It contains no requirement for the background of the third commissioner, he said.

Public Utilities Commissioner Mark DellOrfano is a lawyer, while Commissioner Pradip Chattopadhyay is an economist with 22 years of utility experience, according to the commissions website.

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I think its exactly why the Legislature, when they constructed the PUC, left that opening for somebody whos not a lawyer, not a finance expert, Ellms said.  Im somebody who can see the forest through the trees, who can make those decisions based on whats going to serve the public interest.

Also at the hearing, Liot Hill asked him how he would maintain independence in the new position with his partisan background.

Its a difficult question, because me doing my job well means that Im not going to, to buck, ah, the desires of my bosses, Ellms said. So what I can say is that I have consistently earned trust, and Im being put into a position by a governor whos a very, very smart governor, who understands the law better than me.  Its my commitment to follow the law. If Im independent, I will be independent.

Ellms also answered a question from Liot Hill about whether he believed efforts to increase renewable energy generation in New Hampshire had increased the price of electricity.

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Ellms did not answer about New Hampshire in particular. Regionally, he said, some contracts for renewable generation had been significantly expensive. He added it was the call of the Legislature whether those decisions were worth the cost.

He also declined to comment on certain ongoing dockets currently before the Public Utilities Commission, including an Eversource rate case that has been elevated to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, when questioned by Executive Councilor Janet Stevens. Ellms has been party to these matters by virtue of his role at the Department of Energy.

In his opening statement Monday, Ellms identified himself as a husband, a father, and a Christian, with a commitment to public service shared throughout his family. He said energy costs were among the most pressing issues for New Hampshire families, and said he had gained experience with energy policy while at the Department of Energy and in prior work as energy adviser at the Office of Strategic Initiatives under Sununu.

Ellms received support at the hearing from current and former colleagues and lawmakers, including Sen. Howard Pearl, a Loudon Republican; Rep. Michael Vose, an Epping Republican; and Jayne Millerick, former chief of staff for Sununu.
Canada gives First Phosphate C$16.7 million to develop domestic battery supply chain Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

The Canadian government has conditionally approved a non-repayable grant of up to C$16.7 million for First Phosphate Corp. (CSE:PHOS, OTCQX:FRSPF, FRA:KD0, OTC:FPHOY), a Quebec-based mineral developer, to advance work on producing battery-grade phosphate concentrate for the lithium iron phosphate battery market.

The funding comes through Natural Resources Canada, the federal department overseeing the country's resources sector, under its Global Partnerships Initiative, which supports projects aimed at strengthening critical mineral supply chains.

Lithium iron phosphate, commonly known as LFP, is a battery chemistry widely used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. It relies on high-purity phosphoric acid derived from phosphate concentrate as a key input, and supply of that material is currently dominated by producers outside North America, principally in China.

First Phosphate said the contribution will fund detailed technical and engineering work to validate its ability to produce phosphate concentrate that meets the quality standards required by LFP battery manufacturers, based on specifications agreed with its offtake customer. The company did not identify the customer.

The grant covers eligible activities through to 2028 and is tied to First Phosphate's integrated phosphate concentrate project in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, where the company's flagship Begin-Lamarche property holds what it describes as a rare North American igneous phosphate deposit characterised by low levels of impurities.

The broader aim of the programme is to establish a scalable Canadian process for producing battery-grade phosphate concentrate and, ultimately, to support the development of a domestic phosphoric acid facility, reducing reliance on overseas supply.

Tim Hodgson, Canada's minister of energy and natural resources, said the funding was part of a wider effort to build secure and resilient critical mineral supply chains for both economic and defence purposes.

Armand MacKenzie, president of First Phosphate, said the government contribution would allow the company to carry out the detailed validation work required to meet the expectations of its offtake partners and international customers.
Medicines and protocols designed to mitigate the impact of a nuclear or chemical attack were distributed across the Middle East ahead of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, according to a director of the World Health Organization.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said that long held concerns about the risk of some kind of nuclear or chemical war in the region meant that preparations had been underway for some time.

They included the distribution of potassium iodide, which protects the thyroid gland during nuclear or radiological emergencies, and specialist training for medics.

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We have a program specifically that prepares and looks into the risk assessment of such catastrophic incidents, Dr Balkhy told The Telegraph.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the entity responsible for detecting any possible nuclear incident, but the WHO provides guidance on public health impact, protective health measures [and] the medical management of exposure, if that happens, God forbid.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region of the WHO covers 22 countries, at least 11 of which, including Iran, Lebanon and the Gulf states, are directly involved in the current fighting. Others, most notably Sudan, Yemen and Gaza, are struggling with their own conflicts.

The risk of a chemical or radiation incident in the region is not insignificant.

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The taboo over the use of chemical weapons was broken by the Iranian-backed Assad regime in Syria between 2013 and 2018 when it launched hundreds of attacks using chemicals including chlorine and the nerve agent sarin.

Dr Hanan Balkhy said mitigating preparations had been underway for some time in the region - World Health Organization

Although Iran is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention and there is no evidence it currently possesses chemical weapons, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has produced them in the past and is fighting an existential battle for survival without central command.

The risk of a localised radiation incident is also real. Irans nuclear sites are again being pounded by Israeli strikes and several are thought to contain significant stockpiles of fissile material.

Were never going to be able to mitigate harm 100 per cent  [but] we can support countries in preparing for such incidents, said Dr Balkhy.

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No other regional director of the WHO has such a difficult beat. The 22 countries the Saudi-born physician is responsible for are home to 750 million people, among them many of the most vulnerable on Earth.

It is not only conflicts they are facing but protracted emergencies caused by decades of poor governance, food and water insecurity and climate change, said Dr Balkhy.

The region has the largest number of countries under sanctions in one region, the largest migrant population and the largest proportion of internally displaced people, she added.

Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment on the southern Lebanese village of Khiam - Rabih DAHER/AFP via Getty Images

It has also seen more healthcare facilities attacked and destroyed over the last decade than any other region, with the health systems of Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan and large parts of Syria destroyed or stretched to the brink.

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Dr Balkhy said that, even amid these challenges, controlling outbreaks of infectious disease remains possible and is one of the rare things that can bring countries together.

Everybody wants to protect their borders from emerging and re-emerging pathogens, she noted, citing recent examples of controlling cholera outbreaks in countries such as Yemen, Iran and Syria and MERS in the Gulf.

In August 2024, amid intense fighting in Gaza, a 10 month old child was paralysed with Polio as the virus returned to the enclave. But a negotiated pause in the fighting allowed over 500,000 children to receive three doses of vaccine.

Had the vaccination programme not been mounted, polio would have become rampant, not just in Gaza, but in the wider region, said Dr Balkhy.

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We focus on what it is that we can do with our partners to support the immediate needs of the people on the ground, she said.

Her philosophy was to try and get others to think about health as an investment and not a liability and a burden, she added.

Middle East needs a pill of peace

Ultimately, Dr Balkhy said, a successful health strategy must focus on prevention.

Even in high income countries, the health sector is always demanding funding, more hospitals, more primary health care clinics, more medications. The question is, how do we suppress the need and the burden for health care provision and increase health care mitigation and prevention?

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She believes the answer is for those in charge of health policy to deal with all sectors, and not just the health sector.

Reducing road traffic accidents with better roads and regulations is a classic way of reducing emergency hospital admissions, she said. Fighting the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is another.

70 per cent of the antibiotics are used in the animal sector, not in the human sector, and that leads to resistance, and that leads to more difficult patients to treat, lack of effective antibiotics, more hospital stays, more complications, more surgery and more death.

Yet with war now engulfing much of the Middle East, the immediate priority is in protecting health workers and health facilities so that they can continue to do their job.

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Already a hospital in Iran has been hit and several paramedics killed and injured in Lebanon.

The expansion of the conflict in the Middle East is increasingly impacting health services throughout the region, warned Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO on Tuesday.

I am saddened by the developments in Lebanon today where three paramedics were killed and another six injured while recovering people injured by explosions in the southern Tyre district.

Dr Balkhy is expected to run to replace Dr Tedros as WHO Director General when his second term comes to an end in August next year, and echoed his call for peace and adherence to international law in the region.

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Citing Syria as one of the regions few recent bright spots, she smiled broadly when talking about the partial recovery of its health system after 14 years of civil war.

Ive been to Syria four times now  once before [the war], once a few months before the drop of the previous regime, and three times afterwards, she said.

The most impressive thing  is that theres [now] huge optimism for the change thats coming their way, and theres huge energy for wanting a better life its heartening. Its amazing.

It is the ability for countries to rebuild and bounce back once the fighting stops that keeps Dr Balkhy optimistic.

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What the region needs is the pill of peace, she said.

Once peace has been established in our region, I think it will prosper very, very quickly.

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As tensions rose in the Middle East last week, I'd had a flight booked to leave London on Friday night and to arrive into Tel Aviv on Saturday morning.

Senior International Correspondent, John Irvine and camera operator Sean Swan are permanently based in Tel Aviv, and I was heading there preemptively in the case of any strikes on Iran, to support our newsgathering operations.

Back in London we'd watched closely all week as negotiations and talks were underway in Oman, between the US and Iran.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was supposed to be in Israel on Saturday, and then during the week the visit was rearranged to the following Monday - so it was decided that I'd be in place over the weekend ahead of the visit, more talks and potentially even strikes on Iran.

As I landed at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv around 05:00 on Saturday morning, it felt similar to any other time I'd arrived.

My driver was waiting for me to take me to my hotel and in the car he said "hopefully war will not start while you are here, we have seen enough war."

That optimism lasted for all of two hours.

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I was awoken by a siren coming from my phone, with a notification which read: "Due to the detection of missile launches, alerts may be activated in the coming minutes."

Alerts were sent to people's phones warning them of potential missile strikes.

While I was sleeping, Israel and the US had struck Iran, and as we now know killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Minutes later, the air raid sirens sounded out across Tel Aviv and people ran for shelter - Iran was striking back.

Sirens alerting people to potential incoming missiles were heard in Tel Aviv.

I met up with the rest of the ITV News team at our cameraman, Sean Swan's house, which has a 360-degree view over Tel Aviv. This is sadly not the first time the team has reported war here.

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Over the course of the afternoon, the alerts, air raid sirens, missile strikes and interceptions intensified, and with each one we went to the roof, put on protective equipment and captured each one.

The biggest attack and defence happened just as we were about to come on air for the Evening News.

From ITV News' camera position on the roof, missiles and interceptions could be seen across Tel Aviv.

Around 85% of missiles aimed at Tel Aviv are intercepted, but some do manage to get through.

It was in the middle of the night when, once again, the alerts sounded and Sean rushed from bed up to his roof to set the cameras rolling.

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You can see in the video below the incoming Iranian missile being hunted by two Israeli interceptors.

The two interceptors swoop around and lock on to their target, but miss. The missile slams into central Tel Aviv.

Two Israeli interceptors attempted to stop an incoming strike but missed their target.

A 40-year-old woman became the first Israeli victim of this latest war.

But Israel has prepared as much as it can in the event of war.

On Monday, we visited the Rabin Medical Centre where they had moved all hospital operations underground - patients, beds, machines, operating theatres, all in under two hours, on Saturday night.

It took less than two hours for the Rabin Medical Centre to move its operations underground.

A senior nurse there told us: "We made sure we have everything we need, we can stay an unlimited time but I hope it's not going to last forever."

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The mood in Tel Aviv reflects that sentiment. The streets are quiet, the bars and restaurants are closed.

The hotel was uncharacteristically empty, with many guests sheltering in the bomb shelter when prompted.

The hotel in which I'm staying is usually hugely popular, but the manager told me today it is at 20% occupancy. I've met many of those occupants in the bomb shelter as sirens sound.

It is one thing heading to a country to report on war, but completely different for people who live here and have no choice in the matter.

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What I am presenting you today is more than just a change in procedures, it is a change in doctrine, European Commission vice president for industrial strategy, Stephane Sejourne, told a press conference in Brussels.

The new regulations  officially known as the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act (IAA)  aim to ensure that public and foreign investments support manufacturing inside the 27-nation bloc, explained an EU official.

To that end, they stipulate that companies that want public money must meet minimum thresholds for EU-made parts. Large investments from dominant foreign firms will also be subject to conditions that include employing EU workers.

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EU leaders push to rescue European economy challenged by China and US

The act, originally planned for December 2025, designates up to 500 billion in subsidies over the next decade for electric vehicles, solar panels, batteries and quantum technologies.

Local-content rules require at least 55 percent components that are manufactured within the EU, so as to strengthen European manufacturing and decrease dependence on products imported from non-EU supply chains.

The text does not name China in this regard, although its measures address Beijings current clean tech export dominance.

Its proponents point out that rival manufacturers such as the United States, China, Brazil and India already have rules on local content in place, and that similar requirements could help fill the EU's massive investment gap.

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However, the Made in Europe measures, strongly backed by France, were pushed back several times due to disagreements, with some arguing they run counter to the EU's pro-free trade spirit.

Much of the discord also revolved around the geographical scope implied by "Made in Europe". Sceptics  including Germany, the EU's largest economy  argued trade partners should be included in the definition under a "Made with Europe" approach.

EU moves to reduce reliance on China for rare earth supplies

Concerns across the Channel

Earlier this week, the British Chambers of Commerce warned the new EU regulations could have an adverse effect on the UK economy, saying in a statement that: "As the UK is now a third country supplier, [the IAA] could squeeze British firms out of supply chains, as well as increasing costs and bureaucracy."

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China has not responded to Wednesdays announcement, but reactions have surfaced over previous weeks via state media and officials, in response to leaks and drafts.

Beijing accuses EU of slapping unfair restrictions on Chinese firms

Chinas state Xinhua news agency has labelled similar EU moves hypocritical mimicry of Chinas industrial approach. The Global Times warned that Europe preaches open markets but erects barriers.

Wang Lei of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said local-content clauses would discriminate de facto against Chinese firms, on top of existing EU electric vehicle duties.

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Beijing retains leverage via rare earth export curbs  key for EU batteries and turbines  and imposing tariffs on European goods such as French cognac.

The IAA extends the EUs de-risking efforts alongside the Net-Zero Industry Act and Critical Raw Materials Act. The European Parliament and individual EU governments will now start negotiating the final text of the Made in Europe rules, before a final draft can be written into law.
A former Escambia County firefighter was sentenced to 75 years in federal prison for a "decade-long pattern" of producing and possessing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced March 4.

Garey Buscaino, a 48-year-old from Pensacola who was fired as an Escambia firefighter following his arrest in 2025, previously pleaded guilty to five counts of child pornography production and one count of child pornography possession.

"Protecting our children from exploitation and the predations of sick individuals like this offender remains one of my offices highest priorities," U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John Heekin said. "I deeply appreciate the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners who helped stop this predator from continuing to sexually exploit minor children and brought him to justice. As this substantial prison sentence demonstrates, my office will relentlessly pursue offenders who victimize our children, prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, and seek maximum punishment for their heinous crimes."

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Special agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Buscaino May 15, 2025, after numerous photo and video files depicting child sexual abuse material were discovered.

Law enforcement first looked into Buscaino when a special agent received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children April 29, 2025, pertaining to a user of a common cloud storage account downloading multiple files of child sexual abuse material.

A phone number listed under Buscaino had uploaded 33 files of CSAM on March 8. Among the over 5,000 files discovered, special agents discovered over 1,000 files of "child erotica" that did not meet the statutory requirements for CSAM, but they did find 96 files of video taken by Buscaino of a girl without her knowledge.

According to FDLE reports, one of the videos taken by Buscaino shows another person in the background, which special agents used to link the video to Buscaino.

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Special Agents then used this to conduct a search warrant on Buscaino's home.

"During the execution of the search warrant, hidden cameras were located within Buscaino's bedroom," the FDLE reports said. "One was disguised as a vape/electronic cigarette, and another disguised as a wall charger.

"Several GoPro style cameras were also recovered from the residence," the report added. "An on-scene forensic examination of the SD cards within the cameras revealed the same voyeuristic video file of the (teen girl)."

Multiple USB drivers were recovered from Buscaino's home, which contained over 100 files of additional CSAM.

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According to the U.S. Attorney's Office release, multiple of Buscaino's victims appeared in court for the sentencing.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Garey Buscaino ex-Escambia firefighter gets 75 years for child porn
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. military carried out a strike that sank an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka's coast and triggered a rescue for dozens of Iranian sailors by Sri Lanka's navy, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

One of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said the strike was carried out by a U.S. military submarine.

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The U.S. strike triggered a distress call and the Sri Lankan armed forces launched a search and rescue operation. Sri Lankan authorities said they had rescued 32 people so far and recovered several bodies from the sea.

Sources in Sri Lanka's navy and defence ministry said the vessel had been attacked by a submarine and at least 101 people were missing in the incident that took place off Sri Lanka's Indian Ocean coast.

The defence sources said it was unclear who attacked the ship.

A Sri Lankan navy spokesman said the report of 101 people being missing was not true and rejected any reports on the cause of the ship sinking.

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U.S. strikes on Iran's Navy is a central part of the war against Iran, launch by the United States on Saturday.

On Tuesday, the U.S. military's Central Command said it had already sunk 17 Iranian warships and was on track to destroy Iran's entire navy.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
By Sarah Kinosian and Matt Spetalnick

CARACAS/WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is quietly building a legal case against Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez including readying a draft criminal indictment, one of several tools it is using to strengthen its leverage with Caracas, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Federal prosecutors have put together possible corruption and money laundering charges, and have communicated to Rodriguez that she is at risk of prosecution unless she continues to comply with Trumps demands following the U.S. ouster of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January, the sources said.

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Reuters has not seen the charges in written form being prepared against Rodriguez but spoke with four people briefed on the matter. The news agency is the first to report the effort to craft the draft indictment of Rodriguez for alleged money laundering and corruption, which the sources said Rodriguez had been made aware of verbally.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami is preparing the draft charges, the people said, adding that the document has been evolving over the past two months. The probe focuses on Rodriguezs alleged involvement in laundering of funds from Venezuelas state oil company PDVSA, three of the sources said, and covers activities between 2021 and 2025, two of the sources said.

The Department of Justice declined to comment on the story. After a summary of the report was published on the Reuters World News morning podcast, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X, completely FALSE from @reuters. Not sure how such fake news makes its way to publication.

In a statement, Reuters said: We stand by our reporting that the Department of Justice is preparing an indictment against Delcy Rodriguez, the new president of Venezuela.

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The White House and the U.S. State Department did not respond to Reuters questions for this story.

Separate from the draft indictment, U.S. officials have presented Rodriguez with a list of at least seven former high-level party officials, associates and their family members that it wants her to arrest or to keep in Venezuelas custody for potential extradition, four sources said. This was first reported by Spains ABC newspaper.

Rodriguez is facing this threat just two months after taking power following a lightning raid by U.S. special forces who captured Maduro and whisked the longtime authoritarian leader away to New York for trial on charges of narcoterrorism and cocaine trafficking. Maduro pleaded not guilty and is being held in New York pending trial.

In public, Trump has heaped praise on Rodriguez for cooperating with the U.S. and hailed Venezuela as our new friend and partner in his annual State of the Union address.

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But the draft indictment is yet another bargaining chip the United States has added as it attempts to compel members of the Venezuelan government, once loyal to Maduro, to carry out its wishes.

The Venezuelan communications ministry, which handles all press queries for the government, did not respond to a detailed list of questions about the potential charges being crafted against Rodriguez.

The drafting of an indictment does not necessarily indicate a case will be presented by a prosecutor to a grand jury, which would then have to find there is probable cause to believe Rodriguez committed a crime. Grand juries meet in secret, and Reuters was unable to determine whether prosecutors had begun presenting any evidence against Rodriguez to a grand jury.

Since the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Jan. 3, Trump has relied on Rodriguez, Maduros 56-year-old former vice president, to guarantee stability in Venezuela while he prioritizes U.S. companies access to the OPEC nations oil reserves.

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Flores has also pleaded not guilty to federal charges including drug trafficking.

Other members of Rodriguezs administration who already have been indicted in the United States include her hard-line Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, who are, along with Rodriguez, longtime members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, or PSUV, founded by the late Hugo Chavez. Cabello and Padrino, both still in power in post-Maduro Venezuela, have consistently denied wrongdoing.

Many of the individuals whom the U.S. wants Rodriguez to arrest or keep in detention already have indictments in the United States for money laundering, drug trafficking and other crimes, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

Laura Dogu, the newly appointed U.S. envoy to Venezuela, put the request to Rodriguez, the sources told Reuters.

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Among the high-profile names given to Rodriguez is Alex Saab, 54, who rose to prominence as a close Maduro ally to become one of the most influential financial operators within the Chavista movement, according to four sources.

Following an Interpol notice requested by the United States, Saab was previously arrested by local authorities in Cabo Verde in 2020 while traveling to Iran on an official mission for the Maduro government. Extradited to the United States, he faced bribery and money laundering charges for allegedly routing $350 million from a corrupt Venezuelan housing construction scheme through the U.S. financial system, before he was released in 2023 by the Biden administration in a prisoner swap.

Reuters reported Saab was arrested in early February and two sources said he remains detained by Venezuelan intelligence service SEBIN. The U.S. has a new sealed money-laundering indictment against Saab, two of the sources said, but its status is not immediately known.

If extradited, Saab could provide information to U.S. authorities that could bolster their criminal case against Maduro, according to a source briefed on the case.

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It is unclear whether Saab, a Colombian who was granted Venezuelan citizenship by Maduro, will be extradited to the United States. Venezuelan law prohibits the extradition of Venezuelan nationals, a barrier for several of the people Washington is seeking.

Saabs U.S.-based lawyer Neil M. Schuster did not respond to detailed questions about whether Saab has been detained, any charges he may be facing or whether he had offered any testimony about Maduro during his previous U.S. detention.

Other names on the list include the media mogul Raul Gorrin, who has also been detained by SEBIN in Venezuela within the past month, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Gorrin faces multiple federal charges in the U.S., primarily tied to bribery, money laundering, and corruption involving Venezuelas state oil company, PDVSA.

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Gorrin did not respond to emails and a text message seeking comment, nor did his media business Globovision.

Howard Srebnick, a Miami attorney who has previously represented Gorrin, did not immediately return a request for comment.

(Reporting by Sarah Kinosian in Miami and Matt Spetalnik in Washington, DC. Additional reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb in Bogota, Colombia. Editing by Michael Learmonth)
JTAs spending is coming under new scrutiny with an Inspector Generals report suggesting the company selected for a project may have gotten insider information from someone within the agency to help ensure it secured the pricey contract.

The contract in question was awarded by JTA to paint 17 murals at its Myrtle Avenue Operation Campus back in 2024.

The IGs office found that the company selected for the project, Brooklyn, New York-based Mason Nye Murals, submitted a bid in which each line item was just under the agencys own Independent Cost Estimate.

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That internal cost estimate is supposed to be kept secret, according to the report.

The final cost of the murals came in at $141,000, which was 65 percent higher than the agencys own $85,370 price estimate.

Additionally, Mason Nye Murals charged the city $68,000 over a four-month period for travel and lodging expenses, which the report described as exorbitant.

$17,000 a month to fly them down here to Jacksonville. I mean, first of all, we dont need the mural, but was that artist so important? said Councilmember Rory Diamond (R-District 13).

Diamond argued the project is yet another example of wasted taxpayer dollars by JTA, which is already in the hot seat for budget overruns and a plan to increase rates for its Connexion Plus service.

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They want to spend over $100,000 on murals, and theyre trying to increase rates on people who are totally disabled. I mean, what universe are they living in? said Diamond.

The IG report concludes the Mason Nye Murals may have received insider information, but since the employee who would have had information about the selection process is no longer with JTA, the IGs Office decided against a full investigation.

We attempted to email Mason Nye Murals through the address listed on its website to ask how why it need $17,000 a month for travel and lodging, and whether it had received insider information.

The email bounced back as undeliverable.

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When we called the listed phone number for the company, the line was disconnected.

In response to our questions, JTA argued the murals were an appropriate operational expense, and the travel and lodging expenses were reasonable since the contractor was based out of state.

The agency also claimed it couldnt legally limit bids to local artists only.

Importantly, the Inspector General determined that the final total project cost was fair and reasonable compared to the other estimates received, some as high as $251,000, a JTA spokesperson told Action News Jax in an emailed statement.

Diamond said he wants to see the agency implement the corrective actions spelled out in the IGs report to ensure taxpayer dollars are protected moving forward.

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Think about it. Theyre doing hundreds of millions of dollars in vendor contracts. If theyre doing it on this one, what else are they doing? said Diamond.

JTA indicated it intends to follow those recommendations.

The agency remains committed to maintaining secure, fair, and transparent competition processes consistent with the Inspector Generals recommendations, said a JTA spokesperson in an emailed statement.

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(Refiles to remove extraneous text in third-to-last paragraph)

By Tom Hals

March 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. military has joined Israel and attacked more than 1,000 targets in Iran and killed many of its top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On Wednesday, a U.S. submarine sunk an Iranian navy vessel near Sri Lanka.

Below is a look at the legality of the U.S. attacks, which critics say exceed the president's authority and fails to comply with international law.

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WHAT HAS TRUMP SAID?

President Donald Trump has provided varying objectives and justifications. He has said he felt Iran was going to strike first and the attack was meant to eliminate imminent threats to the United States, its military bases overseas and allies, although he did not provide details and some claims were not backed by U.S. intelligence reports. Trump also said Iran could obtain a nuclear weapon within one month but he did not provide evidence and this contradicted his claims in June that the U.S. military had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program.

PRESIDENTIAL POWER TO USE THE MILITARY

The attacks on Iran are pushing the boundaries of Trump's constitutional authority, according to legal experts.

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Under the U.S. Constitution, the president commands the armed forces and directs foreign relations but only Congress has the power to declare war.

Presidents of both parties have conducted military strikes without congressional approval when it was in the national interest but less intense in duration and scope than what would be considered a war -- a limit that Trump may be testing.

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both described the action as a war and Hegseth called it "the most lethal, most complex and most-precision aerial operation in history." Trump said it could last five weeks or more and cautioned that there will be more U.S. casualties.

Congress has provided authorization for large military operations, such as President George W. Bush's invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.

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WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

The War Powers Resolution (WPR) of 1973 acts as a check on presidential power.

Under the WPR, the president can only involve the military in an armed conflict when Congress has declared war or provided specific authority or in response to an attack on U.S. territory or its military. It requires the president to report regularly to Congress, which the administration started to do on Monday.

The WPR also requires unauthorized military actions to be terminated within 60 days unless the deadline is extended.

It provides a procedure for Congress to withdraw the military from a conflict and members of both parties have said they plan to put such legislation to a vote this week.

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It's highly unlikely such a vote would garner a two-thirds majority needed to override a Trump veto but some lawmakers said it would put members on the record in an election year. Legal experts said popular opposition might be the main check on Trump's ability to continue the attacks.

WHAT DOES INTERNATIONAL LAW SAY?

Legal experts said many countries will consider the attacks unjustified under the United Nations Charter, which states that member states must refrain from using force or the threat of force against other states. There are exceptions when force is authorized by the U.N. Security Council or used in self-defense in response to armed attack, neither of which applies.

There is also the concept of pre-emptive self-defense, which would arguably allow the United States to attack Iran if it had proof of an imminent, overwhelming attack.

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The United States has a veto at the U.N. Security Council, shielding Washington.

Legal experts said violating international law still carries a cost and both the United Kingdom and Spain have limited the use of their bases in the attacks, citing the lack of justification for the conflict.

WAS THE SUBMARINE ATTACK NEAR SRI LANKA LEGAL?

Wednesday's submarine attack appeared to comply with the law of war, according to legal experts. The attack occurred in international waters and the target was a military ship which was not disabled. However, it could be argued that if Washington is attacking Iran to eliminate an imminent threat, a warship far from Iran would not be justified target unless it could be connected to those threats.

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WAS THE KILLING OF KHAMENEI LEGAL?

Legal experts said it is not clear cut.

Israel is reported to have carried out the actual strike that killed Khamenei, while the U.S. offered intelligence and operational support.

Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1981 signed Executive Order 12333 which prohibited anyone working for the U.S. government or acting on its behalf from engaging in assassination. It also barred participation in assassination by the U.S. intelligence community.

However, the killing of a leader which might qualify as assassination in peacetime could be a legitimate act of war during an armed conflict, legal experts said.

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In Khamenei's case, legality would partly depend on whether the U.S. was at war when he was killed and whether he was considered a military leader.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware;Editing by Noeleen Walder and Alistair Bell)
Is this picture showing the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia on fire after a drone attack real? No, that's not true: An online detection tool rated the image 99.7% likely to be AI-generated and it contained a watermark from an AI image generator. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense did say there was "limited fire and minor material damage to the building" after two drones hit the embassy but the actual building looks nothing like the one in the image..

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X on March 2, 2026. It read:

US Embassy, Saudi . 'Minor damage ' according to US officials

This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing:

Image source: post by @Panther7112 on X.

Conflict in the Middle East

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, which killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike on his compound in Tehran. Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes against the U.S. and allied targets across the Middle East. Two drones hit the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, causing a "limited fire and minor material damage to the building," the Saudi Ministry of Defense (archived here) said.

Video

An AFP News Agency video (archived here) of the U.S. Embassy following the drone strikes shows little damage following the attack and the fire, unlike the post, which showed nearly the entire complex in flames. These are screenshots from the video:

Image source: post by AFP News Agency on YouTube.

Also, a Google Maps satellite image (archived here) shows a much different footprint for the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh. Rather than being largely rectangular in shape, as the fake image shows, the compound is much larger and more sprawling:

Image source: Google Maps search result for U.S. Embassy Riyadh.

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Image analysis

Lead Stories ran the image through Gemini, Google's AI assistant. It reached these conclusions (archived here):

Analysis of the image indicates that it is AI-generated. A digital watermark (SynthID) was detected, which indicates that the image was created or edited using Google AI. Additionally, there are several visual and contextual signs that suggest the image is not an authentic photograph: Visual Inconsistencies: The fire and smoke have a very uniform and stylized appearance common in AI-generated images. When looking closely at the figures and vehicles in the foreground, they appear blurred or have slightly distorted shapes.

Lack of Context: A fire at a U.S. embassy would be a major international news event. There are no credible news reports or official statements regarding such an incident.

Watermarks: The image contains a large watermark from a social media handle ('@military_aviators'), which is often seen on AI-generated content shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.

The Hive Moderation AI-Generated Content Detection tool also concluded the image was 99.7% "likely to be AI-generated":
Claim:

A photograph authentically shows graves of schoolchildren killed by airstrikes in Minab, Iran.

Rating:

Rating: True

On Feb. 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive on Iran, targeting military installations and killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The same day, missiles destroyed a girls' primary school in Minab, a city in southern Iran, killing more than 100 people, most of whom were children, per Iranian government reports. Soon after the attack, an aerial photograph (archived) spread online purportedly showing numerous grave sites of the people killed in the strikes.

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Many people online  as well as Grok, X's AI assistant  disputed the photo, saying it was miscaptioned and instead showed an aerial shot of graveyards in Jakarta, Indonesia, or Sao Paolo, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Snopes readers asked us to confirm whether the image was actually from Brazil or Indonesia during the pandemic.

Even when you lie, you lie bad



This is a grave from Jakarta, Indonesia. https://t.co/RuVkQsPA4O pic.twitter.com/Z7FepO3CG4  Ouriel (@OurielOhayon) March 2, 2026

Contrary to the claims disputing the location of the photograph, we have confirmed that it is indeed authentic and shows the graves of people killed by airstrikes in Minab. Using photos and footage from Iranian government and media sources, as well as satellite imagery on Google Maps and Google Earth, Snopes was able to confirm where the graves were dug and authenticate the image in question.

As such, we rate the claim that the photo shows the airstrike victims' graves as true.

The image was originally released by the Iranian government and its press affiliate. On March 2, 2026, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi shared the aerial shot of the grave sites with the caption: "These are graves being dug for more than 160 innocent young girls who were killed in the US-Israeli bombing of a primary school. Their bodies were torn to shreds."

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A zoomed-out version of the image Araghchi shared is available on Getty Images with the caption:

In this aerial handout picture released by the Iranian Press Center, mourners dig graves during the funeral for children killed in a reported strike on a primary school in Iran's Hormozgan province in Minab on March 3, 2026. Iranian media have reported hundreds of Iranian casualties, including at a girl's school, although AFP reporters have not been able to verify tolls independently.

In this image, mourners dig graves during the funeral for children killed in a reported strike on a primary school in Iran's Hormozgan province in Minab on March 3, 2026.

(AFP photo/Iranian Press Center/Getty Images)

We determined the authenticity of the photograph by comparing it to footage and past satellite images from the same location on Google Maps.

Researcher Tal Hagin, an open source intelligence analyst, determined the coordinates of the graveyard on Google Maps, almost 5 miles from the girls' school (the location we had confirmed in previous coverage). The area is labeled "Minab Hermud cemetery" on Google Maps. We found that this was indeed the location of the grave sites by comparing it to drone footage of fresh graves being dug on March 3 that were released by WANA, an Iranian news agency, and published by Reuters.

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The drone footage reveals a building with a long blue roof on the left of the newly dug graves. The footage shows the same three yellow vehicles digging graves on the bottom of the image as those in the photograph, with a fourth vehicle joining them.

Satellite images from April 2025 on Google Earth and images from Google Maps earlier in 2026 show the same blue roof on the left of an empty field. At the time those satellite images were taken, there were no graves in that field. The empty space in the field below is the same shape as the field being used to dig the new graves after the Feb. 28 attack.

(Google Maps in 2026 before the strike)

Compare the area circled in red above to this screenshot of drone footage of the grave sites published by Reuters:

(Reuters/WANA)

The New York Times verified the same location of the graves, stating around 100 graves were being dug there on March 2, 2026.

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The photograph shared by Iranian government officials is a cropped version of the original image, which shows the pathway around the grave sites and is the same shape as the once-empty patch of land on Google Maps. Iran's Press TV shared other photographs of the mass graves from different angles. The blue roof is visible on the bottom left of the third image with the same dried tree foliage on the top left.

Images of the burial of martyred students in Minab, Iran, by US-Israeli attacks



Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTSA3Q pic.twitter.com/wET18r98Bx  Press TV  (@PressTV) March 3, 2026

Aerial shots of grave sites are similar around the world, with a few notable differences in soil color and vegetation. Grok appeared to confuse the photograph of graves in Iran with such images from 2021 in Jakarta, showing graves of people who were buried during the COVID-19 pandemic. The machinery used to dig graves in Jakarta also was yellow. Grok also confused the image from Iran with images from Sao Paolo (including at the Vila Formosa cemetery) in 2021, showing mass burials of people who died in the pandemic.

Snopes has previously covered the unproven claims that Iran was behind the attack on the girls' school, as well as other stories related to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

Sources:

"A View of Graves Dug for Victims Who Died of the Novel Coronavirus..." Getty Images, 9 Apr. 2021, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/view-of-graves-dug-for-victims-who-died-of-the-novel-news-photo/1232195017. Accessed 4 March 2026.

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"An Aerial View of Open Graves at Vila Formosa Cemetery on March 12,..." Getty Images, 12 Mar. 2021, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/an-aerial-view-of-open-graves-at-vila-formosa-cemetery-on-news-photo/1231671290. Accessed 4 March 2026.

Browne, Malachy. X, 3 Mar. 2026, https://x.com/malachybrowne/status/2028949365620912297. Accessed 4 March 2026.

"Death Toll in Israeli Strike on Southern Iran School Rises to 165." Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/28/israel-strikes-two-schools-in-iran-killing-more-than-50-people. Accessed 4 March 2026.

"Family and Friends Observe as Workers Use an Excavator to Fill The..." Getty Images, 19 Aug. 2021, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/family-and-friends-observe-as-workers-use-an-excavator-to-news-photo/1234753938. Accessed 4 March 2026.

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Hagin, Tal. X, 3 Mar. 2026, https://x.com/talhagin/status/2028836920025874545/photo/1. Accessed 4 March 2026.

Ibrahim, Nur. "Who Bombed Girls' School in Iran? Examining Unproven Claims of Military Misfire." Snopes, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//news/2026/03/03/iran-girls-school-missile-attack/. Accessed 4 March 2026.

"Jakarta Indonesia. July 26, 2021: Aerial View of an Excavator Help to Doing Burial Procession Covid-19 Victims at Rorotan Graveyard in North Jakarta, Indonesia." Shutterstock, 26 July 2021, https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/jakarta-indonesia-july-26-2021-aerial-2017496894?trackingId=d278af4c-d816-4af0-afae-05c2eb36cebb&listId=searchResults. Accessed 4 March 2026.

Press TV. X, 3 Mar. 2026, https://x.com/PressTV/status/2028808859993923846/photo/3. Accessed 4 March 2026.

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Reuters. Facebook, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.facebook.com/Reuters/videos/drone-footage-showed-excavators-digging-rows-of-fresh-graves-in-minab-iran-as-wo/1396890721754543/. Accessed 4 March 2026.

"This Aerial Photo Shows People Visiting the Graves of Loved Ones at a..." Getty Images, 29 Jan. 2021, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/this-aerial-photo-shows-people-visiting-the-graves-of-loved-news-photo/1230846805. Accessed 4 March 2026.

"This Aerial Picture Shows Workers Digging Grave Sites at a Burial..." Getty Images, 13 May 2021, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/this-aerial-picture-shows-workers-digging-grave-sites-at-a-news-photo/1232858617. Accessed 4 March 2026.

"TOPSHOT - In This Aerial Handout Picture Released by the Iranian..." Getty Images, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/in-this-aerial-handout-picture-released-by-the-iranian-news-photo/2263996887. Accessed 4 March 2026.

Wrona, Aleksandra. "Was Trump Partying at Mar-a-Lago While US Bombed Iran? We Unpacked the Claim." Snopes, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//news/2026/03/02/trump-mar-a-lago-party-iran/. Accessed 4 March 2026.
BEIJING, March 4 (Reuters) - China's manufacturing activity contracted for a second straight month in February, an official survey showed on Wednesday, suggesting factory owners are still struggling to turn a profit as weak domestic demand and investment offset resilient exports.

The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 49.0 in February from 49.3 in January, a 4-month low, the National Bureau of Statistics' survey showed. It remained below the 50-mark separating growth from contraction, and missed a median forecast of 49.1 in a Reuters poll.

The non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI), which includes services and construction, picked up to 49.5 from 49.4 in January.

The survey is seasonally adjusted to reflect factory shutdowns around the Lunar New Year holiday, which ran for a record nine days from February 15 to February 23 this year, but economists say the model is imperfect, meaning the widespread closures still skew the result.

Policymakers held off on fresh stimulus in the final quarter of 2025, confident the world's second-largest economy would meet its official growth target of around 5% off the back of record exports and a drive to diversify away from the United States, in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs.

But economists expect growth to stay weak in the first quarter of 2026 without further policy support.

They say steps such as targetted interest-rate cuts and further cuts in banks' reserve requirements are unlikely to help boost growth, after similar easing measures delivered only limited gains since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

China's Premier Li Qiang is expected to announce the official 2026 growth target at Thursday's opening of the annual session of the national legislature.

Economists polled by Reuters in January forecast growth slowing to 4.5% this year and keeping that pace in 2027.

The Politburo, the Communist Party's top decision-making body, pledged more proactive and effective economic policies last week, highlighting efforts to stabilise employment and boost domestic demand.

Policymakers are expected to make fresh pledges to curb overcapacity when Premier Li delivers the government's work report and next five-year plan on Thursday, which will outline priorities for the coming year.

(Reporting by Joe Cash)
Claim:

Audio authentically features a leaked phone call recording of U.S. President Donald Trump panicking about the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

In February and March 2026, online users shared videos allegedly featuring a leaked phone call audio recording of U.S. President Donald Trump. The purported call featured Trump yelling to not release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein even if it takes starting a war to distract from Epstein's high-profile case. Users shared the sound clip after the U.S. and Israel began airstrikes targeting Iran on Feb. 28.

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The audio allegedly featured Trump saying, "[We're] not releasing the Epstein files! F*** Marjorie Taylor Green. I don't care what you do. Start a f***ing war. Just don't let 'em get out. If I go down, I will bring all of you down with me."

In short, the audio was fake and created with OpenAI's Sora 2, an artificial-intelligence tool that allows users to create AI-generated videos with sound.

Finding the source of the fake Trump audio

A Facebook video  a clip later removed or made private on an unknown date  originally featured the fake Trump phone call audio and displayed two watermarks, including one for TikTok user @fresh_florida_air and another for Sora 2 user @bradbradt31. The @fresh_florida_air TikTok account, also removed on an unknown date, hosted numerous videos created with Sora 2, including the video of Trump yelling at staffers, posted on Nov. 16, 2025.

In a private TikTok message from November, the @fresh_florida_air user told Snopes the following:

To clarify, both the visuals and the audio in those videos are fully AI-generated creative elements. They're fictional concepts created solely for artistic experimentation and social commentary  not real footage, not real recordings, and not representations of actual events or statements. My intent is creative expression, not presenting anything as factual.

The same TikTok user also hosted a similar AI-generated video with fake phone call audio depicting Trump as saying, "I don't f***ing care how long this shutdown lasts. We will not lose to the Democrats. We will not release the Epstein files. I don't care if the entire country starves." The clip, posted Nov. 5, ended abruptly with Trump supposedly saying, "SNAP benefits can go to," with the sentence ending there.

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Other videos on the @fresh_florida_air TikTok account  reviewed by Snopes prior to the account's removal  featured AI-generated visuals and audio showing people wearing Trump's signature red "Make America Great Again" hats in various situations.

For example, one clip depicted four shirtless men wearing "MAGA" hats drinking alcohol and boiling in a pot over a campfire, while gleefully talking in Southern accents about wishing to donate their Trump-provided government checks back to the president's "defense fund."

For further reading, we previously examined whether a video showed Trump singing a song titled "This Is Who Jesus Is to Me" while playing a piano on the North Lawn of the White House.

Sources:

Anna, Cara. "Where Things Stand after the US and Israeli Strikes on Iran." The Associated Press, March 2, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-israel-war-where-things-stand-e3c003aef4479cd179967a63bb1236f4.

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Groves, Stephen. "Lawmakers Finally Questioned the Clintons about Epstein. They Also Asked about Pizzagate and UFOs." The Associated Press, 2 Mar. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-bill-clinton-hillary-clinton-deposition-3d5cf44a6b2f5c0333e41a3e3f86c06c.

"Sora 2 Is Here." OpenAI, Sept. 30, 2025, https://openai.com/index/sora-2/.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A family is still demanding accountability from Atrium Health after they claim their child suffered severe injuries as a result of the hospitals negligence.

The family gathered Tuesday morning outside the Atrium Health Levine Childrens Hospital and held a silent protest, hosted by True Healing Under God, a civil rights organization.

They filed a medical malpractice lawsuit, saying their child, MaNyla Grace Conley, who was born prematurely, suffered a stroke that was caused by the improper placement of a catheter. The filing alleged that this caused the young girls paralysis, and the family wasnt informed that it caused the stroke until several months later.

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Atrium offered a $5 million settlement, but the family turned it down last fall. They say theyre going to keep pushing for change.

I hope today shows Atrium that Im a mother who will keep fighting, Shartezma Webber, MaNylas mother, said. She has a father who will keep fighting. She has a family. She has friends that will keep advocating for her, and we will not stop. But even when MaNyla receives justice, well keep going for other families until you do right by us.

The lawsuit is seeking damages to be paid by the hospital. We have reached out to Atrium for a comment on the accusations and are waiting to hear back.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.




STORRS - Almost 16 years after a University of Connecticut student from Milford was fatally injured during the school's annual Spring Weekend celebration, a wrongful death lawsuit brought by his family is set to go to trial soon, raising questions about a university's responsibility for student safety beyond the boundaries of its campus.

Jafar Karzoun, 20, was punched in the head in the early morning hours of April 23, 2010, at College Square Plaza, a commercial area near the UConn Storrs campus. He died a week later from his injuries.

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In addition to the state, Basem Karzoun, father of Jafar Karzoun and administrator of his estate, is suing the owners of the commercial property, Owen and Freda Sanderson, for permitting its tenants to remain open during event and failing to properly monitor, manage and control the premises, and the owners of a pizzeria where students congregated following a massive gathering. He's alleging UConn, the UConn Police Department and Connecticut State Police breached duties of care, which contributed to Karzoun's death.

UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said said the university doesn't comment on pending litigation, but added, "The death of Jafar Karzoun was a terrible and tragic loss that was deeply felt by the entire UConn community."

Attorneys for the other defendants did not respond to requests for comment.

Edi Rapo, who was 19 years old at the time and living in East Hartford, was sentenced to 4 years in prison after pleading no contest to a charge of second-degree manslaughter in Karzoun's death.

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The confrontation occurred after an estimated 15,000 students and nonstudents gathered at the Carriage House Apartments, a privately-owned complex near campus, for an unsanctioned but longstanding Spring Weekend party. Although the event was not officially sponsored by the university, administrators were aware that large crowds assembled there each year.

The lawsuit contends university officials attended the event and UConn arranged for both campus and state police to provide security.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m., officers coordinated a "push" to direct partygoers away from the apartment complex and down nearby roads toward campus. It was in that push that Karzoun and Rapo, who was under the age of 21 and had been drinking, encountered each other and were separated. The two men later encountered each other again at College Square Plaza, where police at the time and the lawsuit said Rapo struck Karzoun once.

The state and other defendants sought to dismiss the case but a judge in December denied the motions for summary judgment, concluding while there is no "special relationship" between a university and its students known as "in loco parentis," that does not mean a duty may not arise when an institution undertakes specific actions for student safety.

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"The state correctly points out that it had no power to prevent a private party from occurring at a private apartment complex and that it had no power to prevent UConn students from attending such a party. Nevertheless, by having its administrators attend the event and arranging for law enforcement to provide security, UConn engaged in an undertaking to protect the students in attendance," Stewart wrote in her decision denying summary judgement.

The trial also will address whether the crowd-dispersal strategy increased the risk of violence and whether the university's actions were a substantial factor in the death.

This article originally published at CT family's wrongful-death lawsuit against UConn over 2010 Spring Weekend death heads to trial.
In late February 2026, the Panamanian government took control of two ports in the Panama Canal that had been operated by a Hong Kong conglomerate for two decades. The move is the latest in a long-simmering legal battle after Panamas high court voided the companys contracts.

Far from just a local dispute, however, the episode has drawn in the United States and China, whose competition over global ports and trade routes has intensified in recent years, including in the crucial Panama Canal Zone, where Chinas presence has repeatedly drawn the ire of the Trump administration.

Chinese firms now own or operate terminals at more than 90 ports worldwide, including many of the busiest. The network spans Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with growing activity in South America.

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The scale of Chinas involvement in overseas ports has fueled debate over whether these investments are purely commercial or serve broader strategic goals.

Much of that debate has relied on case studies and politicized headlines, including in the case of the Panama Canal. But understanding where these ports are located, and whether there are consistent patterns in the countries that host them, is important given that disruptions to global shipping lanes can reverberate across the world economy.

In a recent study, we  researchers in maritime security, global infrastructure and trade  built the first global database of Chinese-affiliated ports and analyzed 133 coastal countries to understand why some host Chinese port investments while others do not.

We found that Chinas overseas port expansion is not random. Far from being driven primarily by general business climate measures, the investments cluster near maritime chokepoints and piracy-prone shipping corridors, with more modest evidence that resource-rich countries are also more likely to host these ports.

The importance of chokepoints

Some sea routes are more important than others. The Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca are examples of chokepoints  narrow routes through which large volumes of global trade and energy shipments must pass.

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In our findings, countries near primary or secondary chokepoints, such as Panama or countries bordering the Dover Strait, such as France, were substantially more likely to host a Chinese-affiliated port. Put simply, proximity to critical trade bottlenecks strongly predicts Chinese investments.

Chokepoints are found along sensitive shipping corridors. Spencer/Christiansen/Pires/Tsai/Gondhali/Petrossian

This makes economic sense. China depends heavily on maritime trade to sustain economic growth. And ports near chokepoints sit along the worlds most sensitive shipping corridors and offer long-term commercial access in strategic locations.

Despite concerns in the West that Beijing is developing ports for military reasons, not every port is a naval base in disguise.

Most Chinese-affiliated facilities are commercial terminals. However, commercial infrastructure can still have strategic value. Chinas first overseas military logistics base in Djibouti sits alongside the Chinese-operated Doraleh port complex. A report from the Congressional Research Service notes that the facility supports naval operations and regional access in the western Indian Ocean.

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That does not make other Chinese-owned or operated ports military installations. But control over terminals, logistics platforms, and supply chain data can shape economic and security relationships over time.

The role of piracy and resources

The same corridors in which Beijing is concentrating port investment are also hot spots for maritime crime. In separate research, we found that seaports can facilitate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing when oversight is weak. Our latest findings show that Chinese-affiliated ports are more common in countries already experiencing piracy and maritime insecurity.

That overlap does not mean ports cause illicit activity, but it shows these investments often occur in higher-risk maritime environments.

One of the most surprising findings from our study was the relationship between piracy and port investment.

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Between 1991 and 2018, thousands of piracy incidents were recorded worldwide. But rather than avoiding risky waters, Chinese-affiliated ports are more common in countries experiencing higher levels of piracy.

Why invest in unstable corridors? One explanation is that piracy signals where trade routes are both vulnerable and valuable. Investing in ports in areas such as the Gulf of Guinea or parts of Southeast Asia may help Beijing protect its shipping interests. In this sense, piracy may signal not just risk but opportunity.

Chinese investment has poured into countries around the world, including Singapore. Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images

We also examined natural resource wealth of port host nations using a broad measure that includes extractive mineral and agricultural resources. We found modest evidence that countries with higher resource levels were more likely to host at least one Chinese-affiliated port, though this relationship was not consistent across all models.

Some commonly cited explanations as to where and why China invests in ports did not hold up in our analysis.

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Broad measures of business climate and governance, such as ease of doing business or institutional stability, were not consistent predictors of Chinese-affiliated port presence.

This suggests that geography and maritime risk factors may matter more than general economic or governance indicators.

Broader implications

Whatever the motivations behind Chinese investments, their implications extend beyond local trade and logistics.

Ports are no longer just local infrastructure projects. They are nodes in global supply chains and increasingly in geopolitical competition.

And while not every investment signals a covert military ambition, it would be naive to treat all port projects as politically neutral.

Read more: China is losing ground in Latin America

Recent U.S. policy responses reflect these growing concerns. In early 2026, the White House outlined a plan to strengthen the U.S. shipping industry and reduce reliance on foreign-controlled maritime infrastructure. The administration has also taken a closer look at foreign involvement in key facilities in the Western Hemisphere, including ports linked to the Panama Canal.

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Such moves suggest that control over maritime infrastructure is no longer viewed in Washington as just a commercial issue but increasingly as a matter of economic and national security.

And as the map of countries with Chinese-affiliated ports suggests, Beijings investments are following the worlds most consequential trade routes not by accident, but by design.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Dylan Spencer, Georgia Southern University; Gohar Petrossian, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Stephen Pires, Florida International University

Read more:



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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.




The FBI is warning of a nationwide increase in "ATM jackpotting" incidents, in which thieves use malware or other tools to get the machines to dispense cash.

The FBI said that out of 1,900 ATM jackpotting incidents since 2020, more than 700 totaling losses of more than $20 million occurred last year alone.

The warning comes as federal prosecutors in Massachusetts announced charges against two men accused of carrying out an ATM jackpotting scheme throughout New England, including hitting a bank in Connecticut, they said.

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The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts identified the two men as Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez and Lestter Guerrero, both 29. They both were arrested in Augusta, Maine, "following an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery," the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release.

Federal prosecutors allege Martinez Gutierrez is connected to an ATM Jackpotting "robbery" that occurred on Dec. 31, 2025, in Norwich, as well as at least four others that targeted ATMs across New England.

The pair's charges stem from an ongoing federal investigation into a nationwide "ATM jackpotting" conspiracy in which malware is used to steal money from ATMs, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

How does ATM jackpotting work?

The FBI said ATM jackpotting involves "threat actors" who "exploit physical and software vulnerabilities in ATMs and deploy malware to dispense cash without a legitimate transaction."

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The FBI said the malware employed by thieves includes the Ploutus family of malware.

The malware first was detected in 2013, according to the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Cell. Versions of the malware can be uploaded to ATMs via a CD or by connecting a phone to the machine via USB.

One version was detected in 2016 that targeted ATMs from Diebold that operated Windows 10, 8, 7, and XP, the agency said.

The FBI said the malware exploits the eXtensions for Financial Services, or XFS, the software that tells the ATM what physically to do.

"When a legitimate transaction occurs, the ATM application sends instructions through XFS for bank authorization," the FBI said. "If a threat actor can issue their own commands to XFS, they can bypass bank authorization entirely and instruct the ATM to dispense cash on demand."

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That means the malware allows the thieves to force the ATM to put out cash without a bank card, customer account or bank authorization.

The FBI noted thieves will upload the malware by opening the ATM face with generic keys. They then either connect the machine's hard drive to a computer and upload the software, or replace the hard drive with a drive or other external device preloaded with the malware, then reboot the machine.

The FBI provided a list of software indicators - essentially digital fingerprints - that could show ATMs running the Windows operating system have been compromised.

Physical indicators that a machine may have been compromised include the connection of USB devices, alerts indicating the ATM door is open outside of regularly scheduled maintenance, removal of hard drives from ATMs, low or no cash indicators outside of expected use, and ATMs being unexpectedly out of service.

Includes previous reporting by Staff Writer Liz Hardaway.

This article originally published at FBI warns hackers are forcing ATMs to spit out cash after Connecticut bank was targeted.
Washington states ferry service hit choppy waters in recent years  leading state Rep. Greg Nance, a Kitsap Democrat, to try and help right the ship.

Nances House Bill 1923 received a public hearing Feb. 27 in the Senate Transportation Committee and was scheduled for a committee vote Monday afternoon. The bill, called the Mosquito Fleet Act, passed off the House floor in mid-February on an 84-11 vote.

The bill aims to get more passenger ferries on the Puget Sound in the short term; Nance noted at Fridays hearing that the states big investments in Washington State Ferries hybrid-electric fleet are transformative but take time.

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Nance said in a call that hes a lifelong ferry rider, and the service is how his dad commuted to work for 32 years. The state is entering its seventh year of Washington State Ferries disruptions, he said. Cancellations and delays are having ripple effects on communities, he added, as many Washingtonians rely on the ferry to get to doctors appointments, school and work.

For Nance, seeing the states ferry service struggle has broken (his) heart.

For me, its a personal mission, he said. I want to get this back on track.

Most ports, local governments, private operators and tribes are barred under current state law from operating foot ferry service. But the Mosquito Fleet Act would broaden the scope, authorizing counties, port districts, city transit systems and other entities to establish passenger-only ferry service districts bordering Grays Harbor or Puget Sound.

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A news release from Nances office says that certain strategic and historic routes could be reestablished under the act, including:

Olympia to SeaTac via Des Moines

Vashon to Seattle  Des Moines circle route

Port of Everett to South Whidbey

San Juan inter-island service to Bellingham

Westport to Ocean Shores

San Juan Islands to Sidney, B.C., which the release says would restore a 103-year-old international connection paused since 2020.

Nances office has touted the legislation as a boon to the maritime economy, in part by creating union jobs in vessel maintenance, operations and construction.

The bill also passed out of the House last year and received a public hearing in the Senate before sputtering out.

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This year, 41 people signed in to testify in favor of the bill and only one person signed in con.

As she did in 2025, Donna Sandstrom with The Whale Trail nonprofit testified Friday against the legislation, citing concerns about whales. She noted a recent uptick in the southern resident population and said that human needs must be balanced against the need for whale protections.

Unmanaged and unmitigated growth of this sector has the potential not only to be catastrophic for the southern residents, but to undo every bit of progress we have made in the last seven years, Sandstrom said.

Nance told McClatchy that hes taken such worries into consideration when designing the bill, adding that hes working with organizations, including one that aims to lower vessel-traffic decibels in the Sound, to be mindful of maritime life. He pointed to an amendment to the bill that would further strengthen orca safeguards.

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Others who signed up to testify in support of the act Friday: Port of Olympia President Jasmine Vasavada, Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler and John Carson, executive director of the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association.

In an emailed statement, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello said the county recognizes the importance of connecting communities by water.

Expanding local tools that allow counties to invest in passenger-only ferry service is a step in the right direction, he said, and we look forward to continuing to explore how ferry connections between Tacoma, Seattle, and other points across Puget Sound can support tourism, strengthen our economy, and help us build the kind of connected communities that are at the heart of our Forward Together vision.
A bitter primary contest between the four-term Republican US senator John Cornyn and the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, ended in a runoff on Tuesday.

In Texas, a primary runoff is declared if neither candidate are able to capture 50% of the vote. Paxton and Cornyn will now face that election on 26 May.

Speaking to reporters in Austin, Cornyn said he had worked for decades to build the Republican party, both here in Texas and nationally, and refused to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like the scandal-scarred Paxton to risk everything weve worked so hard to build over these many years.

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Related: Pete Hegseth fails to say whose munition bombed Iranian girls school, saying US investigating  US politics live

Judgment day is coming for Ken Paxton, Cornyn said.

With just more than two-thirds of the ballots counted, Cornyn led Paxton by less than two percentage points, with a third candidate, the rightwing congressman Wesley Hunt capturing about 13% of the vote.

We just sent a message loud and clear to Washington, Paxton said, at his election night party in Dallas. We are not going to go quietly and we are not going to let you buy this seat.

Emphasizing the amount of money Cornyns campaign and allied groups spent to force a runoff, Paxton declared: Texas is not for sale.

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As polls closed across the Lone Star state on Tuesday evening, national Republicans were openly fretting that a victory by Paxton, a scandal-plagued conservative culture warrior who is a darling of Donald Trumps Maga movement, would give Democrats a rare opening in a solidly red state.

Republicans, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, spent tens of millions of dollars rallying to Cornyns defense. Donors will probably be pressed to spend millions more now the race has stretched into a 10-week runoff.

Trump has so far not weighed in, heaping praise on all candidates during a visit to Texas last week. All have touted their closeness to the president, with Cornyn highlighting his record of voting for the presidents agenda. In the last few weeks, he has also touted his electability, warning that his rival would jeopardize Republicans chances of holding the seat in November.

But Paxton has survived years of legal, political and ethics scandals, including being impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House on charges of bribery, abuse of public trust and obstruction of justice. In the Senate, the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction.

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Paxton had led in most polls and appeared poised to end Cornyns 24-year Senate career. But in a race further divided by a third candidate, Cornyn had suggested that a runoff would be a possibility.

If you all will please just get out and tell your friends, drag them to the polls and lets get this over with on Tuesday, Paxton told supporters in Waco on Tuesday. Lets do this without a runoff.

Even as Trumps approval ratings falter, and voters sour on his handling of the economy and immigration, Texas Republicans have remained fiercely loyal to the president. In 2024, Trump won the state by nearly 14 percentage points, improving his margins with a boost from Latino voters.

In an interview with CBS, Cornyn conceded that it would be a challenge if only the most radical people vote in the Texas Republican primary.

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Washington Republicans have warned that Paxton would force the party to divert resources away from other key Senate contests to protect a seat long viewed as safely red.

Honestly, if you look at the polling in a general election setting, I dont think its outside the realm of possibility that the seat [flips], depending on who the Democrats nominate, the Senate majority leader John Thune told Politico in a recent interview.
In addition to holding Abolish ICE signs, Minnesotans and residents in 20 other states and some localities may employ additional effective tools while protesting.

Anyone seeing a masked ICE agent, for instance, may file a complaint here because its a crime for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conceal the identity of its masked employees.

Minnesota Statutes says: A person whose identity is concealed by the person in a public place by means of a  mask, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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You do not have to rely on the Legislature or others to start the process of enforcing disorderly conduct, unlawful assembly or the anti-masking law.

That process can be initiated by anyone who witnesses a violation simply by filing a complaint with local law enforcement. Local police may also issue a citation when seeing a violation or responding to a complainant who saw the crime.

The maximum fine for masking misdemeanors is $1,000 per violation. So, assume Minnesota was home to 3,000 masked immigration agents, that could mean ICE gets fined $3 million  more if each day of violation is used in the calculation. That could provide a small amount of restitution for businesses and others injured by unlawful ICE activity, which the city estimated to have cost $203.1 million in January alone.

When encountering armed, masked ICE agents who have exhibited bullying behavior in the past, please avoid the risk of a violent result. That is, rather than attempting a citizens arrest or asking local law enforcement to arrest immediately, calmly say you are peacefully protesting but nevertheless will be complying if appropriate. Afterward, when you have a safe opportunity, file a complaint on Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriartys new portal, with your photos. That will avoid vexing the ICE personnel confronting you, who may retaliate on the spot when you witnessed their crimes. ICE agents do not have to appear in person at arraignment and neither do complainants, which should diffuse a potentially volatile immediate reaction to a misdemeanor complaint.

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When the masked individual is unknown, witnesses may file a John/Jane Doe complaint, if they are willing to testify, verifying what they witnessed. Trial testimony is unlikely since most cases are resolved by plea bargaining.

The complaint tolls the statute of limitations until trial or plea. Guilty entities get possible jail time that cannot be presidentially pardoned, in addition to the potential fine. Just knowing that may cause offending personnel to avoid criminal records by identifying themselves, just like other law enforcers are required to do. It may also mean overwhelmed Minnesota lawyers will have to file fewer writs of habeas corpus  more than 1,000 so far  necessary to assist Minnesotans wrongfully detained by ICE.

If you file a complaint, the person you are complaining about will have the right to know your name. However, your name may already be in some database ICE is building to identify and intimidate observers who are shining a light on ICE. If prosecutors request a subpoena to get the names of ICE employees staying in local hotels, the unknown Doe offenders could be further identified for notification by publication.

Its hypocritical to be guilty of crimes while detaining illegal aliens, or others guilty of nothing. So, to avoid hypocrisy, ICE should unmask its poorly regulated, civilian employees. However, absent voluntary compliance, in anti-masking states or localities, every citizen and public official (willing to risk being targeted by fascist bullies) has a non-feckless tool to unmask criminals.

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ICE commits other crimes when behaving like people our relatives fought while bringing an end to WWII. For example, if three or more of ICEs non-military employees are assembled to commit any unlawful act by force, each participant is guilty of unlawful assembly, a misdemeanor.

Thus, ICE violates another statute by unlawfully violating our U.S. Constitution when it fails to obtain a lawful bench warrant for its forceful arrests.

The 4th Amendment to the Constitution ensures: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

An attorney instructing new ICE recruits, told Congress under oath he quit after receiving  secretive orders to tell cadets to violate the Constitution by entering homes without a judicial warrant.

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Some ICE non-militia, non-military employees are being disorderly when disturbing the peace.

So, its an unlawful assembly misdemeanor when ICE shoots peaceful protesters and continues to detain innocent citizens and lawful or unlawful immigrants without due process.

When breaking the law, forcing their way into churches, schools and work sites, and disrupting public places, ICE is disturbing public peace. Their conduct makes law enforcement and keeping citizens calm more difficult. Its immaterial whether or not the purpose of apprehending migrants without legal status is lawful because the manner of apprehension lacks due process and otherwise mirrors past unsavory history reminiscent of events in fascist countries.

Any lawful purpose unlawfully enforced does not nullify the enforcers (i.e., ICEs) violation.

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Since part of the unlawful assembly law references disorderly conduct, complainants witnessing ICE brawling or fighting with peaceful protesters may wish to mention MSA  609.72(1), which defines brawling as engaging in disorderly conduct.

Another statute and Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire make much ICE conduct a disorderly conduct misdemeanor if it tends to alarm, anger, or disturb others or provoke an assault or breach of the peace. That is true when ICE issues intemperate verbal commands.

Since many cases uphold application of state and local policies to federal actors, that counters those contending otherwise. Not-well-regulated, mistrained ICE agents do not need masks to hide violent unwarranted arrests, unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct.

The alleged end of Operation Metro Surge does not excuse ICEs previously committed crimes. Continuing to leave misdemeanors uncharged makes it more likely that future irreparable harm will occur everywhere in Minnesota and continue in other states. If your state lacks anti-masking laws, it likely prohibits the other misdemeanors.

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Perhaps because murder charges and habeas corpus petitions had higher priority, misdemeanors discussed in this article were not enforced during Operation Metro Surge.

Now that you know about them, you can use these lowly misdemeanors to punch above their weight in making ICE protest effective. Meet the moment  petition, or carry a Prosecute Anti-Masking Law sign.

Will we see ICE agents paying fines or facing other sanctions? Maybe not, but if nothing else, youll be highlighting the hypocrisy of the administrations alleged commitment to law and order when its clear they are repeatedly breaking the law.
The first evacuation flight commissioned by the German government to repatriate stranded nationals in the Middle East is due to land in Frankfurt early on Thursday.

The Lufthansa airline said the Airbus A340-300 jet is scheduled to take off from Oman's capital Muscat around midnight (2300 GMT Wednesday). The aircraft has space for 279 passengers.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced earlier this week that the German government would assist with evacuating vulnerable nationals such as pregnant women, sick people and children amid the ongoing conflict in the region, which was sparked by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday.

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Tens of thousands of travellers have been stranded since the weekend after Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on several Gulf states, forcing widespread airspace closures across the Middle East region.

Figures from the German Travel Association suggest around 30,000 customers of German tour operators are unable to fly home, a figure the Foreign Office in Berlin has described as broadly reliable.

Airlines and tour operators are scrambling to organize the safe return of stranded tourists and cruise ship passengers.

Limited flight operations have resumed in the United Arab Emirates despite the continuing missile strikes across the region.

On Tuesday, an Emirates flight from Dubai landed in Frankfurt, while another arrived at Munich Airport carrying TUI customers.
The first evacuation flight commissioned by the German government to repatriate stranded nationals in the Middle East is due to land in Frankfurt early on Thursday.

Lufthansa said the Airbus A340-300 jet is scheduled to take off from Oman's capital Muscat at around 1:55 am (2255 GMT Wednesday). The aircraft has space for 279 passengers.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced earlier this week that the German government would assist with evacuating vulnerable nationals such as pregnant women, sick people and children amid the war in the region, sparked by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday.

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Wadephul said Germany would organize two additional evacuation flights from Muscat to Frankfurt on Thursday and Friday. The Thursday flight, operated by Condor, is expected to carry more than 200 passengers.

About two-thirds of those passengers will first be transported by bus from Dubai to Muscat, he said. Another charter flight on Friday is expected to bring more than 200 additional people to Frankfurt, some of whom will also first travel overland from Dubai.

Boris Pistorius, Germanys defence minister, said the government had no plans to deploy the countrys armed forces in the conflict.

"Germany is not a belligerent. The German armed forces will not participate in this war," Pistorius said during a debate in the Bundestag.

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He said the governments top priority was protecting German citizens and soldiers stationed in the region, where the situation remains highly volatile and dangerous.

Tens of thousands of travellers have been stranded since the weekend after Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on several Gulf states, forcing widespread airspace closures across the Middle East region.

Figures from the German Travel Association suggest around 30,000 customers of German tour operators are unable to fly home, a figure the Foreign Office in Berlin has described as broadly reliable.

Airlines and tour operators are scrambling to organize the safe return of stranded tourists and cruise ship passengers.

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Limited flight operations have resumed in the United Arab Emirates despite the continuing missile strikes across the region.

On Tuesday, an Emirates flight from Dubai landed in Frankfurt, while another arrived at Munich Airport carrying TUI customers.

Several others have arrived in Germany from airports in Beirut and Amman on Wednesday, but airlines have warned that the situation remains volatile.
Although coal-fired generation is declining in relative terms, China is not dismantling its coal-fired plants fleet. Coal plants are increasingly serving as strategic reserve capacity, designed to stabilize the grid during droughts, low wind output, or fuel supply disruptionsconditions that triggered widespread blackouts across more than 20 provinces in 20212022. In Sichuan, where hydropower accounts for roughly 80% of electricity supply, drought-induced shortages in 2022 forced major industrial shutdowns, including facilities operated by Toyota and Foxconn. Boosting coals standing as Beijings default reserve fuel, China approved or revived 161 GW of coal power projects in 2025 alone, a record level. Another 291 GW is currently under construction. Once completed, this will further reduce current utilization rates at coal plants, which have averaged just 51% over the past five years and could fall toward 40%.

Infrastructure investment reinforced this transition. Much of Chinas solar and wind potential is concentrated in sparsely populated western regions such as Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Gansu, far from coastal industrial centres. To bridge that gap, China constructed ultra-high-voltage transmission corridors totalling approximately 340 GW in capacity, enabling large-scale delivery of renewable electricity to coastal demand centres in the East of the country. This eliminated one of the main structural barriers to renewable expansion.

The economics of renewable energy explain much of the shift in power generation. Since 2015, the levelized cost of electricity from utility-scale solar has fallen by 80%, from $115/MWh to $30/MWh, while wind power costs declined by three quarters, from $90/MWh to $25/MWh. Renewable generation expanded dramatically as a result, increasing more than tenfold since 2015. Nuclear capacity has also grown steadily, rising from 27 GW in 2015 to 62 GW by early 2026. These trends have made non-fossil generation structurally competitive with coal in electricity markets.

Chinas power sector is undergoing a visible transformation. Electricity demand rose by 5% between 2024 and 2025, reaching 10,368 TWh, yet coal-fired generation declined by 113 TWh to 6,294 TWh in a year, reducing its share in the power mix. The entire increment in electricity demand was absorbed by nuclear and renewable sources, whose combined output rose by 617 TWh. On paper, this reflects a decisive shift away from coal and toward low-carbon energy. In practice, however, coal is not disappearing from Chinas industry  it is being redirected.

Story Continues

Overall, Chinas coal production remains robust, reaching roughly 440 million tonnes per month in December 2025. Imports, although down from the record 427 million tonnes in 2024 to 373.5 million tonnes in 2025, remain far above the pre-2022 average of about 260 million tonnes annually. At the same time, coal exports declined slightly to 13.9 million tonnes, and domestic inventories fell sharply in the second half of 2025, from 25 million tonnes to around 18 million tonnes. The decline in coal-fired electricity generation, combined with falling inventories and exports, implies that coal consumption is not falling as quickly as power sector data suggests. The question, then, is where the displaced coal is going?

Related: How Chinas Rare Earth Ban Backfired into a U.S. Tech Breakthrough

Coal-to-liquids (CTL) and coal-to-chemicals (CTC) technologies provide the missing link. Using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, coal can be converted into synthetic liquid fuels such as diesel, gasoline, and naphtha, as well as petrochemical feedstocks including olefins for plastics production. China and South Africa are the only countries operating CTL and CTC at an industrial scale. China alone consumes hundreds of millions of tonnes of coal annually (380 million tonnes as reported by the IEA) for chemical and synthetic fuel production. It is important to note that the largest part of this demand goes into the CTC industry. China has effectively replaced gas as its main feedstock for ammonia and methanol production with raw coal, to the extent that roughly 80% of these chemicals output is now fed by coal.

Chinas largest CTL facility, the Shenhua Ningxia plant, commissioned in 2016, produces roughly 100,000 b/d of synthetic fuels from approximately 44,000 t/d of coal. By comparison, a conventional refinery would require a third of this amount, equivalent of 14,000 t/d of crude oil to produce a similar volume of refined products. At current prices, coal in Qinhuangdao trades at roughly $105110 per tonne, while Brent crude equivalent costs about $525 per tonne (at $71/bbl). Even accounting for conversion costs, coal-based synthetic fuels can offer economic advantages, particularly in a volatile oil market.

Energy security considerations are equally important. China relies heavily on imported crude oil, much of it sourced from geopolitically exposed suppliers such as Iran, Venezuela and Russia. Synthetic fuels derived from domestic coal provide a buffer against supply disruptions, sanctions, or maritime chokepoint risks. Although CTL remains a minority contributor to total fuel supply, it enhances strategic autonomy.

The geography of CTL and CTC development also reveals its political function. Most CTL/CTC projects are located in coal-rich inland provinces such as Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang  regions that lag economically behind coastal China and depend heavily on mining employment. Chinas coal industry directly employs roughly 3 million workers, with several million more depending indirectly. Redirecting coal into chemical and fuel production allows Beijing to maintain coal output and employment while simultaneously reducing coals visible role in electricity generation.

From a climate accounting perspective, this shift is significant. Moving coal out of the power sector lowers coals share in electricity generation, improving decarbonization metrics that would be publicly presented in environmental reports. However, CTL/CTC processes remain highly carbon-intensive, often emitting more CO 2 per unit of fuel produced than conventional oil refining. They also consume large quantities of water and generate contaminated wastewater, particularly problematic in northern regions where most CTL/CTC plants are located. Yet, emissions from coal used in petrochemical production receive less public scrutiny than emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Chinas energy transition is therefore less a story of coals decline than of its reallocation. Renewables are displacing coal in electricity generation because they are currently cheaper, scalable, and politically advantageous in climate reporting. But rather than abandoning coal, China is redirecting it into synthetic fuels and petrochemicals  sectors that preserve industrial activity, employment, and energy security.

And yes, coal is not disappearing from Chinas energy system. It is simply changing form.

By Natalia Katona for Oilprice.com

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A trial in Germany linked to the 2016 publication of the Panama Papers began in Cologne on Wednesday.

The defendant is a 56-year-old Swiss man who is alleged to have helped many people in the Cologne area to evade taxes.

According to the indictment, the case involves 13 million ($15 million), with the offences having been committed between 2002 and 2019.

Seven days of hearings have been scheduled for the trial at the Cologne Regional Court.

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The charges are in connection with the data leak of documents about shell companies in Panama that was revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in 2016.

Almost 400 reporters from more than 80 countries participated in the research, which revealed information on 140 politicians and their confidants among others.

The revelations led to the resignation of Iceland's prime minister, while Pakistan's prime minister was also removed from office.

The ICIJ received the Pulitzer Prize, the highest award in US journalism, for the Panama Papers leak in 2017.

The revelations triggered tax investigations in many countries and subsequently led to millions in additional tax revenue in Germany.

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The defendant in Cologne, who resides in Switzerland, is accused of forming criminal organizations and aiding and abetting tax evasion in two cases.

Along with other individuals who are being prosecuted separately, he is alleged to have been a member of a group of companies that, in return for payment, arranged for private individuals worldwide to set up offshore companies based in Panama or other countries known as tax havens.

The companies did not conduct any operational business, but served almost exclusively to conceal payment flows and capital investments.

Prosecutors argue the companies were used to commit various economic and tax offences, predominantly for tax evasion in the case of German customers.

The offshore companies are said to have acted as holders of bank and securities accounts whose investment income was not properly taxed in Germany.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that the UK is organising a second repatriation flight to get stranded British nationals out of the Middle East as war in Iran enters its fifth day.

This comes after the government already announced that a first flight was set to leave Oman on Wednesday evening.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the PM said "British Airways is now laying on an extra flight from Oman and the Foreign Secretary will have further discussions today.

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"And can I urge all those in the House who have constituents who are caught in this to make sure that they do register their presence so we can do whatever we can to help them get home safely."

It is unclear when this second flight is set to take off.

Trump says strikes on Iran could last several weeks, as war widens

What weapons does Iran have and how far can they reach?

The Foreign Office said the initial flight will depart the countrys capital, Muscat, at 7pm and is available for British nationals, their partners, and children under 18 with a valid travel document.

Priority for the evacuation flight will be given to the most vulnerable and they will contact British nationals in Oman.

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Anyone who registered their presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is now in Oman is asked to register for a place on a flight, according to the Foreign Office.

The department asked people not to travel to Muscat International Airport in Oman unless they are contacted by officials, while dependents who are not British nationals will require a valid visa or permission to enter or remain granted for more than three months.

Some 130,000 Britons have registered their presence in the Middle East, as the Foreign Office said it was working with airlines on more routes.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

The war in Iran has left hundreds of thousands of British citizens stranded in the Middle East, as airspaces are closed across the region.

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Affected British nationals are urged to stay up to date with the latest updates from their airline or tour operator and review their travel insurance policies before travelling.

Click here for more information on where it is safe to travel and what your rights are.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
The march to the US midterm elections, which will determine which party controls both chambers of Congress for the second half of Donald Trump's presidency, is officially under way.

Voters in a handful of states headed to the polls on Tuesday to pick the Democratic and Republican candidates for the November general election.

It was Texas, and contested primary races for a US Senate seat, that attracted the lion's share of the attention. The races in the southern state could shed light on the directions that America's two major parties are taking in the coming election season.

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For the Democrats, state representative James Talarico defeated Dallas-based US Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and will advance to the general election. The Republican race was not decided on Tuesday, as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and US Senator John Cornyn, the incumbent, each finished with less than 50% of the overall vote. The two men will advance to a run-off election on 26 May.

Here are five takeaways from the voting in Texas - in what is just the start of months of primary campaigning across America.

Democrats opt for the big-tent candidate

The Democratic race for US Senate nominee was a study in contrasts. Crockett, who appears regularly on liberal television outlets, had built a national reputation as a pugnacious partisan who was unafraid to confront Republicans and the Trump administration.

"I went with Crockett solely because I believe she really has what it takes to fight for what we what I think we need as a community," said Vananh Tran, who voted on Tuesday at a precinct in central Dallas.

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The winner Talarico, who has a Master of Divinity degree from a Christian seminary, offered a more genteel approach. While he shares many of Crockett's liberal positions, he emphasised finding common ground with disaffected Republicans and trying to reclaim religious values from the evangelical right.

"I really like his ability to reach across the aisle and make people on the other side hear him and recognise what he's saying," said Andrew Sterling, a Talarico supporter.

Crockett performed well in Texas's major metropolitan areas - including her home city of Dallas as well as Houston - and the eastern portion of the state, with its large black population.

But Talarico carried suburbs with affluent white liberals and areas with large numbers of Hispanic voters  including San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley along the US-Mexico border.

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"The people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope," Talarico said in his election night speech before the result came in. "And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing."

Later, when his primary victory was called, Talarico said in a statement that "we're about to take back Texas".

Many of the Democratic voters to whom the BBC spoke said they liked both candidates and would support whoever won. Democrats will need that kind of unity if they hope to win in November.

Cornyn lives to fight another day

US Senator John Cornyn, the incumbent, did not cruise to re-election this time [Getty Images]

Cornyn, who has served in the US Senate since 2002, has typically cruised to re-election.

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That was decidedly not the case this year.

Polls consistently showed him trailing Paxton despite outspending his opponent on television advertising by more than $70m (52m), and setting a record for the most expensive Senate primary race. The Texas airwaves were full of Cornyn-backed ads attacking Paxton's past controversies.

There was plenty of material to work with. For example, in 2023, Paxton was impeached by the Texas legislature for fraud and obstruction of justices  but was acquitted in a state Senate trial. And recently his wife filed for divorce amid allegations that Paxton had multiple affairs.

None of it seemed to slow the attorney general, who characterised Cornyn as being old and out-of-touch with Texans, as being insufficiently supportive of Trump, of backing gun-control measures unpopular with many Texas conservatives, and of not doing enough to cut government spending.

Challenger Ken Paxton forced a run-off vote, which will happen in May [Getty Images]

The race appeared poised to be another case of an establishment politician felled by a right-wing insurgent.

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That may yet be the case, but on Tuesday, Cornyn showed some surprising resilience. He finished neck-and-neck with Paxton, but well below the tally of 50% of votes that would have been necessary to avoid the run-off contest in May.

"Judgement day is coming for Ken Paxton," Cornyn said at press conference held after Tuesday night's election results were posted.

That may be overly optimistic for the senator, as Texas Republican run-off voters tend to be more conservative and more anti-establishment. But it sets up another three months of this gruelling, expensive campaign.

"We are not going to go quietly," Paxton said in his election night speech, adding a message directed to Cornyn: "And we are not going to let you buy this seat."

Day one voting difficulties

If Tuesday was the first stress test for US voting systems this year, the results were not entirely encouraging.

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Republican-backed changes to the primary process in Dallas County  with its 2.7 million residents - required voters to cast their ballots in a precinct determined by their home address. In recent elections, voters had been able to use any vote centre in the county.

After a request from local Democratic Party officials, a local judge on Tuesday evening ordered all county polling locations to stay open two extra hours. He cited voter "mass confusion" over proper polling locations that was "so severe" the county election website crashed due to heavy traffic.

On Tuesday evening, the Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling putting the lower court order on hold and ordering that ballots cast after the scheduled closing time be counted separately.

[Reuters]

Shortly after the court announcement, Crockett took to the stage at her election party and said that voters in her city of Dallas were being disenfranchised.

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"Unfortunately this is what Republicans like to do," she said. "They specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we know why."

Outside a polling location on Tuesday afternoon, Lela Bodley told the BBC she and her mother had travelled to two polling places only to be turned away at both. She was able to cast her ballot at a third, but her mother was still trying to figure out her proper location.

"Whatever this new change they did to jurisdictions and voting here and voting there, it's a mess" she said.

Early voting tally gives hope to frustrated Democrats

It has been 32 years since a Democratic candidate won a statewide election in Texas. Although Beto O'Rourke's 2018 Senate campaign came within 215,000 votes of ousting Senator Ted Cruz, with more than eight million ballots cast, the party has endured a long string of defeats.

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But there are signs that Democratic voters are particularly engaged in this year's campaign. For the first time since 2020, more Democrats cast early vote ballots in a March primary than Republicans  including 400,000 who voted in a Democratic primary for the first time.

Democratic strategists and politicians have long talked about a day when the state becomes a political battleground, only to have their hopes dashed. But this time, they believe that an unpopular president, uncertain economic conditions and a highly motivated base of support could tip the balance.

"The grocery bill is higher in Texas," said Brandon Chase McGee, a city councillor in Denton who served as a senior official in the Texas Democratic Party. "Gas isn't as cheap. We're still facing challenges to building more affordable housing for regular working people. Child care costs are high. The challenges that people are experiencing in other parts of the country, we're also getting them in Texas."

It's still a long road ahead for Democrats. Trump won the state in 2024 by 14 percentage points. But hope, like oil, springs eternal in Texas.

Iran not a pressing issue - yet

Millions of Texans had already cast their ballots in early voting when the US launched the first of its attacks with Israel against Iran on Saturday morning. Although the bombing campaign is ongoing, the operation did not appear to substantively affect the political dynamics in the state.

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Candidates seldom brought up the military strikes in their last-minute campaign appearances, and voters to whom the BBC spoke on election day listed domestic issues  particularly the economy  as their main concerns.

"Talking to people on the ground, I'm not just hearing about Iran," said Chase McGee, the Denton city councillor. "Having said that, I don't know that we have seen the rise in gas prices yet that we are likely to see as a result of the missions going on with Iran."

Iran may not be an issue yet, but with voters focused on cost of living and affordability concerns, a tangible political impact of the Iran war may be looming on the horizon.
Peter Wozny's flight from Doha, Qatar, to Warsaw, Poland, turned around midair as war broke out on Saturday.

He's now stuck in Doha, seeing and hearing explosions from his hotel room.

He says the uncertainty feels like the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Peter Wozny, head of legal at Btomorrow Ventures, the corporate VC arm of British American Tobacco. This piece has been edited for length and clarity.

I was flying home to Europe over the weekend from a business trip in China, connecting through Qatar, when my journey took an unexpected turn.

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I landed in Doha in the early hours of Saturday morning, made my transfer, and boarded the onward flight. We took off as normal at 9:15 a.m. local time.

About an hour later, everything changed. As we approached the airspace between Israel and Iran, the plane abruptly turned around and headed back to Doha.

When we landed, we sat on the tarmac for roughly 90 minutes as the crew tried to figure out the next steps. Eventually, they sent us back into the terminal.

By then, anxiety had started to spread. Passengers were glued to their phones, reading reports that war had broken out that morning.

Peter Wozny boarded a flight to Warsaw at Doha's Hamad International Airport on February 28. Courtesy of Peter Wozny

Stranded in Doha

Inside the airport, it was chaotic.

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Since I was traveling for work, I headed to the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, where I ran into my friend Stuart. We ended up waiting there for a few hours, trying to figure out what was happening.

While we were sitting there, we started hearing loud bangs outside. At first, I wasn't sure what they were. Then it became clear they were missiles being fired. That's when it really hit me  it felt ominous.

Stuart McClure and Peter Wozny at Doha's International Airport's lounge on February 28. Courtesy of Peter Wozny

Qatar Airways moved us to the Fraser Suites in Doha's West Bay area. It wasn't great, so I decided to book my own room at the Mondrian Doha, where I've been staying since Sunday. It's about $220 a night.

The authorities have said stranded passengers will be able to claim refunds for their hotel stays from Saturday until the airports reopen.

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Once this is all over, I'll need to submit expenses for flights, taxis, food, the hotel, and even basic things like toiletries and clothes.

For the first four days, we didn't have our suitcases. I just had the clothes I was wearing and a rucksack with my work laptop.

The explosions woke me up

From the hotel, which overlooks Doha's port, you can hear the explosions. You'll be sitting there, and suddenly there are these loud bangs outside. Then you look up and see flashes lighting up the sky. It's scary.

On Saturday night, I actually slept through most of the noise because I was exhausted.

But at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, the noise woke me up. On other days, it's sounded more distant, more muffled.

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Sunday was noticeably quieter. From what I understand, Qatar has been intercepting missiles over the Gulf before they reach land. It's not that they haven't been fired  it's that they're being taken out at sea.

Even so, you can still hear them.

Stuart McClure and Peter Wozny in their hotel room on March 3. Courtesy of Peter Wozny

It feels a little bit like Covid

It feels a bit like lockdown. I'm stuck, and I don't know what's going on. I look out on the streets, and there are barely any cars driving around.

I feel nervous. A bit unsettled. I do feel safe, but I just don't know what's happening.

I'm generally a glass-half-full person, but all my plans have been turned upside down. I don't know whether it's going to be a few more days or a few more weeks stuck out here.

Peter Wozny and other flight passengers received alert messages upon returning to Doha. Courtesy of Peter Wozny

Reassuring friends and family

The hardest part has been friends and family constantly checking in. They're obviously concerned and want to get updates.

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They're reading things in the news, and there's misinformation out there. So you're constantly responding to messages and telling everyone you're OK.

That's intense. But when you're sitting in the hotel, and you're just hearing explosions around, or you're looking up, and you just see all the light, the sky kind of lighting up, it's also a bit scary.

Peter Wozny in the Mondrian Doha Hotel on March 2 Courtesy of Peter Wozny

From my company's perspective, the guidance has been straightforward: stay in touch, keep people updated, and don't leave the hotel unless necessary.

Beyond that, we're just waiting to see whether the situation escalates.

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The last update from Qatar Airways was that there won't be any flights out of Doha until at least Friday.

I'm now considering getting a car and driving to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and then flying to London from there.

For now, I'm just hoping it doesn't escalate further, that no one gets hurt, and I can head home soon.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Republicans have single-digit leads in both Floridas 2026 governors race and U.S. Senate contest, advantages that reflect the states partisan tilt but remain far from decisive eight months out from Election Day, especially with sizeable amounts of undecideds.

That's one of the upshots of the latest statewide opinion poll of likely midterm election voters by the Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) at the University of North Florida, made public on March 4.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Naples, the President Donald Trump-endorsed Republican in the race for governor, leads six percentage points in a hypothetical matchup with Democratic contender David Jolly of Pinellas County (42%36%, 17% undecided), and seven points against Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings (43%36%, 16% undecided).

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This follows a Feb. 24 poll also by PORL showing Donalds as the out-front GOP primary candidate, with other contenders in the single digits, including political activist and entrepreneur James Fishback, former House Speaker Paul Renner and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.

More: Trump endorsement could decide Florida governor race, poll suggests

Also, Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody of Hillsborough County is ahead eight percentage points against Broward County Democrat Alex Vindman (45%-38%, 15% undecided) and she bests Jacksonville state Rep. Angie Nixon by seven points (46%38%, 14% undecided).

After decades trailing Democrats, state records show Florida Republicans now enjoy an almost 1.5 million lead in registered voters, roughly 5.5 million to 4 million, with minor- and no-party voters at close to 3.8 million.

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At least at this stage in these races, vote choice is much more about partisanship than candidate identity, Sean Freeder, PORL director and professor of political science, said in a statement. Republicans still enjoy a clear advantage with Florida voters, but it doesnt yet appear as strong as in previous years  perhaps unsurprising given that the party of the President usually struggles more in midterm elections.

Name recognition is also a factor, the poll shows, with 66% of respondents saying they never heard of Vindman, a a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and combat veteran. Hes a former White House top national security expert on Ukraine whose congressional testimony helped spark Trump's first impeachment in 2019.

And 74% didn't know Nixon, a three-term member of the Florida House. Shes been a vocal progressive critic of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature, taking part in a sit-in protest on the House floor in 2022 against a congressional redistricting map pushed by DeSantis.

On one hand, Vindman enjoys a name recognition advantage over Nixon as expected, Freeder said. "On the other hand, given his significant involvement in Trumps first impeachment, the familiarity advantage is much smaller than one would expect, and it doesnt translate to better general election performance.

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More: Vindman raises $1.7 million first day of Florida US Senate bid

UNF pollsters asked a slew of other questions, including what was "the most important problem facing Florida."

Half said "affordability and cost of living," with 12% saying "political division and polarization," and "8% indicated immigration as the most important problem," the poll summary said.

"Affordability is the top choice across partisan and demographic groups; however, concern over immigration and education is higher among Republicans (14%), while Democrats and Independents are more concerned with political division (12% and 17%, respectively)."

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From USA TODAY: Trump says he 'solved' affordability, stumps to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene

About this poll

According to the poll summary:

There were 786 likely Florida midterm voters surveyed, Feb. 21 to March 2, 2026. Voters were considered likely if they participated in at least one of the 2020, 2022 or 2024 general elections. Those who said they probably or definitely would not vote in 2026 were screened out.

The survey used a "mixed-mode design," with 605 interviews conducted by telephone and 181 completed online via text message links. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish using a random sample drawn from the January 2026 Florida voter file. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Results were weighted to reflect the states likely midterm electorate based on education, party registration, age, race and ethnicity, sex, geography and 2024 presidential vote choice.

The poll was self-funded, except for a recall election question sponsored by the nonpartisan group Recall Florida. UNF was solely responsible for the surveys design, data collection and analysis.

For more information, go to unf.edu/coas/porl.

Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY Network's Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jrosica@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Are Florida voters sending an early warning? Latest poll numbers
A Florida man who prosecutors say wrestled a police officers service weapon away during a 1991 traffic stop and fatally shot him was executed Tuesday evening after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeals.

Billy Leon Kearse, 53, is set to receive a three-drug lethal injection beginning at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke.

Kearse was sentenced to death in 1991 after being convicted of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. The Florida Supreme Court later ruled that jurors were not properly instructed on aggravating circumstances and ordered a new sentencing hearing. He was resentenced to death in 1997.

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Kearses execution would mark the states third in 2026, following a record 19 executions in 2025.

Convicted Drive-by Killer Executed In Oklahoma, Requested Classic Fast-food Feast As Final Meal

Clouds hover over the entrance of the Florida State Prison in Starke, Fla., Aug. 3, 2023. (AP Newsroom)

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed more death warrants last year than any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Before that, the highest number in a single year was eight in 1984 and 2014 under governors Bob Graham and Rick Scott, respectively.

Read On The Fox News App

Court records show Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish stopped Kearse in January 1991 for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. After Kearse failed to produce a valid drivers license and resisted being handcuffed, a struggle broke out.

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During the confrontation, Kearse grabbed Parrishs firearm and fired 14 shots, striking the officer nine times and hitting his body armor four times, prosecutors said. A nearby taxi driver heard the gunfire and used Parrishs radio to call for help.

Florida Executes Man Convicted Of Killing Airman And Girlfriend In 1987 Home Invasion

Parrish was taken to a hospital, where he died from his wounds.

Investigators used license plate information Parrish had radioed in before the struggle to identify Kearses vehicle and home address. He was arrested shortly afterward.

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court denied Kearses appeals, in which his attorneys argued he was deprived of a fair penalty phase and that his intellectual disability made him ineligible for execution. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeal Tuesday without comment.

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Florida Executes Richard Barry Randolph Convicted Of Raping, Killing Former Convenience Store Manager

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. last year. Florida carried out the most, outpacing Texas, South Carolina and Alabama, which each conducted five executions.

Two more executions are scheduled in Florida this month. Michael Lee King, 54, is set to be executed March 17. James Aren Duckett, 68, is scheduled for March 31.

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Duckett, a former police officer, was convicted in 1987 of raping and murdering 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. At the time, he was working for the Mascotte Police Department when McAbee was last seen getting into his patrol car outside a convenience store. Her body was later found less than a mile away in a lake. Authorities said she had been sexually battered, strangled and drowned.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Florida man who wrestled cop's gun away and killed him, executed after final appeals rejected
MIAMI (AP)  Floridas attorney general said Wednesday that a state-level criminal investigation into former Cuban leader Raul Castros role in the 1996 shootdown of four planes operated by anti-communist exiles will be reopened.

Attorney General James Uthmeier said during a news conference in Miami on Wednesday that an investigation into possible crimes against Raul Castro that began several years ago was shut down by the Biden administration.

When this came to my attention, we reactivated the files, Uthmeier said. So yes, that investigation will be ongoing.

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In recent weeks, as the 30th anniversary of the February 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue planes approached, several Miami Republicans, as well as Florida Sen. Rick Scott, have called on the Trump administration to reopen its criminal investigation to focus on Castros alleged role in the incident.

The renewed interest in the case is taking place against the backdrop of Trumps increasingly aggressive stance against Cubas communist leadership in the wake of the U.S. capture of its close ally, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

In a letter to Trump on Feb. 13, lawmakers including Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez highlighted decades-old news reports indicating that Castro  the head of Cubas military at the time  gave the order to shoot down the unarmed Cessna aircraft.

We believe unequivocally that Raul Castro is responsible for this heinous crime, lawmakers wrote. It is time for him to be brought to justice.

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On Wednesday, Uthmeier agreed that accountability is needed if crimes against Florida citizens were committed.

I cant really say too much more at this point, but we are going to continue this investigation, he said during the news conference. I know a lot of members of the state legislature and other people here in Florida would like to see some resolution and ideally accountability.

His office did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment about the investigation

Cuban government officials also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

To date, the U.S. has convicted only a single person of conspiracy to commit murder in connection to the shootdown. Gerardo Hernandez, the leader of a Cuban espionage ring dismantled by the FBI in the 1990s, was sentenced to life in prison but was released by President Barack Obama during a prisoner swap in December 2014 after serving 16 years.

Two fighter jet pilots and their commanding officer have also been indicted but outside the reach of U.S. law enforcement while living in Cuba.

_____

Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Since President Donald Trump began ramping up immigration detentions, Maines largest jail has faced mounting pressure from community members to end its longstanding contract under which the federal government pays the facility to house its detainees.

But the Cumberland County Jail board of commissioners pushed off their decision, citing ambiguity as to whether they could refuse to hold federal detainees, regardless of the contract, because of a decades-old state law. Democratic legislators, working with county sheriffs, are now attempting to clarify that law.

LD 2058, sponsored by Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Cumberland), would require municipal and county jails to be available at all times for the detention of people on criminal charges with documented probable cause. That would not include immigration violations, such as visa overstays, which are civil offenses.

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This is a compromise proposal, with exact language still being drafted, after discussions between Talbot Ross, Maine sheriffs, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, and the Maine Department of Corrections.

A tense public hearing on the bill Wednesday revealed that many clarifications are still needed.

Democrats and Republicans on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee argued over implications for federal authorities, with some requesting the committee reach out to the federal government for feedback. Confusion over distinctions between criminal and civil offenses led Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton to point to word salad as the main culprit of dispute, while assuring lawmakers that consensus was closer than the heated conversation implied.

We take this very seriously, said Morton of the states county sheriffs, and we want to make sure that the language doesnt somehow hurt any of us in any way.

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The intention behind the proposal is to narrow the current mandate. Maine law states jails shall at all times be available for detention of persons arrested by state or any other law enforcement officers.

That statute doesnt make clear what the basis of that arrest should be, but supporters of LD 2058 argue lawmakers original intent was not to make jails available for non-criminal arrests made by federal authorities.

A look back

The law being discussed was enacted in 1964 to address a narrow and urgent problem: there was no statutory authority governing cooperation between state and local law enforcement and the detention of people charged with crimes.

The city of Rockland had stopped accepting people arrested by state police and neighboring municipalities. The Maine attorney general issued an opinion stating that the city as a subdivision of the state could not refuse to accept people arrested for violations of state criminal law.

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As a result, the Legislature took emergency action to codify that opinion.

Nothing in the legislative history of [this law] suggests an intent to mandate cooperation with federal authorities, especially those accused of civil infractions rather than criminal violations of law, Talbot Ross said. To jump from a narrow fix about state and local cooperation back in 1964 to a mandate that local jails now must accept all federal detainees is a strained reading at best.

The new legislation clarifies the specifics of who jails are mandated to hold, not who they can hold. That would still be up to local discretion.

Jails and counties have discretion about accepting anyone else, that includes federal detainees, said Michael Kebede, policy director for the ACLU of Maine.

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Clarifying what jails do and dont have discretion over is the crux of the continued debate over the Cumberland County Jail contract.

Over the summer, the Maine Department of Corrections issued a memo stating that their interpretation of current law is that Maine jails must hold people for federal law enforcement officers, which Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce has also cited when contending that hed still be obligated to hold immigration detainees regardless of what happens with the contract.

We can service our federal partners, but also do it in the right way, Joyce said, adding, This bill allows us to work and not throw the baby out with the bath water.

About 120 people attend the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 21 in Portland to urge the county jail to stop housing people for federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Funding

However, Joyce still has funding concerns, as the jail relies heavily on the federal government in its budget and is already strapped for cash.

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Sometimes I think our own state and our own counties utilize the jail a little bit more than what they were built for, frankly, Joyce said. The jails were to make sure people show up in court and to protect public safety, but were using them for mental illness and all this other stuff and thinking that somehow, miraculously, whether theyre with us 24 hours or 25 days, somehow we fix that.

The Cumberland County Sheriffs Office doesnt have a direct contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but has had a contract with the U.S. Marshal Service since July 2010. Under this contract, the jail is given $150 per day to house federal detainees, including people awaiting a hearing on their immigration status or deportation.

That crucial part of the jails funding was already hampered in the fall when the federal government temporarily stopped paying the facility during the government shutdown. It took an additional hit this winter after retaliation from the Trump administration.

The budget will go up, Joyce said.

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After the Cumberland County Jail had a spike in immigration detentions toward the start of Trumps second term, the federal government pulled all of its immigration detainees from the facility in January after Joyce publicly rebuked the detention of one of his corrections officer recruits, who he said had a squeaky clean record.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, We could not, in good conscience, continue to partner with a law enforcement organization that flagrantly violated our nations immigration laws.

There remain no immigration detainees in the jail, but the Marshal Service contract is still in place and their other detainees represent the entirety of federal holds in the jail.

The Trump administration has overall moved away from using Maine as a detention hub, also pulling all of its immigration detainees, without explanation, from Two Bridges Regional Jail later in January. DHS has not responded to questions from Maine Morning Star about why it did so.

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That occurred the same day U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced an end to ICEs large-scale operation in Maine. The Wiscasset facility, which had been holding the second-most immigration detainees in Maine, also has an agreement with the Marshal Service.

Other pushback

Some concerns about the bill have to do with specific scenarios under the purview of the Department of Corrections. During the meeting, sheriffs encouraged lawmakers to ensure the bill language is wordsmithed so as to prevent unintended consequences.

Jill OBrien, spokesperson for the Department of Corrections, said the bill could make it so jails wouldnt have to accept people arrested for violating probation, which is often not charged as new criminal conduct, or people found incompetent to stand trial or not criminally responsible, as they would no longer be facing criminal charges once those charges are dismissed.

Other pushback was more broadly about implications for federal authorities.

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This seems to be eliminating federal a lot, said Sen. Scott Cyrway (R-Kennebec), a former deputy sheriff. Federal officers are just as much police as the police here.

Morton, representing the Maine Sheriffs Association, said the group originally took issue with the bill because it had seemed to cut out federal partners. They now believe the amended version assuages that concern, but both Cyrway and Morton suggested asking federal authorities directly.

This, from our point, does not remove federal, Morton said. You would not get the support of the sheriffs if thats the case.

The fact that lawmakers were debating an amended proposal that was not yet drafted was another overarching concern.

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Committee chair Rep. Tavis Hasenfus (D-Readfield) encouraged those drafting the amendment to work as expeditiously as possible given the time crunch, with the Legislature slated to adjourn mid-April.

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Former Democratic U.S. House Rep. Wiley Nickel will likely replace longtime Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, who decided last year not to seek reelection.

Nickel entered the race with more name recognition than his two challengers, Assistant District Attorney Melanie Shekita and attorney Sherita Walton, who advises the Raleigh Police Department. Nickel served in the state Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives (NC-13) before being drawn out of the district by redistricting.

No Republican filed for this race, making Nickel virtually certain to be Wake Countys next DA, having captured 49% of the unofficial primary vote. Walton secured 30% of the votes cast, with Shekita trailing in third place with 20% of the vote.

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The Wake DAs office manages over 100,000 cases annually. Perhaps more importantly, its the district attorney who decides whether state corruption cases are prosecuted.

Nickel touted himself as the only candidate in the race to have built a successful law firm and managed a large government office. He stressed that he would use the office to prosecute political corruption.

The Wake County District Attorney investigates and prosecutes all of North Carolinas political corruption and government malfeasance cases because of our position in the states Capitol, said Nickel. We need a District Attorney who will stand up for our rights and freedoms, hold corrupt politicians accountable, and defend the rule of law and our Constitution.

He has also said he will use his political connections in the legislature to secure more funding for prosecutor positions. Wake County currently has 43 prosecutors, compared to 94 prosecutors in Mecklenburg County.

Nickel had initially eyed the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. When former Gov. Roy Cooper entered that race, Nickel pivoted to the district attorneys contest.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A former neurosurgeon was involved in a gunfight with Florida law enforcement Monday night as detectives tried to take him into custody on a warrant out of Colorado.

Thomas Steffens, 72, is believed to have fled Colorado after being accused of drugging a woman with prescription medications and sexually assaulting her.

5 women accuse Sebring doctor of sexual assault in joint lawsuit

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Investigators said they learned Steffens was traveling by bus to the Treasure Coast and had stated he would not be taken into custody alive.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force found Steffens riding in the passenger seat of a car in Indian River County. Authorities said the driver pulled over for a traffic stop, but Steffens refused to get out.

(Credit: Martin County Sheriffs Office)

He then began shooting at law enforcement from inside the vehicle, according to the Martin County Sheriffs Office, which assisted with the incident.

Detectives returned fire, striking Steffens multiple times. A photo provided by the sheriffs office showed a vehicle riddled with bullet holes.

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Steffens was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive, officials said.

A U.S. Marshal was also shot in the leg during the gunfight. Authorities said he was treated for his injuries and released. No other injuries were reported.

Steffens now faces attempted murder charges, in addition to his pending sexual assault charges out of Colorado.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Bill Brennan: Thanks, Daniel. And thank you all for joining our third quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call. I will start by walking through our Q3 results, give an update on our business, and share our view on our long-term opportunities. After my remarks, Daniel Fleming, our chief financial officer, will provide a detailed financial review of the third quarter and our guidance for the fourth quarter. We will then open the call for questions. In the third quarter, we delivered record revenue of $407,000,000, a sequential increase of 52% and more than 200% from Q3 last year. We delivered non-GAAP gross margin of 68.6% and generated approximately $209,000,000 of non-GAAP net income.

A discussion of why we use non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations between our GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures is available in the earnings release we issued today, which can be accessed using the investor relations portion of our website. I will now turn the call over to our CEO, Bill.

Given these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed during this call may not occur, and actual results could differ adversely and materially from those anticipated, implied, or inferred. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this call, to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in the company's expectations, except as required by law. Also, during this call, we will refer to certain non-GAAP financial measures, which we consider to be important measures of the company's performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Bill Brennan, Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd's chief executive officer, and Daniel Fleming, our chief financial officer. During this call, we will make certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties discussed in detail in our documents filed with the SEC, which can be found in the investor relations portion of the company's website. It is not possible for the company's management to predict all risks, nor can the company assess the impact of all factors on its business, or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

Story Continues

Over the past 18 to 24 months, maximizing network reliability and energy efficiency have been our core mandates as we have built our roadmap and brought new products to market. In AI infrastructure, performance without reliability stalls clusters, and scale without efficiency strains both economics and power envelopes. The strategy is clear: accelerate cluster bring-up, maximize XPU utilization, and reduce total cost of ownership, all while providing our customers the highest reliability in the industry. Our recent performance reflects the most accelerated growth phase in Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd history. From fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2025, we more than doubled revenue. And from fiscal 2025 to current year, fiscal 2026, we expect to triple revenue on top of that.

That represents greater than six times growth in just two years. Few companies, particularly in semiconductors, have scaled at that pace while maintaining consistent execution, healthy margins, and product leadership. Our purpose-built SerDes NICs, vertically integrated system model, and deep hyperscaler partnerships win at scale. We established leadership in high-reliability copper connectivity and built strong position in optical DSPs and retimers. Now our strategy is to lead in reliability, power and signal integrity across the full spectrum of AI and data center connectivity, from die-to-die links to chip-to-chip and board-level links, to rack- and row-scale copper, to mid-reach optical, and to resilient facility-wide optical solutions.

By extending both inward toward the silicon and outward across the data center, we are positioning Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd to encompass the entire connectivity fabric of AI infrastructure. Each layer of connectivity is being fundamentally reshaped by demand for higher bandwidth and faster data rates. AI workloads continue to grow in parameter size, model complexity, and cluster scale, driving sustained transitions from 100G to 200G per lane, and to 400G per lane in the upcoming years. At the same time, architectures are becoming more complex, power envelopes are tightening, and reliability requirements are rising. We believe the industry's persistent push towards higher speed and larger clusters continues to expand our long-term opportunity and our ability to win.

I will now discuss our business in more detail. Our AEC product line once again delivered strong growth, driven by existing customers and new wins, including our fifth hyperscaler. Demand is accelerating across both hyperscalers and emerging neocloud providers. We continue to believe the industry is early in its AEC adoption. As AI clusters scale, reliability and power efficiency have become the primary design constraints. AECs are now the de facto standard for intra-rack and rack-to-rack connectivity up to seven meters, increasingly displacing laser-based optical modules. Their reliability and power advantages are driving broad adoption. Our Zero-Flat AECs deliver up to 1,000 times better reliability than commodity laser-based optics while consuming roughly half the power.

In XPU clusters where downtime can cost millions, network reliability matters. We are supporting large-scale deployments at 100G per lane today and expect a long-tail deployment at those speeds. We are fully prepared to support strong industry momentum towards 200G per lane, or 1.6T ports. Our 1.6T AECs will support Ethernet, UALink, and ESUN protocols. Additionally, our PCIe Gen 6 AECs are sampling now and will be released to mass production in first half fiscal 2027. Our vertically integrated system-level model remains a key competitive advantage. We take end-to-end ownership, from SerDes leadership in silicon innovation to system design and qualification, deep telemetry, and supply chain execution, positioning us for sustained leadership.

I will now turn to our IC business, including our retimers and optical DSPs. Our IC portfolio spans both optical and copper connectivity across 50G, 100G, and 200G per lane speeds. We expect strong optical DSP growth in fiscal 2026, driven by 100G per lane deployments with increasing traction at 200G as customers prepare for 1.6T transitions. For Ethernet retimers, we are seeing significant growth with our 100G per lane solutions in both traditional switching fabrics and the rapidly expanding AI server segment. Our PCIe Gen 6 retimers remain on track, with fiscal 2026 design wins expected to convert to production revenue in fiscal 2027. Customer feedback has been consistently stellar.

We are delivering an unequaled combination of industry-leading reach, latency, and power efficiency. We are also excited about Blue Heron, our 200G per lane retimer that is purpose-built for scale AI. It leverages our expertise to deliver long reach, energy efficiency, and advanced telemetry, with support for UALink, Ethernet, and ESUN protocols. These IC solutions address a large and growing market opportunity. As the industry transitions to 200G per lane, we see substantial growth potential across multiple protocols. I will now discuss our three most recent product pillars, where we have made meaningful progress since their announcements last year.

At a high level, these products significantly expand our total addressable market by extending Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd's reach across the full spectrum of connectivity lengths inside the data center. I am pleased to report that our progress with Zero-Flat Optics is ahead of schedule. As noted in our recent press release, we began production shipments with our first neocloud customer, TensorWave. In addition, we are in qualification with three additional customers, including hyperscalers and neocloud operators. At a high level, data centers today face major challenges with extended cluster bring-up times and uptime degradation created by the inherent link flap instability of commodity laser-based transceivers.

Our Zero-Flat Optics were designed to address these challenges directly through tightly integrated hardware, optics, firmware, and our Pilot software, with switch-level SDK integration. Zero-Flat Optics deliver continuous link health telemetry and autonomous detection and mitigation of potential link flap events before they impact the cluster. This enables a step-function improvement in network reliability. From a TAM perspective, Zero-Flat Optics allow us to address optical connectivity spanning any length within the data center. Based on strong customer traction, we now expect to see a significant production ramp beginning in 2027 and continuing throughout the year. Next, I will discuss Active LED Cables, or ALCs. ALCs extend our system-level AEC philosophy into mid-reach optical.

By combining Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd's connectivity architecture with the microLED expertise gained in our Hyperlume acquisition, we are creating a new system-level product category that delivers the reliability and power profile of an AEC with a thinner-gauge optical cable capable of reaching up to 30 meters. This makes ALCs ideal for row-scale AI networks, where copper reach becomes limiting and traditional pluggable optics introduce reliability, power, and cost disadvantages. ALCs expand our TAM outward from short-reach copper into mid-reach optical, bridging the gap between AECs and conventional optical modules. We expect to sample and qualify our first ALC products in fiscal 2027 and production ramp in fiscal 2028.

Finally, our OmniConnect line of products drives our reach inward toward the silicon to further expand our TAM. OmniConnect combines our purpose-built VSR SerDes with a family of gearboxes for XPU connectivity. Our first product, Weaver, enables up to a 10x improvement in memory beachfront I/O density with reach up to 10 inches. By converting VSR to DDR, Weaver overcomes the physical fan-out constraints of traditional memory-to-compute interconnects. Our first OmniConnect customer, Positron, plans to leverage this architecture to deliver an inference XPU with 2 TB of memory capacity, enabling substantial bandwidth gains in memory-intensive workloads such as real-time AI video generation. We expect the production ramp for the first OmniConnect gearbox to be in fiscal 2028.

We expect to introduce additional gearboxes over time to enable a composable architecture where the same XPU design can be optimized for inference or training workloads and be future-enabled as speeds or protocols change. We will also develop an OmniConnect gearbox targeting near-package optics with microLED that will address the reliability, serviceability, and availability pitfalls of current CPO solutions while, at the same time, reducing power significantly. To wrap up on the business update, we are proud of our record performance and even more energized by the opportunity ahead. With continued growth in AECs and ICs, and three new multibillion-dollar TAM expansions through Zero-Flat Optics, ALCs, and OmniConnect, we have meaningfully broadened our near- to long-term opportunity.

We remain confident in our ability to innovate, scale, and grow in the expanding AI infrastructure landscape through our focus on delivering solutions with best-in-class network reliability and energy efficiency. I want to take a moment to express strong appreciation for our silicon operations and system product operations teams. They have done an outstanding job managing supply, scaling production, and executing flawlessly in the face of significant upside demand from our customers. Their ability to respond quickly and reliably has not only enabled our record performance, but has also become a distinct competitive advantage and truly a reason customers choose Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. In an environment where execution matters as much as innovation, operational excellence is a differentiator.

I will now turn it over to Daniel Fleming for a detailed financial review of Q3 and our Q4 guidance.

Daniel Fleming: Thank you, Bill, and good afternoon. I will first review our Q3 results and then discuss our outlook for Q4 of fiscal year 2026. In Q3, we reported revenue of $407,000,000, up 52% sequentially and more than tripling year over year, and at the high end of our revised guidance range. Notably, our revenue again grew healthy double digits sequentially to achieve new record revenue levels once again based on substantial year-over-year growth across four domestic hyperscale customers. Our top three end customers were each greater than 10% of revenue in Q3. As a reminder, customer mix will vary from quarter to quarter.

We continue to expect that three to four customers will be greater than 10% of revenue in the coming quarters and fiscal year, and we continue to make progress in diversifying our customer base across hyperscalers, neoclouds, and other customers. Note that with product revenue representing the vast majority of total revenue, we will no longer break out product and IP as separate line items in our income statement. Our team delivered Q3 non-GAAP gross margin of 68.6%, above the high end of our guidance range and up 92 basis points sequentially. Total non-GAAP operating expenses in the third quarter were $77,400,000, above the high end of our guidance range due to our strong R&D investment and up 35% sequentially.

Our non-GAAP operating income was $201,800,000 in Q3, compared to non-GAAP operating income of $124,100,000 in Q2, up demonstrably due to the leverage attained by achieving more than 50% sequential top-line growth while OpEx growth was in the mid-30s. Our non-GAAP operating margin was 49.6% in the quarter, compared to a non-GAAP operating margin of 46.3% in the prior quarter, a sequential increase of 327 basis points. Our bottom line once again demonstrated the substantial leverage we are delivering in the business. Our non-GAAP net income was $208,800,000 in the quarter, a record high and a 63% sequential increase compared to non-GAAP net income of $127,800,000 in Q2.

Our Q3 non-GAAP net income quadrupled from Q3 of last year, which clearly demonstrates the magnitude of our top-line growth, strong gross margins, and our disciplined approach to scaling operating expenses. Our non-GAAP net margin was 51.3% in the quarter. Cash flow from operations in the third quarter was a record $166,200,000, up $104,600,000 sequentially. CapEx was $26,500,000 in the quarter, driven largely by purchases of production mask sets, and free cash flow was $139,700,000, up more than $100,000,000 from the second quarter.

We ended the quarter with cash and equivalents of $1,300,000,000, an increase of $487,900,000 from the second quarter, driven by the proceeds of our ATM offering, which began in October and ended in December, and our strong free cash flow. We remain well capitalized to continue investing in our growth opportunities while maintaining a substantial cash buffer. Our Q3 ending inventory was $208,000,000, up $57,800,000 sequentially. Now turning to our guidance. We currently expect revenue in Q4 of fiscal 2026 to be between $425,000,000 and $435,000,000. We expect Q4 non-GAAP gross margin to be within a range of 64% to 66%. We expect Q4 non-GAAP operating expenses to be between $76,000,000 and $80,000,000.

And we expect Q4 diluted weighted average share count to be approximately 197,000,000 shares. These expectations are based on the current tariff regime, which remains fluid. As we look ahead to fiscal 2027, we expect sequential revenue growth in the mid-single digits leading to more than 50% year-over-year growth. We will now open for questions.

Operator: Thank you, sir. At this time, I would like to remind everyone, in order to ask a question, press star then the number one on your telephone keypad. You will be limited to one initially; however, you may rejoin the queue to ask further questions as time permits. Our first question comes from Tom O'Malley, Barclays.

Tom O'Malley: Bill, you mentioned that you saw a ZF Optics ramp in the first fiscal quarter of next year, and you talked about substantial size. Maybe you could compare what a ZF customer engagement looks versus an AEC customer engagement. And then longer term, if you see kind of the similar pattern to what you have seen in AEC with the customers that you are mentioningI think you mentioned three hereall representing some significant size, or do you think there is more variation in the customer set when it comes to ZF Optics?

Bill Brennan: Yes. I think that comparing the customer activity with AECs, I think it is a good way to look at it. Now understand that we have been in development on ZF Optics for going on two years, and so we are well along the path towards not only developing the solutionand a reminder to everybody, it is the first time anybody has taken an optical transceiver up the stack to deliver real-time telemetry data so you can make real-time decisions, identifying and mitigating potential link flaps before they happenso, basically, taking network reliability far beyond what you are able to achieve with commodity laser-based optics.

And so, to highlight that, these products have gone through our own qualification internally, where we harden the solution even prior to sending it to customers for qualification. So it is very similar in the sense that we are delivering a solution to our customers for qualification that is fully vetted. And so, moving from providing samples to going right into qualification with the customer is what we are seeing. And so that is why we highlighted the fact that, although last quarter we signaled that the ramp would occur in second half fiscal 2027, we feel confident now saying that ramp is going to start in first quarter, noting that we have already shipped production units.

And so we feel great about it. We did an announcement with our first customer, TensorWave, on both the AECs as well as ZF Optics. It is really great confirmation that the portfolio we are delivering is really offering next-level overall reliability as our customers build out their clusters. I mentioned also that we are talking with hyperscalers as well as other neoclouds. We are so early in the process of promoting this product that we could not be more excited about the fact that we think this is going to be such a strong ramp through our fiscal 2027.

Operator: Your next question comes from Tore Svanberg from Stifel.

Tore Svanberg: Yes. Congratulations on the record results. Bill, maybe you could just level set us a little bit here. We are still in very early stages of AECs. Obviously, there is a lot of excitement around CPO. So maybe you could just help us with what is driving some of the use cases for AECs right now. How should we think about those developing, especially in fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028? Thank you.

Bill Brennan: Yes. So I think the narrative on AECs is very similar to what has been played out up to this point. There are several areas within the data center network where AECs make a really compelling solution, really almost becoming de facto in inter-rack as well as now, more than ever, we are seeing rack-to-rack solutions that are within the reach of seven meters. What is driving it is network reliability and power efficiency. I would only say one of our customers, we are really fully penetrated on all the swim lanes, and those being GPU-to-host connections, in the scale-out network, front-end connections within those same racks, and then disaggregated switch racks.

Those are really the swim lanes that we have talked about. We see really great growth opportunity not only for 100G per lane deployments as we see those increasing, but also as we see a shift to 200G per lane, it is even a stronger value proposition at those speeds. That is going to help us drive more volume as well as there is an uplift in ASPs. You mentioned the narrative on CPO, and, look, this narrative has been one that has existed in different forms for the last decade. It started with MBOM, mid-board optical modules, then moved on to onboard optics. It has moved on to many different acronyms over time.

The bottom line is just recently, I think there has been a bit of a signal-to-noise ratio issue in the market, and the noise right now is dominating the signal. It is not an either-or type of situation. It is about deploying the right technology at the right reach and the right power envelope. We see the industry evolving even more so to a heterogeneous mix of short-reach copper, pluggable optics, near-package optics, and eventually CPO. The strong interest we have seen in Zero-Flat Optics is a clear indicator that reliability matters more than ever now, as AI networks are the bulk of the deployments and as these clusters scale.

The bottom line is that until NPO and CPO solutions can deliver bulletproof reliability, deployments are going to be somewhat limited, which is why many of the forecasters show low single-digit share in the switching market over the next three years. Our investments are heavily focused on reliability. When we are talking about technologies that will deliver the higher density and reach promised by CPO and NPO, our focus is on delivering the same reliability as AEC and ZF Optics. Hopefully, that gives you color based on your CPO comment.

Operator: Joseph Cardoso from JPMorgan has the next question.

Joseph Cardoso: Hi. Thanks for the questions, and congrats on the results. Maybe just wanted to get an update on how you are thinking about the composition of the 50% plus growth heading into next year. As we think about the AEC opportunity continuing to ramp, but also confluencing with the material ramps of other areas of the portfolio like the PCIe solutions, optical products, etc. Can this be a year where we start to see a more material contribution from the non-AEC offerings in the portfolio and where they can drive a more material portion of the mix as early as fiscal 2027, or is the expectation really that is more of a fiscal 2028 story and beyond? Thanks.

Bill Brennan: I think that it is fair to say that we will see a different composition between copper and optical in our fiscal 2027, specifically as ZF Optics ramp. With that, I will say that we do expect growth in AECs, we expect growth in ICs, and then the new wave of growth will come with Zero-Flat Optics. Within that IC and the AECs, that will include the PCIe business that we are earning. In fiscal 2028, we expect to layer in our Active LED Cables, or ALCs, and, in addition, our first gearbox as part of the OmniConnect family. That is really fiscal 2028.

Operator: Your next question comes from Vivek Arya from Bank of America.

Vivek Arya: Just a clarification to Daniel first on what drove the upside, almost $60,000,000 plus upside. Was there a one-off or anything else in your projects in the reported quarter? And then, Bill, I wanted to get back to you on this question of how complementary versus competitive is AEC versus optical solutions because over the last three months, we have seen this massive divergence in the performance of stocks of your optical peers. And just this morning, we saw NVIDIA invest in two of your optical peers. So why is that not a very important and credible pushback that the market for AEC might be limited?

I just wanted to get your views on where copper versus optical is competitive and where they are more complementary. Thank you.

Daniel Fleming: Hey, Vivek. So let me address your first question regarding what drove that strength, and I will answer a question that was not asked as part of my answer. If you look at our top 10% customers for the quarter, we have just continued to see strength across all of our hyperscale customers. In fact, our top three customers all grew sequentially from Q2 to Q3, so that really drove that growth. And our largest three customers in Q3 were also our largest in Q2, as you would expect, but in a different order. Let me just talk briefly about our largest customer.

They were 39% of revenue, and they were also the same customer that was our largest customer in Q1. So that was quite a large increase quarter to quarter for them. The second largest customer was 32%, and they were our largest customer last quarter. And then finally, our third 10% customer was 17% of revenue, and that was the first hyperscaler that we had to ramp.

Bill Brennan: And relating to the question about the AECs versus optical, or actually how they complement each other, really, nothing has changed in the narrative. I think you mentioned NVIDIA. I think they have been really outspoken that where you can use copper, you will use copper. The reasons are very basic why somebody would choose an AEC over, say, a laser-based optical module. That is really reliability, number one; power efficiency, number two; and ultimately, total cost of ownership, number three. That equation is not going to change. As we go towards 200G per lane, 1.6T deployments, there is an effect that as you go faster, the length of connection is going to decrease slightly.

We believe from seven meters to five meters. If you look at our investments over the last couple of years, it has been heavily weighted towards optical, as we have talked about. There is tremendous demand in the optical space, and that is in addition to the demand in the AEC space as well. Our approach is fundamentally different and we think suits us well, which is to focus on delivering bulletproof reliability, again by going up the stack with real-time continuous telemetry on each link to be able to identify links that are degrading in signal integrity and being able to mitigate by taking those links down in a proactive manner, an orderly manner.

I will also say that the work we are doing on Active LED Cables, ALCs, is about delivering a different class of optical productone that is, at a base technology level, as reliable as copper. You get the same reliability profile, the same energy efficiency profile, the same cost profile, but you get reach initially up to 10 meters, and then next step will be 30 meters. That is going to be a really unique new product category as we talk about the heterogeneous world between copper and different forms of optical.

Operator: The next question comes from Quinn Bolton, Needham and Company.

Quinn Bolton: Hey, guys. I guess given all the noise in the market around CPO and optical, I was wondering if you could kind of just discuss in further detail two products. One, your Blue Heron DSP for scale-up AEC connections. Are you seeing interest in that? And then sort of a similar question on, Bill, I think in the prepared comments you talked about OmniConnect gearbox with an ALC CPO solution somewhere down the road. Can you give us any sense on timing when you would have an ALC CPO solution potentially coming to market? Thank you.

Bill Brennan: Sure. So I want to note, first of all, that the bulk of our revenue from AI is really in scale-out. We do not have any revenue for scale-up. In fact, that market is relatively small in comparison today. There is great promise that the scale-up market will grow, especially as it goes from rack scale to row scale, and that is driving a lot of these conversations. The Blue Heron product that we introduced and announced our first customer, Upscale AI, is a 200G per lane retimer that supports UALink, ESUN, Ethernet. We will build AECs with this product as well.

As that scale-up opportunity takes shape, we are going to have a full portfolio of products that we can offer. As it relates to my comments about OmniConnect, yes, it is a very straightforward path to basically extend the OmniConnect architecture to add a gearbox that converts from VSR to microLED. The work we are doing with ALCs is going to be the proof point. Ultimately, there is going to be a direct line of sight on doing a gearbox that takes that VSR conversion to, say, a pigtail that you can connect microLED with. That is going to give a relatively straightforward lower-risk path to a near-package optics solution.

Again, that solution is going to be delivered with bulletproof reliability. It is going to be done at a power that is much less than laser-based CPO.

Operator: The next question is from Sean O'Loughlin, TD Cowen.

Sean O'Loughlin: Hey, guys, thanks for letting me ask a question, and I will add my congrats on a really incredible set of results. I had a quick clarification. I think last quarter, you mentioned that you expected the fourth hyperscale customer to represent greater than 10% of revenues for the full fiscal 2026. Obviously, you mentioned three 10% customers this quarter. Is that still your expectation for the full fiscal year? And then on the OpEx guide, I was a little bit surprised to see that it was almost flat quarter over quarter, after a pretty big step up last quarter.

But with all the irons in the fire, including the acquisition this morning, is there just some constraints around whether it is hiring qualified mixed-signal engineers, or is there something else going on in OpEx, or am I just overthinking all of this and you are just executing to your roadmap? Thanks.

Daniel Fleming: Yes. So let me address the first question first. With regard to our fourth hyperscaler that we talked about, we made those comments last quarter. We have obviously experienced a lot of upside really driven by our largest customer this quarter and the current timeframe. So that may make the mathwhile they are still in line with our expectations from 90 days agothey may not be a 10% customer for the full year, if that makes sense. With regard to OpEx, a couple of dynamics there to note. One is, there was a large step up this quarter for R&D spend. One thing to note is that it was off a relatively light spend in Q2.

In addition, I highlighted two things: project-related spend and hiring. The project-related spend was higher than has been typical related to a lot of these things that we are working on. So if that were to come down, you might have some incremental hiring; they just happened to kind of offset for the quarter. So that is the underlying dynamics in our Q3 to Q4 R&D spend, if that helps you out.

Operator: Vijay Rakesh from Mizuho is up next.

Vijay Rakesh: Yeah. Hi, Bill and Dan. Just a question on the 1.6T ramp. I think as you go to 1.6T, most of the big hyperscalers still seem to have not talked much about CPO. So is your assumption that as 1.6T ramps into 2027, 2028, that it will be predominantly copper? And, as you mentioned, the ASP bump, that should drive pretty nice upside there between the adoption of copper and the ASP?

Bill Brennan: Yes. For the 200G per lane market, we very much see that market is going to be addressed by AECs and then a combination of laser-based modules. We will have the ALCs that ramp into that market as well, but that would be what I would consider the new product category. I think CPO is still sometime in the future beyond that. We see our customers ramping 200G programs really at very different schedules. Of course, NVIDIA is going to lead the charge with Vera Rubin, but many other customers will follow on a slower timeline. So we do expect to see very strong business in all three categories that I just mentioned.

We will have ZF Optics that are going to be delivered in that timeframe. I will say from an optical DSP standpoint, we are getting a lot of uplift right now for LRO. Power is becoming a much more important thing as our customers go to 200G per lane. I think we have a really nice position. You mentioned ASPs, and that is right. There is going to be an uplift from 800G to 1.6T across the board, across the entire portfolio. So we feel great about the way we are positioned there.

Operator: Your next question is from Quinn Bolton, Needham and Company.

Quinn Bolton: Guys, since we are the follow-up, just wanted to ask: you guys announced the Comira acquisition this morning. Looks like that is kind of more Layer 2 stuff, rightMAC, PCS, MACsec security. Are you buying that just to kind of enhance the IC products that you have done historically, or is this a move to try to get into more Layer 2 solutions down the road? Thank you.

Bill Brennan: Yeah. Appreciate the question. We did not have a chance to get it in the prepared remarks given the fact that it closed basically right at the same time. But we feel great about the combination of bringing Comira into Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. We have been collaborating with Comira as an IP partner since 2022, and Comira has a really strong reputation in protocol IP, error correction, as well as security IP technologies. So we view this as a strengthening of our ability to deliver complete system-level connectivity solutions. You alluded to maybe going up. Yes, absolutely. That is part of the opportunity. We feel great strategically about this.

The fact that they will be dedicated to Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd projects now will accelerate our end-to-end connectivity roadmap and expand the overall platform.

Operator: Thank you. The next question is from Sebastien Cyrus Naji from William Blair.

Sebastien Cyrus Naji: Yeah. Thank you for taking the question. There has been a lot of focus lately on supply chain constraints, including the high cost of memory. I guess, what type of supply chain risks are you seeing for Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd, if any? And is there anything in the supply chain that could emerge as maybe a gating factor to your growth in some of the coming quarters?

Bill Brennan: Yes. I think we got a little bit out in front on this topic last quarter. I feel great about our supply chain for Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd, and that includes wafers in all of the different product categories that we have talked about, and that encompasses 12 nanometers, 7, 5, and 3. We did a lot of work over the last quarter to make sure that we were aligned with our supply chain partners, not only on the wafer level but also the packaging level. I think it is clear that we are going to be able to support our plan as well as upside that we expect.

In the market, we are absolutely in uncharted territory where I think supply chain is going to become more and more of a differentiator. As it relates to the supply chain issues that are outside of our normal IC builds, I would say from a system level, there are no issues from a supply chain standpoint there. I will say at an industry-wide level, memory has all of a sudden been a concern. If anything, we can look at the first OmniConnect product, Weaver, as almost a solution to some of the pain points, where we enable the use of DDR over HBM, which I think is probably the tightest area within the memory market right now.

Outside of that, there has been a lot of conversation about lasers, but from a ZF Optics perspective, we feel that we have more than underpinned our demand for 2027 and really beyond.

Operator: The next question today comes from Jim Schneider, Goldman Sachs.

Jim Schneider: Afternoon. Thanks for taking my question. Bill, it was helpful to hear you lay out the progression of your various product lines, optical products, over the next couple of years. I was wondering if you could maybe just give us a sense of how we should be modeling the strength of those optical products, a sense of where we might end fiscal 2027 in terms of their contribution. Are these something that could be sort of 15% to 20% of total revenues of the company at an exit rate, or should we be modeling something a lot less than that? Thank you.

Daniel Fleming: Yeah. We have not been too specific in that. But if you look at where we are this year based on how we have guided Q4, you will end up just north of $1,300,000,000. Fifty percent growth gets you to nearly $2,000,000,000 for next year. Bill did mention that we expect AEC to continue to grow fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2027. So there will be a significantwe think it will be a materialcomponent of our fiscal 2027, specifically ZF Optics. But as that progresses and as our customer engagement continues with that product line, we will give you an update as we enter the new fiscal year next quarter.

Operator: Your next question is from Suji Desilva, ROTH Capital.

Suji Desilva: Hi, Bill. Hi, Dan. Congrats on the progress here. Just quickly, how many customers do you expect to be ramping ZF Optics across in the coming fiscal year? And just a longer-term question on the gearbox. You talked about being able to handle training and inference in the same architecture. I was curious if you could elaborate on that opportunity. It sounds interesting.

Bill Brennan: Sure. Absolutely. You got me confused with the second question. What was the first again? The Zero-Flat Opticshow many customers do you think you will be ramping it across in fiscal 2027? Well, my expectation is throughout fiscal 2027we are a bit early talking about fiscal 2027but my strong expectation is that we will ramp more than four. We have four in qual now, and so I expect to add to that list. I should reiterate that it is a combination of hyperscalers as well as neoclouds. The second part of your question was on the OmniConnect.

If you can imagine, the key enabler for OmniConnect is really our VSR SerDes that sits on the XPU side of the connection, and gearboxes are put together that mirror that VSR SerDes and then gearbox it to something else. I think it is pretty clear for memory that a first DDR gearbox would be for five. You can imagine as the market shifts to LPDDR6 that all you have to doyou would not have to reshape an XPUyou could just simply change the gearbox, and then you would have that inference capability with that next-generation memory. You can also imagine, say, building a scale-up gearbox.

At first, the first gearbox might be a Gen 7 and Gen 6 combo, where that XPU has got that same VSR SerDes and the gearbox would take those 100G lanes and gearbox them to either Gen 7 or Gen 6 PCIe. You can imagine when 200G per lane is really ready for that given customer, you could just simply drop in a new gearbox that would support 200G per lane with any of the protocols we have talked aboutEthernet, UALink, or ESUN. You could extend that case to scale-out as well.

You could have a gearbox that would, say, improvesay the first one that might be 200G per laneas soon as 400G per lane was ready, you could simply drop in a new gearbox that would gearbox lanes of 100G up to 400G per lane. So you are talking about having the ability to build an XPU that becomes composable based on different markets and becomes composable based on the future-enabled aspect of just being able to upgrade the gearbox to either the next speed or the new protocol.

Operator: The next question comes from Christopher Rolland, Susquehanna.

Christopher Rolland: Hey, guys. Thanks for the question. I guess the first one is probably to you, Bill. Just about AEC applications and kind of where this may be moving around. If you could talk about where you think you are being used in terms of front-end versus scale-out, scale-up, or traditional cloudwhere you are being used today, and what this looks like over the next couple of years in terms of changes.

Bill Brennan: Yes. I would say the part of the network that is probably where we are strongest is on scale-out. This is where we really see the full benefit of AECs as we are talking about leading-edge speeds, and we are talking about the part of the network where reliability really means faster time to cluster stability as well as continuous uptime. We do very, very well in scale-out. Front-end kind of comes along with it. We are also seeing a couple customers now that are deploying in switch racks or disaggregated chassis. So it is really across the board, but I would say our real strength is in scale-out.

Operator: Next up is Karl Ackerman, BNP Paribas.

Karl Ackerman: Yes. Thank you. Bill, perhaps a follow-on to the question earlier. You indicated much of your AI revenue for AEC products is for scale-out networks, but how should we think about the $5,000,000,000 TAM for AECs split between front-end versus back-end links between a server NICs networking switches? And, Dan, could you speak to why gross margins are guided down roughly 360 basis points at midpoint of your outlook? Is it just conservatism? Is it near-term product mix? Anything around that would be helpful. Thank you.

Daniel Fleming: Yeah. Let me address the gross margin question first. Overall, as you mentioned, in Q3, gross margin at 68.6%, up 92 basis points sequentially. Over the last seven to eight quarters, we have really seen a significant benefit to increasing scale. But we have also been very persistent in saying that gross margin expansion will not always be linear as we continue to increase scale. There will always be differences from quarter to quarter in product mix, and we are conservative in the way we forecast.

We have not changed our long-term expectation in the 63% to 65% range for gross margin, and we have clearly entered this phase where we are at or above that high end of that long-term expectation. So it is really just a function of how we view the world and how we forecast our gross margin, and it is a very conservative forecast.

Bill Brennan: Right. On the question about the AEC TAM and the $5,000,000,000 number, we are not the group that really focuses too much on the top-down forecast. We leave that to the market forecasters. But I can give you my perspective on the market opportunity. Largely, the market opportunity that we see is scale-out networks. I think that will transition into some share of the scale-up networks as they become deployed. Of course, front-end is going to be smaller than scale-out, probably on the order of 20% to 25% of the total scale-out market as we see it.

The disaggregated switch marketthat one is yet to be seen, but that could be a significant TAM if we see that kind of architecture deployed broadly, which there is a good case to be made for.

Operator: Tore Svanberg from Stifel. Your line is now open.

Tore Svanberg: Thanks. I just had a follow-up. So this pull-in of the ZF Optics business, BillIs that just mainly because of certain technical milestones or other market dynamics? The reason I am asking the question is because, obviously, there are concerns about availability of commodity lasers. So just trying to understand exactly what is driving that pull-in by a few quarters.

Bill Brennan: Oh, the pull-in is being driven by customers pulling it. This is a real indicator that, as we have said many times regarding AECs, reliability is really critical, again from the standpoint of the time to bring up a cluster and the uptime that you can expect after that point of stability. It is a direct improvement in productivity. As AECs have been much more popular as a result of people getting it, the minute that we talk to our customers about ZF, we talk about extending that reliability into the optical space.

It is very rare that somebody would say, Yeah, I really do not want that. So it has been really customer pull that has caused us to feel more confident in articulating that we expect the ramp to happen early in 2027, early next quarter. From a supply chain standpoint, understand we have been working on this for two years. We have had the mindset that we would carry the same model from AECs into ALCs and into ZF Optics. We have been out there underpinning supply along the way. We have made firm commitments with our supply chain partners. We feel very confident about our ability to ramp, even though we pulled in six months.

Operator: And, everyone, there are no further questions at this time. Mr. Brennan, I will hand the call back to you for any additional or closing remarks.

Bill Brennan: Thank you. I really appreciate the ongoing interest and support in Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. We will talk to you all very soon. So, again, thank you very much.

Operator: Once again, ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude todays conference call. You may now disconnect.

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Credo Tech (CRDO) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool
The Democratic primary for North Carolinas 4th Congressional District is heading to a likely recount, with incumbent Valerie Foushee leading by slightly less than one percentage point.

In unofficial results, Foushee won 49.18% of the vote, just 0.96% more than the 48.22% for Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam. Mary Patterson won 2.6%. Foushee leads Allam by 1,202 votes out of nearly 122,000 primary votes cast.

Provisional ballots and some military and overseas votes are yet to be counted. If the margin remains one percentage point or less after those votes are counted, Allam may request a mandatory recount.

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Allam took the stage at her watch party just before midnight, addressing supporters, staff and press after about five hours.

Nida Allam narrowly trails Valerie Foushee in the Democratic primary for North Carolinas 4th Congressional District on March 3, 2026. (Christine Zhu/NC Newsline)

Though we go to bed tonight without the full results, we will keep exercising our right to dream, and we will bring home a victory for the working families of North Carolina in the days ahead, Allam told supporters.

Meanwhile, Foushee released a statement just after midnight, claiming victory and thanking her supporters.

Serving this district in Congress is my highest honor, and I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to represent this district for another term, Foushee said.

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The race broke records for outside spending in a North Carolina congressional primary. Independent expenditure groups dropped nearly $4.5 million on advertising for the candidates as of Monday, beating the previous record set by the 2022 contest between Allam and Foushee.

The primary was symbolic of the emerging battle between progressive and establishment wings of the Democratic party. This divide deepened in the wake of the 2024 elections, where Democrats lost the White House and both chambers of Congress.

Foushee, having served in Congress for two terms, has the support of the traditional Democratic base, especially among Black voters. Shes a fixture in Orange County politics and was previously a state representative and senator and the chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Allam had the backing of progressives like independent Sen. Bernie Sanders from Vermont, who stumped for her as part of his Fighting Oligarchy Tour in Durham last month.

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The Democratic nominee will face Republican Manesh Gunorkar and Libertarian Guy Meilleur on the ballot in November, but is expected to win easily in the reliably Democratic-leaning district.

This story has been updated with Rep. Foushees statement.
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is making it easier for high school seniors who love robotics and drones to get ahead in their education.

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French President Emmanuel Macron said he was sending the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier to protect French and allies assets from Iran. | Credit: Johan NILSSON / TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP / Getty Images

What happened

Europe Tuesday was drawn further into the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, as the conflict continues to spread in the Middle East, roiling global markets and sending oil and gas prices higher. French President Emmanuel Macron said he was sending the Charles De Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean to protect French and allies assets from missiles and drones from Iran and its proxy militias. President Donald Trump Tuesday threatened to cut off all trade with Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the U.S. could not use air bases in Spain for its unjustified and dangerous military intervention in Iran.

Who said what

Frances flagship aircraft carrier will join Rafale fighter jets, air-defense systems and airborne radar systems deployed to protect Cyprus, an EU member already hit by a Hezbollah drone, and help uphold binding defense agreements with Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, The Associated Press said. France, Britain and Germany previously said that they werent involved in the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. But Macron said Tuesday that France had already shot down Iranian drones in legitimate self-defense.



Sanchez, meanwhile, has become the chief EU critic of Trumps strikes on Iran, Politico said, and Trump has certainly noticed. Spain has been terrible, Trump told reporters Tuesday during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. All business having to do with Spain, I have the right to stop it. Embargoes  do anything I want with it  and we may do that with Spain.

What next?

The French carrier deployment is part of Macron's effort toward building a coalition that will pool resources  including military assets  to resume traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, said The Wall Street Journal. It will also focus on securing the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that France would start facilitating the evacuation of its nationals from the Middle East as the Iran war continues for a fourth day.

"We are preparing to charter flights so that the most vulnerable people...can benefit," Barrot told reporters.

He said around 400,000 French nationals were in many of the countries across the Gulf region currently being targeted by Iranian drones and missiles as they attempt to strike US military assets.

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"Most countries have closed their airspace, so it's hard to leave these countries. But if you have the opportunity to do so, do it," he said, stopping short of calling for the immediate return of French citizens.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-NoelBarrot gives a press conference after a crisis meeting in Paris, 2 March, 2026 - AP Photo

"The priority is obviously the safety of our nationals and our interests, but also to de-escalate as quickly as possible"

A census of French travellers is currently under way, via the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' Ariane portal.

Tens of thousands of people are said to be stranded in the region after most countries closed their airspace to civilian flights when the US and Israel began joint strikes on Iran on Saturday.

Evacuation flights planned

Meanwhile, several countries have organised evacuation flights to repatriate their nationals.

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Two evacuation flights with 200 passengers each landed in the Czech capital Prague on Tuesday morning.

Germany had announced on Monday it would send aircraft to Saudi Arabia and Oman as soon as possible to evacuate the most vulnerable travellers.

There are around 30,000 Germans stranded in the region, according to the German Tourism Association.

Travel firm TUI said Tuesday it would begin flying home 5,000 clients stranded on two of its cruise ships in the Gulf via Dubai.

Three flights evacuating Italian nationals were expected to land in Rome and Milan later Tuesday, according to the airports.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Tuesday a UK government charter flight would bring home British nationals from Oman in the coming days.

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British Airways said it had scheduled a flight from Oman on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Spain was also organising evacuation flights, and an Etihad flight carrying Spanish nationals was set to land in Madrid on Tuesday evening.
Speaking from the White House, Trump said he was "not happy" with the UK, which had been "very uncooperative", ITV News Correspondent Robert Moore and Political Editor Robert Peston report

The UK and France are sending warships to Cyprus to bolster its anti-drone capabilities.

At least 787 killed in Iran and 40 in Lebanon in strikes by Israel and US, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

Number of dead US service members rises to six.

US embassy in Saudi Arabia closed after an attack on the facility.

Two Amazon data centres in the UAE were struck by drones.

British nationals urged to register with the Foreign Office ahead of emergency evacuation.

US President Donald Trump has repeated earlier criticisms of the UK government's stance towards the conflict in Iran, saying Starmer is "not Winston Churchill".

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Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said he is not happy with the UK and with Starmer, and that this is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with.

He also repeated his criticisms of the Chagos Islands deal saying: I will say the UK has been very, very unco-operative with that stupid island that they have, that they gave away and took a 100-year lease; having to do with, perhaps, indigenous people claiming the island that never even saw the island before. Whats that all about?

The president also floated the idea of escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz with the US Navy after Iran threatened to close the critical shipping lane.

He said the US Navy could escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "if necessary", after shipping traffic almost entirely halted through the key trade passage following threats from Iran.

Tensions are continuing to escalate across the Middle East, as ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan, International Editor Emma Murphy, and Europe Editor James Mates report

His comments came as the UK announced it would send helicopters and an air defence destroyer to Cyprus in response to the growing conflict in the Middle East.

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The prime minister confirmed the UK would be sending the HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navys six Type 45 air defence destroyers, after RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus was hit by a drone.

The announcement comes after France said it would send its only aircraft carrier and a contingent of warships to bolster its anti-drone defences in the region.

In a post on X, Starmer said he had spoken to the president of Cyprus and added: "The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there."

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also indicated on Tuesday that the attack on Iran came as talks broke down, rather than because Israel planned to attack Tehran.

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The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also said on Tuesday that UK F-35s had shot down several hostile drones over Jordan, Iraq and Qatar.

The MoD said it's the first time British F-35s have shot down targets during an active operation.

The US and Israel have continued to carry out strikes against Iran throughout Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump saying a "big wave" was yet to come.

Israel has also been carrying out strikes on Lebanon's capital, Beirut, in operations against Hezbollah.

At least 787 people in Iran have been killed since Saturday, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, and the government in Beirut said at least 40 had been killed in Lebanon.

US identifies troops killed in Iran

The US late Tuesday identified four of the six US troops killed in Iran.

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They were named as: Captain Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sergeant Noah L Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sergeant Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and Specialist Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.

The Pentagon said they were all killed by a drone that struck where they were working in Port Shuabia, Kuwait, on Sunday.

Iran retaliates, targeting commerce and embassies

In response to the attacks, Iran has launched a string of counterattacks targeting US diplomatic sites in Dubai, Riyadh and Irbil in Northern Iraq.

In response, the US has evacuated diplomats from across the Middle East.

Footage filmed by an ITV News cameraman shows munitions in the sky over Tel Aviv

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said all personnel were accounted for after a drone hit the grounds of the US consulate in Dubai.

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Gulf nations have responded by putting their militaries on full alert and shooting down numerous Iranian drones.

In a press conference on Tuesday, the UAE government confirmed its armed forces are "on full alert and ready to confront all threats, regardless of their source or nature".

Iran is also threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, which is used to transport a fifth of all oil traded.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

People attend the funeral of those killed in what Iranian officials said was an Israeli-US strike on a girls' elementary school in Iran. Credit: AP

Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued the threat on Iranian state television on Monday.

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The Strait of Hormuz is closed. Anyone who wants to pass, our devotee heroes in the IRGC navy and the army will set those ships on fire, he said. Dont come to this region.

In response to the threat, Iraq said it would stop producing oil at some of its key oilfields due to the danger presented to shipping in the region.

Israeli air defence system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, early on Tuesday. Credit: AP

On Monday, Qatar stopped gas production at one of the world's largest Liquefied Natural Gas sites in response to the conflict.

The turmoil has sent the price of fuel soaring and created panic in international markets.

British nationals abroad

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Monday that 130,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the region. She previously said a total of around 300,000 British citizens are in Gulf countries targeted by Iran.

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A government charter flight will also take off from Muscat, Oman, "in the coming days".

Trump says strikes on Iran could last several weeks, as war widens

What weapons does Iran have and how far can they reach?

British nationals are being advised to follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor the Foreign Offices travel advice, which officials expect to change rapidly.

Previously safe havens in the Middle East, such as Dubai, have seen incoming fire and hundreds of thousands of airline passengers are stranded around the globe.

UK officials are understood to be working on plans for the potential evacuation of more than 100,000 Britons from the Middle East.

From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
In 1991, a simple line appeared in Broom, a Lithuanian satire and humor journal. A shortest joke: Communism, it said. A one-liner to celebrate the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Four years since Russias full-scale invasion, a shortest joke could be told about Russias war in Ukraine: Liberation.

Since the Russian Federation began its special military operation to liberate Ukrainians on Feb. 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, millions have fled their homes, cities have been destroyed, and water and land have been contaminated. But people in Ukraine still laugh. Laugh to overcome pain, express solidarity and resilience, and hope for the victory.

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In the first two months of 2026, there have been over 200 attacks on energy infrastructure across Ukraine, damaging thermal and hydroelectric plants and causing prolonged electricity outages. Millions were left without power or with just a few hours of electricity. I asked my friend in Kyiv how she is holding up. She responded, Organic matter survives better in cold.

I have studied humor in authoritarian and democratic states for many years. I have been fascinated by humors power to overcome pain and liberate from absurdity and oppression. In Ukraine, war humor has mobilized people, expressed their resistance and helped them overcome daily hardships.

Dangerous jokes

Throughout history, satirists and cartoonists have faced punishment, prison and even executions. Lenin and Stalin, like Mao and Hitler, allowed no laughter at the expense of themselves or their regimes. The power of humor lies in its capacity to mobilize people for a common cause. It is a weapon of the powerful as well as the powerless.

In authoritarian states, official humor reinforces the states political ideology and is a propaganda tool. Soviet satire and humor journals, for example, ridiculed Western imperialism. They satirized various ills of Western societies  high crime rates, unemployment, homelessness, corruption and poverty  while presenting the Soviet Union as more advanced.

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Since 2022, many comedians have left Russia, some under threat. Like in Soviet times, anti-regime jokes can be told in kitchens and among friends but cannot freely circulate. In state media comedy shows, jokes about Putin are told from time to time, but they are used to bolster his image as a powerful, cunning leader, and hold up Russia as a great country.

War humor

In democratic societies, people are generally free to laugh at what they want. Ukrainian humor circulates from grassroots social media to government offices, to business sites. Since 2022, Ukrainian social media has been flooded by jokes  producing the biggest virtual humor archive in the history of wars.

But war humor is different from humor in times of peace. It can be hateful, obscene, grotesque, vulgar and dark. It fulfills many functions, from defense mechanism and survival strategy to a form of escape.

When lights went off in the winter of 2026, Ukrainians joked that even without light, they can see that Putin is a khuylo  an obscene punch line. Some jokes noted that Ukrainians do not have electricity but have power; or that there is no electricity in Ukraine, but there is light  and there is no light in Russia.

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War humor has also been a form of resistance and perseverance. After Putins nuclear threats in 2022, memes about an orgy on Kyivs Mount Shchekavitsa in the event of an end of the world began to spread online. People were invited to join in case they had unfulfilled sexual fantasies. Memes multiplied of a couple passionately kissing in the background of a nuclear mushroom cloud.

One young man, presumably one of 15,000 who signed up for the orgy on Telegram, told Radio Free Europe, Its an attempt to show that the more they try to scare us, the more we will transform it into something else.

Similar groups popped up, including a group promoting an orgy on Odesas Derybasivska Street. The orgy idea led to other forms of civic activism, such as the Soloma Cats charity foundation organizing first-aid training on Mount Shchekavitsa.

Laughing toward victory

Humor also is a form of news and commentary. Some people learn about international events, policy decisions and even battle victories from jokes rather than the mainstream media.

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At the beginning of the war, internet memes laughed at European leaders reluctance to supply arms to Ukraine. Billionaire Elon Musk was mocked in October 2022 after suggesting a plan for peace that would repeat elections in annexed regions, recognize Crimea as Russian territory and make Ukraine a neutral country. Even Pope Francis was laughed at for his March 2024 suggestion that Ukraine should wave the white flag and negotiate to save lives, which for Ukrainians meant surrendering their sovereignty.

During the Ukrainian armys counteroffensive in 2022, humor spread news of victories in Kherson, Bakhmut and other cities, laughing at Russian forces. Memes commonly portrayed Russian soldiers as incompetent, indoctrinated, or as zombies. Comparisons to Orcs in The Lord of the Rings were prominent, with one meme suggesting, Stop calling Orcs Russians, its offensive toward Orcs.

In response to reports of Russian soldiers stealing loot to sell in Belarussian open markets, Ukrainians created a meme of reselling captured Russian tanks at a farmers market. Another joke about Russian looting: Did you take Kharkiv? No. Kyiv? No. What did you take? A washing machine, a mixer, and shoes 

Some of the jokes provide commentary on global geopolitics, including Russias propaganda that it had been threatened by NATO. Did you hear? It turns out Russia is at war with NATO, one man asks. How is it going for them? asks another. They already lost tens of thousands of soldiers and a ton of military equipment. And NATO? Oh, they have not arrived yet.

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In some ways, such jokes are a counteroffensive against Russian disinformation. In fact-checking, journalists fight propaganda with logical arguments, but propaganda targets emotions, identity and fears. Humor does not argue; it changes the context itself, subverting the message. And whereas fact-checking treats an opponent seriously, humor makes them ridiculous.

Ultimately, Ukrainians laughter communicates resistance, solidarity and dedication to victory. In one joke, a husband asks his wife why she bought seven bottles of wine. What about water and preserves, in case the war drags on? The woman responds: I am getting ready to celebrate the victory!

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Neringa Klumbyte, Miami University; Lithuanian Institute of History

Read more:



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Neringa Klumbyte does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A funeral service has been held for an "extraordinary" World War Two veteran who survived three and a half years as a prisoner of war.

James 'Jim' Wren, the UK's oldest Royal Marine, survived the sinking of HMS Repulse in 1941 but was captured two months later by the Japanese in Singapore.

He escaped in 1945 after Japan surrendered, and returned home weighing just six stone (38kg). He attributed his survival to the bond between his comrades.

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Wren passed away on 1 February aged 105. His funeral was held earlier at St Thomas' Church in Salisbury, Wiltshire, attended by more than 100 mourners.

Wren survived a catastrophic sinking, endured years of captivity, returned home, and reported back for duty [PA]

Born in 1920, Wren joined the Royal Marines in 1939 at the age of 19.

In December 1941, the battlecruiser HMS Repulse sailed from Singapore as part of Force Z alongside the brand-new HMS Prince of Wales.

Japanese aircraft attacked on 10 December and within hours, both ships were sunk.

A total of 513 crew members were lost onboard HMS Repulse, including 30 of the 55 Royal Marines. Wren was blown into the sea, drenched in oil, and survived by clinging to a life raft.

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"I lost many good friends," he said, when he turned 100. "I was with them every day. I can still see their faces."

More than 500 crew members were lost when HMS Repulse was sunk in December 1941 [Royal Navy]

While attempting to rescue fellow marines in Singapore, Wren was captured and taken to Sumatra.

For the next three and a half years he endured brutal conditions - starvation, disease, and forced labour clearing jungle and building airstrips and railways.

Mortality rates were high but the marines shared food, protected one another, and maintained dignity in brutal conditions.

Wren even hid rice sacks to create shrouds for men who died, out of respect. When guards removed the sacks, he gathered jungle leaves to continue the practice.

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Wren continued to serve for another six years after the war, including time aboard HMS Vanguard, before settling in Salisbury.

He had met his wife Margaret just before deployment and she waited for him throughout the war - without knowing if he was alive or dead.

They married a year later and were together for 74 years, until her death in 2020.

Major General Patrick Cordingley helped Wren campaign for the protection of the sunken shipwrecks [BBC]

When it emerged that the wrecks of the two ships had been desecrated by illegal salvaging in early 2023, Wren began campaigning for protection of the war graves.

Major general Patrick Cordingley, from the Force Z Survivors Association, said this unwavering "loyalty" to his fallen comrades was what shone through most.

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"He was an extraordinarily modest chap, when you look at what he went through," he said. "It's just amazing what he was clearly capable of doing.

"What more could you ask of a hero?"

Brigadier Simon Rogers said Wren often spent time gardening in the very churchyard where his funeral service was held [BBC]

Brigadier Simon Rogers, assistant commandant general of Royal Marines, described Wren as "an incredible human being".

"The hardship is almost unimaginable. It would have been incredibly difficult, but he reflected on it with humility," he said.

"For those of us serving today, to look back at what those people did is an incredibly important thing - to consider the courage, resilience, and sacrifices they endured."

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Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

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Protesters in red overalls targeted Pearson Engineering in February 2025 [CPS]

Pro-Palestine protesters who smashed a sign and sprayed red paint at a factory over its alleged links to Israel have been found guilty of causing criminal damage.

Hollie Mildenhall, 25, and Georgia Coote, 28, held an eight-hour stand-off on a roof at Pearson Engineering in Newcastle while Summer Oxlade, 29, tipped rubble from a truck, the city's crown court heard.

The women claimed their actions in February 2025 were lawful as their disruption would stop weapons being sent to kill people in Palestine, but jurors found their actions to be illegal.

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Mildenhall and Coote, both from Newcastle, and Oxlade, from Houghton-le-Spring, were released on bail and will be sentenced on 29 April.

Each was wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Middle Eastern headscarf, in the dock, as were a number of supporters in the public gallery.

One of the women shouted "free Palestine" as they left the court.

The trial heard Pearson Engineering was owned by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, an Israeli-state owned weapons company, although a company representative told jurors no Tyneside-built creations had been supplied to Israel.

At about 05:20 GMT on 18 February 2025, Mildenhall and Coote climbed on to the roof of the Scotswood Road factory's gatehouse while Oxlade dumped rubble from a flatbed truck in the entrance before trying to chain herself to the vehicle, the court has heard.

The protesters dumped rubble and sprayed red paint over the guardhouse and sign at Pearson Engineering, which is owned by an Israeli company [CPS]

The women on the roof sprayed red paint from fire extinguishers, cut through razor wire and smashed two illuminated panels of the firm's large sign, the court heard.

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The cost of the damage was about 6,800, the court heard, and production was halted for a day.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch said the trio were "motivated by compassion and a desperate desire to do something", but they "acted unlawfully".

He said their occupation of the guardhouse would have sufficed in causing disruption and the damage they caused was "gratuitous" and for "performance purposes only".

Each of the women told jurors they wanted to stop the factory working for as long as possible in order to save lives in Gaza, with any damage leading to a longer shut down.

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They said they believed the factory at the Armstrong Works was "complicit" in a "genocide" and was making weapons and machines to be used by Israel to commit "war crimes", which was "illegal".

The women said they tried to raise awareness and have the factory investigated by petitioning politicians and holding lawful protests, but to no avail.

Jurors took two hours and 15 minutes to reach unanimous verdicts.

'Law in their hands'

Judge Edward Bindloss had ruled out allowing the jury to consider several defences to criminal damage on the basis they did not apply to the women's actions.

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He said the trio "decided to take the law into their own hands" rather than seek a "lawful route" to stop what they thought were the illegal actions of Pearson Engineering.

They "could and should" have collected evidence of the company's activities and presented it to police, the government or a court, the judge said.

The company had told the court it "did not export" to Israel and had no licences to do so, the judge said.

He also said they said they made "defensive military equipment", such as mine detection vehicles, which was supplied to the UK and other allies but "not Israel".

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A Georgia man has been indicted in a fatal shooting at a Bexley apartment building last year.

Jimmy Wilson, 23, of Norcross, Georgia, faces charges of murder, aggravated murder, felonious assault, and possession of a dangerous ordnance in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Demetrese Norvett, according to Franklin County Common Pleas Court filings.

All of the charges have an enhancement indicating that the shooting involved an automatic weapon or a silencer, or was a drive-by, court records show.

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Wilson was arrested Nov. 3 in Gwinnett, Georgia, by the Gwinnett County Police Department in conjunction with Columbus police, according to Bexley police Chief Gary Lewis. He is being held in Georgia and will be extradited back to Ohio to stand trial.

At around 5:11 p.m. Oct. 20, 2025, a passerby flagged down a Bexley police officer and told them that a body was lying in the bushes near an apartment building on North Cassady Avenue at the corner of Delmar Drive, a short distance away from the Bexley police station. The victim, later identified as Norvett, had several gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The apartment building owned by Community Housing Network, located at 540 N. Cassady Ave. in Bexley.

Norvett's killing was Bexley's first homicide since 2022. The apartment building where his body was found is owned by the Community Housing Network, a Franklin County nonprofit that offers permanent supportive housing to people struggling with homelessness, addiction, and mental illness in Franklin County. It has owned the two-story Cassady Avenue building since December 2000, according to the Franklin County Auditor's Office.

The building had been seeing an uptick in calls for police leading up to the shooting and had caught the attention of Bexley's mayor as well as the police chief. Between October 2023 and October 2025, there had been 113 calls for service to the building, ranging from traffic infractions to sounds of gunfire and stolen vehicles, according to Bexley police data.

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Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jimmy Wilson indicted in fatal Bexley shooting
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during his visit to the White House, told US President Donald Trump that Ukraine has to preserve its territory once the war ends.

Source: Merz at the beginning of his meeting with Trump, which was broadcast by the White House

Details: Merz, who was in Washington for talks with Trump, stressed that Ukraine should not agree to further territorial concessions.

"We all want to see this war coming to an end as soon as possible. But Ukraine has to preserve its territory and their security interests, and we will talk about that," the chancellor told the US leader.

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Journalists asked Trump where ending the war in Ukraine currently stands on his list of priorities, given the US operation against Iran.

Trump assured them that the issue remains among his highest priorities.

"As far as Russia, Ukraine, where is that on my priority list? Very high. I thought it was going to be one of the easier ones. I have settled eight wars, and actually maybe one more than that," Trump said.

He also mentioned the tremendous level of hatred between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

Background:

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that there is currently no clarity regarding the timing and venue of the next round of peace talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine, as holding the negotiations in Abu Dhabi, as previously planned, does not appear possible.

The European Commission described Moscow's position as an excuse and an attempt to delay the negotiation process.

Zelenskyy said earlier that he sees a chance to achieve peace in the Russo-Ukrainian war before the US midterm elections.

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Eddie Bauer shoppers have just over a week left to redeem their gift cards and loyalty rewards in stores before the struggling outdoor apparel retailer closes all of its brick-and-mortar locations during bankruptcy proceedings.

Customers must redeem any outstanding gift cards and Adventure Points by March 12. After that date, unused cards will lose their value as stores close. All sales during the liquidation period are final, and returns are not being accepted as the closures proceed.

The bankrupt retailer operates between 175 and 180 physical stores across North America, all of which are scheduled to close by April 30 unless a buyer is found for some or all of the locations, according to Chapter 11 documents filed in US Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey.

The bankruptcy and planned wind-down does not affect Eddie Bauers online, manufacturing or wholesale business, which are owned by the company Outdoor 5 and operated separately outside the Chapter 11 process. Stores outside the US and Canada also remain unaffected by this restructuring and will stay open.

This marks the third bankruptcy filing in just over two decades for Eddie Bauer, deepening a long decline for the once-iconic brand that began as a small Seattle fishing shop and rose to become a household name.

Eddie Bauer shoppers have until March 12 to use gift cards and loyalty rewards in stores, as all of its 175 to 180 locations are set to close (Getty Images)

As part of its bankruptcy proceedings, Eddie Bauer LLC is marketing approximately 174 store leases totaling over 1.08 million square feet. Managed by RCS Real Estate Advisors, the portfolio includes 150 locations across 40 US states and 24 locations in six Canadian provinces. The stores occupy a mix of retail environments, including established malls, lifestyle centers, and high-traffic corridors, with average sizes of around 6,300 square feet.

Many of the leases are in key retail markets such as California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Michigan and New Jersey, according to RCS.

As part of the Chapter 11 process, we are focused on maximizing value and identifying opportunities for landlords, retailers and other uses seeking quality retail space in proven trade areas, Ivan Friedman, President and CEO of RCS Real Estate Advisors, said in a statement, the Rutland Herald reports. This portfolio represents a rare opportunity to secure legacy retail locations in established centers nationwide. Our team is actively engaging the market to drive competitive interest and efficient lease dispositions.

Upon Eddie Bauer LLCs recent bankruptcy filing, Marc Rosen, CEO of Catalyst Brands, the parent company of the operator that holds the license to operate Eddie Bauer stores in the US and Canada, outlined the reasons behind it, which he said was not an easy decision.
NEED TO KNOW

In the early morning hours of Feb. 1, Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from the Tucson, Ariz., home where she raised her three children, including Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, police said

On Feb. 10, authorities released chilling Nest surveillance camera pictures and video showing an armed assailant at Nancy's front door wearing a mask and gloves

Now, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has revealed that investigators have identified DNA on a glove found two miles from Nancy's house on Feb. 15

In mid-February, two weeks after Nancy Guthrie mysteriously vanished in the early morning hours, a glove was found two miles from her Tucson, Ariz., home that looked similar to the ones a masked man was seen wearing on surveillance footage from her front porch.

The glove was tested for DNA, with many hoping it would lead to clues as to who took the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie  and why.

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In an interview with local outlet KVOA, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that investigators were able to find a match to the DNA found on one of the gloves.

"There was some talk and discussion that it was police officers out in the field just discarding [the gloves], that is so far from the truth," Nanos told the outlet.

"We knew that at that time, we believed wholeheartedly that those gloves belonged to a restaurant and guess what? The owner of the glove, we found working at a restaurant across the street," Nanos said.

"It has nothing to do with the case," Nanos said, per KVOA.

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He did not specify which restaurant the person works at or if investigators questioned that individual.

He also said other gloves sent to a Florida lab could be different and DNA testing could take a while, the outlet reported.

"It's a challenge because we know we have DNA, but now we have to deal with that mixture and how we're going to separate it," Nanos said.

Nancy was taken from her Tucson, Ariz., home in the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 1, police said.

Her family called 911 at 12:03 p.m. that day after the mother of three failed to join friends to watch a virtual church service.

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The Pima County Sheriff's Office, later joined by the FBI, launched a massive investigation into Nancy's disappearance, saying they believed she was taken against her will.

Concern for Nancy deepened when Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that blood spatter found on the front porch belonged to her.

Even more chilling were Nest camera surveillance photos and video footage authorities released on Feb. 10 showing a masked, armed man on Nancy's front porch in the early morning hours of Feb. 1.

The FBI Phoenix office shared additional details describing the suspect as "a male, approximately 59 - 510 tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack" that may have been purchased at Walmart.

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Investigators revealed that Guthrie's doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m., local time. Shortly after, at 2:12 a.m., the camera detected a dark figure walking toward the house. Sixteen minutes later, at 2:28 a.m., Guthrie's pacemaker was disconnected from the pacemaker app on her cellphone, authorities said.

Law enforcement worked tirelessly to try to find Nancy, to no avail.

In late February, however, a couple who live on a back road about 2.5 miles from Nancys home released new footage, obtained by FOX News, showing a car speeding down the road minutes after police believe she was abducted.

One of the videos the couple released was recorded at around 2:36 a.m. on Feb. 1, about eight minutes after Nancy's pacemaker last synced with her iPhone, according to the sheriff's timeline.

Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie

Credit: savannahguthrie/Instagram

The Pima County Sheriffs Office told FOX News and NBC News they are aware of the newly released Ring camera footage, but didnt say whether the footage will help the case.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Since their mother went missing, Savannah and her siblings have been awaiting any word about what happened to her.

A sign posted at the house of Nancy Guthrie, Today show host Savannah Guthrie's mother

Credit: Jan Sonnenmair/Getty

On Feb. 24, Savannah released an emotional new video saying the Guthrie family is offering up to a $1 million reward for any information leading to Nancys recovery. The family is also donating $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

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The FBI's $100,000 reward for information remains active.

Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is asked to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriffs Department at 520-351-4900.



Read the original article on People
Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw has lost the GOP primary race in Texas' 2nd Congressional District to Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, CBS News projects.

Crenshaw, who has served in the House since 2019, is the only sitting House Republican in Texas who did not receive President Trump's endorsement.

Toth, 65, is a small business owner with a background in construction and business consulting. He's an avid supporter of the president, and on the campaign trail, argued that Crenshaw wasn't loyal or conservative enough for the "Make America Great Again" coalition. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas endorsed Toth last week, after Crenshaw voted against a bipartisan aviation safety bill that Cruz championed.

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Crenshaw has occasionally clashed with members of his own party. His strong support for arming Ukraine as it faces a Russian invasion has drawn attacks from some on the right who are skeptical of U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, and he's criticized fellow Republicans who deny Mr. Trump's 2020 election loss.

Mr. Trump endorsed Toth in the past in his bids for the state house.

Texas' second congressional district, in the suburbs of Houston, is heavily Republican, so the winner of a GOP primary is all but guaranteed victory in November.

Texas has open primaries.

A deadly shooting in Austin over the weekend cast a shadow over Tuesday's primary races in Texas. A gunman wearing a hoodie that said "Property of Allah" killed two people and wounded 14 before police took him down. Both candidates attempted to link the shooting  perpetrated by a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Senegal, officials said  to immigration.

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Toth wrote on social media in reaction to the shooting: "America's primary role is keeping Americans safe in our homeland. It's not mass immigration in the name of diversity."

Crenshaw wrote on X over the weekend: "Yes, this was possibly a terrorist attack. We don't know just yet, but it is increasingly more likely than not. Years of open borders and allowing immigrants from countries where we were not always able to fully vet them created the potential for Iranian and Islamists sleeper cells. Stay on high alert, and remember: You have the right to defend yourself here in Texas."

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Watch: Kristi Noem's opening statement at Senate Judiciary Committee on DHS

Key details on Iran war on Day 4 of conflict
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales has been forced into a repeat primary runoff with far-right gun activist Brandon Herrera, CBS News projects, weeks after Gonzales was accused of having an affair with an aide who later died by suicide  drawing calls for him to resign.

Gonzales and Herrera are locked in a tight contest, with neither candidate expected to clear the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff on May 26.

Gonzales was first elected in 2020, and had branded himself as a moderate. In a primary challenge from Herrera in 2024, Gonzales only prevailed by 400 votes. Gonzales has since pursued a rightward shift and touted his endorsement by President Trump in this race, although Mr. Trump left his name off a list of endorsements on Friday.

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But Gonzales had been facing calls to resign from members of both parties after texts were revealed last month between him and former aide Regina Santos-Aviles, who died in September after setting herself on fire, according to the Uvalde police.

According to texts obtained by CBS News, Gonzales asked Santos-Aviles for a "sexy pic" in May 2024. After a back-and-forth, Santos-Aviles said she didn't like taking photos of herself. He responded in a pair of texts: "I'm just such a visual person" and "Sorry."

The congressman then asked Santos-Aviles what her "favorite position" is. She asked him to answer first, and he did.

The aide then texted: "This is going too far boss. So how long have you thought I was this hot?"

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After another back-and-forth, Santos-Aviles said again: "This is too far, Tony."

Gonzales, who has previously denied having an affair, is married and has six children. Santos-Aviles was also married and had an 8-year-old son.

Texas' 23rd Congressional District, which encompasses more than 800 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, had long been considered a swing district, but was redrawn in 2021 to be more safely Republican, and Gonzales won by more than 20 percentage points in the 2024 election. The district is still considered safe Republican after Texas' 2025 redistricting.

3 U.S. jets shot down in "friendly fire incident" in Kuwait amid war with Iran

Watch: Kristi Noem's opening statement at Senate Judiciary Committee on DHS

Key details on Iran war on Day 4 of conflict
State Rep. James Talarico has won the Democratic Senate nomination in Texas over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, NBC News projects, as the party seeks to put the traditionally Republican state in play this fall.

With 83% of the expected vote in, Talarico had won 53% to Crocketts 46%. On the Republican side, the heated primary is set to continue for several more weeks, with NBC News projecting that Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton will advance to a runoff.

Were about to take back Texas, Talarico said in a short statement after the race was called.

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Crockett conceded to Talarico, saying in a statement Wednesday that she called him to congratulate him on becoming the party's nominee. She urged the party to unite behind Talarico heading into the general election.

"With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win," Crockett said. "Im committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot."

Largely aligned on policy, Talarico and Crockett diverged on style and strategy as Democratic voters searched for a fighter who could hand the party its first statewide win in more than 30 years.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico and his allies spent the most money in the Democratic Senate primary. (Mark Felix / Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Mark Felix)

Talaricos supporters believed he is more likely to win statewide by appealing to voters across the political spectrum, pointing to his victory in a Republican state House seat, his populist message and his frequent discussion of his Christian faith.

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Crocketts supporters, meanwhile, described her as a fearless fighter, and Crockett argued that she can build a multi-racial and multi-generational coalition of new voters to win Texas.

Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, has suggested he can appeal to Democrats, Republicans and independents.

If you hate politics and youve never voted before, you have a place in this campaign. If you have voted for Democrats but youre tired of D.C. Democrats always folding, you have a place in this campaign. And if you voted for Donald Trump but you are fed up with the extremism and the corruption in our government, you have a place in this campaign, Talarico said at an event last month in Austin.

Talarico also grabbed headlines in recent days after his interview with Stephen Colbert aired on YouTube instead of CBS in light of what Colbert characterized as the networks fear of FCC blowback, giving Talarico plenty of attention and fueling his fundraising on the first day of early voting.

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Voter confusion in Dallas County, the second-most-populous county in the state thats represented by Crockett in Congress, added a layer of uncertainty to the race. New rules spearheaded by Republicans caused some voters to go to the wrong polling places. A Dallas County judge ordered polling places to stay open two hours later as a result, but that was temporarily blocked by the Texas Supreme Court, leaving votes cast after 7 p.m. local time in limbo. A similar situation played out at two polling locations in Williamson County, Talaricos home turf.

Every vote must be counted. Every voice must be heard, Talarico told supporters. The voter suppression in my home county and Congresswoman Crocketts home county underscores the gravity of this moment.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, was aiming to turn out new voters for her Senate campaign. (Mark Felix / Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Mark Felix)

Talarico must wait until May 26 to learn who his opponent will be. Paxton and Cornyn will now face off head-to-head in a race that has already drawn nearly $100 million in advertising, largely from Cornyn and his allies. GOP Rep. Wesley Hunts entrance into the race meant none of the three major candidates was able to win a majority of the primary vote, pushing the race to a runoff.

With 84% of the expected vote in, Cornyn was leading with 42%, followed by Paxton at 41% and Hunt at 13%.

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Cornyn has argued that if Paxton is the nominee, he could put the Senate seat at risk, given his personal and professional controversies. Paxton was impeached over allegations of bribery and corruption in 2023; the state Senate acquitted him. And Paxtons wife announced last year that she was divorcing him on biblical grounds.

Paxton has argued that he can energize President Donald Trumps core base of supporters who have been less likely to turn out for the GOP in midterm elections.

Paxton and his supporters are also quick to compare him to Trump.

Since I started running, Ive been victorious, Paxton told reporters at a campaign event in Magnolia last month. Trump went through the very same thing. Look where hes at. Its going to be the same way for me. We overcame all of them. You can make up whatever you want to make up. But the allegations are the allegations, and the truth is the truth.

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Paxton knocked Cornyn on the campaign trail for having been in office for too long, as well as his work on work on a bipartisan gun bill in the wake of multiple mass shootings, including one at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school, and his stances on a border wall and government funding.

We are going to defeat John Cornyn, and were going to get a U.S. senator that actually listens to us, Paxton said at the Magnolia event.

Trump remained neutral in the primary, saying he supported all three candidates. But he could take a side in a runoff, according to a person familiar with the White Houses thinking and strategy.

That person said Trump is likely to endorse Cornyn if he keeps the race close, as Cornyn is viewed as the low-risk, least-costly way to ensure a red seat stays in Republicans hands. But if Paxton pulls ahead by a sizable, double-digit margin, that could change Trumps calculus, as he is unlikely to endorse someone he doesnt think can win.

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Trump won Texas by 14 points in the 2024 presidential race, more than doubling his 6-point margin in 2020 as he made gains across the country. But Democrats think the Senate race could be competitive in the November of a midterm election year that favors the party out of power, pointing to then-Rep. Beto ORourkes coming within 3 points of defeating GOP Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018.

The prospect of a potentially competitive  and expensive  Senate race in November has caused GOP leaders to rally behind Cornyn. He and his allies have spent a combined $78.5 million on ads in the primary, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Paxton and his allied outside groups have spent $4.4 million, while Hunt and his allied super PACs have spent $12.2 million.

Cornyn and his allies have worked to stress that Cornyn is a Trump ally, with one recent TV ad from a group tied to Cornyns campaign describing him as tough as nails on illegal immigration and noting that he votes with Trump 99% of the time.

Ive been proud to work with President Trump and support him, because his policies are good for Texas and good for the country, Cornyn said at a campaign event last month in Austin.

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But Cornyn has been haunted by some of his past comments about Trump, including his suggestion in 2023 that Trump was not the most electable presidential candidate in 2024.

Cornyn told reporters after the Austin event that his team has a plan to compete in a runoff, acknowledging that fewer voters head to the polls in runoff elections.

We have our work cut out for us, but Ive been fortunate enough to be endorsed by virtually every entity that makes endorsements, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau and my friends at the Border Patrol union and everybody in between. And so what we are doing is working with them to encourage them to communicate with their membership, he said.

Were doing things that have never been done before to try and encourage people to turn out to vote, Cornyn later added.

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Lopsided ad spending was also a feature of the Democratic primary, with Talarico and his allies looking to boost his name recognition in the sprawling state. Talarico has described himself as the underdog against Crockett, who entered the race in December with a national profile from her clashes with Trump and Republicans.

Talarico and an allied super PAC have spent a combined $25.3 million on ads, while Crockett and an outside group backing her have spent $5.3 million.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
While standing just a few feet from him Tuesday, Gov. Jeff Landry said he hopes to convince Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, to spend more state money on a private education voucher program.

I am trying to convince him that we can do it in a way that is sustainable, the governor said while glancing and smiling at Henry during an economic development press conference.

The Senate President has emerged as the most prominent skeptic of Landrys signature education initiative, LA GATOR, which would greatly expand the amount of public funding going toward private education expenses.



Landry has proposed doubling the public dollars spent on private K-12 school tuition and related expenses for the second year in a row. State spending on LA GATOR would go from $44 million to $88.2 million in the fiscal year that starts July 1 under his budget proposal.



Henry told The Times-Picayune last week the Senate will not allow the LA GATOR program to grow in spite of Landrys request. The Senate also blocked Landrys request last year for additional LA GATOR funding during budget negotiations.

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For well over a decade, Louisiana had a small statewide voucher program that used state funds to pay for around 5,600 low-income students to attend private schools mostly affiliated with the Catholic Church. Landry and conservative lawmakers overhauled the school voucher guidelines in 2024 to be far more permissive.



Henry has questioned whether Louisiana would be able to afford the new version of the vouchers as the program grows. If fully funded, LA GATOR would eventually allow all families, including those who are wealthy, to apply for public assistance to cover their childrens private school bills.

Proponents of LA GATOR have said that as more children receive vouchers to enroll in private schools, the state should see a drop in the amount of money it has to spend on public education. But the program would allow families who already have their children in private schools to receive public assistance for tuition these families currently cover. This could amount to a new expense for the state that doesnt exist in public education.



If Landry received the extra $44.2 million for LA GATOR that he has requested, it would allow another 4,000 to 5,000 students to receive vouchers next school year, coming close to doubling voucher enrollment.



Henry has said the state needs to slow down and be more deliberate about a voucher expansion.



If you look at previous programs, wherever they may be, in the state, whatever department, very rarely do you double something after the first year, Henry said during Tuesdays news conference alongside Landry.



You want to look at it and see if it is effective, Henry said. Can anybody tell us where the kids are doing better now than they were previously? We dont have those answers.

Landry and Henry both spoke at an announcement of an ambitious economic development initiative to spend $140 million in state funds to ready construction sites for business investment.

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Henry drew a comparison between the construction site spending and the LA GATOR program, saying the more money the state spends on private education vouchers, the less it will have for other priorities such as economic development.



Landry said he thought Henry essentially had bad memories from his time as a state lawmaker during the tenure of former Govs. Bobby Jindal and John Bel Edwards, when the state experienced a years-long financial crisis.



While Jindal was in office, he and lawmakers cut taxes, which resulted in a drastic drop in state revenue that resulted in major cuts in public higher education and health care. State lawmakers then spent several years trying to dig themselves out of a financial hole and eventually voted to raise taxes again to avoid draconian cuts to services.

I think its fair to say that he probably has a little bit of PTSD from the Jindal years, Landry said of Henry.

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State officials have approved new staff performance bonuses to improve retention at the Bank of North Dakota, with the first installment totaling about $772,000.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission, which oversees the state-owned bank, unanimously approved the payout during its Feb. 24 meeting. Employee bonuses have been under the microscope after several bonuses exceeding $100,000 were awarded to employees of another state agency earlier this year.

As the chair of two committees that have two different bonus plans, I like this one a lot better, Gov. Kelly Armstrong said during a meeting of the Industrial Commission last week. The benefits to this is we are competing with private sector, and its a way to keep base salaries in line.

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Armstrong also chairs the State Investment Board, responsible for investing state funds like the Legacy Fund, which approved $1.3 million in bonuses for 12 employees of the Retirement and Investment Office in January. Armstrong voted in favor of that bonus pay, despite pushback from some lawmakers who asked the attorney general to issue an opinion on some legal questions.

The Bank of North Dakotas 2025 bonuses will pay up to $2.1 million to 167 employees over the course of the next three years. Each qualifying employee is eligible for a bonus equal to 14.25% of their 2025 base salary.

We wanted it to be motivating as one team to all Bank of North Dakota staff, said Don Morgan, bank CEO. So we made the payout percentage the same for everybody in the organization, whether youre the CEO or down on the teller line or our janitorial staff.

A third of the bonus for 2025 performance, totaling $705,000 and averaging $4,200 per person, is being paid out now. The employees will receive identical payments in 2027 and 2028, if they are still working for the bank at the time, to encourage workforce retention. Five employees who are also eligible for the bonus are retiring and will receive all three years payments at once, totaling $66,000.

The SMART Plan, the bonus programs official title, will be reviewed and approved by the banks advisory board on an annual basis. Final approval for the payouts rests in the hands of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The commission is a three-person board composed of the governor, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.

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The origination of this was very thoughtful, Armstrong said. Now its just a matter of making sure the metrics make sense as performance versus Hey, thanks for being here and working for the bank.

The Bank of North Dakotas program is structured differently than the State Investment Boards. The performance bonuses are awarded as a percentage of base pay, like the investment boards, but cannot exceed 16.5% of that salary. The percentage is based on the banks performance as a whole, rather than reflecting individual achievements, and is applied to all qualifying employees instead of solely the investment team.

We had a fantastic year in financial performance, Morgan said.

Under the State Investment Board plan, some top officials are eligible to receive up to 90% or 100% of their annual pay. In the bonuses that were recently approved, seven bonuses topped $100,000, with the largest one at $293,000.

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While the banks program could increase retention and reduce staff turnover, Armstrong noted the concept of performance bonuses does not reflect individual performance. He said if a loan was approved seven years ago, but is now underperforming, the staff working on the loan are not necessarily the people responsible for signing off on it in the first place.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, center, speaks to Don Morgan, left, president of the Bank of North Dakota, during a special meeting of the Industrial Commission with Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, center-left, and Attorney General Drew Wrigley, right, on Oct. 8, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Its an imperfect solution, Armstrong said. I dont know what the other, better way to do it would be.

The banks CEO acknowledged there are things that are out of the control of his staff, but the program aims to drive a unified strategy and reward the staff as a whole for successfully reaching predetermined targets. The SMART Plans bonuses are based on four metrics: credit quality, enterprise risk management, financial performance, as well as mission and strategy.

Theres many ways to shape and form these. This typically tends to work the best if youre trying to create one team moving in the same direction, said Morgan.

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Goehring encouraged the bank to ensure the goals are not easily attainable.

I appreciate what its doing, because its creating a culture, Goehring said. I just want to make sure that the stretch goals are sufficient. You start attaining these all the time, and its too easy, and its going to suffer a lot of criticism and scrutiny that way.

The banks advisory board is reviewing the 2026 SMART Plan that will set benchmarks for the programs second year. The plan will be presented to the Industrial Commission for review in the coming months.

Theyre being very thoughtful and careful about it, taking their role very seriously, Morgan said.

North Dakota Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge can be reached at jorledge@northdakotamonitor.com.

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NEED TO KNOW

Yvonne Ford, the British woman who died of rabies after getting scratched by a stray dog, was diagnosed with the disease just days before her death

Ford, 59, was scratched very slightly by a puppy while on vacation in Morocco in February 2025. She fell ill four months later and died in June of that year

According to the Mayo Clinic, rabies is a deadly virus typically spread to humans from contact with an infected animal. Once symptoms show, the disease is usually fatal

Yvonne Ford, the British woman who died of rabies after getting scratched by a stray dog, was diagnosed with the disease just days before her death, according to an inquest.

Ford, 59, was scratched very slightly by a puppy while on vacation in Morocco in February 2025. She fell ill four months later and died in June of that year, after contracting rabies, her daughter, Robyn Thomson, shared in a Facebook post.

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"Two weeks ago she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. Resulting in her passing," wrote Thomson.

At an inquest hearing on Tuesday, March 3, it was revealed that Ford didn't seek treatment after being scratched, thinking she had a minor injury. She was later referred to Barnsley Hospitals mental health team in June, after developing symptoms of hallucinations and disorientation at the end of May, The Times reported.

Yvonne Ford

Credit: GoFundMe

Psychiatrist Dr. Alexander Burns asked Ford about her family's travel history as he suspected Lyme disease. Ford then told him she had been scratched by a dog on vacation, which the short-stay medical team hadnt been aware of, according to The Times.

I was informed by her husband that, on February 10, 2025, Yvonne was bitten by a stray dog on a beach in Morocco whilst on holiday. The bite had pierced her skin, said Burns.

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Burns diagnosed Ford as his first rabies patient, and she was taken to the infectious disease unit at Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, England. She died there on June 11, per The Times.

According to the Mayo Clinic, rabies is a deadly virus typically spread to humans from contact with an infected animal. Once symptoms show, the disease is usually fatal.

There are no immediate signs of having the disease. This is why doctors advise people to seek medical treatment immediately after any contact with a wild animal, and to undergo a series of rabies vaccines.

Rabies virus

Credit: Getty

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At the aforementioned inquest, infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals said that by the time Ford started showing symptoms, there was nothing that could have been done at Barnsley Hospital that would have saved her, per The Times.

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Cartwright added at the inquest that there have been only 26 cases of rabies in the U.K. since 1946, per the BBC.

PEOPLE reached out to the Sheffield Medico-Legal Center for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

Read the original article on People
U.S. Reps. Al Green and Christian Menefee are headed for a Democratic primary runoff in May, setting up a fourth election in about seven months for voters in Houstons 18th Congressional District.

The primary was a rare incumbent-on-incumbent clash forced by legislative Republicans who redrew the Texas congressional map last summer to create five new seats that are more favorable to Republicans. Green was drawn out of his district, the 9th Congressional District, and into the new 18th District.

Menefee noted his first-place finish but acknowledged Wednesday morning that neither candidate crossed the threshold for an outright win, blaming Republican gerrymandered maps for sowing confusion among voters.

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I didnt ask for these new maps, Congressman Green didnt ask for this, and the voters of this district certainly didnt ask for this, Menefee said in a statement. But I want to be clear about one thing: we are not going to let Donald Trump and Greg Abbott use this gerrymandering scheme as a distraction from the real issues facing the people of this country. The 18th Congressional District has shown loud and clear that they want a fighter who can deliver real results, and Im focused on continuing to deliver that.

The May runoff will be fourth election in the 18th Congressional District in seven months. With the U.S. Senate Democratic primary already settled, turnout is likely to be low, and the outcome could depend on who can get their supporters to return the polls. Menefee overperformed in the Harris County portion of the district, particularly among early voters, while Green dominated in Fort Bend County.

In an interview Wednesday morning, Green said he knew the race would end in a runoff and planned to continue emphasizing his congressional record  which, given his 21-year head start, is much longer than Menefees.

I am running on what I have done, Green said. He is running on what he will do.

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In a speech Tuesday night before the runoff had been called, Menefee, who had run a positive campaign thus far, had some sharp words for Green.

Al Green, you can tear us down, but Im going to build us up, Menefee said. Im focused on taking this district to the future. And I will not lose my integrity for no damn elected office!

Wednesday morning, Green shot back with some truthful trash talk. Menefee, Green said, had pledged to be the voice that voters in the 18th District had missed while the seat sat vacant for nearly a year. But he pointed out that Menefee, who was campaigning in Houston, missed House votes last Tuesday and Wednesday, while Green was in Washington.

[Menefees said] youre going to vote for them, and youre going to be energetic, and youve got the stamina,  Green said. Well, youve got to have the stamina to come to work in Washington, DC. This is where we vote.

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Green also called for a debate between the two to talk trash to each other face to face.

In a statement Thursday, Menefee said that he had spent the month since his swearing-in casting votes, hiring staff and meeting with residents. And he argued that his record as Harris County attorney proves he has delivered results on issues including health care and voting rights.

Congressman Green going negative is exactly what Donald Trump and Greg Abbott envisioned when they redrew these maps to force two Black Democratic leaders into the same district, Menefee said. They wanted to strip our communities of real representation and hand the seat to Republicans, all while a 20-year member of Congress attacks a member on the same team who just stepped foot in the door. We shouldnt fall for that trap.

While both men are incumbents for the district, Green has represented the area for more than two decades. Menefee, who was elected to fill out the late Rep. Sylvester Turners term in a January special runoff, has only been in Congress for a month.

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The new district also contains far more voters from Greens old district than Menefees. But Menefee has been running for office for nearly a year and had a robust campaign operation that pivoted quickly to the primary in the new district after the November special election and January runoff in his current district.

Green defeated an incumbent Democrat in 2004 after a different episode of mid-decade redistricting transformed a majority-white Houston Democratic seat into a district with a Black and Latino majority. He has since faced scant electoral competition in his nearly 22 years in office.

The 37-year-old Menefee finished first in the November special election to replace Turner, who died in March 2025. He handily defeated former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards in the January runoff and was sworn into office in early February. He previously served as Harris County attorney from 2021 through 2025.

Edwards was also on Tuesdays ballot but had dropped out of the race after losing the runoff.

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Green, 78, was first elected to Congress in 2004, defeating then-Rep. Chris Bell, who is white, in a Democratic primary after a previous round of mid-decade redistricting by Republicans made the previously majority-white seat into a district with large Black and Latino populations.

Since then, Green operated in the House with little to no electoral competition  until Republicans significantly redrew his seat last summer to favor the GOP. Green and the majority of his constituents were drawn into a new version of the 18th Congressional District, a bastion of Black political power in the state. The district, which has been represented by titans of Houston politics, including Barbara Jordan and Sheila Jackson Lee, is majority Black and includes Third Ward, Sunnyside and Missouri City.
MILAN  Government authorities in the Gulf states have warned residents and tourists that publishing visual content of Iran-launched strikes online could result in legal consequences, including fines of tens of thousands of dollars and possible imprisonment.

Social media sites have been flooded in recent days with frantic footage from content creators, travelers and locals in the region showing, in part, incoming missiles and drones being destroyed over different cities.

On March 3, the Dubai Police issued a public advisory as an image reading Think before you share  spreading rumors is a crime," cautioning that sharing false information or content that could compromise public safety could result in penalties of at least 200,000 AED ($54,458) and two years of prison time.

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Last week, Bahrains Ministry of Interior announced that at least two individuals, aged 27 and 37, were arrested for misusing social media platforms over the recording of Iranian strikes.

The suspects filmed and broadcast live content and video clips, which they later shared through their social media accounts in a manner that constituted a legal violation and could harm security as well as provoke public opinion.  The necessary legal procedures are now underway, the ministry said in a statement.

In a similar move, Kuwaits Ministry of Interior urged residents to refrain from recording the neutralization of aerial threats as well as authorities in the line of duty, as this might incite anxiety among the population and spread misinformation. Non-compliance with this directive may entail legal measures, the ministry said in a statement published on X.

  :



                                  .



. pic.twitter.com/i0FH5cuQgW    (@mobashernewss) February 28, 2026

The Qatari Ministry of Interior has come out with a similar warning.

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These regulations are not uncommon, especially in active combat zones and nearby areas, to maintain operational security and avoid endangering defensive positions.

In the early days of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian security forces warned citizens not to film or distribute videos of enemy strikes that could be used by Moscow to improve its attacks.

To demonstrate how dangerous such footage could be, in 2022, the Ukrainian government shared the story of an individual who shared a video of a kamikaze drone attack, where clear damage to a critical infrastructure facility was visible.

My friends spread this on the Internet, then it was used by propaganda [Russian] media to conduct special information and psychological operations against Ukraine.  I realize that my video materials could have been used to adjust the accuracy of the strikes, the government statement quoting the individual said.

Iran has continued to carry out drone and ballistic missiles targeting American forces and infrastructure in Gulf countries, with one Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle striking the U.S. Consulate in Dubai on March 3.
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime unveiled a major reshufflng of his cabinet on Tuesday, retaining just five ministers in a new government largely consisting of untested figures endorsed by political parties and groups that recently signed a sweeping national accord.

In welcoming the group during a swearing-in ceremony, Fils-Aime made an impassioned appeal for civic engagement in Haiti and insisted on the need for his new cabinet to take resolute action.

The time for fine speeches is over. Today is the time for action, he said, as he urged his new ministers to adopt sound, rigorous, and transparent management of public resources.

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Among those who managed to keep their jobs: the ministers of health, interior, trade, womens affairs and justice and public security. But 11 new ministers and two secretaries of states are now part of the new government, including the new minister of foreign and religious affairs, Raina Forbin.

Forbin, who accompanied Fils-Aime to the Caribbean Communitys regional summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis last week, previously served as chief of staff for Transitional Presidential Council coordinator Laurent Saint-Cyr. Saint-Cyr represented the private sector on the beleaguered entity before its term expired on Feb. 7.

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, unveiled a major reshuffle of his cabinet. (Office of Haiti Prime Minister)

One recognizable figure in the new lineup is Mario Andresol, the countrys former police chief. A onetime captain in the Armed Forces of Haiti, Andresol will now take on the challenge of leading the ministry of defense and its 1,000 enlistees. The institution, which recently received a financial boost from the U.S. Congress for nonlethal assistance, had been strained by internal discord and allegations of corruption.

Andresols steps into the job as security forces continue to intensify their fight against armed gangs and the country prepares for the deployment of the first military contingents of the United Nations authorized Gang Suppression Force.

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The cabinet changes come on the heels of both a political pact, recently signed by parties with the prime minister, and the launching of the registration process for those seeking to run candidates in the next elections. That process was opened on Monday by the Provisional Electoral Council at its central office in Petion-Ville, and will continue until March 12.

As the lone leader in Haiti after receiving the support of the U.S., Canada, France and the United Nations, Fils-Aime has his work cut out for him. In a frank interview, Canadas ambassador to Haiti, Andre Francois Giroux, made clear the international community is expecting results.

With more powers come more responsibilities, Giroux said in an interview on Port-au-Prince Magik 9 when asked if the prime minister had a blank check. I know he is fully aware of that, but I can tell you from our side, the only thing what has guided and will continue to guide Canadas engagement and action is the well-being of the Haitian people, their security, and their constitutional right to choose their leaders.

Elections by years end

Last week, as he met with Caribbean leaders, Fils-Aime said he hopes to have the first round of elections by the end of the year. Asked whether he plans to run, he said no, citing the political pact, which he says bars him from being a candidate. Fils-Aime called the pact an important milestone.

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We have over 200 political parties, civil society, private sector, that did sign with the government an accord that we will fight for security together, and we will go to the election by the end of the year, he said of the National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections.

We have found agreement between Haitians, and we have decided that we are moving forward. Elections will be held as soon as we get all the security wins necessary, he said.

Fils-Aime was among a small group of leaders who met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the CARICOM conference. During the talks, he emphasized the need for Haiti to achieve baseline security.

This situation has been happening for over five years. We are doing our best to resolve the gang issue, he said.

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Among the key elements in the recently signed pact is the revival of the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantling and Reintegration of gang members. The prime minister says the program, which was shelved in May 2025 by the transitional council after a controversial appointment, will be structured in three phases.

One phase will be the police and the army and the [Gang Suppression Force] that that was voted by the UN last year, that will fight the gangs, he said. The second part will go through the justice system. People will have to be arrested, people will be judged, and people will go to jail. And the third part of the security will come [from] the reinsertion of the youth that was pulled into the gangs; the youth that was used by gangs whether they are boys, young boys or young girls, they need to be taken to centers.

The renewed push comes as the U.N. issues a stark report detailing the exploitation of children by armed groups in Haiti. The report describes children being used to run errands, monitor security forces and collect extortion payments, as well as to participate in kidnappings, targeted killings and sexual violence.

Factors such as poverty, weak institutions and social exclusion, coupled with surging armed violence, have created an environment where children are increasingly at risk of being trafficked by gangs.

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This risk is particularly acute for children from extremely poor and marginalized families, as well as those living on the streets or in displaced persons sites, Marta Hurtado, spokesperson for the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said after the report was released.

The report also found sounded the alarm on how children trafficked by gangs are often seen not as victims but as perpetrators by law enforcement. In some circumstances, some children accused of gang association have been summarily executed by police officers or killed by so-called self-defense groups, the report stressed, calling for a comprehensive, human rights-centered strategy to address the crisis.

High level U.N. visits in Haiti

William ONeill, the U.N.s independent human-rights expert who arrived in Haiti on Monday for meetings with the government and others, said the report leaves no doubt about the dangers children in Haiti face.

Not only do children face forced recruitment by gangs, but also tens of thousand dont have enough to eat, cant go to school or to a doctor and have little access to clean water. And they face a bleak future of unemployment and deepening poverty, he said.

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Haiti is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a child, he added.

U.N. Development Program Administrator Alexander De Croo also traveled to Haiti this week, where he reaffirmed his agencys commitment in meetings with the private sector and government officials, including the prime minister. During his meeting with Fils-Aime, De Croo highlighted what he described as renewed momentum in the partnership between his agency and Haiti. De Croo also discussed the support the agency plans to provide toward the organizing of elections.

With the youth making up more than 50% of Haitis population, De Croo also encouraged young community leaders to take up their role in building an inclusive Haiti and assured them the U.N. is steadfast in its support. All support by the U.N. Development Program must be Haitian-led, he said, before departing for Jamaica where he will meet with communities still trying to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Melissa.
If you own shares of AST SpaceMobile (ASTS), the next few days matter more than most.

The Midland, Texas-based satellite company is set to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results today, March 2.

More News from Barchart

And given the explosive growth trajectory management has outlined, this is one earnings event worth paying close attention to, whether you're already in or just watching from the sidelines.

Here's what the numbers look like and why analysts are watching this one closely.

What AST SpaceMobile Does

Valued at a market cap of $22.7 billion, AST SpaceMobile is building something that has never existed before: a global cellular broadband network operating directly from space.

Nearly six billion smartphones are in use worldwide today. Millions of them regularly lose signal, including those in rural areas, at sea, and in remote regions. AST's BlueBird satellites are designed to beam broadband connectivity directly to those unmodified devices with no special hardware required.

The company already has commercial agreements with more than 50 mobile network operators globally, including AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), and Saudi Telecom Group. Those partners collectively cover nearly three billion subscribers.

As President Scott Wisniewski put it during the company's Q3 2025 earnings call, "There's not an operator around the world who doesn't want to meet with us."

That's the foundation heading into today's report.

What Analysts Expect When AST SpaceMobile Reports

Wall Street is projecting big things for Q4 2025 and even bigger things for 2026 and beyond.
Half of Americans support the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, a new poll has found, as opposition to Donald Trumps aggressive federal immigration crackdown continues to grow.

The analysis by YouGov revealed that exactly 50% of respondents strongly or somewhat want to see the agency dismantled, a 5% rise from a January poll taken between the deaths in Minnesota of US citizen protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration officers.

Only 39% said they opposed abolishing ICE, a significant drop from January when those for and against were evenly split at 45%. The latest poll is the first time that the number of Americans calling for scrapping the agency, a frequent demand of leftwing Democrats, has reached 50%, YouGov said.

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It mirrors an NBC poll last month that showed 49% disapproval of Trumps handling of border security and immigration, traditionally a vote winner from his Republican base.

The revelation comes amid an ongoing partial government shutdown over funding of the homeland security department responsible for implementing the Trump administrations often violent detention and deportation policies.

It also follows a rocky appearance before Congress on Tuesday by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, who came under fire from representatives on both sides of the House. She was challenged on her handling of immigration matters, and the fatal shootings during anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minneapolis of Good, on 7 January by an ICE agent, and Pretti 17 days later by officers from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Noem refused to retract her statements calling the two unarmed protesters domestic terrorists, despite presenting no evidence to support the assertion.

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When we have these situations happen, we always offer our condolences to those families, and I offer mine as well, Noem in response to a demand by Dick Durbin, a Democratic Illinois senator and ranking member of the chambers judiciary committee, to withdraw the terrorism allegation.

Durbin pointed out that ICE and CBP officials testified to the House judiciary committee last month that they did not provide information to Noem that Pretti in particular was a domestic terrorist, and asked her again to retract the claim.

I was getting reports from the ground, from agents at the scene, and I would say that it was a chaotic scene, Noem said.

Is it so hard to say you were wrong? Durbin responded.

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Noems performance overall has been reported to be under scrutiny by Trump, who has on several occasions appeared to soften his administrations hardline stance on immigration in an effort to win back public support ahead of Novembers midterm elections.

Tom Homan, Trumps so-called border czar, announced last month that controversial immigration operations in Minnesota, enacted by a surge of thousands of federal officers, would conclude.

Homan was sent to Minneapolis to calm tensions following the removal of senior border patrol official Gregory Bovino, the public face of Operation Metro Surge who was often photographed directing agents while dressed in a German military-style overcoat.

Bovino is now the subject of a state investigation for misconduct by federal officers during the operation, and a separate homeland security department inquiry into disparaging remarks he allegedly made about Daniel Rosen, US attorney for the district of Minnesota, who is Jewish.

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Weeks after Homans announcement, however, close to 650 federal agents remain in the state, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported Wednesday.

A breakdown of Wednesdays YouGov poll shows that 77% of Democrats and 52% of independents support abolishing ICE.

Most Republican supporters, 68%, continue to oppose abolition, although the number in favor of it grew to 23%, a high point according to YouGov.








HARTFORD - A Hamden man who sought the Democratic nomination for a state House seat in 2024 was arrested at the state Capitol last week after he held up a flag and made contact with someone during a news conference, police say.

In a news release, State Capitol Police said Daniel Garrett walked up to the event shortly after noon on Feb. 27, stood next to a person in attendance and held up a large flag. The person later told officers Garrett "came into contact with them as he held up the flag, causing annoyance and alarm," police said in a press release.

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Garrett, 65, was charged with breach of peace, a misdemeanor, according to police. He was issued a summons and is scheduled to appear March 11 at state Superior Court in Hartford, according to police.

In a phone interview this week, Garrett, who is the ex-husband of former Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett, said he went to the Capitol after seeing a text message from a state representative urging supporters to "come to the lobby" and stand in solidarity. A spokesperson for the lawmaker denied that message was sent.

After entering the Capitol and passing through metal detectors, Garrett said he saw a crowd gathered in the lobby. The event was a ceremony for a new license plate honoring the "Borinqueneers," a U.S. Army regiment of mostly Puerto Rican soldiers who fought in World Wars I and II, and the Korean War.

Garrett said he "got behind a few people" watching the ceremony and held up a Palestinian flag "for about 45 seconds." He said officers then confronted him and confiscated his flag, telling him he could get it back when he left the building. Garrett said he wasn't arrested at that time.

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He said he attended another event at the Capitol without incident. But as he was leaving the building a couple of hours later, officers approached him again and arrested him, Garrett said.

State Capitol Police said the case is "still pending" and declined to provide an incident report.

Under state Capitol regulations, flags and other "display materials" such as signs and banners are allowed inside the building as long as they don't "present a hazard to the health and safety of the public."

But those items can't be larger than 18 inches by 18 inches; must be made of soft, pliable material; can't be attached to poles or sticks; and must be held within the shoulder-to-wait area, according to a "sign policy" that took effect in January. A State Capitol Police spokesperson said the policy applies to all display materials, not just signs.

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Garrett said his flag was 3 feet by 5 feet, and he was unaware of the new policy.

Asked why Garrett's flag wasn't confiscated during the security screening, a State Capitol Police spokesperson said cloth items such as flags aren't usually picked up by scanners or metal detectors, which are designed to identify weapons and other hazardous materials.

"The sign and display material limitations are intended to regulate what may be displayed inside the building, but they are not something our screening equipment is designed to detect during entry screening," the spokesperson said.

Last July, Garrett repeatedly interrupted a press conference held by state Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, to announce his run for governor. Waving a Palestinian flag and wearing a T-shirt reading "Free Palestine," Garrett implored the lawmaker to condemn Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip during its war with Hamas, which is under a ceasefire.

Elliott had defeated Garrett in the 88th House District Democratic primary in 2024.

This article originally published at Hamden man charged after incident involving flag at Connecticut Capitol.
BOSTON (WWLP)  A New Hampshire man has been sentenced to prison for trafficking methamphetamine following a high-speed chase on I-95.

According to prosecutors, on April 3, 2024, law enforcement officers conducting a large-scale money-laundering investigation observed 46-year-old Water Norton of Atkinson, N.H., arrive at the home of co-defendant Jason Hunter in Revere, Mass. After Norton left the residence, officers attempted to stop his vehicle on I-95.

Holyoke man faces charges for trespassing with drugs, knives

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Authorities said Norton drove at speeds exceeding 110 miles per hour and drove along the highways left shoulder. During the pursuit, he struck the median and another vehicle, breaking his cars axle. The vehicle came to rest facing the wrong direction in the center lane. Norton then ran from the scene carrying a bag containing more than 15,000 counterfeit Adderall pills made with methamphetamine, weighing about 4.4 kilograms. He was later apprehended.

Searches of Hunters home and vehicle led to the seizure of more than 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, additional pills containing oxycodone, more than a kilogram of cocaine, multiple kilograms of marijuana, and $100,000 in suspected drug proceeds.

In May 2025, a jury convicted Norton of one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

Norton was sentenced in January to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Wednesday that she would back Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) in the Senate race for Sen. John Cornyns (R-Texas) seat after her preferred pick, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), lost the Democratic primary.

I congratulate James Talarico for his win, and the inspiring campaign he continues to build. I appreciate that he is making the case for the kind of civic renewal our country needs, she said in a statement through her office. I offer him my full support in the months ahead.

She lauded Crocketts campaign, saying the Texas Democrat waged this campaign with the trademark fierceness that has defined her career so far, adding that she has a bright future.

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Talarico was declared the winner of the Texas Senate Democratic primary early Wednesday morning, according to Decision Desk HQ. Crockett said in a statement on Wednesday that she conceded the race and called Talarico to congratulate him on his victory.

Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track, Crockett wrote.

With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. Im committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot, she added.

Harris endorsed Crockett, who co-chaired her 2024 national presidential campaign, in the primary. Public polling had shown mixed results, with Talarico and Crockett outperforming the other in certain polls.

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Harriss endorsement was a big gamble; the former vice president has largely stayed away from elections after her 2024 loss. However, she did campaign for Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn in the Tennessee House special last year. Behn later lost to Rep. Matt Van Epps (R-Tenn.) in December.

Republicans in recent weeks had sought to elevate Crockett in the Democratic primary as they saw the congresswoman, whos generated criticism for some of her controversial swipes at GOP members, as the more vulnerable of the two Democrats.

Yet, the GOP was ultimately unsuccessful, with Talarico able to win his primary outright without a runoff  while Republicans now brace for a messy 12-week runoff between Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
OMAHA  Jim Vokal told the Omaha City Council Tuesday that he hadnt spoken before the body since he was an elected member back in 2009.

So for an issue to bring me out of retirement, it must be significant, said Vokal, now CEO of the Omaha-based Platte Institute, a public policy organization that advocates for Nebraska taxpayers.

Jim Vokal of the Omaha-based Platte Institute speaks to the Omaha City Council Tuesday. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

Vokal stepped up to oppose a $411 million agreement that Mayor John Ewing Jr.s administration wants with Missouri-based McCarthy Building Companies. The proposal represents the bulk of a roughly half-billion-dollar project to further expand and improve the Papillion Creek Water Resource Recovery Facility.

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Described by an Omaha Public Works official as massive and one of the citys biggest-ever infrastructure investments, the initiative is needed to meet the growing metro areas wastewater needs through 2050.

Vokal took issue with a provision in the McCarthy agreement that he and others said appeared to eliminate an earlier requirement for competitive bidding on portions of the job. He also noted that another well-known general contractor had offered an alternative, though unsolicited and unofficial, bid to carry out the work, subcontractors included, for about $78 million less.

How is not abiding by the contract to bid out work deemed reasonable and legal? asked Vokal. This is bad policy, not only because its costly to Omaha taxpayers, but its not transparent.

His testimony set the stage for a sometimes-tense discussion during which council members questioned a deputy city attorney and Public Works official about the proposed pact with McCarthy, which had a representative at the meeting.

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Council members Pete Festersen, Aimee Melton and Brinker Harding said they were disturbed that the proposal before them appeared to delete original language calling for parts of the job to be competitively bid by subcontractors.

Were retroactively trying to change the process, said Harding. Thats what I have the problem with.

Festersen said there was no doubt language was modified to allow McCarthy to self-perform more of the work. Opponents said that opened the door to more profit for McCarthy but also limited local subcontractor participation.

Jeran Murphy, an executive with McCarthy Building Companies, speaks to the Omaha City Council on Tuesday. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

Assistant Public Works Director Jim Theiler tried to assure the council that subcontractors will participate. He said the citys legal department and an independent third party reviewed and approved the proposal.

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Jeran Murphy, a McCarthy executive, told the council about a handful of similar complex wastewater treatment projects his company had completed in neighboring states. He talked about the firms record and history in Nebraska.

For the past 25 years, weve worked really hard to be a community builder and not just a contractor, he said.

Chris Hawkins, CEO of Omaha-based Hawkins Construction, spoke in opposition. He said his company had hoped to bid on concrete and other segments of the overall project but was not invited. Having done similar wastewater treatment construction work, Hawkins called that at best a head-scratcher.

Omaha City Council member Aimee Melton poses questions during a public hearing Tuesday. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

Hawkins raised other concerns about the McCarthy proposal and urged the council to reject it and start anew with a competitive bidding process.

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Melton, an attorney, queried a deputy city attorney about the language change. She didnt get clear answers, leading her to say: Im done.

At an earlier point, Melton told city officials she was not doubting anyones integrity. She said, Its too much for me to  defend.

The City Council did not take action on the proposal. A vote on whether to approve the McCarthy agreement is set for next Tuesday.

Theiler, asked about options if the agreement was not approved as is, said he would talk to his boss.

Earlier, Theiler said that not approving the proposal would likely result in significant delays, additional costs and a lack of transparency that is included in the contract with McCarthy.

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth lashed out at the news media for making tragic deaths in the Iran war front page news to make President Donald Trump look bad.

Since Trump announced that the United States was in the process of attacking Iran, at least six American servicemembers have been killed in the fighting. Iranian counterstrikes have continued throughout the region, including on U.S. assets.

Hegseth held a joint press conference for the Pentagon press corps on Wednesday morning, which he opened with a hyperbolic ode to the death and destruction being wrought by U.S. air power.

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But in one section of his remarks, Hegseth accused the fake news of trying to make the president look bad by prominently reporting on American deaths that he described as when a few drones get through, or something tragic happens.

The latter may also have been a reference to the strike that allegedly killed over 150 children and is under investigation:

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: This is not a mission-accomplished situation. This is simply a reality check. The combination of U.S. And Israeli intelligence and combat power will control Iran and will control it soon. Sure, Iran will still be able to shoot some missiles and still be to launch one-way attack drones at civilian targets, and their proxies will attempt to attack our embassies, bases and soft targets. They are terrorists, after all. And they need to target civilians because they cant fight toe-to-toe. But we will find them, and we will kill them. This is what the fake news misses. Weve taken control of Irans airspace and waterways without boots on the ground. We control their fate. But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, its front-page news. I get it, the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality. The terms of this war will be set by us at every step. As I said Monday, the mission is laser-focused. Obliterate Irans missiles and drones and facilities that produce them, annihilate its Navy and critical security infrastructure, and sever their pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran will never possess a nuclear bomb, not on our watch. And this is why President Trumps moral clarity on Iran today is so vital.

Watch above via CNN.

The post Hegseth Lashes Out at Media Because Americans Killed Are Front Page News  to Make Trump Look Bad first appeared on Mediaite.
The U.S. war effort against Iran was "accelerating" as American and Israeli forces fought for control of Iranian airspace and pressed farther inland to seek and destroy Iranian missile capabilities, top U.S. officials said Wednesday.

"Four days in, we have only just begun to fight," said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"The throttle is coming up," said Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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A reported Iranian missile strike at NATO member Turkey  intercepted by the alliance's defense systems  was not expected to immediately broaden the war theater by triggering a clause requiring other member nations to get involved, Hegseth said.

The White House, however, said President Trump expects full cooperation from European allies in the war effort and had successfully pressured Spain into such compliance using financial threats, which Spain denied.

At a Wednesday event about tech companies paying to ramp up utility capacity for AI data centers, Trump said that these are "exciting times" and that the U.S. was "doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly"  giving it a score of "15" out of 10 on its war efforts.

"It's an amazing thing that's taking place," he said.

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Trump asserted without providing proof that Iran would have had a nuclear weapon within two weeks had the U.S. not bombed the country under his direction in June, and the current war would ensure the Islamic Republic never rebounds to reach such capabilities.

Democrats have questioned Trump's authority to wage war on Iran without explicit congressional approval. However, the Senate on Wednesday afternoon narrowly voted down a resolution that would have required U.S. forces to withdraw from the conflict until such approval is given.

Iranian warship sunk

Hegseth, striking an unapologetic tone, said Iran's surviving leaders "don't know what plays to call" after exhausting initial retaliatory strategies devised before the U.S. assault, while the U.S. is firing on all fronts and racking up wins  including an American submarine recently sinking an Iranian warship with a torpedo in international waters, which Hegseth called the first such sinking since World War II.

Read more: Israel believes Iran war could last months, testing U.S. resolve

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"We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating," he said. "We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to."

Devastation from the U.S. and Israeli campaigns continued to spread Wednesday across Iran, where columns of heavy smoke could be seen rising in the western and eastern parts of Tehran, according to the Associated Press. At least 1,097 civilians had been killed  including 181 children  and 5,402 more injured as of Tuesday, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, with Iranian state media reporting similar figures.

Among the deadliest events was an airstrike that hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary girls' school in Minab on the first day of the war. During a United Nations Security Council meeting Monday, Iran's ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, condemned that attack and others that he said had occurred at schools, hospitals and in residential areas.

"Hundreds of innocent civilians have lost their lives. Many more were wounded, he said, accusing the U.S. and Israel of "crimes against humanity."

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Hegseth said U.S. forces "never target civilian targets," but acknowledged the United States is investigating the strike on the school.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that American military operations had "absolutely crushed" the Iranian government, with its leaders "paying in blood" for terrorist violence they'd backed in the past, including against the United States.

Calling the operation so far a "resounding success," she said the U.S. had destroyed 20 Iranian ships, killed 49 Iranian leaders, struck about 2,000 targets overall and destroyed "hundreds and hundreds" of ballistic missiles and systems.

She said the operation followed years of other U.S. presidents being "too weak" to act against Iran, and came after Iranian leaders "refused to say yes to peace" during negotiations to end its nuclear aspirations before the U.S. attacks, and after Trump developed a "good feeling" that Iran was going to attack the U.S. and its personnel in the region.

Help for stranded Americans

Leavitt said the U.S. government is working to assist American citizens trying to flee the region and has already helped thousands get out. Asked whether the U.S. was responsible for the school strike, Leavitt said "not that we know of," before adding that the incident was under investigation.

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She said Trump is discussing with advisors any future role for the U.S. in Iran after its immediate goals are met. U.S. intelligence agencies are "closely monitoring" reports that the son of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is being eyed as a potential successor, Leavitt said, but "the truth is, we will have to wait and see."

Trump, at his event, also said it was hard to say who will run Iran next, as "everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead." He declined to take questions from the news media.

Caine, striking a measured tone at the Pentagon briefing, spoke of the "sacrifice" of the six U.S. service members who have been killed in the conflict to date and the "clear military objectives" of the operation, which include dismantling "Iran's ability to project power outside of its borders, both today and into the future."

And he said the U.S. has made "steady progress" toward those goals in recent hours. He said Iran's "ballistic missile shots" were down 86% from the first day of fighting, and down 23% "just in the last 24 hours." He said their "one-way attack drone shots" are down 73% from the "opening days" of the war.

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That has allowed the U.S. to establish "localized air superiority across the southern flank of the Iranian coast and penetrate their defenses with overwhelming precision and firepower," Caine said. "We will now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory and creating additional freedom of maneuver for U.S. forces."

An Iranian ballistic missile reportedly fell in Dimhiyye al-Kabira village near the Turkish border, in Syria's northeast, on March 4, 2026. No casualties were reported in the area where the missile landed. (Sevket Akca / Anadolu / Getty Images)

Hegseth and Caine spoke against a backdrop of escalating destruction across the Persian Gulf region, as Iran  which the Defense secretary acknowledged is a "formidable" enemy  continued to unleash a wave of retaliatory strikes and Israel pushed into Lebanon and against Iran-allied Hezbollah fighters there.

Their message of U.S. control in the region belied chaos in many parts of it  as sirens blared in Bahrain, U.S. and other foreign citizens scrambled to flee the area, global air traffic was in disarray and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for the flow of global energy, was down by about 90%, according to the Associated Press.

NATO shoots down a missile aimed at Turkey

Turkey's Defense Ministry said NATO air defenses had shot down a ballistic missile fired toward Turkish airspace from Iran, which raised additional questions about a rapidly expanding footprint of the war given that Turkey is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member and protected by a treaty clause  Article 5  stating that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

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Hegseth said that the U.S. was aware of the strike, but that he did not believe it would trigger Article 5 or force all of NATO into the conflict  which has already drawn in nations throughout the Persian Gulf region as Iran has targeted U.S. allies and military facilities.

Caine outlined a slate of military actions taken by those allies to defend themselves against Iran, saying Jordan "intercepted a cluster of Iranian one-way attack drones" headed for Oman; Bahrain shot down a drone approaching "critical shipping lanes" near Manama; Saudi Arabia stopped a "salvo of ballistic missiles aimed at energy facilities" near Dhahran; the United Arab Emirates "neutralized" drones targeting Abu Dhabi industrial areas, and Qatar shot down two Iranian bombers en route there.

"Together, these nations are helping to defend themselves and project power as required against the enemy," Caine said.

Asked about tensions with Spain after it declined to allow the U.S. to use air bases there, Leavitt said that Trump expects all of the United States' European allies "to cooperate in this long sought-after mission," and that it was her understanding that Spain had changed its tune Wednesday and agreed to cooperate after being threatened financially by Trump. Spains foreign minister denied the government had changed its position.

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Leavitt, Hegseth and Caine largely dismissed concerns about U.S. and allied munitions running low.

"We have sufficient precision munitions for the task at hand, both on the offense and defense," Caine said, noting specific figures are an "operational security matter" he would not share.

Hegseth jettisoned any pretense of constraint or measured force by the U.S., instead casting its operations as an all-out assault on "radical Islamist Iranian adversaries" that he suggested both Democrats and the U.S. media were badly misrepresenting to make Trump look bad  a claim Leavitt echoed.

He suggested U.S. news media were overly focused on losses, such as the deaths of American military personnel, and not nearly focused enough on the United States' progress toward destroying Iran's military capabilities in a matter of days.

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Read more: Sam Altman admits OpenAI's Pentagon deal was rushed and 'sloppy'

"They are toast, and they know it  or at least soon enough they will know it," he said of Iran. "And we've only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy and defeat their capabilities, just four days in."

Aiming for 'complete control of Iranian skies'

Hegseth said that the U.S. and Israel in "under a week" will "have complete control of Iranian skies  uncontested airspace," which he said will mean that "we will fly all day, all night, day and night, finding, fixing and finishing the missiles and defense industrial base of the Iranian military, finding and fixing their leaders and their military leaders."

"Death and destruction from the sky, all day long," he said. "We're playing for keeps."

It was unclear what exactly Hegseth meant by that, given the Trump administration's constant messaging that the war on Iran will not be another "endless" engagement for the U.S. in the Middle East. He refused to commit to any specific timeline, saying the "only limits we have in this is President Trump's desire to achieve specific effects on behalf of the American people."

"You can say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three," he said.

The U.S. is using rules of engagement that are "bold, precise and designed to unleash American power, not shackle it," Hegseth said. "This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight. We are punching them while they're down, which is exactly how it should be."

Disruptions to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and their potential effect on global and U.S. gas prices, were clearly on Trump's mind. On Tuesday, he posted on his social media website that the U.S. would be providing wartime insurance for "ALL Maritime Trade" through gulf shipping lanes  as other insurers began canceling coverage  and that the U.S. Navy would begin escorting tankers if necessary.

"No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD," he wrote.

The message drew immediate concern from some of Trump's political opponents, who questioned the cost to the U.S. of securing energy shipments for the entire world, including rivals such as China, one of the largest purchasers of crude oil from the region.

"Very few, if any, of these tankers are coming to the United States," Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) wrote on X. "This certainly looks like the United States will be subsidizing and protecting oil shipments to China."

Leavitt said the war will ultimately bring energy costs down because Iran will no longer control the Strait of Hormuz.

Times staff writer Gavin J. Quinton in Washington contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Seattle police have released surveillance footage of two people they say broke into a Queen Anne home last month and stole around $130,000 worth of luxury clothing and accessories.

The burglary happened at a home on West McGraw Street in Queen Anne on Feb. 19.

According to police, the victim returned home around 3:30 p.m. and found a package at her front door and the door wide open.

Responding officers saw damage to the front door and lock, and inside the home, saw drawers open and things scattered around.

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It appears that the suspect or suspects entered the home and stole high-end purses, jewelry, and other property, according to SPD.

Detectives are investigating whether this was a targeted burglary.

One of the suspects is described as having a thin build and was wearing a gray hoodie, gray sweatpants, and black and white sneakers. The other suspect has a stocky build, and was wearing a black hoodie, gray pants, and black and white sneakers.

Police are also working to identify two vehicles believed to be involved.

One is a white Subaru Outback with no license plates. The other is a white Dodge Challenger with no license plates; black vinyl wraps on the trunk and hood with blacked-out wheels.

If you have any information on their identity, call 911 or email spd5977@seattle.gov with tips and reference incident #2026-48493.
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naeem Qassem, in his first address since the latest escalation between Israel and the Shiite militia, vowed late Wednesday not to surrender and stressed that the resistance is their only choice.

"We will not hesitate to defend our rights and we will not surrender to our enemy," Qassem said in his first statement after the war started between his movement and Israel.

"We will confront the aggression, which for us is an existential defense that will continue until our goals are achieved," the Hezbollah chief said.

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Qassem stressed that Hezbollah would be "victorious" and that the movement does not not fear this confrontation.

He accused Israel of "a war of extermination" against his movemnet.

"What Israel did was not a response to a rocket barrage, but rather a premeditated act of aggression," he said in recorced message on television.

He pledged that as long as the Israeli occupation exists in Lebanese territories the "resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right, legally, internationally, and in accordance with the constitution and the government's statement."

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Qassem called on the the movement's opponents inside Lebanon not to stab the resistance in its back.

"Let us unite to prioritize confronting this enemy, and then we can discuss and agree on our other issues," the Hezbollah chief said his political opponents in the country.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on Monday night in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Since then, the Israeli military has resumed large-scale attacks in Lebanon. Hezbollah also continues to fire rockets at Israeli targets.

The violence according to the Lebanese Health Ministry said the toll from the Israeli attacks, from dawn on Monday, until Wednesday has risen to 72 dead and 437 injured.
What to watch at China's "two sessions" as new five-year plan begins

Xinhua) 15:54, March 03, 2026

* The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, one day before the opening of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress.

* Lawmakers will deliberate on the central government's annual work report, and review the draft government budget and development plan for 2026. This year, they will also examine a draft outline of the new five-year plan, which will anchor policy priorities until 2030.

* As China enters a fresh planning cycle, the "two sessions" offer a window into how the country aims to advance its high-quality development and sustain the momentum of its reform in an ever-changing global landscape.

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 15, 2025 shows vessels loading and unloading containers at a container dock of Tangshan Port in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- This year's "two sessions" -- the annual meetings of China's top legislature and top political advisory body -- are set to open at a pivotal moment. As the world's second-largest economy embarks on the inaugural year of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, these gatherings in Beijing will serve both as a review of past achievements, and as a strategic compass guiding the nation's future development.

The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, one day before the opening of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC).

Lawmakers will deliberate on the central government's annual work report, and review the draft government budget and development plan for 2026. This year, they will also examine a draft outline of the new five-year plan, which will anchor policy priorities until 2030.

This year's legislative agenda is particularly robust, signaling a focus on long-term institutional development. NPC deputies are set to deliberate on three important pieces of legislation covering areas including the environment, ethnic unity, and national development planning. China's top legislator, top political advisor, chief justice and top procurator will also present work reports.

Beyond the plenary meetings, ministers and heads of various government departments as well as national legislators and political advisors will hold press conferences, where they will elaborate on policies related to the economy, social development, and foreign affairs to domestic and foreign media.

As China enters a fresh planning cycle, the "two sessions" offer a window into how the country aims to advance its high-quality development and sustain the momentum of its reform in an ever-changing global landscape.

Outlined here is a selection of highlights at this year's "two sessions."

A drone photo shows the automated production at the Seres Super Factory in Liangjiang New Area, southwest China's Chongqing, Sept. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

NEW PLANNING CYCLE

In China's governance system, five-year plans function as strategic frameworks for economic and social development. As lawmakers review the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, they are effectively setting priorities that will guide fiscal policy, industrial transformation and social progress through 2030.

This new cycle is beginning on solid ground. The 14th Five-Year Plan period came to a close with China's economy surpassing 140 trillion yuan (about 20 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025.

International media outlets have noted that key targets, including economic growth, labor productivity, research and development spending, urbanization and average life expectancy, broadly met or exceeded expectations during the period.

However, the development environment China now faces is increasingly complex. External headwinds, including trade tensions, geopolitical frictions and insufficient global growth momentum, pose a great challenge for China's development. Domestically, China must deftly navigate long-standing structural issues while responding to ever-emerging technological and industrial challenges.

Against this backdrop, the new five-year plan will offer a strategic roadmap -- not merely a list of tasks, but a framework guiding how the country will navigate its development priorities, ranging from strengthening its supply-chain capacity to advancing its low-carbon transformation.

A drone photo shows new energy vehicles at the Seres Super Factory in Liangjiang New Area, southwest China's Chongqing, Sept. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

GROWTH TARGET

China's 2026 GDP growth target will be one of the most closely watched numbers at the "two sessions."

Early indicators from provincial-level regions suggest a broad consensus: Expansion remains essential, but it must be anchored firmly in quality and structural upgrading.

In 2025, China achieved its growth target of 5 percent as the country spared no effort to boost domestic demand and innovation, propelling its economy toward structural rebalancing and continuing to serve as one of the most stable and reliable engines for world economic growth.

This year's target, therefore, will align with the country's high-quality development imperative, which centers on fostering new quality productive forces, boosting consumption, upgrading the manufacturing sector, and advancing the green and low-carbon development.

For international investors and trading partners, this focus signals both policy continuity and substantial opportunities.

Customers select vegetables at a supermarket in Pingyi County of Linyi City, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Jiquan)

NEW LEGISLATIONS

Chinese lawmakers are set to deliberate on a draft environmental code, a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and a draft law on national development planning.

The proposed environmental code seeks to embed the principle of green development more firmly within the rule-of-law framework by systematically integrating and revising existing environmental legislations. It comes at a crucial time -- China has pledged to peak its carbon emissions by 2030.

NPC deputy Zheng Haijin, who is from east China's Jiangxi Province and an expert on the environment, said the "encouraging" environmental code provides clearer guidance for ecological restoration and related sectors.

The law on promoting ethnic unity and progress is intended to strengthen social cohesion and forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, while the law on national development planning will serve as a basic law to regulate the formulation of national development plans and ensure their implementation.

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 14, 2025 shows whooper swans at the Xiaosugan lake nature reserve in Kazak Autonomous County of Aksay, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE

Five-year plans have long been central to how China steers its development, charting its strategic course and laying out blueprint for its future-oriented industries.

In January, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee devoted its first group study session of the year to forward-looking industrial development, underscoring its priority for the new planning cycle.

Quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion power, brain-computer interfaces, embodied AI and 6G mobile communications, have been highlighted as new growth drivers in the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, which were adopted at a key meeting of the CPC Central Committee.

This emphasis on quantum technology in the new plan reflects a shift from laboratory validation to industrial application, said NPC deputy Guo Guoping, a quantum science professor at the University of Science and Technology of China.

The Chinese leadership has urged core technology breakthroughs, as well as a more strategic approach to basic research and the accelerated commercialization of innovation. Greater emphasis is being placed on the role of enterprises -- leading tech firms, in particular -- supported by enhanced fiscal measures, sci-tech finance and talent policies.

These strategic moves are expected to be high on the agenda of this year's "two sessions," as lawmakers and political advisors map out pathways to secure long-term development momentum.

A robot is displayed at the exhibition area of the 2025 Global Industrial Internet Conference in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

MESSAGES TO THE WORLD

China's "two sessions" have long served as a window into the country's external stance. When Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the press during last year's "two sessions," he answered 23 questions from Chinese and international journalists covering a wide range of topics from major-country ties to global governance.

Certain themes stood out, with mentions of "cooperation," "openness" and "multilateralism" recurring throughout. The prominence of references to "the Global South" and "a community with a shared future" highlighted partnership and multilateral coordination.

During this year's "two sessions," regional hotspot issues, such as the latest escalating military conflict in the Middle East and the strained diplomatic ties between China and Japan, are set to be in the spotlight.

The year itself carries weight, as 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic ties between China and African countries. China will also hold the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

For investors and governments alike, China's positions on international relations will be watched particularly closely during this year's "two sessions" amid a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex global landscape.

Chinese agronomist Hu Yuefang explains the growth of rice to local farmers at the China Hybrid Rice High-Yield Demonstration Base near Antananarivo, Madagascar, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Christian Bale thinks the new American Psycho is a "bold choice".

Christian Bale has weighed in on the new American Psycho

The 52-year-old actor - who played Patrick Bateman in the original 2000 adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 novel - has weighed in on the upcoming film, which will be a different take on the story of investment banker living a double life as a serial killer.

Asked if there were any young actors who he could see stepping into the lead role, Bale told The Hollywood Reporter: "Whoever wants to give it a shot, give it a pop.

"I loved making it with [director] Mary Harron so many years back, fantastic memories of it all.

"Bold choice of anyone to try to do a  I dont know if theyre doing a remake or what, I dont know anything else about it. But all the best to em, I like brave people.

Director Luca Guadagnino and writer Scott Z. Burns are working on the movie, while fans are still waiting on casting news for the new Bateman after Easton Ellis admitted several big name actors have turned down the role.

He said on his podcast: "A couple of high profile actors, whom I cant name, have turned it down. I think maybe because they dont want to be in the shoes of Christian Bale.

The author noted that Burns has since written a new draft of the script after several actors passed on the previous version and insisted the new film will "bear no resemblance" to the 2000 movie.

He added: From what Im told, this movie is completely different from Mary Harrons 2000 movie. Its a completely different take, and going to bear no resemblance to that movie."

However, one way the film won't be different is with a gender-swapped lead role.

Rumours had suggested Margot Robbie was linked to the leading role, but Deadline recently emphasised that was a non-starter.

American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman, a wealthy Manhattan investment banker who hides his psychopathic violence and murderous impulses behind a facade of charm and material success.

As his obsession with status and control deepens, his grip on reality unravels, exposing the emptiness and brutality of 1980s consumer culture.
Retail investors are watching warehouse and club-store names closely as shoppers hunt for value amid higher prices and growing geopolitical volatility. While United States retail sales cooled into late 2025, bargain-seeking consumers have kept membership-based formats resilient. One company investors should circle on their calendars is Costco Wholesale (COST). Its fiscal Q2 results, due March 5, 2026, will test whether Costcos steady traffic, membership growth, and new AI-driven efficiencies can sustain margins and justify a premium valuation.

With comps and household memberships showing early strength and analysts broadly positive, this earnings report may confirm why investors have bid COST higher in early 2026 or expose limits to further upside for cautious investors right now.

More News from Barchart

Costco Deploys AI Tools in Pharmacy and Fuel Operations

Costco has quietly been ramping up technology in its warehouses. It rolled out a Costco Digital Wallet, door scanners, and pre-scan baskets that have significantly sped up checkouts. New AI-driven tools are being deployed behind the scenes; for example, the pharmacy inventory system now auto-reorders drugs and compares prices, boosting fill rates and margins. Management has even begun gradually introducing AI in fuel station operations.

On the digital retail front, Costco upgraded its website with improved product pages, search, and AI-powered personalization recommending products based on members past searches. It also added a Buy Now, Pay Later option for big items. All this tech is aimed at improving efficiency and member loyalty, something Costco has highlighted to analysts. Indeed, improved checkout speeds and digital services help offset Costcos extended warehouse hours, preserving its lean cost structure.

COST stock is surging in early 2026. After a soft end to 2025, shares are up roughly 17% year-to-date (YTD). That rally reflects strong early-year sales and a broader retail bounce. Analysts credit Costcos growth to new stores, digital expansion, and a defensive business model for the gains. In short, investors are willing to pay up for its consistent performance even though higher interest rates and an expensive valuation argue for caution.
The departure of a UK naval ship will not happen until next week as the prime minister was forced to defend his position on Iran

The HMS Dragon - the warship being readied to protect the British base in Cyprus - is not set to sail until next week, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.

The Royal Navy destroyer is being loaded with ammunition in Portsmouth, before it departs for the Mediterranean.

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The announcement that the UK would send the warship came on Tuesday after the RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone in the early hours of Monday.

Officials said there was nothing that would have happened to ready a warship any earlier, amid questions over Britain's preparedness to protect its bases overseas.

They would not specify where the drone which struck Akrotiri had come from, but said assessments showed it was a Shahed type and had not been launched from Iran.

Asked by journalists why there was no Type 45 destroyer sent to the region months ago during a US military build-up, they said increasingly fragile geopolitics with many different security threats made the situation complex.

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HMS Dragon was chosen because it was the readiest for the mission, officials said.

Meanwhile, Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are being deployed within days, before the warship, to bolster defence in the region, they said.

The Type 45 air defence destroyer is intended to strengthen protection against drones and missiles launched by Iran and its proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The HMS Dragon. Credit: PA

The destroyers voyage from Portsmouth to Cyprus is expected to take several days.

The latest development comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was forced to defend his position, and President Trump's response to it, during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

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He argued that "hanging onto Trump's latest words is not the special relationship in action" after Trump's latest attack on the prime minister over his response to the war in Iran.

Starmer was asked if his "dithering and equivocal response" to events in the Middle East had improved the relationship with the US.

"American planes are operating out of British bases. That is the special relationship in action... Hanging on to President Trump's latest words is not the special relationship in action," the PM told the Commons.

US sinks Iranian warship amid continued strikes on Iran

What is HMS Dragon and what are its capabilities?

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He said the crisis in the Middle East required a cool head as he defended his response to the situation and that his priority was the safety of the British people.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday during a visit from the German Chancellor, President Trump said he is not happy with the UK and with Starmer, and that this is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with.

Trump's comments referred to Starmer's decision not to be involved in the initial US strikes on Iran, despite later deciding to allow the use of British bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites to protect countries being targeted by Tehran.

During PMQs, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked why the RAF had not taken offensive action to destroy Iranian missile sites after British bases in Bahrain and Cyprus had been attacked.

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Starmer replied: The protection of UK nationals is our number one priority. Were taking action to reduce the threat with planes in the sky in the region intercepting incoming strikes, deploying more capability to Cyprus, and allowing US planes to use UK bases to take out Irans capability to strike.

This government will be resolute in our focus, protecting British lives, bringing our people home, and safeguarding our national interest," the prime minister said.

Starmer has sought to limit UK involvement in the war, but decided on Sunday that the joint British-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire could be used defensively by the US.

HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navys six Type 45 air defence destroyers, is being readied to depart for the Mediterranean to defend Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone.

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In response to the destroyer's delayed deployment, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: We are reinforcing our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are deploying within days.

They will reinforce our RAF Typhoons, F-35B jets, ground-based counter-drone teams, radar systems, and Voyager refuelling aircraft already deployed. Our jets are now flying continuous sorties to defend against indiscriminate Iranian strikes threatening UK people, interests, and bases.

The Royal Navy are working as fast as possible to prepare HMS Dragon for deployment, including resupplying her air defence missiles at our ammunition facility in HMNB in Portsmouth.

From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
Applications for the Hope Scholarship, the states education voucher program, have opened up to all West Virginia children in grades K-12 for the first time.

The potential massive expansion of the program is impacting lawmakers budget making right now, as they are trying to allocate enough money for an undetermined number of students who may now choose to use the Hope Scholarship.

The Senate has proposed $300 million for the Hope Scholarship; the House of Delegates said theyd like to allocate around $211 million.

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The state Treasurers Office, which oversees the program, estimated theyd need around $230 million for the program for the 2026-2027 school year.

Beginning Tuesday, students can apply for the program for the next school year.

What a great day to welcome thousands of new families to the Hope Scholarship Program, State Treasurer Larry Pack said. His office held a press conference Tuesday to announce the programs expansion.

Our goal has always been to continue to lead the nation in education freedom and innovation. Today is another step to providing more options to parents that best suits their childs unique needs, Pack said.

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There are more than 14,000 students using the Hope Scholarship, which gives students roughly $5,200 to use for private school tuition, homeschooling and more. It can also be used at qualifying out-of-state schools and on allowable extracurricular activities, like dance classes and jiu jitsu.

Since its launch in 2021, the program has been restricted to incoming kindergarten students or public school students enrolled for at least 45 days during the current school year.

The projected scholarship amount for the 2026-2027 school year is $5,435.62 per student.

The $230 million predicted total cost for the Hope Scholarship is an increase from its current $100 million price tag.

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Earlier this year, members of the House Finance Committee toyed with the idea of putting restrictions on how the money could be spent in an effort to shave millions of dollars off Hope Scholarships estimated cost. They considered banning the use of Hope funds at out-of-state schools or for tutoring services, fees for examinations related to college admissions, fees for after school and summer programs.

A bill that ultimately was advanced by committee members would change payments to Hope participants from bi-annual to quarterly, but didnt include any program restrictions. The proposal wont reduce the price tag of the program.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey has said he doesnt support changes to the Hope Scholarship.

In a news release Tuesday, the governor said universal access to the program ensures fairness, promotes transparency and allows education funding to follow the student rather than being tied to a system.

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I will continue to defend this program and ensure that every family in our state has the freedom to choose the best educational option for their children, Morrisey said.

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The U.S. House Oversight Committee voted March 4 to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Department of Justice's handling of its release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Some members of Congress have expressed frustration and outrage that the department only released a little more than 3 million pages of the 6 million it possesses related to investigations of the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died by suicide while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Congress voted in December to force the Justice Department to release all of the Epstein files with limited redactions to protect victims and their identities.

Multiple media outlets have reported that the Justice Department improperly withheld FBI files that contained allegations against President Donald Trump in its release. On Dec. 21, DOJ officials acknowledged the department had pulled at least 15 photographs from the government website hosting the massive trove of documents.

Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies at a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, DC, on Feb. 11, 2026.

The Oversight Committee is conducting its own probe of the Epstein investigations. The 24 to 19 vote to summon Bondi was led by South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican. Four other Republicans, Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Michael Cloud of Texas and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania joined with Democrats on the committee.

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Before the committee voted, Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, said Bondi's chief of staff had offered to brief small groups of members.

House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email that show Epstein with high-profile figures including Steve Bannon. Some images have had portions redacted by the Committee. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email that show Epstein with Woody Allen. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email, including this one showing Richard Branson, on the right. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email that show Woody Allen with Epstein. This image was redacted by the Committee. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show President Donald Trump with Epstein. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, show Bill Gates with an unidentified person. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Steve Bannon with Epstein. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Epstein with Alan Dershowitz. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Steve Bannon with Epstein. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show former President Bill Clinton and Ghislaine Maxwell with Epstein on Dec. 12, 2025.

High-profile figures in Epstein's emails: See newly released images 1 of 10 House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email that show Epstein with high-profile figures including Steve Bannon. Some images have had portions redacted by the Committee.

The deposition will focus on the Department of Justices handling of its investigation of Epstein, and its compliance with a law requiring all documents related to the sex offender to be made public.

AG Bondi claims the DOJ has released all of the Epstein files. The record is clear: they have not, Mace said in a social media post. The Epstein case is one of the greatest cover-ups in American history. His global sex trafficking network is larger than what is being revealed. Three million documents have been released, and we still don't have the full truth. Videos are missing. Audio is missing. Logs are missing. There are millions more documents out there."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AG Pam Bondi subpoenaed on Epstein files by US House committee
A House committee voted Wednesday to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Five Republicans joined with all Democrats in support of a motion to call the nations top law enforcement official up to Capitol Hill for questioning, and the motion itself was offered by GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina.

It underscores the increasing frustration with Bondi among members of her own party, catalyzed in part by the Epstein saga.

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The Justice Department did not immediately return a request for comment.

Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Michael Cloud of Texas were the other Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to break rank Wednesday afternoon.

Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) attempted to stave off the subpoena effort, saying Bondi's chief of staff had told him the attorney general would be available to give member-level briefings around her department's approach to the Epstein case.

But critics in both parties have accused Bondi of slow-walking the release of the Epstein files. It was her announcement that the DOJ would not make further information available in the Epstein matter that sparked outrage last summer, culminating in a vote by an Oversight subcommittee to force her hand.

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In November, Congress passed legislation further demanding all materials in DOJs possession relating to the convicted sex offender be released. After a delay in publication of documents by the statutory deadline, the department announced earlier this year that it would be withholding millions of additional pages.

"We're gonna be talking about real, substantive issues, like the 65,000 documents that are being hidden by the DOJ right now," Mace told reporters Wednesday after the vote.
While many GOP lawmakers have expressed public support for President Donald Trumps strikes on Iran, some have privately raised concerns about the military operation  with one drawing parallels to the U.S. invasion of Vietnam, according to a new report.

Several House Republicans told Politico, on the condition of anonymity, that the president cannot necessarily count on their backing over the long-term.

Most Republicans want clear objectives, clearer than they are now, one said, noting that members have urged the White House to plainly articulate their goals to the American people.

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Since the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign began this past weekend, the administration has offered several seemingly conflicting explanations.

Vice President JD Vance has said they were intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the U.S. acted after learning of Israels plan to launch an attack. Trump has made plain his desire for regime change, calling on the Iranian people to take back their country.

First responders carry the body of a victim past bombed out buildings after strikes rocked Tehran. Some House Republicans have privately expressed concerns about Trump's Iran strikes, with one comparing it to 'LBJ going into Vietnam,' according to a new report (ISNA/AFP via Getty Images)

The strikes have left hundreds of Iranians dead, including dozens of children at an elementary school near the Strait of Hormuz, according to state media. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the countrys 86-year-old supreme leader, was also killed, alongside several members of his family.

In retaliation, Iran has bombed U.S. assets and allies in the region, including in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Six U.S. service members have been killed.

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Trump has said the Iran attacks could last for weeks  if not longer. This lack of a clear timeline triggered a sense of deja vu within one GOP lawmaker who spoke to Politico.

Sounds a little bit like President Lyndon Johnson going into Vietnam, doesnt it? the lawmaker said.

Johnson, a Democrat, inherited the Vietnam war upon President John Kennedy's assassination in 1963. He presided over a dramatic escalation, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of U.S. service members and countless more Vietnamese.

A handful of GOP members of Congress have also spoken out publicly to criticize the president involving the U.S. in another Middle East conflict.

Several House Republicans told Politico that the president cannot necessarily count on their backing over the long-term (AP)

Photos showed pillars of smoke and mounds of rubble in Tehran following the US-Israeli strikes, which caused hundreds of deaths throughout Iran, according to state media (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)

The constitutional sequence is, you engage the public before you go to war unless an attack is imminent. And imminent means like, imminent  not like something thats been over a 47-year period of time, Republican Rep. Warren Davidson, of Ohio, said this week.

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Rep. Eli Crane, an Arizona Republican, described the current situation as very dicey in an interview Monday. Military operations like this can go sideways so fast, you know, it will make your head spin.

Many Democrats have also criticized the attacks as illegal and unwise, while key MAGA influencers portrayed them as a blatant departure from the presidents "America First" priorities. A recent Reuters survey indicates that just one in four Americans support the presidents military campaign in Iran.

Trump officials and GOP leaders have sought to quell fears by dismissing concerns that has the potential to become an open-ended conflict.

The operation will be wound up quickly, by Gods grace and will, House Speaker Mike Johnson told colleagues during a briefing Monday.

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Some Republicans on Capitol Hill also seem to be allowing some time for the operation to play out.

I think so far, the Pentagon seems to have a good plan, Rep. Jeff Crank, a Colorado Republican, said. He added he would allow Trump six weeks or  eight weeks or whatever we need to accomplish the missions that we set out.

On Thursday, the House is set to vote on a war powers resolution that aims to rein in the president. The Senate is voting on a similar resolution today.
Fox News Will Cain dug up some old clips to back up his claim that President Donald Trump has remained consistent in his opposition to foreign wars as he faces backlash, including among Republicans, over his Iran strikes.

On Tuesdays The Will Cain Show, Cain acknowledged that there are legitimate questions being asked about foreign policy and war among America First conservatives who supported Trump based on his past criticism of regime change and drawn-out wars in the Middle East.

America first. Theres a lot of conversation, much of it legitimate, about whether or not the current military operation in Iran serves America first, Cain said. Theres even accusations out there that President Trump has betrayed MAGA. But President Trump ran as an anti-war candidate, thats true, and he has stayed consistent over time on avoiding unnecessary drawn-out wars.

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He cut to a clip of Trump from a February 2016 presidential debate where he railed against the Iraq War.

You see, he warned about Iraq. He blasted forever wars. He even told [former Vice President] Kamala Harris to her face that the Biden administration failed on Afghanistan, Cain said.

The Fox host argued that Trump has also been consistent on Iran being a threat while also arguing against drawn-out wars in the Middle East.

As you saw, President Trump has also never been afraid to call out the Iranian threat. He posted back in 2011, Irans nuclear program must be stopped by any and all means necessary, Cain said.

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He further argued Trumps opposition to regime change and wars has earned him the benefit of the doubt amid the current strikes against Iran. Notably, Trump has long been opposed to regime change and regularly attacked ex-President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for supporting regime change in Libya, Egypt, and other countries.

Libya was stable; Syria was under control; Egypt was ruled by a secular ally of the United States. Iraq was experiencing a reduction of violence and Iran was being choked off by economic sanctions, Trump said in 2016 while running for president the first time, adding, Libya is in ruins; Syria is in the midst of a disastrous civil war; in Egypt terrorists have gained a foothold in the Sinai desert; Iraq is in chaos and ISIS is on the loose.

Cain took Trumps shifting position on regime change as a positive, however, arguing, They have earned that benefit of doubt from the previous positions theyve held on forever wars and [being] crystal clear that peace only comes through strength.

He then played a clip of Trump during a 2024 campaign stop promising to end the chaos in the Middle East and prevent World War III.

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The U.S. and Israel strikes against Iran have led to the deaths of numerous high-ranking government officials, including the countrys supreme leader. Trump has pushed for the Iranian people to overthrow their current government, leading many conservative and even MAGA critics to question whether the president has flip-flopped on supporting regime change and long wars in the Middle East.

In the end, the so-called nation-builders wrecked far more nations than they built, the president said in 2025 in Saudi Arabia. He blasted interventionists who had intervened in complex societies that they did not even understand.

Those words echoed a position that Trump has long held, but has only recently been brought into question by some of his more anti-war supporters.

We must abandon the failed policy of nation-building and regime change that Hillary Clinton pushed in Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Syria, Trump said at the 2016 Republican National Convention.

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He was also plenty critical of former President Barack Obama on Iran, predicting multiple times that the then-president would attack the country because he was not a strong enough negotiator.

Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properlynot skilled! he wrote in 2013.

He also predicted in 2024 that Harris would invade the Middle East should she become president. During that same presidential race, Trump told a crowd, I can tell you youre not going to have a war with Iran with me as president.

Trump has predicted the current Iran operation will take four to five weeks, but hes also warned that we have capability to go far longer than that. Trump has also left open the possibility of deploying U.S. troops into Iran, despite long opposing U.S. boots on the ground in foreign wars.

Watch above via Fox News.

The post Huh? Will Cain Digs Up Old Clips to Argue Trump Has Stayed Consistent in Opposing Long Wars first appeared on Mediaite.
BUDAPEST, March 5 (Reuters) - Two ethnic Hungarian prisoners of war who were released by Russia to Budapest arrived in the country early on Thursday, drawing condemnation from Kyiv as "provocation" as the POWs were also dual citizens of Ukraine.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto secured their release at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, a day after Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban held a phone call with the Russian leader over the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, and energy supplies for Hungary.

The move drew Ukraine's ire, with its prisoner exchange coordination committee calling it a Russian "provocation."

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"The transfer of two Ukrainian prisoners by Russia to the Hungarian side is a gross violation of international humanitarian law," it said on the Telegram messaging app.

Both Putin and the Hungarian foreign ministry have referred to the POWs as dual citizens of Hungary and Ukraine.

ETHNIC HUNGARIANS IN UKRAINE'S TRANSCARPATHIA REGION

Ukraine is home to around 150,000 ethnic Hungarians, most of them in the Transcarpathia region. Orban's government and Kyiv have long clashed over the community's language rights.

Hungary maintains warm relations with Moscow despite Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and continues to buy Russian oil and gas despite EU sanctions.

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Szijjarto said earlier on Wednesday that two ethnic Hungarian prisoners of war had recently asked Hungary for help.

"I hope that after our talks more people will fly home on the plane than who came in this direction," Szijjarto said on his Facebook page.

Orban has made Russia's war on Ukraine a key topic in his campaign for the April 12 parliamentary election, adding to friction between Budapest and Kyiv.

Budapest has accused Kyiv of conscripting ethnic Hungarians. Last Friday, the foreign minister summoned Kyiv's ambassador to Budapest to protest the conscription of two men.

(Reporting by Anita Komuves; additional reporting by Anna Pruchnicka; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Russia will free two Ukrainian-Hungarian nationals captured while fighting for Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday, after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban appealed for their release in a phone call.

Ukraine accused the two countries of having "manipulated the sensitive issue of prisoners of war" and of staging the release as a PR stunt ahead of parliamentary elections in Hungary in April.

In a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Moscow, Putin said the two soldiers were "forcibly conscripted" by Ukraine and that he personally made the decision to release them.

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"As the prime minister requested, you will be able to take them with you on the plane you arrived on and the plane you will return to Budapest on," Putin told Szijjarto.

Hungary is one of the few European countries to maintain close ties with Russia amid its Ukraine offensive and has consistently opposed military aid for Kyiv.

Ukraine is home to a large Hungarian minority, most of whom live in the western Zakarpattia region and hold dual citizenship.

The Russian defence ministry published a video last week purporting to show a dual Hungarian-Ukrainian citizen prisoner of war, alleging he had been forced to enlist in the Ukrainian army.

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During their meeting, Szijjarto also urged Moscow not to raise energy prices, after fighting in the Middle East spurred by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran sent markets into turmoil.

"I came here... to be assured and obtain a guarantee that even in the midst of the current crisis, the quantities of natural gas and crude oil necessary for Hungary's energy security will be available, and that they will be delivered to Hungary from Russia at the same price," Szijjarto said.

Putin said Russia was happy to discuss the issue of energy.

"Not everything depends on us, but, I repeat, we have always been reliable suppliers," Putin told Szijjarto.

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Hungary is the European Union's biggest importer of Russian fossil fuels, having maintained purchases and secured exemptions from sanctions despite pressure from Brussels amid the Ukraine war.

Budapest was already facing disruption from the closure of the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary and which Ukraine says was damaged in a Russian strike in January.

Both Hungary and Slovakia, as well as the Kremlin, accuse Kyiv of deliberately stalling its reopening. Kyiv says the threat of another attack is holding up repairs.

bur/rlp/
BUDAPEST, March 4 (Reuters) - Hungary's centre-right Tisza party leads Prime Minister Viktor Orban's governing Fidesz before an April 12 election, while the far-right Our Homeland is gaining support, two opinion polls showed on Wednesday.

Nationalist Orban faces the biggest challenge to his rule in 16 years although the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain, with opinion polls showing that many voters are still undecided.

The poll by Zavecz Research, conducted between February 22 and 28, shows that Tisza widened its lead to 12 points among decided voters from 10 points in a January poll.

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The poll, published by news site 24.hu late on Tuesday, showed 50% of decided voters supported Tisza, up from 48% in January, while 38% backed Fidesz, down from 39% a month earlier.

Zavecz showed 38% support for Tisza among all voters, while Fidesz was backed by 32%.

According to their data, some 20% of respondents said that they still did not know who to back, down from 23% in February.

Tisza is led by former government insider Peter Magyar who has said his party would curb corruption, unlock billions of euros in frozen European Union funds to boost the economy, and firmly anchor Hungary in the EU and NATO.

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A second poll, published by newspaper Nepszava on Wednesday and conducted by Publicus Institute, showed 47% of decided voters supporting Tisza and 39% backing Fidesz, as support for both parties was down 1 percentage point since a January poll.

While most polls have shown a Tisza lead, Fidesz points to other surveys that still show it on course to victory, though its opponents say these have mainly been conducted by institutes with financial or personal ties to the ruling party.

Both polls showed that the far-right Our Homeland (Mi Hazank) would be the only other party to pass the 5% threshold required for entry into parliament.

Zavecz Research put support for Our Homeland at 7% among decided voters, up from 5% a month ago. Publicus said that 6% of decided voters back the far-right party, up from 5% in January.

(Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Toby Chopra)
The World Meteorological Organizations Hurricane Committee announced on Wednesday, March 4 that it retired the one name from a list of potential names for hurricanes following the destruction it caused in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Melissa, the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Jamaica, was responsible for more than 90 deaths across Jamaica, Haiti and the other island nations. At its peak, Melissa was classified as a category 5 storm based on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with life-threatening winds reaching over 185 mph.

WMO Hurricane Committee Replaces Melissa

In an announcement on Wednesday, the WMO Hurricane Committee announced it replaced Melissa with Molly heading into the 2031 hurricane season.

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Evan Thompson, Principal Director at Meteorological Service, Jamaica, and President of WMOs Regional Association IV, made the request for a name change following the devastation in 2025.

The WMO Hurricane Committee has retired the name Melissa because of the destruction it caused in the Caribbean in 2025. It will be replaced by Molly on the list of rotating names.https://t.co/XfpWUnuZQ3 pic.twitter.com/mkq1CHGZHh  World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) March 4, 2026

"After more than four months since the passage of Melissa over Jamaica, stories about the impacts and recovery continue to dominate the news and media. Melissa has now been engraved in the collective memory of the nation," he said. " ... I am very thankful that there was unanimous approval of my request for the retirement of Melissa. Jamaica would not have liked to constantly recount the trauma that was visited on us in 2025."

How, Why are Hurricanes Named?

The World Meteorological Organization revealed that naming tropical cyclones "has proven to be the fastest way to communicate warnings and raise public awareness and preparedness."

By assigning names to hurricanes, they're more easily tracked and discussed in a straightforward manner. The naming helps to avoid confusion among meteorologists, media, emergency management agencies and the public.

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When selecting a new name, consideration is given to certain factors:

Short in character length for ease of use in communication

Easy to pronounce

Appropriate significance in different languages

Uniqueness  same names cannot be used in other regions.

Names are repeated every six years, unless a storm is so deadly or destructive that its name is retired.

Related: Beloved Sitcom Coming to Netflix on April 1

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This story was originally published on Trucking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Trucking Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Diesel prices jumped again this week as markets appeared to further price in constraints and pressure on the market amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S.

U.S. diesel prices averaged 3.897 per gallon Monday, up 8.8 cents compared to a week earlier, according to on-highway data compiled by the Energy Information Administration, though prices have risen every week in the survey since Jan. 12.

Recent price upticks previously factored in war risk with Iran and sanctions on Russia, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke told Trucking Dive Tuesday, noting there was still some uncertainty. Still, favorable rates, a sharp contrast to the last three years, will act as a buffer from any immediate diesel impacts, he added.

On-highway diesel prices rise nearly every week of 2026

Average U.S. retail diesel prices from Jan. 5 through March 2.

Dive Insight:

Brent crude oil prices hovered close to $80 a barrel for much of Monday and surpassed $83 a barrel for part of Tuesday morning. An average forecast for the year previously projected the cost as $58 a barrel.

Every day the Strait of Hormuz is closed is a few days longer for recovery, and in similar situations, days in disruption can equal weeks in recovery time, noted Keith Prather, managing partner and co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence.

U.S. and Israel military forces attacked Iran on Saturday, part of efforts to prevent the Middle East country from developing nuclear weapons. The attack killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

There isn't a permanent cutting of capacity here, Prather said Monday in an email, adding its only a matter of time before the US military can cut Iran's ability to shoot at assets in the Gulf  and energy will flow. You can bet that's a key objective of all parties in the Gulf region.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean and borders Iran. It has a 20% impact on the global oil supply, Croke said on a weekly market update Monday, and its one of the worlds most important oil choke points, according to the EIA.

For trucking, small carriers and owner-operators could be more exposed to supply disruption due to limitations with fuel surcharge add-ons, Croke said. A prolonged shutdown of the strait could cause a significant jump in diesel prices, potentially adversely affecting smaller firms that dont have the cash to fend off steeper operating costs, he added. But spot rates are so high that diesel impacts would have to be extraordinarily large, perhaps reaching $5.20 per mile, he told Trucking Dive.
There will never be another Hurricane Melissa, the World Meteorological Organization announced Wednesday, retiring the name due to the extreme damage and deaths the storm inflicted on the Caribbean and Jamaica last year.

The lists of 21 names are reused every six years, so the new "M" name for the 2031 Atlantic Hurricane Season is Molly.

AccuWeather.com

Hurricane Melissa, recently upgraded to 190-mph sustained winds and tied with Allen 1980 for the strongest winds measured in an Atlantic hurricane, killed more than 95 people. A record for the strongest wind gust ever measured via reconnaissance aircraft was also set by the storm and confirmed in November 2025. AccuWeather's damage and economic loss estimate for Hurricane Melissa was $48-52 billion.

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The 2025 storm is the 100th name to be crossed off the list for the Atlantic basin. The first storm to be retired was Hurricane Carol in 1954, and three - Beryl, Helene and Milton - were retired in 2024. In 2005, five names were discontinued, the most in any season. The letter "I" has the most names retired, with 14.

A convoy carrying aid to Black River, which was hit by Hurricane Melissa, makes its way through Holland Bamboo, Jamaica, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, where downed trees and debris partially block the road. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

The WMO's Hurricane Committee consists of experts from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and represents North America, Central America and the Caribbean. They met in Mexico City this week to review the past season and prepare for the forthcoming one.

This image shows Category 5 Hurricane Melissa making landfall in southwestern Jamaica at 1 p.m. Eastern, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue Satellite)

"Melissa has now been engraved in the collective memory of the nation," said Evan Thompson, Principal Director at Meteorological Service, Jamaica, and President of WMO's Regional Association IV.

"I am very thankful that there was unanimous approval of my request for the retirement of Melissa," Thompson added. "Jamaica would not have liked to constantly recount the trauma that was visited on us in 2025."
Isfahan has both nuclear sites and ballistic missile sites and has been a repeat target both in June 2025 and the current conflict.

The IDF on Wednesday announced that it had destroyed Ghadr-class ballistic missiles and their launch platforms at Isfahan in Iran.

The Ghadr 110 is the most advanced type of Ghadr missile (there are several categories of Ghadr), and is a two-stage missile that includes a solid-fuel engine to shorten launch preparations, which makes it potentially harder to strike prior to launch.

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Its range is estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 kilometers, one of Iran's longest-range ballistic missiles, and can easily strike anywhere in Israel.

In June 2025, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that it had used the Ghadr against Israel during that conflict.

Experts believe that the Ghadr design has the potential to be further developed to eventually be used for further ranges of up to 5,000 kilometers and possibly as an anti-space satellite.

Debris lies scattered in the aftermath of a strike on a police station, in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2026 (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)

Isfahan has both nuclear sites and ballistic missile sites and has been a repeat target both in June 2025 and in the current conflict.

IDF continues to dismantle Iranian missile launch capabilities

Following the IDF revelation on Tuesday night that not only have several dozen missile launchers been destroyed, but over 300 have been neutralized (likely meaning damaged or caved in by bombings), the latest attacks could start pushing the IDF toward neutralizing closer to 400 launchers.

In June 2024, Iran only had around 400 launchers, of which over 200 were destroyed.

However, IDF sources said that Iran has rebuilt new launchers at an impressive rate since June 2025.
The official further warned that, with the assistance of Iran, the Houthis have rebuilt their ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities, which could potentially reach Israel.

A senior military official recently cautioned in a closed meeting that the IDF must be prepared for a potential surprise attack from the Houthis, according to a Tuesday Walla report.

The terror group from Yemen is one of the biggest uncertainties in the current campaign. Despite escalating threats in recent months, the group has stayed out of the Israeli-American efforts against Iran, remaining sitting on the fence and not yet intervening.

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The senior official has ordered a thorough examination of every launch and emerging terror route to assess any possible connections to the Houthis. The official further warned that, with the assistance of Iran, the Houthis have rebuilt their ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities, which could potentially reach Israel.

Opinions within the security establishment are divided. Some officials believe that the Houthis are aware that, given the current geopolitical coalition, they might be seen as targeting the Americans, who are stationed throughout Israel with thousands of soldiers. Even more concerning, the Houthis could be viewed as violating the ceasefire agreement with the US, risking a potential attack from multiple directions. As a result, they are carefully managing these risks.

Israel cannot afford to lower its guard

On the other hand, some within the defense establishment argue that Israel cannot afford to lower its vigilance. There are growing concerns that the Houthis may be preparing for a surprise attack, either from the air or on the ground. To address this, the IDF has reinforced air defense and air control systems in key areas, focusing on improving monitoring, detection, and interception along the eastern border, especially given concerns about potential ground operations. Recently, Walla published videos showing the Houthis training for ground assaults on IDF positions along this border.

HOUTHI TERRORISTS carry weapons as they stand near the site of Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, in September. (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS)

In response to these threats, Maj.-Gen.Nadav Loten, Commander of the Ground Forces, along with Brig.-Gen. Oren Simcha, Commander of the Gilead Division (Division 96), and other senior commanders, conducted a tour of positions in the Jordan Valley and surrounding areas.

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These positions were bolstered with reserve battalions that were mobilized on Saturday as part of the heightened preparedness along Israels borders. During the visit, they toured the division's command centers and spoke with the soldiers operating the "Jaguar," which was used for the first time on Monday in Operation Roaring Lion.

The Jaguar is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) developed by the Ground Forces. It is armed with a machine gun, equipped with surveillance cameras for both day and night operations, and remotely controlled from observation command posts.
Military and paramilitary headquarters struck by the IAF include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, the Basij paramilitary headquarters, and the Quds Force headquarters.

Israel conducted a round of strikes on Iranian military sites in Tehran on Wednesday evening, the military confirmed.

Earlier on Wednesday, the military completed a new round of "wide-scale" strikes on multiple Islamic regime command centers and Iranian military sites in Tehran. This included the regime's ballistic missile array, missile launchers, and defense systems, the IDF stated.

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Some of these launchers were struck while Iranian operatives were preparing to use them and launch missiles towards Israeli territory, the military reported.

The strikes, carried out by the Israel Air Force, targeted a compound containing the headquarters of multiple Iranian regime security agencies, the military noted.

Military and paramilitary headquarters struck by the IAF include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, the Basij paramilitary headquarters, and the IRGC-Quds Force headquarters. Israel additionally struck the Iranian Intelligence Directorate headquarters, the Internal Security forces headquarters, and the Iranian Cyberwarfare headquarters, the IDF stated.

According to the military, Iranian operatives responsible for the repression of the people of Iran, as well as promoting and planning attacks against Israel, were targeted in the strike.

IDF drops 5,000 bombs on Iran since start of war

Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF announced that it had dropped 5,000 bombs on Iran since the start of the current war.

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As of Tuesday, the IDF had dropped 4,000 bombs in four days, equal to the number of bombs it dropped during the entire 12-day June 2025 conflict with Iran.

By increasing the total volume of bombs dropped by a full 1,000 even on the fifth day of the war, the IDF showed that it has continued to find sufficient quality targets to strike and is not yet close to running low on munitions.

Earlier, the IDF announced that it had destroyed Ghadr-class ballistic missiles and their launch platforms at Isfahan in Iran.

The Ghadr 110 is the most advanced type of Ghadr missile (there are several categories of Ghadr), and is a two-stage missile that includes a solid-fuel engine to shorten launch preparations, which makes it potentially harder to strike prior to launch.

Israeli Air Force fighter pilots prepare to strike Iran, February 28, 2026 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Its range is estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 kilometers, one of Iran's longest-range ballistic missiles, and can easily strike anywhere in Israel.

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In June 2025, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that it had used the Ghadr against Israel during that conflict.

Experts believe that the Ghadr design has the potential to be further developed to eventually be used for further ranges of up to 5,000 kilometers and possibly as an anti-space satellite.

Isfahan has both nuclear sites and ballistic missile sites and has been a repeat target both in June 2025 and the current conflict.

Following the IDF revelation on Tuesday night that not only have several dozen missile launchers been destroyed, but over 300 have been neutralized (likely meaning damaged or caved in by bombings), the latest attacks could start pushing the IDF toward neutralizing closer to 400 launchers.

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In June 2024, Iran only had around 400 launchers, of which over 200 were destroyed.

However, IDF sources said that Iran has rebuilt new launchers at an impressive rate since June 2025.

IDF strikes Irans Basij paramilitary forces, IRGC command centers across Tehran

The IDF conducted several strikes on Islamic regime command centers throughout Tehran on Wednesday morning, according to an official statement from the military.

Strikes targeting Internal Security and Basij command centers in Tehran, March 4, 2026. (CREDIT: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Dozens of munitions were dropped on several different internal security centers belonging to the Iranian regime, including those belonging to the Basij, a paramilitary militia under the umbrella of the IRGC.

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Israel also struck the regime's supply and logistics center, as well as missile launchers and other systems.

IDF destroys secret nuclear site, over 300 ballistic missile launchers across Iran

The IDF destroyed a secret Iranian nuclear weapons development site on Tuesday, IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin revealed in a press conference. Separately, the IDF stated that, since the start of the war, the air force had destroyed some 300 Iranian missile launchers.

Naming the site as Min Zadai, on the northeast outskirts of Tehran, Defrin said that the site was linked to weapons development. He said that IDF intelligence followed nuclear scientists who tried to travel there clandestinely.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets destroy Iranian missile launchers in Iran, March 3, 2026 (IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

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By following these scientists, he said, the IDF was able to learn about the dangerous nature of these activities that could help Tehran resume aspects of weapons development for a nuclear bomb.

Additionally, on Wednesday, an explosive drone targeted the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) headquarters in Iraq and hit a weapons depot; no casualties have been reported.

Ghadr missile storage and production facility was struck in Isfahan

During a broad wave of strikes overnight on Tuesday, the Israeli military struck a facility used by the Iranian regime for the storage, production, and launch of ballistic missiles - including Ghadr missiles - in Isfahan in western Iran.

The facility was struck to reduce the number of launches from it. In addition, the Israeli Air Force struck defense systems and extended Israel's aerial control in the skies of Iran.

Operation Roaring Lion

Former supreme leader Ali Khamenei and many top Iranian military and intelligence officials were killed early on Saturday after Israel began Operation Roaring Lion.

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According to the IDF, the complex contained the President's headquarters, the headquarters of Irans Supreme National Security Council, a meeting compound used by the Islamic Republic's senior forum, and a headquarters for training Iranian military officers.

Reuters and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois finances were one hot mess, as Comptroller Susana Mendoza put it, the last time voters went to the polls to elect the states chief fiscal officer.

Bills went unpaid. Emergency reserves had dwindled to $48,000  enough, Mendozas office said, to run state government for less than 30 seconds. A two-year budget standoff between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan had gutted state services and rattled the economy.

That was 2016, when Mendoza, a Chicago Democrat, won the first of three terms in office. Now, with her eyeing a run for Chicago mayor, she is stepping down after the November general election  and, for the first time in a decade, Illinois voters must choose her successor.

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Four candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination in the March 17 primary: state Rep. Margaret Croke of Chicago, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, state Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago, and Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim of Mundelein. The lone Republican in the race is Bryan Drew, an attorney from Benton in southern Illinois.

Often referred to as the states chief fiscal officer, the state comptroller pays the states bills, monitors fiscal compliance, records transactions and contracts and issues reports that guide the governor and legislature on budget decisions. The office also, in one of its more obscure functions, licenses certain private cemeteries.

Margaret Croke

At a candidate forum in November at Chicagos Rainbow PUSH headquarters, Croke described how she got her start in Cook County government at 22, fielding calls from frustrated residents puzzling over property tax bills. The experience, she said, revealed a fundamental problem in government: Information that insiders take for granted is often impenetrable to ordinary people.

I started getting really addicted to this idea of just helping people, of trying to navigate the bureaucracy of government, she told the crowd.

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Croke has served in the Illinois House since 2021, representing a Chicago district covering parts of the North and Near North sides. She has pushed for womens reproductive rights and, more relevant to the position of comptroller, she chairs the House Financial Institutions and Licensing Committee, which oversees financial services legislation.

If elected, Croke said she would want to improve the comptrollers predictive financial modeling tools, revamp the vendor payment program to help businesses and nonprofits weather potential federal funding cuts and make it easier for small municipalities  often short on staff and expertise  to submit the audits required by law.

When this office breaks down, all of state government breaks down, she said. It is an office where if  we dont pay the invoices to the businesses that work with the state of Illinois, they can potentially close and never stand back up again.

Croke entered 2026 with a commanding financial advantage over her primary opponents, ending 2025 with more than $833,000 in her campaign fund  more than her three Democratic rivals combined.

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In February, Gov. JB Pritzkers campaign contributed $72,800 to her effort, according to state campaign records. Last month, Croke also secured Pritzkers endorsement for comptroller. Before joining the legislature, Croke worked for Pritzker as a womens outreach director and later as a deputy chief of staff at an agency that helps secure state infrastructure funding.

Despite her history with Pritzker and his financial support of her campaign, Croke said she has no issue as it pertains to being independent from the governors office if she is elected comptroller. But that doesnt mean she cant be collaborative, she said.

What I think gets conflated, though, is that independence means that you have to be combative. Independence means you have to be adversarial  Thats just not my leadership style, she said. I am someone who is really proud of the relationships that Ive built. Im someone who likes to work with people and get things done.

Crokes campaign has gotten money from a variety of sources, including trade and labor unions and businesses. Among them, in the last couple of years, Croke has received about $14,000 from a company called Enova International, which oversees two lending brands that were accused last month by the National Consumer Law Center of offering loans with annual percentage rates of 100% to 300%.

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Asked about the donations, Crokes campaign pointed to her support of Illinois 2021 Predatory Loan Prevention Act, a consumer protection measure against payday loans, as one of her first votes in office.

Political donations dont impact her decision-making, and she will never put her name behind a bill that is not in the best interest of Illinoisans, a campaign spokesperson said in a statement.

Holly Kim

Kim grew up on Chicagos Northwest Side, where her parents ran a copier and typewriter repair shop in what was once the citys Koreatown. Her father was a technician; her mother handled the invoicing. It was, she said at the Rainbow PUSH forum, a formative education in the mechanics of making ends meet.

His hands were always black from toner, but those hands paid the bills and put food on the table, she said.

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Kims path to public office was not linear. She moved to the northern suburbs, enrolled at Northeastern Illinois University back in her old neighborhood, became pregnant unexpectedly, relied for a time on Medicaid and eventually completed her degree.

That really gave me a lens as an elected official, she said. As a county treasurer, my office has been the intersection of math and social justice.

Kim, who on Monday was endorsed by Mendoza to be her successor, has served as Lake County treasurer since 2018 and sits on a banking commission overseen by the comptrollers office. She refers to Mendoza as her mentor. If elected, Kim says she would press forward with technology upgrades and make cybersecurity a signature priority, noting that protecting citizens financial data is especially critical given the volume of checks the comptrollers office issues.

I literally had a relative who stole my identity and then trashed my credit to the ground. So theres some part of me that is, like, hellbent on protecting people, their families and their money, she said.

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In her time as treasurer, her campaign has touted how in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, Kim reinvested more than $6 million of revenue generated from interest on investments in schools, parks and libraries.

But shes also had to answer to some critics of her office who, in 2023, pointed to myriad issues. Among those were lengthy delays in publishing statutorily required reports about Lake Countys investments, which jeopardize the accuracy of the countys fiscal standing, and Kims failure to ensure there was enough money in an account for an employee to cash a check.

Kims office a few weeks later made clear the reports were up to date, the check-cashing incident was caused by an error in another department and her campaign also blamed unexpected challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic for some of the issues in the office. Separate incidents in 2020 and 2022 involved residents with autopay accounts being double-charged on property taxes  the result, Kim said in a WBBM-Ch. 2 interview, of a coding glitch and later human error. She said all of the issues have since been resolved.

Stephanie Kifowit

Kifowits campaign rests on a straightforward argument: two decades in government finance  as an Aurora City Council member and a state representative since 2013. Shes also worked as a financial adviser. All this, she argues, gives her a depth of experience over her rivals.

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A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Kifowit co-sponsored the 2017 Debt Transparency Act that passed the legislature following the end of the two-year budget impasse between Rauner and Democratic lawmakers. The law requires state agencies to report to the comptroller the number of outstanding bills they carry and that are subject to late-payment interest penalties. Rauner vetoed it, but the House and Senate overrode him.

The comptrollers office is, in my opinion, the lifeline to organizations that take care of the most vulnerable in our society, the lifeline to our schools that educate our children, and to the men and women that work for the state, Kifowit said in an interview. We need to make sure that the lifeline of the comptrollers office, the flow of funds to the most vulnerable remains accurate, and (accountable), and transparent, and gets to the individuals that need it the most.

Kifowit has shown independence as a Democratic lawmaker, voting against the current budget because, in part, she felt it did not do enough to address property tax relief and, in 2020, calling for Madigans resignation amid a growing federal corruption investigation, even seeking unsuccessfully to replace him as speaker. Madigan eventually resigned, was convicted on corruption charges and was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Her tenure has not been without controversy.

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In 2018, during a House floor debate over legislation related to a deadly Legionnaires disease outbreak at the Quincy Veterans Home, Kifowit said she wished she could brew a Republican colleague a broth of Legionella and infect his family after he suggested the bill would benefit trial lawyers. She later apologized.

In the interview, Kifowit has played down the urgency of modernizing the comptrollers office, saying improvements are already underway. She is more focused, she says, on filling vacant positions and creating mentorship pipelines to draw high school students  including those who do not plan to attend college  into careers in public finance.

Karina Villa

On a sunny day last September, Villa witnessed firsthand a swarm of federal immigration agents making their way through Chicagos western suburbs as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a 64-day mass deportation mission.

This is my city! Villa shouted at apparently masked agents, according to a video of the incident. Take off your masks! Take off your masks!

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That moment has become something of a campaign emblem for Villa, one of the legislatures most outspoken critics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other immigration enforcement officers. Her argument for connecting that fight to the comptrollers office is direct: the states financial power is also a moral one.

On day one, I will go through all of the contracts that we have, and if you are doing business with ICE or making profits from ICE, under my watch, you will not have a contract from the state of Illinois, Villa told an audience at a library in northwest suburban Des Plaines last month.

That kind of aspiration is likely to require approval from the state legislature, but Villa has not wavered from that message.

A former school social worker in West Chicago and Villa Park, Villa served one term in the Illinois House before winning a state Senate seat, which shes held since 2021. She may have a financial background that is thinner on paper than her opponents, but she frames the comptrollers role in broader terms.

These political decisions of where were putting our dollars (are) connected, Villa said in an interview. How we choose to allocate them, what order were paying the bills in and where were finding more money to bring in to be able to fund the services that are getting slashed by the federal government, its all connected.

Her platform emphasizes revenue: pushing corporations and the wealthy to pay more in taxes and using the comptrollers leverage to protect safety-net hospitals that serve low-income communities.

The Republican

Drew, who faces no Republican opposition in the primary, has spent 25 years as an attorney, he says, searching out fraud  experience he argues qualifies him to serve as the states fiscal watchdog.

While acknowledging the office under Mendozas leadership has been paying off the states bills on time, he thinks its time for someone with a differing viewpoint to oversee the states finances considering Democrats control every statewide office.

Right now, one party controls the budget, where the money goes, the governor, and now they want to be the one to supervise how the moneys spent, he said. Im telling you, the state of Illinois needs checks and balances, and the comptrollers office is where those checks should come in.
(The Center Square)  An Illinois lawmaker is praising the Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump for repealing the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, calling the move a win for Illinois businesses  even as Attorney General Kwame Raoul warns the rollback ignores decades of law and climate science and threatens public health.

State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, explained the federal move will ease economic pressure not just on employers but on families across the state.

I think this move is going to help everyone in Illinois, whether you own a business or are an individual or a family, because these regulations have contributed to higher costs for everybody, said Halbrook.

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Raoul condemned the rescission, arguing it undermines the EPAs authority to regulate greenhouse gases and weakens protections for public health and the environment. He has indicated he will continue pushing back against the Trump administrations action.

Rescinding this finding will undo progress we have made to address climate change by eliminating existing EPA greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles and undermining the EPAs mandate to regulate harmful air pollution that causes climate change, Raoul said.

Halbrook, however, said Illinois should align itself with the federal changes.

I know the attorney general is pushing back. I think thats just what they do. Democrats tend to oppose anything Republicans do, and theyre especially opposed to anything President Trump does, said Halbrook. Whether its political posturing or an inherent preference for mandates and restrictions, its predictable and to be expected from Democrats.

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Supporters of the Endangerment Finding argue its repeal could weaken environmental protections, including standards for vehicle and power plant emissions.

Halbrook questioned those claims.

You can make science say whatever you want to say. You can make research say whatever you want to make it say, he said. We hear this about protecting the environment and making it better. As we see the huge push to bring on solar and wind electrical generating facilities, when we look at the environmental impact that it takes to manufacture solar panels, the environmental impact that it takes to manufacture wind towers  its just a fallacy at best to think that theyre saving the environment when theres such a huge environmental impact to the manufacture and construction of these two different types of facilities.

Halbrook said the biggest impact in Illinois could come from changes affecting coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, which have faced tighter regulations in recent years.

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I think its going to have a huge positive impact, he said.

He argued that efforts over the past several years to regulate coal and natural gas generation have driven the cost up in the summer months, double and triple, and maybe more than that in some locations.

If those caps are to come off, I think itll make it lower cost of production and lower cost to consumers for electricity in the state. I think thats a positive thing, Halbrook said.

Raoul, in a recent news release, argued the rescission conflicts with established law and Supreme Court precedent.

The 2009 Endangerment Finding was the direct result of the landmark 2007 Supreme Court opinion in Massachusetts v. EPA, won by Illinois and its partner states. The ruling confirmed the EPAs authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions that threaten the publics health and welfare, according to a statement issued by the office. After more than two years of scientific review, the EPA determined that greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles contribute to air pollution that harms the publics health and welfare. The agency then set standards to limit motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.
The Brief

Peter Adams, 20, was identified nearly five decades after he was struck and killed on I-95 in Virginia.

Adams, an Illinois native living in Pennsylvania, had been missing for six days before the crash in 1977.

The identification was made through investigative genetic genealogy and confirmed by additional DNA testing.

CHICAGO - An Illinois man who was killed in a 1977 crash along Interstate 95 in Virginia has been identified nearly 50 years later through DNA testing and genealogy research.

What we know

Peter Adams, 20, was struck and killed by a truck around 2 a.m. on March 23, 1977, near Ashland, Virginia.

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At the time, he could not be identified, even though authorities said he had a recognizable face. He was described as a white man between 20 and 25 years old, wearing blue jeans, a western-style shirt and a jean jacket.

Peter Adams | DNA Doe Project

Adams was a native of Illinois and had attended high school in the Chicago suburbs in the early 1970s. He was living in Pennsylvania when he disappeared on March 17, 1977, six days before the crash that killed him, hundreds of miles from where he had been living.

Dig deeper

The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later partnered with the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit group that uses volunteer investigative genetic genealogists to identify unidentified people.

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Researchers quickly determined the unidentified man had deep family roots in Peoria County, Illinois, along with recent Polish heritage.

"The family tree in this case was complex," team co-leader Eryk Jan Grzeszkowiak said in a statement. "In addition to dealing with pedigree collapse, we ended up needing to build family trees back to Poland, Germany and Switzerland amongst others."

After just over a week of research, the team identified a couple whose familys DNA closely matched that of Adams. Of the couple's six children, the oldest, who was Adams, appeared to have "dropped off the radar" in the 1970s, the team said.

The medical examiners office followed up on the lead and confirmed Adams had been reported missing days before the crash. Additional DNA testing, arranged by the Virginia State Police, confirmed the match.

What we don't know

It remains unclear why Adams was in Virginia at the time of his death or what led him to be on the interstate that morning.

What's next

Officials said the identification brings long-awaited answers to Adams family.

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"We are honored that the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner came to the DNA Doe Project to help uncover Peters identity," team leader Traci Onders said in a statement. "While this case was not without its challenges, we were able to resolve a mystery thats lasted nearly half a century in a matter of days thanks to the hard work and expertise of our team."

The Source

The information in this story came from the DNA Doe Project.
When a colleague and I arrived at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan, on Feb. 24 to visit a potential client in U.S. Customs and Immigration detention, we were completely unprepared for the indignity that awaited: Being told that we had to take off our bras.

Im a lawyer on a fellowship with the ACLU of Michigan. My colleague, who is an experienced translator and advocate, went with me to visit a potential client who only speaks Spanish, and has been detained at North Lake, the largest ICE detention facility in Michigan, for months.

Degrading as it was, what happened to me pales in comparison to the cruelty more than 1,400 immigrants locked away at North Lake endure every day.

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Like the woman I visited, who faced the impossible choice of deportation to a country shes not from and has never been to  and without her infant daughter  or returning to the very country she fled.

During our visit, my colleague and I heard one gut-wrenching story after another. And it's not just this facility, which is privately owned and operated by the GEO Group under a contract with ICE. A growing body of reporting shows that what is happening at North Lake is happening to people in ICE detention all across the country.

My experience was just one small example of a deliberately inhumane system that wields power both randomly and frequently to humiliate, intimidate, punish and, ultimately, terrorize people into submission.

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'My bra was the problem'

My most recent encounter with that system started with a needless hassle over questions about the translation skills of my colleague, Elvira, whos spent over 25 years as a bilingual advocate.

Things got even weirder when I tried to make it through a metal detector. After removing my coat and shoes, the machine beeped for a third time as I tried to pass through. Thats when the screener asked if I was wearing an underwire bra. When I said yes, she informed me that my bra was the problem, and that I could not get in without passing the screening.

I can give you scissors to cut the wire out, she said coldly. Given the price of bras, that wasnt happening. I headed to the car and angrily flung my bra off. My colleague, also wearing an underwire bra, did the same. Braless, we were finally allowed in.

ACLU legal fellow Ewurama Appiagyei-Dankah and her translator were told they could not enter U.S. Customs and Immigrations Enforcement's North Lake detention center with their underwire bras on.

Arbitrary and dehumanizing

I felt furious and humiliated, but my first thought was about the family members who face such treatment when they come to visit. Getting to the facility, which is located in a sparsely populated rural area, requires a drive of many hours from much of Michigan, and even more for people coming from out of state to visit a loved one. Imagine how crushing it is to travel all day, only to be turned away because of some arbitrary requirement.

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And arbitrary is exactly the right word. There is nothing at all on the facilitys website telling visitors what they can and cant wear. There were other ways this situation could have been handled. Underwire bras are incredibly common; in a YouGov poll, 70% of women reported having worn them. When underwire bras set off metal detectors at airports, staff simply use a wand or pat someone down, rather than forcing a traveler to either destroy their bra, or take it off entirely.

Other attorneys and advocates told me that not only are women being turned away for wearing underwire bras  they have also being denied entry for not wearing a bra. I was told some have been denied entry for wearing clothes as common as torn jeans, sweatshirts or khakis.Making up rules and then imposing them with no forewarning is guaranteed to inflict hardship and grief.

That is the point.

Hundreds of community members rally outside of Romulus City Hall to speak out against the proposed ICE warehouse detention center in Romulus, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.

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Without her daughter

But that was far from the worst thing we encountered at North Lake.

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The woman we were there to meet is a native of Venezuela, in her early 20s, who fled to the United States to escape violence and political turmoil. She told us that after using the CBP One app and undergoing a screening for asylum eligibility by immigration officials, she was legally permitted to enter the United States in 2024 through a port of entry in Texas. After she got to the United States, her family purchased a plane ticket for her to come to Michigan.

Her only interaction with police came in 2025, when an abusive ex-partner, who was attempting to harm her and her daughter, falsely accused her of abusing him, she said. Though court records show the charges against her were dismissed, she was turned over to ICE.

Whats particularly heartbreaking about her case is that authorities ripped her away from her 3-month-old baby.

She told us she hasnt seen her child for six months, and that her baby is being cared for by her father, who is ill-equipped to handle the demands of an infant. She applied for asylum, she told us, but was told by the government that to pursue her claim, she would have to go to Ecuador, a country where she would be completely on her own with zero supportand without her daughter.

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Faced with that prospect, she withdrew her asylum application. As terrifying as the thought of returning to Venezuela is, the thought of going to Ecuador without her daughter is even scarier.

Documented problems

Although the fate of her and her baby is her biggest concern, it wasnt the only thing she wanted to talk about. In addition to telling us about how ICE is forcing people to pay for their own medication, and how she has only been allowed outside twice  in total  since arriving at North Lake, she shared how they are not given enough food or time to eat it. Particularly devastating, she said, was witnessing a pregnant woman still eating when a guard took away her food, leaving the expectant mother sobbing.

Problems with conditions at ICE detention facilities have been widely documented, both across the country and at North Lake. Nenko Gantchev, a business owner who had lived in the United States for over thirty years, died at North Lake just two months ago.

In fact, a staff member told me that a medical emergency occurred while I was visiting the facility: Someone was found unresponsive in their cell. I could not find out what happened to them.

No guardrails

The nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently issued a disturbing report that noted:

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ICE facilities saw significant overcrowding in 2025, worsening and substandard medical care, growing complaints of abusive conditions, and documented extensive violations of detention standards. As the system expands before officials ensure there are enough staff or infrastructure in place, people have been disappearing for days as ICEs detainee locator system has become unreliable and access to phones uncertain. Sadly, 2025 was the deadliest year for ICE detention on record, and 2026 is looking to be worse.

Making matters worse, the Kaiser report explained, is the recent removal of protective watchdogs.

The Trump administration has reduced oversight of operations in immigration detention facilities, which may have negative implications for conditions and health risks in detention centers, including for children and families in detention. The Trump administration has shut down watchdog agencies in DHS, including the Immigration Detention Ombudsman office that conducted oversight on conditions at immigration detention centers.

Again, the tactic is clear: Make life as miserable as possible for the people being detained to coerce them into voluntarily giving up and agreeing to deportation, even if it means leaving their families behind.

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Our experience at North Lake was deeply disturbing, and incredibly heart-wrenching. But it did provide clarity.

ICE is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to demean and degrade both the people in its custody and those who care about them. We must be equally willing to remain firm in our support of immigrant communities.

Ewurama Appiagyei-Dankah is a legal fellow with the ACLU of Michigan. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may run it in print and online.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: ICE rules aren't just designed to humiliate. They're deadly | Opinion
On Tuesday, a longtime advocate for public school funding in New Hampshire gamely touched the third rail of New Hampshire politics: a state income tax.

The proposal from a group led by Andru Volinsky, a former executive councilor and gubernatorial candidate who also served as the lead attorney in New Hampshires two landmark school funding cases, elicited gleeful sneering from Republicans and a weary, disappointed sigh from state Democratic leaders.

The reactions were unsurprising. For Republicans, a fresh opportunity to rant apocalyptically about policy is like winning the lottery. Once again, they get to dust off all of the worst-case tax scenarios theyve collected (or imagined) over the years and, even better, label anyone who supports basic public services a socialist. All while they pursue their murky, libertarian ends. Good times, at least until the trash starts piling up.

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And then you have the poor establishment Democrats. With Republicans sowing chaos willy-nilly in both Washington and Concord, Democrats have been forced into a perpetual role as minimizers of damage. Its truly yeomans work  and unfortunately for all of us its a full-time gig. The grave environmental, public health, and budgetary risks posed by Republicans anti-regulatory, anti-vaccine, and anti-tax policies cant be overstated. The problem for Democrats each November is that We play defense and tread lightly! is not exactly an inspiring campaign slogan.

While the state Democratic Party wants nothing to do with the Volinsky groups proposal for a 3% income tax and a new statewide property tax, at the very least I hope it will serve as a reminder that in politics constant opposition  no matter how warranted  is rarely enough. Sometimes you have to boldly fight for something, too.

And, also to the Volinsky groups credit, they created a calculator that allows everybody to run the numbers themselves. In a state where Republicans have been myth-building about a supposed, but mathless, New Hampshire Advantage for decades as infrastructure crumbles and local property taxes surge, it almost feels like a watershed moment.

Meanwhile, the well-documented Republican solution for New Hampshires struggles has been to seek cost savings by dismantling public education through various means, including offering the least amount of state support for public education in the country and signing into law a universal school voucher program. Now, theyre clamoring for new nails in the coffin in the form of open enrollment and legal efforts to overturn the Claremont rulings.

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The goal, as far as I can figure, is to hasten the states retreat from the people it theoretically serves.

All of this is to say, I am politically bewildered. For the bulk of my adult life, Ive struggled to understand what the end game is for the Republican Party. I know that different elements of the coalition have different aims, whether its the purging of diversity in pursuit of a white Christian state or the abolition of scientific progress out of a warped nostalgia for an undefined greater era. I know, too, that there are many Republicans who are willing to sacrifice the future  economically, environmentally, and academically  for even the smallest gains in the short term.

But its never been clear to me what world they are chasing, ultimately and collectively.

In a perfect future, what does a system of education look like for a New Hampshire Republican? Is it just loose bands of untrained and unaccountable teachers? What about the vision for public health when vaccination mandates have been rescinded and medical research obliterated? What kind of natural environment do they see when, through their short-sighted regulatory rollbacks, corporations are preemptively cleared of responsibility for the toxins they dump or the land they irrevocably ravage? And what kind of communities do Republicans picture? Would they be as culturally and ideologically homogenous as conservatives seem to desire?

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For that matter, what do national Republicans hope to achieve with their new war in the Middle East, besides war itself? What do they want America to look like after all of the federal institutions and agencies have been run into the ground, after every diplomatic bridge has been burned? What do they hope to build once the Trump administration finishes razing whatever is left of the shining city on a hill?

But its really not much of a mystery what Republicans truly want, is it? They want this  the chaos, the uncertainty, the carnage, the retreat from progress. They want to rail against income taxes, and Joe Biden, and trans kids, and immigrants, and public education, and Massachusetts, and environmental regulations, and clean energy. They want the fights and they want the cultivated fear of an imagined something worse, because that is how a party absolves itself of the responsibility to unite, to build, to make life better across the board.

And, not for nothing, theres a lot of money to be made in institutional demolition, tax-free, when the future isnt a factor.

I guess that means Im not bewildered anymore. The reason why Republicans dont seem to be headed anywhere in particular is because theyve already arrived.
A teacher at Columbus City Schools' Independence High School has been placed on leave and multiple students have faced discipline after the teacher apparently led students in an unauthorized anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest.

According to records obtained by The Dispatch, the Independence High School teacher, whom The Dispatch is not naming because she has not been disciplined by the district, was placed on leave while the district investigates her actions during a Feb. 20 protest against ICE enforcement in which she is accused of encouraging students to participate in and then leading.

More: Students face suspensions, expulsions for walkout, Jonathan Alder warns

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Mike Brown, a Columbus City Schools spokesperson, said in a statement that the team worked on a plan with a group of students who wanted to do a walkout protest, and the school agreed to a walkout protest near the end of the day, exiting through the main doorway.

A group of students chose to walk out through emergency exits in the middle of the day, Brown said. They were warned before walking out that it was not a permitted way to leave and would set off alarms.

"A group of students did then walk out, setting off alarms and breaching security, violating the rules of leaving school without permission," Brown said.

According to the records, the teacher encouraged students to disregard the administration's instructions and leave the building. The disciplinary record says that there is a video of the teacher leading students from the library to an area near the front entrance at approximately 1 p.m., about 90 minutes before classes are scheduled to end. She then returns to the library to escort another group of students toward the exit.

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According to multiple written statements from students, the teacher told them to "go protest and be loud but be respectful."

Reports from administrators say the walkout caused "panic," including large groups of students leaving class to watch the protest and a fight almost breaking out.

"Kids were all over the school and It took over half of 7th period to get everyone back to class that didn't walk out of the building," one school employee wrote.

Brown said that students who leave without permission can be investigated and susceptible to punishment. There is an escalating list of punishments for various infractions, he said.

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"Those Independence students found to have breached security in this incident have now been issued discipline," Brown said. Discipline ranged from the school contacting parents, an intervention meeting or detention.

Independence High School, seen in this June 6, 2023, aerial shots, is one of the Columbus City Schools' high schools.

Brown added that CCS teachers and staff work hard in each school to respect students' rights to protest and free speech "and find a responsible balance based on the situation at hand."

"Students have rights to protest and speech, but they also have a responsibility to be in class and not disruptive to other classes," Brown said.

In a statement published on Facebook in response to Dispatch coverage of the walkout, Columbus Education Association John Coneglio said it was "wholly inappropriate for the district to provide comments to reporters on an ongoing investigation."

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"And even more inappropriate to try and establish a narrative about what occurred in the press, based upon allegations that have not been substantiated," Coneglio said in the statement.

Coneglio declined to comment on the allegations against the teacher.

Can students legally walk out of school in protest?

In general, students do not lose their rights to freedom of speech or expression when they enter a school, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Schools cannot punish students as long as they "dont disrupt the functioning of the school or violate the schools content-neutral policies."

However, a school still has the discretion to discipline a student for walking out during the school day, the ACLU says.

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"Because the law in most places requires students to go to school, schools can discipline you for missing class," the ACLU says. "But what they cant do is discipline you more harshly because of the political nature of, or the message behind, your action."

According to the Ohio School Boards Association, a key consideration is balancing students "Constitutional rights to peaceably assemble and express themselves with the schools authority to limit the time, place and manner of student speech and meet its duty to maintain safe and orderly schools."

Central Ohio high schools seeing wave of student walkout protests

Students at other schools around central Ohio have participated in walkouts in recent months in protest against ICE activity. In January, hundreds of Upper Arlington High School students walked out of class despite disciplinary warnings from the school administration.

In February, Jonathan Alder Local Schools warned students would face risks of suspension or expulsion if they participated in a planned student walkout. At Central Crossing High School in South Western City Schools district, students say they were treated harshly by the school administration during their walkout protest.

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Several other suburban central Ohio high school students have walked out from classes, including at Dublin Scioto High School and at Westerville North High School.

The protests followed ICE's "Operation Buckeye," which saw a swarm of agents and arrests across central Ohio in late 2025.

Some of the largest teacher unions in the region, including the Columbus Education Association, the South-Western Education Association and the Hilliard Education Association, have also denounced ICE activity in central Ohio at or near schools.

Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report.

Columbus City Council holds a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin asks a question during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. A crowded gallery listens during a Columbus City Council a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus Division of Police assistant chief Nick Konves responds to questions during a Columbus City Council a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla asks questions during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin listens during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president pro-tem Rob Dorans asks questions during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council director of legislative research Matt Erickson presents during a council hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin asks a question during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin asks a question during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council members Lourdes Barroso de Padilla and Rob Dorans speak to media before a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council holds public hearing on ICE enforcement 1 of 11 Columbus City Council holds a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio high school teacher on leave after encouraging student walkout
As the Trump administration suggests that the process ahead for tariff refunds will be drawn out and possibly messy, Democratic party leaders are making it an election-year issue.

In a letter sent Tuesday to President Trump from Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat became the latest top Democrat to weigh in, saying the administration "has a responsibility to do everything in its power to ensure that it returns the money it illegally took from the American people."

"It is not too late to reverse course," Warren wrote in the letter, which was first shared with Yahoo Finance.

It's the latest  and perhaps the most pointed  Democratic commentary yet, with Warren writing that Trump's actions to delay refunds, if successful, "would amount to a theft in broad daylight from each and every American family that has paid the price of your failed economic agenda."

Other top Democrats, from Sen. Chuck Schumer to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have also weighed in repeatedly in recent weeks to elevate the issue.

A White House spokesperson didn't immediately offer a response to the letter on Tuesday night after Yahoo Finance reached out.

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic ranking member on the Senate's Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, speaks to reporters in February. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)  Tom Williams via Getty Images

No indication that White House intends to pay refunds

The growing political discourse around refunds also came as businesses received a touch of clarity this week after a federal court rejected an initial attempt by the administration to slow the refund litigation process.

Trump's Justice Department wanted to put the refund issue on hold for 90 days "to allow the political branches an opportunity to consider options."

But the judges refused that request and confirmed that the US Court of International Trade in New York will be the clearinghouse for these lawsuits going forward.

Over 2,000 lawsuits are reportedly currently pending  including from companies like Costco (COST), FedEx (FDX), Revlon Inc., and others  as they seek to continue a legal process that many expect to take years to play out.

Ted Murphy, an international trade lawyer at the firm Sidley Austin, offered limited assurances in a note to clients on Sunday.

"The administration has not offered any indication that it intends to pay refunds," he wrote. "In fact, the initial indications are to the contrary."

Murphy pushed companies to take additional action  both via the formal administrative process and in potentially filing additional court cases.

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the German Chancellor at the White House on Tuesday. (Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images)  picture alliance via Getty Images

At stake could be somewhere in the neighborhood of $175 billion in duties that were illegally collected under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, according to calculations by the Penn Wharton Budget Model.
On the night of Feb. 10, the operations manager at El Paso International Airport had urgent news.

The Trump administration was imposing a 10-day airspace closure over the Texas border city, and a federal transportation security official didnt have any information about it, Alexander Rao texted colleagues around 9:50 p.m.

[S]o far this is no BS, Rao said in a message obtained by POLITICO via a public records request.

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Shawn K. Naegele, security manager at the city-run airport, began hunting for answers.

Anyone else to call? Naegele asked.

FBI? Rao replied.

Its going to be a long night, said aviation director J. Antonio Tony Nevarez.

This group text, among a trove of other city communications obtained by POLITICO under Texas open records law, provides a behind-the-scenes look into the chaos prompted by the Federal Aviation Administrations temporary flight prohibition, an episode that offered fresh evidence of coordination problems between the air safety agency and the military. It also shows how the FAA, in the early hours of the incident, left the airport in the dark about what triggered the sweeping ban.

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The restriction took effect at 11:30 p.m. local time that day and was scheduled to run for over a week. Then, just as abruptly, the FAA lifted it the following morning.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed a drug cartel drone incursion for the short-lived, disruptive situation. But others said it was due to a standoff between the FAA and Defense Department over a laser weapon designed to shoot down drones, which Customs and Border Protection had recently deployed in the area. The New York Times reported CBP hit a party balloon.

The FAA and CBP didnt respond to a request for comment. DOD referred POLITICO to the FAA.

The guy on the phone was no help

Airport officials were stunned as the turmoil unfolded.

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In the group text, Rao, the operations manager, said he called an FAA hotline about the ban: All they said is Not an error. It came Through their management about an hour ago.

Nevarez, El Pasos aviation director, gave a ring, too, and was not impressed, saying, The guy on the phone was no help.

He added that media is all over this.

Can we stop with the this is unprecedented  shtuff for a while? Cant we just be normal. Its only February, Nevarez said.

Naegele, the airport security manager, appeared to reference an FBI employee by his first name, saying this person thinks its military op. Do we have any contacts at Bliss to ask? (Fort Bliss is a nearby Army base.)

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I dont think DoW will tell us anything, Nevarez said, using the acronym for the Department of War, the Trump administrations preferred name for DOD.

Probably not, Naegele responded. NOTUS first reported on the group text.



Rao said he was told the air traffic control towers instructions are no aircraft at all. Including medflights which have been granted leeway in the past.

Insane, said Nevarez, who then asked if anyone had the mornings 5-9 ish flight schedule on hand. The airport handles around 4 million passengers annually.

Naegele texted that a Transportation Security Administration intelligence analyst says the notam was issued through DOW. A NOTAM, or Notice to Airmen, is an alert the FAA distributes to pilots and others containing key aeronautical information, such as airspace restrictions.

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Wow, never thought we would see this here, said Willie Paris, assistant director of aviation operations and security at the airport.

WTF, OVER

Nevarez proposed that the airport set up an emergency operations center. A member of the El Paso Police Department, Curtis Hamilton, outlined how law enforcement was mobilizing to assist.

If we affect any street closures, I have to let the chain know, texted Hamilton, a potential reference to his chain of command.

Naegele, the airport security manager, also shared what appears to be a TSA intelligence assessment that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had passed along to him  marked as being unclassified but only for official use  which stated, among other things, Per the FAA, they are tracking ongoing efforts to counter potential UAS threats emanating from Mexico. UAS refers to an uncrewed aircraft system. The port authority and TSA didnt respond to a request for comment.

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Rao later confirmed the ban was lifted. The FAA nixed it around 7 a.m. At least a dozen flights were canceled.

In another group text hours after the prohibition ended on Feb. 11, Shane Brooks, El Pasos assistant director of aviation development, sent an image of a rabbit saying into a walkie-talkie: WTF, OVER.
The Iowa House passed several education measures Tuesday, including bills related to students free speech and social studies class standards.

House File 2336, approved in a 63-33 vote, would ban schools from discriminating against or penalizing students for engaging in religious, political or ideological speech. Specifically, the bill would prevent schools from taking action to limit the speech or punish students for expressing certain viewpoints on an issue, if other similarly situated students are not prevented from speaking on or presenting a different opinion the issue.

The bill also would require school districts to adopt policies and annual trainings for educators regarding constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression in public elementary and secondary schools, alongside annual certification of compliance.

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Rep. Samantha Fett, R-Carlisle, said the bill protects personal expression and ensures that religious and political viewpoints are treated equally and without discrimination.

But Rep. Angelina Ramirez, D-Cedar Rapids, said religious expression, political speech and ideological speech are already protected as First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. She said the bill duplicates First Amendment protections already required in Iowa schools, while adding another unfunded mandate on our public schools, including training and compliance requirements, as well as new legal liabilities for civil lawsuits, as the bill requires schools found by the court in violation of the measure are subject to a penalty of at least $5,000.

I want us to be very clear on what this means, Ramirez said. In practice, we are telling schools follow federal law  which they already must do  but now also document it, train on it, annually certify it to the state and face new financial penalties if someone alleges you got it wrong. Where is the funding to support that additional training? Where is the funding for the administrative time to track compliance and file annual certification, the funding for the DE to dedicate towards paying someone to follow up and confirm certifications? Those answers were never addressed. We dont have the funding for increased legal exposure.

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Fett said the measure provides uniform statewide standards on First Amendment rights for students, saying currently, Iowa students experience different rules, different interpretations and too often inconsistent or incorrect applications of the First Amendment.

Students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate, Fett said. While the U.S. Department of Education provides clear federal guidance on religious and political expression, that guidance does not consistently reach at the local level. Many teachers, principals and school board members never receive it. This bill closes that gap by requiring annual distribution and training ,so every educator understands what the law requires. That clearly reduces misunderstandings, prevents conflicts and protects both students and schools.

Social studies standards

The House also passed House File 2510, a measure making multiple changes to Iowas social studies instruction standards, in a 60-36 vote.

The bill requires social studies instruction to include information on federal, state and local levels of government, the history of the secular and religious ideals and institutions of liberty, discussion of exemplary figures in western civilization, the United States and state of Iowa, and the cultural heritage of western civilization. Many of the provisions were requirements under a 2024 law for social studies instruction, which created a task force to make changes to the states standards. But Rep. Brooke Boden, R-Indianola, said the bill comes as the 2024 task force missed the mark.

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The task force failed to follow our legislative intent, Boden said. The new standards remain too vague, making implementation inconsistent and lacking straightforward, measurable teaching of history and civics. So here we are back again with the same language to ensure that our standards are met.

The bill was amended to remove certain requirements duplicated through other legislation on civics education and addressing prescriptive language included in the bill on Holocaust language and instruction. The bill still includes requirements for U.S. history to include a unit related to the Holocaust, as well as crimes against humanity that occurred under communist regimes.

Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport, said the bill states the Department of Education shall not use the draft social studies standards that were created following the 2024 law. She asked why the Department of Education social studies experts who developed the curriculum did not comply with the requirements of the law.

Could it be that it was highly prescriptive, highly slanted, in that the requirements in that law were not acceptable to them as experts? Kurth said. They favored an approach that gave guidelines, but not a step-by-step curriculum that could be considered not age-appropriate, and that presented a one-sided, unrealistic view of the development of this country.

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She criticized the 2024 bill as being taken from the conservative think tank Civics Alliance, and that this years bill is another piece of model legislation introduced by the organization. She quoted an interview with David Randall, executive director of Civics Alliance, who said, were only just getting the first wave of laws onto the books, so were seeing day by day exactly how radical activists in bureaucracies sabotage or fail to enforce laws, and what needs to be done to ensure the laws go into effect.

We have model legislation for oversight and compliance, but to make it most effective we need to see exactly what sorts of evasion and sabotage are used, Randall said. But the most important thing is, were not declaring victory and going to sleep just because a law is passed. Were keeping on working to make sure a law is enforced. 

The state education department following the guidance of social studies experts in drafting the social studies curriculum standards prompted the state to go into this next stage of this battle, Kurth said.

Boden disagreed with this characterization of the bill.

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This legislation is not slated and it is not one sided, Boden said. This is not about politics. Its about preparation. Its about ensuring that our next generation understands the principles and liberty, of  limited government, civic responsibility. It is about equipping our students with knowledge that they need to preserve their freedoms that we cherish and I have the full confidence that our students are capable of learning that, even in the fifth grade.

Both measures go to the Iowa Senate for further consideration.

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An Iranian drone strike at a U.S. military base in the Middle East killed six U.S. soldiers, including at least one Iowan.

Here's what to know so far about the attacks.

West Des Moines native dies in Iranian drone strike

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, was identified as a casualty in an Iranian attack against Kuwait, where he was deployed, on Sunday, March 1. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, was identified as a casualty in an Iranian attack against Kuwait, where he was deployed, on Sunday, March 1. In a combination images, From left Sgt. Declan Coady, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Capt. Cody Khork and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury who were killed on March 1, 2026, in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, a resident of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, enlisted in the National Guard as a 92A (Automated Logistics Specialist) in 2005. She transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006 and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019. Amor's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device. Capt. Cody Khork, a resident of Lakeland, Fla., enlisted as a 13P (Multiple Launch Rocket System / Fire Direction Specialist) in the National Guard in 2009. He commissioned as a Military Police Officer in the Army Reserve in 2014. He deployed to Saudia Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2021, and Poland in 2024. Khork's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10 Year Device and "M" Device, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, a resident of Bellevue, Nebraska, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2006 as a 91B (Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic). He had two deployments to Kuwait in 2009 and 2019. Tietjens' awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal With "M" Device. See Des Moines Army Reserve soldiers killed in Iranian attack 1 of 10 U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack.

Declan Coady, a 20-year-old Army Reservist from West Des Moines, and three other soldiers assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, based out of Des Moines, were killed in a drone strike at the Shuaiba Port in Kuwait. Two other U.S. soldiers killed in the strike have not been identified because notification procedures for their families were still underway as of the morning of Wednesday, March 4.

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The strike occurred around 9 a.m. local time or just after midnight central time on March 1.

Who was Declan Coady?

Coady was a graduate of West Des Moines' Valley High School and attended school at Drake University.

His awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon, according to an Army statement.

Coady joined the Army Reserves while attending Drake and could have been exempt from the deployment because he was in ROTC. He was considering active duty after his deployment, his family said.

More: Iowa soldier Declan Coady killed in Iranian strike in Kuwait

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"He was just the nicest. He was quite shy and a man of few words, but he was amazing," his sister, Keira Coady, said.

"He was still outgoing in many ways. He was not afraid of doing anything," his father, Andrew Coady, added. "He would always step up and help people. Declan was very good at what he did in the Army."

Where was the Shuaiba Port in Kuwait?

The Shuaiba Port is located in southern Kuwait, roughly 10 miles away from the U.S. Army base Camp Arifjan.

A family member of one of the slain soldiers told the Associated Press that the hub was a shipping container-style building and had no defenses. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the secure facility was fortified with 6-foot walls.

Who were the other soldiers killed in Kuwait?

The Pentagon on March 3 identified the others killed in the strike as:

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Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida

Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota

The troops are the first known American casualties of the conflict that began Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched a series of strikes, taking out Iran's supreme leader and destroying weapons facilities. President Donald Trump said in a video posted on March 1 that more American casualties are likely.

"As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots that made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation," Trump said. "Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends  that's the way it is. Likely be more."

Soldiers killed in Kuwait served in a Des Moines Army Reserve unit

All of the named soldiers killed in the strike were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, based out of Des Moines.

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The 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command is a logistics and sustainment unit that provides food, fuel, transportation and other support according to the U.S. Army Reserve. The command is headquartered at the Fort Des Moines US Army Reserve Complex at 225 E. Army Post Road in Des Moines, according to its Facebook page.

The command comprises 79 subordinate units and has command and control of more than 7,000 reserve soldiers throughout the Midwest, according to the U.S. Army Reserve website. The 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command has been deployed overseas to provide logistics support to U.S. and allied forces in post-9/11 operations.

Iowa soldier killed in Kuwait comes less than 3 months after Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria

Staff Sgts. William Nathaniel "Nate" Howard (left) and Edgar Torres-Tovar were killed in Syria on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, while they were stationed with the Iowa National Guard.St

Coady's death follows those late last year of Iowa National Guard Staff Sgts. William Nathaniel "Nate" Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines. A suspected ISIS gunman ambushed them near Palmyra, Syria, also killing a civilian interpreter from Michigan. Three other Iowa National Guard soldiers were wounded.

The bodies of Howard and Torres-Tovar were brought back to Iowa on Christmas Eve. They were the first Iowa Army National Guard members to die in combat since Sgt. Terryl L. Pasker was killed in the Afghanistan War in July 2011.

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Iowa had nearly 1,800 soldiers deployed throughout the region as part of Operation Inherent Resolve before a first wave of about 250 Guard soldiers returned home in February.

Des Moines Register reporters Kevin Baskins and Kyle Werner contributed to this report.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa soldier killed in Iranian drone strike. What we know so far
Israel pounded Lebanon early Thursday and said it intercepted missiles from Iran as a widening war launched by the United States and Israel also brought fresh turmoil to Iraq.

An air strike in the pre-dawn hours struck a Beirut suburbs stronghold of Hezbollah, the Tehran-backed force that has vowed to avenge the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the war's first moments Saturday.

Israel, which had warned residents beforehand to flee, also said it was working to intercept a new barrage of missiles fired by Iran, even though the US military had boasted of crippling the Islamic republic's capacities.

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Iran has vowed to exert a heavy price for the attacks and has fired missiles across the region, and its elite Revolutionary Guards claimed Wednesday to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint into the Gulf through which a fifth of the world's crude oil flows.

"The Americans' mischief and deceit could lead to the collapse of the entire military and economic infrastructure of the region," the Iranian military command warned in a statement.

Oil tanker transits through the strait have plunged by 90 percent, energy market intelligence firm Kpler said.

Britain's maritime agency reported a large early-morning explosion near Kuwait, with oil spilling into Gulf waters.

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Nearby Iraq was hit by a total electricity blackout though it was not clear if it was connected to the war, with the electricity ministry blaming a sudden drop in gas supplies to a key plant.

Iran struck Wednesday in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish area, killing a member from an exiled Iranian Kurdish group, a representative said, amid reports that the United States was looking to arm the guerrillas to infiltrate Iran.

"Separatist groups should not think that a breeze has blown and try to take action," said Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. "We will not tolerate them in any way."

Two pro-Iran fighters were killed in a separate strike on their base inside Iraq.

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- Iranian warship torpedoed -

The United States said that one of its submarines sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, the nation's first torpedoing of a vessel since World War II.

The IRIS Dena frigate had been on a friendly visit to India when it was hit.

The ship "thought it was safe in international waters", US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters.

Hegseth, who has previously boasted that the war would not be "politically correct", called the strike "quiet death" and said of the United States, "We are fighting to win".

The United States killed at least 87 people in the strike, Sri Lankan officials said, with 61 remaining missing. The island nation rescued 32 sailors, many of them wounded, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said.

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Iran's official IRNA news agency said 1,045 military personnel and civilians had been killed since the war began, a toll AFP could not independently verify.

Iran says more than 150 people, many of them children, died in a strike on a school Saturday in the southern town of Minab, with state television showing a large crowd of mourners over bodies in white shrouds.

AFP reporters could not independently access the site to verify the toll.

US authorities say six soldiers have died in the war.

- Missile over Turkey -

In another first, a missile launched from Iran was destroyed by a NATO air defence system while heading towards Turkey's airspace, drawing condemnation from Ankara and NATO.

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A Turkish official told AFP that Turkey was not the target of the missile, which had been aimed at a British base in Cyprus and "veered off course".

Turkey, which has criticised the war, summoned the Iranian ambassador, and its Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in a telephone call that "any steps that could lead to the spread of conflict should be avoided".

Iranian strikes have caused fear and damage in Gulf cities such as Dubai and Riyadh, which have long taken pride in their safety from the tumult of the region.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar all said they had intercepted Iranian missiles on Wednesday, including a drone set to hit the Saudis' huge Ras Tanura refinery.

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Kuwait has also been struck, with the health ministry announcing the death of an 11-year-old girl after she was hit by falling shrapnel.

Thirteen people, seven of them civilians, have been killed in countries around the Gulf since the war began, and air travel has been severely disrupted.

The United States said it sent its first charter flight to bring back Americans after urging them to leave the region, following similar moves by France and Britain.

- Warning on Lebanon -

In Lebanon, which Hezbollah dragged into the war by firing rockets on Israel, Israeli strikes have killed 75 people and displaced more than 83,000 since the start of the new round of fighting, officials said Wednesday.

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Israel urged people to leave the section of Lebanon south of the Litani river -- an area of hundreds of square kilometres -- as the army was "compelled to take military action".

Israeli air strikes also hit a hotel in Hazmieh, the first reported attack on the predominantly Christian area in Beirut's suburbs, which is near the presidential palace and several foreign embassies.

The strikes revived memories of previous long-term Israeli occupations in Lebanon, and AFP video footage showed what appeared to be two Israeli tanks amid residential buildings in Khiam, about six kilometres into Lebanon.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warned Israel against a ground offensive and to "preserve Lebanon's territorial integrity",

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It was Macron's first conversation since last year with Netanyahu, who had voiced anger over France's historic recognition of a Palestinian state.

The French leader also said he spoke to Lebanese leaders to urge them to press Hezbollah to cease its attacks.

Iran's military threatened to target Israeli embassies worldwide if Israel were to attack Tehran's mission in Lebanon.

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Here are the latest main events related to the war in the Middle East:

- Explosions heard in Tehran: media -

Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that several explosions were heard in Tehran on Thursday morning.

It said the country had activated its defences in response.

- Iran launches missiles at Israel -

Iran launched a fresh round of missiles at Israel earlier Thursday, triggering alerts in several areas including Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli military and Tehran's state media.

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Explosions were heard in Jerusalem after warnings of incoming Iranian missile fire, according to AFP journalists, but Israel's emergency services said there were no known casualties.

- Air strike hits Hezbollah stronghold -

An air strike hit the Hezbollah stronghold of south Beirut early Thursday, after Israel had issued a warning to residents.

Elsewhere, three people were killed in a pair of Israeli strikes on vehicles along Beirut's airport highway, Lebanon's health ministry said.

- Oil spill near Kuwait -

A tanker was hit by a "large explosion" in the waters off Kuwait, causing an oil spill, British maritime security agency UKMTO said.

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"The Master of a tanker at anchor, reports witnessing and hearing a large explosion on the port side then seeing a small craft leave the vicinity" off the Gulf state's Mubarak Al-Kabeer area, the agency posted on X.

- Qatar evacuations near US embassy -

Qatar has begun evacuating residents of its capital living near the US embassy as a precautionary measure, the interior ministry said, after Iranian strikes.

- Turkey says missile from Iran destroyed -

A ballistic missile launched from Iran and heading towards Turkish airspace via Iraq and Syria was destroyed by NATO air defense systems, Turkish officials said.

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The defense ministry did not specify the missile's intended target, but the foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador.

A Turkish official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the missile had been "aimed at a base in Greek Cyprus but veered off course".

- Trump, Netanyahu hail war effort -

President Donald Trump hailed the US performance in the war, saying Iran's leaders were rapidly being killed, and vowing to push on.

"We're doing well on the war front, to put it mildly. Somebody said on a scale of 10, where would you rate it? I said about a 15," Trump told a gathering of tech bosses.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that Israel and Washington had made "historic gains" in the war.

- US Senate rejects bid to curb war -

The US Senate rejected a bipartisan resolution aimed at curbing Trump's authority to continue military strikes on Iran, in a narrow congressional show of support for a conflict launched without explicit approval from lawmakers.

With Republicans holding a 5347 majority in the upper chamber of Congress, the resolution fell short by exactly that margin.

- Canada can't rule out war role -

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he couldn't "rule out participation" in the escalating war.

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"We will stand by our allies," he said alongside local counterpart Anthony Albanese in Canberra.

- Spain denies US claim of cooperation -

Spain doubled down on its opposition to Washington's use of its bases against Iran, after Trump's threats of trade reprisals.

The White House said Madrid had now agreed to cooperate, but Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said its stance on "bases, on the war in the Middle East, on the bombardment of Iran, has not changed at all."

- China to send envoy to mediate -

China will send a special envoy to mediate in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

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Beijing is a close partner of Iran and has said it backs Tehran in defending its sovereignty, while urging the United States and Israel to cease their attacks.

- Qatar ire -

Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani lambasted Iran's foreign minister during a call, accusing Tehran of trying to drag their neighbors into war.

- Cargo crisis deepens -

Danish shipping giant Maersk and Germany's Hapag-Lloyd said they were suspending bookings in the Gulf until further notice following a risk assessment, after China's Cosco announced a similar halt.

Oil prices had risen as Iran warns vessels against using the narrow Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and crucial for oil tankers, in the Gulf.

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- Hormuz crew rescued -

The Omani navy rescued 24 crew members of a container ship struck by missiles in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian forces claimed "complete control" of the strait a day after Trump said the US Navy was ready to escort tankers through the channel.

- Sri Lanka recovers 87 bodies -

A US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

"We have collected 87 bodies," a Sri Lankan navy official told AFP.

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Iranian forces have set fire to a US oil tanker after striking it in the northern Gulf, according to state media.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned they would set fire to any vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after claiming complete control of the major shipping route on Wednesday.

The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway in the Persian Gulf through which around a fifth of the worlds oil passes.

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The US has not commented on reports of an attack, which represent a further escalation in the ongoing conflict as it enters its sixth day.

Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said that a tanker anchored off Kuwait was hit by a large explosion. The vessel was taking on water and oil was seen leaking from a cargo tank. It is unclear whether these reports are of the same incident.

Iran effectively closed the route this week after US missiles sank several Iranian ships. By Sunday, maritime traffic had dropped by 80 per cent, according to Lloyds List Intelligence.

Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republics navy, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds major shipping routes (AP)

The IRGC threatened to set fire to any ships attempting to pass through the strait. US president Donald Trump said that US Navy forces would be deployed to escort oil tankers if necessary.

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Experts have warned that global supply chains will face major disruption, and that restrictions to shipping could send oil prices well into triple digits.

Below, we look at why the strait is so strategically important.

Where is the Strait of Hormuz?

The Strait of Hormuz runs to the south of Iran and is just 21 miles across at its narrowest point (Getty/iStock)

The Strait of Hormuz lies between the Persian Gulf to the north and the Gulf of Oman to the south, opening up to the Arabian Sea and beyond to the rest of the world.

It is roughly 100 miles long, but only 21 miles across at its narrowest point.

The land-flanked passage lies in Irans territorial waters, but is viewed as an international waterway and is normally open to all ships. It consists of two shipping lanes allowing traffic to pass in opposite directions, each two miles wide, with another two-mile-wide lane separating them.

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International law permits countries to exercise control up to 13.8 miles (12 nautical miles) from their coastline. At its narrowest point, the passage comes under both Iranian and Omani control.

Iran lies on one side of the strait, and some of the worlds biggest oil suppliers including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman lie across the waters.

What passes through the strait?

Around a fifth of the worlds oil supply passes through the strait (Stock picture) (Reuters)

It is one of the worlds most important maritime chokepoints, with 20 million barrels of oil passing through it each day  one-fifth of global oil consumption  and up to one-third of the worlds supply of liquefied natural gas.

This amounts to over 500 million barrels of oil and 6 million tonnes of gas every month, according to Lloyds List. Much of this is exported to Asian markets, including China (Irans only remaining oil customer), India and Japan.

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It is the route used by supertankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran.

Around 3,000 shipping vessels pass through the passage every month, including oil tankers, liquefied natural gas containers, and cargo vessels, according to Lloyds List. This amounts to more than 30,000 ships every year.

While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can transport oil, the US Energy Information Administration says that most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.

Last month, Iran closed the Middle Eastern waterway for the first time since the 1980s as Iranian troops took part in live-fire military exercises.

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Iran had not threatened to close the passage even during its 12-day war with Israel last June, when US-Israeli strikes took out some of the countrys key nuclear and military sites.

A global trade bottleneck as missiles rain down

Traffic through the strait has dropped dramatically since the US strikes began (MarineTraffic)

Passage through the waterway has almost ground to a halt, creating a trade bottleneck, since the current war broke out.

Seaborne traffic is reported to have dropped by 80 per cent on Sunday, according to Lloyds List Intelligence, while Argus Media cited the Bahrain-based Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) in reporting that movement had dropped by 94 per cent since Saturday. Only three ships passed through, according to JMIC, far below the average of 138.

Around 150 vessels have dropped anchor near the strait, according to reports. Hundreds of others have dropped anchor near to Gulf countries as shipping movements are halted.

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At least four tankers are reported to have been hit in the mayhem as maritime insurers have pulled insurance cover. At least one Indian crew member was killed, according to Euro News. Several reports from trade publications suggest that others have been injured.

Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday that the US Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.

No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD, he wrote, adding: The United States ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH  More actions to come.

In his message, the president added that he was ordering the US International Development Finance Corporation, a government agency focused on foreign infrastructure investment, to offer political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.

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US attacks have spilled over into international waters with the US military torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, 40 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka. At least 80 people were killed, and 100 more are missing. The strike is likely to deepen a crisis that has already paralysed maritime shipping.

An aerial view of the Iranian shore and the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)

Effects on oil prices and the global economy

Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is highly disruptive to the oil trade.

The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated, said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman.

A partial slowdown lasting a week or two could be absorbed by oil companies, he said. But a full, or near full, closure lasting a month or more would push crude oil prices, trading at around $80 (59) on Tuesday, well into triple digits and European natural gas prices toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.

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Threats to the route have spiked global energy prices in the past, including during the Israel-Iran war in June 2025.

China and Japan, who will be severely affected, have called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict. A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday, when asked about the potential impact on Chinas oil supply, that China would take necessary measures to safeguard its energy security.
In a message directed to Iranians living abroad, Pahlavi said on X that the diaspora had already played an important role in shifting global opinion in recent weeks.

Irans Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi on Wednesday called on members of the Iranian diaspora to intensify lobbying efforts with governments and public institutions in their countries of residence, urging them to sustain international support for the Iranian people until the Islamic Republic regime falls.

In a message directed to Iranians living abroad, Pahlavi said on X that the diaspora had already played an important role in shifting global opinion in recent weeks, particularly through large demonstrations held during the recent Global Day of Action.

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Your efforts and work in recent weeks, and your remarkable presence on the Global Day of Action, have played a key role in changing global public opinion and influencing decision-makers to support the people of Iran, he wrote.

The Global Day of Action was called for on February 14 by Pahlavi and saw a million Iranians take to the streets in anti-regime and pro-monarchy demonstrations in cities such as Toronto, Munich and Los Angeles. Pahlavi himself addressed the Munich crowd.

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah and an Iranian opposition figure, speaks during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, February 13, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/THILO SCHMUELGEN)

The coming weeks will be critical for Iran's future

The prince also stated in his message that the coming weeks will be critical for Irans future and urged supporters abroad to maintain pressure on political leaders and institutions.

Your role in sustaining this support to bring an end to the disgraceful reign of the Islamic Republic is vital, he wrote.

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The exiled crown prince asked Iranians living overseas to contact political representatives and policymakers in their host countries and press them to continue backing the Iranian people.

Persuade them that support for the people of Iran must continue until the very moment the Islamic Republic falls. Also emphasize the inviolability of Irans territorial integrity, he wrote. Stress full commitment to the will of the Iranian people in establishing the countrys future system of government. And insist on the utmost care to prevent harm to civilians.

Pahlavi further encouraged continued participation in public demonstrations abroad, saying large marches remain an important way to show international support for political change in Iran. The crown prince ended his statement with a message urging Iranians abroad to remain engaged in what he described as a historic moment.

Decisive moments lie ahead of usmoments that will shape Irans future for decades and centuries to come, he wrote. Redouble your efforts.
Investing.com -- Iran has rejected a New York Times report claiming that operatives from its Ministry of Intelligence signaled openness to talks with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency about ending the war.

The report is "pure falsehood and psychological warfare," Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency said Wednesday, citing a source from the Ministry of Intelligence.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that Iranian intelligence operatives reached out to the CIA through an unnamed countrys spy agency, according to Middle Eastern officials and officials from a Western nation who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Iran postponed the funeral for its former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose killing has sparked a succession race that hardliners appear poised to win.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the former leaders son and one of the most influential figures in the Iranian clerical establishment, has reportedly survived US and Israeli strikes against him, strengthening his hand. Meanwhile Alireza Arafi, a conservative Islamist who The Economist says is the leading contender to succeed Khamenei, was recently elected as a member of Irans Interim Leadership Council, Al Monitor reported.

The hardliners apparent success is among the reasons US officials are bearish on the prospects for regime change in the country, despite Washingtons calls for Iranians to overthrow the leadership.
March 4 (Reuters) - Operatives from Iran's Ministry of Intelligence signalled openness to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to talks on ending the war, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing officials briefed on the matter.

The offer was made through an unnamed country's spy agency, the NYT said, citing Middle Eastern officials and officials from a Western nation who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A source from the Iranian intelligence ministry rejected the report as "absolute lies and psychological warfare in the midst of war", Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim reported.

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The White House and the CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Officials in Washington are sceptical as to whether Iran or the Trump administration is really ready for an "off-ramp", at least in the short term, the report added.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on Tuesday ruled out for now any negotiations with the United States, days after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on his country.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Tehran wanted to talk but it was too late, as the United States continued its military operation against Iran.

(Reporting by Anusha Shah in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Dubai newsroom;Editing by Gareth Jones and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
What happened

According to an SEC filing dated Feb. 17, 2026, Eminence Capital, LP, initiated a new position in Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) by purchasing 4,212,293 shares. The estimated value of this acquisition is $122.41 million, based on the average share price during the quarter. The firm reported a quarter-end holding of 4,212,293 shares, with the stakes value shifting to reflect both the new purchase and changes in Valvolines stock price.

What else to know

This new position for Eminence Capital represents 1.94% of its reportable AUM as of the filing date.

Top holdings after the filing: Amazon : $340.60 million (5.39% of AUM) Sea Limited : $336.99 million (5.33% of AUM) Louisiana-Pacific : $326.93 million (5.17% of AUM) Workiva : $319.66 million (5.05% of AUM) Coupang : $298.27 million (4.7% of AUM)



As of March 3, 2026, Valvoline shares were trading at $37.50, up 1.64% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 13 percentage points.

Company Overview

Metric Value Market capitalization $4.77 billion Revenue (TTM) $1.76 billion Net income (TTM) $88.70 million Price (as of market close 3/3/26) $37.50

Company Snapshot

Valvoline provides automotive lubricants, antifreeze/coolants, functional and maintenance chemicals, oil and air filters, and operates instant oil change service centers.

The company generates revenue from the sale of branded automotive maintenance products and services, as well as from its franchise- and company-operated quick-lube locations.

Primary customers include individual vehicle owners, car dealerships, general repair shops, and third-party quick lube operators across North America and international markets.

Valvoline is a leading provider of automotive maintenance products and services, with a significant presence in both retail and service operations. The company leverages a strong brand, an extensive network of service centers, and a broad product portfolio to serve a diverse customer base.

What this transaction means for investors

It appears that Eminence Capitals purchase of Valvoline in Q4 was beautifully timed. While Foolish investing doesnt revolve around timing the market, I wanted to point it out nonetheless for Eminence after it bought shares at around $29, only for the company to subsequently jump to $37.50 today. It will be interesting to see what the firm does in Q1 following this rise, whether it doubles down, keeps holding, or sells.

As for the stock, Valvoline may be benefiting thanks to being a HALO stock, as coined by Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management. These heavy asset, low obsolescence stocks have surged to start 2026, offering investors a reprieve from tech- and software-heavy businesses that are more easily disrupted as AIs capabilities advance. Additionally, the company just grew its store count by 16% to 2,380 locations and has grown sales by roughly 9% annually over the last four years. Over the long haul, management hopes to increase its store count to over 3,500, so VVVs growth story is far from over.
Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and threatened to set fire to any ships that try to pass through as the widening war in Iran grinds tanker traffic through the crucial waterway to a halt.

The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes.

Tankers traveling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran, carry oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran. Most of that oil goes to Asia.

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Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is highly disruptive to the oil trade.

The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated, said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman.

A sign with current gas prices is displayed at a gas station in Los Angeles, California on March 2, 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)

He said a partial slowdown lasting a week or two could be absorbed by oil companies.

But a full or near full closure lasting a month or more would push crude oil prices, trading around $80 on Tuesday, well into triple digits and European natural gas prices toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.

Heres what to know about the strait and the widening Iran war.

A key waterway for global shipping

The Strait of Hormuz is a bending waterway, about 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

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From there, ships can then travel to the rest of the world. While Iran and Oman have their territorial waters in the strait, it's viewed as an international waterway all ships can ply.

The United Arab Emirates, home to the skyscraper-studded city of Dubai, also sits near the waterway.

The strait long has been important for trade

The Strait of Hormuz through history has been important for trade, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles moving from China through the region.

In the modern era, it is the route for supertankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran. The vast majority of it goes to markets in Asia, including Iran's only remaining oil customer, China.

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While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can avoid the passage, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.

Threats to the route have spiked global energy prices in the past, including during the Israel-Iran war in June.

Is the strait closed?

Iran has attacked several ships near the Strait of Hormuz and threatened any ships that try to pass through, effectively closing it.

The Strait of Hormuz is closed, declared Iranian Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

He said any ships that passed through it would be set on fire.

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Previously, Iran temporarily shut down parts of the strait in mid-February for what it said was a military drill. Oil prices jumped about 6% in the following days.

In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points.

But Iran had not carried out repeated threats to close the waterway altogether since the 1980s, even during last years 12-day war when Israel and the U.S. bombarded Irans key nuclear and military sites.

Global shippers suspend operations

Global shippers have issued service alerts saying they have suspended operations in the area. Danish shipping company Maersk, the worlds biggest shipping company, said Sunday it is suspending all vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. Other ocean carriers including Hapag-Lloyd, CMA-CGM and MSC made similar announcements.

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No one is wanting to navigate it, and theres no insurer whos willing to stand behind any transport going through there right now., said Tom Goldsby, logistics chairman in the Supply Chain Management Department at the University of Tennessee. Those ships that got stuck in the Gulf are not going anywhere. ... Theres also a whole host of ships that were heading into the Gulf to replace them, and of course theyre anchored or going elsewhere now."

Data and analytics firm Kplr estimated Monday there were 70 laden oil tankers and 75 clean tankers, which carry refined oil products, in the Mideast Gulf, seemingly waiting to pass through. Thats roughly twice as many as usual, according to Kplr. Meanwhile, about 60 tankers are sitting just outside the Mideast Gulf, east of the Strait of Hormuz, in a holding pattern.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Saturday, with massive joint U.S.-Israel strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed by airstrikes in Tehran on Saturday. His successor is yet to be named.

Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

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(Read previous Iran live updates here.)

Watch special coverage on Nightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Latest Developments





Mar 5, 2:23 PM

IDF asks hundreds of thousands to evacuate in LebanonThe Israel Defense Forces issued evacuation orders on Thursday for hundreds of thousands of people in Lebanon.



Over 83,000 people are registered as displaced persons in shelters, equivalent to 18,033 families, according to Minister of Social Affairs Hanin Al-Sayed.





Ahmad Al Kerdi/Reuters - PHOTO: A man stands near a damaged building after Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, following renewed hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 5, 2026.





-ABC News Will Gretsky

Mar 5, 2:23 PM

US suspends operations at embassy in Kuwait

The State Department announced that it has suspended all operations at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait.



This is the first suspension of operations at a U.S. embassy since the conflict began.



The embassy itself was closed earlier in the week and struck by what was initially assessed to be an Iranian drone on Monday.



The embassy previously said it would provide "information on how American citizens in Kuwait may obtain an emergency passport for travel.



-ABC News Shannon Kingston

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Mar 5, 2:09 PM

1st flight from UAE lands in US



Emirates Flight 203, the first direct, commercial flight from the United Arab Emirates to the U.S. since the conflict with Iran began, landed safely in New York City on Thursday morning.



Its not clear what, if any, role the U.S. government had in facilitating the flight.



Emirates previously announced that it had suspended its regularly scheduled flights through March 7, and the airline has since carried out a number of repatriation flights. The State Department announced Thursday night that a charter flight had left the Middle East and was on its way back to the U.S.



-ABC News Clara McMichael

Mar 5, 11:40 AM

Trump says he has 'to be involved in the appointment' of Iran's next supreme leader



President Donald Trump said that he has "to be involved in the appointment" of Iran's next supreme leader in an exclusive phone interview with Axios on Thursday.





Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Vehicles drive along an expressway against the backdrop of smoke rising after a strike on the Iranian capital of Tehran, March 5, 2026.





Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the U.S. and Israel strikes.



"They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," Trump said, according to Axios.



But in a Saturday video Trump posted on social media after Operation Epic Fury began, he said to the Iranian people, "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take."



Axios also reported that Trump said he does not want another hard-liner in leadership, saying that would make the U.S. go back to war with Iran "in five years."



"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Trump said, according to Axios.



-ABC News Michelle Stoddart

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Mar 5, 10:24 AM

20,000 Americans have returned to US from Middle East: State Department

The State Department says its aware of 20,000 Americans who have returned to the U.S. from the Middle East since Saturday. The department said its task force has helped 10,000 Americans.



The department also said it is expanding its crisis intake form -- which previously covered the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel -- to now include Bahrain and Kuwait.





Michael Probst/AP - PHOTO: People arrive at the International Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, after being evacuated from Dubai on a commercial flight, March 3, 2026.





The Trump administration has faced criticism for not having a plan in place to evacuate Americans in advance of the joint operation. The State Department on Monday urged Americans to depart from 14 countries in the region using commercial means, but there are significant disruptions in air travel.



In addition to the charter flight that left the Middle East Wednesday night, the department said it expects additional flights and ground transports to take place Thursday in order to move Americans out of the region.



-ABC News Shannon Kingston

Mar 5, 5:29 AM

Explosions reported in Qatar amid missile attack

A series of loud explosions were heard in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, with the Defense Ministry saying in a statement that the country had been subjected to "a missile attack."



Qatari officials said Iran launched 14 ballistic missiles and four drones into Qatar around 11:51 a.m. local time. Thirteen missiles were intercepted, while one missile fell into the water, the Qataris said, and all four drones were intercepted. No injuries were reported.



-ABC News Marcus Moore, Dragana Jovanovic and Colm OMolloy

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Mar 5, 9:04 AM

Selection of Iran's new supreme leader in final stages



The process of selecting Iran's next supreme leader is entering the final stages, a member of the Assembly of Experts, Ayatollah Mohsen Qomi, told Mehr News, Iran's semiofficial news agency.

Mar 5, 7:39 AM

Tanker hit by explosion in Persian Gulf, UKMTO says

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Thursday that a Bahamas-flagged tanker was hit by an explosion in the northern Persian Gulf late on Wednesday.



The explosion occurred while the vessel was empty and at anchor around 30 nautical miles southeast of the Kuwaiti coast, the UKMTO said.



"The Master" of the tanker reported "a large explosion on the port side then seeing a small craft leave the vicinity," the UKMTO said.

Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: An oil tanker is pictured offshore of Dubai, UAE, on March 1, 2026.

Iranian state media on Thursday carried a claim by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' public relations office that IRGC naval forces attacked an oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf.



-ABC News' Zoe Magee

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Mar 5, 7:15 AM

UAE reports strikes by 1 Iranian missile, 6 drones

The United Arab Emirates' Defense Ministry said in a post to X that one Iranian missile and six drones landed inside the country during attacks on Thursday.



The ministry said six ballistic missiles and 125 drones were intercepted during the latest wave of Iranian attacks.

Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A plume of black smoke rises from the port of Fujairah in the UAE on March 4, 2026.

Since Saturday, the UAE has reported three deaths and 94 injuries related to Iranian attacks.

Mar 5, 7:06 AM

Italy to join France, Spain in sending naval assets to Cyprus, minister says

Italy will join France and Spain in sending naval assets to help protect Cyprus, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told the Italian parliament on Thursday.



Crosetto spoke of deploying Italian "naval assets" to defend Cyprus, as quoted by the ANSA news agency.

Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters - PHOTO: A British Airbus A400M military aircraft approaches RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base that was hit by a drone, in Cyprus, on March 5, 2026.

The Mediterranean island, which hosts British military bases, has been targeted by drones since the start of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran.



British bases in Cyprus have traditionally served as hubs for U.K. and allied military activity across the Middle East.



-ABC News' Camilla Alcini

Click here to read the rest of the blog.
Iran can only keep up the current rate of attacks across the Middle East for several more days, western officials believe, and the pace of their attacks has already slowed.

The intelligence picture suggests this is probably due to the rate of US and Israeli attacks on launch sites and storage depots within Iran.

But they can't rule out the Iranians slowing the pace of their attacks to extend the war and say this could still go on 'for some time'.

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So far, ten different countries have been targeted with hundreds of ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones.

Officials say those countries have fired through a considerable quantity of their Patriot and other air defence missile stockpiles.

British experts who have worked alongside the Ukrainians to counter drone attacks there are preparing to fly to the Middle East to advise some of those nations on how best to respond to the threat of drones.

What is HMS Dragon and what are its capabilities?

United States seeking an armed uprising inside Iran

Officials have also revealed that they do not believe the Shahed type drone which struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to have been fired from Iran. This is based on the range and capabilities of that particular drone.

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The officials won't comment on where they think the drone came from, but Lebanon, which is much closer to Cyprus and is home to Iranian proxies such as Hezbollah, would seem to be a possible launch site.

The UK warship HMS Dragon is currently being readied to sail to Cyprus, but is unlikely to leave until next week.

The prime minister confirmed Britain is to deploy HMS Dragon and helicopters with anti-drone capabilities in Cyprus Credit: PA

The Type 45 destroyer had been undergoing routine maintenance and is now being re-armed before sailing for the eastern Mediterranean. The two Wildcat helicopters which can fly from Dragon are likely to head out there sooner.

So far the British bases on Diego Garcia and at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire have not hosted any of the US aircraft which the Prime Minister says can use them to target Iranian launch sites, but officials expect those aircraft to start arriving in the coming days.

From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
Iran appears to have lost its ability to fire massive missile salvos in retaliation against the United States and Israel.

Tehran has significantly curbed the number of ballistic missiles it is firing in a 24-hour period, according to analysis published by countries coming under attack from the Islamic Republic.

Experts suggest this could be the result of the Iranian armed forces losing ground-based missile launchers in US strikes, known as transporter erector launchers (TEL).

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Iran is thought to have fired off hundreds more missiles in the initial days of this conflict than it did during the 12-day war with Israel in June last year.

Iran was believed to have vast stockpiles of short-range ballistic missiles before the conflict started, with conservative estimates putting the numbers at around 2,000 to 2,500.

Tehran has launched an estimated 500-750 ballistic missiles since Saturday, targeting mainly Israel and countries across the Gulf that host American military bases.

0503 Iran's short-range missiles

Countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait have been publishing a daily tally of Iranian missiles and drones launched in their direction.

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In the first two days of the conflict, Iran fired an average of 58 ballistic missiles a day at the UAE, but this fell to only 10 on the fourth day.

This was the preliminary evidence that Iran is running out of ballistic missiles, according to Colby Badhwar, a defence analyst.

Bahrain claimed to have successfully intercepted a total of 70 missiles on Tuesday. A day later, it said the total number had risen to 74.

Kuwait claimed to have engaged a total of 97 ballistic missiles in the first 24 hours of the war, but has not provided new figures in the days since.

Qatars defence ministry on Wednesday said it had been targeted by two ballistic missiles, with one of them hitting the Al-Udeid base without causing casualties.

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This figure was down from seven ballistic missiles launched against the Gulf state on Monday.

In total, Qatar claims to have been targeted with at least 101 ballistic missiles, with the vast majority coming in the first and second days of the war.

Credit: X/@CENTCOM

American tactics have focused on destroying Irans offensive capabilities, wiping out many of the TELs.

Were focused on shooting everything that can shoot at us, Brad Cooper, who heads up US central command, said in a briefing.

Satellite images have shown damage to missile facilities across Iran, including one ballistic missile site in the central city of Isfahan. The site, which was partially rebuilt after American attacks in June during the 12-day war, was struck again between Feb 27 and March 1, according to before-and-after satellite images.

Satellite imagery shows damage to a ballistic missile facility at Isfahan, around 270 miles south of Tehran - Planet Labs

Fabian Hoffmann, a missile technology expert based in Oslo, wrote on social media: Given that the present conflict is far more existential from a regime perspective and that short-range ballistic missiles are viable, one would expect significantly greater ballistic missile use unless Irans missile and launcher capabilities have been heavily degraded  which evidently they are.

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Interceptor stockpile shortages were, and arguably remain, a valid concern, but only if Iran had been able to sustain the intensity observed during the first two nights, which it clearly has not. At present, with the possible exception of Bahrain, no Gulf state appears to be in a particularly alarming position.

The US is also depleting its stocks of precision weapons, leaving it days away from being forced to prioritise which targets to intercept, sources told the Wall Street Journal.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
Mojtaba Khamenei will replace his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Irans new supreme leader, it has been confirmed.

Ayatollah Khamenei, 86, was killed in a US-Israeli strike on his personal compound on Saturday, setting off a wave of chaos in the Gulf. His clerical leadership of the Islamic Republic had lasted over 37 years.

His wife Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh and Mojtaba Khameneis wife Zahra Adel were also killed in the attacks, according to Iran.

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The younger Khamenei, 56, was selected as the supreme leader by Irans Assembly of Experts, state media reported.

Mojtaba Khamenei, centre, the son of the former Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)

The Assembly of Experts is a powerful collective of 88 Islamic religious scholars who have all undergone a strict vetting process by the Guardian Council in order to determine their loyalty to the supreme leaders. Their duty is to appoint and supervise the supreme leader.

After pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the decision to elect Mojtaba Khamenei was made, according to Iran International, an independent news outlet.

Both father and son have vehemently expressed their opposition to hereditary rule, in accordance with Shia theological principles.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on 28 February (Getty Images)

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?

Mojtaba Khamenei is the second-oldest son of the late Ayatollah and has stayed out of public eye until recently.

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Like his father, he has a background in both Islamic theology and the military and currently teaches advanced theology at a religious seminary in Qom.

He is considered a hardline conservative cleric with links to Irans IRGC.

Khamenei has studied Islam since leaving high school and was instructed by some of Irans most powerful scholars in Qom, where he trained to be a cleric. During the Iran-Iraq war, he served in the Iranian military between 1987 and 1988.

Of the former ayatollahs six children, he is widely perceived as the most influential, despite having never formally held a position in public office.

Demonstrations in support of the late Ayatollah have spread across Iran (Reuters)

In 2005 he was accused of meddling in presidential elections after conservative candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the race.

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Reformist elements within the government, including Mehdi Karroubi, one of Ahmadinejads competitors, accused the masters son of interfering. His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said his son is a master himself, not a masters son.

The Guardian reported that in 2009, Mojtaba Khamenei took over the Basij, an Iranian paramilitary group, in order to quell anti-government protests over the elections that year.

He is reported to own over 11 luxury properties in the UK through shell companies, according to a Bloomberg investigation. The buildings are valued at over $138m (103m), including one on Bishops Avenue in north London, also known as Billionaires Row.

The Assembly of the Forces of Imams Line has denied allegations that Khamenei owns large financial assets. He was placed under US sanctions in 2019.

His selection will likely cause controversy in Iran with the Islamic Republic having posed as an alternative to the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavis dynasty.
Israel expands strikes across Iran overnight as Tehran prepares to choose a new supreme leader, with Ayatollah Khamenei's son emerging as a possible successor.

Plus, the Trump administration's rationale for striking Iran keeps shifting. The president now says Tehran was preparing to attack first - contradicting earlier claims the U.S. acted ahead of an Israeli strike.

And Texas kicks off the 2026 midterm season with a major Senate primary. Democrats choose a nominee while Republicans head to a runoff.

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These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Israel expands strikes across Iran saying it struck missile sites and factories

The war between Israel and Iran is intensifying, with new strikes across Iran overnight and fresh attacks spreading across the region. Israel said it targeted Iranian missile launchers and weapons factories, including a missile storage and production facility in the city of Isfahan.

The Israeli military also reported what it calls "broad-scale strikes" across Tehran. Explosions were reported overnight in northwestern Iran.

The strikes come as Iran begins mourning for its late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.Israeli strike last weekend.

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Israel's defense minister is now warning that whoever replaces Khamenei could also become a target. Reuters reported Khamenei's son survived Saturday's attack and is being discussed as a possible successor.

Vahid Salemi / The Associated Press

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said one of its F-35 fighter jets shot down a manned Iranian warplane over Tehran, which, if confirmed, would mark the first time such a shootdown has occurred.

Israel has also widened the fight beyond Iran. The Israeli military said it launched new strikes in Beirut, targeting infrastructure used by the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah.

Iran is continuing to strike back.

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Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said another attack targeted the Ras Tanura oil refinery, which was hit earlier this week. Kuwait's military said the country faced another wave of Iranian missiles and drones overnight.

Meanwhile, the United States identified four of the six American service members killed in the initial strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Reuters

They include 35-year-old Captain Cody Khork of Florida, 42-year-old Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens of Nebraska, 39-year-old Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and 20-year-old Sergeant Declan Coady of Iowa.

Trump defends war in Iran as he shifts strike rationale

President Donald Trump has offered a new explanation for why the United States launched strikes on Iran. It's one that differs from his own administration just a day earlier.

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In the Oval Office on Tuesday, the president pushed back on the idea that Israel forced his hand and offered his own justification for the timing of the strikes.

"I might have forced their hand. You see, we were having negotiations with these lunatics [Iran], and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first. They were going to attack," Trump said. "If we didn't do it, they were going to attack first. I felt strongly about that."

That framing contrasts with what Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers, and later reporters, on Monday, when he laid out the administration's initial rationale for acting when it did.

"We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action," Rubio previously stated. "We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties, perhaps higher than those killed."

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After the president's remarks, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth weighed in on social media, backing the president's explanation, saying he was 100% correct.

Later Tuesday, Rubio pushed back on the idea that his earlier comments conflicted with the president's, insisting he was talking about timing, not intent.

"This was a question of timing, of why this had to happen as a joint operation, not the question of the intent. Once the president made a decision that negotiations were not going to work, that they were playing us on the negotiations and that this was a threat that was untenable, the decision was made to strike them," Rubio said. "That's what I said yesterday. And you guys need to play it. And if you're going to play these statements, you need to play the whole statement, not clip it to reach a narrative that you want to do, all right?"

Meanwhile, the administration's formal letter to Congress cites broader national security interests, including protecting American forces and advancing American strategic objectives in the region.

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Democrats say the shifting explanations are raising concerns.

"The American people do not want an endless war. The administration doesn't seem to know what it's doing," Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said. "Every hour, there's a different rationale as to why we're doing this. And America wants this president to pay attention to the problems at home, not the problems overseas, particularly when no one has any idea of what the real rationale is, it changes every hour."

All of this is unfolding as the conflict widens and Congress prepares to vote on whether the president needs authorization to continue military action.

James Talarico defeats Rep. Jasmine Crockett in Texas Democratic primary

The 2026 election season is officially underway after primary races on Tuesday in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas. The biggest action and the most-watched contests were in Texas.

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State Representative James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

Talarico addressed supporters Tuesday night, saying, "The number of young people who showed up to vote in this election is unprecedented. The number, the number of Texans who have never voted before but showed up in this election, is unprecedented."

Eric Gay / The Associated Press

But it's still unclear who he will face in November.

Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn had the most votes but failed to reach the 50% threshold to clear the field Tuesday and will now head to a May runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the MAGA candidate who finished second.

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"I've worked for decades to build the Republican party, both here in Texas and nationally," Cornyn said."I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered, and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we've worked so hard to build over these many years."

Jack Myer / Julio Cortez via The Associated Press

In North Carolina, one of the year's most consequential Senate races was essentially set heading into the primary.

Democrat Roy Cooper will face Republican Michael Whatley in November, a contest expected to play a major role in determining which party controls the Senate next year. Republicans currently have a 53-47 advantage. Democrats need to flip four seats.

And in Arkansas, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton easily secured his party's nomination.

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He will face Democrat Hallie Shoffner in the general election this fall.

Noem defends DHS amid funding battle, Tillis sharply criticizes leadership

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced sharp questions on Capitol Hill Tuesday, beginning her testimony by blaming Democrats for the ongoing funding fight over her department.

Noem told the Senate Judiciary Committee the dispute over DHS funding is harming national security, arguing the department is being disrupted even as the administration boasts about what it calls major immigration enforcement gains.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 3: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing for the Department of Homeland Security, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"The latest Democrat-led shutdown of DHS is reckless, it's unnecessary, and it undermines the American national security, and it harms the men and women who work at DHS and their families," Noem said. "At a time when we produced the most secure border in history and removed nearly three million illegal aliens from our country, disrupting the department responsible for those gains is indefensible."

But the harshest criticism didn't come from Democrats.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina sharply criticized Noem's leadership, accusing her department of detaining American citizens and stating that immigration enforcement under her watch has been, in his words, "a disaster."

"We just want numbers. We want 1,000 a day, 6,000 a day, 9,000 a day because numbers matter, right? No, they don't matter. Quality matters, not quantity - quality. And what we've seen is a disaster. Under your leadership, Miss Noem, a disaster. What we've seen is innocent people getting detained who turn out to be American citizens. I could talk about the culture that's been created here, with Stephen Miller aiding and abetting." - Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

And in one of the most memorable moments of the hearing, the Republican senator referenced a controversial story from Noem's memoir where she described killing her 14-month-old dog after calling it untrainable.

Tillis used Noem's own story to challenge her judgment.

"I trained dogs, alright? And you are a farmer. You should know better. You should know that if you're going out to a hunting lodge, and you're putting pheasants out, and you put dogs out. You don't take a puppy out there. A 14-month-old dog is basically a teenager in dog years. You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time in training, and then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it's a leadership lesson about tough choices." - Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

The tense exchange underscores growing frustration with Noem's leadership, even among some of her own party members, as Congress continues to scrutinize immigration enforcement and the Minneapolis shootings that resulted in the deaths of two Americans.

US, Ecuador launch joint drug crackdown on groups labeled terrorist organizations

The Trump administration has expanded its campaign against what it calls "narco-terrorism" in Latin America. The U.S. military has initiated a new round of joint operations with Ecuador, targeting major drug trafficking groups - including organizations Washington has now designated as "terrorist groups."

U.S. Southern Command announced the effort Tuesday, describing it as a coordinated move by regional allies to take "decisive action" against what it calls the scourge of narco-terrorism.

The announcement follows comments Monday from Ecuador's president, who said the country is entering "a new phase" in the fight against narco-terrorism and illegal mining.

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa speaks during the inauguration of the Latin America and the Caribbean International Economic Forum at the Panama Convention Center in Panama City on January 28, 2026. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP via Getty Images)

Ecuador's defense ministry said the military will take on an "offensive" role, although officials said details of the missions remain classified.

The Pentagon has not outlined what the operations will involve or which groups will be targeted.

Last year, the U.S. State Department officially designated two major Ecuadorian criminal groups - Los Lobos and Los Choneros - as foreign terrorist organizations.

Rare Yellowstone geyser erupts after six years of dormancy

An attraction at Yellowstone National Park is back in action just in time for the busy spring and summer tourist season. It's the largest acidic geyser in the world - located in the hottest part of Yellowstone's vast thermal area.

Echinus Geyser in Norris Geyser Basin, YNP. Credit: Wall, Brit Graham

The geyser had been dormant since 2020, but last month it started erupting again, doing so every 2 to 5 hours. Most eruptions last just a few minutes, sending water about 30 feet into the air.

The Echinus Geyser pool measures approximately 66 feet in diameter. It was once a major crowd-pleaser during the 1970s, '80s and '90s, according to the National Park Service, but activity started declining in the early 2000s.

Echinus Geyser in eruption in 2017. Credit: MA Bellingham, October 24, 2017

Scientists say the water's acidity is comparable to that of orange juice or vinegar. Acidic geysers are extremely rare because that acidity can actually dissolve the surrounding rock in what scientists refer to as the geyser's plumbing system.

By the way, most of the world's known acidic geysers are located right there in Yellowstone.

More from Straight Arrow News:

Paul Hennesy/Anadolu via Getty Images

Can NASA still do the impossible? The struggle to rediscover the moon

For more than 50 years, the moon has lingered just out of reach - a gray, cratered world visible through spacecraft windows and helmet visors.

No boots have unsettled its dust.

No human hands have thrust new flags into the surface.

No voices have crackled through radios, disrupting its eerie silence.

That was supposed to change soon.

But NASA's long-awaited Artemis II mission - set to be the first crewed flight around the moon since 1972 and a critical precursor to returning U.S. astronauts to the lunar surface - has been delayed yet again. Read the full story now>

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The US and Israels war with Iran widened well beyond the Middle East on Wednesday, as Nato shot down a ballistic missile headed for Turkey and the US sank an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors.

As Britain prepared to send a warship to defend Cyprus, and formulated plans to repatriate thousands of British nationals stranded in the region, Iran rained missiles and drones on its neighbours, and Washington prepared to expand its strikes  boasting that it had effectively sunk the Iranian navy.

Sir Keir Starmer said two more government-chartered flights would take off from Oman in the coming days, while British Airways announced that it would operate two more flights between Muscat and Heathrow on Friday and Saturday.

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Unlike the aviation mega-hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, Muscat is not covered by the Foreign Office travel warning; it can be reached by road from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, both of which are around 300 miles away.

However, there is not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East, and experts believe it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers.

Meanwhile, the warship being readied to protect Britains base in Cyprus is not set to sail until next week. HMS Dragon is being loaded with ammunition in Portsmouth before departing for the Mediterranean, after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone on Monday.

Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are being deployed ahead of the warship, whose voyage is expected to take several days.

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In a bombastic briefing in Washington, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Operation Epic Fury had only just begun as he announced that a US Navy submarine had destroyed the IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate, off the Sri Lankan coast.

An injured Iranian sailor who survived the US torpedo attack is taken to hospital in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (AFP via Getty)

An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death, Mr Hegseth told a briefing. He added that the US is prepared to sustain a long war with Iran, with even more US bombers and fighters arriving in the region.

This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight, he said. We are punching them while theyre down. Our air defences and [those] of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to.

Sri Lankan authorities said up to 87 people were killed in the torpedo attack, as pictures emerged of survivors being taken to hospital.

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Nato was separately forced to shoot down an Iranian ballistic missile headed for Turkey  the closest Tehran has come to a direct attack on a Nato country, which could drag Turkey and its allies into a collective response.

Iranian frigate IRIS Dena is struck by a torpedo off Sri Lanka (US Department of War)

A Turkish official said the missile had been aimed at an unspecified military base in Cyprus but had veered off course. The weapon had already passed over Iraq and Syria when it was shot down by Nato air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean.

Nato said it stands firmly with all allies, including Turkey, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region. Turkey called for restraint to avoid further escalation.

Mr Hegseth downplayed suggestions that attacks on Turkey would trigger Natos collective defence clause, instead boasting that the United States had only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralise, destroy and defeat Irans capabilities. He also vowed to avenge the deaths of six US service personnel killed in the region since Saturday.

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General Dan Caine, chair of the joint chiefs of staff, added that the US would now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory, as he claimed that Iran was now firing far fewer missiles than it had at the outbreak of the conflict, and that its capability appeared diminished.

The US defence secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at a press briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday (AP)

The head of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said US forces had struck more than 2,000 targets across Iran since Saturday. The first 24 hours of the conflict saw nearly twice as many strikes as took place on the first day of the war in Iraq in 2003.

As the administration increasingly threatens to wage a war that could last for weeks, the US senate was preparing for a key vote on a war powers resolution that could demand congressional approval for future attacks.

Iran launched more retaliatory strikes on Wednesday, with hundreds of drones targeting Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It insisted its attacks were directed at US interests and not directly at its regional neighbours.

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The EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said Irans government was making a strong case for its own demise by indiscriminately attacking its neighbours. Irans strategy is to sow chaos and set the region on fire, she said.

An Iranian missile landed in a field in Syria on Wednesday (Reuters)

The widening war also poses a growing threat to commercial shipping, which is crucial to the global supply of oil and gas. Merchant ship MV Safeen Prestige, which flies the Maltese flag and is owned by an Egyptian company, was hit by two missiles on Wednesday while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and caught fire. Its crew of 24 were rescued by Oman's navy.

Israel, meanwhile, said its forces had hit targets across Iran for a fifth day. An Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran. It is believed to have been the first time the new-generation F-35 has downed a manned aircraft in combat. Israels air force said it had dropped 5,000 munitions on Iran since Saturday.

And in another spillover from the conflict, Israels military ordered dozens of border villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as it intensified airstrikes on suburbs of Beirut.

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Lebanon was dragged into the broader war on Monday when Iran-backed Hezbollah militants fired rockets and drones into northern Israel, triggering retaliatory airstrikes by Israel that killed more than 70 people, wounded more than 400, and displaced tens of thousands of people from southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley and Beiruts southern suburbs.

Irans Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, a government agency, claimed that the death toll in Iran had now passed 1,000. The UN also said it was deeply disturbed by the deaths of children, estimating that 160 were killed when bombs fell on a girls elementary school in the southern city of Minab on Saturday. Mr Hegseth said the Pentagon was still investigating claims about that attack.
A ballistic missile fired from Iran has hit the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, the largest US military base in the Middle East, the Qatari Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.

The ministry said in a statement that the country had been targeted by two ballistic missiles launched from Iran. "Air defense systems successfully intercepted one of the missiles, while the second missile struck Al-Udeid Qatari Base without causing any casualties."

The ministry did not provide any information on the exact impact site of the missile or possible damage.

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Al-Udeid, which is also used by Qatari and British forces, is located on the outskirts of Doha.

Iran had already attacked the base last year in retaliation for the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.

The Iranian military also said it launched attacks on the base in retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes across Iran on Saturday.

Al-Udeid is one of the most important US bases in the Middle East. According to reports, around 10,000 soldiers and civilian personnel are normally stationed there. The base also serves as the command centre for US military operations in the region.

The headquarters of the US regional command for the Middle East (CENTCOM) is in Tampa, Florida.
In Pahlavi's message shared with the public, the crown prince reportedly called on military personnel to join the Iranian people in protest against the Islamic regime.

Channel Two of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) was hacked for several minutes on Wednesday, and a message from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was aired, sources told Iran International.

In Pahlavi's message shared with the public, the crown prince reportedly called on military personnel to join the Iranian people in protest against the Islamic regime.

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The hack comes days after two IRIB complexes in Tehran were struck by fighter jets, leaving several employees killed and injured.

Following the strikes, whose explosions were visible from more distant parts of Tehran, radio and television transmissions briefly went off the air for several minutes before resuming.

Laptop and source code on the screen composing flag of Iran. (credit: max.ku/Shutterstock)

An IRIB presenter, broadcasting from an alternative studio near the Jame Jam neighborhood in northern Tehran, said after the signal returned that IRIB had come under US and Israeli attack and that programming was back on the air.

The network and other television channels later faced technical difficulties and a reduced programming schedule, while some radio broadcasts experienced serious disruptions.

Iranian media gets hacked, showing Pahlavi's messages to citizens

In January, anti-regime activists hacked Iran's Badr satellite, allowing them to access state TV channels and broadcast Pahlavi's calls for Iranians to protest against the Islamic Republic, anti-regime outlets reported at the time.

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The footage was also shared by Pahlavi's media department.

In the video, the broadcast appeared to include messages in Farsi encouraging protesters to continue their activities, media footage of solidarity protests worldwide, and messages of support from international leaders.

Iran International reported that Pahlavi's call to protest at the time also included a call for Iran's military and security forces to side with protesters.

Islamic regime's government attempts to control Iranian media

The hacking of IRIB comes as the Islamic Republic attempts to double down on control of media messages shared with citizens.

On Wednesday, Iran International reported that some of its public has said the government has sent them threatening messages.

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The threat reportedly said that if Iranian citizens use the international internet to consume content, they will face judicial action.

In the event of repeated connection to the international internet, your line will be blocked within the coming days, and the necessary measures will be taken to refer you to the judicial authorities, the message said, according to the report.

Omid Habibinia/The Media Line and James Genn contributed to this report.
A ceremony commemorating Irans late leader Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran has been postponed, according to Irans Tasnim news agency, days after he was assassinated along with family members in joint air strikes by Israel and the United States.

The news agency quoted an official citing logistical issues for the delay, including requests from people in different provinces to attend the ceremony.

Funeral arrangements are ongoing and are expected to draw huge crowds, and, with them, the potential threat of US-Israeli attacks on a gathering of mass mourning. Some 10 million people attended Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis funeral in 1989.

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The report comes hours after Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Irans Islamic Propagation Council, has initially said the farewell ceremony would start at 10pm (18:30 GMT) at Tehrans Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall and continue for three days.

The prayer hall will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again, Mahmoudi said in comments carried by Iranian media.

Khamenei was killed on Saturday, aged 86. He had been Irans supreme leader since 1989, succeeding Khomeini, the founder of the post-shah Iran, who steered the countrys 1979 revolution.

The supreme leader holds ultimate authority over all branches of government, the military and the judiciary, while also acting as the countrys spiritual leader.

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Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a senior Iranian cleric who is a member of both the powerful Guardian Council and Assembly of Experts, said the country was close to choosing the late Khameneis successor.

The Supreme Leader will be identified in the closest opportunity, we are close to a conclusion, however the situation in the country is a war situation, Khatami told state TV.





The 88-member Assembly of Experts is elected by the public every eight years. Candidates who run for the Assembly must first be vetted and approved by the Guardian Council, a powerful oversight body whose members are partly appointed by the supreme leader himself.

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A simple majority is sufficient to appoint the new supreme leader. As per Irans constitution, the candidate must be a senior jurist with deep knowledge of jurisprudence in Shia Islam, as well as qualities such as political judgement, courage, and administrative capability.

Khameneis second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is among the top contenders to succeed his father. Two Iranian sources cited by Reuters news agency said Mojtaba has survived US-Israeli attacks on the country.

Israels Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesday to assassinate any Iranian leader picked to succeed Khamenei.

Any leader selected by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan for Israels destruction, threatening the United States, the free world and countries in the region, and suppressing the Iranian people, will be a certain target for assassination, no matter his name or where he hides, Katz said in a post on X.

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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday publicly mused about the leadership he would like to see in Iran following Khameneis assassination. During an Oval Office appearance, he said the worst-case scenario in Iran would be another leader unfriendly to US priorities.

Luciano Zaccara, a research associate professor in Gulf politics at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera that Irans political system has been prepared for the current situation, knowing that Khameneis killing was a real possibility.

The structures remain, the line of power [and] the line of command remain in place, he said.




Enery has finalised 460m ($534m) in syndicated green project financing with a consortium of seven banking groups to fund the construction of the Ogrezeni hybrid energy facility in Giurgiu County, Romania.

The project will integrate photovoltaic (PV) generation with battery energy storage and have an installed capacity of 761MW-peak/534MW-alternating current, along with more than a gigawatt-hour of battery storage.

It aims to deliver enough renewable electricity for nearly 684,000 households annually while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 303,000t per year once operational.

The funding agreement includes a revolving facility, term loan facilities, VAT and ancillary facilities, and an accordion feature valued at up to 79m for potential expansion of battery storage capacity.

UniCredit acted as global and sustainability coordinator and bookrunner.

Intesa Sanpaolo Group served as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner. ING Bank and its Romanian subsidiary also participated as mandated lead arranger and facility and security agent.

Banca Transilvania and the National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) contributed as mandated lead arrangers, while Exim Banca Romaneasca and Alpha Bank took on roles as lead arrangers.

Enery structured this transaction under its new Sustainable Financing Framework, which aligns with International Capital Market Association Green Bond Principles, Green Loan Principles, Social Loan Principles, EU Taxonomy Regulation and related market standards.

Sustainable Fitch provided a second party opinion confirming the frameworks alignment with these criteria.

Enery COO Lukas Nemec and CEO Richard Konig said: Securing this financing is a major step in Enerys growth journey and a clear vote of confidence in our ability to deliver complex, future-proof renewable energy infrastructure at scale.

With our Sustainable Financing Framework now in place, we are strengthening the foundation for long-term development across the CEE [central and eastern Euope] region and accelerating the transition to a more resilient, low-carbon energy system.

Sustain LCM Finance acted as debt syndication advisor for Enery.

Schonherr advised the borrower on legal matters, while Clifford Chance Badea provided legal counsel to the lending banks.

The development forms part of Enerys ongoing cooperation with the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, an EU-focused infrastructure fund investing in energy, transport and digital projects across CEE.

"Enery secures $534m in green financing for Romanian hybrid energy project" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
By Parisa Hafezi and Angus McDowall

DUBAI, March 4 (Reuters) - Irans Revolutionary Guards have tightened their grip on wartime decisionmaking despite the loss of top commanders, senior sources say, driving a hardline strategy that is propelling Tehran's droneandmissile campaign across the region.

Anticipating the decapitation of their leadership, the Guards had already delegated far down the ranks before Saturday's U.S.-Israeli attack, a resilience-building strategy that could also risk miscalculation or a wider war with mid-ranking officers empowered to attack neighbouring states. On Wednesday, Iran fired on Turkey, a NATO nation.

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Inside Iran, the Guards' central role at all levels of the system and draconian approach to security may also make it harder for protests to erupt, undermining any U.S. or Israeli hopes their attack will spur an uprising and regime change.

The choice of the next supreme leader, after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death on Saturday, could further cement their role, said Kasra Aarabi, head of research on the Guards at United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based policy organisation.

Khamenei's son Mojtaba, widely seen as a likely candidate, has very close ties with the Guards, exercising significant control over them and enjoying extensive support, including from more radical junior ranks.

"If the conflict suddenly stops and the regime survives, we can be certain the Guards will have an even more important role," said Aarabi.

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GUARDS' DECENTRALISATION STRATEGY KEY TO RESILIENCE

Reuters spoke to six Iranian and regional sources with close knowledge of the Guards for this article, with all confirming they had taken a far greater role in the hierarchy since the war began on Saturday and were now involved in every big decision.

A security official close to the Guards said the Guards' new head, Ahmad Vahidi, was present in every high-ranking meeting and that its overriding objective was always the survival of Iran's Islamic revolutionary system and its goals.

Deputy defence minister and Guardsman Reza Talaeinik spelled out the elite force's efforts to build resilience in a television interview on Tuesday, saying each figure in the command structure had named successors stretching three ranks down ready to replace them.

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"The role of each unit and section has been organised in such a way that if any commander is killed, a successor immediately takes their place," he said.

Israeli strikes last year killed the Guards' overall head and the heads of their intelligence, aerospace and economic units. On Saturday an airstrike killed the latest Guards head, Mohammad Pakpour.

Decentralisation has been part of the Guards' doctrine in case of attack for nearly 20 years and was developed after watching the collapse of Iraqi forces during the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, Aarabi said.

"The whole idea was to decentralise so that if one particular province came under attack, it could defend itself and sustain the regime's authority and rule," he said.

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GUARDS AIM TO FIGHT BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL THREATS

Crucially, the plan was designed to ensure that the Guards could continue to act as both the main spearhead of Iran's military response to external attacks, and as the enforcers of internal security inside the Islamic Republic, he added.

The approach appears to be holding for now, though sustained attacks that continue to pick off both senior and more junior Guards commanders could eventually test the Guards' ability to maintain strategic coherence.

To be sure, the Guards are not an entirely homogeneous unit, with their own factional rivalries, personal disputes and differences over the group's role. But one of the sources said they are more "united than ever when Iran is under attack".

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There may also be signs, five days into the Israeli and U.S. strikes, of the command structure starting to degrade, said Aarabi, pointing to what he called increasingly wild attacks on civilian targets in Gulf monarchies.

How far that may also reflect a deliberate strategy to show the attack on Iran was a mistake with global implications is not certain.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran's response to the attack had already been planned.

"These units are operating based on general instructions given to them in advance, rather than direct, real-time command from the current political leadership," he told Al Jazeera.

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While the Guards are now involved in almost every strategic decision taken in Iran - even beyond the central role they held before the war - they can also count on a surviving political leadership in which the three top men are former Guards members.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC EMPIRE

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps was founded soon after Iran's 1979 revolution to defend the new republic against both internal and external foes, and as a counterweight to the regular armed forces.

Answering directly to the supreme leader, it has emerged as a state-within-a-state, combining military power, an intelligence network and economic might all focused on maintaining the survival of Iran's Islamic system of power.

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That role was put to the test when Iraq invaded months after the revolution, unleashing an eight-year war of attrition that was a formative experience for many of the current generation of Iranian leaders.

Senior Iranian figures who served with the Guards in the war include the three non-clerics occupying the most critical positions in Iran since Khamenei's death.

President Masoud Pezeshkian was a battlefield surgeon, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf fought on frontlines before heading the Guards' air force unit, while Ali Larijani, Khamenei's top adviser, was a staff officer behind the lines.

From the early 2000s, as the wartime generation began moving into more leadership positions and as Iran's long confrontation with the West accelerated, the role of the Guards in the Iranian state also began to increase.

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The Guards were put in charge of Iran's nuclear programme, a project Tehran has always maintained is for purely peaceful purposes, but which Western countries believe is cover for building an atomic bomb.

As sanctions imposed over the nuclear project bit, the Guards took a role in the economy, their construction arm Khatam al-Anbia winning major contracts including in the all-important energy sector.

The Guards increasingly also served as the conduit to Shi'ite proxies across the Middle East, while their volunteer paramilitary, the Basij, was used to crush internal unrest.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi; writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by William Maclean)
The killing of prominent Iraqi womens rights activist Yanar Mohammed has fuelled an outpouring of grief and calls for justice, with advocates from around the world remembering Mohammed as a courageous voice.

Mohammed, 66, was killed earlier this week after unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire outside her home in the north of Iraqs capital, Baghdad.

Despite being rushed to the hospital and attempts to save her life, she succumbed to her wounds, the Organisation of Womens Freedom in Iraq, a group that Mohammed co-founded, said in a statement shared on social media.

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We at the Organisation for Womens Freedom in Iraq condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly terrorist crime, which we consider a direct attack on the feminist struggle and the values of freedom and equality.

Several international rights groups also condemned Mohammeds killing, with Amnesty International on Wednesday decrying the deadly attack as brutal and a calculated assault to stifle human rights defenders, especially those defending womens rights.

The organisation, which said Iraqs Prime Minister Mohammed Shia alSudani ordered an investigation into the killing, also called on the Iraqi authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Yanar Mohammed speaks during a Womens Day event in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2006 [Akram Saleh/Getty]

Yanar Mohammed  dedicated her life to defending womens rights, Amnestys Iraq researcher, Razaw Salihy, said in a statement. The Iraqi authorities must stop this pattern of targeted attacks in their tracks, and take seriously the sustained smear campaigns designed to discredit and endanger activists.

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Mohammed was one of Iraqs most prominent womens rights activists, working since the early 2000s to protect women facing gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, trafficking, and so-called honour killings', Front Line Defenders said.

Her work included the establishment of safe houses, which sheltered hundreds of women experiencing exploitation and abuse.

In a 2022 interview with Al Jazeera, Mohammed described her organisations efforts to support Iraqi women who survived violence at the hands of ISIS (ISIL), which had seized control of large swathes of the country.

Muslim-Arab women who were enslaved by ISIL and have not found a place to go back to, they are still living in the shadows of the society, she said at the time.

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Not less than 10,000 women were the victims of ISIL attack[s], and this femicide is not really acknowledged by the international community or dealt with in a way that keeps the dignity or the respect [of], or compensates, those who were the victims.

Years of threats

Mohammed had been the target of death threats for decades, aimed at dissuading her from defending womens rights, Front Line Defenders said. Yet she remained defiant in the face of threats from ISIS and other armed groups.

In 2016, she was awarded the Rafto Prize for her tireless work for womens rights in Iraq under extremely challenging conditions.

The Rafto Foundation, the Norway-based nonprofit group that administers the award, said it was deeply shaken by her killing. We are deeply shocked by this brutal attack on one of the most courageous human rights defenders of our time, the foundation said in a statement.

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The assassination represents not only an attack on Yanar Mohammed as a person, but also on the fundamental values she dedicated her life to defending: womens freedom, democracy, and universal human rights.

Other activists and human rights groups also paid tribute to Mohammed this week, with Human Rights Watch describing her as one of Iraqs most courageous advocates for womens rights for more than two decades.

Yanar was a dear colleague and friend to so many of us in the womens rights and feminist community, one of our icons. She spent her life standing up for womens rights in the most dangerous environment, said Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International.

She faced constant threats, but she never stopped. And today we cry and mourn her energy, her commitment, her profound humanity, her amazing courage.
An Irvine teen whose at-home science lab led to a weeklong FBI hazardous materials investigation is speaking out.

Amalvin Fritz, 17, has had a passion for science from a young age, participating in academic pentathlon, California's GATE program for gifted and high-achieving students, and skipping high school. After starting his freshman year of college at age 14, he is now months away from earning his degree from UC Irvine.

Fritz is studying biological sciences and created a lab in the garage of his family's home within the Altair community. He conducts experiments and is studying reactions that are common in the medical field, particularly when developing cures for diseases. For the past year and a half, he has featured some of his work on his YouTube channel.

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He believes the investigation is a big misunderstanding.

"I believe they had a little bit of concern as this is not something that you usually see inside a home, because not a lot of people are very passionate about science, and that's something I hope to change," Fritz said.

The incident began last Monday when a maintenance worker responded to a leak inside Fritz's family home. It was unrelated to his garage setup; however, his lab caught the worker's attention. The worker notified the landlord, who called authorities.

ORIGINAL REPORT: FBI hazmat team swarms Irvine home in gated community

The FBI descended on a home in a gated community in Irvine after police responded to a report of "suspicious circumstances" earlier in the week.

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The Irvine Police Department and Orange County Fire Authority initially responded to the report of "suspicious circumstances," and stated that items needed further investigation. The FBI's hazmat team and the California National Guard's 9th Civil Support Team -- which handles weapons of mass destruction -- were brought in.

Fritz and his family stayed in a hotel for a week while the investigation unfolded. Crews were seen going in and out of his home wearing full hazmat suits.

"It was a small chemistry setup. I wouldn't describe it as anything more complex than a sixth-grade science lab," Fritz said.

Fritz said there was not an active experiment happening when the maintenance worker was there, but some of the items he has been working with are cyclooctatetraene, Epsom salt and acetone. He said he buys everything from local hardware stores, Amazon or eBay, and has the proper personal protective equipment needed to conduct his experiments.

SEE ALSO: Juvenile mixing 'unknown chemicals' triggers hazmat investigation at Irvine home

A hazardous materials investigation at a home inside an Irvine gated community was triggered after a juvenile mixed unknown chemicals, authorities said.

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"I'm really interested in a field of chemistry known as non-planar systems chemistry," Fritz said. "I hope that it can bring a cure and a treatment for many diseases in the future."

James Conway is a former FBI agent. He noted that store-bought chemicals and supplies can be used to create dangerous materials, so he was not surprised to learn that investigators took Fritz's phone.

"Obviously, there has been different types of evidentiary material that's being examined," Conway said. "They will fully scrub everything related to that to make sure that there's nothing nefarious here."

Fritz said he and his family support law enforcement. They believe, however, the investigation has gone on long enough and were hoping to return to their home on Tuesday night.

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Fritz said amid the chaos, he received a call from a Google employee who shared that something very similar happened to them when they were growing up.

He hopes that by speaking out and continuing to share experiments on his YouTube page, he will inspire more young people to pursue science

"I'm really interested in pursuing medical school and really being the nexus and bringing together so many fields that are related to medicine and bringing it to the clinic," Fritz said. "I think, even though the situation, I have been a little bit bummed out, I feel like the outpour from the community has been so positive."
The Israeli military early on Wednesday said that it had begun targeting military sites in Iran.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said on Telegram that it had "begun a broad wave of strikes targeting the Iranian terror regime's launch sites, aerial defense systems, and additional infrastructure."

The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported explosions in the capital Tehran. According to Israeli sources, this is the tenth wave of attacks since the war began on Saturday.

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The Israeli military also reported that an Israeli F-35 Adir fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 training aircraft over the skies of Tehran - marking the first time an F-35 has been credited with downing a manned aircraft in combat.

Meanwhile, Iran fired at Israel, according to the IDF, which said that "defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat."

Air raid warning sirens were heard overnight and on Wednesday morning in the Tel Aviv area. According to emergency services, there were initially no casualties in the new attacks on Israel.

Earlier, a 17th wave of more than 40 rockets was fired at Israeli-US targets, according to a statement by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published by state radio.

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Since the start of the latest war against Iran, the Israeli Air Force has flown over 1,600 missions and destroyed around 300 rocket launch pads, according to its own statements.

The US and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran on Saturday, sparking a regional escalation as Tehran fired missiles at US bases in several Gulf states.
Israel used a little-known ballistic missile that travels into space to kill Irans supreme leader in a surprise attack.

Blue Sparrow missiles, which are produced by Israel and have a range of about 1,240 miles, leave Earths atmosphere before crashing down, making them ideal for a strike on a highly guarded target such as Ali Khamenei.

Long grey cylinders of debris from the missile have been found in western Iraq along what was presumably its flight path to Iran.

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The Blue Sparrow is part of an air-launched missile series, including the Black Sparrow and Silver Sparrow, designed to simulate the Scud missiles, similar to those fired at Israel by Iraq during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Israel may have used the Blue Sparrow missiles in its assault on Iran in April 2024, given similar debris that was uncovered in the aftermath, but their use has been limited.

An Israeli F-15 fighter jet carrying a Blue Sparrow missile - IAF

The 6.5m missile, which weighs around 1.9 tonnes, was originally created as a target missile to test air defence systems.

However, the Blue Sparrow has been adapted for use as an offensive air-to-surface munition because of its high speeds and quasi-ballistic trajectories.

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Their ability to exit and re-enter Earths atmosphere increases the difficulty of their interception and allows reduced reaction time from targets.

This makes them suitable for defeating high-value, time-sensitive targets in contested environments without nations putting their manned aircraft at risk.

The US also employed new weapon systems during the attack. The Pentagon released images showing the first combat use of the Precision Strike Missile, which offers an increased range of about 310 miles.

0503 How Israel's Blue Sparrow missile works

For more than two decades, Israels covert intelligence unit, Unit 8200, had been tracking Khameneis bodyguards and hacking into traffic cameras around his compound in Tehran.

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The assault on Iran had been planned for months, according to an individual briefed on the attack, but the timeline was adjusted when it was revealed that the ayatollah would be attending a meeting in person on Saturday morning.

Khamenei had been spending most of his evenings in his bunker  which was so deep that it reportedly took five minutes to descend to it  because the regime believed Israel was more likely to attack in the evening.

Ali Khameneis Tehran compound, seen intact in February 2025 (left) and destroyed a year later (right) - Airbus

They were wrong.

Israeli F-15 jets and other aircraft took off around 7.30am Iran time on Saturday, arriving in position barely two hours later.

Strikes, including the Blue Sparrow missiles, began at 9.40am. At least 30 precision strikes were launched directly on the ayatollahs compound.

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Simultaneously, Israel had disrupted the phone service around his compound so his aides would not be able to call for help, but it didnt take long for reports to emerge of aerial attacks in Tehran.

Videos began surfacing on social media of smoke rising from multiple locations across the capital, including the supreme leaders compound.

By 6.00pm it was clear that US-Israel strikes had inflicted significant damage on the ayatollahs compound, with at least six buildings damaged.

The following morning at 5.00am Iranian time, state media confirmed that Khamenei had been killed.

Along with the Blue Sparrows, Israel claimed to have dropped 2,000 bombs in the first 30 hours of the war.

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For its part, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, including a new black variant, and HIMARS rockets, hitting more than 1,000 targets in the first 24 hours.

The numbers have multiplied since then.

Gen Brad Cooper, who heads up the US Central Command, said on Tuesday that the US had taken out 2,000 targets inside Iran as well as 17 Iranian vessels.

Meanwhile, Israel has also continued to launch waves of strikes against Iran as well as against the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

But the price of the conflict has been high, and the conflict shows no sign of slowing.

The death toll in Iran has risen to nearly 1,100 as of Tuesday, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

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At least 181 of those killed are children under the age of 10.

Lebanons health ministry has also reported at least 50 deaths because of Israeli air strikes.

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The Israeli military has told civilians living in a large swathe of southern Lebanon to leave their homes immediately and move north of the Litani River because of intended military action against Hezbollah.

The sweeping orders came as hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed group continued to escalate. Hours after issuing the instruction, the military said it had begun "a wave of strikes" in the south.

Tens of thousands of people in Lebanon have already been displaced since fighting erupted on Monday.

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One man still living in southern Lebanon told the BBC that he would not leave his home.

"Let them say whatever they want - I'm not going to Beirut to be on the streets," Mohamed, 25, said.

"I'm not next to Hezbollah or any of its infrastructure, so I should be fine," he said, adding that he would rather die in his home than flee.

Another man said he and his disabled wife had already moved this week and did not know whether they would be able to find shelter further north.

In the capital, Beirut, displaced civilians have been sleeping in shelters, on roadsides, in parks and in their cars.

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Volunteers at food kitchens and shelters told the BBC they were concerned they would not be able to keep up with the rising demand.

Those displaced have fled from southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and the Dahieh suburbs of southern Beirut - the heartlands of Hezbollah and of Lebanon's Shia Muslim community.

At one displacement camp on the outskirts of Beirut, hundreds of people got ready for Iftar - a meal eaten at sunset to break the Ramadan fast - on Tuesday evening.

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Some were still wearing the pyjamas they had on when they fled their homes.

Everyone the BBC spoke to had been displaced multiple times before by hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, a Shia militia and political party that is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the US, UK and other countries.

"Last time [I was displaced], I stayed for 26 days in a tent," 56-year-old Lamyaa said. "We were humiliated. God knows how long [it will last this time]."

The latest escalation comes after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israel in response to US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Israeli military responded with air strikes and sent troops into southern Lebanon.

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Hezbollah's rocket fire in the early hours of Monday morning was the first such action from the group since a November 2024 ceasefire that formally ended 13 months of war. Israel had continued to carry out near-daily strikes on Lebanon, which it said were aimed at Hezbollah targets.

In Beirut, strikes this week have largely targeted the Dahieh area, but one early on Wednesday hit a hotel in an upscale suburb in the east of the city.

Witnesses said one person had been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Locals said they were shocked, describing the district as safe, with the hotel located in a Christian-majority area less than a mile from the presidential palace.

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The Israeli military has not yet commented on the attack.

[BBC]

Among those displaced from their homes, views are divided over the war.

"If they [Hezbollah] can't end Israel, I think they should stop - but hopefully we will defeat it," said Lamyaa at the displacement camp, as she criticised the Lebanese military for pulling back from positions on the border with Israel.

Nearby, a mother and her two daughters discussed Hezbollah's actions and debated how weakened the group had been by the previous war with Israel.

"I'm not against what Hezbollah did because either way they [Israel] will hit us," said 33-year-old Batoul. "Our guys will protect us."

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"There are no more men - they all died," her mother, Zeinab, replied.

At a shelter elsewhere in Beirut, mother-of-two Fatima, 32, said she was angry at Hezbollah for pulling Lebanon back into war.

"I wish Hezbollah had not done it. Now we are homeless and humiliated. Who is happy now? What did they get out of this except for us having to leave our homes?"

Others focused only on wanting the war to end.

"I want to go home. I hope to go back to my village. I hope there will never be war again," said 20-year-old Amal.
Israeli strikes have hit a hotel in a Beirut suburb and a residential complex in eastern Lebanon, killing at least 11 people, as Israels military issued more forced displacement orders across the country and advanced farther into Lebanese territory.

Israeli forces on Wednesday bombed the Comfort Hotel on the border of Hazmieh and Baabda, which are part of greater Beirut, Lebanese state media said.

Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed a building with blown-out windows and walls and debris strewn everywhere.

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Al Jazeeras Heidi Pett, reporting from Beirut, said the attack happened without any warning, indicating that it could have been an attempted assassination.

The Israeli military is yet to say exactly who or what it was attempting to target, Pett said.

There were further attacks on Beiruts southern suburbs on Wednesday. Israel said it was targeting Hezbollah in the densely populated civilian area.

The Israeli military said it is carrying out more attacks on what it called Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut.

Lebanons National News Agency reported an Israeli air raid on the southern town of Khiam, shortly after Israels army said it had started to carry out another wave of strikes on Lebanons south.

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More than 50 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since Monday, when Hezbollah launched its first strike on Israel in more than a year in response to the Israeli-US war on Iran.

Smoke rises from an Israeli air strike in Dahiyeh, Beiruts southern suburbs, on March 4, 2026 [Bilal Hussein/AP]

Lebanese army officials told Al Jazeera that at least four people were wounded on Wednesday, including one in critical condition.

Meanwhile, the Israeli militarys Arabic-language spokesperson issued new forced displacement orders for residents of the Haret Hreik neighbourhood in Beiruts southern suburbs.

The spokesperson released a map of the Lebanese capital with buildings marked in red and warned that people should flee the site, claiming it was affiliated with Hezbollah.

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The Israeli military also issued an urgent warning, calling on people to leave 16 towns in southern Lebanon. It later called on residents in an additional 13 towns to evacuate.

This comes in addition to forced displacement orders issued on Tuesday for more than 50 towns across southern Lebanon, which would allow Israel to establish a larger buffer zone there.

Sources told Al Jazeera on Wednesday that the Israeli army had advanced into Lebanese territory from seven positions along the border, a day after the Israeli military said it was conducting a ground incursion as part of a forward defence measure.

Lebanese state media reported that the Israeli military entered Khiam in southern Lebanon, about 6km (3.7 miles) from the border, as the town came under continuous shelling.

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In the eastern city of Baalbek, which is close to the Syrian border, at least five people were killed and 15 were wounded in a strike on a residential building in the al-Matraba neighbourhood.

Footage from the scene, verified by Al Jazeera, shows the debris of a collapsed multistorey building as rescue workers look through the rubble.

Syrias land and sea ports authority said it closed its border crossing with Lebanon for departures after receiving a warning from Israel that it might target the crossing.

A media official at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying it remained open for arrivals as Syrians fled from Lebanon, which took in up to two million Syrian refugees during its neighbours 2011-2024 war.

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Al Jazeera Obaida Hitto, reporting from the Syria-Lebanon border, said Syrian officials recorded more than 25,000 people who crossed into the country over the last two days. Most of the people we spoke to had been on the road for a day or two, trying to reach the border crossing, Hitto said, adding that Syrian officials expected the inflow to continue.

A separate Israeli air attack on Aramoun and Saadiyat in the Mount Lebanon area killed at least six people and wounded eight, according to Lebanons Al Mayadeen television.

Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed told Al Jazeera that the government registered about 65,000 displaced people who were being accommodated in 350 shelters. Another 10,000 to 20,000 people were estimated to be living on the streets or with relatives or friends.

Sayed said that so far, the number was lower than during nearly two months of war with Israel in 2024 when up to 1.2 million people fled their homes. Were not there, and hopefully we wont reach that number, Sayed said.

Hezbollah fires at northern Israel

Hezbollah claimed early on Wednesday to have fired rockets at Israeli forces in the town of Metulla in northern Israel after carrying out a missile attack on the naval base in Haifa.

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It later claimed to have carried out an attack targeting an Israeli military base near Israels northern city of Safed and to have struck an Israeli tank in the southern Lebanese town of Houla, near the border.

The group also said it launched a swarm of attack drones at the Tel Hashomer base, which it described as a General Staff headquarters southeast of Tel Aviv, at about 12:00 GMT (2pm local time).

Hezbollah said the attack was carried out in response to the criminal Israeli aggression that targeted dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The Israeli military said it identified several projectiles from Lebanese territory and most were intercepted, except for one that fell in an open area.

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Israels Channel 12 reported that Israel came under simultaneous attacks from Hezbollah and Iran. Israeli defences intercepted a munition fired from Iran, causing shrapnel to fall in central Israel, according to local media.

Two Israeli soldiers were moderately wounded by anti-tank fire in southern Lebanon and were transferred to hospital, the military said.

Earlier, the army said it would not tolerate any presence of representatives of the Iranian  regime in Lebanon and gave them 24 hours to leave the country or face attacks.

Human Rights Watch said people who are not directly involved in hostilities cannot be targeted under international law.

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The suggestion that Israeli forces will target Iranian government officials who do not leave Lebanon is both deeply disturbing and an admission of an intent to commit a war crime, the watchdog said in a statement.

Al Jazeeras Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, said the latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to be escalating.

There is no front line and no mediation or diplomatic effort to end it, she said.




By Giselda Vagnoni

ROME, March 4 (Reuters) - A marble bust that has stood for centuries in one of Romes basilicas has been re-attributed to Michelangelo after nearly 200 years in obscurity, following a document-based investigation.

The sculpture, which depicts Christ the Saviour, has been preserved in the Basilica of SantAgnese fuori le mura on Romes ancient Via Nomentana by a Catholic religious order of canons regular.

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Originally attributed to Michelangelo until the early 19th century, the work later lost its association with the Renaissance master and remained unnamed until the present day.

Italian independent researcher Valentina Salerno - a member of the Vatican committee for the celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of Michelangelos birth - has re-attributed the sculpture to the Tuscan artist.

We have lived here since 1412, and the monumental complex of SantAgnese always holds surprises  this is one of them, Franco Bergamin, of the Order of Lateran Canons Regular, told a press conference.

Salernos research is based on long-term archival work rather than stylistic analysis alone, drawing on notarial records, posthumous inventories, and indirect correspondence linked to Michelangelos final years in Rome.

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I am not an art historian  in fact, I dont even have a university degree  but the strength of my research lies in its reliance on public archival documents, she said, describing herself as something of an investigator.

A LOCKED ROOM WITH MULTIPLE KEYS

The documents challenge the long-held narrative that Michelangelo, who lived until he was 88, systematically destroyed works late in life. Instead, the sources suggest that drawings, studies, and some marble sculptures were carefully transferred within a trusted circle after the artists death.

"At Michelangelos death, every powerful ruler would have wanted to claim something of the master. But the artist carefully devised the transfer of the material in his possession so that his art could be passed on to his pupils and thus to future generations, Salerno said.

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One document refers to a locked room, accessible only with multiple keys, that had been created to safeguard valuable materials. While the room itself was later emptied, its contents can be traced through subsequent transfers.

The research outlines a discreet network through which unattributed works were moved to religious institutions and secondary storage sites, where they remained embedded in functional settings rather than entering the art market.

The SantAgnese bust appears to be part of this process. Long integrated into the basilicas liturgical space, the sculpture was preserved in a building shaped by centuries of renovations and additions.

The data that have emerged will form the basis of a broader attribution process aimed at progressively returning other forgotten works to Michelangelos hand and presenting the findings to the international scholarly community.

The gleaming white sculpture now stands on an altar in a side chapel of the basilica and is protected by an alarm system.

(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
While homicides in Jackson rose in February compared to January this year, the capital city is seeing an overall reduction in homicides when measured against recent previous years.

Clarion Ledger records show Jackson saw six homicides in February 2026, an uptick from the three homicides reported in January 2026.

So far in 2026, the Jackson Police Department is investigating all reported homicides.

Despite the month-by-month increase, homicides were trending downward overall by the end of February compared to similar periods in 2025 and 2024.

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From Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 this year, nine homicides were reported in the city in comparison to 14 homicides during the same period in 2025.

From Jan. 1 to Feb. 29, 2024, 16 homicides were reported by the end of February. Though that year had 29 days instead of 28, no homicides occurred on Feb. 29, 2024.

See details of Jackson's homicide victims in February 2026 below. Ages and spellings of names are based on police statements and court records:

School threats: Madison County Schools say threat made against middle school. What to know

Kaden Young, 15

Jackson police said Kaden Young, 15, died from multiple gunshot wounds after Young broke into a woman's residence around 2:30 a.m. Feb. 8 at the Park at Inverness apartments in the 5800 block of Ridgewood Road.

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"The investigation revealed that two unidentified Black males wearing ski masks broke into the apartment," authorities stated via a press release. "The owner, fearing for her life, fired a weapon striking at least one suspect who had entered the apartment. The suspect succumbed to his injuries."

A second suspect, identified as Quintavion Myles, 18, fled the scene but was later arrested.

Myles faces charges of murder and burglary. Myles received a $150,000 bond for burglary of an occupied dwelling and was denied bond on the murder charge.

The resident of the apartment was transported to police headquarters, interviewed and released. Authorities determined the homicide to be "justifiable."

Phillip Thames Jr., 23

Jackson police said Phillip Thames Jr., 23, died from multiple gunshot wounds sustained during a shooting around 12:40 a.m. Feb. 9 in the 3000 block of Brown Street. Thames was found dead and lying in the middle of the street.

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Authorities had identified and arrested two suspects in the case, as of publication of this story.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office assisted the Jackson Police Department in executing a bench warrant and search warrant for Tatyana Shardee Johnson, 28.

Authorities located and arrested Shardee around 10 a.m. Feb. 12 at Kenny Graves Apartments on Ingram Circle in Natchez. Johnson was transported back to Jackson and interviewed by detectives.

Johnson faces charges of capital murder and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Her bond was denied on both charges.

The second suspect identified in the case is Cadarius Towers, 32.

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Jackson police officials said a bench warrant was issued for Towers on Feb. 13 after detectives discovered he was also believed to be involved in the murder of Thames. Towers was then arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service and booked into city holding.

Towers faces charges of capital murder and felon in possession of a firearm. His bond was denied on both charges, as he was out on bond at the time of the crime.

Both Johnson and Towers are accused of fatally shooting Thames while attempting to rob him.

Fires set in Fondren: Former federal attorney faces arson charge after two fires occurred in Fondren. What to know

Glendieyon Blackwell

Jackson police said Glendieyon Blackwell died after being shot Feb. 12 at The Grove Apartments on Woodway Drive. Blackwell's age was not immediately provided by authorities.

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According to police, two people had been injured during the shooting. Both victims were transported by American Medical Response to local hospitals to receive treatment for their injuries.

Blackwell died from his injuries, while the other victim's injuries were reportedly non-life threatening.

Jackson police officials provided a description of the suspects in the shooting as being five or six "unknown males wearing masks." Police said the suspects fled the scene on foot, adding the motive for the shooting appeared to have been a robbery.

Authorities have identified and arrested two suspects in the case, as of publication of this story.

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JPD's robbery/homicide unit detectives arrested Javeon Wilson, 17, on Feb. 17. Wilson also faces charges of capital murder and aggravated assault. Wilson received no bond for the capital murder charge and a $250,000 bond for the aggravated assault charge.

Court documents state Wilson alleged fatally shot Blackwell with an assault-style riffle.

Police also arrested Jordan Champion, 17, on Feb. 18. Champion faces charges of capital murder and aggravated assault. Authorities said his bond was denied.

Kynjarious Rockingham, 30

Jackson police said Kynjarious Rockingham, 30, died from gunshot wounds Feb. 16 at the Chapel Ridge apartment complex located in the 1600 block of Raymond Road.

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According to police, Rockingham was found dead and lying on the ground in the parking lot. Police said Rockingham suffered from "at least one but possibly multiple gunshot wounds."

No suspect information was available at the time of publication of this story.

Jackson flood control project: Pearl River flood control project gets approved, local officials announced. Get details on the plan

Malcom Harris, 25

Jackson police said Malcom Harris, 25, died from a gunshot wound and was found Feb. 18 inside an abandoned house.

Jackson police Precinct 3 officers responded around 9 p.m. Feb. 18 to 3644 Skyline Drive in reference to a welfare check regarding Harris, who was reported missing, at or near the residence.

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Police said officers canvassed the exterior and interior areas of the house, which appeared to be abandoned. During the canvass of the house, officers discovered Harris inside the residence deceased from a gunshot wound. After Harris was killed, his vehicle was stolen.

Harris died three days before his 26th birthday. He was born on Feb. 21, 2000.

Harris was an employee at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Madison at the time of his death, the restaurant stated in a Facebook post. Harris was described as a "kind and joyful spirit."

Authorities arrested Naquan Balentine, 19, on Feb. 23. Balentine faces charges of murder and auto theft. Balentine appeared Feb. 27 in municipal court and received no bond.

Michael D. Monger, 35

Jackson police said Michael D. Monger, 35, died after being shot during a domestic disturbance around 7:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at a home in the 600 block of Lake Glen Drive.

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According to police, several people were at the home when the shooting occurred. When officers arrived, they found Monger lying at the front door of the house.

Jackson police said several people were transported to the department's headquarters to be interviewed. No arrests had been made at the time of publication of this story.

Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS homicides trend low despite murders in February 2026
James Talaricos victory in the Texas Democratic Senate primary is bigger than state politics. Everyone keeps saying that about this race, but Im starting to seriously believe the hype. Talarico has a lot of powerful qualities, but his unapologetic embrace of his Christian faith sets him apart from other rising Democratic stars  and it could maybe even help reshape American politics.

Before his Senate run, Talarico gained national attention as a state representative by rooting his opposition to Christian nationalism in his own Christian faith. During legislative battles over whether the Ten Commandments should be posted in public schools and guidance counselors should be replaced with unlicensed religious chaplains, he defended religious freedom without casting religion as the enemy.

For decades, Democrats have ceded religious language to Republicans. Republicans claim the mantle of faith, while Democrats too often respond by criticizing the GOPs God talk and emphasize the separation of church and state. In the process, millions of progressive Americans have become politically voiceless, despite the fact that the majority of Democrats are people of faith themselves.

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Talarico changes that.

Millions of progressive Americans have become politically voiceless, despite the fact that the majority of Democrats are people of faith themselves.

Even the conservative Washington Examiner took notice, writing, Texas state Rep. James Talaricos Senate bid is offering a vision of Christianity that fits comfortably within the Left  and giving Democrats uneasy with religion permission to engage with it on their own terms.

He is not alone. If elected, Talarico would join divinity school graduates Rev. Raphael Warnock and Sen. Chris Coons, both of whom have urged Democrats to take religious engagement more seriously.

For a generation, the Democratic Party of which Im a member has steadily moved away from communities of faith, Coons wrote in The Atlantic. Like many Americans, Im a progressive Democrat and a Christian. Thats why I know that progressive values arent just secular values. We can get to some of our most important public-policy priorities through both secular and scriptural routes.

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The Democratic Party, in an effort to be inclusive, has sanitized their faithfulness, and left that purview to be claimed by the Republican Party, Sen. Cory Booker told The New Yorker in a profile of Warnock, in which he praised the Georgian lawmakers straightforward invocation of faith on the campaign trail.

The reason why I talk about faith is it motivates me, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said last month at a Center for American Progress Action event. His faith is why hes willing to get up no matter how mean and cruel the world has gotten and fight to make it just a little bit better. The likely 2028 presidential candidate is also releasing a book centered on his faith.

Maintaining a secular democracy does not require banishing religion from public life. In fact, the opposite is true. Those who seek to replace secular democracy with authoritarian theocracy benefit when religion appears to belong to only one party.

Ending the God Gap, the perception that only Republicans care about faith, would fundamentally shift the political landscape. Talarico cannot do that alone. But his campaign shows how potentially powerful a religiously fluent, faith-forward Democrat can be. Now the question is whether he can reach the independents and Republicans who have written off Democrats as hostile to religion.

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Full disclosure: Talaricos political rise is personal for me. I am a 36-year-old from Texas, like Talarico. I have spent my entire life frustrated by the asymmetry of religion and politics almost always tilting right in the United States.

In 2020, shortly after my book Just Faith: Reclaiming Progressive Christianity was released, Talarico sent me a message. He introduced himself as a progressive Texas legislator who spoke often about his faith. I was delighted that my book had made it into the hands of a state legislator in my home state. And Ive watched in amazement over these past five years as hes become a political phenomenon because of, not despite of, his overt religiosity.

Talaricos message is not about moderating progressive commitments to win over religious conservatives. It is about courage. It is about saying plainly that support for LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom, public education and church-state separation can flow directly from Christian faith. Hes openly Christian and firmly pluralistic.

That does more than close a messaging gap: Talarico and those like him can change the terrain. When leaders speak about faith with confidence instead of defensiveness, they show that democracy and devotion are not in conflict.

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Whether Talarico wins the general election or not, his campaign has already demonstrated that a different kind of religious politics is possible.

The post James Talarico is living up to the hype  by staying true to his faith appeared first on MS NOW.

This article was originally published on ms.now
Supporters of 'Made-in-Europe' rules say if the EU does not act to shield its strategic sectors like cars and chemicals, it will not have industry to defend (Ronny HARTMANN)  Ronny HARTMANN/AFP/AFP

The EU unveiled Wednesday new "Made in Europe" rules to bolster the bloc's industries against fierce competition from China, in a push held up for months by wrangling over measures some see as overly protectionist.

Concerning strategic sectors including cars, green tech and steel, the proposal is a key part of a European Union drive to regain its competitive edge, reduce its dependencies and stave off job losses.

"It is a change in doctrine -- one that was unthinkable just a few months ago," EU industry chief Stephane Sejourne told a news conference.

Broadly, the rules aim to ensure that public and foreign investments support manufacturing inside the 27-nation bloc, explained an EU official.

To that end, they say companies that want public money must meet minimum thresholds for EU-made parts and subject large investments from dominant foreign firms to conditions including employing EU workers.

The European Commission said the package aims to bring manufacturing's share of EU GDP to 20 percent by 2035, up from about 14 percent in 2024.

At stake are about 600,000 jobs Brussels predicts could be lost over a decade unless the bloc reverses its industrial decline.

- What 'Europe'? -

Initially expected last year, the measures strongly backed by France were pushed back several times due to disagreements, with some arguing they run counter to the EU's pro-free-trade spirit.

Much of the discord revolved around the geographical scope of "Made in Europe".

Sceptics, including the EU's largest economy Germany, argued trade partners should be included in the definition under a "Made with Europe" approach.

Brussels settled for a compromise based around the principle of reciprocity.

Countries that have deals with the EU allowing for European companies to access public money on a par with local firms in the sectors concerned would be brought into the fold.

Others -- like Canada -- that give preference to local producers will be left out unless they change tack, the official said, noting the rules would be used as a trade tool to negotiate better access for EU companies.

"We will exclude those who do not play by the rules or who pose a risk to our economic security," said Sejourne.

Ahead of publication, the plans had raised concerns among foreign partners including Britain, Japan and Turkey.

A full list of who was in and who was out was not yet available.

The French government called the package "a first step" in the right direction but complained it was "not yet sufficiently protective of our interests".
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State Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, emerging victorious over the well-known congresswoman in Texas most hotly contested Democratic contest this century with a populist, top-versus-bottom message rooted in his Christian faith.

This is a people-powered movement to take on this broken, corrupt political system, Talarico said in a brief address to his supporters in Austin before the race was called. Tonight, the people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope, and a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.

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The Austin Democrats victory comes after a bitterly fought primary consumed by the question of which Democrats political and electoral strategy could take the party to its first statewide victory in over three decades. The Associated Press called the race for him shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Beginning with much lower name recognition than Crockett, Talarico made it a point to campaign in even the reddest parts of the state and work to build a big tent, putting forth a populist, faith-based message of a politics of love that he argued could counter the division stoked by billionaire political donors and form a winning coalition. That approach resonated with a majority of Democratic primary voters Tuesday, who chose his offering of a political reset over Crocketts promise to unapologetically wage partisan warfare against the GOP.

In a statement Wednesday morning, Crockett said she had called Talarico to congratulate him on winning the nomination, and she suggested she would remain involved to boost the party in November.

Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person, Crockett said in her statement. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. Im committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

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Tuesdays fiercely competitive primary was widely watched as an indicator of the potential future of the Texas Democratic Party, with the two political heavyweights  both boasting national profiles, enormous social media presences and devotion from the partys base  putting forth vastly different visions of the kind of politics needed to win statewide, even as they largely aligned on policy.

A Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 1988. And while Texas is not on national Democrats list of targets to retake the Senate, party leaders in the state see a prime opportunity this year to finally flip Texas, hoping that backlash to the Trump administration, a brutal Senate primary on the Republican side and the possibility of facing hard-right, scandal-plagued Attorney General Ken Paxton will all set the stage for an upset.

The GOP nomination will be decided in a May runoff between Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, after the two finished atop a field of eight candidates but failed to clear 50%.

The contest at the top of the Democratic ticket, meanwhile, drove over 1.5 million primary voters to the polls over the 11-day early voting period, more than doubling early turnout during the last midterm primary election in 2022, according to VoteHub.

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The results began coming in Tuesday evening after a day of turmoil at the polls in Dallas County, Crocketts home base and the states second most populous county. Confusion arose over a rule change  pushed by the Dallas County GOP  about where voters could cast ballots, which led to numerous voters being turned away at the polls.

A district judge earlier Tuesday granted the Dallas County Democratic Partys request to extend polling hours in the county to 9 p.m. Soon after, at the request of Paxton, the Texas Supreme Court temporarily ordered that votes cast by people who were not in line to vote by 7 p.m.  when polls were originally set to close  should be separated out, casting uncertainty over whether those ballots would be included in the countys final tally.

Crockett told supporters at her election night watch party at Club VIVO in downtown Dallas shortly after 9 p.m. that she did not expect full election results until the following day.

Every vote must be counted, every voice must be heard, Talarico said. The voter suppression in my home county and in Congresswoman Crocketts home county underscores the gravity of this moment.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, speaks at her election watch party at Club VIVO on Primary Election Day in Dallas on March 3, 2026. Crockett criticized the restrictions on Dallas County precinct voting and did not comment on the state of the race against state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin. Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune

Attendees listen to U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, speak at her election watch party at Club VIVO on Primary Election Day in Dallas on March 3, 2026. Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune

Even before the race was called, Republicans were previewing the lines of attack they would wage against Talarico, highlighting past comments hes made saying God is nonbinary and comparing him to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

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By nominating James Talarico, Texas Democrats have once again chosen a far-left liberal who is wildly out of step with Lone Star voters, Alex Latcham, executive director of the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC connected to Senate GOP leadership, said in a statement. Talarico represents everything wrong with the Democrat party, and Texas voters will reject him in November.

At a victory party Wednesday evening  organized by Talaricos campaign ostensibly to recreate his watch party that ended before the race was called  Talarico brushed off the incoming GOP attacks and added that it didnt matter how the Republican runoff shook out.

We already know who were running against: the billionaire megadonors and their corrupt political system, he said. Theyre scared of the movement we are building. Theyre going to throw everything they have at us.

Talarico also made an appeal to voters who backed Crockett, whom he called a colleague and a friend.

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I am so grateful for her voice and her leadership, Talarico said. To the congresswomans supporters: I know I wasnt your first choice, but I hope to earn your trust and earn your support as your Democratic nominee. Its on me to ensure you feel welcomed in, represented by and proud of this campaign.

The competition tested Democrats appetite for identity politics, with questions around race and gender inflaming the race as election day neared.

Crockett cast concerns about her electability in a red state as racist dog whistles, and she called a pro-Talarico super PACs ad citing the apparent GOP preference for her nomination straight up racist and accused the ad of darkening her skin. The ad applied a dark filter throughout, including over other people pictured. Campaigns cannot legally coordinate with super PACs, and Talarico has repeatedly emphasized his respect for Crockett.

The racial tensions tearing the primary apart were amplified by political content creators from around the country, who waged a vicious online proxy war on behalf of their preferred candidates.

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Crocketts supporters online depicted Talarico as anti-Black, pointing to an accusation made by a TikTok creator that he referred to former congressman and 2024 Democratic Senate nominee Colin Allred as a mediocre Black man. Talarico disputed the allegation, saying he criticized Allreds campaigning but would never attack him on the basis of race.

Republicans, too, fanned the division and made no secret of their belief that Crockett would be easier to beat in November. Cornyn called Crocketts decision to run a gift, and Talaricos potential nomination dangerous.

During early voting, Gov. Greg Abbott ran at least two ads depicting Crockett as a far-left antagonist to motivate Republicans to the polls, which Crockett pointed to as evidence that she is the candidate the GOP fears. A conservative group called American Sovereignty backed a text message campaign highlighting her opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, using messaging that could help her with Democrats as much as it would hurt her with Republicans. And the Senate Republican campaign arm bragged about its efforts to bait her into the race when she first launched her bid.

Outside spending on behalf of both Crockett and Talarico by super PACs whose donors remain largely anonymous also helped frame the race.

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By the end of early voting, Talarico had outspent Crockett nearly five-to-one on advertising, including outside spending, according to media tracking firm AdImpact. Talarico spent $15.3 million on ads through his campaign alone, compared to Crocketts $4.3 million; a pro-Talarico super PAC dropped another $7.7 million, while a super PAC boosting Crockett had spent less than $500,000.

While Talaricos campaign ads highlighted his legislative record and his background as a public school teacher, a pro-Talarico group, Lone Star Rising PAC, dropped ads highlighting Republicans apparent efforts to prop up Crocketts candidacy. If she wins, we lose, the narrator in one ad says.

State Rep. James Talarico addresses his supporters at his primary election watch party in Austin on March 3, 2026. Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune

The crowd reacts to State Rep. James Talarico at his primary election party in Austin on Tuesday March 3, 2026. Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune

Crockett hit back with her own attack ad, depicting Talarico alongside Trump and Abbott as a narrator said, They fight for the rich and powerful. Crockett fights for us.

The race was punctuated by numerous headline-grabbing moments.

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Talarico entered the race with a splash, raising $1 million in the 12 hours after he launched his campaign and from there only ramping up his fundraising operation, which relied mostly on individual small-dollar donations.

After weeks of publicly considering a run, Crockett shook up the race when she made her campaign official on the last day candidates could file in December  a decision that pushed Allred, who had kicked off his rerun months prior, out of the primary and into a race for his previous congressional seat. As Republicans celebrated her decision, Crockett became the immediate frontrunner with near-universal name ID and soaring approval from Democratic voters.

The primarys only debate, hosted by the Texas AFL-CIO in January, revealed little daylight between Crockett and Talarico on policy, and the tenor was restrained.

On the campaign trail, Crockett faced scrutiny over past remarks she made suggesting Latinos who voted for Trump had a slave mentality and that the country should be welcoming to migrants because were done picking cotton.

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Talarico, meanwhile, aggressively courted Latino voters, many of whom surged to the right in 2024 and who are seen as potentially decisive in the general election. He campaigned with Tejano music star and congressional candidate Bobby Pulido, ran ads and social media content in Spanish and worked with popular content creators like Carlos Eduardo Espina, a Latino influencer.

Then, a TikTok influencer whod supported Talarico before Crockett joined the race accused the Austin Democrat of calling Allred a mediocre Black man. Allred excoriated Talarico and endorsed Crockett in his own social media video. Talarico disputed the account, but the debacle highlighted his paltry support among Black voters, who polls showed overwhelmingly supported Crockett.

The first day of early voting brought another explosive news cycle when late night host Stephen Colbert accused CBS of pulling his interview with Talarico for fear of running afoul of new guidance from the Trump administration. The incident, which Talarico spun into a direct attempt by Trump to censor him, instantly introduced him to millions of people and garnered him $2.5 million in fundraising in the 24 hours after.

The outcome of the primary remained in question through Tuesday, with polls released in the lead-up to the election oscillating wildly between the two candidates.

 Joshua Fechter contributed to this report.
A Japanese court has upheld an order to dissolve the controversial Unification Church, local media report.

Last year, a district court in Tokyo ordered the church to disband after Japan's education and culture ministry accused it of manipulating followers into making huge donations.

On Wednesday, the Tokyo High Court denied the church's appeal and rejected its argument that the donations were part of legitimate religious activities.

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The church, popularly known as the "Moonies", came under scrutiny after the shock assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.

The man who shot Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami, said he had held a grudge against the prime minister because of his ties with the Unification Church, which had bankrupted his family.

Yamagami, 45, was sentenced to life in prison in January. He has appealed the sentence.

The Unification Church is the first religious organisation in Japan to be given a dissolution order for a civil offence.

The dissolution order from the Tokyo district court was meant to strip the church of its tax-exempt status and require it to liquidate its assets, but still allow it to operate in Japan.

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Now that the church has lost its first appeal against the ruling, the dissolution order would take effect immediately, local media report. However, it can still bring the case to the Supreme Court.

Even before Abe's assassination, the Unification Church had drawn controversy with its teachings. At its centre is the church's late founder Sun Myung Moon, who was revered among followers as a messiah.

In the wake of Abe's shooting, investigations into the Unification Church revealed close ties with many conservative lawmakers.

Investigators also found that the church coerced followers into buying expensive items by exploiting fears about their spiritual well-being.

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According to the ruling by the Tokyo District Court last year, the Unification Church had taken about 20.4 billion yen ($130m; 97m) from more than 1,500 people.

Chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said on Wednesday that he has instructed government agencies to work on relief measures for victims, Kyodo reported.

"I hope the liquidation process will be carried out properly under the supervision of the court, ensuring swift redress for the victims," he told a press conference.
Jeffrey Epsteins former private chef, Adam Perry Lang, is revealing some of the famous guests who spent time with the disgraced American financier.

In one file obtained by Us Weekly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed they interviewed Perry Lang over video conference in 2021 and asked him to share his experiences with Epstein.

Perry Lang testified that he mostly reported to Ghislaine Maxwell, who has since been convicted for her role in aiding Epstein in abusing underage girls.

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Maxwell was quite materialistic. She went from upbeat to withdrawn to aggressive with Perry Lang, the FBI report stated. She tells Perry Lang that he is not allowed to talk to the guests. Perry Lang states it is almost like Epstein had something on Maxwell. She was always running around and coordinating things, making sure he was happy. Perry Lang thought she was his girlfriend at one point, but she was his employee.

How Is Prince Andrew Connected to the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal? A Complete Timeline

In December 2021, a federal jury in New York found Maxwell guilty of sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Elsewhere in the FBI files, authorities learned about Epsteins connection with Prince Andrew.

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According to the file, Maxwell was very excited about having the royal family member visit. Perry Lang saw him both in Florida and the Virgin Islands and claimed Andrew came on the plane one time.

Perry Lang also stated President Donald Trump came for dinner one night. Both Trump and Andrew have denied any wrongdoing, with Andrew also expressing regret over his years-long friendship with the disgraced businessman.

Celebrities Whove Addressed Being Named in Epstein Files: Whoopi Goldberg, Naomi Campbell and More

On February 19, however, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has not publicly commented on the case.

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Elsewhere in the FBI files, Perry Lang was asked about additional guests. The chef mentioned Bill Clinton and stated the former president was on the plane and ate off of Perry Langs cutting board.

On Friday, February 27, Clinton sat down with the House Oversight Committee and testified about his connection to Epstein. In a statement shared via X on the day of his appearance, Clinton denied any wrongdoing.

I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didnt see, Clinton said. I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didnt do. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong.

Perry Lang later described Epstein as laid back with the attitude that the world was his oyster.

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On one occasion, however, Perry Lang asked for a personal day and left food in the fridge for Epstein to eat. The next day, Epstein was allegedly very aggressive with Perry Lang and had an intense energy, per the FBI files.

FBI Tip Reveals Alleged Eyewitness Saw Prince Andrew Get on Top of Young Girls on Epstein Island

Epstein was facing federal sex trafficking charges when he died by suicide in August 2019 after he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City. He was 66.

At the time of his death, he was set to stand trial for allegedly sexually abusing dozens of girls in New York and Florida, with some of the charges dating back to the early 2000s.

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In a letter sent to Congress over Presidents Day weekend, Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed that the Justice Department released all of the Epstein files required by law. Additional files, however, are expected to be released at a later date.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Israel Police were forced to disperse large Purim crowds on Wednesday as revellers defied Home Front Command orders. Officials slammed the gatherings as "irresponsible" during the ongoing war.

People gathered in Jerusalem's streets to celebrate Purim in defiance of the Home Front Command's restrictions, prompting the police to disperse the crowds and issue a statement on Wednesday calling for people to stop gathering in public places.

The main event took place on Nissim Bachar Street, where the original Jerusalem Purim party was supposed to be held, with the police saying the gathering was "irresponsible" and a "very serious situation."

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"Over the past 24 hours and even at this hour, Jerusalem District police and Border Guard soldiers are dealing with gatherings and celebrations throughout the city," the Israel Police stated at the time.

"While the police are deployed in bolstered forces to provide security to residents and operate in life-saving missions in the various arenas, they are forced to direct operational attention and precious resources to dealing with the dispersal of unnecessary gatherings that endanger public safety," the police added.

A viral video shared by the police showed people dancing at a large street party, with the police also warning of the dangers posed by this type of behaviour.

DISCLAIMER: VIDEO INCLUDES SIREN SOUND. Israel Police warn over Purim celebrations in Jerusalem. (Credit: According to Article 27a of Israeli copyright law.)

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"The Jerusalem Municipality clarified in an official announcement distributed to the public and the media that, with the exception of the Adlaiyda event, which will be postponed to a new date, all Purim events and parties in the city are canceled," the Jerusalem Municipality said.

Purim celebrations in ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Mea Shearim

The decision to suspend celebrations was also backed by the Chief Rabbinate, with the municipality clarifying that it had consulted with rabbis when deciding to suspend the Purim celebrations.

But in the ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Mea Shearim, celebrations went ahead regardless, with images of people drinking and dancing in the street shared online.

During the weekend, a video showed people dancing near what seemed to be shrapnel from an Iranian missile, while police and rescue services worked in the area.

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People dance next to the place where an Iranian missile shrapnel fell. (Credit: According to Article 24a of Israel's copyright law.)

Later on Wednesday evening, the Home Front Command updated its guidelines, establishing that all areas of the country will transition from an essential activity level to a limited activity level, allowing gatherings of up to 50 people in locations from which a standard protected space can be reached within the required protection time.
Texas Republicans are in for another three months of mudslinging between Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn after the two bitter rivals advanced to a May 26 runoff in Tuesdays primary.

The two rivals are neck-and-neck with much of the Election Day vote yet to be reported. The Associated Press declared before 10 p.m. that the two would make the runoff.

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a second-term Houston congressman who entered the race in October, finished in a distant third. Hunt saw a deluge of spending against him from PACs affiliated with both Cornyn and Paxtons campaign in the final weeks of the race, as both campaigns sought to lock him out of the runoff and increase their own ballot share by diminishing his.

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Hunt had to give up his House seat in order to run for Senate, bringing this chapter of his political career to a close for now.

While polling and operatives in both camps anticipated a Paxton-Cornyn runoff matchup, the narrow margin indicates that the level of spending and viciousness, already high on both accounts, will only increase.

While polling of the race suggested Cornyn and Paxton would advance to a runoff, most polls showed Paxton either leading or tied for first. Cornyns place atop the field with the early vote in is a good sign for the senior senator, who is facing the most significant threat to his 35-year reign atop Texas GOP politics, a period in which hes never lost a race.

The close race between the two is expected to intensify the lobbying efforts among Cornyns allies in Washington, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, for President Donald Trumps endorsement. Trump has thus far chosen to stay out of the race, calling all three candidates friends, but the tight contest only increases the value of his stamp of approval.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn gives election night remarks to the press at the downtown Austin Marriott on March 3, 2026. Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

Speaking to reporters Tuesday night, Cornyn reminded voters that he had won a runoff election before  in the Republican primary for attorney general, in 1998. He added that he understood why Trump had stayed out of the race while it was a three-way contest to avoid disappoint[ing] some of his own base.

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I think he wanted to see me earn this nomination, Cornyn said. And we are well on the path to doing [so] before he made any kind of decision. But when or if he makes a decision and to get involved in the race is entirely up to him.

The GOP Senate primary has enormous stakes. The runoff winner will go on to face either state Rep. James Talarico or U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a contest where Democrats see their best chance to win a statewide race  which has eluded them for over 30 years  since Beto ORourke came within 3 percentage points of doing so in the 2018 U.S. Senate race.

I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything weve worked so hard to build over these many years, Cornyn said Tuesday night.

Paxton, however, pitched himself as a Republican unity candidate, making overtures to Hunt and Cornyn voters at his election night party speech. He acknowledged that Democrats will make the race competitive, and said he would work to bring the party together and counteract Democratic enthusiasm.

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As Attorney General, Ive won three elections, and Ive won those general elections because I focused on uniting our party, Paxton said. We still have an important runoff ahead, no doubt. But I think everyone in this room, everyone in Texas and everyone in Washington knows where this is headed. I will be the Republican nominee, and we must stay focused, because the Democrats have never been more radical.

Attorney General Ken Paxton walking out at his election results watch party in Dallas on March 3, 2026. Johnathan Johnson for The Texas Tribune

Republicans in Texas and Washington have been clear-eyed about the dangers of the general election, especially as Democratic voter enthusiasm surged throughout the partys own competitive primary. Thune, Cornyn and others have made the case to Trump  and Republican voters  that a Paxton candidacy would require massive amounts of spending among Republicans to keep Texas Senate seat red, a scenario the party would rather avoid to deploy money to competitive races in Georgia, Maine and North Carolina.

Cornyns allies have also argued that Paxton, who has weathered allegations of fraud, abuse of office and infidelity in his three terms as attorney general, would be a drag on the rest of the Republican ticket in Texas. (Paxton was acquitted during an impeachment trial accusing him of abuse of office, and state securities fraud charges were dropped.)

To that effect, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the Senate GOPs campaign arm, and Senate Leadership Fund, a Senate leadership-connected super PAC, have deployed millions to boost Cornyns image and have been unusually harsh towards Paxton.

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Paxton addressed the spending gap between the two, noting that a majority of voters still did not select Cornyn even after over $70 million spent on his behalf. Paxton spent less than $5 million in the primary.

We proved something theyll never understand in Washington, Paxton said. Texas is not for sale.

When Paxton first entered the race last April, public and private polling showed the attorney general beating Cornyn by double digit margins. But the deluge of money Cornyn and his allies have raised and deployed through the cycle successfully improved the senior senators position. Cornyn allies have argued that their significant financial advantage over Paxton can neutralize the hardline attorney generals advantage in a runoff, which typically has a smaller and more conservative electorate.

Whether or not Hunt voters return the polls come May  or if Hunt endorses  will affect which candidate wins the runoff. Hunt did not immediately endorse one of his opponents, but he has been highly critical of Cornyn on the campaign trail, arguing that the septuagenarian senator is out-of-touch with the partys MAGA base and that a younger candidate is needed to carry out Trumps agenda into the next decade.

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt speaks at a primary election night watch party at East River 9 Golf in Houston. Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune

Both camps have promised a bruising runoff. Cornyn told Politico shortly before the primary that a runoff would be a miserable experience for Paxton, who has a long list of ethical baggage that the Cornyn campaign has and will continue to attack him on.

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Judgment Day is coming for Ken Paxton, Cornyn said.

Meanwhile, Paxtons team argues that the full might of a negative campaign against Cornyn has not yet occurred and will diminish his position. One of Paxtons closing primary ads highlighted Cornyns support for a bipartisan gun safety bill that he worked on in 2022 and which earned him boos at the state GOP convention that year.

While Cornyn and Paxton will continue their feud for another 12 weeks, Democrats can spend that period fundraising and pivoting to the general election, a rare advantage in a state that affords them very few.

 Aidan Johnstone and Alejandra Martinez contributed to this report.
Everybody won in the U.S. Senate primary.

Texas Republicans won by lifting their struggling U.S. Sen. John Cornyn into a runoff against bullish challenger Ken Paxton. They also won the right to brag over Dallas Countys disorganized Democratic election officials.

Texas Democrats won by nominating a powerhouse fundraiser and Senate challenger in state Rep. James Talarico.

They also won when they got to complain, The Republicans robbed us of our votes!

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Mostly, both parties picked up another ton of campaign fodder for November  as if they didnt have enough already in a Senate race that has already cost more than $100 million.

GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton speaks to supporters at a watch party on March 3, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Paxton and incumbent John Cornyn will face off again in a runoff.

That was the ultimate outcome on an Election Night when Democratic voters swamped the partys polling places and Republicans efficiently lined up three statewide runoff elections May 26.

Now, all eyes are on the White House.

President Donald Trump will pick whether Cornyn or Paxton wins the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. His endorsement is worth an estimated 10 percentage points in the polls.

Our top commentary on the 2026 primaries

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With Cornyns resilience, Trump might be expected to make a thrifty decision and endorse the candidate who wont need a $200 million campaign to overcome a Texas-sized wagonload of personal baggage.

But when does Trump ever do whats expected?

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proved hes closest to Trumps ear when Trump issued late endorsements for comptroller candidate Don Huffines and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller over Gov. Greg Abbotts own candidates.

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Huffines surged to win the Republican nomination outright and a November matchup against Austin Democratic state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt.

Miller lost to Collin County challenger Nate Sheets, 52%-48%, but won Election Day voting. So Trumps endorsement simply came too late.

Patrick, a Trump whisperer and state campaign chairman, might insist the president choose Paxton as an equally soiled but MAGA-minded candidate.

Or Patrick might save Republicans money for other states by recommending Cornyn, already leading Talarico in polls.

U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (D-TX) addresses supporters on election night on March 03, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Texans went to the polls to vote for Democratic and Republican primary candidates ahead of November's midterm elections.

Trump has 200 million reasons to recommend Cornyn, Republican advertising consultant Vinny Minchillo of Plano-based Glass House Strategy said on WFAA/Channel 8s election coverage.

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Republican consultant Alfredo Rodriguez of Dallas-based DYCE Communications predicted Trump will make a business decision.

There are gonna be a lot of senators telling him, We need to endorse John Cornyn,  Rodriguez said. We need to take this money that would have to be spent in this race and put it in places like Michigan, places like North Carolina.

Democratic consultant Matt Angle of the Washington, D.C.-based Lone Star Project identified the real winner of the Republican runoff: Texas Democrats.

Well have two and a half months of [Cornyn and Paxton] just beating the crap out of each other on TV, Angle said.

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This was a $100 million primary solely to win one mans vote.

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A federal judge on Monday criticized federal immigration officials for repeatedly violating judicial orders and warned that future defiance could result in criminal contempt proceedings.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz noted that a recent internal investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office found that the office had violated 17 injunctions barring them from transferring immigrants out of New Jersey, including in one case where a migrant was sent to Peru.

Prosecutors have largely blamed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for inadvertently violating the no-transfer orders, saying there were logistical delays in communicating the orders to overwhelmed ICE agents. Farbiarzs opinion acknowledges that mistakes can be made.

But when the same mistakes happen over and over again  the picture can start to look different, he wrote. What looks like inadvertence (when it happens once) might begin to inch closer to looking intentional (when it happens more than once a week).

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Farbiarzs opinion orders an extraordinary remedy for prosecutors in all of the judges immigration-habeas cases  those in which a detained immigration challenges their detention  where Farbiarz issues a no-transfer order. Prosecutors will be required to sign a declaration, under penalty of perjury, that they have received the injunction, conveyed it to ICE, and provided ICE with written legal advice on the agencys obligation to comply with the order. And ICE will be required to sign a second declaration confirming it received the injunction and has received written legal advice from prosecutors on its obligation to comply with the order.

Requiring declarations is intrusive. But it is a narrowly-tailored way to address the precise problem before the Court  of ensuring going-forward compliance with judicial no-transfer orders, Farbiarz wrote.

Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, arrests of immigrants across the country have sharply increased, and so have habeas corpus filings. Farbiarz said that hundreds of cases have been filed each month in New Jersey, the volume of which has badly overwhelmed the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Farbiarz, a Biden appointee, is far from the only judge to lecture federal prosecutors over immigration cases. Just last week, U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi, another Biden appointee, excoriated prosecutors for arresting and detaining migrants using a federal statute already rejected in hundreds of cases.

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The states federal bench has been at odds with Trump in other matters, too. Last year, after the temporary appointment of Trumps pick to be U.S. attorney lapsed, the judges convened to choose someone to replace her. Trump quickly fired the replacement.

A request for comment from the U.S. Department of Justice was not returned.

Farbiarzs Monday order came in the case of Baljinder Kumar, a migrant held at Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall. Kumar filed a habeas corpus petition on Jan. 25, 2026, arguing that federal law entitles non-citizens to a bail hearing before an immigration judge (Farbiarz noted in his Monday opinion that every federal judge in New Jersey who has considered an argument along these lines has agreed with it).

Farbiarz issued a no-transfer order for Kumar the following morning at 7:58 a.m. The U.S. Attorneys Office notified ICE of the injunction in less than 30 minutes, and ICEs legal office passed that to the Newark ICE field office by 9:21 a.m., according to Mondays opinion. ICE transferred Kumar to a detention center in Los Fresnos, Texas, on Jan. 31, the opinion says.

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The U.S. Attorneys Office learned of the transfer from Kumars lawyer, and ICE returned Kumar to New Jersey on Feb. 5, according to the opinion.

Farbiarzs opinion questions whether there is willful blindness on behalf of federal officials because of how often they have repeatedly violated the same type of court order.

If local ICE leaders at some point developed a rough sense that this may have been going on, but did not then meaningfully tackle the problem  could that suggest that later violations of judicial orders (like the violation of the January 26 no-transfer order) were a product of their willful blindness? the judge wrote.

Farbiarzs opinion came after Jordan Fox, a special attorney for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey, detailed a host of violations the office has made in immigration-related cases in the past three months.

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Besides the 17 times no-transfer orders have been violated, there were also late releases, missed answer deadlines, missed bond hearing deadlines and incomplete evidentiary productions. And what is likely the most striking violation, ICE deported a migrant to Peru despite a court order that barred removal. Fox called that an inadvertent administrative oversight and said the government offered to facilitate the persons return to the United States but they declined.

Farbiarz said the U.S. Attorneys Office has made clear that it takes violations of court orders seriously, while ICE has been silent.

In the face of scores of violations of recent judicial orders, this silence, the Court fears, is clarifying as to the overall approach of local ICE leaders to following the Courts orders, he wrote.

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A ballot measure pushed by Republicans to change how majorities are calculated in Missouri for constitutional amendments proposed by initiative must clearly alert voters that is its intent, a Cole County judge ruled Wednesday.

The decision from Circuit Judge Daniel Green is the written version of his oral ruling from Feb. 19 that provisions critics decry as ballot candy must be removed from the language prepared by lawmakers.

Those provisions  penalties for campaigns that accept donations from foreign sources, for committing fraud in the signature process and requiring public hearings on initiatives  dont change anything, Green wrote. He removed the first two lines of the ballot title, which point to those provisions, because they are restatements of current law and do not reveal to voters what the measure would achieve if passed and must be removed from the summary statement.

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Passed by lawmakers last year, the proposal will be Amendment 4 on the November ballot.

In place of the first three lines, Green wrote that the ballot language must focus on the main intent of the proposal, which is to change the required majorities. He kept the final two lines, ruling they fairly describe the amend, and ordered the ballot to say it would:

Modify current requirements that a statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution

Require a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; and

Make available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot.

Green ruled in a case brought by the Missouri Association of Realtors, which is backing an opposition PAC under the name Missourians for Fair Governance.

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It is a victory for voters that the judge recognized the legislative attempt to mislead our citizens and ordered the deceptive ballot candy to be deleted from Amendment 4s ballot summary, said Scott Charton, spokesman for the PAC. But the underlying misleading language is still in the body of this terrible proposal. In fact, either negligently or intentionally, Amendment 4 actually dramatically decreases the current financial penalty for petition signature fraud.

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Amendment 4 would make it possible for a small minority of voters to defeat constitutional amendments placed on the ballot by a petition campaign.

Currently, any statewide ballot measure must earn only a majority of votes cast to pass. Under the GOP-backed plan, future constitutional amendments proposed by initiative would need a majority in each of the states eight congressional districts instead.

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During the 2024 general election, 311,915 votes were cast in the 1st Congressional District out of the states 2,960,266 votes. So 156,000 voters  or about 5.3% of the statewide vote  could prevent a measure from passing.

Only citizen-led initiative petitions would be affected. Amendments placed on the ballot by state lawmakers are not included in the change.

Green rejected arguments that the measure should be removed from the ballot entirely for violating constitutional restrictions on the scope of amendments, which must amend only one article. While it would change the way some constitutional provisions would operate, he ruled, it did not change the wording of those sections in other articles.

He also ruled that State Auditor Scott Fitzpatricks fiscal summary  that the impact on state funds is minimal  was acceptable. He had previously ordered Fitzpatrick to make revisions to the fiscal note  the estimate of costs  and the summary that appears on the ballot.

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Fitzpatrick revised the fiscal note with a statement that he had excluded estimates from the secretary of states office because they did not directly address the provisions of Amendment 4.

That was an acceptable revision, Green ruled.

The next step in the court battle would be an appeal if either side thinks Greens ruling is flawed. If there is no appeal, the new language would stand and the full-scale campaign to pass or defeat it will be joined.

The lawmakers are trying to make suckers out of Missouri voters, Charton said, but our citizens are too smart to surrender their long-held constitutional rights and hand that power to politicians who dont proofread their own legislation.
U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Bryan is weighing sanctions against the top Department of Justice official in Minnesota, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, for the federal governments failure to promptly return the belongings of illegally detained immigrants and comply with other court orders in more than two dozen cases.

A contempt judgement against Rosen would mark a major escalation in the ongoing feud between the Trump administration and federal judges over the warrantless arrest of hundreds of immigrants in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge.

Bryan summoned Rosen to his courtroom in St. Paul on Tuesday along with Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fuller and a representative of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to explain why they should not be held in contempt for violating court orders to return the property of 28 people released from ICE detention and provide documentation to the court showing they had done so.

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This is an extraordinary hearing to have to do, Bryan said, adding he hadnt ruled out criminal contempt.

Indeed, Rosen said it was the first time in the three decades hes been practicing law to be called to a show cause hearing to defend himself from being held in contempt.

Yet federal judges have been regularly threatening to hold Trump administration officials in contempt for violating their orders regarding immigrants illegally detained by ICE.

Attorneys in the 28 cases filled three rows of benches in the courtroom, all representing clients who had been released from detention without all their belongings, including cash, cellphones, jewelry, drivers licenses, work permits, passports, clothing and other immigration documents.

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In one case, a person was still missing his shoes. In another, a shoelace.

Since Bryan issued his order on Feb. 26 summoning Rosen to court, the Department of Justice and ICE located and returned  sometimes via tracked UPS packages  much of the missing property.

In two cases, however, ICE determined it had lost the items and searching anymore would be futile.

Rosen argued that losing peoples belongings did not amount to contempt.

There is no contempt of court, there was no defiance, no disobedience, Rosen said.

In one case, Rosen said federal agents mistakenly stapled the wrong inventory document to the bag containing the mans possessions, leading to a mixup  albeit in a very timely way, Rosen noted.

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The agency could not find the bag containing the mans belongings including his cell phone, AirPods, car keys, work permit, wallet with bank cards, and boots.

They looked and they looked and they looked some more. They turned things upside down. They searched everywhere  it was lost, Rosen told the judge.

In another case, ICE lost a womans Minnesota ID, work permit and Social Security card.

Tauria Rich, ICEs deputy field office director in St. Paul, couldnt say where the items were misplaced, whether in Minnesota or Texas, where the woman was sent before a judge ruled her detention was illegal and ordered she be returned to Minnesota and released. Rich couldnt even say exactly which documents were missing.

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She did say now that the items were determined to be lost, the government would start the process of reimbursing people for those possessions.

The womans attorney, Mackenzie Moy, said the incident showed a serious lack of good faith effort that ICE didnt bring anyone who could say how the agency might have lost the items and what they did to try to locate them.

I felt like they wasted our time, Moy said after the hearing. While they told us repeatedly that they cared so much, they couldnt bother to bring someone who knew anything.

Releasing people without their belongings has been a common practice throughout Operation Metro Surge, the incursion of some 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota in what the Department of Homeland Security called its largest operation ever.

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Volunteers created a group called Haven Watch with the sole purpose of meeting people as theyre released from the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building to give them warm clothes, a temporary cell phone and a ride home.

The lost items underscore the disorder of Operation Metro Surge, as federal agents raced to meet the Trump administrations voracious appetite for mass deportations.

Rich, the ICE official, has told more than one federal judge that the volume of detainees has made it hard to locate peoples possessions. Its an explanation thats found little sympathy with judges, who have themselves been inundated with cases from immigrants challenging their detention.

Bryan distributed copies of ICEs detention policies and walked through how the agency handles detainees property and lost possessions, asking Rich if she had personal knowledge of whether the policy was followed in each of the cases.

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Rich said no, because it was not generally in the scope of her duties. That appeared to disturb Bryan, who in his order, demanded the appearance of ICE officials with direct knowledge of the 28 cases.

She also said that the Whipple building is not a detention facility subject to those ICE policies but is rather a holding room. Bryan asked that she provide the court with the ethics and policies regarding Whipple by Thursday.

At the end of Tuesdays hearing, which stretched from 10 a.m. until after 5 p.m., Bryan said he would take the issue of contempt under advisement and issue a decision soon.

He said a contempt decision would be a historic low point and yet, judges are saying its the only way to ensure the federal government follows their orders.

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U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino imposed a $500 fine on Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Isihara for each day the government did not return the identification documents of an immigrant arrested in Minnesota but released in Texas. The government swiftly returned the mans documents and no fines were imposed on the attorney.

Last week, U.S. Chief District Court Judge Patrick Schiltz threatened to hold federal officials in criminal contempt, which could include jail time, if judges orders continue to be violated.

This Court will continue to do whatever is required to protect the rule of law, including, if necessary, moving to the use of criminal contempt. One way or another, ICE will comply with this Courts orders, Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in the conclusion of the order.

Schiltzs order tallied 210 violations of court orders across 143 cases during Operation Metro Surge.




Former Vice President Kamala Harris urged voters to help Democrats take control of Congress in the midterm elections and warned that voting rights could be imperiled under President Donald Trump at a book tour stop in Oakland on Tuesday.

Harris said she is worried about voters' rights and access to the ballot. She fears the Supreme Court will soon gut the Voting Rights Act and its protections against racial discrimination, and that a Trump-backed bill in Congress to sharply curtail access to voting will disenfranchise millions.

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"These midterms coming up are pretty much the only way we're going to stop the madness," Harris said. She said Trump and his administration are acting "without guard rails."

The Tuesday evening chat, hosted by Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, was Harris' second stop in the Bay Area since "107 Days" published in September. But the most recent visit inside the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts was anchored in the moment, rather than rehashing Harris' failed presidential campaign that is chronicled in the memoir.

At times, Harris highlighted how the spirit of Bay Area activism informed her upbringing and how she hoped that spirit would continue among the young leaders in the crowd. She even made a pitch to lower the voting age to 16.

"Because when we ask them to understand and think about what they want for their future, they will know they have some power to decide," she said.

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Harris has called the book tour her "freedom tour" because she said it's the first time she's been able to speak openly without being tied to an office or campaign. Harris also described what she called a "shadow tour" she's taken across the country - without press or cameras - to meet Americans where they are.

"Especially after the election, I felt a deep need to listen," Harris said.

On Tuesday, that meant a visit to an East Oakland community center where she sat in on a class teaching tweens how to pitch entrepreneurial ideas. During a recent visit to Jackson, Mississippi, she said she followed a single mother as she shopped in a discount grocery store on a budget of $150 for four people. The cart was creaky. The prices had gone up, Harris recalled.

"Tariffs," she said, a clear jab at Trump.

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The mother had to prioritize buying bottled water because Jackson residents can't rely on the city's pipes to carry clean water after decades of infrastructural neglect. At times, it's brown.

"Now, this is America," she said.

Now, that same mother faces cuts to her food stamps, Harris said.

Simon's commentary often mirrored Harris' points. She, too, took shots at the administration.

"I had the impression things would be difficult," Simon said, "but even with that, I don't think we understood that we'd have a president who took away a trillion dollars in Medicare and Medicaid."

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Simon described the government being stripped down "to the bones in the last nine months." She posed to Harris: "What is the call?"

Harris reiterated her call to elect Democrats in the midterm elections, but also warned voters not to get too nostalgic about the past.

"Even before all this, the system wasn't working for a lot of people," she said.

This article originally published at Kamala Harris advocates lowering the voting age to 16 at Oakland event.
The Ras Laffan complex in Qatar is the worlds largest liquefied-natural-gas export facility. - Stringer/Reuters

European natural gas prices surged nearly 40% Tuesday after a production halt at the worlds largest liquefied natural gas export facility in Qatar rattled markets, stoking concerns over global supply.

The Dutch TTF front-month contract jumped 38.9% to 61.77 euros a megawatt-hour in afternoon trading, the highest level since early 2023.

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State-owned QatarEnergy halted production of aluminum and several chemicals a day after an Iranian strike forced it to shut off production at the Ras Laffan complex, the worlds largest liquefied-natural-gas export facility.

This is the biggest threat to world gas markets since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, analysts at ANZ said.

Qatar is the worlds second-largest LNG exporter. It mainly supplies customers in Asia, though any prolonged outage would likely force European and Asian importers to compete for limited spot cargoes, pushing prices higher in both regions.

The disruption came as the market was already grappling with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route at the mouth of the Persian Gulf handling more than 20% of the worlds LNG supply.

The timing is particularly sensitive for Europe. With the heating season nearing its end and inventories well below seasonal norms, the region will face mounting pressure to rebuild storage ahead of next winter.

Alternative supplies, meanwhile, remain limited. While the U.S. could boost exports, traders say additional volumes wouldnt be enough to offset prolonged losses of Qatari output.

Write to Giulia Petroni at giulia.petroni@wsj.com

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Last week, Kansas enacted another in a growing string of anti-transgender laws  and this latest legislation threatens transgender peoples right to vote.

The new law, House Substitute for Senate Bill 244, is another example of increasingly extreme government overreach and efforts to restrict transgender peoples rights nationwide. In addition to a sweeping and dangerous bathroom ban, SB 244 requires any Kansas birth certificate or drivers license that reflects a transgender persons gender identity to be invalidated and revoked  a first in the nation.

The law further requires transgender Kansans to surrender their now-invalid drivers license to the state before they can receive a replacement  one that will only reflect their sex at birth, regardless of how these Kansans may look or live their life today, and regardless of the risks to their own safety.

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This law was enacted despite the Legislatures anti-democratic tactics to avoid public hearings; despite the fact that courts have ruled previous Kansas restrictions on updating gender markers on IDs to be unconstitutional; and despite the fact that when transgender people are forced to use IDs that do not reflect their gender identity, they are more likely to face harassment, discrimination, and even violence.

While this new, wide-sweeping law has many dangerous potential consequences, a particularly troubling one is its threat to transgender Kansans ability to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

This is because Kansas has one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country. Kansas requires that voters present a state-issued, unexpired, photo ID to cast a ballot. If a voter is unable to provide an ID that meets these requirements, they must cast a provisional ballot, which will only be counted if the voter submits an accepted ID to their county elections office by the Monday following the election.

These two policies together mean that many transgender Kansans may have their IDs invalidated this year yet still be required to produce a valid ID to be allowed to vote. This combination means that at least some of an estimated 22,000 adult transgender Kansans will face serious obstacles to voting this fall and beyond.

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As Gov. Laura Kelly noted in her veto of the bill, it is poorly drafted, creating many unanswered questions that further illustrate the threat to transgender Kansans ability to vote. There is no information, process or timeline offered for how the state will revoke these IDs, or when affected Kansans will be notified that their IDs are now invalid and unusable. There is no information about whether affected Kansans will be forced to pay for new IDs.

There are no measures offered to ensure that transgender Kansans will not be turned away by confused poll workers who see an ID with a gender marker that does not reflect the person standing before them. There are certainly no measures offered to minimize the risk that transgender Kansans will avoid voting entirely, out of reasonable fear that showing mismatched IDs at the polls may expose them to mistreatment.

This policy is not only discriminatory: Its voter suppression.

IDs unlock essential freedoms we all rely on  like the freedom to travel, work, drive and more. Revoking a transgender persons ID after it has been issued via a rigorous, state supervised process  and then banning future updates  strips those freedoms away.

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Every Kansan, including transgender Kansans, deserves to vote free from mistreatment and unnecessary obstacles. We should be encouraging more civic participation, not making it harder for Americans to vote. SB 244, however, does just that: it not only threatens transgender Kansans basic safety and freedom, but also their very right to participate in the democratic process.

As the director of policy research at the Movement Advancement Project, Logan S. Casey (he/him) offers expertise in laws and policies that impact the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
TOPEKA  The Kansas Senate voted Tuesday to clamp down on public school protests by requiring students to secure parental permission to participate and by imposing penalties on districts complicit in organizing protests or meek in disciplining student offenders.

Sen. Michael Murphy, a Republican from Sylvia, assured senators the new prohibition on students leaving a school building to take part in a protest or rally during school hours wouldnt run afoul of fundamental constitutional rights of assembly and speech.

The amendments financial sanctions  potentially more than $100,000 per day  would be assessed on districts if a schools staff were found to have encouraged, facilitated or enabled a student walkout. In addition, each school day in which a district experiences such a student walkout shall not be counted as an instructional day for purposes of meeting annual academic requirements.

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The bottom line is we understand we have a right to protest, a right to voice our opinion, Murphy said. But when were in high school, were there to learn.

In his speech on the Senate floor, Murphy didnt identify what protests he was intent on thwarting nor did he provide examples of walkouts crossing the line into improper conduct. He did make a reference to peaceful and violent protests against the Vietnam War.

The Senate passed the amendment 21-18, with the majority comprised exclusively of GOP senators. The opposition included nine Republicans and nine Democrats. The amendment must be accepted by the Kansas House before implementation.

In recent months, students in Kansas and other states staged protests in opposition to the ongoing federal immigration crackdown. Much of the criticism centered on lethal tactics relied on by federal agents enforcing President Donald Trumps directives.

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Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said she was apprehensive  Murphy told her not to be worried  the budget provision would clash with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. That landmark 1969 decision recognized First Amendment rights of students in U.S. public schools. It has been used to determine whether a schools interest in preventing disruptions outweighed students constitutional rights.

I do have concerns that if it doesnt put us in jeopardy with Tinker v. Des Moines it puts us in jeopardy of other cases involving civil liberties, Holscher said. While we may not like particular speech  its part of the process.

Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, pushed back against the idea foundational rights in the First Amendment could be compromised by Murphys amendment. She recommended students make use of their rights to speech and assembly outside the school day.

This is not a matter of free speech. You have your right to speech, your right to assemble  not during the school day, Gossage said. School gets out really early. You have plenty of time to do something like this after school no matter what it is they are protesting.

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Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said the amendment didnt take into account 18-year-old high school seniors with legal authority to sign themselves out of school. She said the amendment didnt accurately define truancy.

This is the majority party telling free speech for me and its not free speech for you,  Sykes said.

Olpe Sen. Mike Argabright, among the Senate Republicans voting against the amendment, said he was concerned the restriction exclusively targeted public school students and districts.

He said the amendment appeared to be an example of legislation based on a small number of incidents that didnt warrant statewide intervention.

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Under the amendment inserted into Senate Bill 315, Murphy would have the Kansas State Board of Education assume responsibility for handling all disputes about reports of walkout or protest misconduct by students, teachers or administrators.

His amendment would focus on students who walked out of classes without written parental consent to be absent or to leave a school building. It would impose fines on school districts whenever administrators failed to enforce school attendance laws and policies tied to disciplining absent students. It also would sanction districts whenever it was proven school staff encouraged a walkout.

The amendment defined a student walkout as an organized effort for students to willfully violate school attendance requirements.

The amendment would forbid a walkout day from being counted toward the districts total instructional hours required by the state during an academic year.

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In addition, the offending district would face a fine equal to the annual base salary of the superintendent for each school day that a district experiences a student walkout. The penalties would be paid into the state treasury.

In Kansas, superintendent salaries often ranged from $118,000 to $146,000 per year, but some exceeded $200,000 annually.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Marion County Sheriffs Office arrested a high school teacher on Tuesday who is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

The department said a lieutenant with the agency was notified of inappropriate communication between a student and teacher at Peabody-Burns High School. The investigation determined that the teacher had sexual contact with a student, according to the sheriffs office.

With assistance from the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigators said they uncovered more evidence before the teachers arrest.

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Shooting near downtown Wichita leaves one critically injured

An email from the district was sent out to parents last month notifying them that a teacher was being investigated for possible inappropriate conduct.

On Tuesday, Superintendent Antoinette Root issued this statement to KSN:

Nothing matters more than the safety and wellbeing of every student in our care. As I am sure you can understand, confidentiality laws prevent me from sharing any details about a report involving a USD #398 employee or student.

Wichita police identify man fatally shot at American Legion

The sheriffs office said the case remains under investigation. Anyone who may have information related to the case is asked to call 620-382-2144.

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Charges against the teacher are still pending. It is KSN policy not to identify suspects until they have been charged.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Some 800,000 Nepalis have left the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal's most populated region, for their hometowns over the past week to vote in tomorrow's election, authorities say.

About a tenth of Nepal's 30 million population live in the Kathmandu Valley for work or school. More than 80% of the Himalayan nation's land area is marked by mountainous terrain.

Nepal's law requires citizens to cast their ballots in their registered consituency, often the place where they were born. Nepalis living abroad are not allowed to vote.

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Photos show crowds gathering on highways lined with jeeps, minibuses and vans in the capital city, while traffic authorities have reported hours-long jams over the weekend.

This election will be the first the country has held since deadly youth-led anti-corruption protests toppled the government in September 2025.

Saroj Chapagain is among those who have made long journeys from Kathmandu to vote.

"I have come home to cast my ballot in order to safeguard the constitution and the system," said the 38-year-old, who spent 14 hours on a public bus to get to his hometown in Bardiya district.

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"My one vote may not be decisive on who wins or who loses but it can play crucial role in safeguarding the constitution. I think my participation in [this] election will hold a special meaning," Chapagain told BBC Nepali.

However other Nepalis are not as enthusiastic. Ophthalmologist Rabindra Singh Thakuri says he and his friends would not wanted a parliament "dominated by new faces".

"All of my friends support the traditional political parties... [a government dominated by newcomers] will not provide the country with any meaningful way forward," he told The Kathmandu Post.

Some 19 million people, including almost a million first-time voters, will go to the polls tomorrow to elect 275 members of parliament. About 165 of them will be elected through first-past-the-post voting while the rest will be selected via proportional representation.

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Nearly a third of the 3,400 candidates are under the age of 40.

Nepal's election commission has suspended all public and private transport services, apart from those providing essential services, from Wednesday until polling ends on Thursday. Flights will continue.

The country has also declared Wednesday, Thursday and Friday public holidays for the election as well as the Fagu festival of colours, known also as Holi, celebrated by South Asian communities worldwide.

One of the most closely watched contests will be in Jhapa-5, a constituency that has traditionally been a stronghold of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

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Oli, who was forced to step down after last year's protests, is hoping to retain the seat and is up against ex-rapper Balendra Shah, whose first rose to fame for his provocative songs that criticised the ruling elite.
The GOP Senate race in Texas between Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will head to a runoff election after neither candidate secured the 50% needed to win their partys nomination.

Cornyn and his GOP allies in Washington have spent weeks warning that, should he win the May 26 runoff, Paxton could lose a statewide election in Texas for the first time in three decades and give Democrats another pathway to claiming a Senate majority next year.

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We will have an Election Day massacre, Cornyn said at a campaign event in Austin last month. If Ken Paxton is at the top of the ticket, we risk losing the Senate seat, losing the majority in the House of Representatives, and it will take a toll on everybody on the ballot.

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A loss for Cornyn would also be a huge blow to Senate GOP leaders, whove spent over $70 million seeking to block Paxton from the general election. The far-right Texas attorney general was impeached in 2023 by the GOP-controlled Texas House for bribery and abuse of office. His wife also divorced him last year on biblical grounds, including accusations of adultery.

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Republicans are afraid that Paxtons record could put the seat at risk, especially if state Rep. James Talarico wins the Democratic nomination against Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas).

Cornyn is seeking his fifth term in the Senate. The 74-year-old senator has argued that his seniority and ability to bring billions of dollars home to Texas are reasons why voters cant afford to switch to a new face in Washington.

Politics: Lawrence ODonnell Uses Barron Trump To Make Damning Point About Donald Trumps Iran War

He sought but did not receive President Donald Trumps endorsement in the race, however. Trump stayed neutral and supported all three candidates in the race, including Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), who trailed third behind Paxton and Cornyn.

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We have a great attorney general, Ken Paxton. Wheres Ken? Hi, Ken, Trump said at a rally in Texas last week. He continued, And we have a great senator, John Cornyn. Hi, John.

Its going to be an interesting one, right? Theyre both great people, he added.

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HARLAN COUNTY, Ky. (WATE)  A 19-year-old Kentucky man is dead following an incident that occurred while he was installing fiber cables in a bucket truck in Harlan County, county officials said Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Harlan County Sheriffs Office, at 10:19 a.m., deputies were dispatched to a work related incident in the Homes Mill community. The sheriffs office said the Cloverfork Fire Department, Lifeguard Ambulance Service and Kentucky Utilities also responded to the scene of the accident, that involved power lines.

Its heartbreaking Knoxville woman in Tel Aviv shares experience amid military strikes, air raid sirens

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Roughly two hours later, Deputy Coroner Gene Fisher pronounced one person dead at 12:37 p.m.

The Harlan County Coroners Office reported just before 4 p.m. identified the person who died as Bryson K. Cottongim, 18, of Manchester. 6 News media partner, WRIL, reported that Cottongim was a third-party Apex contractor and was installing cable for HCTV in Harlan.

Chilhowee Park advisors envision exciting future after withdrawal of land sale plan

The coroners office said Cottongim died from injuries he received while installing fiber cable in an elevated position in a bucket truck. The incident is under investigation by the Harlan County Sheriffs Office.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
The United States and Israel have continued to carry out strikes on Iran, bombing government, military and civilian infrastructure as the conflict spreads to Lebanon, where Israel has been carrying out an intense bombardment.

A fire broke out near the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday as Iranian retaliatory strikes continued in the Gulf, escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones as it expanded its attacks to energy infrastructure and diplomatic compounds.

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The conflict, which entered its fifth day on Wednesday, has also sparked political debate in the US, with the opposition Democrats questioning Trumps decision to attack Iran.

Here is what we know:

In Iran

Targeted locations: Joint Israel-US strikes have targeted western Tehran, with video footage showing thick plumes of smoke over the city.

Nuclear facilities: The Natanz nuclear facility was struck during the military operations, though Iranian media reports that no radioactive leakage has been recorded.

Iranian retaliation: According to US Admiral Brad Cooper, Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones in retaliation.

These attacks have hit the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and struck near the US consulate in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Ongoing operations: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli pilots are flying over Iran and Tehran, stating that Israel will continue to strike the country with force.

Rising death toll: After four days of fighting, Irans Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs reported that 1,045 people have been killed in US-Israeli attacks.

INTERACTIVE_LIVETRACKER_IRAN_US_ISRAEL_MIDDLEEAST_ATTACKS_MARCH3_2026_GMT1400-1772546539

In Gulf nations and Turkiye

Regional security and infrastructure threats: Iran has launched strikes on energy infrastructure across the Gulf and warned that it will target all economic centres in the region if US-Israeli attacks continue.

Qatar: Qatari air defence systems intercepted projectiles in the skies over Doha, causing loud bangs.

The Gulf country has also said it has arrested 10 suspected spies operating for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Saudi Arabia: Saudi authorities reported that two drones struck the US embassy in Riyadh, which caused a limited fire and minor damage.

Oman: Citing ongoing activity, the US embassy in Muscat instructed its staff and all US citizens in Oman to shelter in place and find secure locations until further notice.

Vessel struck off UAE coast: The British maritime security tracker (UKMTO) reported that a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile seven nautical miles (13km) east of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Separately, a drone struck near the US consulate in Dubai.

China: Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Saudi Arabian and UAE counterparts that Beijing will send a special envoy to the Middle East for mediation purposes.

Turkiye: An Iranian ballistic missile that was fired from Iran and heading into Turkish territory was downed by NATO air defence systems, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence said.

Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks on Qatar following United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, as seen from Doha [File: Mohammed Salem/Reuters]

In Israel:

Attacks inside Israel: The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah claims to have fired rockets at Israeli forces in the northern town of Metula.

Additionally, the Iran-aligned Hezbollah announced that it has carried out a missile attack on a naval base in Haifa.

Israeli military operations: Israel is a primary actor in the continuing multifront conflict, actively bombarding targets in both Iran and Lebanon. In Lebanon, Israeli air attacks have killed at least 50 people and wounded 335.

Israels military announced that two soldiers were moderately injured due to antitank fire in southern Lebanon.

Air strikes on Hezbollah: The Israeli military has struck approximately 60 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, hitting weapons storage facilities, command centres and missile launchers.

A missile launched from Iran is intercepted amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran [Amir Cohen/Reuters]

In the United States

US political stance: Trump stated that the big scale hitting goes now, promising that Iran is in for a lot of hurt.

Despite the heavy military action, Trump maintains that a US-led regime change is not the primary goal, suggesting instead that someone from within the current Iranian government might be the best choice to take power once the war concludes.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news briefing that Iran was now firing fewer missiles than at the start of the war and that the US will expand inland striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters the US was winning the war and confirmed that the military sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

At least 80 people were killed in the US submarine strike on the Iranian vessel in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lankas Deputy Foreign Minister said in a statement to local television.

Political fallout: Domestically, the war has led to intense political debate due to shifting justifications from the Trump administration. Trump stated he ordered the attacks because he believed Tehran was preparing to strike first.

The US Senate is scheduled to vote on the War Powers Act in an attempt to test whether President Trump has the authorisation to wage these military operations.

US-UK diplomatic rift: Trump heavily criticised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, stating, This is not Winston Churchill were dealing with. This comes after Starmer refused to support the military operation or allow the US to launch attacks from the joint UK-US base at Diego Garcia.

Lawmakers warn of a ground war: Following a three-hour briefing by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Democratic lawmakers are sounding the alarm that the US could be drawn into a prolonged ground war.

Death toll: The US identified four US soldiers who were killed during an Iranian retaliatory strike on a military facility in Kuwait, bringing the total confirmed US deaths to six.

Demonstrators display signs as they march past Trump Tower, while taking part in a protest against the US-Israeli conflict with Iran [Reuters]

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In Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan
Following the destruction of a girls' primary school in Minab, Iran, on Feb. 28, 2026, many people on social media claimed the attack was the result of a failed missile launch by the Iranian military. The strike killed more than 100 people, including children, on the same day the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.

Some posts falsely claimed that Iranian authorities took responsibility for the school attack  an admission that never occurred. An image claiming to show an Iranian military missile that some users shared as support for the claim was taken far from the girls' school, according to analysis from journalists and researchers. Snopes also identified key indicators that the photo was not taken in Minab.

Available evidence does not support the claim that Iranian authorities were responsible. Iran has accused the U.S. and Israel of carrying out the strike, though neither has taken responsibility for it. Early reporting from Reuters and The New York Times suggests the U.S. was likely responsible for the attack.

On Feb. 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive on Iran, targeting military installations and killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The same day, missiles destroyed a girls' primary school in Minab, a city in southern Iran.

The attack killed an estimated 165 people, most of whom were children, according to Iranian state media reports. The United Nations' education agency called the strike "a grave violation of humanitarian law."

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Shortly after the strike, rumors spread claiming Iran was behind it and it was the result of a failed missile launch from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of the Iranian military. Posts shared screenshots (archived) of an alleged statement from the IRGC in which it appeared to take responsibility for the attack.

Snopes readers asked us to confirm whether an IRGC missile hit the school and whether the military branch admitted the strike was an "inadvertent mistake."

At the time of publishing this story, the exact source of the missile strike remained unconfirmed. Available evidence, however, did not support the claim that Iranian authorities were responsible. An image claiming to show an Iranian military missile that some users shared as support for the claim was taken far from the girls' school, according to analysis from journalists and researchers. The IRGC did not issue a statement claiming responsibility for the attack either, contrary to online claims.

Iranian officials (archived) have accused the U.S. and Israel of carrying out the strike, though neither country has taken responsibility for it. The U.S. said it was investigating any civilian casualty reports from the area, while Israel said it was not aware of any U.S.-Israeli strikes in the region.

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A March 5 investigation by The New York Times found the school was likely damaged by a precision strike from the U.S. that occurred at the same time as strikes on a nearby IRGC base. U.S. officials also said they were carrying out operations in the same area. A Reuters report quoted anonymous U.S. military officials who said it was likely that U.S. forces were responsible for the strike on the school, though the investigation was still ongoing.

Below, we break down the main allegations circulating online that claim to support the conclusion that Iran hit its own girls' school with a missile.

Did Iranian authorities claim responsibility?

In short, no. Iranian authorities have not issued any official statements taking responsibility for the attack on the girls' school. Numerous posts spread the claim on X (archived here, here, and here) and shared the same screenshot of a Telegram account that reportedly shared an IRGC statement written in Farsi.

The screenshots showed a message from a Telegram channel called "Radio Gilan," which included authentic footage from the destroyed girls' school and translated message that read:

An IRGC aerospace missile hits a school in Minab County, Hormozgan province. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that this was an inadvertent mistake and that serious action will be taken against those responsible for this action.

(X user @IranSpec)

However, the above Telegram channel is not an official Iranian government account. Radio Gilan appears to be an anti-regime channel. The Telegram post did not provide an official source, nor did it link to any video of an IRGC spokesperson making such a statement. The statement did not appear on any Iranian government channels either. As such, this part of the claim is false.

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We looked at the IRGC's official Telegram channel (as verified by the BBC), Sepah News, which shared footage and photographs of the destruction of the school on the ground. The caption of its post translated to (via Google Translate): "The situation of Minab Girls' School after the crime committed by the Zionist-American enemy."

(Telegram user sepahnews.ir)

Below is a screenshot of the same claim that we found on the Radio Gilan Telegram channel:

(Telegram user Radio Gilan)

The user, or users, behind Radio Gilan's Telegram channel have previously shared posts sympathetic to Reza Pahlavi  son of the former shah, or king, of Iran who was deposed in 1979 by Islamic revolutionaries  who has lived in exile for decades. In recent days, Pahlavi has expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump's operation in Iran, called for dismantling Iran's nuclear arsenal and supported the killing of the ayatollah. He has also said he could lead the transition for a new Iranian government.

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A YouTube channel called @RadioGilan  which appears to be connected to the Telegram channel because its correspondents use microphones with the same logo  also shares largely pro-Pahlavi content.

The YouTube channel uploaded footage of demonstrations in mid-February 2026 by the Iranian diaspora in Munich, which featured placards supporting Pahlavi and calling on Trump to "act" against the Iranian regime. Protesters also carried American and Israeli flags and wielded signs saying "Make Iran Great Again," an apparent reference to Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina appeared at the protest and called for "a world without the ayatollah."

According to London-based news agency Iran International, which has purported ties to Saudi Arabia, Radio Gilan is run by Payman Behboudi, a Germany-based journalist. The YouTube channel states it is based out of Austria. We reached out to Behboudi via Telegram and will update this story if we receive a response.

Does photo show failed Iranian missile hitting school?

In short, no. The photograph was reportedly taken in a completely different part of Iran, according to independent analyses by credible media outlets and researchers. Snopes also identified key indicators that the photo was not captured in Minab, where the girls' school was located.

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Posts (archived) on X shared an image of a purported missile reversing course and aiming for the ground, claiming it was an IRGC missile hitting the school:

Regarding Minab girls school which the regime in Iran claims was hit by America: Footage shows whatever hit the school was a failed rocket launch from IRGC, it wasn't Israel or US. Analysis of the area shows the school is in a middle of a military area full of IRGC bases.

(X user @Tarikh_Eran)

By comparing buildings and the background mountain range in the image with landmarks from the school footage, independent researchers and journalists determined the above photo was taken in Zanjan, Iran, which is around 800 miles from the girls' school in Minab.

A Tehran-based journalist with AFP reported that the Ava Dental Clinic in Zanjan is the same building that appears in the bottom right of the above photograph. It's also worth noting that Minab is a southern city close to the sea, and the weather is hot at the time of year when the attack occurred. Zanjan is farther north and colder at the same time of year, evidenced by the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

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GeoConfirmed, an independent open-source intelligence project, also determined the location of the girls' school and the location of what it referred to as a misfired missile. According to GeoConfirmed, the above image "is from a misfire in Zanjan, Zanjan Province."

Furthermore, Snopes examined verified footage of the girls' school in the aftermath of the attack, and noted there were no high mountain ranges in the background or tall buildings like those seen in the image. If the missiles were headed toward the mountains, as they appeared to be in the image, it would be reasonable to assume that the school would be closer to the snow-capped mountain range. Google images from Minab show low-lying mountains and a less congested city, with buildings that are not as tall as those in Zanjan.

Using Google's reverse image search tool, we found what appeared to be an early X post about the image shared at 9:15 a.m. EST Feb. 28. The post (archived) stated: "Zanjan: Two IRGC missiles malfunctioned and crashed in Iran shortly after launch." The image was posted by Iran Observatory, a France-based organization that describes itself as an "independent analysis platform" providing insights about Iran." We reached out to the account to determine the source of the image and await a reply.

Was the school near an Iranian military site?

Reports from New Lines Magazine and Al Jazeera English determined that the girls' school was next to an IRGC base on Resalat Boulevard in Minab. An Al Jazeera report said the school had been "clearly separate" from the adjacent military site for at least 10 years and its targeting was "deliberate."

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Based on verified footage of smoke plumes rising from the base, The New York Times reported that the military site had been targeted by U.S. and Israeli missiles on Feb. 28, the same day the girls' school was hit by a missile. The Times reported that 2013 satellite images showed that the school building was part of the base at one point but by September 2016 had been walled off. Based on the timing of U.S. military strikes in the region, as well as satellite imagery, a March 5 investigation by the Times found the U.S. was likely responsible for the attack.

Satellite images we looked at from 2017 onward on Google Earth indicated that walls had been built around the school. As noted in New Lines Magazine's reporting, a Google Earth satellite image from 2018 shows walls painted in bright colors, indicating a school building:

(Google Earth)

In sum 

As of this writing, no credible sources attribute responsibility for the school attack to Iran itself. The U.S. and Israel have not taken responsibility for the missile attack. Independent reporting suggests the U.S. was likely responsible for the destruction of the girls' school, though the official investigation is ongoing. We will update this story as we learn more.

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For further reading, we have unpacked several claims regarding the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

Sources:

"                  ." YouTube, P Behboudi.RadioGilan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g2yJH3OtVI. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

"Al Jazeera Investigation: Iran Girls' School Targeting Likely 'Deliberate.'" Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/3/questions-over-minab-girls-school-strike-as-israel-us-deny-involvement. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

Araghchi, Seyed Abbas. X, 2 Mar. 2026, https://x.com/araghchi/status/2028550945278222558.

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"Briefing: Iran's IRGC Announces Launch of Official Social Media Accounts." BBC, 27 Aug. 2025, https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/b0004hsf.

Deadly Bombing of Iran Primary School 'a Grave Violation of Humanitarian Law': UNESCO | UN News. 1 Mar. 2026, https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167063. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"Death Toll in Israeli Strike on Southern Iran School Rises to 165." Al Jazeera, 28 Feb. 2026, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/28/israel-strikes-two-schools-in-iran-killing-more-than-50-people. Accessed 3 March 2026.

Dehghan, Saeed Kamali. "Ofcom Examining TV Network over Interview Praising Attack in Iran." The Guardian, 2 Oct. 2018. Media. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/oct/02/ofcom-investigates-tv-network-interview-praising-terror-attack-iran. Accessed 3 March 2026.

Deng, Rae. "Did UN Security Council Label Trump a 'war Criminal' after Iran Strikes? Here's the Truth." Snopes, 2 Mar. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/un-trump-war-criminal-iran/. Accessed 3 March 2026.

GeoConfirmed. X, https://x.com/GeoConfirmed/status/2027859937842393278. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"Investigation Debunks Claims IRGC Bombed Iranian School." New Lines Magazine, https://newlinesmag.com/running-notes/investigation-debunks-claims-irgc-bombed-iranian-school/. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"Iran Observatory." X, https://x.com/IRObservatory/status/2027749418913398864. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"Iran's War With Israel and the United States." Global Conflict Tracker, https://cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/confrontation-between-united-states-and-iran. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"Israel Strikes Hezbollah in Lebanon as War with Iran Escalates." The New York Times, 1 Mar. 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/01/world/iran-attack-khamenei-trump#girls-school-strike-iran-video. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"Massive Demonstrations Held to Oppose Iran's Government." Associated Press, 15 Feb. 2026, https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/15/massive-demonstrations-held-to-oppose-irans-government-00782529. Accessed 3 March 2026.

McClure, Tess, and Deepa Parent. "Minab School Bombing: How the Worst Mass Casualty Event of the Iran War Unfolded  a Visual Guide." The Guardian, 3 Mar. 2026. Global Development. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/03/minab-school-bombing-how-the-worst-mass-casualty-event-of-the-iran-war-unfolded-a-visual-guide. Accessed 3 March 2026.

Noorani, Ali. X, https://x.com/ali_noorani_teh/status/2027824637606769021. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"P Behboudi.RadioGilan." YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6N3xxlWOznj_idvvTFNrTA. Accessed 3 March 2026.

Pelley, Scott, et al. "Iran's Prince Reza Pahlavi Says 'This Is Our Chance' after Khamenei's Death - CBS News." CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reza-pahlavi-future-of-iran-after-khamenei-death-60-minutes-transcript/. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"Radio Gilan." Telegram, https://t.me/s/Namayandeh3oma. Accessed 3 March 2026.

"Sepahnews.ir." Telegram, https://t.me/s/sepahnewsir403. Accessed 3 March 2026.

Sinaiee, Maryam. Sex Scandals Continue To Discredit Iran's Clerical Regime. 1 Aug. 2023, https://www.iranintl.com/en/202308011912. Accessed 3 March 2026.

Stinky. X, https://x.com/Stinky915846091/status/2027834459534291110. Accessed 3 March 2026.

Wrona, Aleksandra. "Was Trump Partying at Mar-a-Lago While US Bombed Iran? We Unpacked the Claim." Snopes, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//news/2026/03/02/trump-mar-a-lago-party-iran/. Accessed 3 March 2026.

Updates:

March 6, 2026: This story was updated to include reporting from The New York Times and Reuters that found the United States was likely responsible for the attack.
Addressing media at the United Nations, Israel's ambassador took aim at Iran and its response to U.S. and Israeli attacks.

"It is a regime lashing out like a rabid animal, dangerous to everyone around it," said Danny Danon. "This is not strategy, it is desperation."

More and more, though, it seems desperation has led Iran precisely to its strategy. Experts say Tehran will likely try to inflict collateral damage in neighbouring countries and exhaust U.S. and Israeli defences by using cheap kamikaze drones in order to try and save the regime.

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As a joint U.S.-Israeli strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many top government officials on the first day of war, Iran deliberately took aim at America's "soft underbelly"  military bases and diplomatic missions within easy reach, said Robert Malley, a former special envoy for Iran in the Biden administration.

With few other options, he said "this is one where they could show they have retaliatory power."

Iran's armaments have flown at U.S. installations in at least nine countries, from the Persian Gulf to Cyprus in the Mediterranean. Dozens of people were injured and some killed, mostly local citizens. Drones have also hit American embassies and consulates in Riyadh, Dubai and Kuwait City, sparking fires.

Smoke rises from an area surrounding U.S. Embassy following a strike, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Bayan, Kuwait, on Tuesday, in this screengrab from a video obtained by Reuters. (Reuters)

Most of Iran's neighbours had lobbied the U.S. to avoid war, not because of sympathy for its regime, but to keep from becoming collateral damage.

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Now, Iran's goal is to inflict just enough pain to push them to lobby U.S. President Donald Trump to stop, said Galip Dalay, a Mideast expert at Chatham House, a think-tank in London.

"The only person that can call off this war or end the war is Trump, and I think that is the actor that Iran is aiming at [through its attacks]," he said.

Drone warfare

There may also be a second plan at play by the leaders left alive in Tehran: to force the U.S. and Israel to use up their costly defensive missiles quickly in trying to shoot down Iran's innovative Shahed line of kamikaze drones.

The unmanned devices can carry powerful explosives as far as 2,000 kilometres, and they're programmed to hit specific targets. That's what damaged three U.S. diplomatic missions in the past days.

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Iran was the first country to develop these, though they have been successfully adopted by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

But it's the drones' low cost that makes them a challenge for big military powers like the U.S. and its allies. One drone costs between $20,000 and $50,000 US, while a single Patriot interceptor missile often used to shoot it down costs about $4 million US and takes much longer to replace.

"This is the core of Iran's strategy," Kelly Grieco posted on social media. She is a senior fellow at the Stimson Center think-tank. "For every $1 Iran spent on drones, the U.A.E. spent roughly $2028 shooting them down."

The U.S. has recently copied these Iranian-designed drones, naming them LUCAS and fast-tracking their development. It's also working on cheaper alternatives for interception.

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The Iranian drones are easy to transport and even launch from the back of ordinary-looking trucks, said Justin Crump, CEO of Sibylline, a British risk and intelligence consultancy.

"You pull back the cover and they fire out. That is obviously much easier, much less detectable than a ballistic missile launcher," he said.

Israeli air defence system fires to intercept missiles launched from Iran toward Israel, over Jerusalem, on Sunday. (Mahmoud Illean/The Associated Press)

Iran's missile arsenal

Ballistic missiles are Iran's other strength. They are such a threat to Israel that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Iran be forced to give them up in the talks leading up to this war.

Iran's arsenal  the biggest in the Mideast  consists of more than 20 kinds , most assembled in Iran from domestic and foreign parts. Many were fired at Israel in June, and many others were destroyed by Israeli strikes during the conflict before they could be used.

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But Iran's network of underground depots, with production and storage centres, and even firing systems, likely means they have been replenished, said Crump. He estimates Iran now has about 2,000 long-range missiles and as many short-range missiles.

At the rate they are being used, Crump said Iran had about 10 to 12 days' worth of supply when this war started.

Between the missiles and the drones, the air war could stretch out for weeks, despite continued U.S. and Israeli air strikes.

Crump said the attacks and loss of leadership are taking their toll on Iran, with signs the powerful Revolutionary Guard is splintering: Individual units are often making their own decisions on when to fire and what to attack.

A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran, on Tuesday. (Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images)

It has started to "run away" from the central command, he said. "Original aims are lost, accidents and miscalculations are more likely to happen."

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And what kind of Iran will that leave once the war ends?

"Its goal at this point is to show at the end of this war that it is still standing," said former special envoy Malley. "What we're going to see is a more fragmented, more chaotic, but still standing regime."

Corrections
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ripped Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) for peddling tabloid garbage on Wednesday when the lawmaker asked if she had ever slept with Corey Lewandowski  while Noems husband sat right behind her.

The awkward moment happened as Noem testified before the House Judiciary Committee. The hearing was ostensibly focused on President Donald Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration, but things took a sordid turn when Noem was pressed on her reported relationship with Lewandowski.

At any time during your tenure as director of the Department of Homeland Security, have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski? Kamlager-Dove asked.

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Mr. Chairman, I am shocked were going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee today, Noem said to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). And maam that one thing that I would tell you is he is a special government employee who works for the white House, there are thousands of

The two women then started speaking over one another, with Noem repeating it was garbage and that she was offended by it. Kamlager-Dove said it was okay to be offended by the question, but that it was a necessary one to ask.

It is about your judgment and decision making, it is about the 260,000 employees that work under you that want to make sure you are giving information and making decisions clearly, Kamlager-Dove said. It is about conflict of interest. It is about national security risk.

American lives are at risk, she added.

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Noem did not answer whether she had hooked up with Lewandowski.

She stared forward as Kamlager-Dove read a series of headlines related to Noem and Lewandowski, which she said she wanted entered into the record; Jordan objected to each one. Noems husband, Bryon, was sitting behind her during her testimony but was blocked from view as his wife was asked about her reported lover.

The prodding comes a month after the Wall Street Journal reported Noem and Lewandowski had a close relationship; the report said President Donald Trump and his advisors were uncomfortable with it.

Watch above via C-SPANs YouTube account.

The post Kristi Noem Asked  With Her Husband Sitting Right Behind Her  If Shes Had Sexual Relations With Corey Lewandowski first appeared on Mediaite.
By Deepa Seetharaman, Krystal Hu and Jeffrey Dastin

SAN FRANCISCO, March 4 (Reuters) - Some Anthropic investors are racing to contain fallout from the AI research lab's dispute with the Pentagon, seven people familiar with the matter said, for fear that an ongoing spat could devastate the company's business.

More from Yahoo Scout What AI restrictions is Anthropic refusing to lift? Why are Anthropic investors concerned about Pentagon dispute? What is Anthropic's current revenue and growth trajectory? How could supply-chain risk designation impact Anthropic?

In recent days, CEO Dario Amodei has discussed the matter with some of Anthropic's major investors and partners, including Amazon.com CEO Andy Jassy, two of the people said. Venture capital firms including Lightspeed and Iconiq have also been in contact with Anthropic executives, two sources said.

Some investors are also reaching out to their contacts in the Trump administration in hopes of tamping down the tensions, two sources said.

The discussions focus on avoiding a ban of Anthropic's AI from all Pentagon contractors, the people said.

Anthropic and the Pentagon are continuing some talks in the meantime, one of the people said. Reuters was unable to determine what such talks entailed. U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Anthropic to help the government phase out its AI systems.

The Pentagon and investors including Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Anthropic and the Defense Department, which the Trump administration renamed the Department of War, have been in a months-long dispute over how the military can use its technology on the battlefield. The clash is widely seen as a referendum on how much control AI companies can have over the technology they've built, systems they hope can transform education, public services and other aspects of society.

The Pentagon has pushed AI companies to drop red lines in favor of abiding by an all-lawful use clause. But Anthropic has refused to back down on bans for its Claude AI to power autonomous weapons and mass U.S. surveillance.

Anthropic was first among peer AI companies to work with classified information through a supply deal via cloud provider Amazon. OpenAI said Friday that it reached its own classified deal with the Pentagon and that Anthropic should not be labeled a risk to the department.

Dario Amodei  ASSOCIATED PRESS

FUNDING RISKS

During talks with Anthropic executives, investors have reiterated their support for the San Francisco-based AI lab while also expressing their desire to find a solution with the Pentagon, the seven people said. Some investors told Reuters they were frustrated that CEO Amodei antagonized rather than cultivated Pentagon officials. "It's an ego and diplomacy problem," one of the people briefed on the matter said.
NEED TO KNOW

Kristi Noem denied that the Department of Homeland Security is creating a database of protesters during a House Judiciary hearing on Wednesday, March 4

She was questioned about the subject after a viral video showed an ICE officer in Maine telling a protester they were being added to a domestic terrorist database

Two Maine women filed a class-action lawsuit claiming DHS actions violate their First Amendment rights

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem denied that her department is building a database of protesters, contradicting claims by federal agents that the Trump administration is indexing opponents of its immigration enforcement actions.

During a House Judiciary hearing on Wednesday, March 4, Democratic Rep. Lou Correa pressed Noem on whether DHS is keeping record of American citizens who protest ICE, referencing a widely circulated interaction between a Maine resident and a masked immigration officer in January.

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Colleen Fagan, a social worker, was filming immigration officers with her cellphone during an operation at an apartment complex in Portland, Maine, on Jan. 23, when agents scanned her face with a smartphone and appeared to record her car license plate number.

Why are you taking my information down? Fagan asks one of the officers, whose identity has not been publicly revealed.

Because we have a nice little database, the officer responds, and now youre considered a domestic terrorist.

For videotaping you? Fagan says, laughing. Are you crazy?

Fagan and another Maine woman, Elinor Hilton, sued Noem and DHS late last month in a class-action lawsuit alleging that the department and several of its subagencies are violating the First Amendment through actions designed to chill, suppress, and control speech that they do not like.

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Responding to the lawsuit, filed in a federal district court in Maine, DHS told NPR, "There is NO database of 'domestic terrorists' run by DHS. We do of course monitor and investigate and refer all threats, assaults and obstruction of our officers to the appropriate law enforcement. Obstructing and assaulting law enforcement is a felony and a federal crime. Our law enforcement methods follow the U.S. Constitution.

On Wednesday, Correa questioned the officer's assertion in Fagans video that DHS was creating a database of protesters. Are you creating a database, maam, of Americans? Correa asked Noem.

No, were not creating a database, Noem answered, before Correa played Fagans video to the room.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.

The California congressman also demanded that Noem respond to comments from border czar Tom Homan that he is pushing DHS to create a database of people arrested during ICE protests.

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What are you going to do with that database? Correa asked.

I dont know why he said that, Noem replied, referring to Homan. Were not creating a database.

But he did say it  he works for you, hes not an agent, hes an employee, Correa said, prompting Noem to clarify that Homan reports directly to President Donald Trump.

Asked whether she would respond to written questions about the existence or ongoing creation of a database with clear and on the record answers, Noem responded, Absolutely.



Read the original article on People
The three F-15Es shot down over Kuwait yesterday met their demise at the hand of a Kuwaiti Air Force F/A-18 Hornet, according to a report by The Wall Street Journals Lara Seligman. While it was rumored to have been a ground-based air defense system that took the aircraft out, it does make sense that the friendly fire incident was the result of a series of air-to-air engagements, based on the damage to one of the aircraft. That being said, we cannot independently confirm the report at this time.

SCOOP: A Kuwaiti F/A-18 fighter jet was the cause of the accidental shootdown of three American F-15s on Sunday, according to three people familiar with initial reports of the incident. https://t.co/5xKB9jxwQs  Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) March 4, 2026

Seligmans story is based on three sources familiar with initial reports of the incident. Just one Hornet was supposedly involved, launching three missiles and taking down the three Strike Eagles. Thankfully, the crews all survived. The report goes on to state that the blue-on-blue incident occurred as multiple Iranian drones were penetrating Kuwaiti airspace. One of these impacted a base that resulted in the death of six Americans.

Footage of an F-15 falling out of the sky this morning over Kuwait, in an apparent friendly fire incident involving the U.S. Air Force. pic.twitter.com/GQvryfJ4C4  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 2, 2026

As we have recently explored in detail, mistaking friendly tactical aircraft for real threats in a very complex and quickly morphing battlespace isnt unprecedented, as it has happened multiple times before, including in relation to Kuwait on two past occasions. The air-to-air aspect of the story is certainly intriguing and would help explain how the crews survived the shoot-downs. We saw one F-15E spin into the ground with its vertical tails missing and its engines on fire. While this is catastrophic damage, it is not typically what you would see in most engagements from heavier surface-to-air missiles, although every engagement is different, so we cant rule it out. But three shoot-downs and everyone made it out alive sounds like tail-aspect shots made by smaller yield weapons.

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Also, if the Super Hornet employed passive heat seeking missiles (AIM-9 Sidewinder), the F-15E pilots would not have known they were being engaged until the weapon detonated. There are caveats to this, including if the Hornet had used its radar to assist in the Sidewinder lock. But Kuwaiti Hornets were clearly in the airspace at the time defending against drones, so even being painted by their radar may not have indicated how serious the situation was about to become.

We will continue to report as the investigation into this bizarre friendly fire event unfolds.

Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com
Mar. 3The Lakeside man charged after a drug-fueled collision on U.S. 93 just south of Kalispell in 2024 later received a partially suspended sentence in Flathead County District Court. Richard Frederick Rowe, 41, pleaded not guilty to a single felony count of criminal endangerment at his May 1, 2025 arraignment before Judge Heidi Ulbricht, but agreed to a plea deal just days later. The agreement, which Rowe signed May 14, allowed him to enter a no contest plea to the felony charge. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to recommend he serve a three-year sentence with the state Department of Corrections with two years suspended and pay restitution. At his sentencing held that same day, Ulbricht stuck to the terms of the deal. She ordered the sentence to run concurrent with his sentence in a 2024 driving under the influence, fourth of subsequent offense, conviction and recommended he enter a state-run addiction treatment program. Ulbricht also gave Rowe credit for 37 days of time served and ordered him to pay $1,000 in restitution. Rowe was behind the wheel of a GMC Denali what witnesses described as traveling erratically before it struck another vehicle about 5:40 a.m., Jan. 5, 2024. A toxicology screen showed that Rowe had several types of benzodiazepines in his system, including clonazepam and bromazolam, according to court documents. Prosecutors brought Rowe up on a felony charge more than a year after the collision and he was booked into the county jail on April 9, 2025. News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].
Members of the Lansing Planning Commission on Tuesday voted to recommend the city council rezone a patch of land near the Grand River planned for a 24-megawatt data center.

While the commission previously rejected the rezoning request from U.K.-based data center company Deep Green, some commissioners shifted their stance, voting 5-2 in favor of the resubmitted request.

At present, the patch of land between Cedar and Larch Street holds a parking lot. However, if city council approves both the rezoning request and the sale of the land, the 2.5 acres would be redeveloped to host both a data center and a 16-megawatt fuel cell plant to supply energy to the facility.

Proposed Lansing data center site on Cedar Street in Lansing. Feb. 12, 2026 | Photo by Jon King/Michigan Advance

During their presentation to the planning commission, Deep Green representatives noted that the company has had several of its promises written into its buy-sell agreement and its contract with the Board of Water and Light to ensure theyre legally binding. These include commitments to local noise limits, paying for all required energy infrastructure up front, and offering the city the right to buy back the land if the project doesnt move forward within two years.

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As for why theyre aiming to build the project in downtown Lansing, Rob Stolpestad, a member of the projects development team, explained that Deep Greens model relies on heat reuse. Part of the plan for the facility includes using the heat generated by its equipment to provide heat to the BWLs downtown heating loop, as it transitions from steam to hot water.

The proposed site sits right on the edge of BWLs planned hot water network, and ensures efficient access to the heating infrastructure while placing the building in a location that is already surrounded by similar land uses, Stolpestad said. We have a water conditioning plant to the west, solar array to the north, and auto repair centers to the east.

Jack Pressman and Rob Stolpestad of the Deep Green data center development team take questions from the Lansing Planning Commission. March 3, 2026 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance

Planning commissioner Anthony Cox, who voted against rezoning, pressed Deep Green on its water usage, with Stolpestad explaining that the facility would use a closed-loop system for cooling which would reduce the amount of water used compared to a conventional data center.



The data center would use 500,000 gallons of water a year, Stolpestad explained.

Jack Pressman, the development manager for the facility, said the project would use a water-glycol mixture for cooling, provided and disposed of off-site by Dow Chemical or a similar entity.

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Supporters of the project argued that the data center could be an economic boon for the city, marking new activity on a site that has long sat empty.

It is clear that this underutilized parking lot does not have a lot of future opportunity, and that we should take a moment to see what this might look like and what the future could hold for the potential tax base on all jurisdiction levels, said Emma Bostwick, the vice president of business attraction for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.

Nichole Keway Biber, mid-Michigan campaign organizer for Clean Water Action. March 3, 2026 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance

However, multiple individuals noted that Deep Green had yet to complete any studies on the facilitys environmental impact. They also raised concerns about the impacts of the fuel cell facility, which generates energy from natural gas using chemical reactions rather than combustion.

Despite what Deep Green would have you believe, this plant would be polluting. It would emit as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, about 60 to 70% as much as a traditional natural gas plant, said Ivan Droste, a resident of the citys southwest ward. And we would be building a natural gas plant right downtown in an era of worsening climate change and volatile natural gas prices.

Nichole Keway Biber, mid-Michigan campaign organizer for Clean Water Action, noted that just because the site had previously been developed does not mean there is no environmental impact from the facility.



Places can be restored. The river can have a vision of restoration, Keway Biber said, pointing to drainage projects, like the one located at the Frandor Shopping Center a few miles away, as one potential option.
Deciding to pick up a Michigan Lottery ticket in Mount Pleasant while visiting her sister ended with a Lansing woman thinking she was having a heart attack.

Kathy Forquer, 67, purchased a Lucky For Life ticket Feb. 10 at Borders Corner Store located at 7024 E. Pickard Road while on her trip, according to the Michigan Lottery.

When she checked the ticket at 6 a.m. the morning after the drawing, she saw she had won $25,000 a year for life and thought she was going to have a heart attack.

Kathy Forquer of Lansing won $25,000 a year for life playing the Michigan Lottery's Lucky For Life game in February.

"It feels surreal that Im here claiming such a large prize," Forquer told the Michigan Lottery when she claimed her prize. "My heart feels like its beating out of my chest!

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She opted to receive the winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000 instead of payments of $25,000 a year for 20 or life, whichever is greater.

More: Ingham County man wins $1 million on Michigan Lottery instant game

More: Michigan lottery club wins largest Fast Cash prize ever

She plans to use the money to buy a new car and save the rest.

The Lucky For Life game was replaced by the Millionaire For Life game on Feb. 22.

Forquer claimed the final $25,000 a year for life prize won in Michigan.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lansing woman wins $25,000 a year for life on lottery ticket
Todays sinking of an Iranian warship by a U.S. Navy nuclear attack submarine is a hugely significant event in the annals of military history. After all, you have to go back to the final days of World War II to find the last time a U.S. submarine sank an enemy vessel. Since then, however, submarines under the flags of different navies have sunk vessels in combat.

You can catch up with our coverage of the sinking of the Iranian warship here.

In fact, there are some varying accounts as to which U.S. Navy submarine was the last to sink an enemy vessel. The situation at sea as World War II was drawing to a close in the Pacific was a chaotic one, with an increasingly deadly U.S. Navy submarine force tearing through the remnants of Japanese shipping, with subs racking up multiple victories in a short space of time.

A U.S. Navy officer at periscope in the control room of a submarine in the Pacific in 1945. Photo by JAZZ EDITIONS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

With the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in disarray and with Japan still reeling from the two atomic bombs dropped on it, what was left of its seagoing force provided relatively easy pickings for U.S. submarine commanders.

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As such, it was on VJ-Day, or Victory over Japan Day, that U.S. subs claimed their last victims before todays action.

According to available records, on August 14, 1945, the same day that saw President Harry S. Truman announce Japans unconditional surrender, two U.S. submarines sank three Japanese warships.

The first victim  a Japanese submarine  appears to have fallen to the USS Spikefish (SS-404).

A bow view of USS Spikefish (SS-404) underway on the surface after World War II. National Archives

Commissioned in June 1944, the Spikefish was a Balao class submarine, the Navys largest submarine class, with 120 boats completed. With a surfaced displacement of 1,526 tons, the Balao was around 311 feet long and had a speed of 20 knots surfaced, reduced to 8.75 knots submerged. Moving on the surface at a speed of 10 knots, the boats could cover 11,000 nautical miles.

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As of the night of August 13, 1945, the IJN transport submarine I-373 was surfaced in the East China Sea, southeast of Shanghai. Transport submarines of this type were used by the Japanese to transport troops and supplies between mainland Japan and remote islands. Spikefish sighted the Japanese sub on its radar at 8:10 p.m. and also detected emissions from its air-search radar. Spikefish got closer before losing visual contact, after which the I-373 disappeared below the waves. Just after midnight, Spikefish regained radar contact. At 4:24 a.m., Spikefish fired a spread of six Mk 14 torpedoes at a range of 1,300 yards. Two of the torpedoes hit I-373, sinking it. Spikefish surfaced and found five survivors in the water, all of whom refused rescue, a grim reflection of the bitter fighting at this late stage of the Pacific conflict. One IJN crew member was forcibly brought aboard the U.S. sub; his 84 compatriots died.

In previous days, the USS Torsk, a Tench class submarine, commissioned in December 1944, had been marauding in and around the Tsushima Strait, which lies between Korea and Japan. Here, the boat had been picking off Japanese merchant vessels and warships.

USS Torsk (SS-423) underway after the war. National Archives

The Tench class was essentially an improvement of the earlier Balao and Gato classes, moderately bigger but more strongly built and with more fuel. These boats had a surfaced displacement of 1,570 tons, were also around 311 feet long, and had similar surfaced and submerged speeds to the Balao. Thanks to their additional fuel capacity, the Tench boats had a range of around 16,000 nautical miles.

On August 14, Torsk encountered a medium-sized Japanese cargo ship accompanied by the Japanese Type C escort vessel CD-47, off Maizuru in the Sea of Japan. At 10:35 a.m., Torsk launched a Mk 28 torpedo, an experimental type with acoustic homing. The torpedo smashed a hole in the stern of the escort, which quickly went below the waves. An attempt was made to sink the cargo ship, too, as it entered harbor, but the torpedoes missed.

A Japanese Type C escort vessel, of the same kind sunk by USS Torsk. IJN

At around midday, a second Type C escort vessel, CD-13, arrived, apparently in pursuit of Torsk. After firing off a Mk 28 torpedo, Torsk dived for safety. From a depth of 400 feet, Torsk launched a Mk 27 torpedo, a weapon known as CUTIE, this time with passive homing. The hydrophone operator on the Torsk then detected a large explosion, indicating the Mk 28 had found its target. The Mk 27 impacted moments later.

A different Japanese transport after having been torpedoed by the American submarine USS Raton (SS-270). National Archives

While the timings are not entirely clear, CD-13 is widely identified as being the last Japanese warship to be sunk in World War II, and therefore the last enemy vessel to have been sunk by a U.S. submarine until today.

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The war still wasnt over for Torsk, however. With more patrol vessels arriving, plus patrol aircraft, the submarine had to remain submerged for more than seven hours after CD-13 went under. After this date, other Japanese vessels would continue to be sunk by mines that had been laid earlier, including by submarines.

Torsk received two battle stars for its World War II service and is today preserved in the Historic Ships collection in Baltimore.

USS Torsk is preserved in the Historic Ships collection in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

At a press conference today, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that the sinking of an Iranian warship by an as-yet unidentified U.S. submarine marked the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.

This is not true.

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The Torsk may have been the last U.S. submarine to have sunk an enemy ship prior to today, but other navies have achieved the same feat.

Back in 1971, during the Indo-Pakistan War, the Indian Navy frigate INS Khukri was sunk by the Pakistan Navy submarine PNS Hangor. The Khukri, with a displacement of around 1,200 tons, became the first warship anywhere to fall prey to a submarine since the end of World War II.



A poor-quality but rare view of PNS Hangor in December 1971, while sailing toward its deployment area during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

The Falklands War, fought in the South Atlantic in 1982, between the United Kingdom and Argentina, saw the first instance of a nuclear-powered submarine sinking an enemy vessel.

On May 2, 1982, in a somewhat controversial incident, the Argentine Navy cruiser ARA General Belgrano was sunk by a torpedo launched by the British nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Conqueror, with the loss of over 300 crew.

The Royal Navy Churchill class nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Conqueror, underway in the early 1970s. Photo by Royal Navy Official Photographer/Crown Copyright

The controversy around the incident centers upon the fact that General Belgrano was targeted when it was outside a so-called total exclusion zone, covering a 200-nautical-mile radius from the Falklands. While there were subsequent protests about the legality of the action, the fact remains that the British had previously warned Argentina that any ships that posed a potential threat to its own task force would be sunk.

The Argentine Navy cruiser ARA General Belgrano lists heavily to port in the Atlantic Ocean, after being attacked by the British Conqueror during the Falklands Conflict. Press Association

Until the sinking of the Russian Navys Slava class cruiser Moskva by Ukrainian anti-ship missiles in 2022, the sinking of the General Belgrano was the last time a cruiser was fully destroyed by enemy action.

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Another disputed incident occurred in 2010, with the sinking of the South Korean warship ROKS Cheonan.

On March 26, 2010, the Cheonan, a Pohang class corvette, sank in the Yellow Sea, off the countrys west coast, killing 46 of the 104 personnel on board. Exactly why the warship sank remains a matter of conjecture, although a South Korean-led investigation concluded that the vessel was sunk by a North Korean torpedo fired by a midget submarine. The U.S. Navy also stated that the sinking was caused by a non-contact homing torpedo that exploded near the ship. North Korea denied responsibility.

Republic of Korea Navy and U.S. Navy officers inspect the corvette ROKS Cheonan. U.S. Navy photo by LT Jared Apollo Burgamy/Released

The manner of the sinking certainly appears consistent with a torpedo hit, with an explosion reported near the stern of the ship that caused it to break in half soon afterward.

Since then, the closest we have come to seeing submarines destroying other vessels has been sinking exercises (SINKEX) and similar tests. At times, these have also provided a rare glimpse into the effects of potential adversaries submarine weapons capabilities. Case in point, the sinking of a decommissioned Chinese amphibious landing ship by a Peoples Liberation Army Navy submarine, seen in the video below:

A Type 074 LST was used in a SINKEX, getting torpedoed by a PLAN submarine. Via /Wb pic.twitter.com/BEtpsAljYn  Alex Luck (@AlexLuck9) June 16, 2024

The cloak-and-dagger nature of submarine operations means that many details about their use in combat remain closely guarded secrets. In the case of the Cheonan, we may never exactly know what happened to it. For the time being, we also await more information about todays sinking of the Iranian frigate. What is certain, however, is that this was an unprecedented event, at least as far as the modern U.S. Navy is concerned, and a truly rare action by any standards.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Mar. 4Describing an individual she suspected of being homeless as walking around a store while high and mumbling to himself, a shopper asked the Kalispell Police Department to intervene. She reported hearing him say, "I will shoot anyone, I don't care" and something about blowing up the president's house. She had left by the time officers arrived, but they chatted with the man, who they deemed fine. A caller complained that the person behind the wheel of a dark red truck was driving recklessly down East Idaho Street. They reported seeing the vehicle hit the median and sidewalk before pulling into a gas station. Someone had questions about disposing of old ammunition. Spotting people apparently living out of a van in the parking lot, a pastor of a church asked the police to ban the inhabitants from the premises. Officers pulled a piece of cardboard from the road. After someone brought a firearm into her home the night before, a woman wanted the person banned from the property. When his wife's phone went missing from a bathroom in the mall, a man confronted the woman he suspected of stealing it. She denied the theft and took off, he told the authorities. He called back a little while later to say that the phone's built-in tracker indicated it was still at the mall. He said he was going back there to see if he could find it. He phoned the police a third time to say he no longer needed help. Answering the door, a resident was confronted by two men who claimed they owned the property. They accused the resident of squatting and threatened to involve the authorities. The resident alerted the police as soon as they left. A store employee wanted to press charges against several children suspected of shoplifting. The stolen goods included slime and Legos.
Lawmakers given classified briefings Tuesday evening on the U.S. military conflict in Iran expect President Donald Trump will ask Congress for emergency cash to finance the war.

During the closed-door meetings on Capitol Hill, top Trump administration officials said only that they are considering a supplemental military funding request, according to lawmakers who attended the briefings. But senior intelligence and defense officials described a vast military operation that many members anticipate will require extra funding on top of the nearly $1 trillion Congress has already given the military over the last year.

I think there will be a supplemental coming, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters upon leaving his classified Senate briefing. Well have to approve that.

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Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Senate committee overseeing funding for the Department of Homeland Security, said after the briefing that the military operation feels like a multitrillion-dollar, open-ended conflict with a very confusing and constantly shifting set of goals because top Trump administration officials are refusing to take off the table ground operations.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also described the U.S.-Iran conflict as a massive operation thats rapidly changing.

It sounded very open-ended to me, he added.

Some lawmakers typically opposed to increased spending are open to the idea of providing extra money to fuel the U.S. militarys operation against Iran. I think it would have support of Republicans, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said about a supplemental funding request Tuesday night.

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Everybody always wants money, any excuse, whether theyll need it or not. My guess: Theyll need it, Johnson continued. We're shooting off a lot of ammo. Gotta restock.

But Democratic votes will be needed to pass any emergency funding package in the Senate, and minority party leaders say they will need far more details from the Trump administration if they are going to consider support for new Pentagon cash.

Before you can feel satisfied about a supplemental  and I havent seen it  you have to know what the real goals are and what the endgame is, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Tuesday.

Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, a senior Democratic appropriator, said he expects the Pentagon will send Congress a supplemental funding request and vowed to make sure we are making all the investments we can to keep U.S. troops safe.

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But Coons said Trump administration officials need to testify at an open hearing so the American people can get questions answered about the failures in planning that led to some of the challenges, losses and mistakes in this war.

Any supplemental spending package to support the Iran war effort would come on top of the more than $150 billion the Pentagon got from the party-line tax and spending package Republicans enacted last summer and nearly $839 billion in regular funding Congress cleared last month.

The Houses lead Democratic appropriator, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, said lawmakers have yet to receive information about how much the Pentagon has spent already.

They're talking about a supplemental, but we haven't got a clue, DeLauro told reporters after Trump administration officials briefed House lawmakers later Tuesday. There's no cost estimate of what they have spent so far. Is there anybody writing down what the hell they're spending? No.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday that Republicans forward-funded military operations with the party-line package enacted last summer but that lawmakers will be paying attention to any need for extra money.

Not only do we have the resources to conduct the operations right now, but a lot of our allies in the region also have capabilities that are coming to bear now, Thune said.

Even before the strikes on Iran, Trump was eyeing a massive hike in military spending for the upcoming fiscal year. He pledged to pursue a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget, a roughly 50 percent increase to military spending.

The president said Tuesday, however, that U.S. military resources are far from depleted.

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We have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons, Trump said on social media. Wars can be fought forever, and very successfully, using just these supplies.

Jordain Carney, Meredith Lee Hill, Connor OBrien, Joe Gould and Calen Razor contributed to this report.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma ratepayers energy bills would be unaffected by new data centers under a bill advancing through the House.

Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, said his measure, House Bill 2992, will put safeguards and protections into state statute to ensure new data centers are paying for their own infrastructure and the energy they consume, rather than other consumers.

Were seeing historic growth in Oklahoma with our power generation requirements, Boles said. And a lot of this will be coming, most likely, from data centers.

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There are at least 30 data centers in Oklahoma that are currently operating, planned or under construction, according to reporting by News9.

Boles said its difficult to track the number of data centers in the state because the Oklahoma Corporation Commission does not regulate all utility companies, and therefore doesnt track all existing infrastructure.

The bill would require new large load customers, such as data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and artificial intelligence computing facilities, to establish their own contracts with electric suppliers.

Data centers have faced increasing criticism for using up water and power, adding to the already-existing strain on those resources.

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The scale of power generation capacity that theyre going to need is significantly higher than anything weve ever seen, and so thats why its just such a huge power demand, Boles said. If that volume requires our utility companies to build infrastructure to support that volume, then the utility companies have to take these risks and to get money and build hundreds of millions of dollars of power generation.

The measure would apply to all utility companies in Oklahoma, including those not regulated by the state, according to the bill language.

The Corporation Commission is also working on something similar to his measure, Boles said, but he still thinks its important to have the safeguards in state statute.

Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, asked how ratepayers will be protected if these data centers leave the state or go out of business.

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Boles said large-load customers would be required to sign contracts to pay for their infrastructure costs over 10 years.

Part of the bill also requires collateral from these companies so that if they go out of business before their contract is paid up for their infrastructure, that the utility companies will have collateral to collect from that group to ensure we dont have any stranded costs that get passed on to the ratepayers of Oklahoma, he said.

Existing large load customers would not be affected as they already have ongoing contracts, he said.

Were not trying to put punitive legislation forward on future economic development, I think this is a good balance, Boles said.

Boles measure passed unanimously through the committee and is eligible to be heard on the House floor.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is continuing to investigate a leak into Goose Creek in West Goshen and West Chester.

Officials say a "milky white substance" entered the waterway around 12:20 p.m. Saturday from a nearby industrial site. According to the DEP, the leak originated at Atmos Technologies.

The company traced the source to an outfall pipe on the 200 block of Garfield Avenue. Atmos said the foamy, milky substance involved is nonhazardous, nontoxic and fully biodegradable.

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"The material breaks down naturally and is not expected to have any longterm impact on local wildlife or the ecosystem," Atmos said in a statement.

The company said it used vacuum equipment to drain, rinse, recover and remove residual material from the drainage pipe.

DEP crews were at Goose Creek on Wednesday and said cleanup efforts are ongoing. Officials reported the waterway is clear with some foam accumulation present on debris.

The president of the Goose Creek Alliance said the group plans to push for penalties and a legally enforceable restoration plan.

Atmos said it continues to cooperate with the DEP and local leaders in the investigation.

"Our priority is the protection of the environment and the community in which we operate," said Fred Rullo, CEO of Atmos Technologies. "We are taking this incident seriously and are conducting a full investigation to address the issue."
Cards still set the benchmark for everyday payments because the protections are embedded in the rules: clear dispute rights and chargebacks, settlement in fiat without extra steps, and acceptance that works almost everywhere. That combination is why consumers trust cards at the point of sale and why merchants treat them as predictable cashflow. Public chains, by design, prioritise finality; once a transfer is executed, it is final.

Until those pieces are in place at scale, everyday spending defaults to the protections and fiat settlement of card rails.

When flows route through exchanges, visibility can drop. Institutions need to track where funds sit and how they move in real time to meet audit and reporting standards. Most flows still settle back into fiat, so stablecoin usage depends on access to regulated off-ramps and sufficient liquidity in domestic currency.

Interoperability remains a live issue: USDC, USDT, PYUSD and others each carry issuer-specific standards, liquidity constraints and chain dependencies. Programmes often rely on token-specific workarounds, which complicate reconciliation and increase operational overhead.

Stablecoins run on infrastructure developed outside traditional finance. Transaction finality, wallet models and smart-contract logic differ from conventional systems, so product and compliance teams need to rethink programme design and operational controls.

While institutional usage remains modest, momentum is building. Just 13% of financial institutions and corporates currently use stablecoins, but 54% of non-users expect to adopt them within the next 12 months. That trajectory shifts focus to delivery: choosing tokens and chains with the right security, speed and cost profile, and ensuring reliable conversion into domestic currency through regulated off-ramps.

Adoption is rising alongside evolving regulation because stablecoins work: they move across networks, support enterprise flows and settle over infrastructure that already exists. They are becoming part of how money moves; in practical terms, that means settlement in seconds rather than days, lower costs by reducing the need to pre-position funds across accounts and currencies, and round-the-clock availability. On-chain records also provide real-time visibility of fund location, improving reconciliation and auditability.

Stablecoin transaction volumes exceeded $34tn last year, spanning remittances, enterprise flows and on-chain commerce. On the regulatory side, the Financial Stability Board - the G20s coordinator on financial-stability standards - says implementation is advancing: several jurisdictions have finalised stablecoin frameworks and others are drafting payment-specific regimes, though oversight remains uneven and inconsistent.

Story Continues

There is movement to narrow that gap. Circle, the issuer of USDC, has proposed a smart-contract refund protocol for non-custodial, on-chain dispute resolution and has discussed reversible transactions on its Arc infrastructure, but these ideas are early and not yet standard across markets.

For institutions, that distinction matters. Consumer payments depend on built-in protections, fiat clearing, and infrastructure thats already integrated across banks and merchants. Those arent features to replicate; theyre foundations to extend.

Which points to the obvious move: add a rail, dont create a second stack.

Utilising existing pipes

The large networks are wiring stablecoin payments into the frameworks banks and processors use today - certification, settlement and reporting - so programmes can add a new rail without multiplying partners.

Mastercard has announced end-to-end stablecoin transaction capabilities, from wallets to checkouts, and is bringing multiple dollar stablecoins onto its network. Recent updates include work with processors and issuers, plus regional expansion to let merchants and acquirers settle using USDC where appropriate. These moves aim at the practical problems: multi-token support and acceptance at scale.

Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement too: adding more supported stablecoins and chains, and piloting Visa Direct flows that use stablecoins for faster cross-border funding instead of pre-deposited cash. The company also sets out how stablecoin-linked cards let customers spend stablecoin balances at any Visa merchant, with the conversion handled behind the scenes. In other words, direct crypto/stablecoin spending via cards, but under familiar rules.

The result for banks and fintechs is straightforward: the bulk of payments still run over card rails, with stablecoins added where they improve time-to-funds and working-capital costs. You keep existing dispute policies, monitoring, and finance dashboards and you avoid the pain of stitching in new, one-off partners just to support stablecoins.

Blockchain-based uncertainty: build for optionality

Policy is still moving, and blockchain-based questions remain: which chains to support, how on-chain records should feed compliance and reporting, and what standards supervisors will ultimately require. In parallel, many central banks are testing CBDCs while private stablecoins scale.

The BISs latest global survey reports 91% of 93 central banks are exploring retail and/or wholesale CBDCs; the ECB is in a preparation phase and has just selected providers for key digital-euro component; the Bank of England has launched a Digital Pound Lab; Hong Kongs HKMA has moved to Phase 2 of its e-HKD pilot; and Singapores MAS has launched BLOOM to enable settlement in tokenised bank liabilities and well-regulated stablecoins.

It leaves a clear strategic choice for banks. One route is to use third-party stablecoin issuers reserves, such as USDC by Circle; USDT by Tether; PYUSD issued for PayPal by Paxos Trust Company. The other route is to tokenise deposits and keep the liability on balance sheet. Either path can deliver the same customer experience; they simply carry different capital, risk and operational implications.

The practical move is to build for flexibility. Enable stablecoin acceptance and settlement through partners and the card networks so dispute processes, reporting and fiat settlement sit on one control plane.

Treat stablecoins as an added rail behind your existing issuer stack: the same authorisation logic, dispute/chargeback workflows, sanctions and reporting, extended to on-chain flows. Work with network and issuer-processing partners to handle multi-token acceptance and settlement and keep off-ramps bank-grade.

Build this way and you get faster settlement and lower pre-funding, without a parallel stack or new reconciliation burden.

Tim Joslyn, Chief Technology Officer, Paymentology

"Fast funds, familiar controls: How stablecoins fit into everyday payments" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Texas March 2026 primaries were extraordinarily contentious and costly, and many of the biggest battles are going into overtime, teeing up another 12 weeks of bruising attacks and high-dollar spending ahead of the May 26 runoff.

The states two blockbuster Senate primaries dominated the airwaves. After a record-setting advertising blitz, GOP incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is facing a runoff with Attorney General Ken Paxton, while Austin state Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic nomination.

Further down the ballot, chaos reigned, as big money shifted several races in the final weeks; President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott lined up behind opposing candidates, with mixed results; and several longtime incumbents were unseated or forced into career-threatening runoffs.

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The lack of decisive outcomes Tuesday night, for individual races and for dueling wings of the Texas GOP, promises an equally intense runoff season  and a long, expensive eight months until the general.

Here are some top takeaways from an action-packed primary election night.

Money talks

The 2026 March primary will go down as the most expensive in Texas history, setting spending records for several different offices, from comptroller to attorney general, led by a colossal advertising blitz behind Cornyn that set the national high-water mark for a Senate primary.

As Tuesday nights results showed, money moves the needle.

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The GOP Senate brawl was the most expensive primary for the upper chamber in history, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact, which tallied nearly $100 million in ad buys, much of it in support of Cornyn. The fourth-term senator far outraised his opponents and benefited from tens of millions from groups aligned with Senate GOP leadership, who felt the longtime incumbent would be a stronger candidate in a general election than Paxton. More than $71 million was spent in ad buys to support his candidacy, more than any other incumbent in a primary race on record, according to AdImpact.

While Paxton, a favorite of the partys grassroots, had expressed confidence that he might avoid a runoff, Cornyn not only forced him into an overtime round, but narrowly led the field. In a speech to supporters, Paxton acknowledged the impact of Cornyns spending.

Heres what we learned tonight: While the money may be on his side, the people are on our side, and in Texas, the people always win, said Paxton, who benefited from less than $5 million in ad spending between his campaign and a supportive super PAC.

Big money, and big ad buys, also shaped the Democratic Senate primary. Talarico spent over $17 million on ads through his campaign alone, while a pro-Talarico super PAC dropped another $8 million, giving him a nearly five-to-one spending advantage over Crockett. Despite having a lower national profile at the start of the race, Talarico was in position to secure the nomination early Wednesday morning, though the Associated Press had yet to formally call the race in his favor.

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Down the ballot, state Sen. Mayes Middleton overperformed expectations in the GOP attorney general race after giving close to $12 million of his oil and gas fortune to his own campaign.

The Galveston lawmaker entered the race at a significant name recognition disadvantage next to the frontrunner, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Austin, who has made a national name for himself as a conservative rabble-rouser in Congress. But Middletons money bought him a flood of mailers, television and radio ads and text messages, allowing him to get his MAGA Mayes messaging in front of voters in the final weeks of the campaign.

He came in first Tuesday night, with Roy in a distant second, teeing up what promises to be a costly runoff for the most important red-state attorney general office in the country.

In the comptroller race, former state senator and businessman Don Huffines won outright after loaning his campaign $10 million to buy mailers and air time. The race was expected to go to a runoff, but Huffines easily cleared the field of acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.

Cornyn lives to see another day

In the final days of the race, Paxton repeatedly suggested he could win the primary outright.

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That didnt happen. Cornyn finished narrowly ahead of Paxton, giving him a stronger than expected stature heading into a runoff against the attorney general.

Cornyn disproved a spate of recent polls that put him in second place. And he did surprisingly well in some key parts of the state, nearly beating Paxton in his longtime home base of Collin County.

Election returns are showing that Senator Cornyn is overperforming recent polling and expectations, and Corrupt Ken Paxton is underperforming, Cornyns campaign manager, Andy Hemming, said in a statement.

Even some Cornyn critics took note of the senators performance.

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I voted for Wesley Hunt in the primary and will vote for Ken Paxton in the runoff, but Im honestly surprised by Cornyns first place finish and the Paxton team has to be alarmed, Rolando Garcia, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, wrote on X. Paxton is still slightly favored in a runoff, but it is clearly going to be more difficult than they thought.

Cornyns better-than-expected showing could bolster his case for a Trump endorsement. The president stayed neutral in the primary but has suggested he could get involved in any runoff.

To be sure, Cornyn faces a tough challenge in the overtime round, which is expected to have an even lower turnout featuring voters who are more ideological and could be more drawn to Paxton. Addressing reporters Tuesday night in Austin, Cornyn made his case for why this runoff could be different, suggesting it could have a robust turnout due to the number of other primaries heading to runoffs.

Paxton had a simpler  and more confident message  about the runoff on Tuesday night.

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Ive been in two statewide runoffs, he told supporters, and I never won by less than 30 points, and I dont plan on starting now.

Trumps endorsement isnt a silver bullet

Trump handed out his endorsement generously ahead of the primary, backing over 130 incumbents and candidates for the Texas Legislature, Congress and statewide office.

While most of his endorsed candidates won their primaries outright Tuesday night, a major one  Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller  was poised to lose reelection. And at least three Trump-endorsed candidates for Congress were headed to runoffs, one of them in a distant second place.

While not a wholesale rejection of Trumps influence, the results showed that his endorsement cannot solve all a candidates problems. Miller has long aligned himself with Trump, but he has suffered years of scandal and gotten crosswise of Gov. Greg Abbott, who vocally backed Miller challenger Nate Sheets. Trump did not endorse Miller for reelection until Friday night, after the end of early voting.

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Another Trump-backed candidate who did not win outright Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio, also had unique political problems. The early voting period began with fresh revelations that he had an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died after setting herself on fire. Trump had appeared to back off his endorsement of Gonzales in the final days before the primary, but Gonzales continued to highlight it, including at the top of a primary day email to supporters.

Thank you President Trump and all those #TX23 constituents that support our campaign, Gonzales posted on X as it became clear he would move to a runoff. Onward to a victorious May.

In the primary for the 35th Congressional District, one of the five new districts Republicans redrew in the hopes of flipping, Trumps preferred candidate, Carlos De La Cruz, finished second en route to a runoff against state Rep. John Lujan. De La Cruz is the brother of Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-McAllen, but Lujan had Abbotts endorsement and more experience running competitive races in the San Antonio area.

Two Trump-backed state representatives, Reps. Cecil Bell and Stan Kitzman, also lost reelection by decisive margins. Bell and Kitzman were among the more than 100 members of the Texas Legislature who received a blanket endorsement from Trump last year as a reward for voting for Abbotts priority legislation on school vouchers.

Incumbents got knocked on their heels

Several long-time elected officials may find themselves looking for a new job after Tuesday proved to be a tough night for incumbents.

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An unusual mid-decade redraw of Texas congressional maps shook up several incumbents safe seats, forcing them into contentious primaries. On the Democratic side, Rep. Al Green, pushed out of his district by the new map, challenged Rep. Christian Menefee, who was elected to the newly drawn 18th Congressional District in a special election last month. Green, a party elder who has spent more than two decades representing Houston in Congress, was locked in a close battle with Menefee, a former Harris County attorney, in a race that remained too close to call with nearly all Harris County election day results yet to be reported.

Its a similar story up north, where Dallas Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson was pushed out of her district and now finds herself facing a likely runoff against her predecessor in Congress, Colin Allred. Allred, who was leading the vote count but remained shy of the 50% threshold, unsuccessfully ran for Senate against incumbent Ted Cruz in 2024 and dropped out of this years Senate primary in December.

Across the aisle, U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL and fourth-term congressman from Houston, lost to state Rep. Steve Toth, R-Conroe. Crenshaw faced difficult headwinds  he was the only House Republican running for reelection in Texas without a Trump endorsement  but it didnt help when his district was redrawn to include more of Toths territory in Montgomery County.

Voters also ousted Miller, the agriculture commissioner since 2015, in favor of the newcomer Sheets. And in the comptroller race, pseudo-incumbent Kelly Hancock, who was appointed by Abbott in June, came in a distant second to Huffines.

A legislative power broker struggles to reassert itself

In the policy battle over medical malpractice lawsuits, longtime Republican kingmakers at Texans for Lawsuit Reform suffered a resounding defeat in the Texas House, dwindling hopes of bouncing back from a disappointing legislative session.

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In the shadow of the 2025 session, TLR President Lee Parsley called out Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows and several members by name for dooming the groups priority legislation and suggested its well-funded political operation would go on the offensive in the primaries. As the dust settles from Tuesday, every candidate seeking reelection who was named in Parsleys letter survived their intraparty challenge or went unopposed  the latest in a string of setbacks for the group that once had virtual carte blanche to reshape Texas civil justice system.

Declaring war, TLR PAC backed challenges to Reps. Marc LaHood of San Antonio, Mark Dorazio of San Antonio and Andy Hopper of Decatur. But the group eased off its financial support for those challengers, and all three incumbents  all of whom earned President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbotts endorsements  sailed to their nominations. The LaHood race, which began as TLRs marquee challenge, was decided by a roughly 3-to-1 margin.

TLRs candidates struggled in Tarrant County open races, too, even though they were also backed by Abbott. As of early Wednesday morning, businessman Fred Tate was losing to Keller Mayor Armin Mizani, and activist Jackie Schlegel had less than half the vote share of business owner Cheryl Bean. TLR spent at least $2.2 million backing Tate.

For both Mizani and Bean, their victories would be electoral redemption after losing their state House races in 2018 and 2024, respectively.

TLR candidate Sarah Sagredo-Hammond was also poised to lose in a battleground Rio Grande Valley seat, missing the runoff in a distant third. That district, being vacated by Rep. Bobby Guerra, D-Mission, marks one of Republicans best chances for a flip in the Texas House. Trump carried it by 1.6 points in 2024.

Where TLR did win, it supported incumbents backed by Trump and Abbott. Additionally, Abbott and TLR combined to back Jorge Borrego, who was poised to win in a battleground open race that Republicans barely held in 2024.
A United States submarine has sunk an Iranian warship with a torpedo in international waters off Sri Lankas coast, says US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

In a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth said the strike on the Iranian warship was the first such attack on an enemy since World War II.

Sri Lankas navy said 87 bodies had been recovered and 32 sailors were rescued after an Iranian military ship sank just outside the islands territorial waters.

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Authorities told Al Jazeera the frigate IRIS Dena, located about 40 nautical miles (75km) off Galle in southern Sri Lanka, sent out a distress call between 6am and 7am (00:30 to 01:30 GMT).

The ship had about 180 crew members on board, and a search and rescue operation was continuing, Sri Lankan officials said.

The Iranian frigate was returning from having taken part in the 2026 International Fleet Review last month in eastern Indias coastal city of Vishakapatnam.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that the navy received information that the ship was in distress and the government sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission.

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A Sri Lankan navy spokesperson said no other ship or aircraft was observed in the area where the Iranian warship sank.

Sri Lankan Air Force spokesman Group Captain Nalin Wewakumbura speaks during a news conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 4, 2026 [Akila Jayawardena/Reuters]

Reporting from outside a hospital in Galle, where the wounded crew members were taken, Al Jazeeras Minnelle Fernandez said an Iranian embassy official in Colombo said two officers have been sent to Galle to talk to the survivors to get a sense of what might have happened on the ship.

The warships sinking occurred as the United States and Israel conduct air strikes on Iran for a fifth day after killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and nearly 800 other people, including dozens of schoolgirls.

Tehran has responded with drone and missile attacks on Israel and US-linked assets in Gulf countries, causing multiple deaths. Six US service members have been killed and many others injured.
Israel attacked a hotel in a suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut, injuring five people, one critically the hotel owner told dpa on Wednesday.

The critically injured person is a woman who worked at the hotel's reception desk. The hotel had been sheltering people who had fled Israel's attacks in the Beirut area, the owner said.

Unlike many of Israel's attacks in Lebanon, no evacuation warning was issued beforehand. This led to speculation that the strike may have been intended to specifically target a high-ranking member of the Hezbollah militia.

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However, the hotel is not located in one of the suburbs where Hezbollah has a particularly strong presence and large following.

The Israeli military announced in the morning that it had begun striking "Hezbollah infrastructure" in Beirut, saying further details would follow. Fighter jets continued to bomb the southern suburbs of the capital throughout the morning, according to eyewitnesses.

Israel also continued its attacks in other parts of Lebanon. An airstrike on a residential building in Baalbek in the east killed six people and injured 15 others, according to official reports.

Strikes in the coastal town of Saadiyat and other locations killed six people and injured eight more, according to the health ministry.

In recent days, more than 40 people have been killed across Lebanon as a result of Israeli strikes.




Lesley Groff may be headed to Washington, D.C., later this year to answer questions from lawmakers on her longtime boss, sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Groff, a New Canaan resident, on Tuesday was called to testify as part of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's long-running probe into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's trafficking ring. Her testimony was scheduled for June 9, according to a letter sent by committee chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky..

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"Due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents obtained by the Committee, the Committee believes you have information that will assist in its investigation," Comer wrote in the letter. The committee did not publicly subpoena Groff.

Previous coverage of Lesley Groff

Comer's request for Groff to testify was sent alongside requests to seven figures in Epstein's orbit, including technology billionaire Bill Gates, Leon Black, the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, and Kathryn Ruemmler, the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel under President Barack Obama.

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Michael Bachner, a lawyer for Groff, said she had no comment on the House committee summons. He declined to answer whether Groff would participate in the transcribed interview requested by Comer.

Last week, members of the same House committee grilled former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about their ties to Epstein in separate interviews that lasted more than six hours each. Both denied any wrongdoing or prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

Often working out of an office in Epstein's townhouse in New York City, where prosecutors said much of the abuse occurred, Groff was in charge of Epstein's personal and professional schedules, his meetings and much of his travel.

Lesley Groff's office in Epstein's New York City townhouse on East 71st Street, photographed during a July 6, 2019, FBI raid. (Department of Justice)





In a 2005 interview with the New York Times, Epstein described Groff, along with two other assistants, as "an extension of my brain." She also was named as a "potential co-conspirator of Epstein," in the controversial 2008 non-prosecution agreement he struck with federal prosecutors in Florida.

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Despite victims' multiple lawsuits, which have been dropped, claiming Groff helped facilitate his crimes and an internal DOJ document from August 2019 unsealed last month that lists Groff as a "co-conspirator" in Epstein's trafficking network, she consistently has denied any knowledge of Epstein's trail of abuse.

"The fact that the U.S. Attorney's Office did not prosecute Lesley demonstrates clearly that she had no criminal involvement with Epstein," Bachner told CT Insider in early February. "We also know that every civil lawsuit filed against Lesley was dismissed against her."

Documents that were included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files are photographed Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (Jon Elswick/AP)





The plaintiff in at least one of those lawsuits, Jennifer Araoz, has maintained the veracity of her claims that Groff scheduled "massages" for her at Epstein's New York City home. In 2020, her attorney said that Araoz had only dropped the suit as a stipulation for receiving a payout from the Epstein Victims Compensation Program.

Groff tied to other testifiers, including Gates and Black

Among her many duties as Epstein's assistant, Groff coordinated travel and meetings between Epstein and several of his associates, whom the House committee also has called to testify. The committee's requests for interviews are identical except for the recipient, and the dates proposed for the testimony range from April 16 to June 9.

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There are more than 4,000 emails in the files released by the DOJ that include Groff either emailing with or about Gates, Black and Ruemmler.

The vast majority of those exchanges involved Groff scheduling meals and calls between Epstein and his powerful friends, including visits for Black to Epstein's island, Little St. James, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a flight to Florida for Gates on Epstein's plane.

FILE - Bill Gates speaks during the Global Fund's Seventh Replenishment Conference, Sept. 21, 2022, in New York. Gates was called to testify before a House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein. (Evan Vucci/AP)





In one instance in 2011, she coordinated between Epstein and Black as they drafted a letter to accompany a donation to Harvard University, and in 2016, emails show her arranging a meeting between Ruemmler, Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, a close friend of the trafficker.

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Groff also dealt with personal matters related to her fellow congressional witnesses, including arranging for the delivery of birthday gifts for Leon Black from 2016 to 2018, and purchasing a yearlong spa treatment subscription for Ruemmler.

Black, Gates and Ruemmler have faced public blowback in recent months as their yearslong relationships with Epstein, largely after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a child prostitute in Florida, came to light.

Kathy Ruemmler, former White House counsel, appears on "Meet the Press" in Washington, D.C., Sunday, June 29, 2014. Ruemmler was called to testify before a House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein. (William B. Plowman/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)





Gates, whose 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates was due in part to his association with Epstein, apologized to staff at his nonprofit last month but maintained he was unaware of Epstein's crimes. Black stepped down from running his hedge fund in 2021 over his ties to Epstein, and the firm continues to face questions for its ties to the trafficker. Ruemmler announced last month that she would leave her job at Goldman Sachs amid pressure after DOJ files revealed a closer relationship with Epstein than previously known.

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The other three witnesses called to testify - longtime Bill Clinton aide Doug Band, tech billionaire and former Maxwell boyfriend Ted Waitt, and longtime Epstein assistant Sarah Kellen - did not correspond with Groff in the publicly available DOJ files.

This article originally published at Lesley Groff, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime aide, called to testify to Congress.
The Brief

Election Day is here!

Live coverage has concluded

AUSTIN, Texas - Election Day in Texas was March 3 and multiple races are heading for a runoff, including the GOP races for Texas Attorney General and U.S. Senate.

Voters have also set the race for Texas governor for the fall, picking Austin Democrat Gina Hinojosa to face off against incumbent Republican Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term.

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Live coverage has concluded. Get the latest Texas results from the Texas Secretary of State's website.

10:53 p.m.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke after it was projected that he would face Sen. John Cornyn in a runoff election in May.

FOX 4's David Sentendry is in Dallas at Paxton's watch party.

10:48 p.m.

Sen. John Cornyn and Ken Paxton are heading to a runoff election for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate.

FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis gives an update.

10:45 p.m.

We're taking a look at some of the other high profile primary races around Texas.

FOX 7 Austin's Mike Warren, Rudy Koski, and Alec Nolan have the latest.

10:32 p.m.

Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts.

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FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.

10:25 p.m.

Travis County has released its first round of unofficial Election Day results.

10:20 p.m.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will face Sen. John Cornyn in a runoff election in May.

Paxton spoke at his watch party in Dallas.

10:18 p.m.

We're continuing our special coverage of the 2026 Texas Primaries.

FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis is at John Cornyn's watch party.

10:06 p.m.

U.S. Rep Wesley Hunt spoke to his supporters after he lost his bid for U.S. Senate.

His opponents, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, are heading to a runoff election.

Cornyn gave remarks Tuesday night, saying he's ready for the fight against Paxton in May.

9:50 p.m.

The AP is projecting runoffs in two Republican races:

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Texas AG between Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy

Senate between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn

9:31 p.m.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett expressed her disappointment in the ruling over Dallas County voting hours.

9:29 p.m.

The Associated Press is projecting Gina Hinojosa as the Democratic nominee for governor.

The latest results from the Texas Secretary of State's office show Hinojosa sitting at almost 59% of the vote.

WASHINGTON (AP)  Gina Hinojosa wins Democratic nomination for governor in Texas primary election. #APRaceCall at 10:26 p.m. EST. https://t.co/TS3eIpQI5W  AP Race Calls (@AP_RaceCalls) March 4, 2026

9:19 p.m.

Gina Hinojosa was projected to be the Democratic nominee for the Governor of Texas race. She will face off against Gov. Abbott in November.

FOX 7 Austin's Angela Shen is live at Hinojosa's watch party in San Antonio.

9:17 p.m.

Gov. Greg Abbott was projected to be the GOP nominee for the Governor of Texas race.

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FOX 7 Austin's Marco Bitonel is live at Abbott's watch party.

9:11 p.m.

FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski and Mike Warren are breaking down everything that has happened, so far, on Primary night.

9:08 p.m.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett hopes to get the democratic nomination in a tight race from James Talarico.

FOX 7 Austin's Katie Pratt is live in Dallas at Crockett's watch party.

9:06 p.m.

The Democrats have a close primary for Cornyn's seat.

FOX 7 Austin's Jenna King is live at James Talarico's watch party in South Austin.

8:49 p.m.

The Texas Supreme Court has blocked the extension of polling hours in Dallas County.

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The order reads:

THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS

Orders Pronounced March 3, 2026



MISCELLANEOUS

A STAY IS ISSUED IN THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS:

26-0199

IN RE STATE OF TEXAS; from Dallas County



The district courts order granting emergency petition to extend voting hours issued today in Cause No. 26-03805, styled Kardal Coleman, In His Capacity as Dallas County Democratic Party Chair v. Paul Adams, In His Official Capacity as the Dallas County Elections Administrator, in the 162nd District Court, Dallas County, Texas, is stayed. Voting should occur only as permitted by Texas Election Code Section 41.032. Votes cast by voters who were not in line to vote at 7pm should be separated.



[Note: The petition for writ of mandamus remains pending before this Court.]

8:34 p.m.

Two Williamson County polling locations have been court ordered to remain open until 10 p.m. tonight. Northstar Georgetown, 2401 Westinghouse Road, Georgetown, a Democratic Primary polling location, and Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, for both the Democratic and Republican primaries.

All votes cast after 7 p.m. are provisional ballots according to Election Code. Because provisional ballots take additional time to process, none of the votes cast during extended polling hours will be processed tonight. They will be reported with other provisional voters on the Monday following the elections.

8:29 p.m.

AP has projected the following races:

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Dan Patrick for Republican nomination for Lt Governor

Michael Cloud for Republican nomination for U.S. District 27

8:22 p.m.

Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to supporters after the Associated Press projected him the winner of the GOP primary for Governor.

Most recent results as of 8:24 p.m. show Abbott leading with over 83% of the vote.

WASHINGTON (AP)  Greg Abbott wins Republican nomination for governor in Texas primary election. #APRaceCall at 9:00 p.m. EST. https://t.co/TS3eIpQI5W  AP Race Calls (@AP_RaceCalls) March 4, 2026

8 p.m.

FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis is reporting from John Cornyn's watch party as the media awaits remarks from the senator.

A bunch of media waiting for @JohnCornyn to give remarks.

He is up against @KenPaxtonTX & @WesleyHuntTX for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

Results are starting to come in. @fox7austinpic.twitter.com/l27paehUXJ  Meredith Aldis (@MeredithonFOX7) March 4, 2026

7:55 p.m.

The Travis County Clerk says that as of 7 p.m., more than 500 voters were still waiting to cast their ballots across the county.

The first release of results for Travis County will not be released until after all polling places have closed and all #voters in line have been served, says the clerk's office.

Early Vote election results for the March 3, 2026, Joint Primary #Elections will be released after all voters have cast their ballot.



As of 7 p.m., there are more than 500 voters waiting to cast their ballots at various polling locations across Travis County. pic.twitter.com/zZwnnD9Zrw  Travis County Clerk (@TravisCoClerk) March 4, 2026

7:43 p.m.

FOX 7 Austin's Angela Shen is reporting from Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa's watch party.

The setup for Gina Hinojosas watch party in San Antonio

Her staff tells me she might appear later than expected tonight due to polls staying open 2 hours later in Dallas County after polling location confusion: https://t.co/JpOF4O9kem@fox7austinpic.twitter.com/GTEYZkzOPy  Angela Shen (@AngelaShenFOX7) March 4, 2026

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7:33 p.m.

A masked man with a large amount of ammunition in his vehicle was arrested outside a Dallas hotel hosting Texas AG Ken Paxton's election watch party, reports FOX 4 Dallas.

Dallas police said they got a call around p.m. about a suspicious man in the 3000 block of Fairmount Street. Officers arrested him for a traffic violation because his vehicle did not have a license plate.

BREAKING: Dallas Police Department arrested a man who had firearms and ammunition outside Attorney General Ken Paxtons watch party camping for U.S. Senate, tonight.



officers were notified of a suspicious individual.The individual entered a vehicle that did not display a pic.twitter.com/ygvomFuGyd  David Sentendrey (@DavidSFOX4) March 4, 2026

FOX 4 reporters saw officers collecting ammunition on the hood of the vehicle with no license plates. They also pulled out a large amount of ammunition from the trunk of the vehicle.

They detained a man who was wearing a camouflage hat, mask, and gloves.

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No firearms were found, police said.

7:30 p.m.

Early voting results are coming in for statewide races from the Secretary of State:

Jasmine Crockett at 51.27% vs James Talarico at 47.21%

Gina Hinojosa leading with 53.71%

Greg Abbott leading with 84.14%

Paxton leading with 44.19% vs Cornyn at 40.46%

7:19 p.m.

Williamson County is not extending voting hours, saying:

"Primary Elections are conducted by the political parties according to how they choose to hold their election. This year, the political parties will each operate their own separate central counting station. Due to operational requirements by the Republican Party, Williamson County Elections anticipates that the complete results for the Republican Party Primary may not be available until the day after the Primary Election. The results of the Democratic Primary are anticipated to be available later in the evening on Primary Election Day."

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Williamson County has also dropped some early voting results:

84,480 early voting ballots counted

John Cornyn with over 50% of the vote compared to Paxton's almost 32%

Greg Abbott with over 83%

James Talarico with over 72%

Gina Hinojosa with almost 74%

7 p.m.

Polls close for most of the state, except Dallas County and parts of West Texas in the Mountain Time Zone.

6:05 p.m.

A judge in Dallas County has extended voting hours to 9 p.m. for Democrats as some say voters in parts of Texas are being turned away from the polls.

The issue comes after voting locations in some counties, notably Dallas and Williamson, were restricted to specific precincts. According to voters and lawmakers in those areas, mixups on election sites have led to people showing up in places where they can't vote.

5:34 p.m.

Gov. Greg Abbott is running for his fourth term in the Texas Primaries governor's race.

FOX 7 Austin's Marco Bitonel has the details.

5:30 p.m.

Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa is running to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas Primaries governor's race.

FOX 7 Austin's Angela Shen has the details.

5:27 p.m.

The Republican and Democratic parties are holding separate elections this year in Williamson County.

On election day, Williamson County residents will be required to vote in their home precinct at locations designated by their preferred political party.

Texas Rep. James Talarico sent out a statement below:

"We are deeply concerned about the reports of voters being turned away from the polls in Dallas and Williamson counties following the GOPs implementation of precinct-specific voting locations for election day.

We will continue to evaluate the situation on the ground and are calling for an extension of voting hours to ensure all Texans voices are heard in this critical election.

If voters in Dallas and Williamson counties are looking for their polling location, we encourage them to visit jamestalarico.com/vote or their countys election website for more information."

5:08 p.m.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is also seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

FOX 7 Austin's Katie Pratt has the details.

5:06 p.m.

Texas Rep. James Talarico is in a competitive U.S. Senate race. He is trying to flip the seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn.

FOX 7 Austin's Jenna King has the details.

5:03 p.m.

We will find out tonight if Sen. John Cornyn is a step closer to keeping his seat in the U.S. Senate.

FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis has the details.

5:01 p.m.

Voters across Texas are heading to the polls to let their voices be heard in the Texas Primaries.

FOX 7 Austin's Clif Thornton has the details.

4 p.m.

The Republican and Democratic parties are holding separate elections this year in Williamson County.

On election day, Williamson County residents will be required to vote in their home precinct at locations designated by their preferred political party.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett sent out a statement below:



"The Dallas County Republicans and Williamson County GOP chose to implement precinct-specific voting locations for election day. Under state law, this forced the local Democratic parties to follow suit against our will. Both Dallas and Williamson county voters have grown accustomed to countywide voting, including on election day. This effort to suppress the vote, to confuse and inconvenience voters is having its intended effect as people are being turned away from the polls. We are monitoring the situation and working with our local county party to explore all solutions, including an extension of election day voting hours.

Im asking all voters in Dallas and Williamson Counties to check their countys election website or their voter registration card and identify the correct polling location for today. Do not give up and do not give in. The only way we can put an end to these maneuvers is by outvoting the Republicans and kicking them out of office. Im calling on you to go out and cast your ballots so they know -- Texans dont appreciate having their votes suppressed and we wont take it lying down."

3:30 p.m.

Travis County saw a peak turnout on Election Day of about 8,400 people in the 2-3 p.m. hour.

This is the highest peak in turnout for the entire primary so far, including early voting, per the county's Live Turnout Tracker.

So far Travis County has seen just over 228,000 ballots cast.

The Source

Information in this report comes from a variety of sources, including elections departments and clerks' offices and FOX 7 Austin staff.
On Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was asked about monitoring for sleeper cells after the military conflict in Iran.

Sleeper cells or agents are groups or individuals living in the United States with either direct or indirect ties to a nation or group that will give orders to carry out an attack.

We work with the FBI often, and Homeland Security Investigations specializes in this kind of work each and every day, Noem said in response to Sen. Chuck Grassley asking her about sleeper networks.

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Earlier this week, CBS News reported a mass shooting in Austin may be related to the conflict after the suspect was found to have an Iranian flag on his shirt, though the investigation is in its early stages.

Global Awareness Professional Security Strategist Mark Herrera says people should be aware that there are sleeper cells in the United States.

If an incident takes place. Right? Its causing national attention. Its raising the emotional levels. Then anywhere theres mass gatherings, you have to know that that is, that could be a potential target, Herrera said.

Specializing in security for large events, Herrera says law enforcement and security staff should be trained on how to pick out people acting strangely as a way to prevent bad actors. After the attack, he says law enforcement agencies across the country immediately shift into what they call a heightened awareness posture.

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Tacoma PD said in a statement that after the Austin shooting and the conflict in Iran, they have been in communication with law enforcement partners and keeping tabs on popular gathering spots and large events.

Whether in response to international developments that could have implications within the United States or high-casualty events domestically, the department relies on established incident management and information-sharing practices to maintain situational awareness and adjust preparedness efforts as needed, the department said in a statement.

Herrera says people should be vigilant as well, making a plan for events and creating an exit strategy when at a venue.

If people would play the what-if game before they left their house, it would create preparedness, not paranoia, Herrera said.
A Louisville couple accepted a plea agreement after facing charges in connection with a child abuse case, according to court records.

Jacob Sneed, 26, pleaded guilty to criminal abuse and second-degree assault. Breanna Lair, 25, pleaded guilty to criminal facilitation to criminal abuse, tampering with physical evidence and criminal abuse.

As part of the plea agreements, Lair was sentenced to 19 years in prison, and the commonwealth will recommend a 23-year sentence for Sneed.

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According to a court document, the couple was arrested in April 2025 after Sneed immersed a three-year-old childs hands in scalding water. The childs hands and forearms were severely burned, and intensive care, including emergency surgery, was required. Lair allegedly waited several hours to take the child to the hospital, which complicated his treatment.

In other news: Kentucky lawmakers move to close loopholes in child marriage law

The document alleges Lair had previously allowed Sneed to be alone with the child after Child Protective Services said they should not be. Investigators also found that Lair deleted in-home surveillance videos showing an interaction between Sneed and the child moments before the burns were inflicted.

Sneed is next scheduled to appear in court April 2.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville couple accepts plea in connection to 2025 child abuse case
As rain moves through the area March 4, Louisville will continue to see more precipitation for the remainder of the week, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Louisville.

Strong storms are likely to develop on either side of the Ohio River from March 4 until March 5, according to recent forecasts from NWS Louisville. In a March 4 briefing, forecasters said said the most severe potential hazards for the metro area include hail and gusty winds, as well as a "very low chance" for a spin-up tornado.

In a post to X, Gov. Andy Beshear reminded Kentuckians to "remain weather-alert."

This is a reminder that we need everyone to remain weather-alert this evening as more severe weather moves through the state, especially for the north-central and northwestern regions. 1/2  Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) March 4, 2026

NWS Louisville meteorologist Kyle Wilkins said a stationary front bringing rainfall over the next couple of days is draped north of the metro area, and most of the precipitation will fall on Southern Indiana and north-central Kentucky, with lesser totals expected further south. A cold front will move through the area March 7, bringing additional rain.

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We look pretty dry for Sunday and Monday. Most of the precipitation should be south of the area, Wilkins said. Going into Tuesday and Wednesday of the coming week, we start to see those rain chances increase again.

The metro area could see 1-3 inches of rainfall through March 10. The rainfall could bring a chance of flooding as the region enters the warmer season, but breaks in between the precipitation will help limit the risk, Wilkins said.

One part of town may not see anything or light rain showers and pick up hardly anything, where across town, they could get an inch dumped on them, he said. Id expect to see some localized, heavier amounts just with the convective nature of this type of shower that were expecting along this front.

Given the longer duration of the rainfall, NWS Louisville will look at ground saturation levels to determine flooding risks, Wilkins said. As an area receives more rain, the ground will become more saturated, and more rainfall will travel into streams and rivers instead of being soaked into the ground.

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Thats where you start being concerned more with river flooding and that type of thing, Wilkins said. Same thing with flash flooding. If the grounds are saturated and you get too much rainfall where you cant handle the drainage, you start to have flash flooding issues because nothings being soaked into the ground. Its all on the surface and flowing through ditches and trying to find lower ground.

Louisville 5-day weather forecast

March 4

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected. It will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 70 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected, though higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

At night, showers are likely. There is a chance of a thunderstorm before 10 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 60 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch are expected, though higher amounts possible in thunderstorms are possible.

March 5

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected. The high will be near 71 degrees. There is an 80% chance of precipitation. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.

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At night, showers are likely. There is a chance of a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 60 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch are expected, though higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

March 6

There is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 78 degrees. At night, there is a chance of showers between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 65 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 40%.

March 7

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected. The high will be near 73 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 100%. At night, there is a 30% chance of showers, mainly before 1 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 49 degrees.

March 8

There is a 20% chance of showers before 1 p.m. It will be partly sunny, with a high near 63 degrees. At night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 47 degrees.

Louisville weather radar

.

Lillian Metzmeier contributed.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: NWS Louisville forecast predicts more rain through March 10
Prosecutors in Luigi Mangiones state trial are defending the search of his backpack and urging a judge to allow the evidence in his upcoming murder trial, despite the defense arguing the search was unconstitutional.

Prosecutors argued that Mangiones bid to suppress evidence taken from his backpack and specific statements he made to police should be denied by the court because Pennsylvania authorities acted "reasonably" during the search, according to court documents obtained by Fox News.

The filing comes after a three-week hearing in 2025, in which Mangiones defense team argued the alleged murder weapon, handwritten notes and additional items seized from the accused killers backpack were inadmissible because they violated his constitutional rights.

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Luigi Mangione Escapes Federal Death Penalty After Federal Prosecutors Decline To Appeal Judge's Ruling

Luigi Mangione appears in Manhattan Supreme Court for a suppression hearing as both sides prepare to wrap up arguments, Thursday, December 18, 2025. (Fox News)

However, the Manhattan district attorneys office is insisting the Altoona authorities "responded to this unexpected and alarming situation reasonably," when they searched Mangiones backpack and arrested him inside the rural McDonalds, according to the court filing.

Luigi Mangione Battles To Block Key Evidence A Year After Ceo Assassination  Experts Say Its A 'Long Shot'

Read On The Fox News App

"Altoona officers obtained a search warrant for the backpack, thereby establishing an independent source for recovering the backpack's contents," assistant district attorney Joel Seidemann wrote.

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Evidence collected after the arrest of Luigi Mangione and presented by the Manhattan DA during a suppression hearing is shown here. Pictured: Mangiones gun.

The prosecution also pointed to the defenses claim that Altoona officers did not comply with New Yorks search-and-seizure law, insisting that the Pennsylvania authorities were "unfamiliar" with the guidelines of another state.

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"Nor could they be expected to familiarize themselves with that body of law in advance of the defendants arrival, which they had no way of anticipating," Seidemann wrote.

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Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges stemming from the 2024 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan.

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Like What You're Reading? Find More On The True Crime Hub

He was arrested days later at an Altoona McDonalds and extradited to New York City, where he remains in custody awaiting trial.

Judge Gregory Carro expects to issue a decision regarding the evidence by May 18, according to WABC.

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Mangiones state trial is set to begin on June 8.

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Mangione's defense team did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.





Original article source: Luigi Mangione seeks to gut key evidence as prosecutors defend McDonald's search
Things got testy in a hurry after Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) asked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) to define what a woman is during a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday  10 months after she first sparred with Walz about the same issue.

Gov. Walz, what is a woman? Have you learned that lesson? Mace asked 63 seconds into her allotted time.

Im the governor of Minnesota, congresswoman, Im not here to be your prop for your obsession! Walz shot back.

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So if you cant define what a woman is, you cant define fraud, Mace told him.

And if you got a sense of deja vu while watching that exchange, thats because Mace asked Walz the same exact question during a June 2025 hearing.

Im not sure I understand the question here, Walz said last year. What do you want me to say?

I want you to say that a woman like me is an adult human female. That men cant become women, Mace told him. You guys are the party of violence, and youre the party erasing women. You dont respect us. Youre a bigot. Youre a misogynist. Youre a sexist. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

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Their latest squabble on Wednesday came during a hearing on the fraud scandal that has rocked Walzs state. Federal prosecutors claimed last December that more than $9 billion in taxpayer dough was ripped off.

Walz got into it with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) earlier in the hearing over the fraud claims, with Jordan yelling somebodys lying! about it  either Walz or a state judge who said the governor restarted the payments a month after whistleblowers raised concerns in 2021.

Jordan then questioned if Walz ignored the fraud because he feared political backlash from the Somali community in Minnesota; the representative said he believed that is exactly why Walz kept payments flowing.

Mace later said Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) allowed one of the worst government fraud scandals in American history to happen on their watch.

Watch above via C-SPAN 3.

The post Im Not Here to Be Your Prop! Tim Walz Fires Back After Nancy Mace Asks What Is a Woman? first appeared on Mediaite.
You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters.

FAT Brands faces mounting pressure from bondholders as it navigates bankruptcy restructuring. Investors, led by the Ad Hoc Group of Securitization Noteholders, are demanding depositions of key executives, including CEO Andy Wiederhorn, as well as extensive document production in light of past misconduct allegations, according to recent court document filings.

FAT Brands has pushed back in an objection response, calling these demands burdensome and irrelevant to the ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings. The company also argues that bondholders were aware of the risks associated with their investment, stating that they chose to remain invested in the debtors for many years, and never terminated the managers even though they had the contractual right to do so.

This marks the latest legal hurdle for the Fazolis and Round Table Pizza parent company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 27 in the Southern District of Texas.

The bankruptcy petition was filed two months after indenture trustee UMB Bank declared FAT Brands $1.26 billion in debt immediately due. At the time, the company said it did not have the liquidity to pay back those loans and warned that bankruptcy was possible.

FAT Brands had recently emerged from a three-year federal criminal investigation into Wiederhorn for fraud and money laundering, which ended last July in his favor. However, the investigation strained the companys financial resources and forced it to explore other options.

Although the Department of Justice investigation has ended, the case opened by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against Wiederhorn remains ongoing and is mentioned by FAT Brands in the companys latest response.

To the extent the Ad Hoc Group seeks to use a deposition to reopen and relitigate these issues, and even worse attempt to establish some wrongdoing on Mr. Wiederhorns part, it is certainly not in the debtors interest to risk disrupting this favorable process, the court filings read.

This is not the first time the investor group has challenged FAT Brands actions during bankruptcy proceedings. Last month, the Ad Hoc Group filed a lawsuit demanding the immediate temporary suspension of Wiederhorn without pay, alleging he violated bankruptcy rules by directing the sale of 9 million shares of Twin Peaks equity to White Lion Capital without court approval.

Although FAT Brands acknowledged the transaction, the company called it a mistake, and called the groups emergency motion to suspend Wiederhorn a personal attack. The bankruptcy court sided with FAT Brands and denied the investor groups request.
Whether or not America is actually engaged in war with Iran has become a point of contention among President Donald Trumps MAGA allies.

On Tuesday, one Republican senator inadvertently appeared to argue both sides of the question  within an awkward matter of seconds.

Politics: Democrats Raise Alarms About Trumps War In Iran After Classified Briefing

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.)  who on Monday went viral with his smell of war remark, despite never having served in the military  at first defended the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran when he told reporters: This is war and were taking out the threat.

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CNNs Manu Raju noted: You will concede this is war.

Mullin defensively responded: We havent declared war. They declared war on us but we havent.

Raju pointed out that Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth have both referred to the attacks as war.

Mullin repeated: We havent declared it.

Mullin: This is war



******** ******



Raju: You concede this is war?



Mullin: We havent declared war.



Reporter: You just said its a war.



Raju: Youre not conceding its a war?



Mullin: We havent declared war. pic.twitter.com/ujIBd3yRIx  Acyn (@Acyn) March 3, 2026

Another journalist said: Just now you said, This is war.

They called it war, Mullin countered, before admitting about what hed just said: OK, well, that was a misspoke but I was saying that theyve declared war on us. But war is ugly. It always has been ugly. But were taking out a regime thats been trying to attack us for quite some time.

Politics: GOP Attack Post Crucifies Senate Primary Winner James Talarico For Religious Views

Youre not conceding this is war, Raju pushed.

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Mullin replied: We havent declared war. So if we havent declared war, then I dont see that. The president hasnt asked us to declare war yet, but they have declared war on us. Were just simply fighting the threat thats been at our door for 47 years.

The exchange quickly went viral on social media, where authoritarianism expert Timothy Snyder likened it to rhetoric from Russia after the start of its invasion of Ukraine.

This its not a war but a special military operation is very Kremlin March 2022, he said on X. As is the propaganda that we are not starting a war but ending one. As is the confusion of oligarch media as it tries to be faithful in the confusion

This its not a war but a special military operation is very Kremlin March 2022. As is the propaganda that we are not starting a war but ending one. As is the confusion of oligarch media as it tries to be faithful in the confusion https://t.co/sfTIN3Nnr4  Timothy Snyder (@TimothyDSnyder) March 4, 2026

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Not a war.

Just a Department of War.  https://t.co/oeYWHiBGat  Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) March 3, 2026

Unserious people in unserious times doing unfortunately very serious things https://t.co/4kS6kexfz4  Ari Cohn (@AriCohn) March 4, 2026

Its war but its not war.



Republicans are in denial that Trump has taken America to war. pic.twitter.com/00PHTQpQLG  Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 3, 2026

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Just a complete clown car from the GOP here https://t.co/UkUPUCoTYQ  Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) March 4, 2026

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
The UK government will stop issuing study visas to people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan from this month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said, as well as stopping skilled work visas to Afghans.

The Home Office said the action was being taken due to what it said was widespread visa abuse.

According to official figures, people from the four countries were the most likely to make an asylum claim after originally coming to the UK to study.

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"The government is clamping down on visa abuse so the UK can maintain its ability and proud tradition of helping those genuinely in need," a government spokesperson added.

In its release, the government said asylum claims from people who had originally travelled to the UK legally - to do something like studying - had more than tripled between 2021 and 2025.

Home Office figures showed that people claiming asylum off the back of a study visa make up 13% of all claims currently in the system.

Mahmood said she was "taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity".

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"I will restore order and control to our borders."

The Home Office said a higher proportion of people than average from the four specified country cited destitution as part of their asylum claim, and there were 16,000 people from the four countries currently being supported.

About 95% of Afghans who arrived in the UK on a study visa then applied for asylum since 2021, while applications by students from Myanmar increased 16-fold and claims by students from Cameroon and Sudan more than quadrupled.

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On its reasoning for ending work visas for Afghans, the Home Office also cited the large numbers claiming asylum in the UK once their visas expired.

It said this this posed "an unsustainable threat to the UK's asylum system".

The security situation is volatile in Afghanistan and recent tensions between the country and Pakistan have resulted in violent clashes in border regions.

There has been civil war in Sudan since 2023, forcing millions to flee their homes in what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

There is separatist unrest in Cameroon, where militia are fighting for the independence of the country's two Anglophone regions in what is a mainly French-speaking nation.

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In Myanmar, there is a civil war following a military coup in 2021.

Mahmood will introduce new legislation to stop the issuing of visas through an Immigration Rules change on Thursday 5 March.

In November, the home secretary threatened to shut down all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic of Congo unless their governments agreed to take deportations, which led to a resumption of returns flights with all three countries.

The measures follow the prime minister's decision to adopt a more hard-edged approach to diplomacy in response to pressure to reduce immigration from those on the political right, including the Conservatives and Reform UK.

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Last week, the government announced protection for refugees would be halved to 30 months in an attempt to reduce small boat crossings.

In 2025, a total of 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, which was almost 5,000 more than the previous year.

The UK has resettled the sixth largest number of refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the world, which the Home Office said demonstrated the government's commitment to helping those genuinely in need.

The home secretary will give a speech this week on making the "progressive case" for immigration control.

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Last month, about 40 Labour MPs raised concerns about the impact of the proposals to change permanent settlement rights for migrants already living here, describing the retrospective approach as "un-British" and "moving the goalposts".

They have warned it could worsen the UK's skills shortage, particularly in the care sector.

Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said it was "right to say student visas are for students and asylum routes are for refugees".

"The problem is there are still no controlled, safe routes for refugees to reach the UK and no meaningful returns agreements with other countries for those whose claims are rejected," Wilkinson said.

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"Until the government sorts that out, it's going to keep playing whack-a-mole with the rest of the system like this."

The Conservatives were contacted for comment.

Click here to see the BBC interactive

[BBC]

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Foreign students and workers from four countries are to be barred from coming to the UK by Shabana Mahmood.

The Home Secretary has suspended applications from the countries after visas were abused by migrants following their arrival to claim asylum.

Migrants have used their visas as a backdoor route to enter the UK and then claimed refugee status to remain permanently. Many have subsequently been housed in asylum hotels at taxpayers expense.

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Ms Mahmood has imposed the emergency brake for the first time on student applications from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan and Myanmar after a near sixfold increase in the number of students from those countries claiming asylum since 2021.

She is also suspending visas for skilled workers from Afghanistan after widespread abuse of the system saw the number claiming asylum outstrip the number of work visas issued last year.

Migrants switching from legal work, study or visitor visas to claim asylum accounted for nearly four in 10 of the 100,000 asylum claims in the past year, triple the number from just five years ago.

The unprecedented move will be seen as a warning to other countries that they could face similar action unless they crack down and prevent students or workers from exploiting the UKs visa system to claim asylum.

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The Home Secretary will not hesitate to impose brakes on other countries, said a Home Office source.

Ms Mahmood told The Telegraph: Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused.

That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity. I will restore order and control to our borders.

The Home Office says 133,760 migrants have claimed asylum after arriving legally on work, study or visitor visas in the past five years.

Many of them are housed in asylum hotels at taxpayers expense. This is because there is an above-average proportion of migrants from the four sanctioned countries who claim destitution, which enables them to live rent-free in state-funded accommodation.

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The Home Office said nearly 16,000 nationals from the four countries were being supported at public expense, including more than 6,000 in hotels. Asylum support overall costs more than 4bn a year.

The four are the nationalities where it is most likely for migrants arriving on visas to claim asylum. Sources said the visa suspension for the four countries would last indefinitely, but would be kept under review.

Some 74 per cent of the 8,935 Afghans who came to the UK on student visas between 2020 and 2024 claimed asylum, according to a Telegraph analysis of Home Office data.

In the year to September 2025, there were more asylum claims by Afghan students (470) than there were visa applications (360). The number of asylum claims from Afghan workers (110) also outstripped the number of visas issued (90).

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More than a quarter (27 per cent) of the 3,278 students from Cameroon and 23 per cent of the 1,977 students from Sudan claimed asylum between 2020 and 2024, while applications by students from Myanmar rose 16-fold between 2021 and the year ending September 2025.

The Home Office said claims by students from Cameroon and Sudan spiked by more than 330 per cent, which sources described as an unsustainable threat to the UKs asylum system. Overall, asylum applications by students from the four countries jumped by 470 per cent from 230 to 1,100 between 2021 and 2025.

The move to suspend student and work visas is part of a diplomatic offensive. Last November, Ms Mahmood threatened to impose visa bans on three African countries  Angola, Namibia and DR Congo  over their refusal to take back illegal migrants and foreign criminals. All three have since backed down in the face of the threats.

A Home Office source said the Home Secretary would not hesitate to impose further visa bans if states failed to take back their illegal migrants.

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It comes after the Home Office introduced new rules scrapping migrants right to permanent asylum in the UK and instead made refugee status temporary. After the move on Monday, their refugee status will be subject to review after 30 months, and they could be returned to their home country if it is deemed safe.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A new headquarters for one of the nations largest firearms distributors is coming to Baton Rouge, with construction already underway.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy spoke Friday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new headquarters of Lipseys, a Baton Rouge-based firearms wholesaler that plans to open the facility next year.

During the event, Cassidy thanked company leadership, including CEO Richard Lipsey, for their continued investment in the Capital Region and for creating jobs in the local community.

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Lipseys is a family business committed to our state which made tough decisions in order to go from a good business to a great business, and we all benefit from them, Cassidy said. They went from one sporting goods store with a single location, to the largest gun wholesaler in the nation.

The company started in 1953 as S&S Wholesale Sporting Goods. Now, its a leading distributor in the shooting-sports industry. Lipseys supplies firearms and related products to gun dealers and retailers across the country.

Its inventory includes handguns, rifles, shotguns, suppressors, optics and other shooting accessories.

Company officials said Lipseys currently employs about 200 people in Louisiana.

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Richard Lipsey also spoke at the ceremony, thanking Cassidy for attending the groundbreaking and recognizing the people who helped the company grow.

Senator Cassidy, thank you for being here today, Lipsey said. Moments like this remind us that Lipseys has never been about buildings; it has always been about people. Your support helps us continue serving our community with honor, excellence, and heart.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidys office.

Latest News

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
Mayor Zohran Mamdanis recent reactions to law enforcement, which some have interpreted as pushing back against the New York Police Department, likely wont hurt him as much as previous mayors, a local crime expert told Fox News Digital, and could end up working to his overall political advantage.

"It may not hurt Mamdani in the way that it might hurt another mayor," said Manhattan Institute fellow Rafael Mangual.

"I do think that Zohran Mamdani is OK with being an opponent and a critic of the NYPD. I think he comes from a sort of ideological perspective that does not believe that the NYPD actually reduces crime. So, if the NYPD pulls back and crime goes up, I think he will see that as an opportunity to further criticize the NYPD and point to reasons why it should be defunded in favor of this Department of Community Safety and some of these other proposals that he would much rather invest in."

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Two significant events in the city indicate that the mayor will not defend the police department, according to Mangual, and could result in cops pulling back due to lack of support. They include an incident last month in Washington Square Park, dubbed "Snowballgate," where a mob of roughly 100 people pelted NYPD officers with snowballs, leaving two officers injured.

Mamdani's Response To Trump's Iran Strike Sparks Conservative Backlash: 'Rooting For The Ayatollah'

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters during a news conference in New York, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Newsroom)

Rather than condemning the assault, Mamdani appeared to downplay the violence, referring to the perpetrators as "kids" taking part in a snowball fight.

Read On The Fox News App

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"Mamdani did not come out in support of the NYPD in that incident. Instead, he seemed to kind of brush it off and even refused to call for the prosecution of the perpetrators," Mangual said, adding that the actions of the mob clearly qualified as an assault against police officers.

"Unfortunately, I think the mayors response was found wanting. He seemed unwilling to condemn it as an assault. He seemed unwilling to even say that it was something that shouldn't be done in the future, and I think that is going to create a sense in the NYPD that this administration does not have their back."

Perhaps more concerning, according to Mangual, was Mamdanis reaction to a recent officer-involved shooting in Queens where, despite bodycam footage showing an officer being immediately attacked with a deadly weapon after entering a home at the owner's invitation, Mamdani called on the district attorney to not prosecute the knife wielding suspect who was reportedly having a mental health episode.

City-run Board Cancels Lease Of Israel Drone Supplier, Sparking Backlash Toward Mamdani: 'Ludicrous'

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Additionally, Mamdani visited the attacker and his family after the incident.

"For Mayor Mamdani to come out and not just meet with the family as if this individual is some sort of crime victim, but to also make an open call to the Queens DA not to prosecute the individual for the obvious and clear assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, I think is just completely irresponsible," Mangual said.

"But it also will reinforce that sense in the NYPD that I think is already existing: that this administration is an opponent, not a partner. And if that dynamic continues, and it reaches further down into the rank and file, I do think that the city is going to see a more reluctant police force at a time in which it needs it to be proactive."

As a candidate, Mamdani attempted to distance himself from previous support of police defunding but faced backlash last month when he announced that part of his plan to balance the budget involves cutting the NYPDs budget and canceling 5,000 new officer hires.

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In front of a painting of Alexander Hamilton, Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters about the city's finances during a news conference in New York, Feb. 17, 2026.

"I think what we've seen in the early days of this administration is that Mamdani is not yet willing to position himself as an open partner of the NYPD," Mangual said. "He is still trying to make a decision about whether he is going to lean into his more natural identity of an opponent of the NYPD."

The NYPD is "between a rock and a hard place" under Mamdani, Mangual said, adding that officers will be "less likely to put their lives on the line for a city that they do not feel has their back."

"Hed be perfectly happy with a world in which he can say, 'Look, the NYPD is a failure, its not keeping crime down, its time to try other approaches,'" Mangual said.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office for comment.





Original article source: Mamdani putting NYPD 'between rock and a hard place' in move that could ultimately help his goal: expert
The Brief

Abdul Jalloh, 32, is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a Fairfax County bus stop.

DHS says Jalloh, a Sierra Leone national who entered the U.S. illegally in 2012, has a lengthy criminal history and was previously subject to an ICE detainer.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - The man accused of stabbing a woman to death at a bus stop in Fairfax County is in the U.S. illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security, and has been charged with dozens of crimes including rape, assault and drug possession.

What we know

Abdul Jalloh, 32, is accused of murdering Stephanie Minter, 41, at a bus stop on Richmond Highway near Arlington Drive last month.

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Fairfax County police found Minter with several stab wounds to her upper body. Surveillance video and interviews helped detectives identify the suspect. They say he and Minter were last seen getting off the bus together.

Police later arrested Jalloh at a liquor store on Richmond Highway after an employee called 911. At the time, officers arrested him for allegedly shoplifting. Detectives say they determined Jalloh is also the suspect who killed Minter and hes charged with second-degree murder.

DHS announced on Monday, March 2 that Jalloh, a Sierra Leone national, entered the U.S. illegally in 2012.

Dig deeper

DHS says Jalloh is a "career criminal" with more than 30 arrests, including charges of rape, assault, drug possession, identity theft and more.

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In 2020, ICE lodged a detainer against Jalloh and he was ordered to be removed to any country other than Sierra Leone.

FOX 5 looked into Jallohs criminal history, and online court records show that he's been arrested more than a dozen times in northern Virginia, including on charges of petty larceny and malicious wounding.

In most of those cases, prosecutors chose to drop charges.

Timeline

Jalloh was arrested for forcible rape on Oct. 23, 2018, but the charges were dropped by then-Fairfax County Commonwealths Attorney Ray Morrogh.

Earlier that year, he was charged with maliciously shooting into an occupied building, a felony. That charge was reduced. He was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days in jail and supervised probation.

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In 2023, Jalloh was arrested for malicious wounding in January. Those charges were dropped.

A spokesperson for Steve Descanos office said they were unable to move forward with prosecution in that case because they did not have the victims participation.

Less than a month later, Jalloh was arrested for aggravated malicious wounding. The charges were reduced. He was sentenced to two years and served seven months.

"Our office convicted the defendant of a 2023 malicious wounding charge, and we have since made every effort to hold him accountable each subsequent time that he has come in contact with the criminal justice system, including asking him to be held pretrial and on a probation violation," said a spokesperson for Descano's office.

The backstory

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order on her first day in office to end state police and corrections agreements with ICE.

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"We are calling on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia's sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this murderer and violent career criminal from their jail without notifying ICE," said Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. "This illegal aliens murder of an innocent, beautiful American woman came less than 24 hours before Governor Spanbergers demonization of ICE law enforcement. This heinous criminal is a perfect example of why we need cooperation from sanctuary jurisdictions and the importance of third country removals for the safety of the American people."

The Source

This story includes information from DHS, Fairfax County Police and previous FOX 5 DC reporting.




A visitor to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has died after entering a closed section on the east side of the Kilauea caldera, officials said. Although Kilauea volcano has had ongoing episodic eruptions for over a year, it was not erupting at the time.

On Feb. 26, the national park service responded, and search and rescue teams "conducted operations overnight in steep and hazardous terrain," Hawaii Volcanoes National Park said in a news release.

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The individual, a 33-year-old resident of Hawaii, was eventually found on Feb. 27. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The park is still investigating the death and is withholding the person's name out of privacy concerns for the family.

Hiking in closed sections of the national park is extremely dangerous. "Kilauea caldera contains hazardous terrain, including unstable cliff edges and volcanic features," the news release said.

However, this is not the first time visitors have entered closed areas at the park. In December, two trespassers were caught on camera hiking dangerously close to an active eruption. And in June, a man nearly died when he fell 30 feet off a steep cliff after making his own trail off Byron Ledge Trail to get a closer view of the volcanic eruption.

The national park urges visitors to stay in designated open areas and to heed warning and trespassing signs.

More Hawaii News

- The end of the middle-class traveler in Hawaii is near

- Hawaii awaits a rare event that attracts over 50,000 people

- The remote island near Hawaii with a dark past

- Controversial Hawaii festival angers local Burning Man community

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We have a newsletter all about Hawaii, with news, tips and in-depth features from the Aloha state. Sign up here.

This article originally published at Man, 33, dies after entering closed section of Hawaii national park.
Daniel Andrew McGee, 26, was sentenced to over 12 years in prison on March 3 for assaulting a man on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Additionally, McGee was sentenced to five months of supervised release.

On July 5, 2021, McGee went to the victim's apartment for a date after they matched on the dating app, Grindr, which is designed for and primarily used by gay men.

McGee attacked the victim, striking him with a wooden tire thumper and using his hands to gouge their eyes out. Neighbors heard the victim's screams and called 911. Upon their arrival, the victim was found with a chunk of their scalp lying next to them. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries during the assault, including serious head wounds. McGee was found bloodied at the scene.

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An investigation revealed McGee had researched and planned the attack for weeks. At least one month before the assault, he searched the internet for homophobic and graphically violent anti-gay material. Specifically, he searched "Russia gay bashing," "homophobia," "why homosexuality shouldn't be allowed in the military," "homosexuality destroys nations," and more. McGee purchased the weapon and other materials from Amazon and searched the internet on how to get away with murder related to crimes committed by people using Grindr to target their victims.

McGee's bag also was located in the victim's bathroom containing a portable vacuum, an 8-inch Bombay kitchen knife, a folding knife, a large roll of trash bags, a bottle of Comet cleaner, a brown extension cord, a phone charger, paper and two pencils.

On Nov. 18, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted McGee with a Hate Crime Act involving an attempt to kill.

In November 2025, McGee pleaded guilty to the singular count on the indictment.

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The right to live safely in ones community is a fundamental civil right. The District of Oregon remains committed to combatting hate crimes and protecting that right for all, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford said in a statement. While no conviction can undo the harm caused, we hope this sentence will bring some measure of justice to the victim and our community.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Daniel McGee sentenced to 12 years for Grindr date attack
A man was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of shooting a Harris County deputy and then sparking an hourslong standoff in 2023, according to records.

The video above is from a previous report.

Terran Green was pulled over for speeding in August 2023. That's when authorities said he shot Deputy Joseph Anderson, who suffered serious injuries, and then took off.

The day after the shooting, investigators found Green inside a Humble-area home, where he barricaded himself. During this scene, Green shot a second deputy, as well as two U.S. Marshals. All four law enforcement officers survived.

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A SWAT team eventually used its ramming device called the Rook to get Green out of the home.

Records show that Green has been in and out of jail since 2007 -- some of those arrests for violent crimes -- and he's even gotten into trouble while awaiting trial.

RELATED STORIES:

Man pulled from home during 2023 SWAT standoff convicted of shooting Harris County deputy

Suspect at center of dramatic Humble standoff now faces federal charges after 2 US Marshals shot

'Combat zone': Neighbors describe chaos that unfolded as officials moved in on wanted alleged gunman

Suspect at center of manhunt, Humble standoff charged with 4 counts of attempted capital murder
A man has died after being shot by police in the parking lot of a shopping center next to the police headquarters on Tuesday night.

Powder Springs police were called around 9 p.m. to the Publix at Powder Springs shopping center on New Macland Road.

Video captured employees panicking when they heard gunfire LIVE on Channel 2 Action News at 4:00 p.m.

They said a man was having a mental health crisis. An hour later, police say the man pulled out a gun. Thats when multiple officers fired shots and hit him.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The man was taken to the hospital and later died from his injuries. The GBI identified him as Gustavo Guimaraes, age 34, of Acworth.

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The Powder Springs Police Department extends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and is thankful that no officers or members of the public were injured during this incident, they wrote in a statement.

No officers were injured. Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for more details.

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Jason Merrells is making a full-time return to Waterloo Road.

Jason Merrells as Jack Rimmer in Waterloo Road

The 57-year-old actor first appeared as headteacher Jack Rimmer on the BBC school drama during the show's first series back in 2006 and has revealed that his character will be back on a long-term basis as the programme marks its 20th anniversary.

Jason told Inside Soap magazine of his return: "Jack is a character that I love to play, perhaps my favourite character on telly that I've ever played, so it's been a real gift to come back."

The former Emmerdale star's character was the original Waterloo Road headteacher before leaving to work at a school in Dubai.

Jack then returned for a brief guest stint during season three before making a longer return to the show last year.

He agreed to take on the role of a school counsellor but ended up leaving the post as he struggled with alcohol addiction.

However, Jason says his alter ego has now recovered and will be teaching English at the school.

The Cutting It actor said: "He's back as an English teacher! It wasn't important to me that he should return to the headteacher's role, though I think he's got it in him to do that job again if he stays long enough.

"He has a very good relationship with the current head Stella (Lindsey Coulson), they're on the same page and she's totally got his support.

"But it's Waterloo Road and it's still a drama, so Jack still puts his foot in it here and there, and maybe sometimes does things that are unconventional or not by the book!"

Jason explained that he never expected Waterloo Road to reach 20 years on air when he was filming the opening series more than two decades ago.

He said: "We knew we were making something good, but no one had any idea that it would run and run! We were working in this disused school in Rochdale, and we felt like we were inventing this drama that weaves together the audience of kids and adults.

"They would often use kids from local schools, so you had to have many of the skills of real teachers to keep control when doing a scene, which was great because it felt real."
Fineqia bridges the gap between digital asset treasuries and everyday crypto use Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency remains a challenging frontier for many investors. Wallets, gas fees, staking protocols, and yield farming can feel like a foreign language to those accustomed to traditional finance. Fineqia International Inc (CSE:FNQ), led by CEO Bundeep Singh Rangar, aims to simplify access to digital assets.

The companys stated mission is to make crypto understandable and useful for everyday investors and not just tech insiders or institutional players and, as one of the only issuers of ETPs worldwide permitted to allocate part of the underlying digital assets for DeFi yield, it's in a unique position to do so.

Most investors dont need a PhD in crypto, Rangar told Proactive. They just need safe, straightforward access.

Fineqia emphasizes usability through clean interfaces, intuitive language, and automated processes.If we want millions of people to use it, we need to meet them where they are, Rangar said.

While much of the crypto narrative revolves around volatile price swings, Fineqia focuses on practical uses. Its products are designed for holding, earning, and transacting. Users can stake tokens, earn yield through decentralized finance (DeFi), and make payments without managing blockchain operations themselves.

Its about creating financial tools people actually use, not getting them to gamble on token prices, Rangar said. Fineqias products target a 5% annual yield, paid monthly, which can be reinvested to compound returns over time. Being a listed company, you can be fairly certain of the integrity involved, Rangar added.

Fineqia is also targeting Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companiesfirms holding significant crypto on their balance sheets. While DATs like Strategys buy-and-hold model worked previously, capital markets are demanding they have operating businesses and innovation beyond simply holding crypto, Rangar said. Were enabling treasury companies to generate yield on their crypto holdings within a regulated wrapper, something that simply hasnt been possible until now.

The companys exchange traded products (ETPs) deploy assets across DeFi protocols, staking mechanisms, and liquidity pools to generate returns while maintaining exposure to price movements. Unlike derivative-based products that cap your gains, our ETPs maintain full exposure to price movements while layering on yield generation, Rangar explained. The DAT space is maturing rapidly. Companies that simply accumulate and hold are Treasury 1.0. Were enabling Treasury 2.0, an active balance sheet management that generates income while maintaining conviction in the underlying asset, Rangar added, highlighting how Fineqia differentiates itself from more conservative treasury-focused firms.
Police are looking for a suspect they say has punched at least three random people in the face.

One of the victims describes the shocking encounter LIVE on Channel 2 Action News at 5:00 p.m.

The suspect, Jamil Davis, keeps getting out of jail, even though hes on probation, Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes learned.

Just imagine walking down the street, minding your own business, and someone walking by turns around and punches you in the face.

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Video captured what happened moments before a suspect punched a random victim in the face in downtown Atlanta at the Marriott Marquis.

Three women can be seen walking in a hallway near some conference rooms Jan. 26. Seconds later, police say Davis waited around a corner then hit the victim in the face with a closed fist.

Davis got away. About a week later, a MARTA police officer recognized Davis from a BOLO and arrested him while he was sleeping on a train.

He was charged with misdemeanor battery, and a judge let him out on a $3,000 cash bond.

Channel 2 found out police have arrested Davis four times for battery in the last four years. They say he assaulted unsuspecting strangers in three of those cases.

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Gabby Melnick said the video makes her even more aware of her surroundings.

As a woman that is very alarming to me - to be watchful and aware of who is around me, she said. And you never know, but you also cant make assumptions about people.

A spokesperson for state court declined to comment on how Davis keeps getting bond.

A criminal defense attorney explained the judicial process, as well as what he believes needs to be done for public safety.

Once the judge found out about his background, the judge showed grace and just gave him another bond when they just couldve said, I think youre a risk to the community. I think youre a risk to offend, the attorney said.

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All of Daviss battery charges have been misdemeanors.

He had a felony battery charge for family violence four years ago, but for some reason, it was bound over to state court and downgraded to a misdemeanor.

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This story is a collaboration with Biography.com.



The case of the elusive D.B. Cooper stands as aviations most captivating unsolved mystery since Amelia Earhart vanished without a trace. For over half a century, the identity of the infamous skyjacker, who boarded Northwest Orient Flight 305 on November 24, 1971, parachuted into the night, and disappeared with $200,000, has remained an enigma. Despite Coopers discarded tie and the countless theories spun from thin air, not a single individual has been definitively unmasked as the man behind the moniker.

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But could that change? In 2024, the U.S. Sun reported a startling new claim: a man says he knows the true identity of D.B. Cooper, because he received a confession from none other than his own mother.

No, Richard Rick McCoy III isnt claiming that his mom was the skyjacker who daringly dove from the plane clutching all that cash. Rather, he firmly believes the mystery man is his father, Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., a Vietnam veteran and seasoned skydiver.

Rick says that it was his mother, Karen McCoy, who stood as his fathers accomplice. In a series of candid disclosures, Karen McCoy allegedly revealed to her children that she assisted in orchestrating not just the most notorious skyjacking in history, but also an additional one, confessing she helped plan both of his heists.

Of course, only one heist was ever attributed to D.B. Cooper, who actually called himself Dan Cooper, according to Biography. The other crime that Rick McCoy references has unequivocally been credited to his dad, Richard. Unlike Coopers unsolved caper, Richard McCoys skyjacking on April 7, 1972, led to his quick capture just three days later.

Bettmann - Getty Images

After his arrest, Richard was sentenced to 45 years in prison, but escaped after two years and was killed in 1974 in a shootout with cops in Virginia, per the Sun. According to their report, Rick has even provided DNA evidence to the FBI in hopes of finally resolving the long-standing mystery of D.B. Coopers identity. Rick had previously refrained from collaborating with the Bureau, choosing to wait until after his mothers death in December 2020.

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But its going to take much more than a confession to truly identify D.B. Cooper. This alleged new lead will need to be subject to heavy scrutiny. Why? Because if youre inclined to take a D.B. Cooper confession at face value, then it would appear as though the fateful Flight 305 had more hijackers on board than passengers, as Rick McCoy is hardly the first person to claim a Cooper confirmation.

The 6 Other D.B. Cooper Confessors

On Thanksgiving Eve 1971, the man we now call D.B. Cooper used a bomb threat to hijack a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, according to Biography. He demanded $200,000 in $20 bills as well as four parachutes. After his terms were met, he jumped from the aircraft, never to be seen again.

In 2016, with no announced solution for who was behind the famously misstated alias, the FBI said it was closing its investigation. However, the U.S. Sun also reported that the FBI has quietly reopened the case, in relation to the new McCoy leads.

Based on eyewitness statements, the FBI described Cooper as a white male, [6-foot-1], 170-175 pounds, age-mid-forties, olive complexion, brown eyes, black hair, conventional cut, parted on left. With more than a half-century passing since that middle-aged man pulled off his heist, its likely that whoever made away with all that money wont see a jail cell before they skydive off of this mortal coil.

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What isnt so certain is that the mastermind behind the famous NORJAK heist carried their secret to the grave. So lets meet six more possible D.B. Coopers, who may or may not have told the truth when they confessed to the legendary crime.

D.B. Cooper Confessor #1

Bryant Jack Coffelt

Would you believe that D.B. Cooper has a connection to Abraham Lincoln? Would it stretch credibility to think that the individual who famously parachuted from Flight 305his only remnants being a clip-on necktie and eight cigarette buttsalso served as both chauffeur and companion to Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, the great-grandson of the 16th President of the United States? If this tale seems plausible to you, then you just might have been an ideal target for the notorious swindler Bryant Jack Coffelt. And you certainly wouldnt have been alone.

Bettmann - Getty Images

In 1972, Coffelt reached out to his former cellmate, a man named James Brown (not The Godfather of Soul James Brown) with a confession that he was behind the D.B. Cooper hijacking. As the book NORJAK: The Investigation of D.B. Cooper lays out, Coffelt claimed he landed near Mount Hood, injuring himself and losing the money in the process. He then burned his parachute with magnesium powder and fled in a Jeep he had stashed nearby.

At Coffelts urging, Brown pursued a movie deal for this dubious confession. FBI records show that the Bureau was aware of Coffelts claims, as well as Browns assertion that they had embarked on a camping expedition to retrieve the missing money, though they returned without a dime. But the particulars provided by Coffelt and Brown about the incident didnt match up with confidential case details, leading both the FBI and Ralph Himmelsbach, the original head investigator of the case and author of NORJAK, to suspect that Coffelt, a known scam artist, was merely attempting to pull another con.

D.B. Cooper Confessor #2

Duane L. Weber

Its quite likely that Duane L. Weber harbored some secrets. As a World War II veteran with a post-war record of incarceration spanning over 20 years for crimes like forgery and burglary, it stands to reason that a man with such a checkered past might have some skeletons in his closet.

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Wikimedia Commons

So when Jo Weber heard her husbands confession from his Florida hospital bed during his final days, as reported by CBS News, she may not have been entirely surprised.

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He says, Come here. Come closer. He wanted me about two feet from his face, Jo Weber told CBS News. He says, I have a secret to tell you. I said, What? He says, Im Dan Cooper.

The bombshell confession meant little to Jo at first. She didnt know who Dan Cooper was. But over time, CBS News reported, she began to put together the pieces:

Jo recalled the sleep-talking nightmare Duane had about leaving finger prints on a plane, an old knee injury he claimed he got from jumping out of a plane, the local library book on D.B. Cooper with Duane Webers handwriting in the margins.

However, the problem with Webers confession is that if he claimed to have left fingerprints on the plane during the NORJAK heist, they werent his own. The prints and DNA found on the plane didnt match Webers, leading the FBI to rule him out as a suspect based on this evidence.

D.B. Cooper Confessor #3

Barbara Dayton

The description of D.B. Cooper that every FBI agent and amateur sleuth has been relying on for 54 years starts with white male. This detail has been one of the few consistent elements accepted in the Cooper casebut maybe thats why theyve never caught the culprit.



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Geoffrey Grays Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper includes the story of Barbara Dayton. The aviation enthusiast, World War II veteran, and U.S. Merchant Marine, who died in 2002, may have been the first person to undergo gender reassignment surgery in the state of Washington, in 1969.

Dayton purportedly made a bold confession to her friend Ron Forman and his wife, claiming that two years after undergoing a gender reassignment surgery, Dayton boarded a plane while presenting as a male, altered her voice, and carried out the greatest unsolved aviation heist ever. Dayton, who had been denied a commercial pilots license, allegedly sought revenge on the airline industry with this act and proclaimed to have hidden all the stolen money in a cistern in Woodburn, Oregon.

Bettmann - Getty Images

At least, thats what Dayton said until she realized that the government was still ready, willing, and able to prosecute whoever committed the hijacking. Then, she swiftly recanted her confession and swore she had made the whole thing up. To date, there has been no actual evidence linking Dayton to the crime.

D.B. Cooper Confessor #4

William Pratt Gossett

What did your father give you for your 21st birthday? A car? A savings bond? Your first legal beer? How about the keys to a safety deposit box at a bank in Vancouver that he claimed was full of money stolen during a plane hijacking?

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If you answered yes to that final one, then hello to you, Greg Gossett. We have some questions.

Bettmann - Getty Images

According to an ABC News article from 2008, Greg Gossett claimed that on his 21st birthday, his father, William, showed him two keys for a safety deposit box, claiming that within that box was the money from the D.B. Cooper heist, which he himself had committed. He said that I could never tell anybody until after he died, Greg said. Gregs brother, Kirk, also claimed their dad told the story several times: He had the type of temperament to do something like this.

But it seems the FBI requires more concrete evidence than someones temperament and an old family tale. There is not one link to the D.B. Cooper case other than the statements (Gossett) made to someone, FBI Special Agent Larry Carr said in the ABC News piece.

But would William Gossett, a man who worked as a radio talk-show host in Salt Lake City, where he moderated discussions about the paranormal really make up a story like that? Surely, theres an easy way to prove the story. Greg Gossett merely needs to take that key to Vancouver and open the box thats apparently filled with bills with serial numbers the FBI can verify.

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Its been close to two decades since that ABC News story, and it doesnt appear anyone has bothered to check that alleged safety deposit box.

D.B. Cooper Confessor #5

Walter R. Reca

D.B. Cooper enthusiasts are quite familiar with the name Walter Reca. Compared to other alleged confessions to being D.B. Cooper, often told vaguely to friends or relatives, Recas case sticks out. In his confession, the former paratrooper specifically described how he pulled off the heistand anyone can hear it. Recas close friend, Carl Laurin, recorded his confession and released it to the public via the Daily Mail.

Laurin, who wrote D.B. Cooper & Me: A Criminal, a Spy, My Best Friend, claimed he had additional evidence beyond the audio recordings. Oregon Live reported that Laurin possessed documents detailing how he allegedly used a large portion of Recas $200,000 heist money. As for the Spy in the books title, Laurin contended that after the heist, Reca served as a high-level covert intelligence operative for various governments, as noted by the Daily Mail.



Bettmann - Getty Images

In Recas version of events, after jumping from the plane, he landed in Cle Elum, Washington, where he went to a roadside diner and asked a dump truck driver to give his friend directions to the diner over the phone.

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Decades after the alleged encounter, Laurin said he found Jeff Osiadacz, who reportedly recalled a man at a diner requesting that he provide directions to someone else on the phone. This man, similar to Walter Reca, did not match the sketched composite of D.B. Cooper. This discrepancy is offered as a reason why Osiadacz remembered the unusual diner meeting for so long, yet never mentioned it in connection with the D.B. Cooper case.

But many skeptics find Osiadaczs memory hard to believe, especially since Cle Elum is over 150 miles from D.B. Coopers presumed landing area, given the aircrafts position during his jump. King5.com highlights these and other inconsistencies, casting doubt on the purported confession. Reca may have the most thorough and detailed confession, but within those details is room for reasonable doubt.

D.B. Cooper Confessor #6

Robert Rackstraw

Hijacking a plane and parachuting away with $200,000, hoping to never be caught, is a wildly risky move. And if a disposition for wildly risky moves is key to profiling potential D.B. Cooper suspects, then Robert Rackstraw should be a prime candidate The pilot and Vietnam veteran was on U.S. law enforcements radar in 1977, when he was suspected of kiting checks for $75,000, the Daily Mail notes. Yet, he managed to elude capture and flee the country.



Now, leaving the U.S. for Iran in the late 1970s to teach the Shahs men how to fly helicopters during the 1978 Qom protestsa precursor to the Iranian Revolutionis an entirely new level of death-defying. Rackstraw was eventually extradited back to the U.S. after authorities discovered 14 rifles and 150 pounds of dynamite in his storage units.

Wikimedia Commons

Then, of course, theres his arrest for the alleged murder of his stepfather, a charge for which he was later acquitted.

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Thats when Rackstraw decided the only real course of action left for a man who had generated that much heat from the Feds was to die himself. So Rackstraw faked his own death, by pretending to crash his plane into Monterey Bay.



Rackstraw was never formally linked to the D.B. Cooper case by any law enforcement agency, but author and amateur investigator Tom Colbert went to great effort to prove that Rackstraw was the man behind the heist.

Colbert pressured the FBI to release its D.B. Cooper case files via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and utilized this information to build his case against Rackstraw. He highlighted letters sent to The Seattle Times, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, and The Washington Post, allegedly from Cooper himself. While some wrote these off as hoaxes, Colbert argued that they were, in fact, coded admissions of guilt from Rackstraw.

Indeed, Rackstraw frequently suggested he was D.B. Cooper. He even said it to Colberts face. In Colberts 2016 HISTORY Channel documentary series, D.B. Cooper: Case Closed?, Rackstraw is captured on camera telling Colbert, I told everybody I was, after Colbert proposed to pay him $20,000 for the storytelling rights to his life.

But Rackstraw was simply confirming that he had claimed to be D.B. Cooper, not that he actually was the skyjacker. This is a distinction he doubled down on when the surge of interest from the HISTORY series led to attention Rackstraw found unwelcome. Its a lot of [expletive], he told PEOPLE following the shows airing, and he later said the notoriety cost him a job. Rackstraw passed away in 2019, having firmly denied any involvement in the D.B. Cooper case until the end.

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A man wanted for homicide last year in South Philadelphia has surrendered to police.

Nasir Brooks turned himself in on Tuesday.

RELATED: Man ID'd in deadly South Philadelphia shooting that left car riddled with bullets

The shooting happened on October 9, 2025, just after 6 p.m. on the 1300 block of Packer Avenue near Broad Street.

Police say more than 20 shots were fired, with most of them hitting a car the victims were in.

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Hasan Mason, 23, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the face and body. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A second 23-year-old man was wounded, and scrambled two blocks to Chickie's and Pete's for help.

Brooks' alleged accomplice Abou Keita was arrested in November.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) this week warned Americans to take President Donald Trump seriously when he talks of seeking an unconstitutional third term in office.

During a Monday interview with SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly, Greene pointed out that Trump has said several times that he doesnt think hes getting into heaven  and questioned what that suggests about the mental state of a man toward the end of his life.

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Kelly pointed out that Trump has said he was being cheeky, but Greene pushed back.

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I dont think the president is being tongue-in-cheek. I know that man very well, said Greene, who was part of the presidents inner circle and frequently by his side at events until a falling-out last year over her push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.

He repeatedly and repeatedly says hes not going to heaven the same way he repeatedly says, What do you think? Should I run for president again? she said. That started out as we could take it as a joke, but I dont think hes joking.

Trump has speculated openly, and often, about running for a third term, which the Constitution specifically forbids under the 22nd Amendment.

Politics: Seriously: Ex-GOP Lawmaker Sounds Alarm On Trumps 2028 Plans

Just last week, Trump said hes entitled to another term.

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Hes selling 2028 merch, and key insiders such as Steve Bannon have also predicted that he will do it.

Hes gonna get a third term, Bannon told The Economist last year. Trump is gonna be president in 28, and people just ought to get accommodated with that.

But Trump at times has also pulled back a little, and last year admitted that the Constitution doesnt allow it.

Politics: Trump Says He's 'Not Joking' About The Possibility Of Seeking A Third Term

And I would say that if you read it, its pretty clear, he conceded. Im not allowed to run. Its too bad, obviously.

See more of her conversation, in which she slams the president for launching attacks on Iran after repeatedly promising to end U.S. military interventions overseas, below:

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Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
A South Shore police officer accused of causing a multi-vehicle crash that left one person seriously injured has pleaded not guilty.

25 Investigates reported back on January 11, former Officer Richard Perry allegedly crossed the double yellow lines twice while under the influence of alcohol in his Jeep.

He passed a tow truck first, then attempted to pass a Hyundai Elantra. He instead crashed head on with a Honda Civic.

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South Shore police officer placed on leave after multi-car wreck with serious injuries

The driver of Hyundai Elantra was not injured. The driver of the Civic, 24-year-old Grace Owen, suffered multiple injuries according to the prosecution. She had to be extricated from the wreckage following the collision.

This has impacted our lives greatly and its been devastating, just trying to keep her spirits up and keep her focused on her recovery, said Alisa Owen, the victims mother.

She had a brain bleed she had a broken femur, a dislocated hip socket a broken pelvis, broken ribs and neck fractures and also a broken hand, said Owen.

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Perry faced a judge Wednesday, wearing a neck brace, as he pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege that prior to the crash, Perry had been drinking at Raffertys Pub in downtown Marshfield before getting behind the wheel. His blood alcohol content was measured at approximately 0.20  more than twice the legal limit  about 45 minutes after the crash, according to the prosecution.

Perry has been charged with operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation, and speeding greater than reasonable and proper.

He has since been placed on administrative leave.

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Perry and his defense team previously attempted to enter a plea agreement; however, a judge declined to accept it because the victim was not present to deliver an impact statement.

Perrys attorney didnt say much outside of court, but he did tell the judge Perry is undergoing rehab for his drinking.

Meanwhile Graces mom just hopes she can make a full recovery and get back to doing what she loves as an aesthetician.

Grace has a long road ahead of her, shes making slow but steady progress, but this has greatly, impacted obviously her life and its going to be a long road before she can get back to living her 24-year-old best life, Alisa Owen, her mother, told Boston 25.

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Owens mother said her daughter works at Sephora, loves makeup, and enjoys spending time with family.

Following up on my reporting from Thursday about the young woman (pictured below) who was seriously injured in a crash involving an off-duty Marshfield Police Officer who is now facing drunk and reckless driving charges



Today, a lawyer for her family released this statement to pic.twitter.com/7tBTMuw5Uy  Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) January 16, 2026

Perry was released on personal recognizance, and he cannot drive now without a license or drink alcohol while hes on probation.

Perrys next court date is March 30.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Someone who played the Keno lottery at a Chinese restaurant in Massachusetts on Tuesday won $100,000.

The $100,000 prize was won at the Pilot House in Gloucester.

Keno players must choose 112 numbers from 180, place a wager and choose how many consecutive draws to play. They can optionally add a bonus multiplier and prizes are won based on how many numbers match the 20 numbers drawn.

Winners are advised to immediately sign their ticket. Any prizes over $600 must claimed at a lottery office, within one year from the drawing date.

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Overall, at least 549 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Tuesday, including 15 in Springfield, 19 in Worcester and 60 in Boston.

The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.

The largest lottery prize claimed in Massachusetts so far this year was worth $5 million. It was from a winning $5,000,000 100X Cashword 2024ticket sold at a Mobil gas station in Uxbridge that was claimed Jan. 20.

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Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Police are looking for help from the public in locating a missing woman from Auburn.

Jennifer Remillard, 47, with a last known address in Auburn, has been reported as a missing person, police said in a statement on Tuesday night.

She was last seen on Jan. 31 in Sarasota, Florida, police said.

Police described Remillard as standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, and having blonde hair.

Remillard has been known to travel across the country. Police said she is believed to be driving a gray 2012 Toyota Camry with the Massachusetts license plate RS11JR.

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Anyone with any information about her whereabouts is urged to call Auburn Police at 508-832-7777 or send an email to Keith.Chipman@auburnmasspolice.org.

Texts or emails can also be sent totextatip@auburnmasspolice.org.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
State Sen. Mayes Middleton and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy will face each other in a May runoff to decide who will be the GOP nominee for Texas attorney general, the Associated Press declared Tuesday.

Middleton had a commanding lead with Roy, an Austin congressman who was the front-runner through much of the campaign, pulling a distant second through early returns and a share of election day results.

Neither candidate was on track to clear the 50% needed to avoid an overtime round on May 26.

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State Sen. Joan Huffman and former Department of Justice lawyer Aaron Reitz are trailing the two frontrunners. Reitz was endorsed by incumbent Ken Paxton, who is forgoing reelection to run for the U.S. Senate.

Roy, a conservative firebrand from Austin known for his principled stands that have sometimes put him at odds with GOP leadership, entered the race as the clear frontrunner, in part because he was more widely known among voters. Middleton, a Galveston oil and gas executive and one of the states most rightward lawmakers, closed the gap through a self-funded ad blitz that plastered his MAGA Mayes messaging across airwaves and mailboxes.

The runoff promises to be an expensive, bare-knuckle battle for a role that has grown to be one of the most important in Texas, and in the national conservative movement. Under Paxton, the agency became a partisan juggernaut, aggressively suing Democratic presidential administrations, local governments and nonprofits. Both Roy and Middleton have vowed to continue using the office to advance conservative goals through the courts.

You look at the Texas Attorney Generals Office, this is the largest legal power in the conservative movement, nationally, period, end of story, said Adam Piper, the executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association. This is not just about the boundaries of Texas, this is about the entire conservative legal movement.

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On the Democratic side, state Sen. Nathan Johnson finished well ahead of his two opponents, former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski and Dallas attorney Tony Box, but fell just shy of an outright win. Jaworski narrowly secured the second runoff spot over Box, the AP declared Thursday.

Middleton vs. Roy

Roy is running on his experience at the highest levels of government, from serving as Paxtons first top deputy to senior roles with Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and former Gov. Rick Perry. He touts prominent endorsements, including from Cruz, and national name recognition after three full terms in Congress. Hes also said he would prioritize strengthening the agencys bureaucratic functions, like child support enforcement and consumer protection, which have languished under Paxton.

But he faced stiff headwinds from his opponents, who hammered his tumultuous relationship with President Donald Trump and Paxton. Roy was the first Republican to call for Paxton to resign after seven of his top aides reported him to the FBI. He defied other Republicans in voting to certify the 2020 election and said Trump engaged in clearly impeachable conduct on Jan. 6, 2021.

Roy has tried to recast those criticisms as proof of his qualifications to be Texas next top lawyer, saying hes a principled conservative whose only allegiance is to Texas and the Constitution. He also says his experience winning a contentious and expensive reelection fight in 2020 against former state Sen. Wendy Davis has prepared him to win in November.

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The only way that Ill lose this election, after all that Ive done to defend the state of Texas, all that Ive done to fight for conservatism, all that Ive done in a courtroom, my legal bona fides, my background, is if somebody else is trying to buy Texas, he said. If somebody wants to spend their entire mass fortune doing so, I still think Im going to win.

Middleton is similarly conservative  he led the state House Freedom Caucus, while Roy was a prominent member of the U.S. House version. Hes spent millions in television ads, mailers and text messages to plaster his MAGA Mayes message across the state, touting his allegiance to Trump and conservative record as a legislator.

On the campaign trail, Roy and the other candidates assailed Middletons lack of legal experience. While Middleton graduated from law school and is registered with the State Bar of Texas, he has virtually no courtroom experience, and has worked exclusively within his family oil and gas company.

He has tried to equate his legal experience to Paxtons before he was elected attorney general, saying they have similar civil law backgrounds. Paxton worked in private practice, was in-house counsel for J.C. Penney and ran his own law firm for 14 years.

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But thats not why voters supported him, Middleton said in an interview with the True Texas Project, a conservative grassroots group.

The reason we supported [Paxton] when he was running for attorney general is because he had that proven conservative record, Middleton said. Its about who has that proven conservative record, which is what I have.

Disclosure: State Bar of Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
NEW YORK  The first cohort of New York Citys free child-care programs for 2-year-olds will open this fall in five local school districts, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday in upper Manhattan.

The priority neighborhoods include Manhattans School District 6 in Washington Heights and Inwood; the Bronxs School District 10 in Fordham, Belmont, Kingsbridge and Norwood; Brooklyns School Districts 18 and 23 in Canarsie, Ocean Hill and Brownsville, and Queens School District 27 in Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Howard Beach, Woodhaven and the Rockaways.

There are so many New Yorkers who have grown up in this city and have had to leave this city because of the cost of living across these five boroughs, Mamdani said during a news conference at the Sugar Hill Childrens Museum.

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Our dream is not only to make this a place where every New Yorker can stay. Its also a dream where every New Yorker can come back home.

Children who live in those districts will have first dibs on the new programs, regardless of income levels or immigration status. Applications are slated to open early this summer, with rolling admissions through the fall to sign up children turning 2 after the school year begins.

The 2-K program will launch with 2,000 seats in September, before expanding to 12,000 seats during the 2027-28 school year. The initiative is expected to scale up citywide by the end of Mamdanis first term.

Hochul has allocated $73 million for the programs first year and $425 million for its second year, without resorting to tax hikes. The governor, who is up for reelection in November, has not committed funding for the later years, though she indicated that she plans to continue supporting the program.

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The State of New York is not walking away, the governor said. This is something I believe in to my core. Theres no way I could walk away from a commitment to these beautiful little children  not now, not ever.

Neighborhoods were selected based on need  including the child poverty rate and lack of child-care access  as well as where providers could scale up quickly.

These Phase 1 districts represent communities where we know we can make a real difference right away, said Kamar Samuels, Mamdanis schools chancellor. We can expand access now, and we can do it the right way  with strong support for all students. But let me be clear, for families in districts not included in Phase 1: We will see you soon.

After the news conference, Mamdani told reporters that his administration plans to announce more school districts that will also join 2-K next year, in addition to the first cohort.

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One thing that I can tell you for certain is that it will also extend into Staten Island, he said, acknowledging the only borough left out of the original group.

Key questions remain about how the Mamdani administration plans to operationalize the program, many of which were voiced during a City Council hearing Monday  from hiring enough teachers to cutting through bureaucratic red tape.

Emmy Liss, Mamdanis top child-care official, told the Daily News that sites have not been selected yet, though providers responded to a request for information last month if they were interested in hosting the program funded by the government.

Now that weve identified the districts, well be following up with providers in those specific communities who expressed interest, so that they can submit a more detailed proposal, Liss said.

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From there, well determine whos going to offer services this fall, and well share that information with families as soon as we have it.

For many New York City families, the assistance could not come quickly enough. According to a report last year from the comptrollers office, a family would need to earn $334,000 to afford the cost of care for a 2-year-old in the city  roughly four times the median family income.

Suz Kroeber, a Washington Heights mom of two children, said she and her wife were shut out of 3-k last year for their oldest child. Now, though, Kroeber feels more confident about their chances of securing free child care for their younger son when hes old enough.

We have a new baby at home, said Kroeber, a member of the advocacy group New Yorkers United for Child Care. And knowing that 2-K will be there when he turns 2 changes everything about how we think about the future, instead of pinching every penny to cover day care.

_____
(This story has been updated because an earlier version included some inaccuracies.)

OSHKOSH  Brenda Pluchinsky is being challenged by a literal political newcomer.

High school student Cameron Crandall will be hoping to unseat the Winnebago County Board District 23 supervisor when he and Pluchinsky face the polls for the April 7 spring election.

As part of the Northwestern's ongoing election coverage, both candidates were asked to explain what they see as their priorities on the Winnebago County Board. Here's what they said.

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Read more: Oshkosh election results  who's moving on to April 7 election?

Brenda Pluchinsky

Brenda Pluchinsky

Age: 52

Occupation: Treasurer of Omro.

Highest level of education: Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering. I have also completed extensive continuing education focused on local government and public service.

Political/elected office experience: Incumbent District 23 Supervisor and I serve on the Park View Health Center Committee (PVHC). Former deputy clerk for the Town of Omro. Treasurer for the Town of Omro.

What would be your top three priorities if elected?

My top three priorities are simple: protecting our natural resources, supporting our older residents, and taking care of Winnebago Countys aging infrastructure.

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Winnebago County has the largest inland surface water area of any county in Wisconsin. Our lakes and rivers give us clean drinking water, support healthy fish habitat, and offer beautiful places for families to boat, fish and swim. We must strengthen waterquality efforts and reduce pollution to keep our lakes and rivers clean and safe for everyone.

Im committed to continuing my work on the Park View Health Center Committee. PVHC is widely recognized as one of the best nursing care facilities in Wisconsin, and the work being done there truly makes a difference. One of my goals is to explore reopening the closed wing of the facility so more of our veterans and older residents can receive the highquality care they deserve.

We also need to take a serious look at our countys infrastructure. Many of our facilities are aging and need longterm attention, and delaying maintenance only makes the problems and the costs worse. We need responsible, longterm planning that addresses these needs without placing the full burden on taxpayers.

Cameron Crandall

Cameron Crandall

Age: 18

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Occupation: Student

Highest level of education: High school (attending UW-Oshkosh in the fall of 2026 for business)

Political/elected office experience: None

What would be your top three priorities if elected?

My top three priorities if elected would be to engage constituents and bring greater transparency to every aspect of county government, especially the areas that are not very engaging but still matter. To the best of my ability, I will advocate for a lower property tax rate while taking full advantage of the investments we already have. And finally, I want to create more collaborative solutions, such as the Revolving Housing Loan Fund, that minimizes taxpayer burden and maximizes effectiveness.

Whats on the April 7 general election ballot in Winnebago County?

The April 7 general election includes races for Oshkosh Common Council, Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education, Winnebago County Board of Supervisors, Menasha Board of Education, Menasha Common Council, Neenah Board of Education, Neenah Common Council, Neenah mayor, Neenah-Menasha municipal judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Wisconsin Supreme Court justice.

When is the general election?

The general election is April 7. Polls that day will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How can you register to vote in the April 7 election?

Wisconsin voters can register online or by mail up to 20 days before the election. Those who miss that deadline may still register in person at their municipal clerks office or at their polling location on Election Day.

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Voters can register in the following ways:

Online: Visit myvote.wi.gov to register online if you have a valid Wisconsin drivers license or state ID.

By mail: Download and complete the registration form from myvote.wi.gov, then mail it to your municipal clerk.

In person: Register at your municipal clerks office or at the polling place on Election Day.

Who can vote?

To vote, one must be a United States citizen; at least 18 years old on Election Day; a Winnebago County resident for at least 28 days before the election; and registered to vote.

How to vote

Here are details about how to vote in the April 7 election:

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Absentee voting: Request an absentee ballot online, by mail or in person. Absentee ballots can be returned by mail or delivered to your municipal clerks office.

Early voting: Check local schedules for hours and availability prior to elections.

Poll hours on Election Day: Polling places are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 7.

Photo ID required: A photo ID is required to receive a ballot in all elections. Acceptable IDs include a Wisconsin drivers license, a Wisconsin state ID card, a U.S. passport, a military ID, a student ID or other state-approved identification cards. More info is at https://bringit.wi.gov.

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Check registration and polling place: People can check their registration status and polling location ahead of time at myvote.wi.gov or https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/CityClerk/Elections/.

Register to vote on Election Day: Registration can be done at polling places on Election Day. To register to vote at your polling location, take proof that you have lived at your present location for 28 days preceding the election. A form of identification constitutes acceptable proof of residence if it includes your current name and current address. You must be registered at your current address to vote.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Winnebago County Board District 23 race pits Pluchinsky vs. Crandall
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Africas flagship clean energy fund plans to more than double its financing to $2.5 billion over the next two years, as momentum builds behind the continents energy transition.

Contributions to the African Development Banks Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) rose last year, signaling renewed investor confidence in African renewables. Since its launch, the fund has mobilized about $1 billion in commercial capital alongside its own commitments.

Based on our projects pipeline, we projected capital mobilization to climb to $2.5 billion, said Joao Duarte Cunha, manager of the banks Renewable Energy Funds Division and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa.

By 2030, we expect our portfolio to yield over $10 billion in commercial capital mobilized, he said.

The contributions to SEFA rose to $88 million in 2025, mostly from European Union member countries. That was up from $54.3 million the year before, the regional lender said during its recent governing council meeting.

SEFA is proving its catalytic value on the ground, with accelerated approvals and disbursements and growing impact, said Kevin Kariuki, vice president for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank Group.

The bank approved 13 renewable energy projects last year worth $97 million, compared with 14 projects valued at $108 million a year earlier.

The last two years have been among our strongest, with 27 projects approved  also broadly comparable in funding volumes and significantly higher than earlier years, said Cunha.

Demand for catalytic financing and upstream support continues to grow, and we remain deeply committed to driving the energy transition and achieving universal energy access by 2030, he said.

Germany committed $40.1 million at last year's COP 30 global climate summit in Brazil, to support SEFAs goal of universal energy access and its green hydrogen program. Italy announced a $5.9 million contribution to the fund.

SEFA is designed to attract private investment in clean energy across the continent. Backed by donors led Denmark, it has received cumulative contributions of $577 million. The fund provides low-cost loans and technical assistance to expand energy access and support sustainable development.

In 2024, SEFA approved 14 renewable energy projects in Kenya, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Chad, adding about 840 megawatts of generating capacity and delivering 1.5 million new electricity connections. Of those projects, eight were categorized as green baseload  producing the minimum amount of energy required to meet a country's energy demand. Two were categorized as green mini-grids and four as energy efficiency initiatives.
PRINCETON  The Mercer County Commission may have to pay its full regional jail bill after all.

The commission voted last month to place a moratorium on regional jail bills above $100,000, but has since received a legal opinion indicating that the state could challenge that moratorium, according to County Commission President Bill Archer.

We will discuss it in the upcoming meeting, but weve got advise from our new prosecuting attorney that it would behoove us to go ahead and find the funds in our existing funds and pay for it, Archer said. Because the state could take action against us.

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Mercer Countys January bill for housing inmates in the regional jail system was $241,000  one of the highest regional jail bills the county has received in some time. The moratorium passed by the board in February stated that the county would only pay up to $100,000 per month for housing inmates in the regional jail system.

However, David Pfeifer, who was appointed last month as prosecuting attorney, said the state could challenge that decision.

That was an arbitrary sum that was established, Archer said of the $100,000 cap on regional jail bills. I voted in favor of it until we got the response from our new prosecuting attorney. And his response was pretty succinct. That we would have no standing if the state decided to come down on us to recover those funds.

As a result, Archer said the commission will likely have to pay the full January and February bills.

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We have time to make those payments up, Archer said. But it will be an additional drain on our existing funds.

Archer said some other counties also have used opioid settlement dollars to help pay the regional jail bill. But a final decision on what to do will have to be made by the full commission at its next meeting, which is set for March 10.

Im a firm believer that if you dont take advice from your attorney you are a fool, Arhcer said. It will come back up for discussion. Its something we need to discuss.

The monthly regional jail bill has long been a thorn in the side of the Mercer County Commission. The cost of housing a local inmate in the regional jail system has increased in recent months from $48 per day per inmate to $67 per day per inmate.

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According to the West Virginia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the cost per day per incarcerated inmate is based upon the pro-rated number of days an inmate is incarcerated and any other information the commissioner of the Department of Corrections deems necessary.

Southern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility in Beaver currently holds inmates from Mercer, Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming counties.

There isnt a county jail in Mercer to house inmates, who are instead incarcerated in the regional jail system. The Bluefield Police Department and the Mercer County Sheriffs Department both have temporary holding cells, but those facilities are designed to only hold an inmate for 24 hours until the inmate is transported to the regional jail system.

Greg Puckett, also a member of the county commission, has argued that the West Virginia Legislature needs to take action to address the high regional jail bills that counties such as Mercer are facing.

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This is the system that the counties were sold on two decades ago, Puckett said last month of the regional jail system. We are going to save you money by doing a regional jail. But thats just not true.

Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
US President Donald Trump has assured German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that the United States intends to maintain its troop presence in Germany.

"[Trump] not just today, but once again assured me that the United States intends to maintain its military presence in Germany," Merz said on Tuesday in Washington after a meeting with Trump at the White House. "This is good news, but I didn't expect anything different," the chancellor added.

In light of Trump's critical stance towards Europe, there had been speculation in recent months that he might withdraw US troops from Germany. Whether Trump has promised that the US contingent will remain at its current level, Merz did not say.

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Merz added that in the conversation ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara in July, they discussed how to better organize joint deterrence in the future. The German chancellor did not provide details.

Trump acknowledged "that the German government has also taken a certain leadership role in strengthening the European pillar of NATO," Merz said, adding: "The United States respects Germany. They respect that we are investing massively in our own conventional capability."
Forest Park Police Chief Brandon Criss is on paid leave while the city investigates whether he stole time.

Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes went to Criss home on Tuesday. Someone opened the door, but said he was not home.

So, Fernandes went to City Hall and spoke with Mayor Gwen Ellison about what these allegations will mean for the city.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Ellison grew up in Forest Park and raised her family there, so doing the best for her city is of the utmost importance.

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I care about my city, she said. I wanna see it grow, we havent seen the growth I would like to see.

She said her staff is already making great things happen, so she was disappointed that Criss had to be placed on leave after three years on the job.

Last week, our police chief, Brandon Criss, was placed on administrative leave. Of course, I cant disclose any of the details because it is an open investigation, Ellison said.

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Sources confirmed to Fernandes that the city is accused of stealing city time by taking days off, but still banking the PTO as if he took no time off.

Ellison wants to assure the community that they are still in good hands and the investigation will not affect their safety.

One thing I take pride in, we have a great police force, and...they have not missed a beat. Its been a week now, and nobody can tell that anything has changed, Ellison said.

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A Michigan mother whose 12-year-old daughter died by suicide after being exposed to self-harm content online urged lawmakers Wednesday to pass a package of bills aimed at curbing what supporters call addictive and exploitative social media practices targeting children.

Charay Gadd told members of the Senate Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee that her daughter, London, was drawn into harmful content through algorithm-driven feeds she encountered after opening social media accounts before age 13.

When London searched for something harmless like alligator skin boots, platforms exploited her data and escalated what came next, Gadd testified. Harmful design features took her down a rabbit hole to darker content, self-harm and suicidal material that holds attention longer.

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Gadd spoke in support of the Kids Over Clicks legislative package, as the committee began hearings on the measures.

The bills, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Darrin Camilleri of Trenton, Kevin Hertel of St. Clair Shores and Dayna Polehanki of Livonia, would require social media companies to adopt privacy-by-default and safety-by-design protections for minors. The proposals also would restrict certain personalized feeds for minors without parental consent, limit notifications during overnight and school hours, require annual independent audits of companies practices related to minors and prohibit AI companion chatbots from encouraging self-harm, suicide or other dangerous behavior.

From left to right: Democratic state Sens. Dayna Polehanki of Livonia, Kevin Hertel of St. Clair Shores and Darrin Camilleri of Trenton. | Screenshot

Senate Bill 760, introduced by Polehanki, would allow the attorney general to bring civil actions with fines of up to $25,000 per violation against companies whose chatbots encourage harmful behavior. It also would permit families to pursue civil damages if a child is harmed.

When new technologies enter our lives, especially technologies that interact daily with young people, theres a basic expectation that safety will come first, Polehanki told the committee. Unfortunately, that has not been the case with AI companion chatbots.

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Under another bill in the package, Senate Bill 758, which would impose strict privacy, safety, and data-minimization requirements on online service providers serving minors, violations could carry civil fines of up to $50,000 per violation beginning in 2027, and would be treated as violations of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.

Supporters, including the Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools, the Michigan Education Association, the Michigan PTA, the Michigan Center for Youth Justice, the Michigan League for Public Policy and the advocacy group Unspam, said the legislation would shift responsibility back to technology companies.

Ive had parents say to me, I feel like Im losing my child to their phone,, Jennifer Tuksal, an Oakland County parent and member of the Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools, said. It is a quiet confession from parents who feel like they are competing with something far bigger than themselves. And when a parent says that there is real fear in that sentence.

Dr. Elizabeth Hill, a pediatrician in Ann Arbor (left) and Julie Braciszewski, a Bloomfield Hills psychologist and director of Monarch Behavioral Health (right), testify to the Senate Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee on March 4, 2026. | Screenshot

Pediatricians and mental health professionals testified that childrens developing brains make them particularly vulnerable to addictive platform features.

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Dr. Elizabeth Hill, a pediatrician in Ann Arbor, said social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement for adult users and can be especially harmful to children and teens, whose impulse control and emotional regulation systems are still developing.

We know that kids who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, and theyre more likely to feel worse about their body image, Hill said. Asking families to stay up to date on all the latest technology and how it can affect their kids on top of all the other things that theyre doing to raise their children is unfair to them, and its an unreasonable ask.

Julie Braciszewski, a Bloomfield Hills psychologist and director of Monarch Behavioral Health, compared current parental controls to placing sandbags out for a tsunami and said engagement-based algorithms monetize childrens vulnerable moments.

Also testifying were industry representatives and free-market advocates who warned the bills could violate the First Amendment and expose the state to costly litigation.

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Bartlett Cleland, general counsel for NetChoice, a trade association representing major internet companies, said the proposals amount to content-based restrictions on speech and would likely be struck down in court.

The courts have been very careful to articulate the categories where government can weigh in, Cleland said. If you approach the court with something that constrains free speech and its not the least restrictive method, itll be found unconstitutional.

Cleland and other opponents argued that companies already provide parental control tools and that parents should bear primary responsibility for monitoring their childrens online activity, not the government.

Supporters countered that the bills regulate product design, not speech, and are narrowly tailored to reduce harm.

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Nancy Costello, a clinical professor at Michigan State University College of Law and director of its First Amendment Law Clinic, told lawmakers that engagement-based algorithms are business practices, not protected speech.

The only goal of an engagement-based algorithm is to keep users eyes watching social media for as long as possible so the platforms can earn billions of dollars in ad revenue, Costello said.

Gadd, however, emphasized the human toll behind the legislation.

London was not born for profit, she said. She was my daughter. She was 12.
BERKS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A Blackhawk helicopter made a precautionary landing in Berks County on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Pennsylvania National Guard.

The PA National Guard reported that a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter carrying two Guard Members made a precautionary landing near Morgantown on March 4.

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No injuries were reported, and the Blackhawk sustained no damage, the National Guard reported.

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The incident is under investigation, and further details cannot be released until the investigation

concludes, per the Guard.

The Federal Aviation Administration referred any questions on the incident to the military.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
The first American service members to die in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran were killed in an apparent Iranian drone attack on a makeshift office space in Kuwait, three U.S. military officials with direct knowledge of Iran's attack told CBS News.

At least six Americans were killed in a strike on a tactical operations center at the Shuaiba port in Kuwait, one of several U.S.-allied countries in the Persian Gulf region that have faced intense Iranian missile and drone attacks since the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran early Saturday. U.S. Central Command has publicly confirmed the deaths.

The Pentagon identified four of the six service members on Tuesday. The names of the two others were being withheld until next of kin are notified.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the deadly strike was caused by a powerful Iranian weapon that made it through both air defenses and the operations center's fortifications.

"You have air defenses, and a lot's coming in, and you hit most of it," Hegseth said during a news conference at the Pentagon. "Every once in a while, you might have one, unfortunately, we call it a squirter, that makes its way through. And in that particular case, it happened to hit a tactical operations center that was fortified, but these are powerful weapons."

But the three U.S. military officials questioned the assertion that the building was adequately fortified. They told CBS News the operations center was a triple-wide trailer made into an office space  a common setup at U.S. bases abroad.

The trailer's only fortifications were T-walls, which are steel-reinforced concrete barriers that can range in height from 6 to 12 feet tall, used to protect military personnel from explosions, rocket attacks and shrapnel, the military officials said.

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But T-walls could not protect the facility from an overhead strike. Two officials told CBS News that the strike appeared to hit dead-center on top of the building.

T-walls outside the Multinational Division Center headquarters at Camp Liberty, Iraq. / Credit: U.S. Army photo

Three officials also told CBS News, speaking under condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media outlets, that prior to the attack, there were discussions on the ground about whether the tactical operations center in question should not have been used, as it concentrated too many U.S. troops in a location that wasn't defendable.

Preliminary battle damage assessments suggest the operations center in Kuwait was attacked by a one-way drone, according to three U.S. military officials with direct knowledge of Iran's attack. It's not clear what type was involved, but Iran typically uses Shahed-136 "kamikaze" drones.

Fire engulfed the buildings, which made recovery of the bodies difficult in the immediate aftermath of the strike, the officials told CBS News.

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Two of the three sources told CBS News they did not recall hearing the warning sirens that are commonly associated with counter-battery systems designed to detect incoming enemy ordnance that ultimately killed the service members. They also said that the warning siren had worked all week prior to the strike on the tactical operations center, but in prior incidents, some of the drones were already inside the base before the siren would sound.

Additionally, two sources said there was no American counter-rocket, artillery and mortar system at Shuaiba port that could be used to bring down incoming drones or other deadly munitions. Kuwait had interceptors in the vicinity, but it's unclear if those were employed.

Requests were made for more capabilities to defeat incoming drones, but those additional resources never came, the two sources said. One source told CBS News: "We basically had no drone defeat capability."

"I'm sorry for their families' losses," one of the sources told CBS News. "They were nice people doing what their nation asked of them."

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CNN first reported on the six service members killed at Shuaiba port and that they seemingly had no prior warning. CBS News is first to report on the type of ordnance that impacted the operations center, and that some American troops feel the center's defenses were inadequate and perhaps that the operations center established should not have been used at all.

Asked for comment, the Pentagon referred CBS News to U.S. Central Command's prior statements on the deceased service members.

After this story was published, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell disputed CBS News' reporting, writing in a post on X: "A Tactical Operations Center is not a 'makeshift office space,.' The secure facility was fortified with 6-foot walls." He also said, "Every possible measure has been taken to safeguard our troops  at every level."

In addition to the six who were killed in Kuwait, at least 18 service members had been seriously wounded as of Monday morning in the combat operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, a U.S. Central Command spokesperson told CBS News.

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Hegseth called the service members who were killed "the absolute best of America."

"May we prosecute the remainder of this operation in a manner that honors them," he said.

Watch: Kristi Noem's opening statement at Senate Judiciary Committee on DHS

Key details on Iran war on Day 4 of conflict

Trump denies Israel forced U.S. strikes on Iran
The City of Milwaukee has never been a "sanctuary city," but now members of the city's Common Council are pushing legislation that would provide Milwaukee's public stance on how to respond to federal immigration enforcement.

On March 3, the Common Council approved a resolution declaring the body's opposition to how federal immigration enforcement activities are happening across the country, mentioning the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during the largest federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis earlier this year.

The resolution calls on the federal government to "de-escalate the tactics being used during federal immigration enforcement actions," "commit to respecting and upholding constitutional rights," and requests that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency avoid conducting civil immigration enforcement activities in Milwaukee, given the agency's "unusual and reckless approach" in other cities.

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The resolution also notes that the City of Milwaukee stands against the practice of mass deportation, calls for the U.S. to "welcome immigrants and provide a clear and straightforward path to citizenship" and supports abolishing ICE.

The Trump administration says its immigration enforcement actions fulfill a promise the president made on the campaign trail to seal the nation's borders and root out people living in the country without documentation.

More: Milwaukee County approves ordinance aimed at ICE actions in parks

Any legislation passing through council requires sign-off from Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

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Jeff Fleming, Johnson's spokesman, said that the mayor's office is sensitive to the implications of declaring Milwaukee a sanctuary city  a move which would limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities to reduce the deportation of undocumented residents  and the legislative package passed by the Common Council.

"We want to make sure we are protecting the taxpayers of Milwaukee and at the same time protecting immigrants," Fleming said.

He noted that Johnson will carefully look at the language of the legislative package with City Attorney Evan Goyke.

The legislation introduced by Alderman Alex Brower was pulled out for discussion at council on March 3  a rarely used move by members that bypasses committee discussion and approval.

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Members who have sought to take a stance on ICE and immigration enforcement activities across the country welcomed the discussion.

More: ICE surge in western Wisconsin echoes trauma, intimidation of Twin Cities

Brower said he had received guidance from the City Attorney's Office that such declarative legislation could result in Milwaukee being placed on a list of sanctuary cities maintained by the White House.

"I want to end up on that list," Brower told council members, later adding: "This resolution does not affirmatively say that we are a sanctuary city or have any ordinance implications other than we want ICE abolished."

District 3 Alderman Alex Brower, center, speaks as Milwaukee Common Council members announce a package of legislation aimed at limiting federal immigration operations in the city. The announcement took place at the Common Council chamber at City Hall on February 11, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have never issued ordinances or resolutions or sought designation that would officially make either jurisdiction a sanctuary city for immigrants.

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Alderman Robert Bauman said the city attorney's guidance was raising a "hypothetical possibility" of Milwaukee declaring itself a sanctuary city.

"Somebody in the White House might get angry about that  might, maybe, could, would," Bauman said. "Fine, take the risk. Full speed ahead. We have to respond to the very legitimate demands of thousands of constituents who are looking for action and leadership by the council."

In May 2025, Milwaukee and several other Wisconsin municipalities landed on the White House's list of sanctuary jurisdictions for allegedly defying the enforcement of federal immigration law. A month later, the Trump administration removed the list, which was later reposted without Milwaukee on it.

In recent months, the Common Council has been making efforts to address how to handle potential federal immigration operations in Milwaukee. In February, council members floated the idea of legislation that would ban masks on law enforcement officers at their "ICE Out" news conference.

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A day before the council met to discuss the new legislation, the Milwaukee Police Department modified its policies to explicitly prohibit officers from concealing their identity with face masks.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee isn't a sanctuary city, but Common Council takes a stance
Doha, Qatar  16 people have been injured in Qatar after missile shrapnel landed in multiple locations across the country, authorities said, following a barrage of Iranian missiles that Qatar said were intercepted by its air defences.

Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al-Muftah, the head of public relations at Qatars Ministry of Interior, said in a televised address on Saturday that 66 missiles were fired at Qatar and that authorities received 114 reports of shrapnel falling nationwide. He said one of the injured people was in serious condition.

The Interior Ministry issued an emergency alert urging the public to stay away from military sites and remain indoors, warning people not to approach or handle any unidentified debris and to report any to authorities.

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Qatars Ministry of Defence said it had successfully intercepted a second wave of attacks targeting several areas. It said all missiles were intercepted before reaching the countrys territory, and urged residents to remain calm and follow official instructions.

Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it said was the targeting of Qatari territory with Iranian ballistic missiles, calling it reckless and irresponsible, as well as a flagrant violation of sovereignty and an escalation threatening regional stability.

Ibrahim Sultan Al-Hashemi, the head of public relations at the Foreign Ministry, said the attack was inconsistent with the principles of good neighbourliness, and that Qatar reserved the right to respond in accordance with international law.

The ministry also called for an immediate halt to escalation and a return to negotiations.

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The missile barrage came as Iran launched strikes across the Gulf after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, an escalation that prompted air-defence interceptions over several countries. The news agency Reuters reported that Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain said they intercepted Iranian missiles, while Jordan also intercepted missiles.

This is not the first Iranian attack on Qatar. In June 2025, during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, Iran launched missiles at the Al Udeid airbase, a key facility hosting US forces near Doha.

Saturdays barrage came after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, raising fears of a wider conflict and increasing pressure on Gulf states that host US forces and critical energy infrastructure.

The developments heightened anxiety across the Gulf, where Ramadan routines were disrupted by air raid alerts, interceptions and warnings about unexploded fragments, as leaders urged restraint amid fears of a widening confrontation.




WRIGHT COUNTY, Mo.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) has released information about a coordinated effort in locating a missing Wright County juvenile in Georgia.

According to online court dockets, Deanna Bone, born in 1979, of Ringgold, Georgia, has been charged with interference with custody  removed from the state in Wright County Circuit Court.

MSHP says they coordinated with the Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC), the Wright County Sheriffs Office, the West Plains Police Department, and the Ringgold Police Department in Georgia in safely returning a 14-year-old Mansfield, Missouri, juvenile.

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The probable cause statement states that the teen first went missing on Sept. 22, 2025, with the Wright County Sheriffs Office asking DDCC for assistance on October 16, 2025.

A corporal with MSHP explains in the statement receiving data from the juveniles Snapchat and they attempted to reach out to another account that had been in contact with the juvenile.

Law enforcement reached out to a Georgia school district in Catossa County in seeking information on the frequent contact of the juvenile, who had a school email in their system. The district confirmed the email belonged to the teen.

Officials attempted to contact the parents of the juvenile, with one being Bone, whose phone number allegedly went straight to voicemail, the statement says.

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The press release says the person frequently seen with the missing juvenile was a male juvenile from Georgia, who had gone with Bone to pick up the 14-year-old in Wright County and had traveled back to Georgia.

According to the statement, the 14-year-old juvenile told officials during an interview in Springfield, Missouri, that Bone used a Honda Pilot with the male juvenile to transport them to Ringgold, Georgia.

The male juvenile allegedly smashed the 14-year-olds phone on arrival, with them saying it was so nobody could track her location.

The release says the teen was safely returned to her family on Nov. 18, 2025.

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MSHP reports that on Monday, Feb. 16, the Wright County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Bone for the incident, with a bond set at $5,000.

The Ringgold Police Department in Georgia later arrested Bone on Tuesday, March 3.

Bone awaits a pending court date in Wright County, MSHP says.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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When Mark Ludwig lost shared custody of his son more than a decade ago, his life fell apart.

The devastation of losing my son who was my sole purpose in life, I couldnt function, Ludwig, who lives in the St. Louis area, told the Missouri House Children and Families Committee in late January. I lost everything from the point where I went from being a pretty decent middle class dad to where I was eating food out of dumpsters at the Aldi I didnt know where to turn.

Now Ludwig advocates for fathers to be treated equally in the court system. He also drives for Uber in St. Louis where he chats up other dads, many of whom he said share stories of being raised without a father present.

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Youve got some dads whove become disengaged because they feel undervalued, Ludwig said. They feel like theyre unappreciated, they feel pushed out. Like their role isnt important, so why even try.

Ludwig hopes legislation filed by state Rep. Jamie Gragg, an Ozark Republican, can help both uplift and prepare more dads who find themselves unsure how to navigate fatherhood.

As he stood before his House colleagues Monday, Gragg listed off example after example of statistics faced by children raised without a father: higher levels of depression, homelessness, substance use, teen pregnancy, incarceration, suicide.

It is heartbreaking, it is devastating, Gragg said. Its an epidemic.

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Graggs bill would create the Missouri Fathership Project within Missouris Department of Social Services. It would help fund positions at statewide nonprofits and community organizations to support dads who want to reestablish and strengthen relationships with their children. These professionals would help fathers navigate the court system, job applications or the foster system, for example, so they can be more present fathers.

This will enable community organizations, nonprofits around the state to bind together and reach out and help those fathers who want to be fathers, but just have too many road blocks in the way, Gragg said.

The House passed the bill on a 141 to 4 vote Monday night. It now heads to the state Senate.

Tim McConville, the director of strategic engagement with Man Up and Go, a Christian-based nonprofit that aims to end fatherlessness around the world, is already acting in a pseudo-role.

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McConville, who is based out of Missouri and testified in support of the bill in January, said he often gets requests from childrens division asking if he can help out fathers navigating relationships with their children in the foster care system. This might mean helping them keep track of court dates, find secure housing or work through common parenting dilemmas.

He also helps fathers connect with resources after theyre reunited with their kids, as is the case with one of his current clients.

Hes a single dad taking care of his two kids, McConville said. Thats when it gets hard, lets be honest.

While the nonprofits fatherhood initiative in Florida  where similar legislation was first passed in 2022  has 26 people on staff, McConville said in Missouri, hes the only one doing the work locally. This legislation would allow the organization to expand how many fathers it can help by hiring more staff.

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A specialist hired through this program might be assigned to help a father who is struggling to comply with a court-ordered case plan, for example.

The legislation makes economic sense, and it can prevent children who have access to a safe home from being traumatized by family separation, said state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson. And it helps the whole family.

To be pro-father isnt to be anti-mother, Proudie said Monday on the House floor. Its very rare that we give some kind of dedicated attention to males or men who are out here trying to be a part, a healthy part, not just present  

An amendment introduced by state Rep. David Dolan, a Republican of Sikeston, was added to the bill before it passed out of the House. This amendment would allow any fathers participating in the project who are also complying with court orders and who make regular child support payments to apply for license they may have previously lost, particularly if they were recently incarcerated. This includes limited drivers licenses, hunting and fishing licenses and professional and occupational licenses.

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Dolan, a former circuit judge, said fathers often came before his court for nonpayment of child support.

They would look at me and say, Im doing the best I can, but how do you expect me to pay this support if I cant get a job or if I cant get to a job, Dolan said.

State Rep. Bryant Wolfin of Ste. Genevieve was among the four Republicans to vote against the bill Monday afternoon.

Im not entirely sure that Im comfortable with government trying to mold society into being better people, Wolfin told Gragg during House debate. Ultimately at the end of the day thats what this bill is trying to do.
A vice from the company "Leinen" at a stand at the International Craft Fair in Munich. Germany's skilled trades sector faces a shortage of an estimated 200,000 workers, according to the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH). Leonie Asendorpf/dpa

Germany's skilled trades sector faces a shortage of an estimated 200,000 workers, according to the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH).

At the end of December, 119,565 vacancies were registered with the Federal Employment Agency, ZDH said. Many businesses do not report openings, leading the ZDH to estimate the actual shortfall at 200,000, slightly below last year's level.

The labour gap is taking a toll on the sector. The ZDH expects only modest revenue growth of 1% in 2026, but unlike larger industrial firms, most craft businesses are not cutting jobs on a large scale.

Employment could fall by 60,000 this year, largely due to retirements and voluntary business closures as owners leave the industry or lack successors.

The weak economy has slightly eased the shortage of apprentices. In 2025, 16,213 craft apprenticeships went unfilled, nearly 2,900 fewer than the previous year, but roughly one in nine positions remained vacant. These figures include only positions reported to the Federal Employment Agency.

Small firms, particularly those with up to four employees, are under pressure. Many owners give up operations because they cannot find successors or face rising burdens from bureaucracy, taxes, social contributions and energy costs.

ZDH President Jorg Dittrich acknowledged that the government has provided important impetus but urged faster and deeper reforms, especially in bureaucracy, taxation, energy pricing and social levies.

He stressed that the government will now be judged on whether it has the courage to carry out structural reforms decisively.
A bill that would ban three-cueing and establish new reading assessments was discussed in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

After legislation prohibiting three-cueing as a primary instructional method passed last year, legislators are now aiming for an outright ban.

Three-cueing, also known as the Meaning Structure Visual system, teaches kids to read by using context. Kids are encouraged to figure out unfamiliar words by looking for meaning, whether that be in the sentence, the grammar or any pictures. Legislators aim to return to phonics, which focuses on sounds and the connection between written language and spoken language.

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The legislation debated Wednesday aims to ban three-cueing. The bill would also establish the Missouri Universal Reading Screener, a new reading assessment for first through third grade. Students identified as reading deficient by the assessment will be retained, meaning they will not be promoted to fourth grade until their reading scores improve or they receive an exemption.

Sponsor of the bill, Sen. Brad Hudson, a Republican from Cape Fair, said Missouri students have fallen behind, citing the National Assessment of Education Progress, or NAEP, reading scores.

In 2003, Missouri was ranked 14th out of 50 states in NAEP fourth-grade reading scores, Hudson said. By 2024, however, Missouri was ranked 38th.

Hudson said 42% of Missouris fourth graders were reading below NAEPs basic level in 2024.

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Since 2021, at least eight states have banned three-cueing from the classroom, with many others passing restrictions on the method.

Reading unlocks doors to the entire world, and it is time we give our students the key, Hudson said.

Cory Koedel, director of education policy at the Show Me Institute, said the retention of reading-deficient students is the component driving his support of the bill.

It seems like our human nature to want to be kind and help them along, but that doesnt help them, Koedel said. It is not a kindness to promote someone in early grades who cant read.

Dava-Leigh Brush, a representative of the Missouri Equity Education Partnership, testified in opposition to the bill. Brush said she doesnt like the three-cueing system, but opposes an outright ban.

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Brush recalled teaching English to children from Nepal and using strategies from the three-cueing system after finding phonics wasnt working.

While it may not work for a lot of kids, it may work for one kid, Brush said. (Three-cueing) should not be the primary way to do it, but it should be a tool in a box.

This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ali Khamenei, will become Irans next supreme leader, with security ties and long-standing influence shaping his potential rise.

Irans Assembly of Experts has selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, as the Islamic Republics next supreme leader, according to reports in Iranian opposition media.

According to reports, Mojtabas wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, and a son were among those killed in the airstrike that killed his father.

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Mojtaba survived the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in which his father was killed, two Iranian sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

Mojtaba's selection marks the Islamic Republic witnessing a father-to-son transfer of power at the regimes apex.

So who is Mojtaba Khamenei, and why has his name hovered over succession politics for years?

Mojtaba Khamenei (C), the son of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, participates in the annual Quds Day rally in Tehran, Iran, on May 31, 2019. (credit: Rouzbeh Fouladi / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, born in 1969 in the eastern religious city of Mashhad, is widely described by Iran-watchers as a hardline cleric who has accumulated influence without a formal portfolio, owing to the patronage of his father.

He has rarely appeared in public, but he has long been linked to the inner machinery of the state through the Office of the Supreme Leader, the central system through which the Islamic Republics main security, judicial, financial, and appointment levers all run.

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Profiles over the years have repeatedly described him as a gatekeeper with access to the regimes most sensitive decision-making processes.

Mojtabas power is also tied to the security establishment. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Mojtaba reportedly served with the Habib ibn Mazahir Battalion, a volunteer-linked battalion connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Security establishment support aids Mojtaba Khameneis path

His security connections could also help his accession to power during such a troubled time for Iran. The country is now in a crisis environment following the killing of Ali Khamenei, and several media outlets have framed the succession as being driven by the systems need for speed, cohesion, and control, especially among the IRGC.

The Assembly of Experts, which was also struck by Israel in airstrikes on Tuesday, was allegedly meeting to finalize the appointment of the new supreme leader, just days after Khameneis death.

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Mojtabas name became politically dangerous during the unrest that followed Irans disputed 2009 presidential election. For years, reformist figures and opposition activists have alleged that he played a behind-the-scenes role in coordinating repression and shaping decisions within the regime. Those claims, though difficult to independently verify, remain part of the public mythology surrounding Mojtaba and are one reason his potential elevation has long been controversial.

There is also the question of clerical credentials. Irans constitution envisions a supreme leader with a deep understanding and high profile in Islamic jurisprudence, although Ali Khameneis accession to power was helped when the Assembly of Experts removed a clause requiring the supreme leader to be a marja  a title given to the highest level of Twelver Shia religious cleric  smoothing his position retroactively.

Mojtaba studied in the seminaries of Qom, but multiple profiles have described him as a mid-ranking cleric rather than a senior marja-level authority, something which has fueled criticism of his candidacy in the past. However, if the Assembly of Experts were willing to bend the rules once to allow his father to ascend to power, the same could happen to Mojtaba.

It would be ironic if the Islamic Republic, a regime that rose to power in an anti-monarchical revolution, now builds its own hereditary succession line, this time of ayatollahs instead of shahs.
Good Trouble Monroe is hosting a Protect Our Kids Protest on Saturday, March 7 after references to Monroe County were found in the Epstein files.

"Families in Monroe deserve answers, not rumors, not speculation, but facts," said Good Trouble Monroe organizer Katybeth Davis. "The Epstein files include references to individuals and institutions across the country, including right here in Monroe County. While inclusion in these documents does not imply wrongdoing, our community has a right to transparency. An independent investigation is the only way to provide clarity and rebuild public trust."

Good Trouble Monroe is welcoming parents, children, and residents to join the protest.

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The protest will be at the Custer statue in Downtown Monroe from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

More: Were ties to a Monroe area school included in the Epstein files?

The protests come after the phone number for Meadow Montessori School was found in an email addressed to Jeffrey Epstein. The school was not named in the files.

In an email dated July 22, 2011, a redacted contact emailed Epstein, "Your very old friend, Cathy Calder, called to say hi! She was reading =he latest Vanity Fair and said your hair cut looks greatand that the =ord that popped out to her is "billionaire"she said to relay this =11 to you with a big smile."

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The Monroe News copied the email text as it appeared in the file.

Catherine Calder is listed as the founder and head of Meadow Montessori School in Monroe. The school could not be reached for comment Wednesday, March 4.

More: Monroe turns out for Good Trouble protest

Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida state court in 2008 to one count each of soliciting minors for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute and served 13-months in county jail where he was regularly allowed to leave as part of a work release program.

Epstein was again arrested again in 2019 on sex-trafficking charges. He pleaded not guilty but died in his cell while awaiting trial.

 Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Good Trouble Monroe hosting Protect Our Kids Protest on March 7
A US military submarine has launched a strike on an Iranian warship off Sri Lankas coast, killing more than 80 people and leaving dozens more injured.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that America had torpedoed the vessel in international waters during a press conference on the war against Iran on Wednesday.

The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, he said, as he showed footage of Tuesday nights attack in the Indian Ocean on what he called the Islamic Republic's prize ship.

Iranian frigate Iris Dena after being struck by a torpedo in a US attack off Sri Lanka (US Department of War)

Hegseth claimed it marked the first time an enemy vessel had been sunk by a torpedo since the Second World War.

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Sri Lanka's navy said on Wednesday it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people, after initial reports suggested more than 100 people were missing following the strike.

Sri Lanka's foreign minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that its navy had earlier received information that the Iranian frigate Iris Dena, with 180 people on board, was in distress and sinking. The island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission.

Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said by the time navy ships reached the location, there was no sign of the ship and there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water.

The Iranian frigate Iris Dena has been sunk off Sir Lankas coast (file photo) (Iranian Army office)

He said the 32 people rescued were admitted to a hospital in the seaside town of Galle on Sri Lanka's southern coast, while the bodies recovered were being brought to land.

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Security personnel were seen standing guard in front of the National Hospital Galle, while ambulances drove into Sri Lanka's southern naval headquarters in the city.

Dr Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said one of those rescued is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are being treated for minor injuries.

The Iris Dena  one of Iran's newest warships  is a Moudge-class frigate that patrols in deep water for the Iranian navy. It is armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, and also carries one helicopter.

The frigate was the centrepiece of a two-ship international tour in 2023 that included port calls in countries including South Africa and Brazil, and was accompanied by the support ship Iris Makran, a converted oil tanker.

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The US Treasury Department included both ships on a sanctions designation in February 2023 along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied the weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.

At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said US Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the American military's Central Command.

We are also sinking the Iranian navy  the entire navy, he said in a video message. Thus far we've destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side.

An ambulance enters Sri Lanka's southern naval headquarters in Galle on Wednesday (AFP/Getty)

For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping, he added. Today there's not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman, and we will not stop.

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The sinking of the Iris Dena comes on the fifth day of the US and Israels war with Iran, as countries across the Middle East continue to get dragged into the conflict.

During the Pentagon news briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth warned attacks on Iran will continue for as long as necessary and US will punch Iran while it is down.

Our air defences and that of our allies have plenty of runway, he told reporters. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to...

This was never meant to be a fair fight, and its not a fair fight. We are punching them while theyre down, and thats exactly how it should be.

A damaged building in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel (Social media)

Speaking of the six members of the US military who have been killed in the conflict, he vowed to avenge their deaths.

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And asked about the attack on a girls primary school in southern Iran, which killed more than 160 people including scores of pupils, he said the US is investigating the incident.

Explosions sounded in Tehran on Wednesday, with more than 1,000 people reportedly killed in Iran so far, while Israel's military said its air defences had been activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and explosions were heard around Jerusalem.

Blasts were also reported in Lebanon, where Israel said it is retaliating against Hezbollah militants. Thick columns of smoke rose above Beirut as renewed Israeli strikes reduced large buildings in the Haret Hreik to piles of rubble.

In the latest escalation in the expanding conflict, Nato air defences shot down an Iranian ballistic missile heading towards Turkish airspace, Ankara said.

The missile was shot down over the eastern Mediterranean Sea. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, which prompted the first action from Nato forces so far.
Pennsylvania students once again observed modest improvements to their standardized test scores despite falling short of pre-pandemic successes, commonwealth officials report.

Centre Countys schools sustained most recent successes in testing achievement and growth during the 2024-25 testing cycle, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Future Ready PA Index, which collects and tracks school progress measures. Across Pennsylvania, overall student proficiency rates on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) math exams increased from 40.2% during the 2023-24 testing cycle to 41.7% during the 2024-25 testing cycle. The proficiency rate on English PSSA exams fell from 53.9% to 49.9% over that same stretch.

Notably, assessment scores for science exams were waived for the 2024-25 testing cycle as Pennsylvania education officials adopt new curriculum standards. Only testing participation rates were reported this time around.

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District officials across Centre County have reviewed overall school performance and shared reports with their respective school boards and faculty members since test scores and growth results became available last summer and fall. Testing for the next round of PSSA exams will begin in late April, while the Keystone exams  end-of-course exams in algebra, literature and biology  are offered in the winter, spring and summer.

The Centre Daily Times has compiled data from the countys public school standardized tests to see how local districts performed after scores rose last year following years of data gaps and pandemic-era lows. Below is a look at how schools in State College, Bellefonte and beyond tested during the 2024-25 cycle.

Which Centre County schools are meeting standardized testing benchmarks?

As a whole, Centre County schools remained largely consistent in meeting proficiency benchmarks for math and English tests set as part of Pennsylvanias long-term goal to improve scores by 2033.

All but three of Centre Countys 30 public schools surpassed Pennsylvanias average rate of proficiency on English and math exams during the 2024-25 testing cycle. Two schools  State College Area High School and Ferguson Township Elementary School  surpassed the English proficiency rate set as the 2033 benchmark (81.1%). Eight schools, meanwhile, posted a better proficiency rate than the 2033 goal for math testing (71.8%).

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The Future PA Ready Index uses Act 13 Building Level Scores to evaluate individual school performance by measuring attendance, testing proficiency and growth while adjusting outcomes based on the number of economically disadvantaged students. These scores help evaluate educator effectiveness between buildings.

State High once again claimed the top spot among Centre County schools. No school saw a larger improvement over the 2023-24 testing cycle than Philipsburg-Osceola Middle School (up 12.3 points), while nine others saw their scores increase. Penns Valley Junior-Senior High School dropped 10.9 points from last years cycle, marking the largest decrease in the county.

Pennsylvania State Assessment scores

PSSA exams are administered to students in grades 3-8 in English and math with additional science exams administered for the fifth and eighth grades. Keystone exams, another major state assessment, evaluate proficiency in algebra, literature and biology and middle and high school students.

Although many fell short of Pennsylvanias 2033 goal for proficiency, nearly all Centre County schools tested better than state averages in English and math during the 2024-25 testing cycle. Once again, every State College and Penns Valley school tested above state averages in both subjects, while at least two schools in each of the Bellefonte, Bald Eagle and Philipsburg-Osceola districts fell below the state average proficiency rate in English or math.

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Notably, testing data from the 2024-25 cycle does not separate State Colleges middle and high school data from the Delta Program, which split into its own middle and high school starting with the 2025-26 academic year. The move will provide unique testing data for Delta students without blending it with the rest of the district starting with next years assessment cycle.

Heres a look at how each districts schools performed on Pennsylvanias standardized tests during the 2024-25 cycle, plus how they compare to state averages and long-term goals.

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PVAAS growth scores

The Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System, or PVAAS, examines year-to-year proficiency scores to measure growth in key subject areas. These scores compare actual growth of student groups against a predicted standard.

Twenty-six Centre County schools surpassed Pennsylvanias target growth score (70) in at least one of English or math during the latest testing cycle, recent data shows. The latest batch of data reports 22 schools surpassed the growth benchmark in English, down from 24 such schools in the 2023-24 testing cycle. Once again, 20 schools met or exceeded the growth target in math testing.

Miles Township Elementary, which closed shortly before the start of the 2025-26 school year, reported an insufficient sample for its English and math PVAAS scores during the 2024-25 testing cycle.

Heres a look at how testing scores progressed following the 2024-25 testing cycle in English and math.

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While presenting state testing data to Penns Valleys school board in February, John Zesiger, the assistant superintendent, said the district will continue working to meet growth targets for each building. He credited the districts many employees for their efforts helping students improve proficiency and growth scores during the 2024-25 testing cycle.

It doesnt mean we dont have areas to fix and areas [in which] we need to improve, but it really is something to be celebrated, all this work and effort, Zesiger said. Its really a feather in the cap for all of our staff, our support staff, our teachers and our administrators, all the hard work they do day in and day out that puts numbers like that on the board for this district.
More than a month after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home, there still haven't been any arrests in the case. Now, a retired FBI agent has explained why she believes that there could be a major break in the search for Savannah Guthrie's mom.

The disappearance has gripped the public and created endless speculation. However, it is the expert voices like this one that can offer a realistic perspective of how the investigation can move forward.

Why a Breakthrough Could Come Soon in the Nancy Guthrie Case

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the set of Today. Photo by NBC on Getty Images (Photo by NBC on Getty Images)

An expert who has been closely following the Nancy Guthrie case believes that the more than $1.2 million in reward money could lead to a breakthrough. Jennifer Coffindaffer is a retired FBI Special Agent and former SWAT Team member who hosts Break The Case with Jen Coffindaffer FBI on YouTube and contributes to NewsNation. In a March 4 X post, she stated the case will be solved when someone close to the suspect steps forward.

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On February 10, the FBI released the doorbell camera footage of the suspect in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping. Coffindaffer believes that video, when combined with the reward money, will ultimately be the deciding factor in the case being solved.

The former FBI agent wrote that the footage contains several elements that could allow someone who knows the suspect, who she calls "Porch Guy," to identify them. She listed the person's brows, mustache, mouth, eye configuration, height, weight, ring, clothing, and backpack as the revealing factors. Coffindaffer believes that the huge reward money is the motivation that a person who recognizes the suspect will need to step forward and provide the information that will solve the case.

"Nancy Guthrie How will this case be solved? A family member/friend/co-worker who knows Porch Guy needs to come forward. Brows Mustache Mouth Eye configuration Height/Weight Ring Clothing/Backpack They are all giveaways as to his identification. $1.2 million is on the table for their betrayal. Neither morality nor money seem to be motivating those involved. Day 32. No arrests. No Nancy. #NancyGuthrie #NancyGuthrieCase"

Nancy Guthrie



How will this case be solved?



A family member/friend/co-worker who knows Porch Guy needs to come forward.



Brows

Mustache

Mouth

Eye configuration

Height/Weight

Ring

Clothing/Backpack



They are are giveaways as to his identification.



$1.2 million is on the pic.twitter.com/3gB72Rn56B  Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) March 4, 2026

While Coffindaffer didn't predict that the Guthrie case would be solved soon, the scenario she laid out makes it inherently clear that a tip could come swiftly or take more time.

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The total reward money currently available in the Nancy Guthrie case comes from three sources. On February 24, Savannah Guthrie posted on Instagram to announce that she and her siblings were offering $1 million for information that leads to the recovery of their mother. A People article detailed the rest of the money, which stems from the FBI also offering $100,000, and a local Arizona group called 88-CRIME, which contributed $105,000.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues into its second month, one lead that hasn't panned out for investigators is the glove recovered about 2 miles from Guthrie's home.

The DNA on that glove traced back to a person who works at a nearby restaurant and "has nothing to do with the case," according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.

FBI - PHOTO: This image provided by the FBI Feb. 5, 2026, shows a missing person Nancy Guthrie.

Nancy Guthrie abduction: The full timeline

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona, home by an unknown suspect in the early hours of Sunday, Feb. 1.

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On Tuesday, the FBI met with Nancy Guthrie's children in Tucson to brief them on the status of the case, sources told ABC News.

One of the sources described it as a routine "touch base," saying investigators "have nothing to tell them."

Joe Raedle/Getty Images - PHOTO: Officials visit Nancy Guthrie's residence, February 25, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona.

As the case has subsided from the news, the number of tips has tapered off, though investigators are actively running down possible leads.

Savannah Guthrie has offered a $1 million reward, bringing the combined reward between the family and law enforcement to $1.2 million.

Courtesy NBC/Today via Reuters - PHOTO: Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, poses with Savannah in an undated photograph.

Savannah Guthrie announces $1M reward for recovery of mom Nancy Guthrie

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"We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country," Savannah Guthrie wrote on Instagram this week. "please don't stop praying and hoping with us.bring her home."

Anyone with information is urged to call 911, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.
Outside the Metro Nashville Council chambers in the Metro Nashville Courthouse, at-large council member Delishia Porterfield cheered.

She and 19 of her peers had just narrowly voted to pass a resolution that officially positions the council as objecting to the Elon Musk-owned Boring Companys Music City Loop project, which aims to connect the Tennessee Capitol to Nashville International Airport by an underground tunnel that, once complete, will allow riders to take a trip in a company-operated Tesla vehicle for a fee.

The vote was largely symbolic. Council resolutions are nonbinding, meaning they technically dont spur any action. And council oversight of the project is practically nonexistent, as it takes place entirely under about 10 miles of state-owned roads. Most of the projects permitting and other required approvals have taken place at the state or federal level.

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But potential consequences loom at the Capitol, as state lawmakers have already begun positioning to stand up a new authority that, if signed into law, would claim sweeping oversight of underground infrastructure projects like this one statewide.

Colleagues, public land needs to be for public good, and public infrastructure decisions must prioritize the welfare, safety and expressed needs of Nashville residents, Porterfield said ahead of the vote.

Heres how the final vote count shook out.

For (20 members): Suara, Porterfield, Evans-Segall, Toombs, Cortese, Parker, Capp, Benedict, Harrell, Bradford, Welsch, Cash, Horton, Taylor, Gadd, Preptit, Ellis, Sepulveda, Lee, Ewing

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Against (15 members): Allen, Hill, Kimbrough, Hancock, Webb, Eslick, Kupin, Weiner, Druffel, Johnston, Nash, Benton, Rutherford, Styles, Spain

Abstain (two members): Gamble, Evans

'If we pass this, who knows what's next against us?'

Some council members who ultimately voted against Porterfields resolution characterized the issue as one of politics.

Another at-large council member, Olivia Hill, was one of them. Hill, the first openly transgender person ever elected to the council, said she was putting her personal politics aside  namely concerning Musk, whose transgender daughter has publicly distanced herself from her father  in voting against the resolution.

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She also described her concern about how passing the resolution could further exacerbate an already tense relationship between Nashville and the state.

The reason why were here is because this body has a history of opposing things they dont like from the state, Hill said. And that has them going against us. Thats the reason why were all sitting here waiting to find out if theyre going to reduce us down from 40 to 20 (members). And if we pass this, who knows whats next against us?

District 31 council member John Rutherford was another member who brought up the politics of the issue, and Nashvilles historically strained relationship with state lawmakers.

Rutherford said he believed if Hill could set her politics aside, the rest of the council could, too.

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You know, it would be easy to vote for this, but sometimes to do what is best for Nashville, we have to do what is hard, Rutherford said.

He also argued that the project is happening either way, and passing the resolution runs the risk of closing the door altogether to dialogue.

Members on the other side of the vote argued that voting to approve the resolution was instead a question of safety and transparency.

On the latter front, Porterfields resolution originated in the first place after she said company officials declined to present information at a joint council committee meeting in August. Outside of individual meetings with some council members, Boring Company officials did not meet with the whole body in a public setting until a special committee meeting on Feb. 19, more than six months after the company and state officials announced plans to build the loop in late July.

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Porterfield herself has called the resolution an outline toward creating public trust, as it lists provisions asking the company to participate in ongoing public briefings and to release the projects environmental and geological safety studies for independent review.

District 34 council member Sandy Ewing asked why the company had worked around us, over us" and literally under us rather than more closely with the council.

And District 4 council member Mike Cortese spoke to a tension over the past week, because of a fear that the state is going to punish the city for sharing the opinion of some of our neighbors.

This 2025 file photo, provided by the Boring Company, shows a Tesla vehicle making its way through an underground tunnel similar to what the company has proposed constructing in Nashville.

Tennessee Chamber voices opposition ahead of vote

The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce issued a statement urging council members to oppose the resolution, or at a minimum defer their vote so relevant city departments, the mayors office and council members can continue to have objective and open dialogue with the company and other stakeholders, earlier the same day.

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Prior to March 3, the resolution had been deferred several times since it was first introduced in mid-December, in part to give time for the companys appearance at the Feb. 19 joint committee meeting.

In the statement, the Chamber said the project has both local and regional significance, and represents a major financial commitment and "an important step towards addressing our transportation challenges."

We are concerned that this resolution sends a message not only to The Boring Company but also to other businesses that could ultimately discourage investment and innovation in our state, the Chambers statement reads. We believe it is critical that Nashville and the state as a whole continue to explore varied approaches to addressing our transportation and infrastructure needs.

How bills at the state level tie in

The councils vote comes as state legislators consider a bill creating a new governing board with sweeping authority over underground transit projects, including the Music City Loop.

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That body, which the state bill calls the Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Authority, would be empowered to override local government decisions, effectively centralizing control of tunnel projects at the state level.

Another bill working through the statehouse, Senate Bill 1673, would transfer property tax filing for subterranean transit companies to the state Comptrollers office rather than local tax assessors.

Under current law, the state Comptrollers Office assesses utilities including railroads, telephone companies, electric, gas, pipeline, water and sewer companies, commercial trucking and air carriers.

As new transportation models develop, subsurface passenger transit systems should be treated consistently with other utilities and carriers, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, told members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee on March 3. Johnson sponsored both bills.

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State government and politics reporter Vivian Jones contributed.

Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him with questions, tips and story ideas at ahornbostel@tennessean.com.

Get Davidson County news delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville pushes back on Boring Co. tunnel project in close vote




In a stunning upset, beekeeper and businessman Nate Sheets unseated three-term Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in Tuesdays Republican primary.

Sheets, a 56-year-old Navy veteran, had the backing of Gov. Greg Abbott in a rare internal GOP dustup with an entrenched incumbent who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

READ MORE: Trump endorses against Abbotts picks for Texas Ag Commissioner and Comptroller ahead of GOP primary

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Texans are ready for new leadership, Sheets wrote in a victorious post on X, and we are ready to get to work.

Miller issued a statement Wednesday congratulating Sheets.

"Now is the time to come together to protect agriculture in the greatest state in the nation," he said in the statement. "Our commitment to Texas must always come first."

During the campaign, Sheets accused Miller of using the state departments resources to post flattering information about himself on social media. Texas law bars the use of state resources for political campaigns and prohibits government officials from using public funds for political advertising.

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Miller, a former rodeo champion before entering politics, leaned into his association with Trump.

Im the MAGA candidate, Miller, 70, told Hearst Newspapers during the campaign. Im the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) candidate. Im the Trump candidate.

Lampasas rancher Clayton Tucker was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for Agriculture Commissioner. He will face off against Sheets in November. A Democrat hasnt won statewide office since 1994.

The winner in November will lead the state agency that oversees Texas' largest-in-the-nation farming and ranching industry.
Nate Sheets defeated longtime incumbent Sid Miller in the Republican primary for Texas agriculture commissioner, according to the Associated Press, which called the race early Wednesday morning.

Gov. Greg Abbott called to congratulate Sheets on his campaign at his election watch party in Plano on Tuesday night. Abbott told the candidate that he looked forward to working with him.

Sheets said on social media that he was grateful for the support of grassroot conservatives across the state.

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While a few votes remain to be counted, the direction of this race is clear, Sheets posted. Texans are ready for new leadership and we are ready to get to work.

Sheets, the founder and former CEO of a national raw honey company and a ranch owner, is a first-time candidate for political office. Abbott and Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham were among Texas Republican leaders who threw their support behind Sheets, casting Miller as corrupt and inept.

Hes been an utter failure in his job as ag commissioner, Abbott said on a conservative radio show in January. There are character flaws with him that do not reflect positively on the state of Texas.

Despite multiple ethical scandals throughout his three terms as agriculture commissioner, Miller had previously held onto his seat with the help of endorsements from President Donald Trump who backed Miller in 2018 and 2022. This year, Trump waited until the Friday before Election Day to issue his support for Miller.

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Sheets will compete against Democrat Clayton Tucker in the fall general election, though no Democrat has won statewide office in three decades.

Sheets served for six years in the U.S. Naval Reserve before graduating from Texas State University. He also previously worked as communications director for an evangelist ministry that establishes new Christian congregations around the world. He is a supporter of the Make America Healthy Again movement, spurred by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Miller was first elected in 2014. His three terms have been littered with scandals. In his first term in office, he was investigated by the Texas Rangers and fined by the Texas Ethics Commission after allegations surfaced that he was using public dollars for personal travel, including one trip to receive a pain injection called the Jesus shot. He paid back the money, and he was never charged with a crime.

During his second term, his longtime political consultant, Todd Smith, was indicted for commercial bribery and theft for trying to sell hemp licenses regulated by Millers agency. After Smith pleaded guilty to commercial bribery, Miller installed him as chief of staff at the Department of Agriculture, where he is currently the second-highest-paid employee in the 755-person agency.

Last year, The Texas Tribune reported that a former friend of Millers told law enforcement that he was asked by the agriculture commissioner to dispose of marijuana products because he feared he was being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
During 2025, Gran Tierra bought back $21.3 million face value of its 2029 senior notes. On the call, management emphasized that debt reduction remains the priority in capital allocation decisions. In response to a question about share buybacks versus debt reduction, management noted a covenant structure tied to the recent exchange: any restricted payments would require a 2-to-1 ratio of debt reduction versus share repurchases.

With an improved maturity profile, Ellson said the company can shift away from near-term refinancing needs toward disciplined, opportunistic debt reduction, including bond buybacks at discounts, while still investing in high-return development opportunities.

Ellson said Gran Tierra amended and expanded its existing prepayment agreement after year-end, adding up to $175 million of incremental capacity plus a $25 million accordion. He described the prepayment agreement as the primary liquidity source supporting the 2029 notes exchange. At the same time, the company terminated its Colombia credit facility while keeping a CAD 75 million facility in place.

Management said the company recently successfully executed an exchange of its 9.5% senior secured amortizing notes due 2029, with approximately 88% participation. Chief Financial Officer Ryan Ellson said the exchange, combined with an amended and expanded prepayment agreement and the companys recent Simonette disposition, positions Gran Tierra with meaningfully enhanced liquidity entering 2026 and a stronger balance sheet.

Gran Tierra Energy (TSE:GTE) executives highlighted a series of balance sheet actions, a new international expansion initiative, and sharply higher 2025 production during the companys conference call covering fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results.

Production, reserves and international expansion: 2025 average working interest production rose 32% to 45,709 boe/d, with year-end reserves of 142M (1P), 258M (2P) and 329M (3P) driven by South American exploration and Canadian integration; the company also announced a capital-efficient entry into Azerbaijan with SOCAR, with most project capital expected in 2027 and strategic exposure to European markets.

Balance-sheet overhaul and improved liquidity: Gran Tierra executed an exchange of its 9.5% senior secured notes due 2029 with ~88% participation and amended/expanded a prepayment agreement adding up to $175M plus a $25M accordion, materially improving liquidity and its maturity profile entering 2026. Management is prioritizing deleveraginghaving bought back $21.3M of 2029 notes in 2025, with a covenant requiring a 2:1 debt-reduction-to-share-repurchase ratio and a target of net debt/EBITDA of 1x by 2028 (commodity dependent).

Story Continues

2025 financial results: loss driven by non-cash impairment

For 2025, Gran Tierra reported a net loss of $193 million, or $5.45 per share, which included $136 million of non-cash ceiling test impairment losses. That compared with net income of $3.2 million, or $0.10 per share, in 2024.

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Adjusted EBITDA for 2025 was $284 million, down 23% from $367 million in 2024. Funds flow from operations totaled $178 million, or $5.02 per share, versus $225 million in 2024, which management attributed to lower Brent prices year over year.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $313 million, up 31% from $239 million in 2024. Cash and cash equivalents were $83 million at Dec. 31, 2025, compared with $103 million a year earlier. Ellson also noted the companys CAD 75 million Can-Can facility was fully undrawn.

Net oil and gas sales were $597 million for the year, down 4% from 2024. Capital expenditures increased slightly to $256 million, up $8 million, as the company drilled more wells across Colombia, Ecuador, and Canada.

Total operating expenses rose to $249 million from $202 million, though operating expenses per BOE decreased 6% to $15.17. Ellson said the increase in total operating expenses was driven by higher Ecuador operating costs related to a production ramp-up and a full-year contribution from the Can-Can operations.

Hedging and near-term price exposure

Management detailed how sales are priced across regions in response to an analyst question on near-term price exposure:

In Colombia, pricing is based on the monthly average Brent price.

In Ecuador, pricing is M minus one, meaning the month of lifting is priced using the prior month.

In Canada, pricing is based on the monthly average WTI.

On hedging, Ellson said oil volumes are about 50% hedged across 2026 using three-ways, collars, and puts, with an average floor around $60. In Q&A, management added that the average ceiling price is about $74. For natural gas, the company has AECO swaps averaging 14,200 GJ per day at about $2.77 per GJ for 2026.

Ellson said Gran Tierra has started adding some hedges into the first quarter of 2027, but noted the futures curve is steeply backwardated. He said the company may add some shorter-term options, potentially increasing hedge coverage above 50% through puts in the coming months.

Operations, reserves, and production growth

Chief Operating Officer Sebastien Morin reviewed year-end reserves that were evaluated by McDaniel and announced Jan. 28, 2026. Gran Tierra reported:

142 million BOE of 1P reserves

258 million BOE of 2P reserves

329 million BOE of 3P reserves

Morin said South America delivered greater than 100% reserve replacement on both a proved developed producing (PDP) and 2P basis, driven by exploration success and asset performance. He provided South American replacement metrics of 101% for PDP, 61% for 1P, and 105% for 2P.

In Canada, Morin said certain natural gas reserves were reclassified to contingent resources due to low gas prices under reserve booking standards. He emphasized that Gran Tierra can reallocate capital toward quick-payout gas development if prices improve, and cited long-term demand tailwinds from LNG expansion and power generation growth. He also referenced approximately 0.3 TCF of unrisked 3P contingent resources in the Glauconitic formation and 0.4 TCF of 3P gas reserves across Canadian assets.

Morin said the companys diversification increased with Canadian operations fully integrated. He said about 18% of production, 19% of 1P reserves, and 22% of 2P reserves are attributable to natural gas, while Canada represents 39% of 1P and 44% of 2P reserves.

Gran Tierras 2025 average working interest production was 45,709 barrels per day, up 32% from 2024. Morin attributed the increase to exploration and drilling results in Ecuador and a full year of Canadian production, partially offset by lower production in southern Colombia and Ecuador due to two major export pipeline disruptions. He said the Moqueta field was shut in during the third quarter of 2025 due to trunkline repairs.

Operationally, Morin highlighted the Raju-2 well on the Suroriente Block, targeting the northern extent of the Cohembi field. The well is producing about 790 barrels of oil per day with less than 1% water cut, which he said is ahead of initial expectations. Morin added that the result supports northern development potential and advances the Suroriente capital carry commitment, expected to be completed by mid-2026.

Azerbaijan entry and 2026 outlook themes

Ellson said the company is very pleased to announce its entry into Azerbaijan, calling it a capital-efficient addition to the portfolio. He said Gran Tierra is partnering with SOCAR and views the entry as scaled exposure to a stable jurisdiction with established infrastructure and a long production history, with strategic potential tied to supplying European energy markets.

In Q&A, management said it is still waiting for the production sharing contract to be ratified, and that capital guidance for Azerbaijan is expected to relate primarily to 2027 and beyond, with some capital likely in 2026.

Management also reiterated its focus on free cash flow and deleveraging. In response to a question about targets, the company said it is targeting net debt to EBITDA of 1x by 2028, contingent on commodity prices.

On operating costs, management said a forecast reduction in 2026 operating expenses reflects structural changes, including savings in Canada following the i3 integration and efforts in Ecuador to move from diesel to gas-to-power as development progresses.

Gran Tierra said it will revise guidance after closing a pending transaction referenced during the call, which management indicated could close within the next week or two and has an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026. Management described the impact as not material.

About Gran Tierra Energy (TSE:GTE)

Gran Tierra Energy Inc is an independent energy company. It is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties in proven, under-explored hydrocarbon basins that have access to established infrastructure. The firm produces primarily light crude oil, supplemented with medium crude and natural gas. Gran Tierra holds interests in producing and prospective properties in Colombia and prospective properties in Ecuador. The company has a strategy that focuses on establishing a portfolio of producing properties, plus production enhancement and exploration opportunities to provide a base for future growth.

The article "Gran Tierra Energy Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.
NATO "condemns Iran's targeting of [Turkey]," spokeswoman Allison Hart said on Wednesday after the alliance's systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile before it could enter Turkish airspace.

"NATO stands firmly with all Allies, including [Turkey], as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region," Hart added.

"Our deterrence and defence posture remains strong across all domains, including when it comes to air and missile defence."

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The Turkish presidency said on Wednesday that defence systems intercepted the ballistic missile.

The missile, which was tracked passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was "neutralized" by NATO systems, the office head Burhanettin Duran said in a statement on X.

No casualties or major damage were reported on Turkish territory.
NATO "condemns Iran's targeting of [Turkey]," says spokeswoman Allison Hart, after the alliance's systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile before it could enter Turkish airspace.

"NATO stands firmly with all Allies, including [Turkey], as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region," Hart said on Wednesday.

"Our deterrence and defence posture remains strong across all domains, including when it comes to air and missile defence," she added.

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The Turkish presidency said on Wednesday that defence systems intercepted the ballistic missile.

The missile, which was tracked passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was "neutralized" by NATO systems, the office head Burhanettin Duran said in a statement on X.

No casualties or major damage were reported on Turkish territory.

Debris found in the Dortyol district of the Hatay province, along Syrian border, originated from the interceptor system in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish Defence Ministry separately said on X.

The ministry warned it "preserves the right to respond" to any threat, the statement added.

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Following the incident, Turkey summoned Iran's ambassador to the Foreign Ministry in Ankara, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that the alliance was not involved in the conflict, despite the US being a NATO ally and Iran previously retaliating with strikes against military bases of other allies.
A ballistic missile fired from Iran and heading into Turkish airspace after passing over Syria and Iraq has been destroyed by NATO air defence systems, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence says.

It was not clear where the missile was aimed.

A ballistic munition launched from Iran, which was detected passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace and heading towards Turkish airspace, was engaged in a timely manner by NATO air and missile defence assets stationed in the eastern Mediterranean and rendered inactive, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

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It said there were no casualties or injuries, adding that Ankara reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions against it while warning parties to refrain from escalating the conflict

In an evening address to the nation, Turkiyes President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country was taking all the necessary precautions in consultation with its NATO allies and was issuing warnings in the clearest terms to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

If we, as a nation, want to live in peace and tranquility we must constantly increase our deterrent capabilities. In these difficult times we are leaving absolutely nothing to chance regarding the security of our borders and airspace, he said.





Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan conveyed in a call to his Iranian counterpart Ankaras protest over a ballistic missile fired from Iran and heading towards Turkish airspace, the Reuters news agency reported.

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During the call, Fidan also told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that any steps that could further widen the conflict must be avoided, Reuters added.

Iran has not yet commented on the incident.

NATO condemned Irans targeting of Turkiye, spokesperson Allison Hart said, adding that the organisation stands firmly with all Allies, including Turkiye.

Our deterrence and defence posture remains strong across all domains, including when it comes to air and missile defence, Hart said.

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that there was no sense that the destruction of the ballistic missile would trigger NATOs Article 5 clause, which outlines that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all members.

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Incirlik Air Base in Turkiye is used by foreign military forces, primarily the US and other NATO allies. The base is under the control of the Turkish air force but operates as a joint Turkish-US airbase.

Incirlik was a critical logistics and air support location for US-led operations in Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War and later as a cargo hub for Iraq and Afghanistan operations.

Turkiye denied the US permission to use it for the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, but it was heavily used for anti-ISIL (ISIS) strikes from 2014.

Cyprus temporarily closes airspace

Separately on Wednesday, also in the eastern Mediterranean, authorities in Cyprus closed the airspace above Larnaca after detecting what they said was a suspicious object.

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On Sunday, an Iranian-made drone caused minor damage at a United Kingdom military base on the island. Another two drones were shot down on Monday.





Two Greek jets took off on Wednesday to shoot down a suspected drone just outside Cyprus airspace, Al Jazeeras John Psaropoulos reported from the Cypriot city of Limassol.

Greek frigates are also circling the waters around Cyprus to help provide targeting coordinates for two pairs of F-16s sent here by Greece that theyre supposed to operate in tandem.

Psaropoulos said the security situation in the country remained tense despite no strikes having taken place in the past couple of days.

The one on Sunday night was the only one, but because there have been other drones headed towards Cyprus, it has been deemed necessary to send all possible means here to make sure that those drones continue to be downed offshore, he said.
LINCOLN  A pair of budget bills in the Nebraska Legislature officially moved toward floor debate, but lawmakers still must close a projected budget deficit that is larger than it appears.

The Appropriations Committee voted Wednesday to advance Legislative Bills 1071 and 1072 to the floor. The bills contain lawmakers proposed budget adjustments for the 2025-2027 biennium.

State lawmakers entered the session with a projected $471 million shortfall, which ballooned to roughly $646 million after new economic forecasts last week. The committee shrunk the projected deficit by more than $500 million through a collection of cuts, changes and cash transfers, including pulling $130 million out of the states rainy day fund and transferring over $11 million out of the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

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The committees approved adjustments leave a projected budget deficit of $125 million, which lawmakers will attempt to fill by March 25. But because of some math mistakes that have since been fixed, the shortfall stands at approximately $140 million, according to Legislative Fiscal Analyst Keisha Patent.

This is because of miscalculations regarding retroactive eligibility payments for Medicaid participants, which the committee corrected Wednesday. Last week, committee members approved about $15.1 million in savings based on these calculations, but fiscal analysts said those calculations included non-retroactive eligibility payments, which inflated the total savings.

The end result still saves the general fund just under $2 million. But that left the committee to propose adding $13.3 million in general fund spending to cover for the difference.

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The change is expected to be incorporated into the budget through an amendment to be introduced during the second round of floor debate, following legislative procedures. This means Nebraskas financial status will show a $125 million shortfall until the amendment is approved by the full Legislature.

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LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers turned down an opportunity to lower the states projected budget deficit by up to $50 million with increased taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Legislative Bill 1124 failed to advance to a second round of floor debate when a filibuster-ending cloture motion failed in a 31-10 vote Wednesday. Cloture motions require 33 votes to pass.

The bill would have increased Nebraskas cigarette tax by $1, moving from 64 cents per pack to $1.64, and would have increased taxes on vape products. Nebraska has one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the nation, which ranges state by state from 17 cents per pack in Missouri to $5.35 per pack in New York.

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While lawmakers entered Tuesdays floor debate expecting little opposition on LB 1124, opposition arose from a mix of progressive senators and fiscal conservatives. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who led the two-day filibuster on the bill, said the proposal would increase a regressive tax that would balance the state budget on the backs of low-income Nebraskans.

A collection of senators who self-identified as fiscal conservatives, including State Sens. Tanya Storer of Whitman, Jared Storm of David City and Paul Strommen of Sidney, opposed LB 1124 because it would increase taxes.

We cant feed our way out of this drought, Storer said. We cant tax our way out of a deficit.

Lawmakers have tried to increase Nebraskas cigarette tax in multiple previous sessions, but this sessions attempt appeared to have more momentum due to its value as a revenue generator. State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Appropriations Committee, estimated the bill would save the state up to $50 million by offsetting increased Medicaid expenses.

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When it became apparent that there was enough opposition to potentially kill LB 1124, supporters proposed a compromise amendment that would have removed the increase to the cigarette tax and kept the increased tax on vape products. This would have generated about $6 million in revenue, according to State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, who proposed the change.

Hughes amendment was actually adopted in a 33-9 vote, but the adoption was nullified a few minutes later when the cloture motion failed.

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State lawmakers entered the session with a projected $471 million shortfall, which ballooned to roughly $646 million after the latest economic forecasts. Through a series of cuts, changes and cash transfers by Appropriations, the deficit currently stands at $125 million, but its actually closer to $140 million due to math errors lawmakers have said they must correct on the floor.

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Kenny Zoeller, director of Gov. Jim Pillens Policy Research Office, lobbied senators in the Rotunda Wednesday to try to rally support for the bill. Zoeller noted the governor has historically supported increasing the cigarette tax, and said without the revenue LB 1124, balancing the budget may require across-the-board cuts.

However, the budget benefits seemed to discourage some senators from supporting the bill. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who in past sessions introduced increases to the cigarette tax for its potential health benefits, said it would feel disingenuous to advance LB 1124 simply to plug a budget hole.

Cavanaugh said she feared passing the bill would discourage lawmakers from looking at alternatives that would impact wealthier Nebraskans, such as pausing the states phased individual income tax rate reductions. She ultimately was present-not-voting on Hughes amendment and the cloture motion.

Other opponents mentioned that supporters tried to promise that a majority of the bills revenue would be safe from future transfers, locked within Nebraskas Health Care Cash Fund. However, multiple senators said they didnt believe this promise, arguing that they cant force future Legislatures into anything, and noting Pillens habit of balancing the budget by sweeping cash funds.

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Without LB 1124, there are few options left to fill the $140 million budget gap that are likely to garner enough support to be adopted. One option Clements mentioned Wednesday was cutting the states Medicaid spending, which grew by about $71 million this year to about $1.08 billion.

Clements emphasized that he does not want to advocate for less Medicaid spending but said it could be a last-resort option if needed.

Taxpayers are funding those increases, Clements said. Some of it is going to smokers who are being subsidized by taxpayers.

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MARLBOROUGH - State police have arrested a Nebraska man and accused him of child sexual exploitation in the Town of Marlborough, where he used to live.

State police announced the arrest of Colin Sutton, 22, of Lincoln, Nebraska, on Feb. 26.

Sutton was charged with possessing a sexual performance by a child under 16 years of age, a felony.

An investigation began in January 2025 after the State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

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Detention center: Orange County, state officials react to Chester ICE facility plan

The investigation, conducted by the Troop F Computer Crimes Unit, the Troop F Bureau of Criminal Investigation at the Highland barracks and the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, led to the execution of a search warrant for electronic devices at Sutton's former residence in the Town of Marlborough.

After his arrest, Sutton was released and issued a ticket to appear in the Town of Marlborough Court on a future date.

The name of Sutton's attorney was not immediately available.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Nebraska man arrested, accused of child exploitation in Marlborough NY
LINCOLN  There are dueling allegations of planted candidates in Nebraskas U.S. Senate race and plenty of denials.

Two candidates  one Democrat and one from the Legal Marijuana NOW Party  accuse their primary opponents of being plants, the Democrat William Forbes allegedly to help Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts and marijuana candidate Mike Marvin allegedly to help nonpartisan candidate Dan Osborn.

Osborn and Ricketts are in a heated campaign. Ricketts, a former two-term governor, faces a nominal primary involving four lesser-known Republicans, but is expected to win the GOP nomination. Osborn is gathering signatures to get on the November ballot as a nonpartisan. The signatures are due Aug 3.

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Osborn and the Legal Marijuana NOW Party have had a colorful history. Some longer-tenured members of the marijuana party argued that the groups 2024 Senate nominee, Kerry Eddy, and a group of Osborn supporters took over their party to clear the ballot of competing names to give Osborn a better chance in his 2024 Senate run against Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.

A photo of Mike Marvin (Screenshot of Facebook page)

Fischer beat Osborn by about six percentage points, a close race in a state where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats roughly 2-to-1. Legal Marijuana NOW party chair, Mark Elworth Jr., said Marvin is a Dan Osborn Plant on the partys Facebook page  pointing to him being a union leader.

Marvin was executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees from 2013 to 2017. The union endorsed Osborn in 2024.

Marvin joined the Senate race on Monday, the filing deadline for non-incumbents. Earl Starkey announced his bid for the Legal Marijuana Now Party nomination earlier this year.

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Two Democrats filed for the Nebraska Senate race on Monday, the last day to file for this cycles primary election. One is Cindy Burbank of Omaha, and the other is Forbes of Paxton, a pastor.

The Nebraska Democratic Party said last year it wasnt actively pursuing a candidate, though a Democrat could still join the race. On Burbanks website, she said, Pete Ricketts, who is running for reelection, is putting in a candidate loyal to him in the Democratic primary to split the vote against him, so he wins easily.

The website, not a Pete Ricketts plant, also showed alleged Facebook photos of Forbes, an anti-abortion Democrat, attending a banquet for Nebraska Right to Life and a photo of Ricketts speaking at the Capitol for the 2025 Nebraska Walk for Life.

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On her website, she wrote that if she wins the Democratic nominee she would support Osborn to give him a fair shot against Ricketts.

Forbes, who is running as the other Democrat, told the Examiner hes not about political drama.

I just believe in doing what makes sense and getting things done for regular, hardworking Nebraskans. Washington feels pretty broken right now, too much arguing, not enough results, Forbes said.

A photo of William Forbes from his now-deleted Facebook page, as listed on Cindy Burbanks website. (Screenshot of Burbank campaign website)

The Examiner asked Forbes if he wanted to address the allegation from Burbank that he is loyal to Ricketts. He sidestepped the question.

The Nebraska Democratic Party released a statement calling Forbes campaign a political maneuver engineered by Pete Ricketts to split the opposition vote and protect his Senate seat.

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Jane Kleeb, chair of the state Democratic Party, said, The Nebraska Democratic Party made a deliberate, principled decision not to field a candidate in the U.S. Senate race.

Marvin wrote under the same post from Elworth that he is not a plant.

Mark states that my union activities make me a good friend of Dan Osborn, Marvin wrote on Facebook. I have heard him speak a couple of times, but have never met or spoken with him. No one has hired me to do this; that is slanderous.

Will Coup, a campaign spokesperson for Ricketts, said, Dan Osborns conspiracy theory is completely false. The Ricketts campaign had no role in the Democratic primary.

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Of all 10 candidates for U.S. Senate, only one has a history of rigging primary elections, Dan Osborn  Once again, Fake Dan Osborn says one thing publicly while doing the exact opposite behind closed doors, Coup said.

Osborns campaign also denies involvement with Marvin. Osborn campaign manager John Dolan said Ricketts is trying to deflect because he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, but the fact is that Pete is trying to undermine this election.

Pete Ricketts entire political career has been defined by sketchy political maneuvers, Dolan said.

Nebraskas primary election is May 12. The general election is Nov. 3.

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Nepal is setting up polling centres for a crucial parliamentary election, six months after a Gen Z-led uprising toppled the government.

The Himalayan republic will elect a new parliament on Thursday, replacing the interim administration that has led the country of 30 million people since the deadly September 2025 protests, in which at least 77 people were killed.

Heres all you need to know about the key vote:

What time do polls open?

Polls will open at 7am local time (01:30 GMT) on March 5 and continue at more than 23,000 voting stations until 5pm (11:30 GMT) local time.

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The government has declared a three-day public holiday to allow voters to travel to their homes.

Schools and other public buildings have been converted into polling centres, where residents from remote Himalayan villages and towns across the southern plains will cast their ballots.

INTERACTIVE - NEPAL - VOTING AT A GLANCE - MARCH4, 2026-1772620529

How many people will participate?

Nearly 19 million people, including some 800,000 first-time voters, have registered to take part in the election. About 9.66 million voters are men and 9.24 million are women.

The voting age in Nepal is 18.

The number of registered voters has risen by nearly one million since the last parliamentary election in November 2022, as the youth-led uprising led to greater interest in politics.

How does voting work in Nepal?

In 2015, Nepal introduced what is called a mixed electoral system.

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Voters will directly elect 165 members to the House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of parliament.

The remaining 110 seats in the 275-member House will be filled through a proportional representation system, with political parties nominating lawmakers based on the share of votes each party receives.

Previous governments in Nepal have largely been coalitions, with two or more parties joining forces to command a majority in the House.

INTERACTIVE - NEPAL - HOW ELECTIONS WORK - MARCH4, 2026-1772620566

Who are the key parties and candidates?

Two traditional political parties are facing a challenge from a newly formed party led by a former rapper, Balendra Shah, who was also the mayor of the capital, Kathmandu.

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The centrist Nepali Congress party and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) are the long-dominant parties. However, they had been part of the government ousted last year and have faced public dissatisfaction.

On the other side, Shahs National Independent Party, formed in 2022, has drawn significant support on the campaign trail. He is said to be a strong candidate for prime minister.

When will the results be known?

According to some media reports, the Election Commission has promised to release the results of the 165 directly-elected seats within two days of the voting.

The results for the remaining 110 seats, elected through proportional representation, are likely to take another two to three days.

Why is the election significant?

This is Nepals first election since last years Gen Z-led protests, which called for a rejection of the countrys established parties seen as corrupt and ageing.

Political parties have pledged to amplify the voices of younger voters, promising to tackle corruption, improve governance and provide more jobs.
By Gopal Sharma and Saurabh Sharma

KATHMANDU, March 4 (Reuters) - Nepal is heading to a general election on Thursday, the first after youth-led protests last September demanding an end to corruption, more jobs and cleaner politics led to the deaths of 77 people and forced the government to resign.

For decades, the small Himalayan nation ensconced between China and India has been riven by political instability, with 32 changes in government since 1990, leaving its largely agrarian economy hamstrung and forcing millions to seek work abroad.

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Nearly 19 million of Nepal's 30 million people are eligible to vote to pick a 275-member legislature, of which 165 candidates are directly elected and 110 selected via proportional representation.

About one million of these voters - most of them youth - were added after last year's protests, which has amplified calls for overhauling Nepal's political system and reforming the economy to create formal jobs with better wages.

Bibas Pariyar, a 22-year-old painter employed in Kathmandu, said he plans to return to his home district of Gorkha - famed for soldiers who have served in the British and Indian militaries - on Thursday to vote.

"We need new people who can give work to people, reform agriculture and pay adequate remuneration for workers," Pariyar said.

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"The old politicians only amassed money for themselves through corruption and did nothing for the people."

OLD GUARD VS NEW FRONTRUNNER

In the race are the old guard, including the centrist Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist or UML), which have dominated national politics for decades.

But most analysts say the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is at the forefront. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, 35, joined the three-year-old party in January as its prime ministerial candidate.

A former mayor of the capital city Kathmandu who emerged as the face of September protests, Shah is going head-to-head against the UML's K.P. Sharma Oli, 74, a four-time premier who quit following the September killings of the demonstrators.

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Nepal's election will be the second in the region - following Bangladesh - to be triggered by Gen Z-led protests, but the dynamics are markedly different, said Jay Nishaant, founder of the Nepal Democracy Foundation think tank.

"For any election, three things decide the outcome: agenda, leadership and organisation," Nishaant said.

"That's where Nepal may diverge from Bangladesh. Bangladesh's July 2024 student leaders had a clear agenda and recognisable faces, but not a time-tested grassroots machine."

In Bangladesh's February general election, the main youth-driven party won only six seats in the 300-member parliament, underlining the challenge of turning street momentum into votes.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma and Saurabh Sharma, Additional reporting by Sahana Bajracharya; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Nepal voted on Thursday for a new parliament in a high-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful youth movement, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government.

Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party.

Election commission officials collected ballot boxes after voting closed, with papers taken under guard to centres before counting.

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"The voting process has been concluded peacefully and enthusiastically," Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari told reporters, saying turnout had been around 60 percent according to initial estimates.

Some winners are expected to be published as early as Friday, but full results may take several days.

It may then take time before a government is formed if, as many analysts expect, no party wins an outright majority.

"Nepalis have been waiting for change for so long, from one system to another," said Nilanta Shakya, 60, a retired engineer, who was among the first to vote at a college in the capital, Kathmandu.

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"I hope there is a meaningful change this time," she added.

Voters have chosen who replaces the interim government in place since the September 2025 uprising, in which at least 77 people were killed, and parliament and scores of government buildings were torched.

Youth-led protests under a loose Gen Z banner began as a demonstration against a brief social media ban, but were fed by wider grievances at corruption and a woeful economy.

Sushila Karki, the interim prime minister, said the vote was critical in "determining our future".

The polls are one of the most hotly contested elections in the Himalayan republic of 30 million people since the end of a civil war in 2006.

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Thousands of soldiers and police have been deployed.

The election saw a wave of younger candidates promising to tackle Nepal's dismal economy, challenging veteran politicians who have dominated for decades and argue that their experience guarantees stability and security.

"Today feels like a day of celebration," said Nirmala Bhandari, 50, a housewife, who danced in the street with friends for a video for social media, after casting her vote in Bhaktapur district outside the capital.

"I am hopeful that the country will get new leaders and that we will build a better nation."

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- 'Blood will bring change' -

Helicopters will be used to collect ballot boxes from snowbound mountain regions across Nepal, home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest.

But all eyes will be focused on the hot farming plains south of Kathmandu, where all three prime ministerial hopefuls contested seats -- a departure from past elections that focused on the capital.

KP Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old Marxist leader ousted as prime minister last year and seeking a return to power, was challenged in the usually sleepy eastern district of Jhapa by former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician.

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"This election must reestablish democracy and contribute to end non-political, anarchic and violent tendencies," Oli said after voting, insisting his party would win the largest number of seats.

The Jhapa-5 constituency, with around 163,000 voters, will determine whether Oli secures his seat or whether Shah enters parliament.

Shah, from the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who queued to vote in Kathmandu dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, has cast himself as a symbol of youth-driven political change.

Also in the race as aspiring prime minister is Gagan Thapa, 49, the new head of the country's oldest party, Nepali Congress, who has said he wants to end the "old age" club of revolving veteran leaders.

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After casting his ballot, Thapa told AFP that it is "the duty of the leaders" not to let the events of last September occur again.

On social media, voters shared images of their ink-marked thumbs -- alongside photographs of the September protests.

"At the Gen Z protest, people died -- and their blood will bring change, we hope," said Tek Bahadur Aale, 66, who voted in Jhapa.

"We hope a government with good governance, no corruption, comes this time."

More than 3,400 candidates are running for 165 seats in direct elections to the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, with 110 more chosen via party lists.

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On Saturday, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. new CEO Gregory E. Abel's shared his first annual shareholder letter, laying out how the company plans to keep its stewardship-first culture intact after the handoff from Warren Buffett.

The message lands as breakup pause coverage keeps attention on the Kraft Heinz where Abel has voiced support for CEO Steve Cahillane as the food maker halts work on a previously outlined split plan.

In the letter, Abel told shareholders the company's job is to treat outside capital as a trust, not a trophy, and to keep decision-making anchored in integrity, patience, and long-duration thinking. He also said the operating playbook stays centered on decentralized leadership, a conservative balance sheet, and risk controls that start with insurance.

Don't Miss:

That long-horizon mindset is being tested in public view at Kraft Heinz, where Cahillane has been in the role for five weeks and chose to stop work tied to the separation that was announced last September. Kraft Heinz's fourth-quarter adjusted EPS fell 20.2% to 67 cents as the company outlined a $600 million effort to restart growth.

Abels Vision: A New Era For Berkshire

Abel framed Berkshire's financial posture as a competitive tool, pointing to cash and U.S. Treasury holdings above $370 billion and a preference to use debt sparingly. He also wrote that the CEO carries the top risk role, with insurance discipline and walking away from mispriced risk treated as non-negotiable.

Operational execution was positioned as the other half of the formula, with Abel highlighting how decentralized teams are expected to respond quickly under pressure while protecting safety and service. He cited Precision Castparts' February 2025 fire response and said production was redistributed without customer line stoppages.

In equities, Abel said Berkshire's approach remains concentrated and built for decades, while acknowledging one high-profile exception. He wrote that the Kraft Heinz investment has been disappointing and that returns have come in below what Berkshire considers acceptable.

The Kraft Heinz backdrop helps explain why a reset is now focused on running the business rather than reorganizing it. The company posted fourth-quarter sales of $6.354 billion versus a $6.376 billion Wall Street estimate, with net sales down 3.4% and organic net sales down 4.2%.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested this week that Israel is functioning as an apartheid state in its treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, directing his sharpest criticism at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Newsoms comments came during a Tuesday evening forum in Los Angeles promoting his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, which streamed live on the governors Facebook page.

Pod Save America host Tommy Vietor first raised the topic while discussing coordination between the Trump administration and Israel during recent strikes on Iran  specifically if Israel guided U.S. involvement.

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A lot of Democrats have looked at the Netanyahu regime and felt like, you know what, we dont like his trajectory; that its time to rethink the U.S. relationship with Israel, especially military support, Vietor said.

Newsom responded:

The issue of Bibi (Netanyahu) is interesting because hes got his own domestic issues. Hes trying to stay out of jail. Hes got an election coming up. Hes potentially on the ropes. Hes got folks, the hard line, that want to annex the West Bank. Friedman and others are talking about it appropriately as sort of an apartheid state.

Co-host Jon Favreau then pressed him directly:

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Do you think, looking down the road, that the United States should consider maybe rethinking our military support for Israel?

Newsom answered:

It breaks my heart, because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path where I dont think you have a choice but that consideration.

The governors remarks come as he continues to position himself as a likely contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. His second term as Californias 40th governor ends in January 2027.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Nigeria's medical council has provisionally suspended the director of a private hospital and two other doctors following the death of the 21-month-old son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Nkanu Adichie-Esege, one of twins, died on 7 January after complications arose during preparatory medical procedures at Euracare Hospital in Lagos.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) investigation panel established a prima facie case of medical negligence against Euracare and Atlantis Hospital over the childs management.

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The three doctors have all been suspended from practising medicine pending the determination of their cases by a disciplinary tribunal.

Dr Munir Bature, publicity secretary for the Nigeria Medical Association, confirmed the suspensions to the BBC.

"What will ultimately happen to those affected will be determined after another panel sits on their case," he said.

He added that they could permanently lose their licences.

The doctors have not commented.

Butare encouraged Nigerians to report any perceived wrongdoing by medical personnel so the council could intervene.

The family of Adichie had accused the hospital of negligence, alleging that medics denied oxygen to her son and administered excessive sedation, which they say led to cardiac arrest.

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In a statement, the hospital expressed its "deepest sympathies" over the child's death but denied any wrongdoing.

An inquest into Nkanu's death is due to begin on 14 April at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos.

The coroner will hear from medical experts and hospital representatives to establish the circumstances and cause of death.

The case has sparked a wider debate about patient safety in Nigeria's healthcare system.

Following a public outcry, Nigeria's health ministry admitted there were "systemic challenges" and announced the creation of a national task force on "clinical governance and patient safety" to improve the quality of care.

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Adichie is an award-winning writer known for novels including Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah.

Her 2013 essay We Should All Be Feminists was sampled by Beyonce on her track Flawless, while the author was named among Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in 2015.

She explores themes around gender and immigration in her works, establishing her as a leading voice in postcolonial feminist literature.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Downtown office tower known as the KeyBank Building is heading to auction next month, the latest chapter for a property that has faced foreclosure proceedings, tenant departures and mounting maintenance complaints in recent years.

An online listing by Apex Commercial Exchange shows the 21-story building at 88 E. Broad St. is scheduled to be auctioned beginning April 14 and concluding two days later, with a starting bid of $1 million.

The property, built in 1964 and renovated in 1986, contains 256,720 square feet of office space on a 0.98-acre Columbus parcel, according to the listing. It includes 92 parking spaces through an adjacent surface lot at 72 E. Broad St. and valet-supported parking. The building is currently about 30% occupied.

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Franklin County estate tops February home sales at nearly $4 million

Strategically positioned in the heart of Downtown Columbus, the KeyBank Building benefits from immediate access to major transportation corridors, public transit, and the citys central business district, the listing states. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the KeyBank Building in the video player above.

The offering follows a foreclosure lawsuit filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in 2024 involving the buildings ownership.

Court records show the buildings owner, New York-based Baruch Broad Street LLC, borrowed $11.8 million to purchase the tower in 2022, but later fell behind on payments. The lender filed a lawsuit seeking more than $9.3 million and asked a judge to take control of the property while the case moved forward.

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A judge approved that request and appointed a local attorney to manage the building and oversee day-to-day operations during the foreclosure process.

The tower has struggled to keep tenants in recent years. In April 2024, the owner of OH Pizza and Brew announced plans to relocate, describing conditions in the building as a nightmare after the change in ownership. The Ohios auditors office also left the building, citing problems with heating and cooling, water leaks and other maintenance concerns.

Harley-Davidson dealership in Sunbury closes amid ownership transition

KeyBank, with prominent branding on the ground floor, also confirmed at the time that it was looking to partially relocate. A communications consultant said that the company would vacate its office space on the second and seventh floors, while renewing a lease for a branch location on the first floor.

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In addition, court records from that time show disputes over unpaid maintenance and repair work, as contractors claimed they were not paid for work performed on the building.

Baruch Broad Street purchased the tower in January 2022 for more than $12 million, according to Franklin County auditors office records. If the property sells near its $1 million opening bid, the price would represent a steep discount from what it last sold for. The final sale price will be determined through the online auction process.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not apologize for or retract administration statements falsely calling two U.S. citizens domestic terrorists shortly after they were killed by immigration agents in Minnesota in January.

In her first appearance before Congress since the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24, Noem repeatedly defended the Trump administration's immigration policies and tactics during a tense, almost four-hour Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the committees ranking member, pressed Noem about why Good and Pretti were falsely labeled as domestic terrorists following their killings.

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Noem expressed her condolences to their families, saying that "these are tragic situations, and I cant imagine what these families go through and losing a loved one."

But Noem did not take back the statements about Pretti and Good, and said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers face a "dangerous environment" and threats. When asked what information she got to deem them as domestic terrorists, Noem said her agency relied on information provided by agents on the ground. "And I would say that it was a chaotic scene," she added.

In response to questions from Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., about the fatal shootings, she said the FBI was leading an investigation into both killings, adding that Homeland Security Investigations was also involved.

Pressed again on the issue by Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Noem began to answer that she works every day to get factual information to the American people, but Schiff cut her off, saying she did not put out factual information to the country on the days that Good and Pretti were shot.

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Noem defended her agencys policies as she faced a number of questions about the agency's immigration enforcement priorities, including the arrests of immigrants with no criminal records and no criminal convictions, which have increased after President Donald Trump took office.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., questioned Noem about U.S. citizens who have been detained or injured by federal immigration officers, including Marimar Martinez, a Chicago teacher who was shot five times last year by a Border Patrol agent who accused her of using her car to assault federal officers. Federal prosecutors later dropped the charges filed against her with prejudice. Noem claimed not to know details about the case.

Noem did not condemn the mistaken detention of ChongLy Thao, a naturalized U.S. citizen arrested by immigration agents inside his Minnesota home. He was later released after authorities determined they had the wrong person. Noem didn't directly answer when Klobuchar asked if the arrest had been wrong, instead saying that officers were working to identify the man.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he was "disappointed" at Noem for the focus on the numbers of people deported. Tillis, who is not running for re-election, has repeatedly criticized the administration over its immigration enforcement actions.

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What weve seen is innocent people getting detained that turn out are American citizens, Tillis said, adding that Noems leadership is a disaster.

In response to a question by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., Noem denied the existence of deportation quotas at the Department of Homeland Security to advance the presidents immigration agenda

We do targeted law enforcement operations going after those worst of the worst criminals that are here illegally, Noem said.

Noem claimed that nearly 3 million people who entered the United States illegally are no longer in the country as a result of the Trump administrations immigration enforcement efforts. Of those, 2.2 million left voluntarily to their home countries and more than 675,000 were detained and deported, she said.

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Noem insisted that the majority of those arrested by ICE have a criminal record and have been charged or convicted of secondary crimes in addition to their initial crime of being in the United States illegally. She added that ICE has arrested 1,500 known and suspected terrorists, and more than 7,700 known gang members.

Noem testified before Congress as lawmakers continue to clash over a funding bill to finance DHS and its operations.

I recognize that members of this committee may have different views on immigration policy," Noem said. "But its important that we distinguish between disagreement over policy and the departments operational responsibility to enforce existing laws," she said.

Durbin defended the Democrats decision not to continue funding DHS without changing Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R- Iowa, the committee chairman, urged Democrats to move to fund the department, which entered a shutdown last month.

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As Noem got ready to deliver her opening remarks, a protester calling to abolish ICE disrupted the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. You should be ashamed of yourself! the woman shouted as she was escorted out.

The scene mirrored tensions across the nation over different immigration views at a time when support of the Trump administrations immigration tactics and deportation goals has dwindled and more Americans support overhauling ICE, the main DHS branch powering the presidents deportation agenda.

Toward the end of her opening remarks, Noem noted the presence of angel families at the hearing. The Trump administration came up with the term earlier this year to describe people whose loved ones were victims of crimes committed by immigrants. In her testimony, Noem spoke about several victims, including Rachel Morin. A Salvadoran fugitive who had entered the U.S. illegally was convicted of her murder. "That individual should never have been in this country," Noem said.

A second protester who interrupted the hearing as Durbin questioned Noem was escorted out as she yelled about Americans killed by ICE and accused Noem of not giving their families justice.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem faced questions about immigration enforcement operations as she testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday -- refusing to apologize for or retract her statements about a U.S. citizen shot and killed by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis earlier this year.

When pressed by Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, about why Noem labeled Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis in January, a domestic terrorist without evidence, she would not admit she was wrong.

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 03, 2026 in Washington, DC.

"We are working in those situations where there's a tragic loss of life and that there is something that our agents are involved in, that we continue to deliver information," she said.

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Durbin then asked, "Is it so hard to say you were wrong?"

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - PHOTO: Sen. Dick Durbin gives opening statements before Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 03, 2026 in Washington, DC.

"I absolutely strive to provide factual information and will continue to do that," Noem responded, adding that when the agency fails, they admit wrongdoing. Noem has yet to admit she has been wrong about how she characterized the Pretti shooting, as some have suggested.

Noem also said her characterization of Pretti -- whose conduct she called "the definition of domestic terrorism" without evidence -- was based on information relayed to her in the hours after the incident.

Americans oppose the tactics ICE is using to enforce immigration laws by 2:1 margin: Poll

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Noem drew criticism for insinuating Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital, wanted to "massacre" law enforcement before the evidence and investigation was complete. Pretti was licensed to carry a handgun. Video from multiple angles showed that Pretti did not try to draw his gun from his waistband before or during the scuffle with federal agents.

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives to testify during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 3, 2026.

Tuesday's hearing marks the first time Noem is appearing before Congress after tensions in Minneapolis and the killing of Pretti as well as Renee Good, who was shot and killed by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis in January.

Two Senate Republicans have said Noem should be out of a job, and Democrats have called for her impeachment. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he stands by Noem.

One of those Republicans who called for Noem's resignation was Sen. Thom Tillis, who ripped into Noem in a roughly 10-minute tirade.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: Sen. Thom Tillis speaks while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on oversight of the Department, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 3, 2026.

Tillis, who is retiring at the end of his term, called DHS a "disaster" and "failure" under her leadership. He said the agency's immigration enforcement efforts were too focused on number, leading to the arrests of innocent U.S. citizens.

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"We just want numbers. We want 1,000 a day, 6,000 a day, 9,000 a day. Because numbers matter, right? No, they don't matter. Quality matters, not quantity. Quality. And what we've seen is a disaster under your leadership, Miss Noem, a disaster," Tillis said. "What we've seen is innocent people getting detained that turn out are American citizens."

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Sen. Thom Tillis speaks while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on oversight of the Department, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 3, 2026.

Tillis only let Noem respond once as he criticized her handling of federal emergency funds, ICE efforts in Minneapolis and other topics.

"Im giving you a performance evaluation here -- Im not looking for a response, said Tillis. "And I'm saying, Miss Noem, that time after time after time, Ive been disappointed."

Also during Tuesday's hearing, Noem said that there are no plans to deploy agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the polling places in November after President Donald Trump recently doubled down on his controversial suggestion that Republicans "nationalize" elections, saying the "federal government should get involved" in elections.

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives to testify during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 3, 2026.

"We have no plans to have ICE officers or law enforcement at polling locations. States are responsible for running their elections, and we're giving them tools and mitigation efforts that they can utilize in order to make sure they maintain the integrity of those elections, and that individuals can trust their systems to ensure that their vote counts," Noem said.

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Noem's appearance on Tuesday marks the first of two days she is set to testify on Capitol Hill. She will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

ICE gets even worse ratings in polling after Pretti's fatal shooting; majority calling for Noem's removal

Her testimony comes as some parts of Noem's agency -- from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the Transportation Security Administration to the Coast Guard -- are shut down amid a funding fight over Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats have said they will fund the department only if changes are made to the agency in the wake of the shooting deaths of Good and Pretti.
A nonbinary student in Michigan is suing their school district in federal court for what they say is a failure to stop continued harassment. According to filings with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, the high school student known as Jane Doe is suing the Kalamazoo Public School District for gender-based discrimination.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

The Loy Norrix High School student says the school district did nothing to protect them or investigate claims they were being assaulted and harassed in 2023, when they were 14 years old.

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Case documents indicate that the assault and harassment began in April 2023, when several Loy Norris students participated in a Snapchat conversation where they made hateful remarks about Does appearance and perceived gender, describing them as manly.

Related: University of Michigan latest hospital system to abandon trans minor patients & families after DOJ subpoena



Doe reported the gender-based harassment to school staff, but nothing was done in response. The complaint alleges that on various occasions, the student reported the harassment to a security guard who told them to mind their own business, and that they would be fine.

Shortly after, according to the complaint, Doe stepped into the girls locker room and was tripped and attacked by their classmates. One student allegedly filmed them while they were undressing down to their bra, and the video was shared among classmates.

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The lawsuit names several school staff who allegedly did nothing in response to the reported abuse and harassment.

Related: Michigan transgender man Jean Butchart shot and killed in series of attacks

Related: Michigan bans 'gay and trans panic' defense as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs historic bill (exclusive)

In a separate reported incident, Doe reports being attacked in a five-to-one altercation in the womens bathroom, where one student recorded the others attacking them and the security guard who intervened, dragged Doe out of the bathroom by the hood of their jacket.

Lawyers described video evidence of the alleged abusers attacking the plaintiff and their mother during a confrontation, captured by a surveillance system. According to the lawsuit, after the student complained, the districts student services coordinator launched a Title IX investigation, but the court documents indicate there has been no progress since, nearly three years later.

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A KPS spokesperson told Kalamazoo CBS affiliate WWMT on Tuesday that they do not comment on pending litigation.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Nonbinary student sues Michigan school district for allegedly ignoring years of reported bullying

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The Brief

New York City Department of Education employee Naya Brown has been charged with murder, according to the NYPD.

Brown, 26, was off-duty when she was arrested at 7:55 a.m. earlier today, March 3.

Another individual, Pernell Warren, was arrested in connection to the same crime last month, Feb. 1.

THE BRONX - New York City Department of Education employee Naya Brown has been charged with murder, according to the NYPD.

NYC employee charged with murder

What we know

Brown, 26, was off-duty when she was arrested at 7:55 a.m. earlier today, March 3.

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Another individual, Pernell Warren, was arrested in connection to the same crime last month, Feb. 1. Warren was charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

The backstory

Police responded to a 911 call regarding an assault at the intersection of West 242nd Street and Broadway on Jan. 25.

Officers encountered a 35-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the knee and a 44-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Emergency services took both victims to St. Barnabas Hospital. The 44-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The Source

This article includes information provided by the NYPD.
Two upcoming nature-related events in March will focus on invasive-species removal and wildflower observation, organizers said in a news release.

On Saturday, March 7, the Oak Ridge Cedar Barrens will again be the site of exotic invasive plant removal as Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning (TCWP) conducts its first official Weed Wrangle of 2026.

Volunteers should meet in the Jefferson Middle School Parking lot at 9 a.m., with sturdy shoes, loppers, gloves, and water. The work session will conclude at noon with a pizza lunch.

On Saturday, March 7, the Oak Ridge Cedar Barrens will again be the site of exotic invasive plant removal as Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning (TCWP) conducts its first official Weed Wrangle of 2026.

Signup is required at https://tcwp.org/event/spring-cedar-barrens-cleanup-weed-wrangle-saturday-march-7/.

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Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, the barrens is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee Division of Natural Areas, and TCWP. The area is one of just a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee and provides habitat for three state-listed plants: Torreys mountain mint, prairie goldenrod, and fewleaf sunflower. It is subject to invasion by bushy lespedeza, leatherleaf viburnum, privet, autumn olive, mimosa, Nepal grass, multiflora rose, and woody plants that threaten the systems prairie plants. TCWP's efforts help to eliminate invasives and other shade-producing plants that prevent the prairie grasses from getting needed sunlight.

Questions/info: Contact Jimmy Groton at 865-805-9908 or groton87@comcast.net.

The Weed Wrangle helps eliminate invasives and other shade-producing plants that prevent the prairie grasses from getting needed sunlight.

Wildflower walk is March 21 in Oak Ridge

A joint TCWP and Tennessee Native Plant Society outing is planned for Saturday, March 21, at the North Ridge Trail via North Walker Access, featuring early spring wildflowers such as trout lilies and possibly Dutchmans breeches. The hike is about 0.7 mile one way, steep, and may be muddy with a stream crossing.

Meet at 10 a.m. at the trailhead, near the end of N. Walker Lane in Oak Ridge. (This access to the North Ridge Trail is not in Google Maps; coordinates are 3601'24.7"N 8416'36.1"W). There is no parking at the Trailhead, but there is some street parking along N. Walker and West Outer Drive. There is also ample parking at the nearby Childrens Museum of Oak Ridge. The outing will last around two hours.

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Bring water, snacks, and bug spray.

Signup is required at https://tcwp.org/event/wildflower-walk-on-n-walker-access-to-north-ridge-trail-saturday-march-21/.

Leaders are Margaret Cumberland and Larry Pounds. Questions/info at 919-339-0072 or meshearin@gmail.com.

See early spring wildflowers along the North Ridge Trail on a 0.7-mile hike March 21, 2026, led by TCWP and Tennessee Native Plant Society.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Nature events in Oak Ridge include weed wrangle, wildflower walk
An offshore oil leak near Port Fourchon spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf last Friday.

WWL Louisiana first learned of the incident from a viewer that claimed an oil spill near Port Fourchon was the reason the Audubon Aquarium Rescue postponed a turtle release event last Friday. A satellite photo from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration taken on that day depicted a "sheen" in the general area.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) said in a news release that the cause of the leak was an offshore mechanical failure. Approximately 12,600 gallons of crude oil were released into the Gulf.

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LOOP said on Wednesday that a "substantial portion" of the oil had been recovered from the water and isolated barrier islands after the oil port deployed 32 response vessels. The oil port will continue to conduct offshore cleanup and monitor barrier islands for wildlife and shoreline impacts.

Click here to report a typo.

 Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.
Iran vowed to launch the "most ferocious" operation in history against Israel and the United States after the allies' ongoing strikes that killed its supreme leader, but a video of explosions in a city shared with claims it shows Tehran's retaliation is old. It actually depicts the US "shock and awe" bombing campaign against Iraq in March 2003.

"Iranian ballistic missiles rain down on Israel," reads part of the Indonesian-language caption of a TikTok video shared on March 1, 2026.

"Iran is reported to have launched dozens of ballistic missiles toward Israel in retaliation for a previous joint Israeli-American strike that targeted facilities in Tehran."

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The video, which shows explosions in a city at night, also circulated with the same claim in various languages as Iran retaliated against a joint attack by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026 that killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (archived link).

Screenshot of the false post captured on March 3, 2026, with a red X added by AFP

US President Donald Trump said the United States attack was meeting its goals ahead of schedule but warned the war could go "far longer" than his initial estimates of about a month (archived link).

He also for the first time laid out objectives -- destroying Iran's missiles, navy and nuclear programme, and stopping its support for armed groups across the region -- which notably did not include toppling the Islamic republic.

Meanwhile, Iran has responded by unleashing missiles and drones across Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai, while threatening explicitly to drive up global energy costs.

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While Iranian missile barrages have targeted Israel, the circulating video does not show strikes launched by Tehran (archived link). The footage in fact shows the bombardment of Iraq's capital Baghdad by the United States in 2003.

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the falsely shared video led to the same video published by Turkish media outlet OdaTV in October 2022 (archived link).

The report was about internet users sharing the video of Washington's "shock and awe" campaign that saw the US rain bombs on Baghdad on March 21, 2003, in response to former US president Joe Biden's criticism of Russia's war in Ukraine (archived link).

The 2003 campaign was part of the United States' war against Iraq over claims that Saddam Hussein's regime illegally possessed weapons of mass destruction, though none were ever found.

Screenshot comparisons of the falsely shared video (L) and the footage used by OdaTV

Similar footage of the 2003 strikes in Iraq was published by other media outlets including US broadcaster CNN and Britain's ITN (archived here and here).

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A clock tower seen at the 56-second mark of the falsely shared video also corresponds to the Baghdad clock, a major landmark in Iraq's capital (archived link).

Screenshot comparison between the clock seen in the false video (L) and a photo from Google Maps

The video has repeatedly been falsely linked to subsequent conflicts in the region.

AFP has also debunked other misinformation stemming from the war in the Middle East.

March 5, 2026 This article was updated to correct grammar in the opening paragraph.
Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSEAM:WWR) is among the 12 Most Promising EV Battery Stocks to Buy Now.

H.C. Wainwright Sees Opportunity After Fiat Chrysler Ends Offtake Agreement With Westwater Resources, Inc. (WWR)

Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSEAM:WWR) is among the most promising stocks.

TheFly reported on February 9 that H.C. Wainwright maintained a Buy rating on WWR with a price target of $1.75, noting that Fiat Chryslers termination of its offtake agreement could benefit the company. The firm emphasized that by using a lower-capacity, lower-capital strategy in Phase 1, WWR would be able to achieve commercial production earlier and decrease growth risks once cash flow starts. According to H.C. Wainwright, the company's chances of obtaining more offtake agreements in the future may be improved by prioritizing efficiency over expansion in the early stages.

In the anti-dumping and countervailing duty inquiry of graphite anode materials imported from China, the U.S. Department of Commerce rendered its final decision on February 17. The countervailing duty increased from 11.58% to 66.68%, while the anti-dumping duty stayed at 93.5%. The overall penalty now approach 220% when IEEPA, Section 301, and Section 232 tariffs are taken into account. This comes after a year-long analysis of the subsidies and prices offered by Chinese producers. The outcome will be confirmed by the U.S. International Trade Commission's final harm determination, which is anticipated in March 2026. According to U.S. law, upheld duties would last for at least five years.

Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSEAM:WWR) expects these measures to increase demand for U.S.-produced natural graphite anode materials in electric vehicles, battery storage, defense, and other lithium-ion battery sectors.

Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSEAM:WWR) focuses on producing graphite and lithium materials for EV batteries. The company develops sustainable resources to supply critical components for electric vehicles and energy storage, supporting the global transition to clean energy.

While we acknowledge the potential of WWR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock .

READ NEXT: 14 Best GARP Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 14 Best Affordable Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
The Rhode Island Life Science Hub is about to lose its first permanent leader, just over a year into his three-year contract.

Dr. Mark Turco will step down as president and CEO of the state-funded life science agency on March 11, taking a job with an unnamed private sector medical device company, Rhode Island Commerce announced Wednesday. Turcos sudden departure comes less than 14 months after he began the job under a three-year contract with a $400,000 annual salary.

Meanwhile, the $45 million in federal pandemic aid to Rhode Island used to establish the agency has an end-of-year expiration, though Gov. Dan McKee has proposed a $115 million economic bond that includes some money for life sciences in his fiscal 2027 budget.

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Its a critical time for the organization, said Patrice Milos, who sits on the 15-member volunteer board. But she was not worried about the upheaval for the still nascent agency.

I think its not that big of a deal as long as we as a board act quickly, Milos said in an interview Wednesday. What we really want to do is make sure our funding is extended, and weve got a bond campaign.

An interim leader for the quasi-state agency will be named in the near term while plans for the search for a replacement CEO will be discussed by the board at an upcoming meeting  a date for which was not specified in the Commerce press release.

Also unclear: where Turco is going, or why he is leaving.

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In his resignation letter to Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor, a copy of which was shared with Rhode Island Current, Turco called the position a true honor.

Together, we have worked to build meaningful partnerships and do the groundwork needed for sustained growth in the life sciences sector, he said. RILSH is well positioned for its next chapter, with strong organizational momentum. I remain deeply committed to Rhode Islands innovation community and look forward to continuing to support its mission in new ways.

Turco also wrote that he would be available to assist in the transition and remain on as an adviser after his departure.

I feel a responsibility to the RILSH team and to the entities which we have fostered and recruited into the community, Turco wrote. I am making this decision now, to enable the appointment of a new leader within the current legislative session.

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Turco could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

A 30-year industry veteran, Turco was plucked from a field of more than 320 applications through a national search. The life science board offered him the job in October 2024, with the requisite confirmation by the state Senate in January 2025 when the legislative session resumed.

Milos said she was not surprised to learn of Turcos departure, which was shared with the 15-member board last week.

I think its been a frustrating job for him, she said. I think he is going to enjoy going back to the private sector.

Milos also did not know where Turco would be working. Before coming to Rhode Island, he helmed two cardiovascular tech firms: Bostons Cardiac Implants LLC, and heart valve maker JC Medical. He also worked as chief innovation officer at the University of Pennsylvania and founded the Center for Penn-Health Tech, which brought together the schools engineering and medicine departments to build medical technologies.

Dr. Mark Turco, center, addresses members of the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Finance during a hearing on Jan. 9, 2025. At left is Ernie Almonte, a board member of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub, and at right is Neil Steinberg, board chairman. (Screenshot/Capitol TV)

A matter of fit

At the time of his hiring, proponents lauded his stacked Rolodex of industry contacts nationwide and experience across a breadth of private, public and academic fields. But Milos said she thought Turco struggled with the collaborative nature of the work in Rhode Island  with the board of directors and other private and public sector partners.

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Its very different from the role of a typical biotech CEO, she said.

But, Milos added, he did a great job putting in place some of our programs and framework.

The boards most recent meeting, on Jan. 20, included a scheduled, closed-door session on CEO job performance. Milos declined to comment on whether the performance review might have affected Turcos decision.

Jack Warner, Rhode Island College president and another board member, said he had nothing but praise for Turcos work.

We were hoping he would stay longer, Warner said in an interview Wednesday. He connected us with a lot of startups and helped us make quite a few investments in startups and existing companies that are likely to pay off for Rhode Island down the road.

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Neil Steinberg, former chairman of the board who helped hire Turco and worked with him for the first nine months on the job, alluded to the possibility of a strained relationship between Turco and the board. Steinberg stepped down as chairman in September 2025.

Sometimes its a matter of fit, not necessarily competence, Steinberg said.

Asked directly about his relationship with Turco during his tenure on the board, Steinberg said no comment.

Warner, however, said he saw no tension between Turco and board members.

Steinberg, like Milos, acknowledged the challenges of leading a new agency with a herculean mission to put Rhode Island on the map as the next hub for life science innovation and growth. He should know; as chairman of the board, he was tasked with filling out the rest of the volunteer panel, finding a president and setting up the framework for agency programs and goals.

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Everything was brand-new, Steinberg said. We had to do bylaws, work out budgets. It was a lot to do.

He continued, I found it very exciting, very positive, but that doesnt mean it wasnt challenging.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, who sponsored the 2023 legislation prompting the hubs creation, said in a statement Wednesday that he has asked Steinberg to consider returning to the board of directors.

Steinberg expressed openness to returning to the chair position, though he noted he has not had a formal conversation with Shekarchi about it.

The search for a full-time director took longer than expected. From July 2024 to January 2025, Milos stepped in as interim director, overseeing daily operations on a contractual basis.

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Asked Wednesday whether she would consider taking over as interim director again, Milos deferred to the rest of the board.

Potentially, yes, she said.

But she was not interested in assuming the CEO position full-time, she said.

Steinberg, when asked the same question, said he did not think he was qualified to be full-time CEO, noting his lack of expertise in life sciences.

But, he added, I would consider it if asked.

The agency was scheduled to hold an advocacy day at the Rhode Island State House Thursday, but the event has been postponed, Milos said. She referred to the decision to postpone to Pryor, the hubs interim chair.

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Giselle Mahoney, a spokesperson for Commerce, said in an email Wednesday that the Rhode Island Life Science Day at the State House will be held at a later date. She did not answer directly about why it was postponed. Mahoney also declined to share where Turco will be working next.

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The West has grown tired of a familiar scene. A president stands before a dramatic landscape and, with the stroke of a pen, announces that millions of acres of land, and the lives wrapped up in them, have been placed beyond argument. The crowd applauds. The bureaucratic state gets to work. And the people who actually live there are told to take it as a compliment.

This is how Utah ended up with President Bidens Resource Management Plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante.

And its why Utahs congressional delegation is moving to overturn it.

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Not because Utah hates beauty. Not because anyone is trying to bulldoze red rock cathedrals. And certainly not because Utahns have suddenly turned against conservation.

The truth is more uncomfortable than the professional environmental class cares to admit. And the truth is that Bidens RMP is a land-use regime imposed from the top down, wrapped in the language of reverence for Gods creation, and insulated from any semblance of accountability to voters. It was a sweeping land-use regime finalized in the eleventh hour of a failed president, designed to govern nearly 1.9 million acres of southern Utah for generations to come.

The plan contained zero meaningful input from Utahs leaders. It completely disregarded the economic concerns of rural communities and failed to meet the Antiquities Acts most basic requirement. If this monument exists to protect specific objects of historic or scientific interest, as required by law, then the government should at least be able to clearly identify those objects. Ultimately, the plan is fundamentally incompatible with state and local goals for wildlife management and multiple use.

So, how did Utah end up in this situation?

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In 1996, then-President Bill Clinton was seeking a win to boost his standing with environmentalists. Reports claim administration staffers had been on the lookout for environmental victories they could achieve without congressional support. Theyd considered making Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge a monument but decided that the president could use his veto powers to stop destructive oil drilling in the refuge, so they targeted Utah instead.

For Clinton, it was easy. No congressional approval, no public hearings, no sticky politics.

It was only fitting that he did not travel to Utah to announce the creation of a Utah monument. He announced it from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, as if the people most affected were an inconvenient detail.

The designation derailed major economic plans overnight, including coal development on the Kaiparowits Plateau that locals had been told would provide hundreds of jobs and billions in revenue, including funding tied directly to school trust lands.

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Its a story of how a law written for pottery shards became a weapon against the West. What was sold as emergency preservation became, in practice, executive zoning on a continental scale.

To see how far weve drifted, it helps to return to the statutes original purpose. The Antiquities Act was enacted in 1906 to prevent the looting of prehistoric ruins and archaeological treasures.

Congress was explicit about the constraint. The president could reserve only the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.

That phrase was key to the laws passage, as members of Congress were openly worried about vast withdrawals of Western land. Early proposals imposed a strict 320-acre ceiling. The Senate later passed a bill allowing temporary withdrawals, but permanent reservations could not exceed 640 acres. The assumption was that these would be small designations.

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During the House debate, Rep. John Lacey  Chairman of the House Committee on Public Lands  responded to an inquiry from Rep. John Stephens of Texas, who asked, How much land will be taken off the market in the Western States by the passage of the bill?

Lacey responded, Not very much.

He pointed to the language in the proposed legislation requiring that the amount of land reserved be the smallest area necessary.

This assurance mirrored that found in the House report on the bill, which explained that the bill proposes to create small reservations reserving only so much land as may be absolutely necessary for the preservation of these interesting relics of prehistoric times.

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That was the promise. The reality is that in January 2025, the BLM finalized a new Resource Management Plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante, covering nearly 1.9 million acres.

Until recently, those negatively impacted by these decisions had little recourse. But that is changing. The Government Accountability Office has now concluded that the Grand Staircase Resource Management Plan qualifies as a rule under the Administrative Procedure Act and is therefore subject to the Congressional Review Act.

This matters enormously.

The GAO found the plan designates lands as available or unavailable for certain uses. It carries binding legal consequences. It is an agency statement of future effect.

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In other words, it is a regulation.

And regulation ultimately belongs under congressional review.

Congress is not leveraging an obscure law. Congress is exercising its constitutional duty.

But we are already hearing the predictable smears that this is somehow an assault on a national treasure.

This is emotional blackmail masquerading as an argument. A cheap rhetorical trick, long mastered by environmentalists, to cloak every disputed land-use decision in the aura of Yosemite and then denounce dissenters as heretics.

To be clear, no one is voting to dynamite Bryce Canyon. No one is proposing to pave Zion. The question is whether a Biden-era management plan, issued without proper submission to Congress and loaded with restrictions that local communities will live under for generations, should be treated as untouchable.

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To be clear, Grand Staircase-Escalante is worthy of protection. Its one of the last places that still feels truly untouched by modern life. But its future cannot be dictated by distant officials who will never bear the costs of their decisions.

The Congressional Review Act exists for moments like this. When agencies impose rules with generational consequences without the consent of the American people or their representatives, Congress has the authority and the responsibility to review them and ensure that the people are not simply presented with a fait accompli.
Update: Coast Guard rescue swimmer from Oregon dies a week after tragic rescue gone wrong

A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer based in Astoria is on life support after a medical evacuation off the Washington coast.

Tyler Jaggers was injured in a tragic incident, according to the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Association. Details at this time are not known.

The incident took place during a medical evacuation for a stroke victim about 140 miles off the coast of northern Washington near the Canadian border, The Astorian newspaper reported.

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The rescue-swimmer association wrote on Facebook that Jaggers parents are with him.

Tyler is our Brother, the association wrote. He answered a calling that few possess the courage, the strength or the heart to pursue.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to questions about how Jaggers was injured or his condition.

Read the original article on oregonlive.com. Add oregonlive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Republican state senator is throwing his hat in the ring for one of Oregons seats in the United States Senate.

On Tuesday, Oregon State Sen. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate.

In his campaign announcement, the state senator highlighted his deep roots in Oregon, along with his real world experience and leadership, describing his upbringing as a third-generation Southwest Oregon resident and a former restaurateur of his familys restaurant.

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Oregonians are tired of partisan bickering, political grandstanding, and headlines that produce nothing but noise, said Smith. Ive never operated that way. As your next United States Senator, I wont start now. My focus will be squarely on the people of Oregon. Ill fight to make everyday life more affordable for working families, restore safety to our streets, address addiction and homelessness with accountability, and ensure every Oregonians voice is heard and respected in Washington.

Smith also noted his previous experience serving on the Port Orford Chamber of Commerce and City Council before landing in the Oregon legislature.

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As a third-generation Oregonian, its been the honor of my life to serve you locally and in Salem, Smith said. As your next United States Senator, my mission is simple: Put Oregon First. Its time for leadership rooted in service  not headlines or personal ambition. Thats what Ive done my entire career, and thats what Ill continue doing in Washington. Join me, and together, we will build a better Oregon.

Labor secretarys husband banned from HQ after 2 staffers accuse him of sexual assault

Recently, Smith testified in favor of the Oregon JOBS Act, which proposes adding over 300 acres to the urban growth boundary for advanced manufacturing facilities. Smith is also a member of Governor Tina Koteks Data Center Advisory Committee, which is tasked with finding pathways to develop data centers in the state.

Brock Smith also recently voted against the POWER Act, which aims to shield Oregonians from energy rate increases driven by data centers. The state senator raised concerns that the bill would disincentivize tech companies from building data centers in Oregon.

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He was also a supporter of the repeal of Oregons controversial Wildfire Hazard Map and introduced a bill in 2025 that aimed to end the states vote-by-mail system.

Prized painting returned to Portland art gallery after being found on freeway

As of March 3, there are two Democrats in the race for Oregons Senate seat, including incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley and Paul Wells, according to filings with the Oregon Secretary of States Office.

In a statement shared with KOIN 6 News about the race, a spokesperson for Merkleys campaign said, As Oregons senator, Jeff is fighting to stop Trumps authoritarian state, to restore government by and for the people, and to build the four foundations for thriving families: health care, housing, education, and good-paying jobs.

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He looks forward to continuing to talk to Oregonians about these and other issues over the next 8 months, Merkleys campaign spokesperson added.

Oregon real estate broker pleads guilty in illegal marijuana scheme

Filings with the Oregon Secretary of States office also show six Republicans are in the race to unseat Sen. Merkley, including Brock Smith, David Burch, Russell McAlmond, Douglas Muck Jr., Jo Rae Perkins and Timothy Skelton.

In a statement shared with KOIN 6 News, Skelton said, State Sen. David Brock Smiths announcement is his right as a citizen, and I wish him well. That said, after 17+ years of Jeff Merkley and almost 30+ years of Ron Wyden in the Senate, Oregon families are still waiting for real results. Career politicians have had their chance.

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Skelton added, Im not a D.C. insider or career politician. Im running to bring fresh, uncorrupted leadership with a detailed, zero-cost Oregon Matters Plan funded entirely by cutting federal wasteno new taxes, no lobbyist money, no special interests. All while pledging two terms maximum and putting Oregon families first. Oregon deserves better than more of the same. Im honored to have built this campaign from the ground up, and Im ready to work for real solutions.

Americas largest food cart plaza hosts soft opening in Vancouver with room for more

In a statement to KOIN 6 the McAlmond campaign said We welcome any and all late entrants into the race to defeat Jeff Merkley and send him home in 2026. We have been in the race since 2025 and sincerely believe that Russ McAlmond  a US Marine veteran and human rights activist- is the best candidate to replace Merkley in the US Senate.

Oregons primary election will take place May 19 followed by the general election November 3.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
More than 14,000 child car seats were recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after officials said incorrect information was included in the seats' safety manuals.

According to a recall notice from the NHTSA, the recall "affected 14,020" Evenflo-branded car seats, more specifically the companys LiteMax Factory Select child seats with model number CS100111198.

The issue is with the Spanish version of the seat's safety manual, which incorrectly lists the wrong weight and height limits, according to the NHTSA.

"Incorrect information in the manual may result in an improperly restrained child, increasing the risk of injury in a crash," the recall notice reads.

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Owners are expected to receive owner notification letters on March 31. Evenflo will then send customers the correct Spanish manuals free of charge.

Not the first Evenflo car seat recall of 2026

This week's recall comes about two months after Evenflo issued a voluntary recall on more than 74,000 car seats.

The recall affected about 40% of All4One child seats whose adjustable recline mechanism would shift out of position when the seat was facing to the rear. Affected seats are eligible for replacement until March 4, and owner notification letters were mailed starting Jan. 26.

The recalled seats are no longer being produced. Replacements will vary in design.

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Contributing: Greta Cross, USA TODAY

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: More than 14,000 child car seats recalled. See which model.
Outsider spending in North Carolinas most expensive congressional primary in state history has exceeded $4.5 million as of Wednesday, while the race heads to a likely recount.

Reports to the Federal Election Commission show independent expenditure groups have added about $49,829 to the contest since NC Newslines last update on Monday. The new spending brings the total to $4,518,411 between two-term incumbent Democrat Rep. Valerie Foushee and challenger Nida Allam.

The previous record for outside spending in a congressional primary was set in North Carolinas 4th Congressional District in 2022, in a matchup between the same two candidates.

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Most of the additional funding was spent on Allams behalf. Justice Democrats spent an additional $10,000, Working Families Party spent another $15,000, and a group called Citizens against AIPAC contributed another $10,000 since NC Newslines Monday report.

Advance North Carolina threw in another $3,000 for Foushee, but she still narrowly edges out her challenger for the most outside spending in the primary.

The additional funds result in outside groups spending $2.13 million for Allam, compared to $2.38 million for Foushee.

Unofficial results show Foushee won 49.18% of the vote, just 0.96% more than the 48.22% for Allam. Mary Patterson won 2.6%.

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Foushee leads Allam by 1,202 votes out of nearly 122,000 primary votes cast in a very tight race. She won her home county of Orange by a margin of 7.92% of the vote, as well as neighboring Chatham by 25.84%.

The incumbent issued a statement Wednesday saying she would support a call for a recount.

It is critical to our democracy that every lawful vote is counted in our elections, Foushee said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. I welcome the opportunity to ensure that right is protected, and am confident that the Democratic voters of North Carolina will have nominated me to serve a third term.

Meanwhile, Allam won Durham County by a 4.48% margin, and won the Wake County precincts in the district by a slimmer margin of 3.14% of the vote.

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Provisional ballots and some military and overseas remain, although its unclear how many.

If the margin is still one percentage point or less after those votes are counted, Allam may request a mandatory recount, which shes said she intends to do.

Though we go to bed tonight without the full results, we will keep exercising our right to dream, and we will bring home a victory for the working families of North Carolina in the days ahead, Allam told supporters at her watch party around midnight.

Foushee previously released a statement declaring victory just after midnight on Wednesday.

Serving this district in Congress is my highest honor, and I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to represent this district for another term, Foushee said.
On Saturday morning, Iranian government officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, met at a compound in Tehran despite knowing a joint U.S. and Israeli strike was coming at some point in the future. They had prepared by upgrading their defense system with the Chinese-made HQ-9B surface-to-air missile and felt safe enough to conduct their meeting, but they were mistaken.

Within minutes, Israeli fighter jets bombarded the compound with more than 30 missiles, killing the government officials, including Khamenei. The Chinese air defense system did little to stop the operation, the third time this specific system proved insufficient.

China postures that its HQ-9B air defense system is as capable as America's Patriot missile platform. On three occasions, it has catastrophically failed to do its job.

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Following the 2025 Israeli-American strikes, Iran sought to increase its protection against future attacks. As the negotiations quickly evolved earlier this year, the country began deploying the systems in locations they believed the Israeli Defense Force and the U.S. would attack. Iran previously used Russian-made S-300PMU-2s, but the IDF destroyed most of the country's arsenal in 2025.

Now, military experts and analysts are wondering if China may be overestimating its military capabilities.

Has China's air defense system failed before?

In May 2025, Pakistan and India began a brief four-day conflict where both countries used an array of weapons and technology, including air defense systems. Pakistan had purchased China's defense system and activated it during the attack.

India said its military was able to take out numerous targets, leading to the Pakistan Air Force losing 20% of its infrastructure in the attacks.

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"The HQ-9 and HQ-16, have performed poorly. We have successfully neutralized them," retired Indian Maj. Gen. GD Bakshi told the EurAsian Times.

Bakshi said the Indian military has deployed its own air defense system that outperforms China's and is about as effective as the Patriot system, saying "Indian technology has indeed surprised the global community."

Analysts believe the defense system failed because of the Pakistani military officials' over-reliance on an easy-to-disrupt automated system and the sheer volume of weapons India threw at Pakistan.

Less than a year later, another attack tested China's systems again, but this time in Venezuela against a much more advanced U.S. military. Venezuela had purchased China's JY-27A anti-stealth radar to use with the Russian S-300VM SAM system to build a layered air defense network.

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During the U.S. raid on Caracas, U.S. radar jammers disrupted the Chinese radar system before the missiles could even lock on. Combat reports indicate there were no confirmed interceptions by Venezuela. The mission was a success for America and another failure for China's radar system.

Analysts say radar disruptions and a lack of a fully cohesive system led to the system's failure in Iran over the weekend. Iran had used a defense system comprising Russian, Chinese and domestic technologies. This led to a slower response time since they don't operate on the same system.

How has China responded?

Since the joint operation against Iran, China has denied supplying Iran with the system. The Chinese embassy in Israel said that it "never exports weapons to countries engaged in warfare and maintains strict controls on the export of dual-use items."

However, Iranian officials previously said that China was exporting the HQ-9B system to Iran "in significant numbers," Newsweek reports.

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Chinese officials have also pointed to user error as the reason its systems were inadequate, like in the case of Pakistan. The Chinese government took to social media, accusing the Pakistani military of a lack of professionalism in deploying the defense system, according to reports.

The Chinese government also asked the Pakistani government to conceal or destroy any evidence confirming the HQ-9B's failure, according to the Indian publication Mizzima.

China touts its HQ-9B as comparable to Russia's S-400 and the American Patriot systems, but much cheaper. All three systems offer anti-ballistic and anti-air capabilities for both low-flying and high-altitude threats.

China's system has impressed Western experts with features such as the system's ability to maintain lock on a target after launch, even if enemies jam the ground radar. However, they also point to problems with the system's radar, which allows jammers to easily exploit it.

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In all three instances of the system's failure, its radar had issues.

What does this mean for a potential Taiwan invasion?

While America's Patriot defense system has a combat record, China's HQ-9B is only now being tested and is not performing well. This puts China's domestic defense in question, since the country has deployed this system on South China Sea. China has also deployed a naval variant of the system on its naval destroyers.

Taiwan is paying close attention to its performance. Shu Hsiao-huang, a scholar at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, believed the incident in Iran proves that America's investments in new fighter jets and other high-tech weaponry have paid off.

John Culver, a former CIA senior analyst on China's military, said China might look scary, but he questions if it could withstand a U.S. strike.

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"The force that China has built looks highly capable on paper, but they haven't been to war in a very long time and their ability to conduct complex, large-scale integrated joint operations is unproven," Culver told Brookings. "It remains unclear whether even Xi Jinping is confident that the PLA can provide him with real military operations for a decisive victory."

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A Palm Beach County man on his way to work at a high-end Louis Vuitton store was delayed by a 7-foot boa constrictor lounging in his driveway and an anxious neighbor who told police he was going to shoot it to death with his gun.

Jay Slagle, whose Riviera Beach home abuts a pocket of dense forest, said he initially saw the snake from his second-floor window on March 1 and by the time he got downstairs it had casually stretched out to its full length and appeared in no hurry to go anywhere.

It was just super mellow, said Slagle, 65, who until Sunday had lived in his Riviera Beach community for 23 years without any snake encounters.

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But it is South Florida, home to a multitude of critters, some invasive, some native and none who understand what it means to be late for a job at an iconic handbag and luxury clothing store.

My one neighbor was scared. They said you are on your own, Slagle said. Ive got my work clothes on so what am I going to do? It was big. It could easily eat a cat.

Boa constrictors and Burmese pythons are both invasive species in Florida with pythons having the more harmful impact for now after becoming established in the mid-1980s and eating their way through the Everglades.

A Florida Museum of Natural History website said boa constrictors lived wild in Florida possibly as far back as the 1970s but have only one established breeding population in and around the Charles Deering Estate in Miami.

What is the difference between a boa constrictor snake and a python?

Python hunter Taylor Stanberry, who won the $10,000 grand prize in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge, identified Slagles snake as a boa constrictor after seeing a photo and video of it. Two other reptile experts agreed it was a boa constrictor.

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Stanberry also operates a venomous snake relocation program with her husband Rhett Stanberry. She said it can be hard for a lay person to know the differences between one big snake and another.

While pythons have bold, dark blotches on their skin like a giraffe, boa constrictors have more hourglass-shaped markings on skin that is tan, light brown, grayish brown or cream colored.

Stanberry suspects the boa constrictor in Slagles driveway was a pet, and an expensive one.

Depending on the type, boa constrictors can cost from under $100 to more than $1,000. Boa constrictors are not a prohibited species in Florida, but it is illegal to release non-native animals into the wild.

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Slagle said he made several unsuccessful phone calls for help. A neighbor also called police.

Theres a big a-- python in front of my door, the neighbor said according to the 911 recording. Im about to shoot it. I dont want to get charged with discharging a firearm in a residential area. Im just saying.

Riviera Beach resident Jay Slagle was heading to his job at a high-end Louis Vuitton in Palm Beach Gardens on March 1, 2026 but first he had to wrangle a 5 to 7-foot snake that was in his driveway.

Slagle was able to shovel the snake into a trash bin with the help of a police officer. He said he estimated it weighed as much as 30 pounds. Riviera Beach Police called a trapper to fetch the snake.

I put in the Teams chat that I was going to be 10 minutes late to work, Slagle said about being sidelined by the snake. They joked that they could make shoes out of it.

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Owners of exotic pets who can no longer care for the animals can contact FWC's Exotic Pet Amnesty Program by emailing PetAmensty@myfwc.com or calling the invasive species hotline at 888-483-4681, ext. 1.

Kimberly Miller is a journalist for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA. She covers weather, the environment and critters as the Embracing Florida reporter. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at palmbeachpost.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida man near West Palm Beach gets boa snake removed from driveway
Eric Birchler has had his real estate license since 1989. So when he gets thrown by a frantic call, you know somethings up.

This lady called me concerned that she was going to have to lift her house, Birchler told NJ.com. He heard the uneasiness in her voice. I calmed her down, he said, but misinformation and confusion is circulating everywhere about New Jerseys new flood elevation regulation.

And shes far from alone. All across the shore, theres been one reaction to the states new demands, he said: panic.

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The Department of Environmental Protections new Resilient Environments and Landscapes, or R.E.A.L., rule hasnt actually kicked in yet. Its set to take effect July 20.

Once it does, new homes built in flood-risk areas will need to be raised 4 feet higher than the current standard. Homes now are raised based on FEMA-set base flood elevations. The states new elevation requirement will be in addition to the federal standard.

So, for example, after the rule kicks in, a new home constructed in a New Jersey floodplain where the federal base flood elevation is 1 foot (and the town has no specific elevation rules of its own), that structure would need to be elevated 5 feet instead.

The rule wont impact already built homes or those in the hopper before it officially kicks in. But it will apply to houses undergoing renovations that add up to 50% or more of the homes value.

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Certain structures, such as residential buildings, will be required to elevate to the FEMA base flood elevation plus 4 feet to account for future storm surge, plus 1 foot of freeboard, Larry Hajna, a DEP spokesperson, said.

Critics call the new rule extreme, but state officials and supporters say the numbers are in line with the upper range of sea level rise projections by the year 2100 outlined by Rutgers University.

If it moves forward as planned, the rule would be the first regulation in the nation to account for future sea-level rise based on the most recent climate science, according to state DEP spokespeople.

Moving forward  if implemented successfully  this will be a game changer for New Jersey, Anjuli Ramos-Busot, the state director of the Sierra Club, said on the phone.

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When you are at the epicenter of climate change  and that is not an exaggeration, we are at great, great risk due to our coast being eroded and because of sea level rise  you have to take proactive measures to protect your people," Ramos-Busot said.

Rutgers University experts noted last year that the way current global emissions are going, New Jersey is likely to see 2.2 to 3.8 feet of sea-level rise by 2100  or up to 4.5 feet if ice-sheet melt revs up.

Ocean County, a heavily-built and idyllic shore destination brimming with businesses and beach spots, is perhaps the most poignant litmus test for how much a place is willing to change when the state says science calls for more aggressive construction limits.

My biggest concern is its going to stop development and stop the market, said Birchler, where people arent going to do anything because they cant get the approvals done.

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Because, he says, the new elevation rule will not only come with a bevy of clerical, design and architectural requirements  which come with costs of their own.

They changed the permitting process, Birchler added of the DEPs steps, you have to deal through the state now.

Broader fears over how the rule will impact the shore have translated into a legal challenge (a notice of appeal filed in February) from Cape May, Ocean and Monmouth counties seeking to tweak or pull the rule entirely. Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Union, on Feb. 24 also introduced a resolution to withdraw or change the rule  saying it was inconsistent with legislative intent.

A lot of money, and the future of development at the shore, is on the line, Commissioner Frank Sadeghi told NJ.com in a statement.

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The R.E.A.L. rule could have a devastating impact, he said.

N.J. county is worried state's flood rule will hamper development, local economy

A trip to the shore

The corner of Holly Street and Ocean Avenue in Lakewood is mostly sleepy in mid-February.

Thats until the construction noise kicks up, and an olive pick-up truck pulls up to a stretch of elevated homes in the final stages of construction.

Closer to the water in Mantoloking, a Jersey Shore gem, its hard to drive down Ocean Avenue and ignore the development. Months before the summer starts, the main thoroughfare is flanked by excavators, trucks and workers in hard hats.

New Jerseys new elevation rule was adopted Jan. 20 as Gov. Phil Murphy passed the baton to Gov. Mikie Sherrill. And as development is surging at the shore.

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In the most densely populated state in the nation rebuilding and new development have come back in full force in coastal areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy, including Mantoloking, Beach Haven, Little Egg Harbor, and Point Pleasant, according to a NJ.com review of building permit records between 2012 and 2022.

Ocean County, among the most developed counties statewide, approved more than 25,000 multi-family units just in 2024 (considered a significant spike, the county said).

Officials there and some business stakeholders are not happy about a rule requiring stricter standards when it comes to elevating new homes.

(It) would render many development and redevelopment projects financially untenable and effectively create no build zones in some of our communities, Ocean County Commissioner Sadeghi said.

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The state DEP has denied that no build zones would be formed as part of the rule. It also noted some towns already have flood elevation ordinances (above FEMA regulations) of their own.

But Sadeghi is worried the rule will reduce property values, starve shore communities of local tax revenue, and mandate expensive flood insurance, even in areas that have never flooded and likely will never flood.

Since last fall, Monmouth County has sounded the alarm on the rule, the commissioner director there, Thomas Arnone, said in a statement.

We know that we need more partners in this fight, he said amid legal steps this month.

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Officials in Cape May County agreed.

In a summary of why it was opposed to the rule, Cape May officials said the DEP has exceeded its authority. Those actions will result in significant economic burdens on residents and local governments, officials in the states southern most county said.

Regulations laid out by R.E.A.L. may create disincentives to renovation, redevelopment, and (impose) significant economic burdens on lower-valued properties in large areas of the state, Scutaris resolution notes.

These regulations will drive up the cost of housing and go far beyond what FEMA has been recommending, he told NJ.com on Monday.

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He thinks the rule should be further studied.

Asked about analysis completed by Ocean County to determine how the local economy would be impacted by the rule, officials did not immediately provide more information.

New Jersey has studied what the rule will mean economically for the shore. It acknowledged short-term costs but deemed the regulations sensible in the long run.

It is ... worth noting that the housing sector and individual homes will experience greater harm from increasingly severe flooding and storms without the rules requirements, the DEP responded to a commenter.

In response to other concerns, the state additionally said it does not require development to have flood insurance. FEMA oversees those steps.

Other types of structures, outside of homes owned by residents such as commercial properties, can instead flood-proof structures rather than elevate, regulators said.

But the rule will bring about other needed and innovative improvements  expanding the building of dunes and creating living shorelines where it makes sense, according to the state department.

N.J. county is worried state's flood rule will hamper development, local economy

Does it add up?

Its easy to get lost in the weeds of flood policy.

And yet for supporters of building with resiliency in mind, the math can be simple.

Damages from 2012s Sandy in New Jersey exceeded $30 billion. The storm killed 40 people from 13 counties. The remnants of Hurricane Ida from five years ago led to more than 25 deaths and brought its own heavy financial toll in the billions.

The rate of sea level rise in New Jersey is at least twice the global average rate, state scientists say.

Plug a Jersey Shore address into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations interactive sea level rise tool, and your eyes are bound to widen when toggling to between 3 to 5 feet of increased water levels.

One global study estimates that Newark and New York City had a combined population of 1,540,000 people exposed to coastal flooding in 2020 and projects that this number will increase to (more than 2.9 million) people in 2070 due to climate change, the Department of Environmental Protection said.

Gov. Sherrill could reverse course on New Jerseys new R.E.A.L. flood rule entirely because it is not a law, its an administrative rule.

Her office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Sierra Club  citing Sherrills track record as a congresswoman on flood-related policy  hopes she will keep the rule in place.

Ramos-Busot is cautiously relieved R.E.A.L. has made progress.

Withdrawing from the rule would send the wrong message, she said.

If the state revokes it, for instance via Scutaris resolution, she wondered: What is the legislature doing to protect people from flooding?

The DEP (which has a Myths and Facts page about the rule) cited the ongoing litigation when asked about the future of the new rule and concerns shared by Jersey Shore officials.

Development, even in the expanded flood hazard area and inundation risk zone under REAL is still allowed, state spokespeople emphasized. The rules just require they be constructed so they will not be inundated or destroyed during the useful life of the structure.

Allison McLeod directs the nonprofit New Jersey League of Conservation Voters (which the acting DEP Commissioner Ed Potosnak previously headed).

She welcomes the rule and said it should not be lost that being resilient in the face of climate impacts can be an economic boon too.

McLeod cited Stafford, an outlier of sorts in Ocean County because since 2021 it has required new homes and new home renovations in risky areas to be built two feet above the federal base flood elevation requirement. Local officials in Stafford said that year more than 3,000 properties had National Flood Insurance Program policies and via a voluntary FEMA program saw major savings. Policyholders across the township altogether saved on average north of $1 million each year by participating.

Homeowners have gained significantly from elevating, being part of the federal incentive program and preparing for a stark future given that more than 4,000 of the 16,000 properties in town are in a hazardous flood area, said Matthew von der Hayden, the administrator in Stafford.

We try to do the extra thing on everything, said von der Hayden of Staffords mindset on resiliency.

Still, the League of Conservation Voters highlighted the rule is by no means perfect.

My largest concern with the adoption is that there is an exemption for affordable housing, McLeod said, pointing to a waiver in specific circumstances given the states housing goals.

Because what you are saying is you are going to allow construction potentially of affordable housing in places that you know are going to flood, she said.

Some, like Nancy Oboyski, the worried homeowner who called her realtor to ask about the specifics of the new rule, was dubious about whether preparing now for projected sea levels in the year 2100 is really necessary.

Sandy was what year, 2012? I dont think anything like that has ever hit the Jersey Shore, Oboyski said.

So, Im hoping in my lifetime nothing like that ever happens again.

Randall Laing, a builder whose family business has 54 years at the shore, had his own curiosities, including how will project approvals in areas deemed at-risk be streamlined if the state is stepping in.

Laing  who cant think of a state regulation ever having such sweeping implications  is worried for what the rule will mean for the Jersey Shores future.

He usually has up to three projects lined up for the fall by now. He has one so far.

The 51-year-old builder wondered if it was because of people getting wind of the new rule.

My fear is a serious exit from New Jersey.

Real estate agent says N.J. homeowners are very confused about new building rule

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Only half joking, Jennie DeSerio described herself as the definition of a helicopter parent.

A stay-at-home mom, she made her own organic baby food, joined the PTA, attended every sporting event and, when the time came for smart devices, implemented every child control she could find.

But her oversight, she said, was no match for the AI-driven algorithm she believes drove her son to suicide.

Over a 13-day spiral in the first half of November 2022, the TikTok content recommended to her son, Mason Edens, morphed from encouraging messages about depression to depictions of suicide.

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Mason, still reeling from a breakup, was inundated by videos of suicidal ideation, DeSerio said. Not because he had searched for it, she said, but because the artificial intelligence had learned something about him.

On Nov. 14, Mason died by suicide in his Arkansas home, using a gun just like the hundreds of videos he had seen.

As a plaintiff in one of several high profile lawsuits against social media giants, DeSerio is convinced that her experience tells a much broader story about the unique threat AI poses to young people.

It is sending our children not what they are looking for, but what they cant look away from, DeSerio told the Deseret News.

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This strategy extends beyond social media powered by AI to the rapidly evolving world of AI models that accumulate personal information to mesmerize and manipulate, according to DeSerio.

Since 2022, DeSerio, who was born and raised in Ogden, Utah, has crisscrossed the country, urging local and congressional lawmakers to regulate AI companies despite overwhelming industry opposition.

It is sending our children not what they are looking for, but what they cant look away from. Jennie DeSerio

That mission has brought her back to the Beehive State where legislators are currently debating the balance between AI policy and parental rights. But she thinks this frame misses the real picture.

There is not a parent in America that can outsmart an algorithm, DeSerio said. Parents do not stand a chance.

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As the legislative session comes to a close, lawmakers are advancing child protections for AI. But DeSerio worries the most impactful bill has already died at the hands of the nations most powerful AI bureaucrat.

Trump administration opposes Utah bill

On Feb. 12, the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs sent top lawmakers a one-line memo declaring the administrations all-out opposition to HB286, sponsored by Rep. Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman.

The bill would require AI firms behind the latest frontier models to publish internal risk assessments, to post child protection plans on their websites and to report safety incidents to Utahs AI office.

Unlike Utahs prior policies, which offered liability protection for AI companies, HB286 would establish civil penalties of up to $3 million and would provide whistleblower protections for those who report safety concerns.

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We are categorically opposed to Utah HB286 and view it as an unfixable bill that goes against the administrations AI agenda, said the letter, viewed by the Deseret News, which was first reported by Axios.

The memo did not include further explanation. President Donald Trump had signed an order in December challenging state AI laws after failing to include an AI moratorium in legislation over the summer and fall.

The order empowered the Department of Justice to preempt state policies that would slow AI innovation by creating an unworkable patchwork of laws. However, it included carve-outs for child safety protections.

The White Houses February memo sparked the ire of child protection activists, including Melissa McKay, president of the Utah-based Digital Childhood Institute, who pointed the finger at Trumps AI czar, David Sacks.

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I dont know why an unelected bureaucrat from Silicon Valley like David Sacks is telling us how to protect our own families in Utah, McKay told the Deseret News.

Last week, DeSerio sent a letter to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore asking them to reconsider HB286.

The letter, which was signed by eight other parents of children who were harmed or died after extended use of AI-driven platforms, called HB286 one of the most important AI safety bills in the country.

We are writing because we have learned, at devastating cost, what happens when bills like this die, it said. " When we look at what is happening with AI, and at who is trying to stop HB286, we are watching the same deadly cycle begin again."

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On Monday, Schultz told the Deseret News HB286 would likely not receive a floor vote because the bill went well beyond protecting kids, straying into troubling regulatory territory that lawmakers need more time to work through.

HB286 departed from Utahs approach to AI policy by shaping a widely applicable technology instead of responding to a specific product application, said Cullimore, who sponsored most of the states prior AI bills, on Tuesday.

Who is responsible to monitor AI  parents or the government?

On Tuesday, Sutherland Institute convened some of Utahs most influential voices on AI child safety for a panel discussion on whether state lawmakers should consider policies like HB286. Or whether AI policy should be left to parents.

Sutherland also unveiled a new survey which found that 80% of Utah voters thought it was primarily the responsibility of parents to monitor a childs AI usage, compared to 8% who said tech companies and 3% who said state government.

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A majority of voters also said it was the parents job to prevent access to harmful AI content. But one-third said this burden should fall on tech companies and 42% said tech companies should be responsible for protecting child data privacy.

I dont trust that these technology companies ... are ever going to come to the table unless theyre forced to. Its going to take some regulation from government. Its going to take parents speaking out. Aimee Winder Newton, director of the Utah Office of Families

Voters also support some form of regulation: 87% said there should be some (40%) or heavy (47%) regulation of AI businesses. A similar share preferred regulation of AI applications in science, health care, education and government.

Aimee Winder Newton, who serves as the director of the Utah Office of Families, said the same principles behind Utahs bold war against Big Tech, through social media age verification and lawsuits, should apply to Utahs treatment of AI.

I dont trust that these technology companies ... are ever going to come to the table unless theyre forced to, Winder Newton said. Its going to take some regulation from government. Its going to take parents speaking out.

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Utah Department of Commerce Director Margaret Busse, who oversees the office of AI policy, said the states position is that AI algorithms are not protected free speech, they are product features that ought to be regulated.

Busse echoed Cullimore in saying the states role is to regulate how AI is deployed, from a consumer protection stand point, not how the underlying technology is developed. AI needs guardrails, she said, so it can be trusted instead of feared.

But hyperfocusing on AI, simply because it is a disruptive technology, is a mistake, according to Chris Koopman, the CEO of the Utah-based Abundance Institute.

Too often conversations around AI treat the technology as a totally separate product from television or streaming services, which, Koopman pointed out, are left alone by regulators as being the purview of parental preferences.

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Does it empower or replace parental decision making? Koopman asked. Parents are going to have to be the bad guy. Were going to have to figure out as a society how do we operate with an entire generation of digital natives.

But policies like HB286 dont replace parents, or hamper innovation, they require transparency from some of the worlds largest companies, who have been caught prioritizing engagement over child health, according to DeSerio.

I dont understand how anybody can say this is a bad parent, bad kid issue, DeSerio said. Thats just a scapegoat for the lack of regulation. And as long as that narrative keeps being fed, children are going to continue to die.

Utah Legislature still considering AI regulations

Utah legislative leaders have backed away from HB286 after it became the clearest example yet of the White House targeting state level AI policy. However, the Legislature is on track to pass several significant AI regulations this session.

Leadership is backing another bill from Fiefia, HB438, which requires AI chatbots to receive consent before using the data of users who are minors, to disclose when its content is an advertisement and to report to the AI policy office annually.

The bill also prohibits chatbots from generating responses that encourage suicidal ideation, self-harm, harm to others or illegal activity. If the user expresses suicidal thoughts, the chatbot must provide a referral to crisis services.

The bill passed the House last week and advanced through a Senate committee on Monday. Fiefias HB408, which passed the House Monday and Senate committee Tuesday, requires social media to let users transfer personal data to other platforms.

SB256, sponsored by Cullimore, R-Sandy, would follow laws passed last year establishing rules for mental health chatbots, expanding prohibitions on AI abuse of personal identity and establishing AI disclosure requirements for businesses.

The bill would clarify that Utahs defamation law applies to any AI-generated image, or deep fake, that is created without the subjects permission. The bill would expand the definition of abuse of personal identity to include AI representations.

Senators and a House committee have advanced another bill that would make Utah only the second state in the country to create a new tax on targeted online advertising, which makes up nearly all of the revenue of internet behemoths like Facebook and Google.

SB287, sponsored by Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, would apply the states 4.7% sales tax to companies that derive at least $1 million from targeted advertising in Utah, and $100 million overall, if advertising is at least 50% of revenues.

These policies mark a promising step in the right direction, according to DeSerio. But without HB286, they leave AI companies that interact daily with more and more children without a common sense transparency framework, she said.

A poll conducted in January by Public Opinion Strategies, and obtained by the Deseret News, found that more than 90% of Utah voters supported every component of HB286, with around 80% signaling strong support, DeSerio noted.

After years of recounting her loss to members of Congress and state legislators, DeSerio has grown used to policymakers siding with industry giants even as an increasing number of parents feel like they are in a losing battle with AI platforms.

We havent even got social media under control, and now were introducing AI to our children, DeSerio said. So now here I am, just over three years later, and I cry every single day still, and my son should still be here.
By Che Pan and Laurie Chen

BEIJING, March 4 (Reuters) - The head of Alibaba Group's Qwen artificial intelligence model division, Lin Junyang, said on Wednesday he would be stepping down from his role, becoming the third senior Qwen executive to depart this year.

"Bye my beloved Qwen," Lin wrote in a post on X, without providing further explanation.

Yu Bowen, who headed post-training for Qwen, also resigned on Wednesday, Chinese media outlet LatePost reported.

That follows the departure of Hui Binyuan, a staff research scientist focused on coding, in January.

The three men did not respond to requests for comment. Alibaba also did not respond to requests for comment on the departures.

Alibaba's shares were down 4% in Wednesday afternoon trade, underperforming a 2.8% slide for the Hong Kong market that was swept up in a broad selloff as investors fretted over the impact of the Iran war.

Lin's exit comes two days after Qwen released updated products.

Monthly active users for Qwen's mobile app surged to 203 million in February from 31.05 million in January. It now ranks third globally behind OpenAI's ChatGPT and ByteDance's Doubao app, according to AICPB.com, which tracks AI products.

The jump came after Chinese tech giants launched aggressive campaigns to draw more users to their apps during the Lunar New Year holidays.

Alibaba has released more than 400 open-source Qwen models since 2023. The models have been downloaded over 1 billion times.

(Reporting by Che Pan, Laurie Chen and Brenda Goh; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
A parolee with a criminal record that includes 131 prior busts was arrested for setting a homeless man on fire as the victim slept at Penn Station, police said Wednesday.

Damon Johnson, 47, was arrested Tuesday by officers with the Amtrak Police Department and charged with attempted murder and assault for the attack on Monday that left a 37-year-old man with second-degree burns on his arm and back, according to law enforcement. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court the following day, where he was ordered held without bail.

Just hours before Johnsons arraignment on Wednesday, Amtrak police nabbed a 33-year-old woman, who they charged with assault for the attack, said police.

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But Manhattan District Attorney prosecutors have declined to prosecute the woman as they searched for more evidence in her case. Police sources said the woman was with Johnson when the fire was started but it was unclear if she had done anything criminal at the scene.

The victim was dozing near a W. 33rd St. entrance to Penn Stations Amtrak rotunda near Eighth Ave. when he was approached by three people, one of whom set fire to the mans clothes around 8:30 p.m., cops said.

During Johnsons arraignment, Callum Mullan, a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorneys office, described video of the attack that shows Johnson leaning over the victim, who moments later begins wailing and convulsing and scrambled to his feet with his jacket on fire.

Video posted online shows the victim on his feet, with flames spreading across his arm, trying to fend off his attackers as they throw him to the ground. The victim can be seen struggling to remove his burning sweatshirt, the video shows.

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First responders quickly put out the flames and rushed the victim to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornells burn unit.

After the attack, the three men fled into the station.

Johnson is currently on parole for a 2018 robbery, in which he slashed a students face before taking cash from his pockets, according to Mullan, who said the victim required more than 100 stitches.

Beginning in 1995 with an assault charge in the Bronx, Johnsons criminal record includes 131 prior arrests, cops said.

Before Tuesday, Johnson was most recently cuffed for an assault on Sept. 9, 2024, in which he punched and slapped a 56-year-old woman in the face during an argument on E. Tremont Ave. and Grand Concourse in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx.

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Johnson faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years to life for the attempted murder at Penn Station due to his status as a persistent violent felon, Mullan said.

The arson at Penn Station comes as Mayor Mamdanis Department of Homeless Services faces increased scrutiny after at least 19 New Yorkers died on the streets amid a recent cold snap, 15 of whom succumbed to hypothermia. The majority of those who died had some contact with Homeless Services over the course of their lives, according to the city.
MEXICO CITY  Lois Munoz, originally from Brooklyn, New York, has been living in her husband Alfredos family compound in Puebla, Mexico, for the past three months. Because she has no car and speaks very little Spanish, her world has shrunk dramatically from the busy life she led as a waitress at a diner in Middletown, New York.

Munoz is one of a growing number of Americans whove made the move south, choosing to accompany their undocumented spouses who are voluntarily leaving in light of President Donald Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration.

A report released in December by American Families United, a nonprofit organization advocating for U.S. citizens and their immigrant spouses, estimated that 1.5 million U.S. citizens are separated or live in fear of separation from the person or country they love because they are in relationships with mixed immigration statuses. The report details the impact for children born of mixed-status marriages, who remain in limbo because of their parents immigration statuses.

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NBC News spoke with three families facing wrenching choices: stay in the U.S. and risk a loved ones ending up in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, restart their lives together in Mexico or decide to live apart.

Lois Munoz said anxiety over her husband's welfare drove her to uproot her life and leave New York. (Koral Carballo for NBC News) (Koral Carballo for NBC News)

For Munoz, making the move to Mexico was an easier legal path than risking her husband being detained. Americans married to or in common-law relationships with Mexican nationals can apply for temporary, then permanent, Mexican residency under Family Unit rules and then obtain work permits. However, the move came with significant sacrifices, as well as a language barrier.

I lost everything; everythings gone. All my Christmas stuff gone that I saved for years, all my Halloween decorations, Munoz said in a video call. But its OK. My husbands going to be safe.

She admitted that it has been lonely. Your husbands there, but its not like youve got a friend. I thank God I have my two cats, because they are company, she said.

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The couple got together almost 18 years ago when Alfredo asked Lois to dance at a bar.

As their relationship progressed, he told her that he had originally gone to the U.S. illegally to earn money to help his ailing parents, she said. Alfredo said he walked across the border illegally in 2003, was able to fly home and back, and then last entered in September 2010. Because Alfredo had more than one illegal entry, he was permanently barred from legal pathways to stay.

Alfredo and Lois Munoz previously visited the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. (Koral Carballo for NBC News) (Koral Carballo for NBC News)

After we got married, we inquired with a couple of lawyers and never got anywhere. And, you know, we were OK, she said.

The couple plowed themselves into work and werent fearful  until Trump took office.

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I worried about him every time he left the house. He worked all over the New York area and New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Munoz said about his construction work. We were always hearing stories about Oh, they took so and so, they took so and so. I was always worried, worried, worried.

Its a stark change for Munoz, who is in her 50s and a mother of four adult children still in the U.S.

I was around people constantly. I had regular clientele where I worked. So I was always socializing. On my days off, I was constantly going, she said. Now I feel like I have no sense of purpose.

Alfredo is hopeful about their new life in Mexico. It was like a month that I felt a little strange, a little different, he said in Spanish. But now, it seems that were both going to fit in here.

Haley Pulver moved to Mexico City from Connecticut in August with her partner of three years, Oscar Enriquez. (Courtesy Haley Pulver) (Courtesy Haley Pulver)

The Munozes arent alone in their move.

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North of Puebla, in Mexico City, Haley Pulver, 34, is navigating a similar journey.

She moved here from Connecticut in August with her partner of three years, Oscar Enriquez.

The pair met on the dating app Tinder and started out as friends. Enriquez said he remembers being lonely, with no friends outside of his welding work, and how he felt he could be fully himself when he was with her.

It was a while before she knew he was living in the U.S. undocumented. He told her that he had unknowingly overstayed a visa in 2019, she said. Then, two months later, he was detained for about a week before he was released. He had never been in jail before, so it was shocking, he said of being taken away in chains.

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Pulver said a judge issued an order for his removal last year.

I dont remember the specific conversation that we had, but he brought it up. And then, of course, I had to get the info. So I asked 500 questions, she said.

Lois and Alfredo Munoz at the Zocalo, or main town square, in Puebla, Mexico, on Feb. 24. (Koral Carballo for NBC News) (Koral Carballo for NBC News)

Pulver, like many of the loved ones of undocumented migrants, was using apps and Facebook to track the whereabouts of federal agents.

It got to the point where the ICE situation just seemed so out of control. We had plans in case he got pulled over. It got to a point where it was very stressful, she said.

That stress, in addition to the order for his removal, led Pulver to sell her car and furniture, quit her job as a rights and clearances coordinator for ITV America, pack her entire life into a giant box and two suitcases and move to Mexico.

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It was very difficult at first, because I had never left the United States. Id never even left the East Coast, she said. They moved into a home in the capital that Enriquez had purchased using money hed saved from work in the U.S.

My Spanish was very limited, and his parents dont really speak English. Ive slowly been getting out of the house by myself, she said.

Meanwhile, Enriquez said, they are getting used to their new life. Im rediscovering Mexico City, because it was a long time ago I left, he said. So Im trying to rediscover everything with her.

Melissa Byrd is living apart from her partner of almost two decades, Jesus Jimenez Meza. (Courtesy Melissa Byrd ) (Courtesy Melissa Byrd)

For now, Melissa Byrd is living apart from her partner of almost two decades, Jesus Jimenez Meza. She is in South Carolina, and he is in Veracruz.

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Byrd and Jimenez got together in the unlikeliest of circumstances  she was grieving her husband, who died in 2007 after having been unwell for many years, when her 9-year-old son set her up with his friends uncle.

My daughter was actually dating one of his nephews at the time, Byrd, who has worked for a school district in various capacities for decades, said. He basically took my son under his wing and was kind of like a father figure to him. And even to this day, theyre just like this. Theyre so close.

Jimenez, who had overstayed after he entered the U.S. on a work visa in the late 1990s, was helping raise both of Byrds grandchildren. Then, in February 2025, he was sued for breach of contract by a construction client, Byrd said. Though a judge threw the case out, ICE agents arrived the next day, and he was taken to a detention center in Georgia before he was sent to Mexico on a government-chartered flight, she said.

Life in Puebla has been a stark change for Lois Munoz, who speaks very little Spanish and whose four adult children are in the U.S. (Koral Carballo for NBC News) (Koral Carballo for NBC News)

The pair reunited in Veracruz and spent a few days on a beach to decompress.

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In the year since Jimenez returned to Mexico, Byrd has visited him four times. She hopes to move there in a year when her granddaughter is a little older and has adjusted to going to day care.

Everybody relied on Jesus. He was the backbone of our family, and thats not here anymore, she said.

The Department of Homeland Security said 2.2 million people who were in the country illegally have self-deported since January 2025. With over 700,000 deportations during President Trumps first year in office, those still in this country illegally should realize that this administration will enforce the laws of this nation, a spokesperson said in a statement.

The realities for couples like Byrd and Jimenez are both challenging and complex. Long-standing immigration law bars people who have overstayed their visas by more than a year from returning to the U.S. for a decade, even if theyre married to American citizens.

Alfredo Munoz is hopeful about their new life in Mexico even though he said it took some time to adjust. (Koral Carballo for NBC News) (Koral Carballo for NBC News)

Its something the proposed American Families United Act, a bipartisan bill introduced last March, is looking to challenge.

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Under the act, immigration judges and officials would be able to weigh the impact of family separation and grant families relief case by case.

While the bill seems currently stalled, if it passed, it would make a huge difference to Lois Munoz, who, despite having been married to Alfredo since 2016, has no way of fast-tracking his return to the U.S.

In the meantime, her life in Puebla has narrowed to taking the bus into town for pedicures and her extended familys daily 2 p.m. lunch together. That has brought along a new challenge: On Fridays, its her turn to prepare lunch, she said.

Do you know how intimidating it is cooking Mexican meals for a Mexican family in the middle of Mexico?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Last year, Pensacola entered into a two-year contract with Flock Safety for automatic license plate readers using opioid settlement funds.

The city's plan that was submitted to Florida's council overseeing state funds never directly mentioned using the money for the controversial camera system.

The city's 2024-2025 plan to the Florida Statewide Opioid Abatement Council that is overseeing the nearly $3.1 billion in settlement funds being paid out over 17 years said the funds would be used to buy hand-held narcotics detectors as well as training criminal investigative teams on overdose deaths and "investigative technology support for overdose and overdose death investigations," and possibly vehicle purchases.

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In a written statement to the News Journal, City Attorney Adam Cobb said that the Police Department considers that "operationally, the Flock LPRs (license plate readers) qualify as investigative technology support for overdose and overdose death investigations."

In recent weeks, the city has been facing calls from members of the public questioning its contract with Flock Safety, a company that provides automatic license plate readers, and those questions were echoed by at least two members of the Pensacola City Council last week.

Councilman Charles Bare said the Pensacola Police Department needs the tools to do their job, but he doesn't trust Flock as a company to keep data secure.

"The amount of information you can get about people with Flock and to track their movements everywhereit's kind of scary," Bare said.

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Bare added that the council doesn't necessarily have a role in approving these types of service contracts, however.

"When the people voted to have a mayor-council form of government, they gave the mayor a lot of power," Bare said. "They gave us a lot of power too, but there are contracting abilities that he has that we may not be able to stop. So, we may all be lobbying the mayor to stop this."

Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier also questioned the use of opioid funds for the cameras.

"I am a person who has lost her own nephew to an opiate overdose within this city," Brahier said. "And for me, this has been incredibly big and important that we have this lawsuit, and I'm struggling with opioid money used for this purpose. And I don't actually like our rationale, and the rationale that was given to me on how this was done."

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Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves wasn't at the council meeting last week, but told the News Journal the decision to use Flock cameras was based on public safety expertise of the Pensacola Police Department.

Decisions made by this administration in public safety both follow the charter of this government and rely upon decades of actual, real public safety expertise," Reeves said. "Im proud to lead a safe community, and to have enough self-awareness as an elected official to ask an expert, not act like Im the expert.

The News Journal looked into how the purchase came about, and here's what we know.

When did Pensacola start using Flock cameras?

In July 2025, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves approved a two-year, $108,000 contract for 18 cameras from Flock Safety. The Pensacola Police Department had conducted a "trial" with five cameras starting in April 2025. The funds were from the settlement money from the national Opioid litigation.

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In a memo to the mayor, Interim Pensacola Police Chief Kristin Brown said the cameras had proven "invaluable" across the country in solving cases. The move to Flock first became public when Brown mentioned it at an August 2025 town hall.

How is Pensacola paying for Flock cameras?

Attached to the July 2025 memo was a budget amendment recognizing $152,000 in opioid settlement funds from Escambia County's Opioid Abatement Advisory Board.

In recent weeks, public speakers at City Council meetings have questioned the contract with Flock, particularly how the city was able to spend opioid funds on the contract.

The agreement with Escambia County required those funds could only be used to purchase five handheld narcotic detectors for police officers to test the presence of fentanyl and similar drugs in the field. However, it was not the Escambia County funds that are funding the Flock cameras.

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At the Feb. 26 City Council meeting, Cobb pointed out that the opioid settlement funds were "two buckets" of money, with the second bucket coming from direct state payments, and that the city has more control over how those state funds are allocated.

The first bucket is known as a "regional fund," for which Escambia County is expected to receive about $19.5 million, managed by the county's Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board.

The second "bucket" of money are payments directly to local governments, which is expected to be about 15% of the $3.1 billion settlement. Under the settlement agreement's breakdown of payments to local governments, Pensacola could receive up to $1.5 million and Escambia County up to $4.6 million in direct payments over the course of the settlement.

Pensacola has either received or will receive approximately $398,000 in settlement payments from 2023 to 2025, based on cross-referencing information in the state's annual report and settlement agreement.

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Any city receiving funds directly must file spending plans with the Florida Statewide Opioid Abatement Council, which is overseeing the settlement.

Can opioid money be used on Flock cameras?

The settlement agreement requires the funds to be used to address the opioid crisis under eight "core strategies," and it includes a 10-page list of "approved purposes" for funding that align with those strategies. State law requires each local government to submit annual spending plans for how those direct payments will be used.

The 2025 annual report of the Statewide Opioid Abatement Council reported that 247 city and county governments in Florida received approximately $29.5 million in opioid settlement funds that year. Of that, only 5%, about $1.4 million, was spent on first responders. The majority of funds in local governments, 67% or about $19.9 milion, are going to support treatment and recovery programs.

The annual report also notes that any local government seeking to avoid having its funding clawed back must use the funds "solely for approved purposes and core strategies."

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Pensacola's 2024-2025 plan said all of its funds for that year would be used to support law enforcement and first responders, and listed the hand-held narcotics detectors as well as training criminal investigative teams on overdose deaths and "investigative technology support for overdose and overdose death investigations" and possibly vehicle purchases.

The News Journal asked the city if the "investigative technology" referred to the Flock cameras, and Reeves said he would defer to the Pensacola Police Department. Pensacola Police Department spokesman Mike Wood said his understanding was that the document was prepared by City Hall, and the only PPD document that references the Flock camera funding was Brown's July 2025 memo.

The News Journal later received a follow-up statement attributed to City Attorney Adam Cobb:

"PPD leadership has confirmed that yes, operationally, the Flock LPRs (license plate readers) qualify as investigative technology support for overdose and overdose death investigations."

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KFF Health News, a national nonprofit health policy news outlet, reported last year that nationwide, some local governments were turning to opioid settlement funds to purchase non-abatement items like drones, rifle suppressors, and body cameras, while other states have completely banned any purchases of equipment not related to drug treatment. Florida restrictions are limited to preventing the funds to be used for any type of needle exchange or other drug useage, but it has also banned using the funds to buy firearms, promotional items and major construction projects.

What are Flock cameras?

Flock cameras have become the subject of intense scrutiny over the last year over privacy concerns and backlash to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.

Flock has become one of the largest providers of automated license plate readers, as its business model focuses on both local governments and private landowners.

Unlike red-light traffic cameras, the readers don't issue citations. Instead, they log the license plate number and the type of car that passes the camera. Flock also markets its system as having "vehicle fingerprint technology," where an AI system notes other details about the car, such as if it's towing a trailer or the type of bumper stickers.

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The company allows their customers to share data with one another, creating a network effect that critics have said raises privacy concerns.

Those concerns only deepened when news outlets began reporting that the cameras were also used to assist federal immigration enforcement actions.

The backlash led the company to issue a statement that it stopped all pilot programs with federal agencies in August 2025 and that it's up to Flock's individual customers to decide whether they would share data with federal agencies.

DeFlock.me, a website created by a Colorado-based activist, has a national database of every publicly identified license plate reader in the country. While the database is likely incomplete, it shows 36 license plate readers in Escambia County  most of them outside the city limits  and 34 in Santa Rosa County. They cover most high-trafficked areas, including every major bridge crossing and several high-traffic commercial properties.

The website lists 47 cities across the country that have either deactivated, rejected, or canceled contracts since 2025, with 10 occurring this year alone.

However, Flock cameras and license plate reader technology in general have been praised by law enforcement as tools for solving crimes.

Incoming Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom said at his first city press conference last month that there is a balance that has to be struck, but the technology is a part of modern society.

"Flock cameras are extremely helpful in investigating crimes, but there are also ways that you can take away some private information from the system to protect the public," Winstrom said. "So that it doesn't take a picture of the driver, for example, and it doesn't retain the information for too long."

Winstrom added that he had a homicide case during his time in Chicago where a Flock camera solved the case.

"We tracked a stolen vehicle that had shot a young man," Winstrom said. "And about an hour before it was involved in that murder, the individual had pulled up. We figured this out through Flock cameras, (they) pulled up to a Dairy Queen drive-thru without a ski mask and ordered. And we had a perfect, crystal clear picture of him eating an ice cream cone. And that same car in the same outfit was then seen when he had a ski mask on committing (the crime), and we got in charge and convicted of murder."

Other local law enforcement agencies that have similar pushback have still praised their use. This week, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden announced his agency was launching a transparency portal for its use of Flock cameras that shows the number of cars tracked and the policies his agency follows to use the cameras.

Okaloosa County's transparency portal showed its 81 cameras had detected 565,142 unique vehicles in the last 30 days, of which 198,676 were on the agency's "hotlist," which includes vehicles flagged in multiple federal and state crime databases, Florida-sanctioned drivers, Florida-expired tags, and Florida sex offender lists.

Aden said in a video statement that the cameras have led to hundreds of success stories in cases involving homicides, kidnappings, missing people, and stolen vehicles.

"These cameras are proven tools that help us prevent and solve serious crimes," Aden said "They are used regionally as well as nationwide by our counterparts and have been for years. Additionally, they are used in the private sector daily. In fact, I cannot think of an area where license plate readers do not exist, and those that do not have them are behind the curve and at a significant disadvantage when solving crime."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Flock Cameras funded by opioid settlement money
A soldier who made you feel important, a mother just days from returning home, and a son known to be the life of the party were among the group of six service members killed after an Iranian strike on a makeshift operation center in Kuwaits Shuaiba port Sunday, the Pentagon said.

Four of them had developed a kinship as they previously served in the same unit during 2019 in Kuwait, retired US Army Col. Josef Sujet, then chief of staff of the 103rd Sustainment Command, told CNN.

It goes to show the camaraderie in the unit that we had, that these soldiers felt so comfortable with each other that they would actually go back six years later and they came in the same unit, Sujet said.

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The attack came without warning on the second day of US and Israeli military operations against Iran. The slain soldiers were serving at what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as a tactical operation center that was fortified, when a projectile made it through air defenses.

A source familiar with the situation described the center as a triple wide trailer, surrounded by concrete barriers typically used to protect military structures overseas from things like car bombs and improvised explosive devices  but there was nothing overhead that could shield the building from drones or missiles.

The service members  all assigned the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit out of Iowa  varied in careers, but all dedicated themselves to public service, thousands of miles away from their families, despite the unmistakable risks.

Sgt. Declan Coady

Sgt. Declan Coady was among the youngest in his class, remembered by his sister as someone passionate about his varying interests like video games, anime and fencing. - US Army

Even as thousands of miles away kept him away from his family in Iowa, Declan Coady stayed in touch with them through messages hours before the attack, his sister Keira Coady wrote in a statement to CNN.

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I wish I had called him one more time and told him I loved him, she wrote, adding the loss of her brother was hard to accept.

The 20-year-old of Des Moines, Iowa, was a gym enthusiast, a fencer and an Eagle Scout who loved video games and anime, Keira Coady said about her brother.

And he also loved his job in the Army Reserve, even when he worked long days around the clock while overseas, his father, Andrew Coady, told the Associated Press.

Declan Coady enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 as an Army information technology specialist. Among the youngest in his class, Coady stood out to his instructors, according to his father.

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He was very good at what he did, his father said. While he was supposed to come home in May, he was considering extending his time for another nine months.

The soldier had received several military awards, including the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon and was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant. He told his father last week hed been recommended for the promotion, the AP reported.

He was a man of few words more often than not, but if you ever had the chance to talk to him about something he was passionate about, you were lucky, Keira Coady wrote.

While deployed in Kuwait, Coady was continuing his studies online in information systems, cybersecurity and computer science at Drake University, school officials told CNN, and had set his sights on becoming a commissioned officer, according to the AP. Drake officials described him as well-loved and highly dedicated.

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Coady had given his family updates about his safety while in Kuwait and when they suddenly stopped, his sister said the family tried to stay positive but knew something was wrong.

Just as the family got ready for bed Sunday evening, the doorbell rang, and the rest of that night will forever be one of the worst nights of our lives, Keira Coady wrote.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds honored Coady for his service, saying in a statement he heroically answered his nations call to duty and gave the ultimate sacrifice.

A GoFundMe page has been organized for Coadys family to assist with funeral and memorial expenses, travel costs, and other unexpected expenses as they navigate this heartbreaking time.

Capt. Cody Khork

Capt. Cody Khork was known for his "infectious spirit" and living a life defined by devotion, character and service. - US Army

Cody Khork, 35, was the life of the party, three of his family members said.

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He won awards for his dedication and service to the US Army, and behind his sense of duty was a man known for his infectious spirit, generous heart, and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him, his parents and stepmother wrote in a statement Tuesday.

Khorks life was largely defined by three things, according to his parents: devotion, character, and service.

He was from Lakeland, Florida, and enlisted in the National Guard in 2009 as a multiple launch rocket system/fire direction specialist. He attended Florida Southern College, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and was known in the school community for his leadership, character, and commitment to serving others, the university said in a statement.

Khork loved history and had a degree in political science, which showed his sharp mind and his sincere appreciation for the principles and sacrifices that have shaped our nation, his family said.

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After graduating college in 2014, Khork commissioned as a military police officer in the Army Reserve, and was later deployed to Saudi Arabia, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Poland.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Joint Service Achievement Medal.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Khorks mother and family to help with travel expenses above what the military is covering to receive Codys body, as well as travel expenses for out of state family to travel here to be with the immediate family, the fundraiser says.

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, a mother of two enjoyed gardening, spending time with her family and was known for her constant smile. - US Army

The last time Joey Amor spoke with his wife, the couple talked about her working long shifts and how she tripped and fell the night before. Their last conversation was just two hours before she died, he told the AP.

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Nicole Amor, a 39-year-old mother to a high school senior and a fourth-grader, was just days away from returning home, Joey Amor said.

She was almost home, he told the news outlet.

She was an avid gardener and enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her kids, the AP reported.

Nicole Amor, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, enlisted as an automated logistics specialist in the National Guard in 2005. She transferred to the Army Reserve a year later and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019.

Sujet, the retired US Army colonel, saw Amor almost daily at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. She was a very kind person who would often smile when he arrived for a morning update, he said.

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A week before the attack, Amors husband said things had been moved off base to a shipping container-style building, her husband told AP.

They were dispersing because they were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places, he said.

Amors decorations included the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal.

Because she loved gardening and found peace and joy in it, a GoFundMe has been organized to raise funds to build a greenhouse in her honor and for a nonprofit that helped her build gardens at home.

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The greenhouse will be a living space that reflects the love, warmth, and life she brought into this world, the fund says.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the state was mourning the loss of Amor.

She answered the call to serve and gave her life in service to our state and nation, Walz wrote on X. Minnesotans are wrapping our arms around her loved ones.

Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens

Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens made those around him feel important and was a double black belt in Taekwondo. - US Army

Those who were close with Noah Tietjens knew it was rare to see him with a smile but looks are deceiving, some of his friends told CNN.

The 42-year-old, who would have celebrated a birthday Thursday, was one of those people whos so easy to get along with, said Faith and Julius Melegrito, the owners of the Bellevue, Nebraska, studio where Tietjens spent his free time. He had earned a double black belt in Taekwondo and Filipino martial arts.

Regardless of what you may have needed, Tietjens was the kind of guy that was always around to help you, Army Staff Sgt. Jonn Coleman, a fellow Nebraska soldier, told CNN affiliate KETV.

He made you feel important, Coleman said. And thats hard to find sometimes in the military.

Coleman credits Tietjens mentorship as the reason he was able to advance his military career: He took me under his wing and got me to where I needed to be.

Tietjens enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2006 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. He was in his third deployment to Kuwait and had been there in 2019 with Amor, according to Sujet, the retired Army colonel, who described him as always professional and very technically competent.

His awards and decorations also include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

In Bellevue, martial arts was a big part of his familys life. He was an instructor and his wife and son also practiced.

The whole family basically, is a black belt, Melegrito said.

A college fund has been established for Tietjens son, the studio said.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen called for prayers for Tietjens family and praised the fallen soldiers service to the country.

Noah stepped up to serve and defend the American people from foreign enemies around the world  a sacrifice we must never forget, the governor wrote on X.

Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska said his heart and prayers are with the Tietjens family as they mourn the loss of their heroic son.

Maj. Jeffrey OBrien

Maj. Jeffrey OBrien is remembered as someone who was unafraid to speak his mind. - US Army

Jeffrey OBrien found ways to take care of his family even while serving thousands of miles away  a true hero in every sense of the word, his family said in a statement to CNN affiliate KCCI.

He was not only a role model to our kids, but also a goofy and silly dad, always looking for ways to make the kids laugh, his family said, remembering him as a caring husband, incredible friend, dedicated worker, and a man of deep faith.

OBrien was the sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid youd ever know, his aunt Mary Melchert said in a tribute on Facebook.

The 45-year-old was a husband and father to three children with a long military career, his aunt said.

We are in shock, grieving, and grappling with the reality that we have lost the most important man in our lives, and we are trying to come to terms with how we move forward, the familys statement reads.

OBrien was a computer engineering graduate of Iowa State University and had served in the reserves for nearly two decades, Melchert said.

He commissioned in the Army Reserve as a signal corps officer in 2012. Throughout his military service, he received several awards and decorations, including the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

He was killed while serving in support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, which oversees the resupply and sustainment of troops across the Middle East, according to the Pentagon.

OBrien was straightforward and unafraid to speak his mind as a captain while deployed to Kuwait in 2019, Sujet said.

He would tell me and give me his honest opinion on what I needed to know, he said. He was very frank and he was technically confident, very professional.

Gov. Reynolds expressed her condolences in a statement, Our hearts are broken by the deaths of Major Jeffrey OBrien and Sergeant Declan Coady, two brave Iowa soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice to secure freedom and peace.

OBrien was incredibly proud to serve our country, and we are committed to honoring his life and legacy, his family said.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan was one of the six US servicemen killed in the war with Iran. - US Army

Robert Marzan was described by his sister, Elizabeth Marzan, as a strong leader who lived by example.

Outside of being a soldier, his sister said the 54-year-old was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and friend.

My baby brother, you are loved, and I will hold onto all our memories and cherish them always in my heart, Marzan wrote in a Facebook post.

He would do anything for you, and family and friends meant the most to him, Mark Madsen, a friend of Marzans since childhood, told CNN affiliate KCRA. The fact that we were able to sustain that friendship  all the way into our 50s is a testament to that.

Marzan w as from Sacramento, California, and was also serving in support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command.

He was present at the scene of the drone strike and is believed to have been killed in the attack. The Pentagon has said final positive identification by a medical examiner is still pending.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised Marzans service and offered condolences to his wife and family.

California mourns the loss of Chief Warrant Officer Three Robert M. Marzan, a courageous Californian whose service to our nation was marked by honor and distinction, Newsom wrote in a statement.

Marzan was a pretty down to earth guy but still blunt and honest about what his thoughts were, said Sujet, the retired Army colonel.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Haley Britzky, David Williams, Karina Tsui, Sara Smart, Taylor Galgano and Martin Goillandeau contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
(WGHP/AP)  The Pentagon released on Tuesday the names of four of the six soldiers who were killed in the Iran war.

The four Army Reserve soldiers were reportedly killed Sunday when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

Israel steps up airstrikes in Tehran, as Iran widens its response across the region

That was just a day after the U.S. and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran, which has launched retaliatory strikes.

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The four soldiers who were killed are:

Captain Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida

Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska

Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Sergeant Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa

All Soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa.

Background

President Donald Trump said someone from within Irans government might be best suited to take power once the U.S.-Israeli war on the country ends.

His remarks came four days into a war that has killed hundreds, nearly all of them in Iran, as well as many of the countrys top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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Although Tehran has kept up its retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and across the Gulf  disrupting travel and driving up oil prices  the pace of Iranian attacks appears to be slowing.

However, the conflict has also spread to Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel, prompting Israeli strikes in Beirut and additional troop deployments to southern Lebanon.

The spiraling nature of the war has raised questions about when and how it would end, and the Trump administration has given various objectives.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  People packed into the South Carolina Statehouse by the hundreds Monday to pay their respects to the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was lying in state there.

Shock, sadness and disbelief were just some of the emotions visitors told 7NEWS they felt when Jackson passed away on February 17th.

It stopped me in my tracks. It really did. Because I knew what he stood for. And I dont feel that we have that today, said Gina Luberger.

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Luberger and her husband Jeff told 7NEWS they were traveling from Ohio to Florida when they heard the late Reverend Jesse Jackson would lie in state at the South Carolina statehouse on Monday. They said they were obligated to stop and pay tribute.

This is a man you could find no fault with, Jeff Luberger emphasized. Thats not hard to do when youre human.

Visitors like Maxie Joye also paid their respects at the South Carolina statehouse Monday morning. Joye said the speech Jackson gave during his college graduation in the 1970s moved him.

I think it [was] his service. I mean, its a service to others. Thats testimony, giving of his time, to stand up for whats right, Joye explained.

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Reverend Jacksons servant leadership, kindness, and humility are among the traits Andrel Sumter said her family took to heart as they made their way inside the state house for the ceremony.

He kept, you know, holding up the torch after Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Rainbow Push Coalition, said Sumter. I remember historically when he went and helped free the prisoners overseas. Its just so much history. He just kept moving all the time.

Sumter added that Jacksons leadership inspired her and her grandchildren to join NAACP chapters in the Midlands. Derek Sumter said his reason for that was to make a difference in what you do. And just always be kind to whoever you see.

All efforts, visitors said, are critical in what some have called a pivotal point in the nations history, politically and socially.

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I think we almost had a reset right now. Weve got to go back to the basics and go back to humanity, Joye also said.

The visitors went on to say theyre committed to carrying on Reverend Jacksons legacy by leading by example and treating others fairly.

I feel like there have been so many steps backwards in todays world. And its up to us to hang on to the hope to carry his message forward. And we can get there. We absolutely can get there. It takes a village, Gina Luberger elaborated.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth acknowledged the deaths of "six of our best" in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait on Sunday, but criticized media focus on military deaths as trying "to make the president look bad."

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was one of six members of the U.S. military killed in a drone strike at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on March 1, as Iran responded to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes launched a day earlier.

Amor, 39, was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command out of Des Moines, Iowa. She enlisted in the National Guard in 2005, transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006, and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019.

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Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Hegseth  a native of Forest Lake  said the U.S. would "avenge" their deaths, but also turned his ire on coverage from the media, seemingly bemoaning the focus on military casualties rather than what he sees as the early success of the U.S./Israeli conflict with Iran.

He said Operation Epic Fury "has delivered twice the firepower of [Operation] Shock and Awe," and has resulted in the U.S. and Israel taking "complete control of Iranian skies" and its waterways (though on the latter, there remains a significant reduction in shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.)

"This is what the fake news misses. We have taken control of Iran's airspace and waterways without boots on the ground, we control their fate, but when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it's front page news," he said.

"I get it, the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality. The terms of this war will be set by us at every step."

Pete HegsethC-Span (C-Span)

Despite early polls showing significant opposition from U.S. voters to the country's involvement in another conflict in the Middle East, Hegseth, a former military major who served in the Minnesota National Guard and later became a Fox News host, described the early results as "incredible, historic really."

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But he said "much was made" of the initial Iranian response to the U.S. and Israeli strikes, which targeted Israel, regional neighbors including Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

"Sadly, as we projected, a few got through and killed six of our best, who will hopefully arrive home soon," Hegseth said. "We will avenge them, no doubt."

"We are four days into this and the results have been incredible, historic really, only the USA could lead this, only us, but when you add the Israeli defense force ... the combination is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian adversaries. They are toast and they know it," he also said.

This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Air strikes alone will not topple the Iranian regime. It is a message the Trump administration has heard ad nauseam.

Five days into the war, the Pentagon appears to have its answer: there will be boots on the ground in Iran  only they will belong to proxy forces rather than US soldiers.

From the west, the CIA is working with Kurdish forces to prepare a ground offensive across the border with Iraq, according to CNN.

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Our armed forces inside and outside Iran are ready for anything, but will need external support, Razgar Alani, a UK representative of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDK-I), told The Telegraph.

Late on Wednesday, the Iraqi Kurds launched a ground offensive across the border into Iran, Fox News reported.

From the east, Pakistan-based Baluch Islamist groups have, in an effort to draw wider support, rebranded as the Popular Fighters Front, saying their goal is to liberate Iran.

And from the north, the plan to exploit the grievances of Irans ethnic patchwork will hope to draw in Azeris, who have led fierce protests against the regime.

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Together, these groups make up between a quarter and a third of Irans 90 million-strong population.

The US and Israel are inviting them to rise up through air strikes targeting western border posts, the powerful Iranian police state and any leaders who might be able to co-ordinate an effective resistance.

Missiles have hit the headquarters of Irans state broadcaster while hackers disseminate text messages calling for revolution.

An armed uprising would aim to empower the vast number of Iranian citizens whose efforts to overthrow the clerical establishment have only been thwarted, to date, by mass murder carried out by the Basij paramilitary group and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

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It remains unclear how far the US has prepared for such a strategy. Donald Trump elected to pursue regime change having failed to secure his preferred option: a negotiated deal to end Tehrans nuclear programme.

And analysts warn of risks that the endeavour backfires  and Iran is plunged into chaos and civil war that upends the Middle East for years to come.

Members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan at a checkpoint leading to their base in the Koya district of Irbil, Iraq - Rashid Yahya/AP

The regime, for its part, has already started to gird itself in response. With the appointment of Ahmad Vahidi as commander of the Revolutionary Guards, it has signalled that the priority will be cracking down on internal dissent.

In 1988, Mr Vahidi became the first leader of the Quds Force, the IRGCs foreign operations branch. Command for the next decade gave him networks across Irans diverse population that other conventional commanders lack.

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In 2022, as interior minister, Mr Vahidi led the brutal campaign to crush anti-hijab protests, backing the security forces who shot protesters. That drew fresh US sanctions, highlighting his commission of serious human rights offences against the Iranian population.

Within the past 48 hours, IRGC ground forces have reportedly begun to carry out drone strikes on Kurdish militant positions in northern Iraq. Troops have been deployed west as Israeli strikes pummel the border defences.

Extensive bombing has brought terror to the streets of Tehran and much of western Iran

On Monday, the IRGC sent text messages to residents of Sanandaj, a Kurdish-majority city in the west of the country, asking locals to report signs of military activity or movement of weapons, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO focused on Irans Kurdish population.

The Kurds present Americas readiest, best-armed and most ideologically allied partners, although caution abounds because of the history of Western betrayals.

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The US military allied with Kurdish forces during the Iraq war and turned to them again to lead the ground campaign against the Islamic State, where  as may be the case in Iran  they worked in close co-ordination with the American air force.

Given that organised opposition is very weak in other parts of Iran and the regime knows little restraint in brutally repressing protests, the current war offers the Kurds a unique opportunity, said Dr Kamran Matin, an Iranian Kurdish academic based at the University of Sussex. But their entry into the fray carries huge risks.

Members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan in Iraq. Some fighters may be wary of partnering with the US following recent betrayals

Donald Trump has this week spoken with both the senior leadership of the new Iranian Kurdish Coalition and leading political figures in the semi-autonomous Kurdish Region of Iraq, which gained its autonomy under US sponsorship in 1992 and would be the key route for any US supply of weapons and resources to Iranian Kurdish forces.

Kurds have suffered long-term repression by the Islamic regime, waging an off-and-on guerrilla war against Tehran since 1979. For decades, Washington has encouraged Kurdish efforts to secure autonomy, only to backtrack and leave its allies exposed at crucial moments.

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The four Iranian Kurdish opposition groups contacted by The Telegraph remain wary of bloody reprisals by an Iranian rump state, or the imposition of a new, US-backed order no more favourable to democracy and minority interests than the deposed regime.

We are not a part of the US and Israels war with Iran, but its possible the changes they are pursuing will be beneficial for the Kurds, said Zagros Anderyari, a spokesman for the largest and best-armed Kurdish opposition group, the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). If so, we may be able to work with them.

Kurdish opposition sources contacted by The Telegraph suggested they were poised to begin ground operations within days or weeks.

A sailor on board the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford. US airstrikes are emboldening opposition groups in Iran - US Navy

Strikes on the border have already had an impact, Mr Anderyari said.

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Most of Irans military, political and intelligence centres in the Kurdish regions have been bombed, he told The Telegraph. This doesnt mean their forces withdrew altogether, but they have left their bases and set up new, ad-hoc positions.

But even with the support of dominant US air power, Kurdish militants would need US ground support to have a chance of uprooting the deeply entrenched IRGC, Mr Anderayri added.

If the US and Israel want regime change, there will need to be boots on the ground, even if only in small numbers.

In addition, Kurdish operations would be restricted to the majority-Kurdish western provinces, a spokesman told The Telegraph. The US would need other partners to threaten the regime from multiple directions.

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While representatives express openness to links with Baluch, Azeri and Arab groups, those connections remain speculative  and in some cases fraught with complication.

Irans most numerous minority, the Turkic-speaking Azeris, are likely to pursue Turkish support if the Islamic regime starts to crumble.

But Ankara opposes any fresh regional experiments in Kurdish-led autonomy, especially if spearheaded by PJAK, which has close ties to Turkeys key domestic enemy in the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Meanwhile, Baluch separatist groups in eastern Iran and across the border in Pakistan have waged a long, violent insurgency.

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If the US seeks to empower these fighters, they will face fierce resistance from Pakistan, which only two months ago convinced Washington to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army a terrorist group.

The US could empower Pakistani Baluch separatist groups in proxy operations - M Farman/AP Photo

Islamabads powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency has long penetrated and suffocated Baloch groups in the dusty, poverty-stricken province bordering Iran.

It also has plenty of experience in directing proxy operations that run against Washingtons interests, most notably in the case of the Afghan Taliban.

Funnelling arms and money into the region could end up supercharging the growth of the Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K), the terrorist groups local branch.

What is certain is that American military bombardments will continue to distract, destroy and degrade the capabilities of the Islamic Republic.

While encouraging a multi-directional insurgency within Iran, US strikes are attempting to ensure the passage of oil through the Strait of Hormuz with the destruction of Tehrans navy.

At least 10 ships have been destroyed to date, with the department of war releasing footage on Tuesday of a submarines torpedo strike on the IRIS Dena frigate, one of the countrys most advanced vessels.

Without a functioning navy, Iran will struggle to assert control over the strait, limiting its ability to pressure Washington into a shortened campaign and quick ceasefire.

Let loose, instead, the CIA would then have another chance to dust off an old playbook with a less-than-sterling track record: backing ethnic groups to topple Americas enemies, and deliver a more pliant partner in the Middle East.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
Polls have closed in three states in a set of Tuesday primary elections that mark the start of the 2026 midterm cycle  and could highlight internal debates among both Democrats and Republicans over the future of their parties.

The primaries in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas come as Democrats seek to retake the House and Senate, while Republicans vie to hold onto  or possibly expand  their narrow majorities. Republicans are facing historical headwinds as the party that controls the White House traditionally loses ground in the House during midterms, though Democrats are contending with a challenging Senate map this year.

In Texas, incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn is projected to face off against Attorney General Ken Paxton in a GOP Senate runoff in May, after neither candidate cleared 50% of the vote. Cornyn is fighting for a fifth term in the Senate as Paxton questions his conservative credentials. President Trump has not endorsed anybody in the contest.

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On the Democratic side, Texas state Rep. James Talarico won the party's Senate nomination, defeating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, CBS News projects. Both candidates sought to convince primary voters that they're capable of being the first Democrat to win a statewide race in Texas since the mid-1990s.

A handful of House districts in Texas also had competitive primaries. Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw lost a primary challenge from state Rep. Steve Toth, whose campaign sought to cast Crenshaw as a "Republican in name only," CBS News has projected. And GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales is projected to face a primary runoff in May against hard-right gun advocate Brandon Herrera, in a race that has been shaken up in recent weeks due to an alleged affair between Gonzales and a staffer who later died by suicide.

And on the Democratic side, Tejano musician Bobby Pulido is projected to defeat emergency physician Ada Cuellar for the party's nomination in the heavily GOP-leaning 15th district, while 11-term incumbent Rep. Al Green is running against newly elected Rep. Christian Menefee in a Houston-area district that was reshaped by last year's redistricting efforts in Texas.

Meanwhile in North Carolina, former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley won their parties' Senate nominations, CBS News projected, as the GOP fights to hold onto the seat in what could be one of the country's most heavily contested Senate primaries.

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And Republican Laurie Buckhout is projected to face off against vulnerable Democratic Rep. Don Davis in North Carolina's newly redrawn 1st House district, while Jamie Ager is projected to win the Democratic nomination in the Tar Heel State's GOP-leaning 11th House district.

In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was running unopposed for the Republican nomination and two Democrats were facing off to take her on.

3 U.S. jets shot down in "friendly fire incident" in Kuwait amid war with Iran

Watch: Kristi Noem's opening statement at Senate Judiciary Committee on DHS

Key details on Iran war on Day 4 of conflict
Pope Leo XIV implored clergy from the Diocese of Rome to resist a new kind of temptation during a closed-door meeting in February, according to Futurism.

Today, "deus ex machina" typically refers to an implausible plot device in fiction  but the phrase literally means "god in the machine," and Pope Leo's exhortation pertained to an unsurprising, unsettling trend involving the use of ChatGPT for an integral part of the liturgy.

On Feb. 20, Vatican News covered Leo's interactions with Catholic priests from four age groups, during which he urged the clergy to resist "the temptation to prepare homilies" using artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT.

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"Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die. The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity," the pope said.

Pope Leo  who also emphasized that the purpose of the homily is to "preach the faith," something AI tools can't do  was referencing a documented side effect of AI usage known as "deskilling."

The Vatican is far from the only institution or entity grappling with the impacts of AI powers. Around the world, the rise of AI has rattled schools, the job market, and, quite controversially, the energy landscape.

As AI adoption continues, data center development is exploding, with communities reporting declining quality of life due to the noise and air pollution generated by these facilities. Unfortunately, those impacts aren't limited to their vicinity.

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By mid-2025, data center energy demand had driven up electric bills nationwide, with ratepayers unwittingly subsidizing AI growth. In addition to depleting community water resources, data centers' electricity usage strains the increasingly obsolete public grid.

AI firms such as Meta have pitched their tools as solutions to the loneliness epidemic, and a number of users have developed romantic relationships with chatbots, raising questions about the technology's effect on mental health and real-life connections.

While Pope Leo XIV didn't address social isolation in the context of AI, his commentary to the Diocese of Rome nevertheless considered the issue, encouraging priests to foster sincere fellowship with young parishioners.

"They live a kind of distance from others, a coldness, without knowing the richness, the value of truly human relationships," Leo said.

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Packaging group SIG has posted a net loss of 87m ($101.2m) in 2025, marking a reversal from the 194.5m profit recorded in the prior year.

The downturn was primarily driven by 351m in non-recurring charges stemming from a strategic review and challenging market conditions.

Excluding these charges, net profit reached 208.3m.

Around 107m of the impairments were related to bag-in-box and spouted pouch operations while 86m was for chilled carton assets, largely due to weak demand in China.

The company also booked 82m for market and capacity rationalisation in aseptic cartons and 62m for innovation-related write-downs, including filling lines and development costs.

SIGs adjusted net income declined 25% year-on-year to 231.1m.

When excluding non-recurring charges, adjusted net income stood at 285.3m, which is 22.8m lower than the previous year.

The company cited a drop in adjusted EBITDA and increased depreciation as reasons for the reduction, although this was partly offset by reduced tax and finance expenses.

Total revenue stood at 3.25bn, showing a 0.4% growth at constant currency but down 2.4% on a reported basis.

In Europe, revenue decreased by 0.8% on a constant currency basis.

The company noted that raw milk shortages for aseptic processing contributed to the slowdown, particularly midway through the year.

For India, the Middle East and Africa (IMEA), revenue growth was 0.4%.

In the Asia Pacific, revenue dropped by 1.7%, with SIG attributing this to persistent market softness and intensified competition in chilled cartons.

The Americas market saw revenue rise by 4.4% on a constant currency basis.

Growth was primarily supported by higher sales of liquid dairy products in Mexico and price adjustments in Brazil.

Carton business revenue fell to $2.69bn from $2.75bn, while revenue from bag-in-box and spouted pouch lines declined to $551m from $579.6m.

Fourth-quarter (Q4) net income decreased to $43.8m from $64.4m in the prior year.

Revenue for Q4 2025 was $901.2m compared to $930.7m in the same quarter last year.

The board has decided to suspend dividend payments for the fiscal year ending 31 December 2025.

Looking forward, SIG expects total revenue growth of between 0% and 2% at constant currency and resin for 2026.

SIG CFO Anne Erkens said: In 2025, SIG operated in a challenging economic environment, particularly on the consumer side, resulting in more volatile demand. In response, we took decisive action to sharpen our strategic focus.

"Following an in-depth strategy review, we defined a clear roadmap to improve business performance, focusing on portfolio optimisation, operational improvement and a more rigorous approach to capital discipline.
Ever since U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, posts on social media have claimed Hegseth has white supremacist, Christian nationalist or Nazi tattoos.

Hegseth has about 12 tattoos on his right arm and chest. All of them reference his military service, patriotism and Christian faith.

None of Hegseth's tattoos is a swastika, despite online claims to the contrary.

While some people have theorized that one of Hegseth's tattoos contains a covert reference to a neo-Nazi symbol, that theory is questionable at best. It's important to note that neo-Nazis often rely on plausible deniability to hide their symbolism. With that caveat, there is no clear evidence that any of Hegseth's tattoos represents a sympathy for or commitment to white supremacist or Nazi views.

However, at least three of Hegseth's Christian-based tattoos do use symbols that are currently associated with  but don't necessarily indicate adherence to  Christian nationalist views.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's tattoos have consistently raised controversy since Donald Trump, then the president-elect, announced he would nominate Hegseth to the post in November 2024. Posts across social media platforms have claimed that Hegseth, an Army veteran and former Fox News host, has tattoos containing white nationalist, Christian nationalist and/or Nazi symbols.

For the record, Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Fox News host Pete Hegseth, proudly wears a far-right Christian Nationalist "Deus Vult" tattoo on his arm. On his chest he wears a Crusaders' Cross, apparently celebrating the slaughter of Muslims in holy war. pic.twitter.com/YrFrq5obJx  Eric Alan Isaacson (@EAIsaacson1960) November 13, 2024

Posts have also claimed that Hegseth's tattoos got him banned from then-President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021 because they identified him as an extremist. Hegseth himself spread that claim during a November 2024 podcast appearance hosted by former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan.

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According to the Department of Defense, 12 National Guardsmen were removed from inauguration security as a precaution due to reports of "questionable behavior," including but not limited to extremism. If Hegseth is to be believed, he was one of those 12. (Snopes could not confirm Hegseth's statement.)

By examining Hegseth's social media accounts, Snopes was able to identify almost all of his tattoos, which could be classified into two different categories: tattoos representing Hegseth's military service and patriotism, and tattoos representing his Christian faith.

We reached out to both Hegseth and Fox News for comment and will update this story if we hear back.

The patriotic tattoos

Hegseth's tattoos referencing his military service and patriotism did not have any direct connection to neo-Nazis, Christian nationalism or white supremacist ideology. This group of tattoos included:

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The words "We The People" from the U.S. Constitution

The year 1775 in Roman numerals (MDCCLXXV)

A ring of stars around his elbow (possibly a reference to the Betsy Ross flag)

A pair of crossed muskets (which normally represents military service)

Benjamin Franklin's "Join, or Die" political cartoon from 1754

The patch of the 187th Infantry Regiment, of which Hegseth was a member

A stylized red shape that appears to be a torii gate, commonly found at the entrances to Shinto shrines in Japan. The symbol is used by the 187th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the "Rakkasans."

(Instagram user petehegseth)

One theory claims that one of Hegseth's tattoos, a stylized American flag with its bottom stripe replaced by an AR-15 assault rifle, is secretly a neo-Nazi tattoo. This theory claims that the stars in the American flag are laid out in a pattern that creates the number "88." That number is used by neo-Nazis to represent "Heil Hitler," because the eighth letter of the alphabet is "H." Since this theory is solely based on an assumption about Hegseth's intent, Snopes can neither confirm nor disprove it.

The flag tattoo contains 13 stars, and their layout resembles the so-called Hopkinson flag, an early American flag purportedly designed by Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. While the Hopkinson flag generally features six-pointed stars, no original designs of Hopkinson's flag survive, and reconstructions of the flag variously feature five-pointed, six-pointed and eight-pointed stars in the same layout.

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There's another plausible explanation for what's going on, too  Hegseth's tattoo contains 13 stars because 50 stars wouldn't look as good. The U.S. Olympic Team's logo uses 13 stars on its flag, in the same layout, for that reason.

(X user @SecDef)

The Christian tattoos

Hegseth has five different tattoos referencing his Christian faith, and this is the group containing symbols many people identified as problematic. None of these tattoos has direct connections to Nazi or white supremacist ideologies, though at least two have at least tangential links to Christian nationalism, while a third has been labeled "anti-Muslim" by at least one Islamic organization.

First and simplest are the Greek letters chi (X) and rho (P) in a circle on Hegseth's upper arm. Chi and rho are the first two letters in the Greek spelling of Jesus Christ's name, and the paired symbols have been used since Roman times to represent Christianity.

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Next, Hegseth has a sword contained within a cross tattooed on the inside of his forearm. This is a reference to the Bible passage Matthew 10:34, which reads: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Along the blade of the sword in Hegseth's tattoo, Hebrew letters spell "Yeshua," or Jesus. Matthew 10 is a chapter in which Jesus Christ tells his disciples to spread the word of God, noting later on in that verse that "whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

Two tattoos frequently cited as problematic both connect to the Crusades, when European armies invaded the "Near East" with the goal of conquering Jerusalem from the Muslims and placing it under Catholic control. Christian nationalists and other far-right movements have long glorified the Crusades. In a 2023 paper about the history of one particular Crusade song, medieval historian and musician Kate Arnold wrote the following:

The crusades and medievalist tropes in general have a history of being appropriated in the promotion of right-wing, nationalist and racist agendas, from the beginnings of medieval studies and the parallel rise of 'Romantic nationalism' in the nineteenth century, through twentieth-century Fascist and Nazi constructions of the medieval past as a kind of ethnically 'pure' golden age, to modern-day white supremacists in the USA styling themselves 'alt-knights'.

On his right pectoral, Hegseth has a large symbol called the "Jerusalem Cross," which consists of one large Greek cross and four small Greek crosses, one in each quadrant. (It is not, as some people online claimed, a swastika.) The symbol has long been associated with the Crusades, based on sources dating back to the 1300s (the last Crusader Kingdom came to an end in 1291).

On his bicep, Hegseth has the words "Deus Vult," Latin for "God wills it." That phrase was a rallying cry of the First Crusade, and may have even been used by Pope Urban II in 1095 when he ordered the First Crusade to begin. During the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots, at least one flag was flown reading "Deus Vult."

(Instagram user petehegseth)

Finally, placed right below the "Deus Vult" tattoo, Hegseth appears to have the Arabic word "kafir" tattooed. Kafir can be translated as "infidel" or "nonbeliever."

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This tattoo appeared in a photo of Hegseth posted to the official Secretary of Defense X account on March 25, 2025, and was immediately criticized by some as being anti-Muslim. For instance, the Council on American-Islamic Relations released a statement two days later calling the tattoo "a sign of both anti-Muslim hostility and personal insecurity."

(X user @SecDef)

This is not to say that any of these tattoos prove Hegseth is a Christian nationalist. However, the claim surfaced for a reason  Hegseth has at least two tattoos directly referencing the Crusades, an event that many Christian nationalists glorify, and one tattoo that is hard to interpret as anything other than anti-Muslim.

According to a December 2024 article about Hegseth in The New Yorker, he has reportedly made blatant anti-Muslim comments in the past. An internal report on Hegseth's behavior while he was president of the nonprofit organization Concerned Veterans for America claimed he repeatedly chanted "Kill All Muslims!" while at a bar in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the early hours of May 29, 2015. (A lawyer for Hegseth called the claim "outlandish" and said it came from a "petty and jealous disgruntled former associate.")

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In Hegseth's 2020 book "American Crusade," he directly referenced the Crusades when discussing the difference between "peaceful Muslims" and "Islamist Muslims," according to the progressive research group Media Matters.

"Just like the Christian crusaders who pushed back the Muslim hordes in the twelfth century," Hegseth wrote, "American Crusaders will need to muster the same courage against Islamists today."

Sources:

A Prayer Book for the Armed Services. Church Publishing, Inc., 2002.

Arnold, Kate. "Pop and the 'Palastinalied': A Crusade Song Revived at the Turn of a New Millennium." Crusades, vol. 22, no. 1, Jan. 2023, pp. 11526. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1080/14765276.2023.2189386.

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"Bible Gateway Passage: Matthew 10 - New International Version." Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010&version=NIV. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Brockschmidt, Annika. What's the Deal With Pete Hegseth's Crusader Tattoos? https://www.thebulwark.com/p/whats-the-deal-with-pete-hegseth-crusader-tattoos. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Elia-Shalev, Jacob Gurvis, Asaf. "Pete Hegseth, Trump's Defense Secretary Nominee, Has Multiple Christian and Crusades-Inspired Tattoos." Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 14 Nov. 2024, https://www.jta.org/2024/11/14/politics/pete-hegseth-trumps-defense-secretary-nominee-has-multiple-christian-and-crusades-inspired-tattoos.

Fellow, Alexandra Garrett. "National Guard Members Removed From Inauguration Security." Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2021, https://www.newsweek.com/national-guard-members-removed-inauguration-security-over-ties-right-wing-militias-1562679.

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Hananoki, Eric. "Pete Hegseth's Book Includes Complaints about "Muslims' Birth Rates," Praise for 'Crusaders Who Pushed Back the Muslim Hordes.'" Media Matters for America, 12 Nov. 2024, https://www.mediamatters.org/pete-hegseth/pete-hegseths-book-includes-complaints-about-muslims-birth-rates-praise-crusaders-who.

Kingdom of Jerusalem | Historical State, Middle East | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/kingdom-of-Jerusalem. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Labarum | Constantine, Christianity, Imperial Standard | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/labarum. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Land, Olivia. All of Secretary of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth's Tattoos. 13 Nov. 2024, https://nypost.com/2024/11/13/us-news/all-of-secretary-of-defense-nominee-pete-hegseths-tattoos/.

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"Pete Hegseth, Trump's Defense Secretary Pick, Has Christian and Crusades-Inspired Tattoos." The Jerusalem Post | JPost.Com, 15 Nov. 2024, https://www.jpost.com/international/article-829237.

"Pete Hegseth, Trump's Pick for Defense Secretary, Faced Sex Assault Allegation." NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/pete-hegseth-sex-assault-allegation-rcna180319.

"Rakkasans." Rakkasan Association, https://www.rakkasanassociation.org/national-association. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Reporter, James Bickerton US News. "Pete Hegseth Was Removed from Biden's Inauguration, Labeled 'Extremist.'" Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2024, https://www.newsweek.com/pete-hegseth-was-removed-bidens-inauguration-labelled-extremist-1984882.

Rifles, Crossed | City of Grove Oklahoma. https://www.cityofgroveok.gov/building/page/rifles-crossed#:~:text=CROSSED%20RIFLES%20%2D%20Crossed%20rifles%20are,two%20of%20its%20uniform%20markings. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

The First Crusade (1096-1099 CE). https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/crusadesin100objects/crusade-1. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

"The Story behind the Join or Die Snake Cartoon | Constitution Center." National Constitution Center  Constitutioncenter.Org, https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-story-behind-the-join-or-die-snake-cartoon. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

"Trump Builds out National Security Team with Picks of Hegseth for Pentagon, Noem for DHS." AP News, 12 Nov. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-transition-white-house-staff-huckabee-f51121db5b18814bbab014e872c2a736.

"Uncivil Religion: The Deus Vult Cross." Uncivil Religion: January 6, 2021, https://uncivilreligion.org/home/the-deus-vult-cross. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Like physics, math has its own set of fundamental particlesthe prime numbers, which cant be broken down into smaller natural numbers. They can only be divided by themselves and 1.

And in a new development, it turns out these mathematical particles are offering new ways to tackle some of physics deepest mysteries. Over the past year, researchers have found that formulas based on the prime numbers can describe features of black holes. Number theorists have spent hundreds of years deriving theorems and conjectures based on the primes. These new connections suggest that the mathematical truths that govern prime numbers may also govern some fundamental laws of the universe. So can physics be expressed in terms of primes?

Black holes are the sites of the universes most crushing gravitational force. At their centers lie single points called singularities, where classical physics predicts that gravity must be infinite, causing our understanding of space and time to break down. But in the 1960s, physicists found that, immediately surrounding the singularity, a type of chaos emergesand it looks remarkably similar to a kind of chaos recently found in the primes.

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Physicists hope to make use of the connection. Id say many high-energy physicists dont actually know much about that side of number theory, says Eric Perlmutter of the Institute of Theoretical Physics, Saclay.

Number theorys foundational conjecture on primes is the 1859 Riemann hypothesis. In a hand-written paper, German mathematician Bernhard Riemann provided a formula with two main terms. The first offered a startlingly close estimate for how many prime numbers exist that are smaller than a given number. The second term is the zeta function, whose zeros (the places where the function is equal to zero) tune up the original estimate. The mysterious way in which the zeta zeros always improve the estimate is the subject of the Riemann hypothesis. The hypothesis is so crucial to number theory that anyone who can prove it will earn a $1-million Clay Mathematics Institute prize.

In the late 1980s physicists started to wonder if there was a physical system whose energy levels might be based on the prime numbers. Physicist Bernard Julia of the Ecole Normale Superieure in France was challenged by a colleague to find a physics analogue described by the zeta function. His solution was to propose a hypothetical kind of particle with energy levels given by the logarithms of prime numbers. Julia called these particles primons and a group of them a primon gas. The partition functiona census of a systems possible statesof this gas is exactly the Riemann zeta function.

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At the time, Julias concept was a thought experimentmost scientists doubted that primons actually existed. But deep inside black holes, a mathematical link awaited discovery. A little more than two decades later, physicists Yan Fyodorov of Kings College London, Ghaith Hiary of Ohio State University and Jon Keating of the University of Oxford saw hints that fractal chaos emerges from the fluctuations of the zeta functions zeros, an idea that was conclusively proven in 2025.

Einsteins general theory of relativity shows that the same chaos also arises near a singularity.

In a February 2025 preprint, University of Cambridge physicist Sean Hartnoll and graduate student Ming Yang brought Julias work into the real world. Inside the chaos close to a singularity, they found that a conformal symmetry emerges. Hartnoll likens conformal symmetry to Dutch artist M. C. Eschers famous drawings of batsthe same structure repeats on different scales. This scaling symmetry, together with a bit of math, revealed a quantum system near the singularity whose spectrum organizes into prime numbersa conformal primon gas cloud.

Five months later, they uploaded a preprint with a new twist. The team, which now included University of Cambridge University physicist Marine De Clerck, expanded their analysis to a five-dimensional universe instead of the usual four. They found that the extra dimension forced a new feature: keeping track of the singularitys dynamics now required a complex prime number, known as a Gaussian prime, that includes an imaginary component (a number multiplied by the square root of 1). Gaussian primes cant be divided any further by other complex numbers. The authors dubbed this system a complex primon gas.

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We dont know yet whether the appearance of prime number randomness close to a singularity has a deeper meaning, Hartnoll says. However, to my mind, it is very intriguing that the connection extends to higher dimensional theories of gravity, including some candidates for a fully quantum mechanical theory of gravity.

Lucy Reading-Ikkanda

And in a late 2025 preprint, Perlmutter proposed a new framework involving the zeta zeros. He relaxed the restrictions on the zeta function so it could rely not just on integers but on all real numbers, including irrationals. Doing so opened up even more powerful zeta function techniques to understand quantum gravity. Physicist Jon Keating of the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the new research, says that broader perspectives such as this can reveal new ways to tackle long-standing problems. Its only when you step back and look at the whole mountain that you think, Ah, theres a much better way to get up over there, he says.

Perlmutter cautiously hopes the flurry of prime physics will hasten new discoveries, but the approach is one of many fighting for acceptance. The kinds of things were trying to understand, black holes in quantum gravity, are surely governed by some beautiful structures, he says. And number theory seems to be a natural language.
LARGO, Md. (DC News Now)  Prince Georges County leaders are moving forward with several bills they said are designed to protect immigrant communities and strengthen trust with local police.

At a press conference on Tuesday, council members laid out proposals that would limit how federal immigration authorities operate within the county. They said the measures are aimed at reducing what they describe as harmful and threatening actions by federal immigration authorities, while improving relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Its definitely taking an emotional toll on me, my family, my mom, Mohamed Algali said.

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Prince Georges County leader pushes for investigation into utility bill surge, offers senior assistance

Algali said his mother, Rabiatu Kuyateh, lived in Maryland for decades and worked as a nurse for more than 20 years. He said she fled Sierra Leone during the civil war and had been attending her annual ICE check-ins when she was taken into custody.

According to Algali, Kuyateh was detained, transferred to a facility in Ghana and then deported to Sierra Leone. He believes she was wrongfully detained and removed from the United States.

Im not going to rest until my mom comes home  at this point its deeper than just me and my family, its about morals, its about basic human decency, this shouldnt happen to any other family, Algali said.

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Her case, along with others, is now fueling a legislative push by the Prince Georges County Council to pass a series of bills aimed at strengthening protections for immigrants.

Ice and their terrorist tactics have no place in Prince Georges County, Council Chair Krystal Oriadha said.

One bill would prohibit the county from hiring anyone who worked for ICE or Customs and Border Protection after June of last year.

Another proposal would limit immigration enforcement activity on county property without a warrant or emergency circumstances.

The package also includes a measure requiring Prince Georges County police to verify and document federal agents during immigration enforcement activity.

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So there is a moral responsibility for the people that have trained, that put a badge to show up in uncomfortable situations, Oriadha said.

An additional proposal would ban agents from wearing face coverings in public, except for protective gear.

Council members are also urging schools, parks, libraries and the community college to restrict immigration enforcement on their properties. They are encouraging partnerships with nonprofits to track and support county residents who may be detained.

Supporters said the goal is to set clear boundaries and ease fear in the community.

Right now, fear and uncertainty hangs over our parents, who are afraid to leave their homes  Workers skip shifts because of rumors or fear of a workplace raid. This is why this package matters, because they are saying loud and clear that we will not collaborate with us, and our immigrant community matters, George Escobar, executive director for CASA, said.

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Several of the bills are emergency measures, meaning they could move quickly through the legislative process. They will now go to the full county council for a final vote.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Screenshot

Graham Platner, the progressive candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, received a scathing community note on X this week in response to his latest attack on Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)  whose seat hes running for.

Platner posted a clip on the platform Tuesday and captioned it, .@SenatorCollins: you voted to send me to Iraq. Did you learn anything from that experience? Anything at all?

In the clip, Platner added, Last week, Senator Susan Collins said that the Trump administration should attack Iran only as a last resort. Well, we know that thats not what has happened, because Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated publicly that the reason we did this is that we knew the Israelis were going to attack Iran, and if they did that, Iran would respond. He added:

Therefore, we have to attack Iran first, which is quite possibly the most ridiculous excuse for starting a war. This whole thing is insane, and its getting worse. You know, Iranian missiles are getting through defenses. We are now telling American citizens to leave the region entirely. This thing is spiraling out of control. Susan Collins has the power to stop this. Senator Collins, Im just going to ask you straight up: You voted to send me to Iraq. Did you not learn anything from that experience? You need to stand up. The American people do not want this war. The American people do not support a war that is going to get young American men and women killed, that is going to kill an immense amount of Iranian civiliansall on behalf of the Israeli government and the Saudi government. And lets be honest, because Donald Trump wants a distraction from the fact that hes in the Epstein files. This is disgusting, its absurd, and it needs to end now.

Xs community notes quickly added some context to Platners claim, adding, He enlisted knowing we were at war. He volunteered for 3 tours over 8 years. He said, I thought I could do some good. And I wanted to play soldier. The quote comes from an August 2025 interview Platner gave The New Republic.

.@SenatorCollins: you voted to send me to Iraq. Did you learn anything from that experience? Anything at all? pic.twitter.com/FLcezGwd1V  Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) March 3, 2026

Platner has sparked a string of controversies since getting into the race. Last week, he deleted a tweet that boosted a post from avowed Neo-Nazi Stew Peters. Peters has long embraced anti-Semitic rhetoric, calling Judaism satanic and a death cult, while questioning the Holocaust. Last March, he echoed Nazi rhetoric by calling for a final solution to mass-deport the Jewish population in the U.S.

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Platner was also later revealed to have a Nazi-era symbol tattooed on his chest. It was not until I started hearing from reporters and DC insiders that I realized this tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol, he told Politico last fall. I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that  and to insinuate that I did is disgusting. I am already planning to get this removed. Platner later had the tattoo redesigned.

CNNs KFile also reported on a series of posts from 2021 in which Platner referred to himself as a communist, called rural Americans racist and stupid, all cops bastards, and used the word retard.

Platner is running against Maines sitting governor in the Democratic Party primary to take on Collins, and has the support of the left-wing of the party  including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

The post Progressive Maine Senate Candidate Gets Scathing Community Note Over Latest Attack On Susan Collins first appeared on Mediaite.
A propane truck struggled to make a turn Wednesday morning near Richmond, causing it to go into a ditch and hit a power box, according to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.

Stearns County reports the incident happened around 7:30 a.m. March 4 at the intersection of County Road 42 and County Road 161 in Farming Township, about 4.5 miles north of Richmond.

The truck started to leak propane, according to the sheriff's office, sparking road closures. Northbound traffic was stopped at County Road 161 and in both directions on County Road 42 between 218th Avenue and County Road 9.

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"Because of the amount of propane being transported, roadways in the area will remain closed for an extended period to allow the propane to safely dissipate before the vehicle can be removed," the Stearns County Sheriff's Office wrote in a statement.

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A Cold Spring/Richmond police officer arrived at the scene to find a Wenners Gas Company propane truck leaking propane. The sheriff's office said the officer found the driver trapped inside the vehicle with injuries. His condition is unknown, as of noon March 4.

The driver was eventually rescued from the vehicle by the Chain of Lakes Fire and Rescue Department and transported via Paynesville Ambulance to St. Cloud Hospital.

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Stearns County states a preliminary investigation shows the truck was going northbound on County Road 161 when a T-intersection came up quicker than expected, in part due to heavy fog.

More: Minnesota soldier killed in Kuwait after Iran attack

"The driver attempted to make a left turn to travel westbound on County Road 42, causing the truck to roll onto its side and slid into the ditch, striking a power box and several trees," the Stearns County Sheriff's Office wrote in a statement.

Stearns County electric shut off power in the area, according to the sheriff's office. According to Stearns Electric's power outage map, two customers were out of power, as of noon March 4.

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The Stearns County Sheriff's Office, Cold Spring/Richmond Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Paynesville Ambulance, Stearns Electric and Chain of Lakes Fire and Rescue Department responded to the incident.

Corey Schmidt covers politics and public safety for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Propane truck crashes and leaks, closing roads near Richmond
FRANKFORT  At the Childrens Advocacy Day in Frankfort Wednesday, Kentucky Youth Advocates Executive Director Terry Brooks said this legislative session has, simultaneously, excellent legislation when it comes to kids as well as anti-kid measures he pleaded with lawmakers to reject.

Some of the worst legislation that Ive seen in 22 years is on the table, Brooks told a crowd gathered in the Capitol Education Center as part of the annual rally for kids wellbeing.

Legislation that Brooks sees as positive for kids includes measures to reallocate JUUL settlement dollars toward youth smoking prevention, require child care providers to get training on caring for kids with special needs and providing diapers to needy families through a trust fund.

Kentucky Youth Advocates executive director Terry Brooks at Childrens Advocacy Day in Frankfort on March 4, 2026. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

But he slammed Senate Bill 101, which would, among other things, require school boards to expel students between sixth- and 12-grades for at least 12 months if they intentionally physically harm a school employee on campus or during a school function.

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The bill has passed the Senate but has yet to receive a hearing on the House side.

Do we really want to see kids expelled for 12 months, falling behind academically, having no supports, becoming more isolated? Brooks asked. Every high school principal I have talked to about that issue wants two things. They want a bad acting kid out of their school, and we believe the kids have to be held accountable, but they immediately wonder what that kid is going to be like when he comes back. A kid who has been isolated for 12 months is going to be more likely to come back as a troubled kid.

Legislator panel

From right: Senate President Pro Tem David Givens of Greensburg, House Speaker David Osborne and Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, sat for a panel about child wellbeing and legislation related to kids during Childrens Advocacy Day on March 4, 2026.(Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

Senate President Pro Tem David Givens of Greensburg, House Speaker David Osborne and Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, sat for a panel about child wellbeing and legislation related to kids during Childrens Advocacy Day.

Despite uncertainty surrounding changes made to Medicaid and other issues from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by Congress last summer, and the end of COVID-19-era federal funds, Osborne said the Republican supermajoritys approach to crafting the two-year state budget has stayed the same this year.

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The way we approach the budget  the way weve approached it every year since 2018 when we wrote our first budget  is how to make Kentucky as efficient as possible, Osborne said. That doesnt mean: Spend less than we are. That doesnt mean: Spend more than we are. That means: Utilize Kentucky taxpayer dollars in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

It also involves trying to correct any inefficiencies, he said.

I think everybody would admit that the government fails in some areas, Osborne said. So, when we look at those failing areas, are there ways to either improve those failures or replace those failures with something that does work? Thats a constant, evolving process.

Givens promoted House Bill 1 as a true anti-poverty bill that will help families. HB1 is awaiting a signature or veto from Gov. Andy Beshear.

Childrens Advocacy Day in Frankfort on March 4, 2026. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

It would opt Kentucky into a federal education tax credit program established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which supporters say is a way to let Kentucky kids and families benefit from the tax credit at no cost to the state. Critics have argued the legislation is a way to support school choice options  at the expense of public schools  despite rejections by Kentucky voters and the state Supreme Court.

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This legislation would let individuals who donate to scholarship granting organizations get a federal tax credit up to $1,700. Money would then go to scholarships for eligible students.

I think all of us in the room will agree that one of the answers to poverty is education. I hope thats a sincerely held belief by all of us, Givens said. Would you rather send that money to Washington, D.C. or keep it in Kentucky with the scholarship granting organization to help kids in K through 12? Its a no brainer.

Chambers-Armstrong, who is pushing again this year to exempt diapers from the sales tax and provide a child tax credit to parents of kids younger than 6, said the General Assembly cant stop trying to end child poverty, which she said is an entrenched problem.

The latest Kids Count Data Dashboard, released by Kentucky Youth Advocates in December, shows about 21% of children are living in food-insecure households, 20% live below the poverty level and 44% live in low-income households.

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Children dont live in communities on their own. When we do things to help families, to help communities, to help our economy, that also helps children, but we pass all kinds of dedicated bills for all kinds of interest in all kinds of groups. What would it look like if we had a child poverty bill? she said. I have young children. I look at my credit card account every day and Im just amazed  it keeps going up and up and up because kids cost money. Investing in kids costs money. What would it look like if we made sure that every family had the tools they need to access early childhood education, broadly defined?

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FRANKFORT  A GOP-sponsored bill would remake Kentuckys utility regulator by expanding its board from three to five members and giving the Republican state auditor two of the appointments.

The governor would continue to appoint the other three members of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Senate Bill 8 also could make it harder for independent groups to intervene in utility rate cases and ask questions before the commission  a change that a former PSC chair told the Lantern would be harmful to consumers.

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I think it raises the bar for intervention, limits the likelihood of intervention, and ultimately reduces the evidence available to the commission in making their decisions, said Kent Chandler, the former chair of the commission and a resident senior fellow of energy and environmental policy at the think tank R Street Institute.

Organizations that frequently intervene in PSC matters on behalf of consumers also lambasted the provision. The environmental legal group Kentucky Resources Council called it a calculated effort to silence independent advocacy for residential customers. The group often represents a coalition of nonprofits advocating for low-income ratepayers and for renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in commission cases.

When asked about the pushback, the bills sponsor, Sen. Brandon Smith, called it a great question and that he would address the issue on Wednesday when his bill will be heard by the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, which he chairs..

Smith, R-Hazard, told reporters Tuesday afternoon his Senate Bill 8 was partly a response to the outcry of constituents over electricity bills in his Eastern Kentucky district.

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I do want it to be an effective bill, and I do want to send a signal to people at home that we 100% understand whats happening to us and that its not an easy fix, Smith said. I will do everything within my power to try to fix this so we can get the smartest Public Service Commission we can.

A barrier to intervene

The commission weighs requests from utilities in quasi-judicial cases. Interested parties, ranging from industry to environmental groups to Republican Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, can be granted permission by the regulator to provide testimony and evidence on a particular utilitys request.

The PSC has broad responsibilities, regulating the rates and services of more than 1,100 utilities that range from large investor-owned electric utilities like Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to districts that provide drinking water to rural communities. The regulator also fields complaints from Kentuckians about service and rates and hears requests from utilities to retire or build new power generation.

Attorneys, advocates and other Kentuckians gathered last year at the Kentucky Public Service Commission for a hearing about Kentuckys largest utility requesting to build new gas-fired power plants. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

SB 8 would require that an intervenor in a commission case have a special and unique interest in the specific rates or service of the utility and not just a generalized assertion of an interest of specialized knowledge in a case. The attorney general, through its Office of Rate Intervention, would also be designated in state law as sole advocate for residential consumers.

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The Kentucky Resources Council, the environmental legal group that often intervenes on behalf of nonprofits, says consumers need representation beyond the AG, who has coordinated with industrial ratepayers whose interests often diverge from, if not directly oppose, the interests of residential customers. The attorney general has jointly filed briefs with the industry group Kentucky Industrial Utility Customers in PSC cases.

That dynamic leaves everyday Kentuckians without a truly independent champion at the table, the group said. At a time when utility rates are rising, residential customers deserve dedicated, conflict-free representation in proceedings that directly determine their bills and financial stability.

An email requesting comment on SB 8 sent to a spokesperson for the attorney generals office was not returned Tuesday.

Gary in an email to the Lantern pointed to a legal brief filed by the attorney generals office in 2019 that stated the attorney general had a duty to represent all customers, not just specifically residential ratepayers.

Expanding the commission

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, had filed a similar bill last year to expand the commissions membership and give appointment power to the state auditor. The Senate leader ultimately decided to table the bill and not advance it. Both Stivers and Smiths bills would add new experience requirements for commissioners.

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SB 8 would add two additional commissioners to the PSC, appointed by Republican Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball and confirmed by the GOP-controlled Kentucky Senate. The commission currently has three commissioners total, all appointed by Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, also confirmed by the Senate.

The bill would also administratively attach the commission to the auditors office and make the commissioners employees of the office, detaching the regulator from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet within the Beshear administration. The legislation also gives the regulator more independence in procurements and purchases.

Currently, commission members are prohibited from being a part of a political action committee, conducting business inconsistent with their duties, receiving things of value from utilities and holding stocks and bonds of a utility. No more than two commission members can have the same occupation, and state law directs the governor to consider expertise in utility regulation and the interests of consumers and utility investors when making appointments.

Under SB 8, commissioners would also have to have specific experience to serve: At least one commissioner would have to be an active, licensed attorney for at least seven years; other commissioners would have to have at least five years of education or training in a number of topics including economics, engineering, utility regulation, operation and management.

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If the three current commissioners, all appointed by Beshear, dont meet the experience requirements in SB 8, their terms would be terminated. SB 8 has an emergency clause, meaning it would go into effect immediately upon becoming law. The bill does not state who or what determines whether current commissioners meet the designated experience requirements.

Scottie Ellis, a Beshear spokesperson, in a statement said SB 8 is a partisan move to remove both appointments and authority from a Democratic governor and send them to Republican officeholders.

The bills provisions likely violate the Kentucky Constitution and will result in less representation and transparency for Kentucky families that are worried about their power bills, Ellis said.

Chandler, the former chair of the commission, said given that the commission deals with hundreds of cases each year, adding one or two members to the board doesnt do it.

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He said the commission, along with the attorney generals office that intervenes before the PSC, needs more funding and resources to do their work to regulate utilities effectively. When he was commission chair, he testified to the legislature about the significant need for more staffing at the commission.

If you have five commissioners, and one of them is all of a sudden an engineer, knows how to ask engineering questions, thats great  but they can only do so much, Chandler said. They need to be talking to staff and asking where and how to probe in any particular case with their engineering expertise.
The post The Psychedelic Earth Tiger: Why the World is Obsessed with This Iridescent Spider appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

Cilantica devamatha (formally Haploclastus devamatha) joined the extinction watch list status only 12 years after its initial 2014 discovery.

The spiders striking colors have made it a prime target for the illegal pet trade.

Habitat loss and poaching have pushed the species toward critical endangerment.

Conservation efforts focus on research, habitat protection, and local community engagement.

Deep in the humid rainforests of Indias Western Ghats lives a creature that looks more like a colorful digital glitch than an actual living animal. Formally known as Cilantica devamatha (previously Haploclastus devamatha), this spider is commonly called the psychedelic earth tiger or the Indian rainbow tarantula. Like a living kaleidoscope, its body shimmers with metallic, holographic colors  a beauty that has captivated the world but has quickly become its curse.

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In 2026, this species was added to a global watch list for animals facing immediate extinction. Its striking appearance has fueled an international demand in the illegal pet trade, a trend that is driving the spider toward extinction. Conservation teams are racing to protect the spiders shrinking habitat, but time may be running out.

A Living, Breathing Jewel

If you saw a flash photograph of a psychedelic earth tiger, you might assume the colors were edited  but theyre not. This tarantulas rainbow effect comes from structural coloration, not pigment. Microscopic structures on its hairs bend and reflect light. This creates an iridescent shimmer that shifts between deep violet, electric blue, and neon green depending on the angle.

The name earth tiger refers to both the spiders appearance and its ecological role. A patient, energy-efficient predator, it waits motionless at the entrance of its burrow until unsuspecting prey wanders too close.

Many call this spider the LSD tarantula. Lemonade Serenade/Shutterstock.com (Lemonade Serenade/Shutterstock.com)

The spider is also an impressive engineer. As a fossorial species, it lives in deep, silk-lined tunnels that function as climate-controlled bunkers, maintaining the precise temperature and humidity needed to survive the tropical heat. Remarkably, scientists only described this species in 2014. In barely a decade, it has moved from newly discovered to critically endangered, a tragic example of how quickly modern biodiversity can vanish.

The Dark Side of Fabulous

In todays social media-driven world, beauty can be dangerous. The spiders iridescent coloring has made it a high-value target for the illegal international pet trade. Tragically, collectors prize it as a display specimen rather than a vital part of a fragile ecosystem.

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The spiders decline was swift and alarming. Specimens appeared for sale on underground forums just eight months after the species was officially named. Because tarantulas lack bones, they are difficult to detect with standard airport X-ray machines, making them easy to smuggle. Traffickers often pack them into tiny containers with very little oxygen, and many spiders do not survive.

The damage caused by poaching starts long before a spider reaches a buyer. Removing a wild tarantula destroys its complex, deep-seated burrow, which may have taken years to build. This disruption affects the surrounding microhabitat and weakens the local ecosystem.

Psychedelic earth tigers are skilled engineers and construct complex underground tunnels. (Photo: Jimmy Paul) Sankaran PM, Sebastian PA (2018) A new synonym in the subfamily Thrigmopoeinae Pocock, 1900 (Araneae, Theraphosidae). ZooKeys 749: 81-86. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.749.23414 / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons  Original / License ((Photo: Jimmy Paul) Sankaran PM, Sebastian PA (2018) A new synonym in the subfamily Thrigmopoeinae Pocock, 1900 (Araneae, Theraphosidae). ZooKeys 749: 81-86. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.749.23414 / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons)

Despite the high demand for this spider, even experienced keepers approach the species with caution. It is not a traditional pet in any sense. As a burrowing tarantula, it is highly defensive and prefers to be left undisturbed. Known for their startling speed, these spiders can move from the bottom of a burrow to the surface in a fraction of a second. Though not lethal to healthy adults, their venom can cause intense pain, muscle cramping, and swelling that lasts several days. Ironically, the collectors driving demand are often the least prepared for the reality of keeping such a volatile animal.

A Species on the Brink

The conservation crisis has reached a critical point. In 2026, international organizations like Fauna & Flora and Animal Survival International added the psychedelic earth tiger to their 10 Species to Watch list. This designation places the spider alongside high-profile threatened animals like the clouded leopard and the saker falcon.

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The spiders greatest vulnerability is its limited range. It exists exclusively in the southern Western Ghats of Kerala; there are no backup populations. Each felled tree, new road, or poached female spider represents a permanent loss to the global population.

Female-Led Conservation

Backed by the Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP), Aswathy Sankar Singh and her research team are working to prevent the spiders disappearance. Their data-driven efforts recently earned them the CLP Future Conservationist Award.

Effective conservation begins with understanding habitat needs. Singhs team is documenting the exact environmental soil pH, temperature, humidity, and burrow structure to build a detailed ecological blueprint. Their work also includes studying Cilantica kayi, a rare relative, to ensure broad ecosystem protection.

The psychedelic earth tiger is endemic to the southern Western Ghats. thomas joy23/Shutterstock.com (thomas joy23/Shutterstock.com)

A key goal for the team is closing major knowledge gaps. Because these spiders are well-hidden and spread out, they have not yet received an official status on the IUCN Red List. By documenting population decline and habitat loss, the team is providing the scientific evidence necessary to secure international protections and stricter anti-poaching enforcement.

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The project prioritizes community engagement. The team is working directly with local communities in Kerala through education and burrow monitoring programs. These efforts are reframing the psychedelic earth tiger from a collectors item to a conservation symbol and a proud example of Indias incredible biodiversity.

The post The Psychedelic Earth Tiger: Why the World is Obsessed with This Iridescent Spider appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Montanans love living in the 406, but Montana could run out of 406 phone numbers by 2033.

Its not because all the numbers will be in use by far.

Still, the clock is ticking on assigning a new second area code, and theres no question Montanans have pride around the 406.

Montana is one of the last states with a single area code, said Mike Sheard, with the Montana Public Service Commission.   The 406 area code has become a real popular feature of the states identity.

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Tuesday, the Public Service Commission voted unanimously to take a step to try to make sure one area code will work for a lot longer by sending a letter to Qwest Corporation, a telecommunications company that controls at least a couple of pieces of the puzzle.

It isnt the first time the PSC has taken up the 406 area code.

In 2013, the PSC received federal permission to implement a more efficient way of assigning numbers, and it ordered telecommunications companies to follow it, according to the Great Falls Tribune. The Tribune said that change pushed back the exhaust date of the 406 area code for a while.

Alaska, the Dakotas, and Wyoming are among the states that still have a single area code, according to allareacodes.com.

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Now, however, an organization that assigns area codes could be getting to work soon on another one for Montana.

The North American Numbering Plan Administrator oversees the distribution and use of telephone numbers across North America, and its the organization that projects Montana will run out of 406 numbers in the first quarter of 2033, according to a PSC staff memo.

Generally, the organization starts planning three years prior to a forecasted exhaust date, or the first quarter of 2030 in this case, but the staff memo said the idea might not go over well.

The implementation of a second area code in Montana could be complicated, costly and may result in confusion and dissatisfaction, the memo said.

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However, in the letter, the PSC is requesting Qwest provide an analysis of rate center consolidation, basically, a different way to distribute and conserve phone numbers.

Qwest Corporation could not be reached for comment on Tuesday; multiple emails to media contacts were returned as no longer valid.

In a presentation and staff memo, PSC regulatory and compliance staff outlined the way area codes and phone numbers work.

The memo described the different parts of a phone number  the area code, then, the NXX code, and the four-digit line number. (For example, the PSCs NXX number is 444, with a phone number of 406-444-6150.)

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In Montana, it is the dwindling number of unused NXX codes that is causing the state to run out of telephone numbers, the staff memo said.

The maximum number of NXX codes available for telephone companies to use is 786, and of those, 753 are already in use, according to the staff memo. That means only 33 NXX codes are left for Montana.

Those codes are all assigned to smaller geographic areas called rate centers, which often coincide with municipal boundaries, the staff memo said. Montana has 516 rate centers.

Each NXX code also is associated with a specific telephone company, such as the PSCs 444 code being connected with Qwests switching center in Helena. A call to the PSC goes to that switching center, which then sends it to the PSC using the last four digits.

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But the memo said service providers typically want numbers in multiple rate centers to establish a footprint in a specific geographic area. Those providers are typically assigned telephone numbers in 1,000 number blocks.

Once a service provider puts 100 or more of the numbers in a block into active service, the entire block is considered contaminated, and the rest of the numbers in that block are reserved for the exclusive use of that service provider, the memo said.

That demand for numbers in multiple rate centers means service providers are allocated a lot more numbers than theyll use to serve their customers, which means many numbers are stranded and unusable by others, the memo said.

It is likely the total telephone numbers that are actively in-service for Montanas 406 area code is less than 50% of total available numbers, the memo said.

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One solution is to start combining rate centers into one, the memo said. That way, a service provider can use its chunk of numbers to serve any customer in a larger area, allocating more numbers.

One hurdle in Montana is rate centers can only be consolidated within the same local access transport area, or LATA, and Montana has an eastern and western LATA, the memo said. The state has 277 rate centers in the west and 239 in the east.

Montana has 65 service providers with 406 area code numbers assigned to them, but the staff memo said much of the demand for new NXX codes is associated with one or both of Qwests tandem switches.

Qwest uses most of the NXX codes in Montana, it serves the most rate centers in Montana, and it operates in the eastern and western districts, the memo said.

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These rate centers, typically in more urban areas of the state, are also where the most requests for numbers occur, the memo said.

The memo said the idea of consolidation is not new, and the Federal Communications Commission has encouraged it whenever possible; its taken place in Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska and Maine.

In the memo, staff recommended the best starting point for consolidation would be to require Qwest, the largest user of numbers, to consolidate its 26 rate centers in the eastern area into one rate center, and consolidate its 30 rate centers in the west into one.

During discussion, PSC President Jeff Welborn said if consolidation takes place, rural areas could help more populated areas, and some numbers could be put into use that would otherwise be locked up.

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Theres a lot of potential statewide to preserve a lot of phone numbers under the 406 umbrella, Welborn said.

Commissioner Brad Molnar wanted to know if an appeal was possible to undo the LATA designation, and he said he would be willing to call the Congressional delegation should legislation be necessary for change.

I cant imagine theyd be adverse to being the champion of 406, Molnar said.

Commissioner Randy Pinocci said a waiting list could be developed for people who want a 406 number, but hes seeing more and more people who live in Montana and dont have a 406 area code either.

There are people that could care less whether they have a 406, alright? And there are those people that will want one, especially businesses, or someone who kind of wants to say, Thats our brand when you call, right? Pinocci said.

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In the letter, the PSC will ask Qwest to provide an analysis of a consolidation of its rate centers into each of the states two districts, including how it would work technically; its operational efficiencies or inefficiencies; call routing impacts; and timelines and cost.

PSC Vice President Jennifer Fielder supported the move to send the letter to Qwest, but she also cautioned that promising that Montana remains the 406-only state wasnt a sure bet because the Commission doesnt control all the factors.
WEST PALM BEACH  Publix agreed to operate a new full-service grocery store downtown for at least 15 years as city commissioners preliminarily approved selling the company land to build its new supermarket.

Commissioners gave their initial OK March 2 to selling about 0.8 acres of vacant downtown land to the popular Florida grocery chain for what would be the only full-service grocery in downtown West Palm Beach.

Publix would combine three small city-owned lots with land owned by the developer Related Ross on the 600 block of Banyan Boulevard to build the new store and parking facilities.

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The company originally negotiated a requirement to use the land as a grocery store for at least 10 years. But after Commissioner Christy Fox last week questioned why the requirement was so short, the grocer agreed to up it to a 15-year commitment, a city attorney said.

"They believe theyll be here much longer than that, Deputy City Attorney Nancy Urcheck told commissioners. As long as the downtown needs a supermarket, theyll commit to a 15-year use restriction.

Publix Super Market at City Place at 375 S Rosemary Avenue on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Publix Super Market at City Place at 375 S Rosemary Avenue on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. A Publix is planned at 202, 204 and 206 N. Sapodilla Avenue after the city preliminarily approved selling the land to the supermarket chain on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Publix Super Market at City Place at 375 S Rosemary Avenue on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Publix Super Market at City Place at 375 S Rosemary Avenue on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Publix Super Market at City Place at 375 S Rosemary Avenue on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Publix Super Market at City Place at 375 S Rosemary Avenue on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Publix Super Market at City Place at 375 S Rosemary Avenue on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. See the location of new Publix at CityPlace in West Palm Beach 1 of 8 Publix Super Market at City Place at 375 S Rosemary Avenue on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

City administrators and Publix negotiated the $3.5 million sale price after two appraisals assigned wildly different values to the land, a fact that troubled some commissioners.

An appraisal ordered by the city found the lands market value was $5.4 million after the cost of environmental mitigation was taken into consideration, while an appraisal ordered by Publix estimated the value at $2.9 million, city officials said.

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City administrators then agreed to sell Publix the land at 85% of the average of the two appraised values, the minimum price permitted by city policy.

West Palm Beach commissioners question how sale price was calculated

Commissioners pressed Urcheck on why there was such a disparity between the two appraisals.

Its such a difference, Commissioner Cathleen Ward said. Do we have an explanation as to why theres millions of dollars of difference?

Urcheck said she had no explanation other than one appraisal was done by the buyer and the other appraisal was done by the seller.

Related Ross, the citys largest developer, in December acquired a 3-acre lot on the same block for $7.5 million.

West Palm Beach city leaders displayed a tentative site plan for a new Publix supermarket on the 600 block of Banyan Boulevard in the city's downtown.

Related Ross declined to say when it intends to transfer its land on the 600 block of Banyan to Publix, or whether the land will be sold to the company or leased. A larger Publix downtown has long been a priority for the company.

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We are very supportive of Publix building a state-of-the-art full-service grocery store in downtown West Palm Beach, Related Vice Chairman Eric Silagy said in a statement.

Fox, whose district includes the city center, said the arrival of a larger Publix would be a big boost for people who live and work downtown.

A Publix is planned at 202, 204 and 206 N. Sapodilla Avenue after the city preliminarily approved selling the land to the supermarket chain on March 3, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST)

Previous coverage: Publix agrees to buy land for downtown West Palm Beach store

Publix operates a smaller store in CityPlace, but she pointed out it lacks many of the products and services of a full-service store.

Right now Im just very excited that we have this Publix moving forward, she said.

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Urcheck said Publix plans to keep its CityPlace store open until the new store is complete. Construction is expected to be finished by June 2028.

The sale requires a second commission vote before becoming official.

Andrew Marra is a reporter at The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at amarra@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Publix commits to at least 15 years in downtown West Palm Beach
UK Automotive distributor Inchcape reported lower revenue and profit for FY2025, alongside a new 175m ($232.25) share buyback.

For the year ended 31 December 2025, revenue from continuing operations declined 2% to 9.10bn from 9.26bn.

Operating profit from continuing operations fell 6% to 526m, while operating margin edged down 30 basis points to 5.8%.

Total profit for the period fell 37% to 273m but basic earnings per share rose 9% to 72.5p.

The full-year dividend was raised 13% to 32.3p per share, in line with the 40% adjusted basic EPS payout policy.

Asia-Pacific (APAC) posted a 15% fall in revenue to 2.54bn and a 23% drop in adjusted operating profit to 182m.

Europe & Africa recorded 8% revenue growth to 3.26bn, with adjusted operating profit up 6% to 151m.

The Americas delivered revenue of 3.30bn, up 1%, while adjusted operating profit increased 11% to 230m.

During the year, Inchcape secured 10 distribution contract wins and acquired Icelandic distributor Askja for 35m.

It completed a 250m buyback on 2 March 2026 and announced a further 175m programme.

Inchcape group CEO Duncan Tait said: During a transformative year in the automotive sector in FY 2025, Inchcapes diversified and scaled business model delivered results in line with our medium-term targets, reporting double-digit EPS growth.

Our performance in 2025 was driven by good momentum in our Americas and Europe and Africa regions and we are taking actions to address challenges in APAC.

For FY2026, the company expects organic volume growth towards the lower end of its 3%5% guidance range, weighted to the second half.

It forecasts adjusted operating margins of around 6%, free cash flow conversion of approximately 100%, and EPS growth of more than 10%, supported by continued momentum in the Americas and Europe & Africa and management actions in APAC.

"Inchcape posts lower FY25 profit, launches 175m buyback" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine on Wednesday of "a terrorist attack" after a Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) was struck in the Mediterranean Sea.

The alleged attack on the Arctic Metagaz near Malta would further exacerbate the situation on the strained international gas markets, Putin told Russian state television. Qatar, the world's biggest LNG exporter, has curtailed supply due to the war with Iran.

Putin blamed the EU for hurting itself.

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"The European Union provides the regime in Kiev with endless help with weapons and money, and the regime in Kiev is creating one problem after another for the European Union," he said.

The tanker was travelling after having taken on cargo at the Russian port of Murmansk, according to the Russian Transportation Ministry. All 30 crew members, said to be Russian citizens, had been rescued, the ministry announced, expressing thanks to Malta.

The incident was being classified as an act of international terrorism and piracy, it said.

The ministry gave no details on the extent of the damage caused by the incident. Photos and videos circulating on social media, purportedly showing the incident, showed smoke and fire on a heavily damaged vessel.

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The Maltese Armed Forces wrote on Facebook that they had been informed of a distress situation involving the tanker outside their search and rescue area.

The ship had been located and coordination measures taken in accordance with international obligations, it said. The survivors were subsequently found in a life raft within the Libyan search and rescue area.

There was initially no reaction from the Ukrainian side to Russia's allegations.

However, Serhiy Sternenko, adviser to the Ukrainian defence minister, posted what he described as "exclusive" aerial footage on X, taken after the fire on the Russian gas tanker.

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There had recently been a series of incidents involving merchant vessels in the Black Sea. Ukrainian media reported at the end of last year that Kiev had used drones in attacks involving explosions on empty oil tankers there.

Russia has been waging a devastating war against Ukraine for more than four years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday released two prisoners of war holding both Hungarian and Ukrainian citizenship and handed them over to Hungarys foreign minister during a meeting in Moscow.

The men had been forcibly mobilized for front line service in Ukraine, Putin said during talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

"You can take them with you," Putin said in response to Szijjartos request for their release, footage broadcast on Russian television showed. He added that the men should travel back to Budapest on the ministers plane.

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A day earlier, Putin had spoken by phone with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had also asked for the prisoners release.

Putin praised Hungary's stance on the Ukraine war as balanced and independent, saying Budapest generally supports a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Orban is regarded within the European Union as the national leader with the closest ties to the Kremlin. He last visited Moscow in November 2025 and has repeatedly opposed Western sanctions on Russia over the war.

Hungary continues to buy energy from Russia, and Putin assured Szijjarto that Russia intended to remain a reliable supplier.

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Hungary currently receives no Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine, because Kiev says the route has been damaged by Russian attacks.

However, Ukrainian authorities have not yet allowed an inspection of the pipeline, a point of frustration for Budapest. Hungary has cited the issue as a reason for blocking a 90-billion EU loan package for Ukraine.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil infrastructure in an effort to reduce Moscows energy revenues, which help finance its war effort.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 4 that two Hungarian nationals who had been serving in Ukraine's military and captured by Russia were released following talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

"I have decided to release two people," Putin said. "As requested by (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban), you may take them with you directly onto the plane that brought you here."

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"These are citizens who have dual citizenship, both Ukrainian and Hungarian."

The release comes after a March 3 phone call between Orban and Putin and amid Hungary's dispute with Ukraine over Russian oil transit. Only men holding Ukrainian citizenship are subject to mobilization, and Ukraine does not recognize dual Ukrainian-Hungarian citizenship.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Hungarian charge d'affaires in response to the incident, which it characterized as a "cynical" PR stunt in a statement to multiple Ukrainian news outlets on March 4.

"The real humanitarian efforts made by those countries of the world that sincerely help Ukraine release people from captivity and protect life are never accompanied by such cynical PR and politicization. It is important that life has the highest value," the statement read.

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The Foreign Ministry will invite the charge d'affaires to provide additional information on the prisoners as well as "access to the persons who were returned."

Returning prisoners from Russian captivity  notorious for brutal conditions, including torture  is the utmost priority for Kyiv, the ministry said.

"The Ukrainian side is working on it constantly, on all platforms and with all parties that can contribute to the release of our people from captivity. At the same time, we are forced to state that this is not the first time that Moscow and Budapest have been manipulating the sensitive issue of prisoners of war," the ministry said.

The prisoner release comes amid a deepening rift between Ukraine and Hungary. Szijjarto and Putin also discussed energy tensions tied to the suspension of the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia and has been offline since late January.

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Kyiv has said the disruption followed a Russian strike on energy infrastructure in western Ukraine. Budapest and Bratislava, however, accuse Ukraine of deliberately halting transit.

Ahead of the talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov voiced support for the two states whose governments are widely seen as the most Kremlin-friendly in the EU  accusing Ukraine of "blackmail."

Read also: Bratislava shooting itself in the foot, says Kyiv, as Slovakia walks away from emergency electricity imports to Ukraine

Hungary and Slovakia, both landlocked countries, were the only two EU members still receiving Russian crude via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline prior to the suspension. The route accounts for roughly 8692% of Hungary's crude oil imports and almost the entirety of Slovakia's supply.

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Orban's government has deepened energy ties with Moscow throughout the war while repeatedly obstructing EU sanctions on Russia or aid to Ukraine.

Governments of the two countries demanded a joint inspection of the damaged pipeline together with the EU, a request that Kyiv has yet to publicly respond to.

In the meantime, Hungary and Slovakia halted diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine and blocked the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia. Orban is also blocking a 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) loan to Kyiv, a crucial financial lifeline amid the war.

Experts have linked Orban's increasingly confrontational rhetoric toward Ukraine to the upcoming April parliamentary elections, as the ruling party Fidesz trails the opposition Tisza Party in polls.

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"Orban is putting this whole topic (of Ukraine) in the center of his campaign," Peter Kreko, the director of the Political Capital think tank in Budapest, told the Kyiv Independent.

But as the Hungarian public focuses on other issues  namely, living standards, high prices, healthcare, and corruption  "Orban is using more and more drastic tools to raise interest in this topic," the expert added.

Peter Magyar, the leader of Tisza, suggested that he and Orban personally inspect the pipeline together.

"If (Orban) possesses credible information about a real threat, he should stop spreading incitement and panic," and instead brief Magyar and NATO partners on the situation, the opposition leader said on X.

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The Tisza Party has condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and signaled plans to curb Hungary's reliance on Russian energy. However, it opposes supplying Hungarian weapons to Kyiv and rejects fast-tracking Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

Read also: Trailing in polls, Orban goes all-in on Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hosted Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto for talks in Moscow, with oil and gas supplies high on the agenda, as Hungary has maintained its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, despite the war in Ukraine.

Szijjarto said earlier on Wednesday that he was in Moscow seeking guarantees from Russian authorities that Hungary would continue to have access to Russian oil and gas amid disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East and interruptions to Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline.

The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraines territory. Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, saying the pipeline, which feeds refineries in Hungary and Slovakia, was hit in a Russian drone attack.

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Putin assured Szijjarto at the meeting that the Russian authorities have always fulfilled all our obligations, and, of course, we intend and are ready to do so."

I understand that this is of concern to you, particularly oil supplies. We see whats happening in the global and European gas markets. Well be happy to discuss all these issues," Putin said.

Not everything is in our power," he said.

Szijjarto, in turn, said that the Russian president was well aware that Ukraine has been blocking oil shipments to Hungary on the Druzhba oil pipeline for weeks, solely for political reasons and based on a political decision.

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He said that hed come to Moscow to ensure Hungarys continued access to Russian fossil fuels at an unchanged price, despite the disruption to pipeline deliveries and soaring energy prices in the wake of the war in the Middle East.

Putin also announced that Russia was releasing two ethnic Hungarian prisoners of war who fought in the Ukrainian armed forces. Putin said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban asked him to consider releasing them in a phone call on Tuesday, and that Szijjarto will be able to bring them home right on the plane that brought you here and that you will return to Budapest on.

Szijjarto thanked him in Russian. The minister has previously accused Ukraine of forcibly conscripting members of a roughly 75,000-strong community of ethnic Hungarians residing in the western Ukrainian region of Zakarpattia. Many in that minority group hold dual Hungarian and Ukrainian citizenship, and so do the two released POWs, according to Putin.

The agreement to release the two ethnic Hungarian prisoners of war comes as Orban escalates an aggressive anti-Ukraine campaign before tough elections scheduled for next month.

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Trailing in most polls to a center-right challenger who has promised to restore Hungarys Western alliances and end its dependence on Russian energy, Orban has ramped up unfounded accusations that Kyiv and the European Union seek to bankrupt Hungary by forcing it to financially assist Ukraine.

He has also sought to convince voters that if his party loses the election, his opponent will send Hungarian youth to die on the front lines of the war.

Last week, Hungary blocked a new package of EU sanctions on Russia in response to interruptions in Russian oil supplies that pass through Ukraine, and vowed to block a major, 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan destined for Kyiv until oil flows resume.

___

Justin Spike contributed to this report from Budapest, Hungary.
Qatar has announced the arrest of what it called two cells operating for Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Ten suspects were arrested in the cells, the Qatar News Agency (QNA) announced on Tuesday. Seven had been assigned to spy on vital and military facilities in Qatar, while three were tasked with carrying out sabotage operations.

During interrogation, the suspects admitted their affiliation with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and that they had been tasked with espionage missions and sabotage activities, QNA reported.

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Qatari authorities have found locations and coordinates of sensitive facilities and installations, as well as communication devices and technological equipment in their possession, the report said.





Tehran has launched multiple retaliatory attacks on Qatar and other Gulf Arab states since the US and Israel began joint strikes on Iran on Saturday. Iran says it is targeting US assets in the region with its attacks, but civilian infrastructure, including airports and hotels, has also been hit.

Dozens of explosions have been reported in Qatar over the past few days, and its Ministry of Defence said it detected the launch of three cruise missiles, 101 ballistic missiles and 39 drones towards its airspace since Saturday.

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While Qatar has intercepted and destroyed them, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it was caught off guard since Iran did not notify Doha of the attacks.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told journalists that Qatar was surprised by these unjustified attacks.

There were attempts to attack Hamad International airport. They were all thwarted The missiles were downed by our defensive measures, and none of them reached the airport, al-Ansari said.

The spokesperson added that almost 8,000 people were stranded in Qatar due to airspace closures caused by the war.

On Tuesday, Oman, which had been mediating talks between Iran and the US before the conflict in the region began, pushed for a ceasefire.

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Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr al-Busaidi said that there are options for diplomacy to prevail and for the war with Iran to de-escalate.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed solidarity with Gulf countries and blamed Iran for attacking them, saying they have nothing to do with the conflict.
Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that evidence on the ground disproved the Iranian claim and decried the strikes as a flagrant violation of Qatars sovereignty.

Qatar categorically rejected on Wednesday an Iranian claim that recent missile attacks were not intentionally directed towards Qatar and accused Iran of trying to drag the Gulf state into a war.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani stated that evidence on the ground disproved the Iranian claim, according to a statement released by the Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry on X/Twitter.

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The statement came after al-Thani spoke on the phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which Araghchi claimed that the missile strikes were directed at American interests and were not intended to target the Gulf state.

Al-Thani decried the strikes as a flagrant violation of Qatars sovereignty and international law, citing the fact that the Iranian attacks were aimed at Dohas Hamad International Airport, civilian areas, vital infrastructure, and industrial zones.

Al-Thani additionally disputed Araghchis assertion that the attacks were just missile strikes.

In addition to missiles, Qatar was also targeted by drones and Iranian fighter jets entering Qatari airspace. Two Iranian Su-24 fighter jets were shot down on Monday, according to the Qatari defense ministry.

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Al-Thani asserted that Irans actions and denials do not indicate any genuine desire for de-escalation or resolution and reflect "an escalatory approach.

He further accused Iran of intentionally seeking to harm its neighbors and draw them into a war "that is not theirs.

Al-Thani urged Iran to immediately halt all attacks on regional states and prioritize the broader interests of their peoples, rather than attacking countries that have sought to avoid involvement in war.

The Iranian attacks will not go unanswered, he stated, stressing that Qatar will respond to any violation of its sovereignty, security or territorial integrity.

Pezeshkian claims Iran respects the sovereignty of neighboring nations

In addition to Araghchi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also claimed that Iran respects the sovereignty of neighboring nations in a statement released on X/Twiter.

Addressed to the esteemed leaders of [Irans] friendly and neighboring countries, Pezeshkians statement asserted that Iran strived through diplomacy to avoid war, but ultimately had no choice but to defend itself from American-Zionist military aggression.

We respect your sovereignty and still believe that the region's peace must be ensured by the countries of the region, Pezeshkian stated.
Qatars state-run energy firm says it has halted liquefied natural gas production after Iranian attacks, sending gas prices soaring in Europe and Asia, as Saudi Arabia announced it was temporarily shutting down some units of the Ras Tanura oil refinery located near the countrys eastern region after a fire broke out following a drone attack.

Due to military attacks on QatarEnergys operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City in the State of Qatar, QatarEnergy has ceased production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products, the worlds largest LNG producer said in a statement on Monday.

Shortly after the announcement, benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices soared by almost 50 percent, while benchmark Asian LNG prices jumped almost 39 percent.

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Earlier, Qatars Defence Ministry said the country was attacked by two drones launched from Iran. One drone targeted a water tank belonging to a power plant in Mesaieed, and the other targeted an energy facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, belonging to QatarEnergy, without reporting any human casualties, it said in a statement.

All damages and losses resulting from the attack will be assessed by the relevant authorities, and an official statement will be issued later, it added.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence, in reports carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA), said two drones had attempted to attack the Ras Tanura refinery on Monday morning, and that a small fire had broken out after they were intercepted.

Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed plumes of smoke rising from the oil facility, located on Saudi Arabias Gulf coast. The ministry said the refinery sustained limited damage, but there were no casualties.

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Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the worlds largest oil processing facilities and located near the eastern city of Dammam, has a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day. The facility is home to one of the largest refineries in the Middle East and is considered a cornerstone of the Saudi Arabias energy sector.

The attacks come as oil tankers have been piling up on either side of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the worlds seaborne oil and the bulk of Qatari gas flows.





The maritime disruptions and fears of a prolonged conflict have led to a sharp rise in global oil prices, which will have a significant impact on the global economy.

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Oil prices surged as much as 13 percent intraday to above $82 a barrel, the highest since January 2025. Prices were already some 25 percent higher earlier in the day, but extended gains after QatarEnergys production halt.

The Dutch TTF natural gas contract, considered the European benchmark for LNG prices, rose more than 25 percent in the morning. By 11:31 GMT, it was up 7.44 euros at 39.40 euros per megawatt hour (MWh).

Meanwhile, the S&P Global Energy Japan Korea Marker (JKM), widely used as an Asian LNG benchmark, sat at $15.068 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), Platts data showed.

Iran has been launching retaliatory strikes, mainly targeting Israel and military facilities of the United States across the Middle East, after the US and Israel launched massive air strikes on the country.

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In a statement published by SPA, the Saudi Ministry of Energy said some operations had been halted as a precautionary measure and that it did not foresee any impact on the supply of petroleum products to local markets.

Saudi Arabia had earlier said it would take all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territory, citizens, and residents, including the option of responding to the aggression after Iran targeted the capital Riyadh and the countrys eastern region with strikes over the weekend.

The US, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning Iranian attacks across the region and affirming their right to self-defence.

Rob Geist Pinfold, lecturer in defence studies at Kings College London, told Al Jazeera that Iran knows exactly what its doing by attacking the Gulf countries.

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These countries have less of an appetite for a fight because, at the end of the day, this is not their war. So, Iran is banking that they will want a ceasefire as soon as possible, that they will be pressuring the [US President Donald] Trump administration. But we have no signs of that whatsoever so far, he said.

Pinfold added that there seems to be a show of force and of unity coming from the Gulf states, at least rhetorically.

Theyre trying to get the message across that they are one and that they are united and that they are resilient, Pinfold said. But under the surface, there are profound disagreements here about how to engage with Iran and whether to engage with Iran at all.




Smaller rain chances will be in place for Wednesday, before Thursday and Friday bring chances of thunderstorms.

The rain that we saw move through the area on Tuesday was mostly short-lived light rain. We may see a few of these tomorrow afternoon, but they will not be as widespread as what we had on Tuesday.

Thursday and Friday, more moisture from the south will move up into central Florida.

This could allow for some thunderstorm development, particularly to the west of Orlando in areas such as Lake and Sumter counties.

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Severe weather is not expected but some storms could produce pockets of heavy rain, wind gusts of 40 mph along with frequent lightning.

There are no significant cold fronts moving through the region over the next week, and temperatures will slowly climb through the 80s between now and next Wednesday.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
If every state representative or state senator in Ohio had to receive more than 50% of all votes cast in an election to win, would the General Assembly have gutted a voter-approved marijuana law, outlawed diversity efforts in higher education, waged unrelenting war against LGBTQ+ Ohioans, or defiled Ohios state parks with pollution-generating oil and gas drillers?

I could go on. But think about it.

If Ohios gerrymandered lawmakers could no longer skate into office on a plurality/winner-takes-all vote (with all-but-certain election results) and instead needed the majority support of the voting population to assume power under ranked choice voting, would that change the political calculus of legislative clowns impervious to the will of the people?

A voting reform proposal that requires a winning candidate to be acceptable to at least 50% of voters  recently blocked by skittish state lawmakers  might mean less job security for politicians who regularly ignore clear public wishes on legalized recreational weed, abortion rights, academic freedom, environmental protection, commonsense gun reform, etc.

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Representational indifference may be shrugged off by a fraction of a fraction of diehard partisans in contorted districts where they have outsized leverage by design, but not a broader base of the electorate enraged by oblivious office holders.

If reelection in Ohio depended on receiving more than half of the total votes cast, instead a small percentage of the overall vote in elections decided in primaries, would culture war grandstanding in the Ohio Statehouse lose to outcome-based policymaking?

Would ranked choice voting  a modest, procedural upgrade in the election system that allows voters to rank candidates for office in order of their preferences  strengthen the quality of candidates running while also centering voters?

Ohioans may never know. Why? Because the possibility of ranked choice voting being used in statewide elections has been preemptively banned in Ohio to protect the aforementioned gerrymandered lawmakers.

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Ohio Senate Bill 63, passed in the Ohio Senate last May and last week by the Ohio House, barred ranked ranked choice voting in statewide elections and threatened to withhold funding from any Ohio city that dare implement it under its home rule prerogative  which several municipalities are considering.

Former Democratic state senator and Ohio attorney general Marc Dann promoted the change in Lakewood.

If you want a government thats more inclusive and less vitriolic, this (ranked choice voting) is a solution that can be used to get there, he said.

Under ranked choice voting, people pick their favorite candidate knowing that if he or she doesnt gather enough votes to win, their vote will count toward their second favorite or third until one candidate has a majority of top rankings.

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The voting model to encourage more voter engagement, more diverse candidates, and more policy-focused campaigns to generate broad-based appeal, has been around for over a century and was once widely used in Ohio from Ashtabula to Cincinnati.

It is how Americans vote today in some cities and states.

Most people like ranked choice voting once they use it, said Denise Riley who heads the nonpartisan Rank the Vote Ohio nonprofit.

Thats why we would love to see our cities use it so the public can see how it works. Im sure thats why state lawmakers wanted to ban it in the cities before it gets a foothold in communities that recognize its benefits over the status quo election system.

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The registered Republican noted that ranked choice voting favors moderate candidates over polarizing ones that just sling mud.

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It also fosters a wide-ranging candidate pool to bring new perspectives to a race and reinvigorate competition with ideas that actually resonate with a majority of voters.

But reform that gives voters a greater choice, a stronger voice, and a representative democracy for all Ohioans, can unseat entrenched partisans clinging to safe seats on a limited base of support.

So, of course, those entrenched partisans in the legislature squashed ranked choice voting in the state before it could start.

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The prospects of foregone conclusions in elections being replaced by competitive races decided by the entire electorate  not just a passionate base  could ruin everything gerrymandering has done to seal control.

Ohio Republicans owe their dominion in the legislature to rigged redistricting. Ranked choice voting is a threat to their engineered supermajorities in the Ohio Senate and Ohio House.

The go-to GOP flack in the Senate for disempowering and disenfranchising Ohio voters, Bowling Green Republican Theresa Gavarone, helped neutralize that threat with Senate Bill 63.

She gave the partys ranked choice voting ban a bipartisan sheen by enlisting feckless Columbus Democrat Bill DeMora as co-sponsor.

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A smattering of spineless Democrats in both chambers followed suit, choosing self-preservation over an arguably more representative voting process not even in use in Ohio.

They discarded opposition testimony on S.B. 63 that overwhelmed out-of-state proponents aligned with the Heritage Foundation.

Thats how much insulated politicos feared losing power to more broadly popular competitors preferred by majority consensus.

Wherever ranked choice is proposed, said Riley, the party in power, whether Republican or Democrat, is opposed to it because it gives voters power and not the parties. \

Politicians whine about ranked choice voting being too complicated or confusing as a smokescreen to conceal the truth, she continued.

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Ranked choice voting takes away some of their power to do whatever they want and Ohio is ripe for (ranked choice voting), Riley predicted.

A state government willfully and repeatedly blind to the demands of the governed will compel change.

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Up against Wednesdays legislative session deadline, a Democratic member of the House of Delegates tried but failed to get a measure known as Raylees Law up for a vote.

This is another year where Raylees Law advances, but doesnt get across the finish line and I find it truly pathetic, said Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, who sponsored the measure.

House Bill 5669 would pause a parents request to remove their child from public school for homeschooling if the parent is in involved in an active child abuse or neglect investigation. Child Protective Services would have to complete the investigation within seven days.

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Its known as Raylees Law and named after 8-year-old Raylee Browning, who died of horrific abuse and neglect in 2018 in Oak Hill, West Virginia. The girls teachers had notified CPS of potential abuse, prompting her abusers to move her to homeschooling.

When the Senate failed to vote on their version of Raylees Law on Monday, the House Education Committee quickly passed their own version that same day.

Facing Wednesdays crossover day legislative deadline, Fluharty twice asked House members to suspend constitutional rules and move it to third reading so it could have a full vote on the floor.

Fluharty needed 80 votes but didnt receive enough support from the Houses GOP supermajority for either request. His first request received 52 votes; a second request hours into a lengthy floor session received 50 votes.

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It has the votes to pass, as evidenced today on the procedural motion but because the supermajority didnt prioritize the bill at all, we were forced to try to get 80 votes to move forward for a final passage vote which only requires a majority, Fluharty said.

He added, Instead of protecting children, the supermajority prioritized bills today related to wedding venue sizes and hunting doe.

The bill has faced strong opposition from homeschool lobbyists and families, who argued that it was an infringement of their parental rights. They said it could unfairly force a child to remain in public school over an unsubstantiated abuse claim.

The House has passed versions of Raylees Law folded into other bills for the last two years. The Senate has never taken it up for consideration.

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Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, sponsored the Senates version of Raylees Law this year.

Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, tried on Monday to bring the measure up for a vote in the Senate after the Senate Health Committee declined to discuss the measure. His motion failed.

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By Toby Sterling

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, March 4 (Reuters) - A trade delegation from India visited the Dutch semiconductor hub of Eindhoven on Wednesday to discuss investment opportunities as New Delhi accelerates its efforts to build a domestic chip industry.

India has pledged billions of dollars in subsidies to attract semiconductor fabrication plants and related manufacturing, with eight projects underway including a $14 billion Tata Electronics facility in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Dutch semiconductor firms are seeking new markets and geographical diversification amid export controls and trade restrictions linked to U.S.-China technology rivalry.

Its clear there are opportunities for Dutch firms, in the first place for equipment exports, and later as a base for manufacturing, given Indias large engineering workforce, said Michiel Smit of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

Manish Hooda, technology director at the India Semiconductor Mission said Dutch firms pursuing a China-plus-one manufacturing strategy should consider India as their production base outside China.

We are quite open if they are interested in setting up operations in India, Hooda said.

The Eindhoven region is home to leading chip equipment maker ASML and dozens of its top suppliers. Chipmaker NXP Semiconductors is also headquartered there.

ASML disclosed last week it plans to open a support office in India. A spokesperson declined to give further details.

Indias subsidy program launched in 2021 covered up to 50% of project costs, with state governments offering an additional 20% to 25%, Hooda said. A second program slated for approval March 30 could be even larger, he added.

Smit said about 50 to 60 Dutch firms had requested meetings with the Indian delegation.

Indian engineers already form a significant part of the Dutch tech workforce. According to statistics agency CBS, the number of Indians in the Netherlands tripled to 89,000 in 2024 from 2014, with more than 10,000 living in the Eindhoven region.

The two countries hope to announce a strategic partnership during a planned visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Humans launched a record number of objects into space last year, from satellites to probes to crewed spacecraft. As launches increase, scientists see new risks in the growing number of satellites amassing over the planet.

Some 4,510 objects were launched in 2025, far surpassing the 2,903 objects launched in 2023, the previous high, according to U.N. data. Since the dawn of the Space Age, roughly 25,000 objects have been sent into space.

The U.S. accounts for the bulk of the objects now being launched into orbit, most of which are small commercial satellites. U.S. aerospace firm SpaceX operates a constellation of more than 9,000 Starlink satellites, which supply high-speed internet access to users below. The Starlink constellation accounts for most of the active satellites now circling the Earth.

Source: U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs via Our World in Data. Yale Environment 360 / Made with Flourish

Orbiting satellites are already leaving streaks on photos taken by terrestrial telescopes, and soon they could obscure imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope and other orbiting observatories, a recent study found. Scientists say that the swarms of satellites overhead will impede research and may obscure views of asteroids headed for Earth.

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Researchers are also increasingly concerned about emissions from rocket launches and from payloads burning up as they fall back to Earth. Both of these processes are producing pollutants that are being injected into just about every layer of the atmosphere, Eloise Marais, an atmospheric scientist at University College London, recently told Yale Environment 360.

There are now roughly 12,000 active satellites overhead, up from just 1,200 a decade ago, according to data gathered by Harvard astronomer Jonathan MacDowell. By 2040, he told e360, there may be more than 100,000 active satellites orbiting the planet.

ALSO ON YALE E360

Scientists Warn of Emissions Risks from the Surge in Satellites
A red flag warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Tucson at noon on Wednesday, March 4.

This warning applies to eastern Pima County, southeastern Pinal County, Santa Cruz County, western Cochise County, southern Graham County, central and eastern Cochise County, southern Greenlee County and lower elevations of the San Carlos Apache Nation in Graham and in the mountains above 5,500 feet.

The National Weather Service warns: "A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or Are expected to develop. A combination of strong winds, low Relative humidity, and Dry vegetation will create the potential for rapid and erratic fire growth. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of the Red Flag Warning for portions of Southeast Arizona."

What are weather service meteorologists saying?

At 12:00 p.m., the weather service issued a statement including the following information:

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"The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a Red Flag Warning for strong and gusty winds, low relative humidity, and high fire danger, which is in effect from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. MST Thursday. AFFECTED AREA, Southern portions of Fire Weather Zones 151, 152 and 154. TIMING, From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. MST Thursday. WINDS, Southwest to West 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. RELATIVE HUMIDITY, As low as 10 percent.

IMPACTS: Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the potential to spread rapidly."

Track wildfires and smoke in your area

What is a red flag warning?

The National Weather Service issues red flag warnings when weather conditions create a higher risk of fire danger. Warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds often combine in the spring and early summer before the monsoon begins, leaving Arizona primed for intense, fast-moving wildfires from a single spark.

Fires can spread quickly across grasslands, forests and desert scrub, threatening homes and straining firefighter resources.

What should you do or not do during a red flag warning?

Forecasters said residents under a red flag warning should follow this advice:

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If you are allowed to burn in your area, all burn barrels must be covered with a weighted metal cover, with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch.

Do not throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road.

Extinguish all outdoor fires properly. Drown fires with plenty of water and stir to make sure everything is cold to the touch. Dunk charcoal in water until cold. Do not throw live charcoal on the ground and leave it.

Never leave a fire unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread.

How to help prevent wildfires in Arizona

The U.S. Forest Service found about 85% of wildfires are caused by humans. Wildfires are a year-round concern in Arizona, but they are especially dangerous during dry, hot and windy weather. Practicing everyday wildfire prevention habits can help save thousands of acres of wildlands, properties and lives.

Be careful with open flames. Do not leave campfires, fire pits or burn barrels unattended. Keep a 10-foot radius around the flames clear of debris and vegetation, and always ensure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving.

Use grills and smokers on gravel or paved surfaces. Fully cool coals and embers before disposal.

Dispose of cigarettes properly, and do not toss a lit cigarette on the ground. Put ashes in a metal container with a tight lid.

Store water near campfires, fire pits, grills or burning brush in case a small fire starts.

Maintain your vehicle's brakes and tires and secure tow chains so they don't drag on the ground. Do not drive on dry grass or brush.

Water your lawn and keep the grass cut. Mow early in the morning when it's not windy or excessively dry.

This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor.

See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Red flag warning issued for these counties in southern Arizona
Frank LaRose is Ohios 51st Secretary of State. The Republican is running to be Ohio auditor of state.

As the debate over federal election reforms in the SAVE Act heat up, so do accusations that supporters are overreacting to the threat of voter fraud.

What critics overlook is that our investment in detection and prevention is precisely what keeps election fraud rare.

Low fraud rates are not evidence that safeguards are unnecessary. Theyre proof the safeguards are working.

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Election security is not built on a single policy. Its a layered system designed to deter misconduct, detect irregularities, and hold violators accountable. Each layer reinforces the others.

What happens in Ohio

In Ohio, voter registration records are continuously cross-checked against motor vehicle data, death records and federal databases used to verify eligibility.

We expanded cross-state data reviews to identify duplicate registrations. We hired a full-time data analytics team to audit voter rolls year-round rather than relying solely on the annual review required by law.

We created a permanent election integrity unit to investigate allegations of misconduct and reformed the state commission that enforces election law to ensure cases are handled consistently and transparently.

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More: What is the SAVE Act? Voter ID law passes House

These safeguards operate before a ballot is ever cast.

On Election Day, additional protections take effect. Bipartisan teams of poll workers verify identity using government-issued photo ID and process ballots in full view of observers. Voting equipment is tested publicly before and after elections.

More: Ohio AG has received no complaints of foreign election interference

Strict bipartisan chain-of-custody procedures govern every ballot. Afterward, counties conduct post-election audits by hand-counting paper ballots to confirm tabulation accuracy.

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This is what a layered security system looks like.

Elections, planes and banks

Consider airline safety.

Air travel is safer today than at any point in history because multiple safeguards work together: screening procedures, reinforced cockpit doors, air marshals and intelligence sharing.

Since September 2001, no U.S. commercial plane has been successfully hijacked. Yet no one argues we should eliminate airport screening simply because hijackings are rare. We maintain those systems because we know they work.

The same principle applies to elections. When misconduct is prevented or detected early, it rarely becomes widespread. Thats not because no one attempts wrongdoing. Its because the system is designed to make cheating difficult and detection likely.

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Precision matters in modern elections. Last year, 53 of Ohios 88 counties had contests close enough to trigger automatic recounts under state law.

Thirty-two races were decided by a single vote, including 10 exact ties. Many were local contests for school board, township trustee or municipal office, positions that directly affect taxes, public safety and education.

In elections that close, one illegal ballot is not merely symbolic. It can determine who takes office. Even isolated misconduct has consequences. Yet whenever additional prevention measures are proposed, the same argument surfaces: voter fraud is rare, so further safeguards are unnecessary. That reasoning ignores cause and effect.

Banks dont wait for rampant theft before investing in vaults, encryption and fraud detection. They invest continuously because public trust is their most valuable asset. Even a single breach can undermine confidence.

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Elections are no different.

Making it harder to cheat

Public confidence, once damaged, is extraordinarily difficult to restore. The strength of our system depends not only on accurate outcomes but on the publics trust that those outcomes are legitimate.

The goal is not to make voting harder. Its to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. Those objectives are not mutually exclusive. In Ohio, weve demonstrated that both can coexist. With smart reforms, other states can achieve similar results.

Strong safeguards protect lawful voters by ensuring their ballots are not diluted by illegal ones. They protect candidates by ensuring outcomes reflect the will of eligible voters. And they protect democracy itself by reinforcing trust in the process.

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As Congress debates election reforms, the evidence of cause and effect should guide the discussion.

Voter fraud remains rare not because the system is vulnerable, but because election officials work relentlessly to deter, detect and prosecute misconduct.

Prevention is not an overreaction. It is the reason the problem remains small.

Frank LaRose is Ohio Secretary of State.

Frank LaRose is Ohios 51st Secretary of State. The Republican is running to be Ohio auditor of state.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: SAVE Act supporters not overreacting. Our system is vulnerable | Opinion
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed Democrats Tuesday for a funding standoff affecting her department during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The hearing quickly turned confrontational when Republican Sen. Thom Tillis delivered a sustained attack on her leadership and renewed his call for her resignation.

Noem opened her remarks by accusing Democrats of forcing a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. She said the funding fight disrupts the agency responsible for border security and immigration enforcement.

"The latest Democrat led shutdown of DHS is reckless, it's unnecessary, and it undermines the American national security, and it harms the men and women who work at DHS and their families," Noem said. She added that disrupting DHS operations "at a time when we produced the most secure border in history and removed nearly 3 million illegal aliens from our country is indefensible."

Tillis delivers harsh assessment

The most pointed criticism came from Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who is retiring and has already called for Noem to step down after a deadly immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.

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Using his allotted time as what he called a "performance evaluation," Tillis accused the department of detaining American citizens during immigration enforcement actions and sharply criticized its deportation strategy.

"We just want numbers. We want a thousand a day, 6,000 a day, 9,000 a day because numbers matter, right? No, they don't matter. Quality matters, not quantity, quality," Tillis said. "And what we've seen is a disaster. Under your leadership, Miss Noem, a disaster. What we've seen is innocent people getting detained that turn out are American citizens."

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Tillis said he will place holds on Trump administration nominees unless he receives answers to questions he has submitted about immigration operations, including enforcement actions in Charlotte. He also warned he could deny quorum in several Senate committees to force responses.

Minneapolis operation remains flashpoint

The confrontation follows the immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis earlier this year in which two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal officers. Tillis has argued the department has not acknowledged mistakes tied to the incident and has called for additional investigations.

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During the hearing he also accused the department of blocking oversight. Tillis cited a letter from the DHS Office of Inspector General referencing multiple instances in which investigators said they were misled or prevented from pursuing inquiries.

"That is stonewalling, that's a failure of leadership, and that is why I've called for your resignation," Tillis said.

Senator raises memoir controversy

Tillis also turned to a passage in Noem's 2024 memoir describing how she killed a 14-month-old dog she said was untrainable, along with a goat on her farm.

The senator, who said he trains dogs himself, argued the episode reflected poor judgment.

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"I trained dogs, alright? And you are a farmer. You should know better," Tillis told Noem. "You should know that if you're going out to a hunting lodge and you're putting pheasants out and you put dogs out. You don't take a puppy out there. A 14-month-old dog is basically a teenager in dog years. You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time in training, and then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it's a leadership lesson about tough choices."

Tillis compared that story to what he described as rash decision-making inside the department, including the Minneapolis operation.

Noem spoke only briefly during Tillis's time, confirming that White House border adviser Tom Homan reports directly to President Donald Trump.

Noem testifies in front of the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

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A new study has uncovered a troubling potential link between microplastics and cancerous prostate tumors. While the study doesn't prove causation, it raises questions about the effects microplastics may have on the development of certain cancers.

What's happening?

A study, led by urologist Dr. Stacy Loeb from NYU Langone Health, has uncovered higher concentrations of microplastics in prostate tumors compared to non-cancerous tissue.

NBC News reported that the research, recently presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, found that 90% of the tumor samples contained microplastics, compared with 70% of the non-cancerous samples. Researchers also said they took extreme precautions to prevent plastic contamination of the samples while also being "overly conservative" in accounting for potential contamination.

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Dr. Loeb noted the findings are "very surprising and concerning."



While this study hasn't yet been published, it does raise concerns about a potential link between microplastics and cancer development.

Why are these findings concerning?

Microplastics  tiny plastic particles formed as larger plastics break down  have previously been detected in human blood, lungs, placentas, and other tissues. They continue to build up in everything from our drinking water to food, and they've been linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease and other health issues.

This is not the first research to find higher concentrations of microplastics in tumors. Another study published in The Lancet in 2024 found similar results.

And while experts note that it doesn't establish that microplastics cause tumor growth, it does suggest a link that warrants further research. "The fact that it is being detected in tumors means that from a public health perspective, this issue deserves really serious attention," said Dr. Andrea Viale, who was not involved with the study, per NBC News.

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This is being met with heightened urgency, considering rates of prostate cancer have been on the rise. With yearly increases in cancer diagnoses, more and more lives are at stake.

What's being done about microplastics?

Researchers are calling for broader studies to determine whether microplastics play any role in cancer development. Some governments and politicians are also pushing for stricter regulations regarding microplastics, such as monitoring their concentration in our drinking water.

However, sweeping solutions, such as corporate responsibility and developing plastic alternatives where possible, will likely have the greatest impact on our microplastics problem.

In the meantime, individuals can lower their exposure to microplastics by cutting out single-use plastics, using glass or stainless steel food containers instead of plastic, and supporting policies that reduce plastic use.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
A small group of Richmond residents rallied ahead of Tuesday night's city council meeting in support of extending the Flock Safety's contract and turning its cameras back on.

"Just last week, we had a sideshow that lasted over an hour. Several cars were destroyed. Gun shot reigned freely for over an hour. There were fireworks. Everybody in that community was kept awake for that entire time period," says Philip Rosenthal, describing his neighborhood near downtown Richmond.

He says cops were busy. And couldn't respond. He believes if Richmond's Flock Safety cameras were still operating, there may not have even been a sideshow.

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"All you have to do is cross the street from El Cerrito. Now you're in Richmond. You are free to do what you want. We are not even going to try to take your license tag," says Rosenthal.

MORE: Santa Clara County to stop using Flock Safety cameras in several cities after privacy concerns

"We are concerned about the vulnerability it creates for our businesses. If Richmond does not have these cameras and all the nearby cities do," says Oscar Garcia, President of the 23rd Street Merchant Association, one of the largest business districts in the city.

According to data from the Richmond Police Department since installing Flock's automated license plate readers in 2023, there are almost 900 cases that led to the identification of a suspect or suspect's vehicle; 272 people have been arrested; 258 stolen vehicles recovered; police identified suspects cars in 12 homicide cases.

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But late last year, Richmond police shut off the Flock cameras after discovering that a "software configuration error unintentionally allowed outside law enforcement agencies" to access its data.

"California... is a sanctuary state. Flock has said that it has now restricted any sharing of data with agencies outside of California," explains City Councilmember Cesar Zepeda.

MORE: East Bay protesters march against ICE operations, Flock camera surveillance

Zepeda supports keeping Flock cameras on and will vote to extend the contact, though admits he has not fully read the city's contract with Flock. He adds Richmond can amend its contract to include concerns over data breaches and over mass surveillance that other Bay Area cities and counties have encountered.

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Last week, the City of Mountain View voted unanimously to terminate its contract with Flock Safety after an audit found that, "Mountain View's data had been accessed by federal and state law enforcement agencies in violation of the City's approved policies."

"For example, do we, instead of holding data for 30 days, as we were before. Do we need it for 30 days? Can we do it for 10 days," suggests Zepeda.

The agenda report suggests that the city staff's recommendation is to turn the cameras back on and to extend the contract through the end of the year. There are seven councilmembers including the mayor. They need four votes to pass.





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Colombia's biggest oil company has been polluting local waterways, and related "gasoline gang" violence is making life even more challenging for locals, according to The Guardian.

What's happening?

A pipeline leak flooded the San Silvestre wetlands with oil in October. The owner of the pipeline, state-owned industry giant Ecopetrol, denied wrongdoing.

The cost to local wildlife has been immense, including the death of fish and water buffalo that locals depend on for food.

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"Yet again, hundreds of fish, snakes, birds, turtles, and caimans have died overnight," said longtime local fisher Luis Carlos Lambrano, per The Guardian. "If we can't fish, we can't eat.  I feel utter sadness."

The problem has been exacerbated by gangs of pirates that tap into pipelines to steal and sell gasoline on the black market. These gangs have resorted to violence to protect their territory on the water.

"You don't mess with the armed groups. If you don't listen, they will kill you," said Yuly Velasquez, president of a local sustainable fishing organization, per The Guardian.

Why is this important?

Oil spills have tragic consequences for entire ecosystems. The fallout has been experienced time and again, including in Alaska, Louisiana, and Illinois. Even if oil is responsibly distributed without leaks, its production emits a wealth of methane, and once refined into gasoline and burned for energy, the final product creates even more atmospheric pollution.

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That pollution traps heat in the atmosphere, exacerbating destructive weather events such as floods, droughts, and heat waves. These impact ecosystems worldwide, not to mention the costs to humanity. Farmers and homeowners alike incur huge costs in the face of these disasters.

What's being done about oil spills?

A leak of Ecopetrol documents called the Iguana Papers revealed the company's efforts to hide the extent of its environmental negligence. This information led activists to call on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate Ecopetrol for failing to disclose key information to American shareholders.

While holding corporations to account requires concerted effort by governments and citizens, on an individual basis, it's possible to cut down on oil use in day-to-day life. This removes the incentives to support such harmful production systems. To that end, switching to an EV is a great option and will save you money on monthly expenses.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said Dunkin and other companies will need to prove that their ingredients are safe, prompting Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) on Wednesday to reply back, Come and take it.

Kennedy, while at a rally at Brazos Hall last week in Austin, Texas, said, Were going to ask Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, Show us the safety data that show that its OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it.'

He added, as the audience applauded, I dont think theyre going to be able to do it.

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The reforms aim to ensure American foods follow the highest safety and nutritional standards globally, MAHA Action, Kennedys nonprofit health advocacy group, said in a statement explaining Kennedys announcement.

Healey responded to Kennedys remark about the Canton, Mass.-based chain in a post on the social platform X. She shared an image of a flag resembling the 1835 Come and Take It flag first used at the start of the Texas Revolution.

Instead of a cannon, however, Healeys flag replaces the cannon with a silhouetted Dunkin cup.

The Hill reached out to HHS and Dunkin for comment.

Kennedy has worked to overhaul the food ingredient approval system, aligning with what nutrition advocates have called for years. He said in Austin that this will be the closure of the GRAS loophole, referring to the Generally Recognized as Safe policy.

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Kennedy criticized the GRAS exemption in a 60 Minutes interview last month. He argued that the exemption allows food companies to independently verify the safety of food additives without the Food and Drug Administrations oversight.

That loophole was hijacked by the industry, and it was used to add thousands upon thousands of new ingredients into our food supply, Kennedy told correspondent Bill Whitaker. In Europe theres only 400 legal ingredients. This agency does not know how many ingredients there are in American food.

The National Association of Manufacturers pushed back on Kennedys claim, saying in a report released last Wednesday showing how the U.S. food and beverage supply chain produces safe, abundant, accessible and nutritious options for Americans.

They added that policy trends threaten Americas safe and abundant food supply, global leadership in safe and nutritious food production and innovation across food technologies, and that any changes could bring the risk of raising costs for both consumers and companies.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A married high school physical education teacher has been indicted on two counts of third-degree sexual assault after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a male student.

Alisha Crins is accused of exchanging sexually suggestive messages and engaging in sexual contact with the student while he was enrolled at Ponaganset High School in Rhode Island as a 17-year-old, according to an affidavit cited by Wpri.

The investigation began after the former student filed a formal complaint with Rhode Island State Police in October, the documents obtained by WPRI show.

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According to the affidavit, the student told investigators Crins began texting him while he was a sophomore after allegedly finding his cellphone number online.

Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sexually Abusing 15-Year-old Student Weeks After Giving Birth: Report

He said she initially asked him to do work for her while she was on vacation, but the two continued communicating through text messages and social media after that plan fell through.

Read On The Fox News App

The student alleged the relationship escalated during his junior year. He told investigators Crins frequently complimented his appearance and once asked to wear his jersey during a school pep rally.

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He further alleged Crins invited him to meet near her Cranston home, where they kissed inside his vehicle. During a later encounter, she allegedly climbed into the back seat and engaged in sexual contact, according to the affidavit. The student denied having sexual intercourse with her.

The alleged assaults took place between April 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024, according to Wjar.

High School Basketball Coach Charged With Raping Foster Daughter, Serving Victim Tequila Shots: Report

When questioned by investigators, Crins denied "getting physical" beyond a single kiss but admitted to flirting and exchanging text messages that contained "sexual innuendos," the affidavit states.

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She also acknowledged sending photos and videos and told investigators the two discussed plans to have sex once he turned 18, though she said they never acted on those plans.

The Foster-Glocester Regional School District said Crins resigned from her role at the school Oct. 1, 2025, according to WJAR.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

File image of a woman texting. According to an affidavit, the student told investigators Crins began texting him while he was a sophomore after allegedly finding his cellphone number online. (iStock)

In a statement obtained by the outlet, the district said it is cooperating with authorities and referred further inquiries to state police.

Fox News Digital has reached out to state police for comment.





Original article source: Rhode Island teacher accused of sexting, kissing high school boy
In a scathing report on the alleged sexual abuse of at least 315 children by 75 Catholic clergy members, Attorney General Peter Neronha provides painfully graphic detail on the lengths Rhode Island's Catholic leaders went to in an effort to hide the magnitude of the scandal.

"Generations of Rhode Island victims, their families, and others who have suffered the impacts of this trauma deserve to know the truth of what occurred," Neronha wrote in a foreword to his long-awaited report.

Here's a look at what is in the report, and how it came to be.

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You can read the full report here.

A report on clergy sex abuse in the Diocese of Providence, produced by the office of Attorney General Peter Neronha.

What is in the report?

The names of some of the victims  Ann Hagan Webb, Hub Brennan, Margaret McKenna, Dennis Laprade  and their accounts of what was done to them when they were children will be familiar to anyone who has followed the years of thwarted legislative efforts to hold the Diocese of Providence legally responsible.

The House has been willing. The Senate has not.

But Neronha's report is not just a retelling of old news, as current Bishop Bruce Lewandowski suggested in a recent letter to the Catholic community.

The report reveals the number of victims, the names and number of clergy members who allegedly abused them, and the lengths  more extensively than previously known  to which the diocese went to conceal their crimes against children.

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Case in point: Father Roland Lepire reportedly abused most of his victims, ages 8 to 14, "by wrestling and tickling them until he was able to touch their penises." When the mother of one victim complained to the police, then-Bishop Louis Gelineau "decided that Lepire should be transferred to another parish."

Altogether, the report identifies 61 diocesan priests and deacons, 13 religious order members, and one "extern" priest, as having been "credibly accused" of abusing children.

What does credibly accused mean? "[A]n allegation of Sexual Misconduct Perpetrated Against a Child where there is a reasonable basis to believe that the alleged conduct more likely than not occurred, as determined by the Attorney General."

"In those cases where we were unable to adequately substantiate an allegation of abuse through witness interviews or other information, or where the available information was simply too scant or otherwise impossible to substantiate, we did not name the accused priest," the report says.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha sits in front of his draft report on clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence during an interview on Jan. 7, 2026.

Report adds names to the 'credibly accused' clergy list

The report adds 20 names to the list of "credibly accused" clergy previously acknowledged by the Diocese of Providence.

It lays out in gut-wrenching detail over 280 pages the previously unseen efforts the Diocese of Providence took to conceal what was happening.

It names the church-affiliated retreats and "treatment centers" where accused priests, some of whom were never defrocked, were sent for "cures," including the Queen of the Clergy Villa in Escoheag, West Greenwich, and the House of Affirmation in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.

It describes how the victims were often treated: Told they were liars, subjected to unreliable polygraph tests and offered financial support for therapy if they agreed to hand over their medical records to the diocesan lawyer, among others, so the church could effectively "listen in."

As of 2022, the diocese was still using a "Special Assignment Fund" to compensate priests who were placed on leaves of absence due to allegations of sexual misconduct with children.

Of the 19 diocesan priests on the current Credibly Accused List who received "an evaluation and/or treatment" following one or more allegations of child sexual abuse, 10 were subsequently returned to active ministry.

At least four of the 10 were accused (or even convicted) of additional sexual abuse or assaults upon their return.

How was the report created?

In an epilogue, Neronha said the investigation by his office, which began in July 2019, involved an examination of more than 250,000 pages of documents dating back to 1950 that were voluntarily turned over by the diocese.

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That included personnel files, treatment reports and internal investigation records from a "Secret Archive."

From those documents, Neronha said: "We identified at least 13 priests who were accused of abusing over 40 children, under circumstances where it appears the Diocese had some prior notice of [their] possible child sexual misconduct."

The Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul in Providence, Rhode Island

"But instead of removing those priests and taking steps to separate them from the priesthood entirely, the Diocese simply transferred them to other parishes (or permitted them to remain at their posts), where they reportedly abused more children."

Today, there are currently 364 priests, 91 deacons, 368 religious sisters and 66 brothers serving in the diocese, and more than 11,700 children attend the diocese's elementary and high schools, according to the diocese.

Who was to blame?

Based on the available records, the report lays much of the blame on Bishops Russell J. McVinney, whose tenure ran from 1948 to 1971, and Gelineau, whose tenure ran from 1971 to 1997.

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According to the report, they "repeatedly [returned] known abusers to active ministry with the tragic yet predictable result that additional Rhode Island children were abused."

"The scale of this avoidable tragedy is staggering: across 70 years, in a state as small as our own the Diocese employed at least 75 credibly accused abuser priests who are accused, and in some cases were found guilty, of sexually abusing and assaulting over 300 victims," the report says.

These priests abused the most children

A single priest, Brendan Smyth, allegedly abused at least 17 children over the course of his three-year ministry in Rhode Island, and another, William O'Connell, allegedly abused more than 20 during his time as a priest.

According to the report, these five priests abused the most children:

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William O'Connell allegedly abused 23 children

Brendan Smyth allegedly abused 17 children

Robert Marcantonio allegedly abused 17 children

Edmond Micarelli allegedly abused 16 children

Michael LaMountain allegedly abused 12 children

The accusations stretch back 75 years

The most recent accusation stems from a June 2011 report by the principal at St. Joseph School in West Warwick to the diocese, alleging that a deacon who taught in his school had pulled down the pants of several sixth-grade boys.

Without any evidence that he talked to any of the boys, the church's compliance officer  retired Massachusetts State Police Detective Robert McCarthy  concluded this was not a "reportable" offense, according to the attorney general's report.

"What sexual assault do you have? What abuse do you have here? What neglect do you have here? You have bad judgment. Bad judgment is not a crime in this state," McCarthy reportedly told the principal.

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The school principal nonetheless reported the incident to the Department of Children, Youth & Families, which forwarded the report to the West Warwick Police Department, which "identified several more complainants who made clear this was not an isolated incident of 'pantsing.'"

"Several disclosed that [Deacon Laurence Gagnon] had touched their groins repeatedly, including two who added that Gagnon acknowledged to them his actions could get him arrested or put in jail," the report states.

Gagnon subsequently confessed "to fondling the genitals of several boys," according to the report. He was arrested a few days later and charged with several counts of second-degree child molestation.

In April 2013, Gagnon pleaded no contest to three counts of second-degree child molestation and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with one year to serve.

'Improvements' have been made, report notes

In his inescapably shocking report, Neronha gives the Diocese of Providence credit for improvement.

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After 2002, the report says: "The Diocese generally placed accused priests on administrative leave upon receiving a complaint, prohibited them from ministry while the complaint was investigated, and took steps to permanently remove them from ministry if the Diocese deemed the complaint credible."

Significantly, "the Diocese largely  though not entirely ... stopped the practice of transferring accused priests to new assignments, placing them on 'sabbaticals,' or sending them to 'treatment' in lieu of removing those priests and reporting complaints against them to law enforcement."

But, the report says, these improvements have not been "consistently or uniformly implemented. ... The Attorney General is convinced, based on this Investigation, that more work is needed."

Concerns about the diocese's 'recent responses'

Chapter 8 of the report is titled: "The Attorney Generals concerns with the Diocese of Providences recent responses to the clergy abuse crisis."

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These include: "A lack of clear written guidelines and other meaningful controls over internal Diocesan investigations of suspected clergy abuse. ... The absence of record keeping by the Diocese's internal Review Board."

And "The Diocese's lack of any policy or practice for monitoring living, credibly accused clergy ... public transparency and survivor supports."

Significantly, the diocese's own 2019 "List of Credibly Accused Clergy" remains what Neronha called "deficient."

The investigation identified 20 additional clergy accused of child sexual abuse whom the diocese "has not [yet] included on its list, despite being aware of those complaints."

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In addition, the list published by the diocese "omits facts essential to a full public accounting of clergy abuse," the report says.

That includes "the dates and locations of each incident of alleged abuse, and the named priests' full assignment histories, inclusive of temporary and non-parish assignments."

How the diocese handled a recent case

The report questions if the diocese is even now sufficiently mindful of the kinds of "inappropriate" conduct that should send up red flags.

As recently as 2022, the report says, the diocese received several complaints that an active priest had inappropriately questioned students about their sexual orientation and sexual activity during confession.

"This was not the first time the priest was accused of questioning children about sexual topics. ... Parishioners had previously complained about similar conduct less than a year earlier at another Diocesan school," the report reads.

Shortly after receiving the 2022 complaint, senior diocesan officials spoke with the accused priest, and the diocese released a statement that his "errors in pastoral judgment" had been addressed.

"Yet the priest was observed delivering Mass at his local parish the following day, prompting several parents of the children involved in the incident to file a police report.

"The same day the report was filed, the diocese announced that the priest had been placed on administrative leave."

Then-Bishop Thomas Tobin "revoked his faculties," which meant the priest's authority to preach and hear confessions, and "ordered him to participate in ongoing educational training, among other conditions."

"Less than six months later," the report says, Tobin "returned him to active ministry without advising [his new] parishioners about steps the Diocese took to satisfy itself that the priest did not present any risk of children."

Concerned parishioners complained to Tobin, who again removed the priest.

"Though he no longer appears to have a parish assignment, it is our understanding that this priest remains available to fill in or substitute for other priests," the report says.

The report says "Bishop Tobin's approach was reminiscent of the 'transfer rather than warn' mentality" of prior decades.

What living clergy have been credibly accused?

Asked the current status of the credibly accused priests who are still alive, Neronha spokesman Timothy Rondeau said the following living clergy "have been deemed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence and have, to the best of our knowledge, not been laicized," meaning they are still priests but have been suspended, or retired, from active ministry:

"Based on the information we have, at least a number of these priests continue to receive financial support and other benefits (for example, healthcare) from the Diocese," Rondeau said.

According to canon law, and based on information provided by the diocese, bishops have a Duty of Maintenance to the priests incardinated in their dioceses. According to the diocese, this duty obligates the bishops to take care that provision is made for their [priests] decent support and social assistance which persists unless and until the priest leaves, or is removed from, the clerical state.

Rondeau said that they were not aware if the diocese supervises or monitors those priests.

Why was the report created?

In an epilogue to the report, Neronha wrote:

"Our investigation confirmed what many victims and their families have long known: for decades, bishops, and other senior leaders of the Diocese of Providence helped conceal child sexual abuse committed by Diocesan priest[s] s at the enormous expense of victims their families and the broader public."

He said the goal from the outset was four-fold:

Provide an account of child sexual abuse by clergy

Understand the institutional response of the church and diocesan leaders to the abuse

Identify those perpetrators who may still be prosecuted and bring those cases where legally feasible

Propose reforms and accountability measures that will help prevent these crimes from recurring

How has the diocese responded to the report?

In a video response to the report, Bishop Bruce Lewandowski apologized to the victims of clergy sexual abuse, saying that the "church failed them."

"I take this opportunity to apologize to the victim-survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy for the failures of church personnel and others in past decades to protect them and keep them safe," Lewandowski said. "I ask youto pray for them. I am praying for them, and I pledge to continue our support for them through the ministry of our Office of Outreach and Victim Assistance programs."

Speaking about the report, Lewandowski said "extreme sadness and feelings of intense shame weighed heavily on me as I read the report," and vowed that it must never happen again. He thanked Bishop Thomas Tobin for "voluntarily" entering into the review by the Attorney General's Office which produced the report.

He also stated that there are no credibly accused clergy in active ministry, and that there are no contemporary allegations, while reiterating the Diocese of Providence's commitments "to uphold the effective safeguards and protections that have been built up by my predecessors."

"The report statistically shows that these long-standing measures have been very effective," he said. "This commitment is ongoing and is integral to the churchs life and mission."

Responses to the report:

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi promised a hearing next week on the latest version of House Judiciary Chair Carol McEntee's bill to allow victims to file civil suits against the diocese and any other institution that neglected to stop the abuse they suffered as children, concealed it or transferred known offenders from one location to another.

Many victims have suffered immense and irreparable harm due to the actions of those who exercised power and authority over them and the institutions that protected the perpetrators," Shekarchi said.

McEntee said: This report is a long time coming and it should be clear to anyone reading it that the systematic coverup of this pervasive and appalling behavior is just as bad as the actual assaults of countless helpless children."

"Revealing the truth about this immoral corruption is the first step to delivering real justice for so many victims, and I will continue to support our victims rights and quest for justice through legislation that will hold both the abusers and the institutions that protected these predators accountable in the courts."

Senate President Valarie Lawson voiced gratitude for Neronha's "exhaustive work documenting the horrifying abuse that took place across Rhode Island and the repeated institutional failures to protect children."

"I will be reviewing the report, which will provide the Judiciary Committee with important context as they consider the legislative proposals the Attorney General recommends to expand upon the steps we have taken [in the past] to ensure victims can access justice.

Lawyer Tim Conlon, who has represented clergy sex abuse victims in court in Rhode Island, said the report reveals, in shocking and sometimes excruciating detail the lengths to which the diocese went "to provide shelter to pedophiles."

"In Rhode Island," however, "unlike many other states, victims seeking relief for the damages sustained as a result of the heinous, systemic misconduct documented in this report, encounter a system of justice that is not only blind, but turns a deaf ear."

Conlon said the Rhode Island Supreme Court has made clear the remedy is legislative action, to allow civil suits by victims against the institutions that failed to protect them.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI clergy sex abuse and cover-up laid out for the first time. What to know.
Global air travel has been thrown into turmoil after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury, prompting widespread flight cancellations and travel disruptions across the Middle East and beyond.

Airlines quickly suspended routes to key cities in the region, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or scrambling to rebook trips. Major carriers cited safety concerns as tensions escalated.

According to FoxBusiness, Emirates temporarily halted flights to and from Dubai, saying it would resume a "limited number" of services later Monday and prioritize customers with earlier bookings.

The airline urged travelers not to go to the airport unless they were directly notified.

Etihad Airways also suspended all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2 pm UAE time on March 4.

The airline said some "repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals."

Like Emirates, Etihad advised passengers to stay home unless contacted. US carriers followed with cancellations and flexible travel policies.

Airlines cancel flights, issue travel waivers over Middle East unrest https://t.co/BiMA1LG3VP  FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) March 2, 2026

Major US Airlines Offer Refunds

American Airlines announced that customers flying to or from cities including Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Larnaca could change their travel plans without paying change fees.

The waiver applies to tickets purchased by Feb. 27, 2026, for travel between Feb. 28 and March 15, as long as passengers keep the same origin and destination, LGMCorp reported. Travelers may also cancel and request a refund.

Delta Air Lines suspended flights between New York's JFK Airport and Tel Aviv through early March.

Affected passengers can reschedule their trips or cancel for a refund or e-credit. Fare differences will be waived for certain rebooked flights if they travel within the specified window.

United Airlines canceled service to Dubai and Tel Aviv through early March as well.

The airline issued waivers allowing customers to reschedule without change fees if they fly within new approved dates and remain in the same cabin and cities. Refunds are available for those who choose not to travel.

Originally published on vcpost.com
As the market re-opens post escalation, the shape of the curve depends on how participants interpret the shock. If traders believe the disruption will be short-lived or largely symbolic, the front may spike while the back end remains anchored by long term supply expectations. Eventually, the front will soften and come back. That produces a sharp kink in the curve. If, on the other hand, the conflict threatens prolonged production losses or structural export constraints, deferred contracts can also move higher, flattening or even shifting the entire curve upward. If the entire curve stays in backwardation but moves higher, then the market will have a problem. Note as of last Friday, the curve had already shifted higher.

Backwardation reflects a market that values immediate barrels more than future barrels. During crisis conditions, refiners and physical buyers are willing to pay a premium for prompt delivery to secure supply continuity. This drives up the front month relative to the second and third months. The curve tightens. This affects time spreads and crack spreads for refineries. Remember, refiners cant delay the crude supply, they can only use what they have stored. But that is a dangerous bet; a refiner cannot be switched on and off. Once the asset is off, it is very complicated and costly to restart, so managing that supply is very important and sensitive to price - for new barrels, old barrels in tanks are hedged.

When geopolitical risk intensifies, the first observable shift is often in the front of the curve. If traders believe there is a credible risk of immediate supply disruption, nearby contracts tend to rally faster than deferred contracts. The result is a steepening of backwardation. That means, that the front of the curve moves very high, in the physical space, traders start bidding spot hard on fears of supply disruptions.

Oil is uniquely sensitive to geopolitical stress because so much of the global supply transits narrow chokepoints. Even the threat of disruption can change pricing dynamics before a single barrel is lost - or takes longer to get to the end point. In these environments, the most important signals often lie not in the outright price of crude but in the shape of the forward curve and the behavior of the options market as a consequence. The option market has become a big player in the oil space in the last decade.

What has been happening in the Middle East when it comes to markets wont affect only headlines but could reshape the structure of the oil market from the physical barrel to the far end of the derivatives curve. As tensions escalate, physical traders are going to have to rethink their physical routes, and will have to recalibrate the forward curve - opposite to equity markets, oil markets use the forward curve to hedge, not spot. Because of that, you will also see a repricing of volatility, adjusting skew, and deployment of option structures that reflect deep uncertainty about outcomes.

Story Continues

Storage and Roll Yields

The curve shape has direct implications for storage and roll yields. In strong backwardation, holding physical inventory is costly because future prices are lower than spot prices. Traders are incentivized to release barrels into the market rather than store them. Storage tanks are empty. Roll yields are positive for long futures positions because, as contracts approach expiry, they converge downward toward a lower deferred price.

In contango, the opposite happens. Future prices exceed spot, allowing traders to buy physical oil, store it, and sell forward at a higher price. The spread must exceed storage, financing, and operational costs to be attractive. In crisis-driven contango tied to demand fears, storage can fill quickly, as seen in previous oil shocks.

For physical trading desks, these shifts determine hedging and arbitrage strategies. A refiner may lock in margins differently depending on whether backwardation is steepening due to supply fear or flattening due to policy intervention. A producer may accelerate or delay hedging programs depending on how far deferred prices move relative to spot. Obviously, while all of this takes time, it is not immediate in the physical market. But the market dynamic will change how participants think about risk when the market opens on Monday 2nd of March.

Straddles Around Key News Events

When diplomatic talks, military escalations, or potential strike announcements are scheduled or rumored, implied volatility often rises sharply in the front month.

In such environments, traders frequently deploy straddles. A straddle involves buying both a call and a put at the same strike, typically at the money. The strategy profits from large moves in either direction. It does not require predicting whether oil will spike or collapse. It requires that the move exceed the implied break-even embedded in the option premiums.

War creates exactly this kind of binary uncertainty. A missile strike could send prices sharply higher. A sudden ceasefire or diplomatic breakthrough could collapse the war premium just as quickly. The straddle aligns with this real-world distribution of outcomes.

The key variable is break even volatility. When traders price straddles, they implicitly define how much movement they expect over the options life. If geopolitical uncertainty increases realized volatility beyond that expectation, long straddles profit. If the event passes quietly and prices remain range bound, implied volatility collapses and long straddles lose value.

Sophisticated desks analyze the implied move priced by the market ahead of key events. For example, if the at-the-money straddle implies a five-dollar move over the next week, the trader must assess whether the potential escalation risk justifies that premium. In extreme war scenarios, implied volatility can overshoot realized outcomes, leading to rapid post-event vol crush.

Skew as a Signal of Asymmetric Risk Perception

Beyond the money volatility lies skew, the difference in implied volatility between out-of-the-money calls and puts. Skew reveals how the market prices asymmetric risk.

In oil markets during war fears, upside risk often dominates. A credible threat to supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz introduces tail risk to the upside. The video we posted earlier does a good job explaining what happens when the Strait is closed; it has ripple effects.

Traders buy out-of-the-money calls as insurance against a spike. This lift call implied volatility relative to puts, creating positive call skew. However, skew can invert depending on the macro backdrop. If the conflict threatens global growth or triggers financial contagion, demand destruction becomes the dominant fear. In that case, out-of-the-money puts become more expensive as traders hedge against downside collapse. Put skew steepens.

The evolution of skew provides a real-time barometer of trader psychology. A market pricing high call skew is expressing fear of supply disruption and price spikes. A market pricing high put skew is expressing fear of recession and demand contraction.

Risk reversals, which measure the implied volatility difference between equidistant calls and puts, quantify this asymmetry. A positive risk reversal signals greater demand for upside protection. A negative one signals demand for downside hedges.

In war environments, skew can shift rapidly as narratives change. A single headline can rotate the dominant risk from supply shock to demand shock within hours. Watching skew dynamics is often more informative than watching the outright price.

This is the USO skew at the end of last week, before the escalations.

Physical Disruptions Beckon Financial Pricing Adjustments

Now, since virtual barrels have increased in the last decade, the most important link is the feedback loop between physical threats and financial repricing.

When physical supply appears at risk, refiners and producers adjust hedges. Producers may hesitate to lock in forward sales if they believe prices will rise further. Physical desks alter inventory management. These actions flow directly into futures spreads and options order flow.

Options markets respond by raising implied volatility, adjusting skew, and repricing break-evens. Market makers widen bid-ask spreads. Vega demand increases. Front-month volatility often lifts relative to deferred months, reflecting concentrated near term uncertainty.

The pricing of break-even volatility is the markets attempt to quantify geopolitical uncertainty. A high implied vol environment signals that traders collectively assign meaningful probability to large price swings. Risk reversals confirm whether that swing is expected to be up or down. The forward curve encodes how persistent the shock is expected to be.

If tensions de-escalate, the war premium collapses. Backwardation can flatten. Implied volatility compresses. Skew normalizes. If escalation intensifies, the process reinforces itself. Physical hoarding tightens prompt supply. The front of the curve spikes. Calls become expensive. Straddles reprice higher.

GEX profile

What you will want to keep a close attention to is also how the GEX profile changes. As the GEX profile changes, you are going to see which price levels become more important as participants move their strikes and market makers hedge across the curve. This was the NetGex for CL as of Friday.

GEX and Gamma levels are becoming particularly important for oil futures traders. Because while fundamentals are always at play in this space, the increased volumes of options in the oil market mean that option positioning and the effect it has on its price is becoming more and more important. Understanding these dynamics can help you trade key levels directionally or just use those levels for option spreads strike selection.

The Machines

Finally, watch for CTAs. If the price starts trending higher, machines are going to start buying very aggressively. Notice that there is a lot of dry powder right now. They can do some real damage to the upside when prices start trending. The machines were already long going into Friday.

Conclusion

Oil markets during conflict are therefore not just reacting to barrels lost. They are reacting to expectations about future states of the world. The forward curve, the straddle premium, and the skew structure are all expressions of collective belief under uncertainty. GEX helps you understand positioning and if CTAs are activated further they can create real pain to the upside.

By MenthorQ for Oilprice.com

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House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, one of the most prominent politicians with Iranian roots in the United States, is watching the American bombing campaign that began over the weekend with concern for his family there.

His feelings about the three-day-old war that began with the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are equal parts fear and optimism.

Optimism that the authoritarian regime that has ruled Iran for may years could fall.

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Fear that what comes next for the country might not be any better.

"From the people that I know, mostly the Iranian community here in Rhode Island  which is very, very small  they are happy," Shekarchi said in an interview in his Rhode Island State House office on Tuesday, March 3. "They're excited that this guy is gone. The former leader of Iran was a brutal dictator for a long time."

He said he has very little information or intuition so far about whether the chaos unleashed by American intervention will pave the way to a more open and democratic government or more hard-liners.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi sips cardamom tea at Persian restaurant Shish Kabob while talking about his Iranian heritage during a 2023 interview.

And, in the meantime, people are dying.

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"You're always worried," he said. "It's a war. It's bombs. It's killings. It's murder. It's, you know, death and everything else."

In addition to Iranian loss of life, Shekarchi said he fears American servicemembers could die without a clear idea of what they are fighting for.

So while he is optimistic that the war will turn out to be a positive, he joins fellow Democrats calling on President Donald Trump to provide a clear rationale for why he decided to bomb Iran and what the United States' goal is.

"It's just kind of hazy to me on what the motivation is. I've heard several different iterations of it," Shekarchi said. Whenever past presidents have led the country into serious conflict, they have "sat down and explained directly to the American people the reasons, the justifications and what our strategic interests were."

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Shekarchi's father, who turned 100 last month, came to the United States from Iran in 1956, married a Rhode Island woman of Italian descent and started a family in the Ocean State.

Shekarchi says he has several cousins still in Iran, mostly doctors or other professionals, none involved in politics. He has limited contact with them and is worried about making them a target.

Could the war cause democracy to take hold in Iran?

"I just don't know the answer to that," he said. "I mean, everyone thinks that, you know, because the former ayatollah has died that there would be protests in the street. Everybody is happy. Welcome, America. But that has not been the case and the bombing continues."

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"We don't know if it's going to be worse or not in Iran," he added. "I don't think anybody knows."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Speaker Shekarchi has hopes, fears for family in Iran as war rages
For the first time, the near-full scope of over half a century of alleged child sexual abuse by Rhode Island Catholic clergy, and the effort by the Diocese of Providence to obscure or cover it up, have been laid bare in a report released by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

The multi-year investigation culminated in a report that Neronha, a Catholic, said has "shaken my faith" in terms of the breadth and depth of the alleged coverup, which often included destroying key files or shuffling priests from parish to parish, where they would reoffend.

The Providence Journal, which has been covering the issue of clergy sex abuse for well over a decade, and has read the full 280-page report, plus the additional appendixes.

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Read the full report here

Here's our full coverage of what is in it:

In a scathing report on the alleged sexual molestation of at least 315 children by 75 Catholic clergy, Attorney General Peter Neronha provides painfully graphic detail on the lengths Rhode Island's Catholic leaders went to in an effort to hide the magnitude of the scandal.

"Generations of Rhode Island victims, their families, and others who have suffered the impacts of this trauma deserve to know the truth of what occurred," Neronha wrote in a foreword to his long-awaited report.

Here's a look at what is in the report, and how it came to be.

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Read the full story here

Twenty new names of credibly accused clergy were uncovered during Neronha's investigation, adding to the 55 already released by the Diocese of Providence.

Here is a comprehensive list of all the names, where they worked and when, and some of the accusations.

Read the full story here

Here you'll find the list of just the twenty new names, their assignments and a summary of the accusations for each of them.

Read the full story here

The story of priest Robert Marcantonio is one of the more "egregious" spelled out in Attorney General Peter Neronha's recently released report on clergy sex abuse, and coverup, in the Diocese of Providence.

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It's a story that spans decades, hundreds of miles, and more than a dozen alleged incidents of abuse across at least two states.

Here's the story, laid out in the report.

"This report is hundreds of pages of men's cruelty to children and its diabolical cover-up."

"It's a blockbuster."

That is how victim-activist Ann Webb describes Attorney General Peter Neronha's newly released report on child sex abuse by Catholic clergy and the decades of efforts by the Diocese of Providence to hide it.

"If people don't see it and be aghast at the horror of it, then they are heartless," Webb told The Journal, in an interview ahead of the public release of the 280-page report and the 100-plus pages of appendices released with it.

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Read the full story here

One of the aims of the attorney general's years-long investigation into clergy sex abuse was to determine if any of the priests who had sexually abused children could still be criminally charged.

Many of the perpetrators are dead. For some of the living, the statute of limitations has long run out on their crimes.

But the Attorney General's Office was able to bring criminal charges against four current and former Catholic priests for child sexual abuse they allegedly committed while serving as clergy in the Diocese of Providence.

Read the full story here

In his report on decades of hidden child sex abuse by clergy and the now-documented steps the Diocese of Providence took to try to hide it, Attorney General Peter Neronha makes a plea to legislators.

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He wants the leadership of the state Senate, in particular, to read the gut-wrenching findings amassed over a six-year investigation and then pass the "targeted legislative reforms" that the House has been more open to passing.

Here are his recommendations.

Read the full story here

The Diocese of Providence made improvements to its system of handling reports of child sexual abuse by clergy after the 2002 Dallas Charter, which created a zero-tolerance party and boards of primarily laypeople to review allegations of child sexual abuse across the Catholic Church as a whole.

But, the report says, these improvements have not been "consistently or uniformly implemented. ... The Attorney General is convinced, based on this Investigation, that more work is needed."

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Here are his recommendations.

In a video response to Attorney General Peter Neronha's scathing report on the decades-long cover-up of the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy, Bishop Bruce Lewandowski apologized to those he called the "victim-survivors."

He apologized "for the failures of church personnel and others in past decades to protect them and keep them safe."

But the Diocese of Providence, in their own statement, characterized the report in a different light, as not having the force of law but rather the "untested perspective of the Attorney General.

Read the full story here.

RI senator and clergy abuse survivor find common cause after painful clash

The last time Dr. Herbert "Hub" Brennan, a respected physician and victim crossed paths with Sen. Mark McKenney in a public setting, it did not go well.

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As Brennan was about to recount at a Senate hearing last year being molested repeatedly as a child by the notorious Rev. Brendan Smyth, a visiting priest from Ireland, McKenney cut him off.

But now McKenney, D-Warwick, is the lead sponsor of the latest Senate version of a bill allowing civil suits against the diocese and other enablers of child sex abuse. It's a bill that Brennan and other clergy victims have fought for for years.

Read the full story here.

Read our past coverage of clergy sex abuse here:

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI's first full report on clergy sex abuse released. What to know.
A Rocklin teacher who urinated into a canister and dumped it out moments before students entered his classroom  an incident captured on video  has been placed on leave.

The cellphone video, a copy of which was obtained by The Sacramento Bee, shows the teacher in his classroom unbuttoning his pants and urinating into the container just off camera. As he buttons his pants and tucks his shirt, he can be heard saying gosh, thats good  gosh gosh gosh gosh gosh gosh. As he grabs the container, he walks across the room and says love it, love it. Once out of frame, he can be heard apparently pouring out the liquid.

The school bell rings and students are heard entering the classroom about one minute later. Students can be heard whispering and giggling before the recording ends. It does not appear that there were any students in the classroom while the teacher was urinating.

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The educator has been identified by students as Dan Champ, an eighth grade history teacher and Associated Student Body adviser at Granite Oaks Middle School. He has been teaching for more than 25 years, according to California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Champ did not respond to a request for comment.

School officials became aware of the video, taken by a student, on Feb. 25 after it was brought to their attention by a parent.

Granite Oaks families received a message that afternoon informing them that a school employee was placed on leave. The Bee learned of the developments Tuesday when it obtained its copy of the video.

This afternoon, after school dismissal, a parent and a staff member informed the School Administration of a video showing an employee engaging in conduct inconsistent with our professional standards, the Feb. 25 email states. While the unverified video does not involve any students or other staff, the employee has been placed on leave while Granite Oaks Middle School and the Rocklin Unified School District (RUSD) investigate the incident.

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Although we are unable to share specific details, this matter is being taken seriously and will be addressed in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and legal requirements.

Why the student secretly recorded Champ isnt known. However, an eighth-grade student previously enrolled in his class told The Bee that she heard rumors at the beginning of the school year that Champ would urinate into a container between classes. The students mother requested that her daughters name not be used out of concern for privacy.

It personally makes me feel disgusted knowing that I was in the room prior to him doing that near the spot that I used to sit, the student said.

The student said she received the video from a friend via Snapchat.

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Champ runs an educational tour program for local eighth grade students called Champ Tours with his wife. The next tour to historic landmarks across the East Coast is scheduled for March 27 and a trip to New York City is scheduled for June.

The Bees Nicole Buss contributed to this story.
Restoring the flow of the Ocklawaha River won support of the Florida House on a 107-3 vote that would partly remove a dam that created Rodman Reservoir a half-century ago for the abandoned Cross Florida Barge Canal.

State Rep. Wyman Duggan, who sponsored the bill, said it strikes a balance among environmental conservation, economic growth and outdoor recreation.

"Florida has a proud tradition of doing the hard, right thing to protect our heritage  from the Everglades to the Kissimmee River  and the Ocklawaha River deserves the same commitment," Duggan said on the House floor.

State Rep. Judson Sapp, whose district includes Putnam County where Rodman Reservoir is located, urged the House to vote down the bill. Sapp, R-Green Cove Springs, said it would inject environmental and economic uncertainty into a rural area where "every single dollar we bring home matters in a way that wealthier parts of Florida may never truly understand."

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"But one thing my community has had for generations is Rodman Reservoir," he said. "It's our place. It's where people fell in love. It's where kids learn to fish. It's where even today some families put food on the table."

The vote on the bill moves next to the full Senate where Sen. Jason Brodeur filed companion legislation for restoring the Ocklawaha so it flows uninterrupted from Silver Springs to the St. Johns River.

The Kirkpatrick Dam, also known as Rodman Dam, dates back to 1968 for the never-completed Cross Florida Barge Canal. The federal government stopped construction of the canal in 1971 but the dam remained in place and created the 9,500 acre Rodman Reservoir covering parts of Putnam and Marion counties.

The bill would create a 19-member Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council that would chart recommendations for recreation and economic development financed by state grants.

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Supporters of the legislation say by opening a portion of the dam and gradually draining the Rodman Reservoir by the end of 2032, it will unleash flow from springs covered by the reservoir and send billions of gallons of freshwater down the Ocklawaha to the St. Johns River, improving the ecological health of the state's longest river.

Florida State Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, speaks during a state House of Representatives meeting.

Sapp said there's no certainty about that outcome happening. He said residents would lose Rodman Reservoir and get a "question mark with unknown outcomes" in return.

Duggan said the bill puts in place a community-driven plan that finally takes on the environmental impact of the barge canal project.

Restoring Ocklawaha: River restoration bill moves ahead for opening Rodman Reservoir dam

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"For nearly 60 years, Floridians championed the river's restoration and waited for their leaders to act," he told lawmakers. "This legislation built on collaboration with community stakeholders, the Legislature and the governor is long overdue."

Gov. Ron DeSantis last year vetoed a line item for the Ocklawaha River in a bigger budget bill. This year's attempt uses standalone legislation that won resounding support in the House on its way to vote by the Senate.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida House approves bill for Ocklawaha River restoration
A Russian LNG gas tanker has sunk in the Mediterranean between Libya and Malta after it was hit by explosions and a fire, Libyan port officials have said.

Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting the Arctic Metagaz with "uncrewed sea drones" launched from the Libyan coast.

Ukraine's SBU state security service has not commented on the allegation and the Libyan port authority said the cause of the fire was unknown.

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The Libyans said the tanker was carrying about 62,000 metric tonnes of LNG before the blasts and that it sank about 130 nautical miles (240km) north of the Libyan port of Sirte.

Russia's transport ministry said 30 Russians were on board the Arctic Metagaz and Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said they were all found "safe and sound in a lifeboat" during a rescue operation by Malta's armed forces.

Unverified night-time footage has emerged purportedly showing the ship ablaze after the attack on Tuesday.

Serhii Sternenko, a popular blogger and adviser to Ukraine's defence minister, posted pictures on Wednesday morning of what he said was the tanker in the Mediterranean, which had a "serious hole in the engine room compartment and is beyond repair".

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He did not elaborate where the pictures came from and they have not been independently verified.

"This is a terrorist attack," Russia's Vladimir Putin told state TV. "This isn't the first time we've encountered something like this."

Russia's transport ministry called it "an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy", singling out the European Union for complicity.

Moscow said the Arctic Metagaz - en route from Russia's northern port of Murmansk - was carrying cargo cleared in accordance with international rules. The tanker was apparently heading for Port Said in Egypt and is considered part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet. It has been widely sanctioned by Western countries.

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The ministry provided no evidence to back up its claim that the tanker was attacked by Ukrainian sea drones, although there have been earlier unconfirmed reports of attacks from the Libyan coast.

The SBU told BBC Ukraine it was not commenting on "the situation with the tanker in the Mediterranean", although a Ukrainian government-linked social media account, United24, teased that the drones were "Definitely. Maybe" not part of the Ukrainian fleet.

Marine tracking data indicated that the day before the fire the tanker had last reported sailing off the south-east coast of Malta.

It had sailed some considerable distance by the time the fire was reported and it is assumed the crew deactivated its automatic identification system.

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Russia has deployed a surging number of vessels to transport oil and gas in an attempt to avoid international sanctions, which are aimed at slashing revenues that have been critical for funding Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Its shadow fleet is largely made up of aged tankers, many with obscure ownership or insurance.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv has carried out a number of attacks on such vessels using naval drones.

However, nearly all of such strikes have been in the Black Sea, which Russia and Ukraine both share.
Russia is using a new kind of air-launched cruise missile in its war in Ukraine, the Izdeliye 30, based on analysis of recovered wreckage. The new development further underscores the fact that Russia is running low on its stocks of legacy air-launched cruise missiles and new production cannot meet its wartime demand. As a result, it is seeking to field weapons in this class that are cheaper to produce and better suited to the nature of the conflict.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defenses Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) was the first to publicly release information on the new missile, which it says has been used in the war since the end of 2025.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has published an interactive 3D model, the main assemblies, and components of the enemys new cruise missile izdeliye-30, as well as data on 20 enterprises involved in its production cooperation chain.



 : https://t.co/shMagPCZHEpic.twitter.com/6XgEsxVatf  Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (@DI_Ukraine) March 2, 2026

Providing an interactive 3D model, based on found wreckage, as well as photos of the wreckage itself, the GUR describes the missile as having folding wings with a span of about 10 feet, a warhead weighing 1,760 pounds, and a range of at least 930 miles. It is powered by a new compact turbojet engine providing a cruising speed of 450 miles per hour.

A series of photos released by the GUR shows the wreckage of a downed Izdeliye 30. GUR

GUR

GUR

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Based on markings and design features, the GUR identifies the new missile as coming from the Zvezda Design Bureau. The missile also bears a superficial similarity to Zvezdas Kh-35 anti-ship cruise missile, known to NATO as the SS-N-25 Switchblade, in its surface-launched application.

Russian forces fire a ground-launched version of the Kh-35 during training. Russian Ministry of Defense

Certain components on the Izdeliye 30 are said to be identical to those used on the air-launched Kh-35U (AS-20 Kayak), including parts of the pneumatic system. Meanwhile, the aircraft interface is similar to those used to launch Kh-101, Kh-55, and Kh-555 legacy air-launched cruise missiles from strategic bombers like the Tu-95MS Bear-H and Tu-160 Blackjack.

A model of an air-launched Kh-35U anti-ship missile. Vitaly V. Kuzmin Vitaly V. Kuzmin

Other components in the missile appear to have been reused from existing weapons, reducing cost and complexity and speeding development.

The satellite navigation system includes a jam-resistant satellite signal receiver combined with a digital satellite receiver, the GUR states. The navigation system is integrated with the flight control system using the same technology as found in Russias guided aerial bombs. The intelligence directorate also notes that components from the navigation system are sourced from foreign manufacturers in China, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States.

A transceiver produced by Maxim Integrated Products in the United States and alleged by the GUR to be used in the Izdeliye 30. GUR

The existence of the Izdeliye 30 has also been confirmed by the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategy and Technologies (CAST) think tank.

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CAST assesses that the new weapon is intended as a cheaper, simpler alternative to the air-launched cruise missiles otherwise used by Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers, namely the Kh-101 and Kh-555 (the Kh-55 carries a nuclear warhead).

Compared to Russias conventionally armed air-launched cruise missiles, the Izdeliye 30 also has a more powerful warhead, CAST said.

The Kh-101 (AS-23A Kodiak) is a modern, stealthy, subsonic cruise missile, with a reported maximum range of between around 1,870 and 2,480 miles. According to the GUR, the Kh-101 has a warhead weighing around 880 pounds, roughly half the size of that understood to be fitted in the Izdeliye 30. It should be noted that some Kh-101s also appear to have been fitted with cluster warheads, as you can read about here.

Firm evidence of a Kh-101 modified with a second warhead appeared in May 2024, as you can read about here. This also suggests that Russia may not be altogether happy with the destructive power of the basic Kh-101, at least for certain types of targets.

A downed Russian Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile with two warheads. See below for more info.https://t.co/qlHX0tj5Uy https://t.co/Jen3QWWlxg pic.twitter.com/xTb68finhK  John Hardie (@JohnH105) May 8, 2024

The Russian think tank also assesses that the Izdeliye 30 was likely designed on the basis of the existing Kh-35, scaled up.

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That would provide a very interesting parallel with Ukraines Neptune series of cruise missiles.

The most capable of these is the Long Neptune, an extended-range derivative of the previous land-attack version of the Neptune anti-ship missile, which is also powered by a small turbofan engine.

An official photo of the Long Neptune. Government of Ukraine

Ukraine famously used Neptune missiles to sink the Russian Navys Slava class cruiser Moskva in 2022 and reportedly began developing a new land-attack version in 2023.

Ground launch of the original anti-ship Neptune. Ukroboronprom

The anti-ship Neptune is, in turn, a Ukrainian development of the Soviet-era Kh-35.

In some ways, then, the Kh-35 may have been further developed, in parallel, by both Russia and Ukraine, with the aim of producing a longer-range land-attack cruise missile. However, the Ukrainian land-attack Neptunes are, as far as is known, only available for ground launch, while the Russian Izdeliye 30 is intended for air launch, at least in its initial iteration.

Ukrainian Long Neptunes. Were producing more 

____



  .    pic.twitter.com/rKUy3NtifJ  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 14, 2025

Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for Military Aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think-tank, told TWZ that he considered that the Izdeliye 30 may well have been developed as a lower-cost supplement to Russias larger air-launched cruise missiles but with a longer range than the Kh-69.

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As you can read about here, the Kh-69 is widely associated with the Su-57 Felon new-generation fighter, although it can also be launched by legacy Russian tactical aircraft.

1/ TASS reports that KTRV will display (a mock-up of) its Kh-69 air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) at the upcoming "Army-2022" forum.



Specifications:

 Max range (km): 290

 Cruise speed (km/h): 700  1,000

 Warhead (kg): 300  310 (depending on configuration) pic.twitter.com/UD38MsNNpG  Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) August 11, 2022

The Kh-69 is primarily intended to hit hardened targets with known coordinates and is said to have a range of at least 186 miles. It has not been adapted for carriage on long-range bombers, however.

While it remains to be seen exactly how the Izdeliye 30 will be used going forward, its clear that Russia has a need for a cheaper, easier-to-produce air-launched cruise missile for its bomber fleet. Russia routinely launches its Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers to strike Ukraine without a full load of munitions (up to eight Kh-101s in the Tu-95MS, or 12 Kh-101s in the Tu-160). The availability of the Izdeliye 30 could make it easier for these bombers to be used closer to their full potential in terms of weapons loads.

Kh-101s on a Tu-95MS Bear-H. CSIS.org

At least one Kh-101 reportedly downed by Ukrainian air defenses in January was manufactured in the first quarter of 2026. The use of such a recent missile highlights the degree to which Russia has depleted its stocks of older weapons, a situation that we have discussed in the past and which is exacerbated by sanctions that have disrupted its ability to produce precision weapons at scale. It certainly appears that Russia is using its Kh-101 in a just in time fashion, as soon as they roll off the production line.

   -101 2026  .   .          .



This night, Kh-101 missiles manufactured in 2026 were used  straight from the factory. Thats why any additional pressure on the availability of pic.twitter.com/yIRqTayCk9  Vladyslav Vlasiuk    (@vladvlas) January 20, 2026

The Izdeliye 30 would appear to offer something of a solution to that problem. After all, if Russia is to use its bombers to launch factory-fresh missiles, it makes sense to ensure that these missiles can be produced more cheaply and at scale. These are, meanwhile, also issues that the United States is increasingly grappling with, as it looks to prepare itself for a future conflict with China, in which air-launched cruise missiles are expected to play a hugely important role.

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At the same time, the Izdeliye 30 will come with certain disadvantages compared to more sophisticated missiles like the Kh-101. In particular, the new missile is less survivable. It doesnt have the low-observable features of the Kh-101, and it very likely lacks the option to add countermeasures of the kind weve seen in the past on the previous missile. It could also be more limited in terms of its navigation capabilities.

At the very least, the appearance of the Izdeliye 30 in combat will provide another headache for Ukraines hard-pressed air defenders. This is a particular concern when the supply of Western-supplied ground-based air defense systems remains strictly limited.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of using naval drones to attack a tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, causing it to sink.

Russias transport ministry said the Arctic Metagaz, a liquefied natural gas carrier, was hit near Malta on Tuesday night.

The ministry claimed Ukraine had launched the attack from the coast of Libya, describing it as an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy. All 30 crew members, who were Russian citizens, were safe, it added.

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The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) did not respond to a request for comment.

Moscow said the tanker, which was sanctioned by the United States and the European Union, had departed from the northern Russian port of Murmansk.

The crew of a nearby merchant vessel photographed the explosion on the Arctic Metagaz

We qualify what happened as an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy, a gross violation of the fundamental norms of international maritime law, the ministry said.

The Libyan port authority said the tanker was carrying an estimated 62,000 metric tons of liquefied natural gas to Port Said, Egypt.

The ship had experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking north of the Libyan port of Sirte, it added.

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Ukraine has frequently targeted Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure in an attempt to deprive the Kremlins war machine of funding.

Libyan port authorities said the Arctic Metagaz experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking

In December last year, Ukraine struck a shadow fleet vessel crossing the Mediterranean.

The SBU claimed that the drone strike on the sanctioned Qendil, which was some 1,200 miles outside Ukrainian territory, had left the oil tanker critically damaged.

Shadow fleet vessels, thought to number more than 1,000, seek to hide their participation in Russias war machine by obscuring their ownership and flying the flags of other nations.

The Oman-flagged tanker had left Port Said in Egypt on Dec 16 and turned back in that direction following the strike.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB)  After nearly two years, a beloved bar has returned to the Bay County area.

Salty Hobo announced that it has officially reopened in Panama City Beach after launching its soft opening event on Feb. 27-28.

The bar was originally located in Panama City but closed its doors in March 2024 due to increased insurance costs and the changes happening around St. Andrews.

Salty Hobo is now located at 13620 Front Beach Road.

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For upcoming events and more information, click here.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.




San Antonio is notorious for its construction. With three major projects underway in the city, it's difficult to travel anywhere without it disrupting your route.

However, a recently published video is calling attention to how it is impacting potential tourists's experience as well. TikTok user Amanda Frazier shared a TikTok video on Friday, February 13, which shows the unique, though not quite scenic, view from their hotel room.

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Frazier, who is currently a Seguin native, was staying in the city over Valentine's Day weekend. They lived in the Alamo City for a few years before moving further North. While a guest at the Drury Inn & Suites San Antonio Near La Cantera Parkway, located at 15806 I-10, they stepped outside to their balcony to a sight that one has dubbed the "view of doom and despair."

No fluorescent green trees or bodies of water in sight, just a busy access road and construction equipment parked near "the historic site" of North Loop 1604 West and U.S. 87. The clip got nearly five million views and over 3,000 comments, with several expressing disdain at not just San Antonio, but Texas as a whole's decreasing amount of wooded areas.

"This is what The Lorax talked about," one social media user (@martesmart3s) commented, referencing a movie about a character who destroys a natural forest to create and sell plastic trees.

"Can they grow some bushes and stuff, omg," another (@secretlysamhamjam) wrote.

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Others went as far as to call Texas the "ugliest state" (@losogreatest), though there are still several regions, including the Hill Country, where open land thrives. The landscape may not be what draws guests in, but the hotel is conveniently located near attractions such as The Shops at La Cantera, SeaWorld, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. A one-night stay in March 2026 costs between $109 and $205, per the inn's website.

A view from San Antonio, Texas's, Drury Inn is going viral on social media in 2026 because it has a "sad" view of Loop 1604 construction. (Courtesy of Google Streetview)





Near the property, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is working on a $1.4 billion project to improve Loop 1604. Crews aim to transform it into a 10-lane highway and replace the I-10 and Loop 1604 interchange by 2027.

While it is appealing to the eye for some, TxDOT district engineer Charles Benavidez previously told MySA it is happening because the route's traffic is expected to double by 2040, and these tasks must be done to meet that growth.

A view from San Antonio, Texas's, Drury Inn is going viral on social media in 2026 because it has a "sad" view of Loop 1604 construction. (Courtesy of Google Streetview)





"It's one of the most congested corridors in the state," TxDOT Public Information Officer Jennifer Serold told MySA. " It's bringing a lot of congestion relief to drivers by giving them more lanes to travel on. And then, of course, when you reduce congestion, you increase safety for the drivers."

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MySA reached out to the Drury Inn & Suites San Antonio near La Cantera Parkway for comment.

This article originally published at San Antonio hotel's 'view of doom and despair' near Loop 1604 goes viral.
The Russian-flagged tanker Arctic Metagaz, which was transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), has caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea.

Source: European Pravda, citing Reuters

Details: According to Reuters' sources, the tanker last reported its position off the coast of Malta on 2 March.

One source said the vessel may have been attacked by a Ukrainian drone, but provided no evidence to support this claim.

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The Armed Forces of Malta said they had received a distress call about a fire and had dispatched units to the vessel.

The ship's crew were found in a lifeboat within Libya's search and rescue region and are safe.

Reuters has contacted the Security Service of Ukraine for comment.

For reference: The Arctic Metagaz is under US and UK sanctions for transporting LNG from Russian Arctic terminals to China.

Background:

Last week, Belgian forces, with support from French military helicopters, detained the oil tanker Ethera in the North Sea, which is said to be part of Russia's shadow fleet.

The vessel, sailing under the flag of Guinea, was intercepted by Belgian Armed Forces in the North Sea on the evening of 28 February, redirected to Belgian territorial waters and detained in the port of Zeebrugge.

Belgium's federal prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the detained tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
By Valentina Za

MILAN, March 4 (Reuters) - Italian digital bank and savings manager Fineco on Wednesday pledged to sharply grow the pace at which it gathers new money by using artificial intelligence and targeting the German market.

Once part of bank UniCredit, Fineco has a business model centred around proprietary technology and a low-cost offer of brokerage and investment services. It employs almost one fifth of staff in tech-related roles.

Fineco outlined a multi-year strategy at a time when the savings management industry is grappling with the spread of low-fee products and AI-driven disruption - exacerbating competition for younger customers as the wealth of baby-boomers changes hands.

"The pressure on margins is there nobody can deny that," CEO Alessandro Foti told analysts. "But for us the growth trajectory is a combination of margins and volumes."

Fineco guided for an average low-double-digit yearly increase in net inflows and new clients between 2025 and 2029, up from 6% in the 2021-2025 period.

It also forecast low-double-digit growth in earnings per share.

The target does not include any potential benefits from plans to expand its brokerage services by early 2027 through the launch of a pan-European investment platform, starting from Germany.

"In Germany the majority of clients' assets are still in the hands of really inefficient banks. Even the fastest growing players in Germany are just scratching the surface," Foti said.

To tackle fierce competition, Fineco plans to combine the ease of tech platforms with the trust customers place in traditional banks.

To boost income, it will start lending securities bought for clients to institutional investors, covering assets of about 64 billion euros.

Deputy General Manager Paolo Di Grazia said around 40% could be used for securities lending, citing strong demand for exchange traded funds (ETFs) that Fineco buys in large volumes for clients.

An investor recently offered to pay up to 75 basis points to borrow some ETFs, he said.

"It's a very good number," Di Grazia said.

(Reporting by Valentina Za, editing by Gavin Jones; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
South Carolinas attorney general is demanding answers from Silfab Solar after a chemical spill Tuesday at the Fort Mill solar plant sparked a state investigation. Now, state regulators are demanding the startup pause operations.

Despite the demand from state environmental officials, Channel 9s South Carolina reporter Tina Terry saw several cars in the parking lot both overnight and Wednesday morning.

READ MORE: Parents criticize school districts response to chemical spill near elementary school

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The Department of Environmental Services made that order after the chemical spill, involving 300 gallons of potassium hydroxide. In that letter, the SCDES expressed concerns about the spill and also said they believe Silfab Solar received chemicals at the site before becoming operational. They called for a pause in the startup until they can complete an investigation.

On Wednesday afternoon, the solar plant confirmed it paused chemical deliveries as state health workers investigate the chemical spill.

So many emotions. I think nerve wracking, unsettling, anger, said neighbor Lisa Gunter. And just out of precaution, went to go pick my son up from school early.

In a statement late Wednesday, Silfab Solar doubled down on previous statements saying: The leak was confined to a small area on the Silfab property and did not pose a danger to the community or our employees.

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However, South Carolinas Department of Environmental Services demanded that the company stop receiving chemicals until SCDES can wrap up an investigation into the spill and look into claims the company received chemicals before it was supposed to.

South Carolina Rep. David Martin and Sen. Michael Johnson took to Facebook Wednesday: Up until now this has been a county issue - the citing of this plant was a county decision - but now theyve endangered people. Were going to do everything we can to push.

And South Carolinas attorney general sent a letter to Silfab with a list of questions about safety demanding answers no later than March 13.

I am encouraged, and I hope that the eyes on really leads to the details in the process so that no pieces are missed and that it can be fully vetted out and hopefully completely closed for good, Gunter said.

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Channel 9 also got a statement from Fort Mill Schools on Wednesday afternoon.

It said the chemical spill " ... underscores the concerns raised regarding the safe operation of this facility in our community and has clearly demonstrated the need for additional action."

It says it wants findings of the investigation and any required actions to be made public.

York County also released a statement tonight saying it looks forward to the state investigation.

A South Carolina House subcommittee will discuss a bill on Thursday, which would allow a county or city to withdraw permits if the property is not being used the way it is zoned.

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Rep. Martin of Fort Mill cited the Silfab project as motivation for the legislation.

The following are full statements released on Wednesday:

Silfab:

Silfab Solar is cooperating with DES during its investigation of the minor leak of approximately 300 gallons of water that contained a small amount of potassium hydroxide at our facility on March 3. The leak was confined to a small area on the Silfab property and did not pose a danger to the community or our employees. The leak has been cleared, and we are undertaking remediation efforts in coordination with DES and York County.

We have paused chemical deliveries until authorization from DES. In the meantime, Silfab maintains operations safely and responsibly. At the direction of DES, Silfab will only re-start deliveries once all regulatory requirements are satisfied. We are committed to preventing similar incidents in the future. The safety of our employees and the community remain our top priority.

Fort Mill School Board and District Administration:

Dear Fort Mill Parents, Staff, and Community,

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In light of the recent events at the Silfab Solar facility, the Fort Mill School Board and District Administration are issuing the following statement.

Regarding the incident that occurred the morning of Tuesday, March 3, we first extend our thanks to the first responders who arrived on scene quickly to manage the situation. While we are relieved this specific event did not pose an immediate risk to the community, our team is currently reviewing the actions of both our staff and partnering entities to identify and address areas where improvements should be made. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment, and we will continue to work tirelessly to uphold that standard.

The district has continued to engage with York County Emergency Management, Citadel EHS, and representatives from Silfab Solar to understand the facilitys processes, safety systems and emergency response protocols. This incident underscores the concerns raised regarding the safe operation of this facility in our community and has clearly demonstrated the need for additional action. While the district lacks legal authority regarding the placement or permitting of commercial businesses, we are formally joining Senator Johnson, Senator Climer, Representative Martin, and Representative Terribile in their request that the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services cease all operations at the Silfab Solar facility.

We have received confirmation that an investigation is underway and we believe the suspension should remain in effect until a thorough investigation of the incident and a comprehensive review of all safety protocols and response systems are completed, and any identified concerns are properly addressed. We also request that the findings of the investigation and any required actions be made public.

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In conjunction with this request, the district is also supporting Representative Martins proposed legislation. This measure would grant York County Council the necessary authority to revoke permits and halt operations, when a business is found to be out of compliance with zoning laws.

As a result of these recent events, we are calling upon those with the governing authority to address this situation and continue to partner with the district to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all students.

York County:

York County understands the concerns of our community related to yesterdays incident at Silfab Solar and shares in the disappointment surrounding the chemical release. York County does not have investigative authority, but looks forward to a thorough review of the incident and stands ready to work and coordinate with the regulatory agency overseeing the matter, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

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York County wants to express sincere appreciation to our emergency responders, the York County Emergency Management Office, and partnering agencies for their quick response, which helped to minimize impacts and ensure public safety. Despite reports to the contrary, our emergency responders were onsite within three minutes of the initial 911 call reporting the incident.

We understand there is confusion about why the initial report of 1,530 gallons released was reduced to 300 gallons. The original figure came from Silfabs reporting through their 9-1-1 call. With time, Silfab adjusted their estimate, and the figure was able to be independently confirmed by emergency responders onsite.

Emergency responders also confirmed that the chemical release was fully contained onsite at Silfab, which has several measures in place to mitigate environmental impacts.

While this incident did not pose a threat to public safety, we regret it happened and look forward to accountability and improvement from Silfab. We are committed to continuous improvement in service to our community and will review our own communication response process as well.

York County Council Chairwoman Christi P. Cox:

Immediately following the events yesterday morning at the Silfab facility, on behalf of the council, I have personally been in constant and direct communications with County Management, Emergency Management Services, York County Sheriff, legal advisors, and numerous officials with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

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We have also personally engaged with Fort Mill School District Officials and Town of Fort Mill officials. Our entire council takes these issues very seriously and are monitoring these events very closely.We have been in regular communications with SCDES officials yesterday and today. While we have been repeatedly advised by the regulatory authorities in charge that nobody in our community was at any risk of potential harm or exposure, I am confident that SCDES understands what is at stake and is investigating this situation thoroughly and completely. We have been personally assured that they are using their best resources to get to the bottom of the situation and that they will communicate their findings to the County as soon as the results of their investigation are available. We have also confirmed that Silfab is not receiving any chemical shipments while SCDES conducts its investigation.County officials confirmed that all response systems in place on the countys end worked as designed and that all county response teams were immediately on site after notification.

Should SCDES determine through its investigation efforts that there is a public health and safety concern exposing our community to harm, rest assured we will take that information seriously and take any legally permissible action necessary to ensure our community is protected.

It is critically important that any decisions in this matter be based upon facts, truth and in accordance with the law. Despite social media posts suggesting otherwise, Council did not rezone this property, and the zoning issues are jurisdictionally before the circuit court (not council) for decision and interpretation. Official updates with facts regarding this matter will be timely made through the County website.

VIDEO: Hazmat team responds to chemical spill at Silfab Solar in Fort Mill
COLUMBIA  South Carolinas environmental agency halted incoming chemical shipments pending an investigation at a controversial solar panel manufacturing plant Tuesday following a spill at the recently opened site in York County.

Silfab Solar spilled 300 gallons of potassium hydroxide solution at its location in the Charlotte suburb of Fort Mill, less than 2 miles from the North Carolina border.

The odorless chemical is used in a number of household products, including paint removers and drain cleaner. In solar panel production, the chemical dissolved in water makes it easier for solar panels to absorb the light needed for energy production.

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The company contained most of the chemical spill but some reached a nearby stormwater retention pond, according to a letter sent to the company by Myra Reece, director of the state Department of Environmental Services.

Sen. Michael Johnson is seen during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in Columbia, S.C. on March 15, 2022. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

In a statement following the spill, the company said it notified county emergency management and there was no danger to public safety.

Still, a pair of state senators who represent York County residents called for state regulators to step in and investigate. While the company has yet to begin operations at the facility, officials had cleared it to begin stocking up on the necessary chemicals.

Given that such an incident occurred a mere two weeks after Silfab was approved to bring these chemicals in for operations, we have grave concerns about the professionalism of the company and their ability to both recognize and adhere to state regulations put in place to protect members of our community, reads a joint statement from state Sens. Michael Johnson, of Tega Cay, and Wes Climer, of Rock Hill, whos running for Congress.

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The two Republicans said Reece had their utmost support in remedying this matter by any and all means available.

That did little to assuage longtime opponents of the site, located off the Gold Hill Road exit of Interstate 77. Large nearby neighborhoods include Regent Park. Its also just north of Fort Mill School Districts largest elementary school, which opened last August.

Residents have pushed back against Silfab locating on the property due to the use of hazardous chemicals, including hydrochloric acid, anhydrous ammonia, silane and hydroflouric acid, in its solar cell- and panel-making process. Uses for these chemicals include rust removal, fertilizer, herbicides and waterproofing, to name a few.

Some 8,000 people have signed an online petition opposing the site, according to Scott Jenson who leads the citizen group calling itself Move Silfab.

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The opponents argue county officials should not have allowed the company to manufacture solar cells in a light industrial area and even commissioned a study, conducted by University South Carolina professors, modeling the potential health risks.

Jenson said he was disheartened and frustrated by news of the spill but wasnt necessarily surprised.

I hope this a wakeup call for the public, he told the SC Daily Gazette. Get educated because this is not theoretical anymore. This is real life.

Jenson went on to say he has little confidence that any penalties environmental investigators may impose will be more than a slap on the wrist.

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According to the companys fall 2023 announcement, the site was expected to be operational a year later. But the start date has been continually pushed back amid legal and permitting troubles.

Residents and groups have filed multiple ongoing lawsuits against Silfab, the state Department of Environmental Services and York County over the permitting process that allowed for the development to happen.

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who is a Republican candidate for governor, also waded into the fray Tuesday.

Regardless of what caused this leak and its ultimate resolution, residents and parents deserve answers, she wrote on social media.

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Silfab must be held accountable  providing assurances that these chemicals are properly contained, will not cause harm, and that adequate plans are in place for future spills or emergencies.

Previously, Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, another gubernatorial candidate whose congressional district covers Silfabs plant, hosted an informational session between residents and state officials in 2024 amid the sites controversy.

On Wednesday, Attorney General Alan Wilson released a letter he sent to the company demanding answers about the spill. His letter, dated Tuesday, seeks a response by March 13.

Nearby residents and particularly parents of children at the Flint Hill Elementary School next door are expressing serious and legitimate concerns regarding their safety and their childrens safety, Wilson, whos also running for governor, said in the release.

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Editors note: This article was updated Wednesday with Alan Wilson weighing in.
COLUMBIA  State senators are asking an oversight agency to investigate the education departments use of K-12 school choice scholarships for homeschooling expenses.

Senate Education Chairman Greg Hembree made the request Tuesday, two weeks after he and other senators grilled state Superintendent Ellen Weaver over her agencys decision to give homeschooling students taxpayer money for their education needs despite legislators explicitly saying they were excluded from the program.

Senators want hard numbers on how many students are using the money for schooling at home, which the agency calls unbundling. Weaver previously said 1,182 students indicated they would use the money for some sort of schooling at home, but some have since switched to private school, so she didnt know how many actually used it for that purpose.

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Nor could she give numbers on how many students learned from home using the funds during the programs initial year.

Hembree said Tuesday hes real concerned about the lack of hard data overall involving the scholarship money, but specifically this unbundler program.

Hes requesting a review by the Legislative Audit Council, which investigates agencies at legislators request.

The goal is not to try to tear it up, but really to try to make it stronger, Hembree said, referring to the entire program.

He didnt have major concerns about other parts, he said, but wanted the investigation to look at all of it just in case.

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But those answers wont come in time for this legislative session. A review by the council takes months.

Five signatures are needed to submit a request. Hembree had enough support within Tuesdays subcommittee. All four other members, two Republicans and two Democrats, said they agreed with him.

They echoed Hembrees concerns that the departments interpretation on homeschooling expenses was the opposite of what legislators intended.

This whole thing is so disappointing to me, said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield.

The senators unanimously advanced a bill meant to close the loophole the Department of Education used to award money to homeschoolers.

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Until legislators have a more solid idea of the numbers involved, Hembree said he might propose capping the program at 10,000 students for a second year.

Under the law signed last year that revamped the program, the Legislature is supposed to fund at least 15,000 scholarships in the coming school year.

But legislators could insert a clause in the state budget to put that scheduled increase on hold.

Thats a conversation to have during the budget process, Hembree added.

The application window for the coming school year has already opened.

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South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has thrown his support behind a plan to use revenues from an upcoming increase in the statewide sales tax rate to offset homeowner property taxes  something his administration opposed earlier this legislative session.

The shift in positions is part of a broader agreement between the executive branch and legislative leaders on how to best address property tax relief.

More legislative news

See all of Searchlights coverage of the 2026 legislative session.

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Rhodens preferred approach to property taxes had, until this week, focused on a bill to let counties use a half-percent sales tax to offset property taxes.

This relief should be felt in both the short term and the long term, Rhoden told lawmakers on the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday. It should be realized for all South Dakota homeowners and targeted even more to those that were hit the hardest with rising taxes. And it should also make property taxes more predictable and transparent for South Dakotans.

The plan ties together five bills:

Senate Bill 245, which would put revenue from a scheduled sales tax increase from 4.2% to 4.5% next year into a relief fund for owner-occupied property taxes, and use nearly $56 million in one-time money to seed the fund.

Senate Bill 96, the Rhoden-recommended bill on voluntary county sales tax increases.

House Bill 1253, which caps annual property assessment growth at 5% for five-year increments, resetting assessments back to market value every five years.

House Bill 1323, which gives citizens 10 more days to gather signatures to refer a school boards decision to opt out of the states property tax cap.

House Bill 1051, which reduces the maximum tax levies for school districts.

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Four of the five bills were endorsed Wednesday by legislative committees. HB 1051 awaits a hearing with the Legislatures Joint Appropriations Committee.

Sales tax increase to offset property taxes proposal revived

Senate Bill 245 was introduced as a vehicle bill, meaning a bill with boilerplate language that can be used to introduce new policies late in the legislative session.

The bills vague original language earned Senate support on Feb. 24. The House State Affairs Committee amended it to reintroduce a concept similar to one that failed in the Senate last month 16-17.

In addition to capturing increased sales tax revenues to deposit into a homeowner property tax reduction fund, the new bill would seed that fund with $56 million in one time money. The fund would be used to reduce tax levies for school districts.

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House Speaker Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, is sponsoring the bill. Hansen and Rhoden are competing against each other, along with U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Toby Doeden, for this years Republican nomination for governor.

Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, answers questions during a press conference in Pierre on Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Hansen said hed hoped to keep the states sales tax rate at 4.2% and use other means to reduce property taxes statewide. He told lawmakers on the committee that the next best thing is to dedicate the scheduled increase toward lowering property taxes.

The original bill to capture the increased sales tax to offset property taxes was Senate Bill 118, which the Rhoden administration opposed.

Steven Kohler, with the state Bureau of Finance and Management, told lawmakers at the time that diverting sales tax money would remove lawmakers discretion to use the revenue for funding increases to education, Medicaid providers or state employees.

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Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff voted against SB 118 but told South Dakota Searchlight after Wednesdays meeting that he supports SB 245.

I dont love everything about it, Mehlhaff said, pointing specifically to the $56 million it allocates in one-time money. But Im willing to support it to deliver some property tax relief.

The bill passed the House State Affairs Committee 11-2. Itll head to the House floor next. If it passes, the Senate would need to vote to accept the amendments.

County sales tax bill passes committee

SB 245 would result in up to 15% average reduction in property taxes per household across the state, South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Terwilliger told lawmakers on Wednesday.

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Senate Bill 96, the governors proposal to allow counties to set up to a half-percent sales tax, would add another reduction, depending on the county, Terwilliger said. Some counties, based on the governors website outlining the proposal, could save more than 20% per household  as high as 35% in Bennett County.

Jim Terwilliger, commissioner of the state Bureau of Finance and Management, speaks at a House State Affairs Committee Hearing at the State Capitol in Pierre, SD, on March 4, 2026. (Photo by Meghan OBrien/South Dakota Searchlight)

Combined, the two bills make a very, very powerful package, Terwilliger said. Savings would appear as a credit on property tax bills, he said.

Counties would be able to implement a new half-percent tax either by a vote of a county commission or a vote of the public.

Nathan Sanderson, executive director with the South Dakota Retailers Association, spoke against the bill, saying the organization prefers Senate Bill 245. Another member of the public, John Cunningham, said the bill provides more relief to wealthy homeowners, rather than low income renters or homeowners.

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The bill passed 12-1 and heads to the House floor.

Effort caps assessment increases during five-year periods

House Bill 1253, introduced by Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, originally sought to require counties to use an eight-year market average to set taxable values for non-agricultural properties.

It was amended on Wednesday to cap annual increases at 5%. Currently, properties are assessed on market value annually. If the bill passed, homeowners would be protected from unpredictable increases in assessments each year. The bill would reset assessments at the market value of the property after five years.

The goal, Odenbach told members of the Senate Taxation Committee on Wednesday, is to prevent double-digit increases in property taxes seen in recent years and improve transparency in how mill levies that impact property taxes are set.

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South Dakota Department of Revenue Secretary Mike Houdyshell spoke in support of the amended bill after opposing it earlier in the legislative session. Setting a reassessment period establishes a catch up provision to equalize properties, Houdyshell said, something other assessment cap bills proposed this session and last did not do.

Opponents included directors of equalization from across the state and representatives of farming and business groups. They said the bill would shift the property tax burden onto agricultural properties.

Pennington County Director of Equalization Shannon Rittberger said the change would cost thousands of dollars in software changes, and said he expects public outrage when assessments reset to market value, which could cause increases of more than 5% that year.

I dont like this bill because I dont think itll change property taxes, Rittberger said. Itll move it around and itll head toward that cliff.

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Houdyshell said there are likely mechanical and logistical details that will need to be worked on before the bill can be signed by the governor.

The bill passed 5-2 and heads to the Senate floor.

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This story was originally posted to MyNorthwest.com

Soon, travelers will have more options to get from Seattle to Spokane.

SeaPort Airlines is expanding with the launch of eight daily flights between Boeing Field in Seattle and Felts Field in Spokane on March 9, SeaPort Airlines announced in a news release Tuesday.

The Sea-Tac mega airport has outgrown short-hop travel in the Pacific Northwest. The solution is 100 years old, and its under our noses. Its Boeing Field, SeaPort Airlines CEO Kent Craford stated in the news release.

New Spokane routes build on existing Portland service

SeaPort Airlines new Spokane routes will build on the existing schedule of up to 16 shuttle flights per day between Boeing Field and Portland International Airport. The airline will offer two morning and two evening round-trip flights per day between Seattle and Spokane.

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Were bringing back fast, hassle-free travel, Craford stated. Our customers enjoy free parking and short, easy trips to downtown Seattle and Spokane. They also get to skip the unpredictable, endless TSA lines and frantic security screening. Just check in 20 minutes before your flight. You can predictably get from downtown to downtown in two hours or less. It beats Zoom by about 279 miles.

Ticket prices for the new flights will be similar to the cost of tickets purchased from Alaska Airlines, SeaPort Airlines noted. Flights start at $299 one way, and SeaPort Airlines is offering a 32% discount on fares through April using promo code SFF32 in honor of the 1932 Felts Field terminal building.

Reservations can be made on SeaPort Airlines website.

Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) is preparing for President Trump to declare a national emergency in order to seize control of this year's midterm elections from the states, including by bracing his Senate colleagues for a vote in which they would be forced to either co-sign on the power grab or resist it.

In the wake of reporting last week that conservative activists with connections to the White House were circulating such an order, Padilla sent a letter to his Senate colleagues Friday stating that any such order would be "wildly illegal and unconstitutional," and would no doubt face "extremely strict scrutiny" in the courts.

"Nevertheless, if the President does escalate his unprecedented assault on our democracy by declaring an election-related emergency, I will swiftly introduce a privileged resolution [and] force a vote in the Senate to terminate the fake emergency," wrote Padilla, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

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Padilla wrote that such an order  which could possibly "include banning mail-in voting, eliminating major voting registration methods, voter purges, and/or new document barriers for registering to vote and voting"  would clearly go beyond Trump's authority.

"Put simply, no President has the power under the Constitution or any law to take over elections, and no declaration or order can create one out of thin air," Padilla wrote.

Read more: Struggling Democrats need to drop out of Californias crowded governor race or risk a GOP win, party leader warns

The same day Padilla sent his letter, Trump was asked whether he was considering declaring a national emergency around the midterms. "Who told you that?" he asked  before saying he was not considering such an order.

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The White House referred The Times to that exchange when asked Tuesday for comment on Padilla's letter.

If Trump did declare such an emergency, a "privileged resolution," as Padilla proposed, would require the full Senate to vote on the record on whether or not to terminate it  forcing any Senate allies of the president to own the policy politically, along with him.

Experts say there is no evidence that U.S. elections are significantly affected or swung by widespread fraud or foreign interference, despite robust efforts by Trump and his allies for years to find it.

Nonetheless, Trump has been emphatic that such fraud is occurring, particularly in blue states such as California that allow for mail-in ballots and do not have strict voter ID laws. He and others in his administration have asserted, again without evidence, that large numbers of noncitizen residents are casting votes and that others are "harvesting" ballots out of the mail and filling them out in bulk.

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Soon after taking office, Trump issued an executive order purporting to require voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship before registering and barring the counting of mail-in ballots received after election day, but it was largely blocked by the courts.

Trump's loyalist Justice Department sued red and blue states across the country for their full voter rolls, but those efforts also have largely been blocked, including in California. The FBI also raided an elections office in Georgia that has been the focus of Trump's baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

Trump is also pushing for the passage of the SAVE Act, a voter ID bill passed by the House, but it has stalled in the Senate.

In recent weeks, Trump has expressed frustration that his demands around voting security have not translated into changes in blue state policies ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, where his shrinking approval could translate into major gains for Democrats.

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Last month, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, "I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future. There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!"

Read more: Rep. Kevin Kiley opts against challenging fellow Republican Tom McClintock

Then, last week, the Washington Post reported that a draft executive order being circulated by activists with ties to Trump suggests that unproven claims of Chinese interference in the 2020 election could be used as a pretext to declare an elections emergency granting Trump sweeping authority to unilaterally institute the changes he wants to see in state-run elections.

Election experts said the Constitution is clear that states control and run elections, not with the executive branch.

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Democrats have widely denounced any federal takeover of elections by Trump. And some Republicans have expressed similar concerns, including Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who chairs the Senate rules committee.

In the Wall Street Journal last year, McConnell warned against Trump or any Republican president asserting sweeping authority to control elections, in part because Democrats would then be empowered to claim similar authority if and when they retake power.

McConnell's office referred The Times to that Journal opinion piece when asked about the circulating emergency order and Padilla's resolution.

Padilla's office said his resolution would be introduced in response to an emergency declaration by Trump, but hoped it wouldn't be necessary.

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"Instead of trying to evade accountability at the ballot box," Padilla wrote, "the President should focus on the needs of Americans struggling to pay for groceries, health care, housing and other everyday needs and put these illegal and unconstitutional election orders in the trash can where they belong."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WASHINGTON  Senate Republicans on Wednesday rejected an effort to rein in President Donald Trumps ability to wage war against Iran without approval from Congress, ensuring the massive U.S. air and naval bombardment of the country will continue for the foreseeable future.

The failed 47-53 vote ensures lawmakers will hold no formal debate on another costly military conflict in the Middle East that has already left six U.S. servicemembers and hundreds of Iranian civilians dead. It also comes amid bipartisan concerns about the missions shifting objectives, its open-ended scope, and the possibility of Trump committing U.S. boots on the ground.

Politics: Nancy Mace Grills Tim Walz With Bizarre Question During Heated House Hearing

But nearly every Republican argued this week that Trump has legal authority to unilaterally wage war against Iran because its regime posed a threat to U.S. troops in the region.

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The president has broad authorities under Article II of the Constitution, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said at a press conference. I think the president is perfectly within his rights to take the steps he took. I think it was a necessary step in order to protect American lives.

Democrats maintain that Trump should have sought congressional authorization for the strikes, as required by the U.S. Constitution. They forced a vote on the matter under the War Powers Act, which Congress passed in the wake of the Vietnam War to assert its constitutional authority over war-making. The War Powers Act requires the president to notify Congress when committing the U.S. armed forces to hostilities in an emergency when the country is under imminent threat and gives lawmakers the power to trigger snap disapproval votes.

Trump formally notified Congress about the strikes this week, but his claim that the U.S. faced an imminent threat from Iran, a U.S. adversary for decades, was met with skepticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Politics: Sen. Mark Kelly Makes Outrageously Insulting Diss About Trump's War Leadership

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a leading advocate for congressional authority in matters of war powers, said after a classified briefing on Iran this week that he has seen no sufficient justification for unilateral action by the president.

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I do not believe this got anywhere near that the U.S. was facing an imminent threat. The term has traditionally been used when talking about military actions, Kaine said.

Trump administration officials and their allies on Capitol Hill have thrown out half a dozen justifications for launching a war against Iran, ranging from regime change to nuclear disarmament. Some have argued that the war is not really a war, others have argued that it was Iran that actually started it, and that the U.S. was merely acting defensively by launching missile strikes against Iran alongside Israel.

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), joined by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.), speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 3. Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the lone GOP vote for the war powers resolution, which he helped introduce alongside Kaine, dismissed most of those claims as absurd double-speak in an interview with HuffPost.

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Theyve been saying theyre one week away from a nuclear weapon, I think, since 1996, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said of Iran. The other thing is, Oh no, were really been at war for 40 years, and now were just ending the war. I mean, most of the arguments dont seem to hold water.

Politics: Karoline Leavitt Absolutely Loses It Over Kaitlan Collins' Question: 'Listen To Me...'

Paul noted the U.S. Constitution conferred the power to declare or initiate war to Congress for a reason: to make war less likely.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a vocal critic of the Trump administration, voted with his party to block the war powers resolution. However, he said that his position could change if U.S. involvement in Iran deepens and drags on for weeks.

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If its clear that this is a weeks-long process, and whether troops are visibly or are covertly deployed there, then we need to have a serious discussion about an authorization for the use of military force, Tillis said.

The GOP-controlled House of Representatives will vote on its own War Powers resolution blocking hostilities with Iran on Thursday. That measure is expected to fail, as well, thanks in part to at least seven House Democrats who have indicated their support for the operation that has killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian regime leaders.

Politics: Democrats Call For Congressional Vote On Trump's 'Illegal' War Against Iran

Among Democrats in the Senate, only John Fetterman of Pennsylvania broke ranks and voted to sustain the war in Iran.

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Other Senate Democrats warned that Trump was dragging the U.S. into another forever war in the Middle East despite his promises on the 2024 campaign trail about ending such wars.

How many parents watched their kids ship off and fight and die in Iraq and Afghanistan? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a speech on the Senate floor. How many sleepless nights did families have over the last 20 years, worried about their loved ones? How many headlines did we watch over the decades of troops getting shot down, of convoys being attacked, of wounded soldiers returning home forever scarred by the horrors of war? How many hundreds of billions of dollars were wasted? How much anguish and suffering and grief did America endure?

This is madness, he added.

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
March 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate voted down a resolution by Democrats seeking to limit President Donald Trump's authority to take further military action against Iran.

The resolution sponsored by 24 Democrats, two independents and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., failed by a 53-47 vote. Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans.

If passed, the resolution would stop Trump from ordering more strikes on Iran without Congressional approval. However, it would have required a signature from the president or a two-thirds vote in both House and Senate chambers to override a likely veto.

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The measure faced the Senate after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran last week. So far, six U.S. soldiers have died, and U.S. forces have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The bill would have forced the removal of U.S. troops from hostilities within or against Iran that Congress has not authorized. It only needs 51 votes in the Senate, and it's not clear whether it has enough supporters to pass.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to the press after a classified briefing by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine on the war in Iran in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Graham said supports the war in Iran. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Thursday on a similar war powers resolution.

"The idea that we would take the ability of our commander in chief ... to finish this job is a frightening prospect to me," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters. "It's dangerous, and I am certainly hopeful -- and I believe we do -- have the votes to put it down."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to the press after a classified briefing by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine on the war in Iran in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Democratic senators are backing a war powers resolution to end the president's ability to attack Iran without congressional approval. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., disagreed.

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"I pray so hard for my colleagues to exercise the judgment that this is not the right time for more war," Kaine said on the Senate floor Monday, the Washington Post reported.

Wednesday marks the second time Kaine forced a vote on a war powers resolution related to conflict with Iran in the past year. He also forced a vote in June after the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities.

There have been seven other war powers resolutions since June. All of them have failed.

Sen Todd Young, R-Ind., voted for a war powers resolution in January to block the president from military action in Venezuela, but he said Wednesday that he wouldn't support this bill, The Post reported.

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The Venezuela resolution in January passed the Senate, but didn't advance.

"The United States and our allies are now in conflict with a brutal, hostile, and dangerous regime," Young said on X. "I believe that danger will only grow if we limit the president's military options at this critical moment. Abrupt disengagement could increase danger to American lives and interests. I want to do my part to help this effort succeed and end Iran's reign of terror. Congress must take an active role to help keep our constituents informed and engage in oversight."

Most Republicans support the war in Iran.

"We should let [Trump] finish the job," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters. "We should cheer him on, in my view."

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday that the administration needed to seek the OK from Congress to continue the Iran campaign.

"I think the president has the authority that he needs to conduct the activities, the operations that are currently underway there," Thune told reporters. But he said he hoped the campaign wouldn't last long.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said he believed the administration is in line with the 1973 War Powers Resolution.

"I think they're in compliance with the statute. The statute gives them 60 days, gives the administration 60 days to conduct activity without having to come back to ... Congress for authorization, unless they're ground troops. My view has always been, ground troops will require congressional authorization. So they're currently none involved, none have been involved, and they're following the War Powers Act," ABC News reported Hawley said.

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Briefings for Congress by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials convinced Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., that the campaign could last a long time, The Post reported he said.

"I think they have contempt for Congress," Murphy said. "They have no plans to come to Congress for any authorization, even if they were to insert ground forces."
WASHINGTON  The Senate on March 4 failed to advance a war powers resolution to halt military hostilities against Iran and end American involvement in the escalating regional war.

The measure failed on a 47-53 vote. Most Republicans  except for Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky  voted to oppose the measure. Most Democrats, except for Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, supported it.

While the blocked vote dealt a blow to Democrats' efforts to stymie the conflict in its early days and reassert the role of Congress in going to war, it succeeded in accomplishing a more political goal: pushing Republicans to officially declare their support for President Donald Trump's campaign to reshape the Middle East.

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People gather at the site of a destroyed building at a school where, as the state media reports, several people were killed in an Israeli airstrike, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Minab, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on February 28, 2026. Iranian state media reported on February 28 that Israel struck a school in southern Iran, resulting in 40 deaths. Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Iranian people run for cover in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard after a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises following an explosion after the U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026, in this screen grab taken from video. A graffiti on a wall reads" Down with the U.S.A", after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People run for cover following an explosion, after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026. A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. After explosions were seen in the Iranian capital, the office of the Israeli Defense Minister issued a statement saying it had launched a preemptive strike against the country. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.



Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after disembarking Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 27, 2026. Hours later, Trump made live comments about the military strikes he launched against Iran. A plume of smoke rises over Tehran after a reported explosion on February 28, 2026, after Israel said it carried out a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and phone alerts warned of an "extremely serious" threat. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. Buildings inin Tehran stand after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, February 28, 2026. Iranians try to clear a street amid heavy traffic in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard following a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese area of al-Qatrani on February 28, 2026. Lebanon's foreign minister said on February 24 his country feared its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates, after Israel intensified its attacks on Tehran-backed Hezbollah Anti-riot police stand in front of state building that is covered with a giant anti-U.S. billboard depicting the destruction of a US aircraft carrier in downtown Tehran on a main street in Tehran on February 21, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. In recent weeks, the United States had moved vast numbers of military vessels and aircraft to Europe and the Middle East. The US and Israel proceeded to launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran 1 of 16 Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.

Read more: Trumps Iran war sends Congress scrambling

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In doing so, lawmakers in the GOP will be forced to fully own the unpredictable consequences of the widening conflict. For those who've built political careers on isolationist tendencies and fierce criticism of "forever wars," that could be a tricky feat, especially in a midterm year.

"Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution," Sen. Tim Kaine, the chief architect of the war powers effort in Congress, said the day before the vote.

A view of the U.S. Capitol building on March 2, 2026, after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Read more: Trump, GOP kill Senate bill to curb military action in Venezuela

Even if they voted down the resolution, Republicans werent entirely uncritical of the Trump administration. Sen. John Curtis of Utah said Congress shouldve been more widely consulted ahead of the weekend strikes in Iran.

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Yes, I wish I would have been consulted. I wish my vote would have been asked for before this, he said in a statement. But the president did act within his legal bounds to do what he has done."

The near-total Republican unity was evidence of tough lessons learned. In January, five GOP lawmakers bucked the president and supported advancing a similar measure that aimed to cease hostilities in Venezuela after the U.S. military arrested the country's then-president. They immediately drew the president's ire. After Trump publicly denounced them, several of the Republicans  including Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana  ultimately reversed their votes when the bill went up for final passage.

Publicly, Senate Republicans have projected confidence about the Trump administration's strategy in Iran. However, they've expressed hope the war won't drag on longer than the four-to-five weeks the president has predicted.

"They are achieving great success with what they've done so far," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, on March 3.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), joined by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2026.

Just days into the conflict, there's already talk in the halls of the Capitol about a potential need to set aside emergency cash for the war. House Speaker Mike Johnson told POLITICO on March 4 there's an "open dialogue" between congressional leaders, the White House and Pentagon about potentially setting aside billions of dollars in supplementary funding. The timeline for passing that legislation is still unclear, though, and it would give Democrats in the Senate an opportunity to exert more political leverage over the future of the war.

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War powers resolutions enjoy special privileges in both legislative chambers, meaning the minority party can force votes on them even against the wishes of the majority party  in this case, the GOP.

The House of Representatives is set to take up a war powers resolution of its own over Iran on Thursday, March 4. Some defections on both the Republican and Democratic sides are expected.

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senate fails to block US involvement in Iran war
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said that he was considering withdrawing his party from the government and returning to opposition amid escalating tensions with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Senegal is holding major debt reconciliation talks with the International Monetary Fund but Sonko has resisted the Washington lenders call for restructuring. He said the option of taking his political party out of his soft power-sharing situation with Faye was on the table should disagreements persist.

Sonko chose Faye, then his protege, to become the now ruling Pastef partys presidential candidate in the 2024 elections after Sonko was jailed by the previous government. But a power struggle has threatened to derail the current administrations efforts to lift Senegal out of its worst economic crisis in decades.
Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE:BROS) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer looked at. When a caller inquired about the stock during the episode, Cramer said:

Alright, now, this is really important. Dutch Bros has taken a hit, but I saw no substantive reason for the hit, none whatsoever. And I think Christine Barone is doing a fantastic job, and the stock is ultimately a buy, buy, buy.

A stock market data. Photo by AlphaTradeZone on Pexels

Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE:BROS) operates and franchises drive-thru coffee shops under brands including Dutch Bros, Dutch Bros Coffee, Dutch Bros Rebel, and Blue Rebel. Cramer discussed the company during the November 10, 2025, episode, as he stated:

This time, the company just reported a nice top and bottom-line beat. Stock got hit the next day, that was wrong, sold off 4.2%, that was wrong, mainly because Dutch Bros saw its shop level margins come in a little bit light, but thats ridiculous. After the initial pullback on Thursday, this thing rallied on Friday. And then of course it really roared today as it should have, surging 6%. Its almost like Wall Streets revisited the quarter and realized it was a good one upon further review because people just dont understand the stock or the company or the drink.

While we acknowledge the potential of BROS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
By Rami Ayyub, Ahmad Al Kerdi and Menna AlaaElDin

JERUSALEM, March 4 (Reuters) - Israel warned residents to immediately leave a swathe of south Lebanon on Wednesday, ordering them to move north of the Litani River on the third day of full-blown hostilities with the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Lebanon has emerged as a theatre in the war that has engulfed the region since the United States and Israel attacked Iran. Hezbollah launched drones and rockets at Israel on Monday, prompting Israeli retaliation that has killed dozens of people.

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Nearly 60,000 people have fled the fighting, the United Nations said, adding to tens of thousands who were already displaced by a 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

An Israeli military spokesperson published a map on Wednesday of the area in southern Lebanon that he said residents should evacuate, an area amounting to around 8% of Lebanese territory.

A day after Israel's defence minister said he had authorised the military to advance and take control of additional positions, Israeli troops had moved into at least nine towns in southern Lebanon, a senior Lebanese security official told Reuters.

The Israeli military said two soldiers were wounded as a result of anti-tank fire, the first reported injuries among Israeli troops since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday.

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ISRAELI TROOPS 'A LITTLE FARTHER' INSIDE LEBANON

The Lebanese army said it had redeployed troops from some border positions in light of Israeli incursions into southern Lebanon.

It said it had arrested 26 Lebanese nationals in various places who were carrying weapons without a licence, but did not say whether they were members of Hezbollah. The Lebanese cabinet on Monday voted to outlaw Hezbollah's military activities.

The Israeli military declined to comment on any specific new deployments in Lebanon.

A spokesperson said the military was "positioning troops a little farther" into Lebanon than before, "to prevent any attacks against the northern communities" in Israel.

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Israel has kept troops at several locations inside Lebanese territory since its 2024 war against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem, making his first televised address since the recent hostilities began, said Israel's attacks against Lebanon were a "prepared aggression" and he called for Israel to end its military actions and withdraw from southern Lebanon.

"We will not surrender no matter the sacrifices," Qassem said, adding that the response by Hezbollah was "not connected to any other battle."

While Israel has already warned residents to leave dozens of villages in the south, Wednesday's order was the broadest yet, covering an area between the border and the Litani River, which meets the Mediterranean some 10 km (6 miles) north of Tyre, a historic port city and one of Lebanon's biggest.

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The Israeli warning told residents to immediately move north of the river "to guarantee your safety".

Many thousands of Lebanese have already fled their homes in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, and the south, parts of the country that bore the brunt of the 2024 war.

"We thought we'd managed to stay out of this game, but they dragged us into the game ... Who's going to save us now if theres an invasion?" said Beirut resident Mohammed Dib, thanking God he wasn't among the displaced.

72 KILLED IN LEBANON, SAYS HEALTH MINISTRY

An Israeli airstrike hit a four-storey building in the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbeck, killing six people and wounding 15, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. It said rescue workers were still searching for missing people.

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A strike also hit a hotel in the Beirut suburb of Hazmieh, well outside the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

Hezbollah announced a number of attacks on Wednesday, including one using what it described as a precision-guided missile that it said was fired at a military facility in northern Israel, and another with attack drones fired at a base 120 km (75 miles) inside Israel.

On Tuesday, missiles fired from Lebanon set off air raid sirens as deep into the country as its main commercial hub Tel Aviv. An Israeli military source said they were fired by Hezbollah. There was no immediate claim by the group.

The Lebanese health ministry has said 72 people have been killed in Lebanon since Monday and 437 wounded.

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There have been no reported fatalities in Israel as a result of attacks by Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim group established by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982.

During the 2024 fighting, tens of thousands of Israelis were evacuated from towns in the border area but many have now returned. Israeli officials have said there are no plans to remove them for now.

Hezbollah said it opened fire on Monday to avenge the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday in the U.S.-Israeli attack.

Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said the Israeli military had attacked more than 250 Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon over a 48-hour period.

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Israel has invaded Lebanon several times since 1978, and occupied a belt of territory in the south until 2000, when it withdrew following years of guerrilla warfare by Hezbollah.

(Reporting by Tala Ramadan, Jana Choukeir, Enas Alashray, Ahmed Tolba, Ahmed Elimam; Steven Scheer, Rami Ayyub in Jerusalem; Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Saad Sayeed, Alex Richardson, Gareth Jones and Diane Craft)
According to the National Weather Service, 16 Missourians died because of tornadoes in 2025, making it the deadliest year for tornados since the Joplin tornado of 2011 that resulted in the deaths of 161 people.

Three more Missourians died in flooding and one person was killed in a severe thunderstorm.

Severe Weather Preparedness Week, which runs this week, was created to bring attention to the dangers of severe storms and help Missourians prepare.

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Normally Severe Weather Preparedness Week also includes the statewide tornado drill, but that won't be the case in Joplin on Wednesday.

The drill has been canceled because of storms forecast for Wednesday morning. City officials said normal testing of outdoor weather sirens is 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of the month. The city will conduct a test at that time next week, on March 11, weather permitting.

Missouri had five federal major disasters in 2025  more than any other state last year  which, along with the fatalities and injuries, sends a clarion call for the need to be prepared for all forms of severe weather, State Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Remillard said.

The National Weather Service provides safety tips and educational information about tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, lightning and the importance of NOAA weather radios on its Severe Weather Awareness Week page, https://www.weather.gov/sgf/severeweatherpreparednessweek. The Joplin Globe also carries severe weather warnings on its website, joplinglobe.com.

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Although the drill has been canceled, David Holden, Joplin and Jasper County emergency management director, encourages everyone to prepare for weather safety. He also encourages people to seek appropriate notification systems through local news media, weather apps on their phones and a NOAA weather radio.

One of the tornadoes last spring hit Nevada, causing extensive damage.

We strongly encourage all Missourians to take these threats seriously and make sure every member of their household knows how to prepare and is ready to take protective action," Remillard said.

Wildfire risk

Another risk that reared its head last year was wildfires, driven by strong winds and fed by dry conditions.

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March 14, 2025, was a particularly unusual day when over 340 wind-whipped wildfires burned around the state, according to Mike OConnell, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

One wildfire on March 14 destroyed or damaged over 20 homes in the Camdenton area, OConnell said.

There had been hundreds and hundreds of fires around the state in February of last year into March, he said. And of course, we had more wildfires later on in the year as well. But I was here when we had the big drought in 2015 in Missouri, and of course we've had other droughts since, but I don't remember anything like  and I've talked to others in the firefighter community  anything like the number of brushfires that we had last year.

This year started out with dozens of wildfires burning in Arkansas and Oklahoma and a few in Southwest Missouri as well, including some last weekend in Newton County.

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You know, we're not like California or Colorado, OConnell said. The fires are not as large as those by any, any sense, but they happen in areas covered by very small rural fire departments.

Long-range forecast

The weather forecasting company AccuWeather, based in Pennsylvania, issued a long-range forecast in late February for the middle of the country that called for fewer tornadoes but a higher risk of damaging winds and flooding in 2026 compared with 2025.

The companys spring forecast predicts 1,050 to 1,250 tornadoes this year nationwide compared with 1,544 preliminary tornado reports in 2025.

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There may be fewer tornadoes reported compared to last year, but that does not mean this will be a quiet ... weather season," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Duffus said. There is an increased likelihood of severe thunderstorms packing damaging wind gusts and heavy downpours. Flash flooding is a big concern this year.

Duffus said a possible dip in the number of tornadoes this year is no reason for people to let their guard down.

Flash floods and damaging wind gusts can be just as destructive as tornadoes and often impact a much larger area, he said. Tornado reports may trend lower than last year, but it only takes one storm striking a densely populated or vulnerable community to make this a devastating season.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is ordering city departments to cut $100 million in personnel spending which could lead to the elimination of up to 500 jobs.

That's according to an email from the mayor's office acquired by ABC7 Eyewitness News.

The letter says the cuts proposed last month by each department don't go far enough to close the historic $877 million deficit facing the city.

With personnel taking up a large portion of the budget, department heads are now being asked to cut $100 million in personnel spending.

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"Layoffs are painful but we are going to focus on core government services going forward is what San Franciscans deserve, and we have difficult budget decision to make," said Mayor Lurie and added, "We are working with department heads. We are looking to cut $400 million in ongoing spending out of the budget. We have a structural budget deficit that we have to work on we started last year. We are going to continue this year."

MORE: Mayor Daniel Lurie touts SF in 1st State of the City address: 'People are proud to live here again'

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie delivered his first State of the City address, highlighting that the city is "on the rise."

In the email, the Mayor's Budget Office said that $100 million "equates to a reduction of at least 500 budgeted positions across the general fund."

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It went on to say that "Based on the MBO analysis of current vacancy rates, meeting this target requires eliminating filled positions."

The department heads are being told to revisit budget staffing levels and look at things like management structure and overtime management.

Even though the mayor did not give specifics on departments that may see the largest cuts. Some are already getting heads up.

Benny Zank with the city's environment department said they were told in January that eight positions could be eliminated in his department.

"There is a lot of concern that people may lose their job and that critical work that we do on the climate action plan, on public charging infrastructure, on building electrification will be impacted and that is something certainly that people are concerned about," said Zank.

MORE: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie signs $15.9 billion city budget for next 2 fiscal years

Here is the full statement:

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"The positions on the chopping block are critical public services that San Franciscans of all walks of life depend on. San Francisco's recovery and economic success is tied to the workers who do the hard work every day to keep this city supported and deliver important services to the community. They clean our streets and parks, respond to emergencies, provide life-saving care in our public hospitals, help people in crisis on our streets and connect them with housing and services. That's exactly why we must pass the Overpaid CEO Act this June.

This common-sense measure will bring in $300 million a year to protect public services that Trump's cuts through HR 1 will otherwise decimate, by requiring the largest corporations doing business in San Francisco to invest a fraction of what they are saving in HR 1 tax cuts back into this community to keep it a city people want to live and work in," - SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford.

This is the second year that Mayor Lurie's administration has resorted to layoffs.

Last time, public-sector unions pushed back, which led to fewer workers losing their jobs than was initially proposed.

For now, the department heads have to submit their staffing recommendations to the Mayor's Budget Office by March 12.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live




If Shasta County Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis wants to hire an attorney to defend him against a lawsuit that is attempting to stop a measure that would require voter ID from getting on the June 2 ballot, Curtis will have to pay for it himself.

Supervisors, during a special meeting on Tuesday, March 3, voted 4-1 not to expend county funds to pay for Curtis representation. District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye cast the lone dissenting vote.

The board was supposed to meet in closed session but after taking about 30 minutes of public comment, Crye made a motion to meet in open session over the matter. Supervisors voted 4-1 to do so with District 2 Supervisor Allen Long voting no.

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Supervisors also voted unanimously to give County Counsel Joseph Larmour the authority to challenge in court, if it comes up, the assumption that the ballot measures proponents are not entitled to defend against the lawsuit.

Shasta County Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis

The proponents have hired Alexander Haberbush, a Long Beach attorney, to represent them in court.

Haberbush also defended Laura Hobbs, who in 2024 asked a judge to find moot the nomination of Supervisor Long as winner of the March 2024 election. Hobbs, who ran against Long, lost the lawsuit.

Hobbs also is one of the community leaders who helped put the election measure on the June 2 ballot.

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Meanwhile, Larmour at Tuesdays meeting announced that ballot measure proponents have appealed Judge Benjamin Hannas decision on Feb. 26 to grant a temporary restraining order that for now prevents Curtis from putting the controversial measure on the June 2 ballot.

Larmour said the proponents filed an appeal with Californias Third District Court of Appeal. He added that a decision by the court could come on Wednesday, March 4.

If the restraining order is overturned, a new hearing date on the lawsuit would most likely be set. Right now, the next hearing date is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. April 10. Curtis has said the county's ballot printing deadline for the June 2 primary is April 2. So if the measure was put back on the ballot, a special election would have to be called, which would cost the county more money, he added.

The measure would require voter ID, that elections take place on one day with limited absentee voting and the hand-counting ballots at precincts.

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"Jane Doe" filed the lawsuit on Feb. 17.

The Initiative, which purports to impose local voter identification mandates, hand-counting requirements, one-day in-person voting, and absentee voting restrictions, is preempted in its entirety by the California Elections Code and Article II of the California Constitution, the lawsuit states.

Curtis has been adamant that he has the duty to put the measure on the ballot because proponents submitted enough verified signatures  even if the measure runs counter to state and federal law.

Long at Tuesdays meeting asked Curtis that if by taking that position, he is actually lobbying for the ballot measure.

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Well, I am not ever neutral on whether it gets on the ballot. It should get on the ballot, Curtis said.

Everything that is brought before me, and if it passes the signature check, should be on the ballot. I dont care if I hate it or not, he added.

Curtis told supervisors during the meeting that he wants to have pro-Donald Trump attorney Peter Ticktin to defend him against the Jane Doe lawsuit.

"Peter Ticktin, he's Trump's attorney. He actually went to school with him when he was a kid and he is one of the best election lawyers I've seen. I do election law. He does election law on steroids, so if anyone can save this, it would be Peter Ticktin," Curtis told supervisors when Crye asked him who Ticktin was.

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According to news reports, Ticktin wants Trump to sign an executive order to declare a national emergency that would in part mandate voter ID and ban mail-in ballots ahead of the November mid-term elections.

The most important provision, if you ask me, is the hand counting," Ticktin told ABC News on Feb. 26. "Get rid of the machines. That's what we need to do right away."

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta won't pay Clint Curtis' defense against ballot lawsuit
Nicole Gurske was exploring Abu Dhabi over the weekend with her boyfriend as part of a Middle East cruise, when the ship called them back on board.

The crew aboard TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 4 told the 34-year-old and other passengers they had to stay inside after U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 prompted retaliation from Iran at American military bases and in other nearby nations.

They said, we have to stay inside, not go (to) the pool outside or on the balcony, the Wuppertal, Germany, resident told USA TODAY.

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Gurske, who was originally supposed to fly home on March 1, has been stuck in Abu Dhabi with her fellow guests since then. Limited flights have resumed in the United Arab Emirates, but hers was canceled and she rebooked for March 6.

People stand on the deck of Mein Schiff 4 at the Piraeus cruise terminal, near Athens, Greece, Oct. 19, 2018.

While much of the onboard experience feels surprisingly normal  Gurske went to the gym and breakfast on March 4  she could also hear a very big explosion outside the day before. Guests can come and go from the ship as long as they notify the crew, but she has remained there.

She is among a number of people who have been stranded during cruises, as travelers throughout the region scramble to get home amid the Trump administrations war with Iran.

Which cruise ships have been impacted?

In addition to Mein Schiff 4, TUI Cruises has been caring for guests on another nearby ship, Mein Schiff 5 (the latter is currently in Doha, Qatar, according to CruiseMapper).

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TUI said in a March 4 update that cruises on Mein Schiff 4 "up to and including the start" of its March 9 departure and Mein Schiff 5 up to and including the start of its March 12 cruise "can no longer take place."

All affected guests have already been informed directly by us via text message, the cruise company's website reads. Should further adjustments be necessary, we will contact the booked guests immediately and proactively.

A German tourist stands on the cruise ship 'Mein Schiff 2' of TUI Cruises in Malaga, Spain, on June 15, 2021.

Gurske said the crew on Mein Schiff 4 has been very professional and supportive. She is grateful to TUI for their care, but there have been hiccups. She needs more contact lenses, for example, but is hesitant to go to the medical center since there are other passengers who are older or have serious health conditions.

However, she said, It's not so bad if I can't see everything clearly." TUI noted on its website that "guests on board receive support with the provision of necessary medication, toiletries, nappies, baby food and other everyday necessities.""Individual errands are organized by the crew via the port agency as far as possible," the company continued.

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The State Department urged Americans to depart a number of countries earlier this week, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and others, due to serious safety risks.

Emirates accommodated 218 passengers from Mein Schiff 4 on a flight from Dubai to Munich, TUI said in a separate March 3 update on its website.

See how Middle Eastern countries are caught in the crossfire of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Bahrain

Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, Feb. 28, 2026. Syria

Syrian children stand on the wreckage of an Iranian rocket that was reportedly intercepted by Israeli forces in the southern countryside of Quneitra, near the Golan Heights, close to the town of Ghadir al-Bustan. Iraq

A plume of smoke rises near Erbil International Airport in Erbil on March 1, 2026. Loud explosions were heard early on March 1 near Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, an AFP journalist said. Iraq

Members and officers from the Iraqi Interior Ministry's Explosives Directorate inspect the fuel tank of a rocket that landed in a rural village in the Siyahi area near the city of Hilla in the central Babil province on March 1, 2026. Iraq, which has recently regained a sense of stability but has long been a proxy battleground between the U.S. and Iran, warned that it did not want to be dragged into the war that started on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Qatar

A prayer appealing to God for protection is projected on the dome of al-Hazm shopping mall in Doha on March 1, 2026. Qatar

Motorists drive past a plume of smoke rising from a reported Iranian strike in the industrial district of Doha on March 1, 2026. Bahrain

A building that was damaged by an Iranian drone attack, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Manama, Bahrain, March 1, 2026. Saudi Arabia

The empty terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh is pictured on March 1, 2026. Global airlines cancelled flights across the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, plunging the region into a new conflict. In Saudi Arabia, Iranian missiles targeting Riyadh's international airport and the Prince Sultan Airbase, which houses U.S. military personnel, were intercepted, a Gulf source briefed on the matter told AFP. United Arab Emirates

A food delivery bike drive close to a plume of smoke rising from the Zayed Port following a reported Iranian strike in Abu Dhabi on March 1, 2026. United Arab Emirates

An oil tanker is pictured offshore in Dubai on March 1, 2026. Attacks have damaged tankers, and many ship owners, oil majors and trading houses suspended crude oil, fuel and liquefied natural gas shipments via the Strait of Hormuz. Oman

Smoke billows from an oil tanker under U.S. sanctions, that was hit off Oman's Musandam peninsula, in this screen grab from a video obtained by Reuters on March 1, 2026. Kuwait

Smoke rises from a reported Iranian strike in the area where the U.S. Embassy is located in Kuwait City on March 2, 2026. Black smoke was seen rising from the U.S. embassy in Kuwait City on March 2 after the latest volley of Iranian strikes, an AFP correspondent saw, Saudi Arabia

A satellite image shows efforts to control a fire as smoke rises in the Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia after a drone attack, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia March 2, 2026. Turkey

People make their way after crossing from Iran into Turkey at the Kapikoy Border Gate in eastern Van province,Turkey, March 2, 2026. United Arab Emirates

Delivery persons ride motorcycles along a road as a tall smoke plume billows following an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3, 2026. United Arab Emirates

Pieces of missiles and drones recovered after Iran's strikes are displayed during a press briefing by the UAE government held in Abu Dhabi on March 3, 2026. Iran stepped up its attacks on economic targets and US missions across the Middle East on March 3, as the US president warned it was "too late" for the Islamic republic to seek talks to escape the war. As drones and missiles crashed into oil facilities and U.S. embassies in the Gulf, Washington's ally Israel bombarded targets in Iran and pushed troops deeper into Lebanon to battle the Tehran-backed militia Hezbollah. Lebanon

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 3, 2026. The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for dozens of locations in Lebanon on March 3, including warning residents in two southern Beirut neighbourhoods to stay away from several buildings ahead of an imminent operation. Lebanon

Emergency personnel work at the site of an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 3, 2026. Lebanon

Rescuers gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Jamaa Islamiya offices in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Sidon on March 3, 2026. United Arab Emirates

Tankers are seen off the coast of the Fujairah, as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026. See how the Iran wars fallout is hitting the Middle East 1 of 20 See how Middle Eastern countries are caught in the crossfire of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Bahrain

Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, Feb. 28, 2026.

We know that many guests and relatives are waiting for further return travel options, the company said. Together with the relevant authorities and our airline partners, we are continuing to work intensively to organize additional reliable flight options. Further possibilities are being examined on an ongoing basis.

Other cruise lines have been impacted, too.

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The rest of MSC Euribias most recent Middle East voyage was scrapped along with others, according to MSC Cruises. The remaining three cruises scheduled for this winter season have now been cancelled and all impacted guests have been contacted and full refunds have been offered, an emailed statement read.

The cruise line said it was following guidance from regional military authorities to keep the ship in Dubai.

Following the limited resumption of flights from the region, we are working closely with the airlines to facilitate onward travel for our guests, the company continued. Given the significant backlog and the scale of disruption, airlines are currently progressing with new flights in a methodical manner, and this process will take time. We are fully engaged with our airline partners and are focused on securing a safe and orderly return home for our guests.

The cruise ship MSC Euribia is anchored at the port of Dubai on March 4, 2026.

MSC is also in contact with embassies and foreign offices, and all onboard services and facilities are available. In a subsequent statement, the cruise line said it had organized flights for over 1,500 of the ships guests. As of the morning on March 6, seven flights had taken off with MSC passengers.

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These flights include dedicated charter services operated at MSC Cruises expense, seats secured in partnership with Emirates and Fly Dubai on scheduled commercial services, as well as some governmentorganized flights, MSC said.

Viking, meanwhile, canceled its Egypt departures through and including March 31 in an abundance of caution and in consideration of new guidance from the U.S. State Department, but later walked back the decision, the cruise line told USA TODAY.

"The official travel advisories have now been clarified and the current advisory for Egypt remains the same as it was prior to the start of the recent conflict," the company said in an emailed statement. "In consultation with our longtime ground operators in Egypt, we now expect to operate our Egypt voyages as planned beginning March 12, 2026."

Viking will contact passengers whose bookings are impacted and their travel advisors. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our highest priority," the statement continued. "If conditions change, we are fully prepared to respond swiftly and appropriately."

What happens if your cruise is canceled or changed?

The contracts passengers agree to when they buy their tickets are very cruise line friendly, Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel, previously told USA TODAY. However, the operators generally always provide refunds in the event of a canceled cruise and work to accommodate guests on another voyage.

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The line will usually cover costs that were part of the cruise purchase  such as flights booked through the line  but passengers are generally responsible for other expenses incurred (except in extreme circumstances such as last-minute cancellations).

That said, cruise lines may offer additional compensation like a future cruise credit. It can really vary and it depends on each individual circumstance, Feldman said at the time. I will say that the closer (the cancellation) is to the sail date, the better the compensation will be.

Those contracts also give cruise companies significant flexibility to make smaller itinerary changes  though passengers can usually expect to get money back for port fees at destinations the ship doesnt end up visiting. Guests might also get other compensation such as onboard credit for the inconvenience, at the cruise lines discretion.

Travelers who opt to cancel their sailing can typically get a percentage of their cruise cost back, though the amount varies depending how far in advance they make that change. Passengers should refer to their cruise lines policies, and can contact the company or their travel advisor with questions.

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Gurske said she got money back for her original canceled flight, but has not heard any updates about potential refunds from TUI  though she and her boyfriend are able to remain on the ship at no additional charge until March 8. She is ready to leave but also nervous to disembark from what has been her temporary refuge.

I want to go home, but I'm a little bit scared that something will happen outside, Gurske said.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'We had to stay inside': Cruise passengers stranded after attacks
Almost 18 months after a deadly shooting at a Georgia high school, the suspected shooters father has been convicted of murder.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith says Colin Grays conviction is a step towards justice and closure, but theyre not there yet.

That was a roller coaster, really surreal, he told Channel 2s Michael Doudna.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Tuesday, a jury found Colin Gray guilty of 27 crimes, including two counts of second-degree murder.

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The father was charged because he gave his son, Colt Gray, the gun used during the deadly attack and did not limit his access to it.

It was multiple warnings over a lengthy period of time, and as we said, you just had to do one thing: take that rifle away, Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said during the trial.

The sheriff says the verdict is the result of thousands of hours of work. Smith says the District Attorneys work before and during the trial were essential to getting a conviction.

We owe it to those four victims, and we owe it to those four victims families, we owe it to that school, we owe it to our community to get it right, he said.

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But Colt Gray, the shooter accused of killing Ricky Aspinwall, Cristina Irimie, Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, has not stood trial.

Sheriff Smith says the community will not have justice and closure until that happens.

The jobs not done, and were not going to stop, he said.

Former DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James told Channel 2 Action News that he expects the verdict to appeal.

This marks the first time in Georgia, and only the second time nationwide, that a parent was held responsible for not preventing the actions of their child.

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NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Northwestern State Universitys Office of Electronic Learning and Global Education will host a 40-hour Basic Private Investigator Training Course this March. The sessions are scheduled for March 13-15 and March 20-22, 2026, at the universitys Natchitoches campus.

SPD adopts mental illness, emotional crisis response training for cadets

According to a news release, the program is designed by the Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners to prepare participants for the industrys professional challenges. The course covers essential legal frameworks and practical investigative techniques required for licensure in Louisiana.

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The training sessions are scheduled for Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All instruction will be held in the second-floor classroom of South Hall on the universitys Natchitoches campus.

The course fee is $375 per participant. An additional $100 board fee is required, made payable to the Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners. Students will examine gun laws, criminal law and procedure, evidence, discovery, and the state and federal legal systems. Practical instruction includes undercover investigations, surveillance techniques, interviewing, and taking statements. The course also covers domestic investigations and report writing, according to a news release.

Individuals can register for the course online at checkout.nsula.edu.

The $100 board fee is due on March 22. Participants can follow NSU Electronic Learning and Global Education on Facebook for updates on future course offerings.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
While Israeli media initially reported that the IDF had shot down a missile launched from Iran, sirens sounded moments later in the same areas due to a launch from Lebanon.

Iran and Hezbollah sent waves of projectiles to central and northern Israel in a coordinated attack on Wednesday afternoon.

At around 1:45 p.m. local time, Israelis in the center of the country got an alert to head to shelters due to an incoming missile from Iran. However, N12 News reported that the IDF was able to shoot down the missile outside of central Israel.

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However, minutes later, sirens sounded around central Israel due to a launch from Hezbollah.

Iran then launched another ballistic missile, sparking another wave of sirens across Israel. It was successfully intercepted.

The IDF said that several UAVs that were launched from Lebanon during the first launch, and all were successfully intercepted.

Later, at around 2:30 p.m. local time, Lebanon launched another barrage of missiles at central Israel.

No injuries were reported from the incident, but several areas in the center had reported falls of shrapnel. Police and bomb disposal teams are securing the areas.

This is a developing story.
The US military has confirmed the identities of all six soldiers killed in the conflict with Iran.

They were killed when an "unmanned aircraft system" evaded air defences to hit a command centre in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on Sunday.

US Central Command initially said three soldiers died in the attack, but officials confirmed on Monday the death toll had doubled, after one person succumbed to injuries and two more bodies were found in the rubble.

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Those killed were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M Marzan, 54, Maj Jeffrey R O'Brien, 45, Capt Cody Khork, 35, Sgt Noah Tietjens, 42, Sgt Nicole Amor, 39, and Sgt Declan Coady, 20, who was posthumously promoted from specialist.

The six identified by the Pentagon were members of the Army Reserve, which according to its website provides logistical support to broader US military operations.

Four were identified on Tuesday while the identities of the last two - Marzan and O'Brien - were disclosed on Wednesday.

"These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten," US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said in a statement.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump intends to attend "the dignified transfer of these American heroes to stand in grief alongside their families".

She added that the defence department was scheduling the repatriation of the remains.

Khork had previously deployed to Saudi Arabia, Guantanamo Bay and Poland.

The Florida resident had wanted to serve in the military since a young age, and enlisted in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programme at his university, his family told the Associated Press.

Khork was "truly the life of the party, known for his infectious spirit, generous heart, and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him", his mother, Donna Burhans, father, James Khork, and stepmother, Stacey Khork, said in a statement.

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Amor, of Minnesota, had previously deployed to Kuwait and Iraq.

"She was almost home," her husband, Joey Amor, told the AP. "You don't go to Kuwait thinking something's going to happen, and for her to be one of the first  it hurts."

She had a son in high school and a daughter in primary school, and enjoyed gardening and rollerblading with them.

Maj Jeffrey R O'Brien joined the army reserves in 2012 [US Army]

Tietjens, a Nebraska resident, had been deployed to Kuwait twice before.

He was "a deeply committed husband and father", according to a GoFundMe page set up for his family.

He earned a black belt in Taekwondo and a form of martial arts known as Philippine Combatives, according to the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance, which posted a tribute to Tietjens on their Facebook page.

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"He did not simply wear a Black Belt... he lived it," the alliance wrote. "He led with integrity. He trained with purpose. He taught with humility."

All three were decorated service members.

Coady was posthumously promoted from specialist, the US military said.

The Iowa resident had enlisted in the Army Reserve just three years ago.

He served as an information technologies specialist and had "an incredibly bright future ahead of him", Drake University, where Coady had studied, said in a statement.

His father, Andrew Coady, told the AP that his son "was very good at what he did".

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"I still don't fully think it's real," said his sister Keira Coady. "I just remember all of our conversations about what he was going to do when he came back."

O'Brien of Indianola, Iowa, joined the reserves in 2012 and deployed to Kuwait in 2019.

The identity of Marzan, of Sacramento, California, must still be formalised by a medical examiner, the army said in a statement.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a briefing on Monday that a "powerful weapon" had struck a "tactical operations centre that was fortified".

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Three US military officials with knowledge of Iran's attack told the BBC's US partner CBS the soldiers had been working in a makeshift office space.

The officials questioned whether the building had been adequately fortified, telling CBS the soldiers were using a trailer shielded by steel-reinforced concrete barriers.

The US has a long-standing defence relationship with Kuwait, and more than 13,000 US soldiers are stationed in the Gulf nation.

Iran has responded to attacks against it by launching missiles at Gulf countries allied with the US. Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar have all also seen strikes.
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI)  A Lincoln man who police said fatally struck a North Providence woman while snowplowing in 2024 has been arrested on charges of driving under the influence and disorderly conduct.

Rhode Island State Police allege Lloyd Card, 32, was driving under the influence of liquor when he was pulled over on Legris Avenue in West Warwick close to 2:30 a.m. last Saturday.

According to court records obtained by Target 12, Cards blood alcohol content was between 0.095% and 0.103%.

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Police also charged Card with disorderly conduct, though the details of the incident that led to the charge were not immediately available.

Card faced a judge on Monday and pleaded not guilty to both charges.

He was released on $2,000 surety bond with conditions that he be enrolled in pretrial services to monitor for alcohol. A judge also ordered Card not to drive, except to and from work, and not after 7 p.m.

Separately, police also issued a traffic citation to Card for not wearing a seatbelt, operating a vehicle without insurance, and operating a vehicle when the registration is canceled. Court records obtained by Target 12 show Card was driving a car that was not registered in his name.

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Cards attorney, Andrew Dimitri, told Target 12 he had no comment on Wednesday.

At the time of his arrest, Card was on probation related to a disorderly conduct charge from North Providence police in December. Card previously pleaded no contest to that charge.

Card has a criminal history dating back to 2012 in Rhode Island, with arrests by police departments across the state. He has also been issued several traffic citations over the years.

Card was not criminally charged in the Jan. 2024 incident that killed 71-year-old Maria Vega-Rivera, but was issued three motor vehicle violations: driving with a suspended license (third offense), driving without insurance, and driving an unregistered vehicle.

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Card pleaded guilty to all three charges, which resulted in $835 in fines, plus a three-month loss of his license.

Ten months after the incident, Card was arrested again by North Providence police for driving with a suspended license (fourth offense). He pleaded no contest to that charge.

Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Facebook, X/Twitter and Bluesky.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
Kingfisher Mining has signed a binding term sheet to divest its entire stake in 12 exploration licences in Western Australia's Gascoyne region to Dreadnought Exploration, a subsidiary of Dreadnought Resources.

The transaction, valued at A$2m ($1.42m), will be settled through the issuance of fully paid ordinary shares in Dreadnought Resources.

Additionally, Kingfisher could receive up to A$1.5m in performance-based cash payments contingent on resource definitions.

Kingfisher retains a significant stake in the rare earth sector through its shareholding in Dreadnought and will benefit from future milestone cash payments.

The divestment is part of a strategic realignment intended to bolster Kingfisher's financial position and accelerate exploration efforts in New South Wales (NSW) amid favourable commodity market conditions.

The Copper Blow project near Broken Hill stands out as a key focus within Kingfishers NSW portfolio.

Recent drilling at Copper Blow has revealed the extension of high-grade copper-gold mineralisation over a 600m strike length.

Significant assay results include intersections such as 13m at 1.2% copper and 0.26 grams per tonne gold from 23m from 25CBRC_073.

Under the terms of the sale agreement, Kingfisher will transfer full legal and beneficial ownership of the tenements, along with all relevant mining information, to Dreadnought.

The agreement encompasses two performance milestones. Kingfisher stands to earn A$500,000 if an inferred Joint Ore Reserves Committee resource exceeding ten million tonnes (mt) at 1% TREO is announced on any tenement by Dreadnought. A further A$1m is payable upon defining more than 20mt at the same grade criteria.

Settlement of this transaction is subject to standard conditions such as regulatory approvals and third-party consents.

Pareto Advisory, as an independent third-party consultant, will be compensated with A$20,000 in cash and Dreadnought Resources shares valued at A$60,000 for providing introduction and facilitation services.

Kingfisher managing director Chris Bittar said: This transaction is a win-win for Kingfisher. It immediately frees up vital funds to focus our energy and resources on developing our exciting NSW copper, gold, silver, zinc and lead projects.

We have always believed in the potential of the Gascoyne, but we recognise that these tenements are better served as part of a larger, unified project where the true value of the assets can be unlocked in a more efficient and timely manner.

In August 2024, the company commenced co-funded diamond drilling at Mick Well carbonatite targets in the Gascoyne region.
In Somali culture, there is a famous adage: Calaf waa labo cagood. It translates to Happiness is two feet, and denotes deep-rooted traditions of movement and migration. Somalis have been caught in civil war and unrest for decades, and many have migrated to Kenya, Ethiopia, Europe, and the United States.

For months, Trump has denigrated Somalis, and Somalia. In December, he went on a racist tirade, calling Somalia the worst country in the world, where people run around killing each other, and calling Somali-born Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar garbage. The Trump administration then began targeting the Somali American community in Minnesota and Maine with Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. The Department of Homeland Security has reopened thousands of refugee claims in Minnesota, and is about to end the decade-long Temporary Protected Status for Somalis, giving those living in the U.S. only a few months to leave or face deportation.

But what Trumpand the political discourse focused on conflict-driven migration out of Somaliamisses is the pervasive role of climate change in peoples decisions to move both in and out of Somalia. Persistent droughtmade a hundred times more likely due to warming caused by fossil fuel emissionsis affecting Somali peoples decisions to either relocate internally or migrate across international borders.

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Somalias contribution to climate change is almost nonexistentestimates say it accounts for about 0.08 percent of global emissions. But the country faces devastating consequences of climate change, with average temperatures rising by 1.7 degrees Celsius (over three degrees Fahrenheit) since 1970. From 2020 to 2023, the East Africa region had five failed rainy seasons, an unprecedented drought and climatic episode not seen in 40 years, which led to 70 percent crop loss, three million livestock deaths, and the displacement of about 2.9 million people in Somalia, according to some estimates. Even today, Somalia is in the midst of a drought emergency; there has been no rain since last year, and hundreds of families have moved to find food and water in the Bari region of northern Somalia.

Climate scientists analyzed survey data from the U.N.s refugee agency across Somalias 18 administrative regions from 2016 to 2019, and found that even small changes in temperature or rainfall can have measurable effects on displacement. A one-to-two-degree Celsius rise in the local monthly temperature leads to a tenfold increase in displacement, while a nearly four-inch reduction in monthly rainfall leads to a fourfold increase in the number displaced. People impacted by drought represented the largest number of displaced people within the country.

We dont see displacement from drought right away, said Lisa Thalheimer, climate scientist at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and lead author of the study. When there are drought events, people tend to collaborate, she told me. They try to help each other out. It takes people a couple of months to leave one part of Somalia to go to another.

Traditionally, Somali pastoralists had resilient ways to deal with changes in rainfall and drought patterns, where families migrated and moved on a regular basis, even crossing borders in the process. But the nature of climatic changesand conflictoverwhelmed their traditional capacities, leading to more rural-urban migration within the country and in East Africa.

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In 2024, Amnesty International interviewed people from central and southern Somalia in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, to study the effects of the four-year-long drought from 2020 to 2023. They found that rivers drying up between the Jubba and Shabelle areas led both agricultural and pastoralist communities to flee to overcrowded camps within Somalia, and then across the border to the Dadaab camp. People initially relied on their community for food and water and only decided to migrate when their social system was overstretched, prompting entire families or clans to abandon villages and move internally or across the border.

People who fled due to drought and floods were new arrivals in the Dadaab refugee camp, David Ngira, a researcher for Amnesty International who led the study, told me. Those who had fled conflict had been in the camp longer. While people displaced by conflict are protected by international law, those who move due to climate-driven drought are not considered refugees.

But narratives that characterize Somali migration as drought- or conflict-driven miss how interconnected and multifaceted the decision to move can be, migration scholars argue. Surveys can capture immediate triggers but cannot explain the structural context of peoples mobility. Its well established that what makes drought a disaster or how it leads to famine is inherently political.

Drought does not necessarily lead to famine and does not always lead to migration, said Abdi Samatar, a Somali scholar and geographer at the University of Minnesota. Samatarwho is also a member of the Pan-African Parliamentargues Somalias current political catastrophe is driven partly by historical Cold War dynamics that produced civil war and state collapse. Somalis were unable to put Humpty Dumpty back together in their country, and in the absence of government support, people have to do what they can for themselves, Samatar added.

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Journalists have documented perilous journeys young Somalis can take to travel by road through Ethiopia, Sudan, Libyaand then by boat across the Mediterranean to Europe. This migration is commonly known as going on tahriib, a journey into an unknown terrain. Tahriib used to describe people fleeing the civil war in the 1990s, but today it refers to young Somali menand to a lesser extent womenmigrating to Europe, facilitated by smugglers.

Social scientists say that diasporic ties lead people to migrate from East Africa to Europe or the U.S., where people construct social networks across borders. Somalis in refugee camps in Kenya often aspire to live in Minnesota in the U.S. Many moved to Minnesota after civil war erupted in the country in 1988. Fifty-eight percent of Somalis in Minnesota were born in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and of the foreign-born in Minnesota, almost 87 percent are naturalized citizens.

But the way politicians talk about Somali Americans ignores the role the U.S. played in creating this immigrant and refugee communitywhether through exacerbating climate change or playing a role in the civil war. The U.S. is the top historical emitter of greenhouse gases. It was no bystander to the civil war in Somalia, and has had a long history of military engagements in the country until today.

None of this history seems to inform the current administrations approach. Refugee admissions are the lowest theyve ever been, with a special carve-out for white South Africans to claim refugee status. In late February, after reopening thousands of refugee claims in Minnesota, the White House said ICE agents would be empowered to detain legal refugees in the U.S. indefinitely for aggressive rescreening. After leaving a home destabilized in part by U.S. actions, many Somalis are now confronting fresh challenges in the country that was supposed to be offering them safe haven.
South Sudan has not held an election since it gained independence 15 years ago, and progress towards a new constitution has stalled. Election dates have been set and postponed at least three times. A new date has been set for December 2026 but its unclear the poll will take place. If it does, it will be the first electoral test for President Salva Kiir, who has been in power since 2011. It raises the question of what legal guardrails exist for a smooth transition to new leadership outside an election. Jan Pospisil, who has studied the countrys politics and power-sharing agreements, explains whats in place.

What legal frameworks govern presidential succession in South Sudan?

Two legal frameworks operate side by side to regulate the succession question in South Sudan: the 2011 transitional constitution and the 2018 peace agreement, which has a quasi-constitutional quality.

Read together, the logic in the 2011 and 2018 frameworks is straightforward. Upon vacancy, the first vice-president acts as president, but only until the party in power nominates a successor. The presidents party then has 48 hours to nominate a replacement. If a nomination is made within that period, however, the nominee is sworn in and replaces the acting first vice-president.

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The peace agreement overlays the constitutional acting mechanism with a time-limited party entitlement. But it does not replace the constitutional fallback.

A more granular breakdown looks like this.

The 2018 agreement is based on a power-sharing deal between five major political parties and blocs. It is the primary framework governing the countrys transitional period from conflict to democracy.

The peace agreement created a collective presidency composed of a president, one first vice-president and four vice-presidents. The four vice-presidents are considered equal in rank.

The key provision on succession is clause 1.6.5. It states that if the post of the president falls vacant during the transitional period, the replacement shall be nominated by the respective party as constituted at the signing of the agreement. The process of choosing a successor must also be done within 48 hours of the post falling vacant.

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The clause establishes two principles.

First, the presidency remains allocated to the party that originally held the position under the power-sharing arrangement. In this case, its the mainstream SPLM, now called SPLM-IG, for in government. This is to differentiate it from the main opposition that formed in December 2013 in the course of civil war, SPLM-IO, for in opposition.

Second, the partys right to nominate a successor is time-bound. The 48-hour window is designed to preserve the elite settlement and guarantee executive continuity with minimal friction.

What the agreement doesnt do is spell out in detail what happens during those 48 hours. It does not foresee the creation of a separate interim authority for this short period.

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Instead, continuity is ensured through the 2011 transitional constitution.

In the constitution, article 102 defines five ways the presidents office can become vacant. These are expiration of the term of office, resignation, impeachment, mental infirmity or physical incapacity and death. It lays out the respective succession rules.

If the presidency falls vacant, the vice-president assumes office temporarily,

pending the filling of this position, within fourteen days from the date of the occurrence of the vacancy, by a nominee of the political party on whose ticket he or she was elected.

Under the post-2018 structure, this provision applies to the first vice-president.

There has been precedent for such structured succession. In 2005, Salva Kiir assumed regional leadership following the death of John Garang under the constitutional framework that was then in force. At the time, South Sudan was a semi-autonomous region led by Garang, with Kiir as his deputy.

What happens if the 48-hour deadline is missed?

This raises difficulties. The 2018 agreement sets a time limit but does not contain a separate sanction clause.

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If nomination occurs on hour 72 or 96 rather than hour 48, the text does not specify whether the partys entitlement automatically lapses.

Different interpretations are possible. One reading treats the deadline as mandatory: once expired, the first vice-presidents acting role becomes substantive, and he or she becomes the president.

Another reading is that a delayed nomination could still be recognised if political actors agreed. This would be in line with the transitional constitution, which allows a 14-day window for nominations that need to be accepted by the vice-president acting as president.

In practice, such a scenario would likely be resolved through political bargaining rather than judicial enforcement.

What about the issue of someone being detained or being on trial?

This is a further complexity as the current first vice-president, Riek Machar, is in detention and on trial.

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Detention or trial, however, do not automatically create a vacancy under either the 2011 constitution or the 2018 peace agreement. Unless the office holder resigns or is formally removed, the position remains legally intact.

If the presidency were to fall vacant while the first vice-president was detained but not removed, the legal text would still designate the latter as the acting authority.

The 2018 agreement does not rank the other vice-presidents for automatic succession. All are explicitly of equal rank.

Any attempt to bypass the first vice-president without formal removal would therefore be politically and legally contested.

Where are the biggest risks in the current system?

Behind these legal provisions lie political realities.

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The 48-hour clause requires rapid consensus within the presidents party, the mainstream SPLM. The 2018 agreement does not specify which internal organ of the party must nominate the successor. Instead, this process is guided by internal party leadership structures, rules and regulations. In practice, this is likely to be handled by the SPLM Political Bureau.

However, the decision-making would be shaped by more than formal party ranks. Other factors, especially the support of the security sector, ethnopolitical balances and existing patronage networks, would come into play.

The presidency has historically been embedded in military and security structures, which gives succession an importance that extends beyond procedural law.

The 48-hour provision is clear on paper, but its operation depends entirely on political cohesion. If consensus fails, the text alone cannot prevent contestation.

How would elections help?

The picture could change once elections become a realistic possibility and a nomination process is held. South Sudan has postponed elections previously due to delayed preparations, political resistance and lack of funding. Polls are now slated for December 2026.

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A post-transition order would revert to a presidency-vice presidency model as per the transition reflected in the countrys National Election Act, with a vice-president elected on a ticket as running mate, and thus positioned as the undisputed successor. Elections would force parties to clarify leadership hierarchies in advance.

In this sense, an electoral framework does not merely choose a president  it simplifies succession.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jan Pospisil

Read more:



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Jan Pospisil receives funding from the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep), funded by UK International Development from the UK government. However, the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the UK governments official policies. Any use of this work should acknowledge the authors and the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Wednesday accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of failing to demonstrate "solidarity" with Madrid in the face of criticism from US President Donald Trump.

Albares told broadcaster RTVE that he has communicated his "surprise" over Merz's response to Trump's tirade against Spain in a White House meeting on Tuesday.

"When you share a currency, a common trade policy and a common market with another country, you expect the same solidarity that Spain showed towards Denmark, for example, when there were customs threats over the desire to remove Denmark's territorial integrity in Greenland," Albares said.

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The comments came after the US president said the Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has been "terrible" during the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

"Spain actually said we can't use their bases," Trump said, drawing silence from Merz.

Trump said he has instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt "all deals" with Madrid. It was unclear which agreements Trump was referring to, but he further raised Spain's opposition to raising defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product.

"They wanted to keep it at 2% and they don't pay the 2% so we're going to cut off all trade with Spain," Trump said. "We don't want anything to do with Spain."

In response, Sanchez doubled down on his opposition to the escalating attacks in the Middle East on Wednesday, declaring "no to war" in a televised address.
Pedro Sanchez has delivered a strong rebuttal to US President Donald Trump's threat to end trade with Spain by restating his opposition to war and what he called the "breakdown of international law".

In a 10-minute televised address, the Spanish prime minister reflected on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the Iraq War more than 20 years ago, and said the Spanish government's position could be summed up as "no to war".

Trump threatened to impose a full trade embargo on Spain in response to its refusal to allow the US to use the jointly run bases at Moron and Rotafor to strike Iran.

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"Spain has been terrible," Trump said during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday.

"We're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain," he added.

Merz said later he had told Trump very clearly that he could not conclude a separate trade agreement with Germany or all of Europe but not with Spain.

In response to the US economic threat, the Elysee Palace said French President Emmanuel Macron had conveyed his "solidarity" with Spain during a phone conversation with Sanchez on Wednesday. European Council President Antonio Costa also said he had spoken to the Spanish leader "to express the EU's full solidarity".

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Trump accused Spain on Tuesday of being a "terrible partner" in Nato for failing to increase its defence budget in line with a target of 5% of economic output (GDP).

Earlier this year, Sanchez drew Trump's ire by speaking out against the US military incursion into Venezuela.

Sanchez said in his televised address from the prime minister's official residence in Madrid on Wednesday that the government was studying economic measures to counter the impact of the conflict on Spaniards, though he avoided directly referring to Trump's trade threat.

"The question is not if we are on the side of the ayatollahs [Iran's clerical rulers] - nobody is. The question is whether we are in favour of peace and international legality," he said.

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"You cannot answer one illegality with another, because that is how the great catastrophes of humanity begin."

Spain's Socialist prime minister explained that the government's position was comparable to its stance on Ukraine and Gaza. Sanchez has been a vociferous critic of Israel's military response to the Hamas attacks in 2023.

Spain has been among Europe's most outspoken governments on Gaza, describing Israel's actions there as "genocide" and acknowledging a Palestinian state before many other EU members did.

That position was in step with his coalition partners to his left and, broadly speaking, with Spanish attitudes toward the Middle East.

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Looking back to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, which he said had failed to achieve its goals and had made life worse for ordinary people, he warned that the attacks on Iran could have a similar economic impact for millions.

His reference to the Iraq invasion will connect with many Spanish voters. Spain's support at the time from the conservative People's Party (PP) government was deeply unpopular, and triggered mass anti-war protests.

Many believe it also lay the groundwork for the Socialist Party's surprise election victory in March 2004, days after Madrid had been hit by deadly jihadist bombings.

Sanchez reminded Spaniards of the "Azores trio" - the then-US President George W Bush, the UK's Tony Blair and Spanish conservative leader Jose Maria Aznar - who had met on a Portuguese base in the region days before the Iraq invasion.

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He said they had handed Europeans the "gift" of "a more insecure world and worse life".

The Spanish leader's stance contrasts strongly with that of Merz, who told German TV on Tuesday that regime change in Iran would leave the world "a little better off", though he also said this was "not without risk and we would also have to bear the consequences".

Unlike Spain's fellow Nato allies - the UK, France and Greece - it has not yet committed to any military involvement in response to the war.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that Spain had "agreed to co-operate" with the US military after hearing Trump's message "loud and clear" - a claim Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares categorically denied, telling local media that his government's position "has not changed one iota".

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Aside from the fierce criticism Sanchez has faced from the US, his coalition government has faced months of enormous political pressure, generating constant speculation that its collapse could be imminent.

It has been struggling to maintain its parliamentary majority, which includes an array of left-wing and regional nationalist parties.

Allegations of corruption against several of his allies and inner circle have severely weakened his position.

In Spain's deeply polarised politics, much of the support for Sanchez is driven as much by concerns about the country's right and far-right as it is by endorsement of his leadership and policies.

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Standing up to the US president may have electoral benefits for the Socialist leader.

A recent poll by the CIS research institute found that 77% of Spaniards had a "bad" or "very bad" opinion of Trump, suggesting that even many right-wing voters may back Sanchez on this issue.

However, there is now uncertainty in Spain over whether Trump's threats will translate into some form of economic reprisals, and many Spaniards will be watching this drama nervously.

Correction 4 March 2026: A previous version of this story described an airbase in the Azores as Spanish. This has now been amended to say it is Portuguese.
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The spiral galaxy NGC 941 looks like a spinning cosmic wheel in new image from the Subaru Telescope | Credit: NAOJ

Using the Subaru Telescope located at the summit of the extinct volcano Maunkea in Hawai'i, astronomers have captured a stunning image of a spiral galaxy that resembles a spinning cosmic wheel.

What is it?

The galaxy in question is NGC 941, located around 55 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cetus.



NGC 941 is considered an "intermediate spiral galaxy," which means that, in terms of morphology, it is somewhere between a barred spiral galaxy and an unbarred spiral galaxy.



The "bars" in these classifications refer to a dense churning central structure of stars. Intermediate galaxies have some signs of such a structure, rather than having them well-formed or altogether absent.

Why is it special?

The Subaru Telescope image shows NGC 941 as a bright blue spiral. Within the galactic structure are prominent central dark lanes of cosmic dust. These are signs of ongoing star formation.



Appearing with the spiral are orange blobs that aren't part of NGC 941 at all. These are much more distant background galaxies that appear through NGC 941 because of how faint this intermediate galaxy is.
March signals the beginning of spring in Oregon, and as the weather begins to warm, students and families are looking forward to one of the most anticipated breaks of the school year.

Spring break offers a welcome pause to Oregon school districts, giving students time to recharge while families plan trips, outdoor activities or time at home together. The break typically occurs in late March in Oregon, but it can vary slightly depending on the year and school.

Here's when spring break is planned for Oregon's public K-12 schools and universities in 2026.

McKay High School is one of eight high schools in the Salem-Keizer school district.

When does spring break 2026 start for Salem-Keizer Public Schools?

Spring break for Salem-Keizer Public Schools will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for Woodburn School District?

Spring break for the Woodburn School District will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

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There will also be no school Friday, March 20.

When does spring break 2026 start for Silver Falls School District?

Spring break for the Silver Falls School District will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for the North Santiam School District?

Spring break for the North Santiam School District will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for Cascade School District?

Spring break for Cascade School District will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for Central School District 13J?

Spring break for Central School District 13J will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for Dallas School District?

Spring break for Dallas School District will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

There will also be no school Friday, March 20.

When does spring break 2026 start for Portland Public Schools?

Spring break for Portland Public Schools will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for Bend-La Pine Schools?

Spring break for Bend-La Pine Schools will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for Eugene School District 4J?

Spring break for the Eugene School District 4J will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

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There is no school Monday, March 30. Classes will resume on March 31.

When does spring break 2026 start for Bethel School District?

Spring break for the Bethel School District will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for Springfield Public Schools?

Spring break for Springfield Public Schools will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When does spring break 2026 start for Medford School District?

Spring break for the Medford School District will be Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

When is spring break 2026 for Oregon State University and University of Oregon?

At Oregon public universities, including Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Portland State University, Western Oregon University, Eastern Oregon University, Southern Oregon University and Oregon Institute of Technology, spring break begins Monday March 23, and classes resume Monday, March 30.

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The week off takes place in between winter and spring terms.

Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: When does spring break start in Oregon in 2026?
A US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, and Sri Lankas navy said on Wednesday it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people.

The Iranian vessel that was sunk in the Indian Ocean was the Islamic Republics prize ship, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon news briefing.

Mr Hegseth said it was the first sinking of an enemy ship with a torpedo by the US since the Second World War.

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Sri Lankas foreign minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that its navy received information that the Iris Dena, with 180 people on board, was in distress and sinking.

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth (Konstantin Toropin/AP) (Konstantin Toropin)

The island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission, he said.

Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said by the time navy ships reached the location, there was no sign of the ship and there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water.

He said the 32 people rescued were admitted to a hospital in the seaside town of Galle on the Sri Lankas southern coast.

The bodies recovered were being brought to land, he said.

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Dr Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said one of those rescued is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are being treated for minor injuries.

The Iris Dena  one of Irans newest warships  is a Moudge-class frigate that patrols in deep water for the Iranian navy.

It is armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. It also carries one helicopter.

The frigate was the centrepiece of a two-ship international tour in 2023 that included port calls in countries including South Africa and Brazil.

It was accompanied by the support ship Iris Makran, a converted oil tanker.

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The US Treasury Department included both ships on a sanctions designation in February 2023 along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied the weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.

At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said US Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the American militarys Central Command.

We are also sinking the Iranian navy  the entire navy, he said in a video message.
By Uditha Jayasinghe, Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

GALLE, Sri Lanka/WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors and dramatically widening Washington's pursuit of the Iranian navy.

Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister identified the warship as the frigate IRIS Dena, and said it was heading back to Iran from an eastern Indian port.

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The attack happened hundreds of miles across the Indian Ocean from the Gulf, where U.S. and Israeli forces are striking Iran and Tehran is retaliating with missile and drone attacks.

"An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at the Pentagon. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death."

Hospital authorities in the Sri Lankan port city of Galle said 87 bodies were brought in by military rescuers who responded to an early morning distress call.

Another 32 were rescued and were being treated at hospital and about 60 people were likely unaccounted for from an estimated 180 people on board, Sri Lankan authorities said.

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'PEOPLE WERE FLOATING IN THE WATER'

A Pentagon video purporting to have captured the attack showed the warship being hit by a huge explosion which blew apart the rear of the vessel, lifting it from the water, and caused it to begin sinking from the stern.

The exact date when the video was filmed and the type of warship could not be verified. However, the deck shape and mast of the vessel in the video matched file imagery of the same type of warship as the IRIS Dena.

The Iranian vessel had taken part in a naval exercise organised by India in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25, according to the drill's website.

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Sri Lanka said it had launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate survivors after receiving a distress call.

Sri Lankan navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said boats that reached the location observed only an oil slick, adding that although the incident took place outside Sri Lankan waters, Colombo was still committed to providing support.

"We found people floating in the water and rescued them," Sampath told reporters. "Later on, we found upon inquiring that they belonged to the Iranian ship."

Rescuers brought bodies, covered in white sheets, in batches in a truck to the Karapitiya hospital in Galle where they were moved to the morgue.

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The commander of the warship and some senior officers were among the survivors and they told the Sri Lankan navy that they were hit by a submarine attack, two Sri Lankan sources told Reuters.

SHIP TOOK PART IN NAVAL DRILL ORGANISED BY INDIA

The website of the 'Milan' biennial multilateral naval exercise organised by India listed the 'IRINS Dena' as having taken part in the drill, which was held in the Bay of Bengal off India's eastern coast.

IRIS - or Islamic Republic of Iran Ship - is the more commonly used prefix for Iranian naval vessels, while IRINS - or Islamic Republic of Iran Naval Ship - is sometimes used.

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Indian Navy welcomes IRIS Dena, of the Iranian Navy, on her arrival at #Visakhapatnam ... reflecting long-standing cultural links between the two nations, the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy said in a post on X on February 17 along with pictures of the warship and some of its officers.

An Indian Navy spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment after the Dena was sunk.

(Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Donia Chiacu, Michelle Nichol and Saurabh Sharma; writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and YP Rajesh; Editing by Toby Chopra, Jon Boyle and Hugh Lawson)
The work to physically rebuild the westbound Washington Bridge is supposed to start as early as April under the timeline established on the Rhode Island Department of Transportations (RIDOT) website. That is, if the contractor overseeing the multi-year project can secure federal permitting in time.

Interim RIDOT Director Robert Rocchio told reporters gathered at the State House Tuesday afternoon that the state is still awaiting approval from the U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corp of Engineers on permit applications filed last November. The Coast Guard is responsible for approval of the location and plans of bridges and causeways constructed across navigable waters of the United States. Permits generally take 90 days to get approved.

The Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down since Feb. 14 after Congressional Democrats withheld support for the GOPs funding bill in a push for restrictions and guardrails on the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers.

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General permits from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Defense, could take between 60 to 120 days to approve. A spokesperson for the Army Corp of Engineers did not immediately respond to comment.

I know everyone wants this project up as soon as possible, Rocchio said, standing alongside Gov. Dan McKee at the 24-minute press conference. This is not just a bridge project, its a traffic improvement project. When this project is done, its going to be a much better bridge than the original bridge.

Charles St. Martin, a RIDOT spokesperson, could not say when the state anticipated federal approval.

We are not informed by the agencies of a timeline but we hope to have the last two soon, St. Martin said in an email after the press conference.

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A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Demolition work on the Washington Bridge concluded last December.

The press conference was Rocchios first official media briefing since Peter Alviti Jr. retired Feb. 27 after more than 15 years leading the transportation department. Rocchio spoke on Feb. 23 at the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agencys Cranston headquarters as the state was hit by its largest blizzard on record.

McKee then said that Rocchios presence at the EMA press conference was intended to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Rocchio was picked by McKee as RIDOTs interim director on Feb. 4, the same day Alviti submitted his letter of resignation.

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Tuesdays introductory conference was scheduled before the historic snowfall, McKee said Tuesday.

He really had a baptism by blizzard, McKee said.

McKee credited Rocchio for directing the 500 state and vendor plow trucks that cleared local roads during the post-blizzard cleanup.

Bob was integral in terms of the success that we delivered as a state, McKee said.

So too was the out-of-state help from Connecticut, Maine, Pennsylvania and Vermont  which all sent plows and personnel to dig Rhode Island out. Crews from Vermont and Connecticut returned home Tuesday afternoon, while Pennsylvanias eight front loaders and 10 and Maines 24 National Guardsmen were finishing up their last day.

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State officials are still calculating how much it will cost to reimburse for the out-of-state help, which McKee hopes can be covered by the federal government. But McKee said the state could end up waiting for up to a year for the federal aid if it comes through, citing experience from the 2022 blizzard.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also overseen by the Department of Homeland Security.

McKee has promised to conduct a national search for a permanent transportation director. As of Tuesday, the search had not begun and McKee did not commit to a timeline.

We want to have a continuation of the work we have in place right now, McKee said. Well take one step at a time on that.

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So does Rocchio want the permanent job?

Im just focused on doing the job right now, he responded.

Interim state transportation chief Robert Rocchio, center, leaves the State House plaza and heads to Smith Street en route to the Rhode Island Department of Transportations Providence headquarters. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

Instilling public confidence

An engineer by trade, Rocchio has worked at RIDOT since 1991, when he started as an intern while finishing his bachelor of science in civil engineering at the University of Rhode Island.

He later became a full-time civil engineer in the departments planning division and design section. In 2007, he was promoted to state traffic and safety engineer.

Since 2017, Rocchio has served as the departments chief engineer for infrastructure, overseeing roughly 400 of the departments 755 employees. The departments website credits Rocchio with implementing a comprehensive highway safety program that reduced traffic fatalities, overhauling RIDOTs maintenance division and upgrading its equipment, and strengthening bridge inspection and maintenance.

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Im going to use those skills to make sure that we have high-quality bridge and road projects, Rocchio said. Im also going to try my best to instill public confidence in RIDOT, which has a lot of highly-capable and skilled professionals.

Nothing has done more to shake Rhode Islanders confidence in the department than the ongoing closure of the westbound Washington Bridge.

Rocchios predecessor sat in the hot seat before lawmakers three times to answer questions about what his department and officials knew about the bridges condition leading up to its emergency closure on Dec. 11, 2023.

Under tough questioning last November by former U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha, who was hired by the joint Senate and House committees on oversight, Alviti said the blame fell almost squarely on the contractors hired to maintain the bridge, but he also defended the states reliance on outsourcing.

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Rocchio did not commit to changing the states reliance on contractors, instead highlighting the potential to have some work done in-house under a provision in McKees recommended fiscal 2027 budget. The governor proposed the hiring of two new civil engineers  at a total annual cost of $356,492  to provide inspection oversight of Rhode Islands inventory of 1,206 bridges.

Its another layer of security to make sure these bridges are being adequately inspected, Rocchio said.

But in the meantime, a new bridge still needs to be built. Once the Coast Guard and Army Corp of Engineers approve permits, Rocchio said crews can start to work on setting up the foundation for the new five-lane highway over the Seekonk River  work that is expected to last for the remainder of 2026.

Thats all youll see, he said.

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The replacement bridge is tentatively scheduled to open in November 2028 under the timeline set in the $427 million contract awarded to Chicago-based Walsh Construction last June.

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Texas state representative Steve Toth has defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) in Tuesdays four-way Republican primary election for the second district in Texas.

Toths victory is one of the most surprising results in Tuesdays primary elections in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas.

Crenshaw, a Navy SEAL who lost his right eye to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, has served in the House since 2019, and while hes a hardline conservative, hes done a couple of things to annoy loyalists of President Donald Trump.

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For one, Crenshaw voted to certify Trumps 2020 election loss, and even joined three other Republicans in a group statement condemning Trump for the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

And Crenshaw has supported aid to Ukraine, prompting former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to call him Eyepatch McCain.

Politics: Kamala Harris Endorses Jasmine Crockett In Texas Senate Race

Crenshaw slammed Toth as a RINO, or Republican in name only, in a TV ad proclaiming Crenshaw proudly stood with President Donald Trump, but the president did not endorse Crenshaw.

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Last week, Toths campaign got a boost when Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)endorsed him over Crenshaw. The endorsement may have had something to do with Crenshaw joining dozens of House Republicans in voting against an aviation safety bill written by Cruz.

You know, my enemies have all come out with their knives  Tucker Carlson orTed Cruz  for no good reason, Crenshawtold Fox News this week.

Texas Republicans redistricting scheme made the second district more conservative than it already was, so theres not much chance a Democrat will defeat Toth in Novembers general election.

Political Updates

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Japans Kirin Holdings has introduced its ready-to-drink (RTD) brand Hyoketsu to the US market.

From today (2 March), the vodka seltzer will be available in Hawaii, Tampa in Florida, and The Japan Pavilion at Epcot theme park.

In a statement, Kirin said the RTDs were created with American consumers in mind.

The group is launching the product in the US under strawberry and pineapple variants, noting these are two flavours popular with US consumers.

Kirins US alcoholic drinks activity is led by New Belgium Brewing. The Japanese group told Just Drinks that Hyoketsu RTDs are being produced at New Belgium Brewings Daleville brewery in Virginia.

Through local manufacturing and sales in the US, Kirin seeks to deliver fresh fruit flavour in a convenient format while building Hyoketsu as a scalable global brand, the group said in its statement.

When asked whether the business had secured contracts in the US for the brand, Kirin said currently no specific retailer or on-trade contracts have been disclosed.

It added that the limited release in Florida and Hawaii is intended to evaluate consumer response and market fit before considering broader distribution or additional partnerships.

When asked why Kirin thought the brand could succeed in the US, the business said the RTD market there was "shifting from hard seltzers to spiritbased RTDs, creating opportunities for vodka-based products like Hyoketsu".

It also said Hyoketsu is intended to stand out with a fruit-led profile, emphasising real fruit character and a crisp taste, which sets it apart from "overly sweet RTDs".

Kirin added the drink's formulation had been tweaked for the US, with a change to sweetness and and a higher alcohol content of 5.8% abv.

Introduced in 2001, Hyoketsu has become one of Japans leading RTD labels, according to Kirin.

In its home market, cumulative sales have reached about 15 billion units on a 350ml-equivalent basis as of 31 December 2025.

The move follows a recent RTDs push by another Japanese brewer.

In January, Asahi Group Holdings announced a rollout its Japanese RTD brand Zeitaku Shibori in the US.

The vodka-based drink contains 10% fruit juice and has been developed in lemon and peach variants for the US market, with production at Asahis Octopi site in Wisconsin.

The products went on sale in mid-December, with an initial focus on cities including Los Angeles, New York and Miami.

"Kirin launches RTD brand Hyoketsu in US" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




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A typical male burial from the Stone Age cemetery of Csoszhalom in Hungary. He is buried on his right side, with a polished stone tool near his left shoulder. | Credit: Alexandra Anders

A Stone Age woman buried with male-associated artifacts in what is now Hungary is revealing that her society embraced complex identities and flexible gender roles 7,000 years ago, a new study finds.

In the study, published Feb. 16 in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology , researchers analyzed 125 skeletons from two cemeteries in eastern Hungary that were in use from 5300 to 4650 B.C. Their goal was to compare traces of repeated activities found on the bones, and examine burial positions and grave goods, which together could shed light on gender roles in this Neolithic society.

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The analysis focused on activity-related skeletal changes to gain insight into past people's overall physical workload, upper-limb overuse, and toe hyperextension (which can result from a kneeling posture). While all of the Stone Age men and women had high overall physical workloads and engaged in activities involving kneeling, the researchers discovered that the male skeletons had evidence of right-sided upper-limb overuse  possibly related to throwing movements  that indicated differences in men's and women's use of their arms.

Men and women were also buried differently. In one cemetery, most female skeletons were placed on their left side and were buried with shell bead belts, while most male skeletons were found on their right side and were interred with polished stone tools. But according to the study, two male skeletons and five female skeletons were buried in ways that didn't align with expectations, revealing that the association between biological sex and body position in death was not absolute.

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Stone Age boy in Sweden was buried in deerskin and a woodpecker headdress, archaeologists discover

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One older adult female burial was particularly unusual. Hers was the only female skeleton the researchers found buried with polished stone tools, and her toes revealed a kneeling activity pattern more like that of the males in the cemetery. According to the researchers, this burial suggests that "females may have assumed roles traditionally associated with males" in the society and that gender roles "were fluid and shaped by multiple intersecting factors."

Study first author Sebastien Villotte , a researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research, told Live Science in an email that there is no clear evidence this woman had a unique social role, such as shaman. The other people who were buried in ways that did not align with their biological sex may have had "individual trajectories that do not fit in with an 'ideal' pattern," Villotte said. "This is the period in Central Europe when people began to express previously existing gender roles in a new arena."

Stone Age quiz: What do you know about the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic?
It's another edition of 'Mock Draft Monday' with Bootleg Football's EJ Snyder. He joined Matt Harmon in Indianapolis to provide his five favorite potential fantasy fits for some of the top prospects in this year's draft. Snyder reveals 3 sleeper TEs you need to keep on as well as a WR that could be the steal of the draft.
The Brief

Three Wisconsin cities are among those competing for the "Strongest Town" title.

The nonprofit "Strong Towns" announced 16 North American cities.

The first round of voting is open now through March 13.

WEST ALLIS, Wis. - Three Wisconsin cities are among those competing for the "Strongest Town" title this year, and your vote could determine the winner.

Strong Towns competition

Big picture view

Strong Towns, a nonprofit that aims to "inspire people to take the future of their neighborhoods, towns and cities into their own hands," is putting 16 North American cities head-to-head in what is now its 10th annual "Strongest Town Contest."

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Strong Towns said its "strong town" approach applies to any sized city that prioritizes making progress in "transportation, housing, and fiscal resiliency for the long-term benefit of its people.

Vote for Wisconsin cities

Local perspective

The organization reviewed applications for the contest in late February, and voting in the bracket-style tournament started on Monday, March 2. This year's finalists include Madison, Sheboygan and West Allis. Nearby Chicago and Oak Forest, Illinois are also on the list.

How to vote

What you can do

The first round of voting is open now through March 13. Anyone can vote once per round on the Strongest Town website.

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Votes will be tallied on weekday mornings. The top eight voters in the first round will advance to the bracket-style rounds, going head-to-head until the "Strongest Town" is crowned in early April.

The Source

FOX6 News referenced information from Strong Towns, as well as the city of West Allis.
Rider University is getting a big assist from Mercer County as it seeks to emerge from a financial crisis that has threatened the private schools accreditation and prompted layoffs.

The countys board of commissioners unanimously approved three resolutions last week that include plans to buy a 56-acre lot on the edge of campus, purchase the schools presidential house and lease school facilities for a county office.

The land acquisitions and service agreements in the deal could pay the private university up to $9,999,999 if they are finalized, county officials said.

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The deals would provide essential financial liquidity to a critical regional anchor institution, thereby stabilizing the local economic base and preserving the tax ratables of the surrounding community by helping to prevent the insolvency of Rider University, a major regional employer, according to the resolutions.

Riders president, John Loyack, said the agreement represents another critical step in reimagining a meaningful Rider as we continue to swiftly rebuild our financial strength.

Rider was placed on probation by its accrediting agency, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, in October due to its financial problems.

Losing accreditation usually means a college would have to shut down. But that is rare because schools are usually given ample time by accrediting agencies to fix their problems.

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Rider, which has about 3,600 students, remains accredited while it is on probation and classes are continuing.

The university is awaiting a decision this spring from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education on whether it will remain on probation.

The university took several steps to improve its finances, including laying off up to 35 full-time faculty members and reducing salaries of most employees by 14%.

The sale of part of its campus could bring in significantly more money.

The costliest of the three resolutions by Mercer Countys board authorized the countys executive to negotiate a purchase not to exceed $7,511,871 for a 56-acre lot on the edge of the campus that would be preserved as open space and serve as a public access point for a future trail project, county administrator Dan Benson told NJ.com.

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The county would be eligible to recoup up to 50% of the purchase cost through the states Green Acres Planning Incentive Grant program, Benson said.

The county commissioners also agreed to authorize spending up to $1,065,000 million to acquire a Rider-owned property on Lawrence Road that serves as a residence for the universitys president. The deal would include negotiating a lease agreement so Rider could continue to use the house.

The commissioners also approved a resolution to proceed with a seven-year facility use agreement that would tota $1,423,128 and run through 2033. The facilities would be used as a strategic site for the countys Office of Emergency Management.

In addition to establishing Rider as a possible staging location for personnel and equipment during major disasters or public health emergencies, county employees would get to use the university gymnasium and pool.

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Rider officials also announced last month that it received good news from another agency reviewing its operations.

The school received an affirmation of approval from the New Jersey State Approving Agency, a state body that reviews educational institutions and programs serving U.S. veterans.

Rider also recently set up a Presidential Hope Fund to assist students with unanticipated financial or family hardships. It has received more than $2 million in pledged donations.

This story has been updated with a comment from Rider Universitys president.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Congressional investigators have found a substantial reason to believe that Rep. Tony Gonzales had a sexual relationship with a subordinate  an apparent violation of House rules.

POLITICO exclusively reviewed the report made by the nonpartisan Office of Congressional Conduct and delivered Wednesday to the House Ethics Committee, which has separately announced it is investigating the matter. The board of the OCC an independent investigative body of the House  recommended in a 6-0 decision that the Ethics panel, which handles member disciplinary matters, further examine the allegations against Gonzales, a Texas Republican.

The OCC report and announcement from the Ethics Committee comes as Gonzales faces a 12-week runoff campaign to keep the Republican nomination for the south Texas seat he has held for three terms. He narrowly trails challenger Brandon Herrera in the latest returns from Tuesdays election but neither candidate is on track to win an outright majority, setting up a May 23 runoff.

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Gonzales has denied wrongdoing and resisted calls from within his own party to resign as details of his relationship with the former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, continue to emerge. She died by suicide after setting herself on fire in 2025.

Responding to the Ethics Committee announcement Wednesday, Gonzales said, "I welcome the opportunity to present all the facts to the committee. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the OCC finding.

Tom Rust, staff director for the House Ethics Committee, declined comment, as did William Beaman, a spokesperson for OCC.

The OCC investigation found a substantial reason to believe that Rep. Gonzales engaged in a sexual relationship with an employee of the House of Representatives who was working under his supervision, according to the report viewed by POLITICO.

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In one exchange with a fellow staffer, known as Witness 1, Santos-Aviles texted: I had an affair with our boss and Im fine. You will be fine. The staffer, in an interview with the OCC, described personal conversations with Santos-Aviles wherein she described text messages with Gonzales that were sexual in nature, that were romantic in nature.

In another part of the report, a screenshot of a message that was originally sent by Santos-Aviles husband to another Gonzales staffer said, Just a heads up this is [Santos-Aviles] soon to be ex husband I just wanted to inform all of you that we will be getting divorced after my discovery of text messages and pictures, that shes been having an affair with your boss Tony Gonzales for some time now. Feel free to reach out if you want more of an explanation.

While the OCC cant issue disciplinary actions, its investigative reports have served as roadmaps for the Ethics Committee, which conducts its own probes. In opening its own inquiry Wednesday, the panel said it would examine allegations that Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office and discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.

Speaker Mike Johnson, navigating a tight GOP majority, said last week that he wanted to see how the election played out and that Gonzales was entitled to due process. While the findings from the OCC are significant, it could take months or years for the Ethics Committee to finish its own report and recommend any discipline.

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Johnson told reporters after the Ethics Committee announcement that he would let the process "play out." A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the OCC finding.

Gonzales, who is married with children, is alleged to have pursued a sexual relationship with Santos-Aviles and tried to coerce her into sending explicit photos, according to text messages published by the San Antonio Express-News and other publications, some of which are referenced in the OCC report. POLITICO has not independently reviewed the messages.

House rules prohibit members, such as Gonzales, from having a sexual relationship or engaging in unwelcome sexual advances with their staffers.

The Ethics Committees deliberations are usually shrouded in secrecy, and it sometimes takes years to deliver any sort of conclusion. Allegations that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) accepted improper gifts relating to the 2021 Met Gala, for instance, were not ruled upon until 2025, when she was instructed to repay the fair market value of the ticket of her guest, her designer gown and other gifts associated with the event.

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Similarly, the Ethics panel took several years to issue a report on a 2020 stock trade made by the wife of Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) that was alleged to have been done using nonpublic information. Kelly was scolded in 2025 by the committee for not fully cooperating with the investigation with a strongly worded letter of disapproval and Kelly and his wife were advised by the committee to divest of any stock holdings in Cleveland-Cliffs, the company at issue.

In the Gonzales investigation, three witnesses, identified only as Witness 1, 2, and 3, were interviewed by OCC for the inquiry. POLITICO was unable to identify and independently interview the witnesses.

Gonzales, his Chief of Staff Cesar Prieto, and two other staffers, Brittney Smith and Alfredo Arellano III, all refused to cooperate with OCC, according to the report. The office recommended that the House Ethics Committee subpoena them.

Prieto and Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An attempt to reach Arellano on LinkedIn was unsucessful.

Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
The Supreme Courts Republican majority just did the legal equivalent of grabbing J.R.R. Tolkiens One Ring, placing it on their collective fingers, and dancing around singing, I just cant wait to become a Nazgul.

On Monday evening, the Court handed down Mirabelli v. Bonta, with all six of the Courts Republicans in the majority, and all three Democrats in dissent (Republican Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito also signaled that they thought it was too moderate). Mirabelli is one of the most consequential constitutional decisions the Roberts Court has ever handed down.

The immediate impact of Mirabelli is that California public school teachers must out transgender students to their parents, even if the students wish to keep their gender identity secret from their family. While the Courts decision in Mirabelli is short and does not fully explain itself, the Republican majority appears to object to a California state law which provides that public school employees shall not be required to disclose any information related to a pupils sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the pupils consent unless otherwise required by state or federal law.

Key takeaways

On Monday night, the Supreme Court handed down a decision requiring public schools to out trans students to their parents.

The Court grounded this decision in substantive due process, a legal theory that gives boundless power to judges, and that the Republican justices have historically opposed.

Like J.R.R. Tolkiens One Ring, the limitless power substantive due process offers to judges has tempted many generations of justices.

The Courts decision in Mirabelli is likely to impose impossible burdens on public schools.

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To reach this outcome, the Republican justices cite two provisions of the Constitution. The first is the First Amendments language protecting the free exercise of religion. The Republican justices claim that teachers who respect their trans students privacy interfere with the right of parents to guide the religious development of their children.

This first part of the Courts decision is likely to impose impossible obligations on public schools and their employees  are teachers now required to tell parents any time a student does something that their parents might object to on religious grounds, such as eating non-Kosher food, removing a hijab, or dating a classmate? But this first aspect of the Courts decision in Mirabelli is at least consistent with the Republican justices prior cases interpreting the Free Exercise Clause.

Last June, in Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025), the Republican justices ruled that public schools must inform parents in advance if they plan to teach books with LGBTQ characters or themes, and allow those parents to remove their child from those lessons. Since Justice Amy Coney Barretts 2020 confirmation gave Republicans a supermajority, the Court has been extraordinarily sympathetic to claims brought by the religious right.

The second part of the Courts Mirabelli decision is where the Republican justices grasp the One Ring. A legal doctrine called substantive due process, which judges can use to create constitutional rights not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. In the early twentieth century, when economic conservatives were ascendant on the federal bench, the Supreme Court used substantive due process to invent a right to contract that the justices used to strike down workplace legislation such as minimum wage laws and laws protecting the right to unionize. In the 1960s and 70s, when cultural liberalism was ascendant among legal elites, the justices invented a right to privacy that encompassed various sexual freedoms, including the right to an abortion.

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Modern-day Republican justices, largely due to their revulsion against Roe v. Wade, were previously vocal critics of substantive due process. Indeed, in her Mirabelli dissent, Justice Elena Kagan quotes several of her own Republican colleagues railing against this legal doctrine. Thomas, for example, wrote in 2015 that substantive due process is a dangerous fiction that allows judges to roam at large in the constitutional field guided only by their personal views. Similarly, Justice Neil Gorsuch warned in a 2018 opinion that judicial misuse of the so-called substantive component of due process enables judges to dictate policy on matters that belonged to the people to decide.

(For what it is worth, I agreed with Thomas and Gorsuch in a 2022 essay entitled The uncomfortable problem with Roe v. Wade, although I also argued in that piece that rights such as the right to abortion and to marry a person of the same sex, which the Court previously grounded in substantive due process, could instead be found within the Constitutions guarantee that no one be denied the equal protection of the law.)

But the widespread anti-trans panic among Republicans appears to have inspired all six of the GOP-appointed justices to abandon their past critiques of substantive due process and proudly wear the One Ring. The practical upshot is that the Courts Republicans may now use this most dangerous of legal doctrines to strike down literally any law, or to otherwise impose their personal preferences on the nation.

All that is happening now has happened before

Mirabelli is the height of judicial hypocrisy, but its hardly a surprise. It completes a cycle that has played out at least twice before in the last 150 years.

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The Constitution provides that no one shall be denied life, liberty or property without due process of law. Substantive due process is the idea that there are some liberties that are so important that no amount of legal process can justify restricting those liberties. Proponents of this controversial theory believe it is up to the Supreme Court to determine which liberties belong on this list of rights, and that these judicially created rights must be enforced even though they arent in the Constitution.

In Lochner v. New York (1905), five justices used substantive due process to strike down a New York law providing that bakery workers could not work more than 60 hours in a week, and 10 hours in a day  at the time, these workers were typically paid on a daily or weekly basis, so working longer hours did not earn them more pay. Lochner claimed that the New York law interferes with the right of contract between the employer and employees. If a bakery worker agrees to an employment contract that calls for brutal hours and little pay, the five justices in the majority reasoned, lawmakers cannot interfere with that contract.

The Court abandoned Lochner in West Coast Hotel v. Parrish (1937), which was decided shortly after President Franklin D. Roosevelt won his first reelection bid in a landslide. The combination of the Great Depression and the popularity of the New Deal turned the Courts center against the laissez-faire approach to labor policy imagined by Lochner. And Roosevelt would go on to appoint eight justices to the Court, obliterating any remaining support for Lochnerism.

Indeed, Justice Hugo Black, Roosevelts first appointment to the Supreme Court, said in 1967 that the reason why I came on the Court was because he was against using due process to force the views of judges on the country.

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For a few decades, Rooseveltian liberals dominated the Court, and these liberals  many of whom spent their early careers opposing substantive due process  kept the One Ring locked away. By the 1970s, however, the idea that the government should not interfere with peoples private sexual lives was so widespread among legal elites that even three of Republican President Richard Nixons four Supreme Court appointees joined the Courts 7-2 decision in Roe.

Roe situated the right to an abortion in the Fourteenth Amendments concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action, which was another way of saying substantive due process.

Meanwhile, social conservatives disgusted by Roe and similar decisions took up the mantle of opposing substantive due process, often using the same rhetoric New Deal liberals once used to demand that the One Ring be cast into the fires of Mordor. Justice Antonin Scalia was the intellectual leader of this movement, writing in his Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) dissent that substantive due process stands for nothing whatever, except those freedoms and entitlements that this Court really likes.

But President Donald Trump replaced Scalia with Gorsuch, a similarly conservative Republican whose behavior on the bench is much more erratic than Scalias. Then, Trump replaced Justice Anthony Kennedy, a moderate conservative, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a feminist icon, with Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, both of whom are staunch social conservatives.

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And so, much as cultural liberals grasped the One Ring in the 1970s when their control over the Supreme Court was at its apex, social conservatives donned the same ring in Mirabelli.

As plenty of legal scholars have previously noted, there appears to be a natural cycle that plays out every time a new political movement gains control of the Court. When that movement is out of power, it criticizes the incumbent justices for being too unrestrained, and for using substantive due process to achieve political ends. After that movement gains a majority on the Supreme Court, it often avoids the One Ring for many years or even for several decades. But the One Ring always tempts those who seek power. And justices inevitably reach for the Ring when they are most confident that they fully control the Court.

The Ring cycle, in other words, appears inevitable. If a future Democratic president gets to replace Thomas and Alito, their appointees may resist the One Rings temptation for some time. But if Democrats hold onto the Supreme Court for long enough, they will succumb to its call.

The Mirabelli decision is likely to prove unworkable

Now that the Courts Republicans have seized this forbidden power, the consequences for public education are likely to be dire.

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Mirabellis immediate effect is to reinstate a trial judges decision holding that when gender incongruence is observedparents have a right to be informed (a federal appeals court previously blocked that decision). But what on earth does it mean to observe gender incongruence?

If a male student paints his nails, or if a female student wears a traditionally masculine article of clothing such as a necktie, must their teachers race to the phone to inform the students parents? Does gender incongruence include dating a member of the same sex? And, if so, what if a teacher observes ambiguous evidence that a student is gay, such as witnessing two female students holding hands? If a member of the drama club performs in a way that lampoons gender roles, does the Constitution force this students teacher to inform their parents?

Now consider the Courts first holding in Mirabelli, that parents have a religious right to be informed if their childs gender identity conflicts with the parents religious beliefs. Does this holding apply to any other activity by a public school student that might conflict with their parents religious views? Are teachers required to inform on orthodox Jewish or Muslim students who eat bacon, in violation of their parents religious beliefs? If parents send a student to school wearing a headscarf, a kippah, or a cross necklace, do teachers have a constitutional obligation to inform the parents if the student takes it off? And, again, what happens if the student is gay? If a teacher learns that two male students are dating, do they have to immediately call the parents in case those parents object to homosexuality on religious grounds?

Teaching algebra was hard enough before the Supreme Court ordered every public school teacher to become an enforcer of religious orthodoxy.

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As Justice Robert Jackson warned in a 1948 opinion, authorities list 256 separate and substantial religious bodies to exist in the continental United States, a number that has likely only grown as America became more diverse. If public schools must eliminate everything that is objectionable to any of these warring sects or inconsistent with any of their doctrines, we will leave public education in shreds.

The best argument for judicial restraint has always been that the justices, who sit in their marble palace and know very little about running institutions like public schools, should avoid imposing their preferences because they risk sabotaging those institutions ability to function. After Mirabelli, I have nothing but pity for the poor public school teachers and administrators who now must balance the difficult task of earning the trust of their students with their new duties as religious informants.

And now that the Republican justices have seized the One Ring, there is literally no limit to their ability to throw any American institution into chaos. Justice Thomas was right when he said that substantive due process empowers judges to roam at large in the constitutional field guided only by their personal views. He should have listened to himself.
Oakland police say a man has been linked to at least six instances of prowling in East Oakland neighborhoods.

Neighbors tell police they've spotted the person peering into their homes, with some reports saying he's doing them from peoples' yards. The incidents would take place between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The suspect has been seen in several neighborhoods with the most recent incidents in Maxwell Park.

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The reports started back in March 2025.

In some cases, police accuse the subject of engaging in inappropriate behavior.

INTERACTIVE: Take a look at the ABC7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker

The suspect is described as a balding male, possibly Caucasian or Latino, in his 40s or 50s. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, a white hooded sweatshirt, and blue jeans, according to OPD.

Police suspect there are more victims who have not yet come forward.

MORE: Morgan Hill woman says prowler used Wi-Fi jammer to disable home cameras, tried to enter

Police is reminding residents to remain vigilant, promptly report suspicious activity, and share any relevant surveillance footage with investigators.

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The Oakland Police Department says anyone who may have been a victim or who has information about these incidents to contact the OPD Special Victims Unit at (510) 238-3641.



If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
Hyun Kim is set to serve as Tacomas new city manager, a position that plays a critical role in the citys council-manager form of government.

The Tacoma City Council in a unanimous vote at its March 3 meeting selected Kim, who has since last year served as Tacomas interim city manager, after he participated in a series of interviews with the Tacoma City Council and Tacoma residents in a search process that began late last year.

Kim could earn between $309,566 to $376,500 according to the citys website, but the exact amount wont be final until Tacomas human resources department outlines an employment contract, city spokesperson Maria Lee told The News Tribune. As interim city manager, he currently earns $309,566.

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Several Tacoma City Council members spoke of Kims extensive knowledge of city budgets, his familiarity with the South Sound region and of his dedication to the job at the March 3 meeting.

This is what I believe Tacoma needs, Deputy Mayor Joe Bushnell said of Kim.

Hyun Kim has served the city of Tacoma as deputy city manager for internal services since 2023.

The councils selection of Kim comes in contrast to what public commenters at the meeting said  most of whom spoke in support of Yolanda Lewis, the only other candidate in the running for the job. She has worked as the executive vice president for justice and health at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute based in Texas. Commenters supportive of her ranged from groups like the Pierce County Central Labor Council to the Tacoma NAACP.

Tacoma needs disciplined leadership. Tacoma needs honest communication. Tacoma needs a city manager who can unite performance with purpose, Alice Phillips, president of the Pierce County Central Labor Council, said at the meeting. Yolanda Lewis is that leader.

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Only two speakers spoke in support of Kim: Patrick McElligott from the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 31 and Oliver Webb, executive director of the Diversity Alliance of the Puget Sound.

Tacoma is a labor city, and Hyun has the experience that labor unions need. As a city manager, understanding collective bargaining, workers rights, employers rights, benefits, pensions, impact bargaining, fair labor practices and all other nuances that come from dealing with labor and labor leaders is of extreme importance, McElligott said.

Kim comes to the role after longtime city manager Elizabeth Pauli left the position in July. Pauli said at the time that she was leaving the role for retirement but later that year she joined Prothman Co.  an Issaquah-based executive-recruiting firm that the city of Tacoma paid to manage the city manager search process.

The search cost the city between $70,000 and $75,000, Lee told The News Tribune in October. That includes costs related to in-person candidate interviews and a $19,500 contract with Prothman.

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In a statement to The News Tribune, Prothman CEO Sonja Prothman said Pauli joined the company on Dec. 2, 2025, and has not been involved in the recruitment process for the Tacoma city manager position and has not been in contact with the city or with Cliff Moore, the Prothman consultant who has been working with the city on its recruitment process.

There is no conflict of interest, she wrote.

Kim will serve as the manager in Tacomas council-manager form of government. That form of government involves an elected council that appoints a city manager to serve as the citys chief executive officer and the head of the citys administrative branch.

Kim could begin as Tacomas city manager this April or May, according to the citys website. He will come into the role as the city contends with a structural budget deficit  in which expenses consistently exceed revenues in a way that cant be addressed with a one-time infusion of cash.

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Prior to his appointment as interim city manager, Kim was the deputy city manager for internal services in Tacoma and prior to that served as Fife city manager. In interviews with the council, Kim said hed approach the permanent job with disciplined, transparent and collaborative management.

The councils vote at its March 3 meeting extended an offer of employment to Kim, pending his passage of a background check and an agreement to an employment contract.

The offer comes as the culmination of a series of leadership changes at the city. The council added now-Mayor Anders Ibsen and at-large position 6 council member Latasha Palmer following Novembers election.

The city was also searching for a new permanent police chief after former chief Avery Moore resigned in February 2025. Hyun Kim, as Tacomas interim city manager, recommended Patti Jackson for the role last month, after she served as the departments interim chief. Jackson was officially sworn in as permanent chief on Feb. 26.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett lost the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas to state Rep. James Talarico, Decision Desk HQ projects.

Talarico, a state lawmaker from an Austin-area district, defeated Crockett in the highly competitive primary race, which in many ways centered on race and gender.

Many in the Democratic Party viewed the race, the first major primary of the 2026 midterms, as a test of the partys future direction. Crockett and Talarico were generally aligned on policy, and both rose to prominence in large part through social media, making the race largely about stylistic and strategic differences.

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Talarico, a former middle school teacher and seminarian, offered a vision of progressive politics rooted in his Christian faith. Much of his campaign message centered on excoriating billionaires and corporate interests, who he said are trying to divide Americans. He sought to build an inclusive, big-tent movement, campaigning in rural and deep-red parts of the state and courting support from independents and Republicans.

Whether youre a Democrat or a Republican, whether youre a progressive or a conservative, the real fight in this country is not left versus right. Its top versus bottom, Talarico said at a recent campaign rally in San Antonio.

We are not just trying to win an election. We are trying to fundamentally change the politics in this state and in this country, he added. Our nation is so divided that we cant even share the Super Bowl anymore.

Its not yet known who Talarico will face in November: no candidate received a majority of the vote in the three-way Republican primary, meaning Sen. John Cornyn is headed to a May 26 runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

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There were hiccups with voting in Dallas County, a major Crockett stronghold, and Williamson County, north of Austin. Republicans in both counties ended the use of county-wide vote centers where anyone in the county could vote, and now require voters to vote in a specific precinct. On Tuesday, there were widespread reports of voters in both counties being confused about their correct polling places, leading to calls from the Crockett and Talarico camps to extend voting.

A court order extended voting by two hours in Dallas County, but the Texas Supreme Court later temporarily blocked that ruling and ordered provisional ballots cast after 7 p.m. Central Time to be separated from other Election Day votes. In brief remarks Tuesday night, Crockett said she didnt expect full results to come in until Wednesday.

So thats my news, is that were not going to have election results tonight, in my opinion, based upon what specifically is taking place in Dallas County, she said. Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do. So they specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why.

Talarico largely refrained from attacking Crockett directly in his campaign, though he did tell Politico he was concerned about her assertion that she wouldnt need to win over Trump voters in a state that backed Trump by 13 percentage points in 2024 and that she would instead seek to expand the electorate by turning out new voters.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas spoke at her election night party during the Democratic primary. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) ((Ron Jenkins/Getty Images))

Crockett, first elected to a Dallas-based House seat in 2022, broke out on the national stage as a progressive firebrand with her tough questioning of witnesses before the House Oversight Committee and attacks against President Donald Trump and Republicans. Crocketts approach launched her into the national spotlight, but also drew criticism and concerns about her viability in a general election.

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She infamously insulted former GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes bleach-blonde, bad-built, butch body in a spat during a House Oversight hearing in 2024 after Greene made a dig at her eyelashes. She referred to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as governor hot wheels  she said she was referring to his busing of migrants to Democratic-controlled states. Late last year, she defended blasting a Trump Cabinet official for taking a campaign donation from a Jeffrey Epstein who was not, in fact, the late convicted sex offender but a Long Island physician. And in the final stretch of the campaign, a reporter from The Atlantic said armed security escorted her out of a Crockett campaign event, an allegation Crocketts team denied.

Crockett and her allies charged that criticisms of her strategy and concerns about electability in a general election were rooted in race and gender. She also pointed to Abbott spending millions on ads that attack her in his reelection bid as a sign that Republicans werent keen to run against her. She also picked up the support of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who recorded a robocall endorsing her days before the primary.

Some people say, Listen, theres no way that Texas will support a Black woman, Crockett said at a recent campaign event, according to Politico. We are a majority-minority state, we can start there. The reality is that I didnt run because I was a woman. I ran because Im qualified. At the end of the day. I just happened to be Black and woman, but I am the most qualified person in this. Period.

Supporters of James Talarico, a Texas Democratic primary candidate for U.S. Senate, cheer during a March 1 campaign event in San Antonio, Texas. (Brenda Bazan/AP) ((Brenda Bazan/AP))

Talarico will face an uphill battle in the general election in Texas, which hasnt elected a Democrat to a statewide office since 1994. But Democrats hope that Trumps poor approval ratings, declining poll numbers among Latinx voters who swung to Trump in 2024 and the messy three-way Republican primary could give them a shot in the Lone Star state.

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Trump declined to endorse in the GOP contest, though Senate Republicans and their official campaign arm backed Cornyn in the primary.

Republicans control the U.S. Senate 53 to 47 votes. For Democrats to win back the chamber in 2026, theyd need to hold competitive seats in states like Georgia and Michigan while flipping four GOP-held seats in Maine, North Carolina and even more Republican-leaning states like Texas.

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A TikTok influencer who tried to solve a real-life murder case using spiritual intuition has now been ordered to pay millions for it. Ashley Guillard, a Texas-based content creator known for her tarot card readings on high-profile cases, found herself on the losing end of a defamation lawsuit.

She accused University of Idaho history professor Rebecca Scofield of masterminding the 2022 murders of four students, all based on what she called her psychic insights. A federal jury in Boise didn't buy it, hitting Guillard with a $10 million judgment on February 27, 2026.

The murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves shocked the small town of Moscow, Idaho, back in November 2022. The students were stabbed to death in their off-campus home, sparking nationwide attention and countless online sleuths trying to crack the case. Guillard, with over 100,000 followers on her account, jumped in about two weeks later, posting videos that pointed the finger at Scofield.

The Accusations That Sparked the Firestorm

Guillard's videos were bold and relentless. She claimed Scofield had a secret romantic relationship with one of the female victims, a student she allegedly never even met. Then, Guillard escalated it, saying the professor "ordered" the killings to cover up the affair.

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These posts included Scofield's photos and contact info, racking up millions of views and shares across TikTok. Scofield, who was out of state at a conference during the murders, quickly became a target. Police confirmed she wasn't a suspect, but that didn't stop the online frenzy.

Guillard defended her claims as coming from tarot readings and spiritual intuition. She testified later that she believed her methods helped solve cases, even representing herself in court. Despite cease-and-desist letters from Scofield's lawyers warning her to stop, Guillard kept posting.

In one video after the lawsuit hit, she said, "I am not stopping," and questioned why Scofield needed multiple attorneys if she was innocent. This persistence turned a viral theory into a full-blown legal battle, with Scofield filing suit in December 2022.

The Courtroom Showdown

Fast forward to the trial in U.S. District Court in Boise. By June 2024, a judge had already ruled Guillard's statements defamatory, noting they relied solely on "spiritual intuition" with no factual basis. The February 2026 proceedings focused on damages. Scofield took the stand, describing the toll on her life.

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She spoke of severe emotional distress, safety fears, and damage to her career as chair of the history department. For the first time, the two women met face-to-face in court, where Scofield confronted Guillard during cross-examination: "You were making dozens of videos about me, someone you never met, you never talked tosomeone you had no connection to."

Guillard, acting as her own lawyer, argued her posts were protected beliefs rooted in psychic abilities. The jury, made up of four women and three men, wasn't swayed. After deliberating for under two hours, they delivered a unanimous verdict. Scofield's team had asked for a fraction of the amount, but the jurors went higher, signaling they saw Guillard's actions as particularly harmful.

The Stunning $10 Million Verdict

The award broke down to $7.5 million in punitive damages to punish Guillard and deter similar behavior, plus $2.5 million in compensatory damages for Scofield's suffering. Other reports specified $6.5 million tied to the murder accusations and $3.5 million for the false relationship claims. Either way, the total hit $10 million, far exceeding expectations. This wasn't just about money; it highlighted the risks of unchecked online content.

Screenshot from Philip Dube's post/X

Bryan Kohberger was later convicted for the actual murders, but Guillard's theories ignored that, focusing on baseless drama. Scofield's win sends a message to influencers: viral fame doesn't excuse spreading lies that harm real people.

Public Reactions and Broader Impact

Social media lit up after the verdict. On Instagram, one user quipped, "For a psychic, she sure didnt see that coming," capturing the ironic twist. True crime communities debated the line between speculation and slander, with some praising the outcome as a win for accountability. Others worried it might chill free speech, though experts note the case hinged on provably false statements made with disregard for the truth.

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This story echoes other online defamation cases, like those involving Sandy Hook families suing conspiracy theorists. In an era where anyone can broadcast theories to millions, the verdict reminds creators to stick to facts.

For Scofield, it's vindication after years of stress; for Guillard, it's a costly lesson in the power of words. As TikTok continues to shape pop culture, expect more scrutiny on how influencers handle sensitive topics like unsolved crimes.

What do you think?
Anthropic (ANTH.PVT) continued to clash with the Defense Department after the artificial intelligence startup was notified that it was designated a "supply chain risk for national security" by the US government.

In a blog post, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei vowed to fight the action, which is usually reserved for foreign adversaries, writing that Anthropic has "no choice but to challenge it in court."

In the post, Amodei also said he resumed negotiations with the Defense Department to put a military contract back on the table. OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) reached a deal with the government last week, which elicited pushback from employees and users.

Anthropic and OpenAI were also in focus after Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang's suggestion that the chipmaker's multibillion-dollar investments in the startups could be the last of their kind for a while.

Nvidia has also reportedly halted production of China-bound H200 chips, the Financial Times reported, as regulatory efforts in Washington and Beijing have restricted imports to the Chinese market.

And earlier this week, tech watchers were also treated to a slew of product announcements from Apple (AAPL). The product release list included a new low-cost MacBook Neo computer, an entry-level iPhone 17e smartphone, two new iPad Airs, and new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops with more powerful M5 chips.

Follow along for the latest updates on the tech sector.

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I-TEAM: Trump, tech leaders sign energy pledge as plans for data centers across region continue

President Donald Trump took action with tech company leaders to make sure Americans arent paying higher electric bills when data centers move into their communities.

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Haley Fogt and her husband live just outside of Sidney.

Their backyard is on the banks of the Great Miami River.

Yeah, thats why we moved here, Haley said.

She has more than one concern about the proposed Amazon data center in Sidney.

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My biggest concern is the river, since I live on the river and what the wastewater will do to the river, but the electricity and then the water bills, like, its just crazy, Haley said.

>>RELATED:I-TEAM: Data centers, water, and secrets: Companies using NDAs to hide their names, water usage

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump talked about one of those concerns.

Well, thank you very much, these are exciting times, Trump said.

Representatives from tech companies joined him to sign what the president is calling his Ratepayer Protection Pledge.

Big tech companies are committing to fully cover the cost of increased electricity production required for AI data centers, and that would be prices for American communities will not go up, but in many cases will actually come down, Trump said.

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The move follows up on the plan the I-Team previously reported on when the president mentioned the plan in his State of the Union speech last week.

This means that the tech companies and the data centers will be able to get the electricity they need all without driving up electricity costs for consumers. This is a historic win for countless American families, Trump said.

The I-Team knows this is an issue thats been on the White Houses radar.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE:White House, governors including DeWine, share electricity pricing concerns amid data center growth

In January, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told the I-Team he was part of a group of 14 bipartisan governors in the region who traveled to DC to meet with the White House Energy Council.

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Data centers, we think, are valuable, DeWine said.

The group has expressed concern about how PJM Interconnection prices electricity.

PJM operates the electric grid in the part of the country that includes Ohio.

But they need to pay their own way, DeWine said.

As the I-Team has previously reported, Ohio is the 5th in the country for the number of data centers.

>>RELATED: I-TEAM: Data centers continue to move into region; President speaks on electricity pricing concerns

Amazon is behind two of the several proposed data centers in the region.

In a statement on Wednesday, Amazon Web Services said in part:

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Amazon is signing the Ratepayer Protection Pledge to reinforce our commitment to paying our full energy costs and ensuring our data centers do not increase electricity bills for consumers. We welcome the Administrations leadership on this issue and support the pledges commitments, which establish a clear baseline to protect ratepayers while enabling responsible, long-term energy partnerships that strengthen the grid and the communities where data centers operate.

I feel like the data center should foot that bill rather than us residents. Thats my big concern, Haley said. That would be nice if it happened, but it needs to happen sooner rather than later. You know, our costs are already increasing a lot.

I-Team Lead Investigator John Bedell also talked to PJM about the ratepayer protection:

It is clear that electricity demand is increasing driven largely by the proliferation of data centers in our footprint. This is resulting in higher bills for all electricity consumers. PJMs primary responsibility is to maintain power grid reliability for the 67 million consumers that it serves. As a mission-driven organization that focuses on people, the affordability challenge created by this supply/demand imbalance is concerning to PJM.

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PJM has taken action recently to both try and maintain grid reliability while dealing with these affordability concerns. These actions include placing a cap on the existing market price to prevent an increase in wholesale (capacity) prices for the typical consumer through mid-2030. Also, PJM is exploring a plan to procure new supply to cure this supply/demand imbalance, and will look to charge the costs of this procurement to the data centers. This plan is fully in-line with the Presidents comments.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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Three Tennessee cities are among 16 finalists vying to be selected by The Boring Company for a mile-long tunnel constructed on the companys dime.

The company announced its Tunnel Vision Challenge in January, calling for proposals for tunnels that solve problems. The Boring Company will select a winner and build the tunnel free of charge, according to its website.

Tunnel submissions could be for freight, pedestrians, water, utilities, or Loop  a transportation tunnel used exclusively by Tesla vehicles to transport passengers for a fee.

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The company received 487 entries and will announce a winner on March 23, according to a post on its X account.

The Boring Company and X are both owned by billionaire Elon Musk, who is also the largest stockholder in Tesla.

Tennessee finalists include the Vol Loop, a proposed Loop project in Knoxville; the Mountain Mile Loop, a proposed Loop project in Gatlinburg; and a proposed utility tunnel in Hendersonville.

The announcement of the finalists comes as The Boring Company begins drilling on one of its newest projects  the Music City Loop  near the state capitol in Nashville.

Entries for the Tunnel Vision Challenge will be judged on usefulness, community and stakeholder support, and technical, economic and regulatory feasibility, the companys website states. Participants were required to submit data to support projected benefits and list owners of land and right-of-way along their proposed routes.

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The website states that the company could cancel or modify the contest at its discretion, including modifying the contest to select more than one winner or no winner at all.

Other finalists include:

Ketchikan Airport Connector, a Loop tunnel in Ketchikan, Alaska

Fort Smith Tunnel, a utility tunnel in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Ball Arena Tunnel, a pedestrian tunnel in Denver, Colorado

Kansas City Chiefs Tunnel, a pedestrian tunnel in Kansas City, Kansas

NOLA Loop, a Loop tunnel in New Orleans, Louisiana

Ravens Loop, a Loop tunnel in Baltimore, Maryland

Buffalo Bills Tunnel, a pedestrian tunnel in Orchard Park, New York

The Canal Underline, a pedestrian tunnel in Panama City, Panama

Bastrop Pedestrian Tunnel in Bastrop, Texas

Magnolia Loop, a Loop tunnel in Waco, Texas

Morgans Wonderland Tunnel, a pedestrian tunnel in San Antonio, Texas

University Hills Loop, a Loop tunnel in Dallas, Texas

The Woodlands Loop, a Loop tunnel in The Woodlands, Texas

Bastrop, a town near Austin, is home to several Musk businesses, including The Boring Company, X, SpaceX and Starlink.

Music City Loop

The Boring Company announced plans for the Music City Loop in partnership with state officials in 2025. The project includes a 9.5-mile tunnel running from the state capitol to the Nashville International Airport, and another roughly 3-mile line connecting West End to Midtown along Broadway.

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The tunnels are expected to take at least two years to complete.

While The Boring Company has seen support from Gov. Bill Lee and some state lawmakers, the Nashville community has been more skeptical.

Several Metro Nashville Council members and community members spoke in opposition to the project at public meetings in February and early March. The routes will be built along roads owned by the state, allowing the company to secure building permission from the states transportation department, avoiding Metro Nashville regulations.

The Boring Company is paying for the tunnels construction costs as a long-term investment to be repaid by rider fares, Vice President David Buss said at a Monday community meeting near Nashvilles Bordeaux neighborhood. The state granted the project a no-cost lease to launch construction in a state-owned parking lot near the capitol, and is not charging the company to tunnel under state roads.

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State lawmakers are considering a bill that would create a Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Authority with $5 million in state funding, an 11-member board and 20-person staff to issue permits and set regulations for such projects. Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would steer property taxes from The Boring Company and other subterranean transit companies to the state comptrollers office, meaning that revenue would not be collected by Davidson County.

The Boring Company, founded by Musk in 2017, has proposed more than a dozen Loop projects similar to the Nashville tunnel, with 10 failing to come to fruition. Boring broke ground on the Las Vegas Loop, an estimated 68-mile tunnel, in 2020 and has completed about four miles. In February, the company began construction on a Loop in Dubai.

The Las Vegas project has been plagued by allegations of environmental and safety violations and Boring has challenged fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, including fines for firefighters who reportedly sustained chemical burns during a rescue training exercise. Nevada OSHA dropped the fines for this incident in November.

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WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - Republican incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton were headed to a runoff election after neither was projected to win more than 50% of the vote in the Republican primary, NBC reported.

Cornyn was leading the field in Texas' three-way Senate primary, with U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt trailing in third place.

Cornyn and Paxton will now face each other in a May 26 runoff.

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Allies of Cornyn, who is backed by Senate Republican leadership, spent more than $60 million to boost the incumbent over Paxton.

Primary Republican voters tend to be more conservative, which benefits Paxton, helping him to potentially defeat Cornyn in the runoff. Cornyn has argued, however, that Paxton's history of scandals makes him vulnerable against a Democratic candidate in November and could cost Republicans a safe Senate seat.

Trump won Texas by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024 but declined to endorse any candidate. It's unclear whether he will endorse someone before the runoff.

(Reporting by Nolan D. McCaskill, eidting by Ross Colvin and Deepa Babington)
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, easily defeated a primary challenger Tuesday in Texas 28th Congressional District, securing his party's renomination in the southern border seat he has long represented.

The win sets up a November matchup with President Donald Trump-endorsed South Texas Judge Tano Tijerina.

Cuellar, one of the last remaining "blue dog" conservative Democrats in the House, beat challenger Ricardo Villarreal with 58.1% of the vote to 36.9%  a margin of more than 21 percentage points with 97% of ballots counted, according to The Associated Press. Andrew Vantine was in third place with 5%.

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Trump's Pardon Of House Dem Cuellar Back In The Spotlight As His Brother Faces Indictment

Cuellars primary challenge came amid renewed scrutiny over his federal indictment last year and continued tensions within his party over border policy, though he ultimately secured renomination by a comfortable margin.

He had been highly critical of the Biden administrations handling of immigration and border security. He was later indicted by the Justice Department on federal bribery charges, which he denied.

Read On The Fox News App

Cuellar and his allies have characterized the case as politically motivated. He later received an unconditional pardon from Trump, who also said the charges were politically driven. Speculation swirled that Cuellar might switch parties after the pardon, but he dismissed those rumors and said he would remain a Democrat.

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Cuellar served in the Texas House from 1987 to 2001 and briefly as Texas secretary of state in 2001, making him the most recent Democrat to hold statewide office in Texas. He was first elected to Congress in 2004 after defeating incumbent Ciro Rodriguez in a primary and is known as one of the Houses more conservative Democrats. He has since won re-election comfortably, though he has faced competitive primaries in recent cycles.

Longtime South Texas Judge Tano Tijerina powered to victory in the Republican primary for U.S. House in Texas' 28th Congressional District, setting up a November showdown with incumbent Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar. (Getty Images)

Trump, meanwhile, endorsed Tijerina in the GOP race and criticized Cuellar ahead of the primary for running.

Tijerina went on to win the Republican nomination, setting up a November matchup to represent a district that stretches from San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley.

The judge, who switched to the Republican Party in December 2024, saying the Democratic Party no longer aligned with his values, won the GOP primary with 74.3% of the vote to Eileen Days 25.7%, according to the AP.

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Tijerina's win was decisive, with a margin of nearly 49 percentage points after 91% of ballots were counted.

He responded to the outpouring of congratulations on social media shortly after the race was called.

"Amen! Lets work," he wrote in response to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

In a separate post responding to Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters  who had congratulated him and shared a message from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.  Tijerina wrote: "Its our win!"

Tijerina has promised to buck Democrats and embrace what he calls a "new generation" of political leadership in South Texas.

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He told Fox News Digital on the campaign trail that, despite the district long being considered a Democratic stronghold, the Biden administrations handling of the southern border and focus on diversity initiatives shifted voters views.

House Candidate Predicts Historic Rise Of New Generation In Congress As Parties Target Key Demographic

Migrants camp under the International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas, in 2021. Texas' 28th Congressional District runs along the Texas-Mexico border and includes major crossings and migrant corridors.

"Being a Democrat after so many years, I'm just sick and tired of seeing all the social issues that the Democrats are [promoting]. And I'm not the only one," Tijerina said. "That's why Webb County, that's why South Texas, voted for Trump plus 10 numbers."

"We have always been conservative, everybody knows it," he continued. "Down here in South Texas, the only thing that we care about is good-paying jobs [and] making sure that we're getting protected."

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Republicans currently hold a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives and the race is expected to be closely watched.

Fox News Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.





Original article source: Texas border district Dem Cuellar beats back primary challengers
CBS News projects Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will advance to a runoff in the Texas Republican Senate primary, with neither clearing 50% of the vote.

Paxton, now in his third term as attorney general, is challenging Cornyn, now serving his fourth term, who has also been in Republican leadership. The GOP's Senate campaign arm has poured millions into Cornyn's campaign.

The runoff is scheduled for May. 26. President Trump has not yet endorsed in the primary.

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In remarks on Tuesday night, Cornyn and Paxton both continued their attacks on each other.

"I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we've worked so hard to build over these many years," Cornyn said. "Judgment Day is coming for Ken Paxton."

Paxton, meanwhile, accused Cornyn of trying "steal the election with another $100 million going into this Senate race, but here's what we proved tonight: While the money may be on their side, the people are on our side."

They had faced GOP Rep. Wesley Hunt in the primary.

L-R: Texas Republican Senate candidates Rep. Wesley Hunt, Sen. John Cornyn, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. / Credit: Getty Images

By Feb. 23, more than $110 million had been spent on television ads in the record-breaking Senate primary race, according to AdImpact, which monitors ad spending.

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Mr. Trump, meanwhile, said he liked all three candidates. The trio appeared with him at a rally in Corpus Christi over last weekend. Mr. Trump endorsed in most of the House races in Texas and several of the state-level races.

The president's endorsement was no small matter for the candidates, and a February survey from Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs found that 55% of Republican primary voters polled said they'd be more likely to vote for a candidate if that candidate had Mr. Trump's backing.

Cornyn, 74, has never faced a serious primary challenger, and in 2020, he won more votes in the state than Mr. Trump. Cornyn served as the majority whip during Mr. Trump's first term and before that, as the GOP conference vice chair and chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP's campaign arm.

Paxton has a strong base of support and is a close ally of the president. The three-term attorney general led the lawsuit in 2020 to contest the election results in four states that former President Joe Biden won. The Supreme Court tossed the case four days after he filed it.

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Paxton also spoke at Mr. Trump's Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Ellipse, which occurred hours before thousands of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Paxton falsely blamed antifa for the violence.

During the Biden administration, Paxton was one of the most prolific lawsuit filers among attorneys general  in November 2024, he celebrated his 100th lawsuit against the administration.

Cornyn , meanwhile,has touted his legislative record in pushing Mr. Trump's agenda as well as his conservative credentials, but Paxton and Hunt have attacked him for his comments during the 2016 election and after the 2020 election.

Cornyn argued that Republicans would face a "Election Day massacre" if Paxton won the primary. The senator has taken a hard-right turn on anti-Muslim sentiment and focused on Paxton's personal scandals. Paxton, meanwhile, has argued that Cornyn's support for Mr. Trump is "all fake to win a primary." Hunt has also attacked Cornyn's age.

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In 2023, Paxton was impeached in a 121-23 vote by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature on 20 counts, including bribery and abuse of public trust. He was accused of using public money to pay a $3.3 million settlement in a lawsuit brought against four whistleblowers who said they were fired for retaliation.

The state Senate held a trial on 16 of the counts, with conviction on a single count being enough to remove him from office. But a conviction on any of the counts required two-thirds of senators to vote in favor, or at least nine Republicans to cross the aisle. Only two Republicans voted for any of the counts, leaving him far short of conviction, and he remained in office.

Mr. Trump, not in office at the time, congratulated Paxton on his acquittal. Paxton vowed revenge on the Republicans who led the charge to impeach him in the House, and the Republican House speaker at the time, Dade Phelan, barely squeaked by in a primary against a Paxton-backed challenger and left his leadership position. And state Rep. Andrew Murr, chair of the House impeachment board of managers  who gave the opening and closing statements  did not run for reelection.

But the high-profile trial still damaged Paxton. Among the accusations was that Paxton had pressured an associate to hire a woman with whom he was accused of having an affair. The woman was called to testify but it was postponed and never happened for reasons that were never disclosed.

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Paxton's wife, Angela Paxton, was a state senator at the time and was barred from participating but she sat through the trial and was allowed to vote. Although she celebrated the verdict at the time, she filed for divorce in 2025 on what she described as "Biblical grounds."

"I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation," she wrote on social media at the time. "But in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to remain in the marriage. I move forward with complete confidence that God is always working everything together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose."

In an unrelated case, Paxton was indicted in 2015 by a Collin County, Texas, grand jury on two first-degree felony charges of securities fraud and a third-degree felony charge of failure to register. If convicted, he faced up to 99 years in prison.

Paxton denied any wrongdoing, pleaded not guilty and after nine years, the charges were eventually dismissed in a deal where he agreed to pay restitution and perform community service.

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Watch: Kristi Noem's opening statement at Senate Judiciary Committee on DHS

Key details on Iran war on Day 4 of conflict

New poll shows how Democrats and Republicans feel ahead of the 2026 midterm elections
The competitive Republican primary for Senate in Texas is headed to a runoff, according to a Decision Desk HQ projection.

The race will head to a May 26 showdown between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as Republicans scramble to keep the seat in GOP hands.

Neither Cornyn nor Paxton won the 50 percent-plus-one support they needed to avoid a runoff against a third competitor, Rep. Wesley Hunt, who was pulling in double-digit support in polls ahead of the race. Polls had also shown Paxton with a slight lead.

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The upcoming runoff will pit the four-term incumbent senator against the controversial attorney general as national Republicans warn against a possible Paxton win and Democrats gain steam across the aisle.

In February, the National Republican Senatorial Committee cited internal polling in a memo arguing that Cornyn was the only Republican candidate who reliably wins a general election matchup and that Texas cannot afford to be a gamble in the high-stakes midterms.

Ahead of Tuesdays primary, Cornyn had warned of a massacre for the Texas GOP if Paxton won the nomination, pointing to controversy that has dogged the state attorney general, and raised alarm about Democrats possibly flipping the seat in November.

The leading candidates have emphasized their alignment with President Trump, who declined to endorse ahead of Tuesdays primary and has previously said he likes all three.

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Democrats are increasingly bullish about their chances of winning as they liken this years momentum to 2018, when Democrat Beto ORourke came within a couple points of ousting Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

As Republicans battled in their primary on Tuesday, two rising Democratic stars  state Rep. James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett  were squaring off in their partys contest.

Republicans have long dominated statewide leadership in the Lone Star State and are favored to hold onto the seat in November.

The closely watched race, which marks the kickoff of this years midterm cycle, has already hit spending records. Republicans are favored to hold on to the seat, but many fret that Democratic momentum will force their party to pour more money into a seat thats long been an easy lift.

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With polls closed across Texas on Tuesday evening, congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and state representative James Talarico were locked in a fiercely contested primary that has drawn record-level turnout and outsized national attention.

Related: Populist crusade and anti-Maga outrage as Texas Democrats do battle in Senate primary

The marquee Senate race, unfolding in a state Democrats have not carried statewide in more than three decades, was clouded by confusion over voting in Dallas county  the states second largest and Crocketts home base. Just after midnight, Talarico said his campaign would wait for an official call, but said we are confident in this movement weve built together.

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Tonight, our campaign is shocking the nation, Talarico said at his election night gathering in Austin.

Every vote must be counted, every voice must be heard, he continued. The voter suppression in my home county and in congresswoman Crocketts home county underscores the gravity of this moment.

Earlier in the evening, Crockett said her campaign plans to file a lawsuit. I can tell you now that people have been disenfranchised, she told supporters at her election night event in Dallas.

With nearly 80% of the vote tallied on Tuesday evening, Talarico was leading Crockett by more than 6 percentage points. The stakes are unusually high because a messy Republican primary was headed to a runoff on Tuesday night, with the four-term incumbent senator John Cornyn fighting for his political life against scandal-scarred attorney general, Ken Paxton.

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We are not just trying to win an election, Talarico said. We are trying to fundamentally change our politics  and its working.

Enthusiasm among Texas Democrats surged across the state, with young people and first-time voters showing up in unusually high numbers and waiting in long lines to cast their ballots. But by Tuesday evening, confusion over ballot-counting in a key county clouded Democrats election night excitement. Late Tuesday evening, the state supreme court halted a county judges order extending voting hours in two Texas counties  Dallas and Williamson  and ordered election officials to set aside ballots cast by anyone who was not in line by 7pm. Paxton, in his role as attorney general, had filed the emergency petition to strike down the extension.

Earlier in the evening, a judge had ordered polling locations to stay open for an additional two hours due to confusion over a change to election day voting rules stemming from a decision by the county Republican parties not to hold a joint primary with Democrat. As a result, voters were forced to cast their ballot at their local precincts rather than the countywide polling centers they usually use. It remains unclear how many voters were affected  and whether the ballots cast by voters during the extended window would be counted.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday evening, Crockett accused Republicans of intentionally targeting the voters she represents in Congress. Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do, she said. They specifically targeted Dallas county and I think we all know why.

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The contest between Crockett, the 44-year-old former public defender who has built a reputation as a rhetorical brawler, and Talarico, the 36-year-old former middle school teacher and seminary student, was an early test of competing political playbooks for challenging Republican dominance  and Donald Trump. Democrats and Republicans in Washington have argued that if Paxton emerges as the nominee, his string of legal and ethical troubles would hand Democrats an opportunity in a state the president carried by a thumping 14-percentage points in 2024.

In the final weeks, the race has raised fraught questions about race, identity and electability for a party searching for a path back to power in Washington. Crockett vowed to energize disaffected and first-time Democratic voters  young people and people of color furious with the president and desperate for their leaders to take a more confrontational approach. Talarico, by contrast, pitched a politics of love and argued that the central divide in American political life was not left v right but top v bottom.

Texas Democrats have hailed both candidates as rising stars who can help lift the entire slate of candidates down-ballot. Beto ORourke, a Democrat who narrowly lost to Texas senator Ted Cruz in 2018, has not endorsed either candidate but called them generational talents.

Just look, Montserrat Garibay, a Democratic candidate running for the state legislature, said, gesturing to the long line of students waiting to vote on campus at the University of Texas in Austin on Tuesday afternoon.

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When you have quality candidates, you bring people out, and thats exactly what theyre doing.

Anusha Adusumilli, a 19-year-old public health student, said she planned to vote for Talarico because she believed he was a bit more progressive and liked his pledge not to accept corporate Pac money.

I hear a lot of people saying that they think Texas is going to turn blue this year, she said. Im not completely sure about that considering our history but I think theres a better chance than in previous years so Im really excited.

Julia Berliner, a 27-year-old student, wrestled with what she described as the critical question of what works in Texas.

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I dont want to betray any chance of flipping Texas, she said, still undecided as she stood in line to vote. She ultimately went with her heart, and voted for Crockett.

Texas voters, like voters across the country, have soured on Trump over his handling of the economy and immigration.

Things have gotten bad, said Raquel Rivas, 53, a custodian who took on a second full-time job to support her undocumented husband, who no longer feels safe working the jobs he used to. She is also helping to support her four adult children struggling to afford groceries and pay their electricity bills.

Were suffering, she said. On Tuesday, she voted for Crockett, saying: She speaks up.

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At Talaricos event in Austin, Texas representative Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, blamed Republican officials for the confusion on Tuesday and predicted it would only serve to make Democratic voters even more fired up.

What Ive seen time and time again when Republican officials try to suppress voting or try to make it hard for you to vote, he said, is that voters come back with a vengeance.
Texan Algenita Davis headed into her states primaries Tuesday with a clear sense of what she wanted the outcome to be.

You want to make sure that you put people in office who are going to make the most difference  who are going to fight, said Davis, 75, a retiree who lives in the Third Ward of Houston.

The day after the primaries, she and the rest of Texas now know more about who could be elected in the November general election to fight for them in the U.S. House and Senate.

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And spoiler alert: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Democrat of Texas  the civil rights attorney who has gained fame for her bitter feuds with Republicans  wont be one of their senators.

Black voters in Texas have been watching these races intensely, especially the voters worried that the changes Texas Republicans made to their states election maps last fall will reduce the number of Black elected officials in Congress.

But in a blow to supporters of Crockett who wanted to see a Black woman representing Texas in the Senate, she lost her primary to Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a pastor who urged coalition-building, including with voters who may have backed President Donald Trump but now want someone different.

Talarico will face Republican John Cornyn or Ken Paxton in the November election for the U.S. Senate. The two Republicans, who outpaced a third candidate, U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, are headed to a May 26 runoff after neither received at least 50% of the vote Tuesday.

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In the other big Texas race, the one for Texass 18th Congressional District, its still not clear which Democrat will be on the November ballot. Two of the Democratic candidates  U.S. Reps. Al Green and his challenger, Christian Menefee, both Black  appeared headed to a runoff on May 26, too.

The Democratic primary in the district matters to Black voters who are worried about the redistricting that took place there and whether it is time for the older generation of Black elected officials to retire and make room for a younger one.

As of Wednesday morning, Green, the elder statesman at 78, had 44.2% percent of the vote and Menefee, the younger at 37, had 46%. The winner of the runoff will face Republican Ronald Whitfield, though the seat is seen as safely Democratic.

What the candidates are saying

An attendee holds a Crockett Texas Tough sign during a Texas primary election night event with Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas in Dallas on Tuesday. Crockett lost the Democratic primary to run for the U.S. Senate. (Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Crockett conceded the race Wednesday morning, saying in a statement, Texas is primed to turn blue, and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. She added, With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win.

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In a short statement, Talarico said Wednesday morning, Were about to take back Texas.

Acknowledging the looming Democratic primary runoff pitting two Black lawmakers against each other, Menefee said in a statement Wednesday morning, I didnt ask for these new maps, Congressman Green didnt ask for this, and the voters of this district certainly didnt ask for this.

In a Wednesday morning interview, Green underscored his tenure in Congress, saying, I am running on what I have done and Menefee is running on what he will do.

What Black Texans are saying

Texas has the largest population of Black eligible voters of any state, with 2.9 million  about 14% of all eligible voters statewide, as of 2022, according to the Pew Research Center. Most of those Black voters are Democrats.

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For them, this primary election was not just a struggle between their preferred candidates. The race was also a referendum on the issues they care most about, including redistricting, health care, reproductive rights, and the ages of lawmakers.

Texas has been ground zero for a Republican effort to maintain control of the U.S. House by changing the election maps to favor themselves, an effort that has left many Black Democrats, such as Davis feeling threatened.

In 2025, Texas Republicans pushed through a map that drastically reshaped the 18th and 9th districts, packing Black and brown voters into the former and cracking, or diluting, the voting strength of these groups in the latter.

From her home near the Old Spanish Trail and Cullen Boulevard in the Third Ward of Houston, Davis described congressional lines that curve and stretch north and south across the city and into suburbs. When you redraw lines for a party instead of for people, thats the downfall of democracy, said Davis, who lives in the 18th District.

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Access to abortion has declined significantly across Texas, troubling many Black women in the state, who saw this primary as a referendum on that.

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Texas has enforced one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, outlawing almost all abortions except in some medical emergencies and making miscarriages more dangerous. Lawmakers have also restricted access to abortion medication.

Angela King, 58, is a Harris County, Texas, poll worker who cares about the loss of that abortion access.

I believe that a womans body is a womans body  its her decision, King said, noting that abortion access isnt something that the government should control.

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She is also worried whether every eligible voter will be able to cast a ballot without confusion or intimidation, as President Donald Trump and Republican leaders press Congress to pass the SAVE America Act. The measure would tighten voter ID requirements and limit no-excuse mail-in voting, which allows eligible voters to request and cast a ballot by mail without having to provide a specific reason. Such changes could increase barriers to the ballot box, disproportionately impacting Black voters who are less likely to have certain kinds of identification, critics say.

I want to make sure that I can show up and say that I did my part, King told Capital B, adding that she wants people to know that their votes count, and that they matter.

The post For Black Texans, Primary Election Results in High Stakes for November appeared first on Capital B News.




Texans decided who will face off in the November election, with multiple statewide offices open for the first time in more than a decade.

State Rep. James Talarico defeated Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in Tuesday's primary election and will carry his party's high hope heading to the fall campaign. The Associated Press called the race shortly after 1:40 a.m. Wednesday.

High-stakes Republican primaries for the Texas Attorney General and the U.S. Senate went to runoffs. State Sen. Mayes Middleton and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy seek to be Attorney General, while U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton vie for the U.S. Senate seat. Nominees for the governor, comptroller, and lieutenant governor won outright.

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Follow along for live election updates and analysis from Hearst reporters covering key state and local races. Here's a recap of Tuesday's live coverage.

Key updates

Both Democrats and Republicans will hold runoffs in May to choose their nominees for Harris County judge, according to unofficial election results.

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None of the six candidates vying for the Republican nomination crossed the 50-percent-plus-one threshold necessary to win outright.

Use our interactive maps to see how your neighbors voted in the county judge primary election.

-John Lomax V

U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee and U.S. Rep. Al Green are headed for a May runoff election in the Democratic primary for Texas' 18th Congressional District.

Menefee, who won a January special election to complete the remainder of former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's term in the district's old boundaries, is seeking his party's nomination for a full term under a new map. Menefee has campaigned on delivering progressive policy priorities, including voting rights, health care access and environmental justice.

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Green represented the former 9th Congressional District for two decades before redistricting shifted much of his base into the newly reshaped 18th District. He has emphasized his seniority in Congress and record on civil rights, voting protections and federal funding for disaster recovery and public health programs.

Rep. Christian Menefee address the crowd at his watch party after defeating Al Green for the Democratic nomination for the newly redrawn 18th Congressional District in Houston, Tuesday, March 2, 2026. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle)





-Ryan Nickerson, Elizabeth Sander

Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley will seek his fourth term in November after winning the nomination for the Republican Party during Tuesday's primary election.

With all precincts reporting, the unofficial results show Riley earned 54.03% of the vote over challenger Bob Harvey with 45.97% of the vote.

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Riley will run unopposed on the November ballot.

-Catherine Dominguez

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough won Tuesday's Republican primary, narrowly defeating Montgomery County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack, and will seek a third term in November.

With all precincts reporting, the unofficial results show Keough with 51% and Mack with 49%.

Keough will face James Graf, who ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary Tuesday, in November.

-Catherine Dominguez

Trever Nehls won the Republican primary Tuesday for Texas' 22nd Congressional District, where his twin brother, U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, is not seeking reelection.

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The district spans Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland and parts of southwest Houston. On the Republican ballot, Troy Nehls' identical twin brother, Trever, and Rebecca Clark were vying for the GOP nomination.

-Claire Goodman

Incumbent Erica Davis won the Democratic primary for the Harris County Department of Education's board of trustees, while Republicans are headed to a runoff for one of two open seats.

The county education department - a public entity that collects taxes and provides additional services to the area's 25 school districts - has two at-large trustee positions on the ballot for the March primaries and November election.

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In the other open seat, Position 7, a runoff will be held between law firm manager Denise Dick and international policy specialist Beverly Barrett. In the three-candidate competition, Dick led the votes with 43%; Barrett with nearly 31%; and 25-year-old fashion entrepreneur Madison Guillory with nearly 26%.

-Ashley Soebroto

Neither Texas Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright nor challenger Bo French won over enough voters to win the primary outright, meaning they're headed to a runoff this May.

French, a polarizing character who's made multiple racially offensive comments over recent years, was optimistic about his chances in the rematch in a statement on social media Wednesday morning.

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French's family owns an oil company in Midland, French Oil Company. He gave up his role as chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party to run for this seat.

"The sheer number of candidates who ran, and the fact that nearly 70% voted against the incumbent, show that Texans are tired of him," French said. "I hope I can earn the support of each and every voter."

Wright, who has held the office since 2021, was equally as confident in a statement to the Texas Tribune.

"While there is more work ahead, I remain confident that when given a choice, Texans will always choose results over rhetoric and elect the Wright candidate to lead the Railroad Commission," he said.

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The Railroad Commission is the powerful three-person panel that oversees oil and gas fields, pipelines, utilities, mining operations and more.

-Taylor Goldenstein

Both Democrats and Republicans will hold runoffs in May to choose their nominees for the Harris County judge seat, according to unofficial election results.

On the Democratic side, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker will face former Houston City Council Member Letitia Plummer. Parker had won 47% of the vote and Plummer had commanded 37% as of Wednesday morning.

None of the six candidates vying for the Republican nomination will cross the 50-percent-plus-one threshold necessary to win outright. It appears that Orlando Sanchez and Warren A. Howell will be heading to the runoff, with 27% and 21% of the vote, respectively, as of Wednesday morning.

Democrat Annise Parker, who is running in the primary election for her party's nomination for Harris County Judge, greets her supporters as she arrives to an election night watch party in Houston, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)





-John Lomax V

Daniel Wong has won the Republican primary for Fort Bend County Judge, defeating incumbent KP George to secure his party's nomination for the county's highest elected office.

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With all voting centers reporting Tuesday night, Wong had secured 54% of the vote in the unofficial result, avoiding a runoff against four challengers. George finished last.

-Claire Goodman

U.S. Rep Jasmine Crockett, in a statement Wednesday morning, said she called her opponent to congratulate him.

"Texas is primed to turn blue, and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person," she said. "With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. I'm committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot."

Congressman Jasmine Crockett spoke to her supporters during an election night watch party at Club Vivo in downtown Dallas, March 3, 2026. Crockett, who is running for US Senate against State Rep. James Talarico, spoke about the Texas Supreme Court decision to shut down the Dallas County polls after they stayed open. (Tom Fox/Staff Photographer)





-John C. Moritz

U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, the only Latina to ever represent Houston in Congress, defeated fellow Democrat Jarvis Johnson in Tuesday's primary election.

The 75-year-old Garcia found herself suddenly fighting for her political life after the Texas Legislature redrew the state's congressional districts, removing all of the East End, Galena Park and Pasadena from her district, and replacing them with areas around Acres Home and North Houston. As a result, the Hispanic-leaning district became more of a coalition one, where either a Hispanic or Black candidate had a good chance of winning.

U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, second from left, dances with supporters during her election watch party at Esther's Cajun Cafe & Soul Food in Houston on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle)





-Jeremy Wallace, Hajjrah Gilani

The primary races for Harris County judge and congressional districts 18 and 38 were still too close to call around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker was leading the Democratic contest for county judge, while Republicans are headed for a May runoff to choose their nominee.

In Congressional District 38, which U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt has represented, mortgage banker Jon Bonck maintained a lead over nine other candidates after campaigning on cutting red tape to boost home ownership. Melissa McDonough, a real estate manager, led among the Democrats.

U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee and U.S. Rep. Al Green also remained in a dead heat in the Democratic primary for Texas' 18th Congressional District.

-John Lomax V, Nusaiba Mizan, Ryan Nickerson

State Sen. Mayes Middleton and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy will duke it out this May in a runoff election after neither managed to secure a majority of votes in Tuesday's GOP primary.

Middleton was the top vote-getter in the contest, maintaining a wide margin over Roy, according to unofficial results.

The race for attorney general has become one of the most closely watched elections this cycle after Ken Paxton opted to leave the job to run for U.S. Senate, opening up the seat for the first time in more than a decade.

-Taylor Goldstein

In a stunning upset, beekeeper and businessman Nate Sheets unseated three-term Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in Tuesday's Republican primary. As of Wednesday morning, Sheets had 53% of the vote, compared to Miller's 47%.

Sheets, a 56-year-old Navy veteran, had the backing of Gov. Greg Abbott in a rare internal GOP dustup with an entrenched incumbent who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

-John C. Moritz

Toth is known as one of the most conservative members of the Texas Legislature, who has advocated for larger penalties for child sexual abuse and more border security, while fighting to keep courses on race and sexuality off college campuses. An ordained pastor, he is a favorite among Tea Party groups.

Read more about the incoming U.S. representative for Congressional District 2.

- James Osborne

Former Harris County Judge candidate Alex Mealer and Texas Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, will head into a runoff for the newly redrawn 9th congressional district, according to the Associated Press. The winner of the runoff will face environmental justice advocate Leticia Gutierrez.

The AP called Gutierrez's race shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday.

-Jarrod Wardwell

State Rep. James Talarico of Austin stopped short of declaring victory late Tuesday, but he brimmed with optimism in a short speech to supporters who had watched and waited as votes were counted for about five hours in the contentious primary.

Talarico acknowledged the controversy stemming from the voter confusion in Crockett's home turf of Dallas County and his own home base of Williamson County, where polls were also open late Tuesday.

"Every every vote must be counted, every voice must be heard," Talarico said. "The voter suppression in my home county and in Congresswoman Crockett's home county underscores the gravity of this moment. This movement is about whether the people will hold the power in this state and in this country."

- John C. Moritz

Several veteran members of Congress are at risk of being knocked out of office following Tuesday's primary elections.

In a major upset, U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Houston Republican and one of the state's biggest personalities in Washington, lost to GOP challenger Steve Toth. A far-right member of the Texas House, Toth gained ground in last year's GOP redistricting that incorporated more of conservative Montgomery County into the district.

U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee was neck-in-neck with U.S. Rep. Al Green, who abandoned his current district that Republicans redrew to be far more GOP-leaning. Much of Green's district was absorbed into Houston's 18th Congressional District, which Menefee has represented since winning a January special election.

Here are other key takeaways from Texas' unusually heated primary elections.

- Benjamin Wermund, Bayliss Wagner

This article originally published at Texas election live updates: Christian Menefee and Al Green head to runoff in newly redrawn 18th District.
Austin voters cast their votes in the 2026 Texas primary election on Tuesday to determine who will run for some of the state's highest offices. On the ballot are races like U.S. Senate, Governor, Attorney General as well as various key Texas House and Senate as well as county positions.

Candidates John Cornyn, James Talarico as well as Texas Governor Greg Abbott hosted watch parties and spoke to the press in Austin after the polls closed on Tuesday night.

Texas Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico addresses supporters at his election night watch party in South Austin Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman)




A federal judge ruled that the US government must begin paying out more than $130 billion in tariff refunds to US businesses in another setback for the Trump administration after the Supreme Court struck down the president's wide-reaching "reciprocal" tariffs.

More than 2,000 companies, including well-known names like Costco (COST) and FedEx (FDX), have filed lawsuits seeking refunds for the illegal tariffs they paid. On Friday, the US Customs agency said it is preparing a process for importers to electronically file and receive tariff refunds, and that the system will be ready in the next 45 days.

While the refund process gets ironed out, President Trump has moved forward with imposing new 10% tariffs that could rise to 15% as soon as "sometime this week," according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The president's fresh 10% tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 allow the president to impose tariffs of up to 15% for up to 150 days to address trade deficits. However, a group of states is seeking to challenge these duties in court, arguing that Trump lacks the power to reinstate tariffs under Section 122.

The administration is exploring other laws to implement levies, and Trump's top trade adviser said US duties could exceed 15% for certain countries "where appropriate."

Trade policy has been marked by uncertainty since the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate Trump's most sweeping global tariffs. The European Union halted the ratification of its trade deal with the US, saying it needs "full clarity" on Trump's next steps before proceeding.

In recent weeks, Trump has also made plans to roll back some tariffs on metals as he and his administration seek to battle an affordability crisis ahead of the midterm elections.

Read more: What Trump promised with his 'Liberation Day' tariffs  and what he delivered

LIVE 197 updates
Crockett told supporters there would likely not be a winner declared on Tuesday night in the hotly contested election against James Talarico.

The Texas U.S. Senate Democratic primary election remains in limbo amid legal challenges related to Dallas County, where voters were turned away from polling sites, creating confusion.

As a result, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett told supporters that there would likely not be a winner declared on Tuesday night in the closely watched, hotly contested election against Texas State Rep. James Talarico.

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Dallas County should have the second-largest voter participation of any county in this state. We dont have any of the results because there was a lot of confusion today, the 44-year-old lawmaker explained. Crockett declared, People have been disenfranchised.

Hundreds of voters were turned away from polling places under a new voting rule adopted by Republicans in Dallas County, where Crocketts current district is located. Voters were rerouted to their assigned polling precincts due to a switch prompted by the county Republican Party. In previous elections, voters were allowed to vote in any precinct of their choosing.

As a result of the confusion, a judge ordered that polling times in Dallas County be extended to 9 p.m. CT. Votes cast by Democrats from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. were ordered to be counted as provisional ballots. However, the Texas Supreme Court later ordered that ballots cast after the original poll closing time of 7 p.m. must be removed from the official tally.

Speaking to supporters at her campaign headquarters, Crockett said, I have no idea how it is the clerks are going to know who was in line by what time, because the rule is that if youre in line by 7, then you get to vote. And so once there was a court order saying you had until 9, Im sure that there were people that joined the line after 7.

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She added, They now are telling them that you have to separate the votes out. What this means is that we will not know what votes are to be tallied from election day out of Dallas County. For sure, we wont know that tonight.

Crockett is aiming to become the first Black woman to win a party nomination for U.S. Senate from Texas and, ultimately, the first elected to the U.S. Senate. Texas, a traditionally red state, hasnt elected a Democrat since 1988 and hasnt had a Democrat in the Senate since 1993.

WASHINGTON, DC  SEPTEMBER 08: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol Building on September 08, 2025 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Crockett has faced doubts cast on her candidacy, as many questioned whether she was the right Democrat to send to the general election. While some arguments against her candidacy focused on her sometimes polarizing commentary against Republicans, including President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, supporters argued that her fighter style is exactly what the party needs to garner different results in the Lone Star State.

Crockett and supporters argued that doubts about her candidacy were not based on her merits but on biased views about her as a Black woman.

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I think that it speaks to the larger issue that a lot of minorities, specifically, have with the Democratic Party in general. We know that the most loyal voting bloc, when it comes to Democrats, no matter what part of the country you look at, is actually Black women, Crockett told theGrio during an interview last month. It is all good for us to labor, and then there are all kinds of excuses that have nothing to do with credentials.

The vocal, former civil rights attorney and public defender ran a nontraditional campaign, largely focused on digital media outreach rather than traditional TV ad buys. Crockett sought to chart a winning strategy by targeting Black, Hispanic, and young voters who typically do not vote, even reaching them in nightclubs across the state. Texas has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country.

Talarico, a white theologian in training, has instead positioned his candidacy for conservative and rural voters who have grown disenchanted with the Republican Party led by President Trump. The 36-year-old has also tried to appeal to young voters disengaged with the political process.

My campaign has done a lot of work to get those young people to take ownership of the democratic process and hopefully remake this broken political system in their own image, seeing a growing backlash to the extremism and the corruption in our government, and its a bipartisan backlash, Talarico said on election night.

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The Democratic primary race was marred by controversy when Talarico was accused of calling Colin Allred, who dropped out of the U.S. Senate primary race, a mediocre Black man. Talarico denied making the comment and said it was mischaracterized.

Speaking on the drama in Dallas County, Crockett said, Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do, and so they specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why.

More must-reads:
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The numbers are out, and Texas once again topped the list for the most lightning strikes out of any state in the United States, according to an annual report from Vaisala Xweather.

In that same report, a few of the notable findings showed 2025 as having the highest national count of lightning strikes of the last 8 years. Also, the day with the greatest number of lightning strikes was April 5, with over 3 million lightning events coming several weeks before the national lightning season of May through September.

As we head through an active period of rainy and stormy weather in Central Texas, the risk for lightning will rise compared to a relatively storm-free start to 2026.

Lightning formation and types

During developing thunderstorms, the movement of rain and ice/hail within a storm helps to separate charges within a cloud. Positive charges get forced higher in a cloud with negative charges (electrons) toward the bottom of a cloud. At the same time, positive charges build on the ground.

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The electrons at the bottom of the cloud zigzag toward the ground, while pulling positive charges upward. Once the charges meet, electrical current flows and even repeats itself very quickly along the same path, creating a lightning bolt.

That lightning bolt superheats the air, causing it to rapidly expand in a shock wave that makes the sound we know as thunder.

How lightning forms

There are different types of lightning, with the most common being intracloud (within the cloud) and cloud-to-ground.

Types of lightning

Lightning stats for 2025

Lightning detection company Vaisala, with XWeather, keeps track of lightning strikes by location, frequency and density.

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Each year, they release their rankings for lightning capitals of the country, plus statewide lightning data.

In 2025, Texas had the most lightning strikes of any state within the United States. The size of Texas geographically gives us an advantage in this particular statistic, with almost 50 million lightning strikes that year.

2025 U.S. Lightning Count

However, breaking the data down by lightning concentration density, Texas falls to 6th place behind Florida (#1), Oklahoma (#2) and Louisiana (#3), Mississippi (#4) and Arkansas (#5).

2025 U.S. Lightning Density

By city, Shady Grove, Oklahoma, was the lightning capital of the United States in 2025, with more strikes per square kilometer than any other city or town in the country.

Lightning strike density by county (Vaisala)

Lightning deaths

Unfortunately, lightning kills people every year in the United States. In Texas, since 2000, there have been 58 lightning fatalities and 198 documented injuries. In South Central Texas (NWS Austin/San Antonio coverage area), there have been 4 fatalities since 2000. Of those four fatalities, three of those occurred in September and the other in June. One of the four happened in Austin in September 2016.

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Nationally, we average 27 deaths each year with an average of 243 injuries. A whopping 10% of people struck by lightning die from their injuries. The odds of being struck in your lifetime are 1 in 15,300, with the vast majority struck (79%) being men.

Lightning statistics

The majority of lightning deaths between 2006 and 2023 were people under a tree, in water or in their yard.

Lightning death locations

Lightning safety

We typically say, When thunder roars, go indoors, which is the safest place to be in a thunderstorm. Even then, you should stay away from windows, avoid using plumbing and electronics in order to prevent injury should lightning strike your home and travel through your pipes or wiring.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
As a young lawyer, the man who would become Americas third president defended freedom-seeking slaves, drafted legislation to legalize their path to liberation and even entertained the idea of doing away with slavery.

Yet when rebellion erupted in Frances richest colony, Saint-Domingue, the same enlightened thinker reacted with horror at the prospect of Black self-emancipation and the rise of what he called a nation of cannibals whose revolt on what is present-day Haiti might spill across their borders.

Unable to bear the thought, Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of state in the newly formed United States, urged President George Washington to back the beleaguered French colonists.

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Over the years, the United States would provide more than $700,000 to assist French planters in suppressing the insurrection on the island of Hispaniola, shared by the Dominican Republic. At the same time, American merchants profited by trading goods, including livestock, lumber, guns and ammunition, with the insurrectionist rebels.

In the end, the former slaves prevailed, and Haiti, after a decisive battle on Nov. 18, 1803, against Napoleons troops, emerged as the hemispheres second republic, after the United States. But the contradictions embedded in American foreign policy would mirror those of Jefferson himself: a slaveholding planter who became a leading American figure of the Enlightenment even as he advanced Black inferiority.

Jeffersons legacy, new book on history of race

As the United States prepares to celebrate in July the 250th anniversary of its founding, the legacy of the man who penned all men are created equal in the Declaration of Independence will once more invite scrutiny, along with his views on slavery.

Less explored is how Jeffersons views about Black people, and by extension those held by the nation he helped found  was shaped by European naturalists, travel writers, classifiers, anatomists, doctors and even a king.

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Among them were the physician and writer Francois Bernier, considered one of the first to classify humans into categories using the word race; the botanist Carl Linnaeus, who sorted humanity into varieties; the French writer Voltaire, who despite his progressive reputation promoted the view that Africans were a particular species destined to be chattel; and Jean-Baptiste Labat, the priest in Martinique whose name became synonymous with the tortuous treatment of enslaved Africans and seeped into the French-Creole lexicon: The word pereleba  Father Labat  means someone who is mean-spirited.

They are among 13 figures along with Jefferson and French monarch Louis XIV, whose Code Noir established the legal framework for slavery in Haiti and other French colonies  featured in a new book by scholar Andrew S. Curran on how the concept of race emerged during the 18th century Enlightenment period.

These race makers, as Curran describes them, are featured in his new book Biography of a Dangerous Idea: A New History of Race. Through their stories Curran shows that the invention of race was not a scientific inevitability, but rather fabricated by specific individuals, in specific contexts for specific reasons.

It was driven by people who shaped the idea of race, normalized it, lived it and often profited from it, said Curran, who has authored two previous works including Whos Black and Why? A Hidden Chapter from the Eighteenth-Century Invention of Race with Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.

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Race did not spread because it was scientifically persuasive, Curran said. It spread because it served very human interests.

Curran, a professor of humanities at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and an expert on 18th-Century France, examines the race question by delving into the writings of the period, and showing how xenophobia and limited encounters shaped the debate.

In the case of Jefferson, Curran said the Francophile president was influenced not just by plantation life, but by European race theory.

I was stunned to discover that he owned nearly all of the European race theorists I discuss. Their books were on his shelves, Curran said.

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Jefferson is not the main character of the book; his story is told at the end, including his relationship with Sally Hemings, the enslaved Black woman he owned and who, according to scholars, bore him at least six children.

Americas anniversary celebration, Haiti linkage

In the walk-up to July, Black history advocates have been worried that the history of racism and the role of Black history will face further erasure as President Donald Trump himself seeks to rewrite American history. What Currans work shows, however, is that racism and Black history are intricately linked.

In addition to pointing out the U.S.s inconsistent stance and changing position on the Haitian revolution, he notes how Jefferson was also indebted to Saint-Domingue for what he deemed to be the greatest accomplishment of his two presidencies: the purchase of Frances Louisiana Territory. The 1803 sale, which Napoleon made to help finance his campaign in Saint-Domingue, doubled the size of the U.S. at the time.

In summarizing Jeffersons views on race, Curran says like many of his peers, the founding father had accepted the racialization of humanity, particularly the degradation of Black Africans, as fact. Worse yet, Jefferson [had] woven this dangerous idea into the fabric of a new nation.

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Curran will be the guest speaker at the Prologue Society on March 11 at Temple Israel in Miami. Ahead of his visit he spoke to the Miami Herald about Biography.

Q and A with Curran on Biography of a Dangerous Idea

Q: You claim that race is one of the most influential inventions of the last 200 years. You also say that, paradoxically, the history of race is the greatest untold story. Why is this history so little discussed, especially in anthropology?

A: The invention of race science in the 18th and 19th centuries, not to mention the horrific racial ideologies of the 20th Century, is brutal terrain. It is hard to talk about, even now. I suspect there is an understandable disciplinary revulsion among anthropologists about the fields early years, and that revulsion has inadvertently produced silence. As a result, this history is often left to a small circle of historians and an equally small public.

Q: What shocked you while writing this book?

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A: How much these race theorists disagreed. They differed profoundly about what caused racial difference, what terminology to use, and even whether classification was possible. What united them was simpler and more disturbing: They all agreed race was real and that it could explain almost everything about the human species.

Q: The origin of race is often portrayed as deeply related to Europes understanding of Black Africans and slavery. However, you show how Louis XIV was also obsessed with excluding Jews and Protestants from French colonies.

A: Some 17th century decisions regarding Africans and Jews were driven less by race or pure profit than by religion. Under Louis XIV, who oversaw the expansion of the French Atlantic empire... slavery was embedded in a deeply Catholic vision of empire. The monarchy insisted that enslaved Africans be baptized and instructed in the faith. The logic was clear to many Catholics: earthly bondage in exchange for eternal salvation. That same religious framework shaped policy toward Jews. They were not yet understood as racial sub-humans, but as religious outsiders who did not fit Louiss vision of a Catholic nation. The first article of the 1685 Code Noir did not concern slavery at all. It ordered the expulsion of Jews from the French Caribbean.

Q: What about the British?

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A: Protestant empires such as Britain operated differently. British planters generally avoided baptizing enslaved Africans, fearing that Christian status might complicate absolute mastery. In that sense, British practices anticipated a more rigid racial logic closer to what we now recognize as modern racism.

Q: The ideas you describe had horrific power. Did the powerlessness of enslaved Africans and Blacks make them unable to fight these ideologies?

A: One of the most uplifting parts of this story is that Black writers fought back as soon as they gained access to a pen. Olaudah Equiano is the best-known of these authors, but there were dozens more. Fighting racism with ideas is different from fighting it with guns, as in Haiti, but it mattered. These writers inserted themselves into history and directly challenged the intellectual foundations of race.

Q: In the United States, Thomas Jefferson is often portrayed as embodying the worst racial ideas of that time. Did men like him hate Blacks?

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A: I think Thomas Jefferson feared Black people more than he hated them. Though a plantation owner, he understood that slavery was morally wrong and philosophically incompatible with the ideals of the new republic. He wrote some of the eras sharpest indictments of slavery and worried that divine justice would one day fall on slaveholders. But his solution was not abolition. It was removal. He imagined sending Black Americans westward, to the Caribbean, or back to Africa.

Q: How do you reconcile Jeffersons racism with his long-term relationship with a Black woman, Sally Hemings?

A: It was tragically compatible. Taking a concubine, as Sallys son later described it, was common on plantations, especially when the woman was of mixed ancestry. Sally Hemings was three-quarters white, the product of generations of sexual exploitation. Her grandmother and mother were Black. Her biological father was white and was also Jeffersons father-in-law. In other words, Hemings was the half-sister of Jeffersons deceased wife. The intimacy of this fact reveals the moral contortions generated by slavery.

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Q: Who was your favorite person to write about and why?

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A: I found Jefferson endlessly fascinating. He has been called a sphinx by his most famous biographer, and few American legacies are more contested. Architect, surveyor, inventor, political theorist, advocate of public education and religious liberty, enslaver, and race theorist! Tracing what he believed from year to year was also a challenge, even if he left 19,000 letters behind! Suffice it to say that Jefferson helped shape the United States for better and for worse.

Q: Why is this book pertinent now? Perhaps because of what it says about how societies come to believe harmful ideas?

A: Exactly. This book shows how culture, authority, ambition and financial interest can make speculative and destructive ideas seem natural and logical. That is why the story matters now. It helps explain how entire societies come to believe things later generations find horrifying. Understanding how race was made helps us understand how evil is rationalized.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

A: I hope readers come away with a deeper historical awareness and also a sense of responsibility. Once you see how contingent and constructed these racial ideas were, it becomes much harder to treat them as natural facts  and much harder to forget them.

Andrew Curran will appear at Temple Israel of Greater Miami, 137 NE 19th St., on March 11, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m., to discuss his new book. For tickets visit https://www.theprologuesociety.org/event-details/march-11th-luncheon-biography-of-a-dangerous-idea-by-andrew-s-curran
Italy said goodbye on Wednesday to 2-year-old Domenico, who died after a transplant with a donor heart failed following a transport error.

The boys small coffin was laid out in the cathedral of his hometown of Nola near Naples ahead of the funeral. Several thousand mourners attended, many of them parents with young children holding white flowers.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took part in the service, which filled the church to capacity.

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The town of around 35,000 people had declared an official day of mourning, and most shops remained closed. Hundreds of posters with the boys photograph were displayed in the streets and in the square in front of the cathedral.

Domenico's case has gripped Italy for months.

The toddler, who was born with a severe heart defect, received a donor heart in late December. However, the organ never functioned because it had been incorrectly cooled during transport.

The child died on February 21 in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Naples.

Prosecutors are now investigating several doctors and paramedics  both in Naples, where the transplant was carried out, and in the northern city of Bolzano, where the heart had been removed from a deceased boy.

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During transport, the organ was not cooled with conventional ice as is standard practice but came into contact with much colder dry ice, effectively freezing it.

Despite this, doctors in Naples decided to proceed with the transplant. According to Italian media reports, attempts were even made to thaw the frozen organ using hot water.

Domenico was then kept alive by machine for almost two months, which also caused severe damage to other organs. Eventually, there was no longer any hope of saving him.

The doctor responsible for the operation in Naples has since been suspended from his duties. In an interview earlier this week he described himself as a "victim," triggering fresh outrage.
More election opinion coverage: Our Takes on Phil Bergers stunning result and Michael Whatleys rough road ahead after Tuesday.

Democratic judges dont much like to talk about partisan politics even when theyre running in partisan races. Perhaps not coincidentally, Democrats have lost majorities on North Carolinas Court of Appeals and Supreme Court to Republicans who are less inhibited about embracing their party.

James Whalen wanted to change that. The dynamic Raleigh attorney, running in the Democratic primary for seat 3 on the N.C. Court of Appeals, is best known for his role in helping Allison Riggs win her contested N.C. Supreme Court case last year against Jefferson Griffin. Whalens campaign message was decidedly political: he was the strongest candidate to beat extreme Republicans, not only in his race but as a template for future Democratic judicial candidates. To beat Republicans, he said, Democratic judges needed to be more like their opponents.

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Voters rejected that premise Tuesday, handing a convincing victory to Christine Walczyk, a long-serving and respected Wake County district judge. Cynics might say that Democratic voters dont get what it takes to win back majorities on critical North Carolina courts, and its true that Whalen might have been the better candidate in this falls general election. But were heartened that Democratic voters valued the things they should about the judges they want on the bench. We hope all voters do the same in the fall.

Punishing wayward Democrats

Democrats did resemble Republicans in at least one way Tuesday: they punished incumbents who strayed. In three N.C. House primaries, Democratic lawmakers who voted with Republicans to override Gov. Josh Steins vetoes were handed big losses.

Two of those were from Mecklenburg: Reps. Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed, who lost by 48 and 42 percentage points, respectively, according to unofficial results. Rep. Shelly Willingham of Edgecombe also lost in a narrower race.

To be sure, Cunningham was hurt as much by her regrettable remarks on immigrants that followed her veto override vote, and Majeeds override alienated the LGBTQ+ vote in his Mecklenburg district. But their losses also reflected the heightened intensity of Democratic voters in North Carolina and nationally. Theyre angry and motivated in 2026.

How did Garry McFadden win?

Garry McFadden has been Mecklenburgs most beleaguered office holder in recent memory, maybe ever. His department is, at best, a mess  with toxic leadership, employee departures and, worst of all, 21 deaths in the Mecklenburg County jail since he took office in 2018.

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But on Tuesday, McFadden eked out a win to serve another four years. How did he do it?

First, he got the endorsement of Charlotte-Mecklenburgs influential Black Political Caucus. Only one BPC-endorsed candidate, Nasif Majeed in N.C. House District 99, didnt win in Mecklenburg County. (Longtime Mecklenburg commissioner Vilma Leake, who didnt get the BPCs nod, lost her District 2 primary.)

Also, McFadden was the beneficiary of facing not one, but two strong opponents in Rodney Collins and Ricky Robbins, who essentially split the substantial non-McFadden vote. That allowed the sheriff to win despite getting just a third of the overall vote.

We hope the poor showing sends a message to McFadden. Mecklenburg deserves better than the sheriff its had.
As chair of the House Education Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee, and a member of the House Education Committee for 12 years, Ive had a front-row seat to our states education system.

Since 2018, Oklahoma has increased education funding by more than 50%. When teachers went on strike following the largest pay raise in state history, taxpayers were told the result would be better student outcomes. Yet outcomes continue to slide.

Its time to start asking a simple, uncomfortable question: Why?

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Oklahoma students attend school fewer days than almost anywhere else in the country. Why? Do we honestly believe less time in the classroom better prepares our kids?

Oklahoma has among the fewest students per district in the nation. Why? Does maintaining a sprawling number of districts, and the administrative layers that come with them, improve learning? Our outcomes suggest otherwise. We have nearly as many school districts as three neighboring states combined, despite having almost 1 million fewer students. Why is that considered normal, let alone untouchable?

Oklahoma schools devote a lower percentage of their funding to instruction, including teacher pay, than most other states. Why? More than a quarter of districts spend less than half of their budgets on instruction. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, schools spend a smaller share on instruction today than they did five years ago, even as overall funding has increased. Thats not an accounting quirk; its a priorities problem.

When Oklahoma ended social promotion, we achieved some of the largest literacy gains in the country. Education groups and their lobbyists responded by demanding the reforms be rolled back. Why? Since then, our reading scores have been in a free fall, and today, only one in four Oklahoma students reads on grade level.

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More: OK legislators need to fulfill education pension commitment | Opinion

Oklahomans are paying twice to educate the same student. When a student enrolls in concurrent college classes, the district receives full funding for that student while the state covers tuition. Why? Many of these students spend most of their day on a college campus, yet their high school is funded as if its doing the educating. Thats not innovation; its duplication.

The new cellphone ban was controversial, but the benefits are undeniable. Even skeptics admit classrooms are calmer, and students are more engaged. Phones were part of the problem, but theyre hardly the only one. Why do we assume putting a laptop or iPad in front of every student all day is progress?

Public school enrollment is declining, yet demands for more money persist. Private school enrollment is exploding, yet opponents of choice bemoan potential increases in the Parental Choice Tax Credit. Why? More than 30% of Oklahoma parents say they want something different for their children. Prioritizing students over school systems should be our standard, not a reform.

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Oklahomans are tired of excuses. The future of our state depends on whether were willing to question habits that no longer serve students. We can keep defending the system as it is, or we can ask why, fix what isnt working, and build something better.

Why not?

Chad Caldwell

Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, serves District 40 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of Enid in Garfield County.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma education system is broken. It's time we ask why | Opinion
President Donald Trump has told lawmakers it is not yet possible to know the "full scope and duration" of US strikes on Iran.

In a letter notifying Congress of the military action, Trump said the threat from Iran had been "untenable" despite efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

But lawmakers said they were unclear of Trump's plans after receiving a classified briefing from top officials about the strikes, on the eve of a vote on a war powers resolution that could limit the president's actions.

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The US and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday. Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf states allied to the US.

In the letter, Trump told Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley that Iran "remains one of the largest, if not the largest, state-sponsors of terrorism in the world".

He said it "continues to seek the means to possess and employ nuclear weapons".

"Its array of ballistic, cruise, anti-ship and other missiles pose a direct threat to and are attacking US forces, commercial vessels and civilians, as well as those of our allies and partners," the letter added.

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The president said no US ground forces had been committed to the operation.

Democratic lawmakers - and a handful of Republicans - have questioned whether Trump exceeded his powers in launching strikes without congressional approval. Many have supported efforts to limit Trump's ability to take further action in Iran.

Members of Congress attended a classified briefing on Tuesday from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and others.

While the president has broad authority to launch military action without a formal declaration of war, Congress, by law, must be notified within 48 hours of hostilities beginning.

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Trump has previously conducted military operations without congressional approval, such as the US strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last year, and the operation to seize Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in January.

House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said the Trump administration had notified the so-called gang of eight - a bipartisan group of congressional leaders - ahead of the strikes in Iran and that Rubio had briefed those lawmakers within the required time frame.

"We've complied with the law 100% and we're going to continue to comply with it," America's top diplomat said.

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The secretary of state has also said "there's no law that requires the president to have done anything with regards to this".

"To begin with, no presidential administration has ever accepted the War Powers Act as constitutional  not Republican presidents, not Democratic presidents," he added.

After listening to the Trump administration briefing, Speaker Johnson said Trump acted "fully within his authority under the law" and consistent with precedent.

"Efforts now to restrict the commander in chief from completing this limited but crucial mission would be both dangerous and irresponsible," the Louisiana congressman said.

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But some lawmakers were unconvinced.

"This is as serious as it gets," Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said after Tuesday's briefing.

"They told us in that room that there were going to be more Americans that were going to die.

"We have to have a debate in the United States senate on the authorisation of military force."

Other lawmakers said afterwards they felt in the dark as to how long the conflict might last, what the objectives were, and whether the US military could become bogged down.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said: "I am more fearful than ever after this briefing that we may be putting boots on the ground."

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Senator Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii, said he was also confused.

"There are times when you go into a classified session and you walk out with a better understanding about the rationale behind the military action," he said.

"This is not one of those times. We remain as confused as the American people are."

Some lawmakers indicated they might not support the war powers resolution for now, but might change course if the war continues past the four- or five-week duration that Trump has mentioned.

The vote in the Senate, expected on Wednesday, could be close as a handful of Republicans said they were not sure how they would vote. A majority of Democrats are expected to back the measure.

In the House, there is more bipartisan support for the war powers measure and Republicans have an even narrower majority. Their vote is expected on Thursday.
Americans in the Middle East have been struggling to leave the region amid the Iran war, with multiple U.S. embassies saying they cannot help.

On Tuesday, the fourth day of the war, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Capitol Hill that more than 1,500 people are still asking for assistance. State Department official Dylan Johnson wrote on X that the department has contacted nearly 3,000 Americans abroad, and that it is actively securing military aircraft and charter flights for American citizens who wish to leave the Middle East. The State Department also posted a three-step guide for Americans in the region.

But embassies have largely not been a resource to Americans.

The State Department issued guidance for Americans abroad seeking to return to the United States. / X/StateDept

The U.S. Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem wrote on X.

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The U.S. Embassy in Qatar also warned Americans that they could not help with evacuations.

Out of an abundance of caution and until further notice, U.S. Embassy Doha has suspended routine consular services, it said, adding that Americans who stay should create a contingency plan, but should not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation.

Rubio said more than 1,500 people were asking for help leaving the Middle East. / Elizabeth Frantz / REUTERS

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian embassy instructed Americans not to come to its consulate in Dhahran due to a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks.

The State Department has urged Americans to leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

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But absurdity and chaos are just two of the words some have used to describe their experiences.

Randy Manner, a retired U.S. major general who was once the deputy commanding general of the Third U.S. Army in Kuwait, told The New York Times he has been stranded in the United Arab Emirates since Friday.

It is the epitome of absurdity. Leave the country, but yet the airspace is closed, he said, referring to Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar closing their airspaces. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, airlines have canceled approximately 18,000 flights arriving to and departing from the Middle East since Saturday.

Manner added: This is nothing less than a total failure of the U.S. government to provide the expected assistance to American civilians who are caught in harms way.

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Krista Jucknath Hickman told the BBC about the chaos that ensued when she and her husband, Mike, had their flight out of Dubai on Saturday canceled.

Everything stopped, said Hickman, a federal employee who said she registered her trip with the State Department beforehand but got no security alert.

Hickman said she tried to reach the U.S. embassy.

The orders are not realistic, not supportive, she said. The number provided by the State Department for support is unable to help. I called twice. Both times I was told there are no evacuation procedures in place.

Hickman added: All that can be done is book flights that dont take off.

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The two resorted to paying $1,000 to be driven into Oman.

Similarly, U.S. businessman James Blunt told NOTUS about calling the hotline while in the UAE: They are absolutely disinterested, no sense of urgency. He eventually took a commercial flight out, without the governments help.

Another person told the outlet that two calls to the hotline on Tuesday went unanswered.

Texas resident Oliver Sims, who was returning from a friends wedding in India, told ABC News that it has been really scary being stranded in Qatar, for instance being woken up by Iranian drone attacks.

When reached for comment, the State Department directed the Daily Beast to its official statement from Tuesday afternoon, which in part said that it was facilitating charter flights from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan for American citizens, and will continue to secure additional capacity as security conditions allow.

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It added that over 9,000 citizens have returned to the U.S. so far.

Trump also shared the State Department's guidance. / TruthSocial/realDonaldTrump

Trump, when asked about the slow response to evacuate Americans, said in the Oval Office on Tuesday that the war outbreak happened all very quickly.

I thought we were going to have a situation where we were going to be attacked, he said. They were getting ready to attack Israel. They were getting ready to attack others.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
The U.S. Pentagon has confirmed four of the six U.S. soldiers killed in Iran's retaliatory attacks in Kuwait were assigned to an Iowa-based division.

One of the soldiers, 20-year-old Declan Coady, was from West Des Moines.

"As his older sister, I can't quite comprehend it even know, but the only thing I can think is that I wish I had called him one more time and told him I loved him," said his sister, Keira Coady, in a statement shared with ABC News. "I wish that I had been able to be there or trade places with him or anything just so he could have known he was safe and that we loved him and he didnt need to be scared. He was 20 years old when he left for Kuwait in August, and 20 years old when he died. He was supposed to be 21 on May 5. He was just a baby, and will forever be mine and Aidans baby brother, Rowans older brother, and our parents son."

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Coady was a Valley High School graduate and a sophomore at Drake University. According to a statement from his family, he was on the swim team with the North Side Otters and at Valley, fenced and was an Eagle Scout. Coady had plans to build his own PC to play games and continue his work in IT and cyber security. He also enjoyed anime, specifically the show "One Piece," the family said.

At Drake, Coady studied information systems, cybersecurity and computer science. He completed the Adams Leadership Institute's Summer Series, the university said in a message to students.

"Declan was a man of few words more often than not, but if you ever had the chance to talk to him about something he was passionate about you were lucky," Keira said. "He was so smart and could just talk your ear off for hours about what he loved, and while we may not have always known what terms or acronyms he was throwing out we would always listen because we all loved to just hear him speak."

Coady's dad, Andrew, described what Sunday morning was like, telling the Associated Press that he and his wife heard from Coady before the operation center was hit.

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"Declan had been sending us updates every one to two hours, like, 'hey, everything's still good. I'm good.' Which goes to show you, you know, he was thinking about us," he said. "I sent a message, and we didn't hear back... I will say most of us started to wonder, and your gut starts to get a feeling."

RELATED: Iowa-based soldiers who died in Iran attacks remembered as devoted parents and reservists

Read the statement from Keira Coady in full:

"Saturday, Feb 28, at 4 a.m. we woke up to a text from Declan saying he was safe, at the time none of us had comprehended what had started happening. However, throughout the rest of the day we received updates from Declan saying he was safe. On Sunday, March 1, after trying to check in, we heard nothing. Trying to be positive we all assumed he was just in a situation where he couldnt message back, but we all knew something was wrong. At 8 p.m. as we all were getting ready to go to bed, the doorbell rang, and the rest of that night will forever be one of the worst nights of our lives. While its all blurry, we all knew what the doorbell meant.

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Declan was killed that morning in Kuwait by an airstrike. He sustained injuries and died on the way to the hospital. As his older sister, I cant quite comprehend it even now, but the only thing I can think is that I wish I had called him one more time and told him I loved him. I wish that I had been able to be there or trade places with him or anything just so he could have known he was safe and that we loved him and he didnt need to be scared. He was 20 years old when he left for Kuwait in August, and 20 years old when he died. He was supposed to be 21 on May 5. He was just a baby, and will forever be mine and Aidans baby brother, Rowans older brother, and our parents son.

Trying to find any words at all to describe Declan feels impossible at this moment. However, to say what my mom would say is, 'He was so kind and so amazing, and he was my baby.' Declan did quite a lot growing up. He did swim team with the North Side Otters and Valley High School, he was a fencer, and he was an Eagle Scout. Outside of that he loved gaming, while in Kuwait he was shipping home pieces so that when he came home he could build his own PC to not only play games but continue working in IT and cyber security. He was an avid gym goer, and was constantly telling us about a new PR he had hit. He also loved anime, specifically One Piece and was somehow caught up on the show, and I had promised him that I would finally watch it this year for him. While at Drake University, he was a part of the ROTC program and from what weve heard they all cared about him and said he was an amazing member of their unit.

Declan was a man of few words more often than not, but if you ever had the chance to talk to him about something he was passionate about you were lucky. He was so smart and could just talk your ear off for hours about what he loved, and while we may not have always known what terms or acronyms he was throwing out we would always listen because we all loved to just hear him speak.

Its hard to say anything because those that dont know him will just know him as another person that died in combat and their lives will go on. However, for my family, my parents lost a son, and me and my siblings lost a brother. I remember after receiving the news I tried calling him on his Iowa phone number which had been disconnected and on his WhatsApp number in hopes of it all being an awful dream and maybe I would hear his voice telling us he was safe like he had been saying all weekend, but there was nothing, not even a voicemail.

I wish I could think of words beyond that he was smart and kind and amazing, but even if I were to throw in other words it still wouldnt quite capture his spirit. He was truly a rock in all of our lives and was just the most amazing brother and son my family could have asked for."
President Donald Trumps cankles were on full display on Tuesday as he greeted a major European ally.

Trump, 79, showed off his protruding ankles as he held a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

Trump's calves merge seamlessly with his ankles. / Jonathan Ernst / Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS

Swollen ankles are a common symptom of chronic venous insufficiency. / Jonathan Ernst / Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS

Swollen ankles are a common symptom of chronic venous insufficiency, which the president was diagnosed with in July 2025. The president confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that he briefly wore compression socks to help treat the condition, but stopped after a while because he didnt like them.

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During the meeting, held in the wake of Trumps surprise war on Iran that he began on Saturday, which has resulted in the deaths of six American service members so far, the president rambled about the Supreme Court ruling against the legality of his tariffs and lambasted Spain and the United Kingdom.

Trump's ankles appeared much thicker than those of JD Vance or Marco Rubio. / Jonathan Ernst / Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS

Trump told the German leader that we actually won on tariffs, despite the conservative majority courts 6-3 ruling in favor of the contrary.

We won on tariffs. We had a decision that was wrong, he said. It totally reaffirmed. It said: you can use all of these (other) tariffs.

The president also complained about the U.K. and Spain preventing the U.S. from using their bases to launch strikes against Iran, despite the U.K. allowing such action after an initial delay.

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Now, Spain actually said that we cant use their bases, and thats alright, we dont" Trump said, before mumbling unintelligibly. We could use their base. If we want, we could just fly in and use it.

Nobodys going to tell us not to use it, but we dont have to, the president added.

Trump, the oldest person to assume the presidency, caused a stir on Monday when he appeared at a White House Medal of Honor ceremony with a brand-new reddish rash just below and behind his right ear.

Trump's neck rash was visible at a Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House. / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The presidents physician, Sean Barbabella, issued a statement to media outlets, including the Daily Beast, that explained that Trump is using a common cream on his neck as part of a preventative skin treatment.

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Doctors showed skepticism at the White Houses claims. Dr. Vin Gupta, a medical analyst for MS NOW, theorized that the rash could be pre-cancerous.

The White House medical team didnt know [Trump] got a CT scan. They claimed it was an MRI for weeks, Gupta wrote, referring to the advanced imaging that Trump revealed he had done in October 2025 for preventative measures.

The rash appeared to be slathered with makeupa classic Trump moveduring Tuesdays diplomatic meeting.

Donald Trump appeared noticeably oranger in the Oval Office on Tuesday (right) than the day prior (left). His neck rash, photographed on his right side on Monday, was also no longer visible. / Getty Images

The state of Trumps mental and physical health throughout his second term in office has been an area of concern that the Daily Beast has covered extensively.

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Whether hes wearing makeup to cover his bruised hands, falling asleep during public policy meetings, or having bouts of unintelligible gibberish during speeches, Americans have expressed worry that the near-octagenarians medical faculties may not be up to par for the office of commander-in-chief.

When reached for comment about Trumps swollen cankles, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said: President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in modern American history. The only thing swollen is Vic Verbalaitis stupidity that will prevent him from working for a legitimate news outlet.

The White Houses stupidity insult came just one day after the press team confused two of the Founding Fathers.
Recent Commitments of Traders data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission suggests that speculators, including the big fund traders, are becoming more interested in playing the long sides of the grain futures markets.

For several weeks now, I have said I believe the grain futures markets may be the next metals futures market, in terms of major rallies driving prices to historically high levels. The precious metals markets at present are a tired trade, meaning its very likely the vast majority of their bull market runs have already occurred, and the smart money is looking to invest in another sector. Lets take a look at how the individual grain markets are performing, at present.

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Risk Aversion in the General Marketplace Running High

The weekend onset of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran spiked trader and investor risk aversion in the marketplace. When in doubt, get out is the typical trading mantra during very uncertain times. However, so far early this week, the grain markets are taking the keener risk aversion in the marketplace well. This is partly due to the strong gains seen in crude oil markets, with Nymex crude oil (CLJ26) futures hitting an eight-month high Monday.

Still, its not likely the grain markets will see solid price rallies in the near term, as the Middle East war plays out. The grain markets also digested last months Supreme Court ruling against President Donald Trumps tariff regime fairly well, including the rhetoric that came from U.S. trading counterparts after the ruling.

At present, it seems the best the grain bulls can hope for is steady and sideways price action during these very uncertain times.

www.barchart.com

Wheat Markets Leaning the Grains at Present

May soft red winter (ZWK26) and hard red winter wheat (KEK26) futures on Monday hit eight-month highs. Last week, May SRW gained 11 1/4 cents, while May HRW wheat lost 4 3/4 cents.

www.barchart.com

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May SRW winter wheat futures on Friday saw technically bullish weekly and monthly high closes, suggesting follow-through buying interest from the speculators early next week. Technical buying was featured in SRW and HRW markets late last week, as price uptrends on the daily bar charts have been re-established.

Wheat traders are watching Indias wheat crop, as that nation is likely to record one of its warmest Marches on record, with above-average temperatures in key wheat-growing states, potentially cutting yields. More high heat is expected in India during March. In the U.S., there are also dry pockets in wheat regions. USDAs state wheat crop condition ratings have seen a decline in crop conditions.
(NewsNation)  U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum arrived in Venezuela on Wednesday, as the Trump administration looks to expand oil and mineral production in the country.

During the trip, Burgum is expected to meet with Venezuelan officials, including acting President Delcy Rodriguez, as well as mining and oil executives, according to Bloomberg. The outlet reports that Burgum is also expected to unveil an oil deal. During his State of the Union address in February, President Trump acknowledged the U.S. has received more than 80 million barrels of oil from new friend and partner Venezuela.

Hegseth says US, Israel will have complete control of Iranian skies

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Venezuela had previously faced U.S. sanctions on its oil for several years and relied on a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains.

This meeting comes as the White House pushes a plan for oil companies to invest $100 billion in rebuilding Venezuelas oil infrastructure. Trump said his administration would guarantee that the companies would receive protection from the U.S. government.

What could strikes on Iran mean for US inflation?

You have total safety. You have total security. One of the reasons you couldnt go in is you had no guarantees, you had no security, but now you have total security, Trump said in January. Youre dealing with us directly; youre not dealing with Venezuela at all. We dont want you to deal with Venezuela.

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In January, the Trump administration completed its first Venezuelan oil sale, valued at $500 million. The oil deal was the first since the U.S. ousted Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas former president.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
National security experts dispute President Donald Trumps claims about Obamas 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

President Donald Trump called out former President Barack Obama in his first live, extended remarks on the U.S.s deadly joint strikes with Israel in Iran during a White House press gaggle on Tuesday.

Members of the White House press pool, including theGrio, were in the Oval Office as Trump met with Friedrich Merz, the chancellor of Germany, to discuss the brewing war in the Middle East, trade, and the ongoing war in Europe between Ukraine and Russia. Trump defended his unilateral decision to strike Iran, including its military, intelligence, and infrastructure sites, among other targets, including a girls school that killed civilians and children.

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We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first, Trump told reporters. Defending his June 2025 strikes in Iran, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, the president argued that Iran would have had a very powerful nuclear weapon within one month.

At one point, Trump did something he often does in public remarks by denigrating his predecessor, Obama. The president said Obamas 2015 arms deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was the worst deal Ive ever seen and that had he not terminated the agreement in 2018, Iran would be sitting with a massive nuclear weapon three years ago.

[The nuclear weapon] would have been used already on Israeland other countries also, said Trump. [Obama] went the exact opposite way and I terminated that.

Trump continued, He was giving them billions of dollars, but worse, he was giving them the right to have the path to a nuclear weapon. And that deal expired. A lot of people said, Oh, you terminated. Well, it was going to be terminated anyway because it expired. It gave them the right to have a top-of-the-line nuclear weapon.

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The deal, which was also signed by several world powers, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and Russia, was not set to expire until 2025 and was hailed by experts.

CAMP DAVID, MD  MAY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks following the Gulf Cooperation Council-U.S. summit on May 14, 2015 at Camp David, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch  Pool/Getty Images)

While it is true that the Obama administration delivered cash to Iran as part of its strategic deal to deter Irans nuclear proliferation, its worth clarifying that the funds delivered to the Islamic state belonged to Iran. The U.S. was simply returning Irans own frozen assets that were initially sanctioned to cripple the countrys nuclear program.

Under the deal reached with the Obama administration, Iran received the funds after successfully completing a list of demands to prevent its ability to obtain a nuclear weapon, including shipping thousands of pounds of enriched uranium out of the country; dismantling and removing two-thirds of its centrifuges; removing the calandria from its heavy water reactor, and filling it with concrete; and providing unprecedented access to its nuclear facilities and supply chain.

Despite Trumps claims that the Obama deal was the worst hed seen, national security experts have maintained that Obamas deal was effective.

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Asha Castlberry-Hernandez, a U.S. Army veteran who worked in the Middle East, told theGrio that Obamas Iran deal worked.

Even President Trumps former Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State said they wanted to stay in because it was working. Iran was committed to the terms, she explained. After President Trump withdrew from the JCPAO (Iran Deal), the United States lost leverage

to prevent Iran from building its first nuclear bomb.

Castleberry-Hernandez, founder of the Diversity in National Security Network, said there were two major benefits to Obamas deal: Iran was committed to no longer developing its nuclear program, and the deal eased tensions between the United States and Iran, fostering more diplomacy.

In remarks touting the results of JCPOA in 2016, President Obama said, Were seeing whats possible with strong American diplomacy, adding, Ensuring the security of the United States and the safety of our people demands a smart, patient and disciplined approach to the world.

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The Nobel Peace Prize winner lamented, Our differences with Iran meant that our governments almost never spoke to each other. Ultimately, that did not advance Americas interests. Over the years, Iran moved closer and closer to having the ability to build a nuclear weapon.

Obama continued, But from Presidents Franklin Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan, the United States has never been afraid to pursue diplomacy with our adversaries. And as President, I decided that a strong, confident America could advance our national security by engaging directly with the Iranian government.

More must-reads:
President Donald Trump has called a meeting Friday with defense contractors to try to speed up weapons production as his war in Iran burns through U.S. missile stocks.

The presidentwho has ordered military strikes against more countries than any other U.S. president in modern historyclaimed Monday in a Truth Social post that the U.S. has a virtually unlimited supply of munitions, and that wars can be fought forever, and very successfully, using just these supplies.

But with no end in sight to the deadly attacks on Iranwhich have in turn triggered retaliatory strikes throughout the Middle East, killing six U.S. soldiers to datePentagon officials told The Washington Post earlier this week the mood was intense and paranoid as the military ran through its stockpiles of U.S. air defense interceptor missiles.

The U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran have ballooned into a wider regional conflict, with Israel attacking Beirut, Lebanon, this week. / Mohamed Azakir/REUTERS

Even before Operation Epic Fury began on Saturday, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine had warned the White House that weapons shortages and limited allied support would significantly increase risks to both the mission and U.S. troops, according to the Post.

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Now, the administration has invited executives from Lockheed Martin, Raytheons parent company RTX, and other key suppliers to attend a meeting at the White House, Reuters reported.

Sources said officials were likely to press weapons makers to move faster to boost production.

The meeting comes as Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg is reportedly preparing a supplemental budget request of about $50 billion that would be used to replace weapons used in recent conflicts.

Lockheed, the Pentagon, and the White House did not respond to Reuters request for comment, while RTX declined to comment.

The Daily Beast has reached out as well.

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In Iran, the military has deployed Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-35 stealth fighters, and low-cost one-way attack drones.

The U.S. has also drawn down billions of dollars worth of weapons stockpilesincluding artillery systems, ammunition, and anti-tank missilesin connection with Russias invasion of Ukraine and Israels attacks on Gaza, according to Reuters.

In his Truth Social post, Trump falsely claimed that former President Joe Biden had given everything away to Ukraine, even though the missiles used in Iran are longer-range than the ones that were provided to Kyiv.

Officials at Pete Hegseth's Defense Department have said weapons shortages could increase risks for U.S. troops in the Middle East. / Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS

His post hinted at shortages, saying, At the highest end, we have a good supply, but are not where we want to be.

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In just the past year, Trump has ordered military strikes against eight countries: Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and, as of this week, Ecuador.

He has also blown up dozens of alleged drug-carrying boats, summarily killing hundreds of people, in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific.
Thousands of files relating to the Epstein case have been taken offline, according to an analysis by the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal found that more than 40,000 files were missing from documents that had been posted to the Justice Departments website, including documents that detailed one womans unverified allegations of sexual misconduct against President Donald Trump.

The Daily Beast has contacted the DOJ for comment. When contacted by the Journal, a department spokesperson said, 47,635 files were offline for further review and should be ready for re-production by the end of the week.

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As the Journal notes, among the files taken offline are FBI notes detailing a series of interviews conducted in 2019 with a victim of Jeffrey Epsteins who alleged that Trump sexually abused her when she was a minor in the 1980s. The president has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Justice Department, on Capitol Hill. / Kent Nishimura/Reuters

The files released in January included a summary of the womans allegations and a Form 302 from her first interview, but not three other Form 302s, including the interviews in which Trump was named.

The Justice Department, which is required to release witness statements to the public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, has not explained why the statements were not released.

The DOJ has denied deliberately withholding documents that mention Trump in relation with the Jeffrey Epstein case. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty Images

The Journal reports that the DOJ had previously said it was conducting a review to see if any materials were improperly tagged in its review process, and, if that were the case, it would release them.

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House Democrats accused the DOJ of withholding documents that could embarrass the president last month, with House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia announcing that Democrats on the committee would be opening an investigation into the matter.

Yesterday, I reviewed unredacted evidence logs at the Department of Justice. Oversight Democrats can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews with this survivor who accused President Trump of heinous crimes, Garcia said.

Covering up direct evidence of a potential assault by the President of the United States is the most serious possible crime in this White House cover up, he added.

Department officials have denied deliberately withholding the files, and have claimed that many of the files taken offline contained nudity.

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A department spokeswoman told the Journal that it was working to address victims concerns and redact sensitive information and explicit images, adding that the documents would be shared online once redactions are made.

The DOJ has already been repeatedly embarrassed by blunders relating to the redaction and release of the Epstein files, including the revelation late last year that the redactions made in the first release could be easily undone using Photoshop.

The department also came under fire last month after a CNN analysis uncovered nearly 100 explicit images of two young women in the files published as part of the second release.

Another blunder in the second release resulted in the accidental unmasking of an undercover FBI agent after footage from a 2009 video of an undercover operation was published.

The DOJ has only released 3.5 million of the 6 million pages of evidence associated with the Epstein case. Following the second release of files in January, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the departments review of the case had now concluded.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted the US operations in Venezuela as a perfect example of how regime change can play out, drawing direct parallels between Venezuela and Iran.

What we did in Venezuela, I think, is the perfect, the perfect scenario, Trump told The New York Times in a brief interview on Sunday.

But US operations in Caracas and Tehran have unfolded in vastly different ways.

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In Venezuela, strikes were limited and intended to aid US special forces capture of authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro. His capture led to a swift about-face from his former deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, who welcomed US overtures almost immediately.

In Iran, air strikes by the US and Israel have been much broader in scope, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and hundreds of other people. These strikes were met with immediate and wide-ranging Iranian retaliation across the Middle East  one that Iran would have been planning for weeks.

Meanwhile, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has ruled out talking, sending a clear message that the remaining leadership in Iran is prepared to fight, rather than take instructions from Washington.

Analysts say that whatever comes next in the already-escalating war with Iran is highly unpredictable. And Irans theocratic, ideologically driven regime bears very little resemblance to the government built around former strongman Maduro.

Two very different governments in Iran and Venezuela

The Islamic Republic of Iran was designed to survive.

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Although Khamenei was at the top, the regimes authority is highly distributed  divided between military institutions, religious clerics and a variety of other political institutions, according to Johns Hopkins professor Vali Nasr.

Since the Israeli attack in June, the supreme leader and the system have distributed even more power, in a sense that decapitation really does not work the way it does in other countries, Nasr explained in an interview with CNNs Fareed Zakaria on Sunday.

We can kill the top, but the system has been built to function, said Nasr, who is also a former US State Department official.

A satellite image shows black smoke rising above Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's compound, following strikes by the US and Israel in Tehran on Saturday. - Pleiades Neo (c) Airbus DS 2026/Reuters

Israel claimed it killed 40 senior Iranian military commanders in the opening wave of strikes. But Irans systems and its retaliation plans have clearly remained intact.

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I would say Iran is today functioning on the basis of a deep state, a set of bureaucrats, statesmen, clerics and Revolutionary Guard commanders and military commanders They got their guidance from him, but the day to day running of the country was not done by the [supreme leader], it was done by this deep state, Nasr added.

And unlike Venezuela, the regime in Iran is a theocracy-turned-autocracy. Many of its officials, diplomats and security forces are ideologically driven and have hardline views.

Previous crackdowns on dissent in Iran have not only aimed to squash anti-government sentiment, but also religious dissent, modern reforms and womens rights.

Analysts have argued that one way for potential Iranian leaders to gain internal legitimacy to fill the power vacuum left in the wake of Khameneis killing is to double down on some of those views, as well as show greater strength against the countrys adversaries.

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It is possible that the future leaders will be more hardline than Khamenei. Now, in the transitional phase, that is very much a possibility, especially when it comes to the IRGC, said Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, a senior analyst for on Iran and Iraq at Control Risks.

We have seen that they have been quite indiscriminate in the attacks and the type of attacks compared, say, to the war in June, she told CNN.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his vote for the presidential runoff election in Tehran, Iran, on July 5, 2024. - Vahid Salemi/AP

No clear successor to Khamenei

Trumps administration has offered up contradictory war goals, but the US president keeps talking about new leadership in Tehran.

Even as top US officials insist the war is not about regime change, Trump called for the Iranian people to take control of their country. Then on Sunday, he told The New York Times that he has three very good choices for who should rule Iran now, but he declined to name them.

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Unlike Venezuela  where the US operation was followed by swift visits with the acting president Rodriguez  there is no automatic vice-leadership in Iran willing to play ball with the US administration. Rather, Khameneis death has triggered an internal deliberation process that is out of the US and Israels hands.

There is also no local rival to the Iranian regimes loyalist IRGC and Basij forces, according to David Petraeus, a retired US Army general and former CIA director.

The challenge here is there is no Ahmed al-Sharaa figure, as in Syria, who had a military force, who was able to take down the hollow regime forces of the murderous Bashar al-Assad in Syria in 2024, Petraeus told CNN.

Whoever is appointed next in Iran would need the blessing of not just the Assembly of Experts but of the security establishment, including the IRGC, said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East program at the think tank Chatham House.

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They are going to be looking for someone who would support their interests, Vakil told CNNs Brian Todd in an interview.

A person looks on as smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Tehran, on Monday. - Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency/Reuters

Airstrikes alone dont lead to regime change

History shows that the use of airstrikes with no boots on the ground is highly unlikely to lead to regime change in a way that moves toward democracy or meaningful reform.

It has never worked, Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, told CNN.

Although modern bombs almost always hit their targets, that tactical success doesnt mean you get strategic success, explained Pape, who writes a column on how escalation unfolds during war.

Air strikes do not embolden people to protest in the streets. They inject fear into the population and make it easier for leaders to make a nationalist argument for retaining power, he argued.

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Instead, the experience of air attacks risks creating a dynamic of the society and the government versus the foreign military attacker.

Attempts at regime change by air typically lead to reconfigurations of essentially the same regime, or to even more nationalist or unpredictable governments, Pape said.

Bassiri Tabrizi, at Control Risks, predicted: We are likely to see continued retaliation, continued escalation, and the conflict ending only as a consequence of the exhausted resources from one side or the other.

CNNs Alejandra Jaramillo, Christian Edwards, Brian Todd and Dugald McConnell contributed to this report.

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Washington, DC  Hours after the United States and Israel unleashed their bombing campaign against Iran on Saturday, President Donald Trump said that all he wants from the war is freedom for the people.

Analysts say that despite this claim and other objectives articulated by US officials, Trump appears to be seeking to collapse the ruling system in Tehran.

Kelly Grieco, senior fellow at the Stimson Center think tank, told Al Jazeera that achieving such a sweeping political shift will be difficult  if not impossible  without troops on the ground.

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It seems like theyre not willing to pay certain costs to achieve regime change, so theres sort of a set of secondary goals that perhaps will be enough if they cant achieve that through air power alone, Grieco said.

After the opening US-Israeli strikes, Trump told the Iranian people that their moment of freedom is at hand.

When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take, he said, suggesting that the US will take down the Iranian regime.

Matthew Duss, the executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, stressed that air strikes alone cannot collapse the Iranian ruling system.

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You can damage buildings; you can damage the regime, but we dont have examples of when air power alone has achieved regime change, Duss said.

A NATO-led air campaign in Libya in 2011 managed to dislodge Muammar Gaddafi from power, but Libyan rebels led the offensive on the ground that removed the regime.

While Trump and other US officials have called on Iranians to rise up against their government, as of now, there does not appear to be any meaningful force on the ground capable of taking on the Islamic Republic system.





Boots on the ground?

While the US has kept the door open for the involvement of ground troops in the war, the move would pose an increased risk to American forces and mark a stark departure from Trumps stated preference for swift military campaigns.

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The war is already unpopular, even without any American boots on the ground in Iran, said Duss.

A recent Reuters survey suggested that only about one-quarter of Americans support the war.

Duss drew a contrast between the ongoing conflict and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which had more than 55 percent support from the US public, according to various polls.

I would imagine that as this war continues, especially if US troops are put on the ground, that support will drop even more, Duss told Al Jazeera.

On Tuesday, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told reporters after a classified hearing with administration officials that he fears that the US may be heading towards a ground operation in Iran.

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I am more fearful than ever after this briefing that we may be putting boots on the ground and that troops from the United States may be necessary to accomplish objectives that the administration seems to have, Blumenthal said.





Other objectives

Over the past few days, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth have articulated more modest goals than regime change in Iran: destroying the Iranian nuclear and drone programmes as well as the countrys navy.

Rubio has argued that Iran was building a large missile and drone arsenal to achieve immunity and deterrence against foreign attacks that would allow it to build a nuclear weapon.

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For his part, Hegseth has emphasised that the bombing campaign in Iran will not turn into a forever war.

Were ensuring the mission gets accomplished, but we are very clear-eyed  as the president had been, unlike other presidents, about the foolish policies of the past that recklessly pulled us into things that were not tethered to actual, clear objectives, he said.

Grieco, however, noted that Trumps own objectives have been unclear.

What is this all for? What are we trying to achieve? The administration certainly has not done itself any favours in the fact that they dont seem to have a consistent narrative or message on this, she told Al Jazeera.

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Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, emerged from a briefing with Trump officials on Tuesday with a similar assessment.

It is so much worse than you thought. You are right to be worried, Warren said in a video message.

The Trump administration has no plan in Iran. This illegal war is based on lies, and it was launched without any imminent threat to our nation. Donald Trump still hasnt given a single clear reason for this war, and he seems to have no plan for how to end it.





The US and Israel launched the bombing campaign against Iran early on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, several top officials and hundreds of civilians.

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The conflict quickly spread across the Middle East, with Iran lashing out against Gulf countries, launching drone and missile attacks at US assets as well as energy and civilian targets.

Tehran has also been targeting Israel with missile volleys.

Iran-allied groups in Iraq joined the war as well, claiming drone attacks against US-affiliated targets. Hezbollah in Lebanon also entered the fray amid reports that Israel was planning an invasion of the south of the country.

Weeks or far longer

Despite Hegseths insistence that the war is not open-ended, the Trump administrations timeline for the conflict has been elastic.

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Trump has said that the US is ahead of schedule in completing its mission as the conflict expands. At the same time, he said the war could last four to five weeks and far longer.

The US presidents allies have also been hailing the war as a success, predicting that the Iranian system will soon fold.

We are not there yet but, in my view, its not if this terrorist regime falls in Iran  it is only a matter of when, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X after a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.





Graham said the gateway to peace that would be opened after the Iranian regime falls and ties between Israel and Arab states would take the region to a new level of prosperity and security.

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However, Duss said it is hard to assess US progress in the war because Trump has not been clear yet what the objectives really are.

You really cant judge whether were ahead of time or behind time on those objectives. Thats the problem here, he said.

They didnt bother to build any case for why this war was necessary. They certainly did not bother to explain what they hope to achieve and how and when. So all we have is just this killing.

With the war still in its first week, it is starting to appear like a longer conflict than the decisive strikes Trump prides himself on, such as the abduction of Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro in January and the strikes against Irans nuclear facilities in June.

I think the problem here is that he seems to have become enamoured with air power and what he thinks it can achieve, Grieco said of Trump.
The last time John Cornyn was in a primary runoff, it was 28 years ago and he easily won.

Things have changed a bit since then.

Texas is a far redder state, President Donald Trump is the undisputed kingmaker and primary voters are more conservative and willing to look past candidates scandals and personal baggage. All those changes are coming to a head as Cornyn enters a runoff against Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid for a fifth term in the Senate.

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The two Republican heavyweights finished just over one point apart in Tuesdays primary, but neither reached the majority threshold to win outright. In the overtime round, Paxton is betting Republicans will behave like they usually do in a runoff, turning out in smaller numbers and favoring the candidates they see as more conservative. Cornyn, however, is staking his political fate on a riskier bet  that the intense spotlight on the race will juice turnout, to his benefit, and that the contest will be a referendum on the challenger rather than the usual focus placed on the incumbent.

On Wednesday morning, Texas GOP operatives agreed on one thing: It will be nasty.

This is going to be a knife fight in a phone booth, said Enrique Marquez, who previously served as chief of staff to former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. This runoff is not going to be business as usual.

Marquez cited the massive amount of money expected to be spent in the runoff, the personalities involved  two men whose contempt for one another may only be surpassed by that of their strategists  and the stakes for November, when Democrats are aiming to win their first Senate election in Texas since 1988.

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One person who could scramble the traditional assumptions about a runoff is Trump, who said Wednesday he would make an endorsement soon and expect the candidate he does not back to drop out.

Paxton said later Wednesday that he would not bow out of the runoff, even if Trump endorses against him.

Im staying in this race, he said on a right-wing TV program. I owe it to the people of Texas.

Both Cornyn and Paxton wasted little time framing the runoff in their primary night remarks, with Cornyn promising to shed more light on Paxtons indefensible personal life and predicting a robust turnout compared to the typical skimpy participation in May contests. And allies of Cornyn believe he has a stronger case to make for a race-altering endorsement from Trump, who has refused to weigh in so far.

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Paxton, leaning into a more traditional view of a runoff, was particularly bullish on Tuesday night. He cast his close second-place finish as a coup in the face of Cornyns staggering spending advantage, and told supporters at his watch party that he has never lost a primary runoff by less than 30 percentage points  and I dont plan on starting now.

Paxton reiterated his confidence during a Wednesday morning radio interview  but also acknowledged where he has his work cut out for him. He said he hoped he could get closer on the money, gain the support of third-place finisher Wesley Hunt and draw out more conservative voters.

The radio host, vocal Cornyn critic Chris Salcedo, told Paxton he thought Cornyn overperformed and lamented that primary voters did not seem fully informed of Cornyns record. Paxton did not entirely disagree.

Some Republicans, MAGA Republicans, were fooled by his ads, Paxton said. Were going to have to continue to educate people.

Strategy moving forward

For Cornyn allies making the case to Trump that he should endorse the senior senator, Tuesdays results bolstered their case.

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Cornyn is poised to finish first, beating the expectations of most public polls. The margin between the two is razor thin, increasing the value of Trumps endorsement in the runoff. And state Rep. James Talarico won the Democratic nomination over Republicans preferred candidate, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

Ive been making that case for a long time, and well make it again, and today, I think even more emphatically given the outcome last night, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, told reporters Wednesday, calling it a good night for Cornyn.

For the Republican establishment groups and the donor class that seeded the $70 million in spending on behalf of Cornyn in the primary, the results are evidence that money still matters and that their strategy  honesty about Cornyns tough position in the beginning of the contest  was validated.

Moving forward, the Cornyn campaign predicts high turnout will carry the senator to victory  and that they have the resources to make it happen.

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At last count, Cornyns campaign apparatus had over $14 million in the bank, dwarfing Paxtons war chest of nearly $4 million. There is no telling how much more could be waiting in the chamber: A significant chunk of Cornyns support came from dark money, or contributions from political nonprofits that do not have to disclose donors or cash-on-hand figures. Former Gov. Rick Perry, who leads one of those nonprofits, has said his group will spend whatever we need on Cornyns race.

Cornyn has promised to make the runoff a painful experience for Paxton. In the first round, much of the spending from Cornyns orbit was on positive ads touting the incumbents pro-Trump voting record, accompanied by a large surge of attacks against Hunt. But the runoff could bring a deluge of negative ads detailing Paxtons ethical baggage. A late primary ad from Cornyn previewed what some of those attacks might be, going after Paxtons divorce, alleged affair and accumulation of assets while in office.

He believes that all his misbehavior and his scandals are sort of baked in the cake, and hes won a couple of elections since much of that has come out, Cornyn said. But there is much more that will come out in the runoff and which will demonstrate his unfitness for office and his liability, of his potential liability of him being the nominee in November.

But the Paxton camp has noted that the negativity cuts both ways. They have yet to launch significant anti-Cornyn spending aimed at undercutting his conservative image, with ripe targets including his role in a bipartisan gun safety bill in 2022 and past skepticism over both Trumps electability in 2023 and his signature border wall proposal a decade ago.

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Questions remain over whether the Paxton camp can marshal the resources needed to make a robust case against Cornyn. But his supporters believe theres no meat left on the bone for incoming attacks. Paxton overcame a flurry of opposition research in his last runoff, against George P. Bush in 2022, to win handily, and he has withstood years of scandal, casting himself as a Trump-esque victim of political persecution.

Cornyns talk of unleashing new attacks in the runoff is bluster, a pre-primary memo from pro-Paxton Lone Star Liberty PAC said. The truth is that from day one, his forces fired every bullet they had. There are no new attacks left  only more of the same, at ever-greater cost and with ever-diminishing returns.

Higher turnout in GOP primaries generally benefits more mainstream Republican candidates, while runoffs, which typically have a smaller electorate dominated by the most devoted conservatives, tend to reward insurgent or hard-right office-seekers. In the days leading up to the primary, Cornyn took heat from Paxton for acknowledging in a TV interview that the race would be a challenge for himself if only the most radical people show up.

But the Cornyn campaign believes the high interest level in the race can boost turnout in the runoff and carry him through.

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Our own internal modeling data shows that Senator Cornyn outperforms Ken Paxton in high-turnout elections, which is what the runoff will be in May, the Cornyn campaigns memo said.

In his election night speech, Paxton noted that even despite the massive spending disparity, a majority of voters still pulled the lever for someone other than Cornyn. In the runoff, he said he plans to draw clear contrasts between the two.

After all the personal attacks, which there were many, and after all the lies, you listened to what John Cornyn was selling, Paxton told supporters. And you werent buying it.

The Trump factor

While Trump has thus far stayed out of the primary  despite months of pressure from all sides to drop his neutrality  he has suggested he could finally get involved in the overtime round. Such a development could throw all conventional wisdom about runoffs out the window.

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Allies of Cornyn believe his case for a Trump endorsement was strengthened on two fronts Tuesday. He beat expectations by finishing first, demonstrating that his initial base of support is larger than Paxtons, even if by a small margin. And on the Democratic side, state Rep. James Talarico  perceived by many Republicans as a bigger threat than his rival, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett  emerged as the Democratic nominee, focusing attention on the need to nominate a Republican who gives the party their best shot in November.

The Dems did the smart thing. The question is, will we do the same thing? said one Republican strategist supporting Cornyn who was granted anonymity to candidly discuss the GOP dilemma.

Thune told reporters Wednesday morning in Washington that Cornyn had a great night and that Talaricos primary win absolutely made it more important for Cornyn to represent the GOP in November.

If the president endorses early, saves everybody a lot of money, and a lot of, you know, just 10 weeks of a spirited campaign on our side that keeps us from spending time focusing on the Democrats, Thune said.

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In teasing an endorsement Wednesday, Trump gave voice to the November concerns that Cornyn has raised. Referring to Talarico, Trump said Republicans must TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively.

What will Hunt do?

One big question for the runoff is whether U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston, who finished a distant third in the primary, will make an endorsement in the runoff. Hunt received 14% of the vote but had considerable money backing him  much of it from undisclosed sources  suggesting his donors could be a key bloc up for grabs.

The Cornyn campaigns post-primary memo argued that he would have won outright had Hunt never joined the race. Throughout the primary, players in the pro-Cornyn donor class made no secret of their immense frustration at Hunts late entry to the race, believing he would only prolong the internecine warfare  and the amount it would cost.

A pro-Cornyn strategist said they expect Hunt voters to follow the presidents lead in the runoff.

Both Cornyn and Paxton complimented Hunt in their primary night speeches, and Paxton spoke with him by phone afterward. It was not immediately clear whether Cornyn also spoke with Hunt.

His decision is his decision, and I respect that, Paxton said in the radio interview. Im certainly hopeful that hell help us defeat John Cornyn.

In his Tuesday night speech, Hunt did not say whether he would endorse in the runoff but made clear he plans to remain involved in politics, promising it would not be the last time you see my name on a ballot.

Cornyns efforts to court Hunts supporters could be tainted by the vitriol that Cornyns backers in Washington couldnt help letting loose on Tuesday. After it was clear that Hunt would not advance to the runoff, the Senate Leadership Fund, the top GOP super PAC in Senate races, released a statement deriding his third-place finish and blasting him for launching a career-ending vanity tour without any substance.
President Donald Trump is open to the idea of supporting militia groups in Iran willing to help take out the regime, according to reports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has spoken with Kurdish leaders, who have a sizable force along the Iraq-Iran border.

"President Trump has spoken with many regional partners," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the newspaper in a statement, without confirming Trumps aims.

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Former Topgun Pilot Declares Iran Military 'Over With' Amid Us Air Superiority, But Warns Of Another Danger

President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Trump is reportedly considering backing militias in Iran to topple the regime. (Getty Images)

Trump spoke with two leaders of the main Kurdish factions in Iraq  Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani  a day after the Saturday bombing campaign began, Axios first reported.

Officials told the Journal that Trump hasn't made a decision on the matter, including what type of help the United States would provide, be it arms, intelligence or other resources.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House.

Trump Sends Official Notification To Congress On Strikes Against Iran

This map shows the targets of Iran's retaliatory strikes.

Among the approaches being looked at for Iran moving forward are backing militias while weighing different scenarios for who could realistically take power after the country's leaders fall, the newspaper reported.

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Trump has urged the people of Iran to overthrow the country's regime as Tehran appears to be weakened following U.S. and Israeli military strikes that have killed several key Iranian leaders and officials.

"Most of the people we had in mind are dead," he told reporters at the White House. "And now we have another group, they may be dead also. Pretty soon were not going to know anybody."

A person holds an image of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranian demonstrators protest against the U.S.-Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 28, 2026.

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The strikes have fueled speculation that the Kurds could advance into Iran amid Israeli strikes in the western part of the country.

"It is the general view, and certainly (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's view, that the Kurds are going to come out of the woodwork ... that they're going to rise up," one official told Axios.





Original article source: Trump exploring backing militias in Iran to topple weakened regime following strikes: reports
NEED TO KNOW

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave an update on the war in Iran on March 4

Hegseth alleged that a recent U.S. attack took out an Iranian plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump

Hegseth also boasted that a U.S. submarine recently fired at an Iranian war ship in what he claimed was "the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II"

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave an update on the war in Iran on Wednesday, March 4, claiming U.S. and Israeli forces have "only just started to hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy and defeat their capabilities."

Speaking during a press conference held at the Pentagon, Hegseth  who has rebranded his agency as the "Department of War"  said, "We are only four days into this and the results have been incredible; historic, really."

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"Only the United States of America could lead this, but when you add the Israeli defensive forces  a devastatingly capable force  the combination is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian advisaries," he continued. "They are toast and they know it, or at least soon enough, they will know it."

Hegseth claimed that one recent U.S. attack took out a man who was allegedly plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump.

"We've known for a long time that Iran had intentions on trying to kill President Trump and/or other US officials. And while that was not the focus of the effort by any stretch of the imagination, and in fact never raised by the president or anybody else, I ensured and others ensured that those who were responsible for that were eventually part of the target list," he said. "We eventually had the opportunity to do that from the air."

Iran tried to kill President Trump. And President Trump got the last laugh, he added.

Men watch from a hillside as a plume of smoke rises after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on March 2, 2026

Credit: Majid Saeedi/Getty

Hegseth also vowed to "avenge" the six U.S. troops who were killed by a drone strike on Sunday, March 1, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. So far, four of the six have been identified: Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20.

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"We are playing for keeps. Our war fighters have maximum authorities granted personally by the president and yours truly. Our rules of engagement are bold, precise, and designed to unleash American power, not shackle it," Hegseth said. "This was never meant to be a fair fight and it is not a fair fight. We are punching them when they are down, which is exactly what it should be."

"We will fly all day and night finding and fixing the military bases of the Iranian military; finding and fixing their leaders," he said, later vowing, "Death and destruction from the sky, all day long."

Air attacks aren't the only tactics the U.S. is employing in its siege on Iran. Hegseth also told reporters that the U.S. Navy is attacking Iranian targets.

An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo, quiet death," he said, "the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.

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The U.S. and Israel launched "massive and ongoing" military action in Iran, code-named "Operation Epic Fury," in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 28.

President Trump, 79, declared war from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., saying, "For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops, and the innocent people in many, many countries."

Iran retaliated soon after, striking a U.S. military base in Bahrain. Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, all home to U.S. bases, also confirmed they had intercepted missiles from Iran.

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In the days since, roughly 800 people have died, according to officials and news reports. The majority of the casualties have been in Iran: The Iranian Red Crescent Society said on Tuesday, March 3, that the death toll there has increased to 787, according to NBC News, Al Jazeera and The Wall Street Journal.

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Relief operations are ongoing, with 1,009 emergency response teams deployed across 153 affected counties, the Red Crescent Society said, according to the Journal.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was among those killed. His successor has not yet been announced.

Read the original article on People
Our relationship with the United States will never be the same as it was, even though, in the new protectionist world, we have the best trade deal of any country, he explained.

Simply put, the good old days are gone  and wont return.

The jobs of workers in our industries most affected by U.S. tariffs  autos, steel, lumber  are under threat, Carney said in October (1), adding that uncertainty is causing Canadian businesses to hold back investments.

Carney also cautioned that many of Canadas former strengths  built on its tight ties with the U.S.  have now become vulnerabilities. In particular, Trumps tariff policy is jeopardizing Canadian jobs that depend on exports to the U.S.

Back in March 2025, he warned that the old relationship we had with the United States, based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over, and that Canada must fundamentally reimagine its economy for a drastically different world (3).

If youve been following him for a while, Carneys words are probably nothing new to you. In fact, hes been sounding the alarm since President Donald Trump began his 51st state talk and tariff instability.

Heres a look at why the Canadian prime minister is saying these things  and how you can survive the economic impact on your wallet.

Carney called this rupture the end of a pleasant fiction and the beginning of a harsh reality, calling on other nations to end American hegemonic power.

Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition, he said.

Speaking in Davos at the World Economic Forum in January 2026, Carney doubled down on his message in a now-famous speech shared all around the world (2).

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This decades-long process of an ever-closer economic relationship between the Canadian and U.S. economies is now over, Carney said in late 2025 (1).

The U.S. and Canada have long enjoyed an unusually close economic relationship, with integrated supply chains, aligned industries and decades of largely friction-free trade. But that era looks to be over, according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

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And Canada isnt alone in absorbing the shock. The U.S. is the worlds largest consumer market for goods and services, and many countries rely heavily on American demand. Broad-based tariffs could therefore have severe economic consequences far beyond North America.

Indeed, Carney has cautioned before that Trumps sweeping tariffs will rupture the global economy (4).

However, this isnt the first time the world has seen a geopolitical shock. The global economy has weathered upheaval before  recessions, trade wars and financial crises.

And while no one can predict the exact landscape ahead, investors can still build out a path  especially by focusing on assets that can hold up when uncertainty runs high.

Read More: Im almost 50 years old and dont have retirement savings. Is it too late to catch up?

Read More: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10

A time-tested safe haven

Ray Dalio, founder of the worlds largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly stressed the importance of holding one particular safe-haven asset: gold.

People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio, Dalio told CNBC earlier in February 2025 (5). When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.

In June 2025, he reiterated the point, noting that in a time of great stress, what youll find is that the gold will do well [when the other] assets dont (6).

Long seen as the ultimate safe haven, gold isnt tied to any single country, currency or economy. It cant be printed out of thin air like fiat money, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to pile in  driving up its value.

Considering gold prices hit new highs in January 2026 (7), it seems like the precious metal is living up to expectations.

Cashing in on the gold IRA rush

If youre looking for a way to get in on the gold rush, one way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold and making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in precious metals for free.

The asset that made Trumps father rich

If gold is the go-to hedge for moments of chaos, real estate is the long game  and no one knows that better than Trump himself.

Before politics, Trump came from a real estate dynasty  and the asset class remains a powerful tool for building and preserving wealth, especially during inflationary times. Thats because property values and rental income tend to rise along with the cost of living.

Unlike some other investments, real estate doesnt need a roaring stock market to deliver returns. Even during downturns, high-quality properties can generate rental income  offering a dependable stream of passive cash flow.

As Trump told Steve Forbes back in 2011, I just notice that when you have that right piece of property, whatever it might be, including location, it tends to work well in good times and in bad times (8).

Just like gold, the value of real estate doesnt tarnish, at least in Trumps eyes. And the right mix of both can keep you out of trouble in even the most hectic or uncertain times.

A new trump card in real estate

Not everyone has the resources of a Trump family member to get started in real estate: Although the payoff can be substantial, so is the investment  until now.

Today, you dont actually need to buy a property outright to benefit from real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares youd like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

Play the even longer game with multifamily and industrial rentals

While the short-term and vacation rental market may seem rocky to some more cautious investors, long-term multifamily and industrial rentals have the appeal of potentially more stable returns.

If diversifying into multifamily and industrial rentals appeals to you, you could consider investing with Lightstone DIRECT, a new investing platform from the Lightstone Group, one of the largest private real estate companies in the country with over 25,000 multifamily units in its portfolio.

Since they eliminate intermediaries  brokers and crowdfunding middlemen  accredited investors with a minimum investment of $100,000 can gain direct access to institutional-quality multifamily opportunities. This streamlined model can help reduce fees while enhancing transparency and control.

And with Lightstone DIRECT, you invest in single-asset multifamily deals alongside Lightstone  a true partner  as Lightstone puts at least 20% of its own capital into every offering. All of Lightstones investment opportunities undergo a rigorous, multi-stage review before being approved by Lightstones Principals, including Founder David Lichtenstein.

How it works is simple: Just sign up with your email, and you can schedule a call with a capital formation expert to assess your investment opportunities. From here, all you have to do is verify your details to begin investing.

Founded in 1986, Lightstone has a proven track record of delivering strong risk-adjusted returns across market cycles with a 27.6% historical net IRR and 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004. All told, Lightstone has $12 billion in assets under management  including in industrial and commercial real estate.

As such, even if multifamily rentals dont appeal to you, Lightstone could still serve you well as an investment vehicle for other real estate verticals.

Get started today with Lightstone DIRECT and invest alongside experienced professionals with skin in the game.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Prime Minister of Canada (1); WEF (2); NOW Toronto (3); CBC (4); CNBC (5); @92ndStreetY (6); BBC (7); @Forbes (8)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
From the start of his war with Iran, President Donald Trump took care to acknowledge the ugly headlines that could result. It would be a much more significant operation than his previous military strikes, he said in a video posted shortly after the military action began, and that meant likely US deaths.

The specter of troop deaths  there have already been six  is indeed a somber variable that appears likely to test Americans limited tolerance for a war that they dont seem particularly keen on.

But its especially a problem for Trump. He has many talents as a politician, but speaking about dead and wounded service members is decidedly not among them. In fact, its a real blind spot.

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And because of his choice of foreign conflicts, that weakness faces a harsh spotlight.

The war with Iran is now less than a week old, and Trump and his administration have already made multiple awkward comments about the deaths of US soldiers.

After the first three deaths were reported, Trump told NBC News on Sunday: We have three, but we expect casualties, but in the end its going to be a great deal for the world.

Trump was immediately inserting those deaths into a cost-benefit analysis.

Then in a video posted to social media the same day, he again seemed to ask for peoples understanding about the subject.

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And sadly, there will likely be more [deaths] before it ends, Trump said, before adding: Thats the way it is. Likely be more.

He then added: But well do everything possible where that wont be the case.

Many Democrats harshly criticized Trump for his the way it is remark, suggesting it betrayed a certain callousness  as if this was just the cost of doing the business of war.

And then during a briefing at the Pentagon Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the media for supposedly focusing too much on the dead soldiers in an effort to make Trump look bad. He suggested those deaths were getting disproportionate play, compared to the militarys successes.

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But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, its front-page news, Hegseth said. I get it; the press only wants to make the president look bad. But try for once to report the reality.

The media often covers service members who die in combat; some newspapers regularly ran multi-page features commemorating the fallen of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These are also especially significant deaths, given theyre the first in a new war whose justification the administration has struggled mightily to explain.

Hegseths comments were even more puzzling given what happened next. When Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine spoke, his first order of business was  you guessed it  detailing and memorializing the deaths of those troops.

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First, its with profound sadness and gratitude that I share the names of four of our six fallen heroes, all from the 103rd Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Reserves out of Des Moines, Iowa  Captain Cody Khork, Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens, Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, and Sergeant Declan Coady, Caine said.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, right, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine hold a briefing at the Pentagon on Monday. - Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

It was a striking contrast. While Caine seemed to be speaking as the nations highest-ranking military officer, Hegseth seemed more focused on a political message catered to Trump.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to do a little clean up Wednesday afternoon, denying Hegseth was asking the media not to prominently cover service members deaths, while also attacking reporters. When pressed by CNNs Kaitlan Collins on whether the administration believes the media should cover those deaths, she called it a disingenuous question and added: Thats not what the secretary meant.

Its the position of this administration that the press in this room and the press across the country should accurately report on the success of Operation Epic Fury and the damage it is doing to the rogue Iranian regime, Leavitt said.

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She also said Trump will attend the dignified transfer of the troops remains.

But the presidents rhetoric is par for the course for him. Over and over again through the last decade, hes said questionable things about dead and injured service members and seemed to struggle to show the kind of empathy and respect that youd expect from a president.

To wit:

Trump caused a huge stir during the 2016 primary campaign when he said of John McCain, who spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam: Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people that werent captured.

In 2017, a Democratic congresswoman accused Trump of telling a Gold Star widow that her deceased husband knew what he was signing up for. (Trump denied the account, but the widow confirmed it, and the White House seemed to tacitly confirm it as well.)

Multiple media outlets and Trumps former chief of staff John Kelly said that Trump in 2020 disparaged dead and injured soldiers as suckers and losers and declined a visit to honor the dead at Aisne-Marne Cemetery in France. Kelly said Trump didnt want to stand next to amputees because it doesnt look good for me. Trump denied those comments.

Trump has repeatedly in recent years downplayed the traumatic brain injuries that more than 100 soldiers suffered from a 2020 Iranian missile strike on a US base in Iraq, calling them headaches. That earned him a rebuke from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which called on Trump to apologize.

The VFW also criticized Trump in 2024 for saying the civilian Medal of Freedom was much better than the military Medal of Honor because the latters recipients are often in very bad shape.

In March 2025, Trump seemed unfamiliar with the cases of four US soldiers who had gone missing during a training exercise in Lithuania. Asked whether hed been briefed on the situation, Trump paused and said: No, I havent. The soldiers were later found dead.

Just two months ago, Trump caused a bit of an international incident by claiming that troops from NATO allies stayed a little back from the front lines in Afghanistan. Many NATO allies suffered high numbers of combat deaths and casualties while joining the US-led war on terror.

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Trump has also repeatedly made flippant remarks comparing his own sacrifices and achievements to soldiers and war heroes. And hes been accused of procuring a bone spurs diagnosis when he was younger explicitly so he could avoid the Vietnam War draft.

Trump has never taken great care to abide by political and societal norms or to use politically correct speech; in some ways, thats part of his appeal.

But if theres one area in which this approach can cause real problems, its in how he talks about this most serious of subjects. And thats quickly at issue with the war with Iran.

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The U.S. militarys latest operation is sending social media into a frenzy.

The Southern Command announced on Tuesday that U.S. forces launched joint operations with Ecuador against what it called designated terrorist organizations inside the South American country.

Though no specific details were provided about the military activity, SOUTHCOM suggested that it was an expansion of U.S. strikes against boats in the region that the Trump administration has suspected of carrying drugs. The United States had not publicly announced operations inside Ecuador up until this point, but just around the country.

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Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere, SOUTHCOM posted on X late Tuesday, attaching a 30-second video.

Social media users were quick to react to the operation, with many pointing to the backdrop of the ongoing campaign in Iran.

Bonus war, Rick Wilson of the Lincoln Project posted on X.

Influencer Matt Wallace wrote in all-caps that PRESIDENT TRUMP ISNT HOLDING BACK ANYMORE... NOBODY IS READY FOR WHAT HE IS PLANNING NEXT.

Tommy Vietor, a co-host of the Pod Save America podcast, asked, Ok where are we not currently at war? Feels like that would be easier to track at this point.

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A different user joked, Im running out of monitors to situation, while conservative personality Nick Sortor said: Man, our troops are BUSY right now.

The operation comes after SOUTHCOM posted images on Monday of a visit by its head, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, with Ecuadors President Daniel Noboa and other senior defense officials in Quito, the nations capital.

According to the press release, Donovan met with Ecuadorian leadership to discuss security cooperation and reaffirm the United States strong commitment to supporting the nations efforts to confront narco-terrorism and strengthen regional security.

In a statement posted by SOUTHCOM, Donovan said that we commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country.

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Since September, the United States has conducted at least 44 strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in 150 people killed.

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President Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented wave of litigation against the press, seeking tens of billions of dollars for claims that no other modern president has even tried to pursue.

And he doesnt necessarily need to win those cases to get what he wants.

Trump is pressing six lawsuits against news organizations and publishers, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Des Moines Register and CNN. Hes also suing the Pulitzer Prize board over journalism prizes it awarded eight years ago.

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Critics say the presidents legal onslaught lacks merit, is an affront to the First Amendment and upends a long American tradition of presidents not turning to the courts to seek financial compensation over news coverage, however hostile.

He is filing lawsuits against people who are criticizing his performance of his duties as a public official or his qualifications to serve as the president of the United States, and that's the core of what the First Amendment is about, said Lee Levine, a lawyer who has represented a wide range of news organizations.

These lawsuits can advance Trumps goals even if he never wins. Litigation is expensive, and Trump himself has acknowledged that saddling his perceived enemies with onerous depositions is part of the point. Knowing the president is willing to rush to court could intimidate smaller outlets into easing up on Trump, experts said.

Large companies can also be intimidated. About a month before Trump was sworn in for a second term, ABC agreed to pay $16 million and issue an apology to settle a defamation lawsuit he had filed. And last July, CBSs parent company Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit Trump filed over a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that aired prior to the 2024 election.

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He's not winning these cases, Levine said. The problem is that he's figuring out this scheme to use the law as a weapon that kind of cuts the courts out.

A person close to Trumps legal team defended his suits and argued he is being very selective in filing them, considering the volume and hostility of the news coverage he receives.

He is  the most talked about person on this planet, said the Trump ally, who was granted anonymity to discuss pending litigation. The president, because of the current climate that we live in, has to be a little bit more aggressive in advocating for his rights, because he is under unprecedented attack by his detractors.

Trump cant realistically wait to pursue these claims after he leaves office, the person said, because the statute of limitations may have run out by then.

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Some of the news outlets Trump has sued have accused him of hypocrisy for pressing those cases despite arguments his lawyers have made that he shouldnt be subject to litigation while serving as president. In January, his lawyers complained to the Supreme Court that hes being distracted by defending against other litigation that threatens to take his focus away from his singular and unique duties as Chief Executive.

Whatever the optics of suing while complaining about being sued, those on the receiving end of Trumps lawsuits havent fared well in court with arguments that the cases should be put aside until he leaves office.

The real test for that notion will come when Trump faces demands to sit for sworn, possibly videotaped depositions in the array of cases he has filed. The settlement in the ABC case came just days before Trump would have had to sit for afour-hour deposition about the legal claims and underlying allegations. He may soon have to choose between disrupting his presidential duties or giving up on the suits that he filed.

"In these cases, the president will continue to push forward and will not be deterred, the person close to Trumps legal team said.

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Last month, the president threatened to sue comedian Trevor Noah over a Jeffrey Epstein-related joke Noah told while hosting the Grammy awards.

It looks like Ill be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty$, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Ask Little George Slopadopolus, and others, how that all worked out. Also ask CBS! Get ready Noah, Im going to have some fun with you!

A spokesperson for Trumps legal team declined to comment on when that lawsuit may be forthcoming.

Here are the major media-related suits Trump is pursuing:

Trump v. Wall Street Journal/Murdoch

The Epstein imbroglio provides the fodder for one of Trumps biggest legal claims against the press: a $20 billion federal lawsuit he filed last July against the Wall Street Journal and News Corp. Chairman Emeritus Rupert Murdoch over the Journals report on a note and lewd drawing Trump allegedly sent to Epstein in 2003, on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

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Trump has denied writing the letter, calling it a fake thing. However, House Democrats released an image of it last year, taken from a book of similar messages Epsteins friends compiled for his birthday.

News Corp.s motion to dismiss the case is pending in federal court in Miami.

Trump v. NYT/Penguin Random House

There is perhaps no media target Trump loves to pillory  and occasionally court  more than The New York Times. But his attempt last year to sue the Times for an eye-popping $15 billion stumbled out of the gate.

The original version of the suit, filed in September against the Times and four of its reporters, complained about a slew of Times reporting. Most of the claims Trump disputed involved his business career or acumen, but he also challenged the Times assertion that hed been investigated for potential ties to the mafia. And he objected to the newspaper quoting former White House chief of staff John Kelly saying Trump had made admiring statements about Hitler.

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A judge shot down the original complaint within days of its filing, but allowed Trumps lawyers to refile the lawsuit. Lawyers involved in the case spent about 40 minutes Tuesday wrangling with a magistrate judge over Trumps requests for more information about the journalists reporting.

Trump v. BBC

Trumps most recent lawsuit against the media targets the venerable British Broadcasting Company over a 2024 documentary that spliced together comments Trump made more than 54 minutes apart during the speech he delivered on Jan. 6, 2021, as his supporters were beginning to clash with police on Capitol Hill.

After Trump threatened to sue, the BBC apologized for the editing, but said any confusion it caused was unintentional and did not amount to defamation. The network also said it had no plans to re-air the documentary in question, which was never released in the U.S.

Trump wasnt satisfied and sued in federal court in Miami last December, seeking up to $10 billion in damages. Trump and the BBC disclosed this week that theyve selected a former judge to oversee court-mandated mediation, but that isnt scheduled to take place until October.

Trump v. Des Moines Register/Selzer

Days before the 2024 presidential election, The Des Moines Register released a shocking poll that found Harris leading Trump in Iowa by three percentage points. Democrats seized on the survey, conducted by veteran pollster Ann Selzer, as evidence of late momentum for Harris. Trump called Selzer a Trump hater and denounced the poll as a form of voter suppression.

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Like Trumps lawsuit against CBS, the suit against the Register and Selzer was framed as a consumer fraud case, alleging that they deliberately deceived the public. The newspaper and Selzer have denied any intentional deception

Last week, an Iowa judge put discovery in the case on hold until he rules on motions from the Register and Selzer to throw the suit out.

Trump v. The Pulitzer Board

Trump sued members of the Pulitzer Prize board in 2022 over its decision to bestow awards on reporting by The New York Times and Washington Post about allegations of collusion between the 2016 Trump presidential campaign and Russia.

Trump claimed that special counsel Robert Muellers investigation and other reporting debunked the newspapers work. The case is currently in discovery.

Trump v. Woodward/Simon and Schuster

Trump sued famous Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, publisher Simon and Schuster and media giant Paramount in 2023, seeking almost $50 million. The lawsuit claimed that Woodward violated copyright by publishing, without Trumps consent, an audio version of his interviews with Trump for a 2020 book about his presidency, Rage.

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A judge tossed out earlier versions of the suit, but is considering allowing Trump to re-file it.

Trump v. CNN

Trump is attempting to revive a libel suit he filed in 2022, while a private citizen, over CNNs use of the term Big Lie to describe his false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

A district court judge appointed by Trump, Raag Singhal, threw the case out in 2023. Singhal labeled CNNs statements about Trump as repugnant, but said the comparison to Hitler was fundamentally an opinion and not a factual assertion that could be sued over. A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal. Trumps lawyers have asked the full 11th Circuit to reconsider.

Editors note: The law firm Ballard Spahr represents several media organizations Trump has sued. It also represents POLITICO.
Deep partisan divisions over how to respond to President Trumps war against Iran are likely to give the president a free hand to launch missile strikes and bombing missions as he sees fit for weeks longer.

A bipartisan resolution under the War Powers Act to stop further military action against Iran, which will receive a vote in the Senate on Wednesday, has yet to pick up any GOP support beyond its one Republican co-sponsor: Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.).

Republican senators are instead rallying around the argument that Trump has all the authority he needs under the Constitution to bombard Iran, asserting that many other U.S. presidents have conducted bombing campaigns without permission from Capitol Hill.

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Asked if Trump needs Congresss permission to carry out strikes against Iran beyond the 60-day window set by the 1973 War Powers Act, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) responded emphatically: No.

I think the president has the authority that he needs to conduct the activities, the operations that are currently underway there, Thune said after the weekly Senate GOP policy lunch.

As you know, theres a lot of controversy around, questions around the War Powers Act, but I think the president is acting in the best interests of the nation and our national security interests by ensuring that hes protecting Americans and American bases and installations in the region as well as those of our allies, Thune said.

Other Republicans are embracing that argument.

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I think a fair-minded person will conclude that our founders intended to give both Congress and the president a role, and I happen to believe they left it intentionally vague, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Im not aware of any instance where a president  and there have been many of them, Republican and Democrat  has bombed an adversary that is trying to hurt the United States  Im not aware of any Supreme Court case that says the president cannot do that, he added. I think thats what were doing here.

Republicans across the political spectrum have defended the joint U.S.-Israeli operation as justified by Irans decades-long sponsorship of terrorism, its huge missile arsenal and its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

Democrats have criticized Trumps strikes, arguing that he doesnt have a clear plan for ending the conflict and that U.S. forces in the region didnt face an imminent threat until Israel and the United States launched preemptive attacks.

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said most Americans oppose the war, pointing to recent polls.

If the case for war were strong, it would be consistent. Instead, the rationales change by the hour: Regime change, nuclear weapons, missiles, defense, preemptive  which is it? When the justification keeps shifting, the strategy is missing, he said.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,282 U.S. adults nationwide found that only 27 percent of respondents approved of the strikes against Iran, while 43 percent disapproved and 29 percent were unsure.

Sen. Angus King (Maine), an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Tuesday at an Armed Services Committee hearing that he was stunned by Secretary of State Marco Rubios explanation that the administration felt compelled to launch strikes against Iran because Israel was planning to attack and American troops would have faced retaliation.

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Have we now delegated the most solemn decision that can be made in our society, the decision to go to war, to another country? King asked Elbridge Colby, the under secretary of Defense for policy, at the hearing. Thats the implication, the breathtaking implication of Secretary Rubios statement.

Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.), the lead Democratic sponsor of the war powers resolution, argued Tuesday that the law only allows the president to deploy military forces for 60 days in a defensive action and framed the current U.S. action as an unprovoked attack.

Havent we learned anything from 25 years of the wars in the Middle East? More than 14,000 U.S. troops and contractors killed, more than 65,000 troops and contractors injured, he said. What did we get out of it?

The Democratic arguments, however, have failed to gain much traction with GOP colleagues.

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Moderate Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who voted to advance a war powers resolution in January to block Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela, declined to say Tuesday afternoon how they would vote on the Iran resolution.

Two other Republicans who voted in January to discharge the Venezuela war powers resolution out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January but then voted to block the measure after facing an intense backlash from Trump  Sens. Todd Young (Ind.) and Josh Hawley (Mo.)  are expected to vote against the Iran measure.

Young told reporters after the Senate GOP luncheon that hes inclined to oppose the resolution, and Hawley argued that Trump has so far complied with the War Powers Acts requirement that he formally notify Congress of military action within 48 hours.

I think the administration is in compliance with the War Powers Act. The president has 60 days under the War Powers Act to conduct operations before having to come back to Congress. Ive always said that committing ground troops would be something I think that would require immediately a congressional authorization, but that doesnt seem likely, Hawley added.

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Republican Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Bill Cassidy (La.), who voted in February of 2020, during Trumps first term, to pass a war powers resolution prohibiting use of military force against Iran without congressional approval, have also declined to endorse the new measure.

Asked if Congress would need to authorize military action against Iran beyond 60 days, Moran said he would need to research the law and the facts of the military conflict before drawing a conclusion and said he hoped to learn more at a classified briefing Tuesday afternoon.

Democrats, meanwhile, with the exception of Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), who has applauded the military action against Iran, are expected to vote overwhelmingly to block Trump from continuing the military campaign.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
U.S. Navy could soon be escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime traffic has effectively stopped due to the current conflict with Iran, according to President Donald Trump. Doing so would demand that American naval vessels transit through the Strait, shifting them away from other duties. More importantly, it would also mean putting them right in a super weapons engagement zone full of Iranian threats that could include cruise and ballistic missiles, one-way-attack drones, explosive-laden kamikaze boats, and naval mines.

If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible, President Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social social media network.

BREAKING: Trump:



Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through pic.twitter.com/a1wavLcfYU  Clash Report (@clashreport) March 3, 2026

Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf, he also wrote. This will be available to all Shipping Lines.

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No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH, he added. More actions to come.

U.S. Central Command declined to comment when reached for more details. TWZ has also reached out to the White House.

The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is just 20 nautical miles across at its narrowest point. A significant portion of the waterway falls within Irans national waters, which also overlap with those of Oman to the south. Under normal conditions, maritime traffic flows in and out through a pair of established two-mile-wide shipping lanes. Each year, roughly one-fifth of all global oil shipments, and an even higher percentage of seaborne shipments, pass through this one waterway. It is also a major conduit for liquid natural gas exports. Some 3,000 ships, including tankers and container ships, pass through each month.

Minimal vessel traffic seen in Strait of Hormuz amid reported closure



The latest #MarineTraffic playback shows visibly reduced transit density, alongside holding patterns, slower speeds, and vessels remaining outside the strait as operators reassess risk. pic.twitter.com/pfqk5rcbg8  MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) March 3, 2026

Politico had earlier reported that President Trumps administration was considering both of these courses of action, citing unnamed sources.

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Its becoming a growing concern that the energy markets could face pressures in the coming days as the military campaign intensifies and expands in geographic scope, one individual said to be familiar with the discussions told that outlet. Access to the Straits [sic] of Hormuz is obviously vital for both natural gas and crude oil shipments, especially from Qatar and Saudi [Arabia].

Lloyds List has also reported that Trumps announcement came less than 24 hours after Navy officials told shipping industry representatives that there was no chance of escorts happening any time soon.

Several civilian vessels have already suffered attacks in and around the Strait since the United States and Israel launched their joint operation against Iran this past weekend. Though American officials insist that Iranian forces have been unable to seal off the highly strategic waterway, maritime traffic through it has now come to a near halt amid the ongoing fighting. Some ships appear to be making the transit with the transporters turned off to reduce the chance of being targeted. The real danger of attack has been compounded by insurers cancelling war risk policies ahead of what are expected to be major rate hikes.

 Strait of Hormuz traffic drops to zero



West-to-east crossings averaged ~2535 per day through February before tankers and container lines began pulling back amid escalating Gulf tensions.



By March 2, Bloomberg daily DSET CHOKE<GO> data showed transits at zero after Irans pic.twitter.com/zlhLjl4m8q  Michael McDonough (@M_McDonough) March 3, 2026

Tanker Pola pulled a Leeeroy Jennnkins yesterday and ran the Strait with her AIS off.



Expect others to follow suit. https://t.co/3HcYxHJJ9o pic.twitter.com/7k34IVq5cw  Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping)      (@mercoglianos) March 3, 2026

Iranian retaliatory attacks have also been hitting port facilities, as well as energy infrastructure, in multiple Gulf Arab states. As noted, if this situation persists, the potential knock-on effects on global oil and natural gas markets could quickly become severe. Since Iranian authorities have repeatedly threatened to blockade the Strait of Hormuz in the event of a major crisis that threatens the regime, TWZ has explored all of this in detail in the past.

Iranian attack drones struck oil storage infrastructure in Fujairah, UAE, this morning, causing a large fire.



Notably, Fujairah is the only major oil export terminal in the UAE that avoids the now-closed Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/DdAbVOyRoc  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 3, 2026

Iranian attack drones struck Oman again today, hitting a fuel storage tank at the Port of Duqm. pic.twitter.com/HFSKL9Hn6l  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 3, 2026

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This is not the first time that the United States has been faced with this predicament or decided to start escorting commercial vessels through the region as a result. The U.S. Navy did just this in the late 1980s during the Tanker War sideshow to the Iran-Iraq War. At the same time, that experience underscores the immense amount of resources such a campaign could require, as well as the risks.

At the peak of those operations, there were some 30 American warships escorting commercial vessels to and from the Persian Gulf. Aircraft, special operations forces, and other assets were also deployed in support. The risks to American service members, as well as the ships they were tasked to safeguard, were very real.

Shortly before the escort mission began in 1987, the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate USS Stark was struck by two French-made Exocet anti-ship cruise missiles fired from an Iraqi aircraft as it sailed in the Persian Gulf. The government of Iraq, then led by Saddam Hussein, apologized, claiming they had mistaken the Americans for an Iranian tanker. In the end, 37 U.S. Navy personnel died, and 21 more were wounded.

The USS Stark burns in the Persian Gulf after being hit by Exocet anti-ship cruise missiles launched from an Iraqi aircraft in 1987. USN

In 1988, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, another Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, was severely damaged after hitting an Iranian naval mine in the Persian Gulf while supporting the escort mission. 10 sailors were injured, but there were thankfully no fatalities.

Damage to the hull of USS Samuel B. Roberts after it struck an Iranian naval mine in 1988. USN

In the course of the Tanker War, 450 commercial ships also came under attack, and many were damaged or even sunk by missiles, mines, and other threats.

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More recently, the U.S. military, as well as the European Union, have established naval task forces to help ensure the free flow of maritime commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as elsewhere in the Middle East. When it comes to Iran, those forces have primarily been called on to respond to attempts to seize ships or otherwise harass them. In the past decade or so, outright Iranian attacks on ships in and around the Persian Gulf have generally been covert and sporadic.

The U.S. Navy released the video below in 2019 in relation to an Iranian covert limpet mine attack on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman.

Escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz now would involve U.S. Navy warships sailing right into an extremely high-threat zone in the midst of a conflict that has already taken on a regional character.

This would mean putting U.S. Navy surface combatants right in the strait. https://t.co/1lm7RM3ZHI  Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) March 3, 2026

In general, the U.S. Navy, as well as commercial shipping companies, have loathed convoy operations despite the benefits they offer. As already noted, these missions can be very resource-intensive, as well as risky. Ships tasked with these missions are then also not available for other duties, including striking targets ashore or helping defend other assets. It can also be very time-consuming to assemble maritime convoys and then escort them to their destination. You can read more about all this in a past TWZ feature here.

The US Navys Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Delbert D. Black fires a Tomahawk land attack cruise missile at an Iranian target on February 28, 2026. USN

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For all the lessons the U.S. military learned during the Tanker War, Iran has also significantly expanded the scale and scope of anti-ship capabilities since then, as we regularly highlight. Irans missile, drone, and naval forces have been degraded just in the past few days of intensive U.S.-Israeli strikes. How much Iran was able to reconstitute missile and other capabilities in the aftermath of losses during the 12 Day War with Israel last year is also unclear.

Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have ZERO. The Iranian regime has harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades. Those days are over. Freedom of maritime navigation has underpinned American and global pic.twitter.com/nzdkMVMqZC  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026

The Iranian regime's killer drones have been a menace in the Middle East for years. These drones are no longer a tolerable risk. pic.twitter.com/76yhDKI6OW  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 3, 2026

At the same time, much of Irans shorter-range missile and drone arsenal is understood to be untouched, as well as dispersed, making interdiction now more challenging. Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio highlighted these threats and the dangers they pose.

SECRETARY RUBIO: The United States is conducting an operation to eliminate the threat of Iran's short range ballistic missiles and the threat posed by their navy, particularly to naval assets.



That is what the U.S. is focused on right now and is doing quite successfully. pic.twitter.com/zWKBOLVstH  Department of State (@StateDept) March 2, 2026

Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen were able to cause massive disruptions in maritime traffic in and around the Red Sea between late 2023 and early 2025 using just a portion of what Iran itself could still potentially bring to bear. The U.S. response to Houthi attacks, which included naval deployments to help safeguard commercial shipping, did provide additional valuable lessons learned. It also underscored very real risks to naval assets in environments full of missile and drone threats, as well as to aircraft, including stealth types, flying overhead.

The Barbados-flagged cargo ship True Confidence burns after being hit by Houthi missiles in 2024. US Central Command

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The narrowness of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the insular nature of the Persian Gulf, creates additional challenges and risks compared to operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden because there is simply less space to maneuver. Iranian anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as one-way-attack drones, can be fired from road-mobile launchers, including ones disguised as civilian trucks, making it even more difficult to find and fix threats in advance. Proximity in the littoral zone to these threats only further reduces the time available to react.

The Iranian regime is using mobile launchers to indiscriminately fire missiles in an attempt to inflict maximum harm across the region. U.S. forces are hunting these threats down and without apology or hesitation, we are taking them out. pic.twitter.com/gv1SfKCrk4  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 3, 2026

Escort operations mean that American warships would need to transit through the highest threat areas repeatedly, as well, which would only give Iranian forces more engagement opportunities. There is a reason why U.S. naval vessels are currently operating well away from the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Sea, as well as the Eastern Mediterranean.

President Donald Trump seen at his Mar-a-Lago estate during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, 2026. The map seen behind him gives a general sense of where US naval forces are positioned for this operation. White House

U.S. naval facilities, as well as civilian ports, on the opposite side of the Persian Gulf have also come under Iranian attack in the past few days, and would not be guaranteed sanctuaries to shelter in. Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Middle East are already showing the limits of some of the most modern air defense capabilities on Earth, especially when faced with large volumes and/or complex mixtures of disparate incoming threats.

An Iranian one-way attack drone, likely a Shahed-136, filmed scoring a direct hit earlier Saturday on the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet Headquarters at Naval Support Activity Bahrain in Juffair, located in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. pic.twitter.com/O9AVD7DmzC  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 28, 2026

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It is possible that U.S. allies and partners could help bolster an operation to protect regional shipping that is sufficiently separate from U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. The United Kingdom and France are already conducting defense missions to intercept incoming Iranian threats around the Persian Gulf, as well as in the Eastern Mediterranean. Both of those countries, among others, are also sending more forces to bolster defenses around the region. As already made clear, a protracted upending of oil and natural gas exports from the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Iran itself, will reverberate globally.

US Navy and Coast Guard vessels, including an uncrewed surface vessel, transit the Strait of Hormuz in 2023. USN

TWZ has pointed to this reality in the past as raising key questions about whether the Iranian regime would have the political will, let alone the materiel capacity, to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. For now, though, as we wrote just this morning:

Increased targeting of Gulf Arab States oil and natural gas production is part of a clear Iranian strategy to put pressure on those countries to, in turn, create complications for the United States. As the economic pressure builds, the idea is that these countries will seek to end the conflict, and/or that relations with the U.S. will sour. The prospect of major, long-term disruptions in energy exports from the region has global ramifications, as well, which could bring immense external pressure to end the conflict. There is also the aspect of drawing Arab countries into the conflict, which would complicate it politically and militarily. In addition, some energy targets are not as well defended as U.S. bases in the region, for instance, and scoring hits with the now finite weapons Iran has on hand becomes easier.

How this will continue to play out, especially if more countries begin to take ostensibly defensive action against Iranian threats, is unknown. There is a very real potential for Irans strategy to backfire if the crisis begins to take a toll economically well beyond the Middle East.

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U.S. Navy warships escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz could help soften those impacts, but not without major risks, as well as the expenditure of significant resources. Risks would remain for shipping companies too, who could still be reluctant to make the transit, especially with uncertain insurance guarantees.

Overall, it remains to be seen how a U.S. mission to get oil and gas flowing again through the Strait of Hormuz might materialize.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
US President Donald Trump praised Germany's stance on the Iran war during talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying Berlin had behaved "great" and stressing that Washington was not seeking German troops for the military operation.

"We're not asking them to put boots on the ground or anything," Trump said during their meeting in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

At the same time, Trump sharply criticized NATO allies Spain and the United Kingdom during the meeting. He said the UK had been "very, very uncooperative," calling its conduct "shocking."

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British media have reported that London initially declined to allow US strikes on Iran from its bases before granting limited approval.

He also criticized Spain, which has refused to allow the US to use air bases on its territory, and described the country's behaviour as "terrible." Trump said he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt "all dealings" with Madrid, without specifying which agreements he meant.

Merz later rejected Trump's threats to sever economic ties with Spain. He said he had made clear that no isolated agreement could be concluded with Germany or Europe while excluding Spain, stressing that EU trade negotiations must be conducted collectively.

No German military support in Iran planned

Germany, unlike Spain, has not objected to the United States using the Ramstein air base in western Germany for operations linked to the Iran strikes. However, Berlin has ruled out direct military participation. According to Merz, Germany has not been asked by either the US or Israel to provide military support.

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In the Oval Office, Merz signalled broad alignment with Washington's objectives, saying both sides agreed that the regime in Tehran must be removed. He added that political perspectives and security structures for the post-conflict period must be considered.

Later, however, Merz indicated he still had open questions about Washington's plans. He said he had asked about the strategy for "the day after" and whether there was a clear vision for how Iran would be governed, adding that he sensed considerable uncertainty.

Trump: Ending war in Ukraine high on priority list

Merz also urged Trump not to lose sight of efforts to end the war in Ukraine and exert more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Trump said ending the conflict remained high on his priority list, describing "tremendous hatred" between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

After the meeting, Merz called on Trump to include Europe in any peace negotiations, saying Europe would not accept an agreement negotiated over its heads.

Trump knows "only a peace that Europe supports and legitimizes can truly be lasting," Merz said, adding that the US president also knows that Europe's contributions to the security, reconstruction and European integration of Ukraine are "indispensable for this peace."

Merz pushes for quick resolution in tariff dispute

Trade tensions also featured prominently. Trump reiterated plans to introduce a 15% global tariff on imports into the United States and said his administration was examining differentiated tariffs for specific countries.

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In a light-hearted moment, he joked to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, saying the US should hit Germany "very, very hard," tapping Merz on the knee. Merz did not respond publicly.

Later, the German chancellor said he had urged Trump to finalize and swiftly implement a trade agreement reached last year between the US and the European Union.

Trump also criticized former German chancellor Angela Merkel, saying he had disagreed with her on migration and energy policy. By contrast, he described Merz as an excellent leader and a friend.

During the public portion of the meeting, Merz spoke for around three minutes, compared with roughly 30 minutes for Trump. A similar imbalance had marked his inaugural visit last June, though most of the questions from reporters were directed at the US president.
Donald Trump has promised cheap insurance for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz in a challenge to Lloyds of London.

The US president said he had ordered Americas international investment body to insure ships travelling through the Persian Gulf at a very reasonable price after the outbreak of fighting in the Middle East led insurers to cancel polices and dramatically raise rates.

Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, travelling through the Gulf.

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The pledge is an attempt to calm international oil markets, which have been rocked by conflict in the Middle East. Investors are concerned that the war with Iran could not only disrupt oil production but also halt trade.

Around a fifth of the worlds supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which borders Iran. The countrys Revolutionary Guard has declared the strait shut, and claimed complete control of the waterway on Wednesday.

0502 Iran paralyses oil trade

Mr Trumps promise of cheap maritime insurance threatens to undermine Londons position as the worlds main insurance hub.

Members of the Lloyds of London market underwrite billions of pounds worth of maritime coverage each year, a trade that has provided a steady stream of profits for the City for centuries.

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Insurers at Lloyds have in recent days increased prices and cancelled policies for ships travelling through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, adding to the turmoil facing the shipping industry.

Irans Revolutionary Guard has declared the Strait of Hormuz shut - Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Lloyds Market Association added Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar to its list of places at risk of war, piracy, terrorism and related perils on Tuesday, meaning ship owners must also buy specific war insurance policies to travel to ports in the four Gulf states.

The decision is expected to increase war risks by between 50pc to 100pc, which could add more than 100,000 to the cost of insuring a tanker travelling through the region.

Higher insurance costs threaten to drive up energy prices worldwide by making it more expensive to ship oil and liquefied natural gas from some of the worlds largest suppliers including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.

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As well as cheap insurance, Mr Trump said the US would also start escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to support the global energy industry.

He wrote on Truth Social: If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD.

The United States ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH  more actions to come.

The US International Development Finance Corporation is a state-owned body established in 2019. It offers loans and investments to businesses worldwide in the interest of Americas foreign policy.

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President Trump said Wednesday that "I will be making my endorsement soon" in the Texas Republican Senate race and called on the candidate he doesn't pick to drop out. The hard-fought race between longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton is headed to a May 26 runoff.

"I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I don't Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair? We must win in November!!!" Mr. Trump posted on social media.

Neither Cornyn nor Paxton managed to secure 50% of the vote in Tuesday's primary election, which also included Rep. Wesley Hunt. Under Texas law, they must now go to a runoff.

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The race already was the most expensive Senate primary in history. As of Wednesday morning, with 98% of the vote counted, Cornyn led by less than 30,000 votes.

It's unclear who Mr. Trump would endorse, but Paxton said Wednesday that he won't be dropping out if the president endorses Cornyn.

"I'm staying in this race," Paxton said on Real America's Voice. "I owe it to the people of Texas. I spent a year of my life campaigning against John Cornyn because John has not represented the people of Texas well."

Whoever eventually triumphs on the Republican side will face Texas state Rep. James Talarico, who won the Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, ending the contest that highlighted a divide in the Democratic Party. Talarico can begin campaigning in the general election while Paxton and Cornyn continue to duke it out in the runoff.

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Mr. Trump said in his social media post that the race between Cornyn and Paxton "MUST STOP NOW!"

"We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!" Mr. Trump wrote. "Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT!"

Paxton, who has been elected three times as attorney general, has long been an ally of Mr. Trump's, but he has a scandal-plagued career, including being impeached by his own party, being indicted in a separate securities fraud case, and allegedly cheating on his now-estranged wife.

Cornyn, meanwhile, has served in Republican leadership in the Senate and has many allies there who want Mr. Trump to endorse him. The GOP's Senate campaign arm has poured millions into Cornyn's campaign.

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Mr. Trump had previously stayed out of the race, saying he liked all three candidates. GOP sources close to the president told CBS News Wednesday morning that they expect him to weigh in ahead of the runoff.

Mr. Trump won Texas all three times he was on the ballot, and in 2024, the state delivered more votes for him than any other single state. He made endorsements in nearly every U.S. House race in Texas and many state-level races, but he opted not to weigh in only in the 2nd Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Dan Crenshaw faced a primary challenger, state Rep. Steve Toth. Toth won the primary Tuesday night.

In remarks on Tuesday night, Cornyn and Paxton both continued their attacks on each other.

"I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we've worked so hard to build over these many years," Cornyn said. "Judgment Day is coming for Ken Paxton."

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Paxton, meanwhile, accused Cornyn of trying to "steal the election with another $100 million going into this Senate race, but here's what we proved tonight: While the money may be on their side, the people are on our side."

Texas' other GOP senator, Sen. Ted Cruz, said Wednesday that he would not be endorsing in the race.

"John Cornyn is a good friend of mine, Paxton is a good friend of mine," Cruz said. "I have endorsed both of them previously. I've campaigned with both of them previously, and as I've said, from the beginning of this race, I'm staying out of the race. I trust the voters in Texas. We're going to have a runoff. It will be vigorously contested, and the people of Texas will decide."

Watch: Lawmaker plays videos of harsh Minnesota ICE arrests at Noem hearing

Trump denies Israel forced U.S. strikes on Iran

Noem defends immigration crackdown and criticizes DHS funding lapse at hearing
President Donald Trump boasted on Tuesday that US-Israeli strikes had "knocked out" most of Iran's military, while denying that Israel had forced him into launching the war that has engulfed the Middle East.

Trump however offered no firm plan for Iran, saying possible leaders eyed by the US had been killed and admitting that a replacement for slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei could be just as bad.

The 79-year-old Republican has faced criticism for conflicting messages about his justifications and aims after launching the region's biggest conflict in more than two decades.

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"Just about everything's been knocked out," Trump said as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, answering his first questions from reporters since the strikes began on Saturday.

"They have no navy, it's been knocked out. They have no air force. It's been knocked out. They have no air detection, that's been knocked out. Their radar has been knocked out."

A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, 3 March, 2026 - AP Photo

Trump, who has given differing reasons in recent days for launching "Operation Epic Fury," claimed that Iran was going to strike first and that the United States acted to pre-empt it.

In doing so, he walked back Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments on Monday that Washington did so only after learning that ally Israel was going to strike.

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"Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they (Iran) were going to attack first. And I didn't want that to happen," Trump said in the Oval Office.

"So, if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand."

Trump faced criticism for the lack of an apparent plan for Iran and he admitted that he was not sure how the situation would play out.

"I guess the worst case would be, we do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person, right?" Trump said, referring to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A group of men inspects the ruins of a police station in Tehran, 3 March, 2026 - AP Photo

New Iran leadership candidates 'dead'

He said that two waves of US-Israeli attacks had killed Iranian figures he had eyed as potential new leaders, adding that there had been a "substantial" new attack on a meeting to choose the new leadership.

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"Most of the people we had in mind are dead," he said. "Now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports."

Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian media reported that Israeli strikes had targeted the Assembly of Experts building, the body that chooses the countrys ayatollah, in Qoms.

In this satellite image provided by Vantor shows a view of the damaged Presidential complex in Tehran, 3 March, 2026 - AP Photo

Israel said that the building was "flattened" in the strikes, apparently wiping out the 88-strong assembly of senior clerics, but Iran denied anyone was hurt, saying the building had already been evacuated.

Trump has previously urged the people of Iran to rise up and overthrow their government, but toppling the Islamic republic was not among the four key goals for the operation that he gave on Monday, including stopping its nuclear program.

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On Tuesday the US leader told protesters to hold off. He has also used the recent deadly crackdown on protests in Iran as a justification for the war.

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"If you're going to go out and protest, don't do it yet," Trump added.

Germany's Merz Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced support for the US-Israeli war on Iran but said he hoped it would end soon, saying it was hurting the global economy.

"This is, of course, damaging our economies. This is true for the oil prices, and this is true for the gas prices as well. So that's the reason why we all hope that this war will come to an end as soon as possible," he said.

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Trump insisted soaring oil prices would drop "lower than even before" after the war ends.

US President Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House, 3 March, 2026 - AP Photo

While praising Merz, Trump had harsh words for European allies Britain and Spain.

"This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with," Trump said of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who initially refused to let US forces use UK bases, before relenting.

Trump also threatened to cut off trade with Spain, whose left-wing government refused to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran and objected to raising defence funding as part of NATO.

"Spain has been terrible," Trump said, adding: "We could use their base if we want. We could just fly in and use it."
Donald Trump has attacked Sir Keir Starmer over his lack of support for the Iran war, saying he is not Winston Churchill and ruins relationships.

In his harshest rebuke of the Prime Minister yet, the United States president criticised him for initially blocking the use of Diego Garcia, the military base in the Chagos Islands, for military strikes.

The remarks from the Oval Office on Tuesday came after Mr Trump told The Telegraph he was very disappointed in Sir Keir and that his refusal was unlike anything that had happened between our countries before.

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They reveal the increasingly fraught state of the special relationship, which has frayed after disagreements between the two leaders over free speech, trade and the use of air bases.

Sir Keir is facing pressure to increase Britains military presence in the conflict by dispatching an aircraft carrier to protect Cyprus from Iranian attack.

Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to send an aircraft carrier to protect Britains RAF base on Cyprus - Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Last night, Emmanuel Macron branded US and Israeli strikes against Iran illegal, setting France on a collision course with Trump.

Iranian drones and missiles have targeted American assets and allies in the region, including the US embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, US and Israeli forces continued to strike the Iranian regime on Tuesday, raising the death toll to 800, while Israel sent ground troops into Lebanon following Hezbollah drone attacks.

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US officials also sparked fears of civil war in Iran by saying Mr Trump was open to supporting militias that could wrest control from the regime.

On Tuesday night the Pentagon released photographs of the four American soldiers killed by an Iranian drone strike on Sunday.

The four US troops killed in the strike have been named as Sgt Nicole Amor, Sgt Declan Coady, Capt Cody Khork and Sgt Noah Tietjens - Getty Images

It came as fears of an energy crisis caused by the conflict triggered stock market crashes around the world, with the FTSE plunging more than 3 per cent before closing down 2.75 per cent in its worst day since Mr Trumps tariff onslaught last April.

Speaking during a meeting at the White House with Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, the US president said the UK had been very, very uncooperative over the use of the Chagos Islands.

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He told reporters: That island ... Its taken three, four days for us to work out where we can land there, it would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours, so we are very surprised.

This is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with.

He added: They ruin relationships. Its a shame. And that country, the UK, and I love that country. I love it.

The US president also vowed to cut off all trade between the US and Spain after it refused to allow its bases to be used in strikes on Iran.

It raises the prospect of similar action against other Western countries that refuse military cooperation, including the UK.

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Mr Macron said the attacks were outside the bounds of international law in a televised statement on Tuesday.

However, he said Iran bears primary responsibility for the war because of its nuclear programme and support for armed groups across the Middle East.

In his brief speech from the Elysee, Mr Macron said that French Rafale fighter jets, air-defence systems, and airborne radar systems had been deployed in the Middle East. And we will continue this effort as much as necessary, he said.

Britain had denied the US permission to conduct strikes from RAF bases, citing international law, but Sir Keir relented on Sunday night and said he would allow the US to fly missions from the bases for specific and limited defensive purposes.

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The dispute persuaded Mr Trump to withdraw his support for Britains controversial Chagos deal, in which the UK will relinquish ownership of the British Indian Ocean territory to Mauritius, but lease back its Diego Garcia military base.

Mr Trump went on to criticise Sir Keir over his horrible immigration and energy policies, urging the UK to remove sharia courts and open up the North Sea to oil and gas.

Donald Trump hosts Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, in the Oval Office on Tuesday - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

The Prime Minister has also been criticised for failing to protect RAF Akrotiri, a British base in Cyprus, after Iranian attack drones hit it, damaging the runway.

Sir Keir announced on Tuesday night that he would send HMS Dragon, a Type-45 destroyer, and Wildcat helicopters to defend the base.

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The base is currently defended by British radar systems, air defence and F-35 jets, but there are no Royal Navy warships in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea around it.

France has sent the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier  the only non-American, nuclear-powered ship of its kind  to the region, alongside extra anti-drone defences, to protect Akrotiri.

Two former defence secretaries said that Britains firepower in the conflict with Iran did not match that of the US or France, and that Sir Keir should also send the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier.

The ship is currently preparing for a Nato deployment to the Arctic.

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Sir Gavin Williamson, a former Conservative defence secretary, said: The current pressure is not in the Arctic. The Government needs to be realistic and change its plans for this deployment. The threat is in the Gulf and in the Eastern Mediterranean, and we should be very rapidly redeploying forces to address that.

Sir Grant Shapps, who was defence secretary under Rishi Sunak, said: We should, of course, send the carrier. The idea that this country can sit out a war against arguably the most evil regime on the planet is completely bonkers.

All of our British interests lie in a successful conclusion, and the failure to protect British servicemen and women is extremely concerning and should properly be the subject of parliamentary probing.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, added: We should send HMS Prince of Wales, but it will take two weeks to get there. In the meantime, the fact that the French are protecting an RAF base tells you everything you need to know: we are sinking to third-world status.

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HMS Prince of Wales is undergoing maintenance in Portsmouth but could be deployed relatively quickly. It would require an escort of other ships to form a carrier strike group, and fighter jets could join it later on its journey to Cyprus.

The Royal Navys second aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is undergoing more major repairs and cannot be deployed.

The carriers, which cost 7.9bn and took nine years to build, have been criticised for their small number of deployments and vanity trips to visit allies.

However, Whitehall sources suggested that the mission to protect RAF Akrotiri would not be appropriate for an aircraft carrier, since Britain already has the base to launch fighter jets.

Sir Keir on Tuesday assured Nikos Christodoulides, the Cypriot president, of his unwavering support for Cyprus and its security and pledged support from HMS Dragon, one of the most capable air defence warships in the world.

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But defence grandees said he should have dispatched the ship more quickly and questioned his decision to wait until after France had already sent assistance before ordering it to deploy.

Lord Owen, the former Labour foreign secretary, said Sir Keirs refusal to join the great bulk of countries in the world, even some in Europe, is wrong, adding that his legal justifications are flawed.

Admiral Lord West, the former head of the Navy, told The Telegraph: This is a disgrace. We havent got a single warship in the Middle East apart from an old minehunter. Ive never known anything like it.

James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said: So far, the only decisive action this Prime Minister appears willing to take is to allow the United States to do the heavy lifting, while he carps from the sidelines.

Hes floundering around, crippled by indecision and not even able to say if he backs US action or not. Our Armed Forces deserve far better.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
A key theme of the call was Metro Banks funding position. Frumkin said the bank had the lowest funding costs of any high street bank, with an exit cost of deposits of 94 basis points . Page said deposit costs have fallen by more than 100 basis points over the past two years , driven by a mix shift away from expensive fixed-term deposits and growth in current accounts.

Frumkin said the banks return on tangible equity (RoTE) was 6.4% for 2025, in line with guidance, and that widening jaws from rising revenue and lower costs helped reduce the cost-income ratio.

16% revenue growth , which Frumkin said was the highest among U.K. banks that have reported so far

The bank reported an exit NIM of 3.17% , which Frumkin said was towards the upper end of prior guidance. CFO Marc Page added that the combination of lower deposit costs and an asset rotation strategy helped lift margins even as the Bank of England base rate declined by 100 basis points during 2025 . Page said revenue increased more than 81 million year-on-year to 585 million .

Chief executive Daniel Frumkin said the bank generated 98 million of underlying profit in 2025, calling it the highest in Metro Banks history. He also pointed to record revenue , net interest income (NII) , and net interest margin (NIM) .

Metro Bank (LON:MTRO) reported what management described as its strongest performance to date in fiscal year 2025, highlighting record profitability, revenue, net interest income and net interest margin, alongside cost reductions and strengthening capital ratios.

Metro accelerated commercial lending ( 2bn new in 2025 with an 800m pipeline), recycled ~ 2.1bn of noncore assets, and expects RoTE to rise to 13% by Q4 2026 , 15% in 2027 and > 18% in 2028 , supported by strong capital (total capital ratio 18.4% ) and liquidity.

The bank says it has a clear funding advantageexit deposit costs of 94bps , 110,000 new current accounts in 2025 and noninterestbearing balances now at 44% of deposits after cutting fixedterm deposits from 15% to 7% .

Metro Bank posted its strongest performance in FY2025 with a record underlying profit of 98m , revenue of 585m (up >81m YoY), and an exit NIM of 3.17% despite a 100bp Bank of England rate cut.

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Page said Metro reduced the share of expensive fixed-term deposits from 15% to 7% of the deposit mix as excess liquidity ran off. He also said the bank opened more than 100,000 new current accounts in 2025 (Frumkin later cited 110,000), and that current account non-interest-bearing balances now account for 44% of total deposits, which he said is more than twice the average of market peers.

Asked about deposit pricing and the ability to sustain low deposit costs if deposit growth accelerates, Frumkin argued Metros advantage comes from transactional banking and serviceparticularly in current accounts. He said current accounts grew 3% in the second half of 2025 and that management is pretty confident in the banks ability to keep growing its current account franchise while continuing to invest in digital offerings where the bank is a bit behind the competitors.

Loan growth, asset rotation, and credit discipline

Management emphasized momentum in corporate and commercial lending. Frumkin said Metro completed 2 billion of new commercial and corporate loans in 2025almost triple the level of two years agoand entered 2026 with an 800 million pipeline. Page said commercial and SME origination capability has more than trebled over the last two years, and he described the lending as high margin, at over 350 basis points above base rate.

Page said the balance sheet size was broadly stable year-on-year (about 9.0 billion versus 9.2 billion), but Metro has shifted its composition. He said the bank has run off nearly 2.1 billion of non-core segments and recycled that into commercial/SME lending and specialist mortgages. According to Page, core business lines were up 56% year-over-year.

On asset quality, Page said non-performing ratios were low for both retail mortgages and commercial lending and presented collateral metrics he described as prudent. He said over 87% of loans are collateral-backed by property or government guarantees, and for the property-backed portion (which he said is 83% of loans), the average loan-to-value is 62%.

Frumkin provided additional detail on commercial lending sourcing and selectivity:

88% of corporate lending was originated directly via relationship managers (not broker-led)

Two-thirds of lending occurs outside Greater London

69% of new commercial lending went to customers the bank has known for more than five years

Of 4.5 billion of corporate credit opportunities reviewed, Metro completed 1 billion and turned down 3.5 for every 1 completed

Frumkin said the bank is very good in certain sectors including hotels, care homes, and medical practices (including dental and physician groups), while noting it does not currently do much manufacturing or transportation-related lending.

Capital, liquidity, and a path to higher RoTE through 2028

Metro highlighted significant liquidity and capital headroom. Frumkin said the loan-to-deposit ratio is 66% and the liquidity coverage ratio is over 300%, which he said means the bank does not need to issue new MREL and has optionality around existing MREL with a call date in April 2028. Page said the banks total capital ratio is 18.4%.

Frumkin and Page both emphasized what they described as mechanical tailwinds to returns from treasury portfolio roll-off and MREL dynamics. Frumkin said treasury portfolio roll-off creates a 3% RoTE uplift in 2026 and a further 1.4% in 2027, while calling MREL in April 2028 creates a 4% uplift in RoTE in and of itself.

Based on those factors and the existing strategy, Frumkin said Metro expects to more than double RoTE within the next seven months, guiding to 13% RoTE by Q4 2026, rising to 15% in 2027 and greater than 18% in 2028.

On CET1 assumptions behind the longer-term RoTE guidance, Frumkin said the bank is not yet providing guidance that far out because it starts to get into a capital return story. He said the bank expects to discuss a capital return strategy at the end of this year, which would then influence where CET1 settles.

Updated guidance and interest-rate sensitivity

Management said it widened NIM guidance but reduced the lower end of the range by roughly 2025 basis points due to interest-rate uncertainty. Frumkin said that if revenue is pressured by lower margins, the bank intends to use cost actions to hold the cost-income ratio in line with prior guidance. Page said Metro is now guiding for 2026 costs to be broadly flat versus 2025, citing discipline across people, non-people and other costs, including depreciation, amortization, and fraud.

Metro also provided interest-rate sensitivity disclosure. Page said the banks planning assumption is a further 50 basis point reduction in base rate to 3.25% by summer 2026. The sensitivity example included a 50 basis point parallel shock that would imply a 23 million impact (and 41 million annualized for 2027), noting the illustration did not include management actions and assumed the shock applies to future lending and maturities as well.

In response to analyst questions on structural hedging, Page said Metro has up to 2 billion of hedges in place, adding that as the bank pivots further toward floating-rate corporate and commercial assets, it expects to add hedging positions relative to its growing current account base.

On the possibility of buying back MREL debt ahead of the 2028 call date, Frumkin said the bank would do so tomorrow if the economics made sense, but current trading levels are at a premium that prevents the bank from making the math work. For now, he said planning assumes the bank will call the instrument in April 2028.

About Metro Bank (LON:MTRO)

Metro Bank Holdings PLC operates as the bank holding company for Metro Bank PLC that provides various banking products and services in the United Kingdom. It offers personal banking products and services, including current, cash, and foreign currency accounts; savings; residential and buy-to-let mortgages; overdrafts; credit cards; pet insurance; and safe deposit box services. The company also provides business banking products and services comprising business bank, commercial and community current, foreign currency, and insolvency practitioner accounts; deposit accounts, such as business and community instant access deposit, business notice, client premium and flexible client term deposit, and business and community fixed term deposit accounts; insurance products; and business and commercial loans and overdrafts, asset and invoice financing, bounce back loans, business credit cards, and recovery loan schemes services.

The article "Metro Bank H2 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was confronted by a reporter over the attack on a girls school in Iran that killed at least 175 children and others.

Since Trump announced that the United States was in the process of attacking Iran, at least six American servicemembers have been killed in the fighting. Iranian counterstrikes have continued throughout the region, including on U.S. assets.

On the first day of the operation, Iranian media reported a strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh all-girls elementary school in Minab that killed, at most recent count, at least 175 people  including 160 children. The school was located near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base that was also targeted.

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Hegseth held a joint press conference for the Pentagon press corps on Wednesday morning, which he opened with a hyperbolic ode to the death and destruction being wrought by U.S. air power.

But in one section of his remarks, Hegseth accused the fake news of trying to make the president look bad by prominently reporting on what he described as when a few drones get through, or something tragic happens.

The latter may have been a reference to the strike, while the former was a reference to the Americans who have been killed.

Later in the presser, BBC State Department correspondent Tom Bateman confronted Hegseth about the strike, and the secretarys response was notably muted, even on follow-up:

BBC STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT TOM BATEMAN: Can you give us an update on what the administration knows, what you know now about the reported strike on a girls school in southern Iran on Saturday? SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: All I know, all I can say is that were investigating that. We of course never target civilian targets, but were taking a look and investigating that. BBC STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT TOM BATEMAN: Just on the basis that with the information you would have your reconnaissance abilities ability to gather information. I mean, its several days on now. So is there any clarity on whose munition this was? SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Were investigating it.

Watch above via Fox News.

The post Trump War Chief Hegseth Confronted Over Attack on Girls School That Killed 160 Children first appeared on Mediaite.
The Department of Justice is preparing an indictment of the interim president of Venezuela, two months after the Trump administration captured and arraigned her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro.

The U.S. attorneys office in Miami is drafting possible corruption and money laundering charges against Delcy Rodriguez, Reuters reported Tuesday.

According to the report, the administration has told Rodriguez she could be prosecuted if she doesnt do what Trump wants in what he has called our new friend and partner in South America.

Rodriguez has been interim president for about two months, which is when the DOJ reportedly began drafting an indictment. / Leonardo Fernandez Viloria / REUTERS

The draft indictment has been in the works for the past two months, which aligns with when U.S. forces captured Maduro and brought him to the U.S. to face drug- and gun-related charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

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The indictment reportedly relates to Rodriguez, 56, allegedly helping launder money from PDVSA, Venezuelas state oil company, from 2021 to 2025.

When reached for comment, the Justice Department and the White House referred the Daily Beast to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches denial.

Completely FALSE from @reuters. Not sure how such fake news makes its way to publication," he wrote.

Reuters said it stood by its report.

Blanche denied the Reuters report. / X/DAGToddBlanche

Rodriguez was vice president from 2018, having previously worked as communications minister and then foreign minister. She was sworn in as interim president after Maduros capture in January and retains authority.

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Some of what the Trump administration wants from Rodriguez is to arrest or keep in the country for potential extradition at least seven former high-level party officials, associates and their family members, according to the story. Many already have indictments in the U.S. for money laundering, drug trafficking, and other crimes.

One person, 54-year-old Alex Saab, is a Maduro ally who was extradited to the U.S. and released in 2023 in a prisoner swap. Saab was reportedly arrested early last month and could face new charges, sources told Reuters. Another source added that he would help the U.S. governments case against Maduro.

Saabs lawyer did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Rodriguez, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Charge dAffaires for Venezuela Laura Dogu toured an oil production facility last month. Trump has worked to get U.S. companies access to Venezuela's oil reserves. / Miraflores Palace / via REUTERS

The Trump administration also has an interest in Venezuelas oil reserves. Energy Secretary Chris Wright last month toured with Rodriguez oil production facilities at a joint venture between Chevron and PDVSA

That followed an agreement on energy cooperation, sanctions relief, and legal reforms opening Venezuelas oil sector to more foreign investment.
During an odd moment in the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Donald Trump seemed to forget where his father was born.

Politics: Trump Mocked After Suffering Brain Fart While Trying To Insult Biden

As Trump met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he accused the United Kingdom of being very very uncooperative about Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean thats home to a U.K.U.S. military base.

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The topic also seemed to trigger a wave of nostalgia about his parents.

I love that country, Trump said of the U.K. I love it. My mother was born there. I love it. My mother was born there.

Then, he focused on his dads origins.

My father was born  like he knows all about my father  my father was born there, Trump said as he gestured to the German chancellor, indicating his father was born in Germany. So, you know, places that you sort of automatically, very very, feel warmly about.

President Donald Trump, right, meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House. picture alliance via Getty Images

Trump was right about one of his parents. His mother, Mary Anne Trump, was born in Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom. But his father, Fred Trump, was born in New York, not Germany. His grandfather, Frederick Trump, was born in what is today part of Germany.

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Trump has made that same mistake before, claiming in 2019 that his father was born in a very wonderful place in Germany.

Politics: Critics Spot A Big Trump Double Standard After Latest Oval Office Blunder

The latest verbal stumble drew attention, in part, because Trump repeatedly attacked his predecessor, Joe Biden, for his own gaffes when in office  and in 2022 even claimed that Biden had dementia.

Now, some critics are pointing to Trumps frequent flubs, as well as growing questions about his overall health (including two yearly physicals just six months apart). And theyre hitting the president with the same kinds of accusations he once made against Biden.

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Some commentators, such as Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan, even called for invoking the 25th Amendment, a constitutional process that could ultimately lead to the removal of a president unable to perform his duties:

Imagine if Joe Biden had forgotten where his own dad was born. By the way, this isn't the first time that Trump has falsely claimed his dad was born in Germany when he was actually born in New York.



25th Amendment. https://t.co/HSpPOAvuaE  Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) March 4, 2026

Nobody multitasks like Trump. Taking large-scale unilateral military action with no objective or exit strategy AND forgetting where his father was born? Only Donald Trump can do that. Cry about it, libs. https://t.co/ReDtlFI3p9  Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky) (@rothschildmd) March 3, 2026

Fact check: Fred Trump was born in the Bronx. 25th Amendment time @RepBentzhttps://t.co/RurladaF0K  Carl Feher (@CJ_Feher) March 3, 2026

Trumps dad was born in New York City!



If Biden said something like this, mainstream news would be questioning everything.



For some reason, Trump gets a pass.



 ||  ||  https://t.co/0Shmc3udAg  Bryan Friedrich (@500Indy1911) March 3, 2026

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Can we see a long-form birth certificate? https://t.co/qqFnUYuuSo  Robert A. George (@RobGeorge) March 4, 2026

Trump's father was born in the Bronx. His grandfather was born in Germany.



I know that Trump's dementia has been normalized so much that we give such things a pass. Well... its not normal.



Imagine if President Biden said this.



And now, Trump is leading a war. https://t.co/x55a6d6pRl  Robert Elisberg (@relisberg) March 4, 2026

Yes, it was a long time ago when New York City was still in Germany. New York was only exported from Germany to the then English colonies in 1851. To celebrate, two barrels of beer, 20 pretzels, and three accordions were delivered. It was a very nice day.  Montrey (@Montrey82631182) March 3, 2026

Trumps grandfather was born in Germany, and he was basically banned from ever returning there. (His dad was born in NY).



Is he making up a fake family story to try to brag about his German heritage? In front of everyone? As if Merz is an idiot? https://t.co/z0CcZlPofc  ClearingTheFog (@clearing_fog) March 4, 2026

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I don't actually think it's a big deal if a 79-year-old flubs the birthplace of his grandfather as being that of his father's... but as always, you can imagine the meltdown and response had Biden made a similar slip. https://t.co/kGYMSnDGzL  Old Rant Dump (@TrumpinTheShark) March 3, 2026

Narrator: Donald Trumps father, Fred Trump, was actually born in the Bronx, New York, NY. - Which is still currently located in the United States of America.  Hadley Sheley (@HadleySheley) March 3, 2026

Grandfather

Not father.  Farrah Oxford (@OxfordFarr66929) March 3, 2026

Oh REALLY? Now I want to see Trump's ******* birth certificate.



I remember his ******** on Obama?



Now Trump is basically saying HE HIMSELF IS AN ANCHOR BABY. https://t.co/2AHHbuLjlK  Dave Ryder  (@daveryder) March 3, 2026

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Political Updates

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On April 30 1945, in his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler shot himself dead. Yet despite the efficacy of that bullet, his fate has remained shrouded in speculation, and proved fertile ground for conspiracy theories. Survival myths, exemplified most famously through the fantasy of a South American escape and hideaway, have proved oddly resilient.

No serious historian entertains such tales. Yet its worth asking why Hitlers demise has proved such a persistent talking point. What prompted so much doubt over his mortal status? Why did people insist they had seen him alive long after the Second World War? And what does the persistence of these doubts reveal about our willingness to trust the historical record?

As I found in researching a new book, The Long Death of Adolf Hitler, these rumours have old roots, principally in the intense anticipation that had built up around the idea of Hitlers death years before it happened. Allied propaganda routinely depicted him wounded by the sheer weight of his enemies military effort, or killed by virtuous civilians doing their bit. One American poster imagined him hanging from gallows constructed from war-bond contributions. There were many songs, games and jokes rooted in the idea of dancing on Hitlers grave.

Newspapers on a Berlin newsstand in 1949; including those reporting on claims Hitler was still alive - Bettmann

Within Nazi Germany, there were also clear cultural expectations as to what Hitlers death should look like. The regime had long perfected the art of elaborate state funerals for its fallen heroes, and promulgated martyrdom legends. Had Hitler died in office at the height of his power, he would have been assured of a magnificent send-off.

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Instead, he died with Germany in ruins and regime change imminent. There was no chance of an elaborate funeral or a national period of mourning. His suicide was a private affair. He left explicit instructions that his corpse should be burned to prevent it falling into enemy hands. The dictator, then, was not seen to die  and this created a cultural vacuum ripe for myth-making.

Initially, news of Hitlers death sparked mixed emotions. There were moments of jubilation  a group of Australian coal miners downed tools for the day, no minor thing amid a war effort  as well as widespread relief that the war in Europe would finally end. But there was also numbness and disbelief. One London woman, for example, insisted that she thought she would feel it far more strongly.

The Evening Star newspaper front page on May 5 1945, days after Hitlers death

After so much anticipation, there was disappointment that Hitler had evaded justice. The smallness of his end was out of proportion to the scale of his crimes, and that emotional mismatch made the bathetic reality of his demise feel to some unsatisfying, even implausible.

Public unease deepened when contradictory accounts emerged regarding the very cause of Hitlers death. Nazi radio proclaimed that the Fuhrer had fallen while fighting to his last breath against the Red Army. The Allies, fearing the formation of a heroic death legend, countered swiftly with stories of Hitlers failing health.

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When members of Hitlers bunker, placed under arrest, detailed his suicide, the Soviets rejected the notion that Hitler had shot himself, and instead painted a picture of a weakened figure who had taken poison. As the different powers pushed their own version of events, their publics grew sceptical as to where the truth lay.

An effigy of Hitler, hanging over the newly-liberated Buchenwald concentration camp

Stalin complicated matters further with his stubborn denials that Hitlers death had occurred at all. Exactly why the Soviet leader persisted in this stance is unclear; in part, it owed something to his distrustful personality, and his frustration at not being able to get his hands on an identifiable body that could be displayed to the watching world.

But there were also strategic advantages. As long as people fretted about a possible Hitler return, and the Nazi revival that might entail, Stalin could push for a harder line against Germany in the post-war peace settlement, which included a demand that the Soviet Union maintain a sphere of influence in the heart of Eastern Europe.

The British intelligence services sought to end the confusion through a formal investigation into Hitlers last movements. Their ruling, delivered on November 1 1945, concluded that the Nazi leader had shot himself, alongside his partner Eva Braun, who had taken cyanide. But the case rested upon a limited pool of witnesses, only one of whom had seen Hitlers body first-hand.

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Most of Hitlers remaining staff were now in Soviet custody, beyond the reach of Western interrogators. Emerging Cold War tensions precluded the open sharing of evidence, and the Soviets persisted in their claim that no remains of Hitler had been recovered from the vicinity of the bunker. As a result, the death-by-gunshot thesis struggled to gain universal acceptance.

A man accepts an invitation to knock a nail into Hitlers coffin, in Trafalgar Square, London, 1943 - AP/Alamy

The uncertainty over Hitlers fate took on a life of its own. In post-war Germany, scepticism fostered a host of rumours. Some claimed to have seen the ex-dictator hiding in the woods outside Heidelberg; others insisted he was living under an assumed name in Hanover, or cruising the Schleswig-Holstein coast in a luxury yacht. One Allied journalist mused that the prevalence of such tales indicated an emotionally attached population who were unwilling, or unable, to accept that their leader was gone.

Yet these stories werent necessarily crafted as sources of comfort. There were, in fact, common complaints that Hitler had betrayed his people, that hed never had the bravery to face death in battle. After years of relentless Nazi propaganda, many Germans expressed distrust in official sources, creating space for whispered alternative narratives and self-appointed insiders to step in with their own stories of Hitlers supposed whereabouts.

Soon, stories of a Nazi cover-up expanded to encompass complex escape routes and hiding places around the world. Hitler, it was claimed, was sheltering in a Tibetan monastery; running a ranch in New Mexico; washing dishes in a Miami restaurant. The most enduring legend, facilitated by the precedent of other leading Nazis seeking sanctuary in South America, insisted that he had been deposited on an Argentinian beach by a German submarine. Such ideas offered a dramatic alternative to the disappointing account of suicide behind closed doors.

The long death of Hitler

Its impossible to trace the origins of these stories, let alone determine how many people shared, believed or indeed rejected them. The archival evidence, though, shows that some allegations were considered intriguing enough to warrant investigation. The British spent six weeks checking claims that Hitler had passed through Hamburg. Some rumours may have stemmed from attention seeking or deliberate attempts to sustain a Nazi spirit; but those making the effort to report their suspicions to the authorities more typically cast themselves as law-abiding figures who yearned for Hitler to be brought to account for his crimes.

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That search for definitive proof of Hitlers death has stretched across several decades. It wouldnt be until 2018 that French scientists could affirm that dental remains held in Moscow since the end of the war belonged to him. The evidential record has grown considerably since 1945, but the piecemeal release of this information has generated both renewed moments of public excitement, and fresh opportunities for sceptics to poke holes.

Critics have seized on the slightest discrepancy between witness accounts, dismissed the eventual emergence of an autopsy report as a propaganda fake, and, most recently, leapt on claims that a tiny fragment of human skull, also retrieved by the Soviets, cannot be connected with any certainty to Hitler. Each new revelation, rather than settling the matter, has tended to reopen it.

And so the legend of Hitlers survival continues to resurface, exemplified through the recent suggestion that a declassification of Argentinian records might overturn everything we think we know about his fate. (They almost certainly wont.)

The persistence of such myths speaks to an enduring suspicion of official stories; it also owes much to our deep-rooted unease with ambiguity. Stalins denials, Cold War rivalries, the (apparent) absence of a body  they all helped to keep the doubts alive, yes, but so too did an evergreen appetite for stories offering drama, mystery or the promise of a reckoning still to come. Hitler may have died in that bunker, but he has had a very long afterlife.

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The Long Death of Adolf Hitler: An Investigative History (Yale UP, 25) will be published on March 10

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A ballistic missile launched from Iran and heading towards Turkish airspace via Iraq and Syria was destroyed by NATO air defence systems, Turkish officials said Wednesday.

The defence ministry said it had been "engaged and neutralised by NATO air-and-missile defence assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean".

It did not specify the missile's intended target. Iran has been hitting sites across the region in retaliation after the United States and Israel launched strikes against it on Saturday.

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A Turkish official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the missile had been "aimed at a base in Greek Cyprus but veered off course".

Officials said fragments that fell in the Dortyol district in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border, had been identified as pieces of the interceptor used to neutralise "the threat in the air".

No casualties were reported.

Reacting to the incident, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a call with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan "that attacks on Turkey's sovereign territory were unacceptable and pledged full support from the United States," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

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The incident also drew condemnation from NATO.

"NATO stands firmly with all allies, including Turkiye, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region," NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said, using Turkey's official name.

"Our deterrence and defence posture remains strong across all domains, including when it comes to air and missile defence."

The United Arab Emirates "strongly condemned" the missile launch as a "serious escalation", the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ankara summoned the Iranian ambassador to convey its "reaction and concerns" over the incident while Fidan warned Tehran against steps that could widen the conflict, a diplomatic source said.

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Fidan told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that "any steps that could lead to the spread of conflict should be avoided", the source added.

Iranian news agency Tasnim said Araghchi told Fidan that Iran's retaliatory strikes were aimed at bases used to carry out operations against the Islamic republic.

Turkey hosts a number of military facilities used by the United States and other NATO allies.

- 'Wrong strategy' -

In an evening address, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was "taking all the necessary precautions" in consultation with its NATO allies and was issuing "warnings in the clearest terms to prevent similar incidents from happening again".

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"If we, as a nation, want to live in peace and tranquility... we must constantly increase our deterrent capabilities. In these difficult times... we are leaving absolutely nothing to chance regarding the security of our borders and airspace," he said.

Turkey, a majority Sunni Muslim NATO member, shares a 500-kilometre (315-mile) border with Iran.

Erdogan has described the US-Israeli strikes on Iran which sparked the conflict as "illegal" and Fidan also criticised Iran's retaliatory strikes against Gulf nations and beyond, saying it was the "wrong strategy".

"The underlying strategy seems to be: 'If I am going to sink, I will take the region down with me'," Fidan said in an interview late Tuesday.

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Analysts said the trajectory of the Iranian missile and its destruction by NATO systems further raised the stakes for a widening regional war, even if there was no clear evidence Iran intended to strike Turkey.

"Turkey will not want to become embroiled in the US-Israel attack on Iran, which it has criticised, but if Iran launches more missiles clearly aimed at targets on Turkish territory, Ankara will consider its own direct retaliation," said Hamish Kinnear of risk-intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

The defence ministry said: "Any steps necessary to defend our territory and airspace will be taken decisively and without hesitation."

"We reserve the right to respond to any hostile actions directed at our country," it added.

bursfo-bg-hmw/pdw/rlp/ami
The Turkish presidency said on Wednesday that defence systems intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it could enter Turkish airspace.

The missile, which was tracked passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was "neutralized" by NATO systems, the office head Burhanettin Duran said in a statement on X.

No casualties or major damage were reported on Turkish territory.

Debris found in the Dortyol district of the Hatay province, along Syrian border, originated from the interceptor system in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish Defence Ministry separately said on X.

The ministry warned it "preserves the right to respond" to any threat, the statement added.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has officially approved naming the new east-west connector along the MooreNorman border the Toby Keith Expressway, as the late country music stars family says Keith ultimately came to support the project after initially opposing it.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) board voted Tuesday to approve the Legislatures plan to name the road after the Oklahoma music icon.

The new roadway, running between I-44 in Newcastle and the current terminus of the Kickapoo Turnpike at I-40 near Newalla, will officially carry the name Toby Keith Expressway.

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Its only fitting that his accomplishments and patriotism be remembered for generations to come, State Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, said a Tuesdays OTA board meeting.

LOCAL NEWS: $1.3 million grant expands housing support for justice-involved Oklahomans

Keiths family attended the meeting celebrating the decision.

Were very honored as a family to be represented here from the turnpike, Stelen Covel, Keiths son, said. We think its a lasting legacy piece for our father.

The decision may come as a surprise to some.

Last week, some Norman residents pointed out Keith had publicly opposed the controversial turnpike project before his death.

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He was very much opposed to the toll roads and the whole idea of turnpikes in Norman and in Cleveland County in general, Norman resident Dave Moore said to News 4 last week.

In 2022, Keith even allowed activists with the group Pike Off OTA to place a large banner opposing the turnpikes on his Norman property.

Keiths family said they originally shared similar concerns.

Originally, as a family, we all were relatively against the turnpike as it was going to displace some of our community members, Stelen Covel said.

But Covel said once it became clear the project would move forward regardless of local opposition, the family began looking at potential benefits.

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Once our voices in the community werent going to be heard, we decided to look at the silver linings of what the economic drivers are and how its going to actually benefit the area, Covel said. And we decided to be pro turnpike in that area.

Keiths wife, Tricia Covel, said the project still carries mixed emotions.

Its a bittersweet, you know, for our friends and families that were displaced, Tricia Covel said. But at the end of the day, we knew the economic value that it was going to have and what it was going to bring to the Moore/Norman area, both.

Stelen Covel said his father ultimately came around to the project as well.

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He was for the turnpike before his passing, Covel said.

For the family, seeing the road bear his name is emotional.

LOCAL NEWS: OAGC alleging threats over turnpike project, Pike Off OTA rebukes

I think the first time we get on will be a joyous moment for sure, Covel said.

The Turnpike Authority also confirmed Tuesday construction has officially begun on the bridge carrying the future turnpike over the Canadian River.

The first phase of the project, running from I-44 in Newcastle to I-35 in Norman, is expected to be completed within a couple of years.

The full extension east to I-40 is expected to be finished by 2030.

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A Turnpike Authority spokesperson also told News 4 the agency plans to designate the road as an interstate highway and assign it an official interstate number.

Officials said a decision on that number will come at a later date.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Two Massachusetts men were arrested separately on drug distribution charges in Winthrop, police said Wednesday.

Tyrone Robinson, 45, of Winthrop, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, subsequent offense, police said in a statement.

Ralph Sostre, 39, of Lynn, was charged with trafficking in fentanyl and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, police said.

Robinson and Sostre were both arraigned on Wednesday in Boston Municipal Court.

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On Tuesday, after an ongoing investigation, members of the Winthrop Police Criminal Investigations Division and Patrol Division, along with a Task Force Officer from the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office, executed multiple court-authorized search warrants at a home on Governors Drive.

As a result of the search, Robinson was placed under arrest. An investigation into this case remains ongoing.

Also Tuesday, members of the Winthrop Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division, while being assisted by the Winthrop Police Patrol Division, investigated suspected narcotics distribution in the areas of Kennedy Road, Atlantic Street, and surrounding neighborhoods.

A preliminary investigation found that a blue 2021 Tesla Model Y, registered to Sostre, was involved.

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Police said detectives saw activity consistent with street-level narcotics distribution. Detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop in the area of Revere Street and Shirley Street.

During the motor vehicle stop, Sostre failed to comply with repeated lawful orders, police said. After continued refusal to exit, officers were forced to break the vehicle windows to safely remove him. Sostre was taken into custody following a brief struggle.

A search of Sostre and the vehicle resulted in the recovery of approximately 18.9 grams of suspected fentanyl and approximately 12 grams of suspected cocaine, along with multiple clear plastic bags, a digital scale, two cellular telephones, and more than $2,400 in cash. Additional suspected narcotics were recovered during the booking process.

I want to credit our detectives, our Patrol Division, and the Suffolk County Sheriffs Department for excellent collaborative work on these cases, Winthrop Police Chief John Goodwin said in a statement.

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These arrests and our proactive work to reduce drug dealing in Winthrop make our community safer, Goodwin said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Tyler Robinson and his attorneys now want to kick the public out of part of a court hearing next month  a hearing where they will argue that cameras and microphones should be banned from the courtroom.

The defense team doesnt want the media to report about what the team considers to be harmful and prejudicial media coverage of the capital murder case so far.

Specifically, Mr. Robinson seeks to take evidence in a closed setting regarding the unfairly prejudicial and misleading media coverage and the improper statements of government officials in order to avoid republicizing the same. Mr. Robinson also asks this court to take evidence regarding the privacy violations detailed in the motion to exclude cameras in a closed setting, to, again, avoid reiterating the violative material, Robinson stated in his motion filed late last week.

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This request is based upon the realistic likelihood of prejudice to Mr. Robinsons right to a fair trial and reliable penalty phase.

Robinson is seeking to close portions of the April 17 court hearing.

Robinson, 22, is charged with capital murder and faces a potential death sentence if convicted of killing Charlie Kirk, 31, on Sept. 10 on the campus of Utah Valley University. His defense contends that electronic media coverage threatens Robinsons due process and his rights to a fair and impartial jury.

In his motion to close portions of the hearing scheduled for April 17, Robinson argues that the republication of the significant number of harmful media materials would materially impact the integrity of the proceedings. ... This was demonstrated by the fact that media representatives have already used public information and filings obtained from the criminal case to question government officials involved in the case.

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Robinson and his defense team say they plan at the April hearing to present evidence demonstrating the harmful and prejudicial media coverage of this case thus far. While there is simply not enough time to present all of what is referenced in the motion to exclude cameras, the compilation anticipated will highlight the most egregious and most concerning media coverage impacting Mr. Robinsons case.

He also argues that bringing up the alleged egregious conduct in court and having it reported by the media threatens Mr. Robinsons right to a fair trial and reliable penalty phase by recirculating unduly prejudicial (and in some instances incorrect) coverage out into the potential jury pool, becoming part of the ever-growing narratives existent in both primary and secondary coverage of the case, the motion states.

First Amendment attorneys have argued that there has never been a case in Utah in which a defendant was found to have received an unfair trial because of pretrial publicity, even though there have been many high-profile criminal cases in Utah before Robinsons.

Robinson says he further plans to provide the court on April 17 with evidence detailing the private information he argues was publicized by government officials in violation of Utah and federal law, the motion continues. It is anticipated that the individuals will offer testimony as to these facts and, as witnesses both to the issues presented and potentially future hearings, their safety and privacy are paramount.

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Most recently, 4th District Judge Tony Graf denied a motion by Robinson to have the Utah County Attorneys Office disqualified from prosecuting the case because a daughter of the county attorneys chief deputy was among the estimated 3,000 people in the audience when Kirk was shot.

Another hearing is scheduled for March 13, during which arguments are expected to be heard regarding which motions and court filings should be public and which, if any, should remain sealed.
By Erin Banco, Humeyra Pamuk and Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - Iranian Kurdish militias have consulted with the United States in recent days about whether, and how, to attack Iran's security forces in the western part of the country, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.

The Iranian Kurdish coalition of groups based on the Iran-Iraq border in the semiautonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan has been training to mount such an attack in hopes of weakening the country's military, as the United States and Israel pound Iranian targets with bombs and missiles.

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The goal would be to create room for Iranians opposed to the Islamic regime to rise up now that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials have been killed since the U.S.-Israeli attack began on Saturday, two of the sources said.

A final decision has not yet been made on the operation and its possible timing, added the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk freely about sensitive military planning.

The groups have requested U.S. military support and Iraqi leaders in Erbil and Baghdad have also been in touch with the Trump administration in recent days, they said.

The forces are in talks with the United States about CIA help to provide weapons, two of the sources said.

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CNN was the first to report on the CIA's involvement with the groups and the potential ground operation. Axios said this week that President Trump held a telephone call with two of Iraqi Kurdistans top leaders.

Reuters could not independently confirm the extent of the CIAs involvement in the planning of the operation, if it had facilitated the weapons or if any U.S. forces planned to go into Iran with the Kurdish groups.

The CIA declined to comment. The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Kurdish Regional Government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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KURDISH OPERATION WOULD REQUIRE U.S. SUPPORT

Any operation from Iraq would probably require significant U.S. military and intelligence support.

The Pentagon says the two U.S. bases in Erbil have supported the international coalition fighting Islamic State militants.

Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan have a long history of working with the U.S. but their shifting allegiances and ideologies have at times strained ties with Washington.

The United States worked with some of the Kurdish groups in Iraq both during the Iraq War and the battle against ISIS.

But it is unclear how successful the Iranian Kurdish groups would be in their fight inside Iran. The groups fighters have varying degrees of experience on the battlefield.

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A source cited by CNN said the plan would be for Kurdish armed forces to take on Iranian security forces to make it easier for an uprising of unarmed Iranians in the countrys cities.

It is not clear exactly how such an operation in Iran by the Kurds will be received by other countries in the region.

An armed uprising by the Iranian Kurds could have serious consequences for Iran's stability.

It could add fuel to an armed separatist movement among the country's ethnic Baluch minority that keeps close ties with separatists in Pakistan's neighboring restive province of Baluchistan.

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It is unlikely that Islamabad would tolerate any move toward Baluch independence.

Turkey, a strong supporter of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has seen the integration deal between Damascus and Kurdish forces as critical to restoring state authority across Syria.

It had threatened its own military operation against the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Forces (SDF) in the north, if the group did not agree to come under central government control.

Ankara has been working to advance its long-running efforts towards securing peace with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and is unlikely to be sympathetic towards the arming of Kurdish groups close to its borders.

(Reporting by Erin Banco, Humeyra Pamuk and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Don Durfee and Clarence Fernandez)
The NASA Artemis II mission is about to start soon. Just last month, the international space agency successfully resolved the technical issue that forced the rollback of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the launch pad.

The 322-foot vehicle will soon return to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center after engineers identified and repaired a helium flow obstruction in the upper stage.

Engineers Complete Repairs Inside the VAB

Ars Technica reported that the problem emerged shortly after a successful fueling test on February 21, when NASA loaded the SLS with super-cooled propellants and resolved a previous hydrogen leak. However, ground crews soon discovered they could not properly flow helium into the rocket's upper stage.

Because the upper-stage umbilical connections are only accessible inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), mission managers decided to roll the rocket back for closer inspection and repairs.

Inside the VAB, technicians determined that a displaced seal within a quick-disconnect fitting had restricted the helium flow. Engineers removed and reassembled the affected component, then validated the repair through controlled helium flow tests.

NASA is now investigating why the seal became dislodged to prevent similar issues in future missions.

While the rocket remains inside the VAB, teams are also refreshing several critical systems. These upgrades include installing new flight termination system batteries, replacing flight batteries across the core stage and solid rocket boosters, recharging Orion's launch abort system, and swapping out a seal on the liquid oxygen feed line. The additional steps aim to ensure optimal readiness ahead of the next launch attempt.

Artemis II Launch Window Approaches

NASA plans to return the SLS and Orion stack to the pad later this month, targeting early April launch opportunities beginning April 1. This is not an April Fool's joke to begin with, since the team is seriously considering exploring the deeper parts of the moon soon.

Artemis II will mark the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon since 1972 and the inaugural human flight of NASA's Artemis program.

Originally published on Tech Times
Flights carrying gold and silver to and from Dubai have been grounded amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, creating significant disruptions to global bullion flows and leading to challenges within the precious metals industry.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plays a crucial role in the metal market, especially in refining and exporting gold to Asian buyers and acting as a conduit for shipments from Switzerland and London, reported Bloomberg.

However, the recent wave of Iranian missile attacks prompted a partial closure of UAE airspace, halting operations at Dubai's airports and affecting shipments transported in the cargo holds of passenger planes.

Traders and logistics companies have reported indefinite pauses in their metal shipments through Dubai, with efforts focused on rerouting consignments intended for transit through the emirate.

Transporting high-value cargo overland to other regional airports poses significant risks, making it an unfeasible alternative.

Traditionally, gold is economically moved between trading hubs via passenger aircraft for less than $1/oz per trip.

However, the volume a single flight can carry is limited by value due to insurance caps on tonnage.

Consultant and veteran of the precious metals logistics industry Lars Johansson was cited by the news agency as saying that overland transportation introduces complex challenges, especially when crossing international borders.

While current disruptions are expected to be temporary, a prolonged suspension could challenge traders in India and other markets dependent on UAE-sourced metal.

Metals Focus managing director Philip Newman said that premiums for bullion in Saudi Arabia witnessed an increase on Monday, suggesting concerns about the availability of products.

The suspension of commercial flights, triggered by US and Israeli actions against Iran, has affected more than 12,300 flights globally since the strikes began, as reported by Flightradar24.

"Middle East tensions stall gold and silver shipments in Dubai" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




NEED TO KNOW

The Virginia State Police named 32-year-old Jared Llamado as the suspect in a series of stabbings that left one woman and Llamado's dog dead, and three women injured, following a road rage incident on Sunday, March 1

Llamado was shot and killed by a responding officer

A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that Llamado was a Foreign Service Officer

A now-deceased U.S. State Department employee has been named the suspect in a fatal road rage incident.

In a media release on Monday, March 2, the Virginia State Police named 32-year-old Jared Llamado as the suspect in a fatal stabbing and officer-involved shooting that occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time on Sunday, March 1.

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Fairfax County is about 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., per Fox News.

A Virginia State Police trooper was called to the scene on March 1 for a reported "road rage incident," authorities said in their release.

"When the trooper arrived on scene, he was confronted by a male suspect carrying a knife," the media release continued. "The trooper then shot the suspect in self-defense."

While the trooper was not injured, he was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. Llamado was transported to the hospital with "serious injuries" and later died, police said.

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Four stabbing victims were also located at the scene, including Michele Adams, 39, who succumbed to her injuries. Police said that a dog owned by Llamado was also stabbed and died.

The other three victims, who were not identified, were described as a 36-year-old female, a 37-year-old female, and a 40-year-old female who were all taken to area hospitals with "serious injuries."

A preliminary investigation indicates that Llamado did not know the victims before the incident and that none of the victims were in Llamados vehicle, police said.

Trooper kills stabbing suspect after I-495 road rage incident on March 1, 2026

Credit: mpi34/MediaPunch/IPX

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According to the Virginia State Police, the preliminary investigation also showed that the stabbings followed a crash on Interstate 495 southbound, which remains under investigation. It is unclear what led to the stabbings.

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A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that they are aware of the "tragic incident that involved a Foreign Service Officer."

"We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy," the spokesperson said, noting that the investigation is being led by the Virginia State Police.

Jared Llamado

Credit: Jared Llamado/Facebook

The Virginia State Police said Llamado is the only suspect involved in this incident, and that it is not believed to be terrorism-related.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Virginia State Police for comment.

Read the original article on People
A suspect is under arrest in the kidnapping and rape of a UGA student off campus over the weekend.

Police are still looking for a suspect who sexually assaulted another student in an unrelated attack the day before

UGA students say they first learned about the back-to-back off-campus sexual assault of fellow students, through a safety alert sent out by university administrator and police.

We just got like a university-wide safety notice, saying safety is our number one priority and theyre looking into the case, said a student.

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The first happened Friday in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Barber Street.

Police say a man assaulted a 22-year-old student and raped her. He then robbed her of her purse, credit card, iPhone and Apple Watch.

Less than 24 hours later, a 20-year-old student was followed home around 2 a.m. Saturday and raped behind a building.

Police say their downtown camera tracking system led to the arrest of 19-year-old Tydarius Wingfield of Athens. Hes charged with rape, aggravated sexual battery and kidnapping.

More students say theyre arming themselves with pepper spray to fend off attackers.

Police say are still working to identify a suspect in the Friday attack on the student.

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A flight chartered by the government to bring back some Britons stranded in the Middle East has arrived in the UK.

The flight, originally scheduled to leave Oman's capital Muscat on Wednesday, had its departure delayed following some technical issues.

It eventually took off nearly 24 hours late on Thursday night local time, before landing at Stansted Airport at 00:53 GMT on Friday.

Thousands of British nationals remain stuck in the Middle East, after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran across the region.

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More than 140,000 Britons in the region have registered for updates from the UK government.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said more than 4,000 people have arrived back in the UK on commercial flights from the UAE, including "vulnerable Brits".

A further seven flights were due to leave the UAE for the UK on Thursday, he said, adding that the government will lay on additional charter flights in the coming days.

He said British Airways is putting on daily flights from Oman, and the government will keep working with partners to "increase the speed and capacity of this airlift".

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Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer described the situation as "a consular challenge on a scale not seen since Covid" and said there were "no instant solutions".

Britons in Oman will be contacted as soon as the additional government-organised flights from Muscat become available, Falconer said.

However, he said commercial flights becoming available were "by far the most likely and the most rapid routes back to the UK".

In response, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel criticised the government's position on the conflict, calling Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper "weak and feeble".

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Patel said the US, Cyprus, the UAE and Bahrain felt let down by the UK's lack of involvement.

Cooper had "failed in her duty to stand up for Britain's place in the world" and had not provided the leadership needed to protect military personnel, British bases and British nationals, she added.

On Thursday evening, a plane sent by France to Dubai to repatriate its citizens reportedly had to turn back because of missile fire.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the turning round of the French plane underscored the instability in the region and the complexity of safely carrying out repatriation operations.

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Those eligible for government flights are being asked to pay for seats. When announcing the initial flight, the Foreign Office said it would prioritise the most vulnerable people, and that only British nationals, their spouse or partner, and children under 18 would be offered a seat.

Passengers queue at Muscat airport on Thursday after Qatar Airways said they would begin operation a limited number of relief flights for some places in Middle East [Rajen Shah]

Foreign Office officials said 141,000 British nationals in the Gulf had registered their presence, of whom 112,000 were in the United Arab Emirates.

Following the missile strikes across the Middle East, airspace remains severely restricted, with flights completely or partially grounded over Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE and Israel.

A passenger on the flight, named Mark, messaged the BBC as it was about to take off. He's travelling with his young family to London Stansted.

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He described the "complete shambles" of Wednesday's delayed flight - check-in took two hours, and they were stuck on a bus to the plane for another hour with "no communication from the craft or the crew".

Mark said someone had a panic attack on the bus, and once the doors finally opened, they were told the crew were working out of hours, meaning the flight would not legally be able to reach Cairo.

Britons unable to secure a seat on the charter flight have been looking for alternative ways home.

Sam Sahabandu, 47, from Northamptonshire, who got stuck in Muscat after his flight back to London from Sri Lanka was diverted, was due to be on a Qatar Airways flight to Heathrow on Thursday afternoon local time.

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Sahabandu said Muscat Airport appeared "relatively peaceful" despite the disruption, and some other passengers were being routed through other cities such as Rome to get back to the UK.

Poppy Cleary is trying to get back to the UK after her flight was diverted to Muscat [BBC]

Poppy Cleary, 27, was one of those stranded in Muscat after her flight from Singapore was diverted to Oman on Saturday. She told BBC Your Voice that she registered and paid for a charter flight, but never heard back.

She said the British Embassy in Oman told her the first flight was not for people who had been diverted to Muscat, but instead for people who had come to Oman from "unsafe countries" including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.

Cleary said she was "relieved" to eventually secure a place on the Qatar Airways flight leaving Oman on Thursday, telling the BBC after boarding that it did not appear to be full, with a "fair amount of empty seats".

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One woman selected for a space on the government charter flight said she had to decline her spot as her parents - who have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, but are Sri Lankan passport holders - were not eligible.

Erasha Amarasinghe, a 39-year-old doctor from Northampton, told BBC Your Voice: "I am travelling with my disabled mother and my father who has cognitive impairment [] I feel stuck as I cannot leave my parents behind."

There were emotional scenes at Edinburgh Airport on Wednesday night as some 300 passengers landed on an Emirates flight from Dubai.

Andrew Crow and Jean Weir, from Glasgow, had checked out of the Fairmont The Palm hotel in Dubai just hours before it was caught in a large explosion on Saturday.

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"The flight was a long one on the way back, I can assure you, but we are relieved to be home," Andrew said.

Victoria Cameron, from Larkhall, had been travelling home from New Zealand via Dubai when flights in the Middle East were grounded.

"The staff said 'run, run, leave your suitcases'," she told the BBC. "Our phones were going off, saying 'emergency alert'. We were crying, we were shaking."

A mother and son wait for a family member at Edinburgh Airport, where a commercial flight landed from Dubai on Wednesday evening [BBC]

Meanwhile, the UK government continues to set out its wider response to the crisis in the Middle East, including deploying a warship to the area close to Cyprus.

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The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon will be sent to the Mediterranean, possibly next week, to bolster defences around a British military base at Akrotiri after it was hit by an Iranian drone.

What is happening with airports and airlines in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Oman?

A number of flights departed Muscat, Oman on Thursday, including a British Airways flight to London. The airline said it is operating two more already fully-booked flights from Oman to Heathrow on Friday and Saturday.

It added: "We remain unable to operate flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv."

In an update on X, Qatar Airways said it would be operating a "limited number" of relief flights from Thursday for passengers across the region.

Additional reporting by James Kelly, Rozina Sini, Alex Akhurst, Andree Massiah, Megan Bonar

Are you in Oman? Will you be on this flight? Get in touch via this link or use the form below.

[BBC]

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In a change to immigration rules announced on Tuesday, the UK will also cease granting work visas to Afghan nationals.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the ban  the first of its kind  was designed to close a back-door route to claiming asylum.

"Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused," she said in a statement.

"That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity."

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The changes are the centre-left government's latest effort to harden its immigration and asylum rules as its rivals on the right use the issue to rally support.

UK toughens asylum rules to discourage migration

Student visa statistics

The new policy will apply from 26 March.

According to the Home Office, the number of people claiming asylum after arriving in the UK with a valid visa or other permit has more than trebled in the past five years. Around 39,000 such claims were filed last year, bringing the total to 133,760 since 2021.

People from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan make up "an above average proportion" of asylum seekers accommodated at public expense, the ministry said, reporting that claims by students from the four countries had spiked.

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Official figures from 2025 show that the top five nationalities with the largest number of people claiming asylum were Pakistan, Eritrea, Iran, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The government has reported an increase in the number of applications from Pakistan and Bangladesh in particular, with over 80 percent of claimants from these countries requesting asylum after arriving in the UK on a work, study or other permit. In contrast, 83 percent of Afghan claimants arrived without documents.

A total of 12,578 people claimed asylum last year after coming to the UK on student visas, the government's statistics show. A higher number  13,557  applied while on a work visa.

Over half of African states subjected to travel bans or visa bonds by US

Asylum overhaul

The UK's previous right-wing government also cracked down on student visas, raising financial requirements and barring undergraduates from bringing dependent family members with them to the UK.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government has continued the drive to bring down immigration and asylum numbers, especially as polls show rising support for hard-right populist party Reform UK.

Under changes introduced this week, the government made protection for refugees temporary and subject to review every 30 months, after Home Secretary Mahmood argued the UK's system was too generous compared to other countries in Europe.

In November, the UK threatened to block all visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless their governments agreed to take back migrants denied permission to stay.

The Home Office has since signed agreements with all three countries to allow Britain to deport people to their territory.
Key developments on March 4:

3 Russian ships hit, 3 sailors killed in Ukrainian strike on Black Sea port, SBU source says

Russia continues to escalate drone attacks on passenger trains, railway infrastructure

Putin increases Russia's regular army personnel to nearly 2.4 million

Russian tanker on fire in Mediterranean Sea, Moscow accuses Ukraine of sea drone attack

Ukrainian forces struck the Russian port of Novorossiysk, hitting the minesweeper Valentin Pikul and "severely" damaging two anti-submarine ships, the Yeysk and the Kasimov, on March 2, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.

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The attack on the Black Sea port in southern Russia, which also killed three Russian sailors and injured 14 others, was carried out by the SBU in coordination with Ukraine's Defense Forces, the source said.

The fire in Novorossiysk's port lasted all night, according to the source.

The same strike also damaged six of the seven oil-loading berths at the major Sheskharis oil terminal, port infrastructure, a 30N6E2 guidance radar from an S-300PMU-2 Favorit system, and a Pantsir-S2 air defense missile system.

"There are no 'protected areas' for Russian military facilities. As long as Russia wages war against Ukraine, it will have no peace anywhere  neither at sea, nor on land, nor in the rear," the source said.

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The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims at the time of publication.

Novorossiysk has become a central base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet after repeated Ukrainian strikes on occupied Crimea, increasing its importance as both a military and logistical hub.

Read also: Ukraines experience priceless as Iran war sees long-range strike drones go global

Russia continues to escalate drone attacks on passenger trains, railway infrastructure

Russian drone strikes hit two passenger trains in Ukraine in one day, injuring a railway worker, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksii Kuleba said on March 4.

The strikes come amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine's railway infrastructure since July 2025. Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) said on March 4 that since the beginning of March, Russia has launched 18 strikes on railway infrastructure, an average of six per day.

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"Despite all this, Ukrzaliznytsia continues to monitor the airspace along train routes in cooperation with the military. If a threat is detected, railway workers change the train route, quickly evacuate passengers from the carriages, and take other safety measures," the company said.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, a Russian drone struck an empty train that had arrived for maintenance, and one worker of Ukrainian Railways was injured in the attack, Kuleba reported.

Kuleba later reported a strike on railway infrastructure in Odesa Oblast which injured two children and a railway worker.

Read also: NATO intercepts Iranian missile heading toward Turkey in first such incident

Putin increases Russia's regular army personnel to nearly 2.4 million

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on March 4 expanding the Russian regular army to nearly 2.4 million personnel, according to a Russian legal acts website.

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This is not the first time Russia has expanded its army since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Putin having signed a similar decree in September 2024.

Russia's regular army has grown to 2,391,770 personnel. Of these, 1,502,640 will serve as active-duty troops  2,640 more than before, according to the March 4 decree.

The manpower balance remains strategically important as the Kremlin tries to sustain the war without full mobilization. Moscow continues to rely on contract recruitment and financial rewards to avoid the political backlash that followed the 2022 draft.

According to a decree issued in September 2024, the regular strength of the Russian army stood at 2,389,130 personnel, including 1.5 million active-duty troops.

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Russia also moved from seasonal conscription in the spring and autumn to year-round conscription in 2026.

While conscripts are officially prohibited from serving abroad, reports suggest many are pressured into signing contracts with the Defense Ministry and deployed to fight in Ukraine.

Read also: It is time to sanction Rosatom and target Russias military core

Russian tanker on fire in Mediterranean Sea, Moscow accuses Ukraine of sea drone attack

A Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, reportedly caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea, multiple media outlets reported on March 3.

Reuters reported, citing maritime sources, that the U.S., EU, and U.K.-sanctioned vessel was ablaze near the coast of Malta, while other outlets placed the incident closer to Libya's shoreline.

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One source told Reuters that the fire may have been caused by a Ukrainian naval drone attack, although those reports have not been confirmed.

Russian state media TASS claimed on March 4, citing the Russian Ministry of Transport, that the gas tanker Arctic Metagas was attacked by Ukrainian sea drones.

The vessels is suspected of being part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet of tankers, consisting of ships that rely on opaque ownership, flags of convenience, and irregular shipping practices to move Russian oil despite Western restrictions.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's Security Service and the Armed Forces carried out a successful attack on the seaport in Novorossiysk in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, damaging several Russian naval vessels, on the night of 1-2 March.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda source

Details: Ukrainian defence forces struck the trawler Valentin Pikul. The anti-submarine ships Yeysk and Kasimov also sustained serious damage.

Russian forces also suffered personnel losses: three Russian sailors were killed and 14 were injured.

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It was previously reported that the attack had also hit the 30N6E2 guidance radar from an S-300PMU-2 Favorit air defence system, a Pantsir-S2 air defence system and six of the seven oil loading arms at the Sheskharis oil terminal. The fire in the port burned throughout the night.

Background: On the night of 1-2 March, drones operated by the Special Operations Centre Alpha of the Security Service of Ukraine together with other components of Ukraine's defence forces  the State Border Guard Service, Defence Intelligence, Unmanned Systems Forces and the Special Operations Forces  carried out a large-scale strike on military and oil facilities at the Novorossiysk port used in Russia's war against Ukraine.

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If you're blasting TikTok videos out loud on your next United Airlines flight, think again  you might receive a permanent ban from the Chicago-based airline.

Long considered proper etiquette to wear headphones during a flight, United has now made it a requirement. As reported by CBS News, United quietly updated its contract of carriage on Feb. 27 to include "passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content" as a reason for refusal of transport, with the potential for a permanent ban from the airline.

United confirmed the change in an email to USA TODAY, adding that its Wi-Fi rules have already encouraged passengers to use headphones on flights. "With the expansion of Starlink, it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage," the airline said in a statement.

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Why did everyone suddenly stop using headphones in public?

What's one way to feel happier? Go on a trip.



According to G Adventures' recently released Happiness List 2026, 89% of the 8,000 adults intending to travel in 2026 across the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand agree that purpose-driven travel contributes to their long-term happiness. Those trips offer a sense of wonder along with a chance to decompress and find connection.



Here are 10 travel experiences that G Adventures' travelers said made them feel happiest: Panama's San Blas Islands are ideal for unplugging while enjoying turquoise waters and white-sand beaches. Travelers can stay in Indigenous-owned accommodations, including traditional huts, and explore the archipelago by boat. Witnessing a solar eclipse is one way to experience wonder. G Adventures offers five trips for the Aug. 2027 eclipse, including an exclusive viewing party in Chefchaouen, Morocco. Travelers can dive into Guatemala's history and culture, from learning how to make beloved local dishes to exploring the ancient ruins of Tikal. Exploring the wild, remote landscapes in the Arctic aboard an expedition cruise can leave travelers with a newfound appreciation for Mother Nature. Imagine having a close encounter with Africa's wildlife while also supporting ethical travel and conservation. G Adventures offers a trip to Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, where travelers can see Victoria Falls, track elephants and cruise rivers looking for hippos. Sail down Sri Lanka's South Coast on a seven-day trip on a 54-foot catamaran for the chance to swim at remote beaches, explore fishing villages and more. Ecuador offers much more than being a gateway to the Galapagos. Travelers can go chocolate tasting, learn more about Indigenous culture and explore the wild jungle. Rather than falling into the typical tourist traps, travelers can try to live like a local and go off the beaten path. On G Adventures' East Iceland trip, guests go to a remote hamlet, enjoy geothermal pools and hike coastal trails. The Stans  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan  offer a rich history steeped in the Silk Road trade along with stunning nature, like Kaindy Lake's otherworldly sunken forest. Moldova may not be on everyone's radar, but this underrated Eastern European destination is perfect for foodies. Travelers can sip wine, taste local cuisine and visit spots like an eco-friendly cheese factory. 10 destinations where travelers feel happiest 1 of 10 What's one way to feel happier? Go on a trip.



According to G Adventures' recently released Happiness List 2026, 89% of the 8,000 adults intending to travel in 2026 across the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand agree that purpose-driven travel contributes to their long-term happiness. Those trips offer a sense of wonder along with a chance to decompress and find connection.



Here are 10 travel experiences that G Adventures' travelers said made them feel happiest: Panama's San Blas Islands are ideal for unplugging while enjoying turquoise waters and white-sand beaches. Travelers can stay in Indigenous-owned accommodations, including traditional huts, and explore the archipelago by boat.

As legally binding terms that passengers agree to when purchasing a ticket, the contract of carriage gives United "the right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis or shall have the right to remove from the aircraft at any point," according to the Refusal of Transport section.

The addition is listed under safety, meaning the refusal or removal of a passenger "may be necessary" for the safety of everyone aboard the flight.

The coerced seat swap: Ranking the most annoying things couples do when they fly

Other offenses that could result in you getting booted from a flight, or even permanently banned, include: wearing lewd, obscene, or offensive clothing; breaking the no-smoking policy; and making a video or phone call when the aircraft doors have closed, taxiing for takeoff, or while in the air.

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Travelers who forget their headphones don't need to sit in silence. They can request free earbuds if available, according to United.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This US airline can now boot passengers who don't wear headphones
The Brief

A new military operation is taking place in Ecuador to combat narco-terrorists.

Federal officials shared declassified video of preliminary ground operations saying it is working with the Ecuadorian government.

(FOX 2) - U.S. forces launched a new military operation targeting alleged narco-terrorists in Ecuador, according to the U.S. Southern Command on social media.

What we know

Federal officials shared declassified video of preliminary ground operations saying it is working with the Ecuadorian government.

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"We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country," wrote South Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan.

What we don't know

At this time, there is still no word on the outcome of the military action or any indication that it was approved by Congress.

Watch FOX 2 Detroit LIVE:
The search for a new University of Montana president has drawn more than 60 applicants, according to a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

We do not have an exact count at this time, as several applications are still being completed and additional submissions are expected, said spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Galen Hollenbaugh in an email earlier this week.

In January, then-UM-President Seth Bodnar announced his resignation to pursue other public service. Wednesday, the final day of filing, he announced he was running as an independent for the U.S. Senate to try to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Daines.

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Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian earlier said that with the advice of AGB Search, a firm thats helped the Montana University System conduct other executive searches, he would undertake an expedited process to appoint a new president.

Christian has been providing brief updates on a website dedicated to the search. Last week, he said he and AGB Search are reviewing applications, and the pool of candidates was strong and diverse.

The commissioner also announced he was convening a small working group to assist in the search, members who represent a variety of perspectives to assist in vetting and narrowing this field of exceptional candidates.

In an email this week, Hollenbaugh identified the members of the working group who are assisting Christian with application review as:

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Community member and former Regent Joyce Dombrouski

Faculty Senate Chairperson Valerie Moody

Staff Senate President Dominic Beccari

Administration Representative John DeBoer (Vice President of Academic Affairs)

ASUM (Associated Students of the University of Montana) President Buddy Wilson

Hollenbaugh declined to comment on the way the rest of the process would unfold or the role the working group members would play.

Christian earlier said he anticipated an appointment within one to three months, or as soon as early this month.
Unprecedented visa restrictions have been placed on four countries after asylum applications soared.

The Home Office confirmed on Wednesday that an emergency brake had been placed on UK student visas for people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.

The Government will end all sponsored study visas for migrants from all four of these countries, as well as skilled worker visas for Afghan nationals.

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It comes after UK asylum applications by students from the nations rocketed by over 470% between 2021 and 2025, the Home Office said.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused.

That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.

"I will restore order and control to our borders.

Between September 2021 and September 2025, the proportion of Afghans claiming asylum in the UK to study visas issued was 95%.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (PA Wire)

Applications by students from Myanmar soared sixteen-fold over the same period, the Government said.

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Asylum claims by students from Cameroon and Sudan spiked by more than 330% over the period, which the Home Office said posed an unsustainable threat to the UKs asylum system.

The Home Secretary has previously threatened a similar halt to all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic of Congo in November, unless their governments agreed to take back illegal migrants.

This led to co-operation agreements with all three countries, and illegal migrants being returned via deportation flights.

This week Ms Mahmood announced that permanent refugee status for people who come to the UK after fleeing brutal regimes is set to be scrapped as part of a major overhaul of Britains immigration system.

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Instead, refugee status will now be reviewed every 30 months and people whose countries are later deemed safe will be expected to return.

Refugees will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a visa route like any other legal migrant,including paying associated fees, in a policy shift is modelled on Denmark's system.

Under current rules, those granted the status have it for five years and can apply for indefinite leave to remain and get on a route to British citizenship.

But the approach has faced criticism from Labour backbench MPs, particularly after the Green Party swept to victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election last week.

Ms Mahmood is expected to lay out measures to toughen up the UK asylum system in a speech on Thursday.
Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) is one of the best cheap stocks under $50 to buy right now. Morgan Stanley lifted the price target on Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) to EUR 12.10 from EUR 11.50 on February 26, maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the shares. Citi also raised the price target on Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) to EUR 12.50 from EUR 11.90 on February 24 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares.

Banco Santander, S.A. (SAN) Is A European Bank That's Not A Loser, Says Jim Cramer

In addition to Morgan Stanley and Citi, Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) received another bullish rating update from Deutsche Bank on February 23. The firm raised the price target on the stock to EUR 11.50 from EUR 9.80 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares.

The positive rating updates came after Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) delivered record full-year 2025 results, reporting an attributable profit of 14,101 million in 2025, up 12% year-on-year (or +16% in constant euros), with total customers reaching 180 million for the first time after adding eight million customers in the year. Management attributed the strong results to resilient net interest income, record fees, and efficiency gains, with continued improvement in credit quality.

Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN) is a Spain-based company that operates as a retail and commercial bank. Its segments are scattered across Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Latin America, and the United States.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
The US State Department says it is taking steps to assist those who want to depart Israel and other countries in the region, though it notes that current options are limited.

As the situation in Israel continued to escalate following the start of Operation Roaring Lion on Saturday, the US embassy in Jerusalem issued urgent guidance for American citizens in Israel.

A recent State Department release said the US is taking steps to assist those who want to depart the Middle East and return to the United States, including through commercial or other transportation arrangements.

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However, at this stage, the US Embassy in Jerusalem has made clear it cannot conduct its own direct evacuation flights out of Israel or actively transport citizens home. Officials noted that Ben-Gurion Airport remains closed and there are very limited options inside the country.

US Air Force military aircrafts are seen parked on the tarmac of the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on February 25, 2026. (credit: Jack GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

The State Department sharply raised its travel warnings for countries across the Middle East, including Israel, urging US citizens to depart using available commercial transportation immediately due to serious safety risks. The advisory covers Israel along with several neighboring states.

American citizens living or traveling abroad were also encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP allows the State Department to contact registered US citizens with emergency alerts and locationspecific updates.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee reiterated these points in a post on X, urging US citizens to register with STEP and consider alternate routes to leave the country, while noting that travel options remain constrained.

Practical departure routes

Commercial airline service out of Ben-Gurion Airport was affected by regional airspace closures, and while there are efforts to reopen the airport on Thursday, official guidance stated theres no clear time frame for when normal operations will resume.

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One of the key recommended pathways out of Israel remains overland to Egypt via the Taba border crossing. The ambassador pointed to bus and ground transportation options from major Israeli cities toward the Egyptian border, from where flights may be available. While not guaranteed, Egypts airports are still operating and are currently less affected by the Middle East airspace disruptions than nearby hubs.

Government officials have advised that travel through Jordan, particularly via the Allenby Crossing, is less reliable at this time, citing sporadic availability and logistical challenges.

Airspace over much of the Middle East remains intermittently restricted. Major airlines, previously linking Europe and Asia through the Gulf, have reduced or suspended flights, complicating direct departure plans from the region.

Where flights are still operational, passengers are being advised to check with airlines or travel agents about rebooking, date changes, or refunds due to cancellations.

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The US Embassy in Jerusalem stated that it cannot currently provide passport services or emergency travel documents due to security conditions. US citizens should ensure their own passports are valid for departure and track embassy announcements for service updates.

Steps to take right now

Register with STEP to get realtime alerts from the State Department.

Monitor airline notifications closely and contact carriers immediately if rebooking options arise.

Consider overland departure routes, especially via Egypts Taba crossing, as air travel remains disrupted.

Stay up to date with travel advisories from both the US State Department and local authorities.

In a volatile environment where airspace closures and limited flights are complicating travel, many US citizens are facing logistical challenges departing the region. Staying informed through embassy channels and planning for alternate routes will be essential for those seeking to leave Israel in the days ahead.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify before a congressional panel investigating the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Lutnick "has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily" for a transcribed interview as part of the House Oversight Committee investigation, chairman James Comer announced on Tuesday.

Lutnick has acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in 2012, years after the financier was convicted of sex crimes. The commerce secretary has not been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein's victims.

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The announcement comes days after former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both testified in the inquiry.

The commerce secretary, who is considered the architect of Trump's global tariffs policy, had previously told Congress he cut ties with Epstein in 2005 after the paedophile - a neighbour of Lutnick in New York - used sexual innuendo to explain why he owned a massage table in a room of his home.

But earlier this month, he confirmed visiting Epstein's island while on a family vacation in the Caribbean. Details about the visit were included in millions of documents released by the US justice department related to their investigations into Epstein.

Lutnick is among a series of high-profile people named in the more than 3.5 million documents that have been released by the justice department, as mandated by law.

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The revelation that Lutnick visited Epstein's island long after he asserted that he had cut off contact led to bipartisan calls for the commerce secretary to resign from the Trump administration.

No date has been publicly shared for Lutnick's testimony.

"I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee," said Comer, a Republican representing Kentucky.

Files released by the justice department show Lutnick visited Epstein's Caribbean island on 23 December, 2012.

In an email on the eve of the visit, Lutnick's wife Allison wrote to Epstein's assistant: "We are looking forward to visiting you", and, "We would love to join you for lunch".

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The planned testimony comes on the heels of last week's depositions of the Clintons, who both testified that they did not have any prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and had cut ties with him before his conviction in Florida in 2008.

While neither Clinton has been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein's victims, Bill Clinton is included in investigative files related to the sexual predator, including photos. His inclusion spurred calls for the couple's depositions.

After announcing Lutnick's planned testimony, Comer also called on seven others to appear before the committee for transcribed interviews, including Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, Clinton's former top aide Doug Band and former White House lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler.
Ecuadorean and US forces have carried out joint operations in the South American country targeting drug trafficking, the US military's Southern Command has said.

The US embassy in Quito announced that US forces, working with their Ecuadorean counterparts and European international police agency Europol, had dismantled a large-scale drug-trafficking network linked to the Los Lobos gang.

The announcement came a day after Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa said the US was among "regional allies" taking part in a "new phase" of Ecuador's war on the drug cartels.

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Noboa says around 70% of the world's cocaine now flows through Ecuador's huge ports.

Ecuador's location, sandwiched between Colombia and Peru, the world's two largest producers of cocaine, makes it a lucrative location for drug-trafficking gangs.

The US embassy in Quito said in a statement that 16 suspects had been arrested, including what it described as a "high-value target".

Europol added that more than 100 police officers and law enforcement from Belgium, the Netherlands and Ecuador were involved in the operation.

During the investigation, which began in January, police seized 3.7 tonnes of cocaine in the Netherlands, more than three tonnes in Belgium and more than half a tonne in Ecuador, the statement said.

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Officers also secured $810,000 (605,000) in cash.

Police seized large quantities of cash as part of their investigation [Europol]

The drugs had been hidden in containers with fruit for export to Europe, according to officials.

Europol found that Ecuadorean drug smugglers belonging to the Los Lobos gang were working with an Albanian trafficking organisation to ensure that, once the cocaine shipments had reached ports in Europe, they were "rapidly divided, transported inland and distributed across multiple countries".

Last year, the US declared Los Lobos as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), accusing it of "terrorising and inflicting brutal violence on the Ecuadorean people".

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The latest operation comes four months after Ecuadoreans dashed US hopes of expanding its presence in the eastern Pacific region by voting against allowing the return of foreign military bases in the country.

The referendum result was a blow for Noboa, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, who is trying to fight organised crime and reduce soaring violence.

Some of the packets of drugs had been labelled with aces of diamonds [Europol]

The country has become one of the world's biggest drug-trafficking hotspots in recent years.

On Monday, Noboa held talks in Quito with US Southern Command chief Francis Donovan and Mark Schafer, head of US special operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

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During the meeting, they discussed plans for information sharing and operational co-ordination at airports and seaports, Noboa's office said in a statement.

"Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere," the US Southern Command said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes three months after the Washington announced a temporary deployment of air force personnel to the former US base in the port city of Manta.

Tackling drug trafficking in the region is a key priority for the US.

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The Trump administration has carried out more than 40 lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean since September.

In January, the US seized Venezuela's then-President Nicolas Maduro, who they accuse of "narco-terrorism" and enabling the transport of "thousands of tonnes" of cocaine to the US.

And last month, Trump met his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, at the White House after months of rising tensions between the pair.

Trump has repeatedly accused Petro and his administration of failing to stem the flow of drugs to the US, suggesting that expanded strikes could also target Colombia.

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March 4 (Reuters) - Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Wednesday a reform of the country's main mining law will be submitted in coming days to the country's legislature, after a meeting in Caracas with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, where the two officials hailed cooperation on minerals and a shared desire to pave the way for investment.

Burgum, who also heads the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, arrived in the South American country earlier on Wednesday with more than two dozen U.S. mining and minerals companies, which he said could represent billions in investment and thousands of high-paying jobs for Venezuela.

The visit is part of a U.S. push to open Venezuela to American investment, especially in oil, gas and mining, as the Trump administration tries to exert more control over the country following a January U.S. raid that captured President Nicolas Maduro. It is the second visit by a U.S. cabinet secretary since the ouster of Maduro, who courted the likes of China and Russia as allies.

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In public, Trump has heaped praise on Rodriguez for cooperating with the U.S. and hailed her again on Wednesday, saying she is "doing a great job" and that oil was beginning to flow from the country. Rodriguez thanked Trump in her joint remarks alongside Burgum at the Miraflores presidential palace after their meeting.

Despite the public support, behind the scenes, the Trump administration has been applying pressure to achieve its objectives. U.S. officials are threatening a legal case against Rodriguez that could include corruption and money laundering charges, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing four people familiar with the matter, and Washington is also pushing her to arrest or detain several former high-level party officials it may want extradited.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X that the Reuters story was completely false. Venezuela's communications ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the report.

MINING LAW CHANGES EXPECTED

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The mining law, expected to include provisions that would allow foreign companies to exploit gold, diamonds and rare earths, will be proposed in the coming days, Rodriguez said, adding she hopes it will be passed swiftly.

"We want the successful models of the hydrocarbons law to also be reflected in the mining sector," she said.

Rodriguez said the meeting built on previous work with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who visited the country in February. She said the agenda focused on "metallic minerals, nonmetallic minerals, strategic and nonstrategic minerals". Energy topics would be covered in meetings on Thursday, she added.

Her brother Jorge Rodriguez is the head of the National Assembly and has already ushered through changes to oil regulations meant to stoke investment.

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Burgum is expected to meet with oil and gas companies on Thursday to discuss expansion and investment, two sources earlier told Reuters.

"The opportunities for collaboration and synergy between our two great countries of Venezuela and the United States are unlimited," Burgum said. "I know Delcy (Rodriguez), like President Trump, wants to move to cut the red tape to allow that capital investment to flow."

RARE EARTHS UNCONFIRMED

Venezuela's current mining legislation dates to 1999.

The South American country owes billions of dollars to industrial conglomerates, oil and mining companies after deep waves of nationalizations two decades ago, including to Crystallex, Gold Reserve and Rusoro Mining.

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Exploration has not yet taken place in Venezuela to confirm reserves of rare earths, a grouping of 17 metals used to make magnets that turn power into motion. Rare earths are a subset of critical minerals, the global supply of which is dominated by China.

A report from the Venezuelan government in 2018 on mineral deposits used key mining industry terms like reserve and resource interchangeably, making it difficult to ascertain what the true measurements are. An official map published in 2021 showed reserves of antimony, copper, nickel, coltan, molybdenum, magnesium, silver, zinc, titanium, tungsten and uranium, but did not list volumes.

As part of bilateral agreements, Iranian companies in past years have explored for mining resources in the country, but the work did not lead to investments.

(Reporting by Marianna Parraga and Reuters; editing by David Gaffen)
The US and Israel have bombed targets across Iran for a fourth day, as President Donald Trump declared that the country's air defences, air force, navy and leadership were "gone".

The Israeli military said it had struck Iran's presidential office, a covert nuclear compound, and a Revolutionary Guards commander in Tehran, while the US military said it had destroyed command facilities, missile launch sites and airfields.

Iranian authorities did not comment. But explosions were reported across Iran, where the Red Crescent has said 780 people have been killed since Saturday.

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Iran has responded to the strikes by launching deadly missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases.

A drone hit a car park adjacent to the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday evening and "set off a fire in that place", US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

It came hours after two drones hit the US embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and caused a "limited fire", according to the Saudi defence ministry.

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The US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials in the first wave of strikes.

Trump has said the US is seeking to destroy Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and navy, its ability to develop nuclear weapons, and its support for proxy groups in the region. He has also urged Iranians to use the attack to "take back your government".

At the White House on Tuesday, the president said: "We've had a very powerful impact. Virtually everything they had has been knocked out now. Their missile count is going down."

Trump also repeated a claim that 49 Iranian leaders were "taken out" on Saturday and said there was "another hit today on the new leadership", without giving any details.

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When asked by a reporter who he would like to take over after the conflict, Trump replied: "Most of the people we had in mind are dead."

[BBC]

Not long afterwards, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) put out a statement saying an air strike in Tehran had killed the temporary commander of the Lebanon Corps of the Quds Force, the IRGC's overseas operations arm.

It named the officer as Daoud Alizadeh and said he had recently pushed the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah to attack Israel. The IDF has carried out dozens of strikes in Lebanon since Monday, when Hezbollah launched rockets and drones over the border.

The IDF also said it had struck a covert compound on the outskirts of Tehran where it alleged a group of scientists working for the defence ministry had "operated to develop necessary capabilities for nuclear weapons".

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There was no immediate comment from Iranian authorities, but they have repeatedly insisted that the country's nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and that it is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

The global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said separately that satellite imagery had allowed it to confirm "some recent damage" to entrance buildings at Iran's underground Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant. "No radiological consequence expected and no additional impact detected at FEP itself," it added.

The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) also said there had been no recorded release of radioactive material at Natanz following what it called the "criminal attack".

Natanz was severely damaged in a US strike during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel last June, and enriched uranium is believed to be buried underground. Enriched uranium can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons.

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Neither the US nor Israel have said they struck Natanz in recent days.

The Israeli military said it struck the presidential complex in Tehran overnight [Vantor/Handout via REUTERS]

Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF said it had dropped bombs overnight on the presidential office and the Supreme National Security Council's building in Tehran.

"This compound serves as the most central and significant headquarters of the Iranian terrorist regime. Its strike further degrades the functional continuity of the regime's command and control systems," the IDF added.

Satellite images later released by Vantor showed extensive damage to the presidential office and other major political and military sites, including the judiciary complex, the ministry of intelligence, a building owned by state broadcaster IRIB, and the IRGC's headquarters.

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The US military's Central Command said its forces had destroyed IRGC command-and-control facilities, air defence capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.

The office of the clerical body charged with choosing Khamenei's successor as supreme leader, the Assembly of Experts, was also bombed in the central city of Qom on Tuesday, Iranian media reported.

Two videos verified by the BBC showed that the building was almost completely destroyed. A nearby building was also heavily damaged.

IRIB said the buildings had been evacuated beforehand and no casualties were reported.

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The Iranian army said 13 personnel were killed in a missile attack on an army aviation base in the south-eastern province of Kerman, according to the hardline Tasnim news agency.

Social media videos showed heavy damage to the Assembly of Experts building in Qom [Social Media/via REUTERS]

The Iranian Red Crescent said on Tuesday that at least 787 people had been killed in the country over the past four days in 1,039 reported US and Israeli strikes. It did not say how many of the dead were civilians or whether the figure included members of the armed forces.

However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRNA) said overnight that the deaths of 742 civilians, including 176 children, had so far been reported.

Crowds of mourners packed the streets of the southern town of Minab on Tuesday for the funerals of children who Iranian authorities have said were killed in a strike on Saturday.

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Officials have said at least 165 girls and staff died when Shajare Tayyebeh school was hit, and blamed Israel and the US.

The IDF said on Sunday that it was not aware of any Israeli or US strikes in the area. The US secretary of state told reporters on Monday that the US "would not deliberately target a school" but that the department of defence was investigating "if that was our strike".

"We would have no interest and, frankly, no incentive to target civilian infrastructure," Rubio said. "The Iranians are, on the other hand, targeting civilian infrastructure."

Iran's armed forces have responded to the strikes by launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel and neighbouring Arab states which host US military installations.

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A spokesman for the IRGC warned of more intense attacks on Tuesday, telling state TV: "The gates of hell will open more and more."

The IDF has said it has intercepted most of the missiles and drones heading towards Israel since the conflict began, but some missiles have landed and killed a total of 10 people.

In Kuwait, six US service personnel have been killed in Iranian attacks. Two Kuwaiti army soldiers and one other person have also died.

Another three people have been killed in the United Arab Emirates, one person has died in Bahrain, and one person has been killed on a tanker off Oman's coast.

Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman condemned the Iranian attacks on its territory and told reporters that they would "not go unanswered".

Iran has also declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil and gas shipments pass. "We will burn any ship that tries to pass through the strait," IRGC Brig Gen Ebrahim Jabbari warned.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that he was sending an air-defence destroyer, HMS Dragon, to Cyprus after the runway of the RAF Akrotiri airbase was hit by an Iranian-made drone.

French President Emmanuel Macron also said he had ordered the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier group to deploy to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus.
Navy basketball was in the midst of its best season in decades and on track for its first NCAA tournament berth since 1998. Now those hopes are dashed with a heartbreaking loss in the Patriot League semifinals that didn't come without controversy.
In quick succession, US President Donald Trump has taken out two of Beijings closest allies: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The former is now in shackles in a New York detention facility after being snatched from Caracas by US special forces in an extraordinary overnight raid. The latter was killed in a daring daylight bomb drop in the center of Tehran in a joint US mission with Israel.

In the aftermath, China has responded with anger  condemning the capture or killing of a sovereign leader and the apparent US attempt at regime change while reaching out to Iran express its friendship. But Beijing has done little more than look on as its geopolitical rival shakes up the rules of engagement.

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For Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a hard-nosed pragmatism is at play.

Iran ultimately ranks below his top priorities, including the stability of Chinas relations with the US, particularly as it eyes the upcoming summit with Trump in Beijing later this month. China may also welcome Washingtons attention and military resources being diverted away from the Indo-Pacific, experts said.

China is a fair-weather friend  long on words, short on risk, said Craig Singleton, senior director for China at the Washington, DC-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Beijing will speak up at the United Nations but steer clear of providing any significant support to Tehran.

Though Beijing is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, the countrys strategic importance to China is far more limited than many may assume. Military cooperation between the two has remained constrained, and trade and investment flows are eclipsed by those with several Gulf states, as Beijing seeks to maintain balanced ties across the Middle East.

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China sees no benefit in heightening tension with the US over Iran, said William Yang, senior analyst at Belgium-based think tank International Crisis Group.

It still attaches greater importance to maintaining the trade truce and overall stability in the bilateral relationship with the US, so it will not want to jeopardize the positive momentum that it has built with the Trump administration over the last year.

Beijings calculations

A tanker berthed and unloaded imported crude oil at the Qingdao Port crude oil terminal in Qingdao, China, on November 28, 2025. - CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty Images

China has long been Irans most important source of diplomatic and economic support. In addition to purchasing the bulk of Irans oil exports, Beijing has denounced what it calls unilateral US sanctions imposed on Iran, and supported Tehrans insistence that its nuclear program is peaceful.

In recent years, China has elevated Irans global standing by bringing it into Beijing-backed groupings such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, widening Tehrans diplomatic space at a time of Western isolation.

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Chinese firms have also supplied chemicals used in Irans missile program and helped build out its domestic surveillance infrastructure, CNN has reported. Beijing maintains that its trade with Iran complies with international law.

But China has consistently steered clear of direct involvement in its partners conflicts, showing little appetite for wading into Middle Eastern security matters beyond protecting its own assets.

That restraint was evident during Irans conflict with Israel last year and subsequent US aerial attacks, when China similarly only offered rhetorical support.

China has long avoided presenting itself as a security guarantor to Global South countries too, as the US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq serves as cautionary tales that deter Beijing from pursuing such an ambition, said Yang.

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Beijings relationship with Iran helps strengthen its energy security and influence in the Middle East, but it has also courted other regional players like Saudi Arabia, Irans rival, as it seeks to strike a balance in the Middle East. In 2023, it played a role in brokering a rapprochement between the two.

Still, concern has been growing in Washington about the firming ties between China, Iran, Russia and North Korea. Leaders from all four countries gathered in Beijing last September for a startling show of unity at a major military parade. And China, Russia and Iran have also held regular joint military drills in recent years.

China's Xi Jinping with his guests, Russia's President Vladimir Putin with and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, before a military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. - Alexander Kazakov/AFP/Getty Images

Iran has been a longtime partner of the PRC, but it is far away and not existential or perhaps even critical to the PRC, said Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, referring to China by its formal name, the Peoples Republic of China.

But the limited support Beijing has offered Iran during two major military attacks over the last year raises questions about its reliability as a partner during adversity.

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Others who work with or wish to work with the PRC on security issues may rightly ask if Beijing will abandon them, especially if they are far away from the PRC  as in the case of Iran and Venezuela earlier, he said.

Analysts, however, agree that no matter who succeeds Khamenei, Tehran will likely maintain its ties with China, for its economic clout.

Events in Iran also present China with several structural opportunities, said Zhu Zhaoyi, director of the Middle East Institute at the Peking University HSBC Business School.

Americas deep involvement in military conflict in the Middle East inevitably diverts its strategic resources and attention, objectively constraining its capacity to sustain pressure on China in the Indo-Pacific, Zhu wrote in an online article Monday.

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A sustained campaign against Iran could also deplete Americas weapons supplies. Beijing has barred the export of rare earth elements for military use, which could make it more difficult for Washington to replenish its resources. The elements are crucial for a wide range of weapons from missiles to fighter jets.

Short-term shocks

Oil storage tanks at a China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) facility near Ningbo, China, on January 5, 2026. - Qilai Shen/Bloomberg/Getty Images

But short-term disruptions to China, especially on the energy front, remain inevitable.

Nearly all of Irans crude exports ended up in China, and those account for about 13% of Chinas total seaborne crude intake, according to data analytics firm Kpler.

The two countries energy trade relies on a network of vessels that filter Iranian oil to smaller independent refineries in coastal China, often through intermediary countries, according to analysts, who note this practice keeps refinement separate from Chinese state-owned enterprises that would be vulnerable to US sanctions.

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These so-called teapot refineries are known to work with whats often referred to as a dark fleet of tankers that use concealing tactics to smuggle sanctioned goods. The Trump administration has placed players alleged to be involved both in shipping and refining under sanctions as it ramped up pressure on Iran since last year.

Despite sizeble Iranian oil imports, analysts believe the short-term impact should be manageable as China has diversified its oil supply over the years.

Richard Jones, a crude oil analyst at Energy Aspects, told CNN that Iran has boosted exports since mid-February and private refineries can still access some Iranian oil through their floating storage vessels, most of which are off Singapore. On top of that, they could also increase intake of Russian crude, he added.

Still, a bigger headache for Beijing appears to be extensive conflict in the region and major disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz  a critical shipping route for crude from countries including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

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Crude from the region accounts for roughly one-third of Chinas total demand and more than 50% of its seaborne imports, much of which were transported through the strait, according to Kpler.

Iran controls the straits northern side and on Monday an adviser to a commander with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to set any passing ships on fire.

Even before the advisers comments, traffic through the waterway had effectively stopped due to safety concerns and after oil tankers in the region came under attack over the weekend.

Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for Chinas foreign ministry, stressed the importance of the strait for trade and urged an immediate ceasefire.

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Safeguarding security and stability in this region serves the common interests of the international community, she said at a Tuesday press conference.

But years of stockpiling could shield China from immediate supply shocks. China now holds roughly 1.2 billion barrels of onshore crude inventories, equivalent to about 115 days of its seaborne crude imports, Kpler data shows.

An alternative to the US

US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, on October 30, 2025. - Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

China is likely to use US military intervention in Iran to reinforce its messaging, particularly to countries in the Global South, that Washington acts as a hegemonic power, while Beijing presents itself as a champion of non-interference.

Some Chinese analysts argue that not providing security guarantees to partners represents a calculated approach from Beijing that differentiates it from the US.

It gives China greater flexibility, reduces the risk of strategic overstretch, and avoids the costs that come with underwriting allies security, said Zichen Wang, deputy secretary general at the Center for China and Globalization, a non-government think tank in Beijing.

But it also constrains Beijings ability to shape hard security outcomes once a crisis turns violent, he added, warning that Chinas inaction could further embolden Trumps risky moves.

CNNs Joyce Jiang and Rae Wang contributed to this report.

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U.S. forces have launched military operations with Ecuador against designated terrorist organizations inside the South American country, Southern Command said Tuesday.

The military released no details on the operations but suggested in a statement that it was an extension of strikes carried out by the Trump administration against suspected drug trafficking organizations in the region.

We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country," said Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command.

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Since President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. has taken aggressive steps to curb the flow of drugs from the Southern hemisphere. The administration has conducted about 45 strikes against suspected smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, killing more than 150 people.

In January, U.S. military forces executed a raid in Venezuela to capture President Nicolas Maduro and take him to New York to face charges that include drug trafficking.

Security in Ecuador has deteriorated in recent years. The Andean nation has become a major hub for cocaine trafficking.

The situation took a dramatic turn in January 2024, when gangs stormed a TV station, taking staff hostage during a live broadcast and launched a wave of violence that prompted President Daniel Noboa to declare a state of emergency. Since then, the government has been engaged in a low-level internal armed conflict with the gangs as it tries to stabilize the nation.

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Noboa has courted the Trump administration over the past year in the hopes of securing assistance. He came to Washington for Trumps second inauguration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Ecuador in September, and told reporters that the U.S. would blow up criminal groups if needed.

During Rubio's trip to Ecuador, the U.S. designated two criminal groups in Ecuador, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as terrorist organizations.

Until now, the U.S. had conducted military operations near Ecuador but had not publicly disclosed anything inside the country.

The Coast Guard had been deployed in the eastern Pacific, off the coast of Ecuador, Colombia and other countries, helping interdict cocaine shipments in a mission known as Operation Pacific Viper.

After the operation to capture Maduro, Trump did not rule out using military force against targets in other countries in the name of combatting drug trafficking. The expectation, however, had been that Trump would conduct strikes in Mexico and Colombia, both of which have a more significant role in the drug trade.
By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans backed President Donald Trump's military campaign against Iran on Wednesday, voting to block a bipartisan resolution aiming to stop the air war and require that any hostilities against Iran be authorized by Congress.

The Senate voted 53 to 47 not to advance the resolution, largely along party lines, with all but one Republican voting against the procedural motion and all but one Democrat supporting it.

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The latest effort by Democrats and a few Republicans to rein in President Donald Trump's repeated foreign troop deployments, the war powers resolution was described by sponsors as a bid to take back Congress' responsibility to declare war, as spelled out in the U.S. Constitution.

Opponents rejected this, insisting that Trump's action was legal and within his right as commander in chief to protect the United States by ordering limited strikes. They accused supporters of the resolution of endangering U.S. forces.

"This is not a forever war, indeed not even close to it. This is going to end very quickly," Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a speech against the resolution.

The measure had not been expected to succeed. Trump's fellow Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives, and have blocked previous resolutions seeking to curb his war powers.

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Backers of the resolution said they would not give up, and even some Republicans who voted to block it said they would press for public testimony from Trump aides about the administration's Iran strategy, especially if the conflict lasts for weeks, as Trump has predicted.

Debate about Trump's buildup of military assets in the Middle East, and American and Israeli strikes on Iran has centered on whether Trump is pulling the country into another "forever war" like the long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Today senators face a choice, stand with the American people who are tired of war in the Middle East, or side with Donald Trump, who bumbled America into another war most Americans fiercely oppose," said Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, a co-sponsor of the resolution.

With control of Congress potentially shifting to Democrats in November's midterm elections, a prolonged Iran war could concern voters. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday showed that only one in four Americans approved of U.S. strikes on Iran and about half believe Trump is too willing to use military force.

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Besides the Iran campaign, U.S. forces have been firing since September at boats in the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific in what the administration calls an effort to deter Venezuelan drug trafficking. Trump in January also sent troops into Venezuela to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

'IT'S A WAR'

The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has already led to damage in Iran, Israel and throughout the Middle East, and claimed U.S. casualties.

"It's a war," said Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, a lead sponsor, in a speech urging support for the resolution.

He said he had appealed to Trump officials to come to Congress for a war authorization during a classified briefing for lawmakers on Tuesday. "Your escalating pattern of military action without seeking our approval convinces me that you believe you never need to come to Congress, to wage war against anyone anywhere," Kaine said.

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The House is expected to vote on a similar Iran war powers resolution on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said he thought there were enough votes to defeat the resolution in the House, describing it as an attempt to push something that could put U.S. troops in harm's way and inspire Iranian forces.

"Imagine a scenario where Congress would vote to tell the commander-in-chief that he was no longer allowed to complete this mission. That would be a very dangerous thing," he told reporters after a classified briefing on the Iran conflict from top administration officials.

Even if a resolution were to pass both the Senate and House, it would not go into effect unless it could garner two-thirds majorities in both chambers to survive an expected Trump veto.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Alistair Bell)
The United States and Ecuador carried out a joint military operation against designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador, though the U.S. role was limited to advising Ecuadorian troops, and they did not participate in the actual ground operation, a source familiar with the operation told ABC News.

The joint operation was announced by the U.S. Southern Command on Tuesday.

"The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism," U.S. Southern Command wrote in a post on X.

U.S. Southern Command - PHOTO: The United States and Ecuador conducted joint military operations against designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador, U.S. Southern Command announced, Mar. 3, 2026.

This marks the first time that the U.S. military has worked in a land operation as part of the Trump administrations fight against Latin American drug cartels.

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Until now, the U.S. military had only carried out airstrikes targeting drug smuggling boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean.

US military strikes 3 more alleged drug boats in Eastern Pacific, Caribbean, killing 11: SOUTHCOM

The U.S. military's role in the joint mission was the presence of military advisors in Ecuador who provided planning, intelligence, and operational support in preparation for the mission, a source familiar with the operation told ABC News.

They advised Ecuadorian forces, but they did not participate in the actual ground and airlift operation, which was carried out by Ecuadorian forces, the source said.

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No details were provided by SOUTHCOM about the operation.

U.S. Southern Command - PHOTO: The United States and Ecuador conducted joint military operations against designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador, U.S. Southern Command announced, Mar. 3, 2026.

In announcing the joint operation, U.S. Southern Command also released a video, which appears to show the Ecuadorian forces and aircraft, though no context was provided.
Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) is among the 10 Fastest Growing Mid Cap Stocks to Buy Now.

Morgan Stanley Sees Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT) Picking Up Steam After Early-Year Setbacks

Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) is one of the fastest growing stocks.

TheFly reported on February 26 that Morgan Stanley lowered its price target on PLNT to $117 from $128 while maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares. Due to timing-related difficulties and a slower start to the year, the firm lowered its 2026 earnings per share outlook. Morgan Stanley thinks the business has the ability to pick up steam again if these short-term difficulties subside, despite the fact that short-term visibility seems restricted.

Earlier in February, Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) announced plans to further grow in Mexico, with the signing of a new franchise deal with Impulso Gym. The collaboration will help the company expand its presence in northern Mexico by facilitating the opening of new sites in Tijuana and Mexicali. With 47 locations in 14 Mexican states, Planet Fitness is still expanding its presence in the nation. The business restated its commitment to expanding access to reasonably priced exercise choices in foreign markets and cited Mexico's low gym membership penetration as a significant opportunity for growth.

Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) is a leading U.S.-based fitness center franchisor and operator known for its low-cost memberships and Judgement Free Zone philosophy. The company operates thousands of gyms and offers affordable, accessible fitness options primarily targeting casual and first-time gym users.

While we acknowledge the potential of PLNT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock .

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WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Wednesday that it killed an Iranian official who headed a unit behind an alleged assassination plot against President Donald Trump but that the target was not the initial focus of the war.

"The leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed. Iran tried to kill President Trump and President Trump got the last laugh," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a news briefing.

"While that was not the focus of the effort by any stretch of the imagination - in fact, never raised by the President or anybody else - I ensured, and others ensured, that those who were responsible for that were eventually part of the target list," Hegseth told reporters.

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Hegseth did not name the individual but said the operation took place on Tuesday.

In 2024, the U.S. Justice Department charged an Iranian man in connection with an alleged plot ordered by the IRGC to assassinate Trump, then U.S. president-elect.

Tehran has denied accusations that it had targeted Trump and other U.S. officials.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu, editing by Michelle Nichols)

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: US kills Iranian leader of Trump assassination plot, Pentagon says
The United States launched operations against designated terrorist organizations on Tuesday alongside Ecuadorian forces inside the Latin American nation.

The U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) did not disclose which terrorist groups it is targeting or the scope of the operations, but the development comes as the U.S. military has been blowing up alleged drug-trafficking boats in both the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since early September.

We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country, Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the commander of Southcom, said in a statement released late Tuesday.

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Since Sept. 2, 2025, the U.S. military has conducted at least 44 strikes and has killed a minimum of 150 narco-terrorists in both the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. U.S. officials have argued that they are blowing up drug-trafficking vessels, helping stem the flow of illegal drugs in the region. Law-of-war experts have said that the lethal strikes violate international law.

In early January, U.S. forces performed a successful raid in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and bringing him to New York to face drug-smuggling charges.

Ecuadors President Daniel Noboa said on Monday that Washington was among regional allies in a new chapter of Ecuadors battle against drug cartels.

About 70 percent of the worlds cocaine goes through Ecuadorian ports, Noboa said.

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In September, following Secretary of State Marco Rubios trip to Ecuador, the U.S. government designated two Ecuadorian criminal groups, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Donald Trumps top general is worried.

Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, reportedly warned that munitions shortfalls would risk the lives of American troops just days before the US president launched strikes on Iran on Feb 28.

So far, six US troops have died in the short but ferocious conflict, which Mr Trump has said may last four-to-five weeks but could take far longer.

Former officials and analysts are warning that US forces will be increasingly exposed the longer the fighting drags on, as the USs limited supplies of missile interceptors dwindle and gaps open up in air defences. The number of casualties could rise considerably.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, on Tuesday - Kevin Dietsch

Not all of this is Mr Trumps fault. The Pentagon has for years been criticised for failing to maintain its stockpile of missile interceptors, which it has burned through in recent conflicts in the Red Sea and Ukraine.

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But it was the US president who launched what is essentially an open-ended war with Iran  and those deaths will be on his watch.

The US has deployed three major variants of missile interceptors to defend its forces while attempting to annihilate Tehrans nuclear programme, missile depots and navy.

These are Patriot surface-to-air missiles, THAAD anti-ballistic missiles, and interceptors fired from warships, such as the SM-2 and the more advanced SM-6.

The Pentagon fired as many as 150 THAAD munitions to defend Israel from Iranian barrages during the Twelve-Day War against Iran in June 2025. Adml James Kilby warned Congress in 2025 that the US Navy had burned through interceptors at an alarming rate during the conflict.

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Likewise, military leaders have said roughly 200 SM-2 and SM-6 missiles were used by January 2025 to defend shipping in the Red Sea from Iranian-backed Houthis.

The proxy group declared it would return to its campaign after Mr Trump began bombing Iran, although it has yet to do so.

Patriot batteries and interceptors have been sent from the Pentagons armoury to defend Ukraine from Russian air strikes after Joe Biden, the former US president, removed the cap on transferring military equipment to allies.

A Patriot surface-to-air missile is launched during an exercise in Taiwan - SAM YEH

Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House armed services committee, said US resources were stretched thin, which would limit our ability to defend everything that we need to defend.

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Katherine Thompson, a former Pentagon official, warned that Mr Trump was starting his conflict against Iran on the back foot because of the perilous state of US stockpiles.

The real risk is the ability to provide protection of US forces across the network of legacy bases the US has in the region, as well as defence of Israel, for an extended period of time, Ms Thompson, now a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, told The Telegraph.

Expansive defensive requirements stressing an already stressed supply of weaponry puts the US on the back foot in this scenario.

Ryan Brobst, a deputy director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a foreign policy research institute, said there was a risk of more Iranian missiles penetrating air defences  causing casualties and destroying equipment.

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A former senior official in the Trump administration said they could not imagine mounting casualties deterring the president from completing the mission in Iran.

President Trump is all in, they told The Telegraph. Hes put his reputation on the line and has been up-front about the dangers and the inevitability of casualties.

US quickly burning through stockpiles

Of course, Irans ability to target US troops rests on its ability to launch its arsenal of missiles in the first place.

Joel Rayburn, a former US special envoy to Syria, believes Tehran will struggle to implement its strategy of saturating air defences so that a rogue missile or drone can slip through, because of how quickly Israel took out hundreds of its launchers during the Twelve-Day War.

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We can expect that the US military would be able to neutralise Irans missile launcher force even more quickly, he said.

If Iran, however, retains its ability to keep firing, then the US will need far more interceptors than its enemy has missiles to keep soaking up the salvos. Two or sometimes three interceptors are launched at each rocket, so they will quickly burn through their stockpiles.

On Saturday, missiles and drones struck the US Navys Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain after the first bombing sorties. On Sunday night, an RAF base in Cyprus suffered minor damage from a drone.

The moment a US base in Bahrain was hit

One figure familiar with the Pentagons plans told The Washington Post it was working to move more air defences to the Middle East.

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There is also potential for Tehran to strike a blow not just against American troops, on bases defended by Patriots and THAADs, but against the US Navy.

If ship-based interceptors such as the SM-2 and SM-6 run low, there is a greater chance of an American ship being struck by an Iranian missile, Mr Brobst said.

The US has massed the largest naval force in the Middle East, which includes two aircraft carriers: the USS Gerald R Ford, the largest warship in the world, and the USS Abraham Lincoln.

It seems unlikely that Iran would be able to make a dent in the USs formidable armada, particularly because ballistic missiles are too inaccurate for moving targets, meaning they would have to rely on slower-moving drones or cruise missiles.

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But even one getting through would be a humiliating blow to American prestige.

The US cannot afford to look weak. The eyes of the world are upon it: China, in particular, will be watching closely.

Just as Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, was thought to have been emboldened by the USs disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, what happens over the coming weeks could have ripple effects for years to come.

Xi Jinping, the Chinese premier, had already ordered Chinas military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.

The American denial by deterrence strategy depends on maintaining a military edge to prevent this, so would a weakened US tip the balance of power?

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THAAD and Patriot interceptors are definitely at the top of the list in terms of risk to US readiness and trade-offs for other theatres like the Indo-Pacific if the US gets bogged down in a prolonged conflict, said a former official who served in Mr Trumps administration.

Naval and air assets more broadly are also a concern, they continued. Committing these resources to a campaign against Iran means they are unavailable for higher-priority interests.

The US National Security Strategy published in November was intended to be an America First gospel for the Trump administration.

The US would pivot away from the Middle East and its forever wars. Iran, said to have been weakened by Israeli strikes and the USs attack on its nuclear facilities last June, is only given three fleeting mentions.

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Now the US risks being spread too thin, trying to project its dominance on too many fronts, and the strategy is scarcely worth the paper it is written on.

If the Iran war does indeed drag on for weeks, or months, and drain US defensive stockpiles, then that may be exactly what China is looking for.

If so, the cost will be borne not just by troops in the Middle East today, but in the Indo-Pacific tomorrow.

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WASHINGTON - The State Department is urging Americans across the Middle East to leave immediately as the war with Iran expands and travel options rapidly disappear.

Officials are telling U.S. citizens in more than a dozen countries to depart "right away" using any available commercial transportation. But flights out of the region have become almost impossible to find. Thousands have been canceled, and airspace over several nations is sporadically closing, leaving many Americans stranded with few options.

Some who call the State Departments emergency phone line are hearing a recorded message warning them not to rely on the U.S. government for assisted departures.

What we know

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is urging Americans abroad to register with the department if they havent already, so officials can track who is in the region and communicate directly.

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Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam is pressing the administration for stronger assurances.

"It is the duty and responsibility of the United States government to ensure the safety of Americans both at home and around the globe," he said. "But it's clear this administration did not adequately warn Americans in the region and did not prepare enough to keep them safe. I am demanding this administration spare no expense in protecting Americans in the Middle East. If we have billions to spend on bombs and bullets, we have the money to evacuate Americans in the region and get them home safely." Subramanyam is calling on the government to spare no expense in bringing citizens home.

The White House says roughly 9,000 Americans have already made it out of the Middle East. An estimated 500,000 to 1 million U.S. citizens live across the region.

From left to right: Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa; and Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida (U.S. Army Reserve Command Press Desk via FOX News)

Pentagon identifies soldiers

The Pentagon on Tuesday identified four of the six U.S. soldiers killed in the Iran war, naming Army Reserve members from four states who worked in logistics and kept deployed troops supplied with food, fuel and equipment.

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The soldiers died Sunday when a drone struck a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, one day after the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran.

RELATED: Iran operations continued on Tuesday as gas prices rose 11 cents overnight

Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf Arab nations that host U.S. forces.

Those killed were Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. The Pentagon did not release the names of the other two service members.

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"These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten," Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said.

All four were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, fuel, water, ammunition and transportation support.

"Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That's the way it is," President Donald Trump said of deaths.

The Source

Information in this article comes from the Associated Press.
A bipartisan resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump's ability to wage war in Iran has failed in the US Senate, as the strikes continue.

The war powers measure was rejected in a 53-47 vote largely along party lines. It would have halted US military action in Iran without congressional approval.

Democrats argue that Trump has sidelined Congress and offered shifting reasons for the war. Most Republicans blocked the resolution, but some said they could change course if the war expands in the coming weeks.

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The US and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday. The Islamic republic has responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.

With no clear off-ramp in sight, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the war could last eight weeks - almost double the duration mentioned by Trump at the weekend.

Two senators crossed the aisle in Wednesday's vote. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania opposed the measure, while Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted for it.

Otherwise, everyone else voted along party lines.

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Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, voted against the measure, saying afterwards that passing the legislation would have sent the wrong message to Iran and US troops.

"At this juncture, providing unequivocal support to our service members is critically important, as is ongoing consultation by the administration with Congress," she said.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said before voting in favour of the measure: "Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?"

The legislation will go to a vote on Thursday in the House of Representatives, where it faces an uphill slog.

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While the president has broad authority to launch military action without a formal declaration of war, Congress must be notified within 48 hours of hostilities beginning.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained the Trump administration complied with that requirement.

Top congressional leaders were notified before the initial strikes began, and Trump informed Congress in a letter on Monday, even as he maintained that was not necessary.

Trump has previously ordered military operations without congressional approval, such as the US strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last year, and the seizing of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in January.

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"To begin with, no presidential administration has ever accepted the War Powers Act as constitutional  not Republican presidents, not Democratic presidents," Rubio, a former senator, said.

Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in 1973 to constrain the ability of then-President Richard Nixon to wage war in Vietnam.

It requires lawmakers to be notified by the president within 48 hours of military action and for Congress to pass an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) within 60 days of hostilities breaking out.

Since 2001, US administrations have relied on the AUMF passed after the 11 September 2001 attacks as justification for the use of military force in the Middle East.

Multiple attempts to repeal that authorisation have been unsuccessful.
At least some of the six U.S. soldiers killed by an Iranian missile strike in Kuwait were part of a unit that operates in Fort Knox in Kentucky, according to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

U.S. Central Command confirmed six service members were killed in the attack, which happened Sunday morning at a civilian port in Kuwait. CNN reported the soldiers were assigned to 1st Theater Sustainment Command, which is based out of Fort Knox.

On Tuesday night, the War Department identified four Army Reserve soldiers killed Sunday in Kuwait and clarified they were members of the 103rd Sustainment Command out of Des Moines, Iowa. Beshear said the unit operates under the 1st Theater Sustainment Command.

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We grieve with the families of the lost and hope they know that Kentucky cares for and supports them, Beshear said in a Facebook post.

The soldiers were identified as Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.

We honor our fallen Heroes, who served fearlessly and selflessly in defense of our nation. Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, will never be forgotten, Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command, said in a news release. On behalf of the Army Reserve, we express our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.

The official Facebook account for the U.S. Army Fort Knox said they are supporting the 103rd Sustainment Command while clarifying that the soldiers killed were not assigned to Fort Knox.

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It is with deep sadness and unyielding grief that we acknowledge and recognize our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Our Soldiers relentlessly, consistently, and fearlessly served with sincere dedication and pride, Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes, 1st Theater Sustainment Command deputy commanding general, said in a Facebook post.

The other two soldiers killed in the attack have not been identified. U.S. Central Command said the identities wont be released until 24 hours after the soldiers families are notified.

The 1st Theater Sustainment Command is made up of nearly 10,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel, according to the commands website. The command provides supplies and manages ports, flights and customs points in more than 11 countries around the world.

The command was assigned to Fort Knox in 2017 after spending 45 years at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

CENTCOM Update



TAMPA, Fla.  As of 4 pm ET, March 2, six U.S. service members have been killed in action. U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran's initial attacks in the region.  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026

Rep. Andy Barr, a candidate to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell in this years Republican primary, asked for people to pray for the soldiers families.

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Today, we mourn six soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Epic Fury, Barr said in an updated statement on Facebook. We pray for their families and for all those still in the fight. May God watch over our troops and bring them home safely.

Sen. Rand Paul also said he was praying for the victims and injured service members.

These losses hit especially close to home as we learn of connections to our state, Paul said in a post on X. May God bring strength and comfort to the families of the lost in this time of deep sorrow.

Kelley and I join millions of Americans praying over our lost and injured service members this week. These losses hit especially close to home as we learn of connections to our state. May God bring strength and comfort to the families of the lost in this time of deep sorrow. We  Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) March 3, 2026

Rep. Morgan McGarvey said the news of the deaths is devastating.

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My heart is with each of our neighbors mourning the loss of their loved one after the military operations in the Middle East this weekend, McGarvey said in a post on X.

The loss of any servicemember is devastating  especially those based here at home in Kentucky.



My heart is with each of our neighbors mourning the loss of their loved one after the military operations in the Middle East this weekend. https://t.co/jyepzm28Kt  Rep. Morgan McGarvey (@RepMcGarvey) March 3, 2026

Hardin County Government issued a statement on its Facebook page to express the grief felt with the loss of six Service Members with the 1st Theater Sustainment Command of the U.S. Army.

The lives lost in Kuwait in service to our great nation will be mourned by family, friends, fellow soldiers, and their communities, the post stated.

The conflict between the U.S. and Iran began anew early Saturday when the U.S. and allies fired missiles at Iran in an operation called Epic Fury. The White House said the objectives of the mission were to destroy Irans missiles and navy, prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and stop Iran from supporting allied armed groups.

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U.S Central Command said the attacks targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

Irans death toll stood at 787 as of Tuesday morning, according to CBS News. Included in the deaths were Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by an Israeli missile strike in his compound in Tehran.

The president ordered bold action, and our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the call, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a news release.

Iran responded by firing missiles of their own, including the strike at Shuaiba port. CNN reported that one projectile from a suspected drone strike made it through air defenses and hit the center of the building.

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The six deaths are the only U.S. fatalities reported so far from the war. President Donald Trump said he expects more fatalities from the fighting, according to CBS News.

Three U.S. fighter jets were inadvertently shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses Sunday night, but all six crew members ejected safely from the aircraft and were later recovered, according to U.S Central Command.

Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation, U.S. Central Command said in a news release.

What is Fort Knox?

Fort Knox is a certified Kentucky city that has a daytime population of more than 26,260 soldiers, family members and civilian employees, according to Military Installations. Fort Knox is in Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties, about 35 miles south from Louisville.

Fort Knox

There are more than 30 commands and organizations that employ service members from across the U.S. associated with Fort Knox. The fort also includes the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, which holds about half of the Treasurys gold along with other valuables of other federal agencies, according to the U.S. Mint.

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Trump previously said he planned to make a trip to Fort Knox to inspect the depositorys gold amid internet theories it was missing, but there is no indication the trip ever happened. The depository operates on a strict no-visitors policy and has been opened only twice to non-authorized personnel, according to the Mint.

Fort Knox gold depository building.

Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Credit: X/@Department of War

An Iranian warship was sunk by an American submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, the US defence secretary has confirmed.

Pete Hegseth said the Iranian ship was hit by a torpedo fired from a US submarine in international waters, as the Trump administration continues its bombing campaign against Iran in partnership with Israel.

Declassified footage released by the US department of war on Wednesday showed the moment the torpedo exploded as it slammed into the ship. The force of the explosion lifted part of the Iranian vessel out of the water.

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Sri Lankas navy has recovered 87 bodies so far.

Sri Lankan authorities have moved the Iranian sailors remains to a mortuary on the countrys southern coast - Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP via Getty Images

Mr Hegseth described the hit as a quiet death for the Iranian navy vessel.

The Iranian ship was identified as the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate from the Southern Fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran navy that can carry around 180 crew.

Earlier, the US military said it had already destroyed 17 Iranian vessels and that its goal was to sink the entire navy. At a press conference, Mr Hegseth said: The Iranian air force is no more. The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth described the hit as a quiet death for the Iranian navy vessel - AP Photo/Konstantin Toropin

Sri Lankan authorities said they had rescued 32 people who were on board the ship and recovered several bodies from the sea. Many more are believed to be missing.

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The warship, thought to be heading back to Iran from a joint military exercise off Indias eastern coast, was armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes and could carry a helicopter.

The ships commanders had attended a naval conference in India along with US naval chiefs before it was bombed on its return journey.

Indian admiral Dinesh K Tripathi hosted both Iranian and US commanders at the MILAN naval conference days before Washington attacked - ifrmilan26

Sri Lankas foreign minister said its navy had responded to a distress call from the ship and launched rescue operations at 6am (12.30am UK).

The sinking is the first time in almost 50 years that a submarine has destroyed a major warship.

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In May 1982, the British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror destroyed the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War, killing 323 sailors.

A smaller South Korean navy ship, the Cheonan, sank in March 2010 after a North Korean submarine attack, resulting in the loss of 45 lives.

An injured Iranian sailor receives treatment in Galle after the IRIS Dena sank off Sri Lankas coast - Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP via Getty Images

The incident marks the latest escalation in the Middle East conflict, which started with US-Israeli strikes on Saturday. It follows Israel launching a fresh wave of attacks against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday morning.

The sinking the IRIS Dena marks the furthest the war has spread, deep into the Indian Ocean, some 2,500 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz.

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Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday claimed it had complete control of the Strait, the pinch-point entrance to the Persian Gulf that is key to oil supply.

Tehran has warned that any vessel passing through the waterway, a vital shipping route for the worlds oil and gas trade, would be set on fire, bringing traffic to a halt.

Iran has targeted some tankers in the Gulf since the US-Israeli operation began on Saturday. However, its navy has also been heavily depleted, with its naval headquarters destroyed and several warships sunk.

Mohammad Akbarzadeh, an IRGC naval official, said: Currently the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republics Navy.

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The statement was broadcast on state TV as Israel launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, marking the fifth day of conflict in the Middle East.

It is true that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to a standstill, but it is believed to be insurers, rather than the regimes military might, which are responsible for that.

The Iranian threat to attack any ships that pass through the global shipping lane has alarmed global shipping insurers, potentially leading to disruption.

About a fifth of the worlds oil passes through the narrow waterway that links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

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Tehrans comments came after American forces claimed to have dealt a crippling blow to the regimes Navy as part of Operation Epic Fury.

Adm Brad Cooper, US Central Command commander, said on Wednesday the military had destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels.

Among those hit was what Adm Cooper hailed as the pride of Irans navy, the countrys most advanced submarine, which was crippled during a strike.

The onslaught involved the use of strategic bombers, including the Northrop B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, which struck Iranian equipment and facilities.

Bandar Abbas scroller - desktop

We are conducting precise surgical strikes against Iranian military targets, Adm Cooper said, adding: Simply put, we are focused on shooting at anything that can shoot at us.

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The senior naval chief claimed US forces were effectively sinking the Iranian fleet, putting the regimes ability to make good on its threat into question.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump, the US president, said American warships would protect vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, added that a military operation to reopen the shipping lane was under consideration.

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The US State Department is urging Americans to evacuate 14 Middle Eastern countries.

After the US-Israel strikes, Iran has launched retaliatory attacks in neighboring Gulf countries.

The ongoing conflict has caused travel chaos as thousands try to flee the region.

Americans across the Middle East have been thrown into travel chaos after the US urged them to depart 14 nations in the region immediately.

The unusually urgent move by the US State Department came after retaliatory attacks from Iran hit multiple neighboring US allies and US military installations across the region.

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Americans in 14 Middle Eastern countries should "DEPART NOW" via any commercial means available due to "serious safety risks," the US State Department shared in an X post on March 2.

On March 1, the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, striking military targets in the country and killing the nation's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In the days since, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, among other nations.

The escalating conflict, which President Donald Trump said on Sunday could last "four or five weeks," has resulted in widespread airspace closures and travel chaos in the region.

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For Americans in the region, securing their exit following the State Department's advice hasn't been easy.

Some US embassies across the region said Tuesday that they're "not in a position" to help Americans evacuate.

Multiple countries, including the UK, Italy, and France, have chartered private flights to evacuate their citizens from the region, and US officials said they were exploring similar options.

On Tuesday, Trump said that "more than 9,000 Americans have safely returned home from the Middle East" in a post on Truth Social.

"The Department will identify where you are, and provide travel options to you," he added, encouraging citizens in the region to contact the State Department.

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"We are already chartering flights, free of charge, and booking commercial options, which we expect will become increasingly available as time goes on," he wrote.

Meanwhile, many other Americans who have built their lives in these nations are experiencing the military conflict firsthand.

See the full list of countries the US has urged its citizens to leave and how they've been affected by the escalating US-Iran conflict.

Bahrain

Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images

The country, which serves as the headquarters for the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, has faced retaliatory attacks from Iran.

On Sunday, a drone and missile attack struck several structures on the headquarters site, including satellite communications terminals, as reported by The New York Times.

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An Iranian drone also attacked the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama, prompting the US Embassy in the country to alert US citizens to avoid hotels in the city as they might be targets for future attacks. Iranian strikes also hit nearby civilian buildings and infrastructure in Manama, raising broader security concerns.

The country's airspace remains closed until further notice, and the US Embassy in the country suspended operations.

Egypt

Ali Moustafa/Getty Images

While it has not been directly targeted in strikes, Egypt has faced significant travel disruptions since the start of the conflict and was included by the US State Department in the list of countries Americans should evacuate immediately due to safety concerns.

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As of March 4, Egyptian airspace remained open, with commercial airports operating despite flight cancellations and delays, per the US Embassy in the country, which announced it was "open and operating normally."

Iran

Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The center of the ongoing conflict, Iran, is at the forefront of US and Israeli strikes.

Over the weekend, the US-Israel joint military campaign launched strikes in high-profile government buildings, military compounds, and strategic infrastructure, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and leaving the country in an unresolved succession crisis.

Since then, US and Israeli forces are understood to have severely degraded the Iranian air defenses and navy assets.

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Despite a significant loss in capabilities, Iran has continued to launch strikes at US assets and allies in neighboring countries.

Amid the crisis, the country's airspace remains effectively shut down for commercial traffic.

Iraq

Ahsan Mohammed Ahmed Ahmed/Anadolu via Getty Images

Sitting in the path of missiles from Iran and Israel, Iraqi airspace has remained closed since the conflict began, and the country's US military facilities have become primary targets for drone and missile barrages.

Iran and its proxy militias have launched near-continuous strikes on the country's Erbil International Airport, which houses a US military installation.

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On Tuesday, Iraqi defenses shot down a drone targeting the Baghdad International Airport, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza

Saeed Jaras / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Since launching what the Israeli government is calling Operation Roaring Lion, Israel has faced waves of retaliatory drone and missile attacks.

The country's Iron Dome air defense systems have intercepted the vast majority of incoming attacks, but its airspace remains closed as strike attempts continue.

On Monday, the US Embassy in Jerusalem announced it was suspending its operations.

"The US Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel," the agency said in the announcement.

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Jordan

Salah Malkawi/Getty Images

Jordan has also been a target of retaliatory strikes in the region.

While Jordan said its air defense system has shot down drones and missiles, falling debris from intercepted strike attempts has been reported across the country.

The country's airspace has intermittently been closed during the conflict, per FlightRadar24.

Kuwait

AFP via Getty Images

US military facilities in Kuwait, including the Ali Al Salem Air Base, have been targeted by Iranian missiles and drone attacks that were intercepted by Kuwait air defenses.

On Sunday, an Iranian drone strike on a US military facility near a civilian port in Kuwait killed six American soldiers.

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Lebanon

FADEL itani / AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon has faced intense Israeli airstrikes since the conflict began, with attacks targeting Hezbollah positions in Beirut and southern Lebanon.

The renewed fighting has killed dozens of civilians and displaced thousands across southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs as residents flee intensified strikes and follow evacuation orders from the Israel Defense Forces, the Associated Press reported.

While the country's airspace remains open, many international carriers have suspended flights to and from Beirut, and several governments have advised their airlines to avoid Lebanese airspace.

Oman

Amr Alfiky/Reuters

Oman, a nation that has attempted to mediate talks between Iran and the US, has also been affected by the fallout from the conflict, with a tanker in the Port of Duqm being struck by a drone attack and another oil tanker being attacked while in Omani waters, as reported by The New York Times.

The maritime attacks have raised concerns about shipping through the country's adjacent Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.

The country's airspace remains open, and its international airport in Muscat has become a regional hub for repatriation flights amid the travel chaos, per FlightRadar24.

Qatar

Mahmud HAMS / AFP via Getty Images

Qatar, home to the largest US military installation in the region, has also been a target for Iranian attacks.

On Monday, the country announced that it had shot down two Iranian bombers, and the Al Udeid Air Base was struck by a ballistic missile on Tuesday.

The country's Hamad International Airport has also been targeted by air attacks, which have been largely intercepted by air defense forces.

Airspace in the country remains closed until March 6, following a mandate by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.

Saudi Arabia

AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia has also been a target for Iranian retaliatory strikes, including a drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh.

The country has also faced other Iranian missile and drone attacks that have been intercepted by the country's air defense systems.

Airspace in the country has remained largely open, and the country's international airports have served as critical travel corridors amid flight reroutings.

Syria

Bakr ALKASEM / AFP via Getty Images

The presence of Iranian-backed militias in the country has made Syria a target for Israeli and US strikes, which have targeted the Damascus International Airport as well as military positions in the country.

Airspace in the country remains completely closed until March 7.

United Arab Emirates

Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images

After decades of positioning itself as a luxurious safe haven in the region, the United Arab Emirates is facing its most significant security challenges in recent history.

Within the first 48 hours of the conflict, the UAE was among the primary targets of Iran's retaliatory strikes, with missiles and drones aiming for the country's airports, maritime ports, and oil structures, as reported by Reuters.

While the country's air defense systems have intercepted a vast majority of the attacks, debris and strikes have caused fires in critical locations, including the Dubai International Airport, the Fairmont The Palm hotel, and the US Consulate in Dubai, the latter of which was struck by a drone attack.

As of March 4, most commercial flights in the country have been suspended, airspace is partially closed, and international airports are operating only a limited number of flights.

Yemen

Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu via Getty Images

The US/Israel-Iran conflict has heightened ongoing tensions in Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis have established local control.

Yemeni airspace remains closed to civilian air traffic, and maritime commercial shipping routes through the Red Sea have sharply declined.

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Lawmakers are scrutinizing the death penalty in Utah, looking at how decades of appeals prolong suffering for grieving families and run up excessive legal bills at taxpayers expense.

Republicans cited those factors when they unsuccessfully pushed to end capital punishment in Utah just a few years ago. Now a state lawmaker says the costs show why Utah needs to speed up the process, and shes pushing past criticism that her plan could end in an unconstitutional execution.

Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, said the attorney generals office got in touch with her after Ralph Menzies died last year of natural causes in a Utah hospital rather than an execution chamber. He had spent more than 37 years on death row for the murder of Maurine Hunsaker.

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One of the things in Utah that we pride ourselves on doing best is being efficient and proficient in how we handle things, and trying to be fair and balanced, Pierucci told a Senate legislative committee on Tuesday. And I would tell you, based off of my review, hearing and working with different attorneys right now, what we have is very much broken.

The committees six Republican members voted to advance HB495 to its final stop in the Senate, with three Democrats absent.

The proposal would limit when and how Utahns can argue theyre not mentally fit to be put to death or make a case that their attorneys were so ineffective that they didnt get a fair trial. At 21 days before an execution, the bill stipulates its too late for defense attorneys to move for an evaluation of their clients legal competency, unless a doctor signs an affidavit to demonstrate the review is critical, Pierucci said.

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To keep death penalty cases moving through the system, the move would place those appeals at the top of the docket in the state courts, among other changes.

Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Riverton, works on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Pierucci said it would cut down the timeline from an average of 34 years in Utah to about 20 years, while preserving the rights of those facing a death sentence.

Several defense attorneys who represented Menzies said the bill would backfire by putting Utah at risk of carrying out an unconstitutional execution under a new system thats too rigid. They said it would effectively offload many appeals from state courts to the federal justice system, where the measure wouldnt apply. They also noted the federal courts move slower and would prove more expensive.

This bill will not make Utahs capital punishment system more efficient, said attorney Lindsay Layer.

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Sen. Brady Brammer, R-Highland, said hes not always in favor of the death penalty. As an attorney, he said he has personal experience working on appeals cases involving Utahns on death row. Brammer said in his view, defense attorneys perceive delays as a win. He pressed Layer on why she opposes the bill if it would in fact drag out the cases.

Layer replied that most men on Utahs death row had truly terrible representation, both at the trial level and in post-conviction proceedings, and dont want to wait to make that case to a judge.

She and her colleagues said the lengthy delays in cases like Menzies date to a bygone era of litigation when attorneys on both sides of cases made numerous errors. They said the U.S. Supreme Court has since raised standards for attorneys working on capital punishment cases.

I would submit to members of this committee that those cases are outlier cases and that the system is not broken, as has been claimed, said Mark Moffat with the Utah Defense Lawyers Association.

Ralph Menzies appears during his commutation hearing before the parole board at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City as he petitions to stop his execution by firing squad on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Pool photo by Bethany Baker/The Salt Lake Tribune)

The defense attorneys said the bill would enact a double standard allowing the attorney generals office to appeal findings that someone has an intellectual disability or is not legally competent, meaning they cant be executed. But it would not afford the defense the opportunity to contest an opposite determination, they said.

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The conservative Utah Legislative Watch and the Statewide Association of Prosecutors supported the bill. Carl Hollan, executive director of the prosecutor association, said under the current system Utah has the death penalty on the books but not in practice. He noted Troy Kell has also been on death row for decades but has not been put to death for the racially motivated murder of Lonnie Blackmon in 1994.

The reality is that these lengthy delays in death penalty proceedings result in a system where prosecutors are unable to use the death penalty, Hollan said.

Utah is among 27 states currently allowing capital punishment, according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. Governors in three of those states  California, Oregon and Pennsylvania  have placed holds on executions, while Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has kept in place an unofficial moratorium.

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Utah lawmakers are laying the groundwork to roll back Biden-era environmental regulations for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, opening the door to possible changes that would expand what the land can be used for under federal law.

Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, filed a joint resolution of disapproval on Wednesday that, if passed, would undo the current resource management plan (RMP) established under the Biden administration and replace it with one that could be more lenient to development, grazing, mining, and other land uses.

The resolution would revert the land back to previous regulations passed in 2020, which Maloy says was built with local communities, balanced conservation with access, and reflected the realities of life in southern Utah. That RMP was removed by the most current guidelines that Utah lawmakers say is too strict.

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Throwing (the 2020 RMP) out through agency action, without local input, is exactly the kind of overreach Congress is constitutionally empowered to check, Maloy said in a statement. Thats what this CRA resolution does. And to be clear: this land remains federal land. It remains protected. This resolution is about holding the agency accountable to the local people we represent.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is set to introduce the same resolution in the Senate sometime this week. All six members of the Utah congressional delegation have co-sponsored the effort.

The joint resolution comes after Lee submitted an opinion from the Government Accountability Office to the congressional record on Thursday, setting the stage for him to challenge the regulations implemented by former President Joe Biden shortly before he left office in 2025.

The opinion stems from a request from Maloy last summer on whether Congress has the authority to reverse a management plan set by the Bureau of Land Management. The GAO ruled in January that the plan is subject to congressional review, paving the way for lawmakers to vote on removing it.

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The Antiquities Act was written to protect specific objects and to reserve only the smallest area compatible with their protection, Lee, who sits as the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, told the Deseret News in a statement. Instead, we have a 1.9 million-acre, sweeping land-use regime finalized in the last days of a failed President, with generational consequences for rural Utah communities. Congress does not surrender its oversight responsibility simply because an agency labels something a plan rather than a rule.

The GAO has now confirmed what the law makes clear: this Resource Management Plan is a rule. It carries binding consequences, he added. It shapes what can and cannot occur across millions of acres. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has the right to review it.

The resolution does not eliminate the monument itself. Instead, it overturns the most current management plan that dictates how the land can be administered by setting rules on recreational and development.

The current plan was finalized by BLM in January 2025 covering the entirety of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which was restored to its original boundaries earlier in the Biden administration. The plan established new restrictions on designated camping areas, limits on grazing, tiered zones for recreational uses, and more.

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The guidelines were developed after input from local tribes as well as public comment.

But Republican lawmakers such as Lee argue the RMP has placed too strict of restrictions on the land and must be changed to allow for more mixed-use purposes. That, in turn, would make it easier for less conservation-focused management.

However, conservation groups are raising alarms about what the resolution could mean in terms of environmental protections for the monument. If passed, the resolution would bar the Bureau of Land Management from implementing a similar RMP in the future  which activists say would upend national land protection.

Instead, environment groups say the land should be preserved and not greenlit for economic uses.

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The Utah Delegations attack on the Grand Staircase-Escalante is a call to action for Americans from across the nation, Steve Bloch, legal director at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, said in a statement. This wild landscape is quintessential southern Utah redrock country with its stunning geology, irreplaceable cultural resources, unique fossils, and wide-open spaces. All of that is at risk if this attack succeeds and the monument management plan is undone. We intend to move heaven and earth to stop that from happening.

Grand Staircase has been flashpoint before

This is not the first time the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has become a political flashpoint during a Trump presidency.

During his first term, President Donald Trump ordered the monument to be reduced to roughly 47% of its original size and to divide the remainder of the monument into three areas. Biden later restored the monument to its original size in 2021.

However, environmentalist groups say that an approved resolution to undo the BLMs management plan would set a precedent leading to other public lands being opened to expanded economic uses.

An attack on Grand Staircase-Escalante is an attack on our freedom to enjoy this special place today and generations from now, Ronni Flannery, senior staff attorney at The Wilderness Society, said in a statement. This move disregards years of hard work and broad support, and, instead, attempts to hand our public lands over to the highest paying polluters. A vote to pass this bill is a vote against the people to erode a crown jewel of the American West.
MS Reinsurance (MS Re) has announced the retirement of its group chief underwriting officer (CUO), Charles Goldie, and appointed Jorg Bruniecki as his replacement.

Goldie will step down on 1 April 2026, having worked in the role of CUO for five years.

He will continue at the company as senior advisor to CEO Robert Wiest.

Goldie said: It has been a privilege to help lead MS Re during a period of significant growth and change.

I am proud of what our underwriting teams have built, and the discipline, creativity and client partnership that define who we are today. I am particularly pleased to see Jorg assume the CUO role.

Bruniecki, with three decades of experience in the reinsurance space, will manage MS Res global underwriting strategy in his new role.

He will join both the executive board and leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO.

Bruniecki joined MS Re in 2022 in the role of CUO for International P&C (property and casualty).

Latterly managing Global Specialty Lines as CUO, he oversaw all specialty lines including agriculture, financial risks, cyber, engineering, and complex industrial and corporate risks.

Previously, he worked in senior positions at PartnerRe and Munich Re.

Bruniecki commented: I am honoured to build on the strong foundations established by Charles.

In recent years, we have strengthened our underwriting capabilities and deepened our partnerships with clients and brokers. I look forward to working with teams across MS Re to continue delivering value for our partners.

Additionally, MS Re noted that Louis de Segonzac, presently serving as CUO for the Americas, will be appointed chief technical underwriting officer (CTUO) from April 2026.

De Segonzac will report to the CEO and replace Marcus Pollak, who will move to another role within the company.

MS Re indicated that it is conducting a search process both internally and externally to identify candidates for positions left vacant due to these changes.

MS Re operates through three business units  Americas, International, and Global Specialty Lines  and underwrites non-life treaty reinsurance globally from offices in Zurich, Bermuda, Miami and New York.

The company is part of Japanese insurance group MS&AD.

"MS Reinsurance names Jorg Bruniecki as new group CUO" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler bested incumbent Rep. Carla Cunningham in a Mecklenburg County primary to win the Democratic nomination in heavily-Democratic District 106. Sadler won with 70% to Cunninghams 22% in unofficial results.

No Republicans signed up to run in House District 106, so Sadler will most likely win the seat in November by default.

Cunningham has for years crossed the aisle to help Republicans achieve parts of their agenda.

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Democrats frustration with the seven-term House member boiled over last year when she made a controversial speech about immigrants before casting a crucial vote overriding Gov. Josh Steins veto of an immigration bill. Cunningham said of immigrants, All cultures are not equal, leading some to accuse her of racism.

Cunningham defiantly defended her speech during a local town hall in August, but later recorded a campaign video apologizing for her remarks.

Cunninghams other primary challenger, Vermanno Bowman, won about 8% of the vote in unofficial results.

Sadler won important local endorsements, and Gov. Josh Stein backed him.

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Cunningham had the endorsement of the local Fraternal Order of Police, and her campaign posted videos from Sens. Dan Blue of Wake County and Gladys Robinson of Guilford County declaring their support for her.

Sadler reported raising about $250,000 for the race as of mid-February. Cunningham and Bowmans campaign finance disclosures are not up to date.

First-term Democratic incumbent Rodney Pierce easily outpaces 2024 primary foe

First-term incumbent Rep. Rodney Pierce fought off a primary challenge from former Rep. Michael Wray, winning 64% of the vote to Wrays 36% in unofficial results.

Pierce narrowly beat Wray in the primary two years ago to represent Halifax, Warren and Northampton counties. Early on, Wray said he wanted a rematch.

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Stein backed Pierce, who will face Republican Kenneth Bentley Jr. in the heavily Democratic district in November.

Wray was known for siding with the House Republican majority on multiple occasions to help override former Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers vetoes.

In December, Wray appealed to Republicans in his district to switch their voter registrations to unaffiliated so they would be able to vote for him in the primary.

GOP Rep. Jake Johnson crushes a former House majority leaders comeback hopes

Incumbent Rep. Jake Johnson (R-Polk) held on to his seat representing House District 113, beating back a challenge from former House Majority Leader Mike Hager (R-Rutherford).

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With all precincts reporting, Johnson won 61% of the vote to Hagers 39%, in unofficial results. Johnson does not have a general election opponent, so he is all but certain to return to Raleigh in 2027.

Johnson has served a little more than three terms in the House, but has risen quickly in the ranks of chamber leadership, becoming chairman of the House Oversight Committee and a vice chairman of the House budget committee.

Hager resigned his House seat in August 2016. Two years earlier, he attempted a run for House Speaker, but dropped his bid. Months after resigning his seat, Hager launched a lobbying business where he represented gaming companies, local towns, one of the states area mental health offices, and a group pushing for a convention of the states to propose amending the Constitution, among other clients.
The Virginia Beach City Public School Board met Tuesday night to discuss the budget for the upcoming school year, touching on several issues, including healthcare premiums for teachers and staff.

The discussion comes just days before a lawsuit against Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. is scheduled to go to trial.

Attorney Tim Anderson, who represents he school employees, said while more than 100 teachers and staff initially filed the lawsuit last August, the case moving forward will focus on one person.

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Mondays trial in Virginia Beach General District Court centers on Stephanie Springer, a school security officer who said her health insurance premium increased by about $1,000 a year.

Were doing this major trial in the court system for $1,000, Anderson said.

As Anderson explained, the money represents the additional healthcare fees she paid for the 2025-2026 school year.

You know, this is just completely unfair to the workers who do the good work in the Virginia Beach City Public School system, the attorney said.

School board members received what was referred to as a monthly update on potential healthcare plan costs for next year.

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Your health plan changes people's lives, said David Keogh, the senior benefits consultant at Mercer, as he presented employee contribution, employer contribution, and healthcare fund possibilities.

RELATED: Over 100 Virginia Beach teachers and staff sue superintendent over health insurance costs

According to Anderson, the dispute stems from the school board's efforts to attract employees by offering lower healthcare premiums, and those efforts were substantiated during the Tuesday night meeting.

"At the close of fiscal year 2022, the fund balance was nearly $40 million, almost twice our current recommended reserve level, and gross costs have steadily increased since that time. During that period, teacher recruitment and retention had reached what could be seen as a critical point," said Crystal Pate, Chief Financial Officer for VBCPS. "In response, the administration at that time made the decision to substantially reduce employee contribution rates as part of a recruitment and retention strategy."

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And it worked," said Anderson. "A lot of teachers and other workers came to Virginia Beach because Virginia Beach offered this fantastic health insurance plan, and it was substantially cheaper than the other cities."

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anderson said employee-paid premiums remained the same while claims increased. The additional costs were covered through the school systems healthcare fund until that fund was depleted.

"However, as you are aware, claims experience changed significantly after that decision, resulting in an accelerated drawdown of the health fund and ultimately requiring us to reverse course," Pate said.

They all signed up to work and then all of a sudden, after everybody's committed, they're like, Oh, by the way, your health insurance premium is going up 110%. Sorry for your luck, Anderson said.

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A lower court previously ruled that 112 employees could not sue the superintendent anonymously, stalling the case in the Virginia Beach Circuit Court. Anderson believes pursuing the case with a single plaintiff creates another opportunity for those who fear retaliation.

Once we win, we're gonna give it as an option to every employee in the Virginia Beach City Public School system, he said.

When the lawsuit was first filed in August, the school division told 13News Now that administrators were aware of the lawsuit, were seeking legal counsel, and do not comment on pending litigation.
A Volusia County deputy who was shot in the line of duty has been released from the hospital.

Volusia County Deputy Jose Rivera was shot twice, including a bullet that struck his body camera, while responding to a home in Deltona on Monday.

Officials said Luis Diaz Polanco opened fire on two deputies as they arrived at his home investigating a battery call.

The Volusia Sheriffs Office released a video Tuesday that they say shows Polanco bursting out of the home and firing multiple rounds at the deputies.

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During the shooting, Deputy Rivera was struck in the shoulder and his leg, but a third shot hit his chest-mounted body camera.

Chitwood credited the equipment with preventing a fatal injury.

If you dont believe in God, when you look at a gunfight thats occurring less than six feet away, and this thing that nobody likes to wear is dead center, it absolutely saves his life, Chitwood said.

Deputy Rivera was rushed to Halifax Health Medical Center for treatment.

Deputy Rivera was released Wednesday and plans to meet with family and others at Dewey Boster Park in Deltona.

Channel 9 will be at the park to cover his homecoming celebration and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
MIAMI  South Floridas Cuban activists want the island nations communist government to be the Trump administrations next target after the death of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

The joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran has created anticipation for quick action in Cuba across South Florida, with excitement evident in the streets: Several thousand people from the diaspora caravaned through Miami over the weekend in support of Trump toppling the government in Tehran.

The protestors organizing the event demanded subsequent maximum pressure in Cuba, including major repercussions for the island nations communist leaders. Many shared pictures and videos over social media of the event using the hashtag #Cubanext.

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And on the heels of President Donald Trump declaring the U.S. could pursue a friendly takeover of Cuba, a coalition of more than 30 Cuban opposition and resistance organizations met in Miami on Monday to sign a Freedom Accord laying out their post-communism roadmap.

The document, which they also sent to the State Department, names the Communist Party of Cuba as a criminal enterprise and calls for its dismantling. It further outlines different phases to free, stabilize and rebuild Cuba  which would culminate in democratic elections.

There's no reason to show them mercy, just as they haven't shown mercy to the Cuban people, one of the activists who attended the signing, Alex Otaola, told POLITICO of Cubas leadership. Otaola was also the caravan organizer and is president of the Cuban Anticommunist Foundation.

The push for regime change in Cuba comes at a potentially fraught time for the Trump administration, which is now engaged in a conflict with Iran thats engulfing other Middle Eastern countries in the region. Trump has for years railed against U.S. involvement in foreign wars but during his second administration has maximized U.S. force in Venezuela and Iran.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who used to represent Florida in the Senate and is the son of Cuban immigrants, has led talks with Havana. The U.S. has launched a fuel blockade that  according to comments Trump made to reporters Friday  has left the county with no oil, food or money.

Asked for more details about where talks stand, a White House official responding to POLITICO said that: As the president stated, we are talking to Cuba, whose leaders should make a deal. Cuba is a failing nation whose rulers have had a major setback with the loss of support from Venezuela and with Mexico ceasing to send them oil.

Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo, who represents the city with the highest proportion of Cuban residents in the U.S., said his constituents had expected U.S. action in Cuba before Iran. Now, he said, It's very clear that the administration is going to take kinetic action in multiple places at once. Cuba, he said, should be on the top of that list.

We have been waiting 67 years, he continued, referring to the time that has passed since the Cuban Revolution. So obviously we wish it happens as soon as possible, but I think we're going to see something probably before the midterms.

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Hialeah had an operational briefing a couple weeks ago with the citys fire and police chiefs to prepare for how the city might be affected if action is taken against the island nation. The potential for leadership change in Cuba is also reverberating across the state in Tallahassee, where GOP state lawmakers filed an amendment to a foreign influence bill that would give the governor power to suspend laws restricting trade with Cuba if the Trump administration were to overthrow the communist leadership.

Elected officials have also in recent days pressed for answers about a shootout off the coast of Cuba involving a Florida-based speedboat, in which four people were killed and six others injured last week. Those supportive of the Trump administrations actions have pointed to Iran as an example of the fate that could await Cuban leaders.

GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar said the latest actions showed tyrants are falling and the message to Havana was youre next. The White House should continue its pressure against Cuba, she said, and cut off any remaining financial lifelines.

Cubas regime is definitely watching, said Salazar, who represents parts of Miami-Dade County. They saw Iran shake. They saw Maduro fall. Now they are witnessing the return of American strength, and that terrifies them.

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The Trump administration has closely aligned with congressional Republicans calling for hardline actions against Cuba. Foreign policy  particularly on Cuba and Venezuela  has been a key factor shaping the Hispanic electorate in South Florida, where the voting block has become increasingly Republican.

GOP Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, the most-senior member of Floridas delegation, said his constituents support for the president was a reflection of the actions Trump has taken since his first term.

After the military strikes against Iran and the pressure campaign against Cuba, his constituents have said, Its about time and expressed gratitude for the administration standing up for U.S. national interests and against these really tyrannical regimes. He added that ideally a transfer of power in Cuba would be peaceful and nonviolent, which he noted Trump has said he would consider. But he pointed to what happened with Maduro and Khamenei as what can otherwise happen.

The Cuban regime, Diaz-Balart predicted, will not survive the second Trump term.

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Miami-area lawmakers have additionally called on the administration to prosecute Raul Castro, a top Cuban political figure and the younger brother of Fidel Castro, for murder over the 1996 shoot-down of two planes belonging to the Miami-based Brothers to the Rescue volunteer group. The current Cuban president is Miguel Diaz-Canel, though major decisions are made among Communist Party leaders. Thats why many in the Cuban diaspora are calling for widespread accountability.

The Cuban community would love to see Castro and Diaz-Canel ousted in a manner similar to Maduro's exit  jail! said GOP state Rep. Ileana Garcia of Miami, who recently told her 100-year-old Cuban grandmother to hold on a little longer so you can witness the liberation of Cuba.

Its really disheartening to see the Cuban community suffering while the Cuban government negotiates their escape plan after decades of exploitation, Garcia added.

Fellow Miami-area GOP state Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, who comes from a family of Cuban immigrants and started out in politics by helping with Rubios Senate campaign, praised the Trump administration for its masterfully done foreign policy. He said hed love to see Cuba someday become a U.S. territory temporarily, like Puerto Rico, or even to reach statehood.

If Trump were to take Cuba, he said, I think we'd have to rename the county to Trump-Dade County or Rubio-Dade County at that point.
Tens of thousands of US troops are stationed across Europe on around 50 bases  a presence that dates back to the period after the Second World War, when Washington chose to keep forces on the continent to prevent another major conflict.

Many of those bases now carry out missions linked to NATO.

But in recent days, Washington has sought to use some of these facilities as part of its war in Iran, triggered by US-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and set off retaliatory Iranian attacks on US bases across the Middle East.

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Host countries can refuse, because the bases remain under the full sovereignty of the states where they are located.

What was once a technical detail of military cooperation has suddenly become a political question, exposing divisions across Europe.

Some governments have refused to help, while others have offered political backing  and one leader has changed course after initial resistance.

What could Macron's French nuclear umbrella mean for Europe?

UK U-turn

The United Kingdom was initially reluctant to support the US operation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused requests to use British military bases for the first strikes on Tehran, saying over the weekend that the UK did not believe in regime change from the air.

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Trump reacted angrily. Speaking to British tabloid The Sun on Monday, he said it was sad to see that the US-UK relationship was not what it used to be.

Starmer had not been helpful, Trump said  adding that while the United States did not actually need the UK, he should have helped.

He contrasted the British position with that of other allies. France has been great, Trump said, adding that Germany and NATO had also been supportive. Theyve all been great. The UK has been much different from the others.

France and Germany have offered political backing for the strikes and suggested they could play a defensive role in the region.

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Starmer later reversed his position and agreed to allow the US to use British bases for attacks on Iranian missile sites.

Europes defence dilemma: autonomy or dependence?

Spain holds firm

Spain has taken the clearest stand against the war. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country would not participate in any way in the war waged by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in Iran, calling it a senseless war with unforeseeable consequences.

He also banned the use of the Spanish bases at Moron and Rota in southern Spain.

The Spanish government said US actions were unilateral and do not have the backing of multilateral organisations.

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The bases will provide no support, except in the event of humanitarian necessity, the country's defence minister said.

The Pentagon has since withdrawn several refuelling aircraft from its bases in Spain.

The dispute has also drawn in the European Union. After Trump reportedly threatened economic retaliation against Spain, EU industry commissioner Stephane Sejourne said: Any threat against a member state is by definition a threat against the EU.

France draws nuclear red lines as Macron explores wider European deterrence role

A longstanding presence

The dispute highlights the scale of the American military presence in Europe.

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US troops are stationed across Europe, operating from dozens of installations including major air bases, ports and training areas. In early 2025, the US had nearly 84,000 service members on the continent, according to the US European Command.

The American military footprint in Europe dates back to the aftermath of the Second World War and expanded dramatically during the Cold War, when US troop numbers on the continent peaked at around 475,000 in the late 1950s.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, their presence fell sharply to the tens of thousands.

Today the largest concentrations of US forces are in Germany, Italy, the UK and Spain, with smaller or rotational deployments in countries including Poland and Romania. Because the bases sit on host-nation territory, governments retain full legal authority over how they are used.

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Franco-German defence project under strain as Berlin signals possible exit

As conflict escalates, European leaders have called for restraint.

The developments in Iran are greatly concerning, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement on 28 February.

They urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and respect international law.

European countries have begun reinforcing their defences in the eastern Mediterranean. France and Greece have moved naval assets towards Cyprus, and France has reinforced air defence systems after drones targeted a British base on the island.
Pete Hegseth offered updates on the Iran war Wednesday morning. Watch his press conference below. An Iowa soldier has fallen in a Middle East conflict. Hegseth is expected to address that during his talk.

Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, a sophomore at Drake University and Army reservist from West Des Moines, was killed in action in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1, in an Iranian strike at Shuaiba Port in Kuwait. The attack also killed three other soldiers assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, a Des Moines-based unit.

More: Iowa political leaders mourn 'bravery and sacrifice' of Declan Coady

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Sec. Pete Hegseth latest updates on Iran war, Iowa soldier's death
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  Security is getting tighter at the emergency department at University of Michigan Health-West, with the Wyoming hospital saying its working to combat a trend of verbal and physical aggression against health care workers.

On Tuesday, the hospital installed a weapon detection system: an AI-enabled metal detector aimed at keeping patients, visitors and staff safe.

This is important because of the increased workplace violence that occurs in hospitals, Gary Gorski, the hospitals director of security, said. Verbal aggression, verbal threats, physical assaults are not uncommon at all here.

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Health care workers are five times more likely to be injured on the job than those in other fields. Gorski said U-M Health-Wests main hospital alone averages around 400 workplace violence incidents every year, with more than half of those occurring in the emergency department.

People are coming in very emotional, Gorski said. When someone comes into the emergency room, they had something catastrophic happen or they may be a mental health patient  or they want treatment or want a different treatment and they get very agitated and sometimes they lash out on staff.

He said that like other health care sites in the area, the hospital has been preparing to implement the new walk-through weapon detection system for about a year. Positioned at the public entrance to the emergency department, it uses artificial intelligence to distinguish potential weapons from everyday metal items, reducing unnecessary alarms.

University of Michigan Health-West Director of Security Gary Gorski discusses a new weapons detector in use at the emergency room. (March 4, 2026)

Hospital leaders say the goal is not to slow down care, but instead to prevent a dangerous situation before it starts. Its part of what hospital staff calls a layered safety approach. Late last year, the hospital introduced dog teams trained to help de-escalate volatile situations. So far, that program has been successful. In February alone, there were 74 K-9 deployments, 1,227 public contacts and 62 patient visits.

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Our goal is prevention, Gorski said. Thats why we have K-9s and the weapon detection system. Its just another layer.

Gorski said additional security measures including AI-enabled cameras will be added in the future.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
MAGNA, Utah (ABC4)  A 15-year-old girl is dead following a rollover crash in West Valley City on Tuesday morning that injured four other Cyprus High School students.

According to the West Valley City Police Department, the crash happened near 4100 South and 8400 West in West Valley City around 10:50 a.m. One 15-year-old girl was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. Four additional students were transported to the hospital, and four were not injured.

Roxeanne Vainuku, deputy director of communications for West Valley City Police Department, told ABC4 that a group of nine students left Cyprus High School in an SUV, and they were traveling on some back roads in the Cyprus High School area.

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The students were driving eastbound on a dirt road when the vehicle rolled. It was a single vehicle crash. The four students who were injured sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate.

Police do not know what caused the rollover, but Vainuku said that initial investigations indicate that speed may have been a factor. However, investigators are continuing to evaluate the scene to determine the cause.

How to make ABC4 your preferred news source on Google

Additionally, police believe that the victim who was ejected was not wearing a seatbelt, but Vainuku said that they dont know if any of the other students in the vehicle were wearing seatbelts. There were nine kids in there, and so that tells you, you know, just based on the number of seatbelts, whether everyone had a seatbelt or not, she explained.

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Vainuku said that next of kin have been notified. We wont be releasing any names, because its our understanding that all of the people in that vehicle are juveniles, and certainly, the deceased is a juvenile, she explained.

Magna City Government Posted on social media that residents and students at Cyprus High will no longer be able to use the dirt portion of 4100 South west of 8400 West, where the accident happened. It will be closed for the foreseeable future. Anyone using that portion of road previously will now have to use Cordero Drive instead.

Morning drop off areas for students at Cyprus High School, courtesy Magna City Government

Maea Foa, media specialist for community outreach for Granite School District, told ABC4, At this time, we just want the public to know that our crisis team is available for support for students, staff, and families. Theyre actually on campus right now today, tomorrow, and as long as needed, and then we also have additional resources on our homepage website.

Those resources include a variety of mental health and crisis support, which you can find on the Granite School District website here. Foa added that communication was constant between the school, staff, and families.

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We love each and every one of our students, and we take situations like this very seriously. We are very heartbroken as a district, and are here to support the resources that are needed, Foa said.

Cyprus High School sent the following message to parents following the incident.

We are saddened to inform you that there was a tragic traffic accident near our school during lunchtime today involving students. We are still collaborating with emergency responders to confirm details, and we will share more information with you as appropriate, the school said.

The school added that they cannot confirm the names of any of the victims of the accident, information and questions have circulated around the student body and staff. There were also members of the school districts crisis response team at the high school on Tuesday to provide support.

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Some students chose to meet with members of the crisis team for support. If your child met with a crisis team member today, you will be notified. Support will continue to be available to students moving forward, the school concluded.

Magna Mayor Mick Sudbury also released a statement in the wake of the crash, writing, Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of a 15-year-old Cyprus High student following Tuesday mornings rollover accident in West Valley City Near the border of Magna.

He added that four other students, including the driver of the vehicle, were taken to the hospital.

We extend our deepest condolences to the young girls family as they face this unimaginable loss, and we are keeping the injured students and their families in our thoughts and prayers as they recover. This tragedy has deeply impacted our entire community. We stand united in grief and in support of the students, families, and school staff during this incredibly difficult time. Magna mourns alongside you. Magna Mayor Mick Sudbury

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Late spring through early fall is often considered peak moving season, and more Americans are prioritizing affordability when deciding their next move.

Allied Van Lines, a long-distance moving company, recently released its annual U.S. migration report highlighting last years moving patterns, including the nation's most popular inbound and outbound states and cities. The report found that interstate moves continued to decline (down 3% from 2024 to 2025, following a 7% drop the previous year). Rising living costs and high mortgage rates are pushing more people toward less expensive large cities.

Which places saw the most inbound movers? Is Ohio one of them? How does the Buckeye State compare to others? Here's what the study found.

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On the move: U-Haul growth index shows Ohio ranks among bottom states. See full rankings

Where are Americans moving to and from? Is Ohio a top state for movers?

According to the Allied Van Lines study, South Carolina and North Carolina topped the list for inbound migration in 2025, followed by Tennessee, New York and Florida. The Carolinas and Tennessee led for the fourth year in a row, primarily due to lower living costs.

Meanwhile, the top five outbound states included Illinois, Michigan, California, Nevada and Pennsylvania, with Illinois, California, and Pennsylvania leading since 2022. The company says that moves from Nevada and Michigan are likely driven by cheaper nearby states.

While Ohio didnt rank among the top five inbound or outbound states, the report notes growing interest in mid-sized cities that balance job opportunities, affordability and lifestyle, which are trends that match several Ohio metros.

Ohio moving trends for Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus

According to Allied Van Lines, Ohio's total inbound percentage of movers in 2025 was 46.9%, while total outbound was 53.1%, meaning that there were slightly more people moving out of the state last year.

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Most new Cincinnati residents arrived from Phoenix, Chicago, Seattle, Philadelphia and Boston. Outbound residents most often moved to the Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta and Nashville metro areas.

Columbus saw new residents moving from areas near Chicago, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Houston and Washington, D.C. Similarly, outbound Columbus residents moved to areas near Dallas, Phoenix, Seattle, Orlando and Pittsburgh.

The Cleveland area saw new moves from cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C., while those leaving Cleveland headed to cities such as Houston, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale.

In the Dayton-Springfield region, many moved in from Washington, D.C., and Detroit, while those leaving went to cities such as Washington, D.C., as well as Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

Top 5 states for new moves in 2025

These states had the highest rate of inbound moves in 2025:

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South Carolina: 59% North Carolina: 59% Tennessee: 57% New York: 54% Florida: 52%

Top 5 states for outbound moves in 2025

The following states had the highest rate of outbound moves in 2025:

Illinois: 58% Michigan: 58% Nevada: 58% California: 57% Pennsylvania: 55%

How were the top states selected?

The report analyzed all interstate moves loaded between Jan. 1, 2016, and Dec. 15, 2025. To maintain consistency, Allied Van Lines said that only moves loaded by Dec. 15 were included for each year.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Where are Ohioans moving to, from? New study reveals top destinations
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday it was necessary to bomb Iran because President Donald Trump had a feeling the foreign nation would attack.

The president had a feeling, again, based on fact, that Iran was going to strike the United States, was going to strike our assets in the region, and he made a determination to launch Operation Epic Fury based on all of those reasons, Leavitt said.

Leavitt: The president had a feeling, again, based on fact, that Iran was going to strike the US. pic.twitter.com/qT1OQsY1RP  Acyn (@Acyn) March 4, 2026

Earlier in the press briefing, Leavitt struggled to explain the imminent threat posed by Iran that would justify the U.S. and Israel launching this war.

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You listed a long list of grievances against the Iranian government going back to  1979, one reporter noted, referring to the beginning of the Islamic Republics rule in the country. Why is it that you cant say what the imminent threat against the U.S. was that required us to launch this?

I reject the premise of your question, Leavitt replied.

Reporter: You listed a long list of grievances against the Iranian government going back to 1979. Why is it that you can't say what the imminent threat against the US was that required us to launch this?



Leavitt: I reject the premise of your question. pic.twitter.com/YoW3XwbnTk  Acyn (@Acyn) March 4, 2026

The White House has spent the last two days trying to clean up a viral quote from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he admitted Israel had pressured the United States into attacking Iran.

We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties, Rubio said Monday.

Leavitts remarks Wednesdaythat a new war in the Middle East is based on nothing but Trumps feelingdont make things any better.
Elon Musk told a jury that a tweet he sent in the middle of his tumultuous move to buy Twitter Inc. in 2022 may not have been his wisest social media post, while denying he meant any harm to the platforms shareholders.

Musk took the witness stand in San Francisco federal court Wednesday to defend himself against claims that he used his social media account to drive down Twitters stock price so that he could ultimately get a better deal for the company.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Investors in the class-action case have alleged that the worlds richest person intentionally misled them when he tweeted that the deal was temporarily on hold while he investigated how much of the platforms traffic was driven by spam and fake accounts known as bots.

In his testimony, Musk argued his statement was very different from walking away from the deal entirely. Im not saying Im not going to do the deal, he told the jury. At no point did I say the deal was canceled.

Still, he acknowledged under questioning from a lawyer for the investors that the post was ill-advised.

It may not be my wisest tweet, he said. I dont know if I would call it my stupidest. But if it led to this trial it probably qualifies as such.

Musk occasionally has moments of introspection in his many court battles. Two years ago, while being questioned in a lawsuit accusing him of taking to social media to promote a conspiracy theory falsely identifying a California man as a federal agent posing as a neo-Nazi street brawler, Musk said in sworn testimony he is guilty of many self-inflicted wounds.

In the current trial, in which he is accused of instigating Twitter stock price moves that collectively wiped out billions of dollars in equity, Musk said he simply tweets whats on my mind and the market decides if its material.

Manic Depressive

He told the jury that people tend to read too much into things that I do, and described the stock market as manic depressive, pointing out that it can fluctuate.

Musk eventually bought Twitter for $44 billion and later renamed it X, but first spent several months publicly criticizing the companys business and threatening to walk away from the buyout.

Despite Musks tweet in May 2022 that his takeover was on hold, Twitter executives told employees the deal was still moving forward. The stock tumbled following Musks post, and it remained volatile for months until the deal finally closed in October 2022  after the company sued him to follow through on his original offer.
WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - The White House said on Wednesday that Spain has agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military after President Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade, but Spain denied making such a deal.

Trump on Tuesday had vowed to sever trade with Madrid over its stance against the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Asked about the issue on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she had been told that Spain had relented.

"I think they heard the president's message yesterday loud and clear. It is my understanding over the past several hours they've agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military," Leavitt told a news briefing.

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She did not elaborate.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares denied Spain had made such an agreement.

"I categorically deny it. I heard about these statements on my way here, and I've had time to look into them and listen to them a little," Albares told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.

"The Spanish government's position on the war in the Middle East and the bombing of Iran regarding the use of our bases has not changed at all. Therefore, I categorically and sincerely deny it. I have no idea what this could refer to or where it could have come from."

Trump floated imposing a trade embargo on Madrid over its refusal to allow U.S. aircraft to use jointly operated naval and air bases in southern Spain for the offensive against Tehran. Spain has denounced the U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iran as reckless and illegal.

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Spain "will not be vassals" to another country, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero said on Wednesday. In a televised address earlier, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reiterated Spain's anti-war stance, warning that the conflict risked triggering a major global disaster.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington and Jesus Aguado in Madrid; Editing by David Ljunggren and Daniel Wallis)
Texas Republicans are set for a heated primary race on March 3.

Four-term Sen. John Cornyn is trying to hang on in a Congressional primary for his Senate seat against state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. Paxton has the polling lead, but Senate GOP leaders are trying to help Cornyn  and President Trump has not yet taken a side

Here's are the three GOP contenders and what their race means from the national perspective.

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It's voting time America! Here's where and when the 2026 elections kick off

Trumps second term saw aggressive immigration and trade moves, federal downsizing, and assertive foreign interventions in Venezuela and Iran. President Donald Trump has doubled down on an aggressive immigration agenda, emphasizing record-low levels of illegal border crossings and a sweeping expansion of enforcement. In his February 2026 State of the Union address, Trump highlighted a ninemonth period in which, he claimed, zero illegal aliens were admitted into the U.S.a statement that fact-checkers noted conflated admission with release on parole, though data does show no parole releases during that period. The administration has also promoted major enforcement gains: significant declines in illegal crossings, a dramatic reduction in interior releases, expanded deportation operations, and tightened border controls, according to a February 2026 White House summary of its immigration actions. More broadly, the administration continues implementing executive actions that restrict entry at the southern border and increase immigration enforcement nationwide, including policies tied to TrumpOs 2025 proclamation invoking federal authority to suspend certain entries. [whitehouse.gov] President Donald Trump has intensified his tariffdriven economic strategy in his second term, expanding duties across global partners while positioning tariffs as a central tool to bolster U.S. industry. Despite broad tariff hikes, the U.S. trade deficit surged in late 2025, reaching a record goods shortfall even as the administration sought to curb imports and revive domestic manufacturinga goal undercut by a decline in factory employment during the same period. President Donald Trump has undertaken an unprecedented downsizing and restructuring of the federal government during his second term, marked by aggressive workforce reductions, major agency overhauls, and expanded executive authority over civil service rules. Federal workforce cuts accelerated sharply in 2025, with estimates showing reductions ranging from 220,000 to more than 300,000 employees through voluntary departure incentives, pressure campaigns, buyouts, and targeted firingsNresulting in the smallest federal workforce share recorded since the 1930s. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created at the start of President Trumps second term to drive sweeping federal workforce reductions. DOGE spearheaded mass buyouts, layoffs, and restructuring across agencies, including the rollout of the Deferred Resignation Program and guidance encouraging the firing of probationary employees. Its initiatives contributed to a net loss of more than 150,000 federal workers early in Trumps second term, with broader governmentwide workforce reductions continuing into 2026. Elon Musk was appointed to lead DOGE and initially served as the public face of Trumps governmentshrinkage agenda. However, his influence declined significantly after he stepped away from the department and entered a public feud with President Trump. Many DOGE staffers left government during this period, and DOGE became associated with controversial actions including the dismantling of USAID and alleged improper access to agency data. Musk originally claimed DOGE would identify $2 trillion in government savings, but the departments website later estimated only $215 billion, a figure analysts say was overstated. President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, signed July 4, 2025, reshaped federal tax law by extending lower individual tax rates from the 2017 TCJA, increasing standard deductions, and adding new temporary deductions for tips and overtime. The law also phases out cleanenergy incentives and cuts programs like Medicaid and SNAP, with the Congressional Budget Office projecting a $4.1 trillion increase in deficits over 10 years due to the package. President Trump has aligned many social policies with the goals of Project 2025, targeting reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, DEI programs, and genderaffirming care. His administration has signed executive orders eliminating transgender protections, removing DEI offices across federal agencies, and directing schools to deny funding if they allow transgender girls to compete in girls sports. He has also pursued efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict reproductivehealth accessthough not all proposed measures have succeeded. Trump has moved aggressively to remake federal cultural institutions, ordering the removal of what he calls antiAmerican ideology from museums, national parks, and research centers. Actions include restoring Confederate statues, removing slaveryrelated exhibits and NativeAmerican history signage from national parks, and pressuring institutions like the Smithsonian and Kennedy Center while installing political allies onto boards. Civilrights groups warn these moves risk erasing critical historical truths and reversing decades of social progress During his second term, President Donald Trump has systematically dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government. Executive orders have eliminated DEI offices and policies, with agencies placing all DEIrelated staff on administrative leave and shutting down DEI programs entirely. His administration also removed DEI departments at major cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian and National Gallery of Art in early 2025. Trump has framed DEI initiatives as antiAmerican ideology, directing agencies and cultural institutions to strip references to DEI, sexual orientation and gender identity from rules, grants, and regulations. These moves reflect a broader cultural agenda aimed at reversing equityfocused policies across education, federal agencies, and the arts sector. On January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump ordered a largescale U.S. military operation in VenezuelaOperation Absolute Resolveresulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. U.S. forces conducted coordinated strikes across northern Venezuela to suppress air defenses before extracting the pair, who were flown to New York to face narcoterrorismrelated charges. The Trump administration framed the action as a lawenforcement mission with military support, asserting inherent presidential authority, while Venezuela and several regional governments condemned it as a violation of sovereignty. In late February and early March 2026, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had begun major combat operations in Iran, launching strikes alongside Israel targeting Iranian leadership, military infrastructure, and missile capabilities. The joint assault targeted highlevel officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, and was framed by Trump as necessary to eliminate imminent threats and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump second term marked by turbulent moves. See photos 1 of 14 Trumps second term saw aggressive immigration and trade moves, federal downsizing, and assertive foreign interventions in Venezuela and Iran. President Donald Trump has doubled down on an aggressive immigration agenda, emphasizing record-low levels of illegal border crossings and a sweeping expansion of enforcement. In his February 2026 State of the Union address, Trump highlighted a ninemonth period in which, he claimed, zero illegal aliens were admitted into the U.S.a statement that fact-checkers noted conflated admission with release on parole, though data does show no parole releases during that period.

John Cornyn defends his position

Cornyn, 74, is a fourth-term senator who was first elected to the position in 2002. He currently sits on the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Budget Committee.

Born in Houston before growing up in San Antonio, Cornyn graduated in 1973 from Trinity University, where he majored in journalism. He earned a law degree from St. Marys Law School in 1977. He went on to work as a district judge, a member of the Texas Supreme Court, and Texas Attorney General, before his election to the U.S. Senate. In 2012, he was voted the Senate minority whip, the second-in-command for his party.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) walks through halls of the US Capitol on February 12, 2026 in Washington, DC.

He has received hundreds of endorsements from Republicans across Texas, as well as prominent groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federal of Independent Businesses and the Houston Region Business Coalition.

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A Lone Star State institution, Cornyn has been blasted by MAGA critics lately for being too cozy with Democrats and criticizing Trump in the past. Cornyn is looking to appeal to a broad base of Republican voters. He told CBS News on March 2 it will "be a challenge" if "only the most radical people" vote in Texas GOP primary. He also said he "respected" Trump's decision to launch strikes in Iran.

Ken Paxton looks to stir up MAGA base

Cornyn's toughest competitor, Paxton, 63, is the 51st attorney general of Texas, and has served in the role since 2015.

He earned a bachelor's and master's degree from from Baylor University and studied law at the University of Virginia School of Law, according to his bio. Paxton worked as an attorney at Strasburger & Price, LLP, in-house counsel for J.C. Penney Company, and headed up his own law firm for 14 years in McKinney before moving into public office.

From left, U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

Paxton served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 70 from 2003 to 2013, according to Ballotpedia. He then was elected as a Republican member of the Texas State Senate for District 8 from 2013 to 2015, before running for attorney general.

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As attorney general, Paxton has fought for GOP-favored issues like anti-abortion legislation and curbs to immigration.

But his tenure has also been marred by multiple controversies over the years in his political and personal life starting with a 2023 impeachment on bribery charges by the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives over allegations that he used his office to benefit a real estate developer who allegedly employed a woman with whom Paxton had an affair and helped remodel the attorney general's home. The state Senate later acquitted him after a two-week trial.

The attorney general made headlines again last year when his wife, Angela Paxton, a state legislator, announced on X the two were getting a divorce based on "biblical grounds" after being married almost four decades.

But he's achieved popularity among Trump's most staunch supporters by spotlighting lawsuits against the Biden administration and support for Trump.

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While Cornyn aims to win votes across his party, Paxton is targeting his message toward the most MAGA-aligned Republicans. Paxton is looking to use his endorsement from Turning Point Action  the PAC for Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Charlie Kirk  to bolster his lead on Cornyn. A Paxton victory could serve as a litmus test for Trump-style Republicanism ahead of the November midterms.

Wesley Hunt

The GOP primary trifecta is completed by Rep. Wesley Hunt, who serves Texas' 38th district. A Houston native, Hunt graduated in 2004 from the United States Military Academy at West Point before spending eight years in the Army as an Apache helicopter pilot. He was deployed once in Iraq and twice in Saudi Arabia.

He then returned to his education at Cornell University, where he earned three graduate degrees. He has been a U.S. congressman since 2023 and sits on the House Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees.

Rep. Wesley Hunt speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states.

Hunt is hoping to be an alternative choice for a younger generation of Texas Republicans wedded to Trump but who've lost faith in Cornyn but don't align with Paxton.

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In a previous interview with USA TODAY, Hunt said it will be hard for voters to ignore the controversies in Paxton's history.

"They are distractions, I'll say that," Hunt said. "They certainly are issues that can be used against him. This is why I'm running, because I'm a clean guy. I don't have any of those problems."

Republicans could go for a runoff

Paxton is currently polling ahead of Cornyn, though the Republican primary will likely be headed for a runoff.

If no candidate receives more than 50% support, the race would go to a May 26 runoff, which many experts and strategists expect will happen.

The chosen candidate will face off against the winner of the Democratic primary between Texas Rep. James Talarico and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, both of whom are testing new styles of Democratic ticket for their troubled party. The greater test at hand could be the smoke signals Tuesday's race sends to Trump's party ahead of the November midterms, indicating alignment with the president's base or foreshadowing fray among Republicans.

March 3 is the last day of voting

Early voting began Feb. 17, and turnout is more than double what it was in the past two election cycles on the Democratic side, reports say. In-person voting will be held on Tuesday, March 3. Find your polling location here.

Contributing: Phillip M. Bailey and Adam Powell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are Texas Republican primary candidates? Here's what to know
Donald Trumps Operation Epic Fury against Iran might have stunned the world, but Xi Jinping is unlikely to be troubled.

In comparison to the bombastic US president, Beijing is milking every opportunity to sound like a calm, credible counterpart on the world stage.

Its foreign ministry is continually reminding the world that ongoing US-Israeli strikes violate international law, that military operations must immediately cease and that it stands ready to work with other parties to speak up for justice at the UNand uphold international fairness and justice.

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Those are choice words for a country that routinely violates international laws and norms, and has an abysmal human rights record, including kidnapping them from abroad and tossing them in prisons at home.

In the short term, China is in for a bit of pain. The worlds second-largest economy has been feeling the pinch, and snarled global shipping plus volatility in the oil markets wont help.

Beijing has already called for a cooling of tensions so that international shipping can resume through the Strait of Hormuz, along a major route and a chokepoint, as Iran has threatened to fire on vessels passing through.

The longer Tehran seeks to halt global trade, the more likely it is to anger China.

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Even if a rift grows between Tehran and Beijing or a dramatic collapse of the Iranian regime occurs, either of which could kneecap CRINK  the loose coalition between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea  Beijing wont care.

Instead, it will focus on its own priorities and double down at home, pressing ahead with plans to bulk up its already fearsome nuclear arsenal  set to expand from 600 nuclear warheads to 1,500 by 2035, according to official US estimates.

China has never prioritised cementing traditional alliances as favoured by the US and its Western partners, instead believing such ties would eventually lead to the downfall of America and its supporters.

Britain, though not initially involved in Operation Epic Fury, has been quickly drawn into the fast-widening and escalating tensions in the Middle East.

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A drone strike has hit a British air base in Cyprus and security advisers have named the hotel where the British consulate is located in northern Iraq as a potential target.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has also now agreed to a US request to use its bases for defensive strikes against Iran  a delayed decision for which hes come under fire at home.

Within days, the UK has become embroiled in a conflict in the Middle East with no clear end date, which puts its interests, assets, military and citizens at risk. Its leader is fighting a political maelstrom at home, and a big question mark hangs over the extent to which the British public and economy are willing to withstand all of the above.

This exact chain of events is something the extremely risk-averse Beijing would never allow, simply because China does not stick its neck out for others.

Xi Jinping has not offered anything to other nations that might hurt Chinas interests or limit its growing power - JESSICA LEE/AFP via Getty Images

China has long been happy to support Iran by sending surveillance technology, providing nuclear fuel precursors, snapping up cheap oil, and allowing rumours to circulate about Tehran purchasing Chinese anti-ship cruise missiles.

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It has sent Russia plenty of spare drone parts, optic sights, machining tools and more  anything that allows Moscow to keep replenishing its weapons stockpile to prolong its invasion of Ukraine. And Xi continues to roll out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.

China has also bestowed North Korea with some legitimacy on the world stage by agreeing to bilateral meetings between Xi and Kim Jong-un. In addition, it has kept the hermit kingdoms economy afloat as its largest trading partner.

But what China has not done is to offer anything that might hurt its own interests or limit its growing power.

It has not armed Iran or Russia to the teeth, nor has it shared its far more advanced nuclear know-how, even though it could easily do so as part of broader efforts to join hands against the West.

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Such moves would make Beijings wrongdoing much clearer-cut. Instead, Beijing seeks to exploit the grey zone, giving it plausible deniability.

Thus, China can always say with conviction  as it has repeatedly said in recent days  that its not the one dropping the bombs and wreaking havoc on other nations.

China doesnt care if the axis of evil is broken, because Beijing believes it reigns supreme. And it is true that the Chinese underdogs have rapidly become the most powerful of the dictators bloc.

To Beijing, all this is about the fall of the West and the rise of the East.

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This article originally appeared on Climbing

Anyone who follows Everest news knows that the mountain has grown increasingly crowded year over year. With the throngs of climbers--including more inexperienced climbers--come changes to other stats from the world's highest peak. Deaths on Everest, for example, have been decreasing for the past few years. Experts have hypothesized that this could be because rescues are on the rise. This or other possible benefits of more rescue activity aside, why exactly are rescues increasing on Everest? Through conversations with a high-altitude physician, rescue operators, and alpinists, I sought to answer the question.

I started my search for answers by seeking out some stats and insights from Global Rescue, one of the largest worldwide providers of medical, security, and crisis-response services for climbers and other travelers. During the spring 2025 climbing season, Global Rescue reported conducting 137 operations. Ninety-four of those rescues took place across the Himalayas. Rescues have been steadily increasing, but last season set a company record since it first began operations in 2004. On Everest alone, Global Rescue carried out 44 rescues last spring.

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These figures raise one obvious question: Are rescues increasing simply because more people are climbing in the Himalaya? Or are other factors--such as operator practices, climber preparation, or fraud--contributing to the rise in rescues?

Global Rescue CEO Dan Richards suggested growing demand is, unsurprisingly, part of the answer. According to Richards, the primary reason why rescues are increasing is indeed "overall interest in the region." Simply stated, more people climbing in the Himalaya leads to more rescues.

But the second leading cause? "Lower-cost, more budget-oriented operators bringing people to places where they may have less experience than they should," Richards told Climbing. "That's a general trend we've observed over the last decade, and it's not limited to that region."

When rescue becomes a judgment call

David Koo of Global Rescue en route to an emergency high-altitude rescue in Nepal (Photo: Courtesy Global Rescue)

A long-standing tension between evacuation providers and expedition operators often complicates incidents in the mountains. One recent case highlights these competing pressures.

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Last October, Australian climber Chin-Tark Chan, 49, became ill at about 6,800 meters (22,309 feet) on Nepal's 7,126-meter (23,379 feet) Himlung Himal. His expedition operator, 8K Expeditions, contacted Global Rescue requesting a helicopter evacuation, reporting symptoms including snow blindness, vomiting blood, and loss of mobility.

Richards said the company declined the request because of safety limits. "We're not putting rescuers' lives unnecessarily at risk," he explained. "If a mission has a high likelihood of failure, we're not going to do it. First, it was above the operating ceiling, then right at it. We said no--you've got to descend. Another operator tried and failed, nearly crashing while attempting the rescue. And another helicopter crashed elsewhere in bad weather."

Pemba Sherpa, executive director of 8K Expeditions, offered a different account. "Around 10 a.m., I called Global and said only a longline could save him," he said. "The altitude was about 6,700 meters (21,981 feet). I consulted longline captains, and they said it could be done. I ran to the airport to request one, but another helicopter was already on a mission. We dropped two guides at Camp 2 to help bring him down, but the weather stayed bad, and they could not save him ... if a longline helicopter had been sent immediately, he might have been evacuated."

A pattern seen before

Men carry the body of American mountaineer Jonathan Sugarman at a helipad in Lukla on May 3, 2023. (Photo: Ang Tashi Sherpa / Getty)

Another high-profile case underscores how disagreements between expedition operators and evacuation providers can shape outcomes. In 2019, Malaysian climber Wui Kin Chin, 49, collapsed high on Annapurna after running out of supplemental oxygen. For more than 40 hours, he sat alone above 7,315 meters (24,000 feet) awaiting help. Both Seven Summits Treks, which organized the expedition, and Global Rescue later gave conflicting accounts. Reporting by Outside Magazine found that "critical information about Chin's location... appears to have been either miscommunicated or ignored."

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Seven Summits director Dawa Sherpa said he supplied GPS coordinates to Global Rescue and requested helicopter assistance. Meanwhile, Richards said his team never received a precise location and therefore classified the situation as a search rather than a rescue. This is an important contractual distinction because field-rescue coverage requires known coordinates. Dawa said it "took almost 24 hours" for Global Rescue to confirm it would not assist, while the company maintained it had explained its limitations from the outset.

The episode illustrates a structural reality: Guides are responsible for clients on the mountain, while evacuation providers must operate within contractual, safety, and aviation limits. Disputes over information, responsibility, or feasibility can directly affect rescue timelines and decisions. Furthermore, communication breakdowns between expedition guides and rescue operators often occur, further complicating decision-making and liability in the aftermath.

The physics of thin air

David Koo of Global Rescue prepares rescue lines for an airborne medical evacuation. (Photo: Courtesy Global Rescue)

The tension point of rescue feasibility ultimately answers to aerodynamics. According to Daily Heli Fly, a Kathmandu-based helicopter charter and services company, a helicopters engines depend on oxygen to generate power. As altitude increases, thinner air reduces both engine performance and rotor lift. Depending on load and conditions, even high-performance aircraft lose effectiveness above roughly 6,000 meters (21,325 feet).

But what about the Airbus AS350 B3 that famously landed on the summit of Everest during a test flight? That was a controlled demonstration rather than a normal rescue scenario. Operational evacuations rarely occur above approximately 6,500 meters (21,325 feet), due to safety margins.

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Richards said that Global Rescue has discussed pre-positioning rescue teams higher on Everest, such as at Camp 2 at approximately 6,500 meters (21,325 feet), but this remains impractical due to cost and logistics. He added that emerging drone technology could eventually enable the delivery of oxygen or supplies to stranded climbers. In fact, rescuers have already begun deploying drones in a few instances. With improved lifting capacity, one day, drones might even be able to carry a person down, thereby potentially reducing the need for some helicopter deployments.

A different view from high-altitude medicine

High-altitude physician and Everest summiteer Dr. Peter Hackett argues that the key metric when it comes to the increase in rescues isn't raw rescue totals, but the percentage that are medically necessary. "I think that percentage is going down," he said, citing better preparation, improved education, and wider use of supplemental oxygen.

Dr. Hackett also cited research showing that approximately 200 hours of simulated-altitude pre-acclimatization can substantially reduce the risk of acute mountain sickness. About 25 nights in a hypoxic tent before departure, he said, may translate into fewer altitude illnesses--and potentially fewer evacuations.

Last May, American Ukrainian climber Andrew Ushakov summited Everest after traveling from New York to the summit in just four days, following approximately 400 hours of hypoxic tent training, according to The Guardian.

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Another factor is the presence of Everest ER, an all-volunteer medical team stationed seasonally at basecamp. Hackett believes their work reduces helicopter evacuations because many altitude illnesses can be treated on site with oxygen, medication, and descent. Based on his decades of experience in high-altitude medicine, including on Everest, he estimates that only about one-third of reported "medical rescues" ultimately involve serious conditions upon patients arrival in Kathmandu.

A doctor based in Kathmandu, Nepal, who asked not to be named for fear of consequences from his employer, told Climbing, "It is difficult to state the exact proportion of evacuations that were actually necessary, especially as many cases of high-altitude illnesses, if they were brought down rapidly to Kathmandu from anywhere above basecamp, would make a dramatic and immediate recovery."

The anonymous doctor who specializes in altitude, wilderness, and travel medicine added that he has observed more helicopters on Everest lately. He explained that some of these so-called "rescues" serve people who simply feel "too tired to climb down." But, they cite symptoms to the evacuation company to get authorization for the helicopter flight, he explains. "They are smart enough to put down six to seven different symptoms by the time they reach a hospital in Kathmandu. And in medicine, the patient is always correct. If someone comes to the ER saying they are having chest pain, we cannot dismiss it. Similarly, people who are rescued often present with symptoms, so its difficult to say."

Bill McIntyre, Global Rescue's Director of Communications, raised concerns about unnecessary evacuations. Observations from Lukla, the town where his team coordinates Himalayan rescues, indicate that many are medically unnecessary. Their policy requires a medical assessment before dispatching a helicopter.

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McIntyre noted that many climbers could avoid the need for rescues by making better efforts to self-descend, acclimatize, or stop an ascent when unwell. He emphasized that several valid rescues could be prevented by both guides and climbers through improved planning and risk assessments.

Guides stress that real-time decisions rarely present as straightforward. Garrett Madison of Madison Mountaineering, who has led more clients to the Everest summit than any other Western guide, said, "Rescues are always tricky. It's difficult to determine how ill someone is, so we err on the side of caution."

How Nepal's government is responding

Camp 2 of Mount Everest (8,848m) (Photo: Lakpa Sherpa / Getty)

Nepalese authorities state that they are aware of concerns regarding helicopter rescue overuse and are already taking action. Expedition operator Rishi Bhandari told me in an email that recent incidents have prompted reforms led by Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation and the Department of Tourism. Bhandari also serves as the general secretary of the Expedition Operators Association and sits on the Nepal Tourism Board.

"The ministry has already formed a dedicated team to coordinate emergency rescues with insurers," Bhandari said, adding that new measures are in the works "to stop any wrong practices" before the 2026 Everest season begins.

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Bhandari emphasized that Nepal's rescue system was designed as a life-saving mechanism for serious emergencies such as HAPE (high-altitude pulmonary edema), HACE (high-altitude cerebral edema), severe trauma, or other life-threatening conditions. "In those cases, it functions as intended and has saved many lives," he said.

At the same time, he acknowledged concerns. "Some evacuations may go beyond strict medical necessity," he explained. "While many are clearly justified, others can be influenced by insurance structures, client expectations, or operational convenience. It is important not to generalize, as most operators prioritize safety and medical judgment."

For years, the Himalayan Rescue Association has operated basecamp clinics on Everest and Lhotse to provide primary treatment. Going forward, Bhandari said, authorities want clearer triage protocols, including:

Immediate evacuation for genuine emergencies

Treatment at basecamp or at the Pasang Lhamu Nicole Niquille Hospital in Lukla (the nearest city to basecamp on the Nepal side) for manageable cases

Referral to Kathmandu only when clinically necessary

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"The system performs well for critical cases," Bhandari said, "but refinement and stronger medical coordination are underway to prevent overuse and ensure evacuations are strictly medically justified."

Perception vs. reality in Himalayan rescues

Authorities also recognize structural issues within the rescue ecosystem in the Himalayas. "When operators are vertically integrated with helicopter services, or when a few companies dominate the evacuation market, there can be a perception of conflict of interest," Bhandari said. But he explained that this perception isn't always accurate. "The real need," he said, "is transparency, oversight, and clear medical protocols."

So, in addition to the reforms the Nepal government is leading, Bhandari is also calling for a joint national rescue framework that brings together doctors, tourism police, insurers, and long-line rescue teams under a 24-hour coordination center.

Bhandari believes one solution could be a government-backed insurance system for foreign climbers, allowing rescues and treatment at transparent, regulated costs. Such a system, he said, could reduce suspicion, stabilize pricing, and reassure clients.

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It's also important to remember that Sherpas remain the last line of rescue above helicopter limits, as Bhandari explained. "We currently do not have helicopters capable of landing above around 7,000 meters (22,965 feet)," he said. "In emergencies above that, manned rescues--though risky--are the only option we have." Until more capable aircraft or drone systems exist, he said, these Sherpa-led rescues will remain "imperfect but necessary."

So, why are rescues increasing on Everest: Fraud, indolence, or growth?

Unnecessary rescues aside, how much has fraud distorted the rescue statistics out of Everest--and beyond? The Kathmandu Post reported in February that the Nepal police recently detained six individuals suspected of orchestrating a scheme that allegedly defrauded insurers of roughly $20 million by arranging unnecessary helicopter evacuations for foreign climbers with minor ailments. Investigators say the suspects coordinated with rescue agencies and encouraged tourists to request evacuations that were not medically required. A similar scandal surfaced in 2018.

Some climbers report questionable evacuations, after observing helicopter flights used more as a taxi service than for medically necessary rescues. An Australian climber, who wanted to remain anonymous since he is returning to Everest this season and feared refusal of service, said that last spring on Everest, he heard multiple accounts of climbers using evacuation coverage to fly from Camp 2 to Lukla or Kathmandu, despite limited symptoms. Such claims are difficult to verify, but are often discussed within the climbing community.

Bhandari argues that the overall trend reflects both the growth of high-altitude mountaineering and the fact that it's simply easier to call for a rescue, technologically and financially.

What rescues on Everest might look like in 2026

For Nepal's tourism leadership, the challenge is maintaining trust while ensuring climber safety. However, the recent arrests of individuals accused of fraud have led to three changes that will take effect this upcoming season. These measures aim to stop the multi-billing by insurance companies. According to the Nepal Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Tourism, the three directives include:

NepaliPort Digital System : To digitize the paper trail, the government is phasing in a new online permit and tracking system. This makes it harder to forge passenger manifests or double-invoice for separate rescues for one flight.

Manifest Verification : Helicopter operators are now under stricter oversight by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). They must keep detailed logs and obtain park-specific approval for every flight within Sagarmatha National Park, where Everest is located.

The Camp 2 Limit: Official guidelines now emphasize that helicopter rescues should generally only reach Camp 2 (6,400m). Any rescue claimed above this point is subject to extreme scrutiny.

Dan Stretch of Global Rescue gets patient details during an emergency helicopter rescue off a high-altitude mountain in Nepal (Photo: Courtesy Global Rescue)

The rise in rescues: A complex equation

So, what is ultimately driving the apparent rise in Everest rescues: More climbers, fraud, operator practices, or preparedness levels?

Available data remains limited, making it difficult to isolate a single cause. What does become clear from my interviews across the rescue ecosystem is a layered reality. More climbers increase absolute numbers. Better communication, such as widespread 5G cell coverage and climbers posting on social media, also creates greater visibility around rescues.

The fact that many expedition operators now require insurance evacuation policies has the unintended effect of encouraging operators to call for evacuations, potentially to profit from the transaction. For evidence, look no further than the recent alleged scheme reported in The Kathmandu Post wherein trekking guides, rescue companies, and hospitals colluded to illegally claim insurance money from foreign trekkers and mountaineers. Lastly, while improved preparation may reduce serious medical emergencies, it has not reduced fraudulent rescues.

In other words, rising rescue statistics do not necessarily mean Everest is becoming more dangerous. They may instead reflect a mountain where technology, medicine, commerce, and human judgment intersect more visibly--and more frequently--than ever before.

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California's new plastic bag law went into effect on January 1. It forbids any business from giving away or selling plastic bags, even those deemed "recyclable."

We found no shortage of those so-called "reusable," thick plastic bags in San Francisco's Mission District, the same heavy-duty bags the state banned just two months ago.

Every business owner we spoke to told us they knew of the state law.

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"Yes, I know. We got a notice about the plastic bags," said Pablo Moran, owner of La Espiga de Oro restaurant.

MORE: California lawsuit says makers of plastic bags lied about products being recyclable

But his business was still using the bags because he had purchased them before the state ban.

"We know. We're not buying anymore plastic, we're going to do paper now," he assured us.

The owner of Casa Lucas said he too was stuck with thousands of plastic bags and wanted to get rid of them first before moving on to paper.

The La Palma store has already shifted to paper bags.

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The butcher shop nearby was transitioning and letting customers know they were moving to paper, costing 25 cents per bag.

MORE: CA to start phasing out single-use plastic bags used for meat and produce: Here's why

Mariano Castro says he's tired of the back and forth between plastic and paper. "I don't really think about it. I just bring my own bags," said Castro.

But what those business owners do not know is that in San Francisco, they are not subject to the new law.

Confused? So were we.

We asked the enforcing agency, the San Francisco Environment Department, to explain.

"It is a really unique situation we find ourselves in. When the state of California passes a new law, it preempts local law. That's not how this was written," explained Joseph Piasecki, spokesperson for that department.

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Local law says any city or county that passed its own plastic bag ordinance before 2014 gets to keep it intact. Which means San Francisco can still use those heavy plastic bags that claim to be recyclable.

MORE: Can heavy-duty plastic bags really be reused as many times as industry says? ABC7 puts them to test

In other words, the plastic industry found a loophole allowing manufacturers to label those heavy plastic bags as "recyclable."

As a result, 80% of Bay Area cities can continue to use them. But those cities without a prior ordinance have to follow state law.

Following an investigation by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the state sued seven manufacturers, stating, "Despite the manufacturers' claims and widespread consumer belief, these plastic bags do not, in fact, appear to generally be recyclable."

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What would it take for San Francisco to align with state law?

"It would be a legislative process with the board. They would probably require us to amend what we currently have," said Piasecki.

MORE: Plastic bags are banned again in California as COVID-19 order expires

At least one supervisor told us he's not ready to put more pressure on small businesses.

"Especially not as we have an economic recovery under way. It feels to me like our economic recovery is fragile. Let's make sure we're protecting that," said San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey.

It's not just businesses in the Mission District. We found plastic bags being used all over the city. In Chinatown, most businesses are still using the heavy plastic bags which, as we know now, are allowed. But while we saw more people bringing their own cloth bags, much to our surprise, a lot of customers were using the single-use flimsy bags that were banned in San Francisco in 2007.

So, if eliminating plastic bags is better for the environment, why isn't San Francisco doing more to phase them out?

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live




NEED TO KNOW

A man has died after a car crash at a Colorado intersection on March 2

The victim, 82-year-old Gerry Goldberg, died nearly two years after his wife was killed when she was hit by a car at the same intersection

Gerry and other community members filed a petition in November 2025 to erect a traffic light at the intersection

A man whose wife died after she was hit by a car at a Colorado intersection was killed in a crash at the same crossing nearly two years later.

Police said the crash occurred at the intersection of East Belleview Avenue and South Franklin Street in Cherry Hills on Monday, March 2, according to ABC affiliate KMGH and NBC affiliate KUSA.

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A man was pronounced dead at the scene of the two-car collision. He has been identified as 82-year-old Gerry Goldberg, KUSA reported.

The fatal crash occurred after Gerrys wife, Andie Goldberg, died at the same intersection after she was hit by a car while jogging in May 2024.

In November 2025, Gerry and a community group known as Andies Light launched a petition to add a traffic light to the intersection.

We want the City Councils of Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village to approve and fund the installation of a traffic light at this intersection as soon as practicably possible, the group said in the petition.

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Speaking with KUSA in the fall of 2025, Gerry said installing the traffic light would give me a great deal of resolve for closure in the loss of my wife.

Now, his cousin Gloria, whom Gerry was supposed to meet for lunch the day of his death, is trying to make sense of the tragedy.

I dont know what to tell you about that, whether its a spiritual thing or exactly just what happened because to have it happen in exactly the same place to me its just  its almost like science fiction, Gloria said.

A light still has not been erected at the intersection, which sits along a jurisdictional boundary between Cherry Hills and Greenwood Villages, according to KUSA.

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"We are in the first stage of grief and our focus has been on supporting each other," Jerry Presley, a member of Andie's Light, tells PEOPLE. "We will resume our political campaign sometime in the future."

Greenwood Village spokeswoman Megan Copenhaver said the two cities are evaluating a proposal for the street light, which has support from the Colorado Department of Transportation, KUSA reported.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Cherry Hills Village City Council said it was planning to discuss conducting an updated warrant study at the March 17 City Council meeting.

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Since then, the council said it has directed staff to expedite that effort and coordinate with Greenwood Village staff to review the situation collaboratively and identify possible next steps for the project.

The City remains committed to carefully evaluating all available data and working with regional partners to promote the safety and well-being of our community, the council said. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Greenwood Village officials did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.



Read the original article on People
The Brief

Gov. Evers signed an executive order calling for a special session to pass a constitutional amendment banning partisan gerrymandering.

The governor aims to establish a permanent, nonpartisan redistricting process to prevent politicians from drawing their own maps.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos expressed support for the concept.

SHOREWOOD, Wis. - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says he wants to take power away from politicians when it comes to voting maps.

Drawing election lines

What we know

The district maps determine who represents you and where you live, lawmakers who vote on public safety, taxes and schools. those lines could also impact how powerful your vote is.

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The governor stopped by Shorewood Village Hall on Tuesday, March 3, to meet with election workers.

Gov. Evers is calling the state legislature into a special session to pass an amendment that bans partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin. He said the idea is to prevent politicians from drawing maps that help their party win elections.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android

In 2024, Evers signed new legislative district maps that he proposed. Republicans, who control the legislature, passed those maps to avoid having the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court draw the lines.

Weighing in

What they're saying

However, Evers said the state does not have a nonpartisan redistricting process in place.

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"Were setting the stage for whatever happens with the legislature," Evers said. "Whether they pick it up  the process. The problem is they are never going to agree on a specific thing unless we clear the deck by making it illegal to have gerrymander maps in Wisconsin."

Gov. Tony Evers

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the amendment does not provide details on how this would work, but said, "Were supportive of the governors concept, and we would be more than happy to negotiate with him to develop a plan to be voted on by the entire Assembly."

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In the past, Republicans have argued these decisions belong with the legislature.

The Source

Information in this post was produced with interviews from the governor and Assembly speaker.
Precious Elicia Janae Johnson was recovering from giving birth when the domestic assault occurred, according to investigators.

A woman recovering from childbirth in an Alabama hospital was shot and killed by her husband before he turned the gun on himself, authorities say.

On Sunday (Mar. 1), Precious Elicia Janae Johnson was a patient at the Womens Medical Center at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital when she was allegedly shot multiple times by her husband, Kynath William Terry Jr., before he used the weapon on himself, WBRC 6 News reported. She was 24, and he was 19.

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Authorities in Alabama are investigating the incident.

The couple had reportedly just welcomed their first child together when what police are describing as a domestic assault occurred. Family members later confirmed the two were married. The child has been left orphaned.

Homewood Police say officers responded to the Womens Medical Center around 9:25 p.m. on March 1 after receiving reports of possible shots fired, according to ABC 3340 News. When they arrived, they found a female patient and a male visitor, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Preliminary investigation by Homewood Police leads investigators to believe that the incident is an apparent murder-suicide and is domestic in nature, the department said in a press release. Police confirmed that no other people were injured.

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Domestic violence advocates say the case also highlights broader concerns about intimate partner violence, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In a post on Facebook about the case, the Black Femicide Prevention Coalition shared a statement from Rebecca McWilliams, executive director of One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center, noting that homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women.

Its so important to be aware that pregnant women are truly in danger at the hands of their partners when theres domestic violence involved, McWilliams said. We also see that abuse can escalate during pregnancy.

McWilliams added that incidents like this show domestic violence is not confined to the home but is a broader public health and community safety issue.

If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, the National Domestic Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 800-799-723 or text BEGIN to 88788 to chat.

More must-reads:




WESTPORT - A woman living in New York is facing numerous charges after she tampered with relatives' drinking water while staying at a Westport home, police said.

Megan Greenlee, 50, of Pleasantville, is charged with two counts of assault of an elderly person, two counts of second-degree assault, second-degree failure to appear and failure to comply with fingerprinting requirements, police said.

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An investigation began after residents reported being ill, with the same symptoms, resulting in two calls in a day on July 4, police said. Three residents needed to be taken to the hospital, one of them twice, police said.

"Through police led interviews with these patients, they expressed a concern that a relative residing in the home, identified as Megan Greenlee, might be responsible," police said. "Investigation of these claims led detectives to a communal water container within the home that was found to contain an unknown sediment."

Greenlee was believed to have tampered with the water after labs showed a prescription medication in provided samples, police said. Investigators found "a link between the medication and Greenlee," police said. They did not say what the medication was.

Police said Greenlee was taken into custody by officers in Westchester County after she failed to respond to multiple contact attempts. Police said she was transported back to Westport on Feb. 25, when she was formally charged.

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Greenlee appeared to remain in custody as of Wednesday, according to records, and was scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in Stamford May 5.

This article originally published at Woman tampered with Westport residents' drinking water, resulting in illness, police say.
A group of women from Kent are among several Americans stranded indefinitely abroad as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupts international travel.

The travelers were scheduled to depart for an African safari from Dubai, where they had stopped for a few days, when Iranian airstrikes led to airport shutdowns and widespread flight cancellations.

Darleen Earnest said the group was just hours from their flight to Rwanda when the Dubai airport shut down.

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The United States government has urged citizens in the region to shelter in place. The women report they have received no official guidance on when they will be able to return home.

We keep buying airplane tickets, and they keep getting canceled, Earnest said.

Earnest said the group has not been able to connect with airline operators or members of the U.S. Embassy. They tried visiting the embassy in person, but it was already shut down.

The travelers are currently remaining in their hotel while they attempt to find a solution. Earnest described the environment as volatile, noting that the group has heard the sounds of the conflict nearby.

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We have heard multiple, multiple, multiple bombs the last few days, Earnest said.

U.S. lawmakers in Washington D.C. have reacted to the impact abroad this week.

Senator Chris Coons (D - Delaware) criticized the U.S. action overseas.

They were not adequately prepared for this, he said.

Coons also spoke specifically about drone attacks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

If youre in a situation like that, what do you do? You call the US embassy, he said. If the staff of the US embassy are in the midst of being removed from the region, you wont get the immediate support that you hope for and you need. This is a very difficult situation. There are resources. We should be surging them from other parts of the world to provide support for anxious and concerned Americans, but its going to be very difficult to get people out of harms way.

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KIRO 7 contacted the U.S. State Department to ask for comment about the situation that Earnest and others are facing, as well as resources they could utilize, and is still waiting for a response.

KIRO 7 also contacted both of Washingtons U.S. senators and the office of U.S. Rep. Adam Smith.

The office of Rep. Smith provided contact information for their casework team to assist the women with their situation.

My office is ready to assist anyone in our region who is facing this situation, and we encourage families to contact us if they need help navigating their options, Rep. Adam Smith wrote in a statement, where he also criticized the Trump administrations handling of the conflict in Iran.

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Senator Patty Murrays office also provided contact information for their casework team.

In a statement, Senator Murray criticized the Trump administrations actions as well.

The mixed messages and delayed official communication have made it harder for us to protect our constituents, Murray wrote. I will do everything in my power to bring members of our community home safely, but the administration is the only government entity with the resources to protect and evacuate American citizens.

While the group is safe in their hotel, they are facing mounting financial losses.

Our gorilla safari has left without us, and were incurring expenses, obviously, daily here, Earnest said.

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Although she has travel insurance, she said she doubts the policy will provide reimbursement for these specific losses. Standard travel insurance policies typically do not include coverage for issues caused by war or other military action.

Earnest described the situation as having a literally devastating impact on the group.

The trip was originally intended as a tribute to a friend named Diana, who died unexpectedly during the planning stages of the vacation.

Earnest described her as a little pistol and said the group wanted to complete the bucket-list adventure to honor her memory.

In her honor, we decided to continue on and go gorilla trekking because that was her dream, Earnest said. So we wanted to live her dream for her.
Meta Platforms (META) just handed the AI buildout a massive new catalyst by agreeing to buy advanced chips from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in a deal reportedly worth up to $100 billion over several years, focused on large-scale AI data centers. That kind of budget reshapes chip demand and forces a rethink of the networks, switches, and security layers needed to keep AI models fed with data at high speed.

As the spotlight shifts, the AMD-Meta deal hitting the tape sent networking names tied to AI infrastructure higher, and Cisco Systems (CSCO) quickly stood out as one of the clear winners. CSCO stock has pushed to new highs on growing AI-focused orders and still offers an annual dividend payout of $1.64 per share. That combination is exactly why this networking stock is set to benefit from the AMD-Meta deal while continuing to pay a dependable dividend. Lets dive in.

More News from Barchart

Ciscos Fundamentals Back an AI-Powered Upside

Cisco Systems is a San Jose, Californiabased networking and cybersecurity company that builds the hardware and software underpinning global internet and data-center traffic. It carries a market capitalization of roughly $313 billion and returns cash to shareholders through an annual forward dividend of $1.64 per share, translating to a 2.06% yield.

Shares change hands near $78 as of Feb. 26, up 3% year-to-date (YTD) and 24% over the past 52 weeks.

www.barchart.com

This valuation embeds a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24.2 times against a sector median of 21.8 times and a price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 5.5 times versus a sector median of 3.1 times, suggesting investors are willing to pay a reasonable premium for Ciscos earnings quality and leverage to AI networking.

The latest earnings release on Feb. 11 detailed record quarterly revenue of $15.3 billion, rising 10% year-over-year (YOY) as customers accelerated spending on highperformance networking and AIready infrastructure. It also showed GAAP EPS climbing to $0.80, up 31% YOY, while nonGAAP EPS reached $1.04, an 11% gain that highlighted profitable growth rather than just topline expansion.

The report outlined a GAAP gross margin of 65.0% and a nonGAAP gross margin of 67.5%, levels that reflect strong pricing power and efficient cost management. The update further reported a GAAP operating margin of 24.6% and a nonGAAP operating margin of 34.6%, both above the high end of prior guidance. That momentum is further supported by AI infrastructure orders from hyperscalers reaching $2.1 billion in the quarter.
BRANSON, Mo.  Two women filed separate lawsuits in Taney County Circuit Court on Tuesday alleging they were inappropriately touched during massages at Orchid Massage at Branson Landing and that the business and its manager allowed an unlicensed worker to provide massage services despite prior complaints.

The petitions, filed under the plaintiffs initials  A.P. and T.P.  name Orchid Massage LLC and Yizhen Qu as defendants and demand jury trials, according to the petitions.

Both lawsuits allege the incidents occurred at the spa at 123 Branson Landing Blvd. The petitions say a worker identified as Yang Li performed the massages and negligently, inappropriately, and offensively touched the plaintiffs, continuing even after each woman objected.

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The filings claim Orchid Massage and Qu were responsible for hiring and supervising Li and had the ability to monitor Lis conduct and stop Li from providing massages at the business.

The lawsuits further allege the defendants failed to conduct a background check or otherwise investigate Lis qualifications and that Li was not licensed or authorized to practice massage therapy in Missouri.

Missouri law sets requirements for massage therapy licensure, and state regulations require massage businesses to employ or permit practice on the premises only by licensed or provisionally licensed massage therapists.

Li was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for two counts of second-degree sodomy in a related case.

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Both suits assert a claim of negligence per se and seek unspecified damages, plus costs and other relief. The petitions allege the plaintiffs suffered damages including post-traumatic stress disorder, bodily pain, humiliation and mental anguish.

Ozarks First reached out to Orchid Massage LLC for comment and was declined.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
A former commando who is one of Scotland's last surviving veterans of World War Two has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Alexander Calder - known as Sandy - was born in Aberdeen in 1926.

He took part in the Burma (now Myanmar) campaign against the Japanese forces.

The veteran Royal Marine Commando, who now lives at Inchmarlo Retirement Village in Aberdeenshire, told BBC Scotland News that secret to reaching 100 was loving life and a sense of humour.

Sandy got a birthday card from the King and Queen [BBC]

Sandy attended Aberdeen Grammar School, where he joined the army cadets.

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"When I turned 17, the headmaster told me to go and do something useful," he recalled.

"So I left school and enlisted in the Royal Marine Commandos. Given the ongoing war, it felt like the right decision."

He said the first six months consisted of "arduous and intensive" training, focused on fitness, weapons training, and skills such as climbing and demolitions, as well as amphibious assault tactics.

He described it all as "really tough", adding: "I have vivid memories of running with full kit amidst torrential rain. I must have been off my head."

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His unit was dispatched to Ceylon in November 1943. Following acclimatisation, they were ready to participate in the Burma campaign.

"Let no-one tell you that the commandos were fearless," he said.

"We were all scared, but there was no time to dwell on it. Our priority was ensuring that both we and our equipment were prepared.

"When the moment of action arrived, my fear dissipated, replaced by a sense of invincibility. Moreover, I was emboldened by the knowledge that we were in the right and by the belief that victory was inevitable.

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"Cowardice was not an option, our training instilled in us the resolve to act as commandos. Maintaining a sense of humour was crucial, without it you weren't going to make it."

The veteran added: "My war ended with the liberation of Hong Kong from where we were demobbed, and I sailed back home."

Grandson Cameron Calder came over from Australia for the celebrations [BBC]

He said his father had been a cattle dealer, and he always had an interest in agriculture and animal welfare, so set about working on various farms in Aberdeenshire and attended Aberdeen's College of Agriculture.

In 1952, he was accepted into Aberdeen's Rowett Research Institute, working in the field of breeding and applied nutrition in the development of livestock.

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He met fellow Rowett science officer Gillian Sharp, and they married in 1957.

"Retiring in 1990, Gillian and I relocated to Inchmarlo in 2008. Sadly, Gillian passed away in 2011."

He added: "I enjoy travelling and have had many holidays abroad."

'He's an inspiration'

On Wednesday afternoon, a piper played happy birthday, and the King and Queen sent a 100th birthday card.

As he was presented with the unopened envelope from Buckingham Palace, he said: "It says Royal Mail - so I suspect it's a bill."

He said the gathering of family members for his big day was "absolutely fantastic", adding: "I am overcome with joy".

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Of his long life, he said: "You have got to have a sense of humour.

"I obviously love life and that's all there is to it. I have not changed."

Retirement home deputy manager Diane Martin said the veteran was an "absolute pleasure" to be around.

"He is a proud man and makes us all want to be better people," she said.

"Getting to 100 years old is amazing, especially with the life he has had."

Grandson Cameron Calder, 44, who travelled over from Australia with his family, said: "We're very proud - he's an inspiration for all of us."

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The West Virginia House of Delegates has approved a bill that would impose jail time and fines for homeless people who live on public property throughout the state.

Delegates passed House Bill 5319 with a 62 to 32 vote and five members absent.

The bill would impose fines of up to $500 or 30 days in jail for homeless people who camp or store personal property on any street, park, trail or any public property throughout the state.

Del. Evan Worrell

Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, spoke against the bill while acknowledging that homelessness is a problem in many areas. The bill would impose separate offenses on people for each day that theyre living outside, he noted.

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I have an issue with this because where do they go? Worrell said.

According to the bill, for a first offense, a person would be given a written warning and told where they can seek alternative shelter. That might be in another community, Worrell noted.

But the other issue is, what is $200 to an individual whos homeless? Worrell said. It might as well be $2 million. How can they afford that? And also, what about somebody whos homeless at the current time, but turn their lives around and now theyre going to be guilty of a misdemeanor? That affects employment opportunities as well, (it) affects maybe seeking shelter somewhere else if theyve been guilty of a misdemeanor.

The bill would have a financial impact on the court system and the local law enforcement agencies, he said.

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Worrell added that he would commit to supporting ways to reduce homelessness.

There are multiple studies done that show that by providing housing for individuals, you actually save a lot of money, not only in corrections, but also in our hospitals, he said.

Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia

Sen. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia County, said camping ordinances and homeless initiatives should be left up to local governments to decide.

Several West Virginia cities  including Morgantown  have enacted camping bans since June 2024, when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a similar ordinance in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Whether you like a camping ban or dislike a camping ban, I hope you would agree that this is something that our city councils and our county commissions can take care of, Hansen said. I hope you would agree that theres no compelling reason why every city in the state needs to have the exact same ban.

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Hansen added that camping bans criminalize homelessness by subjecting homeless people to fines and jail time.

I dont think criminalizing homelessness is the right approach, he said. I dont think the right approach is putting people in jail because theyve fallen on hard times.

Proponents of the bill have argued that its permissive, meaning that municipalities have the option to enforce the law or not.

Del. J.B. Akers, R-Kanawha

Del. J.B. Akers, R-Kanawha, spoke in support of the bill, saying that it would give police a tool to target the criminal element among people living outside who victimize other people. He referenced a Charleston homeless man who poured gasoline on a homeless woman and set her on fire, killing her, as she slept on a porch in 2017.

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Its not to target people who are homeless, Akers said. I have more faith in our law enforcement to be able to make the distinction between those who actually need help or are down on their luck. Its kind of insulting to me on their behalf to think that the police are just going to walk up and warn and fine someone who you can tell is simply just on the streets because they have nowhere else to go, but theyre hurting no one, versus someone who walks up with a can of gasoline pours it on a woman whos asleep on a porch and sets her on fire til she burns to death.

The House on Monday voted down an amendment that would have limited criminal penalties to areas of the state where there are homeless shelter beds available.

The camping ban bill is opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia.

In a statement Tuesday, the organization said that sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime.

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Rather than help struggling people get back on their feet, the House of Delegates has decided instead to criminalize their very existence, the ACLU said in the statement. At the same time, lawmakers are poised to cut taxes even further, depleting the states already underfunded services and driving more of its people into extreme poverty. Weve said it before and we will keep saying it: We will never arrest our way to prosperity.

Some homeless services providers have opposed camping bans as well.

Traci Strickland, director of the Kanawha Valley Collective, which operates a mens shelter in downtown Charleston, is against the bill.

Ive said this for multiple legislative sessions: We need homeless legislation that solves the problem, Strickland said Tuesday. Ticketing people for sleeping outside is not solving any problem. Its not creating shelter beds. Its not creating safe, affordable housing. Its just not. Its not a solution to individuals sleeping outside.

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Strickland said her shelter is frequently filled or near capacity.

Ive spent years not being a proponent for building more shelter beds, because the solution to homelessness is housing, she said. But if we cant have enough safe, affordable housing, then we need more shelter beds. Because I dont have enough housing to house people that I have. And if every person that slept outside last night in Charleston came to me for a bed today, I have nowhere to put them.

The bill will next go to the Senate for consideration.

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CHEYENNE  After hundreds of proposed amendments and several late nights in the Capitol this session, lawmakers have adopted a compromise 2027-28 biennium budget and sent it to Gov. Mark Gordon.

Sen. Tim Salazar, R-Riverton, said that as it stands, the Legislatures recommendation for state spending is $53 million below the governors original recommendation announced in November. In general funds, the budget includes an expenditure of $3.4 billion, and in total funds, the budget includes $9.98 billion, according to Salazar.

I ask for your aye vote, he said to his colleagues on the Senate floor Monday.

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The Senate adopted the joint conference committees recommended budget in a 28-3 vote, and the House adopted the recommendation in a 59-1 vote on Monday.

By your vote you have chosen to adopt  believe it or not  the budget, Speaker of the House Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, said.

A final version of the budget will now be sent to Gov. Gordons desk, where he will have 72 hours to take action, which can include line-item vetoes. But on Monday, shortly after both chambers voted on the JCC report, he issued a statement praising lawmakers for their action on the spending plan.

What a win for Wyoming! And what a win for the citizens across the state who got involved with their government, after the Freedom Caucus-controlled Joint Appropriations Committee members made sweeping cuts to an already lean budget, and came forward letting their voices be heard to their representatives, Gordon said.

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A joint conference committee met Friday, and again Monday morning, to work on reconciling the $170 million difference between the House and Senate versions of the biennium budget. Ultimately, the JCC decided to restore three-quarters of the $40 million recommended by Gordon for the University of Wyoming immediately, with an additional $10 million to be allocated in 2027 if UW finds $5 million of its own cost savings and reports that back to the Legislature.

The budget also includes raises for state employees, and allocates between $12 million and $14 million in two years of funding for the Wyoming Business Council.

I believe this body sent a joint conference committee down, one, to make sure the University of Wyoming was fully funded. It is, Sen. Gary Crum, R-Laramie, said Monday on the Senate floor.

Two, you asked us to make sure that the employees salaries of the state of Wyoming got a raise, as we approved in our budget on this side, said Crum, who was a member of the budget JCC. We got the raises just as you guys approved on this side.

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Crum continued that the Senate was willing to negotiate on Wyoming Business Council funding during the JCC meeting last week. As its budget bill left the Senate, lawmakers in the upper chamber had restored the governors $55 million recommended allocation for the states economic development agency, but the House had included only around $11 million for the WBC in its budget bill.

You said that the Business Council was up for negotiation, and it was (negotiated). The Business Council (funding) was taken down, Crum said. Theres some little back and forth with exactly what that number looks like, but its between $12 million and $14 million.

On the House floor Monday, Rep. Abby Angelos, R-Gillette, told her colleagues that the JCCs recommended budget includes $40 million in UW funding, but also the language that we kept out of the amendment from the House. ... all of our recommendations on identifying positions, reorganizations, looking at cost savings.

At the start of the session, the House position was to revoke all $40 million in UW funding. During a rare Saturday third reading of the Houses budget bill on Feb. 21, representatives voted to allocate $20 million to UW, with the provision that more funding would be allocated after the cost-saving study.

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As it stands now, UW will receive $30 million at the start of the biennium, with an additional $10 million in 2027, subject to the receipt of a report identifying at least $5 million in efficiency savings.

There was no discussion beyond the budget presentation on the House floor made by Angelos, as well as Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, and Rep. Ken Pendergraft, R-Sheridan, on Monday. Pendergraft went over amendments that were deleted entirely from the budget by the JCC, and Bear went over budget amendments like an included $15 million for a tourism project to relocate the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association headquarters and museum to Cheyenne, funding for the Wyoming Community College Commission and developmental disability waiver funding.

We, in this body, changed the amount that went for the providers versus the amount that went to get people off the waiting list to ensure that funnel wouldnt jam up, and the Senate accepted that change, Bear said.

In the Senate, Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, said that he would vote yes on the JCC report, but that hed heard from citizens who were disappointed by the cuts to the Business Council.

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I just have to stand and say that my community is pretty tied in and pretty close with the work of the Wyoming Business Council, Landen said. A lot of my young entrepreneurs and business owners around the community have benefited greatly on that front.

Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, said the budget does fully fund Manufacturing Works, the Wyoming Small Business Development Center and the Wyoming Womens Business Center.

Those are still fully funded for two years and are not part of the cuts the Business Council received, she said.

The governor said that he extended gratitude to the members of the House who courageously opposed the proposed cuts and insisted on asking the tough questions, even late into the night. Questions that focused on transparency as well as, critically, the underlying reasons for making those cuts. These questions struck a chord statewide and were powerfully voiced right here in Cheyenne by citizens from across Wyoming.

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He further stated that the stalwart leadership of the Senate paved the way for the budget to remain intact.

The budget passed today restored almost all budget recommendations for the people of Wyoming and, as one senator said, is only $53 million below my overall recommendation. By my back-of-the-napkin calculations, thats close to 99%, Gordon said. Wyomings future is indeed bright. We must continue to invest in our potential, grow our industries, preserve our small-town identity, and stand firm against the hysteria of national groups seeking to undermine our state.
KYIV, March 3 (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed Iranian strikes with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Ukraine has great expertise in countering drones and missiles, honed over four years facing waves of Russian attacks.

"We discussed how we can help in this situation and support the protection of lives. It was agreed that our teams will work on this," Zelenskiy said on X after a call with the UAE leader.

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The Ukrainian leader expressed solidarity with both nations.

After the call with al-Thani, Zelenskiy added that the Ukrainian and Qatari teams would remain in contact to "determine how we can jointly provide greater protection to people".

Kyiv officials have said that Ukraine would be ready to send drone specialists to the Middle East to help down Iranian drones if its partners help to broker a ceasefire in its war with Russia.

On Tuesday, Zelenskiy also said that Ukraine would be open to exchanging interceptor drones to repel Iranian attacks for air defence missiles from the Middle East allies.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Ros Russell and Alex Richardson)
The United States and Iran have been fierce adversaries for generations. The U.S. militarys current action against Iran, which launched on Saturday in collaboration with Israel, is the latest escalation in a conflict that started nearly half a century ago.

But Americas complex relationship with Iran goes back even further than that. Since World War II, the dynamic has seen the U.S. evolve from outside interferer to strong ally to sworn enemy.

Heres a quick rundown of the key historical moments that have defined U.S.-Iran relations over the decades  and set the two nations on the path to war.

1943  The U.S. and allies guarantee Irans independence

At a meeting that became known as the Tehran Conference, the leaders of the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom agreed to formally recognize Irans independence and territory once World War II was over. The U.K. and U.S.S.R. had invaded Iran two years earlier in order to protect Allied supply lines from Nazi attacks.

1953  The U.S. helps orchestrate a coup that ousts Irans prime minister

The U.S. government created a plan to secretly fuel a plot to overthrow Irans democratically elected leader, Mohammad Mosaddegh, over concerns that he would cripple the countrys oil industry and bring Iran closer to the Soviets.

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Mosaddegh was arrested and replaced by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. Pahlavi would go on to run the country for the next two and a half decades, a period when Iran was one of Americas closest allies in the Middle East. The CIA denied having any involvement in the coup for 60 years before finally admitting to its role in 2013.

1979  Iranian Revolution

After a quarter century as a strong U.S. ally, Iran became an Islamic Republic following a popular uprising that forced Pahlavi to flee and installed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as its first supreme leader. Khomeini turned Iran into a hard-line theocracy and labeled the U.S. as the Great Satan. Iran and the U.S. have been adversaries ever since.

The revolution also sparked a lengthy hostage crisis in which 66 Americans were held captive in the country for more than a year. Eight U.S. service members died in a failed operation to rescue the hostages, who were finally released on the day of Ronald Reagans inauguration in 1981.

1980s  A series of deadly attacks and the Iran-Contra scandal

In the years following the Iranian Revolution, the U.S. and Iran were involved in several deadly incidents amid rising tensions between the countries spurred in part by Americas support for Iraq in its eight-year war with Iran.

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In 1983, the U.S. blamed the Iran-backed militia group Hezbollah for a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that left 63 people dead, including 17 Americans. Later that year, a bombing at a U.S. military barracks in Beirut killed 241 American service members. That bombing was also blamed on Hezbollah. Then, in 1988, the U.S. military shot down a commercial airliner flying out of Tehran, killing all 290 people on board. American leaders said that a U.S. aircraft carrier mistook the plane for an Iranian fighter jet, but Irans foreign minister claimed that it was shot down deliberately.

Throughout much of this period, the U.S. was secretly supplying weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages being held by Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Reagan administration used the money from those arms sales to illegally fund anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua called the Contras.

1995  A shift to economic warfare

Direct violence between the U.S. and Iran largely evaporated in the 1990s, but the two nations were far from friendly. In 1995, President Bill Clinton established a total trade embargo on Iran. The following year, Congress passed a law that imposed economic sanctions on foreign companies that did business in Iran.

2002  Axis of evil

A few months after the Sept. 11 attacks, President George W. Bush labeled Iran as part of an axis of evil and accused the country of pursuing weapons of mass destruction and exporting terrorism around the world.

2015  Iran nuclear agreement signed

After years of gradually improving relations during the Barack Obama presidency, the U.S. and Iran signed a deal in which Iran agreed to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. In exchange, Iran received access to roughly $100 billion in assets that had previously been frozen under U.S. sanctions.

2018  Trump withdraws U.S. from nuclear deal

Though the Obama administration and international inspectors had found that Iran had been meeting its obligations under the agreement, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal  which he had called the worst deal in history. Trump also reimposed strict sanctions on Iran, dealing a massive blow to its economy. Iran briefly continued to abide by the agreement even after the U.S. withdrew, but eventually began enriching uranium at increasingly higher levels, according to international inspectors.

2020  U.S. airstrike kills Qassem Soleimani

Irans top military leader was killed by a U.S. military drone that blew up a convoy he was traveling in near Baghdads international airport. Nine other people were killed, including members of an Iraqi paramilitary group and Iranian military officials. Iran responded by launching missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq. No American service members were killed, but the Pentagon said that more than 100 soldiers suffered brain injuries caused by the explosions.

2022  Renewed nuclear deal talks fail

The Joe Biden administration attempted to reach a deal with Tehran to bring Iran back into the former nuclear deal, but the talks fell apart and Iran continued its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

2023  Proxy attacks heighten tensions

In the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel carried out by Hamas, another Iran-backed militant group, Iran launched a series of strikes on U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East. Dozens of U.S. service members were injured.

2024  Iran accused of trying to assassinate Trump

In November 2024, President Bidens Department of Justice accused Iran of mounting a plot to kill Trump, who had won reelection a few days earlier, charging three people with attempting to carry out the plan at the behest of the Iranian government.

2025  Iran nuclear sites bombed

The U.S. and Israel launched an assault on several Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. Trump said at the time that the attacks totally obliterated Irans nuclear weapons program, though that claim has been heavily debated.

2026  Operation Epic Fury

In February, the U.S. and Israel began a large-scale attack on Iran, killing hundreds of people within the country  including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by launching retaliatory attacks on U.S. targets in the Middle East that killed six American service members.
Iran's top clerics said Sunday they were close to naming a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader killed on the opening day of the war.

No successor was named, but the ayatollahs son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been widely seen as the leading candidate to take his fathers place.

The announcement came as massive fires burned near Tehran overnight, after U.S. and Israeli forces struck fuel depots across the capital. Israel said the sites were being used by Irans military, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned there were many more targets to come.

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On Saturday, President Trump vowed that Iran would be "hit very hard"  including "areas and groups of people" not previously considered as targets  after claiming the country had "surrendered to its Middle East neighbors."

The president's comments on Truth Social followed a televised address by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who apologized to neighboring Gulf countries and suggested the strikes were the result of military units acting without clear orders after the killing of Khamenei.

But Pezeshkian rejected the demand for unconditional surrender and later issued a second statement insisting Iran's fire had been aimed at "U.S. military bases, facilities, and installations," not at neighboring nations.

Multiple news outlets reported on Friday that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on the movements of the U.S. military that could aid its retaliatory attacks. It is unclear what Russia wants in return from Iran.

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At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the U.S.-Israeli weekend assault on Tehran, including Khamenei. At least a dozen people in Israel and more than 200 people in Lebanon have been killed, according to officials in those countries.

Six U.S. service members have died in retaliatory strikes, according to U.S. Central Command. On Saturday, Trump watched solemnly as the remains arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Nvidia Corp. is investing in Oxa, the latest British autonomous driving startup to receive backing from the worlds most valuable company.

The US chipmakers venture capital arm NVentures joined a funding round for Oxa that raised $103 million, the British company said Wednesday. The UK governments National Wealth Fund committed $50 million, with existing shareholders such as BP Plcs venture fund also participating.

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Oxa declined to comment on its valuation in the round or how much Nvidia invested. Existing backers such as IP Group Plc and Ocado Group Plc have recently written down the value of their investments in the loss-making company, citing funding delays and changes in its commercial outlook.

Nvidias investment follows its backing of Wayve, the UK self-driving company that raised $1.5 billion at an $8.6 billion valuation last month. Oxa, formerly known as Oxbotica and spun out of Oxford University, was the first company to trial driverless cars on UK roads. It has since shifted its focus to industrial uses such as in factories, at ports and at mines.

Oxa now retrofits existing vehicles such as tow tractors with autonomy hardware and its software, providing self-driving solutions to companies. It made the change because the market for self-driving passenger cars requires tens of billions of dollars in spending, said founder and Chief Technology Officer Paul Newman.

Youve got to disrupt supply chains, youve got uncertain regulatory affairs and its unbelievably expensive to get into, he said in an interview. Scaling in that environment is so much harder and the economics are nothing like as attractive as doing it in the industrial domain.

The funding will help fuel Oxas global expansion, with a focus on the UK, Europe and the Middle East, the company said. The total amount raised in the Series D round could rise in the coming months, it added.

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2026 Bloomberg L.P.
Flash memory has been commoditized, so chips from different companies are essentially interchangeable. That leaves Sandisk with minimal pricing power. The company adds some differentiation at higher levels with proprietary controllers and firmware, which affect performance through data organization, error correction, and garbage collection.

GPUs and networking are the most expensive hardware components in an AI data center. They account for over 50% of the total cost, while storage systems account for 1% of the total cost, according to Bernstein and TD Cowen. That means Nvidia has a stronger competitive position in its respective product categories, and the company has a larger market opportunity.

Sandisk builds data storage solutions based on NAND flash memory, such as enterprise solid-state drives (SSDs). It is the fifth-largest supplier of NAND flash memory behind Samsung , SK Hynix , Micron , and Kioxia. Meanwhile, Nvidia develops graphics process units (GPUs) and networking hardware. It is the market leader in both categories.

Sandisk and Nvidia are semiconductor companies that design data center hardware that supports artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. However, they compete in different product categories and have achieved different levels of success within their respective markets.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Asness and Schonfeld handily beat the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) during that last three years, which makes their portfolios a good place to search for inspiration. Both fund managers clearly favor Nvidia over Sandisk. Here's why I agree.

Steven Schonfeld at Schonfeld Strategic Advisors bought 2 million shares of Nvidia, more than tripling his stake. He also sold 41,800 shares of Sandisk, reducing his stake by 27%. Nvidia is now the third-largest position in his portfolio. Sandisk does not rank among the top 50.

Cliff Asness at AQR Capital Management bought 3.9 million shares of Nvidia, increasing his stake by 18%. He also sold 318,600 shares of Sandisk, reducing his stake by 22%. Nvidia is now the largest position in his portfolio. Sandisk does not rank among the top 50.

In the past year, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock has increased 46%, while Sandisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) shares have added 1,220%. But two hedge fund billionaires bought Nvidia and sold Sandisk in the fourth quarter.

Story Continues

Nevertheless, Sandisk has very little pricing power compared with a company like Nvidia, whose GPUs are highly differentiated based on superior performance and an unmatched ecosystem of supporting software. Sandisk has raised prices significantly in recent quarters, but the same is true of many memory chip manufacturers. In general, those price increases were made possible by supply constraints, not economic moats.

The proof is the financial results. Sandisk reported a gross margin of 51% in the last quarter, up 19 percentage points from the prior year. Competitor Micron had a gross margin of 57%, up 21 percentage points from the prior year. That both companies have similar gross margins (which are increasing at roughly the same rate) suggests that neither one has much more pricing power than the other.

Nvidia is a different story entirely. Its gross margin was 75% in the last quarter, up 2 percentage points from the previous year. Competitor AMD had a gross margin of 54% in the last quarter, up 3 percentage points from the prior year. That Nvidia maintains a gross margin so much higher than its closest rival in the GPU space is a sign of immense pricing power, which itself hints at a durable economic moat.

Nvidia trades at a cheaper valuation than Sandisk

Sandisk's lack of pricing power means its financial performance depends primarily on the balance between memory chip supply and demand. Demand currently exceeds supply due to an unprecedented shortage, so Sandisk is growing quickly. However, the memory chip market is notoriously cyclical, which means supply will eventually surpass demand and Sandisk's growth will slow (or perhaps turn negative).

Sandisk currently trades at 83 time adjusted earnings, a reasonable valuation for a company whose adjusted earnings increased 404% in the last quarter. But the market will probably afford Sandisk a much lower price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple when the memory chip cycle has passed its peak, which means the stock could drop sharply in the future.

Meanwhile, Nvidia is likely to retain its dominant position in AI infrastructure not only because its GPUs offer the best performance, but also because the company designs adjacent hardware and software that reduce costs for customers. Purchasing a turnkey solution for AI infrastructure from one company is much easier than assembling parts from several companies.

Nvidia currently trades at 38 times adjusted earnings, a relatively cheap valuation for a company whose adjusted earnings increased 82% in the last quarter. Moreover, the current P/E multiple is a substantial discount to the two-year average of 53 time earnings. Nvidia's cheaper valuation makes it less risky than Sandisk.

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Nvidia Stock vs. Sandisk Stock: Billionaires Buy One and Sell the Other was originally published by The Motley Fool
Key insight: Civista Bancshares in Ohio is promoting Charles "Chuck" Parcher to president and CEO, effective as of late August, when current CEO Dennis Shaffer is scheduled to retire.



Supporting data: During Shaffer's nine-year tenure as CEO, the community bank's assets have nearly tripled to $4.3 billion.



Forward look: In an interview Monday, Parcher said he plans to maintain the bank's current strategy, which is centered on organic growth and remaining independent.

Civista Bancshares, a $4.3 billion-asset community bank based in Sandusky, Ohio, will undergo a change in leadership later this year when Charles "Chuck" Parcher becomes president and CEO.

Parcher, 61, will succeed Dennis Shaffer, who plans to retire Aug. 28, the bank said Monday in a press release. Shaffer, 63, will remain chairman of the board for an undisclosed period of time.

The transition has been in the works for more than a year. Parcher, who was hired by Civista in 2016 as the company's chief lending officer, was named president of Civista's banking subsidiary in January 2025, filling a role that Shaffer previously held for more than a decade.

Civista has made four acquisitions since 2015, and its business strategy, which also includes organic growth, will remain largely unchanged during the management shuffle, Parcher told American Banker on Monday.

The bank's latest acquisition was finalized in November when it bought a neighboring community bank , Farmers Savings Bank, with two branches and a small but liquid balance sheet.

"Organic growth will still be our primary focus going forward," Parcher said in an interview. "We will look at acquisitions as they become available, but the biggest thing is that our board right now is trying to focus on remaining independent in this cycle" with strong returns and growth.

Civista is the 18th largest deposit-taker in Ohio, holding about 0.45% of the deposits throughout the state, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s most recent deposit market share data. It operates 42 branches  34 in Ohio and eight in Indiana  the FDIC data shows.

The bank was No. 83 on American Banker's 2025 Best Banks to Work For annual ranking.

Prior to joining Civista, Parcher was a commercial banker at Cleveland-based KeyBank for about a year, according to his LinkedIn profile. Previously, he worked at FirstMerit Bank as its president of the Northwest Ohio region. He spent nearly 20 years at Huntington National Bank.

On Monday, Parcher said he plans to retain the bank president title for the time being. His chief lending officer responsibilities were passed on to Robert Katitus in August, he added.


Oil fluctuated as investors assessed the widening impact of the US-Iran war on Middle East energy markets, with the conflict entering a fifth day.

West Texas Intermediate steadied to settle under $75 a barrel after surging roughly 11% in the previous two sessions. Traders have been speculating on the next moves by the US military to gauge the potential fallout for energy markets. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said ground troops are not part of Iran operations at the moment.

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Irans semi-official Tasnim state media on Wednesday denied a New York Times repor that operatives from Irans Ministry of Intelligence reached out to the CIA through another countrys spy agency with an offer to discuss terms for ending the conflict. That had earlier pushed prices into negative territory.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said there was an attempt to attack its Ras Tanura refinery. The kingdom also confirmed its diverting supplies away from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea to try to keep operations running. An Indian refiner told customers it was suspending fuel exports as global prices soar, while at least three very large crude carriers that sailed from Asia with plans to load in the Gulf have diverted toward the Atlantic Basin.

The oil market has been pitched into turmoil by the war, with strikes and counter-strikes spreading across the Persian Gulf, forcing major producers to shut output and all-but stopping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds oil transits.

Trade disruptions beyond oil are raising the specter of a global energy crisis and sparking inflationary fears.

The market wont calm down unless it sees proof of traffic resuming toward normalcy, said Vandana Hari, founder of analysis firm Vanda Insights.

A quick resumption of flows through Hormuz is crucial for Gulf nations to be able to sustain production as storage fills up. The war is also causing a slew of output disruptions as Irans neighbors, including Iraq, the second-biggest OPEC producer, come under attack.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US International Development Finance Corporation would offer insurance to vessels to help ensure the flow of energy and other trade, providing a naval escort if necessary. But the shipping industry sees it  at best  as only a partial solution to a historic crisis. Marsh, the worlds largest insurance broker, said the US plan to could take a few weeks to arrange.
In the latest episode of MBC's "I Live Alone," South Korean actor Lee Dong Hwi became the target of fashion jokes when his rugged, hole-filled outfit elicited laughter from other cast members. Viewers later learned that the outfit included a high-end designer piece with a surprising price tag.

Lee was seen traveling to Busan with musician Code Kunst. When they got off at Seoul Station, they were wearing clothes that looked old and worn out. The cast of the show quickly noticed the look.

According to Koreaboo, another cast member quickly reacted to Lee's look by saying,"that outfit has turned him into Pumbaa," which is a funny Korean word for a beggar that made everyone laugh.

Another member of the cast joined in on the teasing by saying that Lee looked like he "might have tripped on his way there because the clothing looked so distressed."

READ MORE: Lee Dong-hwi Makes Candid Confession on Marriage After Breakup with Jung Ho-yeon  'Still Believe in Love'

Lee answered the comments with an explanation of his own, admitting that some people might not understand why he chose the outfit he did.

Lee said that people might not understand the reactions because each piece was carefully chosen. This response gives us a glimpse into his personal style preferences.

What at first looked like a bad or messy fashion choice turned out to be anything but cheap. Later, viewers found out that Lee's very worn-out outerwear was actually a high-end designer piece that cost about 3.86 million KRW (about $2,680 USD).

The unexpected price reveal made people laugh and doubt it online, and many commenters shared their thoughts on how the look and the price didn't match up. One person on TheQoo said, "I've always wondered who actually buys designs like that LOL."

Someone else on the site said that the look reminded them of a character from a movie: "This suddenly reminds me of Home Alone. I feel like he'd fit right in with the pigeon lady."

Some people were shocked, while others found it funny, saying things like "I'm speechless," and "If you wash that once, it'll probably rip apart completely."

More critical voices also spoke up, with one user saying,"Only someone whose face is known nationwide can wear that. Otherwise, people would really think you're homeless."

READ MORE: Lee Jin Ho Sheds Light on the Real Reason for Lee Dong Hwi and Jung Ho Yeon's Split After Nearly a Decade
The U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran over the weekend has caused traffic disruptions to key trade passages like the Strait of Hormuz, escalating concerns of oil export blockagesand a potential repeat of the oil shock of the 1970s.

Oil prices spiked above $70 per barrel on Monday, while the international standard Brent crude hit $79. A key oil exporter, Iran shipped out an estimated 1.9 million barrels of crude per day, according to International Energy Agency data from December 2025.

But the greater risk to energy markets is if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, among the most vital oil export chokepoints through which about 20% of the worlds petroleum liquid flows, amounting to about 20.9 million barrels per day. Though Iran has not officially closed the strait, Iranian missiles have hit some vessels, and major shipping companies have halted operations, effectively shutting down the trade corridor.

Danish shipping giant Maersk said in a statement on Sunday it would suspend vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as pause trans-Suez sailings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which 8% of liquified natural gas (LNG) and 12% of seaborne oil trade passed in the first six months of 2023.

Mediterranean Shipping Company, the worlds largest shipping firm, made a similar announcement on Sunday, directing all vessels operating in the Gulf region to move to designated safe shelter areas.

Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Marquee, warned prolonged disruptions to oil trade could hike prices to the triple digits.

If the status quo is maintained, where the majority of volumes from the Strait of Hormuz remain unable to flow, then prices are very low compared to the impact that will have on supply, demand of the market, Kavonic told CNBC on Sunday. Every week, youll be seeing over 100 million barrels not reach the markets, and that suggests prices should be heading well more than $100 a barrel.

Even a 20% reduction in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would send oil prices to $90 to $100 per barrel, he added.

The 1970s oil shock

Kavonic compared the de facto shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz keeping 20% of oil and LNG out of the market to an earlier shock more than 50 years ago, only potentially much worse.

That is three times the scale of the impact we saw in the energy crisis in the 1970s from the Arab oil embargo and the Iranian revolution, he continued. Even if we only see half, for example, or three quarters of the passage to the Strait of Hormuz return, its still going to be a global energy crisis.
Getting to specifics, Diamondback operates on land holdings in the Wolfcamp, Spraberry, and Bone Spring formations of the Permian. The company focuses on the acquisition, development, exploration, and exploitation of unconventional oil and natural gas resources in these areas, and the specific drilling operations include horizontal exploitation of multiple intervals. Diamondback makes extensive use of hydraulic fracturing to enhance production, and in Q4 of this year, the company averaged an output of 969.1 MBOE/d.

This pure-play Permian footprint puts Diamondback in a sound position to reap gains if global oil prices surge. First, the company will gain directly from selling its product at a higher price. Second, Diamondbacks production comes from regions that are not impacted by the war and are close to Gulf Coast export points.

The first company on our list, Diamondback Energy, is a Texas-based operator in the US hydrocarbon exploration and production (E&P) sector. The company has been in operation for almost 20 years, since 2007, and has extensive land holdings in the rich Permian Basin of West Texas  the geological formation that has made Texas a major force in the world energy markets in the 21st century.

With oil prices surging early on Monday, the impact on energy stocks will be immediate. An oil price spike can easily translate into higher profits and earnings  and weve used the TipRanks data platform to look up two energy stocks that are positioned to gain from this. The data shows that both stocks have Strong Buy consensus ratings, so lets give them a closer look.

Irans southern coast lies along the vital Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important arteries of the global energy trade. About 20% of the worlds supplies of oil pass through the Strait, along with 20% of the worlds seaborne natural gas traffic. The worry is that the war can spill over and strike the tankers  and in fact, on Sunday, Reuters reported that a tanker was on fire in the Strait. Just as worrisome, some 150 tankers  with cargoes of crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas  were reported to have dropped anchor across the Middle East.

The political and military effects and ripple effects of this attack are beyond the scope of our analysis here  but at least one first-order market effect is fairly obvious: the price of oil is going to spike.

Everything old is new again  by which we mean that open war has broken out again in the Middle East. The world woke up early Saturday to the news  that US and Israeli forces had begun a comprehensive attack on Irans nuclear weapons program, its government, and its military.

Story Continues

Diamondback last released financial results for 4Q25; in that quarter, the company generated total revenue of $3.38 billion. This figure was down 9% year-over-year, but it beat the forecast by over $130 million. At the bottom line, Diamondbacks earnings per share of $1.74  the non-GAAP figure  came in 26 cents per share below expectations. For the quarter, the company reported an adjusted free cash flow of $1.2 billion.

In the quarterly report, Diamondback declared a $1.05 common share dividend payment, with a pay date of March 12. This represented a 5% increase in the dividend from the previous quarter, and the $4.20 annualized rate gives a forward yield of 2.4%.

For Mizuho analyst Nitin Kumar, Diamondback Energy presents a sound investment profile; as he explains, The company has always maintained a focus on keeping capital and operating costs low, which help improve cash margins. This is supported by a strong balance sheet and allows the company to be a leader in cash return payouts, with 50%+ of free cash flow to be returned to investors, including a high base dividend yield, opportunistic buybacks and make-whole dividends. A deal with the Stephens family to buy up to ~3mm shares per quarter also gives some clarity on the pace of a potential sell-down by the foundation. We believe the reserve quality and depth, combined with operational and financial execution track record create a must own stock in the independent E&P subsector

These comments back up Kumars Outperform (Buy) rating, while his $205 price target implies a one-year upside potential of 18%. (To watch Kumars track record, click here.)

Thats a higher upside than the average here. FANG shares have a $174.08 trading price and a $183.75 average target price; together, these indicate a 5.5% gain in the next 12 months. The stock has 21 recent analyst reviews, and the 19 to 2 split in favor of Buy over Hold easily supports the Strong Buy consensus rating. (See FANG stock forecast.)

Devon Energy (DVN)

Based out of Oklahoma City, the next stock on our list, Devon Energy, is a multi-state exploration and production firm with a $27 billion market cap. The company has some of the same advantages in a rising price environment as Diamondback, above, particularly its status as a pure-play E&P focused on the US shale basins. In addition, Devon also benefits from its low breakeven cost of just $45 per barrel. In an environment that sees prices jump to $100 per barrel, that will be a true windfall for the company.

For now, Devon is still operating in its own legacy areas, which include the Williston Basin, the Delaware Basin, and the Eagle Ford formation. These are rich, well-known hydrocarbon-bearing formations in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and North Dakota, and together generate some of the most important oil production in the US.

Looking at results, Devon saw revenues of $4.12 billion in 4Q25, the last period reported. That result represented a 6.4% decline from the previous year  but it was also $510 million better than the pre-release estimates. The 82-cent non-GAAP EPS was 1 cent lower than had been anticipated. We should note, however, that Devon reported a quarterly operating cash flow of $1.5 billion, and free cash flow of $702 million.

Devon also has a strong cash return policy, and is expected to start a new share repurchase program worth $5 billion or more after its next big catalyst: the Coterra merger.

That merger is another point of interest coming up for Devon. Last month, the company entered into a definitive agreement with Coterra, a competitor in the shale-basin E&P niche. The agreement, which will see the companies merge through an all-stock transaction, will create an entity with an estimated enterprise value of $58 billion. Devons shareholders will control 54% of the combined company after the transaction, which is expected to close during 2Q26, subject to regulatory approvals.

Barclays analyst Betty Jiang, in her coverage of Devon, notes the companys strengths  but also the potential inherent in the Coterra deal. She writes, Unlike many prior MOEs driven by survival or the pursuit of resources and scale, we believe DVN and CTRA enter [the] transaction as independently resilient companies  defined by consistent operational execution, fortress balance sheets, and robust FCF that could have continued to reward shareholders on a standalone basis. Yet neither company has achieved a valuation that fully reflects the quality and depth of its underlying asset base. Whether due to investor shale fatigue, concerns over inventory longevity, or a murky macro backdrop, shale equities continued to de-rate, with that trend accelerating last year. Against this backdrop, we view the merger as an acknowledgment that something structural needed to change to unlock shareholder value. While the industrial logic, synergy potential, and scale benefits are all compelling, we think the combination also firmly positions the pro forma ~$50bn EV entity as a formidable competitor for capital within the US upstream sector.

Jiangs Overweight (Buy) rating here supports her $52 price target, which in turn indicates potential for a 19.5% share price gain by this time next year. (To watch Jiangs track record, click here.)

Overall, DVN shares have a Strong Buy consensus rating, based on 18 analyst reviews that include 16 Buys and 2 Holds. The stock is priced at $43.53, and its $47.71 average price target suggests a 12-month gain of 10%. (See DVN stock forecast.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Fears of a full-blown shipping crisis were temporarily averted after President Trump said that the US may provide security escorts and insurance guarantees to oil tankers and other vessels attempting to cross the vital Strait of Hormuz.

The assurances helped ease surging oil prices as transit through the strait, a critical global shipping chokepoint that sees roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquid natural gas (LNG) supplies pass through its waters every day, essentially dropped to zero, according to data from Kpler.

Shippers had stopped sending tankers through the area due to fears of attack and because war-risk insurance had become increasingly difficult to obtain.

"Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf," the president posted to Truth Social on Tuesday afternoon, adding that insurance would be available to all shipping lines.

"If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible," Trump wrote.

Futures on Brent crude (BZ=F), the international pricing benchmark, eased to $80 per barrel after reaching $84 on Tuesday. Futures for West Texas Intermediate crude (CL=F), the US benchmark, fell to $73 from $77, as stocks climbed in early trading.

Read more: How to protect your money during turmoil, stock market volatility

Strategists said that while the White House's move offered markets some temporary relief and could stabilize crude oil prices, it may not be a long-term solution.

"It helps obviously pare a lot of the losses  [but] I dont know how viable that solution is long-term," Baird Investment Strategist Ross Mayfield told Yahoo Finance.

As the conflict broke out on Saturday, major shipping lines began halting their ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leaving millions of barrels of crude stranded on either side and unable to reach global buyers. On Monday evening, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strait was completely closed and that they would strike any ship that attempted transit.

The cessation of oil and LNG flows, along with the violence against ships in the area, has sent oil and gas prices soaring in recent days.
March 3 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose for a third day on Tuesday as the widening U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of supply disruptions from the key Middle East producing region.

Brent crude futures were at $78.83 a barrel, up $1.10, or 1.4%, by 0107 GMT. On Monday, the contract surged to as high as $82.37, its highest since January 2025, though it pared those gains to settle 6.7% higher.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 74 cents, or 1%, to $71.97 a barrel. In the previous session, the contract initially climbed to its highest since June 2025 before sliding back to still settle up 6.3%.

"With no quick de-escalation in sight, the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and Iran showing a willingness to target energy infrastructure in the region, upside risks remain and they grow the longer the conflict drags on," Tony Sycamore, IG market analyst, said in a note.

The U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran widened on Monday with Israel attacking Lebanon and Iran responding with strikes against energy infrastructure in Gulf countries and against tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

On a typical day, ships carrying crude oil equal to about one-fifth of global demand sail through the Strait of Hormuz along with tankers hauling diesel, gasoline and other fuels to major Asian markets including China and India. The waterway is also the conduit for about 20% of the worlds liquefied natural gas.

Tankers and container ships are avoiding the waterway as insurers have cancelled their coverage for vessels.

The concerns about transiting the waterway are increasing as Iranian media reported on Monday an Iranian Revolutionary Guards senior official saying the Strait of Hormuz is closed and Iran will fire on any ship trying to pass.

Earlier on Monday, the Revolutionary Guards said a fuel tanker, identified as the Honduran-flagged Athe Nova, was burning in the Strait after being hit by two drones, Iranian news agencies reported.

Analysts expect oil prices to remain elevated over the coming days while markets focus on the impact of escalating Middle East conflict.

Bernstein on Monday raised its 2026 Brent oil price assumption from $65 to $80 a barrel, but sees prices reaching $120-$150 in an extreme case of prolonged conflict.

Refined product futures are also gaining as the Middle East is a key supplier of fuels and their processing facilities are at risk. On Monday, Saudi Arabia shut its biggest domestic oil refinery after a drone strike.

U.S. ultra-low-sulfur diesel futures were up 3.1% at $2.991 after reaching a two-year high on Monday, while gasoline futures were up 1.1% after climbing 3.7% in the previous session.
UK autonomous vehicle technology company Oxa has secured $103m in the first close of its Series D funding round.

The company said the round includes an initial $50m commitment from the National Wealth Fund, a UK public finance institution.

Participation also came from NVentures, the venture capital arm of NVIDIA, alongside additional investment from existing shareholders IP Group, Hostplus and bp Ventures, the venture capital arm of British energy company bp.

Oxa founder and CTO Paul Newman said: The capital will supercharge the development of our technology, enabling our industrial customers to benefit from significant productivity gains, lower operational costs and increased workplace safety, sooner.

Oxa said the funding will be used to support the commercial rollout of its industrial mobility automation (IMA) platform, which is intended to automate repetitive driving tasks in industrial environments.

The company also plans to accelerate development of its physical AI and robotics capabilities.

This includes further work on its self-driving software, Oxa Driver, as well as its development toolchain, Oxa Foundry.

According to Oxa, the capital will help support ongoing programmes with customers including DHL, Vantec and bp, as deployments expand across sites such as ports, airports and manufacturing facilities.

The company cited applications including autonomous towing, movement of goods and monitoring of assets and perimeters at locations such as solar farms and industrial facilities.

Oxa said it will also allocate part of the funding to international expansion across the UK, Europe and the Middle East, where it expects additional opportunities for self-driving deployments.

The company noted that the investment aligns with the UK governments Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which aims to strengthen the countrys position in scaling innovation and automation.

It added that Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technology, and Transport are among the National Wealth Funds priority sectors.

Oxa said a second and final close of the Series D funding round is expected in the first half of 2026.

"Oxa raises $103m in first close of Series D round" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Following the surprising news that Netflix had withdrawn its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Paramount Skydance stepped in to purchase the company. On Monday, CEO David Ellison announced during a call with investors that the company plans to merge Paramount+ and HBO Max into a single, unified platform.

Our combined company will be home to many of the greatest, most recognizable and beloved franchises in the world, from Harry Potter to Top Gun, Star Trek to Looney Tunes, Game of Thrones to Yellowstone. This represents a tremendous opportunity, and we fully intend to invest in the creative engines of both studios, making them the most sought-after destination for the industrys leading creative talent, Ellison said during the call.

Ellison also reassured investors that HBOs identity and creative vision as a studio would remain unchanged, stating, Our viewpoint is HBO should stay HBO. He also committed to maintaining a robust theatrical slate, pledging 15 films per year, per studio, for a total of at least 30 annual theatrical releases.

This announcement comes on the heels of Paramounts recent agreement to acquire WBD in a deal estimated at $110 billion. The merger would bring together a vast array of film, TV, and news assets under one corporate entity and is expected to upend the Hollywood landscape as we know it. It also furthers the trend of consolidation seen among other major streaming platforms, such as the combination of Disney+ and Hulu.

With a projected subscriber base of over 200 million, the new streaming service will be positioned as a serious contender among the top streaming giants.

However, the merger also invites close scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice over concerns about media concentration and market competition. Last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta vowed to rigorously review the acquisition.

Additionally, industry observers warn that the merger is likely to result in significant job cuts, heightening employee anxieties over layoffs and wage reductions. Concerns have also been raised over editorial independence, particularly in light of the Ellison familys political connections to Donald Trump and increasing scrutiny of newsrooms at CBS and CNN.

Ellison voiced confidence that the transaction would move forward smoothly. He described the merger as pro-competition, pro-consumer, and pro-creative community, emphasizing the transaction will create a stronger Hollywood and global production ecosystem, one that expands consumer choice and unlocks opportunities for creative talent, he concluded.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is among the 13 Most Undervalued S&P 500 Stocks to Invest In.

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Astellas Report Positive Phase 3 EV-304 Results for PADCEV Plus Keytruda in Bladder Cancer

On February 27, 2026, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Astellas Pharma announced positive Phase 3 EV-304 results for PADCEV, a Nectin-4-directed antibody-drug conjugate, in combination with Keytruda in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Perioperative enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab showed a 47% reduction in the risk of tumor recurrence, progression, or death versus standard of care neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin. An estimated 79.4% of patients were event-free at two years compared to 66.2% with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Overall survival, a key secondary endpoint, reflected a 35% reduced risk of death with the combination. The pathological complete response rate was 55.8% versus 32.5% at surgery. Benefits in event-free survival, overall survival, and pCR were generally consistent across pre-defined subgroups, including age, gender, PD-L1 status, clinical stage, and geographic region. The safety profile was consistent with prior experience, and no new safety signals were observed. Grade greater than or equal to 3 adverse events occurred in 75.7% of patients receiving the combination compared to 67.2% with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The data were presented in an oral session at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco and will be discussed with global health authorities for potential regulatory filings.

On February 24, 2026, RBC Capital initiated coverage of Pfizer with an Underperform rating and a $25 price target, citing an insurmountable $15B-$20B revenue cliff through 2030 with limited near-term pipeline visibility to offset it. RBC added that while a 6% dividend yield provides downside support above the peer average, it does not offset structural headwinds and a lack of 2026 catalysts.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products globally through its Biopharma, PC1, and Pfizer Ignite segments.

While we acknowledge the potential of PFE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock .

READ NEXT: 12 Best Tech Stocks that Beat Earnings Estimates and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Achieved a 125-percentage-point gross margin improvement year-over-year, reaching positive territory in Q4 2025 through disciplined cost management and Project Quantum Leap initiatives.

Performance attribution stems from significant reductions in unit service costs, which are now nearly half of their levels from a year ago, alongside increased overhead leverage from sales scaling.

The material handling segment is seeing renewed momentum driven by the reinstatement of the investment tax credit and fleet refresh cycles at major pedestal customers like Amazon and Walmart.

The electrolyzer business achieved record revenue of $188 million in 2025, supported by 300 megawatts of global shipments and structural demand from European regulatory mandates.

Management is pivoting from a pure growth-at-all-costs model to a 'profitable growth' framework, prioritizing margin-neutral operations and reduced cash burn over aggressive capital expansion.
Portugal's drone exports to Ukraine have risen sharply since the start of the full-scale invasion of the country by Russia. Portugal is now selling more drones to Ukraine than it ever sold to Russia  and the gap is widening fast.

According to Jornal Economico, revenues from drone sales to Ukraine totalled 4 million in 2022, the year the conflict broke out, rising to 23 million in 2023 and 33 million in 2024.

Growth accelerated sharply in 2025, with revenues reaching 87.3 million. The largest Portuguese drone exporter to Ukraine is Tekever, a company based in Caldas da Rainha.

Related

The surge has reshaped Portugal's broader trade relationships.

Ukraine climbed from 75th to 36th in the ranking of Portugal's export destinations between 2019 and 2025, while Russia fell from 34th to 50th over the same period  a decline surpassed among the top 100 destinations only by Cuba, which dropped 20 places, and Syria, which fell 19.

Before the war, Portuguese exports to Ukraine were five to ten times lower than sales to Russia.

By 2023 and 2024 that gap had narrowed to around 10%, and by 2025 Ukrainian purchases had pulled ahead to double those to Russia.

Overall, Ukrainian purchases from Portugal have jumped 110%, making Ukraine one of very few countries in the top 100 export destinations to record double- or triple-digit growth.

The trend may be further boosted by a deal signed in December between Portugal and Ukraine for the joint production of underwater drones.
More than 300 banks sit on RippleNet, but most use Ripple's messaging tools without touching XRP. Deutsche Bank's February 2026 integration works this wayRipple's rails, no ODL. Only about 40% of partners actually use On-Demand Liquidity, where XRP moves as a bridge asset.

The levels to watch are $3 billion and $5 billion. At $3 billion, Canary Capital CEO Steven McClurg expects that BlackRock would consider filing an XRP ETF, which tends to open the door for institutions that were sitting on the sidelines. At $5 billion, ETFs would hold more XRP than all exchanges combinedand that's when buyers start chasing a shrinking supply. At the current pace, we're looking at late 2026 to hit those numbers, and a BlackRock filing would speed that up considerably.

XRP ETFs hold around $1.06 billion after peaking at $1.6 billion in Januaryenough to put a floor under the price, but nowhere near what's needed to spark a rally.

XRP at $5 means nearly 4x from current price levels and a market cap around $290 billionenough to overtake Ethereum as the second-largest crypto by market cap. For that to happen, three catalysts need to fire: ETF inflows cross the $3-5 billion threshold, at least one major bank starts settling in XRP, and Bitcoin stops dragging the market down.

Here we break down the specific triggers that would push XRP in either direction, and the signals that reveal which path is taking hold.

With ETF inflows holding steady, Ripple's stablecoin gaining traction, and new banking partnerships rolling incan XRP break the current downtrend and push toward $5 as institutional infrastructure builds, or will broader market weakness drag it back below $1?

XRP is doing something strange right now as institutions keep buying despite the price falling. Since November, XRP ETFs have pulled in $1.24 billion with barely a red day. In February alone, XRP products logged positive flows while the broader market sold offBitcoin ETFs shed over $4 billion in a five-week stretch, and Ethereum products lost another $400 million. Yet XRP, trading around $1.35 after a 30% drop this year, keeps attracting fresh capital.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE .

Current signals point to consolidation in the $1.30-$2.00 range through mid-2026, with neither the $5 catalysts firing nor the $1 risks accelerating.

XRP needs three catalysts to reach $5: ETF inflows hitting $3-5 billion, at least one major bank adopting On-Demand Liquidity for actual settlement, and Bitcoin holding above $60,000.

Story Continues

When a bank flips to ODL, every cross-border payment converts into XRP, moves across the ledger, then converts backbuying pressure built into daily transaction flow. SBI Japan and Zand Bank UAE are furthest along, both rolling out RLUSD-based settlement in Q1 2026. A production announcement from either would signal the shift from "Ripple adoption" to "XRP demand."

Bitcoin Holds and Macro Cooperates

XRP tracks Bitcoin with 0.84 correlation and amplifies moves at 1.8x volatility. When BTC tested $60,000 in early February, XRP dropped to $1.11, showing the token doesn't move independently but tends to follow BTC's movement like most altcoins.

The Fed is expected to cut rates two to three times in 2026, which could push capital back into crypto after months of risk-off sentiment. Standard Chartered cut its XRP target from $8 to $2.80 specifically because of Bitcoin weakness and broader macro pressurebut kept its 2030 target at $28, betting the long-term setup remains intact. For XRP to reach $5, Bitcoin needs to hold above $60K at minimum, and a push back toward $80K would give altcoins room to run.

XRP Price Path Back to $1: What Breaks the Floor

Tamisclao / Shutterstock.com  Tamisclao / Shutterstock.com

XRP tested $1.30 multiple times in February and heldbut repeated tests tend to weaken key support levels. If the floor breaks, analysts see $1.12 as the first target, with extended capitulation pointing toward $0.53.

Bitcoin Breaks Below $60,000

XRP crashed 30% in February when Bitcoin dropped toward $65K. The two assets move together, and XRP tends to amplify Bitcoin's swingswhen BTC falls 8%, XRP typically falls closer to 15%.

A Bitcoin break below $60K would trigger forced selling across crypto as leveraged positions get liquidated. Bitcoin tested that level in early February and bounced, but if $60K fails to hold, XRP might revisit its February lows around $1.11and a sustained Bitcoin slide toward $50K could drag XRP below $1.

Sustained ETF Outflows

XRP ETFs went 43 days without a single outflow after launcha streak Bitcoin and Ethereum funds couldn't match. The first red day came on January 7 with $40.8 million in redemptions, but inflows resumed within 24 hours.

Single outflow days don't break the floor, but sustained outflows would. If redemptions start stacking week after week, the buying pressure that held XRP above $1.30 could disappear. ETF AUM has already dropped from $1.6 billion in January to around $1.06 billionanother $500 million in outflows would cut institutional support in half and leave retail holding the bag.

Whale Selling Resumes at Scale

Exchange balances dropped 55% since October 2025 as large holders moved XRP into cold storagea bullish signal that supported price through the February selloff. But that flow can reverse.

In late February, 31 million XRP hit exchanges in a single day, mostly from wallets holding over 100,000 tokens. If whales start moving tokens back to exchanges at that pace, the same supply squeeze that helped hold $1.30 starts working against XRP instead.

RippleNet Doesn't Require XRP

More than 300 banks use RippleNet, but most of them never touch XRP. They use Ripple's messaging and settlement tools the same way they'd use a faster version of SWIFTno token required.

RLUSD makes this worse. As Ripple's stablecoin gains traction for cross-border payments, it could replace XRP's role as a bridge asset. If banks can settle in a dollar-backed stablecoin instead of a volatile token, many will. This is the bear case that sticks around even if Bitcoin recovers and ETF flows stabilizeRipple's business could keep growing while XRP's utility shrinks.

How to Tell Which Path Is Winning

Maryshot / Shutterstock.com  Maryshot / Shutterstock.com

The clearest signal is weekly ETF flows. XRP ETFs maintained positive inflows even while Bitcoin products bled over $2 billion in January and February. If weekly inflows stay above $10 million, the institutional bid remains in place. Multiple weeks of outflows would signal that support is fading.

But ETF flows alone won't move XRP if Bitcoin is fallingthe correlation is too tight. The $60K level has acted as the floor through early 2026, and altcoins tend to get momentum once BTC moves back toward $72K-$80K. Bitcoin holding steady isn't enough for XRP to reach $5, but Bitcoin breaking down is enough to send it toward $1.

Exchange balances show what large holders are actually doing. They dropped 55% since October 2025 to around 1.7 billion XRPbullish on the surface. But 3.8 billion XRP has flowed from whale wallets into Binance since January, and 31 million hit exchanges in a single day late February. If outflows resume, supply stays tight. If inflows keep stacking, whales are distributing into any strength.

Then there's RLUSD, which could tip the balance either way. The stablecoin crossed $1.56 billion in market cap and could hit $2 billion by Q2. If RLUSD adoption accelerates alongside XRP demand, it validates Ripple's ecosystem. If RLUSD grows while XRP stagnates, it confirms the bear casebanks want Ripple's rails, not the token.

Where XRP Price Goes From Here

XRP enters March at $1.42 after five consecutive red monthsdown 62% from its July 2025 high of $3.65.

The path to $5 requires ETF inflows reaching $3-5 billion, at least one major bank settling in XRP through ODL, and Bitcoin holding above $60K. None of those conditions exist today, but none are off the table either. The path to $1 requires sustained ETF outflows, Bitcoin breaking $60K, and whales continuing to distribute. Right now, ETF flows remain positive, Bitcoin is holding, and whale behavior is mixed.

Based on current signals, XRP looks more likely to consolidate in the $1.30-$2.00 range through mid-2026 than to hit either extreme. The catalysts for $5 are real but not yet firing, and the risks of $1 are present but not accelerating. What happens next depends on which signals break firstand AI models predict XRP finishing 2026 between $1.4 and $14 depending on how many catalysts actually fire.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

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After a vlog about her trip to Japan in February came out before Korea's Independence Movement Day on March 1, actress Ji So-yeon apologized in public.

Ji So-yeon talked about the issue on her social media account on March 2. She said, "I am taking seriously the many opinions you have sent me regarding the video of my trip to Japan that was uploaded at the end of February."

She said she knew when the video was uploaded and added, "The video in question was content documenting my trip on February 11th, but it was my oversight to not sufficiently consider the significance of the timing of the posting. I sincerely apologize for not being able to look at it more carefully," per Naver.

Ji So-yeon also took responsibility for how the public reacted, saying, "It was a video documenting my personal daily life, but regardless of my intentions, I believe it is entirely my responsibility to cause discomfort and disappointment due to the timing of the posting. I apologize once again."

READ MORE: 'How Do Parents Survive?' Ji So-yeon and Song Jae-hee's Shocking Kindergarten Fee Increase Sparks Heated Debate

Ji So-yeon said that the decision to post the vlog was entirely her own, despite criticism aimed at her travel partner, Yang Mi-ra. She said, "It weighs heavily on my heart that criticism is spreading to Mira, who traveled with me. The decision to upload and release was entirely my own, and Mira, who traveled with me, had no knowledge of any of this. I deeply apologize to Mira, and I sincerely hope that no one is hurt by this."

She ended by promising to be more responsible in the future:"Through this incident, I have deeply realized that I must act more carefully and responsibly. From now on, I will more carefully consider the social context and timing in all processes of planning and releasing content. I will humbly accept the criticism you have sent me."

The argument started when Ji So-yeon posted a video on her YouTube channel on February 28 that showed her and Yang Mi-ra going to Takamatsu, Japan. The video has since been set to private because of the backlash.

MK said that the event shows how sensitive Koreans are about historical anniversaries, especially Independence Movement Day, and how public figures should think about the social context when they share personal information.

READ MORE: Ji So-yeon's Husband Reveals Alarming Sex-Education Dilemma After Daughter's Unexpected Comment
US-based fast-casual restaurant brand The Red Chickz has signed new franchise development agreements in Alabama, Connecticut and Georgia.

The company said the new agreements align with its coast-to-coast expansion strategy as it seeks to strengthen its presence in the hot chicken category.

The Red Chickz co-founder and CEO Shawn Lalehzarian said: This is exactly the kind of growth we're focused on: strategic, intentional, and aligned with strong franchise partners in dynamic markets.

Alabama, Connecticut, and Georgia each present incredible opportunities for us to introduce our bold flavours and high-energy dining experience to new communities across the country.

The company defined expansion to Alabama and Georgia as a natural fit for The Red Chickz's menu, citing demand for Southern-inspired flavours.

Connecticut represents the companys first move into New England and adds to its network along the East Coast. The move into the state is also set to expand its footprint in densely populated markets, as the brand gains traction in states such as New Jersey and North Carolina.

The Red Chickz development vice-president Spencer Sabatasso said: We're expanding with purpose.

Our model is built for scalability, strong unit economics, and operational simplicity. These new agreements reflect the confidence franchisees have in what we're building: a brand with real staying power, not just trend appeal.

The companys franchise arrangements now cover several states, including Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Texas.

The chain currently has 55 locations under development across the US, with more multi-unit agreements projected through 2026.

"The Red Chickz expands US footprint with new franchise deals" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




Celent has released a new report, entitled: Resilience Moves from Program to Performance.

Starting in 2021, a wave of operational resilience regulation introduced a new regulatory environment for banks across the globe. The run-up to these deadlines has spurred waves of transformation across the financial services industry.

Now the risk and compliance teams within banks implementations of operational resilience programs such as DORA are well underway. Chief Risk Officers are handing over responsibility for day-to-day execution of operational resilience to the banks' line of business executives.

How do a firm's GRC software needs change post-implementation?

Are banks better served by adding an operational resilience module from their established GRC vendor which focuses on compliance and documentation? Or should they implement a software package purpose-built for actively managing the resilience of the FI?

Why this topic, what is Celents angle?

Now that the final deadlines for regulations such as DORA and other operational resilience mandates across the globe have come and gone, responsibility for resilience has shifted from Risk and Compliance function to the lines of business. LOB execs are now monitoring the resilience of the business and reporting up to senior management on it. Firms need to decide how actively they want to support these activities through enterprise risk management technology.

Further information including how to access the full report is available via this link.

"Resilience Moves from Program to Performance: New Celent report alert" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)  The Iran war's disruption of Middle East oil and gas supplies and soaring prices are strengthening Russia's ability to profit from its energy exports, a pillar of the Kremlin's budget and a key to paying for its own war in Ukraine.

Prices for Russia's oil exports have risen from under $40 per barrel as recently as December to about $62 per barrel  first on fears of war and then due to interruption of almost all tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for some 20% of the world's oil consumption.

Russian oil still trades at a considerable discount to international benchmark Brent crude, which has risen above $82 from the closing price of $72.87 on Friday, the eve of the attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel. However, Russian crude is now above the benchmark of $59 per barrel that was assumed in the Russian Finance Ministry's budget plan for 2026. Oil and gas tax revenues account for up to 30% of the Russian federal budget.

Additionally, the halt in production of ship-borne liquefied natural gas, or LNG, by major supplier Qatar will sharply increase global competition for available cargoes -- including those from Russia.

A change in fortunes

Russia had seen state oil and gas revenue fall to a four-year low of 393 billion rubles ($5 billion) in January and the budget shortfall of 1.7 trillion rubles ($21.8 billion) for that month was the biggest on record, according to Finance Ministry figures.

The lower revenue was due to weaker global prices and to deep discounts fueled by U.S. and European Union hindrance of Russia's shadow fleet of tankers with obscure ownership used sell oil to its biggest customers, China and India, in defiance of a Western-imposed price cap and sanctions on Russia's two biggest oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft.

Economic growth has stagnated as massive military spending has leveled off. President Vladimir Putin has resorted to tax increases and increased borrowing from compliant domestic banks to keep state finances on an even keel in the fifth year of the war.

Russia is a big winner from the war-related energy turmoil, said Simone Tagliapietra, energy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. Higher oil prices mean higher revenues for the government and therefore stronger capability to finance the war in Ukraine.

Amena Bakr, head of Middle East and OPEC+ insights at data and analytics firm Kpler, writes: With Middle East barrels facing logistical disruption, both India and China face strong incentives to deepen reliance on Russian supply.
Sanofi has taken a chance on Sino Biopharmaceuticals first-in-class, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic asset, rovadicitinib, through a licensing agreement worth up to $1.53bn.

As part of this deal, Sanofi will pay $135m upfront for the global development, manufacturing and commercialisation rights to Sinos novel Janus kinase (JAK)/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor pill, rovadicitinib, which was developed by Sinos subsidiary, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group.

This agreement also sees Sanofi commit up to $1.39bn towards potential development, regulatory and sales-based milestone payments  taking the total value up to $1.53bn. The Hong Kong-based pharma is also eligible to receive up to double-digit tiered royalties on the drugs annual net sales.

Rovadicitinib is currently marketed in China under the brand name Anxu. The drug originally gained approval for the frontline treatment of three types of rare bone marrow cancer, myelofibrosis, in February 2026. This regulatory greenlight made the drug the first dual JAK/ROCK inhibitor to reach the global market. Sanofi hopes, however, that it will show promise in chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) for post-transplant patients.

In a statement to Pharmaceutical Technology, a Sanofi spokesperson said: This will be part of our transplant franchise, where we have developed strong expertise and a solid reputation.

The aim is to complement Rezurock (belumosudil), a demonstration of our continued commitment to patients with cGvHD, a population that continues to face significant unmet medical needs.

A recent paper published in Haematologica estimates that between 20-50% of patients who have received a transplant will develop GVHD.

Rovadicitinibs GVHD potential

Chia Tai is already exploring the potential of rovadicitinib through a China-based Phase III trial (NCT06682169) in GVHD, which the company plans to primarily complete in October 2029, as per ClinicalTrials.gov. Outside of China, Sino has also secured approval from US regulators to conduct a Phase II clinical study on rovadicitinib in GVHD within the country.

Rovadicitinib acts through a two-pronged approach, as the drug blocks both the JAK/STAT and ROCK pathways. This dual mechanism directly influences the production of inflammatory cytokines while downregulating overactive T-regulatory cells to promote immune balance.

Currently, there are multiple blockbuster drugs that have gained approval across the GVHD indication, including Novartis and Incytes JAK1/2 inhibitor, Jakavi (ruxolitinib) and Brutons tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, Imbruvica (ibrutinib).
This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

The Securities and Exchange Commission dismissed a civil enforcement action alleging former View Inc. CFO Vidul Prakash committed negligence-based fraud, according to a Friday litigation release. The complaint filed in 2023 alleged that Prakash acted negligently by failing to properly disclose $28 million in warranty liabilities to address a defect in the smart windows manufactured by the company, which use artificial intelligence to control factors such as temperature and glare.

The dismissal comes several months after both parties filed a joint stipulation to dismiss the case on Nov. 26, approved Friday by Judge Beth Labson Freeman, according to court documents filed with the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The SECs decision to exercise its discretion and seek dismissal is based on the facts and circumstances of this case and its ongoing review of the evidence, including evidence developed in discovery, the commission said in the release and joint stipulation.

I'm delighted that Vidul has been vindicated after two and a half years of litigation, Craig Martin, managing partner at Morrison & Foerster and attorney for Prakash told CFO Dive. With the dismissal of the claims, Prakash is free to resume his professional life, which has been long delayed by the ongoing case, Martin said.

Dive Insight:

The cases dismissal is the final chapter in a two-year legal back-and-forth between the SEC and the former CFO. On Nov. 3, shortly before the joint stipulation was filed, Judge Freeman denied a bid by Prakash for summary judgement, noting that a reasonable jury could conclude that Prakashs failure to conduct further inquiry into the warranty accrual issue or further inform the accountants addressing the question was a breach of his duty of care, according to court documents.

The two-year court battle surrounded questions related to Views financial disclosures relating to costs to manufacture new windows to replace those with a defect int their sealing components, with the SEC charging that the disclosures failed to include shipping and installment expenses related to those windows.

The commission settled charges against View in 2023 without civil penalties, noting it had self-reported the error and taken remedial errors. In its case against Prakash  who served as Views finance chief from March 2019 until departing in November 2021 in connection with a review by its audit committee  the SEC sought civil penalties, permanent injunctions and an officer and director bar, CFO Dive reported at the time.
Transitioned from a partnered model with Ascensia to a fully integrated developer, manufacturer, and direct seller to gain agility and eliminate revenue sharing.

Achieved 60% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025, driven by a 103% increase in new patient starts following the U.S. launch of Eversense 365.

Improved gross margins to over 50% by year-end 2025, aided by the shift toward a consignment sales model and higher-margin 365-day sensor sales.

Expanded the domestic prescriber base by over 80% year-over-year, reflecting increased clinical confidence in the long-term implantable CGM system.

Successfully integrated with Sequel's twiist automated insulin delivery system, marking the company's first entry into the Type 1 pump-integrated market.
By Nicholas P. Brown and Tom Hals

NEW YORK, March 4 (Reuters) - The day the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the tariffs that had cost Ian Rosenberger's backpack company Day Owl tens of thousands of dollars, friends started texting him their congratulations. He didn't share their elation.

"I don't see any possible way to get that money back," said Rosenberger, whose Pittsburgh-based company, with just a few million dollars in sales, likely could not afford attorneys' fees.

About 2,000 companies, including FedEx, Costco, and L'Oreal, have sued for refunds in the U.S. Court of International Trade, with more litigants likely. The Supreme Court ruled on February 20 that the use of emergency tariffs exceeded President Donald Trump's authority, and many businesses are now girding for a months- to years-long fight to get their money back.

But numerous small company owners are coming to the conclusion that, while the ruling is a win on paper, recouping tariff expenses won't be easy - if it happens at all.

Lawyers and business owners interviewed by Reuters say suing for refunds would divert their time, money or both from the need to keep operations running. "The number of conversations and analyses we've done ... the time suck on our team has been monumental," said Cassie Abel, CEO of Idaho-based outerwear company Wild Rye.

SMALL BUSINESSES PAID ONE-THIRD OF TARIFFS

Roughly 97% of U.S. importers are small businesses, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the tariffs they paid were a big headwind in 2025. Of the $175 billion in tariffs paid to the U.S. government, small businesses paid about $55 billion, according to researchers at the University of Pennsylvanias Penn Wharton Budget Model.

Some cash-strapped small businesses "will just have to eat the loss," said Oliver Dunford, an attorney at public interest law firm Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), who represented kids' clothing maker Princess Awesome, a lead plaintiff in the case against the tariffs.

For smaller companies grappling with renewed global uncertainty, the legal considerations represent an added cost that larger corporations need not worry about.

Even small businesses that can afford to litigate are taking a wait-and-see approach.

ECR4Kids, which makes child-focused fixtures and learning products like toy boxes and cubbies, has roughly $70 million in annual revenue. Still, for now, founder and managing partner Lee Siegel is holding off on litigation, citing a lack of clarity on the court process, and no guarantee of the outcome.
Fintech company SoFi Technologies has announced that it is working to make SoFiUSD available as a settlement option across the Mastercards global payments network.

SoFiUSD is SoFis fully reserved US dollar stablecoin. According to the company, it is the first stablecoin offered by a US nationally chartered and insured deposit bank on a public, permissionless blockchain.

Under the partnership, SoFi and Mastercard will examine how issuers and acquirers can settle card-based transactions with Mastercard using SoFiUSD. The partnership intends to support faster settlement options for Mastercard customers. It also targets use cases including cross-border remittances and B2B money transfers.

Galileo, SoFis technology platform, is expected to be among the first to offer its payment card clients and their issuing banks the option to settle transactions in SoFiUSD.

SoFiUSD is also expected to be supported across the Mastercard Multi-Token Network (MTN), Mastercards digital asset platform designed to connect traditional money with digital assets.

The integration is intended to improve interoperability across fiat currencies, stablecoins, and tokenised deposits, while offering additional settlement choices.

SoFi CEO Anthony Noto said: SoFiUSD is at the heart of our strategy to make it faster, cheaper, and safer for people around the world to move money.

With SoFiUSD as a settlement currency across Mastercards network, card issuers and acquirers can more easily enable the millions of businesses they serve around the globe to instantly settle transactions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is only the beginning of our efforts to bring SoFis bank-grade infrastructure to digital commerce.

Mastercard and SoFi will also explore additional interoperability use cases across stablecoins, fiat, and tokenised assets. Areas cited include programmable treasury applications and additional payout and money movement scenarios.

The announcement comes as stablecoins continue to see increased activity in financial services. More than half of people with crypto holdings said they held stablecoins in the past 12 months.

Separately, Visa and Stripe-owned stablecoin infrastructure platform Bridge expanded a global card issuance product first unveiled last year.

Bridge enables businesses and fintech developers to offer stablecoin-backed Visa cards. Through Bridges partnership with Lead Bank, the companies said these card transactions can be settled onchain with Visa.

Bridge-enabled stablecoin-linked cards are now live in 18 countries. The companies plan to expand to more than 100 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East by end of year.
Domestic sales fell by 18% to 47,008 vehicles in February from 57,216 a year earlier, reflecting in part the timing of this years Lunar New Year holidays, after volumes rose by 9% to 50,208 units in January. Domestic sales in the first two months of the year were down by almost 6% to 97,216 units from 103,270 units a year earlier.

Hyundai Motor s global sales fell by 5% to 306,528 units in February from 322,852 units in the same month of last year, reflecting a sharp drop in domestic deliveries and a more moderate decline in overseas sales. Global sales in the first two months of the year fell by 3% to 615,088 units from 633,814 units in the same period last year.

Global sales by the countrys big-five automakers, including vehicles produced overseas, declined slightly to 1,214,211 units year-to-date from 1,225,822 units a year earlier, while overseas sales were also slightly lower at 1,018,413 units from 1,027,393 units.

Hyundai reported an almost 6% decline in domestic sales to 97,216 units in the first two months of 2026, down from 103,270 units a year earlier, while Kias deliveries were slightly higher at 85,109 units. GM Korea was the worst performer, with sales plunging by almost 38% to 1,692 units, followed by Renault Korea with a 36% drop to 4,239 units, while KG Mobility saw its sales surge by 38% to 6,887 units, helped by the launch of the battery-powered Musso pickup truck.

The economy contracted by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter of 2025, reversing a 1.3% expansion in the third quarter, reflecting weaker investment and exports, while domestic consumption was supported by recent interest rate cuts by the central bank, from 3.5% to 2.5%. The South Korean economy expanded by just under 1% last year, down from 2% in 2024, reflecting weak consumer and corporate sentiment.

With the prolonged Lunar New Year holidays this year falling in February, the market last month was affected by fewer working days compared with last year. The overall market remains sluggish, however, with sales in the first two months of the year falling by 3.5% to 195,798 units from 202,845 units a year earlier.

Domestic sales by South Koreas five main automakers combined fell by 15% to 95,638 units in February 2026 from 112,258 units a year earlier, according to preliminary wholesale data released individually by the main local manufacturers. The data do not include sales by South Koreas low-volume commercial vehicle manufacturers, including Tata-Daewoo and Edison Motors, while import brands are covered in a separate report later in the month.

Story Continues

Overseas sales declined by 2.3% to 259,520 units last month from 265,636 units a year earlier, despite strong sales in key markets such as India and the US. Overseas sales in the first two months of the year were 2.4% lower at 517,872 units from 530,544 units previously.

Hyundai said in January that it is targeting a slight increase in global sales to 4.158 million units in 2026, including its Genesis luxury brand, with domestic sales expected to reach 700,000 units and 3.46 million units overseas. Sales in North America are forecast to increase slightly to 1,231,000 units, while sales in Europe are expected to be flat at 601,000 units; India 592,000 units (+3%), South Korea 700,000 units (-2%), and South America 328,000 units (+0.1%). The company is looking for continued product mix improvement and new model launches this year to help offset rising competition, economic uncertainty and US import tariffs.

Kia reported a 2.8% fall in global sales to 247,401 vehicles in February, down from 254,415 a year earlier, reflecting a sharp drop in domestic sales and a more moderate decline in overseas sales. Global sales in the first two months of the year were slightly lower at 493,092 units from 494,293 units, led by the Sportage SUV with 43,281 units, followed by the Seltos with 22,875 sales and the K4 with 18,434 units.

Domestic sales declined by almost 9% to 42,002 units last month from 46,003 units a year earlier, which the automaker blamed on the timing of this years Lunar New Year holidays. The Sorento was its best-selling domestic model during the month with 7,693 deliveries, followed by the PV5 with 3,967 units and the Sportage SUV with 3,800 units. In the first two months of the year, domestic sales were slightly higher at 85,109 units from 84,406 units last year. The automaker also reported a 17% rise in sales of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) in this period to 655 units, from 560 units a year earlier, most of which were military vehicles sold domestically.

Overseas sales fell by 1.5% to 205,005 units in February from 208,027 units a year earlier, led by the Sportage with 43,281 sales, followed by the Seltos SUV with 22,875 units and the K4 with 18,434 units. In the first two months of the year, overseas sales were down slightly at 407,328 units from 409,327 units.

Earlier this year, Kia said it is targeting an almost 7% increase in global sales to 3,350,000 units in 2026, including 565,000 domestic sales and 2,775,000 overseas, along with 10,000 global SPV sales. This includes 915,000 deliveries in the US, 594,000 units in Europe, and 302,000 units in India. The company said it plans to continue to expand its hybrid lineup to include the new Telluride and Seltos SUV models in the US, the new EV2 BEV models in Europe, and the all-new Seltos in India.

GM Koreas global sales fell by 7.6% to 36,630 units in February from 39,655 units a year earlier, reflecting falling domestic and export sales. Global sales in the first two months of 2026 increased by 14% to 81,333 units from 71,273 units previously, following a sharp increase in January. The locally produced Trax crossover vehicle and the Trailblazer SUV are by far the companys best-selling models, with most output shipped overseas.

Domestic sales plunged by 37% to 927 units in February from 1,482 units a year earlier, while year-to-date domestic volumes were down by almost 38% to 1,692 units from 2,711 units, as the automaker struggled with rising competition from other domestic manufacturers and from importers. The company recently launched the battery-powered Escalade IQ premium SUV, which it imports from the US along with the Colorado pickup truck and the GMC Sierra Denali.

Exports fell by 6.5% to 35,703 units last month from 38,173 units, while overseas shipments in the first two months of the year increased by 16% to 79,641 units from 68,562 units previously.

GM Korea has pledged to invest US$ 300 million to upgrade its local manufacturing operations for the production of next-generation models. The company has set a target of producing 500,000 vehicles in 2026, up from 462,310 units in 2025, mainly to meet growing overseas demand, particularly in the US,

KG Mobility (KGM) reported a 2.8% decline in global sales to 8,237 units in February from 8,456 units a year earlier, with a sharp decline in exports mostly offset by stronger domestic sales. Global sales in the first two months of the year increased by 3.3% to 17,073 units from 16,526 units previously.

Domestic sales jumped by 38% to 3,701 units in February from 2,676 units a year earlier, helped by the recent launch of the Musso Pickup EV, while year-to-date deliveries also increased by 38% to 6,887 from 4,976 units. Exports of built-up and knocked-down vehicles fell by 23% to 4,356 units last month from 5,630 units a year earlier, resulting in an 11% drop to 10,186 units year-to-date from 11,400 units previously.

KGM said it plans to release new and upgraded models with improved performance in 2026 to help strengthen its domestic and overseas sales, with a focus on expanding its zero-emissions vehicle range. The company has a strategic partnership with Chinas Chery Automobile Company, giving it access to readily available new energy vehicle (NEV) technologies. It recently revealed plans to introduce at least eight new models by 2030.

Renault Koreas global sales plunged by 36% to 3,893 units in February from already weak year-earlier sales of 6,099 units, with declining domestic sales offset by higher exports. Global sales in the first two months of the year fell by 23% to 7,625 autos from 9,916 units previously.

Domestic sales plunged by 59% to 2,000 units in February from 4,881 units a year earlier and were down by 36% to 4,239 units year-to-date from 7,482 units, with the Grand Koleos SUV accounting for a significant proportion of these volumes. Exports rose by 55% to 1,893 units last month from 1,218 units a year earlier and were up by 39% to 3,386 units year-to-date from 2,434 units.

The company began production of its new Filante flagship SUV at its Busan plant in January, ahead of its planned local launch in March. The model, based on Chinese automaker Geelys Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, is powered by Renaults new-generation E-Tech 250 hybrid powertrain. It will be shipped to markets in South America and the Gulf States region later this year.

"South Korea report: domestic sales fall 15% in February" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Soybeans are 6 to 9 cents across most contracts on Monday, fading off overnight gains. There were another 158 deliveries issued on Friday evening. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price is down 3 1/2 cents at $10.89 1/2. Soymeal futures are falling $6.50 to $7 at midday. Soy Oil futures are up 80 to 90 points. There were 102 deliveries against March bean meal futures on Friday night. Crude oil is providing some spillover support to bean oil, up $3.35 at midday following the US/Israel strikes on Iran over the weekend. Beans are seeing some pressure over uncertainty from US/China relations following the attacks.

Monday mornings Export Inspections report showed 1.138 MMT (41.8 mbu) of soybean shipped in the week of 2/26. That was 66.9% above the week prior and 62% larger than the same week last year. China was the largest destination of 734,698 MT, with 132,978 MT shipped to Germany and 105,122 MT to Mexico. The marketing year total is now 26.18 MMT (962 mbu) of soybeans shipped since September 1, which is 30.4% below than the same period last year.

More News from Barchart

Managed money added another 20,591 contracts to their net long position as of 2/24, taking the position to 184,202 contracts according to CFTC data released on Friday.

USDAs Fats & Oils report will be out later today, with traders looking for January crush to total 226.3 million bushels.

AgRural estimates the Brazilian soybean crop at 39% harvested, which is still shy of the 50% from the same period last year. They also trimmed their projection for the countrys bean output by 3 MMT to 178 MMT. StoneX estimates the crop at 177.8 MMT, a 3.8 MMT cut from the previous number.

Mar 26 Soybeans are at $11.48 1/2, down 8 3/4 cents,

Nearby Cash is at $10.89 1/2, down 3 1/2 cents,

May 26 Soybeans are at $11.62 3/4, down 8 cents,

Jul 26 Soybeans are at $11.76, down 6 3/4 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
New York, US (PANA) - Libyas path to lasting stability requires a credible, Libyan-led political process that unifies institutions and restores economic vitality, a US Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs has reiterated
Soybeans were 5 to 8 cents lower in the front months on Monday, with new crop contracts fractionally higher. There were another 158 deliveries issued on Friday evening. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was down 2 cents at $10.91 1/4. Soymeal futures fell $2.30 to $7.60 lower, with Soy Oil futures 70 to 92 points higher. There were 102 deliveries against March bean meal futures on Friday night.

Crude oil provided some spillover support to bean oil, up $4.01 following the US/Israel strikes on Iran over the weekend. Uncertainty with China ahead of an expected meeting later this month was adding pressure, after they condemned the US strikes on Iran.

More News from Barchart

Monday mornings Export Inspections report showed 1.138 MMT (41.8 mbu) of soybean shipped in the week of 2/26. That was 66.9% above the week prior and 62% larger than the same week last year. China was the largest destination of 734,698 MT, with 132,978 MT shipped to Germany and 105,122 MT to Mexico. The marketing year total is now 26.18 MMT (962 mbu) of soybeans shipped since September 1, which is 30.4% below than the same period last year.

Monthly Fats & Oils data from this afternoon showed 227.8 mbu of soybeans crushed in January, exceeding estimates. That was a drop of 0.87% from December, but 87.2% above the same month last year. Soybean oil stocks rose 11.72% from the end of December to 2.43 billion lbs, which was 33.9% larger than the same period last year.

AgRural estimates the Brazilian soybean crop at 39% harvested, which is still shy of the 50% from the same period last year. They also trimmed their projection for the countrys bean output by 3 MMT to 178 MMT. StoneX estimates the crop at 177.8 MMT, a 3.8 MMT cut from the previous number.

Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $11.50, down 7 1/4 cents,

Nearby Cash was $10.91 1/4, down 2 cents,

May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.64, down 6 3/4 cents,

Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.77, down 5 3/4 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Varda Space Industries has leased an El Segundo location formerly occupied by toy manufacturer Mattel. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

In an expansion of its business of processing pharmaceuticals in Earth's orbit, Varda Space Industries is renting a large El Segundo plant where toy manufacturer Mattel used to design Hot Wheels and Barbie dolls.

The plant in El Segundos aerospace corridor will be an extension of Varda Space Industries headquarters in a much smaller building on nearby Aviation Boulevard.

Varda will occupy a 205,443-square-foot industrial and office campus at 2031 E. Mariposa Ave., which will give it additional capacity to manufacture spacecraft at scale, the company said.

Originally built in the 1940s as an aircraft facility, the complex has a history as part of aerospace and defense industries that have long shaped the South Bay and is near a host of major defense and space contractors. It is also close to Los Angeles Air Force Base, headquarters to the Space Systems Command.

Varda is one of a new generation of aerospace startups that have flourished in Southern California and the South Bay over the last several years, particularly in El Segundo, often with ties to SpaceX.

Elon Musks company, founded in 2002 in El Segundo, has revolutionized the industry with reusable rockets that have radically lowered the cost of lifting payloads into space. Though it has moved its headquarters to Texas, SpaceX retains large-scale operations in Hawthorne.

Varda co-founder and Chief Executive Will Bruey is a former SpaceX avionics engineer, and the companys spacecraft are launched on SpaceXs workhorse Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.

Varda makes automated labs that look like cylindrical desktop speakers, which it sends into orbit in capsules and satellite platforms it also builds. There, in microgravity, the miniature labs grow molecular crystals that are purer than those produced in Earths gravity for use in pharmaceuticals.

It has contracts with drug companies and also the military, which tests technology at hypersonic speeds as the capsules return to Earth.

Its fifth capsule was launched in November and returned to Earth in late January; its next mission is set in the coming weeks. Varda has more than 10 missions scheduled on Falcon 9s through 2028.

For the last several decades, the Mariposa Avenue property served as the research and development center for Mattel Toys. El Segundo has also long been a center for the toy industry as companies like to set up shop in the shadow of Mattel.

Read more: World's toymakers set up shop in El Segundo's new toy hub to be near Barbie

The Mattel facility "has always been an exceptional property with a legacy tied to aerospace innovation, and leasing to Varda Space Industries feels like a natural continuation of that story, said Michael Woods, a partner at GPI Cos., which owns the property.
Management attributed 2025 top-line growth to a deliberate shift toward high-velocity product innovation, which allowed Ruger to grow sales by 1.9% despite a 4.1% decline in adjusted NICS industry data.

The company executed a 'top-to-bottom' business review under new leadership, resulting in the rationalization of underperforming product lines and an organizational realignment to improve structural efficiency.

Performance was bolstered by a 4.5% increase in sell-through at distribution, driven by 65 new model launches in Q4 alone, including three entirely new platforms.

Operational focus shifted toward capacity expansion in Hebron, Kentucky, specifically targeting product categories where demand currently exceeds existing production capabilities.

Management characterized 2025 as a year of 'inventory rationalization,' intentionally reducing model counts to focus resources on high-margin, high-demand platforms like the American Rifle Gen II and Marlin.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Release Date: March 04, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Traton SE (TRATF) has seen a positive order momentum in Europe, particularly for MAN and Scania, leading to increased production capacity.

The company is ramping up production for Scania in China and expects to reach 10,000 units this year, indicating growth potential in the Chinese market.

Traton SE (TRATF) has managed to keep a close to 50% market share in the US despite tariff challenges, showing resilience in a competitive market.

The company has implemented cost-saving measures, such as reemploying staff and optimizing production capacity, to improve operational efficiency.

Traton SE (TRATF) is working on mitigating tariff impacts through strategic measures and expects to recover some costs related to US tariffs in the second half of 2026.

Negative Points

The Scania factory in China is not expected to break even until 2028, indicating a long-term financial burden.

Traton SE (TRATF) faces significant tariff impacts, with EUR110 million recorded in Q4 2025 for steel, aluminum, and Section 232 tariffs.

The company anticipates margin dilution until 2029 due to ongoing investments and ramp-up costs in China.

Higher oil and energy prices could negatively impact truck demand and increase production costs, posing a risk to profitability.

The German market underperformed in 2025, affecting MAN's order intake and highlighting regional market challenges.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Given the strong orders in Europe, have you made any adjustments in your production plan? A: Christian Levin, CEO, stated that due to positive order momentum in Europe, particularly for MAN and Scania, Traton SE has decided to increase production capacity. This includes reemploying some staff who were let go last year. MAN is currently maintaining its production capacity, but adjustments may be made if the trend continues.

Q: Can you provide more details on the China impact for Scania's margin and the pathway to breakeven by 2028? A: Christian Levin, CEO, explained that Scania's production in China is ramping up, with expectations to reach 10,000 units this year. The factory's capacity is 45,000 to 50,000 units, and breakeven is anticipated by 2028. Michael Jackstein, CFO, added that the investment in China was less than anticipated, with ongoing ramp-up costs expected to be similar in 2026.
By Nandita Bose, David Lawder and Victoria Waldersee

WASHINGTON/MADRID, March 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a full U.S. trade embargo on Spain on Tuesday after the European and NATO ally refused to let the U.S. military use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

"Spain has been terrible," Trump told reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, adding that he had told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to "cut off all dealings" with Spain.

"We're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain," he added.

The U.S. relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain after the country's Socialist leadership said it would not allow them to be used to attack Iran.

Trump again referenced Spain's refusal to heed U.S. calls for all NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on defence, and added: "Spain has absolutely nothing that we need."

"All business having to do with Spain, I have the right to stop it. Embargoes - do anything I want with it - and we may do that with Spain," he said, again expressing his frustration with the Supreme Court's ruling last month that his broadest global tariffs were illegal under a national emergencies law.

NO SEPARATE TREATMENT FOR SPAIN

Merz, speaking with reporters after the meeting, said he told Trump privately that Spain could not be excluded from a trade agreement reached between Brussels and Washington last year.

"I said that Spain is a member of the European Union and we negotiate about tariffs with the United States only together or not at all," he said. "There is no way to treat Spain particularly badly."

Trump publicly asked Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer their opinions on cutting off Spanish trade.

"Well, sir, I think we'll talk about it with you," Greer said. "We know you can use it, and if you need to use it to assure national and economic security, we'll do it."

Bessent said the Supreme Court affirmed Trump's embargo powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, adding that the USTR and Commerce Department would begin investigations into how to penalise Spain under other trade laws.

HIGH BAR

Jennifer Hillman, a trade law professor at Georgetown University, said the Supreme Court did not address the president's ability to impose a trade embargo under IEEPA. Trump could do so, but he would have to declare a national emergency over Spain as an "unusual and extraordinary" threat to the United States, she said, adding that such a move would go "well beyond" any previous emergency.
By Eduardo Baptista

BEIJING, March 4 (Reuters) - Weeks before U.S.Israeli strikes in Iran, wide swathes of state-backed Chinese companies were eyeing projects in areas from energy and heavy industry to trade promotion, data showed, spotlighting the risks the war presents for business in China.

One of Iran's closest allies and the biggest buyer of its oil, China has so far kept silent about the business and trade impact of the attacks, though it condemned the U.S.-led operation as "unacceptable" and called for restraint.

Chinese government procurement and tender records on Iran show contracts issued in recent months, pointing to the vibrant commercial engagement of the two nations, though the total size of China's investment in the projects was not immediately clear.

But the inclusion of many state-backed firms suggests efforts by the world's second largest economy to boost ties with Iran could transmit the business impact of the deepening Middle East crisis beyond just the private sector.

Beijing has long backed U.S.-sanctioned Tehran in efforts to deepen its strategic and economic heft in the Middle East, signing a 25-year cooperation deal in 2021, though full details were never disclosed.

China and Iran have drawn closer politically through participation in regional blocs, but economic cooperation has stagnated in recent years in the absence of big benefits to China in non-oil trade, an adviser to the foreign ministry said.

"China viewed the Iran protests as a cautionary tale, due to Tehran's domestic economic mismanagement, governance failures and corruption," added the expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

None of the entities identified in the documents responded to requests for comment on the status of projects and whether recent events had affected operations.

FROM STEEL TO POWER INFRASTRUCTURE

The Chinese records show contracts, some issued or active in January and February, in areas such as steel fabrication, transmission-level grid equipment, hydropower commissioning, overland freight corridors and Tehran trade exhibitions.

Shanghai Baoye, a major engineering and construction contractor within state-owned China Metallurgical Group Corp, issued a tender last month for structural steel supplies for a project based in Iran, they showed.

It also awarded a subcontract worth 7.7 million yuan ($1.1 million) to a local firm for project-related equipment.

Pinggao Electric, widely associated with China's State Grid network, published a procurement result last month that referred to an Iran project involving a mobile substation, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.
Oil prices have climbed after reports that Iranian drones struck a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Qatar, rattling global energy markets and reigniting debate over energy security.

But while the market reaction was swift, one energy analyst says the United States is structurally better prepared to weather the shock than many of its allies.

"Energy security is national security," Independent Womens Center for Energy and Conservation Director Gabriella Hoffman said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "If your energy policy is tied to boosting domestic production and insulating yourself from geopolitical threats, youre going to be in a stronger position during moments like this."

In the early morning hours on Saturday, U.S. military forces launched a massive joint military operation against Iran, known as "Operation Epic Fury." The attacks have already left major leaders dead, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and spurred other strikes across the Middle East region.

Oil Markets On Edge As Iran Moves To Restrict Vital Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Lane, Report Says

Iranian retaliation involving drone strikes hit energy infrastructure in Qatar on Monday, prompting QatarEnergy to halt LNG production at key facilities. Qatars LNG exports account for nearly 20% of global supply.

Read On The Fox Business App

Early Monday morning, Iranian drones reportedly struck Qatar's largest oil plant.  Getty Images

As a result, global benchmark Brent Crude and U.S. crude futures rose sharply, with Brent up more than 8% toward around $79 a barrel and U.S. crude up about 7.6% on Monday amid supply fears.

European energy and natural gas prices also surged in response, underscoring the continents continued dependence on imported LNG following its pivot away from Russian gas. Hoffman also noted that major energy importers such as China are significantly reliant on Qatari LNG supplies.

"Countries that are dependent on Middle Eastern reserves are going to have to look closer to home," Hoffman said. "If youre relying heavily on foreign suppliers and something like this happens, youre more exposed to volatility and instability."

Hoffman argued the United States is less vulnerable than Europe because of its recent surge in domestic production and LNG export capacity. The U.S. recently became the worlds largest net exporter of petroleum products and continues expanding production capacity under Trump administration directives.

That position, she said, provides insulation from external supply shocks.

"We are scaling up production. Were approving more infrastructure. Were cutting red tape," Hoffman said. "If were not approving new projects fast enough, that could eventually hold us back."
UK-based accountancy and advisory practice S&W has appointed James Wright as a partner within its business tax practice in Birmingham.

Wright joins the company with longstanding experience in advising both UK and crossborder businesses on tax issues.

His work has covered areas such as corporate structuring, international taxation, transactional support and ongoing compliance.

Wright said: I am delighted to be joining S&W at such an exciting time for the firm.

Throughout my career I have focused on helping businesses tackle their most significant tax challenges, from navigating international tax changes to supporting major transactions and restructuring.

S&Ws growth, ambition and collaborative culture really resonated with me, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the firm to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients.

Throughout his career, Wright has worked with organisations operating in different sectors, helping them respond to shifting tax rules and regulatory demands.

He has also advised on tax solutions designed to support clients broader commercial and strategic aims.

S&W Business Tax head Mark Webb added: James is a fantastic addition to our rapidly expanding business tax team in Birmingham.

His depth of technical expertise, combined with his experience working with complex and highprofile clients, strengthens our ability to support businesses across the UK and internationally.

We are thrilled to welcome him to S&W and look forward to the valuable contribution he will make to our clients and our continued growth.

S&W recently appointed Alexandra Bray as a partner in the business tax team at its Bristol office, part of wider investment in the citys senior team.

"S&W names James Wright as partner in Birmingham business tax team" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




Progress Rail and Wabtec said they have settled the formers lawsuit alleging the latter engaged in anti-competitive measures after its acquisition of GE Transportation in 2019.

Progress Rail, a unit of Caterpillar, claimed Wabtecs 2019 $11 billion acquisition of GE Transportation created a dominant market position in diesel-electric long-haul freight locomotives and components.

Progress Rail, which manufactures the former General Motors line of motive power in the suit alleged Wabtec (NYSE: WAB) abused its power through exclusionary tactics, such as restricting data flow for compatibility, imposing costs on rivals, and making false statements about Progress Rail exiting the market, harming competition and consumers.

Based in Albertille, Ala., Progress Rail and Wabtec of Pittsburgh in a one-paragraph statement announcing the settlement said, There is no admission of liability. The two companies acknowledge that they have been and remain suppliers of long-haul freight locomotives and cab components, including Tier IV long-haul locomotives, to Class I railroads and other customers.

Progress Rail had sued in the U.S. District Court of Delaware in 2023. The court in 2025 dismissed antitrust claims but allowed breach-of-contract allegations to proceed.

Subscribe to FreightWaves Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.

Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

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The post Wabtec, Progress Rail settle anti-trust lawsuit appeared first on FreightWaves.
Adjusted net earnings were CAD 0.71 per share, up CAD 0.36 per share, or 104.1%, from the prior-year quarter. Domagalski also noted the companys total recordable injury frequency (TRIF) rate was 0.93 at the end of Q4, slightly lower than a year earlier, reiterating that safety remains the companys top priority.

Adjusted EBITDA was CAD 44 million, an increase of CAD 8.9 million, or 25.2%, from Q4 2024. Management cited higher gross profit margin and lower finance costs as the primary factors. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 7.9% in Q4 2025, up from 6.2% in Q4 2024, though down from 9.3% in Q3 2025.

Gross profit margin increased to 18%, up 100 basis points from the same period in 2024. Management attributed the improvement to higher margins on industrial parts, product support, and equipment revenue, as well as a richer sales mix from ERS.

For the fourth quarter, Wajax reported revenue of CAD 560 million, down CAD 5.9 million, or 1%, year over year. Domagalski said the decrease was driven primarily by lower product support sales in Western and Eastern Canada, lower industrial parts sales in Central Canada, and lower equipment sales across all regions, partially offset by higher engineered repair services (ERS) revenue in all regions, particularly Eastern Canada.

Wajax (TSE:WJX) reported what management described as a steady fourth quarter for 2025, highlighting higher earnings, improved leverage, and gross margin expansion despite a modest decline in revenue. On the companys webcast discussing Q4 and full-year results, President and CEO Iggy Domagalski and CFO Tania S. Casadinho emphasized inventory optimization, cost discipline, and margin improvement as key drivers of stronger cash generation and balance sheet metrics entering 2026.

Outlook and leadership: Management plans continued focus on cost discipline, inventory optimization and margin improvement, with revenue from the multiyear Riverclass destroyers contract expected through 2029; George McClean was named CEO effective immediately.

Balance-sheet progress: Inventory fell CAD 126.4 million yearoveryear (turns improved to 2.5x), fullyear operating cash flow rose to CAD 194 million, and leverage improved to 1.62x , back inside the companys 1.52.0x target.

Q4 results: Revenue dipped 1% to CAD 560 million, but gross margin widened to 18% (up 100 bps) and adjusted EBITDA rose 25.2% to CAD 44 million, while adjusted EPS jumped to CAD 0.71 (up 104%).

Story Continues

Regional and category performance: ERS growth offsets equipment and support softness

By region, Western Canada sales were CAD 261 million, down 4.9% year over year, due mainly to lower equipment and forestry sales, partially offset by higher mining equipment sales and higher ERS. Central Canada sales were CAD 95 million, down 4.4%, reflecting lower material handling equipment sales and lower industrial parts sales, partially offset by higher construction and forestry equipment sales and ERS. Eastern Canada sales increased 6.2% to CAD 203 million, driven primarily by higher ERS and higher equipment sales in power systems and construction and forestry, partially offset by lower material handling equipment sales.

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Category detail for the quarter included:

Equipment sales: CAD 206 million, down CAD 2.6 million (1.2%) year over year, with declines in material handling (Central and Eastern Canada) and construction and forestry (Western Canada), partly offset by higher power systems sales (Eastern Canada), higher construction and forestry sales (Central and Eastern Canada), and higher mining sales (Western Canada).

Product support sales: CAD 124 million, down CAD 8.5 million (6.4%), primarily due to lower power systems revenue in Western and Eastern Canada and lower construction and forestry revenue in Western Canada.

Industrial parts sales: about CAD 131 million, down CAD 3 million (2.3%), driven mainly by lower sales in Central Canada.

ERS sales: about CAD 88 million, up CAD 9 million (11%), reflecting higher revenue in all regions, especially Eastern Canada, which management said was largely due to timing of larger projects.

On the calls Q&A, Domagalski said product support was just a kind of a regular quarter, and framed improved margins as a result of the companys internal margin enhancement initiatives rather than a change in demand dynamics.

Backlog, inventory, and leverage: destocking drives balance sheet improvement

Casadinho said Q4 backlog was CAD 516.6 million, down CAD 10.1 million sequentially from Q3 and down CAD 47.8 million year over year. She attributed the sequential change to an increase in power systems backlog driven by the River-class destroyers subcontract entered into with Irving Shipbuilding Inc., partially offset by lower backlog across other categoriesmost notably in miningfollowing the sale of two large mining shovels that had been in backlog at September 30, 2025.

The year-over-year backlog decline was primarily due to lower mining backlogdriven by the sale of six large mining shovels since December 31, 2024and lower material handling backlog, partially offset by increased power systems backlog associated with the long-term River-class destroyers contract and higher ERS orders. Backlog at December 31, 2025 included two large mining shovels.

Inventory declined CAD 58.2 million from Q3 2025 and fell CAD 126.4 million from Q4 2024. Casadinho said inventory optimization initiatives have reduced inventory by more than CAD 200 million from peak levels at March 31, 2024. Inventory turns improved to 2.5x, up from 2.0x in Q4 2024, which management attributed primarily to lower average inventory levels.

Cash flows generated from operating activities were CAD 81.5 million in Q4, essentially flat with CAD 81.4 million in the prior-year quarter. For full-year 2025, operating cash flow rose to CAD 194 million versus CAD 75.1 million in 2024. Casadinho said the improvement was mainly due to decreased inventory and lower rental equipment additions, partially offset by lower accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

Leverage improved to 1.62x at the end of Q4 from 2.28x in Q3, which management linked to lower debt driven by operating cash flow. Casadinho said leverage was back within the companys target range of 1.5x to 2.0x.

The company also amended its bank credit facility on October 24, 2025, extending maturity to October 24, 2029 from October 1, 2027, with no change to the credit limit. Available credit capacity was CAD 266.9 million at quarter-end, which management said was sufficient for working capital, maintenance capital, and planned strategic initiatives.

Wajaxs board approved a Q1 2026 dividend of $0.35 per share, payable April 2, 2026 to shareholders of record on March 16, 2026.

Full-year 2025 and 2026 outlook: mixed markets, continued focus on costs and margins

For the full year, Domagalski said Wajax generated revenue of CAD 2.145 billion, up from CAD 2.097 billion in 2024. Adjusted basic EPS was CAD 2.90 versus CAD 2.44 in 2024, while operating cash flow increased to CAD 194 million from CAD 75.1 million. Inventory ended the year at CAD 547.6 million, down CAD 126.4 million year over year.

Looking to 2026, management said it will continue focusing on disciplined cost control, inventory optimization, and margin improvement. Domagalski added that Wajax continues to see strong customer demand in mining and energy, with mining demand reflected in two large mining shovels in backlog for delivery over the next five quarters. He also described conditions in other sectors as mixed across regions, citing macroeconomic softness and uncertainty related to Canada-U.S. tariffs and trade dynamics.

In Q&A, management addressed several operating themes:

SG&A efficiency: Domagalski said the company aims to operate within that lower end of the range, indicating the lower end is now about 14% of revenue on a full-year basis, while noting quarterly results will vary with revenue volume.

Gross margin dynamics: Management said Q4 margin softness versus Q3 was partly mix-driven, while reiterating focus on continuing improvements seen in the latter half of 2025.

River-class destroyers contract: Domagalski said Wajax had pursued the opportunity for seven years and expects the majority of the revenue to be recognized between now and 2029. He also confirmed the full value is included in backlog.

Capital allocation: Domagalski said Wajax typically spends about CAD 15 million annually on facility maintenance and about CAD 15 million on its material handling rental fleet, and noted the company may be opportunistic on acquisitions while continuing to integrate prior deals.

Leadership transition: new CEO effective immediately

Domagalski said the board and he agreed in October to initiate a CEO succession process, which has now concluded. He announced George McClean as Wajaxs new President and CEO, effective later that day, with McClean also joining the board. Domagalski said he would remain with the company until March 20 to support the transition.

About Wajax (TSE:WJX)

Wajax Corp is a Canadian distributor of industrial components. The company's core business is the sale of parts and service support of equipment, power systems, and industrial components through a network of branches in Canada. Most of its revenue is generated from the sale of equipment which includes machinery and components used for construction purposes and its industrial components find utility in businesses like mining, forestry, and material handling for other industrial purposes. It sells to leading manufacturer brands such as Hitachi, JCB, Bell, Hyster, Palfinger and other similar industries.

The article "Wajax Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.
New York City education officials have dropped a plan to close an Upper West Side middle school after a parent's racist comments, caught on a live meeting, sparked widespread anger and national attention.

The Community Action School (CAS), a small middle school on West 93rd Street, will now remain open next school year, reversing a proposal to close the program because of low enrollment and test scores.

Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels told families in a letter that the city would not move forward with the phase-out, saying the school community needs stability and support following the racist incident. CAS currently serves just over 170 students, most of whom are Black and Latino and come from low-income families, according to Gothamist.

The controversy began at a Feb. 10 Community Education Council District 3 meeting, where officials were discussing plans to close or relocate three middle school programs, including CAS. During the hybrid meeting, a Black CAS student spoke in person against the closure, while a parent participating on Zoom was overheard making offensive remarks on a live microphone.

In one viral clip, the parent said of CAS students, "They're too dumb to know they're in a bad school," a comment widely condemned as racist and demeaning. In another widely reported remark from the meeting, an adult was heard saying, "If you train a Black person well enough, they'll know to use the back," shocking those in the room and online.

The parent was later identified in news reports as Allyson Friedman, a Hunter College associate professor and parent at The Center School, a nearby, more affluent, and majoritywhite program that is part of a separate relocation plan. Hunter College placed Friedman on leave after the video circulated, and The Center School's parent association publicly distanced itself from her remarks.

Read more: Utah Bill Limiting Student Phone Use During the Entire School Day Moves One Step Closer To Becoming Law

Samuels said he visited CAS with the local superintendent to meet students and school leaders before deciding to cancel the closure plan. In his letter, he wrote that the community is still processing the "racist and unacceptable" comments and emphasized that CAS needs "meaningful and comprehensive support," which he argued would be hard to provide during a phaseout.

He also announced steps to address antiBlack racism systemwide, including expanding access to the city's Black Studies curriculum and launching training for families on combating prejudice, Chalkbeat reported.

The decision marks a sharp reversal for Samuels, who previously supported the closure when he was the superintendent of District 3, which covers the Upper West Side and part of Harlem.

The episode has become an early test of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pledge to listen closely to school communities on major decisions, such as closures and rezonings.

While CAS has been spared, the fate of two other middle school programs in District 3, including the middle grades at P.S./I.S. 191, a majority Black and Latino school that shares a building with The Center School's proposed new home, remains undecided.

Parents at both campuses have raised concerns, fearing that race and class are shaping decisions about which schools are protected and which are left vulnerable, as per West Side Rag.
One can gauge the level of uncertainty in the market when a man who made his first fortune by winning at blackjack is advocating for safe stocks. Bill Gross, the billionaire founder of Pacific Investment Management Co. (PIMCO), and the one who made active trading in bonds mainstream, is staying away from the AI names that have defined market returns in recent years.

Sounding cautious about the AI trade, Gross remarked, "Maybe its not a single elimination game but it feels like it. I'm staying away." Instead, the Bond King is finding value in names that have a long track record of navigating several market cycles, operate stable businesses, and have a history of paying dividends.

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Which income stocks are they? Let's take a closer look.

Income Stock #1: Verizon (VZ)

Founded in 2000, Verizon (VZ) is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. It provides a wide range of communications and technology services to consumers, businesses, and governmental entities across the United States and internationally. Its core operations include wireless and fixed wireline voice and data services, broadband and fiber-optic broadband, wireless equipment and related devices, and business solutions such as IoT connectivity, managed networks, and security services.

Valued at a market capitalization of $211 billion, VZ stock is up 22% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. The stock offers a dividend yield of 5.5%, which is much higher than the sector median of 1.55%. Notably, the company is on track to be a Dividend Aristocrat, having raised dividends consecutively over the past 21 years.

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The results for the most recent quarter saw Verizon reporting a beat on both revenue and earnings. Revenue for the quarter came in at $36.4 billion, up 2% from the previous year. However, earnings dropped marginally to $1.09 per share from $1.10 per share in the year-ago period.

Yet, the company continues to generate healthy cash flow from operations as net cash from operating activities for 2025 came in at $37.1 billion, up from $36.9 billion in the previous year. Overall, Verizon closed 2025 with a cash balance of about $19 billion.

Meanwhile, VZ stock is trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and price-to-cash flow (P/CF) ratio of 10.1 times and 5.5 times, respectively, lower than the sector medians of 13.8 times and 8.1 times.
Oracle was once the markets AI infrastructure darling. Fueled by cloud acceleration and AI excitement, the stock rose impressively last year. The real jump came in September, when a solid quarterly report sent shares soaring nearly 36% in a single session, pushing ORCL to a peak of $345.72 on Sept. 10. At that point, investors were fully bought into Oracles cloud reinvention story.

With expanding capabilities in cloud infrastructure, hardware, and consulting services, Oracle plays a central role in modern enterprise computing. The company continues to focus on scalable, secure solutions that support data-driven operations and long-term digital transformation.

Founded in 1977, Texas-based Oracle is a global leader in enterprise information technology, with a market capitalization of approximately $417.8 billion. The company is best known for its Oracle Database and autonomous systems, which serve as critical infrastructure for businesses worldwide. Oracle offers a broad portfolio of cloud-based applications, including ERP, HCM, and NetSuite, supporting organizations across industries.

So, if you want to invest like Michael Burry, it might not be about chasing the AI rally. It could be about knowing which popular names to step away from now.

Critics argue Burrys structural analysis may be sharp, but his timing has historically tested investors patience. Markets, they say, can stay enthusiastic longer than skeptics expect. Still, Burry pushes back, defending his track record and insisting excess capital cycles rarely end smoothly.

Burry has openly challenged heavyweights like Oracle Corporation (ORCL), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Caterpillar (CAT), asking when does this AI infrastructure spending actually end? He argues companies are borrowing aggressively and potentially stretching accounting to soften the blow of soaring capital expenditures.

When Michael Burry speaks, Wall Street usually listens. The investor made famous by The Big Short has once again stirred the pot, and this time questioning whether the artificial intelligence (AI) boom is starting to look a little too expensive. His concern is the sheer scale of data center spending and the effect it is having on cash flow, balance sheets, and reported earnings.

Story Continues

But markets shift. Since October, sentiment has cooled as heavy spending and balance-sheet leverage grabbed attention. From its high, the stock is now down 58%. Consequently, over the past 52 weeks, shares are down about 10.8%, with a sharp 26.36% slide in just the last three months.

Investors are concerned and are tied to spending. Oracle raised $18 billion in new debt to fund data center construction, pushing total debt above $100 billion. It also joined the massive Stargate AI project alongside OpenAI and SoftBank (SFTBY), a $500 billion infrastructure push. The opportunity is enormous, but so is the investment.

Technically, momentum remains cautious, though rising trading volume suggests investors are watching closely for signs of stabilization.

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Valuation wise, ORCL stock is priced at roughly 19.8 times forward non-GAAP earnings, which sits below its historical average and looks reasonable relative to the broader sector.

Nevertheless, leverage is part of the story. With a debt-to-equity ratio above 3 and interest coverage just under 5, the balance sheet offers less room for error if growth slows. Still, Oracle continues to reward shareholders, paying dividends for 16 years and raising them for 11 consecutive years. Its latest $0.50 per share quarterly payout equals $2 per share on an annualized basis, yielding about 1.38%.

On Dec. 10, Oracle Corporation rolled out its fiscal second-quarter 2026 numbers, generating revenue of $16.06 billion, up 14% year-over-year (YOY). Cloud once again carried the load, climbing 34% to $8 billion. Within that, cloud infrastructure demand was on fire, soaring 68% and more than making up for a 3% dip in legacy software sales.

Meanwhile, non-GAAP EPS jumped 54% annually to $2.26, beating expectations. Backlog also exploded, with remaining performance obligations (RPO) hitting $523 billion, up a staggering 438% YOY, giving Oracle years of contracted revenue visibility.

Oracle is going all-in on infrastructure, building out data centers to power its expanding cloud footprint. In Q2 alone, capital expenditures surged to about $12 billion. That aggressive spending pushed free cash flow into negative territory, swinging to a $10 billion outflow for the quarter. This serves as aa reminder that this cloud pivot comes with a hefty price tag.

Management made it clear the spending wave is not slowing down. Oracle Corporation now expects fiscal 2026 CapEx to hit roughly $50 billion, $15 billion above its prior outlook. Unlike some bigger peers, Oracle is funding much of this through borrowing. Including operating leases, total debt has risen sharply, and credit default swap prices have climbed to levels last seen during the 2008 crisis.

Still, management projects cloud revenue growth between 37% and 41% in Q3, with total revenue expected to rise by 16% to 18%. Non-GAAP EPS growth is anticipated between 12% and 14%, and even penciling in an extra $4 billion of revenue in fiscal 2027.

Analysts tracking Oracle expect the tech stocks fiscal 2026 EPS to grow 36.6% YOY to $6.01, followed by a 4.8% surge to $6.30 in fiscal 2027.

Overall, analysts are upbeat on ORCL, giving a consensus Strong Buy rating, an upgrade from a Moderate Buy rating a month back. Of the 42 analysts rating the stock, a majority of 31 analysts rate it a Strong Buy, one advises a Moderate Buy, nine analysts are playing it safe with a Hold rating, and the remaining one is outright skeptical, having a Strong Sell rating.

The tech stocks consensus price target of $284.02 implies 91.2% upside potential. Meanwhile, the Street-high target of $400 suggests the stock could rally as much as 169%.

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Stock #2: Alphabet Stock

California-based Alphabet hardly needs an introduction in global technology circles. Valued at roughly $3.77 trillion by market cap, the company is one of Silicon Valleys most influential forces. Far beyond Search, Alphabet has expanded into AI, cloud infrastructure, autonomous mobility through Waymo, and advanced research led by DeepMind. Its Gemini models reflect an ambition not just to join the AI race, but to define it.

The market has taken note. Fresh confidence in Googles AI game plan and steady cloud growth has fueled a solid run in the stock, keeping Alphabet firmly planted among the worlds most valuable companies.

Alphabet has delivered a powerful rally over the past year. The stock recently touched a 52-week high at $349 in early February, reflecting strong investor conviction around its AI strategy and cloud momentum. Since that peak, however, shares have corrected about 10.7% and are down roughly 6.8% over the past month, as the market reassesses the scale and timing of returns from Alphabets elevated AI-related capital spending.

Technically, the pullback looks more like a pause after a strong rally rather than a major breakdown. Even after the recent decline, GOOGL remains up 85% over the past 52 weeks and over 50% in the last six months. Trading volumes are also picking up again, which suggests investors are still actively watching and stepping in at key levels.

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After a solid run over the past year, Alphabet stock does not exactly look cheap. It trades around 27 times forward adjusted earnings, a bit above its sector average and historical median. Still, that multiple feels reasonable for a company growing revenue in the high teens and seeing strong momentum in Google Cloud. This is not a one-trick business either  its diversified model, strong balance sheet, and now a dividend add stability.

Alphabet wrapped up 2025 with a headline-grabbing fourth-quarter report on Feb. 4, showing just how central AI has become to its growth story. Revenue climbed 18% YOY to $113.8 billion, beating Wall Streets expectations. EPS amounted to $2.82, up 31% annually, as both Search and Cloud delivered strong performances. For fiscal 2025, revenue crossed the $400 billion mark for the first time.

Google Services, which includes Search, YouTube, and subscriptions, generated $95.9 billion, up 14%. Search and other ad revenue rose 17% to $63.1 billion, while YouTube ads grew 9% to $11.4 billion.

Google Cloud stood out, with revenue surging 48% to $17.7 billion as AI demand accelerated. Backlog jumped to $240 billion. Operating income rose 31% to $31 billion, though heavy capital spending of $91.4 billion for the year pressured free cash flow margins.

Yet, Alphabet ended the year with over $126 billion in cash, supporting continued buybacks and dividends. The company funded $5.5 billion in buybacks and $2.5 billion in dividends in Q4 alone.

Despite the strong numbers, shares dipped as investors questioned how quickly AI investments will translate into sustained profits.

Looking ahead, management expects 2026 capital spending to land between $175 billion and $185 billion, almost double what it spent in 2025. Most of that jump is aimed at expanding AI and cloud capacity to meet rising demand. The higher spending may squeeze near-term FCF, but management is betting big on AI agents, smarter Search, and rising enterprise adoption to drive long-term growth.

Wall Street analysts tracking Alphabet sees its bottom line growing steadily. While fiscal 2026 EPS is projected to rise by 7.3% YOY to $11.60, in the next fiscal year, it is anticipated to surge bY 14.7% annually to $13.31.

Analysts monitoring GOOGL are bullish, awarding it a Strong Buy rating overall. Out of 55 analysts, 47 recommend a Strong Buy, three suggest a Moderate Buy, and five are playing it safe with a Hold rating. The average price target of $379.11 suggests a 23% upside potential from here. Meanwhile, the Street-high target of $420 suggests GOOGL stock could rise 36.6%.

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Stock #3: Caterpillar

Caterpillar has been a driving force in heavy machinery since 1925. It is the worlds leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel engines, and locomotives. The Irving, Texas-based company pioneered track-type tractors and continues to shape global infrastructure through innovative and increasingly sustainable machinery.

With a market capitalization of about $345.6 billion, Caterpillar operates across construction, resource industries, energy and transportation, and financial products, delivering end-to-end solutions that power projects and industries worldwide.

Caterpillar had an impressive run over the past few years. CAT stock has jumped about 118.5% over the past year and 80.65% in the last six months, reflecting a rebound in its core business cycle. A recovery in agriculture and manufacturing activity has driven higher equipment orders, while large-scale data center buildouts have added incremental demand. Caterpillar supplies critical machinery and power systems used in these projects, giving it direct exposure to digital infrastructure spending.

On renewed optimism around manufacturing momentum, shares touched a high of $789.81 on Feb. 12. The stock is now roughly 4.5% below that level, suggesting more like a healthy pause after a strong run.

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Valuation-wise, Caterpillars shares are priced at 32.78 times forward adjusted earnings. On the surface, that multiple may look stretched. But investors appear willing to pay up, betting on the companys operational resurgence, healthy backlog, and long-term infrastructure and energy tailwinds.

When it comes to dividends, Caterpillar has built serious credibility. It has paid dividends since 1933 and has increased them for 32 consecutive years, earning a place in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index. On Feb. 18, the company paid a quarterly dividend of $1.51 per share, translating to an annualized dividend of $6.04 and a 0.8% yield. With a payout ratio of just 31.1%, those dividends remain comfortably supported by earnings.

Caterpillar delivered a stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter and fiscal 2025 results on Jan. 29, and the stock gained 3.4% intraday. Revenue for Q4 jumped 18% YOY to a record $19.1 billion, powered largely by solid demand across its machinery, power and energy (MP&E) business, which grew 18.7% annually.

Not everything was smooth. Operating profit slipped 9% to $2.66 billion, mainly due to higher manufacturing costs and tariff pressures. Still, adjusted EPS edged up to $5.16, comfortably ahead of what analysts were looking for.

For the full year, MP&E segment generated a strong $9.5 billion in free cash flow, despite ramping up capital expenditures by $800 million. Demand remained robust, pushing backlog to a record $51 billion  up $21 billion, or 71% YOY  fueled by solid fourth-quarter orders across its core businesses. Notably, about 62% of that backlog is slated for delivery over the next 12 months, giving the company clear near-term revenue visibility.

For the full year, enterprise operating cash flow for 2025 came in at $11.7 billion, and Caterpillar closed Q4 with $10 billion in enterprise cash. The company also returned significant capital to shareholders, spending $5.2 billion on share repurchases and $2.7 billion on dividends during the year.

Looking ahead to 2026, management expects revenue growth toward the upper end of its long-term 5% to 7% annual target. Caterpillar is also leaning into automation and AI, expanding its work with NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) to bring more advanced, tech-driven capabilities to heavy industry.

For fiscal 2026, analysts tracking Caterpillar expect its profit to grow 18.9% YOY to $22.66 per share, while for the next year, it is projected to climb 21.6% to $27.56 per share.

Caterpillar has a consensus Moderate Buy rating overall. Of the 24 analysts rating the stock, 13 analysts have given it a Strong Buy, 10 analysts are taking a middle-of-the-road approach with a Hold rating, and one analyst suggested Moderate Sell. While the stock currently trades above the mean price target of $724.82, the Street-high price target of $878 indicates an 16.34% upside.

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On the date of publication, Sristi Suman Jayaswal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
For $4.4 trillion Nvidia, the worlds most valuable company, hiring plus hefty pay increases and equity gains are driving up the cost of stock-based compensation. Not to mention, there is quite a bit of competition out there for AI-related talent, which has made the hiring landscape incredibly competitive. The price tag for Nvidias stock-based comp rose from roughly $4.7 billion in fiscal 2025 to $6.4 billion in fiscal 2026, a 35% jump. Meanwhile, the stock price has risen dramatically, up 60% over the past year alone, although it took a small tumble following its latest earnings release last week .

Whats clear is that the same companys financial results can look different depending on how stock-based compensation is accounted forsometimes even turning a bottom-line loss into an adjusted profit. Consider software maker Asana, which recently posted a net loss of $32.2 million in its fourth quarter, but announced non-GAAP net income of $19.9 million by removing the cost of stock compensation, payroll tax on employee stock transactions, and other items.

Critics, including Warren Buffett, have long argued that leaving out stock-based compensation, while perfectly legal, understates a companys true cost of paying employees and inflates profitability. But many companies insist theyre giving investors a more accurate snapshot of the businesss core performance by removing the expense: Stock-based pay isnt cash, the logic goes, and it can be difficult for outside analysts to properly estimate the total each quarter in their valuation models.

It may sound like a bit of financial minutiae, but its actually a notable move. Like a lot of tech companies, Nvidia has historically left stock-based compensation out of what are called the adjusted financial figures it publishes along with its official GAAP results. Those adjusted figuresparticularly a companys earnings-per-share numberare known as non-GAAP figures, and they are typically the ones Wall Street uses to assess performance and set targets for the next quarter.

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, we will include stock-based compensation expense in our non-GAAP financial measures, chief financial officer Colette Kress noted in her prepared commentary. Stock-based compensation is a foundational component of our compensation program to attract and retain world-class talent.

Tucked neatly inside the investor materials Nvidia produced last week to show its record full fiscal year 2026 revenues of $215.9 billion and a fourth-quarter revenue beat of $68.1 billion were a few lines in the chief financial officers commentary that caught even some close observers of the company by surprise.

Story Continues

Thats what made Nvidias announcement that it would include stock compensation beginning in the current quarter so surprising.

First, let me say kudos on including the stock-comp in non-GAAP, Ben Reitzes, partner and head of technology research at Melius, said to Nvidias management during the companys earnings call last week. I think thats a great move.

The thrill is gone

But why is Nvidia voluntarily forfeiting an accounting maneuver that helps companies gussy up their results?

According to University of Florida professor emeritus Jay Ritter, Nvidia has gotten so profitable that excluding stock compensation cost doesnt really provide that much of a benefit anymore. For Nvidia, it is amazing how little difference it makes, largely because of how big their profits are, Ritter said via email. The better a companys true profits, the less it needs to massage the numbers.

In 2020, for example, excluding stock-based compensation allowed Nvidia to report non-GAAP annual operating income that was 28.3% higher than its GAAP operating income. Doing the same thing with Nvidias 2025 results, however, provided only a 4.7% boost.

Ritter, now the director of the IPO Initiative in the Eugene Brigham Department of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate at the University of Florida, noted that with roughly $116 billion in after-tax profits and 42,000 employees in 2025, Nvidias roughly $3 million profit per employee is barely affected by including stock-based compensation of $150,000 per employee.

And if including stock-comp expenses lets Nvidia score brownie points with Wall Street without much sacrifice, the same cannot be said of all its competitors.

Melius analyst Reitzes followed up on Monday with a research note analyzing the Nvidia accounting change. According to the firms analysis, including stock-based expenses is standard among Magnificent Seven stocks, which makes it a little easier now to compare Nvidia with Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. But compared with other semiconductor stocks, Nvidia got a glow up.

If investors force Nvidias competitors in semis to follow its lead and include stock-option expenses in non-GAAP [earnings per share], Nvidia has distinct advantages, Reitzes and his coauthors wrote in their note. Including the expense in non-GAAP earnings would lead to a 14% to 20% hit to EPS at companies including Broadcom, AMD, and Marvell, according to Melius. Nvidias hit is about 3%.

Also, if these peers need to rein in stock comp due to investor pressure, Nvidia would have an advantage in recruiting talent and completing acqui-hires since the impact of these grants are so easily absorbed vs. peers, Reitzes and others wrote.

When asked about what motivated Nvidia to make the change at this time, the company directed Fortune to its official filings.

A long-running Buffett beef

The change Nvidia made aligns with a structural compensation design issue that appeared to irk Buffett, now chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, for decades. To be clear, Berkshire does not own stock in Nvidia. It holds some $298 billion with its core holdings in Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, and Moodys, according to its latest annual report. But Buffett has long listed his kvetches with executive compensation design and practices at other companies. In his 1992 chairmans letter, Buffett wrote that the justification for backing out stock-based compensation because it was an estimated figure was underwhelming, to say the least.

Shareholders should understand that companies incur costs when they deliver something of value to another party and not just when cash changes hands, Buffett wrote. Moreover, it is both silly and cynical to say that an important item of cost should not be recognized simply because it cant be quantified with pinpoint precision.

In 2018, he wrote that Wall Street bankers and corporate CEOs were presenting adjusted Ebitda measures that excluded a variety of all-too-real costs.

Managements sometimes assert that their companys stock-based compensation shouldnt be counted as an expense, Buffett wrote, before quipping parenthetically: What else could it bea gift from shareholders?

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) is among the 13 Most Undervalued S&P 500 Stocks to Invest In.

Wells Fargo Downgrades Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) to Underweight and Lowers its Price Target to $103

On February 25, 2026, Wells Fargo downgraded Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) to Underweight from Equal Weight and lowered its price target to $103 from $115 previously. The firm said the shares are cheap but lack positive catalysts. Wells Fargo cited the overhang on Prudentials international business, potential competition in retail annuities, and a more lackluster pension sales backdrop as factors that outweigh the companys positives.

Earlier in February, Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $3.30 versus the consensus of $3.36. CEO Andy Sullivan said the company made progress on priorities aimed at delivering stronger performance and sustained long-term value. Sullivan described 2025 as a transformative year for PGIM, noting the integration of asset management capabilities into one platform. He added that U.S. and International businesses delivered solid sales, cost discipline was maintained, and capital returns totaled nearly $3 billion in 2025. Sullivan also said Prudential is voluntarily suspending new sales at Prudential of Japan for 90 days to address previously disclosed misconduct incidents, including reimbursing impacted customers and strengthening oversight of sales practices, governance, and risk management.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) provides financial products and services in the United States, Japan, and internationally through its PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life, and International Businesses segments.

While we acknowledge the potential of PRU as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock .

READ NEXT: 12 Best Tech Stocks that Beat Earnings Estimates and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Wheat is trading with Tuesday morning gains, up 1 to 7 cents across the three markets. The wheat complex was in give back mode on Monday, with all three markets weaker. Chicago SRW futures were down 14 to 17 cents across most contracts. Preliminary open interest was down 2,709 contracts on Monday, mainly in May. KC HRW futures were down 5 to 6 cents at the close. OI slipped 729 contracts. MPLS spring wheat as down 1 to 3 cents on Monday.

The 7-day forecast is calling for less than  inch of precip in western potions of KS, and the OK/TX panhandles. Eastern portions of the Plains are seen with heavier precip totals.

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USDAs FGIS tallied wheat export shipments at 344,272 MT (12.65 mbu) during the week ending on February 26. That was 38.9% below the week prior and 11.98% shy of than the same week last year. The Philippines was the top destination of 88,227 MT, with 47,000 MT headed to Tanzania and 39,587 MT to Mexico. Marketing year exports for 2025/26 are 18.62 MMT (684 mbu) since June 1, which is now 18.82% above the same period last year.

Saudi Arabia purchased a total of 794,000 MT of wheat in their tender over the weekend.

Mar 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $5.74 1/2, down 16 3/4 cents, currently up 5 cents

May 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $5.77 1/4, down 14 1/4 cents, currently up 3 1/2 cents

Mar 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $5.67, down 5 3/4 cents, currently unch

May 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $5.74 3/4, down 5 3/4 cents, currently up 6 1/2 cents

Mar 26 MIAX Wheat closed at $5.98 1/2, down 1 3/4 cents, currently up 1 1/4 cents

May 26 MIAX Wheat closed at $6.10, down 2 3/4 cents, currently up 2 1/4 cents

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) stock collapsed Monday morning, falling 17.2% through 2:15 p.m. ET after the company announced it will sell itself to a consortium led by private equity powerhouse BlackRock (NYSE: BLK).

The price: $15 per share -- 13% less than AES cost Friday.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Image source: Getty Images.

What we know about the BlackRock buyout

But wait! Aren't going-private transactions ordinarily considered good news by investors? A chance to cash out at a profit? Well, yes, usually they are. But here's what's different:

BlackRock's interest in AES was first reported five months ago, and back then, the rumor was that AES would cost BlackRock more than $40 billion, including assumed debt. Today's announcement makes it clear that number was optimistic.

As AES confirms, although BlackRock's $15 offer represents "a 40.3% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average share price prior to July 8, 2025, the last full day of trading prior to the first media report of a potential acquisition," the value of this transaction will end up being only $33.4 billion (including the assumption of debt).

In other words, BlackRock is paying 16.5% less than investors thought it would pay.

AES stock is therefore dropping in price by almost exactly that much.

What this means for AES investors today

The companies have already entered into a "definitive agreement," and plan to consummate this merger and acquisition either in late 2026 or early 2027. Unless some rival bidder emerges at the last moment, or government regulators object, the sale is pretty much a done deal. The chance of AES stock going back up anywhere near where it was on Friday, therefore, looks pretty slim.

On the other hand, if something happens to derail the deal, AES stock could actually go lower!

AES shareholders' best bet is probably to sell.

Should you buy stock in The AES Corporation right now?

Before you buy stock in The AES Corporation, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and The AES Corporation wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $519,015!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,086,211!*
Judging by recent lines at gas stations, Florida residents are concerned the war in Iran will mean higher prices at the pump.

And they're right.

Gas prices are going up, with AAA showing a jump of almost 20 cents in Florida between March 2 and March 3.

And that's even though the U.S. doesn't import oil from Iran.

Iran said it has closed the Strait of Hormuz, which is used by more than 3,000 ships every month.

If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guard and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze," said an official of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps on March 2.

President Trump posted on TruthSocial that, "if necessary, the U.S. Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz."

The narrow band of water is a crucial Middle Eastern export route that carries 20% of global oil flows, resulting in a halt of petroleum shipments and a surge in oil prices.

As of early March 4, the price of a barrel of Brent crude, the global benchmark, hovered topped $83, up roughly 25% from the start of the war.

Here's what you should know.

Where is the Strait of Hormuz?

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

It's one of three major waterways used to transport natural gas and petroleum from the Persian Gulf to Europe and North America.

 You may pay more for gas after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz oil route

The other two waterways are the Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal.

Are gas prices going up in US?

Gas prices have been steadily going up since the United States and Israel began strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular on March 3 was $3.109.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis with GasBuddy, posted on Facebook March 3 the increase in the national average price of gasoline was among the top 10 daily rises. March 2 marked the largest single-day jump in prices since March 4, 2022.

What's average price of gas in Florida?

Florida motorists fill up at a Sam's Club in Vero Beach March 3, 2026, as gas prices begin climbing.

According to gasbuddy.com, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Florida early March 4 was $3.065.

AAA posted the average price in Florida on March 3 was $3.068.

The cheapest gas was in Pensacola, $2.888, and the most expensive was in Gainesville at $3.165, according to gasbuddy.

Are gas prices going up in Florida?

Yes.
Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) stock has been a trainwreck of late. In just the past 12 months, the Danish healthcare stock has lost around 60% of its value. Things have been going from bad to worse for the business.

Its guidance hasn't been looking good, and investors are now also concerned about its long-term prospects and ability to compete alongside rival Eli Lilly. While Novo Nordisk does have an approved GLP-1 weight loss pill on the market, the concern is that its advantage won't last long once Eli Lilly launches its own pill.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Despite all the negativity around Novo Nordisk, however, I'm not worried about the business and am still hanging onto the pharmaceutical stock. While seeing all the red may seem unnerving and worrisome, by no means does it mean the business is in trouble.

Image source: Getty Images.

Why are investors so bearish on Novo Nordisk stock?

Novo Nordisk's guidance for the current year is worrisome due to rising competition, as it expects its adjusted sales to decline by at least 5% and it could be as bad as 13%. It projects a similar type of performance for its operating profit. These are concerning numbers that no growth investor wants to see from a stock, hence the sell-off in Novo Nordisk of late.

But this is also amid some challenging market conditions when Novo Nordisk is losing sales to pharmacies making compounded versions of its popular drugs. Last month, the healthcare company announced it was suing Hims & Hers Health for selling unauthorized versions of its drugs, which it says infringe on its patents. If Novo Nordisk is successful in curbing the sale of these compounded drugs, which would normally be permissible only while a shortage persists, then that alone could help strengthen its growth rate this year.

Novo Nordisk stock can still be an excellent buy over the long haul

Investing in a stock involves taking a long-term approach to a business. And it's when investors focus on too narrow a timeframe that they can end up making costly and risky decisions. Novo Nordisk may look like it's facing some daunting challenges today, but it's still a big player in the GLP-1 drug market. Even if you think Eli Lilly has the best products available, the market is estimated to be worth more than $150 billion by 2035; there's plenty of room for multiple companies to do well.
This story was originally published on Hotel Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Hotel Dive newsletter.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has appointed Chief Development Officer Amit Sripathi as chief financial officer, effective immediately.

Sripathi swaps C-suite roles after former CFO Michele Allen departed Wyndham in November, when Treasurer Kurt Albert was named interim chief financial officer.

Wyndham selected Sripathi following a comprehensive search process, the company detailed in a Tuesday release. Sripathi joined Wyndham in 2021 and has served in a variety of leadership roles at the company, most recently as CDO. During his tenure, Wyndham achieved 20 consecutive quarters of organic net room growth, per the company.

Sripathi brings finance experience across the lodging industry to the role, previously working at Deutsche Bank as well as RLJ Lodging Trust, where he was responsible for the capital markets and corporate finance divisions, according to Wyndham.

Amits combination of deep finance and capital markets expertise coupled with firsthand operational leadership at Wyndham make him the ideal candidate to lead our finance organization, Wyndham CEO Geoff Ballotti said in a statement.

Wyndham has also appointed David Wilner to take over as chief development officer for North America. Wilner most recently served as senior vice president of franchise development at the company, per his LinkedIn. He held the same title at La Quinta before Wyndham acquired the brand in 2018.

From leading development at La Quinta prior to Wyndhams acquisition of the brand to driving growth across our new construction prototype brands including La Quinta, WaterWalk, Hawthorn Suites, ECHO Suites and Microtel, David has tremendous expertise translating owners needs into strategic growth, Ballotti said. Owners and team members view him as a sincere and trusted partner who is most focused on our owners success, while helping our teams accelerate domestic net room growth across all of Wyndhams brands.

In conjunction with the appointments, Wyndham reaffirmed the full-year 2026 outlook it provided during fourth-quarter earnings last month. The company expects global RevPAR will be in the range of down 1.5% to up 0.5%, and anticipates room growth between 4% and 4.5%, per the earnings report.

Earlier this year, Sripathi told Hotel Dive that the extended stay category will be a focus area for Wyndham in 2026.
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.

A New York-based broker has pleaded guilty to defrauding clients he initially lured from his time as a rep for Merrill Lynch and Pinnacle Investments, according to the Justice Department.

In New York federal court last week, Dean Dellas pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme that stole about $686,000 from clients. Dellas is based in Cazenovia, N.Y., a village outside of Syracuse.

According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone, Dellass greed knew no bounds, saying hed abused the trust of his clients and used their hard-earned retirement dollars as his own personal piggy bank.

According to court documents, as well as FINRA and SEC records, Dellas was a broker and investment advisor at Merrill Lynchs Syracuse office between 2008 and September 2013, and he subsequently worked as a dually-registered advisor with Pinnacle Investments until February 2021.

According to Dellas indictment, he then formed DSD Capital Management and continued advising clients (though neither he nor DSD was registered as an advisor or broker at that time).

While working at Merrill, Dellas met a client known only as WW, who held retirement accounts with the wirehouse; Dellas became WWs advisor, and convinced them to transfer their business to Pinnacle and then DSD Capital Management with each move (Dellas also convinced family members of WW to become clients in 2022 and 2023).

According to the DOJ, Dellas clients opened accounts at several brokers, including Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab, with Dellas empowered to manage the accounts. However, Dellas told clients his advisor fee was 10% and fraudulently convinced them to sign paperwork allowing him to take fees far higher than that.

The DOJ claimed that the paperwork granting Dellas trading and withdrawal authority over their accounts misrepresented his relationship, falsely claiming Dellas didnt receive any compensation for providing his advice. Despite the promise to take only 10%, Dellas set up monthly withdrawals to his personal bank account, all without the clients knowledge.

Dellas also falsely claimed that the clients wanted to engage in high-risk investments, with the objective of profits from active trading and speculation. Dellas allegedly admitted to authorities that, to conceal the fraud, he would withhold account statements from clients (including urging broker platforms not to send direct-mail statements) and even impersonate his client to some brokerage firms.

Dellas sentencing is scheduled for June 22, and he faces a sentence of 2 to 22 years in federal prison, with a maximum fine of $250,000. Dellas agreed to pay restitution as part of his plea deal.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Gold (GC=F) April futures opened at $5,099.70 per troy ounce on Friday, up 0.4% from Thursdays closing price of $5,078.70. Over the past five days, gold has declined by 2.6%.

Safe-haven demand prompted by the war in Iran is being offset by a stronger U.S. dollar and the risk of lingering high interest rates. The Iranian conflict has damaged energy infrastructure in the Middle East and interrupted shipping, sending oil prices higher. The increase could spark inflation, which would require the Fed to manage interest rates more conservatively. Expected rate declines may not materialize as quickly or, worse, rates may rise.

The health of the labor market is another key driver of interest rates. The February employment report, due later this morning, will provide insight on U.S. jobs performance. Analysts expect to see 50,000 new jobs and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. In January, the economy added 130,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate was 4.3%.

High interest rates are typically a negative for gold, which does not pay a coupon.

Current price of gold

The opening price of April gold futures on Friday was 0.4% higher than Thursdays close. Heres a look at how the gold price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

One week ago: -1.7%

One month ago: +7.1%

One year ago: +75.6%

On Jan. 29, golds one-year gain was 95.6%.

24/7 gold price tracking: Don't forget you can monitor the current price of gold on Yahoo Finance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Want to learn more about the current top-performing companies in the gold industry? Explore a list of the top-performing companies in the gold industry using the Yahoo Finance Screener. You can create your own screeners with over 150 different screening criteria.

How much gold should you own?

A gold investment can add stability and inflation protection to your portfolio. But it can also dilute your gains when stock prices are rising quickly. Finding the right balance between golds diversification benefits and profiting from growth potential in other assets can be challenging.

Even the experts are divided on how to achieve the correct balance. Below, five experts explain their recommended gold allocations, which range from 0% to 20%.

Learn more: How to invest in gold in 4 steps

No gold: Trade-off is too high

Robert R. Johnson, professor at Creighton Universitys Heider College of Business, does not advocate gold investing. In his words, while having a small position in precious metals may dampen portfolio volatility in the short-run, the tradeoff between slightly dampened volatility and the lost long-term return is certainly not a prudent one, particularly for Gen Z/millennials with long investing time horizons.

2% to 5% allocation, depending on the situation

Brett Elliott, director of content and SEO at American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX), recommends setting an allocation that aligns with your investing goals.

Growth-oriented investors may be comfortable with an allocation of 10% or 15%, according to Elliott. But income investors will prefer a smaller position, because gold provides no yield. A 2% to 5% gold allocation can provide some resiliency without an excessive drag on income potential.

Learn more: Who decides what gold is worth? How gold prices are determined.

5% to 8% gold allocation

Blake McLaughlin, executive vice president at Axcap Ventures, said historical data support a gold allocation of 5% to 8%. Gold may not offer the outsized return potential of private investments, but the metal holds a set of attributes that are increasingly hard to ignore, according to McLaughlin. Those attributes include the metals resilience amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical unrest.

5% to 15% gold allocation

Thomas Winmill, portfolio manager at Midas Funds, believes most investors will benefit from a long-term gold allocation of 5% to 15%. Winmill specifically advocates investing in gold mining companies through a mutual fund.

Your risk tolerance and current mix of financial versus hard assets can guide you to an appropriate allocation, according to Winmill.

Risk tolerance: Keep your allocation percentage low if you tend to panic in volatile cycles. Financial vs. hard assets: Financial assets are stocks and bonds. Hard assets include tangible items like real estate, gold, collectibles, classic cars, and equipment. If you have no home equity and your wealth is primarily in financial assets, you can set your gold allocation higher. Or, if your home is paid for and more valuable than your stock portfolio, gold investing may not be necessary.

Learn more: Thinking of buying gold? Here's what investors should watch for.

20% gold allocation

Vince Stanzione, CEO and founder at First Information, recommends a 20% gold allocation, specifically in physical gold or a gold ETF. Stanzione argues for a higher exposure to gold as a wealth protection strategy. As he says, gold keeps with inflation and gold retains its purchasing power, while paper currencies are devaluing around the world.

Learn more: Gold IRA: Benefits, risks, and how it differs from a traditional IRA

Price-of-gold chart

Whether youre tracking the price of gold since last month or last year, the price-of-gold chart below shows the precious metals steady upward climb in value.

Learn more: Gold alternatives? How to invest in silver, platinum, and palladium.
If youre wondering when your federal tax refund will land in your bank account, youre not alone. In fiscal year 2024, the IRS estimated that about 117.6 million taxpayers were owed refunds totaling $461.2 billion. Thats a lot of money sitting with Uncle Sam.

Want to know when youll get back what you overpaid in federal taxes? Of course you do. Here's how to find out.

How long does it usually take for the IRS to process a tax refund?

Although IRS.gov says most refunds are processed within 21 days of receiving a return, there are a lot of variables that can affect refund processing times.

If you e-file your return and opt for direct deposit, your tax return will likely get processed quickly (note: the IRS is no longer issuing refunds via paper check). But if you file a paper return in the mail and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), your individual income tax return could take longer to process (these refunds won't be issued until on or after March 2).

Read more: Tax refund delays hit certain states. Is yours one of them?

Date IRS accepts e-filed return Return has no EITC or ACTC Estimated refund date Return with EITC or ACTC Estimated refund date/range Jan. 26 Feb. 13 March 2 Feb. 2 Feb. 23 March 2 Feb. 9 March 2 Mar. 26 Feb. 16 March 9 March 913 Feb. 23 March 16 March 1620 March 2 March 23 March 2327 March 9 March 30 Mar. 30April 3 March 16 April 6 April 610 March 23 April 13 April 1317 March 30 April 20 April 2024 April 6 April 27 April 27May 1 April 15 (Tax Day) May 6 May 612

How to check your tax refund status in 3 easy steps

The easiest way to figure out when your money might turn up is to check the status of your refund with the IRS. Heres where to go and what additional information you might need to check your return status.

Step 1: Gather your refund information

Youre going to need a few pieces of information, including:

Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification number (ITIN)

Filing status (single, married, filing jointly, etc.)

Exact refund amount listed on your return

Youll also be asked to identify which tax year youd like to track refunds for. Whether its the prior year or several years back, make sure you have all your tax forms in order.

Step 2: Go to Wheres My Refund or the IRS2Go app

You can access your online account with the IRS by providing the information above either at Wheres My Refund or through the IRS2Go mobile app. Status tracking should be available within 24 hours after you e-file a tax return or up to four weeks after you send a paper return.

Step 3: Identify your tax return status

Here are the status updates you might receive as you track your federal tax return and what each means.

Return received

This status simply means the IRS has formally received your return. Sit tight and wait for more information.

Refund approved

Your return has been processed and a refund is pending. Once the funds are available and have been sent, your status will update.

Refund sent

Good news. Your refund has either been deposited directly to the account you specified or a paper check is in the mail. Keep in mind that once the IRS sends the funds, it could still take up to five business days for the transfer to post to your bank account.

If additional review is required or you need to submit an amended return, youll find further instructions included alongside your refund status in the IRS refund tracker.

Read more: Wondering what to do with your tax refund? 5 ways to spend it wisely.

Wheres my refund? 4 scenarios that might delay your tax refund.

While there can be some bumps in the road that make tax season rough, there are easy ways to avoid a delayed refund. Here are common reasons tax pros say could delay your refund and what you can do about it.

1. Your tax return has errors or is incomplete.

If you make a mistake or leave some information blank, the IRS may ask you to submit an amended return. Dont panic. This doesnt always mean youll be audited. It just means your return is pending and requires additional review.

2. Youre claiming the Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.

These tax credits may take longer to process because the IRS can not legally disperse these refunds until mid-February. If you claim these credits and submit a return early in the tax season, the IRS says you can expect a refund by early March.

3. You filed a paper return.

If youre still using snail mail to submit your federal tax return, its probably going to result in delays to your refund, which will be compounded if you opt for a paper check instead of direct deposit.

4. Youve been a victim of identity theft or fraud.

Theres a small chance that a delayed refund is a sign you've been a victim of identity theft or tax fraud. Consult the IRS identity theft guide for individual taxpayers to find out what next steps you should take.

Read more: Free tax filing: How to file your 2025 return for free

Where's my refund? FAQs

Can I expedite the processing of my federal tax return?

Unlike passports or the lines at Disneyland, theres no fee you can pay or specific action you can take to speed up the processing of your tax return. However, if you review your return carefully, submit it electronically, and choose direct deposit, you can reduce friction in the process and minimize delays in receiving your refund.

Can I track my state income tax return?

While you cant use the IRS tool to track your state tax return, many states offer similar trackers on their Department of Revenue websites, which you can find linked at the Federation of Tax Administrators. Youll need similar information to track your state tax return, including your Social Security number, tax year, filing status, and the exact refund amount.

When should I call the IRS if my tax refund is late or missing?

There are a few signs it might be time to contact the IRS about a delayed tax refund. First and foremost, the Wheres My Refund tracker on the official website might instruct you to call the IRS. You should also call if its been more than 21 days since you e-filed or more than six weeks since you mailed a federal tax return.

You can reach the IRS for inquiries regarding your federal tax refund at 800-829-1954 (toll-free) or call 800-829-1040 to speak with a representative.
Blue Night Battle of the Bands flyer (Image courtesy of University of Guam)



The University of Guam invites the entire island community to experience the highly anticipated revival of Blue Night: Battle of the Bands as part of the Charter Day 2026 festivities. The high-energy showcase will take place on Wednesday, March 4, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Calvo Field House. Admission is FREE and open to the public.

Back after two decades, the Battle of the Bands will bring Guam together for an unforgettable evening of live music, island talent, and vibrant community spirit. Under this years theme, Rhythms of Our Legacy, the event honors the voices that shaped UOGs history while spotlighting the next generation of artists ready to take the stage and define the next chapter of our islands music scene.

The Battle of the Bands brings the campus and community together for a favorite night-before tradition on the eve of Charter Day. University President Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez said, This event adds to the nostalgia for thousands of UOG Tritons from generations ago who enjoyed an evening of musical artists showcasing their talent during the evening of preparation prior to the official UOG Charter Day celebration.

Open to all music genres, the competition welcomes all bands, especially those with ties to UOG, including current students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Selected bands will perform live before a spirited island audience, competing for the Charter Day Champion Band Award. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize, with additional cash prizes and trophies awarded to other top-performing bands.

The Blue Night: Battle of the Bands event is being organized by the UOG Advancement Office.

Bands interested in competing must submit their entries by Friday, February 27. For competition guidelines and entry details, visit: https://www.uog.edu/charter-day/2026/Blue-Night-Battle-of-the-Bands

For additional information, please contact: Tes Reyes-Burrier, UOG Advancement Office, at (671) 735-2902 or email reyes-burrierm@triton.uog.edu.
Highlights:

A preliminary study has found higher levels of air pollution in New Jersey from the 2023 Canadian wildfires were associated with a higher rate of stroke and more severe strokes.

During heavy wildfire smoke days, researchers found more people had strokes and those strokes tended to be more severe.

The study does not prove that wildfires cause or worsen stroke. It only shows an association.

Exposure to higher levels of ozone was associated with a higher incidence of stroke and more bleeding strokes.

Exposure to higher levels of particulate matter was associated with longer hospital stays and more severe strokes.

MINNEAPOLIS, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Short-term surges in air pollution in New Jersey from the 2023 Canadian wildfires were associated with a higher stroke rate and more serious strokes, according to a preliminary study released March 3, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago and online.

"Wildfire smoke contains pollutants like ozone and particulate matter, so it is more than a nuisance, it can be a public health hazard," said study author Elizabeth Cerceo, MD, of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. "The 2023 Canadian wildfires resulted in unprecedented declines in air quality across the northeastern United States. Our findings show that short-term exposure to elevated air pollution from these wildfires was associated with a higher incidence and severity of stroke."

For the study, researchers used a stroke registry to identify all cases of stroke that occurred during June and July 2023 and during the same months a year earlier. Ischemic strokes are the most common kind of stroke. Bleeding strokes are more severe and often more fatal.

Researchers reviewed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data for both periods from air quality monitors located in Camden, New Jersey. They calculated average daily exposures for ozone which, when inhaled, can cause shortness of breath, coughing and aggravation of conditions like asthma. They also calculated daily average exposures for fine particulate matter, also called PM2.5, which is air pollution with particles that are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less.

Ozone levels peaked at 136 parts per billion (ppb) during the wildfires in 2023 compared to median ozone concentration of 36 ppb. Particulate matter reached 211 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m) compared to median concentration of 48.5 g/m.

Daily air quality data was matched with the timing of each stroke. Because pollution effects may take a few days to impact the body, researchers also took into account the levels from the preceding one to two days before participants had their stroke.

For ozone levels, 72% of the days were 50 ppb or less, with 28% of the days above the recommended level. The World Health Organization guideline for ozone is 50 ppb. Researchers compared 42 strokes that occurred on above average ozone days, with 80 strokes that occurred on below average days. For strokes that occurred on above average ozone days, the incidence of stroke, or the rate at which new stroke cases occurred, was 1.25 strokes per day compared to 0.93 strokes per day that occurred on below average days.

After adjusting for factors like age, sex, race, and cause of stroke, researchers found higher average ozone days were associated with a 0.32 higher incidence of stroke per day.

They also found for strokes on above average ozone days, there was a higher proportion of bleeding strokes and more large artery atherosclerosis, plaque buildup in major arteries.

For particulate matter levels, 38% of the days were above average days and 62% were below average days. Researchers compared 39 strokes that occurred on above average particulate matter days to 83 strokes that occurred on below average days. They found above average particulate matter was associated with longer hospital stays and higher scores on a scale measuring stroke severity.

"While longer-term air pollution has been recognized as a risk factor for stroke, less is known about short exposures to wildfire smoke," said Cerceo. "Our study addresses a critical gap by providing more information about the neurological impact of wildfire smoke. Our findings can help guide stroke prevention and underscore the need for public health interventions during wildfires."

Cerceo noted this analysis focused on a short wildfire period, and the findings represent an early signal rather than a complete picture of the association between wildfire smoke and risk of stroke. She said future research will look at longer periods of time.

A limitation of the study was that it looked at daily average pollutants. Cerceo said more nuanced hourly measurements may also impact strokes but may not be reflected in averages. Similarly, other weather variables such as humidity and barometric pressure were not incorporated.

Discover more about stroke at Brain & Life, from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource also offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world's leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice in brain health. As the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 44,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN's mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.

Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

SOURCE American Academy of Neurology
No use or threat of force serves all parties, including Israel: Chinese FM

Xinhua) 08:28, March 04, 2026

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Refraining from the use or threat of force in international relations is in the fundamental interests of all parties, including Israel, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding a phone conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar at the latter's request.

After listening to Sa'ar's briefing on Israel's position regarding the current situation, Wang said that China has consistently advocated resolving international and regional hotspot issues through dialogue and consultation, and that all parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

For many years, China has been committed to promoting a political settlement of the Iran nuclear issue, Wang said, adding that recent talks between Iran and the United States had been making clear progress and also addressed Israel's security concerns.

Regrettably, this process has now been disrupted by military strikes, Wang said.

China opposes the military strikes launched by Israel and the United States against Iran. The use of force cannot truly resolve the issue. Instead, it will create new problems and grave repercussions, Wang said.

The true value of military strength lies not on the battlefield but in preventing war, said Wang, noting that China calls for an immediate cessation of military operations to prevent the conflict from further escalating and spiraling out of control.

He said that China has consistently upheld a just position on Middle East issues and will continue to play a constructive role in promoting de-escalation.

Wang also urged the Israeli side to take concrete measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions. Sa'ar said that Israel attaches great importance to this matter and will safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
New AllRize practice management module adds proprietary, legalspecific intelligence to Microsoft Purview base to address Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) capabilities.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AllRize, an innovative provider of award-winning legal technology solutions, today announced its new Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) module, designed to help firms protect client confidentiality, govern AI usage, and demonstrate compliance with confidence. The new module, which is built on Microsoft Purview and enhanced with AllRize legal-specific intelligence, is available as an option with the AllRize Practice Management Platform.

AllRize Platform Architecture

As a Microsoft Partner, AllRize leverages Microsoft Purview's data governance and compliance capabilities while extending them with legal-specific workflows, matter context, and AI-powered automation. As a result, the AllRize GRC module empowers law firms with a unified, matter-centric approach to data governance, risk management, and complianceall without adding operational complexity.

"Law firms are under unprecedented pressure to govern data responsibly, adopt AI safely, and demonstrate compliance to increasingly sophisticated clients and regulators," said Erik Ruda, CEO of AllRize. "By leveraging Microsoft Purview as our foundation and enhancing it with AllRize-specific capabilities designed for how law firms actually work, we're delivering an AI-powered GRC solution that is practical and effective for modern law firms."

GRC Designed for the Way Law Firms Operate

The AllRize GRC module extends enterprise grade capabilities with law firm specific intelligence by adding matter context, ethical controls, and operational workflows that make governance practical and defensible in daytoday legal work. The new module enables law firms to:

Govern Information with Confidence

Aligned Data Retention  Ensure information is retained, archived and defensibly disposed of in accordance with internal and regulatory policies.

Firmwide Governance  Establish consistent, enforceable governance standards across practice areas.

Ethical Walls and Sensitivity Controls  Safeguard client confidentiality by preventing inappropriate use or access.

Reduce Risk Across Data, Users, and AI

Insider Risk and Unauthorized Access  Proactively identify and reduce risk by detecting and mitigating insider threats and unauthorized access.

Data Sensitivity Enforcement  Consistently protect sensitive information through policies across documents, communications and collaboration tools.

AI Risk and Governance Controls  Enable responsible AI adoption by governing how AI is used, preventing misuse and maintaining clear, auditable oversight.

Prove Compliance Throughout the Process

Auditability and Documentation  Maintain a complete, reliable record of data access and activity to support internal review and regulatory inquiries.

Defensible Deletion  Ensure information is retained or deleted in alignment with ethical standards and regulatory requirements.

Retention Adherence and Discovery Exposure  Continuously enforce retention policies to minimize costs and exposure risks.

Compliance Evidence on Demand  Provide timely evidence that meets the expectations of clients, regulators, and auditors with minimal operational disruption.

As law firms continue their rapid adoption of AI, AllRize provides a structured framework for AI governance, ensuring innovation does not outpace oversight. Firms can define AI usage policies, maintain visibility into how AI tools are used, and document controls in a way that is fully auditable and defensible.

About AllRize

AllRize provides digitally powered law firms with a comprehensive, AI-powered practice management system. The AllRize SaaS platform is built natively on Microsoft Dynamics 365 technology, integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office productivity tools, and is hosted on Microsoft Azure. The platform includes modules for Marketing, CRM, Matter Management, Document Management, Accounting and GRC functions. They can be deployed one at a time, or as a completely integrated system. Each module is powered by customized Generative or Agentic AI technology based on Microsoft Copilot. Learn more at https://allrize.ai/.

Media Contact:

Franklyn Jones

(954) 204-0212

[email protected]

SOURCE AllRize
GUEST INTERVIEW: Yubico's Geoff Schomburgk on why education is cybersecurity's most overlooked soft target, and what passkeys can do about it.

The classroom has been stripped back to its studs and rebuilt as a digital space. Laptops, tablets, Chromebooks. Every student connected, every lesson wired into something that requires a login.

Security hasn't kept pace. Not even close.

"There is a gold mine of data that is available. We're talking about young children. Student data about their contact details, their address, in some cases personal or health-related information. In many cases, their parents' details and often credit card information."

Geoff Schomburgk, Regional Vice President, APJ, Yubico

That's the blunt assessment from Geoff Schomburgk, Yubico's Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan, in a recent interview.

The company that invented the YubiKey (the physical security key that's become synonymous with phishing-resistant authentication) has been watching the education sector with growing concern.

And the numbers back him up. 80% of data breaches still trace back to compromised login credentials. Leaked onto the dark web, or phished out of someone who clicked the wrong link.

The article continues below the video interview, please watch and read on!

AI Has Broken the Language Barrier for Hackers

One of the more unsettling shifts Schomburgk flagged: AI has turbocharged phishing attacks across the Asia Pacific region. Countries like Vietnam and Japan, where language once acted as a natural shield against social engineering, are now just as vulnerable as English-speaking markets.

Language is no longer a barrier. Vietnam, Japan, these places where language has always been a barrier for the hackers, not anymore."

That's a significant change. The phishing emails that used to arrive riddled with grammatical errors (the kind that made them easy to spot) now read like they were written by a native speaker.

Because, in a sense, they were. Just not a human one.

The Attack Surface Expanded While Nobody Was Looking

Think about the sheer scale of it. Every student with a school-issued device. Every teacher logged into a learning management system.

Every staff member accessing administrative databases that hold precisely the kind of personal information cybercriminals are hunting for. Schomburgk described it plainly: the attack surface has expanded enormously, and the security posture of most educational institutions hasn't kept up.

The education sector is, by almost any measure, a soft target. Budgets are tight, IT teams are small, and the people using the systems (children, in many cases) aren't trained to spot a well-crafted phishing attempt.

Yes, Students Still Try to Hack Their Own Grades

It wouldn't be a conversation about school cybersecurity without mentioning the Ferris Bueller problem. Students logging in and bumping their grades. It happens  although in the movie, Bueller was hacking his attendance records  but it was inspirational for some students emulating Buellers behaviour.

Schomburgk, however, was quick to reframe the risk. "In our world, we would call that an insider threat," he said. "The biggest risk we see is the external threat from attackers coming from outside to get those credentials, that information, to do malicious things with it."

"The changing of your grades, whilst that's not a good thing, that's certainly a smaller risk when in the context of the number of students that are potentially vulnerable and their information being abused.

Fair point. A kid changing a C to a B is a disciplinary issue. A data breach exposing the personal records of thousands of minors is something else entirely.

Passkeys: The Fix That's Actually Designed to Be Easy

Schomburgk's pitch for passkeys as the answer to education's identity security problem is pretty simple. They're phishing-resistant by design.

They work on every platform schools already use (browsers, macOS, Windows, Android, Chromebooks). And they're frictionless.

"Get away with passwords," he said. "Get away with having to change passwords and remember passwords, and use a technology that is very, very secure and has been designed to be that."

For schools that ban mobile phones in classrooms (which is increasingly common, and in Australia's case, backed by legislation), a physical security key like the YubiKey solves a real logistical problem. You can't use a phone-based authenticator if the phone is locked in a pouch. A small USB key that you tap and enter a PIN? That works.

"You can't use a mobile phone in a classroom. So, what do you use in that environment?"

Over 100 schools in Australia are already deploying YubiKeys at various levels, according to Schomburgk. Some down to individual students, some focused on staff.

The university sector is further along, rolling out phishing-resistant MFA to both academic staff and students.

Cybersecurity Belongs in the Boardroom, Not Just the Server Room

One of the sharper observations from the interview: the education sector still treats cybersecurity as a technical issue. Something for the IT department to handle with the next software update.

Schomburgk wants that conversation moved up. Way up. To the board, to the people who set budgets and define institutional risk.

"We're trying to encourage moving the narrative away from 'this is a technical issue' to making it at least a management or board-level discussion," he said. He pointed to frameworks like Australia's Essential Eight as a practical starting point, and noted that cyber insurers are already using compliance with those frameworks to assess risk profiles.

That's the kind of pressure that actually moves things. When your insurance premium goes up because your MFA policy is stuck in 2015, suddenly the board pays attention.

Yubico's Bigger Moves: New Channel Program, New Regional Hub

The education push sits inside a broader expansion for Yubico across the Asia Pacific region.

The company just opened a new regional headquarters in Singapore, giving it a follow-the-sun support model with hubs in Sweden, the US, and now Southeast Asia. That means faster delivery and closer customer support for the APJ region.

They've also launched YubiNation Partners, a new global channel program built around their reseller network. More training, more tools, a structured incentive program. In a region where Yubico sells exclusively through channel partners, getting those partners enabled and motivated is the whole ballgame.

The Duty of Care Argument

Schomburgk saved his strongest point for last. And it's the one that should land hardest with school administrators and education board members.

"The duty of care that educators have with our children is critical, so protecting their digital identity is also critical. The industry is making tools available such as passkeys to do that, and we would certainly encourage a rapid adoption of that to do the right thing and protect the next generation."

Schools already accept that they have a duty of care over students' physical safety. Fire drills, visitor sign-in procedures, playground supervision.

The argument that this duty extends to digital identity protection is, in 2026, pretty airtight. The tools exist. The frameworks exist.

The phishing-resistant technology is mature, tested, and designed to work in environments where phones are banned and IT budgets are thin. The only thing missing is urgency. And with AI-powered phishing attacks accelerating across the region, that window is closing fast.
GUEST RESEARCH: New research from Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) highlights the slow introduction of AI into the healthcare sector in Australia, with the majority of people surveyed within healthcare organisations with very few of the people surveyed within healthcare organizations stating their companies had moved beyond pilot stage implementations. The research, which surveyed 500 Australian healthcare workers, shows while 60% are piloting AI technology or running small-scale trials, only 12% have fully deployed the technology across multiple care or administrative functions.

Appians findings reinforce those of another recent study from MIT that revealed 95% of generative AI pilots fail to deliver meaningful ROI or scale effectively.

Despite AI having the potential to contribute $13 billion annually to the Australian healthcare sector by 2030, the majority of local healthcare organisations are currently failing to move beyond AI pilots due to poor data, poor integration, and misaligned use cases. This is a major missed opportunity, said Luke Thomas, Area Vice President, Asia Pacific and Japan at Appian. When used correctly, AI and automation can dramatically reduce manual workloads and allow healthcare professionals to focus on direct patient care. The key is to embed AI within integrated, well-governed processesnot as isolated pilots, but as part of end-to-end workflows. With the right foundation of data integration and privacy controls, healthcare organisations can enhance both operational efficiency and the quality and accessibility of patient care.

Digital transformation driving tangible improvements in patient care

Although there are challenges deploying AI at scale in the healthcare sector in Australia, overall, the sector is embracing digital transformation. Appians research shows that in recent years, 85% of healthcare workers reported their organisations have introduced new digital initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient outcomes.

An overwhelming 90% of Australian healthcare workers report that digital transformation projects have had a positive impact on patients and staff, and 70% believe their organisation is effective at delivering seamless, patient-centred digital experiences such as online bookings, digital consent forms, and payment systems.

"Healthcare workers are seeing firsthand how digital transformation improves patient care. Whether it's through faster appointment booking, streamlined consent processes, or more efficient service delivery, these digital touchpoints are making healthcare more accessible and patient-friendly," Thomas explained.

Integration gaps threaten to limit future progress

While patient-facing digital services have improved dramatically in Australian healthcare settings in recent years, backend infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. Appians research found that only 21% of healthcare workers say their organisation's clinical, administrative and financial systems offer seamless integration across platforms, with a further 73% reporting that systems sometimes integrate but gaps or manual workarounds still exist.

This integration challenge has real consequences for healthcare workers. The survey found that 72% admit to working with incomplete or inaccessible data in their roles, creating inefficiencies that undermine the digital transformation gains achieved on the front end.

"The paradox facing Australian healthcare is that while digital services have improved the patient experience, healthcare workers are still navigating fragmented systems behind the scenes," said Thomas. "This creates a disconnect between the seamless experience patients now expect and the reality of disjointed systems that staff must work across daily."

The impact of these integration gaps extends beyond inconvenience. Appians research reveals that 74% of healthcare workers spend at least one day per week on manual administrative tasks, an unnecessary loss of time in a stretched healthcare system.

"Every hour spent on manual data entry, chasing information across disconnected systems, or creating workarounds for integration gaps is an hour taken away from patients," Thomas continued. "Healthcare workers entered the profession to provide care, not to battle administrative systems. Addressing these backend integration challenges by embracing AI in process is essential to sustaining the momentum of digital transformation."

Move from experimentation to impact

As Australias healthcare sector continues its digital transformation journey, the focus must shift from siloed projects that focus on front-end innovation to fixing and integrating the fragmented systems that sit behind it.

The success of future AI and automation projects will depend on connecting data, people, and processes through a unified approach that allows AI in process to operate at scale. By modernising the foundations of healthcare operations, organisations can unlock new efficiencies, empower their workforce, and deliver better outcomes for patients, concluded Thomas.

Methodology:

Appian commissioned Zoho research to survey 500 Australian healthcare workers in Q4 2025.
Yokohama Chinatown (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)



My wife and I recently spent the day exploring Yokohama. If youre stationed in the Kanto Plain area, its not a far drive or train ride.

We decided to spend some time getting to know Chinatown, a large district home to hundreds of restaurants and shops selling Chinese products, food and souvenirs. There are also cultural spots and activities to visit and try, including local shrines, Chinese tea cafes and street food stall hopping.

Yokohamas Chinatown is the largest in Japan and East Asia, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. The small alleyways with crowds and restaurants serving a variety of Chinese cuisines, including Sichuan, Cantonese and more, made me feel like I had teleported to China.

Ive visited many places in Japan away from Tokyo, but sometimes the best adventures are just a train ride or short drive away. For those who are interested in saving a bit more, I would recommend taking the train since gas, toll roads and parking fees do add up.

Pro tip: There are many pedestrians in the area so avoid driving through the access roads where possible. On holidays and weekends, some parking lots may have no hourly cap limit and cost more, so park cautiously.

Here are some of the spots we visited in Chinatown to get a small sample of all this colorful, vibrant district has to offer.

Dash for dumplings

dumplings (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)



Along the main shopping street in Chinatown, youll find many dumping vendors. We stopped at Houtenkaku Tenshimpo on one of the corners because the prices seemed good and it had a good variety of options, including seafood, pork and sesame dumplings and beer to wash them down.

We took the risk and ordered pork soup dumplings for 1,000 yen (about $6.45). We had our order in no time, and we ventured into an alleyway to eat. Here, everyone stands off to the side to enjoy the street food, so we decided to blend in with the locals and enjoy our pork dumplings. There are also dine-in options if standing outside is not what you want to do, or the weather is bad.

The dumplings were delicious and made us regret not ordering more. Each bite provided a burst of flavorful broth and tender pork. My mouth, stomach and wallet were happy with this little restaurant.

Houtenkaku Tenshimpo

Address: 231-0023 Kanagawa, Yokohama, Naka Ward, Yamashitacho

Other info: There is no parking available at this restaurant. Yen only.

Visit to Mazu Miao Shrine

Yokohama Ma Zu Miao (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)

incense sticks (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)



Just off the main shopping area in Chinatown, Mazu Miao Shrine is small but colorful.

We were captivated and decided to go in. The staff at the entrance directed us to a vending machine to purchase our entry ticket. The vending machine had a variety of items, not tickets, to purchase gold paper or incense sticks that double as admission to the shrine.

We selected the incense stick sets for 500 yen each, then proceeded up the stairs.

At the top, staff directed us to bow three times and place one of the lit sticks in each of the five areas before moving on to the ash tray.

Upon entering the shrine, the next set of instructions was to pray at three separate gods Kami. Although I had no clue what was going on, I followed my wifes lead and managed to do it right!

Looking up every time we finished praying, I was amazed by the beauty of this place. The colorful interiors were incredibly vivid, almost psychedelic in a way. Totally worth 500 yen. I have been to many shrines in Japan, but this shrine was in the top three of being most memorable.

Mazu Miao Shrine

Address: 136 Yamashitacho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0023

Other info: No photographs allowed inside.Cash only. No Parking.

Lunchtime at Fukuryu Chinese Restaurant

Lu Rou rice (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)

minced pork lettuce wraps (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)



We decided to grab one last bite in Chinatown before leaving the area. To be honest, choosing from the literal hundreds of restaurants can be overwhelming, so we picked Fukuryu, located directly across the street from the shrine.

Fortunately, the menu was great and there wasnt much of a burden on the wallet.

Though the menu was all in Japanese, Google Translate did its magic. There was a variety of items to order, but we kept it basic since it was our first time.

We ordered steamed pork buns, a 5-piece dumpling set, minced pork lettuce wraps and Lu Rou rice, a Taiwanese braised pork dish.

The flavors of each dish were amazing. Our appetizers, steamed pork buns and dumplings, arrived at our table quickly. Each bite packed a punch of warm and savory pork broth.

The Lu Rou rice was topped with soft boiled eggs, braised pork pieces and had a mild spice. Its a delicious and simple meal that isnt too heavy on the stomach and wont leave you tired after eating.

So far, our meal was delicious, but then came what was the best part of all the dishes we tried that day - the lettuce wraps. It was not my order, but I made sure to steal a lot from my wifes plate. Inside the lettuce was flavorful minced pork and fried noodles for an added crunch. One bite leaves you wanting more. I would come back to this restaurant just for these wraps.

Overall, the price itself may sound expensive, but it was only 4,225 yen (about $27) for two people. The staff was very polite and also spoke a bit of English to help us order. This delectable meal was a great way to finish a visit to Chinatown.

Fukuryu Chinese Restaurant
Motomachi, Yokohama (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)



From Yokohamas Chinatown, a walk to Motomachi, a high-end shopping district, is about a five-minute walk away.

We took a post-meal walk in the area and found a couple of stores worth a look.

First, we went into Humidor, a small tobacco shop selling collectibles like Zippo lighters, wood pipes and more.

They also sell the normal tobacco products you can get from a convenience store and have a small smoke area inside.

I didnt buy anything, but was allowed to smoke with other customers in a warm environment where its okay to light up.

Next, we stopped in Itoya, a small branch of the big stationery store chain with a flagship in Ginza. The selection at this location included many kawaii items for artists and office workers. They sell lots of pens, colorful notebooks and some small DIY items which can be perfect for those who work at a desk or like to doodle.

During our stop, I grabbed some playing cards that had fish logos for myself and a new notebook with pens for my wife as a usable souvenir. The nicest part, the items were inexpensive.

Motomachi has many luxury brand stores. It personally wasnt as attractive to us (99% mostly me) since almost all stores were expensive. I saw designer watches reaching thousands of dollars in and shirts costing over $200. Yeah, enlisted pay is not at that level of luxury for me.

However, you will find a few shops in Motomachi that wont burn a hole in your wallet. All in all, its still worth checking out if youre in the area.

To those who are searching for luxury gifts to give to loved ones, this place is an option and its not as painful as visiting Ginza.

Things to know

*There are street coin-operated parking spots.

Humidor

Humidor (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)



Address: 1F Hyakudankan, 3-115 Motomachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama 231-0861

Hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily.

Other info: No parking is available.

Cash and card are accepted.

Website

Itoya

Itoya (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)


In 1930, John Maynard Keynes took time out from thinking about the Great Depression, which was throwing millions out of work, to write a charming essay about the "economic possibilities for our grandchildren." What would life be like a hundred years hence, he asked. His answer: The depression would prove to be no more than a temporary blip, economic progress would resume its benevolent course, but then the real problems would start.

The combination of innovation and compound interest would solve the problem that had dogged humanity since Adam and Eve: how to make ends meet. Our grandchildren would be able to meet all their material needs by working 15 hours a week. But this would leave what Keynes called "the permanent problem of the human race." How to use the resulting freedom from economic necessity to live a good life  or as Keynes put it "how to live wisely and agreeably and well."

Keynes" work on the problem of leisure has not been treated with the same reverence as his work on solving the problem of the great depression (he published his "General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money" in 1936). Many successful people work 60-plus hours a week. Over 80% of Americans report "never having enough time." Keynes clearly underestimated the extent to which people would define the notion of "enough" ever upward or generally prefer work to leisure.

Yet Keynes was not as wrong as work-obsessed elites imagine. The Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert William Fogel demonstrated that the average number of lifetime hours that people worked for pay dropped from 182,100 in 1880 to 122,400 in 1995  a 33% decline in an era of increasing lifespans. From 2000 to 2019, per capita hours worked in the US fell from 926 hours to 885. Fogel also demonstrated that whereas 74% of consumer budgets went to necessities (food, shelter and clothing) in 1875, 68% went to leisure activities by 1995.

Moreover, AI may be about to prove Keynes spectacularly right just in time for his century deadline. The AI revolution is beginning to do for knowledge work what the combine harvester did for agricultural jobs and the factory did for mechanical jobs  mechanizing routine tasks that were once reserved for human beings before moving remorselessly up the value chain. Numerous knowledge-intensive companies are eliminating middle-management jobs and cutting back on hiring new graduates. Yascha Mounk, a political scientist, has just shown that AI can produce a perfectly respectable (I would say above average) political theory paper.

What are we to do about this potential job apocalypse? Most commentators have addressed this problem in narrow economic terms. How can we ensure that the losers have enough money to live on? And how can we preserve demand in a world in which workers are surplus to requirements? Silicon Valley has been pushing the idea of a universal basic income. Some progressive economists like the idea of taxes on robots or IT systems. But, as Brink Lindsey argues in his timely new book The Permanent Problem: The Uncertain Transition from Mass Plenty to Mass Flourishing, an equally urgent problem is Keynes" problem of how to ensure that people use their increased leisure well rather than destructively.

Perhaps the biggest problem with job destruction is that jobs are not merely ways of making a living. Jobs provide people with a combination of psychological benefits: social connections, pride and self-worth, a sense of accomplishment and, not to put too fine a point on it, meaning. The most difficult things about jobs are often the most rewarding. We complain about having to master tedious things (complicated cases if you are a lawyer or copy-editing if you are a publisher). But at the same time, we form profound bonds with our contemporaries and, in the long term, prepare the ground for our greatest career triumphs.

The question of the non-economic rewards is perhaps more pressing when it comes to knowledge work. The reason knowledge workers burn the midnight oil is that they invest so much of themselves in their work. They not only derive personal satisfaction from exercising their brainpower. They derive social satisfaction and prize the status that comes from being a highly regarded lawyer or academic.

Keynes warned that the transition from mass work to mass leisure might produce "a general nervous breakdown" as people lost their traditional anchors in the productive economy. This has already happened across the post-industrial world. Centrists such as Bill Clinton and Tony Blair calculated that they could solve the problem of post-industrial capitalism by taxing the winners in, say, London and New York to compensate losers in, say, Scunthorpe or Scranton. But they failed to realize how much of people"s self-respect is tied up with making a living. The resulting discontent produced both an epidemic of "deaths of despair," as people drank or drugged themselves to death, and the Brexit and Trump revolts.

The next "general nervous breakdown" will grip knowledge workers. We are already seeing signs of this breakdown among the young: for example, the "lie flat" movement in China , as young people realize that their hard work at school will not guarantee them respectable jobs, or the surge in support for the Green Party in Britain . But this is only a taste of what is to come as AI really kicks in: For AI not only destroys knowledge jobs, it also distorts the wider knowledge economy, reducing attention spans, deepening polarization and spreading epistemic chaos. We should take it as a warning that the most deranged characters in literature, such as Raskolnikov in Dostoevsky"s Crime and Punishment, or the most repulsive figures in history, such as Stalin and Mao Zedong and Pol Pot, were all alienated intellectuals.

How can we avoid the Raskolnikovisation of our knowledge class? The beginning of wisdom lies in recognizing that people need more than income to take the place of jobs. They need purposeful effort. This must start with reorganizing the central institution of the knowledge society: the university. Too many universities have abandoned their traditional function  producing roundly educated human beings  in favor of producing experts of various kinds (and, in the humanities, experts in deconstruction rather than appreciation). This needs to be reversed. Universities need to put more focus on the problems of leisure rather than production  helping people to appreciate greatness in both art and human affairs and cultivate their creative faculties. They need to stop thinking of themselves as primarily preparing people for the world of work and instead focus on providing a lifetime of learning. Today"s ivory towers-cum youth tanks need to become beacons of civilization for all. We need to combine the transformation of the university with repairing the voluntary organizations that provide us with both fulfilment and social connection.

This might sound as utopian as the 1960s fashion for dropping out and living in communes. But the groundwork for a new Keynesian revolution is already being laid. Far-seeing academics such as James Hankins and Allen Guelzo are putting the study of human greatness back at the heart of the humanities. Book festivals and book groups are flourishing. The world"s great museums report record attendance. And information technology can be used to advance civilization as well as distract attention: Duolingo , which helps people to learn languages, has more than 50 million daily active users.

Keynes was wrong to think that we would one day solve the problem of necessity: Governments are rightly preoccupied by the problem of low growth and the shortage of basic commodities such as houses. But he was nevertheless right that the permanent problem of how to live well will loom ever larger as technology does its wonderful work of expanding leisure time.

Adrian Wooldridge is the global business columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously a writer at the Economist. His latest book is "The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World."



Previously:



 At Davos, Canada's PM speech had a big hole in it

 The West is facing five fearsome new giants

 11/07/25: A risky revolution, spreading?

 10/30/25: The cult of Charles de Gaulle is growing

 08/05/25: Britain is in the midst of one long, hot, nervous summer

 07/08/25: The Middle Ages are making a political comeback

 06/23/25: The arc of history does not simply bend toward justice

 04/01/25: Making America healthy should be a bipartisan challenge

 11/27/23: If you want more globalization, build better walls

 09/06/23: CEOs must soldier on even as AI anxieties loom

 08/31/23: The incredible shrinking global sea powers

 06/20/23: If neoliberalism did not exist, we would have to invent it

 05/02/23: Disruption will always be capitalism's secret sauce

 05/02/23: What science says about the coronation of Charles III

 01/04/23: Who are the nepo babies among us?

 07/13/22: Boris Johnson's fall is populism's latest act of self-destruction

 06/21/22: The West is facing a followership crisis

 05/25/22: The 1970s had a big bright side, too

 05/10/22: Young Americans aren't as woke as you think

 05/04/22: The furor facing Disney in Florida is a warning that capitalism won't regain its legitimacy by alienating



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For many years in the 1970s, 1980s, and into the 1990s, discussions of the use of U.S. military force suffered from an effect known as Vietnam Syndrome. Many Americans simply could not consider any proposed U.S. military action without seeing visions of a Vietnam-style quagmire in which American troops would be stuck for decades in a costly war without victory.

Vietnam Syndrome finally went away after American success in the first Gulf War. But not too many years later, Vietnam Syndrome was replaced by Iraq Syndrome, which is a fear that using U.S. military power will lead to an Iraq-style quagmire in which American troops would be stuck for decades in a costly war without victory.

At this moment, President Donald Trump is putting Iraq Syndrome to the test with the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Trump's presidency, American prestige abroad, and Republican electoral hopes in this year's midterm elections and beyond  they all depend on the success of the American mission.

If, after initial military success, decapitating the Iranian leadership and taking out many of its weapons, the United States goes on to set Iran on a stable path in which it lives in peace and does not threaten its neighbors  if Trump succeeds in doing that, Iraq Syndrome will be banished forever.

If, on the other hand, after initial U.S. military success, Iran descends into Iraq-style chaos with a weak and unstable government and rogue militias around the country  if that happens, Iraq Syndrome will be alive and well.

The key phrases of Iraq Syndrome are "forever wars," "endless wars," and their variants  references not only to Iraq but to the decade-plus U.S. war in Afghanistan, which lapsed into nation building and ended with a disastrous withdrawal under President Joe Biden. Throughout his first term in office and also in the 2024 campaign, Trump promised to put an end to endless wars and not repeat the mistakes of previous presidents.

Describing his Iraq drawdown in 2019, Trump said, "We're down to a very few soldiers. I said we're getting out of these endless wars  these ridiculous, endless wars. We should have never been there in the first place."

At times, Trump seemed to expand the idea of staying out of "endless" wars into a pledge to stay out of all wars altogether. "I'm not going to start a war, I'm going to stop wars," Trump promised on the night of his great comeback victory in 2024. Since then, Trump has said similar things many times and named himself the "President of Peace."

Trump's rhetoric has led to a strange new creature: the MAGA peacenik. It's one thing to pledge to stay out of forever wars  the U.S. should never repeat the disasters in Vietnam and Iraq. But stay out of all military conflict? That's an unrealistic pledge for a president and nation living in a dangerous world. Deciphering Trump's statements, it's probably accurate to say he believes in staying out of endless wars but was exaggerating for effect when he talked about avoiding all wars ever.

In any event, by attacking Iran and also with military action in Venezuela, Trump has angered and disappointed those in his MAGA base who took his antiwar pledges both seriously and literally.

He has also shaken some of his supporters who lived through the George W. Bush years. They have seen a war with a righteous cause  Afghanistan  descend into meaninglessness. They have seen a war started by mistake  Iraq  tear apart the country. It's no surprise that they are made nervous by another U.S. president starting another war in that part of the world.

The way to calm those nerves is to succeed quickly. In both his terms, Trump has favored limited, sharp, decisive military action. Think of the U.S. drone strike that took out Qasem Soleimani, head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Think of the destruction of ISIS. Think of the lightning assault on Maduro's Venezuela. For Trump, the opposite of an endless war is not no war. It is a quick war with a clear purpose and a decisive ending.

Now, Trump and the nation will find out whether that can be accomplished in Iran. There are plenty of doomsayers out there, including the Democratic politicians who want to run for president in 2028. If Trump fails, they win. But if Trump succeeds, they will look like a bunch of partisan nitpickers. And Iraq Syndrome will be a thing of the past.
The Rent-to-Own Revolution Examines Consumer Access, the Future of Policy, and AI-Driven Discovery

AUSTIN, Texas, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In a milestone moment for the rent-to-own industry, the Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO) announced the release of The Rent-to-Own Revolution: The Definitive Industry History of Advocacy and Consumer Access, a landmark new book co-authored by APRO CEO Charles Smitherman and Ryan Krass, CEO of WOW Brands. More than a historical record, the book serves as both an advocacy resource and a forward-looking strategy at a time when the industry is navigating rapid change in technology, regulation, and information discovery.

Documenting the Past, Informing the Future

The book offers the most comprehensive historical, legal, and strategic account ever written about the modern rent-to-own (RTO) industry, tracing:

The industry's entrepreneurial roots in the 1970s

Its evolution into a regulated and resilient model

Its present-day role as a consumer-centered model of access

The Rent-to-Own Revolution preserves decades of institutional memory while establishing a factual foundation that supports the industry's future.

"This book is a long-overdue moment for the rent-to-own industry," said Charles Smitherman, CEO of APRO. "The RTO space has always been defined by access, flexibility, and a strong regulatory framework, but too often its history has been summarized by others rather than documented by the industry itself. Ryan and I believed it was essential to preserve a clear record of the industry's past, present, and future, and ensure the public has access to accurate, well-sourced information."

Owning the Story in the Age of AI

The book also serves a strategic purpose in a rapidly changing information environment. As search engines increasingly rely on AI-generated results, how the industry is described depends on the clarity, structure, and authority of the content those systems can retrieve. Smitherman and Krass structured the book to support Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), ensuring accurate descriptions of the RTO model, such as lease-based, flexible, and governed by state regulatory frameworks, become part of the permanent digital record that AI systems rely on.

"When people have questions today, the first place they often turn is an AI-powered platform," said Smitherman. "If policymakers and consumers are going to understand rent-to-own correctly, we must provide clear, authoritative, and well-documented information. This book is a key part of that effort. It is much more than preserving history; it is building the framework for how the industry is understood in the future."

A Celebration for the Industry

Finally, The Rent-to-Own Revolution is more than a book release. It is a collective milestone for an industry built by operators, vendors, buying groups, and advocates. The history documented reflects the efforts of thousands of individuals who testified in state capitols, helped shape regulatory policies, invested in early vendor partnerships, and created systems that allowed independent rent-to-own businesses to serve their communities.

Many of the voices captured in the book draw from interviews featured in the RTO Legends Podcast series, which continues to preserve firsthand accounts from industry pioneers. Together, the book and the podcast create a multi-channel historical record designed to educate future leaders and preserve the industry's legacy.

"We are incredibly thankful for the men and women who have shaped rent-to-own and made it the trusted industry it is today," said Smitherman. "This book is not the end goal. It is the start of ensuring our history remains our story to tell while exploring new ways to educate people. We are excited about the future and the role RTO will continue to play in expanding access and opportunity."

This book launch comes just a few weeks after the release of the recently published 50-state model lease agreement. These initiatives reflect APRO's broader strategy as the association evolves from Association of Progressive Rental Organizations to the Association of Professional Rental Organizations. The rebrand underscores APRO's commitment to professionalism, ethical practices, consumer trust, and self-regulation.

The Rent-to-Own Revolution: The Definitive Industry History of Advocacy and Consumer Access is now available:

Q&A with CEO Charles Smitherman

Q: What is Rent-to-Own, and How Does the Industry Protect Consumers?

A: Rent-to-own is built on four core principles:

No Debt/No Obligation (Not a Loan): Rent-to-own is a lease-to-own transaction, not a credit-based loan. There is no debt, no interest, and no long-term obligation, allowing customers to stop at any time.

Rent-to-own is a lease-to-own transaction, not a credit-based loan. There is no debt, no interest, and no long-term obligation, allowing customers to stop at any time. Flexible & Choice-Based: Customers have the flexibility to choose how they acquire items, with the options to return, reinstate, or renew at their own pace.

Customers have the flexibility to choose how they acquire items, with the options to return, reinstate, or renew at their own pace. Essential Access & Dignity: The model provides immediate access to necessary household goods (like appliances and electronics) without requiring traditional credit, providing dignified, immediate ownership paths.

The model provides immediate access to necessary household goods (like appliances and electronics) without requiring traditional credit, providing dignified, immediate ownership paths. Regulated & Transparent: The industry is highly regulated, operating under specific, clear statutes in 47 states that require transparent, mandatory disclosures.

To learn more about APRO, visit https://www.rtohq.org/ or follow the organization on Instagram and LinkedIn.

About APRO

The Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO), formerly Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, is the only national trade association representing the rent-to-own (RTO) industry. Established in 1980 to advocate for and support the interests of RTO businesses, APRO provides its 325 member brands with essential resources, industry insights, and a strong community network. Through educational initiatives, legislative advocacy, and professional development opportunities, APRO strives to elevate the standards and success of the RTO sector, ensuring it continues to thrive and serve customers with integrity and excellence.

Media Contact: Ethan Gutstein, Fishman Public Relations, (847) 945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
Complimentary Launch Party for Emface on March 17

LOGAN, Utah, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspen Dental of Cache Valley is redefining dental care as the first dental practice in the state to offer Emface  a breakthrough, FDA-cleared, noninvasive muscle activation treatment designed to support facial rejuvenation and enhancement from wrinkles while also helping relieve symptoms related to TMJ dysfunction, jaw tension, and pain.

Emface is a non-invasive facial treatment combining heat and muscle activation to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, tighten sagging skin and boost collagen. It is also FDA-cleared to treat TMJ dysfunction. (PRNewsfoto/Printers Row Dental Studio)

"At Aspen Dental of Cache Valley, care goes far beyond routine checkups," says Dr. Jeff Wegener . "In addition to comprehensive general dentistry, we provide a full range of restorative services, including dental crowns and bridges, root canal therapy, dentures, laser treatment for cavities and gum disease and customized solutions for sleep apnea. We also offer several sedation options to ensure our patients feel relaxed and comfortable throughout their visit. For those looking to enhance their smile, our cosmetic services include Invisalign, veneers and professional teeth whitening. We are especially excited to introduce Emface, expanding our portfolio of patient care and offering new hope to individuals struggling with chronic TMJ pain or seeking aesthetic smile enhancement."

Emface uses gentle electrical pulses and soothing heat to improve blood flow, relax tense jaw muscles, and reduce TMJ-related discomfort. For aesthetics purposes, it strengthens facial muscles, smooths fine lines, and enhances the natural glow of smiles, all in a quick, 20-minute non-painful session. Emface is particularly affective for lifting skin in the jowl area and upper eyelids. A series of four treatments is recommended for best results.

When paired with EXION, another advanced treatment offered by Aspen Dental of Cache Valley, the treatment further enhances results by stimulating the body's natural production of hyaluronic acid, promoting healthier, more hydrated skin.

To celebrate the launch of these new technologies, Aspen Dental of Cache Valley will host a complimentary launch party from 4:007:00 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 17, at 170 E 1400 N in Logan. Guests can learn about Emface and EXION, view live demonstrations of select treatments, giveaways and enjoy refreshments. To RSVP, call 435-557-4406. For more information, visit aspendds.com.

SOURCE Aspen Dental of Cache Valley
There are moments when professional boundaries collapse under the weight of something more fundamental: our shared humanity.

You do not have to be a physician to recognize when a system has failed at its most basic level. You only have to be human.

What happened to Alex Pretti is not solely a tragedy confined to one profession, one agency, or one moment. It is a systemic rupture, one that exposes a dangerous belief deeply embedded across health care, academia, and other high-capacity professions: that contribution earns protection, that education secures belonging, and that service guarantees safety.

It does not.

I write this not as a physician, but as a management and organizational development scholar-practitioner who studies systems, power, and psychological transition. I write as someone who believes deeply in purpose-driven work, work chosen not for recognition or status, but because its outcomes change lives.

And that is precisely why this moment matters.

The myth we were taught to believe

High-capacity professionals are conditioned early to internalize a transactional logic: If I contribute enough, I will be safe. If I perform well, I will belong. If I serve, I will be protected.

This belief is rarely stated aloud. It is reinforced subtly, through credentials, promotions, institutional language, and cultural reward systems. It is the quiet promise beneath long hours, personal sacrifice, and moral labor.

But systems built on usefulness rather than humanity do not protect people. They extract from them.

When usefulness becomes the price of dignity, safety becomes conditional. And when safety is conditional, silence becomes a survival strategy.

Why this is not just a medical story

It would be convenient to frame this as an isolated incident. It would be comforting to contain it within one profession or policy failure.

That would miss the deeper truth.

This is a human systems failure, one that spans health care, law enforcement, immigration, academia, and corporate institutions alike. These systems often excel at measuring productivity, compliance, and performance. They are far less capable of protecting the people who sustain them.

From an organizational development lens, this is what happens when systems prioritize control over care, risk mitigation over human dignity, and procedural compliance over moral accountability.

In such environments, credentials do not humanize individuals. They neutralize them. People become roles. Roles become functions. Functions are managed, optimized, and replaced, but rarely protected.

The cost of conditional belonging

When systems reward usefulness but withhold humanity, forgetting becomes policy.

We move on. We normalize. We compartmentalize. We treat tragedy as unavoidable or exceptional. In doing so, we teach the next generation of professionals that silence is safer than truth and endurance is valued more than life.

This is not resilience. This is compliance.

And compliance, when rooted in fear, erodes trust, quietly and irreversibly.

What accountability actually requires

True accountability is not about assigning blame after harm occurs. It is about designing systems that do not require harm to reveal their flaws.

It requires leaders, policymakers, and institutions to confront questions they have long avoided: Who is protected when things go wrong? Whose humanity is presumed, and whose must be proven? What assumptions about safety no longer hold?

Accountability requires remembrance, not as performance, but as resistance. Resistance to forgetting. Resistance to normalization. Resistance to systems that benefit from collective amnesia.

Why we must carry this story forward

Some stories are not meant to be resolved quickly. They are meant to stay with us, unsettling, unanswered, demanding reckoning.

Not to inflame. But to insist.

To insist that contribution does not replace dignity.

To insist that service does not nullify vulnerability.

To insist that no life spent helping others is ever reduced to a footnote.

This is not a call for outrage. It is a call for structural honesty.

If we are serious about safety, stability, and belonging, whether in health care or beyond, we must confront the uncomfortable truth that systems do not become humane by intention alone. They become humane through design, accountability, and the courage to name what is broken.

You do not have to be a doctor to see this. You only have to care about humanity.

Tiffiny Black is a health care consultant.
It is honestly impressive the lengths people will go to cure their illnesses, or, alternatively, to lovingly nurture their favorite delusions. And to be fair, I get it. We have all been sick. I am a doctor and I have still Googled home remedies for canker sores, tooth pain, and ingrown toenails. The difference is that experimenting with saltwater rinses is unlikely to end your life.

When it comes to actual, serious disease, however, that is usually the moment to step away from YouTube. The video suggesting you inject sodium bicarbonate to cure cancer should be considered illegal viewing. And yes, technically it would kill cancer cells, along with every other cell in your body, including the ones you are rather fond of.

The sign-out warning

I was pre-warned about my next patient. The little box on my sign-out sheet read:

Odd female patient. Chronic abdominal pain. Duodenal ulcer with moderate pyloric stenosis. History of pain med addiction and psych issues.

Honestly? A fairly standard sign-out. We are very familiar with odd, chronic pain, and opioid history. None of this prepared me for what I was about to walk into.

The moment I entered the room, something was off. I had been in this room a hundred times before, yet it looked like someone had redecorated during an earthquake. The bed was rotated 90 degrees away from the wall, facing a fully closed window. Furniture was scattered like it had lost a fight. As I walked toward the back of the bed and introduced myself, my patient came into view.

I glanced back at the sign-out. Forty-two years old. Huh. Either she hadnt aged well, or she had lived very enthusiastically in her youth. Her hair resembled Medusa on a bad day. Her facial expression matched. But what truly caught my attention was the blanket.

Her personal blanket.

The kind that has seen decades. The kind that smells faintly of emotional trauma. The kind no grown woman should still possess.

In hospital medicine, this is known as the Blanket Sign, and it never means anything good. In my experience, every adult patient who brings their own blanket has psychiatric issues. Frankly, the ER should have a policy: If you are over 11, maybe 12, and you arrive with a fluffy blanket, treatment is conditional. Stuffed animals fall under the same rule, especially if they are being petted, or worse, if I am asked to pet them. Yes, this has happened. No, we are not discussing it today.

The encounter begins

Back to our patient.

I immediately sensed this was going to be a long encounter. I wasnt leaving anytime soon. I pulled up a chair and settled in like a boxer preparing for a title fight. No punches were coming, just an onslaught of complaints, grievances, and tragic backstories. I needed to stay calm, alert, and emotionally armored.

She wasted no time.

The faint hum of a vacuum cleaner in the hallway was causing a migraine. The smell of freshly painted walls was also to blame. She demanded a fan. Then informed me she was itchy from hospital food because she was allergic to all of it. Everything we did made things worse, she explained, because none of it was organic or from the earth.

Eventually, we arrived at her abdominal pain. That is when the performance peaked.

The pain was unbearable. Ten out of 10. She whimpered while clutching her blanket like a life raft. She insisted she had only eaten two bites of food since yesterday, despite the empty Jell-O cups and pudding containers surrounding her like evidence at a crime scene.

Naturally, she couldnt stay on topic. That is a classic maneuver. Next came her unusually high pain tolerance paired with an even higher sensitivity to pain. Ah yes, there it is. The drug-seeker reveal. No matter how dramatic the buildup, the plot always ends the same way.

She claimed a neurologist in another state told her she had more alpha waves than normal, which made her feel pain more intensely. This is, of course, complete nonsense. But she barely paused before moving on. She was also allergic to artificial food dyes, synthetic fabrics, and radio waves. This explained why she lived in the mountains, far from toxins that poisoned her body.

At this point, I was entertained. I wished I had popcorn.

The cabbage juice cure

When I finally steered us back to her ulcer and intestinal narrowing, she made it clear our medical plan was inadequate. She and a friend had done research and discovered a superior treatment. I took a deep breath and prepared myself. I literally told myself, Do not laugh. Do not smile.

According to the internet, cabbage juice, three times a day, was better than all of modern medicine.

Every instinct I have wanted to immediately call bullshit. It is reflexive. When confronted with bizarre naturopathic claims, physicians instinctively want to shut them down, or gently bang their heads against a wall.

But professionalism, and employment, prevent this.

So instead, I nodded, listened, and gently redirected her, while my inner voice screamed and my stethoscope felt increasingly throwable.

Medicine has unfortunately evolved into a customer is always right business. Hospital corporations care about satisfaction scores. As long as patients are happy, everything else, outcomes, logic, physician sanity, is secondary.

But medicine isnt ordering a hamburger. A bad medical decision can kill someone. It can also destroy a doctors life. And despite how frustrating patients can be, we genuinely want to help them. When things go wrong, we feel it deeply. We are also legally liable.

So I told her I would research cabbage juice.

Predictably, the internet was overflowing with blogs praising its healing powers, written by earth-loving, yoga-practicing prophets of wellness. None of that matters. Physicians care about actual studies.

Eventually, I found two.

One from 1949. It had only 13 patients and they compared cabbage juice to nothing at all. Why you ask? Because modern anti-acids were not even invented yet.

The other? A study on rats in the 1970s.

As exhausting as patients like this can be, I remind myself they dont understand what they are reading. Odds ratios, confounders, bias, none of it registers. Information feels valuable even when it is worthless.

So despite the years of training, sacrifice, and bruised pride, my job is to guide them. They may still choose the wrong path.

And when they do?

I document the hell out of it, and legally cover my ass.

George Issa is an internal medicine physician.
Review of Nearly 50,000 U.S. Client Inquiries Reveals Reactivity - Often Mistaken for Aggression - as America's Leading Dog Training Concern

DANVILLE, Calif., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bark Busters Home Dog Training, the world's largest in-home dog training company, today published its 2026 U.S. National Dog Behavior Analysis. This analysis highlights the most common challenges dog owners across the United States are seeking professional help to address.

The findings are based on a review of nearly 50,000 in-home dog training consultation inquiries submitted nationwide throughout the past year, offering one of the most comprehensive real-world snapshots of dog behavior concerns reported directly by American pet owners.

While Bark Busters operates internationally, this analysis focuses specifically on trends observed across its network of locally owned and operated franchises throughout the United States.

Reactivity - Frequently Mistaken for Aggression - Leads Nationwide

The analysis reveals that aggression and reactivity collectively represent the largest category of training inquiries nationwide. However, trainers emphasize a critical and often misunderstood distinction:

Most dog owners mistake reactivity for aggression.

Reactive behaviors commonly include:

Lunging on leash

Intense barking at dogs or strangers

Growling when startled

Overreacting to environmental stimuli

While these behaviors can appear severe, they are typically rooted in fear, overstimulation, anxiety, or frustration - not intent to harm. True aggression represents a smaller subset of cases.

"Many dogs labeled as aggressive are actually reactive and struggling with emotional regulation," said Carl Peterson, CEO of Bark Busters USA. "When families understand that distinction and learn how to communicate clearly and consistently with their dogs, the vast majority of these situations improve significantly."

The analysis further indicates that these behaviors span breeds of all sizes and reputations, reinforcing that behavior challenges are rarely breed-specific. Instead, they are more commonly linked to communication gaps, inconsistent structure, and environmental stress.

Other Leading Dog Behavior Challenges in 2026

Beyond reactivity and aggression, the most frequently reported concerns among U.S. dog owners include:

Excessive barking

Potty training issues

Separation anxiety and related behaviors

Leash and walking challenges

Household manners concerns

"These trends reflect a deeper issue," Peterson added. "Families love their dogs, but many struggle with clear communication and consistent leadership. The encouraging news is that most of these problems are highly fixable when owners are shown how to communicate in a way dogs instinctively understand."

Rescue, Newly Adopted Dogs, and Puppies Represent Significant Demand

In addition to behavior specific inquiries, Bark Busters saw a meaningful percentage of inquiries that referenced rescue, adopted, or recently rehomed dogs. Transition into a new home environment frequently surfaces anxiety, fear-based responses, and confusion around expectations.

"Dogs thrive on routine, predictability, and consistency," said Michelle Willey, National Director of Training for Bark Busters USA, based in Phoenix. "When routines change dramatically, behavior changes follow. We're seeing more dogs struggle when structure disappears or when they are left alone after extended periods of constant companionship. With clear boundaries and calm guidance, most of these cases improve significantly."

The analysis also shows that puppies represent a substantial share of nationwide inquiries, underscoring growing awareness among American dog owners that early training is critical to preventing long-term behavioral issues.

"Early intervention changes the trajectory of a dog's life," Willey added. "When families start with clear communication from the beginning, they prevent many of the reactive and anxiety-driven behaviors we later see in adulthood."

Outstanding Client Satisfaction: 4.9-Star Average Rating Across All USA Locations

Across its U.S. locations, Bark Busters Home Dog Training maintains an average customer rating near five stars across major review platforms, with the overwhelming majority of feedback reflecting five-star experiences.

Clients consistently report:

Reduced reactivity

Improved obedience

Calmer household environments

Increased confidence handling challenging behaviors

Importantly, Bark Busters' training methods do not rely on shock collars, prong collars, or harsh correction tools. The company's approach is rooted in natural canine communication designed to strengthen the relationship between dogs and owners.

Why In-Home Training Matters

Unlike board-and-train programs, Bark Busters specializes exclusively in in-home behavioral training delivered through locally owned and operated U.S. franchise locations.

By addressing behaviors in the environment where they naturally occur, Bark Busters trainers help families build lasting communication systems rather than temporary compliance.

"Our locally owned franchise partners serve communities across the country while applying a dog training system initially developed 37 years ago and now deployed in six countries," Peterson said. "Reviewing our most recent real-world inquiries gives us a clarity on what American dog owners are currently experiencing."

Dog owners seeking help with reactivity, aggression, barking, separation anxiety, or puppy training can connect with a local Bark Busters trainer nationwide at www.barkbusters.com or by phone at 877-500-2275.

About Bark Busters Home Dog Training

Founded in 1989, Bark Busters Home Dog Training operates internationally and has trained more than one million dogs worldwide. In the United States, the company provides professional in-home dog training services through a nationwide network of locally owned and operated franchises.

For more information or to find a local U.S. trainer, visit: https://www.barkbusters.com

SOURCE Bark Busters USA
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Yomar Ygnacio, a 29-year-old man, reported being the victim of a scam while trying to rent an apartment in Parques Polanco, in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City. According to his testimony, he paid more than 23,000 pesos, signed a contract, received the keys to apartment 803 in the Central Tower of the complex, and moved in. He even spent one night there. However, a day later, the building administration informed him that he had been defrauded and that he had to remove his belongings immediately.

His case is part of a scheme in which alleged scammers rent furnished apartments for one or two days through platforms such as Airbnb and Booking, and then offer them in Facebook groups. With the keys in their possession, they sign contracts and request bank transfers from their victims.

Yomar says he fell victim to this modus operandi carried out by Berenice Martinez and her husband, Omar Medina, as well as a person identified as Aidee Martinez, to whose account he made the deposits. The young man also maintains that his fraudsters could not have acted without the complicity of the complexs security personnel, who even greeted the alleged scammers.

Criminals Search for Victims in Facebook Groups

A few weeks ago, Yomar began searching for a new apartment in Facebook groups. On a Monday, he was contacted by a woman who called herself Sandy and offered him a property in the Azcapotzalco area. She sent him videos, photographs and requirements. However, hours later she told him it had already been rented.

Two days later, he received another message. The same woman offered him an apartment in Parques Polanco. Its an Airbnb, but Im going to rent it out as a regular apartment instead, she wrote.

Excited, Yomar agreed to visit the apartment.

In an interview with La Silla Rota, the young man says the fraudsters told him they needed to rent the apartment because they had debts with the administration and would use the rent payment to catch up. They offered him an initial discount to cover the alleged overdue maintenance fees.

It was a brutal story. They said they urgently needed to rent it because they were months behind, he recounts.

On February 20, Yomar went to the appointment.

Scammers Had Keys and Greeted Security Guards

To enter the condominiums at Parques Polanco, it is necessary to pass through a shopping center and go up a flight of stairs to a booth with turnstiles that open with an access card.

La Silla Rota toured the complex and confirmed that to access the residential area, visitors must pass through turnstiles monitored by a security guard. In addition, each tower has staff in the lobby.

The alleged scammers passed through those filters without any problem.

They already had the turnstile access card when they received me. They had the apartment key and took it out of their pocket. We went in normally. The guards even greeted her, he says.

They went up to the Central Tower, apartment 803. Outside there was a security camera. Inside, they showed him the space as if they knew it like the back of their hand. When he asked for documentation, the woman went downstairs and returned with electricity, water and maintenance bills from 2025 and 2026.

She came back with all of them from 2025 and all of them from 2026. That gives you confidence.

They signed a contract. He transferred 17,000 pesos for the deposit and rent to an account in the name of Aidee Martinez. They hugged me and told me they were glad the place would be in good hands. Thats what bothers me the most.

That night he returned with his computer, work equipment and clothes. He settled in and spent his first and only night in the luxury apartment.

The Financial Trap

The next morning, Yomar received a call from Sandy. She asked how his night had gone and told him he needed to pay another 3,000 pesos for a legal policy. With some distrust, the young man deposited the money into the same account.

Minutes later, he says, the scammers contacted him again to say they needed another months rent because the debt with the administration was larger than they thought and they needed to cover it.

When Yomar told them he could not transfer more money, they responded that he would then have to vacate the apartment.

I thought: if I already have a nice place and for another eight thousand pesos I can stay, Id rather pay it. He transferred another 3,500 pesos and sent them the receipt; however, the alleged owners stopped answering calls and messages.

You Were Scammed, Kid. You Cant Be Here.

Faced with the silence, he went down to the administration office to register as the tenant of apartment 803. However, they informed him that the apartment was rented through Airbnb and called the owner, who arrived within five minutes accompanied by family members and a business partner.

The owner went up to the apartment and after checking the place told Yomar: You were scammed, kid, but you cant be here. Take your things and leave.

Yomar refused and called the police. However, he recounts that for four hours he was pressured by the owner and security staff to leave the property.

They even shut off the breakers in the apartment so I couldnt charge my phone.

Finally, he agreed to leave and his belongings were placed in a storage room, which turned out to be the inorganic trash room.

They Treated Me Like an Idiot

Distraught, without his belongings and with no one to support him, Yomar went to the Public Prosecutors Office to file a complaint with the Territorial Investigation Prosecutors Office in Miguel Hidalgo.

He waited nearly two hours before being able to give his statement and begin a process he describes as psychological torture.

Honestly, its one of the worst things that has happened to me in my life. The attorney would interrupt me and yell at me, he says. After hours, they handed me a document saying I had declined legal counsel; they didnt even ask me if I wanted one.

They practically kept calling me an idiot. They said they have important things to do, that nothing ever happens with these complaints, he says.

Despite this, and after several hours in which he felt humiliated, he was able to file his complaint, which was registered under the number: CI-FIMH/UAT-MH-1/UI-1S/D/00296/82-2026.

Scammers Threaten Yomar

After filing the complaint, Yomar returned to Parques Polanco to collect his belongings. According to his testimony, security personnel asked for the keys and access card in order to hand over his things. The guard tells me to give him the keys and the card if I want my things. I give them to him, they give me my things, and I leave, he recounts.

Out of frustration, Yomar shared his case on social media, which led the scammers to contact him againthis time to threaten him.

He tells me not to be so confident, that well see each other soon, he said.

Yomar also maintains that other people have contacted him to share similar experiences.

La Silla Rota attempted to reach some of them. However, they indicated that for now they prefer to remain anonymous as they prepare a class-action lawsuit.

Likewise, La Silla Rota requested Airbnbs position on this case. However, the platform stated that since they are not related to the case, we prefer not to participate in the article. The company added that in the coming weeks it will share official and updated information regarding its safety guidelines.

For its part, the Parques Polanco Shopping Center stated in a release that it has no administrative or operational relationship with the condominiums and that they are two completely different properties, with independent administrations.

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The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has launched a tendering process for a project to revitalize the Coloane Old Market area as part of efforts to boost community tourism and pedestrian-friendly spaces.

According to the bureau, the project will preserve the existing pavilion structure located at the center of the building cluster as well as the sloped roof design, while introducing functional and aesthetic upgrades. The redevelopment plan aims to incorporate more youth-oriented and artistic elements to refresh the districts image.

Authorities are proposing a mixed-use development model that combines heritage preservation with dining, cultural and creative retail, and leisure services. The initiative is intended to improve walking environments, attract visitor traffic, and support local economic activity.

Separately, the Macao Government Tourism Office said it is continuing to encourage community organizations to organize tourism events through subsidy programs.

For 2026, six subsidized activities have been approved to be held around Coloane Pier and nearby areas, including guided tours, games, and handicraft workshops.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau also plans to introduce guided cultural tours focusing on Coloane village life, folk traditions, and temple heritage. The program aims to strengthen the districts cultural tourism appeal while promoting community-based travel experiences.

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Despite Macaus status as a bilingual Chinese-Portuguese metropolis, the use of Portuguese  one of its official languages  has been marred by numerous errors and omissions in shop signage and public communications, suggesting a declining cultural influence of Portuguese, with Nelson Kot, chairman of the Macao Comprehensive Social Studies Association, asserting that the government bears primary responsibility for the situation.

Online discussions regarding the importance of linguistic accuracy in Macau have gained momentum this year following the circulation of images on social media showing errors in the Chinese, Portuguese, and English texts on a sign in Areia Preta.

This was compounded by another misspelling discovered in the governments Lunar New Year installation at Largo do Senado, where the Portuguese term for Year of the Horse, Ano do Cavalo, was incorrectly written with an extra a, reflecting what critics described as lax administrative oversight.

A month later, Portuguese language errors reignited controversy when a netizen posted a photo of a street photo wall near Rua dos Artilheiros, revealing a large graffiti inscription reading Macau Pu ta (Macau Portuguese egg tarts in Chinese). It is believed that the shop owner  intending to promote the product through a foreign language translation  made an unintentional mistake; without the phonetic symbols, the Portuguese terms translate to puta, which carries offensive meanings in English.

Commenting on the declining presence of Portuguese culture in Macau, Kot expressed concern that the trend may affect the citys international tourism image.

Using the Pu ta incident as a case in point, he said it highlights some residents and shop owners insufficient familiarity with Portuguese, leading to the transliteration of Portuguese tart as PUTA with added symbols. Kot noted that Portuguese has alternative spellings, and had translation software been used, the correct version could have been identified.

However, sensitivity to the issue may have prompted a rewrite using different Chinese characters.

He warned that this phenomenon could have implications for Macaus status as an international tourist destination, saying, Many people today may not understand Portuguese, and when unable to find assistance, they resort to using Mandarin pinyin for signage. This practice may negatively affect Macaus image.

In a conversation with the Times yesterday, Kot asked, Macau has always been promoted as a bilingual city of Chinese and Portuguese. Do these misused texts reflect inadequate governmental oversight? He expressed concern that similar errors by government departments indicate a broader gap in managing linguistic accuracy.

Kot noted that the government should shoulder responsibility for promoting Portuguese, recommending that three public entities be tasked with strengthening regulation and promotion of the language.

He suggested that the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) should open channels to provide translation and cultural knowledge support, helping businesses use Portuguese correctly and reduce linguistic errors.

The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) would be responsible for overseeing street signs and advertisements while helping businesses attract customers and monitor potential mistakes.

We need to intensify efforts to promote knowledge of Portuguese, Kot said, expressing concern over the declining emphasis on the language within government institutions.

He noted that post-handover language policy in this area has been insufficiently proactive, explaining, Portuguese is used mainly in courts or official external documents. He also pointed out that Portuguese proficiency among Macaus officials and civil servants is declining, calling it an issue that must be addressed.

Furthermore, Kot stressed that Portuguese-speaking talent is extremely important for future commercial development in line with Macaus positioning as a One Centre, One Platform, One Base development strategy.

He urged the government to strengthen educational efforts to promote the language, specifically calling on the DSEDJ to reinforce Portuguese instruction in schools so that young people and university students can learn the language more effectively.

Macau boasts more than four centuries of Sino-Portuguese history, yet familiarity with the Portuguese language is declining. Observers note that the government has not given sufficient attention to promoting Portuguese, as language courses in schools are largely offered only as extracurricular activities.

In reality, Macau currently has only one institution dedicated to teaching Portuguese, Kot said, adding that most of its students are expatriates or so-called Macanese. This situation results in limited outreach and promotion, raising concerns about the future role of Portuguese in the region.

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A painting that was once rejected as a work by Rembrandt van Rijn has now been acknowledged as a work by the Dutch master, thanks to two years of scrutiny in the city where the then-27-year-old artist painted it in 1633, a museum announced yesterday [Macau tome].

The Netherlands national art and history museum, the Rijksmuseum, unveiled the work, Vision of Zacharias in the Temple, and said painstaking analysis including high-tech scans has confirmed it was painted by Rembrandt after he moved to the capital, Amsterdam.

The painting hasnt been on public display in decades after being bought by a private collector in 1961, a year after it was deemed not to be a Rembrandt, the museum said in a statement. From Wednesday, will go on show among other masterpieces at the Rijksmusuem, where it is on long-term loan.

Director Taco Dibbits said the museum often gets emails from people asking if the painting they own might just be by the Golden Age master.

We always hope to find a new Rembrandt, but this happens rarely, he told The Associated Press. He said making such a discovery is just like (finding) a needle in a haystack.

The owner, who has remained anonymous, initially asked the museum only if the painting was Dutch.

He really didnt know what he had. And then to discover that its a Rembrandt is something thats amazing to experience, Dibbits said.

The painting depicts a biblical story in which high priest Zacharias is visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who tells the priest that he and his wife will have a son: John the Baptist. Zacharias surprised expression is highlighted by light heralding the arrival of Gabriel, the museum said.

An in-depth study of the work, including macro X-ray fluorescence scans and comparisons with other works by the artist, confirmed Rembrandt painted it, said the museums curator of 17th century Dutch paintings, Jonathan Bikker.

So the wood that was used for the panel on which its painted, that is definitely from a tree that was cut down before 1633, the date on the painting, he said.

All the pigments, the paint in the painting were used by Rembrandt in other paintings. And the layers of paint and how he painted it, that is also precisely the same as in other works by Rembrandt, he added.

The work joins about 350 known Rembrandt paintings and raised the hope that there may be more.

Were not actively looking for new paintings by Rembrandt, but I think this gives us hope  not just us, but everyone whos interested in Rembrandt, Bikker said. MIKE CORDER, THE HAGUE, MDT/AP

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Leading technology providers demonstrate next-generation business architecture enablement

SAN FRANCISCO, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Architecture Guild, an international community of business architecture practitioners with members in over 100 countries, today announced the featured Vendor Panel for the 14th Annual Business Architecture Innovation Summit, taking place March 2426, 2026 in Reston, Virginia. Registration is open for inperson and virtual attendance.

The Business Architecture Innovation Summit convenes global leaders advancing the discipline and applying business architecture to realworld transformation. This year's Vendor Panel features ins-pi, Orbus Software, and ValueBlue, with additional participants to be announced. Panelists will demonstrate the latest advancements in business architecture tooling, giving attendees a practical, side-by-side view of solutions that make strategy, value streams, capabilities, information, and initiatives visible and actionable  driving alignment, prioritization, and reduced transformation risk.

Participating vendors are part of the Guild's Vendor Program, a collaborative initiative that recognizes tools aligned with Guild principles and designed to streamline adoption of business architecture best practices. The program supports vendor alignment with the Guild's Business Architecture Metamodel, formal standards, and corresponding industry reference models, giving organizations access to tooling that adheres to industry best practices for streamlining ecosystem-wide, strategy execution.

"The Panel shows what today's tools can truly enable; the Summit shows how to put them to work," said Jason Smith, PhD, VP, Elemental Reasoning and Director, Business Architecture Guild. "Together they give teams a clear, standardsaligned path from strategy to execution."

In addition to the Vendor Panel, the Innovation Summit showcases keynotes, case studies, and proven best practices attendees can immediately apply. Program themes include:

Global trends in business architecture

Experience architecture & AI

Architecture-enabled change management

Capability-driven innovation

Data as a strategic asset

Digital twins for continuous insights

Industry reference model panel & lightning talks

The Vendor Panel will take place Wednesday, March 25, from 4:005:00 pm ET. Registered attendees may also join the complimentary preSummit Business Architecture Primer, available inperson and virtually.

About the Business Architecture Guild

The Business Architecture Guild is an international, not-for-profit, member-based association that provides valuable resources to business leaders, practitioners, and others interested in the field. The Business Architecture Guild is the source for A Guide to the Business Architecture Body of Knowledge (BIZBOK Guide) and exclusive provider of the Certified Business Architect (CBA) certification program.

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Analysts project Macaus gross gaming revenues to grow between 10% and 13% in March, building on a strong February finish supported by Chinese New Year travel.

Seaport Research Partners senior analyst Vitaly Umansky estimated in a Monday note that March gross gaming revenue (GGR) will rise 12.5% year-on-year, despite a 2.7% decline in average daily revenues compared with the combined January and February period. Meanwhile, JPMorgan forecasts March GGR growth exceeding 10%, based on daily levels of MOP700 million, which would lift first-quarter 2026 totals to 13%14%.

JPMorgan described full-February results as particularly impressive following the relatively soft Lunar New Year performance, attributing it to a timing dynamic, not weak underlying demand. Similarly, Seaport noted that February ended extremely strongly following a very weak first two weeks.

February revenues rose 4.5% year-on-year, boosted by a postChinese New Year tailwind after the mainland holiday ran February 1523 this year.

Umansky estimated daily GGR during the holiday at about MOP890 million, roughly 2% below October Golden Week levels  which spanned National Day on October 1  and 10% above Chinese New Year 2025, when the mainland holiday lasted eight days from January 28 to February 4.

Chinese New Year was late this year, with the China government official holiday period running February 15 to 23, and we expect some strength in March from high-end play as some high rollers stayed away during CNY, Umansky said. He cautioned, however, that Chinas National Peoples Congress, scheduled for March 5 to 11, could act as a headwind.

Macaus JanuaryFebruary combined GGR jumped 13.5% year-on-year, with VIP volumes up 28%-30% and mass market and slots growing 11%-12%, according to JPMorgan.

The bank highlighted green shoots including a shift toward mass and slot play, stabilizing operating expenses due to fewer non-gaming events, and steady promotions amid competition.

Seaport projects first-quarter 2026 GGR growth at 13.4%, slowing to mid-single-digit growth in the second quarter.

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The National Peoples Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are scheduled to convene in Beijing this week, as Macau leaders and representatives departed for the capital to submit proposals aimed at advancing regional integration.

The proposals focus on promoting Macaus integration into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and supporting the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

In 2026, marking the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC and the fourth session of the 14th NPC  collectively known as the Two Sessions  will commence in Beijing on Thursday and today, respectively.

Notably, the agenda for the fourth session of the NPC includes a review of the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, along with an examination of the draft plans and budgets for this year.

As announced by the Government Information Bureau (GCS), Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai departed Macau yesterday to attend the opening session of the NPC on Thursday, with Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak temporarily assuming the chief executives duties during his absence.

Also departing for Beijing yesterday to attend the sessions were several Macau deputies to the National Peoples Congress and members of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference.

In an airport interview, Kevin Ho said the Macau delegation plans to submit two collective proposals during this years Two Sessions, focusing on promoting Macaus service integration into the Greater Bay Area and advancing the development of the in-depth cooperation zone. Additionally, he mentioned submitting six or seven individual proposals centered on Greater Bay Area development.

Highlighting that this year marks the commencement of Chinas 15th Five-Year Plan, several local NPC deputies said they intend to focus on how Macau can better align with the national plan.

Among them, Ho Sut Heng emphasized the importance of talent development, advocating for an expanded scope of professional qualification recognition within Hengqin and the Greater Bay Area.

She also called for strengthened cooperation in talent cultivation to provide more development opportunities for Macau residents and Greater Bay Area youth, facilitating their better integration into the broader development landscape of Hengqin and Macau.

Similarly focused on the integrated development of Macau and Guangdong are several members of the CPPCC.

Among them, Wong Kit Chengs proposal examines how Macau youth can leverage the new development goals outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan to engage effectively in both the Greater Bay Area and the broader regional economy. It also explores ways future policy planning can enhance development opportunities for Macau youth.

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A local man in his 60s was arrested last week for drunk driving after colliding with a bus on Avenida 1 de Maio. When police officers arrived at the scene to process the incident, they detected the odor of alcohol on the driver of the private vehicle, who reported his occupation as a driver. A breathalyzer test revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was 1.66 grams per liter, leading to his arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. During questioning, he admitted that he had consumed alcohol earlier while dining in the northern district before driving home, during which the accident occurred.

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MGM is continuing its partnership with Thailands EM District to host a familiarization trip for more than 50 Thai business leaders and entrepreneurs from March 5 to 8.

The program builds on last years collaboration, which introduced EM Districts clientele to MGMs hospitality offerings and welcomed the first Thai business delegation to Macau. This years visit aims to further strengthen cultural and commercial exchanges between the business communities of Macau and Thailand.

As part of the program, MGM said in a statement that it will host an exclusive gala dinner on the delegations first evening in Macau to provide a platform for networking and industry exchange among participants.

The event will take place on March 5 at MGM Cotai, Level L2M  Vista.

The program will officially begin at 7 p.m. with speeches from representatives of MGM, EM District, and The Thai Dairy Industry Co., Ltd.

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The United States and Israel targeted Iran in coordinated attacks over the weekend that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior figures and kicked off a furious Iranian response that was expanding into a wider regional war.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the campaign could take several weeks. Allies of the U.S. pledged to help stop Irans missile and drone strikes. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah claimed strikes on Israel for the first time in more than a year, and Israel fired back.

The first U.S. military deaths have been reported. Other deaths have been confirmed in Israel and Gulf nations, while Iran has said several hundred people have been killed there.

With Khameneis death, the Islamic Republic must now choose a supreme leader for the first time since 1989. Trump has urged Iranians to seize the moment and overthrow the theocracy that cracked down on nationwide protests earlier this year. There was no sign that was happening.

Around the world, some protested. Others cheered.

The attacks came two days after the latest U.S.-Iran talks aimed at putting controls on Tehrans nuclear program. They echoed the events of last year, when talks were cut short by an Israeli attack that led to a 12-day war and U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. Washington has claimed that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program in recent months.

Iran has said it hasnt enriched since June, but it has blocked inspectors with the U.N. nuclear watchdog from visiting the sites America bombed.

Heres where things stand.

Iran

The 86-year-old Khamenei was killed when his compound was bombed Saturday morning. Irans ballistic missile sites, navy headquarters and warships were attacked as well. Iran said strikes also targeted the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. Israel and the U.S. have not acknowledged strikes at the site, though Israel has said it is targeting the leadership and nuclear infrastructure.

Khamenei had no designated successor. Iran has set up a three-member leadership council, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said a new supreme leader would be chosen in one or two days. On the streets, there have been scattered celebrations over Khameneis death. Internet restrictions in Iran have complicated efforts to monitor whats happening.

In retaliation, Irans military has struck Israel, where several people have been killed. Iran has also targeted U.S. bases in the region. The U.S. military said four service members were killed, the first known U.S. casualties. Other Iranian strikes have killed a handful of people in Gulf nations including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and hundreds of flights have been affected at some of the worlds busiest airports.

What to watch for: further military strikes, the selection of a new supreme leader, and reactions from the Iranian people.

United States

The strikes came after the U.S. built up its biggest military presence in the region in decades. Israeli and U.S. authorities spent weeks tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders. Trump has said the heavy and pinpoint bombing in Iran would continue through the week or longer.

The U.S. has signaled it is willing to talk to Irans new leaders, eventually. Meanwhile, some leaders in Congress have protested at the launch of the strikes without congressional authorization. Others elsewhere raised legal questions.

What to watch for: further military strikes, effects on U.S. bases and forces, and any diplomacy with Irans new leadership.

Israel

Israel sees Iran as an existential threat and has long sought to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while also targeting armed allied groups like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli attacks have weakened those groups since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that started the war in Gaza.

Now Israel has pledged nonstop strikes and at one point said 100 fighter jets were simultaneously striking targets in Tehran. During last years war, Israel pitched Trump a plan to kill Khamenei. Now they have.

Israelis dashed to shelters for safety, but most of Irans attacks have been intercepted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under international criticism for the war in Gaza, is claiming a win for Israels security.

But risk remains from Iranian-backed groups like the Houthi rebels in Yemen who have vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel.

What to watch for: further military strikes, as well as attacks by and against Iranian proxies.

The Middle East and beyond

The current conflict is already far more intense than last years Israel-Iran war, where the U.S. inserted itself near the end by bombing Iranian nuclear sites and Iran responded with a calculated attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar.

Now, hundreds of Iranian missile and drone strikes have sent people scrambling across Gulf nations that had previously been relatively insulated from the volatility in the region.

The United Arab Emirates said Dubais main airport had been affected, and tourists and others flinched at the booms of interceptors. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted attacks, and summoned Irans ambassador. Top diplomats of six Gulf states said they had the right to self-defense. The Gulf state of Qatar said its air force shot down two Iranian bombers.

Oil prices rose sharply when market trading began Sunday as traders bet that supply from the critical region would slow or stop. Attacks on and near the Strait of Hormuz, the worlds most critical oil chokepoint, are also raising concerns about supply.CARA ANNA, MDT/AP

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3 March marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most significant events of the revolution against the Franco regime in Spain, which is today misnamed the transition to democracy.

On that day in 1976, a general strike paralysed the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in support of workers economic, social and political demands. The strike was carried out by worker, neighbourhood and student committees in a climate of popular insurrection. To repress this movement, Francos police orchestrated a massacre, which resulted in the murder of five workers.

[Originally published in Spanish at comunistasrevolucionarios.org]

This shocking event and the mass mobilisations it provoked accelerated the decomposition of the moribund Francoist regime, which was resisting its exit from the stage of history by force of repression and terror.

Revolution against Francoism

Following the death of the dictator Franco months earlier, there was an atmosphere of widespread revolt. In the early months of 1976, workers struggles gained irresistible momentum. More than a million workers were involved in strikes. The situation reached its climax in Vitoria at the beginning of March.

The struggle in Vitoria began in early January at the Forjas Alavesas metalworks. It quickly spread to other factories, following the drafting of a list of demands by workers assemblies. The most important points of these demands were: a flat wage increase of 6,000 pesetas to break the wage caps imposed by the government, a 40-hour working week, and retirement at 60 with 100 percent of salary.

The workers held weekly assemblies in the church of San Francisco de Asis in the city, and there were regular clashes with the police in the streets. There were daily assemblies in each factory to assess the progress of the struggle. The strike spread to the main factories in Vitoria, and a central strike committee was formed.

Assemblies were organised in working-class neighbourhoods and schools, and committees of solidarity with the struggle were created, which were also integrated into the central strike committee.

The most significant development was the election of representative committees in each factory, made up of the most militant workers, to coordinate the struggles and negotiate with the bosses. They were accountable to the assemblies and delegates could be recalled by them at any time. In turn, the delegates to the regional coordinating meetings could also be recalled at any time.

The strike encompassed the main factories in Vitoria, and the stoppage was absolute. The strike committee published a daily bulletin to update workers on the progress of the struggle. Resistance funds were set up to cover the costs of the mobilisation and to help workers in financial difficulties.

From students to the local clergy to agricultural workers, the entire community was involved. Shops provided credit and loans to the strikers, and students organised demonstrations because their parents and siblings were on strike.

Throughout the struggle, women played a prominent role in supporting the workers. They organised a strike fund, collected food from local villages, and held regular empty shopping bag marches in the town square to support the workers.

The employers and the state tried to undermine the struggle with dismissals and arrests. The demand for the release of those arrested, and the reinstatement of those dismissed, was therefore placed at the forefront of the struggle.

In the midst of the struggle, there were two general strikes in the city on 16 and 23 February, which both saw the participation of workers, students, professionals and small businesses.

The strike on 3 March

After fifty-four days of uninterrupted strikes, a new general strike was called for 3 March. The strike was unanimously observed. Ninety percent of shops and bars were closed, and shutters were lowered.

From the beginning of the day, there were clashes between the police and pickets outside the factories. Subsequently, large groups of workers began to move towards the city centre. Traffic was completely blocked. Within hours, the city was covered with improvised barricades. Vitoria was paralysed.

At midday, the first cases of repression with live fire occurred. The column of picketing Mercedes-Benz workers was suppressed with gunfire, and the first bullet wounds were reported.

Until then, the police had respected the churches where the workers were holding meetings. But that day, they entered two of them. This was a warning of what was to come.

The massacre

In the afternoon, more than 5,000 people attended the general assembly convened at the Church of San Francisco de Asis. The building was packed with men, women and children. Another 10,000 were gathered outside.

The police began to disperse the workers who were heading towards the assembly. But instead of blocking the entrance to the church before the meeting began, they waited until the crowd was inside before starting to evict the occupants. The police fired smoke bombs and tear gas into the church to force people out. As people left, the police opened fire, killing two workers and wounding many others, many of them seriously, of whom three later died.

The dead were: Pedro Martinez Ocio, 27; Francisco Aznar, 17; Romualdo Barroso, 19; Jose Castillo, 43; and Bienvenido Pereda, 32. People outside the church who tried to come to their aid were beaten. That same night, those who rushed to hospitals to see their injured relatives were also attacked with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Officially, there were 150 injuries but the real total is much higher, as many stayed away from hospitals to avoid arrest and the possibility of further ill-treatment at the hands of the police.

The radio communications of the police during the course of the day capture chilling conversations. This small excerpt tells us everything we need to know about their attitude to the workers they gunned down:

Proceed to clear the church. Over. So we have personnel surrounding the outside. We're going to have to use weapons. Over. Get them out by any means necessary. Send reinforcements here, we've fired over 2,000 shots. Over. I was asking if there were any casualties. Over. None of our own so far. Over. Okay, fine. Fine. Over. So there's been a massacre here. Over. Okay, okay. Over.

When news of the killings spread, the workers erupted in a wave of fury. They vented their anger by tearing down telephone booths and lamp posts to erect barricades. Rioting continued well into the night.

At the funeral of the murdered workers, there was a huge demonstration, with more than 100,000 people in attendance. Political speeches were given over the graves of these martyrs of the working class. As one of the strike leaders put it, This is not just a mourning for the families of these men. It is a mourning for the entire working class.

The executioners who ordered the shooting of these workers have names and surnames: Minister of the Interior Manuel Fraga and Rodolfo Martin Villa, who replaced him while he was out of the country.

The events in Vitoria had an electric effect on the consciousness of hundreds of thousands of workers throughout the Spanish state. Spontaneous strikes and demonstrations were called in different parts of the country. By 4 March, there was already a total strike in Pamplona. On 5 March, a Duro Felguera worker was killed by the police in Tarragona. Another worker was killed in Elda (Alicante).

Everywhere, people were waiting for a general strike to be called. However, the leaders of the CCOO union called for calm and did not call for any action. Only in the Basque Country, on 8 March, was a general strike called: 500,000 workers responded in solidarity with the workers of Vitoria. In Basauri (Vizcaya), an 18-year-old worker was shot in the head and killed by the police.

It was time to intensify the struggle. The situation was clearly pre-revolutionary. The objective conditions for socialist revolution were in place. The heroism shown by the workers in every strike and every demonstration indicated that they were prepared to fight to the end. The petty bourgeoisie, small farmers, small traders, university students, the self-employed, etc., viewed the workers' struggle with increasing sympathy and, in many cases, joined it. The bourgeoisie was in a state of panic, demoralised and divided, completely isolated from the majority of society.

But waging a revolutionary struggle against the remnants of Francoism was the last thing the leaders of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE)  the party that controlled the Workers' Commissions (CCOO) and most of the organised opposition to the regime in the labour and neighbourhood movement  wanted. They sought at all costs to reach an agreement with the open wing of the regime for an orderly democratic transition.

They eventually achieved this by giving in on everything: the monarchy, the Francoist flag, the maintenance of the Francoist state apparatus and, of course, respect for the property of the big monopolies and banks that had sustained the dictatorship for decades.

Without hesitation, the leaders of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and the Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) joined in the betrayal.

The aftermath

After the massacre, the businessmen remained just as obstinate. They were determined not to reinstate the dismissed workers or open the factory gates. But faced with the explosive situation, the government intervened. Fraga Iribarne ordered that a binding arbitration award be imposed. This relieved the employers of the painful necessity of voluntarily rehiring those who had been dismissed.

Fifty years later, we neither forget nor forgive / Image: Zarateman, Wikimedia Commons

The strike ended on 16 March, when the employers accepted almost all the points in the workers list of demands. The workers' victory was clear, but it had a bitter taste.

However, there would be political consequences of the events in Vitoria. Four months later, the Prime Minister, Carlos Arias Navarro, and the Minister of the Interior, Manuel Fraga himself, were dismissed. It was clear that the government used the Vitoria massacre as a bloody warning to the labour movement against the proliferation of strikes after Franco's death. The then Minister of the Presidency and Second Deputy Minister, Alfonso Osorio, admitted:

We had already been informed by business leaders that small soviets were forming and had to be extinguished.

No police officers or commanders were ever arrested. Three union leaders were imprisoned and granted amnesty five months later by then-President Adolfo Suarez.

Fifty years later, we neither forget nor forgive. But we will not be able to obtain justice or reparation for these or the other crimes committed against the working class within the current 1978 regime, which was established on the basis of the fraud and betrayal that was the so-called Transition.

This regime must be overthrown along with the capitalist system on which it is based. To tackle this task, the new generation must apply itself to studying the revolutionary struggle against Francoism and the so-called democratic transition. We must draw the correct lessons from these historical processes in order to contribute to the success of the struggle for socialism today.
In December, two gunmen carried out the deadliest mass shooting Australia has seen in decades. This vile, antisemitic attack, inspired by Islamic State, took place during Hanukkah celebrations at Sydneys Bondi Beach. In its aftermath, the Labor government initiated a brutal wave of repression, cynically using the attack to crack down on Australias pro-Palestine movement  the worlds largest outside the Middle East in terms of the number of major protests.

But this has not been the only fallout of the Bondi Beach attack. The governments response has inadvertently led to an unprecedented crisis in the opposition Liberal/National Coalition  the traditional party of the Australian capitalist class  and the ensuing turmoil has sparked the seemingly meteoric rise of Pauline Hansons right-wing populist One Nation.

Barely ten months ago, Anthony Albaneses Labor swept to power in a supposed landslide victory that buoyed the optimism of the countrys exploiters and oppressors. At the time, we wrote that the apparent calm on the electoral front masked deeper contradictions that would sooner or later erupt in dramatic fashion.

Labors response to the Bondi Beach attack has now blown up in their face, and has revealed the fragility of the previously unshakable institutions of Australian bourgeois democracy, which until now had seemed to weather the crisis of world capitalism better than most.

Since Bondi, the naive optimism of the ruling class that accompanied Labors victory last year has been transformed into open anxiety, writ large on the pages of the capitalist press.

Labors provocations mask their weakness

The immense scale of Australias pro-Palestine movement since the beginning of Israels genocidal war on Gaza is a reflection of a vacuum in the class struggle. It is the other side of the coin of the apparent stability that Australian politics had seemed to enjoy compared to other countries. With bubbling class frustrations finding little expression in politics or the trade unions, angry workers and youth have consistently taken their anger to the streets in their tens of thousands, in solidarity with Palestine.

The undisguised class anger at the centre of these mobilisations, if given a more organised expression, has the potential to pose a tangible threat to the entire Australian establishment. Both the major parties have backed the genocide in Palestine whilst attacking workers and youth at home.

For this reason, the ruling class have long sought to disarm and demobilise the movement. Having failed to ameliorate the situation through symbolic concessions, such as recognising Palestine as a state, Labor was undoubtedly awaiting an excuse to exchange the carrot for the stick.

In this context, the governments invitation of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the Bondi Beach commemorations in February, can only be seen as a provocation. It was self-evident that the arrival of Herzog  who even the UN accuses of inciting the commission of genocide  would evoke a massive response. This is no doubt precisely what the government intended, in order to justify a crackdown.

While the Australian police are not known for their leniency at the best of times, the repression of the anti-Herzog protests marked a severe escalation.

The abundant footage on social media, filled with the terrified screams of the protestors, makes for difficult viewing. Police officers indiscriminately attacked peaceful protestors, including children and the elderly. Many were beaten, dragged by their hair, and kicked whilst on the ground, often by multiple officers simultaneously. 69-year-old Jann Alhafny, whose Palestinian husband was forced to flee his home during the Nakba, was hospitalised with four broken vertebrae.

pic.twitter.com/knYby4cr7x in what Australia is this even possible????

Please explain how this level of police brutality can be justified??? @ChrisMinnsMP Herzog visit  Kathy Crawford (@crakeka1) February 11, 2026

Police officers also targeted Muslim protestors in the middle of evening prayer, as Abigail Boyd, a Green Party lawmaker who was herself beaten by the police, described:

There was a group of people who were praying because it was evening prayer time. There was maybe 12 of them. They were praying peacefully and it was clear that the police were wanting to move them on in the middle of their prayer They then went in and grabbed these people who were praying. You cant get anything more peaceful than prayer. Picking them up and just throwing them on the ground again.

These protestors made up the angry and violent mob, described by New South Wales police chief Mal Lanyon, against whom the vicious police thugs showed remarkable restraint and did what they needed to do.

In Sydney, Australia, police attacked Muslims who were peacefully praying. Protesters were beaten, pepper-sprayed, and subjected to brutality by the police. pic.twitter.com/dfqVAwjvK2  The Muslim (@TheMuslim786) February 9, 2026

The shameless hatred for the masses shown by Lanyon and all the officers involved in the attack on innocent protestors has been met with the disgust of workers and youth, both in Australia and internationally. Albanese did little less to disguise his contempt. He described the scenes of police violence as devastating... before throwing the blame on the anti-genocide demonstrators themselves, who he accused of undermining their own cause  a cause which he has made abundantly clear that he does not share.

The crackdown at the anti-Herzog protests was intended as a coup de main, to strike fear into the pro-Palestine movement and thereby end this nuisance for the ruling class once and for all. It would be a mistake, however, to view this as a show of strength on the part of the capitalist class.

In a country that has long prided itself on espousing democratic, peaceful values, brutal shock-and-awe tactics are a weapon of last resort. The ruling class has tried for years to shut down the pro-Palestine movement. The desperation of these attacks shows their true fear.

As subsequent demonstrations have shown, the escalation of repression has not stopped the movement. Instead, it has embarrassed Albanese and the Labor Party both at home and on the world stage.

Due to lack of any alternative, Labor has still just about managed to top the polls since the election, but its grip is weakening and its support has been steadily in decline for almost a year now.

Albaneses response to the Bondi attack was meant to turn this around, and reinforce Labors position. In reality, far from strengthening Labor, Albanese has deepened its anxieties by further discrediting the party. Yet the crisis of the establishment catalysed by the Bondi attack is not limited to Labor.

Coalition in crisis

The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 was presented as Labors assurance that they were taking hate crime seriously in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack. In reality, it is not hard to foresee that the expansion of police powers and the new, vague definition of hate crime are yet another potential weapon against the pro-Palestine movement.

What the capitalist class likely did not foresee, however, was that the bill would precipitate the latest in a string of recent crises in the Liberal/National Coalition  the hallowed union of the parties of Australias urban and rural bourgeoisie that has existed in some form for over 100 years.

The Nationals concerns over restrictions on free speech in the hate speech bill led them to abandon their positions as shadow ministers and temporarily dissolve the Coalition. After almost 40 years of Coalition politicians amicably collaborating without any splits, this is the second time the Coalition has been temporarily dissolved in less than 12 months.

While every acrimonious dispute within the Coalition has so far been resolved, this is little more than papering over the cracks. What we are seeing is the protracted, terminal decline of the most powerful capitalist party in Australian history.

The capitalist class can no longer rely on the Coalition to function  let alone govern / Image: John Englart, Wikimedia Commons

The fate of the Coalition hangs in the balance now more than ever. The recent dispute over free speech is nothing but a mirage. There are good reasons for the Nationals to want a more permanent split, or at least to radically alter their position as the junior partner in this increasingly unhappy marriage.

The number of metropolitan seats held by Coalition MPs is at a record low compared to the number of provincial/rural seats they hold. It remains to be seen whether the Nationals  the rural conscience of the Coalition  think they could be more successful on their home turf by cutting themselves free from the moribund inner-city elites at the top of the Liberal Party.

Even the recent ousting of Sussan Ley as Liberal Party and Coalition leader  who retired from politics with an impressive minus 40 percent approval rating  has done little to assuage concerns about the viability of the Coalition.

Her replacement, Angus Taylor, is variously described by mouthpiece of Australian capitalism the Financial Review as: underwhelming, hopeless at politics, irrelevant and struggling to say things clearly. In the words of Taylors Liberal Party colleague, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull: what a lot of people say about Angus Taylor is he is the best-qualified idiot theyve ever met.

The capitalist class can no longer rely on the Coalition to function  let alone govern!  and are freely admitting this in article after article. The fallout of the Bondi Beach attack has been catastrophic for the Coalition, as the parties incompetence and incessant infighting have once again been put front and centre.

This has happened precisely at a time when the ruling class needs a reliable opposition to soak up the growing resentment against Labor. Instead, that resentment has gone elsewhere over the last few months, and Australias previously unshakable two-party system is now endangered by what in the past would have seemed an impossible threat.

Hansons rise

Millionaire perennial politician and former fish-and-chip shop magnate Pauline Hanson is in many ways an unlikely insurgent figure. She is a seasoned veteran of the fringes of politics, with an extensive 30-year political career littered with innumerable scandals.

Her electoral vehicles have consistently failed to gain lasting traction. Yet, from a meagre six percent in the election last year, Hansons party, One Nation, is now consistently polling between 20 and 30 percent, often above the Coalition.

Contrary to the fears of parts of the left, the extreme bigotry that has characterised Hansons politics for the last three decades is not her main point of attraction. Fearmongering in the media that One Nation getting 25 percent in the polls is the beginning of a slippery slope towards crypto-fascism fails to understand the true dynamics of the situation.

While Hanson styles herself as the original Trump-esque populist whose time has finally come, it is abundantly clear that, as The Sydney Morning Herald notes, One Nations recent success was not precipitated by an attraction to Hanson primarily. It was a revulsion towards the Coalition and its internal disarray.

Recent polling shows that almost 70 percent of former Coalition voters say they either definitely would vote One Nation in the future, or are open to it. The vanishing credibility of the Coalition has opened up a vacuum, which has led to the rapid rise in support for the least chaotic of the many semi-functioning political outfits in the bottomless pit of the Australian populist right.

Hanson, as well as former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce  who defected to One Nation from the Nationals in December  has used the Bondi Beach attack not only to stir up Islamophobic sentiments, but to attack the major parties.

Provocative, anti-establishment rhetoric is the secret of One Nations success, as Hanson recently stated:

When the government dont address what [peoples] concerns are, then you know its time for change. Its about being that voice, the country has gone to rack and ruin, Im absolutely so frustrated and angry the way the government  not only this one but past  have not addressed the real concerns the public are now feeling.

But translating their current popularity into an electoral victory is far from assured.

Could Hanson win?

As we have previously written, the immense profits accrued by the Australian capitalist class since the 2008 crisis have depended on the deepening of tariff-free trade with China. This poses a particular problem for Hanson, who has long supported protectionist measures, tariffs, and has proposed significant restrictions on foreign investment and ownership.

Translating Hanson's current popularity into an electoral victory is far from assured / Image: public domain

Specifically relating to China  overwhelmingly Australias largest export and import market  Hanson has spent decades spreading disgusting anti-Asian sentiments. Her maiden parliamentary speech in 1996 was a loathsome anti-Asian diatribe, including her infamous statement that Australia is being swamped by Asians.

The idea that the ruling class would throw their weight behind someone ideologically committed to destroying the countrys relationship with its biggest economic partner is unthinkable. Equally unthinkable, however, is the idea of a reformed Prime Minister Hanson genially shaking hands with Xi Jinping and discussing favourable trade deals.

To give a recent comparison, the Coalition government under Scott Morrison sparked a dramatic three-year trade war with China in 2020, after Morrison and his Minister for Foreign Affairs called for an inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 virus within China.

What could have been a minor diplomatic spat led to Chinese tariffs and import bans on Australian coal and agricultural products that cost the mining sector alone over $1 billion. If the calculated rhetoric of a Liberal politician could cause so much damage, it is not hard to imagine a far worse outcome from a Hanson premierships uncontrolled bombast.

Hansons policies would be economic suicide for the Australian ruling class, particularly the dominant mining industry, which relies on Chinese trade and dictates much of the stock market.

While none of this precludes a One Nation victory, it diminishes the likelihood of Australias rich and powerful lending Hanson much support. The party has risen sporadically in the polls before, but has never gained the backing of Australias wealthy powerbrokers in the banks and the stock exchange.

Whenever the party has made gains previously, it is only to sink into the background again due to Hansons love of childish infighting and poor-taste spectacle. Despite this, with no end in sight for the turmoil in the Coalition, and little on offer from the left, the polarising mood in society will have to find an expression somewhere, and so long as its Hanson, that spells trouble for the ruling class.

No faith in the capitalist parties

The attack at Bondi Beach represents a turning point in the recent period. It has accelerated the long-standing crisis in the established capitalist parties, and has posed the need for a real alternative more sharply than ever.

Labor sits at the top of a vast parliamentary majority, and yet has never felt weaker. The Coalition has reunited, yet is more divided than ever. Meanwhile, both are terrified of One Nations rise, and Pauline Hanson is riding a thoroughbred Queensland bull directly towards Australias China shop.

Only the working class and the youth can cut the Gordian Knot. No political party has a right to survive, as one former Liberal MP recently noted. These words are very true, and the period to come will break every single one of the parties that presently exists. The only party that has any historical justification in the period to come is the only one that can take society forward: the party of socialist revolution. That party is yet to be built and it is the one we must begin building immediately.
OPENGATE 2.0 and SAMD systems deliver multicaliber weapons detection, intelligent shoe screening and unprecedented throughput, built to highest industry standards

HUDSON, Ohio, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CEIA USA, a global leader in advanced security screening technology, announced the commercial availability of two security solutions designed to improve checkpoint operations across industries, including education, healthcare, public venues, corporate entrances and industrial locations. The OPENGATE 2.0 walk-through weapons detection system and SAMD (Shoe Analyzer Metal Detector) are built to address a central challenge in modern screening: maintaining rigorous threat detection while improving efficiency and user experience.

OPENGATE 2.0 combines multi-caliber weapons detection with higher throughput to help reduce delays associated with traditional walk-through metal detectors. Designed to minimize divesting and lower nuisance alarms, it supports efficient screening while meeting demanding security requirements. Advanced, multi-zone detection technology with shoe alarm indication enables faster secondary screening and reduces inspection time.

"Security checkpoints have long been synonymous with operational inefficiency," said Luca Cacioli, CEO of CEIA USA. "OPENGATE 2.0 takes our original model to the next level, fundamentally reimagining the screening experience. With minimized divesting requirements, it delivers the highest throughput rates in the industry while achieving lower-than-ever nuisance alarm rates."

Designed for fast deployment and ease of operation, the OPENGATE 2.0 system weighs 25 pounds and can be set up or taken down in under a minute. Clear go/no-go signaling provides immediate results, helping reduce staff decision time and training needs. Individuals can walk through with backpacks, purses, bags and footwear, reducing the need for divesting and secondary checks.

OPENGATE 2.0 is compliant with established electromagnetic and electrical safety regulations, and it performs reliably in indoor or outdoor settings without overhead cover or electrical outlets. LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity, with optional asset tracking, supports fleet management and remote monitoring. Built-in ASTM F3566-22 security levels support alignment with recognized security standards.

SAMD shoe screening is designed for high-security environments where footwear with metal components (such as steel shanks and decorative elements) can trigger nuisance alarms and lead to time-consuming secondary inspections. Using advanced algorithms, SAMD differentiates between threat signatures and normal shoe metal content, including safety/steel-toe boots, to detect concealed weapons while filtering benign materials. The fast, nonintrusive process helps increase throughput and reduce unnecessary secondary screening.

OPENGATE 2.0 and SAMD are available immediately through CEIA USA and its authorized distribution network. CEIA USA provides training, installation support and ongoing technical assistance.

For technical specifications, pricing, or to schedule a product demonstration, visit ceia-usa.com.

About CEIA USA

CEIA USA is a global leader in advanced security screening technology, providing innovative solutions for threat detection across aviation, critical infrastructure, public venues, education and government sectors. With a commitment to combining uncompromising security with operational efficiency and user experience, CEIA USA develops cutting-edge technology that addresses the growing challenges faced by security professionals worldwide. The company's comprehensive product portfolio includes walk-through weapons detection systems, hand-held metal detectors, shoe screening technology, contraband detection systems and integrated security solutions designed to meet the highest international standards. For more information, go to ceia-usa.com.

Note to editors: High-resolution product images, technical specifications and executive interview opportunities are available upon request.

SOURCE CEIA USA
\A. Mungar, du Rassemblement Mauricien, interpelle officiellement le Ministere des Affaires etrangeres suite aux declarations jugees outrageantes du President americain. Ce dernier a qualifie larchipel des Chagos d ile stupide  et conteste les droits legitimes du peuple chagossien.

Points cles de la requete :

Denonciation des propos : Les declarations sont percues comme une distorsion des faits historiques et une atteinte a lintegrite territoriale de Maurice, en violation des avis de la CIJ (2019) et des resolutions de lONU.

Actions exigees :

-Convocation de lAmbassadeur des Etats-Unis pour exprimer lindignation de la Republique.

-Publication dun dementi officiel reaffirmant la souverainete mauricienne.

-Renforcement du plaidoyer international pour achever la decolonisation.

Lauteur insiste sur le fait que la souverainete de Maurice, bien que petit Etat insulaire, doit etre defendue avec vigueur face a ce quil considere comme une occupation illegale et une insulte nationale.

I am writing to formally request that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade take immediate and decisive diplomatic action following recent public statements made by the President of the United States regarding the Chagos Archipelago and the sovereignty of the Republic of Mauritius. In a widely circulated video, the U.S. President referred to our sovereign territory as a  stupid island  and characterized the legitimate rights of the Chagossian people as a fabrication. These remarks are not merely  undiplomatic ; they constitute a gross distortion of historical fact and a direct challenge to the territorial integrity of Mauritius. As you are aware, the 2019 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and UN General Assembly Resolution 73/295 have unequivocally affirmed that the Chagos Archipelago is an integral part of the territory of Mauritius. By dismissing the plight of the displaced Chagossian communitywho were forcibly and illegally removed from their homesthe Presidents comments undermine the international rule of law and the dignity of every Mauritian citizen. In light of this, I urge the Ministry to: Summon the U.S. Ambassador: Formally express the Republics  profound indignation  at these comments. Issue a Statement of Rebuttal: Reiterate that Mauritius will not tolerate the trivialization of its decolonization process or the mockery of its citizens. Strengthen International Advocacy: Use this incident to remind our global partners that the illegal occupation of the Chagos Archipelago remains an open wound in the history of African decolonization. Mauritius may be a small island state, but our sovereignty is not  small,  and it is certainly not  stupid.  We expect our government to defend our national honor with the same vigor that we defend our borders. I look forward to seeing a firm and public response from your Ministry. Respectfully,

A.Mungar

Rassemblement Mauricien

Proud citizen of the Republic of Mauritius Letter sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cc to the PMO, given that this is a matter of territorial integrity and involve the US Embassy
Un atelier de validation sur la mise a jour du National Schedule of Rates (NSR) sest ouvert ce matin a Port-Louis, en presence du ministre de lInfrastructure nationale, M. Ajay Gunness.

Lobjectif est de presenter la version revisee du document aux acteurs du secteur pour obtenir un consensus avant sa publication finale.

Transparence et equite : Les piliers du nouveau NSR

Le ministre a souligne que le NSR est un outil fondamental pour garantir la transparence et la coherence des prix dans lindustrie. Avec une contribution constante de 5 % a 7 % au Produit Interieur Brut (PIB) ces dernieres annees, le secteur de la construction demeure un moteur de la transformation nationale vers la Vision 2050.

Ajay Gunness a exhorte les professionnels a identifier toute incoherence pour que le document reflete les realites actuelles du marche, tout en mettant laccent sur :

Lamelioration de la productivite et des capacites techniques.

Le renforcement des normes et de la conformite.

Ladoption doutils numeriques comme le Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Modernisation de la gouvernance : De nouveaux grades pour les entrepreneurs

Le ministre a salue le role de la Construction Industry Authority (CIA) dans lamelioration de la gouvernance. Il a rappele que depuis janvier 2026, une nouvelle reglementation a transforme le systeme de classification des entrepreneurs : on passe dun modele a 4 niveaux a un systeme de 8 grades alphabetiques, juge plus juste et equitable.

De leur cote, M. Avinash Shree Mojee (President de la CIA) et M. Trilock Bhunjun (Officier en charge) ont precise que ces initiatives visent a aligner Maurice sur les meilleures pratiques internationales.

English Resume

A validation workshop for the updated National Schedule of Rates (NSR) opened today in Port Louis. Minister of National Infrastructure, Mr. Govindranath Gunness, met with industry stakeholders to reach a consensus on the revised document before its final publication. A validation workshop for the updated National Schedule of Rates (NSR) opened today in Port Louis. Minister of National Infrastructure, Mr. Govindranath Gunness, met with industry stakeholders to reach a consensus on the revised document before its final publication. Transparency and Vision 2050

The NSR serves as a vital tool for ensuring pricing consistency and fairness. With the construction sector contributing 5% to 7% of Mauritius GDP, the Minister emphasized its role in the  Vision 2050  transformation. Key priorities for the updated NSR include: Enhanced Productivity: Building technical capacity across the board. Digital Innovation: Promoting tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM). Standards: Strengthening compliance to meet international benchmarks. New 8-Grade Contractor System

The Construction Industry Authority (CIA) is spearheading a governance overhaul. As of January 2026, the traditional 4-tier contractor classification has been replaced by a more precise 8-grade alphabetical system. This shift aims to provide a fairer categorization for contractors of all sizes. Chairman Avinash Shree Mojee and Officer-in-Charge Trilock Bhunjun noted that these reforms align Mauritius with global best practices, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable industry. Quick Fact: The NSR has evolved significantly, growing from 1,650 items in 2012 to nearly 6,000 in its previous edition.
Zimbabwes Cabinet has approved an immediate and indefinite ban on the export of raw minerals and lithium concentrates, effective February 26, 2026, in a decisive move to accelerate domestic value addition.

Speaking after Tuesdays Cabinet meeting, Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the measure was introduced in the national interest, aimed at strengthening local processing and curbing industry practices that undermined earlier Government directives.

The Government had initially scheduled a ban on lithium concentrate exports for January 2027. However, authorities reversed course after observing what the minister described as malpractices within the sector. According to him, producers responded to the earlier notice by ramping up output and export volumes, alongside a surge in applications for lithium export permits.

After the notice on the intended ban, the industry responded otherwise by increasing its level of production and also increasing export volumes. There was also an increased appetite for lithium export permits, and the rationale behind it was to export as much product as possible before the notice period, he said.

He added: So we had to come in with this intervention of banning the export of lithium concentrates and also any raw minerals or minerals that are not value-added with effect from Feb. 26, 2026.

The prohibition will remain in force until government expectations are met. Zimbabwe has attracted substantial investment in its lithium sector in recent years, driven by rising global demand for the mineral, a key component in the global energy transition.
Ethiopia has announced the 4th Invest in Ethiopia International Investment Forum, scheduled for March 2627, 2026, aiming to secure investment agreements exceeding 2.4 billion US dollars.

Ethiopian Investment Commissioner Zeleke Temesgen told journalists on Tuesday that the Ethiopian Investment Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and development partners, will host the event at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa.

The forum, themed Ethiopia is ready for investment, is expected to attract over 800 international investors, business leaders, policymakers, and development partners.

The two-day programme will feature high-level policy and investment discussion panels, business-to-business networking sessions, and investment exhibitions. Commissioner Zeleke emphasised that the forum will showcase Ethiopias favorable investment climate and opportunities arising from recent macroeconomic reforms. Last year, five companies in mining and solar sectors signed deals worth 1.6 billion USD, and they are now operational and exporting internationally.

Finance State Minister Semereta Sewasew highlighted that ongoing macroeconomic reforms are creating an enabling environment for investors. She pointed to opportunities across agriculture, mining, digitalisation, and energy sectors. World Bank Division Director for Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Sudan, Maryam Salim, noted that Ethiopia is at a pivotal moment, with reforms, macroeconomic stabilisation, and sector openings supporting renewed investor confidence.

Salim underscored the countrys shift toward a market-driven economy, citing reforms such as a market-determined exchange rate and WTO-aligned customs procedures. She urged local and international investors to capitalise on Ethiopias young, growing population, strategic location, strong agricultural base, and expanding industrial sector, stressing that the forum presents a timely opportunity to engage with the countrys investment landscape.
Africa is strategically positioned at the heart of the global energy transition as the international order undergoes significant recalibration.

Addressing delegates at the Africa Energy Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Tuesday, Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, described the moment as one of historic consequence, shaped by geopolitical tensions, intensifying conflicts and a structural transformation of the global energy system.

He noted that supply chains are being reshaped by strategic rivalry, while major economies are deploying expansive industrial policies and subsidy regimes to secure clean technology value chains.

The Minister emphasised that energy has become central to global power dynamics, placing Africa in a structurally pivotal role rather than on the periphery. He argued that the global transition to net zero emissions is materially dependent on the continents mineral wealth.

Platinum group metals are essential for scaling the hydrogen economy; cobalt, manganese and copper underpin battery technologies; vanadium supports long-duration storage; and uranium is critical to renewed nuclear ambitions. Without these resources, he said, the global clean energy shift would stall.

However, Ramokgopa cautioned that structural importance does not automatically translate into prosperity. He warned against replicating historical patterns in which Africa exported raw materials while value addition and industrial gains accrued elsewhere.

As industrial policy re-emerges as a defining feature of global competition, he urged African nations to assert a deliberate and self-defined development path that avoids reinforcing past asymmetries under the banner of new technologies.

Central to this ambition, he said, is the transformation of Africas electricity systems. Mineral wealth alone will not secure industrialisation without reliable, affordable and resilient energy infrastructure. Beneficiation, he stressed, requires stable power for battery precursor facilities, green steel production and hydrogen generation.

Moving from extraction to manufacturing will depend on strengthening transmission networks, expanding renewable capacity and building domestic manufacturing capability in transformers, cables, storage systems and renewable components.

The Minister also called for sustained investment in engineering skills, technical training institutions and research partnerships to embed technological competence across African economies. Infrastructure development, he added, must function as industrial policy in action, ensuring each project deepens domestic capacity and enterprise development.

Concluding his address, Ramokgopa urged the continent to translate ambition into execution, arguing that Africas energy future must be built through disciplined planning, integrated markets and unified purpose, with the continent firmly in control of its developmental trajectory.
Sixteen people have lost their lives following a devastating collision between a Ford Transit bus and an ambulance at Potrikrom on the KumasiSunyani Highway in the Ashanti Region.

The fatal crash occurred near Mankranso in the Ahafo Ano South East District. The Ford Transit bus, bearing registration number GT 6576-19, was travelling from Kumasi to Drobo. The ambulance was reportedly transporting a pregnant woman from Drobo to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi when the two vehicles collided.

All 16 passengers on board the bus were killed in the impact. Authorities have yet to release the identities of the deceased. The condition of the pregnant woman and other occupants of the ambulance has not been confirmed. The bodies of the victims have been deposited at the Mankranso Hospital mortuary pending identification and autopsy.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, extended his condolences to the bereaved families. In a brief message after receiving news of the incident, he said: May their souls rest in peace.
At least a dozen soldiers have been killed in an attack by militants linked to Al Qaeda in northern Burkina Faso, according to security and local sources who spoke to AFP on Tuesday.

The assault took place on February 28 in the strategic town of Titao. A regional security source said the troops were digging trenches around the town to strengthen its defences when the attack occurred.

There are more than a dozen dead, the source said. A second security source confirmed the incident, describing it as having caused significant damage. A local resident reported hearing gunfire from Saturday through Monday in areas surrounding Titao, adding that the attackers appeared to be targeting the army rather than civilians.

A militant group affiliated with Al Qaeda later claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that 30 Burkinabe soldiers had been killed. The violence follows an earlier assault on the town in mid-February in which several civilians lost their lives, underscoring the continued insecurity in parts of northern Burkina Faso.
The Premier Spirits Sales & Operations Company Expands into Hemp-Derived THC

Beverages, Selecting the Iconic Woodstock Brand as a Flagship Partner

SOMERVILLE, Mass., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Craft & Art Wine and Spirits ("Craft & Art"), a leading sales operations and brand-building company in the U.S. spirits industry, today announced a strategic national partnership with Woodstock Goods, the iconic heritage-inspired functional beverage brand.

With Woodstock as a foundational partner, Craft and Art will build a professionally curated portfolio of THC beverages. Post this Woodstock's Hemp THC-infused libations are crafted with a unique blend of minor cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC) and functional ingredients (Lion's Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, L-theanine) to deliver distinct mood-based experiences.

The partnership marks a significant milestone for Craft & Art as it expands its expertise beyond traditional spirits into next-generation beverage categories driven by shifting consumer preferences. With Woodstock as a foundational partner, Craft & Art will build a professionally curated portfolio of THC beverages designed to bring the same discipline, compliance, and commercial rigor that defines premium spirits to this rapidly emerging category.

"What makes Woodstock such a strong fit is that they're not chasing trendsthey're building a brand with intention," Craft & Art CEO Kevin Fennessey added. "The drinks taste great, the functionality is thoughtful, and the brand carries cultural weight. That's exactly the kind of partner we want as we continue to build our THC beverage division."

Similarly, Richard Lee, CEO of Woodstock Goods said:

"We're seeing a fundamental shift in how consumers approach drinkingthey want functional benefits, not just intoxication. Our beverages combine low doses of THC with adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals to deliver specific functional statesChill, Laugh, Solace, Dream. Sophisticated beverage operators like C&A recognize we aren't intending to replace alcoholwe're providing an alternative."

Currently available in Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio, Missouri, New Jersey, and Connecticut, Woodstock will leverage Craft & Art's national sales team, dedicated THC sales team and established distributor relationships to expand into priority markets including Texas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

About Craft & Art Wine & Spirits

Craft & Art Wine & Spirits is a premier sales and operations company founded to help emerging and high-growth beverage brands achieve national scale. Led by CEO Kevin Fennessey, the company provides partners with a seasoned commercial team, operational support, and a robust distribution network across the United States. With a portfolio of traditional premium spirits and a growing hemp beverage division anchored by Woodstock Goods, Craft & Art brings professional execution to complex, regulated markets.

About Woodstock Goods

Woodstock Goods produces premium functional beverages that have been expertly formulated with low-doses of hemp THC, adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals to create sessionable alternatives to alcohol. Led by CEO Richard Lee, the company is committed to transparency, quality, and responsible advocacy for the hemp beverage industry. Learn more at woodstockgoods.com .

Media Contact for Woodstock Goods

Alexandra Van Iden

3104874628

[email protected]

SOURCE Craft & Art Wine and Spirits
India has launched an urgent maritime rescue grid to protect an estimated 23,000 Indian seafarers caught in escalating hostilities across the Persian Gulf, as tensions around Iran push the region to the brink.



A dedicated Quick Response Team (QRT) led by Deputy Director General (Crew) Capt. PC Meena has been activated by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) to coordinate rescue, evacuation planning and family outreach.



The move follows reports of missile and drone strikes, electronic interference and mounting security threats in the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and adjoining waters.



Three Indian seafarers deployed on foreign-flagged vessels have been killed in attacks so far, while one has been injured. Authorities say Indian-flagged ships have not reported casualties, but the situation remains volatile.



A 24x7 DGComm Centre has been placed on high alert to receive distress calls and track Indian vessels in real time, as families across India wait anxiously for news.



Officials from the Directorate General of Shipping moved swiftly as the regional security situation deteriorated. Director General of Shipping Shri Shyam Jagannathan ordered the constitution of a Quick Response Team to ensure a coordinated and timely response to safeguard Indian maritime personnel.



In view of the ongoing conflict in Iran and the wider Persian Gulf region, and the challenges faced by Indian seafarers stranded in and around these waters, it is imperative to ensure a coordinated and effective response, he said while announcing the formation of the QRT.



The team, led by Capt. PC Meena and supported by Capt. Nitin Mukesh, Deputy Nautical Advisor, is working round the clock with the Indian Navy, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian missions abroad, and maritime placement agencies.



The MEA has advised Indian nationals to avoid travel to Iran and urged those present there to leave at the earliest opportunity using available transport.



There are around 23,000 Indian seafarers, and we are coordinating closely with all stakeholders and their respective family members to ensure their safety and, where necessary, evacuation to India, Capt. Meena told Mirror.



He said authorities were closely monitoring developments in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman amid reported threats including missile and drone activity, unmanned surface vessels and electronic interference.



All vessels operating in or near the region have been advised to maintain heightened vigilance, undertake comprehensive voyage-specific risk assessments and adopt an enhanced security posture, he said.



Vessels have been directed to reinforce bridge watches, ensure continuous communication readiness and report suspicious activity immediately. Operators have also been asked to review transits through high-risk waters based on prevailing conditions.



All vessels are urged to conduct shipshore security drills covering all relevant threat scenarios. Ship Security Alert System testing may be undertaken prior to transiting affected regions. These measures are essential to ensure crew preparedness and operational readiness, Capt. Meena added.



Ship owners, operators and charterers have been instructed to carry out detailed risk assessments before planning any voyage through the affected region.



Distress calls from anchored vessels



Even as authorities coordinate at the highest levels, seafarers anchored near Iranian ports describe scenes of fear and uncertainty.



Rajasthan-based Chief Engineer Pramod Yadav sustained a leg injury in an attack on the oil tanker Skylight. His brother, Dharmendra Yadav, said the vessel was travelling from Dubai to Oman when it was struck in the early hours of Sunday.



His leg was injured and he has been admitted to a hospital in Oman. I am hoping to see him as soon as possible, he said from Kotputli-Behror district in Rajasthan, where he works as a bank manager.



At Bandar Abbas Port in Iran, several merchant vessels remain at anchorage to avoid sailing through high-risk waters.



Dinkar Dattu Sable, a trainee ordinary seaman from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, said his cargo vessel Liana has been anchored since offloading goods in Pakistan earlier this month.



There are three Indians on board  two from Kolhapur, including me, and one from Tamil Nadu. Bombings and missile strikes are happening barely two nautical miles away. The ship literally shakes. It is terrifying, he said.



I have informed my relatives because I want to return home. The DG Shipping officials contacted me recently, which is a big relief.



Box: 24x7 crisis contact for seafarers



The Directorate General of Shipping has activated a round-the-clock crisis and grievance redressal mechanism operating in three shifts.



Distressed seafarers and family members may contact:



Email: support.dgs@gov.in WhatsApp/Calls: +91-9004048406




The Bombay High Court has taken strong note of alleged irregularities in the execution of a parole order granted to Shahnawaz Abdul Kadar Qureshi, a life convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings, after it emerged that prison and police authorities did not adhere to the timeline and conditions laid down by the court.



Qureshi, part of the conspiracy behind the coordinated blasts of March 12, 1993, which killed over 250 people and injured hundreds, is serving a life sentence in Yerwada Central Prison, Pune. In December 2025, the High Court granted him five days parole from 11 am on December 15 to 5 pm on December 19 to attend to the medical needs of his ailing wife and sister.



However, an affidavit filed by his son, Faisal Shahnawaz Qureshi, highlighted deviations in the implementation of the order. Though parole was to begin at 11 am on December 15, Qureshi was released at 12.30 pm and reached home only around 8 pm, after being detained for two to three hours at Bandra Police Station.



The affidavit further alleged that police officers and constables repeatedly visited his residence during the parole period, restricting his privacy and limiting the time he could spend with his family or attend to their medical needs. These visits, it stated, undermined the purpose of the parole.



Though the parole was to last until 5 pm on December 19, the escort party allegedly took Qureshi from his home around 10 am for his return to Yerwada Central Jail  nearly seven hours before the expiry of the parole period.



When the matter came up, the State did not dispute the sequence of events. The case was adjourned on December 24, January 23, February 3, February 17 and February 24 as the Additional Public Prosecutor sought time to obtain instructions and file an explanatory affidavit.



The court was informed that the competent authority had agreed to grant a two-day extension of parole on a future occasion to compensate for the curtailed period, but the affidavit confirming this undertaking has not been filed.



On February 27, 2026, a division bench of Justices AS Gadkari and Shyam C Chandak noted that despite earlier directions, the State had failed to place the relevant affidavit on record. At the prosecutors request, citing that the affidavit was not ready, the court granted a final adjournment and listed the matter for For Directions on March 5, 2026.




DELRAY BEACH, Fla., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to MarketsandMarkets, the Drone Communication Market is projected to grow from USD 2.67 billion in 2025 to USD 4.09 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period.

Browse 267 market data Tables and 66 Figures spread through 277 Pages and in-depth TOC on 'Drone Communication Market - Global Forecast to 2030'

Drone Communication Market Size & Forecast:

Market Size Available for Years: 20252030

20252030 2025 Market Size: USD 2.67 billion

USD 2.67 billion 2030 Projected Market Size: USD 4.09 billion

USD 4.09 billion CAGR (20252030): 8.8%

Drone Communication Market Trends & Insights:

The growth of the drone communication market appears strong as drones become increasingly common in defense and commercial operations. The rise in beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights, autonomous missions, and multi-drone deployments will heighten the demand for secure and low-latency communication systems. The expansion of 5G networks, satellite connectivity, and hybrid communication models will enhance coverage and reliability, especially for long-range and remote missions.

By technology, the software-defined radio (SDR) segment is projected to register a higher CAGR of 9.8% than the hardware-based radio segment during the forecast period.

By application, the military segment is expected to be the most dominant segment during the forecast period.

By function, the command & control (C2) segment is expected to be the most dominant segment during the forecast period.

By component, the transceivers segment is expected to be the most dominant segment during the forecast period.

By Region, North America accounted for a 32.1% share of the drone communication market in 2024.

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The drone communication market is growing because drones are being used more in defense, homeland security, and in commercial work, where stable and secure connectivity really matters. Many operations today can't afford signal loss or delays, so reliable communication systems are becoming very important. Support from regulators for BVLOS flights and better airspace integration is also helping the market expand into areas like inspection, farming, and logistics. At the same time, there are good opportunities coming up with new communication setups that combine RF, cellular, and satellite networks to give better coverage. Companies are also working on AI-based network management and anti-jamming solutions to make systems more dependable. Satellite connectivity for remote and maritime missions is adding another layer of demand, and this is creating fresh growth space for technology providers in this market.

By application, the commercial segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period.

The commercial segment is likely to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period because more industries are now using drones in their day-to-day work. Areas like infrastructure inspection, agriculture, energy, mining, and logistics are operating bigger drone fleets and need communication systems that are stable and easy to scale. Most of these tasks depend on real-time data transfer and live video, and many flights happen beyond visual line of sight, so strong RF, cellular, and even satellite links are becoming necessary. Regulations are slowly becoming more supportive of commercial drone flights, which is helping companies expand their operations. At the same time, businesses are focusing more on automation and cost savings, and drones are playing a significant role in that shift. Because of this, the demand for advanced and reliable communication solutions in commercial drones is increasing quite fast.

By connectivity, the terrestrial network segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period.

Terrestrial networks are the leading connectivity type in the drone communication market because most drone flights depend on ground-based systems like radio frequency links and cellular networks. These networks are already spread across many regions and offer stable and low-latency communication for command and control, telemetry, and live video feed. For short and medium-range missions, this type of connectivity is more practical and cost-effective when compared to satellite systems. The growth of 4G and 5G networks has made terrestrial communication even stronger, especially for commercial drone use in cities and semi-urban areas. Many defense, public safety, and industrial missions operate within national borders where network coverage is already available, so using ground infrastructure becomes easier and more reliable. Because of this, terrestrial networks still hold the highest share in the market.

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Middle East & Africa is projected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period.

The Middle East & Africa region is expected to see the highest growth in the drone communication industry during the forecast period. This is because many countries are upgrading their defense systems and investing more in surveillance and border security. Governments in the region are working to improve homeland security and protect critical infrastructure, which is driving the need for secure and reliable drone communication networks. More procurement of unmanned systems to deal with changing security threats is also pushing the market forward. On the commercial side, drones are being used more in oil and gas, mining, construction, and smart city projects, especially in the Gulf countries. These operations need strong and dependable communication setups to work smoothly. At the same time, investments in 5G networks and satellite connectivity are improving coverage and making operations more scalable. Because of this, the Middle East & Africa region is turning into a growing market for advanced drone communication solutions.

DJI (US), RTX (US), Northrop Grumman (US), Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (US), and BAE Systems (UK) are among the top companies in the drone communication companies.

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Groveland, CA  The Groveland Community Services District is hosting a meeting next week focused on fire services, related funding, and fire insurance.

There will be presentations by Groveland Community Services District staff, CAL Fire Assistant Chief Nathan Gorham, and John Kiefer of Kiefer Insurance Agency.

Topics to be addressed include how fire protection and emergency response services are currently structured, factors impacting the services and funding, how fire services relate to local insurance availability and costs, and what the future may hold for the community.

The event is open to the public. It will be Tuesday, March 10, from 5:30  7:30 pm, at the Groveland Community Resilience Center on Ferretti Road.

There is also a virtual option to listen only via Zoom. Click here for more information.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  Catholic priests in Rhode Island preyed on hundreds of children for decades and were protected by bishops more concerned with the churchs reputation than the victims, according to a new report on clergy sexual abuse that echoes findings elsewhere.

The report, released Wednesday by Attorney General Peter Neronha, follows a multiyear investigation into the Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.

Neronha said the full scope of the priest abuse problem in Rhode Island  the smallest U.S. state but the one with the highest Catholic population per capita, at nearly 40%  had long remained elusive. He agreed with victims who say not enough has been done to address the problem long after it was exposed in the nearby Boston diocese in 2002.

If youre the Diocese of Providence and youre listening, this is a scandal you need to own and you need to fix, Neronha told reporters Wednesday. We cant slow walk solutions, and we cant slow walk justice.

Neronha, who was raised Catholic, hopes the report will spur legal reforms to boost investigative powers and help victims seek justice.

The investigation found that 75 Catholic clergy molested more than 300 victims since 1950, but officials stressed that the number of victimized children and abusive priests is likely much higher.

The diocese, in response, acknowledged the scourge of child sexual abuse  especially by clergy  but said the report reflects the churchs willingness to share internal records under a 2019 agreement with the state.

The report presents this 75-year history in ways that might lead the reader to conclude these issues are an ongoing diocesan problem or that these are new revelations. They are not, the statement said.

3 priests charged in RI awaiting trial

Church records show the diocese transferred accused priests to new assignments without fully investigating complaints or contacting law enforcement, a practice exposed in investigations in Boston, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

And, as in other cities, the Diocese of Providence opened a spiritual retreat-style facility in the early 1950s for accused priests to seek treatment. Later, when the abuse was deemed a mental health problem, priests were sent to more formal treatment centers.

By the 1990s, accused priests were sometimes placed on sabbatical leave.

For example, a priest named Robert Carpentier resigned after a victim came forward in 1992 to say that he had been sexually abused as a 13-year-old victim in the 1970s. Carpentier acknowledged the abuse, was sent to a treatment center and later went on sabbatical at Boston College. He retired in 2006 and received support from the diocese until he died in 2012.

Most accused priests, the report found, avoided accountability from both law enforcement and the diocese.

Neronhas office has charged four current and former priests with sexual abuse for allegations stemming from 2020 to 2022. Three of them are still awaiting trial. The fourth priest died after being deemed incompetent to stand trial in 2022.

Only 20 people  about a quarter of the clergy identified in the report  faced criminal charges, and just 14 were convicted. A dozen others were laicized or otherwise dismissed.

Diocesan review board member among the accused

One survivor described being groomed more than a year before he was abused by the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston in 1981. The survivor, who is not named in the report, said the late Monsignor John Allard showered him with attention. By ninth grade, he said, the sexual abuse began in the priests bedroom.

His comment to me was always, You need a hug, and thats something that I can hear him saying very clearly to this very day, the survivor told officials in 2013.

While a review board deemed the abuse credible, the Vatican  at the urging of then-Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin  let Allard retire rather than be defrocked.

The report lists Tobin advocating for several accused priests, a trend that Neronha repeatedly criticized.

I just dont know how you square it. If hes got an answer, then hes free to send it in, Neronha said.

The diocese, in a statement released Wednesday, praised Tobins willingness to work with Neronha while he was bishop before retiring in 2023.

Separately, in at least one case, a member of the diocesan review board hearing abuse complaints was himself accused, the report says. The Rev. Francis Santilli stepped down after the complaint, but remained in active ministry even after other complaints surfaced in 2014 and 2021. He was not removed until 2022. A message left at a possible number for him on Wednesday was not immediately returned.

Church disagrees with AG on findings

Neronha launched the investigation in 2019, a year after a Pennsylvania grand jury issued a landmark report that found some 300 priests had abused more than 1,000 children since the 1940s.

However, Rhode Island law does not allow grand jury reports to become public  a hurdle that Neronha has long tried to change. Instead, he forged an agreement with the diocese to access its trove of records on clergy sexual abuse.

The church turned over 70 years worth of material, including complaints from its secret archives, civil settlement records, treatment costs and other documents. Yet Neronha called the dioceses help limited at times, saying it refused to provide diocesan personnel for interviews.

Neronha criticized the diocese on Wednesday for treating the report as ancient history, arguing that more needed to be done by clergy leaders to address ongoing concerns about abuse. His office outlined multiple changes for the diocese, including providing clear investigative timelines and guidelines. He also stressed the need for the diocese to abandon the practice of requiring victims take polygraph tests and to stop refusing to investigate third-party complaints about priests.

The diocese, in its response Wednesday, pushed back on that view, saying the report would not have been possible without the churchs cooperation.

There are no credibly accused clergy in active ministry, said Bishop Bruce Lewandowski in a video statement. Todays Catholic clergy here in Rhode Island are good and holy men serving Christ and his people with devotion and out of genuine pastoral concern.

For Herbert Brennan, who was repeatedly abused by a Rhode Island priest in the 1960s, the dioceses response is disappointing but not surprising.

If one wants to learn the teachings of Jesus Christ, they should read the Bible. If one wishes to understand the Catholic church, read this report, Brennan said.

___

Dale reported from Philadelphia.

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI, MARYCLAIRE DALE and LEAH WILLINGHAM

Associated Press
Two months past a statutory deadline, Californias top fire safety regulator published a report Monday on whether and how the state should legalize mid-rise apartment buildings with a lone staircase.

If this doesnt sound like riveting news, you may have missed the brewing battle between pro-housing advocates and firefighting professionals over the cause of  single-stair reform  and whether Americas fire-averse building standards are standing in the way of more affordable, higher quality urban living.

The report, published by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, takes a fairly dim view of the single stair cause, but offers a few policy recommendations to state legislators should they move forward with the idea anyway.

At least one Democratic legislator appears intent on doing just that with legislation aimed at rewriting the state building code.

In California, as in much of North America, apartment buildings over three stories are required to have at least two staircases. This rule is meant to give residents multiple ways out in the event of a fire. But a coalition of Yes in my Backyard activists, architects and urbanists argue that much of the world does just fine with single-stair apartment blocks and that the states restrictive stairwell regs make it more difficult and costly to build modestly sized apartments on small city parcels.

Though modern safety measures, such as automatic sprinkler systems, smoke detectors and self-closing doors reduce the risks associated with smoke and flame, they do not fully substitute for the redundancy of two independent stairway which is important for maintaining safety in the face of unforeseen failures, the report read.

If state lawmakers opt to change the law anyway, the report recommended that single-stair apartment buildings max out at four stories, rather than three, and that they be subject to additional safety rules. The state should not consider going up to six stories  the current standard in New York City, Seattle, Honolulu and Culver City  without a second fire marshal study, the report concluded.

In its section on financial implications, the report also evaluated three mid-rise apartment projects and found that a second staircase made up between 7.5% and 12% of estimated total construction costs.

Though the findings mirror those contained in an earlier draft of the report CalMatters obtained in February, they came as a disappointment to some supporters of looser staircase requirements.

As to be expected from this group, said Bubba Fish, the Culver City councilmember who spearheaded that citys single stair ordinance last year, in a text message. He called the four story max ridiculous, noting that even with that modestly relaxed requirement, Californias building code would remain out of step with much of the world.

The report is more than two months tardy, missing the January 1 deadline set by a 2023 bill authored by Milpitas Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee.

Lee said that his office was still reviewing the reports findings late Monday afternoon. But in a written statement, he expressed enthusiasm for future changes to the building code.

Stairway requirements can have a profound effect on what does and does not get built in our neighborhoods, Lee said. With the development of modern fire mitigation measures, it is critical that we re-evaluate our building codes and unlock previously undevelopable properties to build more housing.

Last month, Lee introduced a bill with the express intent of allowing housing buildings with 4 or more stories to have a single stair entry and exit, but which so far includes no additional detail.

___

This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

By BEN CHRISTOPHER/CalMatters

CalMatters
San Jose is clearing one of its most infamous homeless camps again, in what city officials claim will be the last time.

About 100 homeless people have repopulated the creek around Story Road across from Happy Hollow Park & Zoo  an area known as  the Jungle. The city will begin clearing the area on April 15 and is conducting outreach with offers of housing leading up to the sweep. According to the citys website, people encamped at the Jungle will be prioritized for housing at the Cerone tiny home site in North San Jose, which opened in early February.

A representative for Mayor Matt Mahans office did not respond to a request for comment.

Over the last three years, weve expanded shelter and interim housing faster than any other city on the West Coast, Mahan said in a statement. That work has allowed us to decommission our largest encampments so that we can restore public spaces for community use and connect people to the services they need to return to self-sufficiency.

Its not the first time offers of housing have been made to people living in the Jungle. In 2014, the 68-acre camp was widely referred to as the nations largest homeless camp where about 300 people lived in tents and makeshift homes along the tendrils of Coyote Creek. When the city dismantled the encampment more than a decade ago, it set $4 million aside to move people into subsidized housing using vouchers.

One of those people who got a housing voucher, and continues to remain housed today, is Robert Aguirre. While he is grateful to no longer be sleeping by the creek, he said the city left some people behind the first time.

Even though the city fenced the area off, hes seen people return to the Jungle and slip into the despair of life on the streets. Getting passed up for housing enforces a feeling that people dont care, he said.

One of the factors that is essential is the people that are wanting to get housed have to trust the people (who) are trying to get them housed, Aguirre told San Jose Spotlight. When you lose that trust, its too difficult to get it back again.

People who have taken refuge at the Jungle in recent years are hopeful.

One man currently living at the Jungle, who didnt provide his name due to fears of immigration enforcement, said hes ready to move on. He fled Mexico after someone threatened his life, and moved to San Jose to stay with a cousin. After they were evicted because his cousin could no longer pay rent, he ended up at the Jungle.

He said an outreach worker from nonprofit People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) told him he will move to the Taylor Street safe sleeping site before being placed in temporary housing.

I feel good about getting housing because no one wants this life, he told San Jose Spotlight. Having the opportunity for housing is better than living here because you got showers and everything. Here you have nothing.

Jose Cuvias, 44, became homeless when he lost his construction job seven years ago. He said hes been waiting for housing.

I feel good about getting housing, he told San Jose Spotlight in Spanish through a translator. I want to get out of here.

Frederico Gamez, 25, is also ready to leave street living behind. Hes been homeless for the past five years, and said he built his makeshift shelter himself.

I feel fine (about the sweep), Gamez told San Jose Spotlight through a translator. We dont have anywhere to go and I want to leave.

The Jungle has a sizable population of Spanish speakers. A housing department spokesperson said the city contracted with PATH to engage with residents living at the Jungle, and bilingual outreach workers are being sent to the encampment. The citys outreach team is also onsite collecting information to enter into the countywide software system that tracks homeless people. Outreach began Feb. 25.

As capacity allows, the citys abatements continue to emphasize making shelter and interim housing placements for individuals and families exiting encampments a part of its strategy to reduce unsheltered homelessness, spokesperson Sarah Fields told San Jose Spotlight.

Last summer, the city cleared its largest homeless encampment at Columbus Park, where approximately 370 people had congregated in RVs and tents. The city moved the majority of residents into five hotels San Jose converted into temporary housing.

Homeless advocates and residents previously told San Jose Spotlight the Columbus Park sweep and outreach were conducted in a haphazard and rushed manner. Residents who moved into the hotels previously said they feel caged in by the rules they have to follow.

Once the sweep of the Jungle is completed, the area will be declared a  no encampment zone  and signs will be posted to deter people from re-encamping.

Silicon Valleys largest city has 6,503 homeless residents. About 60% of that population is unsheltered, or 3,959 people, and 2,544 are sheltered, according to a point-in-time count conducted last January. Since the count, the city has added more than 1,000 beds across a dozen new or expanded temporary housing sites.

(The city) might house a lot of people, but there are still going to be people that dont want to get housed, Aguirre told San Jose Spotlight. Ive also stayed in some of these temporary housing units, and theyre not run very well.

___

This story was originally published by San Jose Spotlight and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

By JOYCE CHU/San Jose Spotlight

San Jose Spotlight
Explosions in the sky woke Cory McKane on Saturday, turning a quick visit to Dubai before a friends wedding in India into a tense, multi-day search for a way out of the United Arab Emirates as the Iran war expanded.

With few options, McKane and his friends eventually drove a rental car to the Oman border, where taxi drivers were charging up to $650 to take people to Muscat International Airport. The journey to Muscat took 10 hours but paid off: McKane secured a last-minute flight to India, arriving Wednesday exhausted but relieved.

Hundreds of thousands of travelers found themselves similarly stranded in the Middle East after Israel and the United States attacked Iran on Saturday and Iran struck back on Gulf states and Israel. With much of the regions airspace closed and airstrikes intensifying, governments from North America and Africa to Europe and Southeast Asia continued their race Wednesday to bring their citizens home.

Officials chartered jets or deployed military aircraft, routing stranded travelers through Oman, Egypt and Saudi Arabia  key exit points where planes could land and take off.

A plane carrying French citizens from Oman and then Egypt landed in Paris early Wednesday, the first of several expected repatriation flights organized by France. A group of students returned to Italy after their government evacuated them from Dubai. More than 200 people from 16 countries departed Iran by land through neighboring Turkmenistan despite the former Soviet countrys strict visa policies.

Even as repatriation efforts gained momentum, many travelers faced the choice of waiting or trying to secure seats on the diminished number of commercial flights operating.

More than 23,000 of the roughly 44,000 flights scheduled to fly to or from the Middle East between the start of the war and Thursday have been canceled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Flight-tracking service FlightAware reported more than 2,400 flight cancellations worldwide on Wednesday, down from about 3,150 on Monday.

Recovery flights underway

France estimates about 400,000 of its citizens are in parts of the Mideast affected by the conflict, either as residents or travelers.

Eleonore Caroit, the minister responsible for French nationals abroad, said about 100 seats on the countrys first evacuation flight were reserved for vulnerable passengers, including families with children, older people and those with medical conditions. Two more flights were expected Wednesday  a military aircraft carrying 180 French citizens from the UAE city of Abu Dhabi and a charter bringing 205 people from Israel.

The U.S. State Department says 18,000 Americans have returned safely, including 8,500 on Tuesday. President Donald Trumps top spokeswoman, meanwhile, pushed back Wednesday against criticism that the administration had not done enough to help Americans leave.

Karolyn Leavitt, the press secretary, insisted that there have been plans in place.

We will help every single American who wants to come home if theyre making that request of the State Department, she said, adding that a department hotline message advising callers not to rely on U.S. government assistance had been corrected.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said nearly 280 citizens had been evacuated.

Around 15,000 people have left Israel through land crossings into Jordan and Egypt. Israels Ministry of Tourism is running buses to the southern border with Egypt transport tourists.

Britain said a charter flight would depart Oman late Wednesday to bring back some of the thousands of U.K. nationals in the Gulf. The U.K. Foreign Office said more than 130,000 British nationals in the Middle East had registered their presence with the government since Saturday, though officials said not all are trying to leave.

Irelands foreign minister said Emirates airline would operate a flight from Dubai to Dublin on Wednesday. A charter flight is also planned to evacuate 280 people from Oman in the coming days. Officials said an estimated 22,000 to 23,000 Irish citizens were in the Middle East.

Norway said it was sending an emergency team to Dubai to reinforce a embassy staff assisting about 1,500 Norwegians registered in the city.

On Indonesias resort island of Bali, about 6,000 people were stranded after their flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, Qatar, were canceled. Many were tourists from Europe or the U.S. trying to connect through those Middle Eastern airports.

South Africas Foreign Ministry urged citizens to take advantage of the limited commercial flights after putting its own evacuation plans on hold due to the airspace closures.

Scrambling for plane tickets

Airspace closures and restrictions remained in place Wednesday across most of the Middle East, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. Notices from Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria said the countries no-fly zones would last until at least early next week.

The United Arab Emirates airspace is partially closed, and Saudi Arabia continues to partially restrict routes near its border with Iraq and along the Persian Gulf. Israel prepared for a phased reopening that would allow incoming carrying returning citizens starting early Thursday. Jordan lifted its previous nighttime flight ban, restoring 24-hour operations.

Some of the aviation notices governing the closures allow authorities to reopen or restrict portions of airspace on short notice depending on security conditions, meaning flight schedules can quickly change as the conflict continues to unfold.

Commercial airlines have resumed limited service, but seats filled quickly. British Airways said its flights scheduled to depart Muscat through Saturday were fully booked and that it would add service if we are able to. Etihad Airways and Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, said their commercial flights were still suspended due to regional airspace closures, although both airlines operated a small number of repatriation and cargo flights.

Fabio Falasca, a 28-year-old entrepreneur from Rome, was stranded in Dubai with a friend when the conflict erupted over the weekend. He spent Saturday night sleeping in an underground parking lot.

While in constant contact with the Italian Foreign Ministrys traveler platform, Falasca learned he could take a bus to Oman and then fly home to Italy. Although he had already bought a direct ticket from Dubai to Rome, another sleepless night between Monday and Tuesday convinced him to accept the ministrys offer.

He left Dubai by bus on Tuesday, heading to Oman where he could catch a flight back to Italy.

I cant wait to get home and not be afraid of whats outside, Falasca said. My only thought is to get home.

___

Yamat reported from Las Vegas and Rico from Atlanta. Contributing to this report were Associated Press journalists Samuel Petrequin in Paris; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Sylvia Hui, Brian Melley and Bridget Virgo in London; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Gerald Imray in Johannesburg, South Africa; and Alexander Vershinin in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

By RIO YAMAT and R.J. RICO

Associated Press
Imagine buying a pair of sleek, AI-powered Ray-Bans to translate a menu or record a concert, only for a stranger in a Nairobi office park to accidentally catch a glimpse of you stepping out of the shower.

Sounds like an episode of Black Mirror, right? Unfortunately, its real life.

A bombshell joint investigation by Swedish papers Svenska Dagbladet and Goteborgs-Posten just ripped the lid off Metas latest privacy nightmare.

It turns out that deeply intimate, private footage captured by Metas AI smart glasses is being funneled right here to Nairobi. The tech giant is using local data annotators to review, label, and categorize the footage to train its AI systems, and the workers are seeing a whole lot more than they bargained for.

We See Everything

Metas smart glasses are selling like hotcakes globally, marketed as the ultimate everyday AI assistant. But behind the slick Silicon Valley marketing is a manual, gritty data pipeline handled by Sama, the third-party data services company contracted by Meta with offices right here in Nairobi.

The Kenyan data annotators interviewed in the investigation painted a pretty disturbing picture. They arent just looking at footage of people walking their dogs or riding bikes. They are catching users in incredibly vulnerable, private moments.

We see everything  from living rooms to naked bodies, one Nairobi-based worker told the Swedish journalists.

Another worker shared a crazy story about a guy who took off his glasses and set them on a nightstand. A few moments later, his wife walked into the frame and started undressing, totally clueless that she was being recorded and watched by a stranger thousands of miles away.

Workers also reported seeing sensitive personal info casually captured on video, like bank cards and private text messages.

Meta claims they use software to automatically blur faces and anonymize people, but according to both former Meta employees and the Kenyan annotators, the tech is notoriously glitchy. If the lighting is bad, the blur fails, leaving faces and bodies completely exposed.

Gag Orders and the AI Sweatshop

For the young Kenyans doing this work, speaking out is incredibly risky. They are locked down by strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), the offices are blanketed with security cameras, and phones are strictly banned. For many, the job is a necessary paycheck, trapping them in a cycle of enduring uncomfortable, intrusive content in complete silence.

If this story sounds familiar, its because it is. Nairobi has essentially become the global sweatshop for the AI boom, and Sama is usually right in the middle of it.

Back in 2021, TIME magazine exposed how OpenAI used Kenyan workers via Sama to clean up ChatGPT. Locals were paid as little as $1.32 an hour to read and filter out highly toxic content-including graphic descriptions of murder, child abuse, and self-harm. Workers called the psychological toll torture.

Then came the massive Facebook content moderation scandal. In 2022, former moderator Daniel Motaung sued Meta and Sama, blowing the whistle on the severe lack of mental health support for workers traumatized by watching execution and abuse videos all day.

That landmark case actually resulted in a Kenyan court ruling that Meta could be sued locally as the primary employer  a huge reality check for Mark Zuckerbergs empire.

Unsurprisingly, European privacy watchdogs are already circling. EU lawmakers are demanding answers on whether shipping this highly sensitive, unblurred video data to Kenya violates their strict GDPR privacy laws.

Locally, it brings up the same tired, frustrating debate. Yes, big tech brings jobs to Nairobi. But at what cost? Once again, young Kenyans are being tossed onto the frontlines of the AI revolution, forced to clean up the mess and sacrifice their own peace of mind just so the world can have smarter gadgets.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmakers have backed the move to strip Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna of his secretary general position, openly defying a ruling by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT).

The decision follows a high-stakes Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting held at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed announced the outcome, confirming that members threw their weight behind the National Executive Committees (NEC) earlier vote to suspend Sifuna.

During the meeting, the legislators collectively ratified the party leaderships choice to remove Sifuna from his powerful administrative role. This internal push continues despite legal interventions meant to protect his position.

PG endorsed the decision by the National Executive Committee to suspend Hon. Edwin Sifuna as secretary general, Junets statement read in part.

The ODM legislators chose to back Sifunas removal just days after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) intervened. Acting Chairperson Gad Gathu had extended orders on Thursday, February 26, 2026, legally blocking the party from kicking out the secretary general.

Surprisingly, the partys own legal team consented to this extension in court. They agreed to keep the stay orders in force until the tribunal could hear and determine the full case.

Despite this legal pause, the ODM lawyers made it clear to both the court and Sifuna that they wanted a swift resolution. They expressed a strong desire to settle the dispute as quickly as possible.

The application dated February 11, 2026, is allowed by consent of the parties, acting chairperson Gathu ruled.

At the heart of the dispute, the PPDT temporarily blocked the ODM NEC from carrying out its resolution to oust Senator Sifuna. The tribunal ruled that he must remain in office until it hears and settles his legal challenge against the removal.

Beyond keeping him in his seat, the tribunal prohibited the ODM party from taking the formal step of publishing the NECs decision in the Kenya Gazette. This legal barrier prevents the party from officially finalizing the leadership change.

That pending the hearing and determination of this instant application, inter partes, this Honourable Tribunal hereby issues orders staying the implementation of the resolution made by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM) on February 11, 2026, to remove Edwin Sifuna as the Secretary General of the Party, the acting PPDT Chairperson ordered.

The tribunal further clarified the restriction:

Pending the hearing and determination of this instant application, inter partes, this Honorable Tribunal hereby issues an order restraining the respondents (ODM and the Registrar of Political Parties) from publishing in the Kenya Gazette the resolution made on February 11, 2026, to remove Edwin Sifuna as the Secretary General of the Party, the Tribunal added.

The legal showdown between Senator Edwin Sifuna and the ODM party is heading toward a critical climax. On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Tribunal officially scheduled March 12, 2026, for a full hearing to settle the dispute.

To prepare for this date, the Tribunal issued specific instructions to both sides. It ordered the ODM party to file and serve their legal authority, along with relevant transcripts, within three days.

On his part, Sifuna has seven days to file and serve his formal submissions. Once he does, the party will have another seven days to respond with their own documents.

The respondent will have seven days from the date of service to file and serve their submissions; then the hearing, by way of highlighting oral submissions, will be held on March 12, 2026, at 10 am, the acting PPDT Chairperson directed.

The March 12 hearing will feature highlighting of oral submissions, a process where both legal teams will present their strongest arguments in person before the Tribunal makes its final decision. Until that day, the courts orders remain in place, keeping Sifuna in office and preventing the party from officially declaring a vacancy.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has dismissed claims that the government secretly hired the controversial Adani Group to carry out the modernization and expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

In a statement released on Tuesday, KAA clarified that the privately proposed plan previously associated with the Adani Group was formally cancelled. The authority confirmed that there are currently no negotiations or discussions with the company or its affiliates regarding the airport project.

KAA stated that the JKIA modernization and expansion programme remains fully government-funded and will proceed strictly under public procurement laws and established public-sector procedures.

The authority added that any reports suggesting secret agreements or undisclosed dealings with the Adani Group are misleading and lack factual support.

The JKIA modernization and expansion programme is a Government of Kenya-funded initiative and implemented in accordance with established public-sector policies and procedures, KAA said in a statement signed by its acting CEO, Mohamud Gedi.

The Authority remains committed to transparency and will continue to keep stakeholders and the public informed, the statement added.

The clarification comes after reports highlighted that, despite plans for modernization set to begin in June this year, the government has not yet released key details on the funding framework or tendering process for the rehabilitation works, which are expected to cost billions of shillings.

KAA reiterated that the ongoing infrastructure upgrades at JKIA aim to improve passenger experience and boost operational efficiency, aligning with Kenyas broader aviation growth strategy.

The JKIA expansion is expected to boost the airports capacity from 7.5 million to 12 million passengers annually, with plans for a new terminal that could eventually handle up to 15 million passengers per year.

At the heart of the project is an X-shaped passenger terminal, with the first phase designed to accommodate 10 million travelers. The terminal will include four piers and a central processing hall to efficiently separate domestic and international passenger flows.

A long-awaited 4.8-kilometer second runway is expected to be completed by June 2027. This will allow simultaneous take-offs and landings, addressing the airports historic single-runway limitation that has previously forced full operational shutdowns during minor incidents.

The project also envisions an Airport City, modeled on major international hubs. This development will feature hotels, logistics parks, and commercial zones, creating new revenue streams beyond traditional aviation-related fees.
A prominent telecommunications provider finds itself in the crosshairs of a potential multi-million shilling court battle. Local businessman Alex Mutuku Mbalezi has stepped forward with explosive allegations, accusing the mobile phone company of illegally tracking his location and leaking his private data, actions he says directly triggered a harrowing ordeal of arrest and detention.

In a stern demand letter, Mbalezis legal team argues that the service provider blatantly violated his constitutional right to privacy. They contend that under Article 31 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, every citizen is entitled to the protection of their personal information.

Represented by prominent city lawyer Danstan Omari, Mbalezi asserts that the firm failed in its statutory and fiduciary duties. He maintains that as a customer, he trusted the company to safeguard his data and that any disclosure of his movements should have met strict legal and constitutional thresholds.

Allegations of Unlawful Tracking and Physical Harm

The core of the dispute centers on the claim that the company tracked and released Mbalezis real-time location data without a valid legal basis. According to the legal filing, this unauthorized surveillance led law enforcement directly to him, resulting in an arrest and subsequent detention that he describes as traumatizing.

Mbalezi alleges that police officers manhandled him while he was in custody, causing physical injuries that have led to ongoing health complications. Beyond the physical toll, the businessman reports significant psychological trauma and lasting damage to his personal dignity and professional reputation.

Your actions directly facilitated the violation of our clients fundamental rights and freedoms and exposed him to unlawful arrest, the lawyers claim in the letter.

The Demand: Ksh 250 Million and an Admission of Guilt

The legal notice gives the telecommunications firm a narrow window to respond. Mbalezi is demanding a formal written admission of liability within seven days. Furthermore, he is seeking Ksh 250 million in compensation to cover the physical harm, psychological distress, and financial losses he incurred.

If the company ignores the seven-day ultimatum or refuses to settle, Omaris legal team vows to escalate the matter to the High Court without further warning.

As data privacy becomes a central issue for Kenyan consumers, this case could set a massive legal precedent for how mobile operators handle sensitive user information and their level of cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced a major change for small-scale traders, requiring them to pay their Turnover Tax (TOT) daily instead of monthly.

KRA Commissioner for Micro and Small Taxpayers, George Obell, shared the update on Monday, March 2, 2026, explaining that the move aims to simplify tax payments and help business owners manage their cash flow more effectively.

The initiative aligns with KRAs broader strategy to modernize tax collection from the informal sector, which has historically been difficult to monitor. By integrating payments into daily business operations, likely through mobile money platforms like M-Pesa, the authority hopes to make compliance seamless and convenient.

Commissioner for Micro and Small Taxpayers George Obell has reaffirmed KRAs commitment to supporting businesses through enhanced services, simplified tax solutions, and continuous public engagement, KRA stated.

He highlighted the introduction of daily Turnover Tax payments to ease cash flow for small businesses and promote timely compliance, the authority added.

A New Approach for Small Traders

The daily payment system follows the establishment of the dedicated Micro and Small Taxpayers (MST) department in 2025. Under this plan, the traditional monthly 20th-day deadline will be phased out, allowing taxes to be settled automatically as sales occur.

Turnover Tax (TOT) is a simplified levy applied to a businesss total earnings before expenses such as rent, wages, or transport. It targets small and mid-sized enterprises with annual revenues between Ksh 1 million and Ksh 25 million.

Currently, TOT is set at a rate of 1.5% of gross sales, designed to keep the tax manageable for micro-traders. Businesses that fail to comply face a monthly penalty of Ksh 1,000.

Previously, traders had to calculate their monthly sales and remit a lump-sum tax by the 20th of the following month. For many, this created financial strain, as funds were often already tied up in stock, rent, or urgent expenses.

By introducing a daily payment model, the KRA aims to make tax compliance a small, integrated part of every transaction. This pay-as-you-earn approach ensures that taxes remain proportional to daily earnings, preventing large bills from accumulating at months end.

Promoting Fairness and Expanding the Tax Base

KRA expects the daily TOT system to encourage fairness and inclusivity across the informal sector. By reducing the burden and complexity of compliance, more micro-entrepreneurs are likely to participate voluntarily, expanding the national tax base and creating a stable environment for local businesses to grow.

KRA remains focused on expanding the tax base, ensuring fairness, and fostering a collaborative environment that supports business growth and voluntary compliance, the authority said.
Gable announces transition to employee ownership, strengthening its commitment to the team and clients who drive its success.

BALTIMORE, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gable, a national leader in custom signage and visual communications, announced its establishment of an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), marking a significant milestone in its 45-year history. Leadership announced the ESOP to more than 140 employees at its annual meeting last week, underscoring support for the company's future and the service clients expect.

Gable team members gathering at the company's annual meeting.

In an industry increasingly shaped by consolidation and outside capital investment, Gable chose a different path rooted in shared ownership and responsibility. The ESOP ensures the company remains independent, protects its culture, and strengthens accountability to its clients and communities. This model promotes stability, continuity, and a team deeply invested in taking projects from concept to completion.

"This is an exciting and important step in the evolution of our company," said Paul Gable, CEO, President, and Founder of Gable. "Transitioning to an ESOP reflects years of thoughtful planning and collaboration. By creating shared ownership, we are strengthening our foundation and aligning our future for continued growth and success with every team member in mind. Clients will benefit as well, because employee owners bring even greater personal investment and handson care to every project."

Research from The ESOP Association shows that employee ownership enhances engagement and productivity, creating teams that are more committed to strong results.

"This is a meaningful moment for Gable," said Holly Jones, an attorney at Maselan and Jones who advised the company throughout the transition. "Choosing employee ownership reflects a genuine belief in the people who make this company what it is."

Gable expects the ESOP to encourage new ideas, strengthen collaboration, and deepen craftsmanship across all functions. For clients, this means more consistent communication, more invested problem solving, and project partners dedicated to long-term success.

"The ESOP gives every person here a stake in the future of Gable," said Randy Asencio, Production Manager, who has been with the company for 14 years. "We take pride in our work already, but knowing we are building value together makes that commitment even stronger. This is a place where people want to stay and grow."

The ESOP is funded through company contributions. Employees earn ownership over time without contributing their own money. The program complements Gable's existing benefits that support financial stability, including a 401(k) with company matching, competitive pay, regular raises, and performance-based bonuses.

"When looking ahead to the next generation of growth, a founder has many choices," said Paul Gable. "I chose shared employee ownership because I want the future of this company in the hands of the people who care about it the most. I hope to be here for many more years, but it's important to start planning for the company's longterm succession and ensure its legacy stays with the team that built it. ESOPs offer excellent team retention benefits and attract new talent as well. We are excited about that."

About Gable

Gable is a leader in visual communications with over 45 years of experience in designing, fabricating, and installing custom signs, digital displays, and immersive branded environments. The company connects people, places, and brands by creating meaningful experiences within the built environment, combining technical expertise with creative problem-solving to deliver projects throughout North America and beyond. For more information, visit gablecompany.com or call 800-854-0568.

Media Contact

Brenda Barrett

Executive Manager, Events & Communications

[email protected]

Office: 410-255-6400 Ext.142

Mobile: 443-623-7902

SOURCE Gable
President William Ruto has lauded the late Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno for his unwavering courage and dedication in guiding the governments Affordable Housing Programme through intense political and public scrutiny.

Paying tribute to Ngeno, Ruto said the lawmaker deserves special recognition for leading the Housing Committee and ensuring the projects progress. He added that the committees work on this ambitious initiative will hold a lasting place in his reflections on leadership.

When finally I write my memoirs, the members of the housing committee in Parliament will have a chapter, Ruto said.

Ngeno served as the committees chairman until his passing, playing a central role in the programme that Ruto describes as one of the most challenging undertakings of his presidency, testing both his resolve and leadership.

A Leader Driven by Passion

During a visit to Ngenos hometown, the President spoke emotionally about the late MP, highlighting his passion and steadfast commitment from the very start.

As I said, Hon Ngeno was very passionate about what he did, and he never did half measures, Ruto said.

He continued, When we rolled out housing, and as the vice chair of the committee has said, housing was one of the most difficult assignments that I have undertaken as President. It has tested my resilience as a person.

Ruto revealed that he specifically selected Ngeno to chair the Housing Committee because he trusted that the lawmakers determination would see the programme through.

When I was going through the people who would chair the different committees, I settled on Ngeno because I knew if I persuaded him to do it, there would be no looking back, he said.

Standing Firm Amid Criticism

The president said many leaders privately advised him to abandon the affordable housing program, warning that it would be politically risky and unpopular.

For your information, many people came to me and told me, Mr President, I think you should drop this thing. This thing is very difficult; this thing is going to make you unpopular. Of all the people who came to see me, Ngeno did not, he recalled.

Instead, Ngeno offered steadfast support.

He told me, My brother, I am here because this is the right thing to do. We will drive it. And it is true, Ruto said, thanking the committee members for standing firm despite public opposition and criticism.

The President noted that members of the Housing Committee faced hostility across the country as they defended the programme.

They went to difficult places. They were heckled in different places. They were told off in different places, he said.

From Skepticism to Demand

However, Ruto noted a dramatic shift in the political tide. Those who were once skeptical are now the most vocal proponents of the project in their own backyards.

There is no Member of Parliament here who is not telling me, We want an extra market, or We want more hostels, or There is no affordable housing in my corner. True or not true? he asked.

The President described housing as the most significant initiative of his administration, highlighting its massive financial commitments and economic impact.

A few months ago, when I was in Ethiopia, I said we had signed contracts of $4 billion, and many people said that is not true; that is a lie. But let me tell you, today we have signed contracts worth Sh650 billion, he said.

He added that the funds come from Kenyas own resources, not borrowed money, and pointed out that the countrys skyline is rapidly transforming, with construction growth rising by 10 per cent and the sectors contribution to GDP expanding.

A Lasting Tribute

Ruto acknowledged that without the legal and regulatory framework established by Parliament, this transformation would have been impossible.

Without Parliament, we would not have had the legislation and regulations that gave us the possibility to change our nation, he said.

In his final tribute, the president declared that Ngenos legacy would remain tethered to this national milestone

Johana Ngeno will have a special place in housing, he said.
US sinks Iranian warship off Sri Lankan coast: Hegseth

Jamie Clarke reports
Limited-edition, collectible tin available in select stores nationwide mid-April

LYNDHURST, N.J., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Filippo Berio, a global leader in premium olive oil since 1867, is commemorating "Turandot," the final opera of legendary Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, with a limited-edition collectible tin, marking the 100th anniversary of the opera's world premiere at the iconic Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.

Filippo Berio's limited-edition, Opera Collection Turandot EVOO Tin

Widely regarded as one of Puccini's most dramatic and enduring works, "Turandot" tells the story of a mysterious princess who challenges her suitors with three riddles in a powerful tale of love, courage, and destiny. Filippo Berio's tribute, and the latest addition to its special Opera Collection, features an elegant gold tin embossed with a striking image of Princess Turandot. The commemorative tin will be available at select retailers nationwide starting mid-April.

Filippo Berio's connection to Puccini is deeply rooted in shared heritage. The composer was born in Lucca, Italy, the same Tuscan town where Filippo Berio established his olive oil company in 1867. Lucca's rich cultural legacy has helped shape generations of artistic and culinary excellence, making this tribute especially meaningful.

"Giacomo Puccini's operas possess a timeless beauty that continues to inspire generation after generation around the world," said Marco De Feo, Vice President of Marketing, Filippo Berio USA Ltd. "We are honored to celebrate 'Turandot' and its extraordinary legacy. Rooted in olive oil heritage and inspired by timeless opera, Filippo Berio embraces the same spirit of artistry, blending tradition, craftsmanship, and passion to create olive oils that elevate everyday moments around food."

The release of Filippo Berio's special "Turandot" tins coincides with major cultural celebrations honoring the opera's centennial. Florida Grand Opera will present a new production of "Turandot", opening March 7, 2026, at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. The milestone production will welcome an official cultural delegation from Lucca and Torre del Lago, Italy  Puccini's homeland. As a gesture of appreciation, each performer will receive Filippo Berio's commemorative tin in recognition of their role in honoring the composer's final masterpiece.

Following the Florida performances, Filippo Berio plans to extend the Opera experiential activation to New York and additional major U.S. cities throughout the remainder of the year, bringing the celebration of Italian heritage and culinary artistry to audiences nationwide.

Each iconic "Turandot" tin contains one liter of Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a well-balanced oil crafted from select olives, featuring fresh fruity and grassy notes. Its versatility makes it ideal for finishing dishes, dressing salads, enhancing sauces, or bringing depth of flavor to a wide range of recipes.

For the latest product news, retail rollouts, and cooking inspiration, visit https://filippoberio.com/ or follow Filippo Berio on Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Filippo Berio

The Filippo Berio brand has been committed to creating high-quality olive oil for 159 years. Founder Filippo Berio set forth exceptional standards of olive oil production that are still rigorously followed today, with each bottle bearing his signature as a seal of the finest olive oil and the brand's promise of quality. From distinctive olive oils to a selection of specialty pestos, pasta sauces, wine vinegars, and balsamic vinegars and glazes, Filippo Berio's portfolio combines the finest ingredients with high production standards. The Italian brand, trusted worldwide, promotes healthy lifestyle and food choices through its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and responsible sourcing, delivering great-tasting, accessible products that elevate the at-home cooking and culinary experience. The brand is currently sold in more than 75 countries. In the United States, Filippo Berio is marketed by Filippo Berio USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Salov Group, based in Lucca, Italy. For additional information, please visit filippoberio.com .

Filippo Berio Media Contact: Hannah Castle, 510-590-0195, [email protected]

SOURCE Filippo Berio
SIU Simmons Law School students, from left, Jordyn Perkins, Bradley Weishaar and Laura Clark, are enrolled in the Civil Practice Clinic and, among other tasks, assist clients with estate planning documents. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

SIU Simmons Law School is expanding legal clinics

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School is expanding opportunities for students to receive experiential training through additional legal clinics that will serve more clients in the region.

With Civil Practice and Juvenile Justice clinics already in place, Dean Hannah Brenner Johnson said the law school is working to provide additional clinic opportunities for students and expand the availability of legal services in Southern Illinois. The Lawyers Trust Fund recently provided a grant to establish a Clinical Legal Fellow position that will support the work of the Civil Practice Clinic. And starting with the fall 2026 semester, a new clinical course on immigration law taught by Professor Cindy Buys will be offered to third-year students to work on immigration-related cases.

Expanding opportunities for students to assist clients as part of their legal education is a significant priority, said Brenner Johnson, who came to SIU in July 2025. It helps our students develop the skills necessary to become practice ready by the time they graduate. She added that faculty also indicated an interest in expanding clinical programs as part of the law schools strategic plan.

In clinical settings, second- or third-year students can earn academic credit for work they perform under the supervision of a clinical law professor/attorney including counseling clients, preparing documents, and conducting initial intake. In addition, students apply for and obtain 711 licenses, which under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711, allows them to make court appearances on behalf of their respective clients.

Dale J. Aschemann, a clinical associate professor of law, oversees the Civil Practice Clinic. Eight students per semester may have eight to 12 clients at a given time, he said. In 2025, the clinic assisted 305 individual clients and addressed 648 matters, ranging from wills to guardianships that the clinic initiated for adults with disabilities and minors who lack the legal capacity to speak for themselves, Aschemann said.

Important first step

Brenner Johnson indicated that the law school plans to have the Clinical Legal Fellow in place before summer. This could mean providing services to an additional 35 clients in 2026, Aschemann said.

The clinical legal fellowship, along with a clinical course on immigration law, is a really important first step in building up the law schools experiential program, Brenner Johnson said. The law school is utilizing a multifaceted approach with grant applications and working with donors in an effort to expand the clinics. Offering services to veterans and domestic violence survivors are among the priorities.

New immigration law clinical course

Buys said the new clinical course will focus on providing legal information and resources to noncitizens who are in civil immigration detention. Third-year students will participate in the clinic for one semester at a time. The course is in partnership with The Immigration Project, based in Bloomington, Illinois.

Their attorneys and staff will help coordinate interviews, provide interpreters, and supervise our law students, said Buys, who oversaw law students working with the Immigration Detention Project at the Tri-County Detention Center in Ullin from 2005-2021.

Illinois, however, no longer has state or local immigration detention facilities, with detainee intake interviews conducted by phone or virtually with immigrants who are detained in neighboring states, she said.

Students will observe virtual hearings with immigration judges and gain knowledge of substantive immigration laws, constitutional law and administrative law. They will also improve their interviewing skills, learn to work with interpreters, and gain an understanding of immigration hearing procedures, Buys said. A vast majority of detained noncitizens do not have access to legal information, advice and counsel, she said, so the clinic work will be particularly impactful.

Noncitizens have a right to due process including a right to be represented by counsel at their own expense, as persons protected by the Fifth Amendment, Buys said. Many of the noncitizens in detention have pending applications for immigration benefits such as asylum. We aim to make sure they know their rights and understand the legal processes, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the matter. Given the increasing number of noncitizens being detained over the past year, the need for assistance is growing exponentially.

Meeting the regions needs

Brenner Johnson noted the law schools mission when founded more than 50 years ago to educate students and address the regions unmet legal needs, remains crucial. Simmons Law School alumni are seated in over 200 state and federal judgeships, and there are more than 4,000 practicing alumni.

Legal clinics serve a two-fold mission, Brenner Johnson said.

They help students gain practical experience as they are preparing to be lawyers and also serve the legal needs of the community, she said. This is particularly important in Southern Illinois, where there is a shortage of lawyers in many rural areas. This means that many people have difficulty obtaining legal assistance and accessing critical legal services.

Many law students also gain relevant experience by working for legal aid organizations like Land of Lincoln, private law firms, the judiciary, state and federal prosecutors and public defenders, Brenner Johnson added, Those internship and externship experiences are also a crucial part of law students professional development. The clinic provides just one more opportunity, she said.
From connectivity to intelligence, global mobile industry showcases new wave of innovation

Xinhua) 08:29, March 04, 2026

* Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond its role as an added feature layered onto networks and terminals and is increasingly embedded within the infrastructure that shapes how digital systems operate.

* Analysts said the congress reflects a shift from concept to deployment. Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for Data and Analytics at IDC EMEA, told Xinhua that AI is moving beyond marketing slogans into everyday workflows.

* Over the past two decades, mobile technology expanded connectivity from isolated devices to interconnected systems. The current transition extends that trajectory by embedding intelligence throughout those connections.

A visitor is seen during the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, March 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

BARCELONA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- For years, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) was defined by what could be seen: sleeker handsets, foldable screens and sharper cameras.

At MWC 2026, the most consequential innovations are harder to photograph.

Under the banner of "The IQ Era," this year's gathering -- marking 20 years since MWC made Barcelona its permanent home -- signals a shift in the technological foundation itself. Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond its role as an added feature layered onto networks and terminals and is increasingly embedded within the infrastructure that shapes how digital systems operate.

5G EVOLUTION CONTINUES, AI FORGES AHEAD

Despite the strong emphasis on AI, industry leaders stressed that the 5G journey is still unfolding.

In his opening keynote, GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath urged operators to "complete the 5G journey," noting that 5G Standalone could add up to 187 billion U.S. dollars in additional mobile revenues and that markets with broader 5G adoption are already seeing stronger growth.

He also described telecom operators as "a foundational layer of the AI stack," highlighting the role of networks in enabling real-time intelligence at the edge for billions of users.

China Mobile announced a 5G-Advanced initiative aimed at strengthening network performance to support AI devices, connected vehicles and immersive services, reflecting how operators are adapting to evolving usage patterns.

People visit the booth of Intel during the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, March 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Network architecture is expanding as well. Andrea Folgueiras, Global Chief Technology and Information Officer of Telefonica, said the company is exploring direct-to-device satellite technologies to better understand how satellite connectivity can complement advanced mobile networks and help meet connectivity needs in remote areas of Europe.

Analysts said the congress reflects a shift from concept to deployment. Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for Data and Analytics at IDC EMEA, told Xinhua that AI is moving beyond marketing slogans into everyday workflows.

"In the last couple of years, it was all about the hype. Now it's about what is already happening," he said, adding that enterprises adopting AI-assisted processes are unlikely to revert to previous models.

He dismissed comparisons to the dot-com bubble, arguing that current AI investments are supported by existing infrastructure and practical productivity gains.

As networks expand both capacity and coverage, AI is increasingly shaping not only how those networks are used but what they enable.

FROM HARDWARE SPECTACLE TO STRUCTURAL CHANGE

The exhibition halls still feature eye-catching devices. Honor unveiled a "Robot Phone" integrating embodied AI interaction and advanced imaging capabilities.

At the launch event, Honor Chief Executive Officer Li Jian said the company's newly proposed AHI (Augmented Human Intelligence) concept emphasizes a "people-centered" approach, integrating intelligence quotient with emotional intelligence to enhance human adaptability in a rapidly changing world.

Lenovo presented AI-enabled enterprise devices designed to embed intelligent assistance directly into workplace workflows, illustrating how manufacturers are positioning hardware as part of broader AI systems.

Across the exhibition floor, devices are increasingly functioning as entry points to distributed intelligence.

Behind the screens, companies are investing in computing infrastructure.

Honor's Chief Executive Officer Li Jian introduces the "Robot Phone" at a global product launch event in Barcelona, Spain, March 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Huawei showcased AI computing solutions based on its Atlas platform, highlighting the importance of scalable training and inference capabilities for industrial AI deployment. The emphasis was on compute architecture designed to support large models and real-time analytics.

Enterprise hardware makers also highlighted AI-ready terminals for logistics, manufacturing and energy sectors, where reliability and system integration are essential.

MWC 2026 reflects a broader recalibration of industry priorities. Attention is shifting toward distributed computing, automated workflows and network architectures designed to support intelligent coordination.

Over the past two decades, mobile technology expanded connectivity from isolated devices to interconnected systems. The current transition extends that trajectory by embedding intelligence throughout those connections.

If the previous phase was defined by "everything connected," the emerging phase is increasingly defined by "everything intelligent."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Nonprofit foundation also now accepting applications for its food security grant program

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- To address Florida's maternal health crisis, the Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue and part of the GuideWell portfolio of companies, is investing $3.5 million to expand access to doula care, in-home visits, mental health services, and chronic condition support for mothers and families statewide.

Why it matters: High rates of preterm birth and infant mortality across Florida, particularly among women with chronic conditions and limited access to care, underscore the need for stronger, community-based maternal health support to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.

By the numbers: Florida ranks 32nd of 52 (includes all states, DC, and Puerto Rico) for preterm births with a rate of 10.7% . (includes all states, DC, and Puerto Rico) for preterm births with a rate of

$3.5 million invested to address Florida's maternal health crisis

9 nonprofit programs funded through multi-year grants

Statewide reach, including rural and under-resourced communities

2 focus areas: chronic conditions in pregnancy and maternal mental health

The details: This latest round of grants supports organizations improving maternal health outcomes for women with chronic conditions, as well as those that provide perinatal and postpartum mental health services.

"These organizations are meeting mothers where they are  in clinics, in their homes, in early learning centers, and in places that are comfortable and convenient for them," said Susan Towler, executive director of Florida Blue Foundation. "Every program we support helps close gaps in access, improve maternal and infant health outcomes, and strengthen families across the state."

2026 Maternal Health Grant Recipients

Improving Maternal Health Outcomes for Chronic Conditions:

Lakeland Regional Medical Center (Central/West Florida)  The Innovative Support for Maternal Health Outcomes program provides nurse navigation, doula support, education, and monitoring tools to help high-risk pregnant women manage chronic conditions and reduce complications.risk pregnant women manage chronic conditions and reduce complications.





 The Innovative Support for Maternal Health Outcomes program provides nurse navigation, doula support, education, and monitoring tools to help high-risk pregnant women manage chronic conditions and reduce complications.risk pregnant women manage chronic conditions and reduce complications. March of Dimes  South Florida Chapter (South Florida)  The Green Cars for Kids initiative provides free electric transportation to prenatal, postpartum, and specialty care appointments, helping mothers with chronic conditions maintain consistent care.





 The Green Cars for Kids initiative provides free electric transportation to prenatal, postpartum, and specialty care appointments, helping mothers with chronic conditions maintain consistent care. Pasco Kids First (West Florida)  The Thrive Well: Maternal Health & Wellness program expands home visiting services to include maternal health monitoring, chronic condition education, and referrals for at-risk mothers.





 The Thrive Well: Maternal Health & Wellness program expands home visiting services to include maternal health monitoring, chronic condition education, and referrals for at-risk mothers. Collier Health Services / Healthcare Network of SWFL (Southwest Florida)  The Transitions of Care for High-Risk Pregnancies program coordinates care across home, hospital, and postpartum settings using monitoring, follow-up support, and AI enabled nutrition tools.

Perinatal and Postpartum Maternal Mental Health Support:

Primary Care Medical Services of Poinciana / Osceola Community Health Services (Central Florida)  The Maternal Mental Health Integration Program embeds mental health screening, counseling, and peer support into routine OB/GYN care to strengthen perinatal and postpartum outcomes in Osceola County.





 The Maternal Mental Health Integration Program embeds mental health screening, counseling, and peer support into routine OB/GYN care to strengthen perinatal and postpartum outcomes in Osceola County. University of North Florida Foundation (Northeast Florida)  The Osprey Psych Telehealth Maternal Mental Health Initiative expands access to perinatal and postpartum behavioral health care through telehealth, bilingual technology support, and AI enabled tools.





 The Osprey Psych Telehealth Maternal Mental Health Initiative expands access to perinatal and postpartum behavioral health care through telehealth, bilingual technology support, and AI enabled tools. Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition (Northwest Florida)  The C.O.A.S.T. Through Pregnancy program uses perinatal navigators and licensed clinical social workers to coordinate medical, mental health, and social services for mothers.





 The C.O.A.S.T. Through Pregnancy program uses perinatal navigators and licensed clinical social workers to coordinate medical, mental health, and social services for mothers. Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition (Treasure Coast)  The Postpartum & Bereavement Community Doula Program offers emotional, mental health, and practical support to families navigating postpartum recovery or loss.





 The Postpartum & Bereavement Community Doula Program offers emotional, mental health, and practical support to families navigating postpartum recovery or loss. The Children's Movement of Florida (Statewide)  The Early Motherhood Support Groups program creates safe, peer supported spaces in early learning centers where pregnant women and new mothers can strengthen their mental well-being.

"To truly make progress for the youngest Floridians, we must impact the adults  in the family and community  who help shape children's lives," said Madeleine Thakur, president & CEO of The Children's Movement of Florida. "We are grateful for the support from Florida Blue Foundation, which is helping to bridge gaps in care and services for new mothers and families."

These programs will serve families across Florida, including those living in rural areas and in communities with limited access to maternal health services and support.

Food Security Grant Program Applications also now open

In addition to announcing maternal health funding, the Florida Blue Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2026 funding cycle of its food security grant program. The Foundation will award approximately $3.2 million in grants and is seeking proposals that address the following topic areas:

Focus 1: Transforming Health through Food

Healthy eating is a crucial component of overall well-being, and access to nutritious food can play a significant role in preventing and managing chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity which are prevalent in Florida. This funding focus supports programs that apply Food is Medicine principles to deliver effective interventions that improve health outcomes and quality of life. Funding will support initiatives that provide nutrition prescriptions, education, counseling, and medical nutrition therapy to individuals and communities. Programs that provide fresh produce and healthy food to support lifestyle changes and improve overall community well-being are a priority. Partnerships between health care providers, grocery stores, food banks, and community organizations that address food insecurity as a social determinant of health are encouraged.

Focus 2: Growing Access, Growing Capacity

Vulnerable populations in Florida, including children, families, and seniors, often face significant barriers to accessing healthy food, particularly in food desert communities. This funding focus supports organizations that provide essential services to address food access gaps and promote community resilience. Funding will support food distribution programs, including food banks, delivery services, pantries, and mobile markets, as well as urban agriculture and collaborative solutions that increase access to nutritious food. Effective organizations with strong foundations are best positioned to drive lasting change; therefore, support for operational needs is a critical component of this funding focus, enabling them to sustain and grow their efforts over time.

The application window closes on April 22 and details are available via this food security grant application link.

Go deeper: To learn more about Florida Blue Foundation's impact across the state, including its commitment to improving maternal health outcomes, read GuideWell's latest impact report.

About Florida Blue Foundation

Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions, and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in communities across the state. An average of 10 million Floridians receive services each year as a result of its community investments. Founded in 2001, Florida Blue Foundation is committed to improving health by impacting food security, advancing mental well-being, growing healthy communities, and addressing health disparities. Florida Blue Foundation is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit FloridaBlueFoundation.com.

About Florida Blue

Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, Florida Blue is the leading health insurer in Florida, and part of GuideWell, a not-for-profit health services company. Florida Blue offers a range of health plans and personalized care programs for individuals, families, businesses of all sizes, and Medicare beneficiaries. For over 80 years, the organization has been member centric and committed to making health care as accessible and affordable as possible. Serving more than six million members across all 67 Florida counties, Florida Blue has more than 8,000 employees and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., is owned by its policyholders, and is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

For additional information visit FloridaBlue.com. For the latest news and content, visit the Florida Blue Newsroom, and follow Florida Blue on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @Florida.Blue; and X (formerly Twitter) @FLBlue.

SOURCE Florida Blue Foundation
PRNewswire Antalya [Turkey], March 4: Gene Solutions announced its strategic entry into the Turkish market at the 2nd International Hereditary Cancers Congress (IHCC), held 05-08 February 2026 in Antalya. - In Partnership with ATC Genomics, the Company Presented One of Asia's Largest Real-World Datasets (n=12,281) for AI-Powered Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) and Showcased its Clinically Validated ctDNA-Powered Oncology Portfolio Across the Full Cancer Continuum for High-Risk and Hereditary Populations. Organized by the Hereditary Cancer Association, IHCC convened medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, clinical geneticists, and laboratory directors to advance evidence-based approaches in hereditary cancer prevention and precision oncology. The 2026 congress brought together over 600 oncology and genetics experts to advance evidence-based hereditary cancer care. As hereditary cancer care evolves from risk assessment toward earlier detection, personalized surveillance, and preventive precision care, IHCC served as a key platform to discuss the clinical integration of genomic medicine and multidisciplinary models of care. In collaboration with ATC Genomics Saglik Teknolojileri A.S. (ATC Genomics), a leading Turkiye-based provider and distributor with over 30 years of experience in molecular diagnostics and life sciences--Gene Solutions presented compelling new Real-World Evidence (RWE) from one of the largest Asian cohorts evaluating its MCED assay.(1) Alongside this data, the company showcased its full ctDNA-powered oncology portfolio: - S POT-MAS: AI-powered Multi-Cancer Early Detection.- K-4CARE: Comprehensive Genomic and Transcriptomic Profiling (CGTP) with longitudinal MRD monitoring.These multi-omics solutions meet the highest international performance standards, while providing accessible and scalable precision oncology for hereditary and high-risk cohorts across diverse populations. Industry Satellite Symposium: From Screening to Precision CareIn alignment with this direction, Gene Solutions and ATC Genomics hosted an Industry Satellite Symposium entitled: "From Screening to Precision Care: The ctDNA Continuum in Oncology - Insights for High-Risk and Hereditary Populations." Co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ozdogan, Medical Oncologist and Head of the Cancer Center at Memorial Health Group, Turkiye and Prof. Dr. Taha Bahsi, Medical Geneticist and Head of the Genetic Diseases Evaluation Center at Memorial Health Group, Turkiye, the program addressed the full ctDNA continuum--delivering actionable evidence from early cancer screening to therapy guidance and longitudinal surveillance--with a focus on hereditary and high-risk populations. - Dr. Le Son Tran, Principal Investigator at Gene Solutions, presented "SPOT-MAS: A Multi-Omics Approach to Cancer Detection".He addressed limitations of single-organ screening and highlighted SPOT-MAS technology, including cfDNA multi-omics integration, machine learning, which integrates genetic, epigenetic, and fragmentomic signatures from a single blood draw to detect 10 cancer types and 75 subtypes. In addition, he showcased the K-DETEK prospective study (9,024 asymptomatic individuals), demonstrating 78.1% sensitivity and 99.8% specificity, with AI-driven tissue-of-origin accuracy of 84%, underscoring affordability and scalability for population-level impact in high-risk cohorts.- Dr. Duy Sinh Nguyen, Oncology Medical Director at Gene Solutions, presented "Beyond DNA: Integrated Comprehensive Genomic & Transcriptomic Profiling with Longitudinal MRD Monitoring". He introduced the K-4CARE platform, a unified workflow that integrates genomic and transcriptomic profiling for fusion detection, immune signatures, and therapy selection while also providing personalized ctDNA-MRD status for precise surveillance. The talk covered methodology, analytical/clinical performance, real-world cases, and practical implementation pathways to advance precision treatment.- Dr. Terence Aik Huang Tan, Medical Oncologist at International Cancer Specialists, Singapore, presented "Current Clinical Practice and Future Directions of ctDNA-MRD Monitoring". Offering an independent perspective, he reviewed the current international guideline landscape (including NCCN, ESMO, and JSCO), real-world scenarios from Asia, and highlighted clinical spaces of equipoise in the NCCN guidelines--where ctDNA-MRD can support shared decision-making and guide escalation or de-escalation, with potential to significantly extend median overall survival.The session concluded with an interactive Q&A moderated by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ozdogan and Prof. Dr. Taha Bahsi. Oral Presentation Highlight at IHCC: Large-Scale Real-World Evidence for Multi-Cancer Early Detection in AsiaDr. Luu Hong Dang Nguyen, Deputy Medical Director at Gene Solutions, presented results from one of the largest RWE datasets in Asia evaluating SPOT-MAS. In a real-world cohort of 12,281 individuals (median age 43 years) enriched for familial cancer risk and followed for 12 months, SPOT-MAS demonstrated sensitivity of 78.2%, specificity of 99.8%, PPV of 67%, NPV of 99.9%, and tumor-of-origin accuracy of 82.0%, consistent with K-DETEK prospective validation. Dr. Dang Nguyen emphasized the shift toward "cancer interception"--proactive detection and treatment of precancerous lesions to reduce future cancer burden and outlined Gene Solutions' focus on high-risk genetic and familial cohorts. Read details on symposium insights and oral presentation: https://genesolutions.com/news/gene-solutions-atc-introducing-oncology-portfolio-in-turkey-at-the-2nd-international-hereditary-cancers-congress-with-industry-symposium-oral-presentation/ Strong Momentum from Turkish Clinicians"Turkiye serves as a strategic gateway for precision oncology across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Together with ATC Genomics, we are bringing clinicians accessible, clinically validated ctDNA solutions--from early detection to treatment decision-making and surveillance--that meet the highest international performance standards and are backed by robust RWE," said Dr. Ozguncem Bozkulak, General Manager, TR-EEMEA-CIS, Gene Solutions. "Our multi-omics platforms and growing clinical evidence base reflect our commitment to improving outcomes for patients with hereditary and high-risk cancer while supporting localized, scalable implementation." "We are proud to partner with Gene Solutions to expand access to state-of-the-art liquid biopsy technologies in Turkiye," said Burcu Torun, Managing Partner and General Manager, ATC Genomics. "This collaboration strengthens our portfolio and supports the Turkish oncology community with end-to-end solutions that can be integrated into daily clinical practice." Gene Solutions thanks the Hereditary Cancer Association, congress leadership, speakers, and participants for an impactful scientific exchange and looks forward to contributing to the advancement of precision oncology in Turkiye. (1) Nguyen, L. H. D., et al. (2025). Prospective validation study: a non-invasive circulating tumor DNA-based assay for simultaneous early detection of multiple cancers in asymptomatic adults. BMC Medicine, 23(1).About Gene SolutionsGene Solutions is a global biotechnology company headquartered in Singapore with a mission to make advanced genomic solutions accessible and affordable. Leveraging multi-omics, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and Artificial Intelligence, the company offers a comprehensive portfolio, including next-generation prenatal screening for fetal and maternal health (triSure), multi-cancer early detection (SPOT-MAS), and comprehensive tumor profiling and ctDNA monitoring (K-TRACK, K-4CARE). Since 2017, Gene Solutions has performed over three million genetic tests worldwide through CAP-accredited laboratories across multiple markets. Through continuous innovation and strategic collaborations, the company is advancing earlier cancer detection, precision care, and reproductive health globally.Learn more: www.genesolutions.com About ATC Genomics TurkiyeATC Genomics Saglik Teknolojileri A.S. (ATC Genomics) is a Turkiye-based provider and distributor in molecular diagnostics and life sciences. Since 1996, ATC has brought advanced genomic technologies, high-quality products, and services to clinicians, scientists, and laboratories--supporting disease prevention, early diagnosis, and personalized treatment decisions through international collaborations and innovation. The company emphasizes human-centred values and quality, serving molecular diagnostic and research laboratories in line with international standards, and highlights its "Trusted Partner in Genomics" ethos on its corporate site.Learn more: www.atc.com.tr Media ContactGene SolutionsEmail: pr@genesolutions.comATC GenomicsEmail: bilgi@atc.com.tr (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
PRNewswire East Brunswick (New Jersey) [US] / Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], March 4: Sonata Software (NSE: SONATSOFTW) (BSE: 532221), a leading AI-first Modernization Engineering company and long-standing global partner of Microsoft, today announced that it has been recognized as a Microsoft Frontier Partner. This recognition underscores Sonata Software's leadership in delivering AI-first human-led approach that combines AI agents and human ingenuity to scale innovation and impact across Cloud & AI Platforms, AI Business Solutions, and Security. - Recognition underscores the company's leadership in AI transformation, driven by an AI-first, human-led approach that scales innovation and impact across Cloud & AI Platforms, AI Business Solutions, and Security Earned by demonstrating excellence across multiple Microsoft Cloud and AI disciplines, the Frontier Badge is a new symbol of leadership and impact. It recognizes partners delivering cutting-edge solutions on the Microsoft Cloud. These solutions leverage AI, Copilot, and agentic architectures to transform business processes and employee experiences. The badge honors partners who are bending the curve of innovation and setting the pace for what's next. Rajsekhar Datta Roy, Chief Technology Officer at Sonata Software, said: "We are proud to be recognized as a Microsoft Frontier Partner. Powered by the strength of the Microsoft partner ecosystem, this distinction reinforces our credibility in enabling enterprises - including our own - to evolve into AI-first organizations. Through early investments across Microsoft AI business solutions, Microsoft Fabric, and Azure AI Foundry, we are helping clients accelerate AI adoption and unlock measurable value, faster." Anthony Lange, Chief Revenue Officer at Sonata Software added: "The Microsoft Frontier Partner Badge reinforces our position as a trusted growth partner for our clients. The recognition reflects our ability to translate advanced Microsoft Cloud and AI capabilities into real business outcomes. It strengthens our go-to-market momentum and reinforces the trust our clients place in us." Sonata Software has been a trusted long-standing Microsoft Partner. It is an AI Business Solutions Inner Circle member, Microsoft Fabric launch partner, Azure Expert MSP, and holds eleven advanced specializations, including the latest AI Platform on Microsoft Azure and Copilot specializations. Building on its Platformation.AI foundation, Sonata Software now offers Sonata Harmoni.AI for responsible-first GenAI adoption and AgentBridge for enterprise agentic workflow orchestration. Together with Microsoft, Sonata Software delivers secure, scalable, and future-ready solutions that drive digital transformation and align with Microsoft's AI-first vision. About Sonata Software In today's market, there is a unique duality in technology adoption. On one side, extreme focus on cost containment by clients, and on the other, deep motivation to modernize their Digital storefronts to attract more consumers and B2B customers. Sonata Software, with $1.2 Billion Revenue, is the leading AI-first Modernization Engineering company. Our unique Modernization approach through Platformation.AI helps create Efficient and Agile digital businesses to drive intelligent ecosystems of the future. Our bouquet of Modernization Engineering Services cuts across Data, Cloud, Dynamics, Automation, Cyber Security, and around newer technologies like Generative AI, Microsoft Fabric, and other modernization platforms. Our unique and innovative Responsible-first AI offering Sonata Harmoni.AI is a comprehensive platform powered by GenAI and encompasses a variety of industry solutions, service delivery platforms, and accelerators. It is distinguished by its embedded ethics, privacy, security, and compliance. We enable our clients to leverage AI in three different ways: i) driving efficiencies, ii) driving higher consumer experience/modern sales, and iii) driving innovative business models. We have launched bleeding edge Agentic AI offering - AgentBridge - that enables enterprises to usher in the era of intelligent, scalable AI-driven operations. Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, Sonata Software has a strong global presence, including key regions North America, UK, Europe, APAC, and ANZ. We are one of the fastest growing IT Services companies and a trusted partner of Fortune 500 companies in Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI); Healthcare and Lifesciences (HLS); Telecom, Media, and Technology (TMT); and Retail, Manufacturing and Distribution (RMD) space. Sonata Software boasts of a strong partnership with Microsoft. We are proud member of Microsoft AI Partner Council and Inner Circle for AI Business Solutions and Featured and Launch Partner for Microsoft Fabric. For more information, please visit https://www.sonata-software.com/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2924719/Sonata_Microsoft.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 4: Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited (USGI), a leading general insurance provider in India, has announced a new green initiative aligned with its ESG strategy and commitment to the environmental sustainability. Under this initiative, the company will plant a tree for every new motor insurance policy sold for Hybrid cars and Electric cars from authorized Toyota dealers through Toyota Tsusho Insurance Broker India Pvt Ltd effective since 1st April 2025. With the Indian mobility sector gradually shifting towards cleaner and more sustainable options, USGI aims to promote environmentally responsible choices among its customers while also making a significant contribution to environmental renewal. One tree will be planted for every eligible policy issued under this initiative. Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Sharad Mathur, Managing Director & CEO, Universal Sompo, said, "For us, insurance is not just about securing assets, but also safeguarding the world we live in. Through this initiative, we are not only acknowledging and rewarding our customers for choosing hybrid and electric vehicles but also working towards protecting our environment. By planting a tree for every eligible policy, we are building a collective heritage of sustainability with our customers and partners." Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Takayuki Ueda, Managing Director, CEO of Toyota Tsusho Insurance Broker India Pvt Ltd, said, "Our collaboration with Universal Sompo General Insurance represents a shared vision where business growth and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. By awarding tree-planting certificates to our motor insurance customers, we are transforming a standard policy purchase into a meaningful contribution toward a greener planet." The program will be implemented in partnership with Grow-Trees. Trees will be planted and marked digitally, and every policyholder will receive a joint digital plantation certificate as recognition of their contribution. The certificates will be dispatched to Universal Sompo for final delivery to the customers. USGI extended an invitation to Toyota hybrid and electric vehicle owners to be part of their sustainability journey and make a positive difference in the environment i.e, one policy and one tree at a time. About Universal Sompo General InsuranceUniversal Sompo is a joint venture of Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Karnataka Bank, Dabur Investments, and a global insurer SOMPO. The company is headquartered in Mumbai and has 142 offices nationwide, with representation through its digitally enabled employees across over 300 cities. It has a strong distribution network of agents, point of salespersons, bank branches, automobile dealers, brokers, common service centres, and digital platforms/ e-commerce players. The company offers 181 IRDAI-approved products, and 2049 add-on covers, ranging from motor, accident & health, home insurance, shopkeepers' packages, crop and other non-life packages for SMEs, fire, marine, engineering, employee benefits, project insurance, liability, and other special products for Corporates. Microinsurance covers the rural segment. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
NewsVoir Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], March 4: Ahmedabad University has announced the launch of The Ahmedabad MBA, a new management programme designed to respond to structural shifts reshaping business and society. The programme has been developed in recognition of the profound disruptions caused by rapid technological transformation, shifting geopolitical dynamics, climate change, and large-scale urbanisation, particularly in emerging economies such as India. Over the past decade, businesses across industries have been challenged by new organisational forms, digital platforms, and data-driven operating models. Traditional structures built around hierarchies and incremental change are increasingly giving way to agile, cross-functional systems that require new skills and new ways of thinking. Roles within organisations are evolving rapidly, demanding technological fluency, interdisciplinary understanding, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. Professor Pankaj Chandra, Vice Chancellor of Ahmedabad University, said, "Business today operates in an environment defined by complexity and interconnectedness. Technology is transforming how organisations function, geopolitics is influencing supply chains and capital flows, climate change is shaping regulatory and strategic decisions, and urbanisation is redefining markets and consumers. Management education must respond to these realities with intellectual depth and structural innovation." The Ahmedabad MBA has been designed within a comprehensive research university environment, enabling students to draw upon expertise across management, engineering, arts and sciences, public health, and technology domains. This interdisciplinary foundation reflects the growing need for managers who can integrate perspectives from economics, social sciences, computing, sustainability, and policy into business decision-making. The programme is structured around four core capabilities. It emphasises the development of an entrepreneurial mindset that enables students to identify opportunity within uncertainty. It builds technological fluency so that graduates understand not only digital tools but also the strategic implications of emerging technologies. It integrates interdisciplinary learning to deepen understanding of markets, institutions, and society. It also cultivates the ability to work in diverse teams, recognising that contemporary problem-solving requires collaboration across varied backgrounds and expertise. Students in The Ahmedabad MBA have the flexibility to shape their academic pathways in line with the roles they aspire to pursue. A student who wishes to become a technology product manager can complement marketing courses with coursework and projects in artificial intelligence, networking, and design from the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Those aiming to work in the health industry can integrate their management learning with courses in One Health and Data Science in Health from the Bagchi School of Public Health. A student interested in finance within the creative industries may combine business education with coursework in Performing and Visual Arts from the School of Arts and Sciences or pursue specialised study at the GIFT International FinTech Institute established by Ahmedabad University with IIT Gandhinagar. Similarly, a student aspiring to be a Sustainability Manager in a global manufacturing firm can undertake courses and projects with The Climate Institute to design sustainable systems, processes, and materials. Field projects form a key component of the programme, enabling students to integrate classroom learning with real-world challenges. This experiential emphasis aims to ensure that graduates are prepared not only to analyse complex problems but also to design and implement practical solutions. Career preparation is supported by a highly networked Career Development Centre that works closely with industry, startups, family businesses, and research-driven organisations. Graduates of the Ahmedabad MBA pursue careers across core functional areas such as finance, marketing, operations, and product management, as well as interdisciplinary and emerging domains including fintech, analytics, entrepreneurship, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and the creative industries. The programme is designed to support diverse career ambitions aligned with both India's growth and the realities of the global economy. Ahmedabad University believes that the future of management education lies within strong university ecosystems that encourage dialogue across disciplines. Globally, many highly regarded business schools are embedded within comprehensive universities for precisely this reason. Such environments allow management students to engage with scholars in sociology, psychology, engineering, climate science, and public policy, thereby deepening the intellectual foundations of business practice. "The manager of the future must understand systems rather than silos," Professor Chandra added. "They must be comfortable navigating technological change, regulatory uncertainty, global interdependence, and social responsibility. The Ahmedabad MBA seeks to prepare such whole managers who can think critically, act responsibly, and lead in conditions of change." Admissions to The Ahmedabad MBA are now open. About Ahmedabad UniversityAhmedabad University is a leading private, non-profit research university offering students a liberal education focused on interdisciplinary learning, practice orientation, and research thinking. The University has been - Recognised by the Government of Gujarat as a Centre of Excellence. - Accredited with 'A' grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).- Awarded Leadership and Management Team of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2025.- Awarded a 5-star rating, the highest awarded in the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) for 2021-22 and 2023-24, by the - --- Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), Department of Education, Government of Gujarat.- Awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Award for Excellence 2024 for our University Centre.- Awarded a 'Platinum Rating' by the Indian Green Building Council for sustainability and green practices.- Recognised by the UGC under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, becoming one of the very few private research universities to have been awarded this recognition for select research universities.- Recognised as a Highly Commended University for Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2023.- Awarded the AACSB's Innovations That Inspire Award 2023 for its Foundation Programme.- Awarded Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council for achieving the Green Building Standards at our University Centre. The University, established in 2009, is rooted in the vision of one of India's finest educational foundations, the Ahmedabad Education Society, which was founded in 1935 by nationalist leaders. Programmes at the University range from bachelors to doctoral levels in humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and management through its 14 Schools and Centres: Amrut Mody School of Management | Bagchi School of Public Health | School of Arts and Sciences | School of Engineering and Applied Science | Ahmedabad Design Lab | Centre for Heritage Management | Centre for Learning Futures | Global Centre for Environment and Energy | International Centre for Space and Cosmology | Sahyog: Centre for Promoting Health | Stepwell Centre for Asian Futures | The Climate Institute | The Institute of Manufacturing and Economy | VentureStudio An urban university, Ahmedabad promotes independent-mindedness and diversity across all dimensions of its activity and helps students mature into critical thinkers who are analytically equipped, practically oriented, and contextually aware global citizens. The University provides a contemporary educational framework that brings liberal arts, sciences, and the professions to engage together in creating new knowledge for addressing complex challenges of the society and in offering majors that merge the boundaries of disciplines to prepare students for the new economy. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
Unveiled nine next-gen models for the first time in the U.S. at CONEXPO 2026

Prepared booth experiences for remote/autonomous operations and AI-driven safety solutions at the HYUNDAI and DEVELON booths

Showcased proprietary engines and next-gen powertrains emphasizing its technological competitiveness

SEOUL, South Korea, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Construction Equipment, the intermediary holding company of HD Hyundai's construction equipment business, will be introducing nine Next Generation models to North America, the world's largest construction equipment arena, through its two well-established and distinct brands, HYUNDAI and DEVELON, which will be at indoor and outdoor locations, respectively.

The company announced on Tuesday, March 3, that it will be participating in CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from March 3 to 7.

The new next generation excavator revealed at the HYUNDAI booth at CONEXPO-CONAGG 2026 The next generation autonomous excavator being demonstrated at the DEVELON booth at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026

HD Construction Equipment will feature three booths - one each for HYUNDAI (West Hall, W42500) and DEVELON (Festival Lot, F32054), and its Engine department (South Hall, S80928). On the opening day, the company hosted an "Unveiling Showcase" to unveil next-generation medium-to-large excavators (2340 tons), in which HYUNDAI introduced five new models, and DEVELON introduced four. HD Hyundai will also showcase proprietary engines and next-gen powertrains at its separate engine booth.

The company also demonstrated "Real-X," an advanced AI-driven unmanned automation solution, built into the next-generation models. Real-X, developed as the commercial successor to Concept-X, signifies a remarkable advancement in field-ready autonomous technology.

HYUNDAI will demonstrate its strength as a comprehensive full liner, showcasing a complete equipment portfolio that meets every on-site requirement. Across 26,000 sq. ft. (2,413 m), it will feature 22 representative models, including five next-generation HX Series excavators, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks (ADTs), and compact equipment. A highlight of the exhibition will be the remote-control experience corner, where visitors can operate a wheel loader at the Hyundai Product Center, located 3,000 km away, in real time.

DEVELON's expansive 40,000 sq. ft. (3,759 m) exhibit is designed for hands-on interaction with its latest smart innovations. The exhibit features 21 representative models, including four from the NextGen Series and strategic equipment specifically tailored for the North American market. In the interactive experience zone, guests can step into the cab of a next-generation excavator and witness live demonstrations of autonomous digging, loading, and smart safety features.

The engine booth will highlight HD Construction Equipment's independent technological prowess. The display features a full lineup of industrial engines, including the new DA11 (1.1L electronic micro engine), the DX05 and DX08 (featured in the next-gen models), and the DX22 for ultra-large excavators. Additionally, the company will showcase hydrogen engines and high-performance battery packs, underlining its commitment to next-generation powertrains.

With the U.S. construction market showing clear signs of recovery, CONEXPO 2026 is set to be a pivotal battleground for global brands. To meet North America's demand for high power, durability, and stringent emission standards, HD Construction Equipment has significantly elevated the intelligence of its next-generation fleet by integrating AI-driven assistance and advanced safety systems. The models are also equipped with proprietary DX05 and DX08 engines, delivering best-in-class fuel efficiency and performance.

Moon Jae-young, President and CEO of HD Construction Equipment said, "This exhibition serves as a stage to prove the competitiveness of our next-generation models in the North American market, which demands the highest standards of technology and quality. Equipped with cutting-edge AI and our independently developed engines, these models will lead our efforts to increase market share in North America and accelerate our leap toward becoming a global top-tier player."

SOURCE HD Hyundai
NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 4: India's Jumbotail Technologies Private Limited (Jumbotail), and Japan-based NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) today announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing the digital transformation (DX) of India's mass market retail sector and its 19 million local neighbourhood stores, "Kirana" (*1). As part of this partnership, NEC will make a strategic investment in Jumbotail. This collaboration brings together NEC's technology, cultivated alongside global retail customers, and its cutting-edge AI with Jumbotail's B2B marketplace and New Retail platform to strengthen and expand the Kirana retail ecosystem for India's mass market. Market Context and Strategic AlignmentIndia's retail growth is fundamentally driven by the "India 2" segment - a massive, aspirational middle-class representing 42% of households and an $800 billion market opportunity. This demographic relies heavily on the nation's 19 million local neighbourhood Kirana stores for daily consumption. Jumbotail serves this vital Kirana network through its proprietary platform that provides Kirana store owners access to a wide selection of goods, including food, groceries, apparel and fashion, toys, sports, and consumer electronics. This is enabled through Jumbotail's B2B e-commerce marketplace platforms, integrated daily fulfilment and store front deliveries, embedded fintech, and GoldenEye retail operating system (*2) for entrepreneurs to own and operate J24-branded (*3) modern convenience retail stores. NEC's partnership with Jumbotail will accelerate and expand access to advanced technology for millions of small-scale entrepreneurs in India. Moreover, it will provide access to enterprise-grade solutions, previously only available to large modern retail companies, to small Kirana owners and regional brands in India. These solutions will drive higher customer retention, improve operational efficiency and increase profitability, which, will enable Kirana owners to offer a modern, digitally enabled shopping experience that will transform India's mass market Kirana retail sector. Collaboration Details NEC has long contributed to the development of retail in various countries and regions. Jumbotail is the market leader in Kirana retail and is the gateway for brands to access mass market retail consumption in India. This collaboration will combine NEC's global technology and expertise with Jumbotail's technology and platform built with deep local market insights in India. The companies aim to co-develop advanced technologies for India's high-density, unstructured retail environment, empowering local Kirana store owners to thrive in the modern economy. 1. Enhancing B2B Commerce with AI to Benefit KiranasNEC's advanced AI and retail technologies will be customized for Jumbotail's Kirana customers to discover and sell a wider variety of products, improve inventory management, optimize in-stock rates, and optimize working capital. 2. Strengthening Brand Connections and Consumer EngagementLeveraging Jumbotail's marketplace and retail platform's deep market reach across Kiranas and brands, and NEC's AI driven data analytics and advanced in-store retail solutions, the companies will develop and deploy go-to-market retail solutions that connect brands and consumers by strengthening targeted promotions and consumer engagement. 3. Expansion of "J24" - Modern Convenience Stores owned and operated by local entrepreneursNEC and Jumbotail will collaborate to enhance the Jumbotail's New Retail platform and GoldenEye Retail Operating System, by integrating NEC's advanced in-store digital solutions to enable digitization of store operations and better consumer experience via real-time consumer insights. Advancing a Shared Vision for SocietyThis collaboration realizes both NEC's purpose to promote a more sustainable world by creating social value through safety, security, fairness, and efficiency, and Jumbotail's mission to be the gateway to mass market consumption in India by digitizing and modernizing the retail value chain of India's Kirana store ecosystem. By providing India's Kiranas with advanced retail solutions and tools, NEC and Jumbotail are promoting a sustainable world where neighbourhood Kirana retailers have the chance to reach their full potential by large scale digital transformation, thus making Kirana store entrepreneurs an indispensable partner in India's growth story. AcknowledgmentsMerton Global Ventures Ltd. (*4), a strategic and business consultancy firm played an integral role in the conception and execution of the partnership between Jumbotail and NEC. Merton was founded by Mr. Prem Samtani, a leader in building durable cross border alliances, with deep expertise in the India-Japan business corridor. (*1) Kirana are small, individually owned grocery and convenience stores found throughout India. Approximately 19 million such stores exist nationwide.(*2) A retail store operating system including point of sale, customer relationship, loyalty, credit management, marketing solutions for kirana entrepreneurs to operate their stores.(*3) J24 is the brand name of the modern convenience store owned and operated by retail entrepreneurs, powered by Jumbotail's New Retail platform.(*4) Merton Global Ventures Ltd. www.mertonglobal.co About JumbotailFounded in 2015 by S. Karthik Venkateswaran and Ashish Jhina, Jumbotail is India's leading B2B marketplace and New Retail platform. Serving as the digital and physical infrastructure for over 250,000 Kirana stores in India, Jumbotail's platform integrates a digital marketplace, logistics network, working capital fintech products, and the J24 modern convenience store network alongside GoldenEye Retail Operating System technology solutions. By empowering small retailers to modernize and thrive, Jumbotail provides the definitive gateway for brands to access India's mass-market consumption economy. For more information, please visit www.jumbotail.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube. About NECThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group's approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society. For more information, please visit www.nec.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
NewsVoir Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 4: On the occasion of National Science Day 2026, VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) hosted the prestigious VELS National Scitech Awards 2026 at its campus in Pallavaram, Chennai. The event recognised eminent scientists and research leaders for their outstanding contributions to science, technology, innovation, coastal sustainability, marine research, chemistry, and traditional medicine. Instituted to honour excellence in science and research at the national level, the awards celebrated distinguished scientists whose work has significantly advanced innovation, sustainability, healthcare, coastal management, and national development. National Science Day is observed annually on February 28 to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by Nobel Laureate Sir C. V. Raman a landmark scientific breakthrough that placed India firmly on the global research map. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice-President of the VELS Group of Institutions, described science as the backbone of national progress and emphasized the need to cultivate a strong culture of inquiry, innovation, and responsibility among the youth. She highlighted VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) for its robust research ecosystem and its recognition as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO). She also noted the university's active collaborations with over 100 industry partners, strengthening academia - industry integration and research-driven innovation. Dr. Preethaa Ganesh further underscored the pivotal role of the VELS Innovation Council in advancing research commercialization, facilitating patents and intellectual property rights (IPR), and promoting women-led entrepreneurship. She reiterated the institution's commitment to fostering innovation, startup incubation, and industry-relevant research that contributes to national development and global competitiveness. The distinguished awardees of the VELS National Scitech Awards 2026 included: - Dr. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology- Dr. G. Senthil Vel, Director, National Institute of Siddha- Dr. P. Krishnan, Director, Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation- Dr. Ramesh L. Gardas, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Madras- Dr. V. Deepak Samuel, Scientist-E, National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management Each awardee received a citation, a commemorative memento, and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh in recognition of their exemplary contributions to their respective fields. Through the VELS National Scitech Awards, VISTAS continues to strengthen India's scientific ecosystem by recognising excellence, encouraging research leadership, and fostering innovation-driven nation building. The celebration reaffirmed the institution's commitment to advancing impactful research and inspiring the next generation of scientists to contribute meaningfully to society and sustainable development About VELS University VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) continues to be recognised as one of the best deemed university in Chennai, distinguished by its prestigious NAAC A++ accreditation and UGC Category I status. Home to over 20,000 students and supported by a dedicated faculty strength of 1,220 members, VISTAS offers more than 150 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a wide spectrum of disciplines. These include Medicine, Engineering, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Management, Law, Mass Communication, Maritime Studies, Aviation, Physiotherapy, and Computing Sciences, among others. With its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and holistic development, VISTAS remains a premier destination for quality higher education in India. For more details kindly visit www.vistas.ac.in (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
The 7th Joint Committee Meeting under the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was held on March 2 in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary, Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agrawal, Government of India, and the Senior Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan. Both sides reviewed issues relating to the implementation of the CEPA and deliberated on ways to further strengthen bilateral economic engagement. On the sidelines of the meeting, Agrawal, met the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including bilateral trade and investment, improving the business environment, and the upcoming 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO). During the meeting with the METI Vice Minister, Agrawal highlighted the shared vision articulated by the leaders of both countries during the Annual Summit in August 2025 and underscored the need to enhance and diversify bilateral trade and investment. He emphasized the strong complementarities between the two economies--Japan's strengths in technology, capital, and advanced manufacturing, and India's skilled workforce, large market, and rapidly growing economy. He stressed the importance of harnessing the full benefits of the CEPA, including the movement of natural persons as envisaged during the Leaders' Summit. Agrawal noted the significant potential for growth in Indian exports to Japan in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and services. He also underlined the importance of achieving a more balanced bilateral trade relationship to ensure long-term sustainability. The Commerce Secretary further engaged with leading representatives of Japanese industry during a roundtable interaction. In the evening, a Trade and Investment Roadshow was organized by the Embassy of India in Japan in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Keidanren, focusing on promoting trade from India and facilitating greater investment flows from Japanese companies. Agrawal apprised participants of India's conducive policy environment for trade and investment, including ongoing measures to improve ease of doing business and simplified regulatory processes. He emphasized that the CEPA provides a stable framework ensuring tariff certainty and regulatory predictability, thereby fostering a facilitative environment for deeper collaboration between India and Japan as trusted partners in global value and supply chains. (ANI)
India's markets are facing significant headwinds amid escalating geopolitical tensions, with crude oil prices surging and supply chains under threat. Sumit Pokharna, VP-Fundamental Research at Kotak Securities, says the situation is "very fragile" and could persist for weeks. While speaking to ANI, Pokharna said, "The current environment is very fragile, the geopolitical risk has re-emerged significantly. This risk can sustain for a few more weeks; we don't know that. India is importing more than 80% of its crude oil requirement from abroad, and that makes India very fragile compared to other countries. So, our dependence is very high. Any disruption in the supply side will lead to major disruption in the GDP growth." Pokharna stated that multiple risks are converging, such as high crude oil prices, increased freight costs, higher insurance, and supply-side disruptions. "Markets don't like uncertainty," Pokharna said. The trend may continue until geopolitical tensions ease. He suggests looking for quality stocks in pockets with strong earnings where there might be an overreaction. "Secondly, there are multiple risk which has emerged - high crude oil prices plus higher freight caused higher insurance and then on top of it, the disruption on the supply side. So, the market doesn't like uncertainty, and that is why we have seen the market correcting significantly in the recent past. Can this trend continue? We don't know; till the time there is a resolution coming in the geopolitical side. But this is a worrisome situation right now and one should be very selective in buying stocks. There can be an overreaction in certain pockets and when there is an overreaction, the earnings are strong out there, then one can look for buying quality stocks at such pockets," he added. Earlier on Tuesday, following the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East and the evolving global energy situation, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, informed that "the country is well stocked with crude oil and inventories of key petroleum products including petrol, diesel and ATF to deal with short-term disruptions arising from the Middle East." In a media briefing, the Minister provided an update on the country's preparedness in the current circumstances. It was highlighted that India is the third largest importer, fourth largest refiner, and fifth largest exporter of petroleum products globally. It was further apprised that in the last few years, India has ensured both availability and affordability of energy for its population by diversifying its sources. Indian energy companies now have access to energy supplies that are not routed through the Strait of Hormuz. Such cargoes will remain available and help mitigate supplies that may be temporarily affected enroute through the Strait of Hormuz. (ANI)
Holi's here, and the B-town celebs are making sure we get a front-row seat to all the fun! If your Instagram looks like a colour explosion today, you're definitely not alone. Bollywood celebrities are out in full force to enjoy the festival with family, friends, and of course, a lot of colours. From adorable family moments to star-studded gatherings, the stars make sure to mark the special day with joy and, of course, plenty of colours. From Katrina Kaif to Varun Dhawan, Bollywood celebs flooded social media with pictures and heartfelt wishes, giving fans a peek into the festive fun with their loved ones. Katrina Kaif took to her Instagram account to share an adorable picture from her Holi celebration with her husband, Vicky Kaushal, his brother Sunny Kaushal, and her sister Isabelle Kaif. The family was seen covered in colours and smiling brightly. Along with the photo, she wrote, "The Happiest Happy Holi." Take a look https://www.instagram.com/p/DVa5la3DXJw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Kriti Sanon celebrated the festival with her parents, her sister Nupur Sanon, and her brother-in-law Stebin Ben. She posted group pictures from the day. Sharing the photos, she wrote, "Happy Holi from our fam to yours." The actress looked cheerful as she posed with her family. https://www.instagram.com/p/DVayf3YCIhs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Varun Dhawan, too, made sure to share selfies with his wife Natasha Dalal after their Holi celebration. The couple looked relaxed and happy. In his caption, Varun wrote, "Happy Holi to everyone around our planet. Praying for peace and brotherhood." https://www.instagram.com/p/DVa1z2_DDtz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Apart from family celebrations, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi hosted a Holi party at their home. Many film personalities attended the gathering. Urmila Matondkar, Ali Fazal, and Richa Chadha were among those seen at the celebration. (ANI)
Quentin Tarantino is Alive!. Rumours about the filmmaker's death during the Israel-Iran conflict have been proven false. A new report has now cleared the air and confirmed that the director and his family are safe. Rumours spread on the social media platform X, claiming that Quentin Tarantino was killed in a missile attack in Israel. The posts quickly gained attention and were shared widely. However, according to TMZ, the claims are not true. A source close to Quentin told TMZ, "Quentin is alive and well, and his family is all good too," putting an end to the online speculation. The false claims surfaced during a tense time in the region. Over the weekend, the United States and Israel carried out strikes against Iran. Reports said that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other top officials were killed in the attack. Iran later responded by firing ballistic missiles at Israeli and American bases around the world, according to TMZ. Amid the ongoing tension, social media posts wrongly claimed that Tarantino had died in one of the missile attacks in Israel. Quentin Tarantino divides his time between Israel and Los Angeles. His wife, Daniella Pick, is an Israeli actress, musician, and model. The couple has two children. In the past, Tarantino has spoken about how much he enjoys living in Israel, even though the region faces ongoing tensions. The false post about his death received thousands of likes online. Making the situation even worse, several A.I.-generated images also appeared on X, according to TMZ. These images claimed to show Tarantino in a bomb shelter in Israel. Reports have confirmed that those images are fake. (ANI)
Following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike, several Shia Muslims across India have held protests mourning his demise. Iran-born actress Elnaaz Norouzi, who has publicly opposed Ayatollah Khamenei's regime and even hailed the news of his death , in an interview with ANI, criticised the protests mourning him, saying protestors lack accurate information. "It is very sad. But I think this is happening only because they do not have the information... They do not know what atrocities this person (Khamenei) had committed in the name of religion. He had killed so many people. They do not know this. They just know that he's a religious leader, and they blindly followed him." Elnaaz, who was born in Iran and later moved to Germany before building a career in India, believes most people in Iran are now looking forward to positive change but acknowledges that the situation remains deeply uncertain amid the ongoing war. "Everybody is upset about the war, and everybody is scared about what's going to happen next. It's a very uncertain situation. But what I can say is that the majority of people of Iran are actually feeling a glimpse of hope for a change that they've been waiting for 47 years. They have been told to stay in their homes and to stay safe. They know that Israel and America are not targeting them. They're targeting the IRGC and the leaders specifically. I spoke to my family last night, and they're fine...," said Elnaaz. The US and Israeli strikes resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials, with large explosions reported in Tehran and other major cities last week. In response, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict in West Asia and heightening risks for civilians and expatriates alike. (ANI)
Actress Neena Gupta attended the ceremony with her husband Vivek Mehra. The two posed with Rashmika and Vijay for a selfie. Interestingly, that picture was shared by Neena's daughter and designer Masaba on her Instagram post.

"Congratulations you gorgeous and (oh so stylish) people. Wish you a lifetime of love, happiness, and good health," Masaba posted.

Icon Chiranjeevi arrived at the function in full dapper mode.

Nagarjuna Akkineni marked stylish entry with wife Amala Akkineni. Nagarjuna's son Naga Chaitanya was also there.

Actor Mrunal Thakur, who shared screen space with Vijay in Telugu-language romantic action-drama film 'The Family Star', too, attended the function to congratulate the couple.

She looked elegant in a black saree.

Filmmakers Karan Johar, Homi Adajania, and Dinesh Vijan also marked their presence.

Actors Rana Daggubati and Kriti Sanon were spotted arriving at the wedding reception as well.

Rashmika and Vijay's wedding reception also saw the presence of political leaders such as Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar, BRS working president KT Rama Rao, and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, among others.

Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda got married on February 26 in Udaipur in the presence of their close friends and family members.A few days before they exchanged their vows, the couple met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to extend a wedding invitation to them. (ANI)
Harvey Weinstein's retrial on the rape charge is set to commence on April 14. As per The Hollywood Reporter, a 12-person jury in Manhattan found Weinstein guilty in June of one count of a criminal sexual act in the first degree against Haley and acquitted him on another count against former model Kaja Sokola. The jury could not reach a verdict on the third count of rape, related to aspiring actress Jessica Mann. That charge ended in a mistrial as the jury foreperson refused to return to deliberate, saying he faced threats from other jurors. Prosecutors reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing the rape charge, while Mann also expressed her support for a retrial. In recent weeks, Weinstein appeared to be weighing the possibility of entering a guilty plea, but no formal step has been taken. Jury selection for the retrial is scheduled to begin on April 14, with Weinstein's newly appointed legal team set to lead his defence in court. Weinstein swapped attorneys last week, bringing in Jacob Kaplan, who represents Luigi Mangione in his state murder case, as well as Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, both of whom recently defended Sean "Diddy" Combs in his sex trafficking and racketeering trial. Kaplan appeared in court Wednesday, with Agniflio and Geragos, as per The Hollywood Reporter. Arthur Aidala, his previous attorney, will stay on to work on an appeal of Weinstein's guilty verdict in the June trial. Aidala said "serious errors" in the recent conviction will be looked at. He had previously asked the judge to dismiss on the grounds of juror intimidation but was denied. The charge is rape in the third degree, which is a Class E felony in New York and carries a maximum prison sentence of four years. Weinstein was convicted on the charge in 2020, but that conviction was overturned in April 2024. (ANI)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has extended greetings to the people on the eve of Holi, saying that the festival of colours is a "vibrant expression of our rich culture, traditions, and brotherhood." in his message on Tuesday. According to the Vice President's Secretariat, the Lok Sabha Speaker asserted that the festival of Holi binds people of India in a thread of unity and brotherhood. "Our country is full of diversity, yet the celebration of Holi binds us together in a thread of unity and brotherhood. On this Holi, let us pledge to fill our society with the colours of love, peace, and harmony, and to share the joy of the festival with those who may be alone or in need," said Birla. According to a release from Vice President's Secretariat, Om Birla conveyed his heartfelt wishes to the citizens, praying that their lives remain continuously graced by the vibrant colours of happiness. "Once again, heartfelt wishes to all on Holi. May your life always be filled with vibrant colours of happiness, and may our nation continue to shine with the colours of love, progress, and unity," added Birla. Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu also extended her greetings to fellow citizens. According to an official release from the President's Secretariat, the President, in a message, said, "On the joyous occasion of Holi, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad. Holi is a festival of joy and celebration that conveys the message of social harmony. The festival spreads love and hope in society and strengthens the spirit of social cohesion. Holi is also a symbol of unity in diversity." "May the colours of Holi bring happiness into everyone's life and together we contribute to building a developed nation," she further said in her message. (ANI)
BARCELONA, Spain, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- During MWC Barcelona 2026, Huawei and Shandong Bittel Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (Bittel for short) jointly released the Xinghe Al SafeStay Hotel Campus Network Solution. The solution uses cutting-edge AirEngine products to deliver Wi-Fi 7 coverage across hotel scenarios, enabling dual 10 Gbps access for both wired and wireless connections. Its innovative smart IoT control system allows for seamless temperature adjustments for guests, while reducing energy consumption by 20%. Additionally, 24/7 security ensures every stay is safe and worry-free. Tailored for hotels, the solution draws on partner resources to offer a ready-to-deploy model, where devices are plug-and-play. This simplifies installation and debugging processes while speeding up service deployment.

Wei Zhenhua, Bittel's Marketing Director for Europe, Africa, and CIS Regions Joint solution launch

"We started working with Huawei back in 2020," said Wei Zhenhua, Bittel's Marketing Director for Europe, Africa, and CIS Regions. "This newly launched solution combines Huawei's cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 technology with our expertise in system integration. It removes the necessity for extra equipment like infrared sensors and mmWave radars. By harnessing Huawei's advanced AP features, we deliver smooth, intelligent solutions that redefine hotel competitiveness through spatial intelligence. Together, we're creating secure, AI-driven hotels, driving faster digital transformation across the industry."

Wei Zhenhua, Bittel's Marketing Director for Europe, Africa, and CIS Regions, attended the joint solution launch together with other guests from Huawei, including: Xu Jianfeng, Vice President of Huawei's Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU; Xu Qiang, Director of Huawei's Commercial Scenario Dept; Chen Zhiwei, Vice President of the Campus Network Domain of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line; and Li Aiping, Director of the Partner Development & Sales Dept of Huawei's Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU.

Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to innovate, and will collaborate with more outstanding partners worldwide to assist hotels in meeting consumers' personalized demands, offering more appealing experiences, reducing operational costs, and enhancing market competitiveness.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2925805/image1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2925804/image2.jpg
Harshwardhan Chauhan, Industry Minister of Himachal Pradesh, commented on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, stating that the Congress high command will finalise the party candidates, and there is no opposition in the party. "There is no such possibility. Those who attempted such actions earlier have already left the party. This time, there is absolutely no such possibility," Chauhan said. The Minister also said that one seat has fallen vacant and discussions regarding candidate finalisation have been held between the Chief Minister and the Himachal Pradesh Congress President with the Congress high command. "The Rajya Sabha election is scheduled for the 16th. The Congress high command will finalise and release the list," he said. He further informed that a Congress Legislative Party meeting has been called on March 5 at 11:00 AM in the Assembly premises. "Rajya Sabha nominations are proposed by Members of the Legislative Assembly, and signatures will be taken on the nomination papers," he said. Rajya Sabha polls are scheduled for March 16 for 37 seats across 10 states, including Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Speaking to ANI in Shimla on Tuesday, Chauhan further mentioned that in view of the tense situation in the Middle East, many people from Himachal Pradesh are currently stranded in the region. He said that the affected Middle Eastern countries include Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Iran, Oman, Dubai and seven to eight other nations where the situation remains tense. He stated that the state government is in constant contact with the Union Ministry of External Affairs and Home Affairs. "We have also spoken directly to the Secretary of the Central Government. Directions have been issued, and the Chief Minister has also taken up the matter," he said. Chauhan added that the people stranded there are safe and remain in touch with their families. "Appropriate steps will be taken through the Ministry of External Affairs at the right time," he said. He further noted that airspace in the Middle East is currently closed. "It is difficult to comment on how the situation will evolve there. Only after the situation normalises will further issues be discussed," he said. The Minister informed that the state government is issuing a landline number through which parents, relatives, and stranded individuals can establish contact. "At present, no committee has been formed, but the Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with our officials. Feedback and guidelines are being issued to the state by both Ministries of the Government of India in a timely manner," he added. (ANI)
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan is scheduled to visit Agartala, the capital of Tripura, from March 7 to 8. During his visit, he will attend the convocation ceremony of Tripura University, a premier central university, and is also slated to chair several other official programs. According to Vishal Kumar, the District Magistrate and Collector of West Tripura, Vice President Radhakrishnan will also visit the Matabari (Tripura Sundari) Temple. Additionally, the Vice President is scheduled to attend the convocation ceremonies at Tripura University and will also visit the Hapania Fairgrounds to interact with the "Lakhpati Didis." "On 7th and 8th March, the Honourable President C P Radhakrishnan will visit Tripura. This is a time of great pride and joy for all the people of Tripura. He will visit the Matabari Mahata. He will also attend the Dikshan Ceremonies of the Central University of Tripura. He will also interact with the Lakhpati Didis at the Hapania Fairgrounds. All the arrangements have been made by the state government and the central agencies, including the University of Tripura," Kumar told ANI. Earlier, the Vice President of India, on February 22, laid the foundation stone for a 140-foot statue of freedom fighter and 'Kappalottiya Tamizhan' VO Chidambaram Pillai, in Madurai. The statue, initially planned for 140 feet, was later increased in height. Addressing the event, Vice President Radhakrishnan said, "VO Chidambaram Pillai was a man who lived a life of pure sacrifice without expecting anything in return, and who passed away dedicating his entire life to selfless service. If today we say that we are living with such freedom and rights, it was VO Chidambaram Pillai who sowed the very first seed of that freedom in this soil...Today, we have laid the foundation stone for the statue of VO Chidambaram Pillai." (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, and discussed the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Gulf region. In a post shared on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Had a telecon with EU HRVP @kajakallas. Our discussions focused on the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Gulf." https://x.com/drsjaishankar/status/2028791071002812674 This comes after the US and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities on February 28 targeted military command centres, air-defence systems, missile sites, and key regime infrastructure. This resulted in the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials, with large explosions reported in Tehran and other major cities. In response, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict in the Middle East and heightening risks for civilians and expatriates alike. Earlier on March 1, Jaishankar spoke with his counterparts from several Gulf countries amid rising tensions in West Asia, stressing the need for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy. He said India is concerned about the escalating situation and highlighted the country's strong interest in regional peace and the safety of the Indian community living in the region. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Just spoke to Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, FM of Saudi Arabia. Exchanged views on the ongoing situation in the Gulf. Underlined India's stakes in regional peace and stability and in the welfare of Indian community." In another post, he said he spoke with Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who briefed him on the latest situation in the country. "Spoke with Kuwait FM Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He briefed on the latest situation in Kuwait. Underlined India's concern at the escalation. Value his reassurance for the welfare of the Indian community," in another post, he said. Jaishankar spoke with top leaders from Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE about rising tensions in the Gulf. He said he was assured by Bahrain's FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Qatar's PM and FM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and UAE's DPM and FM Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan that the Indian community's safety and welfare would be protected. "Exchanged views with FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrain on the turn of events in the region. The escalating developments are clearly a matter of concern. Was assured that his Government would take all measures to keep the Indian community safe," he said. "Called Qatar PM & FM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani this evening. Was apprised of the situation in Qatar. Value his assurance on the well-being of the Indian community," he said. "Discussed the evolving situation in the Gulf with UAE DPM & FM Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan this evening. India is concerned with the escalating situation. Appreciate his commitment to the welfare of the Indian community," he said. The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, thousands of citizens have found themselves caught in a massive aviation standstill. (ANI)
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has refuted the allegations levelled against him by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the phone-tapping row, claiming that such statements are just part of "public squabbling." HD Kumaraswamy and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, reportedly accused CM Siddaramaiah of surveillance against Deputy CM DK Shivakumar amid the speculated power tussle within Congress. However, denying the allegations, Siddaramaiah accused Kumaraswamy of phone-tapping back in 2018, when he was the Karnataka CM. In a press statement on Tuesday, the Union Minister directly took on the Chief Minister, questioning both the intent and the substance of the accusations. He said if he had engaged in phone-tapping, he would have retained power. "I have lost power twice. You are aware that history never remains silent. Nor can you escape its judgment, Siddaramaiah. Had I engaged in phone tapping, I might have retained power at any cost. If I had chosen that path, I could have uncovered what plots were unfolding within Siddhavana. But I had no such desire, nor do I regret what I lost. It is that guilty conscience which now haunts you like a shadow. Phone tapping is not my trait if anything, it is an invention of the Congress party and a culture you seem to have inherited," Kumaraswamy said. Kumaraswamy further remarked, "I presume you have found yourself with ample leisure time these days. Instead of focusing on governance, you appear preoccupied with issuing counters. When someone cries 'pumpkin thief' and pats his own shoulder in anxiety, what am I to do? It is the media that has been speaking about phone tapping. I merely responded. Observing your elaborate narratives, one is compelled to conclude that you display greater enthusiasm for targeting others than for administering the State." Further, he accused Siddaramaiah of using an "intelligence apparatus" against Shivakumar. Stating that the Opposition is merely discharging its duty, Kumaraswamy said, "When the people generously gave you 140 seats, the expectation was governance, not public squabbling. Both the Opposition and sections of the media suspect that the phone tapping episode is an extension of the ongoing chair battle within your own party. Where questions arise, the Opposition will ask them. Answer them. Avoid diversion and speak the truth. Isn't Satyameva Jayate your stated principle? Why waste time weaving stories?" He added, "I served two brief terms as Chief Minister. Neither was a fully independent government. Why would I indulge in such acts? Unlike you, I do not subscribe to the practice of sitting in comfort and destabilising homes by politically brainwashing legislators. I have witnessed both your earlier five-year tenure and your present intelligence apparatus." Although Siddaramiah had cited internal democracy within Congress as his defence, Kumaraswamy said he had no fascination for measuring the "diameter and radius" of internal democracy within the party. "Even after more than a century of existence, must the Congress repeatedly insist that it alone embodies internal democracy? A party that imposed Emergency upon the nation and tightened its grip around the neck of democracy cannot claim deep democratic roots. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi for political gain, appropriating democracy for expediency, and wielding social justice for electoral harvest have been your politics. It is for this reason that India steadily moves towards a Congress-free future," he asserted. "Democracy," he said, "means governance of the people, by the people, and for the people. It does not mean legislators are engaging in factionalism. It does not mean MLAs abusing the Chief Minister on the streets or shouting at the Deputy Chief Minister in public. It does not mean clinging to office with repeated assertions of 'I alone shall remain CM for five years.' It certainly does not mean proclaiming in the Assembly that a chair must be seized by force. Nor does it mean intimidating the fourth pillar, the media, under the guise of advertisements, or dividing society along caste and religious lines for power." Referring to tensions within the Congress, Kumaraswamy remarked, "Your internal frictions do not concern us. But the simmering volcano of resentment within you has erupted on public platforms more than once. The people of this State are not unaware of smiles exchanged in public and daggers drawn behind the scenes. May your friendship endure and may you honour your commitments to your associate, Mr 'Agreement' Ramayya." Questioning the Chief Minister's attempt to bring up Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name, Kumaraswamy said, "Why drag PM Narendra Modi into the stain that clings to you? Examine your own plate. The people know what is happening in this State. I am equally aware of what the so-called Investigation Team (SIT) is pursuing. Misuse of authority and vendetta against the Opposition appear to be your natural tendencies. Burdened with such infirmities, why cast aspersions upon others?" The Union Minister further criticised Siddaramaiah for repeatedly mentioning former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda during confrontations. "Whenever you engage in a direct confrontation with me, you drag Deve Gowda into it. He was your political mentor, the leader who recognised and nurtured you, even at the cost of alienating many within his own ranks. Yet, when the moment suited you, you turned against your mentor. By invoking him now, you merely remind the public of your own duplicity," he said. He also recalled past episodes, asking Siddaramaiah to reflect on which party he belonged to when Deve Gowda lost power in Delhi, and to remember his remarks at the time about Sitaram Kesri and later about senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. "Deve Gowda relinquished office with dignity. The moment he announced his resignation, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee extended unconditional support on the floor of Parliament. Yet he declined power with humility. You were shaped in that very school of politics. Show that spirit of courage and principled sacrifice at least once. Demonstrate loyalty to your associate. If defeat comes, one must accept it like a warrior. I have faced defeat; I have not fled. I do not retreat like a deserter. Remember that," Kumaraswamy added. Earlier on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah refuted the allegations against him, calling them a "frustrated statement from restless souls." In an X post, Siddaramaiah shared the media reports where the Opposition leaders accused the Chief Minister of surveillance against DK Shivakumar. Rubbishing the accusations, Siddaramaiah called it an attempt to sour the relationship between the two senior Congress leaders. The Chief Minister wrote, "The allegations of opposition leaders, R Ashoka and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, that phone tapping is being done to spy on Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are like the proverb 'Ta khul athar namba'. This is a frustrated statement from restless souls. This time, after our party came to power, these unemployed opposition leaders have been trying to sour the relationship between DK Shivakumar and me. Let both of them know that this may empty the sourness that has filled them, but it will not have any effect on our relationship like milk and honey." While the reported allegations were inferred from CM Siddaramaiah handling the intelligence department, he stated that even earlier, the CMs have held the department under them. Further, he said that the BJP and JD(S) want DK Shivakumar in their camp. (ANI)
SpiceJet will operate eight special flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday to facilitate the return of Indian nationals stranded there amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, a press release by the airline said on Wednesday. According to the release, all eight flights will operate from Fujairah. The airline will operate four special flights to New Delhi, three special flights to Mumbai and one special flight to Kochi, providing additional capacity to help stranded passengers return home at the earliest. On Tuesday, SpiceJet operated four special flights from the UAE, connecting stranded passengers to New Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi. This comes amid schedule changes and suspensions of flights due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia, which began with the United States and Israel's strikes on Iran. Iran's retaliation engulfed several West Asian nations under the missile attacks, extending the conflict to the whole region. Delhi, Mumbai and the Kochi airports have witnessed an influx of Indian passengers returning from the region as Dubai and Fujairah partially opened the airspace. Meanwhile, India is continuously monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia and its impact on international flight operations. 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers were cancelled to date due to the ongoing Iran conflict. Furthermore, a total of 24 flights were operated by Indian carriers on Tuesday, while Emirates and Etihad operated 9 flights from the Gulf. "Indian carriers are further planning 58 flights on March 4, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express. Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement. Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules, with long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations being progressively resumed through alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace, it said. "Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, with airlines deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement," the statement added. US and Israeli airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities on February 28 targeted military command centres, air-defence systems, missile sites, and key regime infrastructure. In response, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict. (ANI)
Dipanjol Deka, the President of the Tea Association of India (Assam Branch), has expressed concern over the impact on India's tea industry due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Speaking to ANI, Deka said that the tea is usually rerouted through Dubai, which also acts as an exporting centre in the Middle East. He further stated that the conflict had occurred at a time when Assam's tea exports had gotten better, and if the current regime in Iran changes, the situation would take time to settle down. "This war in the Middle East will definitely impact our tea industry in Assam and the tea industry of India in general... These teas are usually rerouted through the UAE, which is Dubai, and Dubai acts as a re-exporting centre in the Middle East... This has come at a time when Assam exports have just been better... Even if this regime of Iran changes, in the new regime, it will take time to settle down... It is very bad news for the Assam tea market," Deka told ANI. Earlier, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes on Iran, a fire that broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General in Dubai late Tuesday night, following a suspected drone strike, has been fully extinguished, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported. Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported. The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)
Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Wednesday celebrated Holi at his residence along with the public. The minister emphasised the importance of standing by one another during both prosperous and challenging times. Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, while speaking to ANI, said, "I extend heartfelt greetings to everyone on the occasion of #Holi. May we live with love and be with each other in moments of joy and sorrow. May the festival of colours bring joy in everyone's life." Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday celebrated Holi at her residence, expressing hope that the festival of colours would usher in a new era of development for the national capital. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, while talking to the media, said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of Delhi on the occasion of Holi. I hope this festival of Holi brings new enthusiasm and a wave of development for the people of Delhi. We should celebrate Holi together in a peaceful manner..." On the other hand, Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva, while speaking to ANI, said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of the country on the occasion of Holi. This is a festival of colours, love and positivity. Everyone should work together for the country and Delhi." On the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of Holi and wished for happiness, prosperity and success to everyone. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens. May this festival, brimming with colours and exuberance, bring a shower of joy to everyone. May every life be sprinkled with the hues of happiness, prosperity, and success--this is my heartfelt wish." Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. While several states in Western India, including Mumbai and Gujarat, have already begun the festivities today, Tuesday, March 3. North India is set to mark its main celebrations tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday celebrated Holi in Bhopal. He extended the Holi greetings to all the people in the state and country and highlighted government efforts, such as the Kisan Cabinet and an increase in the dearness allowance, which he believed have made the celebration more significant. "Best wishes of Holi to the people of the state and the country. Through the Kisan Cabinet, our government has given farmers the opportunity to celebrate Holi in all its glory. Similarly, by increasing the dearness allowance of officers and employees' pensioners by 3 per cent, the government has demonstrated its commitment to equality for all sections of society." Madhya Pradesh government has declared the year 2026 as Krishak Kalyan Varsh. Under this, various agriculture-related activities are being conducted. Recently, first agriculture cabinet of the state was organised in tribal dominated district of Barwani and works worth Rs 27,746 crore were approved in the interest of farmers. Earlier, the cabinet meeting was also dedicated to farmers. In this meeting decision was taken to continue various schemes related to farmers for next 5 years. Madhya Pradesh government has also hiked the dearness allowance of state government employees by 3 per cent. In a post on X, Mohan Yadav also extended heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the occasion of Holi. "Heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the sacred festival of Holi, filled with enthusiasm, zeal, and harmony. My wish is that this festival may scatter new colours of happiness, peace, and prosperity in every courtyard. May the colours of goodwill, positivity, and unity always shine brightly in society," he said. Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh actively participated in the celebrations at his residence by playing holi with gulaal and sounding drums. Singh also extended Holi greetings to the people, wishing for peace and harmony in the world. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Heartfelt greetings of Holi to all the countrymen. May peace be established throughout the world. May everyone live in peace and harmony. These are my heartfelt wishes on the holy festival of Holi." Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. While several states in Western India, including Mumbai and Gujarat, celebrated yesterday on March 3, North India began its main celebrations today. (ANI)
Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao on Wednesday criticised the Indian Youth Congress for defending their "shirtless" protest at the AI Impact Summit, alleging that the Congress has "lost its sense of nationalism." Rao said the youth leaders showed no remorse for their actions during the international event and accused them of tarnishing India's image before a global audience. He also objected to their claim that the demonstration was aimed at opposing the proposed India-US interim trade agreement. According to Rao, the protest and the subsequent justification reflect poorly on the Indian National Congress. He added that while party members may prioritise Rahul Gandhi, most Indians place the nation first, and described the Youth Congress's defence of the protest as an attempt to rationalise inappropriate conduct. "Youth Congress leaders who protested during the AI summit, their statement after release is much more ungrateful to the country. They do not regret what they have done. They have shamed India before the international community during the protest at the International Summit. Now, they say that they have protested for the India-US agreement... The Congress party has lost the sense of nationalism... For them, Rahul Gandhi may be everything, but for Indians, their country comes first... The Youth Congress is trying to justify what they have done," said Ramchander Rao. Meanwhile, following his release from jail, Indian Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib on Tuesday arrived at the party headquarters. He stated that the Congress and IYC workers are fighting against India-US trade deal which is against the farmers of the country. Chib added that Congress would continue fight under the leadership of LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. "Congress members who protested and Youth Congress members are fighting against this. The way this US deal has been done, it is against the farmers of the country. We will continue this struggle against it. The Congress party and the Youth Congress will continue this struggle under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi because this deal is causing losses to the farmers of the country... That is why we are protesting," Chib told ANI. The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed the Sessions Court's order, which had suspended the bail granted to Uday Bhanu Chib, president of the Indian Youth Congress. The high court has also issued notice to the Delhi police on a petition moved for Uday Bhanu Chib, IYC President, challenging the order of stay on his bail. It has cleared the way for Uday Bhanu Chib to come out of judicial custody on bail granted to him. Chib was granted bail by the Magistrate's court in the morning and was subsequently stayed by the court of sessions in the evening of February 28. Justice Saurabh Banerjee issued the notice to the Delhi Police and sought its response. Meanwhile, the order staying the bail has been stayed by the High Court. During the hearing before the High Court, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, Advocates Virendra Vashist, Suleman Mohammad, and Roopesh Singh Bhadauria appeared for Uday Bhanu Chib. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday expressed happiness over the joyful atmosphere brought on the occassion of Holi, highlighting how such a festival is bringing in joy and enthusiasm while the world is in disarray. Adressing the Lord Narasimha Shobha Yatra, the CM praised the "strong leadership" in India, "We are celebrating this festival of Holi in India at a time when the entire world is in disarray, unrest, and an atmosphere of anarchy. But India, under its (PM Modi's) great leadership, is enjoying this festival with joy and enthusiasm," emphasising that there is no fear, anarchy, or distrust. The Chief Minister asserted that the nation is driven by the spirit of "Satyameva Jayate", adding, "If corruption is thriving anywhere, we must burn it, and if anarchy, terrorism, or extremism makes a nefarious attempt to raise its head, we must also destroy it." Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. The CM also praised the RSS as the "world's largest cultural organisation", declaring that marches in honour of the 100 years of RSS would take place. "The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the world's largest cultural organisation, has had millions of pracharaks and swayamsevaks who, under its aegis, have dedicated their entire lives to the honour, pride, and glory of Hindus, to the traditions of India's Sanatan Dharma, and to India's unity and integrity," he said. Referring to the 100 year completion of RSS, the CM announced that they will take part in the Lord Narasimha Shobha Yatra. "Hindu conferences are underway to strengthen social harmony; every section of society is participating in them, but there is no disorder anywhere," he further added. Founded in 1925 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS was established as a volunteer-based organisation with the goal of fostering cultural awareness, discipline, service, and social responsibility among citizens. (ANI)
Polling Shows Workers and Voters Strongly Oppose Autonomous Vehicles

CHICAGO, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Following an announcement by Waymo that it will be mapping Chicago streets, Illinois Teamsters are calling on state lawmakers to join them in opposing the Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act (IL SB3392/HB5103). The legislation would harm middle-class jobs and jeopardize motorist safety by allowing driverless car and truck companies like Waymo to unleash untested and dangerous products on Illinois roads within the next three years.

A recent poll of Illinois voters by Impact Research found broad opposition to autonomous vehicles (AVs) throughout the state. According to the January 2026 statewide survey:

Nearly two-thirds of voters oppose allowing any driverless cars or trucks on Illinois roads.

78 percent of voters oppose allowing driverless heavy trucks to operate in the state.

A majority of voters identified public safety and the risk to human life as their top concern regarding AVs.

The polling reflected similar sentiment in New York, where Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced she was dropping her effort to legalize robotaxis in parts of the state. New York City officials have not indicated they will extend Waymo's testing permit, which expires at the end of month.

"These vehicles are being rushed onto our streets without any consideration for the millions of workers they could displace or safety standards that the public demands and deserves," said Thomas W. Stiede, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25. "It's no surprise driverless cars and trucks are deeply unpopular. We urge lawmakers to join us in fighting for our communities and our livelihoods."

Public opposition to AVs has intensified amid a string of incidents involving Waymo. In recent months, its robotaxis have faced scrutiny for illegally passing school buses, causing traffic congestion throughout San Francisco after a power outage, operating aggressively following a software update, striking a child, and most recently blocking an ambulance that was responding to a mass shooting.

A copy of the poll and crosstabs is available upon request.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 125,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana.

Contact:

Matt McQuaid, (771) 241-0015

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 25
The BJP's IT Department in-charge, Amit Malviya, on Wednesday slammed the Opposition for linking the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Israel visit, calling it a "naked partisan" viewpoint. Citing an Axios article, Amit Malviya claimed that the United States and Israel had planned the strikes before PM Modi's visit to Israel on February 25 and 26. The BJP leader called out the Opposition for attacking PM Modi with arguments "untethered from logic." In an X post, Malviya wrote, "I almost pity India's Opposition and the Left ecosystem, including a section of the media, for how nakedly partisan they have become. Till yesterday, they were loudly alleging that the so-called Israel-US axis launched its attack on Iran with Prime Minister Modi's endorsement, conveniently linking it to his visit. The insinuation was deliberate and malicious." "Now, fresh revelations indicate that the operation was planned for February 23, two days before the Prime Minister was even scheduled to arrive in Israel for a long pre-scheduled engagement. So much for their conspiracy theories," he added. Taking a jibe at the Opposition, the BJP leader said that with the "level of strategic depth and intellectual honesty," they will have a long haul in Opposition. Amit Malviya wrote, "This is the problem with an Opposition driven by reflex rather than reason. The one PM Modi faces is so facile and immature that its arguments collapse under basic scrutiny. Much of its political undoing is entirely self-inflicted." "Shrill rhetoric, groupthink, and narratives untethered from logic have become the hallmark of the Left ecosystem. Having been in power for decades, some among them still operate with a misplaced sense of entitlement, as if governance is their ordained right. With this level of strategic depth and intellectual honesty, they should be prepared for a long haul in Opposition," the X post stated. This comes after Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the silence on the "targeted assassination" of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In an opinion piece in a national daily, Sonia Gandhi also flagged PM Modi's visit to Israel just before the attacks on Iran and expressed concern over "India's high-profile political endorsement without moral clarity." "The unease is compounded by the timing. Barely 48 hours before the assassination, the Prime Minister returned from a visit to Israel, where he reiterated unequivocal support for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, even as the Gaza conflict continues to draw global outrage over the scale of civilian casualties, many of them women and children," Gandhi said. Congress leader Raashid Alvi also demanded that PM Modi disclose his conversations with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel. Alvi told ANI, "The current government has destroyed India's foreign policy. PM is talking to the UAE rulers and others, but not with Iran. PM should tell people about his discussion with Netanyahu on this conflict. This is the reason for his silence. He has said that Israel is his fatherland, so how can he speak against his fatherland?" US and Israeli airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities on February 28 targeted military command centres, air-defence systems, missile sites, and key regime infrastructure. The strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict. Israeli Media reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as the Supreme Leader. (ANI)
As the liquor stores open on Holi this year, Congress leader Abhishek Dutt slammed the BJP government in Delhi, accusing the government of giving a "gift to the liquor mafia". The accusation came days after the discharge of Arvind Kejriwal in relation to the Delhi excise policy case. "On Arvind Kejriwal's release (discharge), the BJP has given a gift to the liquor mafia. In Delhi, liquor was never sold on the day of Holi... but today is Holi, everyone celebrates Holi happily, the BJP also celebrate Holi and fulfils its promises," he said. Liquor stores in Delhi remain open on the occasion of Holi 2026 as the festival is no longer on the list of 'dry days', as per a government order issued earlier this year. People gathered outside the liquor shop to add more jest into the celebrations. "We will celebrate the festival well. Everything is going well," a customer said. Meanwhile, the Holi celebration across India continues with several leaders also taking part in it. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh actively participated in the celebrations at his residence by playing holi with gulaal and sounding drums. Singh also extended Holi greetings to the people, wishing for peace and harmony in the world. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Heartfelt greetings of Holi to all the countrymen. May peace be established throughout the world. May everyone live in peace and harmony. These are my heartfelt wishes on the holy festival of Holi." Delhi CM Rekha Gupta celebrated Holi at her residence, expressing hope that the festival of colours would usher in a new era of development for the national capital. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, while talking to the media, said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of Delhi on the occasion of Holi. I hope this festival of Holi brings new enthusiasm and a wave of development for the people of Delhi. We should celebrate Holi together in a peaceful manner..." Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. While several states in Western India, including Mumbai and Gujarat, saw festivities on March 3. North India is celebrating the festival on Wednesday. (ANI)
The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday celebrated the Holi festival with Congress party leaders and supporters at the AICC office in the national capital. Speaking to reporters, Gandhi extended greetings for the festival, stating, "Happy Holi. Sabko pyaar bhari, nafrat mitaane wali Holi", wishing for the festival to drive away hate among people. He also took to X, wishing for Holi to bring hope, joy and enthusiasm in people's lives. https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/2029076036210831506?s=20 "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all of you on the festival of colours and love. May the colours of Holi fill all your lives with new hopes, fresh enthusiasm, and countless joys," he wrote on X. Congress MP Rajeev Shukla also extended Holi greetings to the people today, noting that the Indian National Congress is also celebrating the festival. He described Holi as a unique occasion that brings people together, where individuals embrace one another and exchange colours in a spirit of unity and joy. Shukla also emphasised the need for peace in the West Asia region, stating that conflicts and disputes should come to an end. He said it is wrong for countries to instigate tensions and called for harmony across the world. "Greetings of Holi to the citizens. The Congress Party is also celebrating Holi. This is one such festival of ours in which everyone comes together, everyone embraces each other and applies colours to one another. What could be more delightful than this?. We believe that there should be peace in the world. These fights and quarrels should stop. It is not right for these countries that are instigating fights and quarrels to do so," Shukla told ANI. Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. (ANI)
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday called for peace on the occasion of Holi celebration. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while celebrating Holi at his residence in Bhopal, emphasised that the festival teaches us to enjoy life and not make war. "The festival of Holi teaches us that the world should forget grievances. May the bombs raining down from the sky end, and may colours rain down from the sky. Colours signify love, joy, unity and harmony. Everyone should get drenched in the colours of joy and not in the stench of gunpowder," he said. Shivraj Singh Chouhan's comments come amid the escalation of tensions in West Asia after the US and Israel killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran, in retaliation, launched strikes on Tel Aviv and US military bases in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, putting the region at serious risk. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed happiness over the joyful atmosphere brought on the occassion of Holi, highlighting how such a festival is bringing in joy and enthusiasm while the world is in disarray. Adressing the Lord Narasimha Shobha Yatra, the CM praised the "strong leadership" in India, "We are celebrating this festival of Holi in India at a time when the entire world is in disarray, unrest, and an atmosphere of anarchy. But India, under its (PM Modi's) great leadership, is enjoying this festival with joy and enthusiasm," emphasising that there is no fear, anarchy, or distrust. The CM also praised the RSS as the "world's largest cultural organisation", declaring that marches in honour of the 100 years of RSS would take place. "The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the world's largest cultural organisation, has had millions of pracharaks and swayamsevaks who, under its aegis, have dedicated their entire lives to the honour, pride, and glory of Hindus, to the traditions of India's Sanatan Dharma, and to India's unity and integrity," he said. Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. (ANI)
Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal on Wednesday said that Holi sends a message of unity and is a festival of brotherhood. The Congress leader celebrated the festival with party leaders at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in the national capital. "Holi is a festival of love and brotherhood, and we are going to celebrate this festival together here...There is only one message on the occasion of Holi, and that is to get united and celebrate the festival," Sappal told ANI. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi also celebrated the Holi festival at the AICC office and extended greetings for the festival, stating, "Happy Holi. Sabko pyaar bhari, nafrat mitaane wali Holi", wishing for the festival to drive away hate among people. He also took to X, wishing for Holi to bring hope, joy and enthusiasm in people's lives. "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all of you on the festival of colours and love. May the colours of Holi fill all your lives with new hopes, fresh enthusiasm, and countless joys," he wrote on X. Congress MP Rajeev Shukla also extended Holi greetings to the people today, emphasising the need for peace in the West Asia region, stating that conflicts and disputes should come to an end. "Greetings of Holi to the citizens. The Congress Party is also celebrating Holi. This is one such festival of ours in which everyone comes together, everyone embraces each other and applies colours to one another. What could be more delightful than this?. We believe that there should be peace in the world. These fights and quarrels should stop. It is not right for these countries that are instigating fights and quarrels to do so," Shukla told ANI. Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. (ANI)
Amid the escalating conflict in West Asia, Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Wednesday called on the opposition to support the government instead of criticising its "every decision on sensitive issues." The minister also reiterated that India has a balanced stance between their "old" and "new" friends while maintaining that India has long been a "supporter of peace" and never "compromised on war". Describing Iran as an "old friend", he said that the balanced stance in the conflict would allow India to move forward while also keeping "new friends". "Iran has been our old friend. It has been a very old ally. But in such a situation, India has always had a thought process of moving forward while keeping old friends with us, and safeguarding new friends," he said. "India has always been a supporter of peace...It is the land of Buddha, and we have never compromised with war," he said. He emphasised that while the opposition should question the government on its choices, the present time calls for its support. "In today's date, as opposition, it is your responsibility to complement the government, to support it and to move forward. When the world is facing global challenges, in such a situation, you should give an alternative vision instead of questioning everything," he said "As opposition, it is your responsibility to present an alternative vision...You question everything. You start challenging every decision of the government. What is your vision? Tell me. What would you do if it were happening?" he further remarked. Speaking to reporters, Paswan said Holi should be a time of happiness, even as the world grapples with conflict and uncertainty. "This is a festival of happiness. May everyone's life be filled with happiness. There are many families whose happiness has been challenged due to the circumstances of war. I hope that soon there will be an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in the world," he said. On the occasion of Holi, Paswan paid tribute to his late lather Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, stating, "Holi was one of my father's most favourite festivals. When he was alive, he used to celebrate this festival with great joy Paswan's mother Reena Paswan was also present for the Holi celebration and extended her greetings. She said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of the country on Holi. I have always stood with Chirag Paswan and I want him to reach new heights." (ANI)
The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while extending Holi greetings on Wednesday, said he has strongly raised the issue of state's rights with the Centre and expressed confidence that Himachal Pradesh will move towards self-reliance. Speaking to the media in Shimla during Holi celebrations, the Chief Minister wished happiness and prosperity for the people of the state. "Happy Holi to everyone, may everyone be happy in life. May Himachal become self-reliant," Sukhu said, adding that the government seeks the blessings and support of the people to continue working for the state's development. Referring to discussions held in New Delhi, the Chief Minister said he had made it clear to the Central government that certain financial rights belong to the people of Himachal Pradesh and not to the government at the Centre. "I have clearly conveyed that the RDG issue concerns the rights of the people, not the government. We have stated that it would make nearly a 15 per cent difference in the budget," he said. Sukhu added that the concerned Union Minister has listened to the state's position and that further clarity is expected in the coming days. "The Minister has heard us. Now we will see what steps are taken next. We expect a response in due course," he said. The Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to safeguarding the financial interests of Himachal Pradesh while maintaining that his government would continue to work in the larger interest of the people. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) issue. Referring to the RDG controversy, the Chief Minister said the previous government led by former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had received the highest Revenue Deficit Grant. Despite this, he alleged, the state's debt burden was not reduced. Instead, loans amounting to 47,000 crore were taken, and liabilities worth thousands of crores were left behind. (ANI)
A special flight from Dubai arrives safely across Indian airports on Wednesday, including at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), Chennai International Airport and others, as flight operations gradually resumed following disruptions triggered by the escalating West Asian conflict. Some flights from Dubai arrived in Hyderabad and Chennai. Coordination between airport authorities and airline officials is bringing relief to stranded passengers who had faced uncertainty over the past few days due to widespread cancellations and delays. Speaking to ANI, passengers expressed relief that they are back home. A passenger on board the flight, named Mehra, is a student. He said the situation in Dubai was challenging because he was living alone while his parents were in India. He noted that the UAE government effectively managed the situation, maintaining a calm atmosphere. She observed that while there was some missile interception near his location, the situation was not as difficult as reported. He mentioned occasional government emergency messages causing brief panic, but overall, the conditions were normal and well-supported by the government. Mohamad Azad, a passenger, said the past altercation caused some fear in him, but the current environment is fine, as he reached home safely. Another passenger, named Jai Poona, appreciates the assistance and said the overall treatment and arrangement were good. Meanwhile, another passenger landed in Hyderabad, Lekhya says, "Near our campus (BITS Dubai), everything was fine. On the first day, we saw missiles coming, and they were being intercepted. Later, we saw nothing; everything was fine. The situation is uncertain whether it is going to get worse or better. So, we have come back". A passenger landed in Chennai, Santosh Kumar says, "I had gone to Dubai for some work when the unfortunate turn of events occurred. We were stuck there, but we didn't face many difficulties. The Dubai Govt is very helpful. People are very helpful. They ensured our safety and security. While my stay got extended by a few days, everything was very well managed." With flights gradually taking to the skies once again, normalcy is slowly returning to the UAE, and for the thousands of Indians eager to get home, the wait is finally coming to an end. Following the US-Israel strikes against Iran on February 28, Iran launched a wave of retaliatory attacks, using drones and missiles targeting multiple Arab countries in the region as a retaliatory action, which resulted in flight cancellations. (ANI)
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav on Wednesday participated in the long-standing Holi traditions at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, joining residents in singing folk songs and dancing to mark the festival of colours. Ram Kripal Yadav, while speaking to ANI, said, "For the past 40 years, morning walkers have been organising Holi celebrations here. This has been organised once again today. We are sharing hugs and spreading love. This is the festival of colours, of joy, of love. Entire Bihar is celebrating Holi today, and I extend greetings to everyone, especially farmers - may the annadata always be happy and grow more...With their prosperity, Bihar will prosper." On the otherhand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday expressed happiness over the joyful atmosphere brought on the occassion of Holi, highlighting how such a festival is bringing in joy and enthusiasm while the world is in disarray. Adressing the Lord Narasimha Shobha Yatra, the CM praised the "strong leadership" in India. "We are celebrating this festival of Holi in India at a time when the entire world is in disarray, unrest, and an atmosphere of anarchy. But India, under its (PM Modi's) great leadership, is enjoying this festival with joy and enthusiasm," emphasising that there is no fear, anarchy, or distrust. The Chief Minister asserted that the nation is driven by the spirit of "Satyameva Jayate", adding, "If corruption is thriving anywhere, we must burn it, and if anarchy, terrorism, or extremism makes a nefarious attempt to raise its head, we must also destroy it." Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. (ANI)
The Telangana Iranian community held a massive rally on Tuesday in which the consul general of the Islamic Republic of Iran participated in Hyderabad to honour Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after his death. The protest was held to condemn the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly carried out by Israeli and US forces. Demonstrators raised slogans against Israel and the United States during the rally. One of the protestors described Khamenei as a worker for humanity and peace. "We loved him and wanted to see him as a leader. He is a good leader. We lost that leader. That is why we came here to condemn him. War is not right in any sense," she said. "We have seen in history, as far as I know, Iran has never waged war in such situations.""Stopping the war is the best thing. But what is the solution? The solution is that whoever has made a mistake, they will accept it. If there is an apology, that would be good," she added. Speaking to ANI, another demonstrator, Moulana Hannan Razvi, said, "People joined the protest irrespective of religion, expressing solidarity with Iran." Around thousands of people participated, including women who carried candles and pictures of the late leader for their cause. Earlier on Sunday, Shia organisations Majma-e-Ulama wa Khutaba and Matami Anjuman-o-Grohan organised a protest rally in Telangana's Hyderabad, condemning the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Demonstrators raised slogans against Israel and the United States during the rally. A large number of people participated in protests against the Israeli and US forces. Speaking to ANI, Moulana Ali Hyder Farishta said, "The news from Iran is that the Supreme Leader was killed in a strike from Israel. The whole world is mourning, and in Hyderabad, thousands of youth gathered and mourned his death. There were slogans against the cruel forces of the US." Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, on Saturday, after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, the Assembly of Experts convened a rare emergency session to select a successor. During this high-stakes meeting in Qom, an Israeli strike targeted the building where senior clerics were gathered, according to an Israeli security official. The West Asia conflict has now entered its fourth day of escalation following the joint US and Israeli strikes that killed the Supreme Leader and other top Iranian officials. In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes against American military bases and Israeli assets throughout the Middle East. (ANI)
BOSTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc. has introduced the Barricaid Narrow Anchor, the next generation of its FDA PMA-approved Barricaid Bone-Anchored Annular Closure Device. The new version of the Barricaid device is 25 percent smaller than the standard Barricaid anchor. This updated device is designed to make implantation easier by reducing bony removal and nerve root retraction, thus increasing the number of high-risk patients that can benefit from a reduction in reherniation and reoperation after discectomy.

Intrinsic Therapeutics Announces Initial Release of Its Next Generation Barricaid Narrow Anchor Device Designed to Reduce Reherniation After Back Surgery

Reherniation is a common complication following lumbar discectomy, often leading to recurring pain and repeat surgeries. The Barricaid implant addresses this complication and is designed to close the defect in the disc wall and reduce the greatest risk factor for recurrence. The new Narrow Anchor maintains Barricaid's documented success but introduces significant design enhancements to streamline implantation during surgery. Link to video.

Greg Lambrecht, the founder of Barricaid, said of the new release, "Barricaid Narrow Anchor shortens the learning curve and ease of access for surgeons adopting annular closure, making the benefits of Barricaid available to more patients at high risk of recurrent disc and disability following a discectomy."

The Narrow Anchor reduces the bone anchor width from 8mm to 6mm, a change driven by surgeon feedback to improve ease of implantation. Potential benefits include:

Reduced Retraction: Spine simulator measurements demonstrated a 25 to 40 percent 1 reduction in nerve root retraction during implantation.





reduction in nerve root retraction during implantation. Enhanced Visibility: Optimized anchor geometry improves a surgeon's view during placement.





Easy to Implant: 95 percent of surgeons reported that the Narrow Anchor device was easy to implant2.

Despite the smaller footprint, the device passed the same mechanical testing criteria as the original 8mm anchor, including resistance to anchor migration and fracture.

"In practice, even small design changes can make a meaningful difference," said Robert Eastlack, MD, Professor and Division Head of Spine Surgery at Scripps Clinic. "The Narrow Anchor allows for easier implantation while accomplishing the same surgical goals, which can help streamline the procedure and expand the number of patients who may benefit from annular closure."

The Narrow Anchor launch follows recent momentum for Barricaid, including the American Medical Association's release of the 2026 CPT Code Set, which includes new CPT code 63032 describing bone-anchored annular closure, effective January 1, 2026.

About Barricaid

Barricaid is a proprietary annular closure medical device designed to reduce reoperations for reherniations by 81%3 in lumbar discectomy patients with large annular defects. Barricaid has been implanted in nearly 13,000 patients and is supported by clinical studies across eight distinct patient populations, including two randomized controlled trials and six single-arm studies. A multicenter, Level I RCT demonstrating superior outcomes to discectomy alone was published in JAMA with five-year follow-up results.

1.Based on spine simulator measurements

2. EUBARD-CP0001-6mm European pilot study of 20 patients

3. Some studies outside US indications. Values at minimum 1 yr post-op. Minimum study size of 20 Barricaid subjects.

Barricaid is a registered trademark of Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.

CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association (AMA).

SOURCE Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Trichy Central Secretary Vairamani on Wednesday slammed the Central Government over Hindi imposition in Tamil Nadu, saying that the government has been constantly imposing the Hindi language in the state."They have put up the name in Hindi at the entrance of the Tiruchirappalli Railway Division office. The Central Government has been continuously imposing Hindi in Tamil Nadu. Condemning this act, we are staging a protest in Trichy today. Our Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Deputy Chief Minister have been consistently opposing such imposition of Hindi. We demand that the Central Government immediately withdraw this approach," he said. The statement comes after the DMK smeared black paint over Hindi transliterations of Tamil names at a Railway office in Tiruchirappalli. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin again accused the Central government of "imposing hindi" in the state, this time under the guise of the "one language, three scripts" approach. Stalin alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government is simply transliterating "unpronounceable" Hindi names in English and Tamil scripts, warning the BJP against its "obsession" with Hindi imposition. "Hindi Imposition by the BJP Government: Unpronounceable names at the very entrance! The BJP is crossing all limits in its obsession with Hindi imposition! The Union BJP government has engaged in the vile act of #HindiImposition by adopting a "one language, three scripts" approach, where Hindi names are simply transliterated into Tamil and English scripts!" he said in a post on X. Sharing instances of what he believed was to be "hindi imposition," Stalin alleged that at the Tiruchirappalli Railway Divisional Office, the BJP has written 'kartvya dwar' in three scripts. He also objected to using the Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan name to refer to Employees' Provident Fund (EPFO) offices. "For the new criminal laws as well, they use Sanskrit names written in English script. The name of the Union Ministry of Water Resources has become 'Jal Shakti'. They showed the same behaviour regarding the name change of the Mahatma Gandhi 100-day work scheme (MGNREGA)," he further alleged. Stalin said that a fitting lesson must be taught to the BJP and asked them to abandon the attempt to impose Hindi. "Their insolence and arrogance are growing. A fitting lesson must be taught to those who are provoking the self-respect of the Tamil people! They must abandon the attempt to impose Hindi through Tamil and English scripts, and proper Tamil names must be placed there immediately. I warn that otherwise, the Union BJP government will have to feel the "heat" (wrath) of the Tamils," he said. There has been an ongoing tussle between the state government and the Centre, where the DMK-led government has accused the BJP of imposing Hindi. Amid this, the state also introduced the State Education Policy, with a two-language formula. This comes amid the heated politics as the state is set to hold the Legislative Assembly elections later this year, where the DMK-led alliance will look to defend its hold on the state against the AIADMK-BJP-led alliance. (ANI)
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Wednesday said that merely making sarcastic comments and questioning the government is not enough, and urged the opposition to present a clear alternative vision, on opposition leaders' remarks regarding the US-Israel vs Iran conflict. He said that as the opposition, it is their responsibility to complement the government and articulate what steps should be taken in such a sensitive situation. Making sarcastic remarks and raising questions about the opposition is not enough. As the opposition, it is your responsibility to complement the government and present an alternative vision. It is the responsibility of the opposition to clearly explain what should be done and how it should be done. You challenge every decision of the government, but what is your own vision and how would you deal with the situation? What would you do if you were in this situation?... The opposition is raising questions at such a sensitive time and on such a sensitive issue", Paswan said. He further questioned the opposition's approach, asking what their own strategy would be if they were in the government's position. You challenge every decision of the government, but what is your own vision, and how would you deal with the situation? What would you do if you were in this situation? he asked. The Union Minister also said that the opposition is raising questions at a sensitive time and on a sensitive issue, stressing the need for responsible political discourse. Speaking to reporters, Paswan said Holi should be a time of happiness, even as the world grapples with conflict and uncertainty. "This is a festival of happiness. May everyone's life be filled with happiness. There are many families whose happiness has been challenged due to the circumstances of war. I hope that soon there will be an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in the world," he said. On the occasion of Holi, Paswan paid tribute to his late lather Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, stating, "Holi was one of my father's most favourite festivals. When he was alive, he used to celebrate this festival with great joy. Paswan's mother Reena Paswan was also present for the Holi celebration and extended her greetings. She said, "I extend my best wishes to the people of the country on Holi. I have always stood with Chirag Paswan and I want him to reach new heights." (ANI)
The festive spirit of Holi was celebrated with traditional fervour at Lok Bhawan on Wednesday as Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu exchanged warm greetings and festive colours. The Chief Minister, accompanied by his wife and Dehra MLA, Kamlesh Thakur, visited Lok Bhawan to extend their best wishes to the Governor and his wife, Janaki Shukla. In a gesture of joy, the Governor and the Chief Minister applied colours to each other, marking the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring. Also present on the auspicious occasion were Health Minister (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil and Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, who joined the dignitaries in the celebrations. The Governor and the Chief Minister expressed hope that this festival of colours would further strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and harmony among the people of Himachal Pradesh, bringing prosperity and happiness to every household in the state. In a post on X, the CM described the festival as a sacred occasion and a symbol of mutual affection, goodwill and harmony. He also extended wishes to Governor Shukla. https://x.com/SukhuSukhvinder/status/2029124566182982027?s=20 "Celebrating the sacred occasion of Holi, a symbol of mutual affection, goodwill, and social harmony, together with the Honorable Governor Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla Ji, and extending heartfelt wishes to him. May this festival bring new energy, harmony, and prosperity into everyone's life--this is my heartfelt wish," he said on X. President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Holi, expressing hope for the happiness and prosperity of all citizens. In a post on X, she said that the festival of colours spreads love and optimism, while strengthening unity and brotherhood among people. She wished that Holi brings joy to every life and inspires collective efforts toward building a developed India. "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens from my side. This festival of colours infuses love and hope into people's lives and strengthens mutual unity and brotherhood. My wish is that this festival brings happiness into everyone's life and that we all together contribute to building a developed nation," President Murmu said on 'X'. Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. (ANI)
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi on Wednesday celebrated Holi with residents of an old-age home in Surat, extending festive greetings and reaffirming his long-standing association with the institution. Speaking to the reporters, Sanghvi said, "I extend my greetings... I have been connected with this family of mine for years... I celebrated Holi with them..." During his interaction with the reporters, the Deputy Chief Minister also spoke about the return of Indian nationals stranded in Middle-Eastern countries amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. "I thank the Government of India. The Modi government always creates strategies to bring our people back, whether they are stranded in Ukraine or any other country," he added. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of Holi and wished happiness, prosperity and success to everyone. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens. May this festival, brimming with colours and exuberance, bring a shower of joy to everyone. May every life be sprinkled with the hues of happiness, prosperity, and success - this is my heartfelt wish." Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel extended his heartfelt greetings to all citizens of Gujarat on the vibrant festival of Holi/Dhuleti. He expressed his wishes that this festival may fill the lives of people with the colours of happiness, prosperity, and enthusiasm. He stated that the festival of Holi marks the victory of truth over falsehood. While conveying his greetings, he said that this festival gives the message of meeting one another with affection by forgetting differences and promotes social harmony in everyone's life. He also urged everyone to celebrate this festival together in such a way that the environment is also preserved. The Holi celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan. The following day marks the more widely celebrated aspect of Holi, when people immerse themselves in joy and togetherness by playing with colours. (ANI)
"Such jokes are common on Holi. Nitish Kumar ji is our Chief Minister," Singh said.

Meanwhile, a meeting between the Bihar CM, Janata Dal United (JDU) National Working President Sanjay Jha and State minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary is underway at the Chief Minister's residence.

Meanwhile, JD(U) MLC Sanjay Gandhi said that it will be Nitish Kumar's decision whether he wants to enter the Rajya Sabha or not.

"The Chief Minister will himself decide (whether he wants to go to Rajya Sabha or not)...We had a meeting to strengthen the organisation in view of polls..." he said.

On Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant Kumar, he said that the party wishes for him to be active in politics; however, Nitish Kumar is qualified to work at any post.

"The workers of the party demand that he should be active in politics...Nitish Kumar has all the skills required to work at any post."

Senior leader and Bihar Minister Vijay Chaudhary also reached the residence of JDU National Working President Sanjay Jha in Patna.

Before this, a meeting between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, JDU National Working President Sanjay Jha and state minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary was underway at the CM's residence.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that polling for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections will be held on March 16, with vote counting the same day at 5 pm and the process concluding by March 20.

The elections will fill 37 seats across 10 states - Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana - whose members' terms end in April 2026.

The notification was issued on February 26, commencing the election process, while the last date for nominations is March 5, scrutiny on March 6, and withdrawal by March 9. (ANI)
According to the Delhi Fire Services, the fire was reported at around 4:30 pm, following which nearly 14 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames.

Further details are awaited.

Earlier on March 2, A fire broke out at a warehouse in the Tikri Netaji Subhash Vihar area of Delhi on morning, prompting a swift response from the fire department.

No casualties were reported. (ANI)
This came amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran has also retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, further widening the conflict.

The Shia Muslim community in the region mourned the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the airstrikes launched by the US and Israel.

On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir police and security forces imposed strict movement restrictions across all districts of Kashmir as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order following the massive protests against the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The police also used tear gas shells to move back groups of people who had gathered to protest against the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, despite restrictions imposed in all districts of Kashmir as a precautionary measure.

Earlier, protests were also held in Bandipore and Ramban.

Protesters in Ramban raised slogans. "Tum kitne Hosseini maroge...har ghar se Hosseini niklega" (How many Hosseini will you kill, from every home, a Hosseini will rise). They also burnt an effigy of US President Donald Trump during demonstrations.

In Bandipore, protesters carried portraits of the late cleric, expressing grief and condemnation over the incident. An earlier similar protest was carried out in Budgam and Srinagar over the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader.

Protesters raised anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, expressing solidarity with Iran and condemning the attack. (ANI)
Following the second round of seat-sharing talks ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Wednesday, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Congress Party agreed that Congress will contest 28 Assembly constituencies and will be allocated one seat in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. In a statement, party leaders said that the decision came following the meeting between the DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai. "With regard to the upcoming 2026 Legislative Assembly General Elections, a meeting was held today (04-03-2026) between the President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Hon'ble Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, K. Selvaperunthagai, to discuss seat-sharing arrangements. It was decided that the Congress Party, which is part of the Secular Progressive Alliance, will contest in 28 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. It was also agreed that one seat will be allocated to the Congress Party in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha election," the statement read. The announcement comes after a second round of seat-sharing talks at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, attended by the Seat Sharing Committee of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee led by AICC Election In-charge Girish Chodankar, along with senior leaders, including Congress Legislature Party Leader Rajesh Kumar and AICC Secretary Nivedit Alva. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi were also present during the discussions. The seat-sharing agreement marks a key step in consolidating the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, reflecting efforts to strengthen electoral coordination between DMK and Congress in the state. The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the incumbent MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance. Actor-turned-politician Vijay's entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest. In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. Congress won 18, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight seats. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, which consisted of Congress, won 159 seats collectively. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats. (ANI)
The nation immersed itself in joy and happiness with cheerful celebrations of Holi. From temple towns to metropolitan cities, people enjoyed the festivities by exchanging sweets, applying colour (gulal), offering prayers, and celebrating the victory of good over evil. Holi, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the arrival of spring and the harvest season. The celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. Children celebrated Holi in Raipur. In a post on X, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wishes everyone a very Happy Holi. He said Holi is a sacred festival filled with a unique spectrum of colours, the sweet rhythm of enthusiasm, and boundless joy. In Telengana, a large number of people celebrated Holi at People's Plaza in Hyderabad. Congress MLA Danam Nagendra says, "Holi is a festival where Hindus, Muslims and everyone come together to celebrate;c everyone should do away with their differences." In Madhya Pradesh, People celebrated holi with great enthusiasm and joy. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday celebrated Holi in Bhopal. He extended the Holi greetings to all the people in the state and country and highlighted government efforts, such as the Kisan Cabinet and an increase in the dearness allowance, which he believed have made the celebration more significant. In Assam, people danced and celebrated the Holi festival. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the sacred Doul Utsav at Barpeta Satra on the auspicious occasion of Holi. In the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, the occasion took on a unique cultural form with the historic Behro Dev Janki procession. Holi was celebrated with great enthusiasm, and in Rajouri, the celebration took a unique cultural form. Along with traditional Holi festivities, the historic Behro Dev janki procession was taken out, continuing a centuries-old custom that runs from February 26 to March 4 each year. Extending Holi greetings to the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished for happiness, prosperity and success to everyone. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens. May this festival, brimming with colours and exuberance, bring a shower of joy to everyone. May every life be sprinkled with the hues of happiness, prosperity, and success--this is my heartfelt wish." President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her heartfelt greetings, expressing hope for the happiness and prosperity of all citizens. In a post on X, she said that the festival of colours spreads love and optimism, while strengthening unity and brotherhood among people. She wished that Holi brings joy to every life and inspires collective efforts toward building a developed India. "Heartfelt Holi greetings to all my fellow citizens from my side. This festival of colours infuses love and hope into people's lives and strengthens mutual unity and brotherhood. My wish is that this festival brings happiness into everyone's life and that we all together contribute to building a developed nation," President Murmu wrote on 'X'. Alongside, several Union Ministers, State Ministers, and leaders from the Opposition also extended greetings on the occassion, seeking prosperity and health for the nation. In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta celebrated Holi at her residence, expressing hope that the festival of colours would usher in a new era of development for the national capital. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari sang a phag song at the Holi celebration at his residence in Delhi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath celebrated holi with common people at Ghantaghar Chauraha in Gorakhpur. CM Yogi Adityanath expressed happiness over the joyful atmosphere brought on the occassion of Holi, highlighting how such a festival is bringing in joy and enthusiasm while the world is in disarray. People in Vrindavan, Mathura, celebrated Holi with full joy, dance and music. In Prayagraj, a large number of people gather at Loknath Chauraha to dance and celebrate Holi. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrated the festival at his official residence in Dehradun with members of the public, office bearers of the organisation, party workers and other distinguished guests in an atmosphere filled with warmth, harmony and enthusiasm. Similarly, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu celebrated the festival of colours, Holi, with people from all walks of life at his official residence, 'Oak Over', today. Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav participated in the long-standing Holi traditions at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, joining residents in singing folk songs and dancing to mark the festival of colours. In Odisha, at Bhima Bhoi Drustihina Vidyala, Bhubaneshwar, Senior Congress leader and former PCC President Harichandan organised the celebration. People there extended wishes to each other and celebrated Holi with colours. Holi was celebrated at Shri Chandreshwar Mahadev Temple in Rishikesh with the Shivling at the temple beautifully adorned with abeer, gulal, and flowers. Officials of the Central Jail in Indore celebrated Holi with inmates. The inmates and jail staff took part in the festivities with colours and dance inside the prison premises. Alka Sonkar, Superintendent of Central Jail Indore, said the celebrations were held as per the directions of the state government. "The Chief Minister has instructed us to celebrate all the festivals with the inmates. We are glad that we can celebrate Holi here with them," she said. The Red Shield Gunners, under the aegis of Spear Corps, celebrated Holi with the children of Nava Rupantar orphanage at Tinsukia, Assam. According to the Defence PRO, the celebration on Tuesday was marked by genuine affection and shared laughter as 20 children, ranging in age from 8 to 17 years, observed the festival with the soldiers. The festival begins with Holika Dahan, where a bonfire is lit to mark the death of Holika, a symbol of evil and a special Puja to burn evil spirits is performed. This year, the celebration of the 'Festival of Colours' is being observed on two separate days. While several states in Western India, including Mumbai and Gujarat, have already begun the festivities today, Tuesday, March 3. North India is set to mark its main celebrations tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4. (ANI)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday held a protest outside the office of the Election Commission against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). During the protest, CPI (M) State Secretary Md Salim slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that it has "borrowed a page from the book of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)." "The Election Commission is conducting this SIR by borrowing a page from the book of RSS. There is chaos in West Bengal because region and religion profiling has been done keeping in mind the booth, assembly, and district, which was what RSS wanted. TMC steals the right to vote through weapons, and the RSS uses ECI to do so. This is the fight for the right to vote," he said while speaking to ANI. Earlier on Monday, Congress carried out a protest march from Bankshall Court to the West Bengal State Election Commission in Kolkata, against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, demanding an explaination over the alleged removal of voters' names from the list. Congress leader Ashutosh Chatterjee questioned the Election Commission's (EC) silence on the alleged removal of genuine voters' names from the electoral rolls and said that there will be protests until an efficient answer is provided and announced a dharna on Friday. "What is the reason behind the removal of genuine voters' names today? The Election Commission is silent. The full reason for this must be audited and made public. Otherwise, there will be strong protests, and we will hold a dharna on the 6th March," he told ANI. Earlier, on February 28, the ECI released the final electoral roll following the SIR of voter lists in West Bengal, stating that 5,46,053 voters have been deleted using Form 7 after the draft list was published in December 2025. The total number of voters in West Bengal now stands at 7,04,59,284 voters (7.04 crore) as compared to 7,66,37,529 (7.66 crore) before the SIR exercise, showing a change of more than 61 lakh names in the list. According to a press note by the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), a total of 58,20,899 Enumeration Forms were not received, as the poll body found 24,16,852 voters to be deceased, 12,20,039 absent, 19,88,076 shifted, 1,38,328 already enrolled, and 57,604 names were deleted based on other reasons. After the ECI published the draft voter list on December 16, 2025, the poll body added a total of 1,82,036 voters to the list using Forms 6 and 6A, and made 6,671 additions by Form 8. As per the Commission, 60,06,675 electors under adjudication were included in the final roll. (ANI)
SHANGHAI, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- JBD, a global leader in MicroLED microdisplay technology, today unveiled "Griffin," an automotive-grade MicroLED projection platform. The launch extends JBD's proven AR near-eye display expertise into the automotive domain, reflecting a strategic step toward enabling next-generation humanvehicle interaction experiences.

As vehicles become more intelligent and interactive experiences grow more seamless, communication between the vehicle and people is becoming a core pillar of smart mobility. Yet today's exterior lighting remains largely confined to simple cuesflashes, brightness, and color changesused mainly for illumination and basic signaling. While digital lighting has advanced in recent years, it has been difficult to achieve high brightness, high image quality, and a compact footprint simultaneously. This limits how effectively a vehicle can communicate nuanced status information and safety intent. JBD's automotive-grade MicroLED projection system overcomes these constraints by turning the ground around the vehicle into a digital canvas, projecting rich, dynamic visuals and enabling a new mode of humanvehicle interaction.

The first automotive-grade projection display panel on the "Griffin" platform, "Griffin I," fully demonstrates MicroLED's advantages in miniaturization and high brightness. It integrates hundreds of thousands of pixels within a display area of just 0.25 inches, delivers luminous flux of up to 500 lumens, and meets automotive-grade reliability standards. With an exceptionally compact form factor, installation is largely unconstrained, enabling seamless integration into rearview mirrors, doors, and locations around the vehicle body. "Griffin I" projection display panel samples are expected to be available in mid-2026.

Key application scenarios for automotive-grade MicroLED projection focus on "personalized welcome," "vehicle status indication," and "road safety":

Personalized welcome: Compared with traditional static welcome lights, MicroLED projection systems enable dynamic imagery for a more personalized welcome experience. Beyond displaying brand logos, they can be tailored to show custom patterns or video content and deliver personalized greetingsturning every start of a journey into a warm, ceremonial moment.

Compared with traditional static welcome lights, MicroLED projection systems enable dynamic imagery for a more personalized welcome experience. Beyond displaying brand logos, they can be tailored to show custom patterns or video content and deliver personalized greetingsturning every start of a journey into a warm, ceremonial moment. Vehicle status indication: Critical vehicle health information such as remaining battery level for EVs, tire-pressure alerts, or engine status can be conveyed instantly via ground projection outside the vehicle before entering.

Critical vehicle health information such as remaining battery level for EVs, tire-pressure alerts, or engine status can be conveyed instantly via ground projection outside the vehicle before entering. Road safety: Projection lighting can also serve as an effective warning signal for pedestrians and other drivers. For example, during turns or when opening doors, it can proactively communicate vehicle intent to the surroundings, or convey friendly signals such as yielding to pedestriansadding an extra layer of protection for public-road safety.

JBD CEO Li Qiming commented: "Automotive-grade MicroLED projection systems transform the vehicle into an intelligent, expressive platform. This new interaction paradigm makes communication between the vehicle and the outside world more intuitive, allowing light to become a warmer, more human-centered medium and helping to shape a new generation of humanvehicle interaction experiences."

The launch of JBD's "Griffin" automotive-grade MicroLED projection platform not only introduces a novel interaction paradigm for the automotive industry, but also delivers a more intuitive, intelligent experience for users. Leveraging its advantages in brightness, compactness, and reliability, the platform can be extended beyond automotive to support a wide spectrum of projection applications, spanning both commercial and consumer environments. Looking ahead, JBD looks forward to collaborating with industry partners to drive continuous innovation and advance the evolution of humanvehicle interactionmaking every trip safer and more convenient.

About the Company

Founded in 2015, the Companyknown in the industry through its JBD technology brandstands at the forefront of technological innovation in MicroLED microdisplay technology. Renowned for delivering some of the smallest, brightest, and most energy-efficient microdisplay panels, the Company is a global pioneer in advanced display solutions. The Company's product portfolio extends well beyond AR near-eye displays, encompassing ultra-compact MicroLED displays, projection solutions, and optical modulesenabling a wide spectrum of consumer, automotive, and commercial applications. Driven by an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, the Company continues to expand the boundaries of application and deliver reliable, system-level solutions that help shape a brighter, more vibrant digital world.

Mission

Enlighten the human perspective with MicroLED.

Vision

To become a global leader of near-eye display solutions, reshaping the human-AI interaction experience and gatewaying humanity to the digital world through MicroLED.

Explore more about the Company's groundbreaking advancements by visiting their website(www.jb-display.com) or engaging with them on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

SOURCE JBD
Former Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Sandeep Kashinath Shinde was sworn in as the new Lokayukta of Goa on Wednesday. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also attends the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Lokayukta at Raj Bhavan. Speaking to ANI, Sawant said, "The Governor has administered the oath of office to Goa's new Lokayukta today. On behalf of the Goa government and the people of Goa, I heartily congratulate former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Mr Sandeep Shinde. He took the oath today and is taking charge from today. The post of Lokayukta had been vacant for many days, and his office was vacant. So, from today, he will take over the office and continue his work. My best wishes to him. Thank you." Shinde's appointment comes after the post remained vacant since December 2024, following the tenure of the previous Lokayukta, Justice Ambadas Joshi. Reacting to the development, Goa Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Yuri Alemao welcomed the appointment. While speaking to the media, he said, "Today, when this position, since December 2024, was vacant. Joshi Ji was the last Lokayukta. And time and again, we wrote letters to the government saying that this position needs to be filled. Today, we welcome Justice Sandeep Shinde. And there is hope among the people of Goa. There is hope that he will provide some hope regarding the way this government is functioning, the scams, the way people are moving forward, and how certain issues need to be raised. There are about 20 anti-corruption cases that are pending, and these cases need to be brought to a logical conclusion." "But the government should ensure that the vigilance department and the Lokayukta are given a sufficient support system financially, administratively, and with staff. It should not just be another part of a window system or window dressing. So we have a lot of hope. The people of Goa have a lot of hope in the Lokayukta, and definitely, the complaints that have been pending for so long, the extensive corruption carried out by this government, will be exposed. I hope and have faith that the Goa Lokayukta will take this up," he added. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing Parivartan Yatra campaign in West Bengal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday criticised the ruling TMC government, asserting that the people of the state have endured "oppression, fear and corruption" for years under the Mamata Banerjee government. Speaking to ANI, Dhami said that the people of Bengal were ready for political change and said the BJP was reaching out to every village as part of the statewide outreach programme. "The people of Bengal have faced oppression for a long time. The people here have faced fear, corruption, and a poor health sector. The Parivartan Yatra is being taken out at 9 different places. The people have made up their minds for change. BJP is reaching every single village. Today, the entire country is forming a double-engine government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. On the law and order situation in West Bengal, he added, "The people of Bengal have suffered a lot under this government. Many have even lost their lives simply for casting their vote in the state. Those who believe in the Constitution and have faith in it are being targeted and threatened. We want Bengal to grow and prosper like other states..." He also raised concerns over illegal immigration in the state, saying, "They have supported infiltration in West Bengal, allowing illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to relocate for their vote bank. Now that the Election Commission is filtering them out through SIR, it is troubling them," said CM Dhami. Earlier, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a dig at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that the word 'Parivartan' signifies the desire to make West Bengal "infiltration and corruption free" and to replace the Trinamool Congress government with a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. He said the Parivartan Yatra has been initiated to bring about change in the state, asserting that 'Parivartan' was not merely about changing the Chief Minister. The Parivartan Yatra is a massive statewide campaign ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, expected to cover over 5,000 km, including 63 major rallies and 282 smaller gatherings. (ANI)
The Patiala House Court on Wednesday remanded three Indian Youth Congress workers, Divyansh Girdhar, Bhudev Sharma, and Kuber Meena, to judicial custody in connection with the AI Summit protest case. The court also issued notice on their bail applications and listed the matter for hearing on March 6. The Duty Magistrate ordered that Sharma, Girdhar, and Meena be sent to judicial custody. Earlier, the court had extended the police custody of Bhudev Sharma and Divyansh Girdhar by two days. While granting further police custody, the court stated that the investigation is at a nascent stage and that the recovery of material evidence, along with the apprehension of co-accused persons, assumes significance. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has challenged the bail granted to nine accused persons in the case. The court has issued notices to them. Duty Magistrate Charan Salwan had earlier rejected the bail pleas of Bhudev Sharma and Divyansh Girdhar and remanded them to two days of further police custody. The Delhi Police had sought three additional days of custody for both accused. On the other hand, the accused had sought bail on the grounds of parity with 10 other accused persons. However, the court dismissed their bail applications. "In my considered view, the present application for remand and the prayer for bail stand on a distinctly different footing from that of the co-accused who have already been granted bail," the Duty Magistrate said while rejecting the bail pleas. The court stated that it is a settled principle of criminal jurisprudence that while the rule of parity is a relevant consideration in bail matters, it cannot be applied in a mechanical or uniform manner. The court also addressed submissions based on the right to protest, holding that the right to protest, subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) and Article 19(3) of the Constitution, is a cherished constitutional guarantee in a democratic polity. "However, the exercise of such rights is not absolute and must be balanced against considerations of public order, security of the State, and other legitimate restrictions contemplated under the Constitution," the court said. The court noted that the record reveals the alleged protest took place during a national event attended by foreign delegates and dignitaries. "The nature, timing, and location of the protest are relevant factors at this stage of investigation, particularly in assessing issues of security, public order, and the larger ramifications of the alleged acts," Duty Magistrate Salwan said. Opposing the bail plea of Divyansh Girdhar, the Delhi Police submitted that his earlier bail application had already been dismissed by the Duty Magistrate vide order dated February 27, 2026. However, the counsel for the accused deliberately did not disclose this fact in the bail application, and therefore, the application deserves to be dismissed. Seeking further police remand, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastav submitted that the two accused, Manish Sharma and Vishwajeet, are absconding. He argued that the accused currently in custody could help identify and facilitate the arrest of the absconding persons. It has been alleged that Manish Sharma, the National In-charge of the Indian Youth Congress, played a pivotal role in planning and executing the protest held on February 20, 2026. The police further alleged that Vishwajeet distributed slogan-bearing T-shirts near Bharat Mandapam. On the other hand, Senior Advocate Tanvir Ahmed Mir, along with Roopesh Singh Bhadauria, appeared for the accused persons and submitted that nine other accused had already been granted bail by the Duty Magistrate on March 1. The defence also argued that further custody of the accused was not required for the purposes of the investigation. (ANI)
Finnish President Alexander Stubb will visit India from March 4 to March 7 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue, 2026, in New Delhi. Sharing a post on X, Stubb said that the visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India, including in the area of trade. "Travelling on a state visit to India. I will meet with the President of India @rashtrapatibhvn and the Prime Minister @narendramodi as well as other members of the state leadership. The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India - including in the area of trade," the post read. https://x.com/alexstubb/status/2028889221449351536 The visit, which will include the participation of a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, is aimed at deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between India and Finland across various sectors, MEA said in its release on Tuesday. The visit will see President Stubb attend the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue from March 5-7 in New Delhi as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. As per the release, the visit will be Stubb's first visit to India in his current role as President. In addition to his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest. A key highlight of the visit will be an exchange of views on cooperation in multilateral forums, with an emphasis on deepening people-to-people connections and economic partnerships. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon in honour of President Stubb, the release said. During his visit, the Finnish President will also meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also meet President Stubb. After his time in the capital, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai, where he will meet with the Governor and Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He will interact with local business leaders and address students at the University of Mumbai. India and Finland share a warm and multifaceted relationship, anchored in shared democratic values. Finland plays an essential role as a partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region. President Stubb's visit follows the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to India for the AI Impact Summit in February, a testament to both countries' commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and fostering stronger ties. Furthermore, President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Samir Saran, in a post on X, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will jointly inaugurate the Raisina Dialogue. "Honourable Prime Minister of India @narendramodi and H.E. President of Finland @alexstubb will be jointly inaugurating the @raisinadialogue. President Stubb will deliver the inaugural address on March 5. Know more: https://raisinadialogue.org @orfonline @MEAIndia #Raisina2026." https://x.com/samirsaran/status/2028756280354255331 The Raisina Dialogue is India's premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held annually in New Delhi since 2016. It will be organised by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs. This three-day event convenes global leaders, policymakers, academics, industry experts, and journalists to discuss critical international issues. The upcoming edition, Samskara - Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement, will be held from March 05- March 07. (ANI)
The United States' Operation Epic Fury continued on day four with the intensity of strikes increasing even as Iran retaliated with counter offensive targeting US assets in the Gulf. On Tuesday (local time) Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of United States Central Command in briefing said that the US will not stop and that Iran's ability to hit back was declining rapidly. "Now, we're less than 100 hours into this operation, and we've already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. In simple terms, we're focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us. Our B-2 bombers and B-1 bombers have executed uncontested surgical strikes against multiple missile facilities deep inside Iran. And then just last night, a B-52 bomber force struck ballistic missile and command and control posts," he said. Admiral Brad Cooper also said that not a single Iranian vessel was operation in the Arabian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz. "We are also sinking the Iranian Navy--the entire navy. Thus far, we've destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine, that now has a hole in its side. For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping. Today, there's not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman. And we will not stop. We will continue to conduct dynamic targeting operations. We're hunting Iran's last remaining mobile ballistic missile launchers to eliminate what I would characterize as their lingering launch capability," he said. Admiral Cooper said that the US was far ahead of its game plan for the combat operation and Iran was losing its ability to hit back. "In retaliation, the Iranian regime has launched over 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones. To be clear, Iran is indiscriminately targeting civilians as they launch these missiles and drones. You've seen it on TV; the evidence is crystal clear and overwhelming. Having said this, we are seeing Iran's ability to hit us and our partners is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan. Along the way, every single branch of our military is achieving unprecedented success. Admiral Cooper further said that the US and Israel Air force were dominating the skies with one way attack-drones achieving great success. "U.S. Air Forces are doing what they do best: executing a high volume of air strikes right into Iran. Operationally, the two most powerful air forces in the world, the U.S. and Israel, are dominating the skies over the world's largest state sponsor of terror. Also, for the first time, U.S. Central Command's drone task force, called Task Force Scorpion Strike, launched countless one-way attack drones, achieving massive effects. Our military objectives are crystal clear, and our people are executing an immensely complex and historic mission with relentless lethality, conviction, and professionalism. And we've just begun. But I have the utmost confidence that we, alongside our partners, will absolutely achieve our military objectives," he added. Despite this assurance, Iran's counter continues. Fox News, citing a source, has reported that a CIA station inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was hit in a drone attack. Two drones caused structural damage and smoke inside the compound, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries, said the news report. Earlier, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes on Iran, a fire that broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General in Dubai late Tuesday night, following a suspected drone strike, has been fully extinguished, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported. Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported. The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)
Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi, Special Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, described the late Ayatollah Khamenei as Iran's "father" and a towering spiritual authority whose death, according to him, marks a profound loss not just for Iran but for millions of followers worldwide. In an interview with ANI, Ilahi said, "Actually, our Supreme Leader wasn't just an ordinary leader. He was our father. He was our spiritual leader. He was our Marja in our religion. Marja means authentic, which we rely on him. He is not only for Iranians. There are millions of Muslims who like and love him. Millions of Muslims support him, and they follow him. He was our everything, and his martyrdom is a very big loss for everyone." Ilahi said he had witnessed emotional scenes of mourning. "I met a lot of people here, and I saw in films and photos that they are crying very hard. So actually he was a very pious man." Recalling Khamenei's intellectual interests, Ilahi claimed the Iranian leader had read "more than a thousand volumes of novels" and had a deep admiration for India. "He loved India too much, which is unimaginable," he said. "Whenever I met him, or he met anyone related to India, he was sending his salam to Indians. He knew Indian scholars by their name, whether Muslim or not Muslim, it didn't matter. He was saying we have much more civilisation with India, and he loves India too much." Ilahi added that Khamenei would often speak about "the history of India and civilisation of India and philosophy of India and the poem of India," and would meet poets annually, including those invited from India. "Whenever he met Indian poets, he was very happy and listened to them. Whenever I met him, he said, 'Please send my salam to Indians and take care of India." Highlighting what he described as a special bond, Ilahi said only "less than five countries" had been assigned official representatives by the Supreme Leader. "This depends on his love for that country. In Syria, he was, and also here in India and in Lebanon," he said. Addressing reports about Khamenei's security in his final days, Ilahi alleged there had been "a narrative war" filled with misinformation. "They were saying that Ayatollah Khamenei is out of his house, his office, out of the city of Tehran capital and he lives in a basement or in some very safe place," he said. "But when he was martyred, and he was killed, everyone in the world knows that he was in his office in the early morning with his family, with his grandchildren, with his daughter-in-law." He dismissed claims that the leader had fled Iran or amassed wealth. "They were saying that he took a lot of money, and he went to Russia. All of this was wrong and false," Ilahi said. Recalling a conversation with security officials, Ilahi said, "I asked his security, ' Why are you not providing security for him? Why are you not asking him to go out? Why do you allow him to stay here? They said because he's not accepting." According to Ilahi, the Supreme Leader had refused to leave Tehran despite security concerns. "We asked him several times to move him from Tehran to another city. He said, 'If you can provide this opportunity for all Iranians to go out of Tehran, OK, I'm ready.'" Ilahi also emphasised what he described as Khamenei's simple lifestyle. "Even he had four sons. None of them has a house. They are living in rented houses. Really, they are living in rented houses," he said. "He was in the power of Iran. Two terms he was president of Iran, but he has nothing. Even he has one house, a very small house, roughly 100 square meters, which he had from before the Islamic Revolution. Never did he buy even one meter of land." Calling his death a moment of national grief, Ilahi said the late leader's legacy would continue through his teachings and followers. (ANI)
Israeli Media has reported that Ayatollah Khamenei''s son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. However, no independent confirmation has come from official Iran state media on the development. Earlier, New York Times had reported that Mojtaba, who is 56 years old had emerged as the leading candidate for the position of supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, is the second eldest son of the Ali Khamenei. NYT reported that the Assembly of Experts in Iran had elected Mojtaba as the new head of state, allegedly under intense pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father''s office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report. Israeli Media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran. In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated for representing the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. The US Treasury further said that the then Supreme Leader had delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojataba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and also the Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to advance his father''s destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives. It had also been reported that Mojtaba Khamenei has access to luxury properties in London and accounts in the UK, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Meanwhile, US Central Command Chief Admiral Brad Cooper has warned Iran that there will be no stopping in their intensive strike operation and that their objectives would be achieved. "Our military objectives are crystal clear, and our people are executing an immensely complex and historic mission with relentless lethality, conviction, and professionalism. And we''ve just begun. But I have the utmost confidence that we, alongside our partners, will absolutely achieve our military objectives," he said. The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the update on X, stating that a dedicated Control Room has been set up to assist citizens amid the ongoing tensions. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2029037212436971647 According to the official release, the Control Room will operate from 9 am to 9 pm and can be reached at the following numbers: 1800118797 (Toll Free), +91 11 2301 2113, +91 11 2301 4104, and +91 11 2301 7905. In addition, the MEA provided emergency contact numbers for Indian embassies across the region. For Bahrain, it is +973 39418071. For Iran, the numbers are +98 9128109115 / +98 912810910 / +98 932179359.For Iraq, the numbers are +964 771 651 1185 / +964 770444 4899.For Israel, the numbers are +972 54 7520711 / +972 54 2428378.For Jordan, it is +962 770 422 276.For Kuwait, it is +965 65501946.For Lebanon, it is +961 76860128.For Oman, the numbers are +968 98282270 (WhatsApp) / 80071234 (Toll free).For Qatar, it is +974 55647502.For Ramallah, Palestine, it is +970 592916418.For Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), the numbers are +966 11 4884697 / 800 247 1234 (Toll free).For Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), the numbers are +966 126648660 / +966 12 2614093.For the United Arab Emirates, the numbers are +971 543090571 (WhatsApp) / 800 46342 (Toll free). The MEA said the step has been taken in light of the current security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, as tensions continue to escalate across the region. Indian nationals have been advised to remain in touch with the respective embassies and monitor official updates for further advisories. Earlier, the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, on Tuesday said it is extending full support to Indian nationals travelling on special flights from Jeddah amid regional travel disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region. The Consulate said Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, accompanied by senior officials, visited King Abdulaziz International Airport to review arrangements for Indian passengers departing on non-scheduled flights to various destinations in India. These special flights are being operated by Indian carriers to mitigate the impact of recent regional travel disruptions and facilitate the return of affected passengers. "Consul General, Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, accompanied by Consulate officials, visited King Abdulaziz International Airport today to meet Indian nationals travelling on non-scheduled flights from Jeddah to various destinations in India. These flights are being operated by Indian carriers to address recent regional travel disruptions. He reviewed on-ground arrangements, interacted with passengers and airline staff, and assured them of the Consulate''s full support," the Consulate posted on X. Suri interacted with passengers and airline staff, assessed on-ground arrangements, and assured travellers of the Consulate''s full support. The Consulate said its staff are deployed round-the-clock at airports in Jeddah and Madinah to provide necessary assistance and address passenger concerns. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has once again justified the attack mounted by US-Israel on Iran saying that the world would be a better place once the radicals had no access to weapons of destruction. "Iran is run by lunatics, religious fanatic lunatics. They have an ambition to have nuclear weapons. They intend to develop those nuclear weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism that the world will not be able to touch them for fear of those things. And this is the weakest they've ever been. Now is the time to go after them. The President made the decision to go after them, take away their missiles, take away their navy, take away their drones, take away their ability to make those things, so that they can never have a nuclear weapon... That's why the President made this decision. It was the right decision and the world will be a safer place when these radical clerics no longer have access to these weapons. You see how they're using them now. Imagine how they would use them a year from now if they had more of these," he said. Rubio echoed US President Donald Trump who described the Islamist Regime as 'crazy people' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it. "If we didn't do what we're doing right now, you would've had a nuclear war and they would've taken out many countries because you know what? They're sick people. They're mentally ill, sick people. They're angry. They're crazy. They're sick. These people are crazy -- and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would've used it," he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time) Senator Lindsay Graham a key supporter of Trump also thanked the US President for taking action against the Iranian regime. "Roadside bombs coming out of Iran have maimed and killed hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans. They mean it when they say 'death to America.' I'm glad we didn't let it go further. I'm glad we didn't let them build more missiles," he said. Speaker Mike Johnson said the threat from Iran and a potential nuclear weapon was clear and present. "Iran was building ballistic missiles at a speed and scale exceeding the ability of our regional allies to respond, creating an imminent, serious threat and giving the regime cover to continue their nuclear ambitions," he said. Meanwhile, Admiral Cooper the US Central Command Chief said that the US and Israel Air force were dominating the skies with one way attack-drones achieving great success. "U.S. Air Forces are doing what they do best: executing a high volume of air strikes right into Iran. Operationally, the two most powerful air forces in the world, the U.S. and Israel, are dominating the skies over the world's largest state sponsor of terror. Also, for the first time, U.S. Central Command's drone task force, called Task Force Scorpion Strike, launched countless one-way attack drones, achieving massive effects. Our military objectives are crystal clear, and our people are executing an immensely complex and historic mission with relentless lethality, conviction, and professionalism. And we've just begun. But I have the utmost confidence that we, alongside our partners, will absolutely achieve our military objectives," he said. The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)
Iran''s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones. Earlier, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed that it had struck an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The Corps said the warship had been hit using "Ghadr-380" and "Talaieh" missiles. The Ghadr missile is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres, designed for precision strikes and rapid deployment. Talaeieh is a strategic cruise missile system capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. It is a smart missile that can change targets mid-mission, adding to its strategic capabilities. IRGC claimed that the destroyer was refuelling from an American tanker while it was hit, it added. The strike, the Corps concluded, triggered "widespread fires" on board both the vessels. The IRGC has launched an operation codenamed True Promise 4 in retaliation against US-Israeli assets after they struck Iran. IRGC claims that they have struck numerous sensitive and strategic targets deep inside the occupied territories, besides staging counterattacks against many American interests throughout the West Asia region, including those lying in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Meanwhile, Times of Israel reported that Israel had led a covert extraction of part of its embassy staff in the United Arab Emirates after two Iranian terror plots targeting the diplomatic team were foiled in recent days. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the evacuation, stating that "in light of concrete threats against Israeli missions in the UAE, and at the request of security authorities, non-essential staff were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates." The Times of Israel also reported that US President Donald Trump had ordered strikes on Iran after Tehran demonstrated during three rounds of nuclear talks last month that it was not serious about giving up the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon. Trump had described the Islamist Regime as ''crazy people'' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it. "If we didn''t do what we''re doing right now, you would''ve had a nuclear war and they would''ve taken out many countries because you know what? They''re sick people. They''re mentally ill, sick people. They''re angry. They''re crazy. They''re sick. These people are crazy -- and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would''ve used it," he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time) The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)
CHICAGO, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Katten announced today that Corporate Global Chair Kimberly T. Smith and Advertising and Brand Litigation Co-Chair Kristin J. Achterhof were honored on the Crain's Chicago Business list of Notable Women in Law.

The Notable Women in Law distinction celebrates senior-level women attorneys in Chicago who are making an impact in their practices, firms and the legal community.

"Kim and Kristin exemplify what it means to be leaders in the legal profession." - Katten Chair Gil M. Soffer Post this Katten Partners Kimberly T. Smith and Kristin J. Achterhof were named to the Crain's Chicago Business list of Notable Women in Law.

"Kim and Kristin exemplify what it means to be leaders in the legal profession," said Katten Chair Gil M. Soffer. "Their exceptional legal skills and client service are matched only by the impact they have had on their clients, colleagues and the broader Chicago community. This recognition is a fitting acknowledgment of their leadership and influence."

As Global Chair of Katten's nationally recognized Corporate department, Smith leads more than 100 attorneys across the United States, UK and China. She oversees complex mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets, public finance and health care transactions. In her practice, Smith executes strategic mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and joint ventures for private equity sponsors, family offices and other clients. She previously co-chaired Katten's Mergers and Acquisitions/Private Equity practice, considered one of the busiest middle-market private equity practices in the country.

Achterhof is the national co-chair of Katten's Advertising and Brand Litigation practice, and leads litigation teams in multimillion-dollar intellectual property and complex business disputes in federal and state courts across the country, and before the US Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. As a first-chair trial attorney and skilled mediator, she represents a broad range of clients in the scientific and business sectors, advising on general advertising and competition issues and protecting their trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property assets.

They have been tapped for firm leadership roles, with Smith being on the executive committee and board of directors, and Achterhof serving as Katten's national hiring partner for more than a decade.

Both Smith and Achterhof are heavily involved in local community organizations. For more than 20 years, Smith has been involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, serving on the corporate board of directors and as a founding member of the organization's guild board. Achterhof sits on the Executive Board of Directors for Special Olympics Illinois and is lead counsel for Special Olympics International in protecting its marks and logos. She is also vice president of the board for Chicago-based Lawyers for the Creative Arts.

This honor follows the long list of industry accolades for both partners.

Smith has been recognized this past year by Crain's Chicago Business as among its Notable M&A Dealmakers, by the Chicago Business Journal as among its Women of Influence, and by Mergers & Acquisitions as among its Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A. Other career accolades include being named a Mergers & Acquisitions and Antitrust Trailblazer by the National Law Journal. She is ranked in the Chambers USA guide and selected to The Legal 500 United States Leading Partners list.

Achterhof was named a 2025 finalist for Litigator of the Year in Illinois by Managing Intellectual Property (Managing IP) and listed among its "Trade Mark Stars." Throughout her career, she has been honored as one of Managing IP's Top 250 Women in IP and recognized for her work by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500 United States as a Leading Partner, and Super Lawyers, with an appearance on the Top 50: Women Illinois Super Lawyers list.

Katten is a full-service law firm with nearly 650 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm's core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit katten.com.

SOURCE Katten
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed Finnish President Alexander Stubb to India, expressing confidence that his State Visit would elevate bilateral ties. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Welcome to India, President Alexander Stubb. I fully agree with you, your visit will take India-Finland relations to new heights. I eagerly look forward to our meeting tomorrow and to your keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue 2026." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2029069840003285414 The message was in response to President Stubb, who earlier shared details on his engagements, stating, "Travelling on a state visit to India. I will meet with President of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as other members of the state leadership." He added, "The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India - including in the area of trade." Earlier, President Alexander Stubb of Finland arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit to India and was accorded a ceremonial welcome upon his arrival. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "A warm welcome to India! President Alexander Stubb of the Republic of Finland has arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit to India." According to the post, President Stubb received a Guard of Honour and was welcomed at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh. The Finnish leader is scheduled to be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics. Highlighting bilateral ties, Jaiswal noted that "India and Finland share a warm and friendly relationship rooted in shared democratic values," adding that President Stubb's visit "will impart further energy to India-Finland relations." The visit, which will include the participation of a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, is aimed at deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between India and Finland across various sectors, MEA said in its release on Tuesday. The visit will see President Stubb attend the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue from March 5-7 in New Delhi as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. As per an official statement, the visit will be Stubb's first visit to India in his current role as President. In addition to his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest. A key highlight of the visit will be an exchange of views on cooperation in multilateral forums, with an emphasis on deepening people-to-people connections and economic partnerships. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon in honour of President Stubb, the release said. During his visit, the Finnish President will also meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also meet President Stubb. After his time in the capital, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai, where he will meet with Maharashtra's Governor Acharya Devvrat, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He will interact with local business leaders and address students at the University of Mumbai. India and Finland share a warm and multifaceted relationship, anchored in shared democratic values. Finland plays an essential role as a partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region. President Stubb's visit follows the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to India for the AI Impact Summit in February, a testament to both countries' commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and fostering stronger ties. (ANI)
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Association appeared to have contradicted views put forth by the Donald Trump administration that Iran was intending to build nuclear weapons, but clarified that Iran''s stock of nuclear grade Uranium was of concern. In a post on X, Rafael Grossi said, "I have been very clear and consistent in my reports on Iran''s nuclear programme: while there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, its large stockpile of near-weapons grade enriched uranium and refusal to grant my inspectors full access are cause for serious concern. For these reasons, my previous reports indicate that unless and until Iran assists the IAEA in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran''s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful." Earlier, in an interview to CNN, Grossi said that the IAEA had no indication of a systematic program to build a nuclear weapon. "While there are many elements there that were of serious concern: accumulation, unjustified accumulation of huge amounts of almost military-grade material, lack of transparency in inspections, and so on, we never had information indicating that there was a structured, systematic program to build, to construct a nuclear weapon. So we have to balance the two things. Yes, many reasons for concern, but there wasn''t to be a bomb tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Obviously, countries, and that is the case for the United States or Israel, and perhaps others, may have the impression that all these activities are aimed directly and straight into the manufacturing of a nuclear weapon. We from the IAEA are not in the business of judging intentions. But yes, there were reasons for concern, but these timelines are perhaps a bit subjective," he told CNN. The IAEA DG''s comments come even as US President Trump claimed that had they not targeted Iran now they would have got their hands on nuclear weapons. Trump who described the Islamist Regime as ''crazy people'' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it. "If we didn''t do what we''re doing right now, you would''ve had a nuclear war and they would''ve taken out many countries because you know what? They''re sick people. They''re mentally ill, sick people. They''re angry. They''re crazy. They''re sick. These people are crazy -- and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would''ve used it," he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the world would be a better place once the radicals had no access to weapons of destruction. "Iran is run by lunatics, religious fanatic lunatics. They have an ambition to have nuclear weapons. They intend to develop those nuclear weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism that the world will not be able to touch them for fear of those things. And this is the weakest they''ve ever been. Now is the time to go after them. The President made the decision to go after them, take away their missiles, take away their navy, take away their drones, take away their ability to make those things, so that they can never have a nuclear weapon... That''s why the President made this decision. It was the right decision and the world will be a safer place when these radical clerics no longer have access to these weapons. You see how they''re using them now. Imagine how they would use them a year from now if they had more of these," he said. The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)
Democratic senators sharply criticised President Donald Trump's handling of the war in Iran after a classified briefing with administration officials on Tuesday (local time), accusing the White House of lacking a clear strategy and dragging the United States into a prolonged conflict without congressional approval. In a post on X, Senator Chris Van Hollen said lawmakers received little clarity during the closed-door session. "Today, Congress was finally briefed on Trump's war of choice in Iran. Even behind closed doors, they couldn't get their story straight," Van Hollen said on X. "But one thing is clear: they don't have a clue what the end game is, and it sure as hell isn't making America safer." https://x.com/ChrisVanHollen/status/2028998993166905494 Speaking in a video posted on X, Van Hollen described the administration's messaging as "complete incoherence." "What you hear behind closed doors is essentially what we're hearing in the public domain," he said. "No explanation for why Donald Trump broke his promise to the country when he said he wasn't going to drag us into additional wars and constantly shifting narratives about what this is all about." He said the President has offered varying justifications, from targeting Iran's nuclear program to addressing ballistic missiles and even "liberating" the Iranian people, but argued those explanations lack consistency. Van Hollen also referenced public reporting about intelligence assessments warning of potential instability if Iran's leadership were removed. He further criticised US alignment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, "Here we are, doing what Prime Minister Netanyahu said he wanted to do for 40 years, which was to attack Iran." Senator Andy Kim echoed similar concerns after attending the classified briefing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a video posted on X, he said, "I just stepped out from the classified briefing ... about the war in Iran. And that's exactly what it is. It's a war in Iran," Kim said. https://x.com/SenatorAndyKim/status/2028972373601394903 He added, "Everything that I heard in there confirms that this is a war. The level of violence has been significant." Kim said the administration signalled that military operations are expected to intensify and continue for an extended period. "This is something that they told us point-blank is going to go on for a long time and get even more violent. It's going to put even more Americans' lives at risk," he said. He also accused the administration of failing to adequately plan for the safety of American citizens in the region. "My office has gotten a barrage of calls and emails from panicked Americans throughout the Middle East and their families," Kim said, adding that officials "did not do the planning ahead of time to be there for the protection of Americans." Calling the conflict "a war without the approval of the American people through Congress," Kim warned it would be "reckless and dangerous," noting that six Americans have already been killed and that officials indicated casualties could rise. "We're going to do everything I can to be able to keep Americans safe and to be able to rein in this lawlessness that we're seeing," he said. In a news conference on Tuesday night, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio once again justified the attack mounted by the US-Israel on Iran, saying that the world would be a better place once the radicals had no access to weapons of destruction. "Iran is run by lunatics, religious fanatic lunatics. They have an ambition to have nuclear weapons. They intend to develop those nuclear weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism that the world will not be able to touch them for fear of those things. And this is the weakest they've ever been. Now is the time to go after them. The President made the decision to go after them, take away their missiles, take away their navy, take away their drones, take away their ability to make those things, so that they can never have a nuclear weapon." Rubio echoed US President Donald Trump, who described the Islamist Regime as 'crazy people' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it. "If we didn't do what we're doing right now, you would've had a nuclear war and they would've taken out many countries because you know what? They're sick people. They're mentally ill, sick people. They're angry. They're crazy. They're sick. These people are crazy -- and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would've used it," he said. (ANI)
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday launched what it said was the 17th wave of strikes against US, Israeli targets, Press TV reported. According to the IRGC, the Ground Force of IRGC responded to the Israeli-US strikes against Iran with 3 major operations. Announcing another phase of Operation True Promise 4 on Wednesday, IRGC's Public Relations stated that immediately after the joint Israeli-US strikes, its ground forces launched more than 230 assault drones towards targets in the Occupied Lands and US bases in the region. "Firing dozens of drones in several waves towards the US military bases in Erbil, and Kuwait, and destroying several terrorist groups' headquarters in northern Iraq, were the first actions of brave soldiers of the IRGC against child-killing aggressors," said the statement. IRGC further claimed that a fresh wave of Iranian retaliatory strikes has crippled a major US air base in Bahrain, with strikes destroying command centres. According to the IRGC, Iran's retaliatory strikes left more than 680 casualties for American troops in various US bases in the first two days of the war. Iranian officials have stressed that targeting US military bases in the region constitutes "legitimate self-defence." Referring to Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, they say that Iran has the legal right to defend itself against "acts of aggression" by the US or the Israeli regime. Meanwhile, Press TV also reported that the Handala hacking group, pro-Palestinian hacktivist group that targets Israeli organizations, claimed it had breached the Israeli institute of national security studies (INSS). Handala claimed that classified documents, top secret correspondence, confidential recordings, and highly secret bulletins would be released soon. Earlier, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel. "Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement. "We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added. Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. (ANI)
Israel will open its airspace on the night between March 4 and March 5, resuming limited flights from Ben Gurion Airport to safely evacuate Israeli's stuck in the Gulf region. Israel Transport Minister Miri Regev announced this decision in a press conference, as the conflict in West Asia escalates after the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "The airspace will be opened on the night between Wednesday and Thursday gradually and ofcourse subject to security arrangements. We are doing everything to bring Israeli citizens home safely, in accordance to the security directives," she said. Meanwhile, Iran has elected Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme Leader. Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel. "Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement. Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father's office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report. Israeli Media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran. In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated to represent the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. Meanwhile, the IDF said a new wave of strikes is underway against Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The IDF said further details will be provided later. Earlier, the IDF issued evacuation warnings for two buildings in Beirut ahead of airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure. IDF also showed new footage of an airstrike against a group of Iranian soldiers operating an Air defence system, and the targeting of a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter used by the Iranian army. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Tehran on Tuesday had hit dozens of command centres of Iran's Basij paramilitary force and internal security forces. (ANI)
The Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday rescued 30 sailors from the Iranian naval ship "IRIS Dena", which was in distress with around 180 sailors onboard, according to Sri Lankan media reports. Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that the rescued sailors are being brought to Karapitiya Hospital for medical attention.The rescue comes amidst the ongoing West Asia Conflict. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also claimed that it had struck an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The Corps said the warship had been hit using "Ghadr-380" and "Talaieh" missiles. The Ghadr missile is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres, designed for precision strikes and rapid deployment. Talaeieh is a strategic cruise missile system capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. It is a smart missile that can change targets mid-mission, adding to its strategic capabilities. IRGC claimed that the destroyer was refuelling from an American tanker while it was hit, it added. The strike, the Corps concluded, triggered "widespread fires" on board both the vessels. The IRGC has launched an operation codenamed True Promise 4 in retaliation against US-Israeli assets after they struck Iran. IRGC claims that they have struck numerous sensitive and strategic targets deep inside the occupied territories, besides staging counterattacks against many American interests throughout the West Asia region, including those lying in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced the execution of the 16th wave of Operation True Promise 4 against the US-Israel forces in the region after they struck Iran. In a statement IRGC claimed that it had struck the "heart and the northern parts of the occupied territories" with "effective" missile and drone operations conducted by its Aerospace Division. It cited some of the targets as the general staff of the Israeli regime's army and its ministry of war in Hakiriya, the strategic infrastructures lying in Bnei Brak, military targets stationed in Beit Hakfa, northeast of Tel Aviv, and the military centre in Western Galilee. IRGC claimed that its intelligence sources have reported over 680 'enemy' casualties by the fourth day of the Iranian counter attack. The statement claimed "operational weakness, technical gaps, and the reduced computational capability in the multi-layer defence systems of the occupied territories" as the reasons contributing to "opening up of air corridors for the penetration, passage, and impact of Iranian projectiles." (ANI)
The Israeli Air Force says it is carrying out an "extensive" wave of strikes against Iranian regime targets in Tehran. The IDF further said that it has carried out a series of strikes on the Basij and internal security command centres in Tehran belonging to the Iranian terror regime. The IDF said, the targeted command centres were used by the Iranian regime to maintain control throughout Iran. The IDF said it had also struck the regime's missile launchers and other systems. Meanwhile in Tehran, the Iranian regime will hold a three-day farewell ceremony for the late supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran's Islamic Propagation Council, tol Iranian State Media that the farewell ceremony would continue for three days and the funeral procession will be announced later. The announcement came even as Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination." "Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement. "We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added. Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. Earlier, the Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had responded to what it termed was the Israeli-US aggression against Iran with 3 major operations. Announcing another phase of Operation True Promise 4 on Wednesday, IRGC's Public Relations stated that immediately after the joint Israeli-US aggression against Iran, its ground forces launched more than 230 assault drones towards targets in the Occupied Lands and US bases in the region. "Firing dozens of drones in several waves towards the US military bases in Erbil, and Kuwait, and destroying several terrorist groups' headquarters in northern Iraq, were the first actions of brave soldiers of the IRGC against child-killing aggressors," said the announcement. The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)
A newly proposed law in China would create a sweeping legal framework to justify existing repression and intensify the forced assimilation of minority populations across the country and beyond its borders, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The 62-article draft Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress was submitted to the National People's Congress on September 8, 2025. An official explanatory document states that the law "implements General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thinking" on ethnic affairs and promotes "the common prosperity and development of all ethnic groups, along the path of rule of law." HRW warned that once passed, the law could be used to formalise and expand ideological controls, target ethnic and religious minorities, erode minority language rights, and extend the Chinese government's influence abroad. "The Chinese government's draft law on promoting ethnic unity seeks to mobilise the bureaucracy and society to unite people under Chinese Communist Party leadership at the expense of human rights," said Maya Wang, associate Asia director at HRW. "Tibetans, Uyghurs, and others who speak out for minority populations can expect even greater government repression." According to the report, the draft law prescribes a rigid ideological framework asserting an unbroken historical continuity of modern China as a 5,000-year-old civilisation that has forged a unified multi-ethnic nation under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This narrative has been increasingly emphasised by President Xi Jinping while implementing ethnic policies characterised by forced assimilation. The proposed legislation formalises the concept of "a common consciousness of the Chinese nation" across sectors, including education, religion, culture, tourism, media, and the internet. Article 14 directs authorities to highlight "Chinese cultural symbols" in public facilities, architecture, and tourist sites, including in place names. The draft law also integrates this ideological framework into urban and rural planning, economic development, and national security policies. Article 23 promotes housing policies that foster "ethnic unity," while Article 34 links the concept to food and border security. Article 40 calls for the "transformation of customs and habits" to ensure "civilisation and progress" in marriage practices and prohibits obstructing marriages on ethnic or religious grounds. HRW said such provisions could be used to justify intrusive state intervention in cultural and social life. While ethnic affairs have traditionally fallen under the CCP's United Front Work Department, HRW noted that Article 12 would mobilise the state apparatus to organise education, guiding citizens to adopt "correct views of the state, of history, of the nation, of culture and of religion." Article 44 extends this mandate to enterprises, industry associations, foundations, and religious institutions, which have increasingly come under party control. Article 20(2) would require parents and guardians to educate minors to "love the Chinese Communist Party" and to avoid teaching ideas deemed harmful to ethnic unity and progress. The draft law prohibits acts that "damage ethnic unity," a broad formulation that HRW says authorities have long used to punish minority community members considered noncompliant. In Tibet, criticism of government or party policies, including advocacy for language rights or raising concerns about mass relocations, has often been construed as harming ethnic unity and punished with imprisonment under existing laws. In Xinjiang, authorities have justified widespread cultural persecution and alleged crimes against humanity against Uyghurs using similar rhetoric, particularly under the region's Strike-Hard Campaign, which has targeted individuals accused of challenging ethnic unity and labelled some peaceful religious expressions as "ideological viruses." HRW also warned that the draft law seeks to weaken previously guaranteed minority language protections under the 1984 Law on Regional National Autonomy. While the earlier law allows government agencies and schools in minority areas to use local languages, Article 15(3) of the draft requires that documents issued in minority languages be accompanied by a Mandarin version and that the "national common language" be given prominence. The draft further mandates that preschool children learn Mandarin and "basically master" it by the end of compulsory education. According to HRW, authorities in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia have already significantly reduced access to mother-tongue education despite opposition from students, teachers, and parents. The proposed legislation also has an explicit transnational dimension. Article 17 calls for promoting its ideological framework through exchanges with foreign academia, civil society groups, and think tanks, and for fostering such consciousness among "Taiwan compatriots" and overseas Chinese communities to strengthen their understanding that they belong to the Chinese nation. Article 61 states that organisations and individuals outside China who "undermine national unity and progress or incite ethnic division" may be held legally accountable. HRW noted that Chinese authorities have increasingly engaged in transnational repression, including pressuring foreign institutions on terminology and harassing students and diaspora members abroad, sometimes by threatening their families back home. (ANI)
At the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan delivered an oral statement addressing the Council on the need for a just and democratic international order. The organisation thanked the High Commissioner for the Annual Report and stated that a just and democratic international order is not merely an aspiration but the cornerstone of durable peace and the full realisation of human rights. It emphasised that such an order requires equality among nations, respect for sovereignty, and the consistent application of international law without selectivity or double standards. Referring to the continuing threat of terrorism, the organisation said terrorism poses a grave challenge to this vision. It cited the attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam, Baisaran Valley, Kashmir, describing it as a tragic reminder that terrorism is a direct assault on human rights, democracy, and peaceful coexistence. The statement called on the international community to act decisively to dismantle all forms of support to terrorism, including financing, safe havens, and political justification, adding that inaction or selective condemnation weakens collective credibility. The organisation further underlined the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation and promoting inclusive development. It highlighted India's commitment to global solidarity, reflected in its G20 Presidency theme, "One Earth, One Family, One Future," which promotes shared responsibility and collective progress. Concluding the statement, Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan urged member states to work together in mutual respect and cooperation to transform human rights commitments into lived realities for all. Earlier, Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan (RSKS India) launched the book "The Soul of Bharat" at the United Nations in Geneva, marking a historic moment in sharing India's vision of peace, resilience, and harmony with the world. Authored by SN Sharma, CEO of RSKS India, the book highlighted India's secular and constitutional foundations, weaving together inspiring stories of communal harmony and the enduring strength of the social fabric that unites diverse communities, according to RSKS India. (ANI)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to the US-Israel led attack on Iran saying the West Asia conflict risked playing "Russian roulette" with the lives of millions, reported Reuters. "This is how humanity's great disasters start ... You cannot play Russian roulette with destiny of millions," Sanchez said in his address to the Spanish people. "The position of the Spanish government can be summarized in four words: 'No to the war.' We're not going to be complicit in something that's bad for the world nor contrary to our values and interests simply to avoid reprisals from someone," Sanchez added. On Tuesday (local time) addressing a news conference alongside the German Chancellor US President Trump said he had asked US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to stop all dealings with Spain. "Some of the European nations have been helpful, and some haven't--and I'm very surprised. Germany's been great... Spain has been terrible. In fact, I told Scott to cut off all dealings with Spain," he said, adding, "By the way, I'm not happy with the UK either," Trump said. Claiming that US strikes had severely degraded Iran's capabilities, Trump asserted, "We've had a very powerful impact because virtually everything they have has been knocked out now. Their missile count is going way down. Amazingly, they're hitting countries that were neutral. They lived together for a long time... Those countries are all fighting against them... They (Iran) no longer have air protection. They no longer have any detection facilities at all. They're going to be in for a lot of hurt. These are bad people." Spain had earlier criticised the U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iran calling them reckless and illegal, and later banned U.S. aircraft from using naval and air bases in southern Spain for the offensive against Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalized. (ANI)
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, will participate in a fireside chat on March 17, 2026, at the Bank of America 2026 Global Automotive Summit in New York.

Representing Lear will be:

Ray Scott, President and CEO

Jason Cardew, SVP and Chief Financial Officer

The live webcast will begin at 8:50 AM EDT and will run approximately 40 minutes. The webcast link will be available on the Company's website at ir.lear.com.

About Lear Corporation

Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA) is a global automotive leader in Seating and E-Systems. The company designs, manufactures, and delivers advanced technologies to the world's major automakers. Building on more than 100 years of heritage, Lear is the largest U.S.-based automotive supplier, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. Driven by a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability, Lear's global team of talented employees is shaping the future of mobility by developing solutions that enhance comfort, safety, and efficiency. More information is available at Lear.com.

SOURCE Lear Corporation
Iran's leadership council on Wednesday told state media that a leader to success the late Ayatollah Khamenei would be appointed at the earliest. https://x.com/Tasnimnews_Fa/status/2029130507615662473?s=20 In a video posted by News Agency Tasnim, an official told state Television, "I bring good news to the people that no problem has arisen in the field of leadership. The leadership council is currently running the country and, God willing, at the earliest opportunity, a leader will be appointed. Praise be to God, we have come closer, but the situation is one of war. Sometimes some loved ones ask how did you choose the Supreme Leader immediately after the Imam (Ayatollah Khomeini)? Our answer is that the situation was not a war situation. Now the situation is one of war, we are all striving. The Assembly of Experts is striving; no one is resting." Earlier, the Iranian Government via the Consulate General in Mumbai had rubbished reports that emerged from Israeli media that Mojtaba Khamenei was named as his late father Ayatollah Khamenei's successor. In a post on X, the consulate said, "Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied." Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. However, no independent confirmation came from official Iran state media on the development. Meanwhile, Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalized. The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of five Chinese naval vessels and an official ship around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Wednesday. Taiwan's defence forces monitored the situation and responded. In a post on X, the MND said, "5 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. We have monitored the situation and responded. Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2028998862040375345?s=20 Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan's MND detected the presence of five Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters. In a post on X, the MND said, "5 PLAN vessel operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded. Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2028636480906944785?s=20 China's claim over Taiwan is a complex issue rooted in historical, political, and legal arguments. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, a viewpoint embedded in national policy and upheld by domestic laws and international statements. Taiwan, however, maintains a distinct identity, functioning independently with its own government, military, and economy. Taiwan's status remains a significant point of international debate, testing the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference in international law, as per the United Service Institution of India. China's claim to Taiwan originates from the Qing Dynasty's annexation of the island in 1683 after defeating Ming loyalist Koxinga. However, Taiwan remained a peripheral region under limited Qing control. The key shift came in 1895, when the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War, marking Taiwan as a Japanese colony for 50 years. After Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control, but the sovereignty transfer was not formalised. In 1949, the Chinese Civil War resulted in the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, while the Republic of China (ROC) retreated to Taiwan, asserting its claim to govern all of China. This led to dual sovereignty claims: the PRC over the mainland and the ROC over Taiwan. Taiwan has operated as a de facto independent state but has avoided declaring formal independence to prevent military conflict with the PRC, United Service Institution of India states. (ANI)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday said that there was no damage to facilities containing nuclear material in Iran and therefore no radiological release risk at this time. The IAEA further called for restraint to avoid any damages. In a post on X, it said, "Based on analysis of latest available satellite imagery, IAEA sees no damage to facilities containing nuclear material in Iran and therefore no radiological release risk at this time. Near Isfahan nuclear site, damage is visible at two buildings. No additional impact detected at Natanz after previously reported damage at entrances, and no impact at other nuclear sites, including Bushehr NPP. DG Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterates call for maximum restraint to help avoid any danger of radiological incident." https://x.com/iaeaorg/status/2029148255511048485?s=20 "IAEA remains in constant contact with national nuclear safety regulators in the Middle East. So far, no elevation of radiation detected. The nuclear power plant in UAE and research reactors in Jordan and Syria continue to operate normally. DG Rafael Mariano Grossi stresses the paramount importance of maintaining regional nuclear safety and security during the military conflict," it said further. Grossi had also said that there is no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, its large stockpile of near-weapons grade enriched uranium are cause for serious concern. In a post on X, he said, "I have been very clear and consistent in my reports on Iran's nuclear programme: while there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, its large stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium and refusal to grant my inspectors full access are cause for serious concern. For these reasons, my previous reports indicate that unless and until Iran assists the IAEA in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful." https://x.com/rafaelmgrossi/status/2028922019279167849?s=20 The IAEA DG's comments come even as US President Donald Trump claimed that had they not targeted Iran now they would have got their hands on nuclear weapons. Trump who described the Islamist Regime as 'crazy people' who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it. (ANI)
As Iran makes no attempt to hide its loathing towards the West, operatives of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence reached out indirectly to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with an offer to discuss terms for ending the conflict, according to officials briefed on the outreach, The New York Times reported. A crackling uncertainty envelops the air as it remains unknown if US President Donald Trump and Iran will consider the offer, as per The New York Times. It is to be noted that the Iranian government remains in disarray as one by one its leaders are being killed by the Israeli strikes after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death. Israeli officials, who want a weekslong campaign to inflict maximum damage on Iran's military capabilities, and perhaps cause Iran's government to collapse, have urged the United States to ignore the approach. For now, the offer is not considered serious in Washington, as per New York Times. Meanwhile, Head of Centre for Public Diplomacy and Spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran, Esmaeil Baqaei, said that the recent strikes by the US and Israel damaged Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. https://x.com/IRIMFA_SPOX/status/2029161626318877106?s=20 The clandestine offer came as US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that it was "too late" for Iran to restart negotiations. Trump said that Iran's leadership, along with its air defence, Air Force, and Navy are "gone". "Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said 'Too Late'," the US President posted on Truth Social. This comes as Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, representative of the late Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in an interview with ANI, said, "Iran is ready for negotiations but with dignity". Meanwhile, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, in a Press Briefing on Wednesday, said that the US is winning the war decisively. "Starting last night, and to be completed in a few days. The two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies. America is winning--decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy. They are toast, and they know it... and we have only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralise, destroy, and defeat their capabilities-- just four days in" on Operation Epic Fury. On Tuesday, Israel struck a compound where senior Iranian clerics were meeting to choose a successor to their supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on Saturday. Ahead of the strikes on Iran, the CIA produced an intelligence assessment examining various scenarios of what sort of Iranian leadership might emerge after a US-Israeli attack on Iran. People briefed on the various scenarios produced by the agency note that none had a high degree of confidence -- there were simply too many unknown variables to predict how it would play out, as per The New York Times. As a power vacuum looms over Tehran, Trump was asked about exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi. Trump was not very enthused. Pahlavi "looks like a very nice person," he said, but indicated that he would prefer "somebody that's there that's currently popular, if there's such a person," Trump had said, as quoted by The New York Times. Pahlavi is the eldest son of Iran's former shah, or king, who was overthrown in 1979 and has not lived in Iran since 1970. Pahlavi on Wednesday called on Iranians living abroad to contact their elected representatives and decision-makers to press for sustained international support until what he described as the "collapse" of the Islamic Republic in Iran days after the death of the country's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the conflict in West Asia escalates. In a video statement on X, Pahlavi, addressing the Iranian diaspora, urged the people living overseas to intensify their lobbying efforts in the coming weeks, calling the period ahead "sensitive" and "fateful" for Iran's future. Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the front-runner to succeed his father as the Islamic Republic's next head, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. The report said that the senior clerics tasked with choosing the next supreme leader could announce their choice as early as Wednesday morning, as per The Times of Israel. US and Israel's bombardment of Iran and Lebanon continues, with a strike on a hotel near Beirut and the building of the Assembly of Experts in Qom as the death toll surpasses 800 in both countries, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI)
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday confirmed that a US submarine had sunk the Iranian warship "IRIS Dena" with a torpedo hit. "Yesterday, in the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win," Hegseth said. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine called the hit an incredible demonstration of America's global reach "As the secretary showed the video, for the first time since 1945, a United States Navy fast attack submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship using a single Mark 48 torpedo to achieve immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea. I want to remind everybody that this is an incredible demonstration of America's global reach to hunt, find, and kill an out-of-area deployer is something that only the United States can do at this type of scale," he said. https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/2029193757162139762?s=20 The Department of War also released a video showing the torpedo hit on IRIS Dena. Earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy said it had rescued 30 sailors from "IRIS Dena", which was in distress with around 180 sailors onboard, according to Sri Lankan media reports. There was a distress signal from the vessel, approximately 40km (25 miles) off the coast of Sri Lanka in Galle, south of the capital, Colombo. Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that the rescued sailors were taken to Karapitiya Hospital for medical attention. Meanwhile, in DC Pete Hegseth confirmed that more bombers and fighter jets were entering the theatre of war on Wednesday as Operation Epic Fury continues. "We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating. Iran's capabilities are evaporating by the hour, while American strength grows fiercer, smarter and utterly dominant. More bombers and more fighters are arriving just today. And now, with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500 pound, thousand pound and 2,000 pound GG and laser guided precision gravity bombs, of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile," he said. "They are toast, and they know it... and we have only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy, and defeat their capabilities, just four days in. The two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies. Uncontested airspace." "Iranian leaders, looking up and seeing only U.S. and Israeli air power every minute of every day, until we decide it's over," he added. General Dan Caine said the US Military was making steady progress "As of this morning, CENTCOM is making steady progress. Iran's theatre ballistic missile shots fired are down 86% from the first day of fighting, with a 23% decrease just in the last 24 hours. Their one-way attack drone shots are down 73% from the opening days," he said. With the Americans vowing to use more firepower, the conflict in West Asia continues to expand on day 5. (ANI)
According to the MEA, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bhutan, Lyonpo Dina Nath Dhungyel, arrived in India today (March 4, 2026) to attend India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics.

Other key delegations scheduled to arrive include Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration & International Trade of Mauritius, Dhananjay Ramful; Minister for Foreign Affairs & Diaspora of Seychelles, Barry Faure; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Herath, all of whom will be arriving on March 5.

The Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship multilateral conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, brings together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to deliberate on pressing international issues and strategic cooperation.

Earlier today, President Alexander Stubb of Finland also arrived in India for a state visit during which he will attend the 11th edition of Raisina Dialogue 2026 as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker.

In addition to his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Raisina Dialogue will commence from March 5 to March 7 in the national capital.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will also be leading a US delegation to the Raisina Dialogue 2026.

The Raisina Dialogue is India's premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held annually in New Delhi since 2016.

Organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, this three-day event convenes global leaders, policymakers, academics, industry experts, and journalists to discuss critical international issues.

This year, the Raisina Dialogue will be held under the theme Samskara - Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement, reflecting the current global context.

Samskara represents the legacy of identity that allows civilisations to assert themselves, embrace diversity, and progress through continuous refinement. (ANI)
US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth on Wednesday announced that in a few days US and Israel will have complete control over Iranian skies. Hegseth said that Iran cannot outlast them. "Starting last night, and to be completed in a few days... the two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies," he said. https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/2029193757162139762?s=20 https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2029195619248816565?s=20 "Iran cannot outlast us. We're going to ensure that we set the tone and tempo of this fight. That's why stories that try to make it look like we're limited--the only limits we have in this is US President Donald Trump's desire to achieve specific effects on behalf of American people. We've known for a long time that Iran had intentions on trying to kill President Trump...while that was not the focus of the effort by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, never raised by the President...I ensured that those who were responsible for that were eventually part of the target list," he added. Hegseth, while talking about Operation Epic Fury, called it a laser-focused one. He said, "The mission is laser-focused: obliterate Iran's missiles and drones and facilities that produce them, annihilate its navy and critical security infrastructure, and sever their pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran will never possess a nuclear bomb." "Operation Epic Fury has delivered twice the airpower of Shock and Awe of Iraq in 2003 -- minus Paul Bremer and the nation-building... We are just getting started," he added. General Dan Caine, who also accompanied Hegseth, said that Iran's theater ballistic missile shots have reduced 86% from day one of the strikes. "As of this morning, the US Central Command is making steady progress. Iran's theater ballistic missile shots fired are down 86% from the first day of fighting, with a 23% decrease just in the last 24 hours. Their one-way attack drone shots are down 73% from the opening days," he said. Meanwhile, Tehran has been hit very hard by the bombardment. Karaj, to the west of Tehran, and the city of Isfahan have also been hit over the past few hours. There is talk of casualties across the board in many of those areas, including civilians. Twenty schools so far have been hit, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI)
Nepal is fully prepared for the General Elections that will take place after last year's Gen Z protest. From arrangements for voters at polling centres to security measures, everything is being tightened and carefully organised. This election is a matter of prestige for Nepal, so the Election Commission does not want to leave any loopholes. "Election personnel, security staff, as well as the election materials, are already available in every polling station. There are a total of 23,112 voting centres, and we have completed all the preparations. Voting will start tomorrow at 7 AM and continue till 5 PM," said Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the Joint Secretary and spokesperson of the Election Commission, Nepal, while talking to ANI. On being asked about challenges, including security concerns, Bhattarai said, "All the voters are excited to participate in this election, so I don't think there will be any challenges for us. All 107 parties are contesting the election, and 3,000 candidates are in the field, so there will be a good environment for polling." The Capital city, Kathmandu, has 10 parliamentary constituencies. Talking to ANI, Election Officer of Kathmandu-1 Churaman Khadka says, "We are ready for free and fair elections. Through this election, the House of Representatives will be formed with 165 parliamentarians elected under the first past the post system, and the remaining 110 members will be elected under the proportional representative system." Sharing details of the security arrangements, Churaman Khadka said, "Three layers of security will be in place at the voting centres. The Army will be in the outer circle, the Armed Police Force will be in the middle, and the Nepal police will be deployed inside the premises." He said, "We will start counting the ballot papers upon receiving all the ballot boxes. We have arranged all the security measures for count the ballot papers. CCTV cameras have also been installed in counting centres." (ANI)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the country supports efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, pointing to US-Israel joint military strikes on the country, adding that Ottawa takes its position "with regret" amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. In a statement on Tuesday, addressing the evolving situation in the region, Carney described Iran as "the principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East", alleging that the regime and its proxies have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Canadian civilians and widespread suffering across the region. He noted that despite more than two decades of negotiations and diplomatic initiatives, Iran has neither dismantled its nuclear programme nor halted its enrichment activities. "Canada has long seen Iran as the principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East. The regime and its proxies have murdered hundreds of Canadian civilians and caused untold suffering for millions of people in the Middle East and beyond. Despite more than two decades of negotiations and diplomatic efforts, Iran has not dismantled its nuclear program, nor halted its enrichment activities. Canada has long supported the imperative of neutralising this grave global threat," Carney said. Expressing solidarity with the Iranian people, he stated that Canada stands with them in their "long and courageous struggle against the regime's oppressive rule", adding that Canada supports efforts aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and from further threatening international peace and security. However, Carney said Canada's stance comes "with regret", calling the current conflict another example of the failure of the international order. "Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against the regime's oppressive rule. Which is why we support efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security. Because Canada is actively taking on the world as it is, not passively waiting for a world we wish to be. We take this position with regret because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order," he added. He pointed to decades of resolutions by the United Nations Security Council, efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and multiple sanctions and diplomatic frameworks that have not resolved concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions. Carney also observed that the United States and Israel had acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting allies, including Canada. With tensions rising and civilian lives at risk, Carney reaffirmed that international law binds all parties involved in the conflict and condemned strikes carried out by Iran on civilians and civilian infrastructure across the Middle East and urged all sides, including the United States and Israel, to respect the rules of international engagement. "Canada reaffirms that international law binds all belligerents. We condemn the strikes carried out by Iran on civilians and civilian infrastructure across the Middle East. We implore all parties, including the United States and Israel, to respect the rules of international engagement," he stated. Calling for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities, Carney said Canada is prepared to assist in efforts to stabilise the situation and stressed that resolving the crisis requires a broader political solution, with diplomatic engagement essential to prevent a wider and deeper conflict. "Innocent civilians must be protected, and all parties must commit to finding enduring agreements to end both nuclear proliferation and terrorist extremism," he said. Carney added that Canada will continue to work with like-minded countries and participants in the conflict to pursue diplomatic solutions. (ANI)
A senior Iranian official said on Wednesday that Tehran would hold a public ceremony for citizens to pay their respects following the death of the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, France 24 reported, citing state media. Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran's Islamic Propagation Council, said the farewell ceremony would continue for three days, and the funeral procession would be announced later. The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall starting at 10 pm (1830 GMT) on Wednesday, but was "postponed", state media said, without elaborating further, as per France 24. Meanwhile, the Iranian Consulate General in Mumbai stated that Iran has not selected any candidates for leadership. The Consulate said in a post on X, "Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied." https://x.com/IRANinMumbai/status/2029075963708096547?s=20 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said on Wednesday that the US and Israel bear full responsibility for this latest escalation. In a post on X, the MFA said, "Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova: It is clear that the geography of armed confrontation - triggered by the US-Israeli aggression against Iran - continues to spread across the Middle East. Washington & Tel Aviv bear full responsibility for this latest escalation." "From the very first day of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, Russia has been conducting active diplomatic efforts. The President of Russia has already held phone calls with several Arab leaders, while our Foreign Minister spoke with his counterparts," the MFA further quoted Zakharova as saying. She further called the IAEA to find the exact scale of potential radiological risks after the attacks on Iran. "Zakharova: We expect the IAEA leadership to find the resolve to respond clearly to the lawlessness committed by the US & Israel in Iran, providing an impartial assessment of potential radiological risks. Attempts to downplay the scale of this real threat are unacceptable." https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/2029186346951356830?s=20 Zakharova also questioned the deaths of children in Iran caused by the strikes. "Zakharova: President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen says the people of Iran have gained "new hope for the future", justifying the removal of the legitimate leaders of sovereign states. How many innocents - including children - must be killed for this "hope"? It's a non-question; they simply don't care." https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/2029190121925607454?s=20 "The latest escalation in the Middle East has once again exposed the EU's inability to play a meaningful role in international affairs, & its complete subordination to Washington. The EU has failed even to reach a common position on how to respond to the crisis," she added. https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/2029240454785777783?s=20 Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Larijani, said that the death of so many American troops is against America's narrative of 'America first'. In a post on X, he said, "Mr. Trump, with Netanyahu's clownish antics, dragged the American people into an unfair war with Iran. Now let him do the math: with over 500 American troops killed (in these past few days), is it still "America First," or "Israel First"? The saga continues. The martyrdom of Imam Khamenei will exact a heavy price from you. God willing." https://x.com/alilarijani_ir/status/2029211268624658898?s=20 The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also on Wednesday denounced the attempt to target Turkiye with an Iranian ballistic missile. "OIC General Secretariat expresses its denunciation of the attempt to target the Republic of Turkiye with an Iranian ballistic missile." https://x.com/OIC_OCI/status/2029214197611933876?s=20 Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has travelled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to secure guarantees on oil and natural gas imports, amid a dispute over damage to the Druzhba pipeline. The minister warned that the world is facing an energy crisis because of the war in Iran. https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/2029235139604087055?s=20 Europe's gas coordination group has met in Brussels. They said there is no immediate threat, but they are deeply concerned about the situation that is continuing to escalate in the Middle East. They're going to watch a number of things, apart from the prolongation of the conflict, such as how far the damage goes and how much it's going to affect the supply lines, Al Jazeera reported. The conflict has not directly impacted the supply of gas or oil to Europe yet, but it's going to have an impact in the long run when it pushes prices further up. The Qataris have now stopped producing liquefied natural gas, and the largest oil refinery in Saudi Arabia has also stopped working, as per Al Jazeera. Greek frigates arrived in Cyprus as countries sent air-defence forces. Meanwhile, MEA cautioned against falling prey to fake news and said that Indian ports were not being used for attacks against Iran. "Fake News Alert! Claims being made on OAN, a US-based channel, that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false. We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments." https://x.com/MEAFactCheck/status/2029233689570492805?s=20 The number of people killed in five days of US-Israeli attacks against Iran has topped 1,000, state media says, as quoted by Al Jazeera. (ANI)
Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Set for March 23, 2026

ORANGE PARK, Fla., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) will host the grand opening of its Orange Park health sciences campus this spring, marking a major milestone in the university's expansion of medical and veterinary education in Florida. The campus is home to the LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) and the LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM), which will welcome their inaugural cohorts in 2026.

Situated on 12 acres and encompassing approximately 130,000 square feet across two adjacent buildings, the Orange Park campus reflects a substantial investment in Northeast Florida. The facility is designed to support innovative, clinically focused education and to strengthen the regional health care workforce.

"The Orange Park campus represents a significant step forward for Lincoln Memorial University and for the future of health care education in Florida," said LMU President Dr. Jason McConnell. "This expansion reflects who we are as a university. We are committed to preparing compassionate, highly trained physicians and veterinarians, and we are intentional about placing them in communities where they can make the greatest difference. Bringing human and veterinary medicine together on one campus reinforces the importance of a One Health perspective in how we educate and serve. Orange Park allows us to extend that commitment into Florida in a meaningful and lasting way."

The Orange Park location establishes LMU-DCOM as the first four-year medical school in the greater Jacksonville area. The program will deliver the same comprehensive academic and clinical curriculum offered at LMU-DCOM's established campuses in Harrogate and Knoxville, Tennessee, maintaining a strong emphasis on primary care, service and community-based training. The expansion helps address persistent physician shortages in Florida, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

"The launch of LMU-DCOM in Orange Park represents an important step in strengthening the physician pipeline in this region," said Dr. James Toldi, campus dean for LMU-DCOM at Orange Park. "By building strong partnerships with local physicians and health systems, we are creating meaningful clinical training opportunities and preparing graduates who are ready to meet the evolving health care needs of Northeast Florida."

Since its founding in 2007, LMU-DCOM has awarded nearly 3,000 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees, building a national network of alumni practicing across a wide range of specialties. A majority serve in primary care, and many practice in underserved communities.

The Orange Park campus further advances LMU's leadership in veterinary medical education. The comprehensive three-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at LMU-OPCVM is designed to accelerate career readiness through early and continuous clinical experience, collaborative team-based learning and a distributive clinical model that integrates students into partner practices and community organizations throughout the region.

"The opening of LMU-OPCVM marks a transformative moment for veterinary education in Florida," said Dr. Kim Carney, dean of LMU-OPCVM. "We are building a program that prepares clinically skilled, deeply compassionate veterinarians who are responsive to the evolving needs of animal health and who, through a One Health perspective, are ready to lead at the intersection of animal, human and environmental health to strengthen the communities we serve."

Through strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Jacksonville Humane Society and Clay County Animal Services, LMU-OPCVM integrates students into authentic, community-based learning environments while strengthening animal health resources across the region.

LMU will commemorate the milestone with a formal grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. on the Orange Park campus. The ceremony is by invitation only, and members of the media are invited to attend.

About Lincoln Memorial University

Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or email at [email protected].

About Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, at LMU-Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee, and at LMU-DCOM in Orange Park, Florida. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU's values-based learning community and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often-underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7082, email [email protected], or visit us online at http://med.LMUnet.edu.

About Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park

The LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM), located in Orange Park, Florida, extends LMU's mission to provide educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies as part of LMU's growing network of medical and health sciences programs. LMU-OPCVM is committed to providing real-world, community-based veterinary education in a collaborative learning environment. LMU-OPCVM has received the Letter of Reasonable Assurance from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA-COE), a pre-accreditation step allowing students to be accepted. For more information, visit OPVetMed.lmunet.edu or call 1.800.325.0900.

Media Contact:

Rachel Worley, Director of Communications

Phone: 423.869.2013

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Lincoln Memorial University
Army Chief Asim Munir has said that lasting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan was contingent upon the Taliban regime renouncing support for terrorism and terrorist organisations. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday, Munir made the remarks during his visit to Wana in South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he reviewed the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness along the Western border with Afghanistan, Dawn reported. "He reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations," the statement said. During the visit, Field Marshal Munir laid a floral wreath at the martyrs' monument to honour personnel who had laid down their lives in defence of the country. "He offered fateha and reaffirmed that the sacrifices of shuhada remain the cornerstone of Pakistan's security and resilience," the statement said. Munir was given a detailed briefing on the overall security environment, ongoing intelligence-based operations and border management measures. "The Field Marshal was briefed in detail regarding the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haq and developments along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border," it said. He also interacted with officers and troops stationed in forward areas and praised their professionalism and morale amid continued skirmishes. "He lauded their steadfast commitment to safeguarding Pakistan's sovereignty and ensuring peace and stability in the region," it said. Referring to militant activity, the ISPR statement noted that Munir stressed the use of Afghan soil by Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan for attacks against Pakistan was unacceptable. "The Field Marshal emphasised that the use of Afghan soil by Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan for acts of terrorism against Pakistan was unacceptable and all necessary measures would be taken to neutralise the threat emanating from across the border," the statement said. Fitna al Khawarij is a term used by the Pakistani state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while Fitna al Hindustan refers to militant groups operating in Balochistan. "He reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations," the statement said. Appreciating the operational readiness of the Pakistan Army, Munir expressed confidence in the combat preparedness and resilience of formations deployed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, it added. Relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have deteriorated sharply in recent years. Border clashes erupted in October last year across the 2,600-kilometre frontier. Following the tensions, Turkiye and Qatar mediated talks in Doha. While the first round resulted in a fragile ceasefire, subsequent rounds failed to produce a concrete agreement, with only a broad understanding to develop a verification mechanism, Dawn reported. On February 22, Pakistan carried out overnight strikes targeting alleged terrorist camps in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan. In retaliation, the Afghan Taliban launched attacks along the border, prompting Pakistan to initiate Operation Ghazab Lil Haq on February 26. In a recent media briefing, a senior security official stated that Pakistan would continue cross-border operations until Kabul provides verifiable guarantees against terrorism facilitation. "Operations in Afghanistan will end when Afghanistan's Taliban Regime provides verifiable assurance of compliance to Pakistan's demand of quitting facilitation of Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan. We are in no hurry," the top official said in an interaction with journalists, Dawn reported. (ANI)
International Growth, Nontraditional Expansion, Digital Enhancements, and Menu Innovation Set the Stage for the Year Ahead

TOLEDO, Ohio, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Marco's Pizza , one of the nation's fastest-growing pizza brands, kicks off 2026 with deliberate development plans following a year of strategic expansion and systemwide investment. In 2025, Marco's opened more than 60 new stores and this year, it plans to surpass 80 new store openings while continuing to accelerate growth across new domestic markets, international territories, and nontraditional venues. Complementing its expansion, Marco's is rolling out advanced digital tools, operational enhancements, and menu innovations, strengthening franchisee support and setting the stage for sustainable, long-term operations.

Notable Achievements in 2025

"Marco's momentum is driven by a commitment to thoughtful expansion and strong franchisee support" - Gerardo Flores Post this

Strategic U.S. Expansion: Marco's entered New Jersey and signed a development agreement for New Mexico, expanding its national footprint and unlocking new growth markets.

Marco's entered New Jersey and signed a development agreement for New Mexico, expanding its national footprint and unlocking new growth markets. International Milestones: The brand celebrated anniversaries in Mexico and Puerto Rico while continuing to explore new international opportunities and growth across the Caribbean and LATAM regions.

The brand celebrated anniversaries in Mexico and Puerto Rico while continuing to explore new international opportunities and growth across the Caribbean and LATAM regions. Nontraditional Development: Continued expansion into ghost kitchens and alternative real estate formats helped drive accessible and flexible growth opportunities.

Continued expansion into ghost kitchens and alternative real estate formats helped drive accessible and flexible growth opportunities. Leadership Growth: Marco's strengthened its executive bench with key hires, including Brad Smith to VP of Franchise Growth, Bill Schaffler to CFO and Steve Kennedy to CMO, reinforcing the infrastructure needed to support continued expansion.

Marco's strengthened its executive bench with key hires, including Brad Smith to VP of Franchise Growth, Bill Schaffler to CFO and Steve Kennedy to CMO, reinforcing the infrastructure needed to support continued expansion. Operational Efficiencies: As part of an ongoing initiative to streamline store-level operations, Marco's identified strategic vendor relationships, resulting in significant supply chain cost-savings.

As part of an ongoing initiative to streamline store-level operations, Marco's identified strategic vendor relationships, resulting in significant supply chain cost-savings. Digital Experience Enhancements: The brand advanced its digital ecosystem to improve the guest journey and support franchisee operations, laying the groundwork for future innovation. Notably, these enhancements earned Marco's an AVA Digital Gold Level Award for its Ordering Platform and Website  Redesign.

The brand advanced its digital ecosystem to improve the guest journey and support franchisee operations, laying the groundwork for future innovation. Notably, these enhancements earned Marco's an AVA Digital Gold Level Award for its Ordering Platform and Website  Redesign. Industry Recognition: Marco's earned accolades from FRANdata  claiming the highest FUND Score among all QSR concepts and No. 1 in the pizza category, Entrepreneur  ranking No. 50 in the 2026 Franchise 500 ranking, Technomic  named America's favorite pizza chain, QSR  named a best franchise deal, and Newsweek  earning a reader's choice best pizza chain award  all reinforcing the brand's strength.

Vision for 2026

Marco's enters 2026 with a continued focus on scalable growth and franchisee support, targeting 80+ new store openings, expansion into new territories, and continued development across domestic and international markets.

"Marco's momentum is driven by a commitment to thoughtful expansion and strong franchisee support," said Gerardo Flores, Chief Development Officer of Marco's Pizza. "As we look ahead, we remain focused on building the infrastructure, technology and innovation needed to support the next phase of growth."

Key Initiatives on the Horizon

Operations Center of Excellence: Marco's is developing new initiatives designed to enhance systemwide training, operational consistency, and performance as the brand continues to scale.

Marco's is developing new initiatives designed to enhance systemwide training, operational consistency, and performance as the brand continues to scale. Next-Generation Digital Experience: Including an updated loyalty program and exploration of AI-powered ordering capabilities.

Including an updated loyalty program and exploration of AI-powered ordering capabilities. Menu Innovation Pipeline: Marco's will introduce new product innovation in 2026 under the culinary leadership of Chef Kathleen Kennedy.

Marco's will introduce new product innovation in 2026 under the culinary leadership of Chef Kathleen Kennedy. International & Nontraditional Growth: The brand will continue exploring new global markets, expanding across Mexico and the Caribbean, and growing nontraditional formats including ghost kitchens.

Franchise Opportunities

To further support accessibility and franchise expansion, Marco's introduced the Franchise Development Royalty Incentive Program, designed to lower barriers for qualified multi-unit owners. With early-stage royalty incentives starting at 0%**, along with comprehensive support in real estate, construction, and operations, the program provides a streamlined, resource-rich path for franchisees to expand.

Prospects are taking note of the business opportunity, as Marco's Franchise Disclosure Document reports $1.3M AUV for the top 25% of franchised stores in 2024.*

For more information Marco's Pizza franchise opportunities, visit https://www.marcos.com/franchising/ or contact Brad Smith at [email protected] or 419-279-5795.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience, known for its dough made from scratch and its three fresh signature cheeses. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,200 stores in 35 states with locations in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Mexico. Notably, Marco's was recognized as America's Favorite Restaurant in the Limited-Service Pizza category by Nation's Restaurant News using Technomic Ignite Consumer 2025 data. Other recent accolades include being recognized by QSR as one of the "16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025", ranking No. 50 on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2026 "Franchise 500" ranking, earning a coveted spot as the only top 5 pizza chain to rank on Newsweek's 2025 "America's Best Customer Service" in pizza chains list, earning a spot on QSR's Top 50, and being featured on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious "Top 500" ranking.

*Based on average sales volume of the top performing 25% (or 239 units) of Marco's Pizza Franchised Stores that were open during our 2024 fiscal year. Of the 955 Franchised Stores that were in operation for our entire 2024 fiscal year, 239 were included in the top 25% set and 40% obtained or surpassed the average sales volume. This information excludes (i) international locations (including Puerto Rico); (ii) Franchised Stores not open for the entire 52-week period in 2024; (iii) special venue and non-traditional franchised locations; and (iv) Franchised Stores that closed in 2024. See Item 19 of our 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document for additional information. Individual results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well.

**The information provided in this article should not be construed as an offer to sell any Marco's Pizza franchises in, nor is any such communication directed to, the residents of any jurisdiction requiring registration of the franchise before it is offered and sold in that jurisdiction. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Marco's Pizza franchises will not be sold to any resident of such jurisdiction until the offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such jurisdiction and the required franchise disclosure document (if applicable) has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law. Additionally, the participant must meet our financial, creditworthiness, and operational criteria to qualify for the incentive program and be approved by us to open each Store. If the franchisee is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other legal entity, the qualifying participant must maintain at least 50% ownership in the entity, as well as the qualifying existing Stores, to qualify for this program, and the franchisee must comply with program requirements. In the event the participant fails at any time to meet the timelines to qualify for the applicable incentive program while developing a Store, the Store being developed and any remaining unopened Stores to be developed will pay the then-current standard Royalty Fee rate. See Marco's Franchising's Franchise Disclosure Document for more information. To qualify for the incentive program, the participant must sign a development agreement and open the stores within the following timeframes: 1st Store within 365 days of signing; 2nd Store within 6 months of 1st store opening; 3rd Store within 6 months of 2nd store opening; 4th Store within 6 months of 3rd store opening; 5th Store within 6 months of 4th store opening.

According to Technomic's 2025 America's Favorite Restaurants data, Marco's Pizza secured the top spot in the Limited-Service Pizza category with a 54.6% composite top-box rating, indicating the share of recent guests who gave the brand the highest possible rating for each of the guest experience attributes. Data for America's Favorite Chains comes from Technomic Ignite Consumer, which collects information about how brands impact consumers and how consumers interact with those brands, via online surveys. See here for more information: www.technomic.com/ignite-consumer .

SOURCE Marco's Pizza
A least 606 people trying to cross the Mediterranean have been reported dead or missing since the beginning of 2026, marking the deadliest start to a year in more than a decade, the UNs migration agency.

The migrants dead toll includes more than 117 Algerians who lost their lives in the Sea while attempting to flee poverty and repression in their country, an OPEC member. Yet, Algerians suffer from unemployment, deteriorating living conditions with soaring prices, eroding purchasing power, and shortage of basic staple foods, while the oil-gas revenues are used by top military brass to purchase Russian weapons and line-up their pockets.

According to experts of International Organization for Migration (IOM), the death of Algerian migrants in the Mediterranean could have been avoided. But, the Algerian authorities look the other way, focusing on other priorities with changing geostrategic landscape.

The Algerian State has abandoned its youth and desperate families to their fate, leaving them piling into makeshift boats sailing to Europe via Spain or Italy, while others head for Libya where they fall into the hands armed militias and smuggling networks.

Algeria refuses enhanced coordination with Europe, dodging its responsibility in the growing wave of clandestine migrants leaving the country on the verge of implosion

According to IOM officials, the Algerian State is responsible for this dramatic situation. They blame President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Army Chief Said Chengriha for the lack of tough measures to prevent and control migratory flows.
Morocco has steadily strengthened its foothold in the European tomato market over the past decade, becoming the EUs second-largest supplier in 2025 as traditional European producers lost ground, according to data from Euroestacom (ICEXEurostat).

Moroccan tomato exports to the EU rose nearly 44% between 2013 and 2025, reaching 526,580 tons last year and lifting the countrys market share to 18.34%. Over the same period, Spains exports to the bloc fell 47.14% to 455,170 tons, while shipments from the Netherlands declined 18.45% to 846,630 tons.

In 2013, Dutch tomatoes accounted for 33.7% of total EU imports, Spain held 27.95% and Morocco just 11.87%. By 2025, the Netherlands remained the leading supplier with a 29.49% share, but Morocco had surpassed Spain to take second place. Spains share dropped to 15.86%.

Turkey ranked fourth with 177,840 tons in 2025, a surge of more than 500% compared with 2013. Among the EUs top five suppliers, only Turkey, Portugal and Morocco expanded their market shares over the period.

The trend comes as total EU tomato imports declined. In 2025, EU member states imported 2.87 million tons, down 6.82% from 2013. The value of those imports reached 5.15 billion, with an average price of 1.80 per kilo.

Morocco also strengthened its position in value terms. Revenues from its tomato exports to the EU rose to 1.04 billion in 2025, an increase of 762 million compared with 2013.

The average export price for Moroccan tomatoes climbed from 0.77 per kilo in 2013 to 1.99 per kilo in 2025, placing the country among the highest-valued suppliers on the European market.
Morocco has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening nuclear and radiological safety capacities across the developing world, using a high-level address at the International Atomic Energy Agencys Board of Governors to position the kingdom as an active contributor to global nuclear safety standards.

Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane, Moroccos Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, delivered the statement during the Boards session running from March 2 to 6, as delegates addressed the agenda item on nuclear and radiological safety. Farhane welcomed IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossis report, which he noted specifically highlights Moroccos alignment with international nuclear safety norms and outlines the Agencys global priorities for 2026.

The diplomat praised the IAEAs sustained efforts to maintain and strengthen safety frameworks across nuclear, radiological, transport, and waste management domains, as well as emergency preparedness and response capabilities  with particular attention to regions where needs are most acute.

Farhane outlined the concrete steps Morocco has taken to modernize its own regulatory framework, describing a comprehensive overhaul of national regulatory texts to bring them into full conformity with IAEA safety standards. The kingdom has voluntarily hosted two IAEA peer review missions, the results of which have been notably positive. The Emergency Preparedness and Response Review mission commended the robustness of Moroccos national emergency system and identified several practices exceeding the Agencys own benchmarks. The Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission similarly recognized Moroccos effective establishment of a new, coherent legal and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiological safety.

Building on these results, Morocco signaled its readiness to share its experience with other IAEA member states  particularly African countries seeking to strengthen their own national safety systems  and reaffirmed its commitment to working with regional and international partners toward a stronger global nuclear safety regime.
In a development described by observers as a geopolitical watershed, the European Union has begun using Moroccos complete territorial map  incorporating the southern provinces  in its official documents, reflecting the blocs evolving and increasingly unified position on the Western Sahara question.

The map appeared on page 42 of the EUs recent annual investment report, displaying Morocco without the dividing line that had previously separated the southern territories from the rest of the country in European cartographic conventions. The shift is not merely symbolic: it represents a tangible expression of the political position now shared by all 27 EU member states.

That position was formalized at the 15th EU-Morocco Association Council held in Brussels on January 29, 2026, where the bloc adopted  for the first time  a unanimous common stance on the Sahara. The joint communique, co-signed by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, described Moroccos autonomy plan as one of the most viable solutions to the long-standing territorial dispute.

The language directly echoes the framework consistently advanced by the United Nations Security Council, which has called on all parties to engage in negotiations without preconditions, on the basis of Moroccos autonomy proposal, with the aim of reaching a definitive political settlement.

Analysts tracking the issue note that the EUs adoption of this position  and its translation into official cartographic practice  marks a significant hardening of European support for Moroccos territorial stance, consolidating a diplomatic momentum that Rabat has been building steadily across European capitals over recent years.
Morocco and Russia have moved to strengthen their fisheries partnership after officials wrapped up the first session of their Joint Fisheries Commission in Rabat, the latest step in implementing a four-year cooperation agreement the two countries signed in Moscow last October, covering the Moroccan Sahara waters.

The meeting focused on how both sides are putting the new agreement into practice. The deal, signed on October 17, 2025, replaced a previous accord that lapsed at the end of 2024 and now governs Russian fishing operations in Moroccos Atlantic waters, according to a statement on Russias federal fisheries agency.

The commission laid out the legal and technical rules Russian vessels must follow, from where they can operate to how much they are allowed to catch, all in line with Moroccan regulations.

Russian fishing off Moroccan coasts will target pelagic species such as mackerel and horse mackerel, a long-standing commercial focus for Russia in the Moroccan Atlantic zone, the statement added.

Ilya Shestakov, head of Russias Federal Agency for Fishery, said both governments also want to expand cooperation in training and scientific research, describing these areas as increasingly important for the sector.

He pointed to the joint Great African Expedition carried out in 2024 and 2025, saying the research helped produce a clearer picture of Moroccos marine ecosystem and informed recommendations on sustainable catch levels, according to the statement.

Building on that, Morocco and Russia plan to conduct annual scientific expeditions to track the health and replenishment of small pelagic stocks.

The fisheries agreement signed in Moscow sets catch quotas that cannot be exceeded, clearly defined fishing zones along Moroccos Atlantic coast, and biological rest periods meant to protect fish stocks.

It also commits both sides to environmental safeguards, including protecting marine ecosystems, preventing overfishing and tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Scientific cooperation plays a prominent role as well. Moroccos National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH) and its Russian counterpart are expanding joint studies, training initiatives and ecosystem-monitoring efforts  areas both sides see as essential for sustainable fisheries management.

The agreement is expected to benefit coastal regions, particularly in the southern provinces, where ports handle much of the activity linked to Russian vessels. Officials say it should also support local employment, particularly for Moroccan seafarers working aboard Russian ships.
Recommended by Experts A series where we find out which products the professionals (who really know what theyre talking about) actually use and really stand behind. Read more here. Everything you need for resistance without bulk. Photo: Courtesy of the retailer

More than a decade ago, I started wearing a weighted vest in the gym to enhance my power and speed as a distance runner. I think I was a fairly early adopter, as in the past few years weighted vests now seem to be everywhere  from hot-girl walks to Hyrox gyms. Their appeal is pretty straightforward: Its a wearable (and hands-free) tool that can add more weight  and therefore resistance  to walking, climbing stairs, or other bodyweight exercises. But they also have an unexpectedly wide range of benefits: That added load helps stimulate muscle engagement, support bone density, and improve overall strength and stability, says Dr. Sarah Cash Crawford, founder of Anchor Wellness and WAVE Physical Therapy & Pilates. They can also help improve your posture and boost endurance  not to mention that compared to hand weights, like dumbbells or medicine balls, they take up less space in your closet.

Not everyone will be a candidate for a weighted vest (we explained why here), but if youre already an active person looking to add a little resistance to your regular walks or bodyweight exercises, youre in the right place. I interviewed certified personal trainers, physical therapists, and Pelotons lead instructor, Robin Arzon, to hear about the weighted vests that they wear regularly and recommend to their own clients and patients, and I tested a few myself, too. Some vests have a fixed weight while others are adjustable (meaning that you can add more or less weight), and others even require you to purchase weighted plates separately. I broke the vests here down into three different categories: fixed-weight vests (which have non-removable loads and sometimes are referred to as holster-style vests), full-torso vests (which have evenly distributed loads that can be adjustable), and plate vests (which require adjustable plates and generally offer heavier loads).

Fixed-weight vests

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. APEXUP Weighted Vest From $13 $25 now 47% off From $13 Reena Vokoun, founder of the wellness platform Passion Fit, is a fan of the APEXUP because it has a comfortable fit and a vest shell made of breathable and durable nylon and mesh. Its important to note that this vest utilizes ironsand, which is basically sand with heavy concentrations of iron. Any weighted vest with this type of ironsand construction can have a potential for leaking or dust but is often considered a nice low-cost option for beginners. It comes in over a dozen colors and patterns, though Vokoun owns the pink one, which is her personal favorite. The weight options range from five to 30 pounds, so you can work your way up to a weight that challenges you, she says. From $13 at Amazon Buy From $13 at Amazon Buy

Photo: Reena Vokoun

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. GoRuck Spy Ruck Womens Weighted Vest From $79 From $79 This weighted vest from GoRuck was designed by the brands co-founder and former CIA officer Emily McCarthy. The exterior is made from a double-grid ripstop nylon and the interior is a soft, nylon-spandex blend. This vest offers fixed weight (sometimes referred to as a holster vest) and comes in eight-, 12-, and 16-pound versions, which are generally a solid option if youre new to the world of weighted vests. I opted for the 12-pound version, which I think is a great middle-of-the-road weight. Its been ideal for adding extra resistance to my longer walks without any slippage, though I found that on my five-foot-five frame, it can be a bit too heavy for training runs. (Perhaps the eight-pound one would have been a better option for running.) It forms nicely to the body, and the adjustable chest strap allows you to cinch it even tighter. Theres also plenty of space for my arms and the chest strap sits right across the top of my sternum, above my sports bra. From $79 at Amazon Buy From $79 at GORUCK Buy

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. OMORPHO Womens G-Vest (Fixed Weight, 5 lbs) $279 $279 If youre looking for a sleek weighted vest, Omorpho is your best bet. Arzon, Pelotons head instructor and host of the Project Swagger podcast, loves that it looks badass, and says its not so much weight that it takes it out of being functional. She uses her Omorpho for Hyrox training and workout sessions where shes doing a mix of running, strength, and body-weight movements  sled pushes, burpees, things like that, Arzon told me. It just gives me an extra added stimulus that gives me an edge training for race day. $279 at Free People Buy

Full-torso weighted vests

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Hyperwear Hyper Vest Fit $115 $115 Crawford recommends this Hyperwear vest  along with the brands Hyper Vest Elite below  to her patients. She says that the fit is streamlined and secure, with elastic side straps that reduce bounce and allow for comfortable movement. Crawford told me that her patients have also noted good breathability during walking and training sessions. The vest includes adjustable, removable weights, which allows users to tailor the load and progress gradually over time, Crawford says. $115 at Amazon Buy $115 at Hyper Wear Inc Buy

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. TRX Hexgrip Weighted Vest From $270 From $270 Steven John, a staff writer with Forbes Vetted, doesnt typically wear a weighted vest during runs; however, during bodyweight exercises, such as pushups or lunges, John says this 20-pound TRX weighted vest is a great way to make each exercise a bit more of a challenge and a bit more productive. It has straps on the shoulders and one around the waist for a customizable fit. I appreciate how readily adjustable this vest is, as it can easily be secured to my body without it shifting around as I move, John says. From $270 at TRX Training Buy

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. OMORPHO G-Vest Icon 6 lb (12 lb w/G-Pack) $299 $299 I tried Omorphos original G-Vest above, but its actually in the process of being phased out for the brands first adjustable weighted vest, the G-Vest Icon. Unlike traditional adjustable weighted vests that often require inserting metal bars or plates, the new Omorpho vest uses their special G-Packs, or weighted panels that snap securely into place. When I finally got my hands on the G-Vest Icon, I was so excited because I loved the streamlined construction of the older model, but now with the adjustable G-Packs, I have the option of increasing the weight Im carrying without compromising the comfortable and tailored fit of the vest. Its not bulky and never gets in the way of my movements  it has adjustable shoulder straps and you can cinch the sides for added security. As someone with a larger cup size, I never feel awkward or suffocated when wearing this vest. $299 at Amazon Buy $299 at Omorpho Buy

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Hyperwear Hyper Vest Elite From $260 From $260 Kat Pasle-Green, a health and fitness coach with Bay Club, loves this vest because its fully adjustable with lacing along both sides and a strong central zipper to keep it firmly in place. Pasle-Green says the weight (and distribution) are also adjustable because it utilizes slim metal bars and a pocket system across the front and back, so you can place the weights where you want. She wears it while walking, hiking, and jogging mostly: Ive also used it during pull-ups and burpees. I wear it during exercises that benefit from a slight increase in resistance but require my hands to be free, Pasle-Green says, adding that shes owned her Hyperwear vest for over a year now with no visible wear. From $260 at Amazon Buy From $260 at Hyper Wear Inc Buy

Photo: Kat Pasle-Green

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. The Carry Vest Beta Bundle $299 $299 Pasle-Green also told me about an honorable mention thats available right now for preorders. The Carry vest was created by women and designed to be friendly (not restricting) to busts and bodies of all sizes, Pasle-Green says. The load is adjustable in half-pound increments  the Beta Bundle comes with 20 pounds total (40 removable half-pound weight bars)  and the vest shell can be machine-washed. Im hoping to secure a sample soon for my testing. $299 at The Carry Buy

Plate-weighted vests

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. GoRuck Ruck Plate Carrier 3.0 From $115 $135 now 15% off From $115 Heres a plate carrier option from GoRuck, although its actually designed to be worn high and tight on your back. While all the other options on this list are true weighted vests (a.k.a. weight is distributed evenly across the entire torso), this pick is more in line with rucking  or in simple terms, walking with a weighted backpack  since the weight is loaded on your back. Ive been testing it for the past month, and Ive found that it does a nice job opening up my chest and shoulders. Im more aware of walking with proper posture, rather than leaning forward or slouching, and it also forces me to engage my core muscles. I love that it has extremely sturdy shoulder straps and padded lumbar support, and while your front side is mostly open, there is an adjustable chest strap. The GoRuck plates are sold separately, and for the Standard carrier, which I own, it holds ten, 20, or 30 pounds. (The Long carrier has a single-plate pocket that fits up to 45 pounds, and the Heavy carrier has a dual-plate pocket that can fit up to 90 pounds.) From $115 at Amazon Buy From $115 at GORUCK Buy

Saved View Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Rogue Plate Carrier $165 $165 Kris Herbert, the owner of the Gym Venice, is a certified personal trainer who specializes in working with clients over 40. If a client has earned the right to use a weighted vest, I look for something stable and well-built like the Rogue Plate Carrier. For our 40-plus population, predictability and durability come first, Herbert told me. He says that the Rogues plate-vest design keeps the load close to the torso, which helps minimize shifting during movement. The weight is adjustable based on the plates used, allowing for a completely customizable workout progression. Breathability is solid for a heavy-duty training vest, though like most durable carriers it is designed more for stability than airflow, Herbert says, adding that the durability, stable load placement, and no-frills construction are what make it a standout pick. Just note that this plate carrier is compatible with Rogues Cast Vest Plates and Echo Vest Plates, which are sold separately. $165 at Rogue Fitness Buy

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Release Date: March 04, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Dassault Aviation SA (DUAVF) reported a significant increase in net sales, reaching 7.5 billion, marking a substantial growth from the previous year.

The company has a strong backlog of 46.6 billion, a historic high, indicating robust future demand.

Dassault Aviation SA (DUAVF) successfully delivered 26 Rafale aircraft in 2025, exceeding expectations for military aircraft deliveries.

The company is actively expanding its global footprint, with new maintenance facilities in Florida and strategic partnerships in the UAE and India.

Dassault Aviation SA (DUAVF) is committed to innovation, with ongoing development of the Falcon 10X and advancements in AI and digital technologies.

Negative Points

The company faces challenges with the FCAS project due to disagreements with Airbus, potentially impacting future collaborations.

Dassault Aviation SA (DUAVF) experienced supply chain issues affecting Falcon aircraft deliveries, falling slightly below the guidance.

The geopolitical situation, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, poses uncertainties for the defense industry.

High corporate taxes in France are impacting the company's competitiveness, particularly against US and Canadian rivals.

There are concerns about the availability of ammunition, which could affect future defense contracts and operational readiness.

Q & A Highlights

Q: What are the risks and benefits for Dassault Aviation if France were to develop its own aircraft without Airbus? A: Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO, stated that Airbus has expressed a desire not to work with Dassault. If necessary, Dassault will seek other partners, but the decision ultimately lies with the French authorities. Dassault is open to cooperation with Germany and other partners if required.

Q: Can you explain Dassault's position on the FCAS project and the issues with Airbus? A: Eric Trappier clarified that Dassault is complying with all contractual requirements and was designated as the leader for the FCAS project. The company is committed to cooperation, but Airbus's reluctance to work with Dassault is a challenge. The leadership role is crucial for the project's success, and Dassault is prepared to fulfill it.

Q: What is the current demand for business jets, and how does Dassault view the market? A: Eric Trappier noted that the business aviation market is active and performing well, particularly in the U.S. Dassault is optimistic about the Falcon 6X and 10X models, despite some concerns in Europe about business jets versus commercial flights.
MIOSHA Prioritizes Trench Safety Education

State safety officials launch an outreach campaign to prevent excavation fatalities and provide technical training for Michigan employers.

The Michigan OSHA is increasing its focus on excavation safety this month to address one of the construction industry's most persistent hazards. The initiative aligns with a regional federal OSHA effort to mitigate risks associated with trenching and excavation.

Cave-ins remain a primary concern for safety officials, alongside risks such as asphyxiation, toxic fumes, and underground utility strikes. To combat these hazards, MIOSHA is providing education and outreach to help employers recognize soil instability and apply proven prevention methods.

State officials emphasize that protective systems, such as shoring or shielding, are required for any trench five feet deep or deeper. Furthermore, a competent person must inspect these sites daily to identify hazards and ensure soil stability. Professional engineering approval is required for any excavation exceeding 20 feet in depth.

The outreach includes a technical seminar, "Excavations: The Grave Danger," which covers soil classification and the responsibilities of competent persons. MIOSHA also offers free, voluntary consultation services, including hazard surveys and on-site training, to help employers identify risks without the threat of citations or penalties.

These efforts lead into the 2026 Trench Safety Stand-Down scheduled for June 1519. The national event, held in partnership with the National Utility Contractors Association, encourages worksite training and open dialogue to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities in the industry.
Ever since Donald Trump slapped tariffs on Canadian goods on Feb. 1, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney has been encouraging trade with nations other than the United States.

The former central banker turned politician wants to double non-US exports over the next decade.

Towards that goal, Carney met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday as part of a four-day trip to deepen trade and diplomatic ties.

The centerpiece was a deal between the Indian government and Saskatchewan-based uranium producer Cameco (TSX:CCO) to supply nearly 22 million pounds of uranium for nuclear energy generation between 2027 and 2035.

Also, British Columbia coal producer Elk Valley Resources  majority-owned by Glencore (LSE:GLEN)  will sell 1.2 million tonnes of coal to India worth hundreds of millions of dollars. (CBC News)

As reported by the National Post newspaper,

Emerging from a set of meetings with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day, Carney announced that a new $2.6-billion agreement had been struck between India and Saskatchewan that will see the Prairie province supply it with uranium, which India needs for nuclear power generation.

The 10-year deal, set to begin in 2027, is part of what the Prime Ministers Office calls a new strategic energy partnership, which was one of the outcomes expected out of Canadas renewed interest in working with India.

The uranium contract with Saskatoon-based Cameco was one of the 10 commercial deals, some of which were years and months old, that Carneys office said totalled around of $5.5 billion that he touted as signs of a deepened relationship.

Many of them have to do with Canadian companies expanding into India and vice-versa.

The two leaders also announced plans for a new free-trade deal, where the goal is to double two-way trade to $70 billion over the next four years. Carney has appointed a chief negotiator and said he wants to see the agreement happen by the end of the year. Related: Trumps Secret Weapon in the Rare Earth War

To that end, Carneys office outlined how Canada and India signed five memorandums of understanding to commit to working towards deeper collaborations, with at least two dealing specifically with the areas of critical minerals and diversifying supply chains.

Carney has faced criticism at home for courting the Indian government, including inviting Modi to the G7 leaders summit in Alberta last year. During Carneys trip to Delhi, Modi accepted an invitation to visit Canada. The Prime Ministers Office reports that Canada and India have interacted more this year than in any of the last 20 years.

The diplomatic U-turn is welcome news to the Canadian business community, which likes the certainty of trade agreements.

Relations under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plummeted after he accused the Indian government of orchestrating violent crimes in Canada such as the killing of a prominent Sikh activist in 2023.

Some Indian diplomats were expelled from Canada, but India has denied any involvement in his death.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police subsequently alleged India was behind incidents of extortion, mainly in BC, Alberta and Ontario.

Along with uranium and coal, Carney also touted current and upcoming LNG projects in British Columbia that could help meet Indias expected doubling of population by 2040.

Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths

Canada is well-positioned to contribute, as a reliable supplier of the worlds lowest-carbon, responsibly produced LNG (liquefied natural gas) from our West Coast, he said in his remarks, via CTV News.

The trade news on India came the same day that the Canadian government announced it has secured 30 new critical mineral partnerships, unlocking $12.1 billion in mining project capital.

Made at the 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual convention in Toronto, the announcement is the second round of partnerships and investments under the Critical Minerals Production Alliance. The first round was announced in October 2025.

The Canadian Press reported that Deals include up to $7 million to Greenland Resources' Malmbjerg project in Greenland, $9.1 million to Cyclic Materials Inc.'s rare earths elements recycling centre in Kingston, Ont. and $16.7 million for First Phosphate's Begin-Lamarche demonstration and feasibility project in SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean, Que.

By Andrew Topf for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The power of win-win cooperation: What does the wave of Chinas NEVs bring to the world?

08:45, March 04, 2026 By Li Xuanmin, Chen Zishuai, Ni Hao and Tu Lei ( Global Times

Editor's Note:

The 2026 Chinese Spring Festival holidays had just ended when German manager Ronny Buechner, in an early morning, drove into the core area of Hefei Economic and Technological Development Zone in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province. The area is home to Volkswagen's smart manufacturing base in Anhui, as well as the research and development (R&D) headquarters in China, which is also Volkswagen's largest R&D center outside Germany.

The Volkswagen headquarters in Germany is located in Wolfsburg, a German name that literally translates into "Wolf Castle." As a result, the R&D center in Hefei is affectionately nicknamed the "Oriental Wolf Castle" within the industry. Inside the campus, production lines glow brightly around the clock. Chinese and German engineers are collaborating closely, intensely focused on debugging and iterating the next round of new-energy vehicle (NEV) technologies.

Buechner currently serves as the government affairs manager at Volkswagen (China) Investment Co Anhui Branch. He has been working in China for over a decade.

Nowadays, Buechner speaks fluent Chinese. After work, he occasionally joins colleagues for barbecue skewers on Hefei's European-style street; on weekends, he enjoys taking his family on trips around the Yangtze River Delta. His story is not merely an extension of industrial chains across Asia and Europe - it is a vivid, real-life illustration of Chinese and foreign automakers joining hands and achieving win-win outcomes amid the NEV wave.

The Global Times launches a series of special reports on China's evolution into an automobile powerhouse. This is the third installment.

Openness forges strength toward global win-win cooperation

The story of the "Oriental Wolf Castle" vividly illustrates that China's NEV development has been forged through open competition and strengthened through global collaboration. Competing on the same stage with international competitors has created a "catfish effect," awakening competitive awareness across the entire industry and accelerating rapid technological iteration within the domestic supply chain. Facts have proven that this strategy was both precise and resolute.

The story of win-win cooperation between China's NEVs and the world is entering an even more exciting chapter. Most notably, China is no longer merely the world's factory or consumer market; it has become a source of technological output and a core hub of innovation ecosystems. As Chinese automakers undertake the responsibility of "full-stack" systematic export, they bring not only high-quality products but also capital, technology and management expertise. In doing so, Chinese automakers are transforming from "guests" into partners in jointly building a shared "home," turning once-unfamiliar markets into a community with a shared future.

When all parties unite as one, their strength multiplies. In the era of tackling climate change and advancing green transformation, competition is by no means a zero-sum game. Only through cooperation can the pie grow larger; only through complementary advantages can a shared future be realized.

As China's circle of "partners" continues to expand, there is every reason to believe that this spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit will drive the global automotive industry toward a greener and smarter tomorrow.

Buechner joined Volkswagen Anhui in 2021 and has personally participated in building systems and capabilities "from the ground up." By the end of 2025, the Phase III project of Volkswagen Group China Technology Company (VCTC) was successfully put into operation in Hefei.

This R&D center holds direct product decision-making authority and release rights, marking the first time in Volkswagen's history that it can complete the full development process of a new vehicle platform - "from concept to market readiness" - outside of Germany. Since becoming operational, it has directly shortened the vehicle development cycle by approximately 30 percent and optimized development costs by about 40 percent.

From 'master-apprentice' to 'partners'

The rise of the "Hefei experience" has given Buechner a profound appreciation for the deeper logic behind Sino-foreign cooperation. He told the Global Times that against the backdrop of a rapidly-evolving Chinese NEV industry, the role of foreign automakers in China's NEV transformation has evolved from "one-way knowledge transfer" to "two-way co-creation."

Buechner's story is far from an isolated case - over the decades, automotive professionals from around the world have together crafted a rich industrial narrative of mutual learning, mutual inspiration, and win-win cooperation between Chinese and foreign carmakers. In this process, there has been a two-way dynamic marked by role reversals, fierce competition where each side demonstrates its strengths, and fruitful outcomes of mutually beneficial cooperation in the new era.

Sun Xiaohong, secretary-general of the automotive branch of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, told the Global Times that the continued advancement of global cooperation is the fundamental driving force behind China's rise to become the world's largest automobile producer, as well as its transformation from "following" to "keeping pace with" and even "leading" in the construction of NEV industrial systems, supply chain support, and independent R&D capabilities. Global cooperation also serves as the profound underlying impetus that accelerates the iterative progress of global NEV technologies, drives the green transformation process, and benefits hundreds of millions of households worldwide, Sun noted.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an inspection to GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co in April 2023. Stressing the significance of the real economy and self-reliance for a country as big as China, Xi said core technologies in key fields should be based on independent research and development while international cooperation is also welcomed.

China adheres to the dialectical unity of an open policy and independent innovation, which has laid a solid foundation for deep cooperation between Chinese and foreign automakers. Driven by China's rapid pace of innovation and iteration efficiency, a path of "reverse innovation" is quietly taking shape: an increasing number of multinational corporations have been relocating their decision-making hubs and innovation centers to China, partnering deeply with local software and technology companies, and integrating themselves into China's innovation industrial chain.

In this wave of multinational automakers "looking East," global technological cooperation has also been deepening continuously.

Thomas Ulbrich, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Volkswagen Group China, told the Global Times that Volkswagen is currently engaged in in-depth cooperation with a number of Chinese companies, including Horizon Robotics and XPeng, with a focus on intelligent connected vehicles and system-level chips. "China is at the forefront of global innovation, particularly driving progress in electric and intelligent vehicle technologies. The pace of change in China is faster than anywhere else," Ulbrich said.

Feng Shiming, executive director of Shanghai Minghua Youdao Business Consulting Co, told the Global Times that in the past, cooperation between Chinese and foreign automakers was more like a "master-apprentice relationship," where foreign companies provided technology and brand strength, while Chinese companies mainly served as production bases and sales channels.

"Today, the cooperation has evolved much closer to a true 'partner model.' For example, the German side can share its scientific development processes, automotive-grade standards, and rigorous testing methodologies, while the Chinese side can contribute advanced new energy technologies, ultra-low costs, and enormous supply chain advantages. The result naturally achieves 1+1 >2. In some cases, the roles even reverse - the Chinese side becomes the teacher, and the foreign side the apprentice," Feng noted.

From 'in China, for China' to 'in China, for the world'

In March 2024, the moment Xiaomi's EV factory in Beijing's Yizhuang district was unveiled, it instantly captured global attention across the automotive industry. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Ford's CEO Jim Farley had a Xiaomi SU7 specially shipped to the US and spent six months driving it. He said that the maker of the sporty sedan, Xiaomi, was "the Apple of China."

In Xiaomi's EV factory, a new vehicle rolls off the production line every 76 seconds. Over 700 robots work in coordinated harmony, achieving 100 percent automation across key processes including large-scale die-casting, stamping, body joining, body assembly, painting, and final assembly.

Ma Lan, general manager of the comprehensive management department at Xiaomi Yizhuang, told the Global Times that since production began, industry professionals from around the world - especially from traditional automotive powerhouses - have flocked to the factory to exchange ideas, "learn from the experience," and in many cases, sign orders or discuss cooperation deals on the spot.

Feng noted that the Chinese NEV market has become a globally recognized battlefield characterized by the most intense competition, the most diverse consumer demands, and the fastest pace of technological iteration. It is precisely because of this that some foreign automakers have turned their attention to China, proactively visiting with a genuine mindset of "learning." He further added that this market is gradually evolving into the "frontier testing ground" for the global automotive industry's electrification and intelligent transformation, and even emerging as an innovation hub that defines the future direction of mobility.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute based in Germany, told the Global Times that German and other automotive investors in China are benefiting from the rapid pace of innovation in China's industrial chain. An increasing number of multinational automakers are beginning to view China as a key pivot for leveraging their global business, harnessing the technological advantages and manufacturing capabilities accumulated in China to feed back into and strengthen their worldwide markets.

According to media reports, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group Ola K llenius said that "China is a home away from home" and "a key player in global innovation." He added that the company is shifting strategy from "in China, for China" to "in China, for the world."

With regards to the feedback effect, Ulbrich said that the Volkswagen Group is continuously reassessing and strengthening China's role within its global system, not only to serve local demand, but also to explore how capabilities developed in China can support other regions.

From single-vehicle sales to 'full-stack' exports

In 2020, the General Office of the State Council issued the NEV Industry Development Plan (2021-2035). In Chapter 7 titled "deepening open cooperation," the document explicitly stated that China would promote the formation of an open, transparent, and inclusive international market environment for NEVs and build new platforms for international cooperation.

Six years on, this plan has been transformed into tangible industrial momentum and global influence.

Ma, who works at the Xiaomi factory, has a profound sense of this shift. Ma shared an interesting observation with the Global Times: nowadays, when senior executives from foreign automakers visit Xiaomi's EV factory, the questions they ask most frequently include the timeline for exporting vehicles, the composition of suppliers and the domestic-to-international ratio, domestic pricing, as well as how Xiaomi managed to achieve a full auto supply chain layout in just three years.

Many foreign visitors, after touring the factory, are particularly eager to know one thing: "When will Xiaomi cars come to my country?"

Data from the China Passenger Car Association showed that China's NEV exports surged to 3.43 million units in 2025, nearly doubling in just three years. What's even more noteworthy than the sheer numbers is the qualitative transformation: Chinese NEVs are advancing toward a comprehensive, "full-stack" systematic export model - one that localizes production and coordinates the industrial chain.

Feng told the Global Times that the 2.0 version of Chinese NEV companies' overseas expansion wave officially entered an acceleration phase in 2025. While NEV makers intensively launched factory projects in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Latin America, they simultaneously accelerated localized deep cultivation in mature markets like Europe, achieving a dual-track coordinated layout between emerging and mature markets.

According to a Reuters report, BYD's plant in Szeged, southern Hungary, will start mass production in 2026. Istvan Joo, Government Commissioner and CEO of the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency pointed out that BYD has chosen Hungary also as the location for its European headquarters and R&D center, helping the economy to move toward higher value-added activities.

In the upstream, BYD has arrived; in the midstream and downstream, CATL has come, joined with EVE Battery, Sunwoda, and other Chinese players. Piece by piece, the footprint of China's new energy giants has been steadily embedding itself into Hungary's industrial landscape.

Today, the historic auto manufacturing hub in Central and Eastern Europe along the Danube is riding the momentum of China's new energy industrial chain, ushering in a fresh wave of electrification-driven industrial upgrading.

According to industry insiders, Chinese companies' "full-stack" exports to Hungary not only fill gaps in the European supply chain and provide stable new energy battery supplies for major European automakers, but also bring advanced manufacturing processes, intelligent production expertise, and supply chain management models - which directly reshape Hungary's industrial foundation.

More than forty years ago, the first Sino-foreign joint venture automobile enterprise was set up in Beijing, opening the door to cooperation between China and foreign countries in the auto industry.

Forty years on, the NEV sector in China's expansive market continues to witness endless tales of mutual pursuit and win-win collaboration - from multinational giants evolving their strategy from "in China, for China" to "in China, for the world," to Chinese enterprises that are pursuing a comprehensive upgrade in their global expansion. All point to one profound truth: cooperation is the right way to tackle global challenges and drive industrial upgrade. Cooperation is the way forward.

Sun believed that China has steadfastly pursued opening-up, maintained low tariff levels, prioritized open cooperation, and minimized administrative interference - thus fostering a "stable, sustainable, and predictable" environment for Sino-foreign collaboration. As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) and further expands high-level opening-up, it is providing countries around the world with a clear list of opportunities for shared development.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Honored with Best of Home Care Provider of Choice, Employer of Choice, and Leader in Training Awards  a distinction earned by only a select group of agencies nationwide

SOUTH SHORE, Mass. and METROWEST, Mass., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- North River Home Care, a trusted provider of in-home care services throughout the South Shore and MetroWest regions of Massachusetts, is proud to announce that it has been honored with three 2026 Best of Home Care Awards from Activated Insights: Provider of Choice, Employer of Choice, and Leader in Training.

For the families and individuals North River Home Care serves, and for the dedicated caregivers, these awards are more than industry recognition. They're a reflection of the relationships, trust, and care that define everything North River Home Care does.

About the Best of Home Care Awards

The Best of Home Care Awards are among the most respected recognitions in the home care industry, and among the most meaningful, because they're based entirely on independent satisfaction surveys completed by real clients and caregivers. Administered by Activated Insights, an independent experience management and research firm, these awards carry the weight of verified, third-party feedback rather than self-reported claims.

Provider of Choice recognizes agencies that achieve high client satisfaction scores based on verified, independent feedback from the people and families they serve.

Employer of Choice honors agencies that provide a genuinely positive, supportive workplace culture for caregivers, as measured through direct caregiver feedback from independent satisfaction surveys.

Leader in Training recognizes in-home care providers with a strong, demonstrable commitment to ongoing education, specialized training, and professional growth for their care teams.

"For families across the South Shore and MetroWest, quality home care is built on trust, consistency, and compassion. Earning all three of these awards reflects the extraordinary dedication of our caregivers and our entire team and our deep commitment to the training and support that allows them to provide exceptional care every single day."

 Heather Kenney, Founder, North River Home Care

"To earn the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice, Employer of Choice, and Leader in Training awards, North River Home Care has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence," said Bud Meadows, CEO of Activated Insights. "These awards reflect outstanding satisfaction among clients and caregivers alike, as well as a meaningful investment in training and professional development. We are proud to recognize North River Home Care for the high standard of care they provide in their communities."

By earning all three awards, North River Home Care joins a select group of home care agencies nationwide that have demonstrated their ability to deliver exceptional care experiences while cultivating a well-trained, well-supported caregiving workforce. It's a reflection of values that have guided North River Home Care since its founding: that the best care for clients starts with the best support for caregivers.

North River Home Care remains committed to serving individuals and families throughout South Shore and MetroWest Massachusetts with compassionate, reliable in-home care that promotes independence, dignity, and peace of mind.

About North River Home Care

North River Home Care provides personalized, high-quality home care services designed to support seniors and individuals who wish to age in the comfort of home. A family-owned agency serving communities across the South Shore and MetroWest regions of Massachusetts, North River Home Care is committed to compassionate caregiving, ongoing caregiver education, and truly client-centered care. For more information, visit www.northriverhc.com .

SOURCE North River Home Care
China has been amassing crude in strategic and commercial reserves for nearly a yearpropping up oil prices throughout 2025 even though its demand growth has weakened.

As we rolled into the very tumultuous 2026 with two major geopolitical events upending oil markets in as many months  the U.S. blitz to capture Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro and the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran  Chinas oil hoarding will likely pay off in these early days of the unpredictable and already highly disruptive war in the Middle East.

The Chinese strategy to build up reserves during a nearly year-long buying spree at relatively low prices is now paying off, as the worlds top crude importer has some buffer to power through the early days of the severely disrupted oil flows out of the Middle East, analysts say.

Chinas energy security strategy and plan to aggressively buy cheaper crude, including sanctioned barrels, is insulating the worlds second-largest economy, to some extent, from short-lived supply disruptions as the war in Iran and Tehrans retaliatory strikes on Gulf neighbors escalate.

China could soak up, in the near term, Iranian and Russian crude thats been sitting in floating storage for weeks.

Chinas Crude Hoarding

Beijing is estimated to have been amassing crude into commercial and strategic inventories for nearly a yeartaking advantage of lower international prices and even lower prices for sanctioned supply out of Iran, Venezuela, and Russia.

Venezuela is now back on the legit market with sales under the control of the U.S., but China has started buying record volumes of Russian crude as India has retreated.

Related: Trumps Secret Weapon in the Rare Earth War

No one really knows the extent of Chinese inventories, but with low prices and expanding storage capacity, Beijing  which doesnt disclose stocks  is estimated to have sent at least 1 million barrels per day of crude to storage last year.

Unlike the United States, China does not report inventories. Analysts are looking at overall supply (domestic production plus imports) and refinery processing rates to estimate how much crude is going into strategic or commercial reserves and how much is being processed into fuels.

Last year, despite the easing of the OPEC+ cuts, the large supply growth from the Americas, and the continued flow of sanctioned Iranian, Russian, and Venezuelan barrels, oil prices did not collapse.

For most of 2025, international crude benchmarks held steady at about $60 per barrel, which China apparently considered cheap enough to buy more crude than it immediately needed and put it in commercial or strategic storage.

Last year, China boosted its crude oil imports to an annual all-time high. The record imports came despite weak transportation fuel demand and struggles on some fronts in the Chinese economy amid the constantly changing U.S. tariff policy and chaotic global markets, including commodity markets.

Stockpiling Pays Off

This year, in light of the latest flare-up in the Middle East, which is now burning and severely disrupting energy supplies, Chinas move to build up inventories when oil prices were low is paying off.

China has been very wisely stockpiling a lot of crude last year so they have a buffer to overcome the current crisis, Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy, told Bloomberg Television earlier this week.

Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths

China, whose independent refiners have never shied away from sanctioned oil supply, has the alternative to buy up Russian and Iranian crude amassed in floating storage, most of which is sitting far from the Strait of Hormuz and not far from Chinese ports in Asia.

As of February 27, 2026, the day before the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, total Iranian crude oil on the water globally stood at about 191 million barrels, according to Kpler estimates.

Of this total, around 25 million barrels remain within the Mideast Gulf, mainly comprising cargoes that were recently loaded. But most of the remaining 166 million barrels, about 127 million barrels, are currently in the East, including the Malacca Strait, Singapore Strait, South China Sea, East China Sea, and Yellow Sea, while around 39 million barrels are located in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman, possibly en route to the East as well, Kpler notes.

In addition, China  and India, for that matter  have a strong incentive to boost Russian crude supply, Kplers Amena Bakr said in a Sunday note.

China also holds significant strategic crude reserves accumulated during the period of global oversupply. This provides a buffer in the short term but positions Beijing as a potential re-exporter to third markets if the supply crunch deepens, Bakr noted.

With oil prices surging toward $80 per barrel, and expected to jump above $100 a barrel if the Strait of Hormuz is off limits for most tankers beyond two or three weeks time, Chinas incentive to soak up the excess sanctioned barrels would become even greater. It is not only cheaper, but its also piled in floating storage in waters outside the Middle East and close to Chinese shores.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Iraq has already begun shutting in production as exports through the Strait of Hormuz become increasingly constrained. Roughly 1.5 million barrels per day are reportedly offline, and officials have warned that figure could approach 3 million bpd if disruptions persist.

At 3 million bpd, this becomes one of the largest sudden supply losses in the modern market outside of sanctions or war.

Iraqs total crude production has been running near 4.04.3 million bpd, according to recent OPEC secondary-source data. Exports typically average between 3.2 and 3.4 million bpd, the vast majority shipped from southern terminals at Basrah. China and India together account for roughly two-thirds of those flows, making Iraq one of Asias most critical heavy crude suppliers.

That output is heavily concentrated in the southern fields feeding Basrah exports. Rumaila alone has nameplate capacity of around 1.41.5 million bpd and routinely produces well above 1.3 million bpd. West Qurna 1 produces roughly 600,000 bpd, with capacity closer to 650,000670,000. West Qurna 2 is producing around 460,000 bpd, though development plans have targeted 750,000800,000. Zubairs design capacity is roughly 700,000 bpd. The Maysan complex contributes roughly 300,000350,000 bpd.

Related: Trumps Secret Weapon in the Rare Earth War

Taken together, those fields account for the bulk of Iraqs export engine. A 3 million bpd shut-in would effectively sideline most of the southern system and remove a significant share of medium and heavy sour barrels from global trade.

The obvious question is whether OPEC can replace those barrels.

And the answer depends on who you ask and how you define spare capacity. But even theoretically, its a stretch. In December last year, the EIA redefined the terms maximum sustainable capacity as the upper limit a producer could reach within a year if everything runs smoothly and effective capacity which is the amount of oil that could be realistically brought online within 90 days and sustained without damaging fields or infrastructure.

Let the terms 90 days and with a year sink in for a moment.

For the sake of exactness, the EIA defines spare capacity using the second of those terms.

So, does OPEC really have the spare capacity to meaningful fill the gap right now?

Under that 90-day definition, OPECs effective spare capacity is generally estimated in the range of roughly 3 to 4 million barrels per day. And almost all of it sits in just two countries: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia accounts for roughly 2 million barrels per day of that cushion. The UAE contributes somewhere around 0.8 to 1.0 million barrels per day. The rest of OPECs members add relatively marginal volumes.

Related: How Chinas Rare Earth Ban Backfired into a U.S. Tech Breakthrough

If Iraqi shut-ins approach 3 million barrels per day, you are no longer talking about dipping into spare capacity. You are talking about testing the outer boundary of it and would be almost entirely reliant on two producers ramping quickly, sustaining output, and pushing those barrels through the very same Strait of Hormuz that is currently under strain. And those spare capacity figures include everything that could take them 90 days to turn on.

OPEC could potentially turn on all its spare capacity, but it could take them months to do it. Mobilization is not instantaneous.

Just as importantly, crude oil quality matters. Iraqi exports are mostly comprised of medium and heavy sour grades. Refiners in China and India, which together take roughly two-thirds of Iraqs exports, take about 2.1-2.5 million bpdand they are largely configured for those heavier grades. Substituting lighter grades alters yields, diesel output, and refining margins. This is already playing out in todays tightening heavy crude differentials.

And finally, even with the upstream issue resolved, the oil would still have to move.

Even if Saudi Arabia and the UAE open the taps, much of those exports would still need to transit the Strait. If traffic slows, if insurance costs spike, if tankers hesitate, the constraint shifts from upstream capacity to physical flow. Spare capacity in a field does not equal barrels on a ship.

And timing matters. The EIAs definition allows up to 90 days to bring that oil online and sustain it. Ninety days is a long time in a market reacting in real time. A 3 million bpd disruption doesnt give producers a comfortable ramp window. It forces a response under pressure.

So yes, OPEC has spare capacity on paper. But if Iraqi shut-ins approach 3 million bpd and linger, the discussion would quickly stop being about headline spare capacity and would instead be about deliverable barrels  in the right quality, moving through functioning shipping lanes. That is a much narrower margin of safety than the top-line numbers imply.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices surged for a second day running on Tuesday as global markets brace for a prolonged conflict in the Middle East. On Monday, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officially declared the Strait of Hormuz "closed," warning that any vessel attempting to pass will be attacked or "set ablaze". While the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) maintains the waterway is not formally closed, traffic has dropped by approximately 70-80%, with major global shippers, including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC, suspending all crossings.

Brent crude for April delivery gained nearly 5% on Tuesday, reaching $85 earlier in the day, marking the first time it has traded above the pivotal $80 per barrel mark since July 2024, while the corresponding WTI gained less than a percentage point on the geopolitical tailwinds.

Long-suffering oil and gas bulls are finally enjoying some reprieve, with U.S. energy stocks leading all 11 sectors of the U.S. market: the sectors favorite benchmark, State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA:XLE), is now up ~24% in the year-to-date, incomparable to the -1.0% return by the S&P 500.

Related: How Chinas Rare Earth Ban Backfired into a U.S. Tech Breakthrough

However, some experts have argued that the Middle East debacles impact on energy markets is more favorable to Canada than it is to the United States. According to Eric Nuttall, senior portfolio manager at Toronto-based Ninepoint Partners, the Middle East conflict is a massive opportunity for Canada, which can position itself as a stable and secure supplier of oil.

Nuttall argues, as reported by Bloomberg, that Canada is uniquely positioned as a stable and secure energy supplier with decades of inventory in the oil sands and the Clearwater formation. The Clearwater Formation in Alberta, Canada, holds vast, high-viscosity heavy oil and bitumen reserves, with estimated in-place volumes exceeding 70 billion barrels in the Cold Lake area alone. Production is expected to grow, with estimates that it could hit nearly 400,000 bbl/d by 2031.

Nuttall has characterized the sudden loss of Iranian supply and the closure of the Strait as a"worst-case scenario" for investors and a historic event whereby the markets tendency to immediately sell any spikes in oil prices may not apply.

And in the meantime, Nuttall says he has been actively adding Canadian energy stocks to his portfolio, noting that current equity prices do not yet reflect the increased importance of "security of supply." The asset manager has called on the Canadian Parliament to approve new export pipelines, including a one-million-barrel-per-day project, in a bid to address the global supply-demand mismatch.

Here are our top 3 Canadian Oil & Gas stocks for 2026.

#1. Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.

Market Cap: $3.9B

Forward Dividend Yield: 5.19%

52-Week Share Returns: 87.1%

Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. (OTCPK:PEYUF) focuses on the exploration, development, and production of unconventional natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids. Operating in Albertas Deep Basin, the company is known for a low-cost structure, utilizing integrated infrastructure to maximize profitability.

Peyto is considered a strong investment due to its position as one of Canada's lowest-cost natural gas producers, offering high-margin production, a sustainable dividend yield and significant growth potential driven by LNG expansion. With the expansion of LNG Canada and global demand for cleaner energy, Peyto is positioned to benefit from increased, higher-priced natural gas exports. The shares have been on a tear, thanks to strong bottom-line growth: In Q3 2025, Peyto reported a 29% increase in funds from operations, showcasing strong operational execution and hedging strategies.

#2. Cenovus Energy

Market Cap: $42.B

Forward Dividend Yield: 2.6%

52-Week Share Returns: 79.8%

Cenovus Energy (NYSE:CVE) is a Calgary-based, integrated oil and natural gas company that operates across the full energy value chain in Canada, the U.S., and the Asia Pacific region. Key activities include oil sands development, conventional oil and natural gas production, upgrading, refining, and marketing of crude oil and products.

Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths

CVE is a "Moderate Buy" going by technical indicators and moving averages. However, the company's fundamentals also qualify it as a Buy candidate driven by strong operational performance and debt reduction. The company reported record oil sands production in Q4 2025 and expects a 4% year-over-year production increase in 2026. The $8.6 billion acquisition of MEG Energy is expected to deliver $150 million in annual synergies in 2026, growing to over $400 million by 2028.

#3. Suncor Energy

Market Cap: $68.6B

Forward Dividend Yield: 3.0%

52-Week Share Returns: 61.1%

Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU) is a leading Canadian integrated energy company that specializes in

producing oil from oil sands, offshore and conventional exploration, petroleum refining, and marketing products under the Petro-Canada brand. Based in Calgary, Alberta, the company operates major oil sands mining and in-situ assets, including refineries across North America, and is expanding into lower-carbon power.

If you are seeking a reliable, income-generating energy stock with high cash flow and a solid track record of capital returns, Suncor remains a top contender in the Canadian energy sector. Suncors integrated business model (oil sands + refining + retail) provides a hedge against oil price volatility. The company is actively reducing share count through buybacks (up to 10% by March 2027) and has increased its dividend.



By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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The race is on to achieve commercial nuclear fusion. While the technology was first conceptualized a full century ago, the ambition to replicate the process that powers our sun here on Earth has only recently exited the realm of sci-fi ambitions into reality. Fueled in part by the accelerating need for energy thanks to the AI boom, nuclear fusion is receiving more attention and investment dollars than ever before, and breakthroughs are starting to pile up. While China and the United States are leading the charge in a high-stakes battle for commercial fusion supremacy, a surprising dark horse may be about to take the lead.

Germany has taken major steps forward in the development of what could soon be commercially viable nuclear fusion facilities in the past few years. In 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz unveiled new action plan for the nations energy industry, which included 1.7 billion ($1.98 billion) in funding to build the worlds first commercial nuclear fusion reactor. This ambition comes as a surprise, as Germany has long been one of the worlds staunchest and most vocal opponents of nuclear (fission) energy.

But Germany, Europes largest economy, needs to be bold if it wants to meet its own decarbonization goals. Sarah Klein, commissioner for fusion research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Aachen, told DW last October that investing in fusion technology is a "smart long-term strategic bet that keeps Germany at the forefront of a global technology race. She added that in tandem with renewable energy development, nuclear fusion is crucial for ensuring energy sovereignty after the phaseout of fossil fuels.

Related: Trumps Secret Weapon in the Rare Earth War

And now, Germanys ambitious plan is already coming together. German company Proxima Fusion has signed on to help build the first stellarator fusion power plant in Europe. The firm inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the Free State of Bavaria, RWE, and Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) that lays out a roadmap for achieving commercial fusion as soon as possible. When the stellarator becomes operational in the coming decade, Proxima Fusion has stated that it will be the first stellarator to demonstrate net energy gain, the most critical breakthrough point for modern fusion models.

Francesco Sciortino, co-founder and CEO of Proxima Fusion, says that the deal marks the starting point of an industrial ecosystem that consolidates existing and new know-how in Europe and anchors value creation here. This marks the beginning of a long-term industrial growth trajectory over the coming decades, creating new export opportunities for Germany and Europe.

Not only would this mark a major win for Germany and for Europe in the fusion wars, it would be a win for a new fusion landscape characterized by public-private partnerships. Until recently, nuclear fusion research was such a lofty and expensive undertaking that only deep-pocketed governments could possibly fund prototypes to further research and development in the field. But the race for commercial nuclear fusion has increasingly gone private in recent years as Wall Street gets involved and startups begin to diversify the field.

Related: The U.S. Just Took a Giant Step in The Rare Earth Race With China

The potential of fusion technology for the energy supply of the future is enormous. Thanks to an excellent research landscape and the start-ups that have emerged from it, such as Proxima Fusion, Germany can take on a key role, Dr. Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE, was recently quoted by Interesting Engineering.

That is why it is good that the federal and state governments are jointly pushing this topic forward in order to build the worlds first commercial fusion power plant in Germany. We at RWE are happy to support this. Our decommissioning site, with its existing infrastructure combined with our operational expertise, offer ideal conditions to give Germany time and cost advantages in international competition.

If Germany achieves commercial fusion before any other country, it will be a major upset to what has largely been a race between the United States and China. The two global superpowers have been trading off fusion breakthroughs for years now, and both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are eager to establish dominance in the sector. But while China and the United States have gotten all the spotlight, Europes slow and steady approach may very well win in the end.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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Regional experts believe the warfare has effectively set back the implementation of recent trade agreements and may defer the goal of Central Asian nations breaking out of their landlocked status.

The conflict is a major setback to Central Asian states, such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, who viewed Afghanistan and Pakistan as the fastest path to seaports to multiply their export growth.

"Open war" has erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban, which includes Pakistani airstrikes on Bagram Air Base and ground firefights along the 1,600-mile frontier.

Largely overlooked because of the burgeoning conflict in the Middle East, open war has erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistans Taliban leadership. The fighting all along its southern rim represents a major setback for Central Asias global trade agenda.

The Pakistani-Afghan conflict shows no signs of easing after almost a week of fighting. On March 2, Pakistan conducted air strikes on a key military site near Kabul, Bagram Air Base, which served as the hub for US military operations during the 20-year American presence in Afghanistan. Taliban officials claimed their forces conducted counter-strikes against Pakistani military targets. Numerous firefights between ground forces have been reported along the two countries roughly 1,600-mile frontier.

Both sides have claimed their forces have inflicted heavy casualties on the other. A Taliban government spokesman has claimed at least 110 Afghan civilians have been killed in Pakistani air raids conducted over the past five days. Pakistani complaints about continuing Taliban support for a radical Islamic group active in Pakistan, known as the TTP, are seen as the catalyst for the full-blown conflict.

The warfare is quickly undoing months of painstaking diplomacy by Central Asian states to foster closer trade relations with both combatant nations. Afghanistan and Pakistan are viewed by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other landlocked regional states as their fastest and most efficient potential trade route to a seaport, access to which would multiply export growth.

Related: How Chinas Rare Earth Ban Backfired into a U.S. Tech Breakthrough

Since December of 2025, the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have all paid groundbreaking visits to Pakistan, seeking to move past decades of distrust rooted in the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, and forge stronger trade ties.

During those visits, Central Asian leaders laid the groundwork for the development of a trans-Afghan rail link connecting the region to Pakistan. Kazakh and Uzbek officials also reached tentative deals to develop terminals at the Pakistani port of Karachi, as well as gain access to other ports at Qasim and Gwadar, which is operated by China. They likewise explored the possibility of developing a dry port at Chaman, a key overland trade point on the Pakistani-Afghan border.

Over the near term, Central Asian states articulated goals of achieving exponential growth rates in trade with Pakistan within a few years.

Meanwhile, Central Asian states have stepped up their engagement with the Taliban. On February 17, diplomats from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan met with the aim of formulating a unified diplomatic approach toward the Taliban to accelerate trade and connectivity. One attendee said improving trade ties with Afghanistan was critically important for Central Asia.

Uzbekistan has taken the lead in Afghan engagement. In late December, Tashkent reopened for individuals the cross-border bridge at Termez that had been closed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Bilateral trade grew over 50 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching $1.5 billion. In late February, officials from both states expressed a goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to $5 billion within five years.

Related: Inside North Americas First Fully Integrated Rare Earth Facility

Now, however, all hopes for skyrocketing growth in trade and expanding connections appear to be on hold.

The outbreak of the Pakistan-Afghan war has effectively set back the implementation of all these agreements, a regional expert, Teimur Atayev, wrote in a commentary published March 2 by Caliber, an Azerbaijani news outlet. He was referring to MoUs signed during recent Central Asian presidential visits to Islamabad.

Stanislav Pritchin, a Central Asian expert at Russias Institute of World Economy and International Relations, said in an interview with a Kazakh news outlet that Central Asian states will need to adjust their trade expectations. The longer the Pakistani-Afghan conflict drags on, the longer the dream of Central Asian nations breaking out of their landlocked status will be deferred.

In the long term, it is likely that it will not be possible to implement and achieve the targets that were laid down when initiating the projects, Pritchin said.

By Eurasianet.org

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Liquefied natural prices on the Asia spot market surged to the highest in three years after QatarEnergy suspended production following Iranian strikes on its LNG facilities.

According to traders quoted by Bloomberg, spot prices jumped twofold on last week, reaching $35.40 per million British thermal units. They could go further still, if Qatar LNG production remains suspended. QatarEnergy is the single biggest producer of liquefied gas, with its capacity representing 20% of the global total.

Earlier in the week, before QatarEnergy announced the suspension of LNG production, Goldman Sachs analysts predicted that if tanker traffic disruption in the Dtrait of Hormuz continues for a month, Asian LNG prices could rise to $25 per mmBtu, which would be a 130% increase from prices at the time. The surge is already higher than that predicted price level.

QatarEnergy said in a statement Monday it was suspending production due to military attacks on QatarEnergys operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City and Mesaieed Industry City.

Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths

Immediately after the news broke, European natural gas prices surged by 40%, followed by another 30% increase on Tuesday and are likely to continue climbing today, especially after the news of a Russian LNG tankers bursting into flames in the Mediterranean on Tuesday. Information is scarce but some have suggested it may have become the target of a drone attack.

QatarEnergy has not given a timeframe for the restart of LNG production but it seems that it would take more than a couple of daysa lot more. This is bad news for all LNG buyers despite the availability of U.S. LNG. There is simply not enough of it to cover the supply gap fast enough to neutralize price surges. The news is especially bad for Asian buyers, who represent 80% of QatarEnergys client base.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared it has complete control of the strategic waterway, with fresh attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz overnight intensifying fears that the escalating U.S.-Israeli war with Iran could further disrupt one of the worlds most critical energy corridors, Al-Jazeera reported.

Iranian state media carried comments from an IRGC naval official on Wednesday asserting that the Islamic Republic now controls the strait, a narrow shipping lane between Iran and Oman through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply normally passes. The statement follows warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump to the effect that Washington could deploy naval escorts for tankers if the security situation deteriorates.

The remarks come as maritime security agencies report new attacks on commercial ships operating near the Gulfs key shipping routes.

In the first incident, a vessel traveling about 137 nautical miles east of Muscat reported a nearby explosion late Tuesday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The ship continued sailing and no injuries or major damage were reported.

Related: Inside North Americas First Fully Integrated Rare Earth Facility

A second incident occurred hours later near the Emirati port of Fujairah, where a tanker operating roughly seven nautical miles offshore was struck by debris from an unidentified projectile. The impact caused minor damage to the vessels funnel but did not trigger a fire or flooding, and the crew were reported safe, according to UKMTO.

The incidents add to a growing list of attacks on commercial shipping since the conflict with Iran intensified. Maritime authorities have urged vessels operating in the region to remain on heightened alert and report suspicious activity.

The security situation has already begun to slow tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean that normally handles about 20 million barrels per day of crude and petroleum products.

Despite the disruption, isolated voyages are still taking place. Ship-tracking data cited by Reuters showed the tanker Pola transiting the strait earlier this week before heading toward the United Arab Emirates to load crude. Meanwhile, shipping analytics firm Clarksons Research estimates thousands of vessels remain idle across the Gulf as operators assess the security risks.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The war in Iran could result in production losses of over 3 million barrels daily by the end of the week, with those losses potentially topping 4 million barrels daily if the war continues for more than a couple of weeks.

This is according to JP Morgan commodity analysts who said Iraq is the most vulnerable, with three days of storage space, while Kuwait had two weeks worth of storage before it was forced to start cutting production.

Iraq has already started shutting in oil production, due to storage capacity constraints. To date, the shut-ins have affected 1.5 million barrels daily in output but this could rise to 3 million barrels daily, which is almost all of Iraqs exports.

According to JP Morgan, and in line with what common sense would suggest, the longer the war continues, the worse the oil supply situation will become. Per the banks analysts, by day 15 of the war, the volume of shut in production could reach 3.8 million barrels daily, and by day 18 this could rise to 4.7 million barrels daily.

Related: How Chinas Rare Earth Ban Backfired into a U.S. Tech Breakthrough

Iran said on Monday that it would attack any tanker trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guard and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze, an adviser to the leadership of Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

We will also attack oil pipelines and will not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region. Oil price will reach $200 in the coming days, Ebrahim Jabari also said.

Indeed, there have been multiple reports of attacks on tankers in the Hormuz Strait and tanker traffic has been severely reduced, according to data from ship-tracking service providers such as Vortexa and Kpler.

In response to the traffic disruption, President Trump said earlier in the week that the United States is considering offering tanker insurance and a Navy escort for tankers in the Persian Gulf, if necessary.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The United States and Japan have been considering the inclusion of a nuclear power project involving Westinghouse in the $550-billion package of investment that Japan has pledged in the U.S. under the bilateral trade deal, sources familiar with the plans told Reuters on Wednesday.

Last year, as part of the U.S.-Japan trade agreement, Japan pledged to buy $8 billion worth of American products per year. The Government of Japan has also agreed to invest $550 billion in the United States, the White House said.

At the time, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, hailed the deal as historic and said that the U.S. would use the $500-billion Japanese investment to build our energy infrastructure, chip manufacturing, critical minerals mining, and shipbuilding to name a few.

The plan for a nuclear power project, as well as a copper refining facility, is being discussed and could be talked into details later this month when Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is due to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on March 19, according to Reuters anonymous sources.

Westinghouse, which could be involved in the nuclear power project, was named as a company that has expressed interest to launch projects in the energy sector, according to a joint fact sheet for the Japan-U.S. Investment.

Related: Trumps Secret Weapon in the Rare Earth War

So far, Japan has committed $36 billion as the first tranche of its $550-billion U.S. investment pledge under last years trade deal, including plans to build a 9.2-gigawatt natural gas power plant in Ohio.

Most of the money from that first investment tranche would be used to build the largest natural gas power plant, with a capacity of 9.2 GW.

We will strengthen grid reliability, expand baseload power, and support American manufacturing with affordable energy, Secretary Lutnick said in a statement after the deal. The plant will be built in Ohio. The facility will be operated by a subsidiary of Japans SoftBank, SB Energy.

The rest of the $36 billion would be split between a synthetic diamond factory and a deepwater oil port in the Gulf. This project is expected to generate $2030 billion annually in U.S. crude exports, secure export capacity for our refineries, and reinforce Americas position as the worlds leading energy supplier, per Lutnick.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
TUCSON, Ariz., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Development Team, Inc. , an industry leader in ruggedized thermal systems for medical and emergency applications, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 12,566,016 covering its groundbreaking Autonomous Portable Refrigeration Unit (APRU-6L) . This patent secures the company's intellectual property around its innovative portable refrigeration technology, marking a significant milestone in advancing cold-chain logistics for life-saving blood products, vaccines, and temperature-sensitive medical materials.

Delta Development Team's APRU6L's patent has recently been approved.

The newly issued patent recognizes the APRU6L's novel integration of autonomous cooling control, portable power capabilities, and a durable, fieldready design optimized for extreme and offgrid environments. This patented technology enables the APRU6L to maintain precise temperature ranges without relying on external power, supporting extended operation in demanding settings such as battlefield medical units, emergency response incidents, disaster relief operations, and remote healthcare deployments.

"This patent solidifies our commitment to revolutionizing how critical medical supplies are preserved and transported when traditional infrastructure is unavailable," said Montgomery Leija, CEO of Delta Development Team. "The APRU-6L is not just a product  it represents years of engineering innovation focused on saving lives in the most demanding conditions."

Key patented features include advanced thermal regulation mechanisms, intelligent device monitoring capability that provides visibility and accountability, and a rugged structural design ensuring performance under challenging environments and weather conditions. The system's integrated control and monitoring interface provides real-time temperature visibility and immediate excursion alertscapabilities essential to preserving the integrity of blood products and other temperature-sensitive materials.

The APRU-6L is engineered to deliver continuous, reliable cold-chain storage for up to 95 hours on a single military-grade battery charge, or unlimited operation when connected to vehicle or shore power. These features have driven its widespread adoption among EMS agencies, military units, and healthcare providers across the United States and internationally.

Delta Development Team's APRU-6L is an FDA-listed medical device and an AABB Standards-Compliant Productone of only two devices, alongside the Delta ICE 2L , to have achieved both accredited distinctions for portable blood refrigeration to date. It is widely recognized for its critical role in advancing prehospital blood programs and supporting improved patient outcomes.

About Delta Development Team, Inc.

Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, Delta Development Team, Inc . specializes in developing advanced thermal systems that redefine portable refrigeration for medical, military, and emergency response applications. With products such as the APRU-6L and the Delta ICE-2L Smart Blood Cooler, the company continues to support first responders and medical professionals with innovative solutions that extend the reach of critical care and save lives when seconds matter.

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Delta Development Team


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

The States largest education union, the Oregon Education Association PAC, declined to endorse any governor candidates. This was decided by 75% of their voting members. The union backed, Working Families Party, also declined to make any governor endorsements. Read more here.

Governor Kotek made incredible political sacrifices to appease the teachers union. Kotek passed the Corporate Activities Tax cited as the most expensive tax passed in Oregon history by raising billions  yes, billions solely for schools! Governor Kotek tried to steal the peoples Income Tax Refund last year as a way to rake in more government money. Under Kotek, education spending has grown 70% in about a decade. Apparently, the government unions want even more spending, more taxes, more new revenue streams.

 Was this article helpful? If yes, please contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has condemned President Donald J. Trumps (R-) for launching strikes against the radical Islamic regime of Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei after the collapse of negotiations to eliminate Irans continued efforts to build a nuclear weapon along with the rocket launchers to carry it into other countries, including the United States. According to FOXNews Mr. Jeffries said:

The American people want us to focus on making their life better and making their life more affordable; not getting involved in another endless war in the Middle East that is going to end in failure. This administration somehow found the resources, has found billions of dollars for bombs but cant find any money to actually bring down the high cost of living here in the United States of America, Jeffries said.

So the first question that begs to be asked by the mainstream media  or anyone for the matter is: Based on what information do you predict failure? Do you have intelligence from reliable sources that assures you that America will fail? If so, what are those sources? Do you have special access to Khamenei that is in addition to that provided to Mr. Trump through the myriad of federal agencies who are devoted to the gathering of foreign intelligence? If so, what is that source?

But, more appropriately, is this assurance of failure based on the routine failures of Mr. Trumps predecessors, including President George H.W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama and Joe?* The problem with this kind of assumption is that those failures were based on listening to the surrender monkeys, the Elis of Yale that have staffed the State Department for nearly half a century. Mr. Trump eschews them nearly as much as I do. Ignoring the advice of the embedded Elis by Mr. Trump is proving to be the best advice that he has been given.

No, more likely this is not based on any intelligence assessment, known facts, or demonstrable logic. Instead is is based on a bitter hatred of Mr. Trump by virtually all of the progressive leadership of the Democrat Party. If Mr. Trump is for it, they are against it  against it without reason. If Mr. Trump say Yes the say No. If Mr. Trump were to describe the sunrise in the East, they would immediately denounce it and claim the sun has always risen in the West. It is the definition of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) and while not a recognizable psychological condition by the American Psychological Association (APA) it is widely accepted by others as a psychosis.** The real problem here is that if your psychosis propels you to believe something, your response will be similarly irrational.

It is obvious that Mr. Jeffries speaks as a partisan possessed of TDS rather that an informed expert. He has no better understanding of what is transpiring in Iran than do the other partisan hacks like Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) or Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). That being the case, it would probably be better to keep ones mouth shut and let others think him a fool instead of opening it and proving himself to be a fool absolutely.

Of course the other way to approach it is to create barriers to success such that it will fail. That appears to be the thinking of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) when he told those foreign leaders in Munich that Mr. Trump will be gone in two years and then, presumably, it will be back to business as usual under his leadership as the next President.

Its no wonder that successful people no longer run for public office.

_________________________________________

* I have noted in previous columns that even the worst public figures are entitled to the courtesy of their designated title initially and/or the courtesy title of Mr., Mrs, or Ms. thereafter. However, Joe Biden was the worst head of state in our nearly 250 years of existence. So bad was he that it is impossible to determine whether he actually served as President of the United Sates or just ceded all the power to a cabal of unelected bureaucrats and wealthy donors. He has sullied and corrupted every thing he touched and remains undeserving of any official courtesy. ** According to the Cleveland Clinic, Psychosis is the term for a collection of symptoms that happen when a person has trouble telling the difference between whats real and whats not. This disconnection from reality can happen for several reasons, including many different mental and physical conditions. Its usually treatable with medication and other techniques.
FGE takes over case of speeding Cancun police cruiser and motorcycle collision

Cancun, Q.R.  A Cancun motorcycle driver was taken to hospital Tuesday after being broadsided by a police truck. The driver of the Cancun Police unit hit the motorcycle driver as he was passing through an intersection.

Video shows the Cancun police unit running through the intersection where it collided with a motorcycle. March 3, 2026.

The accident happened Tuesday morning in SM 50 at the intersection of Kabah and 20 de Noviembre in Cancun.

Video captured the moment the police cruiser entered the intersection without yielding to the green light.

As traffic entered the intersection on a green light, the police cruiser also entered from the opposite direction, hitting a motorcycle. It is not clear if the police cruiser had lights and sirens on at the time of the collision.

The motorcycle and driver were thrown several meters. The police cruiser came to a stop after colliding with a concrete median.

The motorcycle driver was transferred to hospital March 3, 2026.

The driver of the motorcycle was stabilized at the scene before being taken to hospital. The police unit was reportedly responding to a 9-1-1 report at the time of the accident.

The Municipal Secretariat of Citizen Security and Transit of Cancun (SMSCyT) released a brief informative on the Tuesday morning accident.

The Cancun police cruiser was towed from the scene. March 3, 2026.

The SMSCyT reported that the motorcycle driver was injured and received attention from paramedics at the scene. He was transferred by ambulance to a hospital for medical evaluation with authorities remaining attentive to his health status and ensuring proper care.

The case has been referred to the State Attorney General (FGE) to determine responsibilities for the accident.
Ruling Clears Path for Full Transparency into Church's Handling of Abuse Claims; Decision Advances Long-Sought Transparency for Survivors of Clergy Abuse

SEATTLE, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC (PCVA Law) today applauds a significant ruling by the Washington Court of Appeals allowing the Washington Attorney General's Office to proceed with its investigation into the Archdiocese of Seattle's handling of child sexual abuse allegations.

The appellate court reversed a prior trial court decision that had limited the Attorney General's ability to enforce a subpoena seeking documents from the Archdiocese related to its knowledge of and response to sexual abuse claims. The ruling clears the way for the Attorney General's Office to obtain records concerning allegations, internal policies, discipline of clergy, and past settlements involving sexual misconduct.

"This is an important step toward transparency," said Michael T. Pfau, Partner at PCVA Law. "For decades, survivors have fought to uncover the truth about how abuse was handled behind closed doors. The Court of Appeals' decision reinforces that no institution is above accountability when it comes to protecting children."

The subpoena at issue seeks documents relating to allegations of sexual abuse by clergy members, including internal communications, policies governing abuse claims, records of discipline or reassignment of accused clergy, and information about settlements with survivors.

PCVA Law represents more than 200 survivors who have filed lawsuits against 80+ religious leaders across Washington State in the past two decades. The firm has been at the forefront of litigation involving clergy sexual abuse in the Seattle Archdiocese and other institutions.

"Both the abuse survivors and the public have long wanted answers to how hundreds of children were allowed to be abused by priests and clerics within the Archdiocese of Seattle," said Jason Amala, Partner at PCVA Law. "The Court's ruling affirms that a thorough investigation into the Archdiocese's handling of abuse allegations is not only appropriate but necessary."

In 2024, PCVA filed litigation exposing allegations of systemic abuse at St. John Catholic School in Seattle during the 1970s and 1980s, where multiple credibly accused perpetrators were employed at the same time. The firm has continued to uncover patterns of institutional failure, including allegations that known offenders were allowed to remain in positions of authority despite prior accusations or convictions.

"The scope of abuse allegations within the Archdiocese over multiple decades demands full transparency," Pfau added. "We intend to continue advocating for survivors and ensuring that institutions entrusted with the care of children are held accountable."

The Washington Attorney General's investigation remains ongoing.

Details of the appellate court ruling are available at

https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/index.cfm?fa=opinions.showOpinion&filename=870050MAJ

About PCVA Law

Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC (PCVA Law) represents hundreds of survivors of sexual abuse throughout Washington State and nationwide. Since 2002, PCVA Law's nationally recognized attorneys have represented thousands of child and adult survivors in complex cases against powerful institutions, including religious organizations, youth organizations, and major medical systems.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse by a member of the clergy or a church-affiliated volunteer, PCVA Law offers confidential consultations at no cost. Survivors can contact the firm at (253) 289-1412 or (206) 451-8260 or visit www.pcva.law.

Media Contact

Randy Cote for PCVA Law

[email protected] | 206-245-7280

SOURCE Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC
Foreign Affairs requests investigation into death of Mexican national while in ICE custody

Mexico City, Mexico  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested an ICE investigation into the death of a Mexican national. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), the Mexican national died while in ICE custody.

The SRE (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores) reported on the tragic death of a Mexican citizen in ICE custody at the Processing Center in Adelanto, California.

An immediate and thorough investigation has been demanded into the conditions that led to the deaths of Mexican nationals in the custody of this agency in order to determine responsibility and ensure that such incidents do not occur again, the SRE stated in a press release.

Given the seriousness of the events, the Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino immediately activated consular protection protocols and established urgent communication with the authorities to request detailed information about the circumstances of the death.

A formal request was made for the medical records, custody reports and all other relevant information that would allow for a full clarification of what occurred.

The 48 year old man died after being arrested by ICE agents in early January.

Consulate protection personnel have provided close and ongoing support to the family of the deceased. The head of the Consulate established direct contact to express condolences and offer any necessary legal assistance, as well as support with the arrangements for the repatriation of his remains.

Addressing these types of situations and establishing mechanisms to resolve them are priorities for the Government of Mexico.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally requested an investigation into the systemic conditions that have led to such regrettable events. It is reiterated that the protection of the human rights of Mexican citizens abroad is a priority for the Government of Mexico.

According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 48 year old Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, died in ICE custody Feb. 27 at Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville.

He was pronounced deceased at 12:58 a.m. after being hospitalized for chest pain and shortness of breath. Gutierrez entered the United States at an unknown date and location without inspection.

U.S. Border Patrol arrested Gutierrez January 9 during immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and transferred him to ICE custody. He was placed into immigration proceedings Jan. 11 for being present in the United States without admission and moved to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center Jan. 12, pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.

On January 12, his medical intake exam was conducted by a physician, and he reported no significant concerns. On February 25, Gutierrez reported feeling faint. An on-site medical provider ordered him transferred to Victor Valley Global Medical Center for evaluation, where he was admitted for chest pain and shortness of breath.

Early Feb. 27, he became unresponsive and medical staff-initiated life-saving measures. He was pronounced dead at 12:58 a.m. ICE notified the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Inspector General, ICEs Office of Professional Responsibility and the Mexican consulate, as required by agency policy.
" " The world's smallest ocean plays a big role in keeping the planet cool. Mozgova / Shutterstock

The Arctic Ocean sits at the top of the planet, wrapped around the geographic North Pole and within by the Arctic Circle.

Though it is the smallest of the worlds oceans, the Arctic Ocean covers about 5.4 million square miles (14 million square km) This frozen ocean plays an outsized role in Earths climate and the entire Arctic region.

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Ocean lies between North America and Eurasia, linked to the Pacific Ocean through the Bering Strait and to the Atlantic Ocean through the Fram Strait between Greenland and Svalbard. What happens here does not stay here. It influences air temperatures and ocean currents.
PITTSBURGH, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) announces the details for its first quarter 2026 earnings conference call and its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

First Quarter 2026 Earnings Announcement and Conference Call  Wednesday, April 15



PNC expects to issue financial results for the first quarter of 2026 at approximately 6:30 a.m. (ET), Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as previously announced. On the same day, at 10 a.m. (ET), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William S. Demchak and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Robert Q. Reilly will host a conference call for investors to discuss the results.

Dial-in numbers are (866) 604-1697 and (215) 268-9875 (international).

A link to the live audio webcast on the day of the conference call, presentation slides, earnings release and supplementary financial information will be accessible at www.pnc.com/investorevents; a webcast replay will be available for 30 days.

A telephone replay of the call will be available for 30 days at (877) 660-6853 and (201) 612-7415, Access ID:13758610.

2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders  Wednesday, April 22

PNC's Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held virtually at 11 a.m. (ET), Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The meeting will be accessible via webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PNC2026.

Shareholders as of the close of business on the record date of Jan. 30, 2026, are invited to participate, vote their shares and submit questions during the meeting. To vote or ask a question during the meeting, shareholders will need the unique control number located in their proxy materials that will be provided in advance of the meeting.

Individuals without a control number or who are not shareholders may join the webcast as guests but cannot vote or submit questions during the meeting.

Shareholders are encouraged to vote and submit questions prior to the meeting through www.proxyvote.com using their unique control number found in their proxy materials to access this site.

A replay of the meeting will be available for 30 days at www.pnc.com/investorevents and www.pnc.com/annualmeeting approximately 24 hours after the meeting concludes.

PNC's 2026 Proxy Statement and 2025 Annual Report will be accessible at www.pnc.com/annualreport after their respective issuance dates.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

MEDIA:

Kristen Pillitteri

(412) 841-6709

[email protected]

INVESTORS:

Bryan Gill

(412) 768-4143

[email protected]

SOURCE The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
The Trump administrations stated justifications for going to war with Iran were already a jumbled and self-contradictory mess.

But on Tuesday, Trump made it even worse  laying waste to the administrations confusing explanation from Monday.

Just a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that Iran posed an imminent threat  because it would respond to imminent attacks from Israel by striking US forces  Trump went with an entirely different explanation: that Iran was going to launch preemptive strikes against the US on its own.

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It was my opinion that they were going to attack first, the president said.

And with that, the botched rollout of the Trump administrations case for war enters yet another chapter.

Rubio had already turned plenty of heads with his claims on Monday.

We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, Rubio said. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.

This was problematic for a couple of reasons.

For one, it was different from the explanations for why Iran posed an imminent threat that had been offered in the days before the war began. Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, who was leading negotiations with Tehran, initially claimed Iran was probably a week away from having nuclear bomb-making material. Then Trump in his State of the Union address last week claimed Iran would soon have the ability to strike the United States with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

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But those claims didnt square with either US intelligence or with the administrations past claims about having obliterated Irans nuclear program just eight months ago.

Additionally, Rubios explanation made it sound a little like Israel was the tail wagging the dog  the that US was having its decisions about going to war dictated by an ally. The Trump administration on Tuesday set about trying to dispel that notion, saying Rubios explanation was not about why the US went to war, period, but why the US went to war when it did.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives to brief House and Senate leaders on US military action in Iran, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2026. - Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

But Trump has now taken exception to that narrative, scrambling his administrations messaging yet again. When asked Tuesday whether Israel had forced his hand, he claimed it was Iran that was about to strike.

It was my opinion that they were going to attack first, Trump said of Iran. They were going to attack if we didnt do it. They were going to attack first. I felt strongly about that.

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He added: And based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they were going to attack first, and I didnt want that to happen. So if anything, I might have forced Israels hand.

Trump then seemed to point to possible disagreements within his administration on the subject.

We thought, and I thought maybe more so than most  I could ask Marco  but I thought we were going to have a situation where we were going to be attacked, Trump said. They were getting ready to attack Israel. They were getting ready to attack others. Youre seeing that right now.  So I think I was right about that.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth chimed in shortly after on social media, saying Trumps explanation was 100% correct.

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And after Trumps remarks, Rubio on Tuesday afternoon denied that he had attributed any part of the rationale to following Israel. He instead lined up behind the presidents latest explanation.

The bottom line is this: The president determined we were not going to get hit first. Its that simple, guys. We are not going to put American troops in harms way, Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Its difficult to overstate just how much this contradicts Rubios version of events and opens up a new can of worms.

The idea that Iran was about to strike against the US would be the easiest and cleanest justification, if it were substantiated. But thats notably not the justification that Rubio  or anybody else  offered, at least not before Tuesday.

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Rubio instead pitched a much more complicated, bank-shot theory in which Israels imminent action by extension made Iranian attacks against the US imminent as well. Its debatable whether that was a sufficient justification, but at least it was logically plausible.

But it also risked solidifying a narrative that was very un-Trump  one in which he was not the top dog but was instead being led or even coerced into war by Israel.

That was already a narrative that had raised concerns in certain circles. (See: Megyn Kellys show on Monday.) And weve already seen Trump try to claim credit for killing Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, even as his administration has sought to emphasize that portion of the mission was undertaken by Israel.

So while its not exactly a surprise that Trump would overcorrect, hes created a whole new set of problems.

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The question now will be what intelligence backs up Trumps assertion. If it doesnt exist, it raises the prospect that the US went to war basically on Trumps premonition.

And the administration is now on at least its fourth different explanation for why Iran posed an imminent threat in less than 10 days, including the two most recent versions that directly contradict one another.

Trump is no stranger to throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. But its something else entirely to be doing that with a subject as serious as the justification for war  especially when US service members have died.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
NEED TO KNOW

Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland vanished on Feb. 27 in New Mexico, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office

McCasland was commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio from 2011 to 2013

His name was mentioned in a 2016 email correspondence between Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge and former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta concerning UFOs

New Mexico authorities are calling on the public for help in searching for a 68-year-old retired U.S. Air Force major general who went missing last week.

A silver alert has been issued for William Neil McCasland, according to a missing persons bulletin issued by the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office.

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Authorities said that McCasland was last seen on Feb. 27 at about 11 a.m. local time in the area of Quail Run Court NE. They added that McCaslands clothing at the time of his disappearance and his direction of travel are currently unknown.

Due to his medical issues law enforcement is concerned for his safety, the sheriffs office stated.

According to his biography on the Air Force website, McCasland was commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where he managed the Air Force's $2.2 billion science and technology program as well as additional customer funded research and development of $2.2 billion.

He served in that role from 2011 until his retirement from the Air Force in October 2013.

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According to the article The Air Force Investigation into UFOs, published on The Ohio State Universitys website, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was the headquarters of Project Blue Book, the military branchs probe into unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The article stated that during the project, which began in 1952 and concluded in 1969, nearly 13,000 UFO sightings were investigated, with 701 of them remaining unidentified.

Created by the United States government because of security concerns and fueled by American obsession with the extra-terrestrial, Project Blue Book was a pure product of Cold War paranoia, the article reads.

In a Tuesday, March 3, article about McCaslands disappearance, Newsweek reported that the retired generals name was mentioned in the 2016 WikiLeaks release of emails from John Podesta, former White House chief of staff to then-President Bill Clinton. In messages between him and Tom DeLonge, the Blink-182 guitarist and UFO enthusiast, DeLonge said that McCasland was an adviser on a number of UFO-related projects.

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When Roswell crashed, they shipped it to the laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. General McCasland was in charge of that exact laboratory up to a couple years ago, DeLonge wrote to Podesta in 2016, per Rolling Stone. He not only knows what Im trying to achieve, he helped assemble my advisory team. Hes a very important man.

According to Newsweek, there are no official records indicating that McCasland advised DeLonge on the latter's UFO work, and the outlet noted that the retired general had neither confirmed nor denied his involvement.

A photo shared by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office of William Neil McCasland

Credit: Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

McCasland also commanded the Phillips Research Site of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Based in New Mexico, and was vice commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center and the Space and Missile Systems Center, according to his biography.

Col. Justin Secrest, base commander of the 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland, said in a statement shared with the Albuquerque Journal that they are working with local authorities following McCaslands disappearance.

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"Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time," Secrest said.

McCasland was commissioned in 1979 after he graduated from the Air Force Academy with a bachelor of science degree in astronautical engineering, the military branch also said.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

He also served at the Pentagon, first as a director of Space Acquisition in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force  and then as director of Special Programs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

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Among his awards and recognitions are a Distinguished Service Medal and a Defense Superior Service Medal, according to his bio.

"General McCasland has played a pivotal role in developing several unique capabilities that this country is not only using now, but will rely on in the future to face emerging threats," Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, the then-commander of Air Force Materiel Command, said in 2013 around the time of McCaslands impending retirement.

Wolfenbarger added, "His contributions leave a lasting positive impact on the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command and our Air Force and will continue to provide this nation with a technological edge for decades to come."

Those with information on McCaslands whereabouts can text the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office to 847411 or contact its missing persons unit at 1-505-468-7070.





Read the original article on People
What'll it be  a daytime douse or a pre-sleep splash? Turns out, there's more at play here than you think.

What'll it be  a daytime douse or a pre-sleep splash? Turns out, there's more at play here than you think. (Maria Korneeva via Getty Images)

What'll it be  a daytime douse or a pre-sleep splash? Turns out, there's more at play here than you think. (Maria Korneeva via Getty Images)

Some folks can't imagine starting their day any other way than with a shower and a cup of coffee. Others prefer a warm wash down before bedtime to ensure a restful sleep. No matter which side of the cleansing coin you fall on, deciding when to shower is usually a matter of finding what works best for your lifestyle. But it's worth considering: Are there advantages to showering in the morning or at night?

We talked to several medical experts, and they all agreed on this: What's most important is that a person showers regularly, whether when they wake up, before their head hits the pillow, or somewhere in between. That said, there are reasons a morning shower is better for some people, while a nighttime drenching is preferable for others.

Why you should shower at night

You have dry skin

Dr. Eric Tepper, a board-certified family medicine physician in Sacramento, California, advises that individuals with dry skin should consider taking a shower before bed. "Skin permeability is higher in the evening, so the skin may absorb moisturizer more effectively at night," he explains.

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Evening showers are also optimum on a cellular level, says Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, a family physician in Phoenix. "Cells turn over most at night, so it makes sense to shower in the evening and then moisturize to take full advantage of the benefits of cell regeneration," she says.

You get really dirty during the day

People who sweat a lot or work jobs that involve high levels of grime  think garbage collectors, construction workers  should opt for an end-of-day shower for "better skin health," says Dr. Asim Nazir Cheema, a board-certified internist and cardiologist based in Ontario, Canada. "Nighttime showers remove the day's accumulated pollutants, allergens and sweat from your skin." Without the nightly cleanse, "they spend eight hours pressed against your bedding."

You have trouble falling asleep

Not one of those people who dozes off within minutes of climbing into bed? Bathing in warm water may help, as it triggers a cooling process in your body. "Taking a shower at night will drop your core body temperature, which is actually a signal for your body to fall into sleep more easily. Studies show that warming the body through bathing, one to two hours before bedtime, improved sleep quality and helped people fall asleep about 10 minutes faster," explains Cheema.

Why you should shower in the morning

You need help waking up

Is the snooze button your BFF? Do you have to set multiple alarms just to make it to work on time? Starting your day with a dousing may be just the thing you need to give your body a kick-start. "Morning showers can wake you up and help those who feel sluggish in the morning," says Dr. Michael Chichak, a general practice doctor based in Ohio. Why? The sensation caused by air on your wet skin really does invigorate you. Explains Cheema: "When you step out of a shower into cooler air or use cool water at the end of your shower, the rapid decrease in skin temperature sends a message to your brain and causes a response in the sympathetic nervous system. It's a thermo-sensory shock that stimulates alertness."

You have oily skin

If you have naturally oily skin, it makes more sense to wash in the morning. "If someone with oily or acne-prone skin skips a morning cleanse, all of the bodys excess sebum gets mixed with sweat, dead skin cells and anything that has been left behind from the night before," Cheema explains. This can lead to clogged pores, resulting in whiteheads, blackheads and other types of breakouts. He recommends a quick morning rinse or gentle cleanse to remove that accumulated sebum before makeup, sunscreen and environmental pollutants get layered on top.

You start your day with a workout

Similarly, if you exercise in the morning, you'll want to wash the sweat off before embarking on your day. "The importance of removing sweat and bacteria from the skin immediately after a workout cannot be overstated," stresses Cheema. "Washing right away will help prevent skin conditions such as inflammation of the hair follicle and acne caused by heat, pressure and friction from physical activity."

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Additionally, from a purely practical point of view, a morning shower means not taking post-workout sweat  and the associated unpleasant odor  along for work, errands and whatever else the day brings.

The bottom line

So, once and for all, what's the best time of day to shower? "There is no universal best time to shower," says Chichak. "What there is, is a better time to shower, depending on your needs or goals." Whenever you decide to shower, remember that consistency is key. "Your body's circadian rhythms will adapt to whichever schedule you choose," Cheema says.

Editor-loved shower essentials

Amazon Body Restore Shower Steamers, 6-Pack Want to make your bathroom feel a bit more spa-like? Take a cue from Yahoo's resident gifting expert Amanda Garrity, and treat yourself to these top-rated shower steamers. She named them among the best gifts ever for 2025. Made with baking soda and essential oils, these scented melts take your bathing experience to the next level. Each scent targets a specific purpose: Lavender and Chamomile promote relaxation, Citrus Grove is a mood booster, Eucalyptus Mint is a refreshing wake-up, and so on. The steamers come in a pack of six, and each lasts for at least one shower. $17 at Amazon

Amazon Native Moisturizing Body Wash After extensive testing, Senior Beauty Writer Marie Lodi named this under-$15 pick the best budget body wash. She says it's "a simple yet solid body wash thats free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates and dyes, but still does the job." It's available in six scents, but Lodi is a fan of the Coconut and Vanilla. "It smells nice but is still pretty light compared to most body washes, which is appealing to people who are sensitive to smells," she shares. $11 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $6 at Walgreens

Frontgate Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towels Unless air drying is your thing, you'll need something plush waiting for you when you step out of the shower. When it comes to the best bath towel, Senior Home Writer Kristin Granero put 18 top picks to the test, dunking them in buckets of water to assess absorption and running them through countless wash cycles to gauge durability. She ranked Frontgate's Resort bath towels No. 1. "It's a large and cushy, but still breathable towel that comes in a cornucopia of colors," she says. "It was among the softest towels I felt... and it maintained nearly all of its softness and color throughout the laundry process." $45 at Frontgate

Amazon Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber Nothing takes the fun out of showering quite like staring at soap scum and mold. If you want your tiles to sparkle, invest in this electric scrubber that Yahoo Senior Deals Writer Britt Ross gives high marks. "After just a few seconds of buffing, the orange grout stains [in my shower] disappeared before my eyes," she reveals. "A cleaning tool that gets the job done quicker and gives my arms a break? Um, yes, please! This is a gadget that belongs in your arsenal." Ross isn't the only fan of this small but mighty gadget. Over 26,000 Amazon shoppers have given it a five-star rating. "This thing is amazing  whoever thought of this should get a Nobel prize, because its that good," one enthusiast raved. $19 at Amazon
Peoples Daily: Could you update us on what the Chinese government has done in protecting the Chinese nationals in Iran and neighboring countries as well as what is planned next?

Mao Ning: Since the security situation in Iran turned tense, the Chinese side has made demarches to relevant parties, urging them to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in Iran and its neighboring countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese diplomatic missions in relevant countries have issued alerts more than once. They have worked in various ways to call on Chinese citizens in Iran to evacuate as soon as possible and offer them assistance and advise those in neighboring countries to take safety precautions. These Chinese diplomatic missions have been working around the clock to assist with the evacuation. After the strikes began, another 470-plus Chinese citizens have been evacuated by our missions in Iran.

Given the severe security situation in Iran, we once again advise Chinese citizens in Iran to take extra safety precautions and leave as soon as possible while keeping the diplomatic missions informed of their latest condition. At present, they can leave the country via the following border crossings: Astara in Azerbaijan, Agarak in Armenia, Van, Agr, and Hakkari in Turkiye, Shalamcheh in Iraq, and Bajgiran in Turkmenistan. Chinese citizens can enter Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkiye visa-free with their passports. They may enter Iraq after applying for an e-visa in advance, and enter Turkmenistan after submitting documents required and obtaining a visa in advance. Working groups from Chinese embassies and consulates in relevant countries are already at these border crossings ready to offer assistance. Their contact information can be found in the consular alerts posted by their respective missions.

As some of Irans neighboring countries affected by the military operations close airspace and suspend international flights, some Chinese citizens travel plans may have been disrupted. We advise those planning to travel to affected countries and regions near Iran to postpone their trip. For those already there, do take stronger precautions and avoid sensitive zones including military facilities and demonstrations and assemblies. In case of emergency, call the police and contact the Chinese embassies or consulates for assistance.

AFP: A question related to Iran also. Irans Revolutionary Guards said today they control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas. They say any vessels seeking to pass through the Strait risk damage from missiles or drones. Is China concerned about this new development and are you in contact with the relevant Iranian authorities on this subject?

Mao Ning: The Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters are an important international trade route for goods and energy. To keep the region secure and stable serves the common interests of the international community. China urges relevant parties to immediately stop military operations, avoid further escalation of the tense situation and prevent regional turmoil from causing greater damage to global economic growth.

EFE: According to some international media, Iran has announced the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping with an exception for Chinese and Russian vessels. Can the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirm whether it has received any such notification from Iran? What is Chinas comment on these reports?

Mao Ning: Im not familiar with what you mentioned. I just shared Chinas stance.

Beijing Daily: We noted that the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland launched the Group of Friends of Global Governance (GFGG) in Geneva last week. Can you give us more details?

Mao Ning: President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) in September last year, contributing Chinas wisdom and proposal for building a more just and equitable global governance system. Since its proposal, the GGI has received support from over 150 countries and international organizations. In December last year at the UN Headquarters in New York, China proposed to establish the Group of Friends of Global Governance, which has been warmly received at the UN.

Geneva is an important hub of global governance, home to many UN entities and specialized agencies that address agendas vital to countries development and peoples livelihood. On February 27, China held the launch ceremony of the Group of Friends of Global Governance in Geneva. Representatives from nearly 60 countries attended the meeting, including 42 founding members of the GFGG. Parties expressed strong recognition and support for the GGI, commended Chinas leading role in global governance, and looked forward to the GFGG strengthening communication and coordination and promoting dialogue and cooperation on the Geneva platform.

The launch of the GFGG in New York and then in Geneva as well as the positive progress achieved within several months fully demonstrates that the GGI proposed by President Xi Jinping responds to the needs of the world and wishes of the people. As the noble cause of peace and development for humanity is confronted with severe challenges, it is more imperative than ever for us to recommit to the founding mission of the UN, uphold multilateralism, defend international fairness and justice, and work for peace, stability and development. China welcomes the participation of all countries sharing the same vision, and through the launch of the GFGG stands ready to work with the international community to explore pathways for reforming and improving global governance, jointly tackle global challenges and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

EFE: According to reports, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to cut all trade ties with Spain after Madrid refused to allow the United States to use Spanish air bases for strikes against Iran. What is Chinas comment on this?

Mao Ning: The U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran violate international law. Trade should not be used as a tool or weapon.

Reuters: A follow-up on the situation in Iran. You shared with us the evacuation numbers, but I was wondering how many remain stranded if the Ministry knows. And also in terms of casualties or injured, are there further information about that?

Mao Ning: Chinese embassies and consulates in relevant countries are actively assisting Chinese citizens there with their evacuation. We have not received information of further casualties among Chinese citizens to date.
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Some people said the man who accepted Jim Carreys Honorary Cesar award last week was a clone of the actor. Some said it was a drag queen in elaborate prosthetics. Most everyone agreed that the Carrey who delivered a heartfelt speech at the Paris ceremony did not look quite like the Carrey weve watched on-screen for the past 35 years.

His eyes were wide, his cheeks plumped and defined, his skin strangely smooth. His eyebrows arched away from his lids in a new way. To the sane observer, it seemed obvious that hed had work donea brow lift, fillers, maybe a blepharoplasty? Nothing out of the ordinary for an aging film star in 2026.

But if even a fraction of the online comments supporting the various conspiracy theories were genuine, too many internet-poisoned minds were eager for a more far-fetched explanation. It didnt help that gullible celebrities like Megan Fox, Lisa Rinna, and Katy Perry posted credulous comments on an Instagram post from the aforementioned drag queenmakeup artist Alexis Stonewho jokingly claimed to have impersonated Carrey at the awards show. I cant handle any more stress right now I need to know if this is real, Fox wrote.

The bizarre speculation spun into a media frenzy, with headlines across the internet picking Carreys face apart. Finally, on Monday, Carreys publicist was forced to issue a statement to multiple media outlets to shut down the fabulists: Jim Carrey attended the Cesar Awards, where he accepted his Honorary Cesar Award.

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This whole incident is a matryoshka doll of some of the most troubling impulses of modern celebrity culture. First, the plastic surgery itself: The pressure to resist normal facial aging is so intense that even celebrities who are beloved for much more than their sex appeal find it worth the risk to undergo procedures that could leave them looking like uncanny simulacrums of themselves. In certain circles, with Hollywood at the top of the list, futzing with ones face is expected; looking ones age is not. It may be considered a bigger failure to wrinkle and sag than to trigger an audiences lizard-brain instinct that something unnatural is afoot.

Then, the response: The mean-spirited mockery of keyboard warriors is a pastime as old as the internet, but the effortless spread of misinformation and the publics enthusiastic embrace of it feels newer. That Instagram post from Alexis Stone, which apparently convinced a fair number of people that Stone had dressed up as Carrey for the Cesar Awards? The smoking-gun imagea picture of a facial prosthetic, wig, and dentures in a room overlooking the Eiffel Towerlooks like it was created with A.I. (I cant imagine that Stone flew to Paris to stage a real photo.) Thanks to that image, what once might have been an easily dismissed joke became something truth adjacent enough to incite a mass delusion. Media outlets struggling to survive in an era of journalistic precarity were thrilled to pick up the thread. The insanity spread.

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The international interest in this nonstory highlights the peculiar nature of celebrity, whereby the faces of strangers feel like they belong to us, such that their sudden transformation hits as a personal affront. Seeing the face of Ace Ventura and the Eternal Sunshine guy take on a new shape and texture feels like going back to your hometown to find that your parents have redecorated your childhood bedroom, your favorite park is now a strip mall, and Daddy has shaved his beard, no longer recognizable as the same man who once read you Corduroy.

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Its not like this for all celebrities. When Kris Jenner gets a full gut renovation, no one spares a side-eye or sheds a tear. But if Meryl Streep got her buccal fat removed? If Steve Martin got a cat eye lift? There would be mayhem. People who have made art that lodges in our brains and touches our heartsespecially through the facial acrobatics of actinghold a special place in our memories. Their faces are taken as national treasures, suitable for cataloging in the Library of Congress. This puts actors in a bind: Should they try to preserve their famous faces by medical means, or give us incremental exposure to their aging faces, allowing us time to integrate the older version with the younger ones we remember? Even as we support a film industry that throws most women and some men in the dumpster once their collagen levels begin to dip, we expect our favorite actors to age gracefully and naturally, as long as they dont look too different than they did before.

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At one point, Carrey seemed to want to opt out of the noxious milieu of fame. Having endured the suicide of his girlfriend, a lawsuit from her family blaming him for her death, and a failed comeback, he told Access Hollywood in 2022 that he was probably retiring, because I really like my quiet life and I really like putting paint on canvas and I really love my spiritual life. He continued, This is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists: I have enough. Ive done enough. I am enough.

But Carrey couldnt resist reprising his role as Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, he said by way of explanation for coming out of the worlds shortest retirement. Possibly a joke, though likely topped with a sprinkling of truth: He didnt have enough, it turned out, and maybe he ended up feeling like he wasnt enough, either.

The saddest part of this story is that it exposes how celebrity culture and the anti-aging industry encourage people to place value on all the wrong things. Moviegoers didnt appreciate Carreys face for its symmetry, taut skin, or dramatic browline. We loved it because it was expressive and emotive, capable of making wacky shapes, eliciting laughs, and embodying characters that enriched our livesin other words, because it was human. Now, as all the terrible conspiracy theories made clear, its a little less so.
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On Sunday, President Donald Trump acknowledged that his major combat operations in Iran will likely result in the death and wounding of U.S. troops, and then, in his signature Trumpian way, basically shrugged that off. Thats the way it is, he said bluntly. (Six Americans have already died, as have about 700 Iranians.)

Ah, but surely things would be different, and Trump would treat the war with the gravity it deserves, if one of his own kids were among the service members risking their lives, right? That, or something like it, is the argument behind the new website DraftBarronTrump.com and the hashtag #SendBarron, which trended over the weekend. Barron Trump, as a reminder, is Trumps youngest child, who is currently a 19-year-old sophomore at New York University and was most recently in the news when it came out last month that he may have saved a womans life over FaceTime.

The Draft Barron Trump website, which, it ought to be said, probably took all of half an hour to get online, was the brainchild of a comedy writer and serial anti-Trump website impresario named Toby Morton. It consists of little more than a few photos and fake testimonials that dont really make sensewhy would sending Barron to war need a testimonial from Donald Trump? Could he not just, uh, send him if he wanted to?

But those are quibbles, and honestly, a half-assed website is hardly the real issue with the Pvt. Barron Trump fantasy. When I see people like Hasan Piker tweeting that Barron should be sent off to the war, I understand that the idea is that President Trump deserves to be forced to experience the pain of having someone he loves in the line of fire. But when has the president ever proved himself to be a human being in possession of a beating heart? Its kind of the whole problem with him, and its just as true for his personal life as it is for his politics. His cruelty to his own children, especially his eldest, Don Jr., has been whispered about for yearstheres the story about how he slapped him in his college dorm and the one about how he called him a loser when he was a 4-year-old. Four! Im not saying Trump is at all likely to send Barron off to war, because hes not, but I am saying he probably wouldnt miss him much if he did. As Trump demonstrated in the recent Melania documentary, he barely seems to know him anyway.

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Speaking of Melania, this much should be obvious, but the first lady, way more than the president, would never allow her only child to be sent to war. This is the same kid who had a Slovenian accent as a child despite being raised in America because the only people he was ever around were his mother and his maternal grandparents. If Melania wouldnt even let Barron socialize with other preschoolers, shes not letting him go to war. Barron has continued to stay close to the nest, living in Trump Tower rather than the dorms for his freshman year at NYU and then opting to study at the universitys D.C. campus for his second year in order to live at the White House. This mamas boy will be skipping basic training, thank you.

Related From Slate The Mens Hockey Players Are Facing the Consequences of Their Dalliance With Trump Read More

So Barrons not going anywhere near any battlefields. But as a thought experiment, lets imagine what it would be like if he did. His experience might be a lot like that of Prince Harry, who wrote in his memoir Spare about his time in Afghanistan. Though Harry really fought (and killed people) there, he was also given special treatment, and was withdrawn by security forces the second his deployment was leaked to the media. In some imagined scenario where Barron ended up enlisting, he too would likely be insulated from the worst outcomes because of who he is.

If I sound a little dismissive of a bunch of people angrily hoping that Trumps actions could for once have consequences, thats because all the jokes about Barron going to war feel a little first-term to me. Theyre reminiscent of a time of #Resistance cranks and dumb Trump-Putin memes. Barron is going to have a perfectly lovely life. He is probably having a nice video chat with an accused sex trafficker as we speak. Is it any consolation that he probably hates his father? Maybe a little.
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On Monday, the Supreme Court heard argument in United States v. Hemani, a case that challenges the constitutionality of a federal statute that makes it a crime for an unlawful drug user to possess a gun. The Supreme Court agreed to hear Hemanis case after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit struck down his conviction last year, ruling that the law, as applied to Hemania self-admitted frequent marijuana userviolated the Second Amendment. I attended in person and got there early enough that my seat was only 15 feet away from Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Hemani is the first time since the Supreme Courts decision in Bruen upended Second Amendment jurisprudence that the court has addressed the constitutionality of laws that prosecute individuals for owning guns solely based upon a category that the gun owner falls into. In United States v. Rahimi, which the court decided in 2024, the defendant had been deemed dangerous by a family court judge, based on allegations made by his former girlfriend. But in Hemani, the prohibition against possessing a gun applies to all unlawful drug users, regardless of personal circumstance. Which raises the question: Can the government, without any individual determination as to the habits or dangerousness of the individual, ban all unlawful drug users from owning guns? And how does this categorical frame fit with the test articulated in Bruen, which demands that every modern gun regulation have its roots in a historical analogue, a similar law, dating back to the founding (or thereabouts)?

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While we dont yet know how Hemani will be decided, members of both the conservative and liberal factions of the court seemed united against the broadness of the category that the law had created. Too many people could be prosecuted and disarmed for things that, the justices seemed to agree, just werent worth it. Both sides objected to the breadth of the category, repeatedly voicing skepticism that a law could paint with such a broad brush. Disarming all unlawful drug users, from marijuana smokers to PCP users to people who used their spouses prescription medication, seemed a bridge too far.

Ali Danial Hemanis legal troubles began in 2022, when federal agents executed a search warrant at his family home, hoping to find evidence that he was connected to a terrorist group in the Middle East. No such evidence was recovered, but agents did find a 9-millimeter pistol (purchased legally), as well as 60 grams of marijuana and a small amount of cocaine. When questioned, Hemani admitted to using marijuana several times a week. He was tried and convicted under the federal statute now in question, which makes it a felony for a person to own a gun while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance. On appeal, though, he successfully argued that his Second Amendment right to bear arms could not be taken from him merely because of his recreational use of marijuana. (If this statute sounds vaguely familiar, it is probably because it was the same one used to prosecute Hunter Biden several years ago.)

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The concept of illegal drugs did not really exist at the founding, and so the only founding-era statute that could serve as an analogue to this modern law was one that allowed magistrates to disarm habitual drunkardsvagrants who routinely acted foolishly in public. Habitual drinking, by contrast, was a founding-era norm. As Justice Neil Gorsuch quickly pointed out, John Adams drank a tankard of hard cider each morning with his breakfast and James Madison consumed a pint of whiskey each day. If these men retained their right to bear arms, why would we disarm a man who took a THC-infused gummy bear every other night to sleep?

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Justice Barrett had a separate set of concerns. The statute, she pointed out, defined unlawful drug user so generally that it seemed to include all types of relatively innocuous behavior. Did a person who used her husbands Ambien prescription when she couldnt sleep, Barrett asked, commit a crime by owning a gun? What about the college student who used her roommates Adderall during exams? Principal Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris, who defended the statute, hemmed and hawed, but had to admit that yes, such a person could be prosecuted under this statute (although it had never happened). Barrett then homed in on dangerousness as a justification for the loss of Second Amendment rightsthe primary reason, she has argued, that guns may be confiscated. Was there any evidence that frequent marijuana use made people dangerous?

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Gorsuch piped in again to point out that marijuana is now legal in many states and even the federal government is considering moving it from Schedule 1 drug (most serious) to Schedule 3 drug (less serious). In light of this, did it still seem fair to ban all users from owning guns? This led Justice Brett Kavanaugh to ask about mens rea, the required mental state that the government must prove in order to show that an individual committed a crime. Were individuals in states where marijuana is legal on notice that they were committing a crime by owning a gun? Yes, the government insisted, they were.

At certain moments, the justices seemed to be imaging themselves in the fact patterns they presentedperhaps Barrett could see herself as the Ambien-popping spouse deprived of her right to own a gun. At other moments, the justices lack of personal experience with drugs shone through: When Justice Elena Kagan asked about users of ayahuasca, a plant-based hallucinogen used by Native Americans in religious ceremonies, Barrett said: I have never heard of that drug  Is that real? (The short answer is yes and yes: Ayahuasca is real, and its users could be prosecuted for owning a gun.)

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Related From Slate A New Ruling Forces the Supreme Court to Confront the Trump Administrations Lies Under Oath Read More

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson seemed deeply frustrated that the government was asking the court to credit the judgments made by Congress and the executive branch as to which drugs were dangerous when Bruen had forbid just this approach. The entire point, I thought, of the Bruen test was to say that the only thing the modern legislature gets to do is follow the judgments of the founding-era legislature around who was dangerous and who gets disarmed.

Hemanis lawyer, Erin Murphy, had a much easier task: She had only to convince the justices that the statute, as it had been applied to her client, was unconstitutional. Murphy intentionally stepped back from any discussion of whether users of more serious drugs like meth or heroin might be prosecuted, confining her arguments to the many issues raised by marijuanas quasi-legal status and a lack of evidence that it causes dangerous behavior.

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A majority of the justices seemed to agree that many unlawful drug users were simply too dangerous to be allowed to own guns. But leaving argument on Monday morning, it seemed equally clear that both the left and right wings of the court did not think all unlawful drug users, regardless of personal circumstance, forfeited their Second Amendment rights. This is certainly good news for Mr. Hemani, but left unclear the question of how other, more serious drug users may be disarmed. If the statute is struck down entirely for being overly broad, will Congress rewrite it? And what about the states with similar laws? Let us hope that the courts opinion, when it is released later this year, leaves law enforcement with the tools that it needs to take guns away from the truly dangerous drug userseven as it spares the marijuana smokers and the people who use their roommates Adderall.
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Something has been missing from Democrats response to the war in Iran since President Donald Trump announced major combat operations early Saturday morning. Party leaders focus, so far, has only been on the process.

The Trump administration must explain itself to the American people and Congress immediately, provide an ironclad justification for this act of war, clearly define the national security objective and articulate a plan to avoid another costly, prolonged military quagmire in the Middle East, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, summing up the prevailing sentiment in his party. His Senate counterpart, Chuck Schumer, similarly called for more information.

Undoubtedly the process complaints are merited, as there hasnt really been a process. Trump made no attempt to sell the war to either the public or Congress, and days into it, the administration cant get its story straight about why the war was necessary or what the goal of it is.

But Democrats focus on process papers over fractures in the underlying policy itself: Is war against Iran a good idea, or not? While the left is comfortable outwardly opposing it and some in the center support it, the broad middle hasnt found its footing. If the war becomes a debacle, have no doubt that just about every Democrat in office will rush to say that they knew it was a terrible idea from the get-go. But many Democrats have a long and well-documented history of hawkishness toward Iran, jumbling their thoughts and muddling their response.

On the poles of the party, at least, you will get some clear answers.

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and Sen. Bernie Sanders, for exampletwo of the most progressive Democratic senatorshave been willing to say the magic words that have eluded much of their caucus: No war with Iran. This is not a difficult question for them. The president is deeply unpopular, in part because hes viewed as focused too much on stray pet projects and foreign policy instead of the cost of living, and now he wants to attack Iran for reasons that he cant articulate and with objectives that change by the hour? Hes doing this in a way that exposes serious fissures within his own party? He says Thats the way it is about American soldiers dying? Why, from these senators points of viewon both policy and politicsis this even a question? No war with Iran!

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More centrist Democratic members and those with long track records of supporting Israel, meanwhile, are openly supportive of Operation Epic Fury. New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer celebrated the administration for taking decisive action to defend our national security, fight terror, protect our allies, and stand with the Iranian people. Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz, meanwhilebefore hostilities startedhad referred to a resolution requiring Trump to cease hostilities with Iran as the Ayatollah Protection Act. And Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, long the most vocal supporter of Israel among Senate Democrats, has been trashing his party for not being more supportive of the strikes.

The broad peloton of Democrats, though, are pairing every procedural complaint under the sun with to-be-clear paragraphs about how they, too, believe the Iranian regime must be dealt with. Schumer in his statement, noted that Irans malign regional activities, nuclear ambitions, and harsh oppression of the Iranian people demands American strength, resolve, regional coordination, and strategic clarity. Jeffries said that Iran must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region, but that Trump needed to come before Congress.

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Schumer and Jeffries, like many Democrats, have a long history of supporting sanctions against Iran, warning that the Iranian regime is an existential threat to Israel, and describing Iran as the largest state sponsor of terror in the world. Schumer famously opposed President Barack Obamas nuclear agreement with Iran as he didnt believe it would meaningfully constrain the regimes ambitions. For many who did support itlike Jeffriesit was still a difficult vote. And now, even in this day and age, under an unpopular president acting erratically and with an American public thats weary of new wars, theres always the voice in the back of Democrats heads warning them not to look weak against bad guys in the Middle East.

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I could keep quoting these, but theyre all the same. Heres Sen. Elissa Slotkin, heres Sen. Jacky Rosen and her Nevada counterpart Catherine Cortez Masto. Heres Sen. Mark Kelly. Theyre all tiptoeing, explainingnot incorrectlythat Trumps haphazard method and strategy has made for a very risky situation, and that Trump needs to come before Congress. They are all saying that Trump is, at the very least, not keeping with the spirit of the Constitution in going at this unilaterally. They are all connoting that Trump is a doofus. They are not saying whether they think war with Iran is a bad idea.

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What most Democrats appear willing to do, at least, is go on the record this week in opposition to the process. The House and Senate will vote on War Powers Resolutions requiring Trump to terminate military force against Iran absent explicit authorization from Congress. These resolutions may not pass in either chamber. Some Democrats openly supporting the war will vote against them, while Republicans will keep most of their members in line to support the administration.

In other words, this is a free vote in which Democrats can express a form of generalized disgruntlement with the project, but thats about it. It buys them a little more time to sort their thoughtsor have their thoughts sorted for them. Because I suspect, the longer this goes on, that Democratic voters across the country will catch on to the word games and nudge all Democrats closer to No war with Iran as the winning message. Gas prices, after all, are going up.
Promotion strengthens the firm's leadership in commercial real estate transactions.

HOUSTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Porter Law Firm announced today that attorney Shane Waddell has been promoted to Partner, underscoring his contributions to the firm's commercial real estate practice and his commitment to delivering strategic, business-forward counsel.

"What sets Shane apart is that he doesn't just understand real estate on paper; as an investor himself, he understands how transactions work in the real world," said Brad Porter, owner and managing Partner at Porter Law Firm. "At Porter Law Firm, we talk about providing real investment in our clients' goals. Shane lives that mindset every dayhe shows up like a true partner in the deal, invested in outcomes, relationships, and long-term success."

Waddell joined Porter Law Firm in May 2016 as a summer law clerk. Since then, he has advised clients on complex real estate transactions, real estate development, title, and leasing matters across Texas. He is known for guiding deals from LOI through closing while helping clients manage risk and timelines.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to take this step at Porter Law Firm," said Waddell. "I value the relationships we've built with our clients, and I look forward to seeing what we accomplish together next."

Waddell received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and graduated cum laude from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2018. He is Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a member of the Texas Bar Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law (REPTL) Section. Waddell was named a 2025 Texas Commercial Real Estate Icon by REDnews and recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for outstanding work in his practice.

About Porter Law Firm

Founded in 2009, Porter Law Firm provides tailored legal counsel across a wide range of real estate matters in Houston, Austin, and surrounding areas. Whether you are investing in a business, buying or selling commercial real estate, seeking help with property association law or construction matters, or planning for the next generation, Porter Law Firm provides real investment in your goals. For more, visit www.porterfirm.com.

Media Contact:

Melissa Campbell

Porter Law Firm

713.600.4311

[email protected]

SOURCE Porter Law Firm
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Last July, Anthropic agreed to ink a $200 million contract with the Pentagon, allowing the department broad-based use of its Claude model as the two prospective partners gradually worked out the final terms of engagement. Those were supposed to get etched last weekonly for Anthropic to undergo a decisive test for its oft-professed ethical boundaries.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that his team be allowed to deploy Claudes software in whatever manner they deemed pertinent, including applications for domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weaponry, which were red lines for Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. On Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump ordered a six-month phaseout of all uses of Claude at the federal level. Hegseth then designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk to national security, all but forbidding any military contractors from doing future business with the company. A federal contract was subsequently bestowed upon Anthropic rival OpenAI, which unconvincingly claimed that it would try to safeguard tools like ChatGPT from use in population surveillance and autonomous weapons.

The fallout for Anthropic has been remarkable. Its the first-ever American company to be deemed a supply-chain risk, which means its already lost several users across the federal government. But something even stranger emerged in the aftermath: a lotta liberal goodwill. Social media campaigners encouraged their followers, even the A.I. skeptics, to download Claude en masse. Extremely online observers came up with bizarre metaphors to characterize Anthropics heroism, and pushed Claude to the top of the app-store charts over the weekend. By Monday morning, there was a Claude service outage that Anthropic attributed to unprecedented demand for its products. Even Sen. Brian Schatz and Katy Perry got in on the whole thing. (The fact that American commandos had still used Claude to plan the Saturday strikes on Iran did not appear to faze many of these folks.) Meanwhile, the complementary OpenAI backlash has been so pitched that its pushed CEO Sam Altman into claiming he will amend the surveillance terms of its Pentagon partnership.

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Its understandable that the manic, first-term energy from the libs who embrace any Trump opponents has manifested yet again, this time in favor of a dissenting tech firm. But those whove chosen Anthropic as a pro-democracy signifier should reconsider their choice of mascotbecause, as anyone whos paid close attention to Anthropic over the past half-decade will tell you, not only is it far from an ethical company, but it embodies the very worst, most corrosive aspects of A.I.s impacts on modern society, from creative exploitation to political opportunism to, yes, military lethality.

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The hullaballoo around Anthropics fight overshadowed another major development last week: The company was ditching its responsible scaling policy, a safeguard, unique within the sector, meant to prevent it from developing risky A.I. tools too quickly. Its not the first time Anthropic has been so flexible with its self-imposed rules. In 2024, it scrapped its blanket ban against selling Claude products to government spy agencies; just after Trumps reelection, it also partnered with Palantir and Amazon to sell their tools to U.S. military customers. This year, the Pentagon made use of the Palantir-Anthropic suite in planning the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a campaign that killed dozens of locals. Even after the capture, Anthropic participated in a Pentagon bidding contest, proposing a system whereby Claude would interpret voice commands so as to guide offensive, semi-autonomous drone swarms that wold employ some human backup.

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In the most technical sense, none of this violates the red lines that Amodei outlined around surveilling Americans or allowing his tech to power fully autonomous killing machines. But those lines appear all the thinner when you consider that Anthropic willingly outsourced Claude use to two corporationsPalantir and Amazonthat are actively enthusiastic about both applications, especially in partnership with this administration.

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That kind of convenient ethical punt has been a constant of Anthropics brief life span. Long before it reneged on its promise of responsible and careful A.I. development, Anthropic used the same unethical shortcuts that have invited so much opprobrium upon competitors like Meta and OpenAI: mass-pirating copyright books and songs to speed up model training, allegedly circumventing Reddits anti-A.I.-crawler protections, and extending its timeline for retaining users private chats and Claude sessions. For a company founded by ex-OpenAI executives disaffected with Sam Altmans business practices, it seemingly has little compunction about the aggressive tacks its already taken to shore up its $380 billion bottom line.

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To be fair, Anthropic indeed deserves credit for holding to its red lines with the Trump administration, fending off Hegseths explicit threats to force it into compliance by invoking the Defense Production Act (which, thankfully for Anthropic, did not come to fruition). Thats no small thing when so many other tech companies and CEOs have discarded their professed Trump 1.0 principlesdefending immigrant workers, decrying Trumps racist statements, resigning from White House advisory positionsfor the sake of government cash and business-friendly deregulation.

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But to celebrate Anthropics move through a mass virtuous-capitalism campaign is to give it too much credit; the company did, after all, willingly lend itself to this administration and its most openly craven partners until the final minute. And considering Anthropics lifelong track record of forgoing the principles that supposedly animate its existence (including the responsible development ethos it cast off last week), no one with any standards should expect this conscientious objection to last either. Enjoy Claude if you want; its a remarkable chatbot. Just dont expect it to do anything further to preserve our democracy, or anyones life, or your efforts to prevent A.I. from ruining everything.
The Woodstock Police Force has concluded no criminal charges will be laid after a full investigation into the tragic incident that resulted in the fatality of a child on June 14, 2025 at Connell Park Raceway, according to New Brunswick media reports.

A three-year-old child, identified as Gunnar Dickison, was struck by the starting gate when leaning over the fence along the racetrack during a live race on June 14 and transported to Upper River Valley Hospital, where he later passed away from his injuries.

The Telegraph-Journal has reported that police and Crown prosecutors concluded there were "insufficient grounds to proceed with criminal charges" after examining video footage, witness interviews and physical evidence.

"There has to be a wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of other persons," Deputy Chief Simon Watts was quoted as saying in the Telegraph-Journal article. "After the completion of the investigation and in consultation with the Crown prosecution service, it was determined that the offence threshold was not met."

The Town of Woodstock and its Council members cleared Horse Racing New Brunswick to proceed with live racing later in the summer after safety precautions were implemented, including the installation of a temporary 425-foot fence trackside that is planned to be replaced by the municipality this spring with permanent fencing.

The Telegraph-Journal reported that a civil lawsuit is expected in connection with the incident.

(With files from Telegraph-Journal)
Prinoth's revolutionary PowerForce Undercarriage technology is engineered for maximum terrain performance, greater comfort, extended range

LAS VEGAS, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prinoth, a global leader in crawler carriers, today announced the official introduction of its new flagship Panther T23r, the industry's largest and most technologically advanced rotating crawler carrier. The new model is the first to feature Prinoth's PowerForce undercarriage, a breakthrough design underpinning more than 20 patent applications, delivering unmatched terrain performance and operational efficiency. The announcement was made at a press conference at Conexpo-Conagg 2026.

The new T23r is the first to feature Prinoths PowerForce undercarriage, a breakthrough design underpinning more than 20 patent applications, delivering unmatched terrain performance and operational efficiency.

The Panther T23r carries the largest payload at 22.5 short tons while maintaining compact dimensions of 9.8 feet (3 meters) wide, 10.8 feet (3.175 meters) tall and 40 tons total weight. Its continuous 360-degree rotating upper structure and rounded Hardox steel dump box with telescopic cylinder enable precise material placement in confined spaces where conventional haulers cannot operate.

The PowerForce undercarriage represents a fundamental advancement in crawler carrier design. Where competitors often rely on rigid walking beam systems that transfer every bump directly to the operator and cargo, PowerForce absorbs terrain variations while maximizing power transfer to the ground. The result is a machine that works harder, travels faster, saves fuel and significantly improved operator comfort.

Adaptive Independent Suspension System: The PowerForce undercarriage positions eight wheels on independent arms, each providing seven inches of travel through hydro-pneumatic shock absorbers that automatically adjust to load conditions, absorbing terrain impacts and protecting the operator. This dual-setting system maintains consistent ride quality whether the machine is empty at 41,200 pounds or fully loaded at 85,400 pounds. Strategic weight distribution places 60 percent of the load on center wheels, improving zero-turn capability and reducing ground pressure.

Oblong Track Configuration: Prinoth engineers developed an oval track shape that reduces bend points by 50 percent and doubles the bend radius compared to conventional designs. This geometry minimizes energy loss at each track revolution, transferring more engine power directly to vehicle motion. The design also increases ground contact area for improved flotation in soft conditions and enhanced traction on slopes.

Precision Track Alignment: The PowerForce system achieves track pitch precision 10 times greater than standard crawler carriers. Engineered with precise link spacing, with an auto-centering "fox head" profile, the planetary drives deliver smooth sprocket operation, engaging 15 teeth simultaneously versus conventional single-point contact. Its roller and wheel configuration virtually eliminates de-tracking, even under extreme maneuvering, minimizing downtime and extending track life.

Automatic Track Tensioning: A dual-action tensioning system continuously optimizes track tension based on operating conditions. The system reduces tension when the machine is lightly loaded to minimize component wear, then increases tension automatically when additional traction is required. This real-time adjustment extends undercarriage service life while ensuring maximum performance across all terrain types.

Advanced Dump Box Design: The rounded shape of the Hardox steel deep-section box promotes smooth material flow and reduces carryback, especially with sticky soils and aggregates. Prinoth moved the dump box closer to the undercarriage centerline compared with traditional designs, optimizing its center of gravity and balancing loads across the suspension and central bearing, which helps reduce stress, weight and complexity in the frame.

The Panther T23r also features Prinoth's new cabin with a near center-mounted operator position that provides enhanced visibility to the right side where ground personnel typically work. Standard equipment includes an air-ride seat, 7-inch touchscreen display, ergonomic joystick controls, for dump and rotate, intuitive steering wheel and foot throttle drive system, sun visor and cruise control for reduced operator fatigue during long shifts. An optional buddy seat is also available.

"Customers are pushing farther into remote, sensitive and high-consequence environments," said Frank M. Gangi, product manager for the Prinoth Panther. "With the Panther T23r, we set out to give them a machine that feels completely in control on those sites, with a payload and undercarriage that lets them haul more in fewer passes while protecting the jobsite and the machine."

A public unveiling ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 4:30 PM PST in the Prinoth booth # W43845 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Following the ceremony, the Panther T23r will be on full display in the Prinoth booth from March 3-7.

The Prinoth Panther T23r is now available through Prinoth's global network of dealers and distributors available here https://prinoth-crawlercarriers.com/en/find-a-dealer.

To access high-resolution images of the Prinoth T23r, please click here.

To view a video of the Prinoth T23r in action, please click here.

About Prinoth

Prinoth develops products for the most challenging conditions. With over 60 years of experience, it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of crawler carriers, snow groomers and vegetation management equipment. In the company's crawler carrier division, proven technologies and expert know-how, contribute to the industry leading vehicles renowned for their reliability, productivity and performance.

Prinoth is part of the HTI Group (High Technology Industries), which specializes in the fields of winter sports, urban mobility, material transport, construction, vegetation management and clean energy. With over 20 production facilities, 100 branches and 4,800 employees worldwide, HTI is able to meet the needs of its customers at their local level.

PowerForce is a trademark of Prinoth LTD.

Prinoth Crawler Carriers - (Prinoth-crawlercarriers.com)

SOURCE Prinoth Limited
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Sam Altman is trying to explain his company's deal with the US government. | Credit: Getty Images / Tomohiro Ohsumi / Stringer

Sam Altman has published an internal memo about its US military deal on X

He says the announcement was "rushed" and has tweaked the wording

ChatGPT uninstalls are up by 295%, according to recent data

The controversy around OpenAI's decision to sign a defense deal with the US Department of War (DoW) continues to rumble on, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitting the agreement was "rushed", and ChatGPT uninstall rates up by some 295%.

Altman has taken to social media to clarify some aspects of the deal, and to change some of the wording in it. For example, the agreement now specifically states that ChatGPT-powered AI systems at the DoW "shall not be intentionally used for domestic surveillance of US persons and nationals".

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Along with the use of fully autonomous weapons (which Altman doesn't address here), mass surveillance was a main sticking point for critics of the OpenAI deal  and for Claude developer Anthropic, which walked away from a DoW deal last week after failing to get the safety and security assurances it wanted from the US military.

In the same social media post, Altman says "we shouldn't have rushed to get this out on Friday", and that it came across as "opportunistic and sloppy". The CEO has also called on the US government to reverse its directive to freeze out Anthropic and Claude from official agencies, describing it as a "very bad decision".

He added that "we want to work through democratic processes" and that "if I received what I believed was an unconstitutional order, of course I would rather go to jail than follow it".

The ChatGPT exodus continues

It remains to be seen whether Altman's latest attempts at assuaging security concerns will work. According to data from Sensor Tower (via TechCrunch), ChatGPT uninstall rates are up 295% in the US over the last few days  so nearly three times as many users are taking the app off their phones compared to an average day.

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Many of those ChatGPT quitters seem to be heading to Claude. Sensor Tower reports installs in the US were up 37% last Friday and up 51% last Saturday, and Claude has also hit the top of the Apple App Store charts. Within the last couple of days the AI bot has also made chat memory available for all users.

A quick glance at Reddit suggests that AI ethics are important for a lot of users, though there are also numerous complaints across several Reddit threads that the quality of ChatGPT's responses have been declining recently. The GPT-4o model was recently retired, something else which OpenAI has received a lot of criticism for.

It feels as though consumers, the US government, OpenAI, and Anthropic will still have plenty more to say on these issues in the days ahead, as the debate on the safety and ethicality of AI models continues.

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The approach uses Keysights Channel Studio RaySim in conjunction with Qualcomms massive MIMO algorithms

The approach uses Keysights Channel Studio RaySim in conjunction with Qualcomms massive MIMO algorithms (GHUNTURUL/Shutterstock.com.)

Keysight Technologies and Qualcomm Technologies have launched a collaboration focused on the application of radio frequency (RF) digital twins.

The initiative aims to accelerate the development and validation of massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems for 5G-Advanced and next-generation 6G wireless networks.

It is designed to allow industry stakeholders, including chipset, device, and network equipment manufacturers, to predict and optimise massive MIMO performance with greater accuracy before live deployment.

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Both companies will present their workflow at Mobile World Congress 2026 (MWC 2026), detailing the construction of a photorealistic RF digital twin based on Qualcomms massive MIMO test network in San Diego.

The approach uses Keysights Channel Studio RaySim in conjunction with Qualcomms massive MIMO algorithms to model site-specific radio propagation effects. Validation of these models will be achieved by benchmarking results from the digital twin against measurements taken from Qualcomms end-to-end prototype network and laboratory-based testbeds using Keysight emulation solutions and Qualcomm devices.

This process aims to resolve discrepancies between simulated, lab-based, and real-world performance, particularly as site-specific RF conditions increasingly dictate deployment outcomes. Massive MIMO beamforming or precoding strategies frequently yield divergent results outside controlled environments.

Qualcomm senior director Kiran Mukkavilli said: Realistic RF digital twins are essential for developing and validating advanced beamforming and AI-based optimisation techniques.

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By anchoring high-fidelity digital twins to Qualcomm Technologies end-to-end massive MIMO research platform, this collaboration demonstrates how high-fidelity modeling, combined with system-level testing and over-the-air validation, can improve confidence that massive MIMO algorithms will perform as expected in real deployments.

The joint demonstration will evaluate correlations across technical metrics such as Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), throughput, and rank, comparing them to over-the-air measurements for further validation.

The partners also indicate that this validated workflow is capable of producing high-quality channel datasets intended for training and validating AI/machine learning models. Targeted use cases include Channel State Information (CSI) compression, adaptive beam management, and AI-driven precoding optimisation, which are key enablers as AI becomes more embedded within radio access network (RAN) operations.

Keysight general manager and wireless solutions head Mosaab Abughalib said: High-precision RF digital twins help engineers connect algorithm design to measurable hardware performance. By combining raytraced digital twins with advanced channel emulation, Keysight enables customers to predict massive MIMO behavior before deployment, reducing risk and accelerating innovation toward AI-native 6G networks.

Keysight collaborates with Samsung and Nvidia on end-to-end AI-RAN validation

In a separate development, Keysight is working with Samsung Electronics and Nvidia on an integrated solution for end-to-end AI-RAN testing and validation. This initiative will also feature at MWC 2026.

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The partnership leverages Keysights AI-RAN Simulation Toolset to automate the generation of realistic datasets, facilitate AI/ML model training, and unify benchmarking activities for AI-enhanced RAN modules. The initial focus is on PUSCH channel estimation.

The process addresses the common fragmentation in RAN validation workflows, where data science tasks are often siloed, which hampers reproducibility and comparative assessment prior to field trials. By coordinating dataset creation, model training, and benchmarking in a single pipeline, engineers can assess AI model behaviour consistently across diverse physical-layer scenarios that directly affect throughput and reliability.

The demonstration integrates the Keysight AI-RAN Simulation Toolset with Nvidias Aerial Testbed, utilising computing platforms such as NVIDIA GH200 and DGX Spark, and includes the NVIDIA Aerial Omniverse Digital Twin alongside commercial radio hardware from Analog Devices.

AI/ML models contributed by Samsung, Nvidia, and Keysight are said to be trained and evaluated within this unified environment to provide performance insights relevant to industry research and development teams.

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Last month, Keysight introduced SOS Enterprise, an updated engineering data management platform designed to support AI adoption within semiconductor design at the enterprise level. The platform extends the capabilities of the existing SOS Core software by offering automated engineering data governance and traceability needed for large-scale AI deployment.

"Keysight and Qualcomm partner on RF digital twins for 6G and AI-RAN" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




SharePoint Introduces Agentic AI Building and Governance Tools

Key Takeaways Microsoft introduced AI in SharePoint, enabling natural language-driven site, page and list creation under the Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

Advanced AI capabilities initially rely on Anthropic's Claude, with some customers required to opt in to sub-processor terms before general availability.

New SharePoint Admin Agent skills add tenant-wide permission analysis, oversharing detection and storage governance to support secure AI adoption.

Microsoft has unveiled a number of AI enhancements for its SharePoint collaboration platform, including a public preview of agentic building capabilities, a redesigned user experience, and expanded content governance tools  changes the company says are designed to help organizations scale AI deployments with security built in from the start.

The announcements, detailed in a pair of blog posts celebrating SharePoint's 25th anniversary from Adam Harmetz, corporate vice president of SharePoint and OneDrive, and Jeff Teper, president of Collaborative Apps and Platforms, span three areas: AI in SharePoint, a new visual interface and enhanced governance controls. All three are beginning to roll out at the tenant level through public preview, with additional capabilities slated to arrive over the coming weeks.

From Prompts to Working Solutions

Central to the update is what Microsoft is calling AI in SharePoint  a natural language-driven experience that allows users to describe what they want to build and have SharePoint generate a structured plan spanning sites, pages, lists, and libraries. The company said the feature replaces the previously previewed Knowledge Agent, integrating those capabilities natively into the platform under the M365 Copilot license.

According to Harmetz, organizations will also be able to define custom AI skills  packages of business logic, governance rules and terminology  to shape how AI behaves within their environments. "These skills act as active guardrails through execution, not after the fact," Harmetz wrote, describing them as a mechanism for ensuring built solutions stay aligned with organizational standards rather than relying on post-hoc review.

Site creation via natural language is scheduled to arrive at the end of March through the AI in SharePoint preview. Page editing, library organization, and list management are available now through the same preview program.

Microsoft also disclosed that the initial rollout of advanced AI in SharePoint relies on Anthropic's Claude. "Based on evals, testing, and capacity, our initial rollout of the advanced AI capabilities in SharePoint relies on Anthropic's Claude," Harmetz wrote, noting that some customers may need to opt in to allow Anthropic as a sub-processor under Microsoft Online Services terms depending on their location. The company said it plans to address that requirement before general availability.

Knowledge as an Active Asset

In his accompanying post, Teper framed the anniversary update as a broader shift in how enterprises should think about the content stored in SharePoint. The platform now serves more than 1 billion users annually, with over 2 billion files uploaded and 2 million sites created each day, according to Microsoft.

Teper wrote that SharePoint is now the top grounding source for Microsoft 365 Copilot, and that organizations need to treat their stored knowledge accordingly  arguing that in an AI era, "knowledge can no longer remain passive, as it needs to be activated."
Over 325,000 volunteers nationwide are advancing a lifesaving mission rooted in more than half of the country's 250-year history; people can get involved at redcross.org

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- New American Red Cross data released today reveals a national snapshot of volunteerism across generations.

From Gen Z to the Silent Generation, people of all ages comprise the organization's 325,000-plus volunteers  which have increased nearly 25% over the past three years as part of a nationwide post-pandemic rebound. According to demographic estimates shared by most Red Cross volunteers:

New American Red Cross data released today reveals a national snapshot of volunteerism across generations. Gen Z is the fastest-growing and largest group of volunteers; Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers form the backbone of essential mission roles; the Silent Generation is the smallest cohort bringing deep experience.

Gen Z is the fastest-growing and largest group of volunteers (42%), driven largely by growth in student-led Red Cross clubs.

is the fastest-growing and largest group of volunteers (42%), driven largely by growth in student-led Red Cross clubs. Millennials account for roughly a quarter of volunteers (24%), followed by Baby Boomers (18%) and Gen X (9%) to anchor core mission roles.

account for roughly a quarter of volunteers (24%), followed by (18%) and (9%) to anchor core mission roles. The Silent Generation is the smallest cohort (7%) but contributes a legacy of service that often spans multiple decades.

"For more than half of the country's 250year history, the Red Cross mission has endured because compassion is at the heart of communities," said Matt Bertram, vice president, Red Cross Volunteer Services. "Generation after generation, people have come together to deliver care and hope in the face of emergencies  and today, that same generous spirit remains a powerful force connecting us across time."

This month during Red Cross Month, the Red Cross honors how people today deliver support when help can't wait. Every contribution matters  visit redcross.org to get involved by volunteering, making a financial donation, giving blood or taking a class in lifesaving skills.

From Gen Z to the Silent Generation: How People Volunteer with Red Cross

While Gen Z volunteer growth is largely fueled by an increase in Red Cross Clubs, they also represent nearly one-third of blood donor ambassadors nationwide, who welcome blood donors to donation sites. This is an ideal role for those looking to get started with limited training and commitment flexibility.

volunteer growth is largely fueled by an increase in Red Cross Clubs, they also represent of blood donor ambassadors nationwide, who welcome blood donors to donation sites. This is an ideal role for those looking to get started with limited training and commitment flexibility. Millennials account for roughly a quarter of nationwide volunteers who make up local Disaster Action Teams and provide emergency shelter for big disasters. These are frontline roles, where people work as a team to deliver immediate relief and comfort to families.

account for of nationwide volunteers who make up local Disaster Action Teams and provide emergency shelter for big disasters. These are frontline roles, where people work as a team to deliver immediate relief and comfort to families. Gen X represents roughly 1 in 5 people who help families after disasters of all sizes nationwide, whether it's responding to a home fire as a member of a local Disaster Action Team, providing emergency shelter after a major disaster, or helping families transition from a disaster shelter to more sustainable housing.

represents people who help families after disasters of all sizes nationwide, whether it's responding to a home fire as a member of a local Disaster Action Team, providing emergency shelter after a major disaster, or helping families transition from a disaster shelter to more sustainable housing. Baby Boomers are often the backbone for essential roles. They're the largest cohort for many positions, including nearly two-thirds of blood transportation specialists nationwide. In this role, people deliver critical blood products to local hospitals for patients relying on donated blood for survival.

are often the backbone for essential roles. They're the largest cohort for many positions, including of blood transportation specialists nationwide. In this role, people deliver critical blood products to local hospitals for patients relying on donated blood for survival. The Silent Generation are the oldest volunteers at over 80 years old. While they're typically the smallest cohort, they often bring decades of experience to roles across the mission  from caring for families affected by disasters to greeting blood donors to conducting outreach in military communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Red Cross Month?

A: Red Cross Month is a nationwide celebration in March to honor the people who deliver support when help can't wait. It began as a national call to action during WWII for individuals to address growing humanitarian needs. Now, it's a community tradition encouraging people to get involved by donating, giving blood, volunteering or taking a class in lifesaving skills at redcross.org. This year's campaign includes:

The Red Cross is offering free A1C screening in March to test for prediabetes and diabetes on all successful blood, platelet and plasma donations, as part of its efforts to support the health of communities. No fasting is required; it's always important to eat a nutritious meal before giving blood. In addition, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31 will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. See RedCrossBlood.org/March for details.

Financial donations made on March 25 for Disaster Relief will be part of this year's Red Cross Giving Day, which aims to bring together 30,000 supporters to help ensure families don't face disasters alone.

Q: What is Red Cross Giving Day?

A: Red Cross Month culminates with Red Cross Giving Day, which will be held this year on March 25. It's an opportunity for people to come together on one day to help families recover from a home fire or other disaster across the country. Donations can be made at redcross.org/GivingDay.

Q: Where can people find volunteer opportunities?

A: The Red Cross offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities, including helping families after local disasters through our Disaster Action Teams, welcoming blood donors to donation sites as a blood donor ambassador, and delivering lifesaving blood products to local hospitals as a blood transportation specialist. People can find a position that matches their needs at redcross.org.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

SOURCE American Red Cross
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As Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar signed the country to a new US-lead anti-cartel coalition on Saturday, business leaders in Trinidad and Tobago largely welcomed the move as a stronger stance on tackling the issue of organised crime.

But some cautioned that expanded military operations in the Caribbean should be carefully managed.
SHANGHAI, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Huai'an Salt Cavern Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) demonstration project (the "Project") in China's Jiangsu Province, which is the world's largest CAES station, has recently been fully commissioned. Shanghai Electric (SEHK:2727, SSE:601727) supplied core equipment for the Project, including air turbine units, generators, electric motors, and molten salt storage tanks.

World's Largest CAES Station in Jiangsu with Shanghai Electric Equipment

The Unit 2 has successfully achieved grid connection and full-load power generation at the first attempt, providing valuable engineering practice in support of China's new-type power system development.

The Project consists of two 300 MW nonsupplementary combustion CAES units, totaling 600 MW of installed capacity and 2,400 MWh of storage, with approximately 71% conversion efficiency. Air is compressed and stored in salt caverns during lowdemand periods, then released to drive turbines for power generation at peak times, supporting grid stability through peak shaving and frequency regulation.

Utilizing about 980,000 cubic meters of salt caverns located 1,150 to 1,500 meters underground in Huai'an, the Project employs "molten salt + pressurized thermal water" nonsupplementary combustion hightemperature adiabatic compression technology. This enables compressed heat to be stored and reused throughout the process without fossil fuel combustion, delivering significant lowcarbon benefits.

The first 300 MW unit reached full-load operation in December 2025, followed by Unit 2's recent commissioning. With a total investment of $520 million, the fully operational station is expected to generate 792 million kWh of electricity annually, that is enough to power around 600,000 households. It will save approximately 250,000 tons of standard coal and cut CO emissions by 600,000 tons each year, delivering a measurable impact on the region's energy transition.

Shanghai Electric Power Generation Group supplied core equipment for the Project covering both power generation and thermal storage systems. The broad scope showcases Shanghai Electric's integrated engineering capabilities in turbine machinery, power equipment, and thermal storage, delivering a reliable and replicable equipment solution for long-duration energy storage projects worldwide.

As the world moves toward carbon neutrality, long-duration energy storage technologies like CAES are key to enhancing grid resilience and enabling highpenetration renewable integration. Leveraging system integration expertise from the Project, Shanghai Electric is advancing highend equipment manufacturing and integrated solutions to support the global energy transition and power system modernization.

For more information, please visit https://www.shanghai-electric.com/group_en/.

SOURCE Shanghai Electric
For decades, the Iranian regime has openly proclaimed slogans that leave no room for ambiguity: Death to Israel and Death to America. These were not mere words. While these slogans echoed in Tehrans main square, the regime enriched uranium, developed ballistic missiles, and buried military facilities underground. Its rhetoric was accompanied by a strategy.

They think she has it, my mother said, looking at me warily, her voice filled with dread. She has the Big One.

You mean, they think she has cancer? The Big C? I replied, thinking quickly and trying to figure out what the Big One was. The person to which she was referring was a mid-seventies retired nurse who was active and fearsome in her post-retirement days.
Arizona Highways magazine and The Nature Conservancy in Arizona are now accepting entries in their 13th annual "Adventures in Nature" student photo contest.

Photographers ages 13-18 have until March 31 to submit their best nature photos for a chance at a share of more than $10,000 in prize money.

The photos must be taken in Arizona but can feature anything from the natural world, such as vast landscapes, wildlife in motion or close-ups of insects.

Professional photographers Suzanne Mathia and Mark Skalny and Arizona Highways photo editor Jeff Kida will serve as judges for the contest. They will be looking for images that are artistically creative and evoke emotion, according to a press release from The Nature Conservancy.

The winners will be announced during a virtual award ceremony on April 16, with $5,000 for first prize, $2,500 for second, $1,000 for third and $750 each for seven honorable mentions.

Since its inception, the contest has awarded $90,000 in cash prizes for exceptional photography.

The best conservationists are those who have a personal connection with the natural world, said Daniel Stellar, director of The Nature Conservancy in Arizona. This photo contest encourages students to get outside and explore the wonderful and wild landscapes of Arizona, inspiring them to become champions for nature.

For more than a century, Arizona Highways has showcased the beauty of our state through photography, added the magazines editor, Robert Stieve. As a founding partner of this photo contest, were proud to support not only the next generation of environmental stewards, but also the emerging artists who will continue telling Arizonas story through the power of photography.

The full contest rules and online submission form are available on the Arizona Highways website at: www.arizonahighways.com/photography/photo-contest.
A Haitian asylum seeker held for four months at Florence Correctional Center died Monday at a Scottsdale hospital due to complications from an infected tooth, a local official in Chandler said Tuesday.

Emmanuel Damas, 56, died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after struggling to receive timely medical care for a worsening toothache, Chandler City Councilwoman Christine Ellis told the Arizona Daily Star Tuesday afternoon.

Ellis, a registered nurse who is Haitian-American, said she is outraged and called for an investigation into Damas' death, which she said came weeks after the man first complained of tooth pain to Florence staff.

"Nobody should die from a toothache," Ellis said. "Something has to be done."

ICE had not acknowledged Damas' death as of Wednesday morning.

"Once we have something to share, we will provide," ICE spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe said in a Tuesday email, in response to the Star's query.

Damas first told Florence staff about his toothache Feb. 12 and was given only ibuprofen, said Ellis, who is also vice mayor of Chandler.

"He was complaining for almost two weeks straight, until he collapsed and got septic from the infection," Ellis told the Star. He was transferred to a Scottsdale hospital sometime last week, she said.

Ellis said she learned the details of Damas' death from his family members, who provided her images of Damas unconscious and intubated in an intensive care unit. Ellis shared the images in a Tuesday Instagram post.

Damas' family members said another detainee reported hearing Florence staff "laughing and saying he was faking," as Damas cried for help, Ellis recounted to the Star.

At least 32 people died in ICE custody last year, triple the number of deaths in 2024, according to a Feb. 13 letter from Democratic U.S. senators to leadership at ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security.

Damas is the 10th detainee to die in ICE custody so far in 2026. ICE has announced eight of the deaths, and local politicians notified the public about the March 2 death of Damas and the recent death of Mexican national Alberto Gutierrez Reyes in a California ICE detention center.

Damas' "reported struggle to receive timely medical attention before being transferred to a hospital raises serious and painful concerns about the quality of care provided to individuals in custody," wrote Ellis, also a member of the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network's executive board, in the Instagram post.

CoreCivic, the private, for-profit company that runs Florence Correctional Center, referred the Star to ICE.

Worsening detention conditions

Human rights advocates have long warned of inadequate medical care in ICE detention facilities, a problem advocates say is worsening amid the soaring number of people in ICE detention  which is civil detention, not intended as punishment for any crime.

ICE held about 40,000 people in detention when President Donald Trump took office last year, and the number has exploded to a record 71,0000 since then.

Damas  who has a pending asylum claim, and entered the U.S. via the Biden-era humanitarian parole program for Haitian immigrants  was taken into ICE custody in Boston in September 2025, Ellis said.

After multiple transfers to ICE detention centers across the U.S.  from Boston, to New York, to Texas  he was transferred to Florence about four months ago, she said.

The multiple cross-country transfers many detainees are experiencing amount to "abusive" treatment, Ellis said.

"They really have to get to the point where they treat people with dignity," she said. "This moving people from place to place  it's a form of, not only bullying, but also a form of psychological warfare against that person. ...

"You keep moving them around, they're foreign, they don't know where they are  you want them to give up on life. Literally, that's what theyre trying to do," she said, noting those transfers also put detainees' family "in trauma."

A January report from the Arizona-based Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project highlighted medical and behavioral-health care failures and neglect at Arizona's Eloy Detention Center, including wait times of six months or more for dental care and denial of referrals for root canals, instead only offering tooth extraction.

While ICE's detention standards say detainees should get "medically necessary and appropriate" dental care, advocates say those standards are often ignored, and detainees in pain are told to wait until their six-month dental check-up.

An earlier report from the Florence Project, published in October 2024, also highlighted the long-standing issue: The organization filed a complaint for an HIV-positive detainee at the ICE-run Florence Service Processing Center  located near the Florence Correctional Center  who said he was denied timely dental care and was in pain for months.

In October 2023, the detainee, "Juan," told detention-center staff about his tooth pain but had to wait three months to see a dentist, the report said. Despite ICE's detention standards claiming to offer a variety of dental treatments  including root canals  Juan was told his only option was tooth extraction.

"Given Juans HIV status and the negative health consequences that could arise from a dental infection, he was very upset that he had to wait months for dental care and that he was not offered any treatment besides extraction of the damaged tooth," the report said.

U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Arizona, has been speaking out about "inhumane" detention conditions in Arizona.

In response to a Tuesday query from the Star, Ansari wrote in an emailed statement: "I am outraged and devastated for the family who lost their loved one at the hands of ICE. No one should have to die under these horrific conditions. After four oversight visits to ICE facilities in Arizona, I have seen the inhumane conditions and medical neglect firsthand. I will continue to demand accountability."

Ellis said she feels "powerless" and "heartbroken" over Damas' death.

"My prayers are with Mr. Damas' family and the Haitian community during this difficult time," Ellis wrote in her Instagram post. "No family should ever endure such a loss, especially under circumstances that raise questions about access to timely and appropriate medical care.

"As a public servant and healthcare professional, I have engaged our Arizona congressional delegation to ensure that compassion, dignity and accountability remain at the center of how we treat every human being regardless of their immigration status," she wrote. "May Emmanuels memory inspire a renewed commitment to justice and humanity in all our institutions."
Strategic appointment reinforces stability while driving the next phase of growth for the organization

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla., March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Stellar MLS announced the official appointment of Shayne Fairley, a longtime leader within the organization, as Chief Executive Officer. For more than two decades, Fairley has been a driving force behind the growth and evolution of Stellar MLS, the largest multiple listing service in Florida and Puerto Rico, and one of the most influential in the United States.

For more than two decades, Fairley has been a driving force behind the growth and evolution of Stellar MLS Post this Stellar MLS has named longtime executive Shayne Fairley as Chief Executive Officer.

After joining Stellar MLS in May 2005, Fairley advanced through roles in training, compliance, data services, and operations. This progression gave him a deep, firsthand understanding of the organization and its various stakeholders. Since being named Chief Operations Officer in 2017, he has led strategic operational growth, championed customer-focused initiatives, and played a central role in elevating Stellar MLS's national and global presence.

In July 2025, Stellar MLS announced Fairley would be the successor to the then CEO, Merri Jo Cowen, who will continue to serve in a strategic advisory role while also transitioning to a full-time leadership role at Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), the organization's global MLS advisory subsidiary that launched in 2024.

"Shayne possesses a deep understanding of Stellar MLS and a leadership style rooted in trust, innovation, and service, which will serve him well as he steps into the role of CEO," said Cowen. "Over the last few months, as we have been preparing for this transition, he has proven to be the best person for the job. I have every confidence that he will build on our strong foundation and continue to lead the organization forward."

Fairley has been instrumental in shaping Stellar MLS's vision and advancing its mission to deliver innovative solutions and trusted, standardized data to more than 80,000 customers across Orlando, Tampa, and other areas of Florida, as well as Puerto Rico. Under his leadership, Stellar MLS will continue to expand customer value, set new benchmarks for MLS excellence, and invest in tools that ensure seamless, equitable access to its products and services.

Fairley has nurtured a company culture that drives Stellar MLS's ongoing success and growth in the industry. He has been instrumental in promoting inclusivity and consistently demonstrates his commitment to the professional development and well-being of his team. Stellar MLS has been recognized for its efforts in empowering individuals and fostering a sense of shared purpose, having received the Top Workplaces honor from The Orlando Sentinel for four consecutive years (20222025).

In 2026, Fairley was elected to the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) Board of Directors, furthering his commitment to the broader real estate industry. He also serves on the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) Board of Directors, collaborating with industry peers to advance technology and data standards.

Outside of day-to-day operations, Fairley is active in Stellar MLS's philanthropic efforts through Stellar Cares, supporting community and real estate organizations through initiatives such as Clean Up Florida Waters and Special Olympics Florida.

"I am excited about the next stage of Stellar MLS's successful journey, and I look forward to continuing to focus on the priorities we have held for many years: putting our customers first, advancing innovation, and continuing to lead the MLS forward as we help shape the future of real estate in the markets we serve," said Fairley. "I've had the privilege of working closely with Merri Jo for more than 17 years. She leads with vision and heart, and that balance of strategy and genuine care is something I intend to carry forward. My focus will be on delivering exceptional value to our brokers while continuing to position Stellar MLS to lead as the industry evolves."

About Stellar MLS

Stellar MLS is the multiple listing service for real estate professionals who value clarity, stability, and support in a real estate market and industry defined by change. As the largest multiple listing service in the state of Florida and among the largest and most influential in the U.S., Stellar MLS serves more than 80,000 customers and supports real estate agents and brokers across 20 REALTOR associations in Central and Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. Its extensive footprint allows Stellar MLS to deliver a broader suite of cutting-edge products and services, and more opportunities for customers to do business than almost any other MLS. Stellar MLS creates conditions within which real estate professionals can succeed, the housing market can thrive, and people who seek homeownership have every opportunity to achieve it.

Media Contact: Deborah Sindell

Co-Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Stellar MLS
AIDC2026: Doco state of play: Worried, F***ed, Vital

Here's how Australian documentary producers are feeling right now about their sector.

Heres how Australian documentary producers are feeling right now about the state of play in their sector.

Delegates yesterday attending the Australian International Documentary Conference were encouraged to respond via QR code to how they feel about the state of play in documentaries right now.

Amongst the prominent words:

Worried / f***ed / challenging / vital / uncertain

Followed by:

Grim / essential / excited

And various other thoughts:

Sydney centric commission / underfunded / bonkers / less risk taking / clickbait.

Delegates were also asked to vote on Which issues concern you the most?

Screen Agency Funding Streaming Commissions Broadcast Commissions AI Streaming Content Quotas Fair Deal Terms Intellectual Property Tax and Offset Reform International Treaties and Co-Production US Tariffs Changes to the Copyright Act

The final day of AIDC will be held today culminating in the AIDC Awards.
AIDC2026: Format / Boring / Predictable

What's most important for returnable formats?: a reliable structure or the freedom to be surprising?

What is fundamentally important to returnable formats?

That was a question posed to an SBS documentary panel this morning at the Australian International Documentary Conference in Melbourne.

Bethan Arwel-Lewis, Commissioning Editor of Factual for SBS Australia, said, For me, its about that bankable, predictable emotion that Im going to go when I want my hit of something. I often go back to similar series because I want that hit of comfort or surprise. But I think whats important is I dont think the content within the series is predictable. You need to be surprised in every episode, but the emotion is something I can bank on.

Producer Jo Siddiqui (The Hospital: In the Deep End, The Secret DNA of Us, Miriam Margolyes Impossibly Australian), said, I agree but also you need something thats got a really solid structure so you know you can return to that handrail. Having a great cast definitely helps and finding a way to have a have a slightly different point of view to the same kind of shows that sit in that world.

But Producer David McDonald (Shaun Micallefs Origin Odyssey, Portrait Artist of the Year, Gogglebox, Lego Masters), suggested, I think you need the structure around it in a way, because then as an audience, you know what youre coming into, what to expect.

But I guess you need the freedom within that to be surprising. I think as soon as you say Format, its like, Well, is it going to be the same every episode? And thats Format / Boring / Predictable, you could say. So I think its great to have that structure but then sort of kick against it in a way, hopefully to present something different. Something new.
Foreign Correspondent: Mar 10

Indonesias President Prabowo Subianto has clocked up his first year in power and with incredible speed.

Next Tuesday Foreign Correspondent looks to Indonesia and the first year of President Prabowo Subianto in power.

A revolution is taking place in a key Australian ally and neighbour. Indonesias President Prabowo Subianto has clocked up his first year in power and with incredible speed, hes nationalising and militarising his nations economy to deliver on his promise of a self-reliant future for his nation.

On Foreign Correspondent Indonesia reporter Tim Swanston reports on the scale and cost of Prabowos ambitious program. But there are some who are warning that in the process Indonesia is losing the democratic freedoms that were hard fought with the fall of the corrupt dictatorship of the former President Suharto.

8pm Tuesday on ABC.
Report: ABC $1000 sweetener to avoid strike

ABC management is hoping to avoid a strike with a proposal to be put to a staff vote next week.

ABC employees have been offered $1000 a head in a last ditch offer to avoid a strike.

The Australian Financial Review reports Hugh Marks announced the sweetener to roughly 4500 employees at a town hall meeting on Wednesday alongside a promise to increase the salary for at least 30 roles in regional areas.

It comes after employees narrowly voted down a pay deal that would boost salaries by 10 per cent over three years.

The unions have demanded 5.5 per cent pay rises for each of the three years, as well as much higher progression up pay bands.

Marks offered annual pay rises of 3.5 per cent, 3.25 per cent and 3.25 per cent over the three years, pay progression up to band six, 16 weeks of parental leave for supporting partners and increased sick and compassionate leave.

I think the proposal thats on the table from the union amounts to about 7.3 per cent a year. There is no justification for that given what the evidence says theyre paid, Marks told AFR.

I would hope the staff would see that the offer thats being made is fair and reasonable and accept it. I certainly feel there is a history of distrust between management and staff at this organisation, which the management team are really trying to address. And thats why were really talking actively to our staff, because they are our staff.

ABC management is hoping to put the offer to a vote next week, in an attempt to avoid the first broadcaster strike in decades.

You can read more at AFR.com.au.
Oil prices climbed on Wednesday as markets shrugged off president Donald Trumps offer to deploy the US Navy to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a move intended to reassure traders over the security of global energy supplies.

Brent crude (BZ=F) futures rose 2.6% to $83.53 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) climbed 2.3% to $76.29 at the time of writing.

Prices are being pushed higher amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which about 20% of global oil and gas flows. Concerns over potential disruption have unsettled markets in recent sessions, lifting volatility.

Read more: London flat and Asia nosedives as Israel launches fresh strikes on Iran and Lebanon

Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps has claimed complete control of the Strait of Hormuz and warned that any ships attempting to transit the waterway would be targeted.

Trump sought to calm investors, signalling that Washington was prepared to guarantee safe passage for tankers. Writing on his Truth Social platform, he said: If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. He added: No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD.

Despite the pledge, traders remained cautious that any sustained reduction in flows through the strait could rapidly tighten global supplies.

Warren Patterson of ING said: Naval escorts will be sitting ducks to Iranian attacks."

So, the US may choose to wait before escorting vessels until it gauges that Irans ability to attack has been degraded.

Goldman Sachs (GS) raised its second quarter 2026 average price forecast for Brent crude (BZ=F) by $10 to $76 per barrel and lifted its projection for WTI (CL=F) by $9 to $71.

The bank said its revised outlook assumed that lower oil flows via the Strait of Hormuz would lead to steep declines in OECD inventories and Middle East oil production in March.

If Hormuz volumes were to remain flat for 5 additional weeks, Brent (BZ=F) prices would likely reach $100, a level associated with larger demand destruction to prevent inventories from falling to critically low levels, the bank said in a note.

JPMorgan estimates that crude oil supply from Iraq and Kuwait would be shut down within days if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, projecting supply losses of up to 4.7m barrels per day.

ANZ raised its average Brent crude (BZ=F) forecast to $90 a barrel and its LNG forecast to $17/mmBtu for the first quarter of 2026.

Gold prices rose on Wednesday as the escalating conflict in the Middle East unsettled global markets and revived demand for haven assets.
Hungary's last-minute veto on the 90 billion loan to Ukraine highlights the need for the European Union to move away from unanimity, Rob Jetten, the new prime minister of the Netherlands, said on his first trip to Brussels since taking office.

"The new Dutch government is in favour of less and less decision-making by unanimity on the European level," Jetten told a group of media, including Euronews, on Tuesday.

"This is a clear example of why that is important because we cannot explain to our constituents that Europe is sometimes way too level in reacting to great issues that affect us all," he added.

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Jetten called on his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, to abide by the delicate deal that the 27 EU leaders reached in December after fraught negotiations. The compromise saw Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic promising the necessary unanimity to amend the EU budget rules in exchange for being exempted from the joint borrowing.

Officials and diplomats in Brussels believe that by vetoing a critical piece of the loan at the last stage of the legislative process, Orban has breached the principle of sincere cooperation that binds the bloc's decision-making.

"If you reach political agreement on the Council level, we expect every member state to uphold that agreement. And if not, it's a big task for the European Commission take action," Jetten said.

In the new coalition programme, the Netherlands calls for the "simplification" of the Article 7 procedure that can deprive member states of voting rights when they commit grave violations of the rule of law. Hungary has been under Article 7 for years, but there has never been sufficient political momentum to move to the harder enforcement phase.

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"It is absolutely necessary that we support Ukraine in the months to come to make sure they can continue their fight against Russian aggression," Jetten went on.

"With less and less American support for the Ukrainians in terms of money and weapons, it is up to the Europeans to deliver."

Orban's veto centres on the interruption of Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, which Kyiv says was attacked by Russian drones on 27 January and has remained non-operational since then.

But Orban says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has deliberately shut down the pipeline for "political reasons" to influence the results of the upcoming Hungarian elections. Orban trails in opinion polls by double digits.

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Caught between the two rival camps, the European Commission has asked Zelenskyy to repair Druzhba and Orban to lift his veto. Meanwhile, Hungary and Slovakia have proposed a fact-finding mission to inspect the damaged section of the pipeline.

"We expect the European Commission to solve this issue," Jetten said. "If it's helpful to have any fact-finding missions on the pipeline to fix this issue, I'm open to it. But everything begins with: a political agreement at the Council level is a political agreement."

'Too early' for a date on Ukraine's accession

Among the first debates facing Jetten as premier is the future of enlargement, a topic on which the Netherlands has expressed well-known reservations in the past.

Zelenskyy is advocating for a specific date for Ukraine's accession to be enshrined in a prospective peace deal, something that could offset the pain of territorial concessions. Last week, he openly suggested 2027 as an aspirational benchmark.

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The Commission says it cannot commit to a clear-cut date but is working on legal avenues to revamp the notoriously complex process and ensure the Ukrainian people have greater certainty in their path to membership.

Asked about the potential reform, Jetten said enlargement should be reconsidered from a "geopolitical perspective" but urged the bloc to be "careful" with next steps, warning that the essence of the European project risks being undermined.

"We are very open-minded to look into broader support for these (candidate) countries, but moving too fast is not the way to move forward," the premier said.

"I think, at the moment, it's not possible to set a date for enlargement with Ukraine, but it is possible to talk with them, and I will do that with President Zelenskyy, (about) how Europeans can support Ukraine in the important reforms that they have undertaken. But at this moment, it is too early to set the date."

Rob Jetten also met with Antonio Costa. - European Union.

Jetten also touched upon the US-Iranian strikes on Iran, which have pushed the Middle East into uncharted territory. Wholesale gas prices have soared in reaction to the war, prompting fears that Europe might soon face a prohibitive bill to refill its underground reserves, which are running low after the heating season.

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"Obviously, the Iran war can have a big impact on strategic reserves, not only in Europe but also in Asia. So we have to prepare ourselves for any case that this war will continue for many more weeks and impact the strategic reserves in the Netherlands and abroad," he said, noting extra measures would be taken "if necessary".

"I think the broader concern is what this war and everything that's going on in the Strait of Hormuz is going to affect in terms of pricing."

'The Netherlands is back'

Jetten's liberal D66 party has formed a minority government with the centrist VVD and the conservative CDA, all of which support European integration. His tenure puts an end to the fractious four-party coalition headed by the right-wing, Eurosceptic Party for Freedom of Geert Wilders, which was marked by constant disagreements.

Among the priorities, his executive has pledged to ramp up defence spending, simplify regulation, promote new technologies and expand renewable energy.

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"As a founding (member) and the fifth (largest) economy within the EU, the Netherlands is back at the table to work closely together with everyone here in Brussels and our allies within the EU," Jetten said.

"We see a lot of opportunities to strengthen the European economy and competitiveness, and also to make sure that we do our job with a lot of tax-based money to invest in the European defence and the European defence industry."

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Jetten and the other 26 leaders are heading for a no-holds-barred fight on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the bloc's seven-year budget. Brussels has proposed a 2-trillion template that some capitals consider politically unpalatable.

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Where to cut spending will be a major fracture line. Germany, the Nordics and the Baltics want a greater focus on strategic priorities, while Spain, Italy and Eastern Europe want to preserve the prominence of agriculture and cohesion funds.

The Dutch premier made it clear that the next budget should focus on the big transitions shaping the continent's future: defence, technology and climate.

"A modern MFF doesn't mean an exploded MFF in terms of numbers," he said.

"The Netherlands will look into the numbers very closely, and we will have a lot of debate on this topic in the months to come."
A US military submarine has launched a strike on an Iranian warship off Sri Lankas coast, killing more than 80 people and leaving dozens more injured.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that America had torpedoed the vessel in international waters during a press conference on the war against Iran on Wednesday.

The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, he said, as he showed footage of Tuesday nights attack in the Indian Ocean on what he called the Islamic Republic's prize ship.

Iranian frigate Iris Dena after being struck by a torpedo in a US attack off Sri Lanka (US Department of War)

Hegseth claimed it marked the first time an enemy vessel had been sunk by a torpedo since the Second World War.

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Sri Lanka's navy said on Wednesday it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people, after initial reports suggested more than 100 people were missing following the strike.

Sri Lanka's foreign minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that its navy had earlier received information that the Iranian frigate Iris Dena, with 180 people on board, was in distress and sinking. The island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission.

Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said by the time navy ships reached the location, there was no sign of the ship and there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water.

The Iranian frigate Iris Dena has been sunk off Sir Lankas coast (file photo) (Iranian Army office)

He said the 32 people rescued were admitted to a hospital in the seaside town of Galle on Sri Lanka's southern coast, while the bodies recovered were being brought to land.

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Security personnel were seen standing guard in front of the National Hospital Galle, while ambulances drove into Sri Lanka's southern naval headquarters in the city.

Dr Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said one of those rescued is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are being treated for minor injuries.

The Iris Dena  one of Iran's newest warships  is a Moudge-class frigate that patrols in deep water for the Iranian navy. It is armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, and also carries one helicopter.

The frigate was the centrepiece of a two-ship international tour in 2023 that included port calls in countries including South Africa and Brazil, and was accompanied by the support ship Iris Makran, a converted oil tanker.

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The US Treasury Department included both ships on a sanctions designation in February 2023 along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied the weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.

At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said US Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the American military's Central Command.

We are also sinking the Iranian navy  the entire navy, he said in a video message. Thus far we've destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side.

An ambulance enters Sri Lanka's southern naval headquarters in Galle on Wednesday (AFP/Getty)

For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping, he added. Today there's not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman, and we will not stop.

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The sinking of the Iris Dena comes on the fifth day of the US and Israels war with Iran, as countries across the Middle East continue to get dragged into the conflict.

During the Pentagon news briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth warned attacks on Iran will continue for as long as necessary and US will punch Iran while it is down.

Our air defences and that of our allies have plenty of runway, he told reporters. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to...

This was never meant to be a fair fight, and its not a fair fight. We are punching them while theyre down, and thats exactly how it should be.

A damaged building in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel (Social media)

Speaking of the six members of the US military who have been killed in the conflict, he vowed to avenge their deaths.

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And asked about the attack on a girls primary school in southern Iran, which killed more than 160 people including scores of pupils, he said the US is investigating the incident.

Explosions sounded in Tehran on Wednesday, with more than 1,000 people reportedly killed in Iran so far, while Israel's military said its air defences had been activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and explosions were heard around Jerusalem.

Blasts were also reported in Lebanon, where Israel said it is retaliating against Hezbollah militants. Thick columns of smoke rose above Beirut as renewed Israeli strikes reduced large buildings in the Haret Hreik to piles of rubble.

In the latest escalation in the expanding conflict, Nato air defences shot down an Iranian ballistic missile heading towards Turkish airspace, Ankara said.

The missile was shot down over the eastern Mediterranean Sea. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, which prompted the first action from Nato forces so far.




A British mother nearly lost her life after contracting a fatal illness following a bizarre holiday mishap where a granite worktop fell and crushed her foot.

Karen Griffiths, 66, was on a luxury getaway in Barbados with her partner Michael, 67, when tragedy unfolded.

The pair had spent 6,800 on the ten-day all-inclusive holiday at Sandals Barbados resort in St Lawrence Gap.

Read more: Foreign Office changes travel advice for Egypt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi

They checked into the hotel on 18 January 2023 to mark Michael's then 65th birthday alongside family and friends.

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On their first evening, Karen rose to visit the bathroom but as she made her way back to bed, she placed her weight on a granite worktop positioned at the foot of the bed.

The worktop gave way, crashing straight down onto her right foot.

Karen was confined to a wheelchair for the remaining nine days of her break as her foot became increasingly swollen.

A doctor only cleared her to travel home on condition she maintained her foot in an elevated position during the flight.

Following their return home, Karen's condition rapidly worsened and she was taken to hospital after experiencing nausea, vomiting and a raised temperature.

Karen Griffiths, 66, contracted the deadly illness after a granite worktop collapsed on her foot during a 6,800 holiday at Sandals Barbados resort, with tour operator Kenwood Travel admitting liability

Karen, from Sutton Coldfield, was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, severe pneumonia and kidney failure.

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She remained in hospital for ten days, with several of those spent in intensive care.

Her state was so critical that Michael feared Karen was "dying."

She was eventually released but the enduring impact of her experience meant Karen had to close down her cleaning business. Karen instructed serious injury solicitors Irwin Mitchell to investigate tour operator, Kenwood Travel.

The company admitted liability for both her foot injury and for contracting Legionnaires Disease whilst on holiday.

Karen said: "The incident in Barbados has changed my way of life.

"I can't get the holiday out of my mind and it still upsets me whenever I think about what happened and the lasting effect it's had.

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"The remaining nine days of the holiday were completely ruined.

Karen Griffiths, 66, contracted the deadly illness after a granite worktop collapsed on her foot during a 6,800 holiday at Sandals Barbados resort, with tour operator Kenwood Travel admitting liability

"I was in a wheelchair and couldn't go to the beach or take part in any of the activities we'd planned.

"All I wanted was to come home because I felt the incident had spoiled everything for everyone.

"When I got back to the UK, I became so unwell that I have no memory of several days in hospital.

"I suffered terrifying hallucinations and genuinely believed I was dying.

"It was a deeply traumatic experience and I still have nightmares about it.

"The injuries have affected my mental wellbeing and I feel like a different person to who I was before.

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"I now struggle with anxiety, depression, memory loss and a lack of confidence.

"I'm also unsteady on my feet and have fallen twice, causing further injuries.

"Before all of this I was active and independent. I swam every day, loved walking and going out with friends, but I can't fully return to these routines because of my ongoing symptoms.

"I can only do things in short bursts before becoming tired and breathless.

"My family have been incredibly supportive, but this has been a very difficult time for all of us.

"I used to run an established cleaning business with my cousin, which I loved, but I've been unable to return to work and the business had to be dissolved, causing severe financial strain.

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"The impact has been life-changing physically, mentally and financially. I'm left trying to rebuild everything."

Her solicitor Jatinder Paul commented: "Karen has been through a terrible ordeal following her holiday.

"Whilst we welcome the tour operator's admission, she continues to be profoundly impacted.

"Nothing can undo what Karen and her family continue to go through but we're committed to ensuring she receives the specialist support she needs.

"Legionnaires' disease is extremely serious and can lead to longterm health complications and, in some cases, can be fatal.

"Public buildings such as hotels often have complex water systems, so strict precautions are essential to prevent the bacteria from developing.

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"Tour operators have a legal duty to ensure the safety of those who have booked all-inclusive holiday with them.

Read more: The secret of getting the best BirminghamLive stories

"Therefore, with Barbados being a popular destination during the peak months of March and April, it's vital that the highest hygiene standards are upheld".

"Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease can take several days to appear, so we'd urge people to seek urgent medical advice if they begin to feel unwell."

Karen's legal representatives are presently collaborating with the travel company in an attempt to secure a financial resolution.

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Statement from Unique Vacations UK Ltd. , an affiliate of the exclusive worldwide sales and marketing representative for Sandals Resorts: "As a matter of company policy, we do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings."

Kenwood Travel Ltd have been contacted for a response.
254 remaining stores brim with new arrivals at discounts of 30 to 60 percent off

HOUSTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoppers are finding unprecedented discounts and racks of newly arrived inventory at francesca's 254 remaining stores.

In addition to the $50 million in inventory already on sale, Tiger Group, GA Group and SB360 Capital Partners are delivering $22 million in new items to the boutique-inspired stores and outlets. Discounts range from 30 to 60 percent off.

The three companies are selling these locations to the bare walls as part of the specialty retail brand's previously announced Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.

"Thousands of distinctive accessories, gifts and apparel items are flowing into francesca's stores from warehouse distribution centers and the retailer's e-commerce operations, which ceased earlier this month," said Tiger Group Member Michael McGrail. "Shoppers who have already visited their local francesca's boutique or outlet should make a return trip ASAP. This is a rare opportunity to find amazing deals, with spring social events right around the corner."

The new arrivals include:

Sweaters and cardigans

Blouses, skirts, and loungewear

Denim jackets and skirts

Black dresses, party and floral dresses, and wedding guest dresses

Rompers and jumpsuits

Rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets

Diverse collections of gifts, handbags, and accessories.

Furniture and fixtures from francesca's corporate offices and warehouses are also available for sale.

The full store list is available at: https://francescas.com/store-locator

Media Contacts: At Jaffe Communications, Elisa Krantz, (908) 789-0700, [email protected]

SOURCE Tiger Group


Durian prices in Vietnam have surged during the off-season. Photo: Nguyen Hue

Off-season durian prices in the Mekong Delta have surged to their highest levels in three years as Vietnam finds itself effectively alone in the market. Notably, the country may overtake Thailand to become the worlds largest durian exporter in 2026.

Rapid growth in durian exports

In the Mekong Delta, off-season Monthong durian is being purchased by traders at VND146,000-155,000 per kilogram (approximately US$5.90-6.30), while Grade B fetches VND126,000-127,000 per kilogram (around US$5.10).

Similarly, Ri6 Grade A has risen to VND80,000-87,000 per kilogram (US$3.20-3.50), with Grade B at about VND70,000 per kilogram (US$2.80), roughly double the price recorded in the same period last year.

Experts explain that early each year, durian prices tend to spike because Vietnam is effectively the only country in harvest season. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association estimates that durian export turnover in January alone may have reached US$200-300 million.

In recent years, Vietnams durian industry has maintained strong growth momentum, becoming a billion-dollar fruit following the official export of fresh durian to China.

Export revenue climbed from a modest US$421 million in 2022, the first year Vietnamese durian was officially exported to China, to US$2.24 billion in 2023.

By 2024, export earnings reached nearly US$3.3 billion, up more than US$1 billion from 2023 and 7.8 times higher than in 2022.

In 2025, despite China tightening controls on auramine O and cadmium residues, Vietnam still recorded a bumper year, with durian exports hitting US$3.86 billion, up more than 20 percent year-on-year and accounting for over 45 percent of total fruit and vegetable export value. In China, the largest consumer market, Vietnams market share has risen sharply, nearly matching that of Thailand.

Meanwhile, The Nation Thailand reported that in 2024 Thailand exported 859,157 tonnes of durian worth more than 134.85 billion baht (US$4.34 billion). In 2025, export value declined to nearly 125.87 billion baht (US$4.05 billion), despite export volume increasing to 982,016 tonnes.

With the current momentum, Vietnam could surpass Thailand this year to become the worlds largest durian exporter, Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, told VietNamNet on February 27.

According to Nguyen, Thailands durian industry is facing a severe labor shortage in harvesting and packaging. Logistics challenges have also emerged, with shipments forced to take longer routes, extending transport time by about a week and affecting both quality and prices.

Thailands main harvest season lasts only two to three months, creating pressure on container turnover. Previously, a container could complete three to four rotations per month, but with longer routes it may now manage only two, slowing export pace.

All these difficulties for Thailand are advantages for Vietnam, Nguyen emphasized. Beyond the main season, Vietnams durian is harvested almost year-round. Production and export chains have become increasingly complete, with established export standards, traceability systems, and improved logistics. Output has also expanded steadily as cultivation areas increase.

Quality race to retain China market share

The Secretary General noted that China remains the worlds largest durian consumer market. In recent years, it has signed protocols allowing more countries to export durian. However, the primary competitors in China are still Vietnam and Thailand.

According to Anchanlee Suwajittananon, Director-General of Thailands Department of Agricultural Extension, authorities have coordinated with local governments, businesses, and farmers to establish a production and harvesting management framework in the eastern region, the countrys main export-growing area with output of 1.06 million tonnes. The goal is to ensure all shipments meet ripeness standards rather than relying on experience or fruit age estimation.

Specifically, Kradum Thong must reach at least 27 percent dry matter, Chanee and Puang Manee 30 percent, while Monthong and Kanyao require 32 percent. Any fruit below these thresholds is considered immature and ineligible for circulation.

Before harvesting, farmers must submit samples to district-level authorities for analysis. Once standards are met, certification is issued and accompanies shipments to purchasing depots or packing facilities.

The Thai government expects stricter controls to restore buyer confidence, reduce quality complaints, and raise export value.

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has officially issued procedures for food safety control of fresh durian exports. The framework systematizes food safety requirements from cultivation, harvesting, transportation, storage, and packaging to export.

Registration, appraisal, and certification of food safety for export consignments are also subject to strict oversight. Prior to export, durian must meet standards set by the ministry.

At the end of December, the ministry launched the Vietnam Agricultural Product Traceability System, with durian selected as the first pilot fruit. Under the roadmap, the system aims to build a centralized database, integrate sectoral data, and digitally sign participating enterprises information in accordance with regulations. The Ministry of Public Security will integrate data into electronic authentication stamps to ensure consistency between displayed information and traceability records.

With the remarkable rebound in 2025, the industry now has a solid foundation to confidently target export turnover exceeding US$4 billion, potentially reaching US$4.5 billion in 2026, Dang Phuc Nguyen said.

Tam An
Dung Quat Oil Refinery.

Petroleum enterprises are sitting on edge as tensions escalate in the Middle East, with oil prices, surcharges, freight rates and insurance costs all at risk of surging, significantly increasing input costs and financial exposure.

Proposes priority mechanism for domestic crude

Nguyen Viet Thang, General Director of Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company - a member of Petrovietnam and operator of the Dung Quat Refinery - said the plant currently uses about 30-35% imported crude, mainly sourced from West Africa, the Mediterranean region, the US and partly from the Middle East.

If the conflict in the Middle East drags on, oil prices, freight surcharges and insurance premiums could continue to climb sharply, heightening input costs and financial risks.

Since early 2026, in preparation for double-digit growth targets and to proactively respond to global uncertainties and climate change impacts, BSR has raised inventory levels, flexibly adjusted production in line with market demand and diversified crude supply sources.

For the March-May 2026 period, BSR signed contracts to import around 3 million barrels of crude, including Qua Iboe, Bu Attifel, Medanito and Palanca Blend grades. Although these sources are not located in direct conflict zones, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could still indirectly affect delivery schedules, freight costs, insurance and maritime safety.

Notably, with additional spot purchases estimated at 900,000 to 1 million barrels in May 2026 and 1 to 1.3 million barrels in June 2026, operating the refinery at 118-120% capacity will place considerable pressure on prices and access to supply.

Beyond price factors, Thang warned of potential supply chain disruptions if some countries restrict exports to prioritize domestic demand. Such developments could directly affect the refinerys operating plan, especially toward the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third quarter of 2026.

In reality, geopolitical instability and conflict in the Middle East tend to increase demand for domestic crude, intensifying competition in international tenders for Vietnamese crude oil.

To mitigate the risk of feedstock shortages, BSR has proposed a mechanism to prioritize enterprises in purchasing the maximum volume of domestically produced crude oil and condensate.

At the same time, management authorities are urged to apply a temporary mechanism prioritizing domestic crude for the Dung Quat Refinery to process into finished petroleum products, while limiting exports of domestic crude during peak risk periods, until the end of the third quarter of 2026 or until international markets stabilize, in order to ensure national energy security.

BSR has also requested permission to directly purchase crude from the Ruby, Bunga Orkid and Chim Sao fields during this period at the highest bid price of the most recent tender, as a temporary solution to secure timely supply amid strong market volatility.

Market could shift from price crisis to shortage

The Strait of Hormuz is currently the worlds most critical strategic energy transit route, linking major Gulf oil producers with global consumer markets, particularly in Asia. According to the US Energy Information Administration, about 20 million barrels per day of oil and condensate pass through the strait, equivalent to nearly 20% of global oil consumption and more than one quarter of total seaborne oil trade.

Approximately 84% of oil flows through Hormuz are destined for Asia, making the region among the first and hardest hit by any disruption.

Although major exporters such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have bypass pipeline systems, total alternative capacity stands at only around 2.6 million barrels per day, insufficient to offset a severe maritime disruption.

Thus, Hormuz is not merely a geopolitical flashpoint but a decisive factor affecting oil price premiums, logistics costs, maritime insurance and supply stability for Asian refineries.

In a scenario where the Strait of Hormuz is closed, oil supply could be disrupted from one week to three months. With roughly 20 million barrels per day affected, the market could rapidly shift from pricing risk to actual shortage.

Existing bypass capacity would not be enough to compensate, potentially spreading shockwaves across crude oil, LNG - about 20% of global LNG transits Hormuz - and the broader energy chain.

If disruption lasts one week, markets may react in panic, driving prices higher largely due to extreme risk expectations rather than real supply shortages.

After two to three weeks, shortages of prompt cargoes in Asia could begin to surface, forcing refineries to adjust crude slates or cut throughput.

If disruption extends to one month, supply risks could materialize, pushing energy prices sharply upward to rebalance supply and demand while triggering significant logistics volatility. Commercial inventories would decline rapidly, and regional price differentials and crack spreads could fluctuate strongly.

Should the disruption last three months, high prices would suppress demand, prompting market self-adjustment through consumption cuts, releases from strategic petroleum reserves and a restructuring of global trade flows. The risk of oil prices exceeding US$100 per barrel would rise significantly.

Tam An
Nguyen Duc Thuy. Photo: Sacombank

Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank) has officially appointed Nguyen Duc Thuy as its Chief Executive Officer, effective March 3, 2026.

According to Sacombank, the State Bank of Vietnam approved the proposed appointment of Nguyen Duc Thuy to the CEO position. Following this approval, Sacombanks Board of Directors convened and issued the formal decision.

The leadership consolidation comes as Sacombank accelerates the completion of its restructuring plan, focusing on improving operational efficiency, strengthening risk management and reinforcing a foundation for sustainable growth.

From acting CEO to official appointment

Previously, Nguyen Duc Thuy had been appointed Acting CEO of Sacombank from December 23, 2025.

Shortly after leaving his position as Chairman of LPBank, he assumed the acting role at Sacombank. The bank soon introduced a refreshed brand identity and launched a series of structural changes.

Under his direction, Sacombank streamlined its organizational structure into nine operational divisions and adjusted its front-office and back-office personnel ratio toward an 80%20% model. The bank also shifted to a vertical management structure starting January 22, 2026.

Recently, Sacombank announced that its 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held in Phu Tho Province - marking the first time the bank has organized the event outside Ho Chi Minh City. The meeting is scheduled for April 22, 2026, at the Sai Gon  Phu Tho Hotel in Viet Tri.

Background and banking experience

Born in 1976 in Ninh Binh Province, Nguyen Duc Thuy graduated from the University of Colorado in the United States.

He previously held senior leadership positions at several major enterprises and financial institutions, including roles as Chairman at Thaiholdings, Xuan Thanh Securities (VIX) and Kim Lien Tourism, as well as Vice Chairman of Xuan Thien Dak Lak solar power projects.

In April 2021, he officially entered the banking sector as Vice Chairman of LPBanks Board of Directors and was elected Chairman on December 9, 2022.

During more than three years in that role, he spearheaded restructuring initiatives, streamlined operations, modernized governance and promoted digital transformation, contributing to improved financial indicators and upgraded technology systems.

At the end of December 2025, he concluded his tenure at LPBank and joined Sacombank as Acting CEO before being formally appointed CEO in March 2026.

Manh Ha
Amid the rapid rise of AI, as advanced computing power converges with emerging models and technologies such as quantum computing and large language models, 6G is emerging as a central intelligence layer - unifying connectivity, large-scale sensing and high-performance computing into an AI-native platform.





FPT has officially joined a global strategic alliance on 6G development, opening up new opportunities across its key focus areas such as intelligent transportation, autonomous UAV systems, smart manufacturing and advanced digital technologies.

As artificial intelligence advances rapidly alongside high-performance computing, quantum computing and large language models, 6G is emerging as a central intelligence layer that unifies connectivity, wide-area sensing and high-performance computing into an AI-native platform.

The alliance, initiated by Qualcomm, brings together leading global technology and telecommunications corporations to establish a milestone-driven roadmap aimed at developing and commercializing AI-native 6G networks by 2029. These networks are designed with intrinsic, trustworthy AI capabilities at their core.

Under this vision, 6G is defined as an AI-native platform integrating three foundational technology pillars: connectivity, wide-area sensing and high-performance computing.

The future 6G ecosystem is expected to usher in a new generation of intelligent networks featuring integrated sensing radio, virtualized Radio Access Networks, AI-driven operational automation and edge and cloud data centers capable of handling next-generation AI workloads and massive computational demands.

This platform is viewed as the springboard for breakthroughs in telecommunications services, next-generation smart devices and advanced digital business models.

Speaking on FPTs participation, Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of FPT, emphasized that in a world where AI, advanced computing and emerging technologies such as quantum computing and large language models are rapidly converging, 6G stands out as a central intelligence layer that merges connectivity, wide-area sensing and high-performance computing into an AI-native foundation.

In this era, the speed of innovation is decisive, and collaboration is a core pillar of FPTs strategy. Qualcomm, FPT and other technology corporations within the alliance will work together to advance 6G development. Joining this alliance will also strengthen FPTs ability to transform advanced technologies into practical value for customers across industries, regions and markets, while enhancing capabilities in strategic domains such as intelligent transportation, autonomous UAV systems, smart manufacturing and advanced digital technologies. Our goal is to create sustainable value for a safer, smarter and more adaptive world, he said.

Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm, noted that 6G is not merely the next step in wireless evolution but the foundation of an AI-native future, where intelligence is distributed seamlessly from devices to the network edge and cloud, transforming infrastructure providers into AI-driven enterprises.

As a leader across multiple generations of global wireless innovation, Qualcomm brings deep expertise and comprehensive capabilities in developing and commercializing 6G. Like previous wireless transitions, success will depend on sustained collaboration, shared purpose and co-innovation. Leading industry players are committed to investing and innovating together to realize a common 6G vision, with commercial deployment targeted from 2029 onward.

The alliance focuses on comprehensive development across devices, networks and cloud infrastructure. Key objectives include advancing 6G standardization, conducting early system validation, demonstrating pre-commercial devices and networks by 2028, establishing industry-wide 6G readiness benchmarks and deploying globally interoperable commercial 6G systems by 2029.

FPTs participation in the global 6G alliance not only reinforces its growing position within the global high-tech value chain but also expands its capabilities in research and development, deployment and commercialization of next-generation core technologies.

Through this move, FPT continues to realize its strategic ambition of mastering technology and positioning itself at the center of Vietnams technology map, contributing actively to national digital transformation and the building of a sustainable digital economy and digital society.

Thai Khang
Irans charge daffaires in Vietnam Mohammad Mirali Mohammadi said the Iranian Foreign Ministry is maintaining close coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy to update the situation and assist Vietnamese citizens living in Iran amid the ongoing conflict. Irans charge daffaires in Vietnam Mohammad Mirali Mohammadi speaks at the press briefing in Hanoi. Photo: Phan Nhung







At a press briefing held by the Iranian Embassy in Hanoi on March 4, Mohammadi responded to a question from VietNamNet about the situation of Vietnamese citizens in Iran.

He expressed regret that the Vietnamese community in Iran is currently living under tense conditions due to the impact of the conflict.

According to Mohammadi, the Iranian government is making efforts to create the most favorable conditions possible for Vietnamese citizens living and working in the country.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry always maintains close contact with the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran to update the situation and provide support to Vietnamese citizens when necessary. Previously, Irans efforts during the 12-day conflict in 2025 were also recognized and welcomed by the Vietnamese government, he said.

The Iranian charge daffaires also praised international efforts to promote peace. According to him, Vietnam has consistently supported peaceful solutions to disputes based on international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

At the briefing, Mohammadi also provided updates on the current situation in Iran. According to figures released by Iran, more than 800 Iranian civilians have been killed in attacks by the US and Israel targeting Tehran.

Despite the tense situation, Mohammadi said Irans political system and leadership apparatus continue to operate normally. The country has established an interim leadership council and filled several senior leadership positions.

He stressed that the airstrikes by the US and Israel violated Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter.

Tehran strongly condemns all violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we are exercising our right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. At the same time, Tehran supports resolving disagreements through dialogue and diplomatic measures, Mohammadi emphasized.

Tensions between Iran, Israel and the US have escalated since 2025, after Israel carried out attacks targeting Iranian military sites and facilities linked to its missile and nuclear programs.

The two sides have conducted multiple rounds of attacks and counterattacks, including a period of direct fighting lasting 12 days before a temporary ceasefire was reached.

On the morning of February 28, the US and Israel launched a new operation targeting Iran, striking defense and intelligence facilities as well as a number of senior officials and military commanders in Tehran.

The attacks by the US and Israel reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several senior officials. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory operations targeting Israeli territory and multiple bases hosting US forces across the Middle East.

Tue Minh
Vietnams central bank is tightening the reins on credit growth this year, but several dynamic private lenders are still setting ambitious lending targets, signalling a sharply differentiated outlook across the banking sector.



The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has set a credit growth target of 15% for 2026, down from last years target of 16% and well below the 19.1% expansion recorded in 2025, reflecting a more cautious approach as it prioritises stability and risk control.



However, the credit growth picture among banks is expected to remain uneven in 2026 as some large lenders have begun setting targets to expand lending aggressively.



VPBank plans to exceed 1.29 quadrillion VND, or 49 billion USD, in consolidated outstanding loans this year, equivalent to credit growth of around 34% compared with last year.



MB is also targeting credit and deposit growth of about 35%, with retail banking identified as its core segment.



Several other medium and small-sized banks are aiming for credit growth of around 20%, although the credit limits granted by the SBV may be lower.



According to BIDV Securities Company, MSB expects the central bank to grant a credit growth limit of around 13 to 15%, but anticipates its full-year credit growth in 2026 could reach 20%.



Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) expects loan balances to increase by 22%, prioritising key segments such as retail, small and medium-sized enterprises and foreign direct investment customers.



In a recent forecast for 2026, Vietcombank Securities Company projected credit growth across the entire banking sector of around 16 to 18%, exceeding the SBVs 15% target.



The company said dynamic private banks are likely to continue leading credit expansion, with projected loan portfolio growth of more than 20%.



Large banks that undertook mandatory transfers of weak banks and were granted additional credit expansion by the SBV as a reward are also expected to benefit from a preferential mechanism allowing higher-than-average credit growth.



Experts said that if the central bank begins a phased transition to abolish the credit growth limit mechanism from next year, banks with high capital adequacy ratios, such as VPBank, Techcombank and HDBank, could record credit growth above the sector average.



Banks with loan portfolios focused on priority sectors including agriculture, rural areas, retail, small and medium-sized enterprises and social housing, such as HDBank, VIB, Techcombank and ACB, will also see their credit risk weight for these loans reduced under Circular 14/2025/TT-NHNN, creating more room for credit expansion.



Under Circular 14/2025/TT-NHNN, which sets capital adequacy ratios for commercial banks and foreign bank branches in Vietnam, the credit risk weight of loans in certain areas, including social housing purchases, small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture and rural development, has been lowered.



Specifically, the credit risk weight for loans in agriculture and rural areas has been reduced from 100% to 50%. For loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, it has been cut from 90% to 85%.



For social housing loans, if the loan-to-collateral ratio is below 40%, the credit risk weight is just 20%. Even when the ratio is higher, the credit risk weight remains between 35% and a maximum of 50%, significantly lower than that applied to typical real estate loans./.VNA
On the evening of March 3, leaders of the Immigration Management Division under the Hanoi Police Department confirmed that officers had broken up the group following coordinated raids.

Raids on four apartments

Authorities take statements from the suspects. Photo: N.B.

At around 4 pm on February 28, immigration police simultaneously inspected four suspected locations where foreign nationals were residing.

The locations included apartments in Ciputra Urban Area in Phu Thuong Ward and apartment 1903 in Tower S of Mipec 122-124 Xuan Thuy residential complex in Cau Giay Ward.

During the operation, officers uncovered what investigators described as an organized high-tech fraud ring operating across borders.

Seven foreign suspects were detained at the locations. They included three Chinese nationals and four Japanese nationals.

Authorities identified Z.H., a Chinese national, as the alleged mastermind behind the operation.

Elaborate scam targeting victims in Japan

Evidence seized from the suspects involved in the fraud scheme. Photo: N.B.

According to preliminary investigation documents, the group had been carrying out the scheme since August 2025.

The suspects allegedly posed as Japanese police officers, prosecutors and court officials when calling Japanese citizens living in Japan.

They told victims that authorities had found a bag containing their personal documents. The callers then falsely claimed that the victims personal data had been used in criminal activities.

Under the pretext of assisting with an investigation, victims were instructed to transfer cryptocurrency, specifically Ethereum (ETH), to accounts controlled by the suspects.

Investigators estimate the group defrauded victims of about VND11 billion (approximately US$450,000).

Dozens of devices and fake uniforms seized

Police seized numerous items believed to be used in the fraud operation.

The confiscated evidence included 65 mobile phones, 19 tablet computers, three laptops and 12 walkie-talkies.

Officers also discovered four sets of Japanese police uniforms along with a quantity of cash.

Authorities are continuing the investigation to clarify the full scope of the scheme and the roles of those involved.

Tien Dung
According to the flight schedule on March 4, Qatar Airways (QR) cancelled flights coded QR983, QR977 and QR8951.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines operated normally its passenger flight TK252/TK253 on the Hanoi (HAN)  Istanbul (IST) route on the same day.

For flights scheduled on March 5, Emirates is still updating information regarding flight EK395, while Etihad Airways has announced the cancellation of flight EY433.

At Noi Bai International Airport, 33 aircraft are currently parked, including one from Emirates and two from Qatar Airways placed in long-term parking positions. On March 3, a total of 16 flights were cancelled, affecting around 3,800 passengers.

The Ministry of Construction said the security situation in the Middle East remains complicated, significantly affecting international aviation operations, particularly flights to, from or passing through conflict areas or restricted airspace.

The ministry has requested airlines to closely monitor updates from relevant authorities, including the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and aviation regulators of related countries to assess flight operations.

Airlines have also been urged to strengthen operational safety management, proactively adjust flight plans and select alternative routes to ensure the absolute safety of aircraft, crews and passengers, while keeping passengers informed of any schedule changes caused by security or safety concerns./.VNA
Hanoi is planning to widen a series of major inner-city transport corridors. The question is not merely how many additional meters the roads will gain, but how the city will reorganize its urban space to avoid falling back into the familiar cycle of expand today, congest tomorrow.

If private vehicles are not restricted, Hanoi will struggle to solve its traffic congestion problem.

The city is studying the expansion of several key arteries. National Highway 1 through Le Duan - Giai Phong - Ngoc Hoi is being considered for a cross-section of up to 90 meters. Ring Road 2, from Nga Tu So to Cau Giay, has been proposed to include an elevated section aligned with the centerline of the existing road, with a width of about 53.5 meters at ground level and 19 meters for the elevated portion.

Meanwhile, Ring Road 1 between Hoang Cau and Voi Phuc is being accelerated after site clearance was completed.

These moves suggest Hanoi is no longer addressing isolated bottlenecks but is approaching the challenge of reorganizing urban space on a broader scale.

Completing the inner ring roads is long overdue

Associate Professor Ho Anh Cuong, senior lecturer at the University of Transport and Communications, noted that the concepts of Ring Roads 1, 2 and 3 were introduced in the 1990s, yet remain incomplete and discontinuous.

Finishing the missing sections of Ring Road 1 from Hoang Cau to Voi Phuc and Ring Road 2 from Nga Tu So to Cau Giay is inevitable. This is work that should have been done long ago to ensure planning coherence, he said.

According to Cuong, ring roads function as the major arteries of a city. If they are clogged, the entire system suffers. Once unblocked, they can effectively channel traffic between radial routes and suburban areas, reducing pressure on hotspots such as Nga Tu So and the De La Thanh - Lang Ha corridor.

Experience over the years shows that whenever a ring road segment is completed or expanded, traffic conditions in surrounding areas improve, at least in the short term.

However, Cuong cautioned that if expansion is not embedded within a comprehensive and well-organized master plan, Hanoi could easily fall into a vicious circle: roads are widened, population increases, private vehicles multiply, and congestion returns.

Transport planning cannot be separated from urban planning and land use. If construction density continues to intensify along newly expanded corridors, and piecemeal planning adjustments lack scientific grounding, infrastructure will soon be overwhelmed again, leaving authorities in perpetual crisis response mode.

Prioritizing space for public transport

Another urban transport planning expert stressed that infrastructure expansion is only a necessary condition. The sufficient condition lies in redistributing space to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists accessing mass transit systems such as urban rail and buses.

If Hanoi simply adds lanes for cars and motorbikes without allocating adequate space for bus access, metro connectivity, park-and-ride facilities and safe pedestrian routes, the city risks repeating the lesson of wider roads but unchanged congestion, the expert said.

Lessons from cities such as Paris and Seoul show that many urban centers once prioritized private vehicles, only to later narrow car lanes and expand pedestrian areas and public transport as vehicle numbers surged beyond control.

Space must be organized across multiple layers

Experts argue that the issue is not just how many additional meters of road surface are created, but how urban space is structured: at ground level, elevated, or underground.

For a metropolis of more than 10 million people like Hanoi, planning must adopt a multi-layered approach. Expanding ground-level space to improve bus access and interchange hubs should be integrated with long-term strategies for elevated and underground infrastructure.

Take the Ring Road 2 section from Nga Tu So to Cau Giay. Whether to build elevated sections, tunnels, or reorganize ground-level traffic requires a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, including landscape impact, environmental considerations and long-term connectivity. Each option carries consequences that last decades. Decisions cannot be made solely under immediate pressure, the expert emphasized.

Underground planning is not limited to metro lines. It also encompasses parking facilities, technical infrastructure, water supply and drainage systems, and groundwater protection. These elements form the foundation of sustainable urban development.

Expanding inner-city roads is necessary. Yet every infrastructure investment must be closely aligned with the development of high-capacity public transport, particularly the urban railway network. Only by shifting people from private vehicles to public transport can Hanoi achieve lasting congestion relief, rather than merely enlarging space for cars and confronting gridlock once again.

Vu Diep
Despite its stunning design, the Galaxy S25 Edge has been a major commercial disappointment. Photo: PhoneArena.

After the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung has unexpectedly confirmed the uncertain fate of two devices that once generated intense speculation: Galaxy S26 Edge and Galaxy Z TriFold 2.

Both models are currently on hold, with no final decision made regarding their commercialization.

The information was shared by Won-Joon Choi, head of Samsungs Mobile Experience division, shedding light on the strategic calculations behind the companys premium product portfolio.

Galaxy S26 Edge nearly shelved

For those hoping the Galaxy S26 lineup would include an ultra-thin variant to compete directly with the iPhone Air, it may be time to let go of that expectation.

According to the latest remarks, Galaxy S26 Edge, previously rumored to replace both Galaxy S25 Edge and S25 Plus, is almost certain not to debut this year.

The reason is not difficult to predict: sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge fell significantly short compared to other variants in the same lineup.

Although Choi described the sales figures only as relatively low, the phrasing is widely seen as indirect confirmation of earlier rumors that the ultra-slim model failed to resonate with the market as expected.

In theory, Samsung has not issued a final decision on when a successor to the S25 Edge might arrive.

However, the companys emphasis that the product remains under consideration suggests that its chances of future commercialization are slim.

If Galaxy S26 Edge does not materialize, the prospect of a Galaxy S27 Edge next year to rival the next generation of iPhone Air also becomes increasingly unlikely.

This reality reflects a broader truth: while ultra-thin designs are aesthetically appealing, they pose substantial challenges in battery capacity, thermal management and production costs. Many consumers may not be willing to trade those essentials for a device that is only a few millimeters slimmer.

Expanding foldable ambitions

In contrast to the muted outlook for the Edge line, Samsungs foldable segment appears more promising. Although no specific product was confirmed, Won-Joon Choi said the company aims to offer users as many choices as possible in foldable experiences.

That suggests the rumored Galaxy Wide Fold, a device expected to introduce a new folding format, is indeed under development.

As the worlds second-largest smartphone manufacturer, Samsung believes users increasingly seek differentiated experiences. The company wants to lead the trend rather than follow it.

Yet the future of Galaxy Z TriFold, the companys first triple-fold concept device, is less bright.

Based on the executives remarks, the product remains under analysis, but its technical complexity and high production costs present formidable barriers. In practical terms, the likelihood of a Galaxy Z TriFold 2 arriving in the near future appears low.

Meanwhile, successors to Samsungs established foldable lines are expected to continue. A new Galaxy Wide Fold, though not officially named, could debut alongside Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 next summer.

This signals that Samsung is not stepping away from foldables. On the contrary, it is seeking to further diversify its portfolio.

A delayed technology comes of age

Another noteworthy revelation concerns the standout feature of the Galaxy S26 Ultra: Privacy Display technology.

According to Choi, the feature was originally planned for the Galaxy S25 Ultra last year but was delayed for various reasons.

In fact, Samsung has quietly developed this technology for around three years.

That timeline helps explain why Privacy Display feels refined and mature from its very first commercial appearance.

Samsung is also considering expanding the feature to other models beyond the S26 Ultra.

However, the company has not disclosed a specific timeline or list of eligible devices. It maintains that only when the technology is deemed sufficiently mature will it be widely deployed.

Finally, Samsung sought to reassure users that the S Pen has not been discontinued, even though its feature set has gradually narrowed over successive generations.

The company is reportedly developing a slimmer S Pen that consumes less power and imposes less burden on supported devices.

In other words, Samsung envisions a stylus that is not only more compact but also enables future phones to become thinner and lighter without sacrificing excessive hardware resources.

While the concept sounds compelling, no concrete timeline has been announced for this advancement.

The remarks from Samsungs leadership following the Galaxy S26 event suggest the company is entering a phase of strategic recalibration: willing to halt underperforming experiments like Edge, cautious about cost-intensive ideas such as TriFold, yet determined to expand foldable experiences and invest for the long term in core technologies like Privacy Display and S Pen.

In an increasingly competitive smartphone market, that flexibility may prove essential for maintaining its leading position in the years ahead.

Hai Phong
Interview: China leads shift to IQ Era, says president of ChinaEU

Xinhua) 10:00, March 04, 2026

BARCELONA, Spain, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies are at the forefront of the global acceleration towards an "IQ era" of Intelligence-Driven Infrastructure, a top digital expert said at the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this week.

Luigi Gambardella, president of the Brussels-based international digital association ChinaEU, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua that China is leading the way in building cognitive networks and operationalizing artificial intelligence (AI) at scale.

This year's MWC, themed "IQ Era," highlights the deep convergence of telecommunications, AI, robotics, cloud computing, and next-generation network technologies. Gambardella noted that the event marks the global communications industry's transition from the "Connectivity Era" to the "IQ Era."

"In the era of intelligent infrastructure, competition is no longer about who builds the faster networks or the broader coverage," he said. "It is about building networks with cognitive capabilities. Future digital advantage will increasingly depend on the ability to operationalize AI at scale, turning innovation into systems that are deployable, reliable, and repeatable."

Chinese companies at MWC 2026 are not showcasing isolated technological breakthroughs, Gambardella said, but integrated architectures.

"AI is being deeply integrated into network systems," he explained. "Networks are becoming capable of automatically optimizing resources, anticipating disruptions and reducing downtime, improving energy efficiency through intelligent orchestration, and moving increasing amounts of computing power to the edge, closer to factories, logistics hubs, ports, and critical infrastructure."

Across the exhibition floor, he noted, cloud platforms underpin industrial AI at scale. Next-generation optical communication companies point to the next-generation technology required for secure, low-latency data flows, and humanoid robotics companies demonstrate embodied intelligence designed for deployment in industrial manufacturing scenarios.

"These examples demonstrate a growing ability to industrialize innovation efficiently into systematic solutions," he said. "The advantage lies in turning the innovation-deployment-scale cycle into a durable capability."

Addressing the integration of AI into the real economy, Gambardella said: "In the IQ era, artificial intelligence moves beyond software and directly into the physical world, often described as 'Physical AI'. Intelligence embedded within infrastructure enables industrial automation, predictive maintenance, real-time quality control, and optimized logistics."

He attributed China's strong performance in this transition to its large market scale, dense real-world application scenarios, and vertically integrated industrial ecosystem.

Regarding prospects for China-Europe cooperation, Gambardella noted that Europe's twin digital and green transitions require smarter infrastructure to raise productivity, lower energy costs, and strengthen supply chain resilience. "The deployment experience and technological maturity that many Chinese companies bring to Barcelona can help bridge the gap between experimentation and measurable economic impact," he said.

MWC 2026 is not just a showcase for cutting-edge technologies, but also an important platform for discussing the future of digital infrastructure, he added.

Marking the 20th anniversary of the event's presence in Barcelona, this year's MWC has drawn around 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors and partners. According to organizers, a China Pavilion has been set up at the congress for the first time, featuring major Chinese companies including China Mobile, China Unicom, Huawei, ZTE, Honor and Xiaomi.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Groups also urge F1 Partners Disney, Lego and Hot Wheels to Demand Action

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Formula 1 racing season starts this week, over 160 public interest organizations from around the world today sent a letter to Formula 1 calling on the sport to update its prohibition of tobacco product sponsorships to include nicotine pouches and stop helping the tobacco industry market its products to F1's millions of young fans.

F1 ended cigarette sponsorships in 2006. However, tobacco companies Philip Morris International (PMI) and British American Tobacco (BAT) are now promoting one of their newer tobacco products, nicotine pouches, through sponsorships of F1 teams  PMI is sponsoring the Ferrari team to promote its Zyn pouches, while BAT sponsors the McLaren team with its Velo brand. Product logos are prominently featured on the cars and race suits of these teams' superstar drivers, including 2025 F1 world champion Lando Norris and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The sponsorships are also promoted on social media to hundreds of millions of followers.

Tobacco companies are sponsoring Formula 1 teams at the same time the sport has aggressively worked to expand its global youth audience, including recent partnerships with Disney, Lego and Mattel's Hot Wheels. These partnerships include appearances by Mickey & Friends at F1 races and exclusive Lego and Hot Wheels merchandise for kids. F1 has stated that more than four million children aged 8-12 actively follow the sport just in the EU and the U.S., while 54% of the sport's followers on TikTok and 40% on Instagram are now under 25 years old.

"By sponsoring Formula 1 teams, tobacco companies are seeking to reach the same young people Formula 1 has worked hard to attract. Formula 1 must not be complicit in these efforts. To protect the health of its young fans, it is imperative that Formula 1 act quickly to update its existing prohibition of cigarette sponsorships to include other types of tobacco products, including newer products like nicotine pouches," the groups wrote in the letter to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

Separate letters to the CEOs of Disney, Lego and Mattel urged these companies to join the call for Formula 1 to prohibit all tobacco sponsorships.

"Tobacco companies want their brands on Formula 1 race cars and celebrity drivers because they know kids will see it," said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "Marketing tobacco in the same venues as Disney, Lego and Hot Wheels is part of the industry's ongoing strategy to addict kids to products that harm them, while simultaneously claiming that their products are only for adults. F1 must protect kids and immediately end its relationship with the tobacco industry and ensure it is not a vehicle for marketing harmful and addictive products to young fans."

Nicotine pouches pose serious risks to the health of young people. These products expose young people to high levels of nicotine, which is extremely addictive, can harm the developing adolescent brain, which continues to develop until about age 25, and can prime the brain for addiction to other drugs. Nicotine pouches are the only type of tobacco product to see an increase in youth use in the U.S. in recent years.

The letter to Formula 1 was signed by 162 organizations from 57 countries. Read the letters to Formula 1 and to Disney, Lego and Mattel: tobaccofreekids.org/Formula-One-partners

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Speaking highly of Vietnams socio-economic achievements as well as its energy transition orientation and goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the minister suggested that relevant agencies of the two countries soon establish connections and move towards signing cooperation agreements in priority areas.

At the meeting with Kumer, which was also attended by President of the Management Board of the Krsko Nuclear Power Plant Gorazd Pfeifer, Ambassador Hoang affirmed that nuclear energy and energy infrastructure are among Vietnams strategic priorities to promote green and sustainable development in line with the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

In late 2024, Vietnam agreed to resume the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project with a total planned capacity of over 4,000 MW. The Government has set up a steering committee for the construction of nuclear power plants and assigned 11 domestic training institutions to implement programmes to train about 4,000 personnel for the two future plants, he noted.

The ambassador proposed that Slovenia share its experience in management, safe operation, environmental standards compliance and human resources development at the Krsko Nuclear Power Plant  one of Europes highly rated facilities in terms of safety and efficiency since it began operations in 1983. He also expressed the hope to promote cooperation in training, expert exchange and the establishment of a technical coordination mechanism in this field.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria and Slovenia Vu Le Thai Hoang (right) and Slovenian Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer at their meeting on March 2. (Photo: VNA)

On this occasion, Hoang also visited the Krsko Nuclear Power Plant to learn in detail about its management model, safety system, waste treatment processes, maintenance and equipment upgrades, and human resources training.

The plant is a joint venture between Slovenia and Croatia, using a two-loop pressurised water reactor technology supplied by Westinghouse, with a capacity of 737 MW. It contributes about 35% of Slovenias electricity output and employs nearly 700 staff.

The ambassador later met with Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Luka Mesec to discuss enhancing cooperation in labour and vocational training. The two sides focused on potential collaboration in areas matching Slovenia's demand and Vietnam's strengths, including health care, construction, industry and agriculture.

Hoang highlighted that Vietnam is now in its golden population period, with around 68% of its population being of working age and an annual increase of about one million people. Vietnam views overseas employment not only as a socio-economic policy but also as an important channel of human resources diplomacy, helping improve skills, professional qualifications and industrial work styles, thus contributing to the countrys industrialisation and modernisation. Meanwhile, Slovenia is facing population ageing and shortages of high-quality manpower.

The complementarity between Vietnams young, dynamic workforce and Slovenias labour demand presents considerable cooperation potential, he noted.

Minister Mesec expressed his support for the proposals and backed the initiative to organise a Vietnam  Slovenia labour and vocational training cooperation forum in 2026, aiming to consider the signing of a labour cooperation agreement to create a favourable legal corridor in the near future. The forum is expected to help businesses and training institutions of both countries strengthen connections and expand cooperation in sectors requiring high skilfulness and adaptability in language and culture./. VNA
The State Records and Archives Department has launched an event titled Admiring imperial rescripts - Preserving woodblock imprints, drawing large numbers of domestic and international visitors eager to explore and experience Vietnams documentary heritage.

Artisans from Thanh Lieu woodblock craft village recreate traditional woodblock engraving techniques.

From March 3, the Space Introducing Vietnams World Documentary Heritage and Outstanding National Archival Records, organized by the State Records and Archives Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, officially opened to the public free of charge from 9am to 4pm on weekdays.

The initiative aims to implement Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on cultural development, bringing documentary heritage closer to the public and transforming it into an important cultural resource in social life.

The exhibition space is structured into three components. At its center is a modern media space, where archival materials are transformed into communication content, digital data and interactive multimedia products.

Alongside this is the Space for Vietnams World Documentary Heritage and Outstanding National Archival Records, offering an accessible overview of the countrys documentary heritage system and significant archival holdings. Visitors can research, explore, interact with and learn from original documents through interactive screens.

The Space on the History of Vietnams Archival Sector is designed to honor the formation and development of the archival profession, as well as the generations of officials who have quietly safeguarded, protected and passed down heritage through different eras.

To mark the opening, the State Records and Archives Department organized the event Admiring imperial rescripts - Preserving woodblock imprints, attracting a wide audience from Vietnam and abroad. The public has the opportunity to contemplate the imperial annotations, auspicious seals and well-wishes for prosperity left by Nguyen dynasty emperors, preserved on the Chau ban and woodblocks of the Nguyen dynasty.

On the first day of opening, a delegation from the Russian Embassy in Vietnam visited to explore the art of woodblock engraving and experience woodblock printing.

In the Admiring imperial rescripts section, visitors can approach versions of the Nguyen dynastys Chau ban bearing vermilion comments handwritten by emperors, expressing aspirations for national prosperity and peace under heaven.

Through the Preserving woodblock imprints activity, members of the public can directly experience the technique of woodblock printing on do paper, stamp seals onto cards and keep the prints as souvenirs.

Visitors may also watch documentary films such as Royal Palace Welcomes Tet and The Art of Woodblock Engraving in the media space, gaining vivid insights into life within the imperial court of the past. Each guest receives a limited-edition lucky red envelope as a New Year greeting drawn from heritage.

On the very first day of opening, a delegation from the Russian Embassy in Vietnam visited to learn about the art of woodblock engraving and to experience woodblock printing firsthand.

Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Department, said documentary heritage and archival records can only fully realize their value when brought into service for the community. Resolution 80 underscores the task of preserving and promoting cultural heritage in association with science, technology and digital transformation. Documentary heritage, especially national archival records, is not only a primary historical source but also an important soft resource that contributes to strengthening identity, nurturing patriotism and enhancing the nations standing.

In the coming time, the State Records and Archives Department will continue linking archival exhibitions with the countrys historical and political events and with the general education curriculum. It will also step up digital applications, innovate service models at the National Archives Centers, improve access to information and bring archival materials closer to society.

Tinh Le
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs in Hanoi, where Minister Dao Ngoc Dung received Alejandro Negrin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mexico to Vietnam.

During the meeting, Ambassador Alejandro Negrin expressed his honor at meeting the Vietnamese minister and praised Vietnams recent achievements in socio-economic development.

Although the two countries are geographically distant, he said, they share many similarities and have maintained a strong relationship built over more than 50 years of cooperation.

In the context of this visit, we hope to work with Vietnam to further promote bilateral cooperation, particularly in areas such as agricultural development, scientific and technological transformation, handicraft production, traditional medicine, tourism, education and gender equality, Ambassador Negrin said.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung emphasized that Mexico holds a strategic position and is an important potential partner for Vietnam in Latin America.

Relations between the two countries, he said, have continued to develop across various sectors, especially in economics, education and culture.

The minister also highlighted that both Vietnam and Mexico are multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious countries, which creates significant opportunities for cooperation.

Both countries aim to promote equality, freedom and development for ethnic minorities and indigenous communities, particularly in the fields of economic development, culture, education and healthcare, he said.

People-centered development

Sharing information about Vietnams policies, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung noted that the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam reaffirmed the consistent policy of respecting freedom of belief and religion for all Vietnamese citizens.

Vietnam also ensures that religious organizations can operate within the framework of the law and according to their charters and regulations.

The countrys ultimate goal, he added, is to improve the well-being of all citizens, especially ethnic minorities, ensuring better living conditions both materially and spiritually, including healthcare, education and social security.

Vietnam has implemented a dedicated national target program for ethnic minority communities. Children in Vietnam are provided with free schooling and supported meals at school.

In addition, the government has decided to build integrated schools in border and island communes. Poor and near-poor ethnic minority citizens are also provided with health insurance coverage.

After many wars to defend our country, Vietnam is among the nations that have endured immense suffering. We understand the value of peace and the responsibility to care for ethnic minorities, the poor and social welfare beneficiaries, the minister said.

Vietnams consistent foreign policy, he added, is to maintain independence and self-reliance while being a friend and partner to all countries, particularly those with strong potential for expanding cooperation such as Mexico.

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung also expressed strong support for the cooperation initiatives proposed by the Mexican side, noting that these are areas Vietnam is keen to develop.

He expressed hope that the two countries will continue working together to develop institutions, mechanisms and policies while consulting with one another on governance in ethnic and religious affairs so that people in both countries can benefit from these efforts.

Through the ambassador, I hope that more delegations from government agencies responsible for ethnic and religious affairs in both countries will visit and exchange experiences to learn from each other, the minister said.

Hoang Quy
During the meeting, Quang applauded Amazons active cooperation with Vietnamese ministries and agencies in recent years, as well as its long-term commitment and investment strategy in Vietnam.



He highlighted Vietnams strong growth momentum, substantial development potential, high-quality research and development engineers, and favourable investment climate, which align with the demands of foreign enterprises, including those from the US, for investment and business expansion.



The minister affirmed that, based on the VietnamUS Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Ministry of Public Security will continue facilitating stable and lawful operations of businesses, including Amazon, in accordance with Vietnamese and international regulations.



For his part, Person expressed appreciation for the ministrys support and lauded Vietnams vision in advancing digital transformation, innovation and secure and sustainable digital infrastructure. He affirmed Amazons commitment to expanding investment and fostering high-quality human resource development in Vietnam.



He also voiced hope for stronger substantive cooperation with units under the Ministry of Public Security, as well as Vietnamese partners, expressing confidence that joint efforts would further bolster VietnamUS economic and trade relations, bringing benefits for both sides./. VNA
Amid deepening international integration and intensifying global competition, localities across Vietnam are restructuring the agricultural sector toward large-scale production, value chain development, and a growth model driven by quality and technology.

In recent years, the sector has shifted from a production-oriented mindset to an agricultural economic approach. Instead of focusing mainly on output, it now prioritises quality, added value and brand building.

Building on stable growth in previous years and a strong recovery in 2025, agro-forestry-fishery exports surpassed 70 billion USD. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, export turnover in January reached nearly 6.51 billion USD, up 29.5% year-on-year. The figures underscore a strategic transition toward standardisation, improved quality and stronger application of science and technology in production.

Brand development has become a key driver. Vietnam is currently the worlds largest producer and exporter of coffee, with annual output of around 1.82 million tonnes. Beyond exporting raw beans, enterprises are increasingly investing in deep processing to enhance product value.

Nguyen Nam Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam CoffeeCocoa Association, said export value in January alone reached nearly 1.1 billion USD, up almost 40% compared to the same period last year.

The growth shows that Vietnamese firms are integrating more deeply into global value chains and gradually shedding the image of low-value raw material exporters.

The fruit and vegetable sector has also posted impressive gains. Nguyen Dinh Tung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association and General Director of Vina T&T Group, said stronger brand building and systematic investment in science and technology enabled robust growth from the first month of 2026.

High-tech applications in cultivation, preservation and deep processing have improved quality, extended shelf life and ensured compliance with stringent import standards. A national branding strategy for Vietnamese fruit has further enhanced product value and credibility in global markets.

As a result, fruit and vegetable exports in January exceeded 644 million USD, surging 72.9% year-on-year. The strong performance provides momentum for the sector to target double-digit growth and strive to reach 10 billion USD in export revenue this year.

At the local level, brand investment is delivering tangible results. In Hanoi, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment Ta Van Tuong said branding plays a decisive role in expanding markets and increasing value. Products such as Dong Phu organic rice and Dai Thanh late-ripening longan have significantly improved competitiveness following systematic brand development, with selling prices rising by 1520%.

Despite notable achievements, Vietnamese agricultural brands remain underrepresented in the mid- and high-end segments. International marketing and digital positioning are still limited.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien stressed that amid rapid digital transformation, applying technology and artificial intelligence is inevitable. Integrating data for market forecasting and production management, adopting electronic farm diaries, cooperative management software, and online platforms for seeds and input materials are helping farmers access technology more easily and improve efficiency.

Digital branding, personalised customer engagement, optimised marketing costs and higher conversion rates will enable Vietnamese enterprises to compete more effectively in regional mid- and high-end markets.

To achieve breakthroughs in 2026, brand positioning must be treated as a central, long-term strategy. The sector needs to shift decisively from an exporting quantity approach to exporting value, with quality and standards as the foundation.

Key products such as fruit, rice, coffee and cashew nuts should build clear brand identities linked to growing-area codes, geographical indications and sustainability criteria. Localities must also invest in digital traceability systems, transparent supply chains and international certifications such as GlobalGAP, organic and low-carbon standards.

Enterprises, meanwhile, should proactively develop their own brands in export markets rather than relying solely on importers labels. Greater participation in specialised trade fairs, stronger connections with major distribution networks and accelerated cross-border e-commerce are also essential.

With clearer brand positioning and deeper digital transformation, Vietnamese agricultural products are expected not only to increase export volumes but also command higher prices, strengthening the foundation for sustainable growth and reinforcing Vietnams standing in the global agricultural marketplace./.VNA
In a world where instability has become the new normal, the central question for any economy is no longer how fast it can grow, but how firmly it can stand when turbulence strikes.

Successive shocks from geopolitics, supply chains, finance, technology and climate are testing the resilience of every nation, particularly open economies such as Vietnam.

It is in this context that General Secretary To Lams directive at the national conference on Resolution 79 carries a clear message: the state economy must deliver breakthrough contributions to national autonomy, ensure stability and intervene promptly when systemic risks arise. In the new phase, the state economy must be concretized into five major pillars.

In other words, it is positioned as a backbone of the economy, not as a force that replaces the market.

Holding the strategic heights

For years, economic self-reliance was often understood in simple terms: produce more domestically, reduce imports, increase localization. Yet in a deeply integrated economy, real autonomy lies in mastering the arteries  energy, finance and credit, strategic infrastructure, logistics, data and digital platforms.

When these arteries depend on external actors, growth may continue in favorable times, but a single shock can cause severe disruption. Thus, assigning the state economy to hold the strategic heights is not about creating monopolies, but about preserving initiative, regulatory space and national interests at critical moments.

This is the first layer of meaning behind the term pillar.

Five pillars, a new perspective

What stands out in this directive is that the leading role is no longer interpreted as all-encompassing. Instead, it is articulated through five specific functions.

The state economy must anchor economic security and sovereignty; stabilize and regulate markets during volatility; open pathways for the private sector rather than crowd it out; lead in innovation and core technologies rather than rely solely on capital and assets; and uphold governance standards, discipline and integrity.

Taken together, these five pillars form not merely a task list but a development architecture. The state stands where the market cannot or should not bear the burden, enabling the rest of the economy to function smoothly.

Narrowing to grow stronger

A crucial clarification in Resolution 79, as highlighted by Dr Nguyen Dinh Cung, is that the state economy is not synonymous with state-owned enterprises. The state economy encompasses the full range of resources held by the state  land, natural resources, the budget, infrastructure and financial instruments. State-owned enterprises are only one component.

This perspective leads to an important implication: the leading role of state-owned enterprises should concentrate on key strategic sectors characterized by high risk, long-term capital and areas where markets struggle to operate independently. Narrowing their focus allows leadership to become a genuine capability rather than an administrative designation.

Notably, Resolution 79 introduces concrete benchmarks for the first time: striving for 50 state-owned enterprises to enter Southeast Asias Top 500, one to three to reach the global Top 500; 100 percent of state-owned enterprises to adopt digital governance platforms; and all major groups and corporations to apply OECD standards. Leadership is thus measured by competitiveness and standards, not merely by scale or market share.

Leadership requires accepting risk

Achieving these standards demands a shift in risk tolerance. State-owned enterprises cannot be tasked with pioneering technology and market creation while being bound by an absolute no loss mindset. Capital preservation should not mean that not a single unit of currency can be lost; it must be viewed through a long-term lens.

Some investments may incur losses for years, but if they secure technology, strategic positioning and competitiveness, they are not failures. Without the courage to accept risk, it is impossible to build true pillars in strategic domains.

A pillar is not a privilege

At the same time, being a pillar does not equate to preferential treatment. State-owned enterprises can only genuinely lead by entering new technologies and high-risk sectors where private players are unwilling or unable to invest. Using institutional and capital advantages to compete directly in segments already well served by private firms would distort rather than guide the market.

Selecting core enterprises, clearly defining the scope of leadership, granting real authority tied to personal accountability, and managing state capital under long-term investment logic  as reflected in the proposed restructuring of the State Capital Investment Corporation into a national investment fund  are unavoidable conditions.

A pillar must be built through action

Ultimately, implementation remains decisive. The five pillars must be translated into action programs with clear objectives, measurable indicators, defined timelines and explicit accountability for leaders.

If realized, the state economy will no longer stand apart as a separate sector, but will serve as a backbone for stability, autonomy and long-term growth. In that case, its leading role will not need constant affirmation  it will reveal itself each time the economy weathers a major storm and remains standing.

Lan Anh
A limited-edition timepiece engineered for the world's toughest terrain

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Casio America, Inc. announces their latest collaboration with Toyota Team Land Cruiser (TLC), joining forces for a limited-edition model inspired by one of the most grueling motorsport challenges in the world: the Dakar Rally. Built on a shared foundation of toughness, endurance, and precision engineering, this exclusive timepiece celebrates the relentless spirit of Team Land Cruiser and the uncompromising durability that defines G-SHOCK.

Toyota Team Land Cruiser and G-SHOCK Collaboration

At the center of the collaboration is the GWGB1000TLC1 MUDMASTER, a rugged, high-performance watch inspired by nighttime desert runs  widely considered the most demanding stage of the Dakar Rally. The design concept reflects powerful driving under moonlight across unforgiving terrain, blending technical cockpit precision with the raw intensity of the desert.

The watch features black IP metal components, a gold IP metal band keeper engraved with the TLC logomark, and multi-color dial accents inspired by rally navigation systems. The band incorporates multi-angle printing influenced by the night desert landscape, while the bio-based carbon case and bio-based resin band reinforce the model's connection to innovation and resilience in extreme environments.

Toyota Team Land Cruiser has earned its reputation as one of the most dominant forces in Dakar Rally history. In January 2025, the team achieved a one-two finish in the Production (Stock) category, marking its 12th consecutive victory since the 2014 rally. Competing across scorching desert heat, rocky terrain, and destinations with no roads, TLC has built a legacy defined by endurance, grit, and technical mastery; values that seamlessly align with G-SHOCK's "Absolute Toughness" philosophy.

The Toyota Team Land Cruiser x G-SHOCK GWGB1000TLC1 includes the following key features:

Shock Resistant

200M Water Resistance

Mud Resistant

Vibration Resistant

Solar Powered

Sapphire Crystal Glass

Radio-Controlled (Multi Band 6)

Bluetooth Connectivity

Triple Sensor

Double LED light

World Time (38 Time Zones)

Sunrise/sunset display

5 Daily Alarms

Stopwatch (1/100s, 24H)

Countdown Timer

Full Auto Calendar

Additional details include a barometric pressure alarm, signal function, and advanced time calibration technology to ensure accuracy in the harshest conditions. The special engraved case back features Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body branding, underscoring its limited-edition status.

The Toyota Team Land Cruiser x G-SHOCK GWGB1000TLC1 ($970) is available now on gshock.com. The model is also available at the G-SHOCK SoHo Store and through select retailers nationwide. For more information about G-SHOCK, visit gshock.casio.com/us.

About Casio America, Inc.

Casio America, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., markets and distributes Casio's portfolio of timepieces, electronic musical instruments, calculators, and education technology products throughout the United States. Guided by the corporate creed of "creativity and contribution," Casio delivers innovative, reliable, and thoughtfully designed products that enrich everyday life. For more information, visit www.casiousa.com .

MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:

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SOURCE Casio America, Inc.
Leading distributor joins Diversified Foodservice Supply family at Booth #629 to support restaurant facilities professionals with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts and Original Component Manufacturer (OCM) options.

VERNON HILLS, Ill., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TundraFMP, a global leader in the distribution of foodservice supplies and replacement parts, announced its participation in the Restaurant Facility Management Association (RFMA) Annual Conference. Taking place March 1517, 2026, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, the event will see TundraFMP exhibiting at Booth #629. The exhibit will highlight its strategic focus on total parts availability and supply chain reliability.

As facilities managers face increasing pressure to maintain uptime while managing costs, TundraFMP is arriving in Denver with a clear message: "Real Parts. Real Scale. Real Uptime." Backed by the logistical power of its parent company, Diversified Foodservice Supply (DFS), TundraFMP is uniquely positioned to help operators navigate 2026's sourcing challenges with a balanced inventory strategy.

Key Highlights for RFMA 2026:

The Power of Choice (OEM & OCM): TundraFMP will be showcasing its massive inventory network, designed to give operators the right part for every budget and brand standard. The company continues to stock a vast selection of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts for warranty compliance, alongside a robust offering of Original Component Manufacturer (OCM) parts for high-quality, cost-effective alternatives.

The DFS Advantage: By leveraging the buying power and distribution network of DFS, TundraFMP offers unmatched inventory depth. Attendees can learn how this relationship translates to faster shipping from nationwide distribution centers and better sourcing on the critical parts that keep kitchens running.

Simplified Sourcing: Visitors to Booth #629 can discuss how to streamline their purchasing processes, reducing the administrative burden of maintaining commercial kitchens by consolidating their foodservice supply needs with a single partner.

"We are heading to the Rockies to help owners and operators solve their toughest sourcing challenges," said Lev Peker, CEO at DFS. "Whether you need a specific OEM component to maintain a warranty, or an OCM alternative to manage costs without sacrificing quality, we are here to deliver the reliability and partnership businesses need to keep their operations moving."

TundraFMP invites all RFMA attendees to visit Booth #629 to discuss parts availability, explore sourcing options for the year ahead, and enter for a chance to win a $500 order giveaway. To learn more, visit https://www.tundrafmp.com/s/rfma-2026.

About TundraFMP: TundraFMP is a foodservice supplier specializing in restaurant smallwares, parts, and equipment. The company supports both independent operators and multi-unit businesses with a broad product assortment, scalable account services, and sourcing solutions designed to support new restaurant openings and ongoing operations. TundraFMP is part of the Diversified Foodservice Supply (DFS) family of brands. For more information, visit TundraFMP.com.

About Diversified Foodservice Supply: Diversified Foodservice Supply (DFS) is the parent company of multiple leading brands in the commercial foodservice industry, including AllPoints and TundraFMP. DFS leverages its massive scale, global supply chain network, and purchasing power to provide comprehensive parts and supply solutions to service agents, dealers, and restaurant operators worldwide.

Contact Information:

Gvantsa Green, VP of Marketing

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Diversified Foodservice Supply
De Heus announced the deal on March 3, marking a significant milestone in its long-term growth strategy and underscoring its commitment to supporting farmers across Asia. The transaction comprises 17 feed mills and numerous livestock operations across the region.

The integration of De Heus and CJ Feed & Care's local expertise is expected to help farmers professionalise operations, improve performance, and increase profitability, according to the company.

De Heus said it remains committed to maintaining relationships with farmers, distributors, and investment partners, while sharing products, services, knowledge, and practices. The company also acknowledged the support of national governments in its host countries as it expands its presence in the animal husbandry sector.

The company maintains its active role in connecting partners across the animal protein value chain to further support farmers. In collaboration with strategic partners, De Heus intends to increase investment in swine and poultry breeding farms across Asia, aiming to improve customer access to quality genetics inputs.

The strategy is designed to improve productivity and efficiency for customers, while enhancing the competitiveness of livestock industries in its markets. De Heus has stated that genetics quality, combined with its feed products and support services, is intended to help farmers achieve success.

Helping customers sell livestock, eggs, fish, and milk to reliable slaughterhouses, processing companies, and traders also remains a priority. Financial products developed in collaboration with partner banks are intended to provide additional support where needed. A focus on customer needs will continue to guide the development of ecosystems that facilitate sustainable growth, according to De Heus.

This acquisition marks an important milestone in our long-term strategy to strengthen our footprint in Asia, said Gabor Fluit, CEO of De Heus Animal Nutrition. By combining CJ Feed & Cares strong technical expertise and customer relationships with our century-long experience in animal nutrition and farm management, we can accelerate growth and deliver even more value to farmers across the region.

Royal De Heus takes over CJ Feed & Care Royal De Heus has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire CJ Feed & Care's operations in Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

De Heus and Bel Ga fulfill commitments to sustainability with solar rooftop portfolio De Heus, Bel Ga and Green Roof have formed a partnership with a view to deliver a positive impact on Vietnams sustainability progress. Johan van den Ban, CEO of De Heus Vietnam, discussed with VIRs Thanh Van the importance of the latest tie-up between the three companies.
On March 4, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) announced that the board of Highlands Coffee is evaluating an initial public offering (IPO) of the business. The contemplated transaction would involve a standalone IPO and listing of Highlands Coffee in Vietnam, positioning the Vietnamese coffee platform as a publicly traded company.

Highlands Coffee represents a significant growth asset within JFC's portfolio, demonstrating both strategic acquisition success and post-acquisition organic expansion. The brand has achieved market leadership as Vietnam's largest coffee chain by store count. Since JFC's investment in 2012, Highlands Coffee has expanded from 56 stores to nearly 1,000 locations today.

The proposed IPO is intended to support Highlands Coffees next phase of growth by providing direct access to capital markets, elevating its corporate profile, and enabling greater strategic and operational focus as the top Vietnamese coffee brand in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia.

Vietnams equity market liquidity has been among the fastestgrowing in the region, supported by accelerating retail investor participation. This growth has been driven by increased market access and engagement, with Vietnam targeting approximately 9 million retail investor accounts by 2025 and 11 million by 2030. This underscores the markets expanding depth and relevance for consumerfocused growth companies.

An entry into the stock market could create a platform for exponential shareholders' value creation in a very dynamic capital market.

Highlands Coffee has engaged international and local advisors and has commenced work on defining the structure, process, and timing for the potential IPO. The transaction, with target completion by the first quarter of 2027, will be subject to prevailing market conditions, completion of appropriate steps including diligence and internal restructuring, and securing all required regulatory and legal approvals across relevant jurisdictions.

Parent company of Highlands Coffee acquires Paris Baguette Viet Thai International (VTI Group) has announced that Paris Baguette has joined its brand portfolio alongside Highlands Coffee, Pho 24, and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf chains.

Highlands Coffee gears up for IPO and expansion Highlands Coffee, Vietnams leading coffee chain, is ramping up its national footprint and sharpening operations as it eyes a public listing within two years.
The end of February and start of March witnessed a serious escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Within just a few days, military confrontations rapidly translated into a shock to transport and maritime insurance in the region  a strategic hub for global energy and goods flows.

For the seafood industry, the impact extends beyond higher freight rates to include the risk of cold chain disruptions, localised supply shortages, and price volatility across product segments.

Seafood products require strict temperature control and precise delivery timelines, making them particularly vulnerable to logistics instability.

Shrimp is one of Vietnam's key seafood export items

Even shipments that do not directly pass through conflict zones may face higher costs if vessels in their transport chain call at ports designated as war-risk areas.

Meanwhile, the Middle East remains a major consumption market for salmon, shrimp, tuna and other high-value seafood imported from Asia, Europe and the Americas.

The area is also a promising destination for Vietnamese seafood. Vietnams seafood exports to the region reached $401 million in 2025, up 9.6 per cent on-year.

Growth was driven primarily by basa fish, which generated $175.9 million, up 18.6 per cent on-year; shrimp, totalling $54.5 million, up 19.9 per cent; and the other fish category, which witnessed a strong 28.6 per cent increase.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), as certain airspaces are restricted and flight schedules disrupted, supplies of fresh seafood dependent on air freight could face shortages within days.

Importers may be forced to switch to frozen products. However, this channel is also under strain as bookings for refrigerated containers are restricted or temporarily suspended.

Dubai, home to Jebel Ali Port  the largest gateway hub in the Middle East region, serves as a major regional seafood transshipment hub. As vessels reroute, transit times lengthen and vessel queues grow, the risk of port congestion and shortages of power plug-in points for refrigerated containers increases.

Storage and demurrage costs are rising, while prolonged dwell times heighten the risk of product quality deterioration if safe thresholds are exceeded.

Le Hang, VASEP deputy secretary general, said the Middle East conflict could affect prices at two levels.

"At the regional level, higher transport and insurance costs directly push up import prices. Fresh and chilled products face potential shortages, particularly in the high-end restaurant and hotel segments," she said.

"At the global level, the spillover effect depends on the crisis duration. If container traffic through the Strait of Hormuz represents only a small share of global volume, the impact on overall freight rates may be limited. However, companies with direct exposure to the Middle East will face sustained higher transport costs, forcing them to restructure markets, redirect exports, or renegotiate contracts," Hang added.

Hang also noted that in the short term, should tensions ease and security conditions improve, shipping lines may gradually resume routes through Hormuz, reopen refrigerated container acceptance and progressively reduce war-risk surcharges.

In that case, seafood supply chains  particularly for frozen products  could recover relatively quickly.

Conversely, if heightened risk persists, rerouting may become the new norm. Insurance premiums would remain high, war-risk surcharges stay in place and refrigerated container capacity into the Gulf be constrained. Under such conditions, seafood import costs into the Middle East could remain elevated for months, potentially triggering price volatility across related markets.

The 2026 Middle East crisis demonstrates how geopolitical risks can turn into cold chain risks within days. Seafood firms need to proactively diversify transport routes, increase inventory at regional cold storage facilities, prioritise long-term freight contracts instead of relying entirely on the spot market, and closely monitor developments in maritime insurance and shipping line policies, Hang explained.

Seafood exporters urged to prepare for expected downturn in 2026 After a bright year with export revenue on track to reach $10 billion in 2025, Vietnams seafood industry is forecast to face multiple headwinds from 2026 onwards.

Seafood exports to Japan surge towards new annual record Vietnams seafood exports to Japan have gained strong momentum, reaching nearly $1.6 billion since the start of the year and positioning the sector to set a new annual record.
Federal patent officials celebrated a new community engagement office's opening in Research Park.

SALT LAKE CITY, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Utah has entered into a new agreement with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to host a community engagement office on the U campus, strengthening access to intellectual property (IP) education, resources and expertise for students, entrepreneurs, businesses and communities across the Intermountain West.

Under the agreement announced on Feb. 19 by the USPTO, the U campus will provide a home for a USPTO presence in Salt Lake City, powering a hub for education and outreach under the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022. The partnership allows the USPTO to immediately begin delivering vital services and building relationships that support innovation, economic growth and inclusive participation in the nation's intellectual property system.

"This partnership reflects the University of Utah's long-standing commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship," University of Utah President Taylor Randall said. "By hosting the USPTO on our campus, the U is helping ensure that inventors, students, startups and established businesses across Utah have greater access to the tools and knowledge they need to protect ideas and bring new technologies to market."

As America's innovation agency, the USPTO's mission is to drive U.S. innovation, inclusive capitalism and global competitiveness. Through this collaboration with the U, the USPTO will deliver intellectual property education and outreach to university students and staff, as well as to members of surrounding communities. Programming will include monthly public seminars, weekly office hours led by USPTO employees and additional events focused on patents, trademarks, branding and related IP topics. Many offerings will also be available virtually to reach a broader regional audience.

"A strong and robust innovation system depends on expansive eligibility, broad access and up-front engagement with the vibrant communities driving research and discovery," said John A. Squires, undersecretary for Intellectual Property and director of the USPTO. "By partnering with the University of Utah, we are meeting innovators where their ideas happenin the classrooms, laboratories and startupsand ensuring that America's innovation agency is there at the very beginning of the innovation journey."

The initiative is designed to serve a wide and diverse audience, including current university students and staff, high school students and their families, law students, attorneys interested in intellectual property, individual inventors, small businesses, veterans, rural residents and others who have traditionally been underrepresented in the innovation economy. Programming will also connect participants to public and private resources available to prospective patent applicants, including pro bono programs.

USPTO officials noted that the partnership with the U is essential to effectively delivering these services in Utah and the West. The new community engagement office location will serve innovators in part of the eight-state area formerly serviced by the Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Office in Colorado. The eight-state area includes Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Nebraska.

Located in the heart of the Mountain West, the University of Utah offers the facilities, expertise and community connections needed to support robust education and outreach. The university is widely recognized for its leadership in advanced manufacturing and innovation, computer science and biomedical engineering, supporting everyone from individual inventors to major corporations as they design, test and commercialize new technologies.

Last year, the U filed a record 542 patent disclosures and recently made the list of top 100 universities globally for securing patents. According to the National Academy of Inventors' (NAI) 2025 Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents, the U ranked 81st with 46 U.S. patents awarded last year.

The U's strengths also include the Price College of Engineering, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and various research hubs. Together, these assets position the U campus as a solid anchor for the USPTO's outreach efforts.

As part of the agreement, the USPTO will place up to three full-time employees on the U campus, starting at the Myriad Genetics building in Research Park, for an initial one-year period, with the option to extend by mutual agreement. Leading the team is Ken Takeda, interim acting director of the USPTO's Mountain West Community Engagement Office. As the longest-serving regional outreach officer, Takeda helped establish USPTO's western office in California's Silicon Valley and oversaw its daily operations for more than a decade. Now, he looks forward to working closely with emerging inventors.

"The community engagement offices allow us to be more agile," Takeda said. "We can customize the resources and information we provide the public to meet the needs of the communities by focusing on the technologies and issues driving innovation in the region."

Squires spoke at the office's grand opening celebration on Friday morning, Feb. 20. Joining him was Jamie P. Dwyer, a nephrologist serving as the U's Executive Associate Vice President of Research and Interim Chief Innovation Officer.

USPTO staff will hold weekly office hours at the campus office to assist with researching patents and trademarks and navigating the intellectual property system. The USPTO will also collaborate with the university to develop seminar topics, select speakers and promote programming through federal communication channels.

The U will provide shared office space for USPTO staff, likely at the S.J. Quinney College of Law and the Technology Licensing Office, host event information on university websites and social media, assist in identifying speakers and integrate USPTO activities into the state's broader innovation ecosystem. The university will also create opportunities for classroom engagement and student learning tied directly to real-world intellectual property challenges.

Together, the U and the USPTO will explore opportunities to expand public awareness of intellectual property beyond the campus and across the region, further strengthening Utah's innovation economy. By bringing federal intellectual property expertise directly to campus and community, the partnership underscores the U's role as a regional leader in innovation, connecting education, research and public service to help ideas move from inspiration to impact.

For additional information about this partnership, read here.

MEDIA & PR CONTACTS

Brian Maffly Science writer, University of Utah Communications

801-573-2382 [email protected]

Amanda Ashley Director of Communications for Research & Innovation, Office of the Vice President for Research

(385) 495-4540 [email protected]

SOURCE The University of Utah
Following the merger with Green Future, GSM has increased its charter capital to VND43.4 trillion ($1.6 billion). Pham Nhat Vuong continues to be the largest shareholder, with a 49.04 per cent stake. The remaining stakes belong to members of his family and Vingroup.

The merger between an all-electric taxi service and a car rental business will create a Vingroup affiliate that could list on a foreign stock exchange in 2027, as reported by newswire Nikkei Asia.

A representative told Nikkei Asia that going public could value the ride-hailing and taxi services at $20 billion.

At this stage, consulting firms are carrying out the valuation process. The final valuation will largely depend on the timing and market conditions upon listing.

Founded in 2023, GSM has made great strides over the past three years, becoming a new tech unicorn and holding more than 50 per cent share of Vietnams ride-hailing market, according to independent market research firm Mordor Intelligence.

Beyond Vietnam, GSM is operating in three international markets, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Laos. The company plans to expand its offerings to other markets this year.

Established in 2024, Green Future holds the number one market share in Vietnams electric vehicle rental and used car business. With flexible services and reasonable costs, Green Future enables individuals and businesses to access, own, and use electric vehicles.

Before the merger, GSM integrated VinDT's driver training and licensing services and VinBus's electric bus or school bus services into the GSM ecosystem.

Following the deal, the merged company will also provide driver training, delivery, electric motorbike ride-hailing, and information about the VinBus electric bus system.

Green GSM drives VinFast EV expansion into the Philippines with Xentro Green GSM has signed an MoU with the Philippines Xentro Motors to franchise VinFast electric vehicles, marking its first overseas expansion and a key milestone in building a regional green mobility network.

Green GSM launches all electric taxi fleet in Davao The new service aims to provide sustainable transportation options in the Philippine city.
On March 2, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung held talks with Bakytzhan Sagintayev, chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), on the occasion of the chairman's visit to Vietnam.

At the meeting, Hung stated, "The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) remains a traditional, reliable and important trading partner of Vietnam. The EAEU was the first economic bloc in Europe to sign a free trade agreement with Vietnam. Over the past decade, the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA) has delivered noteworthy results for all participating countries."

After 10 years of implementation, the agreement has achieved highly positive outcomes. Approximately 60 per cent of tariff lines were reduced to zero immediately upon the agreements entry into force in 2016. The remaining tariffs have been eliminated according to a 10-year roadmap, which was largely completed in 2025.

The agreement has played a vital role in boosting bilateral trade. Total import-export turnover increased from $3.04 billion in 2016 to $5.94 billion in 2025, nearly doubling over the decade. During the 20172018 period, trade grew at an average annual rate of nearly 30 per cent. Although trade was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict between 2019 and 2022, it rebounded from 2023 and continued to expand in 2024 and 2025.

The trade structure between the two sides is complementary, enabling businesses to make effective use of tariff preferences and enhance competitiveness. Many of Vietnams key export products have recorded strong growth thanks to preferential treatment under the VN-EAEU FTA, including seafood, coffee, pepper, cashew nuts and textiles exported to the EAEU market.

However, the Acting Minister Hung also noted that several issues remain to be addressed. Vietnam has proposed that the EAEU refrain from continuing the application of the trigger safeguard mechanism on Vietnamese textile products, arguing that the measure is no longer consistent with market realities or international practice.

"At the same time, Vietnam has called on the Russian Federation and the EAEU to further open their markets to Vietnamese seafood, consider lifting suspensions, and approve additional enterprises eligible to export. Vietnam also requested that the EAEU share data on preferential imports to facilitate assessments of the agreements implementation," Hung added.

For his part, EEC Chairman Sagintayev said the VN-EAEU FTA has contributed positively to trade growth between the parties. "We welcome the steady expansion of bilateral trade turnover. Building on these positive results, we are confident that cooperation will continue to develop robustly in the coming years," he stated.

Both sides agreed to facilitate market access, promptly remove trade barriers, and address obstacles to meet cooperation demands and fully tap into the economic potential of Vietnam and the EAEU. They also committed to promoting supply diversification and expanding market access for each other, thereby enhancing competitiveness and mitigating geopolitical risks that could disrupt supply chains.

Vietnam and EAEU members ponder trade deal upgrade Five years after the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement came into force, the deal is now showing some limitations and will be amended to boost trade and investment.

Vietnam to be removed from GSP of EAEU Vietnam will be removed from the list of generalised scheme preferences (GSP) of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) from October 2021.
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Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) has agreed to explore parking enforcement at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital following a multi-agency meeting convened by local MP Andrew Ranger.

The North Wales health board is set to explore the feasibility of using enforcement measures after the issue was raised at a Voice of Wrexham public event held last November.

Last week Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger met with BCUHB representatives, Chief Executive of Wrexham Council Alwyn Jones, Wrexham AFC and Llais to discuss potential solutions to tackle long-running parking issues at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

It was acknowledged during the meeting that hospital parking pressures are a national issue across Wales and the wider UK. However, attendees agreed that local solutions could be developed through joint working, particularly in light of major regeneration projects in Wrexham.

At the November Voice of Wrexham meeting, enforcement emerged as the most popular short-term solution among attendees. That proposal was discussed in detail at the latest talks, with the health board agreeing to explore the feasibility of this with providers.

Discussions also focused on longer-term solutions linked to the Wrexham Gateway project. The health board and Wrexham AFC are due to meet separately to consider whether there are opportunities for further collaboration.

Mr Ranger said he was determined to find a solution that balances the needs of patients, staff and residents.

I am really keen to arrive at a solution that meets the needs of car park users at the hospital and surrounding locale but also more broadly in terms of how people get to the hospital, he said.





My November Voice of Wrexham meeting generated some great ideas and subsequently I have been really pleased to see that my initiative on this has generated interest by other parties.

Ultimately the best solutions come from working in partnership and I will continue to provide updates as this progresses.

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More than 1 million in Welsh Government funding has supported two major community projects in the Wrexham area, as part of a wider 70 million investment programme across Wales.

The Community Facilities Programme has supported almost 500 projects since launching in 2015, with the funding used by community-led organisations, voluntary groups and charities to improve local facilities and restore historic buildings.

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, recently visited Plas Madoc Leisure Centre in Arefair and the Brymbo Heritage Trust to highlight how the funding has been used locally over the past 10 years.

Plas Madoc Leisure Centre has received 750,000 through the scheme  500,000 in 2016/17 and a further 250,000 in 2021/22.

The centre was closed by Wrexham Council in 2014 before being taken on by local residents, who formed Splash Community Trust to bring it back into community ownership.

It now operates as a busy community hub offering swimming, fitness classes, GP referral schemes, cardiac rehabilitation, hub services which includes Wrexham Foodbank and Citizens Advice and a community cafe.

Stella Matthews Chair of Splash Community Trust, said the funding had helped secure the centres future.





Keeping Plas Madoc open mattered to local people because its more than a leisure centre, she said.

Its where children learn to swim, where people rebuild their health, access vital doorstep services and where neighbours meet. The Welsh Governments support gave us the stability to plan ahead and grow what we offer. We thank the Welsh Government for their continued support.

Brymbo Heritage Trust has received 300,000 towards restoring The Machine Shop at a former ironworks site.

The building is central to plans to transform the site into a community hub and visitor attraction exploring Brymbos 300-million-year story from the coal measures and fossilised forest to the industrial heritage of the iron and steelworks.





When it opens later this year, the restored space will include a coffeehouse, retail area, function rooms, gallery, a volunteer hub and education opportunities, as well as five buildings that tell the industrial, natural and social history of the area.

Nicola Eaton Sawford from Brymbo Heritage Trust said: This is about giving Brymbos story a future, as well as preserving its past.

Throughout history this extraordinary site in Wrexham has reinvented and innovated and this is the latest transformation.

The funding has helped us turn years of planning into something real that people will soon be able to use and enjoy.

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said: For ten years, this programme has supported communities across Wales, helping to keep valued buildings open, breathing new life into empty spaces, and giving local groups the means to turn plans into reality.

Visiting Plas Madoc and Brymbo this week, and projects from Gwynedd to Gwent over recent months, I have seen first-hand what happens when local passion and determination are backed by real investment.

People create something extraordinary, and I am proud that the Welsh Government has stood alongside almost 500 communities on that journey.

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Following the arrival of the inaugural 300-ton shipment of North Carolina cotton last year, USATD has now facilitated a second landmark shipment of more than 500 tons of premium U.S. cotton sourced from Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. This marks the first time in history that U.S. cotton producers are directly supplying Mauritius at commercial scale.

The milestone was celebrated today at an event hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Mauritius and USATD. The event featured an expert discussion on trade relations between the United States and African countries, Mauritius's role as a regional trade and investment hub, the future of commercial bilateralism, and its impact on global supply chains. The panelists include Charge d'Affaires Craig Halbmaier, Hon. Minister of Industry, SMEs and Cooperatives Ameer Meea, USATD Vice President for Trade Bill Fanjoy, and Managing Director of Absa Bank Ravin Dajee. They assessed how U.S.-Mauritius commercial partnerships can strengthen regional supply chain resilience. CEOs, executives, and industry leaders across different sectors in Mauritius attended as guests.

U.S. Government Support

Charge d'Affaires Craig Halbmaier praised the achievement:

"It is a privilege to see U.S.-grown cotton spun into fabric right here in Mauritius. This partnership, forged by USATD, is not just about fiber. It's about weaving stronger trade ties between the United States and Africa. This is a model that can be replicated across East and Southern Africa."

The Embassy's interagency support included the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Foreign Commercial Service, and the State Department.

Local and Industry Perspectives

The Mauritius Export Association (MEXA) Director Lilowtee Rajmun-Jooseery highlighted the broader national impact: "Mauritius is repositioning itself as a competitive textile hub. By sourcing directly from the U.S., we cut costs, boost local jobs, and strengthen bilateral trade ties. USATD is helping build a resilient bridge between our manufacturers and American suppliers."

Mauritian Government Perspective

"These cotton imports not only support Mauritian industry, they also strengthen our expanding trade and investment ties with the United States, which are key pillars of our growing bilateral strategic partnership," Hon. Minister of Industry, SMEs and Cooperatives Ameer Meea stated.

A New Era of Commercial Diplomacy

USATD is pioneering a demand-driven trade approach that directly connects U.S. suppliers with African buyers, while advancing compliance, logistics, and financing systems to enable seamless cross-border commerce of finished products using U.S. goods for U.S. consumers.

With global apparel brands seeking sustainable and reliable supply chains, this initiative demonstrates how U.S. cotton can anchor Africa's apparel exports to the U.S., supporting American farmers, creating jobs in Mauritius, and driving long-term bilateral prosperity.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jeremy Faber, Director of Government Affairs

Email: [email protected]

Correction: The third paragraph and "Mauritian Government Perspective" section have been updated, and hyperlinks were added throughout the release.

SOURCE US Africa Trade Desk
Right now, it's estimated that women only fill 10% of jobs in the construction field. However, the Nevada State Contractors Board is working to change that.

The board hosted an event, called "Hammers & Hope," centered on educating young women about the field and their options in it.

Over and over, the keynote speaker and panel in attendance stressed the importance of being brave and not letting gender stand in the way of a successful career in construction.

Female students from Reed, North Valleys, ACE, and Fernley high schools attended Hammers & Hope. That included freshman Hailey Brown.

"I like the idea of having other females around me instead of just, you know, people that think I can't do anything because I'm a woman," said Hailey.

The Nevada State Contractors Board hosts the event yearly to inspire more women to take on tough positions and take up more space in a predominantly male field.

"We want to be a bridge for students or women in the community who maybe never looked upon that as a potential career," said David Behar, the Executive Officer of the board. "There's such a demand and such a need. And again, it doesn't get discussed enough. And so, we have to be at the forefront of that conversation."

The five women who sat on today's panel emphasized that this career path wouldn't be easy by any means, but young women shouldn't let anyone stand in their way.

"Hold fast, prove yourself, be smart, come with receipts, and a lot of that will go by the wayside," said Assistant Project Manager from United Construction, Courtney Roman.

There will be another Hammers & Hope event later this week in Las Vegas, and more events next year.
Crews on the Arlington Bridges project in Washoe County are making steady progress as the work moves closer to completion, according to the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County in an online post.

Workers are pouring concrete for new sidewalks and retaining walls while installing landscaping infrastructure and irrigation throughout the project area. The project will also add 32 new trees this spring to enhance the corridor and strengthen the urban canopy.

To protect the new sidewalks, utilities, and other improvements, crews are installing root control boxes. These systems guide and contain root growth, helping trees thrive while safeguarding surrounding infrastructure.

In mid-March, weather permitting, crews plan to pour the concrete bridge deck on the south bridge, a major milestone for the project.

The post says that the Arlington Bridges Project remains on track for completion in summer 2026.

(The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County contributed to this story.)
Update 3/4/26 4:10 p.m.

Reno Police Department is looking for a wanted man who fled Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center Wednesday morning.

According to police, 29-year-old Frank Hildago had been arrested on felony charges and was wanted by Nevada State Police for a parole violation.

Due a pre-existing condition, Hidalgo could not be booked and went to the hospital for medical attention.

While receiving treatment, Hildago left the hospital. Officers conducted a search but were unable to find him.

He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark-colored shorts and was not wearing shoes. His left leg was wrapped in a white bandage.

He is 5'11' tall and 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes

Anyone with information is urged to call the Reno Police Department's non-emergency line at 775-334-2121. They can also contact Secret Witness by calling or texting the tip to 775-322-4900 or secretwitness.com. A $500 reward is being offered.

Previous Story:

Reno Police are currently investigating after a wanted man allegedly got into a fight with security at Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center Wednesday morning.

Police say the unidentified man was being treated when he fled the building, leading to the incident with security.

The man is wanted on a felony warrant, RPD says they were already planning on apprehending him after his treatment was complete.

This is a developing story; we will provide updates as we learn more.
The Arlington Avenue Bridges Project is a few months away from completion.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC Washoe) said the project is moving forward on time.

Crews are preparing to pour concrete for the bridge on the south side of Wingfield Park. Workers are installing root control boxes for 32 new trees.

Josh MacEachern with RTC said this is in spite of the big winter storm we got last month.

"Luckily, the bridge crews were actually on a bit of a winter break at that time already. So, we did have a little bit of spot work going on during that time, but nothing major," he said.

A big rainstorm last summer flooded the construction site, but MacEachern says crews worked quickly to clean it up.

RTC said the north bridge is done, but it won't open just yet.

"There's still a lot of construction equipment ... that needs access to the bridge. Especially to get across work on some of the middle parts in the Wingfield Park area and also to even access to south bridge," MacEachern said.

MacEachern said if they opened the bridge now, detours and closures would change daily, and it would be confusing for drivers.

Speaking of detours, one person said relying on other downtown streets comes with its own problems.

"It takes a while to drive around, especially when the streets get shut down for events and stuff," said Steve Bowden.

Folks in the area say they can't wait for RTC Washoe to finish the project and reopen Wingfield Park.

"It's come along really well. it'll be nice to sit in the park for a little bit," said Leonard Martinez.

"I love Wingfield Park, and I love swimming in the river and walking down here. I walk my dog every day down here. So, I'm really looking forward to it," Bowden said.

In the meantime, Reynaldo Lapuz said he's enjoying the nearby Bicentennial Park while Wingfield is closed.

"It's okay. it's not a big problem," he said. "Everyone's enjoying the park, the river, the nature."

Even with major construction in the area, the community has continued to support businesses in downtown Reno.

"They've been helping out the local businesses in the area, continue to frequent the downtown businesses here, and that's just been really impressive. But that's Reno for you," MacEachern said.

As a reminder, RTC Washoe is recommending northbound and westbound detours via Virginia Street and Center Street. Sierra Street is recommended for eastbound and southbound.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County is inviting people to attend one of two open houses on Tuesday, March 10, to learn about proposed alternatives for a new corridor between Reno/Sparks and the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRIC).

The sessions are scheduled to offer the same information shared at a December 2025 public meeting, along with summaries of public comments and frequently asked questions received so far.

The Northeast Connector study explores a potential new route aimed at improving connectivity and easing congestion along I-80. Officials say the corridor would provide an alternate option for drivers traveling between the region and the industrial center.

The TRIC open house runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Storey County TRI Training Room, 1705 Peru Drive, McCarran.

The Spanish Springs open house is set for 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mendive Middle School, 1900 Whitewood Drive, Sparks.

Community members are encouraged to take the project survey, available online through March 31, 2026, at rtcwashoe.com/northeast-connector. Hard copy surveys can be requested by emailing Bryan Byrne, P.E., at bbyrne@rtcwashoe.com.

All responses will be part of the public record, subject to disclosure under state law.
BARCELONA, Spain, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Mobile World Congress (MWC), vivo and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme officially announced the launch of "Capture the Future: Global Youth Storytelling Initiative for People and Nature". This partnership empowers youth worldwide to utilize mobile imaging to document the intricate and harmonious relationship between humanity and nature, fostering a shared commitment to a sustainable global future.

Youth Leading the Story: Building a Shared Global Commitment

vivo and UNESCO formalize the partnership at MWC From left to right: Prof. Antonio De Sousa Abreu, Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, UNESCO; Yu Meng, Vice President of Imaging at vivo

As mobile imaging technology matures, it has evolved into a vital medium for public observation and social engagement. Today's young creators are increasingly directing their lenses toward the intersection of social and environmental dynamics. As a pioneer in mobile imaging innovation, vivo has long been committed to supporting creators in using visual storytelling to reflect on real-world challenges and bridge the gap between individual perspectives and community action.

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves serve as "demonstration sites" that integrate ecological conservation with sustainable community development. These sites require the fresh, innovative expressions of the young generation to highlight successful models of sustainable living. Through this initiative, vivo and UNESCO MAB are systematically empowering youth to become core advocates for ecological documentation and the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Yu Meng, Vice President of Imaging at vivo emphasized: "Meaningful technology starts with people and ends with a better society. Through this collaboration, we aim to translate our professional expertise in mobile imaging into tangible support for young creators worldwide as they document ecological biodiversity and community resilience. We aspire for vivo to be a trusted companion for youth exploring the world and shaping the future.

Prof. Antonio De Sousa Abreu, Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences at UNESCO added: "Young people are essential drivers of sustainable development. Their unique outlook and creative energy are invaluable. Through this partnership with vivo, we are providing a global platform for them to use the universal language of imagery to transform stories from Biosphere Reserves into real-world impact, driving progress in areas such as human-nature relationship, education and public science, as well as indigenous and local knowledge."

A Collaborative Journey: From Observation to Impact

The initiative launches with a global open call for visual storytelling submissions via UNESCO MAB youth networks, running from March to May. Centered on the synergy between biodiversity, climate resilience, cultural heritage, and sustainable innovation, the program aims to spotlight forward-thinking solutions through a youthful lens. Winners will travel to European biosphere reserves for the Global Youth Visual Storytelling Co-Creation Camp, where their narratives will help bridge the gap between humanity and the natural world, inspiring global action for a sustainable future.

To ensure these narratives achieve both technical excellence and environmental depth, participants will be guided by a "dual-mentor" team consisting of vivo imaging specialists and UNESCO sustainability experts. These immersive experiences, bolstered by regional capacity-building workshops, are designed to empower young participants to evolve from observers into influential storytellers. The journey will culminate in a global showcase, bringing these amplified youth perspectives to the world stage to drive meaningful impact.

Vision for a Resilient Future

Looking ahead, vivo and UNESCO MAB remain dedicated to mobilizing youth creativity to translate the complex actions of biosphere reserves into visually compelling narratives. By blending cutting-edge imaging technology with human-centric actions, this partnership seeks to transcend regional and cultural boundaries. Together, these visual stories will converge into a global movement for sustainable development, helping to build a more resilient, harmonious, and promising future for all.

About vivo

vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a user-oriented value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company's core values, which include Benfen*, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation.

While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi'an and more cities, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions, and is loved by more than 500 million users worldwide.

*"Benfen" is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right  which is the ideal description of vivo's mission to create value for society.

Stay informed of latest vivo news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news

SOURCE vivo
NEW YORK (AP)  The average price for a gallon of gasoline jumped 11 cents overnight in the U.S., and drivers in Europe waited in line to fill their tanks with fuel, as war engulfed the Middle East and shipments of oil and gas were stranded in the Persian Gulf.

Depending on the duration of the war, the pain of higher prices could increase in the coming weeks, and may be felt more heavily in areas reliant on imports.

Right now, the worst of it is centered on Europe, because Europe is a net importer, said Susan Bell, senior vice president of commodity markets at Rystad Energy. Diesel prices spiked 27% in Europe since Friday, rising about 62 cents per gallon, she said. Its gone up substantially, because Europe is so constrained on diesel supply."

In the U.S., a gallon of regular was selling for $3.11 on average, according to motor club AAA, surprising some drivers at the pump. Gasoline prices were already rising before the U.S. launched strikes on Iran as refiners switch over to summer blends of fuel. Summer blends of gasoline are more expensive because additives are included to help keep the gasoline from evaporating in the heat, and prices tend to increase as demand for fuel rises in the summer months, said Aixa Diaz, AAA spokeswoman. Adding to the pressures, crude prices rose sharply in recent days because of the war.

Anne Dulske paid $15 more than usual to fill up her tank at a Jackson, Mississippi gas station on Tuesday.

Its going to affect everything in our lives, she said. Its very scary, and it does hit closer to home than people think.

Dulske, who said she had previously noticed gas prices slowly going down, called the increase surprising and said she was caught off guard when she learned the United States and Israel had attacked Iran over the weekend.

We are knee-deep into the gas price increases," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, a technology company that helps people find cheap gasoline. DeHaan estimates gasoline price could rise further, but he doubts the price would reach $4 a gallon in the U.S. Many Americans seem very panicked that prices could hit multiple dollars higher than that, which at this point, I wouldnt say anythings impossible, but certainly its quite improbable based on the current developments."

While the U.S. is a net exporter of oil, which is a key component in gasoline, that doesn't make the country or its consumers immune to higher prices. Oil is traded on a global market, so price increases are felt even within the U.S. Plus, the oil produced in the U.S. is mostly light, sweet crude, and refineries on its coasts are typically geared to process heavier, sour crude, so imports are needed.

States that rely heavily on imported oil and gasoline are having a more painful experience with the rising cost of fuel, said Shon Hiatt, director of the Zage Business of Energy Initiative at the USC Marshall School of Business. California imports refined fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from South Korea, China and sometimes the Middle East, he said.

We have an energy security problem in California. Its not looking good for us, Hiatt said. China buys oil from Iran and other parts of the Middle East, and with those supplies constrained, if push came to shove, theyre going to cut off any refined fuel sales to California for sure.

In a suburb of Paris, drivers waited in a queue of 15 cars to fill up at seven pumps, which were charging about 1.846 euros per liter (7 euros per gallon) of diesel Tuesday.

Im heading out to the countryside and Im almost out of fuel," said Laurence Rihouay, a customer at a petrol station. "But there are a lot of people here. Theres never usually this many.

On Tuesday, oil prices soared to levels not seen in more than a year as Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks, including a drone strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Iran has also struck energy facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes, sending global oil and natural gas prices soaring.

In France, drivers were taking precautions.

With Iran and the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked, it is causing alarm everywhere and driving up oil prices, said Abdelilah Khalil, who was getting gasoline at a station outside Paris. Its panic on board, everyone is worried, and I think thats why many people are rushing to gas stations to fill up.

President Donald Trump addressed the rising prices in remarks in the Oval Office Tuesday. We have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, I believe, lower than even before, he said. He later said on social media that, if necessary, the U.S. Navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. He also ordered the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. to provide political risk insurance for tankers carrying oil and other goods through the Persian Gulf at a very reasonable price.

In Jackson, Mississippi, Brody Wilkins was filling up gas canisters when he noticed prices had increased to $2.99 a gallon. Wilkins, who works for a landscaping and construction company, said hes concerned about how the increase will impact the business.

We use gas nonstop, Wilkins said. I dont know how long this is supposed to last, but I hope not very long.

Benchmark U.S. crude jumped 8.6% to $77.36 a barrel Tuesday. Brent crude, the international standard, added 6.7% to $81.29 a barrel. Global oil prices jumped to start the week over concerns that the war will clog the global flow of crude.

The price of crude is the single largest factor in how much U.S. drivers pay for fuel. And higher oil prices are usually felt at the pump within a couple of weeks at most.

In Burlington, Massachusetts, prices at one gas station neared $4 on Tuesday.

Erin Kelly called the price tag hefty and said she paid more than $5 for premium gas. She was driving her fathers car Tuesday while hers is getting repairs and said she hopes to get her car back soon so she can go back to paying for regular gas.

We already are paying more in the grocery store, she said. Were paying even more than we were paying before at the gas pump. So, I dont know, its a little concerning.

Associated Press journalists Nicolas Garriga in Paris, Sophie Bates in Jackson, Miss., Rodrique Ngowi in Burlington, Mass. and Seung Min Kim, Fatima Hussein and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report.
A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday. In addition to striking Tehran, Israel hit the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, while Iran fired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel.

As the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran spirals, U.S. Senate Republicans rejected a war powers measure demanding congressional approval before further attacks. A twin House bill faces the same long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress, and Trump would almost certainly veto it anyway.

The war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran, more than 50 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. The United Nations says 100,000 people fled the Iranian capital in the wars first two days alone.

U.S. stocks rebounded after oil prices stopped spiking and reports gave encouraging updates on the American economy.

Here is the latest:

Saudi Arabia destroys drone

The Saudi Defense Ministry said it destroyed a drone in the kingdoms al-Jawf province, which borders Jordan.

Israeli strike targets Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanons north, killing 2

The Israeli military struck a building in the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp in the coastal city of Tripoli, killing two people, Lebanons Health Ministry said.

The strike, which hit the area without prior warning and marked the northernmost strike so far, wounded another individual, the Health Ministry said.

The Israeli military did not immediately say who it targeted in the strike.

Located about 85 kilometers (53 miles) north of Beirut and more than 180 kilometers (112 miles) from the LebaneseIsraeli border, Beddawi was targeted during the 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Despite a ceasefire reached in November 2024, the Israeli military said in July it struck a Hamas figure in the camp.

Israeli strike kills 3 in southern Lebanon

An overnight Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle on a coastal highway in southern Lebanon, killing three people, Lebanons state news agency said.

The highway connects the city of Tyre to Naqoura, a border town near Israel.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military warned residents to move north of the Litani River, which serves as a key buffer line with villages south of it lying closest to the Israeli border.

The number of people killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon in the four days since the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah reignited has risen to more than 70, with over 430 people wounded, Lebanons Health Ministry said Wednesday.

It is not clear how many of those killed in Lebanon were civilians, but the Health Ministry said Tuesday that they included seven children.

Officials with Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group were also killed.

New attacks target Israel and U.S. bases, Iranian state TV says

Iranian state television said there was a new wave of attacks Thursday morning targeting Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.

Sirens sound in Jerusalem, booms heard

Sirens sounded in Jerusalem and loud booms were heard.

Israel says Iran launched third overnight missile salvo

For the third time in the early hours of Thursday, Israels military said Iran had launched missiles at the country and its defense systems were working to intercept them.

No casualties were reported in the first two incidents.

South Korean president activates $68.5 billion emergency financial package

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called on officials to activate an emergency financial package worth 100 trillion won ($68.5 billion) aimed at calming market volatility.

Lees comments came a day after the countrys benchmark stock index, the Kospi, recorded its biggest single-day drop since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, as concerns grew over how the spiraling conflict in the Middle East would affect the countrys economy, which is heavily dependent on trade and imported fuel.

Stocks rebounded Thursday as investors sought bargains, triggering temporary trading halts.

During a Cabinet meeting, Lee also instructed officials to use all possible transport means, including military aircraft and chartered flights, to speed up the evacuation of South Korean nationals in war-affected areas of the Middle East.

South Korean officials have so far evacuated 24 citizens from Iran to Turkmenistan, and 62 from Israel to Egypt by bus.

Before the evacuations, officials said about 60 South Korean nationals were in Iran and about 600 in Israel.

Pentagon releases remaining two names of soldiers killed in Kuwait attack

The Pentagon on Wednesday night released the last two names of the six U.S. soldiers killed in a Kuwait attack.

The soldiers identified were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento and Maj. Jeffrey OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.

The Pentagon said Marzan was at the scene when a drone strike hit the command center in Kuwait and is believed to be the individual who perished at the scene, according to a statement. A medical examiner will confirm identification, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon listed OBriens home address as Indianola but his listed address is in Waukee. Both are suburbs of Des Moines. Four soldiers were previously identified by the Pentagon on Tuesday.

They died Sunday when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, just a day after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.

New Zealand to deploy military planes to evacuate its citizens from Middle East

New Zealands government will deploy two military planes to the Middle East so that New Zealanders can be evacuated when conditions permit, officials said Thursday.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defense Minister Judith Collins said in a statement that the government was also speaking to commercial airlines, including to discuss charter flight options. Commercial services from Dubai to Auckland, New Zealand, are not currently operating.

There are about 3,000 New Zealanders known to be living in the Middle East, officials said.

We cannot be sure when and how any civilian evacuation operations might be possible, but we want to be ready if and when conditions on the ground make them possible, Peters said.

US begins charter flights for stranded American citizens wanting to leave the Middle East

The State Department says that charter flights for American citizens stranded in the Middle East since the start of military operations against Iran have begun.

The department said Wednesday that one plane has left the Middle East to bring Americans home.

It did not say where the flight originated from or where it was going, although the department has said it is arranging charter aircraft from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

It has said Americans wanting to leave those countries should register online at mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake or contact the State Departments 24/7 Task Force at +1-202-501-4444.

New attack reported off coast of Kuwait

A new attack early Thursday off the coast of Kuwait appeared to expand the area where commercial shipping was in danger.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, run by the British military, said the attack happened off the coast of Kuwait in the northern Persian Gulf.

An explosion rocked the area, the UKMTO said, adding that a tanker apparently came under attack and a small vessel left the area afterward.

The UKMTO did not offer a cause, but Iran has used limpet mines in the past attached to ships to attack them.

So far, attacks have happened in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman.

Qatar evacuates residents near U.S. embassy as precaution

Qatars Interior Ministry said Thursday that authorities were evacuating residents near the U.S. Embassy in Doha as a temporary precaution.

No further details or threats were immediately reported.

Since the start of the U.S.Israel war with Iran, American diplomatic missions across the Middle East have faced heightened threats, closures and evacuations as Iranian missiles and drones have targeted or prompted alerts at U.S. embassies and consulates.

Israeli military says it launched strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs

The Israeli military says it has launched at least two strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs after issuing an evacuation warning for a building in the Haret Hreik area.

No casualties were immediately reported.

Senate Republicans reject war powers resolution

Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt the Trump administrations war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, failed on a 47-53 vote tally. The vote fell mostly along party lines, though Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted in favor and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against.

The war powers resolution gave lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The vote forced them to take a stand on a war shaping the fate of U.S. military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

Israeli strikes on a Beirut highway kill 3

Two near-simultaneous drone strikes hit vehicles traveling in opposite directions along Beiruts coastal Airport Road on Wednesday, killing three people and wounding six, Lebanons health ministry said.

The Israeli military said it targeted a Hezbollah member. The cars burst into flames, with video from the scene showing one wounded man lying on the pavement as bystanders gathered nearby.

Lebanese officials say more than 70 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the latest escalation with Hezbollah began three days ago. Those include at least one Hezbollah intelligence official and a senior Palestinian militant.

GOPs Massie says Congress should be forced to vote on Iran war

If Congress wants war, then the speaker should hold a vote to declare it, said Rep. Thomas Massie, an outlier in the Republican Party.

He joined with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to push forward a war powers resolution in the House that would halt Trumps ability to wage war on Iran without approval from Congress.

Khanna during a floor speech called it a profoundly moral vote.

GOP lawmakers maintain that Trump is well with his authority to send the U.S. military into combat.

Israel to ease some public restrictions starting Thursday

Israels Home Front Command said workplaces may reopen and gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed if there is nearby shelter starting Thursday at noon, although schools will remain closed.

The nationwide shutdown, imposed when the war began Saturday, is being loosened as the Israeli military says incoming missile fire has dropped in recent days.

However, Israelis are still spending a lot of time in shelters, acknowledged Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, a military spokesperson.

At a Pentagon briefing Wednesday, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Gen. Dan Caine, said that the number of ballistic missiles fired off by Iran is down by 86% from the first day of the war, and that theres been a 23% drop in the last 24 hours.

Rubio assures Turkey of US support after Iranian missile incident

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that attacks on Turkeys territory are unacceptable and pledged full U.S. support after an Iranian missile headed toward the country was shot down, the State Department said Wednesday.

Civilians in northern Iraq feel caught in the crossfire

Ibrahim Jawdat woke around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday when a drone exploded beside his familys home in Irbil, shattering windows and spraying glass across his bed.

Neighbor Hawkar Hadis house was also damaged, with broken windows and shrapnel lodged in walls and furniture.

Its difficult to be a victim of a war that were not part of, he said. Were paying the cost of things we didnt do.

Iran and allied Iraqi militias have fired missiles and drones at U.S. bases and the U.S. consulate in Irbil, the capital of the semiautonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. Most have been intercepted, though some have fallen in residential areas.

There have been more than 100 attacks on Irbil since the war began, Gov. Omed Khoshnaw told reporters Wednesday, and he urged Baghdad to compensate residents for damage.

South Africa advises citizens to leave the Middle East as more heavy attacks expected

More than 6,400 South Africans have registered on a system opened for citizens to advise the government of their location, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

The ministry said it was urging its citizens to depart on the limited number of commercial flights that have resumed.

UN says Israel and Hezbollah are violating Lebanons ceasefire

United Nations peacekeepers said Wednesday they observed rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel and Israeli military activity and airstrikes near several villages.

Both sides are in violation of a 2006 U.N. Security Council ceasefire, according to the peacekeeping force, while Israel is also breaching Lebanons sovereignty. The 7,500-strong force said it remains on the ground in southern Lebanon.

Israeli air force hits missile launchers in Iran

Israels military said Wednesday that its air force had destroyed Iranian ballistic missile sites in the west and central parts of the country, hitting the infrastructure being used to launch projectiles toward Israeli territory.

Irans barrages of ballistic missiles toward Israel have slowed and been mostly intercepted, however some have gotten through Israels defenses, causing damage and killing around a dozen people. Some experts say Iran may be holding its weapons in reserve to prolong the conflict.

Trump says he gives the US a 15/10 grade for Iran war

The president opened his remarks at an unrelated White House event on artificial intelligence that the U.S. is doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly.

Trump said someone asked him to rate on a scale of 10 how well he thought the U.S. was doing and said, about a 15.

Arab League tells Iran to halt attacks on Gulf nations

The ongoing strikes deepen an unprecedented state of hostility with Iran's neighbors in the Gulf, said Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit in a statement Wednesday.

He demanded Tehran stop the attacks, which he called a strategic mistake, saying Iran must come to its senses.

The Arab League, made up of 22 member states, promotes regional cooperation. However, it is widely seen as toothless and has long struggled to help solve conflicts.

Hezbollah leader vows to keep fighting Israel

In his first public address since joining the war, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said the Lebanese militant group rejects the governments plan to disarm its fighters.

As long as the (Israeli) occupation is present, then the resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right, Kassem said.

Lebanons leaders say Hezbollahs rocket fire into Israel is illegal and urged the Lebanese army to crack down on groups possessing weapons outside state control.

Lebanons cash-strapped military, backed by the U.S. and other governments, has been deploying in recent months across southern Lebanon where Hezbollah has a strong military presence. However, its unclear if the army is able or willing to disarm Hezbollah by directly confronting them.

UN says 100,000 people fled Tehran in the wars first 2 days

The U.N. refugee agency, basing its estimates on Iranian officials, also said around 1,000 to 2,000 vehicles per day were reported leaving the capital, mostly toward the north.

Geneva-based UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch said the latest reports on Wednesday indicated no increase in cross-border movements linked to the recent conflict but the situation remains fluid.

Spains government denies cooperating with US operations in Mideast, contradicting the White House

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Wednesday denied that the government had changed its position on supporting the U.S. military operations against Iran, contradicting a White House spokesperson.

I can refute (the White House spokesperson), Albares told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. The position of the Spanish government regarding the war in the Middle East, the bombing of Iran and the use of our bases has not changed one iota.

Albares spoke in Madrid shortly after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had said that Spain had changed its position and theyve agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military.

First Israeli combat casualties of the war are reported as 2 soldiers wounded in Lebanon

The Israeli military said the two were wounded Wednesday by anti-tank fire while operating in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah says its fighters attacked Israeli troops advancing toward the village of Khiyam and released video showing a missile striking a tank.

Israel said Tuesday its forces were moving deeper into Lebanon to establish forward defensive positions to protect northern Israel.

White House defends evacuation plans for Americans

The presidents top spokeswoman pushed back against criticisms that the administration didnt do enough to ensure Americans could leave the Middle East following the U.S. war in Iran.

Leavitt insisted that there have been plans in place and that the State Department has been clear to those in the region to leave immediately.

We will help every single American who wants to come home if theyre making that request of the State Department, she said.

Leavitt also said a State Department hotline that told callers not to rely on help from the U.S. government to leave the region has been corrected.

White House says Trump thinks the US public supports war with Iran

Asked if Trump thinks that Americans support the Israel-U.S. war in Iran  even though Trump hasnt given a national address to personally make the case  Leavitt said, I think he does.

This was a rogue terrorist regime that has been threatening the United States, our allies and our people for 47 years, she said. And the American people are smart enough to know that, and theyre smart enough to listen to the president himself  not just over the past year, in the second term, but during his first term as president.

Recent polling shows that, prior to the U.S.-Israel strikes that started last weekend, 61% of Americans said Iran was an enemy of the U.S., but only about 3 in 10 Americans said they had a great deal or quite a bit of trust in Trump.

White House claims that Spain has agreed to cooperate with US operations in Mideast

The White House on Wednesday said Spain has agreed to cooperate with U.S. operations in the Mideast after Trump had threatened to cut off trade with Madrid.

With respect to Spain, I think they heard the presidents message yesterday loud and clear, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. And its my understanding over the past several hours, theyve agreed to cooperate with the US military. And so I know that the US military is coordinating with their counterparts in Spain.

Trump on Tuesday said he was going to cut off all trade with Spain, the day after Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said his country would not allow the U.S. to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain in any strikes not covered by the United Nations charter.

White House says US ground troops in Iran not part of the plan for this operation at this time

Leavitt said she would not take away military options on behalf of the president by ruling it out, saying that leaders in the past take options off the table without having a full understanding of how things could develop.

Its not part of the current plan, but Im not going to remove an option for the president that is on the table, Leavitt said.
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Outstanding High-Grade Antimony Assays From Thompson Falls

Perth, Mar 2, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Red Mountain Mining Limited ( ASX:RMX ) ( RMXFF:OTCMKTS ), a Critical Minerals exploration and development company with an established portfolio of assets in Tier-1 Mining Districts in the United States and Australia, announced additional outstanding Antimony and Gold assay results for the Company's Thompson Falls Antimony Project, located 4.2km from the operations of United States Antimony Corporation ( NYSE:UAMY ), which owns the only operating antimony smelter in the USA, based in Montana.



HIGHLIGHTS:



- New assay results from the historical Eastern Star Silver-Lead mine within Red Mountain's Thompson Falls Antimony Project on the Montana-Idaho border have returned consistently High-Grade Antimony and Strong Anomalous Gold results



- Samples from the historical Eastern Star mine have returned strong average values of 8.7% Antimony and 0.37 g/t Gold. The highest values from the overall sampling program have reported up to 36.5% Sb and 1.12 g/t Gold. The new assay results received include:



o 17.0% Antimony & 1.12 g/t Gold

o 16.4% Antimony & 0.17 g/t Gold

o 15.4% Antimony & 0.32 g/t Gold

o 11.0% Antimony & 0.04 g/t Gold

o 10.2% Antimony & 0.71 g/t Gold



- An exceptionally high-grade stibnite sample (ID 733655) returned 47.3% Sb from a spot pXRF reading, with visual logging estimating 45% stibnite across the full rock sample (see cautionary statement below*)



- Comprehensive surface mapping and sampling program to follow to fast-track the definition and understanding of the Thompson Falls Antimony Project resource potential



- Red Mountain has recently strengthened its US technical team with dedicated drill-permitting expertise, driving the permitting process forward across the US Critical Minerals Portfolio



- Armidale Antimony-Gold Project assay results are expected to be received in March; next set of assays are currently pending laboratory assessment



Eastern Star Silver-Lead Mine returns Outstanding Antimony and Gold results An extremely high stibnite sample* has returned 47.3% Sb from a spot pXRF reading, the visual estimate of the complete rock sample is 45% stibnite (sample 733655, pXRF readings in Table 2*). The Red Mountain team is highly encouraged to report that the average antimony and gold assays returned from the samples at Eastern Star are 8.7% Sb & 0.37 g/t Au, showing a consistent set of excellent results. New assay results received include:



Antimony and gold assay results for the samples collected all contained elevated to high grade antimony contents ranging up to 36.5% Sb (Figure 3*), and all contained detectable gold, with values reporting up to 1.12 g/t Au (Table 1*).



As can be seen in Table 1, a sample collected from the Eastern Star tailings contains detectable (1ppm) silver and most samples collected contain minimal lead. This highlights both the silver and antimony prospectivity, as it suggests that historical miners effectively extracted silver and lead, leaving behind material dominated by stibnite within the siderite-quartz vein system.



Red Mountain's US-based field team successfully located three historical underground mines and a pit within the Company's Thompson Falls Antimony Project area (Figure 2*). The three underground mines are listed in the Idaho Geological Survey and Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology historical mines databases, with their produced metals listed as silver-lead (Eastern Star), antimony, and antimony-silver-copper-zinc-lead. The three underground mines are listed in the Idaho Geological Survey and Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology historical mines databases, with their produced metals listed as silver-lead (Eastern Star), antimony, and antimony-silver-copper-zinc-lead.



Most of the samples collected by Red Mountain from the Eastern Star closely resemble the quartzstibnite veins mined at UAMY's Stibnite Hill deposit, ~7km east of Red Mountain's Thompson Falls Project area, although these veins are not recorded as producing gold. However, the wide variety of listed produced metals for the three workings within the project area suggests that the Thompson Falls Project has potential for the silver-rich polymetallic vein mineralisation that is typical of the rich Coeur d'Alene mineral district that lies immediately west of Red Mountain's claims (Figure 3*).



Located in a prime position, in a globally significant mineralised Antimony-Silver belt Red Mountain's Thompson Falls Antimony Project lies at the eastern end of Idaho's Coeur d'Alene mineral district, which is one of the globe's largest silver provinces, accounting for ~18% of total accumulated US production, and has also produced significant quantities of lead, zinc, gold, copper and antimony. Recorded metal production for the Coeur d'Alene mineral district between 1884 and 2020 totals 1,257Moz Ag, 7.8Mt Pb, 3.0Mt Zn, 1.1Moz Au and 191kt Cu. Production figures for antimony are not readily available and the metal was historically treated as a by-product by many producers. Taylor and Hoffstra (2005) estimate that 161kt Sb was produced from the Sunshine Mine, which was also one of the world's richest and largest silver mines throughout the 20th Century before closing in early 2001. Only a small portion of Sunshine's antimony production is recorded by the Idaho Geology Survey, who detail production of 5.5kt Sb6,7 between 1982 and 2000. Taylor and Hoffstra (2005) also note production of an unspecified quantity of antimony from the Bunker Hill - Last Chance and Crescent mines.



More recently, UAMY and Americas Gold and Silver Corporation ( NYSE:USAS ) Market Cap ~AU$3.4 billion) announced plans to construct an antimony processing plant at USAS Galena Mining Complex in eastern Idaho, which is located approximately 20km west of Red Mountain's Thompson Falls project. Galena has historically produced silver, copper and lead from tetrahedrite-dominant ore, treating antimony as a by-product.



As described in Reid (Ed., 1961), polymetallic orogenic vein mineralisation in the Coeur d'Alene mineral district is hosted in Middle Proterozoic (~1,400Ma) low grade metasedimentary rocks of the Belt Supergroup, with most mineralisation hosted in the St. Regis Formation, Upper Revett Formation, Lower Burke Formation and Prichard Formation. Mineralisation occurs as fault-controlled sideritequartz-sulfide veins, with sulfide mineralogy principally comprising silver-rich tetrahedrite [(Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag)12Sb4S13], galena [PbS], sphalerite [(Zn,Fe)S] and chalcopyrite [CuFeS2]. The mineral veins in the district consist principally of siderite (tan-colored iron carbonate) with quartz and sulfide minerals, principally tetrahedrite (a silver-rich, copper-antimony sulfide), galena (lead sulfide), sphalerite (zinc sulfide), and chalcopyrite (copper-iron sulfide). Veins can range in thickness from a few centimetres to several metres in thickness and can be laterally and vertically extensive, extending along strike over more than a kilometre and extending to depths of up to 1.5km. They typically show little evidence of vertical zonation, but can show lateral changes in sulfide mineralogy Orogenic polymetallic vein-hosted mineralisation is known to extend from the Coeur d'Alene mining district into western Montana. Red Mountain's Thompson Falls Antimony Project encompasses the Upper Prichard Formation, which hosts mineralisation within the Coeur d'Alene mineral district and is also the host for mineralisation at US Antimony's nearby Stibnite Hill antimony mine (Figure 2*).



Next steps for the Thompson Falls Antimony Project



With the spring season commencing, Red Mountain's United States field team plans to undertake further reconnaissance exploration and sampling over the project area to locate any additional undocumented historical mines or mineralised exposures. Red Mountain also plans to further inspect and seek to sample the underground mines already located, to better understand the nature of mineralisation present at these prospects, prior to designing the next stage of exploration to explore the resource potential of the Thompson Falls Project. Red Mountain has already engaged specialist permitting talent, to assist with the anticipated drilling process at the Thompson Falls Antimony Project.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/5XFLA36Y





About Red Mountain Mining Limited





Red Mountain Mining Limited (ASX:RMX) is a mineral exploration and development company. Red Mountain has a portfolio of US, Canada and Australia projects in Critical Minerals and Gold. Red Mountain is advancing its Armidale Antimony-Gold Project in NSW, Utah Antimony Project in the Antimony Mining District of Utah, US, Fry Lake Gold Project and US Lithium projects.

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CBS has already opened the writers' room for a second season of Marshals, demonstrating confidence in the shows long-term potential despite no official renewal announcement yet. New episodes air Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and become available for streaming the following day on Paramount+.

Marshals represents a bold new chapter for the Yellowstone franchise, blending crime drama with the established Western world and captivating audiences worldwide with its fresh storytelling approach.
AceShowbiz - The music world mourns the loss of Gary Leeds, the last surviving member of the iconic group The Walker Brothers, who passed away at 83. He died peacefully on March 1 in Essex after suffering a stroke just before Christmas.

The tragic news was shared through a heartfelt social media post by a close friend on behalf of Gary's wife, Barbara Leeds. The message expressed deep sympathy and love for the Leeds family and friends, describing Gary as the loveliest of guys whose happiness was greatly lifted by the affection and messages he received from fans over the years.

Gary Leeds was remembered fondly as our wonderful Mr Gary Walker, with the post emphasizing how much he will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him.

Another family friend confirmed to The Sun that Gary Leeds had passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, following a stroke he suffered shortly before Christmas. The outpouring of condolences from fans quickly flooded social media platforms. Messages ranged from heartfelt grief to expressions of gratitude for the memories he helped create, with many noting the lasting impact of his work and the deep affection they held for him.

Condolences to Barbara and Michael. Rest in peace Gary, you were my first love and first love never dies, wrote one fan, while others shared similar sentiments of sorrow and appreciation.

Gary Leeds leaves behind his wife of 46 years, Barbara, their son Michael, daughter-in-law Louise, and a baby grandson named Robert.

In 1964, Gary Leeds' father supported the formation of the group that would become The Walker Brothers. Alongside John Maus and Noel Scott Engel, the trio started performing under the name that originated from the pseudonyms they adopted to gain entry into bars. None of the members were biologically related, but they took on the shared surname 'Walker' for their act. Noel became known as Scott Walker, John as John Walker, and Gary dropped his surname to become Gary Walker.

The group relocated from America to London in 1965, where they quickly achieved success. Their rendition of Burt Bacharachs Make It Easy On Yourself topped the charts, followed by the hit My Ship Is Coming In. Their biggest UK and US hit came the following year with The Sun Aint Gonna Shine Anymore.

Initially, John Maus took the lead vocals on their records, but the record label soon realized that John Walkers voice was better suited for the lead, exemplified by the instant success of Love Her. Their popularity soared, particularly among teenage girls, though the pressures of fame began to weigh heavily on the group.

By 1968, the tension led to the group's official breakup, with each member pursuing separate paths. The Walker Brothers reunited in 1975, scoring one more chart success with No Regrets, before disbanding again in 1978.

Sadly, Scott Walker died in 2019 at the age of 76, and John Walker passed away in May 2011 at 67, leaving Gary Leeds as the last surviving member of the celebrated trio.

Following the group's initial split, Scott Walker's solo career gained critical acclaim for its ambition and innovation. While Scott was the primary creative force behind The Walker Brothers distinctive sound, he often expressed that songwriting was a duty rather than a pleasure. In 1984, he stated, I don't write songs for pleasure. I can only write when I have to - like I'm under contract, or to finish an album.

Scott later retreated from the spotlight, exploring darker themes and pushing his music into more experimental directions, taking greater artistic risks.

The legacy of The Walker Brothers is marked by their distinctive sound and enduring influence on 1960s pop music. With the passing of Gary Leeds, the world bids farewell to the last chapter of this legendary groups story.
By Paul Leandro, Partner, Head of People Risk, Barnett Waddingham AI adoption is accelerating, but so is workforce disruption Our survey of 500 senior HR and business leaders shows that AI-driven efficiencies are reshaping headcount far earlier than many predicted. Almost one in five employers (18%) have already made mid-level roles redundant as a direct result of AI, with junior (17%) and senior (15%) roles also affected. Crucially, this shift is not isolated to specific industries or organisation sizes. The trend suggests a structural workforce change rather than a temporary adjustment. While automation is delivering the intended productivity gains, it raises an important question for leadership teams: what happens when the roles most affected by AI are the very ones that traditionally build future capability? A growing concern: the erosion of the talent pipeline Two-thirds of employers (66%) are worried that as AI takes on more routine or entry-level tasks, new entrants will miss out on the foundational experience typically gained early in their careers. This matters because junior roles have long been the engine of organisational development where employees learn judgement, context, and the practical understanding needed to progress into senior leadership. Without deliberate redesign, the disappearance of these roles risks creating a long-term talent vacuum, leaving businesses with fewer qualified candidates to step into mid- and senior-level positions in the future. When combined with other pressures  reduced availability of overseas talent, declining birth rates, and rising long-term sickness  the UK faces a potentially serious shortage of future-ready skills. AI is an enabler, not a substitute As outlined in our Britain's Got Talent article, AI must be an enabler, not a substitute for a skilled workforce. The employers who gain the most from automation will be those who redesign roles so people and AI can work in unison, strengthening capability rather than eroding it. This is a pivotal message for HR and reward leaders. AI is not simply a tool for cost savings; it is a catalyst for redefining how work gets done. The organisations that succeed will be those that treat this moment as an opportunity to modernise their talent model. Redesigning roles for an AI-augmented workforce To avoid fragmentation of the talent pipeline, HR leaders should focus on three strategic priorities: 1. Rebuild early-career pathways, not remove them Junior roles must evolve rather than disappear. Designing hybrid early-career roles where employees use AI tools while still developing core professional skills will be essential for long-term succession planning. 2. Shift capability development toward judgment, oversight, and applied skills As automation takes over routine tasks, human capability must move up the value chain. Organisations should invest in skills such as problem-solving, contextual decision-making, creativity, and effective AI supervision. 3. Use workforce data to make long-term talent decisions The most resilient businesses will be those using data-led insights to map future skills gaps, assess workforce risks, and plan for the leadership needs of the next decade, not just the next budget cycle. If youre looking to stress-test workforce change, understand people and operational risks, and build a more resilient organisation, explore Howden Risk Advisory. Explore the full insights These findings are part of our broader research into how UK businesses can build resilient, future-ready workforces in an era of rapid technological change. Read the full feature: Britain's Got Talent: The growing commercial importance of retention . This deeper analysis uncovers the risks, opportunities, and strategic actions leaders need to consider today, so they are not caught unprepared tomorrow.
A long life is something for which we all strive, although some seek to spend much of it in a position of power, controlling others. The 20th and 21st centuries gave us numerous dictators who spent years in such positions, until toppled naturally by the Grim Reaper, or unnaturally, by opposing domestic or foreign forces.

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The Grim Reaper played with Yugoslavian dictator Josip Broz Tito, 87, for four months. He suffered a lengthy demise, finally succumbing to gangrene in 1980. So drawn out was his end that bettors ignominously set up pools concerning his death. But Tito had enjoyed a long run, serving first as prime minister (19431953) before becoming president and ruling until his 1980 death.

Cubas Fidel Castro ruled for 49 years (19582008) as prime minister, and then asp president/first secretary before voluntarily stepping down due to bad health. He died in 2016 at age 90. This made him the longest serving non-royal leader of the modern era.

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Dictators meeting more violent ends, driven by internal forces, included Libyas Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled for 42 years, (19692011) and Iraqs Saddam Hussein, who had a 24-year run as ruler, through 2003. Both men were executed at age 69 by their own peopleGaddafi on the spot of his capture and Hussein after a trial.

History tells us dictators have no idea how long they will hold office or how their service will end. Most just know they are unlikely to surrender power on their own. This when and how question as to a terms end was quickly answered for Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026. It was the day his 37-year rule came to an abrupt end.

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Killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli air strike, Khameneis death was confirmed by Iranian media, and a 40-day mourning period was declaredas well as a promise of a retaliatory strike.

We will not know whether Khamenei grasped what was happening to him before he died, but the end result was that the 86-year-old theocratic despot was no longer sitting atop the chain of command. We do know many Iranians were ecstatic, celebrating the brutal leaders demise as he had been responsible for the deaths of thousands of his citizens. Additional chaos for the theocracy was created as at least 40 inner circle leaders have also been killed, leaving a loose-knit leadership structure to reorganize and start calling the shots.

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A known about dictators is that their lives undergo tremendous financial change as they transition from having no power to having unlimited power. Khameneis replacement will undoubtedly follow suit, but the Supreme Leader was a mascot for such dictators.

Before the 1979 coup in Iran brought him into the circle of the elite, Khamenei was a poor religious leader who depended upon a donkey for transportation. But, by the time of his death, he was estimated to be worth at least $95 billionwealth that included raising race horses, riding in Mercedes cars, accumulating abandoned properties (actually owned by minorities), etc. As his people were feeling the burn of economic pain, Khamenei and his family enjoyed the best Iranian life could offer. So much for any image of a pious religious man.

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Iran has only had two Supreme Leaders since the 1979 coup brought the theocracy to power and toppled the Shah who, until that time, was a strong American ally. But the theocracy that came to power under Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini immediately turned on America, labelling it as the Great Satan and seeking to eradicate its influence in the regionas well as Israels.

Interestingly, two assertions were made by Irans Supreme Leaders early on in their tenures that are most revealing about the theocracys tendency to rely on deception to spread its agenda.

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First, before leaving France to return to Iran in 1979, Khomeini assured President Jimmy Carter that he was not against American interests in Iran; however, Carter failed to grasp that the moral systems between the Christian West and the Islamic East are very different.

Second, Khomeini supposedly was opposed to the development of nuclear arms with his successor, Khamenei, proclaiming a 2003 fatwa against the weaponswhich was simply a political strategy to navigate a world that didnt want Iran to have nukes.

These two major deceptions should be no surprise. The Islamic concept of taqiyya allows Muslims to deceive non-Muslims about their religions true aims of expansion or intentions to otherwise advance its goals. And, since those goals obviously are at odds with those of non-Muslims, i.e., the subjugation of all other religions to Islam, deception is mandated.

While defenders promote a much more limited view of taqiyya, the extent of its application by the two Supreme Leaders of Iran as shared above make it obvious Islamic extremists opt in favor of the more expansive meaning. How else did the Supremes seek to establish a global caliphate?

And, as Shiites represent only 15% of the entire Muslim global population, Irans intention was to subject the entire Islamic community to their version of the religion. The Sunnis knew this which today, is why, as the U.S. and Israel continue pounding Irans nuclear and military assets, no Sunni state has criticized the attacks.

The U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran began in the early hours of February 28. It followed failed negotiations in late 2025 and almost two weeks of such negotiations this year. The strikes came after just two days of high stakes talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman, without a breakthrough. President Donald Trump was not going to allow the mullahsas they did in 2015 with President Barack Obamaunlimited time to negotiate a nuclear deal, playing the U.S.

Unable to get Iran to at least seriously discuss its nuclear capability, Trump had had enough. He also knew further delays would endanger U.S. and Israeli forces as the Chinese and Russians were expediting the shipment of anti-air defense weaponry to Iran. And, with Iranian opposition actively protesting against the mullahs, the timing for an attack was better than any time in the previous 47 years.

We are being promised a short Iran war, but, as its future plays out, we need to ensure another Islamic dictatorship is not the end product.

Image: YouTube video screenshot.
After publishing over 250 pieces in the last five years, Ive noticed recurring patterns. Among them, conservatives are becoming extremely myopic, reacting much like a bull in a ring to a matadors red cape. Absent the red cape, the bull paws the ground, snorts and blusters, but stands pat until that red cape is displayed, and then, on cue, charges ahead, getting killed in the process. So it is with too many conservatives, who have a singular focus on limited aspects of problems, not necessarily the most important ones, leading us to what I would characterize as too many playing small ball, missing whats important, and falling into the trap of being led to political slaughter time after time.

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Samuel Johnson was credited with the phrase: When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully. Thankfully, few of us have been, or are in the position of imminent death. Absent that reality, people on both sides invent specious priorities and positions that seldom reflect actual imperatives, seeing themselves likely to die on the wrong hill. Frankly, too many of us dont know which first-priority issues we must stand firm on and which issues we can compromise on. This leads to conservatives reflexively being against issues that divide us unnecessarily, thereby diluting our power and weakening us.

The midterms are barely six months away, and the Republican Party is already having significant problems that threaten the cohesion necessary to maintain control in Congress:

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Lets start with the current military operation in Iran. Senators Thomas Massie and Rand Paul, the usual dissenters, were joined by several Republican House members expressing sharp disagreement. What happened to political unity during a war that is now a fait accompli?

Health-care policy and the future of ACA subsidies. How many Americans even know that only the enhanced subsidies are gone, not the original subsidies?

Foreign policy and the use of military force as an instrument of necessary change. Trump is using the same authorization to defend the country that all modern previous presidents have used!

The budget reconciliation strategy and legislative priorities appear unfocused and largely ineffective.

Foreign policy transparency and the Epstein Files amount to sleight of hand and dominate too many minds on trivial subjects.

Internal caucus discipline and loyalty to Trump remain feckless.

These divisions matter because they limit the GOPs ability to pass major legislation, even with unified control; expose ideological diversity within the Party (e.g., populists, fiscal conservatives, nationalists, libertarians, and institutionalists; create political risk for Republicans in swing districts who must balance party expectations with constituent pressures; and complicate Trumps ability to push a coherent agenda in an election year.

Across all these issues, the core tension is between maximalist ideological goals and pragmatic electoral considerations.

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Hardliners want bold reforms.

Swing-district members want to avoid attack ads.

Trump wants wins but not fights he might lose.

Senate Republicans are wary of politically costly votes.

This creates a structural problem: no single faction has enough votes to impose its will, and the narrow majority magnifies every disagreement, diluting our power and threatening to cede the field to the other side, promising to dismantle the progress made so far in short order.

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Democrats, in addition to being statists, which means they intuitively move in lockstep to achieve their goals, also maintain far tighter party discipline than Republicans because they use a set of institutional, financial, and cultural enforcement mechanisms that the GOP either lacks or cannot wield with the same force. The difference is structural, not just attitudinal.

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The single most important mechanism Democrats useand Republicans struggle to matchis centralized control over the candidate pipeline and campaign resources. An almost coequal factor is Party leadership. I would argue that not since Newt Gingrich has the Party had a political architect of his caliber who unified our messaging and demanded appropriate fealty to the Party as a quid pro quo for Party support. Absent Donald Trump, wed already have returned to the political wilderness. This cant stand for the long term, and President Trump will be gone in less than three years, in either case.

If we get a shellacking in the midterms, it will be because of two factors:

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 We did not get our house in order.

 We lost the messaging war.

It is not defeatist to acknowledge that the patient is sick. It is defeatist to give up and not make whatever structural changes are required to win. As a pilot, I always reviewed every mission for lessons learned. It was rare that there was no useful takeaway; sometimes complacency crept in, and you needed a bit of a scare to put you back on your toes. Israel got complacent, and October 7th was the result. Recent events in Iran demonstrate that Israel has got its mojo back; Republicans need to do the same.

It is a certainty, like death and taxes, that every consequential political figure will eventually fade away and with him (or her) a new set of leaders will rise with new priorities, narratives, and vigor. This is the way it should be.

What hasnt changed is that to win, we must unify on essential elements and march as one in defense of those issues, something were struggling with right now. Until and unless we address our deficiencies in the House and Senate, we could have ten Donald Trumps, and well have squandered the moment, charging endlessly at that red cape someone dangles in front of us, proving were the dumb animals Democrats paint us as.

God Bless America!

Author, Businessman, Thinker, and Strategist. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow.
Many Americans are puzzled by the rise of newly naturalized citizens who quickly ascend to high office. Figures such as Ilhan Omar and Zohran Mamdani have achieved political prominence in a timeframe that contrasts sharply with earlier immigrant families -- such as the Kennedys -- who spent generations establishing roots before seeking national leadership. To some observers, these newer officeholders appear less focused on representing the country as it is and more intent on confidently reshaping it according to very different ideological visions.

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Moreover, this pattern of boldly imposing alternative values is even more pronounced in the United Kingdom and parts of Western Europe where expansive hate-speech and public-order laws have narrowed the boundaries of acceptable dissent, discouraging open debate about immigration, national identity, and cultural change.

Consider the controversy surrounding the co-owner of Manchester United who, facing considerable backlash, was forced to apologize after describing Britain as having been colonized. Clearly Britain -- and a wider Europe -- are increasingly uneasy about asserting its own cultural norms, wary of offending, and uncertain of the legitimacy of inherited traditions.

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Little wonder then, that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was dispatched to the 2026 Munich Security Conference to deliver a measured but unmistakable warning: without a recovery of civilizational confidence, Europe risks civilizational erasure, with consequences not only for its internal cohesion but for the transatlantic alliance itself. In an effort to re-engage leaders who seemed uncertain and defensive, Rubio outlined the steps necessary to restore the transatlantic alliance and secure its future.

His remarks hinted at a deeper problem -- one rooted less in policy failure than in an intellectual climate embedded in academia which is mired in postcolonial guilt that has sapped the Wests confidence and left it trapped in self-doubt and strategic paralysis.

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It's time to examine the intellectual frameworks through which we understand empire, identity, and historical responsibility.

Selective Guilt: Postcolonialisms Silence on Islamic Conquest

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Since the 1960s the field of postcolonial studies, starting at Columbia in NYC but spreading throughout Europe, has focused overwhelmingly on the unjust legacy of Western empire. Its founding figure, Edward Said, argued in Orientalism that western scholarship systematically distorted -- even exoticized -- the cultures of the Middle East and Asia. Such representations, he contended, served to assert European cultural superiority and to furnish moral justification for imperial expansion.

This exclusive focus on western culpability has shaped generations of students and policymakers. Since the 1960s, these postcolonial programs have contributed to a pervasive sense of civilizational guilt in the West, often accompanied by a crisis of cultural confidence. In public life, this has manifested in skepticism toward assimilationist policies and a growing reluctance to articulate shared national norms.

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Into that vacuum entered alternative value systems, including forms of Islamic supremacism cloaked in the language of religious liberty and free speech, to press for parallel norms within Western societies.

Our task now is to expand the cultural frameworks through which the legacy of colonialism is examined.

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A genuinely critical postcolonial studies would not confine itself to Western sins alone. It would examine imperial power wherever it arose, subjecting all civilizational projects -- European, Ottoman, Mughal or otherwise -- to the same historical standards. Only then can the discipline move beyond moral asymmetry and towards a more intellectually coherent account of the past -- and a clearer understanding of the present.

Reclaiming Narrative Control of History

As Marco Rubio observed, the West, basking in the glow of the Berlin Walls collapse, accepted too readily the notion -- popularized by Francis Fukuyama -- that this marked the end of history. Liberal democracy, with its protections for individual liberty, its free markets, and its openness to the movement of goods and peoples, was presumed to have triumphed. The ideological contest was over.

It was not.

In the following decades, western leaders failed to articulate a coherent post-Cold War civilizational narrative. Narrative control over history was ceded to post-Edward Said theorists who framed Western history as uniquely colonial and uniquely culpable. Within that narrow framework, other imperial traditions -- including Islams -- received scant attention. The result is not balance but asymmetry.

If postcolonial studies is to mature as a discipline, it must widen its scope. Islamic empires, like European ones, combined achievement with coercion. As Trevor Barnes notes in The Two Legacies: How European and Islamic Expansion Shaped Our World Differently, Islamic expansion produced periods of intellectual and architectural brilliance, but also entailed military conquest, coercive rule, legally enforced hierarchies, economic restrictions, and the cultural subordination and humiliation of conquered peoples.

Two areas in particular deserve scrutiny.

First, the treatment of non-Muslims under classical Islamic rule. Dhimmi communities were accorded protected but subordinate status, marked by legal disabilities and the payment of the jizya tax. While practices varied across time and place, the system institutionalized religious hierarchy -- a reality rarely explored with the same moral intensity applied to the West or their colonial administrations.

Second, slavery. Western curricula understandably devote considerable attention to the transatlantic slave trade and its enduring consequences. Yet far less attention is paid to the Arab-Muslim slave trade, spanning from the seventh to the twentieth centuries and, by many estimates, introduced millions of Africans and others across North Africa, the Middle East and beyond. Enslaved persons were employed in domestic service, military roles, and as concubines; male captives were often castrated, extinguishing progeny.

Nor is there sustained recognition that Britain abolished its slave trade in 1807 and slavery itself in 1833, thereafter deploying the Royal Navy at considerable cost to suppress the trade globally. The historical record is complex -- implicating African, Arab, and European actors alike -- yet Western institutions have tended to focus moral reckoning almost exclusively inward.

The Way Toward Reclaiming Cultural Confidence

The point is not competitive victimhood, nor the minimization of western wrongdoing. It is intellectual consistency. If empire is to be scrutinized as a category, it must be scrutinized everywhere.

Cultural confidence rests on knowledge -- of western achievements in science, law, and constitutional government, as Rubio emphasized, but also of the full historical record of other imperial systems. That work must begin where the prevailing orthodoxy took root: inside the academy -- in America, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy alike.

On the other side of the ledger, the failures and coercions of Islamic imperial history must be examined with the same candor applied to Europe. A civilization unwilling to confront uncomfortable facts -- whether about itself or about others -- forfeits narrative authority.

If the West continues to shrink from that task, the warnings about civilizational erasure will cease to be rhetorical and become sober descriptions. There is little time left for hesitation.

Image: Raphael Sanzio da Urbino
Today is the 250th anniversary of the fortification of Dorchester Heights, which ultimately freed Boston, and the amazing providences that made it happen.

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In the closing days of the siege of Boston, General George Washington faced a stubborn stalemate. Since the clashes at Lexington and Concord in April 1775, British forces under General William Howe had occupied Boston, while American forces surrounded the city from the heights and fields beyond. The Continental Army was poorly trained and short on supplies, including gunpowder. Yet in early March 1776, a daring stroke would break the deadlock and compel the British to abandon the city. The fortification of Dorchester Heights on the night of March 45 stands as one of the most brilliant and providential episodes of the American Revolution.

The plan hinged on artilleryheavy cannon capable of threatening British ships and troops in Boston Harbor. Traversing nearly 300 miles of frozen rivers, snowy roads, and rugged terrain, Colonel Henry Knoxs expedition had hauled more than fifty pieces of artillery from the captured Fort Ticonderoga. This noble train of artillery reached Cambridge in January 1776, transforming Washingtons strategic options. The guns could fortify and make lethal the high ground south of Boston.

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Washington selected Dorchester Heights because it commanded both the town and the harbor. General Howe had already considered seizing the heights months earlier, but delayed. Washington would not make the same mistake. He planned a massive operation to erect fortifications in a single night, placing cannon where they could threaten the British fleet and the city below.

Four remarkable events unfolded beginning the night of March 4. First, as thousands of American soldiers labored to haul fascines (portable bundles of large branches), gabions (portable protective walls that can be filled with earth), hay bales, and heavy cannon up the icy slopes, a thick fog settled over the harbor and lower ground, muffling the clatter of tools and wheels. Otherwise, the pounding of pickaxes, the thud of earth-filled baskets, and the creak of artillery carriages might easily have alerted the enemy. Instead, the fog acted as a providential curtain, veiling the Patriots movements when secrecy was most essential.

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The second remarkable event was the bright, full moon shining above the fog line. While the British were blinded, the heights themselves were illuminated. American soldiers could work efficiently, placing cannon, constructing breastworks, and shaping defensive positions with surprising speed. Concealment below and illumination above turned what might have been an impossible engineering feat into an overnight achievement.

By dawn on March 5, the transformation was astonishing. Where bare hills had stood the evening before, formidable fortifications were now filled with well-positioned artillery. British officers looking out from Boston were stunned. Howe reportedly exclaimed that the Americans had accomplished more in one night than his army could have done in months. The guns on Dorchester Heights commanded the harbor, making British ships vulnerable. The occupying British army was in an untenable position, exposed to bombardment from above.

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Howe prepared an assault to retake the heights, much as the British had stormed Breeds Hill during the Battle of Bunker Hill. His troops were ready to attack, waiting only for a high tide for their boats to cross, when a third providential event occurred: A violent storm blew in just as high tide was arriving, churning the harbor and making a crossing impossible. High winds and rough seas scattered boats and forced the British to abandon their immediate counterstroke.

One British soldier described the storm as having winds more violent than anything I ever heard. The assault was postponedand never happened. The storm effectively sealed the American success, granting Washington the time needed to strengthen the works beyond easy capture.

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The fourth event is less dramatic but perhaps even more consequential. Washington, believing the British garrison to be weak, had a plan: If some British troops attacked the Heights, he would lead Patriots into Boston itself. In fact, British forces in Boston were larger and better positioned than Washington realized. A Patriot attack on Boston would almost certainly have devastated the Patriots.

Thus, the same storm that halted Howes attack also prevented Washington from launching his own counterstrike. In this way, the tempest preserved the American army from a potentially ruinous engagement. What seemed like a frustration of plans may well have been a deliverance.

After March 5, Howe determined that the British position in Boston was no longer sustainable. Supplies were limited, Loyalist support was uncertain, and the harbor lay under American guns. To remain, invited destruction; to attack, promised heavy casualties; to withdraw, preserved the army for future campaigns. On March 17, 1776, British forces evacuated Boston, sailing for Halifax and leaving the city in American hands.

The Fortification of Dorchester Heights was daring in conception and masterful in execution. It required logistical brilliance, disciplined secrecy, and extraordinary physical labor. Knoxs artillery train had made the plan possible. Washingtons leadership ensured its success. Yet beyond strategy and effort, contemporaries saw the hand of Divine Providence in converging events: the fog that concealed, the moon that illuminated, the storm that thwarted the British assault, and the same storm that restrained an American attack that might have ended in disaster.

And heres a fifth (albeit possibly apocryphal) event, three months earlier, that may have shown Providences hand: In early December 1775, a junior officer entered Washingtons field tent one day and just happened to notice a book lying open on a table. It was about French field fortifications, and just happened to outline methods for rapidly constructing defensive works under cover of darkness, enabling an army to seize and hold commanding ground before an enemy could effectively respond. Recognizing the potential significance of the ideas, the officer brought them to Washingtons attention, which may have set the whole operation in motion.

Providential events like these continued to happen throughout the War for Independence to such a degree that Washington, during his eventual inaugural, said:

No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.

It was these early providences in this defining event that dramatically shifted the psychological balance of the war. For the first time, a major American city was freed from British control through a bold strategic maneuver rather than prolonged bloodshed. The victory strengthened colonial morale and enhanced Washingtons reputation as a capable commander. It also demonstrated that the Continental Army, though inexperienced, could outthink and outmaneuver the worlds most formidable military power.

Dorchester Heights stands as a testament to foresight and courage. It revealed Washington not merely as a patient defender but as a general capable of audacity. It highlighted Knoxs ingenuity and endurance. And for many Patriots, it confirmed that their cause was under Divine favor. In the fog and moonlight of March 45, 1776, a revolution gained both a city and renewed confidence that libertys struggle was guided by more than human hands.

In this 250th year, let us do the same. Wake up to the battle for liberty we are in. Ask God to fill us with courage and strategic insight. Connect and act together with other Patriots. And ultimately ask God to providentially intervene on our behalf and do only what He can do as He guides and directs in the affairs of men and nations.

You can find several 250th anniversary trainings that Craig has filmed on location here.

You can find a series about the providences of God in American history here.

Craig Seibert is the director of www.DeclarationOfIndependence250.org, and www.ChristianCivicsTraining.org, where you will find an abundance of free resources. Craig is also a Coach Mentor for www.PatriotAcademy.com, and www.ServeGodDefendLiberty.com. Learn more about brand new free courses on Rebuilding Liberty Here.
According to early reports, Operation Epic Fury has killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, perhaps along with much of the leadership of Iran. Hopefully, Epic Fury will eliminate the most imminent threat to the existence of Israel as well as threats to American bases and other allies in the region.

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What takes Khamenei's place remains to be seen, but the removal of a state leader who spoke ceaselessly of the destruction of the Jewish people is cause for celebration. Driven by a hatred that is hard to comprehend, Khamenei sought nothing less than a second Holocaust or worse: the death of all 7.76 million Jewish residents of Israel and of Jews around the world.

One man in particular dedicated his entire life to the remembrance of the Holocaust and warning of the possibility of a repetition. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the death of that man, Elie Wiesel. In some fifty books  not all of them directly about the Holocaust, but all of them marked by his experience of it  Wiesel served as what he called an observer of the most devastating period in human history.

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One of Wiesels important concerns was that there still existed antisemitism in every country  certainly in Iran, but also in Western Europe and America. In this respect, he was prophetic, for since his death, there has been a noticeable rise in antisemitism in the West. Wiesel could never explain how fascism arose in a country as educated and accomplished as Germany. Nor could he understand how antisemitism continued to exist in the United States, a country that professes to be the home of liberty, regardless of race, religion, or national origin.

To many of us, it is puzzling that antisemitism has found a home particularly on some of our elite university campuses and among privileged young people who should know better. It is especially among progressives on the left that the cause of Palestinians is celebrated and Israel is condemned, despite decades during which Israel has been under attack by those same Palestinians and under threat by their sponsor, Iran.

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Recent attacks have gone far beyond mere words, which themselves are unacceptable (From the River to the Sea, implying the destruction of the State of Israel). The murder of Jews at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, killing 15 and wounding 40 others, is just one example. Along with this, thousands of Jews have suffered physical attacks in our own country just in the past year.

There is no excuse for either verbal or physical attacks on Jews: both are the expression of pure hate, the same hatred that drove events in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. There must never be another Holocaust, and for that reason, antisemitism must not be allowed to gain even a small foothold in the West or anywhere.

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Wiesel himself was attacked in 2007 by a Holocaust-denier while he was staying in a San Francisco hotel. Though not injured, Wiesel understood the attack as testimony to the extent of antisemitism in the United States and the danger that Jews live with everywhere. Had he lived to witness the events of October 7, 2023, Wiesel would, I believe, have interpreted them in the context of the long history of violence against Jews, not merely in Palestine, but in many other places and going back centuries. He would have been deeply moved by the plight of the 1,195 killed and the 250 taken hostage. Since he is no longer here, it is the responsibility  a word he used so often, and one that served as the foundation of his writing  of other thoughtful people to record their reaction to the events.

Novels such as Sophies Choice trivialize the Holocaust by failing to depict the extent and depth of Nazi cruelty, and Democrats trivialize it by calling President Trump and other conservatives fascists. It is incredible that Democrats continue to depict Trump as a Nazi, despite the fact that he has apparently just removed the most consequential threat to Jews on the planet. Trump is not the one who supports attacks on Jews; it is liberals who turn the other way when Jewish students are harassed, when Jewish speakers are intimidated, and when Jews are physically assaulted. Wiesel was correct in saying that those who were not victims can never truly know the Holocaust, but, as he also said, those who were not victims can still make a sincere effort to understand it, and progressives, with their callous response toward October 7 and condemnation of Epic Fury, are not making that effort.

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As a conservative, I stand against liberals who pretend kindness but who then turn around and attack Jews in the media, at colleges and universities, and even in Congress, and who refuse to condemn the events of October 7. This includes Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who on the second anniversary of the attacks issued a statement mourning the victims but condemning Israel for its genocidal war against Gaza. In the past, Mamdani has refused to condemn the phrase globalize the Intifada, which many take to mean larger-scale attacks against Israel, and he has threatened to arrest Israeli president Netanyahu as a war criminal if the latter visits New York City for U.N. meetings.

Conservatives do understand the Holocaust because they understand the value of human life. It is conservatives who care about each human being on a personal level  as a valuable citizen with much to contribute to the world  and who refuse to act out of ideology in the way leftists have done in their mindless condemnation of Israel and by extension of Jews in our country. It is conservatives who look to the past for guidance in all things and who are keenly aware of the meaning of the Holocaust. Elie Wiesel did so much to help us in this endeavor.

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For those unfamiliar with Wiesels writing, the memoir Night is, as Wiesel himself said, the best place to begin. Night is a gripping account of the transportation of Wiesel and his family and neighbors to Auschwitz and other concentration camps in Poland, which took place when Wiesel was fifteen. Wiesel lost his parents and younger sister in the Holocaust. Afterward, first in France and then in the United States, he spent the rest of his life writing, teaching, and speaking publicly about the danger of a second Holocaust. If he were alive today, he would, I believe, have applauded President Trumps actions in removing the threat of the Khamenei regime.

As I write, there is still much that is unknown about Operation Epic Fury. How extensively has the military infrastructure been damaged or destroyed, and, most importantly perhaps, what kind of leadership will emerge in a post-Khamenei Iran? Those are at this time all unknowns, but what we can say for certain is that President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu acted with the clear intention of preventing a second Holocaust. As Elie Wiesel would have understood, that in itself is justification for the operation.

Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture including Heartland of the Imagination (2011).

Image via Pxbarn.
Are you in the car window replacement business in Minneapolis? Im betting that business has never looked brighter for you!

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Usually mass window replacement is a one-off event, caused by an unexpected explosion. But ever since George Floyd ODed on fentanyl and wokesters blamed the cops, window replacement has been a booming industry in the twin cities!

I have a friend in Minneapolis who prints custom T-shirts (formerly for schools and trade events...now mostly for political uprisings). He just bought a new Bentley and a palace in Edina with an indoor pool.

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The other day, I saw an old man dressed like a little girl in Walmart.

I need to qualify this. I personally have never actually seen a little girl dressed like this (I dont think anyone has, outside of a Shirley Temple movie). It was more what Louis B Mayor would have thought a little girl dressed like. Think Elmyra from Tiny Toon Adventures, or Elmer Fudd in ruffles and poofy sleeves.

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Whatever my or the rest of the shoppers opinion of the person wearing the getup was, just a glance could tell that the dress itself was exquisitely tailored  obviously custom-made and quite expensive. Even if it was homemade, just sourcing the obnoxious yellow fabric would have been time-consuming and costly.

Someone made money off that grotesque display of a dress  and a lot of it. Im guessing at least a grand, probably a lot more. Through index fund ownership, I probably made a fraction of a fraction of a cent on that dress. You probably did as well.

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An old male buzzard in a little girls dress from the 1920s is pretty much the ultimate statement of immaturity. Or you would think...because woke is generally a refusal to grow up, and what hasnt grown up more than Disney adults?

Disney used to be the little kid parks. Adults went to Cedar Point or Six Flags. But now all amusement parks are for adults, and Disney is the most adult-oriented of them.

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Why? Its simple. People with young children cant afford Disney anymore.

The sad part is, Disney adults cant afford it either, but they are willing to go into extreme debt to go anyway. And thats where opportunity lies!

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If I were 22 again, I would move to Orlando and get a time share real estate license...and sell Disney Vacation Club timeshares!

Most timeshares average a 20-percent close rate, which is pretty amazing, considering that 100 percent of the couples who attend timeshare presentations swear up and down that they arent going to buy anything.

But Disney Vacation Club averages a 70-percent close rate! Timeshare is just legalized fraud, and Disney convinces 70 percent of the people who attend a sales event that somehow, its a good idea! Thats just an astounding number!

Stupid is as stupid buys...on credit!

And the emotional sale? Woke is so susceptible to emotional manipulation that its pathetic. The smart timeshare salesman in Canada is probably busy with direct mail flyers being sent to Minnesota espousing the benefits of fascist-free vacation ownership in the socialist paradise of Banff, Alberta...all while knowing that the Trump administration will last only three more years, and Alberta isnt exactly a socialist paradise, but the maintenance fees are forever!

They want to scream at the sky in rage? Sell them a bullhorn. They want the world to know what they think of ICE? Sell them a bumper sticker, T-shirt, and tattoo for their forehead, and take Visa while you do it! Let them drown in virtue-signaling-inspired debt! Not your problem.

They want to burn down their neighborhood? Buy stock in Home Depot and D.R. Horton. Liberals are providing endless opportunities in rebuilding trades, prison work, real education, and energy.

Encourage them to build windmills while you buy stock in natural gas companies for when they fail to achieve carbon neutrality.

Cheer them on with the E.V.s for everyone scheme...and pack your portfolio with Exxon, Chevron, and BP.

Like their posts about how amazing Disney isbut only after your broker has picked up shares in Disney and Visa!

Anti woke investment avoids insurance in California, media conglomerates, and tech in favor of more cynical positions: sin stocks. Dirty energy, dirty money, war, and vice. Anti-woke investment assumes the worst of humanity  and is seldom in the red.

Woke preaches communism because it doesnt understand money, debt, or interest. Woke people dont live communism because they like comfort and are too addicted to themselves and their lifestyles to give up capitalism.

Why not take advantage?

Stock ownership in Rio Tinto not only provides you with fractional ownership of the most polluting company in history, but you also provide the basic material for every septum piercing on earth! Its a double-anti-woke win!

Owning Exxon makes you profit off primary color hair dye, plastic yard signs, and transportation to and from the anti oil protests, not to mention the plastic in their gas masks and nylon jackets while they rage in the bitter upper Midwest cold.

Woke may not be a growth industry anymore, but the people who bought into it are generally stuck in toddler mentality...and toddler mentality may not sell anymore, but it still needs Me! Me! Me! time, and therefore it buys! Sell it something...at 29.9-percent APR!

Image via Pxhere.
I love watching leftists get their heads proverbially handed to them after they make some sanctimonious comment. They're literally on the wrong side of every significant issue, and yet they try and lecture the rest of us. They're like an arsonist who sets their own house on fire, and then criticizes the fire department for causing water damage.

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Governor Gavin Newsom's team couldn't resist a smug jab at President Trump, boasting that average gas prices in California had remained below $5 for nearly two years while Trump's "new war" upset the markets. Evidently Newsom missed the part about how gasoline prices in most other states have fallen below $3 per gallon. The U.S. Oil and Gas Association wasted no time firing back. California imports over 60% of its crude oil from places like Iraq, Brazil, Guyana, and Ecuador, despite sitting on nearly two billion barrels of proven reserves. Their quest for "net zero" carbon emissions demands they ship oil from thousands of miles away, through the Panama Canal and up to California rather than simply drill in their own backyard. No wonder they're vulnerable to foreign oil shocks. Newsom whines about dependency (and poverty, and homelessness, and environmental damage) while setting the stage for it in his own state.

Meanwhile, in the Big Apple, Islamist-Democratic Socialist (Communist) Mayor Mamdani condemned operation Epic Fury as a "catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression," wailing about civilian deaths and Americans' supposed desire for peace over regime change. Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad -- herself a repeated target of regime assassination plots -- demolished him. She reminded Mamdani of his silence during the regime's massacres, including the killing of over 30,000 unarmed protesters, the blinding of thousands, and the execution of women and schoolgirls for defying hijab rules. "STOP lecturing us Iranians about peace," she thundered.

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Rep. Ilhan Omar faced similar roasting from Alinejad, who shared the story of Sara Saeidi -- a mother executed for protesting while wearing a "MANHATTAN" sweatshirt with an American flag. Omar's "No War with Iran" stance, Alinejad argued, shielded the regime's war on its own people. Rep. Nancy Mace trolled Omar and Rashida Tlaib with faux condolences over Khamenei's demise and in response, Omar erupted in a typo-riddled, possibly inebriated rant before turning off replies. Nothing says "measured statesmanship" like rage-posting and hiding.

Even Pope Leo XIV couldn't resist wagging his finger and pleading for "reasonable, sincere, and responsible dialogue" instead of weapons, warning of a "spiral of violence", and an "unbridgeable chasm." Did he miss the last near half-century of Iranian aggression, proxy terrorism, and internal brutality? As the line in the movie The Sum of All Fears proclaims, "There's already been a first strike!" As a Catholic and a daily communicant, I find the lecturing from left-leaning Church officials especially abhorrent and embarrassing. Perhaps someone should give the Holy Father a copy of the Just War doctrine, promulgated by St. Augustine. While theyre at it, perhaps they could also show him what St. Thomas Aquinas had to say about immigration.

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In a 60 Minutes segment, Reza Pahlavi -- the exiled crown prince and opposition figure -- praised Trump for intervening decisively, predicting that history would remember him as the leader who changed Iran's trajectory. The show's "gotcha moment" backfired spectacularly into Pahlavis glowing endorsement.

Alex Soros and his fellow globalists that comprise the Democrat party misread the room entirely, as usual. They assumed global outrage over the strikes. Instead, Iranians celebrated in the streets -- dancing, playing music, and honking car horns. International sentiment meanwhile leans toward relief at the regime's weakening.

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These episodes underline a timeless truth: in the rush to score partisan points, moral preening or virtue signaling, context, facts, and lived experiences of the oppressed get discarded. When reality bites back, when the rake smacks them in the nose -- via industry data, survivor testimony, or street celebrations -- sanctimony crumbles.

The point of all this is that the Left has painted themselves into a corner. By embracing increasingly left-leaning positions and reflexively resisting everything that President Trump and conservatives say and do, they have nowhere else to go. Any move towards rationality or patriotism, any position that makes America safer, stronger, more prosperous and more united necessitates a move to the Right. Since the party is now being led by their Marxist, lunatic wing, that simply cannot be tolerated.

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Rash words dont age well when events, logic, and reality prove them irrational.
The chasm between the people and the ruling Marxists couldnt be wider, and theres no greater example than what just happened in Scotlands capital city. Yesterday, a migrant man, reportedly a Somali, went on a stabbing spreeboth victims are recovering in the hospitalbefore he retreated into his (presumably) taxpayer-funded apartment, where he smiled down at police and very angry bystanders from his balcony.

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The man filmed walking around Edinburgh with two large knives amid reports of multiple stabbings has holed up in an apartment block, surrounded by police.



Locals tell him to jump.



Two people have been hospitalized for their injuries. pic.twitter.com/d4KvrzP4gU  Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) March 2, 2026

As you can hear, the Scots on the street are telling the man to jump to his deathdead would-be killers dont reoffend when progressive courts inevitably release these psychotic third-worlders back into European society. According to witnesses, the migrant at one point even attempted to head toward a school, but was prevented from doing so by a local citizen:

Two men told BBC Scotland they saw a man holding what appeared to be two blood-stained knives outside a shop. One said, I got out of my car, and the guy came up to me with his hands behind his back. He said, Can I speak to you? He had the two knives behind his back, covered in blood. Advertisement He started going towards the school, so I was just trying to chase him back. He was coming towards me the whole time. He walked away up to the flats, the witness added.

While the Scots were righteously outraged, Edinburghs city council leader, Jane Meagher, took the opportunity to remind everyone that diversity is still Scotlands greatest strength, and keeping it that way is a priority for the political leadership. Heres what Meagher had to say:

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Edinburgh is a proud, welcoming and diverse city. Our biggest strength lies in those who live here  people from all walks of life, cultures, and backgrounds  and we all have a part to play in making sure it stays that way.

Then, chief inspector of the Scotland Police Scott Kennedy said that while the incident was alarmingthere is no ongoing wider risk to the public.

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BULLSH.

How many more Somalis are there in Scotland? What about other third world Muslims? Africans accustomed to rape, war, and bloodshed, and unaccustomed to functioning life in a first world European country? Too many, and this is going to happen again, and again, and againwhich is all part of the plan. Allow me to draw your attention to an essay that Peter Hitchens, a Marxist-turned-conservative, penned almost 13 years ago:

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When I was a Revolutionary Marxist, we were all in favour [sic] of as much immigration as possible. It wasnt because we liked immigrants, but because we didnt like Britain. We saw immigrants  from anywhere  as allies against the staid, settled, conservative society. Advertisement Also, we liked to feel oh, so superior to the bewildered people  usually in the poorest parts of Britain  who found their neighbourhoods suddenly transformed into supposedly vibrant communities. If they dared to express the mildest objections, we called them bigots. Revolutionary students didnt come from such vibrant areas (we came, as far as I could tell, mostly from Surrey and the nicer parts of London). We might live in vibrant places for a few (usually squalid) years, amid unmown lawns and overflowing dustbins. But we did so as irresponsible, childless transients  not as homeowners, or as parents of school-age children, or as old people hoping for a bit of serenity at the ends of their lives. When we graduated and began to earn serious money, we generally headed for expensive London enclaves and became extremely choosy about where our children went to school, a choice we happily denied the urban poor, the ones we sneered at as racists.

Prophetic, was it not?

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It's tough being a mullah in Iran these days.

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Your leaders are dead. The Iranian masses are dancing in the streets and want the rest of you out of power, preferably hanging from meathooks. You've earned world opprobrium by bombing innocent Gulf states, expecting them to fold, cry uncle, and beg the U.S. and Israel to stop. Instead, you added to their ally list.

Worst of all, your own allies, mighty Russia and giant China, have better things to do than come to your aid.

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Russia, for one, was downright sarcastic in its refusal to come to the mullahs' aid:

BREAKING: russia will not assist Iran under the allied treaty because it was signed with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - and where is he now? says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. pic.twitter.com/KLi8C0ox7c Advertisement March 1, 2026

China, on the other hand, went the 'thoughts and prayers' route, that is, if communists prayed, offering the mullahs 'moral support':

 China denied reports it's providing military support to Iran, saying it only offers political and moral backing.



Beijing strongly condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes, with FM Wang Yi saying they "intentionally derailed" nuclear negotiations and sent the region into an https://t.co/qYH0j0HDaH pic.twitter.com/xokdA1PWS8  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 3, 2026

Thanxalot, fellas.

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This, despite treaty obligations and years spent impressing and benefiting these purported allies with their terrorism skills as the world's foremost state sponsor of terror. Now it's panic time for the mullahs, and nope, no allies.

To be sure, Iran still has Burkina Faso in its tree:

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Burkina Faso is ready to assist militarily if Iran should ask for it.



The days of the Americans acting with impunity are over,



says the dictator of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore.  pic.twitter.com/IG1gYXsW2L  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) March 3, 2026

And to be further sure, the U.S. has its share of bum allies -- looking at you, Spain.

But these allies are all pipsqueaks. In mullah Iran's hour of need, the big guys are not there like they said they would be, while America and Israel just keep adding to their allies. Seems being a part of the Axis of Evil isn't what it's cracked up to be, what with allies who were all faking it when they promised loyalty. Maybe being evil isn't what it's cracked up to be. The Old Testament says that if you choose evil, you will get it. The mullahs are learning that the hard way.

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Image: Screenshot from X video.
Irans latest barrage, consisting of over 400 ballistic missiles and nearly 1,000 drones since late February 2026, didnt just target Israel. It sprayed the Persian Gulf like buckshot: Qatars Al Udeid Air Base rocked by near-misses, UAE ports and airports hammered, Bahrains Fifth Fleet defenses lighting up against 45 incoming missiles, Kuwait oil sites grazed, Saudi energy facilities threatened, and even Oman, Tehrans quiet mediator, taking drone hits on Duqm and Salalah. No sorry. No miscalculation claim. Just raw, indiscriminate fury.

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This is strategic suicide. Qatar shares gas fields with Iran. Oman brokers back-channels. The UAE and Bahrain lean West without poking the bear. Saudis tried diplomacy. Yet Tehran repaid them by turning neighbors into collateral. Reckless? Absolutely.

But heres the twist: Trumps White House is welcoming this chaos.

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President Trump has long preached peace through strength. Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign to gut Irans nukes, missiles, and navy, is sold as pre-emption. Now Irans scattershot retaliation does what years of diplomacy couldnt: It forces the Gulf monarchies into alignment.

A joint statement from the U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates condemned the indiscriminate and reckless strikes. Seven nations, once hedging, now speaking with one voice. Oman, staying neutral at first, condemned both sides, but later, in a separate statement, condemned Irans recklessness:

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The Sultanate of Oman condemns and denounces the Iranian attacks targeting sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, affirming its solidarity with its sisterly nations and its endorsement of the measures they undertake to safeguard their security and sovereignty.

Trumps team sees the math. Irans hubris alienates its own soft allies, pushing them toward Washington and Jerusalem. Qatar is already floating base relocations. The UAE diversifies ports. Saudi jets stay on alert. Bahrain tightens defenses. These are signs of unified resolve. The Abraham Accords, Trumps 2020 masterstroke, normalized Israel with Arab states. Now Irans missiles are the accelerant, turning pacts into coalitions. Why negotiate with a regime that shells indiscriminately your backyard?

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Critics call it escalation. Trump calls it clarity. Irans not strategic. Theyre sloppy, hes said. And sloppiness unites enemies. When Tehran hits Oman, it proves no ones safe. The resulting fear and frustration are glue. Gulf leaders arent begging for de-escalation anymore; theyre demanding action. Trumps response: more strikes, more pressure, until Irans regime cracks. Regime change? Maybe. But at minimum, a neutered Tehran means no more proxy wars, no more tanker seizures, and no more Gulf roulette.

Make no mistake: Trump and his team dont want the chaos, but given no alternative by the rogue regime, they will exploit it. This is classic disruptive reform: Take bold action that reveals the weaknesses and threats of enemies, thereby fortifying existing alliances while forging new ones.

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Irans recklessness is reshaping the region. Trump didnt start the fire, but hes fanning it toward a bigger win: a Middle East where Arab states stand shoulder to shoulder against the bully, backed by American muscle.

The Gulfs ablaze for now. The smoke will clear to reveal a new map, envisioned by many who lacked the will, courage, or resources to draw it.

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And Trump? Hes smiling.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Following an obvious terror attack in Austin, Texas, Governor Greg Abbott is sounding the alarm on the threat of Iranian sleeper cells and other lone wolf Islamist actors:

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Exactly what happened here in Austin, Texas, and you oftentimes see when theres a war breaking out like this, where the United States may be going against a country like Iran, that you could have either sleeper cells or lone wolfs [sic] acting, Abbott continued.

The threat is not new, and its not surprising. Just last year, the Institute for Economics and Peace released a report on new data from the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), with these key findings:

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The Sahel region remains terrorisms epicentre, accounting for over half of all global terrorism deaths

Islamic State (IS) expands its operations to 22 countries and remains the deadliest organisation, causing 1,805 deaths, with 71% of its activity being in Syria and DRC

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Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) emerged as fastest-growing terrorist group, with 90% increase in attributed deaths

[snip]

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Terrorist attacks jumped by 63% in the West, Europe was most affected where attacks doubled to 67

In 2024, several Western countries reported one in five terror suspects as under 18, with teenagers accounting for most IS-linked arrests in Europe

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Seven Western countries are in the first 50 most impacted countries on the GTI.

The common denominator is obvious.

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Looking at the attack in Austin, where the gunman killed three people and wounded 14 others, we see something that is especially disturbing: the 53-year-old Senegalese gunman appeared to have established a conventional life in this country:

Officials said Diagne was a Senegalese-born immigrant who came to the United States in 2000 on a tourist visa. He got a green card in 2006 after marrying a U.S. citizen and became an American citizen in 2013.

Any suggestion of assimilation reveals it was all a lie.

Chris Swecker, a former assistant FBI director, warned of the creation of sleeper cells as well as the number of Iranians who had illegally crossed the U.S. border and had not been detained:

We know that they have cells here. We also know that there are lone sympathizers, many of whom have come out in these protest groups, he said  claiming that the open-border policies of the Biden administration were a gift for would-be terrorists seeking to infiltrate the US.

Last summer, Customs and Border Protection warned about the increased possibility of terrorist sleeper cells when more than 700 Iranian nationals were allowed to remain in the US after crossing the border illegally in the past four years, according to a leaked memo obtained by the New York Post at the time.

So, at this time the threat of sleeper cells and lone wolves is dire. We have stirred the wasps nest twice by attacking Iran; we have people who illegally crossed our borders who may be prepared to act; and in spite of the occasional 24-hour monitoring carried out by our counter-terrorism groups, there are more than we even know about.

Image: Statea USA, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
It's not easy being an Iranian mullah.

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According to a report by Amy Curtis, writing at Townhall:

Today, Israeli forces dealt another blow to the Iranian leadership, hitting yet another meeting of high-ranking Israeli officials. The Iranian Supreme Council was gathered to appoint a new Supreme Leader, after losing at least two  including the long-reigning Ayatollah Khamenei  in strikes over the weekend. Advertisement

This so-called "Assembly of Experts," some 88 members strong, was in the building when it was leveled by Israeli airstrikes.

The Assembly of Experts is now a bunch of disassembled ex-experts.

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How could this possibly happen for the second time in days? To a group of experts, yet. Maybe they should change the name to the Assembly of Morons. Have they not heard of a Zoom call, even after the COVID-19 lockdowns? Alternatively, Ive heard good things about Microsoft Teams. How about Webex? Livestorm? Demio? Clickmeeting? Hell, even a conference call might have sufficed in this situation.

Did the AOE think Israeli intelligence just got lucky the first time, lo those many hours ago? I mean, the Mossad kind of has a history with Iranian experts. Were those in the Assembly outfitted with Israeli pagers, as well?

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If all 88 were sent to Paradise simultaneously as appears likely, a staggering 6,336 virgins will be needed to tend to them. Is there an unlimited supply there? Are they on call? (If so, I hope they arent wearing Israeli pagers.)

Ayatollah Ali Khameini ruled for more than 36 years, but now he and his immediate successor have been taken out in closer to 36 hours. Apparently, the Assembly of Experts 2.0  or perhaps 3.0  did manage to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Irans new Supreme Leader.

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Im sure he is delighted. Mojtaba was selected despite the fact that he is not a high-ranking cleric, has never held office and did not have an official role in the regime. Moreover, father-to-son succession is frowned upon in Irans Shiite Muslim clerical establishment. Or at least it used to be. The next Supreme Leader  who could be chosen in a day or two at this rate  might be Ali Khameneis second cousin, once removed  or maybe his food taster.

If there are any more Iranian experts left, will they soon be assembling under one roof yet again? These guys wasted copious quantities of munitions in attacking their Muslim neighbors, apparently in the belief that this would somehow endear them to their cause, so I wouldnt rule it out.

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Despite the obvious allure of 72 virgins in Paradise, I have to believe attendance at these august gatherings would be more problematic going forward, even for these morons experts.

Hey, Ahmad, lets get everyone together so we can choose our next Supreme Leader. Would you contact all the boys and tell them to meet us at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Golestan Palace  if it is still standing?

Yes, of course Zahir. However, I deeply regret to tell you that I myself will be unable to attend this next glorious meeting of the Assembly of Experts, honored though I am. My nephew is in my care this week, and he has a bad cold and I must look after him as Yasmin is away visiting her mother.

The net will have to be cast ever wider to assemble the next Supreme Council, or Assembly of Experts. And the burning question is: how long until they, too, assume room temperature courtesy of the IDF?

Image: X video-meme screenshot
To date, our forces have eliminated 17 Iranian vessels. The combined forces of the USA and Israel have hit 2,000 targets. On the first day, the Iranians could launch hundreds of missiles, but now only 20 or so daily. They have hit at least 11 nations with these missiles. The Iranians have launched 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones toward the neighboring nations of the Gulf region.

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Now some are thinking of joining offensive action against Iran. The worry is that we will run out of defensive missiles before they run out of offensive ones. However, the critics have been wrong before and are likely mistaken now. After all, they want President Trump to fail.

The Times of Israel has reported that the conclave of about 90 Shia clerics arrayed to nominate a new supreme leader of the Islamic Republic was eliminated by Israeli jets. This destruction of the next level of religious leadership is a further blow to reconstitution of the Islamic state. According to reports, the Iranians had enough fissionable materials to build 11 nuclear weapons. This would have taken weeks to complete. This is an immediate risk to the USA and its allies.

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With command of the skies, we should be able to destroy more launchers and end the damage the Iranians are inflicting upon our bases, embassies, and allies. This greater safety for our planes will allow an uptick in bombing. In this effort, we should be able to take out the IRGC, the police and Quds forces that have threatened the populace and the region. But the members of these agencies will likely resist putting down their weapons quickly: They fear the retribution of the Iranian people, whom they terrorized for decades. Further, it is not clear that the Iranian resistance is organized enough yet to win on the ground. The Kurds are likely the most organized resistance group at present.

The Democrats continue to fight Trump over this war. In the Obama administration, they argued that he did not need congressional authorization for a seven-month war. Today, Minority Leader Jeffries said we will lose the battle. Anything to root against Trump. Fortunately, we will achieve our objectives. It is up to the Iranian people to complete regime change.

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Finally, it is the Jewish celebration of Purim, commemorating the incident that occurred about 460 BCE, when King Ahasuerus of Persia (believed to be Xerxes I, the son of Darius, of 300 Spartan fame) replaced his queen Vasti (the granddaughter of Cyrus the Great, who defeated Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar, who defeated Judea in 586 BCE, died). In the story, Mordecai and Esther, the new queen, defeat the plans of Haman to kill all the Jews under the empire. Cyrus had allowed the Jews to return from exile in Babylon to rebuild the ancient Temple.

Antisemitism has existed in all generations, so the hatred of the mullahs of Iran for Israel is nothing new. The irony today is that the religious clerics of Iran had the punishment they promised for USA and Isreal turned on them. The same happened to Haman at the gallows he had built for Mordecai. God has some strange ways of working his majesty.

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Image via Pxhere.
For decades, policymakers judging foreign investment asked a simple question: Where is the money from? That worked when capital moved under clear national flags and ownership was easy to trace. But modern finance has outgrown that logic. The right question today who controls the money.

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Weve entered the era of proxy investment: capital routed through neutral jurisdictions, designed to look commercially apolitical while quietly advancing strategic geopolitical interests. Funds structured in London, Singapore, or Delaware may carry the language of markets, yet their risk appetite, governance design, or investment sequencing can reflect the priorities of a single state or political nexus. What once looked like globalization is, increasingly, statecraft by other means.

These funds are entirely legal and often welcomed by host governments that need capital for big projects. The risk lies in their purpose  and in how easily formal transparency protocols fail to reveal it.

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Consider a hypothetical fund launched in Luxembourg, financed by intermediaries and limited partners from several countries. On paper, its private equity chasing yield. In practice, a minority investor  perhaps a statebacked bank  holds veto rights over key asset sales. Or a side letter gives a sovereign partner first refusal on infrastructure in certain regions. None of this shows up in the glossy filings reviewed by regulators. Yet the influence is there.

Most national screening systems still judge by appearances  legal domicile, percentage ownership, or brand reputation  but these metrics fail to meet todays challenge. Veto rights, board seat entitlements, exit clauses, and governance committees often shape more than equity shares do. As a result, deals that would raise alarm if their strategic affiliations were explicit often glide through routine approval.

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That blind spot is most dangerous in sectors that shape national autonomy: ports, power grids, telecom, logistics, and critical minerals. Control of these assets translates into political leverage when tensions rise. When proxy capital enters those arenas labeled neutral, governments risk building up short-term liquidity at the expense of their independence.

This phenomenon is no longer hypothetical. Around the world, fund architecture now deliberately obscures origin, diffuses accountability, and distributes decisionmaking across offshore entities. Minority stakes with special rights, well timed exit provisions, or advisory partners with informal vetoes make tracing influence nearly impossible. And many national security review systems  built for a simpler era  cannot yet parse the modern mechanics of control.

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Updating them requires a different mindset. Regulators must ask: Who can block a sale? Who guides strategy? Who gains privileged access under mounting political pressure? The key test is how capital behaves under stress, not how it performs in stable markets.

This isnt a call for financial nationalism. Crossborder capital still powers innovation, growth, and competition. Proxy investment itself isnt inherently malign. But an opaque actor is not the same thing as a neutral one. The real task is to identify the bad guys.

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That begins with beneficial control, not just beneficial ownership. Investors, limited partners, and governments should disclose who exerts influence, not merely who holds equity. Side letters, governance rights, and backchannel agreements need daylight. Economic due diligence must merge with geopolitical intelligence, because in todays world, finance and strategy are two sides of the same coin.

Judging money by its mailing address belongs to another era. The most consequential investments are engineered to minimize scrutiny while maximizing strategic leverage. If policymakers keep trusting forms over control, theyll keep missing the point.

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The money that makes things happen can no longer be expected always to arrive waving a flag. Sometimes it comes instead through a term sheet, a clause, and a closing signature. The crucial question is never just where the money is from, but who commands it when it counts.

James Carter served as deputy undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor (200607) and as the director of the America First Policy Institutes Center for American Prosperity (202123). Jacob Choe is a member of the Bretton Woods Committee and serves as the Eurasia Centers Asia Program director.

Image via Pixabay. Pixabay License.
DUNEDIN, New Zealand  Cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge (NZX, ASX: PEB) announces today that after 11 referrals for Cxbladder were sent to patients last week, the first Triage Plus test has now been ordered by Townsville University Hospital, according to an agreed clinical pathway. The consultant urologists at Townsville University Hospital have developed nurse-led clinical protocols for hematuria evaluation with Triage Plus and for NMIBC surveillance with Monitor.

Townsville University Hospital is a leading care provider in the North Queensland region serving a local population of 250,000 and a referral catchment of 700,000. The adoption of Cxbladder genomic biomarker testing is intended to streamline urological care as part of their nurse-led services to ensure that clinical resources are prioritized for those who require further evaluation while giving all patients the best experience possible.

Cxbladder Triage Plus will be used to risk stratify patients presenting to urologic care with hematuria. The protocol will allow clinicians to de-intensify the workup of those with a low risk of bladder cancer, reducing the need for further invasive testing, while identifying and prioritizing those who require immediate care. In surveillance for recurrent bladder cancer, Cxbladder Monitor will be used to help safely reduce the frequency of cystoscopy required in NMIBC patients, improving patient comfort and supporting increased adherence to their regularly scheduled surveillance appointments.

Triage Plus is a multi-modal (RNA and DNA) urine-based genomic test with substantially improved performance characteristics when contrasted with first generation Cxbladder tests for hematuria evaluation, Triage and Detect. With the recent publication of the DRIVE study in the Journal of Urologic Oncology providing an independent clinical validation, Triage Plus builds on the performance of Cxbladder Triage, a test now included in the American AUA/SUFU Microhematuria Guideline , supported with Grade A evidence from a randomized controlled trial (STRATA ). In addition to its superior clinical value, Triage Plus delivers greater health economic value for institutions and payers, and positively impacts revenue and margin per test for Pacific Edge.

From 2023, Cxbladder Monitor has been recognized in the European Association of Urology (EAU) NMIBC Guideline which is influential among Australian urologists. The utility of the test is further supported by real-world evidence. In 2025 Royal Perth Hospital conducted a clinical validation study and Northern Health in Melbourne conducted a clinical utility study . These studies demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of Cxbladder Monitor as a non-invasive alternative in the surveillance for recurrent bladder cancer. Notably, the findings highlight a range of clinical and operational benefits from using Monitor, including the significant potential for it to optimize bladder cancer surveillance programs, reducing healthcare costs, substantially lifting patient satisfaction, and improving overall healthcare system efficiency.

Pacific Edge CEO Peter Meintjes said Were delighted to be supporting Townsville University Hospital as they implement Cxbladder testing as part of their nurse-led services for hematuria patients and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer surveillance patients. The benefits of our non-invasive genomic urine tests are well established, but having Cxbladder implemented by nurses is a great way to reduce the volume of unnecessary cystoscopies, helping clinical teams streamline resource utilization and improve day-to-day patient care for the patients most in need.

The initiation of Cxbladder testing at Townsville University Hospital marks the continued adoption of the Cxbladder suite in Australia. Globally Cxbladder is now available in the US, Australasia, and Israel and in select markets throughout Asia and South America. In the US, the test has been used by over 5,000 urologists who have ordered more than 130,000 tests. In New Zealand, Cxbladder is accessible to around 70% of the population via public healthcare and every resident has the option of ordering the test online.

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The joint U.S.- Israeli operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran launched February 28, 2026 has been named Operation Epic Fury by Washington and Roaring Lion by Israel. The campaign is targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, military assets, and leadership sites. The U.S. participation in this operation ostensibly is to destroy the Islamic Republics capacity to produce a nuclear bomb that, should the ayatollahs possess it, would be used against the U.S., referred to by Iran as the Big Satan, and Israel, the Little Satan.

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The U.S. focus is on Irans ballistic missiles, which pose a mortal threat to Israel and the Arab Gulf states. It is potentially a high risk for the U.S. The two countries understand that the regime has been developing long-range missiles whose warheads could accommodate a nuclear or chemical payload with reach of the U.S. The third aspect was to bring down the regimes leadership, especially Ali Khamenei, enabling the Iranian people to do what is needed to regain their country.

Beyond neutralizing Tehrans ability to produce a nuclear weapon and destroying the lethal ballistic missile arsenal of the Iranian regime, Israel is targeting the regimes personnel facilities used to kill thousands of Iranian civilians in a matter of days.

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Eventually, however, it is the Iranian people who must fight the regime for their freedom and prosperity. Minority militias, who are battle-tested and experienced in combatting the regime, can be of enormous help to the Iranian people in overcoming the regime, including the armed gangs of the regimes Basij forces. The Basij is an armed volunteer paramilitary force subordinate to Irans IRGC, functioning as a primary tool for domestic security and the crack down on dissenters.

Almost half of Irans population comprises minorities hostile to the Islamic Republic and its ayatollahs, and all of them possess armed militias. Their role in defeating the heartless regime of the now eliminated supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is essential.

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A decade and a half ago, this reporter met in Washington with exiled leaders of the three main Iranian minority groups: Ahwazi Arabs, Baluchis, and Kurds. They expressed their frustration with the Obama administration for refusing to support their efforts to bring down the theocratic Islamic Republic of Iran. They pleaded for arms and funds that the Obama administration never even considered. These same groups had already sacrificed thousands of their fighters in clashes with the regimes forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the praetorian guards of the ayatollahs.

These armed minority groups represent significant fighting forces that posed a demonstrated challenge to the Iranian regime. Their ability to independently defeat the ayatollahs regime was, however, unrealized due to the regimes continued reliance on internal security forces and foreign militias.

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In January 2026, reports emerged that thousands of Iraqi Shiite militia fighters (including Kataib Hezballah and Harakat al-Nujaba) had been deployed to Iran to assist the regime in suppressing and killing Iranian protesters. Nevertheless, with American and Israeli aid, including arms and perhaps cash, they can properly defend the protesters and serve as a spearhead to bring down the regime.

Iranian Kurds formed a Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan on February 22, uniting five Kurdish opposition parties. Iranian Kurds have been an active part of the recent pushback against the Islamic Republic, including the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom movement and, most recently, the major protests that shook Iran in late 2025 and early 2026.

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The PDKI (Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan), a Kurdish opposition group, has fought an intermittent insurgency against Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The party supported the nationwide protests in January, which Trump has said killed 32,000 people. Hossein Yazdanpanah, leader of the Kurdistan Freedom Party, has been fighting, along with his militia, the ayatollahs regime from exile in the UAE and Kyrgyzstan.

Hamid Mutasher, leader of the Iranian Ahwazi-Arab Liberal Party, and a prominent Ahwazi dissident and peace activist currently in exile in Vienna, was interviewed on Dr. Edy Cohen (an Israeli of Lebanese Jewish origin)s podcast. Mutasher described the repression that the Arab minority is experiencing under the ayatollahs and the enormous wealth that was stolen from them by Tehran. He said he envisions an independent Ahwazi state that will be Israels strategic ally. He pointed out that the Ahwaz Arab population numbers 12 million, and its territory includes 160,000 square miles. According to Mutasher, 90% of Irans oil exports comes from Ahwaz, as well as 75% of its water. And, he claimed, Ahwaz sits on one of the largest energy reserves in the world.

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The Baluchis of southeastern Iran are a discriminated and oppressed minority, especially since they are Sunni Muslims in the majority-Shia state of Iran. The Baluchis inhabit one of Irans poorest regions, suffering from underdevelopment, limited education, and poor health care, resulting in the lowest life expectancy in the country. The area has experienced significant conflict, with militant groups like Jaysh al-Adl clashing with Iranian security forces, leading to high casualties on both sides.

These three groups have little to lose. They are oppressed by the ayatollahs and do not enjoy equality and rights. All three groups would ideally opt for independence or regional autonomy, where they could use their resources to improve the lives of their people. The ultimate dream of the Kurds is a Kurdish nation that would bring together 4050 million Kurds from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The Ahwazi Arabs want an independent state of their own or to regain the status they had prior to 1925. The Baluchis would prefer joining their brothers in Pakistani Baluchistan.

These groups could be in the vanguard of a takeover of Iran from the ayatollahs. They would be joined by the Persian opposition forces, and together, they could restore to the Iranian people their 47-year-old dream of freedom.

Image: Chickenonline via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Rare works from a number of contemporary artists including Sir Grayson Perry, Es Devlin and Nan Goldin will go up for auction to raise money for Palestine.

The auction and public exhibition, also featuring works from artists Charlie Mackesy, Brian Eno and Sarah Ball, will take place later this month.

Organised by Choose Love, Gideon Berger Studio, Hope 93 Gallery and art dealer Zayna Al-Saleh, all profits raised will go towards the Together For Palestine Fund, held by Choose Love, to support Palestinian-led organisations.

Nablus (Nabil Anani/PA)

Among the pieces going under the hammer is Devlins Redraw The Edges Of Yourself, Sir Graysons ceramics work Lady With Fireworks, based on a miniature in the Wallace Collection, and Goldins Holy Sheep, Rathmullan, Ireland.

The auction will also see Jeremy Dellers new work with Ed Hall, The Constant Buzz Of A Drone, go under the hammer among many other collectables including two works by Khaled Hourani, Watermelon Flag and Kendaka, Nabil Ananis Nabulus and Misan Harrimans Brothers In Protest.

Josie Fernandez-Marelli, chief executive of Choose Love, said: In these turbulent and frightening times, its more important than ever that we put humanity first, and make sure families and children have what they need to survive.

There is still an urgent need to support vital organisations providing humanitarian aid on the ground in Gaza.

We are proud to stand with Together For Palestine, and deeply grateful to every artist for their contributions, supporting our partners to save as many lives as possible.

The Constant Buzz Of A Drone (Jeremy Deller/PA)

The auction follows on from the Together For Palestine concert, which raised more than 2 million for humanitarian organisations.

The profits will go towards supporting emergency relief efforts in Palestine including food and water, healthcare, shelter, mental health support and the largest orphan care programme in Gaza.

Palestinian painter Malak Mattar added: Since working on the Together For Palestine concert with incredible artists like Es Devlin and Brian Eno and witnessing the moving public reception and response to visual art, I realised the true power of artists standing together for humanity and a shared cause.

This auction is a reflection of that same solidarity, with the aim of raising as much as possible for the supported charities.

Redraw The Edges of Yourself 2024 (Es Devlin/PA)

The auction will be open for bids from March 26  April 9 and an exhibition of the works will be open to the public at Hope 93 Gallery in London over the same period.
Shabana Mahmood writes in the Guardian that Labours border policy should be neither the nightmare of Farages borders  nor the Greens fairytale of borders. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters (Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters)

Up to 21,000 asylum seekers who have waited for a year for their claims to be processed could be allowed to enter the jobs market so they can support themselves, the Home Office has said, as part of a package of measures to be announced on Thursday.

As the government seeks to empty asylum hotels, claimants who break the law, work illegally or are found to have enough assets to live without support will from June be ejected and lose their support payments.

The developments have been questioned by the Refugee Council for risking an increase in rough sleeping among those escaping war and famine.

They come as Shabana Mahmood has hit back in a column for the Guardian at demands from senior labour movement figures for ministers to stop focusing on migration and to soften their attacks on the Green party.

The home secretary wrote: Restoring order at our border is not just an embodiment of Labour values, it is the necessary condition for a Labour government to do anything at all.

Mahmood wrote that Labours vision should appeal to the mainstream and be neither the nightmare of Farages borders, effectively closed, nor the Greens fairytale of borders effectively open. She also said the government planned to launch a new safe and legal route in the autumn for students seeking refuge.

There are about 30,600 people awaiting asylum claims living in roughly 200 hotels across the UK, and 107,000 people receiving asylum support, the Home Office said.

At present, those in dispersal accommodation, such as private housing, receive 48 a week, while those in hotels receive 9.95 per person.

Officials are seeking to move on many of the 21,000 people who have been in hotels for more than a year by extending permission to work.

If they find work, the intention is that they would fall under the category of having asylum support removed and eventually move out.

The statutory legal duty under EU law to provide asylum seekers with support and accommodation would be revoked on Thursday, the Home Office said.

Instead, it would be replaced with a conditional approach, so support would be reserved only for those who genuinely needed it and followed the law.

The measures, which will be laid in parliament and come into force in June, would remove support payments and accommodation to asylum seekers who illegally work, have the ability to support themselves, have the right to work or have broken the law.

The Home Office did not respond to questions asking if the 21,000 would be restricted to jobs on the immigration salary list.

Asked on what criteria the Home Office would decide whether an individual has enough assets to survive without financial support, a source said it would be on a case by case basis and with no set threshold.

Keir Starmer and Mahmood have been facing calls from across the labour movement to move towards progressive policies in the wake of the Green party victory at the Gorton and Denton byelection.

Related: UKs partial study visa ban will drive people to small boats, campaigners say

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, wrote in the Guardian: A political strategy of taking liberal, progressive voters for granted is clearly flawed.

The vast majority of those who are thinking of voting Green are not extreme, Khan said.

The latest announcement comes after the home secretary visited Denmark last week to see how it has tackled immigration, bringing asylum claims to a 40-year low.

Mahmood is following the Danish model in which the government seeks to make it less attractive for illegal migrants to come to the UK.

She will make a speech today at the IPPR thinktank on Thursday outlining how these reforms are in line with her British values.

Imran Hussain, the director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, said: Forcing people into destitution will not fix the system or deter people who have escaped torture or persecution. Instead, it is more likely to push them into sleeping rough, and shift costs on to local authorities and the NHS, making cases harder to resolve.
Sir Ringo Starr, the former Beatles drummer, has announced a new album and released its inaugural single.

The 85-year-old musician's new 10-track record, titled Long Long Road, is set to feature collaborations with notable artists including Billy Strings, Sheryl Crow, and St Vincent.

The album's first single, Its Been Too Long, which dropped on Tuesday, showcases guest appearances from Sarah Jarosz and Molly Tuttle. Co-written by Sir Ringo himself and American producer T Bone Burnett, Long Long Road is scheduled for release on 24 April.

This new offering follows his 2025 album, Look Up, which notably secured his first number one spot on the UKs official country chart.

Sir Ringo said: Im blessed to have T Bone in my life right now and working with me on these records.

After we did the last record, which I love listening to, this one just sort of happened.

I like to say sometimes I make the right moves, like you can go left or right at any point, and one of the right moves was hooking up with T Bone for Look Up, and now for this one, which Im calling Long Long Road, because Ive been on a long long road.

This new offering follows his 2025 album, Look Up, which notably secured his first number one spot on the UKs official country chart (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

Recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles, the album has a country and Americana sound and features much of the same bandmembers from Look Up.

Sir Ringo added that the album includes musical influences from guitarist Carl Perkins and said: I recorded two Carl Perkins songs with The Beatles, and both T Bone and I wanted one on this record and he found this beautiful track Id never heard before, I Dont See Me In Your Eyes Anymore.

T Bone said the pair decided to write a song together after attending a poetry reading together, praising the musician for being of the highest calibre.

He said: Ive loved Ringos playing and his singing for my whole life.

I wrote him a Gene Autry type song because I always heard Ringo as a Texas artist, the way he played felt just like Texas music to me.

Ringo Starr is a recording artist of the highest calibre, and I wanted to surround him with these young masters, bringing in some of this extraordinary young energy thats happening around Nashville for both of these records.

Sir Ringo  real name Richard Starkey  rose to fame as part of The Beatles which was formed in 1960 and made up of Sir Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison.

The Beatles are the best-selling musical act of all time and one of the most influential groups in the world, having achieved 18 UK number one singles and 16 UK number one albums.

Long Long Road will be released on April 24.